NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 3, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

MVP Race & Player Milestones

The race for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award remains tight as the season concludes, with Victor Wembanyama closing the gap against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the final straw poll conducted by 100 league insiders. However, the San Antonio Spurs opted to rest Wembanyama on a back-to-back for injury management against the Clippers, even managing an 118-99 victory without their centerpiece, while the Minnesota Timberwolves ruled out Anthony Edwards due to illness, rendering him ineligible for postseason awards as he failed to meet the 65-game threshold. In franchise record news, Phoenix guard Collin Gillespie established the Suns' new single-season mark for three-pointers made, a feat mirrored by Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel, who set the Hornets' franchise record for rookie three-pointers in a season.

Team Strategy & Injury Updates

The Portland Trail Blazers' new ownership, led by Tom Dundon, is signaling a strategic pivot away from protracted youth development toward immediate success, stating that "It's more fun to win" as the organization aims for loftier goals Meanwhile, major injury concerns emerged as Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was scheduled for an MRI after exiting Thursday's loss to the Thunder with a strained left hamstring, potentially impacting playoff seeding dynamics across the Western Conference. On the betting front, experts are advising on playoff futures, with one panel suggesting the Spurs are a viable long-shot pick to win the championship despite their current rebuilding phase.

Off-Court Conduct

The Washington Wizards issued an apology for an April Fools' Day promotion, admitting that a staged event involving a planted fan who appeared to miss a half-court shot for a supposed $10,000 prize was entirely scripted, acknowledging the poor taste of the misleading $10K shot 'skit'.