Creighton alum and former basketball assistant Alan Huss is leaving High Point to be the Bluejays' coach in-waiting, per multiple reports on Thursday:
Steve Kerr, Warriors share hopeful Gary Payton II, Quinten Post injury update
Steve Kerr, Warriors share hopeful Gary Payton II, Quinten Post injury update originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors could have two vital role players back in the lineup Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Gary Payton II (right knee inflammation) and Quinten Post (illness), who missed the last two games, have been upgraded to questionable for the game at Moda Center.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared a positive outlook on Payton and Post’s availability while talking Thursday to Mark T. Willard and Dan Dibley on 95.7 The Game.
“We’re hopeful,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “They’re both on the trip and we’re hopeful that they will play. I thought Gary’s absence was really big last night. We had a hard time staying in front of [guard Stephon] Castle, you know, when they went small and took [center Bismack] Biyombo out, it was basically 5-out. They had shooting everywhere and we really struggled staying in front of Castle, and that really caused a lot of the breakdowns that led to a lot of the threes.
“That’s one of the reasons Gary is so crucial to us, his on-ball defense. You put him on the best ball handler, the point guard, and then at the other end, he’s one of our best finishers as a roll man, as a dive man. He’s a point guard on defense and a power forward on offense, as you guys know. We missed him last night.
“We missed Quinten’s space, shooting with that second group that we start, or I shouldn’t say second group, but top of the 2nd [quarter], top of the 4th [quarter] lineup that we’ve gotten very comfortable with. So, we miss those guys, but it’s all part of it. Everybody has injuries and we needed to respond a little bit better and we just we didn’t do it, but now we’ve got to respond again.”
The Warriors blew out the floundering Phoenix Suns without Payton and Post on Tuesday night, but struggled in a devastating loss to the feisty San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
The loss dropped the Warriors to the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed. If Golden State wants to avoid the play-in tournament, they’ll need Payton and Post available for the final two regular-season games against the Blazers on Friday and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
The Blazers will be short-handed for the game against the Warriors. Center Deandre Ayton, forward Jerami Grant, guard Scoot Henderson, guard Bryce McGowens, guard Anfernee Simons and center Robert Williams III are out, while forward Deni Avdija is doubtful and forward Shaedon Sharpe is questionable.
But if the Spurs game taught the Warriors anything, they can’t overlook an opponent, no matter how many players that team is missing.
Dwight Howard to play in BIG3 this summer
Dwight Howard is headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
But first, he is going to play in the Big3 this summer.
I am extremely excited to be joining @thebig3 can’t wait to show yall the REAL Dwight from SACA ➡️ https://t.co/qJjg5EcXWUpic.twitter.com/jDBv8GZiuz
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) April 9, 2025
"On behalf of the entire league, I want to be the first one to welcome Dwight Howard to the BIG3," league co-founder Ice Cube said in a statement. "His legacy speaks for itself, and he still has fun playing the game. We all know that Dwight Howard can do more on the basketball court than he was able to show in the NBA. So, it's going to be nice to see him open up his game and show his all-around skills on the court in the BIG3.
"He's a perfect fit for the league, not just because of his athleticism and size but also due to our shared desire to grow the game of basketball around the world. We are honored that he has chosen to bring his game and star power to the BIG3. I look forward to seeing him challenge our 3-on-3 stars this summer and see if he can win himself another Championship."
Howard had an impressive Hall of Fame career in 18 NBA seasons. He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, an eight-time All-NBA, and he led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals, then won a ring in the bubble with the Lakers.
Howard will play for the Los Angeles Riot as the BIG3 moves to a city-based format for the first time (it had been more of a barnstorming tour style in previous years). Howard joins coach Nick Young and co-captains Jordan Crawford and Elijah Stewart on the team.
This year the BIG3 will debut eight all-new teams representing home markets in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, the DMV metropolitan area (Washington D.C.), Houston, Los Angeles and Miami.
Summer’s heating up, and the BIG3 is taking over some of the biggest arenas across the country! Where are you pulling up to catch the action? #SummerInTheCitypic.twitter.com/eI4p0GmLmF
— BIG3 (@thebig3) April 2, 2025
It will be good just to see Howard back on the court and hooping again.
Pelicans vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 10
It’s Thursday, April 10, and the New Orleans Pelicans (21-58) and Milwaukee Bucks (45-34) are all set to square off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
The Pelicans are currently 7-33 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Bucks have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home.
Milwaukee won the only meeting of the season between these two, 111-107 on April 6, just two games ago. Recently, New Orleans has lost four straight games and five of the past six, while Milwaukee is on a five-game winning streak.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Pelicans vs. Bucks live today
- Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Time: 8:00PM EST
- Site: Fiserv Forum
- City: Milwaukee, WI
- Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Pelicans vs. Bucks
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Pelicans (+839), Bucks (-1449)
- Spread: Bucks -15.5
- Over/Under: 221 points
That gives the Pelicans an implied team point total of 109.67, and the Bucks 117.75.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Pelicans vs. Bucks game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Giannis to go Under 28.5 Points:
"While Giannis is listed as questionable, if he does go, he likely won't play significant minutes in this game. The Bucks are -15.5 point favorites with him, so I would take the gamble and settle for a push or your money back if he doesn't play."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pelicans & Bucks game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Bucks at -15.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 221.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pelicans vs. Bucks on Thursday
- The Pelicans have lost 7 of their last 10 games
- The Bucks are 22-18 ATS at home this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
How to watch 2025 Nike Hoop Summit: Schedule, tv/stream info, players to watch, notable alumni
This weekend, the Nike Hoops Summit descends on Portland, bringing the top high school talent from around the globe to one court.
Here is everything you need to know about the event and how to watch the NBC Sports broadcast.
What is the Nike Hoops Summit?
The Nike Hoop Summit is an annual, highly prestigious week-long event featuring the top men's and women's high school players — specifically seniors — from around the globe facing off in a USA vs. World format (it's the USA Junior National Team vs. a crop of top international talent). The Hoops Summit takes place in Portland, Oregon, and is put on by Nike, USA Basketball and Primetime Sports.
The list of alums from this event is a who's who in basketball, including both leading MVP candidates this year, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There have been 16 former No. 1 picks (and 94 top-10 picks), plus legends such as Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki. On the women's side, the alumni list includes current stars such as JuJu Watkins of USC and 2025 SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker of Texas.
How do I watch the Nike Hoops Summit 2025?
The Nike Hoops Summit games take place Saturday, April 12, and will be broadcast on the USA Network as well as streamed on Peacock.
The broadcast begins at 7 p.m. Eastern, with the women's game tipping off at 7:30 p.m. and the men's game at 10 p.m. from the Moda Center in Portland (home to the NBA's Trail Blazers).
What are the rosters for the Nike Hoops Summit 2025?
Some of the biggest names attending the 2025 Nike Hoops Summit are:
• AJ Dybantsa, the forward out of Utah who is considered the No. 1 recruit in this class and who has committed to BYU for next season.
• Cameron Boozer, the son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, is projected by many to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and has committed to Duke (as has his brother, Cayden, a top-25 recruit who also will play at the Hoops Summit).
• Chris Cenac Jr., the top-ranked center in this class, who has committed to Houston for next season.
• Kiyan Anthony, the son of Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, the top-rated player coming out of New York this year, and he committed to Syracuse (like his father).
On the women's side:
• Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1 recruit in the nation and the 2025 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year, who is committed to Oklahoma.
• Sienna Betts, the No. 2 recruit in the nation and the sister of UCLA All-American Lauren, and the two will play together next season in Westwood.
• Jasmine "Jazzy" Davidson, the top-ranked forward in the nation and a Naismith High School All-America First Team member (along with Chavez and Betts), who will attend USC next year.
• Agot Makeer, the top-rated combo guard in this class, who comes out of Canada but is headed to South Carolina next season.
Notable Nike Hoops Summit alumni
Each of the last 20 NBA champions has had alumni of the Nike Hoops Summit on it. For the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics that list includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Payton Pritchard (Tatum and Pritchard were teammates on the 2016 USA squad).
There have been 15 No. 1 NBA picks — including last year's selection Zaccharie Risacher — and 94 top-10 picks, plus six NBA MVPs.
Among the list of great players to come through the Nike Hoops Summit are Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Davis, Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, and Kevin Garnett.
Hawks vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 10
It’s Thursday, April 10, and the Atlanta Hawks (37-42) and Brooklyn Nets (26-53) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The Hawks are currently 17-22 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Nets have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Brooklyn and Atlanta have split the season series.
Atlanta is 1-4 over the last five games and 2-7 in the past nine. Brooklyn is 3-8 in the previous 11 contests but 2-3 in the past five games.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Hawks vs. Nets live today
- Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Time: 7:30PM EST
- Site: Barclays Center
- City: Brooklyn, NY
- Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Hawks vs. Nets
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Hawks (-980), Nets (+637)
- Spread: Hawks -14
- Over/Under: 227 points
That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 119.85, and the Nets 112.55.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Hawks vs. Nets game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Over between the Hawks and Nets:
"The Nets are playing mostly backups at this point and defense has looked optional, especially against New Orleans last time out. The Hawks likely won't play a majority of their starters for full minutes, but this is a good game for the backups to gain confidence on the Atlanta side. I'd lean the Over, but ultimately pass on this game."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Hawks & Nets game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Atlanta Hawks on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brooklyn Nets at +14.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 227.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hawks vs. Nets on Thursday
- The Hawks have lost 23 of their 40 road games this season
- The Over is 23-17 in the Hawks' road games this season
- The Nets have covered the Spread in their last 4 home matchups with the Hawks
- Betting the Hawks on the Money Line in all games this season would have shown a 108% return on investment
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Former NBA players states Mobley, not Draymond, deserves DPOY
Former NBA players states Mobley, not Draymond, deserves DPOY originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Former NBA player Chandler Parsons believes that Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley should win the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year over Draymond Green.
Parsons gave his thoughts in response to Mobley’s claim on a recent podcast that he should win the award given to the NBA’s best defensive player.
“I agree [on Mobley winning DPOY],” Parsons said to host Michelle Beadle and former NBA player Lou Williams on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” on Thursday. “I think Draymond Green is fantastic. I think he’s versatile. He provides so much for that defense, and I think they’re the seventh-ranked defense. I think Cleveland is the eighth-best defense.
“But you look at the whole landscape of what Evan Mobley does, how he alters shots, how he rebounds the basketball. The jump that he’s made [this season]. There’s also an argument for all of these guards who have had great years. Like [Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lugentz] Dort, like [Atlanta Hawks guard] Dyson Daniels, and they don’t get the attention that they should.”
Evan Mobley deserves DPOY over Draymond Green, says Chandler Parsons 🗣️
Lou Williams thinks Dyson Daniels should win the award 👀@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsonspic.twitter.com/CqPFAOWMlL
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 10, 2025
While Green is the engine powering the Warriors’ resurgent defense this season, Mobley has been otherworldly for the Cavaliers. With a stunning blend of size and athleticism, the 23-year-old has become one of the league’s elite defenders.
Green is no slouch, but he has struggled with consistency throughout the season, particularly when he’s forced to guard larger players around the rim.
With Cleveland on cruise control, having locked up the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, the final two games of the regular season could go a long way towards Green boosting his stock. The Warriors are in win-now mode, needing victories in their final pair of games to avoid dropping into the NBA Play-in Tournament.
So, you can expect that Green will have an extra chip on his shoulder heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Cavaliers vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 10
It’s Thursday, April 10, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (63-16) and Indiana Pacers (48-31) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Cavaliers are currently 29-10 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Pacers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. These two split the season series this year and have one more meeting after this on Sunday.
The Pacers have won five straight games and six of the past seven, while the Cavaliers are 4-1 in the past five contests and 7-2 over the previous nine.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers live today
- Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
- City: Indianapolis, IN
- Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Pacers
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Cavaliers (+318), Pacers (-408)
- Spread: Pacers -9
- Over/Under: 229 points
That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 113.42, and the Pacers 118.11.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Cavaliers vs. Pacers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pacers to cover:
"Cleveland is sitting four of their starters with the No. 1 seed locked up for the Eastern Conference, so this is a Pacers or pass spot for me. The first-half spread might not be a bad look before Indiana sits a starter or two in the second half."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Cavaliers & Pacers game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at -9.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 229.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Pacers on Thursday
- The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference teams
- The Over is 12-8 in the Cavaliers' and the Pacers' last 10 games combined
- The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog
- The Pacers have won 16 of their last 20 games at home
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Knicks vs. Pistons Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 10
It’s Thursday, April 10, and the New York Knicks (50-29) and Detroit Pistons (43-36) are all set to square off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Knicks are currently 23-16 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Pistons have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. Detroit is 2-1 in the season series versus New York and won the past two meetings.
The Knicks are 7-3 in their last 10 games and coming off a two-point OT loss to the Celtics. Jalen Brunson returned to the lineup for the Knicks in the past two games and New York went 1-1. Cade Cunningham returns to the Pistons lineup tonight and in good timing. The Pistons are 1-4 over the last five games.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Pistons live today
- Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Little Caesars Arena
- City: Detroit, MI
- Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Knicks vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Knicks (+169), Pistons (-205)
- Spread: Pistons -5
- Over/Under: 224 points
That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 111.07, and the Pistons 113.68.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Knicks vs. Pistons game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Knicks to cover:
"While I am a supporter of the Pistons and JB Bickerstaff for Coach of the Year, I don't love this spot for the Pistons even with Cade Cunningham back. Jalen Brunson has looked good in two games back, while Detroit has gotten comfortable over the last few weeks without their leading scorer and passer. It may take a little to shake off the rust for Detroit's offense, so I lean toward the Knicks with the points, which opened at +5 down to +3.5 and the Team Total Under 116.5 on the Pistons."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Pistons game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Pistons on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 224.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Pistons on Thursday
- The Knicks have won 8 straight games at the Pistons
- Each of the last 4 matchups between the Knicks and the Pistons have gone over the Total
- The Pistons have covered in 27 of their 49 matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
- The Knicks have won 8 straight games at the Pistons
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Nuggets latest: Jokic knew of Malone firing beforehand, owner Kroenke speaks to team
The Denver Nuggets are 1-0 under interim coach David Adelman, beating a struggling Kings team Wednesday. Denver looked like largely the same team, and everything ran through Nikola Jokic, although it's worth noting that Jalen Pickett had a season-high 18 points (but was a target for a while defensively).
That doesn't stop all the drama around the Nuggets in the wake of the stunning firing of coach Michael Malone and removal of Calvin Booth as GM. Here is the latest on all the drama.
• Nicola Jokic knew of firing in advance. Denver's MVP candidate said team President/Governor Josh Kroenke told him about the firing before it was public. The decision had been made, it wasn't a discussion and Kroenke wasn't looking for input, Jokic added.
Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets firing Michael Malone and Calvin Booth: “I knew a little bit before everybody. And (Josh Kroenke) told me, ‘We made a decision.’ So it was not a discussion. It was a decision, and he told me why. So I listened and I accept it.” pic.twitter.com/4NQRPrLLzG
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) April 10, 2025
• Jokic was actively coaching during team huddles against Kings. With Malone out, Jokic was more vocal on the bench and in timeouts than usual in the win over Sacramento.
Nikola Jokić has been so active in the huddles for the Nuggets tonight. Multiple instances of him grabbing the whiteboard, drawing up plays, talking about both offense and defense with his team. One-on-one conversations with teammates. Leading in many ways.
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) April 10, 2025
• Kroenke taking over as interim head of basketball operations. With Booth out, there needs to be a head of basketball operations in Denver as the draft approaches (even though the Nuggets do not have a first-round pick this year), and Kroenke will take over that title in the interim, reports Chris Haynes. The search for a new GM is underway, but despite the team being a contender, the job may not be as attractive to the biggest names as fans would expect.
• Kroenke met with team at shootaround before Kings game. Kroenke met with the team again on Wednesday, saying he felt the team was not playing with enough joy, and "implored them to fight with passion and enthusiasm," Haynes reports. The Nuggets did go out that night and beat the Kings on the road, with Nikola Jokic having a 20-point triple-double and all five starters scoring in double figures.
• Malone's backing of Westbrook cost him support in locker room. One of the points of contention between Malone and Booth was how much Malone leaned on Russell Westbrook over players such as Jalen Pickett. Westbrook is a roller coaster, and it frustrated teammates, Sam Amick and Tony Jones wrote at The Athletic.
"When it came to Malone and his level of support in the locker room, team and league sources say the bottom started to fall out in mid-March...
"All the while, Malone's choice to continue supporting Westbrook — despite the frustration he was causing on and off the floor — ultimately led to a loss of credibility among the team's key players. It was one thing when Malone handled Jokic and [Jamal] Murray with more leniency than the rest of their group, but affording Westbrook that sort of treatment, even with his Hall of Fame resume, wasn't received well by some."
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Zach Edey, Stephon Castle among the top fantasy rookies
While some fantasy managers compete in leagues that run through the end of the NBA's regular season, most were completed by the end of Sunday's games. Congratulations to those who won their leagues and the money (and bragging rights) that comes with it. Those who did not will reflect on what went wrong and how they can avoid a similar fate next season.
With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions.
Thursday's question: Who was this season's Rookie of the Year in fantasy basketball? This is one of those questions where the pick here will differ drastically from who wins the official award. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their picks, and the choices were varied.
The Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff nearly reached a consensus for its most improved player picks.
Who was the Rookie of the Year in fantasy basketball?
Nick Shlain: I think Alexandre Sarr is the easy answer for fantasy rookie of the year. Stephon Castle will likely win the Rookie of the Year award, though the race is pretty wide open. Castle, however, ranks just 195th in season-long total game value, while Sarr is 139th. Even in the past three months, Castle has benefitted from De'Aaron Fox's absence due to injury, and he still ranks well behind Sarr. If I can give out an honorable mention, though, Zach Edey has shown his potential in glimpses this year. He's a different kind of player. Edey can be a defensive force and grab rebounds in bunches. He's not a great scorer, but there's something to work with there in fantasy.
Noah Rubin: This is tough since there are multiple strong candidates, though none have truly separated themselves from the pack. That applies to fantasy basketball and the actual Rookie of the Year race. Kel'el Ware wouldn't be my pick for the actual award, but I'll give him the nod in fantasy basketball. He has been the best rookie in nine-cat scoring for the season, as well as since January, when most rookies start adjusting to life in the NBA. This doesn't mean Ware should be seen as the most valuable player from this class in dynasty formats, but he was the most impactful this season.
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Raphielle Johnson: This isn't exactly a rare occurrence, but the Rookie of the Year from a fantasy standpoint may not align with the winner of the official award. While Stephon Castle appears to be the favorite to win the latter, Zach Edey would be my pick for Fantasy Rookie of the Year. The Grizzlies rookie has been a 12th-round player in eight- and nine-cat per-game value, and he's been close to a top 100 option in total value, according to Basketball Monster. Predicting what Edey will be in fantasy next season is a bit difficult due to the firing of Taylor Jenkins. Still, he can approach top-100 value with improved scoring (9.3 ppg this season).
Zak Hanshew: I'll cheat here and name two players: Zach Edey and Stephon Castle. Edey was my preseason pick (2024-25 Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 Rookies - NBC Sports) to finish as fantasy's top rookie, and it looks like that's where he'll finish. Edey's value comes from his strong, traditional big man stats, as he excelled as a rebounder and shot blocker while shooting efficiently and keeping the basketball secure. Castle is outside the top 200 in per-game fantasy value, thanks to his dreadful shooting and high turnovers, but this guy has been tremendous since joining the starting five for an end-of-season run. He's averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists across his last 14 games, and he's been even better over the last week with 18.8 points, 9.8 boards and 7.8 dimes across his last four. He's got the usual rookie warts, but he's shown flashes of brilliance and deserves to be mentioned here.
Lipscomb’s Lennie Acuff is heading home to Alabama to take job at Samford
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Mazzulla gives injury update on Jaylen Brown: ‘He's doing well'
Mazzulla gives injury update on Jaylen Brown: ‘He's doing well' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics are playing at a high level going into the 2025 NBA playoffs, which is an encouraging sign for the team as it prepares to defend its title.
The Celtics are 12-2 in their last 14 games and wrap up the regular season schedule with a two-game homestand versus the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and Sunday.
The one concern involving the Celtics right now is the status of Jaylen Brown’s knee. The All-Star guard appears to be less than 100 percent healthy. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter or overtime of Tuesday’s win against the New York Knicks and sat out Thursday’s loss to the Orlando Magic.
It would make sense to not play Brown against the Hornets this weekend and give him more than a week of rest before Boston opens its first-round playoff series, even if that means he’d finish with fewer than 65 games played and not be eligible for an All-NBA team.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand show Thursday and gave the latest update on Brown’s knee.
“He’s doing well,” Mazzulla said, as seen in the video player above. “No one knows their body, no one knows how to push themselves, no one knows how to prepare themselves, body and mind, through the rigors of a season (like him).
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is just kind of trust in Jaylen, and trust in his work, trust in his process and also trust in the training staff and the sports science and the guys that put the time in all the time. … I trust that he’ll be ready to go when it matters most.”
Is it realistic to expect Brown to be 100 percent during the upcoming playoff run?
“I don’t think it’s realistic to think that anyone’s 100 percent during a long playoff run, and I think that’s where the mental side comes into it,” Mazzulla explained.
“That’s where the mindset of just pushing it — I think that over the course of the season or the course of, hopefully a potential playoff run, everybody’s dealing with something. So you gotta be able to take your mind and your body to a different level, and there’s not many people who are better at that than (Jaylen) is.”
Brown has still played pretty well despite a decreased workload of late. He’s averaging 19 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from 3-point range over four games this month. That includes a 31-point performance in a win over the Phoenix Suns last week.
The Celtics have enough depth and high-end talent to win another championship if Brown is at less than 100 percent health. But to reach their apex, they need him as close to 100 percent as possible.
Windhorst claims flawed Warriors entering ‘energy-zapping' stretch
Windhorst claims flawed Warriors entering ‘energy-zapping' stretch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Brian Windhorst believes the Warriors are ill-equipped to handle a long NBA playoff run due to their roster construction.
The ESPN analyst explained that Golden State is in a difficult position in the Western Conference playoff standings.
“I agree with you that the difference between the No. 2 and No. 8 seed in the [Western Conference] is negligible,” Windhorst said to Courtney Cronin, Monica McNutt and David Dennis Jr. on “First Take” on Thursday. “All of those teams believe they can beat each other, and all of those teams have flaws that will allow them to be beaten. Clearly, the Warriors are flawed, look what happened last night.”
"Clearly the Warriors are flawed, look what happened last night." 😬 @WindhorstESPN on how Golden State's 114-111 loss to the Spurs could affect their playoff fate in the West 👀 pic.twitter.com/AaeWXoOwzV
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 10, 2025
The Warriors blew last night’s game against the depleted San Antonio Spurs 114- 111, allowing Harrison Barnes to hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired. The shocking loss moved Golden State down in the standings to the No. 7 seed, dangerously close to ending up in the play-in tournament.
Windhorst then explained why the Warriors’ potential postseason lineup decisions might prove to be disastrous.
“The way the Warriors are going to try to pull this off [is] they’re going to try to play with a very small lineup,” Windhorst said. “And I just think what you’re going to ask this team to do to make a long playoff run, what you’re going to ask Draymond Green to do. Guard bigger players, play with a lot of energy. I think it’s going to be energy-zapping for them. So, I think they need to be doing the opposite, they need to be taking load off instead of adding load on.”
After trading for Jimmy Butler, Golden State has emphasized smaller lineups, with Green at center. While that approach has worked, it also strains Green to match up against larger players. Rookie center Quinten Post has looked solid coming off the bench, but it’s uncertain if he could handle more playing time in a hotly contested playoff series.
The Warriors have two regular-season games remaining against the Portland Trail Blazers (35-45) and the Los Angeles Clippers (48-32), and will need to win both contests to have a shot at a top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff berth. The separation between the No. 4 and No. 7 seeds in the conference is a minuscule one-and-a-half games, so Golden State cannot afford another misstep.
If they’re unable to win out and get some help, the Warriors would have a play-in game on Tuesday, an unenviable spot to be in for a team with deep playoff aspirations.
For now, the Warriors turn their attention toward Portland on Friday, a must-win game if they want to avoid the play-in.
Why Post, GP2 severely were missed in catastrophic Warriors loss
Why Post, GP2 severely were missed in catastrophic Warriors loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The two most important numbers from the Warriors’ 38-point obliteration of the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night were 26 and 20 – the first representing how many minutes Steph Curry played, and the second being the playing time for Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
Both the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs were on the second night of a back-to-back when they played each other Wednesday night at Chase Center. The Warriors’ stars were rested from a blowout win, while the Spurs battled the LA Clippers the previous night and their top two players – Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox are out for the season.
Didn’t matter. The Warriors fumbled a 12-point fourth-quarter lead, losing 114-111 on a night where an inexcusable loss couldn’t be accepted.
The mood wasn’t doom but gloom after the disappointment, and to coach Steve Kerr the absence of two key role players was evident throughout the loss.
“I think we really missed Gary tonight,” Kerr said. “Missed QP. We’ve really developed a good group, rotation-wise, with those guys.”
Gary Payton II (right knee inflammation) and Quinten Post (illness) missed their second straight game. Their presence wasn’t needed against the Suns where the Warriors led from the nine-minute mark of the first quarter through the rest of the game. But this part of the season is all about fit and combinations going into the postseason, and these two players are puzzle pieces placed in unison for the Warriors.
Only two players had a positive plus/minus for the Warriors in their three-point loss. Steph Curry was a plus-14 in 36 minutes, and Post’s replacement, Trayce Jackson-Davis, was a plus-3 in three minutes off the bench.
The non-Steph minutes have turned from a close-your-eyes-and-look-away situation to a major positive since Butler’s arrival. When he sat against San Antonio, any positive momentum created was tossed to the toilet and flushed away.
“Huge,” Kerr said. “I thought that was the key to the game – top of the second, top of the fourth. We played two great quarters tonight, first quarter and third quarter. Both of those quarters, top second and top fourth, they blitzed us. … Those were the two key stretches in the game.”
And they’re where Post and Payton come into play.
To start the second and fourth quarters, Kerr essentially has been replacing Curry with Post, a seven-footer who can let it fly from deep. The lineup of Podziemski-Moody-Butler-Green-Post has a 18.3 net rating with a 112.4 offensive rating and 94.1 defensive rating. Post gives Butler a shooter and gives the group both size and spacing.
He also is shooting 41 percent from three this season, which tops Curry’s 39.5 percent and leads the Warriors. His 3-point prowess was imperative on a night where Brandin Podziemski (1 of 5) and Moses Moody (1 of 7) went 2 of 12 from three. Post is shooting 41 percent from three in the second quarter (25 of 61) and 39 percent in the fourth quarter (16 of 41).
Kerr and the Warriors’ coaching staff have emphasized winning the first and last four minutes of quarters. Through the first four minutes of the second quarter, the Warriors were outscored 15-3. If you extend it to the first six minutes, the Spurs had a 20-3 advantage. Then to start the fourth quarter, the Spurs raced out to a 15-7 run through the first four minutes.
“Couldn’t get a stop,” Green said. “Couldn’t get into nothing offensively. Couldn’t get a stop.”
Is that Payton’s music you hear? He’s the ultimate wild card Kerr can call upon, making his long injury history and health going forward that much more important to the Warriors’ success.
Though the Warriors lost the previous game Payton played, falling 106-96 against the Houston Rockets, Payton was phenomenal. In 20-plus minutes off the bench, Payton had 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Individually, Payton had a 128 offensive rating, 100 defensive rating and a 17.0 box plus/minus against the Rockets.
His point-of-attack defense was severely missed against San Antonio’s Rookie of the Year frontrunner Stephon Castle, who blew past Warriors defenders all night. The Spurs went 7 of 10 on threes in the fourth quarter, and three were from clear drive-and-kick situations.
When one or two bench links are missing from the chain, the Warriors can’t crumble. They did. Post has been great with Butler, and Payton’s chemistry alongside Curry can cure all. Are they the ultimate X-factors?
That question can be looked at differently in nearly every game. In this catastrophic loss, the answer was obvious, with hopes they’ll be back as soon as Friday against the Trail Blazers in Portland.