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There’s a playoff atmosphere at Rocket Arena between two Eastern Conference heavyweights when the Boston Celtics visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Today’s clash will be played at a snail's pace, and my Celtics vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks expect a low-scoring playoff-type contest. 

Celtics vs Cavaliers prediction

Celtics vs Cavaliers best bet: Under 224 (-105)

The Boston Celtics rank near the bottom of the NBA in pace and allow about 109 points per game, but they also boast an elite defense, allowing the fewest points per game in the Association.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are also a Bottom-5 team in pace and, when they're healthy, like they are today, boast an above-average defense of their own.'

We’re looking at a game with about 198 possessions between two Eastern Conference teams with championship aspirations. Expect a playoff atmosphere and a low-scoring affair at Rocket Arena. 

Celtics vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

Jaylen Brown has failed to score at least 26 points in three of his last five, while James Harden will likely become more of a playmaker with Donovan Mitchell expected to return to the Cavs lineup. 

Celtics vs Cavaliers SGP

• Under 224
• Jaylen Brown Under 25.5 points
• James Harden Under 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Spida's victorious return

The Cavaliers have won seven straight games at Rocket Arena, and Mitchell’s return should give the Cavs the scoring boost they need to sneak past Boston for the first time in three tries. 

Celtics vs Cavaliers SGP

• Under 224
• Jaylen Brown Under 25.5 points
• James Harden Under 19.5 points
• Cavaliers moneyline

Celtics vs Cavaliers odds

• Spread: Celtics +1 | Cavaliers -1
• Moneyline: Celtics -105 | Cavaliers -115
• Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224

Celtics vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The Cavaliers have won 17 of their last 22 games for +11.05 units and a 18% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Celtics vs Cavaliers

Celtics vs Cavaliers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

A few weeks ago the Minnesota Timberwolves were sitting in the six seed, hovering in that uncomfortable place where you’re good enough to believe something bigger might happen, but close enough to the Play-In line that every loss feels like slipping on black ice.

After a strong stretch to finish February and begin March, the Wolves find themselves tied for the three spot. That’s a pretty impressive climb considering how crowded the West has been all season. But before anyone starts planning hypothetical second-round matchups or debating which playoff opponent would be “most favorable,” it’s worth remembering one simple truth about this Western Conference:

Nothing is safe.

Despite their recent strong play, the Wolves didn’t exactly sprint their way into the three spot. February set the table for them beautifully. The schedule was relatively forgiving. There weren’t many heavyweight matchups. It was the kind of stretch where a focused team could have ripped off a monster run and put some real daylight between themselves and teams like the Rockets or Nuggets.

Instead, the Wolves did what the Wolves tend to do. They dropped games they shouldn’t have. They coasted through moments that demanded urgency. They didn’t quite stack the avalanche of wins that the schedule offered them. But to their credit, they largely turned things around, allowing them to gain ground and, for a brief moment, hold sole possession of that coved three seed.

The real question now isn’t how they got there.

It’s whether they can stay there.

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Wolves Fans Are Optimistic

We recently asked the Canis Hoopus faithful where they think the Wolves will ultimately finish in the standings, and let’s just say Minnesota fans are feeling pretty good about things.

The overwhelming majority of respondents believe the Wolves will ultimately hold the three seed. A smaller chunk expects them to slip slightly to fourth. A very tiny percentage sees them landing in fifth.

And the sixth seed? The Play-In?

Not a single vote.

Now that’s confidence.

Whether it’s justified or not remains to be seen, but it does reflect something real about this team. The Wolves have earned a certain level of trust over the past two seasons. They’ve built a reputation for getting stronger late in the year, building momentum heading into the postseason, and then delivering when the lights get bright. Two straight Western Conference Finals appearances have a funny way of doing that.

Still, optimism is one thing. The math of the Western Conference standings is another.

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What It Will Actually Take

Obtaining the three seed is going to require navigating a closing schedule that looks a lot less friendly than February’s.

The Wolves will face a handful of heavyweight Eastern Conference games against the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. Those games don’t directly impact the Western Conference race in terms of knocking rivals down a peg, but they still matter. Lose those games and suddenly you’re handing free ground back to the teams chasing you.

But the real swing games lie closer to home.

The Wolves still have a final showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, the same team they bounced from the first round of the playoffs last season. That game carries some symbolic weight, but more importantly it’s another opportunity to create separation from a Western Conference opponent that would love nothing more than to pull Minnesota back into the standings traffic jam.

The most crucial dates remaining on the calendar are the two games against Houston, which might ultimately determine the entire race for the three seed. If the Wolves drop one of those matchups, they hand the Rockets the tiebreaker, potentially giving Houston a clear path to leapfrog them in the standings. But if Minnesota wins both? Suddenly the Rockets start looking a lot smaller in the rearview mirror.

Those games are essentially four-point swings in the standings. Win them and the Wolves gain ground while Houston loses it. Lose them and the opposite happens.

And hovering in the background, as always, is Denver. The Wolves have already played all four games against the Nuggets this season, and unfortunately for Minnesota the results didn’t go their way. Denver took three of the four meetings, which means they hold the tiebreaker. That matters. In a Western Conference where the standings are packed tighter than rush-hour traffic, those tiebreakers can become incredibly valuable.

The Wolves can’t change the head-to-head results now. That ship has sailed. The only way to keep Denver at bay is the old-fashioned way: Stack wins.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not complicated. But it’s the reality of the situation.

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The Road Trip That Could Decide Everything

If there’s one stretch of games that could determine whether Minnesota climbs the next run to the three seed or slides back into the standings chaos, it’s the upcoming road trip.

It’s a brutal one.

First comes that matchup with the Lakers, a team Minnesota has yet to beat. Then the Wolves face two teams that have given them problems at times this season, the Clippers and the Warriors. Both have proven capable of knocking Minnesota off on nights where the Wolves drift or lose focus.

And then, just to keep things interesting, the road trip concludes with the fourth and final matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. No explanation needed there.

If the Wolves stumble through that four-game gauntlet, they could very easily find themselves sliding back toward the fifth or sixth seed. But if they hold serve and walk away with three wins out of four? Suddenly the standings start looking much more stable.

That’s the difference between surviving March and truly owning it.

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Can the Wolves Grab the Three Seed?

The potential is there. The roster is deep. Anthony Edwards is playing at a superstar level. The defense still has Gobert anchoring the paint. The supporting cast has proven capable of stepping up when needed.

But potential only matters if it translates into wins.

The Western Conference isn’t going to hand Minnesota anything. The Rockets are staring them down. The Nuggets are lurking. The Lakers are a team with the potential to go on a random heater at any moment.

.And if that playoff race alone isn’t enough excitement for you, well… there’s always another way to add a little adrenaline to the ride. You can always head over to FanDuel Sportsbook, where fans can wager on Wolves games.

Because if this Western Conference race has taught us anything, it’s this: The next few weeks are going to be must-watch basketball.

This isn’t new for Jaxson Hayes.

It was only last year when Hayes, now the Los Angeles Lakers’ backup center, was the team’s full-time starting big man after the franchise traded Anthony Davis to the Mavericks for current franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić. 

And with the trade for Mark Williams that was rescinded, Hayes received the most significant playing time for the best team he had been on up to that point of his career.

He delivered, for the most part. 

Which is why, along with his improvements from the end of last season through three-fourths of this season, the Lakers have confidence in him if they need to rely on him more in light of starting center Deandre Ayton being day to day with left knee soreness. 

“Jaxson’s had a really good season,” coach JJ Redick said. “And I know [this because] I played with him his first two years — he’s a better basketball player. He’s gotten better. He’s making touch shots around the rim. He’s making great pocket decisions. 

“He’s a good basketball player. He consistently injects energy into the group when he runs the floor, blocks a shot or he gets those dunks.”

Ayton’s status for Sunday’s home game against the Knicks wasn’t known as of Saturday afternoon.

The 7-foot Ayton, who has started in all 54 games he’s played this season, sat out of Friday’s home win over the Pacers after being limited to 4-and-a-half minutes in Thursday’s road loss to the Nuggets.

But if Hayes, 25, needs to play more against the Knicks, like he did against the Nuggets or Pacers, the Lakers know he’ll be up to the task.

“We have the utmost confidence in Jaxson,” LeBron James said. 

Hayes had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 27 minutes against the Nuggets. He finished with nine points and four rebounds in 25 minutes against the Pacers. 

When asked to play more minutes as a starter, he’s stepped up, with averages of 11.4 points (81.6% shooting), 4.5 rebounds and two assists in the eight games he’s started, with the Lakers going 6-2 in those games.

“That’s my job,” Hayes said. “That’s what they pay me to do is stay ready. Even if I wasn’t in the rotation, they pay me to stay ready. That’s all NBA players’ job is just stay ready and get better every day. I’m gonna just do whatever the team needs me to do.”

Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, is considered a more talented player than Hayes. And there are several areas — such as 1-on-1 scoring, midrange shooting and defensive rebounding — that Ayton is better at than Hayes.

But there are some areas in which Hayes excels, making him more equipped to help the Lakers against a Knicks team that’s won 16 of its last 21 games.

Hayes has been just as good, if not better, as an interior defender over the course of the season. 

He’s a more forceful roller out of the pick and roll, which will be especially important Sunday if the Knicks hedge and recover on pick and rolls with Doncic as the ball handler like they did significantly in the Feb. 1 matchup at Madison Square Garden, which the Knicks won 112–100.

Hard rolls from an athletic center who can provide vertical spacing opens up lob opportunities, which Doncic is one of the best at delivering.

“Him and Luka have a really good connection right now,” Luke Kennard said. “They’re playing really well and playing off each other.”

Factor in Hayes’ improved playmaking out of the short roll and the Knicks will have to ensure they don’t give Hayes too much of a runway while also trying to contain Dončić. 

“I love playing with Jaxson,” Dončić said. “This year, his improvement is unbelievable. He understands, I think this year even more, how to play with me. We’ve been working on that. So playing with him is very special for me.”

Hayes arguably had a career year last season.

And he’s following it up with another one. 

“Maturity, the way he approaches the game day to day,” Austin Reaves said in the ways Hayes has grown the most. “He does what he needs to do in his off time around the gym, gets his work in, takes care of his body and then just the preparation that he puts into it, you can tell he’s grown in those aspects, and that’s just made him a better player. 

“We can probably all agree that this is some of the best basketball he’s played in his career. I’m happy for him. We need him to continue to do that. He’s a big part of what we’re going to do.”

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Going into the week, there was some uncertainty revolving around the Phoenix Suns’ starting wings as Dillon Brooks remains out. With Devin Booker returning from injury, Jalen Green or Ryan Dunn was destined for the bench. Jordan Ott and his coaching staff decided with keeping Green in the starting lineup and bringing Dunn of the bench, but fans think Green should be starting games with the second unit.

Considering how inconsistent Green has been on offense and his lack of size, I’m not surprised that nearly two-thirds of fans want him to come off the bench. He’s had two of his strongest games this season this week, with his 20-point, 44% shooting game against the Kings, and 25-point, 47% shooting performance playing the Pelicans on Friday, but he had another inefficient game Thursday, when the got upset against the Bulls, and he shot 25% from the field on 20 shots.

The fifth-year guard has had a hard time adjusting to the Suns’ offense as he’s been working back from his hamstring injury. His inefficient three-point shooting (Green is shooting a career-low 27% of his threes) has hindered the team’s deep shooting. When Green is playing, the Suns are shooting 34.8% from three, when he’s not, they’re shooting 36.3% from behind the arc.

Yes, the Suns have still been winning games of late. While they dropped a game they were more than 10 point favorites in to the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix has won three of four, and are still firmly in the race to finish with a top-six seed.

According to FanDuel, the Suns’ Win/Loss total is set at 45.5, meaning their line is 9.5 games more than the amount they won a season ago.

While it may not be a longterm solution, Green coming off the bench could give him more of an opportunity to utilize his playmaking abilities. He’d assuredly be spending less time playing alongside Devin Booker, Phoenix’s lead playmaker, so Green would have more opportunity to do what he’s best at, alongside Grayson Allen, who is making the most threes per game of his career by more than half a triple per game. Green clearly needs more room to operate as he continues to work his way back from his long absence.

Additionally, with Mark Williams out for the next few weeks, adding Green to the bench would not be disrupting any bench chemistry, as Oso Ighodaro has moved to the team’s starting center with Williams sidelined. The second unit is already dealing with change.

Did the fans get this one right? You decide.

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Before a single possession takes place on the court, the Toronto Raptors are already expected to beat the Dallas Mavericks at home on Sunday. 

At least that’s what the Raptors fan base believes, especially after being held hostage by exceeded expectations and a timeline that’s regrettably ahead of schedule. 

Simply put – the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise isn’t very good against competitive teams. 

Fine then. 

But that means the Raptors can’t drop games against the bottom dwellers of the league. Their fragile lead over the play-in team is in danger of slipping away. With the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets awaiting them later this month, the Raptors desperately need to take care of business against lower-ranked teams.

That begins with defending home court against the Mavericks, even if Cooper Flagg overcomes his questionable tag before the 6:00 p.m. EST tip-off on Sportsnet.

The last time the Raptors dropped a game to a team below .500 was in a 121-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 16. Former fun guy Kawhi Leonard sat the game out with a right ankle sprain, but James Harden bullied the Raptors defence and finished with 31 points and 10 assists. When adjusting the bar to a slightly lower level, the Raptors haven’t lost to an opponent currently in a playoff or play-in spot since falling 138-117 to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 26. 

Since their last meaningful victory over a playoff staple – a 103-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder back on Jan. 25 – the Raptors have struggled mightily in the second half. Toronto is 3-5 in the third and fourth quarters against playoff teams during this stretch. Often, it’s a disastrous third quarter that leads to a comfortable final frame for the opponent, or it’s a Raptors meltdown in back-end of the fourth quarter. 

For most supporters who have followed the team this season, it’s a script that’s repetitive in the worst possible way. It feels like the Raptors are destined to lose in the opening round of the post-season. It’s like Toronto is on a collision course that can be seen before the car leaves the driveway. 

But despite the doom and gloom, there’s still basketball to be played, and the Raptors aren’t necessarily firing on all cylinders (yet).

Centre Jakob Poeltl’s minutes are back to where they should be. The Austrian big man is averaging 27.4 minutes in his last five games. However, there’s still ample room for improvement. Poeltl is often good for a double-double in roughly half the games he appears in. Still, he only has one double-double in seven games since returning from injury on Feb. 11. With Collin Murray-Boyles already ruled out due to a thumb sprain, it’s imperative that Poeltl quickly works his way back to full strength. The rookie performed admirably in the veteran’s presence, and Poeltl returning the favour would go a long way in sustaining the Raptors’ lifeline. 

With Brandon Ingram listed as questionable, it’s important for Scottie Barnes to summon the aggression he showcased earlier in the 2025-26 campaign. Barnes’ February numbers (and his two-game sample size in March) are down across the board in comparison to his season averages. His three-point shooting is the most glaring downward spiral, but that’s been a concern since early January. The bigger red flag is the rebounding totals. Since the All-Star break, Barnes has averaged 3.3 rebounds against playoff teams. That’s a drastic dip from the eight boards he averages on the season. Understandably, it’s also affecting his assist numbers since he’s initiating fewer breakouts. 

Historically, Barnes is the type of player that goes as his team does. The best version of Barnes have arguably come during his rookie season, when he was surrounded by championship-level auxiliary players, and earlier this year when the Raptors were one of the hottest teams in the NBA. But when the Raptors struggle, Barnes does as well. If he can eventually tap into a state where he can consistently will Toronto to victories, it’ll help the team stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race. 

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Iran’s soccer team lost its last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.

The Iranian women’s squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the U.S. and Israel Feb. 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually depart within days.

Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0 loss to Australia last Thursday and a 2-0 loss to Philippines on Sunday.

Amid concerns for player welfare following reported criticism in the Iranian media, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in Australia.

It launched an online petition, which had more than 50,000 electronic signatures before kick-off Sunday, urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain” and also to provide independent legal advice, support and interpreters.

Iran team management and players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home during more than a week preparing for and playing games on Australia’s Gold Coast, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference last Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.

The online petition asked local authorities to ensure any player seeking protection “can do so safely, privately, and without interference” and to “make clear that Australia will uphold its … humanitarian protection obligations in relation to any player at risk of persecution or serious harm.

“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position," it said. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on whether the Australian government had made contact with individuals but told domestic media Australia stood in solidarity with the Iranian women's team.

“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia, and (Australia's women's team) swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. “We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women.”

Iranian Australian activist Tina Kordrostami, a local government member in Sydney’s Ryde Council, told The Australian newspaper the Iranian players “need an opportunity, a safe space, a chance to actually speak up about what their needs are and what their ­requirements are.”

“We can’t give them that space without the government helping us,” she said.

The Iranian women's team needed to beat Philippines on Sunday to maintain any chance of advancing to the Asian Cup quarterfinals, which would have extended its stay in Australia for more than another week, but conceded goals to Sara Eggesvik in the 29th minute and Chandler McDaniel in the 82nd in a tough loss in wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Per a Spurs press release:

The San Antonio Spurs announced plans for their Barbie game day, presented by Trü Frü, taking place on Sunday, March 8 as the Spurs host the Houston Rockets, tipping off at 7 p.m. This theme night is part of the Spurs month-long celebration of Women’s History Month with the organization’s 2026 theme being “Give and Gain,” and will feature a $40,000 donation and in-game “Leaders and Legacies” spotlight, special jersey ticket package and more. 

The Spurs Barbie Game Day jersey and fanny pack are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prio to the game, the Spurs will host a special meet and greet with Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle. The entirety of the game will feature an all-female cast with Ashley and Valerie leading the night in-arena, while music throughout the game will be curated by both DJ Sweetbeatz and DJ Catwalk.

In addition, the Spurs are distributing $40,000 in grants to five female operated local organizations whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact across the San Antonio community.

Fans can text HER to 210-444-5940 to learn more about the Barbie Game Day festivities and secure their exclusive jersey ticket package.

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Nearly all of men's college basketball is through with the regular season, and only conference tournaments await before March Madness is fully underway.

Thirty-one automatic bids will be awarded over the next week via conference tournament winners. Another 37 at-large bids are up for grabs, although numerous teams are virtual locks for the NCAA Tournament already.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bubble watch: Pressure builds in final week of regular season

Will there be any bid stealers in 2026? Conference tournaments provide bubble teams with one final chance to boost their resumes prior to sweating out Selection Sunday.

Here's a look at the latest NCAA Tournament projections heading into conference tournament week in men's college basketball:

March Madness bracket bubble watch tracker

Based on games through Saturday, March 7

NCAA Tournament locks

• ACC (6): Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Miami, Clemson
• Big 12 (6): Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech, Brigham Young
• Big Ten (8): Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, UCLA
• SEC (7): Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia
• Big East (3): UConn, St. John's, Villanova
• Other (3): Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, Saint Louis

Each team on the locks list has a 99.9% chance or better to reach the NCAA Tournament, per Torvik's "TourneyCast."

Wisconsin has risen into lock territory after a strong February saw the Badgers finish 4-3 with a pair of top-10 wins over Illinois and Michigan State. Although Kentucky has lost four of its last six games, its ranked wins over Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas and St. John's is enough for a bid.

Saint Mary's will compete with Gonzaga for the WCC title, but defeated the Bulldogs on Feb. 28 and has a 27-4 record this season. That resume alone is enough to be a lock for the tournament.

NCAA Tournament likely ins

• ACC (1): NC State
• Big 12 (2): TCU, UCF
• Big Ten(1): Ohio State
• SEC (3): Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri
• Big East: N/A
• Other (1): Utah State

This late in the season, most teams are either NCAA tournament locks or bubble teams — hence the short list of teams as "likely ins." It would take disaster for most, if not all, of these teams to not reach the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament. However, the chance is still there for a meltdown.

Each team listed as a likely-in program has a 70% chance or higher to earn an at-large bid, per "TourneyCast."

NCAA Tournament bubble teams

• ACC (4): Southern Methodist, Virginia Tech, California, Stanford, Southern California
• Big 12 (3): Cincinnati, Arizona State, West Virginia
• Big Ten (1): Indiana
• SEC (2): Auburn, Oklahoma
• Big East (1): Seton Hall
• Other (5): Miami (Ohio), San Diego State, Santa Clara, VCU, New Mexico

Miami (Ohio) still hasn't lost this season, but will only feel comfortable heading into Selection Sunday if it wins the MAC tournament. The RedHawks rank No. 53 in the NCAA's Net Rankings and haven't played any Quad 1 games, which will make it tough to earn an at-large bid should they lose the MAC tournament.

San Diego State, Santa Clara, VCU and New Mexico are in a similar boat as non-Power conference teams. Santa Clara likely has the best chance of earning an at-large bid, although its chances of winning the WCC are slim over Saint Mary's and Gonzaga.

Auburn has seen its chances plummet in recent weeks, losing eight of its last 10 games under first-year coach Steven Pearl. Oklahoma has since its chances go from zero to slim during Auburn's fall, with wins in five of its last seven games. The Sooners would need to make quite the run at the SEC tournament to have an at-large shot.

The ACC tournament will also be interesting, as five teams are fighting for their lives on the bubble. Perhaps whichever teams do the most at the conference tournament will earn the NCAA Tournament nods.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket tracker: Men's NCAA Tournament locks, bubble teams

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — From Olympic despair in a course-side forest to a joyous win in the World Cup.

Atle Lie McGrath ’s emotions came full circle Sunday when he protected his first-run lead to win a tough and sun-baked World Cup slalom by just 0.01 seconds.

It was the first men’s slalom since McGrath's emotional exit at the Milan Cortina Olympics three weeks ago when he skied out of the race he was set to win.

Then, the Norwegian racer famously hiked across the mountain side to cool off alone beneath the trees lining the course in Bormio, Italy.

On Sunday, McGrath was greeted in the finish area by his teammate Henrik Kristoffersen, runner-up by the minimum margin, and his childhood friend Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who was third by just 0.04.

McGrath’s emotions had been heightened at the Olympics because his grandfather had died in the week the games opened. He dedicated this victory to him.

“To bounce back like this after the Olympics, I think he has something to do with it. He was looking over me today,” the Vermont-born racer said.

McGrath also extended his lead in the season-long slalom standings over Pinheiro Braathen ahead of a decisive race on March 24 at the course where they raced as kids in Norway.

“Me and Lucas we grew up skiing together in Hafjell,” McGrath said. “So it has a lot of special memories and it’s going to be a pretty cool fight.”

It was a heated battle Sunday in snow-melting temperatures that hit 11 Celsius (52 Fahrenheit) in the early afternoon.

McGrath’s second run was just the 27th fastest of the 29 skiers who completed the race.

___

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) — Mi Hyang Lee threw away her lead with two double bogeys on the front nine, and then delivered a winner on the final hole Sunday with a lob wedge that hit the pin and set up a tap-in birdie to win the Blue Bay LPGA by one shot.

Lee closed with a 1-over 73 for a one-shot victory over Zhang Weiwei, who shot 69 at Jian Lake Blue Bay but lost the lead with a bogey on the 17th. It was Lee's third LPGA title, and her first in more than eight years.

“Almost give up, but my caddie just kept telling me, ‘Keep fighting, fighting.’ So I really fought, just didn't give up, and then I just got to make a lot of birdies,” said Lee, who responded to a 40 on the front nine with three birdies coming in. “Feels amazing.”

The South Korean finished at 11-under 277 for her first win since the 2017 Women's Scottish Open.

Auston Kim (71) stayed in contention for a LPGA title for the second consecutive week — after the American’s second-place finish at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore — and made three birdies over the last five holes to tie for third with Aditi Ashok (72) of India.

“I’m proud of the three birdies that I made coming in, but it really sucks to play that well Thursday, Friday, and not get it done. Really frustrating,” Kim said. "I hope moving forward I won’t make the same mistakes that I did this week and play better."

Lee's three-shot lead coming into the final evaporated on a tumultuous front nine with double bogeys at the par-4 fifth and ninth holes to lose the lead to Zhang.

But after the turn, Lee found her rhythm and made birdies at the 10th and 13th to keep in touch with the Chinese player, before Zhang's bogey at the 17th opened the door for Lee.

Lee had 75 yards to the hole on the par-5 18th, walked up to the green to check the landing area for her shot to a pin on the top shelf. Her 58-degree wedge hit the pin and settled 2 feet away as Lee put her hands over her head in disbelief.

“I just keep saying, ‘Oh my God, this is crazy,’” Lee said.

Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan (73) tied for fifth with Hye-Jin Choi (72), Yu Liu (74) of China and South Korea's A Lim Kim (73).

Blue Bay LPGA was the third straight LPGA event on its first Asia swing of the season. A week after nine of the top 10 in the world played in Singapore, the China field had only one of the top 10. That was Ruoning Yin of China, a former Women’s PGA champion. She shot 76 and finished at 1-over 289, tied for 24th.

The LPGA takes a week off before resuming its U.S. schedule with the Founders Cup in California.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Sunday is the final day of men's college basketball regular season, and only conference tournaments remain before the NCAA Tournament field is set.

That means bubble teams only have one guaranteed game left to boost their resumes before Selection Sunday next week.

March Madness bracketology: Latest NCAA tournament bubble predictions

A number of teams fighting for the final few at-large bids lost Saturday, March 7, which could be brutal for their NCAA Tournament chances. A few bid stealers from conference tournament winners could also throw a wrench in a few teams' plans, should they pop up.

Miami (Ohio) became the third team to ever enter its conference tournament with a 31-0 record after finishing the regular season undefeated with its overtime win over Ohio on March 6. The RedHawks still might be on the NCAA Tournament bubble, though, if they don't win the MAC Tournament next week.

There were loads of losses for bubble teams to end the regular season. Here's the latest among NCAA Tournament bubble teams:

March Madness bubble stock up

Miami (Ohio)

Miami defeated Ohio on the road for the first time since 2014 on March 6 to become the third team in Division I history to enter its conference tournament with a 31-0 record, joining 2013-14 Wichita State and 2014-15 Kentucky.

It's hard to imagine Miami being left out of the NCAA Tournament if it fails to win the MAC tournament. Still, the RedHawks will undoubtedly feel most confident if they secure the automatic bid for the Big Dance.

Miami's metrics aren't playing in its favor, ranking No. 53 in the NCAA's NET rankings with the no Quad 1 wins and only two Quad 2 wins. But winning games has to matter, right?

Ohio State

Staying in the Buckeye State, Ohio State all but assured its spot in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday with a comprehensive 91-78 win over fellow bubble team Indiana.

The Buckeyes (20-11, 12-8) finished the regular-season on a three-game winning streak, including a Quad 1 win over Purdue.

Stanford

While fellow ACC bubble teams Cal, SMU and Virginia Tech lost on March 7, Stanford added a nice win over NC State on the road behind true freshman Ebuka Okorie's 33 points.

The Cardinal improved to 20-11 after their fifth Quad 1 win this season, which could weigh heavily when comparing their resume to other bubble teams. Stanford takes its four-game winning streak into the ACC Tournament, where it looks to secure a March Madness bid with a win or two.

VCU

VCU finished its regular season with a 15-3 record in A-10 play, which actually was tied with Saint Louis for first place in the conference standings, although the Billikens earned the outright regular season championship with a 2-0 record against the Rams this season.

VCU (24-7) has won 13 of its past 14 games and other bubble team's stumbles should give the Rams hope.

The A-10 is shaping up to be interesting, especially after Saint Louis was blown out by conference tournament contender George Mason to end the regular season. There's a rare scenario where George Mason wins the A-10 and VCU and Saint Louis earn at-large bids to give the conference three spots in the NCAA Tournament.

VCU will certainly need a few wins in the A-10 tournament, and likely won't feel comfortable on Selection Sunday unless it wins the conference tournament.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has played its way onto the bubble after an impressive finish to the regular season. The Sooners defeated Texas 88-85 in overtime on the road on March 7 to win their fourth straight and their sixth of their last eight games.

Oklahoma is now 17-14 on the season with seven SEC wins and will likely need a few wins to reach the NCAA Tournament. It now has five Quad 1 wins and looks forward to its opening-round SEC tournament game against South Carolina.

The chances are still slim, but it's better than nothing for a team that lost nine consecutive conference games earlier this season.

March Madness bubble stock down

New Mexico

New Mexico lost to Utah State 94-90 on March 7, which marked its third loss in its past four outings. The Lobos are now 22-9 on the season with a 13-7 record in Mountain West play, which could make things tough for an at-large bid.

New Mexico is very capable of winning the conference tournament. Utah State, the conference favorite, is a lock for the NCAA Tournament, even as an at-large team.

The Mountain West's best shot at being a two-bid league would be New Mexico winning the conference, as the Lobos' at-large chances are looking slim.

Auburn

Make it eight losses in its last 10 games to end the regular season for Auburn, who's clinging on for dear life heading into the SEC Tournament after its latest loss to in-state rival Alabama on Saturday. The 16-15 Tigers have the worst record of any team on the bubble, but also one of the toughest schedules this season.

Auburn ranks No. 40 in the NET rankings with a 4-12 mark in Quad 1 games and a 4-2 record in Quad 2 games. Still, the weak record plays into account, especially with how the Tigers have ended the season.

Auburn's NCAA Tournament chances are dwindling, and the Final Four team from last season needs to pull it together at the SEC Tournament under first-year coach Steven Pearl.

Indiana

Ohio State defeated Indiana 91-78 on March 7 in a battle of Big Ten bubble teams to end the regular season. The Buckeyes' stock is rising, and the Hoosiers' is falling.

Indiana entered the game projected as a First Four Out team by USA TODAY Sports' latest projections. Its double-digit losses will be tough to overcome.

Indiana falls to 18-13 on the year, whereas Ohio State is now 20-11 following its three-game winning streak that includes a top-10 ranked win over Purdue.

Cal

Cal had little room for error entering its final regular-season game against Wake Forest, who entered the game with a 15-15 record. The Golden Bears lost 80-73 on the road, putting them in a rough spot heading into the ACC Tournament.

Cal was listed as a First Four Out team in USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology update before its loss to Wake Forest. Now it's going to likely need to make a run in the conference tournament to have a shot at the Big Dance.

UCF

UCF was off the bubble in USA TODAY Sports' most recent bracket projection, although it isn't doing itself any favors heading into the Big 12 Tournament. The Knights (20-10) dropped their third straight game to end the regular season, falling to West Virginia 77-62 on March 7.

The loss proceeds two losses against teams off the NCAA Tournament radar in Baylor and Oklahoma State, which doesn't help the resume, either.

UCF was a No. 10 seed in the latest bracket update and could fall firmly onto the bubble as the margins appear to be razor thin this season.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati (17-14) has played itself into bubble status down the stretch, winning six of its last seven games with an upset over Kansas before the regular season finale. The Bearcats couldn't secure their 18th win of the season, though, falling to TCU, 73-63, on the road Saturday.

The Horned Frogs are firmly in the NCAA Tournament projection amid their own hot streak, but the Bearcats have little room for error in the Big 12 tournament. Cincinnati might need a few wins in Kansas City to have a shot at reaching the 68-team field.

SMU

SMU was, at one point, considered firmly in the NCAA Tournament picture a few weeks ago. The Mustangs' recent play has changed that sentiment mightily.

SMU (19-12, 8-10) ended its regular season with its fourth consecutive losses after losing to Florida State 91-78 on the road on March 7. SMU has lost to a pair of bubble teams in Cal and Stanford, along with a loss to Miami, which is No. 29 in NET.

The Mustangs are in a difficult position, especially with only one ranked win this season, which came against North Carolina in January. SMU might need some help and a few wins in the ACC tournament.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech coach Mike Young was beat up after the Hokies' 76-72 loss to Virginia on March 7.

"What the (expletive) am I doing wrong?" he said in his postgame news conference after the loss, while clearly emotional.

The loss dropped Virginia Tech to 19-12 on the season and is in a similar bubble bucket with multiple ACC teams also vying for NCAA Tournament spots. The Hokies are No. 55 in NET with a 2-9 record in Quad 1 games, and aren't looking like an NCAA Tournament team as of now.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Tournament bubble watch tracker: Miami Ohio is in, Indiana is out

The Spurs are having arguably their best stretch of the season, following a win against the Clippers in their return home from the Rodeo Road Trip. San Antonio has only dropped one of their last 15 games, and it was to the Knicks, another contender that is firing on all cylinders.

The success has been impressive, but it has not come easily. The travel and the bouts against physical teams take their toll, as we’ve learned from an emotional Victor Wembanyama after Friday’s victory. “I thought I was about to pass out from the first quarter from exhaustion,” Wembanyama said in his postgame interview. “That was close to being the hardest game of my life. It might not have looked like it, but we played a helluva game against the most physical team in the league yesterday, and played tonight against a physical team as well. I’m about to pass out.”

Wemby and the rest of the Spurs had two nights of sleep to recover before leading his team into their next challenge. The Rockets are another physical squad, and they will be motivated not only because they are facing a rival but also because a win would help them jockey for position in the second tier of the West standings. They have not looked like the bona fide contenders many pegged them to be heading into the season, in large part due to injuries, but they have beaten the Spurs once already this season. The talent, athleticism, and, yes, physicality are there to make this a tough matchup for a San Antonio team that will look to continue its impressive play.

San Antonio Spurs (46-17) vs Houston Rockets (39-23)

March 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT

Watch: NBC/Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs injuries: Harrison Barnes – OUT (ankle), Mason Plumlee – OUT (conditioning)

Rockets injuries: Fred VanVleet – OUT (knee), Steven Adams – OUT (ankle), Jae’Sean Tate – OUT (knee)

What to watch for:

• The battle on the glass. The Rockets are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, but they have struggled to impose their will on the Spurs, the best defensive rebounding team in the league. In the past two matchups, offensive rebounding wasn’t a huge factor. In San Antonio’s win, they allowed their opponent 17 offensive rebounds but only nine second-chance points. In Houston’s win, the Silver and Black actually dominated on the offensive glass, getting more boards and 10 more second-chance points. Still, protecting the glass is something the Spurs will have to be mindful of, not only to keep the Rockets from getting second opportunities but also to push the ball off misses for transition buckets.
• Two young guards could be X Factors. Dylan Harper has been killing it lately. In the past 15 games, the rookie is averaging 13 points, three rebounds, four assists, and a steal. The shot has been falling, the defense has been impressive, and he continues to be a menace on drives. He gives the bench a second scorer to complement Keldon Johnson, and could be a problem for a Rockets’ defense that tries to wall off the paint. For Houston, a good game from Reed Sheppard could be a requirement for a win. The second-year guard is a defensive liabity but his team simply lacks three-point shooting and scoring when he’s not on the floor. Harper was big in San Antonio’s win over the Rockets this season, and the same was true for Sheppard in Houston’s victory.
• The Spurs will have to prove once again that they can handle size and physicality. At this point, no one should doubt that the Spurs are comfortable when things get physical or downright chippy. It doesn’t mean the Rockets won’t test them, though. Houston has size on its side, with Amen Thompson at point guard, a burly center in Alperen Sengun, and big, athletic wings. San Antonio is smaller in the starting lineup and will need to find somewhere to hide De’Aaron Fox. Assuming Castle takes the Kevin Durant assignment again, Tari Eason seems like the best matchup for Fox, but it will take a team effort on defense to keep the Rockets off the glass and from bullying their way to the paint. Carter Bryant, who has been playing well recently, could be important in this matchup, as he gives San Antonio the kind of length and athleticism needed to match Houston in the perimeter.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander moved to within two games of breaking a decades-old NBA record as he scored 27 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-97 home win over the Golden State Warriors.

He has scored at least 20 points in 125 consecutive games for the defending champions, a sequence that began on 1 November 2024.

The legendary Wilt Chamberlain holds the record of 126 games - set between October 1961 and January 1963.

The Thunder host the Denver Nuggets on Monday and the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Victory at Paycom Center was the Thunder's fifth in a row. They became the first side to 50 wins this season and sit top of the Western Conference.

Gilgeous-Alexander said: "If we were the best team last year, all year, we win a championship, and we get better, we should put ourselves in great position to repeat.

"This year's had a little bit more ups and downs for us, but I think we've done a pretty good job keeping that front of mind."

The Warriors - again missing the injured Stephen Curry - scored seven unanswered points to reduce the Thunder's lead to 99-97 before a three-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute.

Michael Porter Jr scored 30 points as the Brooklyn Nets came from 23 points down to win 107-105 at Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons and end a 10-game losing streak.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting Utah Jazz 113-99.

Jalen Johnson's 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists helped the Atlanta Hawks to a 125-116 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 19-point first-half deficit to win 123-120 at the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Orlando Magic won 119-92 at the Minnesota Timberwolves despite Anthony Edwards' 34 points for the hosts.

• NBA results & fixtures

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Kwame Evans Jr. scored 20 points, which included the last nine of the game, and Oregon blew a 21-point lead before the Ducks rallied to beat Washington 85-79 on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Evans was fouled on a 3-point shot and made the and-1 free throw to give Oregon a one-point lead with 11.5 seconds left. Evans stole the ball from Hannes Steinbach, who quickly fouled, and Washington coach Danny Sprinkle, who thought Steinbach had been fouled, erupted. He was assessed back-to-back technical fouls and was ejected before Evans made 5 of 6 from the free throw line with five seconds left to seal it.

Takai Simpkins scored 18 points and Nate Bittle had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Oregon (12-19, 5-15 Big Ten). Dezdrick Lindsay added 11 points and Drew Carter 10.

The Ducks started 11-of-14 shooting — 7 of 7 from 3-point range — and used a 16-0 run to take a 21-point lead midway through the first half. Oregon shot 58% (15 of 26) and hit eight 3s and had 13 assists in the first half to take a 44-30 lead into the intermission.

Steinbach had 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds for Washington (15-16, 7-19). Steinbach, a 6-foot-11 freshman, has 20 double-doubles this season, tied with Justin Neely of UNC Greensboro for second most nationally behind UNC Greensboro's Delrecco Gillespie (21).

Steinbach scored 13 points in a 29-8 run that gave the Huskies a three-point lead with 24 seconds left.

Up next

Both teams will be waiting for the Big Ten Tournament pairings to come out Sunday to find out who and when they’ll play at Chicago next week.

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