Apr 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s question asked about the teams in Houston’s playoff tier — the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers — and which one Rockets fans would least like to play. Here are your results:
As you can see, two-thirds of Rockets fans picked the Denver Nuggets, and I agree that they are the worst first-round matchup for Houston. The Rockets instead drew the Los Angeles Lakers in round one, but they could still meet one of the other teams in later rounds.
According to our friends at FanDuel, the Rockets are the favorites versus L.A., opening up at a -220 in odds against the Lakers in Game 1, meaning you have to wager $220 to win 100. The Rockets are -900 to advance to the Western Conference Semis and a +6000 to make the NBA Finals.
Thanks for voting, we’ll be back soon with more Reacts!
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 12, 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
BOSTON — Baylor Scheierman didn’t know what to expect entering Sunday night’s regular-season finale. The Boston Celtics, down eight players, rolled out a shorthanded rotation made up entirely of reserves against a fully healthy Orlando Magic team.
“We were even joking in the locker room coming out for layup lines, looking at each other like, ‘What do we got — six, seven people out here?’” Scheierman said after Boston’s 113-108 win.
When the starting lineups were introduced, Scheierman’s name was called last — a spot usually reserved for Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. When it came time to fight back from an 11-point deficit, Scheierman drained the equalizing 3-pointer in the third quarter to spark Boston’s turnaround rally.
The final week of the regular season was rewarding enough, as the Celtics clinched their playoff berth on Tuesday and then locked the No. 2 seed on Friday. But for Scheierman, who’s spent the entire season dealing with the uncertainty of rummaging for minutes off the bench, Sunday’s victory was especially gratifying.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Scheierman said. “Obviously, like I’ve talked about, I’ve got a lot of internal confidence in myself. And like I said in New York, I flipped the page to New Orleans. Then we played New Orleans on Friday, and when that game was done, I flipped the page to tonight, and that’s no different. You don’t really weigh too much on a single game, regardless of whether it goes good or bad.”
Scheierman tied his career high with 20 points at Madison Square Garden in Thursday night’s loss. Against the Magic, he took the driver’s seat, leading Boston’s reserve-heavy group. Scheierman set a new career high with 30 points, outplaying Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and helped turn the tide at TD Garden. Fans went from heading for the exits early to rallying around the shorthanded eight-man crew as it fought back and delivered one of the most inspiring performances of the season.
Instead of sitting in the corner waiting for catch-and-shoot feeds, Scheierman created his own scoring opportunities at will.
During his 14-point run in the third quarter, Scheierman pulled up seven times off the dribble. He capped off his red-hot bout with a 30-foot 3-pointer over 6-foot-11 Goga Bitadze, giving the Celtics an 86-77 lead. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, too, noticed Scheierman’s confidence coming to life and taking over.
“I think in the middle of the third quarter, we went on a little bit of a run, he took a tough shot a couple of steps over half court,” Mazzulla said. “And you want him to have that confidence, but he knew right away, like, ‘OK, I’ve got to read the game now. We’re in a different position.’ Then he just learns defense, situational basketball, but at the end of the day, he’s a huge competitor. And you kind of saw that tonight.”
Before the game, Mazzulla discussed how the entire locker room — starters, bench players, returning players, and newcomers — has impacted winning. Without Tatum, the Celtics won 41 of their first 62 games. Without Brown, they went 9-2. The secret behind their success boils down to their identity and core principles, both of which are instilled in everyone from the top down. The bar doesn’t change because the team is shorthanded, even when the roster is down to its last eight going up against Orlando’s best 10.
Boston has equipped everyone to succeed, including Scheierman. Scoring aside, his energy was infectious. It was felt by his teammates, the starters watching from the bench in street clothes, and those in attendance. That’s a byproduct of the culture the Celtics have built.
“I think today is the perfect example of the locker room,” Mazzulla explained, “and the group of guys that we have, and how important it is that everybody knows that if you’re on the floor, you’re expected to play a certain way to put us in position to win.”
No matter how difficult Orlando made it for Boston’s reserves, they never gave in. In the first quarter, Mazzulla played everyone available. The Celtics shot 26.1 percent from the field (6/23) and 25 percent from three (4/16). Many of their attempts appeared rushed and forced by the pressure of Orlando’s defense. Boston struggled to attack the basket, and Mazzulla didn’t wait around to shake up the rotation.
But as the game wore on, the team’s comfort grew. Scheierman recorded five second-half assists, finding teammates cutting to the basket like his old high school quarterback self, and attacking Orlando off the dribble to create kick-out looks from three.
Joining Scheierman, Luka Garza (27), Ron Harper Jr. (27), and John Tonje (13) also set new career highs in points.
“We’re proud of the effort we put out there,” he said. “I think going into the game, we’re expected to go out there and compete and win the game. I know going into the game that was our expectation, and we’re excited that we won, and honestly, just getting ready for the playoffs now.”
It hasn’t been easy for Scheierman this season. Without a clear role, players in his position often struggle with the inconsistency of not playing each night. But the system this season’s Celtics have built makes it so everyone can contribute. Sometimes it’s Scheierman, other times it’s not. What remains constant is the team’s commitment to winning, regardless of who’s on the floor and who isn’t.
That won’t change.
“There’s no separation in the locker room, regardless of what went on in the preseason and even the rough start we got off to, the 0-3 start,” Scheierman said. “There was no separation. We stayed together, and that’s kind of how it was through the ups and downs of the whole year, and I think that’s the biggest takeaway that I have.”
Stephen Curry playing a team-high 29 minutes in the regular-season finale was an encouraging sign for one of the two pivotal factors the Warriors will take into the postseason.
The Warriors hope Curry’s efficient 24-point effort in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday was a preview of what’s to come, as his presence and performance will be critical when the teams meet Wednesday for an NBA play-in tournament game in Los Angeles.
The second factor that figures to be at least as impactful was invisible on Sunday. The matchup of Golden State’s defensive savant Draymond Green vs. LA’s offensive ace Kawhi Leonard did not materialize.
Green and Leonard were listed as questionable early Sunday afternoon, Green with a lingering lower-back issue and Leonard with a left ankle sprain. When the Clippers downgraded Leonard to out four hours before tipoff, the Warriors downgraded Green a couple hours later.
Maybe each team had a valid reason. Or, more likely, both coaches took a tactical approach to a low-consequence game three days before a high-consequence rematch.
Draymond wants this. Wants to prove that even now, at age 36, he remains among the league’s premier defenders. Moreover, he needs it for his psyche.
Green has admitted to being less than enthusiastic about the Warriors finishing as the 10th seed in the Western Conference and therefore having to survive two detours to get to the real playoffs. This game within the game, however, surely is a source of motivation.
Green’s desire to make the All-Defensive team won’t be affected, as ballots for NBA postseason awards will have been submitted long before Wednesday. But a strong defensive performance against an opponent bound for the Hall of Fame is an opportunity to make a statement to his teammates and any observers who doubt his defense still can shine on a big stage.
History suggests that’s enough for Green to summon his best. Is his best still good enough?
“With a guy like Kawhi you can play the best defense that you want, and he still can get his numbers,” Curry told reporters Sunday night at Intuit Dome. “It’s about how he gets them and making him work. I feel it all the time. We’ve got to be able to impose our will, even if he still gets his because that’s the challenge to try to beat those guys.”
Years of evidence indicate Green’s defense, individually and within the team framework, is every bit as important to Golden State’s postseason fortunes as Curry’s offense. Kerr understands that as much as anyone.
“Defensively, he’s obviously our guy,” Kerr told at Intuit Dome. “We’re able to do more things with him out there. He’s a playoff player. He’s a guy who loves the challenge. He loves the situation when you’re in a must-win (game), so I know he’ll play well.”
The last time Green faced Leonard, March 2 at Chase Center, he requested the assignment. Kerr agreed. Draymond won his battle, but the Clippers won the game. They prevailed by rallying behind Leonard while Green was on the bench for a breather.
The Warriors had a 71-61 lead when Green was subbed out with 4:37 left in the third quarter. Leonard at that point had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Leonard scored four points over the next 53 seconds, igniting LA’s 16-8 run to close the quarter and pull within two. The momentum swung during the non-Draymond minutes.
“Kawhi went on a great run and that kind of put it away,” Golden State center Al Horford said after that game.
For the better part of three quarters, Green had minimized Leonard mostly by with spirited ball-denial defense and the occasional trap. Kerr after that game said he had to give Draymond a break, that he “can’t play the whole game.”
The coach will be a lot more flexible Wednesday.
“Draymond will be well rested,” Kerr said in LA. “He’s been playing a lot of minutes and a lot of games, so it was good for him to get a night off tonight. He’ll be ready to go. He’ll help set a tone for us defensively.
“We know it’s going to be tough. These guys are really good and, obviously, Kawhi will be back. And we’re excited about them challenge.”
If Leonard scores 40 points but needs 30 shots, that bodes nearly as well for Golden State as 22 points on 20 shots. The overarching goal for Green and his teammates is to keep Kawhi from taking over the game.
The Warriors will be clear underdogs, and they’ve earned that status. They’ve been slipping backward on ice for almost three months. Their 37-45 regular-season record is the worst of the 12 teams assured of making the playoffs or the other seven teams still trying to win their way there.
Whether the Warriors can beat the odds and beat the Clippers on the road, something they have not done since Nov. 28, 2021, almost certainly will be determined by the winner of the game within the game.
Nikola Jokic missed four weeks of the regular NBA season for the Denver Nuggets with a knee injury [Getty Images]
Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in a first-half appearance as the Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 to claim third seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the regular NBA season.
Denver's victory meant the Los Angeles Lakers finished as fourth seed in the Western Conference for the NBA play-offs, which begin this weekend.
The Lakers, who were missing their top scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves through injury, defeated Utah Jazz 131-107.
Veteran Lakers star LeBron James, 41, impressed with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in the first half.
Denver will host sixth seed the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the play-offs, while the Lakers welcome the Houston Rockets, who are seeded fifth.
Three-time Most Valuable Player Jokic, 31, who also registered eight rebounds, played just over 18 minutes in Texas to reach 65 games and become eligible for the league's season-ending awards.
Denver's Julian Strawther scored 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
De'Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 24 points while MVP contender Victor Wembanyama was rested following his 40-point performance in the 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
Second seed San Antonio, who secured their play-off spot against the Mavericks, will host the winner of the in-play tournament game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
The in-play tournament is a round-robin competition which follows the regular season, where eight teams compete to establish the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference.
Oklahoma City Thunder, who are defending NBA champions and top seed in the West, plus Eastern Conference first and second seeds the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics, will find out their first-round opponents once the in-play tournament finishes on Friday.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 12, 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
Is it possible that the most fun game of the regular season is the finale when seven — SEVEN — rotation players are unavailable and there’s nothing to play for?
Yes. Yes, it is.
Baylor Scheierman led all scorers with 30 points with Ron Harper Jr. and Luka Garza having career games with 27 to beat the Orlando Magic 113-108. The stakes of this game could not have been more different. For Orlando, a win could have made them the #6 seed and playing at Madison Square Garden next weekend. For Boston, it was a matter of expressing how fundamentally sound the entire franchise is from the Jays to the young players trying to grind it out in Maine.
In the end, Celtics Pride prevailed.
Boston will enter the postseason as the #2 seed, but they’ll have to wait to see how the Play-In Tournament plays out next week; the 76ers will now host these Magic in the 7/8 game on Wednesday April 15th. The Celtics will host the winner on Sunday, April 19th at 1 pm EST.
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.
Baylor Scheierman
39 minutes, 30 points (6-14 from 3, 8-8 from the free throw line, 8-20 from the field), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, one block, +15
Mazzulla handed the keys to Scheierman and Scheierman went full Ferris Bueller in the regular season finale.
Number 1 High School Musical fan, Baylor Scheierman's head is definitely in the game 🎶 🏀 pic.twitter.com/gZ7Azste0C
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 13, 2026
Our player grades are normally objective and based on a fuzzy formula of what’s expected of a player versus how they perform in the game. Yes, Baylor filled the box score with a near triple-double, but just on vibes alone, his impact on the game was off the charts. The kid has a flare for the dramatic and backs it up with business up front but certainly party in the back.
Grade: A+
Jordan Walsh
33 minutes, 9 points (1-6 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line, 2-9 from the field), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, one steal, one block, -14
There’s still a chance that the Celtics are going to face the Magic in Round 1 and Game #82 gave Jordan Walsh some up close intel about what it’s going to take to defend Paolo Banchero. Brown and Tatum would most likely get the bulk of minutes defending Orlando’s offensive engine, Walsh will get his reps, too.
Walsh had trouble with Banchero’s size — everybody does — and his best bet might to lean into a more irritant strategy rather than bodying him up.
Grade: B-
Luka Garza
38 minutes, 27 points (3-6 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line, 10-18 from the field), 12 rebounds, one assist, 2 turnovers, +13
Mazzulla used the end of the regular season to knock the rust off of Nikola Vucevic in favor of using Luka as the first big off the bench. That wasn’t a knock on Garza’s game. In fact, it could be considered a vote of confidence.
Luka’s box score numbers may fluctuate, but his effort and hustle don’t. It’s not just his stick-to-itiveness. He’s a savvy screener with his quick hip flips who can read on-ball and off-ball situations on the fly.
We just didn’t know he had fadeaway three-pointers in his repertoire:
37 minutes, 27 points (5-12 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 10-20 from the field), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers +7
So yeah, RHJ is going to be on the big club next season. The birthday boy doesn’t have the size and strength to be a playmaker, but he’s a natural scorer that can play next to Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White.
Grade: A+
Max Shulga
18 minutes, 3 points (1-3 from 3, 1-4 from the field), 3 rebounds, one steal, one turnover, +8
The point guard was a steady quarterback for Maine’s offense. He averaged 15.7 points while shooting 40% from 3 with nearly seven assists a night. That didn’t exactly translate in this one-game audition.
36 minutes, 2 points (0-1 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 0-3 from the field) 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 turnovers, one steal, 4 blocks, +3
Per Spotrac, Banton’s one-day regular season contract is worth around $28K, a nice paycheck for a single game’s work. He’ll now be with the Celtics throughout the postseason as their 15th man. Despite being traded in 2024 to Portland, he did earn a ring from the team and is now in-line for another.
Grade: B-
Amari Williams
10 minutes, 2 points (1-1 from the field), one rebound, one assist, one turnover, -8
There’s a world where Williams enters next season as a project big as the third option or the Celtics bring back Garza, Queta, and Vucevic for another run. We’ve seen enough flashes from him to know that he could be a serviceable front court player in the future.
Grade: C
John Tonje
30 minutes, 13 points (3-8 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 4-12 from the field), 4 rebounds, one assist, one steal, +1
Tonje was kind of a throw-in when Stevens salary-dumped Chris Boucher to the Jazz, but you can see what Danny Ainge saw in him and signed him to a two-way contract.
Grade: B+
Inactives: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez, Nikola Vucevic
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Paycom Center on March 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let me preface this by saying it’s unlikely that the Golden State Warriors win both of their potential play-in games this upcoming week. They’ll be underdogs for Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, unless the NBA finishes their investigation and orders Kawhi Leonard to plant trees during the 9-10 game.
Should they get past Team Aspiration, they’ll be underdogs against the loser of the Phoenix Suns-Portland Trail Blazers 7-8 game Friday, AKA the “Cliff Robinson Bowl.” Would it be satisfying to beat Dillon Brooks in a postseason game again or make Damian Lillard watch the Warriors celebrate again? Obviously, but a Warriors team that’s gone 5-15 after Cinco De Mayo isn’t scaring anyone. Both those games (if necessary) will be broadcast on Prime Video, which we all know as the home of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
But if the Warriors pull off two road wins against their healthier, taller, younger, cooler, more talented opponents Wednesday and Friday, then their reward will be a matchup with the defending champions at 12:30 on Sunday, April 19. The tired Warriors will face 18,203 screaming fans still furious about Kevin Durant’s free agency a decade ago and that Chick-fil-A is closed.
The prime-time matchups are about the NBA’s past, and its future. Saturday’s 5:30 game on ABC features 41-year-old LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers facing 37-year-old Durant and the Houston Rockets. Sunday’s prime-time game at 6:00 on NBC will have 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs facing the Suns-Blazers winner.
So mark your calendars for Sunday, but maybe write it in pencil. And if you have to go a T-ball game, church service, champagne brunch, craft fair, or 4/20 pre-party, the Warriors will understand. After all, they might already be in Cancun.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz on April 12, 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
After an exhausting, long NBA season, it was nice to go about Sunday’s game stress-free. There were some stakes involved as the Lakers could still finish either the third or fourth seed.
However, LA pretty quickly took control of the game and moved into cruise control as early as the start of the second half. From there, it was a fun half of the younger guys getting some run and shining with an eye kept on the Nuggets and Spurs.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
The Lakers are going to need Smart in the playoffs, so it was nice to see him get some minutes again after his lengthy injury break. And he was being quite the facilitator as well.
How much fun has it been to watch Bronny develop and flourish to close this season? While it comes with the obvious caveat, he’s likely going ot be a rotation player in a playoff series and it’s a deserved role.
With a freshly-inked contract, Smith Jr. showed why the Lakers signed him with a couple of threes in the first half. He likely won’t be in the rotation to start the playoffs, but he can provide a scoring injection if needed.
He lives! On the topic of fun, seeing Knecht look like the player fans fell in love with a long time ago was a joy. However, there’s a good chance this was perhaps his last appearance in a Lakers jersey.
Grade: A
Drew Timme, Chris Mañon
The two-way guys wrapped up their season with some garbage time minutes. Neither played 10 minutes and neither will be eligible for the playoffs.
JJ Redick
Hats off to Redick, who coached the Lakers to 53 wins this season despite an incredible amount of injuries to the stars. It’s been a pair of tumultuous seasons and Redick still has over 100 wins.
It was a pretty simple task on Sunday against a team actively looking to lose the game.
Grade: B+
Sunday’s inactives: Luka Doncic, Jaxson Hayes, Austin Reaves
Leonard also raised his level of play during the season and began to gather MVP award consideration. Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 65 games played.
Leonard's health might be in question for the play-in game, however, after being unavailable for the Clippers' regular-season finale due to an ankle injury on April 12.
Even without Leonard, the Clippers closed out the regular season with a 115-110 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Who will Clippers face in play-in game?
The Clippers will serve as the ninth seed in the Western Conference and take on the Warriors in a play-in game.
Stephen Curry has led the way for the Warriors this season, averaging 26.6 points a game. Curry recently returned from knee injury on April 5. He had missed 27 games. The Warriors went 9-18 during that time without him.
The Warriors finished the regular season with a 37-45 record.
The Clippers have won the last three games in the four-game regular-season series with the Warriors. Golden State's last win over L.A. came on Oct. 28.
Give their rookies plenty of playing time to develop. And tank for lottery odds to draft another impact rookie in June.
They’ve done both. They had the youngest team in the NBA this season, and led the league in minutes logged by rookies. And at 20-62, they’ve clinched third in the lottery standings, with the top three all having equal odds.
“Yeah, the minutes they’ve played are super valuable,” said coach Jordi Fernández. “And all of them, the two-ways, the 10-days, young guys, everybody who has played here, all those minutes matter.
“There’s no one game that it’s not valuable. And NBA minutes are so hard; there’s only 30 teams, it’s the best league in the world. And for these guys to showcase what they can do, everybody has done positive things. So I’m happy that they’ve taken advantage of these minutes.”
The Nets ended the season with a 136-101 loss in Toronto.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez greets Brooklyn Nets guard Ochai Agbaji (30) during the second half at Barclays Center, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Two-way Tyson Etienne led them with 20 points, four assists and two steals, while undrafted rookie Chaney Johnson added 16 points and 13 rebounds. First-round pick Ben Saraf fouled out with 15 points, four assists and two steals.
“I’m obviously happy with the development of our young guys,” GM Sean Marks told YES Network.
“Knowing that our objective this year was to have the young guys play and play real NBA minutes. That was the No. 1 priority in between the G-League and the development there and also here. We now lead the league in rookie minutes the whole year, so that’s exactly what we wanted to do.”
The Nets are one of three teams with the maximum 14 percent odds at winning the lottery, and a 40.1 percent chance at a top three draft pick.
Their most likely draft slots are sixth (26.0) or fifth (14.8). They can’t fall below seventh, and the draft is regarded as falling off after the top seven prospects.
The Nets have won the lottery in 1990 (Derrick Coleman), 2000 (Kenyon Martin) and 2017, but they had traded the latter pick away to Boston (who used it to trade down for Jayson Tatum).
Meanwhile, the No. 3 lottery spot has been lucky of late. Minnesota won the lottery in 2020 (Anthony Edwards) and San Antonio three years later (Victor Wembanyama). Last year, Charlotte actually fell to draft fourth, but Kon Knueppel had a historic season and is the Rookie of the Year front-runner.
The Nets should be so lucky.
Trevon Scott started after being signed Sunday morning.
His 10-day contract expired, but the Nets inked him on what a source told The Post was a hardship deal that only covered Sunday’s game against Toronto.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 12: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 12, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final buzzer at the Frost Bank Center carried little urgency for the San Antonio Spurs—but it still told a story. San Antonio came into the regular season finale on Sunday already locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, so missing key pieces for rest and injury management, the Spurs fell 128-118 to the Denver Nuggets in a game exposed both vulnerability and perspective heading into the postseason.
Even with a limited run from Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets controlled stretches of the game and never fully let the Spurs recover. Jokić made his presence felt early, tallying 23 points and eight rebounds, all in the first half, before sitting in the second half after securing eligibility for postseason awards.
Despite missing all their starters, apart from Jokic, it was Denver’s supporting cast that delivered the knockout blows. Julian Strawther erupted for 25 points, while the Nuggets’ bench fueled a decisive second-quarter surge. A massive 20-0 run in a period of six minutes turned a competitive game into an uphill battle San Antonio couldn’t climb out of.
“I thought the effort was consistent,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s time to regroup and we’ve got five or six days to prepare. We need to be prepared and as sharp as we can.”
The Spurs, meanwhile, looked like a team managing the bigger picture. Without Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, San Antonio struggled defensively and on the glass. Still, they found offense in spurts. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 24 points, while multiple players reached double figures in a balanced but inconsistent attack . Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson added key contributions, helping the Spurs trim the deficit late, but never enough to truly threaten.
Every time San Antonio pushed, Denver answered.
The Nuggets stretched their lead to double digits multiple times in the second half, leaning on timely shooting and second-chance opportunities. Even as the Spurs made a late push to cut the margin to single digits, Denver’s composure sealed the outcome.
The loss snapped the regular season to a close at 62-20 for San Antonio, a remarkable turnaround and a 34-win improvement from the previous year. More importantly, it marked the end of a drought, sending the Spurs back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
“We’ve flipped our minds towards the playoffs,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “We’re excited and we’re expecting to make a long run in it.”
“Regardless, it is playoff basketball,” he added. “Seeding to us really doesn’t matter. Like Mitch said, just win the game in front of you, so we’re focused on that.”
And while this finale won’t linger as a defining moment, it did offer a preview. If these two teams meet again in the postseason, the margin for error will be razor thin.
“It’s been a hell of a year,” Spurs forward Carter Bryant. “I’m ready. I’m excited for the postseason.”
Sunday night showed that even a shorthanded Denver squad has the firepower—and depth—to challenge San Antonio. But for the Spurs, the real season is just beginning.
Game Notes
Carter Bryant is playing with supreme confidence and that’s going to make him a dangerous player come playoff time and for years to come. He finished with 13 points and three blocks. If he puts those kind of numbers up in the postseason, he will be a secret weapon for San Antonio.
Stephon Castle made his return to the lineup, scoring 10 points on 30 percent shooting.
For Spurs fans worried about Denver in round 2, let’s focus on round 1 first. Also, the bright side is that this is the worst the Spurs will be for the foreseeable future. The fact they finished 62-20 after winning just 34 games a year ago is insane. Breathe. It’s going to be fun .
The Spurs had three chances from the three-point line late to cut into Denver’s lead and couldn’t convert. The basketball Gods might have wanted them to take the hard road for their first playoff run in 6 years.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Delta Center on March 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz season is officially over, and they were able to end the season tied for 4th with the Sacramento Kings in the lottery standings. It’s a successful season for the Utah Jazz, whose biggest goal was to keep their lottery pick while also developing their young talent … and also not playing Lauri Markkanen.
Official 2026 NBA Lottery Odds
And with the 2025-26 NBA season behind us, here is the final lottery order (with their odds to get the No. 1 pick) for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10.
Washington Wizards — top-8 protected (14%)
Indiana Pacers — pick goes to Clippers if it falls 5-9 (14%)
Brooklyn Nets (14%)
Utah Jazz — top-8 protected (11.5%)
Sacramento Kings (11.5%)
Memphis Grizzlies (9%)
Atlanta Hawks — via New Orleans Pelicans (6.8%)
Dallas Mavericks (6.8%)
Chicago Bulls(4.5%)
Milwaukee Bucks (3%)
Golden State Warriors (2%)
Oklahoma City Thunder — via Los Angeles Clippers (1.5%)
Miami Heat (1%)
Charlotte Hornets (0.5%)
The Jazz and Kings, as well as the Pelicans and Mavericks, will have a coin flip after the play-in tournament around April 20. At that point, we’ll find out which of Utah and Sacramento gets the 4th spot and the 5th spot. The 4-spot will be a 12.5% odds to get the #1 pick, and the 5-spot will be 10.5%. The Mavericks and Pelicans will find out who gets the 7th spot and who gets the 8th spot. The 7-spot has a 7.5% shot at the #1 pick, and the 8-spot has a 6% chance.
Final 2025-2026 NBA Standings
Here are the final standings for each conference, with the play-in ultimately set to decide who will face the top two seeds in each. The No. 2 seed in each conference will play the winner of the 7-8 game, while the No. 1 seed will play the winner of the next game, between the loser of the 7-8 game and the winner of the 9-10 game.
*Eliminated teams in italics.
You can look at the FanDuel odds here to see the odds for the upcoming NBA Finals.You can see the odds for the NBA Draft here.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 12: Kevin Garnett and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 12, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kevin Garnett is back!
On Sunday night in downtown Minneapolis, the Big Ticket made his long-awaited return to Minneapolis. He was led in through the player tunnel by the Minnesota Timberwolves owners, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, following an introductory hype video.
It was a moment Timberwolves fans had waited a long time to see, and it did not disappoint as the Target Center crowd rained down love from all corners of the building.
“It was great energy in the building,” Chris Finch said about Garnett’s presence at the game. “It was a special night. He came in pregame, talked to the guys, went around the locker room individually, and talked to the coaching staff a bit, and was fun. He was excited to be back, no doubt about it, and it was a pretty neat moment when he walked out. It was good for our guys because they got a sense of just how important somebody with a legacy is, and what that really means.”
The impact of Garnett’s legacy collided with another growing Minnesota legend when KG and Anthony Edwards embraced before the game.
With KG sitting courtside, the Timberwolves closed out the regular season with a 132-126 win over the New Orleans Pelicans Sunday night at Target Center.
With the Wolves locked into the sixth seed, they decided to sit almost their entire starting rotation, with Donte DiVicenzo, who did not miss a game all season, as the lone exception. DiVinenzo played the first 7:32 of the game, putting up three points and three assists.
Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Wolves in scoring with 26 points and five assists as he continued his stellar stretch of play to close out the season.
Joan Beringer dominated on both ends of the floor as he put up 24 points on 9-12 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Beringer became the youngest player in NBA history to have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ rebounds in a single game.
Joe Ingles, Zyon Pullin, Julian Phillips, and Enrique Freeman all scored in double figures, as the Wolves got the victory and finished the season with 49 wins for the second straight year.
Wolves-Nuggets Round 3
With the Denver Nuggets beating the San Antonio Spurs tonight, the Wolves’ playoff matchup was set. For the third time in four seasons, the Timberwolves and the Nuggets will battle in the playoffs. While the Wolves likely would have preferred the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, Minnesota seems confident they can beat any team put in front of them.
While the Wolves and Nuggets do have playoff history, those matchups from the 2023 and 2024 playoffs may not carry over to 2026.
“I don’t think it’s overly relevant,” Finch said about the Denver matchup. “The heart of their team is Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Braun, those guys have been together for a long, long time. The rest of the guys have kind of settled into their roles, and they’ve gotten healthy, so they’ve gotten a little bit deeper. I think that’s the depth that they didn’t have a few years ago, which makes them a lot more dangerous.”
Multiple Timberwolves players pointed to the need to come together as one group as a necessity in the playoffs.
“Just being together,” Donte DiVincezo said about what the team’s mindset needs to be. “All accolades and individual things are out the window. Now it’s all about just trying to get four wins, and we have a great opportunity. It’s a great team that we’re going to be playing, but this is what we thrive on: going on the road. Those first two games, I think we’ll be really connected and try to get in there and sneak one game home.”
Rudy Gobert also pointed to playing connected together as a key for the Wolves heading into the postseason.
Rudy Gobert pregame on the playoffs:
“It’s about being close together and being brothers. We’re gonna have great games and people are going to praise us. And we are gonna have bad moments and people are going to shit on us and in both cases we have to stick to who we are.” pic.twitter.com/t3SBNafJws
To beat the Nuggets in this upcoming series, the Wolves are going to need to play with a level of connectivity that frankly they haven’t shown all season. While the 49 wins signal that Minnesota is a solid enough team, Denver’s 54 wins in an injury-rittled season signal that they have been at another level this regular season
The Wolves have shown they can win a playoff series as an underdog before. Of their four playoff series victory over the past two seasons, three have come as an underdog.
Only time will tell if they can do it again.
Up Next
Game 1 between the Timberwolves and Nuggets will take place on Saturday, beginning at 2:30 PM CT. Fans can watch the game on Amazon Prime Video. The schedule for the rest of the series will be released sometime this week at the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament.
Mike Brown wanted to finish the regular season with the best record in the NBA. He wanted to have the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Brown said falling short of those goals was “disappointing.”
But Brown and the Knicks put up some other impressive numbers this season.
They had the franchise’s third-highest SRS, which is a measurement that accounts for point differential and strength of schedule.
The 2025-26 Knicks finished the season with an SRS of 6.23. They trail only the 1969-70 and 1993-94 teams and are right ahead of the 1972-73 team. Two of those teams won the NBA Finals and the third reached the NBA Finals -- not bad company to be in.
Brown’s Knicks finished the season with the fourth-best offensive rating in the league. They ranked 7th overall in defense and had the fifth-best net rating.
“I wish I could have figured some things out a little sooner than what I did, but we’ve had more ups than downs,” Brown said Sunday.
“....Going into the playoffs, we feel pretty good where we are offensively and defensively as a group,” he added. “We feel connected. I feel like everybody on the team has sacrificed in one way, shape or form. You need that from your group in order to have some success. Our guys compete, and at this point in the season, I feel like the guys really believe, not just in what we’re trying to do but in each other.”
That belief is the result of a strong finish to the regular season. The Knicks snapped an 0-5 stretch against teams above .500 with wins over Atlanta and Boston last week.
The pairing of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on offense looked as good as it has all season in those two games.
Of course, Brown and the rest of the organization will ultimately be judged on what happens in the playoffs.
But Brown’s Knicks seem to be in a good place entering their first-round matchup against the Hawks. They’ve shown over the course of 82 games that they’re one of the top teams in the league. They’ve battled through rough stretches of the season, questions about the fit of Towns, the play of Bridges and a myriad of other issues.
“Like most teams, you go through a lot of ups and you go through and it can get tough. And there can be plenty of opportunities for individuals which can turn into a collective group of guys to quit, throw in the towel any time,” Brown said.
“Anytime we face a little bit of adversity our guys try to handle it the right way. I really like their resiliency and I like their openness to trying different things or new things. Because we’ve done some things differently here than what they’re probably used to when they had a successful run doing the things that they were doing in the past.”
The past success ended with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Getting back there this season is considered the baseline for Brown & Co. We’ll find out in a few weeks if they can get back to that place and beyond.
But right now, at the end of a trying regular season, Brown and the Knicks seem to be in a good spot.
DUECE GETS LOOSE
Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson were the only rotation players on the floor for the Knicks on Sunday.
For McBride, the game was an opportunity to get some shots up and gain more rhythm ahead of the playoffs.
McBride took advantage, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.
“He looked good. It was good to see him just go play free, take any shot he wanted and be aggressive,” Brown said. “Because he can score the basketball at a high level, he can shoot at a high level so it’s good to see the ball go in a few times.”
McBride played in six games following a multi-week absence for sports hernia surgery and an ankle ailment. He will obviously play a significant role in how things unfold for the Knicks in the postseason.
In a good sign for New York, McBride said that he feels like his rhythm is in a good place entering the playoffs.
He does feel pain as a result of his surgery while playing, which is something to keep an eye on in the Hawks series, but McBride has managed the pain and played through it since returning from surgery.
Looking back, it seems wild to think how hard a sell the Play-In Tournament was just six years ago. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spent a lot of political capital to make it happen, and there were plenty of skeptics.
It's hard to imagine the NBA without it now — the win-or-go-home drama is built into the postseason. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament.
What is the Play-In?
This was one of the NBA's first attempts to stop (or reduce) tanking, and it has been one of the more effective. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pushed for it and it has been one of his bigger successes as commissioner — it gave more teams something to play, more fan bases something to root for, and along the way created some drama.
The No. 7 and 8 seeds no longer automatically make the playoffs, and seeds No. 9 and 10 can earn their way in. In addition, one of the benefits of the play-in is it created an incentive to win enough games to be a top-six seed and avoid the play-in. There is a genuine push by teams to avoid the potential pitfalls of the play-in.
There are some big names in the play-in this year, including former MVPs Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid.
How does the play-in work?
It's become familiar and is pretty simple to follow, with four teams in each conference competing for two playoff spots.
• Regular season seeds No. 7 and 8 play a single game, with the winner going straight to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed (to face the No. 2 seed).
• Regular season seeds Nos. 9 and 10 play a single-elimination game, from which the loser is out and goes home.
• The winner of the 9/10 game and the loser of the 7/8 game play a single elimination game to advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed (to face the No. 1 seed). The loser of this final play-in game is done for the season.
Eastern Conference play-in schedule, where to watch
Tuesday, April 14
• 9/10 game: Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Wednesday, April 15
• 7/8 Game: Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Friday, April 17
• 9/10 winner at 7/8 loser (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Western Conference play-in schedule, where to watch
Tuesday, April 14
• 7/8 Game: Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Wednesday, April 15
• 9/10 game: Golden State Warriors at LA Clippers (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Friday, April 17
• 9/10 winner at 7/8 loser (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Has any team reached the NBA Finals out of the play-in?
Yes, but just once. In 2023, the Miami Heat were the No. 7 seed, lost the first play-in game to Atlanta, and then had to come from behind in the final play-in game to beat Chicago and advance as the No. 8 seed. Once in the playoffs, Miami beat Milwaukee, New York, and Boston to advance to the NBA Finals.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz reacts during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 12, 2026 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz had their final game of the season, but also the rebuild. It will not be remembered long as the outcome was expected, an easy win for the Lakers 131-107.
There were some things to take away for the Jazz. They played hard in this one, much like they’ve done all season, regardless of who was on the floor. That’s a great sign for the culture, the players, and the coach. Utah has successfully gotten through a season where they weren’t trying to win and has come out intact with a really bright future. And that’s before Utah enters lottery night.
That hustle is shown by multiple players on the team night after night. Tonight, that player was Oscar Tshiebwe, who had his way with DeAndre Ayton all game. Tshiebwe was 12/17 from the floor in this one and scored 29 points along with 17 rebounds. There are multiple players, like Tshiebwe, who may or may not be on the roster next season but have proven they have to be considered. Bez Mbeng is one of those players as well. Tonight, Mbeng was 5/10 from the field for 14 points with 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Not bad, the game after a triple-double. We’ll see if Mbeng and Tshiebwe will be on the roster next season as the Jazz move forward, looking to win as many games as possible. If they don’t make it, they’ve been nice additions that have filled roles well alongside the Jazz’s young, developing talent.
Speaking of the developing talent, Ace Bailey and Cody Williams struggled to shoot in this one. They both showed flashes, but the shooting hasn’t been there as consistently as you’d like. That said, they show the makings of really nice players, and this tanking season has given them the opportunity to grow that they wouldn’t have had were they on teams playing to win every game. Bailey was 7/21 in this one, mostly because the three wasn’t falling, but he’s shown enough this season that he has a bright future with his offensive game alongside the potential to be a high-level defender. Cody Williams has also looked night and day better than last season. Williams was only 5/15 from the field in this one, but he had 6 assists and 2 steals. Considering Williams struggled to put up any stats at all last season and early in the year, that’s a massive improvement. He’s also showing he has some go-to moves to score and help the offense with his pullup mid range game and his straight line drives to the basket. For both Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, we’ll see how they acclimate to having to share possessions with a winning roster next year, but the signs are looking good for them to, at worst, be great rotation pieces. Ace Bailey is showing signs of being an elite two-way player if everything comes together for him.
And with that, it appears the 4-year rebuild is now over. There’s still a lottery on May 10th that could make this rebuild even more epic. But even if the Jazz lose that lottery, they’ll be set up to win in a big way next season. It’ll be fun to see the fruits of four years of tanking labor. All the losing, the development of youth, the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr, the endless Lauri Markkanen trade rumors, only to keep him. It all leads to an upcoming season that will have the Jazz doing something they haven’t done for four years, go to the playoffs.
