Basketball – Page 238 – Worldwide Sports News

April 1, 2025

Rick Pitino taps transfer portal as St. John’s lands Joson Sanon and Bryce Hopkins

St. John’s coach Rick Pitino already has been busy replenishing his roster in the transfer portal.

April 1, 2025

‘Celtics City' beyond the episode: C's-Lakers rivalry reaches its peak

‘Celtics City' beyond the episode: C's-Lakers rivalry reaches its peak originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers play in opposite conferences on opposite sides of the country. So, why is Celtics-Lakers considered one of the best rivalries in sports?

Episode 5 of Max’s “Celtics City” docuseries provides plenty of evidence.

Titled, “F**k the Celtics,” this episode documents of the height of the C’s-Lakers rivalry during the 1980s, when both teams were vying for NBA supremacy. The two teams combined to win eight championships during that 10-year span (Boston in 1981, 1984 and 1986; Los Angeles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988), with only the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers and the 1989 Detroit Pistons breaking up the back-and-forth.

The Celtics and Lakers went head-to-head in the NBA Finals three times during the decade, with the C’s winning in 1984 and the Lakers prevailing in 1985 and 1987.

More Celtics City ‘Beyond the Episode’

While Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the stars of the rivalry, the competitive fire between Boston and Los Angeles went well beyond the former college nemeses.

“I thought the star of this episode in a lot of ways was (Lakers forward James) Worthy. ‘F— the Celtics,’ he’s the one who said that,” longtime NBA reporter Jackie MacMullan said on NBC Sports Boston’s Keys to the City show recapping Episode 5, as seen in the video player above.

“His perspective is so interesting, because we get so caught up in Magic and Larry, and you know, there were a lot of other big players.”

“I liked the tension that you could see in this episode between the Celtics and Lakers, which we know existed, because we covered them — we saw it with our own two eyes,” MacMullan added.

“Watching them reflect back on the animosity — it was very real.”

For more on the 1980s Celtics and their rivalry with the Lakers, check out NBC Sports Boston’s exclusive footage and interviews below:

Relive Johnny Most’s call of Gerald Henderson’s steal at the end of regulation in Game 2 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Henderson’s heroics helped force overtime, where the Celtics emerged with a 124-121 win.

Cedric Maxwell reflects on his famous, “Get on my back, boys!” quote before Game 7 of the 1984 Finals. Maxwell scored 24 points to lead the Celtics to victory and earned NBA Finals MVP honors.

From NBC Sports Boston’s documentary “The ’86 Celtics,” we go behind why the Celtics traded Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell for oft-injured big man Bill Walton prior to the 1985-86 season.

We went deep into the archives for this one: An original rap song celebrating the 1986 NBA champion Celtics, featuring lyrics about key players on the roster.

April 1, 2025

Trae Young is named assistant general manager for Oklahoma men’s basketball

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma has hired former Sooners player and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young as assistant general manager for men’s basketball.

He also has pledged to donate $1 million to the program, the school announced.

Young, a four-time NBA All-Star, was an All-American for Oklahoma in 2017-18, his only season with the Sooners. He became the first player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in points per game (27.4) and assists per game (8.7). He was drafted No. 5 overall.

The 26-year-old Norman North High School graduate for years has worn his love for the city on his sleeve.

“As someone who grew up in Norman and played at the University of Oklahoma, stepping into the role of assistant GM for OU Basketball is a huge honor,” Young said in a statement. “This program has such a rich history, which I am fortunate to have been and continue to be a part of. In my new role, my focus is on helping contribute to OU’s winning culture, working alongside the coaching staff and front office to bring in the right players to help us compete and succeed at the highest level.”

Young will assist with the evaluation of high school and transfer portal prospects, help negotiate player contracts and guide players in building their brands.

“Trae is a son of Norman, Oklahoma, and he’s given so much to our city and its people,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. “He has a strong affinity for this place and his commitment to ensuring our community is a thriving one is truly unmatched. He’s also an OU legend who, in his time here and since, continues to achieve excellence both on and off the court.”

Young joins Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry in taking on an administrative role at his alma mater in this new era of college sports. Curry was named assistant GM at Davidson.

April 1, 2025

Michigan State’s Tre Holloman, Gehrig Normand to enter transfer portal: Report

Junior Michigan State guard Tre Holloman and redshirt freshman Gehrig Normand are reportedly entering the transfer portal.

April 1, 2025

Trail Blazers vs. Hawks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 1

It’s Tuesday, April 1, and the Portland Trail Blazers (32-43) and Atlanta Hawks (36-38) are all set to square off from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The Trail Blazers are currently 12-25 on the road with a point differential of -4, while the Hawks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. Portland won 114-110 back on November 17 in the only meeting of the season.

Atlanta is 4-2 over the last six games and 9-4 in the past 13 contests, whereas Portland is on a four-game losing streak that followed a four-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 Trail Blazers vs. Hawks live today

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Time: 3:30PM EST
Site: State Farm Arena
City: Atlanta, GA
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. Hawks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Trail Blazers (+223), Hawks (-277)
Spread: Hawks -5.5
Over/Under: 237.5 points

That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 116.49, and the Hawks 120.89.

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 Tuesday’s Trail Blazers vs. Hawks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under:

"The Blazers need a win after four straight losses as the offense has declined each game from 116, 111, 107, to 93 points. The Hawks are in better form right now, but the number continues to come down in favor of Portland. I'd rather back the Under in another low-scoring contest between the teams than pick a side in a tossup on a -5.5 to -6.5."

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 & Hawks game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Hawks on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Portland Trail Blazers at +6.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 237.

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 Trail Blazers vs. Hawks on Tuesday

The Hawks have won 6 of their last 7 home games, while the Trail Blazers have lost 6 in 7 on the road
The Under is 21-16 in the Trail Blazers' road games this season
The Hawks have covered the Spread in 5 of their last 7 home games against the Trail Blazers
The Hawks have won 5 straight home games against the Trail Blazers

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)

April 1, 2025

Raptors vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 1

It’s Tuesday, April 1, and the Toronto Raptors (28-47) and Chicago Bulls (33-42) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Raptors are currently 11-26 on the road with a point differential of -4, while the Bulls have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. Chicago won both meetings versus Toronto this season by scores of one and 16 points.

Chicago has lost two straight games after going on a 9-2 heater over 11 games that featured two four-game winning streaks. Toronto is on a four-game winning streak, but all four wins came against Washington, Brooklyn, Charlotte, and Philadelphia — those teams have a combined 83-218 record (27.5%).

Game details & how to watch Raptors vs. Bulls live today

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Time: 8:00PM EST
Site: United Center
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Raptors vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Raptors (+187), Bulls (-227)
Spread: Bulls -5
Over/Under: 237 points

That gives the Raptors an implied team point total of 116.54, and the Bulls 120.41.

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Raptors vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bulls to cover against the Raptors:

"While Toronto is on a four-game winning streak and Chicago has dropped the past two, this is a spot where I would back the Bulls. Chicago was on a nice 9-2 run over 11 games before losing to the Mavericks and Thunder. However, Toronto's winning streak is not impressive. Toronto beat Washington, Brooklyn, Charlotte, and Philadelphia — those teams rank bottom four in the East and have a combined 83-218 record (27.5%). Chicago beat teams like the Lakers, Nuggets, and Kings during their winning streak. It's Chicago or pass for me even at the -5 or -5.5."

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

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 Raptors & Bulls 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 +5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 237.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Raptors vs. Bulls on Tuesday

The Raptors are 11-26 on the road this season but have won their last 3 games
In the Raptors' road games this season the Under is 21-16
The Raptors have covered in 47 of their 75 games this season
The Bulls have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams

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)

April 1, 2025

Suns vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 1

It’s Tuesday, April 1, and the Phoenix Suns (35-40) and Milwaukee Bucks (40-34) are all set to square off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The Suns are currently 12-25 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Bucks have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. Phoenix won 108-106 in the only meeting of the season on March 24, which was the Suns' last win.

Phoenix is 0-3 over the last three games compared to Milwaukee who is 0-4, so both teams are looking to end their losing streaks.

Game details & how to watch Suns vs. Bucks live today

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: Fiserv Forum
City: Milwaukee, WI
Network/Streaming: TNT / truTV / MAX

Game odds for Suns vs. Bucks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Suns (+237), Bucks (-296)
Spread: Bucks -5.5
Over/Under: 223.5 points

That gives the Suns an implied team point total of 119.04, and the Bucks 114.43.

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Suns vs. Bucks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between the Suns and Bucks:

"The Bucks dropped four straight games, while the Suns lost three consecutive games. Both offenses have struggled lately. The Suns have failed to crack 110 points in the three losses and the Bucks failed to do so in two of their four losses. Neither team is worth trusting with Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard dealing with injuries. It's Under 223.5 or pass for me.

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

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 Suns & Bucks game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phoenix Suns on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phoenix Suns at +6.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 224.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Suns vs. Bucks on Tuesday

The Suns have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
The Suns' last 3 games have gone over the Total
The Suns have failed to cover in 22 of their 37 road games this season
The Suns have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference teams

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)

April 1, 2025

76ers vs. Knicks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 1

It’s Tuesday, April 1, and the Philadelphia 76ers (23-52) and New York Knicks (47-27) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York.

The 76ers are currently 11-27 on the road with a point differential of -6, while the Knicks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. New York has won all three meetings versus Philadelphia this season by 12, 6, and 5 points.

Philadelphia has lost eight straight games and 11 of the past 12, while New York is 4-1 over the last five games and on a two-game winning streak.

Game details & how to watch 76ers vs. Knicks live today

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: MSG

Game odds for 76ers vs. Knicks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: 76ers (+702), Knicks (-1099)
Spread: Knicks -14
Over/Under: 222 points

That gives the 76ers an implied team point total of 110.13, and the Knicks 117.42.

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s 76ers vs. Knicks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

"Four of the last five wins for the Knicks have resulted in double-digit wins and with the 76ers playing its third game in four days and riding an eight-game losing streak, I would have to pass on backing Philly. It's New York or pass for me even at the large number of -14."

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

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 76ers & Knicks 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 Philadelphia 76ers at +14.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 222.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of 76ers vs. Knicks on Tuesday

The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against divisional opponents
The Over is 9-6 in the 76ers' matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams this season
The Knicks have failed to cover the Spread in 3 straight matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams
The Knicks have won 9 of their last 10 home 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)

April 1, 2025

Ohio State basketball season in review

Take a look at the Ohio State men's basketball team's accomplishments during the 2024-25 season.

April 1, 2025

Draymond named West's Defensive Player of Month, boosts DPOY case

Draymond named West's Defensive Player of Month, boosts DPOY case originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green strengthened his case for 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year after adding another accolade to his résumé.

The Warriors star forward has been named the Western Conference Kia Defensive Player of the Month for games played in March, the league announced Tuesday.

A defensive mastermind.#DubNation, Draymond Green is the Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month 💪 pic.twitter.com/VBt05IXCpB
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 1, 2025

In 15 games through March, Green averaged 10.2 points on 42.9 percent shooting, with 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 30.5 minutes. The Warriors went 11-4 in such contests.

Golden State also led the league in steals per game during March, and the team also boasted the second-best team defensive rating in the West.

Since then, Green’s odds of winning the league’s top defensive award have skyrocketed. The DPOY award once appeared to be a given for San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama before he sustained a season-ending injury, but now, it might be Green’s award to lose.

Green won the award in 2017, but he recently told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk” that winning it a second time would be even “crazier.”

“It would mean the world to me; you know I pride myself on the defensive end,” Green told Poole and Burke. “I think to be acknowledged as the best defender in this league is no small feat. It’s something that, I never pride myself on winning awards, but they never hurt the ego and they don’t hurt the pockets.

“But most importantly, even more so than that, I think all the hard work you put in to try and stay at an elite level, and to be recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year at 35, eight years after first doing it, it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort to have that type of longevity.”

The Warriors’ defense ranks fourth-best in the league when Green is on the court this season.

Green, who has been named to the All-Defensive Team eight times, is the first Warriors player to earn the monthly accolade, which the league began awarding this season. Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, another frontrunner for DPOY, was named the Eastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month.

While there are still just under two weeks of the regular season remaining for Green to solidify his case, his most recent nod certainly has boosted his chances of winning the seasonal award.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

April 1, 2025

2025 NBA mock draft roundup: Celtics predictions for first round

2025 NBA mock draft roundup: Celtics predictions for first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics still own their 2025 first-round pick, and it’s an important selection.

The Boston Celtics have seven more games left in the regular season before they begin the defense of their championship in the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Even though there’s still a lot left to accomplish for the Celtics, it’s never too early to look toward the offseason. The Celtics still own their 2025 first-round pick, which will come at or near the end of the first round if they make a deep playoff run.

This is an important draft pick for the Celtics. They are a high-spending team in the second apron, which makes it difficult to make meaningful roster additions. The best way to add young, talented, low-cost players is through the draft.

The Celtics have done a good job finding value in the late first round over the years:

2024, pick No. 30: Baylor Scheierman
2020, pick No. 26: Payton Pritchard
2019, pick No. 22: Grant Williams
2018, pick No. 27: Robert Williams III

The Celtics need to find a good, reliable, two-way player with this first-round pick — someone who can play right away and give the team a spark off the bench.

Which players could the Celtics target at the end of the first round? Here’s a roundup of expert predictions from recent 2025 NBA mock drafts.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, ESPN: Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas

“Thiero has sat out five games and counting because of a knee injury and might be done for the season, with his status still unclear at the SEC tournament. He remains one of the draft’s biggest gambles on pure physical ability. A productive season still didn’t quite address the concerns about his limited feel and shooting. He’s one of this draft’s best athletes, allowing him to make plays defensively and finish around the rim at a high level, and to some extent covering for other holes in his game.

“There’s interesting role-player upside here if Thiero lands with a team that can maximize his strengths, helped by the fact he plays with a strong motor. That upside continues to make him a valid bet at the end of the first round, presuming his health checks out.”

Sam Vecenie, The Athletic: Yaxel Lendeborg, SF, UAB

“Lendeborg helped himself as much as anyone in the conference tournament cycle, putting up multiple dominant performances in the AAC. His game against East Carolina in the quarterfinals, when he had 30 points, 23 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and four blocks with zero turnovers, was about as good as I’ve seen anyone play in a game this season.

“Lendeborg has a very well-rounded game that has potential to translate well to the league. He averages nearly two blocks and two steals per game, and while those numbers won’t be that high in the NBA, they do show that he’s very active with his hands on defense (even if his foot speed gives some scouts pause on the perimeter).

“He rebounds the ball incredibly well, averaging 11 per game. He has terrific touch and hits 34 percent of his two 3-point attempts per game, and has real ball skill as a driver. His passing vision is also terrific, as he averages 4.2 assists per game.”

Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech

“Scouts admire JT Toppin’s ability to consistently produce and work hard to earn paint buckets. He scored 20-plus points in each of Texas Tech’s three NCAA tournament games, using his signature one-two punch of physicality and one-handed touch.

“Florida’s bigs did make life tough for Toppin inside, and it did raise some questions about the translatability of his style of scoring at 6’9″. Some of the push shots he typically hits just didn’t fall, however, and a pair of pick-and-pop threes highlighted some capable shooting range.”

Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports: Johni Broome, PF, Auburn

“Al Horford may not be able to play forever, so eventually the Celtics are going to need some depth up front. Broome has been one of college basketball’s best players all season long and has enough versatility where he could transition into a serviceable role player at the next level.”

THE JOHNI BROOME GAME ™️#MarchMadness @AuburnMBB pic.twitter.com/A8vK7ERpoM
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025

John Fanta, FOX Sports: Ian Jackson, Guard, North Carolina

Tankathon: Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama

April 1, 2025

Steph vs. Morant headlines pivotal Warriors-Grizzlies matchup

Steph vs. Morant headlines pivotal Warriors-Grizzlies matchup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Upon entering FedEx Forum on Tuesday, the Warriors will confront one of the NBA’s biggest curiosities in the Grizzlies. Yet even with the massive shakeup in Memphis, the axis remains unchanged.

Most of what the Grizzlies do still revolves around the dynamic talents of point guard Ja Morant.

Which leaves the Warriors with two paths to victory. They can try to contain Morant despite being without their best on-ball defender, or they can get enough production from their point guard, Stephen Curry, to offset what Morant gives Memphis.

Fifth place in the Western Conference will be at stake when Golden State (43-31) tips off against Memphis (44-31). Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 4 p.m., with tipoff scheduled for shortly after 5.

The Warriors are favored largely because they’ve been a more stable operation, certainly of late. Their 18-5 record since adding Jimmy Butler III at the Feb. 6 trade deadline is second in the West and fourth in the NBA, and their 108.5 defensive rating tops the league.

The Grizzlies are 9-15 over that span, 20th in defense and 15th on offense. That slide led to the stunning dismissal of head coach Taylor Jenkins. Tuomas Iisalo – an assistant in his first season on an NBA bench – is the interim head coach.

Morant scored 44 points in his last game under Jenkins and averaged 31.3 over his last six games under his only NBA coach. In two games under Iisalo, Morant averaged 24 points, with a notable decline in free-throw attempts. The offense has changed, reducing his usage rate while still leaning into his gravity.

That change, however, still is a work in progress. Which leaves Memphis more vulnerable than it was the first half of the season.

And it’s something the Warriors will try to exploit. The less Morant has the ball, the more likely Golden State’s on-ball defense, led by Brandin Podziemski, has a ghost of a chance at keeping Ja from dominating. Regardless, Gary Payton II will be missed.

What will be interesting is how Memphis defends the 6-foot-3 Curry. He can expect the usual physicality, with impressive 6-foot-8 rookie Jaylen Wells getting the assignment. Curry scored only two points in 24 minutes in their previous matchup on Dec. 19.

That was Curry’s first look at Wells, so expect adjustments. That was before the Warriors added Butler, whose presence and playmaking bring a dimension that has benefited Curry.

Then, too, this is a chance for the Warriors to check one more box toward their goal of a top-six finish in the West that guarantees a berth in the playoffs.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

April 1, 2025

NBA suspends 5 players for roles in Pistons-Timberwolves altercation

NBA suspends 5 players for roles in Pistons-Timberwolves altercation originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart was suspended for two games and four other players from the Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves drew one-game suspensions for their roles in an on-court altercation between the teams earlier this week, the NBA said Tuesday.

Stewart got two games “based in part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the league said.

The NBA handed the one-game bans to Detroit’s Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser along with Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo. All five of those players were ejected from Sunday’s game, as were Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Minnesota assistant Pablo Prigioni.

“Obviously things went too far,” Bickerstaff said after that game. “But what you see is guys looking out for one another, guys trying to protect one another, guys trying to have each other’s backs. … Those are nonnegotiables in our locker room.”

The incident began when Holland fouled Reid with 8:36 left in the second quarter of the Timberwolves’ 123-104 victory over the Pistons in Minneapolis. Reid confronted Holland, who then pushed DiVincenzo, who then shoved Holland — and they wound up falling into spectators seated along the baseline.

Stewart and Sasser then entered the altercation, “which resulted in a continued escalation of the situation,” the league said.

Reid and DiVincenzo will serve their one-game suspensions Tuesday when the Timberwolves visit Denver. Stewart will begin serving his suspension Wednesday when the Pistons visit Oklahoma City, and Holland and Sasser also will serve their suspensions in that game.

April 1, 2025

Pitino taps transfer portal as St. John’s lands Joson Sanon and Bryce Hopkins

St. John's coach Rick Pitino has already been busy replenishing his roster in the transfer portal. Coming off its most successful season in decades, the school announced two significant signings Monday — former Arizona State guard Joson Sanon and ex-Providence forward Bryce Hopkins. St. John's also loses seniors Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott and Deivon Smith, meaning four of its top five scorers from 2024-25 won't be back next season.

April 1, 2025

How one of Celtics' rivals made White a better 3-point shooter

How one of Celtics' rivals made White a better 3-point shooter originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Isaiah Thomas set the Boston Celtics record for most 3-pointers made in a season with 245 during the 2016-17 campaign. Three Celtics players are expected to break that record, and Derrick White became the first Monday night.

The veteran point guard needed two 3-pointers to pass Thomas, and he ended up going 3-for-11 in Boston’s 117-103 road win against the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Jayson Tatum needs six more 3-pointers to surpass Thomas, while Payton Pritchard needs nine.

“We talked about it on the plane and it’s pretty cool that there’s three of us so close to doing something special,“ White told reporters after Monday’s win, as seen in the video player above.

”Honestly, looking back at my career, never thought I’d be in this position. Just thankful for the coaching staff, thankful for the guys on this team. I know I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. I’ll hold it for now until one of them breaks my record, so that’s cool.”

White breaking this record would have seemed pretty unrealistic when the C’s acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs shortly before the 2022 NBA trade deadline. White was a decent 3-point shooter with the Spurs but not prolific by any means. He never shot better than 36.6 percent from beyond the arc in San Antonio. He hasn’t shot below 38.1 percent in any of his full seasons with the Celtics.

What led to White’s huge improvement as a 3-point shooter? Well, it started after the 2022 NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, which he admits was a real low point in his career.

“After the Finals, I feel like that was the biggest summer of my life,” White told reporters in Memphis. “What happened in the Finals and how I was being guarded on that stage, it was one of my lowest points. I told Draymond (Green) after the (2024) Olympics, he kind of changed my life because they weren’t guarding me. So I had to go in that summer and me and my trainer, Marcus Mason, just focused on being consistent. And I think from that point, I just got better and better.”

White attempted 25 3-pointers in the 2022 Finals, and he made 10 of them. But five of those 3-point makes came in Game 1, and White shot 0-for-8 from beyond the arc in Games 3, 5 and 6 combined. He scored a total of three points on 1-for-10 shooting (0-for-5 from 3-point range) over the final two games (both losses).

White shot 30.6 percent on 3-pointers in 26 regular season games with the Celtics after the 2022 trade deadline. He improved to 38.1 percent in 2022-23, which was his first full season in Boston, and then he shot a career-high 39.6 percent last season to help lead the C’s to their 18th championship.

In fact, White’s 3-point shooting was a huge reason why the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. In two years, White went from a player the Warriors dared to shoot to a player the Mavericks didn’t want to shoot.

Derrick White knocks down the 3!
Boston leads by 6 in Game 3 with under 3 minutes to play on ABC! pic.twitter.com/V8FgirBEIs
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024

White’s improvement as an outside shooter has been quite impressive. His scoring, defense and reliability have made him one of the most valuable players on this Celtics team.