Top Stories

• Magic embarrass Grizzlies

• Celtics outlast Pelicans

• Lakers want Trae Young

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Games of the day

Last Night’s Top Games! (link to the box scores of every game from yesterday)

This game was a combination of the Grizzlies being absolutely horrible, and the Magic having the #3 defense in the league. By the end of the 1st Orlando was up 20 and they never looked back. They hit 22 3’s and 7 Magic players scored in double digits in what was likely the easiest game of the season for Orlando. Memphis just needs to get this year over with so they can get Ja Morant back, and evaluate their future plans. JJJ scored a whopping 4 points last night on 1-9 shooting, and Desmond Bane has been in and out of the lineup all year. The return of Morant next season could completely turn things around for them.

Jayson Tatum scored 23 points and the Boston Celtics rebounded from back-to-back losses to Atlanta, pulling away in the third quarter for a 104-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and Jaylen Brown scored 17 as the Celtics, who at 58-16 have the NBA’s best record, avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the year. The Pelicans shot 4 of 23 in the third quarter and Williamson missed all five of his attempts, guarded primarily by Jaylen Brown. New Orleans did not score after Trey Murphy’s 3-pointer with 4:37 left, going 0 of 6 with three turnovers. Boston is back on track, and New Orleans has some things to fix.

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League News

Around the League

• Anthony Davis and Derrick White have been named Players of The Week for Week 22.

• The Los Angeles Lakers will be pursuing a third star to place alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis this upcoming offseason, and the name that has "continually" been mentioned has been Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Young, who is in his sixth NBA season, has averaged 26.4 points and 10.8 assists per game this year. The three-time All-Star's apex occurred in 2021 when he led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Hawks haven't done as well since, and various roster changes plus a coaching switch haven't led to more success. They've barely been a playoff team for a few years and now sit at 34-39, 10th in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks will likely need to fight their way out of the play-in tournament just to make the playoffs. They aren't close to being championship contenders, and the Young-Dejounte Murray partnership just hasn't worked out. As the Hawks have struggled, Young trade rumors have been persistent and should only ramp up this summer. ESPN reported in January that L.A. has had internal discussions to pursue a "bona fide star" such as Young or the Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell. On the Lakers' end, they're struggling just to make the playoffs as well and look destined for a spot in the play-in tournament. They largely ran back last year's team, which made the Western Conference Finals, but changes could certainly be forthcoming to maximize the James-Davis window as best the Lakers can should the team have another disappointing postseason exit. Adding Young won't be cheap, as he has three seasons left on a five-year, $215,159,700 contract (he does have a player option that he can use after the 2025-26 campaign). But the smoke connecting Young to the Lakers at this point simply can't be ignored.

• Injury Updates: Malik Monk (knee) will miss 4-6 weeks. Kevin Huerter (shoulder) is out for the season. LaMelo Ball (ankle) is out for the season. Brandon Ingram (knee) will miss at least 2 weeks. Ausar Thompson (blood clot) is out for the season. Christian Wood (knee) underwent surgery and will be out multiple weeks. Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) sustained a fracture and will be out for the season. Alperen Sengun (ankle and knee) is likely out for the season. Saddiq Bey (knee) tore his ACL and is out for the season. Benedict Mathurin (shoulder) underwent surgery and is out for the season. Ben Simmons (back) is out for the season. Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) underwent surgery and will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks. Josh Richardson (shoulder) had surgery and will be out for the season. Scottie Barnes (hand) underwent surgery and will be out at least 2 weeks. Trae Young (hand) had surgery and will be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) will miss “several weeks”. Joel Embiid (torn meniscus) will be out for 2-3 weeks. Julius Randle (shoulder) will be out 1-2 more weeks. Marcus Smart (finger) will be out 1 more week. Gabe Vincent (knee) will be out at least 1 more week. Tari Eason (leg) had surgery and will be out for the season. Patrick Williams (foot) had surgery and will be out for the season. Zach LaVine (foot) underwent surgery and will be out for the season. Robert Williams underwent knee surgery and will be out for the season. Ja Morant had surgery on a torn labrum and will miss the rest of the season. We wish all these guys speedy and successful recoveries.

Front Office Moves

• The Free Agent market is still deep with vets like Kemba Walker, Nerlens Noel, Dwight Howard, Rudy Gay, Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, Austin Rivers, and John Wall ready to contribute to winning or to mentor young guys. Joe Harris, Victor Oladipo, and Killian Hayes were all cut or waived by their teams and are available to be signed. There are a few younger names on the market, like Kevin Porter Jr and Darius Bazley.

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NBA MVP Race

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 26.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 9 apg

His case: The two-time MVP continues to grind through left hip soreness and lower back pain. But Denver has won four of its last five going into Friday’s game vs. Minnesota. In the four games Jokic has played over that span, the 29-year-old averaged 29 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

The Nuggets suffered a setback Wednesday, losing to Phoenix for the second time this month. A loss to Minnesota Friday night hurts his case as well.

2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last week’s ranking: T-3

Season stats: 33.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 9.8 apg

His case: There’s still work to do, but the wins are finally starting to match the 25-year-old’s otherworldly production. Throughout Dallas’ 9-1 run, Doncic has posted 29.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 10 apg and 1.7 spg.

Of course, the team’s only loss over that span came March 14 at Oklahoma City in a game Doncic missed due to a sore left hamstring. After the clash at Sacramento on Friday, the Mavs head to Houston on Sunday to face the red-hot Rockets.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 30.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.3 apg

His case: The injury report going into a home clash Friday with Phoenix doesn’t look good with Gilgeous-Alexander listed as doubtful due to a right quadriceps contusion. He suffered the injury more than a week ago but continued to try to play his way through the pain.

The latest setback comes at a crucial time. After the matchup against the Suns, the Thunder play five straight on the road, including games at New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Indiana.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: T-3

Season stats: 30.7 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 6.4 apg

His case: Antetokounmpo fights hard. But the two-time MVP needs help with Milwaukee dropping two in a row despite the eight-time All-Star averaging 31.3 points and 16.3 rebounds in his last three games.

Antetokounmpo scored 20 straight points in the third quarter of Thursday’s loss at New Orleans yet didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter until 28.7 seconds remained. By comparison, Zion Williamson scored 11 of his 28 points in the final frame.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

Season stats: 27.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.9 apg

His case: Tatum and the Celtics suffered their second loss to Atlanta in four days Thursday, falling 123-122 in overtime in a game featuring the second-most lead changes (41) since the 2000-01 season. The five-time All-Star dropped a team-high 31 points with 13 rebounds.

But the loss marked the first time since March 7 that Boston suffered defeat in a game that featured Tatum, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis in the starting lineup.

The next five

6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week’s ranking: No. 6)
7. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 8)
8. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 9)
9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (Last week’s ranking: unranked)
10. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (Last week’s ranking: No. 7)

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Fantasy Leaders

Porzingis makes his Top 3 debut

Overtime Thoughts

Hoopgrids

Hoopgrids is a daily basketball trivia game. You cross match each category to find a player that fits both. The rarer the player, the lower the score. The goal is to get the lowest rarity score possible.