Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from his involvement in an insider information betting scheme and rigged poker games.
Key Takeaways
Jones admitted to providing inside information on injuries to a group of bettors.
Jones helped lure high-end bettors to rigged poker games.
Sentencing is scheduled for early next year.
Jones appeared at two hearings in a New York court, acknowledging he provided inside information “obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player,” according to The Associated Press. Federal prosecutors alleged in an October 2025 indictment that Jones provided a group of bettors with injury information pertaining to NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Jones admitted Tuesday that he used the nonpublic information to defraud sportsbooks and acknowledged that he violated the NBA’s code of conduct.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers, and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones said in a read statement during his hearing.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6, 2027, by two different judges. Sentencing guidelines could land Jones in prison for 21-to-27 months in the sports betting case and 48-to-63 months for the rigged poker game, per the AP. He’s also agreed to pay $73,000.
Sports betting case
Jones initially pleaded not guilty but requested a change earlier this month. He was charged in the federal case that includes Terry Rozier, the former Miami Heat guard who is facing additional bribery charges, and nearly 30 other individuals.
Federal prosecutors say Jones told the bettors ahead of a Feb. 9, 2023, game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks to “get a big bet on Milwaukee” before it was announced that James would miss the contest. Jones, who was an unofficial assistant coach with the Lakers, told the group to “bet enough” that he would get a portion of the proceeds.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker room and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement last year. “This was a sophisticated conspiracy involving athletes, coaches, and intermediaries who exploited confidential information for profit.”
Jones was also paid $2,500 through a peer-to-peer financial app for injury information on Davis before a game in January 2024. Davis ultimately played, and coconspirator Marves Fairley requested his money back.
Rigged poker games
In his second Tuesday hearing, Jones admitted to using his NBA status to “lure high-end bettors” to a poker game in Miami and in the Hamptons, New York. Jones said he knew that the poker games were rigged and that players were being cheated.
“I’m really sorry to everyone involved for my actions,” Jones said.
More than 10 victims were allegedly cheated out of nearly $10 million from the rigged poker games, which were being run by the mob. Suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also charged in the scheme.
Jones had also pleaded not guilty in this case before making the change Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers defied the odds to beat the Houston Rockets three times in this opening round series. After escaping the sweep, can Houston do the same and rally back from down 0-3?
Game 5 of this Round 1 Western Conference matchup tips off in La-La Land Wednesday and my same-game parlay isn’t counting out the Rockets just yet — even if LeBron James lights up the scoreboard.
Here are my best NBA picks and predictions for Rockets vs. Lakers on April 29.
Our best Rockets vs Lakers SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Rockets +4.5
The Houston Rockets are 4.5-point road pups returning to L.A. for Game 5. While the Los Angeles Lakers have home-court advantage and potentially have Austin Reaves back in action, the Rockets' defense has looked great over the past six quarters.
The pressure is mounting for the Lakers, who watched their role players come back to earth in Game 4. Houston doesn’t go down without a fight on Wednesday.
SGP leg #2: LeBron James Over 23.5 points
LeBron James had a quiet night offensively while also leaving this L.A. offense disjointed, coughing up eight turnovers. James looks to get going early and often in Game 5, and even with Reaves’ possible return, LeBron shoulders the scoring load.
Player projections sit as high as 27+ points from him in Game 5 after scoring 57 combined points in Games 2 and 3. This total of 23.5 O/U is the lowest bar he’s drawn since losing Luka Doncic and Reaves.
SGP leg #3: Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Leading the charge for the Rockets is big man Alperen Sengun. He scored 19 points in Game 4, but with L.A. cleaning up the turnovers and slowing things down, Game 5 is more of a half-court battle, which fits Sengun's style.
He goes after a softer interior for Los Angeles, and his forecast for Game 5 sits as high as 24.5 points. He’s been efficient the past two games, shooting 54% from the field.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Rockets vs Lakers predictions for Game 5.
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The Detroit Pistons’ promising season has come to a screeching halt at the hands of the Orlando Magic defense.
These Magic vs. Pistons predictions and SGP picks put more faith into Orlando’s defense in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.
Our best Magic vs Pistons SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points
Cade Cunningham was having a season that would have made him an MVP finalist, at the least. And then the basketball gods struck at the Detroit Pistons.
Cunningham’s collapsed lung may be healed for him to play against the Orlando Magic in this first round, but missing three weeks of games clearly impacted the point guard’s fitness. That is rather understandable when remembering, ya know, he suffered a collapsed lung.
Cunningham is driving less than ever. Before his injury, he took only 30.8% of his field goal attempts from deep. An adequate long-range shooter, Cunningham is far more productive at the rim.
Getting to the rim is exhausting, however, especially against such a pestering defense, so Cunningham has taken 45.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in the last two games.
SGP leg #2: Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes
Taking so many 3-pointers naturally results in Cunningham hitting multiple, as he's done in three of the four games in this series despite shooting a woeful 28.6% from deep. This is not faith in Cunningham's shot; this is a bet on the volume approach he has resorted to in this series because of dead legs.
SGP leg #3: Magic +9.5
And when your best offensive player is resorting to an inefficient shot on a notable volume of possessions, suddenly your offense is so compromised that a defense-driven team like Orlando can hang around in every game.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Magic vs Pistons predictions for Game 5.
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NBA Championship odds
Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
NBA Finals MVP odds
See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.
Live NBA Playoff bracket
Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 4: Karim Lopez #1 of the New Zealand shoots the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz during a NBA preseason game on October 4, 2024 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In today’s Dub Hub:
ESPN’s latest mock draft projects the Warriors to pick 19-year old Mexican prospect Karim Lopez with the 11th pick.
The Golden State Warriors failed to make the playoffs, giving them an early start on the upcoming offseason. Their 37-45 record to finish the regular season leaves them with the 11th-best odds in the NBA Draft lottery, making it likely they’ll be picking just outside of the top 10 barring a miracle jump into the top four.
So, with the 11th pick, ESPN’s latest mock draft projects the Warriors to select New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez.
The top overseas-based player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in predraft workouts, where teams will gain a better sense of his physical traits and skill level coming off a positive year in the NBL. Showing progress as a perimeter shooter in those settings would help his case to sneak into the top 10, as he jockeys for position with Ament and Yaxel Lendeborg, two other versatile forwards.
A Mexican-born prospect, Lopez is viewed as one of the top international players in this year’s class. While the global pool isn’t as strong as in previous years, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in the NBL, flashing the size and versatility NBA teams covet on the wing.
For Golden State, the fit is straightforward. Outside of a breakout year from Gui Santos, the roster has long lacked consistent size and depth on the wing — something Lopez could help address as a multi-positional forward with long-term upside.
Still, with uncertainty surrounding Steve Kerr’s future as the head coach, a roster coming off multiple significant injuries, and a mixed track record developing young talent, it remains unclear whether the Warriors will use this selection on a 19-year old project like Lopez. In fact, it’s fair to question if they even keep the pick at all or move it in a win-now deal for one of the league’s disgruntled stars.
Either way, the Warriors desperately need an infusion of size and athleticism, and this draft pick represents their best means of doing that this offseason.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 28th:
Golden State enters an uncertain offseason, with Steve Kerr’s future unclear and a need to consider the long-term health of the roster, still anchored by 38-year-old Stephen Curry. Selecting a younger player such as Lopez, who has the experience to potentially slot in early on his rookie deal, might help mesh the short and long-term goals.
“We don’t have to keep saying championship, championship, championship every day, even though we’ve experienced that,” Curry said. “It’s can we just build the foundation again with what this team needs to do with the way that the game is played now with how fast it is, how young and athletic it is. All of those things. We have to kind of put everything on the drawing board to get back to just being competitive every single night.”
Fast, young and athletic the Warriors are not. Between Steph, Steve Kerr, Draymond Green and a long list of Warriors past, a standard has been built in Golden State. A new foundation, however that might look, needs to be created by getting back to the drawing board.
His chase isn’t over yet. What Curry admitted also can’t be ignored.
Yet according to league and team sources, a heavy front-runner has emerged among the three proposed solutions to curb the widespread tanking problem that put such a stain on this season: Option No. 1, in which 18 teams would be part of the draft lottery (rather than the current 14) and the bottom 10 teams would all have an 8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. The remaining odds — 20 percent in all — would be divided among the remaining eight teams. In the current system, the bottom three teams all have a 14 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and the odds decline from there.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. pic.twitter.com/FmgY6vTLjx
“There is not one person within the organization who wants Kerr to walk away, sources said,” Siegel wrote. “Lacob and Dunleavy have both made it known to Kerr that they want him back, as have Curry, Green, and the entire locker room. One of the main reasons Butler feels so comfortable with the Warriors since arriving at last year’s trade deadline is due to the family-like atmosphere Kerr has helped create.”
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Could the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed fail to make it out of the first round? At this point, expect as much from the Detroit Pistons, and give plenty of credit to the Orlando Magic for forcing such an issue.
My Magic vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks give credit to Orlando’s defense for how exhausted it has left Cade Cunningham, something that should continue in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.
Magic vs Pistons prediction
Magic vs Pistons best bet: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points (-120)
While this could certainly come across as insulting doubt in Detroit Pistons’ cornerstone Cade Cunningham, it is meant more as acknowledging reality.
Cunningham looked excellent in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic, playing more than 40 minutes and scoring 39 points, though Detroit still lost by double digits.
It was his first full workload since returning from a collapsed lung, playing 20-some minutes in the last three games of the regular season as he tried to get back up to speed.
But the reality is, missing three weeks because of a collapsed lung was undoubtedly going to impact Cunningham’s conditioning, and the physical nature of the Magic defense has exacerbated that.
Cunningham has shot 15-for-46 (32.6%) in the last two games, both Detroit losses. His 3-point shooting has fallen to 6 of 21 in those two games, 28.6%.
Realize, Cunningham shot 46.1% from the field and 34.6% from deep in the regular season before his injury.
While he may not yet be an efficient scorer, he is far better than the version of the last week. He is simply out of gas, as are the Pistons without Cunningham at his best.
Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay
What is more exhausting, driving into the lane against a physical and long defense or chucking 3-pointers for much of the night? Based on his choices in the last two games, Cade Cunningham would rather live beyond the arc right now.
Before his collapsed lung, he took 30.8% of his field-goal attempts from deep. In this series, it has jumped to 38.0%. In the last two games, it has been an even more alarming 45.7%.
Cunningham should hit multiple 3-pointers simply because he is taking so many rather than getting to the rim, and that inefficient approach helps keep Orlando in every game.
Magic vs Pistons SGP
Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes
Magic +9.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Goodnight, Detroit
Orlando has already won on the road in this series. It has firm control, and it knows the best time to clinch the series is as soon as possible.
Given how suffocating the Magic defense has been — even the Pistons’ one win featured them scoring only 98 points — there is always value in a moneyline higher than +300.
Magic vs Pistons SGP
Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 Points
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 3-Pointers
Magic moneyline
Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 5
Spread: Magic +9.5 | Pistons -9.5
Moneyline: Magic +310 | Pistons -390
Over/Under: Over 211 | Under 211
Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know
Detroit has fallen short of its team total in all four games of this series and by an average of 13.4 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Pistons.
How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 5
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Magic vs Pistons latest injuries
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The 8-seed Orlando Magic are 48 minutes away from eliminating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in what would be one of the biggest upsets in more than a decade.
Key Takeaways
The Pistons would become the fifth-largest favorite to lose to an 8-seed as a No. 1.
Oddsmakers have the Pistons as 9.5-point favorites in Game 5.
Cade Cunningham committed the most turnovers in a three-game stretch in nearly 50 years.
Up to this point, there have only been six 8-over-1 upsets in the NBA.
Year
Losing Team
Winning Team
Series Odds
2023
Milwaukee Bucks
Miami Heat
-1,200/+750
2012
Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia 76ers
-1,400/+900
2011
San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
-390/+280
2007
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
-1,800/+1,200
1999
Miami Heat
New York Knicks
-280/+230
1994
Seattle SuperSonics
Denver Nuggets
-2,000/+1,400
The Magic find themselves up 3-1 on the Pistons after a 94-88 victory in Game 4 on Monday. DraftKings now has the Magic as -255 favorites to win the series, while the Pistons are +210 underdogs.
Those marks are sharp deviations from where the teams opened the series. DraftKings had the Magic at +380, or a 20.8% implied chance, while the Pistons were -500 to move on to the second round.
The most interesting aspect of this topsy-turvy start to the series is that it doesn’t involve any mitigating circumstances.
In 2023, the Miami Heat - +750 series underdogs against the Milwaukee Bucks, per Sports Odds History - were buoyed by Giannis Antetokounmpo suffering a lower back contusion 11 minutes into Game 1. He did not return and missed two contests before returning for Game 4. The Greek Freak averaged 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in the two contests following his return, but the Bucks still lost the series in five games.
Can Pistons avoid huge upset?
There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Pistons. The Magic only barely squeaked through the play-in tournament, losing the 7-8 matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers and winning their do-or-die game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Among the Pistons’ many issues are their misfiring stars. Cade Cunningham has posted impressive averages of 29.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.3 rebounds, but his shooting percentage dropped to 42.4%. He has also averaged a grotesque 6.8 turnovers per game and committed the most turnovers (24) in a three-game stretch in the playoffs since 1977-78.
Jalen Duren, who is expected to challenge for an All-NBA team after averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, has not shown up for the series. He has averaged 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds on 46.9% shooting, never scoring more than 12 points and failing to hit double-digit rebounds in all four games.
The supporting cast hasn’t provided much help. The team has shot a combined 27.5% from three, by far the worst in the playoffs, and committed the second-most turnovers per game.
Having said all that, DraftKings still installed the Pistons as -9.5 favorites in Game 5 on Wednesday. Their only win in the series came on their home floor, where they will be for Game 5 and where they went 31-9 during the regular season. The Magic were 19-20 on the road.
NBA title odds remain calm
While the Magic find themselves in a much more secure position than the Pistons, oddsmakers still aren’t showing them much respect. DraftKings lists them at +15,000 in NBA championship odds, while the Pistons are still at +4,500.
The Pistons' +210 series odds suggest they still have a near-one-in-three chance to rip off three straight wins and salvage their season. That will require them to do something they failed to do this season, as they split their regular-season series with Orlando at two games apiece.
LeBron James makes history every time he steps on the floor. He isn’t looking to be on the wrong side of it when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets in Game 5.
As I’m sure you’ve heard, no NBA team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win a playoff series. But after Houston avoided the sweep at home this past weekend, the history buffs aren’t too sure that stat will hold up.
Our Rockets vs. Lakers predictions know James isn’t taking Houston for granted, especially coming off one of the worst performances of his storied career.
My NBA picks like LeBron to top his scoring prop in Game 5, even if it's not enough to land the knockout punch.
Rockets vs Lakers prediction
Rockets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 23.5 Points (-115)
A lot of factors folded into LeBron James’ terrible night in Game 4.
The tight turnaround, exhaustion from carrying the club, Tari Eason’s defense, and perhaps a little complacency all stewed together for a 2-for-9 shooting effort and just 10 points from James. Oh, and there were the eight turnovers.
Following the one-sided loss, James immediately pointed the finger at himself and was quick to correct anyone asking if the Los Angeles Lakers were comfortable with a 3-1 series edge over the Houston Rockets.
“There’s no such thing as being comfortable until a series is done. None of us are,” he told the media.
Before his dud in Game 4, James scored a combined 57 points in the two games prior and fired up 42 total field goals in those efforts. That had his scoring prop jacked to 25.5 points with heavy juice on the Over Sunday.
LeBron has now enjoyed a two-day break to recharge and reassess the Rockets’ defense, while that 10-point sputter and Austin Reaves’ possible return anchor his scoring total at 23.5 points for Wednesday night.
This number is the shortest scoring O/U listed for James since losing Reaves and Luka Doncic late in the regular season. Even if Reaves does return, he’ll likely be restricted, and the scoring load remains on James’ broad shoulders.
Player projections for Game 5 don’t discount “The King”, pegging him between 24.5 and more than 27 points Wednesday night. The pressure of giving Houston a glimmer of hope, as well as cleaning up his mess from Game 4, has me leaning toward the high side of those forecasts.
Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Rockets' offense has been a mess with Kevin Durant in and out, but Houston decided to get it done with defense in Game 4, and this team has looked much stronger on that side of the ball over the past six quarters. Those stops and turnovers translated into easy buckets, and desperation keeps things close on Wednesday.
Alperen Sengun has stepped up as the Rockets’ leader in this series and has been a steady scorer the past two games, putting up 19 and 33 points on a combined 21-for-39 shooting (54%). With the Lakers doing a better job limiting turnovers, this game is played at a slower tempo in the halfcourt, which works well for Sengun. Some models sit as high as 24.5 points in Game 5.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets +4.5
LeBron James Over 23.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rocket Man
Alperen Sengun is the Rockets' top option with KD out. I see this as more of a half-court game, and he can go after the Lakers' weak interior defense. His projections call for 24+ points, 11+ rebounds, and he’s been a shot swatter on the defensive end all series.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets moneyline
Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 9.5 rebounds
Alperen Sengun Over 1.5 blocks
Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 5
Spread: Rockets +4.5 | Lakers -4.5
Moneyline: Rockets +150 | Lakers -180
Over/Under: Over 208.5 | Under 208.5
Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Houston Rockets have gone Over their Team Total in 20 of their last 30 games (+8.35 Units/24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.
How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 5
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries
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The NBA moved closer to a slightly expanded 16-team lottery Tuesday, one that will flatten odds of winning the No. 1 pick and try to deter tanking by drastically lowering the chances of winning for the teams that finish with the three worst records.
The “3-2-1 Lottery” proposal, which was reviewed by the league’s general managers, will be further discussed before it goes the Board of Governors for a final vote that is expected next month. It will not change the current format, which will likely be utilized for the final time when the lottery for this year’s draft is held May 10. This would go into effect next year.
The proposed plan will be discussed again at a competition committee meeting on Thursday. It would add two teams to the current 14-team lottery structure and incentivizes winning even for teams that aren’t still in the race for play-in or playoff spots.
The 16 teams in this proposal would all get somewhere between one and three lottery balls — hence the 3-2-1 name that has been attached to the plan — and the awarding of those balls would be broken down thusly:
— The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games in both conferences would get one lottery ball each.
— The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds going into the play-in tournament would get two lottery balls each.
— The remaining 10 teams that miss the playoffs and the play-in would all get three lottery balls — with the exception of the three worst teams in the standings. They would enter “draft relegation” and have one of their lottery balls taken away, which the NBA hopes would keep teams from trying to lose as many games as they can for the worst possible record. That practice, the so-called “tanking,” has been rewarded in the current system by better lottery odds.
The league was furious this season at how some teams were clearly prioritizing their draft spot over winning, even fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 “for conduct detrimental to the league” over the way two top plays were held out of the fourth quarter of a pair of games — one of which the Jazz actually won.
There was a clear race to the bottom this season with five teams — Washington, Indiana, Utah, Memphis and Brooklyn — all having winning percentages below .180 after the All-Star break. There has never been a season in NBA history, until now, where so many teams lost that often after the break.
“The incentives are not necessarily matched here,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in February when discussing the correlation between the teams with the worst records having the best lottery odds. “I think the tradition in sports where the worst-performing team receives the first pick from their partners, when any economist comes and looks at our system, they always point out you have the incentives backwards there. That doesn’t necessarily make sense.”
Silver has vowed that the league — which has changed the lottery system several times over the past decades — would strongly address the tanking issue before next year.
Odds of winning
The teams that finish with the three worst records would all have a 5.4% chance of winning the No. 1 pick, and could not fall below the No. 12 pick.
But the best odds of winning No. 1 would go to the other seven teams that miss the play-in and the playoffs — with those clubs all having an 8.1% chance of finishing with the No. 1 selection.
The No. 9 and No. 10 play-in seeds would also have a 5.4% chance of winning the lottery, and the losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games would both have a 2.7% chance.
Major changes to odds
The three worst teams this season — Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn — have 14% odds of winning the lottery and are guaranteed a top-seven pick. (In Indiana’s case, if the Pacers finish with the fifth or sixth pick, it would convey to the Los Angeles Clippers because of a previous trade.)
In the proposed system, those teams would have a 5.4% chance of winning and could fall as low as 12th in the first-round draft order. There would be a 72% chance that those teams would fall outside the top five.
“This is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level,” Silver said earlier this year. “It has business implications, has basketball implications, has integrity implications for the league. It’s one that we take very seriously. We are going to fix it, full stop. I want to say that directly to our fans. … Incentives need to be fixed. We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”
Other proposed changes
More elements within the 3-2-1 proposal include:
— No team could win back-to-back No. 1 picks or have three consecutive picks in the top five.
— No protections in trades would be allowed for picks that fall between Nos. 12 and 15.
— The league would have “expanded disciplinary authority” to address tanking, with potential moves including lowering teams’ lottery odds or even changing draft positions.
— The proposed plan, if approved, would sunset after the 2029 draft and require the Board of Governors to vote to either continue the system or make changes yet again.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, leaves a press conference at Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON – Before the season began, Jayson Tatum scoffed at the notion that the Celtics were going to tank the season.
“It’s the way our organization is ran,” Tatum told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “It’s the culture that we set, it’s the standard that we have — regardless of who is on our team.”
Six months later, and Tatum’s comments seem awfully prescient. The Celtics are fresh off a 56-win season and have a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
And on Tuesday, Brad Stevens was (unsurprisingly) named the league’s Executive of the Year, earning 11 first-place votes (and 69 total points), beating out Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, who came in second place.
It’s Stevens’ second such honor in three seasons, his first coming in 2024, after the championship season.
The voting panel for the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award consisted of basketball executives from NBA teams.
I talked to a front office executive earlier this month who told me he continues to be baffled about why teams are willing to even pick up the phone when Stevens calls, considering how many trades he’s won in recent years. (He said the same of Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti).
But what actually makes Brad Stevens so good at the job?
Few can answer that question better than Rich Gotham, the Celtics’ longtime team president. Gotham joined the Celtics as a marketing executive in 2003 and replaced Red Auerbach as team president in 2007.
So, when I got the chance to sit down with him a few weeks ago, the first thing I wanted to discuss was this elusive notion of “Celtics culture.”
It hasn’t always really been there during Gotham’s tenure, but it’s been on full display for years now. And the Brad Stevens era — which began 13 years ago — has embodied it.
“Early on, we were, candidly, bringing players through the organization so quickly, so many moving parts to build the team that became the ‘07, ‘08 champs,” Gotham said. “Culture? It wasn’t the same. You had pride in being part of the Celtics and what that means. But when you’ve got players coming in and out, you don’t really have a chance to cement it.”
Things began to change in 2007; that was the year the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett.
“He was a culture-maker,” Gotham said. “Suddenly, you got a player who’s a superstar, who’s coachable, who outworks everyone, who holds everyone to the highest standard, and people just sort of like – if he’s in the layup line, I’m on point. If he’s not, if he’s hurt, if he’s out, it’s a little looser.”
Garnett served as a model for younger players like Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe, and also influenced his co-stars, like Paul Pierce. The result was the franchise’s first championship in 22 years. And Garnett’s tenure in Boston served as a cultural reset.
“When he came here, we as an organization got our swag back,” Gotham said.
Then came Brad Stevens
The next most critical part of that culture-building was Brad Stevens, who took over as head coach of the Celtics in 2013.
Stevens had already emerged as one of the best young coaches in the game; few could draw up an ATO quite like the Indiana native. But Stevens’ defining characteristic may have been his ability to cultivate culture.
“Brad is a believer in culture, and he brought a good, strong sense of what he felt constituted being a good teammate,” Gotham said. “And when Brad got here, we were in transition. His years as a coach helped build culture, and then when he moved into the position where he’s the one acquiring the talent, that sort of played over there.”
Stevens has served as the Celtics’ general manager since 2021, meaning that he wasn’t the man responsible for bringing in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (shoutout Danny Ainge).
But, he was the driver behind the trades that brought players like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford to Boston – players who epitimized the team-first, Celtics mindset the organization wanted to embody.
“Brad really looks at [talent acquisition] from a team standpoint,” Gotham said. “And, a lot of it is sort of the unselfishness that you really need to make it work for an NBA team. If you look for that in players, the rest of it kind of follows.”
For Joe Mazzulla, Stevens’ talent acquisition philosophy has made life a whole lot easier. Countless times this season, he’s deflected questions about his own coaching and deferred to the players in the locker room.
“The greatest gift you can have as a coach is to have players that have a high, competitive character, care about winning, and want to get better,” Mazzulla said a few weeks ago.
Who signs those players?
Brad Stevens, whom Mazzulla coached under from 2019 to 2021. That synergy has made the whole operation run a lot more seamlessly.
“We have a unique relationship because I worked for him, and there aren’t many of those former coaches in the GM role, who can see from a GM perspective and a coach perspective,” Mazzulla said. “And I know how he thinks and the language that he speaks and how he sees the game because I worked for him, and he knows how I look at it — because we had that.”
Craig Luschenat, the Celtics’ head of player development, told me that the front office is a major reason for the program’s success. Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman all got their start with the Maine Celtics — and all four are now hugely important to the Celtics’ success.
“They only bring in guys that are, first of all, great people and hard workers,” Luschenat said. “And so, we’re very fortunate that we don’t have to deal with guys who are lazy or don’t love basketball. We don’t have to deal with any of the off-court stuff, so when they get to the building, they’re ready to work. And that’s a huge advantage.”
The Celtics head of player development Craig Luschenat leads the usual player development work ahead of Game 4
And, it goes beyond just being a hard worker: basketball IQ is something that Stevens and the front office prioritize.
“You could look at a lot of players that have been here previously, that now aren’t with us, or just guys around the league that are super athletic… if you just watch them in a workout, one-on-one, you’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy’s a freak, right?’” Luschenat said. “But as soon as you put 9 other players on the floor, they can’t think the game, or they can’t make high-level decisions, and aren’t competitive. And so, our front office does an amazing job of bringing guys that can think, compete at a high level, and work hard, and if you have that as a foundation, it makes our jobs as coaches so much easier.”
Luka Garza epitomizes what’s made Brad Stevens so effective
I’ve talked to many people around the league this season, and they all affirmed one thing: Luka Garza is widely considered to be one of the best locker room guys in the NBA.
So, when he was set to become a free agent, he was one of Stevens’ first calls.
“There are no secrets in the NBA,” Gotham said. “You generally have a good understanding of players who are really good culture contributors. And Brad definitely puts an emphasis on that aspect of the whole player.”
The backup center’s play became key to the Celtics’ on-court success this season; he’s averaged 8.1 points in 16.2 minutes per game, while shooting a team-best 43.3% from three.
But, equally pivotal to the Celtics’ success has been his mindset.
Some nights, Garza has eclipsed 25 minutes of action, and other nights he’s ridden the bench. Garza fell out of the rotation for two distinct stretches – in December and in February. Still, his attitude never wavered.
“Luka Garza is such a great example of a player who’s got that – no matter what role he’s playing,” Gotham said. “If he plays two minutes, or if he plays 20 minutes, if he’s not playing for a couple of games, he’s the same person coming to work every day, giving you everything he has. He has just a great attitude, just a great positive vibe to him. And that really does contribute to the team. And when players get a chance, who’ve put in the work, and then they start to thrive – I just think the team feeds off it.”
That culture is why Hugo Gonzalez goes berserk when Baylor Scheierman draws a charge, or why Ron Harper Jr. jumps up and down on the sidelines when it’s Gonzalez’s turn and he gets a defensive stop.
“You’ve seen this team this year – how happy they are for each other on the bench, how happy everyone’s been to see Jordan have success, Hugo have success, Baylor have success, Neemi have success, Ron Harper have success,” Gotham said. “It feeds itself.”
Stevens didn’t win the award exclusively because he knows how to cultivate culture — he, alongside a team of assistants that includes Mike Zarren, Dave Lewin, and Buddy Scott, also managed to get the team under the luxury tax line ahead of the trade deadline.
Payton Pritchard, the NBA’s third-most efficient isolation scorer in the NBA and the Celtics’ third-leading scorer, is making less than $8 million this season.
Neemias Queta, a 2021 second-round pick who was waived by the Sacramento Kings three years ago, established himself as the team’s front-court anchor while playing on a minimum contract.
Jordan Walsh has been locking up Tyrese Maxey on a second-round rookie deal. Sam Hauser, who went undrafted, was a perennial starter this season. Hugo Gonzalez quickly established himself as one of the most impactful rookies despite being picked No. 28 overall. And Baylor Scheierman turned into a legit rotation player in just his second year in the league.
Walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Queta, and Garza are each making less than $3 million.
The result?
While shedding hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll, the Celtics survived Jayson Tatum’s 62-game sidelining en route to a 56-win season, good for second-best in the East.
And, after many expected them to head toward the lottery, the Celtics are back in familiar territory: eyeing an NBA title.
Camara has eclipsed this line just once in the series but has finished at exactly eight twice. The volume will be there; he just needs to make them.
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Scoot Henderson Over 2.5 assists (-115)
Projection: 4.11 assists
Our second five-star play focuses on Scoot Henderson, who is coming off a rough outing. Henderson had a donut in the points column but still collected two assists.
The Blazers shot terribly as a whole, but with this being a kitchen-sink game, they'll step up on offense. That will lead to more dimes for Scoot.
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Robert Williams III Over 6.5 points (-130)
Projection: 8.58 points
Robert Williams III is a steady force off the Portland bench, seeing 23+ minutes in every game this series. Game 4 was the first time he failed to reach this posted points total, but as mentioned, everyone was off for the Blazers.
RW3 will get back on track, scoring easy buckets down low.
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Spurs Game 5 computer picks
De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-110)
Projection: 20.20 points
De'Aaron Fox has been superb for the San Antonio Spurs this season, and his best performance came over the weekend when he scored 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting.
Portland has its hands full again with Wemby, which allows Fox to go to work.
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Dylan Harper Over 9.5 points (-130)
Projection: 11.50 points
Before a stinker in Game 4, Dylan Harper scored double-digit points in back-to-back games. Harper is trusted to lead San Antonio's bench unit, and he'll find his rhythm when he returns home.
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Devin Vassell Over 12.5 points (-115)
Projection: 13.80 points
Devin Vassell has been steady for the Spurs this series, clearing this line in 2 of 4 games while finishing with 11 in two others. When Portland collapses down low to stop Wemby, Vassell will be available for wide-open looks on the wing.
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How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 5
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones plead guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the first person to change their plea to guilty in the sweeping federal indictments unsealed last year that led to more than 30 arrests.
That came a day after prosecutors said another player named in those indictments, former Miami player Terry Rozier, faces additional charges, including that he "solicited and accepted a bribe," reports Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
In a pre-written statement read at his plea change hearing, Jones admitted he used "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player," saying the goal of the wide-ranging conspiracy was to use this information to profit on bets made at sports books.
"I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association," Jones said, according to the Associated Press.
Traditionally, a change in plea like this — usually accompanied by a request by the prosecutor for a reduced sentence — comes after the defendant cooperates with investigators and prosecutors. Jones is set to be sentenced next January, and the sentencing guidelines for conspiracy to commit wire fraud call for 21-27 months in prison (about two years).
Jones was arrested and charged in both prongs of the federal probe, one about using insider information to place bets, and one about mafia-sponsored, rigged poker games. Jones pled guilty to charges in both cases on Tuesday.
Rozier was arrested as part of the insider information indictments, while former Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of the alleged poker scam. Both men have pled not guilty and have not changed their pleas.
Because of the internet and being prisoners of the moment, last night's Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic playoff game had fans losing their minds, pretending they had never seen anyone get dunked on.
While Jamal Cain's posterization of Jalen Duren earned a spot in this list's best playoff dunks, more importantly, it put the Pistons, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, on the brink of an embarrassing elimination.
There are many criteria for the best playoff dunks, including style, degree of difficulty and the hint of embarrassment it must conjure for those who end up on an endless loop of highlights, and for some, their own claim to fame.
Duran's dunk makes this list, and here is the rest of ordinary players and Hall of Famers alike (in no particular order) getting yammed on during playoff time.
Kobe Bryant's windmill over Timberwolves
Kevin Garnett now has nightmares about this spectacular throwdown in the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals by Bryant, who went baseline, not caring who was in his way. Any lesser player would have separated his shoulder on the dunk. However, Bryant's flush over Steve Nash in the 2006 playoffs deserves some run and is criminally underrated.
Tracy McGrady dunks on Shawn Bradley
McGrady, not generally known for his emotion, was understanding hyped after climbing the ladder on the 7-6 Bradley in the Mavericks-Rockets 2005 playoffs first round. McGrady's Rockets ended up losing the series, which included a 40-point rout in Game 7.
John Starks lefty over MJ
The 1990s playoff battles between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls were must-see TV, and when Starks went baseline on their entire defense late in the fourth quarter of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, he sealed the victory and gave the Knicks a 2-0 series lead, which they would eventually lose.
While Jordan has received his fair share of scorn, Horace Grant and his googles no doubt need some shame in this scenario.
'Ja breaker' over Malik Beasley
These days, Ja Morant's tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies could be considered a disappointment, thanks to his gun-toting celebration antics and multiple suspensions.
Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley was the unfortunate recipient of this nasty jam in the 2022 playoffs, sending Morant into playoff dunk lore.
Michael Jordan baseline treat
Knicks fans would swear up and down that Jordan carried the ball on his way to the baseline and into the face of Patrick Ewing. But the Knicks tried to press, and MJ easily slipped a double team and went way above the rim to put Ewing on growing list of posters he received throughout his Hall of Fame career.
'The Lister Blister'
Shawn Kemp was as talented a forward as there was in the Western Conference during his heyday, and his wild tomahawk slam over Alton Lister of the Golden State Warriors backed up that claim, as he cradled the ball on his way to rising way above the rim.
Kemp pointing at Lister while he is still on the ground fueling Liston's embarrassment probably would have gotten him tossed in today's referee-sensitive NBA.
We believe in Baron Davis
The No. 8 seed "We Believe" 2007 Warriors, fresh off their dispatching of top-seed Dallas in the first round, rode that momentum in the next round against the Utah Jazz. Baron Davis, who later showed fancy footwork on "Dancing with the Stars," got the frenzied Oracle Arena crowd with a ferocious slam against Andrei Kirilenko in Golden State's only win in the series.
Scottie Pippen dunks on Patrick Ewing
Unfortunately, Ewing makes his second appearance on this list courtesy of Pippen, who proceeded to serve up a facial on Ewing and push him down to the ground and step over him for good measure. Equally as pleasant is Pippen telling noted Knicks superfan and general pest Spike Lee to shut up and sit back down in his expensive United Center courtside seats.
Less than 24 hours after Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby checked into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction — casting his future eligibility with the Red Raiders into doubt — the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions released violations and updates on two separate sports betting violation investigations.
Two athletes involved across the two investigations did not cooperate with the NCAA's investigations, the organization revealed, resulting in Level I violations.
Both Gray and Richardson are connected with a February 2024 game in which a bettor placed a $10,000 wager. In the NCAA's release, Gray admitted in an interview that he exchanged messages with one of the known bettors, and that he and Richardson participated in a call with the bettor and a former NBA player who was involved in the scheme. Gray said both players agreed to lose the game in exchange for $10,000-$15,000 in payments each.
The NCAA's release said Gray told the organization he ultimately reversed course and "said he played with his normal effort" in that game. He finished with three points on 1-of-4 shooting for Fordham, which was a 3.5-point underdog. Gray told the NCAA the bettor called after the game to express disappointment, at which point Gray cut off communication with him. Gray also said he didn't receive any payment from the bettor.
He also acknowledged violating ethical conduct rules by providing information to a known bettor, and "expressed remorse for his actions."
Gray said the former NBA player continued to communicate with Richardson, who denied his partaking in the scheme and failed to cooperate "with the investigation by knowingly providing false information during an interview and failing to preserve the integrity of the investigation."
Cottle was indicted by the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in January for wire fraud and bribery charges surrounding Kennesaw State's game versus Queens (New York) on March 1, 2024. Similar to Richardson, Cottle, who was suspended from the Owls, did not cooperate with the NCAA's investigation.
Texas Tech announced on Monday that Sorsby was leaving the program to check into a residential treatment program for gambling addiction.
Sorsby, who transferred from Cincinnati this past offseason, is under NCAA investigation after reportedly making "thousands" of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app, which includes bets on Indiana during his true freshman season as a Hoosier in 2022.
USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes reported Monday through two people with direct knowledge of the situation that the Cincinnati athletic department was alerted in August that Sorsby was gambling before the start of the 2025 season. The Bearcats had "no comment at this time" when reached out by USA TODAY Sports, and Sorsby has made "mostly small, $1 bets" on various sports at various times.
The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and athletics department staff members from making bets and/or sharing information with bettors on college sports.
USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes contributed to this story.
With three NBA postseason series continuing tonight, we can look across the board to find some quality player props.
I’m eyeing Payton Pritchard and Karl-Anthony Towns to build on their outstanding Game 4 performances, and I’m also backing Stephon Castle to keep shooting from deep tonight.
Keep reading to see why I like these player props, and get my free NBA picks for Tuesday, April 28.
Payton Pritchard is coming off by far his best performance of this series, scoring 32 points in the Boston Celtics’ 128-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. But that outburst didn’t come completely out of nowhere.
Pritchard averaged 17.0 ppg this season, by far the highest total of his career. That wasn’t all based on his 3-point shooting, either. He saw his volume and percentage (37.7%) from beyond the arc go down compared to last season, while showing far more versatility in his scoring all over the court.
While Pritchard started this series slow, he scored 15 points in Game 3 before exploding in Game 4. Heading into Game 5, he’s averaging 15.8 ppg for the series, and his season-long numbers suggest he should get to at least that range for the rest of the playoffs. I love the Over here at just 13.5 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns never seemed quite comfortable in the New York Knicks offense this year, even publicly saying so earlier in the season.
But head coach Mike Brown tried something different in Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks, running the offense through Towns. The result: a triple-double for Towns, and a 16-point win for the Knicks on Saturday.
While that was a particularly outstanding performance for Towns, he’s been excellent throughout the series. Game 4 marked the third occasion in which he put up at least 37 PRA in this series, and his 36.8 PRA average is dragged down only by a poor performance in Game 2.
But with a new approach working wonders for the Knicks offense, I can’t see Brown moving away from a KAT-led offense tonight. I’m taking the Over on his PRA total.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC
Prop #3: Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes made
+102 at bet365
Stephon Castle was an important support piece for the San Antonio Spurs all season, but he’s stepped up his efforts during the playoffs. In the first four games of their series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Castle is averaging 21.0 ppg, and is shooting an outstanding 42.9% from 3-point range.
In each of the last three games of the series, Castle has hit two or more shots from deep. Even Victor Wembanyama’s return to the lineup in Game 4 did little to reduce his volume, as he shot 6-for-14 and hit three shots from beyond the arc in the 114-93 win.
Castle might be relegated to the third option beyond Wemby and De’Aaron Fox for the rest of the playoffs, but the Spurs have been good at utilizing him to maintain some offensive balance. Based on his usage in this series so far, I like Castle to hit at least two threes tonight.
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Trail Blazers
Spurs
Payton Pritchard
Karl-Anthony Towns