Entire Nuggets starting lineup, plus most Thunder starters, among 156 NBA players ruled out Friday

Fans who bought tickets in advance to see the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Denver Nuggets — the No. 1 and 3 teams in the West — probably weren’t thrilled when the starting lineups were released.

With the end of the regular season two days away, the only regular starter available between the two teams was dependable 3-and-D man Lu Dort for the Thunder. Everyone else, including MVP contenders Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, was ruled out.

That left the starting lineups looking like this:

Thunder: Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Branden Carlson, Jared McCain, Nikola Topić

Nuggets: Julian Strawther, Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., Tyus Jones

With Jokić at 64 games played, he is now required to play in the Nuggets’ season finale if he wants to be eligible for the NBA’s end-of-season awards. That game is a road date with the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The Nuggets actually had pronounced their entire starting lineup (Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun) questionable in an injury report, then ruled them all out.

That quintet was five of a whopping 156 players ruled out across the NBA’s 15 games on Friday for injury, illness or rest. That doesn’t include several two-way players who were out in the G League, nor players not currently with their team (Terry Rozier, D’Angelo Russell).

A not small number of the NBA’s players were out on Friday.
AAron Ontiveroz via Getty Images

The only team to have no players out: the Detroit Pistons in their game against the Charlotte Hornets. The team with the most players out: the Memphis Grizzlies with 14.

That’s how you get a starting lineups of Toby Okani (4 games played), Adama Bal (7), Jahmai Mashack (29), Dariq Whitehead (4) and Lucas Williamson (5), which is the group Memphis rolled out against the Utah Jazz.

We’ll leave you to determine if this is all because of players being too soft, the game being more high speed than ever, the playoffs being a week away, teams going full tank mode or some other endemic league problem.

The full list of players ruled out:

  • Jarrett Allen (right knee injury management)

  • Thomas Bryant (left calf strain)

  • Sam Merrill (left hamstring injury management)

  • Donovan Mitchell (right ankle injury management)

  • Jock Landale (right high ankle sprain)

  • none

  • PJ Hall (right ankle fracture)

  • Coby White (left groin soreness)

  • Tyler Herro (right foot soreness)

  • Nikola Jović (left ankle sprain)

  • Davio Mitchell (right shoulder contusion)

  • Norman Powell (right groin soreness)

  • Dru Smith (right foot soreness)

  • Justin Champagnie (right knee contusion)

  • Anthony Davis (left finger sprain)

  • Kyshawn George (left elbow sprain)

  • Tre Johnson (right foot sprain)

  • Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis)

  • Tristan Vukcevic (right knee contusion)

  • Cam Whitemore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis

  • Trae Young (low back pain, right quad contusion

  • Saddiq Bey (rest)

  • Herbert Jones (rest)

  • Karlo Matković (low back injury management)

  • Bryce McGowens (right toe fracture)

  • Yves Missi (right hand/finger sprain)

  • Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain)

  • Dejounte Murray (left hand contusion)

  • Zion Williamson (right knee injury management)

Jayson Tatum (right Achilles management)

  • Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery)

  • Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery)

  • Cameron Payne (right hamstring strain)

  • Johnny Furphy (right ACL tear)

  • Tyrese Haliburton (right Achilles tear)

  • T.J. McConnell (bilateral hamstring injury management)

  • Andrew Nembhard (thoracic and lumbar injury management)

  • Aaron Nesmith (cervical strain)

  • Ben Sheppard (right hip sprain)

  • Pascal Siakam (left ankle sprain)

  • Ivica Zubac (rib fracture)

  • RJ Barrett (right knee soreness)

  • Chucky Hepburn (right knee surgery recovery)

  • Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness)

  • Collin Murray-Boyles (neck sprain)

  • Immanuel Quickley (right foot injury management)

  • Tyler Kolek (right oblique strain)

  • Miles McBride (pelvic injury management)

  • Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management)

  • Nic Claxton (right finger sprain)

  • Noah Clowney (left ankle injury management)

  • Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management)

  • Terance Mann (right patella tendinosis)

  • Josh Minott (left ankle soreness)

  • Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain)

  • Drake Powell (left knee injury management)]

  • Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgery)

  • Ziaire Williams (left foot tenosynovitis/bursitis

  • Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain)

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee hyperextension/bone bruise/disagreement)

  • Gary Harris (right groin tightness)

  • Pete Nance (right knee sprain)

  • Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee surgery)

  • Bobby Portis (left wrist sprain)

  • Ryan Rollins (right hip strain)

  • Gary Trent Jr. (oblique muscle strain)

  • Daniel Gafford (rest)

  • Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery)

  • Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery)

  • Naji Marshall (left hip contusion)

  • Caleb Martin (right plantar fascia strain)

  • Klay Thompson (illness)

  • P.J. Washington (left elbow sprain)

  • Brandon Williams (illness)

  • Stephon Castle (left foot soreness)

  • David Jones Garcia (right ankle surgery)

  • Jett Howard (left ankle sprain)

  • Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain)

  • Zach Collins (right toe sprain)

  • Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery)

  • Josh Giddey (left hamstring injury management)

  • Isaac Okoro (left quad contusion)

  • Nick Richards (right elbow sprain)

  • Anfernee Simons (left ulnar styloid fracture)

  • Jalen Smith (right calf sprain)

  • Guerschon Yabusele (left shoulder sprain)

  • Alex Caruso (rest)

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right oblique injury management)

  • Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus injury management)

  • Chet Holmgren (low back spasms)

  • Isaiah Joe (left knee soreness)

  • Ajay Mitchell (left ankle injury management)

  • Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgery recovery)

  • Cason Wallace (left toe soreness)

  • Jalen Williams (right hamstring injury management)

  • Jaylin Williams (right Achilles tendinitis)

  • Christian Braun (left ankle injury management)

  • Aaron Gordon (right hamstring injury management)

  • Cameron Johnson (right ankle injury management)

  • Nikola Jokic (right wrist injury management)

  • Spencer Jones (right hamstring strain)

  • Jamal Murray (right shoulder impingement)

  • Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain)

  • Santi Aldama (right knee surgery recovery)

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right finger surgery recovery)

  • Brandon Clarke (right calf strain)

  • Walter Clayton Jr. (left hip soreness)

  • Cedric Coward (low back soreness)

  • Zach Edey (left ankle and elbow surgery recovery)

  • Taylor Hendricks (right thumb sprain)

  • GG Jackson (left knee soreness)

  • Ty Jerome (left ankle sprain)

  • Ja Morant (left UCL sprain)

  • Scotty Pippen Jr. (right toe surgery recovery)

  • Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right ankle soreness)

  • Cam Spencer (low back soreness)

  • Jaylen Wells (right toe surgery recovery)

  • Isaiah Collier (left hamstring strain)

  • Kyle Filipowski (low back injury management)

  • Keyonte George (right hamstring strain)

  • Elijah Harkness (left hamstring strain)

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee injury recovery)

  • Walker Kessler (left shoulder injury recovery)

  • Lauri Markkanen (right hip impingement)

  • Jusuf Nurkić (nose injury recovery)

  • Brice Sensabaugh (rest)

  • Rudy Gobert (rest)

  • Bones Hyland (right hip soreness)

  • Julius Randle (right hand soreness)

  • Naz Reid (right shoulder injury maintenance)

  • Steven Adams (left ankle surgery)

  • Fred VanVleet (right ACL repair)

  • Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)

  • LJ Cryer (right ankle sprain)

  • Seth Curry (left adductor injury management)

  • Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)

  • Quinten Post (right foot injury management)

  • DeMar DeRozan (right hamstring soreness)

  • Drew Eubanks (left thumb repair)

  • De’Andre Hunter (left eye retinal repair)

  • Zach LaVine (right finger tendon repair)

  • Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain)

  • Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair)

  • Russell Westbrook (right toe injury management)

  • Bradley Beal (left hip fracture)

  • Isaiah Jackson (right ankle sprain)

  • Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (right Lisfranc ligament tear)

  • Jerami Grant (right calf strain)

  • Vit Krejčí (left calf contusion)

  • Damian Lillard (left Achilles injury management)

  • Devin Booker (right ankle injury management)

  • Jordan Goodwin (left ankle sprain)

  • Jalen Green (right knee sorenesS)

  • Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management)

  • Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain)

  • Jaxson Hayes (left foot injury management)

  • Austin Reaves (left oblique strain)

Victor Wembanyama eligible for MVP, other awards after playing in 65th game this season despite rib injury

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s pursuit of the MVP award is still alive. Wembanyama is officially eligible for end-of-season awards after playing at least 20 minutes in Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Wembanyama played 26:13 minutes in the Spurs’ 139-120 win over the Mavericks, scoring 40 points.

The 22-year-old center was in danger of missing the 65-game threshold after sustaining a rib injury during the team’s 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on April 6.

With just three games left in the regular season following that injury, Wembanyama didn’t have much time to recover if he wanted to be eligible for the NBA’s end-of-year awards. He needed just one more game to be eligible.

On Friday, Wembanyama was honest about hitting that mark.

“If I had had 65 [games] before, I would, for sure, not have played,” he said on the broadcast postgame.

Thanks to a rule agreed to by the players and league in the latest collective bargaining agreement, players need to participate in 65 games in a single season in order to be eligible for end-of-year awards. The league introduced the measure as a way to prevent tanking, and ensure star players take the court when healthy.

This season, the rule has taken some prominent names out of award consideration, including Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards, among many others.

While those players didn’t necessarily have a shot to jump into MVP consideration due to those injuries, other superstars with more realistic shots at earning an end-of-year nod were also affected by the rule. Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham won’t be eligible for All-NBA honors due to a lung issue. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, who put his name in the MVP race after a blazing hot month of play, will not qualify for the award due to a hamstring injury, unless his appeal is granted. If it isn’t, Dončić will miss out on eligibility by one game.

Wembanyama found himself in the same spot. Following the team’s April 6 game, Wembanyama had played in 63 games this season. While that’s technically two games away from the league’s 65-game threshold, his appearance in the NBA Cup championship game counts toward that total, even though his stats from that game do not. Teams that play in the NBA Cup final finish the season with 83 total games, which is why the league doesn’t allow those stats to carry over. That put Wembanyama one game away from qualifying for end-of-year awards.

The way the rule is written, Wembanyama had to play at least 20 minutes in one of the Spurs’ final three regular-season games in order to be eligible for awards. The NBA requires 20 minutes of play for a player to accrue a “game played” during the season. Players are allowed two exceptions, but Wembanyama used his final one the night he sustained the rib injury. Because of that, the Spurs couldn’t send him out on the court for the tipoff and then take him out of the game. He needed to play significant time in at least one contest down the stretch.

Prior to the injury, Wembanyama was considered a strong candidate — though not the favorite — to win the MVP award. Wembanyama spoke about his desire to win the award, laying out his argument for why he should be the top choice. Even after that plea, Wembanyama still sits behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the race, per betting odds.

After a handful of big names were eliminated from end-of-year award contention — but before Wembanyama’s injury — the union called for the abolishment or reformation of the 65-game rule. In a statement, it argued that “far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by this arbitrary and overly rigid quota.”

Wembanyama’s injury only strengthens the union’s case. While Wembanyama was ultimately able to come back and qualify for end-of-year awards, both the league and union might find an opportunity to tweak the language of the rule after so many big-name players found themselves on the wrong side of the policy this season.

NBA Awards eligibility tracker: Which star players will miss out under the 65-game rule?

With the NBA’s regular season winding down, attention will turn to the playoffs and the league’s annual award races. Figuring out who is actually eligible for each of those awards is the first step.

Due to the NBA’s 65-game rule in which players must appear in 65 games over the course of the 82-game season in order to qualify for year-end awards, a number of injured stars — including LeBron James, Cade Cunningham, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry — are already ineligible for regular-season honors. Let’s take a look at who still needs to become eligible.

Under the league’s 65-game rule, players who miss 18 games will no longer be eligible for season-ending awards. Players must play at least 20 minutes for each game to count — they are afforded two games of 15-to-20 minutes as an exception. Players who played in the NBA Cup final get a one-game credit.

Nikola Jokić, Nuggets: 16 missed games

  • Missed a month with a left knee injury

  • Needs to play at least 15 minutes in one of the Nuggets’ final two regular-season games to become eligible

  • Remaining schedule

Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers:16 missed games

  • Missed time with a back injury

  • Needs to play at least 20 minutes in both of the Trail Blazers’ final two regular-season games to become eligible

  • Appeared for less than a minute in one game, which does not count toward his total

  • Remaining schedule

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: 16 missed games

  • Has missed time with foot/ankle injuries

  • Needs to play at least 15 minutes in one of Clippers’ final two regular-season games to become eligible

  • Remaining schedule

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs:17 missed games (effectively 16)

  • Missed time earlier in the season with calf and knee injuries and one game in April because of bruised ribs

  • Needs to play at least 20 minutes in one of the Spurs’ final two regular-season games to become eligible

  • Gets a one-game credit for his NBA Cup final appearance

  • Remaining schedule

Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: 16 missed games

  • Missed time due to two calf strain injuries

  • Needs to play at least 15 minutes in one of the Cavaliers’ final two regular-season games to become eligible

  • Remaining schedule

Luka Dončić, Lakers:16 missed games

  • Expected to miss the Lakers’ final two regular-season games and will be ineligible

  • Plans to appeal two games he missed because of his daughter’s birth through the NBA’s “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge”

  • Remaining schedule

These star players will not reach the league’s 65-game threshold for year-end awards this season.

  • Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves

  • Cade Cunningham, Pistons

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

  • Devin Booker, Suns

  • Jimmy Butler, Warriors

  • Stephen Curry, Warriors

  • Anthony Davis, Mavericks/Wizards

  • Joel Embiid, 76ers

  • Paul George, 76ers

  • Josh Giddey, Bulls

  • LeBron James, Lakers

  • Lauri Markkanen, Jazz

  • Ja Morant, Grizzlies

  • Austin Reaves, Lakers

  • Domantas Sabonis, Kings

  • Franz Wagner, Magic

  • Jalen Williams, Thunder

  • Trae Young, Hawks/Wizards

2025-26 NBA over/under tracker: Which teams clinched their season win totals?

The 2025-26 NBA regular season is winding down, which means that the postseason is right around the corner.

Will the Oklahoma City Thunder win another NBA championship? How far can the surprise Detroit Pistons make it? What about Boston Celtics with superstar Jayson Tatum’s shockingly fast return from an Achilles injury?

We’ll find out the answers to those questions in the coming weeks, but the end of the regular season also means we get to see how those preseason over/unders ended up.

Which teams outperformed expectations and which underperformed?

Here’s a list of the NBA teams have clinched their preseason over or under at BetMGM sportsbooks, along with the teams still undecided with a few games remaining.

Denver Nuggets: 53.5

New York Knicks: 53.5

Houston Rockets: 52.5

Minnesota Timberwolves: 49.5

Philadelphia 76ers: 43.5

Oklahoma City Thunder: 62.5

Detroit Pistons: 46.5

Los Angeles Lakers: 46.5

San Antonio Spurs: 44.5

Boston Celtics: 41.5

Toronto Raptors: 39.5

Miami Heat: 37.5

Portland Trail Blazers: 35.5

Phoenix Suns: 30.5

Charlotte Hornets: 27.5

Brooklyn Nets: 19.5

Utah Jazz: 18.5

Cleveland Cavaliers: 56.5

Orlando Magic: 51.5

Los Angeles Clippers: 49.5

Atlanta Hawks: 47.5

Golden State Warriors: 47.5

Milwaukee Bucks 43.5

Dallas Mavericks: 41.5

Memphis Grizzlies: 39.5

Indiana Pacers: 39.5

Chicago Bulls: 33.5

Sacramento Kings: 32.5

New Orleans Pelicans: 30.5

Washington Wizards: 20.5

2026 NBA playoff picture: April 10 clinching scenarios, tiebreakers for postseason contenders

The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules and the stakes for every day’s slate of games. For those teams not in the postseason hunt, we also break down the “race” for pole position in the upcoming NBA Draft lottery.

Jump to:Eastern Conference• Western Conference

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat

(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) play-In winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed, and the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers appear bound for the next three seeds, in some order, and home-court advantage in the opening round.

Who, exactly, those four teams will play in the opening round is still up for grabs, as just two losses separate the fifth seed from the ninth seed. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position in the final days of the season.

Record: 58-22 | Net rating: 8.3 (3rd)

  • Clinched No. 1 seed and Central Division title

  • Remaining schedule: @CHA, @IND

What’s at stake: First-round matchup against No. 8 seed

Record: 54-26 | Net rating: 8.2 (4th)

  • Clinched playoff berth; clinches the Atlantic Division title and the No, 2 seed with a win over the Pelicans or a Knicks loss to the Raptors

  • Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Knicks

  • Magic number for No. 2 seed: 1

  • Remaining schedule: NOP, ORL

  • Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 3 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Record: 52-28 | Net rating: 6.5 (5th)

  • Clinched playoff berth; clinches no worse than the No. 3 seed with a win over the Raptors or a Cavaliers loss to the Hawks

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreakers over Celtics and Cavaliers

  • Magic number for No. 3 seed: 1

  • Remaining schedule: TOR, CHA

  • Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Record: 51-29 | Net rating: 4.1 (9th)

  • Clinched playoff berth; locked into the No. 4 seed with a loss to the Hawks or a Knicks win over the Raptors

  • Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Knicks

  • Remaining schedule: @ATL, WAS

  • Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 45-35 | Net rating: 2.2 (12th)

  • Clinches playoff berth with win over the Knicks or with losses by the Magic, 76ers and Hornets

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks, Hornets, Magic and Heat; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with 76ers

  • Magic number for No. 5 seed: 2

  • Remaining schedule: @NYK, BKN

  • Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 45-35 | Net rating: 2.5 (11th)

  • Clinches playoff berth and the Southeast Division title with win over Cavaliers or with losses by Magic and Hornets

  • Holds tiebreakers over 76ers and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreakers to Raptors and Hornets

  • Magic number for No. 6 seed: 1

  • Remaining schedule: CLE, @MIA

  • Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 44-36 | Net rating: 0.0 (17th)

  • Locked into play-in tournament with loss to Bulls or with wins by Raptors and Hawks

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Heat; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks, Raptors, 76ers and Hornets

  • Magic number for No. 8 seed: 2

  • Remaining schedule: @CHI, @BOS

  • Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 43-37 | Net rating: -0.2 (18th)

  • Locked into the play-in tournament with a loss to Pacers or Raptors win over Knicks

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Raptors, Hornets and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks and Heat

  • Magic number for No. 7 seed: 3

  • Remaining schedule: @IND, MIL

  • Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 43-37 | Net rating: 5.3 (6th)

  • Locked into play-in tournament with loss to Pistons or with wins by Raptors and Hawks

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Raptors, 76ers and Heat

  • Magic number for No. 9 seed: 2

  • Remaining schedule: DET, @NYK

  • Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 41-39 | Net rating: 2.1 (13th)

  • Locked into play-in tournament; locked into No. 10 seed with loss to Wizards or wins by Hornets and 76ers

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hornets and 76ers; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Magic and Raptors

  • Magic number for No. 9 seed: Does not control own destiny

  • Remaining schedule: @WAS, ATL

  • Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed.

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the league’s No. 1 overall seed while the San Antonio Spurs are locked into the West’s No. 2 seed.

The Los Angeles Lakers have slipped behind the Denver Nuggets for the West’s No. 3 seed and are in danger of falling behind the Houston Rockets to No. 5.

The Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are locked into the West’s play-in tournament with the Suns guaranteed the No. 7 seed and the Warriors No. 10.

Record: 64-16 | Net rating: 11.6 (1st)

  • Clinched No. 1 overall seed, Northwest Division title and home-court advantage throughout playoffs

  • Remaining schedule: @DEN, PHX

What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed (Suns, Clippers, Trail Blazers or Warriors) after play-in tournament.

Record: 61-19 | Net rating: 8.4 (2nd)

  • Clinched No. 2 seed and Southwest Division title

  • Remaining schedule: DAL, DEN

What’s at stake: Will face No. 7 seed (Suns, Clippers or Trail Blazers) after play-in tournament.

Record: 47-33 | Net rating: 3.1 (10th)

  • Locked into No. 6 seed

  • Remaining schedule: @HOU, NOP

What’s at stake: Will face No. 3 seed (Nuggets, Lakers or Rockets) in first round of playoffs.

Record: 52-28 | Net rating: 4.8 (8th)

  • Clinched playoff berth; clinches home-court advantage with win over Thunder or Rockets loss to Timberwolves; clinches No. 3 seed with win over Thunder and Lakers and Rockets losses

  • Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Rockets; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Lakers

  • Magic number for No. 3 seed: 2

  • Magic number for No. 4 seed: 1

  • Remaining schedule: OKC, @SAS

  • Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 51-29 | Net rating: 1.2 (16th)

  • Clinched playoff berth and Pacific Division title; clinches home-court advantage with win over Suns and Rockets loss to Timberwolves

  • Holds tiebreaker over Nuggets and Rockets

  • Magic number for No. 4 seed: 2

  • Remaining schedule: PHX, UTA

  • Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 51-29 | Net rating: 5.0 (7th)

  • Clinched playoff berth; locked into No. 5 seed with loss to Timberwolves and Lakers win over Suns

  • Loses tiebreaker to Nuggets and Rockets

  • Magic number for No. 3 seed: Does not control own destiny.

  • Magic number for No. 4 seed: Does not control own destiny.

  • Remaining schedule: MIN, MEM

  • Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 44-36 | Net rating: 1.5 (14th)

  • Remaining schedule: @LAL, @OKC

  • Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed

What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed (Clippers or Blazers) in first game of play-in tournament at 10 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 14.

Record: 37-43 | Net rating: -0.3 (19th)

  • Remaining schedule: @SAC, @LAC

What’s at stake: Will face No. 9 seed (Clippers or Blazers) in second game of play-in tournament at 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 15.

Record: 41-39 | Net rating: 1.5 (15th)

  • Locked into No. 8 seed with win over Trail Blazers; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with loss to Trail Blazers

  • Magic number for No. 8 seed: 2

  • Remaining schedule: @POR, GSW

  • Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.

Record: 40-40 | Net rating: -0.6 (20th)

  • Locked into No. 9 seed with loss to Clippers; wins head-to-head tiebreaker with win over Clippers

  • Magic number for No. 8 seed: Does not control own destiny

  • Remaining schedule: LAC, SAC

  • Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed

  • Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.

Tigers’ Parker Meadows lands on 10-day IL with arm fracture, concussion after collision sent OF to hospital

A day after the frightening outfield collision that hospitalized Parker Meadows, the Detroit Tigers placed the center fielder on the 10-day injured list. That said, Meadows will need significantly more recovery time while working his way back from a left arm fracture and a concussion.

Meadows also received five stitches in his left cheek, according to MLB.com. As for the fracture, Meadows is dealing with a broken radius bone in his left arm, near his wrist.

“We don’t know if anything more is going to be required — surgery or anything like that,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday ahead of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins, per the Detroit Free Press. “He needs multiple appointments to figure out what’s next for him, but he has a long road to recovery.”

The Tigers recalled Wenceel Pérez from Triple-A Toledo to take Meadows’ spot. Early last season, when Meadows was out due to a nerve issue in his right arm, Pérez played a good bit of center field in his place. Now he has a chance to reprise that role and help Matt Vierling and even shortstop Javier Báez fill Meadows’ void.

Meadows was carted off the field Thursday after he collided with left fielder Riley Greene while trying to track down a Josh Bell fly ball in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Meadows was sent to a hospital, where he was kept for overnight observation, according to The Associated Press.

While Greene made the catch, it came at a cost. Bell’s flyout shot toward left-center field. Meadows came charging in for the putout, but Greene was already in position to make the catch in the alley.

Meadows bumped heads with Greene. Both of their caps went flying as they hit the ground. Greene braced the fall with his right knee and got right back up, whereas Meadows dropped to the ground. He lay on his back with his arms up and blood on his face.

Eventually, Meadows returned to his feet, albeit with assistance from the Tigers’ athletic training staff and the medical personnel at Target Field, per The Athletic. Then he got on a cart that took him off the diamond.

After the game, according to The Athletic, Meadows was taken on a stretcher to a local hospital. He was reportedly fully conscious and had his left arm in a sling.

“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said postgame, per the AP. “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”

Greene and Meadows overlapped in the Tigers’ farm system while on their journeys to the bigs and remain close. Meadows, 26, is in his fourth MLB season after making his major-league debut in 2023. He started 11 of Detroit’s first 13 games this season in center field. He has hit a pair of extra-base hits and tallied two RBI while batting .250.

“That was an ugly, scary one, and there’s a lot of concern for him,” Hinch said of the collision on Thursday, per MLB.com. “When we got out there, it looked like he had bit his lip or inside his mouth, so there was some blood, and he was pretty out of it. …

“Those are scary collisions. You don’t know what you’re going to get when you get there. Obviously, we’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me.”

Now 4-9 after a 2-0 start to the season, Detroit has lost nine of its past 11 games. The Tigers are stomaching a four-game sweep at the hands of a 7-6 Twins squad. And they’re dealing with an injury to their primary center fielder.

Fortunately, Meadows was reportedly traveling back from Minnesota on Friday after a night in the hospital.

Tigers back in the win column, blank Marlins in opener

Detroit — Behind a sterling start from Keider Montero and just enough offense, the Tigers got back in the win column on Friday in a return to Comerica Park, besting the Miami Marlins, 2-0. 

Montero, filling in for an injured Justin Verlander, controlled the game from the mound from the get go and finished with a scoreless six innings, striking out seven and walking one batter on two hits.

The win snaps a five-game losing streak for Detroit, which entered Friday after getting swept in four games by Minnesota. 

Montero’s biggest moment of peril came almost immediately, as he navigated his way around a one-out triple in the top of the first inning. The first out following that triple came via a called strike three on the bottom rail of the zone that stood after being challenged via ABS. 

Montero got one other looking strikeout on Friday, freezing Owen Caissie in the top of the fifth, setting him up and freezing him on a 3-2 fastball that was comfortably in the zone. 

The starter gave way to Brant Hurter for the seventh inning, and the lefty retired the Marlins in order, as did Kyle Finnegan in the top of the eighth inning. Kenley Jansen came on for the ninth inning and got the save.

On offense, facing a familiar arm in Chris Paddack — who pitched for Detroit during the second half of last season — the Tigers produced some offensive pressure in the second inning, stringing together a series of singles. 

First Dillon Dingler got aboard, then went from first to third by making a good read on a single by Kerry Carpenter, the following batter. That set the table for Spencer Torkelson with no outs and runners on the corners. 

He quickly got a pitch he could handle and roped a single into left field over the reach of shortstop Otto Lopez for a 1-0 lead. 

The Tigers kept the pressure on Paddack, with rookie Kevin McGonigle working from two strikes to a walk to load the bases and get the Marlins starter over 40 pitches. Detroit couldn’t really make Paddack pay, though, as Gleyber Torres lined out to right field on a sliding catch by Owen Caissie. 

Offense, generally, was hard to come by for both teams, with Montero dealing and Paddack settling in after his second-inning hiccup. 

Detroit only added a second run by virtue of Javy Báez putting a clean swing on a 2-2 sweeper that Paddack tried to leave low and away, hopefully getting a chase and miss. 

Instead, the pitch caught a little bit too much of the zone and Báez managed to reach down and get around it, smashing a home run into the Tiger bullpen to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning.

And going up 2-0 proved to be enough of a margin on a night where Montero shone for six innings and the bullpen had his back.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers blanked Miami Marlins to end 5-game skid

Max Plante, Detroit Red Wings prospect, wins Hobey Baker Award

LAS VEGAS – If Detroit Red Wings fans need another reason to be excited about 2024 second-round draft pick Max Plante, here’s another one right here.

Plante, the sophomore forward out of Minnesota Duluth, was named the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award recipient as the top player in college hockey. Plante registered 52 points over 40 games for the Bulldogs and was named the 2026 NCHC Player of the Year.

Plante’s win gives Minnesota Duluth its seventh Hobey Baker Award winner, which leads all schools.

BUILDING BLOCKS: Michigan seniors leave program better off despite Frozen Four loss

Plante beat out Michigan senior forward T.J. Hughes and Denver junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp for the award, winning over players from two Frozen Four teams. Plante and the Bulldogs lost to Michigan 4-3 in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Hockey Tournament, knocking Minnesota Duluth out of title contention.

Hughes finished the regular season with 56 points in 39 games, second in Division 1 only to Quinnipiac’s Ethan Wyttenbach (59 in 40 games). Hughes was also the team captain for a Michigan team that entered the NCAA Tournament as the consensus No. 1 team in the nation, though the top-overall seed Wolverines fell to 2-seed Denver 4-3 in double-overtime in the Frozen Four national semifinal game on Thursday, April 9.

Pohlkamp led the Pioneers in points on the season (39) as Denver advanced to the national championship game against Wisconsin on Saturday, April 11, following its national semifinal win over Michigan. The San Jose Sharks drafted Pohlkamp in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft at 132nd overall.

Hobey Baker Award winners

  • 2026: F Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 2025: F Isaac Howard, Michigan State.
  • 2024: F Macklin Celebrini, Boston University.
  • 2023: F Adam Fantilli, Michigan.
  • 2022: G Dryden McKay, Minnesota State.
  • 2021: F Cole Caufield, Wisconsin.
  • 2020: D Scott Perunovich, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 2019: D Cale Makar, UMass.
  • 2018: F Adam Gaudette, Northeastern.
  • 2017: D Will Butcher, Denver.
  • 2016: F Jimmy Vesey, Harvard.
  • 2015: F Jack Eichel, Boston University.
  • 2014: F Johnny Gaudreau, Boston College.
  • 2013: F Drew LeBlanc, St. Cloud State.
  • 2012: F Jack Connolly, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 2011: F Andy Miele, Miami.
  • 2010: F Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin.
  • 2009: D Matt Gilroy, Boston University.
  • 2008: F Kevin Porter, Michigan.
  • 2007: F Ryan Duncan, North Dakota.
  • 2006: D Matt Carle, Denver.
  • 2005: F Marty Sertich, Colorado College.
  • 2004: F Junior Lessard, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 2003: F Peter Sejna, Colorado College.
  • 2002: D Jordan Leopold, Minnesota.
  • 2001: G Ryan Miller, Michigan State.
  • 2000: D Mike Mottau, Boston College.
  • 1999: F Jason Krog, New Hampshire.
  • 1998: F Chris Drury, Boston University.
  • 1997: F Brendan Morrison, Michigan.
  • 1996: F Brian Bonin, Minnesota.
  • 1995: F Brian Holzinger, Bowling Green.
  • 1994: F Chris Marinucci, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 1993: F Paul Kariya, Maine.
  • 1992: F Scott Pellerin, Maine.
  • 1991: F David Emma, Boston College.
  • 1990: F Kip Miller, Michigan State.
  • 1989: F Lane MacDonald, Harvard.
  • 1988: G Robb Stauber, Minnesota.
  • 1987: F Tony Hrkac, North Dakota.
  • 1986: F Scott Fusco, Harvard.
  • 1985: F Bill Watson, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 1984: D Tom Kurvers, Minnesota Duluth.
  • 1983: D Mark Fusco, Harvard.
  • 1982: F George McPhee, Bowling Green.
  • 1981: F Neal Broten, Minnesota.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Max Plante, Detroit Red Wings prospect, wins Hobey Baker Award

Wings prospect Max Plante voted Hobey Baker winner as top NCAA player

Las Vegas — Red Wings draft pick Max Plante earned some heavy hardware Friday.

Plante received the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top men’s player, announced in a ceremony at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. Plante, a 2024 second round draft pick of Detroit, scored 52 points in 40 games as a sophomore for Minnesota-Duluth.

Michigan center T.J. Hughes and Denver defenseman Eric Pohlkamp were the other two finalists for the award. Hughes is expected to sign an NHL contract in the coming days as a graduating senior and top undrafted prospect on the market. After knocking out Hughes and the Wolverines on Thursday, Pohlkamp and Denver will play Wisconsin for the national championship at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

Injury woes set Plante back in his freshman season, a 28-point campaign that flashed the abilities that made him a top prospect in his class as he won a gold medal with the United States World Junior Championship team. 

Healthy this season, 20-year-old Plante was the leading force behind a strong season for Minnesota-Duluth alongside his older brother, Zam, and close friend Ty Hanson. The Bulldogs lost to Michigan in the Albany regional final, though the appearance broke a three-year drought since Plante’s father, journeyman NHLer Derek, left to coach in the NHL.

Plante is the first Hobey Baker winner at Minnesota-Duluth since Scott Perunovich in 2020. Seven Bulldogs have won the award since it first went to Neal Broten in 1981, including Jack Connolly (2012), Junior Lessard (2004), Chris Marinucci (1994), Bill Watson (1985) and Tom Kurvers (1984).

Plante is expected to return to Duluth next season for his junior year. His NHL rights expire in 2028.

MSU’s Augustine named top collegiate goaltender

Add one more piece of hardware to the cabinet for Trey Augustine, who won the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goaltender Friday at an awards ceremony at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. He couldn’t make it, however, because it was the same day he made his professional hockey debut with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Augustine, who signed his entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings on March 31, finished the season with a career-best .929 save percentage and 2.11 goals against average, his 24-9-1 junior season the best of his three-year stint with Michigan State. He backstopped the Spartans to a third straight Big Ten championship and No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

In the NCAA Tournament, Augustine made 75 saves over two games, including a 2-1 escape against UConn in the opening round. But he let in three goals in a five-minute span to lose the Worcester regional final to Wisconsin, ending his college career without ever making it to the Frozen Four.

Augustine finished his NCAA career with 99 games played, 10th most among all Michigan State goaltenders. His 66 career wins rank sixth all-time. His nine shutouts tie John Lethemon for sixth most by a Spartan. His 2.40 goals against average ranks fifth. Only Hobey Baker winner and 18-year NHLer Ryan Miller (.941) finished with a higher career save percentage than Augustine’s .922 mark. 

cearegood@detroitnews.com

@ConnorEaregood

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: NCAA hockey handed out Hobey Baker award for top player

Record-breaking McIlroy plans to keep ‘foot on gas’

Defending champion Rory McIlroy says he plans to keep his “foot on the gas” after building a record six-shot halfway lead with a devastating second-round 65 at the Masters.

Sharing the overnight lead with Sam Burns, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy made a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole to open up a three-shot advantage before bogeys at the fifth and 10th gave the chasing pack renewed hope.

But the world number two surged clear of the field down Augusta National’s iconic closing stretch. Birdies on six of his last seven holes, including a sensational chip-in on the 17th, took him to 12 under par.

The seven under par round opened a huge lead over Americans Burns and Patrick Reed, with Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry a shot further back.

“I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” said the 36-year-old, who will head out alongside Burns in the final pairing at 19:50 BST on Saturday.

“There are so many different ways to skin a cat. I’ve shot 12 under par for the first two rounds here. I’ve played well, I’ve hit good shots, but it hasn’t all been amazing.

“I’ve relied on my short game when I’ve needed it, and I’ve certainly hit enough good wedges into those par fives to build the score that I have.”

No plans to merely ‘protect lead’

McIlroy, who is hoping to become just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles has held a six-shot lead at this point in a major before.

He went on to win the 2011 US Open by eight shots – claiming the first of his five majors – and also spreadeagled the field with an eight-shot victory at the 2012 US PGA Championship.

And he plans to maintain an aggressive approach around Augusta National over the weekend as he bids to match Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino’s haul of six majors.

“Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging,” he said when asked what advice his 2011 self would have for him before Saturday.

McIlroy led that year’s Masters by four shots going into the final round, but carded an eight-over-par 80 to tumble down the leaderboard.

“A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 US Open was don’t get protective,” he added. “Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”

McIlroy also said he plans to watch tennis and spend time with his daughter Poppy to take his mind off the third round.

“That distraction is usually a good thing for me, especially with a late tee time and the lead,” he explained.

“There are two really good semi-finals at Monte Carlo in the tennis. So I’ll watch those.

“We’ve been watching the tennis early in the mornings. And then hopefully spend some time with Poppy. I think we’re about halfway through Zootopia 2.”

With no rain forecast over the weekend, Augusta’s famously undulating greens are expected to become increasingly fiery as the tournament nears its conclusion.

With that in mind, McIlroy – who missed six fairways and five greens on Friday – is under no illusion about the scale of the task as he alluded to his previous Masters struggles.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” he stressed to BBC NI.

“I’ve put myself in the best position possible going into the weekend but I know more than probably anyone else what this golf course can do to you.

“I need to keep my wits about me and play the weekend like I played the past two days.”