Category: NBA

Creighton men's basketball coach Greg McDermott's legendary career is coming to its close.

Monday, both McDermott and Creighton officials announced his impending retirement after 16 seasons leading the Bluejays program, during which time he became the school's all-time leader in wins.

McDermott will finish this season with the Bluejays, who are in the College Basketball Crown tournament after not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

Simultaneously with the announcement of McDermott's exit, Creighton announced that coaching veteran Alan Huss will take over the program. Huss had been named head-coach-in-waiting a year ago when he returned to Creighton.

“It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” McDermott said in the school's release. “I’m very proud of the young men that have proudly worn the Bluejay uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. Witnessing their growth and development on and off the playing floor was especially gratifying. “I’m deeply grateful for the support of my family, our players, coaching staff and support staff, as well as the presidents, athletic directors, and all the University and athletic administrators. The support of the Omaha community consistently packing our arena with 17,000 fans has created many fond memories. While this chapter of my career comes to a close, my love and respect for the Bluejays will never fade. I look forward to the continued success of Bluejay basketball under the leadership of Alan Huss."

Taking over at Creighton in 2010 after four seasons leading the Iowa State program, McDermott had a 23-win debut season for the Bluejays and by Year 2 made the first of three consecutive and 10 overall NCAA Tournament appearances.

Creighton under McDermott five times made the NCAA's Round of 32, as well as three Sweet 16 appearances and one trip to the Elite Eight.

He amassed 365 of his 645 career wins during his time atop Creighton, which is scheduled to play Rutgers in the College Basketball Crown event on April 2.

A former Creighton player in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Huss returned to his alma mater -- where he previously served eight seasons as McDermott's top assistant -- last spring after a three-year run at the helm of the High Point basketball program. Huss also served as an assistant coach at New Mexico and was a head coach in the prep ranks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Greg McDermott stepping down after 16 years at Creighton

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek has parted company with her coach after her shock first round elimination at the Miami Open, she said on Monday.

In a post on Instagram, the world No. 3 announced her split from Wim Fissette, who she had worked with since 2024 and claimed her first Wimbledon title with last year.

Swiatek, who has won six Grand Slam titles, said she'd “decided to take a different path.”

“I’m grateful for his support, experience, and everything we achieved together — including one of my biggest dreams in sport.”

The 24-year-old from Poland was beaten in three sets by world No. 50 Magda Linette in Miami last week. The defeat ended her run of 73 straight opening-round wins on tour.

“Miami was challenging for me. I feel disappointment, bitterness and responsibility for my performance on the court of course,” she said.

Swiatek said the rest of her team would remain unchanged.

“I know there are many questions, but l’ll let you know what’s next at the right time. I’m taking a moment to take care of myself, process this experience, and prepare for a new chapter,” she said.

Fissette has worked with a long list of top players that includes Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.

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In tonight's Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks matchup, all eyes shift to Brandin Podziemski with Stephen Curry still sidelined.

The increased workload has clearly taken a toll, but this is the exact type of spot to buy back in. Dallas doesn’t offer the same defensive resistance Golden State has been dealing with, giving Podziemski a much softer runway offensively.

Our Warriors vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks expect a response here — and with volume still on his side, the value points toward Podziemski clearing his scoring number on March 23.

Warriors vs Mavericks prediction

Warriors vs Mavericks best bet: Brandin Podziemski Over 14.5 points (-120)

Brandin Podziemski is mired in a shooting slump, firing at 28.6% the past four games. He’s topped 10 points only once in that span after averaging just shy of 20 points in the first seven games of the month.

A lineup of stingy opponents has worn down the Golden State Warriors guard, with five of the past six contests coming against Top-11 defenses. The Dallas Mavericks, however, are a welcome break. The Mavs are 25th in defensive rating since the All-Star break.

Podziemski is getting the minutes and touches to top his scoring total, and most projections are flirting with 16 points.

Warriors vs Mavericks same-game parlay

Game models have the Warriors winning and covering this short spread.

Podziemski isn’t just playing to secure his spot on this roster going forward, but with one year left on his rookie deal, now is the optimal time to re-sign for bigger money. Before this four-game slump, he scored 16 or more points in 10 of 14 games.

Cooper Flagg is putting the finishing touches on a stellar rookie season. However, he’s stuck in his own shooting skid. The No. 1-overall pick is hitting 42% from the field in his last three games, respectively scoring 21, 17, and 18 points in those outings. Projections have him as low as 18.7 points.

Warriors vs Mavericks SGP

• Warriors -2
• Brandin Podziemski Over 14.5 points
• Cooper Flagg Under 21.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Giving the nod to Pods

Podziemski hasn’t lost the support of head coach Steve Kerr, who is taking a long look at him at both the shooting guard and point guard positions. The Mavericks don’t push back much, and his assist projections are around five dimes.

Warriors vs Mavericks SGP

• Warriors -2
• Over 230.5
• Brandin Podziemski Over 14.5 points
• Brandin Podziemski Over 4.5 assists

Warriors vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Warriors -2 (-110) | Mavericks +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors -130 | Mavericks +110
• Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Golden State Warriors have gone Over the total in 28 of their last 45 games (+9.30 Units/19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Warriors vs Mavericks

Warriors vs Mavericks latest injuries

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NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will start the season on the injured list because of a strained oblique, the team announced Monday.

Strider had been scheduled to start in Monday's spring training finale against Pittsburgh before being scratched. Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters the team is hopeful Strider will miss only a couple of weeks.

The 27-year-old Strider is aiming to take another step forward now that he's two years removed from right elbow surgery. Strider missed most of 2024 and returned to the majors last year, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts.

He went 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in 8 1/3 innings of work in spring training for the Braves as he tries to regain the form he showed in 2023, when the All-Star led the majors with 20 victories and 281 strikeouts.

The injury is the latest setback for Atlanta's pitching staff, which already has seen starters Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep placed on the 60-day injured list following elbow surgery.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The Dallas Mavericks lost another game Saturday night, a 138-131 defeat in overtime to the Los Angeles Clippers. Dallas has lost 11 straight home games and sits at 23-48 on the season.

It’s been this way for most of the season. Dallas hung around in the play-in race for a few weeks, but eventually everyone realized the better path was to try and secure a higher draft position — and they’re doing that well. Dallas’ success in losing has propelled them to the 6th-best odds to secure the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.

This phenomenon is nothing new. Philadelphia fans went through this for years with their “Trust the Process” era and Utah this season has been in total freefall, often sitting out their best players late in games to secure losses. Washington traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis this trade deadline, but was in no rush to put either of them on the floor as they also look to secure premium draft positioning.

The game is the game, and I’m not here to propose a solution for this problem. There are hundreds of articles, podcasts, television clips, and more on the internet that claim to have the answer to the league’s tanking problem, which has now ballooned to nine of the league’s 30 teams actively trying to lose games for the last six weeks of the season.

But at the same time, I can’t sit back and pretend this doesn’t bother me. I’m a diehard Mavericks fan and have been since I was four years old. I’ve watched this team win 67 regular season games just to lose in the first round. I’ve watched Luka Dončić go down swinging in epic fashion in back-to-back heartbreaking losses to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2020 and 2021 — and then I watched this team trade that superstar to one of our most bitter rivals.

This team has put me through hell at times, but this season feels different. Maybe it’s the haze of the post-Luka trade, maybe it’s just a part of getting older, but this has been the hardest season of Mavericks basketball I’ve watched in my lifetime.

Even in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, when the team decided to shut it down towards the end of those seasons to try and improve draft positioning, it was still fun to watch the games. I could lie to myself about a Harrison Barnes masterclass or a Dennis Smith Jr. highlight reel.

Now, I watch the games knowing I’m going to get a few good stretches out of Cooper Flagg and then the rest of the game is filled with guys that probably won’t be here two years from now.

We went from NBA Finals games to draft boards. 20 months ago, we were three wins away from basketball immortality. Now, our biggest day of the year isn’t even a game day, it’s a chance to watch an NBA official draw ping pong balls out of a machine.

And don’t get me wrong, if Dallas can defy the odds again and jump up to No. 1, I’ll be ecstatic — but it won’t make the last year any easier. Sports is supposed to bring a community together, and right now, I feel farther than ever from the MFFL community I’ve come to know and love over the last 20 years, and that sucks.

I still try to watch every game, and I still find myself growing attached to the guys that do go out there every night and give it their all. Naji Marshall has turned into one of my favorite players because I know I’m watching his best every night.

And maybe a few Kyrie Irving games would make this suck a little less — having our best player on the sideline during this stretch has made it feel even more unbearable, but I find myself struggling to find a reason to be excited about this team. The thrill of playoff games at AAC and deep runs at a title have been replaced with studying NBA lottery odds, praying the math gods can bless us again.

I think it’s important to document these things from a fan’s perspective. I love this team, and this article is not meant to disparage the team in any way. The Mavericks are doing the only thing they can do. Struggling to win 36 games just to miss the play-in and have an even worse draft pick would be ridiculous.

I just miss feeling excited about this team. I miss turning on the TV and rooting for wins. Rooting for losses is hard, and it’s made me start watching less games. Maybe a Flagg-Darryn Peterson duo can bring me back. Hell, a Flagg-Kyrie combo will probably pique my interest next year. I’m a sucker for this team, but this season has sucked, and I thought someone should document that perspective of this season. Basketball isn’t supposed to be about strategic losing and ping pong balls; it’s supposed to be about winning, and every season we go through with those objectives flipped is another season we lose fans instead of gaining them.

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The red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder will be looking for yet another victory against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 

My Thunder vs. 76ers predictions expect a blowout in favor of OKC, which has dominated Philly in recent memory. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, March 23. 

Thunder vs 76ers prediction

Thunder vs 76ers best bet: Thunder -15.5 (-110)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best team in the Association, and a clear favorite to win the championship again. They head into tonight’s contest in the midst of an 11-game winning streak.

The Thunder just covered the 15-point spread in back-to-back games against the Nets and Wizards. They’ve also won by an average of 24.6 points against the Philadelphia 76ers across the last three meetings. 

Philadelphia is still without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. OKC ranks in the Top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, meaning a shorthanded Sixers squad doesn't stand a chance to compete. 

Thunder vs 76ers same-game parlay

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.6 points per game, ranking second behind only Luka Doncic. He’s cashed the Over in two of his last three appearances, dropping 40 points in each contest. 

SGA had 27 earlier in the campaign against Philly, and he’s averaging 30.3 PPG in March so far. 

Chet Holmgren went nuclear earlier this season vs. the Sixers, scoring 29 points. He’s hit the Over in points in three of his last four, posting 18 points in Saturday’s blowout win over the Wizards.

Thunder vs 76ers SGP

• Thunder -15.5
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points
• Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Thunder Rolls

Isaiah Hartenstein is one of the best passing bigs in the league. He’s averaging 3.8 dimes per night, and he’s cashed the Over in two straight, notching 18 assists in that span. 

Jalen Williams returns tonight after nearly a month sidelined due to injury. He will see a smaller workload as OKC eases him back in, but the Santa Clara product is averaging 17.5 points and 5.4 dimes this season. Even with limited minutes, he will still hit the 20 combo.

Thunder vs 76ers SGP

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points
• Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
• Isaiah Hartenstein Over 3.5 assists
• Jalen Williams Over 19.5 points + assists

Thunder vs 76ers odds

• Spread: Thunder -15.5 (-110) | 76ers +15.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Thunder -1100 | 76ers +700
• Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)

Thunder vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Oklahoma City Thunder have covered the 1Q Spread in 18 of their last 25 away games (+9.90 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. 76ers.

How to watch Thunder vs 76ers

Thunder vs 76ers latest injuries

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

March Madness is about moments. Buzzer-beaters and dramatic game-winners draw us in like nothing else in sports.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has been no different. While the upsets have been in short supply and Cinderella missed her carriage to the ball, there has still been plenty of iconic moments through the first two rounds.

Sweet 16 predictions: Experts pick who will advance in March Madness bracket

We rank the best buzzer-beaters and game-winners so far. Hopefully, we get more:

8. TCU's Xavier Edmonds beats Ohio State to open first round

FROGS OUT FRONT 🔥#MarchMadness@TCUBasketballpic.twitter.com/7zUjY9gv0q

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

7. Chase Johnston's first layup of season seals High Point upset vs Wisconsin

FIRST 2-POINTER OF THE YEAR FOR CHASE JOHNSTON 😱

HIGH POINT LEADS!!! pic.twitter.com/N2ZWYSb9Dz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

6. VCU's Terrence Hill Jr. 3-pointer in OT sends UNC home after Heels blow 19-point lead

VCU LEADS ‼️#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/GsJ0arWPNz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

5. Braden Frager sends Nebraska to Sweet 16 in classic game vs Vanderbilt

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

NEBRASKA IS IN FRONT 😱 #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/bHX87XMzCu

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2026

4. Tramon Mark gets Texas out of First Four vs NC State

ARE YOU KIDDING!!!

TEXAS GOES BACK IN FRONT 😱 #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/UE1EUjYjLc

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2026

3. Dylan Darling layup sends St. John's to Sweet 16 for first time since 1999

DYLAN DARLING GAME WINNER OMG 🚨

ST. JOHN'S ADVANCES TO THE SWEET 16 🤯 pic.twitter.com/cgtCSgKHe5

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2026

2. Otega Oweh's banked-in 3-pointer vs Santa Clara saves 'Cats, forces OT

NO. WAY. 😱

WE'RE GOING TO OVERTIME!!! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/3n8rDxkY3h

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

1. Alvaro Folgueiras corner 3 knocks out the champs

ARE. YOU. JOKING.

IOWA LEADS. THIS IS MARCH. #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/sNDHTqaGj1

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2026

Sweet 16 schedule: Game tip times, dates

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

• 7:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas (West), CBS
• 7:30 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa (South), TBS/truTV
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas (West), CBS
• 10:05 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois (South), TBS/truTV

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

• 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's (East), CBS
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan No. 4 Alabama (Midwest), TBS/truTV
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State (East), CBS
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Midwest), TBS/truTV

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness buzzer-beaters, game-winners so far in 2026 NCAA Tournament

#1 – Surviving thanks to Jaylen

At half-time, Jaylen Brown had scored or assisted on 50% of the Celtics’ points. As the Timberwolves have one of the best rim protections in the league, Brown’s ability to be somewhat efficient from the mid-range is what got the offense going.

The problem the Wolves sometimes have is that, because of Gobert, the spacing gets too crowded and their offense struggles. That is one of the reasons they were stuck at 14 points after the first quarter. In the second period, the Wolves were able to go on a run with the Frenchman out, thanks to better spacing but also more aggressive defense.

Yet, these moments without Rudy Gobert create another problem for the Wolves: Jaylen’s drives. In the first half, the Celtics were able to get to the rim thanks to Brown and make the most of the lack of rim protection. Here, JB first gets the switch he wants and goes for an impressive reverse drive.

But after a remarkable start, Jaylen Brown slowed down in the second half, going 3-for-13 from the field. And, like the rest of the team, he collapsed in the fourth quarter, when the intensity was at its peak for the Wolves.

#2 – A fourth quarter to forget

To start the last quarter, the Wolves decided to go small and be mobile rather than tall. They put pressure on the ball as early as possible in the possession and tried to disrupt the offense that the Celtics were trying to run. As Joe Mazzulla said, the Wolves’ defense without their big man disrupted the Celtics’ offense even more.

For the @celticsblog I asked Joe Mazzulla why the Celtics struggled a little bit more against the Wolves defense when Gobert was out:

"A little bit more physical at the point of attack, a little more switching, higher pick-up points and that impacted the timing of our offense" pic.twitter.com/uqVCAllsxJ

— Azad (@azmatlanba) March 23, 2026

On this drive from Jaylen Brown, we can see that the pressure on the ball comes much higher than in the first quarter, and the screen from Luka Garza isn’t really set. The All-Star drives early—maybe too early—and goes into a crowd of three Wolves ready to protect the paint.

Behind the Celtics’ collapse in the fourth, there was also a big shooting slump, going 0-for-7 from deep. Some of these shots were really well contested, and the Celtics weren’t able to get the good 2-vs-1 situations they wanted.

These misses created another problem: the Wolves could attack much more in transition and didn’t have to deal with the Celtics’ half-court defense.

#3 – The quickness off the bench

While the small-ball defense offers much more mobility for the Wolves, it also gave them an opportunity to run faster in transition and avoid being stuck in half-court situations. Without Anthony Edwards, the Wolves must avoid stagnant situations as much as possible because they lack the driving force that usually creates gaps.

So, as soon as they got a rebound, they ran. On the play below, you can see the willingness to push the ball up the floor as quickly as possible, with everyone running to offer passing options to the ball-handler until someone cuts to the rim.

With more speed off a miss, the Wolves could also force the matchups they wanted early in the possession. Here, Naz Reid gets a post-up against Brown while his normal matchup, Luka Garza, is far away from the ball. So this isn’t strictly transition, but because the Celtics weren’t able to get an offensive rebound or stop the break, Reid gets the ball exactly where he wants it against a favorable matchup.

As the Celtics kept missing, the Wolves had more and more opportunities to play fast, get away from half-court offense, and capitalize on their defensive intensity.

#4 – Getting Jayson Tatum in rhythm

The first half was a little brutal for Jayson, with one assist, one turnover, and four missed shots. But to get his groove back, the Celtics coaching staff involved him right away after half-time. A couple of play calls with Neemias Queta particularly stood out. They went to a Spain pick-and-roll action, with Sam Hauser positioned to bother Gobert. That gives a bit more space to JT after Queta’s second screen to attack the rim.

Same play call on the possession below. This time, Jayson snakes the pick-and-roll, and we can see that Queta isn’t fully used to that pattern. Yet, Tatum isn’t bothered and can launch a triple like he used to when a defense is in drop coverage. Bang!

With this action putting a player behind Gobert, the Celtics could punish his presence on the court and give Jayson Tatum the momentum needed to get back on track. Still, Tatum needed Queta’s screens, and the Portuguese big did a great overall job helping him attack the Frenchman’s coverages.

#5 – Going around Mount Gobert

Before the game, Joe Mazzulla and Chris Finch talked about the central role of Rudy Gobert in the Minnesota Timberwolves. They both highlighted that the French center has improved his versatility and is doing a better job on the perimeter than earlier in his career.

The Wolves’ coach also mentioned that, with Neemias Queta at center, the Celtics don’t have the typical stretch-five they had with Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis. However, recently, the Celtics have started using the Portuguese big man as a hub on the perimeter.

Before the game, Chris Finch said the Boston Celtics don't have a stretch-big like Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford to take Rudy Gobert of the paint. Which is true.

HOWEVER, they have Neemias Queta whom they love to use as a hub recently.

Shooting isn't the only way to spacing. pic.twitter.com/y9d8MGmr5i

— Azad (@azmatlanba) March 23, 2026

With Queta’s screen quality, the Wolves were sometimes forced to switch instead of staying in drop coverage. Here, Reid gets stuck in the screen long enough that Gobert has to switch on the perimeter, which opens a cut to the rim for Queta.

#6 – Dealing with Julius Randle

The Celtics’ defense is elite but still has a couple of weaknesses: quick guards and heavy wings like Julius Randle are among them. Going into the game, the Celtics knew they would have to adjust: do they let him play one-on-one, or send help and rotate behind his passing?

The biggest threat comes from his post-ups because of his frame, but also because his passing improves when he’s stationary. The Wolves knew that and started the game right away with a post-up for Randle. What I didn’t expect was to see Hauser matched up with him. Yet, you can clearly see that the others are ready to help and willing to leave Jaden McDaniels open, for example.

With players like McDaniels and Gobert on the court, the Wolves made it easier for the Celtics to decide how to defend. As often, the goal was to protect the paint and leave below-average shooters open, as long as the drive didn’t break the first defensive line.

This is another reason the Wolves went small later in the game. Reid is a much better offensive fit next to Randle. Here, he sets the screen, and Garza is stuck for a second protecting against a potential drive from Julius. This leads to more space for Reid when he catches the ball, and the shot is open.

#7 – Bones’ revival

As we said earlier, the Celtics struggle with quick guards and heavy wings. And while Julius Randle’s threat was well managed, the quickness of Bones Hyland was not. The guard, who was first signed on a two-way contract, is showing very good offensive potential for the Wolves. Not only was he fast in transition, but he also exposed the Celtics’ pick-and-roll defense.

But, as Joe Mazzulla mentioned after the game, it was his speed in transition that caused the biggest problems. On this play, he outruns everyone and gets to the rim in just a couple of seconds. Brown doesn’t have time to get set, and the Wolves get another layup.

#8 – The aggressiveness is rising

After the Thunder, the Suns, the Warriors, and now the Wolves, this is the fourth team in recent games trying to avoid the Celtics’ half-court defense as much as possible by pushing in transition.

While the three other teams mostly did it by forcing turnovers, the Wolves were able to combine speed off live rebounds with on-ball aggressiveness to disrupt the Celtics’ flow.

Opponents are now aware that the Celtics’ ability to take care of the ball can be used against them. They can attack more freely but also make sure they are set defensively. With the Thunder and the Hawks coming to town this week, it will be interesting to see how the Celtics adapt to that level of aggressiveness.

#9 – Losing the bet against McDaniels

In the second half, the Celtics paid the price for their bet on McDaniels’ shooting. We mentioned earlier that Celtics defenders were often helping off McDaniels because he was seen as the lesser shooting threat. However, he scored 9 points from deep in the second half, fueling the Wolves’ run.

The defense would rather go under screens against him to protect the paint, but this gives him a chance to punish that approach if the shooting variance swings his way. It was a bold choice considering his efficiency from deep this season (41%), but the Celtics’ paint protection is sometimes worth the gamble. It just didn’t work this time.

#10 – Too lackadaisical

After the game, Jaylen Brown spoke candidly and said, “we didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight,” and used a word I had never heard back in French school: “lackadaisical.” For those who, like me, hadn’t heard it before, it means “lacking life, spirit, or zest.” And I think that perfectly captures the Celtics’ performance once the Wolves went small and attacked them with speed and intensity.

Jaylen Brown on tonight’s loss:

“We didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight.”

“I was too lackadaisical with the ball.” pic.twitter.com/zYx35F75fx

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 23, 2026

The Celtics will need to regroup and find their “zest” again before Wednesday to be ready for the biggest game of the season: OKC Thunder at home, with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Williams back on the court.”

As the standings start to take shape, I believe the ideal scenario for the Knicks is to finish third, and for the Raptors to finish sixth. While an argument—a strong one—could be made that the Knicks should chase the second-seed and secure home-court advantage in the second-round, being the third-seed and facing the Raptors would help them avoid the winner of the play-in game between the seventh and eighth-seed, which, right now, would be between the 76ers and the Magic.

I don’t think the Knicks or their fans should be afraid of either team, but at their very best, they both pose a tougher matchup for the Knicks than the currently fifth-seeded Raptors.

If they could get the second-seed, secure home-court advantage in the second-round, and have the Raptors win the play-in game between the seventh and eighth-seed, that’s obviously the best-case scenario. And look, if the Knicks are looking to win it all, or at the very least, reach the NBA Finals, none of this should theoretically matter. They shouldn’t, and likely don’t, care about who they are playing.

There are still a few weeks left in the season and with the bottom half of the playoffs still looking very close, a lot can happen. But for now, as a fan hoping the Knicks can secure the safest and most ideal route to said Finals, I’d root for whatever scenario most likely matches New York up with Toronto.

Overall, though, this is a very convoluted week of games, and this is just a general guide to who you could root for based on what could happen. With any given day, wins, losses, injury reports, and standing shifts, who to root for can change. And even that will likely differ from person to person based on who you want the Knicks to play, how good or bad you think certain teams are, and if you even care at all.

March 23rd

Kicking off Monday’s slate of games is the Pistons, who’ll be hosting the red-hot Lakers. The Pistons are just 6-4 in their last 10 games, and will once again be without Cade Cunningham, who was diagnosed with a collapsed lung late last week. Root for the Lakers to continue their streak to make it 10 wins in a row, and the Knicks could pull to 4.5 games behind them.

The Magic will also be playing the tanking Pacers, with the Raptors playing the Jazz later on. If the Knicks end up overtaking the Celtics for the second-seed, they’d play either the Magic or 76ers if the standings hold up the way they are right now. As I mentioned earlier, the Knicks shouldn’t be avoiding anyone, but as a fan, I’d rather them play the Raptors. Root for the Magic in this one, as it gets one game closer to passing the Raptors, unless you want to see the Magic take on the Pistons. In that case, root for the Pacers.

March 24th

Aside from the Pelicans vs. Knicks game, the Magic vs. Cavaliers game is the only one that has any real seeding implications in the Eastern Conference. For the reasons listed above, root for the Magic to win. That would not only put them another step closer to overtaking the fifth-seed, but it would also put a bit more breathing room between the Knicks and the Cavaliers. The only caveat is, if you really think that the Knicks can’t take over the second-seed, and will finish the season third in the conference, and would rather face off against the Hawks than the Magic, then you’ll be better off rooting for the Cavaliers in this one so that Orlando doesn’t climb too high in the standings.

March 25th

In what could still end up being a playoff preview, the Pistons host the Hawks. With the Knicks still trying to overtake the Pistons, and with the Hawks being the prime candidate to leapfrog the Raptors, root for Atlanta in this one.

While that game is taking place, the 76ers will host the Bulls. Tyrese Maxey is still out, as is Joel Embiid, but neither has been ruled out for the season just yet. If they can ever get fully healthy, or even remotely close to it, they likely pose the biggest threat to the Pistons and Celtics out of the play-in teams. Root for them to win this one so they can stay a seventh or eighth-seed, giving them an extra life in the play-in stage.

A few minutes after those games, the Heat vs. Cavaliers game will also be tipping off. If you are still worried about the Cavaliers potentially catching up to the Knicks, or want the 76ers to match up with the Pistons, root for the Heat. A Miami win would further the distance between New York and Cleveland, while also allowing Miami to keep pace with Philadelphia. But if you just want the 76ers to have two lives, just hate the Heat, or want to keep the Heat in the lower half of the play-in bracket, root for the Cavaliers in this one.

That game, though, as good as it may be, will likely be on the back burner for many NBA fans, as the Celtics host the Thunder in one of the few premier matchups left in the regular season. This one not only has the potential of being a Finals preview, it also has standings implications. Root for the Thunder to beat the Celtics and clinch the season sweep.

And lastly, we have the Raptors, who’ll be headed out west to take on the Clippers. Root for Los Angeles to take this one in an attempt to get the Raptors down to the sixth or seventh-seed to set up the aforementioned matchup with the Knicks.

March 26th

The Pistons host the lowly Pelicans…. Root for the Pelicans. Good luck. The Pistons did drop a game to the Nets not too long ago, so you never know. Plus, the Pistons holding on to the first seed could be argued to be better for the Knicks? More on that later.

The Magic take on the Kings. By this point, the Magic could be up to the fifth-seed, and the Knicks could be the second-seed. That would line up nicely for the Knicks, as it would mean avoiding them in a possible playoff series. Again, not that Orlando should be feared, but if you are looking for the easiest path to the Finals, it would likely mean avoiding the very physical Magic.

But remember, there’s a possibility that both the Hawks and Magic surpass the Raptors in the standings. If that happens, and the Knicks end the season as the third seed, they would play one of them. We’ll have to see how the standings look by Thursday, but there is a slight chance that fans will want to start rooting against the Magic (or Hawks) every now and then as well, to keep the Raptors matched up with the Knicks.

March 27th

The Cavaliers and Heat face off once again, and rooting guide for this one, while depending on how the standings look by this day, will mostly be the same as how it was on the 25th.

The Celtics also host the Hawks in another potential playoff preview. Most fans will root for the Hawks, as they should. But, as mentioned several times already, if you want to play things on the safe side, and secretly want to root for the Knicks to stay the third-seed, and avoid playing a potentially dangerous 76ers, or Magic team, secretly rooting for the Celtics to win and maintain the second-seed may not actually be the worst idea.

The Raptors will then host the Pelicans, in what should be a relatively easy win for them. But you never know. Root for the Pelicans to continue the Raptors’ downward spiral into the sixth, seventh, or eighth-seed.

March 28th

In an exciting cross-conference game, the Timberwolves host the Pistons. The first-seed is still unlikely to be in the Knicks’ reach, and with the Heat, Hornets, 76ers, and Magic all maybe matching up with the Knicks better than the Raptors, it may be time to start rooting for the Pistons to maintain the first-seed? Is that weird? Yes. But if by this point, the Raptors have fallen into ninth or tenth-seed, maybe rooting for the Timberwolves still actually makes sense.

Not too long after that, the 76ers and Hornets tip off in a matchup where fans will have to decide themselves who to root for based on the standings at the time, and how they want the playoff bracket to look. If you want to see the 76ers maintain two lives to potentially (still only a very small chance) matchup with the Pistons or Celtics, root for them. If you think the Hornets, given their overall good play in the second half of the season and health, would prove to be a tougher challenge for the Pistons or Celtics, root for them.

And in the last meaningful game in the Eastern Conference seedings for the week, the Hawks take on the Kings. In case the Raptors have held on to the fifth-seed this far into the week, root for the Hawks to win what should be a relatively easy game against the very, very bad Kings. If, though, the Magic have made it all the way up to the fifth-seed, and the Raptors have dropped too low, rooting for the Kings to either allow the Raptors to catch back up, or hold the Hawks below the Magic, might not be a bad idea.

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The Detroit Pistons have been able to stay afloat without star Cade Cunningham in the lineup the last two games.

Monday’s home matchup with the scalding-hot Los Angeles Lakers will be the toughest test for a shorthanded Detroit squad, which needs small forward Ausar Thompson to step up his scoring against this high-octane L.A. offense.

Thompson’s touches and field goal attempts spiked last time out, and our Lakers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks see him playing a bigger role tonight, which so happens to be “Ausar Thompson Bobblehead Night” at Little Caesars Arena.

Lakers vs Pistons prediction

Lakers vs Pistons best bet: Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points (-120)

With Cade Cunningham sidelined, the Detroit Pistons need an all-hands effort to fill that hole on offense.
 
Ausar Thompson grabbed a shovel last time out, with his touches increasing alongside his shooting activity. He finished just 4-for-10 for eight points over 25 minutes in a one-sided win against Golden State.

Thompson has been on a minutes restriction since returning from a sprained ankle earlier this month, but with Cunningham out and the L.A. Lakers' high-octane offense on deck, Detroit needs his defensive and offensive output.
 
Player forecasts all sit north of 9.5 points from Thompson, with a ceiling of 13.3.

Lakers vs Pistons same-game parlay

The Pistons are outgunned against the Lakers without Cunningham. Game models call for a close L.A. victory, with the Purple and Gold extending their winning streak to 10 games.

Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is making a late push for MVP, scoring 30+ in nine straight games. The Pistons will focus their energy on taking the ball away from Luka. His projections still call for 30 points — just not 33.

Lakers vs Pistons SGP

• Lakers moneyline
• Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points
• Luka Doncic Under 32.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Get your motor running!

With Cunningham out, Detroit needs others to pick up the scoring slack. On top of Thompson’s added touches, Daniss Jenkins is getting more minutes and looks from long range. Game models have this non-conference clash tipping the total and going Over 226.5.

Lakers vs Pistons SGP

• Pistons +2
• Over 226.5
• Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points
• Daniss Jenkins Over 1.5 threes

Lakers vs Pistons odds

• Spread: Lakers -2 | Pistons +2
• Moneyline: Lakers -130 | Pistons +110
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5

Lakers vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons are 10-2 SU and ATS as underdogs this season, including 3-1 SU and ATS as home pups. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Pistons.

How to watch Lakers vs Pistons

Lakers vs Pistons latest injuries

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

BOSTON — Everyone has something to say about Jayson Tatum’s return to the court. That’s the reality of the world we live in, after all: basketball is consumed by millions of fans worldwide, and the media’s job is to discuss the most hot-button topics, sometimes ad nauseam.

Tatum gets it worse than most: he plays for the Celtics, on one of the brightest stages in basketball, and in a city where athletes’ every moves are especially-scrutinized. He’s long been one of the sport’s best players. And, he’s coming back from what’s widely regarded as one of the worst injuries in basketball. So, it’s no surprise that his rehab and return have been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this season.

As a member of the media, I’ve had to speculate about, talk about, and write about Tatum’s journey back to basketball for more hours than I could possibly count. I recognize the irony of a media member sharing this message, but I’ll share it anyway:

Now is not the time to scrutinize Jayson Tatum’s on-court play.

That’s not because he can’t handle the scrutiny; he can, and he knows it’s a part of the job. But, it’s because dissecting his every move — his shooting numbers, his efficiency, his usage — completely loses sight of the big picture.

The big picture is this: Tatum tore his Achilles tendon last May and returned to the floor less than 10 months after suffering the injury. He’s been back on the court for less than three weeks. The choice to re-acclimate (and, unavoidably, struggle) in the public eye was a brave one, and, though it’s not unheard of to do so, it’s also very uncommon for a player of his caliber to return as quickly as he did.

Take a look at three other former NBA All-Stars who suffered the same injury in 2025: Dejounte Murray (injured in January), Damian Lillard (injured in April), and Tyrese Haliburton (injured in June). Lillard and Haliburton were immediately ruled out of the 2025-2026 season, while Murray rehabbed for 13 months — nearly four more than Tatum — before returning to the floor.

Tatum did not give himself that same grace; he opted to work tirelessly to lace up for the Celtics this season, knowing that a playoff run was ahead. A part of why he was able to pull that off is because, by all accounts, he has a wonderful training and medical staff around him — Celtics trainer Nick Sang is the mastermind behind his rehab, and his surgeon, Dr. Martin O’Malley, is considered to be among the best in the world.

But a big reason why he is where he is is due to his courage. Tatum recognized the Celtics were in position to make a real run at a championship, and decided he’d give whatever he could to the team, even if it wouldn’t always be perfect. The Celtics held the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Tatum knew that he could come back and contribute, even if it wasn’t seamless right away.

Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves wasn’t perfect. Tatum was scoreless in the first half — a rarity in his career — but found his rhythm in the third quarter, when he erupted for 13 points. He finished the game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, converting on 6 of 16 field goal attempts.

Throughout the game, there were moments where the Celtics star was clearly frustrated, particularly early on. Asked whether he was giving himself grace during this stretch, he was honest.

“I didn’t know how this shit was going to be,” Tatum said. “It’s tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously gonna take some time. I think the next day, I can give myself a little more grace over certain things, but in the moment, it’s frustrating.”

Asked Jayson Tatum if he feels like he’s giving himself grace throughout this stretch:

“It’s tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I'm not Superman, so it's obviously gonna take some time. I… pic.twitter.com/b2pugYNgNn

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 23, 2026

That’s only human, and it’s commendable that Tatum is willing to give us a glimpse into his mindset as he learns to regain full trust in his body. At the same time, it’s our responsibility to recognize that the fact he’s even able to be out there is incredible and a testament to his work ethic — 7 months ago, he was in a boot, and now he’s dunking in an NBA game, battling against some of the greatest athletes on this planet.

His teammates recognize that he could have just taken the summer to get his on-court reps in in private. Jaylen Brown praised Tatum for making the decision to return to the Celtics as soon as he was able to.

“Him even wanting to come back is an unselfish act,” Brown said on the Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady podcast earlier this month, just a few days before Tatum made his debut. “[He’s] putting potentially his body on the line in order for us to accomplish something great.”

That’s exactly the way that we on the outside need to assess Tatum’s long road back to being Jayson Tatum.

Tatum’s rehab occurred behind closed doors, in private, in an empty gym, away from the gaze of the public. We didn’t see every struggle, only what he chose to include in his docuseries. But his on-court re-acclimation is taking place on national television (and it seems like every day, another one of the Celtics’ games is being flexed onto national TV).

He didn’t give himself much time to re-acclimate in private.

Tatum’s first real 5-on-5 scrimmage came on February 9th, when the Maine Celtics came down to Boston for a special game at the Auerbach Center. Less than one month later, he took the TD Garden parquet in a March 6th game against the Dallas Mavericks, in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the NBA season.

There have been some great moments since his return, and some struggles. He had a 12-point first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers, displayed hot outside shooting against the Golden State Warriors last week, and showed some flashes of tremendous defense.

12 FIRST QUARTER POINTS FOR JAYSON TATUM 🔥

This guy tore his achilles 300 days ago 😅 pic.twitter.com/yqfiGOKdE2

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 8, 2026

He’s been a beast on the glass — he’s already re-established himself as the Celtics’ leading rebounder — and some stretches where he’s displayed the playmaking chops that make him one of the most versatile players in the game.

“He’s giving the game what it needs,” Joe Mazzulla said last week of Tatum.

There have also been some stretches where Tatum has looked a bit tentative, where his timing and rhythm has been noticeably off. That could be a result of his own physical and mental hurdles, and it could also be a result of the team trying to figure out how to implement him best (Does he have the ball enough? Is he getting it in the right spots? It’s hard for me on the outside to say for certain, because I’m not privy to the conversations going on behind closed doors).

Tatum, for one, is letting it all come to him.

“I’m just taking it day-by-day. I had probably the worst injury you can have. I came back in 10 months and am getting better, [I have a] better feel each game. I want it to be perfect — First Team All-NBA Jayson, like that,” he said, snapping his finger. “I didn’t rush the rehab, so I can’t rush this. It’s all going to work out.”

For what it’s worth: Tatum is averaging 19.1 points — second-most on the team — and still drawing plenty of double-teams when the ball is in his hands. Yes, his efficiency is down; he’s shooting 38.8% from the field and 29.3% from three. But the sample on those numbers is so small that, in my view, they are pretty much irrelevant.

His usage rate is down from last season, but not by as much as you’d think — last year, Tatum’s usage was a 31.1%, this year’s it’s slightly dipped to 30.2%. Though it feels like a noticeable decline, he’s attempting 17.4 shots per game, only 0.4 fewer than his career averages.

And, while in totality, he hasn’t looked exactly like pre-injury Jayson Tatum yet, the most encouraging thing is that, in spurts, he has. Those moments, those plays where he does fully look like himself? He points them out to Sang, one of his closest friends and confidants, for reference.

“There’s a lot of things I talk to Nick about, just things that I notice throughout a game — certain plays, certain moments of contact, explosion, attacking, getting downhill, the pace and speed of certain plays that just felt really normal, felt really good, or I didn’t think about it at all,” he said. “Just finding more and more moments of those from game to game — that gets me really excited.”

The NBA playoffs are less than a month away. And, Tatum will continue to ramp up his minutes and play in the days ahead. He’ll do so in the public eye, where every missed shot is at risk of becoming the front story on ESPN, where every sigh and emotion will be dissected by viewers at home.

He knew that would be part of the deal, and he opted to return anyway, even though his first five months of 5-on-5 scrimmaging could have occurred in private. He made the courageous decision to return anyway, because he’s a competitor. Because he loves basketball. Because he knows he can elevate this Celtics team even further.

For now, he’s leaning on those around him — his mom, his 8-year-old son Deuce, his medical staff — as he continues to publicly work through what’s undoubtedly been the biggest hurdle in his basketball career.

“That’s the first time I went through something like this,” Tatum said. ”It’s been a long time — a long time before I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk.”

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The struggling Indiana Pacers hit the road tonight to take on the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. 

Desmond Bane has tormented Indy this season, and my Pacers vs. Magic predictions are eyeing him to show out here. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, March 23. 

Pacers vs Magic prediction

Pacers vs Magic best bet: Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points (-120)

Desmond Bane is averaging 20.4 PPG across 70 appearances in his first season with the Orlando Magic. In March, he’s averaging exactly 21 points per night.

The guard has cashed the Over in four of his last seven appearances, and he has played better at home, averaging 22.5 PPG compared to 19.5 on the road. Most notably, he’s averaged 24.5 PPG against the Indiana Pacers this season, who are losers of 16 straight contests. 

Bane will have no issues delivering a big performance against an Indiana defense that ranks Bottom-4 in defensive efficiency.

Pacers vs Magic same-game parlay

Orlando is averaging 115.3 PPG, but it's up against a Pacers team allowing a minimum of 127 points across their last four contests. 

Also, in their last matchup in January, the Magic dropped 135 points. Indiana is hopeless defensively, and this is a prime opportunity for Orlando’s offense to find their best again. 

Jalen Suggs is averaging 5.3 dimes this season, and he’s cashed the Over in four of his last six outings. He’s averaging 5.8 assists at home compared to 4.5 on the road.

Pacers vs Magic SGP

• Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
• Magic team total Over 122.5 points
• Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: I Put a Spell on You

Wendell Carter Jr. is averaging 12 PPG across two meetings with the Pacers in 2025-26, and he’s hit the Over in points in four of his last five. Two of those contests have been at home. He just scored 13 on Saturday against the Lakers. 

Paolo Banchero has cooked Indiana this season, averaging 28.5 points and 4.5 assists against them in two matchups. Banchero is averaging 24.3 points and 5.0 dimes this month.

Pacers vs Magic SGP

• Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
• Magic team total Over 122.5 points
• Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
• Wendell Carter Jr. Over 11.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 30.5 points + assists

Pacers vs Magic odds

• Spread: Pacers +13 (-110) | Magic -13 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pacers +575 | Magic -850
• Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)

Pacers vs Magic betting trend to know

The Orlando Magic have hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 16 of their last 23 games at home (+9.00 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Magic.

How to watch Pacers vs Magic

Pacers vs Magic latest injuries

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

Come on, Luka Dončić. 

You’re nipping at the heels of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the NBA MVP Award. You’ve led the Lakers to nine straight wins, the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2019–2020 season when it won a championship.  

And you’re going to get in your own way now? 

Dončić picked up his 16th technical foul Saturday after he and Magic reserve Goga Bitadze exchanged words as he shot free throws with 1:19 left in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 105–104 win. (Bitadze was also assessed a technical.)

Luckily for Dončić and the Lakers, the technicals got rescinded Sunday, preventing him from having to serve a one-game suspension Monday against the Pistons.

But this should be a warning.

Dončić knew he was at the technical foul threshold. And he still opened his mouth. He needed to be better at that moment. Smarter. That was not worth it. 

Especially not amid his breakthrough stretch, averaging an eye-popping 40 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.6 steals over the last nine games. 

His MVP odds have quadrupled over the last five days. He had a 51-point performance and a 60-point performance within a week. Oh, and he made a game-winning jumper in a 127–125 overtime thriller against the Nuggets on March 14. He has been playing brilliantly. He has been hustling on defense. He has been the best player in the league lately.

And he nearly allowed words from a player who’s averaging 5.7 points over 15 minutes a game to get under his skin so deeply that it could’ve messed with his availability?  

That’s self-sabotage. 

“Obviously, I let my team down getting that last tech,” Dončić said Saturday after finishing with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. “But honestly, I wasn’t trying to. He said at the free throw, he would f–k my whole family. And at some point, this is a basketball court. At some point, I just can’t stand it. I gotta stand up for myself.”

Wrong. 

That nearly cost him a game. It could’ve curtailed the Lakers’ momentum. All for what? So he could’ve spewed some venom back? Where would that have gotten him?

If anything, the incident showed other NBA players his kryptonite. It taught them that a taunt could make him lose his cool. It gave other players the cheat code on how to unravel him. 

What’s the point of it all?

Bitadze claimed things went down differently. In a phone interview with ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel, the forward/center from Georgia said Dončić cursed at him in Serbian and he just repeated those same words back to him. 

“He said something about my mother, which, it’s really inappropriate,” said Bitadze, who played professionally in Serbia from 2016–2019. “We don’t say that stuff during the game. … So I just said whatever he told me or [about] my mother [and] said it back.”

Honestly, the details don’t even matter. Who cares who said what first? Who cares if someone dissed his mom or his daughter or his grandmother or his ex-fiancée. 

The words are empty. Meaningless. They have no teeth. 

What matters is Dončić being on the court. Him putting his teammates above his pride. Him putting winning above his ego. 

It’s tough because what makes Dončić great also makes him a liability. He’s fiery, intense and as competitive as they come. He was assessed 16 technicals twice during his tenure with the Mavericks, but both times the 16th technical was rescinded.

Against the Bulls a little over a week ago, he used trash talk with Matas Buzelis to inspire his 51-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist explosion. He claimed Buzelis said something “not very nice” to him, and that woke him up. 

It’s funny because that situation was also a “he said, he said” moment. Dončić claimed Buzelis trash-talked him first, while Buzelis insisted Dončić initiated things and he merely responded. 

Again, the details don’t matter. But there’s a theme here. 

Trash talk can bring out the best in Dončić. Or the worst. 

And on Saturday, with his 16th technical foul and a one-game suspension looming, it wasn’t worth him taking the risk. 

He shouldn’t have engaged. 

He should’ve put his head down and found a different form of motivation. He should’ve shrugged off any insult. He should’ve made Bitadze pay for his alleged indiscretion by going on a scoring tear.

With only 11 games left, a one-game suspension is the last thing a surging superstar and a team on a heater need.

Dončić got lucky this time.

But he can’t put himself in this position again.  

His team needs him too much.

---

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