The READ
NBA Recap | April 10, 2026
Fifteen games on the second to final night of the regular season, and the scoreboard delivered at every turn. Victor Wembanyama dropped 40 in San Antonio. LeBron James and the Lakers generated 17 steals in a shutdown of Phoenix. Boston torched New Orleans for 144. AJ Green went 11-of-16 from three for Milwaukee. Dyson Daniels triple-doubled past Cleveland. Utah led by 55 against Memphis. KD dropped 33 in a loss to Minnesota. And Portland a pivotal matchup against the Clippers. Let’s run it.
Daniels Triple-Doubles, Hawks Hammer the Cavaliers
Atlanta Hawks 124, Cleveland Cavaliers 102
Atlanta opened on a run and never looked back, building a 36-point lead that announced itself as one of the season's more emphatic beatdowns with seeding consequences. The third quarter — a 35-17 run — was when Cleveland's 4-seed hopes started to flicker.
Dyson Daniels ran the show: 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists for a triple-double, going 6-of-10 from the floor with a 12-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, 7 fast break points, and 5 offensive boards. CJ McCollum led all scorers with 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting — 6-of-8 from three — posting a 85.9 true shooting percentage, his most efficient outing in weeks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 off the bench on 7-of-13 shooting. Jalen Johnson quietly finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds.
For Cleveland, James Harden put up 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting but turned it over 5 times and posted a minus-34. Max Strus went 1-of-9 from the floor and finished minus-30. Cleveland's 19 turnovers led directly to 22 Atlanta points, and by the time the Cavaliers figured out what was happening, it was a blowout.
Atlanta improves to 46-34 to move to 5th. Cleveland falls to 51-29 all lands on the 4-seed.
ATL 124 · CLE 102
Miami Drops 54 Percent from Three, but Stay in 10th
Miami Heat 140, Washington Wizards 117
Miami needed this one badly, and they shot their way out of the crisis. The Heat connected on 20 threes on 37 attempts — a 54.1 percent clip — in one of the most efficient offensive performances of their season, keeping their play-in hopes alive heading into Sunday's finale.
Simone Fontecchio was the star off the bench: 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting including 6-of-8 from three, posting a 110.3 true shooting percentage — the best of any rotation player on either team. Bam Adebayo anchored the starters with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, continuing a strong run of form heading into the postseason. Jaime Jaquez Jr. went for 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 8 assists. Kasparas Jakucionis added 16 points off the bench on 83 percent true shooting.
Washington's Bub Carrington had an absurd night in a losing effort — 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting including 6-of-7 from three, a 94.5 true shooting percentage. Bilal Coulibaly added 25 points. But Miami generated 8 steals and turned them into 26 points, and the quality gap was too wide to bridge.
Miami improves to 42-39 and will likely start their postseason journey on the road. Washington falls to 17-64, worst in the league.
MIA 140 · WAS 117
Duren Dominates, Detroit Holds off Charlotte
Detroit Pistons 118, Charlotte Hornets 100
Detroit led by as many as 21 and closed it out in the fourth quarter behind a dominant interior performance from Jalen Duren.
Duren finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and a 78.4 true shooting percentage, pulling down 9 rebounds and generating 10 second-chance points. Duncan Robinson contributed 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Cade Cunningham went for 14 points and 7 assists in his second game back from his collapsed lung — efficient, under control, not forcing anything. Detroit's bench delivered 45 points in a collective performance that made it clear the Pistons are resting nobody heading into the postseason.
LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 27 points on 7-of-20 shooting and 8 assists. Brandon Miller added 22 points. But the Hornets shot 27.7 percent from three and were never able to generate the consistent offense needed to make a real game of it.
Detroit improves to 59-22. Charlotte falls to 43-38 and are currently in 9th in the East and will need two wins to reach the postseason where they could meet these Pistons in the first round.
DET 118 · CHA 100
Sixers Grind Past Indiana
Philadelphia 76ers 105, Indiana Pacers 94
Philadelphia controlled the game from the opening tip, leading by as many as 14 before Indiana's fourth-quarter run briefly narrowed it — but the Sixers had enough to hold.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 32 points on 11-of-28 shooting and 9-of-10 from the line, adding 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and only 1 turnover. He was the constant creative force, getting to the line 10 times and generating second-chance opportunities despite a grinding shooting night. Paul George added 21 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Andre Drummond pulled down 16 rebounds and anchored the paint with 8 second-chance points. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 points and 4 steals off the bench.
Indiana's Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Ethan Thompson went for 15 points and 3 assists. Jay Huff blocked 5 shots in a standout defensive showing. But Indiana shot 37.5 percent from the floor and couldn't solve Philadelphia's perimeter defense.
Philadelphia improves to 44-37 and currently hold the 8-seed in the East. Indiana finishes at 19-62.
PHI 105 · IND 94
Brunson Goes for 29 as Knicks Cruise Past Toronto
New York Knicks 112, Toronto Raptors 95
New York built an 11-point halftime lead with a 29-15 second quarter and never gave it back, with Jalen Brunson attacking the paint all night on his way to 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting and a 75.1 true shooting percentage.
Brunson converted shots in the paint at will and made 2 of 3 threes for good measure. Jose Alvarado gave the Knicks 12 efficient points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting. The bench as a whole scored 43 points in a display of depth that should carry over into the postseason.
Brandon Ingram put up 16 points for Toronto on 8-of-15 shooting but was a minus-9 — a rare quiet night. Scottie Barnes added 15 points and 5 assists. But the Raptors committed 18 turnovers — to New York's 12 — and the gap in decision-making defined the game.
New York improves to 53-28 and officially secure the 3-seed. Toronto falls to 45-36 and are barely hanging onto the 6-seed.
NYK 112 · TOR 95
Boston Drops 144 in a Three-Point Barrage
Boston Celtics 144, New Orleans Pelicans 118
After getting beaten at Madison Square Garden the night before, Boston came out firing — hitting 29 threes on 59 attempts (49.2 percent) in a season-high scoring output. The lead ballooned to 41 at its peak.
Sam Hauser was the headliner: 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting with 8 threes — connecting 8-of-12 from deep — and a 92.3 true shooting percentage. Payton Pritchard ran the second unit with 21 points, 10 assists, and only 1 turnover. Jaylen Brown went for 23 on 8-of-13 shooting. The bench scored 75 total points — an emphatic rebuke to anyone questioning Boston's depth heading into the postseason.
New Orleans' Derik Queen put up a gutsy 25-point, 11-rebound double-double, drawing 9 fouls and going 9-of-14 from the floor. Jordan Hawkins added 20 points. But the Pelicans were down 82-51 at halftime and never found a path back.
Boston improves to 55-26 and officially have the 2-seed. New Orleans finishes at 22-59.
BOS 144 · NOP 118
AJ Green Goes 11-of-16 from Three, Bucks Roll Past Brooklyn
Milwaukee Bucks 125, Brooklyn Nets 108
AJ Green delivered one of the great individual shooting performances of the final week — 35 points on 11-of-16 from three and a 92.7 true shooting percentage, the best number posted by any player across the entire 15-game slate.
Green had it going from the opening possessions and never cooled off. Cormac Ryan added 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting — including 5-of-9 from three — with a 76.4 true shooting percentage. Taurean Prince posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double with 5 assists. Myles Turner added 13 points and 5 blocks. Milwaukee shot 50 percent from three as a team, and it wasn't particularly close.
Brooklyn's Malachi Smith went for 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting with 10 assists — his best all-around outing of the season — and Tyson Etienne added 23 off the bench. But a player was ejected during the game and Brooklyn's deficit was too large to overcome from the start.
Milwaukee improves to 29-52. Brooklyn finishes at 21-60.
MIL 125 · BKN 108
Wembanyama Drops 40, Spurs Stomp Dallas
San Antonio Spurs 139, Dallas Mavericks 120
Victor Wembanyama put on a show in what may be his final regular-season home game of this caliber before the postseason begins in earnest. He finished with 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting — including 2-of-7 from three — with 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, making 10-of-11 free throws and posting a 71.8 true shooting percentage. He scored 22 points in the paint. He was the best player on the floor from the first possession to the last.
De'Aaron Fox ran point brilliantly alongside him — 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting with 10 assists and only 2 turnovers, a genuine double-double. San Antonio won the opening quarter 37-26, and when Dallas pulled within single digits briefly in the second, Wembanyama asserted himself in the third quarter — San Antonio went on a 40-28 run — to put it away.
Cooper Flagg was excellent in a losing cause: 33 points on 13-of-25 shooting including 3 threes, with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Max Christie added 16 points off the bench on 4-of-7 from three. But Dallas was outscored in the paint 72-42 and couldn't stop Wembanyama from getting whatever he wanted inside.
San Antonio have the 2-seed in the West and look toward a possible championship run. Dallas adds another loss to their tally as they sit 16-65.
SAS 139 · DAL 120
Franz Wagner, Magic Pull Away from Chicago
Orlando Magic 127, Chicago Bulls 103
Orlando led by 28 at its peak in a methodical win that locked up the East 10-seed with a chance to move further with results going their way Sunday.
Franz Wagner led with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting — 3-of-5 from three — adding 4 assists and drawing 5 fouls. Jamal Cain was spectacular off the bench: 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting (81.8 percent), going 7-of-7 in the paint with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 25 minutes. Goga Bitadze went for 15 points and 11 rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting. Paolo Banchero put up a functional 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists — a final regular-season tuneup heading into a bigger postseason role.
Chicago's Leonard Miller led the Bulls with 15 points. Rob Dillingham added 13 off the bench. But Chicago turned it over 20 times — leading to 28 Orlando points — and the Bulls were never able to generate consistent offense.
Orlando improves to 45-36 and are on the doorstep of the 6-seed in the East. Chicago falls to 31-50 with one to go.
ORL 127 · CHI 103
Valanciunas Posts 23-17 as Denver Handles OKC's Reserves
Denver Nuggets 127, Oklahoma City Thunder 107
OKC rested its key rotation players with the West 2-seed secured, and Denver made them pay — taking a 21-point lead and cruising behind a dominant interior performance from Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas posted 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 17 rebounds including 6 offensive boards, and 15 second-chance points — a relentless one-man presence on the glass all night. Julian Strawther added 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the perimeter. David Roddy went for 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Denver shot 48.8 percent from three as a team and dominated every statistical category that mattered.
OKC's Branden Carlson put together 23 points and 12 rebounds in a spirited showing. Nikola Topic posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists but turned it over 8 times. But Oklahoma City was playing reserves, and Denver treated it accordingly.
Denver improves to 53-28 and have the 3-seed in the West locked. Oklahoma City drops to 64-17, but they’ve already secured the 1-seed throughout the playoffs.
DEN 127 · OKC 107
Minnesota Survives KD's 33 in a Wild One
Minnesota Timberwolves 136, Houston Rockets 132
Kevin Durant went for 33 points on 13-of-18 shooting — including 13-of-17 from two, converting 10-of-11 in the paint — and a 75.1 true shooting percentage, and it still wasn't enough. Minnesota closed with a 33-26 fourth quarter to steal one in Houston.
Alperen Sengun dominated the first three quarters with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 8 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. added 16 points. But Houston shot 21.1 percent from three — connecting on just 4-of-19 — and in a high-possession game where both teams combined for 268 points, that drought was ultimately the margin.
Minnesota got 23 points from Terrence Shannon Jr. on 8-of-13 shooting including 5-of-7 from three. Kyle Anderson supplied 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists off the bench. Anthony Edwards added 22 points. Mike Conley went 3-of-3 from three for 9 quick points. Jaden McDaniels blocked 4 shots in a two-way effort.
Houston falls to 51-30 and will likely face the Lakers in the first round. Minnesota improves to 47-34, hoping the momentum propels them to a series win against the Nuggets.
MIN 136 · HOU 132
Utah Blows Out Memphis by 46, Bez Mbeng Triple-Doubles
Utah Jazz 147, Memphis Grizzlies 101
Utah played free of seeding pressure and it showed — posting 147 points on 56.4 percent shooting with 43 assists. The lead hit 55 at its peak in one of the most lopsided regular-season results of the year.
Bez Mbeng ran the offense with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists for a triple-double — going 12-of-19 from the floor with 19 fast break points and an 11-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Blake Hinson poured in 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting including 4 threes. Kennedy Chandler posted 26 points and 10 assists for his own double-double. Ace Bailey added 23 points and 10 rebounds. Oscar Tshiebwe was extraordinary on the glass — 16 points, 22 rebounds, and 3 assists from the center spot.
Memphis got 21 points from Dariq Whitehead and 20 from Toby Okani. Jahmai Mashack posted a 13-point, 15-rebound, 14-assist line but turned it over 10 times as the Grizzlies tried to stay competitive in garbage time.
Utah improves to 28-53 for a moral win. Memphis drops to 27-54 and are glad the painful season is almost over.
UTA 147 · MEM 101
Sacramento Holds Off Golden State in a Tense Fourth Quarter
Sacramento Kings 124, Golden State Warriors 118
Golden State trailed by 14 and rallied with a 38-19 third quarter to tie the game, then Sacramento poured in 42 fourth-quarter points and held on.
Devin Carter put together Sacramento's best performance — 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting including 6-of-11 from three, generating 11 points off turnovers and a 73.4 true shooting percentage. Maxime Raynaud went for 23 points off the bench on 9-of-12 shooting. Daeqwon Plowden added 20 points with 9 rebounds and 7 second-chance points.
Golden State's Gary Payton II was ejected after picking up two technicals during the Warriors' third-quarter comeback — a turning point that changed the game's energy. Stephen Curry finished with 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting. De'Anthony Melton led the bench with 17 efficient points. But Kristaps Porzingis went 4-of-12 with 4 turnovers, and it wasn't nearly enough to close the gap.
Sacramento moves to 36-45 in a season of what could have been. Golden State sputters to 37-44 and will start the postseason on the road.
SAC 124 · GSW 118
Portland ties Clippers Behind Avdija's 35
Portland Trail Blazers 116, LA Clippers 97
Portland needed this game to retain the 8-seed in the West and they delivered — routing the Clippers by 19, outscoring them 30-13 in the fourth quarter, and confirming a postseason spot in the process.
Deni Avdija was brilliant: 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting with 12 free throw attempts — connecting on 12-of-13 — adding 5 assists and a plus-9. His 70.8 true shooting percentage was the best of any starter in the game. Donovan Clingan controlled the interior with 18 points and 13 rebounds on 67.6 true shooting. Matisse Thybulle was the defensive engine — 4 steals and 2 blocks, helping Portland generate 24 points off 17 Clippers turnovers.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Darius Garland added 16 points and 7 assists off the bench, but went 5-of-16 from the floor. Los Angeles committed 27 personal fouls and was never able to generate enough momentum after building a 4-point first-quarter lead that quickly evaporated.
Portland and the Clippers are both tied at 41-40 and take the fight for the 8 & 9 seed into the final day.
POR 116 · LAC 97
LeBron Drops 28, Lakers Hold Phoenix to 33 Percent in a Shutout
Los Angeles Lakers 101, Phoenix Suns 73
Phoenix shot 33.8 percent from the floor — 17.5 percent from three — and turned it over 23 times. Los Angeles generated 17 steals on the night. The final score undersells how thoroughly the Lakers controlled this from the opening tip.
LeBron James was everywhere: 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting including both threes he attempted, with 12 assists, 4 steals, and a 70.1 true shooting percentage — his best individual performance in weeks. Luke Kennard added 19 points from the perimeter on 6-of-12 shooting. The Lakers' defense — generating 17 steals and converting them into 24 fast break points — was the defining story.
Phoenix had no answers. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Bub Carrington went 1-of-8 from three. The 23 turnovers were catastrophic, and Phoenix's 17.5 percent three-point shooting was the worst team-wide clip posted by any team all final week. They enter the West play-in as the 9-seed on the worst closing stretch in the conference.
Los Angeles improve to 52-29, holding the West 4-seed. Phoenix has secured the 7-seed in the West.
LAL 101 · PHX 73
⭐ STAR OF THE NIGHT
Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs
40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks on 60.9 percent shooting and a 71.8 true shooting percentage against a team that played real defense. He scored 22 points in the paint, got to the line 11 times, and made 10 of them. Wembanyama is locked in heading into the postseason, and after this performance, it's hard to argue anyone is playing better basketball right now.
💀 DUD OF THE NIGHT
Phoenix Suns (team)
33.8 percent shooting, 17.5 percent from three, 23 turnovers, a 28-point loss to a Lakers team resting comfortably in the 4-seed. Phoenix was completely unable to compete, and they enter the West play-in as the 9-seed on the worst closing stretch of any team in the final week.
QUICK TAKES
Victor Wembanyama with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 60.9 percent shooting against a legitimate playoff opponent. That's a Finals-caliber performance in a regular-season game.
AJ Green going 11-of-16 from three for Milwaukee — his 92.7 true shooting percentage was the best any player posted across all 15 games. An absolute shooting exhibition.
Bez Mbeng's 27-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double for Utah with 19 fast break points and an 11-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The whole Jazz roster showed up in a blowout that didn't need to be that fun to watch.
Simone Fontecchio's 24-point bench performance off 110.3 true shooting kept Miami's play-in hopes alive. That's clutch production in a must-win spot.
Sam Hauser going 8-of-12 from three in Boston's 144-point explosion. The Celtics scoring a season-high heading into the playoffs is not the kind of momentum teams typically manufacture by accident.
Bub Carrington's 30-point line on 94.5 true shooting in a Washington loss. A career-best showcase in a lost season.
Deni Avdija putting up 35 points in Portland's play-in clincher. He was the best player on the floor in the most consequential game of the night.
Phoenix shooting 17.5 percent from three with 23 turnovers. The Suns are limping into the play-in and that's the nicest thing you can say about it.
