NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Apr 11, 2026
Wembanyama Schools NBA Awards Math, Luka Doncic
Victor Wembanyama spent a postgame press conference doing math after a 40-point, 13-rebound night, arguing it would be "unfair" to drop the 65-game awards threshold midseason. His timing matters because Luka Dončić has filed an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge to be awards eligible after finishing with 64 games; an independent arbitrator will hear the case next week. San Antonio has already locked the No. 2 seed with 62 wins, and Wembanyama has met the minutes requirement for honors. Merlin sees a player who is part magician and part analyst. Wembanyama even floated using 75 percent of games as a fair cutoff, and his recent dominance keeps MVP and All-NBA debates alive despite any games-played technicality. The arbitrator’s ruling could change how the league treats absences tied to personal events, and it will shape postseason award talk. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Luka Dončić wins his eligibility challenge and becomes awards eligible: 70%.
Hawks and Celtics Reshape NBA Play In Picture
The regular season comes down to one final night. The Hawks clinched a playoff spot and the Southeast Division, the Celtics wrapped the Atlantic, and the Hornets locked into the play-in. Several seeds remain unsettled: projected play-in matchups include Suns vs Trail Blazers and Clippers vs Warriors out West, and Magic vs Sixers and Hornets vs Heat in the East. Sunday’s key games — Raptors vs Nets, Hawks vs Heat, Magic vs Celtics, Blazers vs Kings — will determine who dodges the play-in and who faces a sudden-death path. Merlin sees volatility ahead. Toronto’s place is fragile, Orlando and Philadelphia still push for better seeding, and Portland’s late surge could force the Clippers into a brutal play-in with Golden State. Small swings tonight will rewrite first-round matchups and playoff routes. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Toronto Raptors dropping into the play-in: 35%.
Apr 11
Pistons, Thunder Clinch Top Seeds, Play In Chaos
With the regular season entering its final day, the playoff picture is mostly set. All 30 teams played Friday; only one Eastern seed remains undecided while Western playoff and play-in teams are locked though seeding can change. Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland hold the East's top four, and Oklahoma City and San Antonio are locked atop the West. Portland can clinch No. 8 with a win; Atlanta, Toronto, Orlando and Philadelphia fight the final East spots. Merlin senses calm with small storms ahead. He favors Denver to keep No. 3, doubts the Lakers' health will hold, and expects the Suns, Trail Blazers and one of the Magic or 76ers to advance from the play-in but not past round one. A Knicks Celtics semifinal would delight, and a Nuggets Spurs clash featuring Wembanyama and Jokić would be truly magical. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: ("Odds the Nuggets hold the No. 3 seed: 65%.")
Apr 11
Shai Gilgeous Alexander MVP Again for Thunder
Merlin sees the awards picture taking shape. SportsWZRD leans toward Onsi Saleh as Executive of the Year for Atlanta, Monty Bickerstaff as Coach of the Year after Detroit’s surge without Cade Cunningham, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeating as MVP thanks to dominant clutch numbers. Victor Wembanyama is the runaway Defensive Player, Cooper Flagg narrowly beats Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year, Nickeil Alexander-Walker tops Most Improved, and Keldon Johnson claims Sixth Man. As Mark Daigneault said, "Shai's a great closer," and Flagg added, "I think it's definitely some sort of statement." Merlin notes these choices reward decisive roster moves and singular on-court lifts. Saleh’s offseason craft and Bickerstaff’s steady pivot built narratives voters favor. SGA’s clutch mastery reads like prophecy and Wembanyama’s defense is simply unmatched, yet ballots love a story, so a few surprises remain possible. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeating as MVP this season: 80%.
Apr 11
Kings Christie, Wizards Keefe Among Coaches on Thin Ice
Job security in the NBA is thin. Five coaches look unlikely to return: Christie in Sacramento after injuries, poor execution and a tanking probe that deemed the club simply incompetent; Keefe in Washington as the team shifts from rebuilding to playoff hopes and his .214 career winning percentage raises doubts (Bilal Coulibaly: “We've never been there, so we don't know what it looks like. But we can't wait.”); Mosley in Orlando after the Desmond Bane trade failed to push them into contention; Nurse in Philadelphia still without a series win despite big expectations; and Rivers in Milwaukee amid locker-room friction with Giannis. Merlin sees a league that rewards quick fixes over long experiments. Franchises that spent to win will cut bait or seek new voices, so expect a churn of firings, bold hires, and a few unexpected turns as teams chase instant results. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Rivers won’t coach the Bucks next season: 90%.
Apr 11
Redick: Opponents Want Lakers Despite Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Injuries
JJ Redick insists opponents are not afraid to face the Lakers even with injuries sidelining Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. He told reporters, "I'm sure everybody wants to play us, let's get that out there. Everybody wants to play us." Dončić has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and Reaves a Grade 2 left oblique injury, leaving Los Angeles leaning heavily on LeBron James as they fight for first-round home court against the Houston Rockets. Merlin sees the picture clearly. With ball-handling depth reduced, the Lakers must find a new formula and belief to avoid late-season slipups, while opponents weighing rests signal shifting playoff math. Health updates and how LeBron is managed over the final two games will decide whether Los Angeles enters the postseason as a threat or an easy matchup. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers winning the first-round series against the Rockets: 60%.
Apr 11
Stephen Curry Wears Jason Williams Nike to Kings Game
Stephen Curry nodded to former star Jason Williams by wearing a yellow pair of Nike Zoom Hyperflight PEs in Friday’s road game at Sacramento, according to Nick DePaula. Williams recently signed with Nike and saw a purple and black Hyperflight re-released in 2026. Curry, now a sneaker free agent after ending his long Under Armour partnership last November, has been cycling through shoes while more than 70 pairs he has worn head to auction at Sotheby’s. He missed Thursday’s game for knee management but returned Friday, as the Warriors sit locked at the No. 10 seed and must win two road play-in games to reach the playoffs. Merlin sees the sneaker move as more than style. It is a signal of legacy and market testing for Curry and of Nike reasserting ties with streetball lineage. The auction and footwear swaps feed narratives, yet Golden State’s fate will hinge on Curry’s health and two tough road victories. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Golden State winning both road play-in games and reaching the playoffs: 28%.
Apr 11
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Final Day Playoff Drama: Lakers Nuggets Hawks Raptors
With one day left, the playoff picture is simple. Several teams control their own fate: the Lakers need one win to crack the West top four, Denver can hold No. 3 with a victory, and Portland seized the inside track to No. 8 after beating the Clippers, needing either a win over Sacramento or a Clippers loss. In the East, Atlanta and Toronto just need wins to lock top six spots, Orlando likely keeps No. 7 if Boston rests starters, and Charlotte can clinch No. 9 with a victory. Merlin sees motivation as the secret ingredient. Teams locked into seeds will tend to rest stars, turning some contests into traps and making play-in berths fragile. Expect a smattering of coached-up lineups and one or two late upsets to reshuffle the lower seeds. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: (“Odds Portland finishes No. 8: 70%.”)
Apr 11
Nikola Jokic Out vs Thunder, MVP Bid In Jeopardy
Merlin sees Nikola Jokić was ruled out Friday versus Oklahoma City, leaving him at 64 games with one left to meet the NBA’s 65-game threshold for award eligibility. He is having another MVP-caliber year, averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists, leading the league in rebounds and assists, shooting 56.9 percent and producing a plus-10.4 net rating when on the floor. Denver is third at 52-28 and closes the regular season Sunday against the Spurs. Merlin senses a classic choice between rest and recognition. Jokić has said, "I just don't like it, how it forces players to play even if they're injured, if they want to achieve something." The Nuggets must weigh protecting their star for the playoffs against the value of one more game that locks up award eligibility and sharpens his case. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Jokić plays Sunday to reach 65 games: 70%.
Apr 10
Atlanta Hawks Clinch Playoffs After Trading Trae Young
Merlin sees the Hawks punching their ticket back to the playoffs after a 124-102 win over Cleveland, moving to 46-35 and clinching their first postseason spot since 2022-23. Atlanta flipped a midseason script after trading Trae Young on Jan. 9 (they were 18-21 then) and rode breakout All-Star Jalen Johnson (22.6/10.3/7.9), a career year from Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.9), and steady scoring from CJ McCollum to fuel a season-best 11-game win streak. Merlin notes the Hawks morphed into one of the league’s most potent offenses at 118.5 points per game and now face a test of depth and playoff composure without Young. Chemistry and scoring make them dangerous, but their true measure arrives when matchups tighten in April. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Atlanta reaching the second round: 45%.
Apr 10
Doc Rivers Hints Exit Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks Turmoil
Merlin sees Doc Rivers on a rocky season finale in Milwaukee, calling it "very difficult" to keep the team together amid Giannis Antetokounmpo's tense absence and lingering injuries. Giannis said he wants "to f--king play," while GM Jon Horst says the star is "not cleared to play yet in a game." Rivers hinted he may step away to spend time with family, saying "I have seven grandkids now and they're all eight years and under." The Bucks, 31-49, will miss the playoffs and Rivers owns a 96-102 mark in three seasons. Merlin senses a crossroads for a Hall of Famer still under contract. Repairing the Giannis relationship could reset the franchise, but health uncertainty and fractured trust make a quick fix unlikely. Expect more negotiation and narrative shifts before the offseason fully arrives. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Doc Rivers retires or steps down after the season: 65%.
Apr 10
Hawks Celtics Knicks Fight For Playoff Seeds
The final weekend arrives with six clinching scenarios on Friday, all centered in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta and Boston can lock up division crowns with wins or favorable losses. Key games: Nuggets can grab West No. 3 if they beat OKC and the Lakers lose to Phoenix, while Clippers and Trail Blazers decide the West 8/9 spot. In the East, Hawks host Cavaliers and Raptors visit the Knicks. Cleveland trails New York by one game and would need a better final record to leapfrog them. The Knicks have a slim shot at No. 2 only if they win out and Boston drops two. Merlin sees real stakes and familiar storylines. A Hawks win would be their first division title since 2020-21, and a Raptors victory would end a playoff drought that began in 2022. The five-through-seven scramble with Atlanta, Toronto and Orlando promises high drama, and finishing fourth could be the difference between an early date with Boston or a clearer path forward. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Hawks clinching the division Friday night: 60%.
Apr 10
Lakers Cut Kobe Bufkin, Scramble For Playoff Guard
The Los Angeles Lakers waived guard Kobe Bufkin before Friday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline, freeing a roster spot as they plan to "evaluate a signing over the weekend" ahead of the playoffs. Bufkin, a 22-year-old who lit up the G League but averaged just 2.9 points in 7.4 minutes for L.A., never became a rotation piece. With Austin Reaves expected to miss four to six weeks and Luka Dončić listed out indefinitely, the Lakers’ backcourt depth is thin. Merlin sees this as smart, short-term roster work. Coach JJ Redick will need more from Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and others, so Los Angeles will likely chase a veteran guard whose playoff experience offers steadiness over Bufkin’s upside. Expect a quick, high-floor signing to steady the ship. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Lakers sign a veteran guard before Game 1: 80%.
Apr 10
Doc Rivers Defends Resume Line For Bucks Amid Giannis Talk
Merlin sees Doc Rivers push back on a report that he told Bucks players to "Look at my résumé" after a March 1 loss. Rivers says the line was "taken out of context," explaining he was answering a player who kept citing stats and even invoked Indiana coach Curt Cignetti's "Google me" vibe. The original report said the remark was "not well-received internally" as Milwaukee finished 31-49 and Rivers sits 96-102 with the Bucks. Merlin notes Rivers' deep résumé — 1,193 career wins and a 2008 title — yet his Milwaukee run has fallen short. With Giannis limited this year and trade whispers growing, the quote feels less about ego and more about a team at a crossroads. The locker room reaction may be the truer score. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Doc Rivers is fired this offseason: 65%.
Apr 10
Celtics Might Swap Tatum or Brown for Giannis
Merlin sees Boston quietly primed to pursue Giannis if a shock playoff exit arrives. Sam Amick said the Celtics will "look at the landscape" if they lose before the conference finals, and offseason salary moves freed more than $300 million in savings that could fund a blockbuster. Still, the Tatum and Jaylen Brown pairing has flourished — Brown looks like a top-five MVP candidate and Tatum’s return helped the Celtics go 13-5 in 18 games. Merlin warns a Giannis trade would be fiendishly difficult. He is 32 soon, has an increasing injury log, and contract complexities mean Milwaukee would demand a mountain of talent and picks. Boston would risk chemistry and a proven core, so expect probing calls more than an immediate breakup — unless the Celtics truly stumble in the playoffs. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Boston trades for Giannis this offseason: 20%.
Apr 10
LeBron James Battles Hand Injury As Lakers Eye Playoffs
LeBron James revealed he is playing through a hand injury he suffered March 23 against the Pistons, telling Spectrum SportsNet "It'll be fine" and "I mean it's not fine, but I'm good." Since then he’s averaged 20.1 points on 53.1 percent shooting, 9.0 assists and 7.6 rebounds across seven games while the Lakers have gone 5-2. He missed Tuesday’s game and several teammates remain sidelined with their playoff availability uncertain. Merlin sees the team circling around one aging titan. Those efficient numbers are a good omen, but the postseason is a different test and the Lakers’ seeding battle with Denver and Houston raises the stakes for home court. If James can stay sturdy and the supporting cast returns, Los Angeles can still shape a favorable path. The regular season’s final two home games will tell more. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: ("Odds of the Lakers reaching the second round with LeBron playing through the hand injury: 50%.")
Apr 10
Terry Rozier waived by Miami Heat amid gambling investigation
Merlin sees Miami will waive Terry Rozier on Friday to free a roster spot for the play-in, per Shams Charania. Rozier was placed on administrative leave in October amid federal gambling probes, was among 34 people indicted and "pleaded not guilty" to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges; Miami acquired him from Charlotte in January 2024 for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick. With Friday at 5 p.m. ET the waiver deadline and Sunday the last day to add a player, this is a pragmatic roster move. The Heat, locked into the 9-10 play-in spot, are protecting short-term depth while Rozier’s future now hinges on legal outcomes and possible league discipline. Merlin senses Miami will keep its focus on the court and let the courts decide Rozier’s fate. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Rozier signs with an NBA team this season: 10%.
Apr 10
Jaylen Brown Ja Morant Among 2026 Most Overrated NBA Stars
Merlin reads a roundup naming the 10 most overrated players of 2025-26. The list singles out stars whose reputations outpaced their impact, from Jaylen Brown — whose MVP chatter the writer calls "bonkers" — to Ja Morant’s availability and efficiency issues, Domantas Sabonis’s drop in defense and production, and Paolo Banchero, who is worse "for the fourth straight season" when on the floor. Others on the list include Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Dillon Brooks, Norman Powell, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram. Merlin notes a common thread: past status can blind fans and media to current flaws. Some are scorers who add little else, others are declining defenders or inconsistent playmakers. Expect teams to tinker with lineups, and for narratives to shift quickly once a couple of these players have new roles or changes. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Jaylen Brown wins MVP next season: 8%.
Apr 10
NBA Draft Lottery: Dybantsa Sparks Wizards Hopes
The draft lottery still waits for May 10, but Tankathon’s simulator teases a tight race with Ausar Dybantsa nudging ahead for the top spot. Merlin notes Dybantsa oozes star potential: a toolsy big wing with three-level scoring and relentless downhill drives. The mock also paints clear fits — the Mavericks chasing Darryn Peterson beside Cooper Flagg, the Wizards eyeing a centerpiece, and several teams juggling upside versus immediate need. Merlin senses a chess game more than a coin flip. Teams will weigh injury risk, fit and timeline as much as raw talent. A Dybantsa selection reshapes Washington. A Peterson landing in Dallas accelerates a young core. Expect trades, pick swapping and frantic front-office homework before the balls stop bouncing. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dybantsa going No. 1: 65%.
Apr 10
Celtics Jayson Tatum Laughs as Son Deuce Hates Sour Candy
Merlin sees Jayson Tatum chuckling about a viral clip of his son Deuce grimacing while trying Sour Patch Kids during the Celtics’ 112-106 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Tatum told reporters, "Yeah, I saw it. ... Yeah, he don't really like sour candy too much, so that was pretty normal." Tatum still poured in 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in the defeat. That small, human moment softened a stingy loss. Merlin notes the Celtics remain dangerous; Tatum’s near triple double shows he carries the team nightly. Fans get a reminder that stars are parents first and competitors second, and that Boston’s fortunes will turn on bench scoring and late game defense. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: 45% chance Tatum posts another 24-plus point, 10-plus rebound game in the next five Celtics matchups.
Apr 10
Shai Gilgeous Alexander Clinches 2026 MVP, Players and Media
Merlin sees a clear favorite. In an anonymous Athletic poll of 159 players, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led MVP voting with 39 percent, followed by Nikola Jokić at 21.4 percent and Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham and Luka Dončić tied at 8.2 percent. Voters praised Shai for being "super consistent" while carrying a top West team through injuries. Notable quirks: Victor Wembanyama placed sixth and Cunningham may be ineligible under the 65-game rule, while Dončić has filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge. Merlin notes the split between player and media views, but both point to Shai as the frontrunner. If he wins he becomes the first repeat MVP since Jokić and the 16th multi-MVP player. The final award could still hinge on eligibility rulings and the final regular season moments. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Shai winning MVP this season: 70%.
Apr 10
Wembanyama Spurs, Thunder Top Western Contenders
With three days left, the West's playoff teams are set but seeding is unsettled, while five Eastern clubs fight for the final two spots. The Thunder and Spurs look most like Finals contenders; the defending champs have been dominant and San Antonio, led by MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama, has exceeded expectations despite questions about youth and experience. The Lakers are a wild card while Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves recover, and it is hard to see LeBron carrying an ill roster deep. Merlin sees health and poise deciding more than talent. Detroit grabbed the East's top seed but may be too green to reach the Finals. Boston has surged since Jayson Tatum returned, yet the Knicks remain a real threat. In the West, matchups will show whether the Spurs' ceiling or the Thunder's championship muscle wins out. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of San Antonio reaching the Finals this season: 40%.
Apr 10
LeBron James Erupts as Lakers Crush Warriors
LeBron James orchestrated a 119-103 win over the Warriors, finishing with 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting while Bronny added 10 off the bench. The Lakers piled up 37 assists and hit 55.2 percent from three, with Deandre Ayton scoring 21 and Luke Kennard adding 14. Golden State was without Stephen Curry for knee management, and the Lakers improved to 51-29 as the Warriors fell to 37-43. Merlin sees a seasoned team clicking when LeBron controls the floor. The crowd-of-passes offense and efficient shooting suggest the Lakers can win even when bodies are missing, per the article noting injuries to Austin Reaves and, oddly, Luka Dončić. If health holds and the shot-making stays hot, Los Angeles looks poised to keep climbing. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Lakers finish with a top-4 seed in the West: 60%.
Apr 10
Stephen Curry Wears LeBron Nike Shoes During Warriors Lakers Game
Merlin sees Stephen Curry paying a quiet tribute to LeBron James by wearing LeBron's Nike LeBron X ID on the bench during Thursday’s Warriors-Lakers game. Now a shoe free agent after splitting with Under Armour, Curry has been experimenting with different brands, even warming up in Kevin Durant’s signature shoes earlier this week. LeBron called the move "Out the vault" and "super special." Curry missed the game as he rehabs a knee, and Golden State already holds a play-in spot. Off court the moment is telling. Brands will court him while he uses shoes as signals and tributes. Merlin thinks the LeBron look is part respect, part audition, and part bargaining chip for a big deal. For now Curry’s focus is the playoffs; the shoe drama will wait for the offseason. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Curry signing with Nike this offseason: 60%.
Apr 10
Luka Doncic Rehabbing Hamstring in Spain, Spirits High
Luka Dončić is in "relatively good spirits" while rehabbing a Grade 2 left hamstring strain overseas, coach JJ Redick said. Dončić went to Spain for an injection aimed to "promote healing" after the injury cost him the end of the regular season and possibly more. He was having an MVP-caliber year — 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds — and the Lakers are 50-29. Austin Reaves also suffered an oblique injury late, adding to Los Angeles’ health concerns. Merlin sees a team that looks championship ready only when whole. The procedure and positive mood are encouraging, but hamstrings are fickle and recovery timing is unclear. If Dončić returns close to form and Reaves is healthy, the Lakers can still threaten the Finals. If not, their path narrows fast. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Los Angeles reaching the NBA Finals this postseason: 35%.
Apr 10