NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s that time of the year.
That time of the year when we come up with a thousand possibilities, anxiously think about this and that and the other thing… only for everything to unfold and be resolved by itself in 24 hours.
We just can’t help ourselves, can we? That’s why, with just one game left to play and the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed out East, we’re presenting you with all possible four first-round opponents and all scenarios that would lead to each of those matchups, depending on Sunday’s results.
Rest assured, New York will be hosting whoever happens to cross their path for the first two games of the series.
NY Knicks vs. TOR Raptors
Hawks win AND Raptors win
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. ATL Hawks
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic lose
NY Knicks vs. ORL Magic
Hawks lose AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
Hawks win AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. PHI Sixers
Raptors lose AND Magic lose AND Sixers win
All games with Eastern Conference-seeding implications are scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, so you can start making room for the 6-9 timespan.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Micah Peavy #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the TD Garden on April 10, 2026 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Magnet ball
Shooting in basketball carries a big share of variance and luck. Even the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry, is below 50% from beyond the arc on wide-open attempts. This means you’d still have a better chance to win a coin-flip game than to see Curry knock down a three when he is open. Not that shooting threes is like tossing a coin, but I think there are some similarities.
And yesterday, the Celtics kept benefiting from that coin flip.
It started with Derrick White, launching a 34-footer after receiving the ball with less than a second on the clock.
Seeing how responsive the ball was to their shooting attempts, the Celtics kept firing. They ended up taking 59 threes, the highest total of the season — and they made 29 of them, tying the record from last season against the Knicks in the home opener.
What’s even crazier is that every Celtic who played more than 10 minutes attempted at least one triple. Yes, even Neemias Queta. And yes, he made it!
Out of a Spain pick-and-roll action, Jordan Walsh swings it back to Nemi, and that’s a beauty.
#2 – Taking away the rim
While the offense was impressive, the defense also showed great discipline after a complicated night in NY. The threat that the New Orleans offense presented was heavy rim pressure, with 42% of their shots attempted within 4 feet (1st in the league).
Yet, the Celtics were able to bring that number down to 22%, taking away the rim from the Pelicans, who were forced to rely much more on floaters and mid-range shots than layups.
The play above is a great example of how well the Celtics protected the paint, with Queta anchoring the rim, Sam Hauser staying connected to the ball, Walsh helping at the top of the key, and White ready to help or close out on Derik Queen.
The Celtics were helped by the lack of talent and spacing, but they remained disciplined all game long to make up for their previous defensive collapse. Looking forward to seeing that discipline when the playoffs start.
#3 – Jaylen rim pressure
On the other end, while the Pelicans couldn’t find a way to the rim, Jaylen Brown showed how relentless of a driver he has become. The 2024 Finals MVP forced seven free throws and scored on five drives throughout the game.
He did a great job identifying and attacking mismatches early in the possession so he could get downhill without being slowed by a second defender.
His handle and ability to turn the corner were on display last night, and once he gets up to speed, it becomes really hard to stop him. Very nice footwork at the end of the drive to jump off two feet for better control and go around the block attempt from Kevon Looney.
While his ability to get to the rim was elite last night, he had some trouble with the Pelicans’ aggressive coverages.
#4 – Dealing with gravity
The night before, it was Jayson Tatum who had six turnovers against the Knicks. This time, it was Brown who lost the ball seven times against the Pelicans. The young team’s game plan was to force the ball out of Brown’s hands and apply pressure whenever he had it.
In pick-and-roll situations, their big men were aggressive at the level of the screen to slow down the All-Star and force occasional turnovers.
As Brown was killing them inside, they kept bringing more bodies into the paint to force kick-outs, ready to close out wherever JB would pass the ball. Here, Poole sees Brown is stuck and forced to pass, and is able to steal the ball intended for Walsh on the wing.
These two games where JB and JT struggled to take care of the ball against aggressive defenses showed why they need each other to stretch the floor and avoid being the sole focus of the opponent’s game plan.
#5 – PP & Vooch off the bench
Speaking of duos, that new two-man scoring punch off the bench with Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic could be really dangerous offensively. With PP’s scoring ability and growing gravity, combined with Vucevic’s screening and floor-spacing, this bench unit could become elite on offense.
Last night, they played a lot together, like in this action. PP throws the ball to Vooch and runs toward him to initiate a handoff at full speed. Because PP is quick and Vucevic is a threat from outside, the defense doesn’t know what to prioritize, creating hesitation and leading to open layups.
Games are won in the details, and Joe Mazzulla knows that. Safe to say he must have loved these sneaky plays from Derrick White to generate extra possessions.
It started on the very first action of the game with that sneaky offensive rebound from behind, leading to an open three.
For the 13th time this season, the Celtics recorded more than 30 assists — a rare sight for a team with the lowest assist rate in the NBA. Yet, they are undefeated when reaching that mark.
Looking at the opponents, it also feels like the ball moves more against lower-tier teams, as most of these games came against the Nets, Wizards, or Bucks.
#8 – Red Auerbach award
Payton Pritchard won’t be eligible for Sixth Man of the Year, but he most certainly deserves the Red Auerbach Award. The guard has delivered game after game, despite losing his spot in the starting lineup.
Payton Pritchard receives a huge ovation as he wins this year’s Red Auerbach Award – given for embodying the spirit of being a Boston Celtic ☘️ –@CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/OW2jmDkHb9
Whether as a starter or off the bench, Payton has consistently brought the spark that allowed the Celtics to be the best version of themselves and outperform expectations in what some saw as a gap year.
#9 – From a gap year to second seed
The last time the Celtics weren’t a top-two seed, Brad Stevens was still coaching. Even more impressive, over the last seven seasons, the Celtics have ranked top four in Net Rating in six of them.
This season might be the craziest yet in terms of performance, as the Celtics finished with the second-best offense in the NBA (third last year) and the fifth-best defense (same as last year).
#10 – Ready for a revenge playoffs run?
The upcoming playoff run could look a lot like last year’s. Orlando is very likely to be Boston’s first-round matchup, and the Knicks could be waiting in the semifinals.
Will they be ready this time? Exciting times ahead as the Celtics close out an extraordinary regular season.
Jan 21, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) and forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) react during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Just yesterday, the Hawks clinched their 50th playoffs appearance in franchise history after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team will have one final regular season game Sunday against the Heat, but then they will turn their focus to either a series against the New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Both teams pose their problems for opposing frontcourt between Mitchell Robinson’s bulk, elite rebounding and rim protection, Jarrett Allen’s rim running and touch around the rim, and Evan Mobley’s all-around defensive game.
Incumbent backup center Jock Landale may or may not be ready from an ankle injury by the time the playoffs roll around this upcoming weekend, so I posed the question to the readers of this blog: who should the Hawks go with behind Onyeka Okongwu?
Well, the masses have chosen the wiry defender from Senegal as their choice:
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 19: Aaron Holiday #0 of the Houston Rockets shoots against Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena on November 19, 2025 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. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers 114-104 on Thursday night at Toyota Center in Houston. However, after a near collapse in the fourth quarter, Houston needed offensive production, and they found it from none other than guard Aaron Holiday. In his 14 minutes of action, Aaron Holiday was 3-of-5 and scored seven vital points, but what’s most important is his role during the fourth quarter.
Houston was leading 96-73 going into the fourth. Other Rockets fans and I were feeling alright, but just like during the Sun’s game Tuesday, the tables quickly turned. It looked like the game was going to get out of control as the momentum was shifting fast, and Houston was unable to rely on its young players during this stretch, so they turned to the veterans. In the last quarter of the game, the Sixers scored 29 points while the Rockets made only 5 of 20 shots. However, the shots that were made were timely. The Rockets’ ability to make timely shots was crucial. Ime Udoka called a timeout right away after Philly trimmed the margin to 101-94 with almost four minutes remaining in the game. The Rockets would score two consecutive corner threes: one from Kevin Durant after Aaron Holiday drove to the basket, and another from Aaron Holiday after Kevin Durant assisted. This means that during both key possessions, Aaron Holiday found a way to get involved.
Holiday’s production wasn’t only against Philadelphia as he saw an increased run in games versus Utah, Golden State, and Phoenix, scoring six points versus both Utah and Golden State, and 12 points versus Phoenix. Aaron Holiday is the quintessential backup guard who perfectly embodies the next man up mentality. The Rockets are going to need some production from him heading ito this year’s NBA Playoffs.
The Rockets will end their season Sunday night at home versus the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:00. As always, be sure to check back here at The DreamShake for pre- and postgame content.
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) took on the San Antonio Spurs (62-19) Friday night in their penultimate game of the 2025-2026 season, which ended in a 139-120 loss. Dallas rolled in with a lengthy injury list that included the usual suspects this year, along with P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson.
The game started off closer than expected under the circumstances, but the Spurs pulled ahead by 11 points by the end of the first frame. Victor Wembanyama was expected to play around 20 minutes in order to meet qualifications for league honors, and clearly wanted to make the most of his time. He was red hot throughout the night (which ended with him playing 26 minutes) and was a big reason the Spurs jumped out to an early lead.
In the second quarter, the Mavs flipped the script and dropped in 39 points to cut the deficit to three points at the half. Cooper Flagg had a massive game of his own, nearly matching Wembanyama. The Mavs carried their momentum into the third quarter, taking the lead on multiple occasions before the wheels came off. The Spurs scored on nine-straight possessions and almost instantly put the Mavs in a hole they were unable to climb out of.
The fourth quarter basically amount to garbage time, but it was nice to see the Mavs come close to holding steady (getting outscored in the quarter 31-27) despite AJ Johnson, Tyler Smitth and John Poulakidas leading the charge in the late going. When all was said and done, the Mavs had a solid offensive performance but had no answer for Wembanyama and ultimately got blasted heading into their final game of the season.
The Mavs won the turnover battle
The Mavs won the turnover battle
Dallas has had some awful game in terms of turnovers, occasionally with one or more players tallying five or more each. Tonight was an entirely different story. Both teams took care of the ball, but the Mavs had only seven turnovers against a very good team. Oddly, Dwight Powell accounted for three of them, which itself is an anomaly. In the end, it wasn’t enough to save the Mavs from a lopsided loss, but seeing them take care of the ball against a team that could have made them look silly was a decent consolation prize.
Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year push
Over the past few games, Flagg is clearly being featured even moreso than usual in a final effort to win Rookie of the Year honors. After an 11-point outing last game against the Phoenix Suns, Flagg was back to his old self, pouring in 33 points on 52% shooting on 25 shots; nearly double the next closest Mav (Ryan Nembhard with 13 attempts). Throughout it all, Flagg continues to play within himself and the team’s gameplan. Nothing he did on Friday night felt forced and he even dished out five assists. It’s insane to me to think Flagg has a chance at missing out on ROY, and if nothing else, this burst over the past week will at least make for an eternal argument in the annals of NBA history if he doesn’t win the award.
Max Christie finding his shot
Mette Robertson recently covered a podcast that Cooper Flagg partook in. With him was Max Christie, who spoke about what he is learning from Klay Thompson. Particularly, Christie commented on getting his shot off quicker, a sentiment he reiterated in his postgame interview. Christie was 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-12 overall in Friday’s game. His shot looked good and was noticeably quicker. He even got one off from the corner with Wembanyama closing out on it, hitting nothing but net. That Christie is willing to learn and has one of the greatest shooters to learn from, is a positive sign going forward. The Mavs are at the bottom of the league in everything three-point related, and will need Christie to help reverse that trend next year and beyond.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Head coach Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards talks with Bub Carrington #7 against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, the Washington Wizards lost to the Miami Heat, giving them a nine game losing streak. They are 17-64 with one more game left to go. The Indiana Pacers have 19 wins, so that makes them officially … the worst team in the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Wizards will officially finish the 2025-26 season with the NBA’s worst record. pic.twitter.com/nqJi1XPsKX
With the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, it appears that Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and General Manager Will Dawkins are ready to turn the page on another sub-20 win season. Hopefully this past season is the last time when we are quietly wondering whether losing is actually winning, if you know what I mean.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: A.J. Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after making a three point basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cormac Ryan electrified the crowd in the opening minutes of his first-ever start, and AJ Green later brought the house down with an all-time display of marksmanship, leading to an emphatic 125-108 win by the Milwaukee Bucks over the Brooklyn Nets. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Green closed a somewhat up-and-down season with a virtuoso sendoff. Yes, he made franchise history with 11 made triples, and moved into second all-time for three-pointers made in a season. Those things got everyone riled up, with the crowd chanting his name (and nickname). Even better, though, he played a complete game, complementing his shooting theatrics with solid playmaking, above-average rebounding, and alert D. Hard to find anything not to love about his statement game.
In his first-ever start, Ryan came out firing—and rarely missed in the first quarter. He looked like anything but a newbie, playing under control and never seeming out of sorts on offense or defense. His breakout game would be THE story on any other night. Alas, Dairy Bird outshone him, a tough task when Ryan was such an electrifying player all game long.
Prince showed out, displaying the big impact on both ends that the team missed out on during his extended absence due to neck surgery. A sequence in the third quarter—he made a high degree-of-difficulty corner triple, then stole the ball on D and raced down court to drain another three—was a crescendo moment that had fans going berserk, and wishing they’d seen more of Prince throughout the season.
Dieng played the kind of solid all-around game that has become his hallmark. On a night when so many teammates were on fire shooting, it was Dieng who most consistently found them for open looks. His own poor shooting was more than made up for by those dozen helpers and six boards.
Sims followed his career-first triple-double with a double-double in Friday’s tilt. What stood out was his rebounding, as he kept many possessions alive with five offensive boards. He scored at his usual hyper-efficient rate. The plus-minus number seems misleading, as the eye test showed Sims making winning plays on both ends.
Turner was a force of nature on both ends. He swatted away five Nets’ shots and altered plenty more. He started the game with a triple to get the crowd revved up, and kept bringing the cheers with thunder dunks and more long bombs in the second half. Those flourishes came between periods where he seemed quiet, but his +26 tells the story of an overwhelmingly positive impact.
Kuzma pulled his occasional disappearing act, not making many obviously winning plays—save the electrifying logo triple to close the first half—while playing too fast and coughing up the ball five times. Not a tragic Kuz game, but certainly not much to like here either.
On Redemption Night for many of his teammates, AJax just couldn’t get his act together enough to join the revival. His shot was off, and he didn’t do much else to help the team’s cause. His -11 “led” the team, and felt like an accurate reflection of his overall impact.
Grade: D
Doc Rivers
No Bobby, no Giannis, no KPJ. Yes, the Nets were also depleted and are a horrid team even at full strength. But the Bucks decisively won the battle of lottery squads, with huge performances from a cast of nobodies. The standout performances from Green, Ryan, Dieng, Sims, and Prince showed that the coaching staff did a better-than-average job coaxing development from those players and keeping them engaged in a season where not much went right, and players could be forgiven if they were checked out by now. Friday’s performance suggested they aren’t, and Rivers deserves heavy credit.
Grade: A
DNP-CD: Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanassis Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Bobby Portis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pete Nance, Gary Trent, Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Harris, Ryan Rollins
Bonus Bucks Bits
With 227 three-pointers this season, Green is second all-time in Bucks history. He has a great chance of surpassing Ray Allen, currently number one with 229 triples in the 2001-02 campaign.
In scoring 20+ points in three of his first 10 NBA games, Cormac Ryan joins elite company. Others in Bucks’ history who’ve achieved that feat: Kareem, Marques Johnson, Brandon Jennings, and Ray Allen.
Ryan said he and Green engaged in heated games of one-on-one on summer mornings at 5:00 a.m. last offseason: “I felt bad for our trainers; we had to drag them in. They just wanted to sleep.”
Up Next
The Bucks travel to Philly for a Sunday night tilt against the 76ers in the final game of the season. Catch it at 5:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: (L-R) Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines speak to media at a player breakout session during a 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four practice day at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara played a pivotal role in head coach Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines winning the national championship this season. Now, after successful first years in Ann Arbor, both big men have important decisions to make in the next month or so.
Mara and Johnson — along with fellow Wolverine Yaxel Lendeborg — are projected to be first-round picks in this summer’s NBA Draft. Mara is projected to be selected in the late portion of the lottery, while Johnson is expected to go in the late part of the first round.
The goal for all guys that enter the NBA Draft is to receive a guaranteed contract. If you are selected in the first round, you will receive a guaranteed contract for two years; the remaining two years after that are controlled by the team. The higher you get picked, the more money you make.
Turning down the NBA isn’t easy, but Johnson recently told NBC5 in Chicago he wouldn’t mind doing it if that’s what’s best for him.
“There’s no rush because if I can’t get (a guaranteed contract) this year, I know I can get it next year, and I have no issue coming back to Michigan and trying to repeat,” Johnson said.
#Michigan PF Morez Johnson and his decision to either stay or go to the NBA via NBC Chicago:
“There’s no rush because if I can’t get a (guarantee NBA contract this year), I know I can get it next year. I have no issue with coming back to Michigan and trying to repeat.” pic.twitter.com/7KVZO6af5l
Johnson is ESPN’s No. 27 overall prospect on their big board this year. Just for the sake of example, let’s say 27 overall is exactly where he goes in this year’s draft. The 27th overall pick last year was former Wolverine Danny Wolf. According to Spotrac, Wolf is making $2,801,280 as a first-year NBA player. Let’s say the number goes up slightly this year and is right at $2.9 million.
With all that information in mind, the question then becomes whether or not Michigan would be able to match or exceed the $2.9 million, bring Johnson back for one more year and help raise his draft stock. Michigan isn’t a poor program by any means, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that scenario were to be reality. I’m sure May and his staff wouldn’t mind having a veteran big man that has experience in the system back in Ann Arbor.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with a Spanish media outlet, Mara was speaking as if he already had his mind made up as far as declaring for the draft. But it also sounds like he will retain his collegiate eligibility just in case.
“There’s still the whole summer ahead, during which I have to prepare for the draft, talk to teams, train with teams, and see what position I’ll play,” Mara said. “I’m lucky enough to be able to decide what to do; both options are good, whether I stay or leave.”
May already has an insurance policy in the event that one or both big men leave for the draft, as the Wolverines acquired the commitment of former Tennessee center J.P. Estrella on Thursday. However, getting one or both of Johnson and Mara to come back would be incredible for Michigan’s chances of going back-to-back.
At this point, I expect both of them to declare for the draft while retaining their college eligibility. Mara seems more likely than Johnson to stay in the draft, but both of them very well could be ready to move on regardless of where they end up getting selected. The deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 27, so there is a lot of time between now and then for the Michigan big men to finalize their plans.
What do you think Mara and Johnson will do? Go to the NBA? Return to Michigan? Let me know what you think down in the comments section below!
Feb 7, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
If he stays he would be trouble (for the opponents).
If he goes it might be double (carrying the UNC torch brightly into the NBA).
First off: this is not a question about what’s best for Caleb. Everyone has him as a top five pick in the NBA, and I genuinely believe he could rise as high as #2. Darius Acuff brings serious defensive concerns. Darryn Peterson has created mental health concerns. Cameron Boozer has NBA execs wondering about his positional versatility and inability to play above the rim. AJ Dybantsa seems the clear #1 at this point, but Wilson’s combination of size, athleticism, basketball IQ, and intangibles has GMs salivating. What does the 2nd pick in the NBA draft deliver? $25,000,000 guaranteed over the first two years with another $30,000,000 in the following two years, which are team optional. It’s best for Caleb to go to the draft right now.
But let’s get selfish for a moment and think about this in terms of what’s best for UNC.
If Caleb comes back, he brings star power and an on-court presence UNC could build a champion around. He’d probably be one of the headline players all off-season, the projected top pick in next year’s draft. He’d be taking a legit shot at “legend” both at UNC and within the college game. On the flip side, he’d also consume a massive amount of NIL on next season’s roster, and he’d risk the dreaded sophomore slump. Can you imagine UNC fans ranting about Coach Malone if Wilson wasn’t going for 25 and 12 every game? I can.
If Caleb goes to the NBA, he’d be the first Tar Heel to go in the top 5 since Marvin Harrison and Raymond Felton in 2005. Caleb oozes UNC positivity and can’t stop talking about how much he loves Chapel Hill and Tar Heel basketball. Carrying that energy into the draft and his rookie season would be proof of concept that UNC basketball can nurture an exceptional talent and propel them to the game’s heights, while also delivering an authentic college experience beyond the court. Caleb didn’t live in a basketball bubble at UNC, divorced from real student life. He soaked it all in.
What a walking, talking billboard for UNC in the pro game, something it’s lacked for awhile now.
So, how do you see it? Let us know in the comments below.
MINNEAPOLIS - APRIL 19: Kevin Garnett #21 and Mark Madsen #35 of the Minnesota Timberwolves congratulate each other after their last game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 19, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2006 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, the NBA released an official statement regarding a bizarre situation in a recent Sacramento Kings versus Golden State Warriors game.
In case you missed it, Sacramento Head Coach Doug Christie instructed his own players to intentionally foul an above average free throw shooter, Seth Curry, despite holding a one-point lead in clutch time. The KANGZ Kings ultimately lost the game in regulation, and considering the tight battle to earn the top lottery odds in a stacked draft, it sparked yet another conversation about “tanking.”
By now, you must be sick of hearing about this. Adam Silver’s focus on punishing teams for losing instead of much more important matters (sports betting). Nonsensical and complicated draft lottery reforms. Fans criticizing talking heads for even talking about it.
Enough!
Alright, fine. But before we leave this all behind us, can I just give you one more quick story? Please?
Let’s turn back your clocks back to calendar year 2006.
Actually, almost exactly 20 years ago to the day. It’s April 18th, the last day of the regular season. The Minnesota Timberwolves were going to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. An inauspicious 33-48 record put them second to last in the West standings, but tied for the seventh-worst overall record. Not great. However, the silver lining was that they were in line to secure the seventh spot in the 2006 NBA draft lottery.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
There was one team just half a game behind Minnesota in the standings: the Boston Celtics. More importantly, three teams sat just one game ahead of the Wolves in the standings: Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets. Why does this matter?
Just eight months prior, the Timberwolves traded away their first round pick (along with All-Star Sam Cassell) to the Los Angeles Clippers.
That pick was smartly (?) top 10 protected through 2011. That meant if the Wolves finished with the eighth-worst record or lower, they would not be at risk of losing said pick. With three teams on the Minnesota’s heels, there was potential for shenanigans tomorrow. Let’s game a look at the tip-off times for all of the aforementioned teams:
Heat @ Celtics – 6:30pm CT
Spurs @ Rockets – 7:00pm CT
Grizzlies @ Timberwolves – 7:00pm CT
Warriors @ Jazz – 8:00pm CT
Nuggets @ SuperSonics – 9:30pm CT
Unfortunately for Minnesota, the staggered start times made it impossible for them to know if they need should tank or not.
Let’s jump back to Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Memphis had nothing to play for, as they had all but locked in their spot as the number five seed in the Western Conference playoffs. In fact, a loss could’ve even benefitted them, pitting them against a 44-38 Nuggets team instead of a 60-22 Mavericks team. They rested or limited minutes to their key rotation players such as a young Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, and Eddie Jones.
The Wolves weren’t to be outdone.
MARLIN LEVISON ¥ mlevison@startribune.com 04/19/06 РAssign#101406- Timberwolves vs. Memphis Рlast game of the season Рa look at a dismal season from players or fans perspective. IN THIS PHOTO:Wolves Marcus Banks, Rashad McCants and Mark Madsen look disinterested as they sit on the bench watching the game proceed without them. (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images) (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
Since a loss would secure their lottery pick, they went all out. Kevin Garnett, who had been already been sitting out due to a “right quad injury,” would not be available. Ricky Davis, who had also been out for that same span, was also not active due to a “right knee injury.” They were the Wolves top two scorers by a mile. Not enough? Let’s take starting point guard, Marko Jarić off the table for no real reason.
Things didn’t start great for Minnesota though. Well, they did great if you’re talking about winning a basketball game. They stumbled into a 10-point lead right before halftime. That advantage shrunk to just six at the end of the third quarter, but there was still time.
Mark Madsen time, to be specific.
The 30-year-old, two-time NBA champion, knew what it took to win. And in this case, a win actually meant a loss. He subbed in for starting center Mark “Big Basic” Blount with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter, and never looked back. If you aren’t familiar with other Madsen’s game, he was a classic undersized, hustle-type, frenetic energy big. In today’s game, think Dwight Powell. Madsen only averaged about 10 minutes a game and less than two field goal attempts.
In this specific game, Madsen played 30 minutes and took 15 shots.
After missing his first three shots of the game, he finally made his first (and only) bucket of the game. Madsen’s layup put the Wolves up five with 7:35 remaining. Danger time. Minnesota was up three with 39 seconds left and possession of the ball. They could nearly run out the clock and simply secure a victory. Instead, with 12 ticks still on the shot clock, “Mad Dog” fired a 15-foot jumper that missed.
Why does that seem weird?
That was Madsen’s second shot from outside the paint.
All season.
MINNEAPOLIS – APRIL 19: Mark Madsen #35 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 19, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies won 102-92. NOTICE 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 2006 NBAE (Photo By Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After essentially leading all game, the Grizzlies had somehow managed to drag this clown show into overtime thanks to a Brian Cardinal three-pointer on the following possession. What ensued in the two following five-minute overtime periods would make Adam Silver choke on a slice of tiramisu.
If you thought Mark taking his second ever jump shot of the season at the end of regulation was bad, you hadn’t seen anything yet. Throughout Madsen’s 502 NBA games, including both regular season and the postseason, he had only ever attempted 18 three-point shots. Five of those 18 were halfcourt heaves, so he’s really ever taken 13 honest to god shots from beyond the arc.
13 three-point attempts in 502 games. He made one of those.
He shot seven three-point attempts in 10 minutes of overtime play in this game alone.
He made none of those.
Many of these “shots” had no chance of going in. Airballs, backboard rockets, bricks off the side of the rim. You could hear fans in Target Center shouting out “Draft pick!” during this horrid display. Eventually, you see Madsen smiling, might I say winking, at fans during dead ball situations late in the game. The broadcast even cut to replays of both the Minnesota and Memphis benches bursting into laughter as Madsen ran around like Steph Curry, launching jumpers off the catch. The late, great Tom Hanneman and a young Jim Peterson were on the call and were cracking up, even encouraging Madsen to “Let it rain!” live during the game. It ended with Head Coach Dewane Casey drawing up an elevator doors play for Madsen to get off a three-ball despite being down 10.
I am not embellishing.
Feast your eyes on rare footage of this blatant, shameless, and absolutely hilarious tank job by the Timberwolves, commandeered by Mark Madsen:
Victor's coming! Tanking teams need guidance.
Remember the time Mark Madsen went 1-for-15 in the 82nd game? He missed 7 threes in 2 OT's as Minnesota scraped out an L to move up in the draft.
Fans yelling "DRAFT PICK!", visiting Grizzlies in disbelief. An unbelievable game. pic.twitter.com/PnNtE2qXAR
If you think this game came and passed as if no one paid attention, well then you would be wrong. Casey shared his thoughts with reporters after the game.
“The guys were having fun with it. For what we’ve been through this season, I thought the guys deserved it. I hope what we did didn’t make a mockery of the game”
Dewane Casey, 2006
Even Madsen himself recalled the game some eight years later. Like Casey, he laughed it off as harmless fun.
“Imagine being out there, catching the ball at the three-point line and the whole arena is yelling, ‘Shoot.’ It doesn’t make me feel good. So in my mind, I’m like, you know what, I’ve worked hard on my game. I’m going to go out there and knock these down. I think everyone in that building knew the situation. But I go out there and try to make every single shot always.”
Mark Madsen, 2014
You’d imagine that this Timberwolves organization, who just got harshly punished by the NBA for illegal contract negotiations six years ago, would’ve been discouraged from any potential funny business. But this was 2006, where things were still new. There wasn’t easy access to watching or streaming basketball games, nor was there social media to spit out clips and aggregate this travesty.
Glen Taylor’s Timberwolves walked away Scot-free.
SEACUCUS, NJ – MAY 22: Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery on May 22, 2007 at the NBATV Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. 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 2007 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
General Manager, Kevin McHale, ended up with the number six pick in the 2006 NBA draft. He selected multi-time All-Star and All-NBA guard, Brandon Roy. However, on draft night, McHale swapped the draft rights to Roy for future career-journeyman, Randy Foye. So, yeah. The Timberwolves may have pulled off the most blatant greatest tank job ever without direct repercussion, but in some ways, they ultimately punished themselves.
Because sometimes you might think you’re tanking, when in reality, you’re really just a living, breathing, tank.
Let that be a lesson to those of you pissed off at Sacramento.
It became obvious early on that this Dallas Mavericks season wouldn’t be about wins and losses. There would be no playoff push, no late game heroics in the postseason. Not even a solid 41-41 season that might give you some hope for the next year.
So you start thinking about reasons to watch this team. You could settle on a lot of things, but one you could land on is the vibes. You want to have a good time, and maybe the Mavericks can help you with that.
For the most part, they have. Despite having an atrocious record, they’ve been competitive all season. Cooper Flagg has flashed promise of superstardom, having more than a few huge scoring nights, including a 50-point game recently. The two-way guys brought up from the G League have been fun. Inconsistent, but fun.
But mostly when you have a season like this, you just want to have a good hang with the team. You want an interesting and lively group that can find some joy in the long grind that is the NBA regular season.
That’s where Dwight Powell comes in.
A few weeks back, the Mavericks Instagram account posted a video where the players were asked about their favorite restaurants. They mostly name steakhouses near the American Airlines Center, which fine, whatever. I’m not a food critic, and they probably just want a nice meal where they won’t be bothered. NBA players are mostly very tall, and therefore can’t exactly blend in when out in public.
I’m not going to get upset that not one barbecue place was mentioned. And I understand it’s a drive to Arlington, but Smoke’N Ash is there. I’m not going to say they should try Jose on Lovers, a place featured in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles. I don’t know all the good restaurants.
But this isn’t about Dallas restaurants.
This is about Dwight Powell. His aura. The vibe glowing off this man. Look at him.
And of course he chose Uchi as his favorite restaurant. The man knows good food. He knows Dallas. He knows where the good vibes are.
Don’t talk to me about Powell’s plus/minus, or his points per game. I’m not interested in his shooting percentages. Don’t even think about bringing up his DARKO or RAPTOR rating, I don’t even know what that is. All I care about his is POWELL rating, and it’s off the charts.
Powell is here, creating and maintaining vibes you can’t even begin to consider. Whatever he contributes on the court is just extra for the Mavericks.
Toward the end of the video, Klay Thompson calls Powell the mayor of Dallas. It’s just a joke, of course, but Powell has been here in the Metroplex since 2015. He’s the longest tenured player on the Mavericks by far. He’s seen almost everything here in Dallas, except a championship. He got close in 2024.
The mayor in most cities does a lot of ceremonial duties. They cut ribbons, pose for pictures, shake hands. They set the tone, create the culture. That’s what Powell does for the Mavericks. Sure, he’s willing to step in and play some basketball when needed, but mostly, he is focused on his more important job—keeping the good vibes flowing.
— Podziemski’s Gravity (@currysnotafraud) April 11, 2026
The viral social media account @currysnotafraud has been inactive since Nov. 24, 2024, due to Podziemski’s inability to score 30 points. That all changed Friday night.
— Podziemski’s Gravity (@currysnotafraud) April 11, 2026
Social media has been giving Podziemski a hard time all season, and it snowballed to seemingly being booed at Oracle Park in early April.
Fans have been reluctant to appreciate the efforts Podziemski has contributed this season, having played in all 81 games so far.
The third-year guard out of Santa Clara reached his career-high during garbage time of a 124-118 loss to the Kings, but Podziemski has been close to the 30-point mark on several occasions.
Reaching 25 or more points eight times this season, Podziemski picked up the slack with superstar Steph Curry out for a chunk of the season.
Curry was sidelined with runner’s knee for 27 consecutive games, but is now back just in time for the NBA play-in.
In order for the Warriors to make some noise in the playoffs, Podziemski is going to have to continue posting quality numbers with another 30-point game possibly on the horizon.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #11 of the Miami Heat drives against Keldon Johnson #0 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter of a preseason game at Kaseya Center on October 15, 2024 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. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This has been a fascinating NBA season in many aspects, but especially when it comes to the various awards races. Despite the regular season being almost complete, a handful of the biddings for these categories are coming down to the wire.
This year’s Sixth Man of the Year discussion is no exception. In most years, we usually have a pretty obvious candidate. However, this go around, injuries have forced some of the best bench guys to start too many games to qualify (i.e., Payton Pritchard).
With this said, the race has narrowed to two main candidates: Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Keldon Johnson. According to popular sportsbooks like FanDuel, they are the only two players with realistic odds of taking home the crown.
But which of these two gentlemen is most deserving of the award? Let’s take a look at the numbers.
The Box Score
Raw counting stats favor Jaquez. This season, he boasts a higher PPG, APG, and stocks (steals and blocks) per game, and his RPG (5.1) are nearly identical to that of Johnson (5.4). However, Jaime also plays nearly five more minutes per contest than Johnson, so it isn’t necessarily fair to compare these two without adjusting for playing time.
To do this, we will look at points per 75 possessions, rebounding rates (both offensive and defensive), assist rate, and stock rate. We also need to factor in efficiency. So, true shooting percentage is also included in the chart below:
When you look at it this way, Johnson is the superior scorer and rebounder, and he’s managing this higher scoring output on better efficiency. However, Jaquez’s role within the Miami Heat offense asks him to do a lot more creating for himself (his unassisted field goal rate is 14.7% higher than Johnson’s) and his teammates.
Jaquez’s steal/block rate is also higher than Johnson’s, but only by a slight margin, and that may be explained by the fact that the Heat tend to be a more aggressive defense than the San Antonio Spurs in general (Miami’s opponent turnover rate is 1.3% higher).
The Advanced Stats
As many of you know by now, the box score hardly ever tells the full story – even when you adjust for pace. A player’s numbers are only as good as their impact on winning, and history is littered with empty-calorie stat sheet stuffers (I’m looking at you Cam Thomas).
Dunks & Threes’ Estimated Plus-Minus is widely-viewed as the best publicly-available one-number metric because it incorporates tracking data. EPM gives Johnson the edge, as he ranks in the 73rd percentile leaguewide while Jaquez sits at just the 59th percentile.
But again, we need to add more context. One number metrics are limited to measuring how good a particular player is on their particular team. And as we’ve already established, Jaquez is generally asked to do more for the Heat than Johnson is for the Spurs, so he has more to live up to as far as impact metrics go.
So, we also need to point out how each team fares when these two wings are on the floor. When it comes to pure on-court rating, Johnson laps Jaquez (see chart below), which makes sense because Johnson plays on the far superior team (the Spurs have 20 more wins than the Heat).
That is why we also need to include on/off data (how well a team does when you are on the floor compared to when you are on the bench) to this analysis. Based on this, the Heat are better with Jaquez on the floor, while the Spurs are actually better when Johnson is on the bench.
History tells us that to win 6MOY of the year you absolutely need to be able to score the ball and you generally need to be on a good team. Since 2001-02, every player who has won the 6MOY award has averaged at least 13 PPG. In that same span of time, 19 of those 24 players (79.2%) played for teams that finished in the top four in their conference. The key exceptions to that last stipulation are Lou Williams (twice), Jason Terry (2008-09), Mike Miller (2005-06), and Antawn Jamison (2003-04), who all still played on teams that made the playoffs.
Both of these guys clear the 13 PPG threshold (although, in Johnson’s case, just barely). But Johnson has a clear edge as far as team success goes. His Spurs are one of the favorites to take home the NBA title, and they currently sit at second in the loaded Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Heat will need some play-in magic (maybe even against Orlando) to qualify for the postseason.
So, while they both are deserving of the recognition, it seems that history favors Johnson.
The stats in this story were updated before Friday’s games.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 10, 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 Suns took on the Lakers on Friday night, and the result was not surprising. Los Angeles came in banged up, but Phoenix essentially waved the white flag with neither Devin Booker nor Jalen Green available. Would it have mattered? We will never know.
What we did see was a heavy dose of the youth movement. Plenty of minutes, plenty of opportunity. The return was modest. These are players stepping into roles they are not used to, and while it looked functional in the first half, once the shots stopped falling in the second half, it unraveled in a way that felt predictable. The offense got clunky. It lost its edge. And the Suns were handled by a 41-year-old LeBron James.
You try to walk away from a game like this asking what you learned. The answer felt simple. LeBron James is still a beast at 41. It is unfair. I have never been the biggest LeBron supporter, but there has always been respect for what he is as a player and how he has carried himself. That part remains. He delivered on Friday night, in a game the Lakers needed to help secure the fourth seed and home court in the first round. That showed.
As for the Suns, the takeaway is clear. The youth is youthful. There is growth ahead before it becomes part of something cohesive. And that is fine.
You pack this one up and move on. People talk about the grind of an 82-game season, but this one felt different. For the Suns, it felt like an 80-game season.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Booker’s Bright Side Baller count is officially old enough to snag a tasty beverage at the bar. That’s right, with his 37-pointer against the Mavs on Wednesday, and the graciousness of your votes, Booker now has 21 BSB’s on the season.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 81 against the Lakers. Here are your nominees:
Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) reacts after getting fouled while attempting to dunk during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
April 12th is the last day of the regular season and then the Spurs have a couple of days off before they begin the first round of the playoffs.
What to do, what to do? How about meeting Devin Vassell?
On Monday, April 13th, Spurs swingman Devin Vassell will be making a guest appearance at Panda Express at 7979 Bandera Road.
From noon until 2PM, fans can meet Vassell while trying Panda Express’ new spicy dish – Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken.
There will be a photo booth, DJ, prize wheel, and an appearance by Pei Pei, the Panda Express mascot.
Make sure to get there early as these events typically have long lines.
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