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”
[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.
[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] 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.
[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.”
[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] “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”
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.
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”
[Highlight] Bam Adebayo asked about LaMelo’s flagrant foul
[Highlight] Curry’s fadeaway 3 puts the Warriors ahead with 50s remaining
[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.
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
[Post Game Thread] The Golden State Warriors (37-45) defeat the Los Angeles Clippers (42-40), 126-121.
[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”
THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION
[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.
[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.
[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”
[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
The Los Angeles Clippers’ Play-In loss is the best karma they could’ve gotten
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.
[Highlight] Paolo Banchero threw a pass so bad he hit a lady in the head
The NBA did not approve an exception for Luka and Cade. An arbitrator did.
Wardell Stephen Curry tonight: 35 PTS | 4 AST | 1 REB | 12-23 FG | 7-12 3PT
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
On April 17, Steph Curry has, and will play against every Western Conference franchise at least once in his Postseason career
[McMenamin] Sources told ESPN they have no expectation of having either Doncic or Reaves back at any point in the first round.
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
Luka Dončić at the EuroLeague Clash Between Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade
After the Clippers Choke vs the Warriors in the 4th, The OKC thunder has a Lottery pick in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft.
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
Nick Wright goes off on Lamelo Ball: “That young man is a clown, and has been a clown forever and will never not be a clown”
Jamahl Mosley sniffing salt before the game tonight - Magic vs. 76ers
[Charania] The NBA is fining Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball \(35,000 for his trip of Miami's Bam Adebayo and upgrading the action to a Flagrant, plus fining him \)25,000 for cursing postgame, sources tell ESPN.
[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.”
The Orlando Magic project to have the 4th highest payroll in in the NBA next season, deep in the tax and just shy of the 2nd apron. They have already traded away control of their 1st round draft picks in 2026, 2028, 2029, and 2030.
Paolo and Franz both being complete non-threats from three makes it impossible to build around them
Why DeAndre is still on rosters these days
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.”
Draymond Green in the win: 7/5/9 with 4 steals on 3⁄5 FG
[Friedell] “The Draymond/Jordan thing,” Kerr explained. “In the old days, I mean it happened to me. Michael Jordan punched me in practice. It’s the exact same episode. Nobody found out about it until years later.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder will receive a 2026 lottery pick from the Los Angeles Clippers. The pick is currently in the #12 spot with a 7.1% chance to move into the top 4. If the Warriors beat the Suns, the pick could move up to #11 and a 9.4% chance to move up.
[Mares] Peyton Watson is likely out for the whole series vs. Minnesota
[Highlight] Paolo refuses to shoot the wide open 3 and it leads to him badly air-balling a mid range shot leading to a shot clock violation