Sixers Notes: McCain, Barlow, Edgecombe, Bailey, Embiid
The Sixers will see a familiar face when Jared McCain returns to Philadelphia tonight, but they don’t anticipate a friendly reunion, at least not on the court, Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in a subscriber-only story. The second-year guard was traded to the Thunder at last month’s deadline, and his former teammates expect him to make a statement in their first meeting since the deal.
“Jared McCain’s about to try to come kill us,” Trendon Watford said. “We know how that’s about to go.”
McCain was a candidate for All-Rookie honors last year before injuries ended his season after 23 games. After returning from knee and thumb surgeries, it was difficult to get regular playing time in a crowded Sixers backcourt and he had a couple of brief stints with the G League team in Delaware. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey told reporters that he “sold high” on McCain when he sent him to Oklahoma City in exchange for a collection of draft picks that included a 2026 first-rounder that originally belonged to Houston. Mizell points out that the deal also helped Philadelphia escape the luxury tax.
McCain has become another potent bench weapon in OKC, where he’s averaging 12.3 PPG and shooting 44% from three-point range for the defending champs. McCain was a popular presence in the locker room, Mizell adds, and Sixers players are glad that he’s succeeding.
“That’s our dog,” VJ Edgecombe said. “Everyone still [loves] Jared. I’m pretty sure it’s vice versa. I’m just happy to see him hooping.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers’ injury list got longer on Saturday when Dominick Barlow was forced out of a game at Utah with a sprained left ankle, Mizell states in a separate story. Coach Nick Nurse said X-rays were negative, and Barlow was able to walk out of the locker room without any protection on the ankle. He’s listed as doubtful for tonight.
- Edgecombe and Ace Bailey, whom the Sixers were deciding between with their No. 3 pick last June, had their first NBA meeting on Saturday, Mizell adds in another piece. Philadelphia is ecstatic with Edgecombe, who’s in the midst of an outstanding rookie season, but Bailey has also been playing well lately as his minutes have increased. Edgecombe said they became friends during the pre-draft process, but never discussed who might be taken third. “I let him be. He let me be,” Edgecombe said. “And we just congratulated each other on draft night.”
- Joel Embiid will miss another game tonight with a right oblique strain, but there’s some promising news on the star center, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). Embiid has been conducting on-court workouts, and although he’s still experiencing some pain, he hasn’t suffered any setbacks. He’s played in 33 games this season and has been sidelined since February 26.
Jayson Tatum Admits Frustrations Since Return From Achilles Injury
Jayson Tatum‘s return to the court roughly 10 months after an Achilles tear has been a remarkable story, but the Celtics star admitted that he’s been frustrated by the difficulty of trying to get back to the player he used to be, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (subscription required). Tatum held a brief session with reporters after Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, which saw him go scoreless in the first half before finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
“I mean, I ain’t know how this [expletive] was going to be,” he said. “I mean, it’s tough. In the moment, you try not to think about it, you just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously going to take some time. I think the next day I can give myself a little more grace over certain things, but in the moment, I mean, it’s frustrating.”
Tatum shot 6-of-16 on Sunday and 2-of-7 from three-point range, and Himmelsbach points out that he has yet to make half his shots in any game since returning to action on March 6. He’s averaging 19.1 PPG in eight games, but connecting at just 38.8% from the field and 29.3% from beyond the arc.
Tatum told reporters that he hasn’t fully rediscovered his feel for the game yet and is trying to slow down and regain his rhythm. He dismissed the idea that he’s just suffering through a regular shooting slump.
“I wouldn’t say normal slump, because it’s the first time I went through something like this,” he said. “I mean, it’s just been a long time. It was a long time before I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk. So just trying to knock the rust off game by game. I find great spurts and moments from game to game and, you know, just trying to put more of them together.”
Even though Tatum isn’t back to his usual standards, his return has boosted the Celtics in their battle for playoff position. They’ve gone 6-2 in the games he’s played and hold a half-game lead over New York for the No. 2 seed in the East.
There was some concern about how Tatum’s comeback might affect Jaylen Brown, who emerged as the team’s top scoring option and put up career-best numbers in several categories during his absence, but Brown said he and Tatum discussed how they would fit together, per Souichi Terada of MassLive.
“Sometimes as guys, you gotta do what you gotta do as a job,” Brown said in a pre-game interview on NBC. “Sometimes your communication falls off. So to be able to get back on the same page is important. But it’s going to take more communication as the year goes on. Things change. You got adversity. Ups and downs. We just communicated that it was going to be me and you. Our communication sets the tone for the rest of the team. We both gotta be better going forward if we want this thing to work.”
Central Notes: Mitchell, Tyson, Harden, Toppin
On Saturday, Donovan Mitchell returned to action following a one-game absence from the Cavaliers’ lineup due to an eye injury, scoring 27 points on 23 shots in a five-point win. Jamal Collier of ESPN reports that Mitchell sustained the injury after colliding with teammate Evan Mobley during practice prior in the week to the game.
“He was having issues last game, like blurry [vision],” said coach Kenny Atkinson. “It’s not like a scratched cornea, nothing dangerous, but we got to let it clear up.”
Mitchell was dealing with the injury during the Cavs’ win over the Bucks on Tuesday, sporting a bloodshot eye. He went 4-of-14 from the field in that game, scoring 19 points in nearly 34 minutes.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Jaylon Tyson has been a breakout player for the Cavaliers this season, but a toe injury has thrown his place in the postseason rotation into limbo, Chris Fedor writes for Cleveland.com. Tyson exited Thursday’s game against the Bulls early with the injury and decided to leave the game rather than hurt his team by gutting it out. “It’s always difficult,” Tyson said, per Fedor. “I’m a competitor. I had a good opportunity today, so I wanted to be out there.” Tyson’s role has changed as the team added players like James Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schröder, but he has tried to stay ready and be productive in his minutes.
- Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is relishing having a second superstar in James Harden to pair with Mitchell, Fedor writes in a separate story on Cleveland’s Saturday night win over New Orleans. “It’s nice to have two superstars,” Atkinson said. “As poorly as we were playing, that’s a game maybe with a younger team or less experienced team, you would lose by 25 or 30 on the last game of the road trip.”
- After missing four months while recovering from foot surgery, Pacers forward Obi Toppin is back on the floor and trying to find his way to his normal game, writes Tony East for Forbes. Toppin said he was itching to get back on the court, at times getting shots up while riding around in a scooter. “We didn’t want to rush anything, but we still wanted to get out a couple of games just so I’m not going into the summer wondering how it’s going to feel when I’m out there playing real basketball,” the athletic 6’8″ forward said. “So that’s what we’re doing now and everything’s been good.” East notes that it’s unusual for a player to miss 50-plus games and then come back before the end of the year with no playoff berth on the horizon. But Toppin, who is averaging 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game this season, is doing his best to hit the offseason running in preparation for a bounce-back 2026/27.
Pacific Notes: Warriors, Yurtseven, Booker, Mathurin
Moses Moody has been upgraded to questionable for the Warriors‘ game against the Mavericks on Monday, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link). Moody has been out with a wrist sprain for the last 10 games, and his impending return should help boost the injury-depleted Golden State roster.
Slater notes (via Twitter) that Kristaps Porzingis has also been upgraded to probable for Monday’s game after missing the last game with a back injury. Porzingis has played just seven times since being acquired by the Warriors, averaging 14.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game with his new team.
The Warriors are currently in firm command of the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, and are 1.5 games out of No. 9.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Omer Yurtseven has impressed in his initial efforts for the Warriors, the Eurohoops team writes. After signing a 10-day contract with Golden State, the Turkish center had a strong outing against the Pistons, recording eight points along with six rebounds and two assists, and impressing coach Steve Kerr along the way. “I’m a fan of Omer — he’s a very good player, very talented,” Kerr said. “He’s a good passer, he can shoot, and he’s had success in the NBA. We’ve only had him for a few days, but I enjoy watching him every day and seeing how he fits with the other guys,”
- The Suns are struggling of late, and it’s taking a toll on star Devin Booker, Doug Haller writes for The Athletic. “I’ve been around Book a long time,” said former coach Earl Watson. “You can just see in his face when something is wrong.” According to Haller, there was a palpable disconnect between Booker and the team after its fifth straight loss, this time against the Bucks. He says that Booker needs help, but time is running out for the Suns to make a run at a guaranteed playoff spot. They’re currently in 7th place with a 39-32 record.
- Bennedict Mathurin is making progress in his injury rehab for the Clippers, Grant Mona of the Sporting Tribune reports (via Twitter). Mathurin was ruled out for L.A.’s recent three-game road trip due to a right big toe injury, but according to head coach Tyronn Lue, he’s making progress. “He’s getting better,” Lue said. “He got on the court yesterday and shot, and he shot again this morning. But he’ll be out tonight.” Mathurin has averaged 19.9 points and 5.9 assists since being traded to the Clippers.
Southeast Notes: Johnson, Kuminga, Bitadze, Ball
Jalen Johnson missed the Hawks‘ win over the Warriors on Saturday with a shoulder injury, but head coach Quin Snyder is hopeful the star forward be back in time for Monday’s game against the Grizzlies, per Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks (Twitter link). Snyder didn’t elaborate on Johnson’s injury, simply stating, “He’s okay.”
A first-time All-Star this season, Johnson has played 63 of Atlanta’s 71 games this season, averaging 22.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per night while ranking second in the league in triple-doubles.
The Hawks are currently tied with the Sixers for sixth place in the East, having won nine of their last 10 games.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Jonathan Kuminga‘s first game with the Hawks against his former team didn’t end up being can’t-miss television, as he scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting in Atlanta’s win over Golden State. Despite their very public split, both Kuminga and his former team maintain that their personal relationship is still positive, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic. “I like Jonathan. We always got along well,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “The basketball part was the hard part. We couldn’t quite offer him what he needed and vice versa.” Kuminga focused on his teammates in discussing his former team, stating, “I’ve still got great friendship and connection like they’re my brothers. I could call them at any time if they need something and they could call me anytime if they need something, so I think that shows a lot. Our relationship is very strong and we’re brothers at the end of the day.”
- Goga Bitadze refuted Luka Doncic‘s account of the interaction that took place during the Magic‘s one-point loss to the Lakers that led to both players being given technical fouls, which were subsequently rescinded. Doncic claimed that Bitadze made a comment about his mother. “Where I come from, it’s really sacred and we really respect each other’s families, and I would never directly say that,” Bitadze said. “He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia, I understand.” The Georgian big man also extended an olive branch to the Slovenian superstar. “It was just in the heat of the moment. I heard what he said, and I felt like I had to respond the same way,” he said. So, from my side, if he feels like I said something too much or crossed the line, I apologize as a man. I can take [accountability], but I didn’t say anything, but what he said.”
- LaMelo Ball has led the Hornets to a 37-34 record, including 21 wins in their past 27 games. Head coach Charles Lee credits Ball’s infectious energy and approach as a tone-setter for the team, according to Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “There’s just so much joy that he brings. His teammates love him. They love being around him,” Lee said. “He is one of those guys that’s so open-minded to being coached. He’s still hungry to learn.” Teammate Brandon Miller credited Ball’s defensive focus, which Miller believes has been underrated this season, as another example of the point guard’s adaptability and growth as a player.
Luka Doncic Avoids Suspension As NBA Rescinds Tech
Luka Doncic has been cleared to play in the Lakers‘ game on Monday against the Pistons after his technical foul against the Magic was rescinded by the league, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Doncic picked up his 16th technical of the 2025/26 season in the third quarter of Saturday’s game after an exchange with Magic big man Goga Bitadze. NBA rules call for any player who accumulates 16 technicals in a season to receive an automatic one-game suspension, but both players have officially had their techs rescinded by the league, which puts Doncic’s season total at 15 games, rather than 16.
Dillon Brooks of the Suns was the first player this season to receive an automatic suspension for reaching 16 technical fouls. Draymond Green (12), Isaiah Stewart (12), Jaylen Brown (11), and Devin Booker (10) are the other players with double-digit technicals this season.
While Doncic has avoided a one-game ban for the time being, he’s not entirely out of the woods yet — a single technical foul in any of the Lakers’ final 11 games of the regular season would result in a suspension. Each player’s technical foul count resets at the start of the postseason.
Jalen Williams To Return To Action Monday
Jalen Williams will suit up for the Thunder in Monday’s game against the Sixers, Shams Charania reports for ESPN (via Twitter).
Williams has appeared in just 26 games for Oklahoma City this season and has been sidelined for the team’s last 16 contests while recovering from a hamstring injury. His last appearance came in a win over the Suns on February 11.
Perhaps because of the injuries, the All-NBA forward has struggled to find his rhythm this season, averaging 17.5 points per game, his lowest mark since his rookie year, while shooting a personal-worst 31.3% from three. However, he is dishing out a career-high 5.4 assists per night.
The Thunder’s starting lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein has played just five games together this season, Charania notes (Twitter link). Despite that, the club has the best record in the league at 56-15 with 11 regular season games left to play.
Oklahoma City will be without Ajay Mitchell vs. Philadelphia, as he was suspended for his involvement in a fight against the Wizards on Saturday.
Bulls’ Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey Could Return Monday
Bulls guards Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey have been upgraded to questionable for Monday’s matchup with Houston, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network.
Simons has been out since February 21 after aggravating a left ulnar styloid fracture in his left wrist, which he originally sustained in training camp. Ivey, meanwhile, last played on Feb. 11. He has been battling left knee soreness; his official injury designation is patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee.
Ivey has been ramping up his activity over the past couple weeks, with head coach Billy Donovan recently stating that the pain in the 24-year-old’s knee is gone. Although he’s only made four appearances with Chicago after being acquired in a trade with Detroit ahead of February’s deadline, the Bulls have signaled they want to retain Ivey in restricted free agency.
Simons was originally expected to be out Monday, but it sounds like he could return to action after missing the last 13 games due to the wrist fracture. The 26-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Big man Jalen Smith (right calf strain injury management) is also questionable Monday for the Bulls, while Isaac Okoro (right patellofemoral pain syndrome) and Guerschon Yabusele (left ankle sprain) are doubtful to suit up.
Community Shootaround: Final Four Eastern Playoff Spots
With three weeks remaining in the 2025/26 regular season, only three games separate the No. 5 Raptors (39-30) from the No. 10 Hornets (37-34). The Hawks (39-32), Sixers (39-32), Magic (38-32) and Heat (38-33), in order of their seeds, are currently in between those two clubs in the Eastern Conference standings.
Those six teams are vying for the fifth and sixth seeds in the East to secure guaranteed playoff berths. The four clubs that end up in the Nos. 7-10 spots would have to advance through the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.
While it’s obviously not as advantageous as making the playoffs outright, the No. 7 seed does get a significant leg up in the play-in tournament, as that team plays at home and has two chances to advance. The No. 8 team also gets two cracks at a playoff spot, whereas the ninth and 10th clubs have to win two consecutive games to move on.
Barring an unexpected collapse (and a major surge up the standings from one of the aforementioned teams), Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland are likely going to be the top four seeds in the East, in some order. The No. 4 Cavs (44-27) are four games ahead of the Raptors right now, and the No. 1 Pistons (51-19) have essentially locked up a top-four spot.
No. 11 Milwaukee and No. 12 Chicago haven’t been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention quite yet, but they will almost certainly soon join Indiana, Washington and Brooklyn as Eastern teams formally ruled out of the playoff picture.
Toronto controls its own destiny. The Raptors not only have the most remaining games (13) and fewest losses of the six teams vying for the fifth and sixth spots, they also have the easiest remaining schedule by opponent winning percentage (.476), according to Tankathon.
The No. 6 Hawks went 4-0 against the No. 7 Sixers this season, which is why they’re ahead of them in the standings despite having identical records. Atlanta, which has won 12 of its past 13 games, has a slightly more difficult (.534 opponent winning percentage) schedule than Philadelphia (.527) over the final 11 games of the season.
The Magic and Heat have been inconsistent in 2025/26. Both teams recently won seven consecutive games and are now in the midst of four-game losing streaks. Orlando theoretically has an easier schedule (.485) than Miami (.505) to wrap up the regular season.
The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA for several weeks, but they got off to such a poor start that they’re still trying to dig out of that hole. After a January 21 loss to Cleveland, Charlotte was 16-28; the team has gone 21-6 ever since. The Hornets have three easy games left, but also have eight matchups with teams ahead of them in the standings (.525 opponent winning percentage).
We want to know what you think. Which teams will end up as the fifth and sixth seeds in the East? Which of the four remaining clubs will advance through the play-in tournaments in the seventh and eight spots? Head to the comments section to weigh in with your thoughts!
Two Players Suspended, Three Fined For Thunder-Wizards Scuffle
Wizards forward Justin Champagnie and Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell have been suspended one game apiece for their roles in Saturday’s scuffle between the two teams, the NBA announced in a press release (Twitter link).
Champagnie and Mitchell were suspended without pay for “fighting and escalating an on-court altercation which spilled over into the spectator stands,” per the league’s statement.
In addition to the two suspensions, Thunder big man Jaylin Williams was fined $50K, while Thunder guard Cason Wallace and Wizards forward Anthony Gill were each fined $35K for their parts in the incident, which occurred late in the second quarter of Oklahoma City’s victory.
After a long review by the officials, Champagnie and Williams were each given two technical fouls, which is an automatic ejection. Mitchell and Wallace were assessed one technical apiece and were also thrown out of the game.
In a pool report, crew chief John Goble explained that Champagnie and Williams each received one technical foul for pushing each other during a dead ball. Champagnie’s second technical was for making contact with Mitchell’s face, while Williams was T’d up for his actions during the fight.
Goble added that Mitchell and Wallace were tossed because they were not “acting as peacemakers” and were “escalating the altercation.”
Gill wasn’t penalized at all at the time, but obviously the NBA changed its stance upon further review.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, while Champagnie and Mitchell were the ones suspended, they were actually penalized a little less severely from a financial standpoint because their respective contracts are relatively modest. Champagnie will lose $13,503 from $2.35MM salary, while Mitchell will forfeit $17,241 of the $3MM he’s earning in 2025/27.