During a recent appearance on NBA on Prime, Haliburton broke down why playoff basketball was a different beast entirely. “I just think in the regular season through 82 games you’re gonna have the chance to play teams that are kinda just chilling,” Haliburton said. “I feel like through the course of a playoff series, every play matters so much, the margins are so small.”

Haliburton mentioned this during the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers game as he had been keeping a close eye on his division rivals. On Monday night, that series was tied 2-2 after a 103-112 victory by the Cavaliers.

The Pacers have no luck

The Pacers were one of the biggest losers of the NBA Draft Lottery held Sunday in Chicago. After finishing with the second-worst record in the league behind only the Washington Wizards, who were rewarded with the No. 1 overall pick, the Indianapolis franchise ended up without a first-round selection in what is considered one of the strongest draft classes in recent years.

The situation became even more painful considering the context surrounding the franchise. After losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals and seeing Tyrese Haliburton suffer a serious Achilles tendon injury, the Pacers had already shifted their focus toward building for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

The fatal move by the Pacers

One of the major moves aimed at strengthening the roster for the future was the trade they completed with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac, a deal that carried significant risk from the beginning.

In exchange for the Croatian center of the NBA, Indiana sent its 2026 first-round pick to Los Angeles under highly unusual protections: protected from picks No. 1 through No. 4 and from No. 10 through No. 30. That meant if the selection landed anywhere between No. 5 and No. 9, it belonged to the Clippers, which is exactly what happened.

As part of the package for one of the most sought-after centers on the market, Indiana also sent shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, a 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round selection to Los Angeles.

Indiana traded for Los Angeles‘ Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown on February. In return, the Pacers sent Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, a conditional 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.

The terms on the conditional first-round pick in 2026 meant that if the pick landed outside the top four, the pick would become Clippers’ property. That has now been confirmed, and LA will have a top five selection in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Clippers lose some, win some

Los Angeles avoided a worst-case scenario in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. The Clippers’ original first-round pick had been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the blockbuster Paul George deal back in 2019. Now, every detail of that trade has finally been settled.

The Thunder—who are just one win away from reaching the Western Conference Finals—will own the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft via Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the Clippers avoided disaster when the Pacers—who were tied for the best odds to land the No. 1 pick—fell outside the top four.

As a result, Los Angeles will indeed make a first-round selection in 2026, and it will be a very high one. That’s the beauty—and the ugliness, as fans in Indy will tell you—of the NBA Draft Lottery.

Top 5 picks in 2026

The Washington Wizards have become the first team with the league’s worst record to win the NBA Draft Lottery since the current format was implemented in 2019. As a result, the organization in Washington, D.C., will select first overall in 2026.

The Utah Jazz own the No. 2 pick, while the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls will select third and fourth, respectively. So close, yet so far. The Pacers watched their 19-63 record in the 2025–26 NBA season amount to nothing.

• 1st overall pick: Washington Wizards
• 2nd overall pick: Utah Jazz
• 3rd overall pick: Memphis Grizzlies
• 4th overall pick: Chicago Bulls
• 5th overall pick: Los Angeles Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)

Wembanyama is dealing with soreness in his right ankle, but is available to play for Saturday’s contest between the Spurs and Pacers. His status was cleared before tip-off.

Wembanyama has stated that he wants to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, so he could push to play on Saturday night. He is also coming off Thursday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, where he hit a game-winner and looked in strong form without visible discomfort.

Spurs current form

The Spurs are firmly in second place in the Western Conference, as they are just three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Considering the Pacers hold the worst record in the NBA, this game is not viewed as a marquee matchup.

However, the game could become more complicated, as Wembanyama is not the only key piece who could miss the contest; Stephen Castle has already been ruled out against the Pacers, being an important part of the Spurs’ project. With an NBA playoff spot already secured, health remains the top priority.

Wembanyama’s outstanding level

Victor Wembanyama has been dominant for the Spurs all season long. The three-time All-Star is averaging 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game, while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Wembanyama played in the Spurs’ last game, which ended in a 101-100 win over the Phoenix Suns. He finished that contest with 34 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and three steals, and that victory clinched a playoff berth for San Antonio.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer suffered a left elbow contusion during the loss in Denver. According to the team’s latest official injury report, the Lakers have sidelined him for tonight’s matchup.

The injury occurred with nearly four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when James fell awkwardly after scoring a layup through contact from Nikola Jokic—a play that went unwhistled. James remained on the floor as play continued before eventually heading to the bench, where the medical staff applied ice and a compression sleeve to his left arm.

During the post-game press conference, a visibly frustrated James lashed out at the officiating for failing to call a foul on the play. “It’s the same s—… ‘Marginal’. It’s the same s—. That’s all they keep saying is ‘marginal’. I’m so f— tired of that word. It doesn’t make no sense,” James said.

While James’ injury does not appear to be long-term, the Lakers are also dealing with a setback to Deandre Ayton. The big man exited Thursday’s game in the opening minutes with a knee injury and was unable to return to action.

LeBron James still making NBA history

LeBron James once again etched his name into the NBA record books on Thursday night at Ball Arena. Despite finishing the night with a left elbow injury, James turned in a strong performance, recording 16 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.

The most significant moment of the evening came in the first quarter when he officially surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA regular-season history.

By sinking a 12-foot turnaround jumper over Zeke Nnaji with 12 seconds left in the period, James reached 15,838 career field goals, moving past Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing mark of 15,837.

“At the end of the day, just being linked—and my name being mentioned—with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling and pretty cool,” James told reporters after the Lakers’ loss.

“I grew up watching, reading, and analyzing a lot of the greats. If I was ever able to be a part of the NBA, I wanted to put myself in a position where I could be named with some of the greats by doing something like them. So, that’s pretty cool,” he concluded.

On one side, 76ers star Joel Embiid is listed as available for Monday night’s matchup against the Pacers. Embiid, who has appeared in three straight games, continues to see his minutes and workload managed as the 76ers prioritize keeping him healthy for the postseason, a cautious approach given his injury history.

In addition to Embiid, the 76ers will be without Paul George, who is listed as out. The veteran guard is dealing with left knee injury management and is not suiting up tonight, which would represent another significant setback for Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid’s numbers

The former NBA MVP has appeared in 22 games this season and is averaging 24.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 25.3 percent from three-point range.

Embiid has looked much closer to his usual scoring form this month, averaging 26.3 points per game while shooting 53.2 percent from the field across eight contests, providing optimism for Philadelphia moving forward.

How the 76ers and Pacers arrive

In Friday’s loss to the Cavaliers, Embiid led the 76ers with 33 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 22 points, five rebounds, and nine assists in the defeat.

On the other side, Indiana enters Monday’s contest with a 10-33 record after losing on the road to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Jarace Walker paced the Pacers with 13 points and five rebounds, while Tony Bradley contributed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Victor Wembanyama will not be on the court Friday night against Indiana, as he has been listed as out on the injury report for this game. Still, there is encouraging news for the Spurs, as the absence is not expected to be a long-term one, and the organization remains optimistic about his short-term outlook.

According to Michael C. Wright of ESPN, the MRI on Wembanyama’s hyperextended knee came back clean. As a result, the star center is now considered day-to-day, with the report adding that he is likely to be listed as questionable for the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

This represents one of the most significant absences for the Spurs, who have once again found a franchise player capable of fueling championship aspirations. San Antonio has already shown its potential by defeating the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, three times, with Wembanyama standing out as the most dominant and decisive player in those matchups.

What happened to Wembanyama?

Wembanyama was injured in the fourth quarter of the Spurs’ win over the New York Knicks, hyperextending his knee after landing awkwardly while contesting a rebound alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. The play immediately raised concern, given the impact Wembanyama has on both ends of the floor.

He fell to the court in visible pain before hopping directly to the locker room, though he reassured fans along the way that he was fine. After the game, Wembanyama downplayed the situation, explaining that it was simply a hyperextension and that the issue appeared to be minimal.

Despite the scare, Wembanyama has continued to perform at an elite level this NBA season. He would currently project as an All-Star starter based on fan voting and leads the Spurs while averaging 24 points, 11.6 rebounds, and three blocks per game. The organization has remained confident that the injury will not keep him sidelined for long, allowing him to return once he receives full medical clearance.

Towns is officially listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game due to knee soreness. He is one of several Knicks appearing on the injury report, alongside Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart, all of whom are also listed as questionable, creating uncertainty around the rotation.

There is a strong possibility that Towns does not play, given the demanding schedule the Knicks currently face. This game represents the front end of a back-to-back set, and workload management becomes a factor as the season continues to intensify.

The Knicks are on the road against Indiana tonight, return home to face Philadelphia on Friday, and then travel again to take on the Miami Heat on Sunday. After playing an additional game in Las Vegas, the Knicks now navigate three games in four nights, putting added strain on the roster.

Towns’ numbers

Towns appears on the injury report several times this season, but he misses only one of the team’s first 25 games. The All-Star big man averages 22.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three-point range.

His impact remains significant thanks to his scoring efficiency and floor spacing ability. Towns consistently creates matchup problems for opposing defenses, making his availability a major factor in how the Knicks approach this stretch.

Knicks as NBA Cup champions

On Tuesday, the Knicks extended their winning streak to five games by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124–113 to capture the NBA Cup. Jalen Brunson earned MVP honors, but Towns’ performance also played a key role in the title run.

Towns delivered a solid outing in the final, posting 16 points, 11 rebounds, and one assist in 30 minutes of action. He contributes on both ends of the floor, helping stabilize the Knicks defensively while reinforcing why his presence remains crucial as the team pushes forward in the regular season.

Embiid, who has played only nine games since returning from left knee surgery, is listed as probable for the meeting with the Pacers. The former MVP continues to work his way back into rhythm as he adjusts to his minute-management plan.

Maxey initially shared the same probable designation, but he has since been downgraded to questionable due to illness. According to NBA Underdog, he has now been ruled out, leaving Philadelphia in a difficult position given how essential he has been to their offensive structure.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse has benefited from having his dynamic guard on the floor throughout the NBA season, which has allowed him to be cautious with Embiid’s playing time and overall workload as the big man continues his recovery.

The difference in consistency between Embiid and Maxey

After the Sixers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, when Embiid shot 4-for-21 from the field, the former NBA MVP noted that the next major step in his knee-management program would be playing twice within a three-day span.

The Sixers had four days off following that defeat to the Lakers, and after Friday’s game against the Pacers, they will prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday before another four-day break.

Maxey, who leads the NBA in both total minutes and minutes per game, is the only member of the 76ers to appear in every contest this season. He has been listed on the injury report twice, both in late November, but did not miss time on either occasion as he continues to prove his durability.

According to the latest official NBA injury report, the Nuggets have listed Nikola Jokic as probable (left wrist sprain) and Jamal Murray as questionable (right ankle sprain) for tonight’s contest in Indiana.

A positive signal for Denver fans is that both players were also included on the injury report for the previous contest against the Mavericks, where they ultimately played significant minutes.

Up to this point, Jokic has not missed any games this season and remains the undisputed leader of the Nuggets. The Serbian is averaging 29 points on 62.1% shooting from the field and 43.8% from deep, and he leads the league with 12.8 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game.

On Murray’s side, he has only missed one game this season and is a vital piece of David Adelman’s team. The Canadian guard is averaging a career-high 23.3 points along with 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 19 games, while he is shooting 48.3% from the floor and 41.5% from deep.

Complete injury report for both teams

The Nuggets hope to have both stars in the lineup as they are dealing with several injuries: Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), and Julian Strawther (lower back injury management) are all ruled out for the game against the Pacers.

However, the Pacers are dealing with more serious roster depletion. They still cannot count on star Tyrese Haliburton, who is recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.

Pacers players ruled out for tonight include: Quenton Jackson (right hamstring strain), Kam Jones (lower back), Aaron Nesmith (left knee sprain), and Obi Toppin (right foot). Additionally, Johnny Furphy (left ankle sprain) is listed as questionable.

Darius Garland could make his return from injury on Friday, as he is listed as questionable for the game against the Pacers. The update aligns with earlier reports from Wednesday suggesting the guard was nearing a return to game action.

The report regarding Garland’s potential comeback against Indiana came from Shams Charania, and the possibility now appears realistic. Garland has appeared in only three games this season while dealing with a lingering toe issue that also bothered him at the end of last year.

In his three appearances this NBA season, Garland has averaged 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists in 24 minutes per game. He has yet to rediscover the rhythm he showed last season, but if he manages to stay healthy from this point forward, he will remain one of Cleveland’s key players to watch.

How the teams enter the matchup

Beyond Garland, the Cavs have several other names on their injury report. Jarrett Allen is also questionable with a right finger strain, while rookie Jaylon Tyson remains in concussion protocol. Sam Merrill will miss his second straight game due to a right hand sprain.

Cleveland enter the night at 10-6 and face a Pacers group that look very different from the team that eliminated the Cavs in the second round last spring. The Cavs are trying to position themselves once again among the top teams in their conference this season.

Indiana, meanwhile, are 2-13 and have been hit hard by injuries, headlined by Tyrese Haliburton’s ruptured Achilles suffered in Game 7 of last year’s Finals. Haliburton dominated Cleveland in that postseason series and was central to Indiana’s run.

The Pacers also lost Myles Turner in free agency to the Bucks and have been without key rotation pieces such as Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin. What was a Finals-caliber roster six months ago is now a patchwork group simply trying to stay afloat.

Guard Cade Cunningham has missed the team’s last two games with a hip injury, and he is listed as out for Monday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers.

Cunningham suffered the injury in an overtime win over the Washington Wizards, where he fell hard on his hip during a drive to the basket. The All-Star guard delivered a massive performance in that game, posting a 46-point triple-double — even if it took him 45 shot attempts to get there.

There is a strong possibility that the Pistons ultimately decide to sit Cunningham tonight, especially considering Detroit has a back-to-back and will face a far tougher opponent in the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Detroit, which has won nine straight games, should still be capable of beating the Pacers even if Cunningham does not suit up.

What happened to Cunningham?

Cunningham suffered a hard fall late in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards after Cam Whitmore fouled him during a dunk attempt. He briefly went to the locker room, returned to the floor, and finished the fourth quarter and overtime.

He closed the night with a career-high 46 points (on a franchise-record 45 field-goal attempts), 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals, and only two turnovers in 45 minutes, leading the Pistons to a 137–135 OT victory.

How both teams arrive

The Detroit Pistons enter the night as leaders of the conference with an 11–2 record, coming off a recent 114–105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Cup. Detroit has looked like one of the league’s best teams through the early stretch of the season and appears to be a legitimate title contender, strengthened by last year’s playoff experience.

The Indiana Pacers, meanwhile, find themselves in the opposite situation. After coming within one win of reaching the NBA Finals last season, they are now dealing with significant injuries — including to star guard Tyrese Haliburton — which have derailed their momentum and turned them into one of the league’s weakest teams. They sit near the bottom of the standings with a disappointing 2–11 record.