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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder retake top spot, Lakers climbing fast

After a midseason funk, the Oklahoma City Thunder have reasserted themselves as the best team in the land, and any path to the Larry O'Brien Trophy goes through OKC. The Lakers are making the big leap this week, up to fifth.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(53-15, last week No. 2)
The last few weeks have been a reminder that, for as much fun as the Spurs, Celtics and everyone else may be, every team is chasing the Thunder. Oklahoma City sets the bar and is back to looking like the dominant, best team in the land. OKC is 11-1 since the All-Star break and has won eight in a row with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back in the lineup, and that includes beating Denver, Boston and Minnesota this past week. Part of this run is because the Thunder are getting healthy with Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein all back in the lineup — and they are still waiting on Jalen Williams. SGA may have locked up MVP with his play against Denver.

2. San Antonio Spurs

(49-18, last week No. 1)
San Antonio has won 17-of-19 and established itself as a clear title contender, and it's not a shock that Victor Wembanyama has been leading that charge. In those 19 games, Wembanyama averaged 24.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, and he has shot 48% from 3-point range in his last six games. It's just not fair. De'Aaron Fox has scored at least 20 points in four of the Spurs' last six games. The Spurs are pretty locked in as the No. 2 seed, seven games up on the Lakers in third and with an outside chance to catch the Thunder for No. 1, but OKC would have to start losing in a way that is unlikely. Catch Wembanyama and the Spurs against the Clippers on Peacock NBA Monday.

3. Boston Celtics

(44-23, last week No. 3)
Boston lost twice last week but to the two teams above them in this ranking, so we're not knocking them down for that. What Boston has in common with those two teams is that they draft and develop players exceptionally well — Hugo Gonzalez was selected 28th last June and has become a valuable part of the rotation, especially defensively. The Celtics need to get back to winning this week. They are the No. 2 seed in the East, up one game (two in the loss column) on the No. 3 seed Knicks, and Boston has a much tougher schedule the rest of the way. This week that includes facing Phoenix and Minnesota.

4. Detroit Pistons

(48-19, last week No. 5)
Looking ahead to the summer, there is one key thing to watch: How much does Detroit have to pay restricted free agent Jalen Duren? They couldn't reach an extension before the season, now he's an All-Star having the best season of his career, and about to get paid. Focusing on this season, Detroit still has a four-game lead over Boston for the No. 1 seed in the East, but games like Sunday's loss to Toronto — or the ones in a recent four-game losing streak — mean the team has some work to do to hold on to that top spot. Fortunately, it's a soft week in the schedule (two games against the Wizards, one against the shorthanded Warriors).

5. Los Angeles Lakers

(42-25, last week No. 12)
LeBron James returned this week and comfortably slid right into a role as the third option, and with that, the Lakers just kept on winning — with or without LeBron, they have won 8-of-9 and moved up to third in the West. They have done it with an improved defense, top 10 in the league over the last 10 games. That's what sparked wins over Minnesota and New York this week. "We're not gonna be the No. 1 defense in the league, but to be above average, have those two performances against those two teams back-to-back, is really encouraging," JJ Redick said of the Lakers' defense. Critical week coming up for the Lakers if they want to stay in the top three or four and host a playoff round. "We have a ridiculously hard six-game stretch here, starting tonight," Redick said before the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Overtime on Saturday. The Lakers travel to Houston for games Monday — on Peacock NBA Monday — and Wednesday, with games on the road after that against the Heat, Magic and Pistons.

6. New York Knicks

(44-25, last week No. 4)
Getting the No. 2 seed is within reach for New York — it is just one game back of Boston for the spot and has a much easier schedule the rest of the way. After dropping games to both Los Angeles teams, New York fattened up on tanking teams (Utah, Indiana) or shorthanded ones (Golden State), and we'll just ignore the fact that a couple of those games were a lot closer than they should have been. The soft schedule continues this week (Indiana, Brooklyn and Washington).

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

(41-27, last week No. 6)
Cleveland may be 10-4 with Harden in the lineup, but recent losses to Boston, Orlando and Dallas — especially Orlando, because that could be a 4/5 first-round matchup — were concerning, mostly because of how they happened. When it mattered, the Cavaliers played poor defense, they were getting blown by the point of attack, and generally there was not enough physicality. The Cavaliers sit as the No. 4 seed as of this writing, but are just one game up on the Magic. The one advantage for the Cavaliers is that they have the easiest remaining schedule of any team in the East.

8. Denver Nuggets

(41-27, last week No. 8)
Denver isn't falling apart by any stretch, but its recent run of play isn't exactly inspiring, either. The Nuggets had six straight games against some of the best in the NBA, and they went 3-3. Not bad, not inspiring. Tough losses to the Thunder and Lakers in that stretch sting. The good news is Aaron Gordon is back, but how much this team misses Peyton Watson and his athleticism has become clear — only increasing how much they will have to pay to keep him this summer.

9. Orlando Magic

(38-28, last week No. 11)
Orlando is 10-3 since the All-Star break and, with that, has shot up to fifth in the East and started to look more like the threat we all thought they were before the season started. Give some of that credit to Tristan Da Silva, who, since the All-Star Break, has thrived in a larger role with Franz Wagner out, averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a game in that stretch while providing needed shooting — 46.3% from beyond the arc (5.2 attempts a game). Big tests for the Magic this week against the Hawks — part of Peacock NBA Monday — as well as facing the Thunder, Hornets and Lakers.

10. Miami Heat

(38-30, last week No. 9)
Almost a week later, it still boggles the mind — Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a single game. Bam scored more than Kobe. The only player to score more than Adebayo is Wilt Chamberlain, and he did it when Sean Connery was James Bond and battling Dr. No (1962). The key takeaway from that game — it was fun. Ignore the haters — Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley were right to be defiant. Every game with that many points (including Kobe's 81) was manufactured to a degree. What Bam accomplished was a spectacle, it was historic, it was entertaining, Heat fans will long remember it, and it should be celebrated.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

(41-27, last week No. 7)
Minnesota has dropped 4-of-5 and is either a team that thinks it can flip the switch for the playoffs, or it's not sure where that switch is. The Timberwolves are now the No. 6 seed in the West, and they have not fared well against potential first-round opponents (0-3 against the Lakers, the current matchup, and they are 1-3 vs. the Nuggets; they have only played the Rockets once, but lost). Minnesota needs to start racking up wins to stay in the top six in the West and avoid the play-in — No. 7 seed Phoenix is just 1.5 games back, and those two teams face off on Tuesday.

12. Houston Rockets

(41-25, last week No. 10)
Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points a game this season, which has him on track for his 18th straight season averaging 20+ points per game (this excludes the season he missed due to a torn Achilles), which moves him ahead of Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the 2nd-most 20+ points per game seasons in a career (LeBron James leads the list, this will be his 23rd such season). The Rockets sit fourth in a very tight West and have two key games against the Lakers — catch Monday night's game on Peacock NBA Monday — then face hot teams in Miami and Atlanta at home. The Rockets need wins to hold on to a top-four spot and home court in the first round.

13. Atlanta Hawks

(36-31, last week No. 16)
Monday night on Peacock is a showdown between the two hottest teams in the East: The Hawks, winners of nine straight, and the Magic, winners of seven in a row. This run from the Hawks has given a team that looked destined for the play-in a shot at the top six — Atlanta is still the No. 9 seed in the East but is now just two games back of Toronto in sixth. The Hawks are just half a game back of the banged-up 76ers and moving into the top eight in the East, which is a much easier path out of the play-in and into the playoffs. Atlanta senses the opportunity, can it grab it?

14. Toronto Raptors

(38-29, last week No. 15)
It remains difficult to get a feel for the Raptors. At a time when teams want to be gearing up and playing their best basketball heading toward the postseason, Toronto has lost recent games to Orlando, Miami and New Orleans — then it turns around and beats Phoenix and Detroit. Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and 18 rebounds in the game, and when the Raptors are at their best, he is the hub of everything, the glue that makes this offense make sense.

15. Phoenix Suns

(39-28, last week No. 13)
This ranking may be a little too low for a team that has won 4-of-5 and is knocking on the door of the top six in the West. The Suns have held it together, going 6-4 with Dillon Brooks out with a fractured hand, although they have had some rough defensive outings in that stretch (like against Toronto, although they were at a rest disadvantage in that one). Phoenix is 2-1 so far on its six-game road trip, but things get tough the rest of the way, playing at Boston, at Minnesota — in a key game if the Suns want to get into the top six — and at San Antonio.

16. Los Angeles Clippers

(34-33, last week No. 18)
While SGA has drawn rightful praise for his record-setting 20+ point game streak, Kawhi Leonard has quietly set the Clippers record for that streak this season with 45 games, passing the Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo. The question now is how much time Leonard might miss due to a tweaked ankle (this was not announced as of this writing). The Clippers became the first team in NBA history to start the season 6-21 and get back to .500 at any point, and they did it with a 16-3 run in the past month. The Clippers sit eighth in the West and look like a playoff team, with Darius Garland finding his footing now as a starter and Bennedict Mathurin playing like someone demanding respect after a trade off a Finals team. Big measuring stick game Monday against San Antonio, and you can catch it on Peacock NBA Monday.

17. Charlotte Hornets

(34-34, last week No. 14)
Charlotte is going to make the play-in — making the postseason was a preseason goal for this team — but it doesn't happen without the play of Kon Knueppel. He is the frontrunner now to win Rookie of the Year, averaging 19.3 points per game while shooting 43.8% from 3-point range and having made more 3-pointers in a season than any rookie in NBA history. The Hornets have 9-of-10 at home coming up, a chance to move up in the standings, but it's not easy out of the gate with the Heat and Magic being the first two teams coming to town.

18. Philadelphia 76ers

(34-31, last week No. 17)
The one guy still standing for Philadelphia deserves praise — VJ Edgecombe is having the kind of season that would win him Rookie of the Year a lot of years (but this year likely lands him third). He leads all rookies, playing 35 minutes per game, he's third among rookies in scoring (15.3 points per game, behind Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel) and fourth in assists (3.8 per game). The rookie also has words for the people doubting the 76ers, who have slid to eighth in the West (and were ninth before a win Sunday). "Everyone got something to say about this team. We don't care, to be honest. We just want everyone to be healthy. Health is more important than anything. Just work, stay together, keep building chemistry."

19. Portland Trail Blazers

(32-26, last week No. 20)
What matters most in Portland this past week is that the Oregon legislature approved money for the renovation of the Moda Center (while it was unlikely, the move alleviated any fears the new owners might want to move the team). Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, heads the group that bought the Trail Blazers, a needed change at the top that is another reason the long-term future in Portland seems bright.

20. Chicago Bulls

(27-40, last week No. 24)
Josh Giddey is on fire, with four triple-doubles in his last six games, and combine that with Matas Buzelis scoring a career-high 41 at Golden State last week, and you get a team with a couple of wins lately. Chicago is a team poised to play spoiler down the stretch — this team is not just rolling over and tanking, they play fast and teams are going to have to try to beat them.

21. Golden State Warriors

(32-35, last week No. 19)
The Warriors are 5-12 since Stephen Curry went out with his knee issues, they have fallen to the No. 9 seed in the West, and while there is speculation outside the locker room that the Warriors may want to just shut him down, Curry is having none of that, as he told Nick Friedell of The Athletic: "That's not who we are. If we have stuff to play for, we play. So, I'm working to get back."

22. New Orleans Pelicans

(22-46, last week No. 22)
It's flown under the radar nationally, but Zion Williamson has been healthy most of the season and is playing well. Zion is averaging 21.4 points per game on 58.8% shooting and grabbing 5.9 rebounds a night. More importantly for his pocketbook, he was in his 51st game last week, meaning he is guaranteed at least $25.3 million next season under his incentive-heavy contract (which is heavily tied to games played). If he gets to 61 games played, he adds another $8.4 million to that guarantee. At this point, we should just assume he's getting his full salary next year.

23. Milwaukee Bucks

(28-39, last week No. 21)
Following two losses to Atlanta (plus one each to Orlando and Miami) in the past two weeks, Milwaukee is 5.5 games out of the final play-in spot with 15 games remaining in the season — it's time to pull the plug on the season and try to help the team's draft position a little. The question is, will Giannis Antetokounmpo let them? Not that it matters much, they are 2-4 in the games he has played since his return from injury (and those wins were against tanking Utah and Indiana.

24. Dallas Mavericks

(23-45, last week No. 25)
Cooper Flagg looked more like his early-season self over the weekend, scoring 25 points and then 27 points in games against the Cavaliers (he also dished out 10 assists Sunday in a Mavericks' win). Most importantly, he was getting downhill and into the paint again, looking fully recovered from his injury.

25. Sacramento Kings

(18-51, last week No. 28)
Winners of 4-of-5, with one of those coming against the Clippers on the road, however the one loss in that stretch was enough to officially eliminate them from making the play-in. The wins have come thanks to an improved defense during the stretch, plus DeMar DeRozan is playing well.

26. Utah Jazz

(20-48, last week No. 26)
As rough as this season has been on the court, it's been better than last year — Utah has already won three more games than a year ago and has a net rating 1.8 points per 100 possessions better than a season ago. There is growth. This remains a team poised to make a leap next season, although for a week, hoops fans in Utah will be focused on BYU and Utah State in the NCAA Tournament.

27. Brooklyn Nets

(17-50, last week No. 27)
Can the Nets make any noise in the Brooklyn Bridge rivalry with the Knicks this week? The Nets have dropped 13 consecutive games to the Knicks, including 0-3 this season, with an average loss in those last three of 34.3 points. Yikes. The teams face off Friday Night at the Barclays Center.

28. Memphis Grizzlies

(23-43, last week No. 23)
Memphis doesn't just lead the NBA in blown 10-point leads this season — 21 — they are now just one short of the all-time record of 22 (2016-17 Timberwolves and last season's Heat). The Grizzlies have given up 120+ points in six straight games, have lost seven in a row, and have the toughest remaining schedule among Western Conference teams.

29. Washington Wizards

(16-50, last week No. 29)
As said by the great Nate Duncan, Washington's record would be a lot better if they played as hard all season as they did in the last five minutes against Miami and Bam Adebayo. That said, the Wizards were (rightfully) embarrassed and bounced back with a good effort against the Magic. This is going to be a respectable team next season, but the final weeks of this one will be rough. The Wizards have dropped 11 straight and after playing the shorthanded Warriors on Monday, it's a tough week with games against the Pistons, Thunder and Knicks.

30. Indiana Pacers

(15-53, last week No. 30)
Ivica Zubac is seeing real minutes since his return — 24+ in each of the last two games — and while the Pacrers are not winning (having dropped 13 in a row), there is real value in having the veteran big man acquired at the deadline out there, coach Rick Carlisle said: "It's important that Andrew Nembhard and Zubac play together… We're looking to introduce things that take advantage of Zu's strengths, the guys he's playing with. Now it's just a matter of more time together in games."

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How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers: TV, live stream info for tonight's game

Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Orlando Magic go head-to-head with the Atlanta Hawks. At 9:30 PM, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the KevinDurant and Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.

See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

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NBA: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: It’s beyond time to hop onto the Precious Achiuwa bandwagon
Achiuwa is one of the players on lottery-bound teams who have provided excellent value during the “silly season.”

San Antonio Spurs vs LA Clippers Game Preview:

Ten days ago, the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit in the the second half to defeat the Clippers 116-112, in a game that tied for the largest comeback in the NBA this season. Tonight, both teams meet again for the second of three meetings this season.

San Antonio, currently second in the Western Conference, has won 17 of it's last 19 games and is looking to snap a six-season playoff drought.

The Clippers currently sit eighth in the West. They've won six of their last eight games and are 28-12 in their last 40 games, a major turnaround from starting the season 6-21.

Kawhi Leonard has been leading the charge for the Clippers. The 14-year NBA veteran is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game, while also leading the team in rebounds.

Leonard set a franchise record on Saturday, scoring 20+ points in 45 straight games, but left the game with a left ankle injury. He is listed as a game-time decision for tonight.

How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs LA Clippers:

  • When: Monday, March 16
  • Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
  • Time: 10:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream: NBCSN and Peacock

What other NBA games are on Peacock tonight?

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

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Lakers vs Rockets Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for March 16

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Two top-tier Western Conference foes do battle at Toyota Center tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets.

In addition to our Lakers vs. Rockets predictions, we've got you covered with more NBA player prop projections. It's the perfect way to finalize your NBA picks for Monday, March 16.

Lakers vs Rockets computer picks for March 16

Lakers LakersRockets Rockets
Ayton o9.5 points
-105		Durant o26.5 points
-110
James o5.5 rebounds 
+120		Thompson u19.5 points 
-120
Hachimura u1.5 threes
-160		Smith u14.5 points 
+100

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Lakers computer picks

Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points (-105)

Projection: 11.1 points

Deandre Ayton is a feast-or-famine player on offense these days, but he's cleared this number in two of his last three games, narrowly missing last time out with nine points even.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been the second-highest scoring offense in the league over the last 10 games. As long as Ayton gets his minutes, he should comfortably clear 10 points, as the computer has him projected for 11.1.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Ayton Now at bet365!/span

LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds (+120)

Projection: 5.7 rebounds

LeBron James may be a bit long in the tooth, but he still brings down boards at a solid clip, hauling in five-plus rebounds in four straight games.

The Over 5.5 has hit in six of his last 10 games, and he's projected for 5.7, giving us clear value at plus money.

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Rui Hachimura Under 1.5 made threes (-160)

Projection: 1.1 made threes

For the season, Rui Hachimura is hitting 1.8 threes per game on 44% shooting from deep.

The Lakers have played at the fifth-slowest pace in the NBA over the last five games on the road, while the Houston Rockets boast the second-most lethargic pace all season.

Plus, the Lakers have been the worst offensive rebounding offense in the league over the last 25 games. Offensive rebounds maintain possession, and a lack of them can therefore reduce additional opportunities for scoring, which works against Hachimura getting his long-range shot off.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hachimura Now at bet365!/span

Rockets computer picks

Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points (-110)

Projection: 26.8 points

Kevin Durant has averaged a flat 26 points during his first season in Houston and has eclipsed that number in two of his last three games.

In contrast to the Lakers, the Rockets grade out best in the NBA with 15.2 offensive rebounds per game this year, which will help KD get those extra points down low.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Durant Now at bet365!/span

Amen Thompson Under 19.5 points (-120)

Projection: 17.7 points

Trends may suggest Amen Thompson is good to clear 20 points, something he's done in four of his last five games, but the computer projects 17.7, which is right around his season-long average.

This has more to do with Houston serving as the second-lowest scoring offense in the NBA over the last 20 games at home. Both teams play at a Bottom-5 tempo, which may limit Thompson's opportunities to thrive, especially if Durant is guiding the ship.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Thompson Now at bet365!/span

Jabari Smith Jr. Under 14.5 points (+100)

Projection: 14.4 points

The computer isn't bullish on many Rockets scorers tonight, and that includes Jabari Smith Jr., who is projected to come in just below his scoring prop.

Like with Thompson, Smith is expected to come up short due to the slowed pace, but also because the Lakers haven't been sending power forwards to the line.

Over the last 15 games, the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted 2.2 free throws per game (fewest in the NBA). This could result in a dud from Smith, who has cleared this prop in just five of his last 10 games.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Smith Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Lakers vs Rockets tonight

LocationToyota Center, Houston, TX
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off9:30 p.m. ET
TVPeacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Spurs vs Clippers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the NBA, and now Victor Wembanyama is making a strong case to win NBA MVP.

Just how good have Wemby and the Spurs been? They're nearly double-digit road favorites for tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.

My Spurs vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks explain why it’ll be a long night for the home team in this Western Conference showdown.

Spurs vs Clippers prediction

Spurs vs Clippers best bet: Spurs -8.5 (-110)

The San Antonio Spurs are an NBA-best 17-2 since the start of February, and Victor Wembanyama didn’t play in one of those two losses.

The Spurs lead the NBA in net rating over that stretch, which has made them an excellent bet, going 13-5-1 ATS.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been playing better basketball, but Kawhi Leonard is listed as doubtful, and one of their biggest weaknesses is their depth, already ranking 21st in bench points per game.

The Spurs' talent and depth will become apparent over the course of the game, so lay points as they pull away late.

Spurs vs Clippers same-game parlay

Wemby has been having his own block party lately, averaging 4.3 blocks per game over 12 games since the All-Star break, blocking 4+ shots 10 times over that stretch.

And with Kawhi out, someone’s going to have to score for L.A., so give me Darius Garland Over 20.5 points. The newest Clipper has topped this number in each of his last four games.

Spurs vs Clippers SGP

  • Spurs -8.5
  • Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
  • Darius Garland Over 20.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Board crashers!

With no Kawhi, the Clippers could be putting up a lot of bricks tonight, in turn creating a lot of rebounding opportunities for the Spurs. 

Spurs vs Clippers SGP

  • Victor Wembanyama Over 10.5 rebounds
  • Stephon Castle Over 5.5 rebounds
  • Julian Champagnie Over 5.5 rebounds
  • Keldon Johnson Over 5.5 rebounds

Spurs vs Clippers odds

  • Spread: Spurs -8.5 | Clippers +8.5
  • Moneyline: Spurs -350 | Clippers +275
  • Over/Under: Over 233.5 | Under 233.5

Spurs vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Spurs have covered the first-half spread in 33 of their last 50 games for +13.35 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Clippers.

How to watch Spurs vs Clippers

LocationIntuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off10:00 p.m. ET
TVPeacock

Spurs vs Clippers latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Suns vs Celtics Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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Even with Jayson Tatum still easing his way back from injury, the Boston Celtics are starting to look like the team to beat in the East, but they’ll be tested tonight as they welcome the Phoenix Suns to TD Garden.

Boston moved to 22-10 at home this season with Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards, and my Suns vs. Celtics predictions signal another smooth playmaking effort from Derrick White here.

Read on for my free NBA picks ahead of this March 16 battle.

Suns vs Celtics prediction

Suns vs Celtics best bet: Derrick White Over 4.5 assists (-120)

Derrick White fits with just about any lineup that Joe Mazzulla could conjure up, so it’s no surprise to see him adjust easily to Jayson Tatum’s return. I like the Over on White’s assists tally tonight, and he’s cleared this O/U number in his last three outings.

In fact, White is averaging 5.9 APG in March, on the heels of a stellar 6.9 APG last month, so the Boston Celtics are clearly comfortable with him at the controls.

He dished eight dimes in his last outing against the Phoenix Suns, who are a little vulnerable defensively without Dillon Brooks.

Suns vs Celtics same-game parlay

I still like Boston to pick up the W here, but this spread is too big.

The Suns are 20-12 ATS on the road this year, and you have to go back to December 31 for the last time the visitors lost by this many points when Devin Booker has played 25+ minutes.

Speaking of Booker, he’s averaging 29.6 PPG in March and feels primed for another big game tonight. He’s knocked down 3+ triples four times this month.

Suns vs Celtics SGP

  • Suns +9
  • Devin Booker Over 24.5 points
  • Devin Booker Over 2.5 3-pointers

Our "from downtown" SGP: Colorful combo

We’ve got all the colors in this SGP. Jaylen Brown is still the Celtics’ go-to scorer, but I’m most excited about Jalen Green, who’s averaging 25.1 PPG and 3.1 APG in March and has scored 70 points across his last two outings.  

Suns vs Celtics SGP

  • Derrick White Over 4.5 assists
  • Jaylen Brown Over 23.5 points
  • Jalen Green Over 19.5 points
  • Jalen Green Over 2.5 assists

Suns vs Celtics odds

  • Spread: Suns +9 | Celtics -9
  • Moneyline: Suns +310 | Celtics -400
  • Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5

Suns vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Suns, who fell 122-115 in Toronto on Friday, are 16-11 ATS this season after a loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Celtics.

How to watch Suns vs Celtics

LocationTD Garden, Boston, MA
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVKTVK, NBC Sports Boston

Suns vs Celtics latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Knicks Bulletin: ‘Hell yeah, that was a ball, man!’

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 15, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For some reason, the Knicks have decided to play down to the level of their opponents.

Nearly lost in Indianapolis. Damningly close to dropping one to a G League-like Warriors. Will it finally happen when the Pacers visit MSG on Tuesday?

Here’s what the protagonists had to say, including Steve Kerr.

Mike Brown

On whether he will change the starting lineup before or for the playoffs:

“Right now I don’t feel the need to. But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don’t feel the need to right now.

“It’s not too late to do anything. And if I feel the need, I will. I’m not thinking that right now. I’m not concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times.”

On demanding better starts despite the recent wins:

“We have to figure out individually, collectively, how we can start games better…. I’m not talking about the outcome, win or loss, I’m talking about the start of the game. (We need to start games) with a level of focus, a level of physicality, so that they’re feeling us to start the game. This group knows it. They understand it. Now we’ve just gotta go do it.”

On Mikal Bridges’ overall impact on the game:

“It’s no secret Mikal has not shot the ball well. But he’s given us life at times, and he’s given us life at the right time at times. I thought he was fantastic in Indiana. On both ends of the floor. So it’s not just Mikal. It’s us collectively as a group.”

On expecting more from the team despite the strong defensive numbers:

“I’m sitting here bitching about this and somebody told me from the first of January on, we had the No. 1 defense in the league. Something like that. We can play better. I know for myself and every man in that locker room, every person in that locker room, expects more. And somehow, someway, we got to figure it out.”

On Steve Kerr’s pregame warning text:

“Steve texted me and he said he came up with some killer plays that were going to make us spin backwards and forward. I believe him. Situations like this, we faced it in Utah. We faced it to a certain degree in Indiana. They’re tough. But if you expect to be who you think you are at the end of the day, you will approach this in a business-like manner.”

On not skipping details against undermanned teams:

“The biggest thing is making sure you don’t skip any details. I think in games like this, the details or the small things are huge. And playing with a sense of urgency while making them feel you on both ends of the floor — that doesn’t mean going out and blowing them out, but if you’re lackadaisical at any point in the game for any stretch, they’re NBA players. A lot of these guys are hungry and some of them have proven that they belong on this level and in a pretty good spot in terms of a rotation. If you relax at any moment in time and they see one, two, three go in, like the guys did in Utah, it can be a climb back up the hill to get back in the game.”

On road trip fatigue not being an excuse:

“I think every game can be challenging for a lot of different reasons. Mainly, all teams are in the NBA, and they’re here for a reason. That stuff’s above my head. A lot of times they say, ‘it’s because of your clock’ or whatever. You win some, you lose some, and I don’t see rhyme or reason for it.”

On prioritizing playing the right way over seeding:

“It’s tricky because let’s say we were in second, and we were a game in front of somebody. Are we just gonna play better because of that? I hope at this point of the season we’re playing the right way regardless of seeding, and sometimes, you’ll lose while playing the right way, but you’re playing the right way all the time—not just to try to catch Boston. That’s part of the equation, but that’s not the end-all, be-all.

“I want us to play the right way because it’s time to do that. We’re going into the playoffs. Play the right way. Again, you’ll lose sometimes playing the right way, but you want to go into the playoffs doing this, not just with your play but with your confidence or your belief, and so I think that’s just as much of it as opposed to — hey let’s find a way to win just to catch these guys. No, no: handle all the small details, embrace the details, embrace the journey. All that stuff and go get a win. So there are a lot of factors, not just those guys are ahead of us by a game-and-a-half and the guys are behind us by two games.”

Josh Hart

On the possibility of the NBA reducing the 82-game schedule:

“I probably be retired before that happens. So I don’t care. Nah, do I think it will be probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven. I think everybody puts that above everything else.”

On the need for respecting undermanned opponents:

“At the end of the day, you got to respect everybody. And if you’re in a situation like this against a team without its starters, you never want to play with a game or anything like that because you’ll never what’ll happen at the end of a game. You don’t want to put yourself in that position for someone to make a shot, someone to miss a shot or a ref to call a call you don’t agree with. So we got to approach this like any other game. And if that’s the case, then we should handle business early and it should be a game where everybody gets to play. But these guys are good. They’re in the NBA for a reason.”

On his knee soreness leaving him out of two games of late:

“It was just a play in the Laker game where I did my normal fastbreak finish, but just the landing on it kind of irritated it. So I think that kind of flared it up.”

On whether the knee will linger:

“I hope not. We’ll see. Time will tell.”

On not making excuses based on the injury:

“Ehh. I was out there. If I’m out there and able to play, there’s no excuses.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On avoiding slow starts:

“Don’t play like that. I think it’s pretty simple.”

On Brown’s frustration even after the win:

“Yeah, he was frustrated. Obviously, the win’s everything, but we don’t want to win games like that, especially this late in the year when we should have better standards and a better execution in playing. I understand it.”

On Jordan Clarkson’s impact off the bench:

“Special. The stats don’t lie. One of the best players coming off the bench in NBA history. He does one thing better than almost anybody in the league, and that’s put the ball in the basket. When he’s doing that, he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has; there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.”

On the Dominican Republic’s elimination from the WBC at the hands of the USA:

“Hell yeah, that was a ball, man! That was some bulls**t. They should have had a chance. They had Tatis Jr. coming up. Come on, man.”

Jalen Brunson

On the need to avoid playing catch-up every damn game:

“If we play better from the start, we don’t have to play catch-up. It’s definitely something that we need to get better at and it has to be our focus.”

Steve Kerr

On shortening the NBA season:

“I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing.”

On managing player workloads:

“In talking to performance people, looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph or Al or Jimmy – we have to manage them through 82 games. So there are nights where you just have to say, can’t play this guy. I get emails all the time from fans saying ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ And it wasn’t an injury designation and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow? Maybe it’s stretching the season out a little bit. If you can’t give up 10 games, can you extend the season by two weeks and give players more time in between games? I don’t know. I know there’s no guarantee that players are going to be out there every night, but I know that we have enough issues all clumped together that if we put our heads together – we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this league. I think we can address a lot of them and satisfy the fans, the owners, the TV partners. I believe that’s possible. Maybe I’m naïve. But I think it’s important to put it out there just for discussion and see where it goes.”

On advocating for a shorter season:

“I’m just saying what I see with all the injuries. The soft tissue injuries. I see all the data about how fast the guys are running, how much distance guys are covering now compared to 20-30 years ago. I see all the injuries, the tanking. I see everything. I’ve been in the league a long time. I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue, which means everybody takes a pay cut, and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing. So I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them. I think there’s a meaningful discussion to be had, and I love the league, I’ve loved the NBA my whole life. My whole adult life has been spent in the NBA in some form and it’s an amazing league. We have incredible people in this league and great fans. I just want to make sure we give our fans the very, very best product we can and try to satisfy all of our corporate partners, and I just think there’s probably a way to do that without just completely ignoring some of the obvious issues we’ve established.”

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NBA power rankings: Are the surging Lakers a threat out West?

We are down to the final month of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

No NBA team has more than 16 games remaining, as the races for seeding tighten up. And there’s still a possibility for some upheaval at the top of both the Eastern and Western Conferences; the Boston Celtics are only 4 games back of the Detroit Pistons in the East, while the San Antonio Spurs trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by just 3 ½ games.

And, as has been the case for a couple of months now, there’s also a race to the bottom, with tanking teams in the bottom third of this list looking to improve their draft positioning.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 19 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through March 9. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.

NBA Week 20 power rankings: Top 10

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 53-15 (—)

2. San Antonio Spurs, 49-18 (—)

3. Detroit Pistons, 48-19 (—)

4.Boston Celtics, 44-23 (—)

5. New York Knicks, 44-25 (+1)

6. Los Angeles Lakers, 42-25 (+3)

7. Denver Nuggets, 41-27 (+3)

8. Houston Rockets, 39-24 (—)

9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 41-27 (-4)

10. Cleveland Cavaliers, 41-27 (-3) 

The very top of this list remains intact, and the Thunder, with the Western Conference’s longest active winning streak of eight games, are peaking at the right time; OKC continues to lead the NBA in net rating (10.7), by a healthy margin. The Knicks have course corrected and have won three consecutive, even though the quality of opponent has been below average.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) is congratulated by forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) after a three-point basket in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 18, 2025.

The Lakers are also rolling, having won five consecutive, and their defense has improved markedly over this recent stretch. In recent games against the Nuggets, Timberwolves and Knicks, Los Angeles has allowed just 109.3 points per game.

NBA Week 20 power rankings: Nos. 11-20

11. Orlando Magic, 38-28 (+2)

12. Miami Heat, 38-30 (—)

13. Phoenix Suns, 39-28 (-2)

14. Toronto Raptors, 38-29 (—)

15. Atlanta Hawks, 36-31 (+1)

16. Los Angeles Clippers, 34-33 (-1)

17. Philadelphia 76ers, 37-31 (—)

18. Charlotte Hornets, 34-34 (—)

19. Portland Trail Blazers, 32-35 (+1)

20. Golden State Warriors, 32-36 (-1)

The Magic simply have the upper hand on the Heat, and it will almost certainly cost Miami come playoff time: Orlando has defeated the Heat all five times that the Southeast Division rivals have played. The Magic have won seven consecutive games and their offense has finally started firing with efficiency, scoring 122.4 points per 100 possessions during their winning streak.

The Hawks have been stellar, winning nine consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA. Yet, Atlanta’s recent success should be tempered somewhat. While the Hawks are mauling opponents, leading the league in defensive rating (102.7) over the last nine games, the combined winning percentage of its opponents during its winning streak is just .354.

And now that Stephen Curry will continue to miss time with a right knee injury, the Warriors, losers of five consecutive, are in big trouble.

NBA Week 20 power rankings: Nos. 21-30

21. Milwaukee Bucks, 28-39 (—)

22. Chicago Bulls, 27-40 (—) 

23. Dallas Mavericks, 23-45 (+1)

24. Memphis Grizzlies, 23-43 (-1)

25. New Orleans Pelicans, 22-46 (—)

26. Utah Jazz, 20-48 (—)

27. Sacramento Kings, 18-51 (+3)

28. Brooklyn Nets, 17-50 (-1)

29. Washington Wizards, 16-50 (-1)

30. Indiana Pacers, 15-53 (-1)

The big move here is the Sacramento Kings climbing out of the cellar with four victories out of their last five games. But this final third continues to be a race to the bottom, with the Pacers (13 games), Wizards (11), Grizzlies (seven), Jazz (three) and Nets (three) are in the middle of lengthy losing streaks.

One thing to watch with the Bucks, who had been trying to make a late push into the play-in picture — a push that is seemingly unlikely now that Milwaukee is 5 ½ games back of the No. 10 seed — is that Giannis Antetokounmpo left the team’s victory Sunday, March 15 over the Pacers when he tweaked his knee landing after a dunk.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings have Lakers rise in the West as Thunder top league

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JJ Redick was amazed LeBron James was diving for loose balls against Nuggets

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 14, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dives for a loose ball between Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in overtime at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Given that LeBron James has played more basketball season that any other player you’d think he was done with firsts in his career.

However, he gave us all a new one in LA’s matchup against the Nuggets.

In the fourth quarter, LeBron dove on the floor, fully extending his body and going airborne to try and gain possession for his team. The play didn’t ultimately lead to the Lakers having the possession as they lost the jump ball, but it did make it clear that this level of hustle was the standard for everyone donning a purple and gold uniform.

The Lakers were pushed to the brink by the Nuggets but they came out on top winning 127-125 in overtime. The victory not only gave them their first season series win over Denver since 2021, but it also meant that they’ll have the tiebreaker over them in playoff seeding.

Considering how tight the Western Conference race is, that’s a big deal and a huge advantage the Lakers now have.

After the win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about his oldest player making such a shocking dive during clutch time.

“I told him after the game, I said, ‘In 23 years of watching you play in the NBA and the three years I watched him play in high school, I never saw him make a full-out extension dive like that,’ Redick said. “He said, ‘You’re right. I’ve never done that.’ It’s awesome. I know he’ll feel that tomorrow, but that’s a winning play.”

Seeing LeBron sacrificing his body like that made it clear that he was going to do anything to tip things in LA’s favor.

Teams take the identity of their leaders. For the Lakers Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron are the players who establish what the Lakers are. If LeBron, the oldest player in the league is out there diving on the floor, then no one has excuses for not bringing their best.

After the game, LeBron discussed why this was the contest to be out there diving for loose balls.

“Just living in the moment and understanding the impact of the game, implications of the game and our opponent and what we’re trying to build,” James said. So, every possession matters.”

This is just another example that for LeBron it’s all about sacrificing in any way possible to earn wins and go after the main goal, which is a title.

Hopefully, there aren’t any more dives on the floor for James this season. Because while it was amazing to see him do it, the Lakers will need him healthy if they are going to maximize their potential this postseason.

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

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Best NBA Player Props Today for March 16: Pels Own the Paint

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Let’s tip off the new week of NBA action with some slam dunk winners in the player prop markets.

My best NBA player props include Zion Williamson dominating the paint against the Mavericks, and Victor Wembanyama continuing his block party when he travels to L.A. to take on the Clippers.

Those and more NBA picks for Monday, March 16, below.

Best NBA player props today

PlayerPickbet365
Hornets Cam SpencerOver 11.5 points-115
Hornets Zion WilliamsonOver 21.5-120
Hornets Victor WembanyamaOver 3.5 blocks+120
MORE NBA FREE PICKS

Prop #1: Cam Spencer Over 11.5 Points

-115 at bet365

The tank is real for the Memphis Grizzlies. Ty Jerome has been the team’s last reliable scorer. But he hasn’t played back-to-back games since coming out of the All-Star break. And he played last time out.

So, who’s left? Give me Cam Spencer in this matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Spencer is averaging 13.3 points and shooting 47.3% from three.

The Bulls don’t play much defense, ranking 23rd in defensive rating and 21st in opponent effective field goal percentage.

Spencer has a point total of 11.5. A number he’s topped in four of his last five games.

  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Memphis, CHSN

Prop #2: Zion Williamson Over 21.5 Points

-120 at bet365

You’d think a team like the New Orleans Pelicans would be in full tank mode. But Dejounte Murray is back, and Zion Williamson is consistently playing.

So, the Pels don’t look like the teams at the bottom of the West, like tonight’s opponent, the Dallas Mavericks.

Injuries have hampered the Mavs, but it's their interior presence that has really been hurt, ranking last in opponent points in the paint per game.

Williamson has a point total of 21.5 and is averaging 22.7 points over his last 11 full games and has topped this number in both of his games against the Mavs.

  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: KFAA, GCSEN

Prop #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 Blocks

+120 at bet365

Victor Wembanayama has been the favorite to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a while now, but he’s taken his effort at that end of the floor to the next level.

The San Antonio Spurs star has been having his own block party, averaging 4.3 blocks per game over 12 games since coming out of the All-Star break, blocking four or more shots 10 times over that stretch.

His block prop for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers is sitting at 3.5 with the Over at a tantalizing plus-money price.

  • Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Peacock

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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What March Madness games are tomorrow? Schedule for NCAA Tournament First Four game

The wait is almost over.

In just over 24 hours, the 2026 NCAA Tournament will finally commence with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 17, from Dayton, Ohio. That means March Madness is finally upon us.

March Madness expert picks: Bracket predictions for 2026 NCAA Tournament

UMBC and Howard will kick off the action at 6:40 p.m. from UD Arena with a matchup that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region, with the winner taking on No. 1 Michigan.

The second game will pit Texas against North Carolina State to decide the No. 11 seed in the West Region, and the first opponent for No. 6 seed BYU.

Wednesday, March 18, will feature two more First Four games before we dive into first-round action on Thursday, March 19.

Here's what you need to know about Tuesday's schedule for the First Four games, including how to watch:

March Madness games on Tuesday

First Four

  • (16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard | 6:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
  • (11) Texas vs. (11) North Carolina State | 9:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

UMBC and Howard kick off the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a game that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region. The Retreivers and Bison are scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. ET tip, from UD Arena, in Dayton, Ohio.

Following that will be a matchup for the No. 11 seed in the West Region, when Texas takes on North Carolina State.

How to watch March Madness games on Tuesday

Both First Four matchups will be nationally broadcast on truTV. Jordan Kent and Jim Spanarkel will be on the call for UMBC and Howard, with Jenny Dell as the courtside reporter. Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale will call the second game, with Dell as the courtside reporter.

The game can also be streamed on Sling TV.

NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness 2026 Schedule

Here is the full schedule breakdown for the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament:

  • First Four: Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18
  • First round: Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20
  • Second round: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
  • Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27
  • Elite Eight: Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29
  • Final Four: Saturday, April 4
  • National championship game: Monday, April 6

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What March Madness games are Tuesday? First Four games schedule

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NBA expansion now has a timeline – what it could mean for the Celtics roster

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Boston Celtics General Manager Brad Stevens smiles courtside before the game between Duke v Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion on February 24, 2026 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

If you thought NBA expansion had become a never-ending rumor cycle, the latest reporting suggests the league may finally be ready to move forward. 

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the National Basketball Association Board of Governors will vote later this month to begin exploring expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas, with the league targeting the 2028–29 season for two new franchises.

The price tag alone almost feels like satire. Industry projections place potential expansion bids somewhere in the $7 to $10 billion range per team. The owners may be thrilled about that windfall, but it also means the ripple effects for teams across the league will be very real once the league reaches 32 teams.

For the Celtics, the challenge will be making sure those ripples don’t rock the roster too hard.

Expansion drafts force teams to expose players they would rather keep, and Boston happens to be built around the exact type of depth that expansion drafts tend to punish. To follow up on my piece earlier this year about who the Celtics might protect, it’s worth revisiting the conversation now that the expansion timeline is finally coming into focus.

The latest expansion update from Shams

The report from Shams adds a few meaningful details about how the expansion process would unfold.

First, the upcoming vote would allow the league to begin exploring purchase processes for teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. If those processes produce bids that reach the league’s desired valuation range, a final vote later in the year could formally approve expansion to 32 teams. Both votes require approval from 23 of the league’s 30 governors.

Second, the timeline attached to the report also clarifies when the league expects these franchises to begin play. The 2028–29 season currently sits as the target.

That places the expansion draft in the summer of 2028, likely between the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft. In league terms, that is not far off at all. Front offices around the NBA plan several years ahead when structuring contracts and building rosters. Brad Stevens likely plans decades ahead, but not everyone can be Brad Stevens.

If this holds, there would be two NBA Drafts between now and the expansion draft, which means the Celtics’ protection list will largely revolve around the roster they already have, plus whoever Brad Stevens selects in the 2026 and 2027 drafts.

All that’s to say, the Celtics will have more than eight players they would prefer not to leave out in the open. That is the squeeze expansion creates for good teams: not “who do we keep?” but “who are we okay losing?”

What the Celtics’ expansion decisions could look like

The rules for the expansion draft are simple enough. Each team gets to protect eight players. Everyone else becomes eligible for selection by the expansion team (or teams in this case). Seattle and Las Vegas can take one player from each franchise, but once someone is taken from a franchise, that team is off the board and can’t be taken from again.

Sounds manageable, right?

But a quick scan of Celtics fan guesses already shows the tension. If you want to understand why expansion could get uncomfortable for Boston, look at where the production has come from over the last ten games and then try talking yourself into protecting only eight players.

Brad Stevens has quietly built a roster where the eighth-best player might still be someone another team would gladly take a chance on. Which means the hard part isn’t naming the protected eight, but deciding which good player Boston has to expose.

The locks

For the Celtics, the no-brainers to protect are:

  • Jayson Tatum
  • Jaylen Brown
  • Derrick White
  • Payton Pritchard

Tatum and Brown define the franchise timeline. White is still one of the most valuable connectors in the league, the kind of player every serious team needs and almost no team wants to give away. Pritchard belongs here too, both because of his production and because smaller contracts attached to real rotation players become even more valuable in roster-building situations like this. Boston is not exposing him if he is still part of the picture when expansion arrives.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 09: Derrick White #9, Jayson Tatum #0, and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics huddle during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Barring unexpected developments (and those happen a lot in the NBA), those four players will get protection spots. That means Boston will be halfway through its protected list before the difficult decisions even begin.

The real debate

Sam Hauser is where the conversation starts to become a conversation.

If I had to choose today, I’d lean toward protecting him. Shooting this clean, at his size, in a role he already knows how to play next to stars, is useful on any contender. But I also understand the other side of that coin. By the time an expansion draft arrives, Hauser will be older, more expensive, and closer to a finished product than some of Boston’s younger options. That does not make him expendable, it just means the argument is no longer automatic.

Then there is Neemias Queta. Functional center depth cannot be underestimated in the modern NBA, and teams do not casually throw away size if they believe it can hold up in real minutes. If Boston still views Queta as a reliable rotation big in 2028 (like they do in 2026), he has a legitimate case for one of the final protection spots.

And then you get to the trio that makes this whole exercise interesting and a little nauseating: Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh. If the six above are in, you can only protect two from this group.

These three are exactly the kinds of players expansion teams tend to talk themselves into. Young. Relatively cheap. Not fully formed yet. Easy to imagine in a bigger role.

Scheierman may be the easiest of the three to picture helping another team quickly because he already looks like an actual NBA player. Gonzalez brings the kind of physical upside teams chase, while Walsh is the classic “if the shot comes around, there’s something here” bet. You can make a case for any of them, and you can also make the case that Boston would hate to spend years developing one of those players only to lose him right before the payoff.

That is why the eighth spot matters so much more than the first four. The Celtics are deciding which developmental bet they trust the most.

The leftovers

Veteran back-end pieces such as Nikola Vučević are not likely to be at the heart of the expansion dilemma. 

The rest of the roster mostly falls into the category of players who would need to force their way into the long-term picture before expansion becomes a real concern. Big men like Luka Garza and Amari Williams still have development ahead of them. Wings such as Ron Harper Jr. and rookie guard John Tonje would need to carve out consistent roles to enter the protection conversation.

Newer additions like recently converted Max Shulga and depth options such as Charles Bassey fall into a similar category. If any of them make a leap over the next two seasons, the math gets harder. But if they remain deep bench pieces or early-stage projects, they likely sit outside the protected eight. 

Expansion will test what Boston has built

Expansion will be good for the league. And honestly, it will be fun to watch a real piece of NBA history take shape in real time, hopefully with better results than the last time the NBA expanded when it welcomed the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. It’s never a good sign when an expansion team rebrands back to an old team name before you’ve expanded again.

For now, Celtics fans can keep the conversation light. What will the Las Vegas team name be? Do the SuperSonics get to claim Kevin Durant as part of their history? Which Western Conference team gets shoved East and immediately starts annoying everyone?

Boston’s harder questions can wait a little longer.

But if expansion is going to punish teams for being too deep, too well run, and too full of interesting young players, I’d rather be the Celtics than anyone else.

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Justin Edwards’ patience paying off with current opportunity

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 15: Justin Edwards #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Justin Edwards was one of the few bright spots of the Sixers’ disastrous, cursed 2024-25 season. His second year in the NBA hasn’t progressed as smoothly as both he and the Sixers would have liked. Fighting to make the fringes of the rotation, his field goal and three-point percentages have dropped significantly. In 15 games this year he’s been DNP-CD.

He’s been forced into the rotation as of late with 80% of the starting lineup out with injury for an extended period of time. Edwards has taken advantage of the opportunity, putting together three solid performances that helped the Sixers pick up two much-needed wins.

He dropped 19 points on the Brooklyn Nets and 21 on the Portland Trail Blazers while being insanely efficient. Edwards shot 69% and 64% from the field in those games, respectively.

His mentality over this stretch is very to similar to the team’s as a whole as they have plummeted down the Eastern Conference standings. There’s no time to reflect on it — he just needs to play quality minutes when he’s out there to try to pick off a win.

“I can’t think of it like that — guys are down so I got a bigger role on the team,” Edwards said after the Brooklyn game. “So I’m just trying to take advantage of that right now.”

Admittedly, it hasn’t been easy for him to fight for his playing time. As understanding of the business as he is, he wants to be in the rotation and playing every night as well.

“You know, I’m in the NBA, I’m part of that percentage that’s made it to the NBA,” he said. “I can’t think like that at the end of the day because this is my dream job and this is something I want to do for a long time. It always comes back around so I just got to stay ready and stay patient.”

Edwards sees the benefits of reserves deep on the bench having these games to build confidence while they’re shorthanded. He hopes that’s something that remains as the bigger names on the roster return from injury.

“I feel like it’s a confidence booster for coach,” he said, “being able to look down at the bench and say those guys are ready, they’ve been playing consistent minutes the last couple of games.”

There’s a lot of different ways the Sixers have to play based on who’s available. That especially makes it a challenge for guys on the fringes of the rotation to figure out their exact role. Edwards is hopeful this stretch makes his spot a little more clear when things look more normal.

“I feel like I could be a lot more comfortable, but as far as what my role is on this team, I’m getting a little more comfortable,” he said.

Edwards will have to continue playing like this in the meantime to retain that rotation spot if and when the starters return from injury. Putting up 20 points a night is a good place to start though.

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How to watch LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets: TV, live stream info for tonight's game

Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, it's a showdown between two of the hottest teams when the Orlando Magic take on the Atlanta Hawks. At 9:30 PM, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clipper match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.

See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

NBA: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: It’s beyond time to hop onto the Precious Achiuwa bandwagon
Achiuwa is one of the players on lottery-bound teams who have provided excellent value during the “silly season.”

LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets Game Preview:

The Lakers extended their win streak to five games after a statement 127-125 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Austin Reaves forced extra minutes after rebounding his intentionally missed free throw, and it was Luka Doncic who sealed the win, hitting a baseline fadeaway with 0.5 seconds left.

LeBron James was back in the lineup after missing three consecutive games. He played a season-high 40 minutes, finishing with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

"I think it feels like we're coalescing right now in a really nice way. Still got a long way to go… but certainly optimistic with how we handled this stretch of games. ... It's big time," said Lakers head coach JJ Redick after the win.

The Lakers are currently third in the Western Conference with a 0.5 lead on the Rockets.

Tonight's game is the second of three meetings between the two teams who will face off again this Wednesday night. Houston won the first matchup on Christmas Day. The Lakers will need to win both games to claim the tiebreaker over the Rockets.

James and Kevin Durant will face off for the 45th time tonight. The two superstars have combined for 6 championships, 38 All-Star appearances, 32 All-NBA teams, and 76,368 points over the course of their careers.

How to watch LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets:

  • When: Monday, March 16
  • Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
  • Time: 9:30 PM ET
  • Live Stream: NBCSN and Peacock

What other NBA games are on Peacock tonight?

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Lakers at Rockets prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 16

The Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) travel to Houston to take on the Rockets (41-25) in the second of a doubleheader on Peacock.

The Lakers and Rockets are the No. 3 and 4 seeds in the West. Los Angeles is a 0.5 game had of Houston, so this game will determine who is ahead of who. The Rockets are 1.0 game had of the Nuggets and Timberwolves, so a loss is more detrimental in the standings for Houston, but both would be in jeopardy of moving down the poll.

Los Angeles has won five-straight game and Luka Doncic has been on tear in that span! Doncic is averaging 38.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in that five-game span, including a 51-point performance against the Bulls and 44 points against the Pacers. The Lakers lost its only meeting versus the Rockets this season by 23 points as they held Doncic to 25 points.

Houston is 4-4 in the past eight games and ranks 23rd in offensive net rating, 21st in defensive net rating, and second-to-last in true shooing percentage (55.1%) in that span. The Rockets are in the second game of a five-game home stand and the first of two meetings versus the Lakers as they play on Monday Night and Wednesday night.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

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 courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic at Hawks

  • Date: Monday, March 16, 2026
  • Time: 9:30 PM EST
  • Site: Toyota Center
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Lakers at Rockets

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Houston Rockets (-135), Los Angeles Lakers (+114)
  • Spread: Houston -2.5
  • Total: 226.5 points

This game opened Rockets -2.5 with the Total set at 225.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Lakers at Rockets

Los Angeles Lakers

  • PG Luka Doncic
  • SG Austin Reaves
  • SF Marcus Smart
  • PF LeBron James
  • C Deandre Ayton

Houston Rockets

  • PG Amen Thompson
  • SG Tari Eason
  • SF Kevin Durant
  • PF Jabari Smith
  • C Alperen Sengun

Injury Report: Lakers at Rockets

Los Angeles Lakers

  • Maxi Kleber (lumbar) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game

Houston Rockets

  • Alperen Sengun (back) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game
  • Jae'Sean Tate (knee) is listed as OUT for tonight's game

Important stats, trends and insights: Lakers at Rockets

  • Houston is 29-37 ATS, ranking 7th-worst
  • Houston is 12-19 ATS at home, ranking 2nd-worst, and 12-18 ATS as a home favorite, which is 3rd-worst
  • Houston is 37-28-1 to the Under, ranking 7th-best
  • Houston is 20-10-1 to the Under, ranking 4th-best
  • Los Angeles is 38-29 ATS, ranking 7th-best
  • Los Angeles is 17-15 ATS as the road team, but 6-9 ATS as a road underdog, ranking 5th-worst
  • The Lakers are 35-32 to the Over, ranking 7th-best, but are 18-14 to the Under as the road team
  • Los Angeles is 8-7 to the Under as a road underdog

Rotoworld 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.

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 tonight’s Lakers and Rockets’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Lakers' Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Lakers +2.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 226.5

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!

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Game Preview: Suns seek revenge on the Boston Celtics

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Celtics defeated the Suns 97-81. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Who: Phoenix Suns (39-28) vs. Boston Celtics (44-23)

When: 4;30 pm Arizona Time

Where: TD Garden — Boston, Massachusetts

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns look to shake off their tough loss vs the Toronto Raptors as they travel to Boston. With this six-game road trip meaning a lot to the standings, they must take advantage of every contest. So far, the team is 2-1 on this trip, but with another back-to-back on the horizon, they must get a win here. This year, they played the Celtics on their home court, and it did not go their way. Both teams also dealt with injuries to key players, whereas now the injury report is a bit cleaner for this contest.

For the Celtics, they are looking to keep this rhythm going. Fueled by the motivation from Joe Mazzulla, they have not skipped a beat this year. Now adding Jayson Tatum back makes them an even more lethal juggernaut, one that the Suns want to dethrone on the road.

In this game, though, one thing that will be fun to watch is the stars playing against each other. Tatum has not played the Suns since 2024, and this game between him and Devin Booker should be another classic. Will Booker find his offensive groove in the building, and will he have his career high? Only time will tell for the Suns fans who anticipate a great game.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

  • Dillon Brooks – (Left Hand Fracture) – OUT
  • Mark Williams – (Left Foot Third Metatarsal Stress Reaction) – OUT

Celtics

  • Nikola Vucevic – (Right Ring Finger Fracture) – OUT

What to Watch For

One thing to watch for in this one is how the Suns continue to use the rookies in this matchup. With the Suns still having injuries to Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams, it is still evident that both Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach will see some time in this one. That being said, they are both coming off a great week, with Fleming having a career-high 3 blocks in the last game and going 3/3 from behind the arc.

He was so impressive that head coach Jordan Ott even trusted him to start the fourth quarter with the Suns in a close game. Not to mention, he has also seen plenty of minutes at the center position, playing some small-ball five. This is where he has been able to get these incredible blocks and continues to prove he deserves to be a part of this rotation when fully healthy.

With him going up against a scrappy Celtics team that has plenty of players fighting for spots like his, I only hope this brings the best out of the young wing. He has something to prove to the team and has some good matchups against Tatum and Brown to keep an eye on.

Key to a Suns Win

The big key to his game is going to be dominating the rebound game. Last time these two played, Phoenix was outrebounded 61-34, and it was a major factor in their loss. Only having 9 offensive rebounds compared to Boston’s 22 basically sealed the deal, as they dominated in paint scoring and second chances. This also all happened with no Brown and Tatum in their lineup. Baylor Scheierman and Neemias Queta had 24 boards on their own, which is alarming if the Suns as a team only had 10 more.

Making sure they can limit those second-chance opportunities for Boston while creating their own fast break in transition should be the plan to help them execute a much-needed victory.

Prediction Time

The Suns get the revenge they need against a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference.

Suns 102, Celtics 99