The Boston Celtics' 2025 NBA playoff run was marred by adversity as they fell to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after a promising start. The Celtics had defeated the Orlando Magic with ease, but they faced a stunning collapse at home, giving up two 20-point leads. The situation worsened when star forward Jayson Tatum sustained a serious Achilles injury, likely sidelining him for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.

To fill the void left by Tatum, the Celtics have signed Jalen Bridges, a promising forward who played his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns. Although Bridges only averaged 1.1 points per game last season, he demonstrated potential as a shooter during his time at West Virginia and Baylor. The Celtics hope that his shooting ability can integrate well into Joe Mazzulla's system, providing a spark in the upcoming summer league and possibly securing a spot on the roster.

The NBA rookie class has shown varying levels of promise after one month of play, with teams hoping their young talents can translate potential into performance. The report card evaluates each team's rookies, focusing on those who have made significant contributions or are expected to do so.

Some standouts include Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, who leads all rookies in minutes, and Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has emerged as a key player. Meanwhile, others like Ron Holland of the Detroit Pistons and AJ Johnson of the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled to make an impact.

The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks are set to clash in Texas, with both teams updating their injury reports. The Suns will miss Jalen Bridges, Collin Gillespie, and TyTy Washington Jr., while Bradley Beal is probable. The Mavericks will be without Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington, with Maxi Kleber listed as doubtful.

The Suns hold a strong 7-1 record, recently defeating the Miami Heat, led by Kevin Durant's impressive performance. The Mavericks, at 5-3, come off a win against the Chicago Bulls, highlighted by Luka Doncic's stellar stats.

Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns has been cleared to play against the Los Angeles Lakers after being questionable due to a sore elbow. Head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed his availability.

Meanwhile, the Suns have two players on assignment with their G League affiliate, while Josh Okogie remains out with a hamstring injury. The Lakers will be missing seven players, including Jalen Hood-Schifino, who is also with the South Bay Lakers.