NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 11, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Playoff Picture & Seeding Battles

The race for playoff positioning intensified as the Celtics tied a franchise record by draining 29 three-pointers in a dominant victory over the Pelicans, officially securing the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed. Conversely, the Western Conference maneuvering is complicated by injuries and strategic resting, leading Lakers coach JJ Redick to suggest that many remaining contenders might actually prefer facing a potentially hobbled Los Angeles squad in the first round. This strategic resting was evident across the league, with no fewer than 168 players nationwide sitting out Friday’s slate, including MVP frontrunners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, alongside 14 sidelined members of the Grizzlies.

Star Health & Individual Milestones

While several stars are managing health concerns ahead of the postseason, 76ers centerpiece Joel Embiid has been discharged from a Houston hospital and is returning to Philadelphia, though the team provided no concrete timeline for his return to competitive action. Elsewhere, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama achieved a key benchmark by playing his 65th game, making him eligible for end-of-season awards, highlighted by a 40-point, 13-rebound performance in a 139-120 win against the Mavericks. Off the court, a curious trend is emerging as NBA players increasingly turn to chess as a mental exercise, suggesting a focus on strategic thinking beyond traditional basketball drills.

Offseason Outlooks

For the ten franchises that failed to qualify for the postseason, the focus has immediately shifted to the summer calendar, with personnel decisions looming large for teams like Milwaukee and Dallas in the upcoming draft and free agency periods. These franchises must now evaluate potential trade targets and organizational direction to bridge the gap toward contention in the 2026 season.