BOTTOM LINE: Detroit faces Philadelphia in Eastern Conference action Saturday.
The 76ers are 25-24 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 50.2 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 11.3.
The Pistons are 35-12 in Eastern Conference play. Detroit averages 117.5 points and has outscored opponents by 7.9 points per game.
The 116.5 points per game the 76ers score are 6.9 more points than the Pistons allow (109.6). The Pistons are shooting 48.2% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.8% the 76ers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pistons won 131-109 in the last matchup on March 12. Duncan Robinson led the Pistons with 19 points, and MarJon Beauchamp led the 76ers with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Maxey is averaging 28.7 points, 6.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the past 10 games.
Ausar Thompson is averaging 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and two steals for the Pistons. Jalen Duren is averaging 22.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 7-3, averaging 122.5 points, 46.4 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 7.5 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points per game.
Pistons: 8-2, averaging 119.2 points, 44.6 rebounds, 31.0 assists, 9.9 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee).
Pistons: Marcus Sasser: day to day (hip), Tobias Harris: day to day (knee), Cade Cunningham: out (lung), Isaiah Stewart: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (39-38, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (20-57, 14th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Sunday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles will try to keep its three-game road win streak alive when the Clippers take on Sacramento.
The Kings are 3-10 against opponents in the Pacific Division. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Clippers are 8-6 against opponents in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is 18-27 against opponents over .500.
The Kings are shooting 46.6% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.9% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers are shooting 48.5% from the field, 1.0% lower than the 49.5% the Kings' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Kings won the last matchup 118-109 on March 15. DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points to help lead the Kings to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is scoring 18.6 points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 54.6% over the last 10 games.
Kawhi Leonard is averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and two steals for the Clippers. Darius Garland is averaging 19.4 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-6, averaging 112.3 points, 43.2 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points per game.
Clippers: 5-5, averaging 115.3 points, 38.8 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Russell Westbrook: out (foot), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Malik Monk: day to day (shoulder), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Clippers: Isaiah Jackson: out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Jazz (21-57, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (61-16, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah is looking to stop its eight-game slide with a win against Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are 38-9 in Western Conference games. Oklahoma City ranks second in the Western Conference with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.
The Jazz are 1-14 against Northwest Division opponents. Utah ranks third in the league with 29.4 assists per game led by Isaiah Collier averaging 7.2.
The Thunder score 118.9 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 125.6 the Jazz give up. The Jazz score 9.7 more points per game (117.2) than the Thunder give up (107.5).
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Thunder won 129-125 in overtime in the last meeting on Jan. 8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 46 points, and Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Holmgren is shooting 55.0% and averaging 16.9 points for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.5 points over the last 10 games.
Kyle Filipowski is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 7.1 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 46.9 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points per game.
Jazz: 1-9, averaging 116.6 points, 42.5 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.6 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Alex Caruso: day to day (illness), Luguentz Dort: day to day (undisclosed), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Elijah Harkless: day to day (hamstring), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas faces the Los Angeles Lakers after Cooper Flagg scored 51 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic.
The Mavericks are 13-34 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas gives up 119.3 points to opponents and has been outscored by 5.7 points per game.
The Lakers are 30-17 against conference opponents. Los Angeles ranks eighth in the NBA scoring 52.1 points per game in the paint led by LeBron James averaging 11.0.
The Mavericks average 113.6 points per game, 1.4 fewer points than the 115.0 the Lakers allow. The Lakers average 11.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 12.9 per game the Mavericks allow.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Lakers won the last matchup 124-104 on Feb. 13. James scored 28 points to help lead the Lakers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Flagg is averaging 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 15.5 points and 3.7 assists over the last 10 games.
James is scoring 20.6 points per game and averaging 6.0 rebounds for the Lakers. Austin Reaves is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 117.8 points, 43.4 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.9 points per game.
Lakers: 8-2, averaging 116.9 points, 40.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.3 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), P.J. Washington: day to day (illness), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Marvin Bagley III: day to day (shoulder).
Lakers: Marcus Smart: day to day (ankle), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Phoenix Suns (42-35, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (29-48, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Chicago; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago heads into the matchup against Phoenix as losers of six games in a row.
The Bulls are 18-21 on their home court. Chicago ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 17.0 fast break points per game led by Matas Buzelis averaging 2.7.
The Suns are 18-20 on the road. Phoenix ranks seventh in the NBA allowing only 111.3 points while holding opponents to 47.2% shooting.
The Bulls score 116.2 points per game, 4.9 more points than the 111.3 the Suns give up. The Bulls average 112.8 points per game, 8.8 fewer points than the 121.6 the Bulls allow to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Bulls won 105-103 in the last matchup on March 6.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Giddey is shooting 44.8% and averaging 17.0 points for the Bulls. Buzelis is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.
Devin Booker is averaging 25.7 points and six assists for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 2-8, averaging 119.3 points, 44.0 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.8 points per game.
Suns: 3-7, averaging 114.7 points, 42.3 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Jalen Smith: out for season (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Nick Richards: day to day (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe).
Suns: Haywood Highsmith: day to day (knee), Amir Coffey: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (18-59, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (48-29, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Eastern Conference foes Cleveland and Indiana meet on Sunday.
The Cavaliers have gone 30-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 28.3 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.1.
The Pacers are 14-34 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana averages 13.7 turnovers per game and is 13-25 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
The Cavaliers are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points lower than the 49.1% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers are shooting 45.9% from the field, 0.5% lower than the 46.4% the Cavaliers' opponents have shot this season.
The two teams match up for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers 120-116 in their last meeting on Jan. 7. Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 20 points, and Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Donovan Mitchell is averaging 27.7 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. Harden is averaging 20.6 points over the last 10 games.
Siakam is averaging 24 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 121.0 points, 44.2 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points per game.
Pacers: 3-7, averaging 123.0 points, 38.3 rebounds, 35.0 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.1 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), Jaylon Tyson: out (toe).
Pacers: T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back), Ivica Zubac: out for season (rib), Pascal Siakam: day to day (back), Jarace Walker: day to day (back), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (neck), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 3: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks kicked off the weekend with a Friday night matchup against the Orlando Magic. Both teams came in ice cold, each 2-8 in their past 10 games. But Orlando had too much firepower against a shorthanded Dallas, as the Mavericks home losing streak extended to 14. But it didn’t matter because there was a bigger storyline for Dallas tonight: Cooper Flagg is special. Here are the grades, as the Mavs shift focus to the Lakers on Sunday.
Cooper Flagg: A+
51 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 34 MIN
Holy cow. No teenager had ever scored 50 points in an NBA game – until tonight. At 19 years and 103 days old, Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to hit the 50-point mark (51 actually). He was special tonight. Flagg was 19/30 from the floor, 6/9 from three, and 7/7 from the free throw line. An aggressive Cooper Flagg is a Cooper Flagg that we like to see. From the jump, Flagg was searching for his shot and getting to the rim with relative ease. Even with a physical Magic team hounding him all night, Flagg found a way to get to his spots, and his jumper was hotter than fish grease. When he starts taking pullup jumpers from the perimeter, you know he’s in rhythm.
Naji Marshall: C-
9 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL – 24 MIN
This was an uncharacteristic Naji Marshall game. Marshall was just 3/12 from the floor, missing several of his patented paint floaters. He just didn’t have the touch tonight and was a team worst -16. As icing on the cake, he was ejected with 10:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, after receiving his second technical foul.
Klay Thompson: A
18 PTS / 2 AST / 1 REB – 22 MIN
Klay Thompson is a lot more like us regular folk than one might think. This man just shows up for work, does what he was hired to do, and goes home. He was the hot hand from beyond the arc tonight for Dallas, going 4/10. If you needed a reminder, Klay is closing in on 3,000 three pointers made in his career and if he stays a Maverick this offseason, he’ll do it sometime in 2026. He currently sits at 2,891. And once he eclipses that mark, he’ll be one of only three players to hit 3,000 career threes, joining Stephen Curry and James Harden.
Max Christie: B+
14 PTS / 5 REB / 3 AST – 29 MIN
Max Christie, after losing his touch for a few games this season, has been better as of late. He hit a couple threes to give the Mavericks offense life early but was largely silent for the rest of the game. But he impacts the game defensively. Christie was a team high +7 on a night the Mavs lost by 11.
Brandon Williams: B-
23 PTS / 5 AST / 2 REB / 2 STL / 3 TO – 26 MIN
Williams’ ability to attack and finish is never an issue. He has one of the quickest first steps of any guard in the NBA and he’s past you before you can blink. But he had loose hands tonight, adding three turnovers to his five assists. The scoring is there, but Williams is limited in creating offense for others.
Ryan Nembhard: C+
2 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 3 TO – 21 MIN
Nembhard is a good facilitator. He can run and offense and help get guys into their spots. But his lack of size is too often exploited on both ends of the floor. Sometimes his offense can make up for his defense, but it didn’t tonight. Scoring two points with five assists and three turnovers just isn’t good enough.
Daniel Gafford: B
7 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 20 MIN
Gafford has been through a lot this season. He has no real point guard to play off of and his injuries have kept him from maintaining any consistency in his play. While the stat sheet doesn’t jump off the page tonight, his energy and effort were much needed as the Mavs are desperately searching for something to inject them with some life on a nightly basis.
Dwight Powell: B
0 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 25 MIN
This is the most Dwight Powell game of Dwight Powell games. He didn’t score but did grab a few rebounds and still moved like he’s 22. Powell was at a severe disadvantage tonight with Orlando’s athletic big men, but as he always does, he tried. And solely for his effort, he would get an A.
Final Thoughts
Orlando, despite its recent struggles, is just the clear better team. They shot well from three, beat the Mavs up in the paint, and just found ways to expose the Mavericks on defense. But the real story was Cooper Flagg. There’s nothing else to be said that hasn’t been already. He’s special and one-of-a-kind. Even if he doesn’t win Rookie of the Year, he’ll be amongst the league’s elite…very soon.
A few notes from the Knicks' win over Chicago on Friday...
ROTATION CHANGE?
Mike Brown went with Jeremy Sochan as his backup center against the Bulls. He was pleased with Sochan's effort.
"It allowed us to do a lot of things like switch pick and rolls," Brown said while giving Sochan the Defensive Player of the Game nod. "It brought a different element to our game. Not just offensively with the speed, but defensively with switching a lot of things and just keeping the ball in front of us."
An interesting wrinkle to Sochan's rotation minutes? Neither Jose Alvarado nor Mohamed Diawara played in the first three quarters of Friday's game.
Afterward, Brown was asked about Alvarado's role with the team. It's a "priority" to play Miles McBride and Landry Shamet at the guard spots off the bench right now, Brown said.
"We think Jose has done a fantastic job for us," Brown said. "… Deuce is getting healthier and Landry's getting healthy and trying to find minutes for those guys -- both of those guys are capable of playing that (backup guard) spot -- is going to be a priority because they've proven themselves this year for us."
Speaking of McBride's health, he was asked about tweaking his groin/ab muscle last Sunday against Oklahoma City. McBride reiterated that the tweak against OKC is part of the process as he returns from sports hernia surgery.
"It's just kind of like a tweak; it's a painful tweak," McBride said. "(It's) like someone stabbing your groin, hip and ab at the same time. It's not fun. I'll get back right. All glory to God."
Brown was surprised to hear that OG Anunoby has only made one All-Defensive team in his career (second team in 2022-23).
"It's bulls--t, and I can say that with a straight face 'cause he's a great defender and he does a lot of different things that people don't see on that end of the floor for us and for other teams he played for," Brown said. "But more importantly, his versatility is just off the charts and you can do a lot of things with your defense because of him. In my opinion, he deserves First Team All-Defense this year -- and hopefully the powers that be will see it that way, too."
Anunoby agreed with the idea that he should have been named to more than just one All-Defensive team at this point in his career.
"I think I should've gotten it more, for sure," Anunoby said. "I think I should've gotten it last year. I think I should get it this year. That's definitely a goal of mine, coming into the season, especially defensively, being on the first team or second team -- hopefully first."
McBride was also surprised to hear that Anunoby has only made one All-Defensive team in his career. McBride calls Anunoby the "nickel" corner of the Knicks' defense, pointing out that he guards players both bigger and smaller than him.
"I think that speaks to his motor, his work ethic," McBride said. "He super important for us."
BROWN REMAINS CONFIDENT IN GROUP
The Knicks reached 50 wins on Friday night. They've won 50 or more games for three consecutive years. It's the first time a Knicks team has done that since the club had four straight 50-plus-win seasons from 1991-92 to 1994-95.
In a big-picture sense, this season is another in a great run for New York. But this year's team has been inconsistent on both ends of the floor. It has lost three straight to teams above .500.
It's hard to know what to make of the team with four games left before the postseason. What does Brown think about where his team is at the moment?
"You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders," Brown said before Friday's game. "Do I think we're there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes, I do. I've seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year. Even in games where there's quote-unquote manufactured pressure (such as the NBA Cup). We've played really good basketball.
"I like what we have in that locker room and I like the things that we've done this year, but I expect more from myself first and everybody else second."
Brown noted that his team has performed mostly well in games against Boston, the Thunder and in the NBA Cup. That means something to the head coach.
"All games you want to win, but when you go into Boston, it's different than maybe going into another arena," he said. "Or if you go into OKC, it's different than going into another arena. Those types of games, there's a lot of manufactured pressure just because they're good teams and it’s on national TV and all that good stuff. So to get that (environment) and to be able to perform at a pretty good level -- you embrace that opportunity. You want to win all games, but to win those games -- our guys have done (well) in those situations over the course of the year.
"So my belief is, (with) this group going into the playoffs when it's real, that our guys will rise to the occasion."
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 3: Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz shoots a free throw during the game against the Houston Rockets on April 3, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz’s eight-man skeleton crew space walked to another important loss, falling to Houston 106-140 on Friday night. It’s the latest stage in the team’s moon shoot to mediocrity, losing 12 out of the last 13 games, as it navigates a tricky trajectory between competing and not winning. With a Kings loss tonight, the Jazz and Sacramento will have identical records (21-57) as each team races to plant its flag on the fourth worst record in the league. For the Jazz it’s a vital effort as they try to secure the best odds possible in the upcoming lottery, hopefully landing a star who will help them re-enter the atmosphere next season as a playoff contender. As a fan, there are times when you can’t help but cheer on the grit and fight of the group of largely second- and third-unit players who are steering the team through the last games of the season. But there are other times (tonight is one example) when you have to remind yourself that in space no one can hear you scream.
Kyle Filipowski – B+
Kyle’s decisiveness in driving to the basket was on display tonight, including a couple of spin moves in the paint which left the defender in a whirl. He had the highlight of the night, defying gravity to pass the ball off the glass to himself in midair for a dunk. His three-point shot was off tonight, going 0-4, but he was active on the boards, grabbing 7 rebounds to go along with his 17 points. Like most of the team, he struggled to contain Durant and Sengun without fouling and ended up fouling out in the 4th Quarter.
Ace Bailey – B
Ace had a hard time getting into a rhythm in the first half, starting the game with a travel, a missed jumper and a turnover and picking up two early fouls. He made some adjustments at half-time and ended the game with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and a block. It wasn’t his best shooting night from three, going 2-8, but his mid-range game continues to impress as he skillfully finds his spot within the arc.
Brice Sensabaugh – B+
Brice continues to play with an edge, using his 235 lb frame to battle in the paint and scrap for loose balls. He also showed his playmaking ability, doling out a team high 5 assists, including a 2nd Quarter steal and pass to Ace for three. The development of his mid-range game and drives to the basket show the work he’s put in to expand his offensive skills. He finished the game with 20 points, 3 rebounds and a block, but also had a team high 6 turnovers.
Cody Williams – A
Cody’s impact on the game is light years from where it was at the beginning of this season. He recorded a double double tonight, leading the team with 27 points and 11 rebounds. He was particularly active on the offensive glass, snagging 5 offensive rebounds. His confidence in his mid-range game and in driving to the basket is at an all-time high. In the 1st quarter he even pulled off a Kareem-like hook shot. Once he adds a consistent three- pointer, he will be a tough player to defend.
John Konchar – C+
A rough shooting night for John, going 1-7 from the field and 1-4 from three-point territory. He was his usual scrappy self on defense, grabbing 2 offensive rebounds, creating 2 steals and blocking a shot. He also showed off his playmaking skills, dishing out 3 assists, including a no look pass to Cody for a basket in the third quarter. But his struggles in scoring hurt the Jazz in trying to compete with a red-hot Rockets squad.
Kennedy Chandler – C-
As the only true point guard in the rotation, Kennedy had an opportunity to display the ball-handling and scoring skills that have earned him a second 10 day contract. Unfortunately, it was not his night as he struggled mightily from the field, going 1-9 for 2 points and sitting on the bench the entire 3rd Quarter.
Oscar Tshiebwe – A-
Short of growing a few inches, it’s hard to see what else Oscar can do to avoid being sucked into the gravitational pull of another long stint in the G League. His scoring is much improved (15 points tonight to go along with 10 rebounds) and he vacuums up offensive rebounds like an overcharged Roomba. His effort is never in question, running the length of the floor to put home a lob from Kennedy in the 4th Quarter. His one weakness is being overpowered and outmaneuvered by bigger, stronger players and he faced one of the best tonight in Sengun.
Bez Mbeng – C-
Bez must feel like he’s still floating in zero gravity after being signed to a 2 year contract by the Jazz earlier this week. Unfortunately, the offensive onslaught from the Rockets quickly brought him back to earth. The defensive effort was certainly there—he recorded 2 steals and a block—but like the rest of his teammates, he had no answers for Sengun, Durant and company, who swarmed the court like a Klingon war party. To make matters worse, Bez was 0-4 from the field, on a night when the Jazz needed all the scoring they could get.
But he’s intent on honing his body to be even better in 2026-27.
“Everything’s been going pretty good post-surgery, just rehabbing now, trying to stay in shape and stuff like that so I have a good summer,” Sharpe said. “I’d say I feel like I could do better, but I’ve shown growth this season. So it’s just all about showing growth and getting better overall.
“From Year 1 to now, I feel like this season was another year of growth, so I’m just trying to build off that and continue to show growth in my career.”
Day’ron Sharpe of the Brooklyn Nets slams the ball during the first half when the Brooklyn Nets played the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Barclays Center. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Speaking to the local media for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his left thumb, Sharpe was coming off his best season.
Sharpe averaged career highs of 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot a team-best 60.1 percent overall. He’d always struggled finishing around the rim amid taller centers, but he took a quantum leap in that category as well.
He’s worked to reshape his body over the years, dropping baby fat and leaning out. But Sharpe will look to take another step toward that end.
“My body still has been one of my biggest things,” said Sharpe, 24. “So just my body in general because I want to be more explosive next season. I’m trying to dunk on guys more next season.
“My 3-pointer — I believe I can shoot the ball great — so just keep building my confidence in that area and just being more comfortable with the ball in my hands. The style of basketball we play, we run a lot of split game, so just being more comfortable with the basketball in my hand so I can make better decisions when I have the basketball in my hand.”
Part of that focus on reshaping his body was to make himself more explosive vertically, to dunk on one end and to protect the rim on the other.
But it’s also to enable him to play more extended minutes, and possibly vie with Nic Claxton for a starting role.
“I’d say both,” Sharpe said. “Me working on my body helps me be more vertical overall, just losing some weight, also. And then the style of basketball I play, for me to be able to play that style of basketball for longer periods of time. So I’d just say both.”
Since joining the Nets, Sharpe has been a backup, but as he has consistently improved, he’s become more and more of a viable contender for the starting job.
After inking Sharpe to a team-friendly two-year, $12.5 million contract last summer, the Nets hold a $6.25 million team option for next season. But he’s outperformed his contract, despite the abbreviated campaign.
Would he negotiate a long-term extension this summer?
“I don’t know,” Sharpe said. “Whatever the team has in plan for me, that’s what they got.”
Sharpe’s offensive rebound percentage (18.5) is the best in league history for players who’ve logged 200 games. But he’s rebounding out other parts of his game.
Day’ron Sharpe of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after he slams the ball over Rayan Rupert of the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, March 9, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“It’s been his work ethic and how much he’s matured, and credit to him to put the work in and being consistent, how he’s changed his body,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “Very happy. Not just the work ethic and the production, but also the type of person that we have in the locker room. Day’Ron has got a big personality, fills the room, everybody loves him and that’s important for a group. And he cares and he wants to compete and he wants to get better. The sky’s the limit for him.
“We’ve been working with him playing longer stretches, and when Nic’s been out, he’s been able to do it.
“Those experiences are important. And it’s not just me saying it, it is within those two that are our centers and the anchor of defense. When they’ve played very well, our defense has been very good. There’s areas of improvement from efficiency to percentages and shots, but I’m not really worried because if he continues with this trend, everything is going to work out very well.”
Apr 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
There’s always a little drama in Philadelphia.
The Sixers on Friday overcame a slow start to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-103 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The win, their eighth victory in their last 11 games, improved their record to 43-34. They sit in the sixth seed and final guaranteed playoff spot with five games remaining.
But Joel Embiid, who shook off early struggles to have a solid overall game, was still unhappy with the team’s decision to not allow him to play in Wednesday’s win over the Wizards in D.C. The star center was dealing with an illness in the Sixers’ loss to the Heat in Miami on Monday. The team then listed him as out Wednesday after he didn’t participate in shootaround that morning.
That led Embiid to confuse everyone on April Fools, a day where his Tr-oel persona usually shines. He made multiple posts signifying his desire to play that night in the nation’s capital.
Must be APRIL FOOLS joke???? Played against Miami in the same conditions and I’m planning to play tonight!!! #SweatItOuthttps://t.co/EAMq2679u2
It was president of basketball operations Daryl Morey who seemingly made the call. Gina Mizell of The Inquirer cited a phone call with Morey to get Embiid’s definitive status.
And it was Morey who Embiid deferred to during his postgame availability Friday:
“I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball. I wasn’t allowed to play basketball, so I think this is more of a question for Daryl Morey and whoever makes the decisions. Going into Miami, I was pretty sick, but I understood how important the game was and I still want to go out there and give us a chance to try to do something. … Felt a little better going into Washington. Definitely much better than I felt against Miami. Woke up [Wednesday], didn’t sleep until like 5 or 6 in the morning, with that, I couldn’t make it to shootaround. And then after that I found out online that I wasn’t playing that night. So, that kind of caught me off guard and that pissed me off. But then again, I guess they make the decisions, so it doesn’t matter what I think or not. I just got to follow. So, to answer your question, it’s more of a question for Daryl and them. I don’t know what’s going on. I just want to play basketball.”
It sounds like Embiid’s frustration comes in part because he found out about his playing status on social media. At the same time, this is his version of events and surely the team tried to get a hold of him before officially declaring him out.
Ultimately, this could be nothing. Embiid wanted to play. He missed shootaround (and they were playing an aggressively tanking team), so he was ruled out. Could there be a disconnect there between Embiid and the front office? Maybe, but this is also the kind of thing that could just as easily blow over.
While it seems highly unlikely Embiid would be available for both legs of a back-to-back, the former MVP didn’t rule out playing Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons.
“There’s a chance,” Embiid said. “I don’t know. I guess these guys decide to let me play or not. So, whatever they tell me, I guess I got to follow.”
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 3: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks played the Orlando Magic on Friday night, losing 138-127. Dallas kept things close for most of the first half, but fell behind big in the third quarter and couldn’t recover from there despite a big game from Cooper Flagg.
51: Cooper Flagg’s point total
Flagg was in peak form Friday night, making a push for Rookie of the Year while still playing within both himself and the team’s flow. Flagg is aware there is precious little time left to make his case for ROY, and may have caught wind of ESPN’s straw poll that currently has him as runner up. He put on a highly efficient show against Orlando, going 19-for-30 from the floor including 6-for-9 from deep. He scored from everywhere – dunks that ended with him hanging from the rim like Spider-Man, a variety of midrange jumpers, and a few from beyond the arc including a nice step-back. According to Statsmuse, Flagg joins Michael Jordan as the only rookies with multiple 45-point games since the NBA-ABA merger. He is also the youngest player (and first teenager) to ever have a 50-point game!
71: First half points given up by the Mavs
Offense was not lacking for either team, but if you believed Dallas took a lead into halftime with their 58 points, no one would blame you. Instead, they trailed by 13 points. They allowed Orlando to shoot just north of 57% from both beyond the arc and overall in the first half. Things didn’t improve much from there, as the Magic carried nearly those same absurdly inflated percentages throughout the rest of the game as well.
14:The number of three-pointers made by each team
The Mavericks are not the most prolific or effective three-point shooting team, so it was nice to see Klay Thompson and Max Christie get hot in the early going. Cooper Flagg joined them and the trio combined to make 13 from beyond the arc (Naji Marshall made one as well). Matching the other teams’ makes from deep is an accomplishment for the Mavs, however it took Dallas 16 more attempts than Orlando to make those 14 treys.
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When asked about the Knicks’ recent slow starts before Friday’s matchup with the Bulls, Josh Hart was candid.
It’s something the team’s dealt with for multiple years, and he couldn’t pinpoint why.
“We’ve been getting off to slow starts for two years now,” Hart said. “If I had the answers, we would be better.”
In their past four games before Friday, the Knicks had varying first-quarter results, trailing early in losses to Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Houston before a 48-point frame kick-started a win over Memphis.
Guard Josh Hart of the New York Knicks makes a jumping pass over forward Patrick Williams #44 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Madison Square Garden on April 3, 2026, in New York, NY. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
But on Friday against the Bulls, the Knicks looked like a completely different animal. They jumped up 20-1 and held Chicago without a basket until seven minutes in. That led to a 78-41 halftime advantage, putting the game away early.
The Knicks eventually prevailed 136-96, maintaining their position as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with four regular-season games remaining.
“Tonight we started the right way, and when we do, we might jump on somebody,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said postgame. “It’s about making our opponents feel us executing our defense the right way every possession, not giving up any easy baskets in transition and finishing it with the defense rebound.”
Before the game, Brown credited the Knicks’ recent sluggish starts to poor defense. With the playoffs on the horizon, his team had to start on the right foot.
“A lot of it has been our defense,” Brown said. “In the first quarter, we’re 19th [in the league] right now, and fourth quarter, we’re first by a mile. So for us to bring that same sense of urgency to start the games defensively, it’s going to be big for us.”
Against Charlotte, the Knicks were down 24-14 early and eventually trailed by 21. Versus the Thunder, they started down seven. In Houston, those struggles were glaring when they faced an early 22-5 deficit.
But across their past two games — albeit against subpar opponents — the Knicks have improved.
Guard Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives down court as forward Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
The Knicks led the Grizzlies by 17 after one half. Hart credited the offensive success to aggressive ball movement. Friday, that stretched to a whopping 37-point halftime lead.
“Tonight, we just came out with a different energy,” Miles McBride said. “The first five really set a tone, and the bench follows.”
Early on, the Knicks had success wanted inside, accruing 40 first-half points in the paint. Usually known for his rebounding, Mitchell Robinson dropped 15 of his 17 points in the opening half — his most in a game since mid-December.
Defensively, they lived up to Brown’s wishes, too. Chicago had one point and zero made buckets until about five minutes left in the first quarter and shot 35 percent at halftime.
The blistering start helped New York easily close out the win. For a team looking like it was headed south, it was a welcome sign as the postseason looms.
Apr 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) congratulates Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) after a play against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Entering the final stretch of the 2025-2026 season, there was never a question whether the Rockets should win against a young, inexperienced, and oft injured Utah Jazz. The question was, can the Rockets get up big and be able to rest their key players in the 4th quarter, rather than let yet another inferior team hang around and threaten to steal a game the Rockets should win? Thankfully for the hometown faithful, the answer to that question is yes.
After knotting the game up at 11 in the first quarter, the Rockets would go on a 23-11 run and never look back. The Rockets flexed their muscle over the Jazz shooting 55.4 percent for the game, including 46.9 percent from the three-point line. With 30 assists and just 10 turnovers the Rockets were able to avoid a let down late in the game.
Six players scored in double-figures with Kevin Durant leading the way with 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Alperen Sengun scored 19 points, also shooting 8-of-12 from the field. Amen Thompson chipped in with 21 points, 8 rebounds and Reed Sheppard had another quality game at starting point guard with 12 points, 7 assists and shooting 4-of-8 from the arc. Jabari Smith and Tari Eason scored 18 points and 16 points respectively.
Now that the Rockets have clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the bar is obviously set higher than winning what was really a meaningless game to the Jazz, who organizationally had more incentive to lose than win. However a five-game win streak with just five games left on the schedule is nothing to shake a stick at. The Rockets can’t really afford to try and play the matchup game headed into the postseason. They need to win as many games as possible and be playing their best brand of basketball of the season if they hope to make any type of deep run. Other than perhaps health, that will be the most important thing moving forward.
The Rockets get to experience a playoff atmosphere in San Francisco as their next game will be against the Warriors with Stephen Curry returning to the lineup hoping to help his team clinch a play-in spot. The game starts at 9:00 PM CST and as always we will have all the coverage yo need right here on TDS.
