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The college basketball season ends soon. We’re so excited for the Final Four!
The Petty King Returns
Warriors start Rockets’ summer early
The Warriors (42-34, 10th in West) have been good on the road all season long, marking a stark contrast to last season. So, when they visited Houston last night with a three-game lead on the Rockets (38-38, 11th in West) for the final Play-In Tournament spot, they had to feel pretty good about their odds of pushing Houston closer to the offseason. And that’s exactly what happened.
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson each had 29 points, and things were capped off with this shot of Curry toward the end of the Warriors’ 133-110 win over the Rockets.
Don’t quite remember the reference? It’s a nod to Tari Eason’s recent social media post in which he said, “Warriors, come out to play!” The Rockets forward also wore a shirt with that phrase on it during the Rockets-Warriors game. Still confused? May I direct you to the 1979 movie “The Warriors,” in which this famous scene and line was uttered, including bottled fingertips to add the chant?
This is just perfect trolling on every level. There is something I must know, though: Did Steph make sure they kept three empty bottles around for this moment? Did he make the rookies chug some water in order to get his petty props? Regardless, Steph and the Warriors have effectively ended the Rockets’ season with this win. Houston isn’t mathematically out of Play-In contention, but it’s about out of time for a miracle.
The Rockets had a great finish to the season and have a bright future, but they still need to learn, if you’re going to talk trash to the Warriors, there is a good chance Steph will make a meme out of you.
READ MORE: Warriors’ new frontline combination has lifted team.
More from last night
76ers 109, Heat 105: Absolutely massive win for Philly (42-35, eighth in East) to move half a game behind Miami (42-34) for the No. 7 spot. Tyrese Maxey had a game-high 37 points and 11 assists as Joel Embiid added 29 points.
Knicks 120, Kings 109: Jalen Brunson’s 35 points and 11 assists kept Sacramento (44-32, eighth in West) from getting out of the Play-In Tournament (for now?). New York (45-31, fifth in East) is two games behind No. 2 Milwaukee (47-29).
Clippers 102, Nuggets 100: No Kawhi Leonard, no Jamal Murray. But Paul George (28) and James Harden (20) helped the Clippers (48-28, fourth in West) survive Nikola Jokić’s 36-17-10 locker combination triple-double. Denver (53-24) is half a game behind top-seeded Minnesota (53-23).
things you love to see: THIS
JAMES HARDEN ↗️ RUSSELL WESTBROOK pic.twitter.com/WzAqi9BYtw
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 5, 2024
Mavericks 109, Hawks 95: Dallas (46-30) has now won 12 of its last 14 to now sit firmly in fifth in the West right now.
Just another night for LuKai 🪄♾#MFFL ️ pic.twitter.com/Q9QSOxqtsU
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 5, 2024
All love for @PJWashington 🫶#MFFL pic.twitter.com/2ULhc6Lio3
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 5, 2024
The Latest From Shams
Heat’s Herro nearing return
Heat guard Tyler Herro has been out since Feb. 23 due to a foot injury, but there is optimism he could return to Miami’s lineup as soon as tonight against Houston, league sources tell me.
Herro traveled on the team’s three-game road trip. His return would be a boost for the Heat, who are a half game behind Indiana for a top-six spot in the East. Herro has averaged 20.8 points and 4.4 assists per game this season but has only played 36 games.
65-Game Rule
Who might miss the awards cutoff?
Remember the 65-game rule? It stipulates players who do not participate in at least 65 games for 20 minutes in each outing are not eligible for awards such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. We already know reigning MVP Joel Embiid is out for awards, but a few other notable All-Stars seem likely to join him.
Eight players who are definitely eliminated
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (52 games): There were times this season Mitchell seemed to be flirting with being in MVP ballot and All-NBA conversations, but he won’t qualify for a second career All-NBA selection.
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks (53 games): The Mavs’ second star won’t come close to having a chance at making his fourth All-NBA team. Though he probably wouldn’t have been voted in anyway, he’s for sure out.
Joel Embiid says he’s happy not to be in the MVP discussions this year.
“That conversation has been toxic for a long time.”
🎥 @NBCSPhillypic.twitter.com/362rbYqFOs
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) April 5, 2024
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (60 games): Towns was named an All-Star but won’t be eligible for All-NBA consideration. He’s not expected to play again this regular season, so he can’t get to the “62 games but out for the season” safety net.
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat (53 games): Normally, Mr. Heat Culture would be a prime candidate for both All-NBA and All-Defense. He’s been selected to both teams five times. Unfortunately, this year will not yield No. 6 for either honor.
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors (60 games): The Raptors ended up tanking, so team success wasn’t going to get Barnes close, but his broken hand knocked him out for the season and negated his awards hopes entirely.
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers (45 games): Give Mobley a healthy season, and he’ll make All-Defensive teams like he did last year – maybe he’ll even compete for Defensive Player of the Year. Not this time, though.
Kristaps Porziņģis, Boston Celtics (54 games): Porziņģis has been an interior anchor for a top-three defense all season long, but he’ll be well short of getting his first All-Defense selection.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (50 games): Green wants to win another DPOY award as much as he wants to podcast – maybe even more. But missing out on All-Defense keeps him from a ninth career selection, which would tie for the sixth-most all time.
The Trayce Jackson-Davis and Draymond Green frontcourt combination has “changed” the Warriors, says Steve Kerr. They have a 96.2 defensive rating together. Kerr sounds commuted to sticking with it.https://t.co/OZuMWskaHU
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 5, 2024
Can’t really miss anymore games
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (62 games): It’s a crowded field for All-NBA teams, so Booker needs just three more games to make sure he’s up for consideration.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (64 games): The star of the In-Season Tournament has to get into one more game for a chance at All-NBA honors. He rushed back from a hamstring injury midseason to ensure he hits the 65-game mark. Doing so could mean an extra $50 million-plus in his contract.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (62 games): He played in only 12 games last season, but we’ve seen good leaps from Cunningham this season. He needs to get to 65 to be eligible for Most Improved, though.
For No. 1 picks, improvements aren’t often celebrated simply because anything else is considered a failure.
Cade Cunningham, though, has improved across the board in a rough situation.
Cade, just three games short of 65, has a case for Most Improved:https://t.co/13T0Gym9hk
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) April 4, 2024
Final Four Previews
Women’s, men’s fields play this weekend
On Friday night in Cleveland, the incredible women’s NCAA Tournament continues with its Final Four. The next night, in Glendale, Ariz., the men’s Final Four tips off. Here are the players to keep an eye on! (All times Eastern)
FRIDAY: NC State versus South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN
NC State guard Aziaha James has been on a heater the last three games (26.0 points on 51 percent from the field, 61 percent from deep). She’ll need to continue to help knock off center Kamilla Cardoso, who is looking to punish everybody on the block.
FRIDAY: Iowa versus Connecticut, 9 p.m. ESPN
Caitlin Clark wasn’t recruited by UConn. She ended up being the greatest scorer in college basketball history. She has a chance to knock down Paige Bueckers and the rest of the Huskies to continue her revenge tour
SATURDAY: NC State versus Purdue, 6:09 p.m. TBS
It’s the battle of two very different big men. We have 7-4 Zach Edey coming off a 40-point game to reach the Final Four. On the other side, 6-9 Zach Randolph clone DJ Burns just scored 29 points to knock off Duke. Let’s enjoy these two behemoths battling each other.
SATURDAY: Alabama versus Connecticut, 8:49 p.m. TBS
Bama guard Mark Sears can absolutely fill it up. He’s averaging 24.3 points per game and hitting over half his shots in the tournament. UConn has won its games by an average of 27.7 points while pursuing a repeat. The Huskies have won a tournament-record 10 straight games by double digits. Sears will need to go supernova to pull this off.
Bounce Passes
Bronny James has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Are the Suns resilient enough to make this whole thing work?
The Lakers are peaking at the right time … again
Screen Game (All times Eastern)
- Main Screen: Iowa-UConn (9 p.m. ESPN). Can Caitlin Clark lead Iowa back to the title game?
- Second Screen: Wolves-Suns (10 p.m. NBA TV). Minnesota has a great chance at the No. 1 seed with a win.
- League Pass Game of the Night: Warriors-Mavs (8 p.m.). Dallas is still trying to avoid the Play-In. Full schedule here.
(Top photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images )
