Klay Thompson made it clear that he believes the Warriors are the best team in the league when they are healthy. With a win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday, the Warriors will finish no worse than sixth in the Western Conference, avoiding the play-in tournament. However, even with postseason experience, the Warriors still have a tough road ahead. To reach their full potential for another NBA championship, they need to take care of the basketball, have good collective shot selection, and communicate on defense. Andrew Wiggins, who has been dealing with a personal family issue, will likely be ready for the postseason if Golden State stays out of the play-in tournament. Thompson's confidence in the team shows that the Warriors are hitting their stride, but they need to maintain and improve certain aspects of their game to make another deep run. Although the Warriors may not be viewed as the favorite in the West, especially if they face the Suns and Kevin Durant, their talent and experience should not be ignored.

Golden State Warriors' guard Gary Payton II will not be playing in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings due to an illness, according to the NBA’s official injury report. Payton II was listed as “questionable” ahead of Thursday's game, but he didn’t attend the Warriors' pregame shootaround session due to his illness. The 30-year-old guard was acquired by Golden State at the trade deadline recently as a short-term solution when the team focused on the playoffs. Payton II showed his defensive skills in the two games he had played against the Kings, where he was the only Warriors’ player who could keep pace with Sacramento point guard De'Aaron Fox, who had been pivotal to Kings' progress. Golden State is already down to a 2-0 series deficit and instead will depend on guard Andrew Wiggins, who has been listed as “available,” to step up, as well as their other players, as they look to avoid elimination. Guard Jordan Poole, who has been struggling with ankle sprain, will also be playing. Draymond Green, the Warriors’ defensive player, remains out due to a one-game suspension, along with Payton II, with concerns regarding the team’s defensive capabilities against the fast-paced Kings.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors is set to make NBA history. Currently, with 4,212 assists to his name, Green is slated to surpass Hall of Famer Charles Barkley with just four more assists during Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Although Green hasn’t put up massive numbers, he is one of the best all-around players in the league, which includes being an elite passer and defender. His assists numbers have been consistent as in 64 out of 69 games this season, he has dished out 4+ assists. Given Green's playmaking abilities and the Warriors' strong offensive presence, the feat seems almost certain. Warriors are set to enter the playoffs as the No. 6 playoff seed in the Western Conference after a unique regular season. Despite some weaknesses, Green believes the defending league champions should be favored for the West Finals. In the past eight seasons, the Warriors have won the NBA Championship in four times and have been to the NBA Finals six times.

The Golden State Warriors played against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night in a pivotal late-season matchup. While the Kings have already clinched their playoff spot and are likely to finish as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the game was critical for the defending champions. The only way for the Warriors to avoid the play-in tournament is by winning both their final two games. They currently sit in sixth place in the West and need to finish in the top six to avoid the tournament. Warriors coach Steve Kerr emphasized the importance of not letting their guard down and the necessity of winning both their final games. The Kings rested their top three scorers, which some believe could indicate that they are not taking the game seriously. Nevertheless, both teams have a chance of meeting again in the first round of the playoffs, which would be the first time for both to make the playoffs in the same season. The game ended with the Warriors winning 120-108, putting them in a stronger position to make the playoffs without the play-in tournament.

The Sacramento Kings are finally back in the playoffs after a 17-year absence, led by a talented young core and veteran Harrison Barnes. However, Barnes' championship pedigree with the Golden State Warriors may come into play as they face off against his former team. Barnes played a key role in Golden State's championship run in 2015 and was a member of the record-breaking 73-win team in 2016. Despite being a veteran leader on the Kings, his experience with the Warriors could give them an edge. Barnes recently suffered a minor ankle injury, but he is expected to play in Game 1 against the Warriors. With the Kings' high-scoring offense and the Warriors' inconsistent regular season, this series could be much closer than many expect. Furthermore, Mike Brown, former assistant coach for the Warriors, is now the coach of the year for the Kings, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the series. Will the young Kings be able to silence the doubters and upset the defending champions, or will Barnes' inside knowledge of the Warriors give them an advantage?

Mike Brown, head coach of the Sacramento Kings, has been named the National Basketball Coaches Association's 2023 Coach of the Year. The award is voted on by the NBA's 30 head coaches, and it goes to the coach who has made the greatest positive impact on his team. Brown is expected to also win the NBA's Coach of the Year award, which is voted on by the media and will be announced during the playoffs. This is Brown's first season with the Kings, and under his leadership, the team went 48-34, finished third in the Western Conference, and made the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Brown has overseen one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA history, taking a franchise that had been a doormat for years and turning it into a team that plays with high energy and confidence. The Kings have been one of the most potent offensive teams in NBA history, scoring a league-best 118.6 points per 100 possessions in the regular season.

It has been over 70 years since the Sacramento Kings (then known as the Rochester Royals) won the NBA Championship in 1951. However, according to guard Chimezie Metu, the Kings are not just aiming for a postseason appearance but are targeting the championship crown. Despite being in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Kings are approaching the NBA playoffs with a winning mindset, as they take on the Golden State Warriors next. Head coach Mike Brown's relentless style is also fueling the team's championship aspirations. In Brown's words, "let's be like everyone else and win a championship." The third-seeded Kings have several strong players, including a potential two-time Coach of the Year award winner in Brown, Clutch Player of the Year frontrunner De'Aaron Fox, All-Star Domantas Sabonis, and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk. Can the Kings finally end their long-awaited NBA Championship drought?

With two games left in the NBA regular season, the Golden State Warriors are fighting for their playoffs spot, and it all comes down to their next two games. The Warriors slipped to the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings after the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Lakers. They split their season series, but the Clippers have a better record against Pacific Division opponents, giving them the tiebreaker over the Warriors. The Warriors now have to fight it out in their next two games. They will face the Sacramento Kings, who are already locked in as the No. 3 seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who have been shamelessly tanking, resting Damian Lillard and other key players. If the Warriors win both games, they will clinch a top-six seed and avoid the play-in tournament. However, they could end up anywhere from sixth to eighth, depending on the results from the Pelicans, Lakers, and Clippers. The stakes are high, and it all comes down to these two games for the Warriors. Will they succeed in avoiding the play-in and clinching a top-six seed?

The whereabouts of a key player on the NBA's most marquee and best-covered team, Golden State Warriors, remained mostly a secret for nearly two months until Andrew Wiggins' return last week. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the reason for Wiggins' absence was his father had a serious medical situation. Multiple reporters and editors involved in Wiggins coverage described the reporting experience as bizarre, as they debated how to pursue the story, but also one that threatened to upend the Warriors' season as it dragged on. Warriors communications director Raymond Ridder said he was surprised that no national reporters had come up with more details but said he never asked any beat writers not to look into it.

The coverage of Wiggins' absence brought up issues such as what is newsworthy, how much privacy athletes are entitled to, and how journalists and news organizations that cover them balance that with the main tenets of their jobs: reporting news. During Wiggins' return news conference, neither he nor Myers mentioned Wiggins' father and no reporters asked about him. The Warriors confirmed Charania's report. Myers thanked the media for respecting the personal life of someone in a public job, which is a pretty rare thing in the business.

Former NBA player and current analyst Charles Barkley has guaranteed that the Sacramento Kings will win a playoff series against either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Golden State Warriors. The Kings have secured no less than the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and a homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, with the possibility of clinching the No. 2 seed with a win on Friday. Barkley's prediction has not been taken lightly by several NBA stars, including LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who may use it as a motivation to take down the Kings. Barkley's prediction comes as the Kings are set to appear in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Kings have had a historic season offensively, and their speed and athleticism may prove challenging to other teams. While the playoffs are unpredictable and anything can happen, Barkley's predictions and infamous guarantees have always stirred excitement in NBA fans.

The Sacramento Kings are celebrating their victories by lighting up the sky with a purple beam that is created by four purple lasers located on top of the entrance of the Golden 1 Center. The team introduced this tradition on Oct. 29 after winning their first home game against the Miami Heat. Known as "Light the beam," this postgame ritual has caught on with fans who eagerly chant the phrase whenever the Kings win, whether at home or on the road. Fans hope to see the purple beam light up the skyline more often as the Kings are currently on a seven-game winning streak and headed to the playoffs for the first time since their last appearance in 2006. However, the origin of "light the beam" can be traced back to "916 Day", which is celebrated on Sept. 16, an ode to Sacramento's area code. While the concept of illuminating to celebrate a victory is not new, the Kings expanded the idea by shining the beam outwards to draw in more sports enthusiasts to their home arena. The phrase, "Light the beam!" and a winning team have made the beam a success and increased fan engagement, creating buzz that appeals to people beyond basketball and even beyond sports.

The New York Knicks are hoping that All-Star forward Julius Randle can join their lineup for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. Randle sprained his left ankle against the Miami Heat on March 29 and has missed the Knicks' final five games of the regular season. The 28-year-old forward has been a key figure for the Knicks this season, averaging 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. If Randle can't start, this will place more pressure on Jalen Brunson, who has been playing through pain for much of the second half of the season. The Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell, who has been playing exceptionally, averaging more than 40 points in four straight games before being put on the bench for his team's final two tilts. However, since the NBA odds for Mitchell's total points prop has adjusted to 30.5, up from a high of 28.5 in his final regular-season tilt, bettors might be sacrificing a little juice. Mitchell has cleared 3.5 three-pointers in most of his previous games, making him a great bet to get at least four threes in this game. Overall, the Cavaliers are favored to win the series against the Knicks, but Randle's return could help increase the Knicks' chances to win Game 1.

After four years of waiting, point guard Darius Garland is finally set to play in his first NBA playoffs with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Garland has emerged as one of the team's most important players over the past few seasons, with an All-Star appearance in 2021-22 and solid performance this season. However, as the Cavs prepare to face the New York Knicks in the first round, Garland will be under more pressure than ever to deliver. In recent matchups against the Knicks, their defense was able to collapse on Garland and limit his effectiveness in the pick-and-roll. With that in mind, the Cavs have been working on new strategies to counter this defense, such as an "empty side" pick-and-roll that failed in the past but could be more effective with Jarrett Allen providing vertical spacing. If Garland can rise to the challenge and lead the Cavs to success in the playoffs, he could solidify his status as one of the league's top young guards.

Shooting guard's defensive skills give Cavs a boost

Isaac Okoro has missed the past six games with soreness in his left knee but has taken part in some contact during practice ahead of the Cavs' playoff matchup against the Knicks. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Okoro is still day-to-day. Okoro's defensive presence has been missed, as he is considered one of the best defenders on the team, according to his teammates. His return could make a big impact, especially in guarding the ball-handler during pick-and-rolls. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are enjoying their fourth seed in the playoffs after being eliminated in the play-in tournament last season. Veteran Danny Green may not be part of the playoff rotation, having only played 71 total minutes in seven games since signing with Cleveland in February. Cavs fans are looking forward to the playoffs and hoping for the team to go as far as they can.

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown's tribute to Celtics' legend Bill Russell in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs has the internet buzzing. Brown donned custom green and white sneakers featuring a photo of Russell alongside the player during his early Celtics days. The sneakers carry the number 6, which is retired across the league in honor of Russell, who passed away last summer at the age of 88. Brown opened up the 2022-23 Celtics season with a tribute to Russell and highlighted this a couple of times in the season. In an interview earlier this season, Brown recognized the inspiration that Russell was and still is. Wearing the sneakers on the court honors Russell's legacy and underscores his leadership in fighting for social justice and racial equality.

Boston Celtics point guard, Marcus Smart, has said that the team has returned to their preseason mindset of anger as they prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. Despite becoming the number two seed after a period of inconsistency leading up to the All-Star Break, the Celtics managed to finish the regular season with the second-best record in the NBA, and Smart believes this has been due to the overcoming of several obstacles that were thrown at them. The player himself has recently recovered from a neck injury and admits that he is not physically 100 percent, but is looking forward to playing against reigning Hawks' star guard, Trae Young. The Celtics have swept the Hawks during the regular season, however, on both occasions that the Hawks were at full strength, the scorelines were close, with Young being a major threat.

The Boston Celtics kicked off their playoff journey with a resounding 112-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the first-round series. Boston held the Hawks to a poor shooting performance and quickly jumped to a 32-point lead. Atlanta attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics kept their lead safe to earn the first win of the series. Jaylen Brown led the way with 29 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Jayson Tatum and Derrick White with 25 points each.

Now, the question is, can the Celtics keep up this dominance in Game 2 and beyond? The Snyder effect could come into play as Atlanta's offensive rating has significantly improved under coach Quin Snyder. However, the Celtics did a good job neutralizing Atlanta's top scorers, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, in Game 1.

Boston's Jaylen Brown suffered a slight finger injury before the series, but it did not seem to cause him any problems in the opener. The Hawks will need to find a way to limit his scoring in Game 2 to avoid falling behind 2-0. Overall, the Celtics seem to be firing on all cylinders, and the Hawks will need to make significant adjustments to level the series.

Robert Williams, the talented center for the Boston Celtics, missed significant time due to injury this season. However, he seems to be back in form as the playoffs begin. Last week, he played 31 and 25 minutes in two games against the Raptors before sitting out the finale. The Celtics are relying on him to contribute on both offense and defense, and he believes that he is ready for the playoffs.

The Celtics have employed several strategies to take advantage of Williams' skills. One is the "grenade" action, where Williams receives the ball on the block and then cuts back towards the perimeter, either handing off the ball to teammates or using his screen to facilitate passing and shooting opportunities. Another tactic is the "veer," an on-ball screen that flows into an off-ball screen which frees up other more well-rounded attackers to create. Finally, there's the "quick/wide," where Williams sets a screen for a wing or guard as soon as the ball enters the opponent's halfcourt, allowing them to take advantage and score.

While Williams is just one player on a talented Celtics roster, his success will undoubtedly play a key role in Boston's push for the NBA championship.

The Brooklyn Nets have a tough task ahead of them as they head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers in the NBA Playoffs. The Nets are considered a long shot to win the series, but they have nothing to lose and will be playing with a house-money affect. They will need to be on fire from 3-point range and rely on Spencer Dinwiddie to balance getting shots for himself and creating good looks for his teammates.

The 76ers, led by the presumptive NBA MVP Joel Embiid, will be a lot to handle for the Nets. However, the Nets will try to force the 76ers into mistakes and push the tempo to find easy buckets in transition. The Nets are 8.5-point underdogs in Game 1, but anything can happen in the playoffs.

The series kicks off on April 15 at 1 p.m. ET and can be watched live for free with Fubo or on Sling TV or DirecTV Stream with promotional offers or free trials. The games will also be broadcasted on ESPN and ESPN2 with the option to watch on Watch ESPN with a cable or satellite provider login.

As the Philadelphia 76ers gear up for the playoffs, they appear to have found a reliable backup for Joel Embiid in Paul Reed. After experimenting with several options, coach Doc Rivers has consistently turned to Reed since early February due to his improved understanding of the scouting report and ability to focus on where he needs to be on the court defensively. Reed has also benefited from the team simplifying their defensive coverages when he is on the court. In addition to his energy and ability to give the team a spark, Reed has earned the trust of the coaching staff by eliminating mental mistakes and doing what he's supposed to, including rolling quickly off screens and being ready for passes. Although the backup center position may still be fluid as the playoffs approach, Reed's recent performance suggests that he has earned his spot.

Wrexham's dreams of promotion to the English Football League (EFL) were hindered after their 0-0 draw with Barnet, which could have left them needing two wins to secure promotion. The match was marred by a "cheat" row involving Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson and opposing goalkeeper Laurie Walker, who had Callum McFadzean sent off in the second half for a foul on Walker. Parkinson was infuriated by the decision and challenged Walker after the game, but Walker defended the referee by saying McFadzean "came straight through and kicked [him] straight in the face." Parkinson is now facing a touchline ban for his red card, and Wrexham plans to appeal the decision. Wrexham can secure promotion by winning their next two games, but their chances hinge on their appeal against McFadzean's red card.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a convincing 120-95 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the play-in game on Friday, securing the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Timberwolves will face the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday in Denver.

Minnesota will be hoping to pull off an upset against the Nuggets, who finished the regular season with a 52-30 record and are looking to make a deep playoff run. The Timberwolves will be relying on the trio of Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Edwards to continue their impressive performances and lead the team to a series victory.

Both Gobert and Towns had been dealing with injuries before Friday's game, but were upgraded to available and started for the Timberwolves. Minnesota will also be inserting Nickeil Alexander-Walker into the starting lineup to defend his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder.

Meanwhile, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray continues to be hampered by a nagging right thumb sprain, but is otherwise healthy and ready for the playoffs. The Bucks will also have Khris Middleton available for their first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat after he participated in a full practice on Thursday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have defied expectations this season, making the NBA playoffs for the first time in two years. The team was projected to be the worst in the Western Conference, with some experts calling them a 20-win team. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had other plans. The All-Star has been sensational, averaging 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game, while also delivering an excellent defense. The 24-year-old has silenced critics who questioned his ability to lead the franchise to glory. His leadership played a crucial role in securing the team's spot in the play-in tournament, where they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves for a place in the NBA playoffs. If Gilgeous-Alexander can continue his impressive play, he could help the Thunder go further than any other team projected to be at the bottom of their conference. It remains to be seen whether the Thunder can make a deep playoff run, but one thing is for sure: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the potential to be one of the league's best players, and he is making a name for himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the NBA.

After a win against the Sacramento Kings and an Oklahoma City Thunder loss against the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks are tied with the Thunder for the 10th best record in the Western Conference. With two games left in the regular season, the Mavericks need one of two scenarios to happen: win both games and hope for the Thunder to lose one of their last two games, or win one of their last two games and see the Thunder lose their last two games.

If the Mavericks make the play-in as a 10th place finisher in the West, they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves. If they win, they will play the loser of the 7-seed vs. 8-seed game. If they win that game, they will advance to the playoffs as an 8-seed and play a seven-game series against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets. The NBA started using the current form of the play-in tournament in 2021, and 10th place teams are 0-4 in those games.