Category: NBA

No one, not even LeBron James, knows whether he’ll play basketball next year or not. But one thing he has consistently said is that he’d be interested in owning an NBA team at some point, specifically in Las Vegas.

He said this from the moment he joined the Lakers back in 2018 and LeBron asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the league expanding to Vegas back in 2022.

With the NBA’s Board of Governors set to vote on adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle this March, it appeared the table was set for LeBron to accomplish his goal.

However, things can change.

After the Lakers’ win over the Rockets on Wednesday, he was asked whether he was still interested in owning a team and his tone has completely flipped.

This is a big change of heart from James. He has consistently expressed interests, so why the sudden change?

While LeBron has no ownership in an NBA team, he does own a part of the historic football club Liverpool. That investment has been a slam dunk for the king, and owning an NBA team, even at a low percentage, has proven to be a hot commodity.

Could the $7-$10 billion price range be too rich for him to get involved, even as a minority owner?

According to a report by Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, the Fenway Sports Group, which James has been involved with since 2011, does not plan on pursuing a bid for the potential Las Vegas NBA team. In the article, the estimated cost of an NBA expansion team was stated as one of the reasons they are not pursuing a bid.

If James’ partners are out, then maybe that’s why he is no longer enthused about NBA ownership in Sin City.

And who knows, maybe he changes his mind again, or the ownership group that wins the bid convinces him to come along.

This story is far from over, but as things stand, whenever Las Vegas begins playing in the NBA, LeBron looks more likely to be playing against them than to be seated in a suite as the team’s owner.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The Detroit Pistons' odds to win the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals took a major hit after Cade Cunningham was revealed to have suffered a collapsed lung.

Cunningham is also off the board in the NBA MVP market at several top sportsbooks, while he sits at less than a 1% chance to win the award at Kalshi.

Key Takeaways

• Cunningham exited after five minutes of action after diving for a loose ball Tuesday.
  
  
• Recent players who sustained a collapsed lung missed an average of 10.8 games.
  
  
• The league’s CBA requires Cunningham to miss no more than 10 more games to be eligible for end-of-season awards.

Cunningham will be sidelined for an extended period, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday. He played five minutes Tuesday against the Washington Wizards before leaving with what was initially called back spasms.

Cade Cunningham won’t return tonight due to back spasms. This is the play that took him out pic.twitter.com/Mj5ZHcWL7G

— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) March 17, 2026

The Pistons lead the East with a record of 49-19, three-and-a-half games ahead of the Boston Celtics. Oddsmakers had still preferred Boston in the race to reach and win the NBA Finals, but Detroit’s indefinite loss of its star player set it back even further.

DraftKings dropped the Pistons from +2,000 to +2,500 in NBA title odds after the injury was announced. Although they remain seventh in the odds ladder, they’re down to a 3.9% implied chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy this summer.

The Pistons also lengthened from +400 to +700 to win the East, dropping from a 20% to 12.5% probability. That puts them behind the Celtics (+145), Cleveland Cavaliers (+330), and New York Knicks (+370).

Cunningham will be re-evaluated on April 2, the day the Pistons host the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

There will be five more opportunities after that to get on the court before the postseason begins.

Cunningham out of MVP consideration?

Cunningham had been leading one of the most impressive franchise turnarounds over the last two seasons, taking the Pistons from 14-68 and the worst record in the league in 2023-24, to a sixth-place finish and playoff appearance in 2024-25, to the best record in the conference this season.

The 24-year-old is averaging 24.5 points (13th), 9.9 assists (second), and 5.6 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game. 

Despite his excellence, the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement may leave him ineligible for the league’s highest individual honor.

Written to disincentivize tanking, the CBA mandates players must make at least 65 appearances, including 63 appearances of at least 20 minutes, during the 82-game regular season to be eligible for awards. That includes MVP and All-NBA spots. 

With 61 games under his belt, Cunningham won’t have a chance to win the award if he can’t get back on the court by April 6. He’s been viewed as a top-five contender in NBA MVP odds for the majority of the season, but as mentioned above, he’s off the board at most online sportsbooks.

According to Yahoo Sports' Kevin O’Connor, recent players who sustained a collapsed lungs include:

• CJ McCollum (2023): 12 missed games in three-and-a-half weeks
• CJ McCollum (2021): 18 missed games in six weeks
• Terrence Jones (2015): Six missed games in two weeks
• Gerald Wallace (2009): Seven missed games in three weeks

If Cunningham misses the average number of contests (about 11) between the above players, he will come up one short of the 64-game minimum.

Playoff impact

If the Pistons can maintain their position atop the East, they would match up with the lowest-seeded team remaining after the play-in tournament.

The Pistons have a winning record against three of the four teams currently projected to participate in the play-in. The Miami Heat are the exception, winning two of their three encounters.

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.

Be sure to follow USA TODAY Sports' live bracket updates and scores, keeping track of all of NCAA Tournament's Day 1 games.

Hopefully your Men's NCAA Tournament bracket isn't already busted after Thursday's first round. Because Friday is just as fun.

So many games. So many screens. So much madness.

March Madness bold predictions: Popular upsets, locks to help fill out your bracket

Here's a look at Friday's full slate of games and TV listings:

March Madness first round schedule, TV listings for Friday, March 20

• 12:15 p.m.: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara, CBS (Fubo)
• 12:40 p.m.: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron, truTV (Sling TV)
• 1:35 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU, TNT (Sling TV)
• 1:50 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State, TBS (Sling TV)
• 2:50 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State, CBS (Fubo)
• 3:15 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra, truTV (Sling TV)
• 4:10 p.m.: No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State, TNT (Sling TV)
• 4:25 p.m.: No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio), TBS (Sling TV)
• 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, TNT (Sling TV)
• 7:10 p.m.: No 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa, CBS (Fubo)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida, TBS (Sling TV)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens, truTV (Sling TV)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M, TNT (Sling TV)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist, CBS (Fubo)
• 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman, TBS (Sling TV)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami vs. No. 10 Missouri, truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games tomorrow: NCAA Friday first round TV schedule

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You’re probably busy with your bracket today, but if you want to build up that bankroll for March Madness betting, I’ve got some slam dunk plays in the NBA player prop market for today.

My best bets include Evan Mobley dominating the paint against the Bulls, and Victor Wembanyama continuing his block party when he faces the Suns.

Those and more NBA picks for Thursday, March 19 below. 

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Evan Mobley	Over 19.5 points	-115
Victor Wembanyama	Over 3.5 blocks	+115
Kyle Filipowski	Double-double	+235

Prop #1: Evan Mobley Over 19.5 points

-115 at bet365

The Cleveland Cavaliers need Evan Mobley to play his best basketball if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. Luckily, he seems to be peaking at the right time.

Mobley is averaging 21 points and 10.2 rebounds over his last nine games and has scored 24 or more in three of his last six. I’m betting he keeps getting buckets tonight against the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls have turned their attention to next season and are surrendering 120.5 points per game over their last 11 games and now allow the fourth most opponent points in the paint per game.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, CHSN

Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks

+115 at bet365

As long as sportsbooks keep giving me plus money for the Over on Victor Wembanyama blocks, I’m going to keep betting it.

The Alien has been out of this world when it comes to protecting the rim in the second half of the season. Wemby is averaging 4.0 blocks over the 14 games since coming out of the All-Star break, which includes rejecting four or more shots 11 times during that stretch.

The block party continues when the San Antonio Spurs face the Phoenix Suns. Wemby has blocked at least four shots in his two previous meetings against the Suns this season.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: KTVK, FanDuel Sports Network-Southwest

Prop #3: Kyle Filipowski double-double

+235 at bet365

More drama brews with the Milwaukee Bucks as Giannis doesn’t want to sit out the remainder of the season, but he’s at least out tonight against the Utah Jazz.

That means a team that already has the third-worst rebounding rate will be without one of the best rebounders in the NBA.

That has me looking at Jazz big man Kyle Filipowski to have a big night stuffing the stat sheet. Since becoming a regular starter, Filipowski is averaging 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

He’s recorded a double-double in three of his last six games.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, KJZZ

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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.

The NBA tanking problem is an utter disaster, and the Brooklyn Nets are a symptom of the broken system. 

The Nets on Wednesday night lost 121-92 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, by no surprise. That’s not being disrespectful towards the Nets either, it’s just common knowledge that their strategy is completely opposite from OKCs. One is trying to accumulate as many losses as possible, the other is trying to win as much as possible.

Sean Marks, Jordi Fernandez, Joe Tsai and the Nets have caught their fair share of praise and flack. But it’s not just leadership at play.

They’re navigating a system that rewards losing over competing.

They’ve tanked hard enough to be a bottom-3 team, but for some, it still hasn’t been egregious enough because they’re not the absolute worst team in the league.

For the Nets, it’s a conflict of interest and that conflict comes from balancing development and draft strategy with the desire to win. Marks and Fernandez both want to win. They have five rookies they need to develop, while scouting and praying they hit the lotto. Fernandez is in his second season as a coach so he’s naturally hungry to win and continue to improve.

The irony, of course, is that under the current system, math doesn’t even guarantee a miracle. Even if the Nets manage to secure one of the three worst records in the league, they are only rewarded with a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick. The league has created a system where teams are forced to torch their culture and disrespect their fans for a reward that is statistically unlikely to actually happen.

History bears that out: the Pistons had the best record three years running and finished fifth each time. The Mavericks and Hawks vaulted from the play-in to the overall No. 1. Of the top 28 picks in the last seven draft lotteries, since changes were instituted, 11 were won by teams with the seventh worst odds.

We aren’t just watching the Nets get blown out, we’re watching them gamble their dignity on a metaphorical dice toss where the house almost always wins. Take a look at last year.

This creates a bizarre disconnect when you look at the messaging. “He made it very clear ‘I’m going to try and win every game.’ I said great, go for it. The goal isn’t to not compete,” said Marks before the season. “The goal is go out there, develop a culture of competing, playing hard & playing the right way. And that’s what he’s done.”

It was a noble sentiment at the time, but on nights like Wednesday — it feels like a hollow one.

The score was 60-24 at halftime, the fewest points for any team since 2019. At that point they were shooting 1-of-16 from 3 and had three assists to 15 turnovers. Low effort isn’t a habit this team can afford to pick up — it only makes development that much harder. That’s where the frustration comes in.

“I think our readiness to play the game was not there,” Fernandez said after the game.

It’s only one game, but that isn’t exactly reassuring. These are young players who should be hungry every night, regardless of the opponent. Effort shouldn’t be the variable. That’s how bad habits start to form.

Still, there’s only so much blame they deserve. It was pitiful, even shameful – and almost as disrespectful as the game of basketball has been to its fans.

Adam Silver has been open about expansion, which could happen as soon as 2028-29. But while more teams enter the league, more teams are also tanking than ever. As the 2024-25 season wrapped up, five teams lost by 30+ points in one day. The total number of games decided by 30+ points hit 79 at that point, tying the league mark for such games set in 2021-22.

No matter how angry fans want to get at the Nets for tanking — or not tanking — this whole shtick is a necessary evil that’s just flat out wrong. It’s hardly a sport if you reward losing, yet it’s the only way the Nets can navigate this flawed system.

Marks inherited an awful product and we’ll be clear about that. Over the past 10 years, the Nets have lost 50+ games six times, including this season. They’re pushing their third potential 60-loss season during that span with a single playoff series victory to show for it.

This season, it’s impossible to dispute their tanking efforts. They’ve lost by 50+ points two times. It’s happened twice in franchise history before this season — once last year and the other in 1978. They’ve lost by 30+ points six times with 12 games remaining; 20+ points on 19 occasions. have had 12 games this season where they’ve been down 30 or more points at one point or another. Including two straight. It’s a franchise record.

So, for every 10 games that fans watch, roughly three out of 10 are lost by 20+ points. Here’s a look at the 20+ losses from Brooklyn’s season thus far:

Now, compare this to 20 years ago in 2005-06: the worst team in the league (the Blazers) still won 21 games. While they had their share of blowout losses, they never experienced the absolute disaster we see today. That team didn’t lose a single game by 50 points,  a feat the Nets have already accomplished twice this season. They also only lost by 20+ points 12 times compared to Brooklyn’s 19. And that’s when bad teams had better odds to get the first overall pick!

It’s heartbreaking as a basketball fan because it’s deliberate, yet if they finish with a top-3 pick in the 2026 Draft, these games will become friendly reminders when Cam Boozer or AJ Dybantsa slams one home as Barclays Center goes berserk.

But until then, it’s all a dream.

The fact of the matter is that fans pay A LOT of money to watch NBA basketball. Nets basketball to be more specific. Entry-level season tickets are around $2,500 entering 2026-27 (for one of the worst teams in the league). On streaming (if it works), fans pay $299/year to watch Gotham Sports, $29.99/month for ESPN, $11.00/month for Prime Video, and $15.00/month for Peacock. Not to mention subscriptions to read around paywalls for so many sites. Fandom ain’t cheap.

The Nets didn’t create this system, but they’re operating within it and benefiting from it. That makes them part of the problem, too.

The real question is whether the NBA cares enough to fix a system that forces every team to compete. The league seems to have forgotten that the fan is its customer. Until then, every fan, every team, and every game is paying the price.

Bryan Hodgson is a hot name in the coaching carousel in men's college basketball.

The first-year South Florida basketball coach has led the Bulls to an NCAA Tournament appearance following a 25-8 record, which included winning the American Conference tournament.

The 11-seeded Bulls are scheduled to take on No. 6 Louisville at 1:30 p.m. ET from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

REQUIRED READING: Bryan Hodgson back 'home' in New York for March Madness, not staying for Syracuse job

For Hodgson, the game will have extra meaning. It serves as a homecoming for the Western New York native in a game that will serve as his debut in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach.

He will also have the opportunity to have his father, Larry, in the crowd to watch him coach for the first time. With the Bulls a popular pick to upset the Cardinals in the first round, here's what you need to know about Hodgson:

March is here. The madness of college basketball has arrived, ready to push us into Spring and the NBA Playoffs. The Big Dance is the proving ground where players are stress-tested in front of millions of eyes. Some players thrive in this environment, while others falter. A few games don’t override a body of work, but NBA scouts are watching, and a strong tournament has boosted the stock of many.

Player development has been at the core of the Celtics’ success this season, with Boston quickly reloading their depth. They currently hold the 27th pick — one spot below where they selected Hugo Gonzalez. It’s remarkable for a team that many projected was set for a down year.

With the bracket locked and games starting today, here are five players to watch that Boston could consider when they’re on the clock in June.

Isaiah Evans | Wing | Duke

A year ago, Evans appeared on this list as a freshman playing a supporting role behind the eventual first overall pick, Cooper Flagg. His three point shotmaking stood out, paired with his comfort in a complementary role made him worth tracking. He elected to come back for his sophomore year, and the intrigue is definitely still there.

Evans’ three point percentage is down a bit this year, but it’s his shot profile, attempt rate and size that still makes him a dangerous marksman. He’s Duke’s 2nd leading scorer putting up 14.9 points per game. After ranking sixth in scoring and playing just 14 minutes per game as a freshman, he’s taken a clear step forward into a featured role.

His comfort as a movement shooter would make him an easy fit with Boston. The way he flies around screens, or ghosts them, is reminiscent of how the Celtics shooters operate. That utility paired with his elite 87% from the free throw line makes his shot a great bet to translate to the next level.

For a Celtics team that places a premium on floor spacing, a decisive and reliable off-ball weapon is an interesting option at 27.

Where to watch: Thursday, March 19 | (1) Duke vs. (16) Siena | 2:50 p.m. ET

Aday Mara | Center | Michigan

The 7’3 Spaniard Aday Mara has been one of the most impactful defensive forces in college basketball this season. He leads the NCAA in Defensive Box Plus/Minus, and block percentage, earning him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Mara is a massive individual, and controls the paint on both ends. An interesting wrinkle to his game is that he’s not just a rim-runner. He’s a skilled and creative passer as well, averaging 2.3 APG. The Celtics would value his short roll passing, and potential to serve as a playmaker in dribble handoff scenarios. 

Whether he falls to 27 is certainly a question. But if the board breaks right, Mara could be a game-changing interior presence to bolster the Celtics center rotation. It would also be fun to reunite him with fellow Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez.

Where to watch: Thursday, March 19 | (1) Michigan vs. (16) Howard | 7:10 p.m. ET

Dailyn Swain | Wing | Texas

Texas had to survive the First Four just to get here, beating NC State on Tuesday night to punch their ticket as an 11-seed. Swain is flying under the radar a bit, but if he performs on this stage, he’ll be difficult to ignore.

He’s having an impressive breakout season after following head coach Sean Miller to Texas from Xavier. Swain is averaging 17.7 points and 7.6 rebounds on 54.3% from the field, and 34.5% from three. 

He’s been sensational driving to the hoop, ranking in the 92nd percentile on rim attacks. He also brings a high level of feel as a creator, emerging as Division I’s leading isolation scorer.

While there’s been real improvement with his jump shot each season, it’s a swing skill that could make it difficult for him to slide naturally into a lower usage role. However, his defensive floor is high. He’s a disruptor on that end, and uses his 6’8” frame to jump passing lanes and switch across multiple positions.

He might be a higher-usage player than Boston typically targets late in the first round, but if he can buy into a smaller creation role, his downhill scoring ability and athleticism would give the Celtics’ wing rotation a new layer of size and skill.

Where to watch: Thursday, March 19 | (11) Texas vs. (6) BYU | 7:25 p.m. ET

Morez Johnson Jr. | Power Forward | Michigan

Morez Johnson is the second member on this list from Michigan’s exciting frontcourt, which also includes projected first rounder Yaxel Lendeborg. 

His season stats – 13.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 62.9% FG — don’t jump off the screen, but he’s got a level of strength and physicality that should make him capable of quickly handling a transition to the NBA.

At 6’9 he lacks some of the size to be full-time 5, but he could be a very interesting switch everything small ball option at times. He’s already proven capable of playing next to a 7-foot center as well in Mara, so the lineup options are not limited.

The Celtics have shown a willingness to play two bigs over the years. Johnson’s motor, defensive playmaking, and physicality make him a natural choice in that way. He provides something different than they have as a 4-5 hybrid, but that could be a welcomed addition and a boost to their defensive versatility.

Where to watch: Thursday, March 19 | (1) Michigan vs. (16) Howard | 7:10 p.m. ET

Amari Allen | Small Forward | Alabama

Allen is the quietest name on this list but a player worth watching nonetheless.

The Alabama freshman has a well-rounded game. He’s averaging 11.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.1 APG along with solid steal and block rates. His three-pointer sits at 36.5% on a smooth, repeatable stroke. He’s 6’7, plays within the flow of an NBA-style offense, and can handle himself on and off the ball on both ends.

Allen may not be the flashiest option, but he profiles as a player who adds value in a lot of areas. He’s not so different from some of the young talent already in Boston’s wing room, but if they reshuffle their depth in the offseason, Allen profiles as the type of plug-and-play piece who could step into minutes early.

Where to watch: Friday, March 20 | (4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra | 3:15 p.m. ET

Cameron Boozer has lived up to all the hype — and then some — that surrounded his name as one of the top players in college basketball this season.

The Duke basketball freshman has been one of the more impactful players in the country this season, as he has led the Blue Devils to back-to-back ACC tournament championship titles while cementing his status as a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

He now looks to spearhead the Blue Devils' first national championship run in the NCAA Tournament since 2015. Step 1 for the Blue Devils, the top seed in the East Region and overall NCAA Tournament, is on Thursday against No. 16 Sienna at 2:50 p.m. ET in Greenville, South Carolina.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 20.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in three games in the ACC tournament for the Blue Devils. He enters March Madness with 19 games this season of at least 15 points and 10 rebounds.

"He reminds you a little bit of Paolo Banchero with his build and his game, and that's saying something," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas told USA TODAY Sports back in November ahead of Duke's win over Kansas in the Champions Classic of Boozer. "He's got a competitive nature to him. He knows how to play and he's got a maturity that's beyond his age."

Here's everything to know about Boozer ahead of March Madness:

Cameron Boozer stats

Here's a breakdown of Boozer's stats this season:

• 2025-26: 22.5 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.5 blocks and 1.5 steals with a 56.5% field goal shooting percentage

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Boozer's stats in the ACC tournament:

• Game 1 vs. Florida State (Quarterfinals): 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal
• Game 2 vs. Clemson (Semifinals): 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 14 rebounds, five assists and a block
• Game 3 vs. Virginia (Championship): 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting, eight rebounds, eight assists and a steal

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

How old is Cameron Boozer?

Cameron Boozer is 18 years old. He'll turn 19 on July 18, 2026.

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.

"I'm proud of them. They've worked their butts off for this moment," Carlos Boozer told ESPN following his sons' commitment to his alma mater in October 2024. "Really excited that they took their time. Decided to play together in college, which is amazing. They both complement each other so well. They made the best decision for them. Me and Mom couldn't be any prouder. It's going to be a fun journey."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Who is Cameron Boozer? What to know of Duke basketball forward

Well, we’ve all noticed it lately: our two rookies (Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach) have been making a strong impression in the NBA sphere — even across the Atlantic. Today I’m not going to talk about Man Man, but rather about the condor Rasheer Fleming, and why he’s a physical and technical anomaly.

The first glitch in this matrix is his insane wingspan for his height: 7’5 from the tip of his left middle finger to the tip of his right, and at 6’8 tall, he has a +9 difference between his height and wingspan. That puts him in the 98th percentile in differential, 97th in wingspan, and 52nd in height. You’re already getting a sense of the beast we’re dealing with…

For comparison, Fleming has more or less the same measurements as Robert Williams and Jarrett Allen — and a bigger wingspan than Kevin Durant (6’9 with 7’4), Walker Kessler (7’ with 7’4), Jay Huff (7’1 with 7’4), or even Ivica Zubac (6’11 with 7’4).

This unusual physical profile allows him, above all, to be a tough, disruptive defender, whether on the ball or as a helper — his length lets him react later. And if he’s on time, he becomes much more effective on closeouts, contests, passing lanes, or various help situations (double teams, lowman).

The second bug in this matrix is his three‑point shooting. Even in pre‑draft reports he was mentioned as one of the shooters who had improved the most at the national level, with a 7% jump between his first and second college seasons (nearly hitting the 40% mark). On top of that, his form and mechanics were praised by many scouts.

This season, after 41 games played, Rasheer is shooting 35.4% on an average of 1.9 attempts from deep — but where it gets more interesting is over his last 13 games: almost 18 minutes per game, 2.8 three‑point attempts, and 51.4% shooting. It’s like having a player with Gobert’s arms who shoots like Luke Kennard.

If he manages to maintain this shooting quality, there’s no doubt he’ll keep thriving under Jordan Ott. This was THE profile the Suns were missing to stabilize their collective: a long, athletic, mobile player capable of stretching the floor. Phoenix may have a premium 3&D on its hands — and they can’t afford to let him go.

Rasheer Fleming is a profile that shouldn’t even exist: a pivot‑level wingspan, the mobility of a modern wing, and an outside shot that’s starting to really matter. And the craziest part is that he’s only at the very beginning of his development.

If he stabilizes his shooting and keeps learning in Ott’s system, Phoenix might not just have a long, versatile 3&D — but a true anomaly of the modern NBA. A player who changes the geometry of the court on both ends.
The condor hasn’t finished spreading his wings.

Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has suffered a collapsed lung and will miss at least two weeks with less than a month remaining in the NBA's regular season, the team announced Thursday.

Cunningham was injured Tuesday night when he collided with Washington's Tre Johnson while diving for a loose ball during the first quarter of the Pistons' 130-117 victory over the Wizards. He took awhile to get up but remained in the game for just over a minute before leaving for good at the 6:40 mark.

The Pistons said at the time that Cunningham was suffering back spasms. In a statement Thursday morning, the team said that after further testing the 24-year-old guard "has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax" and will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Read more:Luka Doncic (40 points) and LeBron James (30) lead Lakers to win over Rockets

ESPN reports that the "collapse of Cunningham's lung is considered mild" and "there is some optimism that Cunningham will be back in time for the start of the playoffs."

The Pistons, who currently have a 3.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference standings, wrap up their season April 12 against the Indiana Pacers. The playoffs begin April 18.

Cunningham was drafted at No. 1 overall by Detroit in 2021 and has been an All-Star selection the past two seasons. He is averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists in 61 games this season but needs to play in at least four more games to be eligible for such honors as All-NBA team and MVP consideration.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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The Milwaukee Bucks are in Salt Lake City tonight to take on the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center, with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. 

With numerous key pieces out, my Bucks vs. Jazz predictions are eyeing the Under here. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, March 19. 

Bucks vs Jazz prediction

Bucks vs Jazz best bet: Under 229.5 (-110)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight, while Kevin Porter and Myles Turner are questionable to suit up. That's bad news for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are 11-21 this season without the Greek Freak, averaging 108.4 points per game.

For the Utah Jazz, Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George are sidelined. 

Markkanen's 26.7 ppg will be hard to replace, while George's absence leaves Utah with no true playmakers outside of Isaiah Collier.

When these teams met on March 7, Milwaukee won 113-99, with Giannis and George both playing. With three of the best players absent, this one will be ugly.

Bucks vs Jazz same-game parlay

Somebody has to score tonight, and I'm looking at two Utah youngsters to do so.

Brice Sensabaugh has been playing out of his mind lately, erupting for 41 points on Wednesday night in Minnesota. He’s eclipsed his points total in four straight, and the absence of Markkanen and George guarantees he'll get plenty of looks. 

Ace Bailey is another player getting more run with the top guys unavailable. He’s hit the Over in points in three of his last five, and the Rutgers product scored 17 on Wednesday. 

These two will help keep the game close against a Milwaukee side that shouldn't be favored against anybody sans Giannis.

Bucks vs Jazz SGP

• Jazz +5.5
• Brice Sensabaugh Over 21.5 points
• Ace Bailey Over 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ya like Jazz?

If Utah can keep things close, there's no reason to believe it can't outright win. The Bucks are 2-8 in their last 10, and 12 of the Jazz's 20 wins have come at home.

Sensabaugh has comfortably cashed the Over in triples in four straight games, shooting 40% from downtown in March. 

Bucks vs Jazz SGP

• Jazz moneyline
• Brice Sensabaugh Over 21.5 points
• Ace Bailey Over 16.5 points
• Brice Sensabaugh Over 2.5 threes

Bucks vs Jazz odds

• Spread: Bucks -5.5 (-105) | Jazz +5.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Bucks -230 | Jazz +190
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5

Bucks vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Milwaukee Bucks have hit the game total Under in 21 of their last 30 away games (+11.10 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Jazz.

How to watch Bucks vs Jazz

Bucks vs Jazz latest injuries

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Major League Baseball is entering an official partnership with Polymarket and has an agreement with the federal commission overseeing prediction markets to collaborate on integrity concerns.

MLB said in a statement Thursday it has a memorandum of understanding with Michael S. Selig, the chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, to “further protect the integrity of baseball by ensuring swift response to incidents and anticipating emerging trends more strongly.”

Prediction markets have raised concerns from sports leagues already working to combat issues around legal sports gambling. While legal sports books must follow regulations set by states, prediction markets have argued their trades — called event contracts — are derivative markets, and thus fall under the CFTC's jurisdiction.

One year ago, MLB sent a letter to the commission calling for strong integrity protections.

“The new agreements that we formed with Polymarket and the CFTC are imperative steps in proactively managing the new and rapidly growing prediction market space,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Protecting the integrity of the game on the field is our top priority. By engaging in this community, we are able to work together to create clear boundaries with the goal of mitigating risk while providing fan engagement opportunities.”

This partnership with Polymarket will give the company and its brokers exclusive access to MLB logos to be used within its prediction market products. Polymarket will also get access to official league data from Sportradar, MLB’s exclusive global distributor of data for prediction markets.

Under terms of the memorandum, MLB and the CFTC agreed to share information regarding the integrity of professional baseball and related prediction markets. Shared information will be treated confidentially. Designated representatives will meet regularly.

“We’ve committed to work together to protect the integrity and resilience of prediction markets relating to professional baseball,” Selig said on X. "Through this partnership, the @CFTC is well-positioned to add additional tools to protect our markets from fraud, manipulation, and other abuses. Thanks to @MLB and Commissioner Manfred for working with us to protect the integrity of these growing markets.

Although it has established this partnership with Polymarket, MLB said it wants integrity relationships with all other prediction market exchanges offering baseball contracts. Those exchanges will be required to integrate the necessary integrity protections into their individual rulebooks.

The rapid growth of sports offerings on prediction markets has provided leagues with another revenue opportunity while also causing concerns about the regulation of prediction markets.

Prediction markets provide an opportunity to trade — or wager — on the result of future events. Trades are made as simple yes-no wagers

The NHL announced in October it had reached multiyear partnership agreements with Polymarket and Kalshi, another major prediction markets platform. Major League Soccer announced a partnership with Polymarket on Jan. 26. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks announced last month that he has become a shareholder in Kalshi, another major prediction markets platform.

MLB had a presentation on prediction markets during its owners’ meetings in Florida last month.

___

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

That’s an easy way to get thrown out of the arena.

A fan attending the Celtics’ dominant 120-99 win over the Warriors at TD Garden Arena in Boston was ejected on Wednesday after an incident in which they grabbed Steph Curry’s arm and pulled on him as he headed to the locker room for halftime.

Curry appeared visibly upset after a fan grabbed his jacket and pulled on it, not letting go, prompting security to step in and separate the fan from Curry.

Want a quick boot from an NBA arena? Grab Steph Curry and yank his arm. Security was on it quick and they were ushered out. pic.twitter.com/hQdL5wV2Cb

— Kyle (@KyleCelt33) March 19, 2026

X account @KyleCelt33, who originally posted the video, added that the fan was quickly ushered out by security

Curry shook his head in apparent disgust after wiggling free of the fan’s grip.

Curry has endured a frustrating 2026 season, playing in just 39 of 69 games so far.

It remains possible that Curry returns later this month, as he’s been battling a knee injury and has been sidelined since Jan. 30.

Golden State is 6-13 since he departed from the lineup, as they have fallen down the standings in a loaded Western Conference.

Should they get Curry back, the Warriors will need him for the stretch run and likely a spot in the play-in games.

The Warriors are still just about a lock to make the play-in games, thanks to the number of teams tanking for a draft pick.

Golden State is 8.5 games ahead of the Grizzlies for the No. 10 seed.

The Warriors’ best-case scenario is to move up to the No. 8 seed as they sit just a game behind the Clippers.

Maybe you've heard by now, but Nebraska basketball is the only Power conference team without an Men's NCAA Tournament win.

Is Thursday the day?

The Cornhuskers were full of surprises this season. Fred Hoiberg's team was picked to finish 15th in the 18-team Big Ten. Nebraska finished second, going 26-6. That earned the Huskers a No. 4 seed in the East Region where they'll face No. 13 Troy at 12:40 p.m. from Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City.

Bold predictions: March Madness top upset picks, surprises, sleepers

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

“I know the first question is going to be Nebraska has never won a tournament game,” Hoiberg said Wednesday. “We realize that. Have I talked to our players about it? No, I haven’t. They know. They see it. Is there a pressure that goes along with that? Of course there is.”

The Trojans (22-11) are back in March Madness for a second-straight year after winning the Sun Belt regular season title and conference tournament. Troy lost to Kentucky in last year's first round, 76-57.

Here's what you need to know for Thursday's first round matchup:

What time does Nebraska vs Troy start?

• Thursday's first round game between the Cornhuskers and Trojans starts at 12:40 p.m. ET.

What channel is Nebraska vs Troy on today?

• The Troy-Nebraska game is on truTV.

How do I find truTV channel for March Madness?

Like past Men's NCAA Tournaments, truTV will carry a handful of March Madness games through the first few days of the tournament. All told, there will be 24 total games either aired or simulcast on truTV for the entire NCAA Tournament.

Here's what channel truTV is on through different TV providers:

• AT&T U-Verse: 164/1164
• Verizon FIOS: 183/683
• Cox: Traditionally on 802; varies by location
• DISH: 242
• DirecTV: 246
• Spectrum: Traditionally 44/112; varies by location
• Xfinity: Varies by location

No. 4 Nebraska vs No. 13 Troy prediction

• John Leuzzi: Nebraska
• Ehsan Kassim: Nebraska
• Austin Curtright: Nebraska
• Craig Meyer: Troy

Nebraska vs Troy odds: Who is favored to win March Madness game?

Odds provided by BetMGM.

• Spread: Nebraska (-13.5)
• Moneyline: Nebraska (-1100)
• O/U: 137.5

Nebraska March Madness history

Nebraska is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and seeking its first win. Here's a breakdown of the Cornhuskers' appearances in March Madness:

• 1986: vs. Western Kentucky (L, 67-59)
• 1991: vs. Xavier (L, 89-84)
• 1992: vs. UConn (L, 86-65)
• 1993: vs. New Mexico State (L, 93-79)
• 1994: vs. Penn (L, 90-80)
• 1998: vs. Arkansas (L, 74-65)
• 2014: vs. Baylor (L, 74-60)
• 2024: vs. Texas A&M (L, 98-83)

Troy March Madness history

Troy is making its fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and also seeking its first win. Here's a rundown of the Trojans' appearances in March Madness:

• 2003: vs. Xavier (L, 71-59)
• 2017: vs. Duke (L, 87-65)
• 2025: vs. Kentucky (L, 76-57)

Nebraska basketball top scorer, stat leaders

• F Pryce Sandfort: 17.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg
• F Rienk Mast: 13.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.9 apg
• F Braden Frager: 11.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 49 FG%

Troy basketball top scorer, stat leaders

• F Victor Valdes: 14.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.6 apg
• F Thomas Dowd: 14.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.2
• F Theo Seng: 12.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 51.7 FG%
• G Cooper Campbell: 12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.2 apg

Where is Nebraska vs Troy March Madness game?

• Thursday's first round game between Troy and Nebraska is at the Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nebraska vs Troy score, live updates from 2026 NCAA Tournament game