NBA Notebook: Grant Williams spent women's history month advocating for WNBA

Terri Carmichael Jackson arrived at the National Basketball Players Association's winter meeting last February in Cleveland at All-Star weekend as guest of Tamika Tremaglio, her new counterpart atop the NBA's union. It marked a first official visit to an NBPA event for Jackson, the executive director of the Women's National Basketball Association union, and her introduction to Grant Williams, the NBPA vice president and one of the most outspoken advocates for the WNBA alongside C.J. McCollum and Jackson's son Jaren Jackson Jr. They sat next to each other at a dinner and meeting that night.

"I was sharing with him how much I had heard from my players," Jackson told Boston Sports Journal this week. "Like Nneka Ogwumike, Elizabeth Williams, Kelsey Plum ... how much they loved talking with him. How he's a true supporter of them, women's sports, them in basketball. He knows them, he knows their game, he was able to have conversations with them. Truly baller to baller kinds of conversations and also just ask them questions about, 'what's it like in the WNBA, is this true? I heard about this, particularly about travel.' He had a lot of questions back then and even now about travel and how they travel. He pays attention ... and so it was my opportunity to tell him how much I was happy to be in the meeting." 

Williams continued a growing partnership between NBA and WNBA player leadership to grow the women's game by hosting Jackson, and entered this season during ongoing CBA negotiations by asking Plum, the Las Vegas Aces guard and his counterpart with the WNBPA, how the men's union can help. Travel became their focus, as WNBA players fight to secure charter travel after years where the league's CBA banned teams, including Nets owner Joe Tsai's New York Liberty, from providing that amenity even if they wanted to. The rule stemmed from growth and competitive balance considerations across the league, formed in 1996 and achieving increasing notoriety in recent years. While they have their own CBA, the WNBA players hope they can receive some defrayed costs from the men to support a transition toward charter flights. The WNBA adopted its eight-year CBA in 2020 with Jackson. 

NBA and WNBA leadership discussed ways the latter can secure corporate money and match it, while also focusing on growing a more robust mental health program for women's players. Williams believes focusing on growth, making games more available in a television and streaming space where the league saw its largest growth in recent years, along with changing attitudes, will provide players with leverage in their own negotiations. He regularly sports the orange WNBA sweatshirt, appearing at Connecticut Sun games and leaving himself available to listen to any WNBA concerns. 

"Third would be the salary piece," Williams told BSJ. "As the salaries continue to grow, the league can continue to grow and the players can continue to get better and the sport itself can be enamored and loved by children, because when people can grow up and they see NBA players ... if you look at the contracts, it made it a little bit better. As a (woman) athlete, it's like 'oh, I might as well play tennis or these other sports because I have a better growth opportunity for my career,' rather than looking at it and saying, 'oh, I can really make it as a basketball player.' It'll be something I'll be able to sustain, I won't have to go overseas, I won't have to worry about not being able to see my family,' Those are all things that I think about all the time." 

Williams saw women's basketball players not having the same access to gyms early in his basketball career, then he formed friendship with players on the Tennessee women's basketball team during his three seasons there. He began attending WNBA games as a professional, inviting players to Celtics games and ushering in a wave where NBA player presence courtside helped make WNBA players more visible.

A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray's dominance on the way to their 2022 WNBA championship with the Aces provided perhaps the peak moment in the sports consciousness for the league. The 2022 playoffs saw the biggest audience for the league since 2007, with a 22% increase in viewership over the previous postseason. ESPN's coverage helped the league generate its most popular regular season since 2008, supporting Williams' argument that providing the product to viewers would increase the sport's reach. 

Brittney Griner's 294 days in Russian detention last year shined a light on the fact that many WNBA players compete overseas to earn offseason money. Jackson believes Williams helped convince Celtics players to wear We Are BG warmup shirts during their NBA Finals run before Griner's release on Dec. 8. The max salary in the WNBA will reach $234,936 this season, but still falls short of $300,000 by the end of the current CBA. Breanna Stewart criticized the CBA's prioritization clause last year, which begins in 2023 and penalizes players for certain overseas participation that impacts the WNBA season. 

For Williams, his advocacy for women's basketball drew inspiration from his mother Teresa Johnson, who became an electrical engineer with NASA during the development of the International Space Station before becoming the agency's first Black female GS-15 employee. Her breaking into the male-dominated field and hearing about the obstacles she faced informed Williams early about the inequalities men and women face in society. 

"As much as being a Black man is difficult, it's even more difficult to be a Black woman in America," he said. "That's what I realized growing up is that, the same privileges that her colleagues were getting, she wasn't, and I look to that in the same light as nowadays. We're blessed and fortunate to have what we have (in the NBA), but to not have our counterparts doing the same is not only unfair, but also inequitable and it's something I've always been advocating for. It's not going to change overnight, we're not expecting tomorrow for WNBA salaries to jump like ours will, but I do expect to have a growth to at least have a sustainable lifestyle, to be able to take care of their own families, to be able to have all the necessary advantages that they're not necessarily receiving. That's how I look out, hopefully the league will continue to grow in the future and continue to develop."

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week... 

Atlanta (36-37): Unable to achieve defensive progress despite the coaching change. They've scored at least 110 points in nine straight games, showing some of the offensive strides they also needed after early consistency on that end. Jalen Johnson (groin, hamstring) will be evaluated in one week after undergoing an MRI, one of the biggest beneficiaries of Snyder's coaching so far. The Hawks have nine games to try to catch the Nets, who they trail by 3.0 games for the seventh seed, and stave off the Raptors. They visit Brooklyn on Friday after hosting the Pacers, Grizzlies and Cavaliers this week. 

Boston (50-23): The Ringer released its own Jaylen Brown interview following his discussion with the New York Times where he dove deeper into challenges highlighted by clear mistrust formed during the Kevin Durant trade saga. Brown revealed he got Jayson Tatum and Brad Stevens on the phone to figure out the direction of the franchise after Tatum and Durant appeared in a photo working out together during the rumors. Brown said he's not sure if he'll stay in Boston long-term, not wanting to drive Celtics fans crazy with a definitive answer, and said it'll depend on if the two sides want each other, and if he's treated correctly. Brown also brought up the Ime Udoka suspension as a point of frustration. Brown said he may clarify some points later.

“It’s hard coming into teams and organizations and being warm. They operate on different principles, I think," Brown said. "This is an organization. They look at it as a business, where they’ll tell you one thing, and then behind closed doors, they’ll say another, and they’ll trade you off,” he says. “Tell you, ‘We love you,’ and they’ll be having like, ‘We’re going to trade him next week.’ I think that’s just how business is run.

On the floor, the Celtics blew a 19-point lead to the Jazz and Tatum scored 0 points, missing a game-winning layup attempt at the buzzer. Robert Williams III (hamstring) returned and keyed one of the team's better defensive efforts all season to beat the King, 132-109, and finish the trip 4-2. They're 2.0 games back of the Bucks for the east's top seed with eight to play, including a final meeting against them in Milwaukee on Thursday at 

Brooklyn (39-34): Fell into the play-in picture behind Miami at No. 7 after five straight losses, including their latest, a last-second loss on an Isaac Okoro three that led the Cavaliers to a sweep in their mini-series. Their offense can't keep up, even as Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie try to carry heavy weight on that end. They may not see Ben Simmons (back) return this year. He hasn't played since Feb. 15, and the Nets announced they'll evaluate the best long-term solution to the ailment.

Charlotte (23-51): Kelly Oubre Jr. (shoulder) and Terry Rozier (foot) left the Hornets' loss to the Pelicans, leaving Charlotte without both players after losses in four of their last five before they stunned the Mavericks on Friday behind 53 points from Gordon Hayward and P.J. Washington. Hayward, still showing his effectiveness when healthy, averaged 15.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 4.2 APG on 50.9% shooting in 25 straight appearances entering the win at Dallas. He'll be an intriguing trade possibility for teams around the league on a one-year, $31.5 million contract, unless the Hornets see him as part of their future beyond this contract. Michael Jordan, reportedly looking to sell his majority share of the team, announced no deal is imminent in a statement.

“Four years ago, Michael Jordan sold a stake in the Charlotte Hornets to a Gabe Plotkin-led group,” Jump Management, which is Michael Jordan’s family office, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday. “As a natural step in a process due to that transaction, Michael and Gabe are in discussions about his group potentially buying an additional stake.”

Cleveland (47-28): Took care of business against the Wizards and swept the Nets in a home mini-series that featured 63 points, 28 rebounds and nine assists on 27-for-45 (60%) shooting. The Cavaliers forward is averaging 16.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 2.7 APG on 55.2% shooting, all improvements over last year despite a dip in three-point shooting. Winners of 8-of-10, they continue to pressure the 76ers, only 3.0 games back for the third seed with seven games remaining. Their five-game cushion on the Knicks for home-court advantage is nearly insurmountable, and they rank No. 2 in net rating (+5.7). 

Chicago (35-38): Demar DeRozan delivered key wins with 24 and 25 points against the Heat and 76ers, respectively, to keep the Bulls in the play-in race picture before exiting the second game of the mini-series against Philadelphia with a quad strain. Zach LaVine picked up DeRozan's production with 33 points and eight assists at Portland with the latter out, Alex Caruso starting in his place to begin a west coast road trip. Chicago closes with five of its final nine games on the road, with a 2.5 game advantage on the Pacers for the final playoff spot and only trailing the Hawks by 1.0 game for the eighth seed in the upper play-in round. DeRozan walked without a limp after suffering the injury, and teammates believed he escaped serious injury. 

"I think he's definitely feeling better, but they're just going to be cautious with him, just based on the history and what's happened, because it's been twice he was out before this," Donovan said. "I don't think it's at the level it was maybe right before we went to Paris (on Jan. 19)." 

Dallas (36-38): Would miss the playoffs if the season ended today, falling to 11th in the west with a disastrous loss to the Hornets where Kyrie Irving shot 6-for-16 in his return from a battle with plantar fasciitis in his right foot that began on Mar. 8, according to Shams Charania. The Mavericks rank 17th in offense and 23rd in defense during a 4-7 March. Irving appeared to aggravate his injury in Monday's loss and missed four of the team's last six games before returning on Friday. Luka Dončić called the Charlotte loss his most frustrating moment in a year where he hasn't smiled as often. 

Owner Mark Cuban filed the first game protest since 2006 over an apparent Dallas mistake in a two-point loss. Cuban blamed the team's alignment on the referees, who he said didn't alert the Mavericks that the Warriors had possession. The Warriors can respond within five days, at which point Adam Silver has five days to issue a ruling that'll almost certainly uphold the result of the game. 

Denver (49-24): Beat the Nets and Wizards behind back-to-back strong showings from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Nikola Jokic needs his co-stars to start contributing consistently ahead of the postseason. They've combined for 38.3 PPG this month, both shooting over 42% from three on at least 6.8 attempts per game. That's an encouraging sign for this group, now owning a magic number of six to clinch the top seed in the west. Jokic, who might've ceded the MVP race during a 5-5 month, said he isn't worried about the race, while head coach Michael Malone lamented the conversation. 

"I think this year unfortunately has just taken a really ugly, nasty turn in the MVP conversation, and I think it's really turned a lot of people off, including him," Malone said. "And what's happening now is there's so many guys that could win the MVP this year. Great candidates. Joel Embiid is a great candidate, Luka Dončić is a great candidate, Jayson Tatum -- whoever you want to put in that mix, those are all deserving. But what happens in today's society is that everybody, it's like when I was a college coach and all the negative recruiting. It's not promoting my guy, it's ripping down every other guy." 

Detroit (16-58): James Wiseman got his feet under him through 15 games with his new team, averaging 13.3 PPG and 9.0 RPG on 55.1% shooting and able to play ample minutes with Jalen Duran (neck), Isaiah Stewart (hip) and Hamidou Diallo (ankle) all missing time recently. Eugene Omoruyi, the former Thunder and Mavericks prospect, and R.J. Hampton, a 2020 first-round pick waived by the Magic earlier this season both caught on and took advantage of the growing Pistons injury list to play minutes for a team that'll likely finish with the worst record in the league. They've lost five straight.

Golden State (39-36): Wins over the Rockets and Mavericks in Texas this week marked the Warriors' first back-to-back road wins since Game 4 and 6 of the NBA Finals in Boston, underscoring a horrifying season away from home that undermined Golden State's regular season defense of their title. The Warriors remain in a tie for the fifth seed with Phoenix, 1.5 games ahead of Minnesota and the Lakers above the play-in line in the loaded west. 

Three straight wins, the third a statement victory with strong Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole performances over the 76ers, gave the Warriors a magic number of eight with eight remaining, including potential play-in opponents in Minnesota, New Orleans and Oklahoma City over the next two weeks. Gary Payton II (abdominal), who the team acquired at the deadline despite an issue with his physical that's left him sidelined, will be evaluated this week. 

“We’re hopeful to get (Andrew Wiggins) and Gary Payton back,” Steve Kerr said this week. “Those two guys were really key players for us in the championship run a year ago. We can feel it, a lot of these games we’re a little short defensively, literally and figuratively. So to get a couple guys back who can help us take our defense to another notch if we can get to that stage, get into the playoffs, gives ourselves a chance. We just won a title last year, so we know what we’re capable of, but we have to get there. We’re in a dogfight with a lot of teams just trying to get there.”

Indiana (33-41): As their season winds down, they've fallen 2.5 games behind the Bulls for the final spot in the play-in tournament after dropping five of their last 10 games, including a 120-95 blowout in Boston on Friday. Aaron Nesmith shot 1-for-5 in his final game against his old team this year, maintaining a 9.9 PPG on 35% three-point shooting efficiency, both marks well above his production with the Celtics. 

Head coach Rick Carlisle explained stylistic differences that Indiana helped him improve on thanks to the opportunity on a rebuilding team. Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) returned from a six-game absence with multiple injuries to score 20 points with nine assists in the loss. 

Clippers (39-35): Moved above the Warriors and Lakers in the west, up to a home-court advantage spot as the fourth seed, beating the Trail Blazers and splitting a mini-series with the Thunder. They suffered an additional setback by losing Paul George (knee) in the loss to Oklahoma City after colliding with Lu Dort. George avoided surgery on his right knee, but will miss the remainder of the regular season and be evaluated in 2-3 weeks. Eric Gordon took his place in the starting lineup for the oft-injured Clippers, who now face another postseason with one of their stars missing time. Russell Westbrook, who scored 24 points in 30 minutes in the win over the Thunder, now takes on an even larger role with George and Norman Powell (shoulder) out. 

"He's a little disappointed, as expected," Ty Lue said. "But I think we got the best-case scenario as far as what we thought it could be. And so, being reevaluated in two, three weeks is something that we are looking forward to."

Lakers (37-37): LeBron James denied multiple reports that he could return for several regular season games before the playoffs after the Lakers won 7-of-12 since he went down with a foot injury. James tweeted he wasn't evaluated on Thursday and hasn't received a target date for his return, but he's sent out his own cryptic social media posts alluding to his recovery in recent weeks. His team's play should inspire him, especially Austin Reaves', the rising star averaging 18.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG and 5.8 APG on 56.8% shooting, drawing a shocking 7.8 free throw attempts per game. The Lakers lead the league with 26.6 FTA each night, recalling the team's furious response to an apparent missed call late in their January loss at Boston. Anthony Davis is averaging 26.1 PPG and 11.9 RPG this month and the team's defense ranks fourth this month. All the pieces to contend look present, except James.

LA owns a magic number of eight to clinch a spot in the play-in tournament with nine games remaining. They're up 1.0 game on No. 11 Dallas. 

Memphis (46-27): Ja Morant returned from an eight-game suspension to score 17 and 18 points in massive offensive performances to sweep the Grizzlies' mini-series against the Rockets. Morant came off the bench for limited minutes in both games to re-acclimate himself after last playing on Mar. 3. Morant explained the nerves he felt before his return on Mar. 22, working through breathing exercises that he learned during 10 days at a facility in Florida to address personal issues he acknowledged after multiple alleged incidents over the past year, including appearing at a Denver club with a gun. 

"How I felt? Kind of like a redemption," Morant said. "It could have been worse. I got a second chance, and I felt like it's only to make it right, to show who Ja is as a person, and that's my family's message with the hoodie."

Miami (40-34): Squarely above the sliding Nets and looking like a team above the play-in line that could face one of the Celtics, 76ers, or Cavaliers as a gritty first-round opponent. They trail New York by 1.5 games for the fifth seed as winners of 7-of-10, including a pair over Detroit and New York this week. New York owns the head-to-head tiebreaker despite their recent loss, but the Heat look on track to win their division, which trumps their common games. Kyle Lowry, now a bench player in five games back from ankle injury, is averaging 10.0 PPG and 4.2 APG on 58.6% shooting, earning his coach's praise.

Milwaukee (53-20): Rested Khris Middleton against the Jazz, another win for a team that's claimed 8-of-10 to remain atop the east ahead of a crucial matchup with the Celtics at home on Thursday. He's averaging 20.0 PPG and 7.7 APG on 47% shooting since rejoining the starting lineup, with the Bucks building a +8.5 net rating that only trails Philadelphia this month, ranking top-six in offense and defense. Philadelphia leads the three contenders in offense, though, while the Celtics sit highest among them at third in defense. They've played deep this month, providing minutes for Jae Crowder and Jevon Carter that might be tougher to sprinkle in for the postseason. They're hot from three this month, 40.4%, at a high volume (42.5 att.). Will it last?

Minnesota (37-37): Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) returned from a 51-game absence and hit a pair of last-second free throws to beat the Hawks, scoring 22 points in his return in 26 minutes. Towns' return came just in time, with the Wolves facing a 1.5-game deficit beneath a play-in bye and a 1.5-game cushion above Dallas in the playoff picture. Anthony Edwards (ankle) remains out, increasing the need for a seamless Towns return, the win marking the team's third game in a row without him. Their magic number, fortunately, is only seven with eight games remaining to clinch a playoff spot.

New Orleans (36-37): Received good Zion Williamson news that seemed to activate this group to three straight wins, bumping them back into the play-in picture as the ninth seed after a grueling few months. The Pelicans cleared Williamson for basketball activities, they announced, though he's still expected to miss at least two more weeks, opening the door to a possible playoff return. Though re-evaluation doesn't guarantee he'd play in a play-in game, far from it, the news provided the first glimmer of hope Williamson could play again this year after injuring his hamstring on Jan. 2, 36 games ago. 

"I can't confirm that he will be back or not, but we'll see," head coach Willie Green said. "It's extremely positive for him and our team. It's been another one of those years that he starts off well, makes an All-Star Game, and it's been difficult navigating injuries. It's part of the game, but it's definitely been tough." 

New York (42-33): Lost three straight to the Timberwolves, Heat and Knicks, all poor defensive performances for a team that turned its season around by playing well on that end. Taurean Prince hit all eight threes he attempted to lead the Wolves to 140 points and a narrow win. Jimmy Butler led six double-figure scoring efforts for the Heat with 35 points and nine assists. They now rank 17th in defense this month. Jalen Brunson sprained his shooting hand in the loss and sat against Orlando, reflecting on his exit from the Mavericks and wishing the parting went differently between both sides.

"There were two times that I thought we had offers on the table before the season, and then around, I think December or January," he said. "They looked the other way,” Brunson said. “They had every right in the world to do so. I don’t blame them for making any business decisions. That’s on them.”

Oklahoma City (36-38): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander probably makes All-NBA and the Thunder would make the playoffs as the No. 10 seed if the season ended today. Those haven't received enough attention among the best NBA stories this year, Josh Giddey unlocking an offense that plays dynamic and unloads on great teams on some nights, overcoming a devastating Chet Holmgren (ankle) injury before the season began. Holmgren, who's been shooting around on the court, is expected to miss the entirety of this year, looking back at the injury in a pro-am event with Complex this week. 

"I’d be lying if I said anything other than it’s a challenge and it sucks day to day," he said. "There’s been challenges that come everyday with it. I like to stay level-headed. Never too high, never too low. I like to take emotion out of what I’m trying to do and the decisions I make. I try to do everything based off of a plan that has been put together and that’s what I’ve been sticking to. I’d be lying if I said it was easy." 

Orlando (31-43): Markelle Fultz led a win over the Clippers last Saturday with a career-high 28 points and scored a double-double against the Lakers in a close loss the next night as the Magic won 3-of-4 last week. Fultz, who arrived in a trade from Philadelphia in 2019 for Jonathan Simmons and picks, battled injuries through the ensuing three seasons before finally finding himself this year, averaging 14.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 5.7 APG on 50.7% shooting, all career highs. He'll only be 25 years old entering his fifth season in 2023-24, and the Magic locked him up on a three-year, $50 million extension that runs through next season, setting him up for unrestricted free agency at 26. Orlando remains the fifth-worst record, 1.5 games worse than the Blazers. 

Philadelphia (49-24): Won 8-of-10 by beating the Pacers and Bulls, but fell to the Bulls in the first game of their mini-series and faltered defensively on the road against the Warriors. They're currently lined up against the Heat team that defeated them last season in round one if the playoffs began today, and James Harden's puzzling performance -- shooting 2-for-14 with five points in 46 minutes -- previews concerns with his game entering the playoffs. Joel Embiid (calf) and Harden (Achilles) both rested against the Bulls in the following game, as Doc Rivers emphasizes health ahead of the postseason. The Sixers won anyway, and Embiid remained atop the NBA's MVP ladder as he appears poised to finally break through and win the award. Philadelphia sits 1.5 games back of Boston for the second seed with seven games to go, including an Apr. 4 meeting between the two teams in Philly. 

Phoenix (38-35): Kevin Durant (ankle) is expected to return on Wednesday against the Timberwolves after missing 10 games due to a fall in a layup line that threatened the rest of his regular season. Durant only played three games with the Suns after arriving with an MCL sprain at the trade deadline, all wins where Durant dominated. James Jones previously mentioned Durant would play if the team was in the playoffs right now, and a return for the closing stretch likely indicates he wants to get some playing time in with his new teammates before a likely difficult first-round series. 

Phoenix lost its last three games to the Thunder, Lakers and Kings to fall to 2-6 since Durant went down. They rank 17th in offense and 22nd in defense over that stretch, but are still tied for fifth in a packed west, only 0.5 games behind the Clippers for home-court advantage in round one. Durant's return could also guarantee a play-in bye. 

Portland (32-41): Blowout losses to the Clippers and Bulls, with setbacks in 7-of-10, effectively ended their hopes of making the play-in tournament. The Blazers trailed the Thunder by 3.5 games with nine games remaining, setting them up for more lottery than playoff luck. Portland now owns the sixth-worst record in the NBA, only 1.5 games behind a competitive Magic team for the fifth. With Chris Haynes previously reporting the team could shut down Damian Lillard, it's probably time, which isn't a bad thing with ping-pong balls possibly pairing the superstar with Victor Wembanyama after an All-NBA year. 

Sacramento (44-29): Lead the Clippers by 5.5 games for the third seed with nine remaining, likely setting them up with the Suns, Warriors or Clippers if they can't catch the Grizzlies for the No. 2 seed. Kevin Huerter (hamstring) returned with 29 points after a brief absence to lead the Kings to 135 against Phoenix, recovering from back-to-back losses to Utah and Boston where their historic offense faltered. The Celtics' switching defense hurt them, providing a blueprint for how teams might try to hinder Domantas Sabonis' handoff game in the postseason. Easier said than done, he posted 27 points, nine assists and nine rebounds against the Suns. De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) left the game and did not return, walking to the locker room on his own power.

Toronto (36-38): Their 5-6 record in March keeps them on pace with the Hawks, who they trail by 0.5 games for a spot in the upper tier of the play-in tournament. Scottie Barnes (wrist), Gary Trent Jr. (elbow) and Precious Achiuwa (hamstring) are all hurt, pressing Will Barton into a starting role in a loss to Indiana and win over the Pistons, Barton was bought out by the Wizards earlier this season. Fred VanVleet complained about the crowd after the loss to the Pacers, and with eight games remaining, they're a play-in lock, lining them up against Boston, Milwaukee or Philadelphia for a likely loss at best.

Utah (35-38): Playoffs or not? If the regular season ended today, the Jazz would miss the postseason and land the ninth-best lottery odds, a 17.3% chance at a top-four pick and a 3.8% chance at No. 1. They could conceivably move up to the seventh or eighth-worst record if they stumbled late in the season, but they're 2.5 games better than Washington and Indiana. Games against the Kings, Suns and Celtics this week loom as likely losses, before a pair of critical matchups against the Lakers and a home game against the Thunder likely dictate their fate. They trail the Thunder and Mavericks by 0.5 games for the final play-in spot, with Minnesota and LA only 1.5 games ahead of them in the double-elimination portion of the play-in tournament. 

“Expect the unexpected,” head coach Will Hardy said. “It’s not easy to go into a season where everybody is telling you that you’re not very good. There’s obviously rough patches at points in the season — you lose four in a row, dip a certain number of games below .500 And everybody says, ‘Oh, there it is. It’s over.’ And that’s natural. That’s not anybody’s fault, it’s just the way that it works. And they haven’t backed off one bit. They haven’t given in, ever.”

Washington (33-41): They're 2.5 games back of the Bulls for the final play-in spot with eight to play as losers of 7-of-10. A win over the Spurs led by Kristaps Porzingis, Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija's 20-point nights helped keep hope alive, but Bradley Beal (knee) and Kyle Kuzma (ankle) missed the game with what had to be significant injuries for them to sit out at this point. Beal has missed two straight games, and Friday marked Kuzma's third. They host the Celtics on Tuesday. They still control their own destiny, with a losing magic number of eight, meaning they're in if they win out.