Category: Basketball

Word got out Monday afternoon that UNC has hired Mike Malone, most recently head coach of the Denver Nuggets and winner of the 2023 NBA championship, as its next coach.

Reactions are mixed.

Many UNC fans were baffled, but that’s not surprising. Like most fans, they aren’t steeped in the business side of basketball. That’s fine—unless they start offering uninformed opinions.

Among more informed people, the verdict is still split. Start with the positive: Malone is a basketball lifer. His father, Brendan, was an NBA coach, and the game is clearly in his blood.

Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called it a good hire. So did Dan Dakich, who noted that former NBA players such as Juwan Howard (whom he called an idiot), Chris Mullin, and Chris Ewing all struggled in college.

Malone, however, was never an NBA player; he has been a coach since he graduated from college.

Former Tar Heel Kenny Smith, who was involved in the search, was impressed. Several informed observers said the same about people who worked with Malone in the NBA.

Bomani Jones was skeptical, questioning whether Malone could adapt to the college game. “What’s the big deal about waiting a week for Billy Donovan?” he asked.

One clear upside: no buyout. After committing to paying off Hubert Davis’s full contract and Bill Belichick’s big contract, that alone was appealing.

The transfer portal may have played a role, too. One report said incoming athletic director Steve Newmark grew concerned about the timing there.

The bigger question is whether Malone can adjust to college basketball. He is widely described as hard-working and detail-oriented—strong coaching traits. Still, he is moving from grown men with families and mortgages to 18- to 22-year-olds who cannot legally drink. The sport is the same, but the psychology is not.

Malone is also known for his intensity, which can be an asset. One source called it an upgrade over Hubert Davis. Others are less sure.College coaching demands far more teaching than the NBA, and the best teachers push players without belittling them. A long list of intense college coaches—Virginia’s Dave Leitao, Bob Knight, and Lou Campanelli among them—have run into trouble when intensity crossed into toxicity.

Then there is Malone’s NBA record. He won a championship, but the numbers are telling. As Cody Nagel noted on X:

• With Nikola Jokić: 449–293 (.605) 
• Without Nikola Jokić: 61–101 (.377)

That’s both fair and unfair. NBA coaches have limited roster control, and Malone inherited a dysfunctional Sacramento team before Denver. Still, a talent like Jokić should produce wins.

What ultimately went wrong in Denver? Two main issues. First, a clash with the GM, who wanted a younger roster while Malone preferred veterans—a common front-office tension. Second, and more serious: reports say Malone lost the locker room. Players allegedly felt he favored Jokić and other stars, and his intense style and outbursts reportedly grew tiresome.

That is a genuine concern at the college level. Just this week, toxic cultures surfaced in women’s programs at Virginia (where Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was forced out) and Tennessee (where the entire team entered the portal amid complaints about Kim Caldwell).

In the NBA, a player like Aaron Gordon is locked in through 2028–29. In Chapel Hill, players can enter the portal any Tuesday.

Yesterday we suggested that if UNC couldn’t land a proven coach quickly, it should hire former assistant Marcus Paige and surround him with experienced staff to help him grow. Malone, with his vast pro experience, doesn’t face the same learning curve—but he would still be smart to hire someone who knows college basketball intimately. A coach like Jerome Tang, recently let go by Kansas State, could help him navigate recruiting, NIL, boosters, and the nuances of the college game.

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Is the 65-game rule going to claim another NBA star’s eligibility for individual awards?

In the case of San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, it’s a case of wait-and-see.

Wembanyama missed the entire second half of San Antonio’s game Monday, April 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers – an eventual 115-102 Spurs victory – with a left rib contusion.

After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters that he did not know the status or severity of Wembanyama’s 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).”

LUKA DONCIC: What special injury treatment is Lakers star getting in Europe?

Presumably, Wembanyama will undergo testing and imaging Tuesday, April 7, at which point the Spurs will be able to diagnose the issue, though Johnson didn’t have an answer for the timeline on that, either. Monday night’s game against the Sixers was the first game of a four-game homestand, which facilitates the process.

“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.

Wembanyama appeared to suffer the injury in the second quarter, after he collided near mid-court with 76ers forward Paul George. Wembanyama went down and immediately favored his side. He would go into the locker room briefly, but returned to finish the half.

Later 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.

pic.twitter.com/RbgN1p7LqK

— Polo (@PoloTheHooper) April 7, 2026

What does Victor Wembanyama’s injury mean for his MVP and DPoY eligibility?

In short: Wembanyama needs to appear in at least one of San Antonio’s remaining three games, and he needs to play at least 20 minutes to meet the 65-game threshold required for individual awards eligibility.

Technically, and even though he played just 15:40 against the 76ers, Wembanyama officially played his 63rd game of the season. The 65-game rule stipulates that a player needs to play at least 20 minutes in each game to be eligible, but the NBA has two “near-miss” exceptions for when a player records between 15 and 20 minutes in a game. Monday night will go down as Wembanyama’s second exception, after he played just 17:18 in a December 18 victory over the Washington Wizards.

In addition, and even though the stats from the NBA Cup Championship do not count to his season totals, Wembanyama’s participation in the final does count toward the 65-game rule.

All of which puts him at 64 games for this season and necessitates that final 20-minute performance.

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San Antonio Spurs schedule

• Wednesday, April 8: vs. Portland Trail Blazers
• Friday, April 10: vs. Dallas Mavericks
• Sunday, April 12: vs. Denver Nuggets

What does Victor Wembanyama’s injury mean for the Spurs?

Without knowing the severity of the injury, this is tough to project. Wembanyama, however, is one of the Top 5 players in the world, so any time missed is a blow.

His dominance on defense completely changes the way opponents can attack San Antonio. His length and versatility on offense make him a singular, three-level scorer.

All that said, the Spurs are a deep and talented team, one that is well positioned to weather a short-term absence; San Antonio went 11-5 in games this season that Wembanyama missed.

Backup Luke Kornet would presumably start in Wembanyama’s place, and even more responsibility would be placed on guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Victor Wembanyama injury affect NBA MVP, DPOY race, Spurs season?

College basketball season is over, and the Michigan Wolverines are national champions. Now the 2026 NBA Draft is on the clock.

This has long been considered a strong class due to the three star freshmen expected to go with the first three picks. The draft lottery on May 10 will determine in what order Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa come off the board. The rise of fellow freshmen like North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings makes this class even stronger in the first half of the lottery.

The Final Four had so many great NBA prospects on display. This mock draft features a whopping nine players who competed in Indianapolis for the national semifinals. Wagler will have a chance to go as high as No. 5 overall, and Brayden Mullins’ incredible Elite Eight buzzer-beater to stun Duke now has him in his highest mock draft position all season.

Michigan’s dream season was also great for the NBA hopes of their top players. Yaxel Lendeborg made a brilliant decision by choosing Michigan over entering last year’s NBA draft. Aday Mara went from the end of the bench at UCLA to a top-10 pick in this mock draft. Morez Johnson just missed the lotto after leaving Illinois for Michigan.

Here’s our latest projection of the 2026 NBA Draft. The order is determined by the NBA’s current lottery position standings.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School	Age
1	Washington Wizards	Cameron Boozer	Forward	Duke	Freshman
2	Indiana Pacers	Darryn Peterson	Guard	Kansas	Freshman
3	Brooklyn Nets	AJ Dybantsa	Wing	BYU	Freshman
4	Utah Jazz	Caleb Wilson	Forward	North Carolina	Freshman
5	Sacramento Kings	Darius Acuff	Guard	Arkansas	Freshman
6	Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)	Keaton Wagler	Guard	Illinois	Freshman
7	Memphis Grizzlies	Kingston Flemings	Guard	Houston	Freshman
8	Dallas Mavericks	Mikel Brown Jr.	Guard	Louisville	Freshman
9	Chicago Bulls	Aday Mara	Center	Michigan	Junior
10	Milwaukee Bucks	Brayden Burries	Guard	Arizona	Freshman
11	Golden State Warriors	Yaxel Lendeborg	Forward	Michigan	Senior
12	Portland Trail Blazers	Nate Ament	Wing	Tennessee	Freshman
13	Miami Heat	Karim Lopez	Forward	NZ Breakers	Born 2007
14	Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)	Jayden Quaintance	Center/Forward	Kentucky	Sophomore
15	Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)	Hannes Steinbach	Forward/Center	Washington	Freshman
16	Charlotte Hornets	Morez Johnson	Center/Forward	Michigan	Sophomore
17	Toronto Raptors	Labaron Philon	Guard	Alabama	Sophomore
18	Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)	Braylon Mullins	Guard	UConn	Freshman
19	Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)	Bennett Stirtz	Guard	Iowa	Senior
20	San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)	Patrick Ngongba	Center	Duke	Sophomore
21	Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)	Thomas Haugh	Forward	Florida	Junior
22	Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)	Cameron Carr	Wing	Baylor	Junior
23	Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)	Motiejus Krivas	Center	Arizona	Junior
24	Los Angeles Lakers	Dailyn Swain	Forward	Texas	Junior
25	New York Knicks	Tyler Tanner	Guard	Vanderbilt	Sophomore
26	Denver Nuggets	Allen Graves	Forward	Santa Clara	Freshman
27	Boston Celtics	Tounde Yessoufou	Guard	Baylor	Freshman
28	Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)	Joshua Jefferson	Forward	Iowa State	Senior
29	Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)	Koa Peat	Forward	Arizona	Freshman
30	Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)	Tarris Reed	Center	UConn	Senior

Some do some quick takes here:

• Boozer is my No. 1 prospect because he was obviously the best player in the country this year, he’s the youngest of the big three, he has the strongest feel for the game, and the best offensive versatility. I don’t understand the skepticism about his upside as he goes to the next level. All he does is impact winning to the highest degree. I really like his fit in Washington with a mobile defensive center in Alex Sarr.
• Acuff shouldn’t be a top-five pick in my view, because he might be the worst defensive player in the class. Still, the freshman point guard’s production was incredible this season and there are already rumors the Kings are interested. Acuff to Sacramento makes too much sense.
• I love the fit with Mikel Brown Jr. going to Dallas. The Point Flagg experiment was cool, but let’s get him focused on playing elite level defensive again.
• Bennett Stirtz is my favorite prospect after the lottery this year. He’s an elite shot-maker with the strong feel who should thrive once he exits Iowa head coach Ben McCollum’s super slow offense.
• The toughest evaluation this year is Jayden Quaintance. He looked like a stud as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State a year ago, but recovering from a torn ACL wiped away almost his entire season at Kentucky this year. Quaintance has great physical tools, but his offensive impact is questionable. I thought he’d be a lock for a top-10 pick coming into the year, and now it’s extremely difficult to project where he could go.

Got a question or comment about this mock? Leave a comment and I’ll respond

What a great college basketball season. The draft lottery is going to be absolute cinema.

INDIANAPOLIS — You wouldn’t think Michigan would be all smiles at halftime.

Yes, it had a four point lead over Connecticut in the national championship game, but it was an unattractive four-point lead. It was arguably the worst first-half performance of the season. Not only did the Wolverines fail to make a single 3-pointer in the first half – the only time that’s happened this season – but there were no makes outside of the paint. 

An awful first 20 minutes, but the Wolverines weren’t just staying positive, they were beaming in happiness.

Why?

"It can’t get any worse," Michigan guard Nimari Bennett told USA TODAY Sports.

True, but it’s not like the second half was any better. Michigan struggled offensively for all 40 minutes. The 69 points were Michigan's third lowest of the season. It was the worst 3-point shooting night of the season. 

Actually, it was the worst shooting performance of the season, period.

UConn needed to make Michigan look ugly to win. It did that – and it still lost. 

So, how did the Wolverines do it?

Because of one thing hiding in plain sight; while Michigan was lighting up the scoreboard with its prolific offense all tournament long, it made everyone forget one thing: they are just as good on defense.

"When one side lets us down, the other side picks it up," Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg said.

The Wolverines made sure to remind everybody on Monday, resulting in a national championship as those halftime smiles carried over to after the buzzer sounded and Lucas Oil Stadium rained maize and blue confetti.

It’s not like Michigan’s defensive prowess wasn't there for all to see. Three players – Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara – were Big Ten all-defensive players, with Mara the conference defensive player of the year.

That’s why teams’ defensive shooting percentage of 38.4% and average of 6.1 blocks per game were each the second best mark in the country, and it was on full display in the NCAA Tournament. 

The reason why Michigan won its first five tournament games by an average of 21.6 points per game wasn’t just because it was scoring at least 90 points, but because it harassed opposing offenses every night.

No team shot above 45% against the Wolverines, and the collective opponent shooting percentage from those games? A whopping 37.9%. The defense got better in the tournament.

"The statistics, it speaks for itself," Bennett said. "I feel like we're the best defensive team in the country."

Bennett and company did prove it. UConn shot a season-worst 31% from the field. A team that was top 10 in assists with more than 18 per game had just nine, the only time it was held to single digits.

Despite making nine three pointers, UConn missed 24 attempts. Shots were constantly getting contested by the the Wolverines' quickness to the ball. Even with the looks UConn wanted, not many of them were wide open.

It didn't get any easier near the basket. Six shots inside the paint got swatted away, making it tough for the Huskies to prevail even with their own defensive toughness.

"It's hard to have a level of disappointment where literally it just came down to we just didn't make enough shots in the basket," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "To be able to keep that team under 40% from the field – 38% – this team has destroyed everyone they've faced in this tournament."

In the NCAA Tournament, teams are 1-50 all-time when:

- scoring under 70 points
- shooting under 40.0% from the field
- shooting under 15.0% from three on 15+ attempts
- getting outrebounded

The one win was by Michigan tonight. pic.twitter.com/7i7v3F09we

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 7, 2026

For all of its defensive success, Michigan still had to find a way to score, and it did so in an uncharacteristic way.

If there was one thing Michigan wasn’t good at, it was free throws. The Wolverines entered the night 109th in the country with a 74.3% mark from the charity stripe. They drew fouls, resulting in 28 free throw attempts.

How many makes? How about 25 for an 89.3% clip.

All of it proving to be just enough to get the biggest win of the season.

"We started off really, really bad offensively, our defense was the reason why we won most of those games, today is the same thing," Lendeborg said. "We had to dig deep."

While it wasn’t pretty by any means, how Michigan won showed there is nothing to doubt about this title. Since the statement it made at the Player’s Era tournament, Michigan had been a relentless machine on both sides of the ball, churning blowout after blowout, no matter who was on the other side.

Even when it isn’t able to do that, instead of falling apart like most teams could, the Wolverines opted to hone in on one of its many strengths and ride it toward a win.

"They're legit. They definitely deserved to win the national championship. They're clearly the best team in the country this year," Hurley said.

UConn wanted a slugfest, and it’s exactly what it got. Michigan coach Dusty May actually admitted the Huskies "had a masterful game plan to beat us." All of it pointed to a third national title in four years to cement Hurley’s dynasty.

Little did UConn and the rest of the country realize Michigan had been throwing it down all season, and it didn’t need another offensive surge to do that. The defense carried Michigan just as much to this point, and in the end, it proved defense wins championships.

"Obviously, it's a big stage, but we deserve to be here," Bennett said. "We deserve this moment."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Michigan won national championship despite bad offensive night

The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business as they dispatched the Memphis Grizzlies 142-126.

This felt like a preseason game.

The Cavs chose to give nearly all of their regular rotation players who played the night before against the Indiana Pacers the night off. They were without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Thomas Bryant, and Max Strus due to rest, in addition to Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson still being out with injuries.

Things were worse on the other side. The Grizzlies had 13 players ruled out for this game. That left nine available players, with four of those being guys on 10-day contracts due to the hardship exemption.

Despite the number of players missing, the Cavs were able to run out some lineups that made more sense compared to Sunday. The starting five of Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, Sam Merrill, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are all expected to be in the playoff rotation. And they played like it.

The Cavaliers made sure this game wasn’t up for grabs in the fourth quarter. A 19-5 run helped them reassert control in the second quarter. Then, a strong third quarter allowed them to create the separation they needed for a stress-free victory.

Schroder had his first great game in a month. He did a good job of setting up the offense and finding avenues to score himself. Continually getting into the lane off the dribble allowed him to do so.

He finished 22 points on 8-12 shooting to go along with 11 assists. This included going 7-8 on shots in the paint.

Monday’s performance was only the second time Schroder has recorded double-digit points with at least three assists since the first week of March. For reference, he accomplished this seven times in his first 15 games with the team.

As we’ve seen throughout his career, Schroder needs the ball in his hands consistently to be his best self. He’s a rhythm player who requires constant touches to get the most out of his game.

What Schroder does best doesn’t translate as neatly to playing off-ball. He’s not someone who attacks quickly off the catch or is a typical floor spacer. Instead, he’s deliberate in how he probes the paint and gets others involved while doing so.

This ideal role isn’t one Schroder has been able to play with the Cavs when Mitchell and Harden are in the lineup. Both of the starting guards do a majority of their work on-ball. And while Schroder has shown to be impactful throughout his career, he’s not good enough to warrant taking the ball out of either Mitchell’s or Harden’s hands for extended stretches.

The Cavs could use this version of Schroder in the playoffs, the one that is consistently getting downhill and playmaking from there. How they go about doing so when the team is fully healthy is an equation they haven’t solved recently.

Keon Ellis showed how well-rounded his offensive game is. He put up 19 points on 7-11 shooting to go along with eight assists. Ellis did this by decisively attacking whenever the ball swung his way. This included doing a good job of running second-side pick-and-rolls similar to what we’ve seen from Strus.

The offensive game has been better than advertised since coming over from the Sacramento Kings. Right now, Ellis feels firmly cemented in the playoff rotation.

Evan Mobley’s numbers look more impressive than they felt.

There were times it seemed like Mobley wasn’t processing the game quickly enough to be a focal point in the offense. Early on, he struggled to make plays against a Memphis defense that was heavily shading his way whenever he caught the ball in a stationary position. That’s why he ended up with three turnovers in the first half.

However, just because something doesn’t feel impressive doesn’t mean it wasn’t. You don’t luck your way into 24 points on 9-11 shooting with four assists.

Mobley is at his best when he’s in motion. This game proved that once again. Nearly all of his baskets came whenever he was forcefully going toward the basket. Memphis didn’t have anyone who could stop him or even slow him down. And quite frankly, few teams do when he’s attacking with force like this.

Larry Nance Jr. performed well for his second game in a row. He provided good minutes off the bench as he had 10 points, three rebounds, and a steal in just over 21 minutes.

This has been a difficult season for Nance. He hasn’t had nearly the impact that he and the Cavs were hoping for when he returned home this past offseason. An uncharacteristically shaky jumper and slightly less athleticism than he had a few years ago have kept him from doing so. At least he’s been able to end the season strong, even if it’s too late to get back into the rotation.

The Cavs feel locked into the fourth seed.

The New York Knicks‘ win over the Atlanta Hawks secured that Cleveland can’t fall further than four, and also made it difficult for them to climb up to three. That’s a good place for the Cavs to be, considering it would delay a possible matchup with the Boston Celtics for as long as possible.

The Cavs haven’t had much to play for over the past week. That feeling will continue, especially when they take on the Hawks — their likely first-round opponent — twice during their final three regular-season games.

I’d be surprised if Kenny Atkinson decided to play a majority of his guys in those matchups. Atlanta has something to play for with how close spots five through eight are in the East. The Cavs don’t. There isn’t a reason to go for it, considering this team’s injury luck, unless you want to do everything you can to make sure you didn’t play the Hawks in the first round. But even if they did go for it, there’s no guarantee that Atlanta would fall out of fifth place.

We’ll find out how the Cavs choose to approach this when they host the Hawks on Wednesday.

INDIANAPOLIS — Starting guards Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. were each whistled for two quick fouls in Connecticut’s 69-63 loss to Michigan in the national championship game of the men's NCAA Tournament, changing the complexion of a matchup the Huskies hoped could be won on the perimeter.

Nursing a foot injury suffered in the national semifinal against Illinois, Ball finished with 11 points in 16 minutes. Demary lasted just 21 minutes, scoring one bucket before being called for his fifth foul with just over a minute to play.

“I just thought that the first-half foul trouble, really, I thought we were positioned if we didn't have that foul trouble to potentially go into halftime with a lead,” coach Dan Hurley said.

Forward Tarris Reed Jr. had 13 points and 14 rebounds but was bothered by the defense of Michigan's Aday Mara and made just 4 of 12 attempts from the field, his worst shooting performance since missing all three shots in a regular-season matchup against Illinois late November. Guard Braylon Mullins had 11 points on 4 of 17 shooting and made 3 of 10 attempts from 3-point range.

The main reason UConn stayed close with Michigan was the same reason UConn was here in the first place: Playing in the final game of his college career, senior forward Alex Karaban had a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists and two steals.

“So it hurts right now. It hurts a lot right now,” he said.

Crucially, Karaban played all 40 minutes, continuing to serve as the Huskies’ steadying force in his final March Madness experience.

“For coach to play me 40 minutes, I can't thank him enough,” Karaban said. “That's all I wanted. That's all I wanted, is to give everything I got, leave everything I've got out there and try to do everything to help us win.”

LOOKING AHEAD:Our too-early men's basketball Top 25 for next season

Said Hurley, “Let me play him into the ground one more time, just one more 40-minute game for Alex. Let me just play that guy into the ground one more night like I have throughout his career. He deserved to play 40 minutes.”

The most fitting way for Karaban to end his career would have been as a three-time national champion, joining his part on back-to-back winners in 2023 and 2024 and placing him in elite, UCLA-only territory among college players with three rings.

“Obviously. for us it's tough,” said Hurley. “Again, we did not come here for watches, we came here for rings.”

But there’s something apt about the way this ended, too. Since his redshirt freshman season, when he played a complementary role on a loaded roster, Karaban has been the glue that held the Huskies together — the key cog that helped the program breathe rarefied air in reaching three championship games in four years.

“I might cry up here just talking about just the impact he's had, in the locker room, throughout every single practice, every single game,” Ball said. “He's just always there, and he's the same person every single day. He doesn't change. Incredibly smart, great guy off the court. I'm going to miss this guy so much.”

Karaban’s performance in the second half helped UConn shake off multiple double-digit deficits and hang tight with an opponent expected to leave the Huskies in the dust after dismantling Arizona in the national semifinals.

After the Wolverines took their largest lead of the game at 43-35 six minutes into the second half, Karaban corralled an offensive rebound and put back the layup to stem Michigan’s momentum. With Michigan ahead 58-48 at the five-minute mark, Karaban found Mullins for a 3-pointer that set up a frantic final stretch.

Later, with 2:30 remaining, Karaban hit a 3-pointer of his own to cut Michigan’s advantage to 62-56. While his effort would come up short — and wasn’t perfect, with a pair of missed free throws with just over six minutes to go and a missed 3-pointer with 17 seconds left — Karaban nearly willed UConn across the finish line.

“Yeah, you know, blessed that I've been able to wear this jersey for the longest amount of time possible, the max amount, the max amount of minutes, the max amount of games this season. I came back ultimately to win, fell short,” he said.

Win or lose on Monday night, Karaban’s place in program history is secure. He is already the first active player to be inducted into the program’s hall of fame. He holds career marks for wins (126), games played (150), games started (149) and minutes played (4,909). He finished his career with a blistering 18-2 mark in the NCAA tournament, including a 5-1 mark in the Final Four.

This is a place that has put out a lengthy list of college basketball’s best individual players in the past three decades. While not the program’s best overall player and not the Huskies’ best NBA prospect, Karaban leaves with an even more important title: the most important player in UConn history.

“He's put UConn in that rarefied place in college basketball,” Hurley said. This guy changed my life, the staff's lives, the joy he's brought to the university, the fan base.

“His decision to come to UConn has made us … Florida won the national championship last year. I'll probably get in trouble for this. Michigan won the national championship this year. But he's helped to make UConn, I think, right now, we're probably the premier program in college basketball right now, having been to three out of four national championship games, having won two of them.”

That’s a small comfort after coming so close to a third ring. But Karaban took solace in the legacy he leaves behind: Already a blueblood, UConn has become something much more — a potential dynasty, if Hurley can keep this up — thanks to the senior’s four years as the program’s irreplaceable piece.

“I'm just reminding myself right now that when I came into UConn how much I've grown, and I'm ultimately leaving UConn in a better place right now from where I started,” he said. “I gave it everything I got. I gave it my heart. I gave everything. All I thought about was UConn basketball every single day.

“Now that I'm leaving, and for UConn to be one of the best brands in college basketball and to be at the top, I left it better than when it started. I'm most proud of that.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Karban finishes UConn career by playing all 40 minutes vs Michigan

The Golden State Warriors fell one point short in Sunday’s 117-116 loss to the Houston Rockets. Two late missed calls contributed to the close loss.

The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report reviews all the “officiated events” in every game that was within three points at any time in the final two minutes, and if applicable, overtime. There were two big non-calls that might have swung the results of Steph Curry’s first game back from his knee injury.

The first happened with 1:28 to go, when Amen Thompson crashed into Curry as he was cutting to the hoop, shaking Kevin Durant and receiving a sweet pass from Draymond Green. Curry still made the shot but was knocked to the ground, with no whistle. Thompson fouling Curry with the referees swallowing their whistles? Well I never!

Amen Thompson almost killed Steph Curry and they called a foul on Steph 😂 pic.twitter.com/HwOLa5eUJO

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) November 27, 2025

At least they didn’t call Curry for an offensive foul. He was denied the and-one and the Rockets retained a one-point advantage.

That became a four-point lead when Alperen Sengun did get a foul call on far less contact from Draymond Green — though the L2M Report said Green hit his arm — and completed his own three-point play. However, the report says that Sengun “failed to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds,” which should have resulted in a turnover before the shot attempt.

After Curry hit a ridiculous 32-footer, Green got away with a defensive three seconds violation, which happened eight seconds before Durant missed a jump shot (with a legal contest from De’Anthony Melton).

By our count, that’s four missed points for the Warriors and one missed point for the Rockets. Clearly, the NBA will reverse the game result and award Golden State the “W,” right?

Well, no. The Last Two Minute Report mainly exists so that fans can argue about it in the aftermath of a game. There aren’t really any consequences for the officials, Curry isn’t going to start getting foul calls, and the NBA referees don’t apologize — unless it’s to LeBron James.

Like everyone else, referees make mistakes. We made one at the end of last night’s game and that is gut-wrenching for us. This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.https://t.co/WyN8QVuTOl

— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) January 29, 2023

It doesn’t matter in the standings either, since the Warriors are locked into the 10 seed in the upcoming play-in tournament. A correct call would have put Curry one point closer to passing Tim Duncan on the all-time scoring list, but with 20 points to go, he’ll pass the Big Fundamental before season’s end anyway.

He’ll pass Dominique Wilkins some time next season before passing one of his biggest haters, Oscar Robertson, who believes real basketball involves backing your opponent down to the basket, not new-fangled three-pointers. You know Robertson would hate the Last Two Minute Report, too.

What can we conclude? Referees don’t respect Steph Curry, but they respect the sanctity of “three in the key” even less. This author will consider the Warriors a true 37-win team going forward.

Memphis Grizzlies (25-54, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (51-28, third in the Western Conference)

Denver; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Denver will try to keep its nine-game home win streak alive when the Nuggets face Memphis.

The Nuggets are 33-16 against conference opponents. Denver leads the Western Conference with 121.8 points and is shooting 49.5%.

The Grizzlies are 19-30 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis is eighth in the Western Conference scoring 115.0 points per game and is shooting 45.8%.

The Nuggets are shooting 49.5% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 48.3% the Grizzlies allow to opponents. The Grizzlies average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Nuggets allow.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Grizzlies won the last matchup 125-118 on March 19, with Ty Jerome scoring 21 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jamal Murray is shooting 48.3% and averaging 25.4 points for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.7 points over the last 10 games.

GG Jackson is shooting 49.6% and averaging 12.5 points for the Grizzlies. Walter Clayton Jr. is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 9-1, averaging 128.8 points, 45.3 rebounds, 33.4 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.

Grizzlies: 1-9, averaging 110.1 points, 33.7 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.8 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji: day to day (hip), Peyton Watson: out (hamstring), Spencer Jones: day to day (hamstring).

Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Jahmai Mashack: day to day (neck), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Taylor Hendricks: day to day (thumb), Ja Morant: out for season (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Ty Jerome: day to day (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out for season (toe), Taj Gibson: day to day (foot), Brandon Clarke: out for season (calf), Javon Small: day to day (thigh).

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

Portland Trail Blazers (40-39, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (60-19, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio hosts Portland looking to extend its five-game home winning streak.

The Spurs have gone 34-15 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference in rebounding with 47.1 rebounds. Victor Wembanyama paces the Spurs with 11.5 boards.

The Trail Blazers are 27-22 in Western Conference play. Portland is 21-17 in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 12.6 per game the Trail Blazers allow. The Trail Blazers are shooting 45.3% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 115-110 on Jan. 4, with Deni Avdija scoring 29 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is averaging 18.4 points and 6.1 assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 25.5 points over the last 10 games.

Avdija is averaging 24 points, seven rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers. Toumani Camara is averaging 4.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 124.4 points, 50.1 rebounds, 31.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 7-3, averaging 119.1 points, 47.6 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 8.2 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Victor Wembanyama: day to day (rib).

Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant: day to day (calf), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Vit Krejci: day to day (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

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

What feat of strength will Cooper Flagg perform next?

Find out when the Dallas Mavericks (25-53) wrap up their two-night residency in Los Angeles on Tuesday with a game against the Clippers at the Intuit Dome. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CDT.

On Friday, Flagg gave the Orlando Magic 51 on 19-of-30 shooting. On Sunday, he backed it up with 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 134-128 win at the Lakers. If that trend continues, perhaps Flagg is due for a 40-point triple-double at the Clippers? Don’t discount the possibility.

Both he and the Mavericks coaching staff have shown us that getting Flagg the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award is a goal of the utmost importance as the season winds down. His 96 points in a two-game span is a mark only bested in NBA history by Wilt Chamberlain during his rookie year.

And the rest of the Mavs? It looks like they’re just trying to get to the finish line, as we all are. Here are three things we’ll be watching out for in the Mavericks’ Tuesday matchup with the Clippers.

Rookie of the Year race

Kon Knueppel and his Charlotte Hornets face the Boston Celtics just a couple of hours before the Mavs tip off against the Clippers. On Sunday, Knueppel laid a stinker on a 4-of-14 shooting night as the Hornets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-108.

Would Flagg continuing his scorching hot tear in the season’s final six games be enough to sway the Rookie of the Year voters over to his side? A third straight monster performance couldn’t hurt, especially since Knueppel has gone over the 20-point mark just once in his last nine games.

There was a time, as Flagg worked his way back from a foot injury in February, that Knueppel was simply out-playing Flagg on a nightly basis. That is no longer the case. It only makes sense that the last few games of the season would hold equal weight as voters consider whose name to put on their ballots.

Box score watching will likely be at least as compelling as the product the Mavericks put on the floor against the Clippers, who have won two of their last three after losing five straight at the end of March.

Guard play

Brandon Williams in particular has become an interesting case study at guard in recent games. On some nights he looks like the perfect tank commander, as his jumpshot leaves a little to be desired and his size makes him something of a liability on the defensive end. But at other times, he’s able to get to the basket at will, zooming past the defense in big moments that make one wonder whether he’s actually a useful piece for the future.

Combine his knack for scoring with the fact that the Mavericks’ latest win over the Lakers may have hurt their draft lottery odds as much as it helped Flagg’s Rookie of the Year chances, and you start to wonder what guards in the stellar 2026 NBA Draft class may even be available at all when the Mavs’ first pick comes around.

Is Williams a good option off the bench going forward? Or is he as replaceable as basically everyone else on this roster not named Flagg? He’s auditioning, and he’s playing like it lately, averaging 17 points per game in his last four outings.

Get it over with

Two of the Mavericks’ previous three games against the Clippers this year have gone into overtime. The Mavs lost to Los Angeles at home in overtime, 138-131, on Mar. 23 and dropped a double-overtime loss to the Clippers, 133-127, on Nov. 14.

The Mavs are now 17-26 this season in 43 clutch games after Sunday’s win at the Lakers. No matter how bad they look at times, they seem to always work their way back into games. Whether that’s more sheer force of will or simply Silly Season shenanigans at play, sometimes it’s hard to tell.

With a late start on our hands on Tuesday, all we’re really hoping for is a clear result at the end of regulation this time around. We’re so done with this season. All that’s left seems to be Flagg’s march to a postseason award.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Clippers are slated for a 9:30 p.m. CDT tip on Wednesday from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. You can catch the stream on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass where available.

ATLANTA — Mike Brown acknowledged discussing a starting lineup change — “there’s always going to be chatter about it” — but isn’t close to acting and, at least for now, anticipates the status quo for the playoffs.

“I don’t believe in never ever. But right now we’re going to start that five and that’s how I foresee it,” the coach said. “If I feel I need to make a change at any time, I’ll make a change. But I don’t feel that way right now.”

League sources said moving Landry Shamet into the lineup was discussed. Earlier this season, Brown altered his starting lineup, replacing Mitchell Robinson with Josh Hart.

Brown said Monday his staff convinced him to abandon the original double-big lineup (with Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns), a move made in December.

“There’s debate literally all the time. Obviously there was a debate at the start of the season when we started two bigs [Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns]. And there was debate almost every day because I was the only one with that [opinion] — and I was getting hammered at this angle, that angle, every angle. So we talked about it a lot.

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“That’s just chatter that you have throughout the course of the year, trying to find ways to improve your team. So I think there’s always going to be chatter about [changing the lineup now]. … But there’s nothing I’ve felt close to acting on yet.”

The current Knicks starting lineup — Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby, Towns — had habitually produced poor first quarters before Monday’s 108-105 victory over the Hawks. It had the third-most minutes together in the NBA but carried a net rating of just plus-0.7 — including a first-quarter net rating of minus-8.1 in the first quarter.

But they built a three-point lead before the first sub Monday, and they closed out the win together with a clutch run down the stretch.

Brown used his likely nine-man playoff rotation with Miles McBride, Robinson, Shamet and Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench.

It meant Jose Alvarado picked up his first healthy DNP.

“I’m good. I’m chilling,” Alvarado, acquired at the trade deadline by Leon Rose, said. “I’m ready for my moment. I’m ready for my name to get called whenever it is. … So just whenever it’s Jose’s time, whenever that time is, I’m ready.”

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Towns said his right elbow impingement — which kept him out of Saturday’s win over the Bulls — has been an issue “for a while.”

“It is what it is at this point,” he said.

For a moment, everything stopped.

Inside the Frost Bank Center, the buzz of a marquee matchup, Victor Wembanyama versus Joel Embiid, gave way to silence as Wembanyama walked slowly toward the locker room, his night cut short before halftime. It should have been the turning point, but it became something else entirely.

The San Antonio Spurs didn’t flinch.

They steadied themselves, leaned on each other, and by the final buzzer, they were walking off the floor with a 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers—a performance defined less by who they lost, and more by who they became. And it also became their 60th win of the season.

Before the injury, the game had all the makings of a heavyweight duel. Wembanyama was electric early, scoring 17 points in just over 15 minutes, matching Embiid possession for possession. Every touch felt significant, every bucket answered. It was the kind of rhythm that pulls a crowd to its feet.

Then, in an instant, it was gone. A hit in transition. A slow walk off the floor. No return. And just like that, the spotlight shifted.

That’s when Stephon Castle stepped forward. He had a steady command that never wavered as he controlled the pace, found teammates in rhythm, and filled every gap the Spurs suddenly had to navigate. By the end of the night, his stat line told the story: 19 points, 13 assists, and double-digit rebounds—but it was the composure that stood out most.

Possession by possession, Castle kept San Antonio grounded. And he wasn’t alone.

One by one, the Spurs followed. Shots came from different hands. Stops came from collective effort. What could have unraveled instead turned into something balanced, something connected. By halftime, they had the lead and by the fourth quarter, San Antonio was in firm control.

Joel Embiid kept pushing to help his team, scoring 34 points, fought through contact, and tried to drag Philadelphia back into the game. For stretches, it felt like he might. But the Spurs never let the moment slip.

Every time the 76ers threatened, San Antonio answered. The lead stretched. The clock ticked. And whatever window Philadelphia hoped to find quietly closed. When the final buzzer sounded, the Spurs had earned the 115-102 victory, but the final score only told part of the story.

San Antonio responded to losing its star player as well as a winnable game against Denver on Saturday. A team losing its star and refusing to lose its identity. A young group discovering, in real time, what it looks like to carry the weight together.

And as the Spurs walked off the floor, the image that lingered wasn’t the final score.

It was everything that came after Wembanyama left—and how, somehow, they never let the game leave with him.

ATLANTA — Two years ago, the Knicks were lovable underdogs.

A year ago, they were a little less lovable — a product of exhausting all their draft assets in trades and losing their rough-and-tumble identity — but they were underdogs, nonetheless.

“ ‘If they make it a six-game series, I’ll be proud of the Knicks,’ ” recalled Karl-Anthony Towns of the punditry surrounding last year’s second round against the Celtics.

Now? They better win. That’s the mandate not only from the outside but also the team owner, James Dolan, who replaced the coach in June and sent a public Finals-or-bust message in January. So it doesn’t matter that the Knicks still aren’t betting favorites to win the East, or that they’ll probably enter as the No. 3 seed.

They either advance past three rounds or they’re a disappointment and Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes the only way out.

“The perception and standards have obviously changed for us ever since we made that stride last year in the playoffs,” Towns said Monday. “Getting through the first round, we weren’t supposed to make it out of there. Then the second round, we definitely weren’t supposed to be making it out of there. We showed the world that we can beat these teams, especially in the playoffs.

“But in doing that, we put the antennas up for the rest of the league as well. They know what we can do and on top of that, coming in with the expectations we had this year, finding a way to win the NBA Cup. Even through all the ups and downs, finding ourselves the third seed. The world is not unaware of how good we are. But it’s up to us to execute in a seven-game series and be disciplined and find a way to win.”

Towns was wrong about one thing. The Knicks were supposed to beat the Pistons in the first round last year and they succeeded in six games. But then they were projected for a beatdown administered by the Celtics and instead compelled mass celebrations outside of MSG.

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It’s theoretically easier to play freer when unburdened by expectations. But Towns is taking the “pressure is a privilege” approach.

“Me, personally, I’ve been dealing with expectations since before I stepped into the league,” said Towns, the former No. 1 overall draft pick. “Honestly, it’s really the same thing. It’s been the story of my career. Dealing with expectations that are lofty. On top of that, the expectations I have for myself are even higher than what people give me. So I have a lot of work to do. But I’ve been used to it. So it’s a blessing to have pressure.”

Beyond the team success and the overflow of glory that would come with an NBA Finals appearance, there’s money at stake for individual players. Towns is eligible for a contract extension after the season. Same with Miles McBride. Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara could all be free agents. Players get paid off their postseasons. Just ask Mikal Bridges, who got $150 million after his breakthrough opening two rounds of 2025.

This year’s version of the Knicks — and Bridges, especially — doesn’t look as good as the version that beat the Celtics. But momentum is a helluva equalizer.

And if the Knicks can close the season strong against four straight playoff-bound opponents — including Monday against the Hawks — they can carry it into the first round.

“We can get to that level. We’re really good,” Alvarado said. “We just need to lock in on the details and stay like that. What really is in our way is ourselves. We just got to stay consistent and confident in who we are.”

Better late than never, says Towns.

“The playoffs should’ve started 10 games ago [for us],” the center said. “We should be building on our standards all year. That’s what the goal was. We have four good games where we can get some good tape, get our coverages right. See how we can execute different coverages, different things. And we could just find different ways to show what we can do, and have adjustments ready to go in the playoffs.”

The Golden State Warriors had a bittersweet Easter Sunday. On the bright side, they welcomed Steph Curry back into the fold after the two-time MVP had missed 27 consecutive games with runner’s knee. On the less happy side, the Dubs lost a heartbreaker to the Houston Rockets, as their comeback fell just short in a 117-116 defeat.

Because it was a close game, the NBA released a Last 2 Minute Report for the contest. In L2Ms, the NBA combs through the final two minutes of close games from multiple camera angles, and assesses whether plays were correctly called (or non-called). Thankfully (or sometimes not thankfully), the L2Ms are released to the public, so we can see how the officials did in the most crucial moments.

In Houston’s victory, the league determined that there were three mistakes made by the officiating crew. All three were incorrect non-calls, which is to say whistles that weren’t blown, but should have been. And two of those three were whistles that would have been blown against the Rockets, benefitting the Warriors.

The first occurred with 1:28.6 remaining, when Curry made a layup that pulled the Warriors to within a point. According to the league, a shooting foul should have been called on Amen Thompson, giving Curry a free throw. Here’s the league’s ruling: “Thompson (HOU) jumps from A to B and initiates body contact with Curry (GSW) as he defends the shot.”

The second occurred shortly after, with 1:10.7 on the clock, when Alperen Şengün should have been whistled for a three-second violation, with the league stating, “Sengun (HOU) fails to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds.” Just two seconds later, Şengün drained a short jumper, was fouled, and completed the three-point play. Instead of a turnover, the Rockets pushed their lead to four points.

The third and final officiating mistake came with 46 seconds remaining, when the refs failed to call a defensive three-second violation on Draymond Green. Here’s the ruling: “Green (GSW) fails to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds without imminently actively guarding an opponent.” Had the play been properly whistled, the Rockets would have gotten a free throw and then retained possession. Instead, they had an empty trip down the court.

Ultimately, missed calls are a part of the game, and there’s no use crying over them. Sometimes they help the Warriors, and sometimes they hurt them.