BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 06: General Manager Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics watches warmups before a game against the Dallas Mavericks at the TD Garden on February 06, 2025 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Tuesday, during his pre-draft availability, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen indicated that he picked the brain of Boston Celtics’ NBA Champion President of Basketball Operations (and former Butler University Men’s Basketball coach) Brad Stevens.
Only, it wasn’t really about basketball.
Rather, Steichen sought out any guidance that Stevens may be able to share regarding Achilles post-surgery recovery, after Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum previously underwent Achilles surgery by the same surgeon who recently performed Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones’ procedure a few months ago (via The Athletic’s James Boyd).
#Colts HC Shane Steichen spoke to #Celtics president Brad Stevens about Jayson Tatum’s Achilles recovery. Tatum and Daniel Jones both got surgery from Dr. Martin O’Malley.
It’s not the first time that Stevens has offered his insight he has firsthand experienced with his star player’s recovery from a torn Achilles with an Indianapolis professional sports head coach.
It is good to know that Jones, who’s already throwing and performing drop-backs on his road to regaining his prior breakout career year form, isn’t alone in his recovery.
Rather, there have been a number of star professional athletes who have suffered the same injury and underwent the same surgery, and there’s an established protocol for rehabilitation and recovery. There are likely some helpful tips that Stevens can share regarding what worked well and what didn’t—and what to reasonably expect.
The early signs regarding Jones recovery are encouraging, and he’s arguably ahead of schedule—with a hopeful and still realistic return by Colts training camp in mid-to-late July.
The number was staggering. It hasn’t been talked about enough, Mike Brown said. And given the Knicks’ success at defending the paint during the regular season, it made what transpired in the second half of Game 2 — when the Hawks erupted for 42 points in the paint — even more stunning.
It was the worst half of Knicks paint defense all year by six points.
During the regular season, they allowed the third-fewest points in that area per game (43.4), and they had nine instances during the regular season when they only surrendered 42 points in the paint across the entire game. Monday’s lapse stemmed from a lack of execution, Brown said. From a lack of physicality, Josh Hart added.
The Knicks had a new weakness exposed, and starting with Game 3 on Thursday, Atlanta will almost certainly try to replicate that blueprint. It’ll fall on the Knicks, and all of their possible options, to figure out a response.
Dyson Daniels attacks the paint and goes up for a layup over Josh Hart during the Knicks’ Game 2 loss to the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I feel like we didn’t have that physicality that we did Game 1 and in the first half [of Game 2],” Hart said Wednesday in Tarrytown before the team flew to Atlanta. “I think that was the biggest thing. When you lose that physicality, then you allow them to kinda move at their own pace, kinda dictate their offense instead of you dictating it. Just gotta make sure we’re physical, have attention to detail and focus for a full 48.”
It could just be an anomaly. A one-off. The Knicks, in addition to being a strong unit at defending the paint and among the NBA’s best defenses over the final two-plus months of the regular season, were also the best fourth-quarter team in terms of net rating during the regular season. That made their collapse Monday an uncharacteristic one. But theoretically, Hart said, the Hawks will try to attack the paint again.
The simplest decision to combat the woes could involve playing Mitchell Robinson — the best Knicks interior defender — more, but that would come with inherent risks.
His minutes jumped from 14:30 to 18:09 in the opening two games of the series, but could Brown keep Robinson on the court more and risk a hack-a-Mitch strategy? And if he does give Robinson more time off the bench, whose minutes would dip?
Jonathan Kuminga makes a strong drive to the basket during the Knicks’ Game 2 loss to the Hawks. NBAE via Getty Images
These are the decisions and considerations that arise over the course of a seven-game series.
In the opening half of Game 2, the Knicks allowed just 16 points in the paint, but CJ McCollum, who shredded Jalen Brunson, finished with 16 points in the paint alone, including 10 in the second half.
Twelve of Jalen Johnson’s second-half points occurred in that area by the basket, too, and he set the tone with Atlanta’s first layup of the third quarter — pump-faking on the left wing after the Knicks went up 13, driving around Hart and finishing his shot before Karl-Anthony Towns’ help defense made an impact.
Mitchell Robinson (center) battles Dyson Daniels for a rebound as Karl-Anthony Towns looks on during the Knicks’ Game 2 loss to the Hawks. Getty Images
And when the fourth quarter arrived, that paint-scoring edge became especially noticeable, with the Hawks outscoring the Knicks 22-4. Jonathan Kuminga rolled off a screen and dunked to pull the Hawks within 93-85. He sent a lob pass over all the Knicks defenders to Onyeka Okongwu for another dunk on the next possession, too. Ball movement kept opening up lanes, and the Knicks kept failing to plug any gaps in time.
“You gotta give Atlanta credit,” Brown said. “We didn’t execute our defense the way that we could have. Or the way we should have, or the way that we have been doing throughout the first six quarters [of the series].”
Now comes the counter, though. Now comes Atlanta’s chance to turn this into a series-defining weakness. Now comes the chance for the Knicks to “keep the physicality going,” as Mikal Bridges said. To help in transition. To “show bodies.” To give a boost to whoever’s guarding the ball.
Now comes the playoff chess match.
“That’s why being focused and having attention to detail is so big in the playoffs,” Hart said, “because sometimes, it goes away from plays — and it just goes into schemes, it goes into personnel. You gotta be able to react on the fly. When you’re locked in, you have that attention to detail, you’re able to do that pretty seamlessly.”
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 call s a play during the fourth quarter.
ATLANTA — This wasn’t supposed to be part of the script.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ usage was expected to be a question mark. Mike Brown’s rotations were bound to cause a bit of a stir. It’s not a shock that the Knicks defense has been inconsistent.
But Jalen Brunson was supposed to be a known quantity. Brunson was supposed to be the bona fide best player on the floor.
Brunson was supposed to be … well, the Brunson everyone has come to expect.
But through two games of this first-round series against the Hawks — which is tied 1-1 with Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta — the best player on the floor hasn’t been Brunson. It has been CJ McCollum.
Brunson shot a combined 19-for-48 (39.6 percent) through the first two games. And that includes his 8-for-11 start in Game 1. Since then, Brunson has shot 11-for-37 — a woeful 29.7 percent — from the field across the past seven quarters.
“We just gotta keep trying to move him around,” coach Mike Brown said of Brunson after practice Wednesday. “And give him different looks throughout the course of the game.”
Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been Brunson’s primary defenders for the Hawks through two games. Lengthy, athletic perimeter defenders like those two have been the physical profile that has revealed itself to be the one thing that can potentially throw Brunson off his game.
They have not shied away from being physical with Brunson. And Brown believes they’re getting away with a little too much.
“I’m still trying to figure out what’s a bump and what’s not a bump,” Brown said after Game 2. “You see a guy like CJ, he gets a drive and if you chest him, it’s a foul. And I even asked the officials about it — Jalen’s driving and he’s getting the same bump. Now, he’s not as light or as quick as CJ, so the speed might not be the same, but when he’s going, he’s getting hit and he’s getting knocked away from the bucket. So, trying to figure that out a little bit better is something I need to do.
Jalen Brunson call s a play during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 2 loss to the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“But I thought Jalen got to his spots. I thought he could have gotten to the free-throw line a couple more times that sometimes [he didn’t] throughout the course of the game, especially with how aggressive he is. But it is what it is.”
It’s not just his shooting, either. Brunson has turned the ball over in a few key spots.
The Knicks trailed by two with under 20 seconds left of their 107-106 Game 2 loss Monday — with a chance to tie the game or take the lead. Brunson tried to take a turnaround jumper against Alexander-Walker. But Alexander-Walker read it perfectly, stripped Brunson, led a fast break down the other end and perfectly assisted a Jalen Johnson dunk, which extended the Hawks lead to four points with just over 10 seconds left.
“Obviously, I can control what I can control,” Brunson said. “Poor decision-making on my part. A couple possessions, they played great defense and knocked the ball out of my hands.”
Dyson Daniels collides with Jalen Brunson during the first quarter of the Knicks’ Game 2 loss to the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
What has been noticeable is that the Knicks offense has reverted to Brunson isolation ball in the playoffs — not the harmonious two-man game that he and Karl-Anthony Towns revealed at the end of the regular season.
Brunson’s ball dominance has suddenly made the Knicks offense stagnant. And his shooting struggles mean the Knicks offense has been inefficient. It’s also a self-fulfilling prophecy — his shot quality is worse when he is so isolation-heavy, rather than allowing his teammates to create openings for him. It’s not necessarily that he is taking too many shots, but rather how he is getting those shots.
Brunson had the ball in his hands an average of 10.3 seconds per possession the first two games — by far the most of any player in the postseason entering Wednesday’s games, per the league’s official tracking stats.
It has limited the production of his supporting cast, particularly Towns. Flash back to last year, when the Knicks were tied 1-1 in the first round with the Pistons, heading to Detroit, after Towns was uninvolved in a Game 2 loss. Here is what Brunson said at the time:
“There’s one ball and we have a lot of great players on this team,” Brunson said. “Definitely, it’s on my shoulders. I’m not gonna point the finger and say some people need to do that and this. It’s on me to try to set the table.”
One year later, Brunson and the Knicks offense seem to be in the exact same spot.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns loses the ball while being defended by Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half in Game One of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on April 19, 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
Spurs forward Keldon Johnson was a breath of fresh air coming off the bench for San Antonio and it's being recognized and rewarded.
Johnson, 26, was named the 2025-26 NBA Sixth Man of the Year after his seventh NBA season.
Johnson appeared in all 82 games for the Spurs and didn't start any of them. He set a franchise record with 1,081 bench points this season, a record previously held by Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili.
Johnson has started 232 career games with the Spurs, but hasn't started any games the last two seasons.
For someone who had been a starter his entire life, Johnson told ESPN's "Inside the NBA" that he's embraced his new role to be a part of "something special" in San Antonio.
"Honestly, you know, it just came down to wanting to be a part of something special here in San Antonio. I knew that in order (to) really be the best for the team, that coming off the bench was probably my best possibility," Johnson said. "At first it was tough. I had to really remove my ego, put the team first. And you know, after that, the sky was the limit. I feel like my teammates, my coaches, really allow me to be myself. Really allowed me to bring that energy, you know. So my hat goes off to them to allow me to do that and be in the position I am today."
During the 2025-26 campaign, Johnson averaged 13.2 points on 51.9%/36.3%/79.4% shooting splits. He averaged 23.3 minutes per game.
He was selected out of Kentucky with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Spurs.
"It's a little emotional," Johnson said as he celebrated amongst his mom, dad, little sister and best friends. "It's a big accomplishment. It's a lot of hard work that goes into an award like this, especially, you know, through everything I've been through."
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets plays defense during the game against LeBron James #23 Los Angeles Lakers on April 21, 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Playoff basketball demands a higher level of intensity. The stakes are raised, which means every possession matters more, every game can swing a series and the focus on physicality has to be elevated.
If there’s a player on the Lakers who knows this and is capable of it better than most, it’s LeBron James.
At 41 years old, LeBron might not be the fastest player on the floor, but he is certainly one of the strongest. In this series against the Rockets, he has dominated Houston physically.
Offensively, he’s been targeting Alperen Şengün relentlessly. He’s constantly putting Şengün into actions, then either driving into the paint, putting pressure on the rim resulting in easy buckets for James, or open looks for his teammates.
Other Rockets have tried to test James, only to fail miserably. When Jae’Sean Tate tried his best Dillon Brooks impersonation, attempting to agitate LeBron, he pushed him away, got the ball at the top of the key and drilled a three over Şengün.
Thanks to LeBron embracing this physicality and being the one who bullies instead of the one getting picked on, the Lakers are now up 2-0 in this series.
After LA’s Game 2 win, head coach JJ Redick praised LeBron for his physical toughness.
“I thought he brought a level of physicality and he’s done it throughout his career that he’s just really comfortable playing that way and you see that whether it’s him on a back down or getting to the basket or drawing fouls that he forces you to match his physicality,” Redick said.
Throughout this series, LeBron has demonstrated he’s willing to do all the little things that impact winning and physicality is part of that.
He’s still out here making his rotations, crashing the defensive glass and initiating contact in the paint to generate calls.
With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out, everyone has to step up, and LeBron’s comfortable in that situation. After all, he’s been dragging teams to playoff success since he was in his 20s.
Now, two decades later, he’s still doing it. The Lakers haven’t lost this postseason, and LeBron’s physicality is dominating a Rockets team that is younger, faster and more athletic.
Nothing LeBron does anymore should shock us, but somehow, he is doing it again. After a pair of games, it’s gone from a conversation about how the Lakers might extend their season and turned into the Rockets looking for a path to victory, with none to be found.
That’s the power of LeBron. He’s an unstoppable force that’s yet to meet an immovable object.
Two days after Mike Brown spent part of his postgame news conference standing by his rotation decision-making, with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench at the same time during two stretches of Game 2, the Knicks head coach reiterated his trust in any player on the court.
But he also acknowledged before the Knicks left Tarrytown for Atlanta on Wednesday that anything can change in the playoffs.
“First of all, anything’s open to discussion offensively, defensively,” Brown said when asked if he’d be comfortable making that same lineup decision again or if he’d like to limit it. “Maybe changing this defensively. Maybe changing that offensively. I’m comfortable with all of our guys playing, no matter who the five is out there.
“But at the end of the day, just like offensively and defensively, I mean we changed both of those things halfway through the year. Anything can happen, and when you’re in the playoffs, everything should be on the table. But I do feel comfortable with what we’ve had.”
The first instance of Brunson and Towns on the bench at the same time occurred after Jordan Clarkson subbed in for Brunson between the first and second quarter, with Towns already on the bench from when he checked out with 2:48 left in the opening frame.
When the stretch with both out began, the Knicks led 32-23. By the time they entered again midway through the second quarter, that initial advantage had already been erased. The Knicks, at one point, had even trailed before rebuilding a five-point edge as the pair checked back in.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline during the first quarter of Game 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Then, Brown kept the pair off the court again for the final 1:50 of the third quarter and the opening 4:04 of the fourth. And while the Knicks still had a nine-point lead when Brunson and Towns checked back in with just under eight minutes remaining in the game, it had originally been a 12-point advantage.
The Knicks bench, outside of Mitchell Robinson, has struggled to produce for the opening two games of the series. That was only amplified when Brunson and Towns were on the bench together. But Brown’s trust still hasn’t wavered — at least for now.
Jordan Clarkson in action during Game 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After dropping 32 points Monday and fielding “F–k you, CJ” chants from fans inside the Garden, McCollum downplayed it as a “hostile” environment after his performance that, as Hawks teammate Onyeka Okongwu said, “shut that Knicks crowd up.”
“It’s just fans booing you or cheering you on,” McCollum said Wednesday in Atlanta. “It’s really not that serious. I think when you look at it that way, it’s just a game. It’s fun to compete at the highest level. It’s fun to be recognized by people, but I don’t play for Spike Lee’s approval. I don’t play for Knicks fans’ approval. I don’t play for anybody’s approval. I play for my family, myself and God, so it’s just a game, at the end of the day.”
Thursday will mark the Hawks’ first home postseason game since 2023, and Okongwu expected it to be “very, very loud” at State Farm Arena.
“Obviously, you know, Knicks fans are gonna be there as well, but I know ATL faithful will be there as well,” Okongwu said. “Excited for [Thursday] night.”
Backup Atlanta center Jock Landale was again ruled out with a right high ankle sprain.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: Jarrett Allen #31 celebrates with Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers before Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in complete control of their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors so far. They’ve cruised to stress-free wins in the first two games of this series, but anything can happen when the series shifts to a different venue.
“The series hasn’t even started yet until you go on the road,” Max Strus said after practice on Wednesday. “So we got to come in with an aggressive mindset, just like we treated games one and two, and play our best basketball.”
We’ll see what adjustments either team makes for Game 3. The Raptors decided to bench normal starting center Jakob Poeltl for the entirety of the second half of Game 2, opting to go small with the 6’7” Collin Murray-Boyles at center. At this point, it’d be surprising if they went back to Poeltl.
No matter who the Raptors decide to go with at center, the Cavs hope to get the version of Evan Mobley they did through the first two games of this series. He put up 25 points and eight assists in the win on Monday.
“He’s in a great, great, spot,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said on Wednesday. “Physically, this is probably the best I’ve seen him move in two years, just moving really well, and then just confidence…he’s kind of in a flow state right now, which equals super [aggressiveness]. I’m watching him go to the offensive board. It’s another level than it was in the regular season. He’s definitely turned it up.”
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Apr 19, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) dribbles defended by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) in the second half during the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Here are the NBA Playoff games for today, Apr. 22:
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder — 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: Jaylon Tyson #20 and Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the introductions against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a comfortable 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors despite not getting consistent help outside of their star players.
Max Strus’s 24 points in Game 1 account for nearly half of the team’s bench points through the first two games of the series. In Game 2, Cleveland’s bench was outscored 45-19 by the Raptors’ reserves.
The lack of bench production hasn’t hurt the Cavaliers so far this series. But according to head coach Kenny Atkinson, he believes that one player will help turn this around: Jaylon Tyson.
“I told him today he’s next up,” Atkinson said after practice on Wednesday. “Max had that big game, core four had their big games. [Next] it’s going to be Jaylon Tyson. I can almost guarantee that he’s going to have one of those games where he’s converting that offensive rebound, he’s getting into the half roll because they’re playing smaller.”
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Tyson has been the Cavs’ most pleasant surprise this series. The improvements he’s made as a three-point shooter and defender have allowed him to become a mainstay in the rotation. However, a toe injury at the end of the regular season took him out of the rhythm he was in. That’s difficult for someone heading into their first real postseason action.
The stats haven’t been impressive through two games this series. Tyson has just five points on 1-8 shooting in 26 total minutes. That hasn’t stopped his head coach from praising what he’s seen so far.
“I’d give him a B, B+ in what we’re asking him to do,” Atkinson said. “He’s got all this stuff he could do, and now you have to reduce your package, and then you have to be aware of who I’m on the court with. There’s another level of sacrifice, and he’s getting that.”
Games 3 and 4 will be challenges. Toronto is a tough environment to play in. The margins for Cleveland will be much smaller in the next two games than they were in the first two. They’ll need some of their role players to step up and make positive contributions. Atkinson is sure Tyson will answer the call.
“He’ll have a big game,” Atkinson said. “It’s just a matter of time. It’s really talking to these guys individually about the patience needed until we get there. But I’m loving what I’m seeing from him right now.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 21: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs are collecting the hardware after their strong 2025-26 regular season. On Wednesday, Keldon Johnson was named the Sixth Man of the Year.
This was Johnson’s second full season coming off the bench. He played all 82 games, averaging 23.3 minutes, 13.2 points, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.3% from three. He beat out Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tim Hardaway Jr. to win his first-ever Sixth Man of the Year award.
Johnson was the first-ever Spur to score at least 1,000 points off the bench in a single season. He scored 1,081 points off the bench this year, the second most in the NBA. He is the first Spur to win the award since Manu Ginobili did so in the 2007-08 season. He is the second Spur to win the award.
Johnson became the heart and soul of the team off the bench. He wrote an excellent piece in the Players’ Tribune about coming off the bench before the end of the season. He accepted the role with grace and has now been rewarded for it.
The now-Sixth Man of the Year will be needed more than ever as the Spurs are likely to be without Victor Wembanyama in Game Three against the Portland Trail Blazers, with the series tied 1-1.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives past Desmond Bane #3 of the Orlando Magic in the second half during game one of the first round of the eastern conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Of all the superlatives that one can bestow on the Detroit Pistons this season, one of the most significant is the team’s resilience. The 60-win Pistons have experienced multiple-game losing streaks three times this season. When the team dropped four in a row in early March, you would have thought the roof was caving in on their season.
When a bunch of starters were out at the beginning of the season, the team stepped up. Whenever they would lose, they bounced back. When Cade Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung the team banded together. It’s just what these Pistons do. We shouldn’t expect anything different tonight in what is effectively a must-win game against the Orlando Magic.
Detroit is down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series, and doesn’t want to fly to Orlando facing a giant two-game deficit. We know Cade will step up. He tried to will his team to victory in Game 1, scoring 39 points while the rest of the team seemingly short-circuited. We need Jalen Duren to step up, one game after one of his worst showings of the season. We need JB Bickerstaff to step up and find the lineup combinations and matchups that unlock the offense and slow down Orlando, no offensive juggernaut.
The Pistons are looking to break an 11-game losing streak at home, the longest in the NBA. They have spent the entire season brushing aside old, embarrassing records. Tonight shouldn’t be any different. It can’t be.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons -9.5
This announcement was not a surprise, Acuff is expected to be a top-10 pick in this June's draft. In most mock drafts, he is projected as either the No. 5 or No. 6 pick, near the top of a group of point guards expected to be taken between fifth and eighth.
Acuff led the SEC, averaging 23.5 points per game, shooting 44% from 3-point range, while dishing out 6.4 assists per game. He is a high-motor player with a good shot and a high basketball IQ — qualities that will have coaches enamored with him. Acuff has shown he can play on or off the ball, but maybe his greatest asset is his ability to be a great floor general who can also get a team a bucket.
That said, scouts and front offices have some concerns. Acuff is listed at 6'3", but many scouts expect him to measure shorter at the NBA Draft Combine (he measured 6'1" barefoot at the 2023 Nike Elite 100). He also is likely the worst defender to be taken in the lottery in this draft. The recent history in the NBA of smaller guards who don't defend well is not good.
Acuff's dynamic offensive game may cover over those concerns, he's a player with All-Star potential. Which is why he is wisely entering the draft — he's ready, and it's the smart financial move.
The clock is ticking for potential 2026 NBA draft prospects. The early entry deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Friday, April 24 and the draft lottery to determine the exact order of picks is less than a month away.
Most of the top players have already made their decisions known, although several have elected to enter college basketball's transfer portal and test the NBA draft waters to keep their options open within the NIL landscape. But artificial intelligence, like the various mock draft experts around the country, can already predict how the first round of this loaded draft class stacks up.
USA TODAY Sports once again queried the Microsoft Copilot chatbot for its version of a 2026 NBA mock draft based on information and analysis currently available on the internet, and it continued to have BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Duke's Cameron Boozer as the top-three picks. But the order was slightly different than the most recent USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft, and selections varied even more further down the draft order.
How the order settles is likely to depend on the pre-draft process if the current variety in mock drafts are to be believed. Here's Microsoft Copilot's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, as curated by USA TODAY Sports:
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft featuring only players who could be eligible this year, with an additional prompt to include players that had either already declared for the NBA draft or not announced a return to college.
Microsoft Copilot assigned the draft order based on regular-season NBA records and recent draft lottery tiebreakers, with the worst record getting the No. 1 pick and the best record getting the No. 30 pick. It used current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as team needs, prospect analysis and potential pick swaps/protections, to determine the first-round selections for each team in this exercise.
AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot had several picks inaccurately assigned to teams based on previous trades and pick swaps.
Here's a 2026 NBA first-round mock draft, according to Microsoft Copilot AI, as of April 22.
7. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans): Kingston Flemings, Houston
Note: The Hawks receive the better pick between the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks through a trade during the 2025 NBA draft. The Bucks get the lesser of the two selections.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 19: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at Paycom Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder
When: 6:30pm Arizona Time
Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK
Watch: ESPN
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Series Status: Thunder up 1-0
OKLAHOMA CITY — Game One for the Phoenix Suns in their first round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder was rough, to say the least. At the very, very beginning of the game, Phoenix showed a bit of hope, getting up 12-9, just for the Thunder to go on a 110-72 run the rest of the game. You read that right.
The Thunder completely shut down the Suns, forcing them to shoot a horrid 35% from the field and take 10 fewer shots than Oklahoma City, thanks to the Thunder’s offensive rebounding efforts. Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, and Jalen Green took 66% of the team’s field goals and were inefficient in their efforts. Collin Gillespie was the only other Sun who took at least six shots. The likely MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, didn’t even have a great game for the Thunder. While he got to the line 17 times and hit 15 of his foul shots, he shot 28% from the field on 18 shots. Don’t count on the Finals MVP doing the same again in Game 2.
It’s going to take more than just the Suns shooting better from the field to even up the series tonight. The team is going to have to move the ball better. In Game 1, Phoenix had just 16 assists. Every game the team had 16 or fewer dimes this season, they lost.
Devin Booker and the team’s top scorers are not only going to need to have a herculean offensive performance to stop the defending champs from taking a 2-0 series lead, but the team also needs to play with connectivity. Bright Side is in Oklahoma to give you live coverage that you can find on X at @HoldenSherman1 and @BrightSideSun with exclusive media for tonight’s game.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Strain)
Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Soreness)
Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Stress Reaction)
Thunder
Thomas Sorber — OUT (Torn Right ACL)
What to Watch For
Can the Suns play better on offense?
Phoenix had just three games this year in which they scored fewer than 85 points, and they lost all of them. Unsurprisingly, they got walloped when they did that in Game 1. The team plays best when they’re moving the ball and knocking down their threes. They did neither on Sunday.
Limiting turnoversand creating moreof them
Oklahoma City forced Phoenix into 17 turnovers in Game 1 and allowed just six. At one point, they went 19:14 of gameplay without committing a single one. OKC scored 34 points off turnovers while the Suns scored just two. Phoenix had just three steals in Game 1 after averaging nearly 10 a game in the regular season. Will the Suns be able to cause more raucous than they did on Sunday and manage the tenacious Oklahoma City defense?
Does Mark Williams make an impact if he returns?
Williams was out for game one after re-injuring the left foot that kept him out nearly a month at the end of the regular season. While he didn’t play a huge part in the team’s win over OKC in January, he had a 13-point, 14-rebound game against them back in November’s close loss and is the team’s best rebounder. How could his impact help the Suns on the glass?
Key to a Suns Win
Devin Booker
Plain and simple. It starts with him. For the Suns to have a chance to win games in the series, the five-time All-Star has to have performances reminiscent of his 2023 playoffs, where he averaged 34 points on 59% shooting from the field and 51% shooting from three in 11 games. If that doesn’t happen, the team has no shot to compete with the defending champs. The team with the best player usually wins playoff games, and Booker needs to severely outplay the Thunder’s best players because of the depth advantage OKC has.
If Booker has a strong game, he’ll need the rest of the team to help him space the floor and make his life easier to operate on offense, while forcing the Thunder into more turnovers.
Prediction
Look for the Suns to come out with a better performance than they did in Game 1. They were playing on short rest and now have had a legitimate break between games after being in two play-in games. That said, Oklahoma City’s defensive discipline and depth have given the Suns problems all year because of Phoenix’s lack of elite ball handlers and a paint presence. Give me the Thunder in a moderately close game that they start taking over in the second half.
