SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 25: Julian Reese #15 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 25, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards ended their 16-game losing streak with a bang in the form of a 133-110 drubbing of the Utah Jazz at Delta Center.
The Wizards had their most dominant first half of the season against a Jazz squad determined to out-tank them. Washington took a 13-point lead to end the first quarter and continued to pile on before the halftime buzzer, leading by as many as 31 points before settling on a 72-45 advantage at the break.
Juju Reese was holding the detonator during the first-half demolition job. Reese shot 8/9 from the field while collecting every rebound in his orbit, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds with another half to play. He feasted on a Jazz frontline that started 190-pound Cody Williams at center, which amusingly made Juju look like a prime Joel Embiid.
The Wizards rode the huge first-half lead and coasted to a 133-110 victory. The 23-point win was Washingtonâs largest margin of victory of the season.
Reese finished with a monster double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds on a 12-of-16 clip. The Maryland alum clearly loves playing the Jazz as heâs averaging 22.0 points and 18.5 rebounds in two games this season.
Will Riley had a double-double of his own with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists across just 22 minutes. The reserve guard duo of Jaden Hardy and Sharife Cooper combined for 38 points off the bench.
The Wizards continue their road trip on Friday with a late-night clash against the Golden State Warriors.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) â Juju Reese had 26 points and 17 rebounds, Will Riley added 19 points and 10 boards, and the Washington Wizards snapped a 16-game skid with a 133-110 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
It was Washington's first win since Feb. 20 against Indiana.
Cody Williams scored 24 points for the Jazz, who have lost 15 of 18. Blake Hinson added a career-high 21 points and John Konchar had 14 rebounds.
Reese and Riley are the first Wizards rookie pair to have double-doubles in the same game since John Wall and Jordan Crawford on March 23, 2011 at the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Sportradar.
In a matchup of teams widely believed to be tanking in order to improve their draft prospects, the Wizards never trailed and pulled ahead by 37 late in the third quarter. But Utah went on a 23-2 run in the fourth and pulled within 13 midway through the period.
Reese â the brother of Angel Reese of the WNBA's Chicago Sky â and Sharife Cooper hit key buckets down the stretch to keep Washington in control.
The Wizards outrebounded the Jazz 56-40.
The Wizards said before the game that Kyshawn George has a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. George will be reevaluated in a week, the team said.
Utah won the previous meeting between the teams, beating the Wizards 122-112 on March 6.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) gestures after a three-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 25,...
INDIANAPOLIS â The Lakers beating the Pacers 137-130 on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse wasnât a surprise.
And considering the Pacers have the NBAâs worst record, the final margin shouldnât have been a surprise, either.
But the Lakersâ fatigue from the six-game, 11-day trip that ended Wednesday was evident before tipoff.
The Lakersâ LeBron James scored 23 points in the teamâs road victory against the Pacers on Wednesday. NBAE via Getty Images
And even though the Pacers have been struggling, the backbone of a team that played in the NBA Finals just nine months ago is still present with its grit and hustle.
But LeBron Jamesâ message entering Wednesday was clear: Even though everybody was tired and wanted to get home, they still had business to take care of.
And thatâs exactly what the Lakers did â even though the Pacers cut it close at the end, trimming their deficit to six points after the Lakers led by as many as 29 in the third quarter.
James had a near triple-double with 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
Jaxson Hayes, who started in place of Deandre Ayton, had his first double-double of the season with season highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds to go with a pair of blocked shots and steals.
Austin Reaves added 25 points and eight assists.
What it means
The Lakers improved to 47-26 with Wednesdayâs victory, which was their 13th win in their last 15 games.
They also maintained the leagueâs fifth-best winning percentage in away games, having a 24-14 record on the road after going 5-1 on the trip.
The Lakers havenât lost consecutive games since their three-game losing streak Feb. 22-26.
The Lakersâ Jaxson Hayes finished with a double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) against the host Pacers. Getty Images
Turning point
When it became clear in the first quarter that the Lakers showed up with a business-like approach.
The Pacers, who have the leagueâs worst record at 16-57, lost 16 straight games before beating the Magic on Monday.
But their motivations â having the best chance to secure a high draft pick in this summerâs draft â were clear before Wednesday despite their late push.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
With his performance Wednesday, Doncic recorded his league-leading 42nd game scoring at least 30 points, which is tied for eighth most in a season in franchise history.
It also marked his 11th straight game with at least 30 points, which is tied for the longest streak of his career. He also did it from Nov. 22-Dec. 18, 2023, while playing for the Mavericks.
Stat of the game: Six
Wednesday was the sixth time this season Doncic has scored at least 20 points in the first quarter.
No other player has done it more than twice this season.
Doncic scored 21 points of his eventual scoring total in the opening period to help the Lakers take a 45-28 lead going into the second quarter.
He shot 8 of 12 from the field (3 of 5 on 3s) in the opening 12 minutes.
Doncic also has the most 20-point quarters in the league (eight).
Up next
The Lakers will return to Southern California for three home games before their next trip.
They host the Nets on Friday before matchups against the Wizards and Cavaliers on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 27: Keyonte George #3, Kyle Filipowski #22, Lauri Markkanen #23 and Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 27, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are clearly doing everything they can to keep their pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Something tells me that next season, we wonât see as many players on the injury report as this season. That means that the core of this Jazz team will play, and itâs clear theyâre going to play well. The question is, of the current Jazz roster, who is going to be the most important player next season? Now, Utah may win the lottery and that could change this entire question. If Utah drafts someone like Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa, that changes everything. That said, letâs just ignore the lottery and draft for the sake of this question. If weâre looking at the odds, itâs statistically a little more likely Utah doesnât draft in the top four of the draft anyway.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
ATLANTA (AP) â Florida freshman Ahmed Jaouadi broke a NCAA record in the 1,650-yard freestyle and the Gators shared the Day 1 lead with Indiana at the Division I swimming and diving championships on Wednesday.
Jaouadi denied Indiana senior ZalĂĄn SĂĄrkĂĄny a three-peat with a time of 14:10.03 to break former Gator Bobby Finkeâs long-standing NCAA record. SĂĄrkĂĄny recorded the fastest 1,000 freestyle in collegiate swimming history, splitting an 8:33.10 during a runner-up performance.
Florida and Indiana are tied atop the team standing with 86 points, followed by Texas with 72.
Jonny Kulow brought home the title for Arizona State in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:20.07. Florida, after setting a new NCAA record at the SEC championships, secured the runner-up and the Longhorns took third.
Texas won the 800 freestyle relay after Rafael Fente-Damers, Camden Taylor, Rex Maurer and Baylor Nelson touched first with a time of 6:05.82.
The four-day event at the McAuley Aquatic Center continues on Thursday with the 100 butterfly, 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 1-meter diving and the 200 freestyle relay.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 25, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey â 22 VJ Edgecombe â 12 Joel Embiid â 9 Paul George â 6 Justin Edwards â 4 Kelly Oubre Jr. â 4 Quentin Grimes â 3 Jared McCain :â( â 3 Dominick Barlow â 2 Andre Drummond â 2 MarJon Beauchamp â 2 Adem Bona â 1 Cam Payne â 1 Jabari Walker â 1 Trendon Watford â 1 15th roster spot â 1
As Daryl Morey suspected when he allocated over $400 million in new money combined to them in 2024, the Philadelphia 76ers are a much better basketball team when Joel Embiid and Paul George are on the court.
The veterans both returned against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night following long absences, Embiid due to an oblique injury and George due to a 25-game league suspension, and the pair certainly looked to have benefitted from the time off. The pair combined for 63 points in shorter stints than usual, as Philadelphia scored their most points in a game since this writer has been alive (and most since 1970), absolutely walloping the Bulls, 157-137. The goal to climb back out of the Play-In Tournament remains very much alive, still just a half game back of Atlanta for sixth place with nine games remaining.
Letâs pause and appreciate this win though and talk Bell Ringer.
Joel had missed 13 straight games, but this time avoided the usual âgetting back into a rhythmâ rust that accompanies a layoff. He came out scorching hot shooting the ball, draining his first five shots of the game and overall dropping 15 points in the opening six minutes. He would finish a highly efficient 12-of-17 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc. As expected, Embiidâs presence opened things up for his teammates, with him pinging the ball around the court. His most impressive assist was recognizing a double team in the post, and then pivoting to find VJ Edgecombe for a three on the opposite wing. Importantly in the long term, you could see Joelâs body felt good as he recovered quickly to block a shot in the lane from Guerschon Yabusele or threw down a tomahawk dunk over a rotating Matas Buzelis. Having this version of Joel going forward would throw the Sixers firmly back in the âwho knows what might happenâ postseason conversation.
Prior to the game, George talked about the silver lining of the suspension being that it allowed him to heal and feel 100 percent physically. He certainly looked 100 percent against Chicago, returning as a two-way force for the Sixers, getting a ton of deflections and making hustle plays like racing back in transition to block a Buzelis lay-in attempt. In the second half, PG found the range on the offensive end, recording 23 points after intermission, on 9-of-12 shooting (5-of-8 from behind the arc). It was a hot stretch reminiscent of his big shooting night against the Bucks back in January. It was exactly the version of George the Sixers have always needed, a connective piece to tie the roster together, while also capable of carrying the offense on occasion.
Paul George picks Matas Buzelis' pocket and converts the straight ahead triple on the other end pic.twitter.com/xGx4o6yCFM
VJ has been the primary guy in the spotlight in many instances while the Sixers were dealing with a boatload of absences, and while he wasnât the main focus on Wednesday, he still stepped up with another strong performance. Edgecombe made use of a couple of open looks from Embiid, but also converted on some high degree-of-difficulty stepbacks and fadeaways. His 7-of-9 shooting night will get it done any time, but I was also thrilled to see his work as a distributor. Edgecombeâs increased on-ball reps lately were paying dividends. He made a couple excellent reads out of the pick-and-roll with Embiid, once finding Joel with a bounce pass through tight quarters in the lane for a bucket, and another time making the skip pass to the corner for a George three-pointer. He also slipped a beautiful pass through to a cutting Dominick Barlow for two points. Itâs been really fun to watch the rookieâs game continue to evolve.
CHICAGO (AP) â Theresa Schafzahl, Danielle Serdachny and Cayla Barnes each scored in the first period and the Seattle Torrent beat the New York Sirens 4-1 on Wednesday night in the Takeover Tour for their second win away from home this season.
Seattle (6-1-2-13) scored the game's first goal for just the sixth time this season â after entering tied with Vancouver for fewest in the PHWL.
Schafzahl scored her first goal since being traded to Seattle on a nice wraparound for a 1-0 lead and she assisted on two other goals. Serdachny made it 2-0 to reach four points (two goals, two assists) in her last six games.
Seattle went ahead 3-0 when Julia Gosling found a wide-open Cayla Barnes at the back door for an easy finish.
Alex Carpenter, who scored Seattleâs only goal over the previous two games, scored her ninth of the season midway through the third to regain a three-goal lead.
New York (8-0-3-11) has just four wins away from home this season, with two coming as the home team in the Takeover Tour.
Sarah Fillier scored her fifth goal of the season for New York and 17th of her career.
Up next
New York plays its fifth and final Takeover Tour game on Saturday against Montreal in Detroit.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) â Joel Embiid scored 35 points in his return to the lineup from injury, Paul George had 28 points in his first game since serving a 25-game suspension, and the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to a 157-137 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Josh Giddey scored 23 points to lead the Bulls.
Embiid missed 13 games with a strained right oblique but showed no signs of rust. The 2023 MVP made 6 of 9 shots in the first period, including all three of his 3-point tries. He had 23 points in the first half to help Philadelphia take a 71-52 halftime lead.
George was not as sharp early but settled in after halftime.
Playing for the first time since Jan. 29 due to a violation of the NBAâs drug policy, he missed 8 of 10 field goals in the opening half and had five points, but scored 23 points in the second half.
HAWKS 130, PISTONS 129, OT
DETROIT (AP) â CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and Atlanta beat Detroit.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroitâs four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
LAKERS 137, PACERS 130
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) â Luka Doncic scored 43 points to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Indiana.
With Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark snapping pictures on the sideline as a credentialed photographer, Doncic sank 15 of 30 shots and hit 9 of 10 free throws. Austin Reaves scored 25 points, LeBron James scored 23 and Jaxson Hayes had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have won 10 of 11, with Doncic scoring at least 30 points in each. Los Angeles, which sits third in the Western Conference, lost Monday night at Detroit, ending a nine-game winning streak.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 points and Jay Huff had 18 for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell came off the bench to score 17 and Andrew Nembhard had a career-high 19 assists along with 14 points.
CELTICS 119, THUNDER 109
BOSTON, (AP) â Jaylen Brown scored 14 of his 31 points a pivotal third quarter and Boston rallied to beat Oklahoma City, snapping the defending championsâ 12-game win streak.
Jayson Tatum recovered from back-to-back rocky performances to add 19 points and 12 rebounds while also contributing seven assists as Boston earned a split in the two regular-season matchups between the past two NBA champs.
Brown added eight rebounds and eight assists, and his big quarter helped the Celtics take an 88-83 lead into the fourth. Bostonâs edge grew as high as 14 in the final period.
OKC got within 115-109 with 1:30 remaining, but a layup by Brown, and two free throws by Derrick White helped Boston close it out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points and eight assists. But Oklahoma City was outscored by the Celtics 19-2 in second-chance points and shot just 12 of 37 from the 3-point line.
HEAT 120, CAVALIERS 103
CLEVELAND (AP) â Norman Powell scored 19 points, Tyler Herro added 18 and Miami got contributions from everyone while stopping a five-game losing skid with a win over Cleveland.
As healthy as theyâve been all season, the Heat squandered a 17-point lead in the third quarter before recovering in the fourth. Miami led by nine with five minutes left before Bam Adebayo converted a three-point play and Kelâel Ware scored on a layup in an 11-second span.
Adebayo finished with 17 points, Ware had 13 points and 11 rebounds and the Heat had eight players score in double figures. The Heat will stay in Cleveland and play the Cavaliers again on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points before fouling out in the final minutes for the Cavs, whose winning streak ended at four. James Harden and Sam Merrill scored 18 apiece.
SPURS 123, GRIZZLIES 98
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) â Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks as San Antonio built an early lead and coasted to a victory over Memphis.
Devin Vassell matched Wembanyamaâs 19 points, while Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson finished with 15 points each, as seven Spurs finished in double figures.
GG Jackson led Memphis with 20 points. Olivier-Maxence Prosper finished with 17 and DeJon Jarreau added 15 as the Grizzlies lost their fourth in a row.
Mar 25, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks as Memphis Grizzlies forward Tyler Burton (5) defends during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Another inferior, short-handed opponent, another Spurs blowout victory. It seems San Antonio is done taking lesser teams lightly as they continued their trend of blowing everyone out, both good and bad. This time, the Memphis Grizzlies were the victim. While the Spurs admittedly got complacent and took the second quarter off after a 38-19 start, they came back out with renewed focus to put the game away for good in the third, which was one massive highlight reel of dunks and threes, for the 123-98 win.
Victor Wembanyama led seven Spurs in double figures with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 7 blocks, 3 assists and 3 steals. (The odds of a triple-double and/or 5Ă5 game would have been pretty decent had he be needed in the fourth quarter.) GG Jackson led the severely short-handed Grizzles with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Observations
Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey revealed on X earlier today that at least for this year, the local broadcasters will not be doing the first round of the playoffs (or any postseason at all). Iâm guessing this is a result of the NBA having contracts with so many different streaming services now (which has drawn criticism for the impact on everyday viewers), but I for one will miss them. As a League Pass user, Iâve had to put up with listening to a lot of national announcers (or the other teamâs announcers, in Primeâs case) who donât know what theyâre talking about. I know Jacob and Sean Elliott get their share of flack, but theyâre better for the Spurs viewing experience than the other options at least 90% of the time.
As the regular season winds down and the rest-a-thon continues, it was DeâAaron Fox and Luke Kornetâs turn to nurse their boo-boos (lower back and right knee, respectively). It hardly mattered in the first quarter. The Spurs hit 10-13 to start the game, including 8 makes in a row and went on a 17-0 run. It was a dunk and three-fest against the hapless Grizzlies, whose best available player was rookie Cedric Coward. (Oh, and Taj Gibson! Who knew he was still around?) Overall, the Spurs shot 15-24 to lead 38-19 after 12 minutes. For a while, it was looking like it would be worse, with Memphis stuck at 9 points nine minutes in, but they hit a few threes to make it look less terrible.
After all that beautiful ball movement in the first quarter, the Spursâ offense fell off a cliff as they only scored 5 points across the first six minutes and 19 overall in the second, but the Grizzlies only managed to put a six-point dent in the lead because of the Spursâ defense, especially Wemby with swatting everything Memphis put up. But, the Spurs got the message at halftime and returned to wheeling, dealing, dunking and scoring, outscoring the Grizzlies 41-20 on a Wemby buzzer-beater three to get up 98-64 and put the game away
This whole game was about posterizations. Just off the top of my head, I remember massive dunks from Wemby, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant. Iâll let Highlights take care of showing them all off tomorrow, but goodness, Iâm not sure Iâve seen so many dunks from different players in one game before.
I know the Spursâ peak didnât exactly combine with the Ja Morant-era Grizzliesâ peak, but whether it was Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis has found a way to be a thorn in their side for the last 15 years. Even last year, when they were also the most injured team in the league and often JJJ (who is now with Utah) plus a G-League group, they found ways to make the Spurs work for the win. As a result, watching this kind of onslaught against this team in that arena feels kind of surreal.
Despite having a harder remaining schedule, I donât foresee the Thunder losing two more games than the Spurs with nine remaining to allow them to tie things up and take the top seed, but they had to lose someday for there to be a chance, and they finally did tonight in Boston. (Reverse jinx activated.) You donât have to give up standings watching just yet. Also, one more Spurs win or Lakers loss will clinch the second seed for the Spurs, since they also hold the tiebreaker in that series.
Send in your questions now for this weekâs episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Friday evening, as we are joined by Sean Murphy of the From Half Court Podcast to recap the Pistonsâ recent stretch of games and more! Is Jalen Duren cementing himself as a legit second star? Can the Pistons continue holding up in the absence of superstar Cade Cunningham? Will the Pistons still lock down the number one seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night for what felt like more than just another regular season game. With the Oklahoma City Thunder riding a 12-game win streak and holding the top spot in the Western Conference, this had all the makings of a measuring stick matchup, the kind that quietly starts to feel a little like June if you let your mind wander.
Boston, meanwhile, entered the night looking to respond after a recent loss and continue finding its rhythm with a full rotation available. Against one of the leagueâs most complete teams on both ends of the floor, this was a good opportunity to see how their version of basketball holds up when the margin for error gets tight.
Thunder punch first, but Celtics answer
The Oklahoma City Thunder didnât take long to seize control.
Behind early threes from Luguentz Dort and the steady pace of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC jumped out in front and immediately put Boston on its heels. Gilgeous-Alexander never looked rushed, picking his spots and operating comfortably as the Celtics largely let him work one-on-one to start.
On the other end, the Celtics couldnât buy a basket. Sam Hauser got the looks you want, but missed them all, as Boston opened the game cold and out of sync. The Thunderâs defense didnât help matters, constantly poking at dribbles and disrupting passing lanes, turning a few sloppy possessions into easy points the other way.
There were a few brief flashes. Jayson Tatum broke the drought in transition, Payton Pritchard knocked down a three off the bench, and Luka Garza brought some needed energy with an and-one late in the quarter. But nothing stuck, and Oklahoma City stayed in control throughout, closing the first on an 11â3 run to take a 31â20 lead into the second.
The Celtics looked like a completely different team to open the second quarter â and it started with Jayson Tatum.
After Boston opened the game just 3-for-12 on two-point attempts and shot under 30% through the first nine minutes, Tatum steadied everything. A quick three to start the quarter cut into the deficit, and from there, he began to dictate the pace of the game, both as a scorer and a facilitator. He attacked Holmgren off the dribble, found Queta for easy looks inside, and started reading the Thunderâs defensive pressure instead of reacting to it.
Gradually, Boston started to take control.
Their defense tightened up, clearly the result of intentional adjustments made by Joe Mazzulla. After allowing Oklahoma City to operate comfortably in the first quarter, the Celtics began forcing turnovers, getting back in transition, and making the Thunder work deeper into the shot clock. The energy shifted from scattered to controlled, and TD Garden responded accordingly.
Tatum was at the center of all of it.
During one stretch midway through the quarter, he scored or assisted on eight points in just over a minute, turning a double-digit deficit into a one-possession game. Jaylen Brown followed with a three off a Tatum drive-and-kick, and suddenly the Celtics had real momentum, forcing Mark Daigneault to call back-to-back timeouts.
An 8â0 run capped by a Payton Pritchard three gave the Celtics their first lead of the game, a moment that felt unlikely given how the night started. But just as quickly as the Garden erupted, Oklahoma City answered. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned and immediately settled things for the Thunder, getting to his spots with ease before Cason Wallace knocked down a three to erase the lead.
The final minute swung things back slightly in Oklahoma Cityâs favor.
A tough offensive foul on Tatum, a failed challenge on a goaltending call, and a last-second tip-in from Dort gave the Thunder a 53â49 lead heading into halftime. Still, after falling behind by as many as 13 and looking completely out of rhythm early, the Celtics had done enough to keep the game within reach â and more importantly, had started to look like themselves again.
Boston keeps it up in the third
Oklahoma City opened the second half looking ready to create separation, which has been their pattern all season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up right where he left off, scoring with ease and stretching the Thunder lead early, including a stretch where he hit seven of his first eight shots and knocked down three triples.
But this time, the Celtics didnât let it get away.
Jaylen Brown set the tone with aggressive drives, getting downhill and forcing the issue after a quiet first half. Jayson Tatum continued to command attention as well, drawing multiple defenders and creating space for others, even as Oklahoma City stayed locked in on him defensively.
Boston started to find its rhythm through physicality and effort plays. Neemias Queta provided a spark inside, finishing through contact and delivering one of the loudest moments of the night with a powerful dunk over Chet Holmgren that brought TD Garden to life. Sam Hauser added a much-needed three after a prolonged cold stretch, helping stabilize the offense.
From there, the game settled into a possession-by-possession fight.
Boston leaned into its depth, with Baylor Scheierman providing an unexpected boost off the bench. He knocked down a pair of confident threes and held his own defensively, even forcing a turnover from Gilgeous-Alexander during a key stretch. Payton Pritchard followed with a deep three and a late floater, as the Celtics began to generate more consistent offense against a Thunder defense that had controlled the early stages of the game.
At the same time, the Celtics made subtle defensive adjustments. Gilgeous-Alexander still found his spots, finishing the third quarter with 26 points, but Boston began to make him work harder for them and limited easy paint touches around him.
The result was a steady shift in momentum.
After trailing for most of the night, the Celtics finally took control late in the quarter behind Brownâs continued pressure at the rim and timely shot-making from the supporting cast. Boston closed the third on a strong run, outscoring Oklahoma City 39â30 in the period to take an 88â83 lead into the fourth.
Boston carried its second-half momentum into the fourth and quickly created breathing room.
Neemias Queta made an immediate impact, extending possessions on the glass and helping push the lead to its largest of the night early in the quarter. The ball movement followed. Queta found Sam Hauser in the corner for a wide-open three, and this time the shot dropped, stretching the lead as the Celtics began to settle into a rhythm offensively.
From there, Boston leaned heavily into the Jayson Tatumâcenter pick-and-roll.
Whether it was Queta or Luka Garza screening, the action consistently produced good looks. Tatum controlled the tempo, drew contact, and knocked down three free throws after getting Alex Caruso in the air. A few possessions later, he hit Garza on the roll for an easy finish, continuing to exploit Oklahoma Cityâs coverage.
The energy plays kept coming.
Baylor Scheierman delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a putback dunk off a Tatum miss, crashing in from the corner and finishing above the rim as the crowd erupted. Not long after, he knocked down a step-back three from a similar spot, showing confidence and giving Boston a jolt on both ends.
Jaylen Brown built on that momentum with consistent pressure at the rim. He attacked closeouts, got to the line, and converted an and-one after getting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off his feet, drawing loud MVP chants as the Celtics extended their advantage.
Even as Gilgeous-Alexander continued to produce offensively, Boston maintained control.
The Celtics forced misses, limited second chances, and got timely shot-making from Payton Pritchard, whose three pushed the lead to 14 midway through the quarter. At that point, Boston had found a steady rhythm on both ends, with its offense generating clean looks and its defense doing enough to keep Oklahoma City from stringing together stops.
The Thunder made one final push.
A quick run trimmed the lead back into single digits, fueled by perimeter shot-making and trips to the free-throw line, as Oklahoma City continued to benefit from a favorable whistle throughout the night. But Boston responded with composure, continuing to attack the paint and get to the line, with Brown staying aggressive as the game moved inside the final few minutes.
Boston closed it out, 119â109, for what stands as its biggest win of the season.
The Celtics had dropped five of their last six coming in, including three straight against Oklahoma City, adding weight to a matchup that already carried plenty of it. Against one of the leagueâs hottest teams, they responded to a loss against Minnesota with their most complete performance in weeks, overcoming a slow start and taking control in the second half.
Theyâll look to carry that momentum into Friday night, when they host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden at 7:30pm ET.
DETROIT (AP) â CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 130-129 on Wednesday night.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit's four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
Atlanta had a 21-point lead in the first half that Detroit wiped away quickly in the third quarter. McCollum scored the Hawks' final 11 points of regulation, including a three-point play that gave them a 121-116 lead with 44 seconds remaining. But Detroit rallied again and he missed a jumper that would have won it on the final possession.
He got another chance in OT and his three-point play made it 126-123. The Pistons had a chance to win it, but Harris missed a jumper and Duren was short on a follow shot.
The Hawks scored 11 straight points to extend a six-point lead to 56-39 midway through the second quarter, then had an 11-2 spurt just before the half to make it 73-52. The Pistons then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter, trimming Atlanta's 73-55 halftime advantage to 73-71.
Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep in the season series. The Pistons had a season-high 142 points in December in the last meeting, but the Hawks are the hottest team in the East now while surging into sixth place entering play Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 25, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite the Lakers being shorthanded with Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton being out, they dominated the Pacers for most of the game. Unfortunately, they had an unserious stretch in the fourth that gave Indiana a glimmer of hope, but luckily, it didnât cost them the result.
This contest featured LeBron James posters, Luka DonÄiÄ baskets and even a three by Jarred Vanderbilt.
LA had a stellar road trip, winning five of six games, and now theyâll return home as one of the hottest teams in the league.
So, letâs dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A âBâ grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron was dunking all over the place and had a complete game with nine assists and nine rebounds. If this is what the Lakers can expect from LeBron the rest of the way, then the teamâs ceiling should be raised.
LaRavia got the start and was aggressive from the jump. He was forcing turnovers, scoring in the paint and fighting for rebounds.
LaRavia stayed defensively active the entire game, generating steals and deflections. One of his most impressive plays happened in the third quarter when he broke up a two-on-one fastbreak by himself, forcing a turnover.
Hayes was the Lakersâ starting big in this game and played well. He did what he usually does, which includes attacking the rim and working well with Luka in the pick-and-roll. This was his first double-double of the season, and that level of production was needed.
Kennard had some nice shots in the first half that helped the Lakers establish dominance early on. The front office trading for him has been an incredibly beneficial move.
With so many players out Vando got some extra run in this game. He took advantage, knocking down a three and being the elite defensive player he typically is. Itâs unlikely this performance will convince head coach JJ Redick that Vando needs more playing time, but itâs good to know he can contribute when necessary.
Bronny had some good shifts against the Pacers. He had a nice dunk and some strong defensive plays. Similar to Vando, this wonât change his role on the team, but it was nice to see.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
Redick got the Lakers the win, and minus that poor fourth-quarter stretch, the team played relatively well. Credit to Redick for playing Vando more and even giving Bronny some run. Both players played well, and LA is back in the win column.
Wednesdayâs inactives: Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Adou Thiero, Marcus Smart, Chris Mañon
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here â whoâs still alive? Weâre reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and letâs talk about whoâs most likely to make a run to glory.
Mar 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) defends in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliersâ slow start on both ends of the floor did them in. They erased a 21 -point deficit and grabbed a brief fourth-quarter lead, but they werenât able to hold off the Miami Heat, resulting in a 120-103 loss. The defense â once again â was the issue.
Thereâs something broken with the Cavs defense right now.
Defense comes down to more than just effort. The Cavs tried on that end at the start of the game, but it just didnât matter due to their combination of poor scheme for the opponent and their lack of personnel, with Dean Wade (ankle), Jarrett Allen (knee), Jaylon Tyson (toe), and Max Strus (injury management) all missing this game.
The Cavs have consistently overprotected the paint on drives to the basket. This led to open looks on the outside, even though the ball handler didnât have to earn the kick-out-pass by actually blowing past their defender. As a result, the Heat went 7-16 from three (43.9%) in the first quarter.
Things got worse in the second quarter. The Heat put up 35 points by going 6-12 (50%) from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Cavsâ offense â which has been saving them in recent games â was nowhere to be found in the first half. They mustered just 19 points in the first quarter and finished the first half just 3-15 (20%) from distance. This resulted in a 17-point deficit at the break.
Clevelandâs offense turned things around in the third quarter, putting up 37 points thanks to 13 points from Donovan Mitchell, and the team shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from three.
The Cavs briefly retook the lead early in the fourth quarter, but they werenât able to keep the offense going like they needed to on a night the defense once again let them down.
This is an offensive first team. That offense abandoned them in crunch time as they went just 5-19 (26.3%) from the floor and 2-11 (18.2%) from three in the fourth quarter. It didnât help that Mitchell â who led the third-quarter comeback â fouled out with just over three minutes left in the game.
Even though the game was close early in the final frame, the Heat were still able to cruise to a relatively stress-free victory to snap their five-game losing streak. Registering 37 fourth-quarter points on 14-18 (77.8%) shooting from the field helped make this one anticlimactic.
Mitchell led Cleveland with 28 points on 12-22 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, and six fouls.
James Harden struggled to find his three-point shot and couldnât take care of the ball. He had 18 points on 4-10 shooting, which included going 3-9 from three, to go along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and five turnovers.
Sam Merrill supplied 18 points while Keon Ellis had 17 points on 5-12 shooting.
Evan Mobley struggled to make a noticeable impact offensively. He had just eight points on 3-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds and four assists.
The Heat had eight players finish in double-figures scoring. Norman Powell led Miami with 19 points. Tyler Herro had 18. Bam Adebayo supplied 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
The Cavs will take on the Heat again on Friday. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts from the bench against the Atlanta Hawks during first quarter at State Farm Arena on March 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are finally back at home tonight, as they host the Brooklyn Nets in their first Chase Center game since March 13. Things are going very poorly for the Dubs. Despite winning their last game, an overtime contest against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors have lost 10 of their last 13 games. The season is slipping away from them quickly, and it feels like a new player gets injured every game.
As such, theyâre missing a lot of players tonight. Hereâs the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out â Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
The Warriors were openly hoping that Curry could get back to practicing this week, but that hasnât happened. Not yet, at least. This will be his 23rd consecutive game on the sidelines.
Out â Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)
This one still hurts. Moody returned on Monday after a lengthy absence, and suffered a gruesome non-contact knee injury. It ended his season, and will likely cost him much of next season as well.
Out â Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Unfortunately, Moody is no the only Warriors player to suffer a season-ending knee injury this year that carries a recovery time of about a year.
Out â Al Horford (right soleus strain)
With the Warriors season falling apart every day, it wouldnât surprise me if Horford is shut down.
Out â Quinten Post (right foot injury management)
Post, like the team as a whole, is limping to the finish line.
Out â Malevy Leons (illness)
I always hate seeing the young players who donât get a lot of opportunities missing games where they would likely get big minutes.
Out â Seth Curry (left adductor strain)
It wouldnât surprise me if the younger Curry doesnât play again this year. Heâs played just four times.
Nets
Out â Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain)
MPJ has had an absolute breakout year, but suffered a hamstring strain about a week ago. With the Nets already eliminated, his season might be over.
Out â Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain)
Clowney is also having a breakout season of sorts, and has also been out for about a week.
Out â Nolan Traore (rest)
Are the Nets tanking? Look no further.
Out â Egor DĂ«min (left plantar fascia injury management)
DĂ«min had a very strong rookie season as one of Brooklynâs many first-year players. He averaged 10.3 points per game, but is out for the year.
Out â DayâRon Sharpe (left thumb surgery)
Sharpe had arguably the best season of his five-year career. He also is out for the year.
Out â Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain)
Wolf, another one of Brooklynâs rookies, is having a strong year, with 20.8 minutes and 8.9 points per game. He isnât expected to miss the rest of the year.
