NBA owners reportedly will vote next month on exploring adding expansion teams in Seattle, Las Vegas
When NBA owners get together next month, they will vote on exploring adding expansion teams specifically in Las Vegas and Seattle, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This would be the first formal vote on accepting bids for those specific markets. The NBA Board of Governors meeting is set for March 24-25, and if approved, the goal would be for the teams to begin play in the 2028-29 NBA season.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said during All-Star weekend that the owners would be "having further discussions around an expansion process" during the March meeting, but would not be voting. That timeline may have sped up in the past month as Siver counted the votes and realized he has the support needed, as Charania suggests.
There is momentum within the board of governors and league office to approve moving forward with taking bids for franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.
Seattle and Las Vegas have long been the strong frontrunners to be the cities the NBA expands to. Seattle had a thriving franchise and fan base in the Sonics, but new owners who wanted to move the team to Oklahoma City, combined with an arena issue that gave them leverage, led to the team's relocation and the formation of the Thunder. The NBA owes Seattle a team. Las Vegas has seen a thriving NHL team, the Golden Knights, an NFL team, the Raiders, and a championship and well-backed team in the WNBA's Aces all become part of the city, plus the construction of an MLB stadium for the A's to start playing in starting in 2028 is well underway.
"I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities," Silver said back in December. "Obviously, we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas, the Aces. We've been playing the summer league here for 20 years. We're playing our Cup games here, so we're very familiar with this market. I don't have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team."
A team in Seattle would likely play at the renovated Climate Pledge Arena (formerly the Key Arena), where the NHL's Kraken play. In Las Vegas, while the T-Mobile Arena is a viable venue — it is home to the Aces and Golden Knights, and the NBA Cup semifinals and finals are played there — there is considerable speculation in the city that a new ownership group would build a new arena further down the Las Vegas strip, which would anchor a completely new resort and casino complex.
A few questions remain. One is what the franchise fee paid to the league by the prospective owners will be — money that gets divided up among the current owners and goes straight as a one-time boost to the bottom line. Charania reported that "Industry executives project proposals in the $7-10 billion range for each team." Whatever that number is, it needs to be high enough that a majority of owners are willing to dilute their shares in the league (and its revenue) from 1/30th to 1/32nd.
Another question is conference realignment. Both Las Vegas and Seattle would unquestionably be added to the Western Conference, which means one team in the West would move to the East — and teams will be lobbying and jockeying to make that move (wanting to go to an Eastern Conference seen as not as deep as the West). Minnesota and Memphis are the teams seen as most likely to move East, as Charania reports, but New Orleans also makes geographic sense.
How to watch Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks: TV, live stream info for tonight's game
Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Atlanta Hawks host the Orlando Magic. At 9:30 PM, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clipper match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. 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.
Click here to sign up for Peacock!
Achiuwa is one of the players on lottery-bound teams who have provided excellent value during the “silly season.”
Raphielle JohnsonOrlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks Game Preview:
With less than a month left in the regular season, the Magic and Hawks — two of the league's hottest teams — continue to fight for one of the top 6 playoffs spots and look to avoid the Play-In Tournament.
Orlando has won it's last seven consecutive games and sits two games behind Cleveland for the 4 seed in the East. Atlanta has won nine straight — which is the longest active streak in the league — and is currently two games back of Toronto for the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East.
Tonight's contest is the third of four meetings between the Magic and Hawks this season. Atlanta won the first two match ups on October 24 and November 4.
How to watch Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks:
- When: Monday, March 16
- Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Live Stream: NBCSN and Peacock
What other NBA games are on Peacock tonight?
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets- 9:30 PM ET on NBCSN and Peacock
- San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers - 10:00 PM ET on Peacock
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:
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.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.
Has there ever been a perfect March Madness bracket?
It's time to get those brackets filled out.
In just three days, the Men's NCAA Tournament will officially get underway with TEAM 1 vs. TEAM 2 at XX p.m. ET inside LOCATION, the first of 16 Round of 64 games set to be played out across Thursday's slate of March Madness games.
Filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket is one of the all-time great March Madness traditions, and a viral one at that.
There are several ways to approach making NCAA Tournament bracket picks — either randomly by choosing the better mascot in a matchup or by overanalyzing bracketology metrics — that make it a fun event for all involved. Then there is the fun (and stress) of hoping to have that perfect bracket — or what later becomes the best bracket — in a bracket group.
Here's what you need to know on whether there has been a perfect March Madness bracket before and more:
Has anyone ever had a perfect March Madness bracket?
No, there have not been any confirmed perfect March Madness bracket entries in the history of the NCAA Tournament, according to the NCAA.
The NCAA notes that the longest a bracket has remained perfect — or at the very least verifiable through one of the bracket challenge websites — has been 49 consecutive games. This took place during the 2019 NCAA Tournament, and was snapped when 3-seed Purdue beat 2-seed Tennessee 99-94 in overtime in the Sweet 16. The previous record was 39 consecutive correctly picked games.
The longest streak in last year's sets of men's brackets submitted was 42 games, the best run for a bracket user since 2019. Per the NCAA, the bracket was named "#RoadToPerfection" and was a part of ESPN's bracket challenge, and was snapped when 3-seed Kentucky upset 6-seed Illinois in the round of 32.
Longest surviving March Madness bracket streaks
Here's a look at the top five longest surviving NCAA Tournament brackets, according to the NCAA:
Round busted in parentheses
- 2019: 49 games (Sweet 16)
- 2025: 42 games (Second Round)
- 2017: 39 games (Second Round)
- 2014: 36 games (Second Round)
- 2015: 34 games (Second Round)
March Madness bracket deadline: When do NCAA Tournament picks need to be submitted?
Though specific times vary depending on which bracket challenge you enter, you have to get your bracket entry (or entries) in before the start of the first set of first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Here's a breakdown of deadlines for Men's NCAA Tournament bracket entries, including the USA TODAY Sports Men's Bracket Challenge.
- USA TODAY: Thursday, March 19 at noon
- CBS: Thursday, March 19 at noon
- Yahoo!: Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m.
- ESPN: Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m.
- NCAA: Thursday, March 19 at noon
Click here to enter the USA TODAY Sports Men's Bracket Challenge.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Has there ever been a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket?
Butler basketball's Thad Matta announces retirement from coaching
Two days after announcing he would return, Butler announced on Monday, March 16, that men's basketball coach Thad Matta is retiring.
The school announced the news in a press release on Monday. Matta, 58, had been the Bulldogs coach since the 2022-23 season. He will remain with the university with a role as a special assistant to the president and athletics director.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in the news release. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball—and that connection is why I'm grateful to continue working with the University and offering my help in any way I can.
"My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the BIG EAST and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here."
Matta finishes his head coaching career with a 502-223 overall record. He won a combined eight conference regular-season championships at Butler, Xavier and Ohio State, while also appearing in the NCAA Tournament 13 times, earning two berths in the NCAA Final Four and one appearance in the national championship game in 2006-07 with the Buckeyes.
"It is hard to fully capture in words what the Matta family has meant to Butler University and to our men's basketball program," Butler athletics director Grant Leiendecker said. "As a student-athlete, two assistant coaching tenures and then twice as head coach at Butler, Thad has given so much to our university and his impact on our student-athletes has been life-changing.
"Today is bittersweet in that Thad will no longer be leading our program on the sidelines but we are grateful that he has accepted President (Jim) Danko and my offer to remain at Butler University to continue to elevate the institution, as his wisdom and experience are invaluable and will help maintain stability in our program."
In his first stint with Butler, the Bulldogs went 24-8, won the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and advanced to the Round of 32. After stops at Xavier and Ohio State, Matta returned to Butler ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Matta finished his second stint with the Bulldogs with a 63-69 record, failing to make the NCAA Tournament in any of the four years.
"I want to sincerely thank (President) Jim Danko, (Vice President and Athletic Director) Grant Leiendecker, and (former Athletic Director) Barry Collier for their trust, leadership and friendship," Matta said. To our players, coaches and staff, past and present, thank you for everything you've poured into this program and for living The Butler Way. To our fans and the countless people who support us, you are what makes this place so special.
"I will always be grateful for the experiences, the relationships, and the memories Butler has given me and my family. I'm proud of what we've built together, and I look forward to staying connected and contributing in a new way as the next chapter begins."
Before his head coaching career, Matta served as a Butler assistant twice before being named head coach of the Bulldogs in 2000. He was a two-year starter with Butler after he transferred in as a player from Southern Illinois.
Thad Matta career record
Here's a look at Matta's coaching career with Butler, Xavier and Ohio State:
- Butler (2000-01): 24-8, 11-3 MCC
- Xavier (2001-02): 26-6, 14-2 Atlantic 10
- Xavier (2002-03): 26-6, 15-1 Atlantic 10
- Xavier (2003-04): 26-11, 10-6 Atlantic 10
- Ohio State (2004-05): 20-12, 8-8 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2005-06): 26-6, 12-4 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2006-07): 35-4, 15-1 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2007-08): 24-13, 10-8 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2008-09): 22-11, 10-8 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2009-10): 29-8, 14-4 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2010-11): 34-3, 16-2 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2011-12): 31-8, 13-5 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2012-13): 29-8, 13-5 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2013-14): 25-10, 10-8 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2014-15): 24-11, 11-7 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2015-16): 21-14, 11-7 Big Ten
- Ohio State (2016-17): 17-15, 7-11 Big Ten
- Butler (2022-23): 14-18, 6-14 Big East
- Butler (2023-24): 18-15, 9-11 Big East
- Butler (2024-25): 15-20, 6-14 Big East
- Butler (2025-26): 16-16, 7-13 Big East
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thad Matta to retire from coaching Butler basketball
What’s the furthest a First Four team has gone in NCAA Tournament?
Over the next few weeks, 68 different Division I men's college basketball teams will go head-to-head in March Madness at different venues and arenas around the country in the hopes of winning a national championship.
But for two nights before the Round of 64 begins on Thursday, March 19, the Men's NCAA Tournament will tip off the very same way it has for all but two years since 2011: with the First Four, hosted on the campus of the University of Dayton.
It's part of the pageantry of what has made the First Four a tradition like no other in March Madness, as it takes place across two nights on a college campus in winner-take-all games to kick off one of the best postseason tournaments in all of sports.
Action gets underway on Tuesday, March 17 with UMBC vs. Howard in the 16-seed game at 6:40 p.m. ET and Texas vs. North Carolina State in the 11-seed game at 9:15 p.m. ET.
No. 16 Prairie View A&M will take on No. 16 Howard at 6:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 seed Florida in the South Region. But perhaps the biggest game of this year's First Four is the March 18 nightcap as No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio) takes on No. 11 seed Southern Methodist.
Will one of these teams go on a March run that is talked about for years? Time will tell as they look to punch their official ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Here's your guide on the history of First Four teams, and their success in March Madness:
What’s the furthest a First Four team has gone in NCAA Tournament?
The furthest a First Four team has advanced in the NCAA Tournament has been the Final Four. Two teams have achieved this feat: VCU in 2011, and UCLA in 2021.
The Rams, coached then by a young Shaka Smart and featuring players Joey Rodriguez, Bradford Burgess and Jamie Skeen, defeated USC in the First Four and then knocked off three top-10 seeds — No. 6 Georgetown (first round), No. 3 Purdue (second round) and No. 10 Florida State (Sweet 16) — to make the Elite Eight. To make the Final Four, VCU knocked off a Kansas team that was the No. 1 seed in the tournament and featured the talent of Markieff and Marcus Morris. The run ended against Butler in the Final Four.
The Bruins went on a similarly magical run from the First Four to the Final Four in the Indianapolis COVID-19 bubble. It started with a comeback from an 11-point halftime deficit against Michigan State at Mackey Arena, and then led to wins over No. 6 BYU, No. 14 Abilene Christian, No. 2 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan to get to the program's first Final Four since 2008. The run came to an end in the national semifinal in a March Madness thriller against No.1 Gonzaga.
According to the NCAA, at least one team that played its way into the 64-team field advanced to at least the second round in 12 of the last 14 editions of the First Four.
Some examples include LaSalle winning its First Four game in 2013 and then going on a Sweet 16 run that featured upsets of No. 4 Kansas State and No. 12 Ole Miss. No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson also won its First Four game in 2023 and then upset No. 1 seed Purdue in its first-round game.
Has any First Four team won a national championship?
No, there hasn't been a First Four team to win the national championship game.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First Four history: What's furthest team has gone in NCAA Tournament?
NBA expansion will force one existing team to East, and there’s only 2 choices
The NBA has been experiencing Western Conference supremacy since the moment Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls for the second time following the 1998 NBA Finals. East teams have won plenty of championships over that time period — most recently, the 2019 Toronto Raptors, 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, and 2024 Boston Celtics — but no one disputes that life is always harder in the West. With recent No. 1 overall picks Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg both landing in the West via the draft lottery, the Western Conference should continue to be superior moving forward.
NBA expansion is just ahead, with a vote coming at this week’s board of governors meetings to start the process of adding two new teams for the 2028-29 season. With franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas expected to be added, one existing team is going to move East. The league has narrowed its choices down to two candidates, per Shams Charania:
Executives across the NBA expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to move to the East to realign conferences with 16 each when Seattle and Las Vegas become West teams.
For the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, the opportunity to move to the East feels almost as important as draft lottery results. One of these teams is about to have a much easier path to contention going forward in the weaker conference due to factors totally outside of their control.
Here’s one mock up of what the conferences could look like if the Wolves move East:
It’s pretty difficult to project what the league is going to look like in 2028-29 and beyond. What if the big three from this year’s NBA draft class — Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson — all end up in the East? Suddenly that conference looks a lot harder moving forward. Who’s to say that Anthony Edwards will even be on the Wolves by then? A few years ago, no one would have thought the Grizzlies would move on from Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane while begging teams to take Ja Morant, but it’s all happened.
It’s fair to point out that the East has closed the gap a bit this season, but the West still looks much better going forward with Wembanyama and Flagg just starting their rise, plus the Thunder being flush with draft assets and young stars. If the Wolves were in the East this year, I might pick them to reach the NBA Finals. Instead, they will have to fight just to make it out of the first round in the West.
Can the Wolves or Grizzlies bride the committee making this decision in any way? It would be worth it. The West continues to dominate the NBA, and moving East would be a huge deal for any franchise.
March Madness expert picks: Bracket predictions for 2026 NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament bracket is set. And if you're a veteran of filling out a bracket, you might feel like you know best. Well, here's your chance to prove it.
Below are our USA TODAY Sports' experts picks for March Madness. They predict every game from the first round to the national championship.
Sign up for USA TODAY's Bracket Challenge, presented by AutoZone, and test your knowledge against our experts. You will have a chance to win up to $40,000 in prizes and a shot at a $1 million perfect bracket.
Want more in-depth analysis of the region? Here are our breakdowns of the East, West, Midwest and South.
Here are USA TODAY Sports' reporters predictions:
Blake Toppmeyer
- Final Four: Arizona, Michigan, Houston, Michigan State
- Final: Houston vs. Arizona
- National champion: Arizona
- Click here for Blake's full bracket.
Jordan Mendoza
- Final Four: Arizona, Michigan, Duke, Florida
- Final: Duke vs. Arizona
- National champion: Arizona
- Click here for Jordan's full bracket.
Paul Myerberg
- Final Four: Arizona, St. John's, Iowa State, Houston
- Final: St. John's vs. Arizona
- National champion: St. John's
- Click here for Paul's full bracket.
Brent Schrotenboer
- Final Four: Duke, Florida, Iowa State, Arkansas
- Final: Florida vs. Iowa State
- National champion: Florida
- Click here for Brent's full bracket.
John Brice
- Final Four: Duke, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan
- Final: Duke vs. Arizona
- National champion: Arizona
- Click here for John's full bracket.
Matt Glenesk
- Final Four: Arizona, Iowa State, Michigan State, Florida
- Final: Florida vs. Iowa State
- National champion: Florida
- Click here for Matt's full bracket.
Eddie Timanus
- Final Four: Duke, Florida, Arizona, Michigan
- Final: Duke vs. Arizona
- National champion: Arizona
- Click here for Eddie's full bracket.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Tournament expert predictions, March Madness 2026 bracket picks
March Madness Cinderella predictions: VCU, Akron top NCAA Tournament upset picks
Cinderella, the floor is yours.
Last year’s NCAA Tournament belonged to the 1-seeds. This one might, too, with an excellent lineup of Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida atop the seeding.
Underdogs own the tournament's first week, though. Even in a quiet year for upsets, last season’s bracket saw two No. 12 seeds supply first-round upsets, plus an 11-seed and two 10-seeds.
So, who's primed to supply heroics this year? First-round triumphs by a No. 9 seed hardly qualify as upsets, so we're looking for teams seeded no better than No. 10 as our possible Cinderellas.
From the 10- through 14-seed line, here are my teams that offer top Cinderella potential:
No. 10 Santa Clara
First-round opponent: (7) Kentucky
This is Santa Clara’s first NCAA Tournament bid in 30 years. It got here with an offense that can score 80-plus points with relative ease. Two wins against Saint Mary’s proved Santa Clara’s mettle. Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek, a former Kentucky assistant under Rick Pitino, has won NCAA Tournament games with three different schools.
No. 10 Missouri
First-round opponent: (7) Miami
The Tigers received a better seed than they deserved after going 5-5 down the stretch. Along with the seed, the committee gave Missouri the gift of a de facto home game in St. Louis. Tigers guard Mark Mitchell used to be a starter at Duke, and he’s going out strong as a senior. He dropped 32 points in each of his last two games.
No. 11 South Florida
First-round opponent: (6) Louisville
USF coach Bryan Hodgson used to be an assistant for Alabama’s Nate Oats. You can see it in the way the Bulls play. Much like Alabama, USF never saw a 3-point shot it didn’t like to launch. If the Bulls get hot, they can add to their 11-game win streak. USF is 8-5 in games against Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents. That’s enough to make a 6-seed sweat.
No. 11 VCU
First-round opponent: (6) North Carolina
VCU needs no introduction to the Cinderella role. Fifteen years ago, it went from First Four to Final Four. The red-hot Rams have won 16 of their last 17 games. The 3-point shot is an equalizer in games like this, and VCU shoots well from the perimeter, including 11 3s in the Atlantic-10 Tournament championship win over Dayton.
No. 12 Northern Iowa
First-round opponent: (5) St. John’s
The Missouri Valley enjoys a rich history of NCAA Tournament upsets. That includes Northern Iowa stunning No. 1 Kansas to reach the Sweet 16 in 2010. Ben Jacobson coached that team. He’s still coaching UNI. True to Jacobson’s brand, this team plays tough defense. Each of his last three teams that reached the NCAA Tournament won at least one game.
No. 12 Akron
First-round opponent: (5) Texas Tech
All of the attention on 31-win Miami (Ohio) overshadowed Akron winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Zips have been playing like the MAC’s best team for the past month. An excellent shooting team, they average nearly 11 3-pointers per game. One of those sharpshooters, Tavari Johnson, averages more than 20 points.
No. 13 Hofstra
First-round opponent: (4) Alabama
Hofstra went 2-0 against ACC teams. Granted, those wins came against Pittsburgh and Syracuse, two of the ACC’s worst teams. Hofstra will need a big game from super scorer Cruz Davis, who shoots nearly 40% from 3-point range. My knock on Hofstra? Hofstra Flying Dutchmen sounds way better than Hofstra Pride. The school never should’ve rebranded.
No. 14 North Dakota State
First-round opponent: (3) Michigan State
The Bison didn’t play any top-tier competition in the regular season, but they were excellent within the Summit League. They shoot it well from 3-point range, and the lineup is filled with veterans. A dozen years ago, North Dakota State delivered an upset from the 12-seed line. An upset in this one would be more stunning, a true glass slipper moment.
Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Most likely upsets March Madness 2026: NCAA Tournament predictions
Grizzlies vs Bulls Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
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The Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls clash this evening in the Windy City, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at the United Center.
My Grizzlies vs. Bulls predictions expect Chicago to hand flailing and shorthanded Memphis yet another loss.
Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, March 16.
Grizzlies vs Bulls prediction
Grizzlies vs Bulls best bet: Bulls -6 (-110)
The 27-40 Chicago Bulls have lost two in a row, but are returning home, where they have a 16-18 record. Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies — losers of seven straight — are 11-22 on the road.
The Bulls have won four of the last five against Memphis, and they’ve covered tonight’s spread in all but one of those victories. The Grizz have lost by at least eight points in each of their last four defeats.
Memphis is dealing with a slew of injuries, and several "active" players like Jaylen Wells, Walter Clayton Jr., and Santi Aldama are on nursing ailments despite being listed as day-to-day.
Grizzlies vs Bulls same-game parlay
Josh Giddey has cashed the Over in assists in four straight, and he’s compiled 15 dimes across his last two games alone. He’s averaging 11.8 assists in March and will pick apart the Memphis defense tonight.
Matas Buzelis is playing at a different level over these last few games, which is exactly why his total is sitting higher. The second-year forward has hit the Over in two of his last three outings.
He dropped 22 against the Lakers last week, and just two days prior, Buzelis erupted for a career-high 41 points vs. the Warriors.
Grizzlies vs Bulls SGP
- Bulls -6
- Josh Giddey Over 9.5 assists
- Matas Buzelis Over 21.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Tre Cool
Tre Jones has hit the Over in points in three straight, posting 20+ in two of those contests.
Grizzlies vs Bulls SGP
- Bulls -6
- Josh Giddey Over 9.5 assists
- Matas Buzelis Over 21.5 points
- Tre Jones Over 15.5 points
Grizzlies vs Bulls odds
- Spread: Grizzlies +6 (-110) | Bulls -6 (-110)
- Moneyline: Grizzlies +195 | Bulls -240
- Over/Under: Over 243 (-110) | Under 243 (-110)
Grizzlies vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Chicago Bulls have hit the Game Total Under in 20 of their last 30 games at home (+10.10 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Bulls.
How to watch Grizzlies vs Bulls
| Location | United Center, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Monday, March 16, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN SE-Memphis, CHSN |
Grizzlies vs Bulls latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Jazz's Cody Williams crashes the party
Week 21 marks the start of the fantasy basketball playoffs for managers in Yahoo! default leagues. Those in need of pickups have come to the right place, as there are 10 options who can help you win your matchup and advance!
For a great breakdown of the Week 21 schedule with actionable advice, check out Raphielle Johnson’s Fantasy Basketball Week 21 Schedule Primer.
As a reminder, this article will only feature players rostered in 25% or less of Yahoo! leagues for the rest of the season. The waiver wire in competitive leagues is cut-throat, and managers looking for an end-of-season edge will need to dive deep.
Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 21.
Priority Adds
1. Cody Williams
2. Tristan da Silva
3. Danny Wolf
4. Leonard Miller
5. Javon Small
6. Justin Edwards
7. Mitchell Robinson
8. Bilal Coulibaly
9. Pelle Larsson
10. Ayo Dosunmu
Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic (25 percent rostered)
With Franz Wagner and Anthony Black still on the shelf, da Silva has taken on a larger role for Orlando, and he’s shined with the new opportunities. He’s ranked 15th in per-game value across the last week behind four-game averages of 20 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.3 triples across 35.5 minutes. In that span, he’s shot an efficient 53.5% from the floor and 87.5% from the charity stripe.
da Silva on da move pic.twitter.com/77J2kjQxdQ
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 15, 2026
Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards (22 percent rostered)
Washington has mixed up its rotations and shared playing time generously throughout the season, but Coulibaly has been a consistent presence over the last week. He’s offered fantasy managers top-75 per-game value in that span thanks to averages of 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.3 triples across 31.9 minutes.
Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota Timberwolves (19 percent rostered)
Dosunmu has logged better than 30 minutes in each of his last two games, averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 triples. He’s been a reliable source of offense off the Wolves’ bench, but he’s shown the ability to grab boards and find teammates for easy looks, making him a solid pickup off the waiver wire.
Ayo can do it all.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 14, 2026
12 PTS | 8 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/dIRWxPxN9W
Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers (16 percent rostered)
Philly has lost a number of players to injury, and the absences continue to pile up. Edwards has been a prime beneficiary of additional minutes, and he went off for a 21/2/2/2 and three triples on Sunday. Over the last week, Edwards has provided top-70 fantasy value with averages of 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.0 triples across 28.3 minutes per game.
Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks (14 percent rostered)
Robinson recorded a career-high 22 rebounds against the Pacers, drawing a spot start in place of Karl-Anthony Towns. That signature performance was sandwiched between rebound performances of 10 and 13 off the bench. Robinson has been great with the second unit, and he’s averaged 7.3 points, 15 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 swats across his last three games. He’s a reliable source of defensive stats with the upside for monster rebound totals.
Mitchell Robinson had a career high 22 rebounds and played for over 30 mins in tonight's Knicks win over the Pacers! @NYKnicks | #NewYorkForeverpic.twitter.com/E4z6qHrYZe
— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) March 14, 2026
Javon Small, Memphis Grizzlies (13 percent rostered)
Despite a number of rest days and sporadic absences, Small has been a fixture in Memphis’ rotation as of late. Over his last four games, the West Virginia product has averaged 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 triples across 27.3 minutes. He’s ranked 52nd in per-game fantasy value over the last week, and he deserves a pickup.
Cody Williams, Utah Jazz (11 percent rostered)
Williams set a new career high in the scoring department with 19 points against the Trail Blazers on Friday before blowing that scoring total out of the water with 34 points in Sunday’s loss to the Kings. Williams posted a monster 34/7/7/1/1 line with three triples against Sacramento, showcasing his high ceiling. Across the last five games, Williams has averaged 17.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists across a whopping 38.4 minutes. The Jazz are actively tanking, so Williams seeing nearly 40 minutes per night is huge for his fantasy value down the stretch. The Jazz play three games this week and four games next week. Add him as soon as you can.
Cody Williams drives and SLAMS IT
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2026
Tap to watch NOP/UTA: https://t.co/dhYVGI6uoYpic.twitter.com/GRyX8hmfrn
Pelle Larsson, Miami Heat (9 percent rostered)
Larsson has taken full advantage of his starting opportunities, and he’s averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 swipes and 1.3 triples across his last three outings. Those numbers are good for top-40 fantasy value over the last week. Larsson isn’t a flashy option, but he’s available in more than 90% of Yahoo! leagues, making him a worthwhile add.
Danny Wolf, Brooklyn Nets (8 percent rostered)
The rookie has started three of his last four games, averaging 12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 “stocks” and 1.5 triples across 27.5 minutes. Day’Ron Sharpe is out for the season, and Brooklyn has no incentive to play starters Nic Claxton or Michael Porter Jr. big minutes down the stretch. Wolf should see plenty of run to close out his inaugural campaign on a high note.
the Big Bad Wolf showin' off the moves pic.twitter.com/s4MqGdgq2g
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 1, 2026
Leonard Miller, Chicago Bulls (3 percent rostered)
Chicago’s already-thin frontcourt rotation has been hit with injuries, and Miller has answered the call as the next man up. In three straight starts, he’s averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 boards, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 triples across 35 minutes. Expect him to see substantial playing time over the final month of the NBA season, making him a strong add in 12-team leagues.
Other options:Cason Wallace (25%), Herbert Jones (20%), Julian Champagnie (18%), Derrick Jones Jr. (18%), Royce O’Neale (16%), Jaylin Williams (15%), Keon Ellis (11%)
SB Reacts: Do fans want changes in Dallas at the top?
The Dallas Mavericks’ season is essentially over, but there’s still plenty to talk about both within the team and around the NBA. And if you’re interested in placing a wager or two, FanDual is the best place for that.
Last week I asked two loaded questions and I’m honestly very surprised at the results. It focused on if our readers want changes at the top. The first question had to do with the front office and our interim general managers.
After the Anthony Davis trade I am shocked that this is right down the middle. One would think they earned some leeway after getting out from under that albatross of a contract, but apparently not! The voting fans were split down the middle here.
The second question asked if fans want to keep Jason Kidd.
Again, this one favoring keeping Kidd surprised me. He was arguably more involved with the Luka Doncic trade than the interim GMs and he’s only ever led Dallas to a winning season with Doncic at the helm. I think he’s a good playoff coach, but you need to make the playoffs, something he’s failed to do in three of his five seasons here.
These next two questions were part of the national survey.
This one makes sense given what we saw out of Tatum. He looks incredible and is going to lead the Celtics deep into the playoffs if the seeding breaks right. The East is weak and the Celtics are good.
Now this one makes me wonder if the voting fans are mostly Spurs fans. I don’t see the young Spurs holding up for two months, the playoffs is a diffferent grind than the regular season. But they certainly are talented enough to win and they’ve beaten the Thunder repeatedly this season, so getting to the Finals is the actual hurdle, not winning them.
Look for another survey tomorrow!
Report: NBA Board of Governors to vote on league expansion
The NBA may expand to 32 teams in a couple years, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The league’s Board of Governors will meet on Mar. 24-25. The board may vote on teams being added in Seattle, Wash. and Las Vegas, Nev. If the teams are approved, expansion fees could be $7 to $10 billion each.
Both markets have long histories with the NBA. Seattle is the original home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won their first NBA championship in 1978-79 (as the Seattle SuperSonics) against the Washington Wizards (then the Bullets), one year after Washington won the championship. The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2009 after ownership failed to get a new arena for the city. Since losing the NBA team, Seattle has become a marquee WNBA market where the Storm won numerous WNBA championships and now play their games at Climate Pledge Arena, where the new Seattle NBA team would play.
For Las Vegas, the city has hosted the majority of NBA Summer League games since 2004 with the exceptions of 2011 due to a lockout and 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city has gradually become a market with multiple professional sports teams like the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA, the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL, and the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL. Both the Aces and Knights have won championships in Las Vegas too, so professional athletes seem to like the prospect of playing in this market.
How do you think a new Seattle NBA team and a new Las Vegas NBA team could affect the Wizards? Let us know in the comments below.
NBA eyes expansion to Las Vegas, Seattle in 2028
The NBA appears ready to take the first steps toward expansion for the 2028-29 season.
ESPN reported on Monday, March 16, that the league's board of governors will hold a meeting next week to explore adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
The league is moving toward accepting bids from potential franchise owners exclusively in those two cities. The expansion fee is projected to be in the $7-$10 billion range per team, industry executives said. Both the Seattle and Las Vegas franchises would likely be among the league's top eight revenue generators, ESPN reports.
If the league moves forward, there could potentially be a vote later this year to finalize the expansion to 32 teams. For the proposal to pass, it would need support from 23 of the 30 governors.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal also reported on Monday that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver last week to discuss expansion and the Las Vegas market. The outlet previously reported that NBA legend Magic Johnson met with Lombardo about joining an ownership group if Las Vegas were to be awarded a team.
The NBA last expanded in 2004 when it added the Charlotte Hornets. Seattle was home to the Supersonics from 1967 to 2008, when owner Clay Bennett moved the franchise to Oklahoma City in 2008 after a dispute over building a new arena. Las Vegas has never had an NBA team, but has added NFL and NHL franchises over the past decade. The A's are also planning to move to Las Vegas ahead of the 2028 MLB season.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in December the league planned to decide in 2026 whether to seek further expansion.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA looking toward expanding to Las Vegas, Seattle in 2028
Mavericks vs Pelicans Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
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It’s a Southwest Division showdown tonight at the Smoothie King Center as the Dallas Mavericks visit the New Orleans Pelicans.
We have two teams that aren’t great on either end, and I’ll explain in my Mavericks vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks why I see value in a low-scoring affair.
Mavericks vs Pelicans prediction
Mavericks vs Pelicans best bet: Under 239 (-110)
The Dallas Mavericks rank just 24th in the Association in points with 113.2 per night, while the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t much better at 115.4. Defensively, they’re also both in the bottom half of the league.
Most importantly, recent meetings have a common trend — low-scoring. Five of the last six meetings have comfortably cashed the Under. This season, they’ve battled it out three times, and all of those meetings hit the Under.
In fact, Dallas and New Orleans haven’t combined for more than 233 points once this season across those three contests.
Mavericks vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Cooper Flagg is having a stellar rookie campaign. He’s averaging 20.2 ppg, and the No. 1 overall pick just cooked the Cavaliers for 27 and 25 points over the last two games.
The youngster has faced the Pelicans three times this season, and he’s averaging 21.7 ppg. He’ll cook tonight.
Trey Murphy III is an elite 3-point shooter. He’s averaging 3.3 makes on 8.5 attempts per contest for a 38.8% clip. In March, across seven appearances, he’s shooting 47.4% from downtown while averaging 3.9 makes.
The 25-year-old has cashed the Over in four of his last five appearances.
Mavericks vs Pelicans SGP
- Under 239
- Cooper Flagg Over 20.5 points
- Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Capture the Flagg!
Flagg has cashed for Over in assists in two of his last three, and he just dropped 10 dimes against the Cavs yesterday.
Mavericks vs Pelicans SGP
- Under 239
- Cooper Flagg Over 20.5 points
- Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 threes
- Cooper Flagg Over 5.5 assists
Mavericks vs Pelicans odds
- Spread: Mavericks +8.5 | Pelicans -8.5
- Moneyline: Mavericks +275 | Pelicans -350
- Over/Under: Over 239 | Under 239
Mavericks vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Mavericks have gone Under the total in 13 of their last 18 road games for +7.5 units and a 38% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Mavericks vs Pelicans
| Location | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA |
| Date | Monday, March 16, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | KFAA, GCSEN |
Mavericks vs Pelicans latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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