Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts at the end of a 120-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Lakers star Luka Doncic is one technical away from receiving an automatic one-game suspension after he picked up his 15th technical of the season in a 120-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Doncic, who had 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, was charged with a technical with 5:43 left in the second quarter.
“Just because I yelled at him, I guess. That's what he said,” said Doncic about his interaction with referee Ed Malloy. “But I heard three other players say the exact same sentence and didn't get a tech. And that's my problem, you know, I was trying not to talk at all. This is the first thing I said — no warning or nothing."
Malloy said after the game that Doncic was issued a technical for "using profanity directed towards a referee."
The NBA automatically suspends any player who receives 16 technical fouls during a season. Doncic has reached the threshold twice in his career, but the NBA rescinded the 16th technical each time, allowing him to avoid suspension.
Doncic wasn't making any guarantees about whether he'll be able to avoid another technical.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 26: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping Thursday’s game to the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers will immediately return to Los Angeles where they will begin a five-game home stand, starting with the Pacers on Friday.
This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.
The Lakers will be greeted back at Crypto.com Arena by a Pacers team that’s currently struggling. The Pacers are lottery-bound and there’s really no reason for them to aim for anything but a top pick at this point of the season. It’s understood league-wide that this season was a gap year for them after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in the Finals.
That said, the Lakers will still have to earn this one. In fairness to them, they’ve been performing well on the second night of back-to-backs as of late, winning three of their last four. They should win this one simply because they’re the better team. It’s also the perfect opportunity to quickly bounce back after losing a close game in Denver.
Without Haliburton, Indiana ranks dead last in the league in offense. They average just 111.4 points per game and don’t rebound the ball very well. Outside of Pascal Siakam, they don’t have much of a consistent threat on offense. Their defense doesn’t make up for their offense either because they don’t have the pieces to protect the rim, especially with Ivica Zubac out. More notably, Indiana doesn’t have an answer for Los Angeles’ main guys.
That’s why it would be nice to see the Lakers put together a nice bounceback game, one that will begin this crucial five-game home stand on a strong note. Hopefully, they shoot better than they did on Thursday night, especially if this one goes down to the wire.
The Lakers should be able to feast in the paint even more and defend without fouling so much. It’s the defense’s responsibility to make sure that Siakam, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard don’t play extraordinary well.
One of the perks of the NBA regular season is that there’s always an opportunity to bounce back, especially after losing such a winnable game. Let’s see if the purple and gold can do just on Friday against the Pacers.
Notes and Updates
This is the Lakers’ 11th back-to-back this season. After this one, they will play three more.
Since the Lakers played on Thursday, there’s no injury report yet.
As for the Pacers, Tyrese Halliburton (Achilles injury), Johnny Furphy (right ACL tear), Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) are all out.
Pascal Siakam (left wrist sprain), Aaron Nesmith (right ankle and lower back sprain) and Andrew Nembhard (lower back and neck soreness) are probable.
Luka Dončić was called for his 15th technical foul of the season on Thursday against the Nuggets. If he gets called for one more, he will be automatically suspended for one game.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 5: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a layup against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena on March 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers might just be cursed to always have an injury.
After a short string of games where they had a clean injury report, they came away from Thursday’s game against the Nuggets with plenty of bumps and bruises to go along with their loss. Two starters did not finish the game, one being LeBron, who suffered an elbow injury late in the contest.
The other, perhaps more serious injury was Deandre Ayton, who only played the opening 4:30 of the game before leaving with a knee injury. Ayton was eventually ruled out at halftime.
From the Lakers — Deandre Ayton (knee) will not return to tonight’s game at Denver.
After being asked to clarify, Redick reiterated that it was left knee soreness. That’s relevant because in early February, Ayton dealt with right knee soreness that limited him to one appearance in the team’s four games prior to the All-Star break.
It’s possible this is the same injury resurfacing, but either way, it’s concerning. As much as Ayton has struggled in recent weeks, when he was at his best early in the season, the team was at its best.
That being said, in his absence, Jaxson Hayes looked fantastic against the Nuggets. Maxi Kleber has also had some solid showings in recent games, though he’s been dealing with a back injury. The Lakers found success in Denver with a small ball lineup as well.
While the Lakers do clearly have options they can turn to, any hit to the team’s depth is a blow, especially as they look to make their playoff push.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 5: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Morgan Engel/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Don’t let the score fool you. The Lakers never had a shot in this one.
The Nuggets started the game on an 11-0 and never trailed. Anytime LA made a push, Denver responded and closed the door.
When Deandre Ayton played, he was bad, and when Lakers head coach JJ Redick went to players he hadn’t used in a while like Jarred Vanderbilt, it didn’t work.
Besides LeBron James, few Lakers can hold their heads high when looking back at how they played in this game.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Luka was offensively aggressive in this game and played at his typical level. It was good to see him taking some shots late, though Marcus Smart took a few that would’ve been nice to see Luka or LeBron attempt. Beyond that, though, he was adequate.
On the one hand, Smart played hard and was one of the Lakers who showed up the entire game. On the other hand, the flopping was a bit much and the threes he missed in the final quarter sealed LA’s fate.
Still, other players underperformed and Smart was the only starter who was a positive in the plus-minus.
It was another slow start for Reaves. He had just four points at the half. Reaves improved in the third and fourth quarters, but this was still another game where he had underperformed. This has been a trend over the past seven games, and an end does not seem in sight.
Perhaps since LA plays Indiana next, he’ll look good in a low-stakes contest.
If LaRavia isn’t going to knock down his shots, continue to be passive when he’s open and get burnt on defense, then he can take a seat.
Grade: F
Deandre Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt,
This pair didn’t play long enough to earn a grade, and if they did, it wouldn’t be positive.
JJ Redick
If the Lakers weren’t ready to start this game, that’s going to fall on the coach. Ayton has been making a case to get benched and he hasn’t been. Before he exited the game with a knee injury, he was terrible. These games are tests for the Lakers and they failed.
Grade: D
Thursday’s DNPs: Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James
Thursday’s inactives: Maxi Kleber, Chris Mañon, Nick Smith Jr, Drew Timme,
DENVER, CO – MARCH 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, 2026 at Ball...
DENVER — Even with both teams eventually down multiple key players, Thursday night at Ball Arena was the Lakers’ biggest test against a potential Western Conference playoff team in nearly a month.
And they learned more about what it’ll take to compete with the other top teams in the West, falling to the Nuggets 120-113 to kick off a stretch in which the quality of competition to picking up.
The Lakers never led on Thursday, with the Nuggets pulling off the wire-to-wire win in a game they led by 15 points.
Nikola Jokić and Austin Reaves watching Luka Dončić after he was hit in the face by the ball. AP
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, making multiple shots to keep his team in the game.
But the Lakers were outscored 8-2 in the final two minutes to leave Denver with the loss.
Austin Reaves finished with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Jaxson Hayes stepped up after starting center Deandre Ayton left the game with left knee soreness, with Hayes finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Nuggets jumped out to a 15-2 lead with the Lakers lacking energy early.
They outscored the Nuggets 110-106 over the final 43 ½ minutes after Ayton subbed out with the knee injury.
“We talked about the sense of urgency, the importance of this game pregame, we talked about our physicality, took us a little bit of time to do that,” coach JJ Redick said. “It’s difficult against good teams to spot them…13 points. Our group showed a lot of resiliency, did some really good things.”
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists.
LeBron James goes up for a layup against the Nuggets. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers will stay at the No. 6 spot in the West, moving further behind the No. 5 Nuggets (39-24).
They dropped to 37-25 on the season.
Turning point
When Reaves split a pair of free throws with 2:05 remaining.
The Lakers would’ve tied the game at 112 apiece if Reaves made both, but they trailed 112-111 after he missed the second attempt, with Jokic making a driving hook shot on the Nuggets’ ensuing possession to start a 6-0 run.
Nikola Jokic drives to the basket against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
MVP: Nikola Jokic
Even on a night he didn’t play the best, Jokic still had a triple-double and shot 10 of 15 from the field.
Stat of the game: 15
That’s how many technical fouls Doncic has been assessed this season after picking up another technical in the second quarter on Thursday.
After going almost 1 ½ months across 14 games without a technical foul, Doncic picked up his 14th during Tuesday’s home win over the Pelicans.
Luka Doncic received another technical foul, raising his season total to 15. AP
“He’s aware that he’s close,” coach JJ Redick said ahead of Thursday’s game. “And I think he’s… He’s trying.”
If Doncic is assessed another technical for his 16th of the season, he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension by league rule.
Up next
The Lakers will close out the back-to-back set when they return to Southern California on Friday.
They’ll host the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena to kick off a five-game homestand.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and the New Orelans Pelicans beat the NBA-worst Sacramento Kings 133-123 on Thursday night.
Saddiq Bey shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for 20 points for the Pelicans, who had lost two in a row after a four-game win streak.
Williamson added nine rebounds and five assists.
Precious Achiuwa had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who fell to 14-50 overall and lost their ninth in a row at home. They have lost three in a row and are 2-4 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
The Pelicans entered halftime up 67-61. The Pelicans took a 14-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 15-0 scoring run.
The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers compared to the Kings eight.
All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray (return to competition reconditioning) did not play for the first game of a back-to-back (New Orleans plays at Phoenix on Friday).
Kings forward Keegan Murray missed his fourth straight game because of ankle injury.
DeMar DeRozan kad 15 points to move into 19th place on the NBA’s career scoring leaders list.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 5: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 5, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs returned home and set the tone early, never letting it slip away. From the opening minutes Thursday night, San Antonio played like a team determined to stay one step ahead of the Detroit Pistons and that’s exactly where the Spurs remained for all 48 minutes in a confident 121-106 victory.
The game never had the feel of a dramatic comeback or a frantic finish. Instead, it was a steady, methodical performance from a Spurs team that controlled the rhythm from the start and leaned on its brightest star when it mattered most. That star, of course, was Victor Wembanyama.
The 7-foot-4 phenom turned in another dominant night, piling up 38 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks while anchoring San Antonio on both ends of the floor. Whether it was altering shots in the paint, grabbing rebounds over multiple defenders, or finishing highlight plays in transition, Wembanyama once again looked like the most impactful player on the court. And the rest of the team followed his lead.
“Very pleased with the level of contact we played with,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “To be able to match Detroit’s physically while trying to impose your will and playing your brand of basketball, I thought we did that.”
San Antonio came out firing in the first quarter, quickly establishing the pace of the game. Crisp ball movement and aggressive defense helped them build an early cushion, forcing Detroit to spend the rest of the night chasing the scoreboard. While Wembanyama was the centerpiece, the Spurs’ supporting cast ensured the offense never stalled. De’Aaron Fox sliced through the Pistons’ defense repeatedly, finishing with 29 points (scoring 22 in the first half) and bringing a constant burst of speed to the backcourt. Stephon Castle quietly orchestrated the offense with 11 points and 12 assists, consistently finding teammates in scoring positions.
“We have a team full of guys that create their own shot,” Fox said. “I just see how the game goes, and tonight I came out aggressive. Vic was great for us. Dev didn’t shoot the ball a lot, Steph didn’t shoot the ball a lot. That’s a quality team win for us from start to finish.”
Detroit had moments when it looked ready to make things interesting.
Behind the playmaking of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons briefly trimmed what had been a 20-plus point deficit late in the third quarter. With Wembanyama resting, Detroit managed to push the margin into single digits, giving the game its only hint of suspense. But the Spurs never lost their composure.
“They [Detroit] get a lot of credit for that [3rd quarter]. I thought we missed some shots… The NBA game is a long game. But I’m very happy with everyone who played a part tonight. I thought we did a really good job of staying with it and getting to our spots.”
When Wembanyama returned, San Antonio immediately regained their footing and took full control. One sequence in the fourth quarter summed up the night: Wembanyama rejected a Pistons shot at the rim, sprinted the floor, and finished an alley-oop moments later to ignite the crowd and push the lead comfortably back into double digits.
From there, the Spurs simply closed the door.
Detroit continued to fight, but San Antonio’s balanced scoring and interior defense kept the Pistons from mounting any real comeback. By the final buzzer, the Spurs had secured another convincing win, one that reflected a team growing more into a dangerous contender as the season moves forward.
For San Antonio, the formula looked familiar: control the pace, move the ball, defend the paint, and let Wembanyama take over when needed.
“Any game between top seeds should be impressive,” Wembanayama said. “For us it was super fun and it wouldn’t have been fun if we didn’t set the tone for the game. I think we led for 48 [minutes]. I don’t know if it was impressive, but it was fun.”
Thursday night, that combination proved more than enough.
Game Notes
San Antonio scored 19 bench points but on this night, the second unit didn’t need to carry the scoring load. It is nice to have such a deep bench that can turn it on at any moment.
If this is the version of De’Aaron Fox the Spurs will get in the playoffs, they will be the favorites to reach the Western Conference Finals or even the NBA Finals.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 5: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 5, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Morgan Engel/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A game of runs came down to the final minute between the Lakers and Nuggets with Denver edging out a 120-113win.
Trailing by three in the final 90 seconds of the game, Marcus Smart missed a pair of open threes. Nikola Jokić scored at the rim with 22 seconds left to make it a five-point game and effectively seal the win.
The Lakers got 45 points off the bench and turned 18 Denver turnovers into 26 points. An improved defensive effort in the second half allowed them to make multiple runs, but they could never take the lead.
The game began with Jamal Murray being fouled from behind the arc and converting on all three free throws. He then proceeded to drain two more 3-pointers while the Lakers struggled to generate any offense, allowing Denver’s lead to explode to 11 and forcing LA to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Luka Dončić was fouled and made only one free throw. LeBron James converted on an extremely much-needed layup for LA’s first field goal nearly four minutes into the game.
Other than that, the Lakers continued struggling offensively. LeBron was the highest scorer for LA with four points, followed by Luka with three.
At the 4:57 mark, Los Angeles was down by nine.
Denver was shooting 66% from behind the arc, a massive reason why they were red hot. Tim Hardaway Jr.scored seven points off the bench for Denver.
Late in the period, LeBron made history by passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA history.
Luke Kennard drained a triple to start the second period for the Lakers. The Nuggets then scored five in a row. LA was now down by 15 and still looked as if they didn’t know they were playing a game.
Murray added five more points to his stellar first-half play for a total of 14.
A nice 6-0 scoring surge from Los Angeles, thanks to LeBron, helped cut the deficit to single digits. He was the first Laker in double figures with 10 points.
The scoring run extended to 12-0 to get the visitors all the way back into the game.
Much needed LeBron James takeover. Sensed it was getting away.
Bruce Brown drained a triple to stop the run. The rest of the half was a game of runs back and forth.
LA cut the deficit to three, but the Nuggets responded with a 12-2 run, going back up by double figures. Los Angeles then scored eight straight, but the Nuggets responded and made it a 10-point lead into halftime.
The Lakers trail 64-54 at the half. Luka 15 pts on 6-for-12 shooting; LeBron 12 pts on 5-for-6. DEN: Murray 20 pts 5 ast; Jokic 10 pts 6 reb 6 ast.
The third period started with Jaxson Hayes, starting in place of Ayton who left the game with a knee injury and did not return, dunking off an assist from Luka. Murray then responded with a triple on the other end.
Austin Reaves began to heat up for LA, scoring five in the quarter.
Nikola Jokić was on triple-double watch with 16 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Jokić also picked up his fourth foul.
Marcus Smart knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game, which Los Angeles desperately needed. After falling behind by as much as 15 again, LA picked up its offense once more, with Rui Hachimura and Smart draining triples and Reaves adding to his now 13 points.
The deficit was now four with 4:06 left in the quarter.
The Lakers fell behind by 15 early in the 3rd Q, but have rallied back into the ballgame once again, cutting the margin to 4 at 82-78 as Reaves blew past Jokic for a layup to cap a run that forced Denver's TO.
Unfortunately, the game of runs continued as Denver scored seven straight to push it back to a double-digit lead. Luka surged towards the end of the quarter, scoring on two triples that made it a seven-point game.
The final frame began with Hardaway Jr. draining a 3-pointer for the Nuggets. He was also fouled from behind the arc and converted on two of the three free throws. Jaxson Hayes was now at 15 points, after what felt like his 83rd dunk of the night.
LA found themselves on a 9-0 run, making it a five-point game with 7:30 left.
After the run extended to 11 straight points for Los Angeles, Jokić converted on a layup. That stopped a three-minute scoring drought for Denver. Now at the 5:06 mark, the Nuggets were up by seven after a free throw from Christian Braun.
Strawther added to his nice night with four more points. LA started to surge again, scoring nine points.
The Lakers made it a one-point game with a free throw from Austin at the 2:05 mark. The combination of Hachimura, LeBron and Hayes helped jumpstart this surge. LA had two opportunities to tie it, but Smart missed both threes.
With 28 seconds left, it was still a three-point game, and Jokić converted on a layup that made it a five-point game, sealing the win.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. LeBron ended with 16 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Reaves had 16 points with seven assists and five steals.
Kennard pitched in with eight points off the bench. Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points and five rebounds. Hachimura notched 16 points. Smart ended with nine points.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Indiana Pacers on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.
James drove and hit a layup with just over 4 minutes to go, but he came down hard and immediately grasped at his elbow. The Amazon Prime cameras captured James saying "elbow" and using some NSFW language as he was checked on.
Jaxson Hayes subbed in for James after the ensuing timeout and James received treatment from trainers while sitting on the bench, working his elbow area.
James' basket had cut the Lakers' deficit to 110-106 late. He returned to the court about two minutes later, with 2:05 on the clock and the Lakers trailing 112-111. James was removed for good with 22.3 seconds left
The Nuggets held on to win, 120-113.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin, relaying what Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the contest, reported that James was "icing his left elbow after the game and that he was experiencing enough discomfort that it caused him to be unable to finish the game."
Earlier in the contest, James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA record for most made field goals.
With a baseline fadeaway in the first quarter, LeBron James made his 15,838th basket, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most field goals made in NBA history.
LeBron, 41 and in his 23rd NBA season, passed Abdul-Jabbar in points scored in February 2023, but because the 3-point shot didn't exist for some of Abdul-Jabbar's career, he made more field goals to get his points (Abdul-Jabbar made one in his 20 NBA seasons, on 18 attempts). LeBron is also the leading scorer in NBA playoff history and is the only player in NBA history to have more than 50,000 points in the regular season and postseason combined.
LeBron also has attempted more field goals than any player in NBA history.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 05: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after a three-point basket in overtime against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’ve said this a few times, but this time I actually mean it: that was the win of the year for the Golden State Warriors. They hit the road to face the 38-22 Houston Rockets, who had won four of their last five games. The Warriors were without Steph Curry, without Jimmy Butler III, without Kristaps Porziņģis, without Moses Moody, without Will Richard, and without Gary Payton II.
Somehow, they won, escaping Texas with a 115-113 overtime win that was as entertaining as it was impressive. And I’ll put my stamp on it now: whenever the season comes to a close, this will be the win of the year.
So let’s grade the 10 players — which included all three two-way contracts and a player who began the year on a two-way contract — who shocked the Rockets. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Thursday’s games, league-average TS was 57.9%.
This was far from a perfect game for Santos. He netted a donut from deep, and he had seven turnovers. But my goodness the bad doesn’t come close to the good.
His 41 minutes and 37 seconds of action were the most by a Warriors player in a game this season, and I feel quite comfortable saying that if he played a minute fewer, the Warriors don’t win. Despite playing such a gaudy minutes total, he was still a ball of Dani Rojas-esque energy to the final buzzer … and in fact, in the final seconds when the Warriors were desperately trying to add to a one-point lead, it was Santos who kept De’Anthony Melton’s missed shot alive, extending the possession that would ultimately result in a bucket.
Santos played phenomenal defense, and he had huge plays throughout the night. When the Warriors lost momentum at the end of the first half, Santos made wild driving layups on both ends of a two-for-one to right the ship.
That contract is already looking like a steal, and this is one of the very few times where I give someone a great grade when they have a huge number of turnovers and score with below-average efficiency.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team
A vintage Draymond game. He was a dog on defense, and played Kevin Durant about as well as you possible can. He conducted the offense, moving the chess pieces around brilliantly while getting the team into the system. He was an emotional leader, disrupting Houston while motivating his teammates, especially the younger ones.
If anyone wants to argue with this grade, well … I’ll leave you with this.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
The old man still got it. And Al, by the off chance that you read this, please don’t take that the wrong way … I ain’t far behind ya.
The Rockets are so young, and so athletic, and so rangy, and Horford didn’t seem to care. His excellent defense played from opening tip to the final buzzer of overtime, while he also steadied the offense with both his passing and his scoring. He had one of the biggest shots of the game, a shot clock-beating three with 45 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Warriors down a point. In overtime and nursing a one-point lead, he took Amen Thompson into the post and drained a jump hook over him with 39 seconds remaining.
Melton had a few tough plays in this game. There were moments where he went through slumps, hence the low efficiency. He committed an awful foul on Durant shooting a three in the waning moments. And he had a brutal turnover late in overtime: on the first possession after returning to the game, and nursing a five-point lead, he turned the ball over at midcourt, leading to an Amen Thompson fastbreak, which ultimately led to a four-point play (Thompson was fouled, missed the second free throw, and the Rockets got the offensive rebound, with Durant draining a three).
But the big plays were big. So big. Everything’s bigger in Texas big. He had 10 points in the first quarter as the Dubs made a statement that they were going to be competitive in the game. And with less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime, and a one-point lead in hand, Melton got into the paint for a good look at the rim. He missed the shot, but after Santos kept the ball alive, Melton was able to get a second chance, and banked it home to give the Warriors a three-point advantage. He also drained a huge three to beat the shot clock with 1:19 left in regulation, and the Warriors trailing by two.
Add in the sensational defense, and it was a very good game for Melton, despite some glaring miscues.
Podziemski was good in this game, and he was impressive. But I’m kind of more caught up on how fun he was. We know what he’s capable of, and when it all comes together, it’s just a joy to witness. He’s so crafty, unique, and funky, yet also tough and in control. He played 40 minutes against a lengthy and athletic defense that is one of the best in the league, and only turned the ball over once … while scoring 26 points and facilitating the offense far more than the assist total would suggest.
He made huge shots, and he made huge hustle plays. It was a treat to watch.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points and rebounds.
Williams wasn’t able to make the impact in this game that he made on Monday, but he definitely looks like an NBA player out there. The Warriors have done so well with two-way contracts.
Post didn’t play very well in regulation, but he came in clutch when the team needed it most. With Horford having played the bulk of the fourth quarter, Steve Kerr gave his veteran center a break at the start of overtime, and turned to Post instead. The second-year big held it down impressively, especially on the defensive end of the court. Otherwise, not a great game for him.
The stats are pretty solid, but Spencer had a hard time making an impact in this game, and there’s a reason his minutes total was pretty low. The Rockets, with their length and athleticism, just aren’t a very good matchup for him, and that showed. He couldn’t hold up well on defense, and had a hard time initiating the offense. But he still put up some quality numbers.
Grade: C+ Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
What a moment for Cryer. He entered Thursday having played in three NBA games, and having totaled eight minutes. He’d played exclusively in garbage time, and hadn’t seen any action in the last six weeks. And then on Thursday, in a nationally-televised game, he played 20 minutes, and was part of the five Warriors players who took the court at the start of the overtime period.
He was there partially because Kerr was monitoring Melton’s minutes, and rested him for the final possessions of overtime. But he also earned it, and there was a reason that he was on the court over the more established Spencer. It was the definition of a breakout game for Cryer, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It would have been fun to have been a fly on the wall of the Warriors locker room after the game, where Cryer surely got his flowers.
Leons played some pretty nice defense, and his length played well against Houston. He couldn’t really make an impression in any other phase of the game, but just holding his own given the situation is a huge win.
Grade: B
Thursday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Logyn Greer and Desiree Wooten both scored 10 points in No. 6 seed Colorado's 55-48 win over No. 11 seed Kansas on Thursday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
Greer shot 4 for 7 from the field and drained both her attempts from 3-point range from the Buffaloes (21-10). She had six rebounds and four blocks. Wooten added four assists.
Colorado was in foul trouble early, racking up seven fouls in the first quarter. A 9-0 run in the second quarter broke the game open for the Buffaloes and they entered halftime up 26-18. Their defense held Kansas to 36% (19 of 53) from the field and 15% (2 of 13) from 3-point range.
Kansas (19-13) was led in scoring by S'Mya Nichols, who put up 14. Her and Sania Copeland scored the only 3-pointers for the Jayhawks.
Up next
Colorado: Will play No. 3 seed Baylor on Friday. The Lady Bears are ranked No. 20 in the country.
Kansas: Will wait for an invitation into a postseason tournament.
PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls held off the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday night for their second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with under six minutes left, Phoenix pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker's 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns' their first lead, but missed a running layup, with Phoenix's Amir Coffey fouling Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to go. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for Chicago in the opener of a five-game trip. The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they injured ankles in a home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Booker led Phoenix with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Seventh in the West, Phoenix had won two straight. The Suns are without Dillon Brooks because of a fractured left hand.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 05: Leonard Miller #11 of the Chicago Bulls and Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns reach for a loose ball during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This might be the worst loss of the season, considering the circumstances. Chicago was down eight players and had lost 12 of their last 13 games entering this contest.
The Phoenix Suns operated with the panicked urgency of a college student starting a midnight term paper at 11:00 PM. Unfortunately for them, they got close to submitting it on time, but procrastination early on is what cost them the game in the final moments.
It was an ugly game until the very end. Collin Sexton took over and dropped 30 points, and the young guys were running wild, which is fitting for a team named the Bulls. Tre Jones had 21 points on 9-15 shooting. Credit to Chicago for playing hard, but it is unacceptable for this type of game to happen in the first of a back-to-back.
Chicago was without a great deal of key players, including Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, who were questionable entering the day.
Devin Booker poured in 27 points, and Grayson Allen chipped in 21. Outside of that duo, the offense was just not there. They made a late run, but fell short.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns got off to a slow start. Chicago jumped ahead to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes after stagnant offense and easy buckets for the Bulls. That led to a frustrated Jordan Ott timeout with 8:13 remaining in the quarter.
A beautiful (ATO) after-timeout play was drawn up by Ott and executed to perfection to free up Jalen Green for a three-point connection.
We had early Khaman Maluach minutes! He checked about halfway through the quarter. He snatched two rebounds in his first minute on the court.
Cold shooting and lazy defense from the Suns led to a 20-9 Chicago lead and another Suns timeout.
The lineup of Maluach, Fleming, Dunn, Allen, and Gillespie brought some needed life back into the Suns, at least defensively. One of the lone highlights of the quarter was this rookie connection.
The offense continued to struggle. It was an ugly quarter. Phoenix trailed 24-20 after one. Scoring 20 points against this Bulls team in any quarter is unacceptable.
Grayson Allen knocked down a pair of threes early in the second quarter to kickstart the offense. The first chunk of the second quarter was just as frustrating as the first quarter was. The offense was stagnant. Iso ball. Turnovers. Lazy defense.
Chicago was in control, 41-32, while dictating the pace of the game at that point.
Devin Booker scored 7 straight points after he was frustrated with a no-call the previous play, but the Suns’ defense was not getting it done, so they didn’t cover any ground during that stretch.
The Bulls were playing loose, they were playing free, and having fun while pushing the ball up the floor nearly every possession.
Phoenix closed out the half strong and was fortunate to only be down by five after being down by as many as 11. Chicago led 55-50 at the break. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 16 points, followed by 14 from Grayson Allen. Collin Sexton led Chicago with 16 of his own.
Second Half
The third quarter looked like more of the same early on. Chicago made it clear they were not going down without a fight.
Oso Ighodaro started to find himself offensively a bit, as teammates were hitting him in stride on the way to the rim a few possessions in a row.
The defensive intensity picked up a bit for Phoenix, but unfortunately, the shots weren’t consistently falling, not to mention the turnover issues. Devin Booker was still getting to his spot, at the very least.
Collin Sexton was absolutely cooking Phoenix, pouring in 24 points well before the end of the third quarter.
Outside of Booker and Allen, the rest of the Suns’ shotmakers struggled to put the ball through the hoop. The Bulls had 58 points in the paint through the opening three quarters. They were relentless in attacking the rim all game long.
After three, Phoenix trailed 83-77.
Chicago opened the 4th on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 11, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout. Chicago was leading by double digits with less than five minutes remaining. A Jalen Green transition slam, followed by a Grasyon Allen triple, made it a seven-point ballgame with 4:22 left in the game.
An Amir Coffey triple injected some caffeine (sorry) into the arena to cut it to four, 98-94. Coffey drilled another one to cut it to three with less than 40 seconds remaining to answer a Yabusele triple the prior possession.
A Devin Booker triple made it a one-point game after Chicago split a pair of free throws on the other end. It was 104-103 with 22.2 seconds left after a 16-4 Phoenix run.
Nick Richards missed a free-throw in a two-point game with just a few seconds left, then Tre Jones made a high IQ play after the rebound bounced his way by throwing it straight up in the air as the time expired.
Up Next
The Suns get the Pelicans at home tomorrow night for the second of a back-to-back.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The return of Cooper Flagg netted an all too familiar feeling for Mavericks fans; another clutch loss.
The Mavericks fought hard all night, but as usual were unable to execute in the clutch, leading to the Magic stealing an improbable win.
Without further ado… let’s grade the Mavericks
Cooper Flagg: A
18 PTS / 5 REB / 6 AST / 1 STL / 5 BLK -26 MIN
After what felt like an eternity, Cooper Flagg finally made his return to the lineup.
It’s wasn’t Flagg’s best shooting game, as his touch was clearly rusty, but he impacted the game in a multitude of ways. His defense was especially impressive, as his rim protection was felt all night, including an incredible sequence towards the end of the game.
His ability to effect the game in so many ways, on both ends, is what separates him in the rookie-of-the-year race, and makes his potential so tantalizing.
Khris Middleton: B
19 PTS / 2 REB / 7 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -32 MIN
Khris Middleton may be older than time itself, but he can still get buckets.
Middleton’s off-ball ability and scoring chops have proven to be very valuable for this team, and could be very valuable for next year.
Daniel Gafford: B
12 PTS / 13 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK -25 MIN
While Daniel Gafford had a good statistical performance, he still had a very frustrating game.
This mainly boils down to his sheer lack of awareness defensively, as he often finds himself completely out-of-position, which included the game winning shot by Wendell Carter Jr.
Max Christie: C-
6 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -28 MIN
Max Christie receives this grade simply because he was nearly invisible during the game, contributing nothing on either offense of defense.
P.J. Washington: B+
18 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK -33 MIN
P.J. Washington has had an incredibly frustrating season, but has begun to find his form in the last month.
While this won’t quell the trade rumors that are sure to follow him into the offseason, it is nice to see the old, uber-impactful version of Washington.
Klay Thompson: A+
24 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK -26 MIN
Klay Thompson may be washed in many aspects, he can still shoot the ball with the absolute best of them.
Thompson’s ability to make threes from any angle is so unique, and could be so valuable for next year’s Mavericks.
Naji Marshall: D-
6 PTS / 4 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK -25 MIN
In a game that was decided by one point, Naji Marshall’s scoring was missed dearly, as he struggled to find any offense.
The one positive was his playmaking, as he racked up five assists.
