Category: Basketball

Jalen Brunson sat at the podium, moments after the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in the conference finals last year, and acknowledged how much had to happen just to get back to where they were. 

They wouldn’t just start again in the conference finals. They’d have to go through the preseason, through the regular season, then climb through the playoffs once again. So many things would have to go right along the way. So many potential pitfalls would stand in their way. 

Now comes the defining part. 

“At the end of the day,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice Wednesday, “We’ll be judged on what we do on this run.” 

All that matters is what comes next and how far the Knicks go this postseason. And just getting back to the conference finals won’t be good enough — Tom Thibodeau was fired after reaching the conference finals, after all. Owner James Dolan explicitly issued a Finals-or-bust mandate this season, despite Mike Brown being in his first season with the team.  

There is no escaping that pressure. There is only embracing it, or folding under it. 

What makes them believe they’re equipped to live up to it? 

“To be honest, there’s a lot of things that go on that you guys don’t see,” Brunson said Wednesday. “A lot of things we talk about, a lot of things we do that we don’t even say publicly. For a reason — because we want to keep everything in-house. We want to make sure the people inside this building, inside that locker room, we’re all we got, no matter what. 

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“I have the utmost confidence in them.” 

The trap, of course, is looking ahead to the final piece of that mandate — reaching the Finals — and overlooking the immediate challenge right in front of them in the Hawks.

Flash back to last year, and the Celtics and Cavaliers were widely expected to meet in the conference finals. Neither did. There were much bigger doubts surrounding the Knicks and Pacers, who ended up being the two teams in the conference finals. 

They must perform every step of the way, meticulously delivering high-stakes results just to get back to where they were last year before they have a chance to exceed it. 

“I enjoy that,” Brunson said. “I enjoy the process every single day. Yes, it’s tough. Yes. There’s times, there’s ups and downs and self-doubt creeps in maybe sometimes, but this is something that I enjoy doing and it’s something I worked my entire life for. So I embrace the opportunity.” 

Those ups and downs were the theme of the regular season. With the Finals-or-bust mandate hovering over everything, their polarizing performances at times made it seem believable and at times made it seem inconceivable. 

In truth, that pressure is not just starting now. It’s been a constant all season. They’ve known for a while now that if they fall short, all options are on the table in terms of what changes could be made. 

“The highs are high and the lows are lows,” Towns said. “You just weather the storms, you stick with each other. That’s when team bonding and unity are so important, when things aren’t going well. It’s never when things are going great that team bonding is lacking. You test each other when things are going bad. We’ve had those highs of highs this year with the [NBA] Cup. We’ve had the lows of lows with the losing streak. And this team has stuck together. The locker room has been great. So it’s good for us to know that if things are not going well, we’re going to lean into each other and get closer.”

That volatility has also helped the best version of the Knicks emerge. 

“We started off the year playing one way on offense and one way on defense and we made some pretty big changes throughout the course of the year,” Brown said Wednesday. “I don’t know if I’ve ever gone through a season with a team, as a head coach or as an assistant coach, making the changes that we’ve made with a group of guys. And them continuing to try to stay the course and believe and buy in and all that, to see that from a veteran group, when we’ve hit some adversity even during that time, has a lot to do with their makeup.” 

From the moment Brunson delivered his message at the podium, close to midnight May 31, the only thing that has mattered is getting at least one step farther. 

They’ve completed the preliminary steps in the preseason and regular season. Finally, here comes the defining part.

Steph Curry drops one-word key to Warriors beating Suns in play-in game Friday originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has one simple key for the Warriors’ play-in matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

Spoiler alert: It’s the same X factor that was pivotal in Golden State keeping its season alive on Wednesday, as Curry led a 126-121 comeback win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome.

After a game-high 35 points, Curry explained what it will take for the Warriors to advance out of the play-in tournament and into the NBA playoffs for a matchup with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

“The same resiliency,” Curry told Allie Clifton of NBA on Prime. “Coach [Steve Kerr] talked about it in the locker room before, these win-or-go-home scenarios, we think we know the team, but you got to be able to withstand the runs and stay in it emotionally, because it was … back and forth all game. And then we got over the hump the last three minutes. So, stick with it; no, it’s not going to be perfect but just try to find a way to win.”

As Curry said, the Clippers delivered several blows throughout the game, but the Warriors fought back each time. And with the game in reach down the stretch, Curry, Al Horford and Draymond Green lifted Golden State over the top.

The Suns likely will go on some runs as well in another win-or-go-home game on Friday, and the Warriors will need to replicate that same mentality to avoid elimination.

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With both the NCAA Tournament and NBA regular season done and dusted, it’s now time to turn our attention to the NBA Draft, where the Dallas Mavericks are set to have multiple first-round picks and three selections in the draft overall. The process over the next few weeks gets a bit murky, but these are the important dates you might want to keep in mind.

• Now through April 21st: The NCAA Basketball transfer portal is open. Players do not have to have their destination selected by the 21^st, but they must enter the portal by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 21st. You will see several players declare for the draft while leaving the option open to return to school while entering the portal at the same time.
• The early entry deadline for underclassmen to declare the NBA Draft is April 24th. Any player who is not a senior must declare for the draft by this date.
• The NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 8^th through the 17^th from Chicago. Most players who declare for the draft but leave open the return to college will make their decision during this time, based off of feedback from NBA teams.
• The NBA Draft Lottery is May 10th. There are several tiebreakers that need to be worked out in both the Lottery and the remainder of the first round. The NBA will break those ties on April 20th.
• The NCAA’s early entry withdrawal deadline is May 27^th, meaning any player that declares for the draft on or before April 24th must decide whether they are staying in the draft or returning to college by this day.
• The NBA Draft will take place June 23rd and 24th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The draft will be televised on ESPN, starting at 7:00 p.m. CT on both nights. The first round of the draft on June 23rd will also be televised on ABC.
• NBA Summer League in Las Vegas runs from July 9^th through the 19^th.

With that housekeeping out of the way, here is a running list of some notable NBA Draft decisions that have been or will need to be made between now and then.

Top end guys expected to declare

• AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)
• Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
• Cam Boozer (F, Duke)
• Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)
• Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
• Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)

It would be a genuine shock if any of these guys came back to school. All six of them should be gone in the top ten selections.

Notables who have already declared

• Caleb Wilson (F, UNC)
• Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)
• Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
• Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)
• Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)
• Christian Anderson (G, Texas Tech)*
• Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)*
• Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)*
• Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)*
  • Also entered NCAA Transfer Portal
• Juke Harris (F, Wake)*
  • Also entered NCAA Transfer Portal
• Chris Cenac (F, Houston)*

*Legitimate chance that they return to school.

There are some really interesting scenarios here for Dallas, especially with their 30th overall pick. If the Mavericks go guard early, a player like Swain or Graves could be very intriguing with pick 30. Swain is a do it all slashing wing, while Graves translates as a four or small ball five who can step out and shoot. If the Mavericks strike out on guard early, a player like Anderson or Okorie makes much more sense. There are many options here, but we likely won’t know what is fully available until after the May 27th deadline for these guys to return to school.

Yet to make a decision

Koa Peat (F, Arizona)

I think Peat could use another year of seasoning, but we’ll see if the forward gets the guarantee he’s after.

Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)

Originally thought to be one of the five best players in the class, Ament largely didn’t live up to expectations this year. Could that lead to him returning to school?

Braylon Mullins (F, UConn)

The Elite Eight hero has a legitimate decision to make, as the sharpshooter was much more up and down this year than you’d want.

Mo Krivas (C, Arizona)

Krivas likely falls in the twenties of this draft, whereas he could easily be a lottery guy next year in a weaker class.

Morez Johnson and Aday Mara (bigs, Michigan)

This duo is also in that twenties range. Michigan is operating as if they’re gone, so we’ll see if they do actually come out.

Tyler Tanner (G, Vanderbilt)

Expect to see Tanner declare soon, but there’s a good chance that he returns to Nashville if he doesn’t get a strong guarantee somewhere in the first round.

Game No. 83 has arrived. The Golden State Warriors are starting the postseason where they ended the regular season: at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, visiting the LA Clippers. It’s a win-or-go-home game for both teams: the loser is eliminated, while the victor will advance to Friday’s road game against the Phoenix Suns.

Thankfully for the Warriors, they’re as healthy as they’ve been in the last three months. Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porziņģis are absent on the injury report, with only one name accompanying the players the team lost to season-ending knee injuries. Though as a reminder, two-way players are not eligible for playoff games, which is why LJ Cryer isn’t listed here (they are, however, allowed to travel with the team and sit on the bench).

Here’s the full injury report for both teams.

Warriors

Out — Quinten Post (right foot injury management)

Post’s foot injury really lingered. He’s only played once since mid-March, and only played a few minutes in that game. He’ll need the Warriors to win — likely at least twice — if he wants to play again in his sophomore year.

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)

Nothing to note here. We’ve known these two will be out for the rest of the year — and much of next year — for quite a while.

Clippers

Out — Bradley Beal (left hip fracture)

Beal’s first season with the Clippers didn’t go well, as he played just six games before suffering a season-ending injury. He signed a two-year deal with LAC after working a buyout with the Suns, so he’ll get a chance to run it back next year.

Out — Yanic Konan Niederhäuser(right lisfranc ligament tear)

The final pick of the first round in the 2025 draft played exactly half of LA’s games before suffering a season-ending injury.

Probable — Isaiah Jackson (right ankle sprain)

Jackson has played sparingly this year, and hasn’t appeared in a game since March. So if he plays in this game, it’s likely because the outcome has already been decided.

Enjoy the game, Dub Nation! It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video.

When Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) suffered their regular-season-ending injuries April 2, with just 2 ½ weeks before the NBA playoffs started, coach JJ Redick immediately made the Lakers’ mission clear. 

“Both those guys are going to try to come back,” Redick said April 5. “And it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back.”

Even with Redick saying Tuesday afternoon that Doncic and Reaves are out “indefinitely” and there won’t be an update on either of their statuses for the remainder of the week, the Lakers’ first-round playoff series schedule against the Rockets gives them the best shot of accomplishing their original goal. 

Game 1 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena (5:30 p.m. tipoff) was already known.

But the league announced Tuesday night that Game 2 is set for April 21 in Los Angeles and Game 3 is scheduled April 24 in Houston — giving the Lakers the maximum amount of time between games for their injury-riddled roster to get closer to whole before what could be a pivotal Game 4 on April 26 at Toyota Center. 

There will be another two-day break before a potential Game 5 on April 29 at Crypto.com Arena — almost four weeks after the injuries to Doncic and Reaves — before the series shifts to playing every other day for potential Game 6 (May 1) in Houston and Game 7 (May 3) in Los Angeles. 

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The spaced-out nature of the Lakers-Rockets series isn’t surprising — and not because of conspiracy theories that the NBA is favoring the Lakers to give them the best shot they can at getting their star guards back during the first round. 

Let’s not forget that the Lakers’ schedule for their first-round playoff series against the Timberwolves — a series Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James were all healthy — followed the same format as this year’s Lakers-Rockets series. 

And don’t ignore the fact that the Cavaliers-Raptors matchup also has the same number of two-day breaks (three) before their potential Game 5 as Lakers-Rockets. 

Nonetheless, the schedule undoubtedly helps the Lakers.

Doncic is attempting to speed up a recovery that typically takes three to six weeks (and on average 35 days) by traveling to Spain to receive special treatment before coming back to the United States on Friday. The average recovery timeline would have Doncic miss the series entirely, even if it lasted seven games. But a combination of the Lakers’ first-round schedule and a sped-up recovery could see Doncic back on the floor in either Game 4 or 5. 

And with Reaves’ injury, which is expected to sideline him four to six weeks, about pain management in addition to recovery, a sped-up return in which he’s back on the floor in the earlier part of his recovery window could have him playing as soon as Game 5. 

There aren’t any guarantees Doncic and Reaves will be back during the Lakers-Rockets series — let alone be able to play at the MVP-caliber level Doncic was at and the All-Star level Reaves was showing before the injuries.

Reaves’ shooting after practices this week is providing optimism for a return.

More time will be good for Doncic and Reaves, even if some players said they don’t know how the schedule looks, with Rui Hachimura saying Wednesday, “I wasn’t looking at it, I’m not going to lie. … I’m just focused on this first game. So I haven’t really seen it.”

Austin Reaves (oblique strain) shooting threes after Lakers practice today. pic.twitter.com/XK2jEE5pJY

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 15, 2026

The overlooked benefit of the schedule is how it’ll help the rest of the Lakers as they hope to extend the season so the star guards can return.

Unsurprisingly, the Lakers shot more efficiently from the field after multiple days between games compared with one or zero days. 

Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, all of whom will be counted on more offensively to start the series, were more productive offensively with two full days between games during the regular season compared with one or none.

And with Doncic and Reaves sidelined, the rest of the team will have to carry a heavier load — both in terms of minutes played and on-court responsibilities — which becomes more physically taxing the longer a series lasts. 

“Just seeing what days are available, getting extra work in,” Ayton said. “What’s the practice like? When do I have a free day for myself? Things like that. So I’m always looking at the schedule.”

During a series that’ll be defined by physicality and the ability to maintain focus when fatigue settles in against a Rockets team that led the league in offensive rebounding for the second year in a row, the Lakers will need as much time to rest, recover and adjust their game plans as they can get. 

Playing hard will be necessary. With narrow margins, they don’t have any other options. 

“That’s why the playoffs are so hard,” Ayton said. “You play these hard games, but we got enough time to rest up and rejuvenate ourselves to play hard again. That’s why they’re so tough to win games in the playoffs because we’re all alphas, and we bring it 110% every game. It’s gonna be fun.”

Even though the numbers don’t back it up, James is arguably the individual who’ll benefit the most, with the 41-year-old having to be back in the driver’s seat and at the forefront of the Lakers’ playoff hopes until they can get their star ball handlers back — if they’re able to extend the series long enough.

“He’s 41,” Redick said. “So any extra time off is good.”

Roob on 76ers: Kelly Oubre discovers long-range stroke when 76ers needed it most originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Let’s be honest. The worst thing that can happen with Oubre is that he makes his first 3 because then he thinks he’s all of a sudden good at it, and he keeps shooting.

He did that Wednesday night. Made his first two. Kept firing.

Only this time, he was really good. Better than he’s almost ever been.

Oubre made five of 10 3’s in a 12-point win and to put that in perspective, he’s played in 730 games in his career and this was only the 14^th where he took at least 10 3’s and made at least half of them. And only the second in the last two years.

This wasn’t technically a postseason game – play-in games aren’t regular-season games or playoff games – but for all intents and purposes it was a postseason game because it propelled the Eagles into the seven seed and a showdown with the Celtics. It was Oubre’s 25^th career “postseason” game and the first time he’s made more than three 3’s. And the first time he’s taken more than four and shot at least 50 percent.

So this was out of nowhere, and on a day when Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George all shot below 45 percent from the field and were a combined 5-for-20 from 3, the 76ers needed every one of Oubre’s long-range bombs.

I didn’t have Kelly Oubre Jr. making as many 3’s as Maxey, Edgecombe and George in half as many attempts, but here we are.

Oubre finished with 19 points and three rebounds and was plus-19 in the most important game of the year.

In his defense, Oubre has shot better from 3 this year. His 36 percent shooting from 3 wasn’t good – it ranked 112^th out of 191 players who took at least 200 3’s this year. But it was a career high and you have to give the guy credit for having his best season shooting 3’s in his 11^th season.

And you have to give him credit for coming up huge Wednesday night when there were long stretches where nobody on the team could make a shot.

Oubre’s last 3 was his biggest. 

The Magic had cut an 10-point deficit to five, and it was 94-89 76ers with 5:45 to go in the fourth quarter. The game wasn’t quite slipping away, but it was a critical situation. 

Quentin Grimes passed to Oubre 28 feet out on the left wing.

Swish.

Ballgame.

Oubre may never make five 3’s in a game again and the 76ers certainly need all the other guys to shoot better just to stay with the mighty Celtics.

But for one night the 76ers won a game in a fashion they’ve only won once before. With Oubre taking double-digit 3’s and making half of them. 

This was about the last way anybody could have imagined them beating the Magic. With Oubre going off from deep.

But without Oubre and his unlikely 3’s, the 76ers don’t win this game.

Chris Paul humorously roasts Clippers after devastating play-in loss to Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former Warriors guard Chris Paul still is bitter about his ugly breakup with the Los Angeles Clippers.

So, despite spending the prime of his illustrious 21-year NBA career in the City of Angels, the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer was repping the Bay, once again, in spirit on Wednesday night.

Paul, who spent the 2023-24 NBA season with the Warriors, took to his Instagram story after Golden State’s electric 126-121 win in the do-or-die play-in game at Intuit Dome to give the business to the Clippers he once carried.

The classic meme Paul posted is about attending an enemy’s funeral to make sure they’ve truly passed on.

And CP3 sure did tune in to Wednesday night’s thriller to make sure the Clippers went night night for good.

Los Angeles, in case you didn’t know, stunningly and literally sent Paul home early in the 2025-26 NBA season — which was supposed to be his farewell tour — and ultimately dealt him to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline; Paul retired before the regular season’s end.

The “Point God” literally played over 400 games with the historically lowly Clippers and helped them become the franchise that now boasts a state-of-the-art arena with a larger footprint in the city that always has been a Lakers town.

So, while Paul might’ve played just 58 games with the Warriors, he surely was loving every second of Golden State’s come-from-behind victory over Los Angeles, which extended the 10th-seeded road team’s lifespan by at least one more game.

Paul seemingly was a proud member of Dub Nation on Wednesday night.

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INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers had 41 different starting lineups throughout the regular season. That was mostly due to injuries and major trades that shook up the roster at the deadline. But of those 41 different combinations, one has yet to stick out with the playoffs starting on Saturday.

As of now, head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t ready to name a fifth starter to go alongside the core group of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. He was asked again after practice on Wednesday who the starting small forward would be, and declined to name one.

“I don’t want to say something [now and then] we change [it],” Atkinson said on Wednesday.

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Atkinson mentioned that who that fifth starter would be is matchup dependent. And those matchups depend on who’s in the lineup for their opponent.

The Raptors’ starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, has a hamstring injury. He participated in individual work on Wednesday, but his status is still day-to-day heading into the series. Quickley’s availability could impact who the Cavs insert into the fifth starting role.

Atkinson has been steadfast in not naming a permanent starting small forward. Dean Wade, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson have all gotten looks this season in that role. Each brings something different to the table that could be useful, depending on who the opponent is.

Based on those comments, it seems like we won’t get an answer on who will start at the three until just before Game 1 on Saturday. And whoever starts isn’t guaranteed to do so throughout the entire postseason.

“That position is going to be flexible in terms of starting and finishing,” Atkinson said earlier this month. “You have to earn it.”

The Play-In game against the Portland Trail Blazers was a tough loss, but was it unexpected? All of us Suns fans were optimistic going into the game and the Suns definitely could have won. It wasn’t a blowout and came down to the final possession. But the Suns didn’t pull it out in the end, and along the way, they gave up 41 points to Deni Avdija, just two points shy of his career high.

Deni spent the most time in the game being guarded by Jordan Goodwin. In the six minutes that Goodwin, the shortest player in the Suns’ starting lineup, was guarding Deni Avdija, the Trail Blazers’ star was held to just 1-of-3 from the field. Portland as a whole scored 25 total points in those minutes.

The tallest non-center in the starting lineup, Dillon Brooks, guarded Avdija for the second most amount of time. In the three minutes Brooks was guarding him, Avdija scored 14 points on 75% shooting from the field. Portland also scored 25 total points in those minutes.

Jordan Goodwin was the best defensive forward on the court against Deni Avdija last night, and Goodie is almost half a foot shorter than him.

The Phoenix Suns are just too small and every Suns fan knows it. The guys who are almost tall enough to compete with the elite forwards of the NBA just aren’t good enough to compensate for the size disadvantage. There has not been a reliable power forward option on this team all season, and Phoenix is paying the price.

Even before the season began, the power forward weakness was known. On October 9th, 2025, thirteen days before the Suns tipped off the season, Bright Side Managing Editor John Voita wrote this: 

“Among the biggest question marks is the power forward position.

No matter how you view it, the Suns appear either undersized or underskilled at that spot. Ryan Dunn lacks the size to battle with the league’s elite forwards. Royce O’Neale, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Dillon Brooks fit the same mold. Oso Ighodaro brings energy and intelligence, but his offensive game remains raw. If you are identifying a weak link in the lineup, power forward stands out before any other position.”

If I had to write an assessment of the current state of the power forward position at the end of the season, I would write almost the exact same thing.

We knew coming into the year that this team had a profound weakness. Against Portland, Jordan Ott started a guard that plays like a wing, three actual wings, and a center. Why did he do this? Because he is working with a roster where somewhere between six and nine of his fourteen players would probably best fit into the “wing” category.

Here is Tuesday night’s starting lineup and their listed heights on basketball reference:

Guard 1: Jordan Goodwin – 6’ 3”

Wing 1: Devin Booker – 6’ 5”

Wing 2: Jalen Green – 6’ 4”

Wing 3: Dillon Brooks – 6’ 7”

Center: Mark Williams – 7’ 1”

And here is Portland’s starting lineup from the same game:

Guard 1: Scoot Henderson – 6’ 3”

Guard 2: Jrue Holiday – 6’ 4”

Forward 1: Toumani Camara – 6’ 7”

Forward 2: Deni Avdija – 6’ 8”

Center: Donovan Clingan – 7’ 2”

Portland came into the Play-In with balance. They have guards, they have forwards, they have bigs. They have defensive-oriented players and offensive-oriented players. They have jump-out-of-the-gym athletes (I thought Shaedon Sharpe was going to hit his head on the rim on that alley-oop over Royce O’Neale), and they have shooters.

The Suns have one of the worst rosters in the NBA among teams that made it to the postseason. Phoenix has leaned into the wing-heavy roster construction that was popular 8-10 years ago, but they have done so in the era of ultra-talented bigs and forwards. Whether that was by choice or because the players they have are the best players they could get during each individual transaction, the point remains true.

The Suns’ shooting guard cast is the best example of the profound roster imbalance. Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Grayson Allen are all starting-quality shooting guards in the NBA, but holding on to all three past the deadline did not put the Suns in a position to succeed. Trading Allen, for example, for a fringe starting caliber power forward at the deadline may have been an overall reduction in talent, but it probably would have resulted in an overall better team.

What the Suns needed to find at the deadline was their PJ Washington. Washington was a very important trade acquisition that the Mavericks made during the season en route to their 2024 NBA Finals appearance against the Celtics.

Would the Suns be favorites to make the Finals this year if they had traded for Jalen Smith, Santi Aldama, or Jonathan Kuminga? No, definitely not. But the roster balance and the lack of a reliable power forward are holding this team back.

Maybe that power forward is already on the roster. Maybe next year, we’ll see Rasheer Fleming or Ryan Dunn make the leap that solidifies them in that spot. Maybe Oso Ighodaro becomes a reliable three-point weapon, and the Suns can run a double-big lineup. Or maybe the Suns finally go out and get the power forward they so desperately need.

But they aren’t going to make it far next year without a serious upgrade.

The Golden State Warriors play the Los Angeles Clippers tonight in a win-or-go-home play-in game, and Anthony Slater just told us Steve Kerr’s coaching future won’t get resolved in the immediate aftermath of the season. He’s taking time for “bigger picture conversations” before any ultimate choice gets made.

So let’s be clear about what we’re watching tonight: This might be Steve Kerr’s final game coaching the Golden State Warriors.

The timing almost feels scripted. The man who pushed this franchise from feisty underdogs into a dynasty that redefined basketball is coaching on the last year of his contract, leading a banged-up 37-45 squad into Los Angeles for a game that ends their season if they lose. And we just found out there’s no fast resolution coming, no matter what happens.

Think about the position everyone’s in right now. Kerr’s been here for over a decade, winning four championships and the magical rollercoaster of the 73-win season. His deadly motion offense became the league standard. The way he maximized Steph Curry’s gravitational pull while creating space for everyone else built something that felt permanent even though nothing in sports ever is.

Now he’s coaching a team that wheezed out of the regular season missing Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to season-ending injuries. This entire season rests on tonight’s contest. And Kerr knows what win-or-go-home basketball feels like. He hit the series-clinching shot for the Bulls in the ’97 Finals. He won five championships as a player before coaching four more. He’s been in elimination scenarios his entire life, but this one carries different weight because it’s wrapped up in organizational uncertainty that won’t resolve quickly.

What makes this complicated is that Kerr wants to be here. He said it himself after the initial contract report that he’d love to continue with the Warriors beyond this year. But he also acknowledged it’s fluid, that the organization might look at where things stand and decide to move in a different direction.

So tonight becomes more than just Warriors versus Clippers for the right to advance. It becomes Steve Kerr coaching a team he built, possibly for the last time, in a game that could end their season before any of those bigger picture conversations happen. Watching Kerr navigate a win-or-go-home scenario while his own future remains unresolved adds another layer to what’s already the highest-stakes game of this season.

Championship pedigree doesn’t guarantee job security and Kerr knows this better than anyone. Tonight we find out if that pedigree can deliver one more time when everything’s on the line.

The last time Deandre Ayton appeared in the playoffs was in 2023, when he was a member of the Phoenix Suns and viewed in NBA circles as having the potential to be a force as a center in the league.

A lot has changed since then.

He’s on his second team since those days in Phoenix, playing two years for the Portland Trail Blazers and now the Lakers. He has been viewed by many as an inconsistent player who hasn’t reached his full potential.

Ayton has a chance to prove his worth, to show his critics he has the ability to be elite in the postseason when the Lakers open the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.

“I love playing this game and I take great passion of playing on both ends of the floor,,” Ayton said after practice Wednesday. "I still believe just being a two-way player in this league, that's truly my second nature, and that's how I want to be noted as in this league. It's just being an all-around, two-way superstar. Just taking passion on both ends of the floor.

"I can play hard on offense. I can play hard on defense. So, that's just really my goal — running the floor always and closing out possessions with rebounds and protecting the rim. So, just trying to enhance everything I can coming into the playoffs.”

Read more:Lakers prepare for Rockets playoff series with emphasis on rebounding

Ayton averaged career lows in points (12.5), rebounds (8.0) and minutes (27.2) this season. But he did play a career-high 72 games and shot a career-best 67.1% from the field.

In the three seasons Ayton reached the playoffs with the Suns, he was a double-double machine, averaging 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds in 45 postseason games.

The Lakers will need that version of Ayton, especially with star guards Luka Doncic (hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) out indefinitely.

“I've shown it,” Ayton said. “So, it's just me accepting the role I'm in and playing hard as hell in that role. That's about it. Every night.”

In seven seasons before he arrived in Los Angeles, Ayton averaged a double-double. When the Lakers signed him to a two-year, $16-million deal with a player option, they hoped to get that Ayton.

“The whole season for him has been about finding consistency,” coach JJ Redick said. “When he's at his best, we're an elite basketball team. That's just the reality. He raises our ceiling so much — and it's on both sides of the ball. It's not him being able to score 24 points, although when he scores and shoots, we typically win. ... He's just a really good basketball player and we're very happy with where he's at."

Ayton was asked to evaluate his season.

“I was challenged a lot this season and I feel like I embraced everything that was thrown at me,” he said. “It took some time, but I eventually got control of everything. And I think I got a hang of it and I like it. I got the guys on the team that helped me embrace everything that's going on.

"And just things we have going, with the dilemmas and the injuries, I feel like we've been through this the whole year. Just guys going out and guys having big games. And we're the team where you don't know who's gonna have the 30 points, or this or that. We're just going to play hard and just play together.”

Ayton will have his hands full with Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who averages 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds.

“It's the postseason, you know?” Ayton said. “It's called mano y mano and it's not always Xs, and O's. You got to stop the man and guard your yard.”

Read more:LeBron James takes the reins for Lakers entering playoffs

When the Suns reached the 2021 Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, there were times when Ayton was considered the second-best player on his team. Over six games he averaged 14.7 points and 12 rebounds and shot 53.1% from the field.

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series for the Lakers is on the horizon, and Ayton is excited to show what he has to offer now that he’s back in the playoffs.

“Almost speechless, especially being on this side of town now, you know, playing in L.A. when I was on the other side,” he said. “This place can get pretty loud. And I'm still trying to just go home and embrace everything. I know we haven't ramped up yet, but coming out of these practices, JJ gives you so much. And you have to dissect it sometimes, and you're thinking about the environment, you think about the fans, thinking about the first game as a Laker in the playoffs.

"So, I just try to find some time to catch myself and gather and just just relax. I've been here before, but I am truly excited. I want to do backflips. I'm in the purple and gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

With the NBA Draft Lottery about three weeks away, fans are talking about two big mysteries: where the team will pick on May 10 and who will rep Brooklyn on the dias in Chicago that night. Last year, when the Nets dropped from the sixth seed to the eighth, it was Jordi Fernandez, the head coach, looking ashen as the bad news was delivered.

Who will be sitting proudly in front of the Nets logo this season? The possibilities include Fernandez; the owners Joe or Clara Wu Tsai: last year’s lottery pick, Egor Demin: or a former star. Julius Erving for example. The 50th anniversary of the New York Nets final ABA championship is that week.

How about a fan, like Bruce Reznick, aka Mr. Whammy, the Nets 90-year-old superfan and grand master of the hex. It’s been true for a while that said hexes work. Opposing teams shoot worse at Barclays with the distraction of Mr. Whammy and the spirit of his late wife. There’s already a petition circulating to get Bruce to Chicago, although he notes that since he doesn’t fly anymore, he’d had to get their by train. The petition already has nearly 500 signatures as of 6:00 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Doug Bearak of the Brooklyn Brigade, a superfan in his own right, interviewed the retired Brooklyn lawyer this week about the petition. Bruce won’t deny interest, not at all. He in fact repeatedly noted how grateful he’d be if chosen, and when asked if he hex other team reps at the event, his response was simple, “Of course!” (Now there’s an image!)

He spoke as well about how his late wife, Judy, would join him on the dias in spirit if chosen, adding she still sends messages to him about the team.

There’s no public deadline for teams to select their representation for either the dias or the back room where the actual drawing takes place. Nets capologist Makar Gevorkian had that honor last year. Indeed, the choice may or may not be decided yet. Fernandez told the media back on April 25 of last year that he’d be in Chicago for the lottery which was no surprise since the NBA Draft Combine is the same week. But his role as team rep on the dias wasn’t revealed until three days before the ping pong balls began to rattle through the hopper at NBA Studios.

Here’s the transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.

Doug Bearak:

So, first off, how does it feel that fans wanted to have a petition created to have you be the representative for the NBA lottery in Chicago? How do you feel about fans wanting you to be the representative for the NBA lottery.

Bruce S. Reznick

I’m deeply full gratitude for all our friends, whether they get involved with this or not … the NBA fans are wonderful, and they treat Mr .and Mrs. Whammy, a wonderful, regardless of the jersey that they’re wearing, and the color of the jersey. A fan recognizes another fan. And he doesn’t have to have the same jersey.

DB:

So if you were at the Lottery, on the stand representing the stand that represents the team out of Chicago, what would be your, you know, your method behind the madness to ensure that the nets get a high pick in this lottery? If you were in the room with all the draftees?

BR:

I’d be very grateful, proud, I’d be very, I’d be very proud, if we got a, a, a, a great pick or pick. I will, I will do whatever I can. Just try to make that happen.

DB:

Well, as of now, we only own one lottery pick, meaning we have the possibility of just one slot within, I believe the top, seven, is our floor. But our goal, you know, we have flattened odds where we can get as high as No. 1, even though the Wizards, you know, landed ahead of us. So what would be your tactic to kind of bring that opportunity to fans to bring that, you know, potential franchise changing player to Brooklyn by giving us the opportunity to pick first, second, third, fourth, whatever it may be?

BR:

We would have somebody working for us. Two hands. Mrs. Whammy. We have Mrs. Whammy up in heaven, and she watches over the Nets families, all the players, all the fans, and her family and Mr. Whammy, so let’s see, what Mrs. Whammy can pull off.

DB:

So you won’t be hexing your peers on stage? The representatives of the other teams?!?

BR:

Oh, I’ll be. Of course, I only know to hex.

DB:

Okay, so while duty brings in the gold, You’ll be bringing in the hexing.

BR:

I just use my [powers] — and just to refresh everybody’s memory — when it was last year in Brooklyn. I had my wife and my picture hanging. I went to hit the number. The picture fell off the wall. So my wife spoke from heaven last year, and hopefully she’ll do the same this year, and bring more greatness to the beloved Nets. And whatever I should do. My pleasure, and I hope we’re successful.

DB:

Well, if you got to pitch this idea to anyone, what would be your pitch be? What would be your pitch to the people above us (ownership and the front office) to have that opportunity. Well, I’m talking about getting you on stage getting you to the draft lottery. What would be your message to them to make these fans’ dreams come true of having you be the representative this year?

BR:

If I could be of any help … That it would be my blessing.

DB:

Well, first, you know, hope to see you there. If not, hope to see you in Brooklyn with the other fans. Appreciate you taking the time. Hope to, you know, hope to celebrate with you soon.

BR:

Hey. Anything I should do to help my next, our next, I should say, our next. It’s, it’s, it’s my pleasure. To be there. I support. The commissioner, everybody involved with the NBA and all the players. Every time I need a player, I say to him. I wish a good luck and no injuries. And that’s a blessing that I get from upstairs, and hopefully, it works.

BR:

Oh, I don’t fly, so if I’m invited. I’m taking the train.

So, we wait the word.

Observations after Sixers earn tough play-in win, advance to series vs. Celtics  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers pulled out a tough play-in tournament victory Wednesday night and earned a trip back to the postseason in the process.

They notched a 109-97 victory over the Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Next up for the Sixers is a first-round playoff series against the No. 2 seed Celtics. Game 1 is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Boston.

The Sixers had five double-figure scorers. Tyrese Maxey posted 31 points and six assists. VJ Edgecombe had a double-double in his first career postseason game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Desmond Bane starred for the Magic, scoring 34 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Paolo Banchero had 18 points.

Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) watched Wednesday’s game from the Sixers’ bench. He remains out indefinitely. 

Here are observations on the Sixers’ playoff-clinching win:

Oubre fires away in first 

Adem Bona got the start for the Sixers at center and knocked down a pair of free throws to kick off the scoring.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was in the middle of much of the early action. He drained two three-pointers in under two and a half minutes.

Oubre was also active defensively in his opening stint against Franz Wagner. He brought the necessary off-ball physicality and didn’t let the 6-foot-10 Wagner capitalize on his height advantage. 

With 8:30 left in the first quarter, Oubre committed an obvious offensive foul when his screen knocked Wagner to the floor. The teams exchanged some unfriendly words after the whistle and both Oubre and Banchero were assessed technicals.

Oubre capped the first quarter in sweet fashion for the Sixers, swishing a corner three with 1.8 seconds left to give his team a 28-24 edge. 

This season Oubre shot a career-best 36 percent beyond the arc, an improvement he credited largely to gaining flexibility in his left wrist and hand through offseason therapy following years of issues. He carried over that confidence in his jumper to the postseason. Oubre shot 5 for 10 from three-point Wednesday in his 19-point performance.

Maxey takes balanced approach 

Maxey made a concerted effort in the first quarter to drive hard, reach the paint regularly and invite contact. 

He drew the second foul on Banchero with 7:06 left in the first. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley let Banchero play through his foul trouble and Orlando’s star forward avoided any more problems on that front.

Paul George was scoreless in the first quarter, but he hit a couple of jumpers in Maxey-less minutes to begin the second period. Quentin Grimes’ and-one layup put the Sixers up 39-33. 

Grimes, Andre Drummond and Dominick Barlow were the only three bench players in the Sixers’ rotation. Drummond had a strong first half. He registered a highlight assist when he short rolled, took Maxey’s pocket pass and fired the ball to a cutting Barlow for a dunk. Drummond’s first quarter also included a put-back slam and two blocks. 

While Maxey mostly kept his foot on the gas offensively, he also recognized when he’d attracted extra defenders and could find open teammates.

With the second quarter winding down, Maxey tossed a one-handed skip pass to Drummond in the corner. The veteran big man drilled his jumper and the Sixers entered halftime with a four-point lead. 

Sixers strong in the clutch

Bane converted a mid-range, and-one jumper on Edgecombe 18 seconds into the third quarter. He made his free throw, which was already his 10th attempt of the game. 

The Magic had a hard time building any serious momentum because of their poor outside shooting. 

Orlando was fourth-worst in the NBA this season in three-point percentage (34.3 percent) and did not transform into a sharpshooting squad Wednesday. The team finished 7 for 27 (25.9 percent) from three-point range. 

Bona stepped up for the Sixers in the third quarter, swatting three shots and providing ample energy. Edgecombe also picked up steam in the third. His fast-break layup extended the Sixers’ lead to 73-62.

There was an altercation under the basket after Edgecombe’s hoop. The home crowd enjoyed the chaotic scene and Oubre spurred them on, asking for more noise. However, the fans were not happy with the conclusion of the officials’ review. Edgecombe got a taunting technical foul for his dust-up with Jalen Suggs. 

Maxey missed several open jumpers in the third quarter and the Sixers couldn’t grow their advantage. The Magic hung around and Orlando cut its deficit to 87-86 on an Anthony Black three early in the fourth quarter.

Maxey had a superstar’s stretch with the game up for grabs. He first made a driving layup. Edgecombe then ripped the ball from Banchero, leading to a Maxey triple on the other end. A Maxey floater built the Sixers’ lead back to eight points.

The game was destined to come down to the final few minutes.

The Sixers had a good night overall on the glass, but Wagner got a put-back layup to trim the Sixers’ lead to 99-95 with 3:25 left, prompting head coach Nick Nurse to call timeout.

Just as he did in the regular season, Edgecombe looked very comfortable in the clutch. He made a difficult layup and hit two foul shots to restore a seven-point lead.

Soon, “We want Boston!” chants rang out from the stands and a Drummond corner three was a joyous way for the Sixers to truly ice the game.

The Celtics series won’t be easy at all, but the Sixers deserve their chance to face the East’s No. 2 seed and try to spring an upset.

Celtics vs. 76ers first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the 24th time in NBA history and the sixth time this century, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will meet in the playoffs.

The storied rivals will face off in the first round, marking the first Boston-Philly playoff matchup since the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals when the C’s defeated the Sixers in seven games. This year, the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed with a 56-26 record, while the Sixers secured the No. 7 seed with a 45-37 record and a win over the Orlando Magic in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament matchup on Wednesday night.

Boston and Philadelphia played four times in the regular season, splitting their series 2-2. The C’s were without Jayson Tatum for all four matchups due to his Achilles injury, but the superstar is healthy and looking like himself just in time for the postseason.

As for the Sixers, star big man Joel Embiid’s status remains up in the air after he underwent an emergency appendectomy. If he’s out, Philly will lean heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry the load.

The Celtics have won five of their last six first-round series in a sweep or just five games. The 76ers have their work cut out for them as they look to ruin that trend.

Check out our full Celtics-76ers preview below:

Series schedule

• Game 1: 76ers vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 19 (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 2: 76ers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 21 (7 p.m. ET, Peacock)
• Game 3: Celtics at 76ers; Friday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
• Game 4: Celtics at 76ers; Sunday, April 26 (7 p.m. ET, NBC)
• Game 5: 76ers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 28 (TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics at 76ers; Thursday, April 30 (TBD)*
• Game 7: 76ers vs. Celtics; Saturday, May 2 (TBD)*

*If necessary

Regular season head-to-head

Oct. 22 at Boston: 76ers 117, Celtics 116

Oct. 31 at Philadelphia: Celtics 109, 76ers 108

Nov. 11 at Philadelphia: 76ers 102, Celtics 100

March 1 at Boston: Celtics 114, 76ers 98

Celtics vs. 76ers stats comparison

Here’s a breakdown of Boston and Philadelphia’s season stats and NBA rankings from the 2025-26 season. The Celtics have the advantage in every category except points per game.

The Celtics will win the series if…

The Jays are the Jays.

It’s simple: If Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are themselves, the Celtics win this series handily.

As good as Tyrese Maxey is, the Sixers don’t have the firepower to keep up when the Jays are on their game. Philly’s two wins against Boston came by one and two points, and Tatum missed both matchups. With him back in the lineup and looking like his superstar self, the Sixers will need Maxey, Paul George and rookie V.J. Edgecombe to play to their ceilings to have a chance (assuming Embiid misses most or all of the series).

Maxey could take over a game or two and make things interesting, but vintage performances from Brown and Tatum will be almost impossible to overcome for a team that’s middle-of-the-road on both ends of the floor.

The 76ers will win the series if…

They keep it close.

The Celtics should dominate this series. They’re superior in virtually every category (except points per game, oddly enough), and they’ll have Jayson Tatum back after missing him for all four matchups against the Sixers during the regular season.

But if their usually stout defense allows the Maxey/George/Edgecombe trio to get hot and Philadelphia finds a way to keep it close in the fourth quarter, they could be in trouble.

As our Chris Forsberg noted, the Sixers owned the best clutch-time defense in the NBA, holding opponents to a defensive rating of 98.6 in 174 minutes of clutch play. Both of their regular-season wins against the Celtics were clutch-time wins decided by one or two points.

The C’s must keep their foot on the gas and prevent the 76ers from hanging around late in games. If they can accomplish that, they should cruise into the East semifinals.

Odds

The Celtics are heavy favorites vs. the 76ers and have opened as 10.5-point favorites to win Game 1 on Sunday. Here are the full series odds (via DraftKings).

• Celtics to win the series: -900
• 76ers to win the series: +600

Prediction

Celtics in five.

We’ll give the Sixers one game in Philly, because Tyrese Maxey or Paul George will take over on an off night for Boston, or perhaps Edgecombe will catch fire like when he dropped 30 against the Celtics on Opening Night. Otherwise, it’ll be another thorough first-round beatdown by the C’s.

We mentioned the Jays as an obvious advantage for Boston, but big man Neemias Queta is a sneaky X-factor. He has been a revelation all season, and he could give the Celtics another advantage at the rim, especially if Embiid is out. Even if Embiid is active, Queta has shown in previous matchups that he can hang with the seven-time All-Star.

There’s no need to complicate this. The Celtics are the better team in almost every metric, and that will be evident in this first-round clash.

The Golden State Warriors will play with their season on the line Wednesday night in a first-round Play-In Tournament matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in Los Angeles and can be watched on Prime Video.

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors closed out the regular season with a 115-110 loss to the Clippers on Sunday night. With Golden State locked into the No. 10 seed and Los Angeles essentially secured as the No. 9 seed, both teams entered knowing a Play-In Tournament rematch was likely. As a result, neither side showed much strategically as the Warriors held out Draymond Green, while the Clippers opted to rest All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard.

Steph Curry, however, did play as he continues to ramp up for the postseason. He led all scorers with 24 points in 29 minutes, and more importantly, said afterward that he’s in a decent spot physically ahead of Wednesday’s matchup.

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors are expected to have a full roster available after dealing with a wave of injuries to end the regular season, although, head coach Steve Kerr did mention multiple players could still be on a minutes restriction. That includes Curry, who Kerr indicated will likely not exceed 40 minutes in this win-or-go-home matchup.

Entering tonight’s game in Los Angeles, the Warriors have lost nine of their last 10 against the Clippers, including a 1-3 record against them this season. That said, tonight’s game will likely come down to two key matchups: Golden State’s defense on Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers’ defense on Stephen Curry.

Leonard remains one of the most dangerous postseason scorers in the league, so Golden State will likely lean on Green as the primary defender on him. In their March 2nd matchup, Green was able to hold Leonard to 23 points — slightly below his season average of 27.9, which was the sixth-highest in the NBA.

On the other end, the Warriors’ offense will inevitably run through Curry. Clippers head coach Ty Lue has a long history of throwing different defensive looks at him, and in Sunday’s matchup, they used Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. as the primary defenders. Expect a similar approach on Wednesday with potential double teams to force the ball out of Curry’s hands.

One thing is for certain: Getting to the playoffs won’t be easy. To keep their season alive, the Warriors must win this game and then defeat the Phoenix Suns just to secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a challenging path, but one that is led by a superstar like Curry, a roster with playoff-tested veterans, and a plethora of championship experience.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!! 

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis

Clippers: Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez

How to watch Play-In Tournament Round 1

Who: Golden State Warriors (37 – 45) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (42 – 40)

When: Wednesday, April 15th, at 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: Intuit Dome — Los Angeles, California

TV and Streaming: Prime Video (available on fuboTV)