Three of our projected No. 1 seeds were involved in highly-anticipated contests against highly-ranked opponents over the weekend. Duke, Arizona and Michigan all won those matchups in impressive fashion, solidifying their place on the first line of the bracket. The fourth No. 1 is also unchanged, though Connecticut might be challenged in the next couple of weeks by a hard-charging Florida squad. For now, the Gators hold steady as the leaders on the No. 2 line along with Houston, Iowa State and Nebraska.
But while there is clarity near the top of the bracket, there’s a lot of chaos around the bubble. The team that did the most to help its case this weekend was Ohio State, now in much safer territory thanks to a win against Purdue.
Auburn remains in freefall, barely clinging to a spot in the First Four after going just 1-7 since Jan. 31. New Mexico nudges back into the field with a key Mountain West win, while Indiana, California and San Diego State find themselves on the outside.
March Madness bracketology: NCAA Tournament projection
March Madness last four in
UCLA, Santa Clara, New Mexico, Auburn.
March Madness first four out
Indiana, Virginia Commonwealth, California, San Diego State.
NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (11), Big Ten (9), ACC (8), Big 12 (8), Big East (3), West Coast (3), Mountain West (2).
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 2: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics free throw during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on MARCH 2, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
1. Hugo Gonzalez Career Night
After Neemias Queta had a career night against the 76ers the night before, Hugo Gonzalez decided it was his turn to have the best game of his young career on the second night of a back-to-back in a commanding 108-81 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. In his third career start, Gonzalez finished with career highs of 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 steals while tying his career high with 2 blocks on 7-15 shooting from the field and 3-8 from three. He is the first Celtics rookie to have a stat line like this since Larry Bird on November 14th, 1979 against the Detroit Pistons.
Hugo Gonzalez is only the 2nd Celtic rookie to have at least 18 points, 16 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a game.
The other? Larry Bird against Detroit (23-19-3-2 on 11/14/79)
After making the first basket of the game for the Celtics, there was a chance Gonzalez could have a good offensive night but I don’t think anyone expected him to put up this type of performance. He drove to the basket with force, made some great hustle plays on put-backs, and was able to shoot the three ball comfortably.
Hugo made the Bucks work on every possession, flying around the court on defense for his rebounds, blocks and steals. He did an incredible job when it came to locking down his offensive matchup and did solid when it came to guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo on a few possessions. His hustle and ability to be in the right place at the right time was absolutely huge for the Celtics and without Gonzalez, there is a chance Boston loses this game.
In a game where Jaylen Brown (illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) were ruled OUT, Boston was still able to hold the Bucks to only 81 points, their second lowest scoring output of the season only behind the 79 point performance that the Celtics held them to on February 1st in TD Garden.
Boston held Milwaukee to 27-74 (37%) shooting from the field and 13-36 (36%) from three point range. They forced 16 turnovers on the Bucks while also getting 7 steals and 6 blocks. Without two key defensive stoppers in the front court, the Celtics were able to once again dominate the Bucks.
Bucks Shooting Zone Chart (via NBA.com)
3. Dominance in the Paint
Boston absolutely owned the paint against Milwaukee in this matchup. In the rebounding department, the Celtics crushed the Bucks on the boards 54-32. Out of the 54 rebounds, 19 of them resulted in offensive rebounds and usually ended in a basket on the second-chance opportunity.
When it came to the points in the paint battle I assumed that Milwaukee would have the edge given they got Giannis back but that wasn’t the case. The Celtics outscored them 34-22 when it came to points in the paint. This was a result of Boston’s elite rebounding and Milwaukee’s overall lack of interest when it came to wanting to play defense.
Boston DOMINATED Milwaukee in the Paint tonight: 54 Rebounds (19 Offensive) 34 Points in the Paint 55% shooting in the painted area pic.twitter.com/TZ2djw5fcz
Coming off a game against the 76ers where Payton Pritchard scored 0 Points, he was able to bounce back in a big way against the Bucks, finishing with 25 points and 9 assists on 10-23 shooting from the field and 5-10 from three. This was a much needed game for Pritchard who had scored in the single-digits in 3 of his last 4 games.
He started the game out kind of slow, but once he hit a midrange almost buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter, Pritchard turned it on in the fourth quarter. Payton scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and turned into the Celtics closer, icing the game.
Derrick White didn’t have the best shooting night in this game, going 5-18 from the field and 4-12 from three, but watching the game it felt like he was the stabilizer for the Celtics offense. He finished with 18 points and 9 assists, continuing his great stretch of facilitating. Dating back to February 3rd, White is averaging 7.1 assists since Pritchard starting coming off the bench.
Against the Bucks this season, the on/off numbers show that the Celtics are a +65 when White is on the court in 95 minutes versus a -25 when he has been off the court in 49 minutes. He has been the perfect connector for this team and with a lot of young guys playing for the Celtics, he is the veteran that can keep them afloat.
DERRICK WHITE VS. BUCKS – 2025-26
On court: 95 minutes, Celtics +65 Off court: 49 minutes, Celtics -25
Growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sam Hauser grew up a Milwaukee Bucks fan as a kid and has had some special performances against them in the past. The game on December 11th of this season was not one of those good games, finishing with 0 points on 0-10 shooting in a 116-101 Celtics loss.
This game was a different story for Sam, finishing with 14 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and 4-8 from three. He torched the Bucks from beyond the arc and his shoot looked smooth all night long. This was some fitting redemption for Hauser, being able to take the win against his hometown team.
Ever since the Celtics traded for Nikola Vucevic, Luka Garza has found himself slowly falling out of the rotation. Before this game against the Bucks, the last time Garza got real meaningful minutes in a game was on February 8th against the New York Knicks when he played 15 minutes.
However, with Queta out and Vucevic in the starting lineup, Garza was able to be the backup center in this game and he stayed ready. He finished with 7 points and 10 rebounds on 3-6 shooting in 20 minutes of play. He was a big reason as to why the Celtics were able to dominate Milwaukee on the glass and in the paint, using his physicality to get underneath the basket with ease. My favorite play of the night was his turnaround hook shot after bodying Myles Turner.
For the first time in his Celtics career, Nikola Vucevic was named as a starter with Brown and Queta out. This is a role he was familiar with over the course of his NBA career, and he played a pretty solid game, finishing with 10 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds on 5-12 shooting. He was the primary defender on Giannis for most of the night and did a great job of controlling Antetokounmpo in the paint, even getting a block on him.
His passing was the biggest story for me in this game. Vucevic did a great job with handoffs when he set a screen and also made a few nice cross-court passes. I have been incredibly surprised with his passing ability since he’s come to Boston and he continues to show it off in games like tonight.
After weeks of trade rumors, flip-flopping emotions, and prediction market partnerships, Giannis Antetokounmpo suited up for the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time since January 23rd. In a game where Boston was missing two key players, you would think Giannis would be able to wild against the Celtics but that wasn’t necessarily the case.
He finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds on 7-18 shooting from the field and 0-2 shooting from three while missing his final 7 shots in a row. He was able to get his typical baskets from time to time by ramming his way to the basket but the Celtics did an incredible job building the wall and making every shot a difficult look. Out of any team in the NBA, I would say the Celtics have historically done the best job when defending Giannis and even with different and depleted personnel, they still found a way to get the job done.
10. Coaching Masterclass
What more can you say about the brilliance of Joe Mazzulla. This game was a perfect representation of why he needs to win Coach of the Year. He ran a starting lineup of White-Gonzalez-Scheierman-Hauser-Vucevic, a lineup that had never seen the floor together and dominated Milwaukee on the road. This was the 7th time the Celtics have won a game on the road by 20+ points and the 13th time this season.
Tonight marked Boston's 7th road win by 20+ points and its 13th such win overall this season.
This game is a testament to Joe Mazzulla and the entire coaching staff spending tons of hours in Celtics University drilling the players heads with information, it is a testament to Brad Stevens and the front office for identifying these players for the system, and it is a testament to the Celtics players as a whole for always being ready to play their roles when called upon. This game was another great team win a season full of incredible team wins.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 2: Kevin Durant #7 and Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 2, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets built up a big lead against the Washington Wizards, and then they had hold on towards the end and a fourth-quarter rally by the Wiz, finishing the game with a 123-118 victory.
The Rockets were led by Alperen Sengun, who finished witgh 32 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and a block, but he did turn the ball over 8 times. Sengun shot 12-for-20 from the field. Houston also got 30 from Kevin Durant, who also had 7 rebounds, but he also racked up 6 turnover, making 14 between KD and Alpie out of the Rockets 20 total turnovers. .
And this was with good play by a point guard. Reed Sheppard had his first career double-double. He played 42 minutes, finishing with 19 points on 7-for-18 from the floor, 4-for-11 from deep, to go with 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals and 2 blocks for a monster stat line for Reed. Of course, in the post game, coach Ime Udoka mentioned that he expects Jabari Smith Jr. to be back soon and Reed to head back to the bench, but that’s a convo for another day.
Amne Thompson also pitched in 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists on 10-for-15 shooting, to round things out for the Rockets.
The Wizards were led by Bilal Coulibali, who finished with 23 points, and Sharife Cooper who had 21. Trae Young was also ejected from the Wizards bench, while Tari Eason was ejected for the Rockets. That gave Dorian Finney-Smith for Houston 27 minutes of playing time.
The Rockets move to 38-22 on the season and still sit in third place in the Western Conference, while the Wizards fall to 16-44 on the year. The Rockets are now off until Thursday, when they will return to action against their arch nemesis the Golden State Warriors.
Warriors center Al Horford showed support for former Boston Celtics teammate Luke Kornet.
Kornet, now with the San Antonio Spurs, posted an article on his personal Medium blog on Monday titled ‘Concerning the Atlanta Hawks,’ where he criticized Atlanta’s “Magic City Monday” promotional night on March 16, which is a “special one-night collaboration to celebrate the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City,” which is an Atlanta-based adult entertainment venue.
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet wrote. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
“Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected.
“I’d like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold the Atlanta Hawks to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting.”
Magic City widely is regarded by locals as a significant cultural institution in Atlanta and is deeply connected to the city’s music and nightlife scene, with many locals believing it serves as much more than just an adult entertainment venue.
Horford, who was teammates with Korent for three-plus seasons in Boston, co-signed the fellow big man’s message.
The point here is not to question the Wolverines’ excellence, but only to say that even the most robust college basketball teams are not immune to defeat. It only takes one off night or one great performance from an opponent to get bounced from March Madness.
Undefeated mid-major Miami (Ohio) is the nation’s only team without at least two losses.
As we sit one week away from the major conference tournaments tipping off, four teams have established themselves as national championship frontrunners: Michigan, Duke, Arizona and Florida. And still, the list of national championship contenders runs deeper than that.
Here are two teams from each of the five major conferences that could contend for the national championship, plus one familiar wild card from outside the power leagues.
Note: This is not a complete list of national championship contenders, because some conferences (the Big 12, in particular), have more than two teams that could play into April.
ACC
Best bet: Duke
Duke just smoked Virginia, the ACC's second-place team, by 26 points. The Blue Devils’ wall of pelts includes Michigan, Florida and Michigan State. The big question: Will youth prevail? Freshman Cameron Boozer and sophomores Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II power Duke. They must challenge the theory old teams win in March.
One more to consider: North Carolina
The Tar Heels recovered well after a rough January. They own wins against Duke and Virginia. Caleb Wilson is a member of a sensational freshman class across the nation. He can go for 20-plus points on any given night.
Big East
Best bet: UConn
If you subscribe to the basketball belief of “get old, stay old,” then you’ll love UConn. Alex Karaban has started 140 games, all for UConn, a throwback in this portal era. Add in Solo Ball, Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr., and you get a veteran lineup full double-digit scorers. Oh, one more thing: Dan Hurley is 15-5 in NCAA Tournament games.
One more to consider: St. John’s
The Big East isn’t very deep, and including Rick Pitino’s team among championship contenders is a stretch. But, the Red Storm are hot, winners of 14 of their past 15, and Zuby Ejiofor is a fabulous stat-stuffer.
Big Ten
Best bet: Michigan
Dusty May can flat-out coach, and his Wolverines can ball. To build an all-transfer team, you wouldn’t need to look much beyond Michigan. Yaxel Lendeborg, a sixth-year senior by way of UAB, shines brightest on this team that's forged from the portal. Michigan’s dominant resume points to a team with a real chance to end the Big Ten’s national championship drought, ongoing since 2000 Michigan State.
One more to consider: Illinois
Call them the "Balkan Boys," and Brad Underwood’s Euro-Illini score with the best of them. They've reached 90 points in eight games. Of course, they lost two of those games, which says something of their streaky defense. The Illini won 12 straight during a midseason hot streak. It’s possible they peaked too soon.
Big 12
Best bet: Arizona
Arizona has a reputation for being something of a March Madness bust. Despite persistent lofty seeds, it last reached the Final Four in 2001 under Lute Olson. Put history aside, and you’ll see a team with tremendous balance and a deep list of marquee victories. Arizona shines amid the nation’s toughest conference. No team is more battle-tested.
One more to consider: Houston
Kelvin Sampson ranks among the best active coaches to never win a national championship. He almost changed that last season. Houston stands out within a deep Big 12 for its mix of veterans who’ve been through March Madness fires (Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler), plus freshman dynamo Kingston Flemings.
SEC
Best bet: Florida
The Gators are scalding hot and full of swamp swagger. It’s past time to take seriously their repeat potential. They’re blowing out their SEC competition, and although they lost to Arizona, Duke and UConn in nonconference play, those were down-to-the-wire games. Led by Thomas Haugh, Florida has six guys who can go off for double digits.
A funny thing happened after a judge decided former pro basketball player Charles Bediako couldn’t keep playing for Alabama: The Tide stopped losing. Never mind ex-pros, Alabama will go as far as 20-year-old Labaron Philon Jr. takes it. The Tide are streaky and a bit deficient on the interior, but when they get hot, this team can blow past 100 points.
Non-power conference wild card
Best bet: Gonzaga
Mark Few joins Sampson from Houston on a Mount Rushmore of best coaches without a national championship. Veteran big man Graham Ike fuels the engine. Truthfully, Gonzaga profiles more as a Sweet 16 team than a top-shelf national championship contender. But, hey, this is March, and the Zags need no introduction to the bracket-buster role.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 27: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 27, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Good morning, it’s Tuesday, March 3rd. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 38-24 and host the Detroit Pistons tonight. They’ll be without Donovan Mitchell again, who has missed the previous three games with a groin injury. Let’s hope he’ll be back next week, as the Cavs have four days off after this game.
Cleveland’s rematch with the Pistons tonight should be entertaining. Their last meeting was full of everything (including numerous missed calls) and went into overtime. The Cavs lost that one and would probably like to have it back. Thankfully, they now have a chance to make it right on their homefloor.
Today’s Game of the Day
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons – 7 PM,
Okay, we’re biased. But this is genuinely the best matchup on the schedule today. So, let’s talk a little bit more about it.
Detroit has emerged as the best team in the conference. There’s little chance anyone can catch them in the standings, though it’s not impossible. Yet even with that advantage, the Cavs are looking to make a statement against their potential playoff roadblock. They nearly beat this team last week despite various injuries. Setting the score straight with a big win tonight is worth something, even if it’s only a moral boost.
The rest of the NBA schedule
Dallas Mavericks at Charlotte Hornets – 7 PM
Washington Wizards at Orlando Magic – 7 PM
Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat – 7:30 PM
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 PM
San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers – 8 PM
Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8 PM
Oklahoma City Thunder at Chicago Bulls – 8 PM
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 PM
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Hugo González #28 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hugo González played only 13 minutes on Sunday night, less than 24 hours before Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla needed the rookie to start.
That didn’t matter, though.
González logged his third career start, and his first since Jan. 10, with starters Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta both sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back against the Milwaukee Bucks. On the other end stood two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in his first game back since January 3rd. But González, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound wing, embraced the David-and-Goliath challenge posed by the 6-foot-11, 243-pound Antetokounmpo head-on.
In his mind, he had no other choice, as González explained after Boston’s 108-81 win at Fiserv Forum.
“We got our standard, and we just want to maintain it every single game,” González told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin postgame. “We don’t like to (make) excuses. Obviously, we’ve got some really, really important players — starting, important players — that were (out with) illness or resting, and I think we’ve got a really good spirit and took a difficult win after two games in 20 hours.”
Before arriving in Milwaukee, González watched Queta shine with a career-best 27-point, 17-rebound double-double against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night. González stood tall on the bench, rushed to Queta during timeouts, and celebrated Neemi at every opportunity. Now it was his turn to take full advantage of starting for Boston on short notice, and he was ready.
In return for the opportunity, González delivered the most impressive start of his young NBA career, scoring 18 points, grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds, and adding three blocks and two steals — setting new career highs in every category. That made him the first Celtics rookie to record a stat line as such since Larry Bird.
González secured his second career double-double by doing what he does best. Relentlessly shadowing Milwaukee’s ball handlers, he anticipated every move before jumping into action. His intensity repeatedly disrupted coach Doc Rivers’ offense, allowing González to propel the Celtics with a two-way impact that gave the Bucks — now losers of their last three — more problems than they could manage. All season, González has honed his preparation, leading to his biggest test yet: guarding Antetokounmpo.
González helped defend the 10-time All-Star on five possessions, in which Antetokounmpo went 1-for-5.
Whenever González guarded him one-on-one, he battled. When other Celtics defenders took on the task, and González was nearby, he rushed over to help make scoring as difficult as possible for Antetokounmpo. Of course, no single player can handle that defensive assignment for every possession throughout a night, and González experienced firsthand why that is.
“With those types of players, you can’t guard him with one person because they are some of the best players in the world,” González told Chin. “Giannis is an amazing player, and you can’t guard him with one person. You need a team effort. That’s what we try to follow the game plan, and today we succeeded in that.”
Antetokounmpo, returning after a 15-game absence with a calf injury, wasn’t in his usual league-MVP candidate form. He scored 19 points with 11 rebounds, shooting 11-of-18 from the field in a Milwaukee loss that became the next — and biggest — step in González’s development as a key role player in Boston’s second unit.
So far, González’s versatility has been one of the biggest surprises of this Celtics season — and the latest home-run draft selection from president of basketball operations Brad Stevens.
In Stevens’ eyes, González was deemed NBA-ready following his three-year run with Spain’s Real Madrid in the Liga ACB. Playing alongside several former NBA players in Spain as a teenage prospect, González grew accustomed to fighting for minutes, always prepared not to miss a beat when his number was called. Now, that experience is translating — and benefiting the Celtics.
It’s become clear that González has fallen into a right-place, right-time situation in Boston this season.
“One of the strengths of the locker room has always been being able to win games when guys have been out,” Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “We’ve sat guys over the last three, four years and still have been able to win games. That’s just kind of the DNA of the locker room, and you’re continuing to see that.”
After suffering its first loss of the season in the MAC quarterfinals on Thursday, Miami (Ohio) is at the selection committee's mercy.
The RedHawks finished the regular season 31-0, and their record indicates they should be a shoo-in for March Madness. But that may not be the case without the MAC's automatic bid.
In USA TODAY Sports' final bracketology on Selection Sunday, Miami is projected as the last at-large team in the field of 68, with a trip to nearby Dayton in the First Four.
"If we're selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion, because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country, and that's going to be a difficult choice for the committee," he said.
"(You) are flat out wrong about (Miami Ohio basketball) when (you) say we would finish last in the Big East," Sayler posted. "The disrespect is awful and (you) should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when (you) show your true colors! Even slipped in a 'we' when talking about Auburn, nice work!"
While Pearl and Miami (Ohio) coach Travis Steele eventually squashed their beef, it did set the discourse for why Miami should and shouldn't be in the NCAA Tournament. It could have made all of this moot by heading into Selection Sunday as the MAC tournament champions, but now its time to breakdown the RedHawks' at-large case.
Why Miami Ohio should be in NCAA Tournament
To start, Miami (Ohio) finished the regular season undefeated. It became the fifth program in the 21st century — Saint Joseph's (2004), Wichita State (2014), Kentucky (2015) and Gonzaga (2021) — to enter the conference tournament undefeated. The 31 wins are the most in Division I.
The RedHawks have the best shooting percentage at 52.6% and are ninth in 3-point percentage at 39.3%. They average 90.9 points per game, second in the country behind Alabama, an win by an average of 16 points a game, a margin that's seventh-best in Division I.
Some models back the success. The strength of record is 21st in the country, and in the RPI, the old model used to select NCAA Tournament teams before the NET rankings, the RedHawks are No. 28.
History certainly favors Miami. No team with more than 28 wins has ever missed out on March Madness since it expanded in 1985, and the NCAA Tournament selection committee never left out a team with less than four losses.
Why Miami Ohio shouldn't be in NCAA Tournament
It's the quality of resume the tournament selection primarily uses that doesn't work in Miami's favor.
While undefeated, the RedHawks are ranked No. 54 in the NET rankings, high for an at-large team. It's still possible, as San Diego State was No. 52 when it made the First Four last season.
A deeper look reveals Miami doesn't have any Quad 1 games, and just two Quad 2 victories. A majority of the wins are Quad 4 with a 15-0 record that doesn't include the three victories against non-Division I teams. It doesn't help the loss to UMass qualifies as a Quad 4 loss.
The lack of quality opponents really hurts other metrics. The strength of schedule ranks 256th and Miami has a KenPom rating of 93, surrounded by teams that are virtually out of the running for an at-large spot. In KenPom, the RedHawks have a strength of schedule ranking of 269th, and a the nonconference rating is fifth-worst in Division I.
All of the variables make for one of the most polarizing bubble contenders in recent memory. Miami deserves credit for playing its schedule perfectly and should be rewarded for the amount of wins, yet it's understandable to see why there's a chance they can end up being left out of the tournament — no matter how unfair it is.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) played 25 minutes in his first game since 23 January [Getty Images]
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he "did not play well" on his return from injury but the two-time NBA MVP was just "happy" to be back on the court.
The 31-year-old made his comeback after missing six weeks of action with a calf strain in a 108-81 defeat against the Boston Celtics.
He put up 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes in a defeat that left the 2021 champion Bucks 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-34 record.
Antetokounmpo said "we've got 24 games left - it's 24 fights" when asked about the Bucks' battle to reach the post-season.
"Obviously I did not play well, but at the end of the day, I'm just happy that I'm out there being able to help my team-mates in any way that I can and just do what I love, which is play basketball," he added.
"I'm just happy that I'm on the court. It doesn't matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I'm just happy that I'm out there."
Antetokounmpo missed 15 games through injury and says he has "got to be smarter moving forward because things that I was able to do in the past, maybe I'm not able to do now".
Rivers on Antetokounmpo return
Antetokounmpo's injury in January came shortly before the NBA trade deadline.
The deadline passed with him still a Bucks player, despite heavy speculation that he could leave.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game against the Celtics that he would ease Antetokounmpo back into action.
"I'm not going to overdo it," he explained. "It's not like we had a big practice or a shootaround on Monday morning, so it's not the ideal way of bringing him back.
"But the fact that he's available, you put him in and you figure it out."
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 24: The San Antonio Spurs poses for a team photo as part of the NBA Paris Games 2025 at the Eiffel Tower on January 24, 2025 in Paris, France. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While the San Antonio Spurs were amassing one of the greatest months in franchise history, the Spurs Organization was over the pond in Paris, France building on the relationship launched last season.
Per a Spurs press release:
The San Antonio Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) held two sports leadership events as part of the ongoing “Spurs Week Paris” initiative. The Spurs and PSG hosted an executive learning session for their leadership teams, followed by the second iteration of Spurs Community Leadership Institute (SCLI) Paris, serving a diverse group of French women leaders in sport. This transformative collaboration is the result of the deep relationship that has grown between the two clubs, both known as leaders in the globalization of sport, which tipped off in 2025 with the Spurs competing in the NBA Paris Games.
The Spurs x PSG Executive Learning Session brought both organizations together offering a leadership development program with expert panels and hands-on workshops.
The Spurs Community Leadership Institute hosted a one-day leadership summit involving 50 women leaders in sports, government officials and community. The event centered on advancing women in sports, leadership development and leveraging sports as a catalyst for social impact.
Patricia Mejia, chief impact & inclusion officer for the San Antonio Spurs shared,
“From day one, our relationship with Paris-Saint Germain has been driven by innovative thinking, collaborative conversations and a shared commitment to community impact. Through innovative initiatives like these, in collaboration with highly regarded organizations like PSG, the Spurs will continue to build lasting relationships in France and inspire the next generation of leaders and changemakers in the global sports industry.”
Spurs Week Paris, a week-long in-person fan engagement activation across the city, continued to expand its presence in France on and off the court.
The Spurs commitment to growing the game of basketball globally involved a full week including aSpurs Skills Challenge Clinic, exclusive retail experiences, a newly renovated basketball court in Nanterre, and a public game watch party.
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After bottoming out last season with the 3rd worst record in the Eastern Conference the Philadelphia 76ers have been a fun, but flawed team this year, in large part due to yet another impressive leap from lead guard Tyrese Maxey as well as the promising potential of rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe. As for their notable vet, MVP Joel Embiid has played in more contests this year than last year but still has managed to appear in just a little more than half of Philadelphia’s contests and is sidelined once again, while Paul George is currently serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s antidrug policies. Their 33-27 record has them currently in 6th place in the East with more room to slide in the standings than there is for them to move up, which means they will likely be in a fight to avoid the play-in tournament through the end of the season.
Meanwhile, March has already been worse for the San Antonio Spurs than February was! The Spurs dropped their first game of the 2026 Rodeo Road Trip in a Sunday afternoon loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, their first loss after posting a perfect February. They’re still within striking distance of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 1 seed, a very worthy goal to aspire to for a team as young as these Spurs are. There’s more than enough season left to make up that difference and with a much-needed nearly 2 week stretch at home coming up, San Antonio are well- positioned to potentially make up some of that narrow ground. Finishing the best Rodeo Road Trip in years off with a win would set them off running.
Spurs Injuries: Mason Plumblee, reconditioning (OUT), David Jones-Garcia, OUT
76ers Injuries: Joel Embiid, strain (OUT), Johni Broome, meniscus (OUT)
What to watch for
Even if Embiid was going to be out there to play foil to Victor Wembanyama, it’s possible that the match-up between Tyrese Maxey and Stephon Castle would be the most intriguing one heading into this game. Maxey, a very good shooter and 3-level scorer with a complete offensive package, has recorded a new career-high in points per game in each of the 6 seasons he’s played, while Castle has established himself as one of the very best perimeter defenders in just his 2nd season in the league. Castle has the physicality, toughness, and measurements to match-up with the best of the best, with the most recent example being his battle with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham. Maxey’s 29.1 PPG currently ranks 4th this season.
Taken with the 3rd overall pick last June, VJ Edgecombe has been a major bright spot for Philadelphia this season. He’s flashed potential as a two-way wing, contributing in multiple categories and making an immediate impact in his rookie season. Perhaps most significantly, he’s shown to be adept at creating for himself, a skill that should eventually develop into creating for others as well. He’ll have his hands full with San Antonio’s slew of defensive wings, including #2 overall pick Dylan Harper.
With Embiid on the sidelines for this one, veteran Andre Drummond should be Victor Wembanyama’s main match-up tonight. Drummond is 32 years old, but his best days are clearly behind him at this point. Wemby has struggled with his shot as of late, especially from 3. He’s shooting just 28.6% from behind the arc in the 6 games since the All Star break. He also had 7 turnovers in the loss to the New York Knicks he surely wants to make up for, his most in a game since having 8 turnovers in a loss to the Golden State Warriors back on November 12.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
Atlanta Hawks (31-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (26-34, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta is looking to extend its four-game win streak with a victory against Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 19-22 in conference games. Milwaukee gives up 115.6 points and has been outscored by 4.3 points per game.
The Hawks have gone 17-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is second in the Eastern Conference with 18.4 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 4.1.
The Bucks score 111.3 points per game, 6.1 fewer points than the 117.4 the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Bucks give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Bucks won 112-110 in the last matchup on Jan. 19.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Kevin Porter Jr. is averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, seven assists and 2.1 steals over the past 10 games.
Johnson is scoring 22.7 points per game with 10.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.6 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 42.2% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 5-5, averaging 108.0 points, 41.8 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 48.8 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Taurean Prince: out (neck).
Hawks: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Washington heads into the matchup with Orlando after losing five games in a row.
The Magic are 19-19 in Eastern Conference games. Orlando is eighth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 43.4 rebounds. Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 8.5 boards.
The Wizards are 2-9 against opponents from the Southeast Division. Washington has a 4-29 record against opponents over .500.
The Magic average 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 fewer makes per game than the Wizards allow (14.0). The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.8% lower than the 47.7% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.
The two teams play for the third time this season. The Wizards defeated the Magic 120-112 in their last meeting on Jan. 7. Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 23 points, and Jase Richardson led the Magic with 20 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Bane is averaging 20.3 points and 4.1 assists for the Magic. Banchero is averaging 22.4 points over the last 10 games.
Kyshawn George is averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 12.7 points over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 6-4, averaging 112.6 points, 41.9 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 10.7 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.4 points per game.
Wizards: 2-8, averaging 111.9 points, 39.0 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.1 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: day to day (quadriceps), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).
Wizards: Anthony Gill: day to day (illness), Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (thigh), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (not injury related), Leaky Black: day to day (ankle), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Trae Young: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (15-46, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (29-31, ninth in the Western Conference)
Inglewood, California; Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana aims to stop its six-game losing streak with a victory against Los Angeles.
The Clippers have gone 15-13 at home. Los Angeles is last in the Western Conference recording 23.5 assists per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 3.7.
The Pacers are 5-24 on the road. Indiana is 7-31 against opponents with a winning record.
The Clippers are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points lower than the 48.8% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers average 111.4 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 112.1 the Clippers give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kris Dunn is averaging 8.1 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 26.0 points over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is scoring 23.9 points per game with 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 42.5% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.4 points, 41.4 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.
Pacers: 2-8, averaging 113.7 points, 40.0 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.1 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: day to day (arm).
Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (wrist), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 2: Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors boxes out during the game against the LA Clippers on March 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors fell apart in the second half on Monday night against the LA Clippers. After a very impressive first half, the extremely shorthanded Dubs saw their double-digit lead evaporate, and eventually turn into a double-digit deficit, finally culminating in a 114-101 home loss to a Clippers team they’re trying to stave off in the standings.
Let’s take a quick look at some grades for the players. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.9%.
Like most of the Warriors, Green played fairly well in the first half and not so well in the second half. He brought good energy, and his defense on Kawhi Leonard was solid. But he was a non-factor scoring the ball, and his nice passing when largely negated by his poor passing.
Grade: C Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists, worst plus/minus on the team.
Horford’s 17 points were his second-highest total in a Dubs jersey, and his third time in the last four games scoring in double figures. With Trayce Jackson-Davis traded and Kristaps Porziņģis having only suited up once for the Warriors, I really don’t know what they’d do without Horford.
It wasn’t a flawless game by any stretch of the imagination, but he played well on both ends of the court. He was at the center of a brilliant defensive first half.
Not much to say about this one. Melton has been awesome for the last two months, but he was not awesome in this game. Not even remotely close to awesome. He just couldn’t buy a bucket, and couldn’t penetrate LA’s defense enough to set him teammates up, either.
Moody had a very strong defensive game, and a pretty poor offensive game. I still want to see him rebounding more, and being more aggressive with the ball in his hands. But he has greatly improved at sliding into the passing lane on the perimeter to increase both the quantity and quality of his three-point shots. But in all, the Warriors just needed quite a bit more.
Podz was nothing short of brilliant in the first half, when he fueled the team’s offense. He had 20 points in the opening act, and was the primary facilitator as the Dubs scored 56 points, while also playing strong defense.
It came crashing down in the second half, though, when he got shut down. He was held to two points in the back half of the game, and really couldn’t get anything going on offense for his teammates. A tale of two halves.
Steve Kerr inserted Leons into the lineup late in the third quarter when everything was going horribly for Golden State. It was an attempt to throw something at the wall, and while it didn’t stick, you can hardly blame Leons for that. He mostly ended up playing in garbage time.
If anyone was wondering whether Santos was playing hard for a contract and would ease up once he got paid, well … we have our answer, and it’s “no.” You wouldn’t know that Santos had just inked a three-year, $15 million contract by his effort level.
The Clippers got the best of him on many possessions, and made it very hard for him to score. But he made a strong impact in defense, and an even stronger impact on the glass.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Headband Post! Now that’s a look I wasn’t expecting. It didn’t turn him into a deadeye shooter, but he did play well in his limited stint. Sure, he air-balled a three, but he also played pretty decent defense.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
Well hello there, Nate Williams! After making his Warriors debut on Saturday, Williams played a critical role on Monday, and was one of the team’s best players, despite it being just the 49th game of his career. He was Golden State’s best shooter, and most aggressive offensive option. I certainly did not see that coming, but it was awesome.
A little bit of a hot-and-cold game for Spencer. He struggled to create separation and clean looks, so he wasn’t much of a factor scoring. But he quarterbacked the offense well, and dished out five assists while turning the ball over just once. His defense wasn’t good, but it was fine.
Grade: B
Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
