NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Playoff Picture Crystallizes & Organizational Turmoil

The final week of the regular season remains fraught with implication as teams vie for seeding, though the Detroit Pistons clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed despite missing star Cade Cunningham, who is now being upgraded to doubtful signaling his nearing return from injury. Meanwhile, the Western Conference saw the Denver Nuggets secure the No. 3 seed after Nikola Jokic posted a massive 35-point, 13-rebound, 13-assist triple-double to rally Denver from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Blazers, a victory that followed an earlier overtime thriller where Jokic outdueled Wemby. Elsewhere in the East, organizational shakeups hit Chicago as the Bulls fired key executives Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley on Monday, leaving the future of coach Billy Donovan uncertain as the team looks toward a rebuild.

Star Health Updates & Injury Returns

Several major stars dealt with health setbacks or made returns over the last few days, impacting championship aspirations across the league. The San Antonio Spurs lost Victor Wembanyama at halftime of Monday's win over the 76ers due to a bruised left rib, an injury sustained in a game where Jokic previously bested the rookie phenom in an amazing OT thriller. In Dallas, superstar Luka Doncic flew to Spain on Monday to seek care, specifically receiving an injection for his hamstring injury in hopes of expediting his return for the postseason. On a positive note for Golden State, Stephen Curry returned Sunday, dropping 29 points in 26 minutes against the Rockets, declaring the performance put the Warriors "back in the fight" after he had detailed the "unpredictable" nature of his right knee injury that previously sidelined him for 27 contests as detailed Saturday.

Eastern Conference Turmoil & Roster Moves

Tensions appear high in Milwaukee, where a lost season has exacerbated a decade-plus relationship, leading to internal conflict between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the organization, fueling speculation about the team's future direction amid the season's failure. This internal strife followed comments from LeBron James on Saturday regarding the two cities he currently dislikes playing in, one of which was Milwaukee, prompting the Bucks to poke fun at James with a social media caption referencing "everyone's two favorite cities." Philadelphia's Joel Embiid expressed his frustration publicly, stating he was angry the 76ers did not clear him to play Wednesday against Washington, though he did appear on Friday before being ruled out again for the contest against the Pistons later in the week. To shore up inside presence for their own playoff push, the Atlanta Hawks signed veteran center Tony Bradley on Monday, who averaged 4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 38 games with the Pacers this season.

Record Feats and Rookie Race

While team success remains paramount, individual milestones were achieved, even in defeat. The Memphis Grizzlies managed to tie the NBA single-game record for 3-pointers made, sinking 29 shots from beyond the arc on Monday, yet still fell decisively at home to the Cavaliers with a final score of 142-126 despite the historic mark. In the Rookie of the Year conversation, Cooper Flagg surged ahead of Kon Knueppel as the betting favorite after delivering a near triple-double and scoring 45 points in his Sunday contest. Separately, the league celebrated its next generation of greats as the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was announced, featuring luminaries such as Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Amar'e Stoudemire, Doc Rivers, and Mike D'Antoni headlining the incoming class. Former official Joey Crawford, also slated for induction, opined that the implementation of a challenge system in sports would serve to hold referees accountable.