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Postseason Seeding Set For Eastern Conference

April 11th, 2025 at 11:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Wins by the Orlando, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Chicago on Friday night have locked in the playoff seeds for all six Eastern Conference playoff teams, along with the four play-in clubs.

Here’s how the top 10 teams in the East will finish the regular season, as the NBA confirms (via Twitter):

Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
Orlando Magic
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat

The play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference will feature the Magic hosting the Hawks on Tuesday and the Bulls hosting the Heat on Wednesday. The Orlando/Atlanta winner will claim the No. 7 spot in the playoffs and face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. The loser of that game will host the Chicago/Miami winner on Friday for the No. 8 spot and the right to face the Cavaliers in round one.

The Knicks will match up with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, while the Pacers and Bucks will meet in round one for a second consecutive year, with Indiana claiming home court advantage this time around.

We got a little more clarity on the Western Conference playoff picture by the end of Friday night, with the Lakers clinching the No. 3 seed by beating Houston and the Grizzlies now locked into the play-in tournament as a result of their loss to Denver. However, there are still several playoff berths and seeds up in the air, with the Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, and Timberwolves vying for the final three spots in the West’s top six.

Central Notes: Portis, Pistons, Bulls, Allen

April 10th, 2025 at 7:09pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Bucks big man Bobby Portis returned from his 25-game suspension on Tuesday and made a statement. He recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench, helping lift Milwaukee to a win over the Timberwolves.

“My only goal is to get to June,” Portis said, per ESPN. “How can we get to June? We haven’t been there in so long.”

Minnesota led Milwaukee by 24 points in the fourth quarter, but behind a key steal, block and three, Portis helped spark the comeback. Bucks fans were chanting his name by the end of the game.

“My first year playing for the Bucks in the 2020/21 season, when I first started getting the chants, it was like chills, right?” Portis said. “I ain’t had the chills since that moment, but now tonight, I felt it all over again. It was a very surreal moment for me.”

The Bucks are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, and Portis’s contributions helped get the team to five straight wins.

“Sometimes when you’re suspended, you might not feel you’re a part of it,” Portis said. “There wasn’t one day I was suspended that I didn’t feel like I was part of the team. I felt like I was still here. I just couldn’t play.”

We have more from the Central Division:

Thursday’s game between Detroit and New York might be a preview of a first-round playoff series involving the two teams, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press notes. Two iconic Pistons victories this season game against New York — in December, Cade Cunningham became the first Piston to record a triple-double in Madison Square Garden since the current arena opened in 1968, and in January, he scored 36 points against the Knicks. “I think it’s fun,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I think it’s an opportunity for both teams to go out and send a message.“
The Bulls bolstered their chances of hosting a play-in game when they defeated Miami on Wednesday, Brian Sandalow of the Chicago Sun-Times notes. The win put the Bulls a game ahead of the Heat for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and Chicago owns the tiebreaker between the two teams. If Chicago defeats the Wizards on Friday or Sixers on Sunday, the club would clinch home-court advantage for the No. 9 vs. 10 play-in game (assuming the Bulls don’t move up to No. 8). “We knew coming into the game the implications that a win or a loss had,” Josh Giddey said.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Jarrett Allen made it a goal to play 82 games, which would be the first time that’s occurred in his career. According to Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar (Twitter link), the Cavaliers plan to respect that goal while managing the center’s minutes accordingly. Allen is the only Cavs starter who suited up on Thursday.

And-Ones: Howard, Rookies, Stanley, Europe

April 10th, 2025 at 4:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Officially announced last weekend as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2025 class, longtime NBA star Dwight Howard has decided to play one more season of professional basketball in the BIG3, as first reported by Chris Haynes (Twitter link).

The BIG3 – the 3-on-3 league created by Ice Cube – officially issued a press release on Wednesday confirming that Howard has signed on to play for the Los Angeles Riot this summer.

Howard will team up with former NBA guard Jordan Crawford and former USC standout Elijah Stewart under head coach Nick Young. While Howard played for the Wizards like Crawford and the Lakers like Young, he didn’t overlap with either player during their stints in Washington and Los Angeles.

“I’m excited to join Ice Cube and the BIG3 – especially right after being inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame,” Howard said in a statement. “Words can’t describe how grateful I am for these opportunities. I can’t wait to join the L.A. Riot and try to bring another championship to the city of LA. But, the ultimate goal I have is to help the league go global.”

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

In the final 2024/25 installment of his rookie rankings, Jeremy Woo of ESPN.com (Insider link) places Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher atop his list, writing that the French forward is delivering on his top-pick status. Spurs guard Stephon Castle, Grizzlies center Zach Edey, Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, and Bulls forward Matas Buzelis round out the top five in Woo’s rankings, in that order.
Former Pacers and Pistons guard Cassius Stanley has signed with ESSM Le Portel for the rest of the season, the French club announced in a press release (hat tip to Sportando). Stanley, who was in the NBA from 2020-22, was playing in the G League for the Valley Suns this season.
In the wake of EuroLeague shareholders meeting this week to discuss the future of the league and the NBA’s potential foray into European basketball, the EuroLeague Players Association issued a statement calling for “united efforts” to grow the game on the continent, as BasketNews.com relays. “Despite significant progress, it must be acknowledged that there is still much work to be done to unravel the true potential of European club basketball,” the statement reads, in part. “That potential is lost when the relevant leagues, clubs and governing bodies do not work harmoniously, but seemingly against each other, without consideration for the perspective of players and fans who are the lifeblood of any competition.”

Injury Notes: Ivey, Ingram, Wells, T. Jones

April 10th, 2025 at 12:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Jaden Ivey continues to progress in his recovery from the broken left fibula he suffered on New Year’s Day, according to the Pistons, who announced on Thursday (via Twitter) that the third-year guard has been cleared for basketball activities.

Ivey is entering the initial phase of his reconditioning program and will continue to progress in his on-court work, the team stated, adding that he’ll be reevaluated in two weeks.

While Ivey obviously won’t make it back during the regular season, it’s worth noting that the Pistons have yet to formally rule him out for the postseason. Detroit has clinched a playoff spot and will be in the midst of the conference quarterfinals in two weeks.

Of course, there’s still no guarantee that Ivey will be able to return and contribute in the playoffs, but the longer the Pistons can stay alive, the better the odds are that he’ll have a chance to play again this spring.

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:

Raptors forward Brandon Ingram has been shut down for the rest of the 2024/25 season after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his injured left ankle this week, head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters on Wednesday (story via Ian Harrison of The Associated Press). Ingram, acquired from New Orleans at the trade deadline, has yet to make his Raptors debut, having been out with his ankle injury since early December. “It’s what he needs,” Rajakovic said of the injection, adding that Ingram is expected to be good to go for training camp in the fall. “He’s been recovering really well.”
After being discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells was in attendance at the team’s shootaround on Thursday, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Wells, who fractured his wrist and sustained a facial laceration as a result of the hard fall he took in Tuesday’s game, won’t be able to return to action anytime soon, but was “in decent spirits” on Thursday, according to Grizzlies wing Vince Williams.
Bulls point guard Tre Jones, who sprained his left foot last month, still doesn’t appear close to returning to action. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link), Jones was still wearing a walking boot as of Wednesday night. While the team hasn’t provided an official update recently, it seems increasingly unlikely that the veteran guard will have a chance to return this season unless the Bulls advance beyond the play-in tournament.

Heat Notes: Bulls Showdown, Adebayo, Ware, Herro, Burks

April 8th, 2025 at 12:26pm CST by Arthur Hill

The two teams are a combined 13 games under .500, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expects a playoff atmosphere when his team faces the Bulls on Wednesday night in Chicago, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

At minimum, the game will go a long way toward deciding who has home court advantage in the East’s 9-10 matchup in the play-in tournament. Miami is currently the 10th seed at 36-43, while Chicago is ninth at 36-42 going into a game tonight in Cleveland. Both teams also have a chance to pass Orlando or Atlanta and move into the 7-8 game.

“I think it’s a lot of fun,” Spoelstra said after Monday’s win over Philadelphia. “Nobody in our locker room is cynical enough to think otherwise. … This is what the league is right now. Just embrace it and enjoy it. This is going to be a great night. It’s going to feel like a playoff game and that’s fun.”

The Heat had larger aspirations when the season began, but they were derailed by injuries and a lingering dispute with Jimmy Butler that led to him being traded to Golden State in February. With the season winding down, the players are trying to put themselves in the best possible position to survive the play-in and earn a spot in the playoffs.

“We know what’s at stake,” Tyler Herro said. “It will be much harder to win two play-in games on the road as opposed to hopefully trying to get one at home.”

There’s more from Miami:

The Heat’s victory Monday night came without Bam Adebayo, as back spasms forced him to miss his third game of the season, Jackson adds in a separate story. Spoelstra said the issue began after Saturday’s game, and Adebayo is being considered “day to day.” Kel’el Ware moved into the starting lineup and tied a Heat single-game record for a rookie by grabbing 17 rebounds. Miami also got 20 points from Herro, who returned to action after sitting out Saturday with a thigh injury that he said was “still a little sore” when Monday’s game began. “As the game kept going, it loosened up a little bit more,” Herro added. “It feels good now. I will be ready to go against Chicago. I’m trying to play as many games as possible.”
In another piece, Jackson talks to a pair of longtime NBA scouts about several issues involving the Heat, including their assessment of who among Miami’s younger players has the brightest NBA future.
The Heat have asked Alec Burks to be flexible in his first season with the team as he fills in for various injured players, per Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Lately they’ve needed him to provide scoring, and he responded with a season-high 24 points on Saturday. “There aren’t a lot of guys, to be frank, that really are willing to sign up for this kind of role,” Spoelstra said. “We’re really appreciative of him, because he is that pro’s pro. He’s always ready, takes care of himself and he can produce in a lot of different kind of roles.”

Central Notes: Mitchell, Niang, LeVert, White, Dupree, Cunningham

April 7th, 2025 at 6:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

If the Cavaliers clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, they’ll do it without Donovan Mitchell. The star guard is listed as out against the Bulls due to an ankle sprain, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com tweets. Mitchell was injured on Sunday when he stepped on Keon Ellis’s foot during a loss to the Kings.

We have more from the Central Division:

The trade that sent Georges Niang and Caris LeVert from the Cavaliers to the Hawks came as somewhat of a surprise to both players, Jake Fischer reports in a column for The Stein Line. The deal only moved forward when the Hawks dropped their original asking price of multiple first-round picks for forward De’Andre Hunter. “It takes anybody by surprise until it happens, right?” Niang told said. “You’re like, ‘Nah, that’s not gonna be me.’ And then when it happens, after it I’m like, ‘It kinda makes sense.’ The money, shortening the rotation to kind of have one guy replace two, it kinda all made sense. But it took some time to digest it. I think All-Star break was perfect for that.”
The Bulls won’t have Coby White available for the matchup with Cleveland. White is being rested in the first game of a back-to-back, the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman tweets. Chicago faces Miami on Wednesday.
Bucks front office executive Ronald Dupree is returning to alma mater LSU as the GM of the men’s basketball program, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. Dupree spent eight years in the Bucks front office.
Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham is back in action after missing two weeks of action due to a calf contusion. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the fact that his team has already clinched a first-round berth will help his star get fully healthy for the playoffs. “We’ve got some time, so that’s a good thing. It’s not something that we have to rush into,” he said. “The play-in week will be good for us also because we can take advantage of the conditioning without games to plan for … we’re in a great spot.” He’s getting better but we just want to make sure he’s right … he knows what it takes for his body to be where it needs to be and we trust him.”

Central Notes: White, Porter, Cade

April 6th, 2025 at 1:40pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Having been fully given the keys to the Bulls‘ offense in the wake of Chicago’s Zach LaVine deadline trade, guard Coby White has been playing at the highest level of his career of late, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune.

The 6’5″ pro has scored at least 20 points in 16 of his last 17 games, and he and LaVine are now the only Chicago players ever to have racked up over 400 points and 40 three-pointers in a single month. White surpassed his own franchise record on Sunday for the most made three-pointers in a single season.

“I’m not going to limit myself to anything,” he said. “I’m going to continue to get better, continue to be who I am and put my all into this game. Whatever happens after that happens.”

There’s more out of the Central Division:

Newly acquired Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. enjoyed a superlative performance in a critical 121-115 overtime victory over the Heat on Saturday, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Porter scored 24 points, grabbed 12 boards, and dished out eight dimes. He has been counted on more for ball-handling and play-making in the wake of Damian Lillard‘s absence due to a blood clot. Porter also sealed the win with a clutch late bucket beneath the basket. “Fortunate enough I’ve been in those moments where one shot can win the game, or one play, so I just trusted my work, trusted myself and I felt good and confident when I got the trust in my teammates to make that last play,” Porter said. “Those are the moments we live for. I love being in those moments, and I’ll take that shot every chance I get.”
Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham missed two weeks of action with a left calf contusion. In his first game back on Saturday, a 109-103 loss to Memphis, Cunningham looked pretty much like himself, putting up 25 points, nine boards, and four assists. As The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson relays, Cunningham told reporters he was comfortable returning to the hardwood. “I got hit in my left calf and then it made my right calf tighten up a lot,” Cunningham said of the initial injury. “So it’s just a lot going on. I got sick at the same time, so it was just trying to battle a lot of different things. (Our) training staff got me right, though. I feel great now. So, I feel good going into the playoffs. It was a good game for me to try to shake off the rust.”
In case you missed it, Detroit big Isaiah Stewart returned from a recent two-game suspension in the Memphis matchup.

Bulls Notes: Ball, Play-In Tournament, Huerter, Buzelis

April 5th, 2025 at 9:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

Lonzo Ball made enough progress with his sprained right wrist to take part in Friday’s shootaround, writes Brian Sandow of The Chicago Sun-Times, but he was held out of the Bulls‘ victory over Portland, marking the 17th straight game he has missed. Coach Billy Donovan told reporters that Ball didn’t have a setback in his recovery process, but there are still limits in what he’s able to do.

“I think his biggest concern is, can he go out there and be productive with where his wrist is at right now?” Donovan said. “I appreciate the way he’s tried to handle it because he worked really hard to get back. I think he was optimistic he could get back, but as he did things live, five-on-five, coming to shootaround, there are just things as it relates to shooting the basketball, passing the basketball that he feels are still inhibiting him from doing the things he knows he needs to do out there.”

There’s no timetable for Ball to return, but Sandow states that the Bulls also haven’t set a date to shut him down if he continues to be unable to play. Ball is traveling with the team on a two-game road trip, and there’s still hope that he can see game action before the end of the season.

Donovan notes that the latest absence is difficult for Ball, who worked so hard to return after knee injuries sidelined him for two and a half years.

“It eats him up because he’s competitive,” Donovan said. “Being around him before the knee and then seeing what he’s gone through with the knee, he’s never just thrown the towel in and said, ‘Hey, forget it.’”

There’s more from Chicago:

The Bulls are aiming for home-court advantage if they wind up playing Miami in the 9-10 matchup of the play-in tournament, Sandow states in a separate story. The teams have identical 35-42 records coming into today’s action, with Chicago holding the tiebreaker for ninth place. “It’s always easier to win at home, obviously,” Kevin Huerter said. “It’s a long trip to get down to Miami.”
Huerter has been reinvigorated by the trade that sent him from Sacramento to Chicago just before the deadline, observes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. Huerter is shooting 35.8% from three-point range with the Bulls after starting the season at a career-worst 30.2% in 43 games with the Kings. He credits Donovan’s offensive approach for getting him better opportunities. “The first thing the coaches want us to do is attack,” Huerter said. “They tell us the first part of our offense is trying to get into the teeth of the defense and make a play. That’s just everyone’s mindset. You catch the ball, you try to get downhill and make a play. If it’s not there, move off it.”
Matas Buzelis has earned first-team All-Rookie honors, contends Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Cowley points out that Buzelis is tied for fourth in scoring among the rookie class since Zach LaVine was traded in February. Since mid-March, he’s averaging 14.6 PPG and shooting 43.8% from three-point range. “I’m just reading the game when I’m out there,” Buzelis said. “I’m not overthinking it. It’s a very simple game.”

Nuggets’ Trey Alexander Named G League Rookie Of The Year

April 4th, 2025 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

First-year guard Trey Alexander, who is on a two-way contract with the Nuggets, has been named the NBA G League’s Rookie of the Year, according to a press release.

Alexander signed a two-way contract with Denver last July shortly after going undrafted out of Creighton. He has played sparingly at the NBA level, logging just 110 total minutes across 22 outings, most of which came in garbage time. However, he has been a standout for the Grand Rapids Gold, the Nuggets’ G League affiliate.

In 30 total appearances in the Tip-Off Tournament and NBAGL regular season, Alexander averaged 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in 37.0 minutes per game, posting a shooting line of .462/.395/.817.

“The Nuggets and Gold are so proud of Trey and all he has accomplished this season.” Gold general manager Ben Tenzer said in a statement. “He is a fantastic player, and an even better person. His work ethic and approach to the game are second to none. We have enjoyed watching his tremendous growth and look forward to all the success that comes his way in the future.”

While it’s possible that Alexander’s strong play in the G League will earn him a longer look from Denver in the NBA next season, he’ll need to be re-signed first. Since the 21-year-old’s two-way deal only covers one season, he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency this summer.

According to the NBA (Twitter link), David Jones Garcia of the Mexico City Capitanes was the runner-up in G League Rookie of the Year voting, while Windy City Bulls guard Jahmir Young, who is on a two-way contract with Chicago, finished third.

The award is voted on by the NBAGL’s head coaches and GMs.

Central Notes: Allen, Okoro, Ball, Budenholzer, Williams

April 3rd, 2025 at 10:47am CST by Dana Gauruder

With the playoffs approaching, Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro are playing at a peak level for the Cavaliers. Allen is shooting 77.8 percent from the field over the last six games, while Okoro has impacted recent games with his hustle plays and defense, Joe Vardon of The Athletic notes.

Allen, who has appeared in every game this season, missed most of last season’s playoff run due to broken ribs.

“I feel like every year I’ve had something happen in the playoffs to me whether it’s hurt or, yeah, it’s always getting hurt,” Allen said. “I’m just ready to showcase what I have to offer.”

We have more from the Central Division:

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is still dealing with pain in his sprained right wrist but there are no plans to shut him down, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune writes. Ball missed the team’s six-game road trip and still hasn’t been cleared to play. He’ll have to deal with the injury the rest of the season but the team doesn’t anticipate that it will require surgery.
Former Bucks coach and current Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer admitted his return to Milwaukee was an emotional one. The Suns lost 133-123 on Tuesday. “I’ve always said it was a great five years here in Milwaukee,” Budenholzer said, per The Associated Press’ Steve Megargee. “I’m forever appreciative to the organization, to the players, to the fans here. The people here were great to me. It’s tough to lose tonight. I want to keep the focus on my guys, my team. But I’ve said it a million times: It was five great years here.” Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak by shooting a franchise-record 68.9% (51-of-74) from the floor. “I kept saying to my teammates, ‘We’re fighting for our lives. We’re fighting for our lives,’” Giannis Antetokounmpo said, per Megargee. “They think I’m joking, but I’m not joking. We’re fighting for our lives right here. Every win counts.”
Patrick Williams hasn’t played up to the contract he signed last summer, but the Bulls forward said this season hasn’t been all gloom and doom, he told The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley. ‘‘When we’re winning, I’m having fun, regardless of how I’m playing,’’ Williams said. ‘‘I come from a culture, obviously, at [Florida State] where winning was the top priority. When you win, everybody gets taken care of. You hold the trophy up, everybody gets to hold it up. But, for sure, as one of the young staples of this group, there’s a lot that comes with that off the court, being professional that way, but also on the court, holding yourself to that standard. The team holds me to that standard; I hold myself to that standard. And when I’m not playing at that standard, you shouldn’t be happy.”