NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Western Conference Seeding and Star Returns

The race for Western Conference positioning intensified over the last three days, highlighted by Nikola Jokic's dominant performance that propelled the Nuggets into the No. 3 seed after they rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Blazers. Jokic posted an impressive stat line of 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in that pivotal victory, continuing a strong run that previously saw Denver extend their winning streak to eight games by outdueling MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama in an overtime thriller. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs suffered a scare when Wembanyama was forced to exit Monday's contest against the 76ers at halftime due to a left rib contusion, though the team managed to secure the win without their centerpiece. Elsewhere in the West, Golden State's Stephen Curry made an encouraging return Sunday, tallying 29 points in just 26 minutes against the Rockets, an outing that he later detailed as part of his "new normal" while managing a persistent right knee injury that had sidelined him for the preceding 27 games.

Eastern Conference Standings & Injury Updates

Detroit secured home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season, achieving the top seed despite ongoing absences, though their star point guard Cade Cunningham is reportedly nearing a return from injury. In Philadelphia, the situation remains tense as Joel Embiid was ruled out against the Pistons after previously expressing frustration with the team for preventing him from playing against Washington earlier in the week. The Hawks bolstered their playoff roster by signing veteran center Tony Bradley on Monday, adding depth inside after he averaged 4 points and 2.8 rebounds across 38 games with the Pacers this season. Further south, Luka Doncic is traveling to Spain to seek specialized care for his hamstring injury, with the Mavericks hopeful this treatment will expedite his return for the postseason push.

Rookie Race & League Oddities

In a bizarre night of basketball on Monday, the Memphis Grizzlies managed to tie the NBA single-game record by sinking 29 three-pointers, yet still suffered a decisive 142-126 home defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The final week of the regular season carries significant weight as teams fight for playoff positioning and lottery outcomes, with league insiders analyzing the remaining questions. Separately, the Rookie of the Year race saw a shift after Cooper Flagg delivered a near triple-double performance that included 45 points on Sunday, allowing him to overtake Kon Knueppel as the betting favorite for the award. The league also saw a notable personnel shakeup in Chicago, where the Bulls fired VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley on Monday, prompting immediate speculation regarding the franchise's direction heading into the offseason.

Off-Court News & Hall of Fame

The 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame class was highlighted by several major names, including Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Amar'e Stoudemire, Doc Rivers, and Mike D'Antoni. One inductee, former referee Joey Crawford, weighed in on officiating standards, advocating for the implementation of challenge systems to hold officials accountable for their calls. Meanwhile, off-court chatter involved the Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who publicly stated that Milwaukee and Memphis were the two cities he currently disliked playing in the most, a comment which the Bucks later playfully referenced on social media.