WAKE UP! It’s playoff time.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Jalen Williams and WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper! 🎉

Regular Season Wrap-Up

Harden, Kawhi outduel Curry, Jimmy in 124-119 OT battle for playoff spot

In the wild, wild West, it’s only right that the battle for one of the final playoff spots went down to the wire.

In a face-off between playoff hopefuls, the surging Clippers snuck past the Warriors in OT behind a pair of big-time performances from James Harden (39 PTS, 10 AST, 8 REB) and Kawhi Leonard (33 PTS, 7 AST, 3 STL). Golden State got its own memorable duo of performances, with Steph Curry going for 36 PTS and Jimmy adding 30, but the Dubs missed a potential game-winning three-pointer, giving the Clips the 5-seed and sending the Warriors to the play-in.

This matchup had everything you could ask for in a regular season game: stakes, stars, and a nail-biting ending. With MVPs and champions on both sides, it felt more like a Game 7 than a seeding battle—if this is any preview of the tournament to come, we’ve got a fun few weeks in store.

Pacers overcome 27-point deficit, stun Cavs 126-118 in double OT

Reaching 50 wins in the NBA is hard. Reaching 50 wins by overcoming a 27-point deficit against the conference’s #1 seed? Almost impossible.

But that’s exactly what the Pacers did, mounting a furious comeback against the East-leading Cavs to end their regular season slate with a BANG. With most of both teams’ stars resting, Cleveland’s Jaylon Tyson dropped a career-high 31 PTS and had the Cavs up nearly 30 in the third quarter… before Indiana roared back at a furious Pace. In the end, Quenton Jackson dropped 21 PTS and RayJ Dennis added 13 (seven in second overtime) to help the Pacers to victory.

This game may not have mattered for playoff seeding, but it’s proof of just how many pure hoopers there truly are in the league. Give these guys minutes, and they do something special—what could be more Enjoyable than that?

Elsewhere around the NBA…

• If the last day of the regular season is known for one thing, it’s unexpected scoring explosions. Anthony Edwards’ 43 PTS and seven triples to snag the three-point crown from Malik Beasley weren’t exactly “unexpected”, but with many of the league’s familiar faces on the bench, guys we typically see as role players got the green light. Pat Connaughton went for 43 PTS in a Bucks win and Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 40-bomb was spoiled by a ridiculous game-winner from Bub Carrington. Our favorite NBA holiday!

• They say the best ability is availability, and if that’s true, Chris Paul might just be the league’s greatest veteran ever. With his 82nd start on Sunday, Paul became the first player to start every game in his 20th NBA season, setting a new standard for late-career durability. What an accomplishment for the future Hall of Famer!

• With the postseason field set, so are the top odds for next month’s draft lottery. The Jazz, Wizards, and Hornets will each have a 14% chance at the top overall pick, while the Pelicans will have a 12.5% chance and the 76ers round out the top five with a 10.5% shot. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Stock Market

With the bracket set, which play-in and first round matchups are we most excited to see? Let’s break them down in this postseason edition of the Enjoy Stock Market.

📈 Dubs, Grizzlies vie for a playoff spot

Steph Curry vs. Ja Morant is a WCF-worthy point guard matchup, but lucky for us, we get it in the play-in!

In a matchup of veteran squads, Memphis and Golden State will square off on Tuesday night for the right to the West’s #7 seed (and a matchup with second-seeded Houston). The Grizz have been up and down with losing and winning streaks of three games apiece since firing Taylor Jenkins, but their level of talent is undeniable. Golden State is 0-3 in play-in games, but Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green have led one of the league’s best teams in the back half of the season (19-6 since the All-Star break). Get your popcorn!

📈 Knicks, Pistons face off in Round 1

The Knicks were picked as one of the NBA’s best heading into this season, thanks in part to their splashy offseason acquisitions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. The Pistons, on the other hand, were tabbed by many to again finish near the bottom of the standings.

But here they are, facing off in the East quarters. MoTown has been fueled by a major step forward from Cade Cunningham, one of the top picks for Most Improved Player, while New York has the league’s fifth-best record despite struggling against the East’s top teams. Can Detroit win its first playoff game since before the release of the first iPad? Only time will tell.

📈 LeBron, Ant face off as Lakers and Wolves clash

While some may feel robbed of another LeBron vs. Steph matchup, watching Ant play James, Luka, and the LakeShow may be even more memorable. After a legendary playoff run in 2024, Edwards returns to the postseason with a chip on his shoulder and the game’s all-time leading scorer in the other uniform. The Purple and Gold have been a popular title pick ever since their stunning trade for Luka—before that, Ant Man stands in their way. 🐜

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, don’t be afraid of doing the hard thing first. When a big list of tasks adds up, it’s often the most difficult one that causes the most stress. Get it done, and keep on moving! See you soon.

Walker Carnathan