The READ
NBA Recap | April 7, 2026
Ten games. One rookie dropped 40 points on 58 percent shooting. OKC steamrolled the Lakers — again. The Clippers got Kawhi back on their terms. Scottie Barnes finally woke up. And the Pelicans used Utah for target practice to the tune of 156 points. Ten games. Let's run it.
FEARS DROPS 40 AND NEW ORLEANS LIGHTS UP THE COURT
New Orleans Pelicans 156, Utah Jazz 137
The scoreboard wasn't a typo. New Orleans erupted for 156 points Tuesday night, and the headliner was rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears, who delivered one of the most electric individual performances of the 2025-26 season.
Fears finished with 40 points on 17-of-29 shooting — 58.6 percent — with 6 assists, 3 steals, and 16 of his points coming in transition. He was a weapon downhill all night, getting into the paint at will and converting at 72.7 percent on two-pointers. When Utah showed signs of life in the first quarter and even built an early lead, it was Fears who spearheaded the response — particularly in the third quarter, when New Orleans erupted for 50 points to blow the game open.
Jordan Poole was the perfect complement: 34 points on 12-of-23 shooting with 7 threes, working the perimeter while Fears chaos-ed the defense. Micah Peavy added 20 efficient points. Derik Queen posted a double-double — 17 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists — and Kevon Looney quietly collected 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists as the connective tissue.
Utah actually hung around early. Kennedy Chandler was terrific — 31 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds on 61 percent shooting — and Bez Mbeng added 26 off the bench. But the Jazz had no answer for New Orleans' pace once the Pelicans found their rhythm, and 44 fast break points and 90 points in the paint eventually made the margin look as ugly as it was.
New Orleans improves to 26-54. Utah falls to 21-59.
NOP 156 · UTA 137
OKC SMOTHERS THE LAKERS AGAIN
Oklahoma City Thunder 123, Los Angeles Lakers 87
OKC didn't just beat the Lakers — they suffocated them. This was the second time in this brief April stretch that Oklahoma City held Los Angeles to 87 points, and it was essentially over by halftime as the Thunder led by as many as 41.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was in complete control: 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, 8 assists, and a plus-32. He didn't need to force anything — the game bent to him. The real story, though, was the depth. Isaiah Joe came off the bench and hit all 6 of his three-point attempts for 18 points. Jared McCain added 15 more off the bench. Chet Holmgren posted a quiet double-double — 15 points and 10 rebounds. OKC's bench outscored the Los Angeles starting lineup, and the Thunder shot 51.2 percent from three as a team — 21-of-41.
For LA, Luke Kennard's 9 assists were the lone statistical bright spot. No Laker reached 15 points. The Lakers shot 45.2 percent from the free throw line — 14-of-31 — which compounded an already disastrous night. OKC generated 15 steals. There was no Los Angeles offense to speak of.
Oklahoma City improves to 63-16 and strengthens its hold on the West 1-seed. The Lakers fall to 50-29 and are at risk of falling to the 5-seed.
OKC 123 · LAL 87
KAWHI TAKES OVER, CLIPPERS CLOSE OUT THE MAVERICKS
LA Clippers 116, Dallas Mavericks 103
Kawhi Leonard looked like himself — fully, unapologetically himself. He finished with 34 points on 11-of-19 shooting, drilling 6-of-10 from three and adding 3 assists. The Clippers opened the game on a 39-26 first quarter run and never truly surrendered the lead, using Leonard's shot creation and Brook Lopez's defensive anchor to keep Dallas from making a real run.
Darius Garland orchestrated cleanly with 22 points and 4 assists. Lopez was commanding on both ends — 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks. LA held Dallas to just 6-of-33 from three (18.2 percent), which was the decisive margin in what was otherwise a competitive second and third quarter from the Mavericks.
For Dallas, Cooper Flagg led the team with 25 points — but needed 25 shots. Klay Thompson was 4-of-17, going 1-of-10 from deep. The Mavericks' offense had no answer for Kawhi down the stretch, and a team that needed points late simply couldn't generate them against LA's defensive physicality.
The Clippers improve to 41-38 and strengthen their play-in positioning. Dallas falls to 25-54.
LAC 116 · DAL 103
SCOTTIE UNLEASHED, RAPTORS ROUT MIAMI
Toronto Raptors 121, Miami Heat 95
After weeks of noise around Scottie Barnes' shooting slump, Tuesday night in Toronto looked like a genuine breakthrough. Barnes went 10-of-16 from the floor — including a perfect 2-of-2 from three — for 25 points with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and a block in a wire-to-wire Toronto win.
Brandon Ingram added 23 efficient points (68.1 true shooting percentage), and Jamal Shead ran the offense with 11 assists against just 3 turnovers. The Raptors shot 49.5 percent from the floor, piled up 23 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds, and held Miami to 36.3 percent shooting across 40 minutes.
Bam Adebayo had one of his worst shooting nights of the season, going 2-of-13 for 7 points. Miami's offense was disconnected and shot-forced all night against a Raptors defense that has quietly locked in over the final weeks of the regular season.
Toronto improves to 44-35. Miami falls to 41-38 and slide firmly into the 10-seed.
TOR 121 · MIA 95
WOLVES TURN ON THE JETS IN INDY
Minnesota Timberwolves 124, Indiana Pacers 104
Minnesota flexed its depth and length in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, using a dominant third quarter — outscoring Indiana 39-24 — to break open what had been a competitive game through halftime.
Ayo Dosunmu led the way with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, bringing relentless physicality all night. Bones Hyland was the best offensive performer on the floor in stretches — 19 points, 7 assists, and an 81.6 true shooting percentage off the bench. Julius Randle posted 19 points, and Rudy Gobert contributed a typically versatile line: 5 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jaylen Clark was a defensive menace with 11 points and 4 steals.
Indiana's Ethan Thompson had 17 points and got to the line frequently, and Jalen Slawson made 6-of-7 shots for 14 efficient points off the bench. But the Pacers turned the ball over 23 times — Minnesota converted those into 34 points off turnovers — and couldn't sustain any real offensive momentum once the Wolves started pressing.
Minnesota improves to 47-32, but likely to maintain their 6-seed in the West. Indiana falls to 18-61.
MIN 124 · IND 104
BULLS BENCH GOES NUCLEAR IN WASHINGTON
Chicago Bulls 129, Washington Wizards 98
The Bulls bench delivered a statement; albeit against a tanking team. Chicago's reserves combined for 61 points — more than Washington scored through three quarters — while the starters did the connective work that made it look easy.
Rob Dillingham torched the Wizards with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting, drilling 5-of-8 from three. Patrick Williams was the best two-way player on the floor: 20 points on 4-of-4 from deep, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Tre Jones ran the offense methodically with 20 points and 9 assists while attacking the paint relentlessly. Chicago had 35 assists on 46 made baskets — a remarkable assist rate that speaks to the ball movement this team has developed all season.
Julian Reese was Washington's lone interior presence, posting 17 points and 11 rebounds. But the Wizards shot 28.9 percent from three, turned the ball over 22 times, and surrendered 31 fast break points in a game that wasn't remotely competitive after the first quarter.
Chicago improves to 30-49. Washington falls to 17-62. Both in lottery territory.
CHI 129 · WAS 98
LAMELO GOES FOR 36 BUT BOSTON HOLDS ON
Boston Celtics 113, Charlotte Hornets 102
LaMelo Ball gave the Celtics everything they could handle — 36 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 12-of-24 from the field, and 6 threes — but Boston had just enough to survive at home.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 35 points on 13-of-29 shooting and did the difficult defensive work when it mattered most. Jayson Tatum was efficient in a supporting role with 23 points and 4 assists. Derrick White off the bench drilled 4-of-5 from three for 12 points. Neemias Queta was a revelation on the offensive glass — 12 points, 5 offensive rebounds, and a perfect conversion rate on second-chance attempts. Boston piled up 23 second-chance points off 13 offensive boards.
Charlotte trailed by 11 entering the fourth and kept clawing. Miles Bridges added 13 points and 12 rebounds, and the Hornets actually shot efficiently enough to be in it. They simply ran out of time against a Boston team that has too many ways to score.
Boston improves to 54-25 and have clinched the 2-seed. Charlotte falls to 43-37 and remains firmly in the East play-in picture, but still has an opportunity to secure the 6-seed if any of the teams ahead of them falter.
BOS 113 · CHA 102
BROOKLYN GRINDS PAST MILWAUKEE'S FUMES
Brooklyn Nets 96, Milwaukee Bucks 90
Milwaukee is running on empty, and Brooklyn made them pay for it. The Nets controlled this game with physicality and free throw shooting — going 21-of-23 from the line (91.3 percent) — and held off a Bucks team that simply didn't have the legs.
Ben Saraf led Brooklyn with 19 points, staying aggressive even when early shots weren't falling. Taurean Prince put together a double-double — 16 points and 11 rebounds — and Jericho Sims was the most complete player on the floor: 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Nets generated 11 steals and disrupted every rhythm Milwaukee tried to establish.
For Milwaukee, AJ Green's 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting were the offensive bright spot. But Ousmane Dieng turned it over 7 times, and the Bucks shot 33.3 percent from three while missing the playmaking teeth they've lacked all season.
Brooklyn improves to 20-59. Milwaukee falls to 31-48. Both in lottery territory.
BKN 96 · MIL 90
WARRIORS SURVIVE A KINGS SURGE
Golden State Warriors 110, Sacramento Kings 105
Golden State built a 16-point second quarter lead, nearly let it vanish, and found just enough late to hold on at Chase Center.
Steph Curry drilled 4-of-11 from three for 17 points and 2 steals. Gary Payton II was the most efficient scorer on the floor — 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 3 offensive rebounds and 3 steals — and Seth Curry off the bench added 9 points. The Warriors out-rebounded Sacramento on the offensive glass — 13 boards leading to 22 second-chance points — which ultimately proved decisive.
Sacramento actually outshot Golden State from deep and had multiple contributors. Killian Hayes led the Kings with 18 points and 4 steals. Maxime Raynaud posted 17 points and 7 rebounds in a productive interior performance. But the Kings fouled out a player, picked up a coaching technical in the fourth quarter, and couldn't close.
Golden State improves to 37-42 with the 10-seed secured. Sacramento falls to 21-59 and look toward the draft.
GSW 110 · SAC 105
HOUSTON ERASES A 21-POINT DEFICIT, STUNS PHOENIX IN THE FOURTH
Houston Rockets 119, Phoenix Suns 105
Phoenix led by 16 after the first quarter, which turned into a 14 loss by the end of 4th. The Rockets outscored the Suns by 30 points over the final three quarters.
Kevin Durant was magnificent in the second half, finishing with 24 points on 8-of-20 shooting including 5 threes. His gravity opened everything for Houston's bigs, and Tari Eason made the Rockets pay on the glass — 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 second-chance points on 4-of-4 second-chance attempts. Jabari Smith Jr. added 20 points and 6 rebounds. Reed Sheppard contributed 12 off the bench. Houston's 24 offensive rebounds led to 37 second-chance points — the signature number of the game.
Devin Booker had the Suns in firm control with 31 points and 8 assists but couldn't get Phoenix over the hump. Mark Williams was Phoenix's most efficient scorer — 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting — but the Suns' offense stalled entirely after their massive first quarter lead and never reignited.
Houston improves to 50-29, tied with the Lakers for 4th. Phoenix falls to 43-36 and have a firm grasp on the 7-seed.
HOU 119 · PHX 105
⭐ STAR OF THE NIGHT
Jeremiah Fears | New Orleans Pelicans
The rookie point guard was unguardable Tuesday night. Fears poured in 40 points on 17-of-29 shooting — 58.6 percent — with 16 fast break points and 6 assists. He attacked every gap, finished at the rim, and put on a display that the Pelicans front office needs to see as the blueprint for this rebuild. For one night in the Smoothie King Center, Fears looked like a franchise cornerstone.
💀 DUD OF THE NIGHT
Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat
On a night when Miami needed its cornerstone to show up, Adebayo shot 2-of-13 for 7 points in a 26-point road loss. He couldn't get comfortable against Toronto's help rotations and couldn't generate second chance opportunities (1 offensive rebound on 4 tries). With the Heat's postseason hope teetering, this kind of outing from Bam can't happen.
QUICK TAKES
Jeremiah Fears' 40-point night is the signature moment of his rookie season. He did it with his legs and IQ, not just raw talent — 16 fast break points and 72 percent on two-pointers tells the full story.
Bam Adebayo at 2-of-13 in a must-win context is the one performance Miami can't afford with their heads barely above the play-in line. The version of Bam that shows up in the postseason will dictate how far the Heat can go.
Kawhi Leonard hitting 6-of-10 threes is one of the many reasons he can hurt you. His play could push the Clippers to upsets if they can make it out of the Play-In Tournament.
Cooper Flagg going for 25 points in a road loss with no real supporting cast is a preview of future business. He’s also making a last minute push to move ahead of Kon for the Rookie of the Year honors.
LaMelo's 36-point performance in a loss to the East 2-seed is the Charlotte story of the night. He's playing his best basketball of the season in April, which could translate into a successful postseason.
Indiana's 23 turnovers against a team fighting for playoff seeding is the kind of game you erase from the tape and pretend never happened. They miss Tyrese Haliburton in more ways than one.
Phoenix led by 16 after one quarter and lost by 17 after the fourth quarter. Basketball has no respect for leads.
