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Live Updates: Bulls-Knicks on NBA TV headline 9-game Friday

Follow along with live updates around Friday's NBA action, featuring Bulls-Knicks on NBA TV and Wolves-Sixers on League Pass.

NBA.com Staff

Houston aims for a fifth straight victory when they host Utah tonight on League Pass. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

Check out the best of Friday’s nine-game slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 9:09 ET

Sixers erupt in 3Q

Philadelphia cooks for a 42-24 scoring edge against the Timberwolves in the third quarter, and they’ve got a 91-79 advantage with 8:18 left in the contest.

Tyrese Maxey (21 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast), Paul George (17 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl) and Joel Embiid (17 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast, 3 blk) continue to pace the Sixers.

Julius Randle (17 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) and Bones Hyland (17 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast) are trying to keep Minnesota within striking distance as Anthony Edwards (8 pts, 3-14 FG) searches for a rhythm.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 9:03 ET

Celtics drop 43 in 1Q

Boston outscores Milwaukee 43-26 in the first frame, and they hold a 68-49 lead with 2:36 remaining in the first half.

Jayson Tatum (11 pts, 7 ast), Neemias Queta (13 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk), Jaylen Brown (13 pts, 2 stl) and Payton Pritchard (12 pts, 2 3PM) have been unstoppable.

Kyle Kuzma (11 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) and Pete Nance (8 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast) lead the way for the Bucks.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:58 ET

Great Barrier Thief on patrol

Dyson Daniels can’t stop picking pockets, and the Hawks have a 71-59 lead over the Nets with the third quarter just getting started. Jalen Johnson (13 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast), CJ McCollum (16 pts, 5 ast) and Nickeil-Alexander Walker (10 pts) are driving Atlanta’s offense.

Noah Clowney, Nic Claxton and Malachi Smith all have 12 points apiece to lead Brooklyn in scoring.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:51 ET

Raptors, Grizzlies going at it

GG Jackson is up to a game-high 10 points (3-4 FG, 2-2 3PM) in 8 minutes to give Memphis a 29-28 edge versus Toronto with 10:06 left before halftime.

RJ Barrett (9 pts) and Scottie Barnes (8 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl) are powering Toronto early.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:45 ET

Wolves-Sixers is GOOD

We’ve seen 7 ties and 4 lead changes to this point, and the Sixers hold a 60-59 advantage with 5:38 to go in the third.

Philly’s Big 3 of Paul George (17 pts, 6 reb), Joel Embiid (11 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast, 3 blk) and Tyrese Maxey (11 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast) are doing a bit of everything.

Julius Randle (12 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast), Anthony Edwards (8 pts, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk) and Bones Hyland (14 pts, 3 ast) are the leading Wolves.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:39 ET

Too strong from Alpi

Alperen Sengun (2 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast) won’t be denied on this dunk attempt, helping Houston take a 34-22 edge over Utah after one quarter. Kevin Durant has a game-high 9 points on 4-for-4 shooting to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 dimes in 12 minutes.

Cody Williams (6 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast) and Ace Bailey (4 pts, 1 ast) are the leaders for the Jazz.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:29 ET

Knicks cruising at home

New York holds a 69-28 advantage over Chicago with 3:21 remaining before halftime. OG Anunoby has a game-high 17 points and 5 made 3s, while Mitchell Robinson (10 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl) and Jalen Brunson (9 pts, 7 ast) keep the Knicks in attack mode.

Collin Sexton has 12 points and 4 made 3s to lead the Bulls.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:20 ET

Hawks, Nets battling

An 18-point Atlanta lead in the first quarter is down to 10 with 8:23 left before halftime, as the Hawks are up 45-35 on the hosting Nets. CJ McCollum (9 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7 pts) and Dyson Daniels (7 pts, 2 ast, 2 stl) pace the visitors.

Malachi Smith leads all scorers with 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting and a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown, even though this heave was just a split-second too late.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:13 ET

Bones takes over in 1H

Bones Hyland drops all 14 of his points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3PM) in the second quarter, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 16 minutes off the bench to help Minnesota grab a 47-41 lead over Philadelphia at the break. Anthony Edwards has 8 points on 3-for-9 shooting in his return from a one-game absence with an illness.

Paul George has a game-high 15 points (4-7 FG) with 7 rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes, while Joel Embiid tallies 4 points (1-10 FG), 7 boards, 3 dimes and 3 blocks across 17 minutes.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 8:08 ET

Hornets up 19 at halftime

Charlotte dominates Indiana in the first two quarters to take a 69-50 advantage into halftime. Sion James (13 pts, 4 3PM), Brandon Miller (12 pts, 5 reb), LaMelo Ball (12 pts, 4 3PM, 5 ast) and Kon Knueppel (10 pts, 2 ast, 2 stl) have the offense clicking.

Pascal Siakam has a team-high 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 18 minutes of action.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 7:54 ET

All Knicks in 1Q

Jalen Brunson (5 pts, 1 ast) and Mitchell Robinson (5 pts, 3 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk) have the Knicks in front of the Bulls 18-1 midway through the first quarter on NBA TV.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 7:48 ET

Bench fueling Wolves in 2Q

Naz Reid (4 pts, 4 reb, 2 blk) and Bones Hyland (8 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast) power an 8-0 run for Minnesota, as they lead the Sixers 31-30 with 7:12 left before halftime.

Paul George is the high man for Philly with 10 points (3-5 FG), 3 boards and one assist in 14 minutes.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 7:34 ET

Wolves-Sixers live on League Pass

Dominick Barlow (5 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk) is doing work for Philadelphia, as the Sixers hold a 16-12 edge over the Timberwolves with 2:19 left in the first quarter.

Anthony Edwards is back for Minnesota!

APRIL 3, 2026 / 7:26 ET

Hornets rolling early

Charlotte jumps out to a 31-11 lead over the visiting Pacers with 4:54 remaining in the opening quarter. All five Hornets starters have scored, with LaMelo Ball (6 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) and Kon Knueppel (7 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl) leading the way.

The Hornets have rattled off a 24-2 run in the first quarter to set the tone.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 6:30 ET

Dončić to miss time

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Luka Dončić will miss the Lakers’ five remaining games in the regular season, and his status is “uncertain beyond that”. An incredibly tough blow for Los Angeles after the team has been playing their best basketball of the year.

APRIL 3, 2026 / 6:15 ET

Welcome to a nine-game Friday in the NBA!

The Knicks look to fortify their third-place position in the Eastern Conference standings when they host the Bulls on NBA TV.

Tonight’s action-packed slate begins with an interconference tilt between Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers and Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves (7 ET, League Pass). Anthony Edwards (right knee/illness) is active for this matchup between two squads currently in sixth place in their respective conferences, while Joel Embiid (illness) could remain on the sidelines.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks host Josh Giddey and the Bulls for their fourth and final meeting of the 2025-26 campaign (7:30 ET, NBA TV). New York got back in the win column on Wednesday after dropping three consecutive outings, but Chicago is in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

Here’s the complete schedule for tonight:

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