Kentucky (20-12) advances to play No. 8 seed Missouri in the second round on Thursday. The Wildcats had not played on a Wednesday at this tournament since the SEC brought the event back in 1979.
Garrison, who entered with just two made 3-pointers on the season, made back-to-back 3-pointers during an 8-0 run that gave Kentucky a 73-64 lead with 9:32 remaining.
Oweh grabbed his own miss and brought it out to the 3-point arc before sinking a jumper from the free-throw line for an 83-76 lead. After an LSU layup at 49.6, Denzel Aberdeen made two free throws for a seven-point lead.
Aberdeen finished with 16 points for Kentucky. Kam Williams, who played in a game for the first time since Jan. 21 due to a broken foot, had three points in 17 minutes.
Max Mackinnon scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half for LSU (15-17). Mike Nwoko had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Marquel Sutton and Jalen Reece each scored 11.
Mackinnon made a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, off a nice drive and pass from Reece, to pull LSU within 46-43 at the break.
Reece’s steal and fast-break layup pulled the Tigers within 79-74 with 2:53 remaining following a 6-0 run, but that's as close as they got as Oweh made a driving layup at the other end for a seven-point lead.
Up next
The Wildcats lost to Missouri 73-68 at Rupp Arena on Jan. 7.
Mar 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. (13) shoots the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
By the time Jaylen Brown was ejected from Tuesday night’s 125-116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics teammate Ron Harper Jr. had already scored eight points. He subbed in alongside Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta as soon as Brown left the floor and made the most of the opportunity.
In the third quarter, with just over four minutes remaining, Baylor Scheierman drove and found Harper wide open in the corner. He bounced a no-look pass to Harper, who drained the 3-pointer despite 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama charging full extension to contest. That shot cut San Antonio’s lead over Boston to 85-83. It also ignited the 25-year-old’s confidence, and he ran with it.
“He’s been great,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “He’s continuing to get better on both ends of the floor. Tonight, it was the shooting, but I think his defense is just as impactful as everyone else’s. He’s just another guy that can impact winning for us.”
The fourth quarter became Harper’s canvas, and he painted his career masterpiece as a two-way player.
San Antonio entered the fourth with a 97-90 lead, but Harper stayed determined. With Brown out and Tatum struggling (just 4-of-14 from three), Harper stepped up off Boston’s bench. He led the Celtics in scoring in the final 12 minutes of regulation with 11 points, doubling his previous career-high with 22 points in just over 33 minutes.
Ron Harper Jr. had enough arc on his shot to get it over Wemby's outstretched fingertips.
Harper was responsible for the bulk of Boston’s bench points (34 total), converting 6-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc. His teammates trusted him as the fourth quarter progressed, and he rewarded them by keeping the Celtics within striking distance during their late-game push for a comeback.
There was no hesitation in Harper’s release. He wanted the ball, regardless of the mounting pressure that came with overcoming Brown’s unforeseen exit plus Payton Pritchard’s unavailability (neck spasms). Without Harper’s initiative to embrace the opportunity in front of him, the Celtics might have suffered a blowout that would have forced Mazzulla to empty the bench shortly after Brown headed to the locker room.
Boston’s starting lineup shot only 10-of-33 from 3-point range, making Harper’s breakout critical.
Harper’s career night was even more sentimental as he competed opposite his brother, Dylan, whom the Spurs selected second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Rutgers.
“He played well today,” Dylan Harper said postgame, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express News. “Just the way he kind of inserts himself. I think that just moving forward, the more opportunities he gets, the better he’s going to look.”
During the offseason, the Celtics reunited with Harper, signing him to an Exhibit 10 contract in August before the start of preseason. In his limited 10.6 minutes across three appearances, Harper shot 40.3 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three. Boston elected to keep him, converting his contract to a two-way deal for his second stint with the organization.
Following the preseason, the Celtics assigned Harper to their G League affiliate in Maine. He continued to develop there under head coach Phil Pressey, averaging 26.9 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 30.9 minutes per game. Harper logged eight appearances, shooting 49.7 percent from the floor, including 40.2 percent from three on 10.9 attempts per game. On February 4, Boston started Harper against the Houston Rockets, giving him his first career NBA start. He scored a then-career-high 11 points with nine rebounds and three assists in a 114-93 win, taking his first major step with the team.
Five weeks later in San Antonio, Harper’s work with the Celtics’ development staff paid off once more.
Mazzulla assured everyone before the season that opportunities would be handed out — and he’s kept his word. Everyone from Jordan Walsh to Hugo González to Luka Garza, and even Josh Minott before his trade to the Brooklyn Nets, has gotten their chance. The hours logged behind the scenes in practices and pregame sessions with the coaching staff have prepared players like Harper for their moments of action — even, and especially, when those moments come unexpectedly, as was the case in San Antonio.
Harper has already surpassed his total NBA appearances over his previous three years with the Pistons and Raptors, with 19 logged this season.
Based on Harper’s rise to the occasion in San Antonio and the reputation Mazzulla’s development staff has built over the past few years, the Celtics could have their next project in the works, ready to contribute in Boston in the near future.
Mar 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks back during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Rockets, Cavaliers, Spurs, Raptors, Thunder and Lakers. Those are some of the teams the Knicks have played since February.
New York has gone against the Wizards, Pacers, Bulls, and the Bucks—all of those matchups sandwiched in between the aforementioned ones—but for the most part, the Knicks have had test after test over the last five weeks. And outside of the last two games against the two Los Angeles teams, and the two drubbings at the hands of the Pistons, the Knicks answered some questions and came out looking relatively unscathed.
They may not have made up the kind of ground they wanted to in the stands, largely due to the exceptionally strong play of the Pistons, Celtics, and even the Cavaliers. But their much-improved defense, Karl-Anthony Towns’ hot play, and the sudden emergence of Mo Diawara have ignited some hope and confidence. And the good news is, those things, as well as some other factors, should be a mainstay for the next couple of weeks.
Over the next few weeks, the Knicks’ schedule goes from incredibly tough to a cakewalk. It starts with a road game against the tanking Jazz tonight, then a matchup against a Pacers team that, to their credit, did beat the Knicks a few weeks ago. They then host the Warriors, who enter tonight under .500, and the Pacers, then play the Nets, Wizards, and the Pacers again over five days.
New York does have a tough three-game stretch against the hot Hornets, which could end up being a potential playoff preview, defending champion Thunder, and the Rockets. After that, it’s a mixed bag, as they round out the season with games against the Grizzlies, Bulls, and Hawks, before facing off against the Celtics, Raptors, and Hornets. Now, the last three games look like they could be tough on paper, but as is the case every season, it’s hard to project what games in the last week of the season could look like with teams often sitting guys as they prepare for a long and grueling playoff run.
The rest of the regular season should provide the Knicks with enough tests with games against the Hornets, Thunder, Rockets, and Celtics, but also give the Knicks plenty of games to improve heading into the playoffs.
They can use some of the aforementioned games against the worst teams in the league to either rest guys, especially Jalen Brunson, who has looked a tad bit slow, and hampered. And they can maybe look to get Mikal Bridges going again offensively. While the Knicks won’t want to punt games as the standings are still very much in flux, if they can take care of business early on in the games, it should also allow head coach Mike Brown to continue playing with the rotations, and possibly get guys like Diawara, and maybe even Tyler Kolek for some potential playoff minutes.
The last week(s) of the season will likely prove to be a big deal for the Knicks, regardless of what other teams are doing, though. As stated above, the standings may not be fully locked in until the very last day of the season, and even if they are, the Knicks have the task of trying to re-integrate a key piece in Deuce McBride. Every minute they can get him will be pivotal, as having him return to game shape and in rhythm could end up being a make-or-break factor in just how far this team can go.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors passes around Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Chase Center on March 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors had opportunities to pick up two much-needed wins this week. Instead, they walked away empty-handed.
Golden State dropped back-to-back games against two teams near the bottom of the standings — first a loss to the Utah Jazz (20-45) on Monday night, followed by a 130-124 overtime defeat to the Chicago Bulls (27-38) on Tuesday. Both games were within reach late, making the results even more frustrating for a Warriors team still trying to stabilize its season.
After Tuesday’s loss, head coach Steve Kerr reacted to the team’s missed opportunities.
“Both very winnable games,” Kerr said. “We had the lead late tonight — obviously, one we should have had — but this is how the NBA is, especially when you’re beaten up. You’re not going to blow anybody out. Games are going be tight. You got to finish, and we didn’t finish either of the last two nights.”
Against Chicago, the Warriors appeared to be in control late in regulation before the game slipped away, eventually being forced into overtime where the Bulls pulled ahead behind Matas Buzelis’ career-high 41 points. It was a similar story the night before against Utah, when Golden State struggled to keep up with the Jazz down the stretch, despite them benching their second-leading scorer in Keyonte George.
Kerr’s message reflects the reality of where Golden State currently stands. With multiple key players sidelined, the Warriors have been forced to lean heavily on the bottom half of their roster to take on larger roles. While the group deserves credit for keeping games competitive, it has also left the team with little margin for error — even against teams near the bottom of the standings.
Those missed opportunities have now proven costly, dropping the Warriors below .500 at 32–33 and down to ninth place in the Western Conference standings.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, March 11th:
The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls have a combined 83 losses this season. The Bulls made several trade-deadline deals that made their roster worse in the short term. The NBA fined the Jazz $500,000 last month for sitting healthy players late in games, describing the substitution patterns as “actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”
The Bulls pulled off the rare feat of losing all of their games in a calendar month — 11 straight in February. Some Bulls fans are upset that Chicago has won three of its last five games because the team’s draft lottery chances decrease with each victory.
The Jazz and Bulls are opponents that any team still playing for something should beat. Golden State’s back-to-back losses to them underscore how slim the margin of error is for the undermanned Warriors. Even teams incentivized to lose are still finding ways to beat Golden State.
Golden State’s first half was anything but warm. The defense was haphazard, the offense listless and uncoordinated. The result was the Warriors going into the locker room trailing the lowly Bulls by six, 57-51.
Chicago outhustled the Warriors on both ends, picking apart their defense (19 assists, 10 by Josh Giddey) and disrupting their offense to such degree that they shot 37.5 percent inside the arc and managed only nine assists – their lowest in a half since recording eight on Nov. 14 at San Antonio.
“It’s a special moment,” he said. “It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy.”
He shot 20-for-43 from the floor. Almost half of those attempts, 22, were on 3-pointers. This was a good player on a hot night, which happens frequently in the NBA, just not to this level or anywhere close, actually.
Before Tuesday, Adebayo averaged 4.8 free-throw attempts per game this season. He finished this game with an astounding 43 attempts, making 36 — which is rather impressive for a 77% shooter. His attempts and makes are single-game NBA records.
Sam Mitchell, the coach of the Toronto Raptors when Kobe Bryant dropped 81 points, was in the studio sipping on champagne (Ginger Ale) after Bam Adebayo dropped 83 points. 😭 💀
“I’m not that dumbass that everybody thought I was.” 🤣🤣🤣
However, Kerr also acknowledges that the prospect of reducing the number of regular season games runs anathema to the league’s main goal, which is to maximize revenue.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
In making sense of Bam Adebayo’s historic night, a couple of things became clear.
For one, the exasperation and handwringing is bordering on the absurd. For another, Adam Silver may have inadvertently found the NBA’s solution for tanking.
In what has become the most unexpected individual performance in NBA history, the Miami Heat center dropped 83 points Tuesday, March 10, against the Washington Wizards. It was a singular achievement, one in which he surpassed late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant (81) for second-most points in a single game in history.
Some corners of the Internet whined that Adebayo required 43 free-throw attempts and 36 conversions — both NBA records — to make history.
Make no mistake: his night should be celebrated. You’d be hard-pressed to find many humans who can scratch 83 on their own driveways, let alone an actual NBA game.
Bam Adebayo's 83-point game is cause for celebration
On a random Tuesday in March, the entire pro basketball world was glued to a game only available on local broadcasts. Players in other arenas on the West Coast watched the final minutes on their phones or got updates as Adebayo eclipsed Bryant, one of the idols for this generation actively playing in the league.
In many ways, Adebayo’s 83-bomb defies logic. He’s a 16.1-point-per-game career scorer. His previous career high was 41, which he had surpassed by halftime. It also means he more than doubled that previous career best. There are so many other statistical oddities that make Adebayo’s performance difficult to comprehend.
Social media tends to suck the joy from things. The temptation is to measure Adebayo’s game against Kobe and Wilt Chamberlain, but that’s largely reductive. In a vacuum, this was simply an unprecedented display of athletic greatness. Commemorate that.
Tanking tactics meet Bam Adebayo's historic night
And, perhaps unintentionally, Adebayo also delivered a solution to the NBA’s issue on tanking: if teams are willingly self-sabotaging and compromising their integrity, shame them into infamy.
“There was a lot of fouls called — 16 free throws in the fourth quarter,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said of Adebayo after the game. “Just trying to take the ball out of his hands. He still got some free throws 40 feet away from the rim — can’t explain those calls. That’s all I got to say on that.”
This is exactly what getting embarrassed should feel like. Washington, losers of nine consecutive games, has become a willing doormat as it plans for the future, a common practice for rebuilding teams.
But rather than bemoan officiating, Keefe should explain why the most intense defense his team has played all season came in the final minutes of the fourth, when Washington triple-teamed Adebayo and tried to deny him on inbounds passes. The Wizards, at one point, even intentionally fouled Heat forward Keshad Johnson to put him on the line instead of Adebayo.
Perhaps if the Wizards had exerted this much effort night in and night out, they wouldn’t have been in this position.
Washington is the (proud?) owner of the NBA’s worst defense, allowing 120.6 points per 100 possessions. But it’s the team’s apathy and inability to do anything but foul Adebayo that put the Wizards in this spot.
“The fourth quarter just turned into not a real basketball game,” Keefe added.
He’s not totally wrong; Miami committed an intentional foul with 1:41 left in the game while up 27, in an attempt to get Adebayo more looks. Johnson, in an effort to one-up Washington’s intentional foul on him, tried to direct the ball to Adebayo with an intentionally missed free throw. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra even challenged an Adebayo offensive foul with 2:56 left when Miami was up 25.
But what Keefe gets wrong is that the integrity of this game was compromised months ago, before a single player stepped onto the floor Tuesday night.
Washington, not-so-subtly, has been engaged in a tanking effort over the past three months, if not multiple seasons. And because the team’s 2026 first-round selection is Top-8 protected, the Wizards are doing everything they can to ensure it stays with the franchise.
Trae Young, whom the Wizards acquired Jan. 7, missed Tuesday’s game and has played for Washington just twice. Anthony Davis, acquired Feb. 4, hasn’t made a single appearance for the Wizards.
All of this begs the question: if a supremely talented player but average scorer like Adebayo could go on a heater and explode for 83 points on Washington, will other players now hunt the Wizards?
If Washington continues to self-sabotage, they might as well.
Later this month, the Wizards play the Thunder and Knicks in consecutive nights. What’s to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Brunson from trying for 85? Then, on March 30, the Wizards will travel to face the Lakers and the NBA’s leading scorer, Luka Dončić.
The thing that should endure in all of this, however, is Adebayo. As the NBA tries to compete with other sports for viewership and attention, stories like his and performances like these deserve amplification.
“Wilt, me, then Kobe,” a reflective Adebayo told reporters after the game. “It sounds crazy.”
Read on for our computer's free NBA picks for Wednesday night, featuring a five-star Tari Eason prop.
Rockets vs Nuggets computer picks for March 11
Rockets
Nuggets
Eason o10.5 points +100
Gordon o2.5 assists -105
Sengun o17.5 points -120
Hardaway Jr. o10.5 points -112
Thompson o6.5 rebounds -125
Jokic u28.5 points -115
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Rockets computer picks
Tari Eason Over 10.5 points (+100)
Projection: 12.6 points
Our computer would be salivating if it were capable over this Tari Eason points prop. He's projected to beat this line by over two full points for a +23.6% EV.
"The Houston Rockets are expected to see an increase in possessions in this game from being pitted against the 8th-most up-tempo pace team in the NBA over the last 10 games (the Denver Nuggets). The Houston Rockets have been the best offensive rebounding offense in the NBA this year (offensive rebounds maintain possession and can therefore lead to new chances for scoring and assists)."
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Alperen Sengun Over 17.5 points (-120)
Projection: 20.0 points
Our system likes this Alperen Sengun prop for the same reasons it likes the Eason one. This four-star play checks in at a +21.5% EV.
This line is as low as it's been in a nine-game span, and now looks like the time to buy.
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Amen Thompson Over 6.5 rebounds (-125)
Projection: 7.7 rebounds
Amen Thompson has cashed the Over on his rebounding prop in eight of his last 10 overall.
The juice takes some of the shine off this wager, but our computer believes there's still a +10.2% EV edge to be had based on the projection of 7.7 boards.
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Nuggets computer picks
Aaron Gordon Over 2.5 assists (-105)
Projection: 2.8 assists
Aaron Gordon is on a hot streak when it comes to handing out helpers. He's cleared his assists Over in nine of his last 10 overall.
Gordon, who missed all of February due to injury, has had three assists in each of his first two games back.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. Over 10.5 points (-112)
Projection: 12.4 points
Our computer notes that the Nuggets have played at the eighth-speediest pace in the NBA over the last 10 games, so it's not surprising to see Denver at second in the league in scoring. Tim Hardaway Jr. has made some contributions, clearing his point total Over in six of his last nine overall.
Our system suggests he'll beat this line by nearly two full points, good for a +16.8% EV.
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Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-115)
Projection: 26.8 points
Another night, another big point total for Nikola Jokic to clear. Unfortunately for Nuggets fans, our system sees the former MVP falling short of his prop line by nearly two points.
"Offensive rebounds maintain possession and lead to extra chances for scoring and assists, but the Nuggets rank second-worst in the NBA with the home court advantage, with just 8.5 offensive rebounds per game over the last 20 games."
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How to watch Rockets vs Nuggets tonight
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Toronto Raptors will look to bounce back following a loss to the Houston Rockets last night. Luckily, the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t a Top 10 team in the NBA.
The Pelicans may not be tanking like some of the NBA’s other bottom feeders, but they aren’t exactly giving their all either.
My Raptors vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks explain why Toronto will bounce back when they visit the Smoothie King Center at 8 pm ET in New Orleans on Wednesday, March 11.
Raptors vs Pelicans prediction
Raptors vs Pelicans best bet: Raptors -2 (-110)
Much has been made about the Toronto Raptors’ struggles against the NBA’s best teams. Heck, I faded them against the Houston Rockets last night.
Luckily, the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t that. New Orleans ranks 26th in defensive rating and, since the All-Star break, 22nd in turnover rate. Toronto’s sixth-ranked defense will take advantage of that, getting extra possessions, helping to pad their lead.
Expect the Raptors to move the ball well with Immanuel Quickley leading the way and RJ Barrett to continue his heater. Toronto is also 4-1 ATS in its last five games in the second half of a back-to-back.
Raptors vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Speaking of moving the ball, Quickley is averaging 6.1 assists per game this season, but has that number up to 8.8 per contest over his last five games. The Pels allow the fourth-most opponent assists per game this season.
The Raptors could get another boost if center Jakob Poeltl returns. He sat out last night with an illness. If he goes tonight, Toronto could have an edge on the inside, where New Orleans ranks 24th in opponent points in the paint.
Raptors vs Pelicans SGP
Raptors -2
Immanuel Quickley Over 6.5 assists
Jakob Poeltl Over 11.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sharing is caring
The Raptors have one of the highest assist rates in the NBA. The Pelicans allow a ton of assists.
Raptors vs Pelicans SGP
Immanuel Quickely Over 6.5 assists
Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
RJ Barrett Over 3.5 assists
Raptors vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Raptors -2 | Pelicans +2
Moneyline: Raptors -130 | Pelicans +110
Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5
Raptors vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the Game Total Under in 33 of their last 50 games for +14.30 Units and a 26% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Raptors vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, Pelicans+
Raptors vs Pelicans latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CHICAGO (AP) — Cooper Koch scored a career-high 19 points, Bennett Stirtz added 17 and the pair fueled a run of 21 straight points to help send Iowa to a 75-64 win over Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.
Koch made 5 of 8 3-point attempts and Stirtz had eight assists and a team-high six rebounds for the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (21-11), who snapped a three-game losing streak and will take on eighth-seeded Ohio State in a quarterfinal Thursday. Tavion Banks added 12 points and Cam Manyawu 10.
Darius Adams led the No. 17-seeded Terrapins (12-21) with 14 points. Isaiah Watts made four 3s for his 12 points and David Coit also scored 12 points. Solomon Washington grabbed 13 rebounds.
Koch hit a trio of 3-pointers and Stirtz — who had missed his first seven from the arc — added two more in the 21-0 run that ended with Iowa ahead 51-34 eight minutes into the second half.
Maryland rallied to get the deficit down to nine but Koch hit his fifth 3 to put the lead back into double figures where it remained for the final 6 1/2 minutes.
Watts came off the bench in the first half to make three 3-pointers and the Terrapins sank six straight shots in a 15-0 run for a 21-10 lead. But the Terrapins made just one of their last 12 shots — including nine misses from beyond the 3-point line — over the final eight minutes. Iowa took advantage, outscoring the Terrapins 15-5 to cut the deficit to 26-25.
Up next
Iowa beat Ohio State at home 74-57 on Feb. 25 in the teams' only regular-season meeting.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland had 24 points and eight assists, Ven-Allen Lubin added 18 points and No. 7 seed N.C. State beat 15th-seeded Pittsburgh 98-88 on Wednesday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
N.C. State (20-12) advances to play No. 2 seed and 10th-ranked Virginia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
N.C. State led 51-50 at halftime as both teams shot over 60% from the field and had three players in double-figure scoring. The Wolfpack went 7 of 9 from 3-point range, while Pitt was 9 of 16.
N.C. State began the second half on a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 63-52 before Pitt made its first field goal at the 16:31 mark. Matt Able made the Wolfpack’s 11th 3-pointer — in just 15 attempts — for a 76-62 lead.
The officials upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul with 2:13 remaining after Lubin was pushed from behind on an alley-oop attempt. Lubin made both free throws to give N.C. State a 92-83 lead and Paul McNeil Jr. made it a four-point possession for an 11-point lead on an easy layup.
McNeil finished with 15 points, Tre Holloman had 14, and Darrion Williams and Able each scored 12 for N.C. State.
Cameron Corhen scored a career-high 27 points for Pittsburgh (13-20). Nojus Indrusaitis added a season-high 19 points and Omari Witherspoon also scored 19.
Pitt reached its season average for made 3-pointers in a game with 8:40 left in the first half when Indrusaitis made his third straight and the Panthers’ eighth in 12 attempts for a 34-25 lead.
The Panthers finished 12 of 27 behind the arc, while the Wolfpack went 13 of 23.
Up next
N.C. State lost both regular-season matchups with Virginia this season, most recently a 90-61 contest on Feb. 24.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The head priest and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh is facing charges after being accused of stealing more than $1,000 in baseball cards from a Walmart.
The Very Rev. Aidan Smith was arrested Feb. 27 by police just after leaving the Walmart in Economy Borough, just outside Pittsburgh, with 27 packs of baseball cards concealed under his clothing and in a cardboard box, according to court records.
Smith, 42, was charged with receiving stolen property and retail theft.
Police responded to a call from Walmart security, who said Smith was in the store again after having stolen from it in previous days. Police said Walmart security video shows Smith also taking baseball cards each of the four previous days and leaving without paying.
Walmart valued the stolen baseball cards at $1,099.99, police said.
In a message last week to the cathedral's members, the Right Rev. Ketlen Solak, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, said diocese officials will investigate the situation and follow the church canons that lay out the process for handling clergy misconduct.
“I have spoken with Aidan and assured him of our prayers for him in this difficult time. Please pray for Aidan, for Melanie and their children, for the entire cathedral congregation as we grieve this news, and for everyone involved in this hard situation,” Solak wrote.
Smith had been on administrative leave since late January, Solak's message said. The diocese did not explain why. Smith's defense lawyer declined comment.
While seemingly every player in Los Angeles for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game was counting down the minutes until they could hop on a plane, fly somewhere warm and spend a few days on vacation, Paolo Banchero was the opposite.
Banchero was already in the Bahamas, but wished he were inside the Intut Dome. Banchero, who made the All-Star team in his second season but not the past two, opened up about that to Marc Spears of Andscape.
"I looked in the mirror first. Over the All-Star break, I watched a lot of film over the early part of the season. I just wasn't happy with what I put out. Some of that had to do with me being injured and coming back...
"I could've had a better mindset, and that was part of it. But I know I'm an All-Star in this league. My confidence is still the same. It's about being honest with yourself and realizing that you didn't really deserve to be an All-Star, honestly. It's about taking that with a grain of salt and being better in the second half of the season."
Banchero haș been good this season, averaging 22.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and five assists a game (he had similar numbers before the break), with a 56.8 true shooting percentage that is right about league average.
What hurt his All-Star case with the coaches who picked the reserves was that he missed 10 games with a groin strain in December and was just coming out of that as the voters got serious, plus the Magic were 28-25 at the break and not coming close to living up to preseason expectations. The Magic were considered a disappointment, and it was tough for Banchero to overcome that.
Since the All-Star break, Banchero has been healthy and better: 26.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 50.8%.
Orlando appears headed to the play-in as the No. 7 seed in the East, although they have won four in a row, are 7-3 in their last 10 and are 1.5 games out of the No. 6 seed. Still, barring a surprise deep postseason run, changes are expected with the Magic next season. That may well start with coach Jamahl Mosley, who reportedly is at odds with Banchero. Coaches rarely win disputes with a team's star and max player (Bancheros' five-year, $240 million contract kicks in next season). While some around the league question the fit between Banchero and the Magic's other max player, Franz Wagner, Orlando has spent big to bring this group together and may want to give another coach a chance to make it work before making major personnel moves.
For his part, Banchero is all in with this roster, he told Spears.
"I have faith with the guys we have in the locker room. We have a load of talent on this team. We got two NBA All-Star-level players [Wagner and Jalen Suggs] sitting out and coming back from injury. As you see, we're competing with some of the better teams. I've seen it. We've all seen it. There is no reason not to believe, but at the same time, we have to continue to get better and stay hungry.
"We've had two years of experience of losing in the first round. We don't want to taste that again. We're preparing for that."
It’s a light night of NBA action with just six games on the board, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of value to be found in the player prop market.
My favorites for today include OG Anunoby giving Jalen Brunson and KAT some support, and Brandon Miller doing more than just scoring for the Hornets.
Check out those and all my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 11.
The Raps’ are playing their second game in as many nights and will need his playmaking. Quickley is averaging 6.1 assists per game this season, but has that number up 8.8 per contest over his last five games.
The Pels struggle defensively, ranking 26th in defensive rating allow the fourth-most opponent assists per game. IQ has an assists prop sitting at 6.5 and has gone Over that in four of his last five games overall.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, GCSEN
Prop #2: OG Anunoby Over 2.5 threes made
+115 at bet365
If the New York Knicks want to achieve their goals this season, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are going to need more support. OG Anunoby is one of those guys, and right now, he looks up to the task.
Anunoby has found his shooting rhythm, shooting 46% from three-point range on a big 7.1 attempts over his last seven games, and is putting up 19.4 points per game over that stretch.
Tonight, he takes on the not-so-subtly tanking Utah Jazz, who rank 29th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and surrender the most made threes per game.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MSG, KJZZ
Prop #3: Brandon Miller Over 5.5 rebounds
-105 at bet365
Brandon Miller’s jump in development is a big reason why there is so much buzz around the Charlotte Hornets. And it’s not just because he’s putting up more than 20 points per game.
Miller’s putting in effort all over the floor, including on the glass. He is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game this season and has bumped that up to 8.0 over his last seven games. I’m betting he keeps that up tonight against the Sacramento Kings.
With Domantas Sabonis sidelined, the Kings have little to no presence on the boards. They have the third-worst rebounding rate in the NBA, and Miller has topped this number in five of his last seven games.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-New Orleans, FanDuel Sports Network-SC
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INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on February 26, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers Date: March 11th, 2026 Time: 9:30 PM CDT Location: Aspiration Dome Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
It’s a funny thing about ladders.
They take forever to climb. You’re careful with every step. You grip the sides, feel your way upward, and slowly gain ground. But all it takes is the tiniest misstep, one foot slipping, one loose rung, and suddenly you’re tumbling down faster than you ever climbed.
That’s exactly what happened to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night.
After spending the better part of two weeks clawing their way up the Western Conference standings to claim the three seed, the Wolves managed to fall two rungs down the ladder in a single ugly night in Los Angeles. Their loss to the Lakers, punctuated by a disastrous third quarter, sent Minnesota plummeting to the fifth spot in the standings, a reminder of just how fragile life is in the Western Conference playoff race.
And this wasn’t one of those losses where you shrug and say, “Well, Luka had one of those nights.” This was a bad game. Across the board.
The Wolves shot 25 percent from three-point range, which somehow managed to barely eclipse the shooting disaster they put on display against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Anthony Edwards, who has carried the team offensively for much of the season, had one of his roughest nights of the year, finishing 1-for-10 from deep and getting completely overshadowed by Luka Doncic and, to add insult to injury, Austin Reaves.
But if you’re tempted to pin the whole thing on Edwards, don’t. His teammates didn’t exactly come riding in with cavalry support.
The Lakers Beat the Wolves at Their Own Game
Rudy Gobert had a nightmare matchup in the paint, getting outhustled and outworked by Deandre Ayton, who looked like the dominant big man Gobert was supposed to be in this game. For Wolves fans who remember Gobert absolutely demolishing the Lakers’ frontcourt during Game 5 of last year’s playoff series, watching him struggle like that was… unsettling. Naz Reid and Julius Randle didn’t offer much resistance either.
Meanwhile, the Lakers did exactly what good teams do when they smell weakness: they attacked the rim relentlessly. Minnesota’s perimeter defense cracked open again, allowing a parade of drives into the paint. When the Wolves tried to collapse the defense to help, the ball kicked out for open looks.
It was the exact script we’ve seen too often recently. Minnesota struggled to generate quality offense while making it far too easy for their opponent to score. Every Wolves basket felt like climbing uphill. Every Lakers possession felt like a fast break. By the time the dust settled, the Wolves had been run out of the building.
The Most Alarming Stat of the Season
Here’s the number that should make Wolves fans uncomfortable. Against the Lakers, Rockets, and Nuggets, the teams Minnesota is directly competing with in the crowded 3-through-6 standings race, the Wolves are now a combined 1–7 this season.
One win.
Seven losses.
Those aren’t just random defeats. Those are the games that determine tiebreakers. Those are the games that decide playoff seeding. Those are the games you absolutely cannot afford to keep losing if you’re serious about holding the three seed.
And yet Minnesota has consistently dropped them. The Wolves are essentially handing away leverage in the standings while giving their direct competitors the exact advantage they’ll need in April.
That raises an uncomfortable question. If Minnesota can’t beat these teams in the regular season, what happens when they meet them in a seven-game playoff series? Because barring a major collapse, the Wolves will find themselves playing in either the 3 vs. 6 or 4 vs. 5 matchup.
And the teams occupying those spots? Houston. Denver. Los Angeles.
The same teams Minnesota keeps losing to.
The Clippers Are Waiting
After getting embarrassed by the Lakers, the Wolves now face the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. If anyone thinks Minnesota is about to waltz into that building and grab an easy bounce-back win, they haven’t been paying attention.
The Clippers have already shown they can beat the Wolves, decisively, earlier this season. Minnesota did manage to get revenge in their most recent matchup in Los Angeles, but that game required a significantly better performance than what the Wolves showed against the Lakers.
If Minnesota plays like they did last night? I will undoubtedly turn into another long evening. So if the Wolves want to salvage this road trip before it spirals into something worse, they need to start by fixing the fundamentals.
Keys to the Game
#1 – Run an Actual Offense
It’s easy to say “the Wolves just need to shoot better.” Shooting in the low 20s from three isn’t going to beat anyone in this league, but the bigger problem is the offense itself.
Against both the Magic and the Lakers, Minnesota’s offensive flow completely disappeared. The ball stuck. Players stood around. Possessions devolved into isolation attempts or rushed threes late in the shot clock.
When things go wrong offensively, the instinct is to ask Anthony Edwards or Julius Randle to throw on the superhero cape and save the day. But that’s not how this team works at its best. Minnesota needs five players engaged in the offense, cutting, moving, swinging the ball, and forcing the defense to rotate. When the Wolves generate high-quality looks, the shots usually fall.
When the offense turns stagnant? The percentages start looking like they did the last two games.
#2 – Reestablish Dominance in the Paint
One of the most surprising elements of the Lakers loss was Minnesota getting beaten on the boards. That simply can’t happen again tonight. The Wolves still have a significant size advantage against the Clippers with Gobert, Randle, and Reid. That trio should control the glass, limit second-chance opportunities, and establish a physical presence in the paint.
Gobert in particular needs to bounce back. If he can protect the rim and dominate the boards the way he did against the Lakers in last year’s playoff series, the entire game flips.
#3 – Fix the Perimeter Defense
Doncic and Reaves absolutely torched Minnesota. Some of that is simply the reality of playing against elite shot creators. But too often the Wolves allowed easy penetration into the paint, which forced the defense to collapse and opened up scoring opportunities all over the floor.
Minnesota needs to rediscover the perimeter defensive identity that defined the team two seasons ago. That means strong containment from players like Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu.
And honestly? This might be a game where Jaylen Clark deserves some minutes. Clark’s defensive intensity has been one of the few bright spots when Minnesota has needed energy on the perimeter. With Kyle Anderson now in the rotation, Clark has been pushed deeper down the bench, but in games where opposing guards are cooking, a defensive spark might be exactly what the Wolves need.
#4 – Win the Hustle Plays
When shots aren’t falling, effort becomes the difference. Rebounding. Transition defense. Loose balls. Avoiding careless turnovers. Those are the plays that keep games from spiraling when the offense goes cold.
The Wolves didn’t make enough of those plays against the Lakers. They’ll need to against the Clippers.
#5 – Make the Game Easier
When things start going sideways, the Wolves have a tendency to increase the degree of difficulty instead of simplifying.
That has to stop.
High-efficiency offense should come from players like Gobert finishing around the rim, McDaniels cutting and attacking closeouts, and Edwards driving to the basket to collapse the defense.
Yes, Edwards should continue shooting threes, it’s a core part of his game. But the Wolves also need to get him downhill more often. When he attacks the rim, it bends the defense and creates opportunities for everyone else.
The offense has to return to Wolves Basketball 101.
Time to Re-Grip the Ladder
This road trip got off to the worst possible start. The Wolves slipped from the third seed to the fifth. Denver is creeping closer. The Play-In line isn’t as far away as Minnesota would like.
But here’s the thing. They haven’t fallen off the ladder entirely.
They’re still hanging on.
Now it’s time to stabilize, grab the next rung, and start climbing again.
Because if the Wolves slip one more time, the fall could get a lot steeper.
Another day, another piece of unfortunate Sixers injury news.
The Sixers announced Wednesday that an MRI on Kelly Oubre Jr. revealed the 30-year-old wing suffered a sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his left elbow. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.
Oubre hurt the elbow during the Sixers’ win Tuesday night over the Grizzlies and wore a wrap around it postgame. He logged a team-high 38 minutes and scored a season-high 30 points.
Johni Broome (right knee meniscus surgery recovery)
The team also listed Adem Bona as questionable with back soreness.
Oubre was out from mid-November to early January after suffering a left knee LCL sprain. He’s played an important role for a Sixers team light on wing depth and averaged 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals over 41 games.
In the short term, two-way contract player Dalen Terry and 22-year-old Justin Edwards may very well be in line for increased minutes on the wing. Terry closed out the Memphis game and had a solid night, posting five points on 2-for-3 shooting, four assists and two rebounds.
The New York Knicks head to Utah looking to bounce back from a tough start to their west coast trip.
New York dropped back-to-back games in Los Angeles, completing a stretch where they played 12 playoff contenders in 16 games.
Now, the Knicks get to play just their fourth opponent with a losing record since February 4. My Knicks vs. Jazz predictions & NBA picks look for New York to get a cover on Wednesday, March 11.
Knicks vs Jazz prediction
Knicks vs Jazz best bet: Knicks -14.5 (-110)
The New York Knicks will relish the chance to play the outmanned Jazz.New York has played more games against .700 teams (4) than sub .500 teams (3) over the last 16. The Utah Jazz has played three losing foes in the last five, producing the 4-1 ATS record that has them as a trendy upset pick here.
This will be just New York’s fourth game this season with a point spread this large. They’re 3-0 ATS, winning by an average of 28.7 points. Utah has two 30-point losses in the five games where they’ve been this large an underdog, going 3-2 ATS.
Knicks vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Knicks play at the No. 24 pace in the NBA, the Jazz at No. 5. Something’s got to give. Utah has played just five games this season with an Over/Under cutoff this low. New York has gone Under in four of their last five with a cutoff this high.
Mikal Bridges has struggled with consistency scoring this season and appears to be taking on more of a “glue” role in recent games. He’s played fewer than 30 minutes and taken fewer than 10 shots in each of the last three games—both are his longest streaks of the season.
Meanwhile, his rebounding and assist rates are both up. It may only be a temporary change, but it should last at least another game.
Knicks vs Jazz SGP
Knicks -14.5
Under 229.5 points
Mikal Bridges Over 3.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rebounds aplenty for Knickerbockers
Utah has been outrebounded on the year and is slightly below average on both the offensive and defensive boards. That’s what makes the Knicks’ rebounding props so odd. Whatever the reason, there are bargains to be had.
OG Anunoby has pulled down 21 boards in the last three games. He’s been below five just once in the last six games.
Karl-Anthony Towns has had 12 or more in each of the last seven, averaging 13.9 over that span. Neither is a lock to hit their over, but they’re definitely priced right with both in plus odds.
Knicks vs Jazz SGP
Knicks -14.5
Mikal Bridges Over 3.5 assists
OG Anunoby Over 5.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds
Knicks vs Jazz odds
Spread: New York -14.5 (-110) | Utah +14.5 (-110)
Moneyline: New York -1000 | Utah +650
Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Jazz betting trend to know
New York and Utah have gone under in seven of their last 10 head-to-head matchups. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Jazz.
How to watch Knicks vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG Sportsnet, KJZZ 14
Knicks vs Jazz latest injuries
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