CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Boopie Miller scored 25 points to lead five starters in double figures, Jaden Toombs and Samet Yigitoglu each had a double-double and No. 11 seed SMU beat 14th-seeded Syracuse 86-69 on Tuesday in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.
SMU (20-12), which had lost four ACC games in a row, advances to play 24th-ranked and sixth-seeded Louisville on Wednesday in the second round.
Toombs had a double-double in the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Miller added 11 points to help SMU hold a 39-38 lead at the break. Nate Kingz paced Syracuse with 17 points.
SMU pulled away midway through the second half when Jaron Pierre Jr. made three straight 3-pointers during a 13-0 run that ended in a 69-48 lead with 8:41 remaining. Pierre's fifth 3-pointer of the second half made it 79-66.
Pierre finished with 21 points for SMU. Toombs had 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, Yigitoglu had 12 points and 11 boards, and Corey Washington also scored 12. The Mustang reserves only attempted two shots.
Kingz led Syracuse (15-17) with 25 points and Tyler Betsey added 15. The Orange shot 9 of 34 from distance (26%).
Up next
Syracuse ends the campaign on a six-game losing streak.
SMU split the regular-season series with Louisville as both teams won at home.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lauren Whittaker scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Gonzaga to a 76-66 win over Oregon State in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game on Tuesday.
The second-seeded Bulldogs (24-9) will make their 16th trip to the NCAA Tournament and first since 2024 after winning their 11th WCC Tournament before joining the renewed Pac-12 next season.
Whittaker, a freshman and conference player of the year, was 9-of-20 shooting with three 3-pointers. Allie Turner scored all 14 of her points in the second half and Ines Bettencourt added 12.
Jenna Villa scored 20 points for the fourth-seeded Beavers (23-11), making 9 of 10 free throws but going just 4 of 15 from the floor. Tiara Bolden added 19 points and eight rebounds and Lizzy Williamson had 12 points and nine rebounds.
There were 15 lead changes and 10 ties, the final deadlock coming with six minutes remaining before Whittaker completed a three-point play. Her basket with two minutes to go made it a four-point edge. From there, the Bulldogs wrapped up the win, making 9 of 10 free throws while the Beavers were just 1 of 4 at the line and 1 of 7 from the floor.
Turner hit two 3-pointers and scored 10 points in the third quarter. Whittaker added nine and the Bulldogs took a 53-49 lead into the final period.
Whittaker's 3-pointer gave Gonzaga a 18-17 first-quarter lead. The Beavers outscored the Bulldogs 11-3 over the final eight minutes for a 28-27 halftime edge.
The teams split their two regular-season games. Gonzaga had reached four straight NCAA Tournaments before the Beavers beat them in last year’s semifinals en route to winning the tournament.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks gives instructions to his team during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-43) stay on the road on Tuesday night, this time facing off against the Atlanta Hawks. Dallas has the league’s longest losing streak, currently sitting at seven games. Their opponent, meanwhile, is red-hot, winning six straight. This is an important game for both teams and will be worth tuning in for even if you’re highly invested in the tank
Here are the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Atlanta Hawks
WHAT: Becoming one with road games.
WHERE: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
WHEN: 6:30 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report for the Dallas Mavericks tonight is easily the best it’s been in months. The two-way players are all doubtful, so Moussa Cisse won’t play. And of course Dereck Lively and Kyrie Irving are out. Everyone else is not on the report at all.
The Atlanta Hawks will be without Jonathan Kuminga, who is missing the game due to a knee bruise.
This game should be a test for the Dallas tank. The Hawks are playing their best basketball of the season and Dallas has looked really out of sorts the last few losses. To the point that watching them feels fruitless. They need just one thing to go their way to get a win, but I have real concerns about their ability to stop Jalen Johnson, who poured in 35 points in his last game on Saturday. The Hawks will have had two days off, a rarity in the NBA comparatively, so they should come out looking spry.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 7: Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles past Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at the United Center on December 7, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors return home after a 1-2 road trip to take on the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. The game will be played at 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State looks to rebound after a demoralizing 119–116 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday night. As has often been the case for this version of the Warriors, the offense largely lives and dies by its perimeter shooting. That trend showed up again in this matchup, as 52 of their 99 shot attempts came from beyond the arc. Golden State knocked down just 16 of those threes, finishing the night at 30.8 percent from deep.
However, what continues to haunt them is their free-throw shooting. For a team that ranks sixth in the league in free-throw percentage, the Warriors struggled at the line, converting just 14-of-21 attempts on the night.
Making matters worse, the loss came against a Jazz team that entered the game with just two wins in their last 10 games and currently sits second-to-last in the Western Conference with a record of 20–45. Head coach Steve Kerr reflected on the defeat after the game.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Golden State never “got control” of Utah defensively. Highlighted the Jazz’s 27 free throws and said “our defense let us down” and that it was “fun” to see Seth Curry return.
The Warriors did receive a pleasant surprise with the return of Seth Curry to the rotation. He made an immediate impact, knocking down an open corner three in the first quarter and finishing the night with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. Having said that, he will be held out of tonight’s game as the team remains cautious with him on the second night of a back-to-back.
Seth Curry is OUT tonight after playing his first game in over 3 months last night @NBCSWarriors
Moses Moody remains out. Draymond Green, De'Anthony Melton and Quinten Post are questionable, and Gary Payton II is probable
Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis will be available
The Warriors will have Kristaps Porzingis available after a one game absence. Porzingis played 23 minutes in the Warriors’ game against the Thunder on Saturday, marking his first return since missing the previous six games due to an illness. His shooting and rim protection have been a welcome sight during his limited time with the team, and should be something to build on as they take on the Bulls who are 2-8 in their last 10 games.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards blocks a shot in the first quarter against Kasparas Jakucionis #25 of the Miami Heat at Capital One Arena on February 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Miami Heat at 7:30 p.m. ET. Chat about it in the comments below!
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 15: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 15, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers had plans for Adou Thiero this season that involved potential rotation minutes. But as the saying goes, even the best laid plans can go to waste.
The result has been a season with lots of stops and starts, little rhythm and effectively no impact on the parent Lakers.
However, there is a bit of good news as the season nears it’s end. A bit of an extended stint in the G League for Thiero has helped him find his groove, most recently with a 25-point outing, prompting quesitons about him to head coach JJ Redick at practice on Monday.
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero is coming off a 25-point game on 10-for-12 shooting (5-for-5 from 3) with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in the G League. Could there be minutes on the Lakers? JJ Redick: “Definitely want to get him opportunities. Those opportunities are not there right now.” pic.twitter.com/sYDzSlLyez
Thiero shined in South Bay’s game against the Santa Cruz Warriors on Sunday, scoring his 25 points on 10-12 shooting from the field and an especially eye-catching 5-5 shooting from three. He added six rebounds, a pair of assists and a pair of blocks.
— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) March 9, 2026
While that was his most impressive line in recent outings, he has strung together some solid outings. Across his last four games in the last two-and-a-half weeks, Thiero is shooting 26-35 (74.3%) from the field. He’s only taken threes in two games, but has not missed any of his six attempts.
The most encouraging thing is how fluid he looks on the court. That’s the type of thing that only comes with time and he certainly looks back to his athletically overwhelming best.
The question the Lakers are facing now is whether it’s more valuable to have Thiero continue to get reps in the G League or bring him up to the parent Lakers for spot rotation minutes. Considering how well he’s playing right now and how inconsistent his minutes would be in the NBA, you can see the rationale for keeping him where he’s at.
This has already effectively been a lost season in many respects for Thiero. Let him finish things strong, carry some momentum in the summer and start things off with a big Summer League in July.
Mar 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) talks with guard Amen Thompson (1) during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Houston Rockets vs Toronto Raptors
March 10, 2026
Location: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App, SCHN+
Time: 7:00 CST
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Just about everything Cameron Payne tossed up turned to gold Tuesday night.
Payne had a brilliant, career-high performance in the Sixers’ 139-129 win over the Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena. He scored 32 points on 9-for-10 shooting (8 for 8 from three-point range) and also tallied 10 assists.
The Sixers improved to 35-30 and Memphis fell to 24-40.
Four Sixers passed 20 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. posted 31, Quentin Grimes scored 22 and VJ Edgecombe added 21.
Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome scored 26 points and dished out eight assists. He was ejected with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter after picking up two technical fouls in quick succession.
The Sixers will face the Pistons on Thursday in Detroit. Here are observations on their Payne-led victory over Memphis:
Edgecombe in and at the point
Oubre scored the Sixers’ first five points with a top-of-the-key jumper and a pair of free throws.
There was otherwise nothing doing for the Sixers’ offense in the opening minutes. The team started 1 for 7 from the field and 1 for 8 from three-point range.
The Sixers’ defense also had minimal success. Memphis regularly beat the Sixers off the dribble in the first quarter and fired up comfortable jumpers. Jerome’s and-one leaner lifted the Grizzlies to a 17-7 lead.
Edgecombe started in the backcourt next to Grimes and served as the Sixers’ primary ball handler. The rookie returned from a three-game absence with a lumbar contusion.
The Grizzlies applied early full-court ball pressure. To Edgecombe’s credit, he wasn’t bothered much by it and the Sixers reduced their turnovers across the board following a few subpar games in that area. The team committed just four turnovers in the first half.
Payne’s got his jumper back
The Grizzlies had no traditional center available in Philadelphia.
With matchups presumably in mind, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse removed Andre Drummond from the rotation. Jabari Walker played center once Adem Bona subbed out. Later, starting power forward Dominick Barlow was the Sixers’ biggest player on the floor.
The Sixers’ second unit had a strong finish to the first quarter. A Walker put-back layup tied the game and Grimes’ and-one lefty layup gave the Sixers a 32-29 edge.
Payne caught fire off the bench in the second quarter and never cooled off.
Between the 10:06 and 8:09 mark of the second, Payne hit three long-range jumpers and scored 11 points. He wound up with 14 points and zero misses in the second period.
After signing with the Sixers in February and struggling as a shooter through his first 10 NBA games of the season, Payne was due to heat up. The veteran guard’s not the sort of player to be shaken by a rough patch. He’s weathered slumps over the years and understands that he needs to keep shooting through inevitable ups and downs.
Forced turnovers fuel comeback
The Sixers were down three points at halftime. To no one’s surprise, that deficit increased in the third quarter.
The team trailed by as many as 14 points in the third, although the Sixers had a high-energy close to the period and the Grizzlies only led by six entering the fourth.
Memphis had an unsurprising advantage in second-chance points (28-15). And, if it weren’t for Payne, the Sixers would’ve been dramatically outmatched from three-point territory. Everyone besides Payne combined to go 3 for 23.
The Sixers’ knack for forcing turnovers ultimately spurred their comeback surge in the fourth quarter.
Oubre converted a crowd-pleasing and-one layup after a Payne steal. Two more Memphis giveaways led to dunks by Oubre and Barlow. The young Grizzlies seemed rattled by the Sixers’ aggressive defense and the fact that their lead was disappearing. Payne’s seventh triple put the Sixers up 119-115, capped a 12-0 run and prompted a Memphis timeout.
Suddenly, with Payne the star of the show, the Sixers could do no wrong. The Grizzlies asked for timeout again after Payne drove and dropped off a pass to Barlow for an and-one bucket that gave the Sixers a double-digit lead.
Payne raced to his absurdly efficient career high and the Sixers celebrated with the lively lefty at the final buzzer.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jalen Celestine hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points, including two clinching free throws with 29 seconds to go, and ninth-seeded Cincinnati held off No. 16 seed Utah 73-66 on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Moustapha Thiam added 14 points and 10 rebounds while Baba Miller had 11 points, 14 boards and six assists for the Bearcats (18-14), who also gave their NCAA tourney hopes a big boost by earning a date with No. 8 seed UCF on Wednesday.
The Bearcats have won seven of their last nine games, a streak that began with a 20-point victory over the Knights in early February and includes a rare win by a road team over Kansas inside Allen Fieldhouse a couple of weeks ago.
Terrence Brown had 22 points and six assists for the Utes (10-22), who finished the season with five straight losses and 18 in their last 20 games. Keanu Dawes had 15 points and 12 rebounds while Seydou Traore scored 12.
Cincinnati closed the first half on an 15-2 run to take a 29-20 lead into the break, and it managed to extend the advantage to 48-33 by the midway point of the second half, when it seemed as if the Bearcats were about to put the game away.
Brown almost single-handedly kept the Utes in it.
He answered with back-to-back baskets as part of a mid-half scoring burst, then scored nine consecutive points for Utah down the stretch. The last of them was a three-point play that got the Utes within 66-61 with 3:07 to go.
Utah was still within 68-64 with a minute left, but Day Day Thomas and Celestine made free throws to put the game away.
Up next
Cincinnati split two games with UCF this season with each winning at home.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 8: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 8, 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
It’s a bummer that for the second straight March, draft positioning has been the only thing worth rooting for so far.
After losing four out of their last five games and injuries mounting, the Sixers have finally slipped out of the top-6 in the Eastern Conference, sitting firmly in the eighth seed at 34-30. Of course there’s no protection if the wheels completely fall off and they are unable to get out of the Play-In tournament as the Sixers owe their top-4 protected pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
At least Philadelphia does own a draft pick for the 2026 first round, acquiring that of the Houston Rockets in exchange for trading Jared McCain to the Thunder. There’s at least been some improvement on that front, with the Rockets moving up one spot in the draft after going 1-2 over their last week of games.
They had a tough overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors, as well as running into the red-hot San Antonio Spurs with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers sandwiched in between. That’s moved them from 25th to 24th in draft order. They are a game back in the loss column from the LA Lakers for the 22nd pick and two back in the loss column from the Denver Nuggets for 21.
They’ll see those Nuggets as a part of a tricky week upcoming for Houston. First they’ll take on the Toronto Raptors at home on March 10 before heading up to Denver for a nationally televised bout on the 11th. Things definitely get easier when they come back home to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on the 13th, then they start a two-game set at home with the Lakers on the 16th. That’ll be two upcoming games with big impacts on the standings with the teams in the early to mid twenties so bunched up.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 03: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks talks with Dwight Powell #7 in the first half during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on March 03, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Come back later in the week to see the results! And then we can talk about them
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates during the game against the New York Knicks on March 8, 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
With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.
LA is now sitting at the No.5 spot in the West after beating the Pacers and Knicks this weekend along with the Nuggets falling to Oklahoma City and New York.
This is the most important stretch of the season, and if the Lakers beat the Wolves, they’ll be in a prime position to continue climbing up the rankings.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference:
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who you should be rooting for.
Tuesday
Raptors at Rockets — It’s going to be tough for the Raptors to pull off a road win over the Rockets. The last time they beat a winning team was on Jan. 25 when they defeated the Thunder.
Suns at Bucks — Are the Bucks even trying to win, and more importantly, can they even do it? Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to play in this contest, so maybe that’ll be enough to tip things in Milwaukee’s favor. Phoenix will be relying heavily on Devin Booker, who is coming off another 30-point performance in a quality win over the Hornets.
Wednesday
Wolves at Clippers — Sorry, Lakers fans, but you’re going to have to suck it up and root for the other LA team as Minnesota plays the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Clippers have been playing good basketball as of late and are somehow back at .500 after starting the year with an abysmal 6-21.
Final: Clippers 126, Knicks 118. The LA Clippers started 6-21. No team that’s been that bad through their first 27 games has ended up .500 or better, let alone reached .500 at any point during the season. Until now. Clippers are 32-32 after going 26-11 since that dreadful start.
Rockets at Nuggets — Is it possible for both teams to lose a basketball game? Who Lakers fans should root for in this game will depend on where things stand before tip-off. The good news is that someone will fall in the rankings, either way, in this contest.
Thursday
Nuggets at Spurs — Denver has to play Houston, then turn around and play San Antonio. That’s a rough back-to-back. It’s very possible that the Spurs beat the Nuggets on Thursday.
Suns at Pacers — Indiana is tanking and Phoenix is fighting to try and avoid the play-in, so don’t expect much of a game here. This is one to either turn on immediately to see what the vibes are or check at halftime if the Pacers even have a shot at winning.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (43-21) at San Antonio Spurs (47-17) Tuesday, March 10, 2026 8:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #65 Road Game #34 TV: NBC/Peacock, NBCSB, FDSN Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WOAI/KXTN, Sirius XM AT&T Center
The Celtics continue their 3 game road trip with a stop in San Antonio to take on the Spurs. They beat the Cavaliers 109-98 on Sunday. They will finish the trip on Thursday in OKC. This is the second, and final game between these two teams this season. The Spurs won the first meeting 100-95 in Boston on January 10. The Celtics won the series 2-0 last season. They are 47-59 overall all time against the Spurs and they are 22-30 all time in games played in San Antonio.
Unlike many teams, the Spurs stood pat at the trade deadline and did not make any trades. They did, however waive Jeremy Sochan, who was later signed as a free agent by the Knicks. They also signed Mason Plumlee to a 10 day contract After the 10 day contract ran out, Plumlee signed a rest-of-season contract with the Spurs. They also signed Emanuel Miller to a two-way contract.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 2.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 3 games ahead of 3rd place New York , 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 7.5 games ahead of 6th place Orlando and 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 15-7 against Western Conference opponents. They are 22-11 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Spurs are 2nd in the West, 2.5 games behind first place OKC. They are 7 games ahead of 3rd place Minnesota, 7.5 games ahead of 4th place Houston, 8 games ahead of the 5th place LA Lakers and the 6th place Denver Nuggets, and 10 games ahead of 7th place Phoenix. They are 19-4 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 24-6 at home and are 9-1 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.
After this game at San Antonio the Celtics will complete their 3 game road trip at Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Next, it is one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee.
This is the 4th game of a 6 game home stand for the Spurs. They will host Denver and Charlotte before playing at the Clippers and at Sacramento. Then it’s back home against Phoenix and Indiana. Next they play on the road at Miami, Memphis and Milwaukee. Then it is one game at home against Chicago before a 3 game road trip through Golden State, the LA Clippers and Denver.
For the Celtics, Nikola Vucevic will remain out after having surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger. Payton Pritchard is out due to spasms in his neck. It is only be his second missed game of the season. For the Spurs, Harrison Barnes is out with an ankle injury. David Jones Garcia is out with an ankle injury. Lindy Waters III is questionable due to illness. Mason Plumlee is available after originally being listed as questionable due to reconditioning.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Stephon Castle
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesStephon Castle | Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs De’Aaron Fox
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesDe’Aaron Fox | Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Devin Vassell
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesDevin Vassell | Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Julian Champagnie
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesJulian Champagnie | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Victor Wembanyama
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesVictor Wembanyama | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Baylor Scheierman
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga John Tonje
Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out Payton Pritchard (neck) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Spurs Reserves Bismack Biyombo Carter Bryant Dylan Harper Keldon Johnson Luke Kornet Jordan McLaughlin Kelly Olynyk Mason Plumlee
2-Way Players Harrison Ingram David Jones Garcia Emanuel Miller
Injuries/Out Harrison Barnes (ankle) out David Jones Garcia (ankle) out Lindy Waters III (illness) questionable Mason Plumlee (reconditioning) available Head Coach Mitch Johnson
Key Matchups Neemias Queta vs Victor Wembanyama Wembanyama is averaging 23.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.steals per game. He is shooting 50.5% from the field and 35.3% beyond the arc. In the first game against Boston this year, he finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks while shooting 47.1% from the field and 25.3% from beyond the arc. He is a monster on defense and is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. The Celtics can only hope to slow him down.
Jaylen Brown vs De’Aaron Fox Fox is averaging 18.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 48.6% from the field and 34.1% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics on January 10, Fox finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal while shooting 56.3% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc. Fox is one of the fastest players in the league and the Celtics need to keep him from getting out on the break.
Honorable Mention Derrick White vs Stephon Castle Castle is averaging 16.4points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 46.8% from the field and 30.1% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 18.8% from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc. He is coming off a 145-120 win over Houston where he finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 75% on threes. He can be dangerous if not defended well.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense will always be the most important key to winning games. The Celtics are 5th with a defensive rating of 111.6 while the Spurs are 3rd with a defensive rating of 110.2. The Celtics need to defend the perimeter because the Spurs shoot 37.6 threes per game and they shoot 35.6% as a team. They also need to defend the paint as the Spurs average 51.1 points in the paint per game. The Celtics need to make defense a priority and play tough team defense from start to finish and not let up. This game will be won on the defensive end.
Rebound – The Celtics can’t score if they don’t have the ball, and they will struggle if they give up second chance points to the Spurs. The Celtics and Spurs are tied for 3rd with both teams averaging 46.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics are going to have to work extra hard on the boards in this game with Wembanyama ready to snag every rebound. When the Celtics put in extra effort on the boards, that effort tends to spread to other areas of the game as well.
To 3 or Not to 3 – The Celtics are 3rd in the league, attempting 42.4 threes a game. When they fall, the Celtics are tough to beat. But, when they aren’t falling, the Celtics struggle. If the Celtics aren’t hitting their 3s, they have to go to Plan B and take the ball to the basket or shoot from midrange. If the 3s are falling, great!! If not, go to Plan B. The Spurs are a good defensive team and will try to chase the Celtics off the 3 point line and they need to be ready for that.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics play their best when they share the ball. They are 28-2 when they have 25 or more assists in a game and they are 14-0 when they have 29 or more assists. However, the Celtics need to take care of the basketball and limit turnovers. They have to make careful passes and also be aware while dribbling and not drive into a crowd or allow a defender to steal the ball since the Spurs average 17.5 points off turnovers per game.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics are playing in the 2nd game of a 3 game road trip after having to travel across country and across time zones. They have to sleep in hotels and play in hostile arenas. The Spurs are a very good home team, losing just 6 games at home this season. The Celtics have to overcome all the distractions of playing on the road and stay focused on playing the game the right way.
Officiating – Officiating is always an X-Factor. Every crew officiates differently and teams need to adjust to the way the game is called. Will they call the game evenly or favor the home team? Will they call it tight or let them play? Hopefully we get fair officiating and they let them play and the Celtics focus on playing and not on the officiating.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 06: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks guards Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on February 06, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Bucks 114-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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The Phoenix Suns are fresh off a promising home win against the red-hot Charlotte Hornets on Sunday evening.
Despite being short-handed, Phoenix’s guard trio of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Collin Gillespie all put on a show. That, plus the strong play from their rookies and an encouraging Haywood Highsmith debut, was enough to push the Suns over the hump.
This will be the first meeting between these clubs, with the two-game season series concluding in Phoenix in a couple of weeks. For the Suns, this is the start of a long, grueling 6-game road trip all over the country with a pair of back-to-backs sprinkled in.
This is a road test that should not go unnoticed by the Suns, despite their poor record in Milwaukee. Giannis is off the injury report, and they will be at (mostly) full strength on their home floor. This game caps off the end of a season-long five-game homestand for the Bucks, who have lost five of their last six contests.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) has been upgraded to questionable for the Suns tomorrow against the Bucks.
Grayson Allen (right knee injury management) is questionable as well.
The Suns are going to be a bit undersized compared to a large Bucks team across the board. Between centers Myles Turner and Jericho Sims, along with Giannis, of course, and Bobby Portis, plus 6’9” forward Osumane Dieng stepping into a larger role of late.
Expect the trio of young guys in Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach, and Rasheer Fleming to get significant minutes in this one.
Milwaukee just gave up 130 points to the Orlando Magic in a loss on their home floor this Sunday. The Bucks are the 11th seed out East, and they are a full 4 games back from the Hornets (who Phoenix just beat) for the final play-in spot. The motivation will be there for them to put together one last run, especially with Giannis healthy, even if it looks to be an uphill climb.
Keys to a Suns Win
Contain the Freak
Giannis is still a freight train and will be a problem for a Suns team that struggles to defend physical, bruising forwards. I’d anticipate Oso Ighodaro, Rasheer Fleming, and Ryan Dunn, or even Khaman Maluach, being bodies they throw at him to disrupt him.
Beyond slowing Giannis down, the Suns will need to cut off “the others” on Milwaukee’s squad. Ryan Rollins can get buckets. Bobby Portis has killed Phoenix in the past, and you want to avoid an AJ Green, Cam Thomas, Gary Trent Jr., or Kyle Kuzma game. They have sneaky depth, but it’s an odd mix of guys who haven’t been able to stay on the court together much this season.
Contain the Bench
Portis led the Bucks with 18 points, and Cam Thomas chipped in with 17 off the bench in their loss to the Magic on Sunday. Phoenix’s bench is dependent on who actually suits up in this one, because if they get Allen and/or Goodwin, that provides a significant punch in either scoring or defense, depending on who can go.
Defense Wins
The Bucks have been held to under 100 points in four of their last six contests. The Suns will need to do what they do best to take this one, and that is to set the tone defensively.
Team defense will be the key. Pack the paint, help, and recover. Rinse and repeat. Giannis’s presence adds another element to this Bucks team, so the Suns’ depth and size will be tested early and often.
Prediction
The Suns are looking more connected, and a potential return of one (or both) of Goodwin and Allen could give them the jolt they need to just pull off a tough road win. I’m not holding my breath on this one.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Jalen Brunson #11 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8, 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s over.
The Knicks have finally completed the final gauntlet on their regular-season schedule. Beginning on February 4 with a double-overtime victory against Denver, the Knicks played 16 games, with 12 against teams in playoff position. The 34-day stretch saw the team face Detroit and Denver twice, San Antonio, Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Houston, Toronto, and both LA teams. The soft games on the schedule? Indiana, Chicago, and Milwaukee. It wasn’t fun.
Ultimately, with the team not having much time to pick themselves off the mat after the three-week nightmare stretch, going 9-7 isn’t bad, even if the last stretch gave you a sour taste in your mouth. There were big highs and devastating lows, but ultimately, they survived. They now look forward to the softest eight-game stretch of the season as a reward.
But what can we learn from getting a look at essentially every good team the NBA has to offer over the last month?
The Knicks defensive renaissance is real
I talked about this in my potential jinx piece on Sunday (0-2 since, whoops), but the Knicks have held some extremely good offenses under wraps since the players-only meeting after the MLK Day beatdown against Dallas. They suffocated San Antonio, held OKC to 103 points, ran the Tatum-less Celtics out of the TD Garden, and smoked the Nuggets in Denver.
The defense did have two sub-standard games against the Lakers and Clippers in a brutal back-to-back, but there are caveats. For one, the defense started strong against the Lakers and even held a high-octane offense without a bucket for over seven minutes in the first half (albeit still giving up points on free throws). In the Monday night defeat at the Intuit Dome, the team’s 20 turnovers shot themselves in the foot just as much as the poor perimeter defense.
You want one stat that encompasses the defensive turnaround?
The Knicks gave up a lot of threes to start the year, and up until MLK Day, was frequently fire-bombed from outside. The pendulum has since swung the other way with better shooting luck (wide-open% has dropped from 38.8% to 32.7% on similar attempts), but the team has also played much better defense with their rotations.
Detroit remains a matchup problem. The others? Not so much
Two of the seven losses came to the Detroit Pistons, a team that has had the Knicks’ number in a way very similar to the Celtics in 2024-25. We know how that ended, so there’s hope, but there are stylistic concerns. Detroit’s physicality gives the Knicks fits in the same way Orlando did early in the season to muck games up. Add in some ridiculous shooting splits from a team not known for 3-point shooting and, yeah.
But no other team has appeared to be this stylistic mismatch. The Knicks are 2-1 against the Celtics, and even with Jayson Tatum back and looking good off a torn Achilles, the team has confidence from beating a superior Celtics team last year. They’re also 2-1 against Cleveland, which, despite the loss coming since the James Harden trade, doesn’t have me too concerned, given just how cold the Knicks were that night. Don’t even get me started on Philly and Toronto.
Out West, you have to be impressed at how the Knicks have played against the Spurs and Nuggets this season. If Julian Champagnie doesn’t put up the best shooting performance of his life on New Year’s Eve, they’re 5-0 on the two biggest threats to the reigning champions in the West. Speaking of the reigning champs, the Knicks played well without Mitchell Robinson and nearly took OKC to overtime on the second night of a back-to-back.
They can compete with almost everyone, but will that translate when the games start to truly matter?
Fatigue became a factor late
Two of the Knicks’ sloppiest games came on the back-to-back in Los Angeles. Considering the travel schedule, it makes sense.
39 combined turnovers and sub-30% from three isn’t great. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson did great on Monday night, but the role players vanished. The defense was a step slow, the offense was a tick off, and it was just pure sloppiness. Considering the circumstances, I’ll give them grace. Just don’t do this in Utah on Tuesday.
New York’s starters aren’t working
Yep, we’re having this conversation again.
In 155 minutes in the 16-game gauntlet, the starting five played 155 minutes and had a minus-3.5 net rating. In March, it’s a catastrophically bad minus-17.2 in 80 minutes. Injuries to Deuce McBride and the occasional absence of Mitchell Robinson have reduced lineup versatility, but when a lineup just isn’t working like this one isn’t, you need to consider something different.
Granted, if Landry Shamet is going to shoot the way he did Monday and teams employ Spurs-like ghost coverage to force Mo Diawara to beat you, your options are limited. Whenever McBride returns, he needs to get more reps with the Core Four. The 130 defensive rating that they have together is deceptive due to the 11-game stretch of hell.
Stat of the day: Brunson-Towns lineups have a 103.8 defensive rating since January 20.
The Big Bodega is back
I’m generally not nearly as much of a pessimist as some people who talk Knicks, but I have been especially irked at times this season over the play of Karl-Anthony Towns. After all, a guy who was once one of the best offensive big men the league has ever seen was unable to put the ball in the basket for months.
Well, despite relatively low usage, Towns has played some of his best and most efficient basketball in the Knicks’ toughest stretch.
In the 16-game gauntlet, Towns averaged a modest 20.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. The difference? His efficiency. He entered the 2OT win over Denver, shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.9% from three on the season for a 59.1 TS%.
Where’s he been since? 59.2% from the field, 41.2% from three, and 68.9 TS%. His usage actually went down in that stretch, so it seems that KAT is doing a better job at letting the game come to him and not forcing things. The ultimate question, though, is whether the Knicks can win with Towns doing this rather than being the 25-10 monster he’s capable of being.
That said, efficient basketball against some of the best the NBA has to offer is extremely encouraging. Despite playing in a back-to-back, Towns had his best game of the season on Monday, dropping 35/12/7 on an undersized Clippers team that only had 37-year-old Brook Lopez and Isaiah Jackson to defend him.
Brunson looked as good as he has all season against the Clippers on Monday night, but he has badly struggled lately against some physical defenses in a brutal, condensed schedule.
The captain’s stats all around have been down since he tweaked his ankle in January and rushed his way back to try and stop the bleeding. Great basketball from Anunoby and Towns has masked it at times, but the head of the snake is struggling.
Interesting point. Per @cleantheglass rim% and short midrange FG% for Brunson have dropped significantly post ankle injury:
There’s an upcoming stretch where the Knicks face the Wizards and Nets in their only two games in seven days. Resting Brunson for load management might be the best call. If you need him to beat two teams trying to lose, we have bigger issues.
Adam Silver is a cruel scheduler
The Knicks just finished a five-game stretch in seven days, traveling from Toronto to New York to Denver to Los Angeles. They traveled across international borders at 3 AM, went through customs, and were greeted by the reigning champions. They played the third game in four nights in Denver, a scientifically hard place to play due to the altitude. They then played a back-to-back in the City of Angels.
That’s bad enough given the strength of the opponents, but get this: In a span of six days, the Knicks played Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Kawhi Leonard. You can make the case that all four will make the All-NBA First-Team if they play 65 games. What a rough week.
