NBA’s Gap Between Playoff, Lottery Teams Reaches Historic Levels Exposing Two-League Problems

The divide between playoff contenders and lottery-bound teams has reached unprecedented levels this season, exposing a structural problem that is fundamentally altering the competitive landscape of the NBA, according to a report by Yahoo’s Tom Haberstroh. The combined gap between the No. 10 and No. 11 seeds in each conference has ballooned to 20.5 games, nearly double the previous record this century.

In the Eastern Conference, the No. 10-seeded Charlotte Hornets hold a 9.5-game cushion over the No. 11 Milwaukee Bucks. Out West, the Golden State Warriors lead the Memphis Grizzlies by 11 games for the final play-in spot.

The numbers are historical as the previous largest combined gap this century stood at 11 games in 2018-19. This season’s 20.5-game chasm represents by far the widest separation since the NBA adopted its 16-team playoff format in 1984.

The play-in tournament, introduced as an anti-tanking measure, appears to have accelerated the problem rather than solved it. In the first full 82-game season following its introduction, the combined gap between No. 10 and No. 11 seeds was seven games. It has climbed steadily since, reaching nine games in 2022-23, nine again in 2023-24 and ten in 2024-25, before this season’s dramatic surge. The average gap in the play-in era is 11 games, compared to just 4.8 games across the previous ten seasons.

Nine teams currently operate as de facto non-competitors, posting a combined 12-167 record against playoff-caliber opponents across recent stretches of play. In March alone, those nine teams have gone 12-98, a .109 winning percentage, against postseason contenders.

The Washington Wizards have lost 20 consecutive games against winning teams. The Brooklyn Nets are 1-29 in its last 30 such contests. Dallas stands at 2-23 in its last 25.

Two factors are widely cited as accelerants. The leaps by the Dallas Mavericks from the No. 11 lottery position to the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 and the Atlanta Hawks from 10th in consecutive recent drafts demonstrated that long-shot lottery odds can pay off spectacularly. Combined with a strong 2026 draft class, the cost-benefit calculation for struggling franchises increasingly favors chasing lottery balls over competing for a play-in berth. Only one of ten No. 10 seeds in the play-in era has successfully advanced to the full playoffs.

The NBA is proposing three potential lottery reforms in an attempt to disincentivize tanking.

Fantasy Basketball High Score Perfect Lineup for March: Bam's historic night won't be forgotten

We’ve almost put a bow on the inaugural Yahoo High Score fantasy basketball season. The month of March brought us the fantasy playoffs and one of the most memorable performances in basketball (and fantasy) history. This week marks the start of what should be your fantasy basketball league’s championship. Most of the matchups will be decided in April. But let’s take a quick look back to the top scores from March.

Amy Monks

More on the top performers

Luka Dončić, guard: I’ve written these stories all season long and I don’t think I’ve done one without mentioning the Lakers superstar. It’s a shame he’s unlikely to take home a real-life MVP this season but he’s got a hell of a case for fantasy MVP. Unfortunately, that may not include playoff MVP. Dončić lands himself on the perfect lineup for March thanks to a performance toward the end of the fantasy regular season. Luka managers haven’t been as fruitful in the fantasy postseason, however. Last week in a big spot, the All-Star topped out at 67 fantasy points — one of his lowest high scores all season. Dončić still has plenty of time to rebound in early April with games vs. the Thunder and Mavericks to close the week.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard: Believe it or not, SGA doesn’t get to double-digit assists too often. He only has six games with 10+ assists all season long. A season-high 15 dimes helped the reigning MVP get onto the March perfect lineup in a March 9 win over the Nuggets. While Shai is arguably the best scorer in the NBA, he isn’t as valuable in High Score given his lack of consistent category coverage. To wrap March, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points and that only got him to 64 fantasy points thanks to low rebound, assist and steal totals. Keep this in mind when you’re heading into your High Score drafts for 2026-27.

Bam Adebayo, frontcourt: Ahhhh, yes — “The Bam Game.” We’ll be talking about this performance until the end of time. I already talked about it last month … Adebayo’s 83-point game resulted in the highest fantasy output of the season at 110 points. The second-highest score as of this writing belongs to Nikola Jokić at 108 fantasy points. There’s still some time left in the fantasy basketball season for someone to dethrone Bam at the top. Adebayo may not reach that ceiling again ever, but he’s been pretty consistent down the stretch, posting double-doubles in six of his past seven games entering April.

Nikola Jokić, frontcourt: That first sentence I wrote above about Luka I could have repeated here for Joker. Both players have been fantastic all season long and should be selected 1-2 going into 2026-27. You can maybe make a case for another player in this lineup but we’ll save that debate for another time. Prior to the Nuggets’ last game of March, Jokić had a streak of four straight triple-doubles. He’ll only have a two-game week for the fantasy championship, but all it takes is one game in High Score.

Alperen Şengün, frontcourt: We’ve referred to Şengün as a Jokić lite for most of the season. And while he doesn’t quite have the same ceiling/floor combo, the Rockets’ big man looks like a league-winning pick as we approach the end of the season. He had games of 78 and 81 points last week and has four games in Week 23 to try and bring home a ‘ship for his respective managers. Şengün will have trouble going under the radar in drafts next season.

Victor Wembanyama, utility: Wemby is the other player I was referring to above, a player who was selected with a top-2 pick in most fantasy basketball drafts this season. If Wembanyama hadn’t missed time due to injury and had more consistent scoring totals, he would have repaid managers (not that he hasn’t). The Spurs big has been peaking at the right time, averaging close to 70 fantasy points per game over the past week and north of 60 FPPG over the past month.

Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic Named NBA’s Players Of Week 23

Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic have been named the NBA’s Players of the Week for Week 23.

Tatum averaged 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists as the Boston Celtics went 3-0. Over 11 games since his return from an Achilles injury, Tatum is averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists with a PER of 18.7.

Jokic averaged 26.0 points, 17.0 rebounds and 14.0 assists as the Denver Nuggets went 4-0.

Tom Dundon Group’s $4.25 Billion Purchase Of Blazers Unanimously Approved By Board Of Governors

The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers to a group led by Dallas businessman Tom Dundon, a league source told The Athletic. The deal is structured at an approximate total value of $4.25 billion.

The transaction ends the Allen family’s ownership era dating to 1988. It is structured in two stages: an 80.1 percent stake closes March 31 at a $4 billion valuation, with the remaining 19.9 percent closing no later than September 1, 2028, at a $4.5 billion valuation. During the interim period, former Blazers chairman Bert Kolde will observe board meetings without governance authority.

Dundon’s purchasing group includes Portland’s Sheel Tyle of investment firm Collective Global, Chicago’s Marc Zahr of Blue Owl, the Cherng family of Las Vegas, founders of Panda Express, and Freedom Mortgage CEO Stanley Middleman, who also holds a partial stake in the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dundon currently serves as majority owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, which he acquired in 2018 for $420 million. He recently sold 12.5 percent of that stake at a $2.66 billion valuation while retaining majority control. Carolina has reached the playoffs in eight straight seasons under his stewardship.

The Blazers are seeking $600 million to renovate the Moda Center. Oregon’s Legislature has already committed $365 million, funded through income tax revenues from team-related activity. Additional contributions from Multnomah County and the city of Portland remain pending council votes.

Paul Allen purchased the franchise in 1988 for $70 million. Following his death in 2018, his sister Jody assumed governance. The Allen estate listed the team for sale in May 2025, with all proceeds designated for charitable distribution.