Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association

Western Conference playoff chaos sets up enticing first-round battles, with the Houston Rockets eyeing a “cakewalk” against a shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers squad. Can LeBron James carry his team past an energized Rockets side, or will Houston breeze into the second round as predicted? Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets secure a favorable bracket path, and the Minnesota Timberwolves loom as serious challengers—are the Nuggets truly the weekend’s biggest winners?

Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize debate stunning results from the Locked On Podcast Network’s NBA end-of-season awards, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP nod over Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama’s Defensive Player of the Year sweep. Unpack surprising picks for Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man, and Most Improved, plus offbeat honors like Most Annoying Player and Worst Team to Watch. The firing season heats up as Doc Rivers’ departure from the Milwaukee Bucks sparks questions—who’s the ideal next coach, and which benches could see major changes this summer?

00:00 — Playoff Matchups & Winners

13:33 — Locked On End-of-Season Awards

25:01 — Coaching Changes & Future Moves

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The Denver Nuggets wrap up the season on a 12 game win streak! The Lakers and Rockets are LOCKED into a 1st round matchup! The Clippers and Warriors will settle a beef in the play-in! NBA PLAYOFF BASKETBALL IS HERE! 

Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba Follow the Locked On Podcast Network Twitter 📲 https://twitter.com/LockedOnNetwork TikTok 📲 https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonsports Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/offers/ #NBA #Basketball #Podcast #NBAPodcast #Sports #SportsPodcast

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NBA playoff chaos hits as final regular-season games promise to shake up the Western Conference bracket. Are the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers set for a strategic standoff, or will Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves crash the party?

Nick Angstadt and Ku Khahil spotlight high-stakes matchups, from the Houston Rockets’ physicality to the OKC Thunder’s pursuit of the easier playoff path. The discussion spotlights lottery odds drama, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers jockeying for top picks.

Eastern Conference intrigue builds as the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and Philadelphia 76ers battle for playoff seeding — with Joel Embiid’s health looming large. Which underdog could disrupt the status quo? Plus, [Kuka Hill] and [Nick England] debate tanking, rookie breakouts, and the ripple effects of questionable trades. From the Charlotte Hornets’ play-in ambitions to the Detroit Pistons’ quest for 60 wins, every game counts as teams jockey for postseason survival and future stars.

0:00 Jazz vs Lakers / Nuggets vs Spurs

2:12 Rockets vs Lakers / Denver Playoff Scenarios

6:12 Kings vs Blazers / Clippers vs Portland

14:47 Raptors vs Nets / Playoff Scenarios

18:14 Pistons vs Pacers

20:14 Hornets vs Knicks

23:03 Bulls vs Mavericks

24:38 Grizzlies vs Rockets

24:38 Bucks vs Sixers

26:52 Magic vs Celtics

27:26 Warriors vs Clippers

28:24 Wizards vs Cavaliers

29:25 Pelicans vs Timberwolves

30:31 Suns vs Thunder

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Nick Angstadt & Haize recap a crucial night as the Portland Trailblazers defeat the Los Angeles Clippers to chase the eighth seed and boost the Chicago Bulls’ draft hopes. Anthony Edwards returns to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Houston Rockets. The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz tank aggressively, shaking up lottery odds. Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns power the New York Knicks to clinch the third seed with a win over the Toronto Raptors. And EVERY SINGLE GAME FOR EVERY SINGLE TEAM...

00:00 Clippers vs Blazers

02:48 Wolves vs Rockets

05:01 Grizzlies vs Jazz

07:11 Knicks vs Raptors

11:26 Pistons vs Hornets

12:47 Heat vs Wizards

14:25 Hawks vs Cavs

16:27 Lakers vs Suns

17:47 Nuggets vs Thunder

21:36 Celtics vs Pelicans

22:58 Spurs vs Mavericks

25:12 Magic vs Bulls

26:49 Kings vs Warriors

28:42 Sixers vs Pacers

29:48 Bucks vs Nets

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The Boston Celtics fall to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, but Jayson Tatum’s emotional return after last season’s Achilles injury sparks the bigger storyline. Can Tatum’s mental hurdle bolster the Celtics’ championship push?

Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore, and Haize break down a potential Celtics-Knicks playoff rematch. The show also tackles Joel Embiid’s emergency surgery and what it means for the Philadelphia 76ers’ postseason hopes, a heated debate over the Rookie of the Year race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, and the various playoff races at stake over the final weekend of the regular season.

00:00 Celtics vs. Knicks & Tatum's Return

08:56 Embiid Surgery & Rookie of the Year

18:16 Playoff Seeding Battles

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Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Joel Embiid headline today’s Locked On NBA Game Night podcast with in-depth NBA playoff race analysis, injury reports, and team prospects.

This episode of Locked On NBA Game Night features Rylan Stiles and David Ramil breaking down the New York Knicks’ thrilling win over the Boston Celtics, fueled by clutch shooting from Josh Hart and dynamic pick-and-roll play from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The hosts examine the Celtics’ lack of playoff-level adjustments, especially with Jaylen Brown absent and Jayson Tatum facing tough defense. The discussion then pivots to the Los Angeles Lakers, celebrating a much-needed victory over a short-handed Golden State Warriors squad as LeBron James leads despite a brief hand scare. The hosts evaluate the Lakers' pursuit of the three seed and possible playoff scenarios involving the Nuggets and surging Rockets. Injury updates for the Philadelphia 76ers—highlighted by Joel Embiid’s absence due to appendicitis—raise questions about the Sixers' playoff viability. The conversation wraps up with implications for the tight playoff seeding in both conferences and the significance of these results ahead of the postseason.

Quo
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Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Cade Cunningham shocks the NBA with a triumphant return, powering the Detroit Pistons past the Milwaukee Bucks and reigniting the conversation about Detroit’s legitimacy as a Finals contender. Are the Pistons primed to break through as the East’s top seed, or will playoff inexperience and shooting woes hold them back? Wes Goldberg , Matt Moore and Haize dissect Cunningham’s impact, Detroit’s offensive strategy, and the Pistons’ postseason outlook. 

Other hot topics include Adam Silver’s struggle to curb NBA tanking as owners resist anti-tanking reforms, and the playoff positioning chess match between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. The show tackles pivotal performances, potential playoff paths, and whether the Oklahoma City Thunder belong with the league’s all-time greats. Don’t miss this fast-paced breakdown of the NBA’s biggest storylines as the postseason looms.

00:00 Pistons, Cade Cunningham Return

09:34 Make It Take It: Tanking & Standings

19:00 Thunder Dynasty? All-Time Teams

27:47 Knicks vs Celtics & Tanking Game

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the top seed in the Western Conference, outclassing the Los Angeles Clippers behind Chet Holmgren’s dominant 30-point, 14-rebound explosion. Can anyone stop the Thunder’s momentum heading into the NBA Playoffs? Tony East and John Karalis break down Holmgren’s development, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring streak, and what makes OKC “inevitable” when firing on all cylinders.

Key topics include the San Antonio Spurs’ relentless defense even without Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic returning to MVP form for the Denver Nuggets, and Jericho Sims surprising the league with a triple-double for the Milwaukee Bucks. The episode recaps pivotal playoff seeding results, Phoenix Suns surprisingly constant grip on the 7-seed, and Detroit Pistons’ playoff outlook with Cade Cunningham’s return. Plus: can the Cleveland Cavaliers’ interior duo raise their ceiling in the East, and are the Orlando Magic quietly finding their stride just in time for the postseason?

Quo
Make this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.
Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.

PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA

Betterhelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

Indeed

Wayfair
Get last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less.
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. 
Wayfair. Every style. Every home. 

Gametime

FanDuel

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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