The READ
NBA Recap | April 12, 2026
Regular season finale. Not every game meant something — but there were some that determined seedings and play-off spots. Scottie Barnes triple-doubled Toronto to a 35-point win. Charlotte upset New York in a game that meant nothing for Knicks seeding but everything for the East play-in picture. Miami obliterated Atlanta to carry momentum into the play-in tournament; Atlanta falls to the 6-seed. Cleveland held off Washington. Boston edged Orlando in a tense one. VJ Edgecombe dropped 11 assists for Philly. Paul Reed went 11-of-11 for Detroit. Phoenix torched OKC's reserves by 32. Jokic showed up in Denver's season finale win over San Antonio. And Ryan Nembhard went for 15 points and 23 assists in Dallas's 149-point party. The regular season is over and now the real fun begins. Let’s run it.
Barnes Triple-Doubles, Toronto Blows Out Brooklyn
Toronto Raptors 136, Brooklyn Nets 101
Toronto came out with something to prove in their regular season finale and delivered the most dominant performance of the slate's early wave. The Raptors shot 63.7 percent from the floor — including 87.1 percent at the rim — and poured in 40 fast break points in a clinical, assertive showing.
Scottie Barnes was magnificent: 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for a triple-double, going 8-of-11 from the floor with a 12-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and 3 blocks. Barnes was the engine of everything Toronto ran, and his plus-35 was the best of any player in the game. Brandon Ingram added 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting — 3-of-5 from three, 8-of-8 from the line — with 9 rebounds and a 92.5 true shooting percentage, his best shooting night of the final stretch. RJ Barrett contributed 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting and handled the physicality Brooklyn brought inside.
Brooklyn's E.J. Liddell went for 17 points and Tyson Etienne added 20 off the bench, but two Brooklyn players fouled out and the Nets had no answer for Toronto's pace and depth.
Toronto finishes the regular season at 46-36, climbing to the East 5-seed after Miami's win over Atlanta reshuffles the standings. Brooklyn closes at 20-62 and look toward the lottery.
TOR 136 · BKN 101
Charlotte Upsets New York
Charlotte Hornets 110, New York Knicks 96
An upset that meant more for the play-in picture than it did for New York's seeding — the Knicks were locked into the 3-seed regardless — but Charlotte made the most of it all the same. They led by as many as 21 and never let New York back in, handing the Knicks a flat ending to a strong regular season.
LaMelo Ball ran the show for Charlotte with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, but it was Brandon Miller's 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting — drawing 6 fouls and converting on 10 second-chance points from his second efforts — and Coby White's 19 efficient points on 6-of-10 shooting including 3 threes that created an unstoppable offensive rotation. Charlotte's bench scored 47 points and outplayed New York's bench throughout. The Hornets also pulled in 26 second-chance points — a staggering interior advantage.
For New York, Miles McBride scored 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting including 4 threes — the most productive Knicks performance of the night. Brunson and Hart were rested with nothing to gain from this game. The Knicks shot just 45 percent at the rim on the night, which Charlotte exploited all game.
New York finishes at 53-29 and holds the East 3-seed. Charlotte closes at 44-38, finishing as the East 9-seed and will face Miami at home.
CHA 110 · NYK 96
Jaquez Goes for 26, Miami Crushes Atlanta
Miami Heat 143, Atlanta Hawks 117
Miami needed a win to build momentum going into the play-in tournament and came out with their best performance of the month — shooting 56.3 percent from the floor, generating 36 assists on 58 made baskets, and winning every statistical category that mattered.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was the standout: 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting including 11-of-14 from two, generating 22 points in the paint in the most efficient game of his season. Bam Adebayo posted 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting with 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals — a complete two-way performance. Norman Powell added 25 efficient points off the bench on 8-of-17 shooting. Miami's bench as a whole scored 81 points, an extraordinary collective output.
Atlanta got 31 points from Buddy Hield on 12-of-18 shooting — 7-of-11 from three, an 86.1 true shooting percentage — and a 21-point effort from Corey Kispert off the bench. But Atlanta could never crack Miami's defensive pressure, and Miami's 34 assists against only 7 turnovers reflected complete offensive command.
Miami finishes at 43-39 and is the Eastern Conference 10-seed play-in and will face Charlotte on Tuesday. Atlanta's loss drops them to 46-36 and the East 6-seed, which reshuffles the top of the conference bracket.
MIA 143 · ATL 117
Cleveland Holds Off Washington
Cleveland Cavaliers 130, Washington Wizards 117
Cleveland opened the game on a 43-21 first quarter, which built enough of a cushion to hold off a spirited Washington second-half comeback.
Tyrese Proctor led Cleveland with 22 points and 11 rebounds on a double-double, going 9-of-16 shooting with 4-of-8 from three and 8 assists — his best performance in weeks despite 7 turnovers. Tristan Enaruna came off the bench with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting, 3 steals, and a 86.8 true shooting percentage. Cleveland's bench totaled 59 points in a depth showcase.
Washington's Jamir Watkins led the Wizards with 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting including 5-of-9 from three, generating 9 fast break points. Sharife Cooper added 20 off the bench on 8-of-11 shooting. But Cleveland converted their 20 turnovers into only 13 points — a mild waste — while the Cavaliers' own glass work (17 offensive rebounds, 23 second-chance points) proved decisive.
Cleveland finishes at 52-30, holding the East 4-seed. Washington closes at 17-65, which is the worst record in the NBA this season.
CLE 130 · WAS 117
Luka Garza Drops 27, Boston Survives Orlando in a Tense Finish
Boston Celtics 113, Orlando Magic 108
Boston didn’t need this one for seeding, but they wanted it to send a message to the rest of the East that they have their sights set on a return to the Finals. But this one wasn’t an easy one as Orlando needed a win for a chance at the 6-seed. Down 9 after the first quarter, the Celtics outscored Orlando 42-20 in the third to seize control, then survived a Magic rally in the fourth.
Luka Garza provided the second-unit anchor that Boston desperately needed: 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting — 3-of-6 from three — with 12 rebounds and a 68.3 true shooting percentage, the best individual performance of the game. Baylor Scheierman ran the perimeter with 30 points on 8-of-20 shooting including 6-of-14 from three and 8-of-8 from the line, with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Ron Harper Jr. added 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting with 13 fast break points, getting out in transition relentlessly.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero posted a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists — but shot 7-of-22 from the floor and turned it over 6 times, a characteristically mixed-efficiency line. Jalen Suggs had a quietly excellent night: 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting including 7-of-15 from three.
Boston finishes at 56-26 and is the Eastern Conference’s 2-seed. Orlando closes at 45-37. With Philadelphia's win over Milwaukee also coming in Sunday, the Sixers jump Orlando for the East 7-seed — Orlando will enter the play-in as the 8-seed, where they’ll start their postseason journey in Philly.
BOS 113 · ORL 108
Edgecombe Drops 11 Assists, Sixers Handle Milwaukee
Philadelphia 76ers 126, Milwaukee Bucks 106
Philadelphia took control in the third quarter — a 38-16 run that expanded a 4-point halftime lead into a rout — and closed out the regular season on a strong note behind a balanced offensive attack.
VJ Edgecombe was the connective tissue: 9 points, 11 assists, and only 1 turnover in a performance that showcased his passing vision and court awareness. Quentin Grimes led the team in scoring with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting including 4-of-6 from three. Tyrese Maxey added 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting in an efficient night. Justin Edwards went for 17 points and 4 steals off the bench. Philly's bench scored 70 total points, a testament to how loaded their rotation is heading into the postseason.
Milwaukee's Cormac Ryan led the Bucks with 22 points and 10 rebounds on 10-of-20 shooting, the only Buck with a genuine double-double. AJ Green added 19 off the bench. But Milwaukee shot 27.7 percent from three and was outclassed in every phase of the third quarter.
Philadelphia finishes at 45-37, jumping Orlando for the East 7-seed and two chances to make the playoffs. Milwaukee closes at 32-50 and start an uncertain offseason with Giannis possibly leaving.
PHI 126 · MIL 106
Paul Reed Goes 11-for-11, Detroit Closes Strong in Indiana
Detroit Pistons 133, Indiana Pacers 121
Detroit opened with a 41-27 first quarter and never looked back, finishing the regular season with one final dominant performance. The story was Paul Reed — who turned in one of the more remarkable individual shooting nights of the entire season.
Reed finished with 26 points on a perfect 11-of-11 from the floor, adding 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in a plus-28 performance that was difficult to comprehend statistically. Tobias Harris was equally excellent: 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting — including a perfect 4-of-4 from three — with 3 steals and a 93.2 true shooting percentage. Cade Cunningham closed his regular season with 7 points and 14 assists against 4 turnovers, a quiet but connector-role line that his team didn't need much from because the rest of the roster was so good.
Indiana's Obi Toppin scored 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting including 7-of-11 from three — all 7 of his threes coming at a 63.6 percent clip — and generated 9 fast break points. Quenton Jackson had 21 points and 8 assists. But the Pacers had a flagrant foul, a coaching technical, and a player ejection during the game — a difficult night off the floor that matched the difficulty on it.
Detroit finishes at 60-22, holding the East 1-seed. Indiana closes at 19-63, second worst records in the NBA.
DET 133 · IND 121
Clippers Defeat Golden State and Look to Repeat in the 9/10 Matchup
LA Clippers 115, Golden State Warriors 110
The Clippers and Warriors closed out the regular season moving in very different directions.
Bogdan Bogdanovic went for 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting including 5-of-8 from three in his most efficient output of the season's final stretch. John Collins anchored the interior with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 9 rebounds. Jordan Miller added 14 points with 6 assists and drew 5 fouls. LA's bench scored 71 points — a depth performance that validated their roster construction heading into the play-in.
Golden State's Stephen Curry led with 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting — 4-of-9 from three — with 5 assists. Charles Bassey went for 16 off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting. But the Warriors shot only 28.2 percent from three outside of Curry and couldn't generate sustained offense in the fourth quarter.
LA Clippers finish at 42-40, holding the West 9-seed since Portland finishes ahead of them on tiebreakers despite the identical record. Golden State closes at 37-45 and look to play spoiler in the play-in tournament.
LAC 115 · GSW 110
Lakers Roll Utah to Lock In the West 4-Seed
Los Angeles Lakers 131, Utah Jazz 107
The Lakers secured the West 4-seed in dominant fashion, opening with a 32-22 first quarter and building a 30-point lead at the peak — led by a beautifully balanced offensive performance.
Deandre Ayton looked like a different player: 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, dominating the interior on both ends in a double-double that was one of his most commanding performances of the season. Rui Hachimura added 22 points and 10 rebounds of his own on 8-of-12 shooting — going 3-of-5 from three — another double-double from an unexpected source. Dalton Knecht came off the bench for 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting including 5-of-6 from three.
Utah's Oscar Tshiebwe went for 29 points and 17 rebounds — on 12-of-17 shooting — with 9 offensive boards and 16 second-chance points in a monster final regular-season performance. Bez Mbeng added 14 points and 9 assists. But Utah shot only 20.6 percent from three and had no real path back once the deficit grew to 30.
Los Angeles finishes at 54-28, holding the West 4-seed — a result that looked uncertain just days ago. The Lakers will host Houston in the first round. Utah closes at 22-60, which is the fourth worst record in the league.
LAL 131 · UTA 107
Nembhard Drops 23 Assists, Dallas Closes with 149
Dallas Mavericks 149, Chicago Bulls 128
Dallas used a 45-point first quarter to set the tone and never looked back, closing the regular season with a pure offensive showcase led by Ryan Nembhard's extraordinary 15-point, 23-assist performance. Twenty-three assists. In the final regular season game. Dallas had 35 total assists on 52 made baskets — an assist rate that defied belief.
Nembhard ran the offense with complete command: 15 points, 23 assists, and only 4 turnovers, generating open looks for everyone on the floor in a performance that felt like an audition for something bigger. Cooper Flagg had a quiet but efficient 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Moussa Cisse grabbed 20 rebounds. Dallas's bench scored 97 points — the kind of garbage-time depth that feasts against a team with nothing to play for.
For Chicago, Leonard Miller went for 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Lachlan Olbrich posted a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a career highlight. Collin Sexton added 19 off the bench. Chicago played hard in a game that had no meaning in the standings.
Dallas finishes at 26-56. Chicago closes at 31-51. Both look toward the lottery for an improved team for yext season.
DAL 149 · CHI 128
Houston Closes Strong, Handles Memphis by 31
Houston Rockets 132, Memphis Grizzlies 101
Houston got their season finale right, dominating Memphis on the glass — 77 total rebounds including 21 offensive boards generating 34 second-chance points — in a final statement win.
Clint Capela was the X-factor: 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 13 rebounds, 12 second-chance points from 7 offensive boards, and 3 blocks in one of his best performances of the second half of the season. Reed Sheppard paced the scoring with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting. Jae'Sean Tate contributed 13 efficient points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Memphis's Dariq Whitehead led the Grizzlies with 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting with 4 threes and 10 fast break points. Rayan Rupert added 21 points and 12 rebounds. But the Grizzlies had no answer for Houston's glass dominance.
Houston finishes at 52-30 and 9-1 in their last 10 games, which positions them well against the shorthanded Lakers as the 5-seed. Memphis closes at 25-57 and look to add a meaningful piece via the draft to help turn their fortunes for next season.
HOU 132 · MEM 101
Jeremiah Fears Goes for 36, Minnesota Holds Off New Orleans
Minnesota Timberwolves 132, New Orleans Pelicans 126
New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears posted 36 points — getting to the line 14 times — and couldn't carry the Pelicans over the finish line in a wild, back-and-forth finale.
Fears was relentless: 36 points on 12-of-28 shooting with 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 8 free throw attempts in a performance that showed why New Orleans is cautiously optimistic about the future. Derik Queen posted another double-double with 30 points and 22 rebounds — going 11-of-28 but drawing 8 fouls — in a physical interior battle. Micah Peavy added 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Minnesota survived by committee. Joan Beringer was dominant inside with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 13 rebounds, generating 7 blocks throughout the game — a commanding presence that disrupted New Orleans' entire interior game plan. Terrence Shannon Jr. went for 26 points off the bench and drew 10 fouls. Joe Ingles provided 15 points and 10 assists off the bench as the ultimate glue piece in a double-double.
Minnesota finishes at 49-33, and will face Denver in the playoffs as the 6-seed. New Orleans closes at 26-56, but may have the pieces to push for a postseason run next season.
MIN 132 · NOP 126
Phoenix Lights Up OKC's Reserves by 32
Phoenix Suns 135, Oklahoma City Thunder 103
OKC rested its entire rotation with the top seed throughout the playoffs locked in, and Phoenix — desperate to finish the year on a positive note heading into the play-in — torched them. Jamaree Bouyea led with 27 points on 12-of-23 shooting with 9 assists. Ryan Dunn had a breakout game: 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and a 81.2 true shooting percentage. Khaman Maluach went for 18 points and 14 rebounds.
For OKC, Branden Carlson delivered 26 points and 10 rebounds from the reserve unit on 10-of-20 shooting with 5 threes. Payton Sandfort added 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. But the Thunder were clearly in season-finale mode, and Phoenix played like they had a point to prove.
Phoenix finishes at 45-37, holding the West 7-seed and will have two chances to earn a win to reach the playoffs. Oklahoma City finishes at 64-18 and begins their journey for a back-to-back championship run.
PHX 135 · OKC 103
Denver Beats San Antonio in Possible West Semifinal Preview
Denver Nuggets 128, San Antonio Spurs 118
Nikola Jokic returned to the floor for Denver's regular season finale and delivered 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting — 8-of-8 from the free throw line — with 8 rebounds and a 74.1 true shooting percentage in a statement closing night. Denver built a 23-point lead in the first half and navigated San Antonio's third-quarter push.
Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Julian Strawther went for 25 on 9-of-19 shooting. David Roddy provided a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double with 11 offensive boards generating second-chance opportunities. Bruce Brown was spectacular off the bench: 14 points on a perfect 7-of-8 shooting.
San Antonio's De'Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 24 points on 8-of-21 shooting — going 4-of-14 from three — with 5 assists. Devin Vassell added 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Victor Wembanyama was held out for the season finale, resting ahead of the playoffs. Stephon Castle put together a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Denver finishes at 54-28, holding the West 3-seed and they'll host Minnesota in the first round. San Antonio closes at 62-20, the West 2-seed, and awaits play-in results before their bracket is set.
DEN 128 · SAS 118
Portland Closes the Season with a Win Over Sacramento
Portland Trail Blazers 122, Sacramento Kings 110
Portland went out and won one more as a statement — a second-quarter 44-24 run sealing this one — behind strong performances from their core three.
Deni Avdija led with 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting including 5-of-9 from three, adding 10 assists for a double-double in a complete playmaking performance. Jrue Holiday added 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Donovan Clingan anchored the interior with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and a double-double.
Sacramento's Nique Clifford went for 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting in an efficient showcase, and Precious Achiuwa put up 27 points and 11 rebounds on 10-of-21 shooting. Maxime Raynaud added 21 off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting and 9 rebounds.
Portland finishes at 42-40, holding the West 8-seed over the Clippers on tiebreakers despite the identical record. Sacramento closes at 22-60 and look to the draft to improve their competitiveness next season.
POR 122 · SAC 110
⭐ STAR OF THE NIGHT
Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors
18 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 blocks, and a 12-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in a 35-point blowout win on the final day of the regular season. Barnes played the entire game at a level that made the box score look routine when it was anything but. He made the right play on every single possession and Toronto's postseason ceiling is meaningfully higher because of it. Entering the playoffs, Barnes may be the most dangerous third piece on any team in the East.
💀 DUD OF THE NIGHT
Atlanta Hawks (team)
Losing the regular season finale means they fall to the 6-seed and draw New York in the first round and possibly Boston in the second round. If they had won, they would have faced Cleveland in the first and likely Detroit in the second. The path toward a deep postseason run takes the more difficult path due to their loss on the final day.
QUICK TAKES
Paul Reed going 11-for-11 from the floor for 26 points with 3 steals and 3 blocks. One of the more statistically absurd individual lines of the entire season.
Ryan Nembhard's 23-assist regular season finale. Twenty-three. Dallas had 35 team assists on 52 made baskets.
Scottie Barnes's 18-12-12 triple-double with 3 blocks and a 12-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Barnes is playing as well as anyone in the East right now.
Brandon Ingram finishing the regular season with a 25-point, 92.5 true shooting game. A dominant closing run that has Toronto entering the postseason as a genuine threat.
Charlotte upsetting New York in the finale was a satisfying result even if it didn't move the needle on seeding — New York was locked into the 3 either way. The Knicks will host the Hawks in the first round.
Miami has the 10-seed and will head to Charlotte to keep their playoff hopes alive. Bam, Jaquez, and that bench depth are a dangerous combination — and Atlanta drops to the 6-seed, setting up a first-round matchup in New York.
Jeremiah Fears putting up 36 points and 10 rebounds as a rookie in a game that mattered. The future is real in New Orleans.
