Basketball – Page 328 – Worldwide Sports News

April 8, 2025

Tennessee adds portal transfer from in-state rival Vandy with Jaylen Carey

The Tennessee Volunteers have added forward Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt through the transfer portal for their second new player in as many days. Coach Rick Barnes announced Carey's arrival Tuesday with two seasons of eligibility left. Carey spent this past season at Vanderbilt after following coach Mark Byington from James Madison to the Southeastern Conference.

April 8, 2025

Hawks vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8

It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Atlanta Hawks (37-41) and Orlando Magic (38-40) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.

The Hawks are currently 17-21 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Magic have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. These squads have split the season series 1-1 and will have one more meeting following tonight's.

Atlanta is coming off a 147-134 win over Utah but is 1-3 in the last four games. Orlando has won two straight and three of the past four games entering this matchup.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game details & how to watch Hawks vs. Magic live today

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Kia Center
City: Orlando, FL
Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Hawks vs. Magic

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Hawks (+159), Magic (-191)
Spread: Magic -4.5
Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 111.63, and the Magic 113.98.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Hawks vs. Magic game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

"Atlanta is coming off a 147-point game against Utah and is likely to be stifled against the Magic in this road game. The Hawks didn't score more than 112 points in the two earlier meetings versus the Magic and don't think they cross the 110-point team total set tonight. I'd have to lean toward Orlando to cover and the Hawks Team Total under."

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

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Hawks & Magic game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Hawks at +4.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hawks vs. Magic on Tuesday

The Magic have lost 4 of their last 5 games as a home favorite
Each of the last 5 matchups between the Magic and the Hawks have stayed under the Total
The Hawks have gone 21-18 on the road against the spread this season
The Hawks have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

April 8, 2025

Arkansas basketball ranked No. 20 in final AP Poll

Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile slam dunks against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Eric Canha-Imagn Images The Associated Press released its final Top 25 poll of the college basketball season Tuesday, and the Arkansas Razorbacks ranked No.

April 8, 2025

Timberwolves vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8

It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32) and Milwaukee Bucks (44-34) are all set to square off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The Timberwolves are currently 23-16 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Bucks have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. Milwaukee won the only meeting of the season in Minnesota, 103-101.

Minnesota won five straight games and six of the past seven, while Milwaukee is just as hot with four consecutive wins.

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

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 8:00PM EST
Site: Fiserv Forum
City: Milwaukee, WI
Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Timberwolves vs. Bucks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Timberwolves (-167), Bucks (+140)
Spread: Timberwolves -3.5
Over/Under: 222 points

That gives the Timberwolves an implied team point total of 112.09, and the Bucks 110.27.

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

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Timberwolves to win:

"While it's tempting getting a home underdog at +3.5 who's on a four-game winning streak, I am not impressed with who the Bucks have beaten. Recently, Milwaukee has beat Philadelphia, Phoenix, Miami, and New Orleans, so Minnesota will be a step up. The Bucks won by two points in Minnesota earlier this season and I can see Minnesota getting revenge at Milwaukee in a tightly-contested Western Conference."

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

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Timberwolves & Bucks game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Bucks at +3.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 222.

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

The Timberwolves are on a 5-game winning streak
7 of the Bucks' last 9 home games have gone over the Total
The Bucks are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games as an underdog
The Bucks have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 games against the Timberwolves

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

April 8, 2025

Where does Michael Malone firing rank among most shocking 2025 NBA moments?

Where does Michael Malone firing rank among most shocking 2025 NBA moments? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

What could possibly happen next?

The 2024-2025 NBA season has had its fair share of shocking moments on and off the court. There have been stunning superstar trades, disappointing All-Star laden teams, oddly timed coach firings, and much more.

The latest bombshell came Tuesday when the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone with three games remaining in the regular season. The Nuggets, who in 2023 under Malone won their first championship in franchise history, currently hold the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 47-32 record.

Malone’s success, and the timing of his dismissal with the playoffs set to begin, was a shocker. But it wasn’t the most shocking moment of the season, trailing only a stunning midseason trade.

Here’s a look back at some other shocking moments from the season.

The Luka Doncic trade

Everyone assumed Shams Charania was hacked. ESPN’s NBA Insider made a social media post saying the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. The deal was executed without any rumors of either Doncic and Davis even being available on the market, creating what was arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history.

Grizzlies fire Taylor Jenkins

Before Michael Malone was fired, the most stunning termination of the season had been when Taylor Jenkins was let go by the Memphis Grizzlies on March 29 with nine games left in the regular season. The Grizzlies at the time held the No. 5 seed in the West at 44-29 under Jenkins, the franchise’s all-time leader in coaching victories.

Suns disappoint

Playoff teams are firing coaches, while Mike Budenholzer is still roaming the sidelines in the desert. Budenholzer’s Phoenix Suns — with its All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal — are unlikely to make the play-in tournament. The team entered Tuesday at 35-43 under Budenholzer, a two-time Coach of the Year who is in the first year of a five-year deal with the Suns.

Cavs surprise

The NBA season was more than a month old before the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first game. The Cavs won their first 15 games, matching the second-best start in league history behind the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors who started 24-0. The Cavs’ first loss came on Nov. 19 against the Boston Celtics.

Celtics sell for $6 billion

Buying the defending champions isn’t cheap. The Celtics, just months after winning their 18th title, were sold to a group led by William Chisholm, a private equity executive, for $6.1 billion in March. It was the largest total paid for a sports team in the United States.

All-Star Game debacle

The NBA All-Star Game needs fixing, but this was not the solution. The new format included a four-team, single-elimination tournament with a target score of 40 points for each round. It did not go over well with many players and fans. The league quickly announced it will not be keeping the tournament format.

Tracy Morgan gets sick at Knicks game

A courtside cleanup was needed after comedian and New York Knicks superfan Tracy Morgan got ill during the third quarter of the team’s game against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. The game was delayed for more than 10 minutes. Morgan made a social media post the following day saying it was due to food poisoning.

The Jimmy Butler saga

It was a messy ending to the Jimmy Butler era in Miami. Seeking a contract extension, Butler was suspended by the Heat three times during the season, twice for conduct detrimental to the team and one for missing a team flight. The six-time All-Star, who led the Heat to the Finals twice, was traded to the Warriors in February for Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a protected 2025 first-round pick.

Games postponed due to California wildfires

The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers each postponed games in January following the devastation caused by the Southern California wildfires. The Lakers, whose head coach J.J. Redick lost his house in the fires, rescheduled home games against the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs. The Clippers’ home game against the Hornets was also postponed.

Atlanta Hawks game postponed due to winter storm

A winter storm postponement might be expected in certain parts of the country, but Atlanta? The Hawks’ game against the Houston Rockets that was scheduled for Jan. 11 was postponed after snow and ice in the area led to dangerous conditions and power outages.

LeBron James vs. Stephen A. Smith

LeBron James confronted ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith courtside during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ win over the New York Knicks in March. Smith had been critical of James’ son and teammate Bronny James earlier this season, saying in late January that he belonged in the developmental G-League and not the NBA. James, appearing on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” after the confrontation, criticized Smith for making personal attacks as opposed to discussing on-court play when talking about the NBA.

The rise of the Pistons

The most shocking team of the season? The Detroit Pistons. After finishing the 2023-2024 season with the league’s worst record at 14-68, the Pistons became the first NBA team to triple their win total from their previous 82-game season when they captured their 42nd victory.

Half-court game winner

In what was one of the most shocking finishes to an NBA game, the Chicago Bulls won on a…

Just watch…

One of the craziest finishes to an NBA game you’ll ever see. pic.twitter.com/AnEdq02ROh
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 28, 2025

April 8, 2025

Bulls vs. Cavaliers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8

It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Chicago Bulls (36-42) and Cleveland Cavaliers (62-16) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

The Bulls are currently 20-19 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Cavaliers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Cleveland is 3-0 against Chicago this season with wins of 6, 18, and 12 points.

Chicago is on a three-game winning streak and won seven of the past nine games. Cleveland is 6-2 over the previous eight games and looking to bounce back off a 120-113 loss to Sacramento.

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

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
City: Cleveland, OH
Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Bulls vs. Cavaliers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Bulls (+449), Cavaliers (-613)
Spread: Cavaliers -11.5
Over/Under: 238 points

That gives the Bulls an implied team point total of 117.95, and the Cavaliers 123.94.

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

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bulls to cover the big spread:

"Cleveland is 3-0 against Chicago this season, but the Cavs are not in good form recently. Coming off a loss, Cleveland would be the easy bet, but Chicago has been playing quality basketball over the last three to four weeks. I'd take the Bulls at +14 or better."

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

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Bulls & Cavaliers game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Bulls at +11.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 238.

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

The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against divisional opponents
The Bulls' last 6 road games have gone over the Total
The Bulls are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog
The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against Eastern Conference teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

April 8, 2025

Potential lottery pick Egor Demin announces he is leaving BYU, will enter the 2025 NBA Draft

Egor Demin — the 6'9" Russian guard whose path went from Real Madrid to BYU — is headed to the NBA.

Demin made the long-expected announcement official on social media Tuesday.

Thank you, BYU pic.twitter.com/Gg3WMY3N3m
— Egor Demin (@whoisegor3) April 8, 2025

Demin is a polarizing figure among scouts that NBC Sports has spoken with — some see him as an end-of-the-lottery pick, others think he could end up falling down draft boards.

At BYU, he averaged 10.6 points and 5.5 assists a game, shooting 27.3% from 3, and he led the Cougars to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than a decade. His path to the NBA Draft was winding. Demin was born in Moscow but moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid at age 15. New BYU coach Kevin Young (formerly of the Phoenix Suns) wanted him, and so they threw seven digits of NIL money at the problem to get him out of his Real Madrid contract to play in Utah. It worked out well for the Cougars.

Demin is a big guard at 6'9" and is the best passer in this draft class. He has a strong feel for the game and great vision. The question becomes, can he score at the NBA level? How he looks in team workouts could go a long way to where he ends up getting drafted, he just needs one team to fall in love with his potential.

He is absolutely a first-round lock and with that is making the right move entering the 2025 NBA Draft. The only question is where he lands.

April 8, 2025

Florida’s run to the national title lifts the Gators to No. 1 in the final AP Top 25 men’s poll

Florida is No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll of the 2024-25 season after winning the national championship. The Gators (36-4) received all 61 first-place votes Tuesday, the second year the AP has released its last poll after the completion of the NCAA Tournament. Todd Golden's team beat Houston 65-63 on Monday night to clinch the program's third national title and first since Billy Donovan's repeat titles in 2006 and 2007.

April 8, 2025

Houston’s Kelvin Sampson was close to his 1st national title. It slipped away painfully vs. Florida

All Kelvin Sampson could do was stand there, hands on hips with a blank look on his face, as the ball bounced loose and Houston’s latest chance at a national title bounced away, too.

April 8, 2025

Celtics vs. Knicks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8

It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Boston Celtics (58-20) and New York Knicks (50-28) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Celtics are currently 32-7 on the road with a point differential of 9, while the Knicks have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Boston is 3-0 against New York this season with a 27-point win at MSG.

New York has won two straight and five of the past six games, while Boston is 11-1 over the last 12 games and on a two-game winning streak as well.

Game details & how to watch Celtics vs. Knicks live today

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: TNT / TruTV / Max

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Celtics vs. Knicks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Odds: Celtics (-131), Knicks (+110)
Spread: Celtics -2
Over/Under: 221 points

That gives the Celtics an implied team point total of 111.07, and the Knicks 110.02.

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

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

"I was surprised to see the Knicks as slight favorites, but Boston is dealing with injuries and inconsistencies in the lineup, so I shouldn't be as shocked. Jalen Brunson returned and the Knicks likely have a newfound confidence. A win at MSG over the Knicks would be monumental for this team entering the postseason, so it's Knicks ML or pass for me, especially since Boston is 3-0 versus New York this season."

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

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Celtics & Knicks game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Boston Celtics at -2.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 221.

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

The Celtics are on a 3-game win streak at the Knicks
The Knicks' last 3 home games have stayed under the Total
The Celtics have covered in 4 of their last 5 games as a road favorite
The Celtics have won 18 of their last 20 games on the road

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

April 8, 2025

Kris Jenkins, the Villanova hero in 2016 national title game, sues NCAA for money he could have made

Kris Jenkins, who made the winning shot for Villanova in the 2016 college basketball championship game, is suing the NCAA and six conferences to recoup income he contends he would have earned if athletes at the time were not barred from making money from their name, image and likeness. Jenkins is among some 350 current and former athletes who have opted out of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement with the NCAA that's on the cusp of final approval. NCAA athletes weren't allowed to make NIL money until July 2021.

April 8, 2025