150-95! Totally gave up! The top pick in the draft year is diving down hard.

No shame at all...

The Hornets demolished the Jazz 150-95 on the road, achieving a massive 55-point victory. This marks the biggest winning margin in the team’s history and ranks as the third largest road win margin in NBA history, with the top two being 57 and 56 points (three occurrences).

Paul expressed great disappointment, stating the Hornets ought to have exerted more effort to secure a victory by at least 58 points.

The Pacers’ star Haliburton, out for the season due to a torn right Achilles tendon, spoke frankly about the game on his personal social media, writing:Disgusting.”

Jazz: You don’t know anything. Losing face now is to ensure you can smile at the draft this summer.

The 2026 NBA draft is a historically significant year. The current top prospects include Kansas guard Dalen Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and BYU wing AJ Dybantsa. Each has the potential to become a franchise cornerstone, driving all struggling teams wild, almost desperate enough to sign them outright.

But the Jazz still aren’t bad enough. So far this season, they stand at 13-25, ranking 13th in the West and sixth worst in the league, behind the Pelicans (9-31), Kings (8-30), Pacers (8-31), Wizards (10-27), and Nets (11-24). According to the rules, the three teams with the worst regular-season records have a 14% chance each to get the top draft pick.

Speaking of the Pacers, without Haliburton (injured) and Turner (traded to the Bucks), their competitiveness plunged from last season’s runner-up spot to the bottom of the league—a rollercoaster fall. Still, they should be quite pleased.

It’s worth noting that the Pelicans’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick belongs to the Hawks, and the Clippers’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick is with the Thunder. Fortunately, the super team is back on course, currently sitting 15-23 and 11th in the West, just one game behind the 10th-place Grizzlies, with a play-in spot within reach.

The other 28 teams should thank the Clippers; otherwise, if the reigning champions Thunder grab the top picks—first, second, or third—they’ll continue to dominate the league with rookie talent for many years.

In summary, the upcoming NBA season may see even more unbelievable scenarios, with teams doing everything possible to tank and secure the top draft picks.