Mark Cuban knew it was time for him to sell the Dallas Mavericks — and he doesn't regret that choice. His bank account swelling up with his share of the $3.5 billion team valuation has a lot to do with that, but he said at the time the NBA was moving from a technology business (his strength) to a real estate business, and he knew it was time.
"It's a big emotional commitment. You hear the passion and everything. Now, imagine going up and down like that every single game. That's hard. My kids, they were coming of the age where they are coming of the mindset that they might want to work at the Mavs. I did not want that for them. It can be abusive, a lot. If fans don't like what you're doing or the team's not doing well. You're the worst human being on the planet and they treat you that way...
"I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to. I made a lot of mistakes in the process, and I'll leave it at that."
Cuban sold the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson — owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation — and the team is run by her son-in-law, Las Vegas Sands CEO Patrick Dumont.
The season that Cuban sold the Mavericks they played in the NBA Finals. By the middle of the next season, GM Nico Harrison had convinced Dumont it was time to trade Luka Doncic, a move that led to intense fan backlash and ultimately cost Harrison his job. After that season, the Mavericks got lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery and jumped to the top, selecting new franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
Cuban said before the sale that he would stay on in some role with the Mavericks' basketball operations. That did not happen. Cuban is still a regular at Mavericks games.
The Mavericks, at 24-51, have the sixth-worst record in the NBA this season and will head into the NBA Draft Lottery with much better odds than they had a season ago.
With eight games to go, the Toronto Raptors are still fighting to seal a Top 6 spot, and that tight race could look a little different after tonight’s visit to the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit continues to compete despite Cade Cunningham’s absence, but my Raptors vs. Pistons predictions expect Scottie Barnes to make his mark on this matchup as Toronto looks for a third straight win.
Read on for my free NBA picks ahead of this March 31 clash.
Raptors vs Pistons prediction
Raptors vs Pistons best bet: Scottie Barnes Over 14.5 rebounds + assists (+102)
There’s a lot to like about the way Scottie Barnes is sparking a Toronto Raptors team that needs a strong finish to avoid play-in peril, and he’s a value pick for another do-it-all outing tonight.
Barnes has blown past this combo O/U number in each of his last four contests, and I see him repeating the trick against a Detroit Pistons team on the second night of a back-to-back set.
Barnes has flashed his passing skills ever since he came into the league, but he’s gone up another level lately, headlined by a 15-assist effort against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
With Immanuel Quickley still out, Scottie is well placed for a fifth straight outing with double-digit dimes, and his playmaking allows Darko Rajakovic to turn to lineups without a traditional point guard.
He’ll be a factor on the glass, too, where he’s averaging 7.7 RPG this year, and that’ll be especially vital if Jalen Duren returns for the Pistons here after missing yesterday’s game in OKC.
Plus, Barnes finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists against Detroit earlier this month in another reminder that he belongs among the top two-way talents in the league.
The Raptors are still trying to prove they can beat the top teams in the East, and a monster stat line from Barnes is their best ticket to escaping with a victory tonight.
Raptors vs Pistons same-game parlay
With Barnes pulling the strings, Ja’Kobe Walter has cashed in some open looks from beyond the arc. Walter has knocked down 3+ triples in four of his last five contests, and he’s making his corner 3s at a 49% clip.
But I still see this game hitting the Under, which is 45-29 for the Raptors this season and 41-34 for the Pistons. Both teams rank in the Top 10 stingiest defenses, and there are some key bucket-getters on the injury report.
Raptors vs Pistons SGP
Scottie Barnes Over 14.5 rebounds + assists
Ja’Kobe Walter Over 1.5 3-pointers
Under 220
Our "from downtown" SGP: Jump on Jenkins
Daniss Jenkins has embraced a bigger role without Cade Cunningham on the floor, and I see him putting up impressive numbers again here, despite a grueling battle with SGA last night.
Jenkins has dished 6+ dimes in five of his last six outings for the Pistons, who are 28-9 SU at Little Caesars Arena, and he’s shooting a steady 39% from downtown in March.
Raptors vs Pistons SGP
Daniss Jenkins Over 15.5 points
Daniss Jenkins Over 5.5 assists
Daniss Jenkins Over 3.5 rebounds
Pistons moneyline
Raptors vs Pistons odds
Spread: Toronto +2.5 (-110) | Detroit -2.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Toronto +125 | Detroit -150
Over/Under: Over 220 (-110) | Under 220 (-110)
Raptors vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Pistons are 7-1 SU in their last eight matchups against the Raptors. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Pistons.
How to watch Raptors vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
SN, FDSN-DTX
Raptors vs Pistons latest injuries
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The Portland Trail Blazers (38-38) and Los Angeles Clippers (39-36) meet on NBC and Peacock at 11 PM Eastern for their second to last meeting of the season. Los Angeles is 2-0 against Portland this season.
Portland has six games remaining and two of them come against Los Angeles. The Trail Blazers have won three of the last four games to reach .500 on the season. Portland clinched a play-in tournament spot and will likely be one of the 8, 9, or 10 seeds. The Trail Blazers are 1.5 games behind the Clippers and 1.5 ahead of the Warriors.
The Clippers appear to be locked into the play-in tournament and could meet the Trail Blazers a third time this month. Los Angeles has won five consecutive games and are 9-4 over the last 13 contests. In the last five games, Los Angeles ranks third offensively and sixth defensively. On the other side, Portland has the No. 1 rated defense in that span, but comes in at 18th offensively.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Trail Blazers at Clippers
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 11:00 PM EST
Site: Intuit Dome
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: Peacock/NBC Sports
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Trail Blazers at Clippers
The latest odds as of Tuesday, courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers (-225), Portland Trail Blazers (+185)
Spread: Los Angeles -5.5
Total: O/U 227.5 points
This game opened Los Angeles -6.5 with the Total set at 228.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Trail Blazers at Clippers
Portland Trail Blazers
PG Scoot Henderson
SG Jrue Holiday
SF Toumani Camara
PF Deni Avdija
C Donovan Clingan
Los Angeles Clippers
PG Darius Garland
SG Kawhi Leonard
SF Derrick Jones Jr.
PF John Collins
C Brook Lopez
Injury Report: Trail Blazers at Clippers
Portland Trail Blazers
Jerami Grant (calf) is OUT for tonight's game
Vit Krejci (calf) is OUT for tonight's game
Los Angeles Clippers
Isaiah Jackson (ankle) is OUT for tonight's game
Important stats, trends and insights: Trail Blazers at Clippers
Los Angeles is 39-36 ATS and 38-37 to the Over this season
The Clippers are 19-17 to the Over at home and 13-12 to the Over as a home favorite
Los Angeles is 20-16 ATS at home and 12-13 ATS as a home favorite
Portland is 40-36 ATS and 40-36 to the Over this season
Portland is 17-21 ATS as the road team and 9-12 ATS as a road underdog
Portland is 22-16 to the Under as the road team and 14-7 as a road underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Trail Blazers and Clippers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks +1.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 217.5
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ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Iran soccer players and officials posed with pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes before their World Cup warmup against Costa Rica on Tuesday.
There were no spectators at the stadium in Antalya but FIFA President Gianni Infantino was present.
The Iran players were joined by coach Amir Ghalenoei, Iran Football Federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi and staff members, holding the photographs while singing the national anthem.
Iran won the match 5-0.
The players' gesture came after they held small backpacks on Friday before another warmup against Nigeria, to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran. More than 165 people were killed, most of them children, in the Feb. 28 strike likely launched by the U.S.
Neither the United States nor Israel has accepted responsibility for the attack which has been widely criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups. The U.S. military is investigating and has said it would never target civilians.
Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico in June, but that it was not possible for the national team to go to the U.S. because of the war started by the U.S. and Israel.
The Islamic Republic’s team is to play three group stage matches in the U.S. The Iran ambassador in Mexico City has said the country asked FIFA to move those three games to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending, citing safety concerns.
Infantino has dampened Iran attempts to move its matches, saying FIFA wants its tournament “to go ahead as scheduled.”
March usually belongs to the college kids and their “madness,” but if you’ve ever tried tackling NBA player props in the waning days of the schedule, you know a thing or two about going mad.
With so many mixed motivations, along with injuries and changing rotations, the home stretch of the NBA season is loaded with pitfalls for prop bettors.
I search for simplicity in these complicated times and close out the month with my best NBA picks for Tuesday, March 31.
The Orlando Magic hit rock bottom in an embarrassing loss to the Toronto Raptors this past weekend.
But hey, you can only go up from there, right?
That’s true for Paolo Banchero, who finished 3-for-14 from the floor and scored just nine points in Toronto. His putrid performance kept Orlando on a 1-7 SU slide, pushing it back into the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament.
I like a bounce-back spot for a desperate Banchero, with the team returning home to face the Phoenix Suns. Before that blip north of the border, he was on a tear, posting 30, 36, and 39 points in his previous three games while averaging more than 25 points this month.
Sunday’s shooting slump has knocked Banchero's points prop down a few pegs. His scoring total was as high as 25.5 O/U during that hot streak, and tonight’s projections sit between 23 and 25 points, with most books leaning above 24.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Florida, KPHE
Prop #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
-105 at bet365
The New York Knicks continue to take three steps forward and two steps back, following a seven-game winning streak with back-to-back losses.
That stumble puts New York off the pace of the Celtics and Pistons atop the Eastern Conference standings and has fingers pointing at standout Karl-Anthony Towns, following an offensive power outage.
Towns has shot the ball just 17 total times in those losses, hitting 10 of those attempts and finishing with outputs of 13 and 15 points. NBA analysts are calling for KAT to play a bigger role and demand touches in the Knicks’ offense, especially with the playoffs closing in.
His point totals are shrinking like they jumped in a cold swimming pool, down from 20.5 to 17.5 O/U. That presents a buyback spot at Houston tonight.
Towns already torched the Houston Rockets for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting back in February, and his player projections all sit well above this 17.5-point mark, ranging from 19.4 to as high as 23.4.
Before going MIA the last two games, KAT has scored 21 or more points in seven of eight games.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC/Peacock, MSG
Prop #3: Scottie Barnes Under 7.5 assists
-140 at bet365
Scottie Barnes is doing his best John Stockton impersonation. The Toronto Raptors' small forward has stepped up as a primary ball handler, with the lineup missing key cogs in Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram.
He’s dished out 10, 12, 12, and 15 dimes over his last four outings, generating 16.8 potential assists per game in that span.
Helping those helpers has been a slate of foes immune to playmaking, facing the likes of Utah, the L.A. Clippers, and New Orleans — all of which sit in the bottom half in opponent assist rate. Toronto has also shot a blistering 53% from the field in those outings.
Barnes, who was averaging 5.4 assists on 9.4 potential dimes before this stretch, will see his passing prowess come back to earth tonight. The Raptors visit the Detroit Pistons and their top-tier defense.
The Pistons’ drum-tight No. 2 defensive rating doesn’t let opponents pass gas, let alone the basketball. Detroit boasts the fifth-lowest defensive assist rate and the fewest assists allowed (23.4), tightening that belt to 22.5 assists allowed over the last dozen games.
Ingram could also return to action tonight after sitting out two of those previous four games. That will take the ball out of Barnes' hands more often.
Projections remain grounded while the prop market isn’t. Barnes' assist total is up to 7.5 O/U, but models barely breach six dimes, sitting as short as 5.3 assists. The Under is a juicy play, but worth it considering the contrast in forecasts and foe.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Detroit Extra, Rogers Sportsnet Toronto, WMYD
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A couple of teams with ties to LeBron James — his first team in Cleveland and his current team in Los Angeles — face each other and can lock up playoff spots with a win in that showdown. Plus, a few games will have huge seeding implications. Here's what to look for.
Playoff Scenarios
• The Los Angeles Lakers will clinch both a playoff spot and the Pacific Division crown with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, or a Phoenix Suns loss on the road in Orlando.
• Cleveland clinches a playoff spot in the East with a win over Los Angeles.
• Denver officially will clinch a playoff spot if Phoenix loses in Orlando.
• Detroit will officially win the Central Division title with a win over Toronto, but that will be no easy ask on the second night of a back-to-back.
• The Clippers appear headed to the play-in — which is still pretty impressive considering their horrid 6-21 start to the season — but LA will officially be locked into the play-in if it loses to Portland and Houston beats New York.
Games to Watch
New York Knicks at Houston Rockets (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Both of these teams are headed to the playoffs, but both need this win for seeding. New York sits as the No. 3 seed in the East, two games back of Boston for the second but just one game up on Cleveland to hold on to that third spot. Houston is currently the No. 6 seed in the West but is just half a game behind Minnesota (and tied in the loss column) for the No. 5 spot (and two games back of Denver for fourth). Houston has been a pedestrian 5-5 in its last 10, but the Knicks come in on a two-game losing streak.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET, League Pass)
Another game between playoff teams — both with aspirations of a deep playoff run — fighting for seeding. Cleveland sits as the No. 4 seed in the East, just one game back of No. 3 seed New York, and is trying to chase them down. The Lakers are the No. 3 seed in the West, but Denver is just 1.5 games back (and on a hot streak, having won six in a row).
Portland Trail Blazers at LA Clippers (11 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
The Trail Blazers sit as the No. 9 seed in the West, 1.5 games back of the No. 8 seed Clippers — if Portland is going to climb into the top eight it needs this win.
There is a huge difference between being the No. 7/8 seed in the play-in and the 9/10 seeds. The 7/8 teams just need to win one of two games, at least one at home, to advance to the playoffs. However, 9/10 teams must win two games without a loss, at least one on the road. Both the Trail Blazers and Clippers are trying to avoid that harder path.
The New York Knicks (48-27) travel to Houston to face the Rockets (45-29) on NBC and Peacock. This is the second and final meeting between the two. New York won the only matchup, 108-106 on February 21st.
New York has dropped its last two games after winning seven straight prior. The Knicks clinched a playoff spot in the top six last night and are positioned in the third seed with a 1.0 game-lead over the Cavaliers. Over the last 10 games, the Knicks have the third-best rated offense in the NBA, but come in at 16th defensively.
Houston sits in the six-seed of the West and are a 0.5 game back of Minnesota and 2.0 games behind Denver. The Rockets have won its last two games, but have been inconsistent with a 5-5 record over the last 10 games. Houston has the 16th-rated offense in that 10-game span and 13th-ranked defense.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Knicks at Rockets
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Site: Toyota Center
City: Houston, TX
Network/Streaming: Peacock/NBC Sports
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Knicks at Rockets
The latest odds as of Tuesday, courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Houston Rockets (-112), New York Knicks (-108)
Spread: Houston -1.5
Total: O/U 217.5 points
This game opened New York -1.5 with the Total set at 218.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Knicks at Rockets
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson
SG Josh Hart
SF Mikal Bridges
PF OG Anunoby
C Karl-Anthony Towns
Houston Rockets
PG Amen Thompson
SG Reed Sheppard
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jabari Smith
C Alperen Sengun
Injury Report: Knicks at Rockets
New York Knicks
Landry Shamet (knee) is OUT for tonight's game
Miles McBride (pelvis) is QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game
Houston Rockets
None
Important stats, trends and insights: Knicks at Rockets
Houston is 31-43 ATS, ranking 3rd-worst
Houston is 13-22 ATS at home, ranking 2nd-worst
Houston is 40-33-1 to the Under, ranking 10th-best
Houston is 22-12-1 to the Under at home, ranking 4th-best
New York is 39-37 ATS this season
New York is 14-24 ATS on the road, ranking 2nd-worst
New York is 40-36 to the Under and 22-16 to the Under on the road
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Knicks and Rockets’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks +1.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 217.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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The New York Knicks just clinched a playoff berth while the Houston Rockets are trying to improve their own seeding in the Western Conference. New York is slightly favored with a moneyline of -118.0, compared to Houston's -102.0.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday lineup features an exciting NBA doubleheader on NBC and Peacock. First at 8:00 PM ET Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in Texas. Then, at 11:00 PM ET it's the Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Clippers . Live coverage begins with NBA Showtime at 7:00 PM on Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch each game.
Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The Knicks officially clinched a playoff spot last night after Philadelphia's loss to Miami. They're currently third in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the Boston Celtics.
New York struggled earlier this season, going 2-9 from December 31-January 19, but has managed to turn their season around, winning 23 of 30 games from January 21 to March 24.
But the goal for New York isn't just to make a deep playoff run.
“We want to get to the Finals. And we should win the Finals. This is sports, and anything can happen. But getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do," said Knicks owner James Dolan in January.
The Knicks look to bounce back tonight after dropping back-to-back losses against the Hornets and Thunder.
The Rockets are currently sixth in the Western Conference with a 3.5-game lead over the Phoenix Suns. Kevin Durant has been Houston's most consistent player, leading the Rockets with 25.9 points per game. Durant, now 37, looks to lead his fifth franchise to the playoffs.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Only No. 2 seed Connecticut, No. 3 Illinois and No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona remain in March Madness after each school won their respective region to secure their trips to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the Final Four site this year. UConn faces Illinois and Michigan takes on Arizona for spots in the national championship.
Michigan and Arizona have been dominant all season and in the Men's NCAA Tournament, and their Final Four matchup is shaping up to be one of the most-anticipated games in recent years. The Wolverines are coming off a 95-62 win over No. 6 Tennessee in the Elite Eight, with the Wildcats took down No. 2 Purdue, 79-64.
The Huskies, meanwhile, defeated top-seeded Duke on a last-second 3-pointer from true freshman Braylon Mullins. Illinois punched its ticket after beating fellow Big Ten foe No. 9 Iowa, 71-59.
Here's a look at the full officiating crew for the Final Four in 2026, which is certainly going to appease all college basketball fans:
Who is officiating the Final Four in 2026?
The NCAA didn't announce specific game assignments but did announce the 11 officials selected for the Final Four in 2026. Here's the full list:
The Los Angeles Lakers can clinch the Pacific Division title and a playoff berth with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Luka Doncic is returning from his one-game suspension for the Lakers, who are favored by 1.5 points with a -135 moneyline in a matchup against the Cavaliers.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
"After taking time to reflect on my journey and what's best for my future, I've decided to enter the transfer portal," he wrote as part of a longer message.
Rioux played limited minutes in 2025-26, scoring seven total points in 17 minutes. He became both the tallest player to ever score in an NCAA Tournament and SEC conference game this season, and could be an interesting prospect for teams to take a shot on if he's able to develop, given his other-worldly size.
The Quebec, Canada, native attended IMG Academy, a popular prep high school in Bradenton, Florida, before securing a preferred a roster spot at Florida. He was a 3-star recruit, according to 247Sports' Composite, with reported offers from Florida Atlantic and Stetson, before choosing the Gators.
He has experience with Canada's national team, having played a significant role for multiple of its younger squads. He averaged 4.5 points with 4.5 rebounds per game in Canada's U18 FIBA AmeriCup bronze medal win in 2023.
Rioux won a national championship at Florida in 2024-25, although he redshirted that season, focusing on development with the Gators' scout team. After being on back-to-back No. 1 seeds, perhaps he's ready for more substantial player time next season, albeit with a different school.
Olivier Rioux dunk vs Prairie View A&M
Rioux grabbed an offensive rebound before throwing down a dunk in which he barely had to jump in Florida's first-round win over No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M in the NCAA Tournament. The crowd expectedly went wild after he scored, given his popularity.
Rioux's final game at Florida was his best showing, although it came during Florida's 60-plus point lead. He scored two points with two rebounds and an assist in two minutes of action. He was also responsible for one of the viral moments of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament, when he towered over Prairie View A&M's 6-foot-8 Hassane Diallo.
Welcome to Week 23, better known as Championship Week for most fantasy leagues. As the NBA prepares for its final full week of action, injuries and seeding are among the most important factors at this time of year. Who can you ultimately trust to bring valuable production to close the season? Who should you maybe avoid? We have some suggestions.
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→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock: The Magic and the Cavaliers will tip things off at 8 p.m. ET before the Suns and Nuggets square off at 11 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.
STOCK UP
Daniss Jenkins, PG/SG, Pistons
The Pistons essentially have hardly missed a beat after losing superstar point guard Cade Cunningham to a collapsed lung in the middle of March. Jenkins has played some good ball in the seven games since being elevated to the starting lineup as an injury replacement, averaging 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. Those are not quite Cunningham-type numbers, but impactful ones nonetheless. Jenkins' biggest moment came in a 30-point performance in a win over the Lakers recently, which was immediately followed by a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. The sophomore guard isn’t someone who fantasy managers should necessarily lock in for big games on a nightly basis. However, the floor seems high, considering the current role and workload; any strong stat lines shouldn’t be surprising.
Gary Trent Jr., SG/SF, Bucks
Need scoring? Need three-pointers? Trent Jr. may be your guy! Although his 2025-26 season has been one of his least impressive in years, he finds himself currently back in the starting rotation for a Bucks team that is officially eliminated from the playoffs, dealing with several key injuries, and has just cut the guard who was likely occupying some of Trent Jr.’s backcourt minutes off the bench. In other words, he’s in a good position to play freely without much pressure, which he’s done effectively over the past week. The eighth-year guard has had 18-point, 20-point, and 36-point games in his most recent run, while tallying 20 made triples over the last four games. He’s surely capable of some lows — see his zero-point, 0-of-7 shooting outing against the Trail Blazers on March 25 — but his highs provide quality fantasy value for those in pursuit of three-point scoring.
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, Nuggets
Speaking of three-point shooting, how many players in the league off the bench are more capable of setting the nets on fire than Hardaway Jr.? He’s been filling such a role since his playoff runs with the Mavericks, and now appears to be gearing up for another significant one in his first year with the Nuggets. The veteran sharpshooter has drained at least four three-pointers in four of his last six games, scoring at least 16 points in each. There’s little else being contributed from a fantasy standpoint, so Hardaway Jr.’s appeal likely would be for those fantasy managers in category leagues. If three-point production is needed, THJ is a qualified streaming option.
STOCK DOWN
Quentin Grimes, SG/SF, 76ers
“No Paul George. No Tyrese Maxey. No Joel Embiid. Just lots of Quentin Grimes lately,” — me, in last week’s column, labeling Grimes as a “Stock Up” performer. Well, each of those injured stars has returned, and now Grimes’ production has decreased significantly, and quickly. He’s, understandably, coming off the bench now and seeing far fewer attempts over his past three games, totaling 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Grimes’ most recent performance, an 11-point, five-rebound, four-assist line against the Hornets, reflects the type of numbers that should be considered as realistic moving forward, given his decreased role. The Sixers are both trying to cement a playoff spot while getting their core group acclimated and back in the flow ahead of the postseason. It may not be a good idea to rely on Grimes during Championship Week.
LeBron James, SF/PF, Lakers
It feels very weird to put a player of this caliber and status into the Stock Down category, but the numbers represent a player who probably shouldn’t be counted on to consistently put up game-changing numbers. To be fair, James, in Year 23, is coming off a triple-double against the Wizards on Monday. But for context, that was in a game that Luka Doncic missed to serve a one-game suspension. When the team has been healthy recently, James has logged stat lines that reflect a more measured approach and a seemingly backseat role to his teammates as the Lakers continue to collect wins. Barring key absences, it’s hard to see the formula changing much down the stretch of the season. Shout out to LeBron, though, for being able to adapt and play whichever role is required at the time.
Jay Huff, C, Pacers
Huff began March with five consecutive double-digit scoring performances and multiple three-pointers in each contest — his ending to the month hasn’t been quite as productive. Over his last five appearances, the floor-spacing center has failed to reach double figures in points four times and combined to shoot 6-of-16 from beyond the arc. His recent slippage isn’t a grand one; rather, it could be considered a letdown, based on the highs he’s reached at points this season, and how big his role could be on a banged-up Pacers team. Huff should still be in position to end the season strong. However, it’s difficult to get a feel for what to expect from him on a nightly basis.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks over Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 30, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to nine against the shorthanded Chicago Bulls on Monday night. San Antonio dominated the game in a 129-114 blowout. The Spurs used a 35-19 second quarter to build a lead and never looked back, despite Chicago’s best efforts to keep the game close.
Victor Wembanyama once again looked like an MVP candidate as he’s made a late push to win the award. He single-handedly dominated the game on both ends, helping the Spurs breeze to an easy victory. He’ll headline a new series of articles for every game through the end of the season, where we grade each player on their performance.
These grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. So if someone makes a clutch shot or gets beaten repeatedly on defense, that will be accounted for. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual.
Wembanyama owned the entire game. The Bulls didn’t have the size to compete with San Antonio’s big man in the paint. He got everything he wanted at the rim and knocked down three triples, including a clutch shot at the end of the first half as time expired. Defensively, he was up to his usual tricks, keeping the Bulls out of the paint whenever he was in the game. The game was another MVP-level statement. There aren’t many players who can completely own a game on both ends like Wembanyama.
Wembanyama currently trails Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP odds on FanDuel at +300.
It was a pretty meh game from Champagnie. Early on, the Bulls were going at him defensively and getting some easy buckets. He made up for it by having an efficient shooting night on the other end, only missing two shots. Champagnie’s three-point shooting is a swing skill for San Antonio. When he’s knocking down threes off screens and in catch-and-shoot opportunities, the Spurs offense is hard to stop.
It’s hard to complain too much about a player who is +20 in a blowout win. Vassell wasn’t knocking down shots inside the arc, but did go 50% from three. Vassell’s floor spacing makes the Spurs offense run smoothly even if he’s missing shots at the rim or in the mid-range. He also had an emphatic swat in the fourth quarter that was called a goaltend, but for a thrilling few seconds, it was an awesome highlight.
Castle was two rebounds shy of his second-straight triple-double. Once again, he was dependable from three, hitting 50% of his six attempts beyond the arc. He didn’t finish at the rim as consistently as he usually does, and he made some pretty silly turnovers early in the game. However, the Spurs were much better with him on the court than with him on the bench, and he put up some big numbers in the win.
Fox struggled quite a bit in a game where he wasn’t necessarily needed. Wembanyama had a clear offensive advantage inside, where he demanded the ball. Castle and Dylan Harper were providing plenty of rim pressure. It felt like another one of those games where Fox takes a back seat and kind of floats offensively. When he did take shots, he was way off, especially from deep. Games like this are fine in March against the Bulls, but a bad Fox game in April and May could mean a playoff loss.
Barnes has been hot and cold lately. Monday night was a frigid one for HB. The veteran couldn’t find an offensive rhythm. He had a solid drive on a smaller defender in the first half, but other than that, he didn’t make much of an impact off the bench. Maybe Barnes is saving it all for the playoffs?
Chicago is the type of team Johnson can thrive against. They are smaller and aren’t great at transition defense. KJ was able to get into the paint and score against the Bulls with his bully-ball-like drives. He was a key part of the Spurs’ big run in the second quarter that helped them eventually win the game. His spark plug play off the bench continues to be good enough to put him in the Sixth Man of the Year chase.
As the playoffs approach, the rotation is tightening. Bryant has been getting squeezed out lately as the team prepares for the postseason. He played sparingly against Chicago and didn’t register a single statistic.
Kornet has to have one of the toughest jobs in the NBA. It’s easy for him to look bad compared to his starter. Nobody scores on Wembanyama at the rim, so when Kornet comes into the game and gives up a bucket in the paint, it’s easy for fans to feel frustrated. All things considered, it was a fairly solid game from Kornet. Chicago was able to attack the basket more freely when he was in the game, but he made up for it on the other end by finishing plays efficiently.
Harper made an immediate impact when he subbed in the game. He knocked down a three and got to the rim a few times. He’s been super efficient at the rim this month, shooting 67.4% on drives, good enough for 3rd in the NBA. His jump shot is looking better, especially in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also one of the best perimeter defenders on the team (even if he could afford to foul less). Harper looks ready to make an impact in the playoffs.
Grade: B+
Monday’s Inactives: Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 6: Jayson Tatum #0 and Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics hug during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics sit at 50-25 with 7 games remaining in the regular season. Not too bad for a “Gap year” right Jaylen?
Note this conclusion I wrote in the linked article above:
Unless something very weird and wonderful occurs next season, we won’t be raising Banner #19. But there’s enough interest and intrigue to keep us watching and following this team. At some point next season there will be a stretch where the vision starts coming together and you’ll be able to squint and say, “imagine adding a top-5 player in the NBA to this group.” Because soon enough, that’s gonna happen.
Turns out it was sooner than I ever could have imagined. Perhaps something “weird and wonderful” is occurring before our very eyes. Can’t wait to see how it develops in the playoffs.
Before we get there, however, let’s take a moment or two to reflect on the regular season. What questions do you still have as we finish out the season? Any thoughts on regular season awards? Want to make fun of me for my early season skepticism? I’m open to topics on all things.
Also, if you are the kind of person that’s always looking forward, give us your questions on the playoffs (matchups, rotations, predictions) or even the upcoming offseason (draft, free agency, etc.).
Leave your questions in the comments section below. As always, I’ll give it a few days and try to answer as many questions that I can. I don’t claim to be all-knowing, just a humble blogger that has been doing this for exactly 21 years (as of today – cheers!).
Paolo Banchero
Karl-Anthony Towns
Scottie Barnes
Kurt Helin
