Mar 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks up in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets had a gut check game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and failed miserably, being dominated by the Spurs, who shot 58 percent from the field, to the tune of a 145-120 San Antonio victory.
The Rockets had no defense, as the Spurs got pretty much whatever they wanted, with Victor Wembenyama leading the way with 29 points, and they also got 23 from Stephon Castle and 20 each from Keldon Johnson and De’Aaron Fox, who also had 10 assists.
As for the Rockets, they got 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks from Kevin Durant on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, as well as 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists from Amen Thompson, who was 8-for-15 from the floor.
Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. had 17 points each, with Reed going 3-for-10 from deep to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while Smith had 5 rebounds and 3 assists to round out Houston’s double-digit scorers.
The Rockets showed that they were not quite on par with some of the west’s best, as they lost the season series to San Antonio 3-1. They also fall to the fourth seed in the west with a 39-24 record, on pace for a slightly worse record than last season. If they playoffs ended today, the Rockeys would take on the Los Angeles Lakers, which is an admittedly good matchup for them, but do you have any real faith in the Rockets going anywhere this postseason? I know that I do not.
But it could also get worse. The Rockets are only two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for a Play-In spot. Falling down to the Play-In is not out of the question.
The Rockets need to find an answer for the shooting discrepency. They were just 8-for-28 from deep, while the Spurs were 21-for-40. That’s almost a 40-point swing on three-point shooting alone. You’re not going to win much basketball that way.
Anyway, the Rockets will return to action on Tuesday with a home game against the Toronto Raptors. That’s a 7pm CST start.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, wrestles for control of the ball with Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the second half of the Lakers' 110-97 win Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Jaxson Hayes remembered the bruising the Lakers got at Madison Square Garden a month ago when the New York Knicks bullied them on the boards, outscored them by 14 in the second half and had six players score in double figures. Hayes was happy to return the favor Sunday in the Lakers’ 110-97 win at Crypto.com Arena.
“I just feel like we owed them that one,” the Lakers center said.
The wire-to-wire win over the Knicks (41-24) was only the second time since early November that the Lakers (39-25) recorded a win over a team with a record of .600 or better. They improved to 5-12 against such teams after losing 12 of their last 13 games against the league's upper echelon. With the win and a tiebreaker against Denver, the Lakers moved into fifth in the Western Conference. They play fourth-place Minnesota (40-24) on Tuesday.
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s win:
Lakers show their playoff mentality
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, dives for a loose ball next to Knicks forward OG Anunoby in the first half Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Hayes crawled across the floor for loose balls. Marcus Smart stepped in front of driving opponents. Jarred Vanderbilt leaped into the laps of front-row fans.
With energy and focus from every player, the Lakers delivered one of their best defensive efforts of the season despite circumstances that could have made Sunday's game a snoozer.
The Lakers were playing their third game in four days. Losing an hour of sleep because of daylight saving time had Rui Hachimura sleepwalking into the arena Sunday morning for a 12:30 p.m. tip. Hoping to wake himself up, the Lakers forward said he got into the hot tub when he arrived.
Players tried to hype themselves up in the locker room by blasting music. Instead of listing three defensive keys before the game, coaches whittled the game plan to one focus: multiple efforts.
“It wasn't gonna be an offensive game,” coach JJ Redick said. “This was gonna be a gritty, tough game that we had to win with effort. And we did that."
Smart led that effort with a game-high plus-27 in 29 minutes and 17 seconds. He drew two charges. His signature moment didn't even show up in the game play-by-play. After Luka Doncic turned the ball over with 2.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Smart hustled back to force Jordan Clarkson to pass the ball at the buzzer, keeping the Knicks from getting a last-second layup attempt. Smart walked to the bench with his arms extended like a defensive back who had just broken up a touchdown pass.
The Knicks were held to less than 100 points for only the seventh time and had their fourth-worst three-point shooting performance of the season, going eight for 34. The Lakers went nearly five minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter, but held on by forcing eight turnovers.
“It was not a perfect game,” said Doncic, who led the Lakers with 35 points on 11-for-25 shooting. “But we fight at the defensive end. I think we did a great job. It says a lot about the team, bringing this much energy in a game like this.”
Deandre Ayton stands out in return
Lakers center Deandre Ayton, center, and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson battle for a rebound in the second half Sunday. (Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
Returning from left knee soreness that kept him out for one game, Deandre Ayton had a quiet six-point, eight-rebound stat line, but he made a loud statement early by setting the tone with his activity in the first quarter.
Often criticized for his inconsistent effort, the 7-foot center scrambled for an offensive rebound to set up a second-chance three-pointer from Austin Reaves, combined with Hachimura to swat away a layup attempt from Josh Hart and blocked a shot from Karl-Anthony Towns all in the first three minutes. He caught a lob from Doncic that forced the Knicks to take an early timeout.
“I thought he played really hard tonight,” Redick said. “He was great."
Ayton was limited to only four minutes and 30 seconds in Thursday’s loss to Denver after he felt discomfort in his left knee. Behind Ayton, Hayes has continued his career season. Not far behind Ayton’s 19 minutes and 55 seconds of playing time, Hayes played 16 minutes and 38 seconds off the bench Sunday with five points — all on free throws as he attacked the rim for high-flying dunk attempts — four rebounds and one steal.
LeBron James, who suffered an elbow contusion in the final minutes against Denver, did not play Sunday, missing his second consecutive game. Redick said Friday he expected James could return against the Knicks, but he was ruled out shortly before tip-off.
JJ Redick won't 'overreact'
Lakers coach JJ Redick gestures during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on March 3. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
With the Lakers having struggled against top competition all season, Sunday’s victory was the type of statement win they were looking for. In Redick’s previous career, it may have led him to serve up hot takes on a podcast or on television. If he were a fan, maybe he would be loudly celebrating only to turn around on the next loss and cry the way he did when he was a child watching Duke.
But not as an NBA coach.
“I'm not in a position where I can overreact,” Redick said when asked about the significance of a gritty win for a team that hasn’t accumulated many of them this season. “You guys do that. The fans, rightfully so, should always overreact. It's what makes fandom so awesome. ... My job is not to overreact.”
The Lakers are 15-9 in their last 24 games, Redick said matter-of-factly. They’re ranked eighth in offense and 14th in defense over that span.
It’s close to what the Lakers envisioned for their team entering the season.
With 18 games remaining, the Lakers could still earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They’re only one game behind third-place Houston (39-23) and play the Rockets twice next week. This week, they have two more games against Western Conference foes battling for playoff position with Minnesota (40-24) on Tuesday and Denver (39-25) on Saturday.
“Every game is going to matter,” said Hachimura, who had 13 points and seven rebounds while starting in place of James. “We gotta get one by one. We have a big week coming up too. So I think today's game was great. We needed it.”
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 08: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 08, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wizards lost their eighth in a row — this time a semi-competitive that transmogrified into a New Orleans Pelicans blowout.
This game highlighted what different incentives does to teams. During the 2025 draft, the Pelicans traded this year’s first round pick in a deal to acquire Maryland center Derik Queen. New Orleans was terrible for a long stretch of the season — at times they sported the league’s worst winning percentage.
With the pick out the door, they have no reason to remain awful. And, as they’ve gotten healthier and adjusted the rotation to get minutes to better players, they’ve improved — postingt an 11-9 record over their last 20 games. Not exactly a juggernaut, but there’s at least an outline of a potentially decent team next season.
Tre Johnson shot well in the team’s 20-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington has just six wins over their last 20, and they’re likely chiding themselves for winning even that much. They’ve treated games like exhibition season, sitting anyone with even the mildest of injuries, keeping healthy youngsters on tight minutes restrictions, and using what amounts to G-League lineups for long stretches of games.
This is smart. To increase their chances of being good in the future, the team needs to lose a lot now. I remind myself of these facts every game because…well…the actual basketball gets brutal to watch. One fun aspect of watching a young and rebuilding team is seeing those youngsters try hard, make mistakes, and learn. The imperative to lose games, which leads to curtailing minutes for kids who figure to be part of the rotation when the team is competitive again in the near(ish) future, which means a) we don’t get to see them as much, and (worse) b) they get fewer opportunities to learn and grow.
One other thing that intentionally losing sometimes does is cause players to play with lesser effort and mental focus. The “little things” just don’t matter as much when you know you’re going to lose. I think I see some of that in Wizards games lately, and I’ve been trying to convince myself it’s mostly coming from players who won’t be around next season.
But I’m also seeing some stuff from kids who should be around, so…yeah I’m a little concerned about it.
Thoughts & Observations
Alex Sarr was back in the starting lineup. The offense was rusty, and his teammates kept him busy defensively.
Last game, I wrote a bit about how bad Leaky Black was on defense. He was just as bad against New Orleans. His name shows up a lot in my notes from last night’s game.
Lest anyone think I’m picking on Black, I have to say that Trae Young’s defense is shockingly awful. I mean, I’ve seen him play terrible defense in Atlanta. As an example, in the first quarter, he got switched onto Saddiq Bey in the post. I’d have been fine if Bey used his superior height to shoot over Young or strength to bully-ball him into the basket. But Young got out-quicked. Yikes.
Speaking of Young, New Orleans repeatedly did the force a switch to attack Young thing, and it worked quite well for them. He’s a problem defensively the Wizards might be able to overcome with Sarr and Anthony Davis patrolling the paint — at least to the extent that opponent offensive scheming allows that to happen.
Young is also a terrific passer, at least when he’s focused on making good passes instead of showboating. He produced eight assists, and set up teammates for several other open looks, which they missed.
Want to see a bad defensive possession? At 6:41 of the first quarter, Zion Williamson drives on Bilal Coulibaly, who does an okay job of at least staying in contact with Williamson. Black was low man and should have been stepping up. He got there late and gave a classic “ole” effort. Tre Johnson was weakside low man and did absolutely nothing on the play.
Throughout the night, Wizards bigs (JuJu Reese and Anthony Gill) were playing deep drop coverage in pick-and-rolls where Trey Murphy III was the ball handler. This baffled me because Murphy is a great three-point shooter. The Wizards were conceding open threes to one of the game’s better three-point shooters. Even if you’re playing drop and don’t want to switch, that big should still be at the level of the screen.
Late in the first quarter, Sharife Cooper ran a 2-on-1 fastbreak I loved. The New Orleans defender kept giving ground, so Cooper kept the ball. When he got almost to the rim, the defender finally committed, and Cooper dropped the ball off to Will Riley for an easy bucket. I liked the patience Cooper showed — staying under control, forcing the defender to make a decision, and then giving a teammate a simple play to make.
I think there’s some fairly low-hanging fruit that might help Jaden Hardy shoot more accurately. Even when wide-open from deep, he tends to twist a little and fade as he jumps. Better balance and a more controlled jump could boost his percentage.
The Pelicans attacked the paint relentlessly and generated 47 free throw attempts as a result. They had 36 free throw attempts in the first half.
With 4:20 left in the second quarter, the Wizards ran a pindown for Trae Young, which produced an open three. I liked them using Young off-ball. More please.
Dejounte Murray was too athletic for any of the perimeter defenders the Wizards had available last night — Johnson, Young, and Bub Carrington are all too small, too weak, and too slow to guard him. The team’s best defender against a player like Murray is Coulibaly, but they had him on Williamson much of the evening.
The third quarter contained some truly egregious defensive plays. Williamson drove on Black, who provided no resistance at the point of attack.
On the first, Reese was low man, and Johnson was in help position at the elbow. What should have happened was Reese helping hard, and Johnson dropping into a zone to cover the weakside corner and wing. What did happen was that neither Reese nor Johnson even moved.
On the second, it was Reese and Carrington not reacting to Williamson’s drive.
On the third, Riley helped hard from the weakside and Black fouled. While the result wasn’t great, Riley at least played the scheme correctly,
One other defensive possession I didn’t like — Reese jogging back in transition and arriving too late to contest a Bryce McGowens dunk.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
WIZARDS
PELICANS
LGAVG
eFG%
52.7%
56.7%
54.3%
OREB%
28.9%
30.0%
26.0%
TOV%
16.3%
7.6%
12.8%
FTM/FGA
0.242
0.416
0.207
PACE
105
99.4
ORTG
113
132
115.3
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
MUENSTER, Germany (AP) — A masked fan has unplugged the referee's video review monitor at a German soccer game while the referee was deciding on a penalty, in an apparent protest against VAR technology.
The unidentified fan came out of the stands and unplugged the monitor which referee Felix Bickel was trying to use to decide on a penalty in Sunday's second-division game between Preussen Muenster and Hertha Berlin, Muenster said in a statement.
TV footage showed a person in white overalls and a ski mask in Muenster green climbing back into the home fans' stand.
It didn't stop the decision going against the home team as video assistant referee Katrin Rafalski was able to decide remotely and communicated that decision to Bickel. Hertha's Fabian Reese scored the penalty, the opening goal of a 2-1 win.
Muenster said it “regrets the incident and will do everything it can to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators and bring them to justice,” and added it would take steps to stop the incident happening again.
“Initial findings indicate that this was a planned action,” Muenster added. A photo in German media showed home fans displaying a large banner with a message reading “Pull the plug on VAR.”
Muenster captain Jorrit Hendrix said he was happy about the incident, though.
“It shows how the fans experience things and that they want to do everything to win the game,” he said in comments broadcast by TV show Sportschau. “If they can do something to influence it, they do that. I completely understand it and think it's a good thing.”
Ever since VAR was introduced in German soccer in 2017, it's been controversial among fans. Many see video review delays as an unwelcome interruption to the flow of the game.
This season, there is no doubt of who has separated themselves from the rest of the field. Duke, Arizona and Michigan are in a class of their own. They awaited who would join them as the fourth member, and it was answered in the regular-season finale with Florida.
All No. 1 seed dominance? Guess what? It's going to happen again in 2026.
It sounds crazy to declare who will be in the Final Four before the bracket and matchups are revealed, but it's not hard to understand why it will be Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida.
Duke, Michigan and Arizona have been the most consistent. It felt like they could have gone undefeated, and they each finished the regular season 29-2. Florida didn't have an amazing start, but finished on a 16-1 stretch as it obliterated the SEC to end 25-6 overall.
It's one thing to win a lot, but it's another to do it against quality teams. Look at each of their Quad 1 records, as they are conveniently the top four teams in the NET rankings:
Duke: 15-2
Michigan: 14-2
Arizona: 15-2
Florida: 11-5
These are the only teams win double-digit Quad 1 wins.
Still need more proof? Look at how they're winning these games. These four make up the top eight teams in the country in average scoring margin; Duke wins by 20 points (1st), Michigan by 19 (5th), Arizona by 18 (6th) and Florida by 16 (T-7th). The Blue Devils and Gators made a joke of the ACC and SEC, the Wolverines handled the loaded Big Ten and the Wildcats made the Big 12 gauntlet look like a stroll in the park. It's a type of consistency we saw exactly a year ago with Florida, Houston, Duke and Auburn.
That's why the 2026 tournament is theirs to lose. All it takes is an off night to end a season in 40 minutes. However, these teams haven't had many of those, any everyone else can't say the same.
There are plenty of other teams that have Final Four capabilities, like Connecticut, Iowa State, Houston and Michigan State. The issue though is these teams have shown they can't be trusted. They've each had their own problems, whether it's losing to teams it shouldn't, or going on extended cold streaks.
Oh, and they've all had a chance to play against the Final Four shoe-ins. Only the Huskies were able to beat Florida, all the way back in December when it was much different Gators team.
This isn't saying the tournament won't be eventful. There is bound to be the double-digit seed first round upset or surprise run to the second weekend. Just don't expect it to be at the expense of the No. 1 seeds. Their games may be snoozers.
While it may take out the thrill of it, save the popcorn for when those four teams meet in Indianapolis, because it will be captivating, must-see TV. We already got a preview when Michigan and Duke met in late February, a thriller in the nation's capital. Imagine that happening again with the national championship on the line?
After happening only once in 45 tournaments, does having an all-No. 1 seed Final Four in back-to-back years show parity is dying in a tournament built on it? Not really, it's just the teams that are really good, are in fact, really good.
It's almost become comical how superior each of the projected No. 1 seeds have been. So much so the conference tournaments won't have an effect on their March Madness outlook.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament is for the taking of the Blue Devils, Wildcats, Wolverines and Gators. The other 64 teams are going to need the night of their lives — and then some — to alter the path.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed in less than a week, and there is still plenty of shifting happening before teams find out where they will be seeded in the Big Dance — or in it at all.
The conclusion of the regular season highlighted how drastic fortunes can change heading into March Madness. Get hot, and you can soar up the seed line and away from the bubble, while others are dropping toward unfavorable spots and at risk of missing out on the tournament.
Now, the chance to improve stock is limited in championship week, heightening the importance of having a big showing to get in the good graces of the selection committee. Here are the teams rising and falling based on the final games of the regular season and the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology as conference tournaments begin.
March Madness teams rising
Florida
Current projected seed: No. 1 seed (South)
There may be no team more dangerous than the defending national champions, which has ascended to becoming a top seed for the second straight year. The Gators finished the regular season with 11 straight wins. What's impressive is all but two of them were double-digit wins and seven of them were Quad 1 games. Florida had been neck-and-neck with Connecticut for the last No. 1 seed, and the Huskies losing to Marquette opened the door for the Gators to claim the inside track to Selection Sunday, on a warpath to keep its crown.
Michigan State
Current projected seed: No. 2 (East)
While the No. 1 seeds seem virtually locked up, it's a fight for the No. 2 spot. However, Michigan State is separating itself and assuring it gets the seed for the second straight season. The Spartans won five consecutive games, including a major victory at Purdue and picking up another road victory at Indiana. A win over Michigan would have been the perfect ending, but they put up a worthy fight in the loss to keep the good times going.
Wisconsin
Current projected seed: No. 6 (South)
Hot shooting has pushed Wisconsin onward. The Badgers have responded correctly from the head-scratching performance against Oregon with three wins to close the regular season; it started with a Quad 1 win at Washington and ended with another huge result at Purdue. Wisconsin is in a better position than what it was in a month ago, going all the way from a No. 9 seed to now in position for a sixth. If it can keep the momentum rolling, it can find itself moving up another seed line.
TCU
Current projected seed: No. 8 (Midwest)
There isn't a need to worry about making the tournament as TCU has assured itself a spot in the bracket. It's come a long way from the season-opening loss to New Orleans, finishing the season with five straight wins. The last week couldn't have been better, getting wins against hot teams in ranked Texas Tech and Cincinnati. For nearly the entire season, the Horned Frogs were around the bubble, but the recent success has propelled them to a single-digit seed and on track to return to the tournament.
UCLA
Current projected seed: No. 10 (South)
After teetering on the bubble for much of conference play, UCLA has put itself in comfortable position. The Bruins pretty much wiped away the win against Illinois with a loss at Minnesota, but recovered immediately with an emphatic victory against Nebraska to get themselves back on track. They then beat rival Southern California to punctuate a sixth place finish in the Big Ten. UCLA has distance itself enough away from the cutline and can plan to be playing in the tournament once again.
March Madness teams falling
Connecticut
Current projected seed: No. 2 (South)
A No. 1 seed was UConn's for the taking but Huskies have given it right up after an ugly loss at Marquette. It capped off what has been a strange past couple of weeks. It dominated St. John's, but suffered a Quad 3 loss to Creighton and then finished the regular season with a Quad 2 loss to the Golden Eagles. That gave Florida a chance to take UConn's spot, and the Gators didn't mess up their opportunity. The Huskies do remain a national title contender, but losing the No. 1 seed shows how this team can't be fully trusted as much as the other favorites.
BYU
Current projected seed: No. 7 (West)
After starting the season 17-2, the Cougars have gone 4-8 since then and have struggled to adjust without Richie Saunders, who suffered a season-ending injury on Feb. 15. That stretch has included blowout losses to UCF and Cincinnati, resulting in a stunning 10th place finish in the Big 12. At least it was salvaged by getting a win over Texas Tech in the home finale. BYU has gone from being a top 16 overall seed to now trying to stay in the top half of the bracket, with a great chance of not making it out of the first round.
UCF
Current projected seed: No. 10 (East)
A statement victory at BYU that effectively cemented UCF as a a tournament team has lost some spark with a three-game losing skid to end the regular season. It had a Quad 2 loss against Baylor and ugly Quad 3 defeat to Oklahoma State. Then a real struggle at West Virginia meant a missed chance to get a Quad 1 win, finishing with a 5-6 record in the category. The Knights aren't in danger of missing the field, but are now putting themselves in the double-digit seed area, which wasn't the trajectory a few weeks ago.
Missouri
Current projected seed: No. 11 (East)
It's gotten really uncomfortable for Missouri with the Tigers losing the last two games of the regular season. A blowout loss at Oklahoma was disastrous but it could have been redeemed with a Quad 1 game against Arkansas. Instead, the Tigers couldn't hold on and fell to the Razorbacks in overtime. Missouri entered the weekend as a No. 11 seed and likely stays one, but its now in the conversation for the First Four. Even with five Quad 1 wins, being No. 59 in the NET rankings really hurts the chances and it now needs at least one win the SEC tournament to feel confident.
SMU
Current projected seed: No. 11 (Midwest, last four in)
The Mustangs have spent all of 2026 as tournament team. Now, it doesn't look like one. SMU lost its fourth straight game — all Quad 1 chances — which include two defeats to teams that aren't in the March Madness conversation. What's worse is the Mustangs have been blown out in nearly every defeat, finished with a 13-point loss at Florida State. They had slid to the First Four picture, but another confusing loss pushes them toward missing the tournament. Now having to play in the first round of the ACC tournament, SMU needs at least two wins in Charlotte. re
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots over Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Celtics Clamp Cavs
Over their last 15 games, the Cavaliers were the number 1 offense in the NBA while the Celtics were the number 1 defense — a real clash of the titans matchup where only one could prevail, and this match went to Boston. The Celtics held the Cavaliers to 98 points which is tied for second on the least amount of points that Cleveland has scored this season.
In this first half, Boston held Cleveland to 36 points on 13-45 (29%) from the field and 2-22 (9%) from three. The Cavs would have a hot shooting fourth quarter to boost their numbers up a bit, but they still finished at 35-86 (41%) from the field and 13-45 (29%) from three. Boston also forced 7 turnovers with 13 points coming off those turnovers.
When the Cavs are missing their three pointers they are a very beatable basketball team and the Celtics were able to take advantage of it in this game.
Cavs Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
2. Jaylen Brown Big Second Half
Jaylen Brown continued his MVP level season against the Cavs, finishing with 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists on 7-17 shooting. Brown started the game a little slow shooting but was able to get his way to the free throw line in the first half.
However, once the third quarter hit, he started to go off with 9 of his 23 points coming in this quarter alone. Brown dominated the midrange in this quarter, getting to his spots and just rising up over everybody. In the fourth quarter he was quiet but made a great play to get an And-1 layup on Keon Ellis.
Brown’s passing was also elite in this game. His 8:1 assist to turnover ratio was huge for Boston in this game. He would routinely attract two Cavs defenders and kick out to the wide open shooter. His best pass came in his big second half, when he found Scheierman on the opposite corner for three.
It has been officially 300 Days since Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles and this matchup against the Cavs was his second game of the 2025-26 season. In 27 minutes, he finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists on 6-16 shooting from the field, 2-9 from three, and 6-7 at the free throw line. This was a higher scoring game for Tatum than his debut but his was due to his ability to get to the free throw line that wasn’t showcased a ton against the Mavericks.
Tatum started the game on fire in the first quarter with 12 points on 4-6 shooting. After the Cavs started the game on an 11-3 run, Tatum was able to respond in a huge way with his shot starting to fall and his ability to overpower the defense like in the past.
Tatum would then miss his next 7 shots after his hot start but that didn’t dispel him from shooting in the fourth quarter. He made two huge baskets for the Celtics including the dagger three to give Boston the win.
Postgame, Tatum said that “today felt a lot more normal” when it came to playing his second game of the season after all of the fan fair in his debut. He also confirmed that there is a minutes restriction, most likely of 27 minutes based on that being what he played the last two games. Describing this restriction he said, “Toughest part for me is being on a minutes restriction. That s**t sucks quite frankly…Obviously, I understand the bigger picture.”
Jayson Tatum on his second game back:
“Today felt a lot more normal.”
“Today, just kind of felt like getting back in the flow of things, and that felt good for me.”
At halftime, the NBA on TNT crew that is now on ESPN were talking about the Cavs not getting back on defense. When they went to get Shaquille O’Neal’s commentary, he said that he had no idea who Baylor Scheierman was when the highlight showed a dunk from him.
In response to this disrespect, Scheierman decided to have one of the best games of his season against the Cavs, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds on 6-8 shooting from the field and 4-6 shooting from three. He had 9 of these points after Shaq’s comments, showing exactly who he is as a player.
The first half saw Kareem sky hooks and fast-break dunks but the second half saw Scheierman become a flame thrower from beyond the arc while the Celtics were mounting their biggest lead of the game.
A perfect microcausum of what makes Scheierman great was this play in the third quarter when Boston was on a 19-5 run. After Pritchard missed a three, Baylor was fighting for position under the basket and was able to knock out the rebound to give Boston another possession that ended in a Hauser three. This is what makes Baylor Scheierman such a winning player and why he is so huge for this Celtics team.
This is the second game in a row where we got a great Payton Pritchard game after a couple random 0 point performances. Pritchard finished with 18 points and 7 assists on 7-12 shooting from the field against the Cavs in this game where 9 of his points came in the fourth quarter.
His 3-3 shooting in the fourth quarter was huge for Boston because Cleveland was able to cut the lead to 8 points late in the game. Pritchard did a great job of using his dribble moves to create open shots for himself and stymie the momentum that the Cavs were trying to build.
Before the game, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said that Derrick White is a top-five player in the NBA right now. Some people might disagree but if you watch the game, White is one of the most impactful players in the NBA every single night.
Kenny Atkinson just said before Celtics-Cavs he thinks Derrick White is a top-five player in the NBA.
White only finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 2-9 shooting but it felt like every time he was on the floor, the Celtics would go on a run. He was playing a huge role leading the bench unit in for multiple stretches when both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were out. You can also tell that he missed playing with Jayson Tatum a lot due to the fact that he threw down his third dunk in two games which is more than I ever remember seeing this season.
If you only look at the box score you might not see it, but I agree with Kenny Atkinson: Derrick White is a Top 5 player in the NBA.
Sam Hauser was absolutely critical for the Celtics in this game, finishing with 15 points on 5-10 shooting from three. His ability to knock down a big three when Boston needed it most was apparent throughout this game. He was also a big proponent of Boston’s third quarter run that pushed their lead up to at most 26 points.
Hauser is one of the most dangerous players in the league because when his shot is falling, games can get out of hand in a hurry.
I talked about the Cavs shooting only 29% from three in this game as a reason why they lost this game, but Boston’s ability to shoot the three ball was another reason. The Celtics shot 15-38 (40%) from three in Cleveland. These threes came at big moments of the game when Boston jumped out to a 26 point lead but also came up clutch in the fourth quarter when the Cavs were trying to make a comeback.
The three pointer is really the great equalizer in the NBA and watching the Celtics this season has shown this theory to be true.
Celtics Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
9. Survived Donovan Mitchell Explosion
Donovan Mitchell has a long and detailed history of going nuclear against the Celtics during his career and most of it coming in a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform. Mitchell averages 29.5 points per game against the Celtics in his career which is third in NBA history against Boston, only behind Michael Jordan (30.7) and Luka Doncic (29.8).
So when he had 21 points on 5-12 shooting and Boston held an 86-69 lead going into the fourth quarter, Celtics fans were probably feeling good. Little did we know that Mitchell would start to go off in the quarter, scoring 9 points on 3-6 shooting. This helped the Cavs cut the Celtics lead down to 8 points with 5:01 left in the game. Luckily, Boston was able to hold on but I can’t lie, a small part of me was scared we were going to get another insane Donovan Mitchell comeback.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 08: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives between Luka Garza #52 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
10. Bring Out the Brooms
For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Boston Celtics swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in their season series after Boston won this matchup 109-98. Even though Cleveland added James Harden for Darius Garland since their last matchup, Boston added a weapon of their own named Jayson Tatum.
On the season, the Cavs are averaging 118.8 points on 48% shooting from the field and 36% from three. In their three games versus Boston, Cleveland has only averaged 106 points on 42% shooting from the field and 34% shooting from beyond the arc.
History has shown us in the past that sweeping the season series of a team means nothing once the playoffs come around but this season so far, Boston seems to have Cleveland’s number.
Cavs season averages this season: 118.8 Points, 48% FG%, 36% 3P%
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson before their showdown at the 1979 NCAA Tournament.Photograph: Jerome McLendon/AP
How otherworldly was Larry Bird during his memorable season for Indiana State in 1978-79? At one point he made an assist while sprawled on the floor: From his end of the court, he made a one-armed throw to a teammate, who streaked coast-to-coast for a quick bucket.
That season ended with an epic showdown in the NCAA championship game against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Magic got the better of Bird in that game, but the contest had wider repercussions. Not only did it spark interest in the NCAA Tournament, but Bird and Magic would help revitalize the NBA, after Bird joined the Boston Celtics and Magic the Los Angeles Lakers. But none of this was preordained, especially Bird’s trajectory.
Bird emerges as the ultimate against-the-odds story in a new book – Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O’Brien. The author, who previously wrote a biography of the late, controversial Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose, turns his lens to Bird and the many obstacles he faced.
“I was drawn to that origin story – his rise in rural Indiana in the 1970s and how it almost does not happen at all,” O’Brien says. “…The rise of Larry Bird is one of the most unlikely American sports stories of the past 50 years.”
Stretching nearly 400 pages, the book devotes much of that space to examining what stood in Bird’s path. O’Brien chronicles a troubled early family life in French Lick, Indiana, including the suicide of Bird’s father, a veteran of the second world war and Korea.
“A suicide is a trauma for a family, for a child, for a teenager,” O’Brien says. “We know that now in 2026 … In a lot of ways, Larry Bird really had to shoulder this tragedy and this grief alone.”
Bird was 18 when he lost his father in February 1975. The previous fall, he had gone to the University of Indiana to play for a coach with a growing reputation, Bobby Knight. But he left Bloomington without ever playing a game for the Hoosiers. Returning to French Lick, he played briefly for a vocational school, then for an industrial league, then got a job hauling garbage. And that’s where he was in April 1975 when a similarly down-on-his-luck assistant coach connected with him: Bill Hodges of Indiana State.
“Bill Hodges is an unsung hero in this story,” O’Brien says. “Without Bill Hodges, I’m not sure we would have ever known Larry Bird’s name at all.”
Hailing from another small town in Indiana – Zionsville – Hodges was on his third job in as many years. He had seen Bird play twice, liked what he saw, and drove to French Lick bent on recruiting him despite Bird’s resistance.
“Bill Hodges was a lot like Larry Bird,” O’Brien says. “He was stubborn, he was persistent … he knew what it felt like to be poor in Indiana. Those two men, Bill Hodges and Larry Bird, really connected on a personal level, which ultimately coaxed Bird … to reenroll in college and come to Indiana State.”
The book contrasts the small-town school in Terre Haute with its much larger counterpart in Bloomington. The schools’ basketball programs were headed in different directions too: The Indiana State Sycamores drew sparse crowds and risked dropping to Division II, while the Indiana Hoosiers would win the 1976 NCAA championship. Yet Bird benefited from his time in Terre Haute under head coach Bob King.
“For a kid like Larry Bird, it’s a place that felt more like home,” O’Brien says.
Meanwhile, King and his staff started assembling a strong team around Bird. Progress was not necessarily linear – there were back-to-back exits from the National Invitation Tournament, the second punctuated by Bird getting into it with a Rutgers fan. Bird was notably reticent around the media, including journalists who asked about Bird’s early, brief marriage from which he had a daughter.
Eventually, the national media was paying attention to his play on the court, with Sports Illustrated even putting him on the cover in November 1977 as “College Basketball’s Secret Weapon,” with two Indiana State cheerleaders urging the reader to keep quiet. By Bird’s senior year, the Sycamores had something special in terms of team chemistry.
“It’s the classic story,” O’Brien says. “Not just for sports, but life, business, anything. The guys in the [locker] room get along with each other. They’re friends. They’re not nearly as talented on paper as the year before. But it just works.”
It worked to the point where the Sycamores got key contributions from across the roster – including Bird’s roommate Bob Heaton, who made two memorable shots that season. And they also got great coaching from Hodges, who had to step in after King suffered a heart attack, and then was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, before the season started.
As the Sycamores remained undefeated week after week, interest in Bird grew not only within the NCAA, but also in the NBA. O’Brien delves into the complex racial dimensions of what made Bird appealing to a league that was struggling to attract an audience.
“NBA executives, GMs, scouts, TV executives spoke about how important it was that Larry Bird was white,” O’Brien says. “It was an important aspect for the NBA, the business of the NBA at the time. In 1978-79, in the midst of Indiana State’s miracle season, Larry Bird’s miracle season, the NBA is teetering on the edge of obscurity. It draws abysmal TV ratings … In a lot of ways, in the minds of NBA executives at that time, Larry Bird was a quick fix, a solution.”
Bird, who by his senior year had neither played in the NCAA Tournament nor in a televised game, would get plenty of airtime during the Big Dance. After the Sycamores fended off Sidney Moncrief and Arkansas in the Final Four, they had a dream matchup with Magic and Michigan State in the final.
It was something of an anticlimax for Bird and Indiana State – he scored 19 points in the Sycamores’ 75-64 loss. Yet when the Sycamores returned to Terre Haute, they were greeted by a rousing rally from fans who had followed that memorable season, start to finish. And an NBA rivalry with Magic was in the wings.
“Bird and Magic are going to define the next decade in pro basketball,” O’Brien says. “In a lot of ways, they’re going to save pro basketball.”
Meanwhile, a CBS executive named Kevin O’Malley was impressed by the marquee matchup in the NCAA final and by that year’s tournament in general. As detailed in the book, he eventually conceived an idea for what has become a rite of spring: The NCAA Tournament selection show.
But as Bird finally made good on his potential in 1978-79, and paved the way for stardom in the NBA, there was one more moment that could have changed everything. It happened in a regular-season matchup against New Mexico State, in which Indiana State trailed by two with three seconds left. New Mexico State star Greg Webb stood at the line for a one-and-one. If he made the first free-throw, it would have ended the Indiana State win streak. Instead, he missed. The Sycamores’ Brad Miley grabbed the rebound and fed teammate Bob Heaton for an improbable halfcourt shot to tie the game. Indiana State won in overtime, a perfect season still within reach.
“I tracked down Greg Webb,” O’Brien says. “He did remember [that moment], did want to talk about it. Greg Webb told me the miss and the failure in 1979 was devastating to him.
“Looking back on it through the prism of time, he felt maybe it’s he, Greg Webb, who deserves credit for starting March Madness. If he makes the free throw, maybe Larry Bird does not get there at all.”
As the fantasy basketball postseason arrives, maximizing your games played is the difference between a championship run and a premature exit. Week 20 offers a massive scheduling advantage, featuring a rare five-game slate for the Philadelphia 76ers and sixteen teams playing four times. With only the New Orleans Pelicans on a light two-game schedule, the waiver wire is brimming with streaming potential.
This guide breaks down the critical matchups to exploit, from the Cleveland Cavaliers' frontcourt advantage against Dallas to the high-paced opportunities for the Knicks' guards. Stay ahead of the curve by targeting these high-volume rotations and injury-thinned depth charts.
Days with fewer than six games
These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams:
Monday, March 9: PHI at CLE, DEN at OKC, MEM at BKN, GSW at UTA, NYK at LAC
Teams with more than three games this week
Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:
Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from this team:
Pelicans (2)
Top Streaming Teams This Week
Cleveland Cavaliers
vs. 76ers, at Magic, at Mavericks, vs. Mavericks
The Cavs open their week against a depleted 76ers squad that will be without Tyrese Maxey (finger) and Joel Embiid (oblique) for most of the week. The Sixers also give up the league's ninth-most free throws per game, which should provide a great opportunity for Cavs' players to pad their stats. Up next, they take on the Magic, who give up the league's ninth-highest field-goal percentage and seventh-most free throws per game, including the second-most free throws to opposing shooting guards. They also give up the fourth-most points per game to opposing shooting guards and the league's sixth-highest field-goal percentage, including the third-highest 3-point percentage to opposing power forwards.
Moving on, the Cavs face back-to-back matchups with the Mavericks, who give up the league's eighth-most points, most points in the paint and third-most rebounds per game. The Cavs' starting bigs should easily tilt the matchup, while Jaylon Tyson should be able to make his mark off the bench.
Detroit Pistons
at Nets, vs. 76ers, vs. Grizzlies, at Raptors
The Pistons kick things off against the Nets, who enter the week with a 1-9 record over their last 10 games. The Nets also give up the league's second-highest field-goal percentage, including the fourth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing point guards, which should allow Cade Cunningham to easily control the pace, while Daniss Jenkins will have a good chance to prosper off the bench. Next, the Pistons clash with the shorthanded 76ers, who give up the league's fifth-most rebounds, third-most assists and second-most blocks per game to opposing power forwards. Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris are all likely to thrive. Moving ahead, an encounter with the Grizzlies, who give up the league's seventh-most points, fifth-most 3-pointers and sixth-most turnovers per game. They also give up the league's second-most points and most 3-pointers per game to opposing point guards. Players such as Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert and Kevin Huerter will be looking at a good opportunity to stand out.
Lastly, the Pistons meet with the Raptors, who give up the league's second-most points per game to opposing point guards and sixth-most 3-pointers and fifth-highest 3-point shooting percentage to opposing shooting guards. They also give up the most blocks per game to opposing small forwards. In addition to the above-mentioned guards, Ausar Thompson and Javonte Green could deliver notable impacts in the matchup.
Memphis Grizzlies
at Nets, at 76ers, vs. Mavericks, at Pistons
The Grizzlies open their week against a floundering Nets team that is giving up the league's highest 3-point shooting percentage and fourth-most turnovers per game. They also give up the third-most steals per game to opposing shooting guards and the fifth-most steals to opposing small forwards. This provides ideal grounds for guys like Cam Spencer and Walter Clayton Jr. to shine, especially since Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), Ty Jerome (calf) and Cedric Coward (knee) are all listed as doubtful. Up next, the Grizzlies face the 76ers, who give up the league's seventh-highest shooting percentage, including the fourth-highest 3-point shooting percentage to opposing shooting guards. From there, they encounter the Mavericks, who give up the league's sixth-most points and third-most steals per game to opposing shooting guards, as well as the second-most points per game to opposing centers. This should be a good chance for GG Jackson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper to continue building on their strong play down the stretch of the season.
Finally, the Grizzlies take on the Pistons, who give up the league's most free throws per game, including the fourth-most free throws to opposing point guards and fifth-most free throws to opposing shooting guards. They also give up the fourth-most 3-pointers to opposing power forwards.
New York Knicks
at Clippers, at Jazz, at Pacers, vs. Warriors
The Knicks begin their week with a challenge against the Clippers, but there should be room to take advantage from long range, as they give up the league's sixth-highest 3-point shooting percentage. Marksmen such as Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet will be key factors in helping their squad make the most of the opportunity. Up next, the Knicks meet with the Jazz, who give up the league's most points, most 3-pointers and second-most free throws per game. They also give up the fourth-most points per game to opposing point guards. This should be a much lighter challenge and allow backup point guard Jose Alvarado to get some rhythm going. Moving on, the Knicks clash with the Pacers, who give up the league's sixth-most points and third-most free throws per game. They also give up the second-most points in the paint and fourth-most rebounds per game. This will be another all-around opportunity for the squad to build positive momentum, with guys like Mitchell Robinson and Mohamed Diawara likely having a chance to flourish.
Lastly, the Knicks face off against the Warriors, who give up the league's fifth-most turnovers per game, along with the fifth-highest field-goal percentage and fifth-most steals per game, to opposing point guards and the second-highest field-goal percentage to opposing shooting guards.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to soccer's international governing body to postpone his team's intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war.
The Iraq squad faces major logistical issues ahead of a winner-takes-all playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to the escalating conflict, Arnold’s squad — containing predominantly players from the domestic league — is unable to fully gather.
Players haven't secured visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico due to foreign embassy closures, and Arnold is stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the conflict.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq,” Arnold, a former coach of Australia's national team, told the Australian Associated Press.
The turmoil has already forced the postponement of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold said fielding a team comprised only of overseas-based players is not a viable option.
“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said.
Arnold has proposed a strategic delay to the playoffs schedule, suggesting FIFA allow Suriname and Bolivia to play their preliminary match this month but postponing the final playoff until a week before the World Cup begins.
“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold said. "In my opinion, it also gives FIFA more time to decide what Iran is going to do. "
“If Iran withdraws we go into the World Cup, and it gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, the chance to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.
“Our federation’s president Adnan Dirjal is working round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors have taken considerable criticism in recent years for their development of young players. Much of the blame is directed at coach Steve Kerr, who generally is loyal to the veterans who provided the greatness behind to six trips to the NBA Finals and four championships.
Are these assessments fair?
Not if you’ve followed the basketball evolution of Gui Santos – or asked him about it, as I did recently.
“I think the key word for that is patience,” Santos said of his journey that began almost four years ago.
Each Warriors draft pick is given a plan for his development, which includes learning how to effectively play with franchise superstar Stephen Curry. That blueprint is reinforced by the coaching staff. Some young players resist, either unable or unwilling to follow the individual plan, and some digest it and embrace it.
Santos, like Moses Moody before him, accepted it as kind of an NBA internship. They watched as the likes of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson – all four-time NBA champions – and, later, Jimmy Butler III, set examples.
A late second-round pick (55th overall) in the 2022 NBA draft, Santos has become a valuable member of Golden State’s playing rotation. The 6-foot-7, 218 pound forward has started 12 of the last 13 games in one of the forward spots. He has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive starts. He has led the team in scoring three times this season, most recently on Saturday at Oklahoma City, dropping a career-high 22 points and adding 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season.
After mostly watching from the bench for three years, he has become too effective to sit. He forced his way into playing time.
Santos was one day beyond his 20th birthday when he arrived in the Bay Area from Brazil. At 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, his physique was begging for bulk. His command of the English language was reasonably good, his vocabulary relatively limited.
The Warriors drafted Santos largely on the advice of player-development coach Leandro Barbosa, a former Golden State guard and fellow Brazilian. Selected 55th overall, it was a low-risk move that has yielded rewards that didn’t surprise Barbosa, one of Santos’ mentors.
“Trust me,” Barbosa told me after the ’22 draft. “He’s young. He’s got a lot to learn about the NBA, but he’s a hard worker and he listens. He has what it takes to play in this league.”
Santos was disappointed by and stayed focused when, two months later, Barbosa was recruited to Sacramento by Mike Brown, the former Golden State assistant who had been hired as head coach of the Kings. Santos spent the entire 2022-23 season in the G League, working with Santa Cruz Warriors coach Seth Cooper and his staff. There were highs and lows, but his zest for the game was undeniable.
After spending the summer of ’23 with Brazil’s national team in the FIBA World Cup, Santos returned to the Bay Area with a fortified physique – he added about 20 pounds – and longing for a chance to play in the NBA.
“That’s my goal,” Santos told me at the Santa Cruz Warriors Fan Fest. “I really, really want to be there.”
Roughly two weeks later, he got his wish. The Warriors had seen enough in training camp to sign Santos to a standard NBA minimum salary. They opted for his youth and enthusiasm over veteran camp invitees Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder.
As Santos’ development continued, he played only 23 games in 2023-24. He never started and rarely played more than 10 minutes unless the roster was shortened by injuries or it was a rest night for select veterans. In the final game of the regular season, he provided 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal in a win over the Utah Jazz.
By the time Santos arrived for training camp in 2024, he was up to 210 pounds. His desire to play had become an obsession. He went from coach to coach, asking for advice, listening to it and attempting to implement their direction.
“I was a point guard playing back in Brazil, having the ball in my hands,” Santos said. “Then I spent a whole year in the G league just learning how to fit in the system here because my goal always was playing NBA, playing for the Warriors. And when I asked (coaches) what I gotta do, they were like, ‘Alright we’re going to (show) you the way. You gotta play hard and play defense. You gotta to be crashing the boards all the time.
“’And you gotta find Steph.’”
Those five words have applied to anyone on the roster since 2014, when Steve Kerr became head coach. Curry’s movement triggers Golden State’s offense. Learning how to play with him is the shortest bridge to playing time. Green and Thompson understood that. Kevin Durant, one the greatest offensive players ever, once told me he realized it within a couple months after arriving as a free agent in the summer of 2016.
Santos mastered it. He excels at snagging offensive rebounds, which often sends the ball to Curry. This is the first time Santos has displayed his entire set of offensive skills beyond offensive rebounding. In the 13 games since entering the starting lineup on Feb. 3, he is averaging 14.8 points and 4.0 assists, four times recording at least six. He shot 52.5 percent from the field, including 35.5 percent from deep. For good measure, he averaged 6.5 rebounds per game.
The Warriors thought they had a keeper in Jordan Poole, but his career took a downward turn after the viral video of Draymond punching him in the face during a training-camp practice in October 2022. They hoped to mold James Wiseman into their center of the future before the detrimental move of rushing him onto the floor prematurely and him sustaining a series of injuries. They drafted Jonathan Kuminga on the belief that he would be a star sometime around 2026, and despite spectacular moments it was clear he had difficulty accepting the team’s plan for his development.
Which includes those five words: And you gotta find Steph. That’s Draymond’s specialty. It’s high on the list of reasons the Warriors reacquired Gary Payton II from Portland seven months after letting him walk.
Santos, now 23, followed a blueprint that Kuminga – with considerably higher potential – had difficulty accepting. The Warriors hoped JK would use a few years as a role player to launch himself to stardom, but stardom always was on his mind. He might become an All-Star in Atlanta, in which case he’ll be the first Golden State draft pick to reach such heights after leaving the franchise since Gilbert Arenas did so in 2005 with the Washington Wizards.
Santos is the ideal development example. He stayed with the blueprint that fits these Warriors and has become a valuable role player still with room to grow.
“I spent the whole year in the gym just learning how to fit in the system,” he said of his time in the G League, “because my whole power, like my goal, always was playing in NBA. Playing for the Warriors.”
Mission accomplished. Santos nine days ago signed a three-year contract extension, beginning in 2026-27, worth $15 million. CEO Joe Lacob, general manager Mike Dunleavy and Kerr all consider him a keeper.
“It’s a great story,” Kerr said. “But it only happens because of his intestinal for fortitude, his work ethic and commitment.”
With a little help from the staff that, despite taking a few knocks from the public, puts in the work.
Indiana Pacers (15-49, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (15-50, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana will look to stop its five-game road skid when the Pacers play Sacramento.
The Kings are 10-22 on their home court. Sacramento is the worst team in the Western Conference shooting 33.5% from 3-point range.
The Pacers are 5-27 in road games. Indiana gives up 120.0 points to opponents and has been outscored by 8.6 points per game.
The Kings score 110.6 points per game, 9.4 fewer points than the 120.0 the Pacers allow. The Pacers average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than the Kings allow.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pacers won 116-105 in the last matchup on Dec. 9.
TOP PERFORMERS: Russell Westbrook is averaging 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists for the Kings. Precious Achiuwa is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
Andrew Nembhard is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 44.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-7, averaging 111.5 points, 44.8 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.9 points per game.
Pacers: 1-9, averaging 113.2 points, 39.6 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.9 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), DeMar DeRozan: day to day (illness), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Pacers: T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Eastern Conference foes Cleveland and Philadelphia will play on Monday.
The Cavaliers are 25-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks eighth in the league with 28.3 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.1.
The 76ers are 21-21 in conference games. Philadelphia is 18-12 in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Cavaliers are shooting 47.5% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.1% the 76ers allow to opponents. The 76ers average 115.8 points per game, 1.0 more than the 114.8 the Cavaliers give up.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers won 117-115 in the last matchup on Jan. 17.
TOP PERFORMERS: Harden is shooting 42.4% and averaging 24.2 points for the Cavaliers. Jarrett Allen is averaging 17.2 points over the last 10 games.
Quentin Grimes is averaging 12.7 points and 3.4 assists for the 76ers. Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 114.2 points, 43.7 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.
76ers: 4-6, averaging 111.2 points, 41.9 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Tyrese Proctor: out (quadriceps), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee).
76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (hand), Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), VJ Edgecombe: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (21-43, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (33-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta will try to keep its five-game home win streak alive when the Hawks play Dallas.
The Hawks are 15-16 on their home court. Atlanta is the league leader with 30.5 assists per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 7.9.
The Mavericks have gone 7-24 away from home. Dallas gives up 117.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 4.7 points per game.
The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.5% lower than the 47.3% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Cooper Flagg is averaging 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Brandon Williams is averaging 13.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 7-3, averaging 118.8 points, 48.7 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 107.7 points, 44.9 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24, third in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (39-25, fifth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles hosts Minnesota aiming to continue its four-game home winning streak.
The Lakers are 26-16 in conference matchups. Los Angeles is 18-17 against opponents with a winning record.
The Timberwolves have gone 24-17 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota ranks second in the Western Conference shooting 37.2% from 3-point range.
The Lakers' 12.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 13.0 per game the Lakers allow.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Lakers won 116-115 in the last meeting on Oct. 30. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 28 points, and Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 33 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Doncic is shooting 47.4% and averaging 32.5 points for the Lakers. Reaves is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Randle is averaging 21.4 points, seven rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 29.5 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 115.1 points, 39.8 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points per game.
Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 116.0 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.9 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: LeBron James: day to day (elbow).
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
