BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to soccer's international governing body to postpone his team's intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war.
The Iraq squad faces major logistical issues ahead of a winner-takes-all playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to the escalating conflict, Arnold’s squad — containing predominantly players from the domestic league — is unable to fully gather.
Players haven't secured visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico due to foreign embassy closures, and Arnold is stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the conflict.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq,” Arnold, a former coach of Australia's national team, told the Australian Associated Press.
The turmoil has already forced the postponement of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold said fielding a team comprised only of overseas-based players is not a viable option.
“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said.
Arnold has proposed a strategic delay to the playoffs schedule, suggesting FIFA allow Suriname and Bolivia to play their preliminary match this month but postponing the final playoff until a week before the World Cup begins.
“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold said. "In my opinion, it also gives FIFA more time to decide what Iran is going to do. "
“If Iran withdraws we go into the World Cup, and it gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, the chance to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.
“Our federation’s president Adnan Dirjal is working round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors have taken considerable criticism in recent years for their development of young players. Much of the blame is directed at coach Steve Kerr, who generally is loyal to the veterans who provided the greatness behind to six trips to the NBA Finals and four championships.
Are these assessments fair?
Not if you’ve followed the basketball evolution of Gui Santos – or asked him about it, as I did recently.
“I think the key word for that is patience,” Santos said of his journey that began almost four years ago.
Each Warriors draft pick is given a plan for his development, which includes learning how to effectively play with franchise superstar Stephen Curry. That blueprint is reinforced by the coaching staff. Some young players resist, either unable or unwilling to follow the individual plan, and some digest it and embrace it.
Santos, like Moses Moody before him, accepted it as kind of an NBA internship. They watched as the likes of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson – all four-time NBA champions – and, later, Jimmy Butler III, set examples.
A late second-round pick (55th overall) in the 2022 NBA draft, Santos has become a valuable member of Golden State’s playing rotation. The 6-foot-7, 218 pound forward has started 12 of the last 13 games in one of the forward spots. He has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive starts. He has led the team in scoring three times this season, most recently on Saturday at Oklahoma City, dropping a career-high 22 points and adding 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season.
After mostly watching from the bench for three years, he has become too effective to sit. He forced his way into playing time.
Santos was one day beyond his 20th birthday when he arrived in the Bay Area from Brazil. At 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, his physique was begging for bulk. His command of the English language was reasonably good, his vocabulary relatively limited.
The Warriors drafted Santos largely on the advice of player-development coach Leandro Barbosa, a former Golden State guard and fellow Brazilian. Selected 55th overall, it was a low-risk move that has yielded rewards that didn’t surprise Barbosa, one of Santos’ mentors.
“Trust me,” Barbosa told me after the ’22 draft. “He’s young. He’s got a lot to learn about the NBA, but he’s a hard worker and he listens. He has what it takes to play in this league.”
Santos was disappointed by and stayed focused when, two months later, Barbosa was recruited to Sacramento by Mike Brown, the former Golden State assistant who had been hired as head coach of the Kings. Santos spent the entire 2022-23 season in the G League, working with Santa Cruz Warriors coach Seth Cooper and his staff. There were highs and lows, but his zest for the game was undeniable.
After spending the summer of ’23 with Brazil’s national team in the FIBA World Cup, Santos returned to the Bay Area with a fortified physique – he added about 20 pounds – and longing for a chance to play in the NBA.
“That’s my goal,” Santos told me at the Santa Cruz Warriors Fan Fest. “I really, really want to be there.”
Roughly two weeks later, he got his wish. The Warriors had seen enough in training camp to sign Santos to a standard NBA minimum salary. They opted for his youth and enthusiasm over veteran camp invitees Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder.
As Santos’ development continued, he played only 23 games in 2023-24. He never started and rarely played more than 10 minutes unless the roster was shortened by injuries or it was a rest night for select veterans. In the final game of the regular season, he provided 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal in a win over the Utah Jazz.
By the time Santos arrived for training camp in 2024, he was up to 210 pounds. His desire to play had become an obsession. He went from coach to coach, asking for advice, listening to it and attempting to implement their direction.
“I was a point guard playing back in Brazil, having the ball in my hands,” Santos said. “Then I spent a whole year in the G league just learning how to fit in the system here because my goal always was playing NBA, playing for the Warriors. And when I asked (coaches) what I gotta do, they were like, ‘Alright we’re going to (show) you the way. You gotta play hard and play defense. You gotta to be crashing the boards all the time.
“’And you gotta find Steph.’”
Those five words have applied to anyone on the roster since 2014, when Steve Kerr became head coach. Curry’s movement triggers Golden State’s offense. Learning how to play with him is the shortest bridge to playing time. Green and Thompson understood that. Kevin Durant, one the greatest offensive players ever, once told me he realized it within a couple months after arriving as a free agent in the summer of 2016.
Santos mastered it. He excels at snagging offensive rebounds, which often sends the ball to Curry. This is the first time Santos has displayed his entire set of offensive skills beyond offensive rebounding. In the 13 games since entering the starting lineup on Feb. 3, he is averaging 14.8 points and 4.0 assists, four times recording at least six. He shot 52.5 percent from the field, including 35.5 percent from deep. For good measure, he averaged 6.5 rebounds per game.
The Warriors thought they had a keeper in Jordan Poole, but his career took a downward turn after the viral video of Draymond punching him in the face during a training-camp practice in October 2022. They hoped to mold James Wiseman into their center of the future before the detrimental move of rushing him onto the floor prematurely and him sustaining a series of injuries. They drafted Jonathan Kuminga on the belief that he would be a star sometime around 2026, and despite spectacular moments it was clear he had difficulty accepting the team’s plan for his development.
Which includes those five words: And you gotta find Steph. That’s Draymond’s specialty. It’s high on the list of reasons the Warriors reacquired Gary Payton II from Portland seven months after letting him walk.
Santos, now 23, followed a blueprint that Kuminga – with considerably higher potential – had difficulty accepting. The Warriors hoped JK would use a few years as a role player to launch himself to stardom, but stardom always was on his mind. He might become an All-Star in Atlanta, in which case he’ll be the first Golden State draft pick to reach such heights after leaving the franchise since Gilbert Arenas did so in 2005 with the Washington Wizards.
Santos is the ideal development example. He stayed with the blueprint that fits these Warriors and has become a valuable role player still with room to grow.
“I spent the whole year in the gym just learning how to fit in the system,” he said of his time in the G League, “because my whole power, like my goal, always was playing in NBA. Playing for the Warriors.”
Mission accomplished. Santos nine days ago signed a three-year contract extension, beginning in 2026-27, worth $15 million. CEO Joe Lacob, general manager Mike Dunleavy and Kerr all consider him a keeper.
“It’s a great story,” Kerr said. “But it only happens because of his intestinal for fortitude, his work ethic and commitment.”
With a little help from the staff that, despite taking a few knocks from the public, puts in the work.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Allen Graves came off the bench to score 19 points and Santa Clara beat Pacific 76-68 on Sunday night in a West Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinal.
No. 3 seed Santa Clara (25-7) will play No. 2 seed Saint Mary's in a Monday semifinal. No. 4 seed Oregon State will play top-seeded Gonzaga in the other semifinal.
Graves made 7 of 10 shots with three 3-pointers and both of his free throws for the Broncos. Christian Hammond had 14 points and Elijah Mahi posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Reserve Sash Gavalyugov totaled 11 points and six assists.
Elias Ralph sank five 3-pointers and scored 25 to lead the sixth-seeded Tigers (18-15). Jaden Clayton pitched in with 12 points and nine assists.
Graves buried all five of his first-half shots, including two 3-pointers, to guide Santa Clara to a 45-38 advantage at halftime.
Graves hit another 3 to finish off a 12-0 run and the Broncos took a 62-48 lead with 14 minutes left. Pacific got no closer than eight from there.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball past LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets entered Sunday night as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They had won six of their last seven games and arrived in Phoenix riding a 10-game road winning streak. That run ended in the desert as the Phoenix Suns secured a 111–99 victory.
One of the league’s most explosive offenses was quieted. Phoenix held Charlotte under 100 points for only the fifth time this season, using active defense and controlled possessions to slow the pace of the game.
Devin Booker led the way with 30 points and 10 assists, converting a season high 15 free throws in the process. Rasheer Fleming continued his strong stretch, scoring a career high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Ten of those points arrived in the fourth quarter as Phoenix pulled away late.
Jalen Green looked far more comfortable offensively, scoring 20 points in the first half and finishing with 24 for the night. Collin Gillespie added 24 points of his own, knocking down 5-of-10 from deep and providing steady offense throughout the game.
Phoenix also controlled the possession battle. The Suns turned 13 Charlotte turnovers into 14 points while committing only one turnover themselves, which resulted in four points for the Hornets.
The win moves Phoenix to 37 victories on the season, already surpassing last year’s total.
Game Flow
First Half
First matter of business was the pregame announcements that the Suns would be without the services of Grayson Allen, who popped up late on the injury report and ultimately was ruled out an hour prior to tipoff.
Both offenses came out humming early, trading blows back and forth. LaMelo Ball knocked down a pair of threes, while Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie answered with one apiece from deep. As the quarter wore on, Charlotte could not miss. They opened the game 9-of-11 from the field while the Suns sat at 5-of-10, which helped the Hornets build an eight-point lead midway through the first quarter.
With Grayson Allen out, the Suns turned to Haywood Highsmith early, giving him first quarter minutes as part of the first wave of substitutions alongside Khaman Maluach. It marked his second appearance of the season and the first time he has seen meaningful minutes since arriving via the buyout market.
Maluach made his presence felt right away. He converted after receiving a clean interior pass from Devin Booker and later added an early block on fellow rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner. He followed up with an impressive block on Josh Green.
Charlotte’s offense cooled off after their initial burst, as they went more than four minutes without a field goal. The Suns answered with an 8–0 run of their own, pulling even as the momentum shifted. The drought ended when Ryan Dunn fouled Kon Knueppel on a three-point attempt, sending the rookie to the line. The Rookie of the Year favorite finished the quarter with 10 points tolead all scorers.
Phoenix closed the period with a lineup of Collin Gillespie, Haywood Highsmith, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, and Khaman Maluach. That group finished the quarter at +1, helped by a logo buzzer beater from Gillespie.
After one quarter, the Suns trailed 30-28.
Collin Gillespie beats the Q1 buzzer.
What I like about this, sneakily, is that Collin rushes to *be* the inbounder then can have even more momentum off the handoff from Maluach.
Little thing but important in that situation, for a longer distance shot attempt. pic.twitter.com/RJbO1mIwzh
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) March 9, 2026
Charlotte opened the second quarter with a 9–5 run. They went 3-of-6 from the field and knocked down a pair from deep, which prompted Jordan Ott to call a timeout and settle things down.
The break did not immediately fix the rhythm. The next two Suns possessions ended with a short-armed paint shot from Oso Ighodaro and a turnover. Meanwhile, Charlotte was flying around the rim, throwing lobs and hammering them home. The run stretched to 10–0, and the Hornets suddenly held an eight-point lead.
Jalen Green helped shift the energy. He went into attack mode, driving downhill possession after possession, finishing at the rim or drawing trips to the free throw line. His finishing in the first half looked sharper than it had during his previous 14 games.
Green sparked the Suns as they pushed back midway through the quarter. He knocked down a three, slipped in an up-and-under around the rim, and continued to pressure the defense. Phoenix rode that momentum back into the game and took a two-point lead with five minutes remaining in the second quarter.
One of the better moments of the first half came from Khaman Maluach, who powered in a putback around the rim, flashing the kind of size and interior presence the Suns rarely get on the offensive glass. A productive Maluach changed the matchup math. Charlotte prefers smaller lineups with Diabate, but Maluach’s size forced them into more Kalkbrenner minutes in the first half.
It was a solid second quarter for the Phoenix Suns, who outscored the Charlotte Hornets 32–28 in the period. Phoenix went 4-of-9 from beyond the arc while Charlotte finished 4-of-12 from deep.
Jalen Green carried much of the scoring load in the quarter. He poured in 12 points and finished the half with 20, doing so on 7-of-11 shooting and 4-of-7 from three. Devin Booker added 14 points and 4 assists in the half, while Khaman Maluach chipped in 4 points and 5 rebounds.
Charlotte had balanced production of its own. Four Hornets reached double figures in the first half, with Brandon Miller leading the way with 11 points. Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, and LaMelo Ball each added 10.
At halftime, the Suns held a narrow 60–58 lead.
Second Half
Phoenix opened the second half with aggression on both ends of the floor, jumping out on an 8–0 run to set the tone, opening up a 10-point lead.
During that stretch, Devin Booker was fouled by LaMelo Ball on a drive, and it appeared that Ball stepped on Booker’s ankle during the play. Scott Foster ruled it a common foul almost immediately. Booker stepped to the line for his 12th free throw of the night and converted both, moving to 12-of-12 from the stripe at that point in the game.
The Hornets began 0-of-5 from the field, turning the ball over 4 times as Phoenix was jumping passing lanes, leading to 4 Suns’ points.
The Suns came out active in the third quarter, playing with a bit of spunk that has not consistently appeared over the past few weeks. Their energy translated into a lead that hovered between nine points and six points for much of the period.
As the quarter wore on, Charlotte’s defense began to assert itself. The Hornets have been one of the stronger defensive teams since January 1, and that pressure started to show. Phoenix went more than three minutes without a field goal as the offense stalled. Moussa Diabate made his presence known in the paint, recording three blocks in the quarter alone. That defensive stretch helped spark an 8–0 run for Charlotte, trimming the Suns’ lead down to one.
Collin Gillespie provided a late lift. In the closing seconds of the quarter, he launched another logo three and was fouled by Coby White on the attempt. Gillespie knocked down all three free throws, giving Phoenix a small cushion heading into the fourth.
It was not a clean offensive quarter for the Suns. They finished 6-of-21 from the field, good for 28.6% shooting in the period. Still, they managed to carry an 81–77 lead into the final quarter.
Both offenses stumbled a bit to open the fourth quarter, with possessions feeling clunky and rhythm hard to find. Rasheer Fleming had no such issue. He scored 7 of the Suns’ first 9 points, then punctuated the stretch with a fast break dunk that pushed him to 13 points on the night, setting a new career high after previously reaching 8 on four separate occasions earlier in his young career.
The Suns’ offense began to find its rhythm, and a pair of three-pointers from Collin Gillespie pushed the Phoenix lead to 13 points with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Buzz City kept pushing. Charlotte is one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league, so the game never feels safe when they are within striking distance.
Devin Booker continued to look sharp through the middle stretch of the fourth quarter. He found open shooters, knocked down his own looks, and kept the offense moving with control. Charlotte applied pressure, Phoenix answered each time.
The biggest moment came late in the quarter when Collin Gillespie buried a buzzer-beating three. It was his fifth make from deep and pushed his total to 24 points on the night. The shot arrived with under three minutes remaining and stretched the Suns’ lead to 16.
With 1:39 left, Charlotte head coach Charles Lee waved the white flag and pulled his starters. Rasheer Fleming finished with a game-high 10 points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix closed strong.
The Suns outscored the Hornets 30-22 in the final period. The final score, Phoenix 111, Charlotte 99.
Up Next
A long and winding road begins for Phoenix as they set out on a six-game, 10-day road trip. Their first stop is in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Early Arizona start. 5pm. We shall see you then!
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Biko Johnson had 19 points and Isaiah Brickner scored 15 — all in the second half — to propel Idaho to a 78-74 victory over No. 2 seed Montana State on Sunday night in a Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal.
No. 7 seed Idaho (19-14) moves on to Tuesday's semifinals where it will play the winner of a Monday quarterfinal between No. 3 seed Eastern Washington and sixth-seeded Weber State.
Johnson made 7 of 12 shots with a 3-pointer for the Vandals, adding five rebounds and four assists. Brickner missed all three of his first-half shots before sinking 6 of 8 after the break. He had seven rebounds and blocked a shot. Jack Rasmussen scored 11.
Jeremiah Davis hit four 3-pointers and scored 22 to lead the Bobcats (18-14), who split two games with Idaho during the regular season. Christian King connected three times from distance and scored 21. Jed Miller added 18 points.
Davis and King both scored 12 points in the first half and Miller added 10 as Montana State took a 40-34 lead into the break. Brickner scored in the paint to give Idaho a 63-61 lead and the Vandals never trailed over the final five minutes.
"The bottom line is they kicked our behind on the glass, we did not box out, their second-chance opportunities in terms of 15 points was something that we don't give up -- we can't get beat in that area, and it was due to our ability to put bodies on bodies and boxing out -- it's the first thing," Brown said of the Knicks (41-24), whom the Lakers (39-25) outrebounded by a 12-10 margin on the offensive boards. "The second thing is we fouled 'em. We got beat off the dribble often. We got beat middle and, being real lazy about it, we reach at the last second and send 'em to the free-throw line. And then, lastly, we didn't take care of the basketball.
"That's a recipe to get your behind kicked, especially on the road. If you're going to get beat in second-chance points like we did without boxing out, if you're going to reach because you can't contain the basketball for the 30 free throws and then having 18 turnovers -- that's a recipe for disaster on the road, no matter who you play. So you've got to give the Lakers credit."
The Lakers were 25 of 30 from the free-throw line, led by Luka Doncic's 8-for-10 clip.
"I'm always direct," Brown said of what he told his team after the game. "Whether it's this game or another game, I'm always direct. There's nothing to sugarcoat -- you just tell the truth."
New York's five-game road swing, which included this past Friday's 142-103 win at the Denver Nuggets, continues with Monday's 10 p.m. game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
"Our guys have been playing well -- I'm just talking about tonight," Brown said of the Knicks, who won three straight games before this past Wednesday's 103-100 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder. "And could it linger? Yeah, we could take another step back tomorrow. I don't know. But I'm talking about tonight. I did not like the way we played in those three areas. There's some games that you may say, 'You know what? Hey, they just shot the s--t out the ball and wasn't our night and we missed some shots.' Because we missed some shots tonight -- I thought we had some good looks that we've been normally knocking down.
"But to have a hand in losing the game yourself by not taking care of the things that are just effort and locked-in things ... those are things that we, in my opinion, could've controlled tonight, which we've done a pretty good job of, as of late, that we did not control. And the Lakers deserved to win, the way we played in those three areas."
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Scoot Henderson scored a season-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the skidding Indiana Pacers 131-111 on Sunday night.
Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday added 21 points apiece for the Blazers, who handed Indiana its ninth straight defeat. Henderson also had six assists with no turnovers.
Deni Avdija, who leads Portland in scoring (24.4 points per game) and assists (6.6), returned from a six-game absence caused by a lower back injury. He finished with 18 points and eight assists.
Indiana has dropped its past six games by an average of 20 points. This marks the team's third losing streak of at least eight games this season.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points and Jay Huff had 16 points and five blocks. Andrew Nembhard added 14 points and nine assists, and Jarace Walker also scored 14.
Huff has an NBA-leading 39 games this season with at least two blocks, two more than San Antonio center Victor Wenbanyama, who had four in a 145-120 win over Houston earlier Sunday and leads the NBA in blocks.
Robert Williams III had his streak of 18 consecutive games with at least one block snapped. It had been the longest active streak in the league.
Henderson scored or assisted on 15 points in a 25-7 run over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the second quarter to help the Blazers take a 69-52 lead into halftime. The Pacers were 2-of-11 shooting with three turnovers during that stretch.
Henderson had 19 points and five assists while going 7 for 9 from the field, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range, before the break. Grant added 14 points, Holiday had 11 and Avdija scored 10.
Up next
Pacers: Wrap up a four-game trip Tuesday at Sacramento.
Trail Blazers: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 8, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t just beat the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, they buried them under an avalanche of offense.
San Antonio erupted for 145 points in a dominant 145-120 victory over their in-state rivals, delivering one of their most complete offensive performances of the season. The Spurs played with pace, passion, and purpose, turning what began as a competitive matchup into a one-sided showcase of firepower.
From the opening tip, the Spurs looked locked in. The ball moved with ease, shooters found space, and the Rockets struggled to keep up with San Antonio’s tempo. Victor Wembanyama set the tone early, attacking mismatches and controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. The Spurs’ young superstar finished with a strong all-around performance: 29 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in 30 minutes.
Houston managed to hang around in the first quarter, trading baskets as both teams pushed the pace. But the game began to tilt heavily in San Antonio’s favor in the second quarter.
That’s when the Spurs caught fire and stayed hot the rest of the night.
“The pace has been really consistent recently,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of his team’s offense. “When you play with the speed we have combined with the talent and moving off the basketball, it is really hard to guard.”
San Antonio poured in points from everywhere: transition buckets, cutting layups and open three-pointers; stretching the lead with a relentless offensive surge. By halftime, the Spurs had seized control, leaving the Rockets scrambling to find answers as they went to the locker room.
Any hopes of a Houston comeback faded quickly after the break.
San Antonio came out of the locker room just as aggressive, continuing to push the tempo and widen the gap. Every time the Rockets showed signs of life, the Spurs responded with another scoring burst. The lead ballooned to nearly 30 points midway through the third quarter as the game slipped firmly out of Houston’s reach. The Spurs’ balanced scoring made the night even more impressive. Multiple players crossed the 20-point mark as San Antonio’s offense hummed with rhythm and unselfishness, a reflection of the ball movement that has become a hallmark of the team’s recent play.
“I thought we were really sharp,” Johnson said. “I thought the only area you could nitpick is some of the fouls. You got to make sure you aren’t off balance or out of position, but for the most part, I thought we played a really solid game defensively.”
Despite solid individual performances, the Rockets simply couldn’t slow down San Antonio’s offense or match its efficiency. Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson made life difficult as possible for Kevin Durant, who finished with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, most of which came from the free throw line.
“Something clicked from the first quarter,” Wembanyama said of the Spurs’ offense onslaught. “We figured out their adjustments and decided to hurt them elsewhere.”
By the fourth quarter, the result was essentially decided. The Spurs continued to pour it on before eventually emptying the bench as the final minutes ticked away.
When the buzzer sounded, San Antonio had produced one of its highest scoring games of the season and sent a clear message about the level this team can reach when everything clicks. It was more than just another win for the Spurs. It was a reminder of the offensive potential of a young team that continues to grow more dangerous every time it steps on the floor.
“These guys are trustworthy. I can trust them to make the right play,” Wembanyama said. “I can trust them to play unselfishly. And I can trust that anybody here can choose that if they do the effort, the efforts, like my teammates, will do the right choice, and we’ll capitalize on it.”
Game Notes
Keldon Johnson finished with 20 points off the bench, his 10th game of the season with 20 or more points. The league better start enraving that 6th Man of the Year trophy for him.
Dylan Harper may be a rookie, but he isn’t playing like one. He stat line in the first half: 17 points, 7-8 FG (85%), 3 ast, +9 in 14 minutes. Overall, he had 19 points on the night. That will be very valuable come playoff time. “I think any open shot, I’m going to take it,” Harper said. “I have confidence, but I shoot those in warm ups. So why not take them?”
San Antonio’s ball movement is a page right out of the 2014 “Beautiful Game” Spurs. The Silver and Black had 38 assists on 51 made shots. Fox led the team with 10 helpers.
De’Aaron Fox had a nice evening with 20 points and 10 assists in 32 minutes. He’s now scored double digits in the paint in consecutive games since January. Fans have been waiting Fox to attack the paint more, and it appears he’s gotten the message from the coaching staff.
On a fun note: The Jackals and the French squad support sections have made the Frost Bank Center a madhouse. It is so loud inside and it translates well on the boradcast. I can’t wait to see what they do in the playoffs.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 19 points to lead top-seeded North Dakota State to a 70-62 victory over North Dakota on Sunday night, winning the Summit League Championship and earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the Bison.
Wheeler-Thomas made 8 of 16 shots with two 3-pointers for the Bison (27-7), who have made four previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2019. He added six rebounds. Tay Smith scored 13 points off the bench and Andy Stefonowicz totaled 11 points and six rebounds.
Greyson Uelmen scored 24 to pace the third-seeded Fighting Hawks (18-17), whose only tournament appearance at the Division I level came in 2017. Uelmen sank 7 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers and made all eight of his free throws. Zach Kraft scored 19.
Smith hit a 3-pointer and Treyson Anderson scored on a tip-in to cap a 13-2 run as North Dakota State took a 15-9 lead in the first 8:19. Smith connected three more times from beyond the arc and the Bison built a 38-30 advantage in a first half that saw four ties and three lead changes.
Eli King had back-to-back baskets and Garrett Anderson added a layup in a 6-2 spurt to pull North Dakota within 41-36 four minutes into the second half.
Anderson answered with a layup and North Dakota State maintained a three-possession lead until Kraft had a layup and Uelmen added two free throws to cut it to 63-59 with 1:34 remaining.
Noah Feddersen buried a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 spurt and the Bison prevailed.
North Dakota State won both regular-season matchups by a combined 50 points.
Jordan Clarkson looks on during the Knicks-Lakers game on March 8, 2026.
LOS ANGELES — Desperately searching for offense, the Knicks dusted off little-used guard Jordan Clarkson on Sunday.
The guard logged 10 minutes — including eight in the fourth quarter — and was largely productive while scoring nine points on 3-for-4 shooting.
However, the Knicks were too deep in a hole by the time Clarkson was inserted. They were plus-four in Clarkson’s minutes but lost to the Lakers 110-97.
Jordan Clarkson looks on during the Knicks-Lakers game on March 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“He’s a guy we can lean on. He can put the ball in the hole,” said Brown, whose team trailed by as many as 23 in the third quarter. “We were struggling to do that. So I threw him out there to see if we can mix it up. He definitely helped us. But it was too big of a deficit if you’re talking about 20 points to try to come back from versus a good team on their home court.”
Before Sunday, Clarkson was pulled from the rotation and hadn’t played meaningful minutes in weeks. It was a surprise since Clarkson was considered a significant part of the plans before the season, but Brown said he’s facing a numbers crunch.
“It’s hard to play 10 guys. It’s hard to play nine guys,” the coach said. “So right now we got our starting group, we got [Mitchell Robinson], Landry [Shamet] has been playing well. And we need a backup point guard and Jose [Alvarado] has played well. Now you’re talking nine, 10, 11. And we got a young kid in Mo Diawara who has played really, really well. … So it’s just a matter of circumstance based on available time.”
Brown said he’s more taken aback by seeing Bronny James in the NBA than his dad, LeBron James, still playing at 41 years old.
“The crazy part for me is when you see players who you’ve coached and then your kids are playing in the NBA, that’s a little freaky for me,” said Brown, who coached LeBron in Cleveland. “Because it tells me I’m old. But then I go to the bathroom, I shave all my gray hairs off so it helps me believe I’m not old. But his son playing in the NBA is mind-blowing and that impacts me more than him retiring.”
LeBron did not play Sunday because of a foot problem. Bronny was inactive after being sent to the G-League.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 8: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the gameagainst the Houston Rockets on March 8, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs rode another dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama to put away the Houston Rockets by throwing multiple defenders at Kevin Durant and surviving what every other player could throw at them. The Spurs led by as much as 27 halfway though the third, but the Rockets turned the game into a parade to the stripe as they upped the physicality and made the game ugly. They couldn’t make it ugly enough for them to win, though, and the Spurs kept the Space City Cowboys at arm’s length throughout the fourth quarter and Udoka waved the white flag when the Spurs led by 20 with three and a half minutes left. The Spurs bench led by Harper and Keldon Johnson helped the Spurs dominate the minutes that Durant sat on the bench and turned the game into another impressive win for the Silver and Black.
Observations
I usually watch the FanDuel feed for Spurs game, but tonight they weren’t available. I th0ught the Peacock crew was pretty good, although I have no clue why Reggie Miller still can’t pronounce Victor Wembanyama’s last name correctly. It’s been almost three years, man. He corrected himself late in the first quarter, so and I actually heard his say Wembanyama once instead of WembanyaNa, so maybe he can learn.
Both teams are on a THIGAFONI tonight, so there’s no rest advantage on either side.
Victor scored the first 8 points for the Spurs, and four different Spurs scored the next 10, as Wembanyama’s gravity gave the Spurs shooters lots of room as they took an early 18-9 lead.
Both Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are masters at drawing fouls on three point shots. I wonder if that’s something that the Spurs staff coaches them to do.
The Spurs put Carter Bryant on Kevin Durant midway through the first quarter, which was sort of effective, as it forced him to pass the ball, but losing Dorian Finney-Smith probably wasn’t a good idea, as that guy can be counted on to hit open shots.
The Rockets led 33-32 at the end of the first quarter as the Spurs couldn’t hold Durant in check.
The Silver and Black started off hot in the second quarter as they ran out to a 50-39 lead, hitting their first seven shots of the quarter.
The Spurs have so many stars, sometimes it’s hard to notice that Dylan Harper is having an incredible rookie season. He led the team in scoring in the first half with 17 coming off of the bench. His game is so smooth, sometime you don’t even notice how well he’s playing.
Wemby hit a buzzer beater triple and the Spurs led 69-57 at the half. He scored the first and last points for the Spurs in the half on good looking three point shots.
The Spurs took over to start the third quarter as they pushed the lead to over 20 as they dominated the Rockets on both end of the court, capped by a Wemby breakaway dunk over four Houston defenders.
The Spurs stretched the lead to 27, but eventually Victor had to sit, and while Luke Kornet is a good NBA player, he’s going to suffer in comparison to Victor, as any player would, and the Rockets cut the lead to 15 with 2 minutes left. The Spurs led 110-94 after three. Luke Kornet redeemed himself somewhat in the fourth by drawing two offensive fouls on Sengun.
The Rockets were committed to make it a game as the fourth quarter began, blocking Carter Bryant and getting Steph Castle’s fifth foul on a Jabari Smith and-one to start the frame.
Capela is still an elite rim defender, as he turned away a series of shots from the Spurs to start the fourth quarter, keeping the Rockets in the game during the minutes that Durant had to sit.
The Spurs outlasted the Rockets’ fourth quarter surgelet and led by 20 with three and a half minutes left in the game, and both teams accepted their fate and put in the end of the benches, as the Spurs extended the lead and won 145-120. It was fun watching guys like Jordan McLaughlin hit their shots as the Spurs put the game away.
The Spurs continue their home stand on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics, who are rounding into form late in the season with the return of Jayson Tatum from Achilles surgery. The team was already a threat to go far in the playoffs without him, and with him, I wouldn’t bet against them taking over the top spot in the Eastern Conference, even though there are no more head to head games left between the Pistons and Celtics in the regular season. The Spurs have been terrific against top teams this season, and Tuesday will be another chance to prove that they can beat top-level competition.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) gestures after sinking a three point shot against the Indiana Pacers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
There are three things in this life that are certain: death, taxes and the Western Conference playoff race being as tight as possible.
Once again, teams are bunched up together in the standings with the difference between the No. 3 seed and the No. 7 seed being just three-and-a-half games.
The Lakers are right in the middle of this congestion, at the sixth spot. With LA having 18 games left, they could just as easily rise in the standings as they can fall into a play-in spot.
For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans where the Lakers will finish in the playoff race. The results are in, and the majority of fans have the purple and gold ending the season as the fifth- or sixth-seed.
It makes sense that LA will likely stay where they are or move up marginally. According to Tankathon, the Lakers have the ninth-toughest remaining schedule, and all the teams they are competing against for a playoff spot have easier schedules, bar the Nuggets.
While 18 games is a lot of action left, the only way the Lakers move up to the No. 4 spot or better is by beating a bunch of teams with elite records. So far, they haven’t shown they can consistently do that, going 5-12 against teams with a .600 winning percentage or better.
However, if you are optimistic that a healthy Lakers team can begin besting these teams, then a higher seed is possible. Based on our poll, 36% of fans think that’s what’s going to happen in the coming weeks.
While moving up is tough, dropping down to the play-in is even less likely. Currently, only the Suns have a realistic chance of taking the No. 6 seed from the Lakers. With Dillon Brooks missing games and Phoenix going 5-5 over their last 10 games, they aren’t winning enough to gain ground in the West.
And that’s why only 11% of fans think the Lakers are play-in bound.
The good news for LA is that they still control their destiny. If they win their head-to-head games against key opponents, they’ll own the tiebreakers they might need at the end, and a good winning streak could make a top seed not only probable, but inevitable.
It’ll be up to them to show what kind of team they truly are now that every game has a bit more at stake.
Mar 8, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) dunks the basketball in the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks lost 130-91 to the Orlando Magic on the second night of a back-to-back for the home team, who played shorthanded without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter, Jr. Bobby Portis led the Bucks’ attack with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Paolo Banchero cooked the Bucks with a game-high 33 points for the Magic.
The first quarter saw the Bucks’ limited offensive options on full display. The Magic jumped out to a 7-0 start and largely held serve as both teams shot poorly and generally showed limited interest in playing an NBA basketball game. After one, it was Magic 25, Bucks 15.
Quarter Two presented the fans with the illusion that this would be a game worth staying past halftime for. The teams both found their offensive rhythm after the doldrums of the opening frame. An entertaining, back-and-forth affair it was. Of note, Ousmane Dieng connected with Jerico Sims on four highlight dunks, and Bobby Portis poured in most of his team-high 18 points. The Bucks had no answer for Paolo Banchero, who headed to the locker room with 26 points on near-perfect shooting. Orlando led 67-55 at half.
The Bucks forgot to show up for the third quarter again, allowing the Magic to stretch a 12-point halftime lead into a 30-point beatdown as the matchup limped to the final frame. The quarter started with a 16-3 Magic run and largely continued in that vein. Bucks turnovers became uncontested dunks, or three-pointers, for the Magic. The rout was on, and the home team needed their crying towels. Orlando was ahead 100-70 entering the final period.
Among the few remaining people in Fiserv Forum, Thanassis Antetokounmpo entered the game with 9:22 left. He provided an emotional lift to the 17 remaining fans.
Stat That Stood Out
46.2%. That’s the Bucks’ free-throw shooting percentage. On a night that saw the team find many ways to embarrass themselves, this one was particularly brutal.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and the Orlando Magic cruised to a 130-91 win Sunday night over the Milwaukee Bucks, who rested Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second game of a back-to-back.
Jalen Suggs added 20 points and Desmond Bane had 18 for the Magic, who won their fourth straight to remain sixth in the Eastern Conference, one game behind fifth-place Toronto and percentage points ahead of Miami.
Orlando never trailed and led 67-55 at halftime. Early in the fourth quarter, Suggs hit a 3-pointer to start a 12-0 run that extended the Magic's lead to 26 points. Banchero headed to the bench for good late in the third with Orlando ahead by 31.
Bobby Portis had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Cam Thomas scored 17 for the Bucks, who beat Utah on Saturday night but have lost five of six.
Antetokounmpo has played in three games since he missed 15 with a right calf strain. The 31-year-old has sat out 30 games this season, by far the most of his 13-year career.
The Bucks are 11th in the East, 4 1/2 games behind 10th-place Charlotte, and face a difficult path just to reach the play-in tournament with 19 games left.
Milwaukee was also missing second-leading scorer Kevin Porter Jr. for a third straight game because of swelling in his right knee.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis' little-used older brother, played a season-high 9 minutes and finished with four points.
VANCOUVER (AP) — South Africa has joined Fiji atop the World Rugby Sevens Series men's standings after beating Spain 38-12 on Sunday in the final of the Vancouver Sevens.
Player of the Tournament Tristan Leyds provided a series of try assists in the first half which allowed South Africa to take control of the final before halftime. It went on to win its 47th World Series tournament title while Spain remains without a title after three finals appearances.
Jorja Miller inspired New Zealand to a 24-17 win over Australia in the women's final, it's fifth-straight win in Vancouver and it's third win in five tournaments this season.
Australia rallied from 17-5 down just after halftime to level the match at 17-17 but New Zealand secured possession at the restart and Alena Saili scored the match-winning try.
New Zealand leads Australia by six points in the season standings with one tournament remaining in New York before the season finals. Australia and New Zealand have met in all five women's finals this season with New Zealand winning three and Australia two.
Spain's strong showing
Spain reached its first men's final of the season after an outstanding tournament in which it beat New Zealand in pool play and two-time Olympic champion Fiji in the semifinals.
But it struggled against South Africa's physical style in the final. Leyds played a key role with assists which led to tries by Sebastian Jobb and Shilton van Wyk as South Africa led 17-0 by halftime. Ryan Oothuizen opened the scoring for South Africa.
Van Wyk's second try put South Africa in control at 24-0 and after tries for Spain by Jeremy Trevithick and Anton Legorburu Impi, Visser closed out the match for the South Africans.
“It's an amazing feeling,” Visser said. “It's such a privilege to play in finals and pull the jersey over our heads.
“Sometimes we take it for granted but it's really an amazing feeling and we're just really grateful for it. We have to keep on this momentum next week in New York.”
Miller leads New Zealand's charge
Miller was hugely influential in the women's final, winning turnovers as New Zealand pressured Australia on defense.
Jaymie Kolosi scored New Zealand's first try and Miller scored the second before a try for Australia to Maddison Levi made the score 12-5 at halftime.
Katelyn Vahaakolo scored from a break by Miller, expanding New Zealand's lead to 17-5 in the first minute of the second half.
Australia then began to find gaps in the New Zealand defense through which Levi slipped to score her second try. MacKenzie Davie came off the bench to score the try that leveled the scores.
New Zealand captain Risi Pouri Lane made space for Waaka who set up the winning try for Saili.
“I think when we've got a team that plays for more than just themselves there's always a greater purpose to it,” Pouri Lane said. “Cultural connection is a great part of it and when we work so hard to have a genuine connection off the field it does pay off on the field.”
