Deadspin | Linus Ullmark, Senators blank sinking Islanders, earn playoff spot  Apr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (64) stands in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images   Ridly Greig scored a short-handed goal in the first period and Jake Sanderson added a power-play goal in the third, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y.  Michael Amadio added an empty-net goal late in the third and Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced for the Senators (43-27-10, 96 points), who won their fourth straight game. They clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season later after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings.  The Senators and Boston Bruins (43-27-10, 96 points) are tied atop the wild-card standings.   Ilya Sorokin recorded 13 saves for the Islanders (43-32-5, 91 points), who went 0-for-5 on the power play. They fell to 1-1-0 under Peter DeBoer and lost for the fifth time in six games overall.  New York’s only path to the playoffs is outlasting the Philadelphia Flyers for the third and final postseason spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders entered Saturday one point behind the Flyers, but Philadelphia beat the Winnipeg Jets 7-1 later in the evening and now sit three points ahead of the Islanders.   The Islanders were in the midst of their first scoreless power play when the Senators notched the only goal they’d need.  Greig pestered Pageau and forced the puck loose in the Ottawa zone, where Amadio got a stick on the puck just before New York defenseman Tony DeAngelo. Amadio chased down the puck and dished a backhanded pass between Lee’s legs to Greig, who managed to flick a shot past Sorokin’s glove with Pageau in pursuit.  Defenseman Carson Soucy and Ryan Pulock were whistled for tripping 34 seconds apart to set up the 5-on-3 that led to the Senators’ second goal with 7:24 left. Dylan Cozens’ shot from the left faceoff circle glanced off Sorokin, who couldn’t smother the puck before Sanderson surged past Matthew Schaefer and buried the rebound.  Sorokin was pulled with more than five minutes left but the Islanders didn’t mount a serious threat before Amadio iced the win with 2:31 remaining.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Linus #Ullmark #Senators #blank #sinking #Islanders #earn #playoff #spot

Deadspin | Linus Ullmark, Senators blank sinking Islanders, earn playoff spot
Deadspin | Linus Ullmark, Senators blank sinking Islanders, earn playoff spot  Apr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (64) stands in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images   Ridly Greig scored a short-handed goal in the first period and Jake Sanderson added a power-play goal in the third, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y.  Michael Amadio added an empty-net goal late in the third and Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced for the Senators (43-27-10, 96 points), who won their fourth straight game. They clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season later after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings.  The Senators and Boston Bruins (43-27-10, 96 points) are tied atop the wild-card standings.   Ilya Sorokin recorded 13 saves for the Islanders (43-32-5, 91 points), who went 0-for-5 on the power play. They fell to 1-1-0 under Peter DeBoer and lost for the fifth time in six games overall.  New York’s only path to the playoffs is outlasting the Philadelphia Flyers for the third and final postseason spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders entered Saturday one point behind the Flyers, but Philadelphia beat the Winnipeg Jets 7-1 later in the evening and now sit three points ahead of the Islanders.   The Islanders were in the midst of their first scoreless power play when the Senators notched the only goal they’d need.  Greig pestered Pageau and forced the puck loose in the Ottawa zone, where Amadio got a stick on the puck just before New York defenseman Tony DeAngelo. Amadio chased down the puck and dished a backhanded pass between Lee’s legs to Greig, who managed to flick a shot past Sorokin’s glove with Pageau in pursuit.  Defenseman Carson Soucy and Ryan Pulock were whistled for tripping 34 seconds apart to set up the 5-on-3 that led to the Senators’ second goal with 7:24 left. Dylan Cozens’ shot from the left faceoff circle glanced off Sorokin, who couldn’t smother the puck before Sanderson surged past Matthew Schaefer and buried the rebound.  Sorokin was pulled with more than five minutes left but the Islanders didn’t mount a serious threat before Amadio iced the win with 2:31 remaining.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Linus #Ullmark #Senators #blank #sinking #Islanders #earn #playoff #spotApr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (64) stands in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images

Ridly Greig scored a short-handed goal in the first period and Jake Sanderson added a power-play goal in the third, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y.

Michael Amadio added an empty-net goal late in the third and Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced for the Senators (43-27-10, 96 points), who won their fourth straight game. They clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season later after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings.

The Senators and Boston Bruins (43-27-10, 96 points) are tied atop the wild-card standings.

Ilya Sorokin recorded 13 saves for the Islanders (43-32-5, 91 points), who went 0-for-5 on the power play. They fell to 1-1-0 under Peter DeBoer and lost for the fifth time in six games overall.


New York’s only path to the playoffs is outlasting the Philadelphia Flyers for the third and final postseason spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders entered Saturday one point behind the Flyers, but Philadelphia beat the Winnipeg Jets 7-1 later in the evening and now sit three points ahead of the Islanders.

The Islanders were in the midst of their first scoreless power play when the Senators notched the only goal they’d need.

Greig pestered Pageau and forced the puck loose in the Ottawa zone, where Amadio got a stick on the puck just before New York defenseman Tony DeAngelo. Amadio chased down the puck and dished a backhanded pass between Lee’s legs to Greig, who managed to flick a shot past Sorokin’s glove with Pageau in pursuit.

Defenseman Carson Soucy and Ryan Pulock were whistled for tripping 34 seconds apart to set up the 5-on-3 that led to the Senators’ second goal with 7:24 left. Dylan Cozens’ shot from the left faceoff circle glanced off Sorokin, who couldn’t smother the puck before Sanderson surged past Matthew Schaefer and buried the rebound.

Sorokin was pulled with more than five minutes left but the Islanders didn’t mount a serious threat before Amadio iced the win with 2:31 remaining.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Linus #Ullmark #Senators #blank #sinking #Islanders #earn #playoff #spot

Apr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (64) stands in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images

Ridly Greig scored a short-handed goal in the first period and Jake Sanderson added a power-play goal in the third, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y.

Michael Amadio added an empty-net goal late in the third and Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced for the Senators (43-27-10, 96 points), who won their fourth straight game. They clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season later after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings.

The Senators and Boston Bruins (43-27-10, 96 points) are tied atop the wild-card standings.

Ilya Sorokin recorded 13 saves for the Islanders (43-32-5, 91 points), who went 0-for-5 on the power play. They fell to 1-1-0 under Peter DeBoer and lost for the fifth time in six games overall.

New York’s only path to the playoffs is outlasting the Philadelphia Flyers for the third and final postseason spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders entered Saturday one point behind the Flyers, but Philadelphia beat the Winnipeg Jets 7-1 later in the evening and now sit three points ahead of the Islanders.

The Islanders were in the midst of their first scoreless power play when the Senators notched the only goal they’d need.

Greig pestered Pageau and forced the puck loose in the Ottawa zone, where Amadio got a stick on the puck just before New York defenseman Tony DeAngelo. Amadio chased down the puck and dished a backhanded pass between Lee’s legs to Greig, who managed to flick a shot past Sorokin’s glove with Pageau in pursuit.

Defenseman Carson Soucy and Ryan Pulock were whistled for tripping 34 seconds apart to set up the 5-on-3 that led to the Senators’ second goal with 7:24 left. Dylan Cozens’ shot from the left faceoff circle glanced off Sorokin, who couldn’t smother the puck before Sanderson surged past Matthew Schaefer and buried the rebound.

Sorokin was pulled with more than five minutes left but the Islanders didn’t mount a serious threat before Amadio iced the win with 2:31 remaining.

–Field Level Media

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MI vs RCB IPL 2026 live streaming info: Where to watch Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru online? <div id="content-body-70850720" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Mumbai Indians will look to get back to winning ways as it hosts Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which is also coming off a defeat against Rajasthan Royals, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.</p><p>In the last meeting between the two sides, RCB beat MI by 12 runs at the same venue in the 2025 season.</p><p><b><i>Here are the live streaming and telecast details:</i></b></p><p><b>Where will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match be played?</b></p><p>The Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.</p><p><b>When will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match be played?</b></p><p>The Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match will be played on Sunday, April 12.</p><p><b>At what time will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match start?</b></p><p>The Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match will start at 7:30 PM IST.</p><p><b>At what time will the toss for the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match take place?</b></p><p>The toss for the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match will take place at 7:00 PM IST.</p><p><b>Which TV channel will broadcast Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match?</b></p><p>The Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match will be televised live on the <i><b>Star Sports Network</b></i><b/>in India.</p><p><b>How can one watch the live streaming of the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match online?</b></p><p>The Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match will be streamed live on the <b><i>JioHotstar</i></b> app and website.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 12, 2026</p></div> #RCB #IPL #live #streaming #info #watch #Mumbai #Indians #Royal #Challengers #Bengaluru #online

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MI vs RCB head-to-head record, IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru stats; most runs, wickets <div id="content-body-70850721" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Mumbai Indians will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.</p><p>Both the teams are coming off a defeat against Rajasthan Royals and will be looking to bounce back in what promises to be a tight contest.</p><p>RCB eased to a 12-run victory in its face-off against MI in the 2025 season at the same venue.</p><p><i>Here’s a look at their head-to-head record in the tournament.</i></p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> MI vs RCB head-to-head record in IPL </h5><p> Matches played: 34 </p><p> MI won: 19 </p><p> RCB won: 13 </p><p> Tied: 1 </p></div><h4 class="sub_head">MOST RUNS IN MI vs RCB IPL MATCHES</h4><div class="article-table my-3"><table class="table"><tr><td> Batter</td><td> Innings</td><td> Runs</td><td> Average</td><td> Strike Rate</td><td> HS</td></tr><tr><td> Virat Kohli</td><td> 35</td><td> 980</td><td> 31.61</td><td> 129.11</td><td> 92*</td></tr><tr><td> AB De Villiers</td><td> 19</td><td> 693</td><td> 49.5</td><td> 153.65</td><td> 133*</td></tr><tr><td> Rohit Sharma</td><td> 25</td><td> 629</td><td> 27.34</td><td> 142.63</td><td> 94</td></tr><tr><td> Kieron Pollard</td><td> 27</td><td> 553</td><td> 30.72</td><td> 158.45</td><td> 70</td></tr><tr><td> Suryakumar Yadav</td><td> 14</td><td> 464</td><td> 38.66</td><td> 163.38</td><td> 83</td></tr></table></div><h4 class="sub_head">MOST WICKETS IN MI vs RCB IPL MATCHES</h4><div class="article-table my-3"><table class="table"><tr><td> Bowler</td><td> Innings</td><td> Wickets</td><td> Economy</td><td> Average</td><td> BBI</td></tr><tr><td> Jasprit Bumrah</td><td> 20</td><td> 29</td><td> 7.44</td><td> 20.03</td><td> 5/21</td></tr><tr><td> Yuzvendra Chahal</td><td> 16</td><td> 24</td><td> 7.78</td><td> 19.79</td><td> 4/38</td></tr><tr><td> Harbhajan Singh</td><td> 21</td><td> 22</td><td> 7.23</td><td> 25.00</td><td> 3/20</td></tr><tr><td> Harshal Patel</td><td> 10</td><td> 18</td><td> 7.74</td><td> 15.77</td><td> 5/27</td></tr><tr><td> Lasith Malinga</td><td> 18</td><td> 16</td><td> 7.45</td><td> 32.93</td><td> 4/31</td></tr></table></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 12, 2026</p></div> #RCB #headtohead #record #IPL #Mumbai #Indians #Royal #Challengers #Bengaluru #stats #runs #wickets

Deadspin | Hornets knock off Knicks to secure East’s ninth seed  Apr 12, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) dribbles up court against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Coby White each scored 19 points as the visiting Charlotte Hornets earned the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday.  Ball made five 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and six assists for Charlotte (44-38), which will host the Miami Heat in a No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game on Wednesday. Kon Knueppel finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.  New York (53-29) had nothing to play for after already clinching the East’s No. 3 seed. With most of their regulars sitting out, the Knicks started Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Mikal Bridges, Mohamed Diawara and Ariel Hukporti.  Bridges’ consecutive games played streak reached 638 with his brief appearance.  Bridges is the NBA’s active leader in consecutive regular-season games played and was replaced by Jordan Clarkson just 23 seconds into the contest as part of a plan by coach Mike Brown to keep the streak intact.  McBride made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points for New York, which had its five-game winning streak come to an end. Alvarado had 16 points, Kevin McCullar Jr. added a career-high 14, Pacome Dadiet scored a career-high 12, and Jeremy Sochan also tallied 12.  New York will face the East’s No. 6 seed in a first-round series beginning either Saturday or Sunday.   The Hornets shot 45.9% from the field and 36.5% (19 of 52) from 3-point range.  Ten different players played at least 12 minutes for New York, which connected on 43.3% of its shots from the field and 32.5% (13 of 40) from beyond the arc.  Charlotte led 30-20 at the end of the opening quarter and extended its lead to 50-35 on Miller’s two foul shots with 3:34 left in the second. The Hornets took a 57-44 lead into the half.  Knueppel drilled one of his three 3-pointers to give the Hornets a 69-54 lead with 8:53 left in the third quarter. Charlotte held an 87-73 advantage at the end of the period.  The Hornets maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and led 108-91 on Sion James’s trey with 3:02 remaining.  Both teams garnered a dozen offensive rebounds, but Charlotte outscored New York, 26-12 on second chance points.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Hornets #knock #Knicks #secure #Easts #ninth #seedApr 12, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) dribbles up court against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Coby White each scored 19 points as the visiting Charlotte Hornets earned the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Ball made five 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and six assists for Charlotte (44-38), which will host the Miami Heat in a No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game on Wednesday. Kon Knueppel finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

New York (53-29) had nothing to play for after already clinching the East’s No. 3 seed. With most of their regulars sitting out, the Knicks started Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Mikal Bridges, Mohamed Diawara and Ariel Hukporti.

Bridges’ consecutive games played streak reached 638 with his brief appearance.

Bridges is the NBA’s active leader in consecutive regular-season games played and was replaced by Jordan Clarkson just 23 seconds into the contest as part of a plan by coach Mike Brown to keep the streak intact.

McBride made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points for New York, which had its five-game winning streak come to an end. Alvarado had 16 points, Kevin McCullar Jr. added a career-high 14, Pacome Dadiet scored a career-high 12, and Jeremy Sochan also tallied 12.


New York will face the East’s No. 6 seed in a first-round series beginning either Saturday or Sunday.

The Hornets shot 45.9% from the field and 36.5% (19 of 52) from 3-point range.

Ten different players played at least 12 minutes for New York, which connected on 43.3% of its shots from the field and 32.5% (13 of 40) from beyond the arc.

Charlotte led 30-20 at the end of the opening quarter and extended its lead to 50-35 on Miller’s two foul shots with 3:34 left in the second. The Hornets took a 57-44 lead into the half.

Knueppel drilled one of his three 3-pointers to give the Hornets a 69-54 lead with 8:53 left in the third quarter. Charlotte held an 87-73 advantage at the end of the period.

The Hornets maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and led 108-91 on Sion James’s trey with 3:02 remaining.

Both teams garnered a dozen offensive rebounds, but Charlotte outscored New York, 26-12 on second chance points.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hornets #knock #Knicks #secure #Easts #ninth #seed">Deadspin | Hornets knock off Knicks to secure East’s ninth seed  Apr 12, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) dribbles up court against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Coby White each scored 19 points as the visiting Charlotte Hornets earned the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday.  Ball made five 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and six assists for Charlotte (44-38), which will host the Miami Heat in a No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game on Wednesday. Kon Knueppel finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.  New York (53-29) had nothing to play for after already clinching the East’s No. 3 seed. With most of their regulars sitting out, the Knicks started Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Mikal Bridges, Mohamed Diawara and Ariel Hukporti.  Bridges’ consecutive games played streak reached 638 with his brief appearance.  Bridges is the NBA’s active leader in consecutive regular-season games played and was replaced by Jordan Clarkson just 23 seconds into the contest as part of a plan by coach Mike Brown to keep the streak intact.  McBride made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points for New York, which had its five-game winning streak come to an end. Alvarado had 16 points, Kevin McCullar Jr. added a career-high 14, Pacome Dadiet scored a career-high 12, and Jeremy Sochan also tallied 12.  New York will face the East’s No. 6 seed in a first-round series beginning either Saturday or Sunday.   The Hornets shot 45.9% from the field and 36.5% (19 of 52) from 3-point range.  Ten different players played at least 12 minutes for New York, which connected on 43.3% of its shots from the field and 32.5% (13 of 40) from beyond the arc.  Charlotte led 30-20 at the end of the opening quarter and extended its lead to 50-35 on Miller’s two foul shots with 3:34 left in the second. The Hornets took a 57-44 lead into the half.  Knueppel drilled one of his three 3-pointers to give the Hornets a 69-54 lead with 8:53 left in the third quarter. Charlotte held an 87-73 advantage at the end of the period.  The Hornets maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and led 108-91 on Sion James’s trey with 3:02 remaining.  Both teams garnered a dozen offensive rebounds, but Charlotte outscored New York, 26-12 on second chance points.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Hornets #knock #Knicks #secure #Easts #ninth #seed

The NBA’s 65-game rule is wreaking havoc on the awards landscape to end the 2025-26 season. Luka Doncic won’t be eligible for MVP, Cade Cunningham doesn’t qualify for the First-Team All-NBA honors he deserves, and Anthony Edwards didn’t play enough games for an All-NBA nod, either.

This year will be remembered for another close MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic — only this time, Victor Wembanyama made it a three man choice. Wembanyama’s ascension is the biggest story of the season, even if it isn’t surprising for a player getting compared to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a year before he was drafted. Wembanyama will be the favorite to win MVP next season, and he’ll almost certainly win the league’s top individual honor at least a few times in his career, but he’s not quite there yet.

With the regular season now over, here’s our picks for every NBA award this season.

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Nikola Jokic has been the best player in the world for the last five years, but this is the season Gilgeous-Alexander stole that title away from him. It’s excruciating not to give Jokic his fourth MVP after a season where he led the league in both rebounds and assists while scoring just about as well as ever, but it’s a testament to SGA’s level that he’s still ultimately most deserving of the honor. Don’t believe the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is simply a free throw merchant (Austin Reaves had a higher free throw rate this year) or that OKC’s success is only about its defense. Switch SGA with even another offensive star like Jalen Brunson, and there would be so many more holes to pick in the Thunder. He was already the best guard alive even before he unleashed a deadly step-back three-pointer this year, which he used to win several games at the buzzer. Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 45.3 points per 100 possession on 66.5 percent true shooting is simply absurd stuff for a 6’6 guy. He’s legitimately one of the best guards the league has seen post-Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry is really the only guard I feel comfortable saying had an objectively higher peak in the time since. SGA crushed Jokic in EPM (+9.3 to Jokic’s +8.0) and estimated wins (+19.1 to +17.1) this year. Some of the other advanced stats slightly favor Jokic or even Wembanyama, but Shai grades out as an elite player in all of them, and the Thunder would have been nowhere close to 64 wins without him, especially in a year where Jalen Williams barely played. Wemby is coming for the Best in the World title next season, but SGA has it for now, along with what should be his second MVP.

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

There’s no need to spend much time on this one. Apologies to Bill Russell, but Wembanyama is already maybe the best defensive player in league history at age-22. With an 8-foot wingspan, incredible speed, and a high motor, he’s going to win this award every year for the foreseeable future as long as he plays enough games. If Wembanyama weren’t eligible this season, I’d go with Chet Holmgren as a distant second choice.

Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel

I went longer on this year’s Rookie of the Year race last week, but Knueppel deserves the award over his college teammate Cooper Flagg because he was simply a better and more impactful player this season. Knueppel’s shooting and screening have been elite traits from day one. I’d say he’s been a top-50 player in the entire league as a rookie. Flagg would still go No. 1 in a redraft, but Knueppel has been the NBA’s best rookie this season, and I honestly don’t think it’s all that close.

Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson

I agree with Mat Issa’s analysis of the Sixth Man of the Year race: this is Keldon Johnson vs. Jaime Jaquez, and Johnson has a slight edge for being a little bit more impactful.

Coach of the Year: JB Bickerstaff

I considered Joe Mazzula, Jordan Ott, and Charles Lee for this honor, but ultimately Bickerstaff deserves the nod for getting this Pistons team from 14 wins to 44 wins to 60 wins. I felt like Detroit downgraded over the offseason by losing Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley among others, but Bickerstaff got the most out of the defense, developed two-way guard Daniss Jenkins into a key contributor, and found ways to prioritize Jalen Duren offensively as he made a huge leap. Bickerstaff deserves a lot of credit for Detroit going 13-5 without Cade Cunningham this season, and he’s the brains behind the league’s No. 2 overall defense. The Pistons’ preseason over/under was only 46.5 wins. No one thought this would be the best team in the East this season, and Bickerstaff’s fingerprints are all over their success. The Monty Williams era seems so long ago at this point, and that might be Bickerstaff’s biggest accomplishment yet.

Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexnader led the league with 175 points in the clutch this season. Jamal Murray (166) and Nikola Jokic (155) were second and third in that category, but unlike Denver’s star duo, SGA didn’t really have anyone else to take the pressure off him in late-game situations. Chet Holmgren was the only other Thunder player to finish top-100 in clutch points this year by checking in at No. 49. The development of his step-back, like the game-winner against Denver above, is going to make him so much harder to guard in the playoffs.

Most Improved Player: Jalen Duren

There are plenty of worthy candidates for this award, but it still feels like it’s going to come down to Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Duren. I’m going with the Pistons center because I feel like the leap he made this season — going from a pretty good starter to a potential All-NBA nod — is more difficult than the one NAW made. I had Duren at No. 5 on my 2022 draft board, so I always believed he had this type of development in him coming out of Memphis. Duren was the NBA’s youngest player as a rookie, and he was the first guy to enter the league who was born after LeBron’s debut. It’s wild to think he’s still only 22 years old, and he’s younger than several projected first-round picks in the 2026 draft, including Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Haugh, and of course Yaxel Lendeborg. His ability to attack off the dribble just exploded this year, and he also became more efficient from short mid-range, while continuing to crush the glass at both ends. Detroit’s offense scored 122 points per 100 possessions with Duren on the floor this year for more than 1,800 minutes — which would have led the league. When he was off, the team only scored 114.7 points per 100. His free throw improvement from 66.9 percent last year to 74.7 percent this year is also part of the story. Duren’s defense can still get better, and he’s got plenty of time for that. He’s one of the best centers in the league right now, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming before this season started.

NBA All-Defensive Team picks

First team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White, Rudy Gobert

Second team: Scottie Barnes, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, OG Anunoby, Cason Wallace

First team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell

Second team: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, LaMelo Ball

Third team: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Jalen Brunson, Scottie Barnes

#NBA #awards #picks #honor #including #MVP #Rookie #Year #AllNBA">NBA awards picks for every honor, including MVP, Rookie of the Year, All-NBA, and more  The NBA’s 65-game rule is wreaking havoc on the awards landscape to end the 2025-26 season. Luka Doncic won’t be eligible for MVP, Cade Cunningham doesn’t qualify for the First-Team All-NBA honors he deserves, and Anthony Edwards didn’t play enough games for an All-NBA nod, either.This year will be remembered for another close MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic — only this time, Victor Wembanyama made it a three man choice. Wembanyama’s ascension is the biggest story of the season, even if it isn’t surprising for a player getting compared to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a year before he was drafted. Wembanyama will be the favorite to win MVP next season, and he’ll almost certainly win the league’s top individual honor at least a few times in his career, but he’s not quite there yet.With the regular season now over, here’s our picks for every NBA award this season.MVP: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderNikola Jokic has been the best player in the world for the last five years, but this is the season Gilgeous-Alexander stole that title away from him. It’s excruciating not to give Jokic his fourth MVP after a season where he led the league in both rebounds and assists while scoring just about as well as ever, but it’s a testament to SGA’s level that he’s still ultimately most deserving of the honor. Don’t believe the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is simply a free throw merchant (Austin Reaves had a higher free throw rate this year) or that OKC’s success is only about its defense. Switch SGA with even another offensive star like Jalen Brunson, and there would be so many more holes to pick in the Thunder. He was already the best guard alive even before he unleashed a deadly step-back three-pointer this year, which he used to win several games at the buzzer. Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 45.3 points per 100 possession on 66.5 percent true shooting is simply absurd stuff for a 6’6 guy. He’s legitimately one of the best guards the league has seen post-Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry is really the only guard I feel comfortable saying had an objectively higher peak in the time since. SGA crushed Jokic in EPM (+9.3 to Jokic’s +8.0) and estimated wins (+19.1 to +17.1) this year. Some of the other advanced stats slightly favor Jokic or even Wembanyama, but Shai grades out as an elite player in all of them, and the Thunder would have been nowhere close to 64 wins without him, especially in a year where Jalen Williams barely played. Wemby is coming for the Best in the World title next season, but SGA has it for now, along with what should be his second MVP.Defensive Player of the Year: Victor WembanyamaThere’s no need to spend much time on this one. Apologies to Bill Russell, but Wembanyama is already maybe the best defensive player in league history at age-22. With an 8-foot wingspan, incredible speed, and a high motor, he’s going to win this award every year for the foreseeable future as long as he plays enough games. If Wembanyama weren’t eligible this season, I’d go with Chet Holmgren as a distant second choice.Rookie of the Year: Kon KnueppelI went longer on this year’s Rookie of the Year race last week, but Knueppel deserves the award over his college teammate Cooper Flagg because he was simply a better and more impactful player this season. Knueppel’s shooting and screening have been elite traits from day one. I’d say he’s been a top-50 player in the entire league as a rookie. Flagg would still go No. 1 in a redraft, but Knueppel has been the NBA’s best rookie this season, and I honestly don’t think it’s all that close.Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon JohnsonI agree with Mat Issa’s analysis of the Sixth Man of the Year race: this is Keldon Johnson vs. Jaime Jaquez, and Johnson has a slight edge for being a little bit more impactful.Coach of the Year: JB BickerstaffI considered Joe Mazzula, Jordan Ott, and Charles Lee for this honor, but ultimately Bickerstaff deserves the nod for getting this Pistons team from 14 wins to 44 wins to 60 wins. I felt like Detroit downgraded over the offseason by losing Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley among others, but Bickerstaff got the most out of the defense, developed two-way guard Daniss Jenkins into a key contributor, and found ways to prioritize Jalen Duren offensively as he made a huge leap. Bickerstaff deserves a lot of credit for Detroit going 13-5 without Cade Cunningham this season, and he’s the brains behind the league’s No. 2 overall defense. The Pistons’ preseason over/under was only 46.5 wins. No one thought this would be the best team in the East this season, and Bickerstaff’s fingerprints are all over their success. The Monty Williams era seems so long ago at this point, and that might be Bickerstaff’s biggest accomplishment yet.Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexnader led the league with 175 points in the clutch this season. Jamal Murray (166) and Nikola Jokic (155) were second and third in that category, but unlike Denver’s star duo, SGA didn’t really have anyone else to take the pressure off him in late-game situations. Chet Holmgren was the only other Thunder player to finish top-100 in clutch points this year by checking in at No. 49. The development of his step-back, like the game-winner against Denver above, is going to make him so much harder to guard in the playoffs.Most Improved Player: Jalen DurenThere are plenty of worthy candidates for this award, but it still feels like it’s going to come down to Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Duren. I’m going with the Pistons center because I feel like the leap he made this season — going from a pretty good starter to a potential All-NBA nod — is more difficult than the one NAW made. I had Duren at No. 5 on my 2022 draft board, so I always believed he had this type of development in him coming out of Memphis. Duren was the NBA’s youngest player as a rookie, and he was the first guy to enter the league who was born after LeBron’s debut. It’s wild to think he’s still only 22 years old, and he’s younger than several projected first-round picks in the 2026 draft, including Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Haugh, and of course Yaxel Lendeborg. His ability to attack off the dribble just exploded this year, and he also became more efficient from short mid-range, while continuing to crush the glass at both ends. Detroit’s offense scored 122 points per 100 possessions with Duren on the floor this year for more than 1,800 minutes — which would have led the league. When he was off, the team only scored 114.7 points per 100. His free throw improvement from 66.9 percent last year to 74.7 percent this year is also part of the story. Duren’s defense can still get better, and he’s got plenty of time for that. He’s one of the best centers in the league right now, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming before this season started.NBA All-Defensive Team picksFirst team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White, Rudy GobertSecond team: Scottie Barnes, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, OG Anunoby, Cason WallaceFirst team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan MitchellSecond team: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, LaMelo BallThird team: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Jalen Brunson, Scottie Barnes  #NBA #awards #picks #honor #including #MVP #Rookie #Year #AllNBA

NBA’s 65-game rule is wreaking havoc on the awards landscape to end the 2025-26 season. Luka Doncic won’t be eligible for MVP, Cade Cunningham doesn’t qualify for the First-Team All-NBA honors he deserves, and Anthony Edwards didn’t play enough games for an All-NBA nod, either.

This year will be remembered for another close MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic — only this time, Victor Wembanyama made it a three man choice. Wembanyama’s ascension is the biggest story of the season, even if it isn’t surprising for a player getting compared to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a year before he was drafted. Wembanyama will be the favorite to win MVP next season, and he’ll almost certainly win the league’s top individual honor at least a few times in his career, but he’s not quite there yet.

With the regular season now over, here’s our picks for every NBA award this season.

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Nikola Jokic has been the best player in the world for the last five years, but this is the season Gilgeous-Alexander stole that title away from him. It’s excruciating not to give Jokic his fourth MVP after a season where he led the league in both rebounds and assists while scoring just about as well as ever, but it’s a testament to SGA’s level that he’s still ultimately most deserving of the honor. Don’t believe the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is simply a free throw merchant (Austin Reaves had a higher free throw rate this year) or that OKC’s success is only about its defense. Switch SGA with even another offensive star like Jalen Brunson, and there would be so many more holes to pick in the Thunder. He was already the best guard alive even before he unleashed a deadly step-back three-pointer this year, which he used to win several games at the buzzer. Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 45.3 points per 100 possession on 66.5 percent true shooting is simply absurd stuff for a 6’6 guy. He’s legitimately one of the best guards the league has seen post-Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry is really the only guard I feel comfortable saying had an objectively higher peak in the time since. SGA crushed Jokic in EPM (+9.3 to Jokic’s +8.0) and estimated wins (+19.1 to +17.1) this year. Some of the other advanced stats slightly favor Jokic or even Wembanyama, but Shai grades out as an elite player in all of them, and the Thunder would have been nowhere close to 64 wins without him, especially in a year where Jalen Williams barely played. Wemby is coming for the Best in the World title next season, but SGA has it for now, along with what should be his second MVP.

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

There’s no need to spend much time on this one. Apologies to Bill Russell, but Wembanyama is already maybe the best defensive player in league history at age-22. With an 8-foot wingspan, incredible speed, and a high motor, he’s going to win this award every year for the foreseeable future as long as he plays enough games. If Wembanyama weren’t eligible this season, I’d go with Chet Holmgren as a distant second choice.

Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel

I went longer on this year’s Rookie of the Year race last week, but Knueppel deserves the award over his college teammate Cooper Flagg because he was simply a better and more impactful player this season. Knueppel’s shooting and screening have been elite traits from day one. I’d say he’s been a top-50 player in the entire league as a rookie. Flagg would still go No. 1 in a redraft, but Knueppel has been the NBA’s best rookie this season, and I honestly don’t think it’s all that close.

Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson

I agree with Mat Issa’s analysis of the Sixth Man of the Year race: this is Keldon Johnson vs. Jaime Jaquez, and Johnson has a slight edge for being a little bit more impactful.

Coach of the Year: JB Bickerstaff

I considered Joe Mazzula, Jordan Ott, and Charles Lee for this honor, but ultimately Bickerstaff deserves the nod for getting this Pistons team from 14 wins to 44 wins to 60 wins. I felt like Detroit downgraded over the offseason by losing Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley among others, but Bickerstaff got the most out of the defense, developed two-way guard Daniss Jenkins into a key contributor, and found ways to prioritize Jalen Duren offensively as he made a huge leap. Bickerstaff deserves a lot of credit for Detroit going 13-5 without Cade Cunningham this season, and he’s the brains behind the league’s No. 2 overall defense. The Pistons’ preseason over/under was only 46.5 wins. No one thought this would be the best team in the East this season, and Bickerstaff’s fingerprints are all over their success. The Monty Williams era seems so long ago at this point, and that might be Bickerstaff’s biggest accomplishment yet.

Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexnader led the league with 175 points in the clutch this season. Jamal Murray (166) and Nikola Jokic (155) were second and third in that category, but unlike Denver’s star duo, SGA didn’t really have anyone else to take the pressure off him in late-game situations. Chet Holmgren was the only other Thunder player to finish top-100 in clutch points this year by checking in at No. 49. The development of his step-back, like the game-winner against Denver above, is going to make him so much harder to guard in the playoffs.

Most Improved Player: Jalen Duren

There are plenty of worthy candidates for this award, but it still feels like it’s going to come down to Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Duren. I’m going with the Pistons center because I feel like the leap he made this season — going from a pretty good starter to a potential All-NBA nod — is more difficult than the one NAW made. I had Duren at No. 5 on my 2022 draft board, so I always believed he had this type of development in him coming out of Memphis. Duren was the NBA’s youngest player as a rookie, and he was the first guy to enter the league who was born after LeBron’s debut. It’s wild to think he’s still only 22 years old, and he’s younger than several projected first-round picks in the 2026 draft, including Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Haugh, and of course Yaxel Lendeborg. His ability to attack off the dribble just exploded this year, and he also became more efficient from short mid-range, while continuing to crush the glass at both ends. Detroit’s offense scored 122 points per 100 possessions with Duren on the floor this year for more than 1,800 minutes — which would have led the league. When he was off, the team only scored 114.7 points per 100. His free throw improvement from 66.9 percent last year to 74.7 percent this year is also part of the story. Duren’s defense can still get better, and he’s got plenty of time for that. He’s one of the best centers in the league right now, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming before this season started.

NBA All-Defensive Team picks

First team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White, Rudy Gobert

Second team: Scottie Barnes, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, OG Anunoby, Cason Wallace

First team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell

Second team: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, LaMelo Ball

Third team: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Jalen Brunson, Scottie Barnes

#NBA #awards #picks #honor #including #MVP #Rookie #Year #AllNBA">NBA awards picks for every honor, including MVP, Rookie of the Year, All-NBA, and more

The NBA’s 65-game rule is wreaking havoc on the awards landscape to end the 2025-26 season. Luka Doncic won’t be eligible for MVP, Cade Cunningham doesn’t qualify for the First-Team All-NBA honors he deserves, and Anthony Edwards didn’t play enough games for an All-NBA nod, either.

This year will be remembered for another close MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic — only this time, Victor Wembanyama made it a three man choice. Wembanyama’s ascension is the biggest story of the season, even if it isn’t surprising for a player getting compared to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a year before he was drafted. Wembanyama will be the favorite to win MVP next season, and he’ll almost certainly win the league’s top individual honor at least a few times in his career, but he’s not quite there yet.

With the regular season now over, here’s our picks for every NBA award this season.

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Nikola Jokic has been the best player in the world for the last five years, but this is the season Gilgeous-Alexander stole that title away from him. It’s excruciating not to give Jokic his fourth MVP after a season where he led the league in both rebounds and assists while scoring just about as well as ever, but it’s a testament to SGA’s level that he’s still ultimately most deserving of the honor. Don’t believe the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is simply a free throw merchant (Austin Reaves had a higher free throw rate this year) or that OKC’s success is only about its defense. Switch SGA with even another offensive star like Jalen Brunson, and there would be so many more holes to pick in the Thunder. He was already the best guard alive even before he unleashed a deadly step-back three-pointer this year, which he used to win several games at the buzzer. Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 45.3 points per 100 possession on 66.5 percent true shooting is simply absurd stuff for a 6’6 guy. He’s legitimately one of the best guards the league has seen post-Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry is really the only guard I feel comfortable saying had an objectively higher peak in the time since. SGA crushed Jokic in EPM (+9.3 to Jokic’s +8.0) and estimated wins (+19.1 to +17.1) this year. Some of the other advanced stats slightly favor Jokic or even Wembanyama, but Shai grades out as an elite player in all of them, and the Thunder would have been nowhere close to 64 wins without him, especially in a year where Jalen Williams barely played. Wemby is coming for the Best in the World title next season, but SGA has it for now, along with what should be his second MVP.

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

There’s no need to spend much time on this one. Apologies to Bill Russell, but Wembanyama is already maybe the best defensive player in league history at age-22. With an 8-foot wingspan, incredible speed, and a high motor, he’s going to win this award every year for the foreseeable future as long as he plays enough games. If Wembanyama weren’t eligible this season, I’d go with Chet Holmgren as a distant second choice.

Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel

I went longer on this year’s Rookie of the Year race last week, but Knueppel deserves the award over his college teammate Cooper Flagg because he was simply a better and more impactful player this season. Knueppel’s shooting and screening have been elite traits from day one. I’d say he’s been a top-50 player in the entire league as a rookie. Flagg would still go No. 1 in a redraft, but Knueppel has been the NBA’s best rookie this season, and I honestly don’t think it’s all that close.

Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson

I agree with Mat Issa’s analysis of the Sixth Man of the Year race: this is Keldon Johnson vs. Jaime Jaquez, and Johnson has a slight edge for being a little bit more impactful.

Coach of the Year: JB Bickerstaff

I considered Joe Mazzula, Jordan Ott, and Charles Lee for this honor, but ultimately Bickerstaff deserves the nod for getting this Pistons team from 14 wins to 44 wins to 60 wins. I felt like Detroit downgraded over the offseason by losing Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley among others, but Bickerstaff got the most out of the defense, developed two-way guard Daniss Jenkins into a key contributor, and found ways to prioritize Jalen Duren offensively as he made a huge leap. Bickerstaff deserves a lot of credit for Detroit going 13-5 without Cade Cunningham this season, and he’s the brains behind the league’s No. 2 overall defense. The Pistons’ preseason over/under was only 46.5 wins. No one thought this would be the best team in the East this season, and Bickerstaff’s fingerprints are all over their success. The Monty Williams era seems so long ago at this point, and that might be Bickerstaff’s biggest accomplishment yet.

Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexnader led the league with 175 points in the clutch this season. Jamal Murray (166) and Nikola Jokic (155) were second and third in that category, but unlike Denver’s star duo, SGA didn’t really have anyone else to take the pressure off him in late-game situations. Chet Holmgren was the only other Thunder player to finish top-100 in clutch points this year by checking in at No. 49. The development of his step-back, like the game-winner against Denver above, is going to make him so much harder to guard in the playoffs.

Most Improved Player: Jalen Duren

There are plenty of worthy candidates for this award, but it still feels like it’s going to come down to Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Duren. I’m going with the Pistons center because I feel like the leap he made this season — going from a pretty good starter to a potential All-NBA nod — is more difficult than the one NAW made. I had Duren at No. 5 on my 2022 draft board, so I always believed he had this type of development in him coming out of Memphis. Duren was the NBA’s youngest player as a rookie, and he was the first guy to enter the league who was born after LeBron’s debut. It’s wild to think he’s still only 22 years old, and he’s younger than several projected first-round picks in the 2026 draft, including Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Haugh, and of course Yaxel Lendeborg. His ability to attack off the dribble just exploded this year, and he also became more efficient from short mid-range, while continuing to crush the glass at both ends. Detroit’s offense scored 122 points per 100 possessions with Duren on the floor this year for more than 1,800 minutes — which would have led the league. When he was off, the team only scored 114.7 points per 100. His free throw improvement from 66.9 percent last year to 74.7 percent this year is also part of the story. Duren’s defense can still get better, and he’s got plenty of time for that. He’s one of the best centers in the league right now, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming before this season started.

NBA All-Defensive Team picks

First team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White, Rudy Gobert

Second team: Scottie Barnes, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, OG Anunoby, Cason Wallace

First team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell

Second team: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, LaMelo Ball

Third team: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Jalen Brunson, Scottie Barnes

#NBA #awards #picks #honor #including #MVP #Rookie #Year #AllNBA

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