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

Posted on

Bam Adebayo and other elite fantasy basketball stat lines

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo made history on Tuesday in the team's 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. After scoring 31 points in the first quarter, a franchise record for points in a quarter, he also broke the Heat record for points in a half with 43.

By the end of the night, Adebayo had accumulated 83 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks and seven three-pointers. Shooting 20-of-43 from the field and 36-of-43 from the foul line, Bam became the first player in league history to record at least 22 three-point and 30 free-throw attempts in the same game, and his 36 points from the foul line were also a league record.

Of course, Wilt Chamberlain is the only player in league history to have scored more points in a game, having put up 100, but Adebayo is now second on that list, jumping past Kobe Bryant's 81-point effort against the Toronto Raptors. Obviously, Adebayo's fantasy stat line was elite, but what were some of the other great nights in fantasy basketball history? Let's take a look at some other nights that would have, or did, set the fantasy basketball world on fire.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets (March 10, 1987 vs. Seattle)

Fantasy basketball may not have been the industry that it is today back in the 1980s, but Olajuwon was one of the players of that era who would have been an elite option, regardless of league format. On March 10, 1987, the Hall of Fame center produced a stat line the likes of which we have not seen since. Shooting 14-of-29 from the field and 10-of-14 from the foul line, Olajuwon finished the double-overtime defeat with a stat line that included a staggering 19 defensive contributions. He finished with 38 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, seven steals and 12 blocked shots.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (March 28, 1990 vs. Cleveland)

Considered by many to be the greatest of all time, Jordan could supplement high-scoring nights with excellent production across the entire stat line. That was the case in a March 1990 overtime loss to the Cavaliers. Shooting 23-of-37 from the field and 21-of-23 from the foul line, Jordan scored 69 points while also recording 18 rebounds, six assists, four steals, one block and two three-pointers. Also, he was responsible for just two turnovers while playing 50 of a possible 53 minutes.

David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs (February 17, 1994 vs. Detroit)

Shooting 12-of-20 from the field and 10-of-17 from the foul line, "The Admiral" recorded a 34-point quadruple-double in a win over the Pistons. In 43 minutes, he was also responsible for 10 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and 10 blocked shots. Not a single fantasy manager would complain about the free-throw shooting after a performance of this caliber.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto)

The man whose point total Adebayo eclipsed on Tuesday, Bryant's 81-point night against the Raptors remains the stuff of legend. And who was defending him throughout the course of that game didn't matter. Playing 42 minutes, Bryant shot 28-of-46 from the field and 18-of-20 from the foul line. In addition to the 81 points, Kobe put up six rebounds, two assists, three steals, one blocked shot and seven three-pointers. Clearly, there have been more robust fantasy stat lines. But scoring 81 points efficiently can compensate for that.

James Harden, Houston Rockets (December 31, 2016 vs. New York)

While Harden has four 60-point games to his credit, those performances don't make the cut. What made the cut was the triple-double he recorded in a win over the Knicks on the final day of 2016. Shooting 14-of-26 from the field and 18-of-20 from the foul line, Harden scored 53 points while also recording 16 rebounds and 17 assists. He didn't record any steals or blocks, and there were also eight turnovers, but on some nights, the production is too good to overlook.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (March 29, 2017 vs. Orlando)

During his MVP 2016-17 season, Westbrook recorded two 50-point triple-doubles in March. One was recorded during an overtime win over the Magic, with the point guard tallying 57 points (21-of-40 FGs, 9-of-11 FTs), 13 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and six three-pointers. Like Harden, the turnover count was a bit high for Westbrook on that night, as he recorded seven. However, few will complain about that when the turnovers are part of a 50-point triple-double on efficient shooting percentages.

Joel Embiid (November 13, 2022 vs. Utah)

"The Process" appeared hellbent on winning Most Valuable Player from the start of the 2022-23 campaign, and he would achieve that goal. One of Embiid's best performances, and best fantasy stat lines, came in a mid-November win over the Jazz. He shot 19-of-28 from the field and 20-of-24 from the foul line, putting up 59 points to go along with 11 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, seven blocks and one three-pointer.

G Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (December 27, 2022 vs. New York)

Dončić also put up some elite stat lines during that 2022-23 campaign. Having scored 50 points in a win over the Magic two days before Christmas, the then-Mavericks star was even better in an overtime win over the Knicks two days after the holiday. Shooting 21-of-31 from the field and 16-of-22 from the line, Dončić scored 60 points while also recording 21 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, one blocked shot and two three-pointers. And he played 47 of a possible 53 minutes.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (January 2, 2023 vs. Chicago)

On the second day of 2023, Mitchell torched the Bulls in an 11-point overtime victory. In 50 minutes, he put up 71 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, one block and seven three-pointers. Mitchell was efficient, shooting 22-of-34 from the field, including a 15-of-19 night from two, and 20-of-25 from the foul line. Like the other players on this list, Spida was unstoppable on that night, much to the delight of fantasy managers who had him on their rosters.

Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (March 7, 2025 vs. Phoenix and April 1, 2025 vs. Minnesota)

Jokić boasts a long list of stat lines that basketball fans can sift through to find some of his "greatest hits." But these two games, played within a month of each other last season, stick out. In the early March win over the Suns, the three-time league MVP scored "only" 31 points but also recorded 21 rebounds, 22 points, three steals and three three-pointers. Also, Jokić attempted only three free throws that day.

As for the April Fool's Day masterclass against the Timberwolves, Jokić recorded the first, and to this point, only 60-point game. Shooting 18-of-29 from the field and 19-of-24 from the foul line, The Joker finished with 61 points while also recording 10 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and six three-pointers. He's one of three players in league history to have recorded a 60-point triple-double, with Harden and Dončić being the others.

Posted on

Austin Reaves is back and he’s raising the Lakers’ ceiling

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10, 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

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers had plenty of excuses ready if they lost to the Wolves.

Minnesota entered the night as the third-best team in the West. The Lakers entered the night without their All-Star LeBron James for the thirdstraight game as well as bigs Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber.

But they still had Austin Reaves.

Behind their budding star and the superhero of the night, the Lakers earned a hard-fought 120-106 win over Minnesota.

Reaves ended the night with 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. It was his second consecutive strong showing after scoring 25 in a win against the Knicks.

“Really it was [that] he was able to get downhill,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “I mean, that’s the biggest thing. That’s when he’s at his best. He’s a fantastic shooter, but he’s at his best when he’s touching the paint.

“I thought early on, him getting into the paint, getting fouled, seeing the ball go through the hoop [was good]. And then we saw him as the half wore on, he just got into his bag and a lot of those were on paint touches and he hit those non-rim paint two.”

Reaves’ big night wasn’t so great at the start.

In the opening quarter, his jumper was cold as he went 0-3 from the field. At the halftime break, he had just one made field goal and a sensational night seemed out of reach.

However, as the third quarter began, Reaves’ jumper began to warm up. He drove to the paint and converted on a layup. He found Luka Dončić for a floater, giving the Lakers a two-possession lead.

Then, Reaves’ confidence and productivity really ratcheted up.

First, heconverted on a four-point play. He followed that up with another deep make and then drove into the paint and scored on a foater. Suddenly, a close contest became a double-digit lead for LA.

“I think he’s just a great player,” Dončić said. “He’s very talented defensively. He gets to his spots, he tricks the defense, and that’s why he’s a great player.”

Reaves’ dominance continued in the fourth. He checked in with 10:38 left to play and immediately had another four-point play. After another lob connection with Deandre Ayton and a floater, LA had put the Wolves to bed with three minutes left on the clock.

In the NBA, things can change in the blink of an eye. After their tough loss to the Nuggets a week ago, the Lakers have bounced back with three straight wins and are now fourth in the West.

While Luka has been at the center of that streak, Austin hasn’t been far behind. He showed glimpses against the Pacers before really finding his groove in the last two games.

As a result, both he and the Lakers are on an upward trend now

“It feels like we’re trending in the right direction, just got to continue to stick to the plan,” Reaves said. “And continue to get better every single day and compete at a high level.”

For the Lakers’ to be at their best, Reaves must play his best against elite teams.

On Tuesday night, he did just that.

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

Posted on

Defense, Luka Doncic 31-point triple-double lift Lakers to win over Timberwolves

LOS ANGELES — For the second straight game, we saw the vision of how the Lakers want to play around Luka Doncic starting to manifest.

There is Austin Reaves as the secondary playmaker, putting up 31 points on Tuesday night and getting downhill (plus having two four-point plays). Then, with LeBron James out again, the Lakers start Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura as defense-first players who can space the floor — and they were dialed in on the defensive end. Then the Lakers got an engaged Deandre Ayton for a night.

And, for the second straight game, the Lakers beat a quality team, knocking off Minnesota 120-106.

The win moved the Lakers into fourth in the tight Western Conference, technically tied with the Timberwolves at 40-25, but the Lakers take the tiebreaker by sweeping the season series from Minnesota.

The way the Lakers looked against the Timberwolves, and how they played against the Knicks on Sunday, is the kind of team the Lakers want around Luka Doncic — the kind they need around him to be a threat in the playoffs. Why is it not always that smooth with LeBron on the court?

"It's what they're comfortable doing as basketball players..." Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "For one of those guys, having scored the most points in NBA history and doing it for 23 years, is to have the ball in his hands. For another guy who's had five First Team All NBAs — should make another First Team All NBA this year — it's having the ball in his hands... [Austin Reaves] ascending to an All-Star level. But the human struggle to want what you want while also having the emotional maturity and recognition that you got somebody next to you, it hasn't been as clean."

It was clean on Tuesday night, although it wasn't always pretty.

Having Luka Doncic put up a 31-point triple-double — 11 rebounds and assists — helps.

It also helped that the Timberwolves were just ice cold shooting the ball — give the Lakers defense some credit, but the Timberwolves also just missed shots they normally knock down. For the night, Anthony Edwards was 2-of-15, and made his first 3-pointer with 4:18 left in the third quarter, after missing his first nine.

But this is the second straight game in which a team with a good offense and an elite shot creator running the show has struggled against the Lakers.

"You can talk about schemes and rotation and low man, all that stuff, our guys have been a lot better just guarding the basketball…" Redick said of the last couple of games. "And when we were in rotation, we did a really good job. I thought, our attention to detail on the [Julius] Randle and Edwards coverage was really good. DA (Deandre Ayton) was fantastic tonight on that end."

This game was not pretty early.

The Lakers started 0-of-8 from the floor and that theme continued for the first 12 minutes — Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards were 3-of-18 combined. It led to a low-scoring first quarter — 21-16 Timberwolves — in which Minnesota shot better at just 34.8%. The Lakers didn't hit a 3-pointer until Luka Doncic did with six minutes left in the first half.

"I think I think we started the game slow and sluggish," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "That was my concern against the defense that they load so heavily. Wanted more pace early, wanted more quicker decision making early. And we just fell into a lot of iso basketball and then just everything was a beat late. We're very out of rhythm right now offensively, and we've gotta fix that."

Both teams shooting improved to decent in the second half, but neither side got hot or created much separation. A Rui Hachimura 3-pointer in the final five seconds tied the game up at 45-45 at the half.

That dynamic started to change in the third, when the Lakers started 6-of-10 and the Timberwolves remained ice cold, not hitting a bucket for the first six minutes of the half. Suddenly, the Lakers were up double digits, and that stretched to 19 on an uncontested Luke Kennard driving layup.

From there, Minnesota could never hit enough shots in a row to make it a game.

Posted on

Player Grades: Lakers vs. Timberwolves

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers talks in the huddle during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10, 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

A week ago, the biggest question surrounding the Lakers was whether they were a serious team capable of beating good opponents. Fast forward a week and the answer is much clearer.

Two games do not define a team, but the Lakers beating the Knicks and Timberwolves in back-to-back contests at this time in the season should go some way in quelling the notion that they can’t hang with the top teams in each conference.

Do the teams they beat have flaws? Yes. But they largely dominated both contests, too. On Tuesday, they had one of their worst quarters of the season offensively to open the game, found their footing in the second period and took off after halftime.

The result is the Lakers winning six of their last seven games as they’re finding their groove at the right time.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Marcus Smart

31 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls, 3-7 FT, 1-4 3PT, 1-1 FT, +14

Another game where Smart doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but he’s still fantastic. He took a pair of charges and was making all sorts of plays defensively for the second game in a row.

Grade: A-

Rui Hachimura

24 minutes, 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 5 fouls, 4-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, +3

Rui had the unenviable task of being the nominal big in some small ball looks the Lakers had to go to with so many of their forwards and centers out. That meant he got into foul trouble pretty quickly in the second half and didn’t have much of an impact in the final two quarters.

Grade: B-

Deandre Ayton

34 minutes, 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 fouls, 7-11 FG, 0-2 FT, +10

There’s an argument, given the opponent and the context of who wasn’t available, that this was Ayton’s best game of the season. There was a lot of pressure on him to perform because the Lakers had noone else to turn to and he responded in a huge way.

Grade: A

Austin Reaves

38 minutes, 31 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 10-20 FG, 4-10 3PT, 7-9 FT, +18

Austin was very quiet in the first half and very loud in the third quarter and second half overall. He roared to life out of the locker room and started burying four-point plays and every midrange jumper possible.

Grade: A

Luka Dončić

35 minutes, 31 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 11-24 FG, 4-12 3PT, 5-6 FT, +20

Another ho-hum triple-double and a game where he has a plus-minus of +20. Nothing big here. In a race for so many in the national media to try to explain why Luka’s numbers actually aren’t that good, they seem to just be overlooking how consistently great he’s been.

Grade: A

Luke Kennard

26 minutes, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4 fouls, 5-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, +2

On a night where he was great yet again, it could have been even better. He had a three roll all the way around the rim and out and set up Ayton with a fantastic pass before he was blocked by Naz Reid.

Grade: B+

Jake LaRavia

25 minutes, 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, 1-7 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-8 FT, +13

This was a great Marcus Smart imitation from LaRavia. He could not hit a shot to save his life, but made up for it with his activity, effort, hustle and defensive playmaking. It was a great game from him despite shooting 14% from the field.

Grade: A-

Jarred Vanderbilt

15 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, -1

Vando was up to his old tricks in this one. He had some great defensive sequences by staying in front of ball handlers. But it was the stuff he did when the ball wasn’t even in play that is typical Vando with small brouhahas with Bones Hyland and Donte DiVincenzo.

As a quick aside, since we’re on the topic, I’m sure I didn’t see Hyland tell the Lakers bench to sit down after hitting a shot when his side was trailing by nearly 20 points, right? Because that would be a crazy thing to do.

Grade: B

Drew Timme, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Kobe Bufkin

I was a little surprised we didn’t see more Timme in this one, but Redick clearly tends to go small and space the floor when he doesn’t have centers.

JJ Redick

Even the most ardent Redick non-believers surely have to admit that he’s, again, doing a great job of getting this team playing its best basketball late in the season.

The Lakers are playing terrific defense and have navigated injuries all year long. Despite how infrequently he’s had his big three together, they are 15 games over .500 heading into the final month of the season with home court advantage well within their grasp for the playoffs.

Friday’s inactives: Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber, LeBron James, Nick Smith Jr., Chris Mañon

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Posted on

Lakers dominate Timberwolves in statement win

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Bones Hyland #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves plays defense during the game against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 10, 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

After an ice-cold start to the game, the Lakers roared back to win their third straight game, knocking off the Wolves, 120-106.

The win gives the Lakers a season sweep of Minnesota. All three wins came without LeBron James, who missed Tuesday’s game with both a hip contusion and left foot arthritis.

LA opened the game with an abysmal performance in the first quarter, scoring just 16 points. By halftime, they had tied the game up before exploding for 39 points in the third to take complete control of the game.

The Lakers turned 11 Minnesota turnovers into 20 points and scored 56 points in the paint to Minnesota’s 42. That helped them overcome the Wolves’ 61-27 advantage in bench points.

Both teams started the game cold from the field until Anthony Edwards converted on a jumper in the paint. Julius Randle then drained a triple after LA missed another shot as part of a string of seven straight missed field goals. Marcus Smart stopped that drought with a layup at the 7:25 mark. 

Luka Dončić stopped a 9-0 Minnesota run with a layup. 

With 2:19 left in the period, LA had only put up nine points. They were 0-9 from behind the arc and were shooting 20% from the field. Smart was leading the team with five points and Luka was close behind with four. 

Neither team could make a 3-pointer, shooting a combined 1-23 from behind the arc. 

The rest of the first frame saw Los Angeles add more points, but they continued to look rough. Luka only made two of his 10 shot attempts. Despite the struggles, the purple and gold trailed by five entering the second frame. 

Rudy Gobert opened the second quarter by being fouled and converting on one of two free throws. Luke Kennard scored on a midrange jumper on the other end. There was a huge lid on the basket for LA, as they were up to 11 missed triples. 

Deandre Ayton scored a quick four in a row, giving Los Angeles a boost. 

Naz Reid and Ayo Dosunmu both had five points off the bench for the Timberwolves. Ayton scored again, giving him eight points with his 10 rebounds. Austin Reaves tied the game with a layup. 

Donte DiVincenzo put the Wolves back in the lead with a 3-pointer. 

Luka knocked down the first Laker three in 16 attempts. Ayton entered double figures with 10 points. Fortunately for LA, Anthony Edwards had only three points so far. With 2:42 left in the half, Minnesota was up by two. 

Luka started heating up as the quarter was winding down, scoring five points. He had a total of eight in the quarter. Rui Hachimura tied the game heading into the locker rooms after he drained a 3-pointer. 

The third period began with Smart drawing a charge on Edwards. On the other end, Luka scored on a layup, which put LA ahead. After only scoring two points in the first half, Austin Reaves finally scored again on a layup. 

Hachimura, unfortunately, picked up his fifth foul and was forced to sit early. 

Luka went on a 6-0 run himself to give Los Angeles a seven-point lead at the 8:13 mark. Minnesota was on a six-minute scoring drought. Jake LaRavia put up five points despite his shooting woes. 

At the halfway mark, Reid scored on a hook shot, breaking the Wolves’ drought. 

Reaves was now in double figures with 16 after draining a triple, completing a three-point play, and capping it off with a four-point play. He had 14 in the quarter. 

Kennard then converted on a layup that put the Lakers up by 19 and forced a timeout.

At the end of the third, LA was up by 16 points. 

The final frame began with Kennard scoring four in a row. Reaves converted on yet another four-point play as LA kept its foot on the gas. With 7:15 left, the purple and gold were up by 18. 

Both teams started getting chippy with Jarred Vanderbilt and Donte picking up technical fouls. The deficit did get cut to 15, but Los Angeles responded fast with back-to-back threes from Smart and Luka. 

Minnesota scored five in a row to make it a 16-point game at the 5:29 mark. 

Luka and Ayton combined for a quick four points to put the finishing touches on the win. The Timberwolves emptied their bench at the 3:55 mark. 

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with a triple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Reaves ended with 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Ayton scored 14 points with 12 rebounds. 

Kennard notched 10 points. LaRavia pitched in with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Hachimura had nine points and Smart put up eight points. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at 7:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

Posted on

NBA Final Score – Lakers 120, Timberwolves 106: No One Was Even Awake

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 10, 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

Game Story

You’re still awake?

If you are, kudos to you. You’re a true diehard. If not, we don’t blame you. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the clock struck 12:38 a.m. Central.

The Los Angeles Lakers came into the night winners in five of their last six games. One of the areas they’ve excelled in has been shooting the ball, reaching second in the league in effective field goal percentage (58.8%), and first from deep (40.6%).

Regression hit like a ton of bricks.

On a night where ridiculous scoring feats could be found in any game, Los Angeles and the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to treat the packed home crowd to a good old fashioned brick-fest. The Lakers, in particular, opened the game scoreless in the first four and a half minutes. The audience groaned and moaned as their team missed their first 11 three-point attempts, anchoring them to just 28% from the field in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves weren’t much better. Instead of taking advantage of the frigid shooting display of their opponents, they decided to be gentlemen and convert on only 34.8% of their own shot attempts in that same stanza. Look no further than Anthony Edwards and Luka Dončić, who have both averaged over 32 points in their last three games, but combined to score just seven points on three of 18 shooting in the quarter.

A modest five-point Timberwolves lead after the first buzzer sounded was short-lived and seemed ominous.

The non-Dončić minutes boded well for Los Angeles. They battled back strictly off hammering the offensive glass (11 in first half) and opting to score in the paint (62% of points in paint in first half). DeAndre Ayton did his best Clint Capela impression, accounting for a ton of that by outworking the Wolves in the paint. He bought enough time for his Slovenian teammate to catch a groove, as Dončić converted a few triples before finding Rui Hachimura to swish a trey of his own to knot things up at 45 at the halftime break.

It was surely a half where both teams seemed asleep.

After scoring just three points in the first half, things didn’t look great to start the second for Edwards. He struggled to find a rhythm and took a tough tumble on a charge drawn by Marcus Smart. It was just foreshadowing of the face plant that the Wolves had coming. Despite a flurry of free throws, Edwards shot an uncharacteristic 13% mark from field. A low mark from him since he shot 23.1% against…

…the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. Talk about regression to the mean.

His rough night seemed to suck the energy from his teammates. Edwards certainly wasn’t the only guilty party. The Wolves roster as a whole was just far too forgiving to a team missing several rotation players. They had many poorly timed fouls, late shot clock resignations, and forgotten rotations which allowed the Lakers to find their rhythm.

One player that struggled to find their range lately was Austin Reaves. The man who slayed the Wolves with a walk-off game-winner almost five months ago had only scored 20+ points just once in his last eight games, shooting in the a low 40% from the field. Unfortunately for Minnesota, that one game was two days ago. Reaves rode that momentum tonight, slaughtering Minnesota with haymaker after haymaker, opening up a 19-point deficit that the Wolves never threatened again.

It was oddly similar to Minnesota’s second game of the season, where Los Angeles cruised to an easy victory in the third quarter, filled with a ton of highlights to boot. Except they didn’t even need Dončić to score 49.

At this point, it’s more than fair to be critical of the Wolves performance. This wasn’t an early tip against a subpar Eastern Conference team. This was a prime time matchup in a packed house against a team vying with them for playoff positioning. And they shit the bed.

Again.

If anything, it’s even more concerning in a game where Anthony Edwards was successfully game planned out, the team looked completely unprepared on how to respond. This will be the case often in the playoffs. Will Edwards shoot this bad all the time? No. But they clearly did not have any answers when he did shoot poorly. There were some silver linings like the bench performance and a half-decent Julius Randle game, but it all just felt like a big blurry haze.

Anyway, hopefully you weren’t awake to watch this one.

Clearly the Wolves weren’t awake either.

Box Score

Comment of the Night

<em>Live look at the Timberwolves tonight</em>

Up Next

It’s a short turnaround for Minnesota. In fact, in less than 24 hours, they’ll take to the court just 25 miles south at Intuit Dome. The surging Los Angeles Clippers play host on Wednesday, March 11, at 9:30 PM CT. The last time these teams met, Anthony Edwards shouted at Chris Finch after a clutch three pointer, edging out LA who was missing both Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland.

This game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network.

Highlights

Posted on

Rockets rattle Raptors 113-96

Mar 10, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) celebrates after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Tonight’s Rockets win over the the 5th place Toronto Raptors was just the thing for a Rockets team that was soundly thrashed by the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Almost everything a Rockets fan might want was there tonight. We saw a defense that held the Raptors to 18 points below their season scoring average, and also below 100 points. The offense managed to just about reach NBA scoring average, which is a rare accomplishment lately against teams with an above .500 record. The team shot it well, and only Amen played a high number of minutes before tomorrow night’s contest against the Nuggets in Denver.

Things didn’t start all that well, with the Rockets turning the ball over a bunch in the first quarter. What might have been a great defensive showing, at, say, 24 points for the Raptors, was marred by the Rockets allowing 8 Raptor points off turnovers in the period. Fortunately, Toronto couldn’t hold the Rockets down with their own defense, as the Rockets put up an equal 29 points in the first.

The Rockets continued their league average scoring trend in the 2nd quarter, putting up 29 points once again, while holding the Raptors to only 20 points. The key to this wasn’t just making shots, it was cutting the live ball turnovers that plagued the Rockets in the first quarter. There was only one liveball Rockets turnover in the 2nd, by Reed Sheppard, but he immediately atoned by chasing down Jamal Shead for a block. The huge difference in scoring quarter to quarter gives some credence to the turnover theory.

The Raptors made it close in the third quarter, putting up 34 points, much of it from very good shooting from RJ Barrett, defending the honor of Canada, and Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes playing well. also, but in a less Canadian way. The Toronto surge in the third wasn’t turnover driven, they just played better offense and defense than the Rockets, and shot a goodly number of free throws.

The Rockets entered the fourth leading 86-83, but would go on to score 20 of the next 26 points. The Rockets went on to expand that lead to 111-93 with around three minutes remaining, when Toronto waved the red and white flag and pulled their starters. Garbage time was Dick’s moment to shine, but his outburst came too little, too late.

There’s not much to criticize from the Rockets perspective after the somewhat sloppy first quarter. KD lead the way with 29pts on a pristine 12-16FG and 4-5 from three. He filled the stat sheet as well, with 8 rebounds, 2ast, 2stl, 2blk against 2to. He played a low 33 minutes, so hopefully he’ll look as good tomorrow night. Alpie, after an initial rough start, pulled things together for 14pts, 12rbs, 4ast. He still doesn’t look right to me, but perhaps this is as right as he’s going to get, as Clint Capela, no matter how effective, seems locked in at about 14 minutes. One might think 10 rebounds in 13 minutes might earn more playing time, but that feels impossible.

The best Rockets tonight, along with Durant, were Jabari Smith Jr, and Amen Thompson. Jabari looked better, quicker, and more decisive that he has in some time. There weren’t a lot of Dribblin’ Adventures, and he once again seemed to realize, as he does occasionally, that he can just shoot over nearly anyone. Watching Kevin Durant do this all the time must be encouraging at some level. Jaswishy scored 23 on 8-14 shooting, 3-7 from three, and added 4rbs, 2ast, and 2stl. He only recorded one turnover, and that was mostly bad luck.

Amen had a very good game, being both larger, faster, or both, than almost anyone Toronto could throw at him. He attacked the rim almost constantly, and didn’t avoid contact to try to make a tougher shot, as he often does. Thompson had 23 efficient points on 6-10 shooting, and 10-14 on FTs. He added four boards, 6 assists to 3 turnovers, and notched a block. He played 39 minutes, though, and that’s a worry heading to altitude tomorrow night. Amen also made his weekly 3pt shot on one attempt. Perhaps this will all mark the beginning of a more forceful, impactful, offensive trend for Amen.

Of others getting significant minutes, Dorian Finney-Smith played 21 minutes and looked pretty good. He didn’t fill up the box score, but he looked useful, and not lost. His minutes were strongly positive, and that’s a refreshing change. If Finney-Smith has turned a corner, that would be excellent news for the Rockets.

Reed Sheppard had one of his least impactful games in a while. going 2-10, with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, against 4 turnovers. Hopefully he’s past the point where he disappears after a bad game, because the Rockets need his offense, especially, even if they didn’t need it tonight. The topper was Brandon Ingram doing his thing, but managing to only go 3-12, with few free throws. He pulled the Raptors down with a team leading -18. Even Scottie Foster wasn’t horrible tonight.

We can hope we’ll see the Rockets play this way going forward – good defense, coupled by (hopefully!) some emerging offensive organization, and perhaps, resultant good shooting. A more aggressive and effective combo of Jaswishy and Amen racking up free throws on dangerous rim attacks, changes the Rockets outlook considerably.

It was a good night “For The H”, with “The H” being Houston, not Hater.

Posted on

NBA Trade Rumor: Utah Jazz shopped Walker Kessler at trade deadline?

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 03: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz in action during the second half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Delta Center on February 03, 2025 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On the Jovan Buha podcast, Eric Pincus revealed the Utah Jazz had shopped Walker Kessler. You can listen to the time-stamped segment below

Pincus, discussing potential offseason targets for the Lakers, talked about Walker Kessler who is coming off an injury. He says that he heard that the Jazz…

“had shopped him a little bit more around the deadline than what they had done before. I had heard the Clippers had a shot to get him in the Zubac trade instead of Matherin. So, those are just rumors, I’m not saying that’s fact…”

As Pincus says, this is just rumors. Maybe this happened, maybe it didn’t, but it’s very interesting if this is true. Will the Jazz look at a sign-and-trade possibility? We know that the Jazz are interested in Austin Reaves. We also know that Utah wasn’t interested in overpaying Walker Kessler. The Lakers, on the other hand, have been interested in Kessler for years, they just haven’t been willing to give the Jazz what they’ve been asking. Knowing that the Jazz weren’t interested in giving Kessler a huge contract, would they be willing to make some sort of move for Kessler? The Lakers have had a terrible season with DeAndre Ayton and have not been able to find a starting center for a long time. Kessler, being an elite rim protector and rim-runner, is the perfect complement to Luka Doncic.

Utah has signaled they’re interested in winning next season. It makes you wonder if the Jazz lose in the lottery, are they going to make some sort of win-now move with their pick? Is there something there that can get them Austin Reaves for Walker Kessler? It certainly seems like the Utah Jazz are going to be active this offseason, and it might just involve a trade with the Lakers.

Posted on

Shay Maloney scores in overtime as Fleet edge Goldeneyes 2-1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Shay Maloney scored 41 seconds into overtime and the Boston Fleet edged the Vancouver Goldeneyes 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Much of the game was a goalie duel, with neither side scoring until the third period.

Haley Winn was first to strike, getting the Fleet on the board early in the final frame with her second goal of the year.

Hannah Miller responded for the Goldeneyes with 3:26 remaining, blasting a one-timer past Boston goalie Aerin Frankel from just inside the blue line.

Frankel stopped 25 of the 26 shots she faced, and the Fleet won its sixth straight game.

Kristen Campbell made 25 saves in the Vancouver net.

The win moved the Fleet back into sole possession of first place in the league standings, two points ahead of the Montreal Victoire.

Vancouver was without goalie Emerance Maschmeyer, who is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury. Kimberly Newell served as Campbell’s backup.

Up next

Fleet: Visit Seattle on Wednesday.

Goldeneyes: Host Ottawa on Saturday.

___

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Posted on

Warriors lose to tanking team again — this time against the Bulls

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors passes around Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Chase Center...

SAN FRANCISCO — One day was all it took for the Warriors to top their worst loss of the season.

After failing to pull out a win while the Jazz rested their best players in crunch time on Monday, the Warriors returned home Tuesday and once again proved incapable of beating a tanking team.

The Warriors were at the foul line with the lead in the final moments of regulation but still couldn’t finish off a 130-124 overtime loss to the lowly Bulls, who outscored them in 12-6 in the extra period.

“We just couldn’t close it out,” coach Steve Kerr said. “They were the better team in OT.”

Gui Santos, Kristaps Porzingis, LJ Cryer and Pat Spencer all scored 17 points to lead the Warriors, but Golden State had no answer for Matas Buzelis, who finished with 41 points on 16-of-28 shooting. Josh Giddey added 21 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds for a triple-double.

Back-to-back losses to the Bulls and Jazz amounted to a serious case of whiplash after strong efforts from Golden State to beat the Rockets and threaten the Thunder on the road last week.

“Both very winnable games,” Kerr said. “Had the lead late tonight. Obviously one we should’ve had. But this is how the NBA is, especially when you’re beaten up. Games are going to be tight. You’ve got to finish. And we haven’t finished either of the past two nights.”

Brandin Podziemski looks to pass the ball while guarded by Josh Giddey. Getty Images

What it means

Kerr has been on the cusp of 600 wins since the Warriors beat the Rockets in Houston last week. He hasn’t been able to break through against two tanking teams.

Even with the beleaguered state of their roster, the Warriors’ past two losses will go down as two of their worst of the season. Two of the easiest games left on Golden State’s schedule just happened to line up as their only stretch this season with a home-road back-to-back.

No wonder the Warriors looked out of gas for most of the night.

The loss dropped Golden State below .500 for the first time since it was 14-15 on Dec. 20.

The Warriors (32-33) now sit a half game behind the Clippers (32-32), ninth in the Western Conference.

Turning point

Once again, the Warriors lost the game at the foul line.

After two dreadful performances from the stripe, the Warriors shot it far better against the Bulls, converting 16-of-18 attempts in regulation. But holding a 117-116 lead with 8 seconds left, LJ Cryer was only able to convert one of his two free throws.

“You make the free throw, probably a different outcome of the game,” said Cryer, who tied with Spencer for a team-best plus-18 off the bench.

Draymond Green celebrates a 3-pointer against the Bulls. AP

On the other end, Draymond Green fouled Jalen Smith on a desperation attempt that sent him to the line with 1.4 seconds left. Smith sank both of his free throws to send the game to overtime.

“He got his hand on his body,” Kerr said. “It was a foul. I’m sure he’d like to have that one back. He just got his hand in the wrong spot.”

Playing their second game in two nights in as many cities, the Warriors were sluggish from the outset and the crowd inside Chase Center reciprocated with an atmosphere to match. But the lower bowl rose to its feet as Golden State erased a 13-point deficit.

When the Bulls forced overtime, fans streamed for the exits. They apparently already knew how this one was going to end.

MVP: Gary Payton II

The 6-foot-2 Payton was a constant presence around the basket and finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. The 11 rebounds led the Warriors, including a team-best three on the offensive glass, all of which Payton cleaned up for putback dunks.

Stat of the game: Zero

That is the number of minutes De’Anthony Melton played against the Bulls, despite the Warriors limiting his action Monday at Utah with the intent of him playing in the back-to-back.

Brandin Podziemski drives to the basket against the double team. Getty Images

Likewise, the Warriors sat both Porzingis and Al Horford against the Jazz so that both could play Tuesday against the Bulls. It’s no sure thing that either game hinged on the three players’ availability, but in the end, both ended in stinging losses.

Kerr said afterward that Melton tweaked his hamstring/groin late against the Jazz and had it act up overnight, preventing him from playing against Chicago.

Before the game, Kerr said he was hopeful Melton could establish that he was up to the task.

“We need him,” he said. “He’s obviously one of our best players.”

Up next

The Warriors host Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves on Friday in their last home game until March 25. They hit the road for five games, including two more sets of back-to-backs, beginning Sunday against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The most important date for the Warriors this week, however, is Wednesday. That is when Steph Curry (knee), who missed his 15th straight game, is set to be re-evaluated.

Posted on

Report: Utah Jazz interested in Lakers’ Austin Reaves

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - NOVEMBER 23: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives into Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of a game at Delta Center on November 23, 2025 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

According to Eric Pincus, the Utah Jazz are interested in Austin Reaves.

In this episode of the Jovan Buha podcast, you can listen to it. Pincus says:

“I’ve heard that the Utah Jazz like Austin Reaves. I don’t think that’s a shock, but I’ve heard that that’s one of the teams that’s interested in Austin Reaves,”

There have been rumblings here and there about this, but it’s the first time we’ve seen someone plugged in talk about it. If the Jazz are interested in Reaves, that probably means some sort of sign-and-trade. Utah will be over the cap, and even if they don’t sign many of their expiring deals, they’ll be adding Walker Kessler to their books alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. On top of that, we’re not far away from Keyonte George also being up for a contract, and you can bet he’s going to be earning a big payday as well. The question from this is, who do the Jazz trade to the Lakers if they want Austin Reaves? Is there a sign-and-trade possibility with Kessler now that Utah has Jaren Jackson?

Posted on

Carter erupts for career-best 24 points to lead Kings to 114-109 comeback win over Pacers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Devin Carter scored 22 of his career-best 24 points in the fourth quarter to power the Sacramento Kings to a 114-109 comeback win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

Carter scored 13 straight points down the stretch for Sacramento, who trailed by as many as 20 points and were down by 10 heading into the final frame.

The Kings shot 46% from the field and 35% from deep, while the Pacers shot 41% and 30% respectively. Carter was 9 of 13 from the field and 3 for 4 from beyond the arc.

Maxime Raynaud's and-1 jumper with 16 seconds remaining finished off the win.

Raynaud had an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, the 15th of the season for the 7-foot-1 rookie. Russell Westbrook added 16 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan and Nique Clifford each scored 12 points.

Indiana led 59-42 at the half, but Sacramento took their first lead since the first quarter on Carter's 3-pointer with 4:16 remaining in regulation.

Aaron Nesmith led all scorers with 29 points, 24 of them in the first half. Obi Toppin scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Kam Jones had 14 points and nine assists.

Indiana extended its NBA-long losing streak to 10 games, and the game matched teams with the NBA’s two worst records.

Pascal Siakam (right knee sprain) and Andrew Nembhard (back and neck soreness) did not play. They are the Pacers' first and third-leading scorers, respectively.

The Kings had dropped their last three meetings against Indiana, including a 116-105 defeat on Dec. 8 in Indianapolis.

Up next

Pacers: Host Phoenix on Thursday night.

Kings: Host Charlotte on Wednesday night. ___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Posted on

Hornets rally for 103-101 victory over the Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Brandon Miller had 21 points and eight rebounds, LaMelo Ball had 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-101 on Tuesday night.

Kon Knueppel added 15 points and five rebounds for the Hornets, who got back to .500 at 33-33. Ryan Kalkbrenner added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Hornets trailed 43-24 in the second quarter but edged ahead late by holding the Trail Blazers to 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Jerami Grant scored 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting for Portland. Deni Avdija had 22 points and Scoot Henderson scored 14 off the bench. Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan each had 11 points.

Portland controlled the first half and led Charlotte by nine going into halftime before a cold-shooting stretch and a series of late-game miscues.

Up next

Hornets: Visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

Trail Blazers: Host the Utah Jazz on Friday.

Posted on

Wembanyama’s shooting spree lifts Spurs past Celtics

SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots for a three-point shot against Boston Celtics in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For three quarters Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics looked like two teams unwilling to blink. Every Spurs run was answered. Every Boston basket seemed to come with a response. The crowd inside Frost Bank Center stayed on edge, sensing the game could tilt either way.

Then Victor Wembanyama tilted it.

The Spurs’ young superstar caught fire from beyond the arc and, when the game tightened in the fourth quarter, San Antonio delivered the final surge to secure a 125-116 win over the Celtics. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Wembanyama is quickly becoming one of the most electrifying players in the NBA.

The night began with both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced opening quarter. Boston leaned on former Spur Derrick White, who quickly found his rhythm and kept the Celtics within striking distance. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s offense flowed through Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, who pushed the tempo and created opportunities for his teammates.

Neither side gained much separation. By halftime, the scoreboard reflected the back-and-forth nature of the game as the team’s went to the locker room even at 58 apiece. Boston’s perimeter shooting kept the pressure on, while the Spurs countered with crisp ball movement and timely shooting from Devin Vassell and the supporting cast.

The tension only grew in the third quarter.

White began to heat up for Boston, knocking down difficult shots and attacking the lane. But every time the Celtics appeared ready to take control, Wembanyama answered. The 7-foot-4 phenom drilled three-pointers with ease, stretching Boston’s defense farther and farther away from the rim.

Still, the game remained tight entering the final period. That’s when the Spurs made their move.

With the Celtics clinging within a possession early in the fourth quarter, San Antonio strung together the run that changed everything. Vassell knocked down a key three. Fox sliced into the lane for a layup. Wembanyama followed with another deep shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Suddenly, a close game had become a Spurs advantage that Boston couldn’t erase. The Celtics fought back behind White’s scoring, but San Antonio’s offense never cooled. Fox continued orchestrating the attack, Wembanyama kept stretching the defense, and the Spurs calmly knocked down free throws down the stretch.

By the final minutes, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

When the buzzer sounded, the Spurs walked away with a huge victory, another impressive win during what has become one of the team’s hottest stretches of the season.

And once again, it was Wembanyama at the center of it all, putting on a performance that felt as spectacular as it was decisive.

Game Notes

  • It is still so amazing to see Jason Tatum back on the court playing good basketball after that devastating Achilles tear last season in the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks. So happy to see him back. Tatum had his best scoring night since returning with 24 points on Tuesday night.
  • Despite Jaylen Brown’s ejection, the Spurs got a huge win against a championship contender. Boston joins Detroit, Oklahoma City, and Denver among the league’s top teams that have been beat by San Antonio this season.
  • Julian Champagnie is human after all, he had a poor shooting night and did not score, but his teammates came through in the clutch.
  • The Spurs big three of De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama, and Stephon Castle combined for 82 of Spurs’ 125 points. Wemby led the way with 39 points and tied his career-high of eight three-pointers. Fox added 25 points, and Castle chipped in 18. If this is the version of the Spurs big three we’re going to get come playoff time, the entire NBA may be in trouble.
Posted on

Colorado State women beat Air Force 56-42 to win first Mountain West Championship since 2016

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brooke Carlson scored 17 points, Madelyn Bragg added 15 and Colorado State pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Air Force 56-42 on Tuesday night for the Rams' first Mountain West Conference championship since 2016.

No. 3 seed Colorado State (27-7) took a 34-32 advantage into the final period and outscored Air Force 22-10. Carlson scored eight points, and Bragg and Kloe Froebe added five apiece in the fourth quarter.

Carlson shot just 4 of 15 from the floor but made 9 of 12 free throws. Bragg made 7 of 8 field goals. Froebe finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Milahnie Perry scored 14 points for No. 9 seed Air Force (16-18). Emily Adams added 12 points and Alexis Cortez chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Rams shot 4 of 8 from the floor and made 14 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter while the Falcons were 3-of-17 shooting overall.

The No. 9 seed Falcons entered as the lowest-seeded program to earn a spot in the title game. Air Force beat No. 8 seed Wyoming, top-seeded San Diego State and No. 5 seed Boise State.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball