NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 5, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NBA Injury Woes & Star Availability

The Western Conference playoff chase took a significant hit as Lakers guard Austin Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle tear, shelving him for four to six weeks and effectively ending his regular season availability. Compounding injury woes in the East, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid expressed his frustration with the organization after being held out of Wednesday's game, only to be sidelined again for Sunday’s matchup against Detroit following his return Friday. Meanwhile, the Warriors’ Stephen Curry offered an update on his persistent right knee ailment, detailing the "unpredictable" nature of the recovery that has kept him off the court for the last 27 contests.

League Personnel & Hall of Fame News

On the administrative and legacy front, former official Joey Crawford, who is slated for the 2026 Hall of Fame class, asserted that implementing a challenge system in officiating would serve to better hold referees accountable for their in-game decisions. This recognition comes as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame prepares to induct a distinguished class, which includes former WNBA star Candace Parker alongside Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw, celebrating their storied careers. The positive news cycle was briefly punctuated for the Celtics, as center Nikola Vucevic was upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s contest versus the Raptors, marking his potential return one month after undergoing surgery for a fractured right ring finger.