GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils runs downt the court against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
College basketball season is over, and the Michigan Wolverines are national champions. Now the 2026 NBA Draft is on the clock.
This has long been considered a strong class due to the three star freshmen expected to go with the first three picks. The draft lottery on May 10 will determine in what order Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa come off the board. The rise of fellow freshmen like North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings makes this class even stronger in the first half of the lottery.
The Final Four had so many great NBA prospects on display. This mock draft features a whopping nine players who competed in Indianapolis for the national semifinals. Wagler will have a chance to go as high as No. 5 overall, and Brayden Mullins’ incredible Elite Eight buzzer-beater to stun Duke now has him in his highest mock draft position all season.
Here’s our latest projection of the 2026 NBA Draft. The order is determined by the NBA’s current lottery position standings.
Pick
Team
Player
Position
School
Age
1
Washington Wizards
Cameron Boozer
Forward
Duke
Freshman
2
Indiana Pacers
Darryn Peterson
Guard
Kansas
Freshman
3
Brooklyn Nets
AJ Dybantsa
Wing
BYU
Freshman
4
Utah Jazz
Caleb Wilson
Forward
North Carolina
Freshman
5
Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff
Guard
Arkansas
Freshman
6
Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)
Keaton Wagler
Guard
Illinois
Freshman
7
Memphis Grizzlies
Kingston Flemings
Guard
Houston
Freshman
8
Dallas Mavericks
Mikel Brown Jr.
Guard
Louisville
Freshman
9
Chicago Bulls
Aday Mara
Center
Michigan
Junior
10
Milwaukee Bucks
Brayden Burries
Guard
Arizona
Freshman
11
Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg
Forward
Michigan
Senior
12
Portland Trail Blazers
Nate Ament
Wing
Tennessee
Freshman
13
Miami Heat
Karim Lopez
Forward
NZ Breakers
Born 2007
14
Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)
Jayden Quaintance
Center/Forward
Kentucky
Sophomore
15
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)
Hannes Steinbach
Forward/Center
Washington
Freshman
16
Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson
Center/Forward
Michigan
Sophomore
17
Toronto Raptors
Labaron Philon
Guard
Alabama
Sophomore
18
Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)
Braylon Mullins
Guard
UConn
Freshman
19
Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)
Bennett Stirtz
Guard
Iowa
Senior
20
San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)
Patrick Ngongba
Center
Duke
Sophomore
21
Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)
Thomas Haugh
Forward
Florida
Junior
22
Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)
Cameron Carr
Wing
Baylor
Junior
23
Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)
Motiejus Krivas
Center
Arizona
Junior
24
Los Angeles Lakers
Dailyn Swain
Forward
Texas
Junior
25
New York Knicks
Tyler Tanner
Guard
Vanderbilt
Sophomore
26
Denver Nuggets
Allen Graves
Forward
Santa Clara
Freshman
27
Boston Celtics
Tounde Yessoufou
Guard
Baylor
Freshman
28
Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)
Joshua Jefferson
Forward
Iowa State
Senior
29
Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)
Koa Peat
Forward
Arizona
Freshman
30
Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)
Tarris Reed
Center
UConn
Senior
Some do some quick takes here:
Boozer is my No. 1 prospect because he was obviously the best player in the country this year, he’s the youngest of the big three, he has the strongest feel for the game, and the best offensive versatility. I don’t understand the skepticism about his upside as he goes to the next level. All he does is impact winning to the highest degree. I really like his fit in Washington with a mobile defensive center in Alex Sarr.
I love the fit with Mikel Brown Jr. going to Dallas. The Point Flagg experiment was cool, but let’s get him focused on playing elite level defensive again.
Bennett Stirtz is my favorite prospect after the lottery this year. He’s an elite shot-maker with the strong feel who should thrive once he exits Iowa head coach Ben McCollum’s super slow offense.
The toughest evaluation this year is Jayden Quaintance. He looked like a stud as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State a year ago, but recovering from a torn ACL wiped away almost his entire season at Kentucky this year. Quaintance has great physical tools, but his offensive impact is questionable. I thought he’d be a lock for a top-10 pick coming into the year, and now it’s extremely difficult to project where he could go.
Got a question or comment about this mock? Leave a comment and I’ll respond
Let’s start by making a few things clear. This is not about wins and losses. This is not even just about the Phoenix Suns. This is about the NBA.
This is about a billion-dollar product that a lot of us pay a lot of money to watch. This is about a league which claims to “encourage[e] communication, dialogue[,] and transparency with NBA fans…” while showing little to no effort to meet such a goal. But it is becoming clear to me that this may not be an issue if Adam Silver actually put competent leadership in place.
Let’s also be clear that these failures of NBA executives are not a new development. Not at all. The NBA’s leadership void has persisted for years – and evidence suggests the problem is only becoming exacerbated.
Let’s start with Kathy Behrens
Behrens is the Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs for the NBA. According to her bio, she “oversees a group that manages all of the NBA’s programs that coordinate league and player social responsibility efforts, support player growth and development, and enhance the marketing opportunities for current and former players.”
For instance, after Draymond Green punched Jusuf Nurkic on December 13, 2023, the NBA suspended him indefinitely, and Behrens played a role in regular “check-in calls” with Green before he was allowed to return from suspension.
Sounds like Behrens is a real difference-maker in a positive way, right?
That might be the case if you are able to ignore the fact that Kathy Behrens enabled Green’s violent behavior before finally seeing what the rest of the world had seen for years.
Let’s go back to October 5, 2022, when Draymond Green attacked his teammate, Jordan Poole, during a Golden State Warriors team practice. Frankly, my legal background made it an intriguing situation, so I reached out to Behrens via email, asking why the NBA had not issued any discipline to Green. While, for reasons I will not get into here, my email (curiously) never reached Behrens, she eventually provided me with some insight via a Twitter DM.
With respect to Green, Behrens told me that “the [Warriors] disciplined him and [the NBA] determined that was sufficient.”
Public reports regarding the incident, however, suggested that Green faced potential discipline, but that it would be handled internally. So, I asked Behrens if she could clarify the “sufficient” discipline that the Warriors had levied.
In response, Behrens stated, “The warriors suspended him and it was made public…” and that the NBA believes that “was the right outcome.”
The problem with Behrens’ statement, however, is that public reports stated that Green “was fined but not suspended.”
I pointed this out to Behrens, and she changed her response to me: “Draymond was kept out of practice for a number of days and then fined by the team.”
I followed up and asked Behrens how Green’s actions and the NBA’s response fit within the league’s social responsibility principles – what did that result in?
So, let’s recap:
Draymond Green attacks his teammate in 2022.
The NBA’s Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs, admittedly, does nothing about it – in fact, does not even know what discipline was levied by the Warriors.
When I ask whether Green’s conduct falls within the purview of her job, Behrens blocks me.
One year later, Green attacks Nukic in the middle of a game and THEN the NBA – and Behrens – decide something needs to be done.
What took Behrens so long to take action against Green?
Why did Behrens not even know what discipline – if any – was levied the first time around?
Why would Behrens block someone for asking about the NBA’s role in social responsibility?
All signs point to complete ineptitude in her role. Nothing more, nothing less.
Let’s move on to officiating – and the man responsible for NBA officials – Albert Sanders, Jr.
Sanders is the NBA’s Executive Vice President, Head of Referee Operations. You can learn more about him in this lovely puff piece written by Dan Woike.
According to Woike, Sanders took his job with the NBA “[b]ecause the rules matter.” Which is ironic, considering the fact that Sanders’ officials consistently fail to enforce the rules.
Now, before diving deep into the failures of Sanders and his officials, let’s provide some context for these referees. NBA referees are touted as being the best of the best. That, presumably, is why they are paid between $250,000 and $550,000 per year. They are paid very well to perform in a high-profile job in – as referenced above – a billion-dollar industry.
This, of course, makes their constant failures – and the lack of any discipline or transparency from Sanders – particularly frustrating.
Now, I could post video after video of NBA officials missing calls, but that does not seem productive. Even the most egregious misses, in theory, can be explained by the game speed, angles, etc. So, for purposes of this article, we’ll give officials the benefit of the doubt for on-floor calls.
Let’s focus on more objective standards.
First, the pool reports that are done by NBA officials after certain games and numerous instances where NBA referees have provided explanations/answers to pool questions that are inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook.
Why focus on that? Because these are irrefutable instances where NBA referees demonstrate a complete lack of understanding when it comes to the NBA Rulebook – a circumstance that, for individuals being paid as much as they are and who are as imperative to the game as they are, should be unacceptable to Albert Sanders, Jr.
In the NBA Rulebook, can profanity lead to a technical foul? Yes, it can.
But “Cursing at or blaspheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls.” (emphasis added.)
So, Foster states that Kidd was ejected for using profanity at an NBA official on two occasions, but the NBA Rulebook provides that such conduct is not even sufficient grounds for one technical foul, let alone an ejection. Objectively, Scott Foster’s response to the pool reporter’s question is inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook.
While Scott Foster may have been besties with Tim Donaghy and, therefore, of questionable ethical makeup in the first place, he has been an NBA referee for more than 30 years, and his inability to grasp the rules is inexcusable.
In any other workplace, such incompetence would not be tolerated. In the NBA, it seems as though it is almost celebrated.
Exhibit 2
You all may recall this one. On December 14, 2025, LeBron James manhandled a referee in a game against the Phoenix Suns and what came of it? Zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
And why was that, you may ask?
Well, according to Tyler Ford (I know, I know…), “During instant replay review, we have the ability to review all unsportsmanlike acts. There was no unsportsmanlike act observed for making contact with a referee.”
Pool report with lead official Tyler Ford on Phoenix Suns 116-114 loss to Los Angeles Lakers Dec. 14 at Mortgage Matchup Center. #Suns#LakeShowpic.twitter.com/wIxfZQrphq
Once again, an NBA official makes a statement that is entirely inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook, which states:
Let’s break this language down, shall we?
According to the dictionary (yes, it needs to be this elementary for NBA officials), “shall” means, “expressing an instruction or command.” In other words, if someone “shall” do something, they are required to do something.
Applying the foregoing to the NBA Rulebook means that an NBA referee must issue a technical foul if a player makes contact with a referee because, by definition, contacting a referee is an “unsportsmanlike act.” The Rulebook does not provide a subjective aspect where the official can decide whether or not an “unsportsmanlike act” exists.
But, apparently, Tyler Ford believes that this subjective element exists. In reality, however, LeBron should have been assessed a technical foul for contacting a game official. Tyler Ford’s explanation indicates that either (1) he expressly ignores the NBA Rulebook and calls games on his own prerogative (which is not entirely out of the question), or (2) he does not know the NBA Rulebook.
Either way, Ford’s nonsensical explanation is another demonstration of Albert Sanders, Jr.’s failures as an NBA executive.
Exhibit 3
OK…this one is not from a pool report, but it is equally objective.
How many times have we seen a referee allow a challenge by an opposing team after a member of the Phoenix Suns has already been given the ball at the free throw line?
Well, guess what? The NBA Rulebook says that cannot happen.
Not to belabor the point – because it is explained in the tweet – but, under the NBA Rulebook, to initiate a Challenge, the team challenging the call “must call a legal timeout immediately after the call….”
Going back to our trusty dictionary, “must” means “to be obliged or bound to by an imperative requirement.” In other words, “must” – much like “shall” – indicates a “requirement.”
Lucky for us, the NBA Rulebook actually defines the term “immediately.”
In the clip referenced above, Ray Acosta passes the ball to Devin Booker, looks to the bench, then blows his whistle and awards the challenge – a decision that Crew Chief, Tyler Ford (yeah, that guy, again), should not have allowed. But, of course, Ford has already demonstrated his inability to grasp the rules.
At the point where Acosta releases the ball to give to Devin Booker, there is no longer the ability to challenge the call. Objectively, that is what the NBA Rulebook says.
So, again, why this error? Incompetence.
And it all starts at the top with Albert Sanders, Jr.
While we are at it, it bears noting that this has happened to the Phoenix Suns at least three times this season – and at least twice to Devin Booker.
So, if the NBA is becoming less watchable for you, these are two individuals who can carry a large load of the blame.
Lastly, I will note that I reached out to Behrens, Sanders, and even Sanders’ boss, Byron Spruell, about these issues. Perhaps not surprisingly, I received no response. Which begs the question: why is the NBA so scared of transparency? Why would Behrens, Sanders, and Spruell not want to demonstrate that the NBA operates with integrity?
Their silence provides all the answers I need.
But, hey…maybe I’m wrong about everything. Maybe every piece of analysis in this article is wrong.
If so, Kathy, Albert, and Byron know how to find me.
INDIANAPOLIS — You wouldn’t think Michigan would be all smiles at halftime.
Yes, it had a four point lead over Connecticut in the national championship game, but it was an unattractive four-point lead. It was arguably the worst first-half performance of the season. Not only did the Wolverines fail to make a single 3-pointer in the first half – the only time that’s happened this season – but there were no makes outside of the paint.
An awful first 20 minutes, but the Wolverines weren’t just staying positive, they were beaming in happiness.
Why?
"It can’t get any worse," Michigan guard Nimari Bennett told USA TODAY Sports.
True, but it’s not like the second half was any better. Michigan struggled offensively for all 40 minutes. The 69 points were Michigan's third lowest of the season. It was the worst 3-point shooting night of the season.
Actually, it was the worst shooting performance of the season, period.
UConn needed to make Michigan look ugly to win. It did that – and it still lost.
So, how did the Wolverines do it?
Because of one thing hiding in plain sight; while Michigan was lighting up the scoreboard with its prolific offense all tournament long, it made everyone forget one thing: they are just as good on defense.
The Wolverines made sure to remind everybody on Monday, resulting in a national championship as those halftime smiles carried over to after the buzzer sounded and Lucas Oil Stadium rained maize and blue confetti.
It’s not like Michigan’s defensive prowess wasn't there for all to see. Three players – Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara – were Big Ten all-defensive players, with Mara the conference defensive player of the year.
That’s why teams’ defensive shooting percentage of 38.4% and average of 6.1 blocks per game were each the second best mark in the country, and it was on full display in the NCAA Tournament.
The reason why Michigan won its first five tournament games by an average of 21.6 points per game wasn’t just because it was scoring at least 90 points, but because it harassed opposing offenses every night.
No team shot above 45% against the Wolverines, and the collective opponent shooting percentage from those games? A whopping 37.9%. The defense got better in the tournament.
"The statistics, it speaks for itself," Bennett said. "I feel like we're the best defensive team in the country."
Bennett and company did prove it. UConn shot a season-worst 31% from the field. A team that was top 10 in assists with more than 18 per game had just nine, the only time it was held to single digits.
Despite making nine three pointers, UConn missed 24 attempts. Shots were constantly getting contested by the the Wolverines' quickness to the ball. Even with the looks UConn wanted, not many of them were wide open.
It didn't get any easier near the basket. Six shots inside the paint got swatted away, making it tough for the Huskies to prevail even with their own defensive toughness.
"It's hard to have a level of disappointment where literally it just came down to we just didn't make enough shots in the basket," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "To be able to keep that team under 40% from the field – 38% – this team has destroyed everyone they've faced in this tournament."
In the NCAA Tournament, teams are 1-50 all-time when:
- scoring under 70 points - shooting under 40.0% from the field - shooting under 15.0% from three on 15+ attempts - getting outrebounded
For all of its defensive success, Michigan still had to find a way to score, and it did so in an uncharacteristic way.
If there was one thing Michigan wasn’t good at, it was free throws. The Wolverines entered the night 109th in the country with a 74.3% mark from the charity stripe. They drew fouls, resulting in 28 free throw attempts.
How many makes? How about 25 for an 89.3% clip.
All of it proving to be just enough to get the biggest win of the season.
"We started off really, really bad offensively, our defense was the reason why we won most of those games, today is the same thing," Lendeborg said. "We had to dig deep."
While it wasn’t pretty by any means, how Michigan won showed there is nothing to doubt about this title. Since the statement it made at the Player’s Era tournament, Michigan had been a relentless machine on both sides of the ball, churning blowout after blowout, no matter who was on the other side.
Even when it isn’t able to do that, instead of falling apart like most teams could, the Wolverines opted to hone in on one of its many strengths and ride it toward a win.
"They're legit. They definitely deserved to win the national championship. They're clearly the best team in the country this year," Hurley said.
UConn wanted a slugfest, and it’s exactly what it got. Michigan coach Dusty May actually admitted the Huskies "had a masterful game plan to beat us." All of it pointed to a third national title in four years to cement Hurley’s dynasty.
Little did UConn and the rest of the country realize Michigan had been throwing it down all season, and it didn’t need another offensive surge to do that. The defense carried Michigan just as much to this point, and in the end, it proved defense wins championships.
"Obviously, it's a big stage, but we deserve to be here," Bennett said. "We deserve this moment."
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 06: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on April 06, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cavs chose to give nearly all of their regular rotation players who played the night before against the Indiana Pacers the night off. They were without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Thomas Bryant, and Max Strus due to rest, in addition to Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson still being out with injuries.
Things were worse on the other side. The Grizzlies had 13 players ruled out for this game. That left nine available players, with four of those being guys on 10-day contracts due to the hardship exemption.
Despite the number of players missing, the Cavs were able to run out some lineups that made more sense compared to Sunday. The starting five of Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, Sam Merrill, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are all expected to be in the playoff rotation. And they played like it.
The Cavaliers made sure this game wasn’t up for grabs in the fourth quarter. A 19-5 run helped them reassert control in the second quarter. Then, a strong third quarter allowed them to create the separation they needed for a stress-free victory.
Schroder had his first great game in a month. He did a good job of setting up the offense and finding avenues to score himself. Continually getting into the lane off the dribble allowed him to do so.
He finished 22 points on 8-12 shooting to go along with 11 assists. This included going 7-8 on shots in the paint.
Monday’s performance was only the second time Schroder has recorded double-digit points with at least three assists since the first week of March. For reference, he accomplished this seven times in his first 15 games with the team.
As we’ve seen throughout his career, Schroder needs the ball in his hands consistently to be his best self. He’s a rhythm player who requires constant touches to get the most out of his game.
What Schroder does best doesn’t translate as neatly to playing off-ball. He’s not someone who attacks quickly off the catch or is a typical floor spacer. Instead, he’s deliberate in how he probes the paint and gets others involved while doing so.
This ideal role isn’t one Schroder has been able to play with the Cavs when Mitchell and Harden are in the lineup. Both of the starting guards do a majority of their work on-ball. And while Schroder has shown to be impactful throughout his career, he’s not good enough to warrant taking the ball out of either Mitchell’s or Harden’s hands for extended stretches.
The Cavs could use this version of Schroder in the playoffs, the one that is consistently getting downhill and playmaking from there. How they go about doing so when the team is fully healthy is an equation they haven’t solved recently.
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Keon Ellis showed how well-rounded his offensive game is. He put up 19 points on 7-11 shooting to go along with eight assists. Ellis did this by decisively attacking whenever the ball swung his way. This included doing a good job of running second-side pick-and-rolls similar to what we’ve seen from Strus.
The offensive game has been better than advertised since coming over from the Sacramento Kings. Right now, Ellis feels firmly cemented in the playoff rotation.
Evan Mobley’s numbers look more impressive than they felt.
There were times it seemed like Mobley wasn’t processing the game quickly enough to be a focal point in the offense. Early on, he struggled to make plays against a Memphis defense that was heavily shading his way whenever he caught the ball in a stationary position. That’s why he ended up with three turnovers in the first half.
However, just because something doesn’t feel impressive doesn’t mean it wasn’t. You don’t luck your way into 24 points on 9-11 shooting with four assists.
Mobley is at his best when he’s in motion. This game proved that once again. Nearly all of his baskets came whenever he was forcefully going toward the basket. Memphis didn’t have anyone who could stop him or even slow him down. And quite frankly, few teams do when he’s attacking with force like this.
Larry Nance Jr. performed well for his second game in a row. He provided good minutes off the bench as he had 10 points, three rebounds, and a steal in just over 21 minutes.
This has been a difficult season for Nance. He hasn’t had nearly the impact that he and the Cavs were hoping for when he returned home this past offseason. An uncharacteristically shaky jumper and slightly less athleticism than he had a few years ago have kept him from doing so. At least he’s been able to end the season strong, even if it’s too late to get back into the rotation.
The Cavs feel locked into the fourth seed.
The New York Knicks‘ win over the Atlanta Hawks secured that Cleveland can’t fall further than four, and also made it difficult for them to climb up to three. That’s a good place for the Cavs to be, considering it would delay a possible matchup with the Boston Celtics for as long as possible.
The Cavs haven’t had much to play for over the past week. That feeling will continue, especially when they take on the Hawks — their likely first-round opponent — twice during their final three regular-season games.
I’d be surprised if Kenny Atkinson decided to play a majority of his guys in those matchups. Atlanta has something to play for with how close spots five through eight are in the East. The Cavs don’t. There isn’t a reason to go for it, considering this team’s injury luck, unless you want to do everything you can to make sure you didn’t play the Hawks in the first round. But even if they did go for it, there’s no guarantee that Atlanta would fall out of fifth place.
We’ll find out how the Cavs choose to approach this when they host the Hawks on Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS — Starting guards Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. were each whistled for two quick fouls in Connecticut’s 69-63 loss to Michigan in the national championship game of the men's NCAA Tournament, changing the complexion of a matchup the Huskies hoped could be won on the perimeter.
Nursing a foot injury suffered in the national semifinal against Illinois, Ball finished with 11 points in 16 minutes. Demary lasted just 21 minutes, scoring one bucket before being called for his fifth foul with just over a minute to play.
“I just thought that the first-half foul trouble, really, I thought we were positioned if we didn't have that foul trouble to potentially go into halftime with a lead,” coach Dan Hurley said.
Forward Tarris Reed Jr. had 13 points and 14 rebounds but was bothered by the defense of Michigan's Aday Mara and made just 4 of 12 attempts from the field, his worst shooting performance since missing all three shots in a regular-season matchup against Illinois late November. Guard Braylon Mullins had 11 points on 4 of 17 shooting and made 3 of 10 attempts from 3-point range.
The main reason UConn stayed close with Michigan was the same reason UConn was here in the first place: Playing in the final game of his college career, senior forward Alex Karaban had a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists and two steals.
“So it hurts right now. It hurts a lot right now,” he said.
Crucially, Karaban played all 40 minutes, continuing to serve as the Huskies’ steadying force in his final March Madness experience.
“For coach to play me 40 minutes, I can't thank him enough,” Karaban said. “That's all I wanted. That's all I wanted, is to give everything I got, leave everything I've got out there and try to do everything to help us win.”
Said Hurley, “Let me play him into the ground one more time, just one more 40-minute game for Alex. Let me just play that guy into the ground one more night like I have throughout his career. He deserved to play 40 minutes.”
The most fitting way for Karaban to end his career would have been as a three-time national champion, joining his part on back-to-back winners in 2023 and 2024 and placing him in elite, UCLA-only territory among college players with three rings.
“Obviously. for us it's tough,” said Hurley. “Again, we did not come here for watches, we came here for rings.”
But there’s something apt about the way this ended, too. Since his redshirt freshman season, when he played a complementary role on a loaded roster, Karaban has been the glue that held the Huskies together — the key cog that helped the program breathe rarefied air in reaching three championship games in four years.
“I might cry up here just talking about just the impact he's had, in the locker room, throughout every single practice, every single game,” Ball said. “He's just always there, and he's the same person every single day. He doesn't change. Incredibly smart, great guy off the court. I'm going to miss this guy so much.”
Karaban’s performance in the second half helped UConn shake off multiple double-digit deficits and hang tight with an opponent expected to leave the Huskies in the dust after dismantling Arizona in the national semifinals.
After the Wolverines took their largest lead of the game at 43-35 six minutes into the second half, Karaban corralled an offensive rebound and put back the layup to stem Michigan’s momentum. With Michigan ahead 58-48 at the five-minute mark, Karaban found Mullins for a 3-pointer that set up a frantic final stretch.
Later, with 2:30 remaining, Karaban hit a 3-pointer of his own to cut Michigan’s advantage to 62-56. While his effort would come up short — and wasn’t perfect, with a pair of missed free throws with just over six minutes to go and a missed 3-pointer with 17 seconds left — Karaban nearly willed UConn across the finish line.
“Yeah, you know, blessed that I've been able to wear this jersey for the longest amount of time possible, the max amount, the max amount of minutes, the max amount of games this season. I came back ultimately to win, fell short,” he said.
Win or lose on Monday night, Karaban’s place in program history is secure. He is already the first active player to be inducted into the program’s hall of fame. He holds career marks for wins (126), games played (150), games started (149) and minutes played (4,909). He finished his career with a blistering 18-2 mark in the NCAA tournament, including a 5-1 mark in the Final Four.
This is a place that has put out a lengthy list of college basketball’s best individual players in the past three decades. While not the program’s best overall player and not the Huskies’ best NBA prospect, Karaban leaves with an even more important title: the most important player in UConn history.
“He's put UConn in that rarefied place in college basketball,” Hurley said. This guy changed my life, the staff's lives, the joy he's brought to the university, the fan base.
“His decision to come to UConn has made us … Florida won the national championship last year. I'll probably get in trouble for this. Michigan won the national championship this year. But he's helped to make UConn, I think, right now, we're probably the premier program in college basketball right now, having been to three out of four national championship games, having won two of them.”
That’s a small comfort after coming so close to a third ring. But Karaban took solace in the legacy he leaves behind: Already a blueblood, UConn has become something much more — a potential dynasty, if Hurley can keep this up — thanks to the senior’s four years as the program’s irreplaceable piece.
“I'm just reminding myself right now that when I came into UConn how much I've grown, and I'm ultimately leaving UConn in a better place right now from where I started,” he said. “I gave it everything I got. I gave it my heart. I gave everything. All I thought about was UConn basketball every single day.
“Now that I'm leaving, and for UConn to be one of the best brands in college basketball and to be at the top, I left it better than when it started. I'm most proud of that.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for two against Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on April 05, 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors fell one point short in Sunday’s 117-116 loss to the Houston Rockets. Two late missed calls contributed to the close loss.
The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report reviews all the “officiated events” in every game that was within three points at any time in the final two minutes, and if applicable, overtime. There were two big non-calls that might have swung the results of Steph Curry’s first game back from his knee injury.
The first happened with 1:28 to go, when Amen Thompson crashed into Curry as he was cutting to the hoop, shaking Kevin Durant and receiving a sweet pass from Draymond Green. Curry still made the shot but was knocked to the ground, with no whistle. Thompson fouling Curry with the referees swallowing their whistles? Well I never!
At least they didn’t call Curry for an offensive foul. He was denied the and-one and the Rockets retained a one-point advantage.
That became a four-point lead when Alperen Sengun did get a foul call on far less contact from Draymond Green — though the L2M Report said Green hit his arm — and completed his own three-point play. However, the report says that Sengun “failed to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds,” which should have resulted in a turnover before the shot attempt.
After Curry hit a ridiculous 32-footer, Green got away with a defensive three seconds violation, which happened eight seconds before Durant missed a jump shot (with a legal contest from De’Anthony Melton).
By our count, that’s four missed points for the Warriors and one missed point for the Rockets. Clearly, the NBA will reverse the game result and award Golden State the “W,” right?
Well, no. The Last Two Minute Report mainly exists so that fans can argue about it in the aftermath of a game. There aren’t really any consequences for the officials, Curry isn’t going to start getting foul calls, and the NBA referees don’t apologize — unless it’s to LeBron James.
Like everyone else, referees make mistakes. We made one at the end of last night’s game and that is gut-wrenching for us. This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.https://t.co/WyN8QVuTOl
It doesn’t matter in the standings either, since the Warriors are locked into the 10 seed in the upcoming play-in tournament. A correct call would have put Curry one point closer to passing Tim Duncan on the all-time scoring list, but with 20 points to go, he’ll pass the Big Fundamental before season’s end anyway.
He’ll pass Dominique Wilkins some time next season before passing one of his biggest haters, Oscar Robertson, who believes real basketball involves backing your opponent down to the basket, not new-fangled three-pointers. You know Robertson would hate the Last Two Minute Report, too.
What can we conclude? Referees don’t respect Steph Curry, but they respect the sanctity of “three in the key” even less. This author will consider the Warriors a true 37-win team going forward.
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 21: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball as Brook Lopez #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on March 21, 2026 in Dallas, 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What feat of strength will Cooper Flagg perform next?
Find out when the Dallas Mavericks (25-53) wrap up their two-night residency in Los Angeles on Tuesday with a game against the Clippers at the Intuit Dome. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CDT.
On Friday, Flagg gave the Orlando Magic 51 on 19-of-30 shooting. On Sunday, he backed it up with 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 134-128 win at the Lakers. If that trend continues, perhaps Flagg is due for a 40-point triple-double at the Clippers? Don’t discount the possibility.
Both he and the Mavericks coaching staff have shown us that getting Flagg the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award is a goal of the utmost importance as the season winds down. His 96 points in a two-game span is a mark only bested in NBA history by Wilt Chamberlain during his rookie year.
And the rest of the Mavs? It looks like they’re just trying to get to the finish line, as we all are. Here are three things we’ll be watching out for in the Mavericks’ Tuesday matchup with the Clippers.
Rookie of the Year race
Kon Knueppel and his Charlotte Hornets face the Boston Celtics just a couple of hours before the Mavs tip off against the Clippers. On Sunday, Knueppel laid a stinker on a 4-of-14 shooting night as the Hornets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-108.
Would Flagg continuing his scorching hot tear in the season’s final six games be enough to sway the Rookie of the Year voters over to his side? A third straight monster performance couldn’t hurt, especially since Knueppel has gone over the 20-point mark just once in his last nine games.
There was a time, as Flagg worked his way back from a foot injury in February, that Knueppel was simply out-playing Flagg on a nightly basis. That is no longer the case. It only makes sense that the last few games of the season would hold equal weight as voters consider whose name to put on their ballots.
Box score watching will likely be at least as compelling as the product the Mavericks put on the floor against the Clippers, who have won two of their last three after losing five straight at the end of March.
Guard play
Brandon Williams in particular has become an interesting case study at guard in recent games. On some nights he looks like the perfect tank commander, as his jumpshot leaves a little to be desired and his size makes him something of a liability on the defensive end. But at other times, he’s able to get to the basket at will, zooming past the defense in big moments that make one wonder whether he’s actually a useful piece for the future.
Combine his knack for scoring with the fact that the Mavericks’ latest win over the Lakers may have hurt their draft lottery odds as much as it helped Flagg’s Rookie of the Year chances, and you start to wonder what guards in the stellar 2026 NBA Draft class may even be available at all when the Mavs’ first pick comes around.
Is Williams a good option off the bench going forward? Or is he as replaceable as basically everyone else on this roster not named Flagg? He’s auditioning, and he’s playing like it lately, averaging 17 points per game in his last four outings.
Get it over with
Two of the Mavericks’ previous three games against the Clippers this year have gone into overtime. The Mavs lost to Los Angeles at home in overtime, 138-131, on Mar. 23 and dropped a double-overtime loss to the Clippers, 133-127, on Nov. 14.
The Mavs are now 17-26 this season in 43 clutch games after Sunday’s win at the Lakers. No matter how bad they look at times, they seem to always work their way back into games. Whether that’s more sheer force of will or simply Silly Season shenanigans at play, sometimes it’s hard to tell.
With a late start on our hands on Tuesday, all we’re really hoping for is a clear result at the end of regulation this time around. We’re so done with this season. All that’s left seems to be Flagg’s march to a postseason award.
How to watch
The Mavericks and the Clippers are slated for a 9:30 p.m. CDT tip on Wednesday from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. You can catch the stream on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass where available.
ATLANTA — Mike Brown acknowledged discussing a starting lineup change — “there’s always going to be chatter about it” — but isn’t close to acting and, at least for now, anticipates the status quo for the playoffs.
“I don’t believe in never ever. But right now we’re going to start that five and that’s how I foresee it,” the coach said. “If I feel I need to make a change at any time, I’ll make a change. But I don’t feel that way right now.”
League sources said moving Landry Shamet into the lineup was discussed. Earlier this season, Brown altered his starting lineup, replacing Mitchell Robinson with Josh Hart.
Brown said Monday his staff convinced him to abandon the original double-big lineup (with Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns), a move made in December.
Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Josh Hart #3 and Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
“There’s debate literally all the time. Obviously there was a debate at the start of the season when we started two bigs [Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns]. And there was debate almost every day because I was the only one with that [opinion] — and I was getting hammered at this angle, that angle, every angle. So we talked about it a lot.
“That’s just chatter that you have throughout the course of the year, trying to find ways to improve your team. So I think there’s always going to be chatter about [changing the lineup now]. … But there’s nothing I’ve felt close to acting on yet.”
The current Knicks starting lineup — Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby, Towns — had habitually produced poor first quarters before Monday’s 108-105 victory over the Hawks. It had the third-most minutes together in the NBA but carried a net rating of just plus-0.7 — including a first-quarter net rating of minus-8.1 in the first quarter.
But they built a three-point lead before the first sub Monday, and they closed out the win together with a clutch run down the stretch.
Brown used his likely nine-man playoff rotation with Miles McBride, Robinson, Shamet and Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Monday, April 6, 2026. AP
It meant Jose Alvarado picked up his first healthy DNP.
“I’m good. I’m chilling,” Alvarado, acquired at the trade deadline by Leon Rose, said. “I’m ready for my moment. I’m ready for my name to get called whenever it is. … So just whenever it’s Jose’s time, whenever that time is, I’m ready.”
Towns said his right elbow impingement — which kept him out of Saturday’s win over the Bulls — has been an issue “for a while.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 6: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 6, 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
For a moment, everything stopped.
Inside the Frost Bank Center, the buzz of a marquee matchup, Victor Wembanyama versus Joel Embiid, gave way to silence as Wembanyama walked slowly toward the locker room, his night cut short before halftime. It should have been the turning point, but it became something else entirely.
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t flinch.
They steadied themselves, leaned on each other, and by the final buzzer, they were walking off the floor with a 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers—a performance defined less by who they lost, and more by who they became. And it also became their 60th win of the season.
Before the injury, the game had all the makings of a heavyweight duel. Wembanyama was electric early, scoring 17 points in just over 15 minutes, matching Embiid possession for possession. Every touch felt significant, every bucket answered. It was the kind of rhythm that pulls a crowd to its feet.
Then, in an instant, it was gone. A hit in transition. A slow walk off the floor. No return. And just like that, the spotlight shifted.
That’s when Stephon Castle stepped forward. He had a steady command that never wavered as he controlled the pace, found teammates in rhythm, and filled every gap the Spurs suddenly had to navigate. By the end of the night, his stat line told the story: 19 points, 13 assists, and double-digit rebounds—but it was the composure that stood out most.
Possession by possession, Castle kept San Antonio grounded. And he wasn’t alone.
One by one, the Spurs followed. Shots came from different hands. Stops came from collective effort. What could have unraveled instead turned into something balanced, something connected. By halftime, they had the lead and by the fourth quarter, San Antonio was in firm control.
Joel Embiid kept pushing to help his team, scoring 34 points, fought through contact, and tried to drag Philadelphia back into the game. For stretches, it felt like he might. But the Spurs never let the moment slip.
Every time the 76ers threatened, San Antonio answered. The lead stretched. The clock ticked. And whatever window Philadelphia hoped to find quietly closed. When the final buzzer sounded, the Spurs had earned the 115-102 victory, but the final score only told part of the story.
San Antonio responded to losing its star player as well as a winnable game against Denver on Saturday. A team losing its star and refusing to lose its identity. A young group discovering, in real time, what it looks like to carry the weight together.
And as the Spurs walked off the floor, the image that lingered wasn’t the final score.
It was everything that came after Wembanyama left—and how, somehow, they never let the game leave with him.
ATLANTA — Two years ago, the Knicks were lovable underdogs.
A year ago, they were a little less lovable — a product of exhausting all their draft assets in trades and losing their rough-and-tumble identity — but they were underdogs, nonetheless.
“ ‘If they make it a six-game series, I’ll be proud of the Knicks,’ ” recalled Karl-Anthony Towns of the punditry surrounding last year’s second round against the Celtics.
Now? They better win. That’s the mandate not only from the outside but also the team owner, James Dolan, who replaced the coach in June and sent a public Finals-or-bust message in January. So it doesn’t matter that the Knicks still aren’t betting favorites to win the East, or that they’ll probably enter as the No. 3 seed.
They either advance past three rounds or they’re a disappointment and Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes the only way out.
“The perception and standards have obviously changed for us ever since we made that stride last year in the playoffs,” Towns said Monday. “Getting through the first round, we weren’t supposed to make it out of there. Then the second round, we definitely weren’t supposed to be making it out of there. We showed the world that we can beat these teams, especially in the playoffs.
Karl-Anthony Towns goes up for a shot as New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson defends during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“But in doing that, we put the antennas up for the rest of the league as well. They know what we can do and on top of that, coming in with the expectations we had this year, finding a way to win the NBA Cup. Even through all the ups and downs, finding ourselves the third seed. The world is not unaware of how good we are. But it’s up to us to execute in a seven-game series and be disciplined and find a way to win.”
Towns was wrong about one thing. The Knicks were supposed to beat the Pistons in the first round last year and they succeeded in six games. But then they were projected for a beatdown administered by the Celtics and instead compelled mass celebrations outside of MSG.
It’s theoretically easier to play freer when unburdened by expectations. But Towns is taking the “pressure is a privilege” approach.
“Me, personally, I’ve been dealing with expectations since before I stepped into the league,” said Towns, the former No. 1 overall draft pick. “Honestly, it’s really the same thing. It’s been the story of my career. Dealing with expectations that are lofty. On top of that, the expectations I have for myself are even higher than what people give me. So I have a lot of work to do. But I’ve been used to it. So it’s a blessing to have pressure.”
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks in plain clothes on the bench jokes around with guard Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the second half against the Bulls. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Beyond the team success and the overflow of glory that would come with an NBA Finals appearance, there’s money at stake for individual players. Towns is eligible for a contract extension after the season. Same with Miles McBride. Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara could all be free agents. Players get paid off their postseasons. Just ask Mikal Bridges, who got $150 million after his breakthrough opening two rounds of 2025.
This year’s version of the Knicks — and Bridges, especially — doesn’t look as good as the version that beat the Celtics. But momentum is a helluva equalizer.
And if the Knicks can close the season strong against four straight playoff-bound opponents — including Monday against the Hawks — they can carry it into the first round.
“We can get to that level. We’re really good,” Alvarado said. “We just need to lock in on the details and stay like that. What really is in our way is ourselves. We just got to stay consistent and confident in who we are.”
Better late than never, says Towns.
“The playoffs should’ve started 10 games ago [for us],” the center said. “We should be building on our standards all year. That’s what the goal was. We have four good games where we can get some good tape, get our coverages right. See how we can execute different coverages, different things. And we could just find different ways to show what we can do, and have adjustments ready to go in the playoffs.”
Kevin Durant R of Houston Rockets breaks through against Draymond Green C of Golden State Warriors during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season basketball game between Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, the United States, April 5, 2026. (Photo by Arthur Dong/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors had a bittersweet Easter Sunday. On the bright side, they welcomed Steph Curry back into the fold after the two-time MVP had missed 27 consecutive games with runner’s knee. On the less happy side, the Dubs lost a heartbreaker to the Houston Rockets, as their comeback fell just short in a 117-116 defeat.
Because it was a close game, the NBA released a Last 2 Minute Report for the contest. In L2Ms, the NBA combs through the final two minutes of close games from multiple camera angles, and assesses whether plays were correctly called (or non-called). Thankfully (or sometimes not thankfully), the L2Ms are released to the public, so we can see how the officials did in the most crucial moments.
In Houston’s victory, the league determined that there were three mistakes made by the officiating crew. All three were incorrect non-calls, which is to say whistles that weren’t blown, but should have been. And two of those three were whistles that would have been blown against the Rockets, benefitting the Warriors.
The first occurred with 1:28.6 remaining, when Curry made a layup that pulled the Warriors to within a point. According to the league, a shooting foul should have been called on Amen Thompson, giving Curry a free throw. Here’s the league’s ruling: “Thompson (HOU) jumps from A to B and initiates body contact with Curry (GSW) as he defends the shot.”
The second occurred shortly after, with 1:10.7 on the clock, when Alperen Şengün should have been whistled for a three-second violation, with the league stating, “Sengun (HOU) fails to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds.” Just two seconds later, Şengün drained a short jumper, was fouled, and completed the three-point play. Instead of a turnover, the Rockets pushed their lead to four points.
The third and final officiating mistake came with 46 seconds remaining, when the refs failed to call a defensive three-second violation on Draymond Green. Here’s the ruling: “Green (GSW) fails to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds without imminently actively guarding an opponent.” Had the play been properly whistled, the Rockets would have gotten a free throw and then retained possession. Instead, they had an empty trip down the court.
Ultimately, missed calls are a part of the game, and there’s no use crying over them. Sometimes they help the Warriors, and sometimes they hurt them.
The conclusion of the Men's NCAA Tournament means there's only one thing left for college basketball fans between now and the end of the men's college basketball season: "One Shining Moment."
To no surprise, the near 3-minute highlight reel didn't disappoint.
This year's version of "One Shining Moment," which has been the soundtrack of the Men's NCAA Tournament since 1987, included some of this year's top buzzer-beaters, like High Point's Chase Johnston's layup to upset No. 5 Wisconsin in the first round and Otega Oweh hitting a 3-pointer from the logo to force overtime and save Kentucky's season for an additional day.
It featured heartbreaking moments — depending on the fan base, of course — like Duke losing out on back-to-back Final Four appearances when Braylon Mullins hitting a 3-pointer to send Connecticut to Indianapolis after Cayden Boozer's last-second turnover vs. the Huskies in the Elite Eight.
It, of course, ended with the Wolverines finishing off one of the greatest seasons by a men's college basketball team with their first national championship since 1989.
'One Shining Moment' video for 2026 NCAA Tournament
Nov 24, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) controls the ball against Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie (20) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Tonight is the final road game for the 2025-26 Houston Rockets. Their next road game will be Game 1 or Game 3 of their first round series.
Obviously, this is a game that many associated with the Phoenix Suns have had circled on the calendar. Jalen Green has missed all three previous games between these teams and Kevin Durant missed the earlier game in Phoenix. Dillon Brooks has played all three games and has been his typical intense self. The other player in that trade, Khaman Maluach, has been a project (as expected) this season but has shown flashes for the Suns.
I expect the Suns and their fans to be rabid for this game. Brooks is going to hype the team up to the moon and the fans will want nothing more than to take down Durant and Houston’s six-game winning streak.
This game is also on national television and will be Houston’s latest game of the season, starting at 10pm local Houston time.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 6: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 6, 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
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 13 Joel Embiid – 10.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers fell 115-102 to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
The Sixers were damn-near full strength for this one, with only Johni Broome (knee surgery) and Cam Payne, who strained his hamstring in Saturday’s contest, sidelined. The Spurs were similarly healthy and led by current NBA MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.
Both of the big men in this one suffered some early bumps and bruises, with Embiid missing part of the first following a hard fall from a collision with Wemby. The Frenchman had his own early trip off the floor as well after seemingly hurting his shoulder in a collision with Paul George. Both were back in the game looking strong by midway through the second quarter to give us the true Embiid vs. Wemby battle we were hoping for, and it was damn fun to watch. By halftime, Embiid had 20 points, Wemby had 17 and the Sixers trailed the Spurs by seven.
Wemby ended up leaving the contest at halftime due to a rib contusion. Even without the San Antonio leader, though, things stayed tough for the Sixers with the Spurs staying out in front throughout the third. When Embiid went to the bench for some rest to start the fourth (after playing the entire second and third quarters), it only got worse, with the Spurs’ lead extending to double digits. The teams continued to trade buckets, but, unfortunately for the Sixers, trading buckets doesn’t really work when you’re down about 10 points the entire time.
The Spurs, even without Wemby for the entire second half, simply outplayed the Sixers.
Just three games left. The Sixers will have a few days off before starting their 16th and final back-to-back of the season on Thursday visiting the Houston Rockets.
Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer.
Paul George: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
<p>(Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s amazing to watch how locked in Paul George has been since returning from his 25-game suspension. He has been shooting the absolute lights out, especially from long range, and tonight was no exception. With Tyrese Maxey struggling and Joel Embiid dealing with some pain from a hard fall early, having someone like PG able to tack on points pretty much whenever called upon right now is huge.
He got things started tonight, opening the game with a triple and ending up hitting two more from long range before the end of the first. He led the Sixers after one with 11 points on 4-for-6 FG, 3-for-3 3PT shooting. He cooled off a bit as Embiid took over the offense, but was ready to contribute again when called upon here and there in the second half (minus the end of the game when no one from the Sixers could seem to score a single point).
PG doing all that while continuing to play the solid defense we all know he’s capable of has been a huge boost to the Sixers as of late — hopefully he can keep it going.
Finishing with 16 points, PG’s shooting was actually quite cold from two-point range, going 1-for-10. That being said, he continues his streak of success from long range since returning from suspension going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc on Monday.
George also finished Monday with five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Joel Embiid: 34 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks
<p>(Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
We had a little bit of a scare with Embiid early on in this one after he took a hard fall from a collision with Wemby. After a few minutes clearly in some pain and hitting the bench early in the first, Embiid returned to the game to close the opening frame. Still laboring in some pain, it took a little bit for him to look comfortable offensively, but he went right to work defensively, coming up with some great stops.
Then, as the second quarter got underway, Embiid basically took over the offense for the Sixers, and it certainly seemed like the pain was not bothering him as much anymore. The big fella started working his way into the paint and going to war (and a physical one) with Wembanyama, battling for any inch of space he could get to sink buckets around or over the Frenchman’s eight-foot wingspan. After scoring just four points in his disjointed first period stints, Embiid put up 16 on 5-for-6 field goal and 1-for-2 long range shooting in the second frame. He led the floor at halftime with 20 points as well as six rebounds and two blocks.
From there, especially without Wemby to counter him, Embiid continued to command the Sixers’ offensive production, whether scoring buckets, getting to the line, or setting screens for his teammates to score off of. He ended up playing the entirety of the second and third periods.
It’s not just the scoring, though. It’s the fact that the scoring is coming along with a major uptick in defensive impact and rebounding in performances the latter half of this season. It’s at a level we haven’t been able to see from Embiid in quite some time, and we can only hope it continues.
Embiid finished Monday with a 34-point, 12-rebound double-double (including five offensive boards) with an assist and four blocks.
(Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The degree of difficulty of some of the buckets that VJ Edgecombe manages to sink continues to impress me. It’s not anything that will ever show on the stat sheet, but it absolutely should. Edgecombe continues to finish plays that very few players in the NBA could finish successfully, let alone a rookie.
Not only that, but he’s hitting these shots exactly when the Sixers need him to. It feels like whenever the Sixers are on the receiving end of an opponent’s scoring streak, it’s very frequently Edgecombe who stops the bleeding with a bucket.
The rookie finished Monday with 14 points, eight rebounds (two offensive), three assists, one steal and one block.
Dusty May the No. 1-seed Wolverines defeated No. 2 seed UConn on Monday, April 6, to claim the March Madness championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The championship is the second for the Wolverines, and first for the Big Ten since 2000.
Elliott Cadeau paced the Wolverines in the win, scoring 19 points while nabbing three rebounds and two assists to lead the Wolverines to a 69-63 victory in the championship game.
UConn, conversely, got into foul trouble early and was never able to fully recover against the size and physicality of the Wolverines, though they did an admirable job keeping it close down the stretch — certainly closer than any other team the Wolverines had faced. They were led in scoring by Alex Karaban, who finished the night with 17 points.
Here's a look at who won the 2026 national championship in the men's basketball NCAA Tournament:
Who won NCAA championship between Michigan, UConn?
Michigan won the 2026 NCAA men's basketball national championship with a 69-63 win over UConn.
Michigan won its second national championship in program history and first since 1989. With the win, the Wolverines snapped a 26-year drought for the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State won the 2000 national championship as the last Big Ten school, beating Florida.
Michigan-UConn score in NCAA championship
TEAMS
1H
2H
F
UConn
29
34
63
Michigan
33
36
69
Michigan-UConn stats
Stats
UConn
Michigan
FGs (%)
21-68 (31%)
21-55 (38%)
3PTs (%)
9-33 (27%)
2-15 (13%)
FTs (%)
12-16 (75%)
25-28 (89%)
Rebounds
46
39
Assists
9
7
Steals
4
6
Blocks
2
6
Turnovers
11
10
Points off turnovers
8
4
Fast break points
4
2
Points in paint
22
36
Fouls
22
13
Largest lead
3
11
Michigan-UConn highlights
Updated March Madness bracket, scores
East Region
First Round
No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
No. 2 UConn 82, No. 15 Furman 71
No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
