Category: Basketball

In their final regular season game, the Lakers routed a tanking Utah Jazz team for their 53rd win, the most for the franchise since 2010-11. All the machinations of surviving a grueling 82 games are over and the brain trust now shifts its focus towards the playoffs.

The unfortunate injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves not only remove a star backcourt but leave behind a gaping playmaking void. With almost 14 assists combined per game, production is impossible to replace with one player.

But by racking up ten assists of his own on Sunday, Marcus Smart showed why he will be integral in helping the team fill in as best as they can.

Smart returned from injury against the Suns on Friday after missing nine straight games with a right ankle contusion. While playing under a minute restriction, he collected 17 assists in his two games back, finding teammates in a variety of ways. He serves not only as a desperately needed ball handler but also as someone who understands the next read against a compromised defense while continuing the “blender” as head coach J.J. Redick calls it.

It started early in the first quarter on Sunday as he found Deandre Ayton in the clip below for the finish. Watch as he comes to set a screen for LeBron James.

They’ve found good chemistry all year with this “empty side” or “88” in their playbook screen roll throughout the season. It commonly flows into a LeBron post-up against a switch, allowing Smart to screen and pop to the top of the key.

LeBron in the post compromises the defense and Smart found the advantage with a touch pass to Ayton at the basket.

On the play below, he and LeBron reverse roles, with Smart now running the screen action at the top of the key. Smart notices the defender cheating and rejects the screen. A drive and kick to sharp shooter Rui Hachimura, while Maxi Kleber sets a pin screen, pushes the lead to 15 before the half.

“That’s a big reason we wanted to bring Smart here, not just for his defense,” Redick said postgame. “Even post-Boston, the last couple seasons, he’s graded out well as a secondary playmaker. He’s been in that position before. He knows how to get other guys involved. Tonight, he had a great feel for getting [Ayton] involved.”

Smart finished the regular season fourth on the Lakers in assists, behind the three main ball handlers in LeBron, Luka, and Reaves. In addition, he leads the team in plus-minus for the year, epitomizing his all-around impact.

LA enters a playoff series as clear underdogs without their two leading scorers for the season. A Denver Nuggets win over the San Antonio Spurs locked in the Houston Rockets as the 4-5 playoff matchup, with the purple and gold having home court.

Houston has aggressive point-of-attack defenders such as Amen Thompson and Tari Eason to hound the Lakers’ ball handlers. A lot of attention will be thrown at LeBron, opening the door for players like Smart to step in. His experience, which includes 108 playoff games, as a veteran leader and playmaker will be needed if the team hopes to advance at all.

“It’s important with the loss of AR and Luka, it’s not just all on Luke (Kennard) and LeBron to be playmakers,” Redick said. “Smart can fill in with that too.”

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

Hornets duo LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel join Warriors' Splash Bros in NBA history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Charlotte Hornets were one of the NBA’s biggest turnaround stories this season, going from a 26-26 record before the All-Star break to finishing the campaign on an 18-9 run.

Much of the team’s success can be attributed to its young duo of LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel, who have unequivocally emerged as one of the league’s best shooting backcourts. While that might seem like an extremely lofty endorsement, they shot the three-ball at a historic pace this season.

As shared to X by ESPN Insights, Ball and Knueppel became just the second duo in NBA history to hit at least 270 threes in a season, joining the former iconic Warriors duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel join Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as the only teammates to each make 270 threes in a season 🎯

Curry and Thompson did it twice (2015-16 and 2022-23). pic.twitter.com/4mzfnALQ3g

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) April 12, 2026

Tabbed as the “Splash Brothers,” Curry and Thompson will forever be remembered for being one of the best duos in NBA history. The duo won four NBA championships together and have combined to make 13 All-NBA teams and 17 All-Star selections.

Thompson ultimately joined the Dallas Mavericks after the 2023-24 season, but still is considered a legend in the Bay.

If Ball and Knueppel can even be half as good, the trajectory of the Hornets’ franchise could finally change for the better. Similar to the Warriors, who play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in the NBA play-in tournament, the Hornets also will need to make it out of the play-in to make the playoffs.

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Ranking the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament teams and who should qualify originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, LaMelo Ball, Bam Adebayo, Paolo Banchero and several more.

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is not short of talented names and reputable teams, but not everyone will earn a ticket to the upcoming playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are duking it out for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds. Out West, the four teams are the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

So, which teams should qualify to create the most quality-filled bracket as possible? Let’s rank the participants in each conference:

Eastern Conference

For both conferences, the rankings will primarily factor the talent at each team’s disposal and the likelihood of an enticing first-round matchup (at the minimum).

The No. 7 seed here will face off against the No. 2 Boston Celtics in the first round, while the 8-seed gets the No. 1 Detroit Pistons. Beating Boston four times is a tough ask for these sides, but the Pistons can be there for the taking with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren not having the most elite cast around them.

1. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

A good chunk of this placement for Philly boils down to Joel Embiid’s health. After undergoing appendicitis surgery, it’s not clear how fit he’d be for the tournament and, possibly, more grueling playoff series where he’ll be absorbing bumps and bruises down low. Otherwise, Tyrese Maxey is the best player among the four teams and he’ll have a supporting cast of Paul George, rookie VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. Philly has to be careful, though, because a disappointing exit should mean a deep retooling of the team (hint: Embiid).

2. CHARLOTTE HORNETS

The Hornets have been here a couple of times before with LaMelo Ball. Those times didn’t end well. But Charlotte is back with fresh head coach Charles Lee, with Ball being surrounded by Brandon Miller, star rookie Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Coby White. Charlotte is lacking a standout big man, but this is a crucial point in the franchise’s trajectory. As one of the more entertaining teams in 2026, a playoff berth could lead into becoming a sleeper destination for top players in the summer. But losing, preferably avoiding another blowout, keeps the team stuck in this tier.

3. ORLANDO MAGIC

Orlando was hoping to take another step forward this season following the big addition of guard Desmond Bane. But, despite having a relatively deep roster, it has gone backwards even though the gap between current 8-seed Orlando and 5-seed Toronto is just one win. That shouldn’t have been the case with Bane, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs all posting solid numbers. The Magic can’t afford to be this low (they arguably should be above Philly in this ranking), but some convincing performances are needed. If they stay as an 8-seed, they might have the team to upset Detroit early.

4. MIAMI HEAT

The Heat have become accustomed to hovering around Play-In territory ever since its magical run to the NBA Finals as an 8-seed. But they don’t have Jimmy Butler anymore. Miami is led by Norman Powell, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo — a former 83-point scorer — Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr, while Pelle Larsson and Kel’el Ware have added some freshness to the team. But Miami doesn’t have as much power as the others and an overhaul has been needed for some time. A market like southern Florida should be more attractive to the biggest names.

Western Conference

The two winners of the tournament here don’t exactly receive coveted prizes. The 7-seed will have to face Victor Wembanyama and the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, while the 8-seed will get the reigning champs in the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder.

1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

It’s a whole different ball game when Curry is healthy. It’s a longshot for the 37-45 Warriors to go on a meaningful run, but seeing Curry, Butler Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, among others, take a shot at the Thunder would make for elite viewing. The likely scenario is Golden State losing during the tournament to potentially secure a better draft pick (more youth quality is needed). But the Warriors’ impact when in the playoff conversation is undeniable.

2. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

As aforementioned, the two winners here likely get bounced in the first round. But as far as unproven youthful teams go, Portland can offer something new. Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe are the team’s top scorers, though veterans Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday are still doing their parts to a solid and trusted level. Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan and Caleb Love are also part of the young core. Teams like this can always benefit from the postseason exposure and experience and come back stronger the following season. Portland getting in could do wonders for its trajectory, with Damian Lillard’s return also coming.

3. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

A poor start to the regular season seriously hurt Los Angeles’ chances of a playoff berth, but Ty Lue’s side has rallied to be back in this position, even after trading James Harden. Leonard is the heartbeat of the team and remains playing at an elite level, with Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, John Collins and Brook Lopez some of the key teammates. But, other than Leonard being back in the playoff frame, this current Clippers team doesn’t exactly move the needle.

4. PHOENIX SUNS

Booker is still doing his thing in the desert and Phoenix has the best record of the four teams here, but player quality and statistics and its translation to the playoffs are a different level. The Suns are in good hands with Booker, but this isn’t the same Phoenix side as year’s past. Dillon Brooks is the team’s second-highest scorer, followed by Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie and Mark Williams. The balance isn’t great with multiple small guards, plus there’s a sincere lack in frontcourt quality and depth, so the Suns get cooled down here at the bottom.

The 2026 NBA Playoff bracket is almost set, and the chase for the championship begins with the play-in tournament.

The NBA play-in tournament rules and format are simple. The No. 7 seed plays the No. 8 seed in each conference, and the winner gets the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The No. 9 seed plays the No. 10 seed in each conference, the winner of that game plays the loser of the 7/8 game for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

Got it?

The play-in tournament begins Tuesday evening with the 9/10 game in the East featuring the red hot Charlotte Hornets facing the Miami Heat. The 7/8 game in the West follows with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers. On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic for the No. 7 seed, and the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers play an elimination game in the West.

Let’s make picks for every game of the play-in tournament to complete the playoff picture.

East 9/10 game: Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets

Would you believe the Hornets have been the best team in the NBA since the calendar flipped to 2026? It’s true. After a terrible start, Charlotte went 33-16 with the league’s best net-rating at +10.5 since Jan. 1. It’s one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds in NBA history, and it’s possible it could end on Tuesday night. Facing Erik Spoelstra in an elimination game is a terrifying proposition, and we’ve seen him win so many play-in tournament games before. The Heat have an elite defensive big man in Bam Adebayo, they have two excellent scorers in Tyler Herro and Norm Powell ready to rock, and they have been getting a good year out of Andrew Wiggins all season. I really think the Hornets will push the Detroit Pistons in round one if they can get into the playoffs, but it’s going to be really hard just to win this game. I’m going with Charlotte, but I don’t feel good about it.

Pick: Charlotte Hornets

West 7/8 game: Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns

The Blazers have developed into an elite defensive team, and it’s produced their first winning record in five years. Portland is No. 3 in defensive efficiency since the All-Star break with sophomore center Donovan Clingan emerging into arguably the team’s best long-term piece for his elite rim protection. Deni Avdija had a fantastic season, but he’s been slowed lately by a lingering back injury, and Portland will need him at his best to actually make it into the playoffs. No one expected Phoenix to be in this position entering the season. The Suns are one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises, riding a top-10 defense and getting major contributions from Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen that few saw coming. The Suns have also been beat up with injuries lately, but it seems like they should have their key pieces for this game. The battle between Portland’s Jrue Holiday and Phoenix’s Devin Booker will be must see. I’d expect an ugly, physical game where both teams have to grind out scoring possessions. Both teams should feel urgency to win this game, because they could be in for an even more difficult matchup in the next round if they lose.

Pick: Portland Trail Blazers get the No. 7 seed

East 7/8 game: Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers

Orlando was my preseason NBA Finals pick, which was obviously a terrible call. The Magic just never found their groove in another injury-ravaged season, and it feels like head coach Jamahl Mosley should be on the hot seat even if they win this game. Orlando actually does have its key pieces available for this game, and I still think this team can be pretty good when Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black are all in the lineup. Philadelphia has become Tyrese Maxey’s team this season as he’s ascended into an All-NBA talent. Joel Embiid’s health still hangs over the Sixers, but he should be ready to go for this game. Same goes for Paul George. I feel like Orlando is the bigger, more physical team in this matchup … unless Embiid roars back to form. The Magic have the perimeter defenders to make life hard on Philly’s guards, and I think Wagner should be able to score as a pick-and-roll ball handler if he gets the reps. Orlando has the upper hand barring a vintage Embiid performance.

Pick: Orlando Magic get the No. 7 seed

West 9/10 game: Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers

The Warriors are just so beat up right now, to the point that Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis all have a minutes restriction in an elimination game. Did we mention Jimmy Butler is out for the year with a torn ACL, too? I just don’t see how the Warriors can win this game on the road given how well the Clippers are playing lately. Los Angeles has won eight of its last 12 entering the play-in tournament. Kawhi Leonard is playing at a First-Team All-NBA level, Darius Garland has looked good since coming over from Cleveland, and Brook Lopez still has a little bit left in the tank. The Clippers are going to roll, and the Warriors will be hoping for lottery luck.

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

Predicted matchups in NBA play-in tournament

Hornets over Sixers: The Hornets are going to be one of the best teams in the East next season. Getting into the playoffs this year is the perfect way to start their ascension as the conference’s team of the future. Whenever there’s an opportunity for Philly sports fans to have a meltdown, I’m always willing to take it. Hornets get the No. 8 seed.

Clippers over Suns: Maybe I should know better than to doubt the Suns at this point. They are a really scrappy team that plays hard every night. I just think the Clippers have more top-end talent with Kawhi leading the charge. I would take the Clippers over whoever wins the West’s 7/8 game. Clippers get the No. 8 seed.

The regular season may be over, but there’s still time needed for the dust to settle.

Now that teams are locked into their positions, it’s time to look at where the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick owed to the Sixers ended up. The Rockets ended the season winning nine of out of their last 10 games, finishing with a 52-30 record and fifth in the Western Conference.

That’s the exact same record as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who owe their first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Some time in the coming weeks or months the NBA will hold a random drawing between the Sixers and Hawks to determine who picks at 22 and who picks at 23.

A random drawing is the only tiebreaker used in these scenarios, there aren’t any other records factored in. The Rockets beat the Cavs in both of their matchups this regular season, but the Cavs finished with both a better conference record and division record.

As Adam Aaronson of Philly Voice has pointed out, these random drawings have been kind to the Sixers in previous years. They won the last two they were in involved in back in the 2020 and 2024 draft, respectively. Ironically, the player they drafted after winning the ‘24 tiebreaker was used to acquire this 2026 first-rounder from Houston via the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Sixers have a good recent history with draft tiebreakers:

2024: Won a four-way tie, picked No. 16 overall (Jared McCain)

2020: Won a three-way tie, picked No. 21 overall (Tyrese Maxey) https://t.co/ClCtDvm36I

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) April 13, 2026

This ended up being a kind second half of the season pick-wise for the Sixers despite Houston ending the season on a surge. They dropped down a seed and potentially two spots down in draft order since this tracker was launched. Now it’s up to the Sixers’ front office to use that pick well enough to make the fanbase stop complaining about the Jared McCain trade.

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Over the course of his 23-season NBA career, LeBron James has pulled off innumerable heroic feats.

However, at 41, he may be up for his tallest task yet when his Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves-less Los Angeles Lakers take on Kevin Durant’s No. 5 Houston Rockets in the Divisional Round of the NBA Playoffs.

If you’d like to see if James — along with a starting five made up of DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard — have the guts and gusto scrap out a victory, tickets are available for all four hypothetical home games at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena as of today.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one contest was $142 including fees on StubHub.

Should you opt to road-trip to Houston, prices start at $179 including fees for games at the Rockets’ Toyota Center.

When the two clubs met in the regular season, Los Angeles swiped two of three contests from Houston but that was largely thanks to 36 and 40-point scoring efforts from Dončić on March 16 and 18.

Still, head coach J.J. Redick is optimistic that his Lakers can compete.

“Houston’s obviously a really good basketball team and we’re gonna prepare and we’re gonna fight and we’re gonna go try to win the series,” Redick, 41, said in a postgame press conference.

“We’re gonna do everything we can to get our guys in a great frame of mind, great physical shape over the next four or five days and be ready to play.”

On a promising note, the LAL closed the regular season on an impressive three-game win-streak where they blew out the Warriors, Suns and Jazz.

Will this be LeBron’s most heroic series to date over an already storied career?

Although we can’t say for certain, we do know you’ll want to be in the building to see King James take on KD for the fourth time in the playoffs and first since 2018.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Lakers vs. Rockets 2026 NBA Playoffs series below.

Lakers playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar including all announced Lakers home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:

Lakers home game dates	Ticket prices start at
Game One Saturday, April 18	$166(fees included)
Game Two TBD	$142(fees included)
Game Five TBD	$174(fees included)
Game Seven TBD	$219(fees included)

Houston Rockets playoff home game tickets

All Rockets playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

Rockets home game dates	Ticket prices start at
Game Three TBD	$179(fees included)
Game Four TBD	$191(fees included)
Game Six TBD	$205(fees included)

How to watch the Lakers and Rockets on TV

Fans hoping to catch LeBron and co. on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC and NBA TV.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

About Lakers-Rockets

As noted above, the Lakers and Rockets met three times over the course of the 2025-26 campaign. Los Angeles won two; Houston came out on top on Christmas Day.

However, losing Luka Dončić and Reaves in early April changes everything.

Now, the Rockets’ young nucleus of Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun loom larger than ever.

Thankfully, the Rockets turned the ball over the fourth most in the NBA this season. If the Lakers capitalize, anything can happen.

Especially if Luka dons the purple and gold yet again this year; he’s been in Spain undergoing treatment on his injured leg over the past few days and may return.

2026 NBA playoff schedule

Been meaning to see who’s on the playoff bubble?

Check out the NBA’s 2026 playoff hopefuls here.

Huge 2026 concerts

Looking for entertainment outside of the NBA playoffs?

We’ve got you covered.

Here are just five huge artists you won’t want to miss live these next few months.

• J. Cole

• Gorillaz

• Wu-Tang Clan

• BTS

• RUSH

Want to see who else is on the road? Check out our list of all the biggest concert tours in 2026 to find the show for you.

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Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Oddsmakers don’t seem to believe the Lakers have much of a chance to beat the Rockets in their upcoming postseason matchup.

Los Angeles has opened up as a massive underdog against Houston, according to oddsmakers at BetMGM.

The gambling outlet has given the Rockets -800 odds to beat the Lakers, meaning bettors would have to throw down a whopping $800 just to win $100.

Conversely, the Lakers have received +550 odds to win the series, giving gamblers an opportunity to make $550 on a $100 bet.

LA learned on Sunday it’d be playing Kevin Durant and the Rockets after it beat the Jazz, 131–107, at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers officially earned the No. 4 seed with the victory, pitting them against No. 5-seeded Houston.

Part of the reason the Lakers aren’t expected to beat the Rockets, of course, is their health.

Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) have both been sidelined since April 2 after they suffered injuries in a road loss to the Thunder, and neither appears likely to play in the first round of the playoffs.

NBA insider Shams Charania, however, reported during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday that there is a chance Dončić could suit up at some point after he spent the last few days in Spain undergoing treatment on his injured leg.

“My understanding is he’ll be back in the States on Tuesday,” Charania said. “And then they’re going to reevaluate him.”

Game 1 of the Lakers vs. Rockets series will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday in Los Angeles.

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The Bucks’ 2025–26 regular season is mercifully over, and while we still have more questions than answers—including a now-official question as to who will be coaching them come October—we do have more clarity on where Milwaukee could be drafting in June. As you’ll read, while the standings are set in stone, the lottery odds for other teams are not. Because of the Bucks’ pick swap with the Pelicans, they still have to wait to find out how many ping-pong ball combinations they have. Let’s dive in.

Official 2026 NBA Lottery Odds

Based on the end-of-season standings, here is the current lottery order (with each position’s odds to receive the no. 1 pick) for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10:

1. Washington Wizards — protected 1–8 (14%)
2. Indiana Pacers — protected 1–4, to Clippers if fifth or sixth (14%)
3. Brooklyn Nets (14%)
4. Utah Jazz — top-8 protected (11.5%)
5. Sacramento Kings (11.5%)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (9%)
7. New Orleans Pelicans (6.8%)
8. Dallas Mavericks (6.7%)
9. Chicago Bulls (4.5%)
10. Milwaukee Bucks (3%)
11. Golden State Warriors (2%)
12. Oklahoma City Thunder — via Clippers (1.5%)*
13. Miami Heat (1%)*
14. Charlotte Hornets (0.5%)*

*These play-in teams could move out of the lottery if they advance into the 16-team playoff field, and be replaced by any of Portland, Orlando, Phoenix, or Philadelphia, though each of those teams’ picks is encumbered by swaps. S

Another note: the Jazz and Kings both finished with the same record, as did the Pelicans and Mavericks. Random tiebreakers will occur to determine which team receives the more favorable lottery placement. This will have some bearing on where the Bucks pick, as a better placement for the Pelicans increases the Bucks’ chances of drafting before 10th by 3.4% due to the swap. So we don’t actually know their true odds just yet.

As you likely know, the listed lottery odds for the team that finishes 10th aren’t actually what the Bucks have. In reality, they have a zero percent chance of receiving the top pick because in 2020, they traded swap rights to their 2026 first-round pick to the Pelicans in exchange for Jrue Holiday. Now, New Orleans has since traded those swap rights to Atlanta, so as I referred to above, what will end up happening is that the Hawks will receive whichever pick between the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ ends up more favorable. The Bucks will receive the less favorable choice.

Morgan and I delved into this a bit back in February, but now that the season is over, let’s go over how things actually shake out, factoring in the swap. We have to wait for the results of the tiebreaker to know their final odds, but here are the chances the Bucks will receive any lottery pick based on finishing 10th:

Bucks’ pick	If Pelicans are 7th	If Pelicans are 8th
1	0.0%	0.0%
2	0.5%	0.4%
3	1.2%	1.0%
4	2.3%	1.9%
5	0.0%	0.0%
6	0.0%	0.0%
7	0.0%	0.0%
8	5.4%	0.0%
9	5.4%	8.0%
10	61.5%	64.6%
11	21.5%	21.8%
12	1.7%	1.7%
13	< 0.1%	< 0.1%
14	< 0.1%	< 0.1%
AVG	9.8	9.9

Obviously, odds are the Bucks will draft 10th. If they hadn’t dealt the swap rights to their pick, their odds of drafting 10th would be 65.9%, and they’d face about a 20.2% chance of dropping down further. Unfortunately, New Orleans decided to win a lot more in the second half of the year and finished somewhat close to Milwaukee in the standings, which upped the odds of Milwaukee falling back to between 23.1% and 23.5%, depending on that tiebreaker.

For what it’s worth, had they lost one more game and finished ninth in the lotto standings, their odds of still ending up with the 10th pick were still between 29.5% and 33.4%, while their odds at the top four improved from 3.3% or 4% (depending on if NOLA is seventh or eighth) to 4.8% to 5.8%. Their most likely draft position would have been ninth at 52% or 56.7%. Shoutout to Morgan for figuring out the code to calculate all these odds.

Anyway, since you should abandon all hope of receiving the number one overall pick, your dreams of Milwaukee receiving the second pick would only become reality if New Orleans (actually Atlanta) wins the lottery. The odds of that happening are less than half a percent. But the tiebreaker does improve the Bucks’ chances of netting a top-four selection from 3.3% to 4%, so take that for what you will.

Final 2025–26 NBA Standings

Here are the final standings for each conference, with the play-in ultimately set to decide who will face the top two seeds in each. The no. 2 seed in each conference will play the winner of the 7-8 game, while the no. 1 seed will play the winner of the next game, between the loser of the 7-8 game and the winner of the 9-10 game. 

Eliminated teams in italics.

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons
2. Boston Celtics
3. New York Knicks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Philadelphia 76ers (play-in)
8. Orlando Magic (play-in)
9. Charlotte Hornets (play-in)
10. Miami Heat (play-in)
11. Milwaukee Bucks
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Indiana Pacers
15. Washington Wizards

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Houston Rockets
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Phoenix Suns (play-in)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (play-in)
9. LA Clippers (play-in)
10. Golden State Warriors (play-in)
11. New Orleans Pelicans
12. Dallas Mavericks
13. Memphis Grizzlies
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Utah Jazz

Check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook of SB Nation, for all your lottery odds.

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The first round of the playoffs can be somewhat of a formality, regardless of the sport. The NBA Playoffs, however, have provided a little spice early on in recent postseasons.

We’ve recently watched lower-seeded squads burn their opening round opponents and make a deep run, like Miami in 2023, Dallas in 2024, and Minnesota last year.

The 2026 NBA Playoff bracket is top-heavy, with the Top 2 seeds in the East and West boasting a significant gap between them and the rest of the field. But that doesn’t mean everything will go according to plan, as my NBA Playoff upset predictions and underdog rankings explain.

With the Play-In Tournament tipping off tonight, my NBA picks size up the teams seeded No. 5 through No. 10 in each conference and their “spice” level based on a potential first-round upset possibility.

No. 5 Seeds

Toronto Raptors: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

The Toronto Raptors (+425 series price) draw the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round. Toronto did beat Cleveland in all three matchups, but those came before the calendar flipped to 2026.

The Raptors have a solid defense, but may not have the scoring punch to keep pace with the Cavs’ superstars and size. 

The health of PG Immanuel Quickley is a biggest question. Without him, it makes Scottie Barnes a ball-handler and dulls his scoring punch.

Toronto needs all the points it can produce if this series turns into a shootout.

Houston Rockets (via L.A. Lakers): 🌶️

Tough to call the No. 5 Houston Rockets a “spicy” upset pick when they’re -750 series favorites against the fourth-seeded L.A. Lakers. Houston faces an injury-gutted Los Angeles squad and whatever is left of LeBron James.

Instead, I measure the Lakers’ chances of advancing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Maybe L.A. gets one game. Maybe. And that’s giving LeBron a lot of credit.

No. 6 Seeds

Atlanta Hawks: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If the NBA postseason was an episode of “Hot Ones,” the Atlanta Hawks would be Da Bomb Beyond Insanity sauce, an almost chemical aroma that floods the senses with pain and confusion. 

The Hawks’ “Three and D” style has a similar effect and is made for postseason upsets, especially when that opponent is the inconsistent New York Knicks.

Atlanta went 1-2 versus New York, but those losses were both decided by three points. There’s a reason the Hawks are the shortest Round 1 underdog at +230 to win the series.

Minnesota Timberwolves: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Not that Anthony Edwards lacked confidence, but an underdog with hope is a dangerous one.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (+270) aren’t afraid of the Denver Nuggets, not after knocking out Denver in 2024 and advancing to the West finals in back-to-back years.

The T-Wolves are healthy, and if the Nuggets can’t tighten the bolts defensively, every game is a coin-flip in a shootout series.

No. 7 Seeds

Philadelphia 76ers: 🌶️🌶️

The Philadelphia 76ers will start the postseason without Joel Embiid after an appendectomy last week. Two to four weeks is the normal recovery time.

The Sixers play Orlando in the Play-In and would take on either Detroit or Boston in the opening round.

With Embiid healthy, spicy Philly would require a glass of milk. Without him, it barely burns the lips.

Phoenix Suns: 🌶️

The Phoenix Suns play the Portland Trail Blazers in the Play-In Tournament, which is a tough draw considering how well Portland is playing. Should it survive the Play-In, Phoenix will face either OKC or San Antonio.

The Suns have a combined 4-5 SU record versus the best in the West, but don’t have the size to counter those foes through seven games.

No. 8 Seeds

Orlando Magic: 🌶️🌶️

The Orlando Magic left a bad taste in our mouths by botching the season finale against Boston’s skeleton squad, dropping to the No. 8 spot in the East. That means Orlando travels to Philadelphia in the Play-In opener.

The Magic aren’t particularly great at one area, and mental toughness as well as coaching is a major blemish.

Portland Trail Blazers: 🌶️🌶️

Do I think Portland can knock off OKC or San Antonio? No. Are they a pain in the ass to play? For sure.

The Trail Blazers bring momentum (10-5 SU last 15 games) and a pesky defense (No. 1 defensive rating in that span) into the postseason, facing Phoenix in the Play-In opener. 

No. 9 Seeds

Charlotte Hornets: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

The Charlotte Hornets need two wins to get to the playoffs, opening versus Miami at home in the Play-In.

The Hornets were 18-9 SU after the break, have a solid record versus .500+ teams, and are just young and dumb enough to give Detroit a scare. 

Charlotte owned the No. 2 offensive rating in the second half of the season.

Los Angeles Clippers: 🌶️

The Los Angeles Clippers went 19-30 against teams with records of .500 or above, including losing all three meetings with Oklahoma City. 

Los Angeles earned the No. 9 seed by feasting on mild opponents down the stretch and hasn’t scored a win worth a damn in a month.

No. 10 Seeds

Miami Heat: 🌶️

Regardless of the nickname, the Miami Heat are about as mild as “Taco Tuesday” at the Old Folks Home.

Miami has five wins in its last 15 games and two of those came against Washington. The Heat have hemorrhaged 127.5 points per game in that span.

Golden State Warriors: 🌶️

The Golden State Warriors’ motivation level sits somewhere between “trip to the dentist” and “attending your co-worker's improv show.” 

Draymond Green doesn’t want to be here, and Steve Kerr’s biggest concern is keeping Stephen Curry healthy for a final 48 minutes.

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The viral Pacers fan captured cursing at her boyfriend had some strong words for “creepy” Shaquille O’Neal after the couple appeared on “Inside the NBA.”

Michael and Grace were at the Nets-Pacers game last Thursday when, as Michael explained on ESPN, they were seen talking about the state of liberal arts education and how it “needed to be updated for how the future job market looks.”

However, that banal conversation went viral after a befuddled Grace was seen responding: “What the f–k are you talking about?” to Michael.

And that led to the couple being invited onto “Inside the NBA” for an interview on Sunday night.

O’Neal was not buying Michael’s explanation for the couple’s disagreement – and turned up the heat when he dared Michael to propose on live TV. The legendary big man even said he’d pay for the ring if Michael took the deal.

Ultimately, no proposal happened on air and Grace was left unimpressed by the Lakers icon.

“Shaq was like a creepy horny uncle trying to embarrass his nephew and I went along with it until the bit got embarrassing and I was like alright chill,'” she wrote on social media.

'Inside the NBA' had the viral Pacers couple join the show tonight.

Shaq was particularly honest and also offered to buy them an engagement ring. #NBAhttps://t.co/Yoa4FeRhxDpic.twitter.com/KQoYba26hm

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 13, 2026

“I’m glad my boyfriend got to meet the people whose videos he shows me constantly but God am I ready to be done with Sports people. I have found u generally exhausting and, forgive me for saying so, I mean this respectfully, not smart in the ways that matter to me. TO ME.”

Following Michael’s explanation of the couple’s disagreement – which Grace has since played down – Shaq pushed back on the Indiana fan.

“What’s his name? Michael?” Oneal said. “Michael, I love you, and I love your lovely wife, but I don’t believe that story you just told. You said something else for her to say, what the ef are you talking about? Stop it. Stop it. I can tell by your wife’s face that this was planned, and your answer was planned. What were you guys really talking about? Come on, come on.”

Michael then jumped in to correct him that they are not in fact, married.

“Did you just hear him correct you? He said ‘Not wife. Girlfriend,” Grace responded.

It was then that Shaq put Michael on the spot and offered a free engagement ring.

Michael, though, immediately began choking on his words, saying, “Listen,” as the “Inside the NBA” crew erupted.

“No, there ain’t no listen. Do it right now. Do it right now, get on your knee right now, and I’ll buy the ring,” O’Neal said. “Ask her right now, go ahead.”

Michael then countered that he would propose to Grace if the “Inside the NBA” crew agreed to come to their wedding – a request that O’Neal actually said he would abide by.

However, Grace added that she hadn’t agreed to the deal herself before Barkley joked: “You already cursed him out on national television. If you turn him down on national television, he has to abort, abort, abort.”

O’Neal’s offer to pay for the ring was generous, though it appears he had about a 30-second shot clock on it.

Should Michael and Grace choose to get engaged later on, that offer might be one that Michael wishes he took advantage of.

Grace – who already had a sizable following on X before this incident – appears done with the sports world after one fan told her to stop milking the couple’s 15 minutes of fame.

“I am literally packing it up girl,” she said. “That’s what this is.”

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Time has run out for NBA players hoping to bolster their cases to win MVP, Rookie of the Year, and a variety of other awards now that the regular season has concluded.

While reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to win the league’s highest individual honor for a second time, the Rookie of the Year race has become one of the most-followed stories in sports.

Key Takeaways

• Gilgeous-Alexander is favored to win his second straight MVP after his team took the #1 seed in the West for the second consecutive season.
  
  
• Victor Wembanyama for Defensive Player of the Year is the largest favorite in any market.
  
  
• NBA players are not eligible for regular-season awards if they didn’t meet the 65-minimum game requirement (barring extreme circumstances).

Gilgeous-Alexander won the MVP last year while averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds for the 68-14 Oklahoma City Thunder en route to a seven-game victory in the NBA Finals. He followed that up with 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on a remarkable 55.3% shooting as his team finished atop the Western Conference for the second year running.

The 27-year-old’s excellence has given him a 95% chance to win the NBA MVP, according to users at the top prediction app Kalshi.

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) are both listed with 3% chances despite having remarkable seasons of their own.

While Wembanyama does not appear to be much of a threat to take Derrick Rose’s title as the youngest NBA MVP in history, he is a near shoo-in to win the Defensive Player of the Year. Kalshi lists him at 99% and everyone else at less than 1% to win the award.

The Rookie of the Year leaves the most intrigue for fans and voters. First-overall pick Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) sits at a 53% chance, and his former roommate at Duke, Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), is at 42%. 

Flagg appeared to have lost his grip on the race when he was sidelined by an injury for nearly a month from early February into March. However, 51 and 45-point scoring nights at the start of April made him the favorite again. He finished the year averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. 

Knueppel, the fourth pick in the draft, was the favorite as recently as April 5. He finished the season with the most made threes in the NBA and a stat line of 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He also missed just one game and was a driving force in the revitalization of the Hornets franchise.

While no other player received more than 1% chance to win the award, Kalshi believes there is a 6% chance that the vote will end in a tie. That hasn’t happened since 1999-00 and only occurred three times in NBA history, and it would result in Flagg and Knueppel being declared co-winners.

More NBA awards battles

The NBA attempts to highlight players who showed the most growth during the season by offering them the Most Improved Player award. Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker soared in the market over the last month, moving from a 3% chance on March 14 to his current mark of 86%. Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is second at 13%, and Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija is third at 2%.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexander-Walker’s cousin, is favored to win Clutch Player of the Year along with the MVP. He does not currently have an opponent with even a 1% chance.

The Spurs are shaping up to be the only team to have different players win individual regular-season awards, as Keldon Johnson is the frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year at Kalshi. Like Alexander-Walker, his 90% chance to claim the honor represents an enormous growth from the 15.4% chance he was given exactly one month ago. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat) is his only real competition at 6%.

Boston Celtics boss Joe Mazzulla is making a late surge to win Coach of the Year, climbing from 24% just one week ago to his current mark of 77%. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff is at 26% despite leading the market at 61% two days ago.

All-league team chances

The All-NBA and All-Defensive teams are difficult to parse since there is overlap between the possible teams, whereas individual awards only yield one winner and a field of losers.

At the time of writing, these are the players and probabilities for the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams:

All-NBA First Team

• Nikola Jokic - 99%
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 99%
• Victor Wembanyama - 99%
• Jaylen Brown - 94%
• Luka Doncic - 70%

All-NBA Second Team

• Jalen Brunson - 96%
• Jalen Johnson - 87%
• Kawhi Leonard - 87%
• Donovan Mitchell - 82%
• Kevin Durant - 71%

All-NBA Third Team

• Tyrese Maxey - 68%
• Karl-Anthony Towns - 67%
• Jalen Duren - 51%
• Stephon Castle - 16%
• Alperen Sengun - 15%

All-Defensive First Team

• Victor Wembanyama - 99%
• Chet Holmgren - 96%
• Ausar Thompson - 76%
• Rudy Gobert - 66%
• Scottie Barnes - 66%

All-Defensive Second Team

• Derrick White - 58%
• Bam Adebayo - 42%
• Dyson Daniels - 39%
• OG Anunoby - 26%
• Donovan Clingan/Evan Mobley - 20%

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The cruelness of social media knows no bounds, so when the Pacers posted a photo of Tyrese Haliburton on Friday night seemingly everyone was there to make jokes about his weight.

Tyrese Haliburton fit check 👀 pic.twitter.com/Gq1cPaMseh

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 11, 2026

From Nutty Professor jokes, to quips about how he had been “eating good,” there was no shortage of people noticing that Haliburton bulked up while being sidelined with the ruptured achilles that took the Pacers’ point guard of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and has kept him from playing this entire season.

Haliburton revealed on Monday why he’s gained weight, and it’s a lesson in why you shouldn’t get Twitter fingers too quickly and blast someone without knowing the whole story.

#Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton “lost part my eyebrow” due to face shingles:

“I’ve been taking unbelievable amounts of medication to try to get rid of it. It hasn’t worked. It’s obviously caused me to gain weight … That’s been a topic of conversation through social media …” pic.twitter.com/nRSpgnzjm6

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) April 13, 2026

Shingles is a ludicrously painful illness caused by a reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus. It leads to incredibly painful rashes, complete with blisters. Shingles which appear on the face are considered to be both the most serious, and the most painful due to the amount of facial nerves which are affected.

The best treatment is to receive the shingles vaccine, but if that is not possible, a regimen of antiviral medications is often prescribed, as is corticosteroid therapy. These topical steroids are designed to reduce inflammation, but can also cause swelling. As for why he lost part of his eyebrow, that could be caused due to the rashes and blistering.

Here’s hoping Tyrese feels better soon, because this is an awful.

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Adam Silver has gotten two things undeniably right during his tenure as commissioner — calling out Donald Sterling for his racism and introducing the Play-In Tournament.

This week’s six-game slate has been pure entertainment, even if fans of the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns might describe tonight as nothing short of agony.

My Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks bet on one of the NBA’s most irrationally confident players on April 14.

Trail Blazers vs Suns prediction

Who will win Trail Blazers vs Suns?

Suns: Personally, I expect Phoenix to win this game by multiple buckets, but suppose it comes down to the final minute. Who are you going to side with, the team leaning on Scoot Henderson initiating an offense to feature either Jrue Holiday or Deni Adija for a needed bucket or the team with Devin Booker?

Trail Blazers vs Suns best bet: Dillon Brooks Over 19.5 points (+102)

Kevin Durant was right. His worst year is better than Dillon Brooks’s best year, but that does not mean the Phoenix Suns’ biggest acquisition for trading away Durant is going to shy away from this moment. Frankly, Dillon Brooks’s delusional confidence is his most redeeming trait, though also and obviously his most infuriating one.

The Portland Trail Blazers should devote Jrue Holiday to slowing Devin Booker as much as possible. That will move the ball into Brooks’s hands more often.

Phoenix needs either Brooks or Jalen Green to complement Booker to pull off this upset and avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland is more likely to let Brooks get an advantage than Green.

That is to effectively say, betting on Phoenix’s third option is both the best bet and the Suns’ best approach to winning this game.

In a few respects, the greatest concern with Brooks may be foul trouble. And if Phoenix advances, Brooks’s worst habit will undoubtedly rear its ugly head, but that usually comes once well into a series, as tensions run highest. A one-game format lessens that concern.

Trail Blazers vs Suns same-game parlay

Devin Booker is too pure a scorer not to pour in some buckets in a game of this import, hence Portland presumably needing to devote Jrue Holiday to the Suns’ franchise cornerstone. And that is part of why Brooks should score, though partly at Green’s expense. In a very real way, every leg of this one-sided same-game parlay is correlated.

Trail Blazers vs Suns SGP

• Dillon Brooks Over 19.5 points
• Jalen Green Under 18.5 points
• Devin Booker Over 26.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Suns don't set

To put this simply, if the Suns’ point distribution breaks down like this, then Phoenix is in a great position to win this Play-In game with ease. Adding the -4 to this same-game parlay should not raise it 73%.

This is what makes the Suns just dangerous enough. They may be devoid of stars aside from Booker, a year after having too many stars to function, but Phoenix still has an array of backcourt scoring to worry just about anybody in the NBA, particularly for one game.

Trail Blazers vs Suns SGP

• Dillon Brooks Over 19.5 points
• Jalen Green Under 18.5 points
• Devin Booker Over 26.5 points
• Suns -4

Trail Blazers vs Suns odds

• Spread: Trail Blazers +4 | Suns -4
• Moneyline: Trail Blazers +145 | Suns -170
• Over/Under: Over 218 | Under 218

Trail Blazers vs Suns betting trend to know

Phoenix went 23-17-1 against the spread at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Suns.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Suns

Trail Blazers vs Suns latest injuries

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The Lakers got a taste of a playoff atmosphere against the Houston Rockets only a month ago. They can recreate the moment again, this time with real postseason stakes, but the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference will be missing a key component from those thrilling wins.

Luka Doncic, still getting specialized treatment in Europe for his Grade 2 left hamstring strain, is a long shot to return during the first round of the playoffs, which begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.

Between Doncic and Austin Reaves, who is out with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, the Lakers have lost their two leading scorers and an average of 56.8 points per game. They lost the No. 3 seed. But by finishing the season with three consecutive wins to maintain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, they haven’t lost their fight.

Read more:Lakers beat Jazz in finale, will host play-in game against Timberwolves

They'll need it against the Rockets.

“The playoffs, to me, are all about resiliency,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “... You're playing one opponent in the playoffs and there's a bunch of things that are gonna happen, some good, some bad. You may get down in a series. You may get down in the game, you may get down in the game on the road. And just, you have to play with resiliency.”

Here’s how the teams match up:

Key team stats

Lakers

Record: 53-29

Offensive rating (OFF RTG): 117.0 (10th)

Defensive rating (DEF RTG):115.5 (20th)

Net Rating (NET RTG)*: 1.5 (14th)

Rockets

Record: 52-30

Offensive Rating (OFF RTG): 117.5 (8th)

Defensive Rating (DEF RTG): 112.1 (6th)

Net Rating (NET RTG)*: 5.4 (6th)

(*Net rating subtracts defensive rating from offensive rating for a projected margin of victory.)

Players to watch

Lakers

LeBron James: 20.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 7.2 apg, 51.5 fg%/31.7 3-pt. fg%/73.7 ft%

Deandre Ayton: 12.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1 bpg, 67 fg%/64.5% ft%

Marcus Smart: 9.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 39.5 fg%/33.1 3-pt. fg%/82.2 ft%

Rockets

Kevin Durant: 26 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 apg, 52 fg%/41.3 3-pt. fg%/87.4 ft%

Alperen Sengun: 20.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 6.2 bpg, 51.9 fg%/30.5 3-pt. fg%/69.1 ft%

Amen Thompson: 18.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 53.4 fg%/77.9 ft%

How the Lakers fared

Season Series: 2-1

Dec. 25, 2025, in Los Angeles

Rockets 119, Lakers 96

The Rockets looked like a championship-contending team early in the season behind the generational rebounding force of Sengun and Steven Adams. They bullied the Lakers in a nationally televised, Christmas Day showcase, and to add injury to insult, Reaves re-aggravated a calf injury that kept him out for six weeks.

Read more:'Mr. 82.' How Jake LaRavia became the injury-plagued Lakers' iron man

March 16, in Houston

Lakers 100, Rockets 92

Part of their season-long nine-game winning streak, the Lakers came back from a 10-point third-quarter deficit behind 36 points, six rebounds and four assists from Doncic. The Rockets committed 24 turnovers, a season-high for a Lakers opponent, including seven turnovers from Durant. The Rockets were without Sengun, who missed the game with low back pain.

March 18, in Houston

Lakers 124, Rockets 116

Doncic and James combined for 70 points to lead the Lakers to their seventh consecutive win. Doncic scored 40 with 10 assists and nine rebounds while James was 13 for 14 from the field, including an alley-oop dunk from Doncic with 1:22 remaining that contributed to a 13-2 Lakers run that put the game away. While the Lakers were one of the league’s best in clutch time — going 22-8 in games within five points in the last five minutes — the Rockets were 16th with a 22-23 clutch time record.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.