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The Portland Trail Blazers have made real strides this year, but tonight’s matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves will test whether they can make some noise in the play-in tournament next month.

Minnesota has won the past four meetings with Portland but there’s no Anthony Edwards for this one, so my Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves predictions shift to another All-Star talent primed to shine.

Check out my free NBA picks for this March 20 battle, where the Timberwolves will try to pad their impressive home record.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves prediction

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves best bet: Deni Avdija Over 12.5 rebounds + assists (+100)

Deni Avdija has now played six games since returning from a back issue. While his scoring has been erratic and he’s ice-cold from three-point range, he’s averaging 6.3 RPG and 7.0 APG in that span.

So I like this combo Over, with Avdija cashing this number in three of his last four outings, and the Portland Trail Blazers are thinner on the wing without Shaedon Sharpe.

Even while sharing playmaking duties with Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, Avdija is Portland’s No. 1 creator, and his rebounding will be critical against a Minnesota Timberwolves team that crushed the Indiana Pacers on the boards in midweek.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

The T-Wolves are 8-2 SU in the past 10 meetings between these teams, and I’m buying into their 24-12 record at Target Center.

Look for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to fill the Edwards void. Randle dished eight dimes against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, while the sometimes-streaky DiVincenzo has knocked down 3+ three-pointers in two of his last three games.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves SGP

• Timberwolves moneyline
• Julius Randle Over 4.5 assists
• Donte DiVincenzo Over 2.5 3-pointers

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dime central

With Randle and Avdija at the controls, this playmaking SGP has nice upside, and Scoot has chipped in with nine assists across his last two outings.

These teams combined for 53 dimes in their late-February clash, and there’s a case for a similar script tonight.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves SGP

• Deni Avdija Over 5.5 assists
• Julius Randle Over 4.5 assists
• Scoot Henderson Over 3.5 assists
• Timberwolves moneyline

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Portland +2.5 (-110) | Minnesota -2.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Portland +115 | Minnesota -135
• Over/Under: Over 231 (-110) | Under 231 (-110)

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Blazers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

As Luka Dončić stood at the line to put the finishing touch on his 60-point masterpiece, “MVP!” chants rained down from the stands of the Kaseya Center in Miami.

In any situation, a road arena showering praise upon a visiting opponent would be notable. That it came on the same floor Bam Adebayo scored 83 points not even two weeks ago makes it feel a bit extra notable.

“It was pretty impressive,” Luka said of the chants. “Especially an away game in Miami, you hear the whole crowd chanting “MVP!” I think every player wants to hear it. I got goosebumps. It was pretty special.”

The moment represents the growing crescendo of noise around Luka’s MVP case, which has shifted into overdrive over the last week, mirroring what has taken place on the court. For most of the season, Luka’s case was centered around just being on the ballot of the five players that each voter submits.

Now, though, the case is, instead, that he belongs in the conversation for the award itself.

“I don’t know why not,” Austin Reaves said of whether Luka deserved to be in the MVP conversation following Thursday’s win over the Heat. “[He’s] leading the league in scoring. I seen something [that] he was leading the league in a lot of things. We’re third in the West. I don’t know.

“I couldn’t see a reason why he’s not [in the MVP discussion]. I don’t think what I say is going to matter but he definitely should be in that conversation.”

Momentum is securely in Luka’s favor. Prior to the conclusion of Wednesday’s game in Houston, Luka was sitting somewhere around +5000 odds to win MVP, positioning him not just behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the presumptive favorite most of the season, but also a handful of other players.

After scoring 100 points in roughly a 24-hour period, Luka’s odds on FanDuel now sit at +1800. SGA is still far and away the favorite at -2000 odds, but the change is a tangible representation of how the narrative is shifting.

That shift has come as the Lakers have stacked win after win after win. They’ve won their last eight contests, nearly all of those coming against playoff teams across both conferences. Their only loss over the last 12 games came on the road in Denver in a close affair.

The Lakers are finding their groove as a team and Luka is at the center of it. During the eight-game win streak, Luka is averaging a staggering 40.8 points per game. He’s eclipsed the 40-point mark in half those contests. He’s scored at least 50 twice.

And on Thursday, he had his best game as a Laker yet.

“It’s a special run that he’s on,” head coach JJ Redick said. “We’ve seen all-time greats like him go on these runs and you just kind of got to embrace it and enjoy the moment. We’re 20 games over .500. Obviously, he’s missed time, LeBron’s missed time, [Reaves’] missed time.

“To the MVP point, we would not be anywhere near the position we’re in without him having the season he’s having. Particularly of late, he’s dominating right now.”

With only 12 games remaining on the schedule, it’s incredibly unlikely Luka can do enough to move past SGA, who is the leader of the team with the best record in the league and has had plenty of MVP-caliber moments of his own down the home stretch of the season.

But he’s certainly making it a conversation with each prolific scoring output he has, which is an increasingly common occurrence.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

PHILADELPHIA — Before Virginia men’s basketball was named the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region of the Men’s NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, Thijs De Ridder never really knew what March Madness was.

"Not much," De Ridder told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket, live scores: NCAA Tournament first round update

You can’t necessarily blame him: The Cavaliers' 6-foot-9, 238-pound forward was playing professionally for Bilbao Basket in the Liga ACB league, the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league, just last season.

"When I was 17 and younger, I thought it was another tournament like others. I did some brackets when I was younger, but that was just for fun," De Ridder said.

It’s what makes the 23-year-old freshman from Brasschaat, Belgium excited to play in Virginia's first round game against No. 14 seed Wright State.

"Every time (there was) an American guy on my team (overseas), they always talked about March Madness," De Ridder said. "Now that I'm here, it's such an organization, and it just made me really excited to play here. Hopefully, we can do some great stuff."

Thijs De Ridder's path from Bilbao to Virginia

De Ridder's path to Virginia is an interesting one.

"The story is, I happened to be in Italy looking at another kid and was meeting with his (Thijs) agent, but not about Thijs. (It was) about another kid,” Virginia associate head coach Griff Aldrich told USA TODAY Sports. "Thijs came to mind, and it became apparent that he was open, so we said, 'Hey, we were very interested (in him),' and it snowballed to Thijs."

Aldrich mentioned De Ridder wasn’t playing in Italy at the time he was visiting, but the 6-foot-9 forward matched Virginia's values while bringing experience and physicality to the court.

"He competed at a very high level. So his experience, size, physicality, and versatility were so attractive to us," Aldrich said. "We really liked his ability to be a two-way threat, both shooting and scoring, and then being able to drive and play out of the post."

He appeared in 33 of 34 games in the 2024-25 season for Bilbao Basket, averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 50.2% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. He also has international experience for Belgium in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2022 and 2023.

For De Ridder, the opportunity to play at Virginia — 29-5 in Year 1 under Ryan Odom — gave him the chance to show NBA scouts and coaches how he would compete against collegiate competition.

"I was lucky enough to do some work in NBA workouts before this and they were all saying, 'Hey Thijs, we want to see you compare with college kids and (see) what you can do there,'" De Ridder said. “Now that I’m here, I got the feedback that I wanted to work on my game and the skill sets and aspects that I have to work on to get to the next level." 

Make way for Thijs De Ridder! 💪

📺 ESPN2 x @UVAMensHoopspic.twitter.com/m8bKLCjgDt

— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 14, 2026

REQUIRED READING: Ranking all 68 March Madness teams by odds to win 2026 Men's NCAA bracket

Thijs De Ridder's impact on Virginia

De Ridder has been one of the more impactful newcomers Virginia has added this past offseason. Named to the All-ACC first team and all-rookie teams, De Ridder leads the Cavaliers in scoring at 15.5 points per game, and finished the regular season with the league's 15th-best scoring margin at 15.9 points per game.

He enters the NCAA Tournament with 11 20-point games, including a career-high 32 points at Notre Dame. He ranks ninth in the ACC in field goal percentage (50.8%) and 17th in rebounding (6.2 rpg). 

"He's incredibly composed," Wright State coach Clint Sargent said Thursday on De Ridder. “He's versatile offensively."

De Ridder’s success with the Cavaliers hasn’t come without some growth and adjustments to the different style of basketball in the United States.

"Thijs did not come in here saying, 'Hey, I played in the top pro league in Spain. You guys give me the ball and get out of the way and just listen to me.’ He has always been, 'I’m just a part of the team,'" Aldrich said.

Continued Aldrich: "He’s always been a younger guy who has played with older men. His role has always been a role player and not screw up. Where now it is, 'Hey, we actually need you to be an impact guy. We need you to be aggressive and be a playmaker and a scorer," Aldrich said. "It’s all things that I think he has really grown in just from a personality and an understanding of a new role."

All-ACC First Team ✅ All-Rookie Team ✅

- Thijs De Ridder ranks 15th in the ACC in scoring (15.9 ppg), ninth in field goal percentage (51.3%) and 17th in rebounding (6.3 rpg)
- He has reached double figures in scoring in 24 contests and has 11-20 point games
- De Ridder netted… https://t.co/VbR0iZBJKSpic.twitter.com/6g3Nvf3nnY

— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) March 9, 2026

REQUIRED READING: How to stream March Madness games for free: Streaming services to watch NCAA Tournament

How Thijs De Ridder has become leader for Cavaliers

At 23 years old, De Ridder is further along in his development than some of his teammates and competition around the country. For him, the biggest adjustment in college basketball has been the "young energy."

"Everybody wants to prove themselves here," said De Ridder, who also mentioned he has tried to use his experience overseas to his advantage with his younger teammates.

De Ridder’s experience and versatility on the court stand out with teammate Malik Thomas.

"What he’s brought to this team has been very special," Thomas told USA TODAY Sports. "His experience playing in big games overseas, where their March Madness looks a bit different, has been great. He brings this toughness to this team and has been a great piece for us."

The Cavaliers will need De Ridder to continue bringing that toughness and physicality inside the paint not just tomorrow against Wright State, where they hope to snap a three-game losing skid in the NCAA Tournament, but also the entire tournament if they want to go on a run.

"He’s created a lot of disadvantages and mismatches for the other team," Thomas said. "... It’s been great to see his growth over here at the college level and we’re just excited about his growth and how he continues to be himself."

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thijs De Ridder filled out brackets overseas. He's now playing in March Madness

ST. LOUIS – With Santa Clara’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years barely 24 hours away, Herb Sendek spent a lot of his Thursday morning media session looking backward.

The Broncos’ longtime head coach, 10 days removed from his 600^th win as a head coach, split his news conference mostly between discussing his own team and reminiscing on his time as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky.

“That four years was just, it was magic,” Sendek said of his time in Lexington. “Big Blue Nation is one of a kind.”

March Madness games today: Ranking the 16-game NCAA Tournament schedule for Friday

On Friday, Sendek will try to steal some of that magic, when his No. 10 Santa Clara team chases an upset of the 7-seeded Wildcats.

With the 26-win Broncos enjoying their best season in decades, the most-experienced coach in this weekend’s pod might just be the one poised to deliver the weekend’s biggest upset. His team does not lack for belief in the possibility.

Sendek’s career is a testament to longevity in what has increasingly become a young man’s game.

Of the eight head coaches in St. Louis this weekend, only two — Sendek and Purdue’s Matt Painter — have been at it more than 11 years. Two here, Miami’s Jai Lucas and Tennessee State’s Nolan Smith, brought their teams to March Madness in their first years in their respective jobs.

Sendek’s story covers many more chapters.

Friday will be his 16^th Tournament game as a head coach. Santa Clara is the fourth different program he’s brought dancing. Honored this winter as West Coast Conference coach of the year, Sendek has now won that award in four different leagues.

He invokes Pitino and Jim Valvano as comfortably as he talks about the way these Broncos succeed by “staying in the moment, all season long.”

Mostly, he talks like what he is — a coach’s son who never really considered making a living doing anything else.

“My dad was a coach. I have been in gyms since I have been in diapers. Literally,” Sendek said. “Now I look back on that and I realize, he was never too busy or going to be with somebody too important to have me tugging at his pants leg.

“He went out of his way to include me.”

The family business turned for Sendek into a lifetime spent in basketball.

He did not over-reflect on the past Thursday, though Sendek drew his share of knowing smiles when he picked out his “fondest” memory of his time in Lexington.

“I’d better answer that the right way,” he said, “and tell you I met my wife there. …

“Coach Pitino actually played cupid and set my wife and I up, and sure enough, 30-some years later, we’re here. So that would be memory No. 1.”

The memories Sendek spends his time on this weekend will be the ones Santa Clara hopes to make, starting with tipoff at 12:15 p.m. ET Friday.

Seeking their first NCAA tournament win since that Steve Nash-led team defeated Maryland in 1996, the Broncos lean on one of the nation’s most-efficient offenses. They shoot the ball well but rebound it better, perhaps as effectively as any team in the country on a per-possession basis.

That delivered not just 15 conference wins and a berth in the WCC title game, but also multiple nonconference victories over high-major opponents.

It was one of those, a 19-point Nov. 10 win at Xavier, that got Santa Clara believing this season could be something special.

“We went out there and competed, and we played well,” sophomore guard Christian Hammond said Thursday. “I just saw the fire and the hunger this team had.”

The Broncos’ eyes are trained on a bigger prize this weekend.

Sendek has coached too long, stood on these stages too many times, to worry about the conversation around this game. His players reflect that.

Soon, they might deliver for their coach another meaningful mile marker in a career already bursting with them.

“We just believe in us,” senior forward Elijah Mahi said. “We know if we go out there and play hard, like we’ve been playing all year, that we can beat any team out there."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Herb Sendek has Santa Clara in search of March Madness upset vs Kentucky

The upsets have already started in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament as High Point, a No. 12 seed, stunned Wisconsin, a No. 5, and VCU, which also knows a thing or two about being a Cinderella, beat blueblood North Carolina as a No. 11.

As the action moves forward in the first round, the potential for more upsets exists as 13-seeded Hofstra, led by head coach Speedy Claxton, takes on Alabama in the Midwest Region.

Hofstra is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, while the Crimson Tide has been to the dance in each of the past six years. The Pride is making their first March Madness appearance in 25 years, and with hopes to score the biggest victory in the school's history.

Here is what to know about Speedy Claxton and Hofstra:

What is Speedy Claxton's real name?

Claxton was born Craig Elliott Claxton on May 8, 1978, in Hempstead, New York. He is 48 years old. Claxton played at Hofstra during his college career and was a two-time America East Conference Player of the Year before he was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

His No. 10 jersey was retired by Hofstra and he was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Speedy Claxton's NBA career

Claxton is one of only six players from Hofstra University to play in the NBA. Claxton made his NBA debut on Oct. 30, 2001, and played seven seasons for the 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets and Atlanta Hawks, making his last NBA appearance in 2009.

He won an NBA championship in 2003 with the Spurs and averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 336 career games. Claxton was a scout with the Golden State Warriors before joining Hofstra's staff in 2013 as a special assistant.

Where is Hofstra?

Hofstra is located in Hempstead, New York, about 25 miles east of New York City.

The private college was founded in 1935, and its nickname for its sports teams is the Pride. They were known as the Flying Dutchmen until 2000.

Speedy Claxton's coaching record

Claxton has a 105-62 record in five seasons with Hofstra, winning 20 or more games four times. The Pride went 24-10 this season and won the Coastal Athletic Association Conference Tournament championship to receive an automatic bid to the tournament.

Hofstra's NCAA Tournament record

This is Hofstra's fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, following bids in 1976, 1977, 2000 and 2001.

The Pride have never won a tournament game, and lost 61-48 to UCLA in the first round in its last appearance in 2001.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Speedy Claxton? What to know about Hofstra in March Madness

New York has a 13-game winning streak and it will read 14 by midnight.

Don’t believe it? Ask Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Here’s the latest from the Knickerbocker universe.

Knicks have 16 games of 130+ points

Most in the NBA

Most by any Knick team ever pic.twitter.com/TXus3zpg9H

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 20, 2026

Mike Brown

On Jose Alvarado’s impact since arriving:

“Jose has been fantastic for us. The time that he’s been here, he’s given us a lift energy-wise. And he’s a veteran. He knows the league, the league knows him. And he has a respect level for what he’s accomplished already that’s helped us tremendously.”

On not overthinking the Alvarado-McBride rotation yet:

“I’m not sure. I’ve thought a little bit about it but I haven’t put a ton of thought into it because I’m not exactly sure when Deuce is gonna get back. But Jose has been fantastic for us. The time that he’s been here, he’s given us a lift energy-wise. And he’s a veteran. He knows the league, the league knows him. And he has a respect level for what he’s accomplished already that’s helped us tremendously.”

On the Miles McBride-Jose Alvarado comparisons:

“They’re different players. Deuce might be a little taller than him, I’m not sure, but they’re both smaller guards. But they’re both quick. Deuce obviously shot the mess out of it. Jose’s speed is up there at the top of the league. Deuce kind of has a medium game. They both get to the ball. Jose picks up full-court a little different than Deuce. They bring some different things to the table, which you like that diversity on the team.”

On still tinkering with roles and rotations:

“[Roles are] closer to being defined, but there’s still some things I’d like to tinker with, from certain things we do defensively to a couple of things offensively to even some rotational stuff.”

Sochan没控制住自己，上手掐Brunson的胸，Brunson的表情很恼火，又说不出什么 #nbapic.twitter.com/4WXTsggoO7

— CHNHOOPS (@chnhoops) March 20, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On Jose Alvarado’s constant energy:

“Absolutely, it helps the team no matter what. You kind of wish he was on the court because he’s a little bit quieter than on the bench. He does so much for this team on and off the court. It’s constant energy. Kind of regardless of how he’s playing, he always has the energy. That’s a skill, that’s a skill that makes someone last in the league a long time. It’s great to have him.”

On potentially pairing Alvarado and McBride:

“They are definitely different, but they both are very viable. They bring intangibles to the game, the intensity. They both do things that help the team win and they complement each other. It would be great to see, once Deuce is back, how that group plays together. I’m really excited to see that.”

On the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak against Brooklyn:

“No comment. We’re gonna focus on winning the game then moving on from there. I don’t care about the streak.”

On maintaining a short-term focus:

“You have to be ready to go. Short-term memory. No matter what the result is, you gotta come ready to play next time you play, next game, whatever it is. We gotta look past it, we gotta look forward. It’s 0-0, new game.”

Q: “If you had to get rid of one: Knicks or Nets?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani: “Nets”pic.twitter.com/K0kARfdShm

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 18, 2026

Jose Alvarado

On energy being his separator:

“I didn’t think that growing up, but as I got closer, into college and going into my NBA career, it’s definitely — it keeps me in the NBA. That’s one of the reasons I got to the NBA, and it separates me from being just in the NBA, if that makes sense. I just figured out that’s what God blessed me with, and I’ve just got to do it at a high level.”

On playing alongside Miles McBride:

“[It would be] dope. Whatever the situation is, when we’re on the court together we’re going to be really good. I’ve seen Deuce play a whole bunch of times. I know how good he is. And to be quite frank, he needed somebody to get it rolling. He’s obviously a really good shooter. So me getting downhill is going to make it a little bit more easier for him. It’s all going to work out. I think this team has got a whole lot of firepower. Once we start clicking, I think we will be fine.”

On landing his first commercial after joining the Knicks:

“That’s what New York can do for you: get you in commercials. My agent called me and said, ‘We’ve got a special thing, do you want to be in a commercial?’ I said ‘Yeah,’ I didn’t know who was going to be in the commercial at first. But the commercial came out pretty dope.”

Andre Iguodala

On CJ McCollum’s work as the head of the NBPA:

“I want to talk about CJ McCollum. He’s been getting a lot of flak for the second apron, and I always ask guys, what would you want CJ to do differently? Because we know what lockouts are like, and we don’t want guys to lose money. We reach out to guys all the time, and what do guys say? I’m busy, I don’t want no extra work.”

On Mikal Bridges’ and Josh Hart’s lack of involvement with the NBPA:

“When I talk to other guys, like we need you at these meetings. ‘I want to play Call Of Duty, I want to go out.’ Mikal… that’s my young boy. I’m like, ‘Mikal dog, if you’re one of the smart players in the league, him too (Josh Hart), we need y’all.’”

Happy 69th birthday Spike Lee 🎂 pic.twitter.com/FIGYJk2tGz

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 20, 2026

Washington Wizards center Anthony Davis will be sidelined through the end of the month with a finger sprain, the team announced Friday.

ANTHONY DAVIS INJURY UPDATE pic.twitter.com/JroDB0AvLL

— Wizards PR (@WizPRStats) March 20, 2026

Davis hasn’t played since early January when he suffered ligament damage in his left hand. The 32-year-old forward opted against surgery before he was later traded to the Wizards for a package that included five draft picks and four players.

The Wizards will have just seven games remaining when Davis is re-evaluated at the end of March.

It appears the Wizards' plan is to keep pushing back Anthony Davis' return until the season is basically over.

And I can't blame them for doing so. Not much incentive to bring Davis back when the goal of these final 13 games is to lose as much as possible.

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) March 20, 2026

With Washington — losers of 14 straight games — in full tanking mode, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Davis makes his Wizards debut this season.

About a month removed from the NBA trade deadline, which largely fell flat for the Sixers, details of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks are starting to leak out. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently mentioned two players the Milwaukee Bucks had interest in — one of them being VJ Edgecombe.

“Multiple sources across the league said the Bucks’ asking price was enormous, with an executive from a third team describing the Bucks’ process as “gauging the market” and their price as “all our draft picks and good young players.”

The Golden State Warriors offer included four unprotected first round picks in pursuit of Antetokounmpo, sources said, but never seemed to gain much momentum on a deal.

The players the Bucks did seem interested in were younger building blocks such as VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers or Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources said.“

The Bucks’ rationale isn’t hard to figure out. If you’re trading Antetokounmpo, you’re kicking off a rebuild, and getting a younger, NBA-tested player accelerates that process. Both Edgecombe and Mobley fit that mold. A player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber hasn’t been traded in quite some time — the closest comparisons being the Suns’ deal for Kevin Durant and the Nets’ trade of James Harden, both of which netted an absolute haul of assets.

From a Sixers’ standpoint, things get messy fast. Matching Antetokounmpo’s massive salary would require at least one of Paul George or Joel Embiid to be included, and that’s before factoring in Edgecombe being packaged alongside them. A realistic offer probably looks like George, Edgecombe and a slew of draft capital — just to get Milwaukee to the table. You’d be locking in a Maxey-Antetokounmpo-Embiid core while giving up depth, future upside and flexibility to do it.

Despite the massive hurdles, the idea of Antetokounmpo ending up in Philly isn’t something to completely dismiss. Between this report of the Bucks openly fielding offers and an earlier report that Maxey was one of two players Antetokounmpo wanted to play alongside (the other being Anthony Edwards), there’s at least something worth monitoring here.

While the idea of Antetokounmpo in Philly is a fun fantasy, it’s likely just that. Antetokounmpo is advancing toward the twilight of his career, the injuries have been stacking up, and the trouble of pulling off that trade is probably more than it’s worth. The future of the NBA appears to be built around youth, and Edgecombe looks like a true franchise pillar for years to come. The Sixers have made it clear they had zero interest in moving him, and for good reason. This is a 20-year-old who has already been asked to do way too much in his rookie year, and yet he’s not only held his own against NBA veterans but stood out doing it. That isn’t too common for a rookie guard.

Maxey has gone to bat for him repeatedly, with this quote from January standing out in particular:

“We’re blessed to have him,” Maxey told reporters. “Super. Thank you, basketball gods, Lord, Baylor, I don’t know. Daryl Morey. Everybody.”

Antetokounmpo talks are bound to ramp up this summer, with the divide between both sides continuing to widen. Owner Wes Edens has even gone on record saying Antetokounmpo will be traded if he doesn’t accept their extension offer. For the Sixers, the smart play is to stay out of it if the price is their electric rookie. Edgecombe is exactly the kind of asset you build around, not the kind you throw into a blockbuster to rent a star on the back nine of his career.

Editor's note: Keep up with all of Friday's action in USA TODAY Sports' live blog for all 16 first-round games today here.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and so have major upsets.

March Madness officially got underway with first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Sixteen games were played on "opening day" of the NCAA Tournament, with another 16 on Friday, March 20. And we had some shockers already.

March Madness predictions, odds: Picking all 16 games on today's NCAA Tournament schedule

Will Big 10 drought end this year? Big Ten hasn't won March Madness since 2000

The NCAA Tournament continues through April 5, when a national champion will emerge from the Final Four in Indianapolis. Second round coverage begins on Saturday, March 21 and continues through Sunday, March 22.

As March Madness continues to unfold, USA TODAY Sports will be on top of all the action. Here's a look at the March Madness results so far for men's March Madness:

March Madness results so far

First round

Thursday, March 19

• East Region: (1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65
• Midwest Region: (1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80
• South Region: (2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47
• East Region: (3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67
• South Region: (3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70
• West Region: (3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64
• East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
• South Region: (4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47
• West Region: (4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawai'i 78
• West Region: (12) High Point 83, (5) Wisconsin 82
• South Region: 5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese 68
• East Region: (6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79
• South Region: (11) Virginia Commonwealth 82, (6) North Carolina 78, OT
• West Region: (11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71
• South Region: (10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary's 50
• East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
• Midwest Region: (9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77

March Madness schedule: Today's games in men's NCAA Tournament

• Midwest Region: (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• Midwest Region: (5) Texas Tech vs. (12) Akron | 12:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• West Region: (1) Arizona vs. (16) LIU | 1:35 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (3) Virginia vs. (14) Wright State | 1:50 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (2) Iowa State vs. (15) Tennessee State | 2:50 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• Midwest Region: (4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra | 3:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• West Region: (8) Villanova vs. (9) Utah State | 4:10 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (6) Tennessee vs. (11) Miami (Ohio)/SMU | 4:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• South Region: (8) Clemson vs. (9) Iowa | 6:50 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• East Region: (5) St. John's vs. (12) Northern Iowa | 7:10 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• East Region: (7) UCLA vs. (10) Central Florida | 7:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• West Region: (2) Purdue vs. (15) Queens | 7:35 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (1) Florida vs. (16) Prairie View A&M/Lehigh | 9:25 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• East Region: (4) Kansas vs. (13) Cal Baptist | 9:45 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• East Region: (2) UConn vs. (15) Furman | 10 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• West Region: (7) Miami vs. (10) Missouri | 10:10 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games yesterday: Results so far from men's NCAA Tournament

The Toronto Raptors continue their five-game road trip in the mile-high city tonight, facing the Denver Nuggets. This is their second and final matchup of the season, with the first ending in a called-off successful 3-pointer by Ingram as the clock expired that would’ve send the game to overtime on New Year’s Eve:

Brandon Ingram's game-tying shot got called back 😳 pic.twitter.com/BzDG3nXv91

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 1, 2026

The last time they met, Denver’s roster looked very different. They were missing four of their five starters due to injury, but still managed to overtake Toronto. This will be the Raptors’ opportunity for redemption, but they will have to do it against a Nuggets team at full strength.

Currently in the league, their are 10 teams above the Raptors, with Denver a single spot ahead. So far this year, Toronto has struggled greatly when facing the League’s elite, with a record of 5-18 against those teams. Three of those wins came against the Cavs, one against Detroit and one against the Thunder.

Including this game, there are 14 left in the season. Only four of those are against top 10 teams. Now, more than ever, Toronto needs to see what they are capable as the postseason looms. Only four games separate Toronto in 5th from Charlotte in 10th in the East. They will need to view every game as must-win until they secure their spot and avoid the play-in.

It also couldn’t hurt for them to see what they can do when they go toe-to-toe with tougher competition. Luckily for Toronto, they’re coming into this matchup with momentum. On Wednesday, the Raptors steam-rolled the Bulls in a 30-point victory that showed what Toronto is capable of. They did everything right. Passing. Shooting. Defence. Now, if they can channel that energy again, they should have a chance against Denver too.

The biggest challenge in overcoming the Nuggets is Jokic. Not just because of his ability to score and take over games, but also the way he facilitates for his teammates. He is often doubled by defences, leaving someone open. Jokic capitalizes and finds the open man for the easy basket. Even without him in their last matchup, that’s the system Denver ran. Cutting, driving, and kick-outs for open shooters to pick apart defences.

The Raptors know this, so they will have to be fully engaged tip to buzzer. Help defence will need to be active and mobile. Players will need to do a better job following their man to prevent back-cuts. They may even need to utilize a single coverage on Jokic, which they have options for. Poeltl is back, Mamu has good size as a backup, and should-be DPOY candidate Scottie Barnes will likely end up with some coverage against him too.

Canadian Jamal Murray will also draw some attention as he is able to find his shot from all over the floor. His long-range shooting is one of his best assets that often help him run up the score. Keeping the ball out of his hands helped the last time out, but will be a bit more of a challenge now that he doesn’t need to be their primary ball handler. Even still, the less he touches the ball tonight, the better for the Raptors.

While the rosters are different than the last matchup, the script is the same. Let’s just hope for a different outcome.

Probable Starters

Toronto: Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett

Denver: Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun

Injury Report

Toronto: Chucky Hepburn (Out: G-League), A.J. Lawson (Out: G-League), Alijah Martin (Out: G-League), Collin Murray-Boyles (Doubtful: Thumb sprain).

Denver: DaRon Holmes II (Out: G-League), Curtis Jones (Out: G-League), KJ Simpson (Out: G-League), Peyton Watson (Out: Hamstring strain)

Where to Watch

Tune into Sportsnet at 9pm ET!

Queens is looking to make some noise in its first Men's NCAA Tournament appearance.

The No. 15-seeded Royals are set to take on No. 2 Purdue in the first round of March Madness on Friday, March 20, from Enterprise Center in St Louis. Queens won the ASUN Conference Tournament for the first time in program history to qualify for the tournament.

REQUIRED READING: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

While just appearing in Friday's game will be a historic moment for the school, which is just in its fourth-year competing at the Division I level, you can imagine that the Royals enter the game with a bigger goal: an upset of the Boilermakers.

For those tuning in to see Queens making history, here's what to know about Queens before it takes on Purdue heading into the NCAA Tournament:

Where is Queens located?

No, your first guess of "on the western end of Long Island in New York" is not correct.

Queens is a private school located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has an approximate undergraduate figure of 1,900 and it was founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute.

In 2025, Queens and Elon University (located in Elon, North Carolina) announced the two universities would be merging, which is expected to be completed in August 2026.

Queens NCAA Tournament history

Friday's matchup against Purdue will be the NCAA Tournament debut for the Royals. The program first fielded a men's basketball team in the 1989-90 season.

Queens has been a Division I team since July 1, 2022.

What conference does Queens play in?

Queens competes in the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference, a member since July 1, 2022. The ASUN has members in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina and Georgia.

The Royals competed in the Conference Carolinas from 1995 to 2013, then joined the South Atlantic Conference in 2013, before moving up to Division I in 2022.

Queens won its first ASUN Conference tournament championship this past season, qualifying them for the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I school. The Royals also won the Conference Carolinas three times (1996, 1998, 1999) and the South Atlantic Conference twice (2017, 2022).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where is Queens? Nickname, March Madness history for ASUN program

Troy coach Scott Cross has emerged as the leading candidate in Georgia Tech's basketball coaching search, multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Friday, March 20.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Cross' candidacy. It wasn't immediately clear whether Cross, who led Troy to its second straight Men's NCAA Tournament berth this season, has been offered the job.

The Georgia Tech job came open when athletic director Ryan Alpert fired Damon Stoudamire on March 8 after the Yellow Jackets closed their season on a 12-game losing streak and failed to make the 15-team ACC Tournament. Stoudamire, an ex-Arizona star, lasted three seasons with the Yellow Jackets and posted a 42-55 record.

Cross and Furman coach Bob Richey were among the candidates thoroughly vetted by Alpert during Georgia Tech's search, with Cross emerging as the focus, multiple sources told USA TODAY Sports.

Richey coached Furman to its eighth March Madness berth this season and second since 1980. The 15th-seeded Paladins (22-12) will face No. 2 UConn (29-5) in the first round on Friday.

Why Georgia Tech is targeting Scott Cross

Georgia Tech is trying to revive a program that has lost 93 games the past five seasons and has just one NCAA Tournament berth since 2010.

In narrowing the focus on Cross, Georgia Tech is targeting a coach coming off a successful stint after spending more than two decades at the Division I level.

Cross, who has 19 years' experience as an NCAA head coach, led Troy to a Sun Belt Conference championship and 22-12 record this season, ending with Thursday's 76-47 loss to Nebraska in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Cross' last five Troy teams won at least 20 games. His past two reached the NCAA Tournament and another reached the now-defunct College Basketball Invitational.

Before arriving at Troy, Cross guided Texas-Arlington to postseason appearances in the NIT and College Invitational Tournament (CIT) quarterfinals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scott Cross top Georgia Tech basketball candidate after March Madness loss

To some of us, it may sound like an echo from a not-so-distant past. How do we protect our superstar and franchise player from constantly getting hit and banged up – and carrying too much of the load? 

“Health is the biggest thing,” Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said a few days ago about Cooper Flagg. “We’re looking for Cooper to come out of this (season) healthy.”

The focus is on injury prevention and finding ways to save his energy. In order to do that the coaching staff wants Flagg to take a new approach – or at least refocus his offensive game a little. 

“Because he plays hard, because he attacks, he gets hit a lot, so that’s one of the areas that we want to make sure that he gets better at.”

And Kidd has a specific thing in mind that could help limit the amount of hits and bumps Flagg receives during the course of a game, but also save his energy: more shooting beyond the arc. 

“He feels comfortable shooting it off the dribble,” Kidd said about Cooper Flagg. “We would like for him to get a little bit better at catch-and-shoot. Less energy spent, less banging.”

Sound familiar?

In many ways, this is not a new situation in Dallas. Not long ago, the calls for Luka Doncic to avoid getting banged up constantly were loud in the media and among fans. Back then, everyone wanted Luka Doncic to take more catch-and-shoot threes, as well. The issues were similar, but the question remains:

How do you save the energy of the franchise player and decrease the amount of times he gets hit and banged up during a game?

Back on January 1st, 2023, Jason Kidd talked in similar fashion about how Luka Doncic’s next step should be to learn to play in a way that would put less stress on his body:

“After that New York game, I wanted to see – could we say a Klay-type game where he had 5 dribbles and had 70 points? That’s the next step for him, to understand how to pick the defense apart without putting so much stress on his body.”

Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic's next step: "After that New York game, I wanted to see — could we say a Klay-type game where he had 5 dribbles and had 70 points? That's the next step for him, to understand how to pick the defense apart without putting so much stress on his body." pic.twitter.com/AuR0lolceL

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 31, 2022

And in yet another repetition of past struggles in Dallas, fans and media alike have been calling out the referees for not protecting Cooper Flagg. The same sentiment was very prevalent around Doncic for most of his career. 

But isn’t this an issue with all stars, especially in that rookie year? you might ask. And the answer could very likely be yes. But that doesn’t mean that we should just accept the status quo. 

There are ways to protect stars, superstars and even rookies. Jason Kidd knows what he’s doing, he understands that catch-and-shoot threes would help decrease the hits which Flagg receives every game. 

But that’s not the only solution. Running plays that encourage more catch-and-shoots, forcing the rookie to sometimes settle for the shot, would help. 

Making sure there’s always players around him to share the physical load (or upgrade the roster to accommodate it), and a playmaker to set the table on offense. 

And then there’s simply standing up for Flagg more during games from the coaches, reminding referees, pushing back, taking a tech sometimes to prove a point. All of this could make a big difference. Same in the press conferences after. Make sure the focus is on this issue, shape the narrative. 

Look, I get it, I’m not a refs complainer either. But when you see how other coaches go to war for lesser incidents and often end up with a better whistle down the road, you have to consider starting the conversation. Here’s a good example of how Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr always campaigns on behalf of his players. 

STEVE KERR: "I'm pissed off. I wanted to go to Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup. We aren't going because of a loose ball foul 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I've never seen anything like it in my life. That was ridiculous. Thank you."pic.twitter.com/lO5S2qJVlK

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 12, 2024

As it did with Doncic, it is now beginning to take a toll on Cooper Flagg. In last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Flagg was clearly more agitated – both complaining more and showing bad body language, which seems to be an increasingly regular occurrence as the season wears on. 

the foul is called on the floor and Coop doesn't like it pic.twitter.com/HkIruvis3G

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) March 19, 2026

Obviously, this is a problem for the coaching staff to solve. They never really figured it out while Luka Doncic was in Dallas, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find a way to help Cooper Flagg.

It’s easy to sit behind a screen or in the arena and be an expert on how other people should do their jobs. It’s a different thing altogether to maneuver the situation on the floor in the moment it’s happening. Everybody who has played real and competitive basketball and coached knows that.

But the Mavs have to find a way to protect their franchise star one way or the other, and a concerted effort might be more effective than leaving the responsibility with the player.

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

The Milwaukee Bucks played what was definitely their worst game of this season, getting blown out by the 20-48 Utah Jazz, 128-96. Along with their play itself, this was also the team’s worst game from a body language standpoint, and that’s saying a lot. The Jazz, who, make no mistake, are going to extreme lengths to lose, simply couldn’t suck as much as the Bucks, no matter what they tried. Yikes. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

23 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers 5/10 FG, 3/7 3P, -14

Was decently efficient, but unable to make much impact as a primary playmaker.

Grade: C-

Myles Turner

18 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 1/3 FG, 1/3 3P, -12

Maybe the worst game from Turner all season? Completely irrelevant all game on both ends. I hesitate to use the word “soft” these days, but this was pretty soft from the big man. Couldn’t assert any will on the game against dudes who, let’s be honest, are not even close to being NBA centres.

Grade: F

Kyle Kuzma

19 minutes, 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 3/7 FG, 0/2 3P, –19

Got out in transition a few times, but same as Turner: irrelevant.

Grade: D-

AJ Green

11 minutes, 0 points, 0/4 FG, 0/4 3P, -13

Had multiple bad mistakes on defence as an off-ball defender, and couldn’t find his shot either. Been a rough stretch for AJ.

Grade: D-

Ousmane Dieng

24 minutes, 13 points, 5/7 FG, 3/4 3P, -27

Hit open shots, but made very little impact as a passer (apart from one nice skip pass). Also got dominated a few times by physical defenders. Being physical is going to keep popping up on the scouting report for those defending Ous until he proves he can beat it.

Grade: C

Bobby Portis

23 minutes, 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4/12 FG, 1/4 3P, -17

Made some early impact, but this was one of the few games this year where Bobby looked like the player he has been in seasons past. Looked slow and lethargic on both ends, getting blown by more than his standard this year. Also got beasted by Andersson Garcia way too many times on the boards; this was Garcia’s fifth game.

Grade: C-

Pete Nance

13 minutes, 0 points, 0/2 FG, 0/1 3P, -14

Nothing from a bloke who usually finds a way to make an impact on some level. That said, he didn’t get any real run until the fourth quarter, making it tough to find a rhythm.

Grade: F

Jericho Sims

17 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1/1 FG, -9

Jericho feeds off others making plays for him, and so when the likes of Rollins, Kuzma, and Dieng don’t produce in that area, it has a negative impact on Sims.

Grade: D+

Cam Thomas

22 minutes, 14 points, 4 assists, 5 turnovers, 5/11 FG, 1/3 3P, -20

Cam’s stat line doesn’t look too bad, but I actually thought he was pretty horrendous from a process standpoint. His turnovers were ghastly. Plus, he didn’t play a lick of defence.

Grade: D+

Taurean Prince

16 minutes, 6 points, 2/5 FG, 2/5 3P, -4

I’d apply much of my “critique” for Sims—that his player type only works if the playmakers do their job—to Prince. That said, he did make a smooth self-created corner three.

Grade: C-

Gary Trent Jr.

17 minutes, 4 points, 1/5 FG, 1/5 3P, +0

GT just couldn’t hit shots, but he took the right ones. Was clearly trying to show the coaches that he was fighting like all hell on defence, though, which I appreciated.

Grade: C-

Doc Rivers

Part of me feels like the players came out with no want to play with any sort of intensity, and that’s not on Doc. But the number of guys the Jazz played who simply weren’t NBA players (or were fringe players at best)… you simply have to find ways to assert your dominance over them. I don’t recall Turner getting one look in the post against a 10-day guy. Advantages like these were almost never exploited, and that falls on the coach.

Grade: D

Garbage Time: Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan, Andre Jackson Jr.

Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Bless Lisa and Marques… they tried their hardest to keep the vibe at least somewhat upbeat.
• We got our first look at Cormac Ryan, who scored on his first NBA shot attempt (a three, of course).
• Ace Bailey was a flamethrower, dropping a career-high 33 on 7/17 from three. That’s a lot of threes.
• The Jazz were on the second night of a back-to-back, and played just eight guys.
• The experience of watching your team get blown out by a tanking team is truly unique. I mean, the Jazz were already tanking hard, but I want to say Will Hardy gave it an extra push at one point by subbing out all of the best players who were playing all at once, but it quickly became evident that the Bucks were just too bad on the night for Utah to steal the L.
• Just flagging that the Pelicans—having won consecutive games against the Clippers over the last two days—are now just four games “ahead” of the Bucks in the tank standings.

Up Next

The Bucks play again tomorrow against the Phoenix Suns. Catch the game at 9:00 p.m. CDT on NBA TV or FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

March Madness officially kicked off on Thursday, March 19.

When the cameras went to the studio analysts for CBS and TNT Sports, some fans were shocked to see Ernie Johnson not present along with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, the longtime loved trio of "Inside the NBA," but also regulars hosting the NCAA Tournament.

REQUIRED READING: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

Instead of Johnson, former NFL player turned "CBS Mornings" host, Nate Burleson, replaced Johnson with his hosting responsibilities. The former wide receiver also does football analysis in the studio with CBS and has been one of the commentators for Nickelodeon's Super Bowl broadcast for kids.

Nate Burleson makes his March Madness studio hosting debut. 🏀🏈📺🎙️ #MarchMadness#NCAATournamenthttps://t.co/3F2OcAG31Bpic.twitter.com/NKcDR0l3Hw

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2026

But why was Johnson not present for the opening of the NCAA Tournament and who is Burleson? Here's what you need to know:

Where is Ernie Johnson?

Johnson took on the lead role as the host last year, following the death of the legendary Greg Gumbel in December 2024.

However, this year, Johnson requested additional time off, necessitating the need for CBS to bring in a brand new host.

“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson said to NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”

Johnson is set to return for the Final Four and championship game in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6.

Who is Nate Burleson?

Burleson, 44, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Aug. 19, 1981. His father, Al, was a defensive back in the CFL. His brother, Kevin, played in the NBA.

After attending Nevada for college, Burleson was a third-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Vikings, Seahawks and Lions, finishing his career with 457 receptions for 5,360 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Burleson began his broadcasting career soon after his playing career ended in 2014, as an analyst for NFL Network. In 2021, the responsibilities for the two-time Sports Emmy Award winner grew as he expanded his work with CBS. He served as the first color commentator for Nickelodeon's NFL Wild Card game and as a host of CBS' reality show "The Challenge: All Stars."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Nate Burleson? Why has he replaced Ernie Johnson?