HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 28: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Toyota Center on January 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs are having arguably their best stretch of the season, following a win against the Clippers in their return home from the Rodeo Road Trip. San Antonio has only dropped one of their last 15 games, and it was to the Knicks, another contender that is firing on all cylinders.
The success has been impressive, but it has not come easily. The travel and the bouts against physical teams take their toll, as we’ve learned from an emotional Victor Wembanyama after Friday’s victory. “I thought I was about to pass out from the first quarter from exhaustion,” Wembanyama said in his postgame interview. “That was close to being the hardest game of my life. It might not have looked like it, but we played a helluva game against the most physical team in the league yesterday, and played tonight against a physical team as well. I’m about to pass out.”
Wemby and the rest of the Spurs had two nights of sleep to recover before leading his team into their next challenge. The Rockets are another physical squad, and they will be motivated not only because they are facing a rival but also because a win would help them jockey for position in the second tier of the West standings. They have not looked like the bona fide contenders many pegged them to be heading into the season, in large part due to injuries, but they have beaten the Spurs once already this season. The talent, athleticism, and, yes, physicality are there to make this a tough matchup for a San Antonio team that will look to continue its impressive play.
San Antonio Spurs (46-17) vs Houston Rockets (39-23)
March 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: NBC/Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs injuries: Harrison Barnes – OUT (ankle), Mason Plumlee – OUT (conditioning)
Rockets injuries: Fred VanVleet – OUT (knee), Steven Adams – OUT (ankle), Jae’Sean Tate – OUT (knee)
What to watch for:
The battle on the glass. The Rockets are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, but they have struggled to impose their will on the Spurs, the best defensive rebounding team in the league. In the past two matchups, offensive rebounding wasn’t a huge factor. In San Antonio’s win, they allowed their opponent 17 offensive rebounds but only nine second-chance points. In Houston’s win, the Silver and Black actually dominated on the offensive glass, getting more boards and 10 more second-chance points. Still, protecting the glass is something the Spurs will have to be mindful of, not only to keep the Rockets from getting second opportunities but also to push the ball off misses for transition buckets.
Two young guards could be X Factors. Dylan Harper has been killing it lately. In the past 15 games, the rookie is averaging 13 points, three rebounds, four assists, and a steal. The shot has been falling, the defense has been impressive, and he continues to be a menace on drives. He gives the bench a second scorer to complement Keldon Johnson, and could be a problem for a Rockets’ defense that tries to wall off the paint. For Houston, a good game from Reed Sheppard could be a requirement for a win. The second-year guard is a defensive liabity but his team simply lacks three-point shooting and scoring when he’s not on the floor. Harper was big in San Antonio’s win over the Rockets this season, and the same was true for Sheppard in Houston’s victory.
The Spurs will have to prove once again that they can handle size and physicality. At this point, no one should doubt that the Spurs are comfortable when things get physical or downright chippy. It doesn’t mean the Rockets won’t test them, though. Houston has size on its side, with Amen Thompson at point guard, a burly center in Alperen Sengun, and big, athletic wings. San Antonio is smaller in the starting lineup and will need to find somewhere to hide De’Aaron Fox. Assuming Castle takes the Kevin Durant assignment again, Tari Eason seems like the best matchup for Fox, but it will take a team effort on defense to keep the Rockets off the glass and from bullying their way to the paint. Carter Bryant, who has been playing well recently, could be important in this matchup, as he gives San Antonio the kind of length and athleticism needed to match Houston in the perimeter.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player last season [Getty Images]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander moved to within two games of breaking a decades-old NBA record as he scored 27 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-97 home win over the Golden State Warriors.
He has scored at least 20 points in 125 consecutive games for the defending champions, a sequence that began on 1 November 2024.
The legendary Wilt Chamberlain holds the record of 126 games - set between October 1961 and January 1963.
The Thunder host the Denver Nuggets on Monday and the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
Victory at Paycom Center was the Thunder's fifth in a row. They became the first side to 50 wins this season and sit top of the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander said: "If we were the best team last year, all year, we win a championship, and we get better, we should put ourselves in great position to repeat.
"This year's had a little bit more ups and downs for us, but I think we've done a pretty good job keeping that front of mind."
The Warriors - again missing the injured Stephen Curry - scored seven unanswered points to reduce the Thunder's lead to 99-97 before a three-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute.
Michael Porter Jr scored 30 points as the Brooklyn Nets came from 23 points down to win 107-105 at Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons and end a 10-game losing streak.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting Utah Jazz 113-99.
Jalen Johnson's 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists helped the Atlanta Hawks to a 125-116 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 19-point first-half deficit to win 123-120 at the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Orlando Magic won 119-92 at the Minnesota Timberwolves despite Anthony Edwards' 34 points for the hosts.
Golden State Warriors (32-31, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (19-45, 14th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Monday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah is looking to break its four-game home skid with a win over Golden State.
The Jazz are 10-30 in conference matchups. Utah allows the most points in the Western Conference, giving up 125.0 points and is allowing opponents to shoot 48.9%.
The Warriors are 22-20 against Western Conference opponents. Golden State scores 115.0 points and has outscored opponents by 1.1 points per game.
The Jazz's 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Warriors give up. The Warriors' 46.0% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (48.9%).
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Warriors won 140-124 in the last matchup on Jan. 29.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
Brandin Podziemski is scoring 12.7 points per game and averaging 5.2 rebounds for the Warriors. Al Horford is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 113.0 points, 42.5 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 11.3 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.9 points per game.
Warriors: 4-6, averaging 112.1 points, 44.5 rebounds, 31.8 assists, 9.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Vince Williams Jr.: out for season (acl), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Isaiah Collier: out (personal), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), De'Anthony Melton: day to day (knee), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: day to day (wrist), Seth Curry: day to day (sciatica), Will Richard: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit enters the matchup with Miami as losers of three straight games.
The Heat are 19-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is second in the NBA averaging 120.1 points and is shooting 46.5% from the field.
The Pistons have gone 30-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit ranks third in the league with 13.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 3.9.
The 120.1 points per game the Heat average are 10.5 more points than the Pistons give up (109.6). The Pistons average 10.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.0 fewer made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Heat allow.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Heat won 118-112 in the last matchup on Jan. 2. Norman Powell led the Heat with 36 points, and Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 31 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew Wiggins is scoring 15.9 points per game and averaging 5.1 rebounds for the Heat. Bam Adebayo is averaging 21.9 points and 10.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Cunningham is averaging 25.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 7-3, averaging 122.5 points, 49.2 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.8 points per game.
Pistons: 6-4, averaging 114.0 points, 48.5 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 10.2 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.8 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: out (back), Andrew Wiggins: day to day (toe), Norman Powell: out (groin), Simone Fontecchio: out (groin).
Pistons: Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Cade Cunningham: day to day (quadriceps).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Orlando looks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Magic take on Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 19-23 against conference opponents. Milwaukee averages 13.9 turnovers per game and is 10-8 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents.
The Magic are 20-19 in conference play. Orlando is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 114.8 points per game and is shooting 46.2%.
The Bucks are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.5% the Magic allow to opponents. The Magic average 114.8 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 115.5 the Bucks give up.
The two teams square off for the third time this season. The Bucks defeated the Magic 116-108 in their last matchup on Feb. 12. Cam Thomas led the Bucks with 34 points, and Desmond Bane led the Magic with 31 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Bucks. Ryan Rollins is averaging 14.2 points over the last 10 games.
Bane is scoring 20.4 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Magic. Tristan da Silva is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 5-5, averaging 109.1 points, 42.3 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.1 points per game.
Magic: 6-4, averaging 113.0 points, 43.8 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Taurean Prince: out (neck).
Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: day to day (back), Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee), Jase Richardson: day to day (back), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Memphis Grizzlies (23-39, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (16-47, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Memphis looks to stop its three-game skid with a win against Brooklyn.
The Nets have gone 8-22 in home games. Brooklyn currently has the league's lowest-scoring offense averaging 106.9 points per game.
The Grizzlies are 11-20 on the road. Memphis is 9-16 in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Nets average 106.9 points per game, 10.9 fewer points than the 117.8 the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies average 115.7 points per game, 0.1 more than the 115.6 the Nets give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Grizzlies won the last matchup 103-98 on Jan. 11. Cedric Coward scored 21 points to help lead the Grizzlies to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is scoring 24.3 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Nets. Noah Clowney is averaging 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 44.3% over the past 10 games.
Cam Spencer is averaging 11.4 points and 5.5 assists for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 1-9, averaging 102.6 points, 37.7 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.
Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 117.8 points, 36.8 rebounds, 29.5 assists, 11.5 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points.
INJURIES: Nets: Egor Demin: day to day (foot).
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: day to day (injury management), Taj Gibson: day to day (reconditioning), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Kwame Evans Jr. scored 20 points, which included the last nine of the game, and Oregon blew a 21-point lead before the Ducks rallied to beat Washington 85-79 on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Evans was fouled on a 3-point shot and made the and-1 free throw to give Oregon a one-point lead with 11.5 seconds left. Evans stole the ball from Hannes Steinbach, who quickly fouled, and Washington coach Danny Sprinkle, who thought Steinbach had been fouled, erupted. He was assessed back-to-back technical fouls and was ejected before Evans made 5 of 6 from the free throw line with five seconds left to seal it.
Takai Simpkins scored 18 points and Nate Bittle had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Oregon (12-19, 5-15 Big Ten). Dezdrick Lindsay added 11 points and Drew Carter 10.
The Ducks started 11-of-14 shooting — 7 of 7 from 3-point range — and used a 16-0 run to take a 21-point lead midway through the first half. Oregon shot 58% (15 of 26) and hit eight 3s and had 13 assists in the first half to take a 44-30 lead into the intermission.
Steinbach had 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds for Washington (15-16, 7-19). Steinbach, a 6-foot-11 freshman, has 20 double-doubles this season, tied with Justin Neely of UNC Greensboro for second most nationally behind UNC Greensboro's Delrecco Gillespie (21).
Steinbach scored 13 points in a 29-8 run that gave the Huskies a three-point lead with 24 seconds left.
Up next
Both teams will be waiting for the Big Ten Tournament pairings to come out Sunday to find out who and when they’ll play at Chicago next week.
There are plenty of potential contenders in the NBA this season.
With about five weeks left in the NBA’s regular season, we have a pretty clear picture of the contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
There have been seven different champions over the last seven seasons.
Will that trend continue and a new team be crowned this season?
Or will the Thunder repeat as champions?
As the regular season winds down, here are the three most likely teams in each conference to reach the mountaintop in June.
Eastern Conference
Knicks
The Knicks shouldn’t be underestimated. They’re seemingly lying in wait to hijack the East when the timing is right. Yes, they’re 0-3 against the Pistons (and 5 ½ games behind them through Friday night). But this team wasn’t expected to reach the Eastern Conference finals last season, and we all saw their spectacular playoff run.
Jalen Brunson is pictured during the Knicks’ win over the Nuggets on March 6, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks, third in the East (41-23), added Jose Alvarado, who’s as scrappy as they come. And Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart want revenge after what happened last season against the Pacers in the penultimate round.
Cavaliers
Cleveland fell short last postseason, folding in the first round against the Pacers as Donovan Mitchell struggled with an ankle injury. They’ve since traded Darius Garland for James Harden and seem as though they’re champing at the bit to bring Cleveland its first championship since 2016.
The Cavs have the talent. The question is whether they can put it all together and be healthy enough to make a strong postseason run.
Celtics
Remember when this team was expected to tank this season after Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles last May and then they lost Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Luke Kornet during the offseason?
Jayson Tatum attempts a shot during the Celtics’ March 6 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Well, the joke is on everyone who underestimated Jaylen Brown, who has helped the Celtics become the biggest surprise of the season. They’re in second place in the East (42-21). LeBron James even recently questioned why Brown isn’t getting more consideration for the MVP award. Oh, and guess what, Tatum returned Friday against the Mavericks.
Honorable mention
Pistons
Where did the Pistons come from? Sure, last postseason they took the Knicks to six games in their first-round playoff series, but no one expected them to have the East’s best record this season (45-16) and Cade Cunningham to be an MVP front-runner.
Western Conference
Thunder
Heading into this season, the Thunder were the favorites to win another title. They cemented that narrative by sprinting to a 24-1 start while former All-Star Jalen Williams played in only six games over that period. It seemed as though they weren’t only going to win, they were going to lap the field.
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But a few teams have decided to play the spoiler to that storyline, most notably the Spurs in the West.
While the Thunder remain the front-runners with the NBA’s best record (49-15) through Friday night, they’re no longer considered shoo-ins for the title. Winning back-to-back championships is hard and a lot of teams are nipping at the Thunder’s heels, most notably the Spurs, who have somehow solved the riddle of OKC’s top-rated defense.
Spurs
Welp, the Spurs’ ascension has been fast. They went from not even making the playoffs last season to being considered real contenders, all because a certain 22-year-old, 7-foot-5 Frenchman is living up to his potential.
Victor Wembanyama recently helped the Spurs win 11 games in a row. They’re peaking at the right time.
Victor Wembanyama reacts after the Spurs’ March 6 win. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But are the Spurs really ready for the NBA throne? Or will they need another year or two of playoff experience before being able to win multiple best-of-seven series on the NBA’s biggest stage?
This much is sure: Wembanyama’s care factor is through the roof. He became emotional after leading the Spurs back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Clippers on Friday, 116-112, calling it “one of the best games I’ve been a part of in my career.” He’s going to win a title, it’s just a matter of when.
Nuggets
Denver knows what it takes to win after reaching the mountaintop in 2023. Heck, even last season they took the Thunder to seven games in the second round of the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic, who missed 16 straight games due to a left knee hyperextension before returning at the end of January, is arguably the world’s best player.
Nikola Jokic looks to attempt a shot during the Nuggets’ March 6 loss to the Knicks. AP
The Nuggets’ biggest issue now is their supporting cast. Aaron Gordon missed 17 straight games because of a hamstring injury before returning to the lineup Friday. And Peyton Watson has missed 12 straight games because of a hamstring injury.
The Nuggets need Gordon and Watson to play well in the postseason to make it out of the West.
Honorable mention
Timberwolves
Minnesota has underperformed this season. But the T’wolves have a way of coming alive during the playoffs, spurred by Anthony Edwards. So, this team is my dark horse.
They’ve reached the Western Conference finals two seasons in a row and know how to turn up the volume when things count most. (Read: Rudy Gobert looking like Shaquille O’Neal last postseason against the Lakers in Game 5 of their first-round series with a 27-point, 24-rebound performance. Or Edwards regularly drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan during the Timberwolves’ 2024 playoff run.)
A UTEP fan got into a heated exchange with members of the Jacksonville State men's basketball team following Saturday's game between the two schools.
Jacksonville State earned a 64-61 victory over UTEP (Texas-El Paso) in a Conference USA game in El Paso on Saturday night.
The game was tied 61-61 when Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, the conference's scoring leader, made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the corner to secure the win. He finished the game with 23 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes played.
An altercation involving the UTEP fan happened after the game, while the players were in the handshake line.
A fan was seen on video briefly holding up a chair while having a verbal exchange with members of the Jacksonville State team.
A UTEP fan picked up a chair amid an exchange with Jacksonville State players on Saturday 😳
The fan and players were quickly separated before the incident got out of hand.
Conference USA and the two schools are expected to review the incident.
"We are reviewing the incident in conjunction with both (athletic directors), but we do not have a statement at this time," a Conference USA spokesperson told ESPN.
UTEP AD Jim Senter told ESPN the school "will take appropriate action as needed."
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Martinez scored in the second half and Hugo Lloris made it stand up for a third straight clean sheet to begin the season as Los Angeles FC beat FC Dallas 1-0 on Saturday night.
Neither team scored until Martinez used assists from Stephen Eustáquio and defender Sergi Palencia in the 55th minute to find the net for the first time this season and for the ninth time in the 20-year-old's 49th appearance and 20th start.
Eustáquio has a goal and two assists in his first three MLS matches. Palencia's helper was his first this season and ninth in 86 career matches.
Lloris finished with five saves for LAFC (3-0-0) — off to the best start in its nine-year history with a fifth straight victory in all competitions to begin the season. The club also won its first three league matches for the first time while outscoring its opponents 6-0.
Michael Collodi saved five shots in his third start for Dallas (1-1-1) this season after making nine last year as a rookie. Collodi allowed only eight goals in his nine 2025 starts, making Maarten Paes expendable.
Both keepers had three saves in a scoreless first half.
LAFC leads the all-time series 8-4-3, including a 6-0-1 record at home.
LAFC opened the season at home with a 3-0 victory over defending champion Inter Miami and then blanked the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on the road. The club also posted 6-1 and 1-0 victories over Real España in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to advance to the Round of 16.
Dallas beat Toronto FC 3-2 in its home opener before a playing to a scoreless draw with visiting Nashville SC.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game on January 28, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs complete their season series. San Antonio leads 2-1, and a win for the Spurs would clinch the tiebreaker, not that it’s likely to matter. This is the first of three difficult games in four days for Houston.
To talk about the Spurs, I enlisted the help of my friend, Blaine. He’s a Spurs fan that spent many nights with us in Playback (RIP), and he’s a smart basketball mind and great dude. I asked him some questions and he was kind enough to give some super detailed answers, even when I put him on the spot with San Antonio’s championship chances. I learned a ton, and I hope you do as well.
Armin (AK): By the old Phil Jackson metric, approximately 83% of all NBA champions won 40 games before losing 20. The Spurs are one of three teams that qualify this season. How serious are San Antonio’s chances? What would you consider a successful postseason?
Blaine: Going into this season, I honestly thought we would be happy with the 6 seed. At this point in time, we are probably a year ahead of what I thought our progression would be. Last year, we finished 13th in the West. I figured we would pass Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Memphis Grizzlies. I thought Dallas could be dangerous if they were healthy, but we knew Kyrie Iriving was a long shot this year, and Anthony Davis doesn’t have the best luck. I didn’t love Golden State’s offseason, the LA Clippers were (are) going through an interesting Steve Ballmer/Kawhi Leonard based investigation. That left Oklahoma City, y’all, the LA Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves as teams I thought could stay ahead of us and it still be seen as a potentially successful year of further growth. Y’all lost Fred VanVleet, then Steven Adams, and Dorian Finney-Smith hasn’t been the player I thought he could be for y’all. Denver has had to go without Nikola Jokic for a stretch, Aaron Gordon for longer, and Cam Johnson hasn’t been as big of a factor as I thought he could be for them, but they should be a dangerous team come playoff time. We’ve shown we can matchup well with OKC, beating them 4-1 this season (admittedly, 1 game they basically punted), but they are still the defending champs and current #1 overall seed.
All this is to say that we definitely have a shot, but history says it’s unlikely. The list is short for teams that found postseason success with as little playoff experience as our core has. On the plus side, Harrison Barnes and Luke Kornet each have 5 playoff runs and one ring each, but Barnes was 5th in minutes for the Warriors in the 2015 finals, Kornet was 11th for the Celtics in 2024. Outside of them, De’Aaron Fox has one playoff series, that’s it for our top 10 players.
On the plus side, we have a generational talent that is continuing to grow (in talent, but some say he might be taller than he was last year), and the team around him is getting better too. I wrote earlier that I thought we would be happy with the 6th seed going into the year. What I didn’t see that had me setting the lower expectations was not only Victor Wembanyama still clinging to the possibility of hitting the 65 game mark, but that we now have a team around him that doesn’t crumble without him on the floor. I believe we are 10-4 in games without him this season, although we were lucky that many of those came during a somewhat forgiving stretch.
Fox has been great, even though it seems like we are keeping his usage a bit lower than he deserves. He hasn’t been getting near the credit he deserves from Spurs fans, which I hope is due to the excitement of our younger core, I can also be guilty of this. I’m glad he got the all-star nod even if there were arguments for other replacements.
Stephon Castle has taken a nice leap. His 3% hasn’t increased much, but I’m more confident in the attempts than I was last year. His playmaking continues to grow and he is probably the best lobber on the team. He’s also the best point-of-attack defender and has had some really nice putbacks. I believe he is deserving of an All-Defensive Team selection. I see him and Amen Thompson as very comparable players. Castle is a better shooter and maybe slight edge in playmaking, while Thompson still has the advantage on defense and rebounding.
Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson have both adjusted their games to become really useful to us. Vassell as a spark plug on offense, and Keldon as a battery and battering ram. Vassell has had a really good shooting stretch. In a 5 game stretch from 2/23-3/3 he averaged 5 3PMs on 62.5%. Johnson is still in the running for 6MOY, although I think the chances have chilled slightly post all star break.
AK: San Antonio appears so deep right now and is seemingly getting contributions from everyone. Besides playoff experience, what do the Spurs need to get to the next level moving forward? Is internal development enough or do you see the Spurs making a splash in free agency in Wemby’s last rookie contract season? (Note: The Spurs will have something around $35-40 million in space under the first apron this summer)
Blaine: Along with the guys above, Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant are also exciting looks into the future while providing valuable play. Harper plays with a veteran’s level of change of pace and shows real flashes of something special, while Bryant has recently shown flashes of becoming a great 3&D player. They are clear parts of the future so some care needs to be taken that we have money available for them when the time comes.
Kornet is the final player I feel sure will be around for the next 3 years. He’s been a really great back up big, even if it doesn’t always show up in the box score. He does so many of the little things that allow the team to be successful.
Barnes has been a solid vet and has gone through stretches of being a really important floor stretcher for us. Unfortunately, his ironman streak of 364 straight regular season games played was snapped due to a sore ankle, his 3% has dropped over 5% from last year, Bryant is showing growth, and his current contract is too big and runs out at the end of the year. He’d be great to have back, but I don’t know that he would or should take the cut needed for us to make it happen.
Julian Champagnie is currently on one of the best contracts (non-rookie or superstar-on-max edition). We have a team option, but I’m sure we will try to renegotiate for a longer deal while trying to keep it somewhat team friendly.
Looking into next year, we have Atlanta’s pick that will likely be a lottery pick. Depending on where that pick falls could determine if we feel like we luck into another rotational piece or if we use it to package for a different piece or future pick. Looking over a list of upcoming FAs, the number of good fits that I think have a ok chance of moving are fairly slim. Rui Hachimura and John Collins are maybe the best options which aren’t the flashiest moves. Therefore, I think our best chance at a big swing would be to sign and trade Barnes packaged with ATL’s pick. A bigger swing would have to include Vassell or Johnson that, as I’ve stated, have been playing well this season and could be considered the hearts of the team, especially Keldon on the latter.
I think it is more likely that we try to make a Barnes deal work, while extending Wemby and Champagnie.
AK: Fill in the blank: The Spurs are winning a title in the next _____ years.
Blaine: When Tim Duncan retired, I said with full sincerity that I would be satisfied as a fan if we never won another because of the 5 rings he brought to my favorite team, and asking for anything further would be greedy. Well, the 3rd lucky pick of a ping pong ball that gave me a generation big to watch has me feeling like Scrooge McDuck. I stated earlier in the year that I’m still not a big fan of the Cup. Players get more money, good for them, but for me as a fan, I’m not ready to give this midseason tournament any prestige. That being said, it was great for us this year. The OKC and New York Knicks games had a solid playoff-like atmosphere that gives the young core at least a small feel of what to expect come playoffs. I’m trying hard to keep my expectations tempered. Injuries happen, guys playing well lead to them earning contracts that break teams apart, teams struggle at the wrong time, and opposing teams have the opposite happen at the right time for them. We aren’t here for that though, and I’m not backing down from your challenge to actually answer this question that I usually talk my way around. Spurs in 3. Maybe we get lucky this year, we have been playing really well. If we make it to the conference finals this year, I think we can rebound and make it through the next. If we flame out early, I think we do whatever we need to to make it work in the 3rd. There, you got me to say it. You happy?
AK: What are your thoughts on the Rockets as an outsider?
Blaine: Before the injuries, I really thought this could be y’all’s year. I’ve been telling you since the start of the year that I think y’all are a bad matchup for us. Wemby has more difficulty with Alperen Sengun’s offensive timing, Kevin Durant is still a bucket, Jabari Smith Jr. gives y’all extra size, and I remain a big fan of both Amen and Reed Sheppard.
AK: Got any fun tidbits I didn’t ask?
Blaine: Just for fun, Spurs have some pretty good duo names. Ex Area 51 (Wemby/Castle), Pineapple Express (Castle/Vassell), Slash Bros (Castle/Harper), French Vanilla (Wemby/Kornet), White Castle (Castle/Kornet). Do the Rockets have any fun nicknames?
Also, current situation of Wemby chasing Dream’s block record:
Current Pace (3.48) 936 games to overtake (14.4 65 game seasons)
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Alexis Manyoma netted the go-ahead score in the second half and Rafael Navarro added a pair of insurance goals, all after Los Angeles was forced to play a man down, helping the Colorado Rapids pull away for a 4-1 victory over the Galaxy on Saturday night.
João Klauss scored for the fourth time in his first three matches with the Galaxy to tie it 1-1 in the 56th minute. But Gabriel Pec was tagged with a second yellow card four minutes later and forced to exit.
Manyoma made his fifth career appearance and second this season when he subbed into the match in the 68th minute and scored his first career goal in the 76th to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. Navarro provided insurance with an unassisted goal in the 85th minute before taking a pass from Wayne Frederick and scoring again four minutes later for the final margin. Frederick's assist was his first in his 13th career appearance.
Navarro's first two goals of the campaign give him 30 in 78 career appearances with the Rapids.
Nico Hansen totaled four saves in his first start for Colorado (2-1-0) this season after starting 10 times as a rookie last season.
Novak Micovic saved two shots in his third start of the season for the Galaxy (1-1-1) after getting the nod 20 times as a rookie last season.
Darren Yapi, who scored in the 23rd minute to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead, picked up an assist along with Ted Ku-DiPietro on Manyoma's go-ahead score.
The Galaxy lead the all-time series 41-34-13, but fall to 14-23-7 in Colorado.
Up next
Los Angeles: Hosts Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Langston Reynolds scored 21 points and scored the game-winning basket to lead Minnesota 67-66 past Northwestern in the final regular season game of the season for both Big Ten teams on Saturday.
Reynolds was 9 of 13 from the floor and scored the final four points over the last 26 seconds. He turned a three-point Golden Gophers (15-16, 8-12 Big Ten) deficit into a win with a layup with 11 seconds left, and scored 17 in the second half.
Cade Tyson had 15 points, while Isaac Asuma added 14 points and eight rebounds. Bobby Durkin scored 12, made 4 of 8 from behind the arc and had two steals.
The Golden Gophers had a 39-29 lead at the half after opening the game with an 18-2 run fueled by nine points from Asuma.
Nick Martinelli, the nation's sixth-leading scorer (22.7 per game), had 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (13-18, 5-15). Jake West added 14 points and hit 4 of 7 behind the arc, and Tre Singleton scored 10 to go with six rebounds and four assists.
Up next
Northwestern will be the No. 15 seed in the Big Ten tournament and face No. 18 seed Penn State on Tuesday in the opening round.
Minnesota will enter as the No. 11 seed and face No. 14 seed Rutgers in the second round Wednesday. ___
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors 104-97 on Saturday night for their fifth straight win.
Gilgeous-Alexander made just 6 of 15 field goals, but he made 14 of 15 free throws to maintain his usual production. He has scored at least 20 points in 125 consecutive games. He can tie Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight games with at least 20 points Monday at home against Denver.
Oklahoma City is 5-0 since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain. The defending champion Thunder have the league’s best record and became the first team in the league to win 50 games this season.
Isaiah Joe added 18 points and Jaylin Williams had nine points and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma City.
Gui Santos had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Brandin Podziemski scored 17 points and Draymond Green added 16 for the Warriors, who were held to 40.9% shooting.
MAGIC 119, TIMBERWOLVES 92
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 30 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Orlando won its third straight game by beating Minnesota.
Jalen Suggs added 14 points and Tristan da Silva had 11 points for the Magic, who moved atop the Southeast Division.
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including 13 of 14 from the free-throw line, but Minnesota had it’s five-game winning streak snapped.
Julius Randle scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Timberwolves, Naz Reid added 13 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert added 12 points.
Minnesota shot just 35.7% in scoring its second-fewest points of the season. Starters Donte DiVincenzo and Jaden McDaniels were a combined 0 for 15.
NETS 107, PISTONS 105
DETROIT (AP) — Ziaire Williams made two 3-pointers in the final three minutes and Brooklyn ended a 10-game losing streak by rallying to beat Detroit.
Brooklyn trailed by 23 points in the third quarter and were still down by double figures with 5:29 left, but outscored Detroit 18-6 down the stretch.
Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets, while Williams finished with 23 points.
Tobias Harris had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit and Jalen Duren had 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Pistons, who have lost three straight for the first time this season, were missing Cade Cunningham (quadriceps) and Ausar Thompson (ankle).
HAWKS 125, 76ERS 116
ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 24 points as Atlanta beat Philadelphia for its season-best sixth straight victory.
Atlanta, which had two five-game runs during the season, has won seven of its last eight games and moved two games over .500 at 33-31.
CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half and added seven assists, Dyson Daniels finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Onyeka Okongwu had 10 points as the Hawks overcame a seven-point halftime deficit.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points before injuring his right hand in a collision with teammate Adem Bona with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse had no update on the extent of Maxey’s injury after the game and said the All-Star guard would have X-rays on his hand.
Quentin Grimes scored 26 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 24 and Trendon Watford 10 as Philly had its four-game winning streak halted. Jabari Walker, who was coming off consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his four-year NBA career, finished with nine points.
BUCKS 113, JAZZ 99
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid by beating Utah.
Antetokounmpo did all that while playing just 27 minutes as the Bucks continue to monitor the two-time MVP’s workload in his return from injury. Milwaukee was playing for the third time since Antetokounmpo came back from a right calf strain that caused him to miss 15 straight games.
Utah has lost eight of its last nine games. The Jazz had ended a seven-game skid Thursday by winning 122-112 at Washington.
The Jazz were missing leading scorer Lauri Markkanen because of impingement in his right hip and Isaiah Collier due to personal reasons. Multiple other Utah players already have been ruled out for the season.
Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with swelling in his right knee. Before the game, Bucks coach Doc Rivers had no update on when Porter might return to the lineup.
CLIPPERS 123, GRIZZLIES 120
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, Darius Garland scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Los Angeles held on for a victory over Memphis.
Bennedict Mathurin finished 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 16 points as the Clippers won for the fourth time in five games despite hitting only four 3-pointers, a season low. Los Angeles was 4 for 17 from distance.
Ty Jerome led Memphis with 23 points and seven assists. Taylor Hendricks scored 18 and Cedric Coward 15 as Memphis lost its third straight.
The game was close throughout, and the Grizzlies held a 118-117 lead with about two minutes left. Leonard and Jordan Miller each made a pair of free throws to give Los Angeles a 121-118 edge. Mathurin’s two free throws with 4.4 second left sealed the win as Jerome’s closing 3-point try for Memphis was off the mark.
The Clippers, who were 15 games under .500 earlier this season, now sit at 31-32. The are in ninth place in the Western Conference, and in the running for a postseason bid.
After a severely undermanned Golden State squad eked out an unexpected win over the Rockets to begin its road trip, the Warriors nearly pulled off an even bigger upset against the best team in the Western Conference and presumed title favorites.
Golden State got Kristaps Porzingis back from a six-game absence but still only suited up 10 players and still took the Thunder to the wire Saturday night in a 104-97 loss.
Shai Gilgous-Alexander sank a step-back 3 with 44 seconds left for the last of his game-high 27 points and forced a turnover on the other end of the floor to seal the game.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 7: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors passes the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors never held a lead but were as close as two points with less than a minute to play, trailing 99-97 before Gilgous-Alexander’s game-sealing 3. They missed their final six shots of the game.
Porzingis played 23 minutes off the bench and scored nine points in his first action since his Warriors debut on Feb. 19 — only the second game he has played dating back to the first week of January.
What it means
The Warriors earned a nice win against the Rockets. They returned to reality against the Thunder, who became the first team in the NBA to reach 50 wins.
Turning point
With the state of the Warriors’ roster, it should have been the moment they entered the building.
But the score was tied at 77 more than halfway through the third quarter after Malevy Leons, one of three active two-way players, drained a 3-pointer with 4:14 left that capped a 19-4 run.
The typically sound Thunder turned the ball over five times in the first six minutes of the third quarter. They coughed it up nine times the rest of the night.
The run came to an end in appropriate fashion for the Thunder — with Gilgous-Alexander getting to the foul line on consecutive possessions. The free-throw artist collected 14 of his points at the line. He baited Nate Williams, another two-wayer, both times.
The Warriors kept it close until the very end but never were able to pull ahead.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 7: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images
MVP: SGA
The reigning NBA MVP is probably on his way to a repeat win, so it would be silly to select anybody else after he led the box score in scoring and seemed to get a bucket — or free throws — at the moments the Thunder needed it most.
Draymond Green, tasked with guarding him, turned in one of his strongest offensive performances of the season with 16 points on four 3-pointers.
Gui Santos also scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 38 minutes.
But the Warriors just didn’t have enough firepower to overcome a quintessential performance from Gilgous-Alexander, who is now one game away from Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record after scoring 20 or more points for the 125th consecutive contest.
Stat of the game: 15 offensive rebounds
The Warriors kept it close with the defending champions despite missing their two best players and a sizable chunk of their supporting cast. How?
By owning the offensive glass.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 7: Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors cleaned up their misses for a 16-7 edge in second-chance points. They grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, compared to the Thunder’s seven.
Gary Payton II grabbed seven offensive boards by himself with a game-best 12 total.
The Thunder hadn’t converted a single second-chance basket until Andrew Wiggins tipped in a miss from Lu Dort with 4:30 left in the third quarter. It was Oklahoma City’s second offensive rebound of the possession, matching its total to that point in the game.
As for what prevented the Warriors from pulling off the upset?
Look to the foul line, and don’t complain about the whistle.
The Warriors missed key free throws down the stretch and shot 61.1% from the foul line. Oklahoma City only had a six-shot edge in attempts but converted 23 of its 24 free throws, while the Warriors missed seven of their 18 attempts.
Up next
Golden State finishes its three-game road trip Monday night with a date with the Jazz in Salt Lake City. The Warriors will play their third game in four days the following night, the beginning of a stretch of 10 in a 15-day span — just two in San Francisco.
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