Zohran Mamdani, when asked about the high cost of Knicks playoff tickets vs Atlanta: “I would say that I blame Trae Young… and I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young”
So the Clippers are eliminated. Still no major news about the Kawhi scandal. Is there even a chance of hearing about it post season? I was promised all star break.
LeBron James, when asked by a reporter if he had a message for the Lakers about competing on the glass against the Rockets: “The message is, get your ass in there, box out and rebound. Don’t need to have a message. We’re all grown men. Do your job”
[Charania] Just in: The NBA and NBPA have ruled in favor of Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Pistons’ Cade Cunningham on their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for the 65-game award rule, making both eligible for all 2025-26 season honors such as MVP and All-NBA teams, sources tell ESPN.
[Spears] Donovan Mitchell: “He’s 17 years in. I’m nine. Does a ring change the conversation around his name? Yeah. Should it change it? No. I think [Harden] should still be looked at as one of the top guards, the top players who ever played this game. But we live in a ring culture.”
On April 17, Steph Curry has, and will play against every Western Conference franchise at least once in his Postseason career
[Lewenberg] Darko Rajakovic on the Raptors’ lack of playoff experience: We’re not playing in Europe. They’re not going to be throwing bottles at us. There’s not going to be lasers in our eyes when we’re shooting free throws. It’s going to be loud. So what? That shouldn’t faze us.
[Basketnews] Luka Doncic: “I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision. It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter…. I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards.”
[Charania] “Team sources told me Draymond Green was sick, he was throwing up, puking all over the place in pregame, sideline in the back area by the locker room”
[PWBA] Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has won the 2025-26 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the NBA player who best combines excellence on the court with cooperation and grace in dealing with the media and fans
[Charania] Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards filed an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge to the NBA as well and his case was advanced to an independent arbitrator, but was denied and is not eligible for awards, sources said.
Thunder record when Shai plays in the last two seasons 119-25
In a freeze-frame of this highlight, you can see that Steph Curry’s go-ahead three is still about 4 feet from reaching the basket when Kevin Harlan begins to yell “Good!” This continued audio-sync issue is ruining the drama of these moments and I don’t understand why Amazon can’t or won’t fix this.
[All NBA Podcast] Last night, Draymond guarded the ball-handler (Kawhi) on 21 on-ball picks, the most he’s guarded in a single game since December, 2021. The Clippers scored a measly 0.5 points per direct on those actions. Generational defender.
Mazzulla on Harper Jr: “He got a 2 for 1 in a 4 on 4 scrimmage and that’s when I knew he was gonna help us”
[Highlight] Bam Adebayo asked about LaMelo’s flagrant foul
This week, 53 NBA media members were polled on who they think the best player in the NBA is. Only 3 players received votes: Nikola Jokic (35), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10), and Victor Wembanyama (8).
[Beck] The NBA retroactively assessed LaMelo Ball a flagrant foul-2. I checked with the NBA, and flagrant foul points assessed during the play-in round do NOT count against a player’s flagrant foul points limit in the playoffs. Like play-in stats, the flagrant points simply disappear into thin air.
[Highlight] Curry’s fadeaway 3 puts the Warriors ahead with 50s remaining
[ESPN] Eric Spoelstra on NBA’s ruling on LaMelo Ball “I didn’t think that he needed to be penalized more moving forward. I don’t think that would make sense”
Chris Paul on Instagram, following the Clippers loss
Chris Paul posts on Instagram after Clippers are eliminated by Golden State Warriors in the Play In
Myles Turner confirms the Doc Rivers “Google Me” story was legitimate
Paolo Banchero clutch time averages this season: 1.9 points on 26.3⁄10.5⁄77.8 splits
[Post Game Thread] The Golden State Warriors (37-45) defeat the Los Angeles Clippers (42-40), 126-121.
The NBA did not approve an exception for Luka and Cade. An arbitrator did.
Luka Dončić at the EuroLeague Clash Between Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade
THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION
Michael Jordan’s playoff on/off data has now been tracked in full on Basketball History Database. For his postseason career, the Bulls had a +7.7 net rating with him on the court and a -10.4 net rating with him off the court, giving him an on/off of +18.1.
[Deade] Draymond Green believes Cade Cunningham should get a 65-game exception if Luka Doncic does: “No one expects him to have a collapsed lung and need three more games, and then not be able to play. The rule was never put in place to punish someone like Cade and what he just went through”
[Highlight] Draymond Green comes up with a pair of clutch steals to seal the victory for the Golden State Warriors as they defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121. They will play the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference on Friday.
Charania: Just in: The NBA and NBPA have ruled in favor of Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Pistons’ Cade Cunningham on their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for the 65-game award rule, making both eligible for all 2025-26 season honors such as MVP and All-NBA teams, sources tell ESPN.
[Highlights] 39 years old Al Horford hits four big clutch 3s against the Clippers tonight - 4⁄4 from 3, after being 0/3 from 3 prior.
BIG AL
Is Steve Nash getting underrated? Looking at the eye test and even impact stats, he should be remember as one of the best guards of all time, despite not winning a ring.
The Los Angeles Clippers’ Play-In loss is the best karma they could’ve gotten
[Highlight] ESPN Cleveland host Aaron Goldhammer on LaMelo Ball: “I think this is the most annoying player to coach in all of sports.”
[McMenamin] Sources told ESPN they have no expectation of having either Doncic or Reaves back at any point in the first round.
[Highlight] Paolo Banchero threw a pass so bad he hit a lady in the head
If there was a Bronze championship for Conference Finals losers in the past 10 seasons, which matchup would be the best one?
Brian Windhorst on LeBron future: “I have specifically spoken to people on both sides of the negotiation… ‘what do you think his value is in the 2026-27 NBA season’… Warriors or you know the Cavs or Team X would take him for the Mid Level Exception or the minimum.”
NBA announced 170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA most in 24 years and up 86% vs. last season. But the claims that the NBA is dying are running rampant in the sports community, and sometimes pushed by prominent names in the NBA.
Wardell Stephen Curry tonight: 35 PTS | 4 AST | 1 REB | 12-23 FG | 7-12 3PT
The Story Of Matthew Dellavedova
[Mares] Peyton Watson is likely out for the whole series vs. Minnesota
Paolo “PB no J” Banchero with a stinker in the loss to the 76ers: 18 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 6 TOV, 7⁄22 FG, 0/5 3PT, 4⁄6 FT, -17
The way Curry was being guarded tonight should be illegal
[Highlight] Nikola Jokic receives trophies from the NBA for leading the league in assists and rebounds
[SNY] Mitchell Robinson reflects on his journey with the Knicks: “I’ve done seen it all. This is Year 8 for me…going from not being in the playoffs, bottom of the East, and now, to one of the tops in the East, it’s been amazing.”