Basketball Intelligence For 4/18/26
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
THE PLAY-IN
Magic answer doubts with powerful Play-In performance
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
Magic bully Hornets to advance to NBA playoffs
The Athletic
Magic, driven by ‘urgency,’ rout Hornets
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN
Jalen Green leads Suns past Warriors
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
Jalen Green carries Suns to playoffs
Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports
Devin Booker’s and Jordan Ott’s trust in the young Suns pays off
Kevin Zimmerman, Arizona Sports
Suns end Warriors’ season
The Athletic
THE PLAYOFFS
What to expect in Thunder-Suns series
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
Thunder vs. Suns NBA playoffs preview
Joel Lorenzi/Doug Haller, The Athletic
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors: Three Keys and a Prediction
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
Pistons vs. Magic NBA playoff preview
Hunter Patterson/Josh Robbins, The Athletic
What to expect in Pistons-Magic series
John Schuhmann, NBA.com
Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic Round One Playoff Preview
Bryce Simon, Motor City Hoops
This is the Magic team everyone expected, and the Pistons are in for a first-round slugfest
Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
3 keys to Nuggets’ first-round series against Timberwolves
Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette
Castle and Spurs Gear Up for Defensive Test Against All-Star Deni Avdija
Paul Garcia, The Spot Up Shot
Lakers-Rockets Preview
Steve Jones, Yahoo Sports
Previews for the first round of the NBA Playoffs
Erik Garcia Gundersen, The Burner NBA
NBA playoff predictions 2026
The Athletic
These seven storylines will define the 2026 NBA playoffs
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
15 fearless predictions for the 2026 NBA playoffs
Tom Ziller, Good Morning It’s Basketball
These Five Rookies Could Impact the NBA Playoffs
Blake Silverman, Sports Illustrated
NBA Playoffs Explained in One Chart Per Team
Lev Akabas, Club Sportico
LEAGUEWIDE
Biggest Winners and Losers From the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season
Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report
TEAM-SPECIFIC
BOS: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum have been teammates for nine years, and the Celtics’ duo think they are still getting better
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
DEN: Why Tim Hardaway Jr. Is So Valuable to the Nuggets
Max Moacanin, Funnyball
GSW: For Warriors, an offseason of uncertainty begins after play-in loss to Suns
Sam Gordon, SF Chronicle
GSW: Steph Curry’s future, Steve Kerr’s contract and the massive questions facing the Warriors
Nick Friedell/Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic
GSW: Kerr to mull future: Jobs have ‘expiration date’
Anthony Slater, ESPN
HOU: Why the youthful Rockets’ hopes rest on Kevin Durant, the oldest man in the room
Kelly Iko, Yahoo Sports
HOU: Rockets have best possible weapon to contain LeBron James in Lakers series
Colin Keane, Lake Show Life
The rest of the team-specific stories, the draft-related stories, and Oscar Schmidt memorials follow for paid subscribers
