Category: NBA

Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers in the 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena on March 27.

Doncic had 41 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in 39 minutes played for the Lakers.

The guard also received his 16th technical foul of the season, meaning he is likely to face a one-game suspension.

“I’m sure we will appeal it,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game. “I didn’t see what happened.”

Doncic was seen pushing Nets forward Ziaire Williams, who then retaliated by swinging his arm back and hitting Doncic in the face.

“He was in my face three times,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “I just wanted to get out of there. They said I pushed (Williams).”

pic.twitter.com/EqF9UISJjc

— @MindOfBron (@FunKneeBone) March 28, 2026

Doncic was previously called for a technical foul during a game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, March 21. It would have been his 16th technical foul, but the NBA decided to rescind it. The decision allowed Doncic to avoid a suspension and play in the game against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, March 23.

When do Lakers play next?

The Lakers will host the Washington Wizards on Monday, March 30 at 10 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers' Luka Doncic called for 16th technical foul in win vs. Nets

Miami Heat (39-35, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (16-58, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

Indianapolis; Sunday, 5 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana hosts Miami looking to break its 11-game home losing streak.

The Pacers are 12-33 in Eastern Conference games. Indiana averages 13.8 turnovers per game and is 12-25 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents.

The Heat are 23-21 in conference play. Miami is third in the Eastern Conference with 18.0 fast break points per game led by Norman Powell averaging 3.4.

The Pacers' 13.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.7 fewer made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Heat allow. The Heat's 46.4% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.7 percentage points lower than the Pacers have given up to their opponents (49.1%).

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Pacers won the last meeting 123-99 on Jan. 11, with Andrew Nembhard scoring 29 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jarace Walker is scoring 11.5 points per game and averaging 5.1 rebounds for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith is averaging 16.6 points and 2.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is averaging 14.9 points and 4.8 assists for the Heat. Bam Adebayo is averaging 25.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 1-9, averaging 115.1 points, 38.5 rebounds, 31.0 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.6 points per game.

Heat: 4-6, averaging 121.3 points, 43.0 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.6 points.

INJURIES: Pacers: Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out for season (rib), Jarace Walker: day to day (concussion), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).

Heat: None listed.

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

Utah Jazz (21-53, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (40-33, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Suns -16.5; over/under is 229.5

BOTTOM LINE: Utah looks to stop its four-game slide with a victory against Phoenix.

The Suns are 25-21 in Western Conference games. Phoenix scores 112.4 points while outscoring opponents by 1.2 points per game.

The Jazz are 11-34 against conference opponents. Utah is second in the NBA with 29.4 assists per game led by Isaiah Collier averaging 7.2.

The Suns' 14.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 15.4 per game the Jazz give up. The Jazz average 12.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Suns allow.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Suns won the last meeting 118-96 on Nov. 1. Devin Booker scored 36 points to help lead the Suns to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Booker is averaging 25.5 points and 5.9 assists for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 23.1 points and four assists over the past 10 games.

Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.7 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-6, averaging 114.2 points, 39.7 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points per game.

Jazz: 2-8, averaging 118.2 points, 41.8 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.0 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee), Amir Coffey: out (ankle).

Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: out (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

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

Chicago Bulls (29-44, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (24-49, 12th in the Western Conference)

Memphis, Tennessee; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulls -3.5; over/under is 245

BOTTOM LINE: Memphis plays Chicago looking to stop its three-game home slide.

The Grizzlies are 13-23 in home games. Memphis is seventh in the Western Conference with 11.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Zach Edey averaging 3.9.

The Bulls have gone 11-24 away from home. Chicago is third in the Eastern Conference scoring 52.1 points per game in the paint led by Tre Jones averaging 8.3.

The Grizzlies' 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.2 fewer made shots on average than the 14.0 per game the Bulls allow. The Bulls average 116.3 points per game, 2.8 fewer than the 119.1 the Grizzlies allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Bulls won 132-107 in the last meeting on March 17. Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 29 points, and Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 17 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Coward is averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Olivier-Maxence Prosper is averaging 14.9 points over the last 10 games.

Buzelis is scoring 16.2 points per game and averaging 5.7 rebounds for the Bulls. Josh Giddey is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 1-9, averaging 111.0 points, 37.5 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 9.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.4 points per game.

Bulls: 3-7, averaging 121.1 points, 47.2 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.4 points.

INJURIES: Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ja Morant: out for season (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out (toe), Jahmai Mashack: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out for season (calf).

Bulls: Anfernee Simons: out (wrist), Jalen Smith: out for season (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out for season (knee), Nick Richards: out (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe).

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

Sacramento Kings (19-55, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (41-33, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawks -14.5; over/under is 237.5

BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta will try to keep its 11-game home win streak alive when the Hawks face Sacramento.

The Hawks have gone 21-16 at home. Atlanta ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 32.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 8.8.

The Kings are 6-30 on the road. Sacramento is 3-4 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Hawks are shooting 47.3% from the field this season, 2.1 percentage points lower than the 49.4% the Kings allow to opponents. The Kings are shooting 46.6% from the field, 0.8% lower than the 47.4% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Hawks won 133-100 in the last meeting on Nov. 13. Johnson led the Hawks with 24 points, and Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 12 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is scoring 22.9 points per game with 10.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 23.5 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 53.5% over the past 10 games.

Precious Achiuwa is scoring 9.4 points per game and averaging 6.5 rebounds for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 18.9 points and 8.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 8-2, averaging 121.2 points, 44.6 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.

Kings: 5-5, averaging 113.8 points, 44.3 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (shoulder).

Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Russell Westbrook: out (foot), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Nique Clifford: day to day (foot), Killian Hayes: day to day (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).

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

Golden State Warriors (36-38, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (47-28, fourth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Sunday, 10 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will attempt to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Warriors take on Denver.

The Nuggets are 29-16 against Western Conference opponents. Denver is 21-20 against opponents with a winning record.

The Warriors are 23-22 against Western Conference opponents. Golden State ranks fourth in the league with 29.0 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.4.

The 121.3 points per game the Nuggets score are 6.4 more points than the Warriors give up (114.9). The Warriors average 16.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.6 more made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the Nuggets allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on Feb. 22 the Warriors won 128-117 led by 23 points from Moses Moody, while Nikola Jokic scored 35 points for the Nuggets.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is averaging 27.9 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 26.3 points and seven assists over the past 10 games.

Brandin Podziemski is averaging 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Warriors. Gui Santos is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 8-2, averaging 128.3 points, 45.4 rebounds, 33.3 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.6 points per game.

Warriors: 4-6, averaging 116.0 points, 40.4 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 9.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.8 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: None listed.

Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Seth Curry: out (adductor), Al Horford: out (calf), Quinten Post: out (foot), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Stephen Curry: out (knee), De'Anthony Melton: out (knee).

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

Houston Rockets (44-29, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (25-50, 11th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans enters the matchup against Houston after losing four straight games.

The Pelicans are 7-8 against the rest of their division. New Orleans has a 14-22 record in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Rockets are 8-6 against the rest of their division. Houston has a 21-11 record in games decided by at least 10 points.

The 115.3 points per game the Pelicans average are 5.1 more points than the Rockets give up (110.2). The Rockets average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 fewer made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Pelicans give up.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on March 14 the Rockets won 107-105 led by 32 points from Kevin Durant, while Dejounte Murray scored 35 points for the Pelicans.

TOP PERFORMERS: Zion Williamson is averaging 21.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games.

Alperen Sengun is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists for the Rockets. Durant is averaging 25.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 5-5, averaging 115.9 points, 43.7 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 9.2 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.5 points per game.

Rockets: 5-5, averaging 111.2 points, 47.7 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.5 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Trey Murphy III: day to day (ankle), Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe), Dejounte Murray: out (achilles).

Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).

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

Orlando Magic (39-34, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (41-32, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Orlando travels to Toronto looking to stop its three-game road skid.

The Raptors have gone 29-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. Toronto averages 114.0 points and has outscored opponents by 1.7 points per game.

The Magic are 24-23 against conference opponents. Orlando is 15-17 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Raptors' 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.4 fewer made shots on average than the 11.9 per game the Magic allow. The Magic are shooting 46.4% from the field, 0.3% lower than the 46.7% the Raptors' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 31 the Magic won 130-120 led by 32 points from Desmond Bane, while Brandon Ingram scored 35 points for the Raptors.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 20.1 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Bane is scoring 20.4 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Magic. Tristan da Silva is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 115.9 points, 40.5 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 8.9 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.

Magic: 4-6, averaging 119.8 points, 40.8 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.3 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Immanuel Quickley: out (foot), Trayce Jackson-Davis: out (knee), Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (back).

Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: out (abdomen), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).

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

WASHINGTON — Connecticut was the hammer. Michigan State was the nail.

The No. 2 Huskies made six of their first seven attempts from 3-point range to lead the No. 3 Spartans 25-6 midway through the first half of the Sweet 16, seemingly snapping out of the month-long slump that had cost them the Big East regular-season and tournament championships.

“I think we were able to slow them down in transition and then execute, not turn the ball over,” said guard Silas Demery.

But things are never that easy for this UConn team. Things haven’t been easy, in fact, since the second of the program’s back-to-back national championships in 2024.

Michigan State stormed back. A late bucket by Jeremy Fears Jr. made the score 35-27 at halftime. The lead was 35-34 just over three minutes into the second half. By the midpoint of the second half, the Spartans went ahead 45-44 for their first lead since going in front 4-3 just 74 seconds into the game.

“I think we’ve got to be able to handle those runs better,” said guard Solo Ball. “I think we gave in and let them have that run. We lost focus on what we do best, the defense and rebounding that put us up.”

But down the stretch, the Huskies’ three veteran leaders — Ball, forward Alex Karaban and center Tarris Reed Jr. — stepped up to deliver a 67-63 win that leaves UConn a win away from the eighth Final Four appearance in program history.

“Tarris and Solo and then (Karaban) at the end over there just willed up to the victory,” coach Dan Hurley said.

UConn will next face No. 1 Duke in the Elite Eight. The two programs have met nine times, including a 77-74 UConn win in the 1999 national championship game.

Karaban, Reed and Ball combined for 49 points, 73.1% of the team’s total. Karaban posted 17 points and 7 rebounds for his 11th career NCAA Tournament game in double-figure scoring. Reed finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Ball had 12 points, including a pair of free throws and layup on successive possessions that helped the Huskies move ahead 55-49 with 5:30 to play.

At a crucial point, these three put the Huskies on their backs to avoid what might have been the worst loss of the Hurley era.

“We responded the right way,” said Demery. “We took that punch and were able to go back and forth with them.”

The key was Karaban, the only member of the roster to log meaningful minutes during the back-to-back run. A veteran of 17 career tournament games and just one tournament loss, the senior delivered key buckets down the stretch and, more importantly, helped keep the Huskies’ emotions in check as the Spartans stormed ahead in the second half.

“Alex responded like he’s been there before. He’s been in these moments,” Demery said.

Karban is “the leader of this team,” said Reed. “He’s the captain of this ship. Following what he’s doing is going to help us go as a deep as we can.”

At a second-half timeout after MSU had drawn within a possession at 51-49 on a Jeremy Fears Jr. layup, Karaban told his teammates to stay together and composed. Be there for your brother, Deremy recalled Karaban saying, and be ready to swing back.

“We knew we had to stay together no matter what,” said Karaban. “Everything was tested for us. Every possession, offense, defense, was a test for us. I think it was a special game.”

Reed cracked the 20-point mark for the second time this tournament, joining his monster 31-point, 27-rebound performance against No. 15 Furman in the opening round, on a pair of game-icing free throws with four seconds left.

“You would think in those moments it would be nerve-wracking,” Reed said. “But when you're in it, it wasn't that nerve-wracking. Like I said, 'Trust the work.'

“I've been working on it. Taking my time and breathing and trusting in the shot and living with the result.”

Reed was “amazing, dominant, the guy,” said Karaban. While the former Michigan transfer has given the Huskies a much more interior-centered feel than the two championship teams, his ability to draw attention helped free Karaban for a 12-point second half that saw him play all 20 minutes after the break.

Behind these three veterans, UConn was able to outmuscle one of the toughest and most physical programs in the country. That’s a testament to the program’s growth not just since losses to Marquette and St. John’s late in the regular season but since last year’s frustrating team, which bowed out in the second round to eventual national champion Florida.

“It happens every single game,” Ball said. “There are new guys that step up. But at the same time, I think it’s just the mentality. We’re not just going to do anything to lose. It’s all 15 of us trying to stay in the same locker room as long as we can. That’s the biggest motivation.”

Now the focus shifts to the Blue Devils, who pulled out a physical win of their own in the first regional semifinal against the Red Storm. Unlike the Huskies, Duke has no seniors in the rotation and are heavily reliant on freshmen and sophomores such as Cameron Boozer, Dame Sarr, Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngonba II.

That could give UConn a pregame edge in the matchup to determine which team advances out of this star-studded region.

“That's what this time of year is all about,” Hurley said. “You've got to have great upperclassmen. You have to have great juniors, great seniors, veteran players that are not going to blink and just can handle the pressure of the moment and also can bounce back.”

Now playing their best basketball in weeks, if not the entire year, the UConn veterans “don’t want it to end,” Reed said.

“I just remember last year we were crying in the locker room after the round of 32. It was one of the worst feelings ever. I'm motivated.

“I love everybody in this locker room and want to keep going. I want to go to the Final Four and make history.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn relies on veteran players to get past Michigan State in Sweet 16

The Los Angeles Lakers returned home from their most recent road trip, earning a 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on March 27.

The game saw LeBron James and Bronny James share the court for a second straight game.

The duo created a moment in the second quarter of the game, producing the first father-son assists in NBA history.

Bronny had initially passed the ball to LeBron with 7:54 left in the second quarter before the veteran player drew a double team and immediately passed the ball back to his son, who made a wide-open three-pointer.

Bronny’s long-range shot cut into Brooklyn’s lead and made it a two-point game at 44-42. The Nets were on a 16-4 scoring run before the Lakers’ 3-pointer.

LeBron finished with 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds in 37 minutes of play. Bronny finished the game with three points in four minutes of play.

BRONNY ➡️ LEBRON ➡️ BRONNY

THE FIRST FATHER-SON ASSIST IN NBA HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qWGcYLayLi

— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2026

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers' LeBron James, Bronny James create another NBA moment together

An unnecessarily close game ended with the Lakers pulling away in the fourth for a 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets. 

The game began with LA taking control early. Luka Dončić scored seven points. LeBron James was close behind with four points. The Lakers went up by 11, prompting a Nets timeout. Out of the break, Brooklyn missed their shot attempt. 

Los Angeles was shooting 69% from the field.

After starting the game terribly, Brooklyn went on a 9-2 scoring run to make it a five-point game. Luka entered double figures with 11 points. Luke Kennard drained a triple as the quarter was winding down. 

At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by five. 

Brooklyn made a push to get back into the game after LA went up by 12 early, trimming the margin to 5 at 35-30 after 12 minutes of action.

Dončić, as usual, reached double figures in the 1st Q, with 14 points on 6 of 10 FG's.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 28, 2026

Terance Mann started the second period by converting on a jumpshot for the Nets. Brooklyn made it a one-point game after scoring four in a row. It forced the Lakers to call a timeout. 

Out of the break, Mann knocked down a 3-pointer that put them in the lead.

LeBron and Bronny James combined for a quick seven points to tie the game. Luka knocked down his third triple of the half. He was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc and had 19 points so far. 

The Lakers were on a 14-2 scoring run.

Nolan Traore was having a nice game for the Nets with nine points. Nic Claxton was in double figures with 12. They were a big reason why it became a two-point game at halftime. Traore ended the half with a buzzer-beating triple. 

The Lakers lead the Nets 61-59 at the half. Not a great quarter for LA.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 28, 2026

The third period began with Austin Reaves getting fouled and converting on both free throws. Noah Clowney responded with a 3-pointer on the other end. Luka helped extend LA’s lead to five. The lead went back and forth between three and five as Los Angeles struggled to build a bigger advantage.

At the 5:40 mark, Los Angeles was nursing a three-point lead. 

Ziaire Williams scored a quick four points in a row that gave them the lead again. Luka picked up his 16th technical foul, which means he will miss the next game. Williams was playing great for the Nets. He was at 15 points. 

The Nets jumped into the lead with 3:04 left in the quarter. 

Brooklyn was winning the second-chance points battle 19 to four. The Nets kept it close, but LA led by one going into the fourth quarter. Luka added to his monster night, pushing his total to 36 points.

LUKA DONČIĆ. 12 STRAIGHT 30-POINT GAMES 🔥

His scoring tear continues with 30 midway through the 3Q… pic.twitter.com/NAKJ8HDD5j

— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2026

Kennard opened the final frame with a layup for Los Angeles. LeBron connected with Jaxson Hayes for the jam on the other end. The Lakers were nursing a three-point lead until Josh Minott tried to throw down a wild dunk that went in. The Nets went up by one with 8:50 left. 

Reaves knocked down a much-needed 3-pointer.

Another triple from Reaves and a free throw from LeBron gave LA a small amount of breathing room with their lead. Luka and Reaves then took over, combining for five points to push Los Angeles’s lead to nine with five minutes left. 

Minott drained a 3-pointer to stop some of their bleeding. 

With two minutes left, LA was up by 11 when Luka and Reaves put the finishing touches on the win with back-to-back 3-pointers.

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 41 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. LeBron notched 14 points with eight assists. Reaves ended with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Rui Hachimura logged eight points off the bench. Jaxson Hayes had 10 points and eight rebounds. Deandre Ayton scored nine points with seven rebounds. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Washington Wizards on Monday at 7:00 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

It's a party of Midwest teams heading to the Elite Eight of the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament.

A record-breaking four Big Ten teams won Sweet 16 games, giving the conference more than half of the remaining teams in March Madness. It could've put five teams to the Elite Eight, but Michigan State narrowly lost to UConn 67-63.

Iowa has been the biggest surprise of the NCAA Tournament, and its historic run continued with an upset victory over fellow Big Ten foe Nebraska in the Sweet 16. First-year coach Ben McCollum and the Hawkeyes are making their first Elite Eight appearance since 1987, and McCollum has already won four career Division I NCAA Tournament games despite being in only his second season at the level.

REQUIRED READING: Inside Ben McCollum's 'insane' Iowa ride to Elite 8: A story of unbreakable resolve

Three No. 1 seeds — Duke, Arizona and Michigan — also punched their tickets to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats and Wolverines rolled in wins over No. 4 seeds Arkansas and Alabama, respectively, whereas the Blue Devils survived a tough matchup with coach Rick Pitino and No. 5 St. John's.

Here's a look at the winners and losers of the Elite Eight, with only four games remaining before the Final Four gets underway in Indianapolis:

Sweet 16 winners

Big Ten

The Big Ten put a record-breaking four teams — Michigan, Purdue, Illinois and Iowa — in the Elite Eight, making up half of the remaining teams in national championship contention. It's only the third time since the NCAA Tournament expanded that a single conference has had four members in the Elite Eight, joining the SEC in 2025, the ACC in 2016 and the Big East in 2009.

The Big Ten could've broke the record, too, but Michigan State fell to No. 2 UConn by four points in the Sweet 16. Overall, the conference has a 17-5 record in the NCAA Tournament, proving the conference was the best in college basketball this season.

Iowa, of course, is the biggest surprise inclusion among Big Ten teams. Michigan, Purdue and Illinois are all ranked top 10 in KenPom. The Hawkeyes proved there's still some Madness in March, though.

Caleb Foster

Caleb Foster suffered a hairline fracture in his foot on March 7 that required surgery and returned to game action in Duke's 75-70 win over St. John's in the Sweet 16. His 19 minutes off the bench against the Red Storm Devils was his first 5-on-5 action in the 20 days since suffering the injury, and he didn't miss a beat.

While he didn't return to the starting lineup, he scored 11 points — all of which came in the second half. His gutsy performance resulted in a teary-eyed Jon Scheyer after he was asked of Foster after the game.

"He had no business playing today," Scheyer said to CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson after the game. "He was determined. That was one of the most special performances I've ever seen. He was incredible, even in the huddles what he was doing, and some big-time plays too.

"That's a leader right there and that's a guy that came through for us when we needed him the most."

Tommy Lloyd

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has established himself as one of the premier coaches in men's college basketball in his first four seasons with the Wildcats, accumulating a 112-33 record. However, he and Arizona had some NCAA Tournament blunders, failing to surpass the Sweet 16 in any of those four seasons.

Lloyd and Arizona squashed that narrative against Arkansas in the Sweet 16, defeating the Razorbacks 109-88. The Wildcats were able to score 109 points despite making just five 3-pointers after shooting 64% from the field.

Arizona is playing like one of, if not the best team in college basketball right now.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn saw his scoring average dip from 20.1 points per game last season to 14.3 this season. He's shown up big for the Boilermakers in the NCAA Tournament regardless, proving he still has "it" when it matters.

The 6-foot-9 senior scored a buzzer-beater tip-in to give Purdue a 79-77 win over No. 11 Texas in the Sweet 16, avoiding an upset against the surging Longhorns. He finished the game with 20 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting, after scoring 19 against Miami and 25 against Queens in the first round.

TREY KAUFMAN-RENN GAME-WINNER 🚨

PURDUE ADVANCES TO THE ELITE 8 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CYj7ltsGXT

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2026

Kaufman-Renn has been wildly efficient in the postseason, as far back as scoring 20 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Purdue's Big Ten Conference Championship win over No. 1 Michigan prior to the NCAA Tournament. His re-emergence has been huge for the Boilermakers' chances at getting back to the Final Four.

Sweet 16 losers

Houston offense

Houston narrowly fell to Florida in the national championship game last season, and brought back three stars along with two potential NBA first-round picks in Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. However, an offensive cold spell doomed the Cougars against Illinois in the Sweet 16.

Making their seventh consecutive Sweet 16, Houston was held to an abysmal 34% mark from the field in its 65-55 loss, making just 22 of its 64 shots. The Cougars' defense held a stout Illinois offense in check, one that ranks No. 2 nationally in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency this season.

Still, it wasn't enough to get back to the Final Four, leaving Houston heading into next season still seeking its first-ever national championship under legendary coach Kelvin Sampson, one of the best coaches to have never won a title.

Joshua Jefferson-less Iowa State

Iowa State won't get to see how far it could've gone with star forward Joshua Jefferson, after the senior forward suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the Cyclones' first-round win over East Tennessee State. He missed out on Iowa State's win over Kentucky in the second round and was unable to get ready for its 76-62 Sweet 16 loss to No. 6 Tennessee.

Jefferson, a second-team All-American, averaged 16.4 points with 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season, making him one of the best all-around players in college basketball. His presence was missed against the Vols, who finished with 16 offensive rebounds and outrebounded Iowa State 43-22 overall.

It's an unfortunate ending for Iowa State's veteran trio of Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic, who have started nearly every game for the Cyclones the past two seasons. Jefferson and Lipsey end their college careers with 232 regular season starts, while Momcilovic will likely lead the program as a senior next season.

Alabama

Alabama was on fire in the first half against No. 1 Michigan in the Sweet 16 on March 27, even leading the Wolverines 49-47 in the first half. The Crimson Tide came out of halftime and were dominated the rest of the game, however.

Alabama made nine 3-pointers in the first half and was led by star guard Labaron Philon Jr., who scored 19 points in the first 20 minutes before finishing with 35 points with seven rebounds and four assists. The shooting went cold as it was outscored by Michigan 43-28 in the second half, as the Crimson Tide were held to a 5-of-23 mark from 3-point range and only 10 field goals in general.

The Crimson Tide were close to pulling off an upset, but ultimately won't be heading to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season.

Nebraska fans

Nebraska fans took over Oklahoma City for its first-ever wins in the NCAA Tournament against Troy and Vanderbilt in the first weekend. Cornhuskers fans arrived in droves for their Sweet 16 game against Big Ten foe Iowa in Houston, but to no avail after Nebraska lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Hawkeyes.

Nebraska led for all but 2:10 of regulation, which happened to be the final moments of the game. The Cornhuskers also had only four players on the court following a timeout, which led to a massive 3-point play for Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras, which ultimately sealed the game.

Nebraska ultimately leaves March Madness as winners in 2026, laying the groundwork for where the program can go in the future. However, it squandered an opportunity to keep its run going against Iowa, which it already defeated once this season in conference play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners of losers of men's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Marvin Bagley III scored a season-high 26 points off the bench and Cooper Flagg had 24 to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the Portland Trail Blazers 100-93 on Friday night, snapping a five-game skid.

Naji Marshall had 19 points and five steals for the Mavericks, who had dropped seven of their previous nine games on the road and bounced back from a 142-135 loss at Denver on Wednesday night.

Bagley, who had his most points since scoring 25 last April, shot 11 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and had nine rebounds. Flagg had four steals for Dallas.

Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and Deni Avdija had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who had their two-game winning streak stopped and fell below .500 at 37-38. Portland, which has clinched a playoff spot and is currently in ninth place in the Western Conference, had won five of its previous six to get back to .500 for the first time in over two months.

Donovan Clingan had 17 rebounds and six points for the Trail Blazers.

The game was tied at 92 with 2:25 remaining after Holiday made a 3-pointer, but the Mavericks sealed the victory with an 8-1 run to end it. Bagley had a layup and a dunk to start the run and Marshall and Brandon Williams combined to make four free throws.

Up next

Mavericks: Host Minnesota on Monday night.

Trail Blazers: Host Washington on Sunday night.

—

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The Washington Wizards kept things interesting Friday but fell short 131-126 against a similarly undermanned Golden State Warriors squad at Chase Center.

The Wizards, fresh off a streak-snapping win over the Indiana Pacers, looked ready to roll over in the first quarter. Washington’s offense was stuck in the mud early and could only muster six points halfway through the period. The good guys trailed 38-25 through the first.

Will Riley and Bilal Coulibaly kept Washington close in the second quarter. The pair combined for 17 of the Wizards’ 35 points in the period as the Warriors led 72-60 at the half.

Coulibaly kept things going to start the third quarter, scoring the team’s first 10 points to key a 16-4 run that knotted the game up at 76. The bench mob followed Bilal’s lead to help Washington take a 94-92 advantage into the final period.

The Wizards were smelling a winning streak with a 111-106 lead at the 6:18 mark, but the Warriors countered with a 16-2 run that buried the D.C. boys for good.

Riley put up another efficient offensive outing with a team-high 22 points on just 12 shots to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The confidence he has offensively at this point is night and day compared to how he looked early in the season.

The handles tho 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/Dhl53qzsiL

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 28, 2026

Coulibaly finished with 21 of his own, while Bub Carrington added 16 points and 5 assists.

Washington’s West Coast trip continued on Sunday against Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Now THIS is how I like the Utah Jazz to lose basketball games; have the lead most of the game, find success with defense and energy, and barely lose at the very end when the other team finally remembers that they’re going up against a bunch of G-Leaguers and rookies. The Jazz were the easier team to root for throughout the night. They were more physical, more assertive, more vibrant, while the Nuggets meandered through the motions all night, only winning it at the end with sheer firepower. It’s especially nice when these tanking games are close – evaluation is easier and more important when the guys are playing in high-leverage situations, and when the other team cares about the win as well. So how did the youngsters stack up the former champion (and honestly, pretty disappointing) Denver Nuggets? Spoiler alert – there was a lot to like.

Ace Bailey – B–

After starting the game off with 3 first quarter fouls, it took Ace a little while to regain the momentum that’s been propelling him to potentially All-Rookie team heights the past few weeks. He finished the game with 5 fouls, and a lot of them weren’t pretty, either; his youth and unrestrained desire to make an impact on the game was definitely visible. There were some beautiful moves, strong displays of athleticism, and star-esque shots here and there, but on the whole? Ace fouled too much and passed too little.

Kennedy Chandler – A-

Kennedy sort of reminded me of 2026 draft prospect Tyler Tanner in this game – obviously undersized (the Nuggets announcers theorized 5’10) but just a dynamo on both ends of the court. The Nuggets point-of-attack defenders could not stay in front of Chandler all night, essentially rolling out a red carpet every time he dribbled the ball into the half court. On the other end, Chandler was only given 1 steal in the stat sheet, but he must’ve had triple that number of deflections; his fingerprints were all over this game. Sometimes he struggled with rotations (the Nuggets got quite a few open threes to end the game) but this was an impressive game from the 10-day player.

Kyle Filipowski – A

I originally had Filipowski listed with a lower grade – it seemed that a lot of the teams best moments happened without him on the court – but then I reconsidered; Filipowski was only off the court in those moments because Will Hardy knew that if Flip was playing the Jazz’s steadily growing lead would quickly accelerate its development. He felt like he was a step above the rest of the team offensively, able to get to his spots whenever and wherever he wanted. This was a common theme throughout the game, but Filipowski seemed to see red when Jokic was guarding him.

Elijah Harkless – A-

All Elijah needed to do to solidify an A grade (something I’m sure he really cares about) was not have one of the worst offensive games of his Jazz tenure. Inversely, this might be Harkless’s magnum opus of defensive outings, and that’s saying something. The Nuggets could not complete two successful passes in a row while Harkless was on the court – his hands were here, his hands were there, his hands were everywhere. Once again, he battled valiantly in the post against Jokic, and was a key reason Nikola had 7 ugly turnovers tonight. Even more than that, Harkless set the tone of one of the most fun Jazz games of the season. That won’t get counted in the stat sheet, but his influence was just about as all-encompassing as possible.

John Konchar – A

This was, by my money, clearly Konchar’s best game while donning the Utah purple and white. An efficient 16 points, a loud 8 rebounds, and constant, nagging activity on both ends of the court. Players who play like Konchar did tonight are found on every contending team in the league, because they can bring so much value without touching the ball. These are the types of games that endear a player to a fanbase; hustle is a necessary ingredient if you want to be remembered a decade after you leave the team. I’m hoping that Konchar sticks around, because he’s currently on the trajectory to be inducted into the “Utah Jazz deep role player Hall of Fame”, alongside heroes like Trevor Booker and Kris Dunn.

Bez Mbeng – B-

Bez wasn’t as in-your-face as some of our other defensive stalwarts were this game, but he fit the tone of the Jazz either way. I worry that the offense is just too far behind his defense for him to carve out a consistent role in the NBA – for example, Harkless wasn’t great on that end tonight but Mbeng was just invisible. But, your grade can only dip so far when it’s clear that your defense alone is changing the game. The Jazz might’ve set a season record in deflections tonight, and Mbeng was a big part of that, so I can’t drop the grade below a B-.

Brice Sensabaugh – B+

I don’t think there’s a non all-star, non blue-chip prospect in the league who gets more glowing reviews from opposing announcers than Brice Sensabaugh. While we didn’t see much of Brice during the big Jazz run of the 2nd half, his dynamite 1st half shot-making kept the Jazz in it and perhaps made the later momentum possible. He’ll never be a stalwart defender, but I don’t care what anyone says – his activity level on that end has been very slowly but nonetheless steadily improving as the season has progressed. There were some bad shots tonight (it wouldn’t be the Brice we love without them), but he made some! A cool 6 assists as well – this was not a shabby night for the 3rd year microwave scorer. Still, I’m glad that the team finished the game without him. He might’ve made for some more cohesive offensive sets as the team stalled in the final 5 minutes, but it was good for the other guys to learn how to function without this go-to guy.

Oscar Tschiewbe – B

I can’t justify the grade going too high with only 12 minutes of action, but those 12 minutes popped off the screen. He played like he was back at Kentucky again – 4 offensive rebounds in only a quarter of playtime is a skill you can hang your hat on. The defense was unfortunately rough. It’s hard to figure out exactly what his role looks like on a winning team as a shorter center who can’t anchor a defense, but he’s a fun guy to have around to gobble up rebounds and set bruising screens.

Cody Williams – A

Williams benefitted the most from the Nuggets horrendous half court defense. Even with a weak handle and sometimes-lackluster burst, Williams blazed past Nuggets defenders, both off the catch and on the roll. This has been said before, but the weight and strength that Williams has put on throughout the season is really remarkable – it went from being his most glaring weakness to now a key part of his developing game on both ends. The Jazz scored their most paint points of the season against the Nuggets, and that would’ve been impossible without each and every bench-press rep that Cody has sweated out as the season has gone on. The wingspan seemed longer than normal, the ball flowed whenever he caught it, he was quick in transition – these are the games that will make Cody Williams a playoff contributor as soon as next year.