NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 12, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

NBA Regular Season Wrap & Awards Watch

The NBA regular season concluded with several teams maneuvering for playoff seeding and key players securing award eligibility metrics. The Celtics tied the NBA record by draining 29 three-pointers in a decisive victory over the Pelicans, clinching the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama achieved his 65-game threshold for postseason award consideration after dropping 40 points and grabbing 13 boards in a 139-120 win against the Mavericks. Further cementing playoff positioning, Jayson Tatum logged 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in 40 minutes on Thursday, expressing relief at leaving Madison Square Garden "on my own two feet."

The final day saw strategic resting across the league, though MVP races remained in focus. The Nuggets opted to sit most starters against the Spurs, but three-time MVP Nikola Jokic played the first half to guarantee he met the 64-game threshold required for major postseason awards. This strategic load management contrasted with the league-wide shutdown, as at least 168 players were sidelined on Friday, including the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 14 members of the Grizzlies. In contrast to those resting, Mikal Bridges extended his ironman streak to 638 consecutive games, although he only saw 23 seconds of action in the season finale.

Playoff Picture & Team Management

As the postseason nears, coaching stability and roster fortification became immediate concerns for several franchises. Sources confirmed that the Kings are retaining coach Doug Christie for the upcoming season, signaling confidence in his direction despite recent outcomes. On the injury front, Sixers star Joel Embiid has been discharged from a Houston hospital, though the team issued no concrete timeline for his return to competitive play. On the personnel side, the Lakers are securing depth by signing Nick Smith Jr. to a new two-year contract, a move necessitated by injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Coaches are already assessing opponent matchups, with Lakers coach JJ Redick suggesting other Western Conference teams actually prefer facing his hobbled squad in the first round rather than navigating other fully healthy matchups. Off the court, Miami elected to waive guard Terry Rozier, who has been away from the team since October amid a sports gambling investigation, utilizing the roster spot for J. Young. for the ten teams missing the playoffs, the NBA offseason schedule looms large, focusing on the 2026 Draft, free agency targets, and potential trade scenarios for franchises like Milwaukee and Dallas.

League Trends & Player Focus

Beyond immediate results, league trends reveal players focusing on non-traditional skills during downtime. An emerging trend shows that NBA players are increasingly spending time on chess boards, utilizing the strategy game for mental conditioning. Meanwhile, ESPN Analytics provided a season-end review, using the Net Points metric to name the league's most valuable players across 15 distinct categories. Injury concerns continue to plague some younger players, as Wizards forward Alex Sarr is expected to miss the final three games due to a lingering toe injury. Early playoff intel suggests intrigue around various teams, questioning if the Spurs' three-point prowess is sustainable and assessing the Lakers' overall outlook.