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Trail Blazers vs. Raptors Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Portland Trail Blazers (33-43) and Toronto Raptors (28-48) are all set to square off from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Trail Blazers are currently 13-25 on the road with a point differential of -3, while the Raptors have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. The Blazers won 105-102 on March 16 in Portland versus Toronto. This is the final meeting of the season.

Toronto was on a four-game winning streak before their 19-point loss to Chicago whereas Portland was on a four-game losing streak before their four-point win over Atlanta.

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 Trail Blazers vs. Raptors live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Scotiabank Arena
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • 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 Trail Blazers vs. Raptors

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Trail Blazers (-123), Raptors (+103)
  • Spread:  Trail Blazers -1.5
  • Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 112.91, and the Raptors 112.13.

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 Trail Blazers vs. Raptors game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Blazers to cover and win:

"Portland and Toronto are both on the outside looking in of the play-in tournament, but I think the Blazers at least have a real chance. The Raptors would need to win out with some help to make the play-in whereas Portland is 2.0 games back of the final spot. This is a winnable game for the Blazers and a good spot to grab two straight wins. It's Portland or pass."

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 Trail Blazers & Raptors 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 Toronto Raptors at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from 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 Trail Blazers vs. Raptors on Thursday

  • The Trail Blazers have won 9 of their last 10 games as favorite
  • The Over is 12-8 in the Raptors' last 10 home games and the Trail Blazers' last 10 on the road combined
  • The Raptors have covered in 4 of their last 5 games
  • The Raptors have covered in 8 of their 9 matchups against Western Conference Northwest Division teams 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)

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Jamion Christian returns from overseas to replace Phil Martelli Jr. as Bryant’s basketball coach

Bryant has hired Jamion Christian to replace Phil Martelli Jr. as its men's basketball coach, the school announced Thursday. Christian will move to the Rhode Island school after spending the last two seasons as coach of Pallacanestro Trieste of the Italian Professional Basketball League. Christian also has had prior head coaching jobs at George Washington, Siena and Mount St. Mary’s.

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Moody, Podziemski pride themselves on not being Warriors' weak links

Moody, Podziemski pride themselves on not being Warriors' weak links originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LOS ANGELES – On the far end of the UCLA men’s basketball practice court at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center, Steph Curry still is working following Warriors shootaround, more than seven hours prior to their game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Draymond Green is getting shots up on the same hoop. So is Jimmy Butler, with the rest of the team shooting on the opposite end or at a side hoop. Curry, Green and Butler are the center of the Warriors’ solar system. They aren’t surrounded by fellow stars in the starting lineup, but key components who can keep everything in sync or throw the Warriors out of whack. 

Since Butler’s arrival from the Miami Heat, the former has been the story of a resurgent Golden State squad. Curry has been rejuvenated. Green has stated his Defensive Player of the Year case, with an equally competitive comrade to lean on. 

The rest of the Warriors’ usual starting five when at full strength is made up of Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, two 22-year-olds shining in their own regard. 

“We make sure when teams look at us, they don’t look at us as the weak links out there,” Podziemski said. 

They haven’t been. The Warriors are 18-5 since Butler made his team debut on Feb. 8 in Chicago, and one of those losses came in a game he missed as an injury precaution. None of the five losses have been with Curry, Podziemski, Butler, Moody and Green all in the starting lineup. 

After beating the Grizzlies in Memphis on Tuesday night, the Warriors jumped to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and improved to 12-0 using that starting five, giving them perhaps the best group in the NBA. Their 12-game win streak together is the longest by any team in the league this season, passing the Oklahoma City Thunder’s five-man unit of Cason Wallace, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein that had an 11-game win streak together from Dec. 3, 2024 through Jan. 5, 2025. 

“It’s been pretty simple since Jimmy’s gotten here,” Podziemski said. “We got really high-IQ guys in the starting lineup and guys kind of just know how the floor is supposed to look, what shots you’re going to get it and it all meshes good.”

Adding Butler next to Curry has simplified everything for the Warriors, particularly for Moody and Podziemski. 

“It’s a good flow out there on the floor,” Moody said. “Playing through Jimmy, playing through Steph opens a lot of things up.”

Podziemski has played 19 games in the Butler era, missing five to a lower back problem. In that span, Podziemski has averaged 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Moody hasn’t missed any action, averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game with Butler on the Warriors. Both have seen their defensive responsibilities increase, too. 

With Andrew Wiggins gone as part of the Butler trade, Moody has individually taken on the challenge of defending the opposition’s top scorer. Though he’s only shooting 33.9 percent on 3-pointers in the past eight weeks with Butler in the fold, Moody’s defensive intensity has shined, as has Podziemski’s on plenty of occasions. 

Each player has averaged at least a steal per game for the new-look Warriors. 

“We know Jimmy and Steph do so much for us offensively,” Podziemski said. “Me and Moses have taken on the challenge of guarding the best guys every night and making it easier on the other guys.” 

The quintet technically has played 14 games together, producing a 120.3 offensive rating and 102.4 defensive rating in 133 minutes, giving the group a 17.9 net rating. There have been 20 five-man lineups in the NBA that have played at least 100 minutes together since Butler’s first game in a Warriors jersey. The Curry-Podziemski-Butler-Moody-Green lineup has the sixth-best offensive rating during that duration, plus the third-best defensive rating and third-best net rating. 

“We’re just trying to win games,” Moody said. “When it comes down to the stretch, whatever it takes. Young guys, old guys, everybody’s really just all-in, putting everything they got on the floor and trying to come out with wins.” 

Golden State’s Big Three – Curry, Green and Butler – combined to score 92 of the Warriors’ 134 points against the Grizzlies. Moody (10 points) and Podziemski (eight points) accounted for 18 points. Yet they came through in the clutch for the Warriors when it mattered most. 

Podziemski flew in for a wild tip-in, using his off-hand to save a missed three from Curry, putting the Warriors ahead by five points with a little over a minute left. Moody sealed the game, hitting a wide-open three of his own from the left corner, increasing the Warriors’ lead to eight points at the 40-second mark of the fourth quarter. 

“We understood what was at stake going into that game,” Podziemski said. “We both didn’t play particularly well offensively throughout the course of the game, but when it mattered most, we stepped up and made plays. His corner three, my tip-in at the end. It’s a good feeling as a young guy to have Steve trust you out there when it matters most.” 

No weak links. 

More weight is placed upon the shoulders of Curry, Green and Butler than anybody else. The play of Podziemski and Moody has provided a sense of relief, as well as added trust for what should be a brawling sprint to the regular-season’s finish line, before the pressure really turns on.

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Bucks vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Milwaukee Bucks (41-34) and Philadelphia 76ers (23-53) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The Bucks are currently 16-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the 76ers have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Milwaukee won all three meetings versus Philly this season by at least eight points.

Philadelphia has lost nine consecutive games, while Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-point win over Phoenix.

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 Bucks vs. 76ers live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Wells Fargo Center
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • 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 Bucks vs. 76ers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Bucks (-606), 76ers (+445)
  • Spread:  Bucks -11.5
  • Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Bucks an implied team point total of 117.44, and the 76ers 111.44.

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 Bucks vs. 76ers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bucks to cover:

"The Bucks got a much-needed 10-point win over the Suns to break a four-game losing streak. Of the remaining schedule, this is the most winnable game outside of a road game at New Orleans. The 76ers have dropped nine straight games and I don't see that changing here after three straight double-digit losses. It's Bucks or pass."

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 Bucks & 76ers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia 76ers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +11.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.

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 Bucks vs. 76ers on Thursday

  • The Bucks have lost 20 of their 36 road games this season
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Bucks' last 10 road games
  • The Bucks have covered in 7 of their last 8 road games
  • The Bucks are 1-4 in their last 5 games

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)

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How Draymond roasted Steph during 52-point game vs. Grizzlies

How Draymond roasted Steph during 52-point game vs. Grizzlies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Nobody is safe from Draymond Green’s trash talk on the court, not even Steph Curry.

The Warriors’ superstar, despite scoring 52 points in Golden State’s 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at FedExForum, was chirped by his longtime teammate toward the end of the game.

Green joined ESPN’s Malika Andrews for an exclusive interview that aired on Thursday’s episode of “NBA Today,” where he revealed what he told Curry after realizing how many points his Warriors teammate had late in the fourth quarter.

“I told him at the free-throw line, when they fouled him, he had 50, and he went to the free-throw line, I said ‘Man! Oh, you already got 50? Well, go ahead and get 52, that’s not bad for a 40-year-old,” Green told Andrews.

Curry, of course, is 37 years old, but you might not be able to tell by how he still plays on the court in his 16th NBA season.

One NBA player who is 40 years old, is LeBron James, whom Green and the Warriors will face off against on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. And of course, he will not be safe from Green’s trash talk.

“He gotta hear it too,” Green said about poking fun at James for his age.

That’s a bear that the Warriors would be wise not to poke.

The same goes for Curry, although opposing teams still seem to be learning that lesson the hard way.

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Warriors provide encouraging GP2 injury update ahead of Lakers game

Warriors provide encouraging GP2 injury update ahead of Lakers game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears Gary Payton II soon could re-join the Warriors’ rotation.

The injured guard missed Golden State’s previous three games after suffering a partial tear in his left thumb on March 25 against the Miami Heat, but on Thursday, the team provided an encouraging update, stating Payton is “making good progress.”

While Payton will not play in the marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, he is considered “day-to-day.”

In 58 games this season, Payton is averaging 6.6 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 58.5-percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range in 14.9 minutes off the bench.

The 32-year-old two-way player is a key piece of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation and has been missed on both ends of the floor in recent games.

However, it appears the Warriors could have him back sooner rather than later.

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Grizzlies vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Memphis Grizzlies (44-32) and Miami Heat (35-41) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.

The Grizzlies are currently 19-18 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Heat have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. The Grizzlies beat the Heat, 125-91 on March 15 in Memphis and this is the final meeting of the season.

Memphis lost four straight games entering this contest, whereas Miami won the past six including last night's contest against the Celtics.

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 Grizzlies vs. Heat live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Kaseya Center
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / Max / TruTV

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 Grizzlies vs. Heat

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Grizzlies (-172), Heat (+145)
  • Spread:  Grizzlies -4
  • Over/Under: 227 points

That gives the Grizzlies an implied team point total of 114.76, and the Heat 112.68.

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 Grizzlies vs. Heat game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Grizzlies to cover versus the Heat:

"Miami has won six-straight games, including last night's 124-103 win in Boston. The Heat are riding high, but this is a tough spot beating Boston on the road then flying back to Miami to face a Grizzlies team with a slight rest advantage and coming off four straight losses. This is a spot where I like the Grizzlies to cover."

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 Grizzlies & Heat game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Memphis Grizzlies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +4.
  • 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 Grizzlies vs. Heat on Thursday

  • The Grizzlies have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Grizzlies and the Heat have stayed under the Total
  • The Heat are 20-17 ATS at home this season
  • The Grizzlies have won 16 of their last 20 games against teams with losing records

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)

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Warriors vs. Lakers Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for April 3

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview 

The Golden State Warriors (44-31) and Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) are all set to square off from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Warriors continue to play good basketball with the combination of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. Curry was playing out of his mind in their win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday. He finished with 52 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.

 The Warriors are currently 21-17 on the road with a point differential of 3, while the Lakers have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the 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 Warriors vs. Lakers live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 10:00PM EST
  • Site: Crypto.com Arena
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • 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 Warriors vs. Lakers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Warriors (+105), Lakers (-125)
  • Spread:  Lakers -1.5
  • Over/Under: 230 points

That gives the Warriors an implied team point total of 114.63, and the Lakers 115.42.
 
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 Warriors vs. Lakers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Lakers -1.5…

Thomas: “While both teams are rolling right now, I think there is a bit of value with the Lakers tonight. Despite the Warriors beating the Grizzlies, I wasn’t left impressed with that game. Had it not been for Curry, that team would’ve likely lost by double digits.

The Lakers, with the addition of Luka Doncic, have been a team that has maximized the potential of the other role players. Doncic is such a great facilitator. He makes the other players around him.

With the Lakers being 29-9 at home, and the best home record in the Western Conference, it’s hard to imagine they lose this game tonight.”

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 Warriors & Lakers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Lakers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Golden State Warriors at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 230.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from 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 Warriors vs. Lakers on Thursday

  • The Lakers have won their last 6 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division opposition
  • Each of the Warriors' last 4 games at the Lakers have gone over the Total
  • The Lakers have covered in their last 6 matchups against divisional opponents
  • The Lakers have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with winning records

 
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!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
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)

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Report: Maxey expected to miss rest of season with finger injury

Report: Maxey expected to miss rest of season with finger injury  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Unlike Kyle Lowry, Tyrese Maxey won’t return during the Sixers’ home stretch. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that Maxey is “expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season with a finger tendon injury.” The 24-year-old guard is “still dealing with discomfort and needs treatment,” Charania reported. 

The 23-53 Sixers have six regular-season games remaining. In addition to Maxey, Joel Embiid (left knee surgery), Paul George (adductor and left knee injuries), Jared McCain (left knee surgery) and Eric Gordon (right wrist surgery) have been ruled out for the year. Kelly Oubre Jr. (right knee) and Andre Drummond (left big toe) are among their sidelined veterans.

Maxey practiced last Friday and the Sixers weren’t encouraged.

“It went just medium,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Tuesday night before his team’s loss to the Knicks. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, that was great,’ but he’s still working out today. He’ll work out tomorrow. And again, we’re hoping he feels a little bit better.

“He got a splint put on there and kind of liked it, but then it was bothering him post-practice a little bit. But again, we’re working him out and trying to get him back on the court.” 

Maxey did not look comfortable in his pregame workout at Madison Square Garden. He mostly took shots inside with his left hand and did not extend beyond the mid-range with his right. 

The last time Maxey played was March 3. He’d clearly been hampered by his injured finger and acknowledged on Feb. 26 that it was affecting “mostly just my shot and my ball handling.”

“I can’t really pound the ball like I want to, but I’m not going to make any excuses,” he said. 

Over his final four games, he shot just 19 for 69 (27.5 percent) from the floor and 2 for 21 (9.5 percent) from three-point range. 

For the season, Maxey averaged 26.3 points, 6.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He made major improvements defensively and easily set a new career high in steals, nabbing 1.8 per game. 

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Why Butler vs. Dončić is matchup to watch in Warriors-Lakers game

Why Butler vs. Dončić is matchup to watch in Warriors-Lakers game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s fascinating each time Stephen Curry and LeBron James go after each other, as they will Thursday night when Curry’s Warriors face James’ Lakers in Los Angeles.

But another matchup might be even more intriguing.

The venerable superstars, with eight NBA championships between them, will have to share the marquee with their team’s new toys: Jimmy Butler III for the Warriors, and Luka Doncić for the Lakers. The curiosity factor is high.

Neither Butler nor Doncić has won an NBA Finals, but each was acquired in February to pursue that goal. Curry-James has a long and distinguished history of high-stakes hoops, but Butler-Doncić has no postseason story – and no previous game of this magnitude.

The atmosphere will be intense when the ball tips off at 7 p.m. inside Crypto.com Arena. Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6 with “Warriors Pregame Live,” with “Warriors Postgame Live” immediately after the TNT telecast.

Golden State (44-31, fifth place in the Western Conference) and Los Angeles (46-29, third place in the West) are among six teams within 2.5 games of each other in the standings. Four will earn playoff berths, with the bottom two headed for the dreaded play-in tournament.

Butler has been a tonic for the Warriors, who were in 10th place with a 25-26 record before his Feb. 8 debut. Their 19-5 record since his arrival has pushed them up the standings. His individual statistics have been impressive enough – 17.5 points, 6.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 7.6 free-throw attempts per game – but his reservoir of intangibles has made an extraordinary impact on his teammates.

When Golden State coach Steve Kerr said this week that the Butler trade “saved our season,” there was not a trace of hyperbole.

“He’s just a big-time defender, big-time two-way player,” Kerr said. “Jimmy has made the rest of the pieces fit.”

The trade that sent Butler to the Warriors was stunning, but the deal a few days earlier that sent Doncić to the Lakers was a shocker of such proportions that the widespread initial reaction was disbelief. It rocked the entire NBA.

Doncić, however, has not shifted LA’s season into overdrive. Three of his four highest-scoring games were in losses. He’s shooting 41.5 percent from the field, including 36.1 percent from distance. The intangible impact has been negligible; the Lakers won 62 percent of their games (31-19) before his arrival and have won 60 (15-10) percent since he was added to the roster.

Butler projects to be the first defender on Doncić, as Andrew Wiggins was before Golden State traded him to Miami for Butler. Whoever puts the bigger stamp on the game likely shifts the outcome in his team’s favor.

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