Category: Basketball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Davis' long-term future with the Washington Wizards isn't clear, but the star at least knows he's committed to the franchise for one more season.

Davis spoke fondly on Monday about his teammates on the Wizards and how he believes the team has pieces in place to build a competitor.

“When the trade happened and I got here, I’ve said this place is not what people make it seem,” Davis said. “It’s a testament to the organization, the coaching staff, the players, everybody here. I want to be able to have fun where I am. I want to be able to compete where I am. I want to be able to learn wherever I am — and this organization has that.”

The Wizards went 17-65 in 2025-26 — the worst record in the NBA and their third straight 64-plus loss season.

When asked at the season-ending news conference about his future in Washington, he joked that he obviously plans to play for the Wizards next season.

“Yeah, I'm under contract,” he said with a laugh. “I love my money.”

The Wizards acquired the 33-year-old Davis from Dallas in an eight player trade in February. That was about a month after Washington acquired high-scoring guard Trae Young from Atlanta.

Davis said Monday he's intrigued by Washington's young core of players and the foundation the front office has put in place.

Davis has been recovering from a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand since Jan. 8. He added he plans to meet with Wizards management soon about his future and the organizations’ plan for building a contender.

“They know that I want to win,” he said. "I’m sure that they want to win as well. Nobody wants to lose. ... I know we have a lot of young guys but like I said, I mentioned it about the young guys — how talented they are. Adding Trae and myself kind of can help change that.

“But I also understand I've been in this league a long time. I've been on losing teams, and it's very hard to be a losing team and then a championship contender.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Everyone loves a best-case scenario. 

Well, folks, Houston Rockets fans (finally) have one. Why finally? 

It’s been a challenging 2025-26 season. 

Fred VanVleet was down from the onset. Steven Adams didn’t take too long to follow. Without a pair of players whom the Rockets saw as integral to their game plan, there were times when it didn’t seem like they’d be happy with their final record. 

Somehow, they won two more games than they did last year, anyway. 

Enough digressing. The best-case scenario is their playoff matchup. The Rockets are facing the Los Angeles Lakers: 

One of the few teams that’ve had worse luck than them this year. 

Rockets’ first-round matchup suffers major losses

Luka Doncic is out. He’s not expected back for the first round. Neither is Austin Reaves. The timeline isn’t clear for either, but the safest money says that neither will see the Rockets in this year’s playoffs. 

That leaves the Lakers armed with LeBron James and a platoon of role players. James is – somehow – still an All-Star caliber player at 41, but it would take a Herculean effort for him to drag this group past the Rockets. 

For what it’s worth, Houston has been the better team all year. The Lakers will have homecourt advantage, having won an extra game, but those wins and losses can be deceiving. Houston’s 5.4 Net Rating finished sixth in the regular season, while the Lakers’ 1.5 mark finished 14th. 

Do the Lakers have any chance? 

Rockets cannot take the Lakers lightly

Sure. 

Any team can beat any team in the National Basketball Association. When the team in question rosters LeBron James, it’s never entirely safe to bet against them. 

That said, the Rockets are heavily favored heading into this matchup. Kevin Durant has been more productive than James all year. For that matter, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun both arguably had better seasons. Outside of James, the Lakers’ rotation without Doncic and Reaves largely consists of role players. 

If the Lakers win, the Rockets will have difficult existential questions to answer. Major changes could be on the horizon. This is Houston’s series to lose: 

In other words, it’s a best-case scenario. 

Got a sneaky feeling about the Lakers? Feel like making a smart wager on the Rockets? In either case, head over to Fanduel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation. As it stands, the Rockets are +5500 to go all the way and win the NBA championship

Luka Doncic will be back for the beginning of the Lakers' playoff run. Just not on the court.

The Lakers' superstar will rejoin the team by Friday after traveling to Spain to receive specialized treatment on his Grade 2 hamstring strain, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Times, but there is no timetable for Doncic’s return to the lineup.

Doncic suffered the injury in a game against Oklahoma City on April 2. A Grade 2 strain typically requires four to six weeks of recovery, but Doncic traveled to Europe to receive injections on his left hamstring with the hope of speeding up the recovery process.

The Lakers (53-29) face the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the first round on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. The fourth-seeded Lakers are looking for their first playoff series win since 2023.

Read more:Inside Luka Doncic's high-stakes medical treatment and recovery plan

They are underdogs without Doncic and guard Austin Reaves, who suffered a Grade 2 left oblique strain in the same game. Doncic led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game. Reaves, the team’s second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, was initially expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury, and is working hard to come back, a source told The Times. There is still no official timetable for his return.  

The Lakers finished the season with three consecutive wins to hold onto home-court advantage in the first round. LeBron James reasserted himself as the team’s top player, averaging 25.5 points, 11 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals in the games since Doncic and Reaves were injured. He was named Western Conference player of the week Monday after leading the Lakers to a 3-1 record in the final week of the regular season.

The Lakers went 2-1 against the Rockets (52-30) during the regular season, but Doncic played a major role in the two wins. He scored 76 points in the victories, which came in a two-game series in Houston that resembled a playoff atmosphere in March.

The Rockets finished the season with nine wins in their last 10 games.

Staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report. 

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The 2025-26 NBA regular season has come to an end, and the playoff bracket is officially set.

Sixteen teams – 20, counting those participating in the Play-In Tournament – will now have the chance to make their pushes in the postseason with the hopes of an NBA title up for grabs. The final week of the season saw teams jostling for seeding, as they tried to improve their path forward.

The end of the regular season also meant that the 10 teams that were officially eliminated from postseason contention can formally plan for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Here are the final USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings of the 2025-26 regular season:

We are finally here. The Play-In bracket is set, and the Phoenix Suns have their opponent in the 7/8 game after a long 82-game season with many ups and downs.

Here are the main questions for Week 25 we want your thoughts on as the Suns head into postseason play:

Facing the Blazers

The Suns will be facing the Portland Trail Blazers in the 7/8 game. Phoenix won the season series, but Portland has been the better team the last two months; they went 10-6 in their last 16 games. Devin Booker only played in the first matchup, but Jrue Holiday was not in the lineup for Portland in the second matchup. Both teams are set to come into the matchup the healthiest they’ve been all season. The Blazers are in the top-10 in defensive rating and are fifth in the last two months, as they leapfrogged the Los Angeles Clippers for the ninth seed.

How do you think the Suns match up against the Blazers? Would you have preferred that they play the Clippers or the Golden State Warriors?

Struggling to end the year

It was not a strong end to the season for the Suns. The team lost 10 of their last 16 games and quickly lost any opportunity they had to climb the standings and avoid being seeded in the play-in. Credit, Phoenix was dealing with injuries, Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams were out a lot during that span, but the team did not do any favors down the stretch in games against the Spurs, Celtics, and Raptors, and Collin Gillespie had his worst stretch of the season to end the year.

The team is now healthy heading into the playoffs, but how do they make sure their struggles to end the season do not carry them into the play-in?

Did the Suns hit their Regular Season ceiling?

Before the year, Suns fans said the team’s regular ceiling was 40-59 wins. They achieved that.

After seeing the Suns play a whole 82 games, seeing how the rest of the Western Conference competition turned out, do you think the Suns hit their ceiling?

On the Suns’ Plate this Week

Phoenix will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in the 7/8 game. If they win, they’ll face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. If they lose, they’ll host the winner of Clippers/Warriors, the 9/10 game on Friday, and if they win that game, they’ll play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. If they lose, they’ll be eliminated.

Dick Vitale's latest biopsy has brought some bad news.

In a statement shared by ESPN's PR account on X (formerly Twitter), the legendary college basketball analyst announced on Monday, April 13 that results from his biopsy last week confirmed a diagnosis of melanoma in both his lung and liver cavity.

REQUIRED READING: College basketball's most underpaid coaches: Who is nation's biggest bargain?

"I've beaten melanoma. I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer. I've beaten lymph node cancer. I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five," Vitale wrote in the statement.

Vitale said he'll soon be starting immunotherapy treatment and plans on "winning" this latest health battle of his. He also said he is "feeling fantastic" amid the diagnosis. Last week, Vitale shared that he underwent a biopsy at a hospital in Sarasota to look into some of the "abnormalities" that his doctors found on a series of recent routine tests, which included a PET scan, a CAT scan and two MRIs.

He shared in a social media post late Sunday night that he hasn't been able to sleep recently, he has been "so worried about the report," adding that his PET scan last week "shocked" him.

Vitale has had multiple health issues, including several types of cancer, over the last few years. He was declared cancer-free last year and made his return to broadcasting, most recently in the First Four game between Texas and North Carolina State.

"I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I've received from so many people," Vitale said in his statement on Monday. "I'm incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family — led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle."

Dick Vitale health update

Here's a look at Vitale's full health update statement:

Sharing a health update on behalf of @DickieV

Your ESPN family is with you every step of the way, Dick ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Uvoiv6dedN

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 13, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dick Vitale confirms latest health battle with melanoma diagnosis

The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.

With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.

As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.

Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and would benefit tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. 

2. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer 

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

3. Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets had the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

4. Sacramento Kings: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need the best player available regardless of fit, and that is North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson, who unfortunately missed the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season, did more than enough to earn this placement. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach thresholds of 2.5 percent for both block and steal percentage while also notching a defensive rebound percentage above 20.0 percent.

5. Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Jazz had the worst defensive rating in the Western Conference and could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings to join Keyonte George in their backcourt. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.   

6. Memphis Grizzlies: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 23

Keep an eye on the Grizzlies as a potential suitor for Yaxel Lendeborg, who showed on his way winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have selected players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward. They are also not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experiences players like Zach Edey.

7. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr. 

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Hawks need a guard like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. after trading away Trae Young, using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but playing alongside Dyson Daniels would help cover that problem. 

8. Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler 

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and could benefit from a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role to help the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

9. Chicago Bulls: Brayden Burries 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Burries would make a great pick for whatever new executives take over the front office for the Bulls.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.

11. Golden State Warriors: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Warriors will be seeking more reliable players in the backcourt and could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara, in the 2026 NBA Draft. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.

13. Miami Heat: Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. Arizona played at a significantly faster pace (3.9 extra possessions) when Peat was on the floor relative to when he was not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. 

14. Charlotte Hornets: Braylon Mullins 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Indiana
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping the Huskies earn a spot in the national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, too, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. 

15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Chicago Bulls will receive this pick if the Portland Trail Blazers advance in the play-in tournament. After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament started to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking near the lottery.

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Iowa State forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The All-Big 12 forward got injured during the first round of the tournament, but Iowa State still earned a spot in the Sweet 16.

17. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns): Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

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.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Karim López

• TEAM: International (Australia)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Thunder have drafted multiple players from Australia’s NBL and could dip into this well again by selecting Karim López with their pick from the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Mexican-born forward still needs some development, he is physically gifted and widely seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Even if he is a draft-and-stash player, that is ideal for a team with a rotation as crowded as the Thunder.

19. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

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. 

20. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz 

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson 

• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 20

While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and will want more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who had the most unassisted 3-pointers (61) among high-major players, per CBB Analytics. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. 

22. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Patrick Ngongba II

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Many teams might benefit from a big like Patrick Ngongba II, who is an above-average passer for his position. His assist rate is the highest among underclassmen listed at 6-foot-11 or taller, per Bart Torvik, and he is at the top of his game when passing to a driving perimeter player. The big man, who helped Duke earn a spot in the Elite Eight, is a big-bodied prospect who can carve out space as one of the more prolific cutters in college basketball. He is on an encouraging development track, displaying legitimate year-over-year improvement from his freshman to sophomore campaign.

23. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. He declared early entry for the 2026 NBA Draft but also entered his name in the transfer portal.

24. New York Knicks: Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, got hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. 

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level.

26. Denver Nuggets: Thomas Haugh 

• TEAM: Florida
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Pennsylvania
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

After winning a national championship with Florida last season, Thomas Haugh was instantly regarded as one of the most interesting players who elected to return to college. The All-SEC forward had one of the top motors in the NCAA this season before an early elimination from March Madness. While he did not score efficiently in a set offense this year, he does not need the ball in his hands very often to make a difference on the floor for his team. He can serve as a glue guy for a contending team looking to win an NBA title like the Nuggets. 

27. Boston Celtics: Cameron Carr 

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 21

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. 

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Ebuka Okorie 

• TEAM: Stanford
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: New Hampshire
• HEIGHT: 6-2
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least. 30points. Okorie could also return to school but should earn serious first-round buzz if he turns pro.  

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Dailyn Swain  

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. 

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr.

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 23

UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner rather than later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: First round picks before NBA playoffs begin

The top-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder look like the team to beat as the NBA playoffs get underway this weekend.

Led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder finished the regular season with a league-best 64-18 record, two games better than the San Antonio Spurs in the West.

On the other side of the playoff bracket, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (60-22) have been one of the East's biggest success stories, improving their win total by an astounding 16 games from last season.

Following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament, here's how the first-round matchups in the 2026 NBA Playoffs will shake out.

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Steph Curry only logged minutes in 43 games for the Warriors this season, but the lack of playing time has not impacted his popularity one bit.

The NBA announced on Monday that the Warriors star’s jersey was the league’s top-selling one for the 2025-26 regular season.

The NBA's top-selling jerseys list for the 2025-26 regular season… based on sales from https://t.co/I0ypSvyq5i, https://t.co/tYEBPOnXdC and Fanatics partner sites! pic.twitter.com/8nQfnD8T0z

— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2026

The league said the results were based on sales from NBAStore.com, Fanatics.com and other Fanatics partner sites.

Luka Doncic’s No. 77 Lakers threads came in second place, and jerseys belonging to Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Lakers forward LeBron James rounded out the top five.

Other notables in the top 15 included Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.

Mavericks star Cooper Flagg, who came in at No. 9, was the only rookie to secure a spot on the list.

The NBA also revealed on Monday which teams’ merchandise was the best-selling during this past regular season, and the Knicks landed the No. 1 spot there.

The Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, Spurs, 76ers, Bulls, Thunder, Timberwolves and Nuggets made up the rest of the top 10.

The NBA’s regular season officially concluded on Sunday. The postseason is scheduled to begin on Tuesday with the play-in tournament.

Celtics superlatives and awards: Most improved, biggest surprise, and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 regular season has come to an end. But before we turn our attention to the team’s quest for Banner 19, it’s time to recognize the C’s who played key roles en route to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

From MVP (an obvious choice) to the biggest surprise (a toss-up), we handed out superlatives and awards for a team that smashed preseason expectations. Here’s who’s taking home the fake hardware:

Most Valuable Player: Jaylen Brown

No need to spend much time on this no-brainer. Jaylen Brown was counted on to step up as the Celtics’ No. 1 option with Jayson Tatum out, and he exceeded even the loftiest expectations.

In what many believed would be a “gap year” for the C’s, Brown averaged career highs in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9), and assists (5.1) per game while leading Boston to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Brown notched three triple-doubles and 14 double-doubles during the 2025-26 campaign. He tied his career high with 50 points in a January win over the Los Angeles Clippers and had six other games with at least 40 points.

Not only was Brown the Celtics’ MVP, but he also earned some NBA MVP consideration for his spectacular season as Boston’s go-to option.

Most Improved Player: Neemias Queta

Queta took his game to another level as the Celtics’ starting center. The 26-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game — all career highs and double his 2024-25 numbers — as Boston’s top big man without Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet. He recorded 17 double-doubles.

“He’s probably one of the most improved players this year,” Brown said after Queta’s big game against Toronto last week. “I don’t know if he’s up for the award, but he should be.”

Queta is a long shot to win the award, but that doesn’t take anything away from his breakout season. He added a new dimension to a C’s offense that has been largely dependent on the 3-ball, all while being exceptional on the defensive end.

Defensive Player of the Year: Derrick White

D-White went through his fair share of offensive slumps, yet he still averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game. On the defensive end, he was even better than usual.

White came two blocks shy of becoming the first player in NBA history to make 200 3-pointers and record 100 blocks in a season. The best shot-blocking guard in the league averaged 1.3 per game, and on Dec. 30 vs. the Utah Jazz, he tied C’s great Dennis Johnson for the most blocks by a guard in a single game with seven swats.

White also averaged a career-high 1.1 steals per game. He should be a lock for his first career First-Team All-Defense nod.

Biggest surprise: Luka Garza

The Celtics’ depth at center became a concern after they traded Kristaps Porzingis and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. Luka Garza was the only big man they added to the roster, and entering the season with him as the top center off the bench was a head-scratcher.

Garza was a two-way player for the Minnesota Timberwolves until he signed a standard deal at the end of the 2023-24 season. The former Iowa standout was never anything more than a depth piece for Minnesota, but he carved out a critical role in Boston.

In 69 games, Garza averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game while shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range. He delivered several memorable performances, including a 22-point, seven-rebound game in Memphis and a 27-point, 12-rebound outburst in the season finale vs. Orlando.

Garza has made the case to be the Celtics’ go-to big man off the bench in the playoffs over trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vucevic. That probably won’t be the case to start the postseason, but Garza has earned Joe Mazzulla’s trust if Vucevic struggles.

Baylor Scheierman gets an honorable mention as a surprising force off the Celtics’ bench.

Rookie of the Year: Hugo Gonzalez

Gonzalez didn’t have much competition for this one. Amari Williams was the only other rookie on the roster, and he appeared in only 22 games with Boston.

Still, Gonzalez’s rookie season should be celebrated. The 20-year-old was a spark plug off the Celtics’ bench, showing tremendous hustle each time he stepped onto the court.

Gonzalez’s biggest game of his rookie season came on March 2, when he logged 18 points and 16 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He also had several noteworthy performances on the defensive end and was often tasked with guarding the opponent’s top option.

It’s scary to think about how good Gonzalez could become on both ends of the floor if his development continues on its current trajectory.

Sixth Man of the Year: Baylor Scheierman

Payton Pritchard doesn’t qualify for this honor as he started in 50 of his 79 games played. Therefore, second-year sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman is the clear choice.

Scheierman delivered a jolt off the C’s bench with impressive 3-point shooting and outstanding hustle on both ends. He finished the season with four double-doubles despite his limited minutes.

In Thursday’s win over the New York Knicks, Scheierman tallied a career-high 20 points with six 3-pointers. He followed that up in the regular-season finale vs. the Magic with a career-high 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and six 3s.

These performances show what Scheierman is capable of with more playing time in the coming years.

Best moment: Jayson Tatum returns from injury

Given how the Celtics smashed their preseason expectations, there’s no shortage of on-court moments, highlights, milestones, or wins to choose from. That said, it’s difficult to go with anything other than superstar Jayson Tatum’s miraculous return from his devastating Achilles injury.

Tatum’s 10-month absence ended on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. He made his long-awaited return to the parquet to loud cheers from the TD Garden crowd.

It took a while for Tatum to find his shot, but he finished his season debut just three assists shy of a triple-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. He has since looked more like his superstar self, just in time for another run at Banner 19.

Luka Dončić’s trip to Spain has brought with it a lack of clarity. With no real precedent of a player going there during the season and no firm idea on a timetable for a return, there isn’t much known about what’s going on and when he could be back.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that there were some conflicting reports initially on Monday about him coming back to America. According to longtime NBA reporter — and someone who is well-connected with Luka and his camp — Marc Stein, Luka is expected back in LA on Friday, a day before the Lakers open the playoffs at home against the Rockets.

That report was later backed up by Dan Woike of The Athletic.

This came after Shams Charania of ESPN provided a bit more insight into what Luka has been doing in Europe, but also initially reported he would be back on Tuesday. Later in the day, he said he would be back on Friday, which seems to be the consensus at this point.

The “majority of his time in Spain” line does stick out, but it’s because Luka was allowed to travel back to Slovenia while in Europe to see his kids. According to the Slovenian outlet Ekipa, after completing his first set of injections, Luka traveled to Slovenia with the Lakers’ approval.

Here is a section of the article, translated from Slovenian:

It is clear that Dončić also received the blessing of the Los Angeles Lakers, who of course support Luka in every decision he makes. From going to Madrid for treatment, to traveling to Slovenia for a short time in between two series of therapies.

The Lakers are aware that the mental well-being of their first star is just as important as the physical. And it is clear that Dončić’s association with his two children will fill his soul and heart and have a beneficial effect on his mental state.

After the brief trip to Slovenia, Luka returned to Madrid for a second set of injections and will now head back to Los Angeles this week.

Austin Reaves is not close to return

In the initial Shams tweet above during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” he also provided an update on Austin Reaves, and not really an encouraging one.

Austin Reaves, he’s out for [the] majority of this first round series. Most likely, probably, the earliest for him is going to be the first week of May.

This doesn’t rule him out entirely for the first round necessarily, but it leaves a pretty tight window that he could return. Looking back on previous first round series for the Lakers, last year’s Game 1 against the Wolves came on April 19 and the series ended on April 30. In 2023-24, Game 1 against the Nuggets was on April 20 and Game 5 was on April 29.

This year, Game 1 against the Rockets will be on April 18. While the full schedule is not yet out, to even give Austin a shot of returning for the first round, the Lakers will need to go at least six games and even then, that’s would only be the very beginning of the first week of May.

Realistically, Austin’s only chance of returning this year is if the Lakers make the second round, which would be a tall task.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Lamine Yamal is taking inspiration from NBA legend LeBron James ahead of Barcelona's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, April 14.

Yamal changed his Instagram profile picture to James before the match at Camp Nou, which Barcelona must win by at least two goals after dropping the first leg 2-0 in Madrid last week.

The Barcelona star didn't just use any image of James, but a picture of him holding the championship trophy after the 2016 NBA Finals.

In that series, James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers overturn a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors, winning the final three games to be crowned NBA champions.

In a news conference on Monday, April 13, Yamal said he was hoping to emulate the comeback that James and the Cavs pulled off a decade ago.

“[James] is one of my references that can inspire me for tomorrow’s game,” Yamal said. “I’ll think about how he did the comeback [in 2016] and I hope it unfolds the same way for me.

"We have plenty of leaders in the team. I consider myself one of them, but not the only one.”

Lamine Yamal has changed his profile picture to LeBron James holding the NBA championship trophy after making a 3-1 comeback in the finals.

Barca needs to make a 2-0 comeback this week vs. Atlético in the Champions League 👀 pic.twitter.com/m4h7YpVuze

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 12, 2026

Barcelona fell 2-0 in the first leg, as a first-half red card for defender Pau Cubarsí proved costly. Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth scored on either side of halftime to give Atlético a huge win at home.

Yamal, who has 22 goals and 18 assists this season, said his team would give everything to overturn the deficit against Diego Simeone's team.

“What I can promise for tomorrow is that if we get knocked out, it will be with us fighting until the end,” Yamal said. “We won’t stop running for one minute and give everything for this badge. I think the comeback is possible.”

Luka Doncic, who went to Spain to receive treatment on his injured hamstring, will return to the United States on Friday, sources told the California Post.

The Lakers’ star guard suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in a 134-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2. The Injury typically sidelines athletes around 30 days, but Doncic is hoping to expedite his return to the court.  

The fourth-seeded Lakers will host the fifth-seeded Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena at 5:30 pm.  

Doncic was having an MVP-caliber season before suffering the injury with five games remaining in the regular season. He led the league in scoring (33.5 points), was third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). 

Over the month of March, Doncic averaged a league-leading 37.5 points on 49.2% shooting, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists. He led the Lakers to a 15-2 record over that period. 

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The Charlotte Hornets may be the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they sure aren't playing like it.

Charlotte has been one of the better sides since the All-Star break, finishing the home stretch of the regular season with an 18-9 record. That span included splitting two meetings with the Miami Heat, who the Hornets host in the Play-In Tournament.

Point guard LaMelo Ball dished out a ton of dimes in his most recent run-in with Miami, and our Heat vs. Hornets predictions see Ball at the wheel of that offense Tuesday. 

My NBA picks love LaMelo to top his assist prop on Tuesday, April 14. 

Heat vs Hornets prediction

Heat vs Hornets best bet: LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists (-120)

LaMelo Ball is at the center of the Charlotte Hornets’ surge. The polarizing point guard watched his playmaking prowess rise in the home stretch, dishing out more than seven assists per game.

His brightest passing performance was 13 assists in a 136-106 blowout of the Miami Heat on March 17. 

Since then, Ball has recorded at least eight dimes in eight of 14 games and did so against defenses much stiffer than Miami. Charlotte took on the likes of Detroit, Boston (twice), New York (twice), Minnesota, and Phoenix — all Top 10 in defensive rating.

The Heat, on the other hand, are horrendous on D. Miami was 28th in defensive rating in the final 15 games while allowing 127.5 points against in that stretch. Foes racked up an average of 30 assists per contest — fifth most.

Charlotte cracked open the Heat’s zone defense like a piñata in that last meeting, thriving with off-ball movement and dribble-kick passing to spot-up shooters. Ball is excellent at creating opportunities from collapsing the defense as well as working out of guard-on-guard screen action. 

Since scorching the Heat in mid-March, Ball has generated an average of 12 potential assists per game. In his three head-to-head battles with Miami, that advanced measurement leaps to 14.3 potential dimes for outputs of five, nine, and 13 assists. 

Player projections for Tuesday’s tilt sit at 8+ assists from Ball. 

Heat vs Hornets same-game parlay

The Hornets are excellent at home when catching points and come into the Play-In Tournament producing some of the best two-way basketball, boasting a net rating of +11.3 over the final 15 games.

Kon Knueppel gets his first taste of postseason play. The sharp-shooting rookie is the main beneficiary of Ball's playmaking and torched the Heat this season, scoring 19, 22, 27, and 30 points in four matchups. He was 18 for 40 from beyond the 3-point arc in those games.

Heat vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists
• Kon Knueppel Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ball's in your Court

LaMelo’s projections call for as many as 24 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. He cashed this same stat line when Charlotte smoked Miami back on March 17. 

Heat vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets -5.5
• LaMelo Ball Over 22.5 points
• LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists
• LaMelo Ball Over 5.5 rebounds

Heat vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Heat +5.5 | Hornets -5.5
• Moneyline: Heat +185 | Hornets -225
• Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228

Heat vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Hornets are 12-4 SU and 11-5 ATS (69%) when laying more than three points as a home favorite this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.

How to watch Heat vs Hornets

Heat vs Hornets latest injuries

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