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Post-Play-In Update On 2025 Draft Order, Lottery Standings

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

As we explained on Monday following the conclusion of the NBA’s 2024/25 regular season, the results of the play-in tournament helped move the lottery standings and the 2025 draft order one step closer to being officially set. Here’s what we know now…Lottery teamsBecause No. 10 Miami made it through the play-in tournament and earned a playoff spot in the East, the lottery teams (and odds) are slightly different from the ones we projected on Monday.
Grizzlies Claim West's Final Playoff Spot

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

The Grizzlies locked up the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a convincing win over the Mavericks on Friday night in Memphis. The Grizzlies scored the first seven points of the game and built a double-digit lead within the first five minutes. They never trailed en route to a 120-106 victory, locking up the No. 8 seed in the West and lining up a first-round series with the top-seeded Thunder.
And-Ones: Expansion, Playoff Schedule, Awards, Betting Scandal

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday (Twitter video link), commissioner Adam Silver once again addressed the topic of possible NBA expansion. Silver has said in the past that he wanted to finalize the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement and TV/media deals before looking seriously at bringing new teams into the NBA. That new CBA was implemented in 2023 and the new media deals will take effect later this year, clearing a path for expansion discussions to finally begin in earnest.
Heat Become First No. 10 Seed To Win Two Play-In Games

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

For a third straight year, the Heat have earned the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot via the play-in tournament. This time around, Miami made history by becoming the first No. 10 seed to make it through the play-in tournament since the event’s inception in 2021. After defeating the No. 9 Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday, the Heat registered their second consecutive road play-in win in Atlanta on Friday against the No. 8 Hawks.
Ja Morant Available For Friday’s Play-In Game

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

The Grizzlies will have their star point guard available on Friday vs. Dallas as they look to clinch the eighth and final playoff seed in the West. After testing out his injured ankle during pregame warmups, Ja Morant will be in Memphis’ starting lineup, tweets Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Morant turned his right ankle in the third quarter of Tuesday’s loss to Golden State when he came down on Buddy Hield‘s foot.
Saraf, Yang, Almansa Among Draft's Latest Early Entrants

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

Israeli guard Ben Saraf has decided to enter the 2025 NBA draft, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Saraf, who is the No. 23 player on ESPN’s big board of 2025 prospects, plays overseas for the German team Ratiopharm Ulm. In 16 EuroCup games this season, the 19-year-old has averaged 12.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 24.4 minutes per contest. “This is the right time for me,” Saraf said.
Pacific Notes: Butler, Booker, Clippers, Lakers

5 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

Although six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has never won an NBA championship, he told Sam Amick of The Athletic this week that, as the playoffs get underway, he’s thinking more about getting a fifth title for two of his Warriors teammates than getting one for himself. “Look, I’m not gonna say I’m not hungry, but I’m doing this for Steph (Curry),” Butler said. “I’m doing this for Dray (Draymond Green). I’m doing this for these guys.
Western Notes: Popovich, Durant, Rockets, Thompson, Randle, DiVincenzo

6 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who spent most of the season away from the team while recovering from a stroke, was taken to a hospital on Tuesday following a medical incident at a restaurant, as first reported by TMZ and confirmed by Shams Charania of ESPN. According to TMZ, Popovich was taken out of the restaurant on a stretcher and was transported to a hospital in an ambulance after officials reportedly received a call about a patron who had “fainted” while eating dinner.
Poll: Who Will Win Friday's Play-In Games?

6 days ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

The higher seed came out on top in each of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games on Tuesday, but the two lower seeds pulled off upsets in the No. 9 vs. 10 contests on Wednesday, setting up a pair of No. 8 vs. 10 matchups on Friday to determine the final playoff teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences. In the East, the No. 10 Heat will visit the No. 8 Hawks in a second consecutive battle of divisional rivals for Atlanta.
Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/17/2025

1 week ago | hoopsrumors.com | Luke Adams

April 17th 2025 at 11:51am CST by Luke Adams Hoops Rumors is hosting a live chat today at 1:00 pm Central time (2:00 pm Eastern). Click here to submit your questions about any NBA-related topic, including the play-in tournament, the playoffs, the lottery teams, free agency, extension candidates, trade candidates, the salary cap, or the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Then join us at 1 pm CT to chat!