PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Authorities were searching for a man who shot and killed two people in a drug store parking lot near the TPC Sawgrass, leading The Players Championship to delay opening gates for the third round Saturday morning.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said the suspect, whom he identified as Christian Barrios, shot two people multiple times about 10:30 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of Walgreens in a domestic violence situation. The store is located about a mile away from the course.
He said canine units pursued Barrios onto TPC Sawgrass property. Hardwick said Barrios, who turned 32 on Saturday, at one point picked up a PGA Tour radio and later dropped it. He then stole a black BMW, and Nassau County authorities in the far northeastern tip of Florida pursued the car and forced a crash into the woods.
The suspect fled on foot and was still at large.
The PGA cited “operational considerations” in deciding not to open the gates until 9 a.m. The first round bean at 8:15 a.m. and was not delayed. Hospitality areas were delayed opening until 11 a.m.
Hardwick said Barrios had a long criminal history and knew the victims, both of whom were shot multiple times and taken to the hospital where they died.
Kawhi Leonard averages 28.3 points per game this season [Getty Images]
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points to equal a franchise record as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 119-108 in the NBA.
Leonard scored at least 20 points for the 44th consecutive game to match Bob McAdoo's single-season mark in 1974-75, when the Clippers were based in Buffalo.
Bennedict Mathurin contributed 26 points at Intuit Dome as the Clippers improved to 7-1 in March and took their season record to 34-32.
They are eighth in the Western Conference, while the Bulls, who suffered a second defeat in two nights in LA after losing to the Lakers on Thursday, are 12th in the East.
Kevin Durant scored 32 points as the Houston Rockets survived a late scare to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 at home.
Houston, without All-Star center Alperen Sengun because of a back injury, led throughout but a 12-1 run from the Pelicans helped them take a 104-100 lead with 31 seconds remaining.
Forward Jabari Smith Jr hit a three-pointer to swing the tide back in the Rockets' favour before two critical turnovers in the final stages secured victory.
Anthony Edwards scored 42 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves end a three-game losing streak with a 127-117 win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.
Jrue Holiday recorded 25 points and eight assists as the Portland Trail Blazers completed a four-game series sweep of the Utah Jazz with a 124-114 win at home.
In this Instagram installment of the behind-the-scenes Spurs interviews, they pull the curtain back on which teammate they’d choose to be their coach. The results are telling about their game and personality.
Victor Wembanyama chose Luke Kornet. As an elder statesman, Kornet has earned the respect of the next great face of the NBA.
Devin Vassell chose Victor because of how intensely Wembanyama takes the game, even considering how young the burgeoning superstar is.
Carter Bryant stated that Harrison Barnes “makes the game sound so simple” by dissecting it. A young mind gaining knowledge from seasoned vet is a definite win.
Julian Champagnie went with Jordan McLaughlin sharing that his choice is “underrated.” As fans, we don’t witness much of McLaughlin’s game. Curious to see what stands out for Champagnie and how he has been influenced thus far.
Speaking of McLaughlin, he also went with Harrison Barnes becaise he understands how the game “is supposed to be played.”
For Bismack Biyombo, the “obvious” choise is D’Aaron Fox. As a point guard, Fox perceives the game from a different vantage point and the Congolese center believes that knowledge is important.
In my opinion, Luke Kornet gave the most introspective response. He went with Devin Vassell as the coach he’d “want,” but then added that Stephon Castle is the coach he’d “need.” There is an important distinction when considering one’s growth and development.
What do you think, Pounders? Who’d make a good Spurs coach? Any surprises in the responses? Anyone not acknowledged that you believe should be listed?
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Conference tournament week is the final chance for teams to prove they belong in March Madness, and for the most part, squads weren't taking advantage of the opportunities. But everything got flipped upside down when Miami (Ohio) suffered its first loss of the season so it won't get an automatic bid. Now the bubble picture has a new member, making it a much more complicated race for the final spots in the brackets.
Most teams are done and will have to wait until the bracket announcement, but there are a few still playing looking to strengthen their case − and possibly secure automatic spots to make it an even crazier race. Here is a look at the March Madness bubble in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology.
Bad losses: vs. Arizona State (neutral), Mississippi State, vs. Mississippi (neutral)
You never want to go into Selection Sunday on a losing streak, and Texas is learning how uncomfortable it can make the situation. Losing the last two games of the regular season wasn't the worst thing in the world, but falling to conference cellar dweller Mississippi in your first conference tournament game is. Texas has the best chance to make the field out of the rest of the bubble, but that doesn't mean it will avoid playing in the First Four.
Santa Clara
Record: 26-8 (15-3)
NET Ranking: 40
Quad 1 record: 2-6
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. Saint Mary's (twice)
Bad losses: vs. Loyola Chicago (neutral), vs. Arizona State (neutral)
The West Coast Conference is looking like a three-bid league thanks to Santa Clara doing as much as it could without winning the tournament title. The Broncos needed to make the championship game to feel confident about moving up and they did that with a second win over Saint Mary's. Santa Clara had a chance to beat Gonzaga but it was an impressive showing that put it in a comfortable spot as the most of the conference tournaments began.
VCU
Record: 25-7 (15-3)
NET Ranking: 44
Quad 1 record: 2-5
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. South Florida (neutral)
Bad losses: at George Mason
A team that has a chance to flip the bubble around, VCU is still in the hunt for an automatic bid by advancing to the Atlantic 10 semifinal. Given the resume doesn't have any real strong wins, the Rams are far from done and will want to at least make the conference title game to position themselves in a not-so dangerous position. There will be lots of squads tuning in to this team.
SMU
Record: 20-13 (8-10)
NET Ranking: 37
Quad 1 record: 4-10
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. North Carolina, vs. Louisville
Bad losses: vs. LSU (neutral), at California, at Syracuse, at Florida State
No team may have played its way out of the tournament like SMU. After looking like they were safe all season, the Mustangs ended the regular season on a rather ugly four-game losing streak. SMU needed a few wins in the ACC tournament to wash out that bad taste, but it only beat Syracuse before a dismal ending resulted in a loss to Louisville. It not only has 13 losses but there are some tough defeats sprinkled in, making for a much more stressful Selection Sunday than what was thought a few weeks ago.
Miami Ohio
Record: 31-1 (18-0)
NET Ranking: 64
Quad 1 record: 0-0
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. Akron
Bad losses: vs. Massachusetts (neutral)
Everything changed when Miami (Ohio) lost its first game. Not only was it a defeat, it came in the first game of the MAC tournament against eighth-place Massachusetts, barely qualifying as a Quad 3 loss. The record speaks for itself but the resume leaves plenty to be desired, especially with the NET ranking dropping 10 spots after the loss. There are plenty of arguments for why this team should or shouldn't be in and they're all valid. The entire bubble hinges on whether the RedHawks make it in or not.
New Mexico
Record: 23-10 (13-7)
NET Ranking: 45
Quad 1 record: 2-7
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: at Virginia Commonwealth, vs. Santa Clara
Bad losses: at New Mexico State, vs. Colorado State
If you're going to get a second chance at life, better not waste it. New Mexico was gifted another shot thanks to some other teams faltering, but it needed to make some real noise at the Mountain West tournament to really take advantage of it. Unfortunately, the Lobos couldn’t capitalize, losing to San Diego State on a heart-breaking last second shot in the semifinals. It makes the path to a bid tough, and New Mexico will root for Utah State in the title game so the Aztecs don’t steal a bid.
Oklahoma
Record: 19-15 (7-11)
NET Ranking: 47
Quad 1 record: 4-9
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: at Vanderbilt, at Texas
Bad losses: vs. Arizona State (neutral), at Mississippi State, at South Carolina
When bubble teams struggled, Oklahoma took advantage by winning the last four of the regular season. It kept the momentum going in the SEC tournament with two major wins to advance to the quarterfinals, where it fell to Arkansas. While it was a valiant effort, a win was really needed to move up the bubble, so it's looking like it will be a tough Sunday for the Sooners.
Quality wins: vs. St John's (neutral), vs. Arkansas, at Florida
Bad losses: vs. Mississippi, at Mississippi State
The most perplexing record in the conversation. Auburn only beat Mississippi State in the SEC tournament, unable to get another signature win to help its case. The Tigers have great wins, but 16 losses would be the most for an at-large team and it's hard to justify, no matter the schedule. This will be the team everyone will be wondering about when the bracket comes out.
Indiana
Record: 18-14 (9-11)
NET Ranking: 41
Quad 1 record: 3-10
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: vs. Purdue, at UCLA, vs. Wisconsin
Bad losses: at Minnesota, at USC, vs. Northwestern (twice)
After ending the season with 1-5 mark in the last six games, the Hoosiers needed a strong showing in the Big Ten tournament to make a case. Instead, they were one-and-done, suffering another excruciating defeat to Northwestern. That will extend the tournament drought to three years.
But as this time of the year also proves on an annual basis, the bracket looks different than it did March 13, two days before, or even a week before. It's the results of top-seeded teamslike Miami (Ohio) having lost early in their respective conference tournaments, and teams that entered championship week on the bubble sustained a loss that knocked them off.
The last two spots on the bubble have been interchangeable in the 48 hours since the Redhawks lost in the MAC tournament. It created some bad news for teams like Auburn, which was hanging onto a potential trip to the First Four despite their late-season slide. There have also been other teams that are in the "Next Four Out" trying to get in because of this, and the fact that they've been able to get some wins in their respective tournaments themselves.
The known factor for tomorrow's selection show is that it will include 31 teams who earned their respective conferences' automatic bid. The other likely known factor will be that Duke, Arizona and Michigan will see their names on the 1-seed line.
Ten different conference tournaments will crown a champion on Saturday around the country. There will be six teams crowned on Sunday in the lead-up to the bracket reveal on CBS at 6 p.m. ET, or after the Big Ten championship concludes, as it has a 3:30 p.m. ET tip-off.
Here's an updated look at the NCAA Tournament bubble, with which teams are locks and which are likely going dancing as conference tournaments continue and Selection Sunday inches closer:
Here's a look at the list of teams that have already secured a bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning their conference's respective automatic qualifier ticket:
America East: March 14 at 11 a.m. ET
American: March 15 at 3:15 p.m. ET
ACC: March 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET
ASUN: Queens (N.C.)
Atlantic 10: March 15 at 1 p.m. ET
Big 12: March 14 at 6 p.m. ET
Big East: March 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Big Sky: Idaho
Big South: High Point
Big Ten: March 15 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Big West: March 14 at 10 p.m. ET
CAA: Hofstra
Conference USA: March 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Horizon League: Wright State
Ivy League: March 15 at Noon ET
MAAC: Siena
MAC: March 14 at 8 p.m. ET
MEAC: March 14 at 1 p.m. ET
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa
Mountain West: March 14 at 6 p.m. ET
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Tennessee State
Patriot League: Lehigh
SEC: March 15 at 1 p.m. ET
SoCon: Furman
Southland: McNeese
SWAC: March 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Summit League: North Dakota State
Sun Belt: Troy
WAC: March 15 at Noon ET
West Coast: Gonzaga
NCAA Tournament locks
Big Ten (8): Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA and Iowa
Big 12 (6): Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech and BYU
ACC (6): Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Miami and Clemson
SEC (7): Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Georgia
Big East (3): UConn, St. John's and Villanova
Other (4): Gonzaga, Saint Louis, Saint Mary's and Santa Clara
Using Bart Torvik's T-Ranketology as a statistical database, the Big Ten leads the way with eight teams as "locks" for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. 35 teams have a "100%" chance of being included in the 68-team bracket per Bart Torvik's T-Ranketology.
It's also time to start talking about the West Coast Conference being a three-bid league after Santa Clara knocked off Saint Mary's in the conference tournament semifinals. Perhaps this is a high sell on the Broncos, but at 25-8 overall and a NET ranking of 40, they should be in the dance.
NCAA Tournament likely ins
ACC (1): North Carolina State
Big Ten: Ohio State
Big 12 (2): TCU and UCF
Big East: N/A
SEC (1): Texas A&M
Other (2): Miami (Ohio) and Utah State
Ohio State is close to being a "lock" for the NCAA Tournament, but remains in the "likely in" category for now. The wins that stand out on the Buckeyes' resume for the selection committee are their wins over Wisconsin (then-No. 24 team in the country, No. 27 in NET ranking) and Purdue (then-No. 8 team in the country, No. 10 in NET ranking).
Miami (Ohio) dropped down to this category following its loss to UMass in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament. The Redhawks metrics suggest that they should be a lock for the NCAA Tournament, in addition to the fact that they went undefeated in the regular season, but it will come down to the selection committee. Could we be in for one of the more polarizing Selection Sunday snubs/conversations??
NCAA Tournament bubble teams
ACC (1): SMU
Big Ten (1): Indiana
Big 12 (1): Cincinnati
Big East (1): Seton Hall
SEC (3): Texas, Oklahoma and Auburn
Other (3): San Diego State, VCU and New Mexico
The bubble remains very fluid. Though they are separated by one less win, Oklahoma should top Auburn for one of the "last four in" spots as the Sooners made it one round further than the Tigers in the SEC tournament. Oklahoma has also won six of its last seven, while Auburn has lost four of its last seven, and nine of its last 12 since Jan. 31.
The Atlantic 10 is an intriguing conference for the bubble. Until it loses in Pittsburgh at PPG Paint Arena, Saint Louis is the conference's automatic bid. VCU remains firmly on the bubble after a quarterfinal win over Duquesne and could continue to solidify its spot in the NCAA Tournament with a semifinal win over St. Joseph's, but if the Rams — or Billikens — don't win the A10 or make the championship game, the conference could have three teams.
The 2026 men's NCAA Tournament selection show is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15 when the NCAA selection committee unveils the entire field, one seed after another, from No. 1 through 16 and everything in between.
Some teams have already secured their spot in the field by winning their respective conference tournaments. There are a handful of automatic berths up for grabs on Selection Sunday, as the Ivy League, SEC, Atlantic 10, American Conference and Big Ten all still have to play their conference championship games.
Following First Four games on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18, first-round action will begin on Thursday, March 19 at various locations throughout the country. The Final Four will start on Saturday, April 4 in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, with the national championship game two nights later.
Here's what to know about the key dates for March Madness:
When does March Madness start?
March Madness gets underway on Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. ET with the unveiling of the 68-team bracket. The bracket will be revealed on CBS once every conference tournament championship game has been completed.
Games get going on Tuesday, March 17 in Dayton, Ohio, at UD Arena with the First Four. The final 64-team bracket will then officially get underway with first-round games two days later on Thursday, March 19.
Complete March Madness 2026 schedule
Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA men's tournament:
First Four: March 17-18
First round: March 19-20
Second round: March 21-22
Sweet 16: March 26-27
Elite Eight: March 28-29
Final Four: Saturday, April 4 (at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis)
National championship game: Monday, April 6 (at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 26: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on February 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, the vibes just seem to keep finding new ways to get worse. Now with Tyrese Maxey sidelined for a few weeks, on top of Joel Embiid and Paul George’s absences and lingering frustrations from the Jared McCain trade (avoid watching Thunder games if you aren’t already), it pretty much feels like we’re waiting for the Play-In Tournament at this point. The Sixers have tumbled all the way down to ninth in the Eastern Conference at 35-31.
Fortunately for them on Saturday, though, they are at least facing off a team even further down the rankings. In an early 1-pm tip-off, they’re up against the 17-49 Nets, down at 13th in the East.
And not just a tanking Nets squad — a very shorthanded tanking Nets squad. Nic Claxton (rest), Drake Powell (left knee injury management), Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb UCL tear), and Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) are all out. Michael Porter Jr. — the offense’s best hope to make something happen — is doubtful with a right ankle sprain.
The Sixers won’t be getting more firepower back either, though. Embiid remains out with his oblique strain and we’ve received no further update from the team, after Nick Nurse had told reporters in Detroit that Embiid would be reevaluated on Friday (Mar. 13). Along with Maxey and George, Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow sprain) and Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) are also out, with the main center rotation potentially being completely absent too as Adem Bona and Andre Drummond are both questionable with back issues.
The Nets rank 27th in both offensive and defensive rating and are happily tanking, going 2-12 in their last 14 games. They should be highly beatable at both ends, but that just can’t be said about any opponent right now given the state of the Sixers. No result can be taken for granted.
Nevertheless, there hasn’t exactly been lots to get excited about with the Nets this year. Porter Jr. has been efficient as the team’s new leading scorer if he’s available (24.5 points per game on a 59.5 true shooting percentage), and there are some other role players like Sharpe who could be sound contributors to better teams. As Brooklyn has experimented with a range of young players while pursuing higher lottery odds, there are at least candidates to randomly pop on any given night, like Josh Minott who had the game of his career against the Hawks on Thursday.
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 13, 2026
We’ll see if anyone can do the same in Philly on Saturday, but overall their offense has been poor and this simply isn’t a team trying to win.
As for the Sixers, credit to Cam Payne for stepping up to do what he can in the winning department. His career-high 32 points and 10 dimes with a perfect 8-of-8 mark from three led the Sixers to a win against the Grizzlies this week, and he was solid against vs. the Pistons with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting. If Payne brings it again on Saturday, that could be key in moving past these Nets.
The burden will really be on the shoulders of VJ Edgecombe to lead the Sixers to a win on Saturday, though, even against an opponent trying to lose. The rookie’s only coming off a 3-of-14 shooting night against the Pistons, but was far more well rounded earlier in the week against Memphis with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. We’ll see if he can be more like the latter this weekend.
It’ll also be interesting to look out for any more strong flashes from Dalen Terry. The 6-foot-6 guard didn’t have the ball too much against Detroit but showed off his footwork and touch around the basket with a few quality drives.
It is hard to imagine a player with three made shots in a game having a highlight reel this good, but these are some shockingly impressive Dalen Terry moves and baskets: pic.twitter.com/hrs82woHJ3
— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) March 13, 2026
Ultimately, the Sixers can’t be competitive in the playoff picture now. And while some fans will debate whether the team should tank at this point, that may happen unintentionally while they’re this stuck with injuries. Losing Maxey for a while was the All-NBA-sized straw that broke the camel’s back in this case.
But for this weekend at least, the tanking Nets may be one of the team’s the Sixers are facing in the next couple of weeks that is actually beatable.
Game Details
When: Saturday, March 14, 1:00 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Payton Pritchard hit a shot for the ages in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s a moment in every championship season where you realize, “Oh, wow. They’re actually going to do it.”
Up until that point, you convince yourself that everything that can go wrong will and nothing is solidified, even if your team is dominating.
But once that clarity hits you, it yields an indescribable feeling of euphoria and pure bliss like no other for diehard fans.
In the Celtics’ 2024 title run, the legendary knockout blow belonged to Payton Pritchard. It’s the kind of shot you remember exactly where you were when it happened, and the one you reminisce about decades from now and describe vividly to your grandkids.
It was fitting that Pritchard was the one who hit the heave from beyond half court at the end of the first half of Game 5. it extended the lead to 21, and you knew at that point that the rest was simply a formality. The Celtics were back on top.
As ESPN announcer Mike Breen put it: “He loves these.” It probably should have elicited a double-bang, but we’ll let it slide. The shot speaks for itself.
Pritchard does love these. It’s such a legendary trait for a player to have: Master of buzzer-beaters. Like, how sick is that? Master screen setter, master offensive rebounder and master energizer are all nice, don’t get me wrong, but being so money on buzzer-beaters is pretty electric.
When Pritchard has the ball at the end of a quarter, you genuinely believe it’s going in every time and are surprised when it doesn’t. How does he do it?
Well, it’s a combination of awareness (timing is everything), an endless bag of tricks (just ask the kids at the park) and a fearlessness that defines his aura (he genuinely believes it’s going in every time, too).
Oh, and you have to be one heck of a shooter, which he most certainly is.
Look at this one from Thursday night at the end of the half. Look closely at where he starts, what he does and when he releases the shot. There are three Thunder defenders closing in, including Cason Wallace right in front of him, but it doesn’t matter. The timing is impeccable, and that comes from hours and hours of repetition and being a total gym rat. He earned the right to talk a little smack after that one.
Thinking a little bigger picture here, it’s interesting how Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are often the ones to take shots at the end of games. Logically, it makes sense. Give the ball to your two best players and let them create. But one could argue Pritchard should take a higher percentage of those shots than he does.
This season, Pritchard is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3 and 100 percent from the line in the clutch. But he only attempts 0.8 shots per game in clutch situations, whereas Brown is up at 2.5 attempts. This is in no way a criticism of Brown, so don’t get it twisted; Pritchard has just earned the right to create for himself at the end of games.
Next time the game is on the line, look for Pritchard. There’s a good chance he’s going to hit it. They don’t call him Mr. Buzzer Beater for nothing.
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s hard to be surprised by Mitchell Robinson’s rebounding prowess at this point. It’s a recurring theme.
But even for him, this was a special performance.
He recorded a career-high 22 rebounds in the Knicks’ 101-92 win over the Pacers Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Nine of them were on the offensive glass.
Mitchell Robinson, who grabbed 22 rebounds, drives on Ivica Zubac during the Knicks’ 101-92 win over the Pacers on March 13, 2026 in Indianapolis. AP
Perhaps just as important, though, he played 31 minutes, his biggest workload of the season.
“It definitely feels good,” Robinson told The Post. “First time playing 30 minutes. Just getting out there and playing like that, to see the buildup, all the hard work I put in with this plan.”
Robinson has already played more games than either of the past two seasons. The Knicks’ load management plan for him — not playing both legs of back-to-backs, and at times sitting non back-to-back games — has clearly worked, even it’s been frustrating at times.
His workloads are only increasing. That’s a good development for the Knicks heading into the playoffs.
“It’s obviously shown that it’s paid off,” coach Mike Brown told The Post, “because of his ability to, knock on wood, stay on the floor and play in games and play the minutes he played tonight.”
Beyond Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns both missing Friday’s game due to knee soreness, Jeremy Sochan was out due to illness.
Pacome Dadiet, with the Knicks shorthanded, got very rare non-blowout minutes. In fact, Dadiet, along with Ariel Hukporti, came in together as Brown’s first subs of the game in the first quarter.
Dadiet promptly drilled a 30-foot 3-pointer from the logo as the shot clock expired in the first quarter. He also got a brief stretch of action in the third quarter.
PERTH, Australia (AP) — Defending champion China beat Taiwan 2-0 at the Women’s Asian Cup on Saturday to set up a semifinal against host Australia and clinch a place at the 2027 Women's World Cup.
After 90 minutes ended goalless in a match between opponents with geopolitical tensions, Shao Ziqin broke the deadlock three minutes into extra time before a late own goal sealed the win.
“I’m so happy we won the match today and that I was able to score a goal,” Shao said.
On Friday, Sam Kerr scored one goal and created another as Australia advanced and secured a World Cup spot with a 2-1 win over North Korea.
In Sydney on Saturday, South Korea moved into the last four with a 6-0 rout of Uzbekistan. Son Hwa-yeon opened the scoring for the 2022 finalist after just nine minutes and Ko Yoo-jin fired home from outside the area in the 20th. Four second-half goals completed the thrashing.
South Korea will face the winner of Sunday’s game between Japan and the Philippines. Japan has scored a tournament-leading 17 goals without conceding.
The semifinals are set for Tuesday and Wednesday with the final to be played next Saturday in Sydney.
World Cup spots
All four semifinalists at the Women's Asian Cup qualify automatically for next year's World Cup in Brazil.
The losing quarterfinalists will have another shot at qualifying for the World Cup in a playoff next Thursday in Australia — the fifth- and sixth-place teams in this continental tournament will also secure spots in Brazil.
The end of the group stage earlier in the week was overshadowed by Iran's departure from the tournament and the granting of asylum to members of the delegation.
Golden State Warriors (32-34, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (43-25, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State aims to end its four-game skid with a victory against New York.
The Knicks have gone 23-9 at home. New York ranks eighth in the league with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 8.8.
The Warriors are 13-19 in road games. Golden State has a 4-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Knicks score 117.0 points per game, 2.6 more points than the 114.4 the Warriors allow. The Warriors are shooting 45.8% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 45.6% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 16 the Warriors won 126-113 led by 32 points from Jimmy Butler III, while Miles McBride scored 25 points for the Knicks.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Brunson is scoring 26.3 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 18.8 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 53.3% over the last 10 games.
Quinten Post is averaging 7.6 points for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 43.9% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 113.8 points, 47.9 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.2 points per game.
Warriors: 3-7, averaging 114.1 points, 45.8 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Josh Hart: day to day (knee), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (knee), Miles McBride: out (ankle), Jeremy Sochan: day to day (illness).
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Al Horford: day to day (calf), Quinten Post: day to day (ankle), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: out (wrist), Draymond Green: out (injury management).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (48-18, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (37-29, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will attempt to prolong its three-game win streak with a victory over Toronto.
The Raptors are 27-16 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 18.8 fast break points led by RJ Barrett averaging 3.8.
The Pistons are 32-10 in conference games. Detroit ranks third in the league allowing just 109.6 points while holding opponents to 44.1% shooting.
The Raptors make 47.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (44.1%). The Pistons are shooting 48.0% from the field, 1.6% higher than the 46.4% the Raptors' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 113-95 in the last matchup on Feb. 12.
TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 20.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists over the past 10 games.
Cade Cunningham is scoring 24.7 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 10.1 assists for the Pistons. Jalen Duren is averaging 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 65.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 4-6, averaging 112.6 points, 39.1 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points per game.
Pistons: 6-4, averaging 117.7 points, 46.0 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 10.3 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb).
Pistons: Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Tobias Harris: day to day (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Fresh off a loss to the Denver Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs will look to get back on track against the red-hot Charlotte Hornets. The Spurs have added another key player to the injury report in what could be an all-hands-on-deck type of game.
Victor Wembanyama missed San Antonio’s last game due to an ankle injury. It’s not expected to be serious, and he’s cutting incredibly close to not hitting the 65 games played qualification for end-of-season awards. Bets are on the big man playing, but he’s officially questionable against Charlotte. Dylan Harper is also on the injury report with a calf contusion. We’ll see if the Spurs guard suits up before tomorrow’s matinee.
The Spurs dropped their previous meeting with Charlotte this season, 111-106. That game came on short rest and was a day game on the road. Both teams have been hot ever since the game. The Spurs have won 16 of their last 18, while the Hornets are 8-2 in their last 10.
San Antonio may have to rely on its depth to take down the plucky Hornets. A weekend win would be just what the team needs to remain confident after a tough loss to Denver early in the week.
Spurs Injuries: Dylan Harper – Questionable (calf), Victor Wembanyama – Questionable (ankle), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)
Hornets Injuries: PJ Hall – Out (G League), Ryan Kalkbrenner – Probable (illness), Liam McNeeley – Out (ankle), Antonio Reeves – Out (G League), Tidjane Salaun – Out (calf), Coby White – Probable (heel)
What to watch for:
Defending the three
The Hornets may be developing the new Splash Brothers. Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball are first and third in total three-pointers made this season. Brandon Miller is shooting threes at a 37.9% clip. Charlotte has a lot of players who can bury you from deep. The Spurs have struggled a bit against teams that can space them out. San Antonio will have to force Charlotte’s shooters into tough looks to keep pace on Saturday.
Castle keeps it going
Stephon Castle has been stellar since the All-Star break. He’s averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while hitting 40.5% of his three-pointers. He’s coming off a 30-point triple-double against Denver on Thursday night. Castle should have the physical and athletic advantage against many of the Hornets’ perimeter defenders. If he continues to hit his threes, he should be able to punish Charlotte inside and out.
The big man rotation
If Wembanyama misses another game, it will be interesting to see how Mitch Johnson distributes minutes among his big men. Against Denver, he started Luke Kornet but played him only 25 minutes, while giving the newly acquired center Mason Plumlee 8 minutes. In the other 15 minutes, the Spurs went small, using Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, and Carter Bryant as small-ball centers. If they did that against Nikola Jokic with some success, they surely could do the same against Charlotte. Wembanyama seems likely to play, but if he doesn’t, a small-ball approach could help the Spurs keep up with the Hornets’ perimeter-oriented attack.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Magoon Gwath had 17 points and BJ Davis made a layup with two seconds left to rally San Diego State to a 64-62 victory over New Mexico on Friday night in a Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinal.
No. 2 seed San Diego State (22-10) will play top seed Utah State in Saturday's championship game with an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Gwath made 6 of 10 shots with two 3-pointers and 3 of 5 free throws for the Aztecs, adding six rebounds and two blocks. Davis totaled 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Deyton Albury scored 20 on 7-for-10 shooting to pace the third-seeded Lobos (23-10). Uriah Tenette had 11 points and Tomisla Buljan grabbed 10 rebounds to go with eight points.
Gwath had 10 points in the first half to help San Diego State take a 37-33 lead into intermission. Albury scored four straight points to pull New Mexico even at 62-all with 25 seconds remaining before Davis delivered the winner.
Minott turned in a career night, and flashed the kind of athleticism and force from the wing position that Brooklyn has so sorely lacked — and that fans have called for.
He had 24 points, shot 4-of-7 from deep and 8-of-10 from the foul line. And predictably, he was even better on the other end of the floor, with three blocks and three steals. The points, 3s, free throws and steals all set or tied career bests.
It was a statement for Minott, who has played sparingly since being acquired from Boston on Feb. 5.
“I’ve been waiting on it,” Minott, 23, said of a breakout night. “But at the end of the day, I’m not going to call it pointless — but it’s one goal. So overall, I don’t want to say satisfied, but I’m pretty happy with my performance. But at the end of the day, it’s about getting numbers in the right column.”
Wins will be few and far between for tanking Brooklyn. But they’ll use the stretch run to mine the back end of their roster. There are two-ways to evaluate. Ten-day contracts like newcomer Malachi Smith to assess. And team options to decide on.
Such as Minott.
Josh Minott shoots a free throw during his 24-point night in the Nets’ loss to the Hawks on March 12, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
His six stocks — combined blocks and steals — on Thursday tied Nic Claxton’s Dec. 29 effort as the most by a Net this season. Minott’s near 7-foot wingspan lets him disrupt passing lanes and his athleticism allows him to attack the rim.
“Yeah, he had (a dunk) against the Celtics that was very impressive, and he had one the other day (vs. Detroit). Obviously I didn’t teach him to do that,” joked Jordi Fernández. “What you see is how quick he gets there and you’re like, ‘Oh wow, he’s going to do it.’ And he does it. And everybody’s reaction is pretty cool.
“So, (I’m) excited for him. … The thing that stood out is we’re asking him to pressure the ball, to pick up full court, and he did an amazing job. He’s trying to do everything we ask him to. You see the size. He’s going to let it fly. Those things are positive. So I’m excited to watch him play.”
Josh Minott shoots a jumper during the Nets’ loss to the Hawks. NBAE via Getty Images
Minott began the season in the Celtics’ rotation only to see an ankle injury cost him five weeks and momentum in Boston.
After the Nets got him for cash at the trade deadline — $110,000, sources told the Post — and he spent time settling in, now injuries could open the door for Minott in Brooklyn. Day’Ron Sharpe is out for the season, Ziaire Williams has been sick, and there are minutes to be had. Minott made the most of his against the Hawks.
“(It was) just teammates finding me on my cuts when I was open. I owe basically everything to them. I didn’t really do anything that didn’t involve them finding me. So I’d say that’s kind of just what happened,” said Minott.
“Just trying to keep the same rhythm. I understand that they had a rhythm before me, and just not trying to ruin that. I’m just trying to come in, just find a way I can affect the game and just trying to uphold the team and lift the team and its values.”
Fernáandez added “Yeah, it was great. He was aggressive. … He is (a rebounder), he provides size, so good job.”
Grant Nelson, who saw his 10-day expire, returns to Long Island. But sources told The Post he’ll miss the rest of the G-League season with patellar tendinitis. It likely explains why he didn’t get another 10-day after acquitting himself well.
Brooklyn agreed to a 10-day with Smith, per Hoopshype. He averaged 14.4 points, 5.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds with Long Island, shooting 42 percent from 3.
Claxton (rest) and Drake Powell (left knee injury management) are out for the Nets Saturday, while Sharpe and Egor Dëmin are out for the season. Michael Porter Jr. is doubtful vs. the 76ers with a sprained right ankle and Ochai Agbaji (sore left ankle) is probable.
