The Orlando Magic host the Sacramento Kings as massive 15.5-point favorites, which means it’s a matchup only an NBA bettor could love.
Orlando needs a win in a big way after dropping six in a row. Despite the losses, Paolo Bachero is in a groove, and my Kings vs. Magic predictions explain why there’s no reason to think this struggling Sacramento team is going to slow him down.
A Banchero player prop highlights my NBA picks for this matchup set to tip off at 7:00 pm ET at the Kia Center in Orlando on Thursday, March 26.
Kings vs Magic prediction
Kings vs Magic best bet: Paolo Banchero Over 25.5 points (-105)
The skid has dropped the Orlando Magic all the way to the final Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference, but Paolo Banchero is doing his best to keep them afloat.
He's averaging 28.6 points with a .521 effective field goal percentage while adding 5.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds over the last five games. He’s also put up 32 or more points three times over that stretch. Tonight, he gets a great matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
With the way the Kings have been manipulating their roster lately, they’ve entered the full-tank mode portion of the season. Which is part of the reason why they’re 15.5-point dogs.
Sacramento enters this matchup ranked 28th in defensive rating and is next-to-last in opponent eFG%.
Banchero is still getting a modest point total of 25.5 for this matchup, and with Orlando still dealing with injuries for Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, and Jalen Suggs, there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to shoulder the load when it comes to the Magic getting buckets.
Kings vs Magic same-game parlay
The Kings have issues all over the floor, including down low. Injuries to nearly all of their big men are the problem, but it doesn’t change the fact that they rank 26th in opponent points in the paint per game.
So, let’s add Wendell Carter Jr. to go Over 11.5 points. He’s averaging 15.3 points over his last five games, topping this number six times.
That obviously means the Kings have struggled on the glass as well, ranking 26th in rebounding rate. but let’s zig away from an obvious play like Banchero or Carter. Instead, let’s take Desmond Bane to go Over 4.5 boards, a number he’s cleared in three of his last four.
Kings vs Magic SGP
Paolo Banchero Over 25.5 points
Wendell Carter Jr. Over 11.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 4.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Double-double trouble
Banchero and Carter have rebounding props of 8.5 and 7.5, while Precious Achiuwa has recorded a double-double in three of his last five games.
Kings vs Magic SGP
Paolo Banchero to record a double-double
Wendell Carter Jr. to record a double-double
Precious Achiuwa to record a double-double
Kings vs Magic odds
Spread: Kings +15.5 | Magic -15.5
Moneyline: Kings +750 | Magic -1200
Over/Under: Over 230.5 | Under 230.5
Kings vs Magic betting trend to know
The Magic have hit the second-half Over in 21 of their last 30 games at home for +10.56 units and a 30% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Magic.
How to watch Kings vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-California, FDSN-Florida
Kings vs Magic latest injuries
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However, don't expect the seventh-year Crimson Tide coach to jump to the Tar Heels opening, or any other one, for that matter. Oats candidly answered questions about his future with Alabama on Thursday, March 26, one day before the Crimson Tide takes on No. 1 Michigan in the Sweet 16 from the United Center.
"As a young high school coach, I didn't think I'd ever be in this spot not too long ago. I'm not a guy that's always trying to jump around," Oats said. "The grass isn't always greener. I love Alabama. My girls love Alabama."
"I'm not looking to leave," Oats added
Oats has led the Crimson Tide to four NCAA Tournament Sweet 16s, including a run to the Final Four during the 2023-24 season — the first Final Four appearance for Alabama in program history.
The program has reached the NCAA Tournament for six straight seasons, tying the longest mark in program history. Oats is not satisfied.
"I'd love to be the first coach to bring us a national championship," Oats said.
North Carolina fired Hubert Davis on Tuesday, March 24, following a first-round exit loss to No. 11 VCU. He finished with a 125-54 record over five seasons in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, including an appearance in the 2022 national championship game.
Oats signed an extension with Alabama in March 2024, ahead of the Crimson Tide's Final Four run. The team made the Elite Eight last season and is back in the Sweet 16. However, that does not mean Oats — who is making $5.5 million this season and under contract through 2031 — is necessarily looking for another contract extension.
"I still can't believe I am getting paid this much. I'm coaching basketball guys," Oats said of his current contract with Alabama. "I did this thing for free at Maranatha [Baptist] for three years. ... For the first 16 years I coached basketball, [I made] less than $500,000 total.
"My salary goes up half a million every year. I am a glorified P.E. teacher making too much money right now. So, I'm not going to complain."
My preferred March Madness goes like this: Cinderellas wreak havoc in the first round, before the big dogs take over in the Sweet 16 and beyond.
Give me that opening round dopamine hit of a classic 12 vs. 5 upset, a 13 slaying a 4-seed, a 14 toppling a 3. Thursday and Friday shrine brightest when filled with buzzer-beaters that go in favor of teams like Furman, Saint Peter’s, Princeton and Oakland.
Then, give me chalk, Hall of Fame coaches, big-branded muscle and superstars trading buckets.
In the ideal March Madness, enough top seeds survive and eliminate Cinderella around the second round or so, so that many of the best teams and the top players are still playing and entertaining in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four.
If Cinderella keeps winning, we get what happened in 2023. That year, underdogs shined in Round 1, then kept advancing until the Final Four included No. 9 Florida Atlantic and two 5-seeds. The tournament had been great up to that point, before UConn tore through the Final Four in a dominant but boring finish.
I prefer the games to keep getting better through the end of the tournament — like we had last season, when all three games at the Final Four site were 40-minute thrillers, on the heels of a compelling Sweet 16 and decent Elite Eight.
Well, anyway, Cinderella didn’t show up this season. Not an ideal first round, or a particularly entertaining one. The slipper got smashed by bigfoots from the Big Ten and the SEC.
Miami (Ohio) provided some flare in the First Four with a blend of 3s and Speedos, and VCU and High Point delivered a dash of upset magic on the first day of Round 1. Mostly, though, major upsets became an endangered species. If you picked a lot of chalk, you’re doing well in your office bracket pool.
Cinderella’s glory days appear to be in the rearview mirror. Perhaps she’ll never again shine with the same brightness as she did in 2023 and ’24.
Blame NIL, or revenue-sharing, or transfer free agency or Power conference expansion, or all of the above for creating difficult times for low- and mid-majors in March.
Now, ready for the bright side? With so many excellent teams still standing in the Sweet 16, this tournament is positioned to go out with a grand finale. Better have two TVs side by side in your living room the next two nights, because the Sweet 16 is straight banger matchups.
Start with the coaches. It’s a who’s who list of Hall of Famers, national champions, renaissance men, in-their-prime virtuosos, and up-and-coming tacticians.
This week I ranked the Sweet 16 coaches, 1 through 16. John Calipari checked in at No. 8. He’s coached in six Final Fours. Matt Painter, a Purdue legend, ranked No. 9. That should tell you something about the depth of coaching talent in this Sweet 16.
Then, you’ve got the playmakers on the court. In this year of the freshman, Cameron Boozer, Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries and Keaton Wagler aren’t ready for their first (and last) tournament experience to end.
Ah, but the youngbloods can’t have all the fun.
Alex Karaban, in his 146th career start, all for UConn (who says loyalty is dead?), dropped a career-high 27 points on UCLA. If only UConn could get four more years out of Karaban, he’d be going for 50-a-game in the 2030 tournament. A cool 27 will have to do for now.
Purdue’s senior point guard Braden Smith is still scoring and dishing, too. He had 26 points and eight assists in Round 1.
I know what you’re thinking. That all sounds great, but you miss Cinderella. OK, fair. Although Texas sits on the 11-seed line, let’s not pretend Mister Money Bags himself, gold-plated Bevo from Austin, is a Cinderella story.
If we set aside seeds, why can’t Nebraska by this tournament’s Cinderella? This time a week ago, Nebraska had exactly zero NCAA Tournament wins ever. Now, the Huskers have two, and they’re literally shooting off fireworks in Lincoln.
Keep your powder dry, because the best of this tournament is still to come.
It will mark his second stint with the Tigers, with his first ending with a fire-for-cause in 2022 after NCAA and FBI investigations accused Wade of multiple Level I and Level II violations, including "lack of institutional control."
LSU has not officially announced Wade's return, but according to multiple reports, the Tigers have dismissed Wade's successor, Matt McMahon, after four seasons, and Wade has signed a seven-year deal with the university.
In a statement released on his personal account, Wade called the decision to leave "not an easy" one.
"This was not an easy decision, because of how much respect and appreciation I have for this program and this university. But the opportunity to return to Louisiana State University is deeply personal," Wade said in a statement. "It's a chance to go home — to a place that means a great deal to me and my family."
In one season, the Wolfpack had some success under Wade, going 20-14 overall and making an appearance in the First Four. NC State picked up top-25 ranked wins
At the ACC tournament, Wade closed down rumors of his name being tossed around for the LSU job, should the Tigers have decided to dismiss McMahon, by saying he is "excited at NC State" and that he had already met with administrators to discuss changes to "put this program where it deserves to be long-term."
It's the second consecutive season that the Wolfpack will conduct a coaching search for its men's basketball program, with Wade being the choice last offseason when the program decided to part ways with Kevin Keatts.
"I'll always be grateful for my time here, the relationships we built, and the foundation we helped strengthen. NC State is positioned for continued success, and I'll be cheering them on moving forward," Wade ended his statement with.
With March Madness in full swing, we’ve got a light NBA slate tonight, but there’s still a spotlight on the race for Eastern Conference playoff seeding.
Look no further than the New York Knicks’ visit to the Charlotte Hornets, with LaMelo Ball and Co. still eyeing the Top 6, while the Orlando Magic catch a break against the tank-tastic Sacramento Kings.
My top NBA picks for March 26 target all three matchups, including a wager on an in-form Karl-Anthony Towns.
The New York Knicks will need the best version of Karl-Anthony Towns to win the East, and his March numbers suggest he’s in rhythm as the postseason approaches. KAT is averaging 21.7 ppg this month on 57% shooting, and he’s nailed this Over in four straight outings.
Towns scored 35 points against the Charlotte Hornets in December, and he’s getting good looks in a New York offense that’s passed the 120-point mark in three of the past four contests.
His three-point numbers are still down this year, but he drilled a pair of triples against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday as part of a 21-point effort. Look for KAT to give the Charlotte frontcourt a long night.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBA TV
Prop #2: Dejounte Murray Over 6.5 assists
+102 at bet365
The New Orleans Pelicans are an interesting team to watch down the stretch – the rare sub .500 squad that’s still chasing wins. Dejounte Murray’s return has given New Orleans some extra spice, and I see him setting the table for his teammates again here.
Murray has racked up 32 assists across his last three outings, and there’s no reason for him to slow down with Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III (questionable) flanking him.
Facing a fiery Detroit Pistons defense is no joke, but Jalen Duren and Co. gave up 130 points in last night’s OT loss to the Atlanta Hawks. That should leave some tired legs for Murray to exploit in this one.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: GCSEN, FanDuel Sports Network-Detroit
Prop #3: Paolo Banchero Over 25.5 points
-110 at bet365
The Orlando Magic have somehow followed up a seven-game win streak with six straight losses, so good luck figuring out this Orlando team. But I can’t pass up a chance to wager against the Sacramento Kings.
That leads me to Paolo Banchero, who’s done his best to put the Magic on his back in the last two contests, with 36 points in Cleveland on the heels of 39 points against the Indiana Pacers – all on efficient shooting.
It should be more of the same here against the Kings, with Orlando missing Franz Wagner and Anthony Black. Count on Banchero to deliver, just as he did while dropping 30 points in the February meeting in Sacramento.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSCA, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida
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The Detroit Pistons should stay atop the Eastern Conference despite Cade Cunningham’s absence, giving them the best chance of navigating his hopeful and eventual return. Winning the obvious games is paramount to that task, like tonight against the tanking New Orleans Pelicans.
My Pelicans vs. Pistons predictions and these NBA picks focus on Cunningham’s unexpected replacement on Thursday, March 26.
Pelicans vs Pistons prediction
Pelicans vs Pistons best bet: Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points (-115)
You may be forgiven for not knowing who Daniss Jenkins is. In the month following the All-Star Break, the second-year point guard out of St. John’s — who began his collegiate career at Pacific — averaged just 18.8 minutes and 5.8 points per game.
He was a reserve, at best.
But when Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung, the Detroit Pistons needed someone to take on a greater workload, and that someone has been Jenkins. In the four games since Cunningham’s injury, Jenkins has averaged 38.9 minutes and 20 points.
Perhaps most notable, Jenkins is playing 8.5 morem minutes per game than anyone else in the Detroit rotation. The Pistons never planned for a life without Cunningham running the offense; they are desperate for ball-handling.
Oddsmakers have largely adjusted, but not enough to reflect Jenkins’s increased responsibilities. In his four starts, he has cleared this prop in the last three games. Expect more of that scoring from Jenkins tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans, simply because Detroit has no choice but to keep the ball in his hands these days.
Pelicans vs Pistons same-game parlay
While Jenkins has cleared this assists prop in three straight games, two of those were by the hook, and the third featured 10 assists in a game that went into overtime. Given the Pelicans’ happiness to lose games, a comfortable Detroit win would likely feature fewer assists from Jenkins.
Pelicans vs Pistons SGP
Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points
Daniss Jenkins Under 7.5 assists
Pistons -4
Our "from downtown" SGP: Jenkins but not from deep
Counterintuitive same-game parlays are such a joy. The math refuses to recognize that Jenkins could score 20 points while hitting only one 3-pointer. He is not a great shooter, just 36.7% from deep this season.
In fact, Jenkins has cleared this point prop while hitting only one 3-pointer in two of his last three games.
Pelicans vs Pistons SGP
Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points
Daniss Jenkins Under 7.5 assists
Daniss Jenkins Under 1.5 threes
Pelicans vs Pistons odds
Spread: Pelicans +4 | Pistons -4
Moneyline: Pelicans +155 | Pistons -185
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Pelicans vs Pistons betting trend to know
Detroit has gone 3-1 against the spread since Cunningham’s injury, and the sole ATS loss came in overtime as a two-point favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Pistons.
How to watch Pelicans vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Pelicans+, Detroit SportsNet
Pelicans vs Pistons latest injuries
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Chicago Bulls in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 25, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s no secret that things got dark recently as a Philadelphia 76ers fan. The trade deadline deal shipping Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for draft picks cast a pall over everything. Not long after, nearly every Sixers regular got injured (or suspended) to the point where Nick Nurse was throwing out “Who’s that guy again?” lineups reminiscent of the Process days.
It started to look like the 10th seed was in the Sixers’ future, with only the fact that Milwaukee was so far back meaning Philadelphia couldn’t miss the Play-In Tournament entirely. Folks seriously discussed whether the team should punt the rest of the season to improve slim lottery odds, and conversations swirled as to whether Nurse and Daryl Morey would and should still be here in the fall.
Well, it looks like the Sixers have now crawled through the river of “stuff” and while they may not have emerged completely clean, they can at least go find Red on the beach. Joel Embiid and Paul George both returned to the lineup on Wednesday, and Philadelphia only went out and scored their most points in a game in over 50 years. George said the time off allowed his body to feel 100 percent. Embiid indicated the oblique is something he’s going to have to manage, but that he at least feels the knee issues are no longer a problem at the moment. Tyrese Maxey looks close to coming back from his pinky finger injury, using his right hand some during warmups prior to the Bulls game.
Credit to the MASH unit for holding things together while all of those guys were away. Now, with the roster rounding back into shape, the Sixers can really do some damage in the standings with nine games remaining. Entering play Thursday, Philadelphia is just one game back of Atlanta for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Washington, Indiana and Milwaukee are all left on the schedule. If the Sixers can split their other six games, would a 6-3 final push be enough to catch the Hawks (while also leapfrogging the currently sixth-place Raptors and holding off everyone else)? Maybe? A potential first-round series against James Harden and the Cavaliers would certainly make for some tasty drama, and test the validity of Morey’s “no needle movers changed hands at the deadline” statement. I wonder if Harden thought Daryl was being truthful there.
Regardless, we have a fun closing stretch ahead of us after many of us had resigned ourselves to checking out for the remainder of the regular season. Instead of “let’s see what happens in the Play-In,” we get a chance to watch a talented group play with something on the line against some interesting opponents like Minnesota and San Antonio. Maybe things don’t quite work out and the Sixers end up in the Play-In anyway, but they’ll at least enter with some sort of cohesion built over these final two weeks.
Just when I thought I was out on these Sixers, they found a way to pull me back in.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 25: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Taylor Hendricks #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on March 25, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a dominant win against the Miami Heat, the Spurs traveled to the FedEx Forum to take on the Memphis Grizzlies for the final time this season. De’Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet did not play due to their respective injuries, and the Grizzlies had eight players ruled out. As a result, Dylan Harper started for the second time this season. Nonetheless, as soon as the ball was tipped, the Spurs were out and running. They forced turnovers and cashed in quickly with transition threes and dunks, including the first of several poster dunks. They dominated the Grizzlies in the first quarter, 38-19. The second quarter was an ice-cold shooting fest between both teams, as the Spurs led by only 13 at the half. However, the third quarter was a repeat performance of the first. More poster dunks followed as the Spurs outscored the Grizzlies 41-20, and they carried a 34-point lead into the fourth. The Spurs ultimately won 123-98.
Speaking of dunks, here are all 12 dunks from the Spurs! From alley-oops, breakaways, and THREE poster dunks, the silver and black threw themselves a dunk party in Memphis!
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 19 points (8-15 FG), 15 rebounds, 7 blocks, three steals, and three assists. Vic dropped eight of his 19 points in the first half, but also had five of his seven blocks in the first half. He dominated the paint on both ends and had an exciting back-and-forth with GG Jackson II early in the third. After Jackson posterized (sort of) Wemby, Wemby came right back on the other end and posterized Jackson! He then scored on multiple straight possessions. Jackson II had awoken the beast inside Wemby, and Wemby sent the Grizzlies packing. Spurs fans continue to lead his campaign for MVP and DPOY.
On the board with style! Devin Vassell finds a cutting Wemby on the alley-oop connection to put the Spurs on the board first!
PEAK SPURS BALL MOVEMENT! Look at the unselfishness of this team! Multiple passes around the perimeter result in a Wemby dime to Harper for three! Harper finished his second career start with 10 points, six assists, five rebounds, and a block.
Stephon Castle dropped 15 points (5-7 FG), nine assists, and three rebounds. Steph started alongside Harper and just missed out on a double-double. He dished out nine dimes and slashed his way to the paint with ease. He also got to the foul line several times but went five of nine. Despite also committing five turnovers, Steph got the dunk party started by introducing Taylor Hendricks to his poster!
Devin Vassell led the scoring with Wemby by dropping 19 points (7-10 FG, 4-6 3PT) to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Devin was extremely efficient from the field, especially from the three-point line. He also mixed it up with unselfish playmaking and crashed the boards. Since the arrival of Wemby, Castle, Fox, and Harper, Dev has been a fantastic plug-and-play player for this team. He is an X-factor for this team and a solid wing on both ends. He and Keldon Johnson have been the longest tenured players on the roster, and they will be rewarded by finally making their postseason debuts this April.
MORE SPURS BALL MOVEMENT! In transition, the Spurs move the ball around to the corner, where Dev passes the ball back to Harper, who splashes another three!
Julian Champagnie dropped 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. Besides dropping threes, Julian got into the passing lanes and came up with two stocks. Ever since he became a permanent fixture in the starting lineup, he has been an underrated rebounder. After seeing Castle and Wemby posterize defenders, Julian felt left out. He took matters into his own hands and posterized Hendricks!
Keldon Johnson dropped 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. KJ added another solid scoring game off the bench to add to his 6MOTY candidacy. Besides bringing the energy before and after every game. KJ ALSO felt left out after seeing Castle, Wemby, Julian, and Dev bring the house down. KJ leaked out on a fastbreak and had himself a clear runway for a ferocious slam!
Another <.500 opponent, another take-care-of-business game. The Spurs led wire-to-wire and took care of an injury-riddled team early. As the playoffs appear closer by the game, the Spurs keep looking better. They’ve won games in many different ways this season, but games like these prove that they are also all unselfish and want to send a message every time they step on the court. They are now two games behind the OKC Thunder for the one seed, and clinched home-court advantage for the first two rounds.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks this Saturday at 2:00 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video/FDSN-SW.
Tonight's Sweet 16 game between Houston and Illinois will be a home game for the Cougars, but UH players don't expect that to matter much.
"Last year we played Purdue in Indiana. It doesn't really give you too much of an advantage, honestly," Cougars guard Milos Uzan said. "Every team here is good, and, yeah, it doesn't really give you too much advantage. I think we just continue with the same preparation and live with the results."
This could be the best game of the night. Illinois averages 85 points a game, while Houston is known for its defense. It will also feature two of the top freshmen in the country, Kingston Flemings for Houston and Keaton Wagler for Illinois, who both figure to go early in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The winner of tonight's game advances to Saturday's Elite Eight to face the winner of Nebraska vs. Iowa in the South Region's other Sweet 16 game.
Here's what you need to know about tonight's game, including predictions:
HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.
Illinois vs Houston basketball live score
TEAMS
1H
2H
F
Illinois
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Houston
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What time is Illinois vs Houston Sweet 16 game today?
Tip-off is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET from Houston.
What channel is Illinois vs Houston game on? How to watch, streaming info
Houston vs. Illinois will air on TBS/truTV and stream via Fubo.
Houston vs Illinois prediction
Odds provided by BetMGM, as of noon, Thursday, March 26.
Blake Toppmeyer: Houston
Paul Myerberg: Houston
Jordan Mendoza: Houston
John Brice: Houston
Matt Glenesk: Houston
Craig Meyer: Houston
John Leuzzi: Illinois
Austin Curtright: Houston
Ehsan Kassim: Illinois
Moneyline: Houston (-165); Illinois (+135)
Spread: Houston (-2.5)
Over/under total: 139.5
Is Andrej Stojakovic related to Peja Stojakovic?
Yes, Peja is his dad. Peja Stojakovic played 13 seasons in the NBA, primarily for the Sacramento Kings, and was a three-time All-Star.
Andrej played at Cal and Stanford before transferring to Illinois.
How many Europeans are on Illinois' team?
David Mirkovic is from Montenegro
Andrej Stojakovic lists Thessaloniki, Greece as his hometown
Tomislav Ivisic is from Croatia
Zvonimir Ivisic is from Croatia
Mihailo Petrovic is from Serbia
Toni Bilic is from Croatia
Kingston Flemings 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
Utah Jazz at No. 5 overall.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Jazz currently have the worst defensive rating in the league but could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24 and had a strong performance against Baylor, recording 21 points with seven assists and two steals on March 4. With highs as high as his thus far, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.
Keaton Wagler 2026 NBA Draft mock draft prediction
Atlanta Hawks, pick No. 7.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
After trading away Trae Young, the Hawks could find their point guard of the future in Illinois standout Keaton Wagler using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. The 19-year-old guard scored 46 points while shooting 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against No. 12 Purdue on Jan. 24. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman this year. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season.
PHOENIX, AZ - CIRCA 1990's: Guard Kevin Johnson #7 of the Phoenix Suns in action brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz circa early 1990's during an NBA basketball game at the US Airway Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Johnson played for the Suns from 1988-98 and 2000. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is a slow day around Bright Side, the kind of day where you start digging through the corners of the NBA looking for something worth talking about, seeking something that sparks a little curiosity. And here we are. Uniform talk. Always a good lane to wander down.
There are whispers that the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, and Houston Rockets are all looking to make updates next season. Nothing official yet, but these are the same channels that had people in Phoenix buzzing before the 2023 refresh, so there is something to it.
And when you look at what Minnesota is doing, it hits a nerve in the best way.
Minnesota Timberwolves – we've been told the Wolves are going back to their classic look across the board, with white, blue and black versions.
*Note: this is not an official design, just our prediction of the base for each jersey. There will be more details than what you see… pic.twitter.com/R0DdI5dwcg
Those original Timberwolves sets, the ones that take you back to the early days, are clean. They are the same set that Isaiah Rider donned while winning the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest. That whole vibe from their 1989 introduction, there is something simple about it. It feels right. Before the late 90s shift into something louder and more complicated, those uniforms had a clarity to them.
They have brought them back in pieces over the years with little throwback runs here and there, but bringing them back full-time feels like a smart play. It taps into memory, it taps into identity, and it gives fans something that feels authentic.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 30: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter at Target Center on December 30, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 108-106. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And yeah, there is a little jealousy there. Because I look at that and immediately think about the Phoenix Suns. The recent refresh the organaization did has been solid. Bringing back the Sunburst, tying in elements of the past, it all works. It looks good. No complaints. But there is another look that lives in the back of my mind, one that never really leaves.
Those Wild West uniforms.
When Phoenix arrived in 1968, their original uniforms had ‘Phoenix’ written across the chest in a sans font. But after the 1972-73 season, the team made a subtle tweak that was a stroke of genius. They morphed the sans into a western font that stretched across the chest, with the names on the back in that same style. It was simple and unmistakable. It was not trying too hard. It did not need to. There is elegance in that simplicity, and the Wild West unis had balance that feels natural when you look at it. Not loud, not muted, but right in that space where it sticks with you. And very Phoenix.
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1978: Paul Westphal #44 of the Phoenix Suns looks to make a pass against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1978 at the Capital Centre in Landover Maryland. Westphal played for the Suns from 1975-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The team wore them until the introduction of the Sunburst in 1992. We had nearly 20 years of Wild West, the look that lasted the longest in the Valley.
I caught a glimpse of it again this past weekend as I was watching the NCAA Tournament. It was St. John’s Red Storm against the Kansas Jayhawks. Both teams were running that western-style font across the chest, and it pulled me right back. It reminded me how good that look can be when it is done right. You see it with the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Los Angeles Lakers. They find something that works, and they stay there. They build identity through consistency. The Suns had that once. It is still there in the archives, still there in the highlights, still there in the memory.
St. John’s rocking that subtle Wild West font and it just works. Clean, simple, perfect. Suns…I’m begging. Bring it back
One thing that does catch me off guard in this era of uniform overload, with statement editions and city editions dropping every season, is how little the Phoenix Suns have leaned into the Wild West font. It is sitting right there. It is part of the DNA of the franchise. And yet, it barely shows up.
Yeah, last season you had “The Valley” City Edition uniforms in that style, and it looked clean, although the “The” above “Valley” wasn’t something I was fond of. But the last time we saw “Phoenix” in that Wild West look was 2015-16, and it came on those gray sleeved uniforms that never really landed. The design felt forced, the sleeves felt unnecessary, and it buried what should have been the focal point.
PHOENIX, AZ – FEBRUARY 25: Ronnie Price #14 of the Phoenix Suns drives up the court against the Brooklyn Nets during the game on February 25, 2016 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
That is what makes it so puzzling. In a time where teams are constantly searching for identity through design, constantly pushing new looks, new colorways, and new concepts, the Suns have a built-in answer. That font carried the franchise for two decades. It is recognizable, it’s tied to the history, and it connects generations of fans without needing an explanation.
And yet it sits on the shelf.
You would think with all the resources, all the marketing muscle, all the attention to brand storytelling, they would tap into something that already resonates. Something that already feels like Phoenix. Not as a one-off, not as a nod, but as a real part of the rotation. Because sometimes the strongest move is not creating something new, it is bringing something back that never needed fixing in the first place.
So yeah, credit to Minnesota. It is a sharp move. Nostalgia hits, fans connect, and with modern design and marketing layered on top, it opens the door for some really clean merchandise. If I were a Timberwolves fan, I would be all in on it.
The Hawks’ dipping back into the Hawk across the chest look follows that same path. Lean into what worked, remind people of what made it stick in the first place. There is a reason those designs linger. While the Mutumbo era uniforms will not be a full-on rebrand like Minnesota, it’ll be nice to see them on the court.
Atlanta Hawks – we're told the Hawks will revive the 90s era bird design as a mix with their current look for the Statement Edition (in red). The Icon edition (currently red) will become black.
*Note: this is not an official design, just our prediction of the base for each… pic.twitter.com/iMA7lr2NnM
Then you get to Houston, and it feels like more of the same. The Rockets have never quite found that signature look. There have been moments, flashes, but nothing that settles in. Even the 90s shift with the pinstripes felt off, a little late to the party, a little too much going on. Some teams never quite land on it.
Which is why I keep coming back to Phoenix. There is a version of this franchise that already figured it out. That clean, Wild West font, orange on purple with a white stroke or orange on white with a purple stroke; it’s simple and strong. Ah, if we only knew how good we had it as kids. Youth is truly wasted on the young.
Maybe one day it will come back in full. Maybe one day they will lean into that identity again. Because sometimes the best move is not to reinvent anything. It is to remember what already worked and let it live again. Mr. Ishbia, please make it so.
The Tigers, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, have relieved McMahon of his duties as head coach of the men's basketball program after just four seasons. The firing of McMahon gained steam in the last few days with LSU's decision to bring back former Tigers coach Will Wade, who just finished his first season at North Carolina State and has reportedly signed a seven-year deal with LSU.
At LSU, McMahon never had the same success he had at Murray State. The Tigers went 60-70 overall over four seasons under McMahon and finished at the bottom of the SEC in three of those seasons.
Here's what to know about why McMahon was fired by LSU:
It ultimately boils down to LSU's performance under McMahon, who was considered an up-and-coming bright mind in men's college basketball when he was hired away from Murray State in 2022.
LSU has not won more than 17 games in a season under McMahon, and never finished better than .500 in SEC play. The Tigers didn't made the Men's NCAA Tournament, and didn't make it out of the first round of the 2024 Men's NIT.
LSU had just one winning season under McMahon, coming in his second season when the Tigers went 17-16. The Tigers finished 15-17 overall and 3-15 in SEC play this season, a conference mark that put them as the No. 16 seed in the SEC tournament.
The other component is LSU's hiring of McNeese State athletic director Heath Schroyer as a senior administrator with the Tigers, which will include oversight of the men's basketball program. That hiring was reported to be a key factor in Wade considering a return to LSU. Schroyer also hired Wade at McNeese State ahead of the 2023-24 season, after he did not coach in 2022-23 following his exit from LSU.
In Wade, the Tigers bring back a coach who has a successful track record. He holds a 266-119 overall record as a head coach, with additional stops at Chattanooga and VCU. He led the Tigers to a 105-51 record in five seasons, and just led the Wolfpack to a 20-14 mark this past season.
Matt McMahon buyout
According to McMahon's contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, LSU owes him $8.02 million if he is fired without cause on April 1, as part of his buyout.
Matt McMahon LSU record
Here's a year-by-year breakdown of how LSU has fared under McMahon:
LSU men's basketball coach Matt McMahon has been dismissed after four seasons at the school.
Former Tigers coach Will Wade, who preceded McMahon in the job, is returning to the school after his tumultuous tenure that saw the program found guilty of recruiting violations. Wade received a show-cause penalty as part of the NCAA punishment, but return to coaching at McNeese State in 2023 and led North Carolina State to the NCAA Tournament this season in his one year at the school.
Wade will owe North Carolina State a buyout of $5 million.
The loss of Wade disappointing development for the Wolfpack, who thought they had found their next long-term coach in Wade after moving on from Kevin Keatts.
For LSU, it's the second time in five months it has hired a coach who tanked his reputation before rehabilitating it. The football program, of course, hired Lane Kiffin away from Mississippi in a year where the rebels made the playoffs. Now it's poaching a coach it was strong-armed into moving on from in the first place.
For McMahon, it ends a four-year era in which he went 60-70 and a lowly 17-55 against the SEC with no Men's NCAA Tournament appearances.
Matt McMahon buyout
McMahon's buyout figure figures to be just more than $8 million, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports. He spent eight seasons with Murray State before joining the Tigers, going 154-67 with three NCAA appearances.
Matt McMahon LSU record
McMahon struggled to recruit to LSU, and the team's record reflected it. The Tigers went 60-70 (17-55 SEC) in his four seasons with them, and they didn't make the NCAA Tournament during his tenure.
This isn't the first time Billy Donovan's name has come up when a major college program went looking for a new head coach. He is the man who led Florida to back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007, and he's a logical person for those schools to reach out to, even if Donovan had another job as head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Every time his name came up, Donovan shot them down, and when NBC Sports had a conversation with him several years ago, he denied any desire to ever return to coaching in college.
"My main focus is on these guys and this new team. I understand that there's stuff out there, and I understand that there is going to be certain speculation. But, I have to concentrate on this group, and really, my focus is on what we're doing here in Chicago, having a game tonight, and traveling to go and play in a back-to-back."
Donovan was a high-level tactician while at Florida, but, more importantly, was a brilliant recruiter — those championship teams had Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and a few other future NBA players. That dynamic has changed in college ball, but Donovan is now very used to coaching players who are getting paid. With the Bulls apparently headed for an on-the-fly rebuild, does Chapel Hill look tempting to Donovan?
"Over the years, I've had a lot of college guys reach out to talk to me," Donovan said. "It's different in dealing with players who are being paid now. I also think the cycle of the NBA today is totally different than the cycle of college. I'm focused on what I have to do right now. Like anything else, things are always changing in the game of basketball."
Donovan will be the Bulls' head coach for a few more weeks while the season plays out, and that timing may not work for UNC. The school also is rumored to be targeting Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, Michigan's Dusty May, Iowa State's TJ Otzelberger, all of whom would be available sooner.
But that is not a hard no from Donovan, so it's something to watch.
SAN FRANCISCO — Without Moses Moody, who went down with a gruesome knee injury the last time they took the court, the Warriors lacked a spiritual leader beyond his years who had taken over a pregame locker room ritual from Kevon Looney.
“All of a sudden you don’t hear that today,” Draymond Green said after Golden State eked out a 109-106 win over the lowly Nets on Wednesday.
Moody’s absence, and the emotional toll of losing such a beloved teammate in such devastating fashion, was clearly still wearing on the Warriors in their first game since the fifth-year wing’s patellar tendon ruptured, knocking him out for at least the next 9-12 months.
Moses Moody injures his leg while trying to score in front of Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg during overtime at American Airlines Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“What happened last game with Mo was a very sensitive moment for us,” said Gui Santos, who scored a career-high 31 points in the win. “A special guy like that, and we see exactly what happened to him that was really, really bad. It was not a good feeling for us.”
The Warriors played their seventh game in as many cities in 11 days, and coach Steve Kerr chalked up their fourth straight game with 21 or more turnovers to the team “running in mud,” while Gary Payton II described it more as “quicksand.”
It would be hard to blame them for feeling the same way about the season as a whole.
The loss of Moody, coming in the same game he returned after missing the past nine, was just the latest on a long list of injuries that has derailed what once looked to be one of their last chances to add a fifth championship to the dynasty built around Steph Curry.
Curry’s availability, or lack thereof, has been the most frustrating of all.
Moses Moody waves to fans while leaving the court on a stretcher during overtime against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Steph will play when he’s healthy,” Kerr reiterated after the game. “It’s as simple as that.”
Curry looked to be trending in the right direction as the Warriors’ last road trip came to an end. Runner’s knee has kept him out since Jan. 30, but he was set to participate in his first full-contact scrimmage this past Sunday. That still hasn’t happened.
The Warriors have nine regular-season games left and, still, no timetable for their superstar to return.
“I think where you get a little worried is you know he wants to come back and he hasn’t,” Green said. “That’s when you start looking at the clock ticking. Not from a standpoint of when he’s coming back, but I know he’s working to get back and if not now, what’s going on?”
The win over the Nets secured Golden State’s spot in the play-in tournament. The Warriors, currently in 10th, still have a chance to climb to the No. 8 or No. 9 seed.
Stephen Curry watches from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. AP
“I think if there’s an inkling of a doubt with his knee, no, I don’t,” he said. “But if he’s healthy and can play, then absolutely. That’s what you put the work in for. You put the work in to give yourself a chance to have a great season, get into the postseason and flourish on that stage.
“You don’t know how many opportunities you get. You can always kick the can down the road and say we’ll get back at it. But that don’t always work like that.”
The Warriors have learned that lesson the hard way recently. They were primed to make a deep run last season after acquiring Jimmy Butler, then Curry went down in the playoffs. That pushed the window to this year, then Butler tore his ACL in January and Curry’s absence followed.
“You just can’t be the guy that quits when it gets tough,” Green said. “… To be a part of this organization on the way up was magnificent. When it goes down the tank, I’m not jumping off the train. I can’t throw the towel in on these guys. Who do they turn to? So I try to provide that when Steph is out, Al [Horford] is out, Jimmy’s out. I try to just be a steady force so they can turn and know someone’s in the foxhole with them that’s been there.”
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 25, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joel Embiid is a notorious slow starter. Whether it’s the beginning of the season or after a long layoff, the former MVP generally takes a few games to get going.
So much for that.
The star center was brilliant from the opening tip in a 157-137 demolition of the Chicago Bulls Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. After missing the last 13 games with an oblique strain, Embiid arguably looked better physically than he has at any point during the 2025-26 campaign.
Embiid couldn’t miss early on. He was cooking in his office at the elbows and burying midrange jumpers and triples to the tune of 15 points in the first six minutes. All the caveats of it being a tanking Bulls team with banged-up big men, but it was a mighty encouraging first outing for the big fella.
The seven-time All-Star recorded 35 points (on a hyper-efficient 12-of-17 from the field, 3-of-3 from three and 8-of-9 from the line), seven assists, six rebounds and a block in 28 minutes.
What led to his torrid start?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just shot the ball and it went in. I guess it kept going in, so I was like, ‘Let’s keep shooting.‘”
Indeed, it does seem that easy for Embiid some nights.
With how well Embiid was moving, it was fair to wonder if the time missed with the oblique strain he suffered nearly a month ago allowed the rest of his body to heal. While Embiid’s surgically-repaired left knee hasn’t been much of an issue, his right knee and a stress reaction in his right shin plagued him before and after the All-Star break.
The good news is Embiid said in the locker room postgame that his knees aren’t a problem at all right now.
“My knees haven’t been an issue for a long time. That’s past me,” he said.
The bad news is the oblique strain, which is on his right side, is still lingering.
“The oblique was very tricky — and it still is tricky,” he said. “There’s really nothing you can do about it. Just gotta let it ride and hope that it doesn’t get worse.”
And he also appeared to suffer a mysterious right wrist ailment — it was taped and he wore a sleeve over it during the game.
“Yeah. I don’t know. Something happened,” he said. “Just gotta watch it.”
If the wrist was bothering him, it sure didn’t show. Embiid was making everything and sailing passes around the gym with ease. He even threw down a poster dunk on Matas Buzelis and chased down old friend Guerschon Yabusele for a block. It was vintage Embiid.
It didn’t hurt that Embiid had a bit of help. Rookie VJ Edgecombe, who’s beared quite the load for the Sixers of late, did well to carry his recent uptick in aggressiveness over while also making sure Embiid and the also returning Paul George got to eat.
And speaking of George, the veteran forward also looked good in his return after a 25-game suspension. The nine-time All-Star started the game cold, but was an absolute flamethrower in the fourth quarter. He finished with 28 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block in 26 minutes.
Embiid knows if the Sixers want to do anything of substance this season, everyone needs to step up over these last nine games.
Even with all the weirdness surrounding the team this season (the last decade-plus?), they’re still very much in the mix. They sit at 40-33, just a half game behind the 40-32 Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed and final guaranteed playoff spot. Neither team has an easy schedule over the last nine (10 for the Raptors) games.
The Sixers, though, have Embiid and George back in the fold, with Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. seemingly not too far behind them. Everything is right there for the taking.
But Embiid’s mentality is probably the right one — playoffs or Play-In, the Sixers simply have to play their best basketball down the stretch.
“I’m good. I’m ready,” Embiid said. “I feel OK. It’s time to go and try to win some games. Wherever we end up, we end up. Whether it’s [the Play-In or the playoffs], let’s see what we got.”
