NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 17, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Playoff Picture & Game Results

The National Basketball Association began finalizing its postseason bracket following several dramatic play-in contests, immediately setting up high-stakes first-round matchups. In the Eastern Conference, Tyrese Maxey propelled the 76ers into the playoffs by scoring 31 points in the absence of an injured Joel Embiid, securing a date against the rival Boston Celtics. Out West, the season continued for the Portland Trail Blazers after Deni Avdija erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to tally 41 points in a 114-110 victory over the Suns, clinching the No. 7 seed in a tight battle that secured their playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers saw their year abruptly end Wednesday, a moment seized upon by former player Chris Paul who savagely taunted the defeated squad.

The precarious nature of the play-in tournament was underscored by several off-court incidents and technical issues impacting the games. The NBA confirmed it is investigating LaMelo Ball's trip of Bam Adebayo, an incident that resulted in the Miami Heat star suffering a lower back injury during the Hornets’ elimination game Tuesday. Adding to the drama, the Amazon Prime Video stream for that same Heat-Hornets thriller suffered a nearly two-minute outage during overtime, causing viewers to miss a key Charlotte possession before LaMelo Ball sealed the victory with a late bucket and Miles Bridges added a game-saving block at the buzzer. Furthermore, referee Ben Taylor exited the Warriors-Clippers play-in contest due to an injury, temporarily disrupting the flow of the game.

Player Status & League Investigations

Off-court legal and internal matters continued to draw attention across the league as the playoffs commenced. Former NBA player Damon Jones is expected to enter a guilty plea as the first individual to cooperate in a sweeping gambling investigation that has ensnared over 30 figures, including organized crime associates and other basketball personnel confirming the seriousness of the probe. Separately, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, following the team's play-in elimination, declined to address his contract future with Los Angeles and stated he remains unconcerned about the ongoing NBA inquiry regarding his sponsorship deal with Aspiration showing no outward stress.

Several stars achieved clarity regarding their eligibility for end-of-season awards after successfully appealing the league's 65-game threshold requirement; Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham were approved to be considered for honors, though Anthony Edwards’ similar challenge was denied. On the personal front, LeBron James expressed anticipation regarding the possibility of sharing the court with his son, Bronny James, in the upcoming postseason should the Lakers advance past their current challenge against the Houston Rockets a prospect James is eager for. In related news concerning the James family, Nike’s attempt to register Bronny’s "B9" logo for trademark protection was rejected by the USPTO due to a clear likelihood of confusion with an existing mark preventing immediate branding use.

League Operations & Future Outlook

The NBA announced plans to expand its international footprint, confirming that the Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers will travel to Mexico City for a regular-season contest scheduled for November 7 next season extending the league's global reach. Meanwhile, team management decisions are solidifying for the near future, as the Washington Wizards plan to retain Brian Keefe as head coach through the 2026-27 season to continue their multi-year rebuilding process following a campaign that culminated in the league’s poorest record despite additions like Anthony Davis and Trae Young. The New Orleans Pelicans are also evaluating their coaching structure, with interim coach James Borrego emerging as a serious candidate for the permanent position, according to General Manager Joe Dumars indicating internal satisfaction with his work.

The league’s growing popularity was quantified by recent viewership data, which showed that U.S. television viewership nearly doubled this past regular season, with 170 million Americans tuning into games across the four main broadcast platforms, representing an 86% year-over-year increase demonstrating massive audience growth. As teams look forward, analysts are already ranking the players expected to drive the action, with Zach Kram tiering the 50 most impactful players for the upcoming 2026 postseason setting the stage for future narratives. In Memphis, the franchise faces a reckoning as Ja Morant remains the sole player from a previous core, with the organization signaling a desire to move on from the existing structure this summer marking the end of an era. Finally, in a brief foray into international basketball, rap artist J. Cole concluded his professional playing stint in China after participating in only one game ending his brief hoop career abroad.