Northampton struggle to meet offer
Smith and Mitchell fit for Saints quarter-final
Underperforming Harlequins have confirmed the signing of England’s full-back George Furbank as they seek to rebuild their squad for next season.
The 29-year-old Furbank has been an influential figure at Northampton, the league leaders, but a lucrative contract offer has persuaded him to try his luck in south-west London.
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TV: NESN
First Pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET
Has the day arrived? Can the Red Sox finally win a series in 2026?
Boston snapped a three-game losing skid when Garrett Crochet earned the win over Milwaukee flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski. Now, the Red Sox stay alive for Wednesday’s matinee rubber match at Fenway.
Trevor Story gets off his feet for the afternoon and will be the designated hitter, while Andruw Monasterio plays shortstop and bats second. Sonny Gray gets the start after six innings of two-run ball in the win in the Fenway opener against the San Diego Padres.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate in the series finale.
The Brewers counter with old friend Shane Drohan, Boston’s 2020 fifth-round pick who made two stints in the Red Sox system. The lefty posted a 4.29 career ERA in the minors and finally makes his big-league debut in his age-27 season.
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The Eastern Conference seeding race may last until Sunday, but the Atlanta Hawks can just about smell the postseason proper. And if it escapes the Play-In Tournament, Atlanta will likely face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
My Hawks vs. Cavaliers predictions and these NBA picks do not expect Atlanta or its best player to hide anything in anticipation of that postseason matchup. Too much is still at stake on Wednesday, April 8.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made about $4.5 million last year. He then signed a four-year, $60.1-million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Nearly quadrupling your annual income is notable, but Alexander-Walker may still be underpaid.
He has averaged 20.8 points this season while shooting 39.9% from beyond the arc, leading Atlanta in 3-point shooting and trailing only Jalen Johnson’s 22.7 points.
For good measure, Alexander-Walker has dialed up his production in this closing stretch as the Hawks reach as high as the No. 5 seed in the East. He has cleared this prop in his last three games while shooting 16 of 29 (55.2%) from deep. That is the kind of shooting that defenses simply cannot stop, certainly not in the regular season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in particular, are not equipped to stop it. Cleveland has ranked No. 22 in the NBA in the last month in opponents’ 3-point shooting percentage, allowing foes to hit 37.8% of their shots from beyond the arc.
Perhaps worse yet, Cavaliers’ opponents pull up from deep 39.7 times per game. No team that forces more 3-point attempts gives up a better hit rate than Cleveland does.
Alexander-Walker has hit at least four triples in three straight games and in four of his last five, with the exception still featuring a 3 of 8 showing.
Obviously, a good shooting night from Alexander-Walker helps Atlanta’s odds of winning, but so does Cleveland’s overall plight. The Cavaliers need to pick up two games on the Knicks to reach the No. 3 seed in the East, and with three games remaining, that is simply rather unlikely, and Cleveland knows as much.
The logic here is simple: An early Atlanta lead should incentivize Cleveland to rest its stars. The Cavaliers need to go 3-0 while the Knicks go 1-2 in the final three games, or 2-1 with an 0-3 from New York. That is not impossible, but it is unlikely enough to justify easing Donovan Mitchell and James Harden into the postseason.
Atlanta has gone 17-6 against the spread since the All-Star Break, compared to a pedestrian 26-29 ATS record before the season’s proverbial halfway point. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Cavaliers.
| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Wednesday, April 8, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Giannis Antetokounmpo stood along the sidelines at Barclays Center Tuesday night, dressed in a cream-colored sweater to watch his Cream City Bucks lose to the Brooklyn Nets. It may very well be one of the last few times he’ll represent Milwaukee in any form if the latest rumors are true.
Those latest rumors, amplified by ESPN’s Shams Charania online and on television, are that the 6’11” 32-year-old is ready to move on from an increasingly dysfunctional locker room presided over by a coach who looks like a lame duck unable to rally his players. So, the Greek Freakout is upon us, it seems, with Shams predicting that a miniumum of 10 teams will take a look, make a call … and Brian Lewis predicting that Brooklyn will be among them.
“They’ll make calls,” a source told The Post, Lewis reported Wednesday morning. “They’ve made calls in the past.”
Indeed, maybe more than once. Giannis has been a Nets target in the past. How seriously is another question, but as Sean Marks said last year, part of the Nets rebuild will be determining whether a superstar acquisition is worth it.
“If you’re going after max-level talent, they have to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team,” Marks said. “This can’t be like, ‘Let’s go get this [guy] and lock ourselves into being a six or seven seed.’ When we go all in, you’re going in to compete at the highest level and contend.”
Beyond that, various pundits, including Lewis, have reported that the Nets are moving from their 20 or so win rebuild to something more akin to a build, using whoever they get in the 2026 draft lottery as a lure for stars and superstars. Whether the Greek Freak is still the latter is still to be determined.
When healthy, he certainly qualifies as a top 5 player in the league, but he’ll soon be 32 years old, has only played 36 games this season and has been dealing with leg injuries all season long, the worrisome kind, and will want a contract worth more than a quarter billion dollars, including $70+ billion in the final and fourth year …. when he’ll be 36. Then, there’s the troublesome question of his relationship with the only team he’s ever played for.
But it shouldn’t be surprising that the Nets would pick up the phone. They had hoped Mikal Bridges and to a lesser degree Cam Johnson would get him interested. Didn’t happen. It’s not often players of his caliber become available. However, as Lewis points out, he wants to play for a winner and the Nets are far from that. Also, the Nets would no doubt have to give up a lot to get him. Shams reports that the Bucks turned down a package from the Heat that included young center Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, other players and multiple draft picks and pick swaps. It didn’t stop there, noted Shams.
Milwaukee wanted Evan Mobley from the Cleveland Cavaliers and VJ Edgecombe from the Philadelphia 76ers, in addition to other assets from both teams, as ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported March 20.
After back-and-forth discussions — including a meeting in Antetokounmpo’s native Greece in late July after which the New York Knicks became the only team he’d play for other than Milwaukee — and the Bucks refusing to move him, Antetokounmpo agreed to give the new roster a chance to grow. His pledge didn’t last long, however.
The reality, Lewis admits, is that the chances of Giannis-to-Brooklyn are small.
To be clear, with teams like the Heat, Warriors and Knicks perceived as likelier landing spots, it’s a long shot Antetokounmpo will end up in Brooklyn.
The odds are just better than the microscopic near-zero they were in February.
So as Jim Carrey once said, so you’re telling him there’s a chance? That’s why you pick up the phone.
This is it for the Los Angeles Kings; we're now in the final week of the regular season as they prepare for their final five games, starting Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Mammoth and Golden Knights continue to stack up victories and are the two hottest teams in the Western Conference playoff race, each winning four straight games.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks continue to slide, now losers of six straight, and have dropped from the No. 1 seed to the third seed in the division. If Los Angeles can defeat the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday and Anaheim loses to San Jose, the Kings will be just two points back for the third seed.
Teams like Nashville, LA, and even San Jose are putting pressure on Anaheim because of its recent skid, and with a much tougher schedule in its last four games, Anaheim can make things interesting in the final week of the regular season.
But Los Angeles still has to take care of business in its final five games to be playoff-bound and determine where it will finish in the standings.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the divisions:
Central Division:
4. Utah Mammoth - 41-30-6, 88 points
5. Nashville Predators - 37-31-10, 84 points
6. Winnipeg Jets - 34-31-12, 80 points
Pacific Division:
3. Anaheim Ducks - 41-32-5, 87 points
4. Los Angeles Kings - 32-26-19, 83 points
5. San Jose Sharks - 37-32-7, 81 points
With the Ducks, Predators, and Mammoth holding the tiebreakers over the Kings, Los Angeles is going to have to catch them with more points if they want to surpass them in the standings.
Updated Pacific Division/Wild Card standings pic.twitter.com/1AePY0VOFX
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 8, 2026
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Kings fans should be rooting for.
San Jose, winners of five in their last six games, have been hot, especially Macklin Celebrini, fighting for a playoff spot, so expect them to give a full effort at home against the Oilers. Meanwhile, Edmonton is tied with Vegas for the top seed in the division after losing two straight games, so they will also give a full-on effort on the road to stay on top.
Two teams that the Kings are fighting with to make the postseason. Utah has been on a heater recently, winners of four in a row, while the Predators hold the final wild card spot over Los Angeles. Expect this game to be a dogfight, with Utah trying to separate itself from Anaheim and Nashville.
Expect the Golden Knights to win five in a row since firing their head coach. Seattle has lost six games in a row and no longer has any desire to win, as they've fallen too far behind in the playoff picture.
If the Kings want to move into that third seed in the Pacific Division and avoid the Avalanche, they'll root for the Ducks to lose their seventh straight game to the Sharks. But, at the same time, there's a dilemma. If the Sharks win, they will move closer to the Kings; this game will determine whether Kings fans would rather see Colorado or potentially Edmonton or Vegas in the first round of the postseason.
The Minnesota Wild have already clinched a postseason spot and will face the Dallas Stars in the playoffs. If they want home ice advantage in that first round matchup over the Stars, they'll do everything they can to win this game.
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How did we get here?
That question has been on a loop in my mind. With every Cooper Flagg jumper over Luke Kennard. During the whole fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Thunder game.
It’s hard to really grasp how quickly everything went awry. This season deserved better than this.
How did we get here?
A week ago, the Lakers were riding high, fresh off one of the wins of the season against the Cavs. It capped off a March where they established themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA. Their big three had finally coalesced and become a dominant force, led by Luka Dončić and his historic scoring performance.
Even if they were still a level below the Thunder or Spurs, they were building something. With Luka playing at the level he was, it didn’t take much squinting to see the Lakers stunning one of the favorites in a series, either.
And then, in about 24 hours, it all just collapsed.
At 2:59 p.m. PT on Friday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Luka had suffered a Grade 2 hamstring injury that would rule him out for at least some time. At 2:11 p.m. PT on Saturday, the Lakers announced Austin Reaves would be out with an oblique strain.
It was a 1-2 combo that would have made Mike Tyson envious. The Lakers went from a puncher’s chance — if not more — to staring at the lights with their back on the canvas.
Even as they’ve peeled themselves up off the mat to give it a go in the final week of the regular season, they’re beyond a shell of themselves. If they offer more than a whimper in the playoffs, it’ll be a surprise.
It’s an unjust ending to a season that had so much behind it.
It hurts because of what this team was becoming. They had built throughout the year to peak as the postseason arrived and, amidst all sorts of injuries, it was finally happening. Luka and Austin and LeBron James had gotten that time on the court together at last and it looked great. Now, it’ll all be for naught.
Luka’s scoring exploits will be remembered because those nights are hard to forget and are easy to highlight. But his level of buy-in defensively raised the floor of this team and was a big factor in that March success. Now, it’ll fade into the background.
Much the same, Austin’s early-season rise to superstardom won the Lakers some important games and secured tiebreakers that mattered down the stretch. But he, too, had slotted nicely into a role as the second star, forming a dynamic backcourt. He, too, had made strides defensively to help this team compete. Those, too, will be for naught now.
And then there’s LeBron. After years of being The Guy on teams, not only had he handed the keys over to Luka on the fly, but he had moved Austin ahead of him on the totem pole as well. In Year 23 at age 41, he was reinventing himself one more time, becoming a third fiddle who feasted in transition while doing a bit of playmaking when necessary. But he was more than willing to sit back and watch the new stars of the franchise take over. And now, none of that matters.
It’s feels especially harsh for him as the chances of him competing for a title are extremely finite. With his future uncertain, there’s a non-zero chance this was the last go. And it was ripped away.
As up and down as his season has been, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes had seemed to find their footing and were having success. The latter had certainly re-established himself after a disastrous playoffs last year.
Marcus Smart had been a home run signing for the Lakers, coming in and doing the exact things they needed of him. He may not have been at his best defensively, but he was certainly still good enough. And he had more than a few nights when he alone swung games.
Rui Hachimura had not only accepted his role coming off the bench, but embraced it. In a contract year, no less. Luke Kennard came in as a midseason acquisition and fit better than anyone could have expected.
And now, it’s over with no reward.
Kennard’s game-winner against the Magic. Rui’s against the Raptors. Luka’s against the Nuggets. Austin’s against the Wolves. Those all live on as singular moments with no collective payoff.
The chemistry-building moments on and off the court were supposed to have a greater end goal in mind. The teaching moments in losses. The gritty wins where you learn something about your team. It all ended up being a little too meaningless.
The Lakers were almost certainly not going to win a title this year. But their play in March changed that from a definitive statement to one with a little less certainty. They had built to a moment where they would have a chance. To have it all upended in one weekend is a gut punch.
Having to watch what’s left of the team limp into the playoffs makes it worse, because you know it’s not an accurate representation of what this team was. It’s to say nothing of the players left, who have to pick up the pieces and finish the season while likely in some form of shellshock as the fans are experiencing.
None of it seems fair. Life isn’t fair and the basketball gods can be cruel. But this Lakers team deserved more than this ending. It’s really just hard to fully grasp.
How did we get here?
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
Each NHL team has had a player revealed as a nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, and it comes as a shock to no one that the Los Angeles Kings' representative is Anze Kopitar.
The Bill Masterton Trophy is awarded "to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey." The Professional Hockey Writers' Association votes on who should win this award.
Not only has Kopitar shown those qualities throughout his career, but this season is particularly appropriate.
The Kings' captain is in his final NHL season, announcing before the season that this will be his last year in the NHL before retirement.
He's shown his dedication to hockey in so many ways, but what could make Kopitar a finalist for this award is how long he's played in the NHL and that he's about to tie a bow on what has been an incredible career.
Family, Golf And F1 Races: Kings' Kopitar Reveals His Retirement PlansWith just a sliver of the 2025-26 season and Anze Kopitar's NHL career remaining, the Los Angeles Kings captain was asked about his plans for retirement in a recent interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.This is Kopitar's 20th season in the NHL - two decades of lacing up his skates for Los Angeles. In that span, he's cemented himself as arguably the best King to ever play the game, and the stats speak for themselves.
He leads the franchise in games and seasons played, has the most assists in Kings history, and earlier this season, Kopitar became the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
On March 14, Kopitar scored a pair of goals against the New Jersey Devils, which saw him surpass Marcel Dionne on the Kings' all-time scoring list.
In addition to Kopitar's talents and all the accolades he's collected in his career, there is another aspect to him as a leader and athlete that also ties into his dedication to hockey.
Kings' Kopitar Proving He's Not Hanging Up His Skates Without An Honest FightLos Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is retiring at the end of this year. But with the way he's been playing lately, he's not interested in letting his career end without a fight to get into the post-season.Though the 38-year-old has dealt with a couple of knocks and injuries that forced him to miss 15 games this season, his ability to remain healthy and available for the Kings throughout his career has been impressive.
Before this 2025-26 campaign, Kopitar went on an eight-year stretch of only missing a total of four regular-season contests.
Along with the two Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byng Trophies, 1,516 games played and 1,314 points scored, Kopitar has certainly exemplified perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey and the NHL.
Only three Kings have ever won the Bill Masterton Trophy. Butch Goring in 1978, Bob Bourne in 1988 and the latest winner was Dave Taylor in 1991.
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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. After looking at MVP on Monday, and Coach of the Year Tuesday, today it's Rookie of the Year, a two-man race between Dallas' Cooper Flagg and Charlotte's Kon Knueppel. Here's where we stand.
Cooper Flagg's latest surge — including a 51-point outing — has flipped the betting odds, and if this vote were for "who would be the best player from this class in three years" Flagg would have my vote (and Dylan Harper might well be second). However, it's Rookie of the Year, and Knueppel gets my vote for three key reasons. One is simply the number of games played and minutes; the Hornets star has played in a dozen more games and 220 more minutes. Second, as Knueppel has been the more efficient scorer, highlighted by his leading the NBA in 3-pointers made (and shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc).
However, the real key differentiator for me is that Knueppel's intensity, shot creation and scoring have lifted the Hornets into the postseason — he has been critical for them. Knueppel simply has played an important role in meaningful games, and while how good a team is does not usually factor into Rookie of the Year, in this case Knueppel's impact to get his team to the postseason matters as a differentiator in a tight race.
Cooper Flagg's environment has been tougher, but Knueppel deserves the award for the most efficient rookie season in NBA history. The Hornets had a 27.5 win total before the year and have sailed over largely because of how outstanding Knueppel has been.
This award is rarely associated with a player's impact on winning, but that isn't the case here. Knueppel's play throughout the season is one of the reasons why the Hornets have qualified for the postseason for the first time in four years, and the door has not closed on them avoiding the Play-In Tournament entirely. In 79 games, Knueppel has averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.7 steals, and he needed fewer than 60 games to break the NBA's record for three-pointers made by a rookie.
I know we don't give our awards for vibes, but it sure feels like Knueppel's intense competitiveness is a crucial part of the Hornets turnaround. Among qualified rookies, Knueppel is also 1st in three-pointer made per game, 2nd in points per game, 10th in assists per game, 11th in rebounds per game, and 2nd in Player Impact Estimate. He's also played 12 more games than Cooper Kupp on a much better team.
Texas Rangers lineup for April 8, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Bryan Woo for the M’s.
Texas is going for a sweep today. Let’s sweep!!!
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Carter — CF
Jansen — C
Smith — 2B
Duran — 3B
1:35 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +110 favorites.
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If the massive point spread didn’t already give it away, the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t expected to put up much of a fight against the Detroit Pistons.
A big reason for that sizable spread is that no one knows which version of Milwaukee we’ll see tonight. The Bucks had just eight healthy bodies in last night’s loss to Brooklyn.
Detroit, on the other hand, is expected to have some starters back in action — or at least available in a limited capacity. One guy who will enjoy beating up Milwaukee’s makeshift defense is Duncan Robinson.
Our Bucks vs. Pistons predictions bounce around his player props, and my NBA picks squeeze extra value from his individual markets on Wednesday, April 8.
With the Detroit Pistons clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last weekend, the team sat several starters for Monday’s loss at Orlando.
Shooting guard Duncan Robinson was one of those inactives, ruled out with a hip strain despite taking part in shootaround beforehand. Robinson is slated to return tonight, enjoying a four-day break before the final three games of the schedule.
Robinson picked up the scoring slack when Cade Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung in mid-March, averaging 13.6 points on 9.3 field-goal attempts the past eight games. He's done the bulk of that damage from beyond the arc, knocking down 28 of 59 3-point attempts (47.5%).
Cunningham could come back tonight, but he will be on a strict minutes restriction, which still leaves Robinson with plenty of touches.
His scoring total is at 9.5 O/U with the Over juiced to -125. However, you can get his Over 2.5 triples at +110, which is essentially the same bet due to Robinson’s reliance on the 3-ball.
He’s knocked down three or more shots from distance in six of the last eight contests, and player projections sit as high as 3.3 makes from downtown.
Even at full strength, the Milwaukee Bucks struggle to protect the perimeter. On the season, the Bucks rank 27th in opponent 3-point success (37.4%) and allow the second most triples per game (14.8). Those numbers have only swelled over the past month (16.0 3PM, 39.4% last 21 games) with Milwaukee circling the drain.
Detroit doesn’t need the win, but with an opportunity to get the starters back, including Cunningham, this matchup with Milwaukee could turn into a glorified practice for the postseason. Who knows what lineup the Bucks will bring out? If your tickets are good enough, you might get minutes for Milwaukee.
Ausar Thompson has hauled in at least five rebounds in five straight games before collecting three in the loss to Orlando. With the main rotation returning for Detroit, Thompson gets back to business on the boards, and projections call for as many as six rebounds tonight.
We usually like to throw together a fun SGP in this section, but with the health of the Bucks’ rotation an unknown and the Pistons also on the fence with Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, player prop options are limited. We’ll toss on the Over in this game, with Milwaukee’s defense giving way to a 7-2 O/U record in their last nine showings.
The Over is 11-5 when Detroit is laying double digits this season (69% Overs). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Pistons.
| Location | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date | Wednesday, April 8, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN Wisconsin, FDSN Detroit |
Not intended for use in MA.
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With a packed NHL slate of games on Tuesday, the Western Conference playoff picture saw several changes, and unfortunately for the Winnipeg Jets, the results were not in their favor.
As of Wednesday, the Jets sit four points out of a playoff spot behind the San Jose Sharks, who have 81 points, the Los Angeles Kings with 83 points, and the Nashville Predators, who currently hold the second wild card spot in the West with 84 points.
Winnipeg has five games left in the season, the same as the Kings, while the Sharks have an advantage with six games remaining. Nashville is looking to finish strong with just four games left. Despite being behind in points, the Jets surprisingly have the best goal differential among the group and have been playing well recently.
They have gone from being completely out of the playoff race to firmly in contention. The Jets have collected points in ten of their last 13 games, including six wins in their last eight. Maintaining this momentum will be crucial as the playoff race remains razor thin.
Winnipeg’s final five games are on the road against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, followed by a home matchup Saturday versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Their last three games next week are against the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and San Jose Sharks. To secure a playoff spot, the Jets must stay hot and win all of these remaining games.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs look to play spoiler again when they host the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, April 8.
Washington still has a slim chance of punching a postseason ticket, so my top Capitals vs. Maple Leafs predictions and NHL picks are calling for the Caps to pepper Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz with shots tonight.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are 5-10-5 out of the Olympic break while allowing the most shots per game (34.9) and ranking last in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5, so with the Washington Capitals still battling for a playoff spot, I expect the Caps to carry the play while caving the Leafs in for sustained chunks of time.
Of course, Toronto starter Anthony Stolarz has also been solid with a .910 save percentage and 8.71 goals saved above expected across nine games during the highlighted slump, so he stands to face enough rubber to clear this saves total tonight.
I’m expecting Stolarz to play well enough to cash the Under. Toronto ranks 31st in expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 across the noted 20-game stretch, and Washington is 19th, so these are both below-average offenses.
Still, the Maple Leafs have seen a spark since rookie Easton Cowan has climbed to the No. 1 line with John Tavares and William Nylander.
Cowan has marked the scoresheet in three straight, and Nylander has three or more shots in three consecutive games, while they’ve clicked with Tavares and have been on the ice for 9.63 goals per 60 minutes.
The Washington Capitals have won 14 of their last 25 games (+3.75 Units / 13% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Maple Leafs.
| Location | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON |
| Date | Wednesday, April 8, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | MNMT, SN |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
The Atlanta Hawks can secure a playoff berth and no worse than the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 seed with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have already secured home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, but still have a chance to catch the New York Knicks for the No. 3 seed.
Date: Wednesday, April 8
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
TV Channels: ESPN, FDSO, Rock, WUAB
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Atlanta Hawks: 45-34 (#1 in Eastern Southeast)
Cleveland Cavaliers: 50-29 (#2 in Eastern Central)
Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers -120 (52.2%) / Atlanta Hawks +100 (47.8%)
Over/Under: 235.5
Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs' MVP candidate, suffered a left rib contusion that kept him out of the second half of the Spurs' 115-102 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, April 6. The Spurs had listed his status as doubtful for their home contest against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, April 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Following testing and imaging, there was a sigh of relief in San Antonio.
A person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports that the team is optimistic about the injury. Wembanyama has soreness, but there are no long-term concerns about his availability.
They remain hopeful that their 22-year-old two-time All-Star will be available to play Friday, April 10 against the Dallas Mavericks or Sunday, April 12 against the Denver Nuggets. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly disclose details about Wembanyama's injury.
No. After initially designating him as doubtful Tuesday on their first official injury report, the Spurs downgraded Wembanyama on Wednesday to out against Portland.
Backup center Luke Kornet is a likely candidate to start in his place.
Wembanyama seemed to be hurt on separate occasions against the 76ers. The first happening came during the second quarter, following a mid-court collision with 76ers forward Paul George. Wembanyama appeared to clutch his shoulder as he went down. He went to the locker room for a moment but returned to finish the quarter.
After a 2024-25 season in which no rookies managed to provide top-100 fantasy value, three consistently active first-year players managed to achieve that feat in 2025-26. And based on average draft position, that isn't particularly surprising. Among that year's rookie class, only Zach Edey began the 2024-25 season with a top-100 ADP. This year, Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe did, and there were others whose ADPs sat just outside the top-100. So, to get top-100 (or better) value from a rookie is a big deal for fantasy managers.
Below are the picks for the best rookies in fantasy basketball this season, led by the three players who should be finalists for the actual Rookie of the Year award.
Entering the season with a top-100 ADP, fantasy managers certainly expected big things from Edgecombe this season. And with Joel Embiid and Paul George at less than full strength to begin the year, there was room for the athletic guard to do a bit more offensively. In October, Edgecombe averaged 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field.
His points and assists dipped in November, but VJ rebounded in December and has been a reliable contributor for fantasy managers throughout the season. Edgecombe entered the final week of the regular season as a sixth-round player, which is a very good return for a rookie.
Knueppel is one of the favorites to win the actual Rookie of the Year award, and with good reason. Having missed just one of Charlotte's 80 games, he's averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 3.4 three-pointers while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 86.2 percent from the foul line.
Knueppel isn't far removed from being a 50/40/90 player as a rookie; given what he's shown, that may be something he achieves in the future. Unlike Edgecombe, Knueppel got off to a relatively slow start in October before turning it on in November and December. However, he has also provided sixth-round value after beginning with an ADP just outside of the top-100.
Flagg is right there with college teammate Knueppel in the actual Rookie of the Year race, if not ahead of him, after totaling 96 points in games against the Magic and Lakers. In 67 games, the 6-foot-9 guard/forward has averaged 21.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 82.3 percent from the foul line.
Flagg is just a 29.7 percent shooter from three, but the free-throw accuracy suggests that there is room for him to grow in the years to come. He entered the season with a fourth-round ADP, and the production has lived up to those expectations. It will be interesting to see how Jason Kidd's decision to start Flagg at point guard will affect his development.
Due to the state of the Pelicans' center rotation in the preseason, some believed that Queen could carve out a reliable role for himself immediately. He didn't crack the starting lineup until mid-November, but rotation minutes were not an issue in the season's first month. December was Queen's best month, with the 6-foot-9 rookie averaging 15.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game.
Defensive struggles would push Queen back to the bench just after the All-Star break, and there remains a lot to do on that end of the floor. But there is also a lot to like about him moving forward, as Queen can provide value as a scorer and facilitator.
With Domantas Sabonis in the fold to begin the season, there weren't many fantasy managers willing to roll the dice on Raynaud in redraft leagues. However, the veteran's injury woes freed up opportunities for the 7-foot-1 rookie to contribute, and Raynaud would move into the starting lineup for good in early February after Sabonis underwent season-ending knee surgery. In his last 28 games, the Kings rookie has averaged 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 31.3 minutes while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the foul line.
Of course, fantasy managers will want to see more defensive production out of Raynaud, who's averaging 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on the season. And Sabonis being under contract for another two seasons may negatively affect Raynaud's ADP next fall. However, he's shown this season that the potential to be a consistently impactful fantasy center is there.
G Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
With De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the fold, Harper has been asked to come off the bench as a rookie. However, he's been productive enough to earn consistent rotation minutes and provide tangible value in 14-team leagues. Since the All-Star break, Harper has averaged 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game while shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 49.3 percent from three.
G Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
Fears moved from the starting lineup to the bench in late January, but the start to his rookie campaign was highly encouraging. The Pelicans guard, who set the franchise's single-game rookie scoring record on April 7 when he dropped 40 on the Jazz, averaged 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in November.
G/F Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies selecting Coward with the 11th overall pick in last summer's draft raised some eyebrows, especially since he appeared in just three games at Washington State in 2024-25 due to a shoulder injury. In 61 games, Coward has averaged 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 25.8 minutes for a Grizzlies squad hit hard by injuries.
G/F Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
March was Bailey's best month, with the lottery pick averaging 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 3.4 three-pointers in 30.0 minutes per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 88.0 percent from the foul line. Once the Jazz has its expected full rotation, Bailey's offensive ceiling may be lowered. However, his getting to be part of a lineup that includes Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler could do wonders for the rookie wing defensively.
C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets
While Kalkbrenner could not lock down the starting center role as a rookie, due mainly to Moussa Diabaté's emergence, the 7-foot-1 rookie has shot 74.8 percent from the field and averaged 2.0 "stocks" (0.5 steals, 1.5 blocks) per game this season. Diabaté's breakout campaign likely limits Kalkbrenner's ceiling in 2026-27, but he will still be worth using a late-round pick on in redraft leagues.
Kurt Helin