Category: Basketball

North Carolina has plucked both its football and men's basketball coaches from the professional ranks in the last two years, hiring New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick prior to the 2025 season and former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on Monday, April 6, sources confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, one of the sport's legendary coaches who has been a part of numerous rivalry games against in-state enemy North Carolina, said it hasn't done the Tar Heels any good yet, though.

"Well, they had an NFL champion hired as the coach and Duke beat North Carolina in football this year," he said on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show" shortly after the Malone news dropped. "That doesn't mean Coach Belichick isn't a great coach, but there is time for adjustment."

REQUIRED READING: Michael Malone hired as UNC basketball coach; former NBA champion replaces Hubert Davis

Malone, whose daughter plays volleyball at North Carolina, was fired by the Denver Nuggets prior to the playoffs in 2025, although he won the NBA Finals with the organization in 2023. He has 510 career NBA wins in stints with the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, and coached 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic with Denver.

While Krzyzewski said Malone is a great coach, he said there's a learning curve when moving from NBA to college, but also noted North Carolina could be shifting its philosophy to more of a professional model with coaching hires.

"It takes longer, if you ever get adjusted from the pros to college," he said. "(Malone) is a terrific coach and a terrific guy. There's a learning curve. ... Whatever the reasoning is, maybe they're changing. (North Carolina) now have two pro coaches coaching in college.

"The infrastructure their athletic department (has), is it now going to become more of a pro organization? Which. I think if that's true, everybody should be doing that. And the fact that he knows how to do that, and so does Coach Belichick, maybe that's a sign that they're moving in that direction."

"They had an NFL champion hired as the coach and Duke beat Carolina in football this year." 🤣

Coach K reacted to @PeteThamel's report of UNC hiring Mike Malone on the @PatMcAfeeShow 🏀 pic.twitter.com/P5irdauRE3

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2026

Malone has his work cut out for him, as North Carolina basketball has struggled in recent years to live up to its standard as one of the best programs in college basketball. The Tar Heels haven't won a first-round NCAA Tournament game since 2023-24.

The former Nuggets coach hasn't been in college sports since 2001, when he was an assistant at Manhattan. He'll look to revive the Duke-North Carolina against coach Jon Scheyer, Krzyzewski's former assistant and player.

And maybe Malone will even earn some brownie points with UNC fans if he claps back at Krzyzewski if North Carolina beats Duke in football this year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Krzyzewski says UNC's Michael Malone will have 'learning curve'

Jaylen Brown has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season after leading the Celtics to a 3-1 week. The Celtics tallied wins over the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors, while averaging 31 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.

The Celtics’ only loss came in Atlanta, when Brown posted 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, but shot just 9-29 from the field and turned the ball over 6 times.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Boston Celtics forward-guard Jaylen Brown have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 24 of the 2025-26 season (March 30 – April 5). pic.twitter.com/7vB4jsDjMw

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 6, 2026

In the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Player of the Week after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 3-0 week, and averaging 31.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.

The award is Brown’s 7th career selection, and third selection this season. Last week, Jayson Tatum was named Player of the Year after averaging 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game en route to a 3-0 week for the Celtics.

Brown’s best game came on Wednesday, when he exploded for 43 points on 17-29 shooting alongside 7 assists in a blowout win over the Miami Heat.

The Player of the Week award is the latest in a season of accolades for Jaylen Brown. He earned his first-ever Player of the Month selection for games played in January and was named an All-Star starter for the first time.

The Celtics are 53-25 on the season, owners of the East’s second-best record. Brown has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 28.7 points per game. He’s also tallying 7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1 steal.

Brown and the Celtics will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Hornets.

It looks as though the North Carolina Tar Heels have found their next head coach, and it’s a surprising name in former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone.

According to ESPN college basketball reporter Pete Thamel, North Carolina is set to hire Malone, who won an NBA Championship with Denver in 2023 before being fired two seasons later.

This, despite strong interest in former Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan, who is now leading the Chicago Bulls. Donovan was tabbed as the favorite for the UNC opening almost immediately once Hubert Davis was let go. One oddsmaker even had Donovan at -250 to get the job early Monday morning.

And according to Jeff Goodman, there’s a very real chance Donovan would have taken the job if offered.

But just like Mitch Barnhart and Kentucky two years ago, it appears North Carolina wasn’t willing to wait just one more week to potentially hire the two-time NCAA champion.

Billy Donovan wanted to wait until end of season to make a decision on North Carolina and one source close to Donovan felt as though he might have taken it.

But source said that new North Carolina AD Steve Newmark panicked after Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May spurned the Tar Heels.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 6, 2026

Sources: North Carolina intends to hire longtime NBA coach Michael Malone as the school’s next basketball coach. He’s an NBA Championship coach with the Denver Nuggets from the 2022-23 season and has won 510 games as an NBA head coach. pic.twitter.com/JwJmUNRLQT

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 6, 2026

It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, meaning it’s crunch time for teams battling for playoff positioning. And there are big battles across both conferences, with just a handful of games left before the postseason begins with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14.

Only one thing is certain at this point: the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But there are a few games on the Monday, April 6 slate that could play a key role in determining who lands where on the playoff bracket.

The night begins with a crucial matchup in Atlanta, pitting the New York Knicks, the current No. 3 seed in the East, against the red-hot Hawks, who currently hold the No. 5 seed. One hour later, the San Antonio Spurs, who still have a chance to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, host the Philadelphia 76ers, who are trying to hang on to the sixth seed in the East. The night concludes with a Northest division matchup between the Denver Nuggets, the current No. 4 seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who sit in the No. 9 seed.

Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Monday, April 6:

NBA schedule for Monday, April 6

All time Eastern

• New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m.
• Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m.
• Cleveland Cavaliers at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.
• Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.
• Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m.

NBA standings

All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through games Sunday, April 5, and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division; y-clinched conference):

Eastern Conference

• (1) y-Detroit Pistons: 57-21
• (2) x-Boston Celtics: 53-25 (4 GB)
• (3) x-New York Knicks: 50-28 (7 GB)
• (4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 49-29 (8 GB)
• (5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-33 (12 GB)
• (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-35 (14 GB)
• (7) Toronto Raptors: 43-35 (14 GB)
• (8) Charlotte Hornets: 43-36 (14.5 GB)
• (9) Orlando Magic: 42-36 (15 GB)
• (10) Miami Heat: 41-37 (16 GB)

Western Conference

• (1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16
• (2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 59-19 (3 GB)
• (3) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-28 (12 GB)
• (4) x-Denver Nuggets: 50-28 (12 GB)
• (5) x-Houston Rockets: 49-29 (13 GB)
• (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32 (16 GB)
• (7) Phoenix Suns: 43-35 (19 GB)
• (8) Los Angeles Clippers: 40-38 (22 GB)
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (22 GB)
• (10) Golden State Warriors: 36-42 (26 GB)

NBA playoffs bracket

(Through Sunday, April 5)

Eastern Conference

• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
• (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Play-In Tournament

(Through Sunday, April 5)

Eastern Conference

• (7) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
• (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat

Western Conference

• (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

When do the NBA playoffs begin?

• The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
• The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
• Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

Eastern Conference

• Brooklyn Nets
• Chicago Bulls
• Indiana Pacers
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Washington Wizards

Western Conference

• Dallas Mavericks
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff bracket projections today: Monday's schedule, standings

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr says the Warriors are “back in the fight” after Steph Curry’s return gives the team new hope.
• Rockets’ Kevin Durant gives Steph Curry his flowers after beating the Warriors, 117-116.
• Mavs’ Cooper Flagg follows up 51-point performance with a 45-point game in win vs. Lakers. 

The Golden State Warriors lost their 42nd game of the season Sunday night, ensuring they will finish under .500 for the first time since 2021.

And yet, none of that mattered because for the first time in nearly two months, Steph Curry was back on the floor.

In his return, Curry looked like himself with the same combination of flare and ultra-efficiency that has defined his game throughout his career. He finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc in 26 minutes of playing time.

More importantly, he told reporters afterward that he “felt good” — a sign the Warriors will gladly take after a 27-game stretch without their franchise cornerstone.

Steph Curry: “I felt good.” pic.twitter.com/ZkCQ88IB3d

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 6, 2026

Despite not starting as the Warriors ease him back into action, Curry immediately shifted the energy of the team. The moment he checked in, the Chase Center crowd rose to its feet, delivering a reminder of just how much he means to the entire organization.

HE’S BAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK pic.twitter.com/uCojYUWThf

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 6, 2026

And with his return came a moment that felt bigger than the game itself.

For the first time since Seth Curry joined the Warriors, the Curry brothers shared the floor together. After the game, the two described the special moment as a dream come true.

"Oh man. That was special. We've both had a very difficult year… I was joking calling us the rehab brothers."

Steph Curry got emotional when asked about playing with his brother Seth for the first time in the NBA 💛🥲

"That was a dream come true to be honest." pic.twitter.com/BGXN4UHf59

— KNBR (@KNBR) April 6, 2026

"That's going in the man cave at home… got my hands on that right away… gonna have that forever." 🙌

After the Curry brothers shared the floor as teammates for the first time, Seth made sure to take home both jerseys 🥹 pic.twitter.com/e0EcOcJNHI

— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2026

The game itself nearly gave Curry a storybook ending.

Golden State held a late lead after Gary Payton II converted an open layup to put them ahead by one with 19.6 seconds remaining. But Houston answered, as Alperen Sengun delivered a clutch bucket on the other end, flipping the pressure back onto the Warriors and setting the stage for a familiar script.

One last shot, 11 seconds on the clock, and the ball in Curry’s hands.

He came off a Draymond Green screen and got a clean look from three to win it, but this time it didn’t fall in, and the Warriors lost, 117-116.

Despite the loss, Steph was electric in his return!

🏀 29 PTS
🏀 4 AST
🏀 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/0NClieHfMD

— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2026

In the bigger picture, Sunday’s result won’t carry much weight anyway. With just four games remaining, the Warriors are essentially locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, making these final games more about building momentum for the Play-In Tournament — and reintegrating Curry — than the result itself.

Still, Curry’s return drastically changed the belief of the entire team. In a nightmare season defined by injuries, simply getting back their best player felt like the biggest win of the year.

"We're back in the mix. We're back in the fight with Steph."

Steve Kerr and the Dubs have faith again 🙌 pic.twitter.com/sQaeBZjTJZ

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 6, 2026

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, April 6th:

Warriors News:

Steph Curry returns for Warriors, reminds everyone: ‘He’s Steph Curry for a reason’ | The Athletic

Curry admitted on Saturday that he has to face a “new normal” with his knee. He has done all the rehab work he can do, but there remains a chance the pain could return. As for his first test back, Curry passed with flying colors, according to Kerr. The Warriors enjoyed having their leader back on the floor, knowing he can lift them when they are down.

“I don’t think there’s a tougher defender in the league for him to have his first game against than Amen Thompson,” Kerr said. “So that’s quite a test. Steph looked amazing. He’s worked really hard for this. You can see it doesn’t take much for him to find his rhythm. And his rhythm is also our rhythm. All the off-ball stuff that we get as a result of his movement.”

Kevin Durant credits ‘incredible’ Steph Curry after Warriors’ loss to Rockets | NBC Sports Bay Area

“We had the game in control, and then they put No. 30 in the game, and he got them back into it so easily,” Durant told Grant Liffmann of NBA on NBC. “He makes shots so quickly, and he looked incredible after a couple of months off.”

Steph Curry, Warriors comment on the star’s exciting return in loss to Rockets | NBC Sports Bay Area

NBA News:

Flagg passes Knueppel in ROY odds after ‘statement’ game | ESPN

Flagg followed up his teenage-record 51-point performance in Friday’s loss to the Orlando Magic with 45 points in a near triple-double in Sunday’s 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I think it’s definitely some sort of statement,” said Flagg, who also had nine assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in the victory. “But it just goes back to what I said: I’m confident in myself, and I know what I’m capable of. I’ll just let the rest of the stuff figure itself out.”

Seeding possibilities for the final week of the NBA regular season

It’s the final week of the NBA regular season – and there’s still so much at stake.

19 of the 20 postseason teams have yet to clinch their seed.

Check out all the seeding possibilities ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZIaNWGQYHP

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 6, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Report: Warriors to fill out roster by signing Charles Bassey

In 17 games (16 starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors this season, Bassey averaged 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 29.1 minutes per game on 61.0%/40.5%/.65.9% shooting. In eight NBA games, he’s averaged 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds on 62.5% shooting from the field in 6.6 minutes per game (15.6 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes).

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

North Carolina appears to have found its next head coach and, surprise, it is someone no one was really talking about. Despite connections to the university due to his daughter playing volleyball at Carolina, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was not a name you heard a lot of in relation to the Tar Heels’ head coaching job.

However, despite that, sources have told people at ESPN that he will be the next coach at UNC. There will be plenty of time to deep dive into this later, but just a quick history of a current NBA announcer who has not coached any basketball in over a year after he was surprisingly fired from the Nuggets three games before the NBA season ended. Malone does have college experience having served as a college assistant at Oakland, Providence, and Manhattan, though all of that was 25 years ago. Malone is most famous for being an NBA coach who led the Denver Nuggets to their first and only championship in 2023 and being the head coach of the emergence of Nikola Jokic as he became one of the best (if not best) players in the NBA.

Malone will be expected to quickly adjust to the ever-changing world of college sports while navigating NIL deals, the transfer portal that opens tomorrow, and recruiting for the first time. The task will be a tall one and one should have a multitude of questions of whether or not he can do this at a high level, especially after what fans just experienced with a football coach attempting the same thing this past season.

What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below.

North Carolina has its next basketball coach, as it intends to hire former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone for its vacancy, three people close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday, April 6.

Malone was fired by the Nuggets before the playoffs in 2025, two years after winning the NBA Finals with the organization. The 54-year-old coach last coached in college in 2001 as an assistant at Manhattan, after stints at Oakland (1994-95) and Providence (1995-98).

Malone's daughter, Bridget Malone, plays volleyball at North Carolina. He replaces Hubert Davis, who was fired after the Tar Heels' first-round loss to No. 11 seed VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Top 25 available players: College basketball transfer portal rankings

It's an outside-the-box hire for North Carolina, opting for a coach who has never been a college head coach before. The timing of the hire also makes sense, with the transfer portal officially opening April 7.

In 10 seasons with the Nuggets, Malone went 471-327 (.590), reaching the playoffs six times. He has 510 career NBA wins, also spending two seasons as the Sacramento Kings' head coach before he was fired.

The Tar Heels were tied to multiple Final Four coaches like Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and Michigan's Dusty May, although both turned down the job publicly. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was also tied to the role, although the former two-time national champion with Florida was adamant about sticking with the Bulls through the remainder of the regular season, which would've likely posed a threat to North Carolina's recruiting timeline for next season, especially with the portal window only lasting 15 days this offseason.

Malone's hire also signals a change in North Carolina's hiring philosophy. He's the school's first hire since Frank McGuire in 1952 to not have had prior connections to the school as either a player or assistant coach, although his daughter is a student at the school. Davis was a longtime assistant and player, Roy Williams graduated from North Carolina, Matt Doherty played at North Carolina, Bill Guthridge was an assistant before he was hired and so was Dean Smith, one of the most legendary coaches in college basketball history.

Malone cut his teeth as an NBA assistant, working for the New York Knicks (2001-05), Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-10), New Orleans Hornets (2010-11) and Golden State Warriors (2011-13) before landing his first head-coaching gig with the Kings. He was also an NBA All-Star Game head coach in 2019 and 2023.

The Queens, New York native spent most of his career with Nikola Jokic, a 3-time MVP winner with the Nuggets and one of the best players in the world. Malone was most recently an NBA analyst with ESPN.

Michael Malone coaching record, history

Head coaching record

• 2013-14 Sacramento: 28-54
• 2014-15 Sacramento: 11-13
• 2015-16 Denver: 33-49
• 2016-17 Denver: 40-42
• 2017-18 Denver: 46-36
• 2018-19 Denver: 54-28, conference semifinals
• 2019-20 Denver: 46-27, conference finals
• 2020-21 Denver: 47-25, conference semifinals
• 2021-22 Denver: 48-34, first round
• 2022-23 Denver: 53-29, NBA champions
• 2023-24 Denver: 57-25, conference semifinals
• 2024-25 Denver: 47-32

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Malone hired as next North Carolina basketball coach

Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!

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Week 23: The Spurs swept an easy three-game road trip against the slumping Heat and tanking Grizzlies and Bucks, becoming the first team in NBA history to win four straight road games by 25 or more points (including their win in Sacramento the week before). They also secured their first Southwest Division title since 2017 (not that it has any meaning these days) and their third 8-game winning streak of the season.

Week 24: 3-1 (59-19, 2nd in West)

129-114 win vs. Chicago Bulls

In their only home game in two weeks, it wasn’t the Spurs’ best effort against a depleted Bulls team eliminated from the play-in, but after a back-and-forth first half, they rode a 41-point game from Victor Wembaynama and a strong third quarter to victory despite an admirable effort from former Spur Tre Jones in his return to the Frost Bank Center.

127-113 win at Golden State Warriors

In a similar situation as the Bulls game, the Spurs returned to the the road to face a depleted Warriors team that featured Draymond Green — who battled foul trouble all night — plus a bunch of “who he play for” candidates (although, unlike the Bulls, they still had something to play for). The Spurs again were a bit complacent and didn’t have their finest outing, but they stayed ahead and never let the Warriors get within single-digits in the second half while riding Wemby’s second straight 41-point outing.

118-99 win at Los Angeles Clippers

Who needs 41 points from Wemby? Despite him sitting on the second night of a back-to-back and old nemesis Kawhi Leonard being his usual, productive self for the Clippers, they were no match for the Spurs’ dynamic guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who combined for 62 points and 15 assists. After owning the first half, the Spurs overcame a bit of a scare from the Clippers in the third quarter to once again dominate the fourth and sweep the season series against a potential first round opponent. It was also their first sweep of Kawhi since his ugly departure.

124-136 OT loss at Denver Nuggets

Well, maybe the Spurs could have used 41 from Wemby in this game. In what could be an amazing second round match-up, he continued his run of MVP-level play with 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Nikola Jokic’s 40-8-13-3 game. The Spurs led most of the way despite it not being their finest showing, but too many mistakes in the final minute finally caught up with them, and they couldn’t get the looks they wanted in OT to secure the victory.

Power Rankings

John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 2 (last week: 2)

OffRtg: 118.6 (5) DefRtg: 110.2 (3) NetRtg: +8.4 (2) Pace: 100.8 (12)

From Feb. 1 to April 1, the Spurs went 26-1 with Victor Wembanyama in uniform, outscoring their opponents by an amazing 24.9 points per 100 possessions in his 800 minutes on the floor. But that wasn’t good enough to catch the Thunder, and the Spurs’ overtime loss to the Nuggets on Saturday afternoon has them three games back of Oklahoma City with four games to play.

One takeaway

The loss on Saturday was the first time this season (in three meetings) that Wembanyama had played against Denver, and it was the Spurs’ worst defensive game (136 points allowed on 107 possessions) since December. The Nuggets shot just 21-for-41 (51%) in the paint, but were 9-for-14 from mid-range and 9-for-19 on corner 3-pointers.

The Spurs lead the league in the percentage of their opponents’ shots (13%) that have come from mid-range and have the seventh highest opponent corner rate (percentage of their opponents’ 3-point attempts that come from the corners), and Denver is uniquely qualified to keep Wembanyama occupied and have five shooters on the floor. The Nuggets’ nine players who’ve shot 38% or better on at least 100 3-point attempts are three more than any other team has.

What to watch for this week

While the Spurs aren’t quite locked into the 2 seed in the West (and the second best record overall), they’re close. But to qualify for awards consideration, Wembanyama needs to play in three more games, logging at least 20 minutes in two of the three and at least 15 minutes in the third. The Spurs are the only team without any more road games and while their season finale against Denver might not mean anything to them, there’s a chance it will determine whether the Nuggets pass the shorthanded Lakers in the standings and become a potential opponent in the second round.

Law Murray, The Athletic — 2 (last week: 1)

2026 playoff prediction from Week 1: 10th in West (earn eighth in Play-In Tournament), lose West quarterfinals vs. Thunder

I thought the Spurs would sneak into the playoffs; they’re close to being the top seed in the entire conference. And while alien overlord Victor Wembanyama has been a devastating force on both ends, the Spurs needed more players to emerge to be a great team this season. Mitch Johnson did a wonderful job of getting all of his guards (All-Star De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and reserve rookie Dylan Harper) to work in concert with one another as well. This season, San Antonio went 11-5 with Wembanyama out of the lineup and has only lost the lineups with Wembanyama off the floor by 17 points all season. Last year, the Spurs were 13-23 with Wembanyama out while getting outscored by 328 points with Wembanyama off the floor.

Brett Siegel, Clutch Points — 2 (last week: 1)

The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama saw their 11-game win streak snapped in overtime against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, a game that essentially ends their pursuit of the 1-seed in the West. This loss also impacts Wembanyama’s valiant MVP chase against Gilgeous-Alexander, despite his 34-18-7-5 performance.

This has been an incredible year for the Spurs, and they will enter the playoffs with a lot of confidence as a young team. It will be interesting to see how they shift their focus and respond to the pressure that comes with the postseason, especially after losing this playoff-like game to Denver on Saturday.

One final regular-season battle with Nikola Jokic and his squad will come on the final day of the regular season in San Antonio, a game both teams will desperately want to win entering the postseason.

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Coming up: Mon. 4/6 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (43-35); Wed. 4/8 vs. Portland Trail Blazers (4-38); Fri. 4/10 Dallas Mavericks (25-53); Sun. 4/12 vs. Denver Nuggets

Prediction: 3-1 — For a team that is one loss or Thunder win away from locked in place, there is still a surprising amount to play for, and all against teams with something to play for as well. Finishing the regular season entirely at home, they face 76ers, Blazers and Nuggets teams that are all battling for seeding in their conferences, and even though the Mavs are eliminated, Cooper Flagg has been on a historical tear over last week, possibly ripping the the Rookie of the Year award from his former college teammate Kon Knueppel’s hands, so they can’t be slept on.

On the Spurs side, it’s nearly impossible to predict what they’ll do. As Schuhmann points out, Wemby needs to play in at least three games while reaching 20 min in two of them and 15 in one to remain award eligible (and you can bet he will after missing the 65-game limit last year). But the Spurs can also play a but of a role in who they face in the playoffs, depending on how the week goes. Portland needs one more win than the Clippers to snag the 8th seed (assuming they stay in 2nd, the Spurs would face the winner of 7th vs. 8th), and of course, there’s the chaotic 3-5 race in the West that got even wilder thanks injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves. Depending on where things stand for their regular season finale against Denver, the Spurs might be strategic with how they approach that game since you can bet they’d rather see the Lakers or Rockets in the second round over the Nuggets.

This is all a long-winded way of me saying that if I had to guess, they’ll continue to strategically rest players while still putting out nearly a full compliment every night, especially considering they’ll get a whole week off before the playoffs, so they don’t want to create to wide of a gap between games played at full strength. Still, that uncertainty and the determination opponents will have is what has me predicting 3-1 (and 4-0 or 2-2 wouldn’t surprise me).

Following a weekend of catastrophic injuries that saw their star backcourt ruled out for at least the regular season, the Lakers still had a game to play on Sunday in Dallas.

The ripple effects of this will reverberate not only through the summer but also force an already thin roster to completely restructure its style on both ends.

In their first game since the announcements, the purple and gold fell to the tanking Mavericks. LeBron James led with 30 points, nine rebounds and 15 assists and Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double, but it wasn’t enough to overcome rookie Cooper Flagg’s 45 points.

A bright spot was Rui Hachimura’s ever-consistent, yet never flashy, game. All season, he has adjusted his role based on who’s available each night. On Sunday, in 39 minutes, he finished with 21 points on 9-13 shooting overall and 3-5 from three-point range with seven rebounds while finishing with a plus-minus of +5.

It continues a year of highly efficient shooting that led to him being labeled a “laser” by head coach J.J. Redick. He now slots up as one of the most important offensive pieces this year with major questions looming on a summer contract.

LA will rely heavily on pace-and-space basketball without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. They will be forced to lean on transition offense, with LeBron in control to find shooters. It’s a style suited for Hachimura as he has developed into one of the best spot-up shooters in basketball, hitting 43% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.

Watch him sprint to the corner in the clip below for a semi transition three, after a swing pass by Kennard.

Where Hachimura brings his most versatility to the team is in the mid-range, where he’s been effectively the most efficient in the league. He hits a blistering 57% on the lost art long two, first among all players who’ve taken at least 100 attempts per the NBA’s tracking data.

It’s a necessary counter, especially in high leverage or postseason basketball, when teams scout and run the best shooters off the 3-point line. Watch below as he collects the swing pass and flows it into a automatic rhythm one-dribble pull-up jumper below.

“I would say the reason I’m here is the midrange,” Hachimura said in a recent postgame. “I’ve been doing it since high school. That was my thing. The first time I started playing basketball, those guys, the Carmelos, were my role models. I think I watched them a lot, that’s how I shaped my game.

“Those are never going to go away. I’ll always have that in my bag.”

LA will have to find creative ways to get Hachimura more shots, as he’s not one you can just hand the ball to at the top of the key. One option is to have him come off pin-down screens like below, flowing into his efficient mid-range shot.

The Lakers and Hachimura did not reach a deal on a contract extension last fall. How the sudden injuries to the backcourt impact all the pending free agents remains to be seen.

While not a perfect player by any means, Hachimura has made a case with his play that, at the right number, a return would make sense for both parties, no matter how this season ends…if it hasn’t already.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

For most college basketball teams in the current landscape, future championships are won in April and May when rosters are being built.

Michigan and UConn feature numerous transfers on their respective national championship-contending teams. The Wolverines start five transfers, whereas the Huskies' best player this season, center Tarris Reed Jr., is also transfer.

The NCAA approved a shortened transfer portal window for the 2026 season, with players allowed to officially enter from April 7-21 on the men's side. The window starts a day after the national championship game on Monday, April 6.

REQUIRED READING: How Dusty May built Michigan basketball into this behemoth. He aced transfer portal

The old transfer portal window lasted 30 days and started after the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, putting teams that advanced in March Madness at a disadvantage. As soon as the buzzer sounds at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the national championship, the race is on for the top available players.

Here's a look at USA TODAY's top players available in the 2026 transfer portal window:

Men's college basketball transfer portal players rankings

These rankings will be updated as players enter the transfer portal.

Here's a look at our top 25 available players of the college basketball transfer portal in 2026:

1. Flory Bidunga, Kansas
2. Juke Harris, Wake Forest
3. John Blackwell, Wisconsin
4. Paulius Murauskas, St. Mary’s
5. Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech
6. Miles Byrd, San Diego State
7. Isaiah Johnson, Colorado
8. Aiden Sherrell, Alabama
9. Somto Cyril, Georgia
10. Acaden Lewis, Villanova
11. Stefan Vaaks, Providence
12. Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence
13. Bryson Tiller, Kansas
14. Dedan Thomas Jr., LSU
15. Mouhamed Sylla, Georgia Tech
16. Kwame Evans Jr., Oregon
17. Markus Burton, Notre Dame
18. Alex Wilkins, Furman
19. Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
20. Jalen Haralson, Notre Dame
21. Terrence Brown, Utah
22. Najai Hines, Seton Hall
23. Jeremiah Wilkinson, Georgia
24. Finley Bizjack, Butler
25. Terrence Hill Jr., VCU

College basketball transfer portal news, live updates

Aiden Sherrell plans to enter transfer portal

Alabama sophomore forward Aiden Sherrell is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-11 big man averaged 11.1 points with 6.2 rebounds per game as a first-year starter at Alabama, along with 2.2 blocks per game.

A former five-star recruit, Sherrell was the No. 23 player and No. 5 center of the 2024 class, according to 247Sports' Composite. Sherrell can also shoot from outside, making 33.8% of his 2.4 3-point attempts per game.

Bryson Tiller to enter transfer portal

Kansas redshirt freshman forward Bryson Tiller is entering the transfer portal, according to multiple reports April 6.

Tiller averaged 7.9 points with 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season, starting 31 of 35 games for the Jayhawks. The former blue-chip recruit has three seasons of eligibility remaining and will be highly sought-after, thanks to his starting experience and 6-foot-11, 240-pound frame.

John Blackwell to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, the No. 3-ranked player available by USA TODAY, announced April 6 that he's entering the transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process.

The All-Big Ten third-team selection this season averaged 19.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and is a two-year starter for the Badgers. He scored 22 points with 10 rebounds in Wisconsin's upset loss against High Point in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

It's a brutal loss for Wisconsin, which is also losing leading scorer Nick Boyd. Blackwell will be among the most sought-after players available with two seasons of high-level scoring production in the Big Ten.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball transfer portal player rankings, news: Best available

Time is linear: At least, in terms of human perception.

Little else is.

An NBA career is certainly not always linear. There’s a tendency to falsely assume it will be. A rookie is bad on league-wide standards, and we accept it. They improve incrementally until year three, when they’re officially good, and then continue to improve incrementally until they peak, and start to decline. That’s how an NBA career goes, right?

On rare occasion, sure. Usually, a player’s career is more chaotic. They decline significantly in their third year. Fans think they’re done – until year six, when they have a career-best season. That’s the new baseline, they incrementally improve for two more seasons, fall off – etc, etc.

As always, theory is clean, and reality is messy. Unfortunately, the 2025-26 season has been a bit of a mess for the Houston Rockets’ Tari Eason.

Rockets’ Tari Eason has had a strange year

Much of 2025-26 was looking like a coming-out party for Eason. Before the All-Star break, Eason was averaging 12.2 points per game while hitting 46.0% of his 4.8 threes per game.

Sure, he seemed to be regressing in other areas. Eason’s 7.1 Offensive Rebounding % during that stretch had ticked down from 2024-25’s 8.1 mark. His 25.5% steal percentage was a major drop off from his 39.1% in 2024-25. It seemed safe to assume that those numbers would normalize.

If only it were possible for assumptions to be safe.

Instead, it was his shooting that normalized. Perhaps fans should have seen that coming as well. Shooting variance disrupts linearity like a 7/8 time signature. Eason has struggled to get a rock into an ocean since the break.

Now, he’s shooting 36.9% from deep on the season. That’s barely a career high, while he’s still posting career lows in the two areas (offensive rebounding and steals) that once made him special. The fact that this all comes after Eason allegedly turned down a deal worth $100 million over four seasons this summer.

What should the team do with him now?

Rockets should still prioritize Eason

Having declined that extension, Eason will hit Restricted Free Agency this summer.

Every foray into RFA does not look the same. The league’s cap landscape has to be surveyed. Heading into this summer, the only space-heavy team that looks like a real threat to wrestle Eason from the Rockets would be the Los Angeles Lakers.

All the Rockets have to do is identify their breaking point and hold the line. The $25 million per season they once earmarked for Eason is likely off the table. Would they do $20 million? Surely, they’d do $15 million?

Here’s the thing: Eason is sure to make good on a $15 million per season contract. Fans have grown tired of his warts. Eason indeed plays basketball like a bull in a China shop. He’s reckless, and the only question is whether it benefits Houston or the opposing team more often.

For most of his NBA career, the answer has been Houston.

It may be callous to suggest, but his poor play ahead of RFA could be a blessing. Ultimately, we should only feel so bad for someone who missed out on $40 million if they’re still getting more money over four years than 99.999% of Americans will ever make in a lifetime. From the Rockets’ perspective, it’s well worth gambling $15 million a year – probably even 20 – that Eason will exceed that contract value.

Who knows where his career could go from here?

We’re coming down to the final stretch of the NBA regular season, and multiple races are tightening up.

Not only are the discussions for NBA Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year intensifying, teams are closing their seasons with playoff seeding top of mind.

And the tightest cluster is in the middle of the Eastern Conference, where the race for the automatic playoff bid of the No. 6 seed will go down to the wire. Six different teams — the Hawks, 76ers, Raptors, Hornets, Magic and Heat — each have pathways to end up there.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 22 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through April 5. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.

NBA Week 23 power rankings: Top 10

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 62-16 (+1)

2. San Antonio Spurs, 59-19 (-1)

3. Detroit Pistons, 57-21 (—)

4. Boston Celtics, 53-25 (—)

5. Denver Nuggets, 50-28 (+1)

6. New York Knicks, 50-28 (+1)

7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 49-29 (+1)

8. Los Angeles Lakers, 50-28 (-3) 

9. Houston Rockets, 49-29 (+1)

10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 46-32 (—)

The big story here is the Los Angeles Lakers and their miserable week. Not only did they lose star Luka Dončić indefinitely to a hamstring injury, but Austin Reaves is also set to miss the remainder of the regular season with an oblique strain. Without those two, the Lakers suddenly become a very middling team and their prospects of a run in the postseason are compromised significantly.

This opens the door for the Denver Nuggets, who are tied with the Lakers with a 50-28 record, to take over the No. 3 seed in the West. Denver has won eight consecutive games, including a thrilling overtime win Sunday, April 5 over the Spurs.

And don’t sleep on the Rockets, who have won six consecutive games and have an outstanding +18.0 net rating over that span.

NBA Week 23 power rankings: Nos. 11-20

11. Atlanta Hawks, 45-33 (—)

12. Phoenix Suns, 43-35 (+1)

13. Toronto Raptors, 43-35 (-1)

14. Philadelphia 76ers, 43-35 (+1)

15. Charlotte Hornets, 43-36 (+3)

16. Orlando Magic, 42-36 (—)

17. Los Angeles Clippers, 40-38 (-3)

18. Miami Heat, 41-37 (-1)

19. Portland Trail Blazers, 40-38 (—)

20. Golden State Warriors, 36-42 (—)

The Hawks continue to be the hottest team in the East, but the story in this group is the absolute logjam in the middle of the conference. Just 2 games separate the No. 6 team, the Sixers, and the No. 10 team, the Heat.

All of this is making the race for that six-seed rather compelling down the stretch. The Hornets, winners of four consecutive games and owners of the NBA’s best offensive rating (123.0) since the All-Star break, are in position to potentially sneak into that spot.

Otherwise, most of the teams in that group — the Raptors (4-6), Magic (4-6) and Heat (3-7) — have stumbled somewhat in their last 10 games.

NBA Week 23 power rankings: Nos. 21-30

21. Milwaukee Bucks, 31-47 (—)

22. Chicago Bulls, 29-49 (—) 

23. Dallas Mavericks, 25-53 (+1)

24. Memphis Grizzlies, 25-53 (-1)

25. New Orleans Pelicans, 25-54 (—)

26. Sacramento Kings, 21-58 (+1)

27. Utah Jazz, 21-58 (-1)

28. Brooklyn Nets, 19-59 (—)

29. Indiana Pacers, 18-60 (+1)

30. Washington Wizards, 17-61 (-1)

The most exciting element for the teams in this group is the play of the young emerging stars. None is brighter than Cooper Flagg, who became the youngest player in NBA history (and first teenager) to drop 50 points in a game. Flagg followed that up with a 45-point, 9-assist, 8-rebound masterpiece to claw back into the Rookie of the Year race and became the youngest player in history to record 45 or more points in consecutive games.

But, with a handful of games left to play, practically all these teams are more focused on draft plans and summer vacations.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: Lakers lose Luka and spiral ahead of playoffs

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It’s a potential NBA First Round playoff preview tonight, when the Detroit Pistons visit the Orlando Magic.

The Pistons, with the Eastern Conference’s top seed already clinched, are road favorites against a Magic team fighting for the eighth seed.

With plenty of key injuries on both sides, my Pistons vs Magic predictions and free NBA picks will target the Under on Monday, April 6.

Pistons vs Magic prediction

Pistons vs Magic best bet: Under 225 (-110)

The Detroit Pistons have carried the weight without their star, with eight wins in 10 games sans Cade Cunningham.

Their offensive scoring split is nearly identical, averaging 117.8 points during this stretch (and 117.5 overall), but it’s the defense that’s been even tougher, moving from 109.4 points allowed per game to 106.2 over the last 10.

Isaiah Stewart is also sidelined, while Duncan Robinson (hip) and Tobias Harris (knee) are listed as questionable.

The Orlando Magic are coming off a 112-108 win over the Pelicans on Sunday and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.

They’ve won four of their last six and sit just a half-game back of the Hornets for the eighth seed in the East, and just a game back of the Raptors for seventh.

However, they are averaging a lowly 112.3 points per game during this current fun run, which ranks 26th in the NBA.

They’re also down key contributors in Anthony Black (abdomen) and Jonathan Isaac (knee), while Jett Howard (ankle) is considered questionable.

These teams generally slug it out, with the Under cashing in seven of the last 10 head-to-heads, and, considering the circumstances, another low score seems like it’s on the way.

Detroit has generally clamped down when owning a rest advantage, with an 11-6-0 record in this scenario, a Top-5 mark in the league.

Pistons vs Magic same-game parlay

Jalen Duren has been a beast on the glass, grabbing at least 10 boards in 10 of his last 13, including topping Monday’s total eight times.

Desmond Bane is coming off a 27-point scoring night against NOLA, his second straight game hitting that number, and the fourth time in six games he’s cashed the Over.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

• Under 225
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bank on Banchero

Daniss Jenkins has provided the playmaking with Cunningham sidelined. He had a season-best 14 dimes against Philly last game, and he’s had at least eight assists in the last 12 Detroit games.

And Paolo Banchero loves lighting up the Pistons, hitting at least 22 points in four straight games against Detroit.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

• Under 225
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
• Daniss Jenkins Over 7.5 assists
• Paolo Banchero Over 21.5 points

Pistons vs Magic odds

• Spread: Pistons -2.5 (-110) | Magic +2.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pistons -155 | Magic +130
• Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)

Pistons vs Magic betting trend to know

The Magic have lost six straight vs Eastern Conference opponents. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Magic.

How to watch Pistons vs Magic

Pistons vs Magic latest injuries

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We are four games from the end of this season. You may be surprised to learn that the season began in October and not last February, a time that’s often felt like one continuous trudge through drama and losing for 15 months. The light, and absolutely spectacular rookie season from Cooper Flagg, has maintained its energy all the way to the end. Flagg’s 96 points between Friday and Sunday’s games were a snapshot of a more than worthy rookie of the year campaign, and should make Mavericks fans excited to head into next fall. Pair with that the soon-to-be-drafting of his future running mate this summer, and this new era suddenly feels fresher.

And that’s why we’re here. At NBA Lottery Watch we’ve tracked the lottery maneuverings since the all-star break as the Mavericks wait with the other losing teams to see where the ping pong balls fall on May 10, determining where teams will draft this summer. Let’s dive in as we walk the final week of the season.

---

Lottery standings

We warned in last week’s edition that there are some sticky moments at the end of this schedule. And while the Mavericks did plenty of losing, Sunday’s win made an impact as the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans both lost. On the week as a whole those two teams went 0-4 while the Mavericks went 1-3. Those results left Dallas falling from sixth to eighth in the lottery order. Does a roughly 8% difference in a shot at a top four spot really matter? No, probably not. The real impact, as we’ve said before, is when teams behind you jump forward, leaving you falling further back toward the fringes of this draft’s depth.

That said, even with these teams having nothing real to play for entering the postseason, there are a few key games remaining that could impact the lottery draw odds on May 10.

Weekly schedule

Dallas has the toughest remaining schedule of the three teams, although the Clippers are really the only team that is fighting for playoff positioning — Phoenix and San Antonio are all but locked in their spot. But it’s the other two facing the Utah Jazz that is worth keeping track of. The Jazz have lost 13 of their last 14, and have been so aggressive in their losing that they’ve actually moved up to the fourth spot ahead of the Sacramento Kings. Hard to imagine they’ll let up now — so that game for the Pelicans and Grizzlies really leave the Mavericks their primary opportunity to move back up in the standings.

• Dallas Mavericks: @ Los Angeles Clippers, @ Phoenix Suns, @ San Antonio Spurs, vs. Chicago Bulls
• New Orleans Pelicans: vs. Utah Jazz, @ Boston Celtics, @ Minnesota Timberwolves
• Memphis Grizzlies: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, @ Denver Nuggets, @ Utah Jazz, @ Houston Rockets

If that doesn’t happen, we’ll have to cross fingers that the consistent effort of this team, and their refusal to sit core players at the end of the season builds enough positive karma to send the Mavericks forward in the draw.

Average active salary each team has played with since all star break:

Dallas: $113 million

Memphis: $38 million
Jazz: $48 million
Wizards: $55 million
Kings: $58 million

Will the Bball gods reward the ethical tank?

— MONEY ON THE FLOOR (@MOTF_NBA) April 6, 2026

One magic spin

Each week we’ll take one spin around the block at tankathon.com and see where the chips fall. And the basketball gods shown down on the ethical tank this week. For the first time in the two months we’ve been hosting lottery watch the Dallas Mavericks jumped seven spots to take the number one pick, for what would be the second year in a row.

Complete chaos across the board on this one, to a completely unrealistic degree. The Indiana Pacers are the only team to keep their top four spot, while everyone else went tumbling backward. The Mavericks leapt forward with the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. This image once again paints the picture of why positioning as high as possible matters in the event you end up falling.