Every day this week, the NBC Sports NBA writing crew is breaking down the league's individual postseason awards and giving you their thoughts and predictions. We're starting the week with the big one: MVP. It's a tight race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic, so who are we taking?
Most Valuable Player
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
This is the deepest MVP field I can remember — Nikola Jokic is averaging a triple-double and is going to be third on my ballot. Which is insane. This race comes down to Victor Wembanyama and SGA, and it's close. Very close.
In my mind, three things separate Gilgeous-Alexander and get him my vote. One is minutes: As of Monday, Gilgeous-Alexander has played 353 more total minutes — remember Wemby was on a minutes limit when he raced back from injury to make sure he had time to reach the league's ridiculous 65 games threshold. SGA is averaging 33.5 minutes per game, so he has been on the court for the equivalent of 10 more total games this season. That matters. Second is efficiency, and as efficient on offense as Wembanyama is, and for all his gravity, Gilgeous-Alexander is just slightly more efficient, which is incredible for a guard who creates most of his own shots.
Third, SGA is about to lead the Thunder to being only the third team to have 65+ wins in back-to-back seasons, joining the Jordan-era Bulls and the Curry/Durant Warriors — and this year the Thunder did it without their second-best player, Jalen Williams, for much of the season. That's leadership from SGA. (One final note, Wembanyama is right that defense should matter, and he is the better defender, but Gilgeous-Alexander is having his best defensive season and deserves All-Defense consideration; that gap is just not large enough to put Wemby over the top.)
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Even with Jalen Williams missing over half the season, the Thunder will again finish mid-60s in wins because of SGA's metronomic brilliance. 55% FG and 67% true shooting are preposterous marks for a self-creating volume-scoring guard.
On a per-minute basis, Victor Wembanyama has a case as SGA's equal for impact, but Shai playing close to 400 more minutes than Wembanyama tips this award.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
While there are multiple players with good cases to win the award, including Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama and Jaylen Brown, Gilgeous-Alexander has been every bit as consistent (and excellent) as he was last season. He's averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game with 55.1/38.0/88.1 shooting splits. Despite the heavy usage and attention he receives from opposing defenses, SGA has been close to a 50/40/90 player, and that's with multiple Thunder contributors missing extended time due to injury.
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
This seems close to a lock at this point. We can make separate arguments for who should win this award, but that's probably SGA, too. Nikola Jokic was probably the favorite before his knee injury, but he has not looked like the same player since he's come back, and his defense has been even less impactful than it was before, if that's possible. The Thunder continued to roll along even with Jalen Williams missing half the season, and other key contributors like Isaiah Hartenstein also being out for extended periods of time. Make all the arguments you want about how SGA plays, but he delivers time after time.
The Denver Nuggets begin the final week of the NBA’s regular season with a key game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. The Nuggets are in position to overtake the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The teams are currently tied, but the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Trail Blazers are trying to hold onto the No. 8 seed and avoid having to win two games in the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.
How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets
With just five games remaining in their regular season, there is still much to be determined for the Vegas Golden Knights.
They could make the playoffs and face the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. They could make the playoffs and face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. They could win the division and face WC1 (currently the Utah Mammoth) in the first round.
Now, it’s also still technically possible— although extremely unlikely— that the Golden Knights miss the postseason entirely. However, they’d basically have to lose out, and one of San Jose or Los Angeles would have to win out. There’s a reason why Moneypuck gives the Golden Knights a 97.4% chance to make the playoffs.
Regular-season series don’t always mean much in the grand scheme of things. In a seven-game series, coaches can make adjustments to counter their opponent. In an 82-game season, those adjustments are typically broader.That being said, in a tiebreaker situation, looking back on a regular-season series can make all the difference.
The top three spots of the Pacific Division are closer than ever. The Oilers currently hold the top spot with 87 points and the tiebreaker over the Ducks, but the Golden Knights lurk just one point back.
NHL Tiebreaker Protocols
If two or more NHL teams finish the regular season with the same number of points in the standings, playoff seeding is determined by these tiebreakers:
1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (excluding shootout wins)
3. Total wins
4. Head-to-head points
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals for
Let’s take a look at how the Golden Knights measure up against the other two top teams in the Pacific Division.
Vegas Golden Knights
Regulation wins: 27
Regulation and overtime wins: 34
Total wins: 35
Goal differential: +7
Total goals: 247
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more regulation wins (30).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more wins in regulation and overtime (39).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more total wins (39).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with six head-to-head points against the Golden Knights this season.
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with a higher goal differential than the Golden Knights (+8).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with a higher total of goals scored than the Golden Knights (265).
Anaheim Ducks
The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with a higher number of regulation wins (the Ducks have 24).
The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with more wins in regulation and overtime (the Ducks have 33).
The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with more total wins (41).
The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with six head-to-head points against the Golden Knights this season.
The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with a higher goal differential (the Ducks have a -14).
The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with a higher total of goals scored than the Golden Knights (257).
Apr 22, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas (right) talks with general manager Marc Eversley (left) before game three of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
All eyes are on the North Carolina Tar Heels as they attempt to find their new head coach for the men’s basketball program. All eyes are also on the Chicago Bulls, who have had way more of an eventful 2026 than they likely bargained for. In the middle of all of this is Billy Donovan, who will have to choose between one of these teams, or he will choose to just do something else altogether. Things got really interesting for the Bulls, though, and it could play a huge role in how things shake out for UNC.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf finally put their front office on notice. For those who aren’t familiar with how the Reinsdorfs operate, the family treats the Bulls like a cash cow rather than a competitive franchise, and they are very slow to make any kind of noticeable changes to the front office unless their financials start to suffer. That is why it is notable that in Cowley’s report he stated that back in January the Reinsdorfs told Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas to “pick a lane” when it came to what the actual long-term plan for the team was.
To this point of his Bulls tenure, Karnisovas has been perfectly fine getting into the Play-In Tournament every year, but his tone shifted after getting called out by ownership. Karnisovas proceeded to make a lot of moves before the trade deadline, but aside from adding recently exiled former Piston Jaden Ivey, most of the moves involved picking up expiring contracts in efforts to clear up cap space. For what, though? That is the question, and having to ask the question is the problem.
Because the Bulls are now in a predicament, and ownership is not convinced that Arturas Karnisovas or general manager Marc Eversley can fix it. Here is what Cowley stated in his report:
“Up to that point, the mentality from the Reinsdorfs was very hands off. In their eyes it was Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley who made the mess, and it was on them to fix it.
Less than three months later the stakes have changed.
Now, ownership is weighing if the mess has gotten too large for them to fix, and according to a source everything is on the table in the next 10 days.
First and foremost, coach Billy Donovan could be the most important domino currently standing. North Carolina has had Donovan and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd in the cross-hairs since the coaching seat became vacant.“
It again must be pointed out that the Bulls saying “everything is on the table” is significant, even if that information came from a source. The Reinsdorfs have had no problem putting up with mediocrity ever since Derrick Rose’s entire career was altered by tearing his ACL during the 2011-12 season, and then suffering a torn meniscus during the 2013-14 season. Now it seems the Reinsdorfs have had enough, and it could impact Billy Donovan’s decision-making process this offseason.
There are four things that could happen: Billy Donovan could find out that the front office is getting cleaned out, they’re actually going to try to build a good team around him, and he stays with the Bulls. He could also hear this new, or instead find out that Karnisovas and Eversley are staying, and he makes his way to Chapel Hill. There’s also a world where Billy Donovan takes the Brad Stevens path and accepts a role in the Bulls front office. Finally, Donovan could just do something that doesn’t involve neither team, whether that’s coaching another NBA team or taking some time away from the game. What is the most likely outcome? Only Donovan knows that, but we do know this: how the Bulls decide to move forward with their rebuild issues could play an important role in what he decides to do.
Focusing strictly on UNC, the question becomes how patient are they willing to be while Donovan sorts all of this out, especially since Dusty May announced that he isn’t interested in leaving Michigan for another college job. One would have to imagine that Donavan ranks higher than some other candidates, but it also sounds like there are some potential candidates that haven’t been named yet. We’ll see how serious the Reinsdorfs are about fixing the mess they allowed Karnisovas to make, and the ball will be in Donovan’s court from there.
Mike and Dan have many words about the firing of Patrick Roy and the hiring of Peter DeBoer as head coach, as well as for the disastrous week that knocked the Islanders out of the playoffs.
Not in a million years did we expect the Islanders to lose all four games in the important week in front of them. But that’s exactly what they did – some in ways that even we hadn’t seen before. The string of defeats at the worst time, plus a series of defensive mistakes all season long, were enough for them to make a change behind the bench. The move from “player’s coach” to hard ass coach is a time-honored NHL tradition, and DeBoer will need to find something the Islanders haven’t had in several seasons if he wants to get them into the post season. Even if it’s too late for this team, he will set the foundation for what to expect next season (and beyond).
In the second half, we digest the strange Patrick Roy Experience, from a guy who was once out of the Islanders’ stratosphere to a frustrating figure who couldn’t or wouldn’t fix his team’s faults. But Roy isn’t the only one to blame for this situation. There’s the owners who have made the franchise vulnerable to critics, the general manager who has lost both trades and fan goodwill in his first year in the job, the scouts who dropped the ball when needed and the players who have gotten away with way too much for way too long. Everyone owns a piece of this disappointing and confusing campaign.
Finally, we look at the next three games, which will determine both how this season will be remembered and how DeBoer’s tenure will begin. No pressure, coach.
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The San Antonio Spurs, who are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, play host to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The game is the start of a four-game homestand to end the regular season for the Spurs. The Sixers are trying to secure the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the league will hope a similarly long drought will come to a merciful end.
Michigan men's basketball's matchup against UConn in the championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is more than just an opportunity for the Wolverines to earn their second championship (and first since 1989) and for coach Dusty May to complete one of the more remarkable turnarounds in the history of the sport.
For all the Big Ten's money, influence and power in the broader world of college athletics, the conference hasn't seen one of its men's basketball programs win an NCAA championship since all the way back in 2000. Since then, UConn, Michigan's opponent on Monday night, has won five national championships by itself.
What’s made the drought so confounding is Big Ten teams haven gotten close to winning a championship. It’s not as if this is the Patriot League or the WAC, where it has a single representative in the tournament that’s fortunate to win a game. Big Ten teams regularly reach the biggest and brightest stages in college basketball; they just haven’t been able to close the deal.
Since Michigan State’s title in 2000, and not including Michigan this year, 15 teams from the conference have made it to the Final Four. Eight of those squads advanced to the national championship game, but in each instance, they lost. A couple of them came agonizingly close, with Illinois losing to North Carolina, 75-70, in 2005 and Wisconsin coming up short against Duke, 68-63, in 2015.
It’s not like its teams haven’t been in advantageous spots entering the tournament in recent years, either. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, 35 of the 40 national champions (87.5%) have been a No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 seed. Since 2018, Big Ten teams have accounted for 17 of those 84 spots on the bracket (20.2%).
Even if current Big Ten compatriot Maryland, which won the national championship in 2002 while a member of the ACC, was included as one of the Big Ten’s championships, the conference has still gone nearly a quarter-century without a title.
During that same stretch, other power conferences have repeatedly had its teams hoist a trophy at the end of the Final Four.
Since 2000, the Big East and ACC have each had eight teams win championships. During that same stretch, the SEC has had four champions and the Big 12 three. Even the American, which has disintegrated in recent years into a one- or two-bid league, had a title-winner on its resume, thanks to UConn in 2014.
When did Big 10 last win men's basketball national championship?
A team representing the Big Ten hasn't won an NCAA men's basketball national championship since Michigan State all the way back in 2000.
The Spartans' 89-76 victory against Florida in the NCAA tournament title game capped off a 32-7 season under Tom Izzo, who was then just in his fifth season leading the program.
That year's Michigan State team was built around three players — Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell and Final Four most outstanding player Mateen Cleaves — nicknamed "The Flintstones," as all three members of the trio were from Flint, Michigan, about 50 miles northeast of Michigan State's East Lansing campus.
Interestingly, the Spartans' triumph took place in Indianapolis, where this year's Final Four is being held.
Why has Big Ten basketball gone so long without winning a national championship?
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the Big Ten’s tournament woes.
For one, it’s a single-elimination format that can create unexpected results and doesn't necessarily always reward the best teams. For years, the league's physical style of play was cited as a possible cause for the drought, with referees who don't consistently work Big Ten games getting assigned to the tournament and calling those teams' games with a tighter whistle.
Beyond that, many of the Big Ten teams that lost the national championship game had the misfortune of running up against some of the best teams in modern college basketball history. The North Carolina team Illinois lost to in 2005 was 33-4 and had four of the top 14 picks in that year’s NBA draft. Two years later, a Greg Oden and Mike Conley-led Ohio State team lost to a Florida team that brought back the entire starting five from its national championship team the year before. In 2009, Michigan State was blown out by a North Carolina team that was 34-4. Wisconsin came up short against a 2015 Duke team that won 35 games and had two top-10 NBA draft picks. Michigan was handled by a 2018 Villanova squad that won 36 games and had Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo on its roster. Two years ago, Zach Edey and Purdue weren’t able to hang with a buzzsaw of a UConn team that had won 27 of its previous 28 games, including five NCAA Tournament games that were decided by an average of 25 points.
The Atlanta Hawks, ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference, will host the New York Knicks, who are ranked third in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is favored with a -1.5 spread and a moneyline of -120.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 19: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Head Coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 19, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With just over two minutes left in the third quarter of last Friday’s Sixers-Timberwolves game, Andre Drummond ambled to the scorer’s table. Nothing out of the ordinary about that. The Sixers’ backup center was surely about to give Joel Embiid a break.
Except he wasn’t.
Drummond, who to that point had not played in the game, checked in not for Embiid, but for forward Dominick Barlow. That meant that for a short stretch the Sixers used a Ralph Sampson/Hakeem Olajuwon-style Twin Towers lineup. In the year 2026.
It proved pivotal. The Sixers, up two when Drummond entered, pushed their lead to 12 by period’s end. And with Drummond still on the floor as Embiid rested to start the fourth quarter, the Sixers went up by as many as 17 en route to a 115-103 victory.
The lineup was an anomaly, having been seen for just 15 possessions all season entering the game, per Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. And it is unlikely to be seen again. But the fact that Nick Nurse used it at all is illustrative of how adaptable an NBA coach has to be, particularly one who has faced as many rotational obstacles as Nurse has faced this season. And particularly now, with four games left and playoff seeding at stake.
Nurse has more players at his disposal than he has in weeks, now that Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. have returned from their injuries and Paul George is back from his suspension (and despite the fact that Cameron Payne has been lost with a hamstring injury). That obviously gives him more options as his team attempts to navigate a closing stretch that includes visits to San Antonio, Houston and Indiana before the finale next Sunday at home against Milwaukee.
In other words, the Sixers, who enter the week 43-35 and sixth in the East (i.e., in the final non-play-in spot), face two playoff teams (one, the Spurs, with championship aspirations) and two teams already booked for Cancun.
Given Philadelphia’s position – a tie-breaker ahead of Toronto (also 43-35), with Charlotte (43-36) and Orlando (42-36) looming as well – everything is magnified. Every potential advantage must be exploited. Which is why Nurse would do well to be as creative as possible.
When asked about the Drummond-Embiid pairing following last Friday’s game, Nurse said it had been in the back of his mind going in, given the fact that Minnesota often plays two bigs in Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Even so, Nurse was prepared to insert Drummond for Embiid before Embiid packed seven of his 19 points into a two-minute, 43-second stretch.
“And,” Nurse said, “I just decided to flip that (i.e., yank Barlow instead). So it wasn’t totally against some pregame thoughts, and it just kind of presented itself there. And obviously it’s one of those lineups that I’ve been wanting to look at a little bit here down the stretch as well.”
Drummond, plus-11 in 9:04, finished with four points, six rebounds, a block and a steal. And he said he wasn’t surprised by the move, even though Nurse has more often used another big, Adem Bona, in tandem with Embiid.
“I just didn’t know it was happening today,” Drummond said.
Nor, he added, did he find it particularly difficult to play alongside another big.
“I mean, I’m not sure how much basketball you’ve watched,” he told a lone visitor to his locker, who first covered an NBA game in 1981, “but I’ve played with seven-footers half my career – from 2012 to about 2017, when the Warriors started changing the game. So it’s not something I’m not used to. I know how to space the floor. I know how to guard. I know how to give guys like Joel the freedom to play his game without being in the way, and I can rebound the ball while he’s doing his thing.”
For one night, at least, necessity had proven to be the mother of invention. And the invention hummed off the assembly line. It wouldn’t have worked the following night against the young, fleet Pistons, when Drummond started, Embiid sat and Detroit won by 23. But it worked Friday.
The point, again, is that flexibility and experimentation are not the worst things, even at this point in the season. Maybe especially at this point in the season. Nurse has also shown that by starting Barlow and bringing Oubre off the bench since Oubre returned March 28, after missing eight games with a knee injury.
In the coach’s estimation, Barlow does his best work while playing with Embiid. The flip side is that Oubre has made it clear more than once that he prefers to start.
“I like to set the tone,” he said Friday, “but at the end of the day, that’s above me. I’m still a hooper, so I just go out there and hoop.”
In fact, he added, he views himself as “a Swiss Army Knife, for being able to pull out anything, out (of) the pocket. So we’ll continue to just take it day by day and just figure it out.”
Or let Nurse do so.
“I think we’re experimenting,” Oubre said. “You know, I couldn’t do Coach’s job. I tell him that all the time. So I think he’s just trying to figure out the best formula to win in the postseason.”
Nurse admitted before Friday’s game that while it sounds “really cool” to say that he’s solidifying his rotation down the stretch, the reality is very different. He wants to explore different options, wants to see how things shake out. (Example: He started Oubre on Saturday against Detroit, an inconsequential move considering the veteran forward scored three points as the Pistons rolled.)
“I think we’ve still got a lot of room for growth,” Nurse said, adding that there are “two or three ideas that as a staff we’re kicking around that we think might be advantageous, depending on who we play.”
So yes, it’s late. But it’s not too late to tinker, given the way the season has played out and all the absences the Sixers have endured. Nurse would love to believe that there’s something more within his team, and that it can be unearthed in short order. It’s just a matter of continuing to poke around, continuing to dig deep.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks reacts during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on April 03, 2026 in New York City. 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Final week of regular-season play for your New York Knickerbockers.
Would you believe it!? Looks like yesterday when we projected the team to win 50-plus games this season, and look at the boys now.
Do you know what else we projected for the playoffs? Uh, oh, time to get frisky!
"OG…maniacal…we worked together in Toronto…you had to kick him out of gym…hide from him…
But always a pleasure…gave you everything…
Always adding something new … I guarantee you…we're gonna see him get even better"
On recent losses to playoff teams entering a tough four-game stretch:
“You gotta give Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Houston credit, they played well. I said it postgame, we did not play well in some areas. … We didn’t play well in those three games and we deserved to lose, as much as you hate to say it. And hopefully we’ll play better going forward because we’ve got a couple of teams above .500, so we’ll see.”
On the Knicks’ playoff readiness:
“You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders. Do I think we’re there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes, I do. I’ve seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year. Even in games where there’s quote-unquote manufactured pressure (such as the NBA Cup). We’ve played really good basketball. I like what we have in that locker room and I like the things that we’ve done this year, but I expect more from myself first and everybody else second.”
On trusting the Knicks performing under the bright lights:
“All games you want to win, but when you go into Boston, it’s different than maybe going into another arena. Or if you go into OKC, it’s different than going into another arena. Those types of games, there’s a lot of manufactured pressure just because they’re good teams and it’s on national TV and all that good stuff. So to get that (environment) and to be able to perform at a pretty good level – you embrace that opportunity. You want to win all games, but to win those games – our guys have done (well) in those situations over the course of the year. So my belief is, (with) this group going into the playoffs when it’s real, that our guys will rise to the occasion.”
On his planned backup guard rotation:
“I went with the combination of Landry (Shamet) and (Miles McBride) as the backup point guards. We got those two guys out there; I wanted to take a look at that. Jose has done a fantastic job for us, but part of it is that we haven’t had a lot of healthy guards. Jose stepped in and did a nice job. (McBride) is getting healthier, and Landry is getting healthy. I’m trying to find minutes for those guys, because those guys are capable of playing that spot. That’s going to be a priority for me, because they’ve proven themselves for us.”
On OG Anunoby’s recent stretch:
“That’s who he is, in my opinion. He’s an All-Star player. He’s definitely first-team All-Defense, and he’s just showing what he’s capable of because he’s just imposing his will on the game. When he does that with the talent and [feel for the game] that he has, he’s an All-Star-caliber player.”
On Landry Shamet’s playmaking ability:
“He’s a good enough ball handler, he has a good enough feel/IQ to initiate the offense. And then conceptually, because of his feel and the other guys’ feel, we’re able to generate some things offensively. We’re not relying on him to be a traditional point guard. He and Deuce are more than capable of doing the things that we’re asking in terms of initiating the offense. And then at the end of the day, can they play pick-and-roll, can they play the game, get downhill and spray the ball or throw the lob to a guy like Mitch? I think he can.”
Asked Josh Hart about the Knicks’ recent struggles against quality opposition. Tomorrow will be exactly a month since they beat a team above .500:👇
“For us, I think it’s just making sure we’re locked in and focused. Obviously this is a good little stretch to end the season to… pic.twitter.com/RwRKFCDgXd
“For us, I think it’s just making sure we’re locked in and focused. Obviously, this is a good little stretch to end the season to make sure we’re as sharp as we can be going into the playoffs. The past is the past, nothing you can do about it now. Our focus is on tomorrow being 1–0 against playoff teams, and then we move on to the next one, and then we want to be 1–0, and then we want to move onto the next one and be 1–0. Nothing in the past really matters. It’s about what we do moving forward that we’ll be judged on and what we judge ourselves on.”
On flipping a switch in the playoffs:
“It’s not something you can just flip a switch in the playoffs and say, ‘OK the playoffs are here, let’s go out there and do our thing,’ We gotta make sure that we take these next four games as serious as we can, make sure we lock in mentally and physically to what the game plan is and to what this team wants to do moving forward and execute.”
On OG Anunoby’s impact:
“He’s one of the best two-way players in the league. He’s someone who on any given day can go out and score 25. It makes us more dynamic because obviously you have to game-plan for Jalen Brunson. We got Karl-Anthony Towns you have to game-plan for. And you have to game-plan for someone like OG, so it adds another element to our offense. When he’s locked in offensively and defensively, he’s one of the best two-way players in the league.”
On Anunoby’s aggressiveness:
“He’s starting to fully understand his areas where he can be aggressive within the offense and within the flow of the game. And that’s one thing about Mike. Mike never tells us not to do something. He wants us to be aggressive. He wants us to shoot shots. He doesn’t really put limits on us. And I think OG is really starting to understand, ‘OK, where can I be aggressive? And where can I find my spots to go score?’ He’s an efficient scorer. Physical, athletic. So he’s starting to understand that.”
"Not saying he's on Kobe's level, but I had to guard Kobe and Jalen Brunson reminds me of Kobe…keep you off balance…the footwork…the bag … Little things at a high level–that epitomizes Jalen Brunson
On the importance of the Knicks’ late-season stretch:
“It’s a challenging stretch that not a lot of people talk about. This last stretch of the season, these last few games, you’re kind of gearing up for the playoffs, you know what you’re building for, but you gotta be here and locked in each night, each team, each challenge in front of you. I think it’s more about approaching each game with the right mentality. Make it more about us than who we’re playing. We’re working on something bigger and building for something bigger, keeping that top of mind while still taking each game seriously and approaching them as you should.”
On his Knicks opportunity:
“I don’t take these moments for granted, man. This thing’s delicate, I know that. It’s a special team, special market, special opportunity and just to wear the jersey even. I’m grateful and happy to be a part of this group and have Mike’s trust and my teammates’ trust. I trust in them as well. Super grateful for it.”
“Everything, honestly. It’s a tough thing to be out so long, having a surgery in the middle of the season.”
On his recovery process:
“It’s really just a part of the recovery process. It’s just kind of like a tweak, and it’s a painful tweak. It’s not necessarily as bad, it’s just sometimes you can’t really do anything about it. It’s like someone stabbing your groin, hip and ab at the same time. It’s not fun. But I’ll get back right.”
OG Anunoby
On Jordy McClarkson’s healing powers:
“Jordan healed my wrist. It was crazy. I’m very thankful.”
Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season)
Sam Carrick (upper body, Mar. 31; injured reserve)
Noah Ostlund (upper body, Mar.25; day-to-day(
Notes
On April 4, Buffalo clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2010-11. The Sabres have earned at least one point in 23 of their last 29 contests (20-6-3), including a league-best 14 wins and 30 points since the Olympic break.
Buffalo is on pace to record 106 points in 2025-26, which would be the
most points in a single season by the Sabres since 2006-07 (113). Since Dec. 9, the Sabres rank first among all NHL teams in wins (35) and points (74). Buffalo’s 30 regulation wins in that span also lead the league. Buffalo has a team save percentage of .909, the best mark of any NHL team in that span.
Tage Thompson has tallied 55 points (25+30) in 47 games since Dec. 9 and his 22 even-strength goals in that span rank tied for fourth among all NHL skaters. Thompson has registered six points (2+4) in his last six games. Thompson’s 211 goals scored as a member of the Sabres place him tied with Alexander Mogilny for 12th place on Buffalo’s all-time list. Thompson needs seven more goals to pass Jason Pominville (217 goals with Buffalo) and gain sole possession of 10th place on Buffalo’s all-time goal-scoring list.
Rasmus Dahlin ranks first among all Sabres skaters in assists (33) and second in points (49) since Dec. 9. His 16 goals in that span rank tied for second among all NHL defensemen. Tonight’s game marks the 583rd of Dahlin’s career, which moves him into sole possession of the seventh-most by a defenseman in franchise history.
Josh Norris has registered three assists in his last three games.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 18: Danny Wolf #2 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 18, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 27th pick and last first rounder chosen by the Nets in the 2025 Draft spoke to Brian Lewis about his progress this year. The 6’11”, 255-pound Yale and Michigan product was declared out of the season following a sprained ankle on March 22.
As Lewis noted, Wolf had fallen in the draft due to concerns about his defense and shooting. The final ESPN mock draft of 2025 had him pegged at No. 16. His final numbers were 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds but only 32.2% from deep, not a bad performance for a late first round pick. Indeed, only one player taken after him — Maxine Reynaud, taken at No. 42 by the Kings, put up better numbers: 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. It can be argued, of course, that Hugo Gonzales, who was taken immediately after him, looked like a better prospect but in the end, the Celtic wing averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. Knick fans will argue Mohammed Diawara, their 51st pick last year, also had a better year, but his time on the court was limited as well and he finished with averages of 3.6 points and 1.3 rebounds
That said, Wolf told Lewis he knows where he has to improve, starting with finishing, so to speak.
“Defensively, there were definitely a lot of people questioning who I’d be able to guard. I took that as a chip on my shoulder to more than prove, but be a good defender,” said Wolf.
“The shooting and the offense, it was nowhere near what I know I’m capable of doing and that upsets me. I was able to shoot well at times, and there’d be times where I felt I couldn’t make a shot. That’s a rookie season; there’s going to be ups and downs.”
The problem was while he often got where he wanted, his ups didn’t translate. His 24-inch standing vertical was tied for third worst at the NBA Draft Combine and it showed. Indeed, his 54% finishing rate put him in the 12th percentile of NBA players.
“Everyone’s bigger, faster, stronger, more athletic [at this level],” said Wolf. “What is it that you need to do to be able to match that, but also be better than that?
“A lot of it is getting stronger. And the positive outlook of an injury [is] I’ve been able to really hone in on the weight room more than I would’ve been able to if I was playing.”
So, Wolf knows where he’ll be once he gets healthy.
“I have a good four or five months of weight room ahead of me and just being able to fill out my frame better. That’ll really help me, just getting stronger; and with that, more explosive. And I know my rim finishing next year, I’ll be able to look back on this year and see that it was something that really, really helped me.”
Jordi Fernandez likes what Wolf has done so far and believes he can get better.
“[H]e’s done a great job and he’s been able to implement a lot of stuff, power through, because you have better balance, finding a body first. This all comes with a lot of work, watching film and through the summer and then the real reps. So the process [has] already started. He’s already gotten better. We’re not concerned about his finishing. We know it has to get better, but we also know it will get better.”
Wolf added that he’s also looking forward to winning.
“Obviously losing sucks, and every time you ask anyone, they’re going to give you the same answer that losing is no fun.” Wolf said. “Everyone in the locker room from top to bottom thinks we could’ve had a much better season. But within that, you have to find things you can learn from, that you can gain from.”
Dec 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates up ice with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
When the 2025-26 NHL season began the Pittsburgh Penguins were given, by most models, less than a 10 percent chance of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As they enter play on Monday, with game No. 79 on the schedule ahead, MoneyPuck has them at a 99.9 percent chance to make the playoffs with an 8.2 percent chance of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Needless to say, there has been a lot that has changed for this team over the past few months.
Erik Karlsson looks like a Norris Trophy defenseman again.
Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau and Parker Wotherspoon might have been three of the best value free agent signings in the entire NHL.
Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov look like potential long-term building blocks.
The core veterans are still outstanding.
The team has its flaws to be sure. They still give up too many goals, with both the defense and the goaltending sharing some responsibility in that. The forwards, however, are tremendous. This team is going to be the highest-scoring Penguins team of the Sidney Crosby era, and it is the second-highest scoring team in the NHL this season behind only the Colorado Avalanche. The forwards might be championship-worthy. They will at least be fun to watch and give them a chance.
Thanks to an incredibly strong week, and thanks to a pair of absolutely huge wins against the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings to begin it, the Penguins have put themselves in a great position going into this week. Going into Monday I figured the Penguins needed to get at least six out of the 10 possible points available to them to keep on schedule for what they needed to do to clinch a playoff spot. They ended up getting eight of the possible 10 points, completely dominating the Islanders and Red Wings, then doing what was expected of them against an injury-filled Florida Panthers team. Those performances make it easy to overlook the tough game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the middle of it all.
Their strong week, combined with the slides of the Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets, has put the Penguins into a position now where literally one win — just one win — in any of their four remaining regular season games gets them in the playoffs. Given the schedules the Islanders and Blue Jackets play, they might not even need that. It just makes it easier.
The week begins with their first chance for that win on Thursday night at the New Jersey Devils (I will be in atttendance). The Devils have not yet been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they soon will be in what has been another disappointing season for them. While they are not going to the playoffs, they have still been playing some of their best hockey of the season as of late. In fact, since losing to the Penguins 4-1 at the end of January, the Devils are 12-5-1 in their most recent 18 games, with superstar forward Jack Hughes playing some truly incredible hockey. Since the start of February Hughes is the NHL’s second-leading scorer with 36 points in 20 games, while his 33 points in 17 games since the beginning of March are the most in the NHL (it is worth noting Erik Karlsson’s 28 points in 20 games since then are third in the NHL).
That is a winnable game based on the standings. It is going to be a lot more difficult based on the way the Devils have been playing lately. Especially considering how rare a Penguins win in New Jersey seems to be.
The week continues over the weekend with another set of back-to-back games, this time against the Washington Capitals with Saturday’s game being in Pittsburgh and Sunday’s game being in Washington.
The Capitals looked like they were going to keep themselves in the playoff race, but kind of ruined that over the past week with some ugly losses to the Devils and New York Rangers. The intrigue in these games might be the questions about whether or not Saturday could be Evgeni Malkin’s final regular season home game in Pittsburgh, if it could be the final time we see Sidney Crosby play Alex Ovechkin in Pittsburgh, and if Sunday’s game could be the last game where all three of them are on the ice in the same game. Will Ovechkin retire after this season? Will Malkin re-sign with the Penguins or go elsewhere? My guess on all of that is it will not be it for any of those things, as I believe Ovechkin comes back for more year and Malkin eventually gets a new contract from the Penguins. But the questions and uncertainty at least make it all worth watching.
The other big intrigue this week is the Penguins goalie situation.
Arturs Silovs had to start both games this weekend due to Stuart Skinner dealing with what is being called an “upper-body injury” after apparently being hit in the face by a puck on Saturday. Silovs played better on Sunday, but is still not a level that is inspiring much confidence. The question is whether this leads to Sergei Murashov, who has been called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, gets any playing time and what he does with it. He is the future of the goalie position in Pittsburgh, and there is a growing argument that he should perhaps be part of the present as well.
Overall, this is a week where you would like to see the Penguins get four points. They only need two points. Getting them gets the Penguins back in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Officially back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Dan Hurley has the Huskies on the cusp of a dynasty, while Dusty May's Michigan team is on a historic run of its own, crushing March Madness opponents on its way to tonight's title game in Indianapolis.
Michigan UConn prediction: Who will win national championship?
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s run to the title game has been historic, becoming the first team to score 90 points or more in its first five games. UConn has been a true power, with an elite coach, now playing for its third national title in four years. Michigan has barely stumbled as it puts together an all-time season and it won’t come now. The Wolverines finally get their second national title. The pick: Michigan 87, UConn 76.
Blake Toppmeyer: Michigan. The Wolverines’ total destruction of Arizona solidified that Michigan is the class of the tournament. UConn is playing well, but nobody is playing better than Michigan.
Paul Myerberg: UConn. The underdog Huskies get hot from deep and win another close one to capture the program's seventh national title and cement Dan Hurley's place as the king of the sport.
Jordan Mendoza: Michigan. The Huskies are able to make it a competitive game, but Michigan is just too stacked. The Wolverines pull away midway through the second half and party like it’s 1989.
John Brice: Michigan. The Wolverines played well enough in the regular season to land a No. 1 ranking for the first time in 13 years. They’re playing even better now — enough to end a national title drought that spans to 1989.
Eddie Timanus: Michigan. While picking against UConn at the Final Four seems like a bad idea, this Michigan team is clearly built different. The Wolverines will take it, 90-75.
Austin Curtright: Michigan. Michigan-Arizona was tabbed as one of the most-anticipated Final Four matchups in recent memory, and all the Wolverines did was dominate start to finish in a way no one has against the Wildcats this season. Michigan has defeated all of its 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament opponents by double digits, and finds a way to do so again against the Huskies, even with a potentially limited version of Yaxel Lendeborg.
Ehsan Kassim: Michigan. Yes, this UConn team has been impressive in the past two rounds with a big comeback vs. Duke and then shut down Illinois' offense. Michigan is another beast, as the Wolverines have been the most dominant team in the NCAA Tournament. They pull off the win to end a couple of droughts, even with Yaxel Lendeborg playing at less than 100%.
Lendeborg didn't speak with media, but was seen inside the stadium walking around without much of a limp. When asked how he feels, he said, "great" and he didn't fall during the day.
Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. added Lendeborg has done a "tremendous job" with his recovery and the team knows "nothing's going to stop Yax being available and being able to play on Monday."
He was not listed on Michigan's availability report Sunday night, so he should be available to go vs. UConn.
The UConn guard suffered a foot sprain in the Huskies' semifinal win over Illinois and didn't practice on Sunday.
Ball said he is feeling "alright," and will leave a decision on his status for the game Monday, April 6, up to UConn's medical staff. He's wearing a walking boot and won't practice on Sunday, April 5.
"I'm doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow," Ball said.
He was not listed on UConn's availability report Sunday night, so he should be available to go vs. Michigan.
Favorite national championship storyline
John Leuzzi: Alex Karaban finishes his career by becoming the first non-UCLA player to win three national championship titles.
Jordan Mendoza: All of the journey’s each player had to end up at Michigan.
Ehsan Kassim: Will the Big Ten end its NCAA championship drought in men's basketball?
Austin Curtright: Dan Hurley's dynasty. UConn is looking for its third title of the last four seasons, and Hurley is quickly establishing himself as one of the best postseason coaches ever. Can he somehow find a way to upset another Goliath like he and UConn did against Duke?
UConn will win National Championship game vs Michigan if...
John Leuzzi: It can knock down 3-pointers.
Jordan Mendoza: If it makes this an ugly, slow game.
Ehsan Kassim: The Huskies can continue to hit the 3-point shot at a high clip
Austin Curtright: It controls tempo. UConn has to force Michigan into a rough shooting night, which won't be easy. The Huskies need to control the pace and be efficient offensively.
Michigan will win National Championship game vs UConn if...
John Leuzzi: It's size and length inside causes disruption to UConn's offense.
Jordan Mendoza: Doesn't change anything from this tournament.
Ehsan Kassim: Yaxel Lendeborg is healthy and close to 100%
Austin Curtright: It avoids a complete meltdown. Michigan has been nothing short of dominant in the NCAA Tournament, and I don't expect that to change barring complete collapse against UConn.
Who will win Final Four Most Outstanding Player?
John Leuzzi: Tarris Reed Jr. — Reed has been the difference maker for UConn's. There has not been a more impactful player for the Huskies in the last month.
Jordan Mendoza: Elliot Cadeau — He has stepped his game up incredibly in the tournament, making Michigan impossible to beat.
Ehsan Kassim: Aday Mara — Mara was dominant against Illinois. Another big game from the big man will help him win the trophy.
Austin Curtright: Yaxel Lendeborg — Yaxel Lendeborg has been one of the best stories in college basketball, rising from JUCO ranks to UAB to now Michigan, where he has blossomed into one of the best players in college basketball. He has led Michigan all year, and won't let an injury stop him.
When was the last time Big Ten team won men's basketball national championship?
The last Big Ten team to win a men's basketball national championship was Michigan State in 2000 with their "Flintstones."
What is Dan Hurley's record in Final Four games?
The UConn coach is 5-0 in his three trips to the Final Four, and is on the cusp of a third national championship in four years.
Michigan's road to national championship game
First round: beat No. 16 Howard, 101-80
Second round: beat No. 9 Saint Louis, 95-72
Sweet 16: beat No. 4 Alabama, 90-77
Elite Eight: beat No. 6 Tennessee, 95-62
Final Four: beat No. 1 Arizona, 91-73
UConn road to Final Four
First round: beat No. 15 Furman, 82-71
Second round: beat No. 7 UCLA, 73-57
Sweet 16: beat No. 3 Michigan State, 67-63
Elite Eight: beat No. 1 Duke, 73-72
Final Four: beat No. 3 Illinois, 71-62
Michigan Final Four history: Has Michigan basketball won a national championship?
This is Michigan's ninth Final Four trip and first since 2018. The Wolverines won the 1989 national championship.
1964: lost semifinal to Duke, 91-80; won third-place game over Kansas State, 100-90
1965: won semifinal over Princeton, 93-76; lost final to UCLA, 91-80
1976: won semifinal over Rutgers, 86-70; lost final to Indiana, 86-68
1989: won semifinal over Illinois, 83-81; won final over Seton Hall, 80-79 in OT
1992: won semifinal over Cincinnati, 76-72; lost final to Duke, 71-51
1993: won semifinal over Kentucky, 81-78 in OT; lost final to North Carolina, 77-71
2013: won semifinal over Syracuse, 61-56; lost final to Louisville, 82-76
2018: won semifinal over Loyola Chicago, 69-57; lost final to Villanova, 79-62
UConn basketball Final Four history: How many national championships have UConn won?
This is UConn's eighth trip to the Final Four, all since 1999. The Huskies have won six national titles in their seven previous trips.
1999: won semifinal vs. Ohio State, 64-58; won final vs. Duke, 77-74
2004: won semifinal vs. Duke, 79-78; won final vs. Georgia Tech, 82-73
2009: lost semifinal vs. Michigan State, 82-73
2011: won semifinal vs. Kentucky, 56-55; won final vs. Butler, 53-41
2014: won semifinal vs. Florida, 63-53; won final vs. Kentucky, 60-54
2023: won semifinal vs. Miami, 72-59; won final vs. San Diego State, 76-59
2024: won semifinal vs. Alabama, 86-72; won final vs. Purdue, 75-60
Why did Tarris Reed Jr transfer from Michigan to UConn?
The senior center started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2024. His breakout this season as a full-time starter has been well-documented and is a huge reason for the Huskies' NCAA Tournament run.
Reed entered the transfer portal shortly after the 2023-24 season, which was the last campaign under former coach Juwan Howard at Michigan.
"I saw Coach Juwan got fired. Definitely, I feel like it was like a no-brainer in terms of the portal," Reed said April 5 before the national championship. "I hung around Michigan for a couple of weeks, and then they announced (Dusty May) was supposed to be the coach. I talked to him multiple times. I like Coach May, and he was just being super up front with who he was bringing in, who's looking at recruiting-wise.
"So, feel like just him being honest with me, and I'm being honest with him, it was the right way. So, it was no bad blood."
How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.
How old is Alex Karaban?
Karaban is 23 years old and has been at UConn since redshirting the 2021-22 season. He's been part of two national championship teams in Storrs and is looking to become the first non-UCLA player to win three national titles in a career.
Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues
Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.
One of Dusty May's son is a walk-on, the other is a student manager
Dusty May is surrounding by family on the Michigan bench. His son Charlie is a walk-on for the Wolverines, while another son, Eli, is a student manager — a role Dusty served under former Indiana icon Bob Knight.
In Michigan's Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee, Charlie got into the game and drilled a 3-pointer, much to the delight of his Wolverines teammates.
“It’s obviously tough to give up playing the game and being on a team wearing a jersey,” Dusty May told USA TODAY Sports about Eli's role. “But I just thought as far as his long-term development, all the things our managers learn, problem-solving, they learn people skills. They learn to function. We try to give them a lot of responsibility because we know if they’re ever going to make it in coaching … they have to have the experience of doing meaningful work. Our managers have helped him become much more responsible.”
Where is Braylon Mullins from?
The UConn freshman guard is from Greenfield, Indiana and won Indiana's Mr. Basketball award in 2025 at Greenfield-Central High School, roughly 30 minutes east of Indianapolis.
Where is Aday Mara from?
The 7-3 UCLA transfer is from Zaragoza, Spain. Mara was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.
The Philadelphia Flyers picked up a massive 2-1 overtime win against the Boston Bruins on Sunday. With it, the Flyers have improved to a 39-26-12 record and have moved up to third place in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Flyers' top prospect Porter Martone was the hero for Philadelphia against Boston, as he scored the overtime winner on the power play. He also recorded the primary assist on Christian Dvorak's game-opening goal with a great between-the-legs backhand pass.
With this fantastic performance for the Flyers, Martone now has one goal and three points in four games for the Metropolitan Division club. The 6-foot-3 forward is already showing that he can make an impact at the NHL level, and it is undoubtedly good news as the Flyers look to make the playoffs.
There is no question that Martone has a ton of potential, and it is why the Flyers selected him with the sixth-overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He is certainly demonstrating plenty of promise early on in his NHL career, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on it from here.
