CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: Derrick White #9 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics warms up before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jayson Tatum and Derrick White have each been nominated for an end-of-season award. Tatum was one of 12 finalists for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, while Derrick White was one of 6 finalists for the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award. The league announced both nominations on Tuesday afternoon.
The finalists for the 2025-26 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.
The annual honor recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on and off court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.… pic.twitter.com/C8S3uEiObG
The Teammate of the Year honor recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to the team.
In addition to Tatum, three former Celtics were also nominated: Houston Rockets forward Jeff Green, Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart. Holiday won the award last year in Boston.
Tatum was sidelined for most of this season, but returned from a torn Achilles on March 6th. But he was around the time during the entirety of his recovery, attending nearly every shootaround, practice, game, and film session.
Derrick White nominated for the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award
White was nominated for the league’s annual sportsmanship award, which recognizes the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. In addition to White, former Celtic center Al Horford was one of six finalists.
The finalists for the 2025-26 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
The annual honor recognizes the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. Current NBA players will select the winner from these six finalists (one finalist from each NBA division). pic.twitter.com/POopjlj9m5
Current NBA players will vote on their final selections from both categories. A Celtics player has never won the Sportsmanship Award, while Jrue Holiday became the first Celtic to win Teammate of the Year last season in Boston.
Speaking of awards: Tatum was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday. Tatum averaged 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while leading the Celtics to a 3-0 week. The team posted wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets, and Atlanta Hawks.
“It’s a good, small affirmation that he’s continuing to chip away at just getting better and better,” Joe Mazzulla said. “So, it’s a credit to the work that he’s put in, his team, that everybody that’s helped him get back to where he is now and what he’s doing. And so, a good, small affirmation and we can keep getting better.”
The Orlando Magic have quietly plummeted while no one was paying attention.
They may seem like a competitive peer to the Phoenix Suns, but only one of these teams is playing quality basketball these days — and it’s not tonight’s home team.
My Suns vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks have absolutely no faith in Orlando on Tuesday, March 31.
Suns vs Magic prediction
Suns vs Magic best bet: Suns moneyline (+105)
The Orlando Magic sat in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference on Jan. 20. Going 16-16 since then has knocked them within half a game of the final Play-In spot, possibly needing to win two road games to reach the playoffs proper.
Even on March 1, Orlando sat No. 7 in the East, three games clear of the Hornets in the 10 spot in the loss column. However, the Magic cannot find any version of sustained winning, largely due to a -0.4 net rating in March.
By the end of the evening, expect Orlando to be tied with Charlotte, as the Phoenix Sunshave been six points better per 100 possessions than Orlando has been in March, enjoying the No. 11 net rating in the NBA at +5.7.Both offensively and defensively, the Suns have been better than the Magic.
Orlando is favored because Phoenix is on the second night of a back-to-back, but only one Suns player saw more than 32 minutes last night.
Phoenix will be in better shape than most teams are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Suns vs Magic same-game parlay
When recognizing Phoenix’s relatively under-the-radar success, it comes as no surprise that Devin Booker has keyed most of it. He has cleared this prop in nine of 15 games this month, scoring 36 points last night.
Surrounding Booker with stars in years past was a mistake; his scoring can occur so organically that the Suns have few other offensive worries.
Booker should feast against Orlando, which has gone Over its total in four straight contests.
Suns vs Magic SGP
Suns moneyline
Over 224.5
Devin Booker Over 26.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Booker in the Paint
Although Booker is one of the best shooters in the NBA, he has not been reliant on his deep shot lately.
In fact, in March’s 15 games, Booker has both cleared this points prop while falling short of three 3-pointers in five of them.
Suns vs Magic SGP
Suns moneyline
Devin Booker Over 26.5 points
Devin Booker Under 2.5 threes
Suns vs Magic odds
Spread: Suns +2 (-110) | Magic -2 (-110)
Moneyline: Suns +105 | Magic -125
Over/Under: Over 224.5 (-110) | Under 224.5 (-110)
Suns vs Magic betting trend to know
Orlando is 1-7 outright in its last eight games, despite being favored or an underdog of less than one bucket in three of those losses. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Magic.
How to watch Suns vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
KTVK, FDSN-FL
Suns vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The home of the Cleveland Cavaliers is part of what could be the largest-ever listing on a real estate site.
Rocket Arena was put up Tuesday on Redfin as a home listing. The 823,000-square-foot facility in downtown Cleveland has a capacity for 19,432 spectators, includes 118 bathrooms and “an open-concept design built to bring people together.”
The arena opened in 1994 and is also the home of an American Hockey League franchise and a WNBA team beginning in 2028.
Redfin and the Cavaliers are using the listing to promote an open house and garage sale scheduled at the arena on Thursday, but the arena is not for sale. A 46-foot-tall yard sign announcing the open house stands outside the arena.
Redfin became part of Rocket Companies last July. Cavaliers owner and chairman Dan Gilbert is the founder and chairman of the board of Rocket.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns goes to the basket against Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Phoenix Suns’ fate in the regular-season standings is looking set. Three games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers in 8th and 3.5 back from the Houston Rockets in 6th with seven games to play, it’s looking like the Suns will be finishing in the seventh spot to end the regular season. Whether the Clippers stay in 8th or the Golden State Warriors or Portland Trail Blazers catch them, Phoenix looks like they’ll be hosting the 7/8 Western Conference play-in game.
If they win the Play-In game, they’ll face the two seed in the first round of the playoffs; if they lose it, they’ll host the winner of the 9/10 game, with the winner playing the one seed in the first round of the playoffs and the loser going home.
Out in the West, we know who the top two seeds will be—we just don’t know the order. The San Antonio Spurs sit 2.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for first place. Against both the Thunder and Spurs, Phoenix has had some of its best and worst performances of the season.
In arguably the Suns’ best win of the year, the team came back from down 18 to beat Oklahoma City, with Devin Booker hitting a game-winning three over two defenders.
DEVIN BOOKER HITS THE TRIPLE AND WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
Against the Spurs back in November, Phoenix held Wembanyama to a season-low nine points on 4-of-14 shooting and snapped San Antonio’s undefeated start to the season.
Conversely, in a knockout round of the In-Season Tournament, Oklahoma City gave the team its worst loss in franchise history, beating them by 49 points.
Back in February, the Spurs beat the Suns by 27 points, and less than two weeks ago ripped the hearts out of Phoenix fans when Victor Wembanyama hit a game-winning jumper with a second left after Phoenix had been leading for the majority of the game.
The Suns are 1–3 against Oklahoma City this season, with one more game against them, and they split the season series with the Spurs.
While Phoenix looks to have Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks back by the time the regular season ends, both San Antonio and Oklahoma City would be tough first-round matchups. The two teams have the best records in the NBA, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama are the favorites to win MVP.
Who would you rather the Suns play in the First Round, and why?
Mar 30, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Coming off a blowout win against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Spurs returned home for one home game against the Chicago Bulls. After getting off to a slow start, the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the second quarter. They dominated the Bulls in the second quarter, outscoring them 35-19 for a 17-point halftime lead. In the third, both offenses were clicking, but the Spurs extended their lead to 20 heading into the fourth. Every time the Bulls kept chipping away at the lead, the Spurs always had a counter. The Spurs ultimately won 129-114.
Victor Wembanyama dropped his best performance of the season: A season-high 41 points (17-27 FG, 3-6 3PT), 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal. Wemby recorded the fastest double-double in NBA history by dropping one in eight minutes. He was truly unstoppable in the paint. Whenever there was a missed shot, Wemby always stayed active for the offensive rebound. Of his 16 rebounds, six were offensive. He always got open for a lob opportunity or for a three-pointer. His 41 points are the highest he’s scored in a game since Christmas Day 2024 against New York, in which he scored 42. There has been chatter on how Wemby does not average similar scoring numbers to Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic in terms of the MVP. Once again, he puts the critics on notice with this performance.
LOB COUNTER: ONE. Julian Champagnie finds a skyscraping Wemby for the alley-oop connection!
Stephon Castle dropped a near second straight triple-double: 21 points (6-12 FG, 3-6 3PT), 10 assists, and eight rebounds to go along with a steal. Steph was two rebounds away from another triple-double, but still made an impact on both ends of the floor. He shot 50% from the field and 50% from three. He also fought his way to the free throw line, but missed four of his 10 free throws. Nonetheless, Steph’s passing ability, especially on lobs, has been exceptional and reminiscent of Chris Paul.
AREA 51 ALERT! On the fastbreak, Wemby dishes a sweet dime to a cutting Castle, who slams it down with force!
Keldon Johnson dropped 15 points, two rebounds, one assist, and a steal in 26 minutes off the bench. KJ brought the spark that the offense needed when the threes weren’t falling. In his usual cowboy play-style, KJ barreled his way to the cup and bodied defenders who dared to stop him. In recent weeks, KJ has emerged as a favorite for Sixth Man of the Year. In two weeks, the voters will decide to reward him for his excellent and efficient season off the bench.
CYCLONE FINISH! KJ spins off of Miller on the fastbreak and finishes at the rim with ease!
This game was close early, but as soon as the Spurs put up a sizeable lead, the Bulls could not stop the MVP candidate’s offensive explosion. It is clear that after Wemby grabbed the fastest double-double ever, his teammates made it a mission to feed him the ball by any means necessary. Even when Wemby was doubled, he found the open shooter or cutter and put the Bulls’ defense in a blender. The Spurs have an upcoming West Coast road trip with two play-in teams and one contender. With the Spurs’ offense clicking on all cylinders, they are sure to put up NBA2K numbers this week.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs travel to San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors this Wednesday at 9:00 P.M. on ESPN.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 30, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES – Deandre Ayton wins the opening tip against Washington on Monday, sending the ball to Austin Reaves. The fifth-year guard, without backcourt mate Luka Dončić, who’s suspended after his 16th technical, dribbles into LA’s first possession.
LeBron James initiates the action by setting a ball screen for Reaves in the middle of the floor with the rest of the starters spaced out. The Wizards, the 29th-ranked defense in the league, open a canyon-sized pocket for Reaves as he finds the rolling LeBron in stride.
Reaves was nowhere near done, as he collected eight more assists before the end of the second quarter. The purple and gold used a 21-point halftime lead to cruise to victory, taking care of business against one of the bottom dwellers of the Eastern Conference.
The win exhibited another playmaking clinic from Reaves, who’s grown into one of the best pick-and-roll ball handlers in basketball. He achieves this in large part by making teams pick their poison against a bevy of screeners he’s grown comfortable partnering with.
“Anytime in a ball screen, if you run it the right way, you are going to have some sort of advantage,” Reaves said after a recent practice. “Just trying to make the right play every single time.”
Watch him execute that advantage as the ball handler for Ayton in the clip below from Monday’s game. Reaves comes around to use the screen and sees the opposite big man defender, who’s in a traditional drop coverage, overextend toward him, allowing a roller behind.
Ayton catches in the short roll, his preferred operating area, and barrels to the basket for the floating finish. His 1.22 points per possession as a screener puts him in the 74th percentile league-wide, per NBA’s tracking data.
“We got great playmakers,” Ayton said after practice while standing next to Reaves. “Our job is not that hard. Get the opponent off their body and they got it.”
LA not only utilizes their bigs to get guys off their bodies, but they also consistently run guard-to-guard actions in their sets to create misdirection. Watch below as sharpshooter Luke Kennard comes to set the on-ball pick for Reaves. The Wizards opt to switch the coverage, and that one second of separation gives him the step he needs to go downhill.
He draws the contact and heads to the foul line, where he would go 9-10 in the half. He’d head to the break with 11 points and nine assists while being a plus-17 on the court.
Beyond his pocket passes to the screener and scoring punch, another major step in Reaves’s playmaking evolution is his ability to read the correct skip pass. In the clip below, Reaves receives a screen from Bronny James at the top of the key.
LA is set up in their double screen formation, and Ayton follows up by diving to the rim while the Wizards tag his roll. This leaves Rui Hachimura, a 43% spot-up 3-point shooter, wide open on the weak side.
Numbers and impressive games can get overshadowed at times when performed next to Luka’s historic offensive season. Still, this team needs a peaking Reaves to go anywhere this year.
It bears out in the wins as the Lakers are 35-14 (58-win pace) with Reaves and 14-12 (44-win pace) without him. With LeBron fully embracing his adjustment in role and overall play style, Reaves is now firmly established as the No. 2 ball handler on the team after Luka.
It’s a role he’s excelled at so far this season, and one the Lakers hope will push them much farther in the playoffs than it did a year ago.
"I think women's sports is growing in an incredible way. You see it in the WNBA, in soccer, in hockey, and to bring a brand like this for the first time to a city that I know, a beautiful city that's passionate, that I believe in — I think this will really resonate. Ownership is a unique opportunity for me and my family."
Ujiri was one of the more respected executives around the league, but was pushed out in Toronto in part due to a personality conflict with the new head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which owns the Raptors. He told Shelburne he wants to return to the NBA at some point.
"I've been learning more about our game, the NBA, looking at trends and what we might be missing by studying other leagues. I spend a lot of my time trying to do that because one of my main goals is to win another championship. I want to win with the Tempo and I want to win another NBA championship because I wasn't able to celebrate and be happy because of that police incident that happened to me."
The incident Ujiri is referring to is from Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, when the Raptors secured the championship with a win over the Warriors at Oracle Arena. A sheriff's deputy working security court side would not let Ujiri on the court to celebrate with the Raptors because he didn't show the right credentials. That led to a shoving match between the deputy and Ujiri, which was caught on camera and went viral. Ujiri and the officer sued each other, but both eventually dropped the lawsuits.
Ujiri said that during his time off from the NBA, he has focused his work with Giants of Africa and the United Nations on building sports complexes and infrastructure in Africa — including basketball courts, of course.
Dec 13, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers guard Evan Turner (12) warms up before playing against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the 76ers 108-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
A new Sixers column? Let’s get after it…
Evan Turner puts Philadelphia on blast
I’m certainly someone who holds a grudge when it comes to Philly sports figures who sucked in this fair city of ours. Some, however, ultimately slip through the cracks, forgotten for even freaks like myself. One player I hadn’t thought of in a long, long time was Turner.
On Monday night’s NBC pregame program before the Sixers took on the Heat in Miami, Turner, now a commentator, remarked that he “can’t stand Philadelphia.”
This isn’t some guy like Donovan McNabb or Bobby Abreu, who were criticized often back in the day despite putting up stellar stats. He was, to be frank, terrible in Sixers red, white and blue. The No. 2 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Turner’s demeanor and disappointment on the court were the epitome of the post-Allen Iverson era, pre-Process era malaise that defined this Sixers franchise.
Sure, I’m just some idiot writing all of this from the comfort of his couch, but Philadelphia is far from the reason Turner’s career didn’t pan out despite his lofty draft status and his All-American accolades at Ohio State.
On the list of things that keep me up at night about the state of the Sixers and the things that have gone wrong for the organization in the last quarter of the century, Turner rarely warrants mention. Well, until now, I guess!
What happens if the Sixers only crack the Play-In Tournament?
I don’t mean this from a matchup perspective, but simply for what it means for us as Sixers fans, in our souls. I will preface with the caveat that I attended the Sixers’ Play-In home win over Miami back in 2024 and was rather thrilling as Nicolas Batum caught fire, nailing six threes on his way to 20 points in the victory, but I don’t want to have to deal with the stress of that!
It is what it is at the end of the day given the injuries Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have dealt with on top of Paul George’s suspension this season, but it remains a deflating and perhaps even a little bit of an embarrassing charade the team will have to go through, and, more importantly, overcome, if they can not be one of the top-six teams in the Eastern Conference. The East is the toughest it’s been in forever, so, I get that aspect, but we’d be adding another game (or more) to the never-ending anxiety this fan base faces. We don’t deserve it!
25 years ago this week…
On April 1, 2001, the Sixers hosted the Pacers in a playoff preview. Iverson, in the midst of his MVP campaign, torched Indiana for 37 points, adding seven assists and three steals along the way in the 104-93 win. The victory was the Sixers’ 51st of the season. They’d go on to finish with 56 wins on the year, the most for the franchise since its 58-win season in 1985.
A rookie grade for VJ Edgecombe
With seven regular season games remaining on the schedule for the Sixers, it feels apt to grade Edgecombe’s rookie season, 68 games in. He has roughly a 16-6-4 stat line. The shot was worlds better than I imagined it’d be. He’s played with the energy I expected. He’s been a blast to watch.
I give him an A- as the No. 3 pick.
Let’s see what his age-21 season holds for him come the fall!
How about the referees on Monday night in Miami?
For the well-being of Liberty Ballers as a whole, I will keep my mouth shut about whatever was happening on that front…
By this time next week, a men’s college basketball season that began all the way back in early November will end with nets having been cut and a champion crowned.
The Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will begin this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where Michigan, Arizona, UConn and Illinois will aim to add their names alongside some of the greatest, most revered teams in their sport’s history.
Though March and much of the month’s trademark madness is over, the most consequential and pressurized games of the season remain. This year, those high-stakes contests will take place between four teams that were all in the top 12 of the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll heading into the NCAA Tournament.
For millions of fans across the country, it’s not only a chance to see a champion be determined, but to get a final taste of the sport they love until a long, seven-month offseason begins.
Here’s what you need to know to watch the Final Four this weekend:
The Final Four will feature a pair of national semifinal games on Saturday, April 4, with No. 2 seed UConn taking on No. 3 seed Illinois in the first contest and No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona squaring off in the second and final game of the day.
Final Four schedule
All times are Eastern.
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Illinois, 6:09 p.m.
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Arizona, 8:49 p.m.
The 2026 Final Four will tip off with a matchup between No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Illinois, which is scheduled to start at 6:09 p.m. That will be followed by a highly anticipated contest between No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona at 8:49 p.m., though the start time of that game could be pushed back depending on how long UConn-Illinois might run.
When is the Final Four?
Semifinals: Saturday, April 4
Championship: Monday, April 6
The three games of the 2026 Final Four will take place on what has become its traditional spot in the first week of April. The two semifinal games will be held on Saturday, April 4, with the winners advancing to face off in the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
The four teams competing in the 2026 Final Four are No. 1 seed Michigan, No. 1 seed Arizona, No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Illinois.
While the Huskies are seeking their third title in the past four years, the championship drought has been longer for the three other semifinalists. The Wildcats haven’t won a national title since 1997 and the Wolverines, who have lost in the NCAA championship game twice in the past 13 years, are looking to win it all for the first time since 1989. A championship would be the first ever for the Fighting Illini.
Where is the Final Four?
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
The 2026 Final Four will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the home venue of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
It’s the first time Indianapolis has hosted the event since 2021, when the entire NCAA tournament took place in the state of Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Cuban says he has one big regret after cashing out of the Dallas Mavericks — and it’s not the sale itself.
“I don’t regret selling, I regret who I sold to. Yeah, yeah, I made a lot of mistakes in the process and I’ll leave it at that,” the billionaire entrepreneur said on an episode of the Intersections podcast published Tuesday.
Cuban, who spent nearly 20 years as one of the “shark” investors on “Shark Tank,” said the grind of owning an NBA franchise ultimately pushed him toward the exit, describing it as an all-consuming emotional rollercoaster that wore him down over time.
Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he regrets who he sold the team to — and blasted the franchise’s decision to trade Luka Dončić without his input. Intersections Podcast/YouTube
“It’s a big emotional commitment, right? You hear the passion and everything — now imagine going up and down like that every single game. That’s hard,” he said.
The intensity of fan reactions — especially when the team struggled — made him wary of his children working in that environment and being subjected to what he described as abusive treatment, Cuban added.
“I got a text from a then-general manager and he said ‘Call.’ And I did and I thought he was asking me what I thought about a potential trade for Luka he was like, ‘No, Mark, it’s done,’” Cuban recounted.
Casino magnate Miriam Adelson leads the ownership group that bought a controlling stake in the Mavericks, a deal Cuban now says he regrets. Getty Images
“I was like, ‘What did we trade him for?’ And he told me — and no disrespect to Anthony Davis — but I’m like, ‘He’s hurt a lot.’”
The former owner said he immediately viewed the deal as a catastrophic mistake — one he had no power to stop.
“I called the new owner and he started telling me stuff that wasn’t true that he had been told as the reason why he approved it and I’m like, that’s not true — um, this is a mistake but nothing I can do,” Cuban said.
Cuban framed Dončić as a once-in-a-generation talent who should have been untouchable under any circumstances. he added.
Beyond basketball logic, Cuban suggested the decision was influenced by internal tensions and personal dynamics within the Mavericks organization.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić was traded in a stunning move that Mark Cuban called a “mistake,” saying generational players like him are untouchable. Getty Images
Cuban also pointed to former general manager Nico Harrison as a key figure in the decision-making process, arguing that personal relationships may have skewed the front office’s judgment.
He noted Harrison had been close with Anthony Davis, the former Lakers star who went to the Mavs in the Dončić swap, since Davis was about 13 years old, while head coach Jason Kidd also previously coached him.
“You talk about confirmation bias, that there’s there was some of that, as well,” Cuban said, suggesting those ties contributed to the decision to trade away Dončić.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are “California Dreamin'” of a better playoff spot when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.
Cleveland has won six of its past seven games to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings, and the recent return of center Jarrett Allen is stoking this late-season surge.
My Cavaliers vs. Lakers predictions see Allen posing a big problem for the Los Angeles defense, and our NBA picks like him to light up La-La Land inside.
Cavaliers vs Lakers prediction
Cavaliers vs Lakers best bet: Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points (-125)
Jarrett Allen missed about a month with a knee injury, but he looked fantastic in his first game back last Friday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers center put in just 18 minutes against the Miami Heat, but he still went 8-for-10 from the floor with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Allen took the night off against Utah yesterday, the first of back-to-back road contests, giving him a full three days of rest and recovery before tonight's contest with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the second leg of a back-to-back and have major defensive issues inside. Their star-studded backcourt leaves DeAndre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, and Maxi Kleber as middling options in the paint.
The Purple and Gold are left black and blue by bruising interior attacks like Cleveland, which ranks Top 4 in touches in the key. The Lakers have allowed 53 points in the paint per game this month and didn’t have an answer for Allen in their most recent run-in with the Cavs.
He finished 8-for-11 for 17 points in 24 minutes during a 129-99 blowout of L.A. in late January. All of Allen’s field goal attempts came inside the paint, and all but two were directly at the rim.
Allen is expected to see an uptick in minutes, and his player projections sit north of 12.5 points, with a ceiling flirting with 15.
Cavaliers vs Lakers same-game parlay
As much as the Cavaliers need to keep rolling, the Lakers are caught in the middle of their own postseason push.
Los Angeles was able to take care of Washington last night, and Luka Doncic has fresh legs after serving a one-game suspension.
Doncic is back in the mix, playing the role of primary ball handler and dishing out dimes. Forecasts call for as many as nine assists against a Cleveland defense sitting 27th in opponent assist rate.
Cavaliers vs Lakers SGP
Lakers -2
Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points
Luka Doncic Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Center of Attention
With a few days off since returning to play, Allen will see his minutes trend back toward his usual workload.
Boasting a high ceiling, projections call for as many as 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a shot swat against a weak L.A. interior defense.
Cavaliers vs Lakers SGP
Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points
Jarrett Allen Over 6.5 rebounds
Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 assists
Jarrett Allen Over 0.5 blocks
Cavaliers vs Lakers odds
Spread: Cavaliers +2 (-110) | Lakers -2 (-110)
Moneyline: Cavaliers +115 | Lakers -135
Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Lakers betting trend to know
Los Angeles has come through as a moneyline winner in 15 of its last 17 games (+14.10 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Lakers.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-OH, SPECSN
Cavaliers vs Lakers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Neither the New York Knicks nor the Houston Rockets can afford to slip a game in the NBA standings at the moment, yet one of them will tonight.
My Knicks vs. Rockets predictions and these NBA picks look at Houston’s most inconsistent piece as reason enough to trust New York on Tuesday, March 31.
Knicks vs Rockets prediction
Knicks vs Rockets best bet: Alperen Sengun Under 8.5 Rebounds (+102)
The New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets have one thing in common: rebounding. The two lead the NBA in rebounding rate in March, both at 54.8%.
This has been a season-long emphasis for both, though more the Rockets. Up until March, Houston led the NBA in rebounding by snagging 54.5% of available boards, while New York was No. 5 at 51.7%.
Going against an equally-quality team on the glass, one led by Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart, should expose Alperen Sengun for his inconsistencies. The Turkish big man has an All-NBA career in front of him, but in his fifth season, he still too often puts forth a dud.
Rebounding is the one area Sengun should contribute no matter anything else, no matter the opposing defensive game plan, no matter if his shot has abandoned him for a night.
Yet he has fallen short of this modest prop in two of his last three games and in seven of 13 games in March despite the Rockets’ overall surge on the glass.
The Knicks’ frontcourt has too many dedicated rebounders. Expect Sengun’s inconsistency to rear its head tonight.
Knicks vs Rockets same-game parlay
Sengun’s struggles should be Karl-Anthony Towns’ and Mitchell Robinson’s gains.
The pair of 7-footers make New York a unique matchup nightmare for everyone else in the league, their games different enough to allow some overlap in their minutes while their mere existences provide the Knicks a 7-footer on the court at pretty much all minutes.
There will be nowhere for Sengun to hide.
Knicks vs Rockets SGP
Alperen Sengun Under 8.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
Mitchell Robinson Over 7.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: New York's Defensive Rebounding
A not insignificant number of basketball coaches liken rebounds to forced turnovers; they end an opponent’s possession.
Towns and Robinson crashing the boards tonight should serve to undercut Houston’s offense. The Rockets are No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate. Severing some of those second chances will diminish Houston’s effectiveness.
Knicks vs Rockets SGP
Knicks moneyline
Under 217.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
Mitchell Robinson Over 7.5 rebounds
Knicks vs Rockets odds
Spread: New York +1 | Houston -1
Moneyline: New York -110 | Houston -110
Over/Under: Over 217.5 | Under 217.5
Knicks vs Rockets betting trend to know
Houston is 2-8 against the spread in its last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Rockets.
How to watch Knicks vs Rockets
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Knicks vs Rockets latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday lineup features an exciting NBA doubleheader on NBC and Peacock. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET, when Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. Then, at 11:00 PM ET it's the Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Clippers. Live coverage begins with NBA Showtime at 7:00 PM on Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch each game.
Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Clippers Game Preview:
The Trail Blazers are looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2021. Currently ninth in the Western Conference and 1.5-games behind the Clippers, Portland is locked in Play-In Tournament position.
Tonight's contest is the first of two late-season matchups between the two teams, and the third of four meetings this season, with the Clippers leading 2-0.
The Trail Blazers need to win both remaining matchups (tonight and April 10) and finish with a better conference record to earn the tiebreaker.
“I don’t really look at the standings. I’m not stressed about where we’re going to finish… Even if we’re 10th, we’ve got to play two games and win two games. I believe in us," said Portland guard Deni Avdija on March 11.
The Clippers, currently on a five-game win streak, are eighth in the West, 6.5 games back of the Rockets.
Kawhi Leonard is on pace for a career high in scoring (28.2 ppg). He leads the team in points, rebounds (6.3 ppg), and steals (1.9)
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
For bench and role players in the NBA, March nights can feel like auditions.
Not the spotlight-soaked kind that is only reserved for superstars, but the raw, flickering moments that are held in the shadows of an 82-game grind, when the margins become razor-thin, the rotations unstable, and the cracks begin to show.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James and forward LeBron James defend on the court in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The latest five-game stretch for the Lakers has been exactly that: a stress test disguised as survival.
At least one player has been missing in the starting lineup, and in some cases several. Day-to-day isn’t just an injury update, it’s a Facebook status.
With no guarantee of who’s available for the Lakers from one night to the next, bench and role players need to step up and seize the opportunity.
Different names. Different nights, but the same end goal.
Let’s start in Orlando on March 31, where Luke Kennard authored a moment that felt like it belonged in June. Off the bench, and still relatively new to the locker room, he dropped 13 points and buried a buzzer-beating three that didn’t just win a game, but introduced him to Lakers lore.
LUKE KENNARD HITS THE GO-AHEAD 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE LAKERS
“He’s a problem,” head coach JJ Redick said. “He’s very steady and very consistent in execution and effort. He’s just been a terrific decision maker for us.”
Kennard isn’t supposed to be a savior. He’s supposed to be a three-point specialist. But in that moment, he became something else: a glimpse of what this Lakers team might need off the bench when the floor shrinks in the postseason and the stars inevitably get swallowed by series-long defensive schemes.
In Indiana a few days later and without two starters, including sixth man Rui Hachimura, the Lakers normal rotation was bent out of shape. One of those missing starters was center DeAndre Ayton. That thrust backup big man Jaxon Hayes into the starting lineup. He finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Monday, March 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP
By the time the team returned home from their six-game road trip to face the Wizards, the situation had tipped from inconvenient to borderline absurd.
Luka Doncic was suspended after picking up his 16 technical foul against Brooklyn. No Marcus Smart. A backcourt held together with duct tape and opportunity for other guys to shine.
Jarred Vanderbilt stretched beyond his usual 17 minutes into something closer to responsibility. Bronny James Jr., a name still carrying more expectation than experience, logged a season-high 26 minutes — not as a novelty, but as a necessity.
And other role players? They didn’t just hold the line — they pushed it forward.
Hachimura returned with 14 points. Kennard caught fire again with 19, drilling four from deep like a man who suddenly knows exactly where he belongs. Hayes stayed perfect — 8-for-8 from the field, casually adding a three-pointer to a résumé that, until recently, didn’t include one.
“I’m an NBA player. I can’t just work on dunks all day,” joked Hayes of his three-point shooting prowess.
This wasn’t a one-off.
Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 27, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Nobody knows more about that requirement than the man who has the most wins in NBA history —both regular season and postseason combined — the architect of four NBA titles, LeBron James.
James has seen this before.
He’s lived it. He’s won because of it. He knows these moments for these players can pay dividends during the postseason.
“In the postseason it can be a different guy every night,” James said, cutting straight to the truth. “Luka [Doncic] and AR [Austin Reaves] are going to do what they do, but every given night… you can have a different guy step up and make impact plays. It definitely helps to have moments like they’ve had.”
Jarred Vanderbilt of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 30, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers will only go as far as Doncic, James, and Reaves will take them, but playoff games could be determined by nights like these.
By whether Kennard’s confidence holds when the lights get hotter. By whether Hayes’ evolution is real or just a well-timed stretch. By whether Vanderbilt and Bronny can make the most of smaller minutes in bigger moments.
Repetition is the mother of learning, and right now, the Lakers bench and role players are cramming for an exam they know is coming.
The postseason doesn’t ask politely. It demands answers.
And for the first time in weeks, the Lakers might actually have a few more of them.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Mark Cuban knew it was time for him to sell the Dallas Mavericks — and he doesn't regret that choice. His bank account swelling up with his share of the $3.5 billion team valuation has a lot to do with that, but he said at the time the NBA was moving from a technology business (his strength) to a real estate business, and he knew it was time.
"It's a big emotional commitment. You hear the passion and everything. Now, imagine going up and down like that every single game. That's hard. My kids, they were coming of the age where they are coming of the mindset that they might want to work at the Mavs. I did not want that for them. It can be abusive, a lot. If fans don't like what you're doing or the team's not doing well. You're the worst human being on the planet and they treat you that way...
"I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to. I made a lot of mistakes in the process, and I'll leave it at that."
Cuban sold the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson — owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation — and the team is run by her son-in-law, Las Vegas Sands CEO Patrick Dumont.
The season that Cuban sold the Mavericks they played in the NBA Finals. By the middle of the next season, GM Nico Harrison had convinced Dumont it was time to trade Luka Doncic, a move that led to intense fan backlash and ultimately cost Harrison his job. After that season, the Mavericks got lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery and jumped to the top, selecting new franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
Cuban said before the sale that he would stay on in some role with the Mavericks' basketball operations. That did not happen. Cuban is still a regular at Mavericks games.
The Mavericks, at 24-51, have the sixth-worst record in the NBA this season and will head into the NBA Draft Lottery with much better odds than they had a season ago.
Vaughn Dalzell
Kurt Helin
