OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (50-28) are back home where they will play three of their last four games of the season, starting with a rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) on Tuesday.
Realistically speaking, Los Angeles looks to make this one a, at the very least, respectable matchup against the best team in the league.
Like any team that just two of its two best players, the Lakers are currently in scramble mode, being left to figure out how to survive the tail end of the regular season. In their most recent frustrating loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the purple and gold gave a glimpse of how they’re handling their current situation and that involves requiring a handful of their role players to step up.
In doing so, Los Angeles’ successfully stayed afloat on offense. Luke Kennard had himself a triple-double, Rui Hachimura was efficient from all over the field while Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton provided ample contributions across the board. All things considered, it was a commendable effort.
However, the team’s defense was putrid. And it’s likely that they’re not going to win any of their remaining games if that holds up.
While it’s fair to give the Lakers some grace in this tough time, what won’t is the NBA schedule that has them playing the OKC Thunder next. Yes, the same Thunder team that demolished them by 43 points only days ago.
What was supposed to be an opportunity for the Lakers to respond to their most embarrassing defeat of the season turned out to be the worst possible situation for them with two of their best players down while LeBron James is now listed as questionable.
But even if their big three were playing, the Lakers are considered heavy underdogs against the Thunder. That’s why it’s easy to say that this is pretty much a loss unless a miracle happens. The least the Lakers can do is attempt not to get blown out by 43 points or more again on their home floor.
For that to happen, they have to keep up with OKC from the get-go. The biggest reason why the Lakers lost against the Thunder was that they didn’t start strong. The Thunder are the type of opponent who will make you pay for your mistakes, and the fewer L.A. makes them in this rematch, the better.
Who knows? Maybe the Lakers pull off the impossible and defy all odds again like they’ve been doing all season. Let’s see if the purple and gold can pull off the most surprising victory of the season on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain), Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) are out.
LeBron James (left foot injury management) is questionable.
As for the Thunder, only Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring) are out.
In a video posted by MojoSportsLLC a few days ago, Luis Gonzalez talks about a very subtle easter egg planted in the background of one of his baseball cards. While holding his 1994 Donruss Studio card, Gonzo points out that he hung a rubber rat in his locker that can be seen just above his shoulder.
As one of many Diamondbacks fans that name the left field legend as their favorite player in franchise history, I especially love Gonzo for a few reasons. Like I mentioned in my last article, I always sat in left field so I was always sitting closest to Luis. I am left-handed and played left field, and I loved mimicking his batting stance. We even share the same birthday in September. I thought I knew the kind of personality Gonzo had – at least, as much as a normal fan could interpret from interviews and commercials. But this baseball card told a whole different story. I did a little research to see how much of a prankster our World Series hero was.
Gonzalez explains in the video that the rat was a go-to prank method in the clubhouse. He would hide the rubber rats in laundry bins and equipment boxes to terrify clubhouse attendants.
Mustaaaaaaaard!
During his time with the Florida Marlins, Gonzalez put a little mustard on his pranks. He once took a jelly-filled donut, and injected it with bright yellow mustard. He placed the sabotaged pastry back into a fresh box and waited for any sorry sucker that would take the bait. One of the clubhouse staff ended up being the fish at the end of this line.
The victim was so shocked by the taste they called the donut shop to complain about the atrocity.
Par for the Course
One of the more calculated pranks mentioned in an interview involved the visiting clubhouse at San Francisco. There was a rumor that the San Francisco Giants’ away clubhouse attendant, Harvey Hodgerney, wasn’t changing the chili every day and was instead recycling the same pot of chili for the visiting teams throughout a series.
Gonzo decided to see if this was really true. He took a golf ball from the team shop and dropped it into the bottom of the chili pot on the first day of the series. Things didn’t really go to plan when an infuriated Randy Johnson discovered a Titleist in the ladle and chewed out the clubbie for it. Gonzo begged everyone else who knew about it to not tell Randy it was him that did that.
However, that hiccup did not stop him. He tried it again the next day; lo and behold, 24 hours later and the golf ball was still at the bottom of the chili. Hodgerney called Gonzo into his office “like a principal” to tell him he couldn’t believe he did that.
Clowning Around with Bob Melvin
Now this last prank, I haven’t been able to confirm anywhere of it being the brainchild of Gonzalez, but it happened on March 10, 2003. So with the prankster we know him to be now, I’m sure we can find it most likely that he was part of this little welcome party. Bob Melvin just left Arizona to become the manager of the Seattle Mariners, and this day was his first encounter with the Diamondbacks during Spring Training.
Down in Tucson, “Bo-Mel” went to say hi to his former team in their locker room, and that’s when the operation began.
Melvin returned to find his duffel bag in a different state than he left it. His uniform was tied in knots, shoelaces removed, and a lovely picture of Tony Dello, the Diamondbacks’ batting practice pitcher, placed lovingly in the bag.
That was just the beginning.
They did make sure to return some of his old stuff to him, like his trusty fungo bat, dubbed “Wonder Bat.” Although, there was a suspiciously large drilled hole right into the sweet spot. Earlier that morning, someone had told the Diamondbacks about a big secret that Melvin had been able to keep hidden for two years.
Bob Melvin is terrified of clowns.
So we would only find it logical that two fully outfitted clowns, “Bob” and “Melvin,” showed up during the third inning at Tucson Electric Park to throw t-shirts into the stands. I’m sure you can guess where they were standing.
They came out a few more times to stand on the Mariners’ dugout, where Bob Melvin would retreat back into like an underground bunker.
Gonzo just happened to get beaned by Jeff Nelson in the bottom of the sixth; he promptly walked towards the mound screaming who knows what at him and caused the benches to clear.
Bob Brenly later said, “I noticed the clowns. I had nothing to do with it. Other than that, I have no comment.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 6: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians rounds the bases after hitting a home run to left field on a 2-1 count with no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians lost to the Royals in the series opener tonight 4-2. They also lost Gabriel Arias to hamstring tightness – we will see for how long.
The Guardians continued to get good starting pitching, this time for 4 and 2/3rds from Tanner Bibee who gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk, striking out 3. Tim Herrin finished out the fifth and Peyton Pallette pitched two innings, giving up a homer to Carter Jensen. Kolby Allard finished off the game and gave up a two-run homer to Johnathan India.
The Guardians had one of those “hit the ball hard and got nothing to show for it” games, and were generally stymied by Michael Wacha. But, there were some positive signs – Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio hit their first homers of the season, and Jose took two walks.
Jose Ramirez is now the franchise leader in games played in a Cleveland uniform. Amazing.
Arias appeared to tweak his hamstring after hitting a double and was removed from the game. I suspect this means an IL stint for Arias which is a real shame because he had been playing well over the last couple games. I wonder if Juan Brito will get a shot at second base with Brayan Rocchio moved to short (where Rocchio made an excellent play late in the game).
No time to feel bad about this one as the Guardians will return to action tomorrow at 1:10PM to accommodate a return to winter temps forecasted for our area. Let’s hope to see our lefty masher lineup come out in full force. Brito generally hits lefties well, so hopefully it will be a good debut if he is called up.
The Montreal Canadiens have been hot down the stretch, as they have won eight out of their last nine games. This surge undoubtedly has come at a good time for the Canadiens, as they are now very close in the standings to both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has certainly been a big reason for the Habs' success this season, as he has been very good overall. In 39 games with the Canadiens this season, the 24-year-old goaltender has a 27-8-4 record, a 2.73 goals-against average, and a .904 save percentage. Yet, what's important to note is that he has been only getting better as the season rolls on.
Dobes has been on fire for the Canadiens down the stretch, as he has had a .926 save percentage or better in each of his last seven appearances. This included him stopping 35 out of 38 shots against the New Jersey Devils in his most recent start. He has also had a 7-1 record over that span.
With the way Dobes has played for the Canadiens during this final portion of the season, it is hard not to feel excited about his future in Montreal. The Canadiens found themselves a good goalie in the youngster, and it will be intriguing to see how he continues to improve his game from here.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Adrian Houser #12 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 01, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series.
Taking the mound for the Giants is righty Adrian Houser, who makes his second start with the organization. His first start was solid, as he gave up three runs to the San Diego Padres in 5.1 innings, but just one of the runs was earned.
Houser will face off against Phillies right-handed rookie Andrew Painter, making his second big league start. His first was in the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on March 31st, in which he allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and a walk in five and a third innings.
Outside noise from fans and media is part of the reality of playing professional sports, and the players and coaching staff are aware of it.
However, the Detroit Red Wings say they are determined not to let outside noise affect them as they enter the final five games of the season - games that will determine their postseason fate.
Following their heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon, the fading playoff chances for the Red Wings were dealt another serious blow.
Starting games on time has recently been an issue for the Red Wings. Although they scored on their first shot of the contest, they managed only three shots in the opening 20 minutes.
By the end of the second period, with the team trailing 4–1, they had recorded just eight total shots.
J.T. Compher, who scored Detroit's third goal, once again echoed what several of his teammates have said in recent weeks - they need to play with full intensity right from the opening puck drop.
“We need to play like we did in the third period for more of the game,” he said afterward. "We gave ourselves a chance. I think if we start better, it makes it a little easier on us, but the way we played in the third is the way we have to play for the rest of the games remaining.”
Not only did the Red Wings have trouble getting any kind of sustained offensive pressure for the game's first 40 minutes, but a careless line change opened the door for Minnesota's fourth goal late in the second.
“A horrendous change by two defensemen at the same time, and all of a sudden it’s four (goals against)," head coach Todd McLellan noted. "Then you can feel the energy go from excitement in the building to disappointment in the building."
The Red Wings have five games left in their schedule, beginning with a Tuesday night tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who, like Detroit, are trying to stake their claim on the second and final Wild Card playoff position.
Despite their precarious position, the Red Wings insist they're not finished yet.
"We’re going to come with the most amount of intensity and jam that we can bring on Tuesday," said Andrew Copp. "We’re not six feet under yet."
They have no choice but to do exactly that.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 22: Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates scoring during the second half against the Washington Wizards at the United Center on November 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are coming off a frustrating loss to the Brooklyn Nets, but one that essentially will guarantee them a top 4 pick in this year’s Draft Lottery.
They now play a double-header at home against the Chicago Bulls.
That’s right, two games against the same team in the same place.
Here’s the preview.
Game Info
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Wizards: Justin Champagnie, Tristan Vukcevic, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore (Out)
Minutes for the youngsters — This is long the time of year where winning is secondary, and roster management and player development are primary. The Wizards have been on a historic losing run, with only a couple of wins in the stretch since the All-Star Break. Understandably, as they executed a number of trades that netted them injured players.
The Direction-Less Bulls — It’s almost comforting to play the Bulls, even twice in a row this week, as this is one of those teams that makes the Wizards not look too bad. The Bulls have been in that 30-40 win bracket for forever, and seem to never be able to properly rebuild or reposition. Let’s hope the Wizards soon start looking with a direction and a purpose after several years of a rebuild.
Draft Lottery — So the Wizards are 2 games back of the Nets. In the remaining 4 games the Wizards face Chicago (twice), Miami, and Cleveland. The Nets play Milwaukee (twice), Indiana, and Toronto. But that important loss to the Nets, means that the Nets also won the season series against the Wizards 3-1. Be it as it may, it is unlikely the Wizards will surpass the Nets in the standings.
Flashback: The Wizards beat the Bulls on a Beal game-winner (but not buzzer beater)
Just a few years back, Beal hit a rare game-winning shot (with about 8 seconds left in regulation) to give the Wizards the W against the Bulls. Since Beal did not do that too often I like to be reminded of it. Oh, and Kuzma was a Wizard not long ago too!
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Matt Olson #28 after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves face off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in what looks to be a pitchers duel between the two staff aces. Chris Sale has only given up one run in his two starts, and José Soriano has yet to surrender an earned run this season in twelve innings.
The Braves’ offense has been up and down to put it lightly. The underlying metrics show that they should see some positive regression to the mean, so tonight may be that time. Michael Harris is primed for a good game with an xwOBA of .395 which is top 16.0 percent of MLB, when his wOBA is only .255. His expected slugging is in the top 4.0 percent of all MLB hitters.
The metrics are there for the Braves’ offense to take off. Hopefully that will happen tonight. Follow along in the comments.
Luka Doncic dragged his hamstring through an entire half of basketball last Thursday against the Thunder, tugging at it repeatedly as if it was a loose thread on a championship dream, until he seriously injured it midway through the third quarter.
By the time Doncic limped off the floor, the Lakers weren’t just down their best player, their season was teetering on the brink.
After an MRI in Dallas the next day, Doncic was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that comes with a recovery timeline of four to six weeks.
Now he’s in Spain, and that should tell you everything you need to know about what Doncic is trying to do in order to return to the court as soon as possible to help the Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
Doncic looked like the best player on the planet in the month of March.
He looked every bit like the NBA’s Most Valuable Player through that stretch of the season, scoring 600 points and leading the Lakers to a 15-2 overall record. Without him on the floor, the Lakers are in trouble — as evidenced by their 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Easter Sunday.
That’s why Doncic is not rehabbing at home or at the Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo. You won’t see him sitting courtside in designer clothes for the final four games of the regular season.
Instead, he’s chasing the kind of regenerative treatments that are not available in the United States, and could be the difference between watching Doncic on the court in the NBA Playoffs and missing them entirely.
When a franchise cornerstone leaves the country for treatment on a hamstring injury, it raises the question: what does Spain or Europe have that the U.S. doesn’t?
Under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, players and their respective teams have autonomy over their treatment, as long as they’re not utilizing a banned substance. Therefore, by seeking treatment for his injury in Spain, Doncic isn’t breaking rules; he’s utilizing a medical tool box that is much bigger than what we have available in the U.S.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
Platelet-rich plasma therapy. Stem cells. Exosomes. Regenerative therapies that live in the gray space between innovation and regulation.
In the United States, those options are restricted, filtered through the slow churn of FDA approval.
In Europe — particularly in countries like Spain, Germany, and Switzerland — there’s more flexibility and potentially more reward.
And Doncic is not the first prominent athlete, NBA player, or even Lakers superstar to seek treatment for an injury outside of the U.S.
Kobe Bryant boarded a plane to Germany in 2011 chasing platelet-rich plasma therapy when his knee was failing him. It worked. Years later, he went back again, this time for his Achilles. Anything to gain an edge in his recovery timeline.
LeBron James did something similar in 2023, quietly consulting a specialist overseas when his foot injury threatened to end his season. He returned without surgery and pushed the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds his ankle after going down with an injury on March 20, 2021. AP
Different bodies. Different injuries. Same idea.
The difference now? The stakes are sharper.
Doncic isn’t an aging veteran trying to extend his window. He is the window. He is the engine, identity, and gravitational force of the Lakers.
Without him — and without Austin Reaves, who is sidelined with his own 4–6 week injury — the Lakers aren’t just short-handed. They’re in full-on survival mode.
Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick told reporters before the loss to the Mavericks that the goal of both players is to return. But the Lakers might need to win a first-round playoff series against Minnesota or Houston without them for that to happen.
“It’s our job to extend the season so both those guys can get back,” said Redick.
Luka Doncic and head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
ESPN reported on Monday that Doncic was in Spain to undergo what was described as an “injection procedure,” meant to accelerate healing and recovery.
According to Dr. Evan Jeffries, a certified physical therapist and co-host of the “The Hoops Rehab Show,” that injection and treatment plan likely is some combination of “stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, or more advanced regenerative techniques” that are not available in the U.S. the same way they are in Spain.
“Stem cells can be more manipulated to increase their potency in Spain. Same with PRP,” Jeffries told The California Post. “Theoretically, he [Luka Doncic] could cut his timeline in half.”
Jeffries also added that Doncic would likely also undergo high-power laser therapy (HPLT), red-light therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), SoftWave therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and cupping during his treatment in Spain, these are also available in the U.S.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
All of this is indicative of Doncic’s desire to return to the court as fast as possible in order to help his team chase their championship dreams. His treatments will take hours upon hours of daily work to attack his hamstring injury from every conceivable angle.
Doncic’s strategy for his treatment is certainly bold and aggressive. Hamstrings are notoriously fickle.
This is the fifth hamstring injury he’s dealt with in his career, after he was sidelined in February for four games for a hamstring injury as well. Soft-tissue injuries heal on their own time and come with a higher chance of reaggravation. They are also the protector of the ACL, increasing the risk of a knee injury when the hamstring is not fully healthy.
But if Doncic’s treatment in Spain works, and it cuts his timeline for recovery in half, then not only would he be able to help his team in the first-round of the playoffs, but also beyond should they be fortunate enough to advance.
But if it doesn’t work, the Lakers are likely looking at a first-round exit without him.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Hurley rocking the same suit through the entire Men's NCAA Tournament isn't something new for the two-time national championship coach. He's been rather open about his superstitions over the years in March Madness. Remember the good luck dragon boxers? He's also thrown holy water along baselines for a sign of good luck.
Another superstition of Hurley's is wearing a holy beads bracelet that he has been wearing for every game that he has coached in, going back even as far as his days as a high school basketball coach in North Jersey. He almost didn't have the beads with him for the Illinois game, as his wife, Andrea Hurley, had to rush back to the team hotel to grab them.
"He got this bracelet years and years ago in church. They're holy beads from Jerusalem, so they said," Andrea Hurley told CBS Sports on Sunday during an interview. "I had to leave the arena last night, run in the rain, grab the beads ... and then I got a police escort."
Here's a look at Hurley coming off the court on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where he's talking about his jacket with UConn Sports Information Director Bobby Mullen, and even told Mullen to look at his jacket:
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 26 overall, Los Angeles Lakers
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to an appearance in the NCAA mens basketball national championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kansas's Darryn Peterson is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
Australian golfer saddened by his ‘hero’ facing struggle with addiction
Five-time Masters champion to miss first major after car crash and arrest
Australian ace Jason Day has expressed sadness at Tiger Woods’ plight but taken issue with the golf great’s “selfish” judgement for driving under the influence.
Woods has reportedly checked himself into rehab in Switzerland after being arrested and charged on 27 March after crashing his car near his home on Jupiter Island in Florida.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the mens collegiate national championship game that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.
Cade Cunningham was upgraded from "out" to "doubtful" before Detroit's Monday night game in Orlando, but he did not take the court. What that showed, however, is that he is close to a return from a collapsed lung, and the Pistons' All-Star could play before the end of the season.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said pregame he hopes that Cunningham, as well as injured big man Isaiah Stewart — also upgraded to doubtful but not playing in the game due to a calf strain — can play in at least one more game before the season ends, via Omari Sankofa, Detroit Free Press.
"There's no way to replicate what a game is other than playing the game… especially ramping up to the intensity of playoff basketball, it would be beneficial for the guys, and the group."
Cunningham has been out since March 17, when he collided with Wizards' rookie Tre Johnson diving for a loose ball. That led to Cunningham's collapsed lung, which was expected to keep him out through the end of the season. Detroit has gone an impressive 8-2 without Cunningham and, as a result, has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East.
Cunningham, however, will fall short of the 65 games needed to qualify for postseason awards. He very likely would have been in the top five in MVP voting and made First Team All-NBA. Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds a game this season.
