J.B. Bickerstaff, who orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in Detroit from a 14-win team a couple of seasons ago to the No. 1 seed in the East this past season, has been voted Coach of the Year by his peers.
Bickerstaff won the Michael H. Goldberg Coach of the Year for 2025-26 from the National Basketball Coaches Association.
“I’m extremely honored to receive this recognition from my coaching peers,” Bickerstaff said in a statement accepting the awards. “None of this is possible without the many people I’ve been blessed with along my journey, beginning with my dad, who has always been my inspiration for wanting to get into this profession, and my family for their love and support. I also owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to all the coaches I’ve worked with and learned from throughout my career.”
Detroit went 60-22 this season to grab the No. 1 seed in the East, despite Cade Cunningham missing 11 games late in the season with a collapsed lung. The Pistons got there thanks to the second-best defense in the league this season.
It should be noted that this award is different than the NBA’s official Coach of the Year award (voted on by select members of the media), but because this one comes from other coaches, it is maybe more meaningful for the winners. This coach’s award is also a bellwether for the NBA’s official award, with seven of the last nine winners picking up both COY honors.
The Charlotte Hornets are one win away from ending a decade-long playoff drought as they prepare to face the Orlando Magic for the final spot on Friday night in the Eastern Conference.
1st Quarter Recap:
Soooooo….
Let’s just say the first quarter was rough. The #Hornets down 22 points (38-16), shooting 25% from the floor.
Orlando meanwhile, they’re up to nearly 67% shooting from the floor, outscoring the #Hornets 24-4 in the paint. @wsoctv
The Hornets survived a win-or-go-home scenario on Tuesday with the 127-126 victory over Miami, and their reward? To do it again.
However, this is for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
They’ve already played Orlando four times this season and won three of those games.
The NBA said Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for an uncalled flagrant foul when he reached out and tugged on the ankle of Miami’s Bam Adebayo.
Ball spoke Friday for the first time since the league fined him three days before.
“It’s all basketball. I feel like Bam knows,” Ball said. “We never had anything going on. I never had anything with anybody. I just go out there and play basketball. Even the one before. I’ve seen it. I tried to foul him.”
“Message, mindset, is to take the confidence of the last game, understanding that we are built for this moment,” said coach Charles Lee. “We have earned this moment, but on every possession, this is all we’re guaranteed is this one game.”
>> Sports reporter DaShawn Brown will be live at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. to break down the game and what’s next for the Hornets. Channel 9’s Eli Brand will also have instant reactions from one of the many Hornets’ watch parties.
The Hornets are learning postseason is a completely different beast.
“There were a bunch of moments where you’re like, ‘Oh wow, we’re in a good spot. We’re going to win,’ and then you’re like, ‘Oh no, we could lose this game,’ but I think the guys stayed steady,” coach Lee said on Thursday. “The communication was really good. The execution in crucial moments was great. I think the last two days have been good for us to rest, recover, eat, sleep.”
“Obviously, the goal isn’t to go back and forth with a great scoring team,” Hornets’ Brandon Miller said on Thursday. “We always want to get a few stops.”
Lee spoke about Ball’s fines on Thursday, as well.
Coach Lee said he loved that Ball took accountability and didn’t believe it was malicious.
He also said he’s relieved that Ball will be available to play.
VIDEO: Hornets to face Magic in final play-in battle
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 5: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on April 5, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will continue their strong start to the 2026 season by opening a series in Houston versus the Astros Friday night. Kyle Leahy is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals. He’s 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA. Peter Lambert will start Friday night for the Astros. 7:15pm central is scheduled to be the first pitch at Daikin Park.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 04: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros hits an rbi single scoring Jeremy Peña #3 against the Athletics in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 04, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (8-12) will open a three-game series with their former division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals (10-8), tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Peter Lambert (season debut), selected from Triple A today, will make his first regular season appearance for the Astros tonight opposite the Cardinals and starter RHP Kyle Leahy (1-2, 5.14 ERA).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Peter Lambert joined the Astros via free agency this offseason after pitching last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 appearances in Japan.
This season, Lambert made his case by getting off to a strong start at Triple A Sugar Land, where he posted a 1.84 ERA (3ER/14.2IP) in three games (two starts), while also impressing at Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invite (1-1, 2.92 ERA, 4ER/12.1IP). A former Rockie, Lambert has 74 career MLB appearances, including 35 starts.
HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the fourth game of a six-game homestand for the Astros, in which they’ll host a pair of NL opponents in the Rockies (2-1) and Cardinals. The Astros have been great at home in 2026, going 7-3, including a seven-game winning streak, which was snapped last night.
VS. THE CARDS: This series is a matchup of former division rivals, who spent 19 seasons together in the NL Central from 1994-2012.
Overall, the two teams have played each other 722 times, with the Astros going 336-384.
These teams also have postseason history, with the Astros going 7-6 vs. the Cards in the playoffs. The two clubs faced off in back-to-back NLCS in 2004-05 with St. Louis taking the ‘04 NLCS in seven games and Houston winning the ‘05 NLCS in six games.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected RHP Peter Lambert (#38) to the Major League roster today. He takes the roster spot of RHP Christian Roa, who was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land after last night’s game.
In a corresponding move, the Astros transferred LHP Josh Hader to the 60-day IL.
EXTRA! EXTRA!:2B Jose Altuve recorded his 750th career extra-base hit last night with his 461st career double. He also has 32 triples and 257 home runs, all coming as an Astro. Only Craig Biggio (1,014) and Jeff Bagwell (969) have more extra-base hits than Altuve in franchise history.
GETTING ON :IF Isaac Paredes has an active on-base streak of 13 games, which ties as the longest active streak in the AL. During the run, which dates back to March 28, Paredes has posted a .375 OBP.
ON THE MEND: OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) will begin a rehab assignment with Double A Corpus Christi tonight. Additionally, LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance at Corpus Christi tonight.
FAITH & FAMILY NIGHT: Tonight is Faith and Family Night at the ballpark. After the final out, fans are encouraged to stay for special postgame testimonials featuring Spencer Arrighetti, Carlos Correa and Shay Whitcomb.
Friday Night Fireworks presented by ConocoPhillips, will also be part of Faith and Family Night, as they will feature the musical theme Faith and Family.
TONIGHT’S SPECIAL GUESTS:SS Jeremy Peña will host students from Raul C. Martinez Elementary School tonight for Peña’s Pals.
In its fourth year, Pena’s Pals was developed by Jeremy in partnership with the Astros Foundation. The program celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices.
THIS WEEKEND’S GIVEAWAYS: Tonight, 10,000 fans will receive a Carlos Correa City Connect Jersey, presented by Houston Methodist.
Tomorrow, 10,000 fans will receive an Astros Ice Cream Bucket Hat, presented by Texas Bay Credit Union.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 7:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers are committed to a future with Kawhi Leonard as they transition from being the oldest team in the NBA to a younger one.
“Our plan is to win with Kawhi,” Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said Friday. “At the appropriate time, we’ll sit down with Kawhi and very similar to 2024, lay out our plan and if our goals are aligned, then we’d like to win with Kawhi.”
Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while playing in 65 games this season. He turns 35 in June and will enter the final year of a $149.5 million, three-year contract extension that he signed in 2024.
The Clippers would owe him $50.3 million next season, and they can extend his contract for two more seasons after the NBA Finals in June.
After a 6-21 start, the Clippers finished with a winning record (42-40) for the 15th consecutive season. They blew a 13-point lead at home in the final 10 minutes and lost 126-121 to Golden State in a play-in tournament game that ended their season.
Asked about his future Wednesday, Leonard said, “Let me cry about this loss a little bit more. We’ll have our discussions when that time comes.”
Leonard is missing the playoffs for the first time in his career when healthy. In his seven seasons with the Clippers, they reached the Western Conference finals in 2021 and lost in the first round the three previous years.
Also looming over the organization is the NBA’s ongoing investigation involving Leonard’s endorsement deal with a now-bankrupt former team sponsor, Aspiration. An outside law firm is looking into whether the deal was a way for the Clippers to circumvent the league’s salary cap.
“I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said Wednesday, “so I’m not stressing it.”
Frank said the investigation, which began in September, had no effect on the season.
“If you know (owner) Steve (Ballmer) and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it,” he said. “We believe and we’ve very confident we’re on the right side of this.”
Even at the team’s lowest point, Frank said, there was never any consideration given to firing coach Tyronn Lue.
“I thought Ty and the staff did an unbelievable job,” he said.
Frank met Thursday with the players and basketball operations team to share his viewpoint on the season. It’ll be another week or so before the team holds individual exit interviews.
“We’re in this bridge period from competitive to get to contender,” Frank said. “We do have great hope and optimism with our future. We’ve put ourselves in a very good position with emerging young players, draft capital and cap space going forward.”
The team’s young returning corps includes Darius Garland, Derrick Jones Jr., Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
Veteran John Collins is an unrestricted free agent, while Bennedict Mathurin is a restricted free agent. The Clippers hold team options on Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Brook Lopez, Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders.
“With any roster move,” Frank said, “how does it help us get closer to contention?”
Another day, another on-field gender reveal in Major League Baseball.
Continuing what has become a trend in the early weeks of the 2026 season, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee took the field for Friday’s matchup with the Baltimore Orioles sporting pink shoelaces to reveal that his brother and sister-in-law are expecting a baby girl.
Tanner Bibee is wearing pink shoelaces as the gender reveal for his brother and sister-in-law as they are expecting a baby girl pic.twitter.com/cpmnv9pcIi
Bibee joined Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt and Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart in using their on-field gear to reveal the gender of a baby to someone close to them.
Pfaadt wore pink shoelaces during his start last Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies to reveal that his brother Brett and Brett’s partner, Hannah, are having a daughter.
Earlier this week, Bart donned a pink armband on behalf of teammate Braxton Ashcraft to reveal to family and friends that the pitcher and his wife are going to have a baby girl.
Did each player channel the vibes of sharing their good news with family, friends and fans into a successful performance?
Pfaadt allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings, taking the loss in a 4-3 defeat to the Phillies. Ashcraft earned a no-decision while giving up two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts in an 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Nationals. Bart batted 1-for-5 and whiffed twice in the game.
Bibee pitched six scoreless innings with five strikeouts versus the Orioles, allowing four hits and three walks.
It doesn’t look like a farewell tour will signal the beginning of the end of LeBron James’ illustrious NBA career.
The four-time league MVP and four-time league champion isn’t interested in one, anyway, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Sam Amick, who published a report Friday detailing the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s potential next steps and the uncertainty about which one he’ll take.
James, 41, is reportedly undecided about his future. It could still include a retirement after this season, per The Athletic’s report, which cited team and league sources who spoke to the outlet about James anonymously.
After making his 22nd All-Star team in his NBA-record 23rd season, though, James reportedly could very well keep playing, either with the Lakers or elsewhere.
LeBron James started all 60 of the games he played this season, his 23rd in the NBA. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images
James clearly still has a high-level impact on the game. He’s the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, after all. Granted he was starring against a Golden State Warriors team that was resting Stephen Curry, a Phoenix Suns team that didn’t have Devin Booker and a ghastly Utah Jazz squad, but James averaged 24 points, 9.7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals over those three wins to round out the regular season.
He returned to the forefront of the Lakers’ nucleus after thriving in a complementary role for an L.A. group that had been headlined by standout guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, both Dončić and Reaves are out “indefinitely,” according to head coach JJ Redick, meaning James will likely need a Herculean effort to propel the No. 4 seed Lakers past the No. 5 seed Houston Rockets to the Western Conference semifinals.
But, even if the Lakers suffer a first-round playoff exit, the promise of what the team can be with Dončić, Reaves and James could encourage James to re-up in L.A., where general manager Rob Pelinka has said he’d “love if LeBron’s story would be to retire as a Laker.”
In fact, according to The Athletic’s report, a strong March changed the franchise’s landscape. The winning the Lakers enjoyed that month reportedly increased the chances of James staying in purple and gold.
More specifically, L.A. went 15-2 in March. Along the way, James played 14 games, shooting 56.2% from the field and averaging 18.5 points, 7 assists and 6.9 rebounds while Dončić made a head-turning MVP push, and Reaves stacked eight 20-plus-point performances, including three 30-pieces in a row.
In other words, James gave way to Dončić and Reaves, still produced and the trio spearheaded some of the best Lakers basketball in recent memory.
James is in a contract year with the Lakers. Before the season started, there were legitimate reasons to believe it’d be his last with the team.
“Me being on the floor with him,” James said this week, “is the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything that I’ve accomplished.”
Where else could James play next season?
While the Lakers reportedly have the clearest path to sign James this offseason, other teams are expected to be in the mix if James doesn’t retire.
One last hurrah in Cleveland remains a possibility, according to The Athletic’s Friday report, which mentioned James linking up with Curry in Golden State next season is plausible as well.
But, per The Athletic, luxury tax obstacles could get in the way for both potential suitors. If James wanted to pursue playing for either of those teams, he’d reportedly have to be more flexible financially, something of course he can do if he wants, given his net worth, which Forbes currently measures at $1.4 billion.
The Athletic’s report states that, given the pull L.A. the city has on James now, a move to the Clippers could become part of the conversation. The Clippers are coached by Tyronn Lue, James’ coach when he and the Cavs staged a 3-1 comeback against a 73-win Warriors team in the 2016 NBA Finals.
If James plays next season, he reportedly wants to be somewhere he can help a team contend for an NBA title.
It doesn’t look like a farewell tour will signal the beginning of the end of LeBron James’ illustrious NBA career.
The four-time league MVP and four-time league champion isn’t interested in one, anyway, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Sam Amick, who published a report Friday detailing the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s potential next steps and the uncertainty about which one he’ll take.
James, 41, is reportedly undecided about his future. It could still include a retirement after this season, per The Athletic’s report, which cited team and league sources who spoke to the outlet about James anonymously.
After making his 22nd All-Star team in his NBA-record 23rd season, though, James reportedly could very well keep playing, either with the Lakers or elsewhere.
LeBron James started all 60 of the games he played this season, his 23rd in the NBA. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images
James clearly still has a high-level impact on the game. He’s the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, after all. Granted he was starring against a Golden State Warriors team that was resting Stephen Curry, a Phoenix Suns team that didn’t have Devin Booker and a ghastly Utah Jazz squad, but James averaged 24 points, 9.7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals over those three wins to round out the regular season.
He returned to the forefront of the Lakers’ nucleus after thriving in a complementary role for an L.A. group that had been headlined by standout guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, both Dončić and Reaves are out “indefinitely,” according to head coach JJ Redick, meaning James will likely need a Herculean effort to propel the No. 4 seed Lakers past the No. 5 seed Houston Rockets to the Western Conference semifinals.
But, even if the Lakers suffer a first-round playoff exit, the promise of what the team can be with Dončić, Reaves and James could encourage James to re-up in L.A., where general manager Rob Pelinka has said he’d “love if LeBron’s story would be to retire as a Laker.”
In fact, according to The Athletic’s report, a strong March changed the franchise’s landscape. The winning the Lakers enjoyed that month reportedly increased the chances of James staying in purple and gold.
More specifically, L.A. went 15-2 in March. Along the way, James played 14 games, shooting 56.2% from the field and averaging 18.5 points, 7 assists and 6.9 rebounds while Dončić made a head-turning MVP push, and Reaves stacked eight 20-plus-point performances, including three 30-pieces in a row.
In other words, James gave way to Dončić and Reaves, still produced and the trio spearheaded some of the best Lakers basketball in recent memory.
James is in a contract year with the Lakers. Before the season started, there were legitimate reasons to believe it’d be his last with the team.
“Me being on the floor with him,” James said this week, “is the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything that I’ve accomplished.”
Where else could James play next season?
While the Lakers reportedly have the clearest path to sign James this offseason, other teams are expected to be in the mix if James doesn’t retire.
One last hurrah in Cleveland remains a possibility, according to The Athletic’s Friday report, which mentioned James linking up with Curry in Golden State next season is plausible as well.
But, per The Athletic, luxury tax obstacles could get in the way for both potential suitors. If James wanted to pursue playing for either of those teams, he’d reportedly have to be more flexible financially, something of course he can do if he wants, given his net worth, which Forbes currently measures at $1.4 billion.
The Athletic’s report states that, given the pull L.A. the city has on James now, a move to the Clippers could become part of the conversation. The Clippers are coached by Tyronn Lue, James’ coach when he and the Cavs staged a 3-1 comeback against a 73-win Warriors team in the 2016 NBA Finals.
If James plays next season, he reportedly wants to be somewhere he can help a team contend for an NBA title.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves high-five after a Doncic three-pointer against the Nuggets. The injured guards are hopeful of returning to the lineup during the first round of the playoffs against the Rockets. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The elephant in the room for the Lakers as they enter the playoffs has been, and will continue to be, the status of their starting backcourt, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Both are out because of injuries — Doncic with a grade 2 left hamstring strain and Reaves with a grade 2 left oblique strain — and neither is expected to play in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets that begins Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.
After practice Friday, coach JJ Redick was quick to say “there’s not” when asked about an update on Doncic and Reaves.
After Doncic and Reaves were injured on April 2 at Oklahoma City, the Lakers said both would be out until the end of the regular season. According to people not authorized to speak on the matter, both are expected to be out four to six weeks.
Doncic went to Spain to get treatment, and Reaves has been working diligently in L.A., with the hope that they can return sooner.
The Lakers miss their combined output of 56.8 points, 13.8 assists and 12.4 rebounds per game. Doncic led the NBA in scoring (33.5) and was third in assists (8.3); he was second on the Lakers in rebounding (7.7).
During the week of practice, Reaves was around his teammates and seen shooting after a few practices. He appeared to be in good spirits. Doncic was supposed to be back by Friday.
“We love having Austin here and we’re glad he is in a position to do his return-to-play [work], however long it takes with us,” Redick said. “Excited to get Luka back and be around the group. Austin and I talk just about every day about different things. So he’s … just being a part of this. …
“The mindset for our team and for those two guys, like we’re gonna try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point. We don’t know what that is, and that’s just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The theme of the Lakers’ week at practice was to “elevate” their work.
Yes, they won’t have Doncic and Reaves, but that didn’t mean the Lakers couldn’t work harder.
When they worked on box-out drills in preparation for the way the Rockets attack the offensive boards, the Lakers went hard. When they watched film and had practice sessions, the Lakers worked with a purpose.
“The word we’ve used all week is ‘elevate.’ I think that’s what it is,” Redick said. “We all know the playoffs are different. They’re harder. There’s no easy matchups, and you have to be able to elevate your play. But beyond that, it’s elevating your recovery, your attention to detail, your preparation.
“I talked about that with my coaches as we started this week on Monday morning. It was an off day for the guys, but we were in there for six hours and we’ve all collectively gotta elevate. And particularly when you’re missing two of your top guys, part of elevating is elevating each other and the belief that the group as a whole can be great.”
The Rockets are a tough and rugged team that is good on defense and at rebounding.
They ranked fourth in the NBA in points given up (110.0) and tied for fifth in opponents’ field-goal percentage (46.0). They were tops in rebounding (48.1) and offensive rebounds (15.0).
That has the Lakers’ attention and is why they worked so hard during practice.
“It’s been great. The level of focus and attention to detail, the communication, everything has been elevated,” forward Jarred Vanderbilt said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that’s been to the playoffs and know what it takes.
“Like you said, everything elevates around this time and having a veteran group that’s kind of been there and had a taste of the playoffs, we all know what it takes to win games in the playoffs. It’s everybody going out and doing their job and paying attention to the game plan.”
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The 2020 HP EliteDesk 800 G6 is on sale for $319.99 at StackSocial right now. It’s a compact business machine, not a modern performance PC, so the hardware is a few generations behind current systems. Still, for a home office, backup system, or simple workstation, it covers the essentials without asking for much money up front. You get a certified refurbished unit with a Grade A+ rating, which means minimal wear and a clean chassis. It also comes with a basic wired keyboard and mouse, as well as a 90-day warranty. That setup makes sense if you need a simple, ready-to-run system without spending much, but it also means you are buying older hardware with a shorter safety net than a new machine.
It has a compact form factor that is easy to place on a desk or even mount behind a monitor, and at just over three pounds, it stays out of the way. The core of this system is a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10500T, a six-core processor designed for efficiency rather than raw power. Paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it handles everyday tasks like keeping multiple browser tabs open, working in spreadsheets, and switching between apps smoothly. Boot times are also quick, and file transfers don’t drag. As for connectivity, you get multiple USB-A ports, a USB-C port, DisplayPort and HDMI for dual monitors, and Ethernet for a stable wired connection. Plus, it runs Windows 11 Pro, so you have access to business-focused features like BitLocker and remote desktop.
That said, it’s important to be clear about what this machine is not. It’s not built for gaming, and it will struggle with heavier creative tasks like video editing or 3D work. The integrated graphics are fine for streaming and basic visuals, but not much beyond that. The hardware is also a few generations behind current systems, so it will not age as well if your needs grow. But for a home office, backup system, or simple workstation, it covers the essentials without asking for much money up front. If that is all you need, this refurbished HP is a good pick.
