SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 1: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks the shot of Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors during the game on April 1, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama has been named Western Conference Defensive Player of the month for the third straight time, the league announced.
Wembanyama averaged 9.7 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game during March in just 29.9 minutes a night. The Spurs held opponents to an outrageous low 102.9 points per 100 possessions with the big man on the floor, with his defense playing a huge part in San Antonio’s 13-2 record for the month.
At this point, Wembanyama has established himself as the league’s premier defender and seems like a lock for Defensive Player of the Year if he remains eligible. He’s won Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month three times, the only player to get to that amount this season in either conference, and has anchored the third-best defense in the league. Wembanyama leads the league in blocks by a wide margin and ranks second in defensive rebounds per game, but his individual impact goes beyond the numbers.
The Pistons’ Ausar Thompson was named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month, his second consecutive distinction.
Wembanyama is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, three assists, 3.1 blocks, and one steal in 29.2 minutes a game this season.
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 6: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 6, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors look to shake off Wednesday’s loss as they prepare to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area.
The Warriors suffered their 40th loss of the season Wednesday night, losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 127–113. The double-digit defeat came as little surprise given how undermanned Golden State was as they fell into an early 17–3 hole and trailed 70–49 by halftime.
Golden State had no answer for Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who dominated with 41 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks — his second consecutive 40-point double-double. After the game, head coach Steve Kerr spoke about Wembanyama’s rise into superstardom in just his third season.
WEMBY WENT OFF IN THE BAY!
👽 41 PTS (16-22 FGM) 👽 18 REB 👽 3 AST 👽 3 BLK
The Spurs win their 10th straight game and improve to 26-2 in their last 28 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CGapUqWjBf
The Warriors were extremely shorthanded against San Antonio, with nine players ruled out for the game. That lack of depth was evident, as two-way guard Nate Williams logged 47 of a possible 48 minutes in regulation. Meanwhile, fellow two-way forward Malevy Leons battled through a right wrist injury, even shooting free throws left-handed to remain on the floor.
“I can do things that other guys are not willing to do nowadays. You know, I feel like me, personally, I'm a dying breed in the NBA. You know, guys are not tough no more. It's a lot of soft guys around around the league.”
The Warriors are so thin and injury depleted that Malevy Leons took a free throw left-handed tonight
He hurt his wrist two weeks ago and the Warriors badly need any bodies they can get. Impressive toughness by Leons to even be out there pic.twitter.com/pwEayxCmWF
The good news is that, despite it being the second night of a back-to-back, Golden State is expected to have more players available. Kristaps Porzingis and Gary Payton II are not listed on the injury report and should return. Porzingis, in particular, should provide a much-needed boost in the frontcourt while helping ease the team’s scoring burden on offense.
Whether that will be enough against a Cavaliers team that enters tonight’s matchup with a 47–29 record and sits fourth in the Eastern Conference remains to be seen. At the very least, though, the Warriors should be in a better position than they were a night ago — with added optimism that this could be their final game before a potential Stephen Curry return on Sunday.
“If you did great in that tournament, you deserve all the credit. If it went bad for you — and I'm not just saying that because it went bad for us — but you should get a pass. That was a mess,” Hurley said.
“I'm, like, jarred mentally up here,” Hurley said, looking pained. “That was horrible.”
There are many reasons UConn and Illinois are thrilled to be in Indianapolis for the Final Four this week, even if their national semifinal is the undercard to the showdown between the remaining No. 1 seeds, Arizona and Michigan.
For Brad Underwood, this has been the goal since he was hired at Illinois nine years ago. For Hurley and UConn, it’s a chance to stake a claim as college basketball’s latest dynasty without all the spotlight and pressure of last year’s pursuit of a three-peat.
And for both coaches, there’s also the benefit of cleansing their memories of the last time they were here for the NCAA Tournament.
“Most of my memories on the basketball side are pretty positive,” Underwood said. “The other stuff wasn't.”
Though it’s only been five years, the “COVID tournament” seems like something out of a fever dream now. The country was still in the grips of the pandemic, with vaccines just starting to become available and restrictions still in place throughout much of the country.
After managing to get through the regular season, the NCAA decided to go ahead with the basketball tournaments — albeit in very different form. Rather than sites across the country, every game from the First Four to the Final Four was played in central Indiana.
Teams were sequestered at hotels in downtown Indianapolis, able to leave only for practices, games and assigned outdoor time. Restaurants were off-limits. Players were tested regularly and the threat of being unable to play was ever present. Only a few fans were allowed, and crowd noise was piped in.
The women’s tournament was held under similar conditions in San Antonio.
“That whole season was a tough season,” Hurley said. “We were lucky just to be able to get a tournament in and do those things.”
Indianapolis was one of the few cities that could pull off a tournament in a bubble. The city has both an NBA arena and a domed stadium, and Butler, Indiana and Purdue are all within driving distance.
There’s a sizeable convention center that housed practice courts and about a dozen hotels surrounding it. There also are elevated walkways linking almost everything, so teams had almost no contact with anyone not playing in or associated with the tournament.
“They were literally knocking on your door and dropping the food at your door,” Hurley said. “It wasn't slop, but it was — maybe it was.”
It’s an experience no one wants to repeat. Which makes it even more meaningful the Final Four has returned to a city that, until 2021, had produced so many great memories in the tournament.
Hurley’s brother Bobby and Duke ending UNLV’s 45-game win streak in 1991. Princeton stunning defending champion UCLA in 1996. Michigan State’s Flintstones winning the Big Ten’s last NCAA title in 2000. Little Butler coming oh, so close in 2010.
“It doesn't feel like there's many better places to play a Final Four,” Hurley said. “It's cool to be back here for a non-COVID Final Four.”
Even if most of the attention is on the No. 1s.
Illinois, a No. 3 seed, wasn’t considered Final Four material until its Big Ten brethren Iowa put the South Region up for grabs by taking out Florida. And UConn definitely wasn’t expected to make it this far, pitted against overall No. 1 Duke in the East Region final.
But here they are.
“I'm just focused on our game,” said Solo Ball, who is playing in his second Final Four in his three years at UConn. “It's all that we've been looking forward to, too, just being back here in the Final Four.”
It's already better than the last time the tournament was in Indianapolis. And that's a win for everyone.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 28: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 28, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Doubtful” leaves so much room for vague tweets.
The Sixers have released their injury report for when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday, and doubtful is Joel Embiid’s listing with an illness.
After all that bizarreness, the doubtful listing signals this being a multi-game absence for Embiid. This is the front end of a back-to-back for the Sixers, so if Embiid isn’t able to go the following night against the Detroit Pistons, then it will be time to raise some alarm bells. Regardless, the situation feels stranger than some light-hearted April Fool’s day trolling.
The only other Sixer listed on the injury report is Johni Broome who is still rehabbing his torn meniscus.
This will be a back-to-back for the Timberwolves as well, but for them it will be the second leg for them. The availability of Anthony Edwards, who’s working his way back from a knee injury, will be the biggest thing worth monitoring on game day. Edwards was ruled out for the Wolves’ front end, also coincidentally against the Pistons.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 24: Josh Hart #3 talks with Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on February 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 109-94. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks are in a bit of a rough patch as time winds down on the regular season. They just lost a handful of extremely unsettling games against playoff teams that have many questioning their effort and desire, have fans up in arms about the coach and believing he’s on the hot seat, and there’s been a whole lot of criticism surrounding the starting lineup, Josh Hart’s place in the rotation, and Mikal Bridges’ maddening inconsistency. They’re also struggling to get the big, season-defining win against the elite teams.
The vibes are very bad, and there are several potential first-round opponents that the media and fans alike think will end the season early and cause a massive change in the organization.
Wait, did you think I was talking about this season?
No, no. I’m talking about the early April vibes from last season. What, is something similar happening this year?
Time does happen to heal all wounds, but so do playoff runs. For some reason, the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Final last year blinded some people to the very real narratives that existed leading into the first-round series against the Pistons.
Last year, Tom Thibodeau was very unpopular, the starting lineup was very hated, they were losing late-season games to East contenders, fans were souring on Hart and Bridges, there were nostalgia acts of the “grittier” teams of the last few years, and there was the 0-10 stat. On and on and on.
So when you go into this year, and you see the same things happening this time of year, does it not tell you that you should let things play out before making grand assumptions? Sure, there are very real problems, but there are also things where you should just calm down, relax, and grab a drink (alcoholic or not, your choice).
The playoffs tend to be a lot more unpredictable than they seem. We saw that firsthand when Thibodeau suddenly made drastic changes to the defensive scheme to throw off a Celtics team that had absolutely annihilated the Knicks in the regular season. A defense that looked utterly lost all season suddenly gained fortitude playing a straight-up, switch-everything style. We’ve already seen that style of disciplined defense with the Knicks this season. Why do you think they had the best defense in basketball for eight weeks?
Bad matchups don’t necessarily translate, so why be worried about Detroit or Charlotte or Philly? You could even go in the opposite direction and say you shouldn’t assume the Raptors would be the easiest matchup!
The playoffs are a totally different beast, in which we’ve seen guys on this roster transform into something totally different. Bridges redeemed a very rough regular season with a tremendous playoff run last year, namely. Hart always seems to play his best. Mitchell Robinson’s impact is unmatched in a playoff setting and has swung the matchup in multiple seasons. Jalen Brunson, whose play since his ankle injury in early January has been below his standard, is the biggest playoff riser in the sport right now.
We have a nearly 180-game sample with this group over the last two years with two different coaches. You could say a lot about the team’s ideal lineup, but I’m not sure if a lineup change does much in terms of starting the game off faster, considering we’ve seen the same things when Hart is out. The lineups with Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride don’t perform very well either, and we know they won’t stretch Robinson out. I think this group just naturally comes out of the gates slow and hits their stride as the game goes on and they adjust:
Knicks starters in 399 1Q poss: 109.8 OffRtg, -13.0 NetRtg since 12/5
NYK starters in 88 4Q poss: 137.5 OffRtg, +11.1 NetRtg since 12/5
Dating back to start of ‘24-‘25:
Starters in 1252 1Q poss: 110.8 OffRtg, -4.5 NetRtg
Starters in 523 4Q/OT poss: 127.5 OffRtg, +4.3 NetRtg
It’s hard to explain why the offense goes from looking fluid and beautiful one night and stagnant and ugly the next, but that might have more to do with certain matchups than anything. Houston’s sheer volume of lanky wings is an extremely tough matchup when they’re all healthy and locked in.
On that point of being locked in, we’ve seen a few times this season where the focus level just drops. This week has been one of the low points, but could that just be the drag of an 82-game season? We see good teams go in ruts during baseball’s 162-game slog.
This team will make its bed and sleep in it come playoff time. None of us know which team will show up when the playoffs begin in just over two weeks, but we do know that they have a switch that can be flipped.
The question is, how long can they keep the switch on?
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 1: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Miami Heat on April 1, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA - March 31: Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77 smiles as he dunks the ball on a fast break against the Cavaliers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Things couldn’t have gone better for the Lakers this week.
Not only did they win, but they did so with pizzazz. LeBron James had multiple jaw-dropping dunks, Luka Dončić scored more baskets in the month than any Laker ever, and the Lakers find themselves already at the 50-win mark with six games left to play.
Even the South Bay Lakers are playing well, having just beaten the San Diego Clippers in the first roundof the G-League playoffs.
The good times are here, and if they can keep it up and have a good 10 days, they can lock up the third seed in the Western Conference.
5 things I liked and didn’t like
1. Luka Dončić is MVP
The list of players performing better than Luka right now is zero. He scored 600 points in March, the second most ever by any NBA player. LA went 15-2 in the month and he punctuated it by dropping 42 points on the Cavaliers, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Dončić is an offensive savant with the ability to do anything he wants, regardless of the opponent. He is competing with himself, and his only problem is figuring out which spots on the floor he wants to get his buckets.
.@JLin7 joins NBA Today, and walks us through why Luka Doncic continues to be unstoppable in isolation 🤝 pic.twitter.com/veJm6GJx7i
Not only is Luka the NBA’s leading scorer, but he is also averaging 8.3 assists per game, fourth-most in the league. Defensively, Luka is one of the best at stealing the ball, averaging 1.7 per game, which is 13th in the NBA.
Elevating his game has the Lakers cemented as the No. 3 seed, and he should be in the MVP conversation if not the frontrunner. His coach JJ Redick knows it, Rui Hachimura knows it and soon we’ll see if the NBA voters do as well.
2. Lakers part of the Big 3 in the West
While the Western Conference race remains tight, a hierarchy has been established. The Thunder are No. 1, the Spurs are No.2 and the Lakers are No. 3.
LA is no longer bunched up with the fourth, fifth and sixth seeds. They’ve established they are the best of the bunch.
They have the better record than the Nuggets, Rockets and Wolves, and went 4-0 against them in the month of March. The Lakers continue to outperform these teams, having won nine of their last 10 games to start separating themselves from that pack.
By every metric, the Lakers have the edge over every team in the West except the Thunder and Spurs. And with two games set this week against OKC, LA can potentially make the claim that they are a problem for the best team in the NBA.
For now, though, it’s clear they are the third best. Anyone saying otherwise has an agenda.
3. Beating who is in front of you
This week, the Lakers played the Nets and the Wizards, two unserious teams. It wasn’t pretty basketball from the Lakers, but they got the wins they needed. Throughout this year, the Lakers made sure to beat the league’s bad teams.
They are 27-3 against teams below .500. The only team that has a better record against losing teams is the Thunder. Thanks to the Lakers winning the games they were supposed to, they were able to rack up victories while they got healthy and figured out the best lineups and who their rotation players were.
4. Rob Pelinka was right
All season long, Lakers haters and fans alike have complained about how poorly constructed the team was.
According to them,they didn’t have enough to be elite in the NBA. People used their 4-11 record against teams with a .600 or better winning record as evidence. They also pointed to LA’s poor net rating numbers and the struggles of the big three.
Now, all of that has flipped.
The Lakers have recently beaten the Knicks, Cavs, Rockets, Wolves and Nuggets, all teams above .600. This week, they had a net rating of +8.2 and the Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves trio had a plus-minus of +28, making them the second-best three-man lineup for LA.
So, at what point does Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka get credit?
In the summer, he got Luka to sign an extension and acquired the Lakers’ starting center via the buyout market. At the trade deadline, he got the Lakers some shooting by turning Gabe Vincent into Luke Kennard, and now they are about to enter the offseason with a ton of cap space, draft picks they can trade for a blockbuster deal and they are still competing for a title this season.
He never gets credit for anything he does. When things go well, there is always an excuse for why it was inevitable. And when transactions don’t work, or deals never happen, it’s an example of his glaring flaws as the head of the front office.
Pelinka has done a great job. The praise needs to be as loud as the disrespect, and right now I’m not hearing a peep.
5. Statement wins
LA has had a handful of statement wins in March, but their most recent one was very impressive. On the second night of a back-to-back, they took on the Cavs and beat them handily 127-113. They took over during the second quarter and never looked back.
It was a complete performance with Luka dominating offensively, and the defense holding Donovan Mitchell to just 10 points.It was encouraging to see the Lakers pass every test they faced in March. And if they do the same in April, they’ll be playing games in May.
Stat of the Week
The Lakers got to the 50-win mark this season, making Redick the fourth Lakers head coach to accomplish this feat. The last one to do so? Phil Jackson in 2011.
JJ Redick is now the 16th head coach in NBA history to win at least 50 games in each of his first two seasons, and the fourth for the Lakers (Pat Riley, Paul Westhead and Butch van Breda Kolff). He’s also the first with B2B 50-win seasons for LA since Phil Jackson.
The fact that Redick has accomplished this in his first two seasons in charge is impressive. He has silenced his critics and his coaching has elevated the team.
Play of the Week
LeBron remains one of the most electrifying players in basketball. His dunk against the Cavs was one of the highlights of the season. It started with Deandre Ayton deflecting a pass from James Harden. LeBron recovered the ball and tried to pass to Reaves, but Harden deflected it.
Thankfully, Jake LaRavia regained possession and since Reaves never changed directions, he remained in front of the play. Reaves received the ball and had a two-on-one advantage over the trailing Mitchell, who made a business decision and decided not to get put on a poster.
He is just performing at a ridiculous level. He averaged a gaudy 41.5 points per game along with 7.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds over the last week. Hehad a plus-minus of +40 for the week. It’s hard to make a case that anyone is playing better than him in the NBA, much less on this Lakers roster.
With tanking becoming a topic of conversation, Tom Haberstroh wrote for Yahoo! Sports about how it’s splitting the NBA in half, with one side incentivized to win and the other incentivized to lose.
The B-League vs. The A-League
The chasm between leagues is obvious once you track the results. The only teams the Wizards have beaten since the All-Star break are the Indiana Pacers (twice) and the Utah Jazz — two members of the B-League, which means that for almost two months straight Washington has yet to beat a team that is not actively trying to lose.
For the Wizards, Friday’s loss to the Warriors, Sunday’s defeat at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers and Monday’s blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers extended their A-League losing streak to TWENTY straight games. That’s right: The Wizards have gone 0-20 against teams trying to win, having dropped every game against an A-League opponent since Detroit lost to the ‘Zards in early February.
Alex Regla is here to remind us that, regardless of whether Luak wins the MVP, what he is doing is something no Lakers fan should take for granted.
What these numbers and the season Dončić is having ultimately prove is that the Lakers have one of the best players on the planet on their team. They have the cornerstone. The vision of their future now has a face and a name.
And while a physical reward at the end of it would be nice, the assurance Dončić provides is so much more valuable than any number on a spreadsheet or MVP trophy.
Hurley has since downplayed the incident. When asked about it again Thursday, April 2, at a news conference ahead of the Final Four in Indianapolis, Hurley admitted to being tough to officiate, but his record is clean.
"Then, dealing with the officials, I think I'm an intense coach," Hurley said. "It's not easy to work my games. But I've always gotten zero technical fouls in my NCAA Tournament coaching career."
Hurley looked up with a smile and paused for a moment.
"I just jinxed myself. Oh, my God, now I'm going to get bounced out of this thing. Oh, my God," he added with a laugh.
Hurley expounded on the controversy that followed the game.
"Yeah, surprised now? Obviously, the reaction, the outrage, I don't — I guess I just look at it a lot differently. I think we all do, and I think that's what, I guess, makes social media so appealing to people, is that you can have the discourse and different opinions about how somebody carries themselves in — for you, it's a game. For some people, we're just out there playing a game. For me, it's a life-or-death battle. It's a war. It's a street fight for me.
"However, you look at sports or people on social media that comment on how the combatants carry themselves, that's not really for me to judge. I approach sports as a competitor, the way that I do. My responsibility is to win games and obviously do a great job for my players. Those are really the only two things I'm concerned with.
"All that other stuff, it comes with the territory, and a lot of it comes with the success. The winning back-to-back championships, you put yourself in a position where you're going to be picked apart."
CBS Sports rules analyst and former NCAA basketball and NFL referee Gene Steratore agreed with the assessment Hurley was not being confrontational in the moment.
Hurley acknowledged Steratore as the "goat of referees," using goat and zebra emojis.
While fans are still upset about the interaction — perhaps in reaction to UConn's potential budding dynasty — it's obvious the coach and other officials do not view this as an issue moving forward.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The NBA announced on Thursday that Luka Doncic was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in March.
Doncic averaged a league-high 37.5 points (49.2% shooting, 39.2% on 3-pointers), 8 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals in March.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring a three-pointer against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Getty Images Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Getty Images Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a winning jumpshot past Spencer Jones of the Denver Nuggets during overtime of a game at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-125. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Getty Images Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after making a three pointer during the fourth quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic was the West’s Player of the Month for games played in October/November, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the honor for games played in December and Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama was the Player of the Month in February.
Hawks wing Jalen Johnson was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March.
The 27-year-old Doncic, who’s in the middle of an MVP race, entered Thursday averaging a league-high 33.8 points to go with 8.3 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals entering the Lakers’ matchup against the Thunder.
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Apr 1, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
For what it’s worth, these Spurs are determined to head into the playoffs winning as many games as they can, building on their success and trying to stay motivated along the way. Couch-surfing fans (like myself) might question the need for motivation playing a game we all love, but 82 games is a grind.
On Wednesday night, Victor Wembanyama needed no extra motivation to score 41 points on 16 -22 shooting along with 18 rebounds. Stephon Castle ran the offense with his usual efficiency to the tune of 15 points while handing out 11 assists.
Let’s address the elephant in the room and just campaign for me to have an MVP vote and all the awards votes that I would unequivocally use to cast all of them for Keldon Johnson (MVP, DPOY, MIP, OPOY, Sixth Man, most likely to end up on a Key & Peele skit when Jordan Peele decides to quit making horror movies).
Back to our regularly scheduled highlights, Victor Wembanyama scored 40+ in back-to-back games, playing basketball on easy mode. For his part, Wembanyama looks both assertive and comfortable out on the floor these days, which bodes well as the team heads into the playoffs. Didn’t take long, but in his third year, Wemby has already set a career-high average of 24.7 points per game. His 11.5 rebounds per game is also a career peak.
.@wemby is now just the third player in Spurs history to have 40+ points in back to back games!
This move looked like an elongated euro step if you only needed two steps to go from Belarus to Portugal. It goes without saying how unique and special Wembanyama’s game is, but none of that is possible without his impeccable footwork.
Harrison Barnes, or as I would like to call him, the Blowfish to Hootie’s and, got up for this wide open dunk. I’m sure any chance Barnes gets to score against his former team, he would relish the opportunity. On Wednesday night, Barnes helped lead the bench mob with 13 points with a nice 3 – 6 shooting from downtown.
A recent tweet discussed a re-draft of the 2024 class, which had Stephon Castle at number one with the benefit of hindsight. No arguments from me, but I do want to point out that the Oklahoma Thunder getting 16th pick Jared McCain from the Philadelphia Sixers seems unfair (not unethical) especially if he can contribute as a fourth best scorer for the defending champions. To that end, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard, who were drafted ahead of Castle are special players and would have fit well on the Spurs, but given what we see, know, hear, and love, Castle was a very special (and fortuitous) pick just one year after the basketball gods gifted the Spurs Wembanyama.
Someone asked Wembanyama about the Spurs’ lack of playoff experience, and his answer was perfect: “Screw it.” They can only go out and play and let it fly, right? Of course, a little team chemistry doesn’t hurt. Right now, this team has chemistry in spades as evidenced by this play below. Screw it.
Once a game, on plays like the outstretched dunk below, Wembanyama reminds us that he can do Space Jam level dunks, and that if the Mon-Stars invaded Earth to steal our best basketball players skills as part of their mission for galaxy-wide domination, they would stop at Wembanyama. Don’t worry y’all, even if a former president and current sitting president have all but confirmed the existence of extraterrestrials, our planet still has Wayne Knight and Bill Murray to save us.
Does Dylan Harper play more than 25 minutes per game in the playoffs (assuming the Spurs have a full roster available). Discuss amongst yourselves in the comments. Coherent arguments not needed, just outlandish wild takes that would catch the attention of at least 3 of Kevin Durant’s online burner accounts.
Do you get tired of seeing lobs from Castle to Wembanyama? I don’t. But if you do get fatigued, may I suggest watching 8 hours of your daughter’s favorite cartoon at the moment (currently, it’s Super Kitties and Gabby’s Dollhouse)? After that, your eyeballs and psyche will be yearning for more of that sweet, sweet dish from our favorite reigning rookies of the year.
The NBA postseason is rapidly approaching, with less than two weeks remaining in the 2025-26 regular season.
While all postseason berths have been clinched, teams are furiously jockeying for playoff positioning, especially those seeking to remain above the fray of the Play-In Tournament. That’s especially true in the Eastern Conference, where only four games separate the current No. 5 seed, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Miami Heat, currently No. 10.
In the Western Conference, all three divisions have been clinched, with the Oklahoma City Thunder claiming the Northwest, the San Antonio Spurs the Southwest and the Los Angeles Lakers the Pacific. But perhaps the most intriguing story as the regular season winds down is whether the Spurs can catch the Thunder for the top seed in the West.
Heading into the slate of April 2 games, the Cleveland Cavaliers, currently the No. 4 team in the East, can clinch a playoff spot with a win, while the Houston Rockets, currently the No. 5 team in the West, can clinch a playoff berth if the Phoenix Suns lose.
Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Thursday, April 2:
NBA schedule for Thursday, April 2
(All times Eastern)
Phoenix Suns at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. ET
Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m.
New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
NBA standings
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through April 1, and what each of those teams have clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division):
Eastern Conference
(1) d-Detroit Pistons: 55-21
(2) x-Boston Celtics: 51-25 (4 GB)
(3) x-New York Knicks: 49-28 (6.5 GB)
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers: 47-29 (8 GB)
(5) Atlanta Hawks: 44-33 (11.5 GB)
(6) Philadelphia 76ers: 42-34 (13 GB)
(7) Toronto Raptors: 42-34 (13 GB)
(8) Charlotte Hornets: 40-36 (15 GB)
(9) Orlando Magic: 40-36 (15 GB)
(10) Miami Heat: 40-37(15.5 GB)
Western Conference
(1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 60-16
(2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 58-18 (2 GB)
(3) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-26 (10 GB)
(4) x-Denver Nuggets: 49-28 (11.5 GB)
(5) Houston Rockets: 47-29 (13 GB)
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-29 (13.5 GB)
(7) Phoenix Suns: 42-34 (18 GB)
(8) Los Angeles Clippers: 39-37 (21 GB)
(9) Portland Trail Blazers: 39-38 (21.5 GB)
(10) Golden State Warriors: 36-40 (24 GB)
NBA playoffs bracket
(After games played on April 1)
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
NBA Play-In Tournament
(After games played on April 1)
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference
(7) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
(9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.
Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The king of the Western Conference is here and his name is Luka Dončić.
During the month of March, no one played better than the Wonder Boy and the NBA agreed, naming him the Player of the Month for the Western Conference on Thursday.
Luka scored over 40 points seven times in March and ended the month with 13 consecutive games scoring 30 or more points.
Dončić averaged 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 2.3 steals and 7.4 assists per game in March. Luka was the NBA’s highest scorer in March while also ranking 10th in rebounding and third in steals.
With Luka elevating his game, the Lakers dominated the league, going 15-2 in March. They haven’t won that many games in a month since 2000.
Lakers won 15 games in March
Last time Lakers won 15 games in a single month was March 2000: the Shaq MVP season https://t.co/NqhKk11Ivy
This award only strengthens Luka’s MVP case. He’s been named the best player in the West twice, while Victor Wembanayama only won it in February and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won it back in December.
Luka is also a shoo-in to be the scoring king of the league.
He’s averaging 33.8 points per game, just a decimal point off his career-best of 33.9 in the 2022-23 season when he led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance.
With the Lakers currently sitting at the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference and Luka playing some of the best basketball of his career, they look like one of the teams to beat as the regular season comes to a close.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns scores on a dunk during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (42-34) vs. Charlotte Hornets (40-36)
When: 4:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Spectrum Center — Charlotte, North Carolina
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns are looking to solidify their position as the seventh seed in the West and maintain control of their standing. With only six games left, this is going to be a big test, as they are only up three games on the Los Angeles Clippers. After a devastating loss to Orlando, they now look to get a sneaky win against one of their Southeast rivals, the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets and Suns have been pretty good friends in the trade market, exchanging players over the past few transaction periods. That being said, both are fun, exciting young teams who are trying to make a statement this year. The Suns want to be that defensive powerhouse that can guard anyone one through five, while the Hornets want to outscore you with their lethal offense.
Charlotte has been able to take care of business and is now no longer rebuilding but looking to shine with Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Miller. A relatively healthy team, compared to past seasons, has shown that, with the new culture brought by Charles Lee, they can win now and in the future too.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Mark Williams – QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Third Metatarsal Stress Reaction)
Amir Coffey — OUT (Left Ankle Sprain)
Haywood Highsmith — OUT (Right Knee Injury Management)
Hornets
PJ Hall — OUT (Right Ankle Soreness)
What to Watch For
One thing to watch for in this one is how Dillon Brooks is back in with this team. He missed 18 games with a broken hand, leaving the Suns a bit disconnected on defense. Not having their main anchor of defense made it tough to stop opponents from getting to the paint and eventually scoring.
Having him back should bolster the Suns’ rim protection. With Brooks, we saw that he returned in his first game. He got into some old trouble early as well. His limiting that (as best as he can) would be helpful so the Suns can keep him on the court for those defensive purposes. This Hornets offense is talented, and Brooks is going to have to be key to stopping their electric scorers.
Brooks, offensively as well, has to find himself back in this groove as he, Booker, and Green are all healthy. This is the time we have all been waiting for: a healthy three-headed monster that can win the Suns’ games. For Brooks, he needs to find his shots and find when he can take those in the offense. After starting the game off with a nice turnaround jump, he then went 3-of-12 for the entirety of the game from the field. Finding where he can succeed, given how iso-heavy he is on the offensive side, is something to look for in this one as the Suns gear up for the Play-In.
Key to a Suns Win
The big key to his game is going to be matching the Hornets’ offensive output. They have been the best offensive team since the calendar year flipped to 2026, and they have completely changed the franchise’s trajectory. That being said, they put up a lot of points and have the shooters to do so. Both LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel can swing a run individually, something the defense will have to be on lock for.
The Suns will need Jalen Green and Devin Booker to once again combine for a great combination of points to keep them in arm’s reach. This time, hopefully getting some trips to the foul line, unlike in Memphis the other night.
Guys like Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Rasheer Fleming are going to have to step up defensively to shut the hot Hornets offense down. With Fleming’s recent development, he needs more playing time, and hopefully, he sees that in this one.
Prediction Time
The Suns turn the corner and beat Charlotte for the second time this season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks to guard Bronny James during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in...
If LeBron James leaves the Lakers this offseason, one outcome is certain — he will not be signing with the Grizzlies.
While recently filming a golf video with the “Bob Does Sports” guys, James absolutely tore into Memphis after he was asked if in-season travel wears on him.
The 41-year-old Los Angeles superstar said it definitely does, and he admitted the home of the Grizzlies is one of the cities that makes him feel the most weary.
LeBron James on playing the Grizzlies:
“I’m f***ing 41 years of age. You think I want to do sh** in Memphis on a random Thursday? I’m not the first guy in the NBA to talk about this. You guys got to move the team… go over to Nashville already.”
He then added that he finds it so mundane, he and some of his other colleagues have actually urged Grizzlies players and perhaps even the franchise to move.
“I’m not even, like, the first guy to talk about it in the NBA,” James said in the video, which just dropped on YouTube on Thursday. “We’re all, like, ‘You guys have to move. Just go over to Nashville. You’ve got Vanderbilt over there. You’ve got the f—king NASCAR. You’ve got a stadium. Don’t they got a hockey team, too? They’ve got everything.”
James went on to reveal there’s no way he’d ever play in a Grizzlies uniform, even if they had been the organization with the top overall pick when he was coming out of high school 23 years ago.
“They know,” James said. “Their only chance was in 2003 if they ever won the lottery. And I might have pulled an Eli Manning and not showed up.”
LeBron James admitted in a recent YouTube video he’s not a fan on Memphis. AP
The vid’s only been up for a couple hours, but James’ words have already garnered criticism.
Grizzlies reporter Jessica Benson took to her X page to blast James and defend her Tennessee turf, writing that “the parade of s—ting on Memphis is tired, cruel and so incredibly misguided.”
“The way people talk about this city is nuts,” Benson said. “Happy to give any NBA player (or anyone!) an itinerary the next time they’re in town to debunk this absurdity.”
James hasn’t yet addressed the growing backlash, but if any Memphians were waiting on pins and needles for him to expound, he should have media availability later Thursday following the Lakers vs. Thunder tilt.
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HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 31: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a few extra days, so it’s time to check with our friends in the Lone Star state.
It’s been a good week for the Houston Rockets, which means it’s been a bad one for the 2026 first-round pick they owe to the Sixers as a result of the Jared McCain trade. Houston rebounded well after starting it as poorly as possible.
They looked to be in a full tailspin when they blew a 13-point lead in overtime to the Minnesota Timberwolves on national television back on March 25. Since then, though, the Rockets have gotten back on track, winners of their last four.
Three of those were against tanking teams in the Grizzlies, Pelicans and Bucks, but they impressively blew out the New York Knicks during this streak as well.
Of course the winning streak is bad news for the pick they owe to Philadelphia. They would currently be giving the No. 23 overall pick to the Sixers. They are a half game behind the Timberwolves for the 21st pick and tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, Houston’s schedule remains pretty light for the rest of the regular season as well. The Utah Jazz at home on April 3 should be a breeze for them. Playing in Golden State on April 5 could be tricky, as Stephen Curry is reportedly eyeing a comeback, but that will be his first game back in two months.
After that they’ll head down to Phoenix to take on the struggling Suns, who have won just three of their last 10. The Sixers themselves might have the best chance to take one from them on the April 9. They’ll wrap up the regular season with the Grizzlies and Wolves one more time at home on April 10 and 12, respectively.
Before that pick’s position will be set in stone, Sixers fans can get one last chance to get a look at some potential prospects in the Final Four. Arizona featuring Koa Peat and Michigan featuring Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara will square off on April 4 at 8:49 p.m. ET.
