Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) reacts after getting fouled while attempting to dunk during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
April 12th is the last day of the regular season and then the Spurs have a couple of days off before they begin the first round of the playoffs.
What to do, what to do? How about meeting Devin Vassell?
On Monday, April 13th, Spurs swingman Devin Vassell will be making a guest appearance at Panda Express at 7979 Bandera Road.
From noon until 2PM, fans can meet Vassell while trying Panda Express’ new spicy dish – Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken.
There will be a photo booth, DJ, prize wheel, and an appearance by Pei Pei, the Panda Express mascot.
Make sure to get there early as these events typically have long lines.
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Simone Fontecchio #0 of the Miami Heat during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wizards lost to the Miami Heat last night but got strong performances from Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington. The final tally was 140-117 — the third time this season the Heat scored 140 or more against the Wizards.
The shellacking was Washington’s 28th loss by 20 or more points this season. I might believe that number was made up except I watched virtually every minute of them.
Bub Carrington shot 6-7 from three-point range in the Wizards loss to the Miami Heat. | NBAE via Getty Images
The Miami Heat broadcast had some interesting tidbits about the Wizards. Like:
The Wizards have the NBA’s worst overall record. They also have the worst record at home and on the road. Quite the triple crown.
It’s Washington’s third straight season with fewer than 20 wins.
Washington has used 50 different starting lineups in their 81 games so far this season.
Washington getting stomped by the Heat was inevitable. As has been chronicled extensively, the Wizards want to lose to maximize their Draft Lottery odds. Miami wanted to win to improve their position in the NBA’s play-in games. The Wizards set their lineups and minutes distribution accordingly.
While the Wizards received a thorough butt kicking, there were some positives — Coulibaly, Carrington, and Brian Keefe.
Coulibaly was a classic “tough cover” — 25 points in 22 minutes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. His usage rate was an astronomical 38.6% and his offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) was 145. That’s a great game.
Carrington had trouble missing shots — 11-15 from the floor, 6-7 from three — en route to 30 points in 34 minutes. He even tossed some accurate lobs, including one to Anthony Gill.
As for Keefe, I’ve liked a lot of what I’ve seen schematically from Keefe this season, at least when the Wizards actually run sets as designed. Last night, there were a number of really clever and well-designed actions on display.
First quarter, 6:26 — A simple (but effective) “get action.” Carrington passed the ball to JuJu Reese, then ran straight to him for a dribble hand off (DHO). It gave him a wide open three. This is a very old basketball play, and it endures because it works.
First quarter, 5:32 — Carrington passed to Coulibaly on the wing and runs down to the corner in a classic clearout cut. Coulibaly passed the ball to Reese out top, and then immediately turned and set a pin down screen for Carrington, who sprinted all the way out to Reese at the top for a DHO and a wide open three. I love this play for a few reasons, including how it uses defender assumptions against him (when Carrington cleared out, his defender relaxed just a little because that cleared out guy is usually out of the play at that point). And it gave Carrington an open look from a favorite spot.
Second quarter, 9:03 — This one was super smart. Miami went zone and Carrington made a normal baseline cut. He emerged on the weak side and came up to the wing. Completely normal action. Except, Will Riley made a similar cut behind him — trailing him to the weak side but going to the corner. The weak side defender picked up Carrington and followed him to the wing. That left Riley undefended in the corner where he got a wide open three-point attempt on the swing pass. He missed, but this is great play design.
Third quarter, 9:28 — One of my favorite plays of the night — I’m calling it a horizontal Spain pick-and-roll. So, in a Spain pnr, a second screener comes into the action to screen for the original screener. Keefe and the Wizards turned it on its side. In this version, Carrington screened for Coulibaly and then cleared only to double back over a Reese screen into a wide open three from the top.
All this is to say, I’m looking forward to seeing what Keefe and the Wizards coaching staff can do when they’re playing to win.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
HEAT
WIZARDS
LGAVG
eFG%
72.0%
57.6%
54.5%
OREB%
30.0%
16.2%
26.0%
TOV%
17.6%
12.7%
12.7%
FTM/FGA
0.268
0.120
0.207
PACE
102
99.3
ORTG
137
115
115.7
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
Apr 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) and center Neemias Queta (88) celebrate during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Neemias Queta’s first season as a full-time starting center for the Boston Celtics has gone according to plan, as teammates have already begun rallying around his campaign for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
In the third quarter of Friday night’s 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, he drew the loudest crowd reaction of the night. Queta set a screen for Jaylen Brown and hovered around the perimeter as Brown drove and kicked the ball out to Jordan Walsh. Walsh then passed up the three and tossed it back to Queta, who sank his first-career 3-pointer, sending both TD Garden and Boston’s bench into a frenzy.
Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. stood up with both arms in the air. Nikola Vučević raised three fingers, and Queta returned the gesture.
“Buttery. It was buttery,” Sam Hauser told reporters, per CLNS Media. “It was smooth.”
There was no bounce off the rim. No help from the backboard. Just a clean, nothing-but-net make from the 7-footer.
Queta missed his first seven attempts this season after missing three last season. In his first three seasons — two with the Sacramento Kings and his first with Boston — he didn’t attempt a single 3-pointer. Still, during his first year with the Celtics, Queta routinely worked on his 3-point shot with the team’s stay-ready group while serving as a backup to Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford. That pregame work carried over into his transition to a starting role this season, with teammates eagerly awaiting his moment.
“He was pretty excited about that one,” Hauser said. “We were pretty excited for him. But he’s done a great job all year, gotten better and better and better, and really shown why he’s a starting five in this league and on our team. And I think his name should be in the running for Most Improved Player. He’s come up big for us a lot this year, and we’re gonna need for him to continue that.”
Giving the Celtics a 99-58 lead, Queta helped the team accomplish two feats: clinching the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and tying the NBA’s record for 3-pointers made in a game (29). Although Boston fell short of breaking the record, the C’s became the only team in history to reach that mark twice, doing so for the second time in two seasons.
Boston shot 49.2 percent, making 29-of-59 attempts against New Orleans.
Queta finished with seven points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in 13 minutes. He attempted only three shots, draining each one, and checked out with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter. His lone block made Queta the first player in Celtics history to record 100 blocks, 600 rebounds, and 60 steals in a season since Robert Parish (1990-91).
“That’s cool,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Again, those are little things that are important because you see the work that the guys put in. And again, the responsibility, the ownership of a guy taking on being the starting center for the Celtics. So for him to be able to achieve that is great, and just his work and his attention to detail defensively.
“There’s a ton of pressure in our system on the bigs. They have to do everything on both ends of the floor, and he relishes that opportunity. That’s cool. I’m glad he got that, and he’s getting better and better.”
Apr 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
This season, Queta has averaged career highs in points (10.3), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.7), and blocks (1.3). He’s made 75 starts for the Celtics, leads the East in screen assists (272), and ranks sixth in net rating (12.9) — first among centers in the East and third among all centers league-wide, behind Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
“He just impacts the game in so many ways,” Vučević told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Some of those things don’t even show up in the stat sheet, but they matter a lot to us.”
Queta is among the most underrated centers in the league, due in large part to recency bias. Last season, he barely cracked Boston’s playoff rotation, logging just four minutes in the first round against the Orlando Magic and nine minutes in the conference semifinals against the New York Knicks behind Porziņģis, Horford, and Luke Kornet. The opportunity wasn’t there for Queta to make an impression — which, if anything, should strengthen his Most Improved Player case.
When the front office parted ways with three of the team’s primary rotation bigs, the pressure was on Queta from day one. He’s made the most of that long-awaited opportunity, transforming himself from what team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens described on Media Day as “unproven” into a legitimate NBA starting center.
For the first 62 games of the year, part of the reason the Celtics survived without Jayson Tatum was Queta.
“I hope he’s up for it and I hope he gets it,” Mazzulla said. “He deserves it. And to me, obviously as a player, but more so what it means to do it for the Celtics, I think, goes a long way, and where he’s been on his journey in the NBA. But also his journey with us in our organization.”
Mazzulla is adamant that Queta should become the first Celtic ever to win the award since its introduction in 1985-86.
“He should seriously be considered that,” Mazzulla added, “because of where he was and where he is now, and we wouldn’t be in that position without him.”
Apr 10, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) posts up against Memphis Grizzlies forward Dariq Whitehead (00) during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
If the Utah Jazz were fined $500,000 for suspected tanking in a game that they won, Adam Silver had better be aligning the crosshairs of his catastrophic death laser (every NBA commissioner has had one since Larry O’Brien had his commissioned back in ‘83) directly at the Memphis Grizzlies. If Utah’s tanking was worth half a million dollars, there’s no rationalizing that what the Grizzlies displayed in Salt Lake City Friday night isn’t worthy of capital punishment.
I mean, come on. Memphis played just six players in the Delta Center this fateful evening, none of whom would be recognizable to your father, who has watched every Jazz game since 1992. They wouldn’t be recognizable to the freakiest of basketball freaks, save for maybe Dariq Whitehead, who played at Duke a few seasons ago, but more recently played a team-low 24 minutes before an SLC crowd.
One could argue that Utah’s response of playing just seven deep on the depth chart is practically just as egregious as their visitors’ transgression, but that argument collapses like a paper cup on its fifth refill when you take into account the point differential; Utah by 46. A 147-101 final in the Delta Center’s season finale.
In what many called the “Tanking Super Bowl” in the hours leading up to tip-off, this end-of-season matchup between the Utah Jazz (22-59, 15th in West) and the Memphis Grizzlies (25-56, 12th in West) should have been entirely irrelevant — and in a lot of ways, it was — but Utah entered this meeting still holding to the hope of snatching the third-best NBA Draft lottery odds away from the Brooklyn Nets. The Grizzlies are fighting for every inch and praying to secure the sixth-worst odds from Dallas, while Utah is in a tug-of-war with the league’s most destitute franchise, hilariously dubbed the Kings. Thank heaven Sacramento messed around and beat Golden State tonight, or else there’d be some real panic in Utah’s front office.
But after the Nets nobly fell upon their swords against Milwaukee, the Jazz remained out of reach of a top-3 selection, even if they didn’t dismantle the unrecognizable Memphis Grizzlies (That’s right: the NBA’s poster boy for the tanking epidemic isn’t even in the top three of the practice’s worst offenders, so log that away).
And when I call the Grizzlies unrecognizable, I mean that in complete sincerity. With 15 — count ‘em — fifteen Grizzlies listed on the injury report, not even former Jazzmen Walter Clayton Jr or Taylor Hendricks were available for Memphis’ visit to Salt Lake City. Apologies to those hoping to see our brothers in action.
No, Utah didn’t want to win this basketball game; they’ve got a gawk-worthy receipt to prove their dedication. Unfortunately, it takes two to tank, and Utah’s reserves proved far more formidable than their visitors. Two franchises working in opposite directions, the Jazz hope to compete in the Western Conference Play-Offs around this time next season. Memphis expects to float in deliberate obscurity for the foreseeable future.
These directional differences could not have been more apparent in Utah’s win Friday night. From the tip, Utah crushed the Grizzlies in what was anticipated to be one of the late season’s great tank-offs. But Utah proved to exist in an entirely different realm, scoring 110 points and leading by 26 at the end of the third quarter.
The scoring differential nearly doubled by the end of the fourth.
Yeesh.
Utah won in every quarter of this game, and never scored fewer than 33 points in a 12-minute frame. It’s almost no wonder that this team made NBA history tonight with perhaps two of the three least meaningful triple-doubles since the stat began being tracked. Add John Konchar (former Grizzly) and recent multi-year signee Bez Mbeng (former Ivy Leaguer) to the all-time list of NBA triple-doubles, as both players posted their remarkable stat lines from Will Hardy’s bench.
First teammates in NBA history to record a triple-double off the bench in the same game:
Memphis had a triple-double man of their own, Jahmai Mashack. If you bet any amount of money on that man to post such a stat line before tip-off, you may never have to work another day in your life.
So the Jazz won (or lost?) the Tanking Super Bowl. Big whoop. At the moment, they’re a coin flip away from the fifth-best odds to get the number-one overall pick, but need I remind you all that the NBA Draft Lottery’s flattened odds are not and have never been friendly to the worst record. Since the initial change in 2019, the worst record in the NBA has never walked away from the lottery with the winning ticket. Dallas jumped 10 spots last year. Atlanta jumped 9 in the year before.
Before you panic about winning tank-offs, remember that all the Jazz can do is put themselves in contention. It’s all random, and Adam Silver was never going to let Utah have the first pick, anyway.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics three point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a gut-wrenching loss to the Knicks on Thursday, the Celtics turned Game #81 into a three-point exhibition, tying their own record for 29 triples in a game and beating the Pelicans 144-118. Jaylen Brown was efficient (but with too many turnovers), Nikola Vucevic stayed on track, Sam Hauser caught fire, and we got to see Luka Garza and Hugo Gonzalez grace the parquet after falling out of the rotation.
With the blowout, Boston officially clinches the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they’ll have to wait to see how the Play-In Tournament plays out next week; they’ll face the winner of the 7-8 game on April 14th. However, we won’t know who those teams are until Sunday, the final day of the regular season. Currently, the Magic will host the 76ers with the Raptors — the current 6th seed — still in the mix.
Boston’s championship odds have remained steady all month with our friends at FanDuel and are +550 to raise Banner 19 and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Jaylen Brown
29 minutes, 23 points (2-3 from 3, 5-7 from the free throw line, 8-13 from the field), 3 rebounds, one assist, 7 turnovers, one steal, +24
If we’re going to nitpick what’s most likely JB’s final game of the regular season, the seven turnovers are indicative of his late-season campaign to challenge the officiating and get to the line. Otherwise, he was scoring at all three levels at a high efficiency in a playoff tuneup.
Grade: B+
Jordan Walsh
22 minutes, 6 points (2-4 from 3, 2-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal, one block, -17
After playing a part in the playoff-level win against the Hornets, Joe Mazzulla said, “He just understands that when he’s at his best defensively, he’s impacting the team’s best players, creating turnovers.” Defense has always been his calling card and if the old adage is true about it winning championships, Walsh has clearly solidified his spot in the postseason rotation. If he can continue to hit threes — 5-of-12 over the last six games — even better.
Grade: A
Neemias Queta
13 minutes, 7 points (1-1 from 3, 3-3 from the field), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, one turnover, one block, +13
In a game that was played primarily on the perimeter, Queta’s stat line wasn’t particularly impressive. With the game pretty much out of reach after the first quarter, Queta played only 13 minutes, giving way for more fine tuning for Nikola Vucevic and some Luka Garza playing time.
28 minutes, 24 points (8-12 from 3, 8-13 from the field), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, +21
If you could bottle up momentum for the postseason, we might need a keg for Wisconsin’s own. On Thursday, it was Baylor Scheierman lighting up MSG. Twenty-four hours later, it was Hauser. Naturally, the Celtics don’t get close to breaking the three-point record without Hauser getting hot behind the arc.
Grade: A+
Derrick White
16 minutes, 9 points (3-9 from 3, 3-9 from the field), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, one turnover, one steal, +18
We’ve largely used this space to do a little handwringing over White’s season-long shooting slump. Another sub-par night in a blowout won’t assuage those concerns, but it also won’t dampen my confidence that he’ll come up clutch next weekend.
Grade: B-
Payton Pritchard
30 minutes, 21 points (5-9 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 7-14 from the field), 3 rebounds, 10 assists, one turnover, one steal, +21
Pritchard has really hit his stride over this final stretch of games. In April, he’s averaging 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. What’s been most impressive has been his playmaking. In the playoffs, teams might try and take the Jays out of the game, so Mazzulla might need the 2026 Auerbach Award winner to take on more of the point guard load.
Grade: A+
Nikola Vucevic
19 minutes, 14 points (3-5 from 3, 1-2 from the free throw line, 5-7 from the field) 4 rebounds, 5 assists, one block, +15
That’s the Vooch that Brad Stevens dealt for at the trade deadline. He’s not exactly Al Horford defensively or Kristaps Porzingis offensively, but if he can consistently hit shots and punish mismatches in the paint, that’ll do wonders for the second unit.
Grade: A-
Baylor Scheierman
25 minutes, 9 points (2-5 from 3, 1-1 from the free throw line, 3-6 from the field), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, one turnover, -5
At the end of the game, Scheierman had a chance to hit the 30th three-pointer that would have given the Celtics the record, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t on-line. However, he did get some floor time with his buddy Hugo Gonzalez.
Grade: B
Hugo Gonzalez
25 minutes, 10 points (2-4 from 3, 4-7 from the field), 4 rebounds, one assist, 3 steals, +11
After five straight games of DNP-CDs and mop up work, we finally got to see Hugo back on the parquet and he didn’t miss a beat. The defense was still there, he’s still got a nose for the ball with three steals, and his shot looks confident.
Plays like this are worth a couple of decibels in May and June:
16 minutes, 14 points (0-3 from 3, 2-3 from the free throw line, 6-13 from the field), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, one turnover, one steal, 2 blocks, -2
I’d like a word with the Celtics scorekeeper. There’s no way that Garza filled up the stat sheet and was a minus-2! Regardless, it was great to see the big man out there doing the things that make him the easiest Celtic to root for.
He may have been relegated to the third-string, but you just know that he’s going to get thrown into the mix and make a difference in a game or two in the first round.
Grade: A
Ron Harper Jr.
12 minutes, 7 points (1-4 from 3, 3-7 from the field), one assist, one steal, -8
I would be surprised if the team doesn’t pick up their club option on Harper Jr. The All G League Third Teamer has shown all season that he’s a professional scorer in the big leagues.
Atlanta Hawks, who won their only NBA title in 1958, last reached the conference finals in 2021 [Reuters]
The Atlanta Hawks secured a spot in the NBA play-offs and the Southeast Division title with a 124-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
The Hawks, who only needed to win one of their remaining two games to guarantee a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference, blew away the already qualified Cavaliers in the third quarter, scoring 35 points to extend their 61-48 half-time lead to 96-65.
Guard CJ McCollum scored a game-high 29 points for the Hawks, who clinched their first divisional crown since 2021 and avoided having to come through the play-in tournament, for teams finishing seventh to tenth in each conference, for the first time in five seasons.
Veteran LeBron James became the fourth player in NBA history to record 12,000 career assists as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers secure home-court advantage in the first round of the play-offs with a 101-73 win against the Phoenix Suns.
James made 12 assists in addition to 28 points and six rebounds as the Lakers recorded their 15th win in 19 games to guarantee a top-four finish in the Western Conference.
Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton is the NBA's career assist leader, with 15,806, with Chris Paul (12,552) and Jason Kidd (12,091) also ahead of James (12,010).
Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with an emphatic 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 18-time NBA champions scored a record-equalling 29 three-pointers, forward Sam Hauser leading the way with eight, as they wrapped up the Atlantic Division title.
That result means the New York Knicks, who beat the Celtics in their previous match, will have to settle for being third seeds despite beating the Toronto Raptors 112-95.
The Raptors slipped down to sixth place following the defeat, with an identical record (45-36) to seventh-placed Orlando Magic with one match to play in the regular season. The Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 127-103 to extend their winning streak to five matches.
Victor Wembanyama, returning from a one-game injury absence, starred for Western Conference second seeds San Antonio Spurs in their 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old Most Valuable Player contender made 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The Denver Nuggets remain in the hunt for third place in the Western Conference after beating reigning champions and top seeds Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107.
BOTTOM LINE: The Golden State Warriors visit Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference play Sunday.
The Clippers are 9-6 against division opponents. Los Angeles is fifth in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up just 112.7 points while holding opponents to 46.9% shooting.
The Warriors are 7-8 against the rest of their division. Golden State is second in the league averaging 15.7 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 35.6% from deep. Moses Moody leads the team averaging 2.5 makes while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range.
The Clippers are shooting 48.5% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points higher than the 48.0% the Warriors allow to opponents. The Warriors average 114.7 points per game, 2.0 more than the 112.7 the Clippers allow.
The two teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Clippers defeated the Warriors 114-101 in their last matchup on March 3. Leonard led the Clippers with 23 points, and Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: John Collins is shooting 55.0% and averaging 13.5 points for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 25.4 points over the last 10 games.
Stephen Curry is shooting 46.8% and averaging 27.0 points for the Warriors. Podziemski is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 115.3 points, 40.0 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.4 points per game.
Warriors: 4-6, averaging 114.1 points, 40.5 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 9.5 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.9 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Isaiah Jackson: out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip).
Warriors: Quinten Post: out (foot), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), LJ Cryer: out (ankle), Seth Curry: out (adductor), Moses Moody: out for season (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES – With the Lakers playing without Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić for the rest of the regular season, plenty of people have written LA off. That’s understandable, as most teams can’t get far without their two top scorers.
However, those teams aren’t the Lakers, and they don’t employ LeBron James.
In LA’s road win over Golden State on Thursday, LeBron was brilliant. He finished the night with 26 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists to help end the Lakers’ three-game losing streak.
With the Lakers scheduled to play another game Friday night at home, LeBron, as the NBA’s oldest player, suited up for the back-to-back and raised his level of play once again.
James dominated, leading the Lakers in points, assists, steals and minutes played, lifting them past the Suns 101-73.
LeBron's back-to-back at age 41, with 6:19 left in the 4th:
at GSW: 26 points, 11 assists, 8 boards, 2 steals, 1 block, 11 of 17 FG's, 3 of 5 3's,
vs. PHX: 28 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 10 of 16 FG's, 2 of 2 3's
The back-to-back wins, paired with the Rockets’ loss to the Wolves, mean the lowest seed the Lakers can finish is fourth.
When Dončić and Reaves went down, and they lost three straight, having home court seemed like an impossibility, and even head coach JJ Redick said seeding was “out the window.”
Thanks to James’ efforts, LA will remain a top seed in a very competitive Western Conference.
“We’re gonna need him to facilitate,” Redick said postgame. “We’re gonna need him to score. We’re gonna need him to defend and rebound. I think he recognizes the task at hand. He’s very locked in. He’s played great all three games.”
It was clear from the jump that LeBron was ready to compete at a high level on Friday night.
He knocked down a corner three early on to put himself on the board. James then hits a trio of free throws and then another three. Then, the league’s all-time leading scorer completed this scoring outburst with an emphatic dunk.
His two-handed slam shook the basket and rocked the crowd. With 4:53 left to go in the opening quarter, James had 14 points, which was as many as Phoenix had as a team.
This isn’t new for LeBron. He has been the best player and top performer on each team he’s been on throughout most of his NBA career.
But this season, with Luka cemented as the clear No. 1 and Reaves establishing himself as No. 2, LeBron had to embrace being the third-most-important player.
To his credit, he’s done that and sacrificed for the betterment of the team. Now, due to injuries to the top guys, they’ve needed LeBron to go back in his closet and pull out his Superman cape. Luckily for the Lakers, it still fits perfectly, and he knows what to do with it.
“Just trying to make plays,” LeBron said. I had to tap back into a role that I’ve been accustomed to in the past, but obviously, it wasn’t what it was this year. But circumstances have put me back in, and I’m just trying to feed off my teammates, teammates feeding off of me and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat.”
As is typical of LeBron’s performances, he dominated all phases of the game. In the first half, his scoring shined, but in the second, it was his defense that stood out.
LeBron was as alert as ever, swatting at balls and intercepting passes. Three of his four steals came after halftime.
In the fourth, James’ on-ball creation was on full display. He was dishing out dimes that led to easy dunks for Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber. This put the game to rest early, allowing LeBron to check out at the 6:19 mark.
With just one contest left, the Lakers can still reach the third seed if they win and the Nuggets lose.
Whether that happens or not, what’s clear is that LeBron playing at this level gives the Lakers a puncher’s chance at taking down any of the teams they’ll play in a seven-game series.
And this late in the season, that’s all any team can ask for.
Memphis Grizzlies (25-55, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (51-30, fifth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Houston takes on the Memphis Grizzlies after Amen Thompson scored 41 points in the Houston Rockets' 136-132 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Rockets are 28-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston leads the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging 47.9 boards. Alperen Sengun paces the Rockets with 8.9 rebounds.
The Grizzlies are 6-9 against the rest of the division. Memphis gives up 120.5 points to opponents while being outscored by 5.7 points per game.
The Rockets average 11.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.6 fewer makes per game than the Grizzlies give up (14). The Grizzlies average 114.8 points per game, 4.7 more than the 110.1 the Rockets allow to opponents.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Rockets won the last meeting 119-109 on March 28, with Kevin Durant scoring 25 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is shooting 52% and averaging 26 points for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Taj Gibson is scoring 3.3 points per game with 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists for the Grizzlies. Adama Bal is averaging 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 39.3% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 8-2, averaging 121.2 points, 48.1 rebounds, 29 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points per game.
Grizzlies: 1-8, averaging 111.3 points, 35.4 rebounds, 26 assists, 9.2 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 131.1 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Olivier-Maxence Prosper: out (ankle), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), GG Jackson: out (knee), Ja Morant: out for season (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Taylor Hendricks: out (thumb), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out for season (toe), Walter Clayton Jr.: out (hip), Cedric Coward: out (back), Cam Spencer: out (back), Brandon Clarke: out for season (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Jazz (21-59, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (52-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah travels to Los Angeles looking to break its nine-game road skid.
The Lakers are 32-19 in conference games. Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference with 14.8 fast break points per game led by LeBron James averaging 5.7.
The Jazz are 12-39 in Western Conference play. Utah is 5-8 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Lakers average 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 fewer makes per game than the Jazz give up (15.3). The Jazz average 12.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Lakers allow.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Lakers won the last meeting 143-135 on Dec. 19, with Luka Doncic scoring 45 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: James is scoring 20.9 points per game with 6.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the Lakers. Deandre Ayton is averaging 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 66.7% over the last 10 games.
John Konchar is scoring 4.3 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 114.1 points, 40.4 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 9.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.8 points per game.
Jazz: 0-9, averaging 120.6 points, 44.1 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 134.0 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (rib), Jaxson Hayes: out (foot), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: out (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Brice Sensabaugh: out (rest), Kyle Filipowski: out (back), Elijah Harkless: out (hamstring), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Orlando will try to keep its three-game road win streak intact when the Magic face Boston.
The Celtics are 35-16 in Eastern Conference games. Boston averages 114.9 points while outscoring opponents by 7.8 points per game.
The Magic have gone 26-25 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando is 11-5 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Celtics are shooting 46.8% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points lower than the 47.6% the Magic allow to opponents. The Magic score 8.7 more points per game (115.8) than the Celtics allow (107.1).
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Celtics won 138-129 in the last meeting on Nov. 23. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 35 points, and Jett Howard led the Magic with 30 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 19.7 points and 4.3 assists over the past 10 games.
Paolo Banchero is scoring 22.2 points per game and averaging 8.4 rebounds for the Magic. Jalen Suggs is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 120.2 points, 45.3 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.
Magic: 7-3, averaging 118.7 points, 42.4 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (injury management).
Magic: Jett Howard: out (ankle), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks visit Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat on Sunday.
The Heat have gone 9-7 against division opponents. Miami ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 54.3 points per game in the paint led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaging 9.7.
The Hawks are 9-6 against opponents from the Southeast Division. Atlanta averages 118.5 points and has outscored opponents by 2.8 points per game.
The Heat score 120.6 points per game, 4.9 more points than the 115.7 the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Heat allow.
The two teams play for the fourth time this season. The Heat defeated the Hawks 128-97 in their last meeting on Feb. 21. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 points, and Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kel'el Ware is scoring 11.0 points per game and averaging 9.0 rebounds for the Heat. Adebayo is averaging 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is shooting 51.7% and averaging 11.9 points for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 4-6, averaging 122.6 points, 42.6 rebounds, 30.5 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.1 points per game.
Hawks: 7-3, averaging 122.9 points, 44.3 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 9.6 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.0 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Davion Mitchell: out (shoulder), Nikola Jovic: out (ankle), Norman Powell: out (groin), Tyler Herro: out (foot), Dru Smith: out (foot).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New Orleans Pelicans (26-55, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans will try to break its eight-game road slide when the Pelicans take on Minnesota.
The Timberwolves are 30-21 in conference play. Minnesota is eighth in the Western Conference with 50.1 points per game in the paint led by Julius Randle averaging 10.2.
The Pelicans are 17-33 in Western Conference play. New Orleans has an 8-42 record against teams over .500.
The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.7% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pelicans average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 12.2 per game the Timberwolves give up.
The two teams match up for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 119-115 in their last meeting on Feb. 7. Saddiq Bey led the Pelicans with 30 points, and Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 35 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaden McDaniels is scoring 14.8 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Donte DiVincenzo is averaging 12.5 points and 2.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Jeremiah Fears is scoring 14.0 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the Pelicans. Jordan Hawkins is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 112.2 points, 41.3 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 113.9 points, 41.4 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.2 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Julius Randle: out (hand), Naz Reid: out (injury management), Rudy Gobert: out (rest), Bones Hyland: out (hip), Joe Ingles: out (personal).
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III: out (ankle), Zion Williamson: out (knee), Yves Missi: out (hand), Karlo Matkovic: out (back), Herbert Jones: out (rest), Saddiq Bey: out (rest), Dejounte Murray: out (hand), Bryce McGowens: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (59-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (19-62, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will aim for its 60th win of the season when the Pistons visit the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers have gone 15-36 against Eastern Conference teams. Indiana is 9-42 against opponents over .500.
The Pistons are 11-4 against the rest of the division. Detroit averages 117.6 points and has outscored opponents by 8.1 points per game.
The Pacers' 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.7 more made shots on average than the 12.6 per game the Pistons give up. The Pistons average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Pacers allow.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pistons won 121-78 in the last matchup on Jan. 18.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jarace Walker is scoring 11.6 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Pacers. Obi Toppin is averaging 14.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 55.3% over the past 10 games.
Jalen Duren is scoring 19.5 points per game and averaging 10.5 rebounds for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 118.8 points, 43.7 rebounds, 33.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 119.5 points, 44.3 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.2 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: T.J. McConnell: out (hamstring), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: out (back), Ben Sheppard: out (hip), Ivica Zubac: out for season (rib), Pascal Siakam: out (back), Aaron Nesmith: out (neck), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
Pistons: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Wizards (17-64, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Washington visits Cleveland looking to end its five-game road skid.
The Cavaliers have gone 32-19 against Eastern Conference teams. Cleveland is second in the Eastern Conference scoring 119.4 points while shooting 48.1% from the field.
The Wizards are 11-40 against conference opponents. Washington allows 124.8 points to opponents and has been outscored by 11.9 points per game.
The Cavaliers' 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Wizards allow. The Wizards average 112.9 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 115.4 the Cavaliers give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers won 138-113 in the last matchup on Feb. 12.
TOP PERFORMERS: Evan Mobley is shooting 54.6% and averaging 18.2 points for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 17.9 points over the last 10 games.
Bub Carrington is averaging 10.6 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Jaden Hardy is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 122.4 points, 43.0 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points per game.
Wizards: 1-9, averaging 115.3 points, 40.8 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 9.1 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.8 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen: out (injury management), Thomas Bryant: out (calf), Sam Merrill: out (hamstring), Donovan Mitchell: out (ankle).
Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: out (knee), Justin Champagnie: out (knee), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Tre Johnson: out (foot), Alex Sarr: out (toe), Kyshawn George: out for season (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out for season (quad).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
