LaMelo Ball was assessed an after-the-fact flagrant foul 2 and fined $35,000 for "making unnecessary and reckless contact with Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo that created a significant injury risk," the NBA announced on Wednesday.
That means he will not be suspended and will play Friday night when Charlotte travels to Orlando for a win-and-you 're-in play-in game. Ball was fined an additional $25,000 for "using profane language during a live postgame television interview," bringing his total fined for Tuesday night's game to $60,000.
The play in question happened in the second quarter, when Ball drove the lane and threw up a shot that Simone Fontecchio blocked. Ball went to the ground, Adebayo grabbed the loose ball, and Ball reached over and hit Adebayo's leg, leading to a nasty fall.
The play where Bam Adebayo got taken out. LaMelo Ball was complaining to the referees afterward. pic.twitter.com/xbKAhslFHB
Adebayo left the game not to return, and Charlotte went on to beat Miami 127-126 on a Ball driving layup in overtime.
If Ball had been called for a flagrant 2 foul during the game he would have been ejected. The play was not reviewed (because there was no foul call and play continued on the other end of the court).
"I didn't see it [when it happened], but I don't think it's cute," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame. "I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play...
"He should have been thrown out of the game for that. There is no place in the game for that."
Ball apologized after the game.
"I apologize on that one," Ball said. "I got hit in the head and didn't really know where I was. But I'm going to check on him and see if he is OK and everything."
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Ah screw it, bring on the Celtics.
The Sixers out battled the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the first round of the Eastern Conference Play-In tournament Wednesday night. They have now earned the seventh seed in the East and will take on Boston in the first round of the playoffs, beginning Sunday afternoon.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 31 points, shooting 11-of-25 from the floor along with six assists. Paul George put up 16 points, five assists and two steals on six-of-16 shooting.
In his first postseason game, VJ Edgecombe went for 19 points, shooting 7-of-16 from the floor while pulling down 11 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 as well while Desmond Bane led all scorers with 34.
Joel Embiid (appendectomy surgery recovery) and Johni Broome (knee surgery recovery) were out for the Sixers while Orlando was down Jonathan Isaac (knee sprain).
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Adem Bona got the start at center in this one. Size-wise it did make sense to stagger him against Wendell Carter Jr. and Andre Drummond against Goga Bitadze. Bona grabbed an offensive rebound and hit another off a defender. Both of those second chances led to the Sixers’ first five points of the game. Kelly Oubre Jr. started well making two of his first threes and got in an early jawing match with Paolo Banchero that earned double technicals.
It’s not a surprise both defenses looked better early. Orlando looked to have an early edge on the glass while the Sixers caused disruption via deflections. They had three early steals and scored on two of those fast break opportunities. Maxey got credit for the steal Drummond started with his deflection, but the backup center swatted away two shots in the quarter.
Orlando’s defense was able to keep the Sixers’ dribble penetration out of the lane and make them settle. Neither Maxey or George shot it well out of the gate, opening a combined 3-of-10 from the floor. Maxey found his footing a bit, knocking down a couple jumpers, forcing a Magic timeout in the process. He had a floater just rim out only to be slammed back home by Drummond. Maxey swung to an open Oubre in the corner for a three that put the Sixers up by four after one.
Tyrese Maxey with zero hesitation from long range! He's got 9 points so far in Q1 pic.twitter.com/GGfsB4HbMH
Maxey finally went to the bench to start the quarter. Of course, George and Edgecombe manned the floor with him off. Nick Nurse only went eight deep in the first half. George started it well hitting a pair of contested pull-ups. On the other end, the Magic started having an easier time getting to the basket. Franz Wagner opened the quarter with a floater before the Sixers surrendered a wide open cut and a put-back dunk.
Fouling a guy enough to get called, but not enough to make the defender miss the shot feels like something the Sixers are uniquely bad at as the Magic had a couple and-1s early in the quarter. He didn’t commit either, but Dominick Barlow picked up three fouls in a whistle-happy half.
For as much as they settled, the Sixers were also swinging the ball into a good amount of open threes that weren’t falling. George and Maxey remained the only Sixers other than Oubre to make one. They got better looks near the basket as the half closed. Maxey hit a nice floater, Oubre challenged Carter at the basket and made the layup, and Edgecombe got a layup and a foul in transition. The Magic continued to live at the line though, shooting 17 free throws in the half. After that 17th attempt, Maxey responded with a drive and kick to the corner and Drummond knocked it down, keeping the Sixers lead right at four at the half.
Fittingly, Bane opened the second half by drawing a light foul, sinking his jumper in the process. The Sixers defense responded very well to that with three straight stops, including a shot clock violation and a nice block from Bona. Moving the ball well finally paid off for the Sixers as well as Edgecombe knocked down a corner three. Oubre hit one not long after to give the Sixers their largest lead of the night at seven.
It was pretty noticeable how well the Sixers were getting to 50/50 balls compared to postseasons of years past. Edgecombe was a big reason for that. The save he made on Bona’s incredible third block was also very impressive. George poked free a steal that Edgecombe ran out and finished the play with a fast break layup. The flexing he did in Jalen Suggs’ face brought on more chippiness and the crowd to its feet, but Edgecombe got a technical in the process. It was the fifth technical assessed by this point in the game.
For as much as the crowd got into that moment, the Sixers’ momentum was halted, going scoreless for the next two and a half minutes and without a field goal for over three. It took the rebound of a Maxey airball bouncing its way to Barlow to break that streak as the Sixers couldn’t buy a jumper. Orlando chipped away from the line before some free throws started bouncing their way. Anthony Black missed a pair to give the fans free chicken before Drummond sank two, keeping the Sixers ahead by five.
Fourth Quarter
Edgecombe had his shot blocked to start the fourth, but the Sixers were able to run back with the Magic and get a stop. It was important they do that and tack on a couple baskets, because Edgecombe then turned it over trying to get it to George. Orlando finding their three-point stroke only made it easier to stay on the Sixers’ heels. Edgecombe made up for that a few plays later with a brilliant strip on Banchero.
That steal helped the Sixers settle down a bit. Edgecombe hit a jumper before Maxey ripped off seven straight points of his own. It was his longest stretch of the game where he could hit from anywhere. A lot of the foul calls may have been weak but two very poorly-timed fouls from Bona really helped the Magic stop that momentum. He fouled Banchero once the ball had already gone through the hoop, then he just shoved Carter long after the rebound had been secured.
Sixers hitting some tough buckets to start Q4, like this reverse finish from Tyrese Maxey. Tight game with 9 mins to play! pic.twitter.com/WDCZuHvnJF
The Sixers continued to leave points on the table. They gave up two offensive rebounds on a possession, then George split a pair of free throws. Drummond threw a great pass to find Edgecombe on the baseline, but they gave it right back by losing Wagner in front of the basket. For all of these scenarios though, they responded with points. They answered the Magic every time down, which is what it takes to win these games. Edgecombe tried to dunk on everyone like a maniac and had to settle for a trip to the line.
After Maxey made a tremendous block of a layup and Oubre made two more at the line, it looked wrapped up as the crowd chanted “We want Boston.” Fittingly, the actual icing on the cake was another corner three from Drummond.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 8: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics pregame against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 8, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics will officially play the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The 7th-seeded 76ers defeated the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic in a Play-In game on Wednesday night, thus punching their ticket to the first round of the playoffs.
The Celtics – 76ers full first-round schedule
Game 1: 76ers at Celtics, Sunday, April 19, 1 p.m. at TD Garden Game 2: 76ers at Celtics, Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. at TD Garden Game 3: Celtics at 76ers, Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena or Kia Center Game 4: Celtics at 76ers/Magic, Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena or Kia Center Game 5: 76ers at Celtics, Tuesday, April 28, TBD at TD Garden* Game 6: Celtics at 76ers, Thursday, April 30, TBD at Xfinity Mobile Arena or Kia Center* Game 7: 76ers at Celtics, Saturday, May 2, TBD at TD Garden*
*If necessary
How the Celtics, 76ers stack up
The Celtics went 2-2 against the 76ers this year, with three of the games decided by one basket.
The Celtics, however, have been the far better team — they finished the year 56-26, and with the league’s fourth-best net rating, second-best offense, and fourth-best defense.
The 76ers finished with a 45-37 record after an injury-riddled campaign that also saw Paul George endure a 25-game suspension. Philadelphia finished with the 18th-best net rating, 16th-best offensive rating, and 17th-best defensive rating.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10, 2026: Standing next to Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) gets ready to check back into the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It may not be the biggest story of this Lakers season, but one of the highlights has been Bronny James’ development.
He played in 42 games for LA and his best basketball came during the final games of the regular season, when the Lakers needed him to step up with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out.
Over the last six contests, Bronny averaged 7.2 points while playing 16.9 minutes per game.
With the playoffs set to begin, Lakers head coach JJ Redick discussed how Bronny has developed and how he needs to stay ready for playoff minutes against the Rockets.
“We’re gonna have to have all hands on deck for the series,” Redick said after Lakers practice on Wednesday. “He’s got to be ready. Nick [Smith Jr.] will have to be ready. I think Bronny’s improved a lot. I think we trust him. The shooting piece, I’m a believer in, because of how well he shot it in the last two years in the G League.
“I know there was a stretch recently where he didn’t shoot it well and of course, he had a nice shooting game against Utah. He’s improved a ton defensively in terms of his body positioning, both on and off ball. We want him to continue to evolve as a disruptive defender as well.”
Last year, Bronny only touched the floor during the playoffs in garbage time. If he plays real minutes against Houston, that would be tremendous growth for the two-year guard, considering that he was a late second-round pick back in 2024.
Until the series starts, we won’t know if Bronny is automatically part of the rotation or if he’s a player waiting on the bench for an opportunity to come. Given they are shorthanded in the backcourt and Bronny has improved his play as of late, he is likely to get some run against the Rockets.
Due to his current form, it’s clear he’s gained more trust from Redick. And now, the thought of him playing in the postseason is not only realistic but sensible.
Three of Bronny’s four double-digit scoring games have come this April, and if he can show that consistency, knocking down shots and being a positive defender on the floor this postseason, that gives LA another guard they can use.
Mar 1, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks with center Jalen Duren (0) during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
We’ve finally made it.
The NBA Playoffs are (kind of) here, and the Pistons open Sunday against whoever survives the Magic/Sixers/Hornets play-in on Friday. This isn’t a full preview, just some thoughts and observations ahead of the Pistons’ biggest postseason in 19 years.
Let’s dive in.
I’m not concerned with the Play-In The Pistons are the No. 1 seed for a reason. None of Orlando, Philly, or Charlotte should scare you.
Detroit went 9-2 against that trio this season, and one of the Orlando losses came last week without Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart.
Charlotte is volatile because of their shooting, but that kind of 3-point variance is more dangerous in a one-game setting than a seven-game series. It’s hard to see them staying hot over the course of a playoff series.
Philadelphia, for now, doesn’t have Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey is still an All-NBA dude, but the rest of the roster lacks punch. Even if Embiid returns, he’s not the same guy who tormented the Pistons during his MVP era.
Orlando is just… off. The talent is there, but between the late-season slide, the Paolo Banchero situation, and locker room noise, it’s hard to take them seriously. Vibes are badddddd.
Detroit should handle this series in five games. Not a sweep, but a gentleman’s sweep.
Are Detroit sports fans a little damaged? There’s a weird level of local skepticism around this team.
Nationally, sure, I get it. No. 1 seeds without a deep playoff track record always get a side-eye. But locally? It feels like people are bracing for disaster.
Maybe it’s last year’s Tigers collapse or the Lions’ flameout over the past two years, but there’s a lot of “they could lose to Charlotte” or “there’s zero chance they make the Conference Finals.”
It’s just odd. I’m not going to sit here and tell you I think the Pistons will win the title (they won’t) nor that they’ll make the Finals (they might), but this isn’t a team walking into the playoffs blind.
They got their playoff indoctrination last year. That matters.
A shorter rotation is coming I caught a lot of flak on Twitter recently over this, but I think the Pistons are going to cut down their rotation come Sunday. We’re not going to see 10-11 guys playing.
Maybe we will if the series isn’t close, but if it’s a real, down-to-the-wire series, we’re going to mostly see the starters playing more with Ron Holland, Daniss Jenkins, Stew and Kevin Huerter carrying the load off the bench.
This scheduling is weird Boston and San Antonio, the No. 2 seeds, will know their opponent for Sunday’s Game 1s by the end of the night.
The No. 1 seeds won’t know until Friday night.
That’s a little wack. The top seed still gets home court and an easier path on paper, but the play-in muddies that advantage a little bit. It’s not a huge deal, but feels like a quirk the NBA should look at.
It’s Jalen Duren’s time Duren took the leap this year.
Made the All-Star team, likely making All-NBA — should but won’t win the Most Improved Player award — but I think there’s still more to come.
Detroit will need his offense in these playoffs, but the real swing is his defense. If he can hold up on switches in the playoffs as he has in the regular season, it makes a deep run possible. He had moments against the New York Knicks last year, but struggled overall on D. I think he’s going to click on both ends this year.
If it’s Charlotte, he should dominate. Same against Philly sans Embiid. Even against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, the numbers are hard to ignore: 21.7 points and 12.3 rebounds vs. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen this season, including 28.5 points and 15 rebounds per game in two matchups after the All-Star break.
He’s a mismatch and massive advantage for Detroit.
Three X-Factors I couldn’t pick one, so you get three and a half very important dudes:
Ron Holland — He looked like a deer in the headlights against the Knicks last year, but the game has slowed down for him recently. His numbers (10 points per game, 46% from the field, 48% from three on 21 attempts) in six games this month sans Cade back it up. He’s ready to roll.
Daniss Jenkins — As far as I’m concerned, he’s a rookie. Jenkins has had highs and lows, but overall, he’s just produced. He’s not afraid. His playmaking and shot creation could swing a game or two. It’s easy to get sped up in the playoffs; the key for him is staying aggressive without losing control.
Duncan Robinson — We saw Detroit struggle when Malik Beasley went cold last postseason, so Robinson’s shooting is obviously critical. He brings real playoff experience (61 games, 40% from three). The question is whether Detroit can protect him defensively or if they can trust Jenkins enough to close in his place.
We’re gonna say, “Woo”
I don’t know when.
I don’t know how.
I just know Javonte Green is going to have his moment. I don’t have him in the truncated playoff rotation right now, but there’s going to be a spot where the Pistons need a jolt or big play on defense or dunk to wake up the LCA crowd.
I’m gonna bet Woo is the guy who delivers.
—
What are you all feeling headed into Sunday? Let us know in the comments!
After the NBA closed a season with rampant tanking and record ratings — wait, those things can coexist? — now comes the postseason.
With the attention mercifully turning away from lottery positioning to playoff competition, here are 10 storylines that will define the next month or two.
1. Are the Pistons ready to honor their seed?
Two years ago this week, Detroit capped off five straight years of tanking with a 14-68 campaign. Now they’re 60-22 and the top seed in the East.
Cade Cunningham helped lead the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
Can they close the deal and reach the NBA Finals without a viable No. 2 scoring option behind Cade Cunningham, who averaged 24.2 points and has come back from a collapsed lung?
That’s what the playoffs will show. But their defense looks title worthy; the Pistons are only the third team in the last 15 years to lead the league in both blocks and steals.
2. Can anyone other than the Spurs stop the Thunder from repeating?
San Antonio is a real threat — plus-50 against OKC in five games with Victor Wembanyama on the court averaging just 25 minutes — but is anybody else?
If Denver gets past the Spurs in the second round, they have the NBA’s top offense and Nikola Jokic. He led the league in rebounds and assists, the first to do so since 1969-70. And Boston could come out of the East as another proven champion.
3. What can LeBron do without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic?
King James — in his record-tying 19th playoff appearance — now must shoulder ballhandling and shot-creation duties against the Rockets’ withering defense and outduel Kevin Durant.
With the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, LeBron James will have to carry the load in the Lakers’ first-round matchup against Kevin Durant and the Rockets. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
At 41, JJ Redick was right when he said the Lakers are best with James as the third option. Now he’s the only option with Reaves (oblique) and Doncic (hamstring) felled by Grade 2 strains.
They need Marcus Smart at his best, other role players to get on a heater, and Durant to go ice cold. Good luck.
4. Which player has the most to prove in the playoffs?
Tie: Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
Mitchell’s 28.3 ppg career playoff average is seventh all time, but in eight postseasons he’s never made a conference finals.
The Cavs traded for Harden to change that and are 19-6 when he plays. But his playoff disappearing acts are legendary, and Cleveland’s defensive woes — 17th in defensive efficiency in the second half — make it tough to have faith.
5. Can the Celtics turn a gap year into a championship?
Indiana lost Tyrese Haliburton and chose to tank. Boston lost Jayson Tatum and chose violence, riding Jaylen Brown’s 28.7 ppg, winning DNA and great player development.
Jayson Tatum’s late-season return from his Achilles injury makes the Celtics a legit NBA title contender. Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Now with Tatum back from his Achilles tear, the Celtics have the star power, depth and balance to make a run at another ring — even with Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic and Luka Garza at the five.
6. Can the Knicks succeed?
Team owner James Dolan crowed in a January radio interview that they “should” win the title, and reaching the NBA Finals is something they “absolutely have to do.”
But even getting back to the conference finals — a feat that got Tom Thibodeau fired — requires not only beating the red-hot Hawks (who closed 19-5) but likely Boston, the betting favorite to win the East. That still likely only earns them a rematch with the Pistons, itching for playoff payback.
7. Which star shakes loose after a playoff disappointment?
Even ignoring the absent Giannis Antetokounmpo, early exits prompt unexpected departures.
If the Cavs go out in the first or second round with the league’s priciest roster, will Mitchell want out?
Will Knicks “failure” result in a roster shake-up and Karl-Anthony Towns being moved? And with Paolo Banchero not on the same page as coach Jamahl Mosley all season, the Ringer’s Raheem Palmer reported the Magic star is set to demand a trade if Mosley isn’t canned at the end of this season.
8. Who are some of the X factors who could swing a series?
Role players often swing a series with unexpected contributions.
Denver was supposed to be deeper this year. While Cam Johnson hasn’t been great, Peyton Watson can attack the rim and provide needed wing defense. The Pistons have needed a second scorer, and Daniss Jenkins’ emergence while Cunningham was out with a collapsed lung helped them go 9-3 until his return. Payton Pritchard, AJ Mitchell and Mitchell Robinson are also likely X factor heroes.
9. Is there a sleeper team?
By the true “March Madness: 16 over a 1 seed” definition of sleeper, that might be No. 6 Atlanta.
But in terms of a lower seed that can actually go all the way, that would be the No. 3 Nuggets, who could certainly go out in the second round against San Antonio, but could just as easily knock off the Spurs and then end OKC’s title defense en route to playing for a championship if their defense can hold up.
10. Are any of the young bucks for real?
We don’t mean Milwaukee. They clearly aren’t. But between Atlanta, Portland and Charlotte, can any make noise?
Rookie of the Year front-runner Kon Knueppel’s Hornets are in the play-in, having closed 28-10 after a 16-28 start. The Hawks had climbed just high enough to clinch the sixth seed against the Knicks, having closed 19-5 behind the emergent Jalen Johnson, 24.
And Portland took 10 of their final 14, but their only victories over winning teams came against the Clippers and Minnesota (without Anthony Edwards). As the competition levels up, can they?
New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, left, talks with head coach Mike Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics Thursday, April 9,...
Mike Brown has noticed something important about himself.
He made a Finals appearance as a head coach, back in 2007 with the Cavaliers. He won four championships as an assistant — in 2003 with the Spurs and in 2017, 2018 and 2022 with the Warriors. He’s certainly used to coaching teams with high expectations.
But he’s changed his approach. And he believes the Knicks can benefit from it.
“More mature, more experienced, more seasoned,” Brown said after practice Wednesday. “If you want to get specific about it, I didn’t message great back then. It was more about the work. That’s the one thing I always knew I had control over, is I can outwork this guy if I want to — it’s my call, that’s easy. Therefore, if I’m gonna do something with our team, our team is gonna outwork that team, it’s easy.
“Now it’s based more on feel, a little bit smarter with my work and the team’s work. I do feel like I message better. I learned all these things being around great players and great coaches and just over time, learning from your mistakes I feel like I have a better opportunity now, because I’ve been through a lot, to be more present than before. When you’re present, it helps you be able to make adjustments more timely on both sides of the ball.”
AP
Having been around those championship teams, what were the common traits and similarities between them? Do the Knicks share them?
“It’s what our standard is about,” Brown said. “They were different teams. I was the head coach of Cleveland and we got to the Finals with a young team. Assistant coach in San Antonio with a veteran team. Assistant coach in Golden State with a veteran team. If there was something that was similar with all those different teams, they all somehow, someway sacrificed throughout the course of the year.They found a way to be connected, especially at the right time. They all had an unbelievable competitive spirit and the belief in the process and each other was always there. And everybody was OK holding one another accountable. They all embraced that.
“I feel that this group has trended towards that way.”
Everyone, including OG Anunoby, practiced Wednesday, Brown said. Anunoby exited the penultimate game — a win over the Raptors last Friday — with an ankle injury, but it didn’t appear to be serious. He, like the majority of the main rotation players, sat out the meaningless Knicks finale Sunday.
Wednesday’s positive update means he should be good to go for Game 1 on Saturday.
Jalen Brunson described Madison Square Garden’s playoff atmosphere simply.
“It’s something that we could sit here and explain,” he said Wednesday. “But no one really knows it unless they experience it.”
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Forward Alex Condon is returning to Florida for his senior season, giving him a final opportunity to boost his 3-point shooting before making the jump to the NBA.
Condon, a 6-foot-11 Australian, is the seventh player to re-sign with the Gators, following point guard Boogie Fland, shooting guard Urban Klavzar and role players Isaiah Brown, AJ Brown, Alex Lloyd and Alex Kovatchev.
All-Southeastern Conference center Rueben Chinyelu is expected to do the same. The biggest unknown, though, is whether forward Thomas Haugh will join them for another year. Haugh, the team’s leading scorer, is widely considered a lottery pick but is considering putting off NBA riches in hopes of winning another title.
The 2025 champs lost to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month.
Former Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen plans to re-enroll at Florida to finish his degree and is petitioning the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility. Aberdeen spent his first three years at Florida before transferring to the Wildcats.
Golden clearly prefers the idea of filling his roster with players versed in his system and familiar with each other. Bringing back Condon gives the Gators someone to run the offense through next season.
Condon averaged 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior while starting 34 of 35 games. He led the team in blocked shots (48) and turnovers (83). He had eight games with at least four turnovers, a stat he would like to reduce.
A more significant number for NBA teams: Condon was 9-of-53 shooting from 3-point range, a 17% clip that was a career low. Raising his shooting percentage from behind the arc is considered key to him becoming a first-round selection and maybe a lottery pick.
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.”
Jalen Brunson participates in practice at the Knicks’ training facility on April 15, 2026 in Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
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.
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.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson participate in practice at the Knicks’ training facility on April 15, 2026 at Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
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 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.
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) goes to the basket against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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 21st, 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 8th through the 17th 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 27th, 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 9th through the 19th.
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
Players like Flemings or Acuff might only be available if the Mavericks have some good luck Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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
Mikel Brown Jr. is one of the interesting cases of this draft cycle Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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
Tyler Tanner faces an interesting decision in this draft cycle | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 9: Stephen Curry (right) and Kristaps Porzingis (left) of Warriors are seen before the NBA game 41 between Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco at Chase Center on April 9, 2026 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
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.
“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.”
The Lakers’ LeBron James is being counted on to keep the team afloat during the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Rockets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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.
The Rockets’ Alperen Sengun and his teammates will try to eliminate the short-handed Lakers in a first-round series. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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.”
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.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (5) knows more rest will benefit LA during its first-round series against Houston. NBAE via Getty Images
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.”
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 14th 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 25th 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 112th 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 11th 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.
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.
