Basketball News
The Cleveland Cavaliers are starting their preferred starting five of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. This should be a good test against the Atlanta Hawks.
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Go Cavs!
On Tuesday, the Houston Rockets converted JD Davison’s two-way deal to a traditional NBA contract, theoretically helping the Rockets’ ongoing need at the point guard position.
Davison has been with the team mostly all season, although he hasn’t spent much time on the floor. As a two-way signee, Davison was limited to just 50 NBA games, although it’s not limited to whether or not he actively plays in the games.
Even if he was made active but never actually logged game minutes, that counted towards his count. The Rockets rank the risk of Davison not being eligible for the postseason, absent a standard NBA deal.
Davison reached his 50th game on Sunday, when the Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors in Stephen Curry’s return from a two-month absence.
As for the deal itself, it’s a two-year contract with a team option in the second year. Davison, the G-League MVP of the 2024-25 season, rose to prominence in Rockets circles during the preseason.
At that point in time, the Rockets were still dealing with the news of Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL and season-long absence. Making matters worse, Houston didn’t technically have any other point guards on the roster, either.
Aaron Holiday and Reed Sheppard had been utilized more as scoring guards upto that point. And still have, although we’ve seen Rockets coach Ime Udoka give Sheppard more on-ball reps in recent months.
During the preseason, Davison made 47.1 percent of his three-pointers, proving capable of providing theoretical value in that realm for a Rockets team lacking outside shooting specialists. Davison also averaged 10.5 points.
On the season, Davison’s counting stats aren’t exactly eye-popping, as he’s averaged 2.2 points, 1 assist and .9 rebounds, while shooting 40 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three, which translates to 11.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Many fans wondered if Jordan Goodwin would even make the opening day roster when the team claimed him off waivers after being released by the Los Angeles Lakers. With him returning to the Valley, many speculated about how much of a difference-maker he would truly be. Well, Goodwin saw all of that and proved it where it mattered this season, on the court.
This year, he was recognized for winning the Dan Majerle Hustle award. This is given to a player every year, to recognize their heart, grit, and hard work in getting them to where they are in the rotation. Something that Suns legend and Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle always represented in Phoenix.
Goodwin is very deserving of this crown, as I mentioned, many did not know what he could be for the Suns this year. He was competing with Jared Butler for the final roster spot, and even though Goodwin earned it, there was no set spot in the rotation for him. He had to earn those minutes, and he did that, proving to the fanbase that the return of Goody was going to be a revival.
The guard this season is putting up some nice numbers, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37% from three. His ability to showcase his defense prowess and be an effective ball stopper is what makes him highly praised in the valley. This is what made him stand out and get the playing time he sees now.
Goodwin always has that fight in him and never gives up. The hustle this man shows when he touches the court is infectious, and it plays off to the rest of the team. He is always fighting for loose balls, trying to generate a steal, and on some nights, he can get it going from three-point land. This year, Goodwin had a career-high 8 threes against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the one time they beat the team this season.
This type of heart and effort is hard to find in the NBA, and for the Suns, it was vacant from previous teams. Now with Jordan Ott at the helm, things have shaped up differently for the Suns and in a lot better light. A majority of that on the defensive end starts with Goodwin and also ends with him. That is why he is recognized for receiving an award he most certainly deserves. The next on the agenda for Goodwin is a well-deserved long-term contract to stay in the Valley.
The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls square off again Thursday for Round 2 at Capital One Arena.
When: Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Tre Johnson (foot) and Jaden Hardy (back) are questionable, while Alex Sarr (toe), Trae Young (quad), Kyshawn George (elbow), Anthony Davis (hand), Tristan Vukcevic (knee), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Bulls, Josh Giddey (hamstring), Matas Buzelis (illness), and Isaac Okoro (quad) are questionable, while Nick Richards (elbow), Anfernee Simons (wrist), Jalen Smith (calf), Zach Collins (toe), and Noa Essengue (shoulder) are out.
The Wizards are coming off an absolute shellacking at the hands of the Bulls on Tuesday in a matchup that ended 129-98. Washington fell behind by 20 points in the first quarter and never mounted anything remotely resembling a comeback.
One difference coming into the rematch is that the Wiz have since ensured that the team will keep its 2026 first-round pick. There’s a chance Washington will look to pick up one more victory, knowing that the team enters Thursday with a 2.5-game cushion over the Brooklyn Nets and a full game over the Indiana Pacers in the race to the bottom. Perhaps the Wizards will try to appease the basketball gods with a final win.
Will Riley also gets another crack at the Bulls after posting arguably the worst game of his career against Chicago. Washington’s second-half breakout rookie finished with just two points on 1-of-13 shooting. Riley had just come off back-to-back 30-point games.
It's been a good week for Detroit basketball.
The Pistons, for the first time in 19 years, have sewn up the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs. The University of Michigan won its first men's basketball national championship since 1989.
On top of that, there's great news about the status of Pistons star Cade Cunningham.
After missing time after suffering a collapsed lung, Cunningham is expected to make his return Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill.
Cunningham missed the previous 11 games. He was last active during a March 17 game against the Washington Wizards. Detroit won that game, 130-117, but Cunningham left with his injury after about five minutes of playing time.
The Pistons went 8-3 without Cunningham. Overall, the team has a 13-5 record and has averaged 114.8 points per game without its MVP candidate.
Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and a career-high 9.9 assists in 61 games this season. With just three games remaining, Cunningham seemingly won't be eligible for end-of-year awards, such as Most Valuable Player, due to the league's 65-game threshold.
More important for Cunningham and the Pistons' brass, though, is his return in time to make a run in the postseason.
It's the first time that the Pistons have been the top dog in the East since 2007. That season ended with an Eastern Conference finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by a 22-year-old LeBron James.
Last year, the Pistons snapped a five-year postseason drought with a playoff berth as the No. 6-seed. However, they lost a hard-fought series in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs to the New York Knicks, 4-2.
The Pistons selected Cunningham with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State. He's helped lead the charge to get the franchise back to its winning ways.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cade Cunningham playing tonight? Pistons star expected back vs bucks
Beloved sports commentator Dick Vitale delivered some bad news on his health on Wednesday, March 8.
Through a statement from ESPN PR, Vitale announced that he received bad news after going through a series of routine tests last week. The iconic college basketball personality revealed that there were some "abnormalities" found.
“While I feel great physically and sharp mentally, I heard from my doctors that the latest tests (which included a PET scan, then a CAT scan with two MRIs) showed some abnormalities,” Vitale said in a statement shared by ESPN. “They are recommending some additional testing to determine next steps. I'm hoping for the best and we will see what the roadmap looks like after an upcoming biopsy.
“As always, I plan to remain as active as ever and fight as hard as can be.”
A health update from @DickieV that he asked me to share pic.twitter.com/N7W6UzLfVX
— Josh Krulewitz (@jksports) April 8, 2026
Vitale, 86, was declared cancer-free last year and made his return to broadcasting. Last month he called a First Four game between North Carolina State and Texas, with Charles Barkley, the first time the two called a game together.
“I'm still doing games,” Vitale told USA TODAY Sports in March. “It's a miracle. It's absolutely a miracle. I get emotional about it sometimes.”
Since 2021, Vitale has battled with cancer when he was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma. He was then diagnosed with vocal cord cancer in 2023. He made an emotional return to ESPN, broadcasting games, last February.
Here's a look at the full statement on his health:
“Like countless others, each time I go for any kind of test, I am a nervous wreck,” Vitale said. “The latest example is my scans last week. The anxiousness you feel about the uncertainty is off the charts. You just never know what’s next, and it can be surprising or scary.
“While I feel great physically and sharp mentally, I heard from my doctors that the latest tests [which included a PET scan, then a CAT scan, and then two MRIs] showed some abnormalities.”
“They are recommending some additional testing to determine next steps. I’m hoping for the best, and we will see what the roadmap looks like after an upcoming biopsy,” Vital added.
“As always, I plan to remain as active as ever and fight as hard as can be.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dick Vitale announces new health update after routine tests
No ice cream tonight. Under the weather, end of a long season, and somehow still scanning lines at tipoff time — that’s dedication. The Dallas Mavericks (25-54) close out their final back-to-back set in Phoenix against the Suns (43-35), both teams playing on one night’s rest. Dallas just dropped 116-103 to the Clippers on Tuesday. Phoenix lost to Houston 119-105. Neither team is operating at full capacity, but the Suns have something to play for — the Clippers are two games back of them for seventh in the West, and Phoenix would very much like to avoid the play-in. Dallas would very much like to go home.
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
🏀 Fixture: Dallas Mavericks (25-54) @ Phoenix Suns (43-35) 📍 Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, AZ 🕙 9:00 PM CST, Wednesday, April 8, 2026 📺 KFAA Channel 29 / MavsTV / NBA League Pass
📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 5:05 PM CST) Spread: PHX -12.5 (-105) | DAL +12.5 (-115) Total: 233.5 (O -110 / U -110) Moneyline: PHX -650 | DAL +470
Twelve and a half points is a lot to ask on a back-to-back, even against a 25-win team. Phoenix is motivated — the playoff seeding race is real — but motivated and covering a big number are two different things, especially on one night’s rest against a Dallas team that refuses to quit. The Mavs have a 16-27 record in clutch games this season. They don’t mail it in. Gafford, Marshall, Klay, and PJ are all doubtful, which is a real frontcourt concern, but Flagg is probable and this number feels generous. Take the points.
Both teams on a back-to-back usually means sloppy defense and tired legs — neither ingredient that leads to a grind-it-out defensive battle. Phoenix wants to run, Flagg wants to score, and Dallas’s depleted roster means Phoenix gets easy looks inside all night. Points are the path of least resistance here.
Cooper Flagg Over 28.5 Points (-106) Flagg had 25 on 9-of-25 shooting against the Clippers Tuesday — not his best night, but he’s been filling the stat sheet regardless. With Marshall and PJ both doubtful, the offense runs entirely through him. Phoenix has a seeding race to worry about and will game-plan accordingly, but when your supporting cast is this thin, Flagg gets the ball on every meaningful possession. The number is high but the usage is undeniable. Back the rookie.
Oso Ighodaro Double-Double (+584) Here’s the fun one. Ighodaro is a 23-year-old Suns forward averaging 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, but Dallas is showing up tonight without most of their functional frontcourt. Gafford and Marshall both doubtful. That’s a lot of interior real estate up for grabs. Ighodaro had 8 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes against Houston yesterday — he’s close. At +584, you don’t need this to hit often for it to be worth the look. It’s the kind of prop that cashes quietly and makes you feel like a genius.
💡 Summary: Dallas +12.5 for a team that won’t go quietly. Over 233.5 on tired legs and thin defenses. Flagg carrying a depleted roster over his number, and Oso Ighodaro doing something interesting with all that frontcourt space. Four picks.
Another look at a likely first-round playoff opponent as the Atlanta Hawks (45-34) travel to Cleveland to spar with the Cavaliers (50-29) and lock up a playoff spot.
Jock Landale (ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
Starting lineup:
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: WatchESPN, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
The Detroit Pistons might get Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart back, with both being game time decision, according to head coach JB Bickerstaff. Does anything else really matter? Other things of note, I suppose, is that the Bucks have given up on everything resembling dignity, per their injury report and their head coach’s musing about how much he misses spending time with his grandchildren. The point spread is at Pistons -20.5. Feels like it might be an undercount unless Detroit is completely unserious.
To be more precise, Cade, Kevin Huerter, and Isaiah Stewart are all listed as questionable. But ESPN’s Vince Goodwill has sources that indicate Cunningham is likely to give it a go. If Cade plays the rest of the season, he will be at 64 games. That would be one short of the threshold for awards consideration. Could Cunningham explore a special exception, similar to what Luka Doncic and his agents have floated recently?
The Milwaukee report is far more bleak and definitive. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out. Kyle Kuzma is out. Kevin Porter Jr. is out. Bobby Portis is out. Myles Turner is out. Hope is out.
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -20.5
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent, Osumane Dieng, Pete Nance, Jericho Sims
After 13 seasons, two MVPs and one NBA championship — the first one for the franchise since the 1970s — the split between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks seems inevitable. It is coming this offseason.
Where will Antetokounmpo play next?
Golden State, Miami and Minnesota made a hard push at February's trade deadline, but team ownership put off making a deal because it believed better offers would be available in the offseason. That may be true. Could the Rockets, or even the Lakers or Celtics, jump into the mix? It's possible, according to a report from Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Two key factors will impact which jersey Antetokounmpo will pull on next.
First, where does Antetokounmpo want to play? By pushing off trading the Greek Freak to the offseason, the Bucks gave him more leverage — Antetokounmpo has just one more guaranteed season on his contract, and he can tell a team he is not interested in them that he would not re-sign with them. While Milwaukee could trade Antetokounmpo to a team willing to take a one-year flyer on him (as Toronto did with Kawhi Leonard — and won a title with that gamble), most teams will not want to meet the asking price if they cannot reach an extension with their new star.
Second, which teams flame out early in the upcoming NBA playoffs? To use Boston as an example, it has a lot of flexibility this offseason to make a big move, but if it makes the NBA Finals — and the Celtics are the betting favorite to do just that — then would they still have interest in Antetokounmpo? How will the Lakers approach the offseason after injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are set to dramatically impact their playoffs? How will Houston feel if it flames out in the first round?
Amick at The Athletic lists a number of teams that could be in the mix for Antetokounmpo.
The Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks were known to be in the market for Antetokounmpo, will almost certainly be back if they fall short.
However, how might the Orlando Magic feel if they fall short of expectations, with their current Play-In status nowhere near what they had in mind when they went all-in for Desmond Bane last summer? And what about the Houston Rockets, who signaled a disinterest in pairing Antetokounmpo with Kevin Durant in February but might change their stance if they get eliminated early?
Ditto for the San Antonio Spurs … or the Los Angeles Lakers … or the Atlanta Hawks. Even the Celtics, who have the 'Two Jays' back now and look fully capable of winning it all, are known to be interested and discussed in league circles as potential suitors.
Those teams have a lot of questions to ask themselves. Does Houston think Antetokounmpo and Durant could play together, especially with floor general Fred VanVleet expected to return next season? The Lakers are going to wholly reshape their roster this offseason, but do they really think the ball-dominant Luka Doncic would fit well with the ball-dominant Antetokounmpo? It's hard to imagine the young, talented, diverse and improving every day Spurs suddenly getting impatient and going after Antetokounmpo.
Other teams not on this list may throw their hat in the ring, but which ones will Antetokounmpo want to play for? There are a lot of moving parts.
One thing is certain: This is going to be a wild offseason.
NEW YORK CITY — The Celtics could be shorthanded when they face the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis), Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Neemias Queta (right toe sprain), and Derrick White (right knee contusion) are all questionable to play. The Celtics are on the first night of a back-to-back, with a game against the New Orleans Pelicans back at TD Garden on Friday.
Jayson Tatum will lace up at Madison Square Garden for the first time since he ruptured his Achilles there last May.
“I’m not like, thrilled, to go back and play there,” Tatum said on Tuesday night. “Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me.”
Still, he opted to play on Thursday in New York to get that first game back out of the way.
“Obviously, I knew at some point I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again. So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday. But it’s not like I’m thrilled about it. But it’s part of it. I decided to come back and play, so I’m not necessarily skipping certain games. I can’t play back-to-backs right now, but I decided to come back and play, so it’s just another game on the schedule.”
If the Celtics actually end up sitting four starters, it’s likely that players like Nikola Vucevic, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Ron Harper Jr will all see increased opportunities.
The Celtics are 1-2 against the Knicks this season, but have the upper hand in the conference standings. The Celtics (54-25) have a three-game lead over the Knicks (51-28) for the No. 2 seed.
The Knicks won by double-digits in New York and February, while the Celtics pulled away with a 6-point win in December. But all of those games were played without Tatum, who returned last month from a 10-month-long absence.
The Celtics and the Knicks have had two of the league’s best offenses this season — the Celtics have the NBA’s second-best offensive rating (119.9) and the Knicks have the league’s third-best offense (118.8).
Both have also been top ten defenses; the Celtics have the NBA’s fourth-best defense (111.7 rating), and the Knicks have the NBA’s 8th-best defense (112.3).
Celtics-Knicks tips off at 7:30pm ET.
Even national champions get star struck.
UCLA women’s basketball team center Lauren Betts was seen in a social media video on Tuesday night nearly losing her mind following an encounter with LeBron James.
The newly crowned champ was at Crypto.com Arena to be honored by the Los Angeles Lakers for her and her team’s triumphant NCAA tournament victory over South Carolina, and at one point, she and James had an interaction that left her speechless.
“Guys, guys, guys, guys,” said Betts, who appeared to be fighting back tears. “LeBron made eye contact with me. F–king LeBron James!”
James did not play in the Lakers’ matchup with the Thunder due to left foot injury management, but Betts clearly didn’t mind not being able to watch him on the court.
It’s the latest cool chapter for Betts in what’s been a whirlwind week.
lauren betts after meeting lebron james
— amaia ☆ (@bettsandpieces) April 8, 2026: pic.twitter.com/PAwNZ1OQYB
Following the Bruins’ title win in Phoenix, the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and her teammates received a hero’s welcome at their campus in Westwood and also appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
They’re slated to hit the Clippers’ game against the Thunder at Intuit Dome later Wednesday as well.
Seems the spoils truly do go to the victor.
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After missing 11 games due to a collapsed lung, Cade Cunningham is expected to make his return to the court for the Pistons on Wednesday night against the Bucks, a story broken by Vinny Goodwill of ESPN.
Detroit had hoped to get its All-Star into a couple of games before the end of the season, rather than having him return during the intensity of the playoffs. He makes that comeback in a game that does not impact the Pistons in the standings, while the Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Kevin Porter Jr.
While Cunningham was out, the Pistons still went 8-3 behind stellar playmaking from Daniss Jenkings and continued All-NBA level play from Jalen Duren. With that, it locked up the No. 1 seed in the East. With that, the Pistons will be off for about a week after the regular season ends.
Cunningham averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds a game this season. He was on track to be a likely top-five in MVP voting and First Team All-NBA, but this injury means he will not meet the NBA threshold of 65 games to qualify for postseason awards.
Cunningham was injured on March 17 after colliding with Wizards' rookie Tre Johnson diving for a loose ball. He immediately left that game, not to return.
Who: Phoenix Suns (43-36) vs. Dallas Mavericks (25-54)
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Suns are coming off one of their most physical and emotional games of the season against the Houston Rockets in a late-night fourth-quarter collapse. It was the first time every player from last summer’s blockbuster trade got to play, and the energy between the two teams was at playoff intensity. The Suns led 84-81 to start the fourth quarter, but could not withstand the Rockets’ physicality and talent to highlight yet another poor Suns fourth-quarter performance.
The Mavericks will not bring in the same level of playoff intensity into the final regular-season game in the Mortgage Matchup Center. They are 25-54 and have booked their offseason travel plans; all they need to do is go through the motions three more times. Meanwhile, the Suns are solidly in the play-in as the seventh seed in the West and only need one more win to ensure their position. The Suns won the first two games of this three-game regular season series and are looking to sweep another Western Conference bottom dweller this regular season.
The player to watch this game is Rookie of the Year frontrunner Cooper Flagg, who has been sensational for the Mavericks. He is the engine of everything they do. Flagg recently scored 51 points in a game against the Magic, becoming the youngest player to score over 50 in an NBA game. He followed up that performance with 45 points against the Lakers in his next performance. He will be the most exciting player on the floor to watch, and the player at the top of the Suns’ scouting report.
The last time these two teams matched up, the Suns dominated the game early. They led by as much as 31 in the second quarter before the Mavericks inched their way back into the game, scoring in transition and getting to the free-throw line. The Mavericks shot 42 free throws compared to the Suns’ meager nine attempts. The Mavericks also outscored the Suns 27-10 in fastbreak points, with the majority coming in the second half against a Suns team that let off the gas too much.
Now that the Suns are back to full strength with Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks back in the lineup and a few games under their belt, the Suns need to build continuity and fast. Can the Suns get back to their maniacal effort and focus on defense, or will their sloppy, casual play over the last month continue to show itself?
The Suns have to defend, specifically without fouling. The Mavericks cannot score effectively in the half-court, so transition defense will be the biggest factor in the Suns gaining a decisive win. If the Suns get back in transition, it will be difficult for a poor shooting Mavericks team to score against an engaged defense. Getting back in transition will also put the Suns in the best position to defend without fouling.
The Suns have to avoid the emotional hangover from an intense loss against the Rockets and show up with a high level of focus to get what should be a decisive win against the Mavericks. If the Suns drop this game against the Mavericks, the Clippers will be nipping at their heels for that crucial 7-seed.
The Suns beat the Mavericks.
Suns 118, Mavs 106