Category: Sport

Soaring to seven straight.

With five days left in the regular season, the Rockets are red-hot – and just one game back of 3rd in the West.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 8, 2026

Coast 2 Coast Comebacks: C’s storm past Hornets, Rockets top Suns to extend streak

Postseason Push: Clips complete challenge, Thunder rumble, Wolves clinch, Raps & Warriors win

Roundup: Fears erupts for Pels’ rookie record, Bulls roll, Nets edge Bucks

Kia Rookie Ladder: Aschburner breaks down a race to the finish in his final Ladder of the season

ESPN Doubleheader: Elite East duos collide in potential Playoff preview, Spurs & Blazers meet again

BUT FIRST … ⏰

More postseason implications tonight…

Seven games tip off tonight, headlined by an ESPN doubleheader as the Hawks visit the Cavs (7 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Spurs host the Blazers (9:30 ET | Tap to Watch).

Postseason Countdown: The SoFi Play-In Tournament is just six days away. See the current Playoff Picture here.

Beyond The Take: Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren breaks down what he sees in real time on the floor in the premiere of “Beyond the Take,” a new series available on the NBA App, NBA.com and NBA social channels.

1. C2C COMEBACKS: CELTICS SLOW HORNETS, ROCKETS STAY ROLLING

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Facing one of the league’s hottest forces since Jan. 1, the 2024 champs stayed poised and locked in on the defensive end.

Celtics 113, Hornets 102: Jaylen Brown (35 pts, 9 reb) and Jayson Tatum (23 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) helped the C’s chase down the Hornets, overcoming 36 points from LaMelo Ball (5 reb, 6 ast, 6 3s) with a 58-41 2nd-half run. | Recap

• Big Starts: In a battle of top-4 offenses, Ball netted 13 points in the 1st quarter for an 11-point lead. Brown responded with 11 in the 2nd as Charlotte took a six-point lead at the break
• Turning Point: Payton Pritchard (12 pts) hit back-to-back 3s with under two minutes left in the 3rd, keying a 10-0 Boston closeout for a 3-point lead
• Celtics Clamps: From there, the C’s held the Hornets to 15 4th-quarter points with zero 3s, Charlotte’s lowest-scoring 4th since Dec. 20
• “This team kind of reminds me of us when we were younger,” Brown said postgame. “Young group, shoot the ball well, got a lot of different guys who can beat you and got a fearlessness.”
• East Impacts: Boston now holds a 3-game lead over New York for 2nd, while Charlotte drops to 9th, a half-game behind 7th-place Philly
• “They came out ready to play,” Brown said. “Today was like a Playoff atmosphere, and we found a way to win.”

In Kevin Durant’s first game back in Phoenix, his Rockets responded with their biggest rally of the season.

Rockets 119, Suns 105: Durant (24 pts, 5 3s) led seven Rockets with 12+ points, overcoming 31 from Devin Booker and a 21-point deficit for Houston’s seventh straight win – its longest streak of the season. | Recap

• Valley Heat: After the Suns jumped out to a 37-21 1st quarter lead, the Rockets started chipping away with 11 of KD’s 24 points coming in the 2nd
• Climbing Back: Down 3 at the half and leading briefly in the 3rd, Houston took the lead for good early in a 38-21 4th quarter, winning the final three periods 98-68
• “I love how we weathered the storm,” KD said. “I love how we stayed together and [were] able to take that first punch, take the lead and win by double digits.”
• Alpi & Amen: Alperen Sengun (12 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast) scored or assisted on four of Houston’s first five buckets in that 4th, followed by 12 of Amen Thompson’s 22 points (11 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl)
• Suns’ Spot: The loss locks Phoenix into the SoFi Play-In Tournament (seeding TBD), while 5th-place Houston pulls even with the 4th-place Lakers at 50-29

2. POSTSEASON PUSH: CLIPS & THUNDER STAY HOT, WOLVES CLINCH & MORE

Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

After a 6-21 start, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue challenged his team to go 35-20 the rest of the way.

LA hit that mark last night – with room to spare.

Clippers 116, Mavericks 103: After dropping 51 and 45 over the weekend, Cooper Flagg led the Mavs with 25 points, 9 boards and 1 monster poster.

But Dallas had no answer for Kawhi Leonard, who drilled six 3s en route to 34 points in three quarters, as LA rolled to its seventh win in nine games, moving to 41-38. | Recap

• Uncharted Turnaround: The Clippers are the first team in NBA history to finish .500 or better after a 6-21 start
• “To have the mindset to go through tough times and dig your way out – I give a lot of credit to our players and our coaching staff,” said Lue postgame. “They really hung in there.”
• Sustained Standard: It’s LA’s 15th consecutive season at .500 or better – the longest active streak in the NBA and the longest since the Spurs’ run of 22 straight seasons from 1997-98 to 2018-19
• Klaw Catalyst: To get there, Leonard has boosted the Clips with a career-high 28.1 ppg in Year 14
• How Rare Is Kawhi’s Leap? No player has ever set a new career-high in scoring after their 13th season
• Still Climbing: Darius Garland added 22 points in the win, as LA moves just two games back of Phoenix for 7th

Thunder 123, Lakers 87: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 28 points and 8 assists in 28 minutes of action in OKC’s wire-to-wire win over a Lakers team without LeBron James (foot), Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique). | Recap

• West Race: OKC now holds a 3-game lead over San Antonio for 1st, while Los Angeles (4th) is 1 GB of 3rd-place Denver

And now, the West’s 6th and final Playoff guaranteed berth is booked.

Wolves 124, Pacers 104: Led by Ayo Dosunmu (24 pts, 3 stl), Minnesota never trailed after a 35-point 1st quarter to snap a three-game skid. Bones Hyland (7 ast) and Julius Randle (4 ast) added 19 points apiece with Anthony Edwards (knee) sidelined. | Recap

• 🔒 Wolves Clinch: With the win and Phoenix’s loss, Minnesota secured a top-6 seed in the West
• Final Stretch Spark: Dosunmu is averaging 18.7 ppg as a starter in nine games for the Wolves, as he eyes a return to the Playoffs with his new team

Raptors 121, Heat 95: Scottie Barnes (25 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) and Brandon Ingram (23 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl) shined on both ends as Toronto raced past Andrew Wiggins (24 pts, 5 reb) and Miami for a second straight win. | Recap

• Miami Play-In Bound: The loss locks the Heat into the SoFi Play-In Tournament, while the Raptors hold a one-game lead for 6th in the East

After sharing the floor for the first time as NBA teammates on Sunday, the Curry brothers closed out a key Warriors win on Tuesday.

Warriors 110, Kings 105: Down 3 with 2:53 left, Steph Curry (17 pts, 5 reb, 4 3s) and Brandin Podziemski (20 pts, 4 3s) sparked a 9-1 closing run for Golden State with back-to-back 3s, before Seth Curry (12 pts) sealed it at the line, edging Sacramento to end a four-game skid. | Recap

• Play-In Push: The Warriors (10th) are now 3 GB of the 9th-place Blazers, who visit the Spurs tonight on ESPN (9:30 ET)

3. ROUNDUP: FEARS CATCHES FIRE, BULLS & NETS DUB

It’s been a season full of rookie records (see Section 4), and last night, Jeremiah Fears added another to the list.

Pelicans 156, Jazz 137: Fears went off for a career-high 40 points – the most ever by a Pelicans rookie – as NOLA set a new single-game franchise scoring record, outpacing Bez Mbeng (26 pts, 5 stl) and the Jazz to halt an eight-game slide. | Recap

• Special Company: Fears added 5 boards and 6 dimes, becoming just the fifth teenager to post at least 40/5/5 in a game, joining Cooper Flagg, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and LeBron James
• NOLA Eruption: Jordan Poole tallied 34 points on seven 3s, as the Pels dropped 95 in the 2nd half – the 3rd-highest scoring half in the play-by-play era

Bulls 129, Wizards 98: Rob Dillingham (26 pts, 5 3s) and Patrick Williams (20 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) helped Chicago jump out to a 38-18 1st-quarter lead, and the Bulls never looked back, beating the Wiz to snap a seven-game skid. | Recap

Nets 96, Bucks 90: After trailing by as many as 16, AJ Green (20 pts, 6 reb) sparked a 15-5 Bucks run to cut the deficit to 1 with 2:28 left, but Brooklyn closed on an 8-3 burst to slam the door, with rookie Ben Saraf (19 pts, 5 reb) hitting the game-clinching free throws. | Recap

4. KIA ROOKIE LADDER FIRST LOOK: A RACE TO REMEMBER

A season full of firsts. Milestones stacking up. And a rookie race that delivered through April.

The 2025-26 rookie class has produced from the jump – from VJ Edgecombe’s debut outburst, to Kon Knueppel shattering a slew of 3-point records, to Cooper Flagg’s historic scoring weekend just days ago.

With no shortage of standout cases, the race for the top spot on Steve Aschburner’s Kia Rookie Ladder has stayed tight from start to finish.

In his final Ladder of the season, Aschburner gives his take on a race that may not have a clear-cut answer:

There is no institutional heft to this. The Ladder committee has one member [Aschburner], who is just one of the 100 media voters invited by the NBA to cast ballots for each of its annual awards and honors…

… More than most seasons, a Kia ROY tie might feel appropriate for this year’s top two contenders… | Read More

Tonight on League Pass, one of Aschburner’s top contenders takes the floor, as Flagg leads Dallas into Phoenix (10 ET).

5. ON ESPN: ELITE EAST DUOS COLLIDE, SURGING SPURS HOST BLAZERS

Kevin C. Cox + Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Nineteen seeds to lock in.

Five more nights.

As the runway to a finalized postseason field gets shorter and shorter, ESPN’s Wednesday doubleheader features four postseason squads and a potential First Round matchup.

Hawks at Cavaliers (7 ET): 4th-place Cleveland remains just one game behind the Knicks, but if the season ended today, the Cavs would host the 5th-place Hawks in a battle of assembled duos driving strong stretch runs:

• Pairing Up: The Cavs made a win-now deadline deal to pair superstars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, while Atlanta’s offseason addition of Nickeil Alexander-Walker has synced with Jalen Johnson’s rise
• NAW & JJ: Atlanta has the No. 2 threat it’s been looking for in Alexander-Walker lately, as he and Johnson have fueled an 18-3 run, during which the offense ranks top-4 with 122.6 ppg
• Scoring Support: Alexander-Walker (23.2 pts) has led the team in scoring during the run while Johnson continues orchestrating at a premier level (21.1 pts, 9 reb, 7.4 ast)
• Rare Level Up: NAW is the first player to increase his scoring by 10+ ppg from one season to the next since teammate CJ McCollum did from 2014-15 (6.8 ppg) to 2015-16 (20.8 ppg)
• On Monday, NAW set the Hawks’ single-season record for made 3s (244). He’s averaging a career-high 3.2 3s per game this season at a 39.9% clip

Jeff Haynes + Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images

Cleveland’s superstar pairing has paid immediate dividends, powering the Cavs to a fourth straight Playoff berth, as they now seek a fourth straight win.

• Offensive Complements: Cleveland is 15-6 when Harden and Mitchell play together, averaging 120.3 ppg in that span, which would be good for 3rd-best in the NBA this season
• Spring Mainstays: Harden is one of four players ever to make the Playoffs in each of his first 17 seasons, while Mitchell has made the Playoffs all nine years of his career

Rocky Widner + Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Blazers at Spurs (9:30 ET): After reaching 60 wins, San Antonio still has the West’s No. 1 seed in sight (2.5 GB of OKC), but could be without Victor Wembanyama (ribs) tonight.

• Without Wemby: San Antonio’s depth has delivered in Wemby’s absence this season, going 11-5, with De’Aaron Fox (24.6 pts, 6.3 ast) and Stephon Castle (19.6 pts, 6.9 ast) leading the offense to 121.4 ppg in those outings
• Spurs Slayers: Portland won its last matchup with San Antonio on Jan. 3, also without Wemby, behind Deni Avdija’s 24/10/10
• Both Bolstered Since: A month later, San Antonio started its current 28-3 surge, rising to the league’s 3rd-highest scoring offense (119.7 ppg)
• Strength vs. Strength: Portland, in a 7-3 stretch, counters with the 2nd-best defense (107.9 DefRtg) since March 1

League Pass Roundup: Nikola Jokić and the surging Nuggets go for a 10th straight win, hosting the Grizzlies (9 ET).

• Wolves at Magic (7 ET)
• Bucks at Pistons (7 ET)
• Thunder at Clippers (10 ET)

Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 27 points in a 112-91 win over Miami on Dec. 23.

The Toronto Raptors (43-35, 6th in Eastern Conference) host the Miami Heat (41-37, 10th in Eastern Conference) on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena.

Both the Raptors and Heat have clinched a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, but their seeding remains uncertain. Both teams have chances to get better playoff positioning, and in the Raptors’ case, locking up a top 6 seed would be massive.

The Raptors have been fighting to hang on down the stretch, but they’ve lost three of their last four, including a 115-101 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Sunday. As for the Heat, they’re coming off a 152-136 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, meaning they’ve won two of their last three but own a 2-3 mark across their last five games.

Here are three key storylines to know heading into today’s matchup.

1. Massive playoff implications: Even though both teams have already locked up a berth in the playoffs, there’s a lot to be determined in terms of seeding ahead of the final week of the regular season. Ahead of Tuesday’s slate, the Raptors hold a 0.5-game lead over the 76ers for the sixth spot in the standings, and a win here could go a long way for Toronto since the rest of their schedule includes another matchup against the Heat and a meeting with the Knicks.

As for the Heat, they’re 2.0 games behind Toronto, and with back-to-back head-to-head meetings, Miami could cause a massive shockwave in the standings if it wins both games. With the standings in the East so tight and six teams vying for the final two playoff spots to avoid the Play-In Tournament, the stakes are incredibly high before this showdown.

2. Scottie Barnes dishing out the dimes: The Raptors may be without Immanuel Quickley (foot) again for this game, and while the team has a perfectly capable backup point guard in Jamal Shead, it has been Barnes who’s embracing a bigger role in the playmaking department. Barnes has dished out at least six assists in each of his last 10 games, a stretch in which he’s averaging 9.9 dimes but also 3.2 turnovers. Barnes is one of the most versatile forwards in the NBA, so it’s not a surprise to see him stand out in another area of his game. Look for Barnes’ facilitating to be a challenge for the Heat’s defense.

3. Bam Adebayo will have a massive opportunity to shine: The Raptors could be shorthanded in terms of their frontcourt depth since Sandro Mamukelashvili (knee) and Collin Murray-Boyles (quadriceps) are questionable, meaning Jakob Poeltl will be the only true center available for Toronto.

That should mean a flashing green light for Adebayo, who is having a career year. The star big man is averaging 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in his 11 appearances after he dropped 83 points on the Wizards on March 10, and he’s putting up 24.1 points with 10.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game since the All-Star break. He could be a big problem down low for the Raptors.

Victor Wembanyama recorded his best fantasy game of the season in the Spurs’ loss against the Nuggets.

Last week was the fantasy basketball championship for most Yahoo High Score leagues. If you took home the hardware, congratulations! If you lost — like me — it’s going to be a long summer and offseason. And if you lost by two points in the final because of Nikola Jokić — again, like me — it may be a rough recovery road ahead.

This will be the final weekly High Score Perfect Lineup story of the season. If you followed along, thanks — I hope these stories were informative, helpful and fun. It was the inaugural season of High Score fantasy basketball on Yahoo and, at least for me, it was a major success. The format is definitely more accessible and less work while also offering the same excitement as 9-cat and points leagues.

Week 23 High Score Perfect Lineup. (Graphic via Taylor Wilhelm)

More on the top performers

Cooper Flagg: It’s fitting that the rookie phenom lands in the final High Score perfect lineup, a little preview of something we could see quite often next season. It looks like Flagg is going to do just enough to overtake Kon Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year this season. He came dangerously close to averaging 20-5-5 with over 2.0 stocks per game. It will be interesting to see where Flagg lands in the pecking order of fantasy drafts next season.

Luka Dončić: Dončić did just enough to get fantasy managers through the championship round. Earlier in the week, he was able to post 77 fantasy points prior to sustaining a hamstring strain that could ruin the Lakers’ chances of a deep playoff run. Dončić has already been ruled out for the rest of the regular season but could be back in the playoffs. Fortunately, it isn’t something fantasy managers need to be concerned about so long as your season ended on Sunday. Dončić finishes the season as one of the top assets in fantasy and should be a top-three pick next season.

Victor Wembanyama: Jokić and the Nuggets may have won the clash of titans on Saturday but Wemby was the one who came away with the slightly higher fantasy score. That may have decided a lot of fantasy championships (we’ll get to mine shortly). Wembanyama really peaked down the stretch, scoring at least 70 fantasy points in four of his past five games to end the fantasy season.

Injuries and range of outcomes hurt his value this season. That could hold him back from edging Jokić for who should be the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts for 2026-27.

Nikola Jokić: I got Jokic’d in the final. Denver had just two games and perhaps if Jokić was playing any other team, my final likely would have gone in my favor. But alas, there wasn’t much I could do (plus, Alperen Sengun didn’t come through for me). Anyway, at least for High Score next season, Jokić should easily be the No. 1 overall pick. Even with missing a big chunk of time in January, Jokić was still the fantasy MVP, finishing with the highest average fantasy points per game (69.2), 5.1 points higher than Dončić in second place.

LeBron James: We didn’t see LeBron pop up in this lineup often but he finishes the season on it, mostly because of the injury to Dončić. He came one rebound shy of a triple-double with 30 points and 15 assists. It appears LeBron is going to bolt L.A. this offseason for one last ride elsewhere before he retires. He’ll continue to be a fantasy asset and could even boost his stock depending on where he lands.

Jayson Tatum: If you asked me during the offseason if I’d see Tatum pop up on a High Score article, I’d say, “You’re crazy, man.” But here we are, with Tatum on the list to end the season. His miraculous recovery from a torn Achilles during the playoffs led him to a quick return this season. The Celtics superstar also didn’t need much time to get re-acclimated. Through 14 games, Tatum is averaging 20-10-5, though his shooting splits leave a bit to be desired. This is a good sign for Tatum going into 2026-27 and he should return to being a player selected in the first two rounds.

Record weekend for Cooper Flagg: check ✅

An epic final week of the regular season: coming up next 👀

Only six days remain in the regular season – and while the 20-team postseason field is set, almost everything else is not.

With the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament tipping off next Tuesday and the Playoffs opening April 18, see what’s trending – and what’s at stake – this week ⬇️

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 6, 2026

What’s Trending: Everything to know for the final week of the regular season

What’s Next: A stacked national slate amid a jam-packed postseason sprint

Sunday’s Best: Flagg outduels LeBron in record encore, Rockets edge Steph’s Dubs, Thunder roll

East Dubs: Jays lift C’s (again), Mitchell goes off, Hornets stay humming, Magic rally late

Roundup: Book cooks, Clips climb to No. 8 out West, Bucks & Nets win

BUT FIRST … ⏰

The postseason is nearly here…

Five games tip off tonight, starting with Knicks-Hawks on Peacock (7 ET | Tap to Watch).

Postseason Countdown: The SoFi Play-In Tournament is just eight days away. See the current Playoff Picture here and more key dates below:

• Sunday, April 12: Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
• Tuesday, April 14-17: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
• Saturday, April 18: NBA Playoffs begin

1. WHAT’S TRENDING: THE FINAL POSTSEASON PUSH STARTS NOW

Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Six. Days.

That’s all that’s left in the regular season to determine 19 of the 20 postseason seeds.

The 20-team postseason field is set. The Pistons have locked up the East’s No. 1 seed. And while multiple teams have clinched Playoff and Play-In berths, the postseason bracket remains fluid.

In other words, there are just six days left to determine…

• Homecourt advantage in the First Round of the Playoffs (seeds 1-4)
• Two more guaranteed Playoff spots (seeds 5-6)
• A win-and-in SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament game (seeds 7-8)
• Homecourt in a win-or-go-home Play-In game (seeds 9-10)

Where The West Stands: Five of the West’s six guaranteed Playoff spots are claimed (OKC, SAS, LAL, DEN, HOU), but seeding remains in flux, with Minnesota and Phoenix also in the hunt.

Race For No. 1: Eyeing the top seed for a third straight year, OKC sits 3 games up on San Antonio for 1st in the West.

• Thunder Rolling: OKC (62-16) has won five straight, looking for back-to-back 65+ win seasons for the first time in franchise history
• Spurs Surging: San Antonio (59-15) saw its 11-game win streak snapped by Denver on Saturday, but is an NBA-best 27-3 since Feb. 1, seeking its first 60-win season since 2016-17
• Kia MVP Ladder: Two scorching superstars are driving both squads, with Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander atop Shaun Powell’s latest Kia MVP Ladder in a loaded race
• Kia Rookie Ladder: The Kia Rookie Ladder is also red-hot, with Cooper Flagg (No. 2) coming off a historic weekend (see Sec. 3 ⬇️), while Kon Knueppel (No. 1) fuels the surging Hornets

NBAE via Getty Images

Wild West Sprint: With Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out for the rest of the regular season, LeBron James will look to keep the 3rd-place Lakers ahead of Nikola Jokić’s streaking Nuggets – winners of eight straight – with the Rockets also scorching.

• Mile-High Monday: Both at 50-28, Denver sits a tiebreaker behind Los Angeles and hosts Portland tonight (9 ET, League Pass), seeking a ninth straight win
• To Make It 8 Straight? Jokić, who ranks 3rd on Powell’s Kia MVP Ladder, delivered an ace (40 pts, 8 reb, 13 ast, 0 TO) to outduel Wemby (34 pts, 18 reb, 7 ast, 5 blk) in Saturday’s OT thriller
• Here Comes Houston: One game behind Denver are the Rockets, riding a six-game heater – the second-longest win streak in the NBA
• Wolves Lurking: Three games back sits Minnesota, which holds a 3-game lead on Phoenix for the final guaranteed Playoff spot
• Play-In Push: Seeds 8-10 – the Clippers, Blazers and Warriors – are locked into the Play-In, but are still fighting for position, with LA and Portland (each 40-38) separated by tiebreaker

East Heat: On Saturday, the Pistons secured the East’s No. 1 seed for the first time since 2006-07. Behind them sit Boston (2nd), New York (3rd) and Cleveland (4th). All four squads have won at least seven of their last 10.

• Cavs Push For 3: Cleveland is just 1 GB of New York and will look to chip away tonight in Memphis (8 ET, League Pass)
• Soaring Hawks: Atlanta has surged into 5th, owning an East-best 21-6 record since Feb. 1 and sitting 2 games up on 6th-place Philly
• Pivotal Peacock Tilt: Tonight, the Hawks seek a fifth straight win as they host the Knicks on Peacock (7 ET)
• Clustered Chaos: Seeds 6-10 in the East (PHI, TOR, CHA, ORL, MIA) are separated by just two games, with 9th-place Orlando 1 GB of Philly and 1 game up on 10th-place Miami
• Tonight on League Pass, the Magic host the Pistons (7 ET), while the Sixers visit the Spurs (8 ET)

2. WHAT’S NEXT: HIGH STAKES AMID A STACKED NATIONAL SLATE

After tonight’s top-five East duel between New York and Atlanta on NBA TV (7 ET), the final week of the regular season delivers more national games packed with postseason implications.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday (NBC): The Celtics (33-13) lead the East in wins since Jan. 1, while the Hornets (32-14) are tied for second.

They meet tomorrow in Boston to open NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday (8 ET), before the Rockets seek a seventh straight win, visiting the Suns (8 PT).

Wednesday On ESPN: If the Playoffs started today, Cleveland and Atlanta would meet in the East’s 4 vs. 5 matchup. They’ll duel Wednesday on ESPN (7 ET), before the Blazers visit Wemby’s Spurs (9:30 ET), with Portland eyeing homecourt in the West Play-In.

Thursday On Prime: The East’s No. 2 & 3 seeds collide as the Celtics visit the Knicks (7:30 ET), with New York 3 GB of Boston. Then, Steph Curry and LeBron James go head-to-head as the Warriors welcome the Lakers (10 ET).

Full Friday: All 30 teams take the floor on Friday, headlined by a Prime doubleheader as the Cavs and Hawks run it back (7 ET), before Anthony Edwards and the 6th-place Wolves visit the 5th-place Rockets in a pivotal showdown (9:30 ET).

Sunday Finale: After no games Saturday, the final day of the regular season delivers 15 more matchups – all on League Pass – setting up a stacked finale.

3. SUNDAY’S BEST: FLAGG MAKES HISTORY, HOUSTON & OKC STAY HOT

Two nights after becoming the first teenager to score 50+ points in a game, Cooper Flagg made more history Sunday – joining one all-time great while dueling another.

Mavericks 134, Lakers 128: In a landmark moment, Flagg (22 pts) and LeBron James (26 pts) marked the first game in NBA history where a 40+ year old and a player under 20 both scored 20+ pts in the same game.

That was at halftime. By night’s end, Flagg (19y, 105d) had 45 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, becoming the youngest player to post 45/5/5 in a game while leading the Mavs past LeBron (30 pts, 9 reb, 15 ast) and the Lakers. | Recap

• Coop & Wilt: After dropping a career-high 51 on Saturday, Flagg becomes the first rookie to score 96+ points over a two-game span since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960
• All-Time Encore: Flagg is also the youngest player to post back-to-back 45-point games, and it’s his fourth 40-piece of the season
• Coop & LeBron: That moves him past James (3) for the most 40-balls by a teenager in NBA history
• “I was a little kid watching him go through his whole career,” said Flagg on facing LeBron postgame. “It’s a dream come true … to match up against somebody like that … it’s incredible.”

Generations Collide: While LeBron is the NBA’s oldest player, Flagg is the youngest – separated by 22 years, but connected by style.

Both entered the league at 18 as No. 1 picks. Both were handed the ball early. And both built their games not just on scoring, but on playmaking – seeing the floor, creating for others and controlling the tempo.

That showed Sunday, as James and Flagg each filled the box score across the board – flashing familiar all-around games, built two decades apart.

• “I love what he’s doing. I love what he’s bringing to this franchise,” said James of Flagg postgame. “I think it’s great to put the ball in somebody’s hands…
• “My rookie year, I basically started at point guard early on … so, I see similarities in that on the basketball floor.”

To wrap NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball, Steph Curry returned with a chance to win it at the buzzer – but the streaking Rockets stood tall.

Rockets 117, Warriors 116: Back from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury, Curry (29 pts, 4 ast, 5 3s) sparked a 24-9 run to erase a 14-point 4th quarter deficit, giving Golden State the lead with 20 seconds left.

But Alperen Sengun (24 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast) answered with a go-ahead bucket with 11 ticks left, and Curry’s potential game-winner at the buzzer just missed, securing Houston’s sixth straight win. | Recap

• Core Delivers: Kevin Durant (31 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast) led the way, while Jabari Smith Jr. (23 pts, 9 reb) and Amen Thompson (18 pts, 7 ast) combined for 41
• “We had the game in control, then they put No. 30 in the game,” said Durant of Curry postgame. “Good test for us, and glad we came out with the W.”

Also rolling: the reigning champs.

Thunder 146, Jazz 111: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20 pts, 7 ast, 7-10 FG) extended his record 20-point game streak to 138 consecutive games, while Chet Holmgren was a force on both ends (21 pts, 7 reb, 4 blk) as OKC topped Brice Sensabaugh (34 pts, 5 ast, 6 3s) and Utah for a fifth straight win. | Recap

• Rolling: The Thunder are 16-1 in their last 17 games and have lost just twice since the All-Star break
• Winning Formula: It starts defensively as they’re on pace to rank 1st in DefRtg, points off turnovers and NetRtg for a second straight season
• Steady Shai: SGA (31.4 ppg, 55.2 FG%) leads the way offensively, on track for his fourth consecutive season averaging 30+ points on at least 50% shooting – a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Michael Jordan (1988-1992)

4. EAST DUBS: CELTICS, CAVS & HORNETS STAY HOT, MAGIC RALLY

The Jays are cooking, and the C’s keep winning.

Celtics 115, Raptors 101: Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 26 points, while Jayson Tatum stuffed the stat sheet (23 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl), beating Toronto for Boston’s sixth win in seven games. | Recap

• Full Stride: The C’s are 10-2 in their last 12, with Brown posting 30.3 ppg in that span and Tatum averaging a double-double (22 pts, 11.1 reb, 5.6 ast)
• ⬆️ Sixers To 6: The win gives Boston a 4-game lead over New York for 2nd, while Philly jumped Toronto for 6th

Two straight wins for Cleveland, one serious shake for Spida.

Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108: Donovan Mitchell put on a show (38 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) alongside James Harden (28 pts, 7 ast, 5 3s), as the Cavs used a 27-17 4th quarter to race past Indy, moving just 1 GB of the Knicks with their eighth win in 10 games. | Recap

• Stars Clicking: Amid the 8-2 run, Mitchell (25.4 pts, 4.3 ast) and Harden (22.1 pts, 8.2 ast) are combining for 47.5 pts and 12.5 ast per game

David Sherman + Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

Hornets 122, Wolves 108: LaMelo Ball drilled seven 3s en route to 35 points and 8 dimes, while Miles Bridges also cooked (25 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast), as the Hornets pulled past Julius Randle (26 pts, 8 reb) and the Wolves, who were without Anthony Edwards (knee). | Recap

• Humming: Charlotte has won four straight and is 17-5 since Feb. 22. In that span, it ranks 1st in OffRtg (123.7), NetRtg (+14.7) and made 3s (18.8)

Magic 112, Pelicans 108: Down 94-84 early in the 4th, Desmond Bane (27 pts, 6 reb) and Paolo Banchero (23 pts, 16 reb, 6 ast) sparked a 14-2 Orlando run, with Bane hitting the go-ahead 3 before sealing the win late at the line. | Recap

• Bane Time: Bane scored 14 in the 4th, while Saddiq Bey (32 pts, 6 reb) led NOLA

5. ROUNDUP: SUNS REBOUND, CLIPS CLIMB, BUCKS & NETS DUB

Jeff Haynes + Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Suns 120, Bulls 110: Devin Booker dropped 30, while Jalen Green added 25 as the Suns pulled past Tre Jones (29 pts, 6 ast) and the Bulls with an 11-2 closing run to end a two-game slide, moving 3 GB of Minnesota for 6th in the West. | Recap

Clippers 138, Kings 109: Kawhi Leonard (26 pts, 6 reb) and John Collins (25 pts, 4 3s) combined for 51 points as the Clips earned a wire-to-wire win over Sacramento, jumping Portland for 8th in the West. | Recap

• Clips Turnaround: At 40-38, LA is on pace to become the first team ever to finish above .500 after a 6-21 start
• DeMar Passes Big O: With 9 points, DeMar DeRozan passed Oscar Robertson (26,710) for 16th on the all-time scoring list

Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115: Rayan Rupert (33 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) became the third Grizzly in franchise history to record a 30-point triple-double, but Ryan Rollins (24 pts), Cormac Ryan (21 pts, 5 stl) and the Bucks were too much, as Milwaukee pulled away. | Recap

Nets 121, Wizards 115: Will Riley dropped 30 points and 6 dimes for the Wiz, but fellow rookie Nolan Traore (career-high 23 pts, 7 ast, career-high 5 3s) sparked a 20-10 closing run to lift Brooklyn past Washington. | Recap

Anthony Brown Jr. hoists the Capital Classic MVP trophy after scoring 32 points. (Photo courtesy of Aayush Nakshathram).

The 53rd Annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic marked a sensational return to Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. after a nine-year hiatus, reigniting the energy and legacy of “the game that started it all” while setting the stage for what’s to come.

CEO of the Capital Classic and Hoop Culture, Tom Doyle, said, “I couldn’t have scripted it any better. I can see next year, and the year after that, it’s going to be even bigger and better because that’s how the game used to be when Bob [Geoghan] had it back in the early days, and Pete Deoudes [Capital Classic Co-owner] and I are continuing his legacy.”

Capital All-Stars vs. United States All-Stars

The Capital All-Stars and the United States All-Stars battled back and forth in an evenly matched first half, with both teams getting settled in the game. However, the Capital All-Stars, including SC NEXT100 No. 8-ranked Baba Oladotun and No. 76-ranked Anthony Brown Jr., found their rhythm — and the rest was history.

Anthony Brown Jr. is committed to Vanderbilt, while Baba Oladotun is heading to Maryland. (Photo Courtesy of Aayush Nakshathram).

Oladotun, the 16-year-old 6-foot-9 power forward, caught fire in the third quarter, knocking down tough shots from all over the floor and showcasing his perimeter skill set. He also flashed his athleticism with a put-back dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.

“The crowd out there, my family, it was really fun to play in the NBA environment,” Oladotun said. “So really grateful to just play with the best-of-the-best competition and really have fun out there.”

However, Brown Jr. made the most of one of his final hometown appearances before heading to college. The Washington, D.C. native caught fire in the fourth quarter, knocking down six threes en route to 32 points in a 103-81 win and Capital Classic co-MVP honors alongside Georgetown commit Justin Caldwell (18 pts). 

“I just wanted to have fun, there was no real end goal besides to win,” Brown Jr. emphasized. “Today, my job was to put the ball in the hoop. It felt good, so I kept doing what I had to do.”

Other Standout Performers:

• Shane Pendergrass: 18 points, 5 rebounds (George Mason Commit)
• Darius Bivins: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists (Undecided)
• Louis O’Keefe: 12 points, 4 rebounds (Princeton Commit)
• Sammy Jackson: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals (VCU Commit)

West All-Stars vs. East All-Stars

Promise Njoku is committed to UNC-Wilmington. (Photo Courtesy of Aayush Nakshathram).

The second annual Vicki Brick-Zupancic DMV Girls All-Star Game tipped off the Capital Classic. Promise Njoku earned MVP honors with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists, leading the East All-Stars to a 54–47 win. With the game set to remain part of the All-American showcase, Boyle said it can only continue to grow.

Giving back to the community

The Capital Classic ultimately raised $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and $10,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. Not only did the All-American showcase highlight top high school talent, but it also gave back to a community rich in history.

Tyrese Maxey posted 39 points in the win over Minnesota on Feb. 22.

Philadelphia grabbed a 135-108 win over Minnesota on Feb. 22 in their only meeting this season. However, things have changed drastically for both teams since then.

Here are three key storylines to know heading into today’s matchup.

1. The Sixers are streaking: Philadelphia has been battling a plethora of injuries all season, but they’re finally fully healthy. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. all returned over the last week, which has sparked Philly’s best stretch of the season, winning seven of their last 10 outings. The offense has been firing, averaging 138.6 points over their last five wins. That’s no surprise when looking at all the talent back in the fold, with George regaining his footing in his return to action. 

George is averaging 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals in four games since returning from a 25-game suspension. Getting him alongside All-Stars like Maxey and Embiid makes this one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference. This run has catapulted Philadelphia up to sixth in the East, but the Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all right on the Sixers’ heels by three games or less. 

2. The Timberwolves are trying to climb up the standings: Minnesota has been battling the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets for a top 3 seed in the Western Conference all season, but it will be an uphill battle to get there. The Timberwolves sit sixth in the West right now but are only four games behind the Lakers in third. Not much time remains, with only six games left, but they come into this matchup having won six of their last 10. 

What’s also encouraging is that Anthony Edwards made his return from a knee issue earlier this week, a much-needed addition, especially with Jaden McDaniels recently suffering a knee injury of his own. McDaniels’ injury status is listed as week-to-week, and losing a defensive presence like that is significant for the Timberwolves. 

3. Philly’s core four: The Sixers built a fascinating lineup, but we haven’t seen them play much together. Fans were ecstatic to see Embiid, Maxey, George and VJ Edgecombe all suit up together earlier this week, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better foursome in the NBA. George’s hot streak has been on full display, but Embiid is returning to an All-Star level as well. 

Embiid is averaging 26.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 blocks this season, and Maxey is right there with him, posting 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals. We didn’t even mention Edgecombe, who’s looked like one of the best rookies in the league. That’s a core no opponent wants to see healthy in the postseason, making them a dark horse in the Eastern Conference. 

LeBron James and Shannon Brown hold the MVP Trophy after the Capital Classic in April 2003 in Washington, DC.

The 53rd Annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic All-American Game tips off this weekend in Washington, D.C., showcasing some of the nation’s top high school prospects. Established in 1974 by the late grassroots basketball promoter and pioneer Bob Geoghan, the event became the first national high school basketball all-star showcase, serving as a launching pad for future NBA All-Stars and Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees. 

The teams will be split between the United States All-Stars and the Capital All-Stars (DMV), with the Vicki Brick-Zupancic DMV Girls All-Star Game (10:30 p.m. ET) set to precede the boys’ tipoff (12 p.m. ET) at Capital One Arena.

“We’re proud to once again bring the energy and tradition of the Hoop Culture Capital Classic to fans throughout the DMV,” said Friday Abernethy, General Manager of Monumental Sports Network. “This event is our commitment to celebrate and highlight our local talent, and the role basketball plays in our community. It reflects our ongoing dedication to telling meaningful sports stories and highlighting the next wave of stars. We’re excited to deliver an engaging broadcast and honor the legacy of this iconic game.” 

Notable Alumni

Here are some notable Capital Classic alumni over the last five decades:

• Moses Malone – 1974
• Magic Johnson – 1977
• Dominique Wilkins – 1979 MVP
• Ralph Sampson – 1979
• Michael Jordan – 1981
• Patrick Ewing – 1981 MVP
• Grant Hill – 1990
• Jason Kidd – 1992
• Carmelo Anthony – 2002
• Amare Stoudemire – 2002
• J.J. Reddick – 2002
• LeBron James – 2003 MVP
• Chris Paul – 2003
• Klay Thompson – 2008

LeBron James scored 34 points to secure the Capital Classic MVP award in 2003.

Future Stars Take Stage

This year’s game looks to carry on that tradition, once again spotlighting some of the nation’s top high school talent. Here’s a closer look at a few elite prospects headlining Saturday’s action. 

Jordan Smith Jr. 

Jordan Smith Jr. captured three consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships and four straight Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division I titles. The Arkansas commit earned both the 2025-26 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year and 2026 Naismith High School Player of the Year honors after averaging 25.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.3 apg and 3.0 spg during his senior season. Smith Jr. is ranked the No. 1 player in Virginia and the No. 2 overall recruit in the country in the SC Next 100. 

Baba Oladotun

Baba Oladotun is a 6-foot-9 forward with a 7’4” wingspan who possesses size and guard skills. The future Maryland Terrapin averaged 22.5 ppg during his senior season, leading James Hubert Blake High School to a 4A state title. Oladotun was originally the No. 1 player in ESPN’s class of 2027 before reclassifying to 2026 at just 16 years old. He is now No. 8 overall in the SC Next 100 and ranks as the No. 3 power forward in the country. 

Beyond the on-court talent, the Capital Classic continues to make a difference in the community. The Girls All-Star Game will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, while the Boys Game will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Through the Capital Classic Youth Foundation, the event also helps expand access and opportunities for young athletes, reinforcing that the showcase values building futures.

The Capital Classic can be watched on monumentalsportsnetwork.com and on the Monumental+ app. Highlights from the game will be available on Future Starts Now platforms across NBA digital and social channels.

The Pistons’ Cade Cunningham was the first player to eclipse 100 fantasy points in a game during the 2025-26 season.

As the fantasy basketball season winds down, let’s spotlight the top 10 single-game performances in Yahoo’s High Score format. Since only your best stat line each week counts, these games likely swung entire matchups. Here are the players who delivered the biggest stat lines through March 30 of the 2025-26 season.

My colleague Ben Zweiman has done an amazing job of keeping track of all the best performances each week, so I owe him a drink for making my life easier here.

1. Bam Adebayo — 110 High Score points

Adebayo scored 83!! points against the Wizards on March 10 — the second-highest single-game total in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100. He went 36-of-43 from the free-throw line (an NBA record), threw in a career-best 7 3s and the Heat ran a 57.5% usage rate through him all night. The 83 points alone drag this line to all-time territory. The 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks just pile on.

It will likely go down as one of the most random, unexpected outlier performances in NBA history.

2. Nikola Jokić — 108 High Score points

The Joker held the crown of the highest fantasy outing of the year until March 10 rolled around. His Christmas Day masterpiece against Minnesota was built on a gaudy 56-16-15 with 2 blocks. Of the players in the top 10 in fantasy scoring this season, this game featured the fewest stocks at 2. But that’s the thing about Jokić — the stocks aren’t as vital when you post modern-day Wilt Chamberlain numbers on a humble Christmas night. I’ve never rostered Jokić in all my years playing fantasy, but I would love to look at a box score, just one time and see numbers on the board like this.

3. Cade Cunningham — 101 High Score points

The only player not named Adebayo or Jokić to crack 100 High Score points this season was Cunningham. Cunningham’s 46-12-11 triple-double back in November looked like a great fantasy night on its own, but it was his 7 stocks (5 steals and 2 blocks) that boosted his score another 21 points, helping him clear that 100-fantasy-point threshold. If he didn’t suffer a lung injury, he’d surely be in NBA MVP conversations and he was naturally one of the best fantasy contributors of the 2025-26 campaign.

4. Luka Dončič — 99 High Score points

One point away from the 100-point club. Luka destroyed the Jazz on Dec. 18, posting a balanced 45 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists and 5 steals. In the month of March, Dončič is making a strong case to earn his first MVP award, averaging 37-8-7 with 2 steals per game and leading the Lakers to a 14-2 record through Monday.

5. Jalen Johnson — 98 High Score points

Johnson came into the season too good to be a Most Improved Player; however, he still made a seismic leap into stardom. His ascension allowed the Hawks to pivot away from their franchise PG, Trae Young, because he was so impactful as a point-forward. Johnson is tied with Josh Giddey for the most triple-doubles this season (13), and his dominance on Nov. 13 factored into one of those 13. Johnson had 31-18-14 with an impressive 7 steals. It’s the two-way versatility and playmaking that morphed him into a first-round value this season.

Playing the Jazz also helps.

6. Tyrese Maxey — 95 High Score points

Another player who’s elevated to the fantasy elite is Maxey. He hung 54 points on the Bucks on Nov. 20, along with 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 6 stocks. Maxey’s defense has been a game-changer for his fantasy value, and seeing his peak at nearly 100 points was great, as he provided one of the highest yet consistent floors in High Score. He’s been a top five asset across formats, averaging 54.8 fantasy points per night in high score.

7. Nikola Jokić — 94 High Score points

Again, more Wilt numbers that have pretty much become normalized as just another day at the office for Nikola Jokić. The Warriors frontcourt posed no threat to Jokić on Feb. 22, where he amassed 35-20-12 with 5 stocks. Not quite his Christmas line, but still another dominant night from the best fantasy basketball player around.

8. Kawhi Leonard — 94 High Score points

The only top-10 entry with fewer than 5 assists, but Kawhi put on a scoring and defensive clinic in late December, dropping an ethical and efficient 55 points with 11 boards, 2 assists and 8 stocks versus the Pistons. Putting up those numbers against the best team in the Eastern Conference says a lot about the type of season Leonard’s had. I thought he’d be great for High Score because you only had to rely on him for one game out of the week. However, he was barely load-managed and sits at 13th in fantasy points per game in High Score.

9. Luka Dončič — 91 High Score points

It’s the second time we’ve seen Luka on this list, with this one coming in the midst of one of the best months of his career. Dončič fell one assist shy of the triple-double but delivered a masterpiece against the Bulls on March 12, scoring 51 points along with 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 1 block.

Two 90-point fantasy performances in the same season? Feels like there are only a few players capable of that each year and Luka’s one of ‘em.

10. Nikola Jokić — 90 High Score points

When you’re doing lists in fantasy basketball, the guy averaging a triple-double will be on it more than a couple of times. Jokić’s third and final entry in the top 10 is nearly a mirror of his Feb. 22 line: 31 points, 20 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a comeback win at San Antonio. Given the tight Western Conference standings and the Spurs’ post-All-Star break run, this was a significant statement game in both reality and fantasy.

The Rockets’ Alperen Sengun posted a monster double-double and 81 fantasy points in a win over the Pelicans.

The final two weeks of the regular season are here, and contending teams continue to solidify their postseason positioning. As is typically the case at this critical juncture, the cream is rising to the top, which is borne out by this week’s top five once again consisting of a who’s who of the Association’s elite. 

The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (one-game minimum):

#1. Nikola Jokić, Nuggets

Last Week: 73.4 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (69.0 FP/G)         

Jokić put together another one of his signature weeks, recording a trio of triple-doubles and a double-double during Denver’s impressive 4-0 run. The Nuggets scored between 125 and 142 points in three of those victories, and the big man led the charge with averages of 26.0 points, 17.0 rebounds and 14.0 assists per contest while shooting 56.3%, including 43.8% from 3-point range. Jokić’s week included at least 23 points and 15 rebounds in all four contests, as well as between 12 and 19 assists in three of them. The scoring haul wasn’t artificially inflated by a marathon amount of trips to the line, either, as Joker averaged a modest 5.5 free-throw attempts per contest.

#2. Alperen Sengun, Rockets

Last Week: 64.8 FP/G Season Rank: 13 (49.0 FP/G) 

Sengun was another center who took his game to another level in Week 22, even though the Rockets put together just a 2-2 record during the period. Sengun recorded at least 30 points in three of the four contests, and he managed a double-double in two of those games with a pair of 13-rebound tallies. Overall, the 2021 first-round pick delivered 28.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals across 36.3 minutes per contest, and he shot a blistering 59.7%, including 54.5% from behind the arc, over the entirety of the sample.

#3. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

Last Week: 64.3 FP/G Season Rank: 7 (54.1 FP/G) 

Wemby did his part in a week where the big men shined brightest, churning out a trio of double-doubles alongside five- and seven-block tallies during a dominant week for the Spurs. San Antonio swept road games against the Heat, Grizzlies and Bucks, recording double-digit wins in each with a big boost from Wembanyama’s 22.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 4.3 blocks and 1.7 steals across 28.0 minutes per contest. Making the scoring numbers all the more noteworthy was the fact the big man’s shot was far from at its best – he drained only 44.8% of his attempts, including a paltry 15.4% from distance.

#4. Luka Dončić, Lakers

Last Week: 64.1 FP/G Season Rank: 2 (64.2 FP/G) 

Luka will start the new week off serving a one-game suspension against the Wizards due to having accrued his 16th technical foul of the season, but Dončić put together a stellar effort during the Lakers’ 3-0 Week 22. The Slovenian star’s offensive production was especially in prime form, as Dončić scored between 32 and 43 points in each of the wins over the Pistons, Pacers and Nets. There weren’t any double-doubles this time around, but his 48.8% shooting from the floor and 91.7% success rate from the line on 8.0 free-throw attempts per contest helped ensure a spot in the top five. 

#5. Jaylen Brown, Celtics

Last Week: 61.0 FP/G Season Rank: 9 (50.2 FP/G)

Brown played in just one game last week due to an Achilles injury that cost him the last two contests of the scoring period. However, the star wing, who’s been instrumental in the Celtics’ improbable No. 2 seed during a season that Jayson Tatum missed the majority of, put together an outstanding effort during what was a marquee win for Boston over Oklahoma City, a potential Finals preview. Brown posted 31 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals over 39 minutes, going 9-for-17 from the floor and 12-for-14 from the free-throw line. The performance was emblematic of the level Brown has raised his game to all season, while the result corroborated what Boston might be capable of come the postseason with Tatum also looking more like himself with each game.

This week’s preview: 

The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least two games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:

Luka Dončić, LAL (64.2 FP/G) – WAS (Dončić suspended), CLE, @OKC, @DAL

Jaylen Brown, BOS (50.2 FP/G) – @ATL, @MIA, @MIL, TOR

Donovan Mitchell, CLE (49.4 FP/G) – @UTA, @LAL, @GSW, IND

Alperen Sengun, HOU (49.0 FP/G) – NY, MIL, UTA, @GSW

Paolo Banchero, ORL (45.0 FP/G) – PHO, ATL, @DAL, @NOP