The Hawks are one of the NBA’s hottest teams, surging in the second half of the regular season.
The consensus is the Knicks ended up with a harder first-round opponent with them instead of the Raptors. After the All-Star break, the Hawks’ winning percentage (.769) was third best in the NBA.
So, how did this young, spunky upstart get here?
It all starts with the Trae Young trade. He had been the face of the franchise since he arrived in the league. For Knicks fans who remember how Young tormented them in their 2021 first-round series, it must be hard to fathom how he held the Hawks back. But midway through this year, the Hawks decided it was time for a fresh start.
Before they traded him, they were actually better without him than with him — they were 15-12 without him compared to 2-8 with him.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The move — sending Young to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert — was a conscious decision to begin building around their young core — breakout stars Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker along with Onyeka Okongwu and defensive ace Dyson Daniels.
Without the ball-dominant Young, the Hawks offense became much more free-flowing and provided much more opportunity for Johnson and Alexander-Walker.
They averaged 22.5 and 20.8 points per game, respectively — both career highs. Alexander-Walker had never averaged more than 11.0 points per game over a full season in his career.
The Hawks have been a better team since they traded Trae Young to the Wizards earlier in the season. Getty Images
And without Young, there were no longer any glaring defensive weak links. They were 16th in defensive rating (114.9) before the trade. After the trade, they were seventh (111.1).
Then there is McCollum, who at the time of the trade seemed like a salary throw-in. But he emerged as a veteran glue guy who helped bring a young core together. Hawks coach Quin Snyder said McCollum “settled” the team. He averaged 18.7 points in 41 games with the Hawks, providing valuable shotmaking ability but not as ball dominant as Young.
“CJ has been a huge part of our turnaround since the trade,” Snyder said earlier this year. “His scoring, playmaking, and leadership have been invaluable.”
Another trade acquisition, Jonathan Kuminga, has provided a new punch off the bench.
Now, for the caveat: Part of this rise has been the result of a soft schedule.
Their best stretch started Feb. 22 and went through the end of the regular season — they went 19-5.
But only three of those wins came against true playoff (non play-in) teams — the Pistons, Celtics and Cavaliers. The Pistons were without Cade Cunningham, the Celtics were without Jayson Tatum and the Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen.
So, for how much they’ve been a changed team after their trades, much of it came against weak opposition. The Knicks will soon find out just how dangerous they are.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles past Kawhi Leonard #2 an Kris Dunn #8 of the LA Clippers during the first quarter at Chase Center on October 28, 2025 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors face the LA Clippers on Wednesday night, in the first round of the play-in tournament. For the Dubs, the stakes are simple: win and advance, or lose and go home.
Golden State is not the favorite to win, and you can point to any number of reasons why. They were the worse team this year, finishing with a 37-45 record and a -1.0 garbage time-adjusted net rating, compared to 42-40 and +1.4, respectively, for the Clippers. They ended the season with seven losses in their final eight games, while LAC eight wins in their last 12 games. And in the regular season finale, which fittingly pitted the Warriors against the Clippers, LA prevailed … despite resting Kawhi Leonard, while the Dubs used Steph Curry (but not Draymond Green).
Add in the fact that the game will be played at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, and the Clippers are the clear favorites. But that doesn’t mean the Warriors can’t win. Far from it, in fact. Here are a few different ways that the Dubs can best the Clippers in the best-of-one series.
Steph Curry
That’s it. That’s the entire point. Leonard is healthier and in more rhythm than Curry, but the Warriors still have the most dynamic player on the court, and the one who is capable of taking over a game the most. He’ll be on a minutes restriction, but we all know what he’s capable of during the time he’s on the court. The Warriors are 3-1 when Curry clears 40 points this year, and all three wins are mighty impressive: a home contest against the Denver Nuggets, and two road victories over the San Antonio Spurs.
When the postseason rolls around, the biggest advantage a team can have is to employ the best player in the game or series. Curry is the best player in this game.
Draymond Green locks down Kawhi Leonard
Leonard is an all-time great player, and even at this stage in his career, we’ve seen just how brilliant he can be. But the Clippers, for as well coached as they are, are not the world’s deepest team, and they live and die by Leonard.
The Klaw has scored 40 or more points on five occasions this season, and the Clippers have amassed five blowout victories in those games. He’s been held to 20 points or fewer just seven times, and LA has gone a lowly 1-6 in those contests, including an October loss to the Warriors.
If there’s one thing the Warriors should be focused on, it’s limiting Leonard. And if there’s one person who is up for that job, it’s Draymond Green.
Green’s defense has been erratic at times this year, but when he’s locked in he’s still among the very best in the world, and likely headed for a historic 10th All-Defense selection. If he takes the game and the matchup seriously, he could help keep Leonard in check, and that’s the key to victory for Golden State. The Clippers have become more well-rounded and deep following the James Harden trade, but they’re also more reliant on Leonard. The biggest task of the night will go to Green defending Leonard, and hopefully getting some help in the paint from his bigs.
Play in control, but still freely
I’m not exactly breaking news when I say that the Warriors struggled with turnovers this year, as they finished with the fifth-worst turnovers committed per 100 possessions this season.
The Dubs turned the ball over 16 or more times in exactly half of their games this year, and they went 17-24, compared to 20-21 when they had 15 or fewer turnovers.
Interestingly, the Warriors had a losing record (11-12) when they turned the ball over 12 or fewer times. I might just be getting too granular with the data here, but it would suggest to me that the Warriors are at their best when they take decent care of the ball, but still play free and loose. Their system is always going to result in turnovers, and when they’re at their best, the ball is going to go through someone’s hands a few times as they try to make a great pass. That’s just the cost of playing motion basketball.
In fact, the Warriors had single-digit turnovers on four occasions this year (including once against the Clippers), and lost three of those four games (including the one against LA). The goal has to be playing freely but not carelessly.
Turn rebounds into offense
The Clippers were one of the worst rebounding teams in the league this year. They were just 25th in garbage time-adjusted defensive rebounding, and 23rd in offensive rebounding. That means the Warriors — no great rebounding team — should have an easier time than usual collecting boards.
Golden State has a lot of players — namely Curry and Brandin Podziemski — who love to swoop in from the perimeter to grab a rebound, and push the offense forward. That’s going to be a huge key in this game. The Warriors offense is always at its best when it’s pushing up the court, and LA’s defense is much more vulnerable when they can’t get set, and get Leonard on their preferred matchup.
Neither team is particularly young or fresh, but if the Warriors can play like they are, that will go a long ways.
Run them off the perimeter
LA is one of the best-shooting teams in the league, as they finished seventh in the NBA with a 36.8% mark from deep. But part of why they shoot so well is that they’re selective: they were just 22nd in the league in threes attempted per 100 possessions, a mark that has surely gone down since trading away Harden.
The Clippers can beat you from deep if you let them, but they’re happy to step inside the arc if you ask them to. It would behoove the Warriors to do exactly that, especially since Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis — who both provide strong interior defense — are healthy.
And finally…
Catch a few breaks
It’s been a woefully unlucky season for the Warriors. But after four recent championships and six runs to the finals, the Dubs won’t be getting sympathy points from anyone. Still, no matter how talented you are, most teams have to rely on a few shreds of luck to win in the postseason. The Warriors have ridden that luck to parades through the Bay Area, and they’ve seen it capsize their dreams early in the playoffs. In a single-elimination postseason game, a little bit of luck could go a long way.
The Heat lost big man Bam Adebayo in the second quarter of their play-in tournament game against the Hornets after Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball seemed to trip him.
He was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a lower-back injury by the Heat before they fell 127-126 in an overtime heartbreaker.
The injury occurred with 11:10 left in the second quarter after Ball had a shot attempt blocked by Simone Fontecchio of the Heat.
Ball was falling backward as he shot, leading to Adebayo trying to grab the ball from going out of bounds. That’s when the Hornets guard swiped at the left leg of the Miami big man, sending him to the ground.
Replay of LaMelo Ball grabbing Bam Adebayo’s ankle before Bam Adebayo landed on his tailbone pic.twitter.com/KVv1rkjxm2
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) April 15, 2026
Adebayo was down on the ground in pain and attended to by team trainers. No foul was assessed on the play, which infuriated Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and several of Adebayo’s teammates.
“I didn’t see it [when it happened], but I don’t think it’s cute,” Spoelstra told reporters after the game, per ESPN. “I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out.
According to The Athletic, Prime Video analyst Udonis Haslem had indicated that he didn’t think that Ball had been trying to hurt Adebayo on the play, though he did call it “a little WWE there.”
“What I will say is LaMelo is not a dirty player, so I don’t think he meant to do that intentionally to try to hurt Bam. But in the heat of the moment … you sometimes make split-second decisions. I think he made a split-second decision,” Haslem said.
Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat reacts after a fall in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Images
The loss of Adebayo is a tough one for the Heat, who have seen him be their third-best scorer this season with 20.1 points per game and top rebounder with 10.0 per game.
Adebayo also made national headlines this year after he scored 83 points in a game against the Wizards.
To add insult to injury, Ball hit the game-winning layup in the waning seconds of overtime to give Charlotte a huge victory and end Miami’s season. The Hornets advance to play the 76ers-Magic loser for the right to be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
Early in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets, Heat captain Bam Adebayo was shaken up when he took a hard fall on the court. He was deemed questionable to return with a lower back injury, per the Heat.
But Adebayo was not on the court when the second half began and he was officially ruled out for the game before the third quarter was complete.
During the second-quarter play, Adebayo was trying to save a ball from going out of bounds when Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball took Adebayo's foot out from under him. Adebayo lost his balance and then fell on his backside, landing on his tailbone. Adebayo fell without the ability to brace himself. He remained down in discomfort for a minute or so, but eventually walked off.
He got up on his under his own power, though he walked gingerly into the locker room for observation.
Bam Adebayo falls hard and walks gingerly to the locker room after LaMelo Ball grabs his foot while in mid-air, swinging it (with replays) pic.twitter.com/bI3gC13xKk
With his ability to guard every position on the floor, Adebayo is Miami’s anchor on defense. A three-time All-Star and five-time All-Defense selection, Adebayo averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 73 appearances.
“That was last week,” coach Steve Kerr smiled. “Draymond’s very excited.”
Draymond Green said the Warriors’ play-in fate was “not that exciting” last week. Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Preparing for a win-or-go-home play-in game Wednesday against the Clippers, the nine-time all-defense honoree has taken a hands-on role. He has always had a sharp basketball mind and has never shied away from speaking up, publicly or in practice.
“I probably talk a little too much,” Green chuckled.
The Warriors will need Green to be locked in to have any hope of slowing down Kawhi Leonard. He bodied the Clippers’ star the last time the two shared the court in March and, looking ahead to the assignment in Wednesday’s win-or-go-home play-in game, paid a high compliment.
“This Kawhi we’re watching now,” Green said, ”… he looks like the Kawhi we played in the NBA finals seven years ago.”
That version of Leonard averaged 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds while leading the Raptors to a shocking upset of Golden State, which lost Kevin Durant in the process. This version set a career-high in scoring, with 27.9 points per game, while taking 3s at his highest rate ever.
Most importantly, Leonard was healthy enough to play 65 games for only the fifth time in 14 NBA seasons. Both players should be well-rested Wednesday after they sat out Sunday’s meaningless regular-season finale.
“I always tell guys, Kawhi’s a great player. If he can shoot 50% from the field and I can make him miss one more shot, I did my job,” Green said. “I think that’s ultimately what you have to understand when you’re playing against superstars. … Ultimately as the defender, I just need to try to make it a little bit tougher. Make that shot a little bit tougher.”
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard looks to pass the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. AP
While Green said it will take a “complete team effort” and that “no one guy is going to stop Kawhi,” he will likely bear the brunt of the assignment with the Warriors missing Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, two athletic wings both lost to season-ending knee injuries.
Shadowing a superstar is a different kind of role than the small-ball center Green played that unlocked the Warriors’ infamous lineup of death during the height of their dynasty.
It’s something made possible by a roster construction that hasn’t been all too common in Golden State over the years. With Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, the Warriors have a combination of size and skill that gives Kerr the opportunity to experiment with different looks.
“It gives us protection in the paint defensively,” Kerr said.
It has been rare for all three to share the court at the same time, but with both Porzingis and Horford active — albeit on minutes restrictions — one should be able to patrol the paint at all times, freeing up Green to attach himself at the hip to Leonard.
While Porzingis said his defensive mobility wasn’t where he would like it to be — “I just need to lose a couple pounds, honestly” — he is still 7-foot-2. The Clippers, on the other hand, have tended to play small since trading Ivica Zubac at the deadline.
“My length is still there,” Porzingis said. “Just anticipating things. Making the right reads. Being there for my teammates. All of those things I can do.”
Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers handles the ball defended by Draymond Green. Getty Images
Containing Kawhi is one half of the task at hand for the Warriors. Shifty scoring guard Darius Garland is the other piece of the puzzle. The two players have a combined usage rate of more than 50% since the Clippers acquired Garland for James Harden at the trade deadline.
De’Anthony Melton, who will have his fair share of face time with Garland, has been admiring how Green goes about his business in preparation for his own matchup.
“It’s different,” Melton said of Green’s focus. “It’s my first time being on the same side as them. So to see their gameplan discipline and how they attack everything and how they think is huge. … Having vocal leaders is important for us.”
Nobody, of course, has been more vocal than Green.
“Oh, man,” Kerr said. “This is the time of year that Draymond loves. He’s locked in. Leading a lot of the discussion about what we’re trying to do. He’s been great.”
Donning his coach’s cap, Green said he sounds “probably a little too close to Steve.” He just wants to make sure no detail gets overlooked in the hours of game film there is to pour over.
“Trying to be another set of eyes for our coaching staff,” he said. “When you’re watching the amount of film they’re watching, sometimes that can lead to some fatigue. So what are they missing? And that can ultimately save a bucket. Save one bucket, could be the game.”
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is congratulated by Draymond Green after Curry made a three-point against the Sacramento Kings. Getty Images
However, Green isn’t the only one in Golden State’s locker room who’s locked in.
They also have that guy in the No. 30 jersey.
“The beauty of being a superstar like Steph Curry, the level of focus that I have to go into a game with daily, he don’t have to,” Green said. “But when it comes to playoff time, his focus goes to a completely different level. He talks more. He’s putting guys in position. He’s telling people what you’re going to see. … When Steph speaks like that, it’s a calming force.”
After Golden State finished the regular season Sunday night, Curry was asked what having Green around heading into the postseason does to boost the team’s confidence.
“Had that confidence for … 14 years,” he responded, nodding his head emphatically.
“When you give him a specific challenge, whether it’s a matchup or a must-win game, it brings the best out of all of us,” Curry expanded on Tuesday. “When we have time to prepare for a matchup … it’s that ultimate game of chess that he loves to play. It just brings a competitive spirit out of him that’s built the resume that he has.”
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance is expected to go in the first round after declaring on Tuesday. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Jayden Quaintance 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 17 overall, Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Baylor's Cameron Carr is expected to go in the first round after declaring on Tuesday. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Cameron Carr 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 27 overall, Boston Celtics
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
One of the players who improved his draft stock the most this season was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. The All-Big 12 wing brings athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Hannes Steinbach 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 19 overall, San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
German big man Hannes Steinbach is a name worth watching in the 2026 NBA Draft. While his team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads. Steinbach could make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama.
But the NBA Playoffs are no strangers to surprises. Just last year, we saw the Indiana Pacers reach the finals as a 5-seed, nearly taking down the heavily favored Thunder for the title. No one expected that. We've seen mutliple play-in teams reach their conference championships as well. Even the 2023 Miami Heat reached the finals despite entering the postseason as the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed.
That is to say that the NBA playoffs aren't as predictable as they may seem. That's why several experts have different opinions on what will happen. Here's a quick breakdown of numerous predictions from around the internet:
Kram writes, "Oklahoma City and San Antonio could spark a decade-long rivalry this spring, after the Spurs beat the reigning champs in four out of five meetings this season. Oklahoma City has crucial playoff experience and the best clutch scorer in the NBA on its side. But San Antonio presents real matchup problems for the champs because of its athleticism, guard play and game-changing force at center."
He continues, "It's possible that Wembanyama can't handle many more minutes because of his aggressive style of play. He looked noticeably fatigued when he reached 40 minutes in San Antonio's thrilling overtime loss in Denver this month. But Wembanyama doesn't need to play 40 minutes at altitude every game in the playoffs, and he successfully exceeded 35 minutes 10 times this season. In those games, he averaged 30.7 points, 14.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 blocks while making 44% of his 7.3 3-point attempts and 86% of his 9.6 free throw attempts. That's not evidence of a consistent problem playing big minutes; if anything, it's the opposite, and Wembanyama's stats have been even better when he has increased his workload."
He predicts the Spurs to win in six games, then take care of the Boston Celtics in six as well.
CBS Sports: 4 of 6 experts predict Celtics to emerge from the East
While the Western Conference is littered with different picks from CBS Sports' panel of experts, the East doesn't have as much variety, with two-thirds of their panel picking Boston to represent the conference in the Finals.
Funny enough though, only one of them has the Celtics winning it all. Jack Maloney is the the only person to predict a victory for the Eastern Conference, picking Boston to defeat the Thunder.
Maloney writes, "The Thunder would surely be favored in a Finals matchup against the Celtics, and could very well win. But Boston has defied the odds at every turn over the past seven months, and will cap a storybook season with an upset over the reigning champs."
Former NBA head coach Avery Johnson says that the Thunder remind him "of what [they] built in San Antonio."
He also believes that whoever comes out of the Western Conference between the Spurs and Thunder should win the championship. He specifically predicts the Thunder to win in six games over Boston.
Lakers coach JJ Redick publicly acknowledged feeling like his team wasn’t physically ready for the start of last year’s first round playoff series against the Timberwolves, which ended in a five-game defeat for the Lakers. And the role his preparations from the week leading into Game 1 of the matchup played into that.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
Physical preparedness incorporates trackable elements, including workloads, accelerations and jumps.
“We mapped this out 10-12 days ago,” Redick said. “We wanted to reach certain thresholds, and we did. We were tracking it in real time. We met those thresholds, and thought the guys had a very business-like, focused approach to practice.”
But there are also intangible components — the types that’ll show up against a team like the Rockets.
How do you handle the defensive pressure as a ball handler?
Will you have the focus and desire to box out later in the game — or series — when fatigue becomes an even greater factor?
It’s why when asked about the keys for the matchup against the Rockets, which tips off with Game 1 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, Redick quickly responded, “take care of the ball and box out.”
That’s easier said than done against a Rockets team that easily led the league in offensive rebounding percentage at 38.8%, the highest mark for an NBA team during a regular season since the 1996-97 season, which is as far back as the league’s official website statistical database goes.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant. AP
Stathead has this season’s Rockets as the best offensive rebounding team since the 2002-03 Warriors.
The Rockets also led the league in offensive rebounding percentage last year at 36.3%, which highlights how ingrained controlling the offensive boards is into their identity.
“That’s the series,” Redick said. “Scheme, personnel, obviously important, but if we don’t take care of the ball and we don’t box out, we’re not gonna win the series. They were No. 4 in scoring opportunities, we were No. 23. We don’t have the luxury with Luka [Doncic] and [Austin Reaves] out of getting drilled in scoring opportunities every single game. We gotta box out.”
Boxing out is such a big emphasis for the Lakers that Redick said it was the “only thing” they focused on regarding the Rockets.
“We’re going to place an emphasis on every drill in practice,” Redick added. “We started practice with boxing out. You gotta put it in their minds. That’s literally the only thing we said about Houston [on Tuesday]. [Tuesday] was about us. [Wednesday], we’ll introduce (Rockets) personnel. Thursday we’ll do our scout, as we would. Friday will be a reinforcement of that scout. Saturday we’ll be good to go.”
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. AP
Lakers players welcomed the focus on defensive rebounding.
“I feel like it’s always good to get those drills in,” Jake LaRavia said. “We don’t do them enough during the season and sometimes you kind of forget or can get lethargic about it during the games. So it’s good to kind of just come back to when you were in middle school and high school and stuff, doing those drills.”
Jaxson Hayes added: “Obviously, we weren’t trying to murder each other out on the boards. But definitely practicing that stuff. Houston is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the past 20 years. So just making sure we’re ready for that.”
The Lakers won the regular season series against the Rockets, 2-1, albeit with significantly different personnel.
They remain without Luka Doncic (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (left oblique), with Redick reaffirming the star guards are sidelined “indefinitely” leading into the playoffs after suffering their regular season-ending injuries less than two weeks ago.
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James goes up for a dunk against the Houston Rockets. AP
In the one game the Rockets won on Christmas in Los Angeles, Houston had a 56.5% offensive rebounding percentage, which was their highest mark of the regular season. But that came with Steven Adams in the lineup for the Rockets. Adams had season-ending ankle surgery in January.
In the two games the Lakers won in Houston in March, Houston finished with offensive rebounding rates of 47.6% and 36.2%, respectively, which were still high but more manageable.
“They’re going to try to come in and punk us,” Marcus Smart said. “And if you allow that, you will be punked. And I don’t think we have any guys that are going to be punked on this team. So, we might not be the most athletic and strongest, but we got to have the most heart.”
Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) and Rockets center Clint Capela (30) battle for a rebound during a game last month in Houston. Ayton leads the Lakers in rebounding at 8.0 per game. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
Rebounding was not a strength of the Lakers over the course of the regular season. Rebounding was a strength of the Houston Rockets during the 2025-26 campaign.
So, on their first day of practice Tuesday for Game 1 of the first round Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers worked diligently on rebounding drills, knowing full well that will be one of the keys against the Rockets.
The Lakers were the fourth-worst rebounding team in the NBA, averaging 41.0 per game. The Rockets were the top rebounding team in the league, getting 48.1 overall and 15.0 on the offensive end.
And one of the Lakers' better rebounders, Luka Doncic, won’t be available because he’s dealing with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that he went to Spain for treatment. Doncic is second on the Lakers in rebounding at 7.7 per game. His starting backcourt mate, Austin Reaves, also is a good rebounder but he also won’t play because of a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Reaves is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about Doncic and Reaves.
Redick then gave a simple answer for how the Lakers have to deal with the Rockets in the best-of-seven series.
“Again, taking care of the basketball and boxing out. That’s the series,” Redick said. “Scheme, personnel, obviously important, but if we don’t take care of the ball and we don’t box out, we’re not gonna win the series.
“They were No. 4 in scoring opportunities. We were No. 23, so we don’t have the luxury with Luka and AR out of getting drilled in scoring opportunities every single game. We gotta box out. We’re going to place an emphasis on every drill in practice. We started practice with boxing out today. You gotta put it in their minds. That’s literally the only thing we said about Houston today. Today was about us having a practice, getting sharp with our stuff. Tomorrow, we’ll introduce [Rockets] personnel. Thursday we’ll do our scout, as we would. Friday will be a reinforcement of that scout. Saturday we’ll be good to go. Only thing we did today was box out.”
Lakers 7-foot backup center Jaxson Hayes will be counted to get rebounds. He’ll also spend time dealing with Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who averages 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds (3.0 on offense) per game.
Hayes missed the last four games because of left foot soreness, but he was back at practice Tuesday.
“Feeling a lot better,” Hayes said. “It's nice getting a few days off. Especially with my job, I jump a lot and I run a lot, so it's hard for me to rest something like that. Getting those days off was very much needed. Very helpful.”
When asked about the box-out drills the Lakers did at practice, Hayes recalled the last time he did such a thing.
“Definitely college, for sure,” Hayes said. “College days with those Texas bigs. Coaches start off the practice where you got to smack somebody. Obviously, we weren't trying to murder each other out on the boards, but definitely practicing that stuff. Houston is, I think, one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the past 20 years. So, just making sure we're ready for that.”
The Rockets are a physical team that also plays smothering defense.
Houston allowed 110.0 points per game during the regular season, the fourth-best defensive mark in the league, and held teams to 46.0% shooting, the sixth-best mark in the league.
For Lakers guard Marcus Smart, there is one way to compete with the Rockets on the backboards.
“Will. Willpower,” Smart said. “We’re competitors. We’ve been doing this for a while. We’re doing that at the highest level, right? And they’re going to try to come in and punk us. And if you will allow that, you will be punked. And I don’t think we have any guys that are going to be punked on this team. So, we might not be the most athletic and strongest, but we got to have the most heart.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Marcus Smart #36, Austin Reaves #15 and Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch from the bench during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on April 12, 2026 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Head coach JJ Redick fielded that question for the first of what will be many times on Tuesday and had a definitive, if not unclear, response.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Redick said. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week.”
Based on the latest reports, Luka is set to return to Los Angeles later this week. From there, he’ll be re-evaluated after receiving treatment in Spain. Austin, meanwhile, is not close to a return and has not really had any updates on his status.
Outside of those huge caveats, though, the Lakers are back to full health heading into the postseason. That included LeBron James, who has been on the injury report with left foot injury management, as well as Jaxson Hayes, who missed the final four games of the regular season.
Hayes’ absence was also due to a foot injury, which he discussed after practice on Tuesday.
“Feeling a lot better,” Hayes said. “It’s nice getting a few days off, especially with my job. I jump a lot and I run a lot so it was hard for me to rest something like that. So getting those days off was very much needed and very helpful.”
Despite how things went about this time last season, Hayes is set to have an important role this postseason. While it won’t be as a starter, he will be a key figure off the bench.
Fortunately, the Lakers are going to head into the playoffs with Hayes and a host of options…even if it won’t include their two top stars.
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 17: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 17, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game Details
When: Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 PM ET Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC Watch: Amazon Prime Video Follow:@LibertyBallers
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Blazers defeated the Suns 92-77. 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 Chris Coduto/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.
The 2026 play-in tournament starts tonight, and the only game that Spurs fans really need to be interested in is the second matchup, which will decide San Antonio’s first round opponent. Will it be Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker and the Suns, or will it be Tiago Splitter’s overperforming Blazers squad. No one is really giving Portland much of a chance to beat Phoenix, but the teams are pretty evenly matched with the Suns leading the season series 2-1. The last game was on February 22, a 92-77 rock fight win by the Blazers. Both teams are more healthy tonight, so perhaps at least one of them will score in triple digits tonight. The winner will face the Spurs in the first round series beginning at the Frost Bank center on April 19, and the loser will go on to face the winner of the tomorrow’s Clippers/Warriors game on Friday for the chance to be dismantled by the Thunder in their first round matchup. I’m kind of hoping that the Warriors will end up facing the Thunder because their shooting could cause problems for OKC, and also because I don’t like the Suns or the Clippers. Let’s go Blazers!
Game Prediction:
Jeff Bezos will use his Blue Origin rocket to attend both games in person, which will create quite a mess when it lands in the parking lot at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets—6:30 PM Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers—9:00 PM April 14, 2026 TV: Amazon Prime Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
(@big_business_) 
