NBA Playoff scenarios for Sunday, April 5: Minnesota, Phoenix could make the 6/7 seeds in West official today

With a week to go in the season, Minnesota and Phoenix are essentially locked into the 6/7 seeds, but that play-in divide could become formal today. Here's what you need to know on Easter Sunday in the NBA.

Playoff Scenarios

• Minnesota clinches a top-six playoff spot with a win and a Phoenix loss. Don't be so sure this happens today, the stumbling Timberwolves face a red-hot Charlotte team, while Phoenix isn't likely to lose to tanking Chicago.
• Conversely, Phoenix becomes locked into the play-in if it loses and Minnesota wins. That's probably not happening today, but it's happening this week.

Games to Watch

Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics (3:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

This is potentially a first-round matchup preview. Boston is playing well and is pretty locked into the No. 2 seed in the East (2.5 up on No. 3 seed New York). Toronto is the team that really needs this upset win. The Raptors sit as the No. 6 seed in the East, just half a game up on the 76ers at No. 7, a win can help create a little space and keep the Raptors out of the play-in. Toronto should play like a desperate team in this one.

Charlotte Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass)

Charlotte needs every win it can get, as it is currently the No. 8 seed in the East, but Orlando is just half a game back and Miami is just one game. Charlotte is also just one game back of Philadelphia for the No. 7 seed. The Hornets have won three in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10. Minnesota is pretty locked into the No. 6 seed in the West (it will be tough to make up two games on No. 5 seed Houston in a week), but it needs a win to officially secure that No. 6 seed. Also, Minnesota just needs to get some wins and find a rhythm before the playoffs.

Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

Stephen Curry returns to the court for the Warriors, although it is the Rockets who need this win more. The Warriors are basically locked into the No. 10 seed and will need to win two play-in games on the road to get to the playoffs, but that is more likely with Curry back. Houston seems destined for the No. 5 seed, as making up the 1.5-game deficit to catch No. 4 Denver will be tough, but the Nuggets have the league's toughest remaining schedule, so the door is not closed. Catch Curry's return on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock.

Worrying new developments in Giannis-Bucks squabble

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 29: A picture of JBL headphones used by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks while working out before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum on October 29, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Following news that the NBA has opened a probe into the Bucks’ and Giannis’ contradicting claims on his health status, ESPN’s Shams Charania yesterday revealed more details about the ongoing dispute, reporting the following:

“The Bucks have told NBA investigators that Giannis Antetokounmpo declined the opportunity to play 3-on-3 scrimmages as part of return protocol from a mid-March knee injury, per ESPN sources. Antetokounmpo told the league he is healthy enough to resume action.”

Subsequently, an NBA spokesperson released the statement below via Charania, giving more details into the situation:

“The NBA’s Player Participation Policy investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute. The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate. There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation.”

So, it does seem like the Bucks are being truthful (at least in some part) about their assertion that Antetokounmpo is not yet ready to return; he was asked to participate in three-on-three scrimmages and declined, which is notable. If he is to return in one of these games, I think it’s entirely fair for the Bucks to want him to check every box before he does. Now, might they have further motivations for their assertion that he is not ready to play? I am sure they do, but those motivations are very reasonable.

I also want to note that there would be a heap of players (and notably, stars) across the NBA being held out by their teams for not-wholly-truthful reasons, but that it feels like the Bucks are being investigated because Giannis has brought this to the attention of the NBA and, in my opinion, made it a way bigger deal than it is. I totally understand GA is a competitor who wants to play whenever healthy—and that’s a key part of what’s made him the player he’s become—but for him not to see where the Bucks are coming from is frustrating, to say the least.

Does this new information change how you see the situation? Let us know in the comments.

Nets vs. Wizards preview: A matinee at Barclays

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 3: Julian Reese #15 of the Washington Wizards and Angel Reese pose for a photo after the game against the Orlando Magic on March 3, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Time keeps on ticking, ticking, into the future. The Brooklyn Nets are speeding towards the end of the season and the start of their real season. With that in mind, they opened the month of April with a 34-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

The opponent tonight is focusing on the Draft as well. The Washington Wizards are winding their season down and were in Florida to face the Miami Heat yesterday. As expected, the Wizards lost.

At the moment, the Wizards hold the top lottery odds, a half-game ahead of the Nets and Pacers who are tied for second. Brooklyn has a growing if not yet comfortable lead over fourth place Utah. The Jazz are 2.5 games back of the Nets with five to go. Should teams tie, the lottery odds would be divided equally between or among the bottom teams.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio.

Injuries

The following are out:

  • Michael Porter Jr
  • Egor Demin
  • Ziaire Williams
  • Day’ron Sharpe
  • Danny Wolf
  • Nic Claxton

Noah Clowney is questionable and Terance Mann is probable. Malachi Smith will be celebrating his new, two year (non-guaranteed) deal and the three two-ways will be available from here on out, with the Long Island Nets season over.

The following are out:

  • Trae Young
  • Anthony Davis
  • Cam Whitmore
  • Tristan Vukcevic
  • Alex Sarr
  • D’Angelo Russell
  • Kyshawn George

This is night two of a back-to-back for the Capital city crew so don’t be surprised if we see some more additions prior to gametime.

The game

Brooklyn won the first and third meetings while the Wizards took the second.

The Hall of Fame class of 2026, and Washington Mystics legend Elena Delle Donne is one of this year’s inductees! Salute to her.

This one has a lot of stakes attached to it. These teams are at the top of the Tankathon standings and a win for the Wizards would tie the season series and tie their records at 18-60.

Even in a lost season, young players have plenty to play for. They’re playing for their current jobs, next destinations, and professional pride. There’s always something to play for when you’re trying to prove yourself, and every game is an opportunity to get better. For the Wizards, Jamir Watkins might be someone they think about keeping on the team next season. From Harrison Hamm at Bullets Forever:

Like most rookies, he has areas where his feel will improve and he can match his boundless athleticism with technique. He has an inclination toward gambling. Sometimes, he relies a little too much on his own athleticism — letting guys drive, then trusting himself to make an unlikely recovery. His off-ball recognition will get better with experience.

I’m most intrigued by his rim protection upside. As good as he is at blowing plays up and forcing turnovers, he can get better at understanding when guys like to get their shots off, and how he can generate a quality contest.

Gotta keep making the most of your time.

Speaking of making the most of your time, Malachi Smith shined in his 17 minutes. The rookie guard scored 15 points off the bench and has likely earned himself a bigger role over the next few games. He’s got a new contract and some much needed security going forward. When you push yourself and work hard, good things happen.

This one could get a bit sloppy. Both of these teams are in the bottom third of the league in turnover rate and with the Wizards on night two of a back-to-back and playing a day game, they won’t be at full strength. It won’t be a pretty watch so hopefully these teams exceed everyone’s minimal expectations.

Player to watch: Julian Reese

Like we mentioned earlier, the end of the season can be an opportunity for a young player to find themselves. Similar to his sister Angel, Julian Reese has been a rebounding machine since joining the Wizards. He’s impressed teammates and given the fans something fun to watch as we wind down the season. Reese’s friendships with members of the team go back some years and there’s a belief in him and what he can do.

“We already kind of click well — I think it’s just the single fact, no one else on this team kind of knew Ju’s strengths like I did because I’ve seen it before,” Bub Carrington said. “He’s been showing that he’s a league big. He’s proof that it don’t matter how long you played in college. If you’re good at basketball, you prove it every night.”

Whoever controls the boards will likely win this one. Both of these teams are bottom of the league in rebounds so whoever completes possessions will be in position to walk away with the win. With the Nets frontcourt as decimated as it is, it’s going to take a team effort on the boards to compete.

From the Vault

It’s National Championship time!

More reading: Bullets Forever, SB Nation NBANew York PostNew York Daily NewsClutch PointsNets WireSteve’s Newsletter

Box Grades: Spurs’ winning streak snapped in OT thriller

Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in overtime at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

So close! For much of this game, I felt like the Spurs were firmly in control; the point differential never got huge by modern NBA standards, but until the end of the third quarter it always felt like San Antonio was going to have enough to counter what Denver was brining to the table. As things tightened in the final minutes of regulation, both teams put together some impressive play; however, the Spurs made a couple of key errors, and in the end the Nuggets managed to convert small but critical advantages into their 50th win of the season.

From a strategic perspective, this loss likely means that San Antonio’s dreams of the one seed have faded away, unless OKC truly collapses in this final stretch. However, given the sudden injuries to the Lakers’ roster (which, as a diehard fan of the game, I truly hate), being the second seed may actually produce an easier path to the conference finals (conditional on Denver not catching Los Angeles for the three seed). In any case, here are some key highlights from yesterday’s scintillating contest:

  • This was a very low turnover game, with the Spurs (11) and Nuggets (6) combining for just 17 turnovers. Since the start of 2012-2013, only 2.65% (446 of 16,829) of regular season contests have had a turnover total at least that low. Unfortunately, the differential still strongly favored Denver, in that they had five less. This disadvantage transferred offensive opportunity from San Antonio to the Nuggets, mostly negating the advantage the Spurs built in TRB (+6) and ORB (+4).
  • Although both teams recorded exactly 22 fouls, the Spurs did a better job managing the type and timing of their fouls, which helped give the Silver and Black a +5 edge in FTA. Furthermore, the Spurs earned a slightly higher FT% (+6.23 percentage points), which translated to a FTM margin of +6 for San Antonio.
  • Unfortunately for the Spurs, their six-point edge at the charity stripe was not quite enough to overcome Denver’s advantages from the field. Two major factors were at play here: First, the Nuggets had a slightly better FG% than San Antonio (+1.98 percentage points). Typically, a margin this small would not mean much, but because both teams took 101 shots it translated to a +2 FGM margin for Denver.
  • In addition, the Nuggets had a notably better 3P% (+7.97 percentage points), which allowed them to produce a 3PM margin of +4. The net result of all of this is that Denver outscored San Antonio by eight from the field.
  • While this isn’t covered in the graded box score, both Wemby and Joker put together insane stat lines yesterday. For example, Victor became just the second player since the start of 1996-1997 to record a line including 34+ points, 18+ rebounds, 7+ assists, and 5+ blocks in the regular season. The first was Karl-Anthony Towns, in a December 30, 2018 game between the Timberwolves and Heat.
  • Similarly, Jokic became just the second player during the same period to record a regular season box score line including 40+ points, 8+ rebounds, 13+ assists, and 3+ blocks. The other player is LeBron James, who did so in a February 18, 2010 contest between the Cavs and Nuggets.

What are Team Graded Box Scores?

Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).

Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.

Celtics injury report vs Raptors offers good Nikola Vucevic news

Boston, MA - March 4: Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic and guard Jaylen Brown talk in the third quarter. The Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

BOSTON — The Celtics could have an additional boost when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon; Nikola Vucevic, who has been sidelined since March 6th with a right ring finger fracture, has been upgraded to questionable for the first time since first suffering the injury.

In Vucevic’s absence, Luka Garza has stepped up, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes, while shooting 60.7% from the field and 44.7% from three. He had fallen out of the rotation after the Celtics traded for Vucevic in mid-February; how Joe Mazzulla will divvy up the two players’ minutes remains to be seen.

Mazzulla said this week that Vucevic is important to what the Celtics will do, and praised him for how he handled himself during his recovery.

“He’s a professional. I mean, he hasn’t missed a film session, practice,” Mazzulla said. “Even two days after he had his procedure, he was out working on his cardio.”

The Raptors will be without Chucky Hepburn (right knee surgery recovery) and Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis), but are otherwise healthy.

How the Celtics, Raptors stack up

The Celtics and Raptors have faced off three times this season, and the Celtics have emerged victorious each time, tallying two victories in December and one in January. Now, they meet in a final matchup that could serve as a first-round preview.

The Raptors have been led by Brandon Ingram (21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and Scottie Barnes (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists), both of whom were named All-Stars this season. RJ Barrett (19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists) has also been crucial to the team’s success.

The Celtics (52-25) have all but secured the second-best record in the East, holding a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks with five games left to play.

The Raptors (43-34) currently have the 6th-best record in the Eastern Conference and are 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in.

Given that the No.2 seed will face the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 playoff game, it’s very plausible that the Celtics will face the Raptors in the first round of the postseason.

Why was Yaxel Lendeborg still playing in Final Four blowout? Dusty May explains

No one would have blamed Michigan coach Dusty May if he rested his star player in the second half of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament Final Four on Saturday night.

Yet May opted to bring his hobbled star Yaxel Lendeborg back into the 91-73 win over Arizona despite a first-half leg injury Lendeborg suffered, and despite a big lead for the Wolverines for much of the game.

Why? May has learned from previous NCAA Tournament experience that a lead is never safe.

"Well, apparently you guys missed the UConn-Duke game," May said postgame. "The game was already decided that we were playing Duke tomorrow. They were up 19, correct, in the second half?  And who won?

"So, being out — you're playing Arizona, one of the best teams — statistically, the number one or two team all year in the country and you're up 20 with 10 minutes left, with eight and a half minutes left.  We didn't feel quite as confident as you guys did that we could just put the kids to bed.  And he came in and Elliot [Cadeau] was in foul trouble, and so he just held it down.

"So yeah, obviously we felt like the game was still in hand."

Michigan led by as many as 30 points at 77-47 with 10:31 remaining in the second half, following a 3-pointer from Trey McKenney. However, Arizona did outscore the Wolverines 15-4 for the next 4:22 of game time, cutting the lead to under 20 for the first time since the 18:16 mark of the second half.

Lendeborg had subbed out of the game with 13:02 left in the game, with Michigan leading by 22. He checked back in with 7:10 remaining, and the lead was down to 20 with Arizona shooting a second free throw.

Cadeau, Michigan's starting guard, agreed with his coach about not taking any chances.

"We felt like we had a lot of games like this. And we learned from them," Cadeau said. "Some games, the teams actually came back.  So we stressed in the huddle to keep our foot on the gas because it's March, it's April.  Anything can happen, like they could come back from a 30-point deficit."

Despite Lendeborg being hobbled for the majority of the game, he finished with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in 14 minutes of play.

His teammates were not shocked at all by the resiliency shown by Lendeborg in Michigan's biggest game of the season to date.

"I think it just shows the guy who Yaxel is. I mean, he just wants to put it all on the floor for Michigan, and he wants to give the fans what they came here for," McKinney said.

"I'm just really grateful to have him as a teammate. He's one of the best players in the country, and he really showed that tonight. But he's selfless as well.  So I'm just really grateful to be around him."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg injury: Dusty May explains why he kept playing star in blowout

Lakers vs Mavericks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers limp into American Airlines Center tonight as Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks look to snap a three-game skid.

Flagg is fresh off the best scoring performance of his career, and my Lakers vs Mavericks predictions expect another electric scoring performance from the ascending star.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this NBA Western Conference matchup on Sunday, April 5.

Lakers vs Mavericks prediction

Lakers vs Mavericks best bet: Cooper Flagg Over 23.5 points (-110)

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points when he dropped 51 against the Orlando Magic on Friday. He’s got major momentum heading into Sunday’s tilt with the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg has gone for 24+ points in just 21 of 65 games, but his scoring has soared to new heights as of late. Over his first 43 games of the season, Flagg averaged just 18.8 points. Since his last meeting with the Lakers, Flagg has averaged 24.6 points in 22 games, clearing this scoring line 11 times.

The NBA Rookie of the Year favorite has averaged a healthy 27.3 points across his last six games, going for 24+ four times. He’s been excellent at home, averaging 30.9 and scoring 24+ six times across his last nine outings at American Airlines Center.

Over his last 16 games, Flagg has bumped up his shot attempts to 18.8 per game, giving him ample opportunities to rack up points and hit the Over on his points prop. The matchup with LA isn’t a scary one, as the Lakers’ 116.5 defensive rating on the road is the 11th-worst mark in the Association.

Dallas can capitalize in a favorable spot with the vulnerable Lakers, and I expect Flagg to go for 24+ with ease.

Lakers vs Mavericks same-game parlay

The Lakers will be missing their two top scorers, two of their top four rebounders, and two of their top three facilitators. Filling in for Austin Reaves and especially Luka Doncic will be a monumental task for the Lakers, and the team doesn’t have the role players to do it.

At this stage of his career, LeBron James can’t carry this roster, and I’ll bet on a hungry Mavericks team with the Rookie of the Year favorite to win this one outright in front of the home crowd.

The loss of Doncic and Reaves leaves 13.8 assists up for grabs, and James should find the ball in his hands more often than not. He’ll be asked to run the show, and double-digit assists are certainly doable, particularly in a game that should feature plenty of offense.

Lakers vs Mavericks SGP

  • Cooper Flagg Over 23.5 points 
  • Mavericks moneyline
  • LeBron James Over 9.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: James Gang!

I’m excited to see the NBA’s most famous father-son duo share the court for an expanded time on Sunday. With Reaves and Doncic out of action, J.J. Redick will need to go further down the bench, and that’s where Bronny James comes in. 

In seven games with at least 15 minutes played, he’s averaged 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Bronny scored 6+ four times and posted at least two boards or three assists three times in those contests.

The elder James will need to be heavily involved in Los Angeles’ offense for the team to stay competitive. He’s averaged 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists in three games against the Mavericks this season, and he's posted at least eight boards or 10 assists in a quarter of his 56 appearances.

Lakers vs Mavericks SGP

  • LeBron James Over 7.5 rebounds
  • LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
  • Bronny James Over 5.5 points
  • Bronny James Over 1.5 rebounds
  • Bronny James Over 2.5 assists

Lakers vs Mavericks odds

  • Spread: Lakers -1.5 | Mavericks +1.5
  • Moneyline: Lakers -125 | Mavericks +105
  • Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5

Lakers vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Dallas Mavericks have hit the 1Q Game Total Over in 34 of their last 50 games (+17.60 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Lakers vs Mavericks

LocationAmerican Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
DateSunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVNBC

Lakers vs Mavericks latest injuries

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Jazz vs Thunder Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The OKC Thunder are closing in on the top seed in the West. Completing a regular-season series sweep over the Utah Jazz on Sunday would definitely help.

OKC, with just one loss in its last 17 games, is a massive 22.5-point favorite in the NBA odds.

My Jazz vs. Thunder prediction and free NBA picks think the depleted Jazz roster can't compete with a top-tier team that still has something to play for.

Jazz vs Thunder prediction

Jazz vs Thunder best bet: Thunder -22.5 (-110)

Since dropping a decision to Boston on March 25 that snapped a 12-game losing streak, the Oklahoma City Thunder have reeled off four straight wins, including a 139-96 demolition of the Lakers last time out.

There are two main objectives for the Thunder at this point: holding off San Antonio for the top seed and getting all-star Jalen Williams up to speed as the postseason nears.

Williams, who's played just 31 games this season, was an all-around stud against the Lakers, scoring 10 points, with nine rebounds and eight assists.

It should be a fine tune-up for Williams and the gang on Sunday, as the Utah Jazz have lost eight straight and have just three wins in 22 games since the All-Star break.

Over that sample size, the Jazz are among the worst teams in the NBA in defense, allowing 124.9 points per game (28h), with teams shooting 50.5% from the field and 37.1% from distance.

The Thunder have owned the Jazz, with wins in eight straight, and save for the last head-to-head meeting that went to OT and resulted in a Thunder OT win, there hasn't been much drama.

OKC has won by at least 23 points in four of the last five, including three wins by 30+ points.

Utah will also be down major contributors, as Lauri Markkanen (hip) and Keyonte George (hamstring) are both out. With Jaren Jackson Jr (knee) already shut down for the year, that's the Jazz's three top scorers.

With the Thunder a Top 5 scoring team in basketball, there's just no way the Jazz should be able to stay in range, even with that many points.

Jazz vs Thunder same-game parlay

Jalen Williams has scored 16 or more points three times in the five games since he's returned, but that shouldn't be an issue against the Jazz, as he's scored 16+ points in eight straight.

Williams is coming off his best rebound game since returning from injury, and has at least four boards in three of five, while pulling down at least four boards in two of his last three against Utah.

Jazz vs Thunder SGP

  • Thunder -22.5
  • Jalen Williams Over 15.5 points
  • Jalen Williams Over 3.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: One-Williams Show!

Williams' 3-point stroke has not arrived yet, as he's had zero makes in three of his last four games, but he should be in range against the Jazz, as he's connected on at least one triple in five straight and in 12 of the last 13 against Utah.

And we'll finish with his assist line, which was set for 4.5 on Sunday. Williams just dropped eight dimes against the Lakers, giving him 8+ assists in back-to-back games.

Jazz vs Thunder SGP

  • Thunder -22.5
  • Jalen Williams Over 15.5 points
  • Jalen Williams Over 3.5 rebounds
  • Jalen Williams Over 0.5 made threes

Jazz vs Thunder odds

  • Spread: Jazz +23.5 | Thunder -23.5
  • Moneyline: Jazz +2500 | Thunder -10000
  • Over/Under: Over 239 | Under 239

Jazz vs Thunder betting trend to know

Utah has combined with its opponent to go Over the total in six of its last eight games. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Thunder.

How to watch Jazz vs Thunder

LocationPaycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
DateSunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVJazz+, FDSN Oklahoma

Jazz vs Thunder latest injuries

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Raptors face another test in Boston

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 9: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 9, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Today, the Toronto Raptors have another opportunity to see if they have what it takes to beat a contender in the Boston Celtics. 

Both teams have five games left in the regular season. While the teams who will appear in some type of playoff contention are set, it’s still unclear how exactly the seeding will shake out. Now more than ever, winning matters. 

Boston is four and a half games behind Detroit, who has clinched the one-seed, meaning catching up is no longer an option. Their goal will instead be to hold off the Knicks who sit only 2.5 games behind them, and maintain one of the hardest remaining schedules. 

Toronto handled business Friday in Memphis, but Atlanta and Philly were also both able to collect victories, solidifying the standings for another night. To the Raptors’ benefit, the Hawks and Sixers both have a far more challenging road ahead. 

So far this season, these teams have already met three times. All three of those contests went in Boston’s favour, each by at least three possessions. 

There’s no consistency in terms of any one thing that Boston out-did Toronto at. Boston shot better overall in two of the games, had better long range shooting in two of the games, out-rebounded in two, had more blocks in only one, had fewer turnovers in two, fewer fouls in only one….. And the list goes on. No one stat was in either team’s favour between the three contests. 

This leads us to the question: how can Toronto avoid the sweep by Boston and get another much-needed win?

The first key will be adaptability. Boston, and other great teams have this characteristic, which is what makes them so hard to beat. If you run them off the 3-point line, they drive. If you’re being aggressive defensively, they draw doubles and kick the ball out. Toronto needs to recognize how Boston’s game develops throughout the course of the game and keep adjusting their defence to slow and stop them. Adopting some of that strategy themselves would help too.

The second key will be slowing Boston’s big three. Brown and Tatum can score at will, and stopping them forces the less-efficient rest of the roster to make plays. The third “big” player in this is Pritchard. For whatever reason, he’s had some of his best games against Toronto, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he tries to have another 30-piece. The combination of Scottie, CMB, and Shead will have to step up in a big way to slow these guys, and hope that will stifle Boston’s offense enough. 

The third and final key is desire. At times this season, it’s felt like individual players or even the team as a whole doesn’t care. That’s easy to say from the other side of a TV screen, but even RJ pointed out the need for intensity recently when he said they needed to “play like their lives depend on it”. The season is coming to an end, and to set themselves up for the best chances to make it past the first round, they need to lock all the way in. He also pointed out that they are capable, as long as they play their brand of basketball:

Injury Report: 

Toronto: Chucky Hepburn (Out: Knee surgery), Immanuel Quickley (Out: Plantar Fasciitis)

Boston: Nikola Vucevic (Questionable: Finger fracture)

Probable Starters:

Toronto: Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram

Boston: Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown

Where to Watch: 

Tune in at 3:30pm ET on Sportsnet.

Preview: Utah Jazz caught in an Oklahoma City Thunderstorm without an umbrella

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz goes to the basket against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

My significant other suggested that I ask each of you to “tuna in” to the Utah Jazz’s upcoming contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. I don’t know what could have possibly possessed her to ask this of me, nor have I figured out what tuna could have to do with a basketball game of any scale (no pun intended), but now we are both cursed with the knowledge of a heinous maritime pun.

May this article smite us both.

Assuming you, the reader, possess the fortitude to withstand such a gut-wrenching play on words, perhaps you’ll likewise brave the Utah Jazz’s (21-57, 14th in West) impending struggle against the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder (61-16, 1st in West) with similar grace. You are stronger than most, and it’ll take a titanium digestive track to bear the disparity between basketball’s strongest record (OKC) and one of its weakest (Utah).

May I turn your attention to Brice Sensabaugh, who has averaged just shy of 20 points in his last 30 games in the absence of Utah’s veterans. Maybe even Ace Bailey, the Jazz rookie who has erased any buzz that he isn’t happy in the Beehive State and has blossomed into one of the most promising young players in his class? Could I interest you in Cody Williams — who is not terrible — the once-deemed ‘lost cause’ who has scored 20 or more points in seven of his last 10 appearances leading up to Oklahoma City?

The Utah Jazz seemed directionless and empty just a season ago, but with another calendar year of sample size and time in the incubator, Utah’s youngsters are among basketball’s most promising, and could make the Jazz one of the deepest and most dangerous teams in 2026 with a healthy Markkanen, JJJ, Kessler, and George leading the charge (and also AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson would be nice, lottery gods, but I’m not picky).

Sure, OKC is the basketball equivalent of a buzzsaw, essentially disintegrating every team it comes in contact with, and sure, they’ll be the favorites to hoist the NBA Finals trophy for the second consecutive season. Sure, they’ll likely make quick work of the visiting Jazz like a sniffling dog sneezing the powdered sugar off a donut. But something is manifesting in Utah. Don’t take this upcoming result as an indicator of these teams’ true value in the coming years.

Will Hardy and his intrepid group of Boy Scouts embarked on an excursion back in October that has lasted 78 games and taken the functionality of the troop’s most veteran members. Now, as Troop 801 comes across the Paycom Center and its native Oklahoma City Thunder. A storm of epic proportions forced the youth to fall under temporary shelter, shivering and frightened as lightning tore the sky, and the thunderous voice of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander followed.

Rain formed puddles, which formed ponds, which turned into lakes. The remaining scouts clung to floating debris like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. Those who honored their parent’s age restriction wishes and hadn’t seen James Cameron’s nautical masterpiece were lost to the storm, but the Thunder’s wrath was withstood by the naughty boys who understand what it means to “paint me like one of your French girls”. Is that irony? Doesn’t matter. The waters are rising, and the Thunder is encroaching.

Suddenly, like a fountain, something shot swiftly from beneath the surface and took to the sky. If just for a moment, it seemed as though the storm… flinched? A sign of weakness? A fleeting glance of possibility for the young and chipper Jazz? The shape shed all ambiguity, revealing its head, tail, and… is that a tuna? Perhaps the task of conquering the Thunder is not impossible — perhaps the undermanned Jazz have a fighting chance after all. With a mighty sploosh, the rallier returned to his origin, having struck a match of hope in these fumbling scouts’ hearts.

[Did I stretch too far for the tuna thing? I feel like I might have.]


Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.

Brad Underwood emotional over Illinois' Final Four loss: 'They are my life'

Illinois coach Brad Underwood stole a quote from Houston coach Kelvin Sampson after the Fighting Illini's Final Four loss to UConn.

Sampson, one of the greatest coaches to never have won a national championship, knows a thing or two about March Madness heartbreak, which is exactly what Underwood was feeling after Illinois' 71-62 loss on Saturday, April 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

"I feel sad," Underwood told reporters after the game. "I'm sad. If you want to know the truth, I'm sad. But I'll reflect on some of the other stuff later. Seasons coming to an end sting. I'm going to steal a quote from Kelvin Sampson: 'I may not be as big a part of their life, but they are my life.'"

Illinois had beaten every team it faced in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament by double-digits until facing the Huskies, who have given the Illini fits in recent years. Illinois' three-lowest scoring outputs of the past three seasons all came against UConn, scoring 52 points in 2024's Elite Eight loss, 61 points in a nonconference game this season and 62 in its Final Four loss on April 4.

UConn denied passing lanes all night and made things difficult for Illinois' potent offense, limiting the Illini to only three assists as a team, two of which came from star true freshman Keaton Wagler, who also scored 20 points with eight rebounds.

Underwood took the road less traveled to Illinois as the head coach at Dodge City Community College in Kansas and Daytona Beach Community College in Florida before becoming a multi-year assistant at Kansas State and South Carolina. He got his Division I coaching start at Stephen F. Austin and parlayed a one-year Oklahoma State stint into his current role at Illinois.

The 62-year-old coach didn't take Illinois' run back to the Final Four for the first time since 2005 lightly, especially given his career path.

"If you guys don't know me, I'm about relationships," Underwood said. "If anybody remembers me for wins and losses, then I didn't do a very good job as a human being. The one thing this did for me was bring a lot of people who I haven't talked to reached out, and there's a lot of people here supporting me and my family.

"That's what this experience is about for me. For that group of guys in there, that's a lifetime memory, and I couldn't be more excited about that."

Underwood didn't spend much time discussing what went wrong for Illinois after the game, although he did note the Fighting Illini's poor shooting night, as they shot 34% from the field and 23% from 3-point range.

He did make an emphasis, though, on giving his 2025-26 roster their flowers after an impressive season that came up short.

"Am I competitive? Does today stink? It hurts. My gut hurts so bad right now, I feel for all of them," Underwood said. "But I'm also excited about the joy that we brought a lot of people in this run. And we got Illinois back to a level where they're in Final Fours again.

"By God, as long as I'm ball coach, I better not take 21 (expletive) years to get back there."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brad Underwood emotional after Illinois' Final Four loss vs UConn

Bradley added, Houstan waived

WEST VALLEY, UTFEB 24: Tony Bradley #30 of the College Park Skyhawks shoots oduring an NBA G-League game at the Maverik Center in West Valley, Utah on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Salt Lake City won 119-96. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Allred/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

With the injury to Jock Landale, the Hawks decided to add a familiar center as the team prepares for postseason play.

Tony Bradley never appeared for the Hawks, but he did spend a chunk of last season (12 games) with the College Park Skyhawks. He was later picked up by the Indiana Pacers, who went on to come to within one game of the title.

Across the last two seasons with the Pacers, Bradley appeared in 50 games and 11 postseason games as a big-bodied reserve center.

The reason for this move now is that it’s unclear when Landale may return. On April 2, the Hawks released this update about Landale’s ankle injury:

Center Jock Landale sustained a right ankle injury during the fourth quarter of last night’s game at Orlando. Following medical evaluation and imaging, Landale has been diagnosed with a right high ankle sprain. He will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks and an update will be provided at that time.

In order to make space on the roster, the Hawks decided to let go little used shooter Caleb Houstan.

Game Preview #78 – Timberwolves vs. Hornets

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 01: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks against Moussa Diabaté #14 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the NBA game at Spectrum Center on November 01, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Grant Halverson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Charlotte Hornets
Date: April 5th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio

With Anthony Edwards sidelines, the Wolves went into Boston and pulled off a professional win, then followed it with that completely deranged, Scott Foster-fueled overtime escape against Houston, the kind of game that usually becomes a rallying point for a team trying to harden itself for the postseason. It felt like the Wolves had rediscovered their defensive identity, their connectivity, and maybe even a little bit of that stubborn edge that carried them on back-to-back Western Conference Finals runs.

And then they dropped three of four games, including back-to-back games to Detroit and Philadelphia, and suddenly the whole thing feels unstable again.

That is the maddening part of this Timberwolves season. They keep giving you just enough to believe they’ve turned the corner, and then they take that same corner like they’re driving on bald tires in sleet. Friday night in Philadelphia was the latest example. It was not some shameful no-show or one of those dead-eyed weekend matinee meltdowns where you question whether half the team remembered there was a game. In fact, the Wolves fought. They competed. They even built a ten-point lead in the third quarter. But eventually the weight of the week caught up to them. Anthony Edwards, still recovering from injury and illness, looked like a guy who had no business being asked to carry an offense, and the Sixers, refreshed, healthier, imposed their will.

That was the story. Minnesota came into Philly with its back against the wall after that exhausting loss in Detroit, needing to summon one more big effort on the second night of a back-to-back against a Sixers team that had started to find itself again with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. The hope was obvious. Edwards had returned Monday against Dallas, then sat Thursday in Detroit with an illness. Maybe the extra night of rest would help. Maybe the freshest legs on the roster would belong to the one guy who could actually bend the game. Maybe the superstar could be the superhero again.

Instead, the version of Edwards that took the floor looked like a shell of himself. He finished just 3-for-15 from the field and 0-for-7 from three, and for long stretches he was not simply ineffective, but almost invisible. That is not a criticism so much as an acknowledgment of the obvious. He was sick 24 hours earlier. He looked out of rhythm. He looked like a guy trying to force his way through a game his body was not ready to own. To be blunt, there were stretches where the Wolves functioned better without him, which is not something you say about Anthony Edwards unless the circumstances are screaming it at you.

The frustrating thing is that Minnesota still gave itself a chance. Even with Ant sputtering, even with the offense feeling patched together, they pushed out to that ten-point lead in the third and for a moment it felt like one of those ugly, admirable road wins you talk yourself into as evidence of maturity. But then the bottom fell out. The shots stopped falling. The legs got heavy. The Sixers got downhill, got to the rim, and started scoring in the kind of effortless, demoralizing ways that happen when one team is tired and the other senses blood. By the time the lead stretched to seventeen late, the game had taken on that ugly late-stage feel where everything Minnesota did required enormous effort and everything Philadelphia got seemed to arrive cleanly and on time.

The final numbers told the whole story. The Sixers shot 50 percent. The Wolves shot 38 percent. Philadelphia was better from three, better from the line, better on the glass, and over the course of 48 minutes there was almost nothing Minnesota actually did better. When the tape says one team beat you physically, schematically, and efficiently, there really is not much left to argue about.

So now the Wolves head into the final stretch of the regular season with things feeling less like a sprint up the standings and more like a desperate attempt to stay balanced on the ladder. Maybe the six seed is already where this thing is headed. Maybe the script has been written and all this scoreboard-checking is just emotional self-harm dressed up as fandom. But whether or not they can still climb, these last few games are now about something just as important: getting right. Getting healthy. Getting connected. Building momentum and rhythm and confidence so that when the playoffs arrive, they do not look like a team that has spent the past month in disarray.

That process continues against Charlotte, and while a late-season game against the Hornets does not exactly sound like an instant classic, it matters. It matters because Charlotte has been remarkably better in the second half of the season. It matters because the Wolves cannot keep alternating between “we’ve got it figured out” and “why is the house on fire again?” And it matters because if the Wolves are going to do anything meaningful in in the post-season, they need to start looking like a team that knows what version of itself it wants to be.

With that, here are the keys to the game.

#1. Match Charlotte’s energy and play with real defensive intent from the jump.
One positive sign lately is that the Wolves, for the most part, have not been sleepwalking through games the way they did in those dead-brained losses earlier in the season. The competition has gotten tougher, yes, but some of it also feels like this team understands it no longer has the luxury of coasting. That has to continue against Charlotte. The Hornets are hungry, feisty, and still trying to carve out something meaningful of their own down the stretch. If Minnesota walks into this game treating it like a lazy weekend game against those old, irrelevant Hornets, LaMelo Ball will happily turn it into a track meet, and guys like Brandon Miller and Kon Kneuppel will start bombing away from deep. This has to begin on the defensive end. Pressure the ball. Show real purpose on closeouts. Do not let Charlotte’s guards get comfortable. If Edwards is still working his way back into rhythm, then defense has to be the part of the game Minnesota can always count on.

#2. Win the rebounding battle for once.
The Wolves have let themselves get pushed around too often lately. Detroit did it. Philadelphia did it. It has become a recurring problem at the worst possible time, which is especially frustrating for a team with Gobert, Randle, and Reid on the roster. Charlotte does not have a frontcourt that should be able to duplicate what Joel Embiid or Jalen Duren did. That means Minnesota has to come into this game with the mindset that every rebound belongs to them. Rebounds are not just about ending possessions here. They are also about unlocking transition chances and giving this offense a simpler path to points than trying to grind through every halfcourt trip like it’s a tax audit.

#3. Stay aggressive and attack the rim.
If Edwards is not back to being Edwards yet, the Wolves need offense from other sources, and that means pace and rim pressure become essential. Bones Highland, Ayo Dosunmu and, Terrence Shannon Jr. are the types of guys who can inject some burst into the game by getting downhill and making Charlotte’s defense react. Minnesota cannot afford to spend 48 minutes walking the ball up, running a static set, and watching someone jack up a late-clock bailout jumper. Push off rebounds. Pressure the paint. Create easy looks in transition and force Charlotte to defend on the move. Even if the three-point shot is shaky, the Wolves have enough athleticism and enough downhill players to generate good offense by attacking before the defense gets organized.

#4. Hit your shots — at the line and from deep.
The Wolves shot 65 percent from the free-throw line against Philadelphia, and while that was not the only reason they lost, it absolutely helped turn the final minutes into a desperate uphill climb instead of a close clutch-time stretch. There is no polite way to say this anymore: it is completely unacceptable for a team with this much shot-making talent to keep punting away uncontested points from the stripe. It has been annoying all season. In the playoffs, it could be fatal. The same goes for the three-point line. Friday was not just an Ant disaster from deep, although 0-for-7 from your star certainly doesn’t help. DiVincenzo has looked off. Bones and Ayo have had hot stretches, but need to be steadier. This offense does not need to be elite every night, but it has to stop sabotaging itself with rotten efficiency in the two key scoring areas on the board: free throws and open threes.

#5. Use this game to get right, not just to get by.
This is the biggest thing. At this point, it may be less about obsessing over whether the Wolves can climb to fifth or whether they are locked into sixth and more about whether they can enter the postseason looking like a team you’d want no part of. That does not mean the standings no longer matter. They absolutely do. The Lakers could still slide and maybe that fifth seed becomes an easy ticket to round two. There are enough moving pieces left that Minnesota cannot just sit tight and accept its fate. But beyond all that, the Wolves need this game as a tune-up, a stabilizer, a confidence builder. They need Edwards to look more like himself. They need the offense to function. They need the defense to feel connected. They need to start stacking quality basketball, not just surviving individual nights. A solid win against this feisty Charlotte team could help them get back on balance if they approach it correctly.

The runway is getting short now. The regular season has gone from long and meandering to urgent and loud. And after the emotional swings of the two weeks, the Boston win, the Houston miracle, the Detroit stumbles, and the Philly fade, the Wolves need something solid. Something that feels like progress instead of another go-round on the rollercoaster.

This team may not ultimately control where it lands in the standings. Maybe the sixth seed is already inevitable. But they do control whether they go into the postseason looking organized, dangerous, and ready to punch back. That is what these final games are really about. Not just winning them, but using them to rediscover what their best basketball actually looks like.

And if they can do that against Charlotte, if they can shake off the Philly fog, hit some shots, defend with edge, dominate the glass, and get Edwards back into orbit, then maybe the story of this season is not that they fell short of where they wanted to be, but that they found the right version of themselves just in time.

Suns Reacts: Suns fans seem to know which matchup they want

Nov 2, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (right) against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

If the Phoenix Suns make the playoffs, it’s a near certainty they’ll face the Oklahoma City or the San Antonio Spurs. The team will most likely be the seventh or eighth seed in the Western Conference, depending on how they perform in the play-in tournament. There’s a slim chance they can surpass the Minnesota Timberwolves for the sixth seed, but it’s highly unlikely.

With the Thunder and Spurs being the most likely candidates for the team to play in the first round, we asked Suns fans who’d they rather play. The vote speaks loudly.

I am not surprised by the results one bit. The Thunder are the strong favorites to win the title again and come out of the Western Conference, and have given the Suns more trouble than the Spurs have this season. In four games against the Suns this year, Oklahoma City is 3-1 and handed Phoenix its worst loss in franchise history back in December. Additionally, the defending champions are the healthiest they’ve been all season, just in time for the playoffs with Jalen Williams back in the lineup, and they just walloped the streaking Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Spurs look to be no piece of cake, they’re inexperienced. Boasting the second-best record in the NBA and the second-shortest odds to win the West and the title, typically it takes teams at least one or two playoff up and downs to become formidable threats to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, and the Spurs were not even in the play-in tournament last year, let alone the playoffs, with a mostly similar roster from a year ago. Their biggest additions from a season ago are bench players Luke Kornet and Dylan Harper Jr. Phoenix has also had better luck against the Spurs than the Thunder this year.

The two teams split their four matchups against each other, with the Suns winning the first two and the Spurs winning the final two. The last time the two teams played came just a few weeks ago, when Victor Webmanyama hit a game-winner in the final moments in San Antonio’s comeback win. Wembanyama is the strong favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and one of the leaders in the MVP race. Phoenix held the All-Star to one of his worst games of the season back in November, when they limited him to his lowest scoring game of the season, when he scored nine points on 14 shots. The home team won every game in the season series.

With how terrific Wembanyama and the rest of the Spurs have been, it would not be a surprise to see them soar during the playoffs; it’s just an unproven concept. Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio provide a challenge; they’re the two best teams in the league for a reason, but the Spurs are the unproven bunch.

Viral post over hawk hiding in plain sight sparks discussion

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: The Atlanta Hawks logo at center court as seen prior to the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 3, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A post on reddit was the genesis of viral reactions earlier this week.

The user named mandevillan admitted that they had never seen the Hawk in the ‘Pac-Man’ logo used by the team as an alternate since 2014. The logo itself is a revamping of a bygone era for the franchise (and it’s seemingly more widely used that the primary logo that has “ATLANTA HAWKS BASKETBALL” in a ring around the hawk — even at halfcourt in State Farm Arena).

This person had been looking at this logo from right to left, apparently.

Atlanta Hawks logo

From the post:

I’ve been a fan since I was a kid who moved to Atlanta in 1992. Thirty-plus years!

I was on NBA.com just now looking at standings, and I noticed something that I never have before…I finally saw the Hawks logo the way it was meant to be seen.

My whole life I’ve been viewing it right to left. It always looked like some predatory Pac-Man-esque creature, like a hawk with a single tooth and open beak snapping at prey or something.

But today, for the first time ever, I viewed it left to right. And it’s clearly just… a hawk. In flight probably. That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

I feel like an idiot. Thirty years. I can’t be the only one. Right? Right??

That post drew ridicule from people. How could you not clearly see the Hawks with its eye and beak???

A quick backstory on the history of the logo (much of this info came via the great Chris Creamer at SportsLogos dot net). The original design debuted in 1972, just the fifth season since the franchise moved from St. Louis to Atlanta.

That logo had the hawk titled in an upwards direction from left to right. It’s an iconic and clean look that perfectly uses minimalism to great effect. I mean, just look at these warmup jersey sets:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – 1993: Dominique Wilkins #21 of the Atlanta Hawks stretches against the New Jersey Nets during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 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 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

But since the Hawks weren’t able to bring back the logo in its original form in 2014, they made a primary and an alternate logo that contained a re-designed Hawk outline, going from “ATLANTA HAWKS BASKETBALL CLUB” back to “ATLANTA HAWKS BASKETBALL” in the writing of the primary logo in 2020.

Pac-Man, the arcade game character, came out in 1980. You know, the loveable guy that gobble up white pellets and tries to avoid the ghosts chasing him.

That original character was just a yellow circle with a pie-shaped cutout for a mouth to the side:

An attendee walks past a Pac-Man logo painted on the ground at the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in Mountain View, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Google's artificial intelligence-based voice Assistant is on more than 100 million devices now, and the company is leveraging a longtime competitor to expand the technology to even more people. Photographer: Michael Short/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images

So when you overlay the Hawks logo with the original Pac-Man, you can see the resemblance and reason behind the colloquial name — the ‘Pac-Man’ Hawks logo.

But, man, missing the hawk in the logo for almost 35 years? And then admitting that on the wide world web? You couldn’t torture that info out of me.


What do you think? Did you ever misinterpret the old or even current logo? Let me know in the comments.