Final NBA power rankings of 2025-26: Thunder top rankings, with Nuggets, Spurs rounding out top three

To my mind, there are seven teams with some shot at the NBA title, but I’d also be shocked if a June parade isn’t held in OKC, Denver or on the River Walk in San Antonio (and that last one feels like a longer shot).

Title Contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(64-18, last week No. 1)
Defending champions. Best defense in the NBA. Best and most clutch player in the NBA who is about to be a two-time MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, this team’s real superpower is its ability not to look ahead during the regular season and to build good habits. “You go through the regular season, there’s different opponents every night that present different challenges, but it always starts between you and yourself,” coach Mark Daigneault said.

2. Denver Nuggets

(54-28, last week No. 2)
Don’t read anything into the Nuggets’ victory over the Spurs on the final day of the season, other than it sets up those two teams for a titanic second-round clash. The real key to that series could be Peyton Watson, who missed the end of the regular season with a strained hamstring but should be good to go for the playoffs (at least the second round). Denver will need his athleticism on both ends of the court to make the conference finals.

3. San Antonio Spurs

(62-20, last week No. 3)
Can the inexperienced Spurs win it all this year? “I mean, why not?” Julian Champagnie told NBC Sports. “I think that we’ve been putting in work all year. Obviously, we had no clue what we were gonna look like at the start of the year, but we always had a goal of going to the playoffs. And I feel like, if you can get there, you have a shot.”

4. Boston Celtics

(56-26, last week No. 4)
The betting favorite to come out of the East, Boston went 13-3 in the games Jayson Tatum played after returning from a torn Achilles. He returns to a Celtics team that showed surprising depth and had Jaylen Brown stepping up to an MVP-level while Tatum was out. We’ve all got questions about rotations and how players such as Baylor Scheierman and Neemias Queta perform under the bright lights of the playoffs, but Joe Mazzulla’s team has answered every question to this point.

5. Detroit Pistons

(60-22, last week No. 5)
For much of the season, the conventional wisdom had been that the Pistons were good but a player short of really contending for a title. But do they already have everything they need? With Cade Cunningham missing 11 games late in the season due to a collapsed lung, Jalen Duren stepped up in the paint — as he did all season — and Daniss Jenkins stood out on the perimeter, and the Pistons went 8-3. They may not be the betting favorite to come out of the East, and they lack much playoff experience, but bet against them at your own risk.

In The Hunt

6. New York Knicks

(53-29, last week No. 6)
This is a make-or-break playoffs in New York — Tom Thibodeau was fired last offseason after getting the Knicks within two games of the Finals. Mike Brown is expected to do better, but Karl-Anthony Towns has never looked fully comfortable in Brown’s offense, and the Knicks’ defense under pressure remains a question. New York is on a second-round collision course with Boston, and if the Knicks are knocked out of the playoffs without even reaching the conference finals, this summer could be a wild one in the Big Apple.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

(52-30, last week No. 8)
I put Cleveland in this tier because I can see a path for it to the Eastern Conference Finals. This team went 19-7 once James Harden arrived, and coinciding with that, Evan Mobley played his best ball of the season. They should handle Toronto in the first round, but do we really trust James Harden and these Cavaliers in the second round if they face Detroit and that stout defense? Cleveland has a chance to show it should be considered a bigger threat in its current iteration, but if it falls flat in the second round, big changes are on the horizon.

Playoff Teams

8. Houston Rockets

(52-30, last week No. 7)
Houston is a flawed team compared to the top three teams in the West, but it may have lucked into the one series it could win in the first round, facing the banged-up Lakers. Amen Thompson is going to be asked to smother LeBron James, and the Rockets will keep throwing other long defenders at the 41-year-old — Tari Eason will get a shot, as will Jabari Smith Jr. — in an effort to wear him down. There are questions about the Rockets’ offense, but against the Lakers’ defense, it should be able to score enough points. Is making the second round considered enough of a success for this Rockets team?

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

(49-33, last week No. 9)
Does anybody trust this team heading into the playoffs? We’ve seen them flip the switch for stretches, but much of the season they have not compared to the team that made the Western Conference Finals the last two years. Julius Randle did not play well down the stretch of the season, and the Timberwolves’ halfcourt offense has been middle-of-the-pack all season. It’s hard to be a believer right now, but there is a good team in there somewhere.

10. Atlanta Hawks

(46-36, last week No. 10)
The Hawks went 20-6 with a +9.7 net rating after the All-Star break, with Jalen Johnson cementing what should be an All-NBA season for him, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who thrived in an expanded role. The Hawks did that behind the second-best defense in the NBA after the break. If I were going to pick one first-round playoff upset, it would be Atlanta beating New York — that is on the table.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

(53-29, last week No. 12)
Luka Doncic may be back from Spain and whatever specialized hamstring treatment he got there, but it’s still difficult to imagine him being able to return for this series (could he be ready for a game 6 of 7?). That means the Lakers are going to ask LeBron James to jump in the Hot Tub Time Machine and be the 2016 version of himself, which is a big ask for the 41-year-old who will be hounded by younger defenders all the way up the court. Even if LeBron can lift the Lakers’ offense, will their defense be good enough in the postseason to give them a chance?

12. Toronto Raptors

(46-36, last week No. 14)
Toronto did sweep the season series from the Cavaliers, but all those games came before the Harden trade that dramatically changed Cleveland, so it’s hard to read too much into them. Toronto is going to have to win this series with its defense, which is why the hamstring injury in the season’s final game to Immanuel Quickley — he is week-to-week — hurts, they will need his ball pressure. Toronto also needs Scottie Barnes to play like an All-NBA forward to have a chance.

13. Charlotte Hornets

(44-38, last week No. 11)
Charlotte didn’t just finish above .500 and make the postseason, it did that despite being the unluckiest team in the NBA — the Hornets have the point differential of a 53-win team (the same as the Knicks). Having LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller in the play-in will be fun, and if they can string together a couple more wins, they could make Detroit really have to work for a first-round win. Charlotte is building something real and we’re about to see it on a national stage.

14. Phoenix Suns

(45-37, last week No. 13)
Because they have been so steady and doing this all season long, we may have overlooked what an impressive turnaround season this is for the Suns. Jordan Ott is on my Coach of the Year ballot for a reason, he was fantastic. Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker set the tone and changed the team culture. Now, can their top-10 defense shut down the young and athletic Trail Blazers and get the Suns into the playoffs?

Play-In Teams

15. Portland Trail Blazers

(42-40, last week No. 15)
It feels like all the arrows in Portland are pointing up: New owner who seems committed to spending to win, breakout seasons from Deni Advija and Donovan Clingan, and over the last 15 games of the season the best defense in the league. That defense and enough offense from Advija or others will get the Trail Blazers into the playoffs, which is a huge step up for them this season.

16. Los Angeles Clippers

(42-40, last week No. 16)
It’s a credit to Tyronn Lue’s coaching and leadership that this team started 6-21, traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac, and still finished the season above .500 and looking like a threat to come out of the play-in. LA’s showdown with Golden State on Wednesday is the best game of the first round of the play-in, but if the Clippers can get out of this to face Oklahoma City, they can make the Thunder work for it.

17. Philadelphia 76ers

(45-37, last week No. 19)
No Joel Embiid for the play-in or (if they make it) the first round of the postseason following an appendectomy. Philadelphia has a flat -0.3 net rating this season when Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are on the court and Joel Embiid is off it. Will that be enough to beat Orlando in the first game of the play-in, a showdown between disappointing teams? Philly without Embiid is not much of a threat in the first round.

18. Orlando Magic

(45-37, last week No. 17)
For all the talk about injuries and whether the Magic should move on from the Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner era (both legitimate topics), the real question is this: What happened to the Orlando defense? Top two in the league the previous two seasons, the Magic fell out of the top 10 in the league on that end this season, and that was their fundamental problem. Expect coach Jamahl Mosley to pay the price for that, barring a highly unexpected deep playoff run.

19. Miami Heat

(43-39, last week No. 18) 2-1
Can Miami jump from the No. 10 seed to the playoffs for a second straight season? It’s a much tougher road this time around, facing red-hot Charlotte first, and if Miami wins that, moving on to get Philadelphia or Orlando. If/when Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available via trade, expect the Heat to dive in and try to scoop him up.

20. Golden State Warriors

(37-45, last week No. 20)
Stephen Curry is back and that gives the Warriors a chance to escape the play-in as the No. 10 seed, but it’s a long road. First, the Warriors have to beat Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers on the road, then travel again to take on Portland or Phoenix. This summer, don’t expect the start of a rebuild in the Bay Area; expect them to push all their chips in and try to round out a roster around Curry that can compete for the playoffs and more (and yes, that might mean another run at Antetokounmpo.

Tanking Teams

21. Dallas Mavericks

(26-56, last week No. 22)
The hardest part of any rebuild — landing the superstar, team cornerstone player — is taken care of with Cooper Flagg, who lived up to the hype (even if he is not going to win Rookie of the Year). Now the work comes in loading up the roster around him, particularly with more shot creation and shooting, which the Mavericks sorely lacked.

22. New Orleans Pelicans

(26-56, last week No. 21)
Zion Williamson played 62 games, averaged 21 points a game on 60% shooting, and this team still won just 26 games. Things flowed a lot better once Dejonte Murray returned from a torn Achilles – he came back looking a lot closer to his 2022 All-Star self. The coaching search is underway — interim coach James Borrego is in the mix — and expect massive roster changes over the offseason. There’s a lot of interest in Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, not quite as much in Zion, but some teams might be kicking the tires on that idea.

23. Chicago Bulls

(31-51, last week No. 23)
There’s a new front office coming in, which means predicting the future in Chicago is next to impossible (other than Matas Buzelis isn’t going anywhere). That includes for coach Billy Donovan, team ownership has said the new head of basketball operations has to fit with the coach, but Donovan flirted with North Carolina and other teams are interested, could he be on the move this offseason?

24. Indiana Pacers

(19-63, last week No. 26)
Tyrese Haliburton played some 5-on-5 recently, and when he returns healthy next season with Ivica Zubac at the five and Pascal Siakam on the wing, this is going to be a very good team. A genuine threat in the East. What would make them more threatening is adding a top four pick — Indy has a 52.1% chance of getting that, but there is a 47.9% chance their pick goes to the Clippers (part of the Zubac trade). It’s in the hands of the basketball gods now.

25. Milwaukee Bucks

(32-50, last week No. 24)
Doc Rivers is out and (sorry, Bucks fans) it looks very likely Giannis Antetokounmpo will follow him out the door this summer. The rebuild is coming in Milwaukee and this could be a long one because the team mortgaged its future to try and win with the Greek Freak (and they did, there is a banner hanging at the FiServ Forum). What the Bucks get back in any Antetokounmpo trade will help speed up the rebuild.

26. Sacramento Kings

(22-60, last week No. 25)
Doug Christie will be back as the Kings coach, and there was some promise for the future with with Keegan Murray and young big man Maxime Raynaud, but aside that it’s tough to imagine any of the top four scorers on this team — Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis or Russell Westbrook — being back with the team in a year. A roster overhaul is needed and coming.

27. Memphis Grizzlies

(25-57, last week No. 27)
The teardown and rebuild of the Grizzlies started last summer with the Desmond Bane trade, now Jaren Jackson Jr. is in Utah and the only one of the old core still in place is Ja Morant — expect him to be traded this summer. This team needs an overhaul and it’s coming.

28. Utah Jazz

(22-60, last week No. 30)
After three seasons, the bottoming out of the Utah Jazz is over — this is going to be a playoff team next season. There’s a lot to like with Keyonte George at the point, a front line of Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler, and Ace Bailey showing he should have a role in what is being built. Plus, there is whoever the team drafts this year. Jazz fans should be optimistic.

29. Brooklyn Nets

(20-62, last week No. 28)
Brooklyn kept all five of their first-round draft picks last year, and not one of them will make an All-Rookie team this season. That is a big swing and a miss (although Egor Demin could be someone worth watching). The Nets are in line for a top-seven pick this year, they need to nail it and start righting the ship.

30. Washington Wizards

(17-65, last week No. 29)
Washington successfully tanked their way into keeping their top-eight protected pick this year. That pick will add more talent to a roster that includes Trae Young (expected to get a short contract extension), Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson. The Wizards are going to be a respectable team next season.

Tar Heels’ Caleb Wilson makes 1-and-done leap official as top NBA prospect

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is headed to the NBA draft after what he called “the most fun year of my life” playing for the Tar Heels.

The program released a video statement Monday from the 6-foot-10 forward regarded as a top prospect in the June draft. That made Wilson’s one-and-done route official, coming after he had posted an “#8out” message on social media late last month indicating he was headed in that anticipated direction.

“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to represent North Carolina,” Wilson said. “Wearing No. 8, running out of that historic tunnel every day for practice and games, and i’m happy to say every day I gave it my all.”

Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in a dynamic season was cut short by injury, first a broken bone in his left hand days after a thrilling win against rival Duke. Then, when he was on the verge of returning, he broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill to end his season on the eve of Round 2 with the Blue Devils.

Still, Wilson was named a second-team Associated Press All-American, a distinction that will ensure that he will be included among the honored jerseys in the Smith Center rafters.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Padres closer Mason Miller is ‘one of the most remarkable things about our sport right now’

With the Padres coming off a weekend sweep and on a five-game winning streak, it was time to talk about Padres closer Mason Miller on the latest episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast.”

“Mason Miller is breaking the sport,” Jake Mintz declared.

“If you’re angry about the Los Angeles Dodgers and their deep-pocketed ways, well, you should be even more furious about Mason Miller and his mind-bending, law-breaking fastball and his slider.”

The 27-year-old San Diego closer has faced 24 batters so far in 2026. Nineteen of them have struck out. Eighteen of those have struck out swinging. That’s a 79.2% strikeout rate, which would be a record if Miller sustains that over the course of the season. The other five plates appearances against him were a walk, a single (his only hit allowed), a pop-out, a groundout and a flyout.

“He is as automatic as I can remember a pitcher being in one inning in our baseball-watching lives,” Mintz said.

The fastball gets the majority of the attention with Miller, which is understandable considering that he throws it 103 mph. But as the hosts noted, Miller is actually throwing his slider more than his fastball so far this in 2026, and that is making life even more difficult for opposing hitters.

“Every swing on a slider looks like someone that is gearing up for 103,” Jordan Shusterman explained. “The slider is 87 and has crazy movement, but you just have to imagine in a very simple sense, when you step in the box against Mason Miller, what are you thinking? ‘This guy’s about to throw 104 mph. I have to be ready.’

So hitters are attempting to prepare for Miller’s elite velocity, but then he’s throwing his slider more than his fastball. The result? “Guys are just whiffing in ways that — even the best hitters — you’re not [used to] seeing them miss this badly on these sliders.”

Added Mintz: “He’s making people look like Little Leaguers.”

The hosts also marveled at the fact that Miller pitched for four years at Waynesburg University before playing his final college season at Gardner-Webb.

“As someone who attended another D3 baseball game yesterday, I cannot — I cannot wrap! — my mind around it,” Shusterman exclaimed of Miller’s career at Waynesburg. “And then he transfers to Gardner-Webb. It’s not like he transferred to LSU.”

From those humble origins, Miller has become, in Mintz’s words, “the most physically imposing, overpowering, dominant arm in the entire sport. And he was playing his freshman baseball games in front of, you know, everyone’s parents and nobody else.

“It is one of the most remarkable things about our sport right now.”

How long can Miller sustain this incredible run? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, he is pitching meaningful innings for a team with its sights set on a postseason run. And that, Mintz and Shusterman agree, is worth your attention.

“Seeing Mason Miller come out of the bullpen in a packed Petco Park with his intro and a sold-out crowd fits what that guy is at this point in his career,” Mintz said.

“This is as guaranteed have-to-tune-in as we have in the sport right now.”

Pelicans star Zion Williamson, healthy but unfulfilled, forecasts ‘a different summer’

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Zion Williamson, fed up with never having appeared in a playoff game during his first seven NBA seasons with New Orleans, is forecasting “a different summer.”

While gratified by how durable and available he was for the Pelicans this season, Williamson was not entirely pleased with his overall performance and bothered by the fact that the Pelicans won just 22 of the 62 games in which he played.

“My play on the court — it was OK,” Williamson, who averaged 21 points per game, said Monday, the day after the Pelicans finished a second-straight, non-playoff season at 26-56. “I was efficient, but I don’t want to sit here and say it was OK and we’re not even in” the Western Conference play-in tournament.

“Individually, I have a lot to go work on,” Williamson continued. “I want to be able to attack from multiple areas on the court. I want to be able to be unpredictable on the offensive end, and I didn’t really do a good job of that this year. … I want to be able to do more for my team.”

Williamson, a powerful, explosive, 6-foot-6 forward who was drafted first overall out of Duke in 2019, set a personal record by appearing in 35 straight games this season. His total number of games played were the second-most in his career, behind only the 70 he played in the 2023-24 season. That was also the last time the Pelicans appeared in the NBA playoffs — but did so without Williamson, who injured his left hamstring in the waning minutes a play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The only other time the 25-year-old Williamson played more than 30 games in a season was during 2020-21, when he played 61. Overall, he has missed 280 of 556 career regular season games because of knee, hand, foot and soft tissue injuries — most notably his hamstring.

“What I’m most proud of is how fast I was able to bounce back from any injuries that I had this year,” said Williamson, who could have played in 65 games, but was rested for New Orleans’ final three, low-stakes contests.

Pelicans veteran guard Dejounte Murray applauded the steps Williamson has taken to improve his health in the past year.

“Z — I think he’s getting it,” Murray said. “He’s got to continue to take care of his body, his mind, and his development is crucial, too.”

Williamson’s availability this season could make him more attractive to other teams, but he asserted that he’d rather not be traded.

“New Orleans is home for me. I don’t say that because I’m sitting in front of these cameras,” said Williamson, who has two seasons left on a five-year contract worth close to $200 million. “When the offseason hits, a lot of guys leave the city. I live here. … I’ve been here since I was 19.”

Williamson also said he “100%” trusts in the vision of Hall-of Famer Joe Dumars, who was hired a year ago as Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations.

“He has the resume,” Williamson said, referring to Dumars’ championships as both a player and general manager with the Detroit Pistons. “So, somebody in my position, all I can do is ask questions and whatever information he has to give me, just take heed to it.”

Williamson’s goal next season is to play in 75 to 82 games — and finally appear the playoffs.

His pursuit of the latter goal, he said, will involve probing conversations with Dumars and “other hall of famers,” and “other championship players.”

“I’m looking to take a different approach because it’s frustrating getting up here every year and not being in the playoffs — and I I’ll take my responsibility in that. I definitely hold myself accountable,” Williamson said.

“So, it’s time to start taking different approaches, gaining what knowledge I can and working on different things,” Williamson continued. “I have to use the resources that I can to reach out and seek the information — seek the knowledge that I need.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Spurs vs. Nuggets player grades: San Antonio’s starters squander an opportunity in loss

SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 12: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 12, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs had the opportunity to control the playoff bracket. If they defeated the Denver Nuggets, who sat the bulk of their starters and only played Nikola Jokic 18 minutes, they’d bump them down to the fourth-seed, and wouldn’t need to face them until the Western Conference Finals. Instead, the Spurs, without Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, came out flat in a 128-118 loss to the shorthanded Nuggets.

Now, San Antonio will need to go through potentially Denver and the Oklahoma City Thunder on their journey to the NBA Finals. We’ll find out in a few weeks if this game comes back to haunt them. San Antonio has the second-best NBA title odds on FanDuel at +550.

The player grades here will be much lower than they have been for past games to account for the missed opportunity. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

De’Aaron Fox

33 minutes, 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, 7-for-21 shooting, 4-for-14 threes, +2

24 points is a nice, shiny statistic, but when you score that many on 33% shooting from the field, you realize that it’s inflated. The Spurs needed someone to pull them out of the mud and get their offense going. Fox was unable to do that on Sunday. The national media narrative about the Spurs’ playoff chances always comes down to a lack of experience. Fox is one of the exceptions, having played in one playoff series. These are the type of games where you’d like to see him break out and lead the team to victory.

Grade: B-

Stephon Castle

29 minutes, 10 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 3-for-10 shooting, 2-for-3 threes, –11

Is Castle the first guy to almost get a triple-double and play badly? He was 1 assist shy of a triple-double despite having a rusty first game back from a knee injury. His finishing was off, he got out of position defensively, and he didn’t seem to have the same level of aggression as usual. He did hit two catch-and-shoot threes as the Spurs attempted a comeback and grabbed some big offensive boards. He just couldn’t put together the type of impactful performance the team needed from him on Sunday.

Grade: C

Dylan Harper

18 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 4-for-9 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, -14

It was a tough game for Harper. After the game, it was reported that he had a jammed thumb, which could explain why he looked so different out there. All of the aggression we usually see from Harper was gone, causing Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson to get after him on the sideline visibly. Defensively, he was a non-factor for most of the game. When he started to ramp up the pressure and use his physicality and footwork to get to the rim, it was already too late.

Grade: C–

Julian Champagnie

25 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-7 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, -17

Champagnie has been struggling to shoot the ball recently. That could be alarming heading into the most important stretch of the year. However, we’ve seen Champagnie get hot in a hurry, so there is hope for the playoffs.

He was flat against Denver. There weren’t a lot of opportunities for him to attack a closeout, and he didn’t make enough of an impact defensively to keep the Nuggets’ aggressive ball-handlers out of the paint.

Grade: C-

Mason Plumlee

16 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1-for-1 shooting, -6

Plumlee just doesn’t have enough left in the tank. He got dominated by Jonas Valanciunas and let the Nuggets get whatever they wanted inside. Denver outscored the Spurs 62-54 in the paint.

Grade: D

Devin Vassell

33 minutes, 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-for-13 shooting, 3-for-8 threes, -2

Vassell turned it on far too late. When he started pressuring the Nuggets defensively, the Spurs got a few turnovers that made it look like they might get back in the game. There just wasn’t enough time for them to come all the way back. He made some mind-boggling turnovers, like dropping a ball out of bounds and passing out of a shot to no one. You have to give him credit for trying to get them back in the game in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to make up for his early-game mistakes.

Grade: B-

Harrison Barnes

25 minutes, 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 5-for-11 shooting, 2-for-5 threes, -5

Barnes needed 17 points for the Spurs to set the record for the most players on the roster to average double-digit points. You could tell that Barnes knew this, too. He took some truly bizarre shots that can only be explained by trying to reach that record. To make matters worse, he didn’t even get to 17, so it was all for nothing!

Grade: C-

Keldon Johnson

22 minutes, 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 6-for-12 shooting, 2-for-5 threes, +10

Johnson really tried to get physical and will the Spurs back into the game. He attacked Denver inside over and over again for a nice 18-point outing. He was put in a tough spot defensively, often guarding bigger players inside. He, along with the rest of the team, made some errors on the glass, not boxing out a few times and allowing offensive put-backs. The Spurs were outrebounded in this one, 58-45.

Grade: B+

Carter Bryant

30 minutes, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 6-for-13 shooting, 1-for-7 threes, +2

Bryant has earned a playoff rotation spot. He has played his best basketball down the stretch, pairing confidence with his next-level motor. He was one of the few Spurs who played with a sense of urgency against Denver. Bryant was the team’s best option at center despite being just 6-foot-7. He soared for three blocks and had an incredible alley-oop slam in the second half.

Grade: B+

Jordan McLaughlin

2 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 1-for-1 shooting, +5

JMac showed a lot of heart, grabbing an offensive putback as the smallest guy on the court. He probably deserved more minutes against Denver.

Grade: Incomplete

Bismack Biyombo

6 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 1-for-1 shooting, -14

Going -14 in 6 minutes has to be some sort of record. Biyombo is a great vet to have around for the locker room and the community in San Antonio, but his impact on the game has diminished greatly.

Grade: D

Inactives: Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet, Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller

2026 NBA Championship Odds: OKC Gears Up for Second Straight Ring as Playoffs Begin

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The Oklahoma City Thunder put up some gaudy stats during the 2025-26 regular season, but there’s one data point that stands out most now that the playoffs have arrived: 0.

That’s the number of players on OKC’s official injury report, and the lack of dudes in street clothes should terrify opponents. After all, the Thunder managed to win an NBA-best 64 games despite enduring extended stretches without All-NBA performers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams as well as All-Star Chet Holmgren.

Sportsbooks have taken note of Oklahoma City’s good health and have installed the Thunder as sizeable +115 favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for a second straight year.

Let’s break down the latest odds as the rest of the league braces for some Thunderous weather ahead.

🏆 2026 NBA Championship odds

Team		My Take
Oklahoma City Thunder	+115	Historically high 11.1 point differential.
Thunder	+240	Oct. 21	1.0
Thunder	+165	Dec. 1	1.0
Oklahoma City Thunder	+950
2024	San Antonio Spurs	+1000
2013	San Antonio Spurs	+450
2006	San Antonio Spurs	+400
2004	San Antonio Spurs	+1100
2002	Los Angeles Lakers	+200
2001	Los Angeles Lakers	+180
2000	Los Angeles Lakers	+400

Odds courtesy of Sports Odds History.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

What should the Dodgers do with Roki Sasaki?

Roki Sasaki might not be good. This version of him certainly isn’t.

The mercurial Dodgers hurler made his third start of the year on Sunday against the Texas Rangers. It went poorly. Sasaki walked five and allowed five hits across four innings. Somehow, he avoided a full-blown disaster, surrendering only two earned runs. His six strikeouts were a career high, but nobody was popping champagne for that accomplishment after the game.

Sasaki’s regular-season ERA is now 6.23 (that’s nine earned runs in 13 innings), a relative improvement compared to the atmospheric 15.88 ERA he recorded across four spring training outings. His 15.9% walk rate is the ninth-worst mark among the 128 MLB pitchers who have made at least three starts.

Most of Sasaki’s underlying numbers are similarly unkind. The 24-year-old is getting behind in counts, he is serving up homers, he is walking the farm, he is not working deep into games. There are occasional rays of sunshine, signs of life, glimpses of the monster that once was, but in the main, Sasaki’s sophomore season has gotten off to a very rocky start.

“I do feel that the growth part of it is to, you know, hang in there,” Dave Roberts told assembled reporters after the game Sunday. “Make pitches when he needs to. That’s important.”

Important for Sasaki, yes. Important for the Dodgers? That’s a different story.

At this point, Los Angeles’ stacked roster is the only thing enabling Sasaki’s presence on the big-league club. Most other teams — teams not all but guaranteed a playoff spot — would probably send the underbaked flamethrower to Triple-A to develop his game in a more relaxed setting.

The Dodgers, however, are not like other organizations.

They can afford to conduct this science experiment at the major-league level because their roster can, has and will overcome any Sasaki-related road bumps. Los Angeles is currently 1-2 when he starts, but the team boasts MLB’s best record and second-best run differential. As long as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Co. are humming on the mound, the Dodgers can send Sasaki — or me or you — out there every sixth day. They’ll make the playoffs either way. And sometimes, as they did in Sasaki’s start last week against the Nationals, they’ll bash their way to a victory.

But how did things get so ugly for this particular pitcher? How did Sasaki go from can’t-miss import to can’t-hit-the-strike-zone? Did the industry mess up the scouting? Or did the player meaningfully change?

Well, Sasaki’s four-seam fastball velocity is back up compared to last year, an encouraging sign. Yet the pitch is still getting blasted to the tune of a .714 slugging percentage. Advanced metrics have it pegged as one of the worst heaters in the sport. That’s partially due to suboptimal shape (the way Sasaki’s fastball moves as it zips to the plate) and partially due to suboptimal command (he’s rarely pinpointing it on the edges). Usually, the pitch ends up either in a hitter’s happy zone or nowhere near it.

Sasaki’s splitter remains a wonderfully aesthetic offering, the closest thing the big leagues have right now to a knuckleball. The thing floats, dips and dives every which way. When located well, it’s a great pitch. But big-league hitters are smart, and they often track the pitch out of Sasaki’s hand all the way to the dirt in front of their feet. Not many pitches in baseball this year have been swung at less often.

It’s worth emphasizing just how dominant Sasaki was during his four-season run in NPB, Japan’s top league. From ages 19 to 22, the string-bean hurler rocked a 2.10 ERA across 394 2/3 innings with 505 strikeouts. He was, for long stretches, borderline untouchable. Accordingly, Sasaki wowed with Samurai Japan during the 2023 WBC, sitting in the upper-90s with his heater and ripping off a knee-quivering splitter.

Does that pitcher still exist? It’s hard to say.

What’s more, those memories present the Dodgers with a difficult developmental decision. Should they be trying to get Sasaki back to what he was? Or should they be focused on getting the most out of what Sasaki is now?

Right now, from the outside, it seems they’re caught in between.

Thankfully, the stakes are pretty low, at least for the club. If Sasaki figures it out before Blake Snell gets off the injured list sometime in late May, that’s great. If he doesn’t, that’s fine, too. At that point, the Dodgers can either send him to Triple-A or put him in the bullpen. Or maybe some other arm experiences an injury, and Sasaki sticks around. In the short term, it doesn’t really matter.

There’s an element of rubbernecking to it all, folks tuning in to see if the overwhelmed youngster will crumble in front of 50,000. What’s certain, though, is that Sasaki has become the most fascinating part of a fabulous but otherwise familiar Dodgers team.

His next start will come Sunday against the Colorado Rockies at the launching pad that is Coors Field. Hopefully, Sasaki will throw some strikes.

College basketball transfer portal rankings: Top 20 players still uncommitted

The college basketball transfer portal is starting to heat up after officially opening just over a week ago.

When midnight struck moments after Michigan’s 69-63 win over UConn in the national championship game on April 7, the rush for teams to add the top available talent was on. A few top players have already signed with their new schools in the seven days since.

Louisville is an early winner of the transfer portal, having added former Kansas center Flory Bidunga and former Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad as a package duo, as the pair of veterans announced the move simultaneously on April 12. Bidunga was USA TODAY’s No. 2-ranked player available before committing, only behind Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic.

There are still plenty of talented high-major players available, though. Over 1,900 players have entered the transfer portal so far, after all.

Here’s a look at our top players still available in the 2026 college basketball transfer portal:

Men’s college basketball transfer portal rankings: Top available players

Rankings based on players available as of 5:24 p.m. ET on Monday, April 13.

1. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State

Iowa State forward Milan Momicilovic entered the transfer portal on April 12, and instantly became the top player available thanks to his length and 3-point shooting ability. The 6-foot-8 junior averaged 16.9 points per game last season while shooting an NCAA-leading 48.7% from distance, which was 1.6% better than Liberty’s Brett Decker Jr., who had the second-best mark.

Momcilovic has 101 starts in 102 career games for the Cyclones, and led the No. 2-seeded team in scoring this season. He’s also entering his name in the 2026 NBA Draft while in the portal.

2. Juke Harris, Wake Forest

Sophomore guard Juke Harris took a massive leap in 2025-26, going from 6.1 points per game off the bench as a true freshman to one of the ACC’s top scorers at 21.4 points per game as a sophomore. The 6-foot-7 guard also averaged 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, and shot 33.2% from 3-point range on 7.5 attempts per game.

Harris offers elite length at guard and also top-tier scoring ability, making him one of the top available players.

3. Allen Graves, Santa Clara

Santa Clara forward Allen Graves previously declared for the NBA draft before later entering the transfer portal April 10.

The 6-foot-9 true freshman averaged 11.8 points with 6.5 rebounds per game this season off the bench, but he established himself as one of the best mid-major players late in the year. He scored 17 points with seven rebounds and a block in Santa Clara’s NCAA Tournament loss to Kentucky, even making a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds before Kentucky’s Otega Oweh forced overtime.

Graves has three seasons of eligibility left and is already on the NBA draft radar, making him an enticing prospect.

4. Massamba Diop, Arizona State

Arizona State center Massamba Diop emerged as one of the top rim-protecting big men in the Big 12 this season despite being a true freshman, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. The 7-foot-1 former 3-star prospect from Senegal also averaged 13.6 points with 5.8 rebounds per game.

The market for top-tier big men is expensive, and Diop will be near the top.

5. Rob Wright, BYU

A former five-star recruit, Rob Wright had a solid true freshman year at Baylor, averaging 11.5 points with 4.2 assists per game. He transferred in conference to BYU for the 2025-26 season and turned in one of the best campaigns in the conference.

Wright upped his scoring average to 18.1 points per game last season, along with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists as projected No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa’s running mate. Perhaps he wants to show he can be a No. 1 option at a new school as a transfer.

Other top uncommitted players

Here’s a look at the rest of USA TODAY’s top-20 ranked uncommitted players:

6. Paulius Murauskas, F, Saint Mary’s
7. John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin
8. Aiden Sherrell, C, Alabama
9. Moustapha Thiam, C, Cincinnati
10. Terrence Hill Jr., G, VCU
11. Jake Hall, G, New Mexico
12. Najai Hines, C, Seton Hall
13. Donnie Freeman, F, Syracuse
14. Kayden Mingo, G, Penn State
15. Alex Wilkins, G, Furman
16. Paul McNeil, G, NC State
17. Nikolas Khamenia, G, Duke
18. Jalen Haralson, F, Notre Dame
19. Mouhamed Sylla, C, Georgia Tech
20. C Samet Yigitoglu, SMU

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball transfer portal ranking top players still available

NBA Playoff Team Rankings 1-20: Thunder, Spurs on top, can the Celtics, Knicks, Pistons compete in the East?

The NBA postseason is slated and the Western Conference is stacked, while the Eastern Conference looks like an open four-team race. Taking a look at the playoff teams as a conglomerate, I ranked the teams 1-20 and some of the seeds may come as a surprise. All betting odds are for NBA Finals winner and courtesy of DraftKings.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, +110)

The chase for back-to-back NBA titles is going as advertised for Oklahoma City. At one point, the conversation around this team is would they break the Warriors 73-win record, but a 2-4 stretch in December into January put a halt to that. The Thunder would go on to finish January with a 9-6 record and since then, Oklahoma City is 26-5. The Thunder are rolling on all cylinders and own the league’s No. 1 defense and No. 7 ranked offense led by eventual back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City is listed as the favorites to win the NBA Finals (+110) and go back-to-back as champions. Despite Jalen Williams playing only 33 games, plus Alex Caruso (56), and Ajay Mitchell (57) missing more than 20 games — the Thunder have overcome injury concerns and are fully healthy entering the postseason. The addition of Jared McCain has also given this team a spark and another threat off the bench.

2. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, +500)

The biggest competitor to knock off the Thunder has to be the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio aren’t scared of Oklahoma City and took it to the Thunder all season. The Spurs won four out of five meetings with the Thunder, but all those meetings came two-plus months ago.

San Antonio is the only other team to record 60-plus wins and one of the few teams to have seven players average double-digit points per game. The Spurs are deep and well put together as they can spread the floor and tap in both sides of the ball (top 5 in offensive and defensive rating.) It’s important to be playing your best basketball as you enter the playoffs and the Spurs are certainly doing that with a 18-2 record over the last 20 games.

3. Boston Celtics (56-26, +550)

The best bet to win the East and represent the conference in the NBA Finals is the Boston Celtics. Joe Mazzula is coaching his behind off this season and this Celtics team has responded. Of course, this team will go as far as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can take them, but the development of two key players and a trade acquisitions give this team another gear.

Neemias Queta (doubled his PPG and RPG) and Payton Pritchard (career-high 17.0 PPG) have both stepped up significantly this season and the addition of Nikola Vucevic give this Celtics team the needed depth to make a run. Vucevic was involved in a trade that sent Anfernee Simons to Chicago, which was shocking after Boston traded for him this previous offseason, but it was a good move as Boston has enough guards and needed big man depth post life with Kristaps Porzinigs.

In return, Boston finished the year second in offensive rating and fourth in defensive, one of two teams (Celtics, Spurs) to finish top five in both. With Mazzula as arguably the best coach in the East and a dynamic duo of Brown and Tatum with plenty of role players — I have a hard time seeing another team beating the Celtics in a seven game series.

4. Denver Nuggets (54-28, +850)

Denver is the third-best option to win the West in my opinion, but is the biggest question mark of the top six seeds. The Nuggets finished the regular season with the No. 1 rated offense and Nikola Jokic averaged a triple-double yet again, but the Nuggets defense ranks 21st in net rating, which is a serious problem.

The Nuggets have gone 0-3 versus the Thunder this year and 2-1 versus the Spurs, so the path to an NBA Finals appearance is anything but guaranteed. Nikola Jokic gives Denver a punchers chance, alongside Aaron Gordon who’s having a great year, and Jamal Murray posting career-highs in points (25.4) and assists (7.1). But is that enough? I don’t think so. Minnesota could certainly upset Denver in the first round, and if not, San Antonio is talented enough to take the Nuggets outside to the woodshed.

5. New York Knicks (53-29, +1800)

I feel like we should still be studying how the Knicks lost a playoff series to the Pacers, 4-2, last year, but I digress since it landed my name in a Netflix documentary for hating on the Pacers.

The Knicks are in a finals window right now and if they don’t make an NBA Finals appearance this season or at the very least an Eastern Conference Finals, then this team and season was a disappointment. The additions of Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado are supposed to bring this team added depth and rotational answers this postseason, but the jury is still out.

Clarkson is averaging a career-low 8.7 points in 17.8 minutes per game at age 33, while Alvarado is posting 6.1 points and 3.7 assist over 16.2 minutes with the Knicks. Neither player has been outstanding in their short tenures, but a big play or two in the postseason could land them more minutes behind Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.

What’s stopping the Knicks from another Eastern Conference Finals? The Celtics in the semifinals is likely the easiest answer. I think New York is on the outside looking in when it comes to championship hopefuls this postseason.

6. Detroit Pistons (60-22, +2200)

I’m sorry Pistons fans. The fact that I have the No. 1 seed in the East as my sixth-best team in the playoffs and third in the West is kind of a travesty mixed with disrespect. However, you have to consider last season, the Pistons’ playoff history, and Cade Cunningham‘s health entering the postseason.

Detroit had a chance to send their first round series against New York to seven games, but a late turnover squashed those hopes. Outside of last year, the Pistons haven’t made the playoffs since 2018-19 and those are the only two appearances over the past decade. The last time that Detroit made it to the semifinals was 2007-08, so history is not on Detroit’s side, but I do think they get to at least the second round this year — but I have my doubts they get past the second round.

JB Bickerstaff has done a tremendous job with this roster and should win coach of the year, especially with what Detroit has done missing Cunningham for 20 games. Cunningham played 26 minutes in his first game from a collapsed lung injury and will be walking into the playoffs with only three games under his belt since March 18. That is a concern as he’s the Pistons’ engine, but as long as Detroit plays like the second-best defense in the NBA, they have a chance.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, +1600)

In three seasons with Donovan Mitchell at the helm, the Cavaliers have lost in the semifinals back-to-back years and in first round prior to that. Can this be the year Cleveland gets over the hump? Is the addition of James Harden enough?

With Harden in the lineup, Cleveland is 18-6 and he’s averaged 20.6 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game. Harden isn’t being asked to score as much or lead the offense as much as he was in Los Angeles, which is a positive at 36-years-old. However, Harden hasn’t made it out of the second round (semifinals) since 2017-18. That’s eight straight seasons of first or second round exits. The East isn’t a breeze this year, but I’d have to rank Boston, New York, and Detroit ahead of Cleveland even with a healthy Harden.

8. Houston Rockets (52-30, +6000)

After four straight years of missing the playoffs, Houston made it last year, but was bumped by the Warriors in the first round. This season, Houston is a No. 5 seed and big favorites against Los Angeles. The Rockets are significant favorites against the Lakers in the first round. Houston is -700 favorites, meaning you’d have to bet $700 to win $100 on Houston winning the series.

Kevin Durant being in the locker room gives the Rockets a boost and some much-needed leadership with Fred VanVleet out. Houston has one of the youngest starting lineups in the NBA and playoffs, which could be an issue deeper in the playoffs, like the second round against Oklahoma City, along with the fact that the Rockets played the easiest strength of schedule in the NBA.

On a positive note, Houston is one of six teams ranked in the top 10 for offensive and defensive net rating this season, while the Lakers are 10th offensively and 20th defensively. Houston should make the second round for the first time since 2019-20, but I don’t see the Rockets advancing past Oklahoma City.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, +9000)

The sports books give seven teams a chance at wining the finals, listing them at +1500 or lower, but the Minnesota Timberwolves are not one of them. Minnesota is +6500 to win it all entering the postseason and considering this team made the conference finals the last two seasons — that is not good news. It’s likely because Minnesota has the most challenging route to a finals. Minnesota will have to go through Denver, San Antonio, then Oklahoma City to make an NBA Finals, which I don’t think anyone sees happening.

Minnesota is an underdog in the first round against Denver as a No. 6 seed, but that’s nothing new. The Timberwolves were a No. 3 and 6 seed over the last two years and underdogs in the first round each season. The Timberwolves won each series 4-0 and 4-1 against the Suns and Lakers, but this year seems different. The dynamic duo of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert appears to be coming to an end and I have my doubts that Anthony Edwards will be able to lift this team to a finals himself.

10. Atlanta Hawks (46-36, +13000)

One of the biggest surprises of the season and playoff field is the Atlanta Hawks. With Trae Young being dealt, the Hawks were being written off, but they have made quite the run in the second half of the season in order to snag the No. 6 seed and win the Southeast division.

Atlanta went 20-6 over the second half of the season and won the division by 1.5 games. The Hawks will face the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs and listed as modest +230 series underdogs. The Hawks led by Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum, and the likely winner for Most Improved Player, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta upsetting the Knicks would not be that big of a surprise.

11. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, +25000)

Talk about down bad. Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) has been out since April 2. Reaves is two weeks into being out for approximately six weeks, so there is a chance the Lakers don’t have Reaves for a single playoff game. While Doncic should be back for the postseason, he may not be 100-percent and that makes this Lakers’ season seem like a lost year, which is not ideal for LeBron James.

The Lakers are listed at +25000 to win the NBA Finals after reaching +1500 before the Reaves and Doncic injuries. Meaning, the Lakers season is over and they have basically no chance of winning a title, which is sad considering this is LeBron’s 23rd season. On the bright side, it’s almost time to talk about where will be playing in 2026-27 every single day for the entire summer!

12. Toronto Raptors (46-36, +25000)

Who would have thought the Raptors would the No. 5 seed in the East this season? Toronto surprised many with their play as the trio of RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram has worked out better than expected.

However, there is a serious issue with this Raptors team and its the offensive production from the bench. Toronto’s bench ranks 27th in the league for offensive net rating, but fourth defensively. This is the first playoff series since 2022-23 for Toronto and the only player remaining from that team is Barnes.

The winner of this series will face the No. 1 seed Pistons, who rank second overall in the NBA for defense and ninth offensively. The path to a finals would be the Knicks, Pistons, and Celtics, which all rank top seven in the Eastern Conference in defensive net ratings, as do the Raptors. I don’t think Toronto will have enough offense, specifically from the bench to knock off those teams in a seven-game series.

13. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40, +70000)

The Clippers started the season out 6-21, so it’s remarkable they finished above .500 and with a 36-19 record over the remainder of the season. Los Angeles enters the play-in with a 8-4 record over the last 12 games and has its trio of Kawhi Leonard, Benedict Mathurin, and Darius Garland are in tact and playing well together.

Los Angeles will have to win two games in order to make the playoffs to face the Thunder in the first round, but with Golden State and either Phoenix or Portland on deck, the Clippers have a fair shot of that happening. Just don’t expect this Clippers’ team to win a game if they face the Thunder in the first round.

14. Orlando Magic (45-37, +35000)

Orlando was one of the biggest head scratchers this season. The Magic should have won 50-plus games, but losing six-straight games in March and seven out of eight took that and a division crown away. Luckily, Orlando is playing some of its best basketball entering the playoffs, The Magic have won six straight games and eight out of 10 going into the play-in tournament.

Orlando also has Franz Wagner back in the mix. Wagner missed most of February and all of March, but has returned for the last six games, which are all wins for Orlando. The Magic are 21-13 with Wagner in the lineup this season and with him, this team is at their best.

Unfortunately, Orlando going on multiple losing streaks of four or more games positioned themselves to play Detroit or Boston in the first round if they make out of the play-in, which is a losing recipe.

15. Charlotte Hornets (44-38, +17000)

Can the splash brothers 2.0 make a run in the play-in tournament and postseason? The Hornets had a tremendous regular season compared to years prior and the addition of Rookie of the Year hopeful Kon Knueppel alongside LaMelo Ball has provided dividends to the development of this team.

Charlotte finished the season fifth in offensive net rating and 11th on defense, while playing at the second-slowest pace in the NBA. However, the Hornets did play the third easiest strength of schedule this season and went 11-5 versus the abysmal southeast division. In the last 25 games, Charlotte went 18-7, so they are playing their best ball of the season, but that may not be enough matchup against Detroit or Boston in the first round if the Hornets beat the Heat.

16. Phoenix Suns (45-37, +60000)

Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks are back together for a postseason run and play-in situation, so the Suns have hope to move past Portland. However, the winner will face the No. 2 seed San Antonio, and that surely will be a quick series in favor of the Spurs.

The Suns and Spurs split the regular season series 2-2 and both San Antonio losses had Victor Wembanyama in the lineup yet the Suns have the fifth-worst betting odds to win a championship.

17. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, +17000)

Joel Embiid is expected to miss more hoops for the 76ers, and as usual, Philadelphia will only go as far as Embiid takes them. Philadelphia will get a glimpse of its future with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in a playoff setting versus the Orlando Magic. The winner of that game will face the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics. If the 76ers make it to the first round, they will likely be without Embiid, so this team will not go far.

18. Miami Heat (43-39, +70000)

Miami’s highlight of the season obviously is Bam Adebayo scoring 83 points, but other than that, this Heat team has been hot and cold. Miami started off March on a six-game winning streak, but since then, the Heat have gone 5-10 over the next 15 games entering the playoffs.

In that 15-game span, Miami ranks 9th in offensive net rating, but 28th defensively. The Heat haven’t been able to slow anyone down lately and that will be the downfall of this team. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Heat will be in the play-in game as they have gone 4-2 in that duration with three straight wins. This Heat team has plenty of experience in the play-in and hasn’t lost the first play-in game yet, but that’s the key word, yet. I think Charlotte beats Miami in the play-in and the Heat’s season is over with a likely rebuilt coming.

19. Portland Trail Blazers (42-40, +200000)

This is Portland’s first play-in or playoff appearance since 2020-21. Portland will face Phoenix for a chance to face San Antonio in the first round. Portland has the worst odds to win an NBA Championship of the entire field despite coming in hot at 7-3 over the last 10 games.

The Trail Blazers will get Damian Lillard back next season, and with another addition or two alongside Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan, this Portland team could be taking a major step forward next year. This play-in and potentially playoff tournament will give Portland experience in this setting, which helps moving forward, but I don’t expect this Blazers team to go anywhere.

20. Golden State Warriors (37-45, +80000)

Stephen Curry has been back for four games and averaged 20.3 points at 26.8 minutes per game. The Warriors star certainly gives them a boost in the play-in tournament versus the Clippers, but this roster needs Jimmy Butler, who won’t be active.

The additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford this season aren’t enough to be successful. This is the third-straight season the Warriors are in the play-in tournament (1-1 in that span) and this may be the worst Warriors team in that duration and for the majority of Curry’s career.

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

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Anthony Davis’ long-term future with the Wizards isn’t clear, but he likes the young core

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Davis’ long-term future with the Washington Wizards isn’t clear, but the star at least knows he’s committed to the franchise for one more season.

Davis spoke fondly on Monday about his teammates on the Wizards and how he believes the team has pieces in place to build a competitor.

“When the trade happened and I got here, I’ve said this place is not what people make it seem,” Davis said. “It’s a testament to the organization, the coaching staff, the players, everybody here. I want to be able to have fun where I am. I want to be able to compete where I am. I want to be able to learn wherever I am — and this organization has that.”

The Wizards went 17-65 in 2025-26 — the worst record in the NBA and their third straight 64-plus loss season.

When asked at the season-ending news conference about his future in Washington, he joked that he obviously plans to play for the Wizards next season.

“Yeah, I’m under contract,” he said with a laugh. “I love my money.”

The Wizards acquired the 33-year-old Davis from Dallas in an eight player trade in February. That was about a month after Washington acquired high-scoring guard Trae Young from Atlanta.

Davis said Monday he’s intrigued by Washington’s young core of players and the foundation the front office has put in place.

Davis has been recovering from a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand since Jan. 8. He added he plans to meet with Wizards management soon about his future and the organizations’ plan for building a contender.

“They know that I want to win,” he said. “I’m sure that they want to win as well. Nobody wants to lose. … I know we have a lot of young guys but like I said, I mentioned it about the young guys — how talented they are. Adding Trae and myself kind of can help change that.

“But I also understand I’ve been in this league a long time. I’ve been on losing teams, and it’s very hard to be a losing team and then a championship contender.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA