The READ
NBA Recap | April 5, 2026
The final Sunday of the NBA regular season didn't disappoint. Eleven games. Results with meaningful impact to the standings. A 45-point Cooper Flagg performance in a Dallas win over Los Angeles. LaMelo Ball taking over in Minnesota with 35 points and seven threes. Oklahoma City putting on a clinic with 40 assists and 53% from three. Orlando with a late comeback in New Orleans. Boston cruising, Cleveland asserting itself, Charlotte winning on the road when it mattered most. This was the regular season going out on its own terms. Let's run all of it.
FLAGG TAKES OVER AGAIN
Dallas Mavericks 134, Los Angeles Lakers 128
Cooper Flagg has had two 40-plus point games in the final week of the regular season and joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies to record 95+ points in back-to-back games.
Forty-five points on 14 of 27 from the field including 2 of 4 from three and 15 of 17 from the free throw line. Additionally, he had nine assists and two steals. A 65.3% true shooting mark that reflects how effectively he got to the line and converted when he got there. Dallas led by as many as 22 in the first half and held on as the Lakers mounted a second-half push that fell six short. Flagg was the engine at both ends and the primary reason the Mavericks — a 25-53 team — beat Los Angeles on the final Sunday of the regular season.
LeBron James was everything asked of him on the other side — 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting, 9 rebounds, 15 assists, nearly a triple-double — playing the role of orchestrator with the vision and patience of someone who has been doing this for 22 years and still makes it look inevitable. Jaxson Hayes gave Los Angeles interior lift off the bench: 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting (80.0%), 85.1% true shooting. He was excellent, but it didn't matter. Dallas committed only 7 turnovers all game and converted 21 points off Lakers miscues. On the road, with nothing at stake for the standings, they were the better team.
The loss drops the Lakers to 50-28 entering Monday's final game and are in free fall mode with both Luka and Reaves on the sidelines.
DAL 134 · LAL 128
LAMELO AND BRIDGES TORCH MINNESOTA AS CHARLOTTE WINS ON THE ROAD
Charlotte Hornets 122, Minnesota Timberwolves 108
LaMelo Ball needed a big game as Charlotte is within reach of the 6-seed.
Thirty-five points on 13-of-22 shooting — 7 of 14 from three, 76.5% true shooting, and 8 assists against 4 turnovers. He was spectacular, attacking off the dribble, pulling back for threes, and making Minnesota pay for every defensive lapse. Miles Bridges was the other story: 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting with a perfect 4-of-4 from three and 100.5% true shooting — one of the most efficient individual shooting performances of the entire season. He didn't miss. He converted a pair of second-chance opportunities and added 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Together, Ball and Bridges carved Minnesota apart, and Charlotte built a lead of 22 before the Wolves made things mildly respectable in the fourth.
For Minnesota, Julius Randle led with 26 points on 56.3% shooting and 5 turnovers — the most costly number of his night. Rudy Gobert had a double-double (12 and 10) but Charlotte out-rebounded Minnesota 52-48 overall and turned 16 second chances into 24 points. The Wolves simply had no answer for the Hornets' offense, and their seeding paid the price.
Charlotte improves to 43-36 and sits 0.5 games behind 6th & 7th place in the East. Minnesota drops to 46-32 and stays at the West's 6-seed, but looking shaky entering the playoffs.
CHA 122 · MIN 108
OKC TURNS ON THE JETS — 40 ASSISTS, 53% FROM THREE IN A 35-POINT WIN
Oklahoma City Thunder 146, Utah Jazz 111
The Oklahoma City Thunder shot 24-of-45 from three (53.3%). Their bench dropped 67 points and they had 40 assists. They led by 43 at their peak. This was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference making absolutely sure no one forgets what they are before the playoffs begin.
Chet Holmgren was the standout: 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting (80.0% from three), 88.4% true shooting, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He was light and lethal and virtually unguardable every time the ball swung his way. Jalen Williams had 15 points and 7 assists, operating with the quiet efficiency that makes him so dangerous as a second option. Luguentz Dort hit 3-of-5 from three for 13 points. Cason Wallace came off the bench for 16 points (4-of-5 from three). The Thunder's offensive machine is going to be terrifying for whoever draws them in Round 1 — possibly the Lakers, who are staring down a 3-seed matchup with OKC if Denver holds.
Utah's Kyle Filipowski had 20 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double in a losing effort. Ace Bailey had 14 points. Nothing about the Jazz's output mattered against a Thunder team that was in cruise control from the opening tip.
Oklahoma City is 62-16 and the 1-seed is theirs to lose.
OKC 146 · UTA 111
ORLANDO HOLDS ON IN NEW ORLEANS
Orlando Magic 112, New Orleans Pelicans 108
Orlando needed this one. They got it the hard way.
The Pelicans led by 15 in the second quarter and still had a grip on the game entering the fourth before Orlando outscored them 31-20 in the final period to escape with the win. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 27 points on 8-of-19 shooting — 75.9% from the free throw line gave him sustainable volume — and was the consistent offensive anchor throughout. Paolo Banchero had 23 points and a massive 16 rebounds for a double-double, drawing fouls aggressively (11-of-15 from the line) and anchoring the second-chance rebounding effort that generated 24 second-chance points. Orlando's offense ran through his post touches in the fourth quarter when they needed it most.
For New Orleans, Saddiq Bey led with 32 points on 10-of-24 shooting and 9-of-11 from the line — a high-volume performance that kept the Pelicans competitive until the fourth quarter collapsed. Yves Missi was a force inside: 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting (88.9% true shooting), 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, and a double-double in just over 30 minutes. He is one of the more quietly impressive young bigs in the league. Jalen Suggs shot 4-of-19 from the field for 11 points — the single biggest reason Orlando's defense was able to hold on late.
Orlando improves to 42-36 and has the opportunity to move up the standings for the play-in tournament. The final playoff spot is within reach, but there is a lot of traffic ahead of them.
ORL 112 · NOP 108
MITCHELL GOES FOR 38 IN THE PAINT AS CLEVELAND HANDLES INDIANA
Cleveland Cavaliers 117, Indiana Pacers 108
Donovan Mitchell had 38 points — 16-of-27 from the field, 14-of-20 in the paint at 80.8% true shooting at the rim, 28 of those 38 points coming in the interior. He was absolutely dominant around the basket, turning every drive into either a converted layup or a trip to the line that he converted at 80%. James Harden complemented him with 28 points on 8-of-17 shooting (5-of-11 from three) and 7 assists, 3 steals — the full playmaker package. Thomas Bryant had a quiet double-double off the bench (14 pts, 10 reb).
Indiana had strong individual efforts from Obi Toppin (21 pts, 10-of-10 from the line) and Micah Potter (21 pts and 12 rebounds for a double-double in his own right), but the Pacers shot just 38.4% from the field and were outscored 27-17 in a decisive fourth quarter. Cleveland pulls away when it needs to; that has been the defining characteristic of this team all season.
The Cavaliers move to 49-29 and hold the East's 4-seed but are only one game behind the Knicks for the 3-seed.
CLE 117 · IND 108
QUETA GOES 9-OF-10 AS CELTICS BEAT TORONTO — CELTICS CLINCH THE 2-SEED
Boston Celtics 115, Toronto Raptors 101
The fourth quarter told the story: Boston 35, Toronto 24. The Celtics pulled away when the Raptors tried to make it interesting in the third and then shut the door.
Jaylen Brown led with 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting, attacking the paint relentlessly. Jayson Tatum had a near triple-double — 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists — a double-double with a stat line that screams playoff readiness. Payton Pritchard came off the bench for 17 points on 58.3% shooting with 3 steals. Neemias Queta was extraordinary: 18 points on 9-of-10 from the field (90.0% true shooting), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks — the most efficient performance of the night by any player on either team. Derrick White had 10 points and 6 assists on 66.7% shooting with a +20. Boston's machine runs at a level that most teams in the East aren't built to match.
Toronto's Scottie Barnes struggled — 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting, -15 — and Ja'Kobe Walter had 16 points (4-of-5 from three) off the bench as the one bright spot. The Raptors drop to 43-35 and sit in 7th due to a tie-breaker with Philly.
Boston moves to 53-25, the East's 2-seed. The Celtics are going to be very, very difficult to beat in the playoffs with Tatum’s strong play after his recent return.
BOS 115 · TOR 101
MILWAUKEE PULLS AWAY LATE AS RUPERT'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE ISN'T ENOUGH FOR MEMPHIS
Milwaukee Bucks 131, Memphis Grizzlies 115
Rayan Rupert had a triple-double — 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, 63.4% true shooting — in a losing effort. He has now posted two triple-doubles in the last four days. He is 22 years old and playing on a Memphis team with no playoff future, which means these performances are landing in relative obscurity. They deserve more attention.
Milwaukee's Cormac Ryan was the counter-punch: 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting (3-of-4 from three, 107.6% true shooting), 5 steals — the kind of performance where the efficiency metrics break into embarrassment. Taurean Prince went 7-of-8 from the field with a perfect 5-of-5 from three for 19 points. Myles Turner contributed a double-double (19 pts, 11 reb) and Ryan Rollins had 24 points off the bench on 10-of-16 shooting. Milwaukee shot 60.2% from the field and 50.0% from three as a team. It was a dominant offensive night.
The Bucks had 11 offensive rebounds and converted them into 23 second-chance points — the margin of separation in a game that was within reach for Memphis through three quarters before Milwaukee's fourth quarter (39 points) closed it out decisively.
Milwaukee improves to 31-47. Memphis falls to 25-53. Neither team is going anywhere this spring, but Rupert makes a case for himself as a free agent target.
MIL 131 · MEM 115
PHOENIX BEATS CHICAGO BEHIND BOOKER'S 30 AS THE SUNS HOLD THEIR FOOTING
Phoenix Suns 120, Chicago Bulls 110
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 30 points on 9-of-22 shooting — drawing 8 fouls and converting 9-of-10 from the line, which kept his volume sustainable despite an uneven shooting night (56.8% true shooting). Mark Williams added 14 points on 75.0% shooting with 8 rebounds. The Suns were the cleaner team in the second half, outscoring Chicago 57-54 over the final two quarters after the Bulls tied it at 60 late in the second.
Chicago's Tre Jones was the story in a losing effort — 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting (60.0%), including 17 fast-break points on 7-of-8 transition attempts. He was electric in the open floor all game. Leonard Miller had 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. But the Bulls committed 19 turnovers and Phoenix converted 24 points off those, which is the most direct explanation for the final margin.
Phoenix improves to 43-35. Chicago falls to 29-49. The Suns have secured the 7-seed and the Bulls are squarely in the lottery mix, but have a low probability of a low pick.
PHX 120 · CHI 110
LA CLIPPERS DISMANTLE SACRAMENTO — KAWHI LEADS, BENCH DROPS 67
LA Clippers 138, Sacramento Kings 109
The Clippers led by 37 at their peak and shot 48.8% from three (20-of-41). Their bench scored 67 points. This was a demolition.
Kawhi Leonard led LA with 26 points on 50.0% shooting (3-of-9 from three, 5-of-5 from the line), 6 rebounds, 3 assists — the methodical, economical Kawhi performance that just accumulates damage. John Collins had 25 points off the bench on 4-of-6 from three, adding physicality and spacing simultaneously. Kobe Sanders came off the bench for 17 points on 87.1% true shooting with 4 steals. Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller combined for 26 points on 11-of-12 shooting — nearly flawless. The Clippers converted 29 points off Sacramento's 20 turnovers and generated 21 fast-break points.
Sacramento's Nique Clifford had 18 points, Maxime Raynaud a quiet double-double (11 pts, 15 reb), but this was a night when Sacramento's interior depth ran dry against a Clippers team that is rounding into form at the right time. The Kings finish 21-58.
LA Clippers improve to 40-38 and will need to escape the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs.
LAC 138 · SAC 109
BROOKLYN BEATS WASHINGTON BEHIND TRAORE AND WILSON'S TWO-MAN SHOW
Brooklyn Nets 121, Washington Wizards 115
Brooklyn's Nolan Traore had 23 points on 7-of-18 shooting (5-of-11 from three, 58.2% true shooting) and 7 assists — the numbers undersell the juice he brought to the game. Jalen Wilson was the efficiency story: 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting (2-of-4 from three), 81.6% true shooting, 4 assists. E.J. Liddell came off the bench for 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting (85.6% true shooting). Brooklyn led by 17 early, gave it back in the middle quarters, then outscored Washington 36-31 in the fourth to hold on.
Washington's Will Riley had 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting (70.5% true shooting) — another excellent individual performance in a miserable season for the Wizards. Julian Reese had 17 points and 16 rebounds for a double-double with 3 steals. Washington shot 55.7% from the field and still lost, because their 23 turnovers gifted Brooklyn 37 points off miscues. That number is the season in a sentence.
Brooklyn moves to 19-59. Washington falls to 17-61. Both teams are lottery-bound.
BKN 121 · WAS 115
STEPH CURRY RETURNS — GOLDEN STATE TAKES HOUSTON TO THE WIRE
Houston Rockets 117, Golden State Warriors 116
Stephen Curry missed nearly two months. He came back for the final game of the regular season and scored 29 points. Golden State lost by one.
Curry was everything the building needed — 11-of-21 from the field, 5-of-10 from three, 65.0% true shooting, 4 assists. He looked entirely himself: quick release off screens, patience in the midrange, pull-ups off two dribbles that nobody in the history of basketball has made look this natural. The Warriors led by as many as 7 in the first quarter and still had the lead entering the third before Houston outscored them 37-29 to take control, then survived a furious Golden State fourth-quarter comeback (34 points) by the slimmest of margins.
Draymond Green was the engine in every other way — 12 assists, 1 turnover, 6 rebounds, and 7 points on 75.0% shooting. A complete orchestrator performance in what may have been the most emotionally charged game of the Warriors' season. Brandin Podziemski had 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting (75.8% true shooting). The Golden State bench dropped 61 points — extraordinary second-unit production in a game that came down to the final possession.
For Houston, Kevin Durant was the anchor: 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting (3-of-6 from three, 8-of-9 from the line), 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 74.0% true shooting — a vintage KD performance in a game that mattered for the Rockets' seeding. Alperen Sengun had 24 points on 52.6% shooting with 7 assists and 2 blocks. Amen Thompson went 8-of-11 from the field for 18 points (70.5% true shooting). Houston shot 55.0% from the field and held on when Golden State's late surge fell one point short.
Houston improves to 49-29 and have the chance to move up from West's 5-seed. Golden State falls to 36-42 with the 10-seed in hand, but they could make some noise in the play-in tournament with Curry’s return.
HOU 117 · GSW 116
⭐ STAR OF THE NIGHT
Cooper Flagg | Dallas Mavericks
Forty-five points, 9 assists, 65.3% true shooting, and a Dallas win over a Lakers team fighting for seeding. His second 45-point game in four days. He averaged roughly 48 points over his last two games of the regular season. The Rookie of the Year race is not over, but this is Flagg's closing argument delivered in the loudest voice possible.
💀 DUD OF THE NIGHT
Jalen Suggs | Orlando Magic
Four-of-nineteen shooting in a four-point Orlando win over New Orleans. A game that was very much on the line. The Magic held on in spite of his performance, not because of it. Seventeen missed field goal attempts in a close road win is an exceptionally difficult deficit to overcome.
QUICK TAKES
LaMelo Ball had 35 points, 7-of-14 from three, and 8 assists on 76.5% true shooting on the road at Minnesota with Charlotte's seeding on the line. He is completely healthy and playing like it.
Miles Bridges went 10-of-12 from the field with a perfect 4-of-4 from three. Combined with LaMelo on a night Charlotte needed to win, he was the co-MVP of the game. One hundred percent from three.
Rayan Rupert had 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for Memphis in a loss — his second triple-double in four days. He is showing he belongs in the league and on a starting roster.
Neemias Queta went 9-of-10 from the field (90% true shooting) off the Boston bench. He has been one of the most impactful free-agent pickups of the season and is entering the playoffs with real momentum.
OKC shot 24-of-45 from three and had 40 team assists in a 35-point win. The Thunder are 62-16, the best record in the Western Conference and home court throughout.
Cormac Ryan went 7-of-8 from the field with 5 steals for Milwaukee. He has now had back-to-back games with 21 points and at least 5 steals. He is one of the more genuinely surprising stories of the final stretch of this season.
Steph Curry returned from a nearly two-month absence and scored 29 points on 5-of-10 from three in a one-point loss to Houston. Draymond Green had 12 assists and 1 turnover. The Warriors' bench dropped 61 points. They lost by one. It was an extraordinary final game of the regular season for Golden State regardless of the result — Curry looked healthy, sharp, and like himself, which is the only thing that matters heading into the offseason.
Kevin Durant had 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists for Houston in the same game — a 74.0% true shooting line that anchored a one-point Rockets win that keeps them poised to move up the rankings over the final days of the regular season.
Dallas beat the Lakers on a Sunday in April with Cooper Flagg dropping 45 points. The Mavericks are 25-53. None of that changes what Flagg did. The future of that franchise is already here.
