DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Hannah Hidalgo had 28 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals, Cassandre Prosper added 12 points and No. 5 seed Notre Dame beat 12th-seeded Miami 69-54 on Thursday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Notre Dame (21-9), which received 26 votes in the latest AP poll, moves on to play No. 4 seed NC State in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Fighting Irish have won six consecutive games and eight of the last nine, including downing then-No. 10 Louisville at home on Sunday.
Notre Dame led by 18 points entering the fourth quarter before Miami scored the opening 10 to get within 58-50. Gisela Sanchez made Notre Dame's first field goal of the fourth with 4:21 left for an 11-point lead and the Hurricanes missed their next four field goals.
Notre Dame's lead did not drop below 10 points over the final four minutes of the game.
Hidalgo, who was named ACC player of the year and ACC defensive player of the year on Tuesday, went 12 of 22 from the field to help Notre Dame shoot 46%. Iyana Moore added 11 points and Malaya Cowles grabbed 12 rebounds.
Gal Raviv scored 15 points and Ahnay Adams added 13 for Miami (17-14). Ra Shaya Kyle, averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game, had 11 points, 15 rebounds and nine turnovers.
Up next
Miami, which defeating 13th-seeded Stanford 83-76 in overtime on Wednesday to begin the tournament, hopes to receive a postseason invite.
Notre Dame looks for its second victory against NC State this season after a 79-67 contest on Feb. 15.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nastja Claessens had 14 points, eight rebounds and a key block in the closing seconds and Kansas State ended the game on a 21-0 run to beat No. 21 Texas Tech on Thursday in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas State (17-16), the No. 12 seed, advances to the quarterfinals against No. 4 seed Oklahoma State on Friday. The Wildcats opened the tournament by breaking an 18-year Big 12 women’s tournament record and tied the school record by sinking 17 3-pointers in a 91-66 victory over Cincinnati.
Kansas State trailed 51-37 with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter after Texas Tech's 10-0 run spanning the third-quarter break. But the Lady Raiders would not score against, missing 13 straight shots and not attempting a free throw in the fourth.
Tess Heal put Kansas State ahead 54-51 with 52.7 seconds left on a driving layup. Texas Tech grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed 3-pointer, but Claessens blocked the putback attempt and secured the ball before calling a timeout with 36.1 left.
Taryn Sides sealed it by making two free throws and Heal added two free throws with 19.2 seconds left.
Sides finished with 13 points, Aniya Foy added 12 and Heal had 10 for Kansas State, which did not have a double-digit scorer until the fourth quarter. The Wildcats were just 5 of 25 from 3-point range and shot 34% overall.
Snudda Collins was the lone double-digit scorer for the fifth-seeded Texas Tech (25-7) with 14 points. The Lady Raiders were 16 of 56 from the field (29%).
Earlier this year, Texas Tech's undefeated season came to an end at 19-0 on Jan. 17 after a 65-59 loss to Kansas State.
Up next
Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 70-61 in the only regular-season meeting on Feb. 10.
Texas Tech is hoping to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Elle Ladine scored a season-high 25 points, Avery Howell added 18 points and nine rebounds and Washington defeated USC 76-64 in the second round of Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.
The eighth-seeded Huskies (22-9) will take on top seed and second-ranked UCLA in a Friday quarterfinal.
Hannah Stines scored 12 points, Brynn McGaughy added 10 and Yulia Grabovskaia collected 10 rebounds for Washington. Leading scorer Sayvia Sellers (19.2) dealt with four fouls and had just four points on free throws in 28 minutes. Other Huskies filled the scoring gap with Washington shooting 50% and dominating the boards 44-27 in outscoring the Trojans 40-14 in the paint.
Londynn Jones scored 19 points, Kennedy Smith added 14 and Laura Williams had 13 rebounds to go with nine points for the Trojans (17-13).
Big Ten freshman of the year Jazzy Davidson, who leads the Trojans in scoring, rebounding and assists, scored eight points on 2-of-13 shooting over 29 minutes. Davidson, who appeared to hurt her shoulder early on, sat out the final seven minutes.
The Huskies led by double figures throughout the second half and by as many as 23. They shot 67% in the third quarter with Ladine scoring eight points to lead 56-36. USC got as close as 10 with two minutes left in the game.
After a first quarter when the teams combined for just 14 points, Ladine scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the second including the last six points for a 32-20 halftime edge.
USC won a home meeting with Washington 59-50 in the regular season.
Up next
Washington lost at UCLA 82-67 on Feb. 19.
USC waits to see where it will land in the NCAA Tournament field.
LeBron James may not be putting up 30 points a night anymore, but the veteran forward continues to do the little things.
The Los Angeles Lakers bring a three-game winning streak up the mountain to face the Denver Nuggets tonight, needing James to continue to pack the box score.
Facing a depleted Denver frontcourt, LeBron is set for a big night on the boards in my Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, March 5.
Lakers vs Nuggets prediction
Lakers vs Nuggets best bet: LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds (+122)
LeBron James has upped his efforts in the rebounding department in recent outings, bringing down six or more boards in four of his last five games.
This tracks with LeBron’s work before the All-Star break, when he averaged 6.5 rebounds over a 21-game stretch — including nine boards in the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the Denver Nuggets in January.
James has seen 9.2 rebounding chances over those past five contests, and projections range from 5.9 to 7.4 rebounds tonight.
Lakers vs Nuggets same-game parlay
The Lakers have momentum and the No. 5 seed in the West in their sights. The team may be 0-11 ATS in their last 11 games as underdogs, but this is also the first time in a long time the roster has been healthy. Game models call for a Denver win but L.A. sticking within the spread.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets run one of the slower tempos in the NBA, and the Lakers have tightened the screws on defense in recent outings. Game projections call for a sub-240 finish on the scoreboard in Denver.
LeBron has grabbed six or more boards in four of his past five games, with models projecting 7+ rebounds tonight. He’s also collected nine rebounds in three of his last four matchups against the Nuggets.
Lakers vs Nuggets SGP
Lakers +5
Under 241.5
LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: King Me
Denver isn’t playing its best basketball at the moment, and the Lakers are getting hot (and healthy) at the right time.
Not only does LeBron bang the boards, but his scoring projections sit as high as 22 points.
Lakers vs Nuggets SGP
Lakers moneyline
LeBron James Over 20.5 points
LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds
Lakers vs Nuggets odds
Spread: Lakers +5 (-110) | Nuggets -5 (-110)
Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Nuggets -190
Over/Under: Over 241.5 (-110) | Under 241.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Lakers don’t struggle in the thin air of Denver — at least when it comes to covering the spread. Los Angeles is 8-4-1 ATS at the Pepsi Center since 2021-22 (3-10 SU). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Lakers vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Nuggets 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.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons remain entrenched atop their respective conferences, but the teams jockeying for playoff seeding beneath them have turned into this into a race worth monitoring with so little time left before the postseason starts.
Over the past week, the Minnesota Timberwolves have surged past the Denver Nuggets into the top four of the Western Conference and could soon pass the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 seed. Including the Los Angeles Lakers, there are four teams out west duking it out for the chance to have home-court advantage in a first-round playoff series. The top four in the Eastern Conference is more entrenched, with the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers likely to join the Pistons barring a poor close to the regular season.
But how those teams shake out in terms of seeding could have a profound effect on later rounds in the playoffs and matchups. The seeding for the play-in tournament is also a dynamic situation, although there isn't currently much drama regarding the four play-in teams in the Eastern or Western Conferences due to the tanking dynamics at play.
Here's a breakdown of the current NBA playoff picture, including what teams would make the postseason if the regular season ended today:
The final day of the regular season is Sunday, April 12.
When is NBA play-in tournament?
The NBA play-in tournament will begin Tuesday, April 14 and conclude Friday, April 17.
How does NBA play-in tournament work?
The tournament is divided into two rounds for each conference:
Round 1
Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed
Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed
The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference playoff bracket. The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.
Round 2
Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner
The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
The Heat will try to complete a two-game home-and-more sweep when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
Miami easily covered on Tuesday and should have an even easier time at home tonight, which is why I’m taking it to cover in my Nets vs. Heat predictions.
Let’s take a closer look at how bettors can approach tonight’s matchup in my free NBA picks for Thursday, March 5.
Nets vs Heat prediction
Nets vs Heat best bet: Heat -13 (-115)
The Brooklyn Nets came into Tuesday’s matchup with the Miami Heat off one of their best recent performances, having covered in a 106-102 loss to the Cavaliers. But Brooklyn laid another egg at home against Miami, losing by 26.
There’s no reason to expect anything different in Miami tonight. The Heat have covered in five of their last seven games, including twice as a double-digit favorite.
Brooklyn rank as the league’s worst offensive team, averaging just 106.8 points per game, and those struggles are likely to continue tonight against a high-powered Miami offense putting up 119.9 points per game.
Nets vs Heat same-game parlay
Along with taking the Heat to win big again – a leg I’m taking in all my parlays tonight – I’ll also pick Bam Adebayo to get Over 20.5 points, a target he’s hit in each of his last three games.
Let’s round out the SGP with a bet on Andrew Wiggins to get Over 2.5 assists, a target he’s surpassed in four of his last five contests.
Nets vs Heat SGP
Heat -13
Bam Adebayo Over 20.5 points
Andrew Wiggins Over 2.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Buckets & Bam Bam
The Under has hit easily in each of the first two meetings between these teams this season, and I like it again for tonight’s matchup.
I’m also banking on Adebayo to fill up the box score: he’s hit this PRA total in each of his last three games, and is coming off a six-steal performance against the Nets on Tuesday.
Nets vs Heat SGP
Heat -13
Under 227
Bam Adebayo Over 33.5 points + assists + rebounds
Bam Adebayo Over 1.5 steals + blocks
Nets vs Heat odds
Spread: Brooklyn +13 (-105) | Miami -13 (-115)
Moneyline: Brooklyn +550 | Miami -800
Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)
Nets vs Heat betting trend to know
The Nets are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Heat.
How to watch Nets vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
YES, FDSN Sun
Nets vs Heat 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.
Feb 9, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) dives for a loose ball against Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) and guard Brayden Burries (5) during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
NBA front offices have long pegged Arizona freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat as first round picks in this year’s NBA Draft. It now appears that a third Wildcat could join them in being selected in the first round.
NBA Mock Drafts published this week by The Athletic and Bleacher Report have Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas being picked as a late first-rounder, giving Arizona three first round picks.
In the latest mock from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, Burries is projected to go No. 10 to the Chicago Bulls, followed by Peat at No. 11 to the San Antonio Spurs. Vecenie has Krivas being picked at No. 28 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Further down, Vecenie projects point guard Jaden Bradley to be taken at No. 51 by the Washington Wizards, while former Wildcat turned North Carolina Tarheel Henri Veesaar is slated to go No. 32 to the New York Knicks.
Arizona’s four projected draft picks are the most of any program.
Jonathan Wasserman’s mock for Bleacher Report has Burries going No. 8 to the Memphis Grizzlies, Peat at No. 16 to the Miami Heat and Krivas at No. 29 to the Dallas Mavericks.
Losing Burries and Peat to the NBA was the expectation all along, but Krivas leaving would be a jolt to Arizona’s rebuilding efforts for next season. That’s not to say Krivas leaving would be a total surprise.
The Lithuanian caught the attention of NBA scouts well before his breakout junior season. ESPN projected the 7-foot-2 Krivas as a first round pick last season before he missed most of the year with a foot injury.
Krivas has bolstered his draft stock as one of the top defenders in the Big 12. Krivas is a consistent double-double threat and shoots free throws at an impressive 80% clip.
ESPN Big 12 commentator Fran Fraschilla weighed in this week on Krivas’ looming NBA Draft decision, saying that Krivas would benefit from another season in college. Fraschilla laid out several reasons why Krivas should return to Arizona.
Happy for @ArizonaMBB Mo Krivas that “draft industrial complex” has finally noticed what’s he’s done all year. The 7-2 center is a late first round pick right now. Here’s why he should stay at Arizona another year:
1. This was his first season of playing major minutes after…
Jayson Tatum is officially listed as "questionable" on the Boston Celtics' injury report for when they host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night.
For players who have been out for an extended time due to an injury — Tatum has yet to play this season after tearing his Achilles in last season's playoff series against the Knicks — a move from "out" to "questionable" is usually a sign they will return in the next game. There have been reports that Tatum was nearing his return to the Celtics lineup, and we know he has gone through multiple 5-on-5 scrimmages (including with the G League Maine Celtics). However, a move to questionable on the injury report is a clear sign he is coming back and soon.
While Tatum and the Celtics have refused to put a timeline on a return — or even confirm it would happen — both his and the team's actions have been those of someone making a comeback this season. Players don't get sent down to the G League for a practice and workout unless they are coming back. Boston doesn't trade wing Anfernee Simons for needed big man depth in Nikola Vucevic unless they are getting another wing back and thinking ahead to a playoff run. Also, Tatum has an ongoing docuseries on his return — "The Quiet Work," available on Peacock — which only happens if a return is expected.
The question was the return date, and the only thing that had been said officially was that any return would happen at home. That left Friday against Dallas, or waiting until March 14, when the Washington Wizards come to town. It looks as if Boston and Tatum are going sooner rather than later.
A Tatum return now gives the Celtics about six weeks before the start of the playoffs to get him back into game shape and work out any kinks.
Tatum is welcomed back with open arms, but it's also a bit of a delicate fit.
Tatum is one of the game's elite players, he has finished in the top six in MVP voting each of the past four seasons, and last season averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and six assists per game. He's a career 37% shooter from 3-point range who has to be respected anywhere on the court, and he is also a plus defender.
The challenge is Boston — and Jaylen Brown in particular — are thriving without him. Boston has been one of the great stories of the season, surprising everyone outside of their locker room with a 41-21 record so far, sitting second in the East, and in the top six in the league in offense and defense. Jaylen Brown is being mentioned in the MVP conversation for leading this surprise team, averaging 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and five assists per game.
Tatum needs to come back and fit into what is working, not try to take over his old role (he likely will be less than 100% of himself). Tatum has to be the mature player and take on a secondary role this season, something he has hinted at doing in speaking with the media, but saying it and doing it can be different things.
If Tatum returns and fills that role, Boston may well be the favorite now to come out of a wide-open East.
According to ESPN, Tatum may make his much-anticipated return as soon as Friday, March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. Per ESPN, Tatum will inform the team over the next day about his availability against Dallas.
In the first injury report for the game, the Celtics officially listed Tatum as questionable. Presumably, Tatum will undergo final preparations to ensure he's ready to go, but, either way, Tatum had been ramping up his rehab.
Last month, the Celtics announced that Tatum participated in portions of a G League practice.
The news comes as a boost for a Celtics team that has outperformed external expectations, compiling a 41-21 record without its six-time All-Star. Boston is currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and is just 5 games back of the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Tatum, 27, had suffered the injury May 12, 2025, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. He has remained a steady presence around the team through its first 53 games of the season.
In September, Tatum told USA TODAY Sports that he hadn’t fully ruled out a return to the court for the 2025-26 season, so this aggressive timeline indicates that he and the Celtics likely feel they can contend for an Eastern Conference championship this season.
Last season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 3: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 3, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The streak rolls on. The Brooklyn Nets began a three game road trip on Tuesday night against the Miami Heat. The Heat were too hot to handle and handed the Nets their ninth straight defeat, 124-98. Fortunately for the Nets, they didn’t have to travel between games. Unfortunately for the Nets, they have to play the Heat one more time.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.
🤕 Injuries
No Egor Demin. Drake Powell and the three two-ways are with Long Island. Grant Nelson remains with Brooklyn on a 10-day.
Norman Powell is out.
🏀 The game
Miami won the first two meetings. This is the last meeting between the teams this season.
Michael Porter Jr is looking to bounce back tonight. He tied a season low with nine points and Tuesday was only the third time this season he’s been held below ten points. When he doesn’t play well, Brooklyn’s slim chances of victory drop all the way to zero.
Every game is a lesson for the Nets, and without Demin for the foreseeable future, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf will have plenty of chances to learn on the job. They had respectively terrible games against the Heat defense, and Jordi Fernandez wants them to be a lot better this time around:
“I know they’re better. There’s not an excuse if their young, I’ve watched them play, and they’re way, way better than 12 turnovers to zero assists. The assists — sometimes if the shots don’t go in, it’s hard to get assists. I don’t know about the potential assist. I have to look at it, but the turnovers for sure, like how they organize the team, how vocal they are, all that it’s important.”
No time better than the present to learn and grow.
👀 Player to watch: Bam Adebayo
Adebayo has been one of the better, more versatile defenders in the league throughout the 2020s. However, he doesn’t have as much hardware as you’d think. He’s never finished higher than third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and has only made 1st Team All Defense once. Although he hasn’t gotten love from the voters, Bam knows that everyone sees his value:
“From my peers and the people who play against me and understand that you’ve got to put me in the corner, so I don’t mess up your offensive schemes, that’s what matters more… that’s real in basketball. A lot of people who are doing surveys wouldn’t know that. They just think because, ‘Oh, he’s a DPOY because he has five blocks a game.’”
An inspired closing run by the Heat could cause voters to change their mind. As it stands, he’s leading one of the best defensive units in the NBA this year.
Nic Claxton and Day’ron Sharpe have the assignment of slowing down not just Adebayo, but Kel’el Ware off the bench as well. It seems like the Heat still have reservations about Ware, but he fills up the box sheet every night he gets real minutes. And for a team that’s older than you think, they need some youth somewhere.
The Toronto Raptors have some demons when facing good teams this season.
They’ve made a habit of coughing up leads late. For example, they held a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and lost the last time they played the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 4.
My Raptors vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks break down if Toronto can exercise some of those demons at the Target Center in what should be a low-scoring game on Thursday, March 5.
Raptors vs Timberwolves prediction
Raptors vs Timberwolves best bet: Under 225.5 (-110)
For whatever reason, the Toronto Raptors are coming up short in big games, but strong defense has been a staple, which has me looking at the Under tonight vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It’s a matchup of two Top-10 defenses, with one of the Raptors’ strengths being their 3-point defense. They allow the fifth-lowest percentage in the NBA, which is important against a T-wolves team that ranks 11th in made threes per game.
Combine that with the Raps’ inconsistent scoring, and it’s no surprise that Toronto has been one of the better Under bets in the NBA at 24-37 O/U.
Raptors vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
Minnesota has been great defensively this season, ranking ninth in defensive rating and seventh in opponent effective field goal percentage.
That means missed shots, and Toronto ranks 18th in rebounding rate, so give me the Over on Rudy Gobert’s rebounds.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards was a menace when these two teams last played, nabbing three steals, and he's topped 1.5 steals in seven of his last 11 games. I’ll take the Over at plus money.
Raptors vs Timberwolves SGP
Under 22.5.5
Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds
Anthony Edwards Over 1.5 steals
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big-man battle
This matchup between Gobert and Jakob Poeltl could be a big key to this game, and a double-double is on the table for both.
Raptors vs Timberwolves SGP
Rudy Gobert double-double
Jakob Poeltl double-double
Raptors vs Timberwolves odds
Spread: Raptors +4.5 | Timberwolves -4.5
Moneyline: Raptors +170 | Timberwolves -205
Over/Under: Over 225.5 | Under 225.5
Raptors vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the Game Total Under in 29 of their last 45 games for +11.40 Units and a 23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Raptors vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, FDSN North
Raptors vs Timberwolves 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.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Clara Strack made a career-high five 3-pointers in matching her career best of 33 points and No. 17 Kentucky defeated No. 22 Georgia 76-61 in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday.
Strack, a 6-foot-5 center, was 5 of 7 from the arc, 12 of 22 overall and grabbed eight rebounds for the ninth-seeded Wildcats (23-9), who will play top seed and third-ranked South Carolina in a Friday quarterfinal.
Teonni Key added 14 points and 12 rebounds and Tonie Morgan also scored 14 points and had seven assists for the Wildcats, who shot 50% and were 14 of 20 at the line to 6 of 8 for the Bulldogs.
Dani Carnegie scored 18 points, Trinity Turner 14 and Mia Woolfolk 11 for Georgia (22-9), which was just 5 of 26 on 3-pointers.
Strack and Amelia Hassett scored all the points in 13-2 run that left Kentucky ahead by 15 with under three minutes to go.
A Strack 3-pointer early in the third quarter gave Kentucky the lead for good. The Wildcats hit six straight shots in the period and Strack scored nine points for a 54-49 lead.
After Georgia scored the opening basket, Kentucky took and held the lead the remainder of the first quarter with Strack hitting a pair of 3-pointers and scoring 13 points. Carnegie hit a pair of 3s and scored the Bulldogs' first eight points of the second quarter to tie the game with Georgia leading 36-35 at the break.
Up next
Kentucky will get another shot at South Carolina, which took a 60-56 road win over the Wildcats on March 1.
Georgia will wait to see where it lands in the NCAA Tournament field.
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Mia Moore scored 10 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, Taylor Johnson-Matthews finished with 10 points and Clemson beat Virginia 63-50 on Thursday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Clemson (21-10), which reached 21 wins in a season for the first time since 2000-01, advances to play top-seeded and 13th-ranked Duke on Friday in the quarterfinals.
Hannah Kohn and Johnson-Matthews each made a 3-pointer in the final 80 seconds of the third quarter to give Clemson a 43-39 lead. Then Moore made Clemson's 10th 3-pointer — on just 20 attempts — early in the fourth to make it 50-41.
Moore banked in a shot in traffic to extend Clemson's lead to 60-48 late in the fourth. She made all four of her shots in the fourth to help the Tigers shoot 85.7% in the frame.
Clemson's lead did not drop below nine points in the final five minutes despite going 7 of 13 from the free-throw line in the fourth. Virginia was just 5 of 15 from the field in the fourth with three turnovers.
Virginia (19-11) was looking to collect 20 wins for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Paris Clark scored 15 points and Kymora Johnson added 12 for Virginia. Sa’Myah Smith had 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Up next
Clemson, the No. 9 seed, edged Duke 53-51 in the only regular-season meeting on Feb. 22.
Virginia, which had 11 ACC wins in a season for the first time since 1999-00, awaits an invitation to play in a postseason tournament.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 1: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 1, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-40, 7-20 Away) continue their road trip with a Wednesday night matchup against the Orlando Magic (32-28, 18-11 Home) at 6:00 PM CST. Cooper Flagg is back in the lineup after missing eight games with a foot injury, but the cavalry isn’t riding in with him. Marvin Bagley is out. Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Brandon Williams are all game-time decisions.
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
🏀 Fixture: Dallas Mavericks (21–37, 9–20 Away) @ Orlando Magic (38–20, 21–8 Home) 📍 Kia Center — Orlando, FL 🕢 6:00 PM CST, March 5, 2026 📺 KFAA-TV / MavsTV / NBA App
📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 11:30 AM CST, March 5) Spread: ORL -8.5 (–115) | DAL +8.5 (–105) Total: 230.5 (O –110 / U –110) Moneyline: ORL –380 | DAL +300
📉 Game Side Lean: Magic -8.5
Orlando’s defense is suffocating. Dallas’ offense is broken. This is not a complicated equation.
The Mavericks have scored 108.9 points per game over the eight games without Flagg—dead last in the league during that span. Max Christie, who started the season shooting nearly 50% from three, has cratered. The scoring punch that made Dallas competitive earlier in the season has evaporated, and even with Flagg returning tonight, he’s fresh off an eight-game absence. Rust is real.
Orlando, meanwhile, boasts one of the league’s best defenses and a home-court advantage that is palpable versus weak offenses (18-11 Home). Paolo Banchero just dropped 37 on Washington and is averaging 24 points per game over his last ten. Desmond Bane is right there with him at 26 per game over this recent stretch. Franz Wagner is out, which thins Orlando’s scoring depth, but the Magic don’t need a deep rotation to handle a Mavericks team that might be without Klay, Naji, and Brandon Williams.
The bright spot for Dallas? They’re drawing 22.6 fouls per game and attempting 29.1 free throws in Flagg’s absence — both league-leading marks. That might keep this game closer than it should be for stretches, but it won’t be enough to cover 8.5 points on the road against a team this good defensively.
Magic win. Magic cover. The tank rolls on.
🔮 Total Lean: Under 230.5
This game won’t sniff 230.5.
Dallas’ offense is in shambles. They’re averaging 108.9 points per game without Flagg and have no consistent perimeter shooting with Max Christie slumping hard. Even if Flagg returns, he’s been out for eight games and will likely see restricted minutes as he shakes off the rust.
Orlando’s defense is elite, and their offense—while effective—isn’t built to run teams off the floor. Banchero and Bane will get theirs, but without Franz Wagner, the Magic lack the secondary scoring to push the pace into shootout territory. This feels like a grind-it-out game where Dallas scraps to stay competitive by getting to the free-throw line and Orlando methodically pulls away.
The math points under. Two teams with offensive limitations, one elite defense, and a game script that favors physicality over pace.
🎯 Player Props We Like
Wendell Carter Jr. Over 7.5 Rebounds (–125)
Carter is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game on the season and 9.0 per game in March. With Franz Wagner out, Orlando’s frontcourt workload falls even more heavily on Carter’s shoulders, and Dallas is missing Marvin Bagley — their best rebounder since the Anthony Davis trade. The Mavericks are thin in the paint, and Carter should dominate the glass on both ends. He’s pulled down double-digit rebounds in multiple games recently, and against a depleted Dallas frontcourt, 7.5 feels like a gift. Smash the over.
Cooper Flagg Over 3.5 Assists (–114)
Flagg is returning to the lineup after an eight-game absence, and Orlando knows it. He’s the ROY candidate, the franchise cornerstone, the main reason to watch this Mavericks team right now. The Magic will double-team him relentlessly, forcing him to pass out of pressure and create for teammates. Flagg averaged 4.1 assists per game before his injury, and with the Mavs’ offense desperately needing playmaking, he’ll be looking to facilitate early and often. Orlando’s defensive scheme will gift him assist opportunities. The line at 3.5 feels low for a player this talented coming back against a defense designed to take the ball out of his hands.
💡 Summary:
The Magic are better, healthier, and playing at home. The Mavericks are limping in with Cooper Flagg returning from injury and half their rotation on the injury report. We’ll ride Orlando -8.5, lean under, and hope Wendell Carter cleans the glass while Flagg racks up assists against a double-team-heavy defense.
