SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gui Santos scored a career-high 31 points, Draymond Green made two clutch free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining and the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-106 on Wednesday to clinch a play-in spot.
Brandin Podziemski had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Warriors (35-38), who won their first game at Chase Center since returning from a grueling 2-4 road trip.
Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and De’Anthony Melton had 14, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds, as Golden State beat Brooklyn in San Francisco for the first time since Dec. 16, 2023.
Ziaire Williams had 19 points for the Nets, who have lost nine straight. Jalen Wilson added 15 points off the bench while Ben Saraf had 14 points and seven rebounds.
The sellout at Chase Center was the 600th consecutive sellout for the Warriors, the sixth-longest streak in NBA history.
The Nets led most of the game, trailed going into the fourth then wore down over the final 12 minutes. Brooklyn shot 8 for 20 (2 for 9 behind the arc) down the stretch.
Still without injured star Stephen Curry, the Warriors committed 15 turnovers in the first two quarters and had trouble running their offense with much consistency.
The Nets also got off to a sluggish start and missed 10 of their first 15 shots before Williams warmed up. The former first-round draft pick repeatedly attacked through the paint and scored 11 points to help Brooklyn to a 58-50 halftime lead.
Golden State pulled within 63-62 midway through the third before Powell made consecutive 3-pointers to get Brooklyn on track.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 25: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on March 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t put their best foot forward to start this game. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
LOSER- Coming Out Flat
Second night of a back-to-back. Numerous key players are down due to injury. Random, meaningless game in March. I understand all of the context.
That still doesn’t mean it’s okay for the Cavs to come out as flat as they did tonight.
Miami built an early 20-point lead after pouncing all over Cleveland’s poor effort. Some of the Cavaliers’ offensive concerns can be excused due to simply missing shots (they shot 3-15 from three in the first half). But their defensive integrity was nowhere to be found. That’s especially concerning, considering Kenny Atkinson previously called them out for their poor defense against the Magic just 24 hours ago.
It’s a combination of scheme and execution. The Cavs have always rotated early and dug deep into the paint to provide help on drives. But their timing and process on this strategy have been worse as of late. They are frequently over-committing and opening themselves up to three-point onslaughts. It’s worrying that even middling offenses like the Heat can impose their will on the Cavaliers so quickly to start a game.
The Cavs proved they can ‘flip a switch’ once the second half began. The comeback was as electric as anything. With that said, I can’t blame any of the hometown fans who booed their team during the first half. That was a bad effort — and they dug themselves a hole that was ultimately too much to get out of.
WINNER – Donovan Mitchell’s Second Half Effort
Mitchell has a knack for getting the Cleveland crowd on its feet. This Cavalier team was being booed off the floor entering halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Mitchell had them in a full frenzy as his 13 points fueled a comeback and tied the game.
It was everything we’ve come to expect from Mitchell. Elite three-point shooting. Dazzling dribble moves. And a one-man heat check that brought his team (and the crowd) back to life. Mitchell hit three three-pointers in the third quarter, including back-to-back shots to swing the momentum all the way back into Cleveland’s favor.
As previously mentioned, Atkinson called out his team’s ‘compete level’ after their narrow win over Orlando. Specifically, he urged his two leaders (presumably Mitchell and James Harden) to respond. It took a full half for Mitchell to get the message, but by the end of the game, it was clear he took it to heart.
Mitchell opened the fourth quarter by diving for the ball and forcing a jumpball. That kind of scrappiness from a player who is currently on fire shooting the rock is the definition of leading by example. Mitchell’s energy sparked the run.
LOSER – Evan Mobley
Think of the things you don’t want to see from Evan Mobley. Indecisiveness. A lack of confidence. Probing aimlessly and taking shots that feel hopeless.
That’s what we saw tonight.
At one point in the first half, Mobley was working one-on-one against Bam Adebayo with the shot clock winding down. Mobley took a step-back dribble, and as he was gathering for the jumper, Bam visibly waved him off and turned around for the rebound. Mobley nearly airballed the shot.
It’s worth saying the Heat deployed a great defensive scheme. Their mixture of zone and double-coverage kept Mobley from finding an open space to operate. They sped him up and made him passive. That’s a credit to Miami.
“They mixed in a lot of zone,” said Kenny Aktinson after the game. “Those guys are tough; they’re a darn good defensive team. I think Evan’s next evolution is when they start swarming him, making those decisions.”
Later in the fourth quarter, Mobley had a deep-seal on Kel’el Ware. The Cavs dumped him the ball, and Mobley proceeded to get blocked at the rim. That sums up the night.
Every player has bad games. It’s worth noting that Mobley had been playing his best stretch of the season, and arguably one of the best of his career. But this type of performance is something we all wish we could forget.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers helps up James Harden #1 during the first half against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers four-game winning streak was snapped by the Miami Heat.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
28 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers
The first half was on par with some of the defensive effort we’ve seen this week from Mitchell. The second half, though? That’s more like it.
Mitchell ramped up his ‘compete’ level and helped turn this game around. His scoring is one thing. We’ve seen him get hot in a hurry before. But when he’s diving to the floor, fighting for loose balls, and getting into the jersey of his opponent? That’s the type of stuff that gets Cleveland roaring.
Grade: B
James Harden
18 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds, 5 turnovers
This was an uncharacteristically quiet game from Harden, who had previously been in a flow state. He wasn’t overly aggressive hunting for his shot tonight, and the defense was, well, you know how the defense was.
Harden shot 3-9 from three and 1-1 from inside of two-point range. The Heat did a fine job packing the paint, and Harden wasn’t able to punish them enough with his pull-up jumper.
Grade: C-
Evan Mobley
8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Miami made a conscious effort to keep Mobley in a box. He saw multiple jerseys on every post entry and had trouble getting around Bam Adebayo. This is a tougher matchup for Mobley when Jarrett Allen isn’t on the court to put pressure on the Heat’s frontcourt. We saw the results of that tonight.
That said, Mobley has no one to blame but himself for this one. He looked uncertain of himself from the start. And as the game wore on, Miami took more and more space from him. His failed isolation attempt on Kel’el Ware was the lowlight of the night.
Grade: F
Keon Ellis
17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Ellis hasn’t been spacing the floor as we’d hope recently (1-7 from downtown tonight). He did, however, make himself available in the dunker’s spot for a handful of easy opportunities.
He also knocked the ball out of Tyler Herro’s hands three times in the same possession. That was sick.
Grade: B+
Sam Merrill
18 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists
Merrill is having his best season as a slasher. He got to the rim relentlessly against the Magic last night and replicated some of that success versus Miami. He’s been quick to catch and attack this year rather than pump fake or relocate for a three-pointer. That’s given him the advantage he needs to get into the lane and showcase his floater and layup.
“I was joking, he’s like a drive-first guy now,” Kenny Aktinson said. “Teams are running him off. He’s a hot shooter, we know what that coverage is, so he’s just running through catches… that’s called player development.”
Grade: B+
Dennis Schroder
4 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds
We might be finding out why Schroder was available at the deadline. Or rather, why the Sacramento Kings were willing to give up Keon Ellis for De’Andre Hunter simply to get Schroder off their books.
That’s not to say Schroder is a bad player, or that he can’t help the Cavs down the stretch, but his last few games haven’t been great. He shot 1-5 and wasn’t great defensively. He gets some credit for his effort on the glass and for dealing 6 assists with 0 turnovers.
Grade: D+
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
6 points, 4 rebounds
The Cavs played Tomlin out of necessity tonight. His lack of a viable jumper has made it difficult to keep him on the floor. He isn’t being guarded in the corner, and he’s mostly taking up space in the paint when he sits in the dunker’s spot. He also picked up four fouls in his first nine minutes tonight.
It’s been rough on Tomlin Island.
Grade: D–
Tyrese Proctor
0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 2 steals
Proctor was thrown into this game during the second quarter as the wheels were falling off. These were his first meaningful minutes since February, and that matched the eye test. He wasn’t overly involved in anything — and smoked an open layup in the fourth quarter.
I’ll be lenient with his grade, considering his place in the rotations and the expectations I have for him as a young pup.
Grade: D+
Thomas Bryant
4 points, 5 rebounds
Bryant’s first half was abysmal. He went 0-4 from the floor and was a minus-17 as Miami’s athleticism left him in the dust. He turned it around gradually in the second half, even rounding out to a positive in the plus-minus before the Heat slammed the door shut in the fourth quarter.
Again, this was just one of those nights where you missed Jarrett Allen.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Juju Reese had 26 points and 17 rebounds, Will Riley added 19 points and 10 boards, and the Washington Wizards snapped a 16-game skid with a 133-110 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
It was Washington's first win since Feb. 20 against Indiana.
Cody Williams scored 24 points for the Jazz, who have lost 15 of 18. Blake Hinson added a career-high 21 points and John Konchar had 14 rebounds.
Reese and Riley are the first Wizards rookie pair to have double-doubles in the same game since John Wall and Jordan Crawford on March 23, 2011 at the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Sportradar.
In a matchup of teams widely believed to be tanking in order to improve their draft prospects, the Wizards never trailed and pulled ahead by 37 late in the third quarter. But Utah went on a 23-2 run in the fourth and pulled within 13 midway through the period.
Reese — the brother of Angel Reese of the WNBA's Chicago Sky — and Sharife Cooper hit key buckets down the stretch to keep Washington in control.
The Wizards outrebounded the Jazz 56-40.
The Wizards said before the game that Kyshawn George has a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. George will be reevaluated in a week, the team said.
Utah won the previous meeting between the teams, beating the Wizards 122-112 on March 6.
ATLANTA (AP) — Florida freshman Ahmed Jaouadi broke a NCAA record in the 1,650-yard freestyle and the Gators shared the Day 1 lead with Indiana at the Division I swimming and diving championships on Wednesday.
Jaouadi denied Indiana senior Zalán Sárkány a three-peat with a time of 14:10.03 to break former Gator Bobby Finke’s long-standing NCAA record. Sárkány recorded the fastest 1,000 freestyle in collegiate swimming history, splitting an 8:33.10 during a runner-up performance.
Florida and Indiana are tied atop the team standing with 86 points, followed by Texas with 72.
Jonny Kulow brought home the title for Arizona State in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:20.07. Florida, after setting a new NCAA record at the SEC championships, secured the runner-up and the Longhorns took third.
Texas won the 800 freestyle relay after Rafael Fente-Damers, Camden Taylor, Rex Maurer and Baylor Nelson touched first with a time of 6:05.82.
The four-day event at the McAuley Aquatic Center continues on Thursday with the 100 butterfly, 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 1-meter diving and the 200 freestyle relay.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 25, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22 VJ Edgecombe – 12 Joel Embiid – 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 – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
As Daryl Morey suspected when he allocated over $400 million in new money combined to them in 2024, the Philadelphia 76ers are a much better basketball team when Joel Embiid and Paul George are on the court.
The veterans both returned against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night following long absences, Embiid due to an oblique injury and George due to a 25-game league suspension, and the pair certainly looked to have benefitted from the time off. The pair combined for 63 points in shorter stints than usual, as Philadelphia scored their most points in a game since this writer has been alive (and most since 1970), absolutely walloping the Bulls, 157-137. The goal to climb back out of the Play-In Tournament remains very much alive, still just a half game back of Atlanta for sixth place with nine games remaining.
Let’s pause and appreciate this win though and talk Bell Ringer.
Joel had missed 13 straight games, but this time avoided the usual “getting back into a rhythm” rust that accompanies a layoff. He came out scorching hot shooting the ball, draining his first five shots of the game and overall dropping 15 points in the opening six minutes. He would finish a highly efficient 12-of-17 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc. As expected, Embiid’s presence opened things up for his teammates, with him pinging the ball around the court. His most impressive assist was recognizing a double team in the post, and then pivoting to find VJ Edgecombe for a three on the opposite wing. Importantly in the long term, you could see Joel’s body felt good as he recovered quickly to block a shot in the lane from Guerschon Yabusele or threw down a tomahawk dunk over a rotating Matas Buzelis. Having this version of Joel going forward would throw the Sixers firmly back in the “who knows what might happen” postseason conversation.
Prior to the game, George talked about the silver lining of the suspension being that it allowed him to heal and feel 100 percent physically. He certainly looked 100 percent against Chicago, returning as a two-way force for the Sixers, getting a ton of deflections and making hustle plays like racing back in transition to block a Buzelis lay-in attempt. In the second half, PG found the range on the offensive end, recording 23 points after intermission, on 9-of-12 shooting (5-of-8 from behind the arc). It was a hot stretch reminiscent of his big shooting night against the Bucks back in January. It was exactly the version of George the Sixers have always needed, a connective piece to tie the roster together, while also capable of carrying the offense on occasion.
Paul George picks Matas Buzelis' pocket and converts the straight ahead triple on the other end pic.twitter.com/xGx4o6yCFM
VJ has been the primary guy in the spotlight in many instances while the Sixers were dealing with a boatload of absences, and while he wasn’t the main focus on Wednesday, he still stepped up with another strong performance. Edgecombe made use of a couple of open looks from Embiid, but also converted on some high degree-of-difficulty stepbacks and fadeaways. His 7-of-9 shooting night will get it done any time, but I was also thrilled to see his work as a distributor. Edgecombe’s increased on-ball reps lately were paying dividends. He made a couple excellent reads out of the pick-and-roll with Embiid, once finding Joel with a bounce pass through tight quarters in the lane for a bucket, and another time making the skip pass to the corner for a George three-pointer. He also slipped a beautiful pass through to a cutting Dominick Barlow for two points. It’s been really fun to watch the rookie’s game continue to evolve.
CHICAGO (AP) — Theresa Schafzahl, Danielle Serdachny and Cayla Barnes each scored in the first period and the Seattle Torrent beat the New York Sirens 4-1 on Wednesday night in the Takeover Tour for their second win away from home this season.
Seattle (6-1-2-13) scored the game's first goal for just the sixth time this season — after entering tied with Vancouver for fewest in the PHWL.
Schafzahl scored her first goal since being traded to Seattle on a nice wraparound for a 1-0 lead and she assisted on two other goals. Serdachny made it 2-0 to reach four points (two goals, two assists) in her last six games.
Seattle went ahead 3-0 when Julia Gosling found a wide-open Cayla Barnes at the back door for an easy finish.
Alex Carpenter, who scored Seattle’s only goal over the previous two games, scored her ninth of the season midway through the third to regain a three-goal lead.
New York (8-0-3-11) has just four wins away from home this season, with two coming as the home team in the Takeover Tour.
Sarah Fillier scored her fifth goal of the season for New York and 17th of her career.
Up next
New York plays its fifth and final Takeover Tour game on Saturday against Montreal in Detroit.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 35 points in his return to the lineup from injury, Paul George had 28 points in his first game since serving a 25-game suspension, and the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to a 157-137 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Josh Giddey scored 23 points to lead the Bulls.
Embiid missed 13 games with a strained right oblique but showed no signs of rust. The 2023 MVP made 6 of 9 shots in the first period, including all three of his 3-point tries. He had 23 points in the first half to help Philadelphia take a 71-52 halftime lead.
George was not as sharp early but settled in after halftime.
Playing for the first time since Jan. 29 due to a violation of the NBA’s drug policy, he missed 8 of 10 field goals in the opening half and had five points, but scored 23 points in the second half.
HAWKS 130, PISTONS 129, OT
DETROIT (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and Atlanta beat Detroit.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
LAKERS 137, PACERS 130
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 43 points to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Indiana.
With Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark snapping pictures on the sideline as a credentialed photographer, Doncic sank 15 of 30 shots and hit 9 of 10 free throws. Austin Reaves scored 25 points, LeBron James scored 23 and Jaxson Hayes had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have won 10 of 11, with Doncic scoring at least 30 points in each. Los Angeles, which sits third in the Western Conference, lost Monday night at Detroit, ending a nine-game winning streak.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 points and Jay Huff had 18 for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell came off the bench to score 17 and Andrew Nembhard had a career-high 19 assists along with 14 points.
CELTICS 119, THUNDER 109
BOSTON, (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 14 of his 31 points a pivotal third quarter and Boston rallied to beat Oklahoma City, snapping the defending champions’ 12-game win streak.
Jayson Tatum recovered from back-to-back rocky performances to add 19 points and 12 rebounds while also contributing seven assists as Boston earned a split in the two regular-season matchups between the past two NBA champs.
Brown added eight rebounds and eight assists, and his big quarter helped the Celtics take an 88-83 lead into the fourth. Boston’s edge grew as high as 14 in the final period.
OKC got within 115-109 with 1:30 remaining, but a layup by Brown, and two free throws by Derrick White helped Boston close it out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points and eight assists. But Oklahoma City was outscored by the Celtics 19-2 in second-chance points and shot just 12 of 37 from the 3-point line.
HEAT 120, CAVALIERS 103
CLEVELAND (AP) — Norman Powell scored 19 points, Tyler Herro added 18 and Miami got contributions from everyone while stopping a five-game losing skid with a win over Cleveland.
As healthy as they’ve been all season, the Heat squandered a 17-point lead in the third quarter before recovering in the fourth. Miami led by nine with five minutes left before Bam Adebayo converted a three-point play and Kel’el Ware scored on a layup in an 11-second span.
Adebayo finished with 17 points, Ware had 13 points and 11 rebounds and the Heat had eight players score in double figures. The Heat will stay in Cleveland and play the Cavaliers again on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points before fouling out in the final minutes for the Cavs, whose winning streak ended at four. James Harden and Sam Merrill scored 18 apiece.
SPURS 123, GRIZZLIES 98
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks as San Antonio built an early lead and coasted to a victory over Memphis.
Devin Vassell matched Wembanyama’s 19 points, while Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson finished with 15 points each, as seven Spurs finished in double figures.
With its seventh straight victory, San Antonio moved within two games of Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference as the Boston Celtics stopped the Thunder’s 12-game winning streak with a 119-109 victory on Wednesday night.
GG Jackson led Memphis with 20 points. Olivier-Maxence Prosper finished with 17 and DeJon Jarreau added 15 as the Grizzlies lost their fourth in a row.
Mar 25, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks as Memphis Grizzlies forward Tyler Burton (5) defends during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Another inferior, short-handed opponent, another Spurs blowout victory. It seems San Antonio is done taking lesser teams lightly as they continued their trend of blowing everyone out, both good and bad. This time, the Memphis Grizzlies were the victim. While the Spurs admittedly got complacent and took the second quarter off after a 38-19 start, they came back out with renewed focus to put the game away for good in the third, which was one massive highlight reel of dunks and threes, for the 123-98 win.
Victor Wembanyama led seven Spurs in double figures with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 7 blocks, 3 assists and 3 steals. (The odds of a triple-double and/or 5×5 game would have been pretty decent had he be needed in the fourth quarter.) GG Jackson led the severely short-handed Grizzles with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Observations
Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey revealed on X earlier today that at least for this year, the local broadcasters will not be doing the first round of the playoffs (or any postseason at all). I’m guessing this is a result of the NBA having contracts with so many different streaming services now (which has drawn criticism for the impact on everyday viewers), but I for one will miss them. As a League Pass user, I’ve had to put up with listening to a lot of national announcers (or the other team’s announcers, in Prime’s case) who don’t know what they’re talking about. I know Jacob and Sean Elliott get their share of flack, but they’re better for the Spurs viewing experience than the other options at least 90% of the time.
As the regular season winds down and the rest-a-thon continues, it was De’Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet’s turn to nurse their boo-boos (lower back and right knee, respectively). It hardly mattered in the first quarter. The Spurs hit 10-13 to start the game, including 8 makes in a row and went on a 17-0 run. It was a dunk and three-fest against the hapless Grizzlies, whose best available player was rookie Cedric Coward. (Oh, and Taj Gibson! Who knew he was still around?) Overall, the Spurs shot 15-24 to lead 38-19 after 12 minutes. For a while, it was looking like it would be worse, with Memphis stuck at 9 points nine minutes in, but they hit a few threes to make it look less terrible.
After all that beautiful ball movement in the first quarter, the Spurs’ offense fell off a cliff as they only scored 5 points across the first six minutes and 19 overall in the second, but the Grizzlies only managed to put a six-point dent in the lead because of the Spurs’ defense, especially Wemby with swatting everything Memphis put up. But, the Spurs got the message at halftime and returned to wheeling, dealing, dunking and scoring, outscoring the Grizzlies 41-20 on a Wemby buzzer-beater three to get up 98-64 and put the game away
This whole game was about posterizations. Just off the top of my head, I remember massive dunks from Wemby, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant. I’ll let Highlights take care of showing them all off tomorrow, but goodness, I’m not sure I’ve seen so many dunks from different players in one game before.
I know the Spurs’ peak didn’t exactly combine with the Ja Morant-era Grizzlies’ peak, but whether it was Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis has found a way to be a thorn in their side for the last 15 years. Even last year, when they were also the most injured team in the league and often JJJ (who is now with Utah) plus a G-League group, they found ways to make the Spurs work for the win. As a result, watching this kind of onslaught against this team in that arena feels kind of surreal.
Despite having a harder remaining schedule, I don’t foresee the Thunder losing two more games than the Spurs with nine remaining to allow them to tie things up and take the top seed, but they had to lose someday for there to be a chance, and they finally did tonight in Boston. (Reverse jinx activated.) You don’t have to give up standings watching just yet. Also, one more Spurs win or Lakers loss will clinch the second seed for the Spurs, since they also hold the tiebreaker in that series.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Friday evening, as we are joined by Sean Murphy of the From Half Court Podcast to recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games and more! Is Jalen Duren cementing himself as a legit second star? Can the Pistons continue holding up in the absence of superstar Cade Cunningham? Will the Pistons still lock down the number one seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs?
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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night for what felt like more than just another regular season game. With the Oklahoma City Thunder riding a 12-game win streak and holding the top spot in the Western Conference, this had all the makings of a measuring stick matchup, the kind that quietly starts to feel a little like June if you let your mind wander.
Boston, meanwhile, entered the night looking to respond after a recent loss and continue finding its rhythm with a full rotation available. Against one of the league’s most complete teams on both ends of the floor, this was a good opportunity to see how their version of basketball holds up when the margin for error gets tight.
Thunder punch first, but Celtics answer
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t take long to seize control.
Behind early threes from Luguentz Dort and the steady pace of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC jumped out in front and immediately put Boston on its heels. Gilgeous-Alexander never looked rushed, picking his spots and operating comfortably as the Celtics largely let him work one-on-one to start.
On the other end, the Celtics couldn’t buy a basket. Sam Hauser got the looks you want, but missed them all, as Boston opened the game cold and out of sync. The Thunder’s defense didn’t help matters, constantly poking at dribbles and disrupting passing lanes, turning a few sloppy possessions into easy points the other way.
There were a few brief flashes. Jayson Tatum broke the drought in transition, Payton Pritchard knocked down a three off the bench, and Luka Garza brought some needed energy with an and-one late in the quarter. But nothing stuck, and Oklahoma City stayed in control throughout, closing the first on an 11–3 run to take a 31–20 lead into the second.
The Celtics looked like a completely different team to open the second quarter — and it started with Jayson Tatum.
After Boston opened the game just 3-for-12 on two-point attempts and shot under 30% through the first nine minutes, Tatum steadied everything. A quick three to start the quarter cut into the deficit, and from there, he began to dictate the pace of the game, both as a scorer and a facilitator. He attacked Holmgren off the dribble, found Queta for easy looks inside, and started reading the Thunder’s defensive pressure instead of reacting to it.
Gradually, Boston started to take control.
Their defense tightened up, clearly the result of intentional adjustments made by Joe Mazzulla. After allowing Oklahoma City to operate comfortably in the first quarter, the Celtics began forcing turnovers, getting back in transition, and making the Thunder work deeper into the shot clock. The energy shifted from scattered to controlled, and TD Garden responded accordingly.
Tatum was at the center of all of it.
During one stretch midway through the quarter, he scored or assisted on eight points in just over a minute, turning a double-digit deficit into a one-possession game. Jaylen Brown followed with a three off a Tatum drive-and-kick, and suddenly the Celtics had real momentum, forcing Mark Daigneault to call back-to-back timeouts.
An 8–0 run capped by a Payton Pritchard three gave the Celtics their first lead of the game, a moment that felt unlikely given how the night started. But just as quickly as the Garden erupted, Oklahoma City answered. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned and immediately settled things for the Thunder, getting to his spots with ease before Cason Wallace knocked down a three to erase the lead.
The final minute swung things back slightly in Oklahoma City’s favor.
A tough offensive foul on Tatum, a failed challenge on a goaltending call, and a last-second tip-in from Dort gave the Thunder a 53–49 lead heading into halftime. Still, after falling behind by as many as 13 and looking completely out of rhythm early, the Celtics had done enough to keep the game within reach — and more importantly, had started to look like themselves again.
Boston keeps it up in the third
Oklahoma City opened the second half looking ready to create separation, which has been their pattern all season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up right where he left off, scoring with ease and stretching the Thunder lead early, including a stretch where he hit seven of his first eight shots and knocked down three triples.
But this time, the Celtics didn’t let it get away.
Jaylen Brown set the tone with aggressive drives, getting downhill and forcing the issue after a quiet first half. Jayson Tatum continued to command attention as well, drawing multiple defenders and creating space for others, even as Oklahoma City stayed locked in on him defensively.
Boston started to find its rhythm through physicality and effort plays. Neemias Queta provided a spark inside, finishing through contact and delivering one of the loudest moments of the night with a powerful dunk over Chet Holmgren that brought TD Garden to life. Sam Hauser added a much-needed three after a prolonged cold stretch, helping stabilize the offense.
From there, the game settled into a possession-by-possession fight.
Boston leaned into its depth, with Baylor Scheierman providing an unexpected boost off the bench. He knocked down a pair of confident threes and held his own defensively, even forcing a turnover from Gilgeous-Alexander during a key stretch. Payton Pritchard followed with a deep three and a late floater, as the Celtics began to generate more consistent offense against a Thunder defense that had controlled the early stages of the game.
At the same time, the Celtics made subtle defensive adjustments. Gilgeous-Alexander still found his spots, finishing the third quarter with 26 points, but Boston began to make him work harder for them and limited easy paint touches around him.
The result was a steady shift in momentum.
After trailing for most of the night, the Celtics finally took control late in the quarter behind Brown’s continued pressure at the rim and timely shot-making from the supporting cast. Boston closed the third on a strong run, outscoring Oklahoma City 39–30 in the period to take an 88–83 lead into the fourth.
Boston carried its second-half momentum into the fourth and quickly created breathing room.
Neemias Queta made an immediate impact, extending possessions on the glass and helping push the lead to its largest of the night early in the quarter. The ball movement followed. Queta found Sam Hauser in the corner for a wide-open three, and this time the shot dropped, stretching the lead as the Celtics began to settle into a rhythm offensively.
From there, Boston leaned heavily into the Jayson Tatum–center pick-and-roll.
Whether it was Queta or Luka Garza screening, the action consistently produced good looks. Tatum controlled the tempo, drew contact, and knocked down three free throws after getting Alex Caruso in the air. A few possessions later, he hit Garza on the roll for an easy finish, continuing to exploit Oklahoma City’s coverage.
The energy plays kept coming.
Baylor Scheierman delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a putback dunk off a Tatum miss, crashing in from the corner and finishing above the rim as the crowd erupted. Not long after, he knocked down a step-back three from a similar spot, showing confidence and giving Boston a jolt on both ends.
Jaylen Brown built on that momentum with consistent pressure at the rim. He attacked closeouts, got to the line, and converted an and-one after getting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off his feet, drawing loud MVP chants as the Celtics extended their advantage.
Even as Gilgeous-Alexander continued to produce offensively, Boston maintained control.
The Celtics forced misses, limited second chances, and got timely shot-making from Payton Pritchard, whose three pushed the lead to 14 midway through the quarter. At that point, Boston had found a steady rhythm on both ends, with its offense generating clean looks and its defense doing enough to keep Oklahoma City from stringing together stops.
The Thunder made one final push.
A quick run trimmed the lead back into single digits, fueled by perimeter shot-making and trips to the free-throw line, as Oklahoma City continued to benefit from a favorable whistle throughout the night. But Boston responded with composure, continuing to attack the paint and get to the line, with Brown staying aggressive as the game moved inside the final few minutes.
Boston closed it out, 119–109, for what stands as its biggest win of the season.
The Celtics had dropped five of their last six coming in, including three straight against Oklahoma City, adding weight to a matchup that already carried plenty of it. Against one of the league’s hottest teams, they responded to a loss against Minnesota with their most complete performance in weeks, overcoming a slow start and taking control in the second half.
They’ll look to carry that momentum into Friday night, when they host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden at 7:30pm ET.
DETROIT (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 130-129 on Wednesday night.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit's four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
Atlanta had a 21-point lead in the first half that Detroit wiped away quickly in the third quarter. McCollum scored the Hawks' final 11 points of regulation, including a three-point play that gave them a 121-116 lead with 44 seconds remaining. But Detroit rallied again and he missed a jumper that would have won it on the final possession.
He got another chance in OT and his three-point play made it 126-123. The Pistons had a chance to win it, but Harris missed a jumper and Duren was short on a follow shot.
The Hawks scored 11 straight points to extend a six-point lead to 56-39 midway through the second quarter, then had an 11-2 spurt just before the half to make it 73-52. The Pistons then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter, trimming Atlanta's 73-55 halftime advantage to 73-71.
Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep in the season series. The Pistons had a season-high 142 points in December in the last meeting, but the Hawks are the hottest team in the East now while surging into sixth place entering play Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 25, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite the Lakers being shorthanded with Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton being out, they dominated the Pacers for most of the game. Unfortunately, they had an unserious stretch in the fourth that gave Indiana a glimmer of hope, but luckily, it didn’t cost them the result.
This contest featured LeBron James posters, Luka Dončić baskets and even a three by Jarred Vanderbilt.
LA had a stellar road trip, winning five of six games, and now they’ll return home as one of the hottest teams in the league.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron was dunking all over the place and had a complete game with nine assists and nine rebounds. If this is what the Lakers can expect from LeBron the rest of the way, then the team’s ceiling should be raised.
LaRavia got the start and was aggressive from the jump. He was forcing turnovers, scoring in the paint and fighting for rebounds.
LaRavia stayed defensively active the entire game, generating steals and deflections. One of his most impressive plays happened in the third quarter when he broke up a two-on-one fastbreak by himself, forcing a turnover.
Hayes was the Lakers’ starting big in this game and played well. He did what he usually does, which includes attacking the rim and working well with Luka in the pick-and-roll. This was his first double-double of the season, and that level of production was needed.
Kennard had some nice shots in the first half that helped the Lakers establish dominance early on. The front office trading for him has been an incredibly beneficial move.
With so many players out Vando got some extra run in this game. He took advantage, knocking down a three and being the elite defensive player he typically is. It’s unlikely this performance will convince head coach JJ Redick that Vando needs more playing time, but it’s good to know he can contribute when necessary.
Bronny had some good shifts against the Pacers. He had a nice dunk and some strong defensive plays. Similar to Vando, this won’t change his role on the team, but it was nice to see.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
Redick got the Lakers the win, and minus that poor fourth-quarter stretch, the team played relatively well. Credit to Redick for playing Vando more and even giving Bronny some run. Both players played well, and LA is back in the win column.
Wednesday’s inactives: Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Adou Thiero, Marcus Smart, Chris Mañon
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Mar 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) defends in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ slow start on both ends of the floor did them in. They erased a 21 -point deficit and grabbed a brief fourth-quarter lead, but they weren’t able to hold off the Miami Heat, resulting in a 120-103 loss. The defense — once again — was the issue.
There’s something broken with the Cavs defense right now.
Defense comes down to more than just effort. The Cavs tried on that end at the start of the game, but it just didn’t matter due to their combination of poor scheme for the opponent and their lack of personnel, with Dean Wade (ankle), Jarrett Allen (knee), Jaylon Tyson (toe), and Max Strus (injury management) all missing this game.
The Cavs have consistently overprotected the paint on drives to the basket. This led to open looks on the outside, even though the ball handler didn’t have to earn the kick-out-pass by actually blowing past their defender. As a result, the Heat went 7-16 from three (43.9%) in the first quarter.
Things got worse in the second quarter. The Heat put up 35 points by going 6-12 (50%) from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Cavs’ offense — which has been saving them in recent games — was nowhere to be found in the first half. They mustered just 19 points in the first quarter and finished the first half just 3-15 (20%) from distance. This resulted in a 17-point deficit at the break.
Cleveland’s offense turned things around in the third quarter, putting up 37 points thanks to 13 points from Donovan Mitchell, and the team shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from three.
The Cavs briefly retook the lead early in the fourth quarter, but they weren’t able to keep the offense going like they needed to on a night the defense once again let them down.
This is an offensive first team. That offense abandoned them in crunch time as they went just 5-19 (26.3%) from the floor and 2-11 (18.2%) from three in the fourth quarter. It didn’t help that Mitchell — who led the third-quarter comeback — fouled out with just over three minutes left in the game.
Even though the game was close early in the final frame, the Heat were still able to cruise to a relatively stress-free victory to snap their five-game losing streak. Registering 37 fourth-quarter points on 14-18 (77.8%) shooting from the field helped make this one anticlimactic.
Mitchell led Cleveland with 28 points on 12-22 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, and six fouls.
James Harden struggled to find his three-point shot and couldn’t take care of the ball. He had 18 points on 4-10 shooting, which included going 3-9 from three, to go along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and five turnovers.
Sam Merrill supplied 18 points while Keon Ellis had 17 points on 5-12 shooting.
Evan Mobley struggled to make a noticeable impact offensively. He had just eight points on 3-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds and four assists.
The Heat had eight players finish in double-figures scoring. Norman Powell led Miami with 19 points. Tyler Herro had 18. Bam Adebayo supplied 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
The Cavs will take on the Heat again on Friday. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts from the bench against the Atlanta Hawks during first quarter at State Farm Arena on March 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are finally back at home tonight, as they host the Brooklyn Nets in their first Chase Center game since March 13. Things are going very poorly for the Dubs. Despite winning their last game, an overtime contest against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors have lost 10 of their last 13 games. The season is slipping away from them quickly, and it feels like a new player gets injured every game.
As such, they’re missing a lot of players tonight. Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
The Warriors were openly hoping that Curry could get back to practicing this week, but that hasn’t happened. Not yet, at least. This will be his 23rd consecutive game on the sidelines.
Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)
This one still hurts. Moody returned on Monday after a lengthy absence, and suffered a gruesome non-contact knee injury. It ended his season, and will likely cost him much of next season as well.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Unfortunately, Moody is no the only Warriors player to suffer a season-ending knee injury this year that carries a recovery time of about a year.
Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)
With the Warriors season falling apart every day, it wouldn’t surprise me if Horford is shut down.
Out — Quinten Post (right foot injury management)
Post, like the team as a whole, is limping to the finish line.
Out — Malevy Leons (illness)
I always hate seeing the young players who don’t get a lot of opportunities missing games where they would likely get big minutes.
Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)
It wouldn’t surprise me if the younger Curry doesn’t play again this year. He’s played just four times.
Nets
Out — Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain)
MPJ has had an absolute breakout year, but suffered a hamstring strain about a week ago. With the Nets already eliminated, his season might be over.
Out — Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain)
Clowney is also having a breakout season of sorts, and has also been out for about a week.
Out — Nolan Traore (rest)
Are the Nets tanking? Look no further.
Out — Egor Dëmin (left plantar fascia injury management)
Dëmin had a very strong rookie season as one of Brooklyn’s many first-year players. He averaged 10.3 points per game, but is out for the year.
Out — Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgery)
Sharpe had arguably the best season of his five-year career. He also is out for the year.
Out — Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain)
Wolf, another one of Brooklyn’s rookies, is having a strong year, with 20.8 minutes and 8.9 points per game. He isn’t expected to miss the rest of the year.
