Thunder first NBA side to clinch play-off place

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in action against Orlando Magic in the NBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.7 points per game this season [Reuters]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed another 40-point night as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 to become the first NBA team to secure a play-off berth.

The 27-year-old Canadian went 14 from 27 from the field as he extended his record of most 20-point games in a row to 129.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Western Conference leaders claimed a ninth straight win to improve to 54-15 for the season.

"We got off to a good start but then the car kind of came off the road for a little bit," reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"But that's what great teams do - they figure out a way to get the car back on the road, they figure out a way to go into a building and win a game when the chips are stacked against you, and we did that tonight."

San Antonio Spurs remain second in the West after a comfortable 132-104 win over the Sacramento Kings, while the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 116-104.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons handed the Washington Wizards a 13th straight loss to strengthen their position at the top.

But the 130-117 triumph was marred by an injury to star point guard Cade Cunningham, who had to leave the game in the first quarter with a back issue.

The New York Knicks stay third in the East after a thumping 136-110 win over the Indiana Pacers, a 14th consecutive loss leaving last year's NBA Finals runners-up 15-54 this term.

Utah faces Minnesota on 3-game losing streak

Utah Jazz (20-48, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-27, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Timberwolves -11.5; over/under is 233.5

BOTTOM LINE: Utah is looking to end its three-game losing streak with a victory against Minnesota.

The Timberwolves are 8-6 against division opponents. Minnesota is fifth in the Western Conference with 33.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.

The Jazz are 1-11 against Northwest Division opponents. Utah ranks seventh in the Western Conference with 31.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 7.8.

The Timberwolves average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer makes per game than the Jazz give up (15.4). The Jazz average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 more makes per game than the Timberwolves give up.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Jazz won 127-122 in the last matchup on Jan. 21.

TOP PERFORMERS: Naz Reid is scoring 13.7 points per game and averaging 6.2 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Julius Randle is averaging 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Keyonte George is averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.5 points, 42.3 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.2 points per game.

Jazz: 2-8, averaging 113.2 points, 41.4 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.3 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: out (knee).

Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Ace Bailey: day to day (concussion), Kyle Filipowski: day to day (rest), Keyonte George: day to day (leg), Isaiah Collier: day to day (knee), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee), John Konchar: day to day (calf).

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

Phoenix visits San Antonio, aims to stop road losing streak

Phoenix Suns (39-30, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (51-18, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix visits San Antonio looking to end its three-game road slide.

The Spurs are 30-14 in Western Conference games. San Antonio is 7-4 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Suns are 25-19 in Western Conference play. Phoenix is third in the Western Conference allowing only 111.4 points while holding opponents to 47.0% shooting.

The Spurs are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point higher than the 47.0% the Suns allow to opponents. The Suns average 112.4 points per game, 0.7 more than the 111.7 the Spurs allow.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 121-94 on Feb. 20, with Stephon Castle scoring 20 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Castle is scoring 16.4 points per game and averaging 5.0 rebounds for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.9 points and 9.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Royce O'Neale is scoring 9.9 points per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds for the Suns. Devin Booker is averaging 28.1 points and 4.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 8-2, averaging 122.4 points, 47.6 rebounds, 30.8 assists, 6.0 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points per game.

Suns: 6-4, averaging 114.2 points, 41.1 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: Devin Vassell: day to day (ankle), David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

Suns: Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).

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

Indiana faces Portland, aims to break home skid

Portland Trail Blazers (33-36, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (15-54, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

Indianapolis; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trail Blazers -10.5; over/under is 234.5

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana plays Portland looking to end its eight-game home skid.

The Pacers are 10-24 in home games. Indiana has a 7-35 record against teams over .500.

The Trail Blazers are 15-20 on the road. Portland has a 6-5 record in one-possession games.

The Pacers average 111.2 points per game, 6.0 fewer points than the 117.2 the Trail Blazers allow. The Pacers average 115.1 points per game, 5.0 fewer points than the 120.1 the Pacers allow to opponents.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 131-111 on March 9, with Scoot Henderson scoring 28 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ivica Zubac is averaging 14 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.6 points over the last 10 games.

Deni Avdija is scoring 24.0 points per game and averaging 6.9 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 0-10, averaging 109.2 points, 39.0 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.5 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 110.9 points, 45.5 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 9.0 steals and 7.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points.

INJURIES: Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (knee), Micah Potter: day to day (triceps), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (calf), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).

Trail Blazers: Robert Williams III: day to day (injury management), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Vit Krejci: day to day (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

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

Washington faces Detroit on 6-game home skid

Detroit Pistons (49-19, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (16-52, 14th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Washington takes on Detroit looking to end its six-game home losing streak.

The Wizards are 11-32 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington allows 123.8 points to opponents and has been outscored by 11.0 points per game.

The Pistons are 33-11 in conference games. Detroit ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference with 27.0 assists per game led by Cade Cunningham averaging 9.9.

The Wizards' 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.3 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Pistons give up. The Pistons average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer made shots on average than the 13.7 per game the Wizards give up.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on March 17 the Pistons won 130-117 led by 36 points from Jalen Duren, while Bub Carrington scored 30 points for the Wizards.

TOP PERFORMERS: Carrington is averaging 10 points and 4.5 assists for the Wizards. Tre Johnson is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Duren is averaging 19 points and 10.6 rebounds for the Pistons. Cunningham is averaging 17.6 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 46.8% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 0-10, averaging 117.6 points, 38.1 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.5 points per game.

Pistons: 5-5, averaging 116.9 points, 44.1 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (hamstring), Leaky Black: day to day (ankle), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (not injury related), Trae Young: day to day (quad), Bilal Coulibaly: day to day (heel).

Pistons: Cade Cunningham: day to day (back), Isaiah Stewart: out (calf).

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

Banchero, Magic square off against the Hornets

Orlando Magic (38-30, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (35-34, 10th in the Eastern Conference)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte faces Orlando in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams.

The Hornets are 21-22 in conference games. Charlotte is third in the Eastern Conference with 12.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Moussa Diabate averaging 3.8.

The Magic are 9-6 against opponents from the Southeast Division. Orlando has a 15-16 record in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Hornets are shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points lower than the 47.3% the Magic allow to opponents. The Magic average 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 12.8 per game the Hornets give up.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Hornets won 124-97 in the last matchup on Jan. 23.

TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is averaging 19.5 points and 7.2 assists for the Hornets. Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.4 points over the past 10 games.

Desmond Bane is averaging 20.5 points and 4.2 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 25.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 7-3, averaging 115.4 points, 46.2 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.1 points per game.

Magic: 7-3, averaging 118.7 points, 45.7 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points.

INJURIES: Hornets: Tidjane Salaun: day to day (calf).

Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: out (back), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).

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

Philadelphia plays Sacramento, aims to break road losing streak

Philadelphia 76ers (37-32, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (18-52, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will try to end its five-game road skid when the 76ers take on Sacramento.

The Kings have gone 12-24 in home games. Sacramento ranks last in the NBA shooting 33.7% from 3-point range.

The 76ers have gone 17-16 away from home. Philadelphia is 14-25 against opponents over .500.

The Kings average 10.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 fewer makes per game than the 76ers allow (13.4). The 76ers' 45.9% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.4 percentage points lower than the Kings have allowed to their opponents (49.3%).

The teams meet for the second time this season. The 76ers won 113-111 in the last meeting on Jan. 30. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 40 points, and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is scoring 18.6 points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 61.4% over the past 10 games.

Quentin Grimes is averaging 13.5 points and 3.4 assists for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 10.3 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 36.3% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 5-5, averaging 114.7 points, 46.1 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.4 points per game.

76ers: 4-6, averaging 106.9 points, 41.3 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Malik Monk: day to day (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Devin Carter: day to day (calf), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).

76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Jabari Walker: day to day (illness), Joel Embiid: day to day (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).

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

Josh Hart's 'connectivity' is why Knicks want him in starting lineup, and Pacers win showed it

By his own admission, Josh Hart has been ‘kind of in my head with a lot of stuff’ since the All-Star break. 

He’d missed 28 of his 38 three-point attempts since the break. And he was part of a Knicks starting lineup that was struggling early in games. 

As is usually the case, there were calls in some corners of social media to pull Hart from the starting lineup. 

But he showed those fans – and anyone else watching – why he should stay put on Tuesday night. 

Hart scored a Knicks career high 33 points in a win over Indiana. He went 12-for-13 from the floor and hit all five of his three-point attempts. 

“I just like that he took the right shots and he didn’t hesitate,” Mike Brown said after the game. 

Brown said earlier in the week that he wouldn’t hesitate to change his starting lineup if the group continued to struggle. But it doesn’t sound like he would consider taking Hart out of the lineup. 

“I think the main thing…is him connecting the group. I’m not saying he is Andre Iguodala or his game is like Andre Iguodala’s, but there are a lot of similarities where you watch him…he’s really good in a lot of different areas,” Brown said Tuesday. “But more importantly, he connects the group and having a guy like that, especially to start games, is huge…. He’s been fantastic giving us that energy, giving us the connectivity we needed with that starting group and then doing the little things. Offensive glass, pushing the pace, getting off in transition. He’s a switchable guy, he’s a physical guy and (he does) a lot of things that don’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet that … help with connectivity as well.”

Hart did plenty that showed up in the stat sheet on Tuesday. In addition to hitting all of his three-point attempts, he had seven rebounds and five assists. But anyone who watches this team knows that they are at a different level when Hart is hitting his shots. 

After the Knicks’ win over Indiana, Hart was asked if he could gain confidence from his strong shooting. 

“I think since All-Star I was struggling in terms of shooting,” he said. “I think I’m kind of in my head with a lot of stuff. So I just got to trust my work and go out there and shoot my shots.”

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) celebrates center Mitchell Robinson (23) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) celebrates center Mitchell Robinson (23) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images

MIKAL CONNECTS LATE

Speaking of hitting shots, Mikal Bridges knocked down two threes in the fourth quarter after missing his first four attempts against Indiana. He hit those two threes with under seven minutes to play and the Knicks up by 22. Normally, a coach would rest his veteran starter in this circumstance. But Brown wanted Bridges to knock some shots down. The veteran wing had made just 29 percent of his threes in the past 15 games.

“To try to get anybody that hadn’t shot it well from the three-point line to get another look, especially in a game like this, was a good thing,” Brown said Tuesday. “You talk about Mikal’s streak and his durability – when he turned his ankle (in the first quarter), I was like, ‘Whoa.’ So for him to be able to somehow someway fight through that was good to see. So to try to get him an extra look or two down the stretch was something that we wanted to do.”

Brown said he played Jordan Clarkson over Mohamed Diawara because Clarkson had been scoring the ball at a high clip over the past four games.

“We’ll continue to see what happens going forward,” Brown said. “We’ve all had the pleasure of being able to see Mo at a young age contribute a lot. He just has to keep himself ready like Jordan did. Go out there when your number’s called, don’t do too much but do what you can do and perform at the highest level in terms of your work ethic, focus and attention to detail and just go from there.”

CARLISLE SUPPORTS KERR CAUSE

Steve Kerr has said several times this season that he thinks the NBA should shorten its schedule. Rick Carlisle was asked about it on Tuesday.

“It’d be great if it was possible to do that. There would be a lot involved with it. An obvious big revenue shift,” Carlisle said. “You’re talking about 10-12 percent of the games being eliminated... the question is, would everyone be willing to do that if it was deemed that it would really help the game. It's a lively conversation. I’ve heard Adam talk about the possibility of shortening the season slightly, going back a few years. The game has changed. One of the compelling aspects of it to me is that when the effort was made to eliminate back-to-backs, in order to have the space to do that, you needed to shorten training camp. So training camp essentially became three weeks instead of four. That extra week to build a base in terms of strength, many layers of protection that you can get for the body, I’ve always wondered if the effort to have less back-to-backs was really worth it. Essentially, you’re playing every other day. But these are all questions. There are a lot of great things about today’s game (and) schedule. The longer All-Star break has been a real positive…. To get to the heart of the matter, you’re going to have to talk about the finances of it. I certainly am in agreement that it’s conversation worth having…. (The exact solution) is hard to say… but the nature of the game has changed significantly. Steve is right on point with that. The speed and everything is quite different than it was 5-6 years ago, 3-4 years ago.”

 

Sixers Bell Ringer: Nuggets rout Sixers in wire-to-wire win

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 17: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter at Ball Arena on March 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:

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


The Sixers looked to continue their winning ways as they traveled to Denver on Tuesday night for a cross-conference clash. The Sixers came into the night tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They were once again without all three of their stars while the Nuggets had their full complement of players available, save for Peyton Watson.

The Nuggets jumped all over the Sixers from the jump in this one and took a 38-22 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter. Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe struggled to get into any kind of flow as the Nuggets made it a priority to make life hard on them. Edgecombe and Grimes went a combined 4-for-13 from the field in the first quarter while the Sixers struggled to provide any resistance to the Nuggets’ offensive attack.

Things got worse for the Sixers in the second quarter as Denver continued to get whatever it wanted offensively. The Nuggets hit 9-of-17 from beyond the three-point line in the first half to go along with 25-for-44 from the floor overall. Denver held a 72-40 lead at the halftime break.

The Sixers won a quarter! The Nuggets headed to the fourth quarter with a 100-71 lead. The Sixers went to the final period a robust 37% from the field and 24% from three.

Denver went on to close this one out with no drama in the fourth. Nuggets win, 124-96.

Time for tonight’s Bell Ringer.

Marjon Beauchamp: 16 points, 6-for-11 from the field, 4-for-8 from three

The Bell Ringer for tonight goes to Marjon Beauchamp. Beauchamp got it going late in this one when the game was well out of reach. The Sixers’ athletic two-way swingman took advantage of his opportunity in an otherwise very forgettable game. Beauchamp knocked down a team- and game-high four threes in his 18 minutes of action.

Sixers lose

DENVER, CO - MARCH 17: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 17, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Medals of bravery will be going out for every Sixers fan that stayed up for this one.

Philadelphia was crushed 124-96 by the Denver Nuggets Tuesday night.

They are 37-32, only two games back of falling to the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.

VJ Edgecombe had just nine points, three rebounds and four assists shooting 3-of-12 from the floor. MarJon Beauchamp shot it well again with the game out of hand, leading the Sixers with 16 points. Christian Braun led all scorers with 22. Nikola Jokic had eight points on seven shots along with 14 assists.

The Sixers were once again without Tyrese Maxey (finger sprain), Joel Embiid (oblique strain), Paul George (suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain), Jabari Walker (illness) and Johni Broome (torn meniscus). Denver was without Peyton Watson along with their two-ways.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

  • The early battle was between Dominick Barlow and Aaron Gordon. Gordon sealed him off a couple of times for baskets but Barlow was able to swat a couple shots away. The Sixers offense’ looked overmatched early, only scoring on an Edgecombe drive and a rolling dunk by Adem Bona.
  • Edgecombe was hunting his midrange pull-ups, but it took three tries to make his first one. Quentin Grimes was also aggressive early but could only get one pull-up three to go. It was another unbalanced start from behind the arc, with Denver making five of their first seven triples while the Sixers started 2-of-8 from deep.
  • One of the few edges the Sixers had early was the chippiness of the game. Andre Drummond got Jokic T’d up in the process of drawing an offensive foul. That was about as much resistance as the Sixers had early, as the Nuggets shot 56% from the field in the first and jumped out to an 18-point lead.

Second Quarter

  • Even the high of Bona’s impressive dunk was quickly overshadowed. The 33-year old Jonas Valancuinas beat him off a couple dribbles and threw down a contested dunk of his own. For once, the Sixers were at least outpacing their opponent in three-pointers attempted but nothing fell for them. They missed their first four threes of the quarter.
  • This pace continued so much so that any positive play for the Sixers felt like a noteworthy event. Dalen Terry cut his way for a basket and made a nice little dribble move to get himself a floater. Edgecombe threw a nice lob to Grimes cutting backdoor but neither of them were able to get into a rhythm off the dribble. On top of that, Edgecombe picked up four fouls in the half.
  • On top of a subpar defensive performance, the Sixers were buried early because their shooters couldn’t buy anything. Edgecombe, Grimes and Cam Payne shot a combined 8-of-29 from the field in the half. The Sixers made 17 field goals in the half while the Nuggets had 20 assists. Denver led by 32 at the break.

Third Quarter

  • Still scourging for any positive, Justin Edwards became the first Sixer of the night to make multiple three-pointers, MarJon Beauchamp would join him late in the quarter when he finally got his second shift. Bona picked up two more blocks and was somehow only -7 to this point in the night but still got an early hook.
  • Edgecombe picked up his fifth foul early in the third, but he was able to make it over halfway through the quarter before the white flag was waved. Perhaps he could have gotten a few more shots up, but he was cold and his night was ending quickly one way or another. After winning a third quarter for once, the Sixers only trailed by 29.

Fourth Quarter

  • Beauchamp again took advantage of the run he was given, making five of his first seven shots of the night. It’s weird that he’s seemed to fallen down the hierarchy even amongst two-ways when they’ve been slightly healthier. There’s plenty of reasons he’s on a two-way, but at least he’s made shots. As a Sixer, Beauchamp came into this game shooting 47% from the field and 36% from three-point range.

Howard holds off UMBC in First Four for its first March Madness win

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Bryce Harris had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and he sank a turnaround jumper with 13 seconds remaining that sent Howard to its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history, 86-83 over UMBC in the First Four on Tuesday night.

Ose Okojie scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Bison (24-10), who entered with an 0-4 record in March Madness and had to hold off a late rally by the Retrievers (24-9).

DJ Armstrong Jr.‘s 3-pointer with 43 seconds left got UMBC within 83-81. After Harris’ jumper as the shot clock expired gave Howard a four-point lead, Jah’Likah King made a layup to make it 85-83.

Isaiah Brown made one of two free throws and Armstrong couldn’t convert a 3 at the buzzer, sealing a trip to Buffalo, New York, for the Bison, who enter the Midwest Region bracket as the No. 16 seed and will face top-seeded Michigan on Thursday.

Coach Kenneth Blakeney also led Howard, one of the country’s premier historically Black universities, to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023 and ’24.

UMBC was seeking its first March Madness win since it shocked top overall seed Virginia in 2018, becoming the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1. The Retrievers lost in the second round that year and this was the first NCAA Tournament appearance since for the suburban Baltimore school, located 31 miles north of the Howard campus in Washington.

King led UMBC with 19 points, Armstrong had 17 and Caden Diggs scored 15.

Cedric Taylor III scored 16 points for Howard, going 9 of 10 at the free-throw line before fouling out in the final minute

TEXAS 68, NC STATE 66

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Tramon Mark hit a fadeaway jumper from just inside the 3-point line with 1.1 seconds left, and Texas survived a late rally to beat N.C. State in a First Four matchup of power-conference teams that limped into March Madness.

Mark scored 17 points to lead the Longhorns (19-14), who had lost five of six entering the NCAA Tournament. Texas moved into the bracket as the No. 11 seed in the West region and will face sixth-seeded BYU on Thursday night in Portland, Oregon.

Coach Sean Miller’s Longhorns led 62-53 on Chendall Weaver’s two free throws with 2:56 left, but the Wolfpack (20-14) — who also lost five of six before getting sent to Dayton — scored 10 points in a span of 1:12. Paul McNeil Jr. hit two 3s before Mark beat the shot clock with a fadeaway.

Darrion Williams connected from deep to get N.C. State within one. The Wolfpack then forced a turnover by Dailyn Swain, and Tre Holloman made one of two free throws to tie it at 66-all.

Texas ran down most of the game clock before Mark connected from 19 feet, and N.C. State couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.

Mark finished with 17 points, Matas Vokietaitis scored 15 and Swain added 13 for the Longhorns. Weaver recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Darrion Williams led the Wolfpack with 21 points. Quadir Copeland scored 16 and McNeil finished with 11.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

San Antonio at Sacramento, Final Score: Spurs score at will in 132-104 win

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Victor Wembanyama #1, Stephon Castle #5 and De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Short rest on the second game of a back-to-back is no issue when the game ends in the first half. The San Antonio Spurs rolled into Sacramento after a tough game with the Los Angeles Clippers the night prior. The Spurs thoroughly and utterly dominated the Kings in a blowout 132-104 victory.

San Antonio took a 78-47 lead in the first half, effectively ending the game after the second quarter. The Spurs were able to go deep into their bench against a Sacramento team that was without key players like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray. The shorthanded Kings didn’t provide much defensive resistance against the Spurs, allowing them to get to the basket or take open looks all night long.

The Spurs were red hot from three, shooting 25-49 from deep. It was the most single-game three-pointers made in franchise history. Everyone got in on the fun, as ten different Spurs hit a three-pointer. San Antonio shot 52% from the field overall. The Kings had a solid offensive game despite their defensive woes, shooting 44% from the field and 38% from deep. Interestingly enough, the Kings actually outscored the Spurs in the paint 48-40.

Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in the win. His French counterpart on the Kings, Maxime Raynaud, had a game-high 32 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double.

The Spurs improve to 51-18 with the win. Next, they’ll head back to San Antonio for a matchup with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Observations

  • Stephon Castle put up a stat line that Chris Paul would be proud of. He had 3 points, 12 assists, and 0 turnovers. His only made basket came on a spot-up three-pointer. Castle’s evolution this season has been fun to see. He’s distributing the ball at a high level, cutting down on turnovers, and shooting the ball better from deep.
  • Harrison Barnes stepped into the starting lineup in place of Devin Vassell, who is dealing with some ankle soreness. Barnes was on fire, going 4-5 from three on his way to 16 points. Getting him going before the playoffs would be extremely beneficial for their title chances.
  • We caught a glimpse of what Dylan Harper could become on Tuesday. He, of course, did damage around the basket like he usually does, but he also knocked down 3-5 three-pointers. He made some nice step-back moves that led to mid-range jumpers. He has all of the tools to become a good three-level scorer, and showed a lot of them against the Kings. Harper had 15 points and 5 assists in the win.
  • It was an “old-friend” game for both teams. DeMar DeRozan and Doug McDermott faced their former squad in the Spurs, and De’Aaron Fox and Barnes had significant stretches of their careers in Sacramento. McDermott looked just like he did when he was in San Antonio, flying off screens and hitting threes. He had 12 points on 4-8 shooting from three. Fox was great in limited minutes, scoring 15 points and tossing 6 assists.
  • Every single player on the Spurs roster who logged a minute scored a point. Bismack Biyombo knocked down a free throw late in the game to solidify the feat. Mason Plumlee was the only Spur not to play on Tuesday night.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game preview

Mar 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends against Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

After Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, tonight’s game will determine the winner of the season series between these two teams. Maybe now that the Houston Rockets lost the first game, they will lock in and play with more intensity and might actually, you know, make some shots.

I think Ime Udoka should have ripped into the officials after Monday’s loss. Maybe he could have made a big deal about the Kevin Durant flagrant foul or how the Lakers took more free throws than Houston while Durant was being held every time down the court. He didn’t need to mean it, but it would have made referees second guess themselves in tonight’s game. The Lakers have led the league in free throw differential basically every year of their existence, so harping on the discrepancies would have possibly helped Houston tonight.

Anyway, Alperen Sengun should be back for tonight’s game and needs to bully the smaller Lakers inside. If he can’t get going against this team, he really might be broken. I think he’s been playing injured, but if he’s good to play then he needs to give Houston everything.

Tip-off

8:30pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network and ESPN

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Jae’Sean Tate: OUT

Lakers

Maxi Kleber: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

HOU -1.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Friday night at home against the Atlanta Hawks

Player Grades: Cavs at Bucks – James Harden and Evan Mobley save Cavaliers from another bad loss

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers did just enough to outscore a bad Milwaukee Bucks team 123-116 that was without two of their best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. It’s difficult to be too positive about the overall effort after a game like this, even though it’s an improvement from Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents that player performing to our expectations for them.

James Harden

27 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals

This was a vintage, prime Harden game. He put up 27 points on just 10 shot attempts, got to the free-throw line at will, and made sure the offense got a quality shot every time he had the ball in his hands.

It was a great response from someone who struggled on both ends of the floor in the loss to the Mavs.

Grade: A

Donovan Mitchell

19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

This was about as rough a game as you’re going to see from Mitchell, even though the box score numbers above wouldn’t suggest that.

He wasn’t inefficient from the floor, going 4-14, and struggled defensively against a team that doesn’t have many players who should be able to easily take opposing guards off the dribble. This led to Mitchell being a team-worst -15 in the minutes he was on the floor. That means the Cavs won the 14 minutes he was on the bench by 22 points.

This was just rough all the way around.

Grade: F

Evan Mobley

27 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks

The box score numbers are great, but it’s how he achieved them that’s most impressive.

Mobley was excellent at attacking in the pick-and-roll as the roller. He was forceful when diving to the basket, which is something he’s struggled with throughout his career. That aggression was rewarded as he took a team-high 21 shots.

Additionally, he did a great job of taking advantage of the Bucks’ thin frontcourt. He completely dominated his matchup with Jericho Sims to the point that he only played 16 minutes.

This was exactly what you want to see from Mobley.

Grade: A

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Max Strus

6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Strus struggled to find his shot, going 2-6 from beyond the arc. He did, however, do all of the dirty work that makes him so valuable and was a useful second-side playmaker.

This was a solid second game back from injury.

Grade: B-

Keon Ellis

8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks

This was a rare game where Ellis didn’t record a block or a steal. He did, however, nail both of his three-point looks.

Grade: B-

Jaylon Tyson

2 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists

Tyson has struggled to establish any momentum after putting up 22 points against the Detroit Pistons at the beginning of the month. He’s dealt with injuries to his neck and ankle recently. Maybe that plays a part in it. But his play on the court was once again rough.

Atkinson limited Tyson to just 13 minutes in this game, and understandably so. He wasn’t good defensively (he lost Pete Nance numerous times), had no impact on the glass, and was mostly out of place on offense.

Grade: F

Dennis Schroder

3 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound

Schroder didn’t make an impact scoring, but he set up his teammates, as he finished with five helpers in just 16 minutes of play.

Grade: C+

Dean Wade

9 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds

Wade attacked the basket offensively, took four outside shots, and did his job defensively. This led to him having the third-best plus/minus on the team at +13. What more can you ask for from Wade?

Grade: B

Thomas Bryant

5 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists

This wasn’t a good showing from Bryant. He was picked on defensively and didn’t provide enough on the glass or offensively to make up for it.

Grade: D-

Sam Merrill

17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Merrill provided a spark to the offense. He did a great job of reading how the defense was playing him and attacking the weaknesses off ball. This led to him going 3-4 in his shots in the paint.

Additionally, he knocked down timely triples and competed defensively. It isn’t surprising that the Cavs played their best basketball with him on the court, as he led the team in plus/minus by being a +22 in the 28 minutes he played.

Grade: A

Thunder win 10th straight behind Gilgeous-Alexander's 40 points

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 Tuesday night for their 10th straight win.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder and Ajay Mitchell had 16 points, five of them during a mid-fourth quarter run that put the Thunder ahead to stay.

Paolo Banchero had 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Orlando. Jalen Suggs added 14 points for the Magic, who lost on a second straight night after a seven-game win streak of their own.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s record 129th game scoring 20 or more points was accomplished on 14 for 27 shooting and 9 of 11 free throws. He hit 3 of 5 3-point shots, the final one giving the Thunder a 102-96 lead with 3:11 remaining.

His streak of 20-plus point road games, also an NBA record, reached 61 games.

PISTONS 130, WIZARDS 117

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Duren had 36 points and 12 rebounds for Eastern Conference-leading Detroit, who lost fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham to back spasms in the first half of a victory over Washington.

Cunningham was hurt early in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball. He played for a few more minutes before being taken out at the 6:40 mark, and the team said during the second quarter he would not return.

Reserve Daniss Jenkins added 15 points for the Pistons, who have won four of five and sent the Wizards to their 13th straight loss. The teams meet again on Thursday; should Detroit prevail, Washington would equal its 14-game skid from early this season that sent it to a 1-15 start.

Bub Carrington scored a season-high 30 points for the injury-depleted Wizards, who had little-used veteran Anthony Gill in the starting lineup. Rookie Will Riley added 21 points and Justin Champagnie scored 18.

KNICKS 136, PACERS 110

NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored a season-high 33 points on 12-of-13 shooting including 5 of 5 from 3-point range to lead New York over Indiana.

OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Karl Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Knicks’ fourth straight win.

Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 16 points as Indiana’s losing streak reached 14 games.

Indiana led 12-11 when Anunoby scored the next eight points and the Knicks went ahead 38-34 after the first quarter.

New York stayed in front until Jalen Slawson’s 3-pointer gave the Pacers a 44-43 lead.

Indiana increased its lead to 57-51, but the Knicks ended the quarter on a 21-7 streak and took a 72-64 halftime advantage.

After the Pacers cut the deficit to six, the Knicks went on a 19-8 run to open a 94-77 lead.

Indiana pulled within 99-89, but New York opened its lead to 105-91 entering the final quarter.

HORNETS 136, HEAT 106

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 13 assists, and Charlotte pulled away in a huge fourth quarter to beat short-handed Miami.

Coby White scored 24 points off the bench and rookie Kon Knueppel added 22 as Charlotte (35-34) won for the ninth time in 12 games. Brandon Miller scored 16 for the Hornets, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference.

Tyler Herro had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Heat (38-31), who dropped their second straight following a season-best seven-game winning streak. They played without star forward Bam Adebayo, who sat out with right calf tightness after being listed as questionable before the game.

Adebayo hadn’t missed a game since Dec. 27. He scored 83 points last Tuesday in a 150-129 win over Washington, second-most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.

Andrew Wiggins missed his sixth consecutive game with a toe injury, and Miami forward Nikola Jovic (back) did not play for the 12th game in a row. He was listed as probable before the game and was expected to return.

Miami remained seventh in the East, a half-game behind Orlando.

TIMBERWOLVES 116, SUNS 104

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle scored 32 points and Bones Hyland had 22 points off the bench to help Minnesota offset absence of All-Star Anthony Edwards and beat Phoenix.

Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who are 7-4 without Edwards this season. The NBA ’s third-leading scorer will miss the next week or two with knee inflammation.

Devin Booker scored 34 points despite shooting 1 for 7 from 3-point range for the Suns, who finished a five-game road trip with their third straight loss.

After losing 120-112 in Boston the night before, the Suns played without three of their top five scorers as Grayson Allen (knee soreness) joined the previously sidelined Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams.

The Timberwolves (42-27), who entered the evening tied with Denver for fifth place in the Western Conference, used a 16-2 run that started late in the third quarter to take control as Randle posted his second straight 32-point game.

The seventh-place Suns (39-30) were within one game of the Timberwolves just five days ago, trying to move above the cut for avoiding the play-in tournament. Phoenix still won the season series with Minnesota 2-1.

CAVALIERS 123, BUCKS 116

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Evan Mobley had 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden also scored 27 as Cleveland opened a three-game trip by beating short-handed Milwaukee.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. This was the career-high 32nd game the two-time MVP has missed this season, and the Bucks fell to 11-21 without him.

The Bucks also didn’t have Myles Turner because of a right calf strain. Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen missed a sixth straight game because of tendinitis in his right knee.

In a game featuring 11 ties and 16 lead changes, Cleveland pulled ahead for good 103-100 on Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer with 6:55 remaining, which started an 8-0 run.

Milwaukee cut the lead to 110-106 on an Ousmane Dieng’s 3-pointer with 3:39 left, but Cleveland responded with seven straight points. The Cavs stayed in front by at least five the rest of the way.

Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points and 10 assists. Dieng, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins added 19 points each.

SPURS 132, KINGS 104

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 18 points and eight rebounds, and San Antonio beat Sacramento.

Wembanyama shot 7 of 14 with a pair of 3-pointers and three assists to help the Spurs to their first win in Sacramento in more than two years.

Former Kings star De’Aaron Fox added 15, five rebounds and six assists for San Antonio. Keldon Johnson scored 18 points and Dylan Harper had 15.

The Spurs (51-18) have won eight of nine. They also improved to 11-3 on the second half of back-to-backs.

Maxime Raynaud had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Kings (18-52). Doug McDermott added 12 points.

Russell Westbrook had 10 assists to move past Mark Jackson and Steve Nash into fifth place on the NBA all-time list.

The Spurs led by 41 in the third quarter, made 25 of 49 3-point attempts and cruised to their 25th road win of the season.

NUGGETS 124, 76ERS 96

DENVER (AP) — Christian Braun had 22 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 assists, and Denver routed injury-plagued Philadelphia.

Denver kept pace with Minnesota, which beat Phoenix on Tuesday night, in a tight Western Conference race. There are 1 1/2 games separating the third-place Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves in sixth.

Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid (right oblique strain), Tyrese Maxey (sprained finger) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow strain). Paul George is serving a 25-game suspension.

The sold-out crowd booed Embiid when he came to the bench for the first time in the third quarter. Embiid has missed the last six Sixers games in Denver, denying Nuggets fans an MVP matchup between the Philadelphia big man and Jokic.

Jokic scored eight points on 4 of 7 shooting but reached 10 assists in less than 12 minutes. He picked up two quick fouls and a technical in the first quarter after dishing out eight assists.