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

The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly coughed up a 29-point second-half lead to a bad Chicago Bulls team before escaping with a narrow 115-110 victory.

The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass.

	Offensive Rating	Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	112.9, 45th percentile	51.3%, 34th percentile	15.8%, 37th percentile	33.3%, 72nd percentile	23.1, 62nd percentile
Bulls	105.8, 23rd percentile	52.7%, 41st percentile	15.5%, 40th percentile	24.5%, 33rd percentile	11.7, 9th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• James Harden put up 36 points in a vintage performance. He did a good job of attacking off the dribble, getting to the line, and facilitating for his teammates. This led to him going 10-23 from the field with nine assists, seven rebounds, and five turnovers.
• Harden went 7-13 from three. The step-back triple — which has infuriated “purists” for nearly two decades — was in perfect form. He also did a good job of nailing catch-and-shoot opportunities. Overall, he’s been lethal from the outside since coming to Cleveland. He’s now shooting 46% from three in his 17 gams in a Cavaliers’ uniform.

• Harden drew two fouls on three-point shots. One of these fouls resulted in a seven-point possession. According to the FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland broadcast, this was the eighth and ninth times he’s drawn shooting fouls on three-point shots since coming to the Cavs. In total, he’s drawn a league-leading 50 fouls on outside attempts this season.

• Harden finished with double-digit free-throw attempts for the second game in a row and the fourth time since the trade. He went 9-11 from the charity stripe in the victory.
• Evan Mobley scored over 25 points for the third time in four games. He totaled 26 points on 12-19 shooting. The Cavs are now 4-2 on the season when he registers 25 or more points.
• Mobley feasted in the restricted area, converting 10 of his 14 shots at the rim (71.4%).
• Neither team could consistently finish at the basket, with both being below the 10th percentile in rim-shooting accuracy. The Cavs converted just 50% of their shots at the rim (4th percentile) while the Bulls converted just 51.3% (7th percentile).
• Cavaliers outside of Mobley went just 6-18 (33.3%) on shots in the restricted area. For context, the league average is 66.9%.
• Harden assisted on five of Mobley’s 12 made baskets.
• Four of Harden’s assists to Mobley came off screens. Their two-man game has continued to grow. After the victory, Harden told sideline reporter Serena Winters that they’ve been forced to use games as practice, given their limited time together. Performances like this show how they’ve been able to develop chemistry. All four baskets are in the clip below.

• Mobley led the team in plus/minus by being a +11. The Cavs played their best basketball with Mobley on the floor. Harden wasn’t far behind at +9.
• Mobley went 2-6 at the free-throw line. This has become an alarming trend for Mobley, who once again missed two clutch free throws. He’s now shooting just 48.3% from the line in March.
• The Cavs went just 21-31 (66.7%) on free-throw attempts.
• Cleveland converted 1-9 three-point attempts (11.1%) in the fourth quarter. The Cavs’ inability to consistently score late, combined with shaky defense, led to them almost choking away a 20-point fourth-quarter lead.
• The Bulls put up 37 fourth-quarter points. They did most of their damage in the paint during the final quarter as they went 10-14 in the fourth on their paint shot attempts (71.4%).
• Chicago’s bench outscored Cleveland’s reserves 43-22. The Bulls had three bench players finish with double-digit points: Rob Dillingham (17), Leonard Miller (10), and Guerschon Yabusele (10). The Cavs had none.
• Max Strus found his way into the closing lineup, despite going 0-5 from the field. Strus was held without a point and had a team-worst plus/minus of -7. This wasn’t Strus’s best game despite showing good activity off-ball and being a helpful rebounder.
• Cleveland won the second-chance points battle 14-8. The Cavaliers did a good job of controlling the glass, despite opting for several small-ball lineups. It’s worth pointing out that the Bulls are one of the smaller and faster teams in the league.
• Chicago was in the 27th percentile for transition offense efficiency. The Bulls picked up two wins against the Cavs earlier this season, largely due to their ability to run in the open floor. Cleveland did a much better job of limiting that this time around.
• Keon Ellis provided four stocks. He remains one of the most active defenders in the league for his size. Ellis finished with three steals and a block.
• Jaylon Tyson provided 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tyson needed this game after his struggles the last few weeks.
• The Cavs are now 5-4 when Donovan Mitchell doesn’t play. The Cavs have been at their best this season when Mitchell is on the floor. Even though this was an ugly win, victories have been hard to come by without their best player. He missed Thursday’s game with a left eye contusion.

Jordan Walsh’s season has already had two distinct phases.

Back in mid-November, he stepped into the starting lineup and stayed there for the next 20 games. The Celtics went 15–5 during that stretch, and his role made sense within what Boston needed at the time. He defended across positions, ran the floor, and kept the offense moving without forcing anything.

The production followed. In November, Walsh averaged 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24 minutes per game. In December, that jumped to 9.5 points on nearly 70%(!) shooting, with his three-point percentage climbing above 50%. For a young wing on one of the best teams in the league, that’s no joke, especially for someone who, two months prior, most of us were still trying to figure out.

Jordan Walsh 20 PTS, 8 REB, 3 STL, 8/10 FG, 3/4 3FG, 95.8% TS vs Bucks https://t.co/NGwGvOE8ZCpic.twitter.com/Y7o3h6Fu5w

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) December 12, 2025

Since then, the shape of his season has changed. His minutes have dropped each month, from 20.6 in December to 15.8 in January, then 14.0 in February, and under 12 per game in March. The production has come down with it.

So what changed?

A role that fit what Boston needed

When Walsh entered the starting lineup on Nov. 12, it made a lot of sense.

Boston needed length on the wing. Someone who could defend multiple positions, stay active, and keep possessions moving when the ball found him. Walsh did that, and then some. He was often the one getting the offense to pick up the pace, and took on defensive assignments that allowed others to conserve energy.

Walsh fits the type of wing Brad Stevens has prioritized for years. Defend, connect plays, don’t hijack possessions. It’s the same connective archetype Boston has leaned into across the roster — the idea of building, as Nate Moskowitz recently put it, an army of Derrick Whites. For a stretch, Walsh executed his role well enough to stay on the floor, and the statistics backed up the eye test. On top of that, most of those minutes came in lineups that were already winning, so there wasn’t much reason to change anything.

Where the rotation started to change

The change didn’t come all at once.

It showed up in smaller moments. A shorter stint against Sacramento, then a lineup change against the Clippers, when Sam Hauser moved back into the starting group. After his minutes began to dip, Walsh didn’t point to matchups or rotation decisions. He went straight to impact.

“I think just leaving a print on the game,” he said in January. “The other team has to feel me… Every time I’m on the court, I’ve got to constantly make it hard for everybody else to kind of survive on the other team.”

That quote gets to the heart of why it’s hard to keep minutes on this Celtics roster. On a team this deep, checking the boxes is the bare minimum. To be a real contributor, you have to impact the game in a way that forces the coaching staff to keep you out there.

Jaylen Brown related to a good question about Jordan Walsh’s up-and-down minutes:

“He just needs to keep his mind right and stay focused…He's in a tough spot, because we have a lot of talented players…”

“My 3rd year, I got moved to the bench when Kyrie, Gordon came back.” pic.twitter.com/Z1cmKZRyho

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 14, 2026

Mazzulla framed it from the team side.

“It’s just that we can go do so many different things,” he said. “You saw what Sam was able to do…our offense was obviously different with him out there.”

Nothing broke. The Celtics just have a lot of toys to play with, and they want to see how they all work together before the playoffs arrive.

The “young wolves” are fighting for the same minutes

Jaylen Brown recently called the Celtics’ youthful wings the “young wolves.” That group has been competing for the same rotation spots all season.

Walsh is competing directly with Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González, and the newest wolf cub, Ron Harper Jr., for minutes that don’t have much margin to begin with.

From a statistical standpoint, Walsh’s profile stands out in one specific area. He uses very little of the offense.

Among the group of wolves, Walsh’s usage rate sits near the bottom, around 11%. Scheierman is slightly higher. Harper Jr. and González operate in a similar range, but with more on-ball responsibility in short stretches.

That low-usage role can work (it did earlier in the season), but it comes with a tradeoff. When you’re not creating offense, your value has to show up quickly in other areas.

Walsh does that defensively. Last season, Xavier Tillman dubbed Walsh “The King of the Lockdown.” Bit of a clunky nickname for my liking, but the point stands. His activity, length, and ability to disrupt possessions still give him a clear edge on that end compared to most of the other young players.

Offensively, the gap is slightly visible when it comes to decision-making and versatility.

Scheierman has earned trust as a secondary playmaker as the season has gone on. His assist-to-usage numbers reflect that, showing a real comfort making reads with the ball in his hands. González, even in more limited minutes, has shown flashes of that same ability.

Walsh’s assist rate, by comparison, sits near the bottom of the group. That doesn’t make him ineffective. It just narrows the ways he can put his fingerprints on a possession offensively. When the ball finds him, the play usually needs to move quickly — catch, swing, or finish.

On a roster like this, the players who stay in the rotation tend to give Mazzulla multiple options within the same possession. Shooting, passing, or attacking off the catch. The more paths a player offers, the easier it is to keep him on the floor.

Walsh’s path is more defined. Defend, run, finish plays. Earlier in the season, that path was enough to hold steady minutes. As the rotation tightened and more talent rose to the surface, that path became harder to rely on consistently.

The margin for Walsh right now

There was a sequence against Oklahoma City last week that keeps replaying in my head as I write this article. Sam Hauser jumps a passing lane, pushes it ahead, and Walsh steps into a transition three and knocks it down. Clean, immediate, decisive. No hesitation, no extra dribble, no pause. That version of Walsh fits anywhere in this rotation. You don’t have to think about it and, more importantly, neither does anyone else.

Sam Hauser steal, Jordan Walsh three! pic.twitter.com/6C1AXyiIjx

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 13, 2026

The challenge is not knowing how often that version is going to show up possession to possession. In a tighter rotation, the ball finds different players in similar spots, and the ones who stay on the floor tend to keep the advantage moving in the right direction. Catch, decide, go. When that rhythm stalls, even briefly, the possession shifts somewhere else. On a team with this many options, that’s usually all it takes for Mazzulla to start looking for other answers.

Now, the context around those possessions has changed even more. With Tatum back and his minutes climbing into the low 30s, there are simply fewer opportunities to begin with. The role Walsh filled earlier in the season hasn’t disappeared, but it has shrunk, and it now requires a sharper version of the same impact to justify staying on the floor.

That’s the bar Walsh is trying to clear now. Not whether he can contribute, because he already has, but whether he can do it in a way that keeps him in the flow of what Boston is doing on both ends, game after game after game. The minutes earlier in the season proved he belongs in that mix. The last few weeks have shown how narrow that window can get.

Walsh said it himself. The other team has to feel him. Otherwise, we might not see him.

Half of the first round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament is complete. But we’re far from done, March Madness fans.

The action Friday continues with another full slate of 16 contests. Once again, this will be your guide for the day with all the matchups, channels and tip times. Stick with us all day as teams advance and brackets are busted.

Once again, the times listed can vary slightly if preceding contests run long, but there should always be something happening throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Here’s the ranking of all the games and everything you need to know about how to watch Friday’s contests.

1. No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State

Time/TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, TNT

The Aggies have appeared in every NCAA Tournament but one since 2019 but own just one victory in that stretch, something this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to change. They should match up well with the Wildcats, though Duke Brennan could give Villanova the edge in the paint.

2. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS

You’d be hard-pressed to find a first-round contest featuring more contrasting styles. The free-wheeling RedHawks won over plenty of skeptics in Wednesday night’s First Four victory against SMU, but the Volunteers will do their best to make this affair a grind with a premium on controlling the boards.

3. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa

Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

The final 8-9 matchup tips off the evening session, though it, too, provides something of a contrast. The Hawkeyes have a true floor general in Bennett Stirtz, who rarely leaves the floor. But the Tigers’ ability to spread the offensive load could serve them well given their recent injury woes. This looks to be tight throughout.

4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara

Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

One of the sport’s name-brand programs appears in the leadoff spot, though this year’s Wildcats can hardly be considered Final Four contenders. They figure to get a formidable first-round challenge from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its own on the glass.

5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri

Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

The final game of the round of 64 features what is as de facto home game for Mizzou despite its lower seed. The Tigers, however, enter the tourney on a three-game losing streak, so a fast start by the Hurricanes could neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri leading scorer Mark Mitchell will have to keep pace with the Miami duo of Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson.

6. No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida

Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS

The Bruins’ late push in the crowded Big Ten could elevate them only so far up the seeding hierarchy, but they should at least be at full strength for this assignment. The Knights weren’t at their best in the closing weeks of the season but have enough weapons to be dangerous.

7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron

Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV

Unfortunately, the loss of All America forward JT Toppin to a season-ending knee injury severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn’t phone in the rest of their season, of course, but they now find themselves as credible upset picks against the experienced and very talented Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile forward Amani Lyles.

8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra

Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV

While courts of a different sort have kept Alabama in the news for much of this season, the Crimson Tide are still capable of making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His opposite number here will be Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, a high-usage point guard who puts up 20.2 points and 4.6 assists a game.

9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist

Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

With plenty of questions about their overall chemistry and the uncertainty around star freshman Darryn Peterson entering the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably need an easy first-round tuneup more than most upper-tier squads. They might not get it against the Lancers and WAC player of the year Dominique Daniels (23.2 ppg).

10. No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Big East champion St. John’s and its supporters have plenty of reasons to be displeased with the committee for their tournament draw, not the least of which is this first-round matchup in far away San Diego against a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a reputation as a March giant killer. Be that as it may, the Panthers might not have an answer for Red Storm big man Zuby Ejiofor.

11. No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State

Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS

The new-look Cavaliers have a different playing style than the past versions that proved susceptible to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they must be ready for a challenge from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who also like to play fast and connect on 36.1% of their three-point tries.

12. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State

Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS

When everything is working, the Cyclones can look like a Final Four team. But the program has been here before as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton in the first round. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) could keep the Tigers in it for a while.

13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens

Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

The Boilermakers were undoubtedly happy to see their name on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a hard weekend of work in the Big Ten tournament. And the improvement to a No. 2 seed means a favorable matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the big stage, at least hope to make a good first impression.

14. No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman

Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

All UConn coach Danny Hurley has to do to get his players’ attention is remind them what Furman did the last time it played in this event. Bob Richey is still coaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 when they sent Virginia packing in the first round, and he once again has a dependable floor leader in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this year.

15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island

Time/TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TNT

Arizona has a history of underachieving in March, but that usually comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed version of the Wildcats should make short work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a guy to watch for coach Rod Strickland’s Sharks.

16. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M

Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

Congratulations are in order for the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run almost certainly stops here against the defending champion Gators, though Prairie View’s Dontae Horne can make things happen at both ends of the floor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first-round schedule Friday

Well, that didn't stink.

How about March Madness? Does it ever disappoint?

Nope.

Thursday's first round had the upsets we love, the close calls that nearly wreck brackets nationwide and memorable moments, like Nebraska's NCAA Tournament long-awaited breakthrough.

Armour: One day in and March Madness already it's usual marvelous self

Can Friday top it?

Here's a look at Friday's full slate of games and TV listings:

March Madness today: NCAA Tournament schedule, TV listings for Friday, March 20

• 12:15 p.m.: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara, CBS (Fubo)
• 12:40 p.m.: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron, truTV (Sling TV)
• 1:35 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU, TNT (Sling TV)
• 1:50 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State, TBS (Sling TV)
• 2:50 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State, CBS (Fubo)
• 3:15 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra, truTV (Sling TV)
• 4:10 p.m.: No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State, TNT (Sling TV)
• 4:25 p.m.: No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio), TBS (Sling TV)
• 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, TNT (Sling TV)
• 7:10 p.m.: No 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa, CBS (Fubo)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida, TBS (Sling TV)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens, truTV (Sling TV)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M, TNT (Sling TV)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist, CBS (Fubo)
• 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman, TBS (Sling TV)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami vs. No. 10 Missouri, truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness today: NCAA Tournament schedule, how to watch first round

Luka Doncic became the first player since Kobe Bryant to score 60 points in a game for the LA Lakers as they overcame the Miami Heat 134-126.

Doncic – the NBA's leading scorer this season – has reached 30 points in eight consecutive games and got to 50 twice in his last five appearances but in hitting 60 achieved a mark that no Lakers player had managed since Bryant in 2019.

And on a night of notable marks for the Lakers, LeBron James scored a triple double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to move.

The game was his 1,611th regular-season outing, moving him level with Robert Parish for the most in NBA history. The all-time leading scorer in NBA history will set a new record if he features for the Lakers against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

"He's not only competing against the entire league but also Father Time. And he's giving Father Time hell," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said of the 41-year-old.

Wembanyama stars as Spurs seal play-off spot; Curry honoured by Hornets

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns 101-100 thanks to a Victor Wembanyama effort with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Wembanyama had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and his winning point secured Spurs a play-off spot for the first time in six seasons in the Western Conference.

The in-form Charlotte Hornets also continued their winning run, beating the Orlando Magic 130-111.

But the game was arguably more notable for a half-time ceremony which saw former Hornets star Dell Curry's number 30 jersey retired.

His shirt was lifted to the rafters at the Spectrum Center as his family - including NBA all-star sons Stephen and Seth, watched on.

Meanwhile the Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 117-95 in their first game without the injured MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame the Chicago Bulls 115-110.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to field Friday in the third Twenty20 cricket international against South Africa at Eden Park.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after South Africa won the first match by seven wickets and New Zealand the second by 68 runs.

Both teams made one lineup change. South Africa named right-arm pacer Lutho Sipamla in place of Ottneil Baartman while New Zealand recalled Bevon Jacobs in place of Josh Clarkson.

___

Lineups:

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (captain), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson.

Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Nqobani Mokoena, Lutho Sipamla.

___

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

BUFFALO, NY — This was a moment delayed by two years, a coaching change and a transfer.

Two seasons ago, Indiana State won the Missouri Valley regular-season crown, earning the program’s first national ranking since the Larry Bird-led team in 1979 along the way, before losing to Drake in the finals of the conference tournament.

The Sycamores were then snubbed by the NCAA selection committee, who held them out of the at-large field despite a NET rating of 28, the highest of any team to miss the tournament.

“It was kind of the biggest disappointment we’ve ever had,” said former Indiana State and current Saint Louis assistant coach Antone Gray. “It was a huge letdown that night.”

Two years later, the biggest pieces behind that season’s success — coach Josh Schertz and center Robbie Avila — embraced after No. 9 Saint Louis routed No. 8 Georgia, 102-77, in the opening round of the Midwest region, celebrating an achievement rooted in the decision to leave Indiana State after the 2024 season.

“Our goal was from the beginning of the year to reach this moment, so we got here, we kind of accomplished that goal,” Avila said. “But obviously that 2024 year was just what it was. I'm just excited and blessed to have the opportunity to do it here.”

The Billikens advanced to face No. 1 Michigan, which pulled away from No. 16 Howard in the second half of a 101-80 win.

Shertz accepted the Saint Louis opening days after the Sycamores lost to Seton Hall in the NIT championship game. Two weeks later, Avila followed suit to become the centerpiece of the Billikens’ transformation from 13-20 in 2023-24 to a school-record 29 wins and growing this season.

“I wanted to get this team to the NCAA Tournament for a lot of reasons, but he was the biggest,” Shertz said of Avila. “There was a lot of people that helped bring me here, but I just never wanted for him to have ended his career not in the tournament, particularly after what happened to our Indiana State team.”

The player with a collection of the best nicknames in the sport — Bert, Steph Blurry, Larry Nerd and many more — showcased his deft touch near the basket and skills as a passer against the Bulldogs, posting 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal before being replaced with 4:45 remaining and the Billikens holding a 38-point lead.

After drilling a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis ahead 86-52 with just over nine minutes left, Avila raised his arms as fans chanted his first name. At this point, Avila and the Billikens had so demoralized the Bulldogs that Georgia fans sitting behind press row began discussing Thursday’s start of spring football.

“Major impact. Energy booster,” said Saint Louis guard Trey Green. “Robbie hit some key buckets. He made some good passes. Defensively, he held his own. To have your leader make an impact like that, you know, it drives us to have his back and do the same thing.”

This was par for the course for one of the top players on the mid-major level and one of the most balanced players in the country, period, even if Avila was not named one of the five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation’s best center.

Avila is now averaging a team-best 12.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and a team-leading 4.1 assists per game, all while shooting 50.9% from the field, a career-best 41.7% from deep and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

All this while looking like, well, someone who shouldn’t be this good. With his goatee, beefy frame and lack of rim-shaking athleticism, Avila is a human version of the Spider-Man-pointing meme for those watching at home: Hey, he looks just like me!

“He’s the most team guy that we have,” said Gray. “He leads us. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country and he came here for a reason. He came back for this.”

Like Avila, Schertz saw his profile grow at Indiana State, which hired him in 2021 after a hugely successful run at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He’s since become one of the hottest names in mid-major coaching, drawing heavy attention for the Syracuse opening before declining the Orange’s overtures and signing a contract extension with Saint Louis last week.

There’s no wonder larger programs are so interested: Schertz has made things happen at every stop, making three Division II Final Four appearances at Lincoln Memorial, winning 62.3% of his games with the Sycamores and now posting a 48-20 mark in his two seasons with the Billikens.

“It’s been everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more,” said his son, Jaden, a walk-on junior guard who followed his dad from Indiana State.

“It’s surreal, man. I’ve known my dad is a great coach since the D-II days. We’ve watched March Madness since we were little. So it’s awesome watching it on this stage.”

Overall, Schertz has won 77.8% of his games, ranking him eighth among active college coaches across all NCAA levels. In four seasons with Avila on the roster, he’s gone 103-40. But this win stands alone.

“This was just a full-circle moment,” said Gray. “I think this was what we deserved and honestly, what Robbie and coach deserved the most.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saint Louis' NCAA Tournament blowout win was two years in the making

The Knicks again will be a bit shorthanded for their clash against the Nets on Friday.

Josh Hart is out, with the Knicks listing his ailment as patella femoral syndrome in his right knee.

That’s notably different from when he missed two games in Utah and Indiana last week, which was due to left knee soreness.

Hart had his best offensive game of the season Tuesday when he erupted for a season-high 33 points in a rout of the Pacers at MSG.

But the Knicks will be getting Jalen Brunson back.

He missed Tuesday’s game for right ankle management and a neck strain. Brunson practiced fully Thursday.

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The Knicks carry a 13-game winning streak against the Nets into Friday’s game.

Brunson had no interest in talking about it.

“No comment,” Brunson said after practice Thursday. “We’re gonna focus on winning the game then moving on from there. I don’t care about the streak.”

The last time the teams met, the Knicks won by 54 points at Madison Square Garden — their biggest-ever margin of victory.

It came during their low point of the year, after they had lost nine of 11 games, and helped reignite their season.

“You have to be ready to go,” Brunson said. “Short-term memory. No matter what the result is, you gotta come ready to play next time you play, next game, whatever it is. We gotta look past it, we gotta look forward. It’s 0-0, new game.”

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Jose Alvarado is featured in a new AT&T commercial alongside Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Patrick Ewing and John Starks. It’s the first commercial for Alvarado.

“That’s what New York can do for you: get you in commercials,” Alvarado said. “My agent called me and said, ‘We’ve got a special thing, do you want to be in a commercial?’ I said ‘Yeah,’ I didn’t know who was going to be in the commercial at first. But the commercial came out pretty dope.”

Not all wins are created equal and Thursday’s was no ordinary victory for the Lakers.

There’s a level of seriousness that came with that performance that separates good teams from great teams. Everything about this performance screamed schedule loss.

The team had an emotional win in Houston just 24 hours earlier. They then flew from Texas to Florida and didn’t arrive at the hotel until after 5 a.m. That LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves all played was surprising enough.

But they did more than just show up. Even if it was against a Miami team that borders unserious in their own right, the Lakers had a lot stacked up against them and responded in a big way.

The Lakers are rolling, Luka is in a groove not seen by a Laker since Kobe Bryant and the wins are stacking up at a rapid rate now.

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.

LeBron James

38 minutes, 19 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-12 FG, 3-5 FT, +4

Playing in this game was impressive enough for a 41-year-old. But then he broke his own record as the oldest player with a triple-double. Bringing this level of energy and efficiency and execution on the second night of a back-to-back in year 23 is the latest list of unparalleled accomplishments.

Grade: A

Marcus Smart

28 minutes, 13 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 8-9 FT, +15

A lot of performances went under the radar in this one because of, well, Luka. Smart was a useful safety valve on a number of possessions, highlighted by him getting to the line nine times.

Grade: B+

Deandre Ayton

29 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 3-5 FG, +13

Bam Adebayo didn’t score 83 points on him, so it was an impressive defensive display. In reality, it was a fairly pedestrian showing from Ayton after a string of strong ones.

Grade: C+

Austin Reaves

40 minutes, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 5-12 FG, 2-7 3PT, 6-10 FT, +13

Speaking of pedestrian games, Reaves put up another one on Thursday. He’s been a bit too hot and cold of late. Having said that, it’s been three straight cold games now in the last four days.

Grade: C+

Luka Dončić

38 minutes, 60 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 18-30 FG, 9-17 3PT, 15-19 FT, +7

Well, what else can you say? It’s the first 60-point game by a Laker since Kobe Bryant’s finale. After helping keep the Lakers afloat in the first half, a supercharged second half helped them race ahead.

He is in some kind of rhythm right now that is incredible to watch and brings back lots of memories of Kobe. Scoring 100 points inside of 24 hours rightfully brings those comparisons.

Grade: A+++

Luke Kennard

13 minutes, 2 rebounds, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, -5

This is five games in a row now with Kennard being a relative non-factor offensively. In that span, he has four field goals.

Grade: D

Jaxson Hayes

19 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2-6 FG, 2-2 FT, -7

Jaxson gave a boost in the first half with his activity around the rim. But that was also about all he did in this.

Grade: B-

Rui Hachimura

18 minutes, 7 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 3-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, -5

Another player who had a strong first half, which was important when the team needed an offensive boost.

Grade: C+

Jake LaRavia

18 minutes, 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 5 fouls, 2-3 FG, 1-1 3PT, +5

A nice LaRavia that also came on an efficient shooting performance tacked on, though it featured nearly fouling out, too.

Grade: B+

JJ Redick

After one quarter, I wondered if this game could use a boost from someone like Jarred Vanderbilt or Adou Thiero to add some energy. The Lakers didn’t end up needing it, but it was a surprise that Redick didn’t really expand his rotation. This road trip isn’t going to get any less exhausting, so introducing some more players feels like it has to happen at some point.

Grade: B

Thursday’s DNPs: Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, Drew Timme, Jarred Vanderbilt

Thursday’s inactives: Chris Mañon, Nick Smith Jr., Maxi Kleber

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

With most of their rotation players out, the Utah Jazz likely expected to drop one to a Bucks team that played the roster meant to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee. Utah ended up beating the Bucks 128-96. Probably not the best thing for the Bucks to prove to Giannis that he can win there.

The best player on the floor was Ace Bailey, who scored a career high 33 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bailey is turning into a real weapon for the Jazz, who are doing everything they can to add one more top-8 pick in the upcoming draft. Bailey continues to get better and better every night showing more and more to his game. Not only is Bailey’s shooting getting more and more efficient, but he’s also showing great defensive chops with 3 steals and 1 block in this game. Not only that, his 4 assists are a sign of a burgeoning ability to playmake for others. Utah has a chance to win the lottery again after this season, but they appear to have a young star already from last year.

Ace Bailey wasn’t the only player to shine, Cody Williams is also improving night after night. He’s improving in all aspects of his game, especially with his scoring. Williams had 23 points in the first half and looked completely comfortable all night, scoring on the hapless Bucks. Williams was a fantastic 10/15 from the field and 1/2 from three, but also dished out 5 assists. Night after night, it’s getting clearer and clearer that Williams is becoming a core part of the future and a player that Utah was right to draft at #10.

Kyle Filipowski continues to show he can be a positive contributor, although he’s got to find a way to improve on defense. It may not be something he can ever do, but it’s the one thing that is going to keep him from being a consistent rotation player.

Finally, there has to be a huge shoutout to the Utah Jazz front office for finding some nice players from the G-League. Blake Hinson, who is on a two-way contract, has been a lights-out shooter for the Jazz, and tonight was no different. Hinson shot a blistering 4/7 from three, and it looks like something he should be able to replicate in the years to come. Andersson Garcia has had a nice defensive presence for the Jazz since joining. Tonight, he played all 48 minutes and played with high energy all game. I’m not sure that Garcia will be on the Jazz next season, but he’s proven he’s a player worth looking at and bringing into their development system. He could be a potential fit down the road.

It’s not a good night for the Jazz in terms of tanking for the lottery, it likely puts the 4-spot out of reach, but it was a night where you got to see the future of the Jazz in Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, and that future is looking bright.

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 22
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 9
Paul George – 6
Justin Edwards – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4
Quentin Grimes – 3
Jared McCain :’( – 3
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Cam Payne – 1
Jabari Walker – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

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The Sixers took care of business in Sacramento, defeating the Kings 139-118 and bouncing back from Wednesday’s blowout in Denver.

The Sixers treated fans who stayed up to watch with an extremely strong offensive performance, including a couple of career nights against the lottery-chasing Kings.

One of the toughest choices for Bell Ringer this season, so have at it.

Justin Edwards: 32 points, 11-of-18 FG, 7-of-11 3PT, 4 assists, 2 steals

Edwards opened the game on fire, making three from deep, a post fadeaway and a tough layup to bring him to 13 points with just four minutes elapsed in the first quarter. Then he started diming up teammates, specifically VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. He tallied four assists in the first half.

His fifth three, occurring in the fourth quarter, gave him his career high in points with 26. He added his sixth three later in the frame to give him a career high in makes from deep, and knocked his seventh down after lulling the defender to sleep. The Philly native notches his first career 30-point night.

VJ Edgecombe: 38 points, 16-of-28 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals

Edgecombe was the driving force for the Sixers’ offense once Edwards cooled off, scoring from everywhere on the floor. He started with a couple threes in the first following a nice floater to begin scoring. He got his teammates involved and got repaid with a nasty alley-oop finish in transition in the second quarter. He also showed off his improvement in the midrange with a pair of mirrored pull-up midrange shots over a good contest.

He finished a fastbreak dunk after a Dominick Barlow block to help fight off the ghosts of third-quarters past. He snake finished through the defense for an easy two in close midway through the third. He made a beautiful spin fade after drawing help. He spent the rest of the quarter penetrating the defense at will.

He added another layup at the onset of the fourth, then hit two threes and a layup to give him a new career high with 38 points. His 11 assists provided him his fifth double-double of his career.

He is now the fourth Sixers rookie to notch 30 points and 10 assists, joining Allen Iverson, Ben Simmons and Jared McCain

Quentin Grimes: 27 points, 10-of-20 FG, 3-of-6 3PT, 7 assists, 5 rebounds

Grimes was the Sixers leading scorer at halftime thanks to strong drives and savvy finishes at the rim. It was not like the Kings deployed the stingiest rim protection, but Grimes did not settle for poor shots when better ones were available. Only two of his eight makes came from outside the paint in the first half and he did not hit his first three until just before halftime.

He added a three early in the third quarter, and another one a few possessions later to keep trading buckets with the Kings amidst inconsistent defense to begin the second half.

Adem Bona: 8 points, 2-of-3 FG, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 foul

Bona was pivotal in stopping the Kings from taking a larger lead after the Lowry-equipped bench lineup swiftly gave the Sixers lead up. He successfully thwarted multiple dunk attempts at the rim, and was a force on the boards, notching 10 rebounds by halftime.

He added an ungraceful steal and slam to the highlight reel as well.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored a career high 38 points with 11 assists, Justin Edwards was 7 of 11 from 3-point range and finished with 32 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Sacramento Kings 139-118 on Thursday night.

Quentin Grimes scored 27 points as the 76ers ended a five-game road losing streak and won for the fourth time in their last six games playing without their two biggest stars — Joel Embiid (strained right oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger).

Embiid has missed 11 straight games but coach Nick Nurse said he has been making progress.

Edwards shot 11 of 18 from the field overall and went 3 for 3 from the line.

Maxime Raynaud led the Kings with 30 points and Daeqwon Plowden had 20. Dylan Cardwell had 14 rebounds. For the Kings, it was their third loss in their last five games.

Philadelphia shot 50% from the field overall and 47% from 3-point range, compared to 38% from deep for Sacramento.

The 76ers took the lead for good with 3:08 remaining in the second quarter. The score was 71-62 at halftime, with Grimes scoring 20 points. The 76ers extended their lead to 114-91 during the fourth quarter, fueled by a 16-2 scoring run.

The Kings Malik Monk left the game with an injured right shoulder and did not return.

Up next

76ers: Play at Utah on Saturday night.

Kings: Host Brooklyn on Sunday.

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

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

For most of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs were stuck in place — running hard, but going nowhere. The ball clanged off the rim more often than it swished through. Possessions grew tense, deliberate. Across the floor, the Phoenix Suns moved with the confidence of a team in control, building a lead that hovered, then stretched, then threatened to break the game open entirely.

By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Spurs were down double digits. The crowd inside the Frost Bank Center grew restless, a low murmur replacing the earlier buzz. It had the feel of a long night nearing its inevitable end.

But basketball games, especially strange, stubborn ones like this, don’t always follow the script.

It started with defense. A stop that forced Phoenix deeper into the shot clock. Then another. Suddenly, the Suns’ rhythm, which was so steady all night, began to wobble. The Spurs pushed the tempo, not recklessly, but urgently. De’Aaron Fox sliced into the lane with purpose, absorbing contact and finishing through it. Each drive felt like a spark, something to ignite a team that had been searching for life. Earlier, Collin Gillespie had kept San Antonio at bay, knocking down three after three, each one a small act of resistance to the Spurs’ attempt at getting back into the game.

But then, those efforts began to go around the rim and out. San Antonio continued to get stops and make shots. The deficit shrank. Ten became seven. Seven became four. The noise inside the arena swelled again — cautious at first, then rising with each possession. You could feel belief creeping back in, possession by possession.

Still, the Suns had their chances. Rasheer Fleming stepped to the line, the kind of moment a rookie lives for. But on this night, nothing came easy when the man at the line shoots 57 percent. He missed free throws left the door open, just enough for San Antonio to slip through.

One final possession. One final chance. Mitch Johnson called timeout to advance the ball and there was little doubt who would have the ball in his hands with the game on the line. The ball found Victor Wembanyama — as if it had been destined to all along when he was drafted just three years ago. It was only fitting that Wemby had the chance to return the Spurs to playoff glory.

“I’m happy for the city, the community, and organization,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of clinching the team’s first playoff berth since 2019. “To be a part of that process is rewarding.”

There was a stillness in the moment. No rush, no panic. Just Wembanyama, rising above the defense, his long frame creating space where there seemed to be none. The shot — a soft, controlled pull-up — left his hands as the clock neared zero.

For a split second, everything held its breath. Then the net snapped as the ball went through.

“It’s very fun. We hadn’t had this type of situation in awhile. It was a test and we passed it,” Wembanyama said. “It was a meaningful game and close to the playoffs, this was a good test right now.”

With just over a second remaining, the Spurs had flipped the entire night on its head, stealing a 101-100 victory from a game that had seemed lost. Teammates swarmed Wembanyama. The arena erupted, the earlier tension replaced by a roar that shook the building.

He finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, but numbers felt almost secondary. This was about presence. About timing. About the growing sense that when the game tightens and the lights get brighter, the Spurs have someone who can bend the moment to his will.

For this young Spurs team, this win felt like more than just another mark in the standings. It felt like a turning point for the present and their future, the kind you remember later, when close games stop slipping away and start becoming something else entirely.

“It feels good, it feels like a long time coming,” Keldon Johnson said of clinching the playoffs. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or do it anywhere else but here…this is a special group that we have. And I am blessed to be a part of it.”

Game Notes

• Phoenix is one team that’s been a thorn in the Spurs’ side all season, officially splitting the season series 2-2. But in all four games, the Suns have been a solid team against San Antonio. If this is the first round matchup, it’ll be juicy.
• Stephon Castle’s perimeter defense was missed against Devin Booker, who scored 22 points on the night. However, even without Castle defending him, he only shot 8-for-21 for the game.
• If this is the Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox we’re getting in the postseason, the Spurs will continue to surprise people. And they will go further than many are expecting.