Category: Basketball

Steve Kerr addresses plan for decision on Warriors future as contract expires originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With their season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Mortgage Matchup Center, the Warriors now shift their focus to an offseason full of questions.

Perhaps the biggest of them is the potential return of coach Steve Kerr, whose contract has now expired.

Kerr, who has won four titles as Golden State’s coach, has offered little insight into whether or not he would like to remain in his current role.

His postgame comments Friday didn’t provide much more of a hint, but it appears a decision should come fairly soon.

“My plan is to take a little time, I don’t know,” Kerr told reporters. “Take a week or two and eventually sit down and talk with [owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy]. We’ve always had a great partnership and collaboration and just see where they are and I’ll tell them where I am, and we’ll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason. And we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There’s a run that happens. When the run ends, it’s sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that. If that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry and coach [Draymond Green] and the whole group. So, it may still go on. It may not. I don’t know at this point. But we all need to step away a little bit and reconvene.”

Steve Kerr shares his plans for the future with his contract set to expire at the end of the season pic.twitter.com/IXM0NnKunl

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2026

It sounds as though it will be a collaborative decision as to whether or not Kerr returns, based on his words. Kerr, who will be 61 by the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, has been Golden State’s coach since 2014.

He did rule out one thing, though, when asked about walking away from Curry: coaching another NBA team.

“That’s part of the equation, right? I mean, I don’t want to walk away from Steph,” Kerr said. “I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph, but all the stuff has to be aligned and right. So, those are all discussions that we’ll have.

“That’s what I said from the beginning of the season. I felt great coming into this year. I thought we had a real chance. With Jimmy [Butler] and Moses [Moody] going down, obviously it took us off track. But we have to account for all that stuff. This is just a pheromonal organization, and Joe is a great owner, and Mike is a wonderful GM, and I’m lucky to work with them. Like I said, we’ll all put our heads together in the next couple weeks.”

Near the end of Friday’s loss in the play-in tournament, Kerr shared an emotional moment with Curry and Green, when he stated he’s unsure “what’s going to happen next.” It was a vivid image that indicated Warriors fans already might have seen the last of that historic trio together in action.

"I don't know what's going to happen next, but I love you guys to death." 🥹pic.twitter.com/xFPazOjSOn

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2026

And now, it seems as though Dub Nation only can wait and see as a resolution to this saga is determined.

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The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are set to meet for the 23rd time in the NBA playoffs on Sunday, reigniting one of the league’s most historic rivalries. To coach Joe Mazzulla, this Sixers team in particular presents a challenge for the C’s.

“Philly’s a great team, as you saw throughout the season, and to get to this point with all the injuries that they’ve had and to be where they are now, it’s gonna be a tough test for us,” Mazzulla told reporters at Friday’s practice, per CLNS Media. “We gotta be ready for it.”

To secure a playoff spot, the Sixers overcame the challenge of turning a shorthanded roster into a contender. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George played less than half of the regular season, forcing coach Nick Nurse to adapt. Guard Tyrese Maxey inherited the No. 1 role, averaging a career-high 28.3 points across 70 starts, while rookie V.J. Edgecombe averaged 16 points on 43.8 percent shooting in 75 starts.

Obviously, playing without two of your top three players isn’t ideal. However, as Mazzulla explained, the Sixers managed to find a silver lining in what many would consider a throwaway season.

“With those guys out throughout the season, their role players have been able to develop into big-time roles,” Mazzulla said. “With the way (Kelly) Oubre’s playing, (Andre) Drummond has been playing, (Adem) Bona has gotten better and better, (Quentin) Grimes off the bench — so I think they’re a very, very well-balanced team. I think they’re playing some of their best basketball as they get healthier and healthier, and obviously they’re a well-coached team.”

Philadelphia snuck into the play-in tournament and defeated the Orlando Magic on Wednesday without Embiid, who underwent emergency surgery last week after being diagnosed with appendicitis.

For the time being, there isn’t a definitive timetable for Embiid’s return. Nurse announced Friday that Embiid is officially ruled out for Game 1 against the Celtics and didn’t address whether a return at any point throughout the series is still in play.

Drummond, in his 14th season, came off the bench and notched a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double in 31 minutes during Philadelphia’s play-in victory. He and Bona combined for six blocks against Orlando, helping fill the void of Embiid’s absence in a way the Celtics will have to account for in Round 1.

“Those other guys have developed to impact winning, and they’re a well-balanced team because of that,“ Mazulla added.

It’s a similar situation to what Boston dealt with, playing its first 62 games without Jayson Tatum. The Sixers went 21–23 without Embiid, but the ups and downs allowed others to figure out what Nurse would need from them in order to succeed. Nurse admitted after their win over the Magic that the process “wasn’t pretty,” but it was still enough to get the Sixers to this point and give themselves a chance.

Twice in the regular season, Nurse’s Sixers beat Mazzulla’s Celtics across four meetings. Philadelphia was without Embiid in two of those games and did not have George in any of them.

The Celtics have the upper hand in having not played since their regular-season finale this past Sunday. Their starters, all of whom sat out, haven’t played since last Friday. With plenty of time to rest and prepare, Mazzulla is focused on making sure Boston begins its postseason run the right way.

“Game 1s of any series are always important,” Mazzulla said. “You want to get off to a great start. You want to have your game plan right. You want to have your sub-pattern right. You want to be able to execute. You want to make sure all the things you’ve been working on all week are there.

“At the same time, every series takes on a life of its own. So we want to be at our best by Game 1, but we also want to be in the mind frame of however long it takes, we’re gonna sit in this. We’re playing against a great team, so whatever we have to do, we have to be ready to do it.”

What Steve Kerr told Steph, Draymond during emotional hug late in Warriors' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With just over a minute left in the Warriors’ season-ending loss Friday to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA play-in tournament, Steve Kerr gathered stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you,” Kerr told them, as he put his arms around the two players with whom he won four NBA championships over 12 seasons.

"I don't know what's going to happen next, but I love you guys to death." 🥹pic.twitter.com/xFPazOjSOn

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2026

Could this be the last time we see these three together? pic.twitter.com/qshwHpphFz

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2026

“I appreciate you,” Green responded, shortly before he was ejected due to a verbal spat with Suns star Devin Booker.

Friday night could be the last time we see Kerr, Green and Curry together for an NBA game in their current roles.

Kerr, 60, just finished up the last season of his contract as Golden State’s coach, and his future is yet to be decided.

In his postgame presser, Kerr offered little more clarity, saying he’ll spend the next week or two reflecting before meeting with the Warriors’ ownership and front office to make a decision.

Steve Kerr on his coaching future with the Warriors: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date.”

Kerr says he’ll take a week or two to reflect pic.twitter.com/8CToBNcS9m

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 18, 2026

Meanwhile, Green has a player option for the 2026-27 NBA season, and Curry has one more year left on his contract.

If this is the last of this trio, it certainly wasn’t a storybook ending to their partnership. But it definitely is a union that will go down as one of the most influential in NBA history.

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The Lakers have a tall task in front of them, trying to beat the Rockets with their biggest stars, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, out indefinitely. With Luka dealing with a hamstring strain and Reaves out with a Grade 2 oblique strain, the team doesn’t expect either to be available for the first round.

However, beyond that, nothing is certain. So, Lakers head coach JJ Redick stressed at Friday’s practice before Game 1 that the goal remains the same: extend the season so that Luka and Austin have something to come back to.

“The mindset for our team, and for those two guys, we’re going to try to make this season as long as possible, so that we can get those guys back at some point,” Redick said. “We don’t know when that is. That’s our job, and their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work. But that’s what we’re trying to do.”

To win playoff games shorthanded, it’s going to take a total effort from the purple and gold. Some keys the team has identified have been outrebounding Houston, limiting turnovers and establishing physicality from the jump.

Players like Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart have also stressed the importance of winning Game 1 and protecting their home-court advantage.

The Lakers worked all season to be a higher seed, and even with Reaves and Dončić out, they can’t be crestfallen. The ultimate goal of winning a title is still on the table, and until it’s off, there is a chance.

LA doesn’t have many experts who believe they can overcome the odds, and they’ll be underdogs in this series. However, the rewards of extending their season are massive. Luka and Austin don’t have serious injuries, relatively speaking.

So, if the Lakers can buy them some time, they can still return and pick up right where they left off. It feels like ancient history, but when the Lakers were healthy in March, they went 15-2 and were one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

There’s still a chance that we see that team again this postseason.

The biggest question is whether LA can win enough to bring back that iteration of the Lakers. We’re going to begin finding out this Saturday when their series against Houston begins.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The elephant in the room for the Lakers as they enter the playoffs has been, and will continue to be, the status of their starting backcourt, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Both are out because of injuries — Doncic with a grade 2 left hamstring strain and Reaves with a grade 2 left oblique strain — and neither is expected to play in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets that begins Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.

After practice Friday, coach JJ Redick was quick to say “there’s not” when asked about an update on Doncic and Reaves.

After Doncic and Reaves were injured on April 2 at Oklahoma City, the Lakers said both would be out until the end of the regular season. According to people not authorized to speak on the matter, both are expected to be out four to six weeks.

Doncic went to Spain to get treatment, and Reaves has been working diligently in L.A., with the hope that they can return sooner.

The Lakers miss their combined output of 56.8 points, 13.8 assists and 12.4 rebounds per game. Doncic led the NBA in scoring (33.5) and was third in assists (8.3); he was second on the Lakers in rebounding (7.7).

Read more:Swanson: Can LeBron James pull off his second-greatest playoff feat?

During the week of practice, Reaves was around his teammates and seen shooting after a few practices. He appeared to be in good spirits. Doncic was supposed to be back by Friday.

"We love having Austin here and we're glad he is in a position to do his return-to-play [work], however long it takes with us,” Redick said. “Excited to get Luka back and be around the group. Austin and I talk just about every day about different things. So he's … just being a part of this. …

"The mindset for our team and for those two guys, like we're gonna try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point. We don't know what that is, and that's just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that's what we're trying to do.”

The theme of the Lakers' week at practice was to “elevate” their work.

Yes, they won’t have Doncic and Reaves, but that didn’t mean the Lakers couldn’t work harder.

When they worked on box-out drills in preparation for the way the Rockets attack the offensive boards, the Lakers went hard. When they watched film and had practice sessions, the Lakers worked with a purpose.

"The word we've used all week is 'elevate.' I think that's what it is,” Redick said. “We all know the playoffs are different. They're harder. There's no easy matchups, and you have to be able to elevate your play. But beyond that, it's elevating your recovery, your attention to detail, your preparation.

Read more:'He knows the most': How LeBron James sets the tone for Lakers entering playoffs

"I talked about that with my coaches as we started this week on Monday morning. It was an off day for the guys, but we were in there for six hours and we've all collectively gotta elevate. And particularly when you're missing two of your top guys, part of elevating is elevating each other and the belief that the group as a whole can be great.”

The Rockets are a tough and rugged team that is good on defense and at rebounding.

They ranked fourth in the NBA in points given up (110.0) and tied for fifth in opponents' field-goal percentage (46.0). They were tops in rebounding (48.1) and offensive rebounds (15.0).

That has the Lakers’ attention and is why they worked so hard during practice.

“It’s been great. The level of focus and attention to detail, the communication, everything has been elevated,” forward Jarred Vanderbilt said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that’s been to the playoffs and know what it takes.

"Like you said, everything elevates around this time and having a veteran group that’s kind of been there and had a taste of the playoffs, we all know what it takes to win games in the playoffs. It’s everybody going out and doing their job and paying attention to the game plan.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Post’s experts give their Knicks-Hawks predications:

Stefan Bondy

The Hawks have playoff unknowns in Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels, so their reaction to the pressure — and to the intense atmosphere of Game 1 at MSG — is a wild card. They could rise to the occasion. They could shrink. Either way, the Knicks are more talented and that will carry them to victory.

Prediction: Knicks in 6

Zach Braziller

This won’t be easy. Like the Pistons in the first round a year ago, the on-the-rise Hawks will give the Knicks problems, stealing Game 2 at MSG and forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. In the end, Jalen Brunson and Co. do just enough to advance.

Prediction: Knicks in 7

Jared Schwartz

The Knicks almost certainly got a harder matchup with the surging, upstart Hawks than they would’ve with the Raptors. The Hawks are athletic, long, fast and full of belief. But much of their rise came against lowly opposition. And the Knicks should be far more talented with far more experience. The Hawks can hang around, but the Knicks should put them away with relative ease.

Prediction: Knicks in 5

Mike Vaccaro

Maybe I’ll be proven wrong but I don’t buy the Hawks’ late-season surge as anything much more than the byproduct of fortunate scheduling. I try to find an area that I’d give the Hawks the advantage. I don’t see one.

Prediction: Knicks in 5

One by one, Knicks player after Knicks player echoed the same sentiment — they will be judged on what comes next, not on the regular season. 

That rings true for Mikal Bridges as much as anyone. 

Last year, his largely underwhelming regular season was mostly forgotten when he made some of the biggest plays during the Knicks’ playoff run.

There was the steal on Jaylen Brown in the final seconds of overtime to seal Game 1 of the second round against the Celtics.

There was the steal on Jayson Tatum in the final seconds to seal Game 2 of that series.

There was his game-tying tip-in with 35.1 seconds left in Game 6 of the first round against the Pistons, a game in which he scored 25 points. 

“Playoffs are fun and real amped up and a lot of aggression, a lot of thinking,” Bridges told The Post earlier this month. “It’s just fun being in those games. The crowd and everything just goes up another level. So it’s always fun playing playoff games. Just trying to do whatever it takes to win.” 

Does he feel like he raises his game in the postseason? 

“I would want to,” Bridges said. “I feel like every player would want to. I just try to be the best I can be and try to do whatever it takes to help the team win.” 

Bridges is on the receiving end of more criticism than anyone on the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is probably a close second, but Bridges tops the list, given the five first-round picks the Knicks traded to get him. 

His regular-season output — offensively, at least — has not matched that trade haul. But he’s been vocal about sacrificing offensively for the betterment of the team.

It’s something that Josh Hart voiced support for to The Post, claiming that Bridges could score more if he got more shots, but that’s not what he’s been asked to do. 

Coach Mike Brown has been clear in the offensive hierarchy — Jalen Brunson first, Karl-Anthony Towns second, everybody else after that. And usually it’s OG Anunoby coming in third, so that makes Bridges the fourth option.

If that’s what you compare him to — the different fourth options around the league — rather than his trade compensation, his output looks much stronger. 

“Sacrifice for your brothers,” Bridges said after practice Friday. “… Putting your body on the line, doing whatever it takes to make the play to help your teammates out.” 

Fourth option or not, Bridges has shown the ability to make game-changing plays regardless of how he performs beforehand. On a veteran Knicks team, he has as much playoff experience as anyone. 

“That’s kind of what I’ve known,” Bridges said. “It’s kind of my DNA.” 

Draymond Green, Devin Booker ejected in final moments of Warriors' play-in loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green wasn’t on the floor for the Warriors’ season-ending loss in the NBA play-in tournament to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

That’s because Green, along with Suns star Devin Booker, was ejected after the two exchanged heated words in the game’s closing moments.

The Warriors forward already had fouled out of Friday’s game at the 1:06 mark in the fourth quarter. During the ensuing dead ball, Green and Booker earned a double technical, but that didn’t appear to put an end to their jawing. Just after the ball was inbounded — only two seconds of game time later — referee Scott Foster tossed them both.

Once Foster directed him to the showers, Green immediately responded by imitating his ejection, before egging on the antagonistic Phoenix crowd as he walked to the locker room:

Draymond Green and Devin Booker were both ejected at the end of the game 😳 pic.twitter.com/KJ1NYdvvyR

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 18, 2026

It was a frustrating night for Green, who finished with as many points as turnovers (five), in addition to his six personal fouls and a minus-13 rating.

Shortly before his exit, Green shared an intimate moment on the court with coach Steve Kerr and teammate Steph Curry, the three longtime tenets of the Golden State dynasty over the last 12 seasons.

Could this be the last time we see these three together? pic.twitter.com/qshwHpphFz

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2026

In some ways, it’s a fitting end to the Warriors’ 2025-26 season, one that had some hope, but also was filled with injuries and plenty of other maddening moments.

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What we learned as Steph Curry goes cold in Warriors' season-ending loss to Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

The epilogue of this agonizing Warriors’ season came Friday night and, appropriately, was a microcosm of their regular season, with a hail of turnovers and several players displaying visible signs of discomfort.

Golden State’s offseason began immediately after a 111-96 loss in the NBA play-in tournament finale to the younger, quicker Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.

Stephen Curry gritted his teeth long enough to play 36 minutes, scoring 17 points, with Brandin Podziemski producing a team-high 23. Kristaps Porzingis, questionable with right ankle soreness until an hour before tipoff, limped through 15 minutes to score 11 points before retiring for the night.

The Warriors head into the offseason while the Suns advance to play a first-round playoff series against the defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here are three takeaways from a night that spins the Warriors into an offseason rife with questions in search of solutions:

Warriors lose the battle of No. 2s

With Curry and Suns star Devin Booker, the featured performers for their teams, basically offsetting each other, the outcome rested on which team would get the most production from its No. 2 scorer.

The Suns won that contest in a runaway. Jalen Green blistered the Warriors for a game-high 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the field, including 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Playing 39 minutes, he posted a plus-21.

Green’s eight triples nearly equaled Golden State’s total of 11 and made him the central figure in the Suns posting a decisive advantage in 3-point makes (18-11).

No one on the Warriors came close. The three players, aside from Curry, to score in double figures were Podziemski, Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton (16 points).

Curry’s 17 points came on 4-of-16 shooting from the field, including 3 of 10 from distance, and Booker finished with 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field, including 0 of 4 from deep.

Never out of it as long as 30 is on the court 🐐pic.twitter.com/VsA98dwvC7

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2026

Grotesque beginnings

The Warriors this season put forth countless sour first quarters, but they might have bottomed themselves in this game.

The first five minutes alone featured six Golden State turnovers, including three by Podziemski; Gui Santos losing his dribble without pressure, Porzingis missing a dunk and Curry dribble-driving out of bounds.

By the time the buzzer sounded to end the quarter, the Warriors had committed nine turnovers, giving Phoenix 13 free points; shot 30 percent from the field, including 11.1 percent from distance; been outscored 8-0 in transition, and were trailing by 18 (33-15).

With a symphony of poor shooting, botched possessions, curious decision-making and charitable donations, Golden State dug itself a massive hole and spent the next 36 minutes playing from behind and never catching up.

When it was all said and done, the Warriors committed 20 turnovers and the Suns scored a staggering 30 points off those giveaways.

The two Podziemskis

No player on the Warriors gets more public love and hate from the fan base than Podziemski, who, in this game, exhibited a masterclass demonstration of things to love and hate.

It’s easy for Dub Nation to be pleased by the Podziemski, who delivered a terrific second quarter that was crucial in keeping the Warriors within distance of the Suns. He contributed 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including a 3-pointer, and three rebounds. He was plus-14 over 11 minutes.

It’s not so easy for the fan base to enjoy the Podziemski, who committed two turnovers in a 13-second span immediately after and impetuously tried a solo fast break against three defenders and failing in what the Golden State coaches consider a “shot turnover.” He did not record an assist.

In addition to his 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field, including 3 of 5 from deep, Podziemski grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

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The Golden State Warriors will determine the fate of their season Friday night as they face the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the Play-In Tournament. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in Phoenix and can be watched on Prime Video.

Another day. Another moment 😤

🏀 GSW @ PHX
🕖 7:00 pm PT
📺 @NBAonPrime
📻 @957thegame
📲 https://t.co/6BLvDT0Wyn#DubNationpic.twitter.com/P82hYnBEc1

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 17, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors kept their season alive on Wednesday night with a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Los Angeles led for most of the game, but Golden State never let it get out of reach as they responded to every run to stay within striking distance.

Trailing by six entering the fourth quarter, the Warriors flipped the game behind a huge stretch from Al Horford, who knocked down four straight threes to swing the momentum in Golden State’s favor.

AL HORFORD FOR THE LEAD 🔥

HIS 4th THREE OF THE QUARTER!

WARRIORS UP 2 WITH UNDER 2 TO PLAY 🍿 pic.twitter.com/TarSbwl58N

— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026

When it mattered most, the Warriors turned to their stars to close it out. Steph Curry delivered with a clutch three-pointer as part of his 35-point night to give Golden State the lead. Draymond Green, meanwhile, came up with several key defensive stops, including two big steals in the game’s final moments to seal the victory.

PLAYOFF STEPH AVOIDS ELIMINATION 🤯

35 POINTS IN WARRIORS WIN 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/cDzshGaAdT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2026

DRAYMOND GREEN WITH A PAIR OF INCREDIBLE STEALS IN THE CLUTCH.

WARRIORS KEEP THEIR SEASON ALIVE. https://t.co/8SITELoXjEpic.twitter.com/7Hre7jG5TX

— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors’ season hangs in the balance Friday night, and the biggest question for them will be health. Kristaps Porzingis is the primary concern after scoring 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting against the Clippers, as he’s now listed as questionable with ankle soreness.

Expectation as of this hour from the Warriors is that Kristaps Porzingis should be able to play tonight despite the ankle soreness that has him questionable pic.twitter.com/6YGvuxHyAM

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2026

Another storyline to monitor is the matchup with Suns forward Dillon Brooks. Golden State has plenty of history with Brooks, and he’s already made it clear he’s looking forward to the matchup against the Warriors’ stars.

"I think it matters to some people like myself. I would like to see the Warriors."

Dillon Brooks on prepping for Warriors and Clippers as they played last night.

Golden State won, face Suns for 8th seed.

Why Warriors?

"Steph and Draymond. And Steve Kerr." #Suns#DubNationpic.twitter.com/anPSzKBapg

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 16, 2026

With both teams fighting to keep their seasons alive, tonight’s game is expected to be physical. For the Warriors, the key will be maintaining their composure and avoiding any emotional letdown after Wednesday’s win. Golden State went 3-1 against Phoenix during the regular season, so if they can match the urgency and focus they showed against the Clippers, they should be able to punch their ticket to the postseason.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!! 

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis

Suns: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Jordan Goodwin, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams

How to watch Play-In Tournament Round 2

Who: Golden State Warriors (1 – 0) vs. Phoenix Suns (0 – 1)

When: Friday, April 17th, at 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: PHX Arena — Phoenix, Arizona

TV and Streaming: Prime Video (available on fuboTV)

The final game of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is here with a “win to get in” matchup between the No. 10 Golden State Warriors and the No. 7 Phoenix Suns for the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed.

Despite creating an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter against Portland, the Suns let their lead, the win and the No. 7 seed slip away. A Suns loss today could lead to a first for the Play-In tournament — since this format was introduced in 2021, a No. 7 seed has never dropped two consecutive games to fall out of the bracket entirely.

The Warriors advanced into today’s game with a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in which they erased a 13-point fourth quarter deficit and didn’t lead at all in the second half until an Al Horford 3-pointer with 2:12 left in the game.

The winner of tonight’s matchup officially becomes the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed and will face the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, tipping off Sunday, April 19.

Warriors vs. Suns start time:

Tonight’s (April 17) Warriors vs. Suns play-in game tips off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

How to watch Warriors vs. Suns for free:

The NBA Play-In Tournament, including tonight’s Warriors vs. Suns matchup, is streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

PRIME VIDEO PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.

NBA Playoffs key dates:

• April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament
• April 18: NBA Playoffs First Round begins
• June 3: Game 1 of the NBA Finals

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Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

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Playoff basketball is back at the Garden on Saturday as the New York Knicks open their first-round series against the surging Atlanta Hawks. 

With each team looking to land the first punch, my Hawks vs. Knicks predictions expect Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Atlanta to turn Game 1 into a thriller.

Find out more in my NBA picks for April 18. 

Our best Hawks vs Knicks SGP for Game 1

Following the All-Star break, the Atlanta Hawks boasted the seventh-best offensive rating (119.8), second-best defensive rating (109.5), and third-best net rating (10.3). Given the team’s recent success and advantage from the perimeter, I’ll take the Hawks to cover a modest spread on the road.

The New York Knicks closed out the final 10 games of the regular season with the slowest pace in the Association, while Atlanta ranked 15th. Both teams finished with Top-12 defensive ratings and didn’t give up many points down the stretch. This one could get chippy, so I’ll bet on defense and pace dictating the final score.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has reached 21+ points in 10 of his last 14 games, and he also lit up the Knicks for 28 points per game across his last three matchups against them, scoring 21+ in each. Don’t expect Alexander-Walker to regress in the playoffs.

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 Golden State Warriors made a stunning comeback to down the Los Angeles Clippers in the 9-10 play-in game. Steph Curry continued his second decade of tormenting the Clippers, took revenge on Kawhi Leonard for the 2019 NBA Finals, and earned a meeting with the Phoenix Suns. Though he was only a Warrior for a single season, Chris Paul delighted in seeing his old team win, though not nearly as much as in seeing his other old team lose.

Chris Paul’s IG story. 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/2wWT9IAJBI

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 16, 2026

Paul posted an image known as the “Biggest Hater’s Funeral” after Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Al Horford joined forces to down the Clippers, 126-121. The Point God was a member of the Clippers earlier in the season before the team sent him home for, well, being Chris Paul. He reportedly argued with coaches and once changed a defense, infuriating Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy. Yes, Jeff Van Gundy. And you thought CP3 was washed!

If you paid attention to any of Van Gundy’s basketball commentary the last few years, you’d expect Van Gundy’s huddles to be full of long monologues about his hatred of leftovers, pretending to misunderstand basic English-language idioms, picking fights with Mark Jackson, and making disturbing inquiries about what you’re allowed to do with blood relatives.

This HAS to be one of the wildest Jeff Van Gundy comments of all time 😭

“What does second cousins mean? When people say that, I never know what they mean… or what you’re allowed to do [with your second cousins].” 💀 pic.twitter.com/DM8qqgZfKs

— Kicks (@kicks) June 30, 2023

Perhaps Van Gundy clashed with Paul out of habit, since he spent a decade reflexively arguing with one of the NBA’s all-time assist leaders. But Paul lost his battle with authority. The Clippers sent him home and later traded him to the Toronto Raptors, and Paul announced his retirement.

Is Chris Paul annoying? Of course he is! But he’s also the single biggest reason the Clippers are no longer a joke of an NBA franchise. OK, they’re less of a joke. It also sounds like this team is full of jerks.

Paul threw a Halloween party for his teammates. He also invited the Clippers to his suite at a Los Angeles Rams game, located down the street from the Clippers arena. Only three Clippers showed up to the Halloween party. Granted, given what we’ve learned about Kawhi Leonard’s $28M endorsement deal with the team’s jersey sponsor, maybe the Clippers know they don’t have to show up to things to get paid, like tree-planting events or the final minutes of a play-in game.

Clippers try to screen Draymond off of Kawhi but Draymond fights through the screen, pins Kawhi against the sideline, and gets the deflection and TO.

The greatest defender of this generation. pic.twitter.com/4pRUxFrVCb

— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) April 16, 2026

One hallmark of the Steve Ballmer era of the Clippers has been bitter departures with the team’s best players. They convinced Blake Griffin to sign a contract extension with a push that included putting him on a t-shirt alongside figures like Barack Obama, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., then traded him six months later. Patrick Beverley was so fired up to beat his old team in a play-in game that he celebrated like he’d won an NBA title.

Patrick Beverley Pat Bev NBA player emotional celebrates a play-in victory tears of joy throws jersey to crowd while The Man by Aloe Blacc plays in the background stand up now and face the sun pic.twitter.com/5e1j1kpY1j

— find a reaction (@findareaction) March 17, 2023

Now Paul is trolling the Clippers on Instagram after the team ensured a fifth straight year without a playoff series win. Let’s hope he’s watching Friday, because the Warriors are facing another old CP3 team that ditched him unceremoniously. How’d that Bradley Beal trade work out, Isiah Thomas?

In an interview with @sopandeb, Chris Paul said he found out about the trade through a text from his son while on a flight. Paul said the Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Ishbia’s friend, Isiah Thomas, must have “wanted to go in a different direction.” https://t.co/bZcNu0sXE9

— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) June 19, 2023