Holloman averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 assists per game last season as a junior for the Spartans. He had developed into a captain under coach Tom Izzo, and was allowed by Izzo to “kiss the floor” on senior night as a show of his commitment to the program.
Warriors' postseason will be short unless they fix two key issues
Warriors' postseason will be short unless they fix two key issues originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Programming Note: Tune into “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Warriors Postgame Live.”
SAN FRANCISCO – There are a dozen ways to dissect the 53 glorious minutes of basketball submitted by the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, and interested observers can engage in debate until Tuesday when Golden State tips off against the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the aftermath of a 124-119 overtime loss to Los Angeles, there was Draymond Green saying he “smoked” a layup that would have tied the game with 26.5 seconds left in OT. That’s not why the Warriors walked out of Chase Center without a guaranteed NBA playoff berth and into the play-in tournament.
Nor should much of the blame go to Buddy Hield for missing a potential game-tying 3-point shot with 5.3 seconds remaining in OT. And, no, it’s too simple to blame coach Steve Kerr for drawing up a play for Hield; there was no way Clippers coach Ty Lue was going allow Stephen Curry an inch of space to even see the rim.
These issues didn’t help the Warriors, but they are not what tilted the game toward the Clippers.
This loss came organically. It was about the Warriors, collectively, being dominated on the glass, finishing minus-17 in rebounding, and too often getting outhustled or outmuscled in the pursuit of loose balls.
“That was the part of the game – the only part of the game – that really that bothered me a little bit,” coach Steve Kerr said.
“It’s tough to win,” Green said, referring to the rebounding deficit. “We also didn’t get a lot of loose balls. Rebounding is one thing, but then some of these loose balls that are just bouncing we’re not getting, the long rebounds, they’re loose and we’re not getting them. We’ve got to be better at getting those balls.”
The Warriors have two days to digest and review their work. And they surely must know a similar effort on Tuesday might result in another loss and rob them of a second chance at a few days of rest before the actual playoffs.
What’s the fix?
“Maybe contest some shots a little bit better,” Jimmy Butler III said. “Oh, [and] get to loose balls. There you go. The loose balls. And rebound. I think my sorry ass had one rebound. So, if I rebound a lot more, the game might be different.”
Butler’s self-assessment, one rebound (in 48 minutes) was accurate. Among his fellow starters, Curry had three, Green had two and Moses Moody none. The fifth starter, Brandin Podziemski, pulled a team-high seven. Gary Payton II, playing 25 minutes off the bench, was next with four.
Los Angeles big man Ivica Zubac finished with 17 rebounds. James Harden had seven, Kawhi Leonard six. Yes, those three Clippers outrebounded the entire Warriors roster. And LA is the NBA’s 17th-ranked rebounding team.
The Grizzlies are No. 2 in rebounding, behind only the Houston Rockets, who would be Golden State’s next opponent should they beat Memphis. The Warriors finished the season ranked seventh in rebounds per game – but were only 14th after the NBA All-Star break.
Even as the Warriors were the league’s top-rated defense during that span, rebounding has been their weakest element. This likely is a side effect of such heavy reliance on small lineups featuring Green (6-foot-6), Butler (6-foot-7) and Moody (6-foot-5) in the front court.
If you’re going to lose the rebounding battle, it’s a must to offset it by forcing turnovers and grabbing loose balls. By playing with extreme urgency.
“A couple times ball was on the floor, we tried to bounce it instead of [grabbing it],” Kerr said. “And then it’s a great lesson. We’ll show those clips and remind the guys that the ball is gold. The ball is everything. And so, we’ve got to do everything possible to secure the loose balls.
Between Sunday night and Tuesday evening, Curry said, there will “a lot” of focus on the hustle plays and rebounding.
“But it’s not just technique,” Curry said. “It’s just mentality. Like it’s just go get it, and everybody has that chip on their shoulder. Because when we do get rebounds, you see us flying in transition. Anybody who grabs a rebound and [throws an] outlet pass, we have confidence that everybody can run, and we got spacing. That’s usually our best offense.
“So even with Memphis, they’re a bigger team, but you can kind of get them in transition if you can secure rebounds and those 50-50 balls. That’ll probably be a good test or a marker if we can win that game.”
The Warriors shot well on Sunday, 54.4 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent beyond the arc. They shot five more free throws and made four more. They recorded 31 assists. They were plus-3 in points off turnovers.
They were minus-8 in second-chance points, as LA grabbed nine offensive rebounds.
The Warriors are 14-18 when outrebounded this season. They were outrebounded in four of their final six regular-season games. If this is a trend, and it continues, their postseason will be shorter than they could imagine.
Portland bets on continuity, extends Chauncey Billups as head coach
PORTLAND — The Trail Blazers have chosen continuity.
That is no small thing for a team about to miss out on the postseason, especially in an NBA where two teams in the top four of the league (at least at the time) fired their coach in recent weeks (and Denver threw out the GM as well).
Portland has signed coach Chauncey Billups to a multi-year contract extension, just days after GM Joe Cronin got an extension as well. This move is a vote of confidence in the team's improvement in recent months.
"For us to be sitting here and saying, 'All right, we're moving on. Let's keep going.' It just literally means to me that Jody [Allen, team Chair] and Bert [Kolde, Vice Chair] see a lot of promise in us,” Billups said. “The rest of the league, and most of the league, is moving and shaking and going where they're going, we're sitting here saying, 'All right, we're in this spot. Let's just kind of keep going on this, on this progress.'"
Billups took over a very different job when he was first hired — he was brought into a win-now situation with Damian Lillard. After Lillard was traded to Milwaukee, the job shifted into a rebuild and Billups has been open about that being a transition for him, and that he had a lot to learn about building a team and a culture.
That has started to pay off of late. The Trail Blazers are 21-22 in 2025 and have the fourth-ranked defense in the NBA since the All-Star break. Cronin and Billups said that what matters as much as the wins is how they are winning, how they are building a defense-first roster. How did that turnaround happen?
“I kind of got to a point with our squad where I just told them all, I didn't really care who it was, the name on the back of the jersey and salary and whatever, I didn't care. We were sinking. We were sinking pretty bad. I'm gonna play the guys that are gonna compete, play defense,” Billups said of a ‘come-to-Jesus” meeting with the players. “If you don't do that, I don't care. You’re not playing. And I meant that, and they felt that, and they really brought us together to be honest with you.”
“For us to be the third best defense in the league this second half of the season, that's meaningful, substantive, and that's what we've been trying to do,” Cronin said.
This team is not complete. Portland does have promising young players on its roster, including Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Donovan Clingan. However, the team lacks a natural No. 1 option, but Cronin and Billups feel good about what is being built.
“You gotta have top-flight guys. But to me, I think we're raising that,” Billups said. “I think we're growing that. I look at, like, OKC traded for Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. He wasn't a star yet. Now he's probably going to be the MVP of the league. Joker [Nikola Jokic] wasn't a star when he got to Denver, they raised him into that. Giannis [Antetokounmpo] wasn't a star when he got to Milwaukee, they raised him into that.”
Whether Portland has a guy they can raise to that level is up for debate, but Cronin and Billups will get the chance to show they can take this team to the next level.
Cronin called making the postseason next year a reasonable goal. That becomes the benchmark, and not an easy one to reach in the West (ask Phoenix).
But the Blazers like the path they are on, so they bet on continuity.
Knicks close out regular season with 113-105 win over Nets
The Knicks closed out their regular season with a 113-105 win over the Nets in Brooklyn.
Here are the key takeaways…
-With the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, head coach Tom Thibodeau rested all of the usual starters.Mikal Bridges was the exception, as he was on the floor for the opening tip before the Knicks immediately fouled to get Bridges to the bench. By starting the game (and playing all of six seconds), Bridges preserved his consecutive games played streak, which is now at 556 contests.
-Precious Achiuwa started at center, making his first three shots, including an end-to-end run of the floor that was capped off with a monster slam. Achiuwa had 12 points in the first quarter alone, and went on to score 18 points to go along with nine rebounds.
-Landry Shamettechnically came off the bench in this one, replacing Bridges just six seconds into the game, but his shooting prowess was on display from the moment he took the court.
Shamet knocked down his first four threes and finished the game with a team-high 29 points on 7-of-13 shooting from downtown.
Thibodeau will likely shrink the Knicks’ rotation in the playoffs, and it’s hard to imagine Shamet, one of the best three-point shooters on the team, not seeing the floor come the postseason.
-The Nets led by as many as 10 points in the first half and were up by four at the break, but the Knicks stormed back thanks to a third quarter that saw them outscore Brooklyn 27-17, with Miles McBride scoring seven points in the quarter. The Knicks led by six going into the fourth and led for the entire fourth quarter. When the Nets pulled within two points in the final minutes, Thibodeau went back to Shamet and Achiuwa, who helped the Knicks close things out.
-Outside of Shamet, the Knicks did not shoot very well as a team, which is to be expected given it was largely the reserve unit playing extended minutes with one another, something that doesn't happen often under Thibodeau. As a team, the Knicks shot 43.0 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, but taking out Shamet's numbers would shrink those figures to 40.6 percent and 31.0 percent, respectively.
-Sunday's game was a nice showing for the backcourt duo of McBride and Cam Payne, who combined to score 38 points with 15 assists. Both players will likely be important for the Knicks in the playoffs.
Game MVP
Shamet, who has emerged as the Knicks' best three-point shooter.
Highlights
PRECIOUS POWER 📈 pic.twitter.com/gOdrJWEAkl
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 13, 2025
pj tuck3️⃣r 🪣 pic.twitter.com/8ILhoNh1U1
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 13, 2025
SHAMET CAN'T MISS
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 13, 2025
six threes for landry 📈 pic.twitter.com/5HBz5vL34o
Upcoming schedule
The regular season is over, and the Knicks’ have a first-round playoff matchup with the Detroit Pistons on tap.
While the official schedule has not been released, Game 1 in New York will likely be Saturday or Sunday.
Playoff Jimmy Butler perfect player to help Warriors exorcise NBA play-in demons
Playoff Jimmy Butler perfect player to help Warriors exorcise NBA play-in demons originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — The stakes for the Warriors were as high as they could be for a regular-season finale Sunday, which meant an early appearance from Playoff Jimmy Butler.
Even with all the pressure and playoff implications looming over Golden State’s matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, Butler remained cool. Calm. Collected. Confident.
Butler’s first made basket didn’t come until six-and-a-half minutes into the game. After that, it was business as usual for the 35-year-old, who showcased a vintage Playoff Jimmy performance in a 124-119 loss. He finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting and went 6 of 9 from the free-throw line, adding nine assists, one steal and one block in a team-high 48 minutes.
Despite his effort, the Warriors couldn’t get the job done to secure the No. 6 playoff seed and punch a ticket to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Instead, they dropped to the No. 7 play-in slot and will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
While it wasn’t the outcome the Warriors wanted, it’s an atmosphere Butler welcomes.
The Warriors are 0-3 in their previous play-in contests. Butler’s track record is a bit different, as he has found success in the play-in tournament during his time with the Miami Heat. In 2023, Butler and Miami lost a play-in game to the Atlanta Hawks but bounced back to beat the Chicago Bulls courtesy of his 31 points. The Heat went on to make it to the NBA Finals that year.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Butler said postgame. “We still got an opportunity, and we control our own fate. We’re going to be just fine.”
Draymond Green approached the postgame podium slightly sluggish and unusually monotone. He was upset with the loss, and it showed by his demeanor and trickled off his tongue word by word.
But when asked about Butler’s presence and how he can help the Warriors still make a deep postseason push, Green spoke passionately about his teammate’s impact.
“I mean, we just draw on having Jimmy as a whole,” Green said. “You have a guy who can kind of slow the pace of the game down for us, get us into good things, having another No. 1 next to Steph is different.
“So it definitely makes us a much better team. Tonight, we didn’t capitalize on his great game, but it makes us a much more complete, better team.”
Golden State’s 2023-24 season ended with a deflating play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings. In 2020-21, the Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Lakers by three before suffering a season-ending play-in loss to the Grizzlies.
Those losses still sting for the Warriors, but they’re hopeful Butler gets them over that hump.
“We joked about that last week,” Steph Curry said of Butler’s play-in success. “He went into the play-in packing for two months. So we would love to have that opportunity. We haven’t had a good outcome in the three [play-in] games. I remember each one vividly.
“[LeBron James] hit that shot in the right wing. Ja [Morant] hits a couple tough buckets. And we washed the Sacramento game down the drain pretty quick. So just win.”
While Butler’s impact historically has heightened come postseason time, Curry has felt his presence since the former Heat forward first was traded to Golden State in early February. Curry only hopes that continues this week and moving forward.
Sunday’s game was the perfect indication of just that.
Butler’s steady presence was needed for the Warriors while their best player struggled to find a consistent groove through the first three quarters. Curry entered the fourth quarter with 15 points. Butler at the time had 24.
The baton was passed over to Curry, who got rolling in the final frame to force overtime. He wound up with 36 points.
That double-threat dynamic has the potential to be lethal in a momentous postseason atmosphere.
“I mean, I don’t know how you could be any more confident,” Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski said of Butler’s postseason impact. “I don’t know if there’s any one person in a play-in situation that you would want on your team. Maybe Steph.
“And we have both of them. So the confidence is there. You know him and Steph are going to produce and now it just becomes what other role guys are going to step up and want the moment.”
Butler doesn’t feel any pressure from all the “Playoff Jimmy” talk. He’s grateful and honored that his teammates have that confidence and faith in him, but he let it be known that he’s not the only one who can make some magic happen when needed.
“I do [feel the responsibility],” Butler said. “But man, we got a lot of really good basketball players around this locker room key in what we’re trying to do. I like the confidence that [the team] has in myself, I also have that same amount of confidence.
“So I know that I and we have a job to do, and I know that we’re capable of doing it. So play-in, here we come.”
The winner of Tuesday’s game will clinch the No. 7 seed and face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series. The loser will still have a chance to keep their season alive Friday against the winner of the Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks game that will be played Wednesday.
The stage is set. The curtains are open. And it’s Butler’s time to shine.
Kuminga gets up shots after DNP in Warriors' OT loss vs. Clippers
Kuminga gets up shots after DNP in Warriors' OT loss vs. Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Jonathan Kuminga is doing what he can to stay in rhythm despite not leaving the bench once in the Warriors’ frustrating 124-119 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center.
Following Golden State’s 2024-25 NBA regular-season finale, the four-year forward was seen taking shots in an empty Chase after recording an eyebrow-raising DNP.
Will JK play a second Tuesday night? pic.twitter.com/agBDZxOEG9
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) April 13, 2025
The Warriors, who ended as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed on Sunday, are hosting an NBA play-in tournament game on their home court against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
It’s worth considering that Kuminga’s role within coach Steve Kerr’s system this season has been rocky, shifting from starter to reserve to starter and back to reserve.
Kerr, who has managed plenty of roster subplots at the helm of the Warriors this season, recently expressed his opposition to a three-player combination between Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Kuminga.
That said, Kerr could benefit by leveraging Kuminga’s athleticism in transition against the Grizzlies.
Ultimately, Dub Nation will have to wait to see if Kerr will utilize Kuminga – even if he’s making time to stay ready.
Michigan basketball five-star Trey McKenney, late addition to Team USA, has standout game
The former Orchard Lake St. Mary's standout scored 22 points on 7 of 9 shooting for Team USA.
NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason
NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
After a grueling regular season, it’s time to crown a champion.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season concluded on Sunday after nearly six months of non-stop action.
The upcoming playoffs will feature all of the best teams from across the league, including the defending champion Boston Celtics and 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder.
How do the seeds stack up in each conference? Who will compete in the Play-In Tournament? And what is the bracket looking like? Here’s everything to know entering the postseason:
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The 2025 NBA playoffs tip off on Saturday, April 19, with Game 1 of four first-round series’ being held.
The remaining four series will play Game 1 on Sunday, April 20.
What are the NBA playoff matchups and seeds?
The top six seeds in each conference are locked into the playoffs, which means matchups for four of the eight first-round series are set. The bottom two seeds in each conference will be determined in the Play-In Tournament.
Here are the seeds and matchups for both conferences:
EAST
- No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks/No. 9 Chicago Bulls/No. 10 Miami Heat
- No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks
- No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
WEST
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors/No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies/No. 9 Sacramento Kings/No. 10 Dallas Mavericks
- No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors/No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
- No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
- No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
Who is in the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament will feature the seventh through 10th seeds in each conference.
The No. 7 seeds will face the No. 8 seeds, with the winners moving to the first-round against the No. 2 seeds. The losers will face the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games, with the winners of those games moving on to face the No. 1 seeds. Here’s the Play-In Tournament matchups:
EAST
- Game 1: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic (Tuesday, April 15)
- Game 2: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (Wednesday, April 16)
- Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)
WEST
- Game 1: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors (Tuesday, April 15)
- Game 2: No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings (Wednesday, April 16)
- Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)
How to watch the NBA playoffs and NBA Finals
The NBA playoffs will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV. The exact partners for each series and game are still to be determined.
For the 23rd consecutive season dating back to 2003, the NBA Finals will be broadcasted on ABC.
NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason
NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
After a grueling regular season, it’s time to crown a champion.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season concluded on Sunday after nearly six months of non-stop action.
The upcoming playoffs will feature all of the best teams from across the league, including the defending champion Boston Celtics and 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder.
How do the seeds stack up in each conference? Who will compete in the Play-In Tournament? And what is the bracket looking like? Here’s everything to know entering the postseason:
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The 2025 NBA playoffs tip off on Saturday, April 19, with Game 1 of four first-round series’ being held.
The remaining four series will play Game 1 on Sunday, April 20.
What are the NBA playoff matchups and seeds?
The top six seeds in each conference are locked into the playoffs, which means matchups for four of the eight first-round series are set. The bottom two seeds in each conference will be determined in the Play-In Tournament.
Here are the seeds and matchups for both conferences:
EAST
- No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks/No. 9 Chicago Bulls/No. 10 Miami Heat
- No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks
- No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
WEST
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors/No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies/No. 9 Sacramento Kings/No. 10 Dallas Mavericks
- No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors/No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
- No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
- No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
Who is in the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament will feature the seventh through 10th seeds in each conference.
The No. 7 seeds will face the No. 8 seeds, with the winners moving to the first-round against the No. 2 seeds. The losers will face the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games, with the winners of those games moving on to face the No. 1 seeds. Here’s the Play-In Tournament matchups:
EAST
- Game 1: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic (Tuesday, April 15)
- Game 2: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (Wednesday, April 16)
- Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)
WEST
- Game 1: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors (Tuesday, April 15)
- Game 2: No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings (Wednesday, April 16)
- Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)
How to watch the NBA playoffs and NBA Finals
The NBA playoffs will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV. The exact partners for each series and game are still to be determined.
For the 23rd consecutive season dating back to 2003, the NBA Finals will be broadcasted on ABC.
Draymond states Warriors aren't ‘senior citizens' ahead of play-in
Draymond states Warriors aren't ‘senior citizens' ahead of play-in originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Programming Note: Tune into “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Warriors Postgame Live.”
Steph Curry just turned 37 years old. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler both are 35.
But, make no mistake — the Warriors’ core stars have plenty of gas in the tank, Green maintains.
After a brutal 124-119 loss in overtime to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Golden State must earn its ticket to the NBA playoffs through the play-in tournament.
As a result, the Warriors lose out on a week of rest before the first round starts. That could have been important time off for players to heal some nagging injuries, particularly Curry.
Green was asked if Golden State will have the needed energy to make an extended playoff run — assuming it progresses through the play-in — after Sunday’s hard-fought loss to end the regular season.
“We’ll be fine,” Green responded in his postgame media availability. “[In the] playoffs, you’re not playing on back-to-backs or anything like that, so just got to get there. We’ll be all right.
“We’re not senior citizens. We’re high-level basketball players. If we had to play tomorrow, we would be all right. You train all year for this.”
"We're not senior citizens."
Draymond Green isn't worried about the Warriors missing out on a full week of rest pic.twitter.com/15HUxDyLxP
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 14, 2025
Don’t worry, though. Green clarified his opinions on the elderly community.
“It’s no disrespect to the senior citizens, by the way,” Green added with a smile. “We love our senior citizens. Just throwing that out there.
“But we [aren’t] there yet, so we’ll be just fine.”
With a win Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors at least can salvage a few days off before a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets.
Regardless, Green isn’t worried about Golden State’s ability to make a deep run.
Two Kings players are secret to team's suddenly improved defense
Two Kings players are secret to team's suddenly improved defense originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Programming Note: Tune into “Kings Pregame Live” at 6:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday on NBC Sports California before the Kings and Mavericks tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Kings Postgame Live.”
SACRAMENTO – There has been plenty to talk about when discussing the Kings’ 2024-25 NBA season, from the early-season firing of Mike Brown to the trade for mercurial scorer Zach LaVine or the double-doubles that Domantas Sabonis collects like stamps.
One thing that hasn’t received nearly the level of attention that it should has been the defense of Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray.
All season the two have been right up front on the battle lines of Sacramento’s defense. Ellis is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who led the Kings with a career-high 121 steals this season, nearly 60 more than the guy who was second with 66 steals – former franchise star De’Aaron Fox.
Ellis also set a career high with 63 blocks, second on the Kings only to Murray, who swatted away 69 opponent shots.
“That’s kind of my role out there and what I’m out there to do,” Ellis said after the Kings’ win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at Golden 1 Center. “Definitely glad that I can perform at that level on that end. Good to see all the preparation or the way that I think about the defensive end is working out.”
Murray, Sacramento’s 6-foot-8 power forward, hasn’t met a matchup yet that he’s incapable of handling. When he’s not matched up against players near his size, Murray frequently can be seen trying to body up and muscle his way against opposing centers who often have a 4- or 5-inch height advantage.
As a team, the Kings have had a fairly mediocre defense, although it has been trending upward lately.
Sacramento owns a 115.3 defensive rating for the season, 22nd in the NBA. Over the last two weeks, however, the Kings have been playing with a top-10 defense.
Most of that improvement is a result of how well the two K’s – Keon and Keegan – have been playing as stoppers.
In turn, that has made it easier at times for interim coach Doug Christie to get his message through.
“What I’m trying to get across is there’s fun in defense, and that’s a hard thing,” Christie said. “When I think of Keon and think of Keegan, I’m going to continue to say it: I think they’re all-league defenders. But then you add Jake [LaRavia] and [rookie Devin Carter] to that, now you have one, two, three defenders on the floor and people feel the gravity, they feel the physicality.
“Keegan and Keon set the tone for that.”
Houston guard Milos Uzan reportedly declaring for NBA Draft with 1 year of eligibility remaining
Uzan had a breakout game for the Cougars in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16, scoring 22 points and the game-winner versus Purdue.
Kings ready to ‘lock in' vs. Mavs with play-in homecourt secured
Kings ready to ‘lock in' vs. Mavs with play-in homecourt secured originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Programming Note: Tune into “Kings Pregame Live” at 6:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday on NBC Sports California before the Kings and Mavericks tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Kings Postgame Live.”
SACRAMENTO – Turns out the Kings will have at least one more opportunity to light the beam in the state’s capital this season.
Having already secured a place in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup in the first round of the NBA play-in tournament bracket next week, the Kings were in position to make sure that game would be played at Golden 1 Center and did just that against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
“It’s huge from the standpoint of it’s a homecourt advantage,” Keon Ellis said following Sacramento’s 109-98 win over a short-handed Phoenix team. “You don’t have to travel or go anywhere else. Play in front of your home crowd, a familiar place [and] you got the fans behind you.”
That the Kings are even in the play-in bracket is commendable considering all the drama the team faced this season.
There was the early-season shake-up when Mike Brown was fired 31 games into the season, only a few months after the unanimous 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year was rewarded with a hefty contract extension.
Point guard De’Aaron Fox, once thought to be the face of the franchise in Sacramento, was traded away to the San Antonio Spurs not long after that.
“Now we are, one at a time, two wins away from getting to the next step of our journey,” interim Kings coach Doug Christie said. “Very proud of the fight, the determination that they showed in the face of a lot of different adversity that went on this year. That’s a big credit to them. Congratulations to them, the organization and our city.”
Sunday’s win sent a loud G1C crowd home happy. Odds are that the place will be a lot more lively and raucous on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.
For good reason, too.
The Kings are trying to get into the NBA playoffs for the second time in 19 years. Under Brown’s lead during the 2022-23 season, Sacramento was eliminated in a thrilling seven-game series with the four-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
Last season, the Kings flipped the script and beat the Warriors at home in the first round of the play-in bracket then lost to the Pelicans in New Orleans and were eliminated from the postseason.
Thus the importance of securing homecourt for Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks.
“It’s not over,” Christie said. “I think when it’s over, we’re headed home with the trophy and we can all celebrate. But now you can’t. You can’t breathe in these moments. This is a time to stay locked in. There’s going to be things that we need to lock in on.
“Mediocrity is not going to be effective in this moment. We got to step up our game.”
The Kings won all three games against the Mavericks this season, including twice in Dallas at American Airlines Center. The Kings went 2-2 against the Mavericks last season, losing twice to Dallas at Golden 1 Center and winning two on the road.
Ellis pointed out that facing a win-or-go-home situation in one game is a lot more daunting than a seven-game series.
“In the playoffs, you lose one you still have three more losses before you’re out,” Ellis said. “But in a game like Wednesday, that’s your one and only shot. Everything has to line up and connect for us because there’s no second chance after that.”
Tre Holloman transfers to NC State after 3 years with Michigan State
Tre Holloman will be heading to North Carolina State, leaving Michigan State basketball after entering the transfer portal on April 1.
What to know as Celtics prepare for first round of playoffs
What to know as Celtics prepare for first round of playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
With the regular season in the books, the Boston Celtics will sit back and await their opponent for the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The C’s wrapped up their 2024-25 campaign with a 61-21 record after securing a 93-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. They went 64-18 during their 2024 NBA championship season.
Boston enters the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers earned the No. 1 seed with a 65-17 record.
As the No. 2 seed, the Celtics will begin their playoff run against the No. 7 seed in the East. More on their potential first-round opponent and when the first round is scheduled to begin below:
Who will the Celtics play in Round 1?
The No. 2 seed Celtics will meet either the Orlando Magic or the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Magic and Hawks will compete for the No. 7 seed on Tuesday.
Boston went 1-2 against both teams during the regular season.
When is the NBA play-in tournament?
- The play-in tourney begins Tuesday, April 15 with the No. 8 and No. 7 seeds in both conferences facing off.
- The No. 10 and No. 9 seeds in each conference will play against one another on Wednesday, April 16.
- The winner of the East 10/9 matchup will face the loser of the East 8/7 game on Friday, April 18.
- The winner of the West 10/9 matchup will face the loser of the West 8/7 game on Friday, April 18.
When will the first round begin?
The Celtics’ Game 1 showdown vs. the Magic or Hawks at TD Garden will take place on either April 19 or 20. The tip-off time is TBD.
Will Jaylen Brown play for Celtics in first round?
Jaylen Brown has been bothered by a knee issue in recent weeks, but it doesn’t sound like it will keep the Celtics star from suiting up when the playoffs start. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla said Sunday he is “100 percent” confident Brown will be ready to go: