NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games – Page 946

March 26, 2025

LeBron James talks retirement, Michael Jordan, Doncic trade and more

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic — Mar 24, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

LeBron James is bringing back his "Mind the Game" podcast, but with two-time MVP Steve Nash filling in the place of J.J. Redick, who is now busy coaching LeBron and the Lakers.

To promote that, LeBron is doing some media stops, and one of them was a lengthy, in-person interview on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ on ESPN. If you missed it, here are a few highlights from the conversation.

• On when he might retire: "For me, it's about my mind. I'm all about the process. If it gets to the point where I don't feel like showing up to the arena five hours in advance. Or I don't feel like training. Or I don't feel like studying the scout sheet of guys. If it gets to that point, I'll know, 'You know what, Bron, that's a wrap.' I will be able to tell."

• On Luka Doncic trade: "I can't put myself in his shoes because I've never been traded before. But I can have a sense and be a human being to know: You commit to a franchise for seven years and you feel like, 'This is the place where I'm going to be.'… And then out of nowhere, bam, you just get traded. I don't give a damn where you're going… That's a shock to your system."

“Luka Doncic committed to a franchise for seven years and that was his comfort..

Out of nowhere you get traded and that’s a shock to your system..

I had to let him know that we’ll figure it out because we need him to be who he is” ~ @KingJames #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kPEIag0MID
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025

• On his relationship with Michael Jordan: "We don't talk. Because I'm still playing. I'm still playing, I'm still focused on my craft right now...

"I think it's because I'm still playing. And MJ, we all know MJ. Even if you don't know him personally, he is one of the most ruthless competitors there is and until I'm done and he doesn't have to look at me running up and down wearing the No 23 and every time my name is mentioned, it's mentioned with his."

• On his son, Bronny James: "For me as a dad, it doesn't matter if he never scores, ever. For me as a dad, I'm just super proud of him, period, as a young man. For me as a mentor and as a teammate of his that wants to see him thrive because I have seen the work he's put into the game, I am super proud of his development to where he is now... starting off the G League season with just trying to figure it out and now, 39 [points] and even when I talked to him, he was more pissed off at the technical free throw that he missed more than anything. He was like, 'I could have had a 40 ball, and I missed that damn technical free throw.' So, the kid, he's awesome."

March 26, 2025

Frustrated coach Will Hardy unloads on Jazz: 'You are a member of a team. This is not about you.'

Utah's young core had an impressive first half Tuesday night, leading Memphis 65-64 at the break. That was the last of the good play by the Jazz for the night.

Utah was outscored 76-38 in the second half of what became a blowout loss, shooting less than 40% and getting outworked in every aspect of the game. In his postgame press conference, Jazz head coach Will Hardy unloaded on his team, with quotes via Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune.

“Pass the mother******* ball. Run back on defense. When it’s time to communicate what we’re doing on defense, you should do it at a volume louder than I’m talking to you right now. When there is a loose ball, you need to want it more than the other team. You are a member of a team. This is not about you. This is not a personal workout for you.”

While the Jazz are tanking this season and have the second-worst record in the league, a culture of effort and accountability can still be established — Mark Daigneault did that in Oklahoma City, and when the talent started to come, that team blossomed. That's the foundation Hardy is trying to build in Utah, and he wasn't feeling it during the second half Tuesday night.

"I’ve talked a lot about how we carry ourselves meaning something to me, and those words are not hollow. That second half was really disappointing, and it’s not representative of who we want to be as an organization. It’s not representative of who I want us to be.

"There are very few times where I’ve been disappointed in our group, and tonight I’ll drive home disappointed. But we have to all wake up tomorrow and get back to work. And it is one game. It is one half. I understand that, and I’ll get some sleep and wake up tomorrow with perspective. But during the game, perspective is for the birds. The lights are on, you’re competing. You’re representing an organization, representing a fan base, our community. That was just unacceptable."

It's been a rough season in Utah, but this is a franchise and an ownership/management team that doesn't want to have a lengthy rebuilding process, they want to turn this around fast. Some of that will depend on the luck of the lottery balls and the team's player development skills, but some of turning this around is about building a culture.

Will Hardy is trying to ensure the Jazz players live up to that standard.

March 26, 2025

LeBron James tells Pat McAfee it was 'my job' to defend Bronny against Stephen A. Smith

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James points while directing a teammate during a game against the Orlando Magic — Lakers star LeBron James directs a teammate during a game Monday against the Magic in Orlando, Fla. (John Raoux / Associated Press)

The LeBron James-Stephen A. Smith feud doesn't look like it will be ending anytime soon, as the Lakers superstar trashed Smith on the network that employs the "First Take" host.

Appearing on Wednesday's episode of ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show," James talked about his confrontation with Smith during a timeout at a Lakers game this month and how Smith has addressed the incident multiple times.

“He’s like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now," James said. "It started off with [Smith saying], ‘I didn’t want to address it. I didn’t want to address it. I wasn’t going to address it, but since the video came out, I feel the need to address it.’ Mother— are you kidding me? If there’s one person that couldn’t wait until the video had dropped so you could address it, it was your a—. Like, seriously?"

Smith has characterized the interaction as James "making sure I mind what I say about his son,” a reference to James' oldest son and Lakers teammate Bronny James. Smith previously said on air that Bronny should play in the G League this year rather than split time with the NBA.

“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this,” Smith said on the Jan. 29 episode of "First Take." “Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”

Smith walked back his criticism a bit after Bronny had a good game. But James told McAfee that Smith had "completely missed the whole point."

"Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court," James said. "That is your job to criticize or be in a position where if a guy’s not performing, that’s all part of the game."

But, James added, “when you take it and you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players. ... And I know he’s gonna be happy as hell. He’s gonna be smiling from ear to ear when he hears me talking about him again. Oh my God. He’s gonna get home and get some ice cream out of his f— freezer and sit in his chair in his tighty whities on the couch.”

Oddly enough, Smith already responded to a different part of the James interview before the show even aired. A clip from the prerecorded interview was released ahead of the full show. In it, James proclaimed Milwaukee Bucks star "Giannis Antetokounmpo would have 250 points in a game in the ‘70s."

Smith addressed the comment Wednesday on "First Take" before the entire James interview aired.

"Here’s the problem with what LeBron James did. It's still disrespectful to the previous eras. And there's no call for it," Smith said. "And so when he does what he does on that level, that's him passive-aggressively, yet again, finding a way to take shots because inherently he has a problem with himself being compared to dudes from previous eras.”

Even though he had no way of knowing Smith would say any of that, James told McAfee after making his comment about Antetokounmpo: "I would be able to play in any era."

Smith has yet to publicly respond to anything else from the James interview.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

March 26, 2025

LeBron James discusses relationship with Michael Jordan: ‘We don’t talk’

LeBron James: ‘I’m still playing, I’m still focused on my craft right now.’ Photograph: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE/Getty Images

LeBron James has opened up about his relationship with Michael Jordan, the man who he often finds his NBA career measured against.

The question of which of the players is the greatest has become such a staple of sports talkshows that it is almost a cliche. In an interview with the the Pat McAfee Show broadcast on Wednesday, James said he has little interaction with Jordan.

“We don’t talk,” James said. “Because I’m still playing. I’m still playing, I’m still focused on my craft right now.”

James said much of the distance is due to the pair’s competitiveness. James has four NBA titles and is a four-time Most Valuable Player. Jordan was a six-time champion and a five-time MVP.

“I think it’s because I’m still playing,” James said. “And MJ, we all know MJ. Even if you don’t know him personally, he is one of the most ruthless competitors there is and until I’m done and he doesn’t have to look at me running up and down wearing the No 23 and every time my name is mentioned, it’s mentioned with his.”

The 40-year-old said he has “hope” he will become closer to Jordan when he retires, saying something similar happened with Kobe Bryant. James said there was some competitive friction between the pair but that softened when Bryant had retired and James joined the Lakers.

“That’s when our relationship became really, really good,” James said. “He welcomed me. He called me, like, ‘Bro, anything you need in LA, I got you. You’re a Laker now. You’re family.’ And we would have multiple conversations. Obviously, you guys saw him coming to a lot of games ... And when I passed him for the scoring record in Philly, he had a tweet out there like, ‘Keep on going.’ Like, ‘Keep transcending the game. Keep going.’ And that shit meant so much to me.”

James also spoke about his son and Lakers teammate, Bronny. Bronny was drafted by the Lakers last year, amid some accusations of nepotism. He has struggled in early NBA appearances but has spent time in the G-League and scored a career-high 17 points for the Lakers earlier this month.

“For me as a dad, it doesn’t matter if he never scores, ever. For me as a dad, I’m just super proud of him, period, as a young man,” said James. “For me as a mentor and as a teammate of his that wants to see him thrive because I have seen the work he’s put into the game, I am super proud of his development to where he is now. From the moment that he was drafted ... to now ... his development has skyrocketed.”

Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest in college, and James described the joy of seeing him recover and make his debut for the Lakers this season.

“Us going out on the floor and having that moment, physically I wasn’t even there,” James said. “I wasn’t even there. I’m floating. I could only imagine where Bronny was. We haven’t even talked about it yet. At some point we will. But I wasn’t even there. I was so [happy], I might have been in the rafters. I might have been at home – my body might have been at home watching the game and watching the moment. I completely was not there.”

James was also asked about extending his playing career so that his youngest son, 17-year-old Bryce, could play alongside his father and Bronny on the Lakers.

“Don’t do that to me,” James said with a smile.

March 26, 2025

3 observations after Sixers reach 50 losses with defeat to cellar-dwelling Wizards

3 observations after Sixers reach 50 losses with defeat to cellar-dwelling Wizards originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reached the 50-loss mark and dropped their sixth consecutive game Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center.

They fell to 23-50 on the season with a 119-114 defeat to the Wizards. Washington moved to 16-56. Both teams will obviously be hoping for the best on NBA draft lottery night.

The Sixers’ top scorers were Quentin Grimes (22 points) and Guerschon Yabusele (21 points).

Justin Edwards had 19 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 24 points. Justin Champagnie tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Both the Sixers and Wizards had a long list of sidelined players. Nine Sixers were out with injuries and Jalen Hood-Schifino missed the game because of an illness.

Tyrese Maxey (right finger sprain) and Kyle Lowry (right hip injury) worked out on the floor pregame. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said that he expects a decision will come soon on the path forward with Joel Embiid’s season-ending left knee injury.

The Sixers will host the Heat on Saturday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Wizards:

Wizards pile up the points

Yabusele scored the night’s first hoop with a post-up bucket on fellow Frenchman Sarr. He continued getting up shots every time he could and posted the Sixers’ first nine points.

Defensively, the Sixers were highly ineffective early in both half court and transition.

Washington began 8 for 10 from three-point range. Even when Adem Bona rejected Jordan Poole’s layup attempt, the ball found Sarr’s shooting pocket and the No. 2 overall pick nailed a top-of-the-key jumper. Though the Sixers only committed one first-half turnover, the Wizards had almost no trouble generating good shots.

Nurse burned his second timeout after a fast-break Champagnie layup put the Wizards up 16 points. The Sixers’ defense did not dramatically improve from there. Colby Jones capped the first quarter with a buzzer-beating three that gave Washington a 45-29 lead.

Another NBA debut

The Sixers used four men off the bench Wednesday in Jared Butler, Bona, Marcus Bagley and Phillip Wheeler.

That second unit was certainly not veteran-heavy. Butler is the eldest of the group at 24 years old. Bona’s a rookie center. Bagley now has two games of NBA experience.

Wheeler, a 6-foot-8 forward on a 10-day contract, made his NBA debut. He got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when he grabbed a defensive rebound and converted a coast-to-coast layup.

Wheeler finished with four points on 2-for-9 shooting, four rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes. The New Jersey native played a part in one of the night’s better highlights, connecting with Ricky Council IV on a third-quarter alley-oop.

Not a winning formula

Grimes started cold but got cooking late in the second quarter. He fell just short of his ninth consecutive game with 25 or more points.

Edwards recorded his sixth straight game with at least 18 points. The rookie was sharp and decisive as a driver, recognizing when he could attack the rim and often doing so in no-nonsense fashion.

Of course, even with those individual performances, it’s awfully difficult to wipe out big deficits without high-level defense and hot shooting. Poole hit back-to-back threes in the third quarter to extend the Wizards’ lead to 89-71.

Washington never had any serious scoring droughts and the Sixers’ outside shooting was subpar. They went 14 for 46 from three-point range (30.4 percent) in their 50th defeat of this sour season.

The Sixers did compete until the final buzzer and, with assistance from some youthful Washington mistakes, made the Wizards sweat down the stretch. A Jeff Dowtin Jr. layup cut Washington’s advantage to 117-113 with 38.3 seconds left.

However, Sarr quieted the crowd by sinking a runner and the Wizards ultimately managed to snap their five-game losing skid.

March 26, 2025

Doc Rivers on blowing 3-1 playoff leads: 'I don't get enough credit for getting the three wins'

Orlando Magic head coach Doc Rivers, right, listens to guard Darrell Armstrong explains during game 7 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Detroit Pistons on May 4, 2003. Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers reacts during Game 3 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles on May 8, 2015. Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers complains about a call during an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game on Sept. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson; AP Photo/Jae C. Hong; AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) — Doc Rivers had three teams — Orlando Magic in 2003 and Clippers in 2015 and 2020 — blow 3-1 playoff leads, but the current Milwaukee Bucks coach says the series collapses are "unfair in some ways." (Los Angeles Times illustration, Photos by Associated Press)

Doc Rivers is one of the winningest coaches in NBA history.

The current Milwaukee Bucks coach has 1,154 career regular-season wins and can tie former Lakers and Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson for seventh on the all-time list with a victory Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets.

He also led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title in 2008 and back to the finals in 2010 during a 26-year coaching career that also included seven seasons with the Clippers and stints with the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.

But Rivers also might forever be known as the coach who has trouble holding onto 3-1 series leads in the playoffs.

Some fans don't seem willing to forget that Rivers blew such advantages three times — with the Magic in 2003 (to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs) and with the Clippers in 2015 (to the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals) and also with the Clippers in 2020 (to the Nuggets in the conference semifinals).

Rivers thinks the criticism he receives for those collapses is "unfair in some ways."

"I don’t get enough credit for getting the three wins," Rivers recently told Andscape. "I get credit for losing. I always say, ‘What if we had lost to Houston in six?’ No one cares. One of the things that I’m proud of is we’ve never been swept. All the coaches have been swept in the playoffs. My teams achieve. A lot of them overachieve and I’m very proud of that."

The 2002-03 Magic team was an eighth seed that pushed the top-seeded Pistons to the brink of elimination. The 2014-15 Clippers finished the regular season at 56-26 and earned the third seed in the West. After defeating the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round, the Clippers went on to face the second-seeded Rockets, who also finished the regular season at 56-26.

Rivers calls that postseason series "the only one that got away."

"But people don’t realize that Chris Paul was running on one leg and we were also the underdog in that series," Rivers said. "When you think about it, Houston had home court, not us."

The 2019-20 season was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic and finished in an isolated Orlando "bubble" during the late summer and early fall. The Clippers ended the regular season at 49-23 and earned the No. 2 seed in the West. Rivers said the team's playoff letdown that year doesn't bother him because he knows the players' hearts weren't in it.

"In the bubble, I had a group of guys that didn’t want to be there," said Rivers, referring to comments made by former Clipper Lou Williams about the players' mindset at the time. "I felt that. I knew that."

Rivers added: "What bugs me about the bubble is I couldn’t get them to understand that we had a chance to win [a title]. That’s what bugs me. They wanted to go home more than they wanted to win. And I still don’t understand that. I’m too competitive. And I really thought that team had enough."

Rivers acknowledged that all those playoff disappointments are "part of my legacy."

"There’s nothing I can do about it," he said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

March 26, 2025

Celtics vs. Suns Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for March 26

Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns Preview

The Boston Celtics (53-19) and Phoenix Suns (35-37) are all set to square off from Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Jayson Tatum will be out of the game tonight after injuring his ankle earlier in the week against the Kings.

The Celtics are on a six-game winning streak. The Suns are on a winning streak of their own. They have won four straight, and six of their last 10.

The Celtics are currently 29-7 on the road with a point differential of 9, while the Suns have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Celtics vs. Suns live today

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 10:00PM EST
Site: Footprint Center
City: Phoenix, AZ

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Celtics vs. Suns

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Odds: Celtics (-154), Suns (+129)
Spread: Celtics -3.5
Over/Under: 224 points

That gives the Celtics an implied team point total of 113.06, and the Suns 111.24.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday's Celtics vs. Suns game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Celtics -5…

Thomas: “It’s hard to stop this train. The Celtics have been rolling. They are a team that’s more than just Jayson Tatum. Jaylon Brown will step up now. They are also very deep and play great defense.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Celtics & Suns game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phoenix Suns at +3.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 224.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Celtics vs. Suns on Wednesday

The Celtics have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division teams
The Suns' average game score this season (230.2) is over the current Total for this game (220.5)
The Celtics have covered the Spread in 7 of their last 10 road games
The Suns have lost 4 of their last 5 games against teams with winning records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

March 26, 2025

Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role

Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wes Wilcox’s time in Sacramento has come to a close.

Wilcox, who spent nearly five seasons as assistant general manager of the Kings, is leaving the NBA to become the next general manager of the Utah men’s basketball program.

The front-office exec released a statement Wednesday afternoon bidding farewell to the Kings and the city of Sacramento.

“I want to give particular thanks to the great and dedicated players, coaches and staff who have helped the Kings make history in recent seasons,” Wilcox wrote, in part. ” … Also, I want to thank the most passionate, loyal fans in the NBA for your endless enthusiasm and unconditional care of Kings basketball. Like you all, the Wilcox family will keep cheering for Sacramento Kings basketball.”

It's official: Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox is headed to the University of Utah.
His message to Sacramento: pic.twitter.com/iKaQPetwMg
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) March 26, 2025

Utah head men’s basketball coach Alex Jensen announced the addition of Wilcox to the Utes program.

“I’m thrilled to have Wes, his wife Larisha and their kids join our Runnin’ Utes family here in Salt Lake City,” Jensen said in a statement. “I couldn’t think of a better person to trust with the general manager position for our basketball program. Wes has such a wealth of experience not only at various levels in the NBA level but in the front office role for multiple organizations as well.

“That experience along with the multiple positions he’s had in all facets of the game will be critical as we move forward in this new frontier of college basketball.”

Before Wilcox’s tenure in Sacramento, he spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Hawks (2012-20) in various roles. Wilcox started as an assistant GM for the Hawks from 2012-15 before being promoted to general manager for three seasons. He then transitioned to a special advisor role from 2017-20 before joining the Sacramento front office.

The Kings have endured a plethora of changes this season, beginning with a coaching change, trading their franchise player away, and now losing a prominent front-office figure.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

March 26, 2025

Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role

Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wes Wilcox’s time in Sacramento has come to a close.

Wilcox, who spent nearly five seasons as assistant general manager of the Kings, is leaving the NBA to become the next general manager of the Utah men’s basketball program.

The front-office exec released a statement Wednesday afternoon bidding farewell to the Kings and the city of Sacramento.

It's official: Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox is headed to the University of Utah.
His message to Sacramento: pic.twitter.com/iKaQPetwMg
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) March 26, 2025

Utah head men’s basketball coach Alex Jensen announced the addition of Wilcox to the Utes program.

“That experience along with the multiple positions he’s had in all facets of the game will be critical as we move forward in this new frontier of college basketball.”

The Kings have endured a plethora of changes this season, beginning with a head coaching change, trading their franchise player away, an assistant coach’s departure and now losing a prominent front-office figure.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

March 26, 2025

Bucks vs. Nuggets Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 26

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets Preview

The Milwaukee Bucks (40-31) and Denver Nuggets (45-28) are all set to square off from Ball Arena in Denver.

Both the Bucks and the Nuggets have struggled recently. Both are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Much like other teams, they have both been bitten by the injury bug. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damien Lillard, and Nikola Jokic have missed time recently, and both are questionable for this game.

The Bucks are currently 16-19 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Nuggets have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home.

Game details & how to watch Bucks vs. Nuggets live today

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 9:00PM EST
Site: Ball Arena
City: Denver, CO

Game odds for Bucks vs. Nuggets

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Odds: Bucks (+138), Nuggets (-163)
Spread: Nuggets -4
Over/Under: 226 points

That gives the Bucks an implied team point total of 112.16, and the Nuggets 114.24.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday's Bucks vs. Nuggets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning toward Giannis Antetokounmpo over 31.5 points…

Thomas: “This is a challenging game to forecast, given the limited information on player availability.

However, we know that Lillard is out indefinitely. That means there’s a slight increase in Kyle Kuzma's usage. His number is a bit too high for me to take. Antetokounmpo also received a usage boost, and this matchup feels perfect for him. He’s also cleared this number in back-to-back games.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Bucks & Nuggets game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Denver Nuggets on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Bucks at +4.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 226.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Bucks vs. Nuggets on Wednesday

The Nuggets have won 15 of their last 20 games when a home favorite
7 of the Nuggets' last 9 games (78%) have gone over the Total
The Bucks have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 games as a road underdog
The Nuggets have won 12 of their last 20 games

March 26, 2025

Sixers add Phillip Wheeler on 10-day contract through hardship exception

Sixers add Phillip Wheeler on 10-day contract through hardship exception originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers signed Phillip Wheeler to a 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday.

According to a source, the deal was again done via the NBA’s hardship exception.Marcus Bagley, Oshae Brissett and Chuma Okeke have been other March 10-day signings for the injury-depleted, 23-49 Sixers.

Wheeler has taken a unique, circuitous route to the NBA. The 6-foot-8 forward decided to forego his senior year of high school in New Jersey, playing in Italy instead.

In 2021, Wheeler tried out for the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and got cut. He then moved to Texas to become an unpaid RGV practice player. Eventually, the Vipers signed Wheeler and he made two appearances in the 2021-22 season.

Wheeler averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists this year in 25 games between the Texas Legends and Maine Celtics.

As of the 2:30 p.m. ET injury report, the Sixers listed nine players as out for their Wednesday night matchup with the 15-56 Wizards.

They’ve ruled Joel Embiid, Paul George, Jared McCain and Eric Gordon out for the season, and everyone available has gotten minutes in recent games.

March 26, 2025

Watch Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart become first Knicks duo ever with triple-doubles in same game

NBA: Miami Heat at New York Knicks — Mar 17, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) high fives guard Josh Hart (3) during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It's hard to become the first to ever do something in the Knicks long and storied history, but Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns did just that on Tuesday night against the Mavericks:

Towns and Hart became the first Knicks teammates to get triple-doubles in the same game during a comfortable home win against the shorthanded Mavericks (no Anthony Davis on the second night of a back-to-back).

KNICKS PUT ON A SHOW AT MSG

OG: 35 pts, 3 3pm, 5 reb
KAT*: 26 pts, 12 reb, 11 ast
Hart*: 16 pts, 12 reb, 11 ast

*First pair of teammates to record triple-doubles in @nyknicks history! pic.twitter.com/6SuI8lfAwc
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2025

Teammates getting triple-doubles has only happened 16 times in the history of the NBA — and twice this season by Denver's Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook.

"I'm just happy that Josh gets stats on the sheet that show the impact he's making on the game," Towns said of setting Knicks history. "There's much more stats that don't show up on the stat sheet that he does for our team."

The Knicks are now 5-4 since Jalen Brunson went down with a sprained ankle and still have a solid grip on the No. 3 seed with 11 to play (the red-hot Pacers are three games back). New York does have a tougher schedule than Indiana down the stretch, including two games against the Cavaliers, but should be able to hold on. Brunson is doing controlled work, and his status will be updated in the coming days, but the expectation has been that he would return in late March or early April.

March 26, 2025

Warriors' simplest solution to avoid spiraling at worst time

Warriors' simplest solution to avoid spiraling at worst time originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

MIAMI – The quickest solution to make sure the Warriors don’t spiral and fall to the NBA play-in tournament is obvious: Have a healthy Steph Curry.

That always has been the case, even in the past with Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and any other star, and it remains the same with the addition of Jimmy Butler.

“We definitely need 30 back,” Butler said Tuesday night. “But we want him to be right. We’re still expected to win. We got to put out a better effort than we have the last two games. If he’s back, I think it’ll be different.”

Golden State dropped its second straight game without Curry as recovers from a pelvic contusion after taking a hard fall Saturday in the Warriors’ win against the Toronto Raptors. He’s considered day-to-day and is expected to play Friday in New Orleans against the Pelicans, barring any setbacks.

The Warriors are playing a tough balancing act, knowing how badly they need Curry in a heated battle to remain as at least the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, conversely knowing him being as close to full strength as possible for a playoff push is their only chance at making a real run at title contention.

With or without him, there are glaring deficiencies that must be resolved immediately.

Butler’s addition has made the Warriors a much better fourth-quarter team, giving them a closer they can rely on to shut the door alongside Curry. The start of games remains an issue, as seen in the Warriors’ last two losses. To start a six-game road trip, the Warriors looked like a team that traveled across the country and had to wipe off cobwebs, allowing 40 points to the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter. Any motivation to play for Butler wasn’t enough medication to beat the South Beach flu, falling into a 17-point halftime deficit to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

What needs to change couldn’t be more clear to Butler after having his first losing streak since joining the Warriors.

“Probably the effort coming out of the jump,” Butler said. “We’ve got to guard a little better. Seems like as of late everyone’s been scoring at will at the rim, in the mid, at the three, getting to the free-throw line. We’ve gotten away from what got us a couple of wins.”

Over and over again, the Warriors have emphasized how every team gives them their best effort. These are still the Beatles. Fans still flock in droves, and teams still froth at taking down the Warriors with the national spotlight on them. Yet the light switch still feels stuck at tipoff.

The Hawks and Heat, two teams with losing records to start this ever-important road trip, combined to shoot 56.4 percent from the field (92 of 163) and 52.5 percent from three (32 of 61). Role players like Alec Burks (17 points) and Georges Niang (23 points) went off against the Warriors, especially from behind the 3-point line. Miami made 17 of its 25 3-point attempts for a 68-percent clip, the highest the Warriors have allowed in a game since 2018.

Those are numbers and performances Draymond Green takes personally.

“Get myself charged,” Green said in response to how the Warriors can be better defensively at the beginning of games. “Get myself charged, and lead by example as well. When I get myself charged up, everybody else will follow in line.”

The conclusion of the road trip takes the Warriors to Memphis to play the Grizzlies, and then they’re off to Los Angeles for their final regular-season matchup with the Lakers before having to play the Denver Nuggets back at home on the second night of a back-to-back. In between, the Warriors still have games against the Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs. The first four games on the road were supposed to be the ones to take advantage of.

They weren’t. A 4-2 road trip felt like a reasonable goal. Now 3-3 has to be a reasonable target that won’t be easy to reach. The easiest way to do so is by locking in defensively and not allowing the opposition to get comfortable from the jump.

With 10 regular-season games remaining, the Warriors now are 12-23 when trailing after the first quarter and 13-26 when facing a halftime deficit. They’re 27-4 when leading after the first quarter, as well as when they have a halftime lead.

Curry’s addition always collectively has the Warriors wearing Calvin Cambridge’s shoes. A wake-up call is in order either way, and the Warriors will have to prove what these two losses meant to them to get back on the right track with so much at stake.

“Come out and play well,” Green says. “Lost two in a row, you don’t want it to spiral. It’s the wrong time to really let something spiral. Come out, take care of this, get this road trip moving in the right direction. We’re 0-2 to start this trip. We need to make sure we right the ship.”

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March 26, 2025

Wizards vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 26

It’s Wednesday, March 26, and the Washington Wizards (15-56) and Philadelphia 76ers (23-49) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The Wizards are currently 8-28 on the road with a point differential of -12, while the 76ers have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Philadelphia is 1-0 against the Wizards this season. This is the second of three matchups between the squads.

Both Philadelphia and Washington have lost five straight games, while the Wizards edge the 76ers out with a 3-7 record over the last 10 games compared to 2-8.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Game details & how to watch Wizards vs. 76ers live today

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Wells Fargo Center
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Wizards vs. 76ers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Odds: Wizards (+120), 76ers (-143)
Spread: 76ers -3
Over/Under: 230 points

That gives the Wizards an implied team point total of 114.32, and the 76ers 115.88.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Wizards vs. 76ers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the 76ers ML vs the Wizards:

"Both Philadelphia and Washington are close to un-bettable right now unless you are fading, but if I had to pick one, it's the 76ers on the ML. Philly being at home is an advantage, but this is the third game in four days for the 76ers, so the Wizards have an edge in rest. Washington only has five road games left this season and I would say odds are they lose them all, so I like Philly here who's 16-2 on the ML in the last 18 at home versus Washington."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Wizards & 76ers game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia 76ers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Wizards at +3.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 230.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Wizards vs. 76ers on Wednesday

The 76ers have won 4 straight home games against the Wizards
4 of the Wizards' last 5 road games have gone over the Total
The 76ers have gone 26-46 ATS this season
The 76ers have won 16 of their last 18 home games against the Wizards

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

March 26, 2025

Raptors vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 26

It’s Wednesday, March 26, and the Toronto Raptors (25-47) and Brooklyn Nets (23-49) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Raptors are currently 9-26 on the road with a point differential of -5, while the Nets have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. This is the third of four meetings for the season. Both teams split the season series.

Toronto is 4-4 over the last eight games with three of those contests coming against Washington. Brooklyn is on a four-game losing streak and 1-7 in the past eight games.

Game details & how to watch Raptors vs. Nets live today

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: Barclays Center
City: Brooklyn, NY
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Raptors vs. Nets

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Odds: Raptors (+102), Nets (-121)
Spread: Nets -1.5
Over/Under: 214 points

That gives the Raptors an implied team point total of 106.63, and the Nets 107.41.

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Raptors vs. Nets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between Toronto and Brooklyn:

"It's a tough handicap between Toronto and Brooklyn considering the current state and play of each team. Toronto is 1-4 in the last five games and so is Brooklyn, who's currently riding a four-game losing streak. I really can't trust either team here. Brooklyn has a slight rest advantage as Toronto is on its third game in four days, so Brooklyn would be a slight lean, but the Under is probably the better bet."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Raptors & Nets game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Raptors at +1.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 214.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Raptors vs. Nets on Wednesday

The Raptors have won their last 4 games against teams with worse records
The Nets' last 7 home games have gone over the Total
The Nets have covered the Spread in 5 straight matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams
The Raptors have won their last 4 road games against teams with worse records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)