Pistons vs. Sixers Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 9: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons boxes out during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 9, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons will be facing an undermanned, undersized edition of the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The Sixers injury situation is gruesome. Not only are Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre out, but they are without the following big men — Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Andre Drummond, and Johni Broome. “Who do they have left to play center,” you might be asking yourself. Well, I’m asking myself that, too, and I’m not really sure what the answer is. The only player they have taller than 6-foot-8 is Dominick Barlow, who has that beaten by one inch. Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker are their only other pseudo big men available, and they also have to manage 48 minutes at power forward somehow. Jalen Duren, who grew up in Pennsylvania and played high school ball in Philly, come on down. Paul Reed, who was waived by the Sixers and claimed by the Pistons a couple of years ago, it’s your time to shine. Let’s not let this winnable game slip away.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons -14.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (46-18)

Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Philadelphia 76ers (35-30)

VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, Dominick Barlow

Brooklyn Nets shut down Day’Ron Sharpe for season after thumb tear

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets have shut down Day’Ron Sharpe, their 24-year-old back-up center, after he was diagnosed with a tear of his left thumb ligament, the team announced shortly before Thursday’s game with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Nets did not initially state how Sharpe had injured his thumb or when but later Jordi Fernandez said the thumb had been bothering Sharpe all season and believed the injury may have occurred vs. the Grizzlies Monday. Indeed, Sharpe has been wearing a brace on his left thumb recently. Sharpe has become one of the NBA’s top back-ups and recently became the top offensive rebounder by percentage in NBA history (200 games or more.)

He’s the second Nets player in the last two days to get shut down. It was announced Wednesday that Egor Dëmin, who has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left heel since his pre-draft workouts a year ago, will also sit for Brooklyn’s final 16 games.

The decision also leaves the Nets short, literally and figuratively, at the 5 with only one natural center, Nic Claxton, although 6’11” Danny Wolf, more of a forward, is likely to fill in Thursday night. On Monday, the Nets did not renew 7-footer Grant Nelson’s 10-day contract; though Nelson profiles as somewhat of a tweener long-term, he certainly would give Brooklyn more size up front.

At the moment, Brooklyn is a half-game out of third place in the lottery standings and two games out of the worst record in the NBA. The decision to shut down two rotation players — particularly Sharpe — could certainly affect their ping-pong ball fortunes going forward.

To this point in the season, Sharpe has appeared in 62 games for Brooklyn, the most of any Net. The team is also nearly seven points per 100 possessions better with Sharpe on the floor, also a team-best. This continues a three-year long trend with the bruising back-up big; since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, the Nets have a nearly even -0.09 net rating with Sharpe on the floor in 2,990 minutes, and a sad -8.54 net rating in the 8,062 minutes he has been sitting on the bench, per PBP Stats

As we’ve noted, on/off data isn’t the be-all end-all, there’s some wonky 3-point numbers involved, and Sharpe is no perfect center. Still, the UNC product has made a name for himself as one of the most effective reserves in the league. This season, he even made a high percentage of his shots around the rim — previously a wart in his profile. Is he aided by playing low-minute totals, often against other bench units? Perhaps. Still, his production this season was undeniable…

Officially, Day’Ron Sharpe averaged 8.7/6.7/2.3 on 63.8% true shooting this season, playing 19 minutes a night. All of those numbers represent a career-high.

After leading the Nets to a comeback win against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was full of praise for Sharpe: “He’s got great size, he plays extremely hard, he’s physical on the interior, he doesn’t back down … The thing that stands out when you watch the tape is just the effort that he puts forth. And when you mix that effort with his size and skill, he can create problems for you on both ends.”

As for Brooklyn’s head coach, Jordi Fernández spoke about the injury before the Nets took on the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday evening, saying, “I’m very happy with what I’ve seen from Day’Ron, the hard work he’s put in and how much better he’s gotten.”

Fernández also added that he “believed” the injury occurred on Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, but that the thumb had been “bothering” Day’Ron previously.

Now, Day’Ron Sharpe can look ahead to the summer, where the Brooklyn Nets have a team option for the second year of the two-year, $12.5 million contract they signed him to last summer. The team could, of course, choose to decline that option and hope to sign Sharpe to a long-term deal. Either way, #29 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has progressed quite nicely since arriving in Brooklyn, though his fifth season in the NBA has come to a premature end.

Game Thread: Suns @ Pacers

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 13: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns passes over Ben Sheppard #26 and Aaron Nesmith #23 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 13, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Pacers 133-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s the second game of the Suns’ six-game road trip, and the Pacers are the most winnable game. The Suns cannot lose this game.

Boston Celtics (43-21) at Oklahoma City Thunder (51-15) Game #66 3/12/26

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 12: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on during the game on March 12, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Boston Celtics (43-21) at Oklahoma City Thunder (51-15)
Thursday, March 12, 2026
9:30 PM ET
Game #66, Road Game #35
TV: Prime Video
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WWLS/WKY, Sirius XM
Paycom Center

The Celtics complete their 3 game road trip with a stop in Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder. The Celtics won the first game in Cleveland on Sunday and then lost to the Spurs on Tuesday night. The Thunder haven’t played since Monday. This is the first of 2 meetings between these 2 teams this season. They will meet for the final time in Boston on March 25. The Celtics are 47-59 against the Thunder overall all time and they are 22-30 in games played in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder won the Championship last season and in the off season, they did very little to change their team. They made no trades and brought in no new players. They lost Dillon Jones who went to the Wizards. They did re-sign Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell. At the trade deadline, They traded picks to Philadelphia for Jared McCain and they traded Ousmane Dieng to Charlotte for Mason Plumlee, who they waived.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2 games ahead of 3rd place New York , 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Orlando and 6th place Miami and 7 games ahead of 7th place Toronto. The Celtics are 15-8 against Western Conference opponents. They are 22-12 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game. (The Knicks, Cavs, and Raptors are playing as I write this so that may change.)

The Thunder are 1st in the West, 2.5 games ahead of 2nd place San Antonio, 10 games ahead of 3rd place Houston, 10.5 games ahead of the 4th place Lakers and 5th place Minnesota, 11.5 games ahead of 6th place Denver and 12.5 games ahead of 7th place Phoenix. They are 15-6 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 27-6 at home and 9-1 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 5 games.

After this game at Oklahoma City the Celtics will head home where they will host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Next, it is one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.

The Celtics may be shorthanded in this game with 4 players listed on the injury report at this time. The good news is that Payton Pritchard has been upgraded to available. Jayson Tatum is out for injury management after playing the last 3 games they may want to monitor his workload. Derrick White is listed as questionable due to a right knee contusion. Nikola Vucevic is out due to surgery on his injured finger. I have no idea who will start if both Tatum and White are out. I made a wild guess it will be Sheierman and Harper, Jr.

The Thunder may also be shorthanded for this game. Isaiah Hartenstein will miss a third straight game due to a bruised left calf. Jalen Williams is listed as out due to a strained right hamstring. Thomas Sorber is out for the season with a torn ACL. Brandon Carlson has been ruled out for a seventh straight game due to a back strain. Once again, I really don’t know who will start for the Thunder but took a guess at it.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Baylor Scheierman vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Baylor Scheierman | NBAE via Getty Images
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Getty Images

SG: Ron Harper, Jr vs Cason Wallace

Ron Harper, Jr | NBAE via Getty Images
Cason Wallace | Getty Images

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Luguentz Dort

Jaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty Images
Luguentz Dort | Getty Images

PF: Sam Hauser vs Jaylin Williams

Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylin Williams | Getty Images

C: Neemias Queta vs Chet Holmgren

Neemias Queta
Neemias Queta | Getty Images
Chet Holmgren | Getty Images

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Jordan Walsh

2-Way Players

Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
John Tonje

Injuries/Out

Nikola Vucevic (finger) out
Payton Pritchard (neck) available
Jayson Tatum (injury management) out
Derrick White (knee) questionable

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Thunder Reserves
Branden Carlson
Alex Caruso
Isaiah Joe
Jared McCain
AJay Mitchell
Aaron Wiggins
Kenrich Williams

2 Way Players
Brooks Barnhizer
Branden Carlson
Payton Sandfort

Injuries/Out

Branden Carlson (back) out
Thomas Sorber (ACL) out
Nikola Topic (G-League) out
Jalen Williams (hamstring) out

Head Coach
Mark Daigneault

Key Matchups
Baylor Scheierman vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He is shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is one of the leaders to win it once again this season. He is the key to the Thunder’s winning ways. In order to slow the Thunder, the Celtics must slow down SGA. I’m just guessing that Scheierman will start at the point but White may play and it’s possible that Joe will go with someone else to start here.

Neemias Queta vs Chet Holmgren
Holmgren is averaging 17.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 blocks per game.  He is shooting 55.2% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc.   Holmgren is a threat to grab rebounds and block shots near the basket and the Celtics need to try to keep him out of the paint.  He can also hit threes and so the Celtics need to stay with him on the perimeter as well.

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is always the biggest key to winning.   This is going to be a tough matchup for the Celtics as the Thunder are first in the league with a defensive rating of 106.2 while the Celtics are 5th with a defensive rating of 111.8.   The Celtics need to tighten up their defense and make playing defense a priority especially against this Thunder team that plays lock down defense. It will be even harder for the Celtics on defense if both Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are out. 

Rebound – Rebounding  is also a key to winning.  The Celtics need to rebound on the defensive end to keep the Thunder from getting second chance points and they need to rebound on the offensive end to give themselves extra possessions.  The Thunder are 15th with 43.8 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 5th with 46.3 rebounds per game.  Much of rebounding is desire and effort and the Celtics as a team have to put in the extra effort to grab rebounds.

Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics need to keep their focus and not turn the ball over.  The Thunder are 1st in the league with 22.1 points off turnovers per game. They are also 4th with 9.7 steals per game.  The Celtics have to move the ball because they are a much better team when they move the ball and don’t over dribble.   But they must focus and make careful passes and not get sloppy.  They also have to be aware when dribbling the ball so as not to allow the Thunder to get steals.  The Thunder will make them pay if they get sloppy and turn the ball over.

Be Focused and Ready for a Tough Game –  The Thunder are a very good team and they play exceptional defense.  The Celtics have to be ready to go to the basket if they struggle from three.  They also have to be ready to shoot from midrange if both the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly.  The Celtics must stay focused on playing hard for 48 minutes and on playing tough defense and on playing the right way.  They can’t afford to let the Thunder play harder than them. 

X-Factors
On the Road –  The Celtics are playing in their 3rd straight road game.  The Thunder have the advantage of being at home in front of their fans and they have great fans.  The Celtics need to overcome the distractions of travel and playing on the road in front of hostile fans.  This is also the final game of a road trip and those are among the toughest games to win as the team is road weary and sometimes focus isn’t where it should be because of it. 

Officiating –  Officiating is always an x-factor. How the refs call the game has a big influence on how the teams play. Will they let them play or call every little bit of contact? Will they call it evenly or will they favor one team or the other. It all effects the outcome of the game and the Celtics need to play the right way and not allow the officiating to take them out of their game.  They can’t let bad calls and no calls take away their focus.   

Wizards at Magic discussion

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 3: Jevon Carter #2 of the Orlando Magic defends as Sharife Cooper #13 of the Washington Wizards controls the ball in the third quarter at the Kia Center on March 3, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards play the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. ET. Watch on Monumental Sports Network. Chat on this posts as we root for Washington to victory! Yes, I wrote that with a straight face!

(Hopefully, no one drops 83+ points on the Wizards this time.)

Ivica Zubac to make debut with Pacers Thursday night

Ivica Zubac hasn't taken the court since Feb. 2 due to a left ankle sprain, and while he was out he was traded from the LA Clippers to the Indiana Pacers. Thursday night, he will make his debut for his new team.

This season with the Clippers, Zubac averaged 14.4 points and 11 rebounds per game, shooting 61.3% from the floor. He will also provide a defensive presence in the paint that Indiana has lacked all season. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Zubac would eventually play this season, this may have been a little quicker than his expected return but he is back.

While Zubac is back, the Pacers don't want him to start helping them win games quite yet. As part of the trade, Indiana's first-round pick this June goes to the Clippers, however, the pick is top-four protected. At 15-50, Indiana has the league's worst record, but with lottery odds, that makes just a 52% chance Indy gets to keep the pick. Indiana, Brooklyn, Sacramento and Washington are in a tight "race" to the bottom — they are all within two games of each other in the standings — and if the Pacers fall to the fourth-worst record, then they end up on the wrong side of those coin flip odds.

The Pacers traded a first-round pick for Zubac looking ahead to next season. That's when Zubac will be setting picks for a healthy Tyrese Haliburton (out for the season with a torn Achilles), as well as Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard — and maybe a young star they draft this June.

Newly Acquired Blues Prospect Signs Extension With KHL Team

When the St. Louis Blues traded Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings, they received a package that included a 2026 first-round pick. 

While the first-round pick was the sought-after target, Dmitri Buchelnikov is quietly a potential great addition. The 22-year-old winger had an impressive 2024-25 season in the KHL, posting 15 goals and 54 points in 65 games. 

This season hasn’t been as successful for Buchelnikov, scoring 13 goals and 23 points in 41 games, but the talent remains. He’ll have the opportunity to rebound, as he signed an extension to his contract in the KHL. 

The former Red Wings second-round pick (52nd overall) in the 2022 NHL draft has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moskva, meaning he’ll remain in Russia until May 31, 2027. 

Standing 5-foot-10, 163 pounds, Buchelnikov isn’t the biggest player you’ll find, but his speed and skill more than make up for his lack of size. 

The Red Wings thought very highly of Buchelnikov, and it’s no wonder why the Blues wanted him involved in the deal. There are concerns that he may not be interested in coming to the NHL, but signing just a one-year extension should give the Blues confidence that he will come to North America.  

Although it is unfortunate for the Blues, there could have been opportunities for him to earn an NHL roster spot out of training camp, or at the very least start the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds and earn a call-up.

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Donovan Mitchell was understandably frustrated with missed calls, but we don’t need more reviews

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers argues a call with referee Karl Lane #77 during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 27, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers were the ones who lost Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, not the officiating crew. It was the Cavs’ defense that didn’t put up enough resistance and allowed 128 points to a bottom-third offense.

They were also on the wrong end of a few calls that helped determine the game.

First, Keon Ellis was called for a shooting foul that he didn’t commit. When he tried to tell the bench to review the play, he was called for a technical. The foul was overturned on review, but the technical wasn’t.

Needing to use the review there cost them in the final 20 seconds of a two-point game. The ball appeared to have gone out of bounds off an Orlando player. The Cavs couldn’t challenge because they won their two challenges earlier in the game and aren’t allowed a third. Then, Desmond Bane hit a game-sealing three after the inbound to secure the victory.

If the call had gone the other way, the Cavs would’ve had a chance to tie or win the game on their final possession. It’s also worth pointing out that the league’s Last Two Minute report said that the call on the floor was correct.

Not being able to review the call in the moment is something that Donovan Mitchell took issue with.

“I’m having a hard time with the rule of once you’ve had two challenges you can’t get any more, especially when you win both,” Mitchell said in a cleveland.com article by Chris Fedor. “I don’t know what the rule should be. If you’re winning challenges, especially on calls that are very obvious, I think it’s something that should be talked about.”

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Mitchell is right to feel this way, and he did clarify that it wasn’t the reason they lost. It’s deflating to feel like the outcome of a game is affected by something neither team can control.

At the same time, missed calls happen to every team in every game in every sport. And it will keep happening as long as sports are played. It’s just as much part of the game as missed shots, turnovers, or the basketball itself.

There’s the thought that if there were more replay reviews, we’d somehow make things more fair. And while the increased use of replay does help get more calls correct, sports will never be completely fair. The more you try to make it that way, the more you end up highlighting that it isn’t, and never will be.

There’s also the fact that there’s no amount of replays that would make things better. If you’re allowed two challenges, you’ll always think you should be allowed three. And so on.

Additionally, there are calls that can’t easily be reviewed. For example, the missed goaltending call in the Cavs game against the Oklahoma City Thunder proved to be monumental. Instead of two points for the Cavs, OKC ended up with a transition three.

How are you supposed to stop that from happening? Should they halt play any time there’s a close call? That isn’t exciting. Do you give the team that was goaltended against two points? That would help, but it’s still unfair that OKC got a three in transition? Do you rewind the game to the time and score when the goaltend happen? That would be pretty anticlimactic. Not every problem has a clean solution, so you will never completely fix everything.

Adding more replays hasn’t made the product better in any sport; it just leaves you more unsatisfied while also derailing any momentum the game had. You will never create a system where every judgment call is right. And you know what, it’s okay to accept that’s just part of the game.

Sports and life in general are unfair. There’s a certain amount of luck involved in winning, which includes the officiating. That wasn’t on the Cavs’ side on Wednesday, and they weren’t good enough to overcome it. We’ll all be happier if we just accept that this is just part of the sport.

Let’s just move on.

Bobby Farnham, Brett Jefferson and Marc Grandisson buy stakes in the NHL's Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Tom Dundon has sold a portion of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes to three new minority owners.

The team announced Thursday that Brett Jefferson, Marc Grandisson and retired hockey player Bobby Farnham had joined the ownership group.

“Brett, Marc and Bobby are accomplished business executives whose experiences and knowledge will help us continue to grow our team’s success and impact,” Dundon said. “Brett lives in the (area) and Marc will soon relocate to Raleigh, so their influence will be locally-based. As a former NHL player, Bobby is uniquely positioned to help our ownership group as we move forward.”

The Hurricanes did not disclose financial terms. Sportico reported last week that Dundon had agreed to sell 12.5% at a valuation of $2.66 billion for approximately $332.5 million.

Dundon last summer led a group that bought the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers from Paul Allen’s estate. Dundon has been Carolina’s majority owner since 2018 and took sole possession of the club in 2021 when he bought out the remaining stakes held by Peter Karmanos and others.

Jefferson founded an asset management firm. Grandisson, now retired, worked as an executive in the insurance industry. Farnham, who's just 37 years old, played 67 NHL games before going into the private investment business.

The Hurricanes said they would be introduced prior to their home game against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Timberwolves Have Hit Rock Bottom… Hopefully

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 7: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 7, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Just a week ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to be heading in the exact right direction. They defeated the Toronto Raptors in one of their most complete performances of the season, securing their fifth straight victory and moving the Wolves into third place in the Western Conference for the first time since they were 1-0. The vibes were high.

Over the past three games, everything has completely flipped for the Wolves. They’ve decisively lost their last three games, all by double-digits or more. All areas of the game have fallen apart at one point or another during this stretch for the Timberwolves, which has made it impossible to focus on just one aspect.

It started Saturday afternoon at Target Center when the Timberwolves lost 119-92 to the Orlando Magic. The Wolves’ offense fell apart down the stretch of the first half as the Wolves went nearly five full minutes without a single point, allowing the Magic to go on a 16-0 run. After the game, Edwards either wasn’t sure or wasn’t willing to share what went wrong offensively.

The terrible offense continued into the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday when the Wolves scored just 45 points on 18-45 shooting from the field and 4-22 from beyond the arc. Minnesota’s first-half defense kept them in the game, but eventually, the pairing of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves broke through, combining for 62 points in the 14-point win over the Wolves.

Edwards had an especially poor game, going 2-15 from the field, including 1-10 from deep. Ant did get to the line ten times to boost his scoring total a bit, but with the Lakers’ defense playing heavy in the gaps to take away driving lanes and passing angles, Edwards was unable to generate consistent offense, over-relying on his step-back 3-pointer while over-dribbling the ball instead of making quick decisions with the ball.

The following night, the Timberwolves finally got their offense back on track when they didn’t turn the ball over as they scored 128 points and made nearly 60 percent of their shots. Their issues violently shifted to the other side of the court, though, as the Wolves gave up 153 points, which tied the Clippers’ franchise record for points in regulation.

It was an extraordinarily ugly performance across the roster for the Wolves. Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points on 15-20 shooting, including six 3-pointers, and nine free throws to go along with five assists. The Clippers as a team shot 63.4 percent from the floor and 51.4 percent from beyond the arc while scoring 35 or more points in each quarter.

The poor defense of both Edwards and Julius Randle stood out most. The two leaders of the team were missing rotations, often forgot to box out, were ball-watching on many possessions, and overall provided little resistance to the LA offense.

“I just gotta be better,” Edwards stated after the game, taking accountability for his performance. “Whoever I’m guarding. Trying to set the tone to start the game, I gotta be better. It’s just me, everything is about me.” Ant later said, “I gotta find a way to get us out of it, it’s all my fault.”

It’s a good sign that Edwards is recognizing that the problem and the potential solution both reside with him as the best player. The likelihood is that the Edwards and Timberwolves will turn it around because that has been their pattern for at least four seasons now. Every time their season feels on the brink of collapse, the Wolves have made fans, and those who cover them feel stupid for ever doubting them.

The issue is that the Wolves can’t just rely on what they’ve done in the past; they need to be better. Much better. While the last two seasons have undoubtedly been successful, as the Wolves made it to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, they also did not come close to winning either series, losing both series in five games.

Now 66 games into the season, the Wolves have shown little reason why they are a legitimate threat to win the championship. On the season, they are 11th in Offensive Rating, 12th in Defensive Rating, and 11th in Net Rating according to NBA.com. They are on pace for fewer than 50 wins and currently have a 5-9 record against the teams currently seeded one through six in the Western Conference.

Most notably, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who eliminated the Timberwolves in the West Finals a season ago, appear to be further ahead of the Wolves than at any time before. Despite being one of the most injured teams in the NBA, OKC leads Minnesota by 11 games in the standings. The Thunder seem primed to defend their title no matter who they face, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on track to win his second consecutive MVP award.

To a certain extent, it’s fair to believe the Wolves can “flip the switch” and perform at a higher level than they have in the regular season. Edwards specifically has shown the ability to turn up his level of play and intensity in the playoffs with his ability to wipe away any of the warts that had shown up throughout the year.

At a certain point, though, the numbers and level of performance in the regular season start to become damning. At no point during this regular season have the Wolves put together a weeks-long stretch indicative of a team that can win three or four straight rounds in the playoffs.

Edwards and the Wolves have just not played with the level of consistency indicative of a championship-caliber team. Maybe Oklahoma City is an unfair bar, given SGA is set to break Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20-point games, but the Wolves’ play can’t vary so much that one night they score only 92 points and two games later they are giving up 153.

The Wolves’ season is still far from over. They currently sit just a half-game back of the three seed in the Western Conference, and everything is still left in front of them in terms of meeting preseason expectations. With just 16 games left on Minnesota’s schedule, though, this week’s stretch of awful basketball likely has to become a turning point that gets looked back on as when things began to change.

It has to be rock bottom. If it’s not, the roster and possibly beyond will look a whole lot different come next season.

March Madness bubble watch: How did Miami Ohio loss shake tournament picture?

The NCAA Tournament bubble got a major shake up on Thursday, March 12.

Miami (Ohio) suffered its first loss of the season against Massachusetts in the MAC tournament quarterfinals, not only ending its quest for perfection, but putting the RedHawks in danger of missing the big dance. Despite the outstanding 31-1 record, they don't have any quality wins and the resume is among the worst in the sport.

There wouldn't have been much changes if Miami (Ohio) had won the MAC automatic bid, but now without it, how much has the March Madness picture been altered? Here is how the USA TODAY Sports Bracketology bubble looks after Miami (Ohio) lost.

Will Miami Ohio make tournament?

As of the afternoon of Thursday, March 12, Miami (Ohio) is projected to make the NCAA Tournament. The RedHawks are slated as a No. 11 seed as the last four in.

Miami RedHawks guard Luke Skaljac (3) drives in the second half of Mid-American Conference Tournament first round game between the Miami RedHawks and the UMass Minutemen at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

March Madness last four in

  • Santa Clara
  • Virginia Commonwealth
  • SMU
  • Miami (Ohio)

March Madness first four out

  • Auburn
  • New Mexico
  • Indiana
  • Oklahoma

March Madness next four out

  • San Diego State
  • West Virginia
  • Virginia Tech
  • Cincinnati

How did Miami Ohio loss alter bracket?

With the loss, Miami (Ohio) joins the bubble picture and essentially pushes teams down the bracket. The MAC champion becomes a bid stealer since it would be a two-bid league instead of one, and teams could see their fate altered because of it.

An example is Auburn going down to the first four out after it was slated in the field, and San Diego State going from first four out to next four out.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bubble picture after Miami Ohio loss shakes up bracket

Dodgers on Deck: Friday, March 13 at Mariners

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 1: Landon Knack #96 of the Los Angeles Dodgers gets set to throw a pitch during a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on March 1, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers are back under the lights, this time for the first time on the road, on Friday against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria.

Landon Knack starts for the Dodgers, making his fourth appearance this spring. Cade Anderson is on the mound for Seattle.

Friday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers at Mariners
  • Ballpark: Peoria Sports Complex
  • Time: 6:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: KIRO 710 AM (Mariners broadcast)

Team USA believes Italy loss was needed wake-up call to win WBC gold

HOUSTON — The USA players hung out in their posh team hotel Wednesday night watching the Mexico-Italy game, while manager Mark DeRosa and the staff had a watch party at pitching coach Andy Pettitte’s home with steaks on the grill.

The tension ended halfway through the game, once Italy scored five runs, and all of the stress was over.

They could exhale.

They were still alive in the World Baseball Classic.

The moment Italy took a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning over Mexico, it guaranteed USA would advance because of the tiebreaker rules, making no difference that Italy would win, 9-1. San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, who was with his family in the hotel restaurant, got up from his table and immediately high-fived Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who was with his family. The next they knew, the entire restaurant was fist-bumping.

“We were all excited,’’ said Webb, USA’s starting pitcher in Friday’s quarterfinal against Canada (8 p.m. ET, FOX) at Daikin Park. “It's tough when stuff is not in your control. I think that was the hardest part. But shout-out to Italy for getting it done.’’

So instead of packing their bags and scurrying out of town, here they were Thursday afternoon, back at Daikin Field relaxed, taking batting practice, but more determined than ever to take advantage of this new lease on life in this World Baseball Classic.

They were given a scare, received a stay of execution, and now fully plan to capitalize beginning in the single-elimination quarterfinals. If they win, they’ll fly to Miami on Saturday with a semifinal game Sunday against the winner of the Dominican Republic and Korea quarterfinal.

They learned their lesson after getting smacked in the mouth by Team Italy, who went undefeated in pool play.

“New lease on life for the boys, certainly,’’ USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “Put ourselves in a tough spot. Tip our hat to Vinnie Pasquantino and Italy, truly. Went into that game a little overly confident and got a huge wake-up call. We turned the page and got Canada.

“Bottom line, the guys are fired up to be in that room and get rolling.’’

There will be no late get-togethers, no brash comments, and no getting ahead of themselves talking about playing in the World Baseball Classic championship game.

Yet, they do want to make it perfectly clear that they are taking this seriously, with DeRosa and the USA players insisting everyone knew all along what was at stake against Italy. The loss forced them to rely on Italy either winning Wednesday, or scoring at least four runs, to advance to the quarterfinals instead of Mexico.

“I think there's a couple false narratives out there,’’ DeRosa said. “I was well aware that we had to win that game based on all the scenarios that could take place. I mean, they [Italy] went in 2-0. We went in 2-0. And we knew they were playing Mexico the next day. We knew there was tiebreaker rules involved.

“So, I can understand the questions about lineup and pitching situations. We were up against a lot of guardrails with regards to teams, the deployment of certain relievers, how many pitches they can use, whether they can go back out, whether they can clean up innings. And you're just trying to piece it together in real time.’’

The only real mistake DeRosa made was saying they had “punched their ticket’’ to the quarterfinals Tuesday morning on MLB Network when they still had not clinched a spot. He knew when he arrived at the ballpark that he made a mistake on air but insists it had nothing to do with his lineup. He drew criticism playing Paul Goldschmidt at first instead of Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson at third instead of Alex Bregman or even Pete Crow-Armstrong instead of Byron Buxton. And the only reason Clayton Kershaw was warming up in the eighth inning was in case David Bednar reached his pitch count of 25 pitches.

“It was just an overly confident statement on 'Hot Stove,' period,’’ DeRosa said, “the end. And it's my fault. I felt good about where we were after Mexico.’’

And about that late night get-together in the clubhouse after defeating Mexico, with DeRosa offering that a few players were “dragging’’ the next day.

“Listen, us hanging out in a clubhouse is everything I ever dreamed of creating,’’ DeRosa said. “You've got to buy into this thing super quick and try and create a team. For those players to invite the coaches in and for us to spend time together, and enjoy a huge win that we hadn't had in 20 years [over Mexico] was something that was super special to me.

“We did not lose sight of the fact that we had to go out and play well against Italy. They played a hell of a game. They smacked us in the mouth early. They got up big. We went into that game prepared to win it.’’

The players backed up DeRosa, saying that while they might have been overconfident, everyone knew was at stake, and were startled to see the outcry.

“I don’t understand that,’’ USA captain Aaron Judge said. “We want to win every single game. Yeah, we got kicked in the mouth. That’s how you respond now. We got to go out there and take care of business. We’re going to treat it like every other game.

“We’re out there to win. We’re out there to beat some teams down.’’

USA slugger Kyle Schwarber also was exasperated by the narrative that USA treated the Italy game like a spring training exhibition, and that they didn’t care whether they won or lost, believing they already had a quarterfinal berth clinched.

“That was the furthest thing from the truth ...’’ he said. “I don’t like that perception. We have a baseball team full of great players, and we got beat. You tip your hat. But it wasn’t because we 'sold it,' or whatever you want to say. They beat us, fair and square. We put ourselves in that position and we’re moving on.

“We’re moving on, and now we’ve got to find a way to keep it going.’’

If Team USA wasn’t taking it seriously, Schwarber and Bryce Harper would have sent text messages to Italy starter Aaron Nola, imploring him to beat Mexico. They left him alone. They’re all competitors wanting the same gold medal. It was only after Nola came out of the game that Schwarber congratulated him for his five shutout-inning performance, but as a Phillies teammate, not as Team Italy pitcher.

“The reality is that it was out of our control, and you got to swallow the pill, but I’m happy that it ended up where we’re moving on,’’ Schwarber said. “Nobody wanted to go back home. It just wouldn’t have felt right.

“Now, we’re at the point where we can control our own fate.’’

While the DeRosa controversy died down with USA qualifying for the quarterfinals, a new one arose Thursday with several pitchers leaving the WBC and returning to their spring training camps. Yankees reliever Ryan Yarbrough, Royals starter Michael Wacha and Mets starter Clay Holmes left the team. Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, who was their emergency pitcher, will be removed from the roster after Friday’s game, DeRosa said. They will be replaced by Tigers reliever Will Vest, Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers and Yankees reliever Tim Hill. Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan, who is scheduled to pitch the potential championship game along with Mets starter Nolan McLean, will replace Kershaw.

“I completely understand that,’’ DeRosa said. “There's a lot of pressure from the parent clubs to get these guys ramped up for the start of the season. If [Boyd] is going to be the Opening Day starter for the Cubs, we had to guarantee him innings. The game’s going to dictate now. Pool play is a different animal. Trying to weave our way through it from a pitching standpoint, all bets are off now.’’

Webb, who won the first game against Brazil, says he also understands why so many pitchers have returned to camp. Yet, he never considered departing, and even after he pitches Friday, he’ll remain with the team in Miami.

“I completely understand where all those guys are coming from, especially guys that have come out of the bullpen that are starters during the season,’’ Webb said. So, it's difficult. For me it wasn't. I guess I was just kind of one of the lucky ones that got to kind of keep [the routine] it the same.’’

And even though he won’t pitch again after Friday, there’s no way Webb is about to depart back to Scottsdale, Arizona, and leave his USA teammates behind.

“I want to see it through,’’ Webb said. “No offense to the teams that I've played on before, I love all those guys, but this is probably the most fun I've had with a group of guys.

“We've got three games to go, and then hopefully winning a gold at the end.’’

It’s not as if USA needed any motivation, but their Italy loss does remind them that anything can happen on any given night, and with it now being a single-elimination tournament, one bad night can send your home.

“We all know that no one’s invincible,’’ Schwarber said. “There’s always a good time to have a little slap in the face. I think that brings guys more together at the end of the day.’’

So could the Italy loss be a blessing in disguise, a much-needed wake-up call?

“We'll see,’’ Judge said, “if we’re holding that gold medal.’’

Follow Bob Nightengale on Bluesky and X @Bnightengale.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Team USA has added motivation going into WBC quarterfinal vs. Canada

Justin Gaethje and other UFC stars to lead training exercise at the FBI Academy

Interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje will be among several UFC fighters who will demonstrate their training techniques to academy students and FBI staff at the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on Saturday and Sunday.

Gaethje also will headline a July 4 card on the south lawn of the White House when he goes against Ilia Topuria for the lightweight championship.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth — helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people,” FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement.

Jorge Masvidal, Chris Weidman, Claudia Gadelha, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape and Renzo Gracie are the other mixed-martial arts fighters who will take part.

"It’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes to experience, and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques,” Dana White, the UFC CEO and president, said in a statement.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

NBA’s Last Two Minutes report confirms key call in Cavs loss to Magic

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers controls the ball against Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic in the first half of the game at Kia Center on March 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a tough one to the Orlando Magic last night. It wasn’t just that they had a disappointing effort on defense that led to their defeat. But it also felt like the officiating was working against them at key moments.

Kenny Atkinson deployed both of his coaches’ challenges throughout the game. Once on an out-of-bounds call in the first quarter, and later to reverse a shooting foul on Keon Ellis. Both were successful. But once the game was coming down to the wire, Atkinson wished he had a third challenge to use on a key call.

With under 20 seconds to play, the Magic attempted to dump the ball into the post for Paolo Banchero. The entry pass sailed out of bounds — with both James Harden and Banchero making an attempt to catch it. It was unclear if either player touched the ball before it went out of bounds. In real time, the official did his best and determined it was Orlando’s possession. But on such a tough call, you would have liked to see a replay review.

Fortunately, it turns out the officials made the right call.

The NBA’s last two-minute report confirms that Harden touched the ball before it went out of bounds. That might not make you feel any better about the Cavs losing — but at least you can rest assured they weren’t screwed out of an opportunity to win.

The only missed calls included an uncalled foul by Sam Merrill and a missed travel from Desmond Bane. I think those two cancel each other out. Everything else was ruled correct by the league’s report.