Category: Basketball

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.

Jalen Suggs had 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points apiece for Detroit. Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green added 17 each for the Pistons, who had 21 turnovers.

KNICKS 108, HAWKS 105

ATLANTA (AP) — CJ McCollum’s half-court shot at the buzzer was ruled no good after a review and New York held off Atlanta.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to give New York a three-point lead. McCollum took an inbounds pass near the free-throw line and took two dribbles before launching a shot that banked in. But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.

It was the Hawks’ first home loss since early February and put an end to Atlanta’s 13-game home win streak.

Brunson led New York with 30 points and 13 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. MVP chants erupted in State Farm Arena as a 17-point fourth quarter from Brunson carried New York to its 51st win of the season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 36 points, 20 coming in the first half to help Atlanta to a 57-53 lead at halftime.

CAVALIERS 142, GRIZZLIES 126

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and Cleveland beat Memphis despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.

Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.

Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis’s franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis’ franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.

SPURS 115, 76ERS 102

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephon Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and San Antonio held on to beat Philadelphia after Victor Wembanyama left in the first half due to a left rib contusion.

Wembanyama’s status for the final week of the regular season is unknown.

San Antonio (60-19) is is 2 1/2 games behind Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.

Philadelphia lost its second straight as it battles to stay out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers (43-36) are a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Memphis 142-126 on Monday night despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.

Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.

Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis's franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis' franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.

Cleveland trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before using a 31-12 run to lead 68-64 at the break. Keon Ellis scored 16 points in the first half, and Mobley and Schroder each added 12. Schroder also had eight assists.

Cleveland outscored Memphis 28-16 over the first eight-plus minutes of the third quarter to build a 96-80 lead. Sam Merrill made a baseline jumper with 0.3 seconds left in the third for a 101-90 lead.

Merrill finished with 21 points for Cleveland and Ellis scored 19. Jarrett Allen moved into eighth place for blocks in franchise history with 431. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden did not play for Cleveland in the second game of a back-to-back.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 24 points for Memphis, which finished 13-27 at home this season. Dariq Whitehead and Adama Bal each had 20 points off the bench with six 3-pointers. Lucas Williamson added five 3-pointers and 17 points.

Memphis opened the second half with its 14th 3-pointer — in just 28 attempts.

Up next

Cavaliers: Play Wednesday in the first of two games against Atlanta.

Grizzlies: Close the season with three road games, beginning in Denver on Wednesday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won three straight games.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

NOTE: I retroactively took half a grade away from everyone tonight for the three-point defense. That’s what happens when your opponent matches the NBA record for threes made.

Jarrett Allen

13 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Allen was in his bag tonight. His behind-the-back dribble into a monster dunk was my favorite moment of the game. But he also rejected the Grizzlies at the rim and showed his usual two-way impact throughout the night.

The Cavs are getting the most out of Allen, who is visibly still working through some discomfort in his knee.

Grade: B+

Evan Mobley

24 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds

Mobley had a favorable matchup all night. The Cavs did a fine job of taking advantage of that, repeatedly dumping the ball to Mobley and playing off his gravity. The result was a game-high 24 points for Mobley on 9-11 shooting.

I’m going to ding him slightly for not revving the engines even more. This could have been a 30+ point game for Mobley with the way he was rolling.

Grade: B+

Keon Ellis

19 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

Ellis is in a groove. He scored 16 points in the first half on 6-9 shooting and delivered an electric dunk to help Cleveland erase a 17-point deficit. His 8 assists are perhaps the most impressive part of this stat line. The Grizzlies began to overcommit, and Ellis made them pay with his playmaking.

Grade: A

Craig Porter Jr.

11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

This is back-to-back games from Porter where I felt like he was matching his impact from earlier in the season. He filled up the box score by being everywhere all at once. He’s a lot of fun to watch, especially in a league that has moved away from players like Porter in favor of more three-point specialists.

Grade: A

Sam Merrill

21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

Merill scored about half of his points in the third quarter. This was a stage of the game where it felt like Cleveland was truly pulling away. His three-level scoring has been a surprise development, and Merrill is proving he earned every penny of his offseason extension.

Grade: A–

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Similar to Porter, Tomlin just put together two of his better games of 2026. He’s rediscovered his niche by being an energizer who assaults the glass on every possession.

Grade: A-

Dennis Schroder

22 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds

Schroder looks much better when he’s free to be the lead guard. He’s not someone who can thrive as an off-ball player. We understand that Schroder isn’t consistent enough to play this role for long on a winning team — but he’s clearly capable of being a substitute when you’re in a pinch.

He shot 8-12 and dished out a game-high 11 assists. That’s a big boost when you’re missing both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

Grade: A

Larry Nance Jr

10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Nance again provided quality minutes with the bench. I’m not sure if he’s done enough to warrant any minutes in the playoffs, but it’s good to see Nance dust off his shoulders before the season ends.

Grade: B

Tyrese Proctor

10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

The rook is getting some run before the season ends, and he’s likely out of the rotation. These are valuable reps for Proctor as he prepares for an offseason of improvement. The raw potential is there, but it will be hard for him to be truly impactful when he shoots 2-8 from the floor like tonight.

Credit for getting to the line and making up for it.

Grade: C–

Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Sam Merrill added 21, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies 142-126 for their 50th win of the season. Jarrett Allen returned to the starting lineup after resting Sunday night against Indiana, scoring 13 points and blocking two shots. The Cavs’ bench did their part too, with four reserves scoring in double-digits.

After securing a playoff spot and with a healthy lead in the standings for the fourth seed, the Cavs opted to rest their star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. During the game, the Cavs also locked up no worse than fourth in the conference after the Atlanta Hawks lost to the New York Knicks.

With some level of concern regarding Allen’s knee, it was good to see him getting up and down the floor with ease and making athletic plays. In one sequence in the second quarter, he swatted a dunk attempt at the rim and came right back down the court with an and-one on a tough reverse lay-in. The Cavs will be cautious with his minutes in these somewhat less essential games, but it’s important for Allen to stay sharp after his absences over the last month or so.

Mobley imposed his size and athleticism, which should be expected against a team that was playing mostly reserves and G League players. It would’ve been nothing short of concerning had Mobley put forth a bad game, especially since he sat out the night before. His 9-11 shooting from the floor was especially impressive, and some of those makes were good post moves and offensive process.

Take the starters out of the equation, and there were some definite positives for the Cavs. Seemingly every quarter, one player put themselves on display and made an impact. Nae’Qwan Tomlin had an energy-filled first quarter that helped keep the Cavs within striking distance. Keon Ellis had an excellent second quarter, punctuated by a three with just over a second left in the half. Even the venerable Larry Nance Jr. had some quality minutes, an opportunity he will likely have for the remainder of the regular season.

Craig Porter Jr. (11 points, eight rebounds, six assists) and Tyrese Proctor (10 points, three steals) played well in more expanded minutes without Mitchell or Harden, and Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists in the starting lineup. It was a very balanced effort from the Cavs overall, the kind of game that allows each player to shine for at least a little bit. And tonight, there were quite a few players who fit that.

The Cavs will get two days off before coming back home tk play the Hawks, potentially an early preview of a first-round playoff matchup. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m from Rocket Arena.

A shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Memphis Grizzlies on the second night of a back-to-back. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

WINNER – Keon Ellis

This was a fantastic 48 hours for Keon Ellis.

He started the week by nailing 3-of-7 three-point attempts in Cleveland’s win over the Pacers. Then, he followed it up with another big shooting night on the road — scoring 16 points and nailing another three three-pointers in the first half against Memphis.

We’ve seen shades of Ellis that we didn’t even know existed. The three-point stroke is pure, but some of his on-ball attacks have really surprised me. In particular, he had a drive out of the baseline that turned into a totally unexpected across-his-body dunk.

This rangy athleticism has made Ellis the type of player who can rack up steals and blocks. But seeing him use it on the drive is just as exciting. He’s quickly filling in offensively as another multifaceted guard who can shoot, cut, dribble, and attack the basket.

WINNER – Jarrett Allen Handles

Life is always better when Allen is on the court.

Allen’s been the heart and soul of the Cavaliers this season. He put that on full display once again tonight with a handful of jaw-dropping plays.

We had a few to choose from. His monster block in the first half, followed by an and-one finish, was pretty sweet. But I have to shout out this filthy behind-the-back move into a thunderous dunk as the play of the night.

WINNER – Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Craig Porter Jr.

Porter and Tomlin were two unlikely heroes earlier in the season. Their timely contributions helped the Cavs stay above water during a treacherous start to the year. Since then, the team has slightly moved past the need for them.

Tonight was different.

This was probably the best game that either of them has played since before the All-Star break. Tomlin, especially, delivered a much-needed performance to prove that converting his contract was worth it. Tomlin was everywhere, gobbling up 4 offensive rebounds and 9 boards overall.

Tomlin’s energy can raise the floor for this team. We saw it a bunch in the ‘ber months. He’s had a more difficult time staying on the court recently — but his work ethic remains his greatest strength. Tomlin simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.

As for Porter, he continues to play bigger than his size. Brad Duaghtery referred to him as “little Wemby” tonight. And, while yes, that’s an insane thing to say. Is he entirely wrong…? Porter is better at blocking shots and grabbing boards than he is at being a modern-NBA point guard. He’s a big man stuck in a 6’1” frame.

Quirky comparisons aside, Porter helped fuel a comeback run for the Cavs with his rebounding and strong defensive impact. Porter had 2 blocks and 2 steals to go with 8 rebounds.

LOSER – Three-Point Defense

I mean, come on, Cavs.

There’s only so much you can say at this point. Even with injuries across the board for both teams — one simple truth remains. Opposing teams can light them up from downtown.

The Grizzlies entered this game 21st in three-point percentage. That didn’t stop them from shooting 29-59 from deep in this one. That’s tied for the most three-pointers in NBA history.

I can’t stress enough how much leeway I’ve given the Cavs in recent years when it comes to defending the three-point line. I fully understand that three-point variance can paint an inaccurate picture on any given night.

But we are long past the point of blaming luck on anything happening to the Cavs this season. If a team ties history against you, it’s time to face the music.

Of course, neither team was anywhere near full strength. That adds a dose of unpredictability that I’m willing to acknowledge. However, the Cavs remain near the bottom of the league in terms of opponent three-point shooting. That’s a full-season trend that’s impossible to ignore.

All Times EDT

Tuesday, April 7

MLB

Kansas City at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

San Diego at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

Cincinnati at Miami, 6:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m.

St. Louis at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Milwaukee at Boston, 6:45 p.m.

Athletics at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

Arizona at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

Seattle at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Houston at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Atlanta at L.A. Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Philadelphia at San Francisco, 9:45 p.m.

NBA

Chicago at Washington, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Miami at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Milwaukee at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Charlotte at Boston, 8 p.m.

Utah at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at Golden State, 10 p.m.

Dallas at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Houston at Phoenix, 11 p.m.

NHL

Boston at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Columbus at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Florida at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Colorado at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Seattle at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Edmonton at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

Nashville at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Vegas at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

_____

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama suffered a bruised left rib and was ruled out of the second half of the San Antonio Spurs' game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Wembanyama took an inadvertent elbow to the ribs from Paul George when the Philadelphia forward was attempting to deflect a pass as the 7-foot-4 center was sprinting up court on a fastbreak with 10:49 remaining in the first half. Wembanyama remained on the court for a minute while George patted him on the backside apologetically.

Wembanyama subbed out of the game 13 seconds later and immediately went into the tunnel leading to the locker room while keeping his arm pressed to his side.

Wembanyama returned with 5:33 remaining in the period, and asked San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson to take him out with 44 seconds remaining in the first half. He again went into the tunnel leading to the locker room while holding his arm to his side and was ruled out at the start the second half.

Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks while playing 15:40 in the first half.

Wembanyama has made it clear that he wants to win the league's MVP award this season. The NBA allows a maximum of two games in which a player logs between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count toward the league-required minimum of 65 games played for award eligibility.

Wembanyama has played 63 games this season, including the NBA Cup Final.

San Antonio (59-19) is closing its regular season with a four-game homestand, starting with Philadelphia.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Another potentially massive injury is now looming over the NBA Playoffs — this one to San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.

The 22 year old Most Valuable Player candidate left San Antonio’s game Monday, April 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers with a left rib contusion. Suddenly, his candidacy for individual awards is in jeopardy.

Wembanyama appeared to suffer the injury after drawing contact multiple times in the first half. Late in the second quarter, with 2:56 left to play in the half, Wembanyama made a layup and bumped into Spurs forward Keldon Johnson as he landed. Wembanyama immediately grimaced and labored through the free throw. Earlier in the game, he also collided with Sixers forward Paul George.

Wembanyama was not out on the floor at the start of the second half, and backup center Luke Kornet started in his place. The Spurs announced shortly afterward that he would miss the remainder of the game with the rib injury.

pic.twitter.com/RbgN1p7LqK

— Polo (@PoloTheHooper) April 7, 2026

NBA POWER RANKINGS: Where do Lakers go with Luka Dončić injury?

“I think it would be a positive that he felt he could play the last four-to-five minutes of the half,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters after the game. “That’s a positive from my perspective, but I have nothing (on his future status).”

In 15:40 minutes of action Monday night, Wembanyama scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 assist.

“At halftime, I was told he wasn’t coming back, and honest to God, I haven’t heard anything else at this point,” Johnson added.

Because the NBA Cup Championship counts toward the 65-game rule for individual award eligibility, and because the league grants two exceptions for games in which a player recorded between 15 and 20 minutes, counting those as full games, Wembanyama’s time on the floor Monday night will count as his 64th game this season.

That means he will need to play in at least one of San Antonio’s remaining three games, and he’ll need to record at least 20 minutes on the floor to be eligible for individual awards.

Wembanyama’s first partial game exception came in a 119-94 victory over the Washington Wizards December 18, in which he played 17:18.

Wembanyama entered the night as the heavy favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and was also a candidate for MVP. He was averaging 24.9 points, 11. 6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game this season, while shooting 50.9% from the field, entering Monday night's game.

The Knicks stormed back in the fourth quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 108-105, on Monday night for their third straight win.

New York is now 51-28 with three games left in the regular season, giving them a chance to top their 51-31 record last season.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Despite committing five turnovers in the first quarter, New York got out to a strong start and shot 59 percent from the field. Mikal Bridges led the way with 11 points, including a last-second tip-in to put the Knicks up 32-31 at the end of the first quarter. OG Anunoby added in eight points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had five points, three rebounds, and five assists. Atlanta kept up thanks to 10 first-quarter points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

-- Miles McBride drilled his second three-pointer of the night early in the second quarter to keep New York going. Mitchell Robinson began to make his mark on the game by blocking a three-pointer, forcing a turnover on defense, grabbing an offensive rebound, and scoring on the second chance to extend the lead to 43-36 with about eight minutes left in the quarter.

Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson then took over, leading the Hawks on a 12-0 run to go up 48-43 and force a Mike Brown timeout with five minutes remaining in the first half.

-- The Knicks defense stepped up with clock winding down and blocked two shots before the buzzer, but they still trailed at the break, 57-53. Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting (3-for-4 from three), while Bridges and Anunoby continued to pace the Knicks with 13 points each.

Jalen Brunson had an uncharacteristic first half with just six points on 2-for-8 shooting (0-for-3 from three). New York also committed 11 turnovers and were outrebounded, 24-19.

-- Brunson made back-to-back shots in the third quarter to cut the Atlanta lead down to two points, but Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum countered with two straight three-pointers to make it a 69-61 game. Johnson pushed the Hawks' lead to double-digits before Towns caught fire and scored 10 straight points, including his second three of the game.

Robinson made another clutch steal, leading to a Bridges layup to cut the lead to one point. The big man then scored inside to give New York a lead and Brunson hit his first three-pointer to make it a 78-74 game thanks to a 14-1 run. Anunoby drilled a three-pointer as time expired to put the Knicks up 81-79 at the end of the third quarter. They outscored Atlanta 28-22 in the third thanks to Towns' 14 points in the quarter.

-- Atlanta opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run to reclaim the lead. But New York fought back and tied the game at 90-90 on Robinson's multiple offensive rebounds and eventual tip-in midway through the quarter. Alexander-Walker's night continued as the wing made a step-back jumper and two straight acrobatic three-pointers to give him 36 points and the Hawks a 100-95 lead with three minutes left in the game.

As he's done so many times before, Brunson flipped the switch and scored 10 points in 90 seconds to give the Knicks a 102-100 lead. McCollum tied the game on a floater, but it was Brunson who had the last word -- rattling in a foul-line jumper over McCollum to go up two with about 30 seconds left on the clock.

-- McCollum nearly sent the game to OT, making a shot from beyond half court that would've tied the game, but replay showed he didn't get it off in time. Luckily, Anunoby and Brunson made all four of their free throws down the stretch to have the Knicks up three points. Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, finishing 11-for-26 from the field with 13 assists. Anunoby had 22 points and two blocks, while Bridges finished with 15 after his big first half.

Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns' 14-point third quarter propelled the Knicks while they were down 10 points. The All-Star finished with 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting with 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.

Highlights

Jalen Brunson 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/VC9VJ2tnAa

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 6, 2026

DEUCE IN ATL pic.twitter.com/o59jPcBT7o

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 6, 2026

KAT runs the floor! pic.twitter.com/7hUQXbtYDg

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 6, 2026

Mitchell Robinson 😤 pic.twitter.com/5Sby4gGZZl

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 6, 2026

Jalen Brunson 💪 pic.twitter.com/Pff9BBPnXz

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 7, 2026

KAT 😤 pic.twitter.com/3PzoGZmmEk

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 7, 2026

Mitch gets it started with the defense! pic.twitter.com/8TDh9sJwML

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 7, 2026

OG! pic.twitter.com/6Lli5nY8fa

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 7, 2026

JALEN BRUNSON CLUTCH TIME pic.twitter.com/eMNZEmX0wJ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 7, 2026

What's next

The Knicks return home for their final three games of the regular season, starting with the current No. 2 seed Boston Celtics on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Dan Hurley is coaching in his third national championship game in the last four Men's NCAA Tournaments, something that hasn't been done since Mike Krzyzewski did it in the 1990s.

He'll do so with a suit that is on its last legs.

More: UConn vs Michigan national championship game prediction, how to watch, updates

The Connecticut basketball coach, known to be superstitious, will rock the same outfit he has for each of the Huskies' last five wins in March Madness vs. No. 1 Michigan on Monday in Lucas Oil Stadium, even though his suit jacket is in need of seeing a tailor.

"I'm going grimy," Hurley told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander after UConn's Final Four semifinal win over No. 3 Illinois on Saturday.

My interview last night with Dan Hurley outside the UConn locker room was interrupted by some unexpected passersby: The Fab Five.

He also told me his suit jacket is ripped but he won't be getting it fixed in the next 48 hours.

"I'm going grimy." pic.twitter.com/xmj05jUZKY

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 5, 2026

Hurley rocking the same suit through the entire Men's NCAA Tournament isn't something new for the two-time national championship coach. He's been rather open about his superstitions over the years in March Madness. Remember the good luck dragon boxers? He's also thrown holy water along baselines for a sign of good luck.

Another superstition of Hurley's is wearing a holy beads bracelet that he has been wearing for every game that he has coached in, going back even as far as his days as a high school basketball coach in North Jersey. He almost didn't have the beads with him for the Illinois game, as his wife, Andrea Hurley, had to rush back to the team hotel to grab them.

Dan Hurley family tree: Explaining UConn coach's family basketball ties

"He got this bracelet years and years ago in church. They're holy beads from Jerusalem, so they said," Andrea Hurley told CBS Sports on Sunday during an interview. "I had to leave the arena last night, run in the rain, grab the beads ... and then I got a police escort."

Here's a look at Hurley coming off the court on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where he's talking about his jacket with UConn Sports Information Director Bobby Mullen, and even told Mullen to look at his jacket:

View this post on Instagram

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr.  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 26 overall, Los Angeles Lakers

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to an appearance in the NCAA mens basketball national championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Morez Johnson Jr. player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Forward
• Current Team: Michigan
• 13.1 points per game
• 7.2 rebounds per game
• 1.1 assists per game
• 62.8 field goal percentage
• 37.9 three-point field goal percentage

Los Angeles Lakers 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 25

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kansas's Darryn Peterson  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Darryn Peterson 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 3 overall, Brooklyn Nets

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Darryn Peterson player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Guard
• Current Team: Kansas
• 19.8 points per game
• 4.4 rebounds per game
• 1.7 assists per game
• 44.2 field goal percentage
• 38.4 three-point field goal percentage

Brooklyn Nets 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 4, No. 34 and No. 44 (via LAC)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darryn Peterson NBA mock draft projection: Where Kansas star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Yaxel Lendeborg 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 8 overall, Memphis Grizzlies

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the mens collegiate national championship game that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Yaxel Lendeborg player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Forward
• Current Team: Michigan
• 17.7 points per game
• 11.4 rebounds per game
• 4.2 assists per game
• 52.2 field goal percentage
• 35.7 three-point field goal percentage

Memphis Grizzlies 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 8, No. 19 (via ORL) and No. 31 (via IND)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Aday Mara  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Center's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Aday Mara 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 20 overall, San Antonio Spurs

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

After leading his team to the collegiate national championship game, Michigan center Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. Especially in short spurts, Mara would make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Aday Mara player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Center
• Current Team: Michigan
• 11.6 points per game
• 6.9 rebounds per game
• 2.3 assists per game
• 67.4 field goal percentage
• 25.0 three-point field goal percentage

San Antonio Spurs 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 14 (via ATL), No. 35 (via UTA), No. 41 (via POR) and No. 48 (via MIA)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aday Mara NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness