Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

For those still alive in their head-to-head fantasy leagues, the waiver wire is front-of-mind right now. Deciding who to drop to open up streaming spots is a challenge in itself, but knowing which players to target could ultimately make or break your season. As we move through what is commonly viewed as silly season, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the NBA fantasy rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.

Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles–whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals–is vital as you navigate the season.

Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.

Yahoo High Score Leagues

Cameron Payne, Philadelphia 76ers (21% rostered)

With Tyrese Maxey set to miss at least three weeks with a finger injury, Payne all of a sudden becomes a viable fantasy asset. Adding to the injury woes in Philadelphia, Kelly Oubre has also been ruled out for at least two weeks with an elbow injury, joining Joel Embiid and Paul George as long-term absentees. Although Payne is coming off the bench, it does appear as though he is going to play meaningful minutes, at least in any game that is moderately competitive. Look for him to flirt with 30 fantasy points per game for the foreseeable future.

Gui Santos, Golden State Warriors (32% rostered)

Despite his recent performances, Santos still remains available in far too many leagues. With Steph Curry having been ruled out for at least another 10 days, there is no reason to think Santos can't maintain his current role. He has now scored at least 30 fantasy points in 13 of his past 14 games, delivering meaningful contributions on both ends of the floor. Although this is typically less of a factor when it comes to points-based formats, it does provide managers with a level of assuredness, given his floor is relatively safe across all leagues. If, for some reason, he is still floating around on your waiver wire, that should be rectified at once.

Danny Wolf, Brooklyn Nets (7% rostered)

Although Wolf has been far from consistent, adding him is likely a preemptive move, given the trajectory in Brooklyn. Day'Ron Sharpe was recently ruled out for the remainder of the season due to finger surgery, removing another obstacle for Wolf in terms of playing time. He has now played at least 28 minutes in three straight games, moving into the starting lineup in his most recent appearance. The production is going to be spotty for the next few games, meaning he does come with an element of risk. However, assuming he ends up with a 30-minute per-night role, it makes sense to get ahead of things where possible.

Standard 9-Category Leagues

Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls (23% rostered)

Although the Bulls have been all but eliminated from the playoff race, it appears as though the rotation could somewhat resemble what might be considered a 'typical' one. Since returning from a hamstring injury, Jones has slowly crept back to starter-level minutes, logging at least 30 in three straight games. During that time, he has averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 32.4 minutes per game, putting him inside the top 90. Assuming he can maintain a similar role moving forward, Jones is someone who should be rostered in most leagues, particularly for those seeking guard stats, as well as an efficient scorer from the guard position.

Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder (25% rostered)

Mitchell has seemingly earned himself a sizeable spot in the rotation for Oklahoma City, having played at least 29 minutes in each of the past two games, fresh off a long-term abdominal injury. In those two games, he has averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.0 three-pointers, good enough for top 70 value in standard category formats. When we examine his season thus far, it's safe to assume that his defensive production should improve moving forward, in line with his 1.4 steals per game. Although there are several mouths to feed for the Thunder, Mitchell makes sense as a pickup in most formats for anyone needing points and steals, with some upside in assists.

Derrick Jones, Los Angeles Clippers (19% rostered)

Jones is in the midst of one of his best stretches of the season, playing a key role for a team looking to win as many games as possible. He has scored double digits in five straight games, while also providing above-average defensive contributions. In seven appearances over the past two weeks, he has managed to put up top 75 value in standard nine-category leagues, averaging 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 three-pointers and 2.5 combined steals and blocks, all while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 84.2 percent from the line. While his ceiling is somewhat limited, Jones' importance to his team cannot be overstated. No matter your build, Jones certainly wouldn't look out of place on most rosters, at least for now.

Standard Points Leagues

Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz (20% rostered)

It's been an up-and-down season for Sensabaugh; that much is true. However, he has managed to find some consistency over the past few weeks, having scored double digits in 10 of his past 13 games. His past three appearances have yielded 47, 35 and 32 fantasy points, putting him firmly on the radar as a must-roster player. Keyonte George suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday's loss to the Knicks, potentially opening up a few more minutes for Sensabaugh. Factoring in the direction of the team and the path to playing time, Sensabaugh makes for a worthwhile risk across most points-based formats.

Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings (23% rostered)

Consistency also remains an issue for Clifford, although his biggest challenge at this point is his shooting. For those in points leagues, percentages are not a concern, making Clifford's appeal a little more enticing. When projecting his ROS value, the biggest positive appears to be his role, having logged at least 30 minutes in six of his past seven games, including two in which he played upwards of 40 minutes. Sacramento seems comfortable throwing him out there in most situations, providing managers with a sense of certainty moving forward.

Wendell Carter, Orlando Magic (35% rostered)

Sure, Carter isn't the most appealing fantasy player. However, as a starting center on a team looking to make a push, he should certainly be rostered in far more leagues. Looking at his recent production, while not eye-opening, he has certainly done more than enough to be rostered. He has scored double digits in four of the past five games, averaging 33.2 fantasy points per game during that span. He flirted with 50 fantasy points during Thursday's overtime win against the Wizards, an effort that could see fantasy managers sit up and take notice.

So this is where we are to prevent further embarrassment of the LSU basketball program. 

It’s a $5 million decision. 

It’s one thing to fire Matt McMahon, whose awful tenure at LSU has been surpassed only by the depth of apathy among a once loud and engaged fan base, and pay him $10 million to not coach. 

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It’s quite another, apparently, to shell out $5 million to get Will Wade — hang on, we’ll get to that stupidity — out of his contract at NC State. 

If you’re willing to spend $10 million to change the fortunes of your basketball program, which has lost 30 SEC games in the past two seasons, how could you not be willing to peel off more Benjamins for the guy you want? 

Now, to the guy LSU apparently wants: Will flippin' Wade.

That’s right, Mr. Strong Ass Offer is the coach the passionate and persistent LSU fan base wants returning to the fold. The last time Wade was in Baton Rouge, he left after back-to-back NCAAA Tournament appearances. 

And, you know, after leaving a three-year NCAA probation in his wake for allegedly paying players before it was now hip to do so (see: “strong ass offer” to a recruit caught on FBI wiretaps).

He was also given a two-year show cause order from the NCAA, which is essentially an order that publicly outs you as a next-level cheater. 

But Wade got players to LSU. Wade won big. Wade got to the tournament. 

And besides, we’re paying players now, baby!

A quick reminder to the good folks at LSU: Wade is a cheater. A next-level cheater. 

If you don’t think he’ll find a way to cheat again to gain an advantage, you’re the same person who thinks Brian Kelly is going to willingly reduce his massive buyout to get back in football somewhere else.

Wade is a helluva coach, and the obvious temptation is there. He was happy at LSU, he knew whom to schmooze and how to keep everyone happy in a football-mad state. 

McNeese took a chance on Wade a year after his removal from LSU — with his show cause order intact — and after sitting 10 games as part of an NCAA suspension, he led the Cowboys to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

Wade then left this season for NC State, which also wasn’t concerned about Wade’s checkered past, and — I know this is going to shock you — has the Wolfpack a near-lock for the NCAA Tournament.

That’s five NCAA tournaments over the past five seasons he has coached. And if we forget the pandemic season (how could we not?), it’s six NCAAs in six seasons — and eight in 11 non-pandemic seasons (two at VCU).

Bottom line: Dude can coach.

So it’s easy to see why LSU wants Wade back in the fold, easy to understand after the Maravich Assembly Center has looked like a cavernous hole the past two seasons. 

They want to win, and they want the P-Mac rocking again. 

All it’s going to cost is $15 million. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Wade back to LSU? That's the rumor. Here's what it will cost

There’s an old rule in hiring: Don’t repeat your last mistake.

Syracuse basketball tried going the former player and unproven head coach route when it hired Adrian Autry from the Jim Boeheim tree. It failed. Syracuse fired Autry this week, ending a bad tenure that produced three straight unsatisfactory seasons.

It’s not Gerry McNamara’s fault the Orange flopped under Autry, and yet it probably doesn't help McNamara’s chance of getting the job.

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McNamara’s jersey hangs in the rafters at the JMA Wireless Dome, and he’s got Siena headed to the NCAA Tournament in his second year coaching the Saints. That’s one more NCAA bid than the Orange achieved the past five seasons.

And, still, better options exist. More proven options, certainly.

Saint Louis’ Josh Schertz, not McNamara, would be the home-run hire for a proud but battered program that’s withered in this pay-for-play era, the continuation of a downward slide that began after Syracuse betrayed the Big East in favor of the ACC.

“This is one of the most storied programs in college basketball,” retiring athletic director John Wildhack said after firing Autry, “and we intend to hire a proven winner who will build on that legacy.”

Wildhack is a lame duck, but he should know that being a “storied program” matters less than ever. Money trumps tradition, and Boeheim says whomever replaces Autry requires more financial support to build the roster.

“If you don't have enough resources, that puts you behind," Boeheim said on the ACC Network.

No argument, but although Boeheim exonerated Autry from any responsibility for the results of the past three seasons and instead blamed Syracuse’s players, the reality is this was a total-system failure.

To fix it, try hiring someone who’s fixed every program he’s ever coached.

Schertz would fit that mold.

Syracuse says it wants 'a proven winner.' Sounds like Josh Schertz

First, Schertz coached in Division II Final Fours. Then, he positioned Indiana State for NCAA Tournament consideration in 2024 with the most exciting Sycamores team in more than a decade, if not since the Hick from French Lick. The selection committee snubbed Schertz’s Sycamores. So, they took their show to the NIT, where they reached the finals.

Now, he’s resurrected SLU in just two seasons. The Billikens have credentials good enough that surely the committee can’t ignore them, no matter what goes down in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Never mind the blender of hype and scrutiny Miami (Ohio) received the past few weeks, because SLU is the mid-major with Sweet 16 potential.

Schertz is no Syracuse alumnus, but he’s a career winner who also just happens to be a Yankees fan from Brooklyn, New York.

Syracuse could hire McNamara, or it could target a coach who builds rosters full of guys who shoot like McNamara. Schertz’s teams fill it up from 3-point range.

“I want people to watch us play and say, ‘Man, I want to come back and see more,’" Schertz said in an interview after SLU hired him. "(The offense) is very fast-paced. … It’s a style of play where guys play for one another and unselfishly."

"It’s something where, when people give us a chance, they’ll get hooked," he added.

If you’re wondering, Syracuse ranked 17th in the 18-team ACC in 3-point percentage this season. It ranked last in free-throw percentage.

No coach will win if his team can’t put the ball in the hole, I can promise you that.

And, anymore, it’s also difficult to win big without a bundle of cash.

Jim Boeheim to Syracuse basketball: Pony up

Syracuse would need to pay up if it hopes to lure Schertz out of Saint Louis. Just as importantly, it’d need to show Schertz it’s able to pony up for his roster.

Syracuse reportedly spent about $8 million on its roster this season. That’s enough to expect better performance than Autry’s final team supplied, but it’s not enough to expect a return of Syracuse’s good ol’ days.

"You have to look at (the investment)," Boeheim said on the ACC Network.

You could call this Syracuse freefall the righteous comeuppance for the Orange’s role in the unraveling of the old Big East Conference, but this goes deeper than karma.

Never short-change the influence of money.

The Orange became bruised after jilting the Big East for the ACC, but they turned rotten in this pay-for-play era.

The knee-jerk reaction would be to target McNamara. If money is the problem, wouldn’t a program legend like McNamara ignite the donor class? Then you remember Autry himself played for the Orange.

Hiring a famous alumnus is no magic wand. Ask Georgetown and St. John’s, two of Syracuse’s former Big East brethren, about that. Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin were legendary players and bad coaches.

McNamara is showing promise as a coach. He’s undeniably been a good hire for Siena, but with Syracuse in such dire straits, wouldn’t it be wiser to go with someone more proven? Syracuse would have a hard time landing anyone who’s won more than Schertz’s nearly 78% clip across the D-I and D-II levels.

And, remember that old hiring principle? If the last guy fails, do something different next time.

No school has ever gone wrong hiring Schertz.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Schertz, not Gerry McNamara, would be top pick for Syracuse job

In Detroit, the black-eyed Susan grows along lonely highways and in vacant lots. It pushes through gravel and broken glass. It survives heat that cracks the earth and winters that freeze it solid. When the wind bends its stem, it cracks back in place.

Its petals are a grungy yellow, the shade of anxiety, orbiting a bruised center. Black-eyed, signaling it can take a punch. It’s the kind of flower Pistons legend Dennis Rodman would wear in his hair. Hard to kill. Just like the Detroit Pistons.

It was the perfect symbol during their bleak three-season stretch (2021-24). They finished the 2023-24 season 14-68, the worst record in franchise history. They went winless for an entire calendar month. They lost a record-setting 28 games in a row, and Monty Williams, hired to stabilize a rebuild, lasted only one season before being run out of town. The organization hit bottom with an 82-game public elegy.

To understand what happened next, remember what Detroit was at their apex.

At the start of the century, the Pistons were the kings of the East in late May and early June. The 2004 championship team beat a Lakers roster built on Hall-of-Fame star power: Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

The Pistons beat them with defense and collective force: five fingers forming an iron fist. The only roughnecks to dethrone Shaq and Kobe in the Finals.

After the ‘04 title, they whiffed on young players, while their No 2 pick in the ‘03 draft, Darko Miličić, continued to haunt their chances of winning a second chip. Detroit made the playoffs twice between 2011 and 2023 and were swept both times. Their three title banners continued to collect dust.

Cade Cunningham was taken first overall in 2021. Then, a series of consecutive No 5 picks that brought in defensive demons: Jaden Ivey in 2022. Ausar Thompson in 2023. Ron Holland in 2024. It was clear Detroit had individual talent, but not the leadership to make them a team. After Williams was fired, JB Bickerstaff took over the team in the summer of 2024. While head coach in Cleveland, he remembered the games against Detroit as two teams battling in the mud over a knife. The Pistons played hard. They just couldn’t finish.

For Bickerstaff’s first training camp, he had to burn the loss out of their pores. Bickerstaff believed Detroit could anchor themselves in defense and toughness the way earlier eras had, but within the modern game. That approach aligned with Trajan Langdon, who took over basketball operations in 2024. Langdon valued structure and consistency. He had played in a disciplined system at Duke and worked in the San Antonio Spurs front office.

Langdon’s first question was about Cunningham. After years of losing and coaching changes, did he still believe in Detroit? Reflecting on that 28-game losing streak, he revealed how differently he sees the game: “When we had that streak, we were talking championship, believe it or not … To be where we are now is cool. But it’s just a step in this process. We have a long way to go.”

Cunningham was raised in Arlington, Texas – concrete, beige, unromantic. He learned early how to build something out of nothing.

Some pieces were already in place. Jalen Duren was a powerful interior presence who could rebound and finish in pick-and-rolls. Isaiah Stewart brought energy and defensive versatility. Thompson showed tricked-out defensive instincts as a rookie, capable of guarding multiple positions and applying full-court pressure. The defensive potential was obvious from the jump.

Langdon knew his kinetic young core needed veteran guidance. So he began adding vets who didn’t need to be taught professional habits. In the season following the 14-win collapse, Detroit won 44 games and returned to the playoffs. But the defense! After ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency, the Pistons clawed, snarled and gnashed into the top tier. Midway through the 2024-25 season, Detroit rose to second in defensive rating. This off-season, Langdon added Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert and Javonte Green, while seeing huge growth from Daniss Jenkins and Paul Reed.

As the NBA moved forward, the Pistons embraced the physicality of the past. They send waves of players who embrace contact and contest everything, like piranha stripping you down to bone.

They currently stand atop the Eastern Conference as the projected No 1 seed. Cunningham has cemented his place as the best guard in the East. No one else can match his combination of defense, IQ, size and table-setting. This season, he’s a top-three MVP candidate, averaging 25.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists. He leads the league in total assists (508), and his on-off numbers quantify the assault. With Cunningham on the floor, Detroit outscores teams by 10.2 points per 100 possessions, a plus-7.2 on/off swing. The Pistons can imbibe their enemies before strangling them with their own weaknesses.

As Cunningham’s pick-and-roll partner, the 6ft 10in, 250lb Duren is producing 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds a night on 63.4% shooting. Almost everything he does happens at the rim. His 7.3 field goals per game are mostly dunks, placing him among the league’s leaders in two-point makes. Nearly all his attempts come inside 10 feet – meaning the last thing defenders see are his pearly whites before the ball gets shoved through the cylinder.

The Pistons clear 60 points in the paint per game and have topped 70 on multiple occasions during their midseason surge. Duren’s rim finishing and offensive rebounding are central drivers. But like every great Pistons team of the past, their weakness lies in shooting. They’re 22nd in three-point percentage (34.9%), 27th in attempts (31.8), and 28th in makes (11.1) per game.

Pistons fans have seen it repeatedly: 6-of-31 in Denver, 7-of-36 against San Antonio, 6-of-27 against Cleveland. When sniper Duncan Robinson doesn’t have it, the offense has no other release valve. Now Cunningham sees two and three bodies at the nail, and the half-court bogs down into contested pull-ups or late-clock bailouts. Detroit can win the possession game, but in the playoffs, that inability to consistently generate and convert volume threes can cause an upset.

The mid-season trade of Ivey for Kevin Huerter raised their floor but lowered their ceiling. Now, when Cade has an inefficient night, the Pistons don’t have a reliable secondary shot-creator to stabilize from the perimeter.

And that brings us back to Bickerstaff. His regular-season résumé has been strong at 343–342 overall (.501) and an excellent 88–52 (.629) in Detroit so far – but his playoff history raises legitimate questions. He owns a 9–19 postseason record (.321), including a 2–4 mark in his first postseason in Detroit last year. Most notably, he was outcoached by Tom Thibodeau in back-to-back postseasons with the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons.

Like the Pistons these past few years, the black-eyed Susan gets stepped on as soon as it breaks through the soil. As long as the stem holds, it survives. Detroit has survived three of the worst seasons in NBA history. Now they’re looking to get their lick back.

Inside the locker room, the phrase “New Bad Boys” circulates – a nod to the championship brutality of the early 1990s. Sometimes that edge spills over. On 9 February against the Charlotte Hornets, it did.

Duren and Charlotte’s Moussa Diabaté met beneath the rim, breath to breath – first a shove, then a swing. Bodies flooded the lane. Miles Bridges doubled back toward the scrum. Then Isaiah Stewart – “Beef Stew,” Detroit’s resident enforcer – came flying off the bench and into the chaos, as if summoned by the franchise’s ghosts.

Because in that instant, time spiraled. In its unraveling, Stewart’s punch no longer belonged just to him. It was Rodman’s, Bill Laimbeer’s, Ben Wallace’s. Dozens of Pistons players smashing through time and into the mouth of their opponents. In the same way, the team’s name is stitched into their jerseys; their identity is etched in the marrow of the players who bear it.

Just like the Malice at the Palace two decades prior, suspensions were handed down. Stewart got seven games, mainly for leaving the bench to fight, and of course, his reputation. Duren received a two-game suspension for initiating the scrap. Even with their two biggest dogs out, the Pistons’ rise continues.

As of early March, Detroit run the East. Two years earlier, they had been synonymous with losing. Like the black-eyed Susans that grow through broken glass, the Pistons took the punch, spat blood-soaked teeth and kept standing. Now, it’s Detroit’s turn to hit back.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss Friday and elected to field against Pakistan in the second one-day cricket international.

Bangladesh leads the three-match after fast bowler Nahid Rana skittled Pakistan for 114 with a career-best figures of 5-24 in a resounding eight-wicket win on Wednesday.

While Bangladesh retained the same playing XI, Pakistan made one change.

Pakistan gave another chance to its inexperienced batters despite Sahibzada Farhan, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat and Abdul Samad, who were all on ODI debut in the first game, struggling to cope with the pace of Rana and off-spin of Mehidy.

Pakistan recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf in place of leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in a hope the wicket will suit the fast bowlers more.

___

Lineups:

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman

____

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

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he gives the "game everything" after breaking the 63-year-old NBA record for the most 20-point games in a row.

The reigning MVP scored 35 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 104-102 win against the Boston Celtics – extending a sequence of scoring at least 20 points that began on 1 November 2024 and now stands at 127 consecutive games.

The legendary Wilt Chamberlain held the previous record with a 126-game streak between October 1961 and January 1963.

"All the records and accomplishments are great, but they don't matter if you don't win and that's all that was on my mind," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who starred for the Thunder as they won the NBA title last season.

"I would have given the record for the W any day of the week. I'm glad we won and I got the record."

Gilgeous-Alexander made history when he sank a 20-foot jumper with seven minutes and four seconds remaining in the third quarter as he reached 21 points in the game.

He went on to add 14 more points in a performance which also included nine assists and six rebounds.

"I just give the game everything I have," said the 27-year-old Canadian.

"There are so many things in basketball and life that you can't control. I've just found success in focusing on the things I can control and giving my best effort.

"I put my head down and done those things and look up and I've accomplished a few things."

The victory was a seventh in a row for the Thunder, who are top of the Western Conference with a 52-15 record, while the Celtics (43-23) are second in the Eastern Conference.

LOS ANGELES — As the NBA’s leading scorer and one of the few players who can make an argument as the best player on the planet, Luka Dončić doesn’t need anyone to inspire him to be great.

Luka’s drive is what makes him such a force of nature and a fierce competitor. When it’s being used for good, he dominates opponents and leads his team to victory. And, at times, it works against him, and he gets technical fouls for saying the wrong thing in the heat of the battle.

In the Lakers’ 142-130 win against the Bulls, we saw the best aspects of his competitive fire, and it came from an unlikely place: Bulls forward Matas Buzelis.

During the second quarter, unprompted, Buzelis decided to start trash-talking Luka.

The moment surprised Luka, but once he took in what was said, Dončić borrowed a page from Michael Jordan’s book and took it personally.

“I’m not going to say what he said, but if I would’ve said that, I would definitely get a tech,” Luka said postgame. “But really, these games, sometimes you’re going easy and we kind of went easy in the first quarter, then he woke me up.”

Luka knocked down a 3-pointer over Buzelis shortly after his remarks. Upon releasing the shot, Dončić smiled maniacally and added some words to his actions.

Luka and Matas chirping 👀

📺Stream Bulls-Lakers: https://t.co/c3215XVUbupic.twitter.com/LuAo8SF9kH

— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) March 13, 2026

The officials talked to both players and calmed the situation down, but the damage had already been done. Luka was fully engaged and seeing red.

Dončić tormented Chicago the rest of the night with a buffet of buckets. He scored on long twos, hit eight of nine from the charity stripe, and knocked down nine 3-pointers. It wasn’t just Luka’s scoring that was elite, he dominated the defensive glass with 10 boards and had a team-high nine assists.

When it was all said and done, he had 51 points, making this the first time he hit the half-century mark as a Laker.

As he was being subbed out of the contest during the closing seconds, the Lakers showered him with praise for his efforts. LeBron James was encouraging fans to get loud, and they responded by chanting “MVP” as Dončić walked off the floor.

After the game, head coach JJ Redick took a moment to commend his superstar for finding a way to turn this interaction into a peak performance.

“It’s not just the fact that he responds to a rough play or trash talking, it’s that he can channel it,” Redick said. “And he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done. And that’s obviously reflected in his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Again, another game where he gets the high assist number with low turnovers. He’s playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now.”

With the Lakers playing against the Bulls without Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber and Marcus Smart, Luka’s gaudy numbers weren’t just welcomed, but necessary.

Los Angeles is fighting for playoff positioning, and even games that seem like easy wins on paper have to be played with a certain level of seriousness and urgency.

Luka upped his backcourt production with the frontcourt depth missing, and it led to LA’s fourth consecutive win, placing them as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with 16 games to go.

Nights like these are a reminder that Luka is a superstar player and whatever weaknesses and gripes one might have with his game, the good far outweighs the bad. And when he gets hot, he is one of the most electrifying players to ever step on a basketball court.

And as for Buzelis, he revealed the key takeaway he had from this experience after the game.

“Probably not to talk to him.”

Good idea, Buzelis, good idea.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Luka Doncic led the offense in the Los Angeles Lakers' 142-130 victory over the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, March 12.

Doncic nearly produced a triple-double while scoring 51 points in front of the home crowd. It marked his first 50-point game as a member of the Lakers after putting up 12 40-point games, including a 49-point effort on Oct. 24, 2025.

The Lakers have won four straight games and seven of their last eight. Doncic put together a triple-double effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

Here's how he did Thursday night against the Bulls:

Luka Doncic stats vs. Bulls

• Points: 51
• FG: 17-for-31
• 3PT: 9-for-14
• Free Throws: 8-for-9
• Rebounds: 10
• Assists: 9
• Steals: 3
• Blocks: 1
• Turnovers: 1
• Fouls: 3
• Minutes: 37

Luka Doncic highlights vs. Bulls

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic stats, points tonight, Lakers vs Bulls highlights

For much of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs had everything under control. They played fast. They shot confidently. They built a commanding lead against one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams. But against the Denver Nuggets, even a 20-point cushion can disappear in a hurry.

San Antonio watched its lead slowly slip away Thursday night as Denver erupted in the fourth quarter, rallying past the Spurs for a 136-131 victory in a game that turned from promising to painful in the final minutes.

The Spurs came out energized despite missing star center Victor Wembanyama, who was out with ankle soreness. From the opening tip, San Antonio attacked the Nuggets with pace and ball movement, finding open shooters and pushing the tempo in transition.

By the end of the first quarter, the Spurs had seized control with a double-digit lead. The offense kept humming in the second quarter as San Antonio stretched the advantage to 20 points, bringing the home crowd to life and sending the team into halftime with a comfortable cushion. For three quarters, the Spurs looked poised to pull off an impressive win against the defending champions.

But the Nuggets were never going to go quietly.

Led by Nikola Jokić and the shot-making brillance of Jamal Murray, Denver began to chip away at the deficit. Jokić controlled the glass and orchestrated the offense while Murray caught fire from the perimeter, turning routine possessions into momentum-shifting buckets. The pressure finally broke through in the fourth quarter. Denver unleashed a barrage of scoring, pouring in 42 points in the final frame while the Spurs’ offense began to stall. A decisive run erased San Antonio’s remaining lead and flipped the game in Denver’s favor with just minutes left.

Despite the collapse, the Spurs had plenty of bright spots.

Guard Stephon Castle delivered the best performance of his young career, recording a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while orchestrating much of San Antonio’s offense throughout the night. De’Aaron Fox added 27 points and kept the Spurs within striking distance down the stretch, while Harrison Barnes chipped in 20 points with timely scoring in his return from a brief absence.

But against a veteran Denver squad, the Spurs simply ran out of answers late. In the end, what looked like one of San Antonio’s most impressive wins of the season turned into a frustrating reminder of how quickly momentum can swing in the NBA. The Spurs had the game in their hands for most of the night.

The Nuggets just took it away when it mattered most.

Game Notes

• Victor Wembanyama was listed as out before the game with ankle soreness. While some fans may get upset this could dampen his chances at postseason awards, but I much prefer him to be healthy at the start of the NBA playoffs.
• Keldon Johnson had a poor offensive night and could not really afford it with San Antonio missing their franchise player. He shot just 2-for-12 from the floor, scoring 5 points in 21 minutes.
• In games when KJ struggles, I would love to see Mitch opt to play Carter Bryant more. The rookie had 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, but he only played just nine minutes.
• Speaking of Harrison Barnes, it was nice to see him return. He scored 20 points off the bench, further proving that moving him to the second unit was a genius move by the coaching staff.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etched himself into the history books Thursday night.

After surpassing the 20-point mark during the Thunder’s 104-102 win over the Celtics, Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed Hall of Fame big man Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive games (127) with at least 20 points scored.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with a team-high 35 points, broke the record with a 3-point shot to start the third quarter after hitting two free throws on the Thunder’s previous possession.

The four-time All-Star’s streak dates back to the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in a 137-114 win over the Trail Blazers on Nov. 1, 2024.

Chamberlain held the record with 126 straight games since 1963, with the 13-time All-Star holding the next highest streak at 92 that started the following year. Legendary point guard Oscar Robertson went for 79 straight games in 1963-64.

In the modern era, Kevin Durant had 72 straight games hitting the 20-point mark in 2015-16.

Before breaking Chamberlain’s record, Gilgeous-Alexander referred to the four-time MVP as a “mythical creature,” but admitted he did not know much about him.

“Not much besides he was pretty insanely dominant,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN. “Based on the stats, did whatever he wanted and was like … honestly, it feels almost like a mythical creature.

“It’s not real.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is having another MVP-caliber season for Oklahoma City, averaging 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field through 54 games played this season, helping lead the Thunder to an NBA-best 51-15 record headed into Thursday’s game.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently told reporters how Gilgeous-Alexander thrives under pressure, saying that he can always mentally stay in the game.

“He never presses,” Daigneault told reporters, according to ClutchPoints. “He’s just got unbelievable awareness of the circumstance, awareness of the length of the game; I think that’s one of his superpowers. He understands how long the game is. So, he can make the right play, knowing that he’ll get his cracks. If he misses shots early, he knows that there’s more game left.

“He always stays in it mentally. I think that’s part of the reason why he’s consistent as he is.”

The Big 12 has made the decision to change out its controversial court ahead of the men's conference tournament semifinal games.

The conference has decided to switch back to a hardwood court after experimenting with LED glass floors during the early-round action and throughout the women's tournament. The court change is expected to be done overnight.

German company ASB GlassFloor developed the LED floor. But that court was said to be slippery, according to Kansas State player Taj Manning, who also claimed it caused one of his teammates to have a migraine.

More: Big 12 tournament glass LED court 'slippery,' caused migraines, players say

"After consultation with the coaches of our four semifinal teams, I have decided that in order to provide our student-athletes with the greatest level of comfort on a huge stage this weekend, we will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament," Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement to CBS Sports and other outlets. "We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game."

Iowa State will take on Arizona in the first of two semifinal games. Houston and Kansas will go head-to-head in the second game for a chance to play for the conference crown.

All four teams were ranked in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. Arizona was the highest-ranked team in the conference at No. 2. Houston is ranked No. 5, Iowa State is No. 7 and Kansas is No. 16.

“The focus now needs to be on four of the best teams in the country and not the court. I look forward to a great semi-finals and championship,” said Yormark in a statement to ESPN.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big 12 court change coming after complaints about LED glass surface

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 Conference is ditching its slippery new glass floor for a hardwood court for the final two days of the tournament.

“After consultation with the coaches of our four semifinal teams, I have decided that in order to provide our student-athletes with the greatest level of comfort on a huge stage this weekend, we will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament," Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Thursday night. "We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game.”

Numerous players have slipped when trying to plant. On Thursday, Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle slipping in the No. 16 Red Raiders' 75-63 loss to No. 7 Iowa State.

“Obviously, the floor is a bit slippery," Anderson said. “I think I just kind of mis-stepped or did a movement that caused me to slip,”

The Big 12 announced last month that it would play the men’s and women’s tournaments on the ASB GlassFloor-made court that has been used at the NBA All-Star Game and in Europe but never before during an official U.S. competition.

“I personally didn’t have any involvement (in the decision to go to hardwood),” Kansas coach Bill Self after the No. 14 Jayhawks beat TCU 78-73 on Thursday night in the last game played on the glass floor. “If the other coaches are doing it, (they) have juice and they got more than I got. Because I didn’t have any any involvement with that at all.”

Then he added, “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

The glass floor has an aluminum and steel spring-action design that is supposed to mimic the flexibility of hardwood. The LED panels, which display everything from data-driven graphics to advertising, have ceramic coating and little dots etched into the glass that are supposed to create grip that is consistent with traditional surfaces.

The ball seems to bounce like usual, though with a different “thudding” sound. There are a whole lot more squeaks from sneakers than usual. But the biggest difference has been the traction.

___

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It wasn’t always pretty.

And the defense left a lot to be desired.

But in take-care-of-business victory, the Lakers’ 142-130 win over the Bulls on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena will be memorable for one reason: Luka Doncic’s first 50-point game with the Lakers. 

Doncic led the Lakers with 51 points on 17-of-31 shooting on Thursday night, scoring his 50th and 51st points at the free throw line with “M-V-P” being chanted throughout the Lakers’ home arena late in the fourth quarter. 

“It feels very special,” Doncic said.

Thursday was the eighth 50-point game of Doncic’s career, and the first time he scored at least 50 points since scoring a career-high 73 points on Jan. 26, 2024, while playing for the Mavericks.

“I just feel like it’s every game..with him scoring like that,” Deandre Ayton said.

Austin Reaves added 30 points, seven assists and five rebounds during a night the Lakers’ offense was firing on all cylinders. 

The Lakers shot 55.6% from the field, including 47.2% on 3s (17 of 36). 

Ayton recorded a 23 point-10 rebound double-double to continue his strong run of play.

LeBron James had 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and a pair of steals after returning from a three-game absence. 

Rui Hachimura also scored 15 points, with all of the Lakers starters scoring at least 15 points. 

“I like the way we played,” coach JJ Redick said.

What it means

The Lakers moved back up to third in the Western Conference standings with Thursday’s victory. 

They’re on a four-game winning streak, their longest run of consecutive wins since late November when they won a season-high seven games to close out the month. 

They have a 41-25 record. 

Turning point

When Ayton grabbed an offensive rebound at the 1:09 mark in the second quarter that led to the Rui Hachimura free-throw line jumper to tie the game at 62 apiece.

That started a 7-0 run the Lakers closed the first half with, flowing into a 5-0 run to start the third quarter to put the Lakers up 72-62. 

The Lakers led by as many as 22 points in the third. 

The Bulls cut their deficit to single digits multiple times, but the Lakers led for the remainder of the game.

MVP: Luka Doncic

Doncic gets the nod after having his highest scoring game as a Laker.

He also had 10 rebounds and nine assists for a near 50-point triple-double.

“He’s our best player and when he plays like that, we’re tough to guard because of his ability to make shots,” Reaves said of Doncic. “Not just that, but [passing] the ball as well and he picks apart defenses. He needs to continue to do that for us, we expect him to do that. Obviously not score 51 every night. But the type of player he is, he can get hot after seeing one shot go in. And they’ve been going in for him. So we need continue to encourage him to shoot them.”

Stat of the game: 9

That was the number of 3s Doncic made against the Bulls, which tied a career-high that he set on March 31, 2024, while he played for the Mavericks.

After a slow shooting start to the season, Doncic has been scorching from beyond the arc.

He’s shot 39.7% on 3s on 10.5 attempts since Dec. 25, and 43.7% from beyond the arc on 11.3 attempts since the All-Star break.

“He’s been high-volume, high-efficiency for about 2 ½ months now,” Redick said. “It’s so important. It just sets up the rest of his game when he’s making 3s.”

Up next

The Lakers will close out their five-game homestand, which they’re undefeated on so far, against the Nuggets on Saturday. 

They hope to have Marcus Smart back in the lineup for that matchup after he was sidelined on Thursday because of a hip contusion.

He didn’t miss it this time.

Luka Doncic recorded his first 50-point game of the season Thursday, hitting two late free throws as the crowd at Crypto.com Arena showered him with “MVP” chants in the fourth quarter. Doncic checked out with 1:41 remaining to a standing ovation with 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Lakers to a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls.

The Lakers (41-25) jumped into third place in the Western Conference with their seventh win in their last eight games, climbing from sixth in just one week behind Doncic’s brilliance. The NBA’s leading scorer has averaged 40.2 points in the last four games, all wins. Doncic had a chance at 50 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in October, but missed a late free throw that forced him to settle for 49 points.

Read more:Lakers' Luka Doncic in a custody dispute for his two daughters with his former fiancée in Slovenia

LeBron James returned after missing three games because of elbow and hip contusions he sustained against the Denver Nuggets on March 5. He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Austin Reaves had 30 points and seven assists, surpassing 5,000 points for his career. Center Deandre Ayton held down a short-handed big man rotation with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lakers were without starting guard Marcus Smart (right hip contusion) and backup centers Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain). Smart has been playing through the injury for several games, but with a six-game road trip starting next week, “we need it to calm down,” coach JJ Redick said. The coach expected Smart to be available Saturday when the Lakers play the Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers gave up a 12-3 run to end the first quarter and led the struggling Bulls (27-39) by only five at halftime. James helped give them the breathing room going into the locker room as he scored his first points of the game with 54 seconds left in the first half. His three-point play sparked a quick five-point run to end the half, which ended with a dunk from Rui Hachimura.

James came alive in the third quarter, beginning with his dunk off a hit-ahead pass from Doncic. He returned the favor by diving out of bounds for a steal on the next possession and the save led to a three-pointer from Doncic.

Doncic made nine of 14 three-point attempts as the Lakers made 17 of 36 shots from beyond the arc, their best three-point percentage in a game since Feb. 20.

After not taking a single shot in the first quarter, James had 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in the third quarter as the Lakers’ lead grew to 22 points.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Lakers push their win streak to four with a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. They now have sole possession of the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.

The game began with LA scoring seven in a row. Austin Reaves put the first points on the board with a triple. He also picked up a steal and a block. LeBron James was the only starter not to score yet in the quarter. 

Matas Buzelis converted on a layup to give the Bulls their first points of the night. 

Rui Hachimura put up five points. Luka Dončić began to surge, draining two 3-pointers. Buzelis was leading Chicago with seven points.  At the 3:05 mark, the Lakers were up by six.

Luka entered double figures with 12 points. He was also a rebounding machine, grabbing seven. Chicago then went on a 9-0 scoring run to make it a tied game at the end of the first. 

The Lakers took control of this game early, and led by 9 late in the period, but Chicago ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 26.

Dončić had 12 points and 7 boards in the period.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 13, 2026

The second period began just as the first did, with a triple by Reaves. The Bulls responded with five straight points. Deandre Ayton then scored four in a row to put the Lakers up by two early. LeBron James had a slow start for Los Angeles, taking only two shots, both of which he missed. 

Buzelis put Chicago back in the lead with a 3-pointer. 

LA was shooting 41% from the field, while the Bulls were shooting a hot 87%. Ayton, Reaves, and Luka were the first Lakers in double figures with 12, 10, and 17, respectively. 

Deandre Ayton is having another solid game. He has 10 points on 5-7 shooting in his 12 minutes of play.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 13, 2026

Buzelis and Luka had some friendly chatter amongst themselves, leading to Luka pushing his point total to 20. 

At the 4:04 mark, the purple and gold were down by four. Los Angeles went on a 9-2 scoring run to retake the lead. LeBron finally put some points on the board, converting on a three-point play with 54 seconds left in the half.

The Lakers had four of their five starters in double figures entering halftime, leading by six.

Flex on 'em DA! #LakeShowpic.twitter.com/uwYVQxvVRS

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 13, 2026

LeBron started the second half with an emphatic dunk, and it was followed by a Bulls turnover that turned into a 3-pointer from Luka on the other end. Chicago called a quick timeout. Out of the break, Buzelis was fouled and converted on both free throws. 

The Lakers erupted for a 14-2 scoring run that expanded their lead to 18.

Hachimura drained his third triple of the night. He was shooting a red-hot 74% from behind the arc. Luka notched two more 3-pointers, marking seven for the game so far out of 11 attempts. LeBron eventually entered double figures with 11 points. 

Coming into this game, Luka Dončić was shooting 41.3% from 3 after the All-Star break on 11.0 attempts per game, and that's not counting his 7 for 10 tonight.

Before the break, he was at 34.5% from 3.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 13, 2026

At the 4:55 mark, the lead was 21 for Los Angeles. 

Chicago cut the deficit to 14 after they went on a 9-2 run. Josh Giddey was up to 15 points for the Bulls and was four for six from behind the arc. At the end of the third, the Lakers were up by 10, after they had once led by 22.

LeBron started the final frame with a midrange jumper. On the other end, Nick Richards completed a three-point play. Luke Kennard finally got a triple to fall after four attempts. At the 8:45 mark, LA was up by single digits. 

Reaves then scored a quick five in a row to push the lead back to double digits. 

With six minutes left, Los Angeles continued to have a good lead, led by the efforts of Reaves, who was up to nine points in the quarter, and Ayton, who was up to six. Luka swished two 3-pointers in a row. 

With 3:19 left, the Bulls were down by 17. 

Chicago tried a small comeback, but failed after Luka converted on two free throws for his 50th and 51st points.

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 51 points,10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Reaves ended with 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists. LeBron scored 18 points with seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. 

Ayton had another dominant game, scoring 23 points with 10 rebounds. Hachimura notched 15 points in 40 minutes. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at 5:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.