Luka Doncic To Seek Treatment In Europe
Luka Doncic will go to Europe to get medical treatment on his hamstring strain in order to speed up his recovery process, Shams Charania reports for ESPN (Twitter link). This decision came as a result of conversations with his medical team as well as the Lakers’ medical staff.
Doncic was diagnosed with the Grade 2 hamstring strain on Friday and wasn’t given a timeline for recovery, though certain medical experts speculated that a three-to-six week time frame was typical for such injuries.
The Lakers are likely to fall no further than the fifth seed in the West, but with Austin Reaves recently ruled out for four to six weeks with an oblique injury, the Lakers are suddenly quite thin in the backcourt heading into the first round of the playoffs.
Stein’s Latest: Rivers, Karnisovas, Donovan, Splitter
Bucks coach Doc Rivers was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, and there may be more news coming from him in the months ahead.
Marc Stein, in his latest newsletter, writes that there is a growing sense that Rivers and the Bucks could either part ways or change his responsibilities after a season that has gone off the rails, including a 31-47 record and the franchise growing increasingly at odds with star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While Stein doesn’t specify what such a restructuring would look like, the implication is that it could include a move to the front office.
“At the very least, Rivers’ Springfield induction in August, at age 64, has helped fuel the notion that he will not be coaching the Bucks after the regular season concludes,” Stein writes.
Jake Fischer, also of the Stein Line, writes (via Twitter) that there is a lot of change expected to come out of the Bucks organization after this season.
Stein adds that former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins is seen as a potential top candidate to replace Rivers should the Bucks decide to move on this summer.
We have more updates from Stein:
- The Bulls may be weighing the future of executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, as the team will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Chicago has made the playoffs once during Karnisovas’ tenure, a first-round exit in 2022 against the Bucks, and has struggled to find a direction or extract peak value in trades. Stein writes that meetings to determine his future with the team will be taking place soon.
- Despite the uncertainty around the shape of the front office, the Bulls would like to retain head coach Billy Donovan, Stein writes, noting that the team denied the Knicks’ request to interview him for their head coaching vacancy last summer before signing him to a multi-year extension. Donovan has recently been linked to the UNC head coaching job, but Stein writes that the Bulls’ coach will likely want to wait until after the season concludes on April 12 to meet with UNC, and the university may want to make a decision sooner than that.
- The Trail Blazers may be one of the teams this offseason looking for a new coach. New owner Tom Dundon is said to be looking at the coaching landscape as he determines interim head coach Tiago Splitter‘s future with the team. Stein writes in the newsletter that there’s an expectation that this summer could bring in more coaching movement than last year, and Splitter, who took over at the beginning of the season following the arrest of Chauncey Billups, could be one of the coaches on the move.
Stephen Curry To Return Against Rockets Tonight
Stephen Curry is officially slated to return to play for the Warriors‘ game against the Rockets tonight, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link).
This return date had been speculated over the last week as Curry ramped up his on-court work, and indicates that there were no setbacks as he completed his recovery from runner’s knee.
He recently spoke about the injury, saying that there was nothing structurally wrong with his knee, but that this level of discomfort would likely be the new normal for him moving forward.
Curry has played 39 games for the Warriors so far this season, averaging 27.2 points per game, his best mark in three seasons. The Warriors are locked into a play-in spot as Curry looks to find his rhythm before the postseason begins.
Spears notes (via Twitter) that Curry will likely play short stretches and will aim to hit about 25 minutes in his first game back since January 30. ESPN’s Anthony Slater adds (via Twitter) that given Golden State’s schedule of five games in eight days leading up to the play-in, they will look to manage his minutes accordingly.
Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area adds that Seth Curry is also listed as available for tonight’s game (Twitter link).
Draymond Green had a two-word response when he spoke about Curry’s return on his podcast, according to Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area: “Thank God.”
Southeast Notes: Mosley, George, Jovic, Hawks
The Magic have had a disappointing year, given the expectations they came into the season with. They have played at around a .500 level since their 10-4 run in November and find themselves just a half-game ahead of the 10th-seed Heat coming into Sunday’s game against the Pelicans.
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the team is likely to make head coach Jamahl Mosley the scapegoat for the team’s struggles, a move Bianchi considers to be typical of how NBA teams operate, but still misguided.
Bianchi notes the injuries to players like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black that killed Orlando’s attempts at building momentum throughout the season, but also focuses on the team’s lack of effort and toughness in moments when it matters most, such as losing big games to the Raptors and Hawks while trying to make up ground for the postseason.
He ends by saying that if the Magic fire Mosley, it will not be because he’s a bad coach, but to provide an excuse for a team that has disappointed and shown a lack of heart.
We have more from around the Southeast Division:
- With the recent news that Kyshawn George will miss the rest of the Wizards‘ season, head coach Brian Keefe spoke on what he saw from the second-year player’s season. “He had a terrific year,” Keefe said, per Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network (Twitter video link). “This guy made a huge jump, and that’s a credit to him and the amount of work he put in this summer. We’re really excited for a bright future for him.” Keefe added that George planned to work on his body this offseason and called him “a great example for our organization and the kind of guys we want.”
- Nikola Jovic was expected to step into a larger role for the Heat this season, but he struggled to adjust to the team’s increased pace and new style, Barry Jackson writes for the Miami Herald. Jovic only appeared in two of the Magic’s last 10 games, the most recent one ending with him limping off with a sprained ankle. “Last year was easy because of the offense we ran and the way we played, I kind of knew what my role was,” he said. “This year, with an offense where you don’t have calls and don’t really know where to be at what time, it’s hard for me because sometimes I play five [center], sometimes I play [four], sometimes I have the ball in my hands, sometimes I don’t… It’s hard because you never get similar looks.”
- The Hawks have won four straight games and six of their last seven. With a week to go, they will now face one of their hardest tests of the season as they look to firm up their playoff positioning, Lauren Williams writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Hawks will play the Knicks, the Cavaliers twice, and finally the Heat over the next week, which Williams notes is the second-hardest remaining schedule in the league. With a record of 45-33, they sit two games ahead of the Raptors and Sixers, who are tied for sixth in the East following the Raptors’ loss on Sunday.
Cameron Payne Out At Least Two Weeks With Hamstring Strain
Cameron Payne will miss at least the next two weeks for the Sixers with a right hamstring strain, reports The Athletic’s Tony Jones (Twitter link).
Payne left Saturday’s loss to the Pistons after playing just nine minutes due to the injury and did not return to the game. An MRI today revealed the strain.
The 31-year-old guard has appeared in 22 games for the Sixers this season, averaging 7.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 17.0 minutes per game.
Jones notes that this timeline would keep Payne out past the end of the season and that he will be reevaluated once the two weeks are up. The Sixers are currently tied with the Raptors for sixth place in the East following Toronto’s loss the Celtics today, with Philadelphia owning the tie-breaker between them and Toronto.
Draft Notes: Lendeborg, Mara, Prospects, Hurley, Lewis
Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg sprained the MCL in his left knee and sprained his left ankle on a dunk attempt in the first half of Saturday’s Final Four victory over Arizona, but he’s determined to play in Monday’s NCAA final, writes Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com.
“I will be on that floor in that game,” Lendeborg said.
A fifth-year senior who is a projected first-round pick, Lendeborg exited the game two times in the first half after suffering the injuries and played a few minutes in the second half. The 6’9″ forward admitted he was far from 100%.
“I was very scared to guard out there,” Lendeborg said. “And once I did a little bit, it didn’t feel well.
“I didn’t feel much pain on the plant. So I mean … when I play Monday, I’m going to be a corner 3-point shooter.”
Michigan trainer Chris Williams said Lendeborg had limited swelling when the injuries occurred, and told ESPN the Big Ten Player of the Year will receive “around the clock” treatment ahead of Monday’s championship game.
Here are a few more draft-related notes:
- Although Lendeborg was productive (11 points and three rebounds), he was limited to just 14 minutes due to foul trouble and the injuries. Michigan center Aday Mara stepped up in a major way in the blowout victory over the Wildcats, finishing with 26 points (on 11-of-16 shooting), nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 30 minutes, writes Forbes contributor Adam Zagoria. “Aday was sensational,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “He was at the rim, catching lobs. He was a force down low. He was a pressure release up top. I mean, he’s such a smart basketball player. And obviously his rim protection — he did a great job on (Koa) Peat. He did a great job forcing a lot of those misses around the basket because of his aggression.” Mara, a 7’3″ junior from Spain, is currently No. 32 on ESPN’s best available players list.
- Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports listed 24 potential NBA prospects to watch prior to the Final Four, including Lendeborg, Mara, and Peat, among others. UConn defeated Illinois in the other Final Four matchup and will be looking for its third title in four years.
- Speaking of the Huskies, head coach Dan Hurley told Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 that he’s not interested in UNC’s head coaching vacancy (Twitter video link). However, he left the door open for a possible NBA job in the future. “I’m a UConn coach until the end,” Hurley said. “You know, maybe the NBA some day down the line.” The Lakers tried to hire Hurley a couple years ago, but he wound up returning to Storrs on a lucrative long-term contract.
- Villanova freshman Acaden Lewis is entering the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he tells Joe Tipton of On3 (Twitter link). The 6’2″ guard, who was a second-team All-Big East selection in 2025/26, is also entering the transfer portal, Tipton adds.
Injury Notes: Quickley, Edwards, Highsmith, Pels, Mavs
While Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley was out for the eighth consecutive game on Sunday vs. Boston, it sounds like he’s getting closer to returning from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 26-year-old went through on-court workouts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and hasn’t experienced any setbacks as he ramps up his activity, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).
Quickley has made 67 appearances (32.4 minutes per game) for Toronto in 2025/26, averaging 16.9 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals on .445/.374/.821 shooting. The Raptors have missed Quickley’s ability to stretch the floor over the past few weeks — they’ve gone 5-5 without him this season, compared to a 38-29 record when he’s active.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards continues to deal with patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee and was ruled out of Sunday’s contest vs. Charlotte after previously being listed as questionable (Twitter link via the Wolves). It’s a big game for Minnesota, which would secure a playoff berth if it wins and Phoenix loses to Chicago.
- The Suns are hopeful forward Haywood Highsmith will return to action before the regular season ends, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter video link), but time is running out for that to happen. Head coach Jordan Ott said Highsmith hasn’t experienced any setbacks since he aggravated a right knee injury on March 17. “He is trending in the right direction,” Ott said. “Just not as much on the floor right now. He’s getting there. Just no play yet.” The 29-year-old was out for the ninth consecutive game Sunday.
- Karlo Matkovic (low back spasms), Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain) and Dejounte Murray will all be sidelined on Sunday when the Pelicans face Orlando, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s the third straight absence for Matkovic and second for Murray. New Orleans is mired in a seven-game losing streak.
- The Mavericks are expected to get a couple of frontcourt players back on Sunday against the Lakers, Grant Afseth writes in a pair of stories for Dallas Hoops Journal. P.J. Washington has been cleared to return after missing three games due to an illness, while Marvin Bagley III (left shoulder impingement) is probable to suit up. Bagley has also missed the team’s last three games.
Cameron Boozer Has Orbital Fractures, Won’t Undergo Surgery
Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who is widely projected to be a top three or four pick in the 2026 NBA draft, told media members on Sunday that he has a fractured orbital bone, but he decided to forgo surgery, writes Forbes contributor Jeff Fedotin.
Boozer suffered the injury last Sunday in the Blue Devils’ Elite Eight loss to UConn. The 18-year-old’s right eye was “noticeably swollen and bloodshot” today, per Fedotin.
“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said, “just going through the healing process.”
Boozer earned numerous accolades following a freshman season in which he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals on .556/.391/.789 shooting splits in 38 games (33.4 MPG). The first-team All-American was in Indianapolis on Sunday to accept a pair of Player of the Year trophies after previously being named AP Player of the Year.
“I’m just a winning player and all-around player,” Boozer said. “I impact the game in so many different ways. I think just my competitiveness translates to any level. So, I mean, yeah, I think any team who takes a chance on me is going to be very happy with the results they get.”
Boozer is the son of longtime NBA forward/center Carlos Boozer, a two-time All-Star whose last season came back in 2014/15.
Warriors Sign Charles Bassey
1:33 pm: Bassey’s deal is official, per the Warriors (Twitter link).
8:10 am: The Warriors plan to sign Charles Bassey, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).
The 53rd overall pick in the 2021 draft, Bassey spent his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers and Spurs, appearing in 113 games and averaging 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 11.1 minutes per contest from 2021-25. However, despite a strong Summer League showing last July in Las Vegas, he was unable to secure a regular roster spot at the NBA level this season and has bounced around among several teams in between G League stints.
Bassey signed a 10-day hardship contract with the Grizzlies in October, inked a pair of 10-day deals with Philadelphia in January and February, and recently nearly three weeks with the Celtics on two more 10-day contracts. He became a free agent on Saturday when his second 10-day deal with Boston expired on Friday night.
A 6’10” center from Nigeria, Bassey has averaged 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per game across eight appearances with Memphis, Philadelphia and Boston in 2025/26.
He had a much larger role in the G League, averaging 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 20 games (29.9 MPG), with a shooting slash line of .606/.426/.654. The majority of those appearances (17) came with the Warriors’ affiliate team in Santa Cruz.
Bassey will essentially replace Turkish big man Omer Yurtseven, whose second 10-day contract with Golden State expired on Friday night.
If Bassey’s deal is completed on Sunday, he would be eligible to appear in five games over the last eight days of the regular season. He’ll likely earn the veteran’s minimum due to the Warriors’ cap situation.
Nikola Vucevic Returns Sunday For Celtics
Veteran center Nikola Vucevic will return to action in Sunday’s game vs. Toronto, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed to reporters, including Jay King of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Vucevic has been sidelined since March 6 due to a fractured right ring finger. The injury, which required surgery, was expected to sideline him for at least three-to-four weeks, and he’ll return in just under a month.
The 16th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Vucevic spent his rookie season with Philadelphia, then was traded to Orlando in the 2012 offseason as part of the four-team deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers. Vucevic played eight-and-a-half years for the Magic prior to being traded to Chicago ahead of the 2021 deadline.
Vucevic spent six years with the Bulls, who traded him to the Celtics last month.
In his 11 healthy games with Boston, Vucevic averaged 11.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists on .445/.351/.824 shooting in 23.5 minutes per contest. He has been coming off the bench with the Celtics after starting nearly every game in which he appeared over the past 10 years.
Overall, Vucevic has played 60 games (29.0 MPG) in 2025/26, averaging 15.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 3.4 APG on .496/.373/.835 shooting. The 35-year-old, who is playing on an expiring $21.5MM contract, will be an unrestricted this summer if he doesn’t sign a veteran extension with Boston before July 1, the start of the new league year.