NBA weekend watch information: Wembanyama vs. Jokić in MVP race, video games with playoff stakes

So begins the closing stretch of an extended, unusual NBA common season. There’s been a lot noise, from the federal indictments throughout opening week to supreme awkwardness on All-Star Weekend. But lovely basketball has been right here for these with open eyes and minds. Now is the time to faucet again in because the playoffs pull into view.

This is the season when Victor Wembanyama leveled up, as his San Antonio Spurs morph into an NBA Finals-worthy vaporizer. It’s been an unimaginable few months for the Charlotte Hornets, who defied all attainable expectations to create symphonic, hyperspeed offense. The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics are displaying resolve within the East. Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić have minted year-long mixtape highlights within the West, although the previous is now coping with a hamstring harm.

Here’s what to observe for the following three days. Both conferences have skinny margins in the course of their standings. A win or two this weekend may rearrange the playoff bracket, flip residence courtroom in a forthcoming sequence, or assist settle the MVP debate.

All instances ET.

NBA weekend watch information

Watching in particular person? Get tickets on StubHub.

NBC is free over the air. NBA TV video games are additionally accessible on the groups’ respective residence networks and NBA League Pass.

Friday

Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers

The Wolves enter the weekend because the sixth seed, however first-round home-court benefit remains to be inside their grasp. Anthony Edwards is making his method again from sickness and a knee harm. The fleet first possibility must construct momentum earlier than high-leverage video games ratchet up.

When locked in, Minnesota could be a enjoyable watch. Through Thursday, it holds top-seven rankings in subject objective proportion, 3-point taking pictures and defensive score.

Philadelphia is dangling on the fringe of the Play-In Tournament. The Sixers don’t need that additional exertion on Joel Embiid, who additionally missed his final sport because of sickness. Tyrese Maxey dropped 39 factors in his final matchup with Minnesota. The entire workforce was cooking in that Feb. 22 win — Philly made 21 treys, even with Embiid on ice.

Saturday

San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets

The finest MVP races tackle philosophical dimensions. We as a viewership get to advocate for what we care about, or right for what we expect is overvalued. This Saturday matinee banger offers us two polished circumstances to contemplate.

Wembanyama makes his declare as a defensive power, main the league in blocks per sport by a Wemby-sized margin. He’s the visceral alternative as nicely. His surging Spurs trend themselves as vanguards of “ethical basketball,” as he himself rewrites the game’s visible language.

Jokić makes the identical case he at all times does. The three-time MVP continues to put up mind-bending, eye-popping effectivity marks. He paces the NBA in rebounds and assists, averaging near a 28-point triple-double. No one installs and enhances offense higher than Denver’s mountain within the center.

Both gamers are additionally contending with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Spurs and Nuggets are each chasing his Oklahoma City Thunder, defending champions till dethroned. Saturday’s end result may assist push San Antonio towards the highest seed, or give Denver some separation amid the convention muddle.

Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers

Back-to-back huge residence video games for the 76ers. After Friday’s dances with Wolves, Maxey and crew welcome Motown to Philly for a Saturday night time particular. The Pistons are one of many season’s finest developments. They arrive at 56-21, according to the franchise’s championship runs in 2004 and 1990.

They maintain profitable with out Cade Cunningham, who’s sidelined at the least one other week with a lung subject. Jalen Duren has been tearing it up towards playoff hopefuls — 22 factors and 14 boards towards Minnesota on Thursday, and a crisp 12-of-13 versus the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.

Sunday

Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics

Like Philadelphia, Toronto is doing all it could actually to flee the Play-In stage. Scottie Barnes’ Raptors deliver tempo and freneticism to our screens. Through Thursday, they lead the league in fast-break scoring and have a 21-14 document in clutch video games.

Boston is grooving with Jayson Tatum recalibrated into its lineup, however the Celtics are surprisingly under common (15-16) in these clutch spots. This could be a superb time to stabilize the core and rally the house crowd. Jaylen Brown opened up April with a 43-point gem in South Beach.

Charlotte Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves

As the calendar turned over to 2026, Charlotte sat at a dispiriting 11-22 and appeared destined to overlook the playoffs for its tenth consecutive season. Then got here the wondrous and inexplicable — a revelation round Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The hot-stepping Hornets went a mixed 29-14 from January by means of March. They began April with a decisive win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

At No. 1 in web score since New Year’s Day and No. 1 in made 3s for the season, Buzz City has made must-see TV out of the Eastern Conference Play-In shuffle. Minnesota must match the urgency because the Western desk takes form.

Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks

Dončić left Thursday’s loss to OKC in ache, within the midst of a season wherein he’s going for a sixth All-NBA marketing campaign and his second scoring title. With Dončić’s availability in query towards his former workforce, and with Austin Reaves additionally banged up, the Lakers can’t afford any slippage. L.A. nervously cracks NBC’s “Sunday Night Basketball” slate safeguarding top-four standing within the crowded West.

On the opposite finish, Cooper Flagg can vent out a rookie yr filled with losses by upstaging the Lake Show. He and LeBron James make for an suave juxtaposition: Flagg broke James’ document for many factors scored by an 18-year-old. He’s not there fairly but, however playoff trials wait on the lengthy horizon.

Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors

Could Steph Curry return for this weekend nightcap? The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Nick Friedell report that the era-defining famous person is getting ready to play Sunday. He’s been out since Jan. 30 with a knee harm, and the Warriors have summarily slumped in his absence (and Jimmy Butler’s absence, too). Curry must be recommended for the late-season push, though Golden State seems sure for a lowly ninth or tenth seed.

Houston performs watchable inside-out ball with its dimension and size. But the offense can battle in late-game units, and the protection has among the many league’s worst scores in clutch minutes. Kevin Durant wants a win in his return to the Bay Area. His workforce is jostling with the Lakers, Nuggets and Timberwolves for spots Nos. 3-6. Through Thursday, the Rockets are 27-10 at residence and simply 20-19 on the street. Seeding issues.

Above all, let’s admire the duel. Durant is 37 years outdated. Curry is 38. Time is impermanent, however timelessness might be constructed, swish by swish.

Streaming and ticketing hyperlinks on this article are supplied by companions of The Athletic. Restrictions could apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners don’t have any management over or enter into the reporting or modifying course of, and don’t overview tales earlier than publication.