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.”
“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.
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.
Luka Doncic scored his season high in points against the Bulls. AP
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.
LeBron James returned to the lineup after sitting with an injury. AP
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.
The Lakers’ two stars dap each other up before the game. NBAE via Getty Images
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.
Luka Doncic, left, is congratulated by LeBron James after making a three-pointer during the second half of the Lakers' 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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.
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.
Lakers star LeBron James, center, drives between Chicago's Rob Dillingham, left, and Matas Buzelis during the second half Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 12: Khris Middleton #20 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 12, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks continued their season-long road trip, taking on the Pelicans win on Wednesday night. With the Grizzlies entering Thursday’s action with two more wins than Dallas and one more win than New Orleans, these games carry importance relative to how things may shake out in respect of draft odds, following Dallas’ 120-112 victory.
Let’s get to the grades!
Naji Marshall: C-
5 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN
It can be puzzling to see Marshall struggle when he so often hits 50-plus percent from the floor. This was not that game. He was 2-for-7 and had a mind-blowing six turnovers. Maybe his worst game of the season.
Max Christie: C-
13 PTS / 0 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK – 25 MIN
Christie was 5-for-12 from the floor, including another corner three-pointer that hit the side of the backboard. Overall, there were aspects that were better, but his five turnovers would be utterly shocking had he not been outdone by Marshall.
Cooper Flagg: C+
13 PTS / 5 REB / 7 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 33 MIN
Flagg is either hitting the rookie wall (it doesn’t really seem like it) or still nursing his injured foot. He’s struggling with his shot (6-for-16) and picked up three fouls before you could say his name. Nonetheless, he did what he has done even in his less than ideal games – contributed in almost every aspect of the game.
P.J. Washington: B+
12 PTS / 10 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 28 MIN
A double-double with a sprinkle of defense was nice to see from Washington, who has been struggling recently. It wasn’t his most efficient shooting night (5-for-12; 0-for-3 from downtown) but it was a solid well-rounded game compared to most of his games lately.
Daniel Gafford: A
22 PTS / 14 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 27 MIN
After a long season, it appears Gafford is back to being the player Mavs’ fans enjoyed watching when the team was competing for a championship. He was 9-for-12 and basically went beast-mode all night, doing his double-double damage in less than 30 minutes of action.
Brandon Williams: B+
10 PTS / 8 REB / 6 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 28 MIN
Williams hit 4-for-8 from the floor despite going 0-for-3 from deep. He had three fouls and two turnovers, but played very good defense as shown in his stocks and rebounds. Solid game breaking down the defense and doing some damage.
Khris Middleton: A+
35 PTS / 3 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Middleton single-handedly took over the game after the Grizzlies rallied back to tie things up. He had the highest-scoring quarter (in the final frame) of any Maverick this season, which was also the highest scoring quarter of his career. This was also his first 30-point game in nearly three years. He was a scorching hot 10-for-17 with an even more impressive 8-for-10 from deep. He had zero turnovers and zero fouls, hit all seven of his free throws and even had two steals. Oh, he did all of that in 25 minutes of play. This was just plain epic.
Final Thoughts
For the first time in a long, long while, the Mavs whooped an opponent for most of the game, ultimately getting the win. Granted that opponent is not especially good and was only able to roll out eight players, but the Mavs were starved for a win and finally got one. Although it hurts them in terms of the tank-a-thon, the road ahead remains rough and breaking the skid has to be good for morale as the season winds down.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
A Shai Gilgeous-Alexander streak that started on Nov. 1, 2024, reached record levels on Thursday when, with a jumper from the top of the key over Baylor Scheierman, SGA passed the legendary Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive 20+ point games with 127. With all eyes on him, Gilgeous-Alexander started slow against the Celtics and didn't score for the first half of the first quarter, but by the end of 12 minutes, he was at 10 points, and his setting the record seemed inevitable.
It isn't just the 127 games number that is impressive. In 35 of the games, Gilgeous-Alexander didn't play in the fourth quarter because the Thunder were winning by so much.
"He puts the work behind it, does it consistently," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said pregame. "He's a perfectionist when it comes to his craft. He's got an unbelievably high bar for himself, and yet, he's incredibly empathic with his teammates."
Chamberlain's streak only came to an end because he was ejected early in what would have been his 127th game. After that, he went on to score 20+ points in his next 92 consecutive games.
Gilgeous-Alexander would go on to finish with 35 points, leading the Thunder to a dramatic 104-102 victory that felt like a potential NBA Finals preview. Jaylen Brown scored 34 to lead the Celtics, but it was two Chet Holmgren free throws with 0.8 seconds left that got Oklahoma City the win.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 9: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 9, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Tim Bontemps, Keyonte George has a grade two right hamstring strain.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George has a grade two right hamstring strain, sources told ESPN. He’s expected to be reevaluated in two weeks.
George has had a breakout season in his third year in the NBA for the Jazz, averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists in 54 games for Utah.
A quick Google search reveals that a grade two hamstring strain can take somewhere between three to eight weeks. With the season nearing the end, it doesn’t seem likely we’ll see Keyonte George again. Not only does it benefit the Jazz to lose these games to keep their picks, but it also does no good to put George in harm’s way. Hamstring injuries are tricky at the best of times. On top of that, Utah is not making the playoffs at this point in the season. With Keyonte George’s incredible breakout this season, he’s a core part of the team going forward.
Now, the Utah Jazz have an opportunity to experiment with different players who wouldn’t get playtime normally. Will we see Cody Williams get more experience at the point? Will we have Ace Bailey initiating even more offense? Very likely.
Mar 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (7) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics continued completed 3-game road trip on Thursday night, with a final stop in Oklahoma City to take on the reigning champs. In what was a brilliant game of basketball, Payton Pritchard had a game winning attempt for three fall short as the C’s dropped a heart breaker in OKC, 104-102. Jaylen Brown had 34 points, Pritchard 14 points and the Boston bench came up big on the road, but it just wasn’t enough.
Roster-wise, Jayson Tatum was ruled out prior to the game due to a scheduled rest night; Derrick White and Nikola Vucevic were also out for the game. That opened the door for Payton Pritchard to return to the starting lineup alongside Brown, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta for Boston. Chet Holgren, SGA, Ajay Mitchell, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace started for the home team. Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Branden Carlson were all unavailable for OKC.
Pritchard hit the first shot of the game on a mid-range pull-up over Wallace; Dort hit his straight-on triple as both teams eased into the contest. Pritchard nailed his second shot of the night with a step-back over Holmgren — he looked aggressive to start this game after missing the big San Antonio clash.
Hauser got in on the mid-range act; he hit his first shot and would have 5 points after one quarter. Ron Harper Jr. had another nice showing in the first quarter; off the back of his fantastic San Antonio game, he had 5 first-quarter points on 2-3 shooting.
Rookie Hugo Gonzalez played a solid quarter for Boston with 6 points in five and a half minutes. Brown had 8 points, 3 assists, and 2 boards in the first quarter as Boston led 28-27 after the first quarter of play.
Mar 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (7) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Boston scored the first six points to start the 2nd quarter, Jordan Walsh and Luka Garza providing the spark as Boston went up 35-27. Walsh laced a triple as Boston whizzed the ball around the court with a series of fine passes. Boston’s bench was up and rowdy, as they had combined for 21 points of the team’s 38 early points.
Scheierman and Pritchard hit back-to-back shots as Brown watched on from the bench with Celtics up 43-36 on an entertaining start to the game. Brown returned to the game and swung a pass out to Scheierman in the corner; he hit his first triple of the game in front of the Boston bench.
JB was whistled for his third foul of the night, sprinting back on D to attempt a shot block on Wiggins. SGA rattled in his second three-pointer of the game, and he had 13 points with three minutes to go in the first half. Brown crossed over Dort and drove to the bucket; he was fouled with three OKC defenders in his airspace. JB would go 1 of 2 from the stripe; the score is now tied at 47 apiece.
Luka Garza played the role of a stretch big and nailed a big three-pointer. Boston swung the ball to the corner once more and found Hugo for his first triple of the night on the shorter three-point line. Scheierman hit a relocation three as SGA was left flat-footed, the road Celtics hitting the Thunder hard in the first half. A signature Payton Pritchard three at the buzzer of the half saw the C’s up 59-56 thanks to a stellar bench performance after a half of play.
Boston’s bench had 27 points in the first half; the team registered 15 assists on 23-49 shooting. As a team, Boston was 43% from beyond the arc after 24 minutes of play.
JB grabbed a board over Holmgren to start the third and converted on the putback, was fouled, and hit the extra shot. With Vooch out for Boston with a finger injury, Luka Garza was playing well for Boston on both ends. Hauser hit a wide-open three-pointer for the C’s, the team’s eleventh of the night.
Brown took on Ajay Mitchell and rose over him at the free throw line to hit a pull-up jumper. He went to the foul line for two shots on the next play and hit his sixteenth point of the game. SGA hit his 21st point of the game, overtaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most consecutive 20+ point games in NBA history. Wilt held the record for a staggering 63 years until tonight.
Scheierman continued his fantastic road trip shooting-wise; he hit his third three of the game from way downtown, giving a thumbs up in recognition of his recent injury. Queta took the smaller OKC players inside and dunked home an emphatic two-hander; Gonzalez stripped Ajay Mitchell in the key during a good third-quarter stretch for Boston, up 79-75.
Mar 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) reaches around Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Jordan Walsh entered the game at the end of the third and immediately grabbed a defensive rebound and dived on the floor for a loose ball. Gonzalez blocked a three-point attempt from Williams; the C’s young bench was providing a spark on the third night off the road trip.
Hugo dumped off a bounce pass to JB in the dunker spot; he rammed home an emphatic dunk for Boston. Hugo crashed into the defensive glass and was fouled by Isaiah Joe on the loose ball gather. Boston would take a three-point lead into the final quarter, 83-80, both teams playing some tremendous ball after three.
Brown dunked home his 27th point of the game on a solo breakaway to start the 4th quarter. OKC levelled the game at 87 points as SGA converted on a finger roll layup with 9 minutes to go. OKC took a two-point lead as Boston recorded a series of scoreless possessions. Garza had an illegal screen on Dort as Boston had 10 turnovers in the 4th quarter.
Boston had a call overturned as Williams grabbed a piece of Pritchard’s jersey as he rolled to the basket. Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff with the great challenge scores tied at 91-91. Both teams combined for just 7-28 from the field at the 5 minute mark of the 4th quarter. Brown was fouled by Dort beyond the three point line he would hit all three attempts to take back a slim one point lead.
SGA drilled a jumper at the foul line for the Thunder to take a four point lead after the C’s had a pair of blown plays. Boston entered the bonus after the Thunder received their 5th team foul, Queta hit both free throws to cut it to 2 points. Pritchard drilled a tough shot over SGA to tie things up at 98-98. Dort was whistled for a trip on Brown, after the refs missed a similar play in the first half, Brown leveling the scores at 100 with 30 seconds to go.
Both teams were out of gas to end it, Boston digging deep with two starters out on a tough road trip. Gilgeous-Alexander hit another mid range jumper for 35th point of the game, OKC up a pair with 29 seconds to go. JB nailed a tough turnaround to even the scores at 102-102. Holmgren hit two free throws with Boston needing a 2 to tie it and a three to win with 0.8 seconds on the clock. Pritchard came up short on the final play of regulation, just short of the game winning three-pointer.
The Boston Celtics now travel home to host the Washington Wizards on Saturday at 6 pm EST.
Oklahoma Nijel Pack hit four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points, Derrion Reed had 15 points and 10 rebounds,and No. 11 seed Oklahoma beat sixth-seeded Texas A&M 83-63 in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday night to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
Oklahoma (19-14) plays No. 17 and third-seeded Arkansas — which beat the Sooners 83-79 on Jan. 27 — in the quarterfinals Friday.
Xzayvier Brown added 16 points and Tae Davis had 14 points and nine rebounds. Mohamed Wague had eight rebounds to go with seven points and three blocks.
The Sooners hit six 3-pointers in a 22-5 run that gave them the lead for good and made it 28-11 midway through the first half. Griffen answered with a 3-pointer, but Davis scored the final six points in a 10-0 spurt to give Oklahoma a 24-point lead with five minutes left until halftime.
Pop Isaacs hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 10-0 run that trimmed Texas A&M's deficit to 54-42 with 15:25 left in the game but the Aggies got no closer.
Rashaun Agee had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Texas A&M (21-11). Agee broke the program's single-season record with 13 double-doubles (Tyler Davis had 12 in 2017-18).
Rylan Griffen also scored 13 points and Isaacs added 12.
Oklahoma outrebounded the Aggies 48-33, 19-11 on the offensive glass, and outscored Texas A&M 18-1 in second-chance points.
Up next
Oklahoma: Advances to the semifinals.
Texas A&M: Awaits a potential postseason invitation.
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 22: Bez Mbeng #2 of the Yale Bulldogs dribbles the ball during the first half against the Auburn Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2024 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are dealing with multiple injuries this season and are in need of players to fill the roster to finish the season. Here is a list of the Jazz’s most recent transactions.
Utah Jazz waive Mo Bamba
According to Kevin Reynolds, the Utah Jazz have waived Mo Bamba before the end of his 10-day contract because of illness.
The Utah Jazz waived Mo Bamba before his 10-day contract was up.
He contracted an illness and was unable to travel with the team to Portland, Sacramento and Minnesota this week. His 10-day would have run out over that time.
It’s too bad that things didn’t work out with Bamba, who will always draw interest with his incredible physical tools. But like with all other teams he’s been on, he didn’t leave any sort of lasting impression and the Jazz are moving on.
Utah Jazz sign Bez Mbeng alongside Andersson Garcia
We got the debut of Andersson Garcia yesterday, who had signed a 10-day contract right before the game.
We have signed forward Andersson Garcia to a 10-day contract.
Mbeng is a defensive standout from Yale who adds to the defensive mentality that Garcia appears to bring.
The Ivy League Player of the Year and 3x Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 6.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals on 44.7% FG on the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
With the injury to Keyonte George, Utah needs more depth, and they’re adding it with Garcia and Mbeng. It appears the Jazz have found a real piece in Blake Hinson. Will they find another in one of these additions?
Jan 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) drives against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets open a five-game homestand that includes five losable games.
“But Armin,” you say, “the New Orleans Pelicans are 22-45! They suck!”
“Well actually,” I respond as I push my glassed up the bridge of my nose, “the Pelicans are 7-3 over their last 10 games. That includes wins over the Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriror, and Philadelphia 76ers. All three losses came on the road to good teams. Oh, and the Pelicans already have an incredible win over the Rockets back in December. Trust me, I was there and it sucked.
This current run has coincided with Dejounte Murray’s return to the court. Murray is averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game in his seven games back. He’s given the Pelicans another shot creator and his defense raises the floor for the entire team.
It also bears mentioning that the Pelicans do not own their own first round pick thanks for the Derrick Queen trade. They have zero reason to tank, and this is their prime opportunity to test proof of concept with their current roster. If they play this well for the next month, they can keep their roster intact and add around the edges in an attempt to make a playoff push next season. If the team starts losing, they can decide whether a full or soft rebuild is the better route. Murray, Herbert Jones, and Trey Murphy III are going to have suitors and each probably nets at least a first round pick.
After tonight, the Rockets play the Los Angeles Lakers twice, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Miami Heat (on a back-to-back) in Houston.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 10: Ben Saraf #77, Danny Wolf #2, Chaney Johnson #31 and Josh Minott #00 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 10, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Keith Smith, writing for Spotrac Thursday, reports that once again the Brooklyn Nets will be among the NBA leaders in cap space and spending power in 2026-27. They won’t have the $60 million they did this season, the most in the league, but Smith projects they’ll still be top three with around $46.9 million. That’s behind only the Chicago Bulls ($63.5 million) and the Los Angeles Lakers ($48.4 million.)
Smith puts the Bulls, Lakers and Nets in the top tier of his projections,
Big markets with enough cap space to chase a max player or to go after several players to fill out their roster. Of course, the Lakers are readymade contenders, while the Bulls and Nets are a lot further away.
Smith waited until the trade deadline passed to make the projections since with the exceptions of a few minor roster openings, including one held by the Nets, the financial pictures of all 30 teams are fairly well set.
The trade deadline saw a ton of massive movement, as several teams elected to go the pre-agency route. Those moves saw a lot of potential 2026 spending power evaporate around the NBA.
We’ll likely see a handful of veteran extensions that will get done before the end of the season. But, with most of the roster movement behind us for the time being, it’s time to look forward!
Specifically, Smith has this to say about Brooklyn:
The Nets are very likely to have significant cap space for a second straight summer. Some of this could go toward retaining their own free agents again (Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams both have pending team options), but Brooklyn will have lots of room to again act as a clearing house for unwanted salaries for tax and apron teams. Just send some draft picks or young talent with those undesirable deals. The Nets also don’t have control over their own pick for the 2027 draft.. That could signal a team that is ready to spend to move the roster forward. Look for a measured approach to spending, as opposed to an all-in one.
That of course is what most pundits both national and local expect the organization to do: move from a rebuild to what might be called a build, much like they did in 2018-19 under Sean Marks when a young Nets team won 42 games and finished with the sixth seed. That progress helped convince Kevin Durant and Kyrie to sign as free agents and James Harden to later seek a trade.
Last season, the Nets virtually exhausted their cap space, sending it out in a number of salary dumps. In doing so, they secured two first round picks, the Hawks unprotected 2025 pick (which became Drake Powell) and the Nuggets unprotected 2032 pick, a net of three second rounders, as well as Michael Porter Jr.; Terance Mann; Ochai Agbaji; Josh Minott, Heywood Highsmith; Kobe Bufkin and Hunter Tyson. The latter three were later released.
In addition to $6.3 million team options on Sharpe and Williams, the Nets also hold a $2.5 million team option on Minott. Ochai Agbaji and Jalen Wilson are restricted free agents. Beyond that, Brooklyn presumably will have seven players — roughly half the roster — on rookie deals: Noah Clowney, the Flatbush Five plus whoever they take with their lottery pick.
There’s no rumors as to who the Nets might want to pursue although because of his relationship to Michael Porter Jr. and Denver’s cap crunch, there’s speculation that 6’8” forward Peyton Watson is a player Brooklyn might like.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 12: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 12, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs played a valiant game tonight without their best player, but they could not hold on in the fourth under an onslaught of points from Jamal Murray, who scored 39, and Nikola Jokic who scored 31 with 12 assists and 20 rebounds. Stephon Castle had 30, De’Aaron Fox scored 27, and Harrison Barnes had a solid 20 point game in his first game back after an extended absence. The Spurs led by as much as 20 in the first half, but without Wembanyama to anchor the defense, the dynamic duo of Jokic and Murray took over the game in the second half and the Spurs just couldn’t hold them back long enough to eke out a win. It was an important win for Denver, as they are in a close race with all of the teams between third and seventh in the Western Conference within a couple of games. The Spurs still have a solid cushion over the team in third, and will have two more shots this year to face the Nuggets in the remaining 16 games of the season. It was a great win for Denver, and the Spurs will just have to move on to the next game against the Hornets on Saturday.
Observations
Victor was listed as questionable in the early injury reports, but his status was later updated to OUT, which is tough to take as a fan, but I’d rather see the big healthy for the playoffs than trying to play in every regular season game. I guess it’s time for a big Plumlee game.
Remember when Carter Bryant couldn’t hit a dunk, that seems like a million years ago. He’s turned from a guy who looked lost on the court to a guy who is a key contributor in just a couple of months. It’s just so fun to watch.
It’s good to see Harrison Barnes back in uniform. I don’t know if the Spurs are going to be able to bring him back next year, but I think he’s going to be important this year for the Spurs playoff run because of his experience. He might have more playoff experience than the rest of the team put together. I’ll look that up after the game.
Aaron Gordon was out for Denver, and started Spencer Jones in his place. They lose a lot of offense, but Jones is a very capable defender, and tonight he was hitting his shots.
The Spurs started out with hot shooting, but a couple of bad turnovers kept them from breaking open the game early, which turned out to be costly later as the Spurs could not build a big enough lead to hold on late in the game.
Jokic fouled Murray on a drive to the basket, and it was called as Castle’s second personal. Since fouls from your teammates are not considered a reason to get free throws, Mitch Johnson decided to challenge the call. However, the challenge was unsuccessful, and Castle got his second foul, based on touching Murray way before the actual contact that affected his shot.
The Spurs went on a 14-3 run in the three minutes of the first quarter and let 37-25 going into the second.
Plumlee looked pretty good in his first extended run in a Spurs uniform. He has quick hands and is a lot more athletic than you’d think by looking at him.
The Spurs took advantage of Jokic taking a rest early in the second and took a 20 point lead halfway through the quarter with Mason Plumlee dominating Jonas Valanciunas (never thought I’d ever type those words).
With Jokic back in the lineup for the second part of the second quarter, the Nuggets gnawed into the lead, cutting it to single digits with less than two minutes left. The Spur went on a last minute surge to lead by 16 at the half, leading 69-53.
The Spurs committed four early fouls in the third quarter as Jokic was distributing the ball as the Nuggets outscored the Silver and Black 11-4 out of the locker room. Mitch Johnson had to call a quick TO to regroup his squad.
Mitch got a tech early in the third working the refs, and I don’t mind that. Steph takes a ton of contact and he needs to make sure his guys get a fair whistle. It seemed to pay off just a moment later when they called Jokic for his first foul of the night, and later on when Castle was able to get the line on drives to the basket.
Adelman decided to follow Mitch’s lead with four minutes left in the quarter and earned his own tech. Smart move from the young coach, although he lost the challenge.
Jamal Murray was extremely active in the third with 16 points in the quarter, but the Spurs held on, leading 106-94 after three quarters.
Mason Plumlee took over at center to start the fourth, and made an immediate impact with an offensive rebound, while the Nuggets played small without Jokic, and got a couple of quick shots from Jones (isn’t he supposed to be a defensive specialist?) and Strawther for an 11-0 run to cut the Spurs lead to just one point, with Jokic off the court. A pair of clutch buckets from De’Aaron Fox in the paint blunted the Nuggets’ surge, and Adelman had to gather his team on the sidelines for a regroup, and they responded by continuing to go to Murray as they took over the game.
The Nuggets took their first lead at 121-119 with 4:38 left with a Murray triple, outscoring the Spurs 27-13 to that point in the quarter. They extended the lead to 128-119 with three minutes left in the game, as the Spurs offense fell apart. But these Spurs are resilient. They fought back, and brought the game to within a bucket as Castle had an open shot to tie it up. The shot missed, and the Spurs had to foul with 12 seconds left, leading to a 136-131 Denver victory.
The home stand finishes on Saturday afternoon with a game against the Charlotte Hornets, who have been really good since the start of the year. The Spurs will have to put up a good effort in that game, or they could get stung. The Silver and Black sometimes shows up out of sorts for these games with an early start, and the the Hornets could make them pay if they don’t wake up on time. It might be time to fire up Boris Diaw’s expresso machine in the locker room once again.
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 12: Taylor Hendricks #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays defense during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 12, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Someone was legally required to win the alleged basketball game between the Dallas Mavericks (22-44) and the Memphis Grizzlies (23-42) at the FedEx Forum on Thursday. Simply by being able to field a team of greater than eight glorified G-Leaguers, the Mavericks were that team, earning a win if only by default, 120-112, in the Home of the Blues.
The Mavericks built a double-digit lead early, which is notable because they came into Thursday’s game having only built a double-digit lead in 22 games this year, the second-worst mark in the league. Dallas tried to give it all back with a lazy third quarter, but beat the Grizzlies for the first time this year in the fourth and final meeting between the two teams.
Khris Middleton was a man on fire in the fourth to bring home the win that snapped the Mavericks’ eight-game losing streak. More on that below, as we’ve got five stats that tell the tale of Thursday’s feel-good(?) win for the Mavs.
Khris Middleton came in off the bench with 6:48 left in the first and hit his first 3-pointer of the game from the left corner just two possessions later, extending the Mavs’ lead to 14-9. He stepped back along the left wing for his second of the game two minutes later as part of a little 9-0 Dallas run to make it 20-9. His third came in the final minute of the first quarter from nearly the same spot and put the Mavericks ahead 32-17.
Middleton went 3-of-3 from distance in the first quarter to lead the Mavericks with nine points at the end of one. Dallas led 34-22 with one quarter in the books. Max Christie was the only other Maverick to make a 3-pointer in the first.
Middleton finished with 35 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 8-of-10 shooting from 3-point range in the win at Memphis.
5:58: Grizzlies’ second-quarter stretch without a field goal
The Mavericks held Memphis without a field goal for 5:58 of the second quarter, starting at the 8:28 mark. Already up 10, a 12-2 Dallas run fed the advantage and pushed the lead to 57-37 on Naji Marshall’s driving score with 4:38 remaining in the first half.
At one point, the hapless Grizzlies’ offense missed nine straight field goal attempts in the second. Memphis responded with its first signs of life of the game, a 14-3 run to pull within 61-50 on Taylor Hendricks’ first make of the game, a 3-pointer from near the top of the key with 1:38 left in the half.
The Mavericks led 65-54 at the break.
4: Consecutive double-doubles for Daniel Gafford
Daniel Gafford feasted inside against the smaller Memphis front line, racing to 17 points and eight rebounds in the first half. He finished with 22 and 14 in the win. His free throw with just under nine minutes to play broke his previous season-high mark, which came just five days ago in the Mavericks’ 122-92 loss at the Toronto Raptors.
The win over the Grizzlies was Gafford’s fourth straight double-double, a good sign after injuries and the absence of a certain Slovenian superstar in the lineup have pushed his production into the commode this season. He grabbed his 10th rebound with 9:30 remaining in the third quarter and consistently showed more lift to his game, albeit against a diminutive set of bigs opposite him.
3:56: Mavericks’ scoreless stretch late in the third
Marvin Bagley III drove for a score with 3:58 remaining in the third to put Dallas ahead 84-74, and the Mavericks did not hit another shot from the field for the rest of the quarter. They wouldn’t have scored any points at all were it not for a bail-out foul with Middleton in the air attempting a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining.
Middleton made 2-of-3 at the line for the Mavs’ first points in nearly four minutes to give Dallas a slim 86-84 lead going into the fourth. Memphis outscored the Mavericks 30-21 in the frame, as Dallas went 1-of-8 from deep after halftime.
Those two free throws were part of Middleton’s personal 11-0 run, as the trade deadline acquisition scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter. He nailed two more 3-pointers from the top of the key to extend the Mavs’ lead to 92-84 with 11:20 to play. Then, he was fouled on another 3-point attempt by Memphis rookie Javon Small the next time down.
His baseline jumper two possessions later gave him 13 straight points for the Mavericks and 24 for the game, singlehandedly pulling Dallas out of a tailspin in the process. His mid-range fadeaway with 8:15 left gave Middleton a new season-high 26 points, and he finished with 35.
When his seventh 3-pointer of the game fell despite a hand in his face from the left corner with two minutes to play, his 19 fourth-quarter points became the most of any Mavs player this year in the final frame. He hit his eighth the next time down for good measure to give him 22 in the fourth and 35 for the game. At 34 years of age, it was the highest scoring quarter of Middleton’s career. He hadn’t had a 30-point game in nearly three years.
He was, as they say, on one as Dallas went home with the 120-112 win.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player has surpassed Hall of Fame icon Wilt Chamberlain for consecutive games with at least 20 points scored, with 127. Gilgeous-Alexander set the mark Thursday, March 12 with a jumper from near the top of the key midway through the third quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game against the Boston Celtics, an eventual 104-102 Thunder victory.
Playing in front of his home crowd, the fans in attendance anticipated the record when Gilgeous-Alexander caught the ball before erupting in cheers when he swished it. The public address announcer at the Paycom Center announced the record, and a graphic on the Jumbotron commemorated the moment.
“None of the things I accomplish would matter if we weren’t winning,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters after the game. “I probably wouldn’t have the streak if we weren’t winning. I know that and I understand that. It’s why you play the game. I was crying when I was nine years old because I lost an (Ontario Basketball Association) championship. You don’t want to lose.
“The streak is the streak. The awards are the awards. But the thing I’m most proud of is winning.”
SGA HAS PASSED WILT FOR THE LONGEST 20+ POINT STREAK IN NBA HISTORY 🚨
He finished the game with 35 points on an extremely efficient 13-of-18 shooting night, adding 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.
Gilgeous-Alexander got off to a somewhat slow start early in the first quarter, though he did finish the period with 10 points after he attacked the rim and got to the line. He shot 2-of-3 from the field in the period, converting 5-of-6 free throws in the first. He added 7 points in the second period as Oklahoma City tried to cut Boston’s lead before the end of the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 4 points in the third quarter, as the Celtics continued to blitz him with double-teams to try to force the ball out of his hands. His 8 assists through three quarters led all players.
He came alive in the fourth, adding 14 points in the period to close out what was a tightly-contested, back-and-forth game. Gilgeous-Alexander scored six of Oklahoma City's final eight points to help put Boston away.
“I’ve reflected on it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game. “You get lost in the season and you take for granted what you’re watching every night, but No. 1: he’s surgical at his craft — no one is more precise with their craft than he is. And No. 2: the whole life of the streak has not prevented us from having a ton of team success and hasn’t prevented his teammates from having success, either. …
“And then, great father, great husband, great teammate. Treats everybody in the building, from top to bottom, with dignity. So, obviously, he’s a great basketball player. But he’s the kind of person you couldn’t be happier for.”
A four-time All-Star, Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, entered the night ranked second in the NBA in scoring with 31.7 points per game, trailing only Lakers guard Luka Dončić.
One of the more consistent players in the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander tied Chamberlain on March 9 when the Thunder topped the Denver Nuggets. In that game, he dropped 35 points, 15 assists and 9 rebounds and laced the eventual game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.
The record signals both Gilgeous-Alexander’s availability and steady production; the last time he failed to surpass 20 points in a game came early last season, on Oct. 30, 2024, when he scored 18 in a victory against the Spurs.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Chamberlain are the only two players in NBA history to have a 20-point scoring streak of at least 100 games. The following players on the list are Chamberlain again (92), Oscar Robertson (79), Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant (72) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (71).
Chamberlain, however, was pouring in the points during his best streak. Over those 126 games, he averaged 49.2 points per game. The streak began Oct. 19, 1961 and ended Jan. 19, 1963, after Chamberlain was ejected just four minutes into a game.
Another area where Gilgeous-Alexander has surpassed Chamberlain during their respective streaks is in the win-loss column. After Thursday night’s game against Boston, the Thunder have gone 103-24 in games when Gilgeous-Alexander reached at least 20 points; Chamberlain’s Warriors went just 66-60 during his streak.
