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<\/p>\n40 points. A clutch takeover.<\/p>\n
Magic, a mile high.<\/p>\n
Joker & the Nuggets found a way past Wemby and the Spurs in OT for an eighth straight win.<\/p>\n
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5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n
April 5, 2026<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s Spotlight: Nuggets take down Spurs in OT, Pistons clinch East\u2019s top seed, Heat hit 152<\/p>\n
Sunday Night Basketball: Lakers face Mavs as Flagg follows up historic 50-piece<\/p>\n
Also On SNB: Rockets eye sixth straight win, face challenge of Curry\u2019s expected return<\/p>\n
What\u2019s At Stake: Examining Sunday\u2019s postseason scenarios as races enter final week<\/p>\n
Most Improved Players: John Schuhmann dives into MIP award criteria<\/p>\n
BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n
11 games take us into the final week of the regular season\u2026<\/p>\n
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Today\u2019s 11-game slate, full of postseason implications, wraps up with a Sunday Night Basketball doubleheader, starting with the Lakers visiting the Mavericks (7:30 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>), before the Warriors host the Rockets (10 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n Curry\u2019s Return: Steph Curry is expected to return to action<\/a> tonight in that matchup, with the Warriors upgrading his status to Questionable (knee) after missing the last 27 games.<\/p>\n Reaves\u2019 Injury: Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique strain) will join Luka Doncic in missing at least the remainder of the regular season, the team announced Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hall of Fame: Bucks coach Doc Rivers, Candace Parker and Amar\u2019e Stoudemire were among the nine Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees announced Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1. SATURDAY\u2019S STARS: JOKER OUTDUELS WEMBY, PISTONS CLINCH, 152 FOR HEAT Justin Edmonds\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n A Nikola Joki\u0107 statement game.<\/p>\n In a battle of two scorching-hot, Top 4 West squads \u2014 and facing Victor Wembanyama for the first time this season \u2014 Joker willed an epic OT win.<\/p>\n Nuggets 136, Spurs 134 (OT): Joki\u0107 (13 ast, 8 reb, 0 TOs) amassed 40 points, dropping 20 in the 1st half and finishing with 7 of Denver\u2019s 12 points in overtime to outduel Wemby (34 pts, 18 reb, 7 ast, 5 blk) for a comeback win that ended San Antonio\u2019s streak and pushed the Nuggets\u2019 to eight straight. | Recap<\/a> | Watch The Highlights<\/a><\/p>\n San Antonio led for 45:33 of regulation, but Denver charged back with a 40-27 run in the final 14 minutes, including OT, with Wemby held to 1-of-4 shooting in that span and just 2 points in the bonus period From there, Denver trailed just once in overtime, with Joker scoring the Nuggets\u2019 final 5 points.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found a way to win,\u201d Joki\u0107 said. \u201cRight now, in this part of the season, that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d Justin Edmonds\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s great to be a fan of basketball right now, and especially NBA.\u201d Joki\u0107 said. \u201cEvery night you can find some really, really interesting (games) and really fun (matchups).\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re getting spoiled and we don\u2019t appreciate it enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Denver has dealt San Antonio its last two losses, bookending its 11-game win streak. The Nuggets join the Warriors, Suns, Cavs and Wolves as the only teams to beat the Spurs twice this regular season Two seasons ago, the 15-win Detroit Pistons finished last in the East for a second straight season.<\/p>\n Last night, they clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs \u2013 with four games to spare.<\/p>\n Pistons 116, Sixers 93: Tobias Harris (19 pts) and six other double-digit Pistons scorers never trailed after a 41-point 1st quarter, speeding past Tyrese Maxey (23 pts), Paul George (20 pts) and the Sixers to earn the franchise\u2019s first No. 1 seed since 2006-07. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cTwo years ago, they [were] laughing at us,\u201d Duren said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t believe in the vision..\u00a0 But we just put the work in. We\u2019re just happy.\u201d The last time Miami hosted Washington, Bam Adebayo poured in 83 points in a 150-129 March 10 win.<\/p>\n This time, Bam scored less (14 pts) \u2013 but the Heat scored more.<\/p>\n Heat 152, Wizards 136: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (32 pts) led seven Miami players in double figures past Will Riley (31 pts, 5 reb, 5 stl) and Washington, and Kel\u2019el Ware (24 pts, 19 reb, 7 blk) nearly recorded a triple-double with blocks, in the Heat\u2019s third-ever 150+ point game, and second in a month. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Bench Beast: Ware became just the fourth player to record a game of 20+ pts, 15+ rebs, and 5+ blk in Heat regular-season history, yet he and Hassan Whiteside are the only two to do so off the bench 2. ON SNB: LEBRON, LAKERS MEET FLAGG & MAVS Wally Skalij\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n Holding the third spot in the West with a week to play, LeBron James & the Lakers are out for win No. 51 in Dallas tonight on Sunday Night Basketball (7:30 ET, NBC & Peacock).<\/p>\n But injury concerns \u2013 first for Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> and now Austin Reaves<\/a> \u2013 have followed the team\u2019s 16-3 surge.<\/p>\n With two of their top playmakers out, the Lakers will look to the league\u2019s all-time leader in scoring to help drive the team forward \u2014 finishing up a regular season in which James has evolved his role to support a Western contender, Jeff Zillgitt writes.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past month, the question shifted from folly\u2026 to serious, as they climbed from sixth place to third in the Western Conference\u2026<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve still got to continue to improve,\u2019 James said. \u2018We know what we\u2019re capable of, but we will not shortcut the process\u2026<\/p>\n \u2018The chemistry is high. Everyone loves being around each other. We love playing for one another. We love being off the floor with one another. It\u2019s a good, tight-knit group.\u2019<\/p>\n Yes, James\u2019 role is different. That\u2019s not surprising, and James is good with it. He is 41 years old after all.<\/p>\n Said James: \u2018If it benefits others, it benefits the team. The team is most important. Everybody\u2019s successful when we win. So yeah, it is a sacrifice. I know what I\u2019m capable of still doing as an individual, but I\u2019m able to adapt to what\u2019s important for this team.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n L.A.\u2019s other keys to contention, according to Zillgitt:<\/p>\n Add in the productive play of [Deandre] Ayton and [Marcus] Smart, who led the Lakers in plus-minus at plus-11.5 points per game in March Sam Hodde\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n Opposing the Lakers, Cooper Flagg comes off his career-high 51-point explosion against the Magic Friday, the NBA\u2019s first-ever 50+ point performance from a teenager.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to have a 50-ball against a really good defensive team\u2026 It just shows he\u2019s getting better,\u201d coach Jason Kidd said. \u201cWe\u2019re really proud to have Cooper. We\u2019re excited about the present, but we\u2019re also excited about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. SNB NIGHTCAP: STEPH SET FOR RETURN AS KD & ROCKETS GO FOR 5 STRAIGHT Tim Warner\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n The Rockets are rolling at the right time.<\/p>\n Their five-game win streak is suddenly the second longest in the league right now, behind the 4th-place Nuggets team (W8) directly ahead of them in the West.<\/p>\n Houston aims to keep pace with Denver\u2019s march toward a top-3 seed, but the Rockets\u2019 Sunday opponent \u2013 the team that ended their 2024-25 season 11 months ago \u2013 just added a wrinkle.<\/p>\n Rockets at Warriors (10 ET, NBC & Peacock): Two-time MVP Stephen Curry (knee) is set to return for his first action since Jan. 30, as the 10th-place Dubs are out to snap a three-game skid and gear up for next week\u2019s Play-In tournament.<\/p>\n These two teams met in Houston exactly one month ago, where Golden State pulled out a 115-113 OT victory without Steph.<\/p>\n Overcome For OT: Brandin Podziemski (26 pts, 4 3s) outdueled Kevin Durant (23) in that overtime, after Houston played 36 minutes of catch-up from a 36.4 FG% 1st quarter Thearon W. Henderson\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n Curry netted 14 points in his only game against the Rockets this season, a 104-100 home loss back on Nov. 26. He scored a team-high 23 against Detroit when he was last on the floor.<\/p>\n Without Steph, the Warriors have gone 9-18, maintaining Play-In position throughout Curry\u2019s 27-game absence. They\u2019re 3 games back of 9-seed LA \u201cNow Superman\u2019s back, we\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d Gary Payton II said of the Dubs\u2019 postseason chances.<\/p>\n 4. SUNDAY\u2019S STAKES: TRACKING TODAY\u2019S IMPACTS ON TIGHT POSTSEASON RACES<\/p>\n With eight days left to lock in seedings, which teams will be shuffling in the standings Sunday?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a breakdown of five more games with postseason implications across League Pass and NBA TV today:<\/p>\n Raptors at Celtics (3:30 ET, NBA TV):<\/p>\n A Raptors win would keep the team in 6th place, but stretch their lead over the 7-seed Sixers to a full game Hornets at TWolves (7 ET):<\/p>\n A Hornets win would keep the team in 8th place, moving within half a game of the 6th and final Playoff seed Pacers at Cavs (6 ET):<\/p>\n A Cavs win would bring The Land within one game of the 3-seed Knicks, but a loss would drop them to 2 games behind New York<\/p>\n Magic at Pelicans (7 ET):<\/p>\n A Magic win would jump the team to 8th, still within reach of a top-6 Playoff spot Clippers at Kings (9 ET):<\/p>\n A Clippers win would get them even with the Blazers, reclaiming 8th via tiebreaker Roundup: The top-seed Thunder can put 3 full games between them and the 2-seed Spurs with a fifth straight win, hosting the Jazz (7 ET).<\/p>\n Wizards at Nets (3:30 ET) 5. SCHUHMANN ON MOST IMPROVED PLAYER Gary Dineen\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n Who was the best at getting better?<\/p>\n That\u2019s what NBA.com\u2019s John Schuhmann sets out to answer in this deep-dive into the races \u2013 and criteria \u2013 for this year\u2019s Kia Most Improved Player award honors:<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always some debate about what kind of player should or shouldn\u2019t be considered for the Kia Most Improved Player award<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some voters may not consider second-year players, while some might not consider high-lottery picks\u2026<\/p>\n
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\nIt was Jamal Murray, with 5:24 to go in the 4th, who ignited a 10-2 burst with two triples in a 1:45 span to give the Nuggets their first lead (116-115) since the 1st quarter
\n2:15 later, with the Spurs back up 6, Cam Johnson\u2019s (17 pts, 7 reb, 4 3s) 4-point play shot the Nuggets back within two, setting up Aaron Gordon\u2026
\nGordon\u2019s wide-open dunk from a Joki\u0107 draw-and-dime out of a timeout tied the game with 6.5 left in the 4th, and his 1-on-1 D on Wemby on the other end forced OT<\/p>\n
\nJoki\u0107 becomes the fourth player in NBA history to log 40+ pts, 10+ ast, and 5+ reb with zero turnovers in a regular-season game, joining Larry Bird, Luka and World B. Free
\n\u201cIt was indicative of what we can be as a group,\u201d Aaron Gordon said. \u201cWe like the intensity. That\u2019s a really good ball club over there that plays really hard, so they brought it out of us.\u201d
\nWembanyama\u2019s 3rd career game of 30+ pts, 15+ reb, 5+ ast and 5+ blk overtakes Tim Duncan for the 2nd-most such games in franchise history, now trailing only David Robinson (5)
\n\u201cHe has an opportunity and chance to be the most unique basketball player to ever play the game,\u201d Joker said of Wemby postgame<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image_2026-04-05_100028587.png\")
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\nComeback Kings: That March 12 W for Denver was also a comeback, rallying from down-20. The team\u2019s two 20+ point comebacks this season are tied for the league lead
\nWest\u2019s Top 4: 4th-place Denver is now just a half-game from 3-seed L.A., while 2nd-place San Antonio\u2019s gap ahead to OKC slips to 2.5 games<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AT-SLAM.gif\")
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\nDaniss Jenkins collected 16 points and 14 assists as Detroit moved to 8-2 without Cade Cunningham (lung). Jalen Duren (16 pts, 7 reb) controlled the paint with Joel Embiid (oblique) out
\n7th-place Philadelphia loses hold of the East\u2019s 6th and final Playoff spot, dropping into Play-In position behind Toronto by a half-game<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JJJ-HOOK.gif\")
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\nWashington\u2019s Riley is the first rookie in franchise history with 30+ pts, 5+ reb and 5+ stl in a single game since steals were first recorded in 1973-74
\nFamily Affair: UCLA alum Jaquez Jr. led all scorers before hopping on a plane<\/a> to Phoenix to watch his sister Gabriela play in the national champion game Sunday for the women\u2019s team
\n10th-place Miami pulls within a half-game of their Orlando neighbors in their battle for Play-In tournament positioning<\/p>\n
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\n\u2018It\u2019s so important for our team and our rotation.\u2019 \u2013 Redick recently referenced the Lakers\u2019 record when [Rui] Hachimura plays this season (44-18)
\n[Luke] Kennard leads the league in 3-point shooting (49.1%), and [Jaxson] Hayes\u2019 value as a rim protector and screen-and-roll big man is on display
\nRead More<\/a> from Zillgitt\u2019s article<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image_2026-04-05_100357347.png\")
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\nShots Falling: The Rockets have turned that around in their five straight wins, shooting 49.9 FG% as a team, with Durant (52.6), Amen Thompson (53.3) and Alperen Sengun (59.1) all shooting over 50.0%
\n\u201cThat\u2019s really the only reason we\u2019ve been inconsistent,\u201d KD said of the streak. \u201cOnce we start knocking [shots] down, you see what type of team we are.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image_2026-04-05_100615954.png\")
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\n\u201cHe\u2019ll be listed as questionable, but is expected to play,\u201d coach Steve Kerr said Saturday. \u201cIt\u2019ll be nice to have him back. The game tends to get a lot easier for everybody when Steph is out there.\u201d
\nTop-5 Tally: Steph is averaging 27.2 ppg in 39 games played this year, the fifth-highest scoring season of his 17 year career
\nShot Ready: He\u2019s shooting 39.1% from 3-point range, marking his fourth straight season shooting at least 39% from long distance<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image_2026-04-05_100812035.png\")
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\nA Raptors loss would drop the squad back to 7th, putting the Sixers back in 6th-place via tiebreak
\nA Celtics win would build a 3-game lead over the 3-seed Knicks, but a loss would shrink their advantage over New York to 2 games<\/p>\n
\nA Hornets loss could drop Buzz City to 9th, with a half-game separating 8th-through-10th
\nThe TWolves stay in 6th place either way, but a win could put them within a game of Houston for 5th, and a loss could potentially drop them to 3 games back<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image_2026-04-05_100916083.png\")
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\nA Magic loss would keep Orlando in 9th, ahead of the 10-seed Heat by a tiebreaker<\/p>\n
\nA Clippers loss would keep them in 9th place, potentially just 2 games up from the 10-seed Warriors<\/p>\n
\nSuns at Bulls (3:30 ET)
\nGrizzlies at Bucks (3:30 ET)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image4.jpeg\")
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