Houston aims for a fifth straight victory when they host Utah tonight on League Pass. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
Check out the best of Friday’s nine-game slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
APRIL 3, 2026 / 6:30 ET
Dončić to miss time
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Luka Dončić will miss the Lakers’ five remaining games in the regular season, and his status is “uncertain beyond that”. An incredibly tough blow for Los Angeles after the team has been playing their best basketball of the year.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is out indefinitely due to a left hamstring injury, sources tell me and @mcten. He will miss the remainder of the regular season and his status is uncertain beyond that. pic.twitter.com/qQTVAfPpWB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2026
APRIL 3, 2026 / 6:15 ET
Welcome to a nine-game Friday in the NBA!
The Knicks look to fortify their third-place position in the Eastern Conference standings when they host the Bulls on NBA TV.
Tonight’s action-packed slate begins with an interconference tilt between Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers and Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves (7 ET, League Pass). Anthony Edwards (right knee/illness) is active for this matchup between two squads currently in sixth place in their respective conferences, while Joel Embiid (illness) could remain on the sidelines.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks host Josh Giddey and the Bulls for their fourth and final meeting of the 2025-26 campaign (7:30 ET, NBA TV). New York got back in the win column on Wednesday after dropping three consecutive outings, but Chicago is in the midst of a five-game losing streak.
Here’s the complete schedule for tonight: