Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss Joel Embiid's expected return to the Sixers, the charging Mavericks, and a trio of teams succeeding without an injured star. Plus, TrueHoop's David Thorpe joins to run through the top candidates for Most Improved Player.

Impact of Embiid's return (1:04)

Mavs currently in 5th in the West (9:42)

Hawks without Trae, Wolves without KAT, and Rockets without Sengun (30:57)

Thorpe (48:10)

Most Improved Player candidates (49:55)
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Embiid's Return, Charging Mavs, and Most Improved Player Candidates

ESPN's Zach Lowe talks to various basketball people about various basketball things.

Sports

Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton react to Game 7 wins for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers, questions in Denver and New York going forward, Knicks injuries, and more. Plus: Quick thoughts on Mavs-Wolves and Celtics-Pacers in the conference finals, what's next for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and much more. 

Nuggets offseason questions (19:47)

Mavs-Wolves Western Conference Finals Lookahead (30:34)

Offseason in OKC (36:34)

Pacers push past Knicks in MSG (43:13)

Celtics-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals Lookahead (1:04:11)
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Game 7 Road Wins by the Wolves and Pacers, Conference Final Previews, and Offseason Outlooks for NYK, DEN, and OKC

Zach and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic talk all things Wolves-Nuggets and preview Game 7. Then (38:47) Zach discusses the Boston Celtics soft path to the conference finals and the perception Boston isn't playing well enough to win the title -- and whether anything short of that is a failure. Then (54:09) Zach welcomes in ESPN's Tim MacMahon to discuss Mavs-Thunder, how the Mavs trades worked out, whether OKC blew it at the trade deadline, and much more. 
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Wolves-Nuggets Game 7, Celtics Consternation, Cavs' Questions, and Mavs-Thunder

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks discuss the Nuggets showing the heart of a champion to bounce back and even their series against the Wolves, the Knicks running out of gas in Game 4 against the Pacers, and what Indiana's off-season could look like. Then ESPN's NBA Draft Expert Jonathan Givony joins on what the Hawks could do with the #1 pick, how the Spurs will handle two picks in the top 8, and the news that Bronny James has been cleared medically.

Denver's defense versus Wolves' offense (15:27)

Nuggets' insane run to end 1st half (21:23)

Pacers even series with Knicks (27:22)

What would a run to the Eastern Conference Finals do for Indiana's off-season? (41:12)

Givony on Hawks winning Draft Lottery (51:58)

Bronny James cleared (1:16:21)
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Nuggets Knot Series at 2, Pacers Cruise in Game 4 against the Knicks, and the Hawks Win the Lottery

Zach and ESPN's Tim Legler discuss the home losses in Game 2 by the Celtics and Thunder, the firing of Frank Vogel in Phoenix, and what to expect in Wolves-Nuggets and Knicks-Pacers. Plus, Mike Singer joins to share the story of his forthcoming book on the rise of Nikola Jokic.

Knicks-Pacers (4:30)

Cavs rout Celtics in Game 2 (8:46)

Mavs win Game 2 in OKC (24:25)

Vogel fired in Phoenix (47:09)

Singer on his book about Jokic (1:03:50)
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Mavs and Cavs Take Game 2s, Nuggets on the Ropes, Depleted Knicks, and Vogel Fired in Phoenix

Zach and NBA.com's John Schuhmann discuss the Wolves beatdown of the Denver Nuggets and New York's wild and controversial win over the Pacers -- and what comes next in both series. Then they briefly preview Cavs-Celtics and Mavs-Thunder, make picks, and discuss the fallout from first-round eliminations for the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, and LA Clippers. 


Wolves take both games in Denver (1:45)

Knicks eke out controversial Game One against the Pacers (28:51)

Celtics-Cavs preview (53:04)

Thunder-Mavs preview (58:24)

Magic postmortem (1:06:25)

Pat Riley's presser (1:09:25)

Clippers' off-season (1:14:51)
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Embiid's Return, Charging Mavs, and Most Improved Player Candidates

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