With a gesture that will only further ingratiate himself to Knicks fans, Brunson agreed Friday to a four-year, $156.5 million ($AUD231.4 million) extension, the team announced.
“Build him a statue,” Josh Hart, Brunson’s friend and teammate, tweeted after the news broke, echoing the sentiment of the fan base.
It was a move that wasn’t too surprising given the rumblings ahead of Brunson’s extension eligibility, but nonetheless shocking from a financial perspective.
If Brunson, 27, had waited until next summer for free agency, he could’ve inked a five-year contract worth about $270 million.
There was some risk associated with waiting — what if he suffered a devastating injury next season? — but the point guard had already established himself as a max player when healthy.
A source confirmed the fourth year on the extension is a player option, setting up the opportunity for Brunson to recoup some of the sacrificed millions on his next contract.
Jalen Brunson was willing to leave $100 million on the table. (Photo by Quinn Harris / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
But even in the ideal hypothetical scenario — where Brunson inks a free-agent max contract in 2028 — he can’t recover the roughly $37 million difference over the first three years of the extension.
“Jalen signing the extension to remain with the Knicks for the long-term shows the dedication and passion he has for the organisation, the fans and this city,” team president Leon Rose said in a statement.
“Jalen has often called the Knicks his family and we are beyond proud to have him wear and represent our orange and blue for years to come. … Since Jalen joined us two years ago, he has consistently led by example and continues to show a willingness to sacrifice for this organisation.”
By taking the team-friendly deal, Brunson alleviates some Knicks cap concerns and potentially helps them avoid the dreaded second apron — the highest luxury-tax threshold that severely limits a team’s ability to build a roster — as they vie for a title.
According to ESPN, Brunson studied the financial sacrifices of Derek Jeter, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady for the “blueprint” of building sustained success around the star’s contract.
Of course, the agreement Friday wouldn’t be possible if Brunson wasn’t elated playing in New York. It’s hard to imagine a better situation for the point guard.
Brunson’s latest contract is very team-friendly. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
His father is the assistant coach, his longtime family friend (Rose) is the team president, his head coach (Tom Thibodeau) is a huge fan and his Villanova buddies are on the team.
The core around him — OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Mitchell Robinson — are all between the ages of 26 and 29.
It’s their prime window on the heels of a 50-win season and elimination in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semis, a finish that left Brunson unsatisfied despite a flood of Knicks injuries.
“I would say there’s pros and cons in how I played,” Brunson said after going on a playoff scoring tear that was comparable to Michael Jordan.
“The pros are, I played well individually at some points and time during the playoffs. The cons are, I didn’t play well enough to help my team move forward. You can say I got hurt in Game 7 [against the Pacers, when Brunson fractured his hand]. I wasn’t playing well in Game 7. We had a 2-0 [series] lead and a 3-2 lead. So, it’s hard to look at things individually when you don’t help your team.”
With the notable exception of Randle, most of the top Knicks players are locked up through at least the 2025-26 season (Brunson, Anunoby, DiVincenzo, Hart, Mikal Bridges, Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride).
Brunson has played some of his best basketball since moving to the Knicks from the Mavericks. (Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Randle, who has a $31 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign, is eligible for an extension next month and expressed his desire to re-sign.
He’s eligible for a deal much higher than Brunson’s at four years, approximately $190 million.
Brunson’s extension max is based on his salary next season, which is just $25 million — another huge underpay given the booming NBA cap with $60 million annual paydays.
Brunson, for instance, will be paid about $12 million less next season than Anunoby, who squeezed out a five-year, $212.5 million deal this summer.
Brunson will be 31 when he can become a free agent in 2028, when he’d become eligible for the veteran’s max of five years at an estimated $418 million.
It’s crazy money, more than Brunson probably ever imagined as a second-round pick. But a lot can happen before 2028.
The only given is that Brunson is under contract until at least then. And he gave a huge discount to get there.
This story was originally posted on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
Jalen Brunson was back to his best on Tuesday as the New York Knicks dominated the Indiana Pacers 121-91 to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final Game 5.
Victory on Friday night in Indianapolis would see the Knicks advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 24 years.
After losing Game 4 by 32 points, it was an emphatic response from the Knicks, with Brunson piling up 44 points with seven assists and four rebounds.
“He’s willing to share everything with his teammates, and to me, that is the best part of him,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.
“His play is spectacular but who he is as a teammate, as a leader, it makes us that. Big shot after big shot,” added the Knicks coach.
The Knicks destroyed Indiana in the paint, with Isaiah Hartenstein leading the way with 17 rebounds (12 offensive) while Josh Hart had 11 rebounds (nine defensive).
Brunson’s impact had been limited in the past two games in the series, with concerns that his heavy workload and a foot injury may have slowed him down.
But there were no signs of fatigue in his prolific display as he reached the 40 mark for the fifth time this post-season.
Brunson delivered for the Knicks with an impressive 44 points. (Photo by Sarah Stier / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Brunson, who had only 18 points in Sunday’s loss, shot 18 for 35 and put up 28 points in the first half — a playoff record for the Knicks.
It was his seven straight points, including a three-pointer to open up a 20-point lead at 106-86 that made sure of the victory.
Tempers also threatened to boil over early in the second quarter after Donte DiVincenzo drew an offensive foul from Indiana’s Isaiah Jackson.
Less than a minute into the second, the Pacers’ T.J. McConnell was setting up a play as Jackson tried to set a screen, which ended up catching DiVincenzo up high and knocking him down to the floor.
Isaiah Hartenstein took exception to what Jackson — who was called for the illegal pick — did, and immediately got into his face.
Myles Turner had to be held back as the Pacers and Knicks’ clash got feisty. (Photo by Sarah Stier / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Hartenstein, even as teammate Alec Burks tried to intervene, put a hand on Jackson’s beard and neck and attempted to shove him away before officials separated the two teams.
After all was said and done, Hartenstein, Burks and Jackson were all given technical fouls, which gave Indiana one free throw.
Speaking after the game, DiVincenzo ripped the Pacers for trying to be something they weren’t.
“They were trying to be tough guys,” DiVincenzo told reporters in the locker room.
“That’s not their identity … Nobody’s gonna fight in the NBA. Take the foul, keep it moving.
“You’re not a tough guy, just keep it moving.”
The Pacers got off to a strong start and led 25-20 before the Knicks put together an 11-0 run to end the first quarter up 38-32.
By halftime, it was 69-54 and New York were in no mood to let the lead slip.
Thibodeau said he expected the response to the blowout defeat from his team. “They’ve shown that all year, that’s who they are. We still need one more win so we can’t be too excited about it,” he said.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana scoring with 22 points.
Later on Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves face defending champions the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their Western Conference semi-final, which stands at 2-2.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 points and the Indiana Pacers dismantled the New York Knicks 121-89 on Sunday to level their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series at two games apiece.
After the first three games of the best-of-seven series came down to the final minutes, Haliburton and the Pacers finally got their high-octane offence firing and fashioned a blowout, a raft of injuries at last catching up with the Knicks.
And the misfiring Knicks were utterly roasted for their poor performances. The NY Post wrote: “Tom Thibodeau’s squad was a disaster in the opening quarter, a lethargic, misfiring mess before rolling over in a Mother’s Day Massacre administered by the Pacers, 121-89, who evened the East semis series at 2-2.”
ABC pundit Stephen A. Smith was asked at halftime what he would do if he was Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. He replied: “Well, the first thing I’d do is I’d get out of the bathroom because I just finished throwing up after watching my team play the way that they played in the first half. It was absolutely, positively awful.”
Haliburton fired up as the Pacers routed the Knicks.Source: AFP
The banged-up Knicks were again without OG Anunoby, who injured a hamstring in game two to join key contributors Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic on the sidelines.
The strain was telling on Brunson, who is playing through a right foot injury. Brunson connected on six of 17 attempts to score 18 points with three rebounds and five assists before checking out with two and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said: “He says he’s fine … He’ll keep going.”
Donte DiVincenzo also set an unwanted piece of history for the Knicks – his plus-minus of negative 40 in his 32 minutes was a new Knicks playoff record.
With the contest out of hand and game five coming up at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, both coaches pulled their starters for the fourth quarter.
“Now we’ve got to go there and get a win in the Garden,” Haliburton said. “We expect them to throw a big punch going into game five, but we’re capable of doing that at the same time.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks has big headaches.Source: Getty Images
NUGGETS LEVEL SERIES AFTER EPIC HALF-TIME STUNNER
The defending champion Denver Nuggets outgunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-107 to level their NBA playoff series on Sunday as the Indiana Pacers pulled even with the New York Knicks.
The Nuggets, fueled by 35 points from NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon’s 27 points on ruthlessly efficient 11-of-12 shooting and 19 points from Jamal Murray, claimed a second straight win in Minneapolis to knot their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series at two games apiece.
“Now it’s best of three,” Jokic said, adding that the Timberwolves’ stunning victories in games one and two in Denver had only strengthened the defending champions.
“We took a hit and we bounced back and hopefully we can defend the home court now,” said Jokic, looking forward to game five in Denver on Tuesday.
Jokic fights for the ball with Rudy Gobert.Source: AFP
The Nuggets withstood a 44-point performance from Anthony Edwards, but the Timberwolves star just didn’t have enough scoring support despite an energetic effort from the hosts.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 13 points but was 0-for-7 in the first quarter, when the Nuggets closed the period on a 14-2 run to seize a five-point lead.
Edwards’ dunk with less than a minute left in the first half cut what had been a 16-point deficit to seven.
Jokic then came up with a steal and fed Michael Porter Jr. for a dunk and Murray grabbed a steal, turned and unleashed a buzzer-beating shot from beyond the halfcourt line that swished through and sent the Nuggets into the break with a 64-49 lead.
Murray scored 12 points in the third quarter to keep the Nuggets in control as early foul trouble sent Jokic to the bench.
Jokic returned to score 16 in the fourth and the Nuggets kept the Timberwolves at bay.
Jalen Brunson shrugged off injury to spark a sensational second-half fightback as the New York Knicks battled past the Indiana Pacers 130-121 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA playoff series on Wednesday (all dates US).
New York talisman Brunson gave his team a huge scare after suffering a foot injury in the first quarter which forced him to sit out the remainder of the half at Madison Square Garden.
Indiana exploited Brunson’s absence to open up a 10-point advantage by half-time and were soon 12 points up in the third quarter after an early Andrew Nembhard layup.
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But a limping Brunson — who returned at the start of the third quarter — led a stunning rally as the Knicks outscored Indiana 36-18 in the third to take a 99-91 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Knicks then dug deep to hold onto their advantage in the fourth, outscoring the Pacers 31-30 to close out a famous victory.
In the latter moments the Knicks crowd, and Josh Hart, roasted Pacers legend Reggie Miller who was courtside commentating for TNT.
During a free throw break Hart went up to the commentary desk and spoke into Miller’s microphone, saying “I don’t know if you heard, but I think they’re saying f*** you”.
Josh Hart speaks to Reggie Miller late in the game.Source: Supplied
Brunson finished with 29 points and five assists while Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby came up big with 28 points apiece.
Josh Hart added 19 points with 15 rebounds while Isaiah Hartenstein was huge defensively, with 12 rebounds, eight assists and 14 points.
“We found a way, that’s it,” said an exhausted Brunson. “For us it starts with our habits — we’ve talked about doing the little things from day one a little bit better, because you never know when they’re going to help you in a big game.
“It’s all about doing the little things well every single day, and we pride ourselves on that.”
The victory came at a cost though for the Knicks, who were already missing injured first-choice players Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic.
As well as the injury to Brunson on Wednesday, the Knicks saw another player injured with Anunoby limping out of the game in the third quarter with a hamstring problem.
Jokic wins 3rd MVP in four seasons | 00:38
Somehow the Knicks hung on to edge past the Pacers, with Brunson pouring in 14 fourth quarter points and DiVincenzo adding eight points including two crucial three-pointers that helped keep Indiana at arm’s length.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau revealed the team were uncertain of whether Brunson would continue after missing the second quarter.
“We didn’t know if he was going to be able to go or not, but he found a way to get it done,” Thibodeau said.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana’s scorers with 34 points while Nembhard finished with 15 points and Pascal Siakam 14. Obi Toppin added 20 from the bench.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was ejected late in the fourth quarter after ranting at officials following a decision to overturn a double-dribble call against the Knicks’ Hartenstein.
Carlisle took aim at the officiating crew following the defeat, saying his team had been unfairly treated.
“I’m always talking to our guys about not making it all about the officials, but we deserve a fair shot,” Carlisle said. “There’s not a consistent balance and that’s disappointing. Give New York credit for the physicality that they’re playing with. But their physicality is rewarded and ours is penalised.”
Jalen Brunson produced a scintillating fourth quarter performance as the New York Knicks edged past the Indiana Pacers 121-117 in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series opener.
Knicks talisman Brunson finished with 43 points, six rebounds and six assists to give New York the early advantage in their best-of-seven conference semi-final.
But it was his ice-cool performance down the stretch that swept New York to victory in front of 19,812 fans at an electric Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks guard rattled in 21 points in the fourth quarter to complete his fourth straight playoff game with 40 points or more.
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Donte DiVincenzo backed Brunson with 25 points while Josh Hart weighed in with a monster performance that included 24 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block.
Myles Turner led the Pacers scorers with 23 points while Pascal Siakam added 19. Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, disappointed with just six points after attempting six field goals.
“That’s what you love about Jalen,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the win. “I could go on and on about him, but the thing I love about him is he’s all about the team.
“All he cares about is winning. And he cares about his teammates, and in the end, whatever it is we need, he’ll provide. But I think the same could be said for all the guys.” Brunson’s fourth quarter rally settled a pulsating contest that saw neither side gain more than a single-digit advantage across four quarters.
The Pacers opened up a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter before the Knicks came roaring back to reel it in, edging into a four-point lead at 113-109 after Brunson’s step-back jumper with 2min 42sec remaining.
DiVincenzo also came up with a huge clutch play with 40 seconds remaining, nailing a 28-foot three-pointer to put New York 118-115 ahead.
Indiana got back to within one at 118-117 but a harsh offensive foul called against Turner on DiVincenzo with 13 seconds remaining proved decisive, ceding possession back to New York and allowing the hosts to close out the win.
Stan van Gundy said it was “as good an acting job as you’ll see” in commentary.
Game two in the series takes place in New York on Thursday [AEST].
Pat Riley was not amused by Jimmy Butler’s recent assertion that the Heat would have beaten the Celtics or the Knicks in the NBA playoffs had he been healthy.
The Heat lost the first-round series in five games — beaten handily in the four defeats — and Riley, the team’s president, was not in a laughing mood about the star’s comments during a press conference.
“For him to say that, I thought, is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy [being] serious?” Riley asked.
“If you’re not on the court, playing against Boston, or you’re not on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut in your criticism of those teams.”
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Butler missed the Celtics series with an MCL injury suffered in Miami’s play-in loss to the 76ers.
Butler’s comments went viral over the weekend.
“If I was playing, Boston would be at home, New York damn sure would be f–king at home. Josh Hart? C’mon man,” he said in a social media video.
Butler also said he loved Tom Thibodeau but wants to “beat [him] to a pulp,” a phrase Thibodeau used back at him in response on Sunday.
While Riley initially said that Butler would not be traded this offseason — with rumours trickling out after the Heat were eliminated — he left the door open a smidge.
“There’s a possibility that a lot of things are on the table,” Riley said.
The Heat reached the NBA Finals last season, but could not mount a similar run out of the NBA play-in tournament this year.
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Riley was asked if the 34-year-old Butler is still a top-tier player.
“Yes. But just like anyone else, he may need to make some changes in his overload routine,” Riley answered.
Butler also missed 22 games during the regular season, and it was clear based on the tenor of Riley’s press conference that he believed Butler could have competed some more.
“If he requests [an extension[ we can either accept or we can say ‘we’re gonna think about it,” Riley said.
“That’s a big decision on our part, to commit those kinds of resources, unless you’re somebody who’s going to be there every time.”
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.
The Philadelphia 76ers were eight seconds away from crashing out of the NBA Playoffs.
But a miracle shot from Tyrese Maxey saved their season as Philadelphia outlasted the New York Knicks 110-106 in Game 5 to keep its championship hopes alive at the Garden.
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Philadelphia had to squeeze everything it could out of the reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who committed nine turnovers but also had a triple double (19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists) to go with five blocks as he came up big on the defensive end in overtime.
Meanwhile, if it wasn’t obvious enough already, Wednesday’s game was only further proof that Tyrese Maxey is the future at Philadelphia.
The 23-year-old put the Sixers on his back with 46 points, including a logo 3-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime, to go with nine assists and five rebounds.
Jalen Brunson, meanwhile, backed up his 47-point heroics in Game 4 as he scored 40 points — including the first five of overtime — along with six assists.
Read on for a full wrap of the biggest moments from Game 5!
Jalen Brunson was clutch down the stretch. Elsa/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
FULL GAME RECAP:
Tobias Harris had been pretty quiet in the series before Game 5, averaging just 8.8 points.
On Wednesday however, he had Philadelphia’s first five points of the game, opening the scoring with a 3-pointer after some slick ball movement from the Sixers.
The Knicks’ offence, on the other hand, was anything but slick early as they missed their first eight field goal attempts to fall into an early 10-2 hole, prompting coach Tom Thibodeau to call a timeout after five minutes.
The timeout seemed to spark something in the Knicks, who made seven-straight field goals and were able to get it back to 18-17.
In response, Philadelphia went on a 8-0 run to end the quarter, taking a 26-17 lead into the second as Maxey (11 points) and Harris (seven) led the way for the Sixers.
Tyrese Maxey kept the Sixers in the game. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
The Knicks finished the period 0-of-5 from 3-point land, with Josh Hart banking what would have been a successful halfcourt heave at the end of the first had it come before the buzzer.
In what has been a concerning trend all series long, Philadelphia struggled in the minutes with Embiid on the bench to open the second, with New York quickly going on a 11-2 run.
Josh Hart’s energy, specifically pushing it forward in transition, was the perfect complement to New York’s intensity on the defensive end and created an open look for OG Anunoby to drain a 3-pointer and tie the game up at 28-all.
That prompted Nick Nurse to call a timeout and bring Embiid back into the game but it did little to stop the swarming Knicks defence from creating stops and fastbreak opportunities.
Suddenly in the groove after their sluggish opening, the Knicks added another seven unanswered points to go ahead 35-28 after outscoring the Sixers 18-2 early in the second.
A corner 3-pointer from Harris eventually stopped the scoring run, although it was short-lived as Hart found Mitchell Robinson for the emphatic slam off an expertly-executed lob pass.
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That put the Knicks ahead 37-31 midway through the quarter and saw the Sixers call another timeout.
Philadelphia was able to keep in touch for the remainder of the quarter, cutting New York’s lead to six with a Maxey layup at the buzzer as the Knicks took a 49-43 buffer into halftime.
At that point it looked like Maxey would be the Sixers’ best bet of pushing the Knicks and keeping the series alive, finishing the half on 15 points while shooting at 50 per cent from the field.
Embiid, on the other hand, was held to eight points and 3-for-10 from the field with nine rebounds.
Brunson backed up his career playoff-high 47 points from Game 4 with an efficient 15 in the first half, going 7-for-10 from the field.
OG Anunoby set the tone on defence. Elsa/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Brunson made a tough fadeaway jumper early in the third quarter in response to a fast start from Philadelphia, who scored the first four points to force the Knicks into a quick timeout.
But as expected, it was Maxey who looked the likeliest to single-handedly drag the Sixers back from the brink of elimination, scoring six straight points as Philadelphia took a 53-51 lead.
Just as the Sixers looked to be gaining the upperhand, the hustle plays and tenacity that have defined the Knicks under Thibodeau saw them regain the lead as Isaiah Hartenstein fought for a rebound that led to a Brunson 3-pointer.
Donte DiVincenzo then made a triple of his own to put New York ahead 65-61, prompting a Philadelphia timeout with just over three minutes left in the quarter.
The game went to the final quarter very much in the balance, with the Knicks leading 70-69 before the Sixers made a quick 5-0 run to open the fourth.
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As was the case at the start of the third quarter, Thibodeau swiftly called a timeout, not wanting to let the 76ers build any real sort of momentum.
The Sixers were briefly able to maintain the lead when play got back underway but it didn’t take long for the Knicks to turn the game with their defence once again, forcing turnovers that they then turned into easy buckets on the other end.
New York went on a 10-0 run to take a 82-77 lead before Harris sunk a contested shot to halt the Knicks charge, although Brunson answered right back with an and-1 on the other end.
That was seemingly the beginning of the end for the Sixers as the Knicks finished with a flurry.
But seven points from Maxey in the space of 17 seconds, including a clutch 3-pointer on Philadelphia’s final possession of regulation, kept Philadelphia’s post-season alive.
As had been the case all game, just as Maxey put his stamp on the result Brunson did the same, scoring the first five points of overtime to give the Knicks the lead.
Of course, that running duel continued as Maxey answered back with a 3-pointer before Embiid drew a foul, making one of two free throws as the Knicks led 102-101.
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A Maxey defensive rebound then sparked an easy transition bucket for Kelly Oubre Jr. before an Embiid and-1 pushed Philadelphia’s lead out to 106-102 with 1:40 on the clock.
Embiid was then called for a flagrant-1 foul on Brunson, who made one of two free throws before draining a 3-pointer to tie the game.
A defensive breakdown saw Oubre Jr. put Philadelphia back ahead by two but once again, a game that produced so many twists and turns provided another as Embiid turned the ball over.
Brunson though wasn’t on the same page as Hartenstein as he threw the ball out of bounds and the Knicks then fouled Harris, who made both free throws to put Philadelphia ahead 110-106 with 15 seconds left in overtime.
It proved to be enough as the Sixers went on to win a thriller, adding a few extra free throws down the stretch as extra insurance.
Jalen Brunson strapped on his cape and vanquished the Sixers.
The Knicks point guard dropped 47 points — setting the franchise playoff record — to carry New York to a 97-92 victory and a 3-1 series advantage.
By the end of the game, the crowd, split throughout, was decidedly in New York’s corner with Brunson “MVP” chants reverberating inside Wells Fargo Center.
He toppled the previous Knicks playoff record set by Bernard King (twice) in 1984.
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Jalen Brunson came up big in the win. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Brunson, who also became the first Knick with 40-plus points and 10-plus assists in a playoff game, was helped by OG Anunoby, who was not only the team’s second-leading scorer but the main reason Joel Embiid was held in check in the second half.
With Mitchell Robinson injured and Isaiah Hartenstein in foul trouble, Tom Thibodeau went with Anunoby on Embiid and — assisted by a trap every time the Sixers center touched the ball — it worked wonders.
The Sixers finished with just 16 points in the fourth quarter and scored just three points in the final five minutes. Embiid, who dropped 50 points in Friday’s Sixers win, managed just 27 Monday on 7-for-19 shooting.
NBA Wrap: Giddey lights up Pelicans | 01:12
The Knicks can clinch the series Wednesday at MSG.
But Monday certainly wasn’t easy. The visitors trailed by as many as 12, and their offence was inefficient outside of Brunson’s heroics.
Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart combined to shoot just 3-for-18. Another normal offensive weapon — Bojan Bogdanovic — was hurt in the first half and did not return.
There was a lot of tough talk from both sides during the series about playing hard and winning the physical battle and dirty plays from the Sixers.
On Monday, Embiid hit Brunson with an unnecessary forearm in the third quarter, around the same time Hart connected on Kyle Lowry’s face with an inadvertent elbow.
But there were no flagrants. Not even a tech. It was largely tame and controlled by the referees.
The Knicks now lead the series 3-1. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Brunson was fantastic in the first half, rediscovering the form that made him a late entrant into the MVP conversation. He had 23 points at the break with seven assists, shooting 10-for-15.
Bogdanovic lasted just one minute before limping off the court. He was chasing after a loose ball alongside Nic Batum, who dove and landed on Bogdanovic’s leg.
Bogdanovic then limped to the locker room and was diagnosed with a left ankle contusion, according to the Knicks.
The Knicks were already down an important piece without Robinson, the biggest body to compete with Embiid.
Robinson re-injured his surgically-repaired ankle in Friday’s Game 3, a setback exacerbated by some questionable tactics from Embiid — including a Flagrant 1 takedown.
Robinson warmed up but was ruled out about 30 minutes before tipoff.
Without the backup center, Hartenstein got the bulk of the time but predictably fell into foul trouble — committing five fouls in the third quarter — prompting Precious Achiuwa into action and the important move for Anunoby to defend Embiid.
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.
It’s impossible to run from the what-if portion of this dreadful development, so it’s best to say it up high.
There was a crystallised moment of this basketball season when if you were a Knicks fan, you were allowed the greatest gift of all: belief. Actual, genuine, legitimate belief, not coloured by rose-coloured spectacles or fanciful dreams.
We can identify the precise moment, too.
It was with 4 minutes and 28 seconds remaining of a game on Jan. 27 in which the Knicks led the Heat, 115-98.
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Julius Randle after an injury against the Miami Heat. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Madison Square Garden had spent the previous two hours in a state of unfiltered delirium. The Knicks were splattering the defending Eastern Conference champions just two days after battering the defending champion Nuggets by 30.
The Knicks were as hot as they’d ever been in the new millennium, and were playing their best ball in decades, in the midst of a month in which they would go 14-2.
One second later, Julius Randle drove to the basket. He was fouled by Jaime Jaquez Jr. He fell, hard, on his right shoulder. The Garden’s roar was reduced to a whisper.
It was as if all 19,812 people knew, in their hearts, that something had changed.
That, maybe, something is over.
The Knicks’ season didn’t end at 10:45 Thursday morning [US time] when ESPN reported that Randle’s season was officially over, that after two-plus months of rest and rehab Randle had decided at last to get his shoulder surgically repaired.
Not technically, anyway.
The Knicks are still in play to stay out of the play-in game. And they have shown a season-long resilience, often answering strongest when the looming clouds appear darkest.
But without their second-best offensive player, it’s impossible to conjure a scenario where the Knicks can harbour any kind of significant playoff run. They can play with the Cavaliers, Magic and Pacers on sheer heart and grit; they’ll need more than that against the Celtics, Bucks, Heat and even an Embiid-embedded Sixers.
Julius Randle is out for the season. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
So suddenly “what-if” becomes “what-now?”
The Knicks, in truth, had already begun to make that transition. Not publicly, no: they maintained the illusion — or delusion — of a Randle return as long as possible, and it’s likely that’s because Randle himself kept hoping against hope that he’d wake up one day and he’d feel ready to try real basketball contact. That’s Randle’s way. Say what you want about the flaws in his game but he’s a lunch-pail guy. He shows up for work. He cares, deeply.
But the shoulder is a tricky thing. And the way Randle plays, absent surgery, every time he made a move to the basket, he and everyone else who cares about the Knicks would be holding their breath.
So they waited until they couldn’t wait any longer to accept the inevitable.
But the Knicks, at least in code, had already begun to sprinkle breadcrumbs of hints as to what was afoot. On Sunday, Tom Thibodeau had cryptically said before a loss to the Thunder, “We just deal with reality day-to-day.”
And afterwards Josh Hart had been significantly less ambiguous:
“I’m not in those medical conversations or anything like that, so I don’t know s–t from s–t. We’ve got to approach it every game and the end of this season that those guys aren’t coming back, and if they do be pleasantly surprised.”
Warriors upset Mavs despite Doncic | 01:01
There will be no surprise from Randle, which means that whatever dreams Knicks fans had of going toe-to-toe with the Celtics or Bucks — and they sure seemed legit early in the evening of Jan. 27 — probably go into the O.R. with him.
Now they wait and hope to be surprised by OG Anunoby, hope he can make it back from a bout of tennis elbow in time to at least give them a puncher’s chance against everyone else, depending on how the 2 through 7 slots shake out in the East.
Maybe that wasn’t the ambition when Randle had the ball in his hands, 4 ½ minutes left on what may be the last night — what might’ve been the last second — the Knicks could fancy themselves as interrupters of an inevitable Boston coronation in the East. Life isn’t fair sometimes. And sports, sure as hell, fair even less.
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission
The NBA playoffs are just over a month away and while the Boston Celtics are clear frontrunners in the East, there is a three-way tussle for supremacy over in the West.
Here foxsports.com.au breaks down where every NBA team finds itself ahead of the run home, placing them into five tiers — contenders, dark horses, teams making up the numbers, those planning for next year and teams who should also turn their attention towards 2025.
Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
There is one exception though, which brings us to the first team in the Eastern Conference.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
1. Boston Celtics (48-12)
In the Western Conference the top teams are separated into a tier of contenders. But in the East that doesn’t apply. The Celtics are just in a tier of their own, most recently destroying the much-improved Warriors by 52 points in yet another reminder of their championship credentials. “I think the entire league needs to be watching what the Boston Celtics are doing and understanding that they are the team to beat,” Richard Jefferson said on ABC during that game. “I understand that the Denver Nuggets are the defending champions but to me there is no greater threat to them really going on a run and winning a couple than what the Boston Celtics are presenting this season.”
The Celtics are on another level. Brian Fluharty/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
The challenge when it comes to Boston is just how talented and deep this roster is, to the extent that you can’t send help to double Jayson Tatum, for example, because whoever you leave open is going to make you pay. Just as the Warriors learned after intentionally sagging off Jaylen Brown near the perimeter in the opening quarter. The result? He had 19 points in seven minutes. Boston ranks first in the league in offensive rating and second in defensive rating. It is hard to see the Celtics not making the NBA Finals considering how good they have been, although performing in the playoffs hasn’t always been a guarantee from Boston in recent seasons.
CONTENDERS
2. Milwaukee Bucks (41-21)
When the Bucks sacked first-year coach Adrian Griffin it came as a bit of a surprise, at least on the surface, since the team ranked second in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-13 record. But there was a prevailing thought that Milwaukee was achieving those results in spite of Griffin, particularly given the lack of improvement on the defensive end under him. So, understanding they needed to capitalise on their current championship window, the Bucks made a ruthless call to sack Griffin and hire Doc Rivers. For all the talk about Rivers’ inability to take accountability, the results on defence speak for themselves so far.
The Bucks have gone from recording the 22nd best defensive rating in January to the third-best under coach Rivers while the transition defence in particular has improved from 20th to second-best in the NBA. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the way the Bucks shouldn’t have too many dramas scoring points either, especially in the fourth quarter. It may still take some time to gel but the defence is no longer a major area of concern.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (39-21)
Given what happened last year, where the Cavaliers finished fourth in the East only to be easily handled 4-1 in a first-round series defeat to the Knicks, we can’t get too ahead of ourselves here. But then again, this is a different Cleveland team to the one that didn’t make any noise in the 2022-23 playoffs. This Cavaliers team is stacked with 3-point shooting options off the bench with Sam Merrill shooting 44.1 per cent from downtown while Isaac Okoro is even going at a 40 per cent clip. Max Strus hasn’t been the most consistent outside shooter, averaging 34.0 per cent from deep, but is capable of big games like the one when he went 7-for-10 on 3-pointers against the Mavericks. Elsewhere, Dean Wade is healthy and offering solid production while Craig Porter is a handy depth option too at guard. Of course, then you add in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt and backcourt duo Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs have been one of the hottest teams in basketball, winning 20 of their 26 games since the new year.
The Cavaliers are a contender. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
4. New York Knicks (36-25)
Under Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks have become a hard-edged, gritty, defensive-minded team that scraps for every win. And they’re certainly scrapping for every result at the moment, with All-Star guard Jalen Brunson the latest Knicks starter to go down. Brunson was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after landing awkwardly on his leg in New York’s win over Cleveland earlier this week. Already without starters Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks have had their depth tested recently, losing eight or their last 15 games. The door is open for the Knicks to book an Eastern Conference Finals berth against the Celtics. They just need to stay healthy.
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Brunson limps off moments after tip-off | 00:43
5. Philadaelphia 76ers (35-25)
It all hinges on Joel Embiid’s health. Without him, the Sixers belong in the tier below. Embiid spoke to media earlier this week and said he plans to return at some point before the end of the regular season, regardless of what the team’s record looks like. The reigning MVP has been sidelined since late January after undergoing a procedure to “address an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee”. The Sixers have been able to stay afloat without Embiid, winning six of 14 games to sit in fifth position in the Eastern Conference, although the seventh-placed Heat are just one game back from Philadelphia facing the prospect of having to fight its way through the play-in tournament. The Sixers rank 20th in offensive rating and second-last in defensive rating in their 14 games without Embiid. They can’t afford to rush him back though given they still have the ammunition to go after a big name over the summer and put all their focus into the 2024-25 season.
7. Miami Heat (34-26).
If we learned anything from last season, it is that you can never count out Jimmy Butler, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat. Of course, Miami’s magical run to the NBA Finals had as much to do with Max Strus and Gabe Vincent as it did the team’s superstar forward, who averaged 21.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists in the month of February. The Heat have won eight of their last 10 to sit 0.5 games short of the sixth-placed Orlando Magic and just 1.5 games behind the fourth-placed Knicks, who are now vulnerable with their recent run of injuries. Miami has ranked eighth and third in offensive and defensive rating during that period. Miami’s backcourt depth has been tested with injuries to Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, although the additions of Terry Rozier via trade and Delon Wright have helped bolster its guard stocks. The Heat even added Patty Mills in a low-risk move ahead of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Duncan Robinson has improved into a more well-rounded player to go from out of the rotation to pushing for a starting spot. And then there is rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr., who has been an immediate contributor averaging 12.7 points.
Knicks lose Brunson, but still beat Cavs | 00:55
MAKING UP THE NUMBERS
6. Orlando Magic (35-26)
This young Magic team made a statement before the season proper even started, showing early signs they could become the best isolation defence teams in the league. Those pre-season performances didn’t end up being a fluke either, with Orlando’s top-tier one-on-one defenders helping the Magic to the fifth-best defensive rating this season and, at the moment, sixth spot in the East. It is hard to see Orlando going deep in the playoffs given this is still an inexperienced team but like Oklahoma City in the West, it doesn’t matter all too much. The Magic are quickly building one of the most exciting, young rosters in the league and will only continue to get better with emerging and already emerged talent in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr. and Anthony Black.
Paolo Banchero is one of Orlando’s rising stars. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
8. Indiana Pacers (34-28)
The numbers tell quite a simple story. This is one of the most dynamic scoring teams in the league but their best chance of doing anything in the playoffs involves outgunning their opponent because they aren’t going to win on the back of their defence. The Pacers currently have the second-best offensive rating and fifth-worst defensive rating in the league. After the All-Star break though Indiana’s offensive rating has dropped to eighth-best in the NBA while the defence has improved, but only slightly, to sixth-worst. That coincides with Tyrese Haliburton slowing down after a stunning start to the season which saw him average 28.6 points and 11.7 assists per game in November. Haliburton admitted on J.J. Redick’s podcast last month that he had rushed back from his hamstring injury because of the 65-game threshold he needed to reach to be eligible for the All-NBA team and a potential $41 million bonus. Whether Haliburton is still feel the ill-effects on that or taking on too heavy a workload in his return is something only the All-Star guard himself can answer.
Emotional Paolo discusses game-winner | 00:45
SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR
9. Chicago Bulls (29-32)
DeMar DeRozan said last summer that the Bulls were too “inconsistent” in the 2022-23 season. Well, guess what? Inconsistency has again been Chicago’s biggest issue and it makes it incredibly hard to get a read on the Bulls ahead of the playoffs. Are they capable of winning one playoffs series? Sure. But a lot of things would have to go right and that is definitely true if Chicago is somehow going to make a deep run. The Bulls looked to be building something when they beat the Timberwolves and Grizzlies earlier this month but went on to drop four of their next six games, including a 10-point loss to the lowly Pistons. They then backed that defeat up with an overtime win over the Cavs before a 16-point loss to the Bucks. Consistently inconsistent is what the Bulls have been all season long. Just not good enough to take the leap, which makes their inactivity at the trade deadline all the more puzzling. At least the improvement of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu gives Bulls fans something to look forward to.
Coby White has had a big year. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
10. Atlanta Hawks (26-34)
The Hawks were always going to be a frisky play-in tournament team with a chance of pulling off an upset in the first round of the playoffs and nothing more. An injury to star guard Trae Young, however, has Atlanta in danger of falling out of the play-in tournament entirely with the 25-year-old undergoing surgery on a torn radial collateral ligament in the fifth finger of his left hand. Young is going to be re-evaluated in four weeks and while the Hawks won their first two games without him they have since dropped two straight against the Nets. Regardless, Atlanta has the second-worst defensive rating in the league so it was hard to see the Hawks going deep in the playoffs even with Young healthy.
11. Brooklyn Nets (24-37)
They are technically still in the hunt but things really took a turn for the worse before the Nets sacked Jacque Vaughn, with Kevin Ollie taking over as interim coach. The results since have been mixed, with Brooklyn winning three of its last five games. But the Nets have also been blown out by the Raptors, Timberwolves and Magic since Ollie’s appointment. This is a team still trying to figure out its identity and injuries to emerging guard Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons only makes things harder, especially given the Australian was such a central part of Brooklyn’s plans on offence — especially in transition. Mikal Bridges continues to prove why he was such an in-demand target at the trade deadline while Dennis Schroder is proving a handy pick-up, averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 assists since joining the Nets.
Struss sinks ABSURD halfcourt winner! | 01:04
12. Toronto Raptors (23-38)
Another team that at this point is better using the remaining games of the season to develop its on-court chemistry after the departures of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby before the trade deadline. The injury to Scottie Barnes, which was later revealed to be a fracture to his third metacarpal bone in his left hand, will only make things harder for the Raptors given he is unlikely to return before the end of the regular season. One shining light to emerge in the second half of the season is the form of RJ Barrett, who has impressed with a career-high 20.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists since making the move from New York via trade. Meanwhile, fellow former Knicks teammate Immanuel Quickley is growing in confidence as a playmaker and in particular when operating in the pick-and-roll with big-man Jakob Poeltl.
ALREADY PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR
13. Charlotte Hornets (15-46)
Can we just have one season with a healthy LaMelo Ball? The 22-year-old guard has been sidelined since late January with an ankle injury after managing just 36 games in the 2022-23 season. Ball is the biggest name missing but Seth Curry, Cody Martin, Nick Richards and Mark Williams are all also battling injuries while the Hornets have now dropped five of their last six games after a promising stretch of results earlier in February.
14. Detroit Pistons (9-51)
After a disastrous start to the season the Pistons have picked up a few wins and are now level with the Wizards on nine wins. There is still plenty of potential in this young team, with Cade Cunningham the most likely player to emerge into a genuine top-tier star in the NBA. Although there are still question marks over what his ceiling looks like and obviously injury setbacks since his rookie season haven’t helped. Elsewhere, there are concerns over Ausar Thompson’s shooting while Jalen Duren’s defence remains a work in progress. More than anything, patience is needed if this is the young core Detroit wants to build around.
Pistons coach FIRES UP after Knicks loss | 02:27
15. Washington Wizards (9-52)
Watch out Pistons, the Wizards are coming for you. Washington has dropped 15 games in a row and if its losing ways continue, coincidentally Detroit would have the opportunity to inflict a 28th defeat in a row on the Wizards, tying its record losing skid. Unlike the Pistons and Hornets, the Wizards are right at the start of a full-scale rebuild after trading away Bradley Beal so it may be a long time before Washington is relevant again. Of course, usually being the worst team in the NBA isn’t such a bad thing when it involves the potential of a high draft pick but this year’s class lacks top-tier talent — at least the kind of talent that can turn around this franchise’s fortunes right away.
PLAYOFFS SERIES IF SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Magic
(4) Knicks vs. (5) 76ers
Play-in tournament
(7) Heat vs. (8) Pacers
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Hawks
WESTERN CONFERENCE
THE CONTENDERS
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-19)
While the Clippers may have the bigger names, this is the team that has already caused real problems for the defending champion Nuggets this season. Minnesota and Denver play each other three more times before the playoffs but it was a comprehensive 110-89 win for the T’Wolves in their one meeting earlier this season as Nikola Jokic was held to just three assists. The Timberwolves settled to letting Jokic score in exchange for taking away his playmaking, effectively using Karl-Anthony Towns as an on-ball defender while having Rudy Gobert roam the paint. It proved the right strategy on that occasion and when you add in the rising superstar that is Anthony Edwards, a 3-and-D wing in Jaden McDaniels and the experience of Mike Conley, this is a team that could go deep and potentially all the way to the Finals considering the match-up problems they could present the Nuggets.
NBA Wrap: Slow burn Lakers silence OKC | 01:33
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-19)
The Thunder are ahead of schedule so there is the temptation to not entirely buy into their contender status because it just seems to all be happening so fast, as if this young group needs a bit more time and a bit more playoff experience before making a deep run. But keeping OKC out of this tier would be a disservice to just what this team has achieved in the regular season under Mark Daigneault, led by star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Of course, playoff basketball is another beast entirely but the Thunder have built their success off doing things differently, putting together a roster stacked with playmaking, positional size and high basketball IQ that makes them uniquely well-positioned to make things uncomfortable for rival teams in the post-season despite their inexperience.
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What will the Thunder do with Josh Giddey’s minutes in the playoffs? (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The big question mark is what role Josh Giddey plays given the way opposition defences have already treated him in the post-season, often leaving the Australian wide-open until his outside shooting in particular improves. The acquisition of Gordon Hayward at the trade deadline offers OKC an experienced option with similar skills to lean on more heavily should Giddey continue to struggle and be more heavily targeted on defence. It is not necessarily that Giddey won’t play but that his minutes will be staggered to better surround him with shooting and have the Australian play on the ball more. The only complicating factor is that Jalen Williams has done particularly well running OKC’s second unit so it is hard to go away from what works.
3. Denver Nuggets (42-19)
Based on their recent stretch of form since the All-Star break, the defending champions look to be building towards another run at the title. The Nuggets dropped three games in a row early last month, including heavy defeats to the Kings and Bucks, but have since won six straight despite a few lingering injury concerns. Jamal Murray has been playing through shin splints while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was dealing with a hamstring injury before the break. Murray had been really heating up before suffering an ankle injury against the Heat, scoring 59 points in wins over the Warriors and Kings. Fortunately he returned for the Nuggets’ victory over the Lakers, putting up 24 points and 11 assists. Of course, Nikola Jokic remains a walking triple-double while Michael Porter Jr. has been lights out recently. Add in the two-way impact of Aaron Gordon and the presence of the always ready Justin Holiday off the bench and the Nuggets looked primed to give the West another shake. Denver is in a good position to take top seed in the conference with the 11th easiest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon.
Nuggets win NBA finals rematch | 01:04
4. Los Angeles Clippers (39-21)
Health was always going to be the key for the Clippers and fortunately for them Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have been able to stay on the court more often than not this season. A fractured hand for Russell Westbrook won’t help given the success Los Angeles had after the guard reportedly volunteered to come off the bench after the Clippers suffered six straight losses. Although Westbrook had been in a rough shooting stretch lately anyway. Westbrook though isn’t the only one who has put the team first this season, with James Harden also embracing his role as the third option in this Clippers offence since making the move from Philadelphia. In fact, Harden’s usage percentage is the lowest since his second NBA season with the Thunder, which in some ways will be a relief in the post-season where there won’t be as much pressure on the 34-year-old with Leonard and George running the show. Speaking of which, if Jokic didn’t exist Leonard may well be a leading contender in the MVP race. Leonard is averaging 24.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists and provided he stays healthy, the Clippers could be poised to make the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history (53 years).
Kawhi Leonard is fit and firing. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
THE DARK HORSES
5. New Orleans Pelicans (36-25)
Like the Clippers, this one is all about health. Losing Australian Dyson Daniels, who underwent a successful meniscectomy on his left knee in mid-February, doesn’t help. For his shortcomings on the offensive end, Daniels is one of the most disruptive perimeter defenders in the league and formed a fearsome tandom with teammate Herb Jones, helping create fast-break opportunities. Otherwise, New Orleans has a clean bill of health — a stark contrast to where New Orleans found itself last season after injuries spoiled a strong start to the year. If anything, finding ways for Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to continue playing off each other into the post-season will be central to determining just far the Pelicans can go. On a personal level, both Williamson and Ingram have been able to stay on the court and in the case of the former, he is looking explosive again finishing at the rim. And when Williamson isn’t doing that he’s running the offence, with New Orleans quickly realising it is at its best with ‘Point Zion’.
6. Phoenix Suns (35-26)
There is little doubting the Suns have the offensive firepower to challenge for a title. But what about the defence? Phoenix currently ranks 13th in the league for defensive rating (114.3), which isn’t too bad. But this just doesn’t look like a team that is complete enough to challenge the likes of Boston and Denver. It is similar to Dallas. Phoenix could absolutely upset a higher seed in the first round of the playoffs, especially when you have Devin Booker and Kevin Durant averaging 27.5 and 27.8 points per game respectively. But the Suns just haven’t been able to build the kind of chemistry needed to make a deep playoffs run, especially when you consider Bradley Beal’s injury woes. Now Booker is dealing with an ankle injury. Phoenix currently sit in sixth position but is at risk of dropping into the play-in tournament with Sacramento, Dallas, Golden State and Los Angeles lurking.
Cavs shock Mavs with crazy buzzer-beater | 01:08
Working against the Suns is the fact they have the hardest schedule remaining according to Tankathon, having to play the Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Clippers twice before the end of the season. ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on ‘NBA Today’ that it would be a “potential disaster scenario” for the Suns to fall into the play-in tournament. “They went all-in for this team and just haven’t seen it together. When they’ve been together they’ve been really good but once you’re in the play-in you are super vulnerable to not even getting into the playoffs or getting a match-up where it is super hard to win even two or three rounds,” Lowe added.
8. Dallas Mavericks (34-27)
Honestly, the temptation was there to put Dallas in just making up the numbers given its inconsistent recent form. Last month the Mavericks beat up on the Thunder and scored wins over the Knicks and Suns but also went down to the undermanned Sixers, were thumped by the Celtics and Pacers and pipped by a Max Strus prayer shot. It is just hard to see Dallas playing at the consistently high level that is needed to make the NBA Finals, let alone go deep in the competitive Western Conference. The additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford though give the Mavericks something they haven’t always had in previous years — high-calibre depth. It means the burden shouldn’t always be on Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving to produce the kind of big games that Dallas previously needed to even stand a chance in the post-season. Whether it is enough to compete with well-drilled teams that seem to have a better understanding of their identity remains to be seen.
MAKING UP THE NUMBERS
7. Sacramento Kings (34-26)
The Kings were one of the big surprise packets last season and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference. In a lot of ways, not a whole lot has changed for Sacramento, who entered the All-Star break with a 31-23 record, which was identical to where the franchise stood at the same point last season. The biggest difference? The West is much more competitive this season and so while the Kings again look like a solid playoff team, it is hard to see them making the jump to genuine contender status this year. Another first-round series defeat or even a play-in tournament exit looks the likeliest option.
9. Los Angeles Lakers (34-29)
The Lakers will go as far as LeBron James and Anthony Davis can take them. Although a repeat of last year’s charge to the Western Conference Finals may be tough to come by if Los Angeles is again forced to win its way through the play-in tournament. That may be the reality for LeBron and co. though as they face the fifth toughest remaining schedule according to Tankathon, having to play the Timberwolves and Bucks twice in the run home. A resounding win over the Thunder though, even if it just one game, proves the Lakers could be a problem in the playoffs with the right match-up. But it is hard to buy them sustaining that level of play to get all the way to the Finals. Of course, James’ potential impending free agency status looms large but even if the Lakers aren’t able to replicate last season’s post-season run their main selling point will be the trade assets they have up their sleeve this summer. That will somewhat soften the blow if the Lakers make an early exit.
All hail the King! LeBron reaches 40k! | 00:37
10. Golden State Warriors (32-28)
Playing against the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics is one way to get a sense for just how close — or far away — you are from contending for a championship this season. And in the case of the Warriors, it was a timely wake-up call as Golden State was blown out by 52 points. This was a Warriors team that had won 13 of their past 16 games to potentially emerge as a championship dark horse that may have been better placed with the above three teams. From Draymond Green’s welcomed return and the associated re-emergence of Andrew Wiggins to Klay Thompson embracing his new role after moving to the bench, these Warriors looked to be building something. They still could be. The Celtics are just that good that sometimes you’re going to have losses like the one Golden State had on Monday. But it was a reminder of just how far ahead the better teams in the league are this season, including the Nuggets who overcame a slow start to finish well on top of the Warriors last week. Golden State currently sits in 10th in the West, meaning they would be facing the Lakers in a do-or-die play-in tournament game if the season stopped right now.
SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR
11. Utah Jazz (28-34)
It has been a rough recent stretch for the Jazz, who have dropped eight of their last nine games to fall to 11th in the West and it is hard to see them making up enough ground to challenge either the Lakers or Warriors for a spot in the play-in tournament. The Jazz have the worst defensive rating (123.3) in the league over the last 15 games, punished in size mismatches while Lauri Markkanen hasn’t been able to keep up the kind of production that had Utah moving up the standings earlier in the season.
12. Houston Rockets (26-34)
Like the Jazz, the Rockets just haven’t been consistent enough to anticipate the kind of run they need to make in the next month to qualify for the play-in tournament. Although the fact Houston is even on the playoff bubble has to be a positive given expectations were relatively low for the rebuilding Rockets this season. The focus in the summer though will be working out how Houston approaches the next stage of its rebuild, whether it is continuing to patiently develop its young core or package some of its assets for a star player via trade.
BasketBRAWL: Butler ejected in NOLA | 01:10
ALREADY PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR
13. Memphis Grizzlies (21-41)
The Grizzlies were already up against it before the season tipped off, with superstar guard Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games. Memphis looked to be building something when Morant returned but it was short-lived as the 24-year-old was later ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder. The injury list keeps growing too, with Ziaire Williams And Derrick Rose the latest names set for time on the sidelines. Bring on next year.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (17-43)
Another team that was expected to be sitting down the bottom of the Western Conference after trading Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Although the Blazers didn’t enter full-scale rebuilding mode, holding onto players like Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams at the trade deadline. Where they fit in the team’s long-term plans remains to be seen but Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe are still key building blocks for the future.
15. San Antonio Spurs (13-48)
This season was all about the Victor Wembanyama experience, with the No.1 overall pick firmly in Rookie of the Year calculations. Wembanyama has averaged 20.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.3 steals in his rookie season. Finding a starting point guard still remains the likely next move for the Spurs, who have leaned on Tre Jones to fill the void left by Dejounte Murray for the time being.
