ATLANTA (AP) — Florida freshman Ahmed Jaouadi broke a NCAA record in the 1,650-yard freestyle and the Gators shared the Day 1 lead with Indiana at the Division I swimming and diving championships on Wednesday.
Jaouadi denied Indiana senior Zalán Sárkány a three-peat with a time of 14:10.03 to break former Gator Bobby Finke’s long-standing NCAA record. Sárkány recorded the fastest 1,000 freestyle in collegiate swimming history, splitting an 8:33.10 during a runner-up performance.
Florida and Indiana are tied atop the team standing with 86 points, followed by Texas with 72.
Jonny Kulow brought home the title for Arizona State in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:20.07. Florida, after setting a new NCAA record at the SEC championships, secured the runner-up and the Longhorns took third.
Texas won the 800 freestyle relay after Rafael Fente-Damers, Camden Taylor, Rex Maurer and Baylor Nelson touched first with a time of 6:05.82.
The four-day event at the McAuley Aquatic Center continues on Thursday with the 100 butterfly, 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 1-meter diving and the 200 freestyle relay.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 25, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22 VJ Edgecombe – 12 Joel Embiid – 9 Paul George – 6 Justin Edwards – 4 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
As Daryl Morey suspected when he allocated over $400 million in new money combined to them in 2024, the Philadelphia 76ers are a much better basketball team when Joel Embiid and Paul George are on the court.
The veterans both returned against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night following long absences, Embiid due to an oblique injury and George due to a 25-game league suspension, and the pair certainly looked to have benefitted from the time off. The pair combined for 63 points in shorter stints than usual, as Philadelphia scored their most points in a game since this writer has been alive (and most since 1970), absolutely walloping the Bulls, 157-137. The goal to climb back out of the Play-In Tournament remains very much alive, still just a half game back of Atlanta for sixth place with nine games remaining.
Let’s pause and appreciate this win though and talk Bell Ringer.
Joel had missed 13 straight games, but this time avoided the usual “getting back into a rhythm” rust that accompanies a layoff. He came out scorching hot shooting the ball, draining his first five shots of the game and overall dropping 15 points in the opening six minutes. He would finish a highly efficient 12-of-17 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc. As expected, Embiid’s presence opened things up for his teammates, with him pinging the ball around the court. His most impressive assist was recognizing a double team in the post, and then pivoting to find VJ Edgecombe for a three on the opposite wing. Importantly in the long term, you could see Joel’s body felt good as he recovered quickly to block a shot in the lane from Guerschon Yabusele or threw down a tomahawk dunk over a rotating Matas Buzelis. Having this version of Joel going forward would throw the Sixers firmly back in the “who knows what might happen” postseason conversation.
Prior to the game, George talked about the silver lining of the suspension being that it allowed him to heal and feel 100 percent physically. He certainly looked 100 percent against Chicago, returning as a two-way force for the Sixers, getting a ton of deflections and making hustle plays like racing back in transition to block a Buzelis lay-in attempt. In the second half, PG found the range on the offensive end, recording 23 points after intermission, on 9-of-12 shooting (5-of-8 from behind the arc). It was a hot stretch reminiscent of his big shooting night against the Bucks back in January. It was exactly the version of George the Sixers have always needed, a connective piece to tie the roster together, while also capable of carrying the offense on occasion.
Paul George picks Matas Buzelis' pocket and converts the straight ahead triple on the other end pic.twitter.com/xGx4o6yCFM
VJ has been the primary guy in the spotlight in many instances while the Sixers were dealing with a boatload of absences, and while he wasn’t the main focus on Wednesday, he still stepped up with another strong performance. Edgecombe made use of a couple of open looks from Embiid, but also converted on some high degree-of-difficulty stepbacks and fadeaways. His 7-of-9 shooting night will get it done any time, but I was also thrilled to see his work as a distributor. Edgecombe’s increased on-ball reps lately were paying dividends. He made a couple excellent reads out of the pick-and-roll with Embiid, once finding Joel with a bounce pass through tight quarters in the lane for a bucket, and another time making the skip pass to the corner for a George three-pointer. He also slipped a beautiful pass through to a cutting Dominick Barlow for two points. It’s been really fun to watch the rookie’s game continue to evolve.
CHICAGO (AP) — Theresa Schafzahl, Danielle Serdachny and Cayla Barnes each scored in the first period and the Seattle Torrent beat the New York Sirens 4-1 on Wednesday night in the Takeover Tour for their second win away from home this season.
Seattle (6-1-2-13) scored the game's first goal for just the sixth time this season — after entering tied with Vancouver for fewest in the PHWL.
Schafzahl scored her first goal since being traded to Seattle on a nice wraparound for a 1-0 lead and she assisted on two other goals. Serdachny made it 2-0 to reach four points (two goals, two assists) in her last six games.
Seattle went ahead 3-0 when Julia Gosling found a wide-open Cayla Barnes at the back door for an easy finish.
Alex Carpenter, who scored Seattle’s only goal over the previous two games, scored her ninth of the season midway through the third to regain a three-goal lead.
New York (8-0-3-11) has just four wins away from home this season, with two coming as the home team in the Takeover Tour.
Sarah Fillier scored her fifth goal of the season for New York and 17th of her career.
Up next
New York plays its fifth and final Takeover Tour game on Saturday against Montreal in Detroit.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 35 points in his return to the lineup from injury, Paul George had 28 points in his first game since serving a 25-game suspension, and the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to a 157-137 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Josh Giddey scored 23 points to lead the Bulls.
Embiid missed 13 games with a strained right oblique but showed no signs of rust. The 2023 MVP made 6 of 9 shots in the first period, including all three of his 3-point tries. He had 23 points in the first half to help Philadelphia take a 71-52 halftime lead.
George was not as sharp early but settled in after halftime.
Playing for the first time since Jan. 29 due to a violation of the NBA’s drug policy, he missed 8 of 10 field goals in the opening half and had five points, but scored 23 points in the second half.
HAWKS 130, PISTONS 129, OT
DETROIT (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and Atlanta beat Detroit.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
LAKERS 137, PACERS 130
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 43 points to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Indiana.
With Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark snapping pictures on the sideline as a credentialed photographer, Doncic sank 15 of 30 shots and hit 9 of 10 free throws. Austin Reaves scored 25 points, LeBron James scored 23 and Jaxson Hayes had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have won 10 of 11, with Doncic scoring at least 30 points in each. Los Angeles, which sits third in the Western Conference, lost Monday night at Detroit, ending a nine-game winning streak.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 points and Jay Huff had 18 for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell came off the bench to score 17 and Andrew Nembhard had a career-high 19 assists along with 14 points.
CELTICS 119, THUNDER 109
BOSTON, (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 14 of his 31 points a pivotal third quarter and Boston rallied to beat Oklahoma City, snapping the defending champions’ 12-game win streak.
Jayson Tatum recovered from back-to-back rocky performances to add 19 points and 12 rebounds while also contributing seven assists as Boston earned a split in the two regular-season matchups between the past two NBA champs.
Brown added eight rebounds and eight assists, and his big quarter helped the Celtics take an 88-83 lead into the fourth. Boston’s edge grew as high as 14 in the final period.
OKC got within 115-109 with 1:30 remaining, but a layup by Brown, and two free throws by Derrick White helped Boston close it out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points and eight assists. But Oklahoma City was outscored by the Celtics 19-2 in second-chance points and shot just 12 of 37 from the 3-point line.
HEAT 120, CAVALIERS 103
CLEVELAND (AP) — Norman Powell scored 19 points, Tyler Herro added 18 and Miami got contributions from everyone while stopping a five-game losing skid with a win over Cleveland.
As healthy as they’ve been all season, the Heat squandered a 17-point lead in the third quarter before recovering in the fourth. Miami led by nine with five minutes left before Bam Adebayo converted a three-point play and Kel’el Ware scored on a layup in an 11-second span.
Adebayo finished with 17 points, Ware had 13 points and 11 rebounds and the Heat had eight players score in double figures. The Heat will stay in Cleveland and play the Cavaliers again on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points before fouling out in the final minutes for the Cavs, whose winning streak ended at four. James Harden and Sam Merrill scored 18 apiece.
SPURS 123, GRIZZLIES 98
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks as San Antonio built an early lead and coasted to a victory over Memphis.
Devin Vassell matched Wembanyama’s 19 points, while Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson finished with 15 points each, as seven Spurs finished in double figures.
With its seventh straight victory, San Antonio moved within two games of Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference as the Boston Celtics stopped the Thunder’s 12-game winning streak with a 119-109 victory on Wednesday night.
GG Jackson led Memphis with 20 points. Olivier-Maxence Prosper finished with 17 and DeJon Jarreau added 15 as the Grizzlies lost their fourth in a row.
Mar 25, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks as Memphis Grizzlies forward Tyler Burton (5) defends during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Another inferior, short-handed opponent, another Spurs blowout victory. It seems San Antonio is done taking lesser teams lightly as they continued their trend of blowing everyone out, both good and bad. This time, the Memphis Grizzlies were the victim. While the Spurs admittedly got complacent and took the second quarter off after a 38-19 start, they came back out with renewed focus to put the game away for good in the third, which was one massive highlight reel of dunks and threes, for the 123-98 win.
Victor Wembanyama led seven Spurs in double figures with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 7 blocks, 3 assists and 3 steals. (The odds of a triple-double and/or 5×5 game would have been pretty decent had he be needed in the fourth quarter.) GG Jackson led the severely short-handed Grizzles with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Observations
Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey revealed on X earlier today that at least for this year, the local broadcasters will not be doing the first round of the playoffs (or any postseason at all). I’m guessing this is a result of the NBA having contracts with so many different streaming services now (which has drawn criticism for the impact on everyday viewers), but I for one will miss them. As a League Pass user, I’ve had to put up with listening to a lot of national announcers (or the other team’s announcers, in Prime’s case) who don’t know what they’re talking about. I know Jacob and Sean Elliott get their share of flack, but they’re better for the Spurs viewing experience than the other options at least 90% of the time.
As the regular season winds down and the rest-a-thon continues, it was De’Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet’s turn to nurse their boo-boos (lower back and right knee, respectively). It hardly mattered in the first quarter. The Spurs hit 10-13 to start the game, including 8 makes in a row and went on a 17-0 run. It was a dunk and three-fest against the hapless Grizzlies, whose best available player was rookie Cedric Coward. (Oh, and Taj Gibson! Who knew he was still around?) Overall, the Spurs shot 15-24 to lead 38-19 after 12 minutes. For a while, it was looking like it would be worse, with Memphis stuck at 9 points nine minutes in, but they hit a few threes to make it look less terrible.
After all that beautiful ball movement in the first quarter, the Spurs’ offense fell off a cliff as they only scored 5 points across the first six minutes and 19 overall in the second, but the Grizzlies only managed to put a six-point dent in the lead because of the Spurs’ defense, especially Wemby with swatting everything Memphis put up. But, the Spurs got the message at halftime and returned to wheeling, dealing, dunking and scoring, outscoring the Grizzlies 41-20 on a Wemby buzzer-beater three to get up 98-64 and put the game away
This whole game was about posterizations. Just off the top of my head, I remember massive dunks from Wemby, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant. I’ll let Highlights take care of showing them all off tomorrow, but goodness, I’m not sure I’ve seen so many dunks from different players in one game before.
I know the Spurs’ peak didn’t exactly combine with the Ja Morant-era Grizzlies’ peak, but whether it was Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis has found a way to be a thorn in their side for the last 15 years. Even last year, when they were also the most injured team in the league and often JJJ (who is now with Utah) plus a G-League group, they found ways to make the Spurs work for the win. As a result, watching this kind of onslaught against this team in that arena feels kind of surreal.
Despite having a harder remaining schedule, I don’t foresee the Thunder losing two more games than the Spurs with nine remaining to allow them to tie things up and take the top seed, but they had to lose someday for there to be a chance, and they finally did tonight in Boston. (Reverse jinx activated.) You don’t have to give up standings watching just yet. Also, one more Spurs win or Lakers loss will clinch the second seed for the Spurs, since they also hold the tiebreaker in that series.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Friday evening, as we are joined by Sean Murphy of the From Half Court Podcast to recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games and more! Is Jalen Duren cementing himself as a legit second star? Can the Pistons continue holding up in the absence of superstar Cade Cunningham? Will the Pistons still lock down the number one seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night for what felt like more than just another regular season game. With the Oklahoma City Thunder riding a 12-game win streak and holding the top spot in the Western Conference, this had all the makings of a measuring stick matchup, the kind that quietly starts to feel a little like June if you let your mind wander.
Boston, meanwhile, entered the night looking to respond after a recent loss and continue finding its rhythm with a full rotation available. Against one of the league’s most complete teams on both ends of the floor, this was a good opportunity to see how their version of basketball holds up when the margin for error gets tight.
Thunder punch first, but Celtics answer
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t take long to seize control.
Behind early threes from Luguentz Dort and the steady pace of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC jumped out in front and immediately put Boston on its heels. Gilgeous-Alexander never looked rushed, picking his spots and operating comfortably as the Celtics largely let him work one-on-one to start.
On the other end, the Celtics couldn’t buy a basket. Sam Hauser got the looks you want, but missed them all, as Boston opened the game cold and out of sync. The Thunder’s defense didn’t help matters, constantly poking at dribbles and disrupting passing lanes, turning a few sloppy possessions into easy points the other way.
There were a few brief flashes. Jayson Tatum broke the drought in transition, Payton Pritchard knocked down a three off the bench, and Luka Garza brought some needed energy with an and-one late in the quarter. But nothing stuck, and Oklahoma City stayed in control throughout, closing the first on an 11–3 run to take a 31–20 lead into the second.
The Celtics looked like a completely different team to open the second quarter — and it started with Jayson Tatum.
After Boston opened the game just 3-for-12 on two-point attempts and shot under 30% through the first nine minutes, Tatum steadied everything. A quick three to start the quarter cut into the deficit, and from there, he began to dictate the pace of the game, both as a scorer and a facilitator. He attacked Holmgren off the dribble, found Queta for easy looks inside, and started reading the Thunder’s defensive pressure instead of reacting to it.
Gradually, Boston started to take control.
Their defense tightened up, clearly the result of intentional adjustments made by Joe Mazzulla. After allowing Oklahoma City to operate comfortably in the first quarter, the Celtics began forcing turnovers, getting back in transition, and making the Thunder work deeper into the shot clock. The energy shifted from scattered to controlled, and TD Garden responded accordingly.
Tatum was at the center of all of it.
During one stretch midway through the quarter, he scored or assisted on eight points in just over a minute, turning a double-digit deficit into a one-possession game. Jaylen Brown followed with a three off a Tatum drive-and-kick, and suddenly the Celtics had real momentum, forcing Mark Daigneault to call back-to-back timeouts.
An 8–0 run capped by a Payton Pritchard three gave the Celtics their first lead of the game, a moment that felt unlikely given how the night started. But just as quickly as the Garden erupted, Oklahoma City answered. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned and immediately settled things for the Thunder, getting to his spots with ease before Cason Wallace knocked down a three to erase the lead.
The final minute swung things back slightly in Oklahoma City’s favor.
A tough offensive foul on Tatum, a failed challenge on a goaltending call, and a last-second tip-in from Dort gave the Thunder a 53–49 lead heading into halftime. Still, after falling behind by as many as 13 and looking completely out of rhythm early, the Celtics had done enough to keep the game within reach — and more importantly, had started to look like themselves again.
Boston keeps it up in the third
Oklahoma City opened the second half looking ready to create separation, which has been their pattern all season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up right where he left off, scoring with ease and stretching the Thunder lead early, including a stretch where he hit seven of his first eight shots and knocked down three triples.
But this time, the Celtics didn’t let it get away.
Jaylen Brown set the tone with aggressive drives, getting downhill and forcing the issue after a quiet first half. Jayson Tatum continued to command attention as well, drawing multiple defenders and creating space for others, even as Oklahoma City stayed locked in on him defensively.
Boston started to find its rhythm through physicality and effort plays. Neemias Queta provided a spark inside, finishing through contact and delivering one of the loudest moments of the night with a powerful dunk over Chet Holmgren that brought TD Garden to life. Sam Hauser added a much-needed three after a prolonged cold stretch, helping stabilize the offense.
From there, the game settled into a possession-by-possession fight.
Boston leaned into its depth, with Baylor Scheierman providing an unexpected boost off the bench. He knocked down a pair of confident threes and held his own defensively, even forcing a turnover from Gilgeous-Alexander during a key stretch. Payton Pritchard followed with a deep three and a late floater, as the Celtics began to generate more consistent offense against a Thunder defense that had controlled the early stages of the game.
At the same time, the Celtics made subtle defensive adjustments. Gilgeous-Alexander still found his spots, finishing the third quarter with 26 points, but Boston began to make him work harder for them and limited easy paint touches around him.
The result was a steady shift in momentum.
After trailing for most of the night, the Celtics finally took control late in the quarter behind Brown’s continued pressure at the rim and timely shot-making from the supporting cast. Boston closed the third on a strong run, outscoring Oklahoma City 39–30 in the period to take an 88–83 lead into the fourth.
Boston carried its second-half momentum into the fourth and quickly created breathing room.
Neemias Queta made an immediate impact, extending possessions on the glass and helping push the lead to its largest of the night early in the quarter. The ball movement followed. Queta found Sam Hauser in the corner for a wide-open three, and this time the shot dropped, stretching the lead as the Celtics began to settle into a rhythm offensively.
From there, Boston leaned heavily into the Jayson Tatum–center pick-and-roll.
Whether it was Queta or Luka Garza screening, the action consistently produced good looks. Tatum controlled the tempo, drew contact, and knocked down three free throws after getting Alex Caruso in the air. A few possessions later, he hit Garza on the roll for an easy finish, continuing to exploit Oklahoma City’s coverage.
The energy plays kept coming.
Baylor Scheierman delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a putback dunk off a Tatum miss, crashing in from the corner and finishing above the rim as the crowd erupted. Not long after, he knocked down a step-back three from a similar spot, showing confidence and giving Boston a jolt on both ends.
Jaylen Brown built on that momentum with consistent pressure at the rim. He attacked closeouts, got to the line, and converted an and-one after getting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off his feet, drawing loud MVP chants as the Celtics extended their advantage.
Even as Gilgeous-Alexander continued to produce offensively, Boston maintained control.
The Celtics forced misses, limited second chances, and got timely shot-making from Payton Pritchard, whose three pushed the lead to 14 midway through the quarter. At that point, Boston had found a steady rhythm on both ends, with its offense generating clean looks and its defense doing enough to keep Oklahoma City from stringing together stops.
The Thunder made one final push.
A quick run trimmed the lead back into single digits, fueled by perimeter shot-making and trips to the free-throw line, as Oklahoma City continued to benefit from a favorable whistle throughout the night. But Boston responded with composure, continuing to attack the paint and get to the line, with Brown staying aggressive as the game moved inside the final few minutes.
Boston closed it out, 119–109, for what stands as its biggest win of the season.
The Celtics had dropped five of their last six coming in, including three straight against Oklahoma City, adding weight to a matchup that already carried plenty of it. Against one of the league’s hottest teams, they responded to a loss against Minnesota with their most complete performance in weeks, overcoming a slow start and taking control in the second half.
They’ll look to carry that momentum into Friday night, when they host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden at 7:30pm ET.
DETROIT (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 130-129 on Wednesday night.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit's four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
Atlanta had a 21-point lead in the first half that Detroit wiped away quickly in the third quarter. McCollum scored the Hawks' final 11 points of regulation, including a three-point play that gave them a 121-116 lead with 44 seconds remaining. But Detroit rallied again and he missed a jumper that would have won it on the final possession.
He got another chance in OT and his three-point play made it 126-123. The Pistons had a chance to win it, but Harris missed a jumper and Duren was short on a follow shot.
The Hawks scored 11 straight points to extend a six-point lead to 56-39 midway through the second quarter, then had an 11-2 spurt just before the half to make it 73-52. The Pistons then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter, trimming Atlanta's 73-55 halftime advantage to 73-71.
Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep in the season series. The Pistons had a season-high 142 points in December in the last meeting, but the Hawks are the hottest team in the East now while surging into sixth place entering play Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 25, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite the Lakers being shorthanded with Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton being out, they dominated the Pacers for most of the game. Unfortunately, they had an unserious stretch in the fourth that gave Indiana a glimmer of hope, but luckily, it didn’t cost them the result.
This contest featured LeBron James posters, Luka Dončić baskets and even a three by Jarred Vanderbilt.
LA had a stellar road trip, winning five of six games, and now they’ll return home as one of the hottest teams in the league.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron was dunking all over the place and had a complete game with nine assists and nine rebounds. If this is what the Lakers can expect from LeBron the rest of the way, then the team’s ceiling should be raised.
LaRavia got the start and was aggressive from the jump. He was forcing turnovers, scoring in the paint and fighting for rebounds.
LaRavia stayed defensively active the entire game, generating steals and deflections. One of his most impressive plays happened in the third quarter when he broke up a two-on-one fastbreak by himself, forcing a turnover.
Hayes was the Lakers’ starting big in this game and played well. He did what he usually does, which includes attacking the rim and working well with Luka in the pick-and-roll. This was his first double-double of the season, and that level of production was needed.
Kennard had some nice shots in the first half that helped the Lakers establish dominance early on. The front office trading for him has been an incredibly beneficial move.
With so many players out Vando got some extra run in this game. He took advantage, knocking down a three and being the elite defensive player he typically is. It’s unlikely this performance will convince head coach JJ Redick that Vando needs more playing time, but it’s good to know he can contribute when necessary.
Bronny had some good shifts against the Pacers. He had a nice dunk and some strong defensive plays. Similar to Vando, this won’t change his role on the team, but it was nice to see.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
Redick got the Lakers the win, and minus that poor fourth-quarter stretch, the team played relatively well. Credit to Redick for playing Vando more and even giving Bronny some run. Both players played well, and LA is back in the win column.
Wednesday’s inactives: Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Adou Thiero, Marcus Smart, Chris Mañon
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
Mar 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) defends in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ slow start on both ends of the floor did them in. They erased a 21 -point deficit and grabbed a brief fourth-quarter lead, but they weren’t able to hold off the Miami Heat, resulting in a 120-103 loss. The defense — once again — was the issue.
There’s something broken with the Cavs defense right now.
Defense comes down to more than just effort. The Cavs tried on that end at the start of the game, but it just didn’t matter due to their combination of poor scheme for the opponent and their lack of personnel, with Dean Wade (ankle), Jarrett Allen (knee), Jaylon Tyson (toe), and Max Strus (injury management) all missing this game.
The Cavs have consistently overprotected the paint on drives to the basket. This led to open looks on the outside, even though the ball handler didn’t have to earn the kick-out-pass by actually blowing past their defender. As a result, the Heat went 7-16 from three (43.9%) in the first quarter.
Things got worse in the second quarter. The Heat put up 35 points by going 6-12 (50%) from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Cavs’ offense — which has been saving them in recent games — was nowhere to be found in the first half. They mustered just 19 points in the first quarter and finished the first half just 3-15 (20%) from distance. This resulted in a 17-point deficit at the break.
Cleveland’s offense turned things around in the third quarter, putting up 37 points thanks to 13 points from Donovan Mitchell, and the team shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from three.
The Cavs briefly retook the lead early in the fourth quarter, but they weren’t able to keep the offense going like they needed to on a night the defense once again let them down.
This is an offensive first team. That offense abandoned them in crunch time as they went just 5-19 (26.3%) from the floor and 2-11 (18.2%) from three in the fourth quarter. It didn’t help that Mitchell — who led the third-quarter comeback — fouled out with just over three minutes left in the game.
Even though the game was close early in the final frame, the Heat were still able to cruise to a relatively stress-free victory to snap their five-game losing streak. Registering 37 fourth-quarter points on 14-18 (77.8%) shooting from the field helped make this one anticlimactic.
Mitchell led Cleveland with 28 points on 12-22 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, and six fouls.
James Harden struggled to find his three-point shot and couldn’t take care of the ball. He had 18 points on 4-10 shooting, which included going 3-9 from three, to go along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and five turnovers.
Sam Merrill supplied 18 points while Keon Ellis had 17 points on 5-12 shooting.
Evan Mobley struggled to make a noticeable impact offensively. He had just eight points on 3-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds and four assists.
The Heat had eight players finish in double-figures scoring. Norman Powell led Miami with 19 points. Tyler Herro had 18. Bam Adebayo supplied 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
The Cavs will take on the Heat again on Friday. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts from the bench against the Atlanta Hawks during first quarter at State Farm Arena on March 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are finally back at home tonight, as they host the Brooklyn Nets in their first Chase Center game since March 13. Things are going very poorly for the Dubs. Despite winning their last game, an overtime contest against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors have lost 10 of their last 13 games. The season is slipping away from them quickly, and it feels like a new player gets injured every game.
As such, they’re missing a lot of players tonight. Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
The Warriors were openly hoping that Curry could get back to practicing this week, but that hasn’t happened. Not yet, at least. This will be his 23rd consecutive game on the sidelines.
Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)
This one still hurts. Moody returned on Monday after a lengthy absence, and suffered a gruesome non-contact knee injury. It ended his season, and will likely cost him much of next season as well.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Unfortunately, Moody is no the only Warriors player to suffer a season-ending knee injury this year that carries a recovery time of about a year.
Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)
With the Warriors season falling apart every day, it wouldn’t surprise me if Horford is shut down.
Out — Quinten Post (right foot injury management)
Post, like the team as a whole, is limping to the finish line.
Out — Malevy Leons (illness)
I always hate seeing the young players who don’t get a lot of opportunities missing games where they would likely get big minutes.
Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)
It wouldn’t surprise me if the younger Curry doesn’t play again this year. He’s played just four times.
Nets
Out — Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain)
MPJ has had an absolute breakout year, but suffered a hamstring strain about a week ago. With the Nets already eliminated, his season might be over.
Out — Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain)
Clowney is also having a breakout season of sorts, and has also been out for about a week.
Out — Nolan Traore (rest)
Are the Nets tanking? Look no further.
Out — Egor Dëmin (left plantar fascia injury management)
Dëmin had a very strong rookie season as one of Brooklyn’s many first-year players. He averaged 10.3 points per game, but is out for the year.
Out — Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgery)
Sharpe had arguably the best season of his five-year career. He also is out for the year.
Out — Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain)
Wolf, another one of Brooklyn’s rookies, is having a strong year, with 20.8 minutes and 8.9 points per game. He isn’t expected to miss the rest of the year.
We don't get this every year (or even many years): Some of the highest-projected picks in June's NBA Draft are still playing in the Sweet 16.
We've got it this year, and it has set up some great matchups and plenty of players to watch. Here are just some of the things we will have our eyes on this week, starting with two really great matchups.
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) vs. Brayden Burries (Arizona)
Darius Acuff Jr. has helped his stock in this draft and maybe moved himself into the top five because starting with the SEC Tournament and through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, he has averaged 30.2 points and 7.2 assists through five games. Plus, he's just fun to watch — Allen Iverson wrote on Instagram Acuff was the "next him." The other comps his supporters like to use are Damian Lillard or Stephon Marbury.
DARIUS ACUFF IS LIKE THAT
Acuff finished with 36 points as Arkansas knocked off High Point to advance to the Sweet 16 pic.twitter.com/KtIYgPaySI
What do all of those guys have in common? They are undersized point guards who are poor defenders — and Acuff is those things too (he is officially 6'3", but most expect him to measure a couple of inches shorter at the NBA Draft Combine). It is increasingly hard to thrive in the NBA as a small point guard who doesn't defend. That's why most teams don't have Acuff higher than fifth on their draft boards, something NBC’s Grant Liffman reported on NBA Showtime, and it echoes what I have heard as well.
Acuff can help his case going up against a very good, No. 1 seed Arizona team led by another first-round point guard in Brayden Burries. This is just a great contrast of styles. Burries isn't flashy, he is more old school, but he does a lot of things well and is efficient. He's the kind of guy you can see stepping in and helping an NBA team immediately as a rotation guard because he can play on and off the ball, knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers, and get downhill off screens, but also has a midrange pull-up game. He could have a big day against Acuff and help his draft stock, too.
Keaton Wagler (Illinois) vs. Kingston Flemings (Houston)
There is a group of guards that are going to go in the top 10 in the draft — Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville, he missed the tournament with an injury). This game has two of them going head-to-head and will draw a lot of scouts' attention.
Wagler has been one of the great stories of the college basketball season, an unheralded 6'6" guard/wing who led Illinois to the best offense in the nation (126.1 offensive rating) and pushed himself into the lottery, averaging 17.7 points per game while dishing out 4.3 assists a game and shooting 41% from 3-point range.
However, Wagler has struggled at times against pressure defenses. Now he goes up against Flemings and a Kelvin Sampson-coached Houston team that does high-pressure defense better than any team in the land. What scouts and GMs want to see in the NCAA Tournament is how players handle high-pressure situations. This game is exactly that for Wagler, and a lot of people will be watching.
Flemings has a lot of fans in NBA front offices. He's a 6'4" point guard with an explosive first step and the ability to get around people and to the rim. He's used that and a steady jumper to average 16.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range. Can he keep that up as the lights get brighter?
Cameron Boozer, Duke
It's not like Boozer played poorly the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament: 20.5 points and 12 rebounds per game, shooting 52.4%, and he had some steals and blocks while leading his team to the Sweet 16. But Siena and TCU — and Virginia in the ACC Tournament — seemed to slow the projected top-three pick down, make things difficult for him. NBA personnel noticed, and not everyone is as high on him because of concerns about his level of athleticism (the analytics guys tend to be bigger fans). Boozer is a high-IQ player who does so many things well, but he's not an explosive athlete by NBA standards, and that has seemed to show.
Now he and the Blue Devils face a St. John's team that can throw a very athletic defender at him in Dillon Mitchell, and you can bet Rick Pitino is going to dial up the pressure. How does Boozer handle that? Can he show another gear we have not seen so far in the tournament?
That said, Boozer is a lock to be a top-four pick in June because he is so good and rock solid, his floor is just so high that he's not going to be a bad pick. The question is, how high is his ceiling?
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Stirtz is the kind of point guard coaches love because he just knows how to play the game. The 22-year-old, 6'4" point guard is averaging 20 points and 4.5 assists a game, shooting 37.6% from 3-point range, and he's doing it with one of the slowest-paced, most deliberate offenses in basketball. Stirtz fits the mold of the kind of player teams take a long look at in the second half of the first round: A high-IQ player who can plug-and-play as guard depth off the bench.
What to watch in the Sweet 16 is how he handles pressure — he and slow-it-down Iowa are taking on a Nebraska team that wants to shoot 3s and play fast. Stirtz handled the pressure well against Florida in upsetting the No. 1 seed (he scored 13 and had the assist on the game-winner). Can he do it again?
Dailyn Swain, Texas
Swain is exactly the kind of player who can most help his draft stock in the tournament. The 6'8" wing is projected to go in the mid-20s and could become a two-way rotation player in the league (comps often used are Jared McCain or Naji Marshall, although that would be his high-end outcome). He averaged 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Longhorns this season and showed he could get downhill and to the rim, but there are questions about his jump shot. Teams are watching him in this tournament to see how he performs under pressure. The bigger question is, will he stay in the NBA Draft or go back to college for his senior season?
Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) brings the ball up the floor against the Orlando Magic during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Pistons have the Hawks’ number so far this season, but with a healthy squad and no Cade Cunningham available, Atlanta had a chance for some get back tonight.
Both teams were blazing red hot to begin the game, including these warmup shots for Onyeka Okongwu:
Atlanta got out in transition and poured it on there, too.
It was an avalanche against the second-rated defense in the NBA with the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker absolutely engulfed in flames the entire first quarter to the tune of 14 points:
Johnson was completely unstoppable in the second quarter, and with Cunningham out he was easily the best talent on the court in the first half. His 15 points helped the Hawks push their lead up to as much as 21 points.
The Hawks went into halftime with their heads high leading 73-55. But things can turn on a dime quickly in the NBA. The team needed to come out focused and ready to close out the game in a second half.
And like clockwork, the Hawks gave up an immediate 19-0 run to the Pistons (22-0 if you span halftime). The Hawks couldn’t buy a bucket — nor could they handle Jalen Duren down low.
The Hawks gave the lead up entirely, but they managed to recover and string together some good possessions later in the quarter. Alexander-Walker helped quiet the storm:
After three quarters, the Hawks suddenly found themselves in a close one, 98-95.
Detroit continued to feast on Atlanta’s mistakes, jumping in front of lazy halfcourt passes for a pair of ‘pick-2’ scores.
It was a scrappy affair for the first portion of the fourth quarter, and that helped the Hawks get into the bonus early. But they still couldn’t handle Duren down low, including him drawing a sixth and final foul on Okongwu.
But CJ McCollum put the team on his back, registering eight straight points for the Hawks all by himself. He even hit this circus one-legged shot with the shot clock all the way down:
The Hawks grabbed ahold of a 118-116 lead with less than two minutes remaining despite their numerous turnovers to this point. And after a long possession with multiple offensive rebounds, McCollum hit another tough two plus the harm:
But a Duncan Robinson triple and a Pistons stop gave Detroit a chance down two with around 13 seconds left in the contest.
And Tobias Harris answered the call with a turnaround jumper off a sideline inbounds pass. Tie game with 9.5 seconds left.
McCollum created for himself a decent look, but his stepback jumper didn’t fall. The teams headed to overtime.
Atlanta’s offense ran like a well-oiled machine for the first few minutes of overtime. But Detroit had an answer for every time the Hawks jumped out to a multiple possession lead.
Detroit found themselves down just one, 130-129, with a chance to win with 8.2 seconds on the clock. After a foul to give, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren both had shots to win the game but failed:
Lakers guard Luka Doncic pulls up for a jumper over Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith during the first half on Wednesday at Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
Even LeBron James couldn’t muster the energy. With a wide-open lane in the ending moments of the Lakers’ 137-130 win over the Indiana Pacers, James simply dumped off a pass to Jake LaRavia. The 24-year-old had hops to put the finishing touches on the Lakers’ successful six-game trip.
Tired and shorthanded, the Lakers punctuated their extended trip with a fifth win Wednesday. Luka Doncic effortlessly scored his league-leading 14th 40-point game of the season, 43 points and seven assists.
The NBA's leading scorer appeared ready to settle for simply his 11th consecutive 30-point performance — which is tied for the longest streak of such games in the last 20 years — after the Lakers opened a 20-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but he returned to the game because Indiana, despite having the worst record in the NBA, was still pressuring with its starters. The Pacers (16-57) trailed by as many as 29 in the third quarter and trimmed the deficit to six with 27.9 seconds left.
“I think everybody was a little bit tired,” Doncic said. “It's been a long trip, but we got the win in the end; that’s what matters."
The wear and tear of an intense trip in which the first five games all came down to the final minutes didn’t faze Doncic. He nearly outscored the Pacers alone in the first quarter, putting up 21 while the Pacers trailed 45-28. He threw a lob to Maxi Kleber for a dunk in the third quarter then pumped both of his fists. Doncic nailed a step-back three from the top of the key, held his follow through and hopped backwards on one leg.
The Lakers (46-26) toyed with the struggling Pacers (16-56) for much of the night. Indiana’s Andrew Nesmith and Pascal Siakam fell over each other trying to contest a Euro-step layup by James, who then posed over them and pointed to the Pacers players. Nesmith and Siakam could only grimace at each other.
James finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Austin Reaves had 25 points and eight assists Jaxson Hayes dunked seven times as the center had his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, both season highs.
While players typically would drag through the end of such a long trip, Hayes found home-cooked fuel. Hayes stayed with his parents in his hometown of Cincinnati on Monday night after the Lakers’ win in Detroit. He woke up to a full home-cooked breakfast from his mother, who stacked plates of pancakes, eggs and bacon in front of her son. He scoped out properties he’s hoping to buy in the summer and hung out with his dad all day. The family made the hour-and-a-half drive to Indianapolis and had dinner Tuesday night.
“Best way to end the trip for sure,” Hayes said with a blissful smile.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, who finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, battles Pacers center Jay Huff for a rebound during the first half Wednesday. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
Hayes brought the energy for the shorthanded Lakers, who were without Deandre Ayton (back soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness). Smart and Hachimura remain day-to-day as they missed their second consecutive games while Ayton was ruled out immediately before the game. Even the reinforcements were shorthanded as rookie Adou Thiero missed the game because of left knee soreness.
Thiero, who has been back and forth between the NBA and the G League‘s South Bay Lakers, played 29 minutes in a G League game on Saturday and flew directly to Detroit for Monday’s game. He played two minutes against the Pistons, making his first appearance in a first half of a game since Dec. 7, but his knee didn’t feel good the following morning, Redick said. The team held the forward out for precautionary reasons, Redick said, as Thiero has struggled with injuries in both knees this season.
The Lakers relied on another part-time G League contributor to carry them through a sloppy fourth quarter. Bronny James had four points, two steals and one block in 13:22 off the bench. Lakers coach JJ Redick said the second-year guard's pull-up free-throw line jumper with 3:55 to go “was big to kind of settle us.” It stopped a 6-0 run by the Pacers.
It was just the second game father and son have shared the court together this season. The elder James had the perfect shirt for the occasion. He walked out of the locker room wearing a gray T-shirt with a photo of him and his son on the front. Across James’ shoulders on the back read “The Chosen 1.” Across the bottom of the shirt, it read “The 1 who chose.”
“Felt like this was a game we really needed him,” Redick said of Bronny James. “It was a game that [we needed] his athleticism, his defense. … I think the biggest thing with him is he's got a lot of confidence right now.”
The Lakers have won 13 of their last 15 games to vault to third place in the competitive Western Conference. They have six of their last nine regular-season games at home and, after this grueling stretch, they can’t get there soon enough.
“Do we have to do this?” Redick said quietly as he sat down for his postgame news conference.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Hayley Scamurra and Lina Ljungblom each scored their third goal of the season, Ann-Renée Desbiens earned her fifth shutout, and the Montréal Victoire beat the Minnesota Frost 3-0 on Wednesday night to sweep the season series.
Montréal (11-4-2-5) has earned points in 10 straight games (6-2-2-0), a streak that began with an overtime win at Minnesota on Jan. 21. It's the longest such streak in PWHL history since Toronto's 11 in 2024.
Catherine Dubois scored her second goal of the season to open the scoring with 40.7 seconds left in the second period. Dubois took advantage of a Minnesota turnover with a quick one-timer.
Scamurra made it 2-0 early in the third when she controlled a loose puck in front of the net and tucked it around goaltender Maddie Rooney.
Ljungblom matched her goal total from a year ago to help Montréal improve to 9-2-1-1 when scoring at least three goals this season.
Minnesota (11-3-3-5) is 7-2-0-0 since Jan. 4 when facing any team other than Montréal. The Frost are 0-0-2-2 against Montréal in that span, scoring two or fewer goals in each game.
Rooney had won her previous seven straight for the Frost.
Up next
Montréal travels to Detroit to play the New York Sirens on Saturday as part of the Takeover Tour.
Minnesota remains home to play the Boston Fleet on Sunday.
