Category: NBA

This story originally published March 19, 2026.

From completely unrecognized to a superstar.

That has been the story of Illinois men's basketball freshman guard Keaton Wagler, who went from an under-recruited 3-star prospect to the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and likely NBA draft lottery pick.

Wagler has led veteran-laden, European-influenced Illinois to the 2026 Final Four. He's averaging a team-leading 17.9 points, breaking the freshman record previously held by Cory Bradford (1998-99). He scored 25 points in Illinois' Elite Eight win over Iowa, leading the Illini to their first Final Four sicne 2005. He also leads the team with 4.3 assists per game and is third on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game.

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Perhaps most notably, he leads the team in minutes played, with 33.8 per game.

His immediate success has surprised even the people who have been in his corner since Day 1, such as his high school coach David Birch at Shawnee Mission Northwest (Kan.) High School.

"The only thing that surprises me is he looks the same at Illinois as he did in the Sunflower League in Kansas," Birch told USA TODAY Sports. "The way he's playing now is the way he played for us for four years. The only thing that surprises me is how quickly his game translated."

While Illinois coach Brad Underwood was already singing Wagler's praises after a strong summer, it was still fair to say the scrawny 6-6 guard was an unknown. That was evident to Wagler when Illinois honored its last Final Four team, that 2005 team, during the first timeout of the first quarter of their season opener against Western Michigan on Aug. 29, 2025.

Deron Williams, Luther Head and Dee Brown were among the stars honored from the 2005 NCAA runner-up team that finished 37-2. Wagler was just happy to pose for pictures and talk to them for a few minutes.

"No one really knew who I was at that point," Wagler told USA TODAY Sports. "For everyone, I was just a freshman who they didn't know what to expect."

Wagler changed everyone's tune, and quickly. He earned a start in the season opener for the Fighting Illini on Nov. 3, 2025, against Jackson State: In his college debut, he scored 18 points, adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 27 minutes.

In his second game, Wagler scored 22 points in 28 minutes against Florida Gulf Coast. He scored 11 against Texas Tech. After just a few games, he had already caught the attention of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic — the father of Illinois teammate Andrej Stojakovic.

"After a couple of games, he came and dapped me up," Wagler said. Though he didn't have the opportunity to watch Peja Stojakovic growing up — Wagler was born in 2007, and Stojakovic's career ended in 2011 — he knew the magnitude of receiving acknowledgment from the 2011 NBA champion and three-time NBA All-Star.

"It just showed I was going in the right direction. It gives me a lot of confidence to know that I've been playing [well enough] that I've earned the respect of Peja Stojakovic," Wagler said.

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Keaton Wagler NBA Draft stock rise

USA TODAY Sports has projected Wagler as the No. 8 overall pick to in its most recent mock draft.

Likely, no scouts predicted Wagler as an NBA prospect after his freshman season. In fact, entering his senior year of high school, Wagler only had offers from mid-majors such as Colorado State and Drake. It wasn't until Aug. 22, 2024, that he received offers from Minnesota and Illinois. He committed to the Fighting Illini a month later.

Indeed, Birch figured Wagler had all the skills to be an NBA player, but it would take him three to four years to hone his skills.

It took just one phone call for Birch to change his opinion about Wagler's NBA outlook.

"It was Oklahoma City," Birch said. "The way they scout and how well they've done building their roster, just in terms of draft, the way they evaluate players, the way they develop players, and the fact that that was the first one to call, kind of sounded the alarms that, 'Hey, this guy's going to be an NBA player, for sure.'"

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Keaton Wagler's transformation

While Wagler did find early success against lower-level teams, his first three games against high-major teams in Texas Tech, Alabama and Connecticut yielded 11-, eight- and three-point performances, respectively. In those games, he shot 6-of-21 (28.5%) from the field. He fouled out of the game against the Crimson Tide.

Through his first eight games, Wagler was averaging just 13.5 points per game on 8.8 field goal attempts per game, with three single-digit point games. Over the final 24 games, he averaged 19.4 points on 13 shots per game.

"At the start [of the season], I was playing off the ball more," Wagler said. "I got switched to more on the ball after our UConn game and that gave me a lot of confidence that the coaches trusted me to have the ball in my hands and make plays."

Keaton Wagler's breakout performance vs Purdue

Sure, Wagler had 20-point performances against NCAA Tournament teams in Ohio State and Missouri in December, but he saved his biggest performance for a bigger stage.

Against Purdue on Jan. 24, Wagler scored 46 points in an 88-82 win for Illinois. He shot an efficient 13-of-17 from the field and splashed down nine of his 11 3-point attempts. The 46 points were the most points by a visiting player in Mackey Arena history, and the most points by a Big Ten player this season.

"Everyone was talking about how good he had played, but then you go put up 46 at one of the toughest places to play," Birch said. "The [hype] went up a whole other level."

Of course, for Birch, those kinds of performances were nothing new for the 2025 Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year and the 2024-25 Kansas MaxPreps High School Basketball Player of the Year.

Shawnee Mission Northwest won the state title in Wagler's junior season and repeated as champs in 2024-25 when he was a senior.

"What's crazy about that performance was that he did that same kind of thing for us the year before," Birch said. "We had our 7-foot center, who signed with Michigan State, Ethan Taylor, out for four games. And it was our toughest four-game stretch of the season.

"He averaged 30 points a game, 14 rebounds and seven assists at that time. We won all those games. That's what he's doing for Illinois."

Against Michigan on Feb. 27, Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg took up guarding Wagler. But he was guarding him the full length of the court, forcing the ball out of Wagler's hands.

"He was picking me up 94 feet the whole game," Wagler said after the loss to the Wolverines. "He was getting physical, getting through ball screens, just pressuring me at all times, and making it hard."

He admitted that it was a shock for him.

"It's kind of crazy," Just seeing the scouting and how much the scouting report has changed from the beginning of the season to now. Most teams put their top defender on me and try to guard me super physically, not let me catch the ball, guard me 94 feet, just to wear me down.

"I think it just shows the respect that other teams and coaches have for me, and how good a player I've transformed into this season."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside Keaton Wagler's rise at Illinois, from unknown to freshman star

BROOKLYN, NY – This time three years ago, Long Island University went into the offseason as the unquestioned worst team in college basketball — winners of just three games in coach Rod Strickland’s debut, two against teams from Division III.

This time a year ago, the Sharks were still stinging from a loss to Saint Francis in the Northeast Conference semifinals after finishing second in the league standings during the regular season.

A rocky, step-by-step construction process has led to Friday, when Strickland and the No. 16 Sharks will face No. 1 seed Arizona as heavy underdogs in the opening round of the Men's NCAA Tournament West Region.

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“I was just looking for LIU on that board,” Strickland said on Selection Sunday. “Actually seeing it, it’s a great feeling for everyone in the room.”

Over the course of Strickland’s four seasons, LIU has gone from abysmal (2022-23) to flat-out bad (2023-24) to postseason contenders (2024-25) to the program’s first tournament appearance since the university system consolidated its Brooklyn and Long Island athletics departments in 2019.

Simply reaching this point is the culmination of a four-year journey: LIU turned the embarrassment of Strickland’s debut and the pain of last season’s tournament near-miss into perhaps the most impressive rebuilding project in this year’s field.

“Last year, it burnt,” said senior guard Jamal Fuller. “It carried over to this year. We all made sure that this year, it wouldn’t happen. We all did what we were supposed to do. From Day 1, we came in here as a group and no one tried to belittle anybody.”

Building on last season’s tournament miss

The seed of this unexpected NCAA appearance was planted in the days after last year’s exit from the conference tournament.

The 2024-25 season was a breakthrough, sure, but the Sharks were focused on what could have been. LIU finished 17-16 overall, posting the program’s first winning season since 2021-22, but lost 10 games by single digits, including three losses in overtime.

“We lost a lot of games that we should’ve won,” Fuller said. “But we learned from it.”

In the wake of the loss to Saint Francis, the Sharks gathered to outline the expectations for this season: to win the NEC regular-season championship, tournament championship and, yes, the national championship.

“That’s what it’s about. We started this as a unit,” said Strickland. “This call to become regular-season, conference and NCAA champions. It started with all of us in a room talking about it.”

By the summer, LIU had added in a seven-person recruiting class that joined key holdovers such as Fuller and fellow guard Malachi Davis, both of whom were selected to the preseason all-conference team.

“I have to give them a lot of credit for sticking with us, for believing in us,” Strickland said of the Sharks’ returning core.

Among the additions were guard Greg Gordon, who previously played at Alabama-Birmingham and Iona, and guard Jomo Goings, a 6-5 junior who earned all-conference accolades at Slippery Rock University.

Over the course of the summer months and preseason, the Sharks weathered early dissension as they blended the incoming class with the returning roster.  

“It was a lot of, like, arguments about who was going to be who, who’s going to lead or what,” said Gordon. “But eventually we just kind of chose the fact that we’ll prioritize winning over feelings. That’s kind of been our biggest thing.”

After going 6-7 in nonconference play, including road losses to future tournament teams in Illinois and Georgia, the Sharks won 11 of 12 to open NEC action and fulfilled their promise as the league’s unanimous preseason favorite.

“At the end of the day, that’s what this is all about,” said Strickland. “Giving them the best experience we’ve had and we’re having.”

A major gamble has paid off for LIU, Strickland

It’s not uncommon to see former NBA players leading teams into the NCAA Tournament.

Strickland is one of six in this year’s field, joining Hofstra’s Speedy Claxton, Central Florida’s Johnny Dawkins, Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg, North Carolina’s Hubert Davis and Kentucky’s Mark Pope.

During his 17-year NBA career, Strickland developed a reputation as a mercurial talent who, when harnessed, could rival any of the league’s top point guards. That reputation lingered into the start of Strickland’s coaching career, which began as the director of basketball operations at Memphis before he served as an on-court assistant under former South Florida coach Orlando Antigua from 2014-17 and an off-court support staffer for John Calipari at Kentucky.

Despite his limited résumé, that Strickland accepted the job at LIU in 2022 represented a major gamble on both ends — the Sharks’ administration was rolling the dice on an unproven coach, while Strickland was betting he could avoid the type of pitfall that could come to define his coaching career.

“I had to bet on me,” he said. “And bet on that I could define the environment and try to make it work and make it happen. I was betting on me and the people I could bring around to help me elevate this place.”

He rarely references his NBA career, according to players. Gordon didn’t even know Strickland was “a big NBA guy” when he arrived on campus, he said; asked by a teammate if he knew of Strickland’s background, Gordon replied, “Not really.”

But a professional career that still clings to Strickland led to raised eyebrows when he accepted the LIU opening: Why would someone with his level of name recognition choose to make his debut as a head coach at a program miles removed from the sport’s upper crust?

Because of the challenge, said Strickland.

“It’s never about the job, like, itself,” he said. “For me, it was about growth. I feel like I’ve done so many things in basketball and this was just, like, another thing to conquer. I wanted to see if I could do it. I wanted to see if I could change the environment as a head coach. More than anything, I probably came here for more personal growth than anything.

“Like, I was given an opportunity. I would never walk in somewhere and think it’s beneath me. LIU was a great opportunity. And it was an opportunity to show that I could change the environment, I could help young people get better, I could help the staff.”

Does LIU have a chance at upsetting Arizona?

This year’s team is Strickland’s most talented “as a whole,” he said.

Looking ahead to the tournament, the Sharks have assets that typically play well in March: a productive and veteran backcourt, rim protection and solid perimeter defense.

Led by Fuller’s 16.4 points per game, the four primary ballhandlers — Fuller, Davis, Gordon and Goings — account for 75.4% of the Sharks’ scoring. All four average in double figures with at least 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Goings was the only one of this group not to earn all-conference accolades.

LIU also ranks 10th nationally and third among mid-major programs with 5.4 blocks per game. It also ranks first in the NEC and 70th in the country with 7.8 steals per game and first in the NEC and 73rd nationally in allowing opponents to make 31.9% from deep.

Arizona remains a daunting challenge. The Big 12 regular-season and conference champions have gone a combined 24-2 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 competition — LIU is 0-4 in such games — and enter the tournament on a nine-game winning streak punctuated by wins against Iowa State and Houston.

“Regardless, we’re going to go out there and do what we have to do,” Fuller said.

While two No. 16 seeds have defeated No. 1 seeds since the tournament expanded — most recently, fellow NEC member Fairleigh Dickinson beat Purdue in 2023 — the top-ranked Wildcats opened as nearly 30-point favorites, meaning an LIU shocker would qualify as the biggest upset in tournament history by point spread.

“Opportunity is opportunity,” said Strickland. “And you’ve got to start somewhere. Everybody’s path and how it happens is just different.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Rod Strickland led LIU from rock bottom to NCAA Tournament 2026

PORTLAND, OR – Not long after losing a double overtime thriller to Alabama on Feb. 18, the battle between Arkansas coach John Calipari and Darius Acuff Jr. began.

Acuff, the Razorbacks star freshman guard, scored 49 points against the Crimson Tide, all while dealing with an ankle injury that required him to wear a boot when he wasn’t playing. Given the performance he had in 50 minutes of action, Calipari suggested sitting out the next game against Missouri.

That didn’t sit well with Acuff.

“We lost, I'm not sitting out,” he told his coach.

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Thus began the weeklong contest between a coach desperate to get his leading scorer off his legs and a player adamant on not missing anything. 

The tug-of-war finally swayed in Calipari’s favor on the final week of the regular season, getting Acuff to sit out the finale against Missouri. Even then, “we had to go back and forth,” Calipari said.

While Acuff didn't want to miss a thing, Calipari was thinking of the big picture. Arkansas had the SEC tournament coming up and March Madness right after. Of course you want your star 100% for that.

So, Calipari took a page from the pros.

“I took a chance. We did the NBA load management,” he said.

A chance well-taken.

It’s a wonder what a little rest can do. Acuff healed up, and showcased what he can do at full strength with an SEC tournament performance for the ages. In three games, he averaged 30.3 points and 7.6 assists, running hog wild to get Arkansas’ first conference tournament title since 2000.

“We needed him in the SEC tournament run to be that guy,” Calipari said. “So I'm glad I did it.”

Acuff has been exceptional all season for the Razorbacks. You don’t get named SEC freshman of the year for nothing, especially averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game.

There have been little snippets of load management trickling its way to the college level, notably with Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Connecticut women's star Sarah Strong.

Acuff's run in Nashville showed how it can work, showcasing a clutch gene that is so rare to find at this level. Not only is he another recognizable freshman, but he may just be the best player in the whole sport.

He certainly has the attention of Arkansas' first round opponent Hawai’i, who now have the difficult task of trying to stop a guy that is scorching. Rainbow Warriors guard Dre Bullock said the team isn’t scared of anybody and “everybody's excited to guard” Acuff, but “it's a great challenge for us.”

In the preparations, Arkansas’ opponent can’t help but marvel at the play.

“Not too often, a lot of times you see these point-of-attack guys that score 20-plus points a game. Maybe the play making isn't there or the shooting isn't there. This is a guy scoring 20, 25 a game. Obviously he had some big games, playing a lot of minutes as a freshman at the most important position,” said Hawai’i coach Eran Ganot. “The way he does it with six, seven assists a game efficiently. The way he shoots it, gets guys involved. Makes big plays.

“How can you not respect him from afar?” he added.

Acuff is the exact player Calipari has needed to get his March Madness mojo back. After the surprise run to the Sweet 16 in his first season with the Hogs got him to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, he is trying to break his 11-year Final Four drought.

Even better, Acuff will enter the NCAA Tournament not having worn a boot "for a while," according to his coach.

When those close games reach the final minutes, or “winning time,” as Acuff calls it, he becomes the most dangerous man on the court, on a warpath to victory.

“Whatever I need to do to get our team to win, whether it's me passing or me shooting or getting a stop, I'm going to do it,” he said.

A hot run sparked by a tussle between Calipari and Acuff. In this battle, the point goes to coach.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How John Calipari prepared Darius Acuff Jr for March Madness

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa stands a good chance of advancing to the quarterfinals of a European competition for the third straight year.

The Premier League side needs to protect a 1-0 advantage from Lille in the return leg of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday at Villa Park.

Coach Unai Emery was cautious. "It's very important this result but it’s not enough,” he said.

Two years ago, Villa and Lille met in the Conference League quarterfinals and Emery’s side advanced on penalties. Last season, Villa was eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals by eventual winner Paris Saint-Germain.

Another English club, Nottingham Forest, faces a tougher task in Denmark after a 1-0 home defeat to Midtjylland last week.

Boss Vítor Pereira is expected to rest some of his stars ahead of a Premier League game against Tottenham, with both clubs placed just above the relegation zone.

An all-Italian derby between Roma and Bologna is all square at 1-1 ahead of the second leg in Rome.

Lyon, the winner of the league phase, faces Celta Vigo after a 1-1 draw. Porto has to defend a 2-1 advantage against Stuttgart.

Another Bundesliga side, Freiburg, trails host Genk 1-0 and Real Betis is a goal down against visiting Panathinaikos.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The day has arrived, college hoops fans. The Thursday that marks the first full slate of games in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is like unto a national holiday for many. If that means you, we’re here to enjoy the madness with you.

This is your viewers’ guide to the 16 games on the docket, including channel information and scheduled tip times. Keep in mind, of course, that the second game at a venue in a particular window might – and probably will – start a few minutes later than the time listed due to spillover from the prior contest, but that will become apparent as results unfold.

REGION BREAKDOWNS, PREDICTIONS: East | South | Midwest | West

PRINTABLE BRACKET: Fill out your picks for NCAA Tournament pools

1. No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU

Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

The Cinderella Final Four run by the Rams in 2011 makes them a popular upset pick, though they haven’t advanced beyond the first round in their last five tournament appearances. Nevertheless, the short-handed Tar Heels have a considerably lower ceiling without leading scorer Caleb Wilson and must hope Henri Veesaar can dominate the paint against VCU’s smaller lineup.

2. No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida

Time/TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT

This was already going to be a tough draw for the Cardinals, and the absence of standout freshman Mikel Brown due to ongoing back issues makes the assignment that much more difficult. The Bulls - a trendy upset pick - are among the hottest teams in the field entering on an 11-game winning streak paced by the inside-outside tandem of Izaiyah Nelson and Wes Enis.

3. No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis

Time/TV: 9 :45 p.m. ET, CBS

It’s the last game of the session, but these two teams that both like to run and gun should keep the energy level high. While Robbie Avila has the name recognition, six of his Billikens’ teammates also average over nine points a game and could match the Bulldogs’ depth.

4. No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU

Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

The round of 64 begins with what should be a close affair between power conference members. The Buckeyes finished the season strong thanks in large part to the efforts of long-time mainstay guard Bruce Thornton, while the Horned Frogs are led by the front-court duo of David Punch and Xavier Edmonds.

5. No. 6 Brigham Young vs. No. 11 Texas

Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS

The well-traveled Tramon Mark showed he still has the clutch gene in the Longhorns’ nail-biting First Four win in Dayton. It will now be up to Matas Vokietaitis and the big Texas front line to keep A.J. Dybantsa, BYU’s one-man wrecking crew, from taking over.

6. No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M

Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

In addition to the deliberate pace and hard-nosed defense that have defined the Gaels’ program under long-time mentor Randy Bennett, this year’s squad actually has more long-range shooting options in Mikey Lewis and Joshua Dent. Even so, their style contrasts with "‘Buckyball," the frenetic approach preached by Aggies coach Bucky McMillan that has this season’s team putting up 87.3 points a game.

7. No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point

Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS

Expect a breakneck tempo in this one; the Panthers put up 90 points a game while the Badgers aren’t far behind at 83. High Point floor leader Rob Martin and prolific forward Terry Anderson will try to keep up with Wisconsin’s high-volume guard duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell.

8. No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese State

Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV

Vanderbilt’s run to the SEC title game that included an upset of Florida didn’t produce much of a seed boost. As such, the Commodores get a fairly tough opening draw with the battle-tested Cowboys, dancing for a third consecutive season as first-year coach Bill Armstrong maintained the program’s momentum.

9. No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy

Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV

One of these programs will win its first ever NCAA tourney game. The Cornhuskers, which are the only Power Four team never to accomplish the feat, are led by sharpshooter Pryce Sandfort, They will be favored, but they shouldn’t overlook the Trojans making their second consecutive trip to the Big Dance led by double-double candidate Thomas Dowd.

10. No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS

Darius Acuff and the Razorbacks got a short turnaround and a long flight to Portland as a reward for winning the SEC tournament. The Rainbow Warriors feature seven-footer Isaac Johnson, who is familiar with the NCAA tournament stage from his two seasons at Utah State.

11. No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn

Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

It took just a year for Fran McCaffery to take his alma mater back to the Big Dance, riding the incredibly hot hand of T.J. Power. The fact that the Quakers won both Ivy League tourney games in overtime might be of concern to Fighting Illini fans, as their team hasn’t fared so well in extra periods of late, so Illinois will do its utmost to build a double-digit cushion as quickly as possible.

12. No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State

Time/TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT

The Spartans and Tom Izzo have been in every NCAA Tournament since 1998, and though they occasionally bow out prematurely they’ll have a considerable depth advantage in this year’s opener. The Bison do, however, have several guys capable of heating up from long range, including Damari Wheeler-Thomas and Trevian Carson.

13. No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State

Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

This is the second Big Dance for the Owls and the first representing Conference USA, though KSU is not without hoops history having claimed the Division II title in 2004. Nonetheless, they’ll be punching above their weight considerably against Graham Ike and the Zags, now a tournament fixture but still seeking the ultimate prize.

14. No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho

Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

The day concludes with a moment in the sun for the Vandals, the unlikely Big Sky champs making their first tournament appearance since 1990. Their stay figures to be short, as the Cougars have the pieces in place to return to Championship Monday and finish the job this time.

15. No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

The Bison’s first ever NCAA tourney win Tuesday night in Dayton provided a well-deserved spotlight for Bryce Harris and Ose Okojie. The run almost certainly ends here, however, as those second-chance opportunities will not be there against the Wolverines’ rim protectors.

16. No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena

Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS

The Blue Devils will look to make short work of this one as they’ll still be down a couple of starters. Despite being coached by former Syracuse marksman Jerry McNamara, the Saints don’t shoot three-pointers particularly well (30.4%), making a first-round stunner unlikely.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first-round games ranked

Houston finished up their season series versus the Los Angeles Lakers late Wednesday. If you did not watch this game, congratulations, you, unlike me, did not get let down by this team as they once again get outclassed by a superstar late in the fourth.

To start the game, Houston used inside scoring (an early dunk and a free throw) to score first, and then Luka Dončić responded swiftly with playmaking and mid-range goals. The Lakers were led by LeBron James, and continued to score easily. Houston struggled to keep up with the Lakers as they made a few early mistakes on the defensive and offensive ends, as the Lakers shot 60% for the quarter.

After a poor start, the Houston Rockets responded with more vigor and physicality in the second quarter, demonstrating a noticeable improvement. Houston started to close the gap because of Jabari Smith Jr.’s scoring touch and Amen Thompson’s aggressive rim-attacking style. The Rockets were successful on the glass, especially when it came to offensive rebounds that helped change momentum and produced worthwhile second-chance opportunities. But with the solid play of LeBron James, who continued to score effectively inside, and Luka Dončić, who led the offense, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to maintain control. The Lakers maintained their lead going into halftime by finishing the half strong with timely scoring, including a crucial basket by Austin Reaves, just as Houston tried to reduce the lead.

The Rockets reversed the trend in the third quarter, which was a pivotal moment. Houston tightened up their defense, making it harder for the Lakers to make easy jumpers in the half-court. The Rockets’ offensive strategy was balanced and fast-paced, with contributions from every position in the lineup supporting a significant run. They were able to erase the deficit and momentarily seize control thanks to their vigor on both ends, making the game a fiercely contested affair going into the final session. Houston even outscored the Lakers in the third, giving me the worst thing of all… hope.

The game ended in a back-and-forth fashion in the fourth quarter. While the Lakers relied on their stars to create in crucial situations, the Rockets continued to rely on their depth and physical play. In the end, Los Angeles’ execution and shot-making in the closing minutes proved to be the difference, as they were able to thwart Houston’s effort at a comeback thanks to key baskets and poise in dire circumstances.

Houston improved significantly from the game on Monday in a number of areas. Kevin Durant deserves praise for making an offensive statement, especially with a powerful third-quarter push that sparked the Rockets’ comeback attempt. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson, who consistently scored goals and exerted energy throughout the game, should also be acknowledged for their output and overall influence. Houston never completely fell apart, but they also never succeeded in seizing control, so the frustration still exists. Rather, they played from behind all night, unable to turn the tide when it counted most. In the end, it felt like the Rockets were simply outmatched down the stretch, with no answer for Luka Dončić, who dictated the game when it counted.

Rockets will be back in action versus the red-hot Atlanta Hawks at Toyota center Friday with a 7:00 tip-off. As always, make sure to check back here at TheDreamShake for pre- and post-game coverage.

Make sure the iPad is charged and go get that extra TV from the storage closet.

The first two days of the NCAA Tournament are like Christmas in March. And Thursday kicks off, in earnest, 2026 March Madness with first round play.

Thursday's schedule is below with TV info, including announcer assignments. Get your coffee ready.

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March Madness first round schedule today, TV listings

• 12:15 p.m.: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU, CBS (Fubo)
• 12:40 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy, truTV (Sling TV)
• 1:30 p.m.: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida, TNT (Sling TV)
• 1:50 p.m.: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point, TBS (Sling TV)
• 2:50 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena, CBS (Fubo)
• 3:15 p.m.: No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese, truTV (Sling TV)
• 4:05 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State, TNT (Sling TV)
• 4:25 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawai'i, TBS (Sling TV)
• 6:50 p.m.: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU, TNT (Sling TV)
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard, CBS (Fubo)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas, TBS (Sling TV)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Texas A&M, truTV (Sling TV)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn, TNT (Sling TV)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, CBS (Fubo)
• 10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State, TBS (Sling TV)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 2) Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho, truTV (Sling TV)

March Madness TV announcers game assignments

Here's a look at which games each TV broadcast crew pairing will call in the First Four and first round:

Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill and Tracy Wolfson

• 12:15 p.m.: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU, CBS (Fubo)
• 2:50 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena, CBS (Fubo)
• 6:50 p.m.: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU, TNT (Sling TV)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn, (Sling TV)

Jason Benetti, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce

• 1:30 p.m.: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida, TNT (Sling TV)
• 4:05 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State, TNT (Sling TV)
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard, CBS (Fubo)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, CBS (Fubo)

Brandon Gaudin, Chris Webber and Andy Katz

• 12:40 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy, truTV (Sling TV)
• 3:15 p.m.: No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese, truTV (Sling TV)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Texas A&M, truTV (Sling TV)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho, truTV (Sling TV)

Brad Nessler, Wally Szczerbiak and Jared Greenberg

• 12:40 p.m.: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point, TBS (Sling TV)
• 4:25 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawai'i, TBS (Sling TV)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas, TBS (Sling TV)
• 10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State, TBS (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Tournament schedule today: First round games, times, how to watch

After a disastrous year last season, the Phoenix Suns were quick to recalibrate their roster in the summer. Moving off aging and injured stars in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, bringing in a combination of tough veterans and youthful legs, and the influence of rookie head coach Jordan Ott have all done wonders for a team that was projected to win about 30 games this season. More importantly though, the absence of Durant and Beal has cleared up the ball handling/scoring logjam that Phoenix dealt with last season, leaving the offense largely in the hands of Devin Booker. Though still not a title contender, Phoenix has nevertheless been a fun story this year for the first time since they made the Finals back in 2021.

Meanwhile in San Antonio, a quick 2-0 road trip to California now turns into a quick 2-game homestand for the Spurs. They’re 8-2 in March, with one of the losses being a 5 point loss at home to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets without Victor Wembanyama in the line-up. With a 60-win season/#1 seed very much on the table and April fast approaching, San Antonio’s young group is coming of age quicker than anyone expected them to, but very much aware of how much work is still left to be done.

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San Antonio Spurs (51-18) vs Phoenix Suns (39-30)

March 19 2026 | 7:00 PM CT

Watch: FDSS | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries:, David Jones-Garcia, OUT

Suns Injuries: Mark Williams, foot (OUT), Dillon Brooks, hand (OUT), Grayson Allen, knee (questionable)

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What to watch for

• Devin Booker has had another strong season, averaging at least 25 points for the 8th year in a row. His shooting percentages are down a bit, especially from beyond the arc, but he’s making up for it by getting to the charity stripe a career-best 8 times a game (87% FT shooter). Booker can score with the best guys in the NBA and is a willing playmaker. He’s been Phoenix’s main offensive initiator all season, but he’ll face a San Antonio defense tonight that has grown into arguably the best perimeter defense in the league thanks to Stephon Castle, a collection of big, physical wings, and the always-lurking Wembanyama patrolling the paint. Booker played just 9 minutes in the last match-up, a 121-94 San Antonio rout back on February 19th in Austin.

Devin Booker full highlights vs Celtics:

40 PTS
15-24 FG

Scored 23 straight points for the Suns across the second and third quarters. pic.twitter.com/p8KYPFiTgt

— Booker Muse (@DevinBookerMuse) March 17, 2026

• The Phoenix defense ranks 12th per 100 possessions. That’s just outside of the, “elite,” category, but it’s a massive improvement from their dreadful 28th ranking to finish last season. First year coach Jordan Ott has implemented a defensive system built on maximum effort and it can muck up a game for opposing offenses. Phoenix is top 5 in both steals per game and opponent turnovers per game, showing a knack for playing the passing lanes, but the Spurs are amongst the best teams in protecting the ball themselves.
• Phoenix’s offense is not only built around the gravity that Devin Booker creates as a dynamic offensive player, but also elite offensive rebounding. They grab nearly 13 offensive rebounds per game, the 5th best mark in the NBA this season, creating tons of extra opportunities for themselves. San Antonio is the best defensive rebounding team in the NBA though, and Phoenix has struggled to dominate the offensive glass margin since Mark Williams was sidelined earlier this month with a stress reaction in his left foot.

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If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

BOSTON — Before the Celtics’ season started, Jaylen Brown decided he wanted to get to know his teammates on a deeper level to figure out how to lead them best. He’d long played alongside guys like Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser, but now he was eager to better understand what made them tick and how he could communicate with them as effectively as possible.

For Joe Mazzulla, Brown’s relentless pursuit of that question was apparent from the beginning of the year.

“Jaylen’s approach to leadership this year has been getting to know his teammates – understanding how to push his teammates’ buttons, how to understand them better, how to communicate with them better,” Mazzulla said. “It’s something that he’s taken very seriously, his leadership off the court.”

But, the behind the scenes of that process may surprise people. In addition to the time Brown spent simply getting to know his teammates, this year, he also opted to learn and memorize their Chinese and Western zodiac signs, and numerology.

For those unfamiliar, zodiac signs are personality traits based on birth timing. Chinese zodiac signs are based on birth year, and are represented by an animal that indicates one’s personality, while Western zodiac signs are based on birth date, on the position of the sun at the time of one’s birth.

After the Celtics 120-99 win over the Golden State Warriors, when asked about his approach to leadership this season, Brown rattled off each of his teammates’ zodiac signs.

“Neemi, he’s Year of the Rabbit,” he said. “So, his communication is different from D-White, who is Year of the Dog. So, his communication style is different. Hugo is also a Dog. Payton is a Tiger. JT is a Tiger. Ron is a Dragon. Joe’s a Dragon. Nikola, he’s new to our team — he’s Year of the Horse. It’s Year of the Horse right now.”

Jaylen Brown explained how he’s memorized all of his teammate’s astrology and numerology in order to better learn how to communicate with them:

“I learned communication styles that work best for each individual, and started utilizing that when I speak to each and every guy.” pic.twitter.com/GkVfutJcMa

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 19, 2026

For those wondering, according to Chinese astrology, here’s the significance behind each of those signs:

• Rabbits (like Neemias Queta) are gentle and empathetic,
• Dogs (like Derrick White and Hugo Gonzalez) are generous, warm, and easygoing.
• Tigers (like Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard) are confident and competitive.
• Dragons (like Ron Harper Jr and Joe Mazzulla) are powerful and ambitious.
• Horses (like Nikola Vucevic) are energetic and free-spirited

So, after he learned each teammate’s sign, Brown took it into account when figuring out how to best communicate with them.

“I started utilizing that when I speak to each and every guy,” Brown said. “I didn’t know if it would work before the season started, but that stuff definitely works.”

In addition to Chinese zodiac signs, Brown learned his teammates’ Western zodiac signs. He shared, for example, that Tatum is a Pisces (because his March 3rd birthday falls between February 19th and March 20th). Pisces, according to Western astrology, are known for being empathetic, highly intuitive, and emotionally sensitive.

“I learned communication styles that work best for each individual,” Brown said.

Brown also studied numerology, a belief system that assigns meaning to numbers, especially those connected to one’s birth date and name. Brown and Sam Hauser, for example, are both fives. (In numerology, the number 5 is all about freedom, change, and adventure; those who have a life path 5 hate feeling restricted).

Brown said he got inspired to go down this path after a few friends put it on his radar before the season. And, he feels like the results have been fruitful.

“They kind of suggested it — try to see if it works,” Brown said. “And everybody has a different kind of makeup of who they are and how they approach things. And if you learn a little bit about each person, what makes them tick, you can kind of learn more about how to maximize potential. All that type of stuff added up over the course of the season. And here we are.”

Milwaukee Bucks (28-40, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (20-49, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bucks -4.5; over/under is 229.5

BOTTOM LINE: Utah hosts the Milwaukee Bucks after Brice Sensabaugh scored 41 points in the Utah Jazz's 147-111 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Jazz are 12-22 on their home court. Utah is eighth in the Western Conference with 31.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 7.8.

The Bucks are 12-21 on the road. Milwaukee is 11-8 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 13.9 turnovers per game.

The Jazz average 117.2 points per game, 1.0 more point than the 116.2 the Bucks give up. The Bucks are shooting 48.0% from the field, 1.0% lower than the 49.0% the Jazz's opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on March 8 the Bucks won 113-99 led by 27 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Keyonte George scored 22 points for the Jazz.

TOP PERFORMERS: Sensabaugh is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 3.0 rebounds for the Jazz. Isaiah Collier is averaging 13.7 points and 2.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 112.5 points, 42.3 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.1 points per game.

Bucks: 2-8, averaging 106.3 points, 40.2 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.7 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

Bucks: Kyle Kuzma: day to day (elbow), Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Myles Turner: day to day (calf), Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Boston Celtics (46-23, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (24-44, 11th in the Western Conference)

Memphis, Tennessee; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Boston seeks to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Memphis.

The Grizzlies are 13-20 on their home court. Memphis is seventh in the NBA with 28.5 assists per game led by Cam Spencer averaging 5.4.

The Celtics are 22-13 on the road. Boston scores 114.4 points and has outscored opponents by 7.4 points per game.

The Grizzlies are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points higher than the 44.1% the Celtics allow to opponents. The Celtics are shooting 46.5% from the field, 1.1% lower than the 47.6% the Grizzlies' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics won the last meeting 131-95 on Nov. 13. Payton Pritchard scored 24 points to help lead the Celtics to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Spencer is averaging 11.4 points and 5.4 assists for the Grizzlies. Jaylen Wells is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown is scoring 28.5 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Derrick White is averaging 17.5 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 42.1% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 2-8, averaging 116.7 points, 38.1 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.9 points per game.

Celtics: 7-3, averaging 110.9 points, 48.8 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.5 points.

INJURIES: Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Jahmai Mashack: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

Celtics: Nikola Vucevic: out (finger).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

New York Knicks (45-25, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (17-52, 13th in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New York is looking to extend its four-game win streak with a victory against Brooklyn.

The Nets are 12-31 in Eastern Conference games. Brooklyn has the NBA's lowest-scoring offense averaging only 106.4 points per game.

The Knicks are 29-15 in Eastern Conference play. New York is fourth in the league with 12.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Mitchell Robinson averaging 4.4.

The Nets score 106.4 points per game, 4.2 fewer points than the 110.6 the Knicks give up. The Knicks average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Nets allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won 120-66 in the last matchup on Jan. 22.

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 46.3% and averaging 24.2 points for the Nets. Tyson Etienne is averaging 1.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Jalen Brunson is scoring 26.3 points per game and averaging 3.4 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 2-8, averaging 102.4 points, 40.4 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.1 points per game.

Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.3 points, 48.4 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.2 points.

INJURIES: Nets: Noah Clowney: day to day (wrist), Ben Saraf: day to day (foot), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: day to day (ankle).

Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle), Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (39-29, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (42-28, sixth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Friday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Toronto seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Raptors take on Denver.

The Nuggets have gone 19-13 in home games. Denver scores 120.7 points and has outscored opponents by 4.2 points per game.

The Raptors are 20-13 in road games. Toronto has an 18-21 record against teams above .500.

The 120.7 points per game the Nuggets score are 8.9 more points than the Raptors give up (111.8). The Raptors are shooting 47.5% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 46.9% the Nuggets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Jan. 1 the Nuggets won 106-103 led by 24 points from Peyton Watson, while Brandon Ingram scored 30 points for the Raptors.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jamal Murray is averaging 25.1 points and 7.1 assists for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.3 points over the last 10 games.

Scottie Barnes is scoring 18.7 points per game with 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 22.2 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 56.5% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 121.7 points, 43.9 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 6.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points per game.

Raptors: 5-5, averaging 115.5 points, 40.3 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (rest), Peyton Watson: out (hamstring).

Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles: out (thumb).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Karl-Anthony Towns has not been shy about letting it be known that he believes he is sacrificing for the team.

Earlier in the season, Knicks coach Mike Brown said that Towns — who got off to a slow start, at least in terms of his efficiency — had the biggest adjustment in the offensive system.

Then about midway through the season, Brown acknowledged that he made some changes to get Towns going.

Towns finally looks comfortable and is playing his best basketball of the season. In 14 games since the All-Star break, he is averaging 20.9 points per game on 58.9 percent shooting from the field and 43.1 percent shooting from 3-point range.

In the 51 games before the break, Towns averaged 19.8 points per game, but on a much worse 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.1 percent shooting from deep.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS

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“I just wanna be in the spots I’m supposed to be and impact winning,” Towns said after Tuesday’s win over the Pacers. “I’ve been asked to take a different role this year and I’m glad I’m impacting winning and maximizing being the star of my role. Just doing whatever our team needs so that we can be the best version of ourselves, especially right now, we’re getting late in the season where we need to build better standards.”

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Josh Hart is starting to rediscover his shooting form.

Over the past five games, he went 9-for-14 from 3-point range, helped by his 5-for-5 showing Tuesday.

Hart’s 3-point efficiency had been the best of his career in the first half of the year, but he struggled badly coming out of the All-Star break.

His ability to be an at least serviceable shooter is important for the Knicks offense, since opponents often put their center on him and sag off him to help on others when he struggles with his shot.

“I think since the All-Star [break], obviously I had been struggling in terms of shooting,” Hart said Tuesday. “I think I’m kind of in my head in terms of a lot of stuff. So I just gotta trust my work, go out there and shoot my shots.”

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Jose Alvarado is already tied for fifth on the Knicks defensive player of the game leaderboard despite playing just 19 games with the team. He earned his third recognition for Tuesday’s win.

After successfully claiming back-to-back wins in Houston, the Lakers (44-25) will travel east overnight to take on the Miami Heat (38-31) on Thursday. LA looks to sweep the season series against Miami and extend its current winning streak to eight.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat

When: 5 p.m. PT, Mar 19

Where: Kaseya Center

Watch: Spectrum SportsNet

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The Lakers are on a roll right now, playing their best basketball of the season. They’re rising to the occasion and peaking at the right time.

Now the question is, how hot are the Lakers truly? Well, we’re about to find out on Thursday as they take on a competitive Heat squad.

This game could be considered one of LA’s hardest games this season. The Lakers will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back against a well-coached team that plays hard, regardless of who is on their roster.

The Heat are coming off two losses in a row, so they’re certainly determined to get back in the winning column, especially since they’re also fighting for a decent position in the Eastern Conference standings.

It’s uncertain who will suit up for the Lakers. There’s a good chance that LeBron James won’t after taking a hard fall and hurting his elbow in Wednesday’s win versus the Rockets. But if Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves suit up for this one, Los Angeles still has a high chance of winning this game. After all, the purple and gold are 9-2 this season when James is out, but Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves play.

Miami ranks 13th in the league in offense and actually has a top-four defense. They rebound the ball very well and average the second-most points per game at 120.2, led by their microwave scorers, Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, who will be suiting up for this one.

It’s going to be tough to win this one, but not impossible for the purple and gold, especially since they’re playing very good basketball right now. If they can outexecute the Heat and continue to stay hot on the offense, they certainly can pull this one off.

Let’s see if the Lakers can remain perfect in their current six-game road trip on Thursday.

Notes and Updates

• Since the Lakers will be on a back-to-back, there’s no injury report yet released for this one.
• As for the Heat, Terry Rozier (not with the team) and Andrew Wiggins (toe) are out.
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. (left hip tightness) is questionable, while Bam Adebayo (right calf tightness) is probable.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.