They can grin and laugh and embrace now that the results of Monday’s NBA draft lottery are finalized. The Sixers will select third in June‘s draft. They had the fifth-best odds of securing a pick in the top three — a 31.

Denver led by eight points heading into the fourth quarter before dropping the final period by 15 points and losing at a critical pivot point in the series. Jokic finished the night with 44 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 44 minutes of action.

Cooper Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, isn't the only promising talent in the 2025 NBA Draft class.

Feb 11, 2025; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward Liam McNeeley (30) celebrates a basket against the Creighton Bluejays during the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images / Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks are favored to make it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. Oklahoma City remains the overall favorite.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seeds in the playoffs and owners of the best regular-season records in the NBA, find themselves in dire need of wins as they host Game 5s in the conference semifinals on Tuesday night.