Category: Basketball

Draymond isn't excited about play-in, doesn't believe tournament works anymore originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green isn’t champing at the bit about the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Still, it’s a slim chance of keeping the Warriors’ playoff hopes alive.

“It’s not exciting. It’s not,” Green told reporters after Golden State’s win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. “But you know, I’m a competitor. Going into the game, I’m going to do all I can to win. But it’s not that exciting.”

The Warriors, locked in as the Western Conference’s No. 10 seed, will face either the Trail Blazers in Portland or the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday in a do-or-die game between the ninth and 10th seeds.

If they win, the play-in experience doesn’t end there.

Should Golden State defeat either Portland or Los Angeles, it will go on to face the loser of the play-in game between the seventh and eighth seeds — which will be on the road against either the Trail Blazers, Clippers or Phoenix Suns.

“You go on the road in a game that you need to win, as a competitor, you’re going to rise to the challenge,” Green said. “But I’m not going to sleep tomorrow night like, ‘Man, we got this play-in next week. Got to get my rest.’ It ain’t that exciting.”

The winner of that second play-in game will advance to a first-round best-of-seven playoff series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

But Green, who made five consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2014 to 2019, and won four titles in eight years, isn’t enthused by the structure.

The play-in officially was adopted as a full-time part of the NBA playoff picture in 2022, but with the recent rise in tanking across the league, Green believes the tournament has lost its purpose.

“I think it worked initially. And now, to have a team stuck in 10th, it ain’t working. We could’ve lost our last 15 games and been stuck at 10th, it ain’t working. But it works for a little bit. If you could be stuck in 10th and lose the last 15 games of your season, it ain’t working. I think the play-in was made for teams to not tank. I think that’s the part that everyone forgets.

“The play-in came about to make teams maybe through 12 or 13 [seed] keep going. They ain’t keep going. They slowed down. Then they hit the brakes. I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go in the game for no reason — in the penalty. It ain’t working.”

This will be the third consecutive play-in appearance for Golden State. In the 2023-24 season, the Warriors were eliminated in a win-or-go-home game against the Kings. The following year, they made it out of the play-in to advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Third time’s a charm? We’ll have to wait and see.

But perhaps Green’s frustration with the tournament will prompt the team to avoid it altogether moving forward.

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Last Monday, the Spurs showcased 2014 Spurs NBA Champion Boris Diaw at the Frost Bank Center during their matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. He treated the crowd to a reenactment of his now iconic photo.

Iconic 🤣👏 @theborisdiawpic.twitter.com/Jla8F05f3J

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) April 7, 2026

On Wednesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers came to town, bringing back former players Sidy Cissoko, Blake Wesley, and head coach Tiago Splitter, another member of the Spurs 2014 NBA Championship.

The night before, both Diaw and Splitter met up with 4x NBA Champion and Spurs legend Manu Ginobili for dinner at a local restaurant.

🇺🇸Loved catching up last night with my good friends coach @tiagosplitter and the one and only @theborisdiaw. Missed them!! Hope to see you guys soon again!
🇦🇷Visita a SA de mis amigotes Boris y Tiago! Los extrañaba! Gran cena gran anoche! 🫶 pic.twitter.com/b5ZuV5OOUe

— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) April 8, 2026

During Splitter’s pregame presser, Splitter shared about the reunion.

“It was great. Seeing my friends and talk a little bit about life, and basketball, get an update on what they are doing. You know, we’re good friends. Of course — many, many battles together.”

Splitter added that Boris picked up the check “because I took the one before that…and it was a French restaurant.”

The three have been great friends for many years. At the time the Spurs won that 2014 title, they were often a quartet with Patty Mills. The response to the post was such that Ginobili added a comment, “For those asking @Patty_Mills didn’t join us since the guy is hooping in Spain. Too far! #NoMoreFrogging”

With so many teammates coming over the years, it is special to see how these guys have continued to seek one another out.

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Warriors still waiting for a real glimpse at their highest on-court priority originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Roughly an hour before tipoff Tuesday night, the Warriors realized they would be deprived of watching a performance that in the final week of this unsatisfying NBA season matters more than winning.

They will be deprived of it again Thursday night.

The two-man game between Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porziņģis, the team’s highest on-court priority, was unavailable against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday will not face the Lakers on Thursday.

Porziņģis was listed as questionable Tuesday afternoon and later declared out with right knee soreness. He was back on the injury report Wednesday afternoon, this time listed as out with an illness. On that same report, Curry was listed as questionable.

Injuries, aches and illnesses continue to undermine Golden State’s season.

After hoping to evaluate the Curry-Porziņģis synergy for at least four games, the Warriors now will have no more than two, assuming both are available Friday at the Sacramento Kings. The short runway limits evaluation to imagination rather than reality.

This matters because Curry and Porziņģis, together, project to have the most influence on Golden State’s offense in the NBA play-in tournament and, perhaps, the playoffs. The mind’s eye sees fantastic basketball, but nothing would confirm the truth better than seeing these two together against a defense.

Curry and Porziņģis have talked about the importance of sharing minutes, as has coach Steve Kerr, who late Tuesday night remained hopeful.

“I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Kerr said of Porziņģis’ being scratched.  “We’ll know in the next day or two.”

Kerr and the Warriors were bitten once again by the KP Experience. He is questionable until he steps onto the court, so it is wise to always brace for the possibility.

The Warriors, 10th in the Western Conference, will open the play-in tournament on the road next Tuesday or Wednesday to face either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Los Angeles Clippers. They’ve lost three of four to the Trail Blazers this season and two of three to the Clippers. A fourth game against LA comes Sunday in the regular-season finale.

Golden State’s next two games are the home finale Thursday night, followed by a late-night bus trip to Sacramento to confront the Kings on Friday before a late-night flight to LA.

The Warriors hope to see Curry and Porziņģis on Friday and Sunday. Two late-season games build some level of chemistry rarely is sufficient.

Curry and Porziņģis shared the court for the first time on Sunday, posting a plus-2 in two three-minute stints in a loss to Houston. They almost certainly would have spent more time together down the stretch, but Porziņģis fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

Those six minutes didn’t offer much to assess. Porziņģis seemed out of sorts throughout, perhaps affected by his foul trouble. 

Aside from Curry, all the key healthy players on the roster have shared the floor with Porziņģis. Al Horford, who is expected to return this week, doesn’t need additional minutes with KP. Neither does Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Brandon Podziemski, Gary Payton II or Gui Santos.

It’s Curry who matters most. He and Porziņģis are the two guys most likely to bedevil an opposing defense with Curry’s movement and KP using his 7-foot-3 height to scan the floor and create out of the post. This could in some ways mimic the Curry-Butler dynamic – with the bonus of Porziņģis’ ability to space the floor.

Or so one would think.

Seeing it, however, is the only way to know how they would impact each other. It’s a given that Curry lifts the offensive potential of every teammate. That much was on display Tuesday with De’Anthony Melton.

After a miserable March, shooting 39 percent from the field, including 25 percent from deep, while Curry was sidelined, Melton’s offensive efficiency soared. He scored a team-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 beyond the arc. Yes, this was the Kings, but this was a reminder that Melton still is a weapon.

“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that he’s broken out here the last couple games,” Kerr said. “With Steph’s return there’s so much more focus on Steph, and that opens up the floor.”

Curry and Porziņģis understand this would apply to them. Theoretically. They’ve heard about the virtues of them playing off each other and would like to experience the rhythm.

Didn’t have a chance Tuesday night. Won’t have a chance Thursday night. Maybe Friday night. Anything but another postponement.

“We just prioritize health,” Kerr said. “The rhythm comes after that. We’ll do whatever we have to do to be healthy, and we’ll hope to find some rhythm from there.”

Health issues have torn the delicate fabric of Golden State’s season. There is no sign of it going away. Until it does, this team is but an abstract concept. 

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Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder clinched top spot in the Western Conference and home court advantage through the NBA play-offs with a 128-110 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The comfortable victory ensured the Thunder held off the San Antonio Spurs to secure the NBA's best regular-season record of 64-16 and claim the Western Conference's number one seed for the third consecutive season.

Thunder's Chet Holmgren led the way with 30 points and 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 20 points and 11 assists to extend his record for the most consecutive games with 20 or more points to 140.

The Clippers, who had won eight of their past nine matches, face a key trip to Portland Trail Blazers on Friday with the two sides battling for eighth place in the Western Conference.

The team that finishes in eighth will only require one win in the play-in tournament to advance to the play-offs, while the team finishing ninth will have to beat 10th seeds the Golden State Warriors and the loser of the seventh against eighth match to keep their season alive.

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Trail Blazers 112-101 to extend their record in their past 20 games to 18-2. Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox starred with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.

The Denver Nuggets won their 10th consecutive match to tighten their grip on third place in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray scored a team-high 26 points in the 136-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Atlanta Hawks failed to guarantee a play-off spot after losing 122-116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers but can still secure a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference with victory in one of their final two regular-season matches.

Eastern Conference top seeds Detroit Pistons demolished the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 while the Orlando Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker scored 37 points in 37 minutes to lead his side to a 112-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Cleveland Cavaliers (51-29, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (45-35, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland looks to keep its four-game win streak intact when the Cavaliers take on Atlanta.

The Hawks have gone 26-24 against Eastern Conference teams. Atlanta scores 118.4 points while outscoring opponents by 2.5 points per game.

The Cavaliers have gone 32-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference shooting 36.0% from 3-point range.

The Hawks average 118.4 points per game, 3.1 more points than the 115.3 the Cavaliers give up. The Cavaliers average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.9 per game the Hawks give up.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers won 122-116 in the last meeting on April 8. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Johnson is averaging 22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Alexander-Walker is averaging 24.2 points over the last 10 games.

Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 17.9 points and 7.1 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 7-3, averaging 123.1 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points per game.

Cavaliers: 8-2, averaging 123.3 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.6 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).

Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson: out (toe), Thomas Bryant: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-16, first in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (52-28, third in the Western Conference)

Denver; Friday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City seeks to keep its seven-game win streak alive when the Thunder take on Denver.

The Nuggets are 10-5 in division matchups. Denver is 23-20 against opponents with a winning record.

The Thunder are 41-9 in Western Conference play. Oklahoma City ranks third in the NBA with 34.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.

The Nuggets' 14.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.1 fewer made shots on average than the 14.2 per game the Thunder give up. The Thunder average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 more makes per game than the Nuggets allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Thunder won 129-126 in the last meeting on March 9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points, and Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 32 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 27.6 points over the last 10 games.

Cason Wallace is scoring 8.6 points per game and averaging 3.1 rebounds for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.0 points and 3.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 10-0, averaging 130.6 points, 45.9 rebounds, 33.1 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points per game.

Thunder: 9-1, averaging 125.6 points, 46.3 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Peyton Watson: out (hamstring), Spencer Jones: out (hamstring).

Thunder: Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Dallas Mavericks (25-55, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (61-19, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio hosts Dallas trying to prolong its six-game home winning streak.

The Spurs are 35-15 in Western Conference games. San Antonio ranks sixth in the NBA allowing only 111.2 points per game while holding opponents to 45.0% shooting.

The Mavericks are 4-11 against opponents in the Southwest Division. Dallas ranks fifth in the league scoring 52.9 points per game in the paint led by Cooper Flagg averaging 11.3.

The Spurs average 119.6 points per game, 0.3 more points than the 119.3 the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks are shooting 46.5% from the field, 1.5% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 138-125 on Feb. 7, with Stephon Castle scoring 40 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is scoring 18.5 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Spurs. Keldon Johnson is averaging 15.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 48.4% over the last 10 games.

Max Christie is scoring 12.2 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Mavericks. John Poulakidas is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 125.5 points, 50.4 rebounds, 32.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points per game.

Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 116.1 points, 43.1 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.1 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Stephon Castle: out (knee), Victor Wembanyama: out (rib).

Mavericks: P.J. Washington: out (elbow), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Daniel Gafford: out (shoulder), Caleb Martin: out (foot), Brandon Williams: out (illness), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Naji Marshall: out (hip), Klay Thompson: out (rest).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Clippers (41-39, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (40-40, ninth in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits Portland looking to prolong its four-game road winning streak.

The Trail Blazers are 27-23 in Western Conference games. Portland is seventh in the Western Conference scoring 115.4 points while shooting 45.3% from the field.

The Clippers are 24-26 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is last in the league recording 23.8 assists per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 3.6.

The Trail Blazers score 115.4 points per game, 2.8 more points than the 112.6 the Clippers give up. The Clippers average 12.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Trail Blazers allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Trail Blazers won 114-104 in the last matchup on April 1. Jrue Holiday led the Trail Blazers with 30 points, and Leonard led the Clippers with 23 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Deni Avdija is scoring 24.0 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers. Toumani Camara is averaging 18.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 54.8% over the past 10 games.

Leonard is averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the Clippers. Brook Lopez is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 116.5 points, 46.7 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.

Clippers: 7-3, averaging 119.4 points, 40.5 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 10.0 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant: out (calf), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Vit Krejci: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

Clippers: Darius Garland: out (toe), 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.

The night could have easily tilted the other way for the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. No Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and a late-season game with playoff stakes quietly looming in the background. On paper, it felt like a trap.

Instead, the Spurs turned it into a statement.

Behind a composed offensive attack and a defense that tightened when it mattered most, San Antonio pulled away for a 112-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers; a victory defined less by star power and more by collective resolve. From the opening tip, the Spurs looked like a team intent on controlling the tempo. De’Aaron Fox set the tone early, slicing into the lane and dictating pace on his way to a team-high 25 points. 

But this wasn’t a one-man show and it couldn’t be with San Antonio missing two stars.

San Antonio leaned into its depth. Devin Vassell filled the gaps with his two-way presence, while rookie guard Dylan Harper stepped comfortably into a larger role, guiding the offense with poise beyond his experience. Then came the spark from their other rookie. Carter Bryant, a name that doesn’t always headline box scores, caught fire from beyond the arc—knocking down five of six three-point attempts in a breakout shooting performance that stretched Portland’s defense to its limit.

“I thought we had really good contributions from everybody that played,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I thought we did a really good job with responses throughout the game to a really competitive team… I thought we did really good job.”

Off the bench, Keldon Johnson brought his usual edge, attacking the rim and providing a physical jolt that helped the Spurs maintain control whenever momentum wavered. 

“I thought he [Carter Bryant] did a great job,” Coach Johnson said of the rookie. “He played within himself in terms of things we’ve talked about and training on. He shot with confidence and played with physicality.”

Still, Portland didn’t go quietly. Deni Avdija carved up the defense with 29 points, while Scoot Henderson added 20, helping the Trail Blazers chip away at San Antonio’s lead heading into the second half. For a moment in the third quarter, it felt like the game might slip. Portland surged, testing a Spurs lineup missing its defensive anchor.

That’s when San Antonio responded, not with flash, but with discipline.

The Spurs locked in defensively, cutting off driving lanes and forcing tough looks. On the other end, Fox returned to orchestrate, mixing timely buckets with smart decision-making. A late push, highlighted by key contributions from role players and interior finishes, reestablished control for good.

By the final minutes, the outcome felt inevitable. San Antonio didn’t just survive without its stars, it looked comfortable doing so. The win pushed the Spurs to 61 victories on the season and secured a top-two seed in the Western Conference, a milestone that underscores how far the franchise has come in a short time.

More importantly, it revealed something deeper. This isn’t just a team built around a generational talent. It’s a roster that can adapt, absorb adversity, and still impose its identity.

On a night when the spotlight could have dimmed, the Spurs proved they don’t need it to shine.

Game Notes

• Mitch Johnson confirmed Carter Bryant will be part of his playoff rotation following his career night.
  “He will play in the playoffs,” the Spurs’ head coach told reporters postgame.
• Keldon Johnson may have secured his Sixth Man of the Year award with his performance on Wednesday night.
• Johnson and Bryant combined for 37 points off the bench for San Antonio, a dangerous sign for other teams if those guys can match those numbers.

The Dallas Mavericks came up just short Wednesday night, falling 112-107 to the Phoenix Suns in a game that stayed competitive into the final minutes but ultimately slipped away late. Dallas actually shot a respectable 41.1% from the field and 36.1% from three, but couldn’t quite match Phoenix’s overall efficiency and shot-making. Marvin Bagley III led the way with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 8 rebounds, continuing his strong play, while Cooper Flagg struggled from the field at 4-of-19 but still stuffed the stat sheet with 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Max Christie added 18 points on 4-of-9 from three, and Ryan Nembhard chipped in 7 assists, but the Mavericks couldn’t find enough consistent scoring late. Phoenix was more balanced and efficient, shooting 46.2% from the field and 40.0% from three, led by Devin Booker’s 37 points and 9 assists and Dillon Brooks’ 28 points.

Dallas came out with solid early energy, getting offense through Marvin Bagley III inside and from three, while Max Christie hit a pair of threes and Cooper Flagg added scoring and playmaking to give the Mavericks early rhythm and even brief control. But that momentum didn’t last, as the Suns flipped the first quarter late behind Royce O’Neale’s shooting and Devin Booker’s shot creation, turning a competitive start into a 33-29 deficit. In the second quarter, Dallas pushed back, with Flagg attacking downhill, Nembhard creating looks, and contributions from Cisse and Middleton helping tie the game around 45-45.

Still, the same issues showed up again, as the Mavericks couldn’t sustain offense or string together stops. Booker took over late in the half, scoring off drives, pull-ups, and free throws while Dallas fell into missed shots and empty possessions. Even when Dallas had chances to grab control, they couldn’t convert, and Phoenix consistently answered with efficient offense. By halftime, the Suns led 61-53, a half where Dallas showed flashes but couldn’t match Phoenix’s consistency.

The second half had stretches where it felt like Dallas might flip the game, but they could never sustain it. In the third quarter, the Mavericks chipped away behind Marvin Bagley’s interior scoring, Poulakidas hitting shots, and Cooper Flagg facilitating, even cutting the deficit down multiple times. But every push was answered, as Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks consistently generated efficient offense, keeping Phoenix in control.

The fourth quarter followed that same script, with Dallas getting within one possession behind Christie’s threes and more Bagley scoring, but missed layups and empty trips prevented them from taking the lead. Booker closed it late with shot-making and free throws, while Dallas’ offense stalled at the worst time. The box score tells the story, as the Mavericks shot 41.1% overall, with Bagley leading with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Flagg struggled at 4-of-19 despite filling the stat sheet. Phoenix was simply more efficient, shooting 46.2% and hitting 14 threes, led by Booker’s 37 and Brooks’ 28, which ultimately sealed a 112-107 loss.

23: Poulakidas points

John Poulakidas was one of the most impressive players in this game, especially considering the context. In real rotation minutes, he didn’t just hold his own; he legitimately impacted the game with his shooting and confidence. He finished with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 5-of-8 from three (62.5%), and it felt like every make came in rhythm and within the flow of the offense. This wasn’t empty production either. He hit tough shots, spaced the floor, and gave Dallas a scoring punch they desperately needed.

What stood out most was how unafraid he was. There were multiple possessions where he went right at Devin Booker, either answering on the other end or forcing Booker to work defensively. That kind of shot-making and confidence, especially from a player in his role, changes how the game feels. Instead of the offense stalling, Dallas actually had someone who could step into a jumper and make it count.

For a team searching for consistent perimeter shooting, this is exactly the kind of performance that should turn heads. Poulakidas didn’t just have a hot night. He showed real, translatable skill as a shooter who can stretch defenses and compete against high-level players.

10: Missed AJ Johnson shots

This was AJ Johnson’s first real extended run, and it was about as rough as it could look. He finished just 1-of-11 from the field (9.1%) and 0-of-3 from three, and it felt even worse than the numbers suggest. The misses weren’t just tough looks. They were forced shots, rushed decisions, and possessions that stalled the offense completely. When Dallas was trying to make a push, those empty trips added up fast.

It wasn’t just the shooting, either. The overall feel wasn’t there. Timing, decision-making, and control all looked off, and instead of settling things down, his minutes often sped the game up in the wrong way. For a player getting a real opportunity, you want to see composure and flashes of creation, but this was mostly out of sync from start to finish.

It’s one game, and young players are going to have nights like this. But this was a reminder of how far he still has to go. When you’re trying to evaluate pieces for the future, performances like this stand out just as much as the good ones.

The Phoenix Suns lost an emotional, hard-fought game against the Houston Rockets and had to bounce back quickly against a pesky Dallas Mavericks team. The Suns got great nights from Devin Booker, who scored 37 points and dished out nine assists, and Dillon Brooks, who scored 28 points on 50% from the field and survived, barely, to win 112-107. 

Here’s what the Suns did well: they held Cooper Flagg to 11 points on 4-for-18 shooting, 11 rebounds, and six assists. The Suns shot 40% from the 3-point line and made 14 threes. The Suns outscored the Mavericks 16-6 in points off turnovers. Yet it was another game full of big momentum swings and consistent play. 

The Suns led by 18 points in the third quarter, only to go scoreless for five minutes and allow the Mavericks to go on an 18-1 run, cutting the deficit to 1. Then they woke up and went up double digits again, only for that lead to evaporate quickly and the Mavericks to lead by two. Booker and Brooks combined for 65 points, and the Suns only beat the 25-55 Mavericks by five points. Stagnant offense and poor defense allowed the Mavericks to hang around in a game the Suns should have won easily. 

Part of the roller coaster ride for the Suns was due to two in-game injuries to Jalen Green (knee) and Jordan Goodwin (lower leg injury), who both left the game in the first half and did not return. Already without Mark Williams and Grayson Allen, the Suns went to their bench and played everyone. Ryan Dunn played 24 minutes and guarded Flagg exceptionally well, while Rasheer Fleming played 14 minutes and had little impact on the game. Jamaree Bouyea played four minutes, and Amir Coffey played six as well. 

The big, emphasis on big, story of the night was Khaman Maluach, who started his first NBA game and showed why he was the Suns’ lottery prize this offseason. He scored 4 points, grabbed 14 rebounds (one night after the Suns were obliterated on the boards), and blocked three shots, including a monster block on a Flagg dunk attempt. 

Khaman Maluach stuffs Cooper Flagg.

Duke on Duke crime.@12SportsAZpic.twitter.com/S8R6WJHHjC

— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) April 9, 2026

Maluach still showed many flaws that he will have to work through to become a great center in the NBA, like his ability to grab the ball without bobbling it, finishing strong in the paint, and not getting pushed around. Tonight, though, he was the difference between the Suns winning and losing because of his effort. He challenged players at the rim, even though he got dunked on by Marvin Bagley in the first quarter, he blocked Flagg late in the game when the Suns needed it most. It was not just that he was trying to block shots either; it was his effort to contest shots and then immediately pursue the rebound after, something that Mark Williams has struggled to do since December. He and Booker tied for a team high +11 in plus/minus, and the eye test matched that. He was brilliant in his first start as a Phoenix Sun, and showed that he could be the Suns’ future at center as early as, well, right now. 

Game Flow

First Half 

The first half was back and forth between the Suns and the Mavericks. Neither team led by more than two possessions until the Suns closed the first half on an impressive 15-6 run to lead 61-53 at halftime. The Suns allowed just one field goal from the Mavericks in the last six minutes of the second quarter. Devin Booker started the game with a quick 8 points early in the first quarter and finished the second quarter attacking Dallas’s little guards at the rim. He had 19 points in the first half.

Outside of Booker, it was Phoenix’s 3-point shooting that was the difference in the first half, with Royce O’Neale scoring 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from long distance. Jordan Goodwin hit three 3-point shots as well, but unfortunately, he left the game with a lower leg injury in the second quarter. The Mavericks were 12-of-12 from the free-throw line and got just enough offense to remain close at the break. 

With Mark Williams and Grayson Allen out of the lineup for injury management, and Jalen Green heading to the locker room just four minutes into the game, Jordan Ott was forced to play his young players. Khaman Maluach started the game for Williams and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half, and his defense was a mixed bag. His length at the rim is disruptive, but Marvin Bagley scored a team-high 11 points in the first half, with all of them coming against Maluach, including a thunderous dunk in the light center.

Ryan Dunn got into the rotation and played well, shutting down Cooper Flagg multiple times and finding shooters in the corner in the short roll on offense. Rasheer Fleming played seven minutes and was quiet in his minutes. 

Second Half

The Suns started the second half with a quick 10-0 run. Dillon Brooks was getting into his midrange bag, forcing the Mavericks to call a quick timeout just two minutes into the quarter. The Suns led 71-53 and had created the separation needed to take full control of the game, except they didn’t score for the next five minutes of game action. The Suns’ lack of ball movement and Brooks’ isolations were major contributors to the drought. The Mavericks did what they do best: get to the free-throw line and score in the paint. Dallas guard Max Christie knocked in a couple of 3-point jumpers as well, and just as fast as the Suns’ lead ballooned to 18, it dwindled to just one, 72-71. The Mavericks 18-1 run was another extended slog of unremarkable basketball from a Suns team that needs to be playing its best basketball right now. 

The Suns woke up and closed the quarter strong. Booker was attacking again in the midrange and converted multiple and-1 pullups to give the Suns a boost, and Gillespie scored 7 quick points to give the Suns an 88-80 lead after three quarters of basketball. 

The fourth quarter was another seesaw of runs. Mavericks guard John Poulakidas continued his hot shooting in the fourth quarter, knocking down multiple jumpers to get Dallas back into the game. The Suns’ offense continued to stagnate, and the Mavericks took their first lead of the game, 95-93, after a Christie pull-up 3-point shot in transition. It was Booker to the rescue yet again as he checked in and immediately deposited a long-range triple and got the free throw line. A tough pull-up jumpshot at the right elbow from Brooks put the Suns up 102-95 after a 9-0 run with five minutes to go. 

Devin Booker starred at home ⭐️

37 PTS
5 REB
9 AST pic.twitter.com/VYsPtV4s1O

— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2026

The Suns had control of the game again; they just had to hold on a little longer. Another Brooks jumper gave the Suns an eight-point lead, but the Mavericks continued to fight (even after they took out all of their best players to try to lose the game). The Mavericks cut the deficit to three, but a Booker side step 3-point shot was the nail in the coffin, as the Suns led 110-104 and went on to win 112-107. 

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Up Next

A Friday night showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, with tip-off at 7:30 Arizona time. 

The never-say-die Dallas Mavericks put up a valiant, short-handed effort against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, losing 112-107. Devin Booker was the high scorer and all-around best player for the Suns, scoring 37 to go along with five rebounds and nine assists. John Poulakidas led Dallas in scoring off the bench, pouring in 23 and making it look easy.

Both the Mavericks and Suns were on fire early from the three-point line. The teams traded leads, with neither squad playing much defense. Both Cooper Flagg and Jalen Green exited the game early with injury issues and it was unclear if either would return. The Mavericks stayed feisty and stuck with the Suns, trailing 33-29 after one quarter.

With Cooper Flagg returning in the second, Dallas tried to keep pace with the Suns and managed for most of the quarter. The hot outside shooting from Dallas cooled but getting to the line allowed Dallas to match scoring with the Suns. But after tying it at 50 with 4:22 remaining, the Mavericks would score only three points the rest of the quarter. The Suns scored slowly and built up a 61-53 to take into the half.

Before the second half started began, it was reported that Jalen Green would not return. The Suns opened the half blowing up their lead to as many as 18 as Dallas looked half asleep. The Mavericks, of course, spent the rest of the period whittling that lead back down to zero only to unravel in the final few minutes. The score entering the fourth was the same difference as when the second half began: the suns lead 88-80.

Dallas would not go away. The Mavericks stormed back once again, taking a 95-93 lead with around eight minutes remaining. Following a Suns timeout, Phoenix retook the lead but not before the Mavericks entered the 45th CLUTCH game of their season, being down five with under five minutes to go. In the first really obvious tanking move I can remember, Kidd pulled all his starters and they STILL managed to keep the game within three points until a Devin Booker three sealed the game with 1:12 remaining. The Mavericks fall, 112-107.

Have yourself a game, John Poulakidas

I make it a point not to get too invested in two-way players. If a two-way player matters, the season is usually lost. But that doesn’t mean I’m against a good story, and the Yale guard has been fun for Dallas these last 40 days or so. He scored his first NBA points three weeks ago and just nine games later, scores a career high 23 points on some great looking shots.

To be honest, I have no idea if he has a spot on a NBA team. He plays real hard and has a key skill in terms of shot making that teams can use. He tries hard on defense, but considering Dallas is so bad at defense I’ve no idea how to rate him. Perhaps he can go to Summer League with the Mavericks?

The Suns have a lot of good players I enjoy watching

Dillon Brooks is an acquired taste at best, but I very much appreciate the games of Collin Gillespie and Khaman Maluach. The former helped control the game for the Suns on the offensive end while the latter was fantastic on the boards for the Suns, grabbing 14 in his first start. I’m not sure how the pieces all fit with this team; Booker is awesome and Jalen Green has a ton of talent.

AJ Johnson might be the worst NBA contract player on the Mavericks in years

Tonight, Johnson shot 1-11 from the floor. He’s now 20-72 from the field in his short time with the Mavericks. Professional basketball players cannot shoot 27% from the floor. His finishing is weak (he loses the ball on drives), his shot from distance looks as if he’s blind, and his defense is that of a grade schooler. Sorry if this is too harsh. Whoever drafted and signed him should not be allowed to make personnel decisions.

Tyrese Haliburton took another big step in his recovery on Wednesday. 

In a post on X, the Pacers star announced that he had moved onto 5-on-5 work. 

“Played 5 on 5 today for first time since June,” he wrote on the social media platform along with the praying hands emoji. 

Haliburton, 26, has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles that he suffered during Game 7 of the NBA Finals last year. 

While he has been rehabbing, the two-time All-Star has been at Pacers games to help cheer on his team, and away from the court, he’s thrown himself into some different hobbies. 

According to The Athletic, Haliburton has been learning to DJ, working on a sneaker line with Puma and livestreaming with his brother. 

The news on Wednesday had fans excited to see the NBA star inching closer to a return. 

“You’ll back more [strong] than before Hali,” one fan wrote on X.

“LETS GOOOOOOOOO,” another person chimed in. 

“The comeback ab to be something special,” a third wrote on the platform. 

Even ESPN sports talk host Pat McAfee responded with an excited post on social media after Haliburton posted about it. 

pic.twitter.com/nNa2zyyNzL

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 9, 2026

Things have been tough for Indiana with Haliburton out for this season, going from one of the best teams in the NBA to one of the worst. 

The Pacers have an 18-61 record this season, the second-worst in the NBA, as they fight for lottery positioning a year after they went to the Finals. 

Indiana is likely to have its lowest win percentage ever this season; right now it stands at .228. 

Haliburton was diagnosed with shingles in late February and had to be away from the team for several weeks. 

He did return to the Pacers bench on March 25. 

The Pacers are down to their final three games of the season with a trip to Brooklyn on Thursday before playing at home against the 76ers on Friday and the Pistons on Sunday. 

The Spurs turned in a solid performance tonight without Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama. It wasn’t a perfect game, as the team survived despite turning the ball over too much and not exactly playing the most efficient offense, allowing the Blazers to cut the lead to a couple of baskets late in the fourth quarter. Where the Silver and Black won the game was on the defensive end of the court, as they limited the Blazers to 101 points despite 29 points from Deni Avdija and 20 points from Scoot Henderson, who is starting to show the promise that made him the second third overall pick a few years back. De’Aaron Fox led the team with 25 points and Devin Vassell had one of his best games of the season on both ends of the court, making defensive plays and scoring 14 points and 8 rebounds. Carter Bryant had a career game, as Portland left him free at the three point line and he hit 5-6 three pointers. Harper excelled in his starting role tonight as he scored 13 and kept the offense organized. You have to also give credit to Keldon Johnson, who was unstoppable coming off of the bench, as it was a team effort where every player that got onto the court made an impact on the victory over a possible playoff opponent for their 61st victory of the season.

Observations

• Even though Wembanyama was out tonight, his imprint was all over the game. Nobody thought this was a 60 game winning team when the season started, but his competitive spirit drove the team to an amazing win total. He’s really young, but he’s already a leader.
• I was not really impressed with Harrison Ingram at first, but he’s really been working hard on his game in Austin, and he’s improved a lot. He’s going to make a run at joining the regular roster next season, and he has a shot.
• The Blazers started out quick but Fox righted things quickly with a personal 10-0 run to make the score 12-8 Spurs.
• Avdija looks really good out there, and without Wemby on the court to erase defensive mistakes, he had a lot of space to create tonight. Carter Bryant had a turn at defending him, and picked up a quick foul, but seemed to do a good job keeping up with his speed.
• Missed free throws (3) and turnovers (4) hampered the Silver and Black in the first quarter, but somehow led 32-23 after the first quarter on a final three-point shot from Dylan Harper.
• Sidy Cissoko was a player I hated to see leave San Antonio. His game was so raw when he was in San Antonio, but you could see they talent and athletic ability. I’m happy for his success in Portland. Blake Wesley is another former Spur who’s on Portland, and he showed his commitment to the game by going to the floor and wrestling Keldon for a loose ball and winning a jump ball.
• Jordan McLaughlin always contributes whenever he plays. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t leave the bench for five games, he’s going to step up whenever he’s called upon.
• Spurs led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, and led 61-51 at the half with Avdija getting some free throws to end the first half scoring. The biggest negative was 5 more turnovers in the quarter, which is something that could have been more harmful than it was, because the Spurs defense stepped to limit the damage.
• Deni Avdija on offense and Jrue Holiday on defense got the Blazers on a 17-12 start to start the third and cut the lead in half, forcing a Mitch Johnson timeout. The Spurs finished the rest of the quarter on a 15-5 run and led 88-73 with a quarter to play.
• Things got a little dicey early in the fourth as Scoot Henderson turned defense into offense by creating turnovers and putting them into the hoop.
• The Spurs took over the fourth with getting to every loose ball, but it was a uneven effort, as they also made mistakes that led to easy Portland points. It looked at times that the Spurs were going to run away with it, leading by as much as 17, but the Blazers stayed in it with their defense while the Spurs offense stagnated. When they cut the lead to single digits with 4:26 left, Mitch had to call a timeout to settle the team.
• The lead shrunk to 6 after the Spurs botched a jump ball with Keldon letting it go out of bounds thinking it was off of Portland. Luckily, the Spur found their mojo and closed out the game with timely stops and enough offense to win by double digits, 112-101.

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There are only two more games left in the season, and Wemby has to play at least 20 minutes in one of them to qualify for post-season awards. I would guess that he’s going to play Friday against the Mavericks as they will just be funneling the rock to Cooper Flagg as he continues to rake in accolades for his rookie of the year campaign. There have been a lot of great first year players this year, but I don’t see anyone beating Cooper, who has been stellar on a really bad team. Dylan Harper is incredible, but his role on a good team is not going to grab the kind of attention that Flagg gets, and actually deserves.

The Spurs final game will be against the Nuggets, which should be a ho-hum affair, as both teams should have settled their playoff standings by then and will be resting all their starters and top contributors. It’s going to be Harrison Ingram time, and he’s going to make his case for being on the regular roster next year.

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season, and Denver beat the Memphis Grizzlies 136-119 on Wednesday night for the Nuggets’ 10th straight win.

Denver increased its hold on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with its first double-digit winning streak since getting 15 in a row Feb. 23-March 23, 2013. The Nuggets lead the reeling Los Angeles Lakers by 1 1/2 games and finish the regular season with games against the top two teams in the conference.

Jamal Murray scored 26 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points in his 1,000th career game.

The wins during the streak haven’t been easy. Memphis needed to rally from double-digit deficits in the fourth quarter twice, winning both in overtime.

Jokic, who leads the NBA in rebounding and assists, already clinched a triple-double average for the second straight season. His assist on Cameron Johnson’s layup midway through the third gave him the 198th triple-double of his career. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.

Cedric Coward had 27 points, for the Grizzlies, who have lost six in a row and 18 of 20. Memphis was 19 of 50 from deep two nights after tying an NBA record with 29 made 3-pointers.

MAGIC 132, TIMBERWOLVES 120

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 20 points and eight rebounds, Desmond Bane added 18 points and six assists and Orlando beat Minnesota.

Franz Wagner scored 17 points and Goga Bitadze came off the bench with 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic, who have won four straight.

The win pulled the Magic (44-36) up to seventh place in the tight race for playoff/play-in positions. With two road games remaining (Chicago on Friday and Boston on Sunday), they could finish anywhere between six and ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Timberwolves with a career-high 33 points. Jaden McDaniels, back in the lineup after missing six games with a left knee injury, added 18 points in 19 minutes.

The Timberwolves, who have lost five of seven, played without Anthony Edwards (right knee injury) and four players who started Tuesday night’s win at Indiana that clinched their Western Conference playoff spot.

Julius Randle missed his first game of the season and Rudy Gobert missed his fifth.

PISTONS 137, BUCKS 111

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 13 points and 10 assists in his return from injury as Detroit beat Milwaukee in its home finale.

Cunningham hadn’t played since sustaining a collapsed lung in a win against the Washington Wizards on March 17, but appeared comfortable while playing 26 minutes in short stints. He hit six of 11 field goal attempts, including one 3-pointer, and pulled down five rebounds.

Jalen Duren added 21 points and nine rebounds as the Pistons won for the sixth time in eight games. Duncan Robinson scored 20 points on a night where J.B. Bickerstaff kept all five starters under 30 minutes.

Detroit (58-22) can win 60 games for the first time since 2005-06 by winning against the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers in their final two games.

Jericho Sims had a triple-double — 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists — while Ryan Rollins scored 23 points for Milwaukee, which has lost 10 of its last 13 games.

Cunningham played 13 minutes in the first half, putting up six points and five assists as the Pistons built a 75-57 lead. Duren had 11 points, six rebounds and a plus-20 in his 13 minutes.

CAVALIERS 122, HAWKS 116

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Evan Mobley had 22 points and tied a career high with 19 rebounds, and Cleveland defeated Atlanta.

James Harden added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who have won four straight and seven of eight. Cleveland (51-29) can finish no lower than fourth place in the Eastern Conference and is 1/2 game behind New York for the third seed.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points and Jonathan Kuminga had 24 off the bench as Atlanta was unable to clinch a playoff berth with the loss. The Hawks (45-35) have dropped their last two after winning four straight. They are one game ahead of Toronto for the fifth seed but only 1 1/2 in front of Orlando to avoid being in the play-in tournament.

It was Mitchell’s 200th regular-season game with at least 20 points in four years with the Cavaliers. He is the fifth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.

Mitchell had his 14th game this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

SPURS 112, TRAIL BLAZERS 101

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — De’Aaron Fox had 25 points and San Antonio kept rolling even with Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle sidelined by injuries, defeating Portland.

San Antonio (61-19) is 28-3 since Feb. 1 and has its best record since 2017, its last appearance in the Western Conference finals during a 22-year postseason run that included five NBA championships.

Deni Avdija scored 27 points and Scoot Henderson added 20 for the Trail Blazers, who have lost two straight after a three-game winning streak.

Portland (40-40) remains ninth in the West, just 2 1/2 games ahead of Golden State (37-42) heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

San Antonio had six players in double figures to offset the absence of the NBA’s past two Rookie of the Year winners. Keldon Johnson scored 20 points and rookie forward Carter Bryant added a season-high 17.

SUN 112, MAVERICKS 107

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 37 points, Dillon Brooks added 28 and Phoenix edged short-handed Dallas.

The Mavericks pulled within 110-107 on John Poulakidas’ 3-pointer with 1:08 left and had a chance to get even closer on their next possession but Oso Ighodaro blocked Moussa Cisse at the rim to stop the rally.

Brooks made a driving layup with 13.7 seconds to finally put the game away. The Suns clinched the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference playoff race, meaning they get two chances at home to win one game in the play-in tournament.

Poulakidas — a 6-foot-5 undrafted rookie who played at Yale — scored a season-high 23 points. Rookie of the Year front-runner Cooper Flagg had a tough game, scoring 11 points on 4 of 19 shooting.

The Mavericks trailed 71-53 early in the third quarter but used an 18-1 run to get back into the game. Dallas took its first lead of the second half when Max Christie hit a 3-pointer for a 95-93 advantage with 8:16 left.

The Suns responded with a 9-0 run and didn’t trail again. Dallas had just 10 available players because of injuries.

THUNDER 128, CLIPPERS 110

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Chet Holmgren had 30 points and 14 rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points and 11 assists, and Oklahoma City clinched the NBA’s best regular-season record with a victory over Los Angeles.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points for the NBA champion Thunder (64-16), who will have homecourt advantage throughout the postseason in their title defense after holding off San Antonio (61-19), which is on an 18-2 run since February. Oklahoma City has won seven straight and 19 of 20 to earn the West’s No. 1 seed for the third straight season.

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Brook Lopez added 16 for the eighth-place Clippers, who had won seven of nine. Los Angeles is 35-18 since shortly before Christmas, but still must win one of its final two games to extend this once-moribund franchise’s streak to 15 consecutive winning seasons.

The Clippers head to Portland on Friday for a crucial game. The winner almost certainly will finish eighth in the Western Conference, while the losers will slip to ninth, where they’ll need two wins in the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.