🤩 The Playoffs are BACK!
LA advanced and SacTown survived… is the Steph/Klay/Dray era over?

📰 Hoops News Roundup
An injury update, a Coach of the Year selection, and more.

🏀 Draft Night in the W
Breaking down a few of our favorite picks from Monday’s WNBA draft!

Brutal Zion injury halts Pelicans’ surge, Lakers hang on 110-106

We can tell this is going to be one of those “what-if” games that fans will talk about for years. Down 18 in the third, New Orleans stormed back into this game on the back of Spartanburg, South Carolina’s finest. Zion Williamson powered his way to the rim again and again down the stretch, as his season-high 40 points (along with a couple deeeep Trey Murphy threes) helped the Pels tie the game up with under 5 minutes remaining. 

Then, disaster struck. Zion grimaced in pain after a make and headed to the locker room with an apparent hamstring injury. Despite a valiant effort, New Orleans just wasn't able to hang with LA without Z, as DLo hit the game-sealing dagger right in front of the Pelicans bench: 🥶

But don't let the injury discredit the Lakers’ performance! LeBron couldn't seem to get anything to fall late, but he still controlled the game with some cerebral playmaking (plus this sweet throwback move) and AD imposed his will on the boards at critical moments all night to secure the W. It’s on to Denver for the Lakers! 💪

🏀 🏀 🏀

Kings demolish Warriors 118-94 to keep playoff hopes alive

A year after losing game seven on their home court, the Kings got the sweetest of revenge on Golden State. 

From the opening tip, Sacramento took control of this game and really never looked back. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis both had their usual stellar moments, but the real star of the show was without a doubt Keegan Murray. The sophomore out of Iowa rained threes with impunity, burying eight of them things on his way to 32 points. 🔥 

But more than anything they did with the rock, it was the Kings’ Herculean effort on defense to get the ball out of Steph Curry's hands that really made the difference. And this is where we have to to give a standing ovation to Keon Ellis, who stuck on the NBA's three point king like glue all night. From playing in less than 20 games last season to clamping a legend and dropping 15-4-5 with six stocks in the play-in—what a difference a year can make!

It was great to see the Beam Team thrive, but it's hard as basketball fans not to be at least a little bittersweet knowing this might be the last time we ever seen Steph, Klay, and Draymond share the court. Four rings and countless memories later—thanks for everything, y'all. 🙏

🧠 Daily Trivia 🧠 

🏀 4-Point Play for Steph
Chef Curry leaves us with one last highlight to end the year

2️⃣ The Fever’s Finest
Aliyah Boston interviewed her future teammate before the draft.

🔥 Anuel AA x Connect the Dots
The Puerto Rican rapper talked about his love of hoops and more!

What We’re Enjoying

The Bench Seat: You already know we had to shout out certified Enjoyer Georges Niang on his new project! Niang teamed up with content creator Kevin Speez to launch a podcast called The Bench Seat, and we’re loving every minute of it. Check out their latest episode with a special guest you just may have heard of…