Day: April 9, 2023

The 2023 NBA postseason fields are now set.

Eastern Conference Playoffs

1. Milwaukee Bucks vs 8. Miami Heat/Atlanta Hawks/Toronto Raptors/Chicago Bulls

4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. New York Knicks

3. Philadelphia 76ers vs 6. Brooklyn Nets

2. Boston Celtics vs 7. Miami Heat/Atlanta Hawks

Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament

7. Miami Heat vs 8. Atlanta Hawks

9. Toronto Raptors vs. 10. Chicago Bulls

Western Conference Playoffs

1. Denver Nuggets vs 8. Los Angeles Lakers/Minnesota Timberwolves/New Orleans Pelicans/Oklahoma City Thunder

4. Phoenix Suns vs 5. LA Clippers

3. Sacramento Kings vs 6. Golden State Warriors

2. Memphis Grizzlies vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers/Minnesota Timberwolves

Western Conference Play-In Tournament

7. Los Angeles Lakers vs 8. Minnesota Timberwolves

9. New Orleans Pelicans vs. 10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Late in the first half of the Minnesota Timberwolves regular season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans, Rudy Gobert appeared to punch teammate Kyler Anderson in the shoulder. The incident happened while the two were arguing during a timeout.

Gobert was sent to the locker room before halftime. During the break, the Timberwolves announced Gobert was out for the remainder of the game.

Minnesota is in the middle of battling for postseason seeding. The Wolves could be in the 7-8 Play-In Game in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament with a victory over the Pelicans.

The Houston Rockets will part ways with head coach Stephen Silas. The Rockets are declining their fourth-year option for Silas, ending his tenure as Houston’s head coach after three seasons.

Silas went 59-177 in three seasons as the Rockets head coach. He entered an unexpected rebuilding season in his first year in 2020-21 as James Harden requested a trade. Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in mid-January, and Houston spiraled to a 17-65 record.

The next two seasons saw little progress, as the Rockets won only 20 and 22 games. Houston is expected to begin a wide-ranging coaching search as soon as next week.

The Los Angeles Lakers are doing some roster shuffling on the final day of the NBA regular season. The Lakers will sign Shaq Harrison and Tristan Thompson. To create the space to add the two players, Los Angeles will waive Davon Reed. The Lakers already had one roster spot open.

Harrison is coming off a five-game stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.2 assists in 24 minutes per game with the Blazers.

Thompson has not played in the NBA this season. He split last season between the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls. Thompson was previously teammates with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Reed was acquired by the Lakers at the trade deadline. That deal saw Los Angeles send Thomas Bryant to the Denver Nuggets.