Category: NBA

The final 2026 Final Four spot will come down to the marquee Elite Eight matchup between Duke and UConn. The two have combined for 11 national championships since 1991.

"You have two of the biggest brands in college basketball going at it to make it to the Final Four. I think it's super special," UConn forward Alex Karaban said. "I think it's super exciting. I know we're excited as a team. You've seen Duke. You've seen UConn throughout your entire life when you watch college basketball growing up. To be another piece of that story of those two programs going at it, I think it's awesome."

Sunday will be the first meeting between the schools since the 2014-15 season. They last met in a NCAA Tournament in 2004, with UConn winning 79-78.

Caleb Foster 'had no business playing': But he did — and led Duke to Elite 8

Duke vs UConn: 'Two of the biggest brands in college basketball going at it to make Final Four'

Here's what you need to know about today's Elite Eight game, including predictions and how to watch:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

UConn vs Duke basketball live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
UConn	—	—	—
Duke	—	—	—

What time is Duke vs UConn in Elite 8?

• Time: 5:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 29.

What channel is Duke vs UConn? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on CBS, streaming via Paramount+.

Duke vs UConn Elite 8 prediction, odds

∎ Anna Snyder, Fayetteville Observer: Duke 70, UConn 68

Expect a physical, back-and-forth game, but with Caleb Foster back in the rotation, Duke has just enough offensive balance to edge UConn and make its way back to the Final Four.

• Austin Curtright: UConn
• John Leuzzi: Duke
• Jordan Mendoza: Duke
• Ehsan Kassim: UConn
• Moneyline: Duke (-220); UConn (+180)
• Spread: Duke (-5.5)
• Over/under total: 133.5

Duke will reach Final Four if...

• John Leuzzi: It can keep UConn's offense out of rhythm.
• Jordan Mendoza: Out-muscles Connecticut.
• Ehsan Kassim: Cam Boozer takes over.
• Austin Curtright: If contains Tarris Reed Jr.

UConn will reach Final Four if...

• John Leuzzi: Tarris Reed Jr. continues to impact the paint.
• Jordan Mendoza: It shoots lights out.
• Ehsan Kassim: It can continue to get Duke to turn the ball over.
• Austin Curtright: Its bench can keep up with Duke's deep rotation.

Caleb Foster injury update: Will Duke guard play vs UConn?

Twenty days after Foster fractured his right foot in a win against North Carolina, he returned to play Friday against St. John's.

Foster came off the bench to score 11 points, corral three rebounds and dish out a pair of assists across 19 crucial minutes to spark the No. 1 Blue Devils’ 80-75 win against No. 5 St. John’s to reach the East Region finals.

He rolled out of the Duke locker room with his right foot wrapped in ice and his right knee perched atop a one-legged scooter, a bag of ice strapped and wrapped around his left calf for good measure.

"He's doing well. For us, he's not doing anything on the court (Saturday)," Scheyer said. "Even for these guys, it's been more of a walk-through day getting ready. First time playing in a few weeks, he's sore and recovering like you would expect, but nothing concerning."

Cameron Boozer NBA draft stock, mock draft predictions

Boozer is widely projected as a top-3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here’s a look at where various mock drafts from major outlets have the Duke freshman going:

• USA TODAY (as of March 13):No. 3 overall to the Sacramento Kings
• ESPN (as of March 11):No. 3 overall to the Indiana Pacers
• CBS Sports (as of March 17):No. 3 overall to the Brooklyn Nets

Is Cameron Boozer related to Carlos Boozer?

Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, Cayden (also a freshman for Duke) are the sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.

Before his 13-year career in the NBA, Carlos Boozer was a standout forward for the Blue Devils under Mike Krzyzewski from 1999-2002. A member of Duke's 2001 national championship team, Carlos Boozer finished his three-year career with the Blue Devils with more than 1,500 points scored and started 93 of the 101 games in which he appeared.

How old is Alex Karaban? How long has Alex Karaban been at UConn?

Karaban is 23 years old and enrolled at UConn in 2022. He was part of the Huskies' 2023 and 2024 national championship teams.

Braylon Mullins 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 29 overall to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All American, missed the start of the season due to an ankle injury. But he has returned to action for the Huskies and has shown what makes him such an appealing player. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup, but it may be tough for scouts to forget his 0-for-8 performance from beyond the arc during his first game in March Madness.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Braylon Mullins stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 12 points per game
• 3.5 rebounds per game
• 1.4 assists per game
• 43.5% field goal percentage
• 34.5% three-point field goal percentage

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duke vs UConn basketball news, predictions, Elite 8 time, how to watch

The calendar says the playoffs are right around the corner. Normally, this part of the season is about tightening the rotation, leaning on your stars, and getting everyone ready for the games that actually matter. But for Minnesota, the past few weeks have turned into a live-fire evaluation of everything beyond Anthony Edwards.

Since going down with injury on March 13th, Edwards has been watching from the sideline while the rest of the roster has been forced to answer a question that tends to define playoff runs more than we like to admit: What do you actually have when your safety net disappears?

And to their credit, the Wolves didn’t just tread water. They made it interesting.

They beat a desperate Phoenix Suns team that’s been breathing down their neck in the standings. They walked into TD Garden and knocked off the Boston Celtics, something this franchise hadn’t done since flip phones were still a thing. And then they survived one of the most chaotic, logic-defying overtime games of the season against the Houston Rockets.

Which is why this week’s SB Nation Reacts poll landed a little differently than usual.

If this team is going to make a real run, its third straight deep push into the postseason, who’s the guy that swings it? Who’s the piece that turns them from “tough matchup” into something nobody wants to see in a seven-game series?

And the answers from the Canis Hoopus faithful tell you exactly where the belief, and the uncertainty, still lives with this team.

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No. 1: Ayo Dosunmu — The New Toy… or the Missing Piece?

Let’s start with the winner, because this is where things get interesting.

Dosunm”u topping the list feels like one part recency bias, one part “shiny new trade acquisition energy,” and one part we’ve been waiting for this exact type of player all season”. And honestly? All three can be true.

Since arriving from the Chicago Bulls at the deadline, he’s done something Minnesota desperately needed: he’s changed the tempo of their offense. He pushes in transition, he attacks seams, and most importantly, he’s been knocking down threes at a highly efficient clip.

Coming into the season, point guard was clearly one of Minnesota’s biggest question marks. Mike Conley Jr. aged himself out of the starting lineup, and Rob Dillingham didn’t developed quickly enough to solve the problem. Dosunmu doesn’t answer everything, but he answers enough to matter.

And in a playoff series? That’s all you need. One guy who flips a quarter. One guy who swings a Game 4. One guy who turns a 2–2 series into a 3–2 advantage.

That’s how role players become guys.

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No. 2: Jaden McDaniels — The Swing Piece

McDaniels finishing second feels right and also somehow still underrated.

We already know what he is defensively. He’s the guy you throw at the other team’s best scorer and say, “good luck.” He did it during that 2024 Western Conference Finals run. He can absolutely put elite players in a straight jacket.

But the real question, the one that defines Minnesota’s ceiling, is what he does offensively.

When he’s just spacing the floor and hitting occasional threes, the Wolves are good. When he starts attacking, really attacking, by getting downhill, finishing at the rim, and becoming that third scorer behind Edwards and Julius Randle… that’s when things tilt. That’s when Minnesota becomes terrifying.

Suddenly it’s not a two-man show. It’s a three-headed problem.

The frustrating part? It’s not always there. It comes and goes. And that’s what makes McDaniels the ultimate X-factor. Because if they can unlock that version of him consistently, the entire equation changes.

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No. 3: Rudy Gobert — The Floor, the Ceiling, and Everything in Between

Rudy was my personal answer to this poll.

If you’ve watched this team long enough, you already know the truth: everything they want to be defensively starts and ends with Gobert.

He’s not just an anchor. He’s the entire foundation. When he’s engaged, locked in, and active? The Wolves look like a top-tier defense that can strangle games. When he’s off, in foul trouble, or disengaged? Things unravel quickly.

That’s the Gobert paradox.

We’ve seen the absolute peak in Game 5 against the Lakers, where he basically snatched their souls and ended the series himself. And we’ve seen the opposite like a few weeks later in the Western Conference Finals against OKC where he disappeared, put up minimal numbers, and couldn’t impose himself.

Feast or famine.

But if Minnesota is going to make a serious run? They need feast Gobert. The version that controls the paint, dominates the glass, and quietly turns every possession into a grind. That’s the version that makes everything else work.

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No. 4: Julius Randle — Can He Be Consistent?

Randle landing fourth might be the most revealing result on the list. Not because it’s wrong, but because it shows how expectations shape perception.

We’ve already seen what Randle can be in the playoffs. In 2025, during those first two rounds, there were stretches where he was the best player on the floor, even with Edwards out there. He bullied teams, created offense, and acted as both scorer and facilitator.

That version of Randle? That’s a problem for anyone. But then came OKC. The inconsistency. The drop-off.

Even this season, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster. Strong start. Post-All-Star dip. Then flashes again lately, especially with Edwards out, where he’s stepped back into that primary role and delivered big performances against teams like Phoenix and Houston.

So why fourth?

Because with Randle, it’s no longer about “can he do it?” It’s about “will he do it consistently?”

In a weird way, that’s a compliment. He’s expected to show up. He’s expected to be great. The question is whether he can stay at that level for two straight months. If he does? Everything changes.

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No. 5: Naz Reid — The Flamethrower off the Bench

Reid finishing last feels fair… but also slightly dangerous to underestimate.

Yes, he’s a sixth man. Yes, his minutes are more limited. But he’s also the kind of player who can swing a game in eight minutes. When he’s hitting threes, spacing the floor, and finishing inside, he turns Minnesota’s second unit into something legitimately scary. When he’s off? It can get inconsistent fast.

We saw both versions in the 2025 postseason.

Every playoff run needs a guy like Reid. The unexpected punch. The bench explosion. The “where did that come from?” performance that flips a game you had no business winning.

He may not be the most impactful player overall. But in the right moment? He might be the most important one on the floor.

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The Big Picture: This Isn’t About One Guy Anymore

Here’s the part that matters.

The Wolves are still long shots at+4000 to win the title. The West is brutal. The margins are razor thin. And this team has been anything but consistent.

But this recent stretch without Edwards has revealed something that might matter more than any odds number: They’re deeper than we thought.

They’ve beaten good teams. They’ve survived utter chaos. They’ve shown they can win ugly, win physical, and win connected.

If you’re looking for the blueprint for a playoff run, it’s not just “Ant goes supernova.” It’s this:

• Edwards as the engine
• Randle as the co-star
• Gobert anchoring everything defensively
• McDaniels as the swing piece
• Dosunmu and Reid as the wild cards

That’s not just a roster. That’s a formula.

The question, the one that’s going to define the next two months, is whether all of those pieces show up at the same time.

Because if they do? This stops being a “fun team with potential” conversation… and starts becoming something a lot more serious.

And if you’re feeling a little frisky about it, yeah, you could do worse than taking a look at those +4000 odds over at FanDuel Sportsbook.

If you think the Milwaukee Bucks are playing against the Los Angeles Clippers today (after getting walloped by them on Monday), you are mistaken.

Where We’re At

The Bucks have but one opponent, and it is the Chicago Bulls. It’s simple: finish below the Bulls and get rewarded with a modicum of higher probability at snagging a good pick come June. The Clippers are merely the next hurdle to crash into. With all due respect to my esteemed colleague Jack Trehearne, the Bucks most certainly are tanking: look no further than here. With that said, I want to maximize the runtime for the folks who (along with the draft pick) are the future of this team, with or without Giannis. Check out what that means below.

Hopefully the Clippers will again be a willing hurdle. They sit in the Western Play-In, and although unlikely to escape that purgatory, I’m sure they would rather be in the 7/8 game and ideally host it. Shoutout to Old Friend Brook Lopez reclaiming a starting spot in Zubac’s absence. And when is the hammer going to come down on Kawhi?

Injury Report

UPDATE: Deep breath… Thanasis (left calf soreness), Kyle Kuzma (right achilles tendonopathy), Ryan Rollins (left hip flexor soreness), and Myles Turner (right patella tendonopathy) are questionable, and Giannis (left knee hyperextension and bone bruise), Gary Harris (personal reasons), Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee synovitis), and Bobby Portis (left wrist sprain) are out.

For the Clippers, Isaiah Jackson is questionable with a right ankle sprain, while Bradley Beal (left hip fracture) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc ligament tear) are out.

Player To Watch

Gary Trent Jr. obviously hasn’t spent much time at the rim in recent games, as he notched team-highs in points in two of the last three games. I’ll be watching to see if he continues to eat up minutes that could be spent on younger Bucks.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CDT.

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After being able to derail run-and-gun teams like Saint Louis and Alabama in the second round and Sweet 16, No. 1 seed Michigan will have a different challenge on its hands with No. 6 Tennessee in Sunday's Elite Eight.

The Vols dig in on the defensive end, run two-big lineups and are the nation's top offensive rebounding team (as evidenced in their Sweet 16 win over Iowa State).

"We understand that especially at this point of the season, any team is a challenge," Michigan's Nimari Burnett said. "We're also ready to take the challenge to them as well. We look forward to a really good, physical game but also playing our style of play on both end of the floor."

More: At Michigan, Dusty May's son is the student manager his dad once was

'Regular-Season Rick' winning in March: Rick Barnes won't gloat about it, though

For Tennessee, this a third straight trip to the Elite Eight... but a chance to reach the program's first Final Four.

"For me, it's definitely an added motivation. I'm hungry for it," Vols guard Bishop Boswell said. "Last year, I was here and we were able to get to the Elite Eight thanks to the senior guys. We weren't able to get it done. To see their faces, it hurt absolutely last year, watching the ceremony and everything of that nature and just seeing we weren't able to get to that point."

Here's what you need to know for today's Elite Eight matchup, including predictions and how to watch:

HIT FRESH FOR UPDATES.

Michigan vs Tennessee basketball live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Tennessee	—	—	—
Michigan	—	—	—

Michigan vs Tennessee live updates

Pregame

How do players feel about SEC, Big Ten conference debates?

College basketball fans and the media love to debate which conference in college basketball is the best. The discussion in 2026 has surrounded the SEC and the Big Ten. Here's what Tennessee and Michigan players feel about the debate, ahead of the Sweet 16 in Chicago.

What time is Michigan vs Tennessee in Elite 8?

• Time: 2:15 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 29.

What channel is Michigan vs Tennessee? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on CBS, streaming via Paramount+.

Michigan vs Tennessee prediction, odds

∎ Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 81, Tennessee 69.

Michigan has played every style this season and rarely had a problem. Yaxel Lendeborg comes off a historic game and has made 10 of 18 3's in United Center in U-M's four games in Chicago the past two weeks. With Trey McKenney and Gayle providing consistent scoring off the bench, Mara and Johnson as a deep front line and Cadeau pacing the offense, U-M may take a moment to figure out Tennessee's defense that walls off at the rim, but should eventually be able to drive and kick its way to victory.

∎ Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 75, Tennessee 67

The Wolverines just beat the SEC’s best offensive team and now they face the SEC’s best defensive team. As U-M has shown all season, few teams adapt as well as it does. The Wolverines will again.

∎ Wynton Jackson, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Michigan 77, Tennessee 72

Tennessee's path to victory remains constant: win big on the offensive glass, limit mistakes down the stretch and turn to either point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie or Ament for big buckets in crunch time. The Vols have had considerable frontcourt advantages in their first three NCAA Tournament games, but Michigan narrows that gap. There's an even fewer margin for error against Michigan, one that Iowa State couldn't exploit without injured Joshua Jefferson.

The Wolverines are the most complete team Tennessee has faced thus far, and at risk of getting egg on our face (again), Michigan should advance to the Final Four.

• Jeff Seidel: Michigan 79, Tennessee 70
• Carlos Monarrez: Michigan 92, Tennessee 78
• John Leuzzi: Michigan
• Jordan Mendoza: Michigan
• Ehsan Kassim: Michigan
• Austin Curtright: Michigan
• Moneyline: Michigan (-350); Tennessee (+275)
• Spread: Michigan (-7.5)
• Over/under total: 146.5

Michigan will reach Final Four if...

• John Leuzzi: Slow down Tennessee's offense, and break through Tennessee's front court.
• Jordan Mendoza: It controls the tempo.
• Ehsan Kassim: It can limit Tennessee's offensive rebounding.
• Austin Curtright: It takes advantage of its size advantage. Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara make up perhaps the best frontcourt in college basketball, and they've been wildly efficient under the basket this season.

Tennessee will advance to Final Four if...

• John Leuzzi: It can stop Yaxel Lendeborg, and win on the offensive glass.
• Jordan Mendoza: Wins the battle of the bigs.
• Ehsan Kassim: It finds a way to neutralize Yaxel Lendeborg.
• Austin Curtright: Limits turnovers. While Tennessee upset Iowa State in the Sweet 16, it surrendered 16 turnovers against the pesky Cyclones defense. It won't get any easier to score against Michigan, either.

How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?

Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.

Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues

Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.

∎ Read more about Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg.

Nate Ament injury update: How much will Vols star play vs Michigan?

The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness. He played 29 minutes in the Vols' second round win over Virginia, scoring 16 points and 25 minutes in Tennessee's Sweet 16 win over Iowa State, scoring 18 points.

"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game," he said prior to the UVA game. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season.

"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could," Barnes said.

Has Tennessee ever been to a Final Four?

No. Tennessee men's team has never been to a Final Four.

Rick Barnes March Madness record

Barnes is 38-25 in his career in the NCAA Tournament and led Texas to the 2003 Final Four.

Nate Ament 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 11 overall to Portland Trail Blazers.

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament and given so much of what he brings to the table cannot be taught, that team is probably picking fairly early in the lottery.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Nate Ament stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 17.5 points per game
• 6.6 rebounds per game
• 2.5 assists per game
• 40.5% field goal percentage
• 33.1% three-point field goal percentage

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan vs Tennessee basketball news, predictions, Elite 8 time, how to watch

Sometimes you need a slump buster, and there is no shame in that. The Phoenix Suns came in 1–6 over their last seven, searching for something to steady them, and the Utah Jazz provided that opportunity. Utah is deep in tank mode, and on Saturday night in downtown Phoenix, it showed early and often as the Suns easily dispatched them, 134-109.

Watching from the stands, the first thing that jumped out was the defensive intensity from Phoenix. There was purpose to it, a level of connection that made everything look clean. When one team is moving in sync and the other is not, it becomes obvious quickly. The Suns were rotating, communicating, and turning defense into offense. The Jazz were stuck in isolation, one pass, one move, one shot, the kind of possessions that stall before they ever really start.

It felt familiar in a different way. Watching so much college basketball this time of year, you see those same empty possessions from teams that are not connected, where everything leans on one player and the result is rushed and inefficient. That is where Utah is right now, limping toward the finish line, eyes on the lottery. Phoenix is in a different space, trying to build rhythm, trying to sharpen habits, trying to turn effort into execution.

One moment in the third quarter stuck with me. Jordan Ott pulled Rasheer Fleming aside after a substitution and spent two possessions talking him through a previous sequence. Teaching, correcting, reinforcing. It was not loud, it was not dramatic, but it mattered. Those are the moments that define a season like this one. A transition year is built on those exchanges, on the small adjustments that turn into growth over time.

There is still plenty to appreciate in the present. Wins like this serve a purpose. They restore a little confidence, they remind you what it looks like when things click. At the same time, it is hard not to glance ahead, to think about what this team could become as these lessons stack. It is a small takeaway from a comfortable win, but it is one that lingers.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

He wasn’t the highest scorer against the Nuggets, but having Royce O’Neale back and seeing him hit 5-of-8 from deep got into your feels. He joins Jordan Goodwin and Jalen Green with 4 Bright Side Baller’s on the year.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 74 against the Jazz. Here are your nominees:

Jalen Green
31 points (13-of-22, 5-of-11 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers, +9 +/-

Devin Booker
26 points (8-of-14, 1-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, +21 +/-

Grayson Allen
19 points (7-of-16, 4-of-11 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +14 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
13 points (6-of-6), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4 turnovers, +19 +/-

Khaman Maluach
12 points (5-of-7), 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, +6 +/-

Ryan Dunn
9 points (4-of-7, 1-of-3 3PT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +5 +/-

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Who you giving it to?

Per a Spurs press release:

The San Antonio Spurs announced the launch of Spurs AI Studio, a new innovation platform designed to create AI-powered fan experiences in collaboration with leading brand partners. The platform allows the Spurs to deliver premium AI-driven experiences to their fans with interactive, personalized activations in-game and digitally. Spurs AI Studio will debut its first production, “ULTRA Arrivals,” alongside Michelob ULTRA, offering fans the ability to transform themselves into personalized player-style arrival moments. The experience is now live at UltraArrivals.SpursAIStudio.com.

Through the platform, fans can personalize fan content.

Jordan Kolosey, VP of Business Strategy, Innovation & Data Operations at Spurs Sports & Entertainment stated,

“Spurs AI Studio is about breaking down barriers and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans. This represents the future of fan engagement, and by working alongside innovative partners like Michelob ULTRA, we’re unlocking moments that were once impossible and bringing fans closer to the game than ever before.”

The first experience powered by Spurs AI Studio, ULTRA Arrivals, invites fans to snap a photo of themselves and instantly generate a cinematic “arrival” video inspired by the iconic tunnel walks typically reserved for NBA players.

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Tonight, the New York Knicks (48*-26) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (58-16) at Paycom Center. This matchup tests whether New York can hang with the reigning champs or are just part-time sluggers. The Knicks dropped their seven-game win streak Thursday night in Charlotte, falling 114-103, while the Thunder keeps rolling at home with the best record in basketball.

The teams last met on March 4 in New York, where the Thunder won 103-100. Chet Holmgren dropped 28 points with eight rebounds and six threes, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26 points and eight assists. Jalen Brunson (15 assists) and Karl-Anthony Towns (17-17 double-double) kept the Knicks close, but Oklahoma City’s timely stops and spacing made the difference in the final minutes.

The Okies have the league’s best defensive rating and seventh offensive. They’re fifth for points per game with 118.8. OKC is an average shooting team beyond the perimeter, but they clean up inside the arc. This is a switch-heavy, multi-positional team that plays fast when it wants and grinds when needed.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 31.3 points and 6.6 assists, getting to his spots with crafty mid-range play and leading the league in phantom fouls. Chet Holmgren puts up 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds while stretching the floor at 35%from three and anchoring the paint. Jalen Williams delivers two-way production as a 17 PPG scorer and sticky defender. Luguentz Dort brings physical wing defense and spot-up shooting, and Cason Wallace adds elite perimeter D and secondary playmaking.

Holmgren is a game-time decision with a hip issue. If he sits, expect OAKAAKUYOAK Isaiah Hartenstein to get the starting nod. The Knicks’ injury report still lists Landry Shamet (right knee contusion) as OUT, but Miles McBride has been upgraded to questionable.

Prediction

ESPN gives the Knicks roughly a 37% win probability here. We thought so. In the last matchup, the Hicks were in the driver’s seat for most of the game, but the Knicks hung in there despite falling behind by 15. Tonight, the Thunder could pull away in the second half if they exploit switches and get out in transition. For the Knicks to stay competitive, Brunson needs to draw fouls and create for his teammates, their bigs have to win the rebounding battle, and their defense must contest threes and mid-range buckets from Gilgeous-Alexander. Force half-court play, protect the paint, and make the home team work for everything…still lose by two, but do it with dignity!

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (48*-26) at Oklahoma City Thunder (58-16)
Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Paycom Center, OKC, OK
TV: NBC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups don’t believe the hype.

The Milwaukee Bucks will miss the NBA play-offs for the first time in 10 years following a 127-95 defeat by the San Antonio Spurs.

The Bucks have lost nine of their past 11 games and were without their star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the sixth game in a row as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

It was an eighth consecutive win for the Spurs as they remain hot on the heels of defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder for both the top seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the league.

The Spurs are two games behind the Thunder with eight games left to play.

The play-in tournament begins on 14 April, with the playoffs starting four days later.

Stephon Castle had his fourth triple-double of the season - 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists - and was among seven Spurs players who scored in double figures led by Victor Wembanyama, who had 23 points and 15 rebounds.

Last week, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers rejected a claim by the National Basketball Players Association that his side were keeping a healthy Antetokounmpo out of games against the wishes of the 10-time All-Star and two-time league MVP.

"He's not [healthy]," Rivers said when asked about the NBPA's assertion that the 31-year-old is healthy and not being allowed to play so the Bucks can improve their NBA Draft lottery positioning by tanking.

"He's progressing. He's just not healthy."

The late Bill Walton occupies a unique place in basketball history. He ranks with the greatest centers – Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon, among others – but injuries greatly limited his career.

But when he was healthy, he was indisputably great.

Boston Celtics teammate Robert Parish was speaking to former Celtic Cedric Maxwell recently and said as much. He talked about how much Walton pushed him in practice, how he made him a better player.

Keep in mind that this was quite late in his career. Walton won the title as a Portland Trail Blazer in 1977, but played in just 65 games.

He only topped 60 games three times in his NBA career, but made 80 in 1986 with Boston, where he helped the Celtics win the championship for his second ring.

In college, Walton was a massive success. He was probably the most fundamentally sound big man who ever played the game, and his best game came in the 1972 championship game against Memphis State.

In a legendary performance, Walton scored 44 points while shooting 21-22 from the floor. That’s 95.5%. He also had four shots waved off as offensive goaltending.

Toss in 13 rebounds, two assists, and a block, and it was the greatest performance in the Final Four, and it’s not particularly close.

The great shame about Walton’s career is that his bones just proved too fragile for him to play much. He had dozens of surgeries and at one point, seriously considered suicide to escape the constant pain. He found joy again and was a lively, if eccentric, presence on basketball broadcasts.

He found answers, though, and lived until 2024, passing away from colorectal cancer.

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For the third straight season, Rick Barnes has Tennessee basketball in the Elite Eight. After Sunday, March 29's game against No. 1 Michigan, he's hoping to have taken the Vols where they've never been before.

Despite becoming a March Madness fixture, the Tennessee Vols have never, in their history, made the Final Four. Despite a pedigree of modest success, including 11 regular season SEC titles and and five conference tournament championships (most recently in 2022), Tennessee has not been able to cross the threshold to college basketball's most coveted weekend.

ARMOUR: 'Regular-Season Rick' is winning in March. Rick Barnes won't gloat about it, though

The Barnes era marks the closest Tennessee has come, with consistency, even though its best shot arguably came before Barnes' time. The Vols' first Elite Eight trip was under Bruce Pearl in 2010, while Barnes was still roaming the Longhorns bench in Texas.

Barnes has taken Tennessee to the 2024, 2025, and 2026 Elite Eights. There's an argument to be made 2026 is his most impressive run yet, as a No. 6 seed in the Midwest bracket.

The Vols went as a No. 2 seed in both 2024 and 2025, ultimately losing to the No. 1 seeds of their respective brackets in the Elite Eight. While it could be easy to think it will be more of the same Sunday against No. 1 Michigan, Tennessee has now taken down No. 3 Virginia and No. 2 Iowa State to get to this point. So perhaps one more upset is in store.

Has Tennessee basketball ever made a Final Four?

Tennessee has not made a Final Four in its history, making it one of five SEC schools to not get to the national semifinal round.

The others are Missouri, Mississippi, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. Alabama basketball made its first Final Four in 2024.

Tennessee basketball Elite Eight record

The Vols are 0-4 in the Elite Eight, with losses in 2010, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Here's a look at their full history in the fourth full round of the tournament.

• 2010: No. 5 Michigan State 70, No. 6 Tennessee 69
• 2024: No. 1 Purdue 72, No. 2 Tennessee 66
• 2025: No. 1 Houston 69, No. 2 Tennessee 50
• 2026: TBD, vs. No. 1 Michigan

Rick Barnes Elite Eight record

Barnes is not just defined by his career at Tennessee. He does have a Final Four appearance, winning his first Elite Eight game with Texas in 2003. Since then, though, he is 0-4 in the Elite Eight, with two losses at both Texas and Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Has Tennessee made a Final Four? Vols looking to make March Madness history

Jaylen Brown had some things to say about the NBA’s regular season awards on Wednesday.

In the wake of Cade Cunningham’s lung collapse, robbing him of consideration for All-NBA and MVP awards, Jaylen Brown reminded everyone that back when the 65-game minimum threshold was written into the current CBA—by the NBPA and the league—it was met with largely unalloyed approval from fans and players alike.

We felt that players should be expected to appear in a significant majority of their team’s game in order to qualify for season awards that are, after all, awards for performance over the entire season.

On his Twitch stream, Brown said, “You can’t have dudes playing 45-50 games and winning First-Team All-NBA. You basically came to work half the time and got rewarded for it.”

And that, friends, is the rub.

Consider a pile of sand.

Remove one grain.

Is it still a pile of sand?

Yes?

Remove another grain.

Is it still a pile of sand?

Yes?

Remove another grain.

At some point in time, your pile of sand will stop being a pile of sand.

And so it goes with this notion that there shouldn’t be any game limit for regular season awards. You can say that you don’t think there should be a limit, but common sense dictates that there is, in fact, a limit.

After all, absent any limits, you could make a case for an All-NBA nod for a guy who plays one game, scores 40 points, and then tears his ACL in his next game out. I mean, the guy has a 40 PPG average!

Obviously, no one who wants the games played limit abolished would say that a guy who plays a single game deserves consideration for All-NBA status, which means that they have a games played limit—even if they don’t admit to it.

The only thing this dictated games played limit does is put the limit out there in the open for everyone to apply. It doesn’t establish a limit, it standardizes it.

It stops voters from shading things so that they’ll give LeBron consideration for All-NBA status (played in 53 games so far), while dismissing Victor Wembanyama—who’s been subject to more obvious load management—and who’s appeared in five more games than LeBron thus far.

This way, the arbitrary rule—and it is as arbitrary as most rules of this sort are—is at least universally arbitrary.

The fact that some players are going to be ineligible due to the existence of the rule is hardly a plausible argument against the existence of that rule. The whole point of rules is to set boundaries, to establish limits. Rules define things, and definitions, by their very nature, exclude as well as include.

That some of these players received consideration in the past despite missing a significant number of games is not an argument in favor of abolishing this rule, and the fact that some players have been hampered by injuries is, to be blunt, the nature of the game.

Look, if you play in fifty games and look absolutely amazing in those 50 games, and because of you, your team wins most of those games handily, that’s great. But what are you doing for your team during the 32 games you missed? Nothing. What are you doing as far as performance against your peers in those games? Nothing.

That’s what matters in this debate—and what gets overlooked—when you’re not playing, you’re not contributing, and when you’re not contributing, you shouldn’t be accruing “points” towards regular season awards.

Basketball in the NBA is a mass-produced commodity. In the course of the regular season almost 60,000 minutes of basketball are manufactured and consumed. When you’re playing, you’re putting something out there that can be evaluated, measured, weighed and considered in context. When you’re not, you’re not.

Yes, there’s a laundry list of name brand players who are either ineligible for these awards or are on the cusp of ineligibility this season, but the thing about these awards is that they are supposed to be about what you do, not who you are.

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli wins Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix.

Chicago Bulls (29-45, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (56-18, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago looks to stop its three-game losing streak with a victory over San Antonio.

The Spurs have gone 28-7 at home. San Antonio scores 119.4 points while outscoring opponents by 8.2 points per game.

The Bulls are 11-25 in road games. Chicago is 10-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Spurs score 119.4 points per game, 1.6 fewer points than the 121.0 the Bulls allow. The Bulls score 5.2 more points per game (116.4) than the Spurs allow their opponents to score (111.2).

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 121-117 on Nov. 11, with Victor Wembanyama scoring 38 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is scoring 24.2 points per game with 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 16.5 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 50.0% over the past 10 games.

Matas Buzelis is averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulls. Tre Jones is averaging 17.4 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 56.5% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 124.3 points, 50.2 rebounds, 31.6 assists, 6.6 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points per game.

Bulls: 3-7, averaging 122.5 points, 47.6 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.3 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Jalen Smith: out for season (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out for season (knee), Nick Richards: day to day (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Guerschon Yabusele: day to day (ankle).

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

SAN JOSE, CA — “Here we go again.”

It was the collective thought nearly every Arizona fan had when the Wildcats went into halftime of their Elite Eight matchup against Purdue down seven points. One of the best teams in program history was on the verge of a familiar result that had plagued the program for 25 years: falling short of the Final Four.

Athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois was nervous. Mix Master Mike was sweating. Families were stressed.

But while Bear Down nation was anxious, all was calm inside the Wildcats locker room.

Everyone rushed in, awaiting to hear what coach Tommy Lloyd would say to flip the script. The inspirational pep talk made for cinema.

But he didn’t have anything to say.

Instead, he turned the attention to his players. Let them figure out what they need to do to change course.

That conversation changed the entire narrative of Arizona basketball.

The rallying of the Wildcats was the secret ingredient needed to get over the hump, propelling Arizona to a thunderous second half that turned the tension into elation, ending years of misery with the program's first Final Four trip since 2001.

When Lloyd left the microphone open, it was the veterans that grabbed it.

Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas, all players that had experienced the shortcomings and were set on making sure the talented freshmen accompanying them wouldn’t suffer the same fate.

“They all talked to us and just told us to keep going. You know, we've been through adversity this season,” said freshman Koa Peat. “Can't get too high or too low. Just stay even-keeled.”

Lloyd and the coaching staff just listened, and couldn’t be prouder how the veterans addressed the situation. It was something he'd done a few times during the regular season, but the situation absolutely called for it, because they needed to figure it out.

“The most powerful thing in a team sport is a player-led program. The coach, you have to help them navigate it, but when you can get the players to kind of own these moments, you are just so much better,” he said.

By the time the players said their piece, the confidence in the room was beaming. This team was ready to get back on the court. Lloyd had one last message for them.

“Let's go kick their ass,” Lloyd said.

They did.

It was a literal tale of two halves as Arizona suffocated Purdue in the final 20 minutes, turning the SAP Center into McKale Center West, the pro-Wildcats crowd rocking the entire arena.

Arizona needed just five minutes to turn a seven-point deficit into a lead it would hold onto the rest of the way, leading by as much as 15 points late to stop any thoughts of a Boilermakers comeback.

The shots were going in, 3-pointers were falling, and the Wildcats got to the foul line just like they wanted to.

But really, the story was the defense.

Purdue got a halftime lead thanks to seven 3-pointers, but the perimeter was closed in the second half. It missed its next seven attempts, only making one 3-pointer, coming with eight seconds left when Arizona was already celebrating. 

In fact, Purdue's shooting was just off. It shot 32.1% in the second half, making just nine shots, just above the seven free throws it made in the same time frame.

The Boilermakers were exceptional at taking care of the ball, with the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country at 2.22. Arizona forced turnovers, with Purdue turning it over 11 times, resulting in 15 Arizona points that only added to the pressure.

Arizona took Purdue out completely, resulting in a 22-point advantage in the last 20 minutes.

“We had a couple of turnovers here and there, and then obviously missed shots. Then we weren't able to get a couple of stops,” said Purdue guard Braden Smith. “Obviously, credit to Arizona. They're an unbelievable team.”

An unbelievable team that pulled off a result that was starting to seem unachievable.

Arizona has had so many good squads this century that were capable of reaching the Final Four, but it felt like some sort of hex prevented the Wildcats from getting there. Since 2010, Arizona has the fourth-most wins in Division I ... but was the only program in the top five that had not made a Final Four.

That’s why, when the buzzer officially sounded, there was a collective exhale that was 25 years in the making.

“I am speechless,” Reed-Francois told USA TODAY Sports. “Just feels like a sense of joy. It's just pure joy, and look at all these people around here that are just so excited.”

A joy that Lloyd and company can’t wait to soak in; there likely will be quite the crowd awaiting the team when it lands back at Tucson International Airport.

“Making it to the Final Four is big,” Bradley said. “We appreciate Tucson, the supporters and everybody behind the scenes. We just are happy that we get to reward them with this.”

After dominating the regular season and West Region, Arizona has proven this isn’t the same old Arizona. It's no longer a team that chokes in the tournament.

It’s a national power again. And a team not just satisfied with breaking the Final Four drought, but out to win the program’s second national title, and first since 1997.

That’s thanks to a halftime conversation that changed everything for the Wildcats.

“We're still fighting, and we're still fighting to get better and see if we can get a little bit better before next Saturday,” Lloyd said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside halftime talk that lifted Arizona basketball to Final Four

Minnesota Timberwolves (45-29, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (24-50, 13th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas plays Minnesota looking to end its 12-game home slide.

The Mavericks have gone 13-33 against Western Conference teams. Dallas ranks third in the Western Conference with 34.2 defensive rebounds per game led by P.J. Washington averaging 5.5.

The Timberwolves have gone 28-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota has a 6-4 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Mavericks score 113.9 points per game, 0.5 fewer points than the 114.4 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 47.5% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on Feb. 21 the Timberwolves won 122-111 led by 40 points from Anthony Edwards, while Khris Middleton scored 18 points for the Mavericks.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Mavericks. Max Christie is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Julius Randle is averaging 20.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Timberwolves. Bones Hyland is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 3-7, averaging 119.5 points, 43.3 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.8 points per game.

Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 113.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Khris Middleton: day to day (illness), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Daniel Gafford: day to day (shoulder).

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: day to day (knee), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (calf), Jaden McDaniels: day to day (knee).

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