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The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 131–122 on the road in Game 4 to complete a 4–0 first-round sweep, remaining the only undefeated team in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points and 8 assists, supported by strong performances from Chet Holmgren and the rest of the roster. Despite four Suns players scoring in double figures, Phoenix was unable to contain Oklahoma City’s balanced offense and was eliminated from the playoffs.

In Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference first round, the Denver Nuggets hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves with their season on the line. Jokic recorded a triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists, leading the Nuggets to a wire-to-wire victory. Despite multiple Timberwolves runs, the Nuggets pulled away in the third quarter and held off a late rally, winning at home to cut the series deficit to 2-3.

NBA officially announces Mavericks No.1 pick Cooper Flagg as 2025-26 Rookie of the Year. At 19, he becomes the second-youngest winner (behind LeBron James). Averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals with 46.8% shooting and 82.7% free throws, he is the third Maverick to win the award. Flagg joins Jordan and Doncic as rookies to post 20+6+4 while leading the team in four major categories.

The Houston Rockets staved off elimination with a dominant 115-96 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, cutting the series deficit to 1-3. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 23 points and 7 assists, while Deandre Ayton's 19-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Lakers was overshadowed by his third-quarter ejection for a flagrant foul. The Lakers committed 20 turnovers, with LeBron James managing only 10 points and 8 turnovers. The series now heads to Los Angeles for Game 5 on April 29.

In Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs first round, the Spurs completed a stunning comeback from a 19-point deficit, defeating the Trail Blazers 114-93 on the road to take a 3-1 series lead. Returning from injury, Wembanyama posted an all-around stat line of 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks, while Fox contributed 28 points and 7 assists. The Spurs now hold the series point and are on the verge of advancing.

Despite Victor Wembanyama's absence, Harper's fourth-quarter explosion led the Spurs to a 120-108 comeback win over the Trail Blazers, giving them a 2-1 series lead. An 18-3 third-quarter run shifted momentum, and San Antonio held steady down the stretch.

Durant missed Game 1 of the playoffs due to a deep right patellar tendon contusion. The Rockets are optimistic about his return for Game 2. Shams revealed the injury came from a scrimmage collision, and Durant's rare absence highlights the severity. The Lakers lead 1-0, and his availability depends on knee recovery.

In the NBA playoff opener, the Spurs defeated the Trail Blazers at home to take a 1-0 series lead. Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points to lead the team, while Deni Avdija was the offensive focal point for Portland. Chinese player Yang Hansen made a brief fourth-quarter appearance but did not record any stats. The Spurs secured the win through offensive and defensive dominance and key timeout adjustments.

Magic lose to 76ers in Play-In game as Banchero shoots 7-for-22 with 6 turnovers, but his 5-year, $239M max contract kicks in this summer, starting at $41.3M and escalating to $54.5M in the final year with a player option, underscoring his status as the franchise cornerstone.

Clippers forward John Collins has a four-year, $167 million max extension window opening this summer, averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds this season with 55.2% shooting and 40.6% from three. However, the Clippers' Play-In loss and playoff absence could affect extension talks.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who played 61 games this season, had his personal award appeal denied by the NBA, making him ineligible for all annual awards including MVP. Despite Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham receiving exceptions, Edwards was not granted the same treatment, losing his eligibility due to insufficient appearances despite posting career-best averages of 28.8 points and other impressive stats.

The Trail Blazers defeated the Suns in the play-in game to return to the playoffs for the first time in four years, securing the No. 7 seed against the Spurs. This triggers the removal of protections on the 2021 lottery-protected first-round pick owed to the Bulls, giving Chicago two first-round picks in the upcoming draft.

ESPN's Shams reports that Doc Rivers has stepped down as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Over three seasons, he posted a 97-103 record, with two first-round playoff exits and missing the play-in tournament this season. The Bucks still owe him over $10 million for next season.

Kneppel hit three three-pointers in the regular-season finale, finishing with 273 total threes, just one ahead of teammate Ball (272), becoming the NBA's first rookie three-point champion. He broke the rookie single-season three-point record, showcasing exceptional perimeter consistency and elevating the Hornets' backcourt duo to elite status.

Ahead of the NBA regular-season finale, Hornets rookie Kneipel has made 270 three-pointers, setting a rookie season record and surpassing Ray Allen's single-season best. Leading the league, if he performs steadily in the last game, he will become the first rookie three-point king, showcasing remarkable shooting talent.

In an NBA regular-season matchup, the Denver Nuggets, playing with a depleted roster, defeated the similarly shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107, securing their 11th consecutive win. Jonas Valanciunas and Julian Strawther stood out, and the Nuggets sealed the game with a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter.

On April 8, the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 123-87 at home. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points with 8 assists, leading the Thunder to a 40-point lead at one point as they cruised to their sixth straight win. The Lakers struggled offensively without LeBron James and other key players.

In NBA regular season action, the Houston Rockets rallied from a 21-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 119-105 on the road, extending their winning streak to seven games. Amen Thompson posted a near triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, leading a fourth-quarter surge that sealed the victory. Devin Booker scored a game-high 31 points in a losing effort.

The Golden State Warriors edged the Sacramento Kings 110–105 in a closely contested NBA regular-season game on April 8. Stephen Curry came off the bench to score 17 points and hit two decisive late three-pointers as the Warriors withstood a late Kings rally. De'Anthony Melton led Golden State with 21 points, while Brandin Podziemski added 20 in the win.

The Thunder hosted the Lakers and secured victory with a ferocious 44-point first quarter, leading by 31 at halftime. Lakers' Doncic exited in the second half with a hamstring injury, leaving the team unable to recover, resulting in a heavy defeat. The Thunder won their fourth consecutive game while ending the Lakers' four-game winning streak.