Front offices expect at least one All-NBA guard to move in June, and the calls have reportedly already started.
Around the locker room afterwards, the mood was measured rather than jubilant. Veterans have seen April runs evaporate before, and the schedule ahead offers no soft landings — four of the next five come against teams above .500.
Home crowds have been worth real points this spring. The building was loud from the opening tip, and the third-quarter surge that decided the game was fueled by three straight defensive stops that brought the arena to its feet.
What the box score will not show is how the defensive assignments flipped after halftime. Switching every screen took away the rhythm three-pointers that had kept the visitors afloat, and the open looks simply dried up.
