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Central Notes: Mitchell, Ball, Jones, Giddey, Giannis, Furphy

April 13th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Donovan Mitchell is missing his fourth consecutive game on Sunday due to a sprained left ankle, but the Cavaliers remain confident their star guard will be ready to go when the team begins its first-round playoff series next weekend, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press.

Mitchell conducted a full workout at the Cavs’ training facility on Saturday and worked out on the court ahead of Sunday’s game vs. Indiana, Reedy notes.

“I think he’ll be full on with practice. We’re going to have to scrimmage at some point, probably inter-squad with refs, so he’ll participate in that,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The most important thing is how we build him up with the ankle rehab and then conditioning.”

Here’s more from around the Central:

Despite the fact that Lonzo Ball hasn’t played since February 28 due to a right wrist sprain, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said he’d be willing to use the point guard in this week’s play-in game(s) if he’s healthy enough to return. As K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network tweets, Ball would be on a “short leash” in that scenario, per Donovan.
As for the Bulls‘ other injured guards, Tre Jones (left foot sprain) remains in a walking boot and doesn’t appear close to returning, but there’s “high-level optimism” that Josh Giddey (right wrist tendinopathy) will be available to play on Wednesday vs. Miami, even though his wrist is still bothering him (Twitter links via Johnson).
After appearing in just three of 11 playoff games in 2023 and 2024, star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will enter this year’s postseason healthy and having played some of his best basketball as of late — he has averaged 31.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 11.8 assists per game in six April outings, all Bucks wins. “He’s doing everything,” head coach Doc Rivers said of Antetokounmpo on Friday, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “And that’s what’s so special about him.”
With the Pacers‘ playoff seed already clinched, rookie wing Johnny Furphy set new career highs on Friday in points (17) and minutes played (32) while also throwing down an impressive dunk in the second quarter of a loss to Orlando (Twitter video link). Furphy figures to only play garbage-time minutes in the playoffs, but head coach Rick Carlisle likes what he has seen from the first-year swingman, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. “He’s just a pure competitor,” Carlisle said. “Everything about him is pure. He doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body. Does everything hard. Does everything with the right spirit.”

Postseason Seeding Set For Eastern Conference

April 11th, 2025 at 11:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Wins by the Orlando, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Chicago on Friday night have locked in the playoff seeds for all six Eastern Conference playoff teams, along with the four play-in clubs.

Here’s how the top 10 teams in the East will finish the regular season, as the NBA confirms (via Twitter):

Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
Orlando Magic
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat

The play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference will feature the Magic hosting the Hawks on Tuesday and the Bulls hosting the Heat on Wednesday. The Orlando/Atlanta winner will claim the No. 7 spot in the playoffs and face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. The loser of that game will host the Chicago/Miami winner on Friday for the No. 8 spot and the right to face the Cavaliers in round one.

The Knicks will match up with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, while the Pacers and Bucks will meet in round one for a second consecutive year, with Indiana claiming home court advantage this time around.

We got a little more clarity on the Western Conference playoff picture by the end of Friday night, with the Lakers clinching the No. 3 seed by beating Houston and the Grizzlies now locked into the play-in tournament as a result of their loss to Denver. However, there are still several playoff berths and seeds up in the air, with the Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, and Timberwolves vying for the final three spots in the West’s top six.

Central Notes: Pacers, Jerome, Holland, Bucks

April 11th, 2025 at 9:38am CST by Rory Maher

Led by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, the Pacers secured a top-four seed — and home-court advantage in the first round — in the Eastern Conference playoffs by defeating Cleveland on Thursday, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star.

After starting the season with a 10-15 record, the Pacers have gone 39-16 since December 8, the fourth-best mark in the league over that span, only trailing Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Boston. They’re currently on a six-game winning streak.

“It’s special for us knowing what we’ve been through to get here and how this started,” Haliburton said. “We’re a game away from having a 50-win season. That could be something because time is moving so fast that you just let happen and you move forward, but it’s a special year especially with how this started. … Early in the year it was just really a struggle. I’d be lying to you if I told you it was easy for me personally and all the things I was dealing with. For us to get here, honestly, I love the guys in our locker room, the coaching staff, how much those guys mean to me and all my loved ones because it was a tough time.”

As Dopirak notes, Indiana was fortunate in the sense that Cleveland was resting four starters after clinching the top seed in the East. But it was nonetheless an important victory for the Pacers, who still have a shot at the No. 3 seed — they’re one game behind the Knicks with two games remaining for both teams, though New York holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Forwards Aaron Nesmith (22 points, six rebounds) and Jarace Walker (15 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 15 minutes, including 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting in the final period) were among the other key contributors for Indiana, Dopirak adds.

Here are a few more notes from around the Central:

Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, bolstered his candidacy for the Sixth Man of the Year award with a big night on Thursday, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link). Jerome was highly efficient, recording 24 points (on 9-of-16 shooting) and six assists, and the Cavs outscored Indiana by 13 points in his 26 minutes. He was rested for the entire fourth quarter.
No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland played 11 of his 22 minutes in the fourth quarter during Thursday’s victory over New York, recording 10 points (on 5-of-6 shooting), three rebounds and a block in the final frame. After the game, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff discussed why he turned to the 19-year-old down the stretch (Twitter link via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press). “He’s earned it, that’s what it says … we fell back on believing in Ron because that’s what we do,” Bickerstaff said. “Ron fell back to the time and hours he’s put in … that’s allowed him to be successful.”
Milwaukee pulled most of its rotation mainstays early during Thursday’s blowout win vs. New Orleans, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. The Bucks can clinch the East’s No. 5 seed if they defeat Detroit on Friday — it’s the second end of a back-to-back for both clubs.

Central Notes: Portis, Pistons, Bulls, Allen

April 10th, 2025 at 7:09pm CST by Earnest Marshall

Bucks big man Bobby Portis returned from his 25-game suspension on Tuesday and made a statement. He recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench, helping lift Milwaukee to a win over the Timberwolves.

“My only goal is to get to June,” Portis said, per ESPN. “How can we get to June? We haven’t been there in so long.”

Minnesota led Milwaukee by 24 points in the fourth quarter, but behind a key steal, block and three, Portis helped spark the comeback. Bucks fans were chanting his name by the end of the game.

“My first year playing for the Bucks in the 2020/21 season, when I first started getting the chants, it was like chills, right?” Portis said. “I ain’t had the chills since that moment, but now tonight, I felt it all over again. It was a very surreal moment for me.”

The Bucks are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, and Portis’s contributions helped get the team to five straight wins.

“Sometimes when you’re suspended, you might not feel you’re a part of it,” Portis said. “There wasn’t one day I was suspended that I didn’t feel like I was part of the team. I felt like I was still here. I just couldn’t play.”

We have more from the Central Division:

Thursday’s game between Detroit and New York might be a preview of a first-round playoff series involving the two teams, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press notes. Two iconic Pistons victories this season game against New York — in December, Cade Cunningham became the first Piston to record a triple-double in Madison Square Garden since the current arena opened in 1968, and in January, he scored 36 points against the Knicks. “I think it’s fun,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I think it’s an opportunity for both teams to go out and send a message.“
The Bulls bolstered their chances of hosting a play-in game when they defeated Miami on Wednesday, Brian Sandalow of the Chicago Sun-Times notes. The win put the Bulls a game ahead of the Heat for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and Chicago owns the tiebreaker between the two teams. If Chicago defeats the Wizards on Friday or Sixers on Sunday, the club would clinch home-court advantage for the No. 9 vs. 10 play-in game (assuming the Bulls don’t move up to No. 8). “We knew coming into the game the implications that a win or a loss had,” Josh Giddey said.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Jarrett Allen made it a goal to play 82 games, which would be the first time that’s occurred in his career. According to Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar (Twitter link), the Cavaliers plan to respect that goal while managing the center’s minutes accordingly. Allen is the only Cavs starter who suited up on Thursday.

Central Notes: Mitchell, Niang, LeVert, White, Dupree, Cunningham

April 7th, 2025 at 6:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

If the Cavaliers clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, they’ll do it without Donovan Mitchell. The star guard is listed as out against the Bulls due to an ankle sprain, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com tweets. Mitchell was injured on Sunday when he stepped on Keon Ellis’s foot during a loss to the Kings.

We have more from the Central Division:

The trade that sent Georges Niang and Caris LeVert from the Cavaliers to the Hawks came as somewhat of a surprise to both players, Jake Fischer reports in a column for The Stein Line. The deal only moved forward when the Hawks dropped their original asking price of multiple first-round picks for forward De’Andre Hunter. “It takes anybody by surprise until it happens, right?” Niang told said. “You’re like, ‘Nah, that’s not gonna be me.’ And then when it happens, after it I’m like, ‘It kinda makes sense.’ The money, shortening the rotation to kind of have one guy replace two, it kinda all made sense. But it took some time to digest it. I think All-Star break was perfect for that.”
The Bulls won’t have Coby White available for the matchup with Cleveland. White is being rested in the first game of a back-to-back, the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman tweets. Chicago faces Miami on Wednesday.
Bucks front office executive Ronald Dupree is returning to alma mater LSU as the GM of the men’s basketball program, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. Dupree spent eight years in the Bucks front office.
Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham is back in action after missing two weeks of action due to a calf contusion. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the fact that his team has already clinched a first-round berth will help his star get fully healthy for the playoffs. “We’ve got some time, so that’s a good thing. It’s not something that we have to rush into,” he said. “The play-in week will be good for us also because we can take advantage of the conditioning without games to plan for … we’re in a great spot.” He’s getting better but we just want to make sure he’s right … he knows what it takes for his body to be where it needs to be and we trust him.”

Leonard, Antetokounmpo Named Players Of The Week

April 7th, 2025 at 2:54pm CST by Rory Maher

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been named the Western Conference’s Player of the Week, according to the NBA (Twitter link), while Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has won the award in the East.

Leonard helped guide the Clips to a perfect 4-0 week for games played from March 31 to April 6, averaging 24.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals on .513/.381/.857 shooting.

The two-time Finals MVP missed the first 35 games of the season due to a knee injury, but he has rounded into form at a critical time, scoring 20-plus points in each of the past 12 games. Los Angeles is currently the No. 5 seed in a remarkably close Western Conference playoff race.

Antetokounmpo was spectacular in leading the Bucks to three victories last week (he missed one game, which Milwaukee also won), averaging 36.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 1.7 steals on .638/.500/.838 shooting.

The 30-year-old superstar’s efforts helped the Bucks secure their ninth straight playoff appearance. Milwaukee is currently 44-34, the East’s No. 5 seed.

This is Antetokounmpo’s third Player of the Week award in 2024/25, and 26th of his career. It’s the first time Leonard has earned the weekly honor this season, and 10th time in his career.

Despite averaging 45.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2.0 steals on .620/.448/.800 shooting in three appearances last week, including an incredible 61-point triple-double, Nikola Jokic somehow wasn’t nominated for the West’s award, presumably because the Nuggets went 0-4 (he missed one game).

Instead, Leonard beat out Deni Avdija, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Austin Reaves, Alperen Sengun and teammate Ivica Zubac. The other nominees in the East were OG Anunoby, Donovan Mitchell, Magic forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Bulls guards Josh Giddey and Coby White, and Pacers teammates Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner (Twitter link).

Injury Notes: Giannis, Avdija, K. Murray, Celtics, Knicks

April 6th, 2025 at 8:15pm CST by Rory Maher

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo went from questionable to doubtful to out for Sunday’s game against New Orleans, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (All Twitter links). The two-time MVP is dealing with left shoulder tendinopathy.

It’s worth noting that Milwaukee was on the second end of a back-to-back and officially clinched a playoff spot in the East on Saturday. That’s not to suggest that Antetokounmpo’s injury isn’t legitimate, but there’s also no reason to rush him back when the team has already secured a playoff berth.

Antetokounmpo, who has made the All-NBA First Team each of the past six seasons, will need to play in one of the Bucks’ final four games to qualify for major postseason awards. He has been playing some of his basketball of the season recently, averaging 36.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 1.7 steals on .638/.500/.838 shooting over the past three games, all victories (39.3 minutes per contest).

Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:

Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija is another player who’s been on a tear to close out 2024/25, averaging 26.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals on .520/.457/.817 shooting over his past 13 games (36.6 MPG). However, he recently sustained a sprained right thumb and was ruled out of Sunday’s victory over San Antonio, the team announced (Twitter links). Sacramento’s win over Cleveland on Sunday has officially eliminated Portland from play-in contention, tweets Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report. That means the Blazers will have a lottery pick for the fourth straight year.
Keegan Murray has been quite durable over his first three NBA seasons, playing 80 games as a rookie in ’22/23 and 77 in ’23/24. He missed his fourth game of ’24/25 on Sunday due to back soreness, per James Ham of The Kings Beat (Twitter link). Trey Lyles started at forward in Murray’s place during the Kings‘ victory, tweets Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. The fourth overall pick of the 2022 draft, Murray will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer.
The Celtics played without Jayson Tatum (left ankle sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) on Sunday, but they still made quick work of the 17-win Wizards, Brian Robb writes in a pair of stories for MassLive.com. Tatum was initially listed as questionable before being ruled out, while Porzingis was a late scratch.
As expected, the Knicks had Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride back in action for Sunday’s contest vs. Phoenix, as Ian Begley of SNY.tv relays (Twitter links). Brunson had missed the past 15 games with a right ankle sprain, whereas McBride had missed the past eight with a left groin injury.

Central Notes: White, Porter, Cade

April 6th, 2025 at 1:40pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Having been fully given the keys to the Bulls‘ offense in the wake of Chicago’s Zach LaVine deadline trade, guard Coby White has been playing at the highest level of his career of late, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune.

The 6’5″ pro has scored at least 20 points in 16 of his last 17 games, and he and LaVine are now the only Chicago players ever to have racked up over 400 points and 40 three-pointers in a single month. White surpassed his own franchise record on Sunday for the most made three-pointers in a single season.

“I’m not going to limit myself to anything,” he said. “I’m going to continue to get better, continue to be who I am and put my all into this game. Whatever happens after that happens.”

There’s more out of the Central Division:

Newly acquired Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. enjoyed a superlative performance in a critical 121-115 overtime victory over the Heat on Saturday, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Porter scored 24 points, grabbed 12 boards, and dished out eight dimes. He has been counted on more for ball-handling and play-making in the wake of Damian Lillard‘s absence due to a blood clot. Porter also sealed the win with a clutch late bucket beneath the basket. “Fortunate enough I’ve been in those moments where one shot can win the game, or one play, so I just trusted my work, trusted myself and I felt good and confident when I got the trust in my teammates to make that last play,” Porter said. “Those are the moments we live for. I love being in those moments, and I’ll take that shot every chance I get.”
Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham missed two weeks of action with a left calf contusion. In his first game back on Saturday, a 109-103 loss to Memphis, Cunningham looked pretty much like himself, putting up 25 points, nine boards, and four assists. As The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson relays, Cunningham told reporters he was comfortable returning to the hardwood. “I got hit in my left calf and then it made my right calf tighten up a lot,” Cunningham said of the initial injury. “So it’s just a lot going on. I got sick at the same time, so it was just trying to battle a lot of different things. (Our) training staff got me right, though. I feel great now. So, I feel good going into the playoffs. It was a good game for me to try to shake off the rust.”
In case you missed it, Detroit big Isaiah Stewart returned from a recent two-game suspension in the Memphis matchup.

Bucks Become Sixth Eastern Team To Clinch Playoff Berth

April 5th, 2025 at 5:08pm CST by Arthur Hill

Atlanta’s loss to New York this afternoon ensures that the Bucks will land one of the East’s six automatic playoff spots (Twitter link). Milwaukee entered today needing either a win at Miami or a Hawks loss against the Knicks to become the sixth Eastern team to officially clinch a berth. Atlanta’s 121-105 defeat means the Bucks are definitely in before they take the court.

It’s the team’s ninth consecutive playoff appearance, and while that’s a significant achievement, it’s not going to be enough to satisfy fans in Milwaukee after being ousted in the first round in the past two years amid injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks may have to put together a significant postseason run to avoid major changes this summer.

A large question looming over the organization ahead of the playoffs is the health of Damian Lillard, who has been sidelined since March 18 with a blood clot in his right calf. Coach Doc Rivers expressed optimism about Lillard’s condition earlier this week, and it appears the chances are increasing that he’ll be ready when the playoffs begin in two weeks.

The Bucks are also preparing for the return of Bobby Portis, who will be able to resume playing Tuesday after serving his 25-game suspension. Portis is one of the league’s top reserves, averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 46 games before being suspended.

As always, Milwaukee’s fortunes will rest heavily on Antetokounmpo, who was selected to the All-Star Game this season for the ninth straight year. He’s putting up MVP-level numbers once again at 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 63 games, and he’s leading the NBA in both shots and free throws attempted per night. He missed All-Star Weekend due to a calf strain, but he’s been healthy for most of the season.

The Bucks made three additions at the trade deadline, picking up Kyle Kuzma from the Wizards, Kevin Porter Jr. from the Clippers and Jericho Sims from the Knicks. Kuzma moved into the starting lineup, Porter has become a valuable reserve and Sims was seeing minutes as a backup big man before undergoing thumb surgery last month.

At 42-34, Milwaukee is a half-game behind Detroit for fifth place in the East. The Bucks appear headed for a first-round series against the Knicks or Pacers, depending how the rest of the season plays out.

Eastern Notes: Stewart, Giannis, McCain, Flagg, Rajakovic

April 5th, 2025 at 3:52pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart returns from a two-game league suspension tonight when his team hosts the Grizzlies. Stewart’s suspension was handed down due to his involvement in Detroit’s altercation with the Timberwolves on Sunday.

The Pistons have reestablished themselves as a hard-nosed, defensive unit epitomized by their backup center. Stewart wants to set a defensive tone once he enters the game, he told Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.

“I would say I’m the most versatile defender,” Stewart said. “I’m the best rim protector. I can guard out on the perimeter. I feel like there’s a lot of things that I do on the defensive end that nobody else does, in my opinion, from communicating, being the commander, getting my guys in their spots, always having my guys back. There’s always a shift when I enter the game on defense. Rather that time, their offense slows down while we’re building the lead or their offense slows down while we’re getting back into the game. I always make a shift.”

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a stat line of 35 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists against the Sixers on Thursday. That was a first in NBA history, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm notes. “When you’re the primary ball-handler, you just gotta keep on making good decisions for the team,” said Antetokounmpo, who set a career high with his assist total. “I feel like most of the time, I try to make the best decision for myself or for my teammates.”
The Sixers’ Jared McCain, a one-and-done player at Duke, would be thrilled if Philadelphia won the lottery and wound up with Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg, he told RG.org’s DJ Siddiqi. “It’d be amazing,” McCain said. “It’d be super cool to have him. He makes every team that he’s on better, so it’d be really cool to just have him on the team. It’s always nice to have someone from Duke by my side. I got a lot of Kentucky people with me, you know what I’m saying? I need some more Duke guys.”
The Raptors have already picked up their 2026/27 option on coach Darko Rajakovic’s contract, ensuring their financial commitment to him for the next two seasons. That players on the roster believe Rajakovic is the right man to bring them back to prominence. “I think his work ethic is incredible and his passion for the sport and for us as a team, for getting us better, it really shows,” Jakob Poeltl told Josh Lewenberg of TSN. “You can tell in practice and games, he’s really adamant about what he wants stuff to look like and I think he has a very clear vision. He’s smart and I think he understands modern basketball really well. He’s been great for us and it’s been showing.”