[Charania] 76ers star Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery this afternoon in Houston.
[O’Connor] According to league sources, one general manager floated a nuclear option: just make the bottom three teams ineligible for the top picks entirely.
[Emerman] Steve Kerr has one rule for his son (Nicholas): “You’ve got to call me ‘Dad.’” Not ‘Steve,’ not ‘coach.’ ‘Dad.’ On the bench, in huddles, during meetings — Dad… “I think acknowledging it is important,” Steve said. “Yeah, he’s my son, he’s on our staff.”
OKC and Spurs are the only teams to not lose 3 games in a row this season
[NBA PR] An NBA investigation into Sacramento has determined that head coach Doug Christie mistakenly believed the Warriors were not in the penalty when he instructed an intentional foul late in the April 7 game, and that there was no intent to create a shooting foul or to lose the game.
In this 1997 interview Wilt believes he could average 50-70 PPG if he was playing today. And then Russell thinks no team in the past 10-15 years could beat his Celtics team.
Brad Stevens on the character traits the Celtics look for when acquiring role players late in the draft and in free agency: “competitive character where team matters, you’re growth-oriented, you come to work every day, and your ambition doesn’t necessarily exceed your self-awareness.”
[Slater] Steph Curry is now out tonight vs the Lakers on the front side of a back-to-back. Warriors are in Sacramento tomorrow night. That means zero Curry against LeBron James games this season.
After getting off to a slow start, Ace Bailey has proven to be another pillar of what has been a SENSATIONAL rookie class. Bailey’s numbers for March-April: 19.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, 40.3% from 3PT.
[Highlight] 9 years ago Russell Westbrook breaks the single season triple double record and hits the game winning deep three to eliminate the Nuggets out of a playoff spot.
Chet Holmgren has never finished worse than the #1 seed in his entire basketball career
There have been over 1.4 million total 10-game spans by players in NBA history, including playoffs. In none of them did a player have as many points, rebounds and assists as Nikola Jokić during the Nuggets’ current 10-game winning streak (252 points, 145 rebounds, 127 assists).
[Highlight] 7 years ago Jamal Crawford scored 51 points off the bench in Dirk’s farewell game. Crawford is the oldest player to score 50 points in a game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the first team to be a #1 seed for 3 consecutive seasons since the Warriors from 2014-15 to 2016-17
Why does it feel like Devin Booker hasn’t been talked about by anyone. He’s averaging 26-4-6 and played 63 games and the Suns are so hot right now (like Hansel) but I can’t recall a single Devin Booker moment this year.
[NBA] Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as OUT for the Milwaukee Bucks’ final home game of the season.
[Charania] NBA statement: “The NBA has completed an investigation of the Sacramento Kings and Head Coach Doug Christie’s decision to foul intentionally late in the team’s game against the Golden State Warriors on April 7.
NBA executives view the 2027 draft class as the weakest in over a decade. A lot of contending teams will be active in trade talks this offseason attempting to flip their 2027 1st for a win-now veteran instead.
Who is one NBA player you thought wouldn’t last long in the league, but did?
The Denver Nuggets just completed their first 10 game winstreak in the Jokic era.
[Highlight] OKC completes the circus sequence with a Jalen Williams layup
Anthony Davis on his welcome letter to Dallas: “I open the door and I get a letter: Dear AD, here in Dallas we love Dirk, BBQ and Luka. But what we love more than that is championship. The boos you’re gonna hear are not for you”
The Thunder have become the 7th wire to wire 1 seed in post-merger NBA history
[Haliburton] Played 5 on 5 today for first time since June🙏🏽🙏🏽
One of the biggest tanking games of the season is tonight in Brooklyn between the Pacers and the Nets.
Zaccharie Risacher first DNP of his career comes on his 21st bday
SGA ends his season shooting 55.4% on 2 pointers outside of 10 feet
Brad Stevens on a successful Celtics regular season: “Players, coaches, as they’re up for all these awards, whether they want them or not, they certainly all deserve them”
Anthony Davis says he was pissed off that the Pelicans didn’t give him a tribute video: “I was f*cking hot I ended up scoring 42. I was open to returning to New Orleans later but after no tribute that door is closed.”
[Highlight] Anthony Davis says he felt a bit disrespected after the Lakers traded him for Luka: “I was there 6 years, we won a championship and I can’t even get a phone call or a text to tell me this is what you’re thinking?”
Derrick White on the Hoops Tonight podcast talking about Joe Mazzulla: “One time I got sick and he was looking at me differently because I let myself get sick”
Chet Holmgren in the win: 30/14/5 with 2 steals, 4 blocks on 10⁄13 FG
[Post Game Thread] The Oklahoma City Thunder (63-16) defeat the Los Angeles Clippers (41-38), 128-110 to secure the #1 seed in the Western Conference!
Seed Clinched After Today
Cooper Flagg in his last 10 games (26.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists)
[Highlight] Khaman Maluach blocks former teammate Cooper Flagg at the rim!
With Jokic’s 34th triple double tonight, he has as many as the 2nd-4th players combined
[Highlight] CADE IS BACK Throws down the lob with force!
Steph is a beast
This season the Memphis Grizzlies have fielded 33 players, the most in the NBA. The fewest is the Houston Rockets with 15. Most teams sit between 20-25
Comprehensive, Sourced Details for All Game by Game Blocked Shots Totals in Wilt Chamberlain’s Career
[Highlight] SGA snatches the pass to Kawhi and goes to coast to coast
Carter Bryant in the win: 17/5/4 on 94% TS
Chet Holmgren at halftime 24/8/1/2/2 in 15 minutes on 8-10 FG
[Charania] The anti-tanking proposal with the most momentum within the Board of Governors leading up to the May 28th vote would expand the lottery to 18 teams — including Play-In teams — with the bottom 10 each getting equal odds and all 18 draft positions determined by lottery.
[Highlight] The Thunder complete the circus sequence with a Jalen Williams layup off a no-look over the shoulder pass by Isaiah Hartenstein (with replays).
Kawhi Leonard slightly deflects the pass, that’s why iHart didn’t get an assist.
Thunder and Clippers commentaries.
This season, there have been 11 instances of a team scoring 150+ points in a game that did not go to overtime—that’s the second most in NBA history, and the most since the 1990-91 season.
[Highlight] Terrence Shannon Jr. hits the logo buzzer-beater to end the 3rd quarter vs. the Magic last night (with replays).
The first heave of the Timberwolves this season, according to the Wolves announcer.
Timberwolves and Magic announcers.