PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 24: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
It was satisfying to see the Silver and Black take control of the game late on Friday night and win going away behind Dylan Harper’s breakout performance and Stephon Castle’s dominance as the pair of young fellas scored 60 points and overcame another great performance from Jrue Holiday, who has been the Blazers’ best player in this playoff series. Scoot Henderson reverted to the mean and lost his composure a bit in the second half after being called for a technical foul in the second half of Game 3. Deni Avdija was inefficient all game long, and was less effective at foul baiting as the refs seem to be moving on from making bad calls to not making calls at all, including an obvious miss on a Stephon travel in the first half. They did reverse a call on review where Avdija jammed his face into the shooting motion of a De’Aaron Fox drive to the hoop, and earned a chipped tooth and a foul on Fox for his effort. After review, the foul was reversed, but the chipped tooth remained, at least until he visited a dentist after the game.
Victor Wembanyama is still listed as questionable for concussion protocol as of this morning, so the Silver and Black may have to play without him. A win this afternoon will give the Spurs a 3-1 lead heading back to San Antonio for Game 5, which would be great for San Antonio, while the Trail Blazers desperately need to not let that happen. From what I’ve been reading, the strategy for Rip City is to make the game MORE physical, which will probably involve some wrestling at center court. The Spurs will have to avoid getting into the mud with the home team and not let them junk up the game too much, while also matching force with force. It’s going to be fun to watch. LET’S GO SPURS!
Game Prediction:
Keldon Johnson breaks out with a 20 point game, after Robert Williams III (Time Lord) has to leave the game because of Daleks in the arena.
San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, First Round, Game 4 April 26, 2026 | 2:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN app TV: ESPN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As long as the right buttons are pushed, we won’t complain about no starting lineup changes, Mikey.
The Knicks cooked Hawks wings in Atlanta, took a flight back home to New York, and will host a party inside the Garden on Tuesday.
Here’s the latest following a promising outing from your Knickerbockers.
"We've won a lot of games with the starting group. I didn't want to panic and just change anything"
Mike Brown talks about sticking with his starting lineup tonight and why Mikal Bridges didn't play most of the second half: pic.twitter.com/FASAYWh3zN
“It’s always what I feel like — at the end of the day — what’s best for our group. Everything I do it’s about what’s best for our group.”
On keeping Bridges in the lineup:
“We’ve won a lot of games with the starting group. I didn’t want to panic and just change anything. Obviously, we changed some stuff strategy-wise, but I didn’t want to change anything with the starting group because I didn’t feel a need to.”
On featuring Towns more prominently:
“We just switched our early offense. So with us switching our early offense up the way we did, the ball went to his hands quite a bit.”
“Just trying to find different ways to find KAT the ball. And obviously, one of the ways is playing through the elbow. A couple post-ups. So try to move him around, whether he’s at the top of the floor or the elbow or the block. So try to move him around.”
On team play despite struggles:
“At the end of the day, that’s why it’s a team game.”
“Sometimes guys like [Brunson] can struggle but the one thing he continued to do, they got to pay attention to him. They sent double teams at him, which gave other guys wide-open looks. And he set good screens. No matter who it is — if KAT is struggling, he’s got to find other ways to help us win. If Jalen’s struggling to shoot it, he’s got to find other ways to help us win. If OG is struggling to shoot it or not getting enough touches, or Mikal, whoever it is, they just got to keep trying to find different ways to help us win. Jalen did. He created double-teams, Deuce got some wide-open looks. If they’re going to keep doubling him, we got to make sure we knock the shot down.”
“No matter who it is – if KAT is struggling, he’s gotta find other ways to help us win. If Jalen’s struggling to shoot it, he’s gotta find other ways to help us win. If OG is struggling to shoot it or not getting enough touches, or Mikal [Bridges], whoever it is, they just gotta keep trying to find different ways to help us win. [Jalen] created double-teams, [Miles McBride] got some some wide open looks. If they’re gonna keep doubling him, we gotta make sure we knock the shot down. He’s setting great screens. We gotta keep doing those little things when we’re not shooting the ball at the highest level. Jalen did that [in Game 4].”
On spacing and McBride’s impact:
“One of our biggest concepts is spacing. You can do what you want to do — but if all five guys aren’t spaced correctly, it’s going to be tough to get looks. So our group was spaced correctly. Deuce was physical. You can be physical offensively and physical defensively without fouling. Deuce was physical with our screen setting, and we need to be physical with our screen setting. And then after that action, we were aggressive with who had the ball. But we could be aggressive because the spacing is there. So that’s the result of that in the second half and we got to keep exploring not just that combination but any combination knowing at the end of the day our spacing and physicality are big things for us when we do that stuff.”
On creativity and resilience:
“[Atlanta is] making us better, making us think. So we have to be creative while not giving our guys too much by taking advantage of things that we find out every second of the game, over the course of the game. Obviously, the biggest thing is you see the resiliency of our guys, the fight in our guys, and that has to stay there, especially during this time of the year. In both one-point games, we’ve given ourselves a chance. If this bucket goes in down the stretch for us instead of for them, it’s a different story.”
On protecting Brunson defensively:
“We mix it up so Jalen is not always on [the ball-handler]. When he is, we got to make sure we continue to mix up our defensive coverages.”
“We can’t give them a heavy dose of something throughout the game because they have really good players. And when you have really good players, you get in a rhythm and you’re able to take advantage of what the defense is doing. Which is what we were doing in terms of sometimes putting them on, sometimes taking them off. And sometimes hitting right away and sometimes not. So sometimes mixing it up is the best thing.”
On next-play speed and transition defense being key in the Game 4 win:
“When we hit the ground, we’ve gotta get back up and play with next-play speed right away. We can’t take time to get down because they spread the floor. Dyson [Daniels is] to the rim. You’ve got to stop Dyson at the rim after then, and they spray it, and we’re not there to [contest] the threes. So that’s more important. Then — that’s probably the first step. The second step is to crash the right way. And then, we’ll be fine.. They crash from anywhere. You know, there are a lot of teams that crash from anywhere.”
On riding McBride late and sitting Bridges:
“At the end of the day, I just felt that [McBride] had it rolling. They were gonna double Jalen [Brunson]. When they did, [McBride] hit some big 3s. So if a guy has it rolling, he may have a chance to stay out on the floor, that’s all it was.”
On Josh Hart’s defense:
“Yeah, Josh was really good on the ball. Josh is a guy with quick feet, he’s strong and when he gets locked in he’s locked in.”
“We understood that in a pivotal game like tonight, we needed to be our best. I thought we not only met the challenge but we exceeded the expectation in the moment, and that’s what you expect a team that has experience like us to do.”
“I thought we did a great job coming out with more tenacity. More desperation I think is the proper word.”
On having more playmaking opportunities:
“I just feel like opportunities presented themselves, and my teammates made it happen today. They made great cuts and allowed me to make those plays you guys are talking about, playmaking. So, shout out to my teammates making great moves to the basket and allowing me to utilize my skill.”
On sharing the moment with his teammates:
“To be able to have this moment is great, but it’s more important to be able to have this moment with this team, my teammates and brothers in this locker room. It means a lot. And like Magic, I just always talk about impacting winning, and to be able to amplify my teammates is one of the biggest honors I got.”
On the Knicks’ experience helping them in these moments:
“That’s what you expect from a team with the kind of experience we have. Experience teaches you a lot.”
“Obviously, the sense of urgency was there. Down 2-1, giving away two games that we should have won. We had that sense of urgency from the jump.”
On the Knicks’ locker room character:
“I don’t think it’s anything encouraging about it. I think it just reinforces the kind of guys that we have in this locker room. We’ve put ourselves in this position. I know the character we have [and] we were ready to answer back today and, like I said, be ready to build off of it for Game 5.”
“I think it just reinforces the kind of guys that we have in this locker room. We’ve put ourselves in this position. I know the character we have we were ready to answer back today and like I said, be ready to build off of it for Game 5.”
On Towns’ skill set:
“He’s a hub. He’s a guy that can score the ball, but also pass the ball and find guys when they’re open. We have to continue to do that. He’s one of those guys who can take over a game.”
“I think we refocused and understood what was gonna be needed tonight. Most importantly, just not being afraid to fail is a mindset we need to have. Go out there, leave it all on the table.”
On Towns’ impact:
“He really put us in position to win.”
On his sideline exchange with Rick Brunson:
“There’s no debate there. That was two competitors.”
“He’s a special talent. He can do it all. And I know if I get open, he’ll find me. No matter how tight the window is, he’ll be able to find it. It’s amazing playing with a player like him.”
On the importance of rebounding for his game:
“It’s a team effort, for sure. We want to control the boards. And then just depending on who I’m guarding. When I’m on the perimeter, sometimes it’s harder to get rebounds. But making an emphasis on coming in, crashing the boards, helping the team finish possessions.”
On dealing with pain following mid-season surgery:
“Honestly, it’s just been dealing with pain. You know, I had surgery, and there’s things you just gotta fight through. There’s no excuses from out there. I’m expected to do a job.”
On his expectations despite that pain:
“Like I said, it’s no excuses. I expect a lot out of myself, more than anybody else, honestly. And I try not to listen to how I’m feeling day to day. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter; if I’m supposed to get a stop, I gotta get a stop. If I’m supposed to make a shot, I gotta make a shot. So I try not to think about it. Reality is, I’ve gotta go out there and perform.”
On the playoff urgency:
“Yeah, I mean obviously you’re playing Game 42 of a regular-season game, it’s a different feel. So I’d say mentally, physically, film-wise, whatever we have to do to prepare, communicating, holding each other accountable, we can’t push it off. Everything has to be put on the line, put on the table, we’ve got to just run with it. Everybody’s banged up, everybody is dealing with something, but it’s just the time of the year where you’ve got to put it aside.”
On championship motivation:
“I’d say any year you don’t win a championship you should have an ambitious summer to finish off one of these seasons right with a championship. For me, it’s any year we didn’t win it, I’m thinking, I’m pulling from my second year, my third year — I want to win a championship. Not just for selfishly, but for this city, for the guys I fight with, the staff that’s helped us all year and the people behind the scenes.”
On moving without the ball to keep finding opportunities:
“My teammates have done a great job just finding me. I’ve been moving without the ball probably better. That was a big focus of mine, just to figure out where I could get shots moving without the ball, aside from being on the ball.”
“He was being a quarterback. Exactly what he talked about of what he needs to be. We need that every time he’s out there.”
Charles Barkley says he would of put a hit out on Jaden McDaniels if he scored when the game was over vs his team 😳
“Imma put a hit on him. I’m not goin to lie, I have put a hit on guys. If we’re down 20, you don’t do it. If a team is up on me 20 points and a guy shoots a 3,… https://t.co/UaHZqxuOdrpic.twitter.com/0cuEjnf39Y
Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) warms up before game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
After suffering a concussion in Game 2 and missing Game 3, Victor Wembanyama has cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and will play in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama has cleared concussion protocol and will play in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers (3:30 pm ET on ESPN), per me and @malika_andrews. pic.twitter.com/kEkfdLGL4I
The concussion was a result of Wemby banging his chin on the court after losing his balance when Jrue Holiday pulled the chair early in the second quarter of Game 2. He missed the rest of the game, which the Spurs lost, as well as Game 3 in Portland, which the Spurs won thanks to historical performances from Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, as well as an admirable job filling in from the always-reliable Luke Kornet.
Wemby, who said he felt ready before game 3 but did not clear the NBA’s protocols, did pass today’s tests and was cleared an hour before tip-off, which will be at a little after 2:30 PM CT on ESPN. The Spurs lead the series 2-1.
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Lakers Game 4 computer picks
Deandre Ayton Over 10.5 points (-120)
Projection: 12.81 points
Sometimes the prop projections give you a play, and you just have to trust the process. Our model sees this as a five-star play, with the numbers expecting a bounce-back performance from Deandre Ayton. In +EV we trust!
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Marcus Smart Under 4.5 assists (+100)
Projection: 3.55 assists
This is another five-star play according to our projections, and this one makes a little more sense. Austin Reaves is questionable for tonight, and if he comes back, it'll eat up a bunch of Marcus Smart's potential assists.
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Luke Kennard Under 3.5 rebounds (-150)
Projection: 3.16 rebounds
This is similar to the Marcus Smart play. The return of AR would almost certainly cut Luke Kennard's floor time, which means his numbers will see a dip.
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Rockets Game 4 computer picks
Amen Thompson Over 16.5 points (-125)
Projection: 18.43 points
Don't let the Houston Rockets' 3-0 deficit fool you, Amen Thompson has brought his best. He's cleared this line in two of three games, finishing with 16 in Game 2.
In a do-or-die game, Thompson will bring the heat.
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Jabari Smith Jr. Over 1.5 assists (+115)
Projection: 1.87 assists
Jabari Smith Jr. is yet to eclipse this total, but he gets way too many touches and floor time not to bet it at plus money. Our model likes him to set up two buckets tonight.
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Alperen Sengun Over 19.5 points (-125)
Projection: 21.17 points
Alperen Sengun just dropped 33 points, and our model likes him to have another productive game. The big man rose to the occasion without Kevin Durant, and he may have to again with his team's season on the line.
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How to watch Lakers vs Rockets Game 4
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Joel Embiid is listed as doubtful for this pivotal Game 4 between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, but our NBA player prop projections have discovered plenty of value.
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Celtics Game 4 computer picks
Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 8.04 rebounds
Jaylen Brown is an excellent rebounder for his size and uses his strength to get into a good position. He's topped this number in back-to-back outings, and at plus money, our projections view this as a five-star play!
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Derrick White Over 4.5 assists (+102)
Projection: 5.27 assists
Derrick White hasn't cleared this line in B2B games, but he did in his two outings prior. White is surrounded by talent as the Boston Celtics' starting PG, and he can reach this total with his eyes closed as long as his teammates hit their shots.
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Payton Pritchard Over 12.5 points (+102)
Projection: 14.71 points
Payton Pritchard knows how much a win will mean tonight, and he's ready to bring his A game as the Celtics look for a chance to win this series at home in five.
He just dropped 15 in a Game 3 win, and he'll carry that momentum into tonight.
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76ers Game 4 computer picks
Andre Drummond Over 8.5 rebounds (+120)
Projection: 10.37 rebounds
This is the second five-star play of this game, as our model loves Andre Drummond to clear this rebound total. While the big man has certainly lost a step, he can still grab boards with the best of them.
With no Embiid again, the vet will help clean the glass in a near must-win game.
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Adem Bona Over 4.5 points (-105)
Projection: 5.68 points
Adem Bona has gotten the start in every game this series for the Philadelphia 76ers, and he finally started to piece it together with 10 points in his last outing.
With no Embiid, the Sixers will go to the youngster down low to try to convert easy buckets. Just three scores cashes this Over.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 13.5 points (-112)
Projection: 13.92 points
This is essentially a kitchen-sink game for Philly, and Kelly Oubre Jr. will have his number called early and often to provide offense for his team.
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How to watch Celtics vs 76ers Game 4
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Marcus Smart has played tremendously well for the Los Angeles Lakers since returning from a nine-game absence. He logged 18 minutes off the bench in his return, and he’s started four straight games dating back to the season finale.
Through the first three games of the series, Smart has averaged 28.6 points + assists while logging 36 minutes per game. His usage has increased from 15.1 in the regular season to 23.5 in the postseason.
He finished with 23 points + assists in Game 1 and followed it up with 32 and 31 in Games 2 and 3, respectively.
The Houston Rockets are in total disarray after squandering a late lead in Friday’s Game 3. The Lakers could take their foot off the gas and wrap up the series at home in Game 5, but getting James some rest would be ideal.
I expect the Lakers to put the final nail in the coffin of a highly dysfunctional Rockets season.
The Under has hit in four of six head-to-head matchups between these two teams, but I fully expect the Lakers to take care of business in this one and put up more than enough points to push this one to the Over.
After Friday’s 220-point total, the number has moved up just two points to 207.5, making it a value selection.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Head Coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following Mike Budenholzer’s departure from Milwaukee after the Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in 2023, the Bucks’ coaching charge has been a carousel of poor decisions. Yes, Adrian Griffin led the team to a 30-13 start to the 2023-24 season, and yes, Rivers was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame while coaching the Bucks. But anyone with a pair of eyes and some nous could tell you they weren’t the right men for the job. And boy, did we ever—especially with Rivers. Jack cited his poor clutch-time offence, Jackson called for his job after a loss to the Washington Wizards, Finn seemed prescient calling for a new coach—though not necessarily a first-timer, and Van took umbrage with Rivers following an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bulls. Of course, you could see it too—fans were done with Rivers by November. Ultimately, though, the Bucks’ head coaching failures have been part of a much larger separation-of-powers problem. The Jenkins hire suggests that balance may be restored.
First, it signals strategic patience. If the Bucks had done what we had all called for and fired Rivers mid-season, not only would it have been messy, but chances are it wouldn’t have been successful. A 2017 study by José A. Martínez found “that changing a coach [midseason] only improved performance in approximately 12% of cases, and instead decreased performance in approximately 5.20% of cases and had a neutral effect in the majority of cases (approximately 83%).” Similar results were found by Berry Tramel in 2018, who determined that only 37 of 152 midseason coaching changes in the previous 50 years had been successful, while the “overwhelming majority of changes didn’t seem to matter.” Of course, the Bucks only had to look back to their own midseason firing of Griffin and hiring of Rivers to know this. So, by keeping Rivers, the Bucks showed poise—that they’ve learned from past mistakes—avoiding a knee-jerk reaction in order to make a move at the right time—the offseason.
In addition, hiring Jenkins just 11 days after Rivers’ departure indicates the move was planned and that there is a clear direction moving forward. While some might have wanted a prolonged search that thoroughly interrogated every available option—or even waited for potential candidates to become available—we’ve seen that show before. Following Mike Budenholzer’s dismissal, the Bucks worked through an arduous Bachelor-like process that included initial groups of candidates before narrowing to finalists, eventually selecting Griffin—only to fire him less than eight months later. Conversely, the swiftness of Jenkins’ hiring signals conviction. Decisiveness. It declares, loud and proud, this is our guy, and we’re not mucking around. These sorts of decisions aren’t made when there’s doubt. And they certainly aren’t made when there’s a disjoint between the powers that be.
Finally, Jenkins’ hiring preserves optionality. Should Giannis sign an extension, Jenkins is the man for the job, a proven coach with multiple 50+ win seasons and four trips to the playoffs—in the vaunted West, no less (more on that below). But should Giannis request a move—or get traded if he doesn’t extend—and the Bucks rebuild, Jenkins is also the right man for the job, having excelled with youth and player development.
What to expect with Jenkins
Following a lengthy tenure as assistant coach under Budenholzer—five years with the Atlanta Hawks and one year in Milwaukee—Jenkins was hired as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies to start the 2019–20 season. There, he coached the team for five full seasons before being let go with just nine games left in the 2024-25 season. In that time, the Grizzlies were generally very successful, with Jenkins ranking first in franchise history for total wins as a coach (250) and third in winning percentage (53.9%) behind Lionel Hollins and Dave Joerger, who had the luxury of coaching Memphis through the Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley Jr., and Tony Allen-led “Grit and Grind” era. As the table below attests, the Grizzlies were immediately better once Jenkins was hired—and immediately worse when he was let go:
Memphis Grizzlies key stats under Taylor Jenkins. Yellow rows denote seasons Jenkins was not the coach.
Jenkins began his head coaching career with a nearly brand-new Grizzlies squad. Franchise icon Marc Gasol had been traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a package headlined by Jonas Valanciunas during the 2018–19 season, while Mike Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz for Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder, and draft picks in June. Key veteran Garrett Temple was traded for Avery Bradley the season before too, only for Bradley to be waived in July. In all, six of Memphis’ top seven players in minutes per game were gone.
Instead, Jenkins took over a team full of youth. Rookie Ja Morant led the team in minutes, followed by Crowder, third-year Dillon Brooks, sophomore Jaren Jackson Jr., Valanciunas, and rookie Brandon Clarke. Other key contributors included Kyle Anderson, sophomore De’Anthony Melton, sophomore Grayson Allen, and Solomon Hill. In total, seven of their top 11 players were 24 years or younger. Six had two or fewer years of experience. Still, they finished just one game out of the playoffs behind the eighth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who they lost to 126-122 in the inaugural play-in game.
One year later, despite Jackson being limited to just 11 games, the Grizzlies would make the playoffs. Relying on even more youth—rookies Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman—Jenkins guided the Grizzlies to an overtime play-in win against the Stephen Curry and Draymond Green-led Golden State Warriors despite having just a 27.8% change of doing so to begin. Though they ultimately lost 4-1 to the Utah Jazz in the first round, the promise was evident.
In 2021–22, that promise came to fruition. Morant was named an All-Star, Most Improved Player, and made the All-NBA Second Team, and finished seventh in MVP voting. Jackson was named to the All-Defensive First Team and was fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Melton, Tyus Jones, and Clarke all received Sixth Man of the Year votes as the Grizzlies finished second in the Western Conference. New acquisition Steven Adams was hugely impactful too, especially on the boards—he led the league in offensive rebounds—and when screening for Morant. In the playoffs, Memphis beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 in the first round, before losing 4-2 to the Golden State Warriors in the semifinals.
2022–23 saw sustained regular-season success—a key marker for any coach. The Grizzlies again finished second in the West, as Morant was once again named an All-Star; Jackson earned DPOY and All-Defensive First Team honours; Brooks was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team; and Jones finished sixth in 6MOY voting. In the playoffs, however, the Grizzlies fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, 4-2, losing Game 6 by a whopping 40 points. It would be an omen of things to come.
The Grizzlies were decimated by injuries during 2023–24, with Adams missing the entire season, Morant limited to just nine games, and Bane playing only 42. Making matters worse, newly-acquired Marcus Smart—who the team had acquired as part of a three-team deal that saw Memphis give up Tyus Jones and two first-round draft picks—played just 20 games. All things considered, winning 27 games with Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, John Konchar, David Roddy, and Ziaire Williams as five of your top eight players in total minutes is pretty impressive.
Jenkins’ final season with the Grizzlies, the 2024–25 season, seemed to have the writing on the wall from the beginning. Prior to the season, general manager Zach Kleiman overhauled the coaching staff, bringing in six new assistants to combat struggles with half-court offence. It seemed to be working too, with the Grizzlies going 35-16 to start the season. But after a 9-14 slump, Jenkins was fired, with Kleiman citing a need for “urgency” and “clarity of direction.” The Grizzlies, fifth in the Western Conference at the time Jenkins was dismissed, ended up eighth before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. This year, they went just 25-57, finishing 13th.
So, what can Bucks fans take from all of this? Despite the Grizzlies’ half-court struggles on offence, they finished with an 11th-or-better ranked offence three times in five seasons under Jenkins (not including the injury-riddled 2023–24), twice finishing top six. Jenkins’ teams also tend to play with pace, finishing in the top eight five times. And while three-point volume hasn’t typically been a priority, there has been growth there too, with the early Jenkins-led Grizzlies finishing 23rd or 24th in attempts and the teams either side of that 2023–24 season finishing 11th and 13th. Defensively, Jenkins’ teams have consistently been strong, highlighted by three top-seven finishes, and have finished no worse than 14th in defensive rating. Both of these bode well for a Bucks team that was neither offensively nor defensively proficient this year, finishing 24th in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating.
Jenkins’ Grizzlies also regularly succeeded as a rebounding team, something that was so obviously an area of need for this year’s Bucks (who finished 26th in rebound percentage). Again, excluding 2023–24, they had three top-10 finishes, including rankings in first and third, while never finishing below 14th. And while Steven Adams was certainly a pivotal part of Memphis’ success on the boards, Jenkins only had him for two seasons and 118 games. Similarly, he only had Valanciunas for two seasons and 132 games. Outside of these—and one season with Zach Edey (8.3 RPG)—Jenkins has never had a single player average over 6.8 RPG. This bodes well for a Bucks team that does have good individual rebounders—Giannis, Jericho Sims, Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr.—but hasn’t been able to get it done as a collective unit.
All things considered, Jenkins’ hiring is an inspired one. It represents a Bucks franchise that is back on the same page, while simultaneously giving it direction for both of its conceivable paths moving forward. Win now or youth movement, Jenkins is the man for the job. And with that big question mark decisively out of the way, Jon Horst and his team can now focus on the upcoming draft and free agency period to ensure that 2026–27 looks absolutely nothing like 2025–26.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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Victor Wembanyama's status looms over Game 4, but our NBA player prop projections have found six other players you can bet on for this afternoon's matchup.
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Spurs Game 4 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 7.5 points (-130)
Projection: 10.27 points
Julian Champagnie has cleared this modest points total in six of his last 10 games, and if Wemby ends up sitting, this will look like a bargain.
Champagnie scored nine points in Game 3, and his outside shooting will be depended on as the San Antonio Spurs look to take a 3-1 grip.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-115)
Projection: 18.37 points
De'Aaron Fox has been a steady force for the Spurs over the last several games, clearing this point line in four of his last six, and finishing with exactly 17 in the two other games.
Fox will have plenty of time with the ball to eclipse this number.
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Dylan Harper Over 2.5 assists (-145)
Projection: 3.51 assists
Dylan Harper was a stud in Game 3, dropping 27 points in 29 minutes of play. He also collected three dimes while manning the bench unit, and he'll play a similar role this afternoon.
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Trail Blazers Game 4 computer picks
Scoot Henderson Over 2.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 5.03 assists
Five-star projection alert! Our model calls for Scoot Henderson to double this assist total, creating an excellent opportunity for a milestone market.
Scoot will get ample playing time, looking to set up his teammates as the Portland Trail Blazers look to even the series.
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Toumani Camara Over 9.5 points (-130)
Projection: 11.73 points
Toumani Camara put up a stinker in Game 3, but he finished with 10 points a game prior in Portland's lone series win. If the Blazers want to tie up the series, they'll need Camara to contribute. He'll get enough volume to go past this modest points total.
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Robert Williams III Over 7.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 8.56 rebounds
Robert Williams is a ferocious rebounder, pulling down nine boards in back-to-back outings off the bench. RW3 knows why he's on the floor, and that's to attack the glass. Our model likes him to haul in at least eight more rebounds this afternoon.
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How to watch Spurs vs Trail Blazers Game 4
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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HOUSTON — When the calendar turns to February, an urgency is felt around the NBA. It’s one last opportunity to improve your team before the final stretch of the season. Front offices chase it. Fans demand it. Talking heads in sports try to speak it into existence.
We’re talking about the blockbuster trade that creates the illusion that one transaction can completely change the course of a season and take a team that wasn’t a contender and somehow deliver it a championship.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka made one move during this year’s NBA trade deadline in February, and things have worked out well for the franchise. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
That was not the case when the Lakers pulled off one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, flipping Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic. Doncic, who had dragged the Mavericks to the NBA Finals a season earlier, could not get the Lakers back to the mountaintop.
So when Feb. 5 rolled around this year, everyone in Lakers Nation expected another seismic shift to the roster.
Instead, general manager Rob Pelinka made one quiet move.
Fans in Los Angeles groaned and moaned at the restraint shown by Pelinka. They wanted more stars.
And let’s not pretend the lack of moves by the Lakers wasn’t heavily criticized in the sports world, too. It was. Loudly. Prior to the deadline there were rumors of a reunion with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, potential targets of Andrew Wiggins and Lauri Markkanen. Even role players like Ayo Dosunmu or Saddiq Bey made sense.
The Lakers kept Rui Hachimura at the trade deadline, and he has delivered in the postseason. NBAE via Getty Images
Critics pointed at the Lakers’ lackluster defense and said they needed “more three-and-D players.” The chorus echoed across every sports studio show and social media timeline.
Why was Rui Hachimura, playing on an expiring contract, still on the roster?
Why was Dalton Knecht, who was traded at the deadline last year, still on the team?
If the Lakers don’t re-sign Austin Reaves, why not trade him for a superstar?
The reason is because Pelinka decided to bet on continuity. On chemistry. On the reality that sometimes the roster you already have deserves the chance to become something more than the sum of its parts.
And in their first-round playoff series against the heavily favored Rockets, that bet looks a lot smarter than the noise that buried it back in February.
Kennard was acquired to be a 3-point specialist off the bench. Someone who could space the floor for Doncic and give him another shooter to pass to when defenses collapse on him. A clean, reliable, catch-and-shoot option on a team that had too many point guards, making Vincent expendable.
But the NBA postseason doesn’t care about your job description.
The Lakers acquired Luke Kennard at the trade deadline, and he has filled many roles for the team. NBAE via Getty Images
With Doncic and Reaves sidelined, Kennard has morphed into something more valuable than a sniper off the bench. He’s a stabilizer. A secondary creator and ball handler. A calm pulse in moments that usually unravel teams — like the Rockets did in the final 25 seconds of regulation in Game 3. Kennard is initiating the Lakers’ offense and making decisions that won’t necessarily show up in the box score. Oh, and by the way, he still leads the league in 3-point percentage.
And let’s not forget about Hachimura — the same player fans were ready to ship out in February. Instead, he’s back in the starting lineup with Reaves out and doing what he’s quietly done in past postseasons: producing. Efficient scoring. Physical defense. And making game-winning plays when they matter most.
It’s funny how patience sometimes gets rewarded with playoff wins.
In keeping Reaves, Knecht, Hachimura and others at the deadline, the Lakers maintained the belief in their system. In the idea that development doesn’t always have to come from outside the building. Bronny James is contributing in the playoffs, too.
And this idea isn’t some accidental success story. It’s a philosophical one.
Last year, the Thunder made no moves at the trade deadline. They stood pat while everyone else scrambled. No flashy superstar additions. No desperate swings for the fences. Just trust in their timeline. In the players inside that locker room, and the identity and chemistry they had built together.
And that’s why they walked away with a championship.
The Rockets made their blockbuster deal in the offseason — acquiring Kevin Durant from the Suns — and they’ve won fewer postseason games than they did last year.
There’s a lesson in that, one the Lakers clearly studied.
Some trades can swing a season, like the Lakers in 2023. Others are for the future, like Doncic in 2025. But the reality is that most deadline deals don’t save you.
The Lakers understood they weren’t one trade away. Not from a title or from relevance. So instead of chasing a shortcut that didn’t exist, they chose to keep the core and add Kennard.
And now? They’re about to be one of the final eight teams still standing.
Will they win the championship? Probably not. Let’s not get carried away. But that was never guaranteed, no matter how many names you stapled onto the roster in February.
But what they have done is given themselves a puncher’s chance. An opportunity built on chemistry and cohesion, not chaos.
In a league obsessed with constant movement, the Lakers chose stillness.
At the time, it looked like hesitation. Now, it looks like conviction.
It’s a lesson in that sometimes the smartest front office move isn’t the one that dominates all the headlines. It’s the one that resists them.
And in a season in which everyone expected another blockbuster, the Lakers may have proved something far more dangerous.
They didn’t need one.
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The Boston Celtics thrive as the road favorite. Boston is 16-9 ATS in that position this season and 26-16 ATS overall in road games. The Philadelphia 76ers are below .500 ATS both as a home dog and in all home games.
The Game 3 result added to both trends.
Boston bounced back from a Game 2 loss by clamping down on the two players who burned them. VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points on 23-for-48 shooting and 11-for-22 from deep in Game 2.
Boston put Jayson Tatum on Edgecombe in game three, and both Philly shooters paid the price. They combined to hit just 17 of 47 shots and went 5-for-20 from beyond the arc.
I'm also targeting the Under. Boston plays at the slowest tempo in the NBA, and Philadelphia is at No. 15. All three games in the series have gone Under.
Philly has gone Under in 10 of 15 games as a home dog this season, while Boston has been Under 16 of 25 as a road favorite.
Lastly, Jayson Tatum is averaging 23 points in the playoffs and has scored 23 or more in nine of the last 10. He's a better bet than Jaylen Brown, whose points prop is 2.5 points below his playoff average, because Brown is less consistent with his scoring.
In his last eight, he has three games over 35 points and five at 26 or lower.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts after a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter of game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ninety seconds into the second half of last night’s 112-98 Knick win in Atlanta, cosplay analyst Reggie Miller declared the Hawks “on a heater.” In that minute and a half, they’d scored five points, cutting a 14-point deficit to nine.
Reggie Miller is full of shit. Was as a player, is as an announcer. He gets away with it because no one who works with him really cares. His name and his game are his CV. And we’re stuck with it. There’s too much bullshit everywhere to know where to start shoveling.
Had the Knicks lost, they’d have nearly completed digging their own grave. Instead the series is all square heading back to New York for Tuesday’s Game 5. If you know anything about the 1960 World Series, you know one team can dominate a series and still lose. That’s been the story this series, with CJ McCollum twice reprising the role Bill Mazeroski made famous.
For once, the Knicks won a playoff game without any real tension or drama. The Hawks only lead of the game was a one-point edge in its early days; the Knicks led by double-digits most of the way. Besides OG Anunoby, no Knick played more than 34 minutes, yet heroes abounded. I’m focusing on Towns today because I’m still trying to make sense of the bizarre points Reggie Miller kept making.
A major pet peeve of mine (is that redundant?) is when sports media people say “People don’t realize how good Jalen Johnson is.” Of course we do. He was a first-round draft pick from a major college program, is an All-Star and by the end of his current contract will have earned over $160 million. You’re the media. If news need be spread, start spreading it.
After a nice drive by Towns, Miller: “Everybody just thinks he’s a stretch big.” Naz Reid is a stretch big. Steve Novak was a stretch big. Wanna go way back? Terry Mills. In KAT’s two years in New York his 3-point rate’s fallen to its lowest levels since the Knicks’ leading scorers was Kevin Knox. Towns is a six-time All-Star who led the league in defensive rebounds this season and finished just two behind Ivica Zubac last season. We know who he is.
The undersized Hawks know it, too. Five years ago when these teams met in the playoffs, the Mitchell Robinson-less Knicks showed up to a knife fight with Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson. Now Atlanta’s the team looking light up top. Towns led both teams in points and assists, had only two turnovers, tied OG Anunoby for most rebounds and got to the line nine times. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen him push this team over the finish line in a big spot. It won’t be the last.
The third (but by no means final) stupid thing Miller uttered came in the fourth, after Towns set a pick and Dyson Daniels collided with . . . maybe his solar plexus? Once playing football I got completely flipped over in mid-air and came down hard directly on the ball, which was pointing upwards and went right into my solar plexus. The weirdness and intensity of the pain swelled into my whole universe. I couldn’t talk or think or process; all I could do was hurt. A lot. After the Daniels collision, Miller noted, sagaciously, “Towns instantly knew it, too.”
Evidently KAT’s nerves are working just fine. Hopefully his team’s are better after a win as convincing as any the Knicks have had in a while. Humans are humans; we never know what goes on behind the scenes in the lives and interactions of the athletes we follow, but I couldn’t help watching the intensity New York played with last night and think, “If they’d just play like this every night, they’d win it all. Why don’t they play like this all the time?”
That question applies to Towns as much as any New York athlete I’ve watched since Jorge Julio. In one first-half stretch he committed an absurd offensive foul, missed an uncontested lay-up alone under the basket, rebounded it and missed the five-foot follow. What came next? A gorgeous off-hand and-one high off glass, natch. Soon after he made another tough Euro/hesi runner, right before his best sequence of the night: joining the offense as the trailer, wide-open for his favorite 3, only instead he dished to a cutting Josh Hart, who found OG in the corner, who swung to Brunson for the uncontested triple.
Certainly helped that Mike Brown was willing to sit Mikal Bridges the last 20 minutes in favor of Deuce McBride. I remember when Quentin Grimes seemed pointed toward a role in the starting backcourt, only he seemed too timid or unsure how to run with it. Immanuel Quickley did not. Neither did McBride. I’m not saying Bridges is timid. I’m saying we have two years of evidence that replacing him with Deuce is like Popeye getting his spinach.
I don’t sports-hate Bridges at all. But even last season he struck me as ideal coming off the bench — better for the team and for him, letting him get going offensively against non-starters. I don’t care how many late first-round picks he cost. He may be their least essential starter, but he’s still a good player who does a lot for them. If they’re getting to or winning the Finals, they need Bridges.
Quoth The Antisola: “[KAT] was fantastic.” If this year ends up as a success, it’ll mean KAT was fantastic much of the rest of the way. I’d like to project he and the Knicks to have figured out everything they needed to after Game 3, and that they roll over the Hawks the next two games. I’m afraid he’ll commit two dumb fouls in the first 90 seconds of Game 5 and have to go to the bench. Machiavelli said it’s better to be feared than loved. If that’s the case, I’m afraid I’ll never love Towns as much as I’d like to.
But Machiavelli’s dead! Worm food long ago. Towns and the Knicks are still very much alive. Hopefully that’s the feeling they’ll leave their fans with after tomorrow’s Game 5.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 25: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates the win against the Denver Nuggets with teammates Mike Conley #10 (L) and Naz Reid #11 after Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wow, what an odd few days for Spurs fans, including this one. First, we saw our best player live out an expression that never actually happens in real life: “he fell flat on his face”. The Spurs then lost that game, which ESPN claimed they had a 98% chance of winning with 8 minutes and 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter. At home.
We then had to try to determine how long Victor would be out of action. Would his youth overcome the average seven day layoff for players who suffer concussions? Or would the fact that his face fell over seven feet before hitting the court overwhelm his youth so that he would be out more than the seven day average?
Would he even be on the team plane to Portland? I even looked at whether it would be better to rent a big RV and drive Victor to Portland, until Google maps told me that it would take 31 hours to drive to Portland. Yet another reason the Spurs would have preferred to play Phoenix in the 2-7 match-up: it’s only a 14 hour drive.
We were relieved to learn that Victor was well enough to travel with the team to Portland (in the plane, not in my imagined RV). And then the internet showed him at the team shoot-around in Portland, shooting threes, messing around with his teammates, and looking healthy and happy. In my mind, that increased his odds of playing from 2% to about 20%, but no more. Of course, the 80% or 98% prevailed, and the Spurs correctly held Victor out of Game 3.
Now, a personal detour. For reasons not relevant to any other Spurs fans, I could not watch Game 3. Don’t ask. Anyway, I was in a place with spotty internet connections, and was forced to check in on the game with occasional access to ESPN and the score of the game. It looked OK when I checked in early and game was close. I lost contact for a while, and my last opportunity to see the score showed the Spurs down 14 points late in the third quarter. ESPN showed Portland with an 87.5% chance to win, and that was the last score I could see for several hours.
During those hours, I played out the rest of the series in my head. I assumed Victor might be able to play Sunday’s game, but it was at best 50/50. If he didn’t play, the Spurs would likely lose, and go down 3-1 in the series. While the Spurs might be able to come back from that deficit, the odds are that they would not. And our joyous regular season would turn into a “we could have been a contender” instead of any of the possible much better outcomes.
When I got home, I checked Pounding the Rock just to see the final score of the Spurs’ loss, only to see that the Spurs had won! All the scenarios I played out in my head disappeared. The best “late night check of your phone” ever. I slept much better than I expected to, and my Saturday flight to Mexico City with my wife and daughter was much more pleasant than I expected. I was surely much more pleasant to travel with.
But the Spurs surprising win over the Blazers was not the only odd thing in those 24 hours.
The Lakers came back from down 6 points in the last minute of regulation to beat the Rockets in OT on Friday night, taking a 3-0 lead over the Rockets without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. No one had that on their bingo card.
And on Saturday night, the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets despite losing two starters, including Anthony Edwards, in the first half. He reportedly avoided ligament damage but is expected to miss a few weeks. It looks like the other injured starter, Donte DiVincenzo, has a torn achilles and out for a very long time — possibly all of next season. But just as no one predicted, some guy named Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score 43 points on 13-17 shooting, including 12-12 from the line and 5-5 from three. The broken Wolves are now up 3-1 over the Nuggets.
In about 24 hours, the Spurs went from possibly going down 3-1, and even if they won, having to go through Denver and OKC to get to the NBA Finals to being up 2-1 and possibly having to go through a Wolves team without Edwards and DiVincenzo to get to the Western Conference Finals.
To cap it off, we had chorizo, guacamole and grasshopper tacos for dinner. As I said, an odd few days. Let’s see what odd things happen in Game 4 against the Blazers.
Lakers
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Trail Blazers
