HOUSTON (AP) — Manager Mark DeRosa says his premature comment about the United States having already punched its ticket to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals before facing Italy was just an “overly confident statement” and reiterated Thursday he knew nothing was guaranteed at that point.

DeRosa had made that remark on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” before the 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday that caused the U.S. to lose control of its WBC fate. The U.S. still advanced to a Friday quarterfinal matchup with Canada thanks to Italy’s 9-1 win over Mexico on Wednesday.

“It’s just an overly confident statement on ‘Hot Stove,’ period, the end,” DeRosa said. “And it’s my fault. I felt good about where we were after Mexico.”

DeRosa also talked about the fresh start the star-studded U.S. team has now that its loss to Italy didn’t prove fatal to its title hopes.

“New lease on life for the boys, certainly,” he said. “I put ourselves in a tough spot. Tip our hat to Vinnie Pasquantino and Italy, truly. Went into that game a little overly confident and got a huge wake-up call.”

DeRosa’s comment prior to the Italy game garnered plenty of scrutiny after that loss, particularly since he had kept usual starters Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Alex Bregman, Brice Turang and Byron Buxton out of his starting lineup. The U.S. needed to beat Italy to guarantee a spot in the quarterfinals. Losing left it subject to a series of tiebreakers, pending the result of Wednesday's Italy-Mexico game.

He explained those decisions Thursday. DeRosa said he wanted to give starts to Ernie Clement and Paul Goldschmidt because they could end up playing major roles off the bench at some point. He also said he was limited in which pitchers he could use because of “guardrails” set by MLB teams, who typically restrict how much their players throw at the WBC due to injury concerns.

“When I looked at the lineup, I felt confident going in – bottom line,” DeRosa said. “I mean, I also look at it from a player’s perspective. Like, Bryce Harper was struggling a little bit. I know it’s three games, but from the dugout – I played with him for a long time – so it’s like, ‘OK, maybe we get him off his feet a day. We get Goldy in there. We allow (Harper) to work with Sean Casey, Matt Holliday, maybe something clicks. And we get him right back in there and going.'”

DeRosa also had mentioned before Tuesday’s games that some of the U.S. players were “dragging.” The team buses had left later than usual after a Monday night victory over Mexico as players stayed in the locker room celebrating the win.

“Listen, us hanging out in a clubhouse is everything I ever dreamed of creating,” DeRosa said. “You’ve got to buy into this thing super quick and try and create a team. For those players to invite the coaches in and for us to spend time together and enjoy a huge win that we hadn’t had in 20 years was something that, I looked around the room and it was super special to me.

“We did not lose sight of the fact that we had to go out and play well against Italy. They played a hell of a game. They smacked us in the mouth early. They got up big. We went into that game prepared to win it. I think there’s a couple false narratives out there. But, no, I was well aware that we had to win that game based on all the scenarios that could take place.”

The U.S. is making some changes to its pitching staff heading out of pool play and into the quarterfinals.

Lefty Tim Hill and right-handers Will Vest and Tyler Rogers are stepping in for two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Michael Wacha and Ryan Yarbrough. DeRosa said left-hander Matthew Boyd also has left the U.S. team to return to the Chicago Cubs’ spring-training camp.

“And I completely understand that,” DeRosa said. “There’s a lot of pressure from the parent clubs to get these guys ramped up for the start of the season.

"If he’s going to be the opening day starter for the Cubs, we had to guarantee him innings — the game’s got to dictate now. Pool play is a different animal. Trying to weave our way through it from a pitching standpoint, all bets are off now.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Who: Phoenix Suns (38-27) vs. Indiana Pacers (15-50)

When: 4:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Indianapolis, Indiana

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Suns torched the Milwaukee Bucks with 24 threes on Monday to begin their six-game road trip. The Indiana Pacers are the second game on this road trip and the last team below .500. This is a game the Suns should win, and cannot afford to lose if they want to catch the spiraling Denver Nuggets or the up-and-down Minnesota Timberwolves in the standings.

Right now, the Suns are oozing with storylines: Devin Booker is starting to turn up his play, Jalen Green is continuing to acclimate himself to the lineup with jaw dropping plays and egregious turnovers, the rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming are pushing for regular rotation minutes, Haywood Highsmith is playing well, and most importantly, the Suns have taken advantage of one of the weaker portions of their schedule.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Dillon Brooks — OUT (Broken Left Hand)
• Mark Williams — OUT (Left Foot Stress Reaction)
• Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Management)
• Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Injury Management)
• Haywood Highsmith — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Management)

Pacers

• Johny Furphy — OUT (Right ACL Tear)
• Tyrese Haliburton — OUT (Right Achilles Tendon Tear)
• Quenton Jackson — DOUBTFUL (Right Calf Soreness)
• T.J. McConnell — QUESTIONABLE (Right Hamstring Soreness)
• Andrew Nembhard — QUESTIONABLE (Low Back & Neck Soreness)
• Aaron Nesmith — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Injury Management)
• Taelon Peter — QUESTIONABLE (G League Two-Way)
• Pascal Siakam — DOUBTFUL (Right Knee Sprain)
• Jalen Slawson — QUESTIONABLE (G League Two-Way)
• Ethan Thompson — QUESTIONABLE (G League Two-Way)
• Ivica Zubac — QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Sprain)

What to Watch For

The Indiana Pacers are the worst offensive team in the NBA with a 108.6 defensive rating. The Pacers are in full tank mode after making the NBA Finals last season, so if the Suns bring their intense pressure and aggressive defense, this game should be a comfortable win for the Suns.

The Suns will likely play almost everyone on the roster, including Ryan Dunn, whose minutes continue to be reduced, and Jamaree Bouyea and Amir Coffey. Offensively, the Suns need to attack the paint because the Pacers are second-to-last in the NBA in points allowed in the paint.

Expect to see Booker and Green on the attack and scoring at the rim or generating wide-open threes from their paint touches. The duo of Green and Booker has found a little bit of a rhythm in the last two games, and this Pacers matchup is another opportunity to build Green’s confidence and continuity with the rest of the team.

Key to a Suns Win

The Pacers will present some challenges for the Suns with their size and length. Rebounding the basketball on the offensive end continues to be a strength for the Suns, and defensive rebounding continues to be a struggle for the Suns. Ighodaro, Maluach (who grabbed zero rebounds against the Bucks), Fleming, and the rest of the Suns need to limit Indiana to one shot and then get out and run. If the Suns can rebound and push the ball, it makes life much easier on the offensive end and will allow the Suns’ young athletes to shine.

Prediction

The Suns race to a 126-112 victory over the Pacers.

Suns 126, Pacers 112

As Selection Sunday inches closer, men’s college basketball will have at least one less postseason tournament this year.

The College Basketball Invitational, more commonly known as the CBI, will not be held this year, with tournament organizers citing “circumstances beyond our control” in a post on social media.

The post ended on a hopeful note, though, saying “We’ll see you next year!”

The CBI was founded in 2007 and first held in 2008, with the tournament made up of teams that failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament or the NIT.

The event’s early fields were regularly dotted with power-conference teams, with Oregon State, Oregon and Pitt among its earliest champions, as well as VCU, which won the tournament in 2010, one year before the Rams made a Cinderella run to the Final Four.

pic.twitter.com/JLs95vuUkM

— CBI (@CBITourney) March 12, 2026

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bubble winners, losers: Auburn not out of the woods yet

In recent years, though, it has been made up entirely of teams from mid- and low-majors, some of which finished the regular season with losing records. The CBI hasn’t had a participant from one of the sport’s five major conferences since DePaul in 2019.

When Indiana turned down an invitation to the CBI in 2014, then-athletic director Fred Glass told the Indianapolis Star, a part of the USA TODAY Network, “We're Indiana. We don't play in the CBI."

The CBI historically required an entry fee for teams, but in 2023, it began providing NIL funding for participants.

Still, it and other secondary and tertiary postseason tournaments have increased obstacles in recent years, particularly as many programs that miss the NCAA tournament look to get as early of a start as possible on building next season’s roster through the transfer portal. 

Over the past several years, the NIT has had a growing number of teams declining invitations. The College Insider Tournament (CIT), hasn’t been held in five of the past six seasons, though the first of those absences was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College Basketball Invitational won't be held in 2026

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One of the matchups of the night in the NBA sees Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

San Antonio is on an incredible run, winning 16 of their last 17 games, going 12-4-1 ATS. Denver is getting healthy, but will its defense continue to be its Achilles heel?

My Nuggets vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks explain why San Antonio is a legit contender in the West and why we can attack this spread for tonight's matchup.

Nuggets vs Spurs prediction

Nuggets vs Spurs best bet: Spurs -4.5 (-110)

This San Antonio Spurs run has been fueled by Victor Wembanyama and this defense. With Wemby protecting the paint and being a big favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, the Spurs rank third in defensive rating. 

The Denver Nuggets are getting healthy, and the offense is great, but their effort at the other end of the floor is holding them back, ranking 21st in defensive rating.

Additionally, the Nuggets are playing their second game in as many nights, and that means some of their recently recovered guys, like Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, could be on limited minutes.

Nuggets vs Spurs same-game parlay

The Spurs will take advantage of some tired legs from the Nuggets and try to run them out of the gym. Denver has already allowed 125+ points in five of its last nine games, while San Antonio has topped 125 in four of its last seven. Give me the Spurs over their team total of 121.5.

Meanwhile, Wemby has taken his defense to the next level since the All-Star break. He’s averaging 4.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in 11 games since the break, and his steals + blocks prop is set at 4.5, a number he’s topped eight times during that span.

Nuggets vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs -4.5
• Spurs team total Over 121.5
  
• Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals + blocks

Our "from downtown" SGP: A New MVP in Town!

With so many MVP candidates not being able to qualify for the award due to too many missed games, Wemby can seize an opportunity here, and will state his case against the two-time winner by stuffing the stat sheet.

Nuggets vs Spurs SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Over 25.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 10.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 assists
• Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals + blocks

Nuggets vs Spurs odds

• Spread: Nuggets +4.5 | Spurs -4.5
• Moneyline: Nuggets +145 | Spurs -200
• Over/Under: Over 240 | Under 240

Nuggets vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Spurs have covered the first-half spread in 33 of their last 50 games for +13.35 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Spurs.

How to watch Nuggets vs Spurs

Nuggets vs Spurs latest injuries

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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Otega Oweh scored 21 points, Denzel Aberdeen added 16, including a key basket with 22.5 seconds remaining, and No. 9 seed Kentucky beat No. 8 seed Missouri 78-72 on Thursday in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky (21-12) advances to play No. 1 seed and fourth-ranked Florida in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Kentucky led by 16 points with 14:33 left in the second half. But the Wildcats went nearly five minutes without a field goal as Missouri used a 10-2 run to get within 60-57 at the 8-minute mark.

Missouri's second-half rally was led by Mark Mitchell, who scored 23 of his 32 points after the break. His basket with 2:34 left gave the Tigers their first lead of the second half at 70-69, but they did not make another field goal the rest of the game.

After Kentucky forced an airball on a baseline jumper, Oweh drove into the lane at the other end for a 73-70 lead with 1:13 left. Then Oweh forced a turnover when he knocked the ball off the leg of Mitchell.

Aberdeen received a pass with the shot clock winding down and he used a pump fake to get into the lane before banking in a contested shot for a 75-70 lead. He added two free throws in the closing seconds to seal it.

Missouri (20-12) also got 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from T.O. Barrett.

Up next

Kentucky lost both regular-season meetings with Florida — a 92-83 contest on the road and 84-77 at home.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Bam Adebayo and the red-hot Miami Heat are this week’s biggest NBA story, and they’ll go for a seventh straight win tonight as they host the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bam lit up the Wizards on Tuesday in a stunning 83-point outburst, and my Bucks vs. Heat predictions signal more home cooking for this dangerous Miami squad.

This March 12 clash is the last thing a struggling Milwaukee team needs, and my NBA picks break down the action.

Bucks vs Heat prediction

Bucks vs Heat best bet: Heat -6.5 (-110)

Here come the Miami Heat.

Erik Spoelstra’s men enter with a 22-11 record at Kaseya Center, and they’re 8-2 ATS in their last 10 overall.

Despite key absences, Miami has scored 120+ points in five straight contests, and this spread feels even better with Kel’el Ware — and possibly Tyler Herro — returning here.

But this pick is equally about the Milwaukee Bucks' woes. They are 3-7 ATS in their past 10 and 12-19 SU on the road.

There’s only so much that Giannis Antetokounmpo can do to elevate a roster with major holes.

Bucks vs Heat same-game parlay

Even after Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring effort this week, defense remains his calling card. He averaged 10.1 RPG in March, and the Heat will need his hustle on the glass tonight to combat the Bucks’ size.

I’ll round out my SGP with a wager on Davion Mitchell, who’s been a great story in South Beach this year. His steady guard play has translated to 6.7 APG, and he’s dished a combined 17 dimes in two matchups against Milwaukee this season.

Bucks vs Heat SGP

• Heat -6.5
• Bam Adebayo Over 9.5 rebounds
• Davion Mitchell Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bam and the boards

Venture into the paint at your own risk tonight. With Giannis and Kevin Porter Jr. on one end and Adebayo and Ware at the other, we could see a lot of jump shots and some healthy rebounding totals — plus Bam has recorded a block in five straight games.

Bucks vs Heat SGP

• Bam Adebayo Over 9.5 rebounds
• Bam Adebayo Over 0.5 blocks
• Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 9.5 rebounds
• Kevin Porter Jr. Over 4.5 rebounds

Bucks vs Heat odds

• Spread: Bucks +6.5 | Heat -6.5
• Moneyline: Bucks +215 | Heat -260
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5

Bucks vs Heat betting trend to know

The Heat are 6-0 ATS in their past six games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Heat.

How to watch Bucks vs Heat

Bucks vs Heat latest injuries

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

CHICAGO (AP) — Bruce Thornton had 24 points, John Mobley Jr. scored all 12 of his points in the second half, and No. 8 seed Ohio State held off a late rally by No. 9 seed Iowa for a 72-69 victory Thursday in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Ohio State (21-11) advances to play top-seeded and third-ranked Michigan in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Thornton had a personal 10-0 run to give Ohio State its largest lead of the game at 51-35 with 13:55 remaining.

But Iowa rallied down the stretch to get within 70-69 with 38.7 seconds left.

Ohio State worked the clock down before Thornton drove into the lane for a shot that rolled off the rim. Amare Bynum's putback attempt did not go, but Ohio State secured the rebound, and Mobley was fouled before making two free throws for a three-point lead with 8 seconds left.

Iowa got past midcourt to call a timeout with 7.2 left. Brendan Hausen's 3-point attempt from the corner did not hit the rim, but Iowa got another chance after Ohio State missed the front end of a 1-and-1.

Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras missed a free throw in the closing seconds, but Isaia Howard stole the rebound and ran out to the 3-point arc for a shot that hit off the back of the rim as time expired.

Bennett Stirtz led Iowa (21-12) with 17 points.

Up next

Ohio State lost both regular-season meetings with Michigan by double figures, most recently an 82-61 contest at home on Feb. 8.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Conference tournament week during the college basketball season can be a prelude to madness.

The potential mayhem from league tournaments allows lower-seeded teams knocking off regular-season champs to clinch a berth to the Big Dance. And for one-bid leagues, that can be a brutal end to standout season.

March Madness bracket live updates: Miami Ohio loss shakes up NCAA Tournament field

So far this March, No. 1 seeds have had a rough time.

Through play on midday Thursday, March 12, we have already seen 11 No. 1 seeds go down, including the previously undefeated Miami (Ohio) in the MAC tournament quarterfinals.

According to ESPN, 51 of the 63 conference tournaments in 2023 and 2025 were won by Nos. 1 or 2 seeds. Could this year be different?

Here's a look at the No. 1 seeds that have been toppled in conference tournaments so far:

No. 1 seeds to lose in conference tournament

As of 2 p.m., Thursday, March 12, 11 No. 1 seeds have been knocked out of their respective conference tournaments.

The number can grow, with a handful of No. 1 seeds in some of the major conferences playing in their first conference tournament games over the next couple of days.

• SWAC: Bethune-Cookman (quarterfinals)
• Patriot: Navy (semifinals)
• MAAC: Merrimack (championship game)
• Conference USA: Liberty (quarterfinals)
• MAC: Miami Ohio (quarterfinals)
• MVC: Belmont (quarterfinals)
• Big Sky: Portland State (quarterfinals)
• ASUN: Central Arkansas (championship game)
• SoCon: East Tennessee State (championship game)
• CAA: UNC Wilmington (quarterfinals)
• Southland: Stephen F. Austin (championship game)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball No. 1 seeds keep losing in conference tournaments

One of the toughest stretches of the season for the Oklahoma City Thunder rolls on.

Winners of 11 of their last 13, the Thunder are hosting the Boston Celtics Thursday, March 12, just three days after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put away the Denver Nuggets with a game-winning 3 in the final seconds. With the win, Gilgeous-Alexander created separation in the race for NBA Most Valuable Player, and the Thunder maintained their hold on the top seed in the West.

And, Thursday's game presents the chance for SGA to make history. He can break the NBA record for consecutive games with at least 20 points. He tied Wilt Chamberlain for most all-time, with 126 in a row, against Denver.

The Celtics, meanwhile, have gotten a massive boost since Jayson Tatum returned from his Achilles tendon rupture surgery. Boston has been rolling lately and is just 3½ games back of the Detroit Pistons for the No. 1 seed in the East.

Here’s everything you need to know about Thursday night’s Celtics-Thunder game:

The Sixers are cursed. I don’t know what led us all on to this path, but it happened. The fervent dedication of the Process era that was filled with promises of titles and parades has only been matched by a series of blunders and setbacks, each one more inexplicable than the last. The Sixers, and, sadly, the fan base, have become Wile E. Coyote. No matter the schemes to get this team to a true level of contention, we’re left holding a stick of dynamite as the Road Runner and Eastern Conference Finals appearances dart away.

I’m left wondering if we all tempted fate with the basketball gods when we cheered on the Process. Do I have any regrets? No. Was it the right decision to take tanking to its logical endpoint in a league with an out-0f-whack incentive structure? Of course. Has it delivered the Sixers to the Promised Land? Clearly not. Did we fly too close to the sun? Maybe!

The Sixers, in a vague sense at least, have an MVP, a future Hall of Famer, an in-prime, multiple-time All-Star and a dude set to make the All-Rookie Team. It has culminated in a season that’s had fleeting moments of fun that have neither moved the needle in terms of immediate playoff success nor in terms of true, long-term contention. I remember being home after my freshman year of college when the Sixers hired Sam Hinkie in May 2013. Nearly 13 years later, even with the pure talent, in a vacuum, on this roster, an NBA title feels further away now than it did back then.

No Etsy witch requests nor prayer circles in FDR Park with candles bearing Hinkie’s face can fix that.

What can?

It sounds terrible, but a part of me thinks this city just needs a total basketball reboot. It’s obviously not going to happen with a new arena on the way and the market that Philadelphia is, but what if the Sixers moved to, say, Seattle or Las Vegas? Give the city about a half-decade off from the NBA, watch the Big 5 and the WNBA team that’s on the way and then have a do-over with an expansion team. I love the Sixers’ name, logos, history, etc. Would I be willing to trade that away for competent management that this fan base can trust in even if the team had a pathetically generic name like the Philadelphia Flames? Sure, as long as they didn’t do any Boathouse Row-themed uniforms.

There’s no fix for the Sixers right now. There is no way for this fan base to shift the luck that has befallen this franchise for four decades aside from the outlier that was the 2001 campaign. We will endure this for as long as the NBA exists. It sucks, but at least we’re not Wizards fans? That’s the only silver lining I can concoct at the moment.

Miami (Ohio) is no longer undefeated, and now begins the hot debate of whether they will make the NCAA Tournament.

The RedHawks suffered their first loss of the season, losing to Massachusetts, 87-83, in the opening round of the MAC tournament Thursday, March 12.

Opinion: Don't be fooled by Miami Ohio unbeaten record. It's built on cupcakes

The top seed in the conference looked like they were cruising toward a victory when it took an 11-point lead with eight minutes left in the game, but the Minutemen got hot. They went on a 13-2 run to tie the score with five minutes to go and it was back-and-forth the rest of the way.

UMass took a three-point lead with less than three minutes left and Miami (Ohio) was able to tie it in the final minute. The Minutemen’s Daniel Hankins-Sanford hit the go ahead bucket with 29 seconds left and the RedHawks weren’t able to tie it.

The biggest differential was UMass' dominance on the boards. It had 17 offensive rebounds, resulting in 23 second chance points.

With the loss, there are no more undefeated teams left in the country.

No. 8 UMass secures a HUGE win to move on to tomorrow's semifinals! 🚩@UMassMBB | #MACtionpic.twitter.com/lo1KAULm22

— MACtion (@MACSports) March 12, 2026

Now, the rest of the week will be spent debating if Miami (31-1) should be in March Madness. While it was the only undefeated team in the country, it didn’t have a strong resume as it ranked near the bottom of several strength of schedule metrics. It is ranked 269th in KenPom in strength of schedule and has an overall ranking of 93.

In the all important NET rankings, Miami (Ohio) is No. 54, a spot that isn't ideal for an at-large spot.

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The RedHawks didn’t have a Quad 1 win and just a 2-0 Quad 2 mark, while the majority of its games were Quad 4 opportunities. 

What didn’t help was the loss to Massachusetts was a Quad 4 loss, as the Minutemen were the eighth seed in the conference tournament and were 16-15 coming into the contest. It's a mark teams cannot afford just days before Selection Sunday.

Despite the ugly mark on the resume, Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler previously told USA TODAY Sports the team should have already punched its ticket to the Big Dance.

“An undefeated season, it has to matter, right?” Sayler said. “Otherwise, why wouldn't we just play three days in (the MAC tournament) and the winner goes to the (NCAA) tournament and forget the regular season if you're not going to take an undefeated team?"

“It should cement it,” he added.

Even with all the arguments for and against the inclusion of Miami (Ohio), now all the RedHawks can do is wait and see if they will be in the bracket when it is announced on Sunday, March 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami Ohio loses in MAC tournament first round, RedHawks now on March Madness bubble

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The Phoenix Suns will look to continue their march up the Western Conference standings as they visit the Indiana Pacers tonight.

Indiana has lost 10 straight and shows no signs of turning things around, so I’m taking Phoenix to cover in my Suns vs. Pacers predictions and NBA picks below. 

Suns vs Pacers prediction

Suns vs Pacers best bet: Suns -8.5 (-110)

Not only have the Indiana Pacers lost 10 straight games, but they're 0-10 ATS during that streak. Indiana is also dealing with a slew of injuries, with Obi Toppin on a minutes restriction and Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell all missing time recently.

The Phoenix Suns have won five of their last six and have found some offensive rhythm behind Devin Booker. They’ve always been solid on defense, holding opponents to 111.0 ppg on the year.

I’m taking Phoenix to cover tonight against a Pacers team that looks completely uncompetitive right now.

Suns vs Pacers same-game parlay

Along with taking the Suns to cover, I’m going with two of the better-looking Phoenix props on the board tonight for my SGP. That includes taking Jalen Green to go Over 20.5 points for a fourth straight game, as well as backing Collin Gillespie to grab 5+ boards, something he’s done in four of his last five games.

Suns vs Pacers SGP

• Suns -8.5
• Jalen Green Over 20.5 points
• Collin Gillespie Over 4.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Booker time

Booker has been on fire during Phoenix’s current three-game winning streak. I’m backing him to hit all his major prop totals tonight after he put up a 30-point double-double on Sunday and recorded seven assists and five rebounds on Tuesday against the Bucks.

Suns vs Pacers SGP

• Suns -8.5
• Devin Booker Over 27.5 points
• Devin Booker Over 4.5 rebounds
• Devin Booker Over 5.5 assists

Suns vs Pacers odds

• Spread: Suns -8.5 | Pacers +8.5
• Moneyline: Suns -400 | Pacers +300
• Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224

Suns vs Pacers betting trend to know

The Pacers are 0-10 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Pacers.

How to watch Suns vs Pacers

Suns vs Pacers latest injuries

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

I started to watch Wednesday’s game and thought about quitting for a minute.

Only then did I realize we had Jordan Clarkson sitting on the bench, so it was just a matter of time for the Knicks to flip the script.

Here’s the latest from your superheroes in a JC-heavy chapter of the bulletin.

Mike Brown

On Clarkson’s play after going through the Jazz’s tribute video:

“It was awesome. I don’t know the Jazz organization. For them to play that video, that was awesome that was unexpected for me. I don’t know if Jordan knew about it, that was a cool touch. And then for him to go out and perform the way he did, you couldn’t ask for anything better, And it says a lot about him. It goes to show he’s not just keeping his body right but his mind his mind is in a good spot to go do that when you’re down 20 in the first half. So just to see that, you couldn’t ask for anything better. Especially from him, who is a veteran who hasn’t been playing or in the rotation and all of a sudden we need.”

On assistant Maurice Cheeks’ advice to bring JC in:

“Mo said earlier today, he said, we got to find a way to get Jordan in the game because he can have a big one for us tonight, we may need it. And Mo is the prophet. He was right on target with it. We needed it every single thing that Jordan brought to the table tonight.”

On the comeback victory against the Jazz:

“Really good comeback win.”

On cleaning up turnovers at halftime:

“We committed eight turnovers for 14 points in the first half and a lot of them were unforced. A lot of those turnovers led to easy baskets in transition for Utah. They had 27 fast-break points in that first half, the way we calculate it. We cleaned both those areas at halftime. We had just four turnovers in the second half, giving up four points off those turnovers, and then we gave up just five fast-break points in the second half. And that was the difference in the game. We gave ourselves an opportunity to shoot the basketball. And when we did, it obviously went in.”

On Clarkson’s all-around performance:

“Jordan Clarkson was huge for us, and we had a lot of guys that played the right way in the second half, including Jalen, but Clarkson kept us in the game when we were down. And then definitely helped us get over the hump with the performance he had. And on top of the 27 points, he had five offensive rebounds, and that helped slow their transition game down. So, he was our defensive player of the game. But just a whale of a game by Jordan in a lot of different areas, his physicality too on the ball was good. He just gave us a spark on both ends of the floor.”

On defensive accountability:

“Everybody’s a lot better with the accountability aspect of it too. Not just making sure we’re holding each other accountable but being OK with being held accountable”

Jordan Clarkson

On returning to Delta Center:

“I spent six years in this arena so the rims are pretty familiar to me. It’s not the first time I’ve been hot in this arena. Just being able to start the flame and keep it going.”

On the emotional return to Utah:

“It was amazing. Just being back here, being back in Utah, feeling the love, this city, this organization, everybody man, showing me love, accepting me when I got here. I still feel the love now. I mean, that was pretty heartwarming. I tried to hold my tears in, just feeling the love it was amazing.”

On the halftime message from Brown leading to the comeback win:

“Get our s–t together.”

On holding each other accountable at halftime:

“It was our halftime speech, in terms of how we came at each other, where we tried to hold each other accountable. And then just came out here and wanted to win.”

On the slow start and second-half response:

“As a team, we started off slow. Good halftime for us to kind of get at each other and let us know we gotta pick it up. Just a good win. It’s not the first time I’ve been high in this building, and I’m just glad it happened here. Continue to keep working and get the next win.”

On staying professional amid a challenging season:

“It’s really not about rotations right now. We got one goal and one goal in mind, and that’s to win each game. As always, next, man up, man. We just trying to compete and win every game.”

Jalen Brunson

On Clarkson’s work ethic:

“It’s just who he is. He comes in and works every single day. It’s just who he is, what he’s been able to do throughout his career. Just being able to talk to him all the time has been a joy to have him as a teammate and I love him. It can be an example for anybody. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career. Things may not be going your way. Continue to work and continue to persevere. You never know when things are going to fall into place.”

On the advice he’s given Mikal Bridges as he navigates another slump:

“Tell him to keep shooting. Tell him to keep playing. He’s out there. So he has to continue to be who he is.”

Josh Hart

On the Knicks’ defensive improvement this season:

“If that’s what the numbers say, I don’t think the numbers are wrong. I think what we’re doing is a great attention to detail and a level of physicality. I think we can sustain that. We have good players, smart players. You see the formula that it takes for us to be successful. Now we just have to sharpen that.”

Mikal Bridges

On whether aggression is the issue affecting his game of late:

“The aggression thing is not an issue at all. I don’t think that’s the issue at all. Even if I miss a couple, there’s nothing wrong with that. Nah, I don’t think that’s the issue.”

On why he’s struggling to put the ball in:

“I don’t know. I think it’s just the game of basketball. Sometimes you try to get open and sometimes it doesn’t find me. Just try to find ways to stay aggressive. That’s it.”

On Brown’s offensive system and not having many plays called:

“It’s got its pros and cons. You try to have the feel of the game sometimes.”

On adjusting to a reduced role:

“It’s all right. I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win, trying to find opportunities, try to do all the right things and be aggressive. Sometimes doesn’t come my way. Just try to do other things.”

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We’ve got a great night of hoops action. The Celtics take on the Thunder, the Nuggets face the Spurs, and what will Bam Adebayo do for an encore after his 83-point performance?

That means there are plenty of great player props on the board, and my favorites for the day include a play in that Heat game, while Paolo Banchero will pull a magic trick on the glass against the Wizards.

Those and more NBA picks for Thursday, March 12, below.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Paolo Banchero	Double-double	+105
Kevin Porter Jr.	Over 4.5 rebounds	+110
Victor Wembanyama	Over 4.5 steals & blocks	+105

Prop #1: Paolo Banchero double-double

+105 at bet365

The Orlando Magic are playing their best basketball of the season. They have climbed to fifth in the East and enter tonight’s matchup vs. the Washington Wizards, as winners of five in a row.

Paolo Banchero is a big reason why. The Magic forward is putting up 25.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his last 10 games.

I want to focus on the rebounds. Washington ranks dead last in rebounding rate and opponent rebounds per game. With Banchero hitting double-digit boards five times during that span, I like him to do it again and record a double-double in the process.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Monumental, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida

Prop #2: Kevin Porter Jr. Over 4.5 rebounds

+110 at bet365

What will Bam Adebayo do for an encore following his 83-point performance when the Miami Heat visit the Milwaukee Bucks?

Well, I’m actually more interested in another aspect of that performance. The Heat took 90 shots in that game. Which has been their M.O. all season long. Miami leads the NBA in pace and field goal attempts per game.

That means lots of rebounds, where they allow the third-most per game. 

So, let’s go Kevin Porter Jr. Over 4.5 rebounds. Porter is questionable, but it’s a number he’s topped in four of his last five, including hauling down seven in a February 24 meeting against Miami.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-Wisconsin, FanDuel Sports Network-South

Prop #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals & blocks

+105 at bet365

There’s a reason why the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama leads the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds, but it feels like he’s taken his defensive aggression to another level since the All-Star break.

Wembanyama is averaging 4.3 blocks in 11 games since coming out of the break. Now, obviously, books have caught on, generally putting a lot of juice on the Over. But with him also averaging 1.3 steals over that stretch, there’s still value in his steals & blocks prop.

It’s sitting at 4.5 with the Over at plus money for tonight’s game vs. the Denver Nuggets. A number he’s topped in eight times during those 11 games.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Alt, FanDuel Sports Network-Southwest

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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