The Utah Jazz continue their road swing tonight in D.C. against the Washington Wizards. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Keyonte George is thriving as the main option right now for Utah, and I’m eyeing him to keep it rolling this evening in my Jazz vs. Wizards predictions.
Jazz vs Wizards best bet: Keyonte George Over 25.5 points (-115)
No Lauri Markkanen for the Utah Jazz means Keyonte George is the top guy at the moment, and he’s running with the opportunity. The Baylor product has cashed the Over in back-to-back games with ease.
On Monday, George put together a 36-point game against the Nuggets in a tight loss. The Jazz then fell by just four points on Wednesday evening versus the 76ers, but George put his best foot forward, balling out for 30.
The Washington Wizards are in the gutter of the East and sit 29th in defensive rating. George will go off again.
Jazz vs Wizards same-game parlay
Utah is in the midst of a seven-game losing skid, but a win is right around the corner. Their last two games against two solid teams have been incredibly close, and they’ve won four of their last five meetings with Washington
After giving Philly a run for their money, the Jazz will finally end the losing run tonight.
Kyle Filipowski is averaging 6.7 rebounds this season, but he’s been a larger presence on the boards lately. The big man has cashed the Over in boards in back-to-back contests.
The Duke product had 11 rebounds in Philadelphia, and grabbed eight boards against the Nuggets on Monday.
Jazz vs Wizards SGP
Keyonte George Over 25.5 points
Jazz moneyline
Kyle Filipowski Over 9.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Another big number for Jazz
Utah scored 125 points against Denver, and Washington has allowed Over 120.5 points in four straight contests.
Jazz vs Wizards SGP
Keyonte George Over 25.5 points
Jazz moneyline
Kyle Filipowski Over 9.5 rebounds
Jazz team total Over 120.5 points
Jazz vs Wizards odds
Spread: Jazz +2.5 | Wizards -2.5
Moneyline: Jazz +125 | Wizards -150
Over/Under: Over 243.5 | Under 243.5
Jazz vs Wizards betting trend to know
The Jazz have hit the Over in 30 of their last 50 games (+8.00 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Wizards.
How to watch Jazz vs Wizards
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
KJZZ, MNMT
Jazz vs Wizards latest injuries
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MUMBAI, India (AP) — Captain Harry Brook called correctly at the coin toss and England opted to bowl first against India in their Twenty20 World Cup semifinal on Thursday.
India was unchanged from its win against the West Indies on Sunday. England made one change, bringing back pacer Jamie Overton for spinner Rehan Ahmed.
The pitch at the iconic Wankhede Stadium should aid batters and a high-scoring contest was on the cards. Evening dew should aid the chasing side.
The winner will take on New Zealand in the final on Sunday at Ahmedabad.
England and India are playing their third straight T20 World Cup semifinal.
England beat India by 10 wickets in Sydney in 2022 and ultimately won its second title. India then beat England by 68 runs in the 2024 semifinal at Georgetown and went on to its second title, too.
Defending champion India's only loss in the tournament so far was against South Africa.
England has lost only once, too, against the West Indies in the first round, also at Mumbai.
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) — Zhang Weiwei chipped in on her last two holes, one for eagle and the other for birdie, giving her a 6-under 66 and a three-way tie for the lead in the Blue Bay LPGA on Thursday.
Zhang, one of 20 players in the field from the China Golf Association, was tied with Mary Liu of China and Youmin Hwang of South Korea. All three of them were solid on a day of strong wind at Jian Lake Blue Bay.
Auston Kim, the American who tied for third last week in the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore, shot a 67.
Zhang took advantage of a shorter tee box on the par-5 17th that allowed her to get close enough to the green in two to chip in for eagle. She finished with a chip just off the 18th green about 30 feet from the cup.
“I hit it a bit heavy,” she said of her chip on the 17th. “But the landing spot was perfect and it rolled straight into the hole. That really got me excited and energized.”
Liu birdied four of her last six holes for a 66, while Hwang did her best work around the turn with five birdies in a six-hole stretch in the middle of her round.
Kim had nine birdies, offset by four bogeys, that put her in a tie for third.
“I’m just hitting a couple shots here and there that are really costing me,” Kim said. “Couple three-putts today, and just a couple bad shots off the tee. Overall the rest of it was more solid than before.”
Blue Bay LPGA wraps up a three-tournament swing through Asia for the LPGA with the weakest field of the three. It follows a week in Singapore that had nine of the top 10 in the women's world ranking, missing only Nelly Korda, who again skipped the Asia swing.
Ruoning Yin of China (No. 10) is the only player from the top 10 at Hainan Island. Ruoning, a former Women's PGA champion, opened with a 68.
Mavericks vs Magic best bet: Mavericks team total Under 109.5 (-110)
The Orlando Magic defense can strand the Dallas Mavericks in the half-court for long stretches, and the visitors aren't explosive enough to score more than 110 points.
Even if the Mavericks hang around, their scoring comes in spurts, and Orlando is good at taking away easy points, as evidenced by their 109 points-per-game allowed across their last five contests.
Orlando’s defense is stout, and its snail-paced offense won’t allow Dallas to jack up the tempo or to have enough successful offensive possessions to clear its team total.
Marshall must score against a physical Magic perimeter and interior defense, and if Flagg plays, he’s likely on a minutes restriction, which makes it hard to reach 19+ points against Orlando.
Mavericks vs Magic SGP
Mavericks team total Under 110.5
Naji Marshall Under 16.5 points
Cooper Flagg Under 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Suggs to be You
Jalen Suggs went 0-for-2 from three against Washington, but he’s hit at least two deep balls in three of his previous five games.
Mavericks vs Magic SGP
Mavericks team total Under 110.5
Naji Marshall Under 16.5 points
Cooper Flagg Under 18.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 1.5 made threes
Mavericks vs Magic odds
Spread: Mavericks +8.5 (-110) | Magic -8.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Mavericks +280 | Magic -360
Over/Under: Over 228.5 (-110) | Under 228.5 (-110)
Mavericks vs Magic betting trend to know
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the 2H Game Total Under in 13 of their last 18 away games (+7.41 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Magic.
How to watch Mavericks vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
KFAA, FDSN Florida
Mavericks vs Magic latest injuries
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 04: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets reach for the ball during the second half at the TD Garden on March 04, 2026 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown wasn’t at his sharpest Wednesday night against the Hornets. He missed four of his first six shots and four of his final six as the Celtics suffered a lopsided 118–89 defeat at TD Garden.
“I take accountability,” Brown said. “I gotta be better at the rim and play with more energy.”
Brown’s first three shots were all within 12 feet of the rim, and all three missed. He proceeded to miss six more from within six feet before finishing 7-for-19 with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and three turnovers. Both Brown’s scoring and playmaking proved unreliable, turning what began as a first-quarter 7-for-23 Celtics slump into a contagious burden that prevented anyone from finding a rhythm.
Charlotte’s defense smothered Boston so effectively that it held the Celtics to fewer than 23 points for three quarters.
“That wasn’t Celtics basketball,” Brown said. “They had more energy than us. Usually, that doesn’t happen a lot all season long. Today wasn’t the best example of Celtics basketball, and we all can be better. Being the leader, I take accountability.”
Brown tried to revive the Celtics. In the second quarter, he poster-dunked over 6-foot-10 center Moussa Diabaté in an attempt to motivate the rest of the team. The energy lift lasted only a few moments before Charlotte closed the frame with a 64-43 halftime lead. Brown’s latest dunk-of-the-year submission wasn’t enough to swing the pendulum in Boston’s favor. The shooting woes, turnovers, and unlikely brand of basketball that prompted halftime boos among the over 19,000 fans in attendance remained stuck to the Celtics.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 04: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics passes the ball past Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at the TD Garden on March 04, 2026 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the third quarter, Brown’s right-handed layup attempt was blocked by Ryan Kalkbrenner. Brown immediately looked toward the officials, shouting while holding his right arm. Seconds later, he was charged with a his career-high ninth technical foul of the season, allowing Colby White to visit the charity stripe and extend Charlotte’s lead to 20 points with 11.4 seconds remaining.
No matter where the Celtics looked, they couldn’t find an answer.
Hornets coach Charles Lee’s offense, on the other hand, never took its foot off the gas. Charlotte recorded 26 assists to Boston’s 18 and scored 22 fast-break points, while the Celtics finished with nine.
Part of Boston’s internal makeup that has made the Celtics one of the most dominant teams in the NBA this season is their ability to outwork opponents. Regardless of who’s healthy, they’ve been able to rely on their all-or-nothing commitment to make up for any star-power gap or unfavorable matchup. This time, that wasn’t the case, and Brown called it out.
“We weren’t the harder-playing team tonight on either side of the ball,” Brown said. “Uncharacteristic of us.”
In addition to getting outworked, key contributors to Boston’s offense became complete non-factors. Payton Pritchard went scoreless for the second time in three games, this time shooting 0-for-6, including 0-for-5 from three. Nikola Vučević scored only eight points, shooting 2-for-10 with only four rebounds. Everyone on Charlotte’s sideline whom Lee played registered a positive plus-minus, as the Hornets outscored the Celtics 44-26 in bench points.
“We just didn’t have it tonight,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Failing to convert at the rim wasn’t just Brown’s problem; it plagued Boston’s entire offense.
“We went 4-for-18 from layups, so I don’t really know what else to tell you,” Mazzulla said. “That was in the first half. We went 11-for-33 in the game, and brought it up to 33 percent.”
As Mazzulla saw it, Boston’s misses constantly turned into fast-break opportunities for Charlotte, who capitalized on easy baskets. The Celtics committed 15 turnovers, which the Hornets converted into 21 points. Poor ball protection and the inability to finish at the rim quickly caught up to Boston. Charlotte had little trouble maintaining its double-digit lead, as the Celtics were unintentionally blueprinting their own undoing.
Nobody in the locker room was overly concerned with the loss. They were more focused on learning from their mistakes. That’s the Mazzulla way.
“I think we had a lot of good looks,” Derrick White said. “There’s a lot of layups we missed, a lot of open looks that we missed, and honestly, we’re gonna look back and see some things that we should’ve done better. But I think overall it was pretty good. We just gotta execute better.”
Lakers guard Luka Doncic complains to the officials while guard Marcus Smart celebrates after making a three-pointer against the Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Gap year, huh? Who cares! No one is turning down the volume on the Lakers. No one is turning down the heat.
The scrutinizing and psychoanalyzing continues like Luka Doncic screaming at the refs — incessantly, and with impressive stamina. About as loudly too. “Our losses,” Lakers coach JJ Redick recently said, “are louder than other teams' because we’re the Lakers.”
Every other team in the NBA gets graded on a curve; bad breaks and reasonable expectations are accounted for in the score at season’s end.
The Lakers are a pass-fail upper-level course; they either win a championship or they fail.
They’re 37-24 but still would consider dropping the class if they could — but they can’t. So they’re forging on, trying to figure it out, their window closing and their fans’ frustration growing.
“I think it's awesome,” guard Austin Reaves said of the bright — no, blinding — lights trained constantly on the team.
Lakers coach JJ Redick directs his team during a win over the Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“I think it's one of the best — if not the best organization — in all of sports. With that comes …”
Great responsibility? Golden opportunity?
“… honestly, chaos.”
By which Reaves meant: “If it’s good, it’s great. And if it’s bad, it’s miserable. They expect to win games, the fans do. And that’s what we’re here to do, we’re here to win and win at a high level. We know that.”
That’s why Redick signed up to come coach them, he said. “My own personal psychosis,” he called it. He swears he wants the smoke.
“The reality is everybody is going to always have an opinion,” Redick said Tuesday before his team toughed out a 110-101 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, who are healthier than they have been but still are 19-44. “Since pro sports have existed, everybody has always had an opinion. There’s been sports talk, there’s been barber shops, chat rooms. Everybody’s had an opinion. Now, everybody’s opinion is more easily accessible. It’s just more amplified now, but it’s normal.”
And then he interrupted a question to return to a previous query about his play calling, needing to rebut the strangers on the internet picking apart his work. “I’m always fascinated by that, by the way,” Redick said. “How do you know we’re calling plays or not calling plays? … That’s fascinating. That’s really interesting.”
That’s the Lakers. Interesting, even when they aren’t necessarily, basketball-wise. The front office chose to protect future cap space and draft capital rather than substantively improve the team now around Doncic and LeBron James. And the players play like they realize most of them likely are not part of long-term plans.
And who else but the Lakers to provide some spice during the drab stretch of the season between the trade deadline and the playoffs?
There’s no team with a greater ratio of molehills turned into mountains, so of course it was national news when Redick and Doncic had a disagreement on the bench during Saturday’s win at the Golden State Warriors. It was no big deal, and they laughed about it later, Redick insisted Tuesday.
“I didn’t feel any tension. He was like, ‘Nah, I didn’t care about it,’" Redick said of Doncic. "You do it and you move on.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves dribbles around Pelicans forward Herbert Jones on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Move on, knowing every interaction and play call and result will be dissected and debated.
So Doncic can lead the league in scoring (32.4 points per game) and average the third-most assists (8.6) but have his defensive limitations and incessant and unproductive banter with officials get the most attention from some critics.
And so the Lakers, 1½ games out of third place, are impressing no one. Not when they’re 14-18 against teams that are .500 or better. Not when they’re 1-8 against the league’s top four teams, those losses against the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics coming by an average of 20 points.
A bummer for the Lakers that they’ll have to face good teams in the playoffs.
Competent teams with heart and want-to, like the Denver Nuggets, who are next on the docket Thursday.
At 38-24 and a half-game ahead of the Lakers, star center Nikola Jokic’s squad is always formidable — and looking to avenge a loss to Redick’s team in their first matchup, 115-107 in a game Jokic didn’t play.
An ‘A’ game from the Lakers in Denver? Now, that would be worth talking about. That would be pretty interesting — though we’ll be digging in and discussing it, either way. With the volume cranked all the way up.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the third quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Oh, man, am I ready for the Spurs to be home. Probably not as ready as they are after all the time on the road, but excited all the same.
The Rodeo Road Trip was a huge success and nearly perfect, sans the loss in Madison Square Garden.
That said, following up the loss with a throttling two nights later put some icing on the cake. Sure, the 76ers were on a limited roster, but it was how the Spurs played that transcended the rival or location of the opponent.
One interesting fact- Victor Wembanyama took only five shots.
When your top player can have a lower scoring game and your team is up by over 30, you’ve got the gears turning nicely. It’s not that Wemby had a bad game — he was hinting at a 5×5 pretty early on — but he certainly didn’t have to be the scoring focal point to make his presence known.
In fact, at the end of it all, Devin Vassell walked off the court with the second highest plus/minus in franchise history. His +43 was only two points below Tim Duncan’s +45. You’re always in good company when being roped into a conversation with The Bog Fundamental.
Devin Vassell just had the 2nd highest +/- in a game in Spurs history.
In addition, eight Spurs scored in double digits, which is closer to par for the course considering that eight Spurs players currently maintain scoring averaging in double digits. If this trend stands, it will be the first time in NBA history for that accomplishment.
But shared scoring and even keeled playing has become more the norm for the Silver & Black. The Spurs are winning over 70% of their games whether Wemby suits up or not. The team went 10-4 when he was sidelined in from mid-November to mid-December. By comparison, they are 34-13 when he has been available.
No matter who starts, who plays, or who serves as the team’s high scorer, it will be great to be back in the Frost Bank Center, celebrating the team’s return, and cheering them on with 18,418 fans.
Go Spurs Go!
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns slam dunks against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 03, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have a very good big-picture “problem” right now.
The status of Mark Williams’ injury does not change the point of this piece. He has, to this point, been the healthiest he has of his career. This article was in progress before this announcement came out, for what it’s worth. This is more about this trio of centers coexisting in the short-term, but also discussing a tough decision this summer.
Oso Ighodaro is routinely looking like the best center on the Suns roster of late, and Jordan Ott is rewarding him. That reward comes to the detriment of Mark Williams’ time on the floor. With Williams out tonight and Nick Richards now out of the picture, that leaves Khaman Maluach as their backup center to Oso Ighodaro, who will shift into the starting lineup.
In Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, Ighodaro delivered one of his strongest games of the season, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds in a performance that helped Phoenix complete a season series sweep and fortify a balanced attack on both ends.
Last night’s performance wasn’t a fluke or one-off. It’s who he has morphed into after a slow start to the season.
This season has seen Ighodaro evolve from a role player into something closer to a defensive anchor and offensive facilitator, the kind of glue guy that isn’t always obvious in highlight reels but impacts the flow of a game. He is one of the few Suns players to see consistent minutes across most of the schedule, and his ability to set screens, read cuts, make plays out of short rolls, and contest at the rim has made the Suns tougher to dissect for opposing defenses. He’s an easy player to take for granted.
At just 23 years old, Ighodaro has the length, motor, and IQ to be a disruptive presence on both ends of the floor. His season averages (around 5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on about 63.5 percent shooting) may not jump off the stat sheet, but they hide the nuance of his role, especially how he makes life easier for Phoenix’s primary creators and how his activity on defense frequently leads to transition opportunities.
Little things with Oso Ighodaro.
I continue to note that him in the trailer role has many benefits — watch him read this pocket to defend as defenders heads shift toward the ball.
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) March 4, 2026
Ighodaro’s rise, however, complicates things when you look at the other pieces at the Suns’ disposal.
Mark Williams entered this season as Phoenix’s presumptive starting center and center of the future after they dealt two first-round picks to acquire him. As we all know, he will be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means the team will have to weigh his performance, fit, and injury history when negotiations come. At full strength, Williams offers size, finishing ability, and rebounding that a contending team needs, but that same size and impact are now being challenged by Ighodaro’s ascendance. Williams has been solid, but he has his moments where he can fade. I’m not sure a heavy investment at the center position makes sense with Oso Ighodaro and lottery pick, Khaman Maluach patiently waiting.
Maluach has not been rushed. His development has been methodical, with much of his early seasoning coming through the G League and spot minutes in Phoenix. That approach was intentional, and Maluach was seen as raw when he arrived, and the team has tried to ease him into physical NBA action rather than bury him under early expectations. With Richards shipped out and Williams out, this will serve as an opportunity for him to show he can make an impact in meaningful minutes.
For now, Ighodaro sits at the tip of the spear in Phoenix’s frontcourt. His performances have changed how Ott deploys personnel, how opponents match up, and how the Suns think about the position going forward. Williams’ contributions give the team stability, and Maluach’s development provides optimism for years beyond this one.
Balancing all three is not simple. But it is a sign of organizational depth, and the kind of complexity a team on the rise usually welcomes, even if it keeps fans talking. In the meantime, all the focus is on optimizing this current version of the Suns’ center rotation, which looks as strong and promising as ever.
Boston, MA - March 4 - Celtics bench can't bear to watch as the Charlotte Hornets build a lead over the Boston Celtics during the second half of an NBA game at TD Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
1. Lack of Effort
Coming off a blowout win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, the Celtics got a taste of their own medicine against the Charlotte Hornets, getting crushed 118-89. This game was a rough watch all the way around. It felt like the Hornets had a 20+ point lead in this game from the start and the Celtics just didn’t match the intensity.
In the postgame press conference, Joe Mazzulla stressed the fact that Boston was 4-18 on layups in the first half and went 11-33 for the game. Charlotte also finished with 22 fast break points, showcasing Boston’s lack of transition defense.
Joe Mazzulla on what caused the Celtics loss tonight
“We did none of that in this game. What prevented you guys from doing that? I think we were 4-18 on this layups in the first half. And I think they took a ton of transition opportunities playing against a team that’s second… pic.twitter.com/8mHVygW6Gn
The missed layups were a small part of the overall issue with the Celtics offense. Boston shot 30-79 (38%) from the field and 10-36 (28%) from three. Boston’s offense was so bad at the half that Brown and White had 30 of Celtics 43 points.
I credit the Hornets defense for really stepping up big and locking down the Celtics in this game. They were able to get great contests on Boston’s shot attempts from beyond the arc, but it also just felt like one of those games where the Celtics couldn’t buy a bucket. In addition to the Celtics struggles, Charlotte also outshot Boston in this game, shooting 41-89 (46%) from the field and 19-49 (39%) from three.
Celtics Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
3. Lost the Turnover Battle
One of the best parts of Boston’s game this season has been their ability to both force turnovers while also not giving them up. The Celtics lead the NBA in giving up the least amount of turnovers with 12.2 a game this season and rank 2nd in turnover ratio at 12.8%. In this game against the Hornets however, the Celtics lost the turnover battle, giving up 15 and only forcing 4.
Boston just had too many careless possessions that the Hornets turned into 10 steals and 21 points off turnovers. Some of them were great defensive plays from Charlotte, but a lot of them were just them kicking the ball out of bounds, bad passes, and sloppy play that looked like the Celtics were not prepared to play.
The Hornets bench absolutely dominated the Celtics bench, outscoring them 44-26. Coby White was the main contributor for Charlotte, scoring 17 points on 6-9 shooting while Luka Garza led Boston with 9 points. The biggest problem for the C’s bench was the lack of production from Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic.
Vucevic had a tough night in 17 minutes where he finished with 7 points on 2-10 shooting. Pritchard on the other hand finished with zero points for the second time in three games on 0-6 shooting. I feel like there has to be an injury that Pritchard sustained at some point since coming off the west coast road trip where he dominated to goose eggs twice in a week just feels off.
It wasn’t out of the ordinary to see them struggle, but Boston will need more than 7 combined points out of this pair if they want to make any serious noise against contenders.
Payton Pritchard has played 408 NBA games. In games where he has logged at least 20 minutes, he has been held scoreless just five times. Two of those have come in the last three games.
In all the negative to take away from this game, Derrick White’s scoring was a real positive. He finished with 29 points on 9-17 shooting. In his last 6 games, White’s shooting has really started to turn around, shooting 42% from the field and 40% from three.
One positive to take away from the Celtics loss tonight is that Derrick White is starting to find his shot. In his last 6 games, he is shooting: 42% FG% 40% 3P% pic.twitter.com/PyNZjLBQHf
White had 17 of his 25 points in the first half and looked really confident when it came to his floater game. The three point shoot also looked really good despite finishing 3-9 overall. With the playoffs looming, it’s good to see White look like his shot is coming back.
On the surface it looked like a solid night: 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. However, he shot 7-19 from the field, had 3 turnovers and finished as a -20. It was an uncharacteristic night to say the least for Brown, but he did make some incredible plays, including a poster dunk on Moussa Diabaté, but he also had some baffling shot selection and bad turnovers.
Brown said postgame this is a “flush it” type of game and “today was not the best example of Celtic basketball, and we all can be better. And being a leader, I take accountability.”
Jaylen Brown on whether the Celtics should really reflect on this loss or move on:
“Flush it.”
“Today was not the best example of Celtic basketball, and we all can be better. And being a leader, I take accountability.” pic.twitter.com/eFb3Lvrwic
Neemias Queta only played 16 minutes in this game and finished with 2 points and 2 rebounds coming off his career night against Philadelphia on Sunday where he had 27 points and 17 rebounds. The reason for his low minute total came in the first two minutes of the game when he was subbed out by Joe Mazzulla and the athletic trainer came over to check on his knee.
Queta would come back in and play 6 minutes in both the second and third quarters so it didn’t feel like anything serious. He didn’t look his best tonight but when asked about it postgame, Mazzulla said that “he’s good” in regards to the potential injury. There doesn’t seem to be a concern about Queta for right now, but it will be something monitor moving forward.
In the absence of Queta, Luka Garza played some spot minutes in the first quarter and the entirety of the fourth quarter. In this time, he played pretty well, finishing with 9 points on 3-5 shooting. If Queta does have to miss time with this knee injury, it will give Garza a chance to come back in the rotation as the first big off the bench.
His full offensive bag was on display in the fourth quarter where he showed off a deceleration step, a tough shot underneath the basket, and a three pointer. I have faith that Garza will be able to hold up if there is an injury to Queta and the addition of Jayson Tatum at some point will bring more possibilities as a small ball center option.
Coming into this game, Hugo Gonzalez had a career night against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday where he finished with career highs across the board with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 steals. In this matchup, he had another solid game with 8 points and 6 rebounds, but what was really interesting about his performance was the crowd’s reaction.
Being in the building covering this game, there was a different energy when Hugo entered the game. He got a loud ovation from the crowd every time he touched the ball and it felt like the TD Garden crowd was going crazy. When he knocked down two three pointers in the first quarter, it felt like the crowd was cheering just a little bit louder. When he made a big defensive stop on Coby White, the crowd went berserk.
It might not pickup on the broadcast but you could feel it in the building. Hugo Gonzalez is quickly climbing up the ranks in Celtics fans love and could reach “fan favorite” status if he has any notable playoff performances.
Don’t look now, but the Charlotte Hornets are becoming a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. With their win over the Celtics, they are now 12-3 in their last 15 games and have slayed some of the best teams in the NBA including the Spurs and Rockets. This game was their 6th win in a row and a common theme in all of them is that they have come by a margin of 15+ points. It is tied for the longest streak in NBA history and no team had reached this milestone since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
Charlotte got 56 points out of their three core young players in Kon Knueppel (20), LaMelo Ball (18), and Brandon Miller (18). They also got big contributions out of their depth guys in Coby White and Moussa Diabaté. The Hornets currently sit in 9th place in the Eastern Conference so they would have to escape the Play-In Tournament but if they make the playoffs, they will be a dangerous first round opponent. It would be cool to see a potential matchup between Charlotte and Boston in Round 1, but I would be nervous to face them.
Over the years, the Hornets just seem to have the Celtics number in random points of the season. Former Celtics assistant coach and current Hornets head coach Charles Lee has done an incredible job defending Mazzulla Ball at times and in a playoff setting with nothing to lose for Charlotte, it could be a dog fight.
The 2026 Charlotte Hornets:
21-9 record 1st in ORTG (120.8) 5th in DRTG (108.9) 1st in NRTG (+11.9) 1st in 3PM (17.8) 1st in 3P% (39.3%) 1st in FT% (82.6%) 1st in REB% (55.3%) 1st in 2nd Chance PTS (19.3) https://t.co/Zrs2XT64ehpic.twitter.com/52u6qbu6a8
Young appears ready to make his debut for a new NBA team after the Atlanta Hawks traded him to Washington in January. The 27-year-old has not played in an NBA game in more than two months due to injury, and the Wizards' years-long rebuild and tanking tendencies didn't necessitate a hasty return.
But Young offered recent hints he was closing in on playing again this season and there are indications his first game with the Wizards could be as early as their matchup against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, March 5 in D.C.
Here's a breakdown of Trae Young's injury status and situation heading into Thursday's game between the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz:
Yes, Young is expected to make his Wizards debut in Thursday's home game against the Utah Jazz. Young was not listed on the Wizards' injury report when it was released on Wednesday and he indicated March 5 as the date of his return in a recent social media post. Wizards coach Brian Keefe told reporters Young would be restricted to 17-20 minutes, mostly in the first half.
Trae Young injury update
Young's debut with the Wizards would be his first NBA game since Dec. 27. He has been out with knee and quad injuries initially suffered with the Hawks.
Young was listed on the team's official injury report as dealing with an MCL sprain and thigh bruise. The Wizards announced last month that Young had started to ramp up basketball activities coming out of the NBA All-Star break.
Trae Young stats
Young, in his eighth NBA season, is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 10 games with the Hawks. He is shooting 41.5% from the field and 30.5% from 3-point range during the 2025-26 campaign.
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA still plans for Qatar to stage the Argentina vs. Spain game known as Finalissima this month even as the emirate is targeted by Iranian missiles in the widening Middle East war started by Israel and the United States.
“At present, there are no alternative venues being considered,” UEFA said on Thursday about the scheduled March 27 game in Doha between the reigning champions of South America and Europe in a likely matchup of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.
“A final decision is anticipated towards the end of next week,” said the European soccer body which organizes the game with South American counterpart CONMEBOL.
Argentina and Spain are due to play at Lusail Stadium that staged the epic 2022 World Cup final. Argentina won a penalty shootout against France after Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappé got a hat track in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Qatar has close relations with UEFA. Its top soccer official Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the president of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain, is a member of the UEFA executive committee.
“Discussions are ongoing with the local organizers who have made a huge effort to make the match a success,” UEFA said.
If Doha is too much of a security risk to host the game, it could be moved to Spain or elsewhere in Europe where nearly all the players in the two squads are based.
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — The Iran women's soccer team sang and saluted as its national anthem played ahead of the Women's Asian Cup contest against Australia on Thursday, a contrast to the silence before its opening game.
The outcome was similar, though, with World Cup semifinalist Australia winning 4-0.
The silence during the anthem before Monday's 3-0 loss to South Korea was variously reported as an act of resistance or a show of mourning. The team didn’t clarify.
But in a news conference on the eve of the game against Australia, Iran striker Sara Didar choked back tears as she shared the concerns of players and management for their families and loved ones amid the war in the Middle East.
The 21-year-old Didar was on the bench when Thursday's match started in pouring rain on the Gold Coast, where Iran is scheduled to play all three of its Group A games.
The Iran squad and management have declined to comment on the military strikes or death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying it was important for the women as professional players to focus on the tournament and try to qualify for next year's World Cup.
The Iranians arrived in Australia well before the strikes by Israel and the U.S. on Iran last Saturday.
The change in approach with the anthem between games in Australia seemed to mirror the Iranian men’s team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The men didn’t sing the national anthem before their opening loss against England as turmoil overshadowed the start of their campaign. In their second game against Wales, the men sang along to the anthem and celebrated when they scored.
Iran was competing in that World Cup amid a violent crackdown on a major women’s protest movement that was spurred by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s morality police.
On Thursday, there were Iranian supporters in the crowd of about 22,000 people at Gold Coast Stadium.
After another heavy loss, the Iranians need a big win over the Philippines in their last group game next Monday to have any chance of progressing to the quarterfinals and maintaining any chance of securing a spot at the Women's World Cup next year in Brazil.
Clusters of protesters against Iran's regime gathered outside ahead of the game.
Nasrin Vaziri, an Iranian Australian and long-time Gold Coast resident, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp she was there because she wanted to support the players.
“I think they are brilliant because they haven’t had many chances to play,” Vaziri told the ABC. “They are real people, even under pressure. We are proud of them. As a woman, I’m proud of them."
Feb 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) is defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
It’s been 26 days since the Spurs last played in their home venue of the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. Sure, they had a couple of “home” games in Austin to break up the annual Rodeo Road Trip a bit, but that still counts as travel and not sleeping in their own beds, so they’re part of the overall RRT record in my book, which spanned nine games, seven cities and three time zones that saw the Spurs go 8-1 overall.
If that record is triggering some nostalgia, you aren’t alone. Back in the the good ol’ days, the Stock Show and Rodeo coming to town was a good thing for the Spurs. The extended road trip always acted as bonding time and a successful launching point to get the team out of the January doldrums and into championship contention mode. In 13 of the first 14 years, beginning 2003, they had winning records (and the time they didn’t was when they 4-4 in 2010). However, the tide turned in 2018 when the team went 2-4, just trying to hold on while waiting to hear if Kawhi Leonard would return. While that group and the 2019 squad, who went 1-7, both ultimately turned things around in March and made the playoffs as the 7th seed, the RRT has gone from a defining point of the season to a lost cause ever since. Until now.
With the Spurs going undefeated in the month of February, including a huge win over tonight’s opponent, and sitting comfortably at second in the West, they look like the Spurs of yore. After an inconsistent January, they started clicking as the calendar turned to February, and they’ve been on a roll ever sense (outside of a bad showing in New York that, if their beatdown of the 76ers two nights later was any indication, was a one-off).
Now, after tying 2003 for their best RRT record ever, they head back home to welcomed six-game homestand, but it won’t be that easy. It starts tonight with the top team in the East, and the two “easiest” games will be a couple of play-in teams in the Clippers and Hornets that have been on the rise and are better than their record. It’s officially the home stretch of the season for the Spurs, and for the first time in seven years, there’s a purpose behind it beyond just proving a light at the end of the tunnel while waiting for the season to come to a merciful end.
San Antonio Spurs (44-17) vs. Detroit Pistons (45-15)
March 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs injuries: Harrison Barnes — out (ankle); Mason Plumlee — out (reconditioning)
Pistons injuries: none
What to watch for
The “return home” trap game
Given the pension the Spurs had for playing down to opponents not to long ago, combined with the return home from a long road trip always being a trap game, it’s probably a good thing that this game is against one of just two teams with a better record than them. The Spurs faced the Pistons a mere ten days ago, and the game was everything it was hyped up to be: physical, chippy, and a match-up of two defensive-minded teams with good but imperfect offenses. While it took some time to adjust, Victor Wembanyama eventually figured how to use his gravitational pull on Detroit’s defense to find his open teammates, and they paid him back in kind by hitting their shots.
On the other end, the Spurs’ defense and physicality gave the Pistons problems. They couldn’t finish around Wemby, and Stephon Castle did an amazing job on Cade Cummingham all night. The Spurs have the blue print to beat the Pistons, but perhaps their biggest challenge will be to stay out of their own heads. Don’t relax just because you’re back home, and don’t think you have this figured out. Cunningham will likely be out of revenge, plus there is one other player that wasn’t there in the first match-up to watch out for…
The return of Beef Stew
The Pistons did not have Isaiah Stewart last week because he was serving a 7-game suspension after leaving the bench and fighting Miles Bridges during a brawl with the Hornets before the All-Star break. He’s back now, and while he may seem like merely a backup center whose stats don’t jump off the page, Spurs fans can attest that stats don’t always tell the entire story. Affectionately called Beef Stew, Stewart is known for his confidence, physical play and willingness to muck it up — basically your classic Detroit Bad Boy — making him a fan favorite who hearkens back memories of underdog Ben Wallace.
Everyone knows that the best hope to beating the Spurs is to make Wemby as uncomfortable as possible. While the Pistons were able to do that to an extend in their first match-up, he still found other ways to contribute. If they again have trouble truly taking him out of the game, don’t be surprised if Stewart is put on Wemby and told to not just out-physical him, but get in his head. Wemby will need to be ready for whatever is thrown at him, and just like last time, his teammates need to be ready to respond if he can’t get it going on offense. As they have shown time and again lately, the best way to do that is hit shots.
You can follow along with game here on the Game Thread, as well as on our X profile (@poundingtherock).
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 4: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 4, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is the big one. The Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.
Scroll all the way down the NBA standings, and you should be able to find these teams representing some of the very worst either conference has to offer. It’s an elderly goldfish vs a geriatric turtle. It’s coughing baby vs sneezing baby. It’s the fifth-worst Utah Jazz and fourth-worst Washington Wizards. The tagline for this blockbuster epic? Somebody’s got to win. That’s how basketball games work.
It’s professional sports’ worst-kept secret that these two teams have been gunning for lottery odds over Ws — they’ve been the usual suspects for the past few seasons, and this 2025-26 has been no exception.
Washington (16-45) has sidelined their newly acquired veteran stars, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, in an effort to lose today and win tomorrow (though Young struggles to remain sidelined at times). Though their strategy board reads only “TANK”, their new acquisitions arrived with a promise: lose today, win tomorrow.
Utah (18-44) is in a very similar trajectory since the trade deadline, though instead of banking on aging stars alongside their budding young core, the Jazz plug 27-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr. into their roster to pair with their youngsters and whatever you’d consider Lauri Markkanen to be. But with JJJ, Markkanen, and Kessler all out with injury, the Jazz are equally keen to burn the season in hopes of adding an excellent rookie to fortify what’s already forming into a frightening roster.
Lose today, win tomorrow. But again, somebody has got to win in the nation’s capital on Thursday. It’s inescapable.
The Jazz sit 1.5 games ahead of the Wizards in the current standings, but a Washington victory would cut the difference to just 0.5 games. Danny Ainge salivates. Austin Ainge continues to pretend that the Jazz don’t tank. The Inside Out HQ in Adam Silver’s brain has burned to ash in a fit of unbridled rage.
Utah and Washington are currently on a combined losing streak of 13 games, and just 4.5 and 3.0 games removed from the bottomless pit of Sacramento at the very bottom of the NBA ladder.
Keyonte George is officially back from his ankle injury and back to his old ways, dropping 30-plus in both of his two games back. If George plays, this contest leans to Utah on paper, as the Wizards have already announced the absence of Kyshawn George and leading scorer, rebounder, and defender, Alex Sarr. We’ll all watch with bated breath as the injury report will likely confirm that Keyonte George has contracted polio and will be absent for the next four weeks, as the NBA rushes its medical team to Key’s hotel room to confirm the reports.
Somebody has to win, gentlemen. Now shake hands and pretend to want it.
How to watch Utah vs Washington:
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026 Time: 5:00 PM MT Location: Capitol One Arena, Washington, D.C. Channel: KJZZ, Jazz+
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
Jalen Brunson, at the end of his availability with the media, revealed that he suffered a black eye.
“Probably a no-call,” Brunson said about how it was absorbed.
That sentiment was thematic. The Knicks were left angered by the referees during and after their 103-100 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Whether justified or not, the Thunder have developed a reputation as a team that gets away with physicality on the defensive end and benefits from a friendly whistle on the offensive end. It often leaves opponents frustrated and results in constant complaints about officiating.
The Knicks became the latest culprit. Coach Mike Brown, unprompted, suggested that the refs were duped by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“SGA, he’s a tough cover,” Brown said. “He does a great job of convincing the referees, probably better than anyone in the league, that he’s getting hit.”
Gilgeous-Alexander took seven free throws and made all of them. Brunson took six and made four.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives up court as Landry Shamet defends during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 103-100 loss to the Thunder at the Garden on March 4, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In the first quarter, Brunson looked to have drawn a clear charge on Gilgeous-Alexander but it wasn’t called. It would have been Gilgeous-Alexander’s third foul.
Brown, normally cordial with officials, was uncharacteristically incensed. He took several steps onto the court and yelled at crew chief Brian Forte.
Head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline during the second quarter of the Knicks’ loss to the Thunder. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Then, on the next defensive possession for the Knicks, Brown lost it after Mohamed Diawara was called for a foul and began barking right at Forte, who promptly gave him a technical foul — Brown’s first of the season. He had to be held back by Rick Brunson.
“You guys saw the play,” Brown said. “SGA had two fouls and Jalen was there, and he ran him over. Just like the call that they made on OG [Anunoby, later in the game]. I don’t understand why that was a no-call. But that should’ve been his third, the bucket shouldn’t have counted and we should’ve gone the other way with the basketball.
Jalen Brunson reacts on the court during the third quarter of the Knicks’ loss to the Thunder at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“So to see that, knowing that Jalen is standing there and he’s putting his body on the line, and our guys are fighting their asses off to try to win the ballgame, it didn’t sit well with me, obviously.”
Later in the fourth quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns was not happy with the call for his fifth foul, which was assessed after a Thunder challenge. Towns fouled out a few minutes later.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Towns said. “You want to win the game and you want to be out there with your teammates. It’s unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that it was called.”
