LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz reacts during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz had their final game of the season, but also the rebuild. It will not be remembered long as the outcome was expected, an easy win for the Lakers 131-107.
There were some things to take away for the Jazz. They played hard in this one, much like they’ve done all season, regardless of who was on the floor. That’s a great sign for the culture, the players, and the coach. Utah has successfully gotten through a season where they weren’t trying to win and has come out intact with a really bright future. And that’s before Utah enters lottery night.
That hustle is shown by multiple players on the team night after night. Tonight, that player was Oscar Tshiebwe, who had his way with DeAndre Ayton all game. Tshiebwe was 12/17 from the floor in this one and scored 29 points along with 17 rebounds. There are multiple players, like Tshiebwe, who may or may not be on the roster next season but have proven they have to be considered. Bez Mbeng is one of those players as well. Tonight, Mbeng was 5/10 from the field for 14 points with 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Not bad, the game after a triple-double. We’ll see if Mbeng and Tshiebwe will be on the roster next season as the Jazz move forward, looking to win as many games as possible. If they don’t make it, they’ve been nice additions that have filled roles well alongside the Jazz’s young, developing talent.
Speaking of the developing talent, Ace Bailey and Cody Williams struggled to shoot in this one. They both showed flashes, but the shooting hasn’t been there as consistently as you’d like. That said, they show the makings of really nice players, and this tanking season has given them the opportunity to grow that they wouldn’t have had were they on teams playing to win every game. Bailey was 7/21 in this one, mostly because the three wasn’t falling, but he’s shown enough this season that he has a bright future with his offensive game alongside the potential to be a high-level defender. Cody Williams has also looked night and day better than last season. Williams was only 5/15 from the field in this one, but he had 6 assists and 2 steals. Considering Williams struggled to put up any stats at all last season and early in the year, that’s a massive improvement. He’s also showing he has some go-to moves to score and help the offense with his pullup mid range game and his straight line drives to the basket. For both Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, we’ll see how they acclimate to having to share possessions with a winning roster next year, but the signs are looking good for them to, at worst, be great rotation pieces. Ace Bailey is showing signs of being an elite two-way player if everything comes together for him.
And with that, it appears the 4-year rebuild is now over. There’s still a lottery on May 10th that could make this rebuild even more epic. But even if the Jazz lose that lottery, they’ll be set up to win in a big way next season. It’ll be fun to see the fruits of four years of tanking labor. All the losing, the development of youth, the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr, the endless Lauri Markkanen trade rumors, only to keep him. It all leads to an upcoming season that will have the Jazz doing something they haven’t done for four years, go to the playoffs.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 12, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game 82 is in the books for the Dallas Mavericks, as they took on the Chicago Bulls Sunday night in what resulted in a 149-128 win. The Mavericks finish the season with a 26-56 record, good for either the seventh or eighth worst record in the league, as the Mavs and Pelicans end the season with identical records and will need to go to a coin flip.
That concludes the 2025-2026 season for the Mavs and with it our game-specific Grades coverage. Thank you to all our readers who joined the conversation as we doled out grades game after game!
Let’s get to the grades!
Ryan Nembhard: A+
15 PTS / 9 REB / 23 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN
Nembhard broke Jason Kidd’s long-standing record for assists in a single game by a Mavs’ rookie. Kidd had 17 to take the top spot, and Nembhard overtook him midway through the third quarter. The fact he was within shouting distance of Scott Skiles’ NBA record 30 assists is nothing short of astonishing. The fact he did it with only four turnovers is almost mind-boggling. He now holds the second highest assist total in a game in Mavs’ history (Kidd; 25).
Max Christie: A-
12 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 13 MIN
Fan Appreciation night had the Mavs rolling almost across the board. Christie was red-hot, scoring nearly a point-per-minute on 5-for-7 shooting including 2-for-4 from deep. The quick release he learned from Klay Thompson appears to be paying dividends. He showed some solid defense with an unlikely two blocks as well.
Cooper Flagg: N/A
10 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 10 MIN
As much as I would love to give Flagg a grade, his rolled ankle after only 10 minutes of play lands him with the “N/A.” It’s a shame in the last game of his rookie campaign, but especially so since he was on his way to a great night. He shot 4-for-8 from the floor and knocked down both of his free throw attempts in a point-per-minute effort. He will end the season as the first rookie to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-1985.
Khris Middleton: N/A
8 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 6 MIN
Another weird one, as the veteran Middleton was looking good before checking out after six minutes of play. While there isn’t nearly enough to grade on, Middleton did go 2-for-3 from the floor (all beyond the arc) for a highly affective half-quarter of play.
Dwight Powell: B+
7 PTS / 12 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Powell had a heck of a night on the boards to really drive his grade up. He went 3-for-4 from the floor and fell down at least once (though I don’t believe he got hit in the face, which is an oddity for him). Four fouls were the only real knock on his game.
Klay Thompson: N/A
12 PTS / 0 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 10 MIN
Thompson falls into the “N/A” category along with a few others, due to the very limited minutes, but this was a nice end to the season for him. He needed two three-pointers to make 200 on the season, and he knocked in four of them to leave no doubt. He also made his way into the top 100 scorers in NBA history Sunday night.
John Poulakidas: A+
28 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 36 MIN
Poulakidas went nuts from beyond the arc, shooting a blistering 8-for-16 (9-for-18 overall). Despite all of that shooting, he also managed to dish a few assists. It was a lot of fun to see him shooting with confidence and knocking down shot after shot, often with a hand in his face. He’s certainly a shooter, so it will be interesting to see what he can do for the Mavs in the future, especially as they are in such need of deep threats.
AJ Johnson: A-
20 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Johnson tied for the second most points on the team on a solidly efficient 6-for-12 from the floor. He couldn’t connect from deep (0-for-3) but got himself to the free throw line with frequency, hitting 8-for-9. His team-high five turnovers dinged his grade a bit, but this was basically the best we’ve seen him play since coming to Dallas.
Tyler Smith: A+
20 PTS / 7 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 37 MIN
Smith was basically an A+ in his first 12 minutes of play, much less the game overall. Part of that was due to the lack of precedence and playing time heretofore, but he had himself a very nice well-rounded game.
Moussa Cisse: A+
17 PTS / 20 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 41 MIN
Cisse was an absolute beast with a 20-rebound double-double. He played solid defense in a game that was never really in question, getting two steals and two blocks. He did foul a bit too much (four) and turned it over three times, but going 5-for-6 from the free throw line and splitting his total boards evenly between the offensive and defensive glass (that’s right – 10 offensive rebounds) catapulted him to the top marks.
Final thoughts
Make no mistake, this game was hot garbage in terms of the Bulls putting up absolutely zero resistance. While that may make one think the grades should be scaled accordingly, I couldn’t help but give out high marks purely on the basis so many Mavs not only did well as would be expected, but vastly outplayed even the most ambitious expectations. These guys wanted to show out, and just about every single player did just that, all while playing within the game and helping each other to be their best for 48-minutes.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Los Angeles Lakers managed to secure a spot in the NBA Playoffs after producing a hot streak later in the season as the team gathered momentum, winning 13 of 15 games.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves all appeared settled into their roles and the team was moving in the right direction, but that momentum has since been lost. The Lakers will have to move forward with James as the focal point after Doncic and Reaves each suffered injuries in the closing stretch of the regular season.
The duo is also expected to miss part of the postseason. That leaves players like Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart to help navigate the Lakers’ potential postseason run long enough to try and get Reaves and Doncic healthy.
Who will the Lakers play in first round of NBA Playoffs?
The Lakers will serve as the Western Conference's fourth seed in the playoff and take on the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 26 points per game in his first year with the franchise. Alperen Sengun leads Houston with 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game this season.
The Rockets finished out the regular season with a 52-30 record during the regular season.
When do Lakers and Rockets start first round?
The Lakers will host the Houston Rockets on Saturday, April 18. The game will air on ABC and start at 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET)
When: Saturday, April 18
Where: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
Time: 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET)
TV: ABC
Who won Lakers-Rockets regular-season series
The Lakers got the best of the Rockets during the regular season, winning the last two games of the three-game regular-season series.
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be taking on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. Game 1 between the Cavs and Raptors will be on Saturday, April 18. The game will be broadcast exclusively on Prime.
The schedule for the rest of the games can be seen below.
Game 1 in Cleveland: Sat., April 18 at 1 PM on Prime
Game 2 in Cleveland: Mon., April 20 at 7 PM on Peacock
Game 3 in Toronto: Thur. April 23 at 8 PM on Prime
Game 4 in Toronto: Sun. April 26 at 1 PM on ESPN
Game 5 in Cleveland: Wed. April 29, time and TV TBD
Game 6 in Toronto: Fri. May 1, time and TV TBD
Game 7 in Cleveland: Sun. May 3, time and TV TBD
Games five through seven will only be played if necessary.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Spida shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
The Cavs haven’t fared well against the Raptors this season. They’ve dropped all three of their meetings, and none of them were particularly close. Every loss was by at least double digits.
How much you want to read into those games is up to you. Each game took place before December. The Cavs were without starting point guard — at the time — Darius Garland for each of those games, didn’t have Jarrett Allen for two of them, and were without Donovan Mitchell for one of them. Those absences had a tremendous impact on the game.
In addition to that, the Cavs struggled to keep up with the Raptors’ pace. Toronto was able to beat them in transition with their wings. We’ll see if the Cavs are able to adjust to that pace in the series.
This will be the fourth time the Cavaliers and Raptors have met in the playoffs. The Cavs have won all three previous meetings, which took place in three-consecutive seasons from 2016-18.
Carson Benge’s MLB career hasn’t quite started as planned.
The rookie took the league by storm to earn his spot with the Mets out of big-league camp, but hasn’t quite been able to carry that success over to the regular season thus far.
Benge has just six hits and he’s struck out 14 times over his first 46 at-bats.
He has been showing more positives at the plate of late, though, picking up hits in three straight before putting together another 0-for on Sunday.
The youngster is still just 3-for-29 so far in April, but he thinks this strong homestand is a sign of good things to come.
“I feel like, particularly over the homestand, I had really good at-bats,” he told Dan Martin of the New York Post. “I feel it’s just a matter of time for everything to click, and I’m gonna be -- and we’re all gonna be -- rolling.”
Even with these struggles, Carlos Mendoza praised the fact that Benge keeps finding ways to contribute each game.
Sunday, it was with his glove out in center.
With two in scoring position and two outs in the fourth, the 23-year-old came flying in to rob Denzel Clarke of a two RBI knock with a spectacular diving play in shallow center.
The Mets, of course, were still swept as they suffered their fifth straight loss but Benge’s heroics helped Freddy Peralta off the hook and keep things close.
“It felt great to have my pitcher’s back,” he said.
“The ball is hit, it’s soft contact, it was like that’s probably going to fall in,” Mendoza added. “But the jump that he got, the way he went after the ball and the dive, it was pretty incredible.”
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 12: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense during the game against the LA Clippers on April 12, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA’s regular season came to a close on Sunday, with all 30 teams in the league playing. While most of the standings jockeying had concluded before the final day of the season, there was still a lot to work out. And that included the play-in tournament, and the future for the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State entered Sunday’s game knowing that they would be the 10th seed in the West, giving them an uphill battle to make the playoffs: they’ll need to win consecutive road games in order to clinch the final spot in the playoffs. And they tipped off against the LA Clippers — a game they lost 115-110 — knowing it was likely that they would face LA in a rematch in the play-in tournament.
Now they know that for certain, and we have the schedule as well.
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings 122-110, which finalized the West’s play-in seeding. The win gave the Blazers the eighth spot, and put the Clippers at No. 9. As a result, the Clippers will host the Warriors in the 9-10 matchup, which takes place on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on Prime Video.
The Blazers, meanwhile, visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, also at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video. The winner of that game will be the seventh seed in the West, and will book a first-round series against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. The loser will host the winner of the game between the Warriors and the Clippers, and the winner of that game will be the eighth seed, and earn the daunting task of taking on the defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
So the Warriors play Wednesday night, with their season on the line. If they lose to the Clippers, the season is over. If they beat LA, then they’ll get a day off on Thursday to travel, and will visit either Portland or Phoenix on Friday night. Like the other Western Conference play-in games, that game will be at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video.
Trading Noah Dobson Montreal last summer may have been the only choice Mathieu Darche had, and it may turn into a long-term win-win for both teams. One year in, with Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson yet to make their NHL debuts — though hopefully the Islanders call up Eklund Tuesday to make Game 82 interesting — it’s too early to judge.
What was strange though, and what remains strange, was seeing much of the reaction toward Dobson from Islanders fans, which so often boiled down to “Good riddance.” Had Dobson — who suffered an upper-body injury on Saturday and will be reevaluated in two weeks, taking him out of at least some of the Habs’ first-round series — made his return to Long Island on Sunday as scheduled for the Islanders’ 4-11 playoff-eliminating loss, it seemed a distinct possibility that he would face boos.
Maybe, and hopefully, that is a misread based on the more online parts of the fan base. When Dobson makes his return to UBS with the Canadiens next season, he ought to be cheered. The 26-year-old was an excellent Islander, always represented the franchise well and has predictably proven hard to replace. One of Lou Lamoriello’s bigger missteps was failing to extend Dobson and treat him like a franchise cornerstone two summers ago. That much is obvious.
It’s hard to say the Islanders would be in playoff position with Dobson now, mainly because you can’t predict the cascading effects of adding his $9.5 million to the cap on the Islanders’ summer. But what you can say with certainty is that the Islanders very badly missed him this season.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) skates during the Columbus Blue Jackets versus the Montreal Canadiens game on April 11, 2026, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
That’s nothing against the trade, which was made with the long-term in mind, or Emil Heineman, who played well above expectation in scoring 22 goals and looks like a long-term piece of the puzzle for the Isles. It’s an acknowledgement of something obvious: that a right-handed, puck-moving defenseman who plays over 20 minutes a night is a rare commodity in the NHL, and the Islanders’ blue line lacked depth all season.
There is an idea out there that having Matthew Schaefer allowed the Islanders to trade Dobson without losing anything. Schaefer, though, is left-handed, and no one expected — let alone knew — that he would be so impactful when the deal was made on draft night.
The Islanders managed to patch the hole on their right side with Tony DeAngelo this season, and would be well-served bringing back No. 77 this summer. It’s no coincidence that much of their collapse happened when DeAngelo was out of the lineup injured; being without a puck-moving righty at a crucial point of the season proved near-impossible to overcome.
Short term, that was about as good a solution as you could expect. Combined with Heineman’s season, and the encouraging developments of Eklund and Aitcheson, and the long term outlook of the deal seems, tentatively, solid.
Still, it is a complicated deal to judge, and a lot needs to go right for the Islanders to feel good about it in five years.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) skates during the warmup before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre. Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Dobson picked up in Montreal where he left off on Long Island, lugging 22:29 per night with 47 points. He is a frustrating player in that his mistakes seem to always be highlight-worthy in the wrong way. He’s also more than good enough to make that tradeoff worth it.
His injury, and the prospect of being without him in the playoffs, amounts to a major problem for the Canadiens, who usually deploy Dobson and Mike Matheson against the opposition’s top line.
If Eklund becomes a piece of the Islanders’ top-six and Aitcheson a piece of the top-four, on top of Heineman being an annual 20-goal scorer, then of course the Islanders would feel great about it. That is also something like a best-case scenario.
Prospects, even good ones, are unknown commodities. The Islanders have made strides in how they’ve invested in Bridgeport and in player development this season. Still, they are not going to have a 100 percent hit rate. They also could use more consistency from Heineman, which they will hope comes in time for a player still early in his career.
You can safely say now that Darche turned a hard situation into something promising. That was about as much as he could have done upon realizing that Dobson would not be an Islander this season. It was a smart piece of work by a rookie general manager in a situation that could have ended much worse.
Whether the Islanders won the deal, though, is a different question altogether. One season isn’t enough time to answer it.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 12: John Poulakidas #1 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 12, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks end their season strong, cruising to a 149-128 win over the Bulls behind one of their most complete offensive performances of the season. Dallas shot a blistering 52.0% from the field and 22-of-49 from three (44.9%), while piling up 35 assists and completely controlling the flow of the game. Ryan Nembhard led the way with a historic 23 assists to go along with 15 points, while John Poulakidas added 28 points on 8-of-16 from three and Moussa Cisse dominated the glass with 20 rebounds. Multiple Mavericks contributed across the board, as Dallas’ ball movement, shooting, and rebounding advantage proved too much for a Bulls team that never found consistent answers.
Dallas took control of this game almost immediately and never really let Chicago breathe in the first half. The Mavericks got early shot-making from Max Christie and Khris Middleton, then quickly opened things up behind Cooper Flagg’s downhill scoring, Klay Thompson’s threes, and Ryan Nembhard completely steering the offense, as Dallas built a double-digit lead before the Bulls ever found rhythm. Chicago had a few scattered answers through Rob Dillingham and Collin Sexton, but every small push got erased by another Dallas run. What stood out most was how easy the offense looked for Dallas. The Mavericks shot 54.9% from the field and 12-of-25 from three, piled up 22 assists, and got 12 first-half assists from Nembhard alone, which tells you exactly how in control they were offensively. Smith was a huge part of that burst with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Christie added 12 and Thompson chipped in 12 of his own to keep stretching the floor. Chicago never fully collapsed, but they also never made Dallas uncomfortable for long, and by halftime the Mavericks had turned a fast start into a commanding 80-56 lead.
The second half never really had a pulse, with Dallas immediately killing any chance of a comeback and just trading buckets the rest of the way. Chicago had a few moments from Dillingham and Sexton, but every mini run got answered right away by Dallas ball movement and easy looks, especially with Nembhard continuing to rack up assists. The lead hovered comfortably in the 20–30 range for most of the half, and by the fourth quarter it fully turned into extended garbage time with both teams just going through the motions. By the end, it felt like everyone was just waiting for the clock to hit zero in a game that had been decided long before halftime ended.
80: First half Maverick points
The game was essentially decided in the first 24 minutes, and it was because of how overwhelming Dallas was offensively. Dropping 80 points in a half is not normal, and the way they got there is what made it stand out. This wasn’t just hot shooting. It was a combination of ball movement, spacing, pace, and decision-making all coming together at once. The Mavericks consistently generated high-quality looks, whether it was open threes, cuts to the rim, or second-chance opportunities, and Chicago never had an answer.
What really defined the half was how connected everything felt. The assist numbers were off the charts, the pace never slowed down, and players were making quick, confident decisions. That’s something this team has struggled with all season, which is why it stood out so much here. For one half, a half that needed to be awful, the offense actually looked like it had structure and purpose. It did come against a weak opponent, the players the Bulls had out there coud not stop a fly.
23: Nembhard assists
Ryan Nembhard had the game of his season, finishing with 23 assists, he set the Mavericks rookie record for assists in a single game, and it felt like he was behind every single good possession Dallas had. What made it so impressive was the variety. He wasn’t just making simple reads. He was manipulating the defense, hitting shooters in rhythm, finding cutters at the perfect time, and pushing the pace whenever Chicago hesitated. This wasn’t a passive playmaking performance. It was aggressive, intentional, and completely in command.
His impact on the game was massive. The 80-point first half doesn’t happen without him orchestrating everything. Every run Dallas had, every stretch where the offense looked unstoppable, it traced back to Nembhard making the right decision. For a rookie to show that level of control in an NBA game is rare. It also raises real questions about his role moving forward. When a team desperately needs guard play, creation, and stability, a performance like this can’t be ignored. He may not be the long-term answer yet, but he’s absolutely earned a deeper look. Games like this are how players carve out real roles in this league.
8: Poulakidas 3s
John Poulakidas continues to prove that his shooting is not a fluke. Finishing with 28 points and 8-of-16 from three, including a massive 22-point third quarter, he completely changed the feel of the game every time he touched the ball. What stands out is not just the volume, but the confidence and versatility in how he gets his shots. He’s not just spotting up. He’s moving without the ball, relocating, stepping into shots quickly, and making them under pressure. That’s a skill that translates at any level.
Now sitting at 78 made threes, this is no longer a small sample. This is a legitimate trend. For a team like Dallas that has struggled with consistent perimeter shooting all season, this kind of production jumps off the page. More importantly, it fits perfectly next to a player like Cooper Flagg, who needs spacing and reliable shooters around him to maximize his playmaking. Poulakidas doesn’t need the ball to be effective, which makes him even more valuable. At the very least, he has earned a real opportunity moving forward. Whether that’s Summer League, training camp, or a deeper look in rotation minutes, this is the type of player teams take chances on. Shooting like this forces attention.
20: Cisse rebounds
Moussa Cisse also had has defnining game of the season, even if it didn’t come with flashy scoring. Pulling down 20 rebounds, he completely controlled the glass. It wasn’t just the total number. Offensive rebounds that extended possessions, defensive rebounds that ended Chicago’s chances, and constant physicality that wore the Bulls down over time. This is the type of effort that directly impacts winning, especially in a game where Dallas was already clicking offensively.
The Mavericks have been stuck with a group of bigs that are mostly interchangeable and often inconsistent. Cisse is continuing to keep his name in the mix with pure effort, rebounding, and defensive presence. He doesn’t need plays called for him to impact the game, which is exactly what this team needs around a high-usage player like Flagg. Performances like this force the front office to take a harder look. If you’re deciding who stays and who goes, production like this matters.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Marco Rossi scored with 9.5 seconds left in overtime to help the Vancouver Canucks beat Anaheim 4-3 on Sunday night and prevent the Ducks from clinching a playoff spot.
Anaheim has 90 points and can secure a playoff spot with a win Tuesday at Minnesota.
Curtis Douglas, Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser each added a goal for Vancouver. The Canucks' 56 points this season are the fewest in the NHL, 17 fewer than Calgary, the next closest. Nikita Tolopilo had 24 saves.
Cutter Gauthier scored two goals and Leo Carlsson added a goal for the Ducks. Gauthier has a career-high 40 goals this season. The 22-year-old is the fourth player in franchise history to score 40-plus goals in a single season.
Rossi scored with a one-timer from the right circle that beat goaltender Lukas Dostal glove side to win it. Dostal finished with 22 saves.
Gauthier opened the scoring at 3:41 of the first period.
Douglas answered about 10 minutes later and DeBrusk added a power-play goal with 5:23 left until the first intermission that gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead.
Boeser beat Dostal one on one for a short-handed goal at 4:28 of the third period, but Gauthier answered with his second goal 37 seconds later and Carlson made it 3-3 with 13:04 left in regulation.
Apr 12, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) celebrates with guard JD Davison (4) after a play during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
It’s going to be tough to write 300+ words about Sunday night’s season finale between the playoff bound Houston Rockets and the obviously tanking Memphis Grizzlies. I may have to rely on a few random famous Ron Burgundy warm up quotes such as, “How now brown cow.” With the Rockets being locked in as the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, it was decided after the loss to the Timberwolves that in that scenario the teams key players would be resting. Once it became a certainty that the fifth seed is where they will reside, Sundays game officially became meaningless.
Perhaps meaningless for the standings and for casual Rockets fans, but for those like us TDS faithful there were some things to watch for and some things we wanted to see. Starting with the fact that Tari Eason was not on that list of “key players” that would need to be rested in this game and found himself where he usually wants to be, the starting lineup. Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, Jae’Sean Tate and Clint Capela joined him there.
For those who wanted to see Tari play well heading into the playoffs after a rough outing for him against the T-Wolves, Tari didn’t disappoint. He scored 20 points in 23 minutes on 8-of-17 shooting and even got to finish the game on the bench in street clothes. “The Human Torch was denied a bank loan.” Reed Sheppard scored 19 points on 18 shots. Not his most efficient night, but he got some valuable minutes at point guard headed into the postseason and can boast 3 assists and zero turnovers in the game. Jae’Sean Tate continued to be what he always has been, a pro. 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal on 6-of-9 shooting and the hustle you’d expect in a playoff game although to most it was views as meaningless.
The man of the hour was throwback Clint Capela. In just 22 minutes played, Capela scored 23 points, 13 rebounds and shot 81.8 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the three-point arc, as he knocked down the first three-pointer of his career. Clint Capela was considered a bit of overkill at the center position when he was signed in the offseason, but with the season ending injury to Steven Adams, Capela figures to be a key role player heading into the playoffs.
The Rockets finish the season with 52 wins and 30 losses for the second consecutive year. Some will say it’s a disappointment after an offseason that saw the Rockets add arguably, the greatest scorer of all-time. In someways that sentiment is understandable, however one would have a hard time arguing that the regular season record was always going to come secondary to the amount of success this team has in the playoffs. If the Rockets are able to find themselves in the Western semi-finals or Western Conference finals, then the fact that the regular season record was stagnant won’t matter.
It’s been a fun season regardless and even though the injury bug hit them hard, they are very fortunate to be headed into the post season with their top players healthy. The team has more playoff experience than the squad from last year had, and they will need it as they head to Los Angeles on Saturday for Game 1 of the first round series. As always, you know TDS is going to be here covering the playoffs from all angles. Can’t wait to cover the games and enjoy the discussions with all you TDS faithful. Until then… Stay classy Houston!
Game 82 of 2025-26 looks set to be the first preseason game of 2026-27.
After the Islanders were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday with a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens, coach Pete DeBoer indicated he’d like to use the last game of the season — a home match against Carolina on Tuesday — to “see as many guys as possible.”
That may have been a nod to Victor Eklund, who could be in line to make his NHL debut after helping AHL Bridgeport clinch a playoff spot on Sunday night, though it’s unclear whether the Isles will call up the Swede.
Certainly, it seems like Isaiah George should play, and that some call-ups could happen.
“I’ll have to talk to Mathieu [Darche] about roster and some things like that,” DeBoer said. “But for me, the more guys I can see in game action that are potentially part of this going forward, I think that’s important.”
Islanders defenseman Isaiah George (36) runs a drill during practice at the Northwell Health Ice Center, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in East Meadow, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Hired a week ago Sunday, DeBoer was in the awkward position of dealing with a devastated team after just his third game in charge.
“I’m disappointed,” DeBoer said. “I know they were in a good spot a month ago, or coming out of the Olympic break, probably. A lot of work goes into that. I can only speak to the last seven days.
“These guys have had a lot of stuff thrown at them. One coach left, a new coach came in. A lot of new stuff. So they’re wearing that a little bit and you feel for them. I can tell you I’m proud they didn’t quit. They played right to the buzzer tonight. We know we’ve got a lot of work to do here, but there’s a lot of good things too.”
Ondrej Palat was a healthy scratch, with Anthony Duclair coming into the lineup for just the second time in the Islanders’ last 11 games.
Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer responds to questions from reporters during press conference after an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. AP
Ilya Sorokin started his ninth straight game in net and has now appeared in 14 straight, dating back nearly a month.
Coach Pete DeBoer ruled out any possibility of Alexander Romanov returning from shoulder surgery in the regular season. The Islanders had liked Romanov’s chances of returning in the playoffs since he got hurt in mid-November, but with a playoff berth highly unlikely, it now appears he won’t be back until training camp.
With his 12th year as the Golden State Warriors’ head coach coming to an end, Steve Kerr is at a crossroads.
Having won four championships and reached six NBA Finals is nothing to scoff at. With help from Steph Curry, Kerr transformed the team from a perennial playoff presence into a bona fide championship team.
That said, this 2025-26 season is the last of Kerr’s current contract. As of this writing, there seems to be no agreement in place to extend his tenure.
SB Nation polled Warriors fans on whether they wanted Kerr to remain as head coach. This is what they had to say:
A significant number of fans polled still want Kerr to return next season. Kerr is a proven commodity with a resume that not a whole lot of NBA coaches possess. However, there remains the possibility that either the team or Kerr himself might want to move on to other ventures.
Do you think Kerr will remain the coach of the Warriors next season? Will he sign a new contract for the only team he has been the head coach of? Will he be the coach of another team? Or will he step down from coaching duties altogether? Head on over to https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba to make yourself heard.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 12: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on April 12, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors wrapped up their regular season on Sunday night, and it the result was emblematic of the season as a whole: a lot of notable players didn’t suit up, there was a little excitement, and ultimately it ended in defeat. This time it was a 115-110 loss to the LA Clippers, which put a rather unsightly bow on a 37-45 season.
It wasn’t the best effort for the Warriors, and that was by design. Not only did the team have nothing to play for other than rhythm — they’ve been locked into the No. 10 seed for a while now — but they knew going into the contest that their likely opponent in the first round of the play-in tournament would be this same Clippers squad. Which means that that didn’t want to ruin any secrets (not that there are many between Steve Kerr and Ty Lue, who have been battling for about a decade now).
So it wasn’t a surprise that Kerr opted to rest Draymond Green, while Lue sat Kawhi Leonard. Interestingly, Kerr used Steph Curry more than any other player, as the team’s superstar had a dress rehearsal for playing heavy minutes in Wednesday’s win-or-go-home affair. Curry played nearly 29 minutes, while Brandin Podziemski had the next heaviest usage, with 21:03 spent on the court.
Both teams played a high-effort contest that was lacking in strategy or game-planning, as neither squad wanted to give the other any extra information. The Warriors came out hot with an energy-fueled 10-4 start, but the Clippers went on a 6-0 run to tie the game as Golden State’s offense got sloppy. But the Dubs would respond with a 7-0 run of their own.
It had a bit of a pickup basketball feel, and Dub Nation held their collective breath as Podziemski left the game in visible pain and holding his leg. Thankfully, he returned in the second quarter.
The first quarter was far from the prettiest basketball that we’ve witnessed this season, but the pace was nice and it was an enjoyable watch. It got a little testy late in the frame, with Pat Spencer and Kobe Sanders getting into it a little bit. With the Warriors offense scuffling in a big way, Seth Curry bailed them out with a four-point play with just a few tenths of a second remaining, sending Golden State to the second quarter with a 26-25 advantage.
But the second quarter belonged to LA, as they started to execute well out of the gates, while the Warriors very much did not. That led to some hot shooting from the Clippers’ perimeter players, and suddenly it was a 43-33 lead for the home team. But Steph Curry returned to the court and fueled a gritty 7-0 run as the Warriors got right back in it.
Yet sometimes there are signs that it isn’t your game, and that occurred shortly after that run, when Steph was fouled shooting a three, and only made one free throw. It was ominous, and it helped spark an LA run that pushed the lead back to double-digits. But the Warriors ended the quarter on a high note, with Kristaps Porziņģis getting a stop on one end, and Podziemski draining a buzzer-beating three on the other. The Dubs trailed just 52-48 at the break.
The third quarter went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth some more. The Warriors hung right with the Clippers, never really losing touch, but certainly not taking control of the game, either. Curry went to the bench with about four minutes remaining and the game tied, and it seemed likely that his night was over. While the Clippers continued to dominate on the perimeter, Charles Bassey — who remains a revelation — was dominating in the paint, and going toe to toe with LA, almost single-handedly keeping the Warriors in the game. As a result, they trailed just 83-81 entering the fourth.
Bassey picked up where he left off in the final quarter, as he kept going strong. Unfortunately, none of his teammates could match that level of success, and on the other end, the Clippers suddenly couldn’t miss. LA quickly ran the lead back to double digits, and took total control of the game.
Curry did end up returning for a short stint in the fourth quarter, presumably to simulate the usage pattern he’ll have in Wednesday’s game. He didn’t do too much — and it seemed like he wasn’t trying to do too much — but he looked healthy and athletic and in game shape, and that’s really all anyone was looking for.
The Clippers controlled the game until the final buzzer, though the Warriors subs made it a close score of 115-110, even though the game didn’t feel at all up for grabs. Then again, the Warriors weren’t really trying to grab it, so who cares.
Curry led the Warriors with 24 points, while shooting 7-for-14 from the field and 4-for-9 on threes, with six rebounds and three assists. Bassey had 16 points off the bench on nearly-perfect 5-for-6 shooting, while going 6-for-8 on free throws. Porziņģis (12) and Podziemski (10) were the only other Warriors in double digits, as no one played much.
With the regular season now over, the Dubs will stay in Los Angeles and prepare for Wednesday’s game at the Intuit Dome. That game will be at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video, with the loser being eliminated. The winner will travel to face the loser of Tuesday night’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And just like that, the 2025-26 NBA regular season has come to an end. The Lakers battled injuries and are currently playing without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but thanks to some great games from LeBron James, they’ve managed to earn the fourth seed in the West. Now, they are set to play the Rockets in the first round.
Final 2025-2026 NBA Standings
Here are the final standings for each conference, with the play-in ultimately set to decide who will face the top two seeds in each. The No. 2 seed in each conference will play the winner of the 7-8 game, while the No. 1 seed will play the winner of the next game, between the loser of the 7-8 game and winner of the 9-10 game.
*Eliminated teams in italics.
Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors
Atlanta Hawks
Philadelphia 76ers (play-in)
Orlando Magic (play-in)
Charlotte Hornets (play-in)
Miami Heat (play-in)
Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Brooklyn Nets
Washington Wizards
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Denver Nuggets
Los Angeles Lakers
Houston Rockets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns (play-in)
Portland Trail Blazers (play-in)
LA Clippers (play-in)
Golden State Warriors (play-in)
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
Dallas Mavericks
Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings
With Dončić and Reaves likely to miss most or all of the first round, the Lakers won’t be expected to go far this postseason. Even with key pieces missing, the Lakers still have LeBron, home court and a head coach in JJ Redick who will do everything he can to put LA in an advantageous situation.
Under Redick’s leadership, the Lakers have had back-to-back 50-win seasons, making them one of the most consistent teams in the West over the past two years.
Official 2026 NBA Lottery Odds
And with the 2025-26 NBA season behind us, here is the final lottery order (with their odds to get the No. 1 pick) for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10.
Washington Wizards — top-8 protected (14%)
Brooklyn Nets (14%)
Indiana Pacers — pick goes to Clippers if it falls 5-9 (14%)
Sacramento (12.5%)
Utah — top-8 protected (10.5%)
Dallas (9%)
Hawks — via Pelicans (7.5%)
Memphis (6%)
Chicago (4.5%)
Milwaukee (3%)
Golden State (2%)
OKC — via Clippers (1.5%)
Miami (1%)
Memphis — via Orlando (0.5%)
Plenty of teams were tanking this season in what’s expected to be a deep draft class, but the Lakers weren’t one of them. Now the draft odds for the No. 1 pick are known and we’ll see which team gets to pick first when the NBA Draft Lottery is held on May. 10.
While the Lakers aren’t in the lottery, they will have a first round pick. They tied with the Knicks, so a coin flip will decide whether they select at No. 24 or 25.
However, the draft is something the franchise can focus on later. For now, the priority is to rest up as the play-in teams earn their spots in the playoffs and get ready for a battle with Houston next week.
There wasn’t much for either team to glean from Sunday night’s regular-season finale between the Warriors and Clippers. The teams will meet again with far higher stakes in three days, meaning neither coach wanted to show his hand in a 115-110 loss to LA.
“Wednesday will be much different, for sure,” Kerr said before tipoff.
The Warriors’ Steph Curry tuned up for Wednesday’s play-in tournament game with 24 points Sunday. AP
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Draymond Green (back) were both ruled out before tipoff, while the teams’ remaining rotation regulars mostly went through the motions for 48 minutes while their fates were determined by a game 1,500 miles up the coast in Portland.
Both players are expected to return to their starting lineups for Wednesday’s win-or-go-home rematch, which became official with the Trail Blazers’ 122-110 win over the Kings.
As expected, Steph Curry played his heaviest load of minutes since returning from a 27-game absence with a knee injury. He finished with 24 in 29 minutes, setting him to play as much as necessary with the Warriors’ season on the line Wednesday.
Without Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford both started alongside Curry, Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton in the Warriors’ 43rd different starting five of the season.
Porzingis missed all four 3s he attempted and finished with 12 points in 24 minutes. Horford was held to two field goals — one for 2 and one for 3 — for a quiet five points in 19 minutes. Both big men were outshined by Charles Bassey, who scored in double digits for the third straight game with 16.
“We know we’re going to have to put together a good four quarters on Wednesday,” Kerr said. “Tonight [was] another chance to make a step in that direction. But again, it’s different. It’s a different feeling when the result doesn’t matter.”
What it means
The Warriors finished the regular season 37-45, their second-worst record in 12 seasons under Kerr. Their only worse finish came in 2019-20, when Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant all missed most of the season.
Before the game, Kerr contrasted the two seasons.
“I think the expectations were higher for us this year than they were [in 2019-20] after losing Andre [Iguodala], Shaun Livingston, Kevin Durant. It’s a different vibe going into that year,” Kerr said. “This year I think the high hopes were there coming off last year’s run, having Jimmy [Butler] on our team. … When you see two guys go down midseason and it impacts not only this season but the next one, that’s about as tough as it gets. It for sure has been a very difficult season.”
The Clippers’ John Collins scores two of his 18 points Sunday against the Warriors. AP
Turning point
Trying to build chemistry in a group that hasn’t played together much, if at all, for the entire season, the Warriors survived two more injury scares with their regulars on the floor despite the outcome carrying little meaning.
After Curry rolled his ankle Friday in Sacramento, Podziemski was forced out of action early Sunday when he appeared to take a knee to his thigh on a drive to the hoop.
Podziemski, playing his 82nd game of the season, hobbled to the bench and received treatment. But he was quickly back in the game to finish a team-best plus-16 in 21 minutes.
Curry was also the recipient of a hard forearm from Benedict Mathurin as he attempted to back his way into the paint. The move sent Curry falling to the floor, clearly unpleased, and technical fouls were doled out to Gary Payton II and Mathurin for the brief scrum that followed.
MVP: Steph Curry
The best news for the Warriors from Sunday’s game was that Curry looked like himself after two quiet games and rolling his ankle their last time out. He lacked the theatrics of his 29-point performance in his first game back against the Rockets but turned in probably his best all-around effort.
Stat of the game: 99
The total number of minutes logged by Bassey, Nate Williams, Malevy Leons, Pat Spencer, Seth Curry and Will Richard. Some of the end-of-rotation players will factor into Wednesday’s game, but if their minutes come anything close to Sunday, the Warriors are in trouble.
The six players combined to post a minus-83.
Up next
The Warriors’ postseason push begins Wednesday.
Same opponent. Same venue. Different stakes.
They’ll have to beat the Clippers in Inglewood and win another elimination game on the road against either the No. 7 Suns or No. 8 Blazers to earn a date with the defending champion Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
