Los Angeles Clippers (34-36, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (23-47, 13th in the Western Conference)
Dallas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas takes on Los Angeles looking to end its 10-game home slide.
The Mavericks have gone 12-30 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas has an 8-25 record in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Clippers have gone 21-23 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 17-25 record against opponents above .500.
The Mavericks average 10.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer makes per game than the Clippers allow (13.4). The Clippers are shooting 48.3% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.4% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Mavericks won the last meeting 114-110 on Nov. 30, with Cooper Flagg scoring 35 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Naji Marshall is shooting 52.1% and averaging 15.1 points for the Mavericks. Flagg is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games.
Kawhi Leonard is scoring 28.2 points per game and averaging 6.4 rebounds for the Clippers. Darius Garland is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 109.4 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.2 points per game.
Clippers: 5-5, averaging 119.5 points, 39.0 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 11.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Brandon Williams: day to day (head).
Clippers: Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Kawhi Leonard: day to day (ankle), Bennedict Mathurin: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (38-32, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-49, 14th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Utah Jazz in non-conference play.
The Jazz are 13-22 in home games. Utah ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.3.
The 76ers are 18-16 on the road. Philadelphia is ninth in the Eastern Conference allowing only 116.1 points while holding opponents to 47.0% shooting.
The Jazz's 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.4 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers give up. The Jazz average 115.6 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 124.8 the Jazz allow.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 106-102 in their last meeting on March 5. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 25 points, and Keyonte George led the Jazz with 30 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Dominick Barlow is shooting 53.9% and averaging 8.3 points for the 76ers. Justin Edwards is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.8 points, 43.0 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 10.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points per game.
76ers: 5-5, averaging 111.0 points, 42.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), John Konchar: day to day (quad), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Milwaukee Bucks (28-41, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (39-31, seventh in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix aims to end its four-game losing streak when the Suns play Milwaukee.
The Suns have gone 22-13 at home. Phoenix is the worst team in the Western Conference scoring 42.6 points per game in the paint.
The Bucks are 12-22 on the road. Milwaukee has a 16-26 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Suns are shooting 45.3% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points lower than the 46.9% the Bucks allow to opponents. The Bucks are shooting 47.9% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.0% the Suns' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Suns won the last meeting 129-114 on March 11, with Devin Booker scoring 27 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Booker is averaging 25.8 points and 5.9 assists for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 22.3 points and 3.2 assists over the past 10 games.
Ryan Rollins is scoring 16.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 14.7 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 48.7% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 112.9 points, 41.7 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.4 points per game.
Bucks: 2-8, averaging 106.2 points, 39.2 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.5 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot), Haywood Highsmith: day to day (knee), Royce O'Neale: day to day (knee), Amir Coffey: day to day (ankle).
Bucks: Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is interviewed after the game against the Miami Heat on March 19, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Not all wins are created equal and Thursday’s was no ordinary victory for the Lakers.
There’s a level of seriousness that came with that performance that separates good teams from great teams. Everything about this performance screamed schedule loss.
The team had an emotional win in Houston just 24 hours earlier. They then flew from Texas to Florida and didn’t arrive at the hotel until after 5 a.m. That LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves all played was surprising enough.
But they did more than just show up. Even if it was against a Miami team that borders unserious in their own right, the Lakers had a lot stacked up against them and responded in a big way.
The Lakers are rolling, Luka is in a groove not seen by a Laker since Kobe Bryant and the wins are stacking up at a rapid rate now.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Playing in this game was impressive enough for a 41-year-old. But then he broke his own record as the oldest player with a triple-double. Bringing this level of energy and efficiency and execution on the second night of a back-to-back in year 23 is the latest list of unparalleled accomplishments.
A lot of performances went under the radar in this one because of, well, Luka. Smart was a useful safety valve on a number of possessions, highlighted by him getting to the line nine times.
Bam Adebayo didn’t score 83 points on him, so it was an impressive defensive display. In reality, it was a fairly pedestrian showing from Ayton after a string of strong ones.
Speaking of pedestrian games, Reaves put up another one on Thursday. He’s been a bit too hot and cold of late. Having said that, it’s been three straight cold games now in the last four days.
Well, what else can you say? It’s the first 60-point game by a Laker since Kobe Bryant’s finale. After helping keep the Lakers afloat in the first half, a supercharged second half helped them race ahead.
He is in some kind of rhythm right now that is incredible to watch and brings back lots of memories of Kobe. Scoring 100 points inside of 24 hours rightfully brings those comparisons.
Grade: A+++
Luke Kennard
13 minutes, 2 rebounds, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, -5
This is five games in a row now with Kennard being a relative non-factor offensively. In that span, he has four field goals.
Grade: D
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A nice LaRavia that also came on an efficient shooting performance tacked on, though it featured nearly fouling out, too.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
After one quarter, I wondered if this game could use a boost from someone like Jarred Vanderbilt or Adou Thiero to add some energy. The Lakers didn’t end up needing it, but it was a surprise that Redick didn’t really expand his rotation. This road trip isn’t going to get any less exhausting, so introducing some more players feels like it has to happen at some point.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 19: Ace Bailey #19 and Blake Hinson #2 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With most of their rotation players out, the Utah Jazz likely expected to drop one to a Bucks team that played the roster meant to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee. Utah ended up beating the Bucks 128-96. Probably not the best thing for the Bucks to prove to Giannis that he can win there.
The best player on the floor was Ace Bailey, who scored a career high 33 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bailey is turning into a real weapon for the Jazz, who are doing everything they can to add one more top-8 pick in the upcoming draft. Bailey continues to get better and better every night showing more and more to his game. Not only is Bailey’s shooting getting more and more efficient, but he’s also showing great defensive chops with 3 steals and 1 block in this game. Not only that, his 4 assists are a sign of a burgeoning ability to playmake for others. Utah has a chance to win the lottery again after this season, but they appear to have a young star already from last year.
Ace Bailey wasn’t the only player to shine, Cody Williams is also improving night after night. He’s improving in all aspects of his game, especially with his scoring. Williams had 23 points in the first half and looked completely comfortable all night, scoring on the hapless Bucks. Williams was a fantastic 10/15 from the field and 1/2 from three, but also dished out 5 assists. Night after night, it’s getting clearer and clearer that Williams is becoming a core part of the future and a player that Utah was right to draft at #10.
Kyle Filipowski continues to show he can be a positive contributor, although he’s got to find a way to improve on defense. It may not be something he can ever do, but it’s the one thing that is going to keep him from being a consistent rotation player.
Finally, there has to be a huge shoutout to the Utah Jazz front office for finding some nice players from the G-League. Blake Hinson, who is on a two-way contract, has been a lights-out shooter for the Jazz, and tonight was no different. Hinson shot a blistering 4/7 from three, and it looks like something he should be able to replicate in the years to come. Andersson Garcia has had a nice defensive presence for the Jazz since joining. Tonight, he played all 48 minutes and played with high energy all game. I’m not sure that Garcia will be on the Jazz next season, but he’s proven he’s a player worth looking at and bringing into their development system. He could be a potential fit down the road.
It’s not a good night for the Jazz in terms of tanking for the lottery, it likely puts the 4-spot out of reach, but it was a night where you got to see the future of the Jazz in Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, and that future is looking bright.
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) celebrates with center Andre Drummond (1) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 9 Paul George – 6 Justin Edwards – 4 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers took care of business in Sacramento, defeating the Kings 139-118 and bouncing back from Wednesday’s blowout in Denver.
The Sixers treated fans who stayed up to watch with an extremely strong offensive performance, including a couple of career nights against the lottery-chasing Kings.
One of the toughest choices for Bell Ringer this season, so have at it.
Edwards opened the game on fire, making three from deep, a post fadeaway and a tough layup to bring him to 13 points with just four minutes elapsed in the first quarter. Then he started diming up teammates, specifically VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. He tallied four assists in the first half.
His fifth three, occurring in the fourth quarter, gave him his career high in points with 26. He added his sixth three later in the frame to give him a career high in makes from deep, and knocked his seventh down after lulling the defender to sleep. The Philly native notches his first career 30-point night.
Edgecombe was the driving force for the Sixers’ offense once Edwards cooled off, scoring from everywhere on the floor. He started with a couple threes in the first following a nice floater to begin scoring. He got his teammates involved and got repaid with a nasty alley-oop finish in transition in the second quarter. He also showed off his improvement in the midrange with a pair of mirrored pull-up midrange shots over a good contest.
He finished a fastbreak dunk after a Dominick Barlow block to help fight off the ghosts of third-quarters past. He snake finished through the defense for an easy two in close midway through the third. He made a beautiful spin fade after drawing help. He spent the rest of the quarter penetrating the defense at will.
He added another layup at the onset of the fourth, then hit two threes and a layup to give him a new career high with 38 points. His 11 assists provided him his fifth double-double of his career.
He is now the fourth Sixers rookie to notch 30 points and 10 assists, joining Allen Iverson, Ben Simmons and Jared McCain
Grimes was the Sixers leading scorer at halftime thanks to strong drives and savvy finishes at the rim. It was not like the Kings deployed the stingiest rim protection, but Grimes did not settle for poor shots when better ones were available. Only two of his eight makes came from outside the paint in the first half and he did not hit his first three until just before halftime.
He added a three early in the third quarter, and another one a few possessions later to keep trading buckets with the Kings amidst inconsistent defense to begin the second half.
Bona was pivotal in stopping the Kings from taking a larger lead after the Lowry-equipped bench lineup swiftly gave the Sixers lead up. He successfully thwarted multiple dunk attempts at the rim, and was a force on the boards, notching 10 rebounds by halftime.
Thursday night, Bam Adebayo and the Heat got to feel what it's like being on the other side against a red-hot player.
The Lakers' Luka Doncic — already the league's leading scorer — was getting M-V-P chants while on the road in Miami as he dropped 60 points on the Heat in one of the best outings of his career. "I think every player wants to hear it," Doncic said of the chants, via the Associated Press. "I got a lot of goosebumps, so it was pretty special."
Maybe the wildest thing about this is he did it on the second night of a back-to-back after the Lakers won in Houston on Wednesday. Doncic was 9-of-17 from 3-point range, 15-of-19 from the free throw line for the night.
The Lakers won 134-126, their eighth straight win, as they have jumped up to a solid third in the West.
This game was LeBron James' 1,611th regular-season game in his career, tying Hall of Famer and Celtics legend Robert Parish's all-time NBA record.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored a career high 38 points with 11 assists, Justin Edwards was 7 of 11 from 3-point range and finished with 32 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Sacramento Kings 139-118 on Thursday night.
Quentin Grimes scored 27 points as the 76ers ended a five-game road losing streak and won for the fourth time in their last six games playing without their two biggest stars — Joel Embiid (strained right oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger).
Embiid has missed 11 straight games but coach Nick Nurse said he has been making progress.
Edwards shot 11 of 18 from the field overall and went 3 for 3 from the line.
Maxime Raynaud led the Kings with 30 points and Daeqwon Plowden had 20. Dylan Cardwell had 14 rebounds. For the Kings, it was their third loss in their last five games.
Philadelphia shot 50% from the field overall and 47% from 3-point range, compared to 38% from deep for Sacramento.
The 76ers took the lead for good with 3:08 remaining in the second quarter. The score was 71-62 at halftime, with Grimes scoring 20 points. The 76ers extended their lead to 114-91 during the fourth quarter, fueled by a 16-2 scoring run.
The Kings Malik Monk left the game with an injured right shoulder and did not return.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media after the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For most of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs were stuck in place — running hard, but going nowhere. The ball clanged off the rim more often than it swished through. Possessions grew tense, deliberate. Across the floor, the Phoenix Suns moved with the confidence of a team in control, building a lead that hovered, then stretched, then threatened to break the game open entirely.
By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Spurs were down double digits. The crowd inside the Frost Bank Center grew restless, a low murmur replacing the earlier buzz. It had the feel of a long night nearing its inevitable end.
But basketball games, especially strange, stubborn ones like this, don’t always follow the script.
It started with defense. A stop that forced Phoenix deeper into the shot clock. Then another. Suddenly, the Suns’ rhythm, which was so steady all night, began to wobble. The Spurs pushed the tempo, not recklessly, but urgently. De’Aaron Fox sliced into the lane with purpose, absorbing contact and finishing through it. Each drive felt like a spark, something to ignite a team that had been searching for life. Earlier, Collin Gillespie had kept San Antonio at bay, knocking down three after three, each one a small act of resistance to the Spurs’ attempt at getting back into the game.
But then, those efforts began to go around the rim and out. San Antonio continued to get stops and make shots. The deficit shrank. Ten became seven. Seven became four. The noise inside the arena swelled again — cautious at first, then rising with each possession. You could feel belief creeping back in, possession by possession.
Still, the Suns had their chances. Rasheer Fleming stepped to the line, the kind of moment a rookie lives for. But on this night, nothing came easy when the man at the line shoots 57 percent. He missed free throws left the door open, just enough for San Antonio to slip through.
One final possession. One final chance. Mitch Johnson called timeout to advance the ball and there was little doubt who would have the ball in his hands with the game on the line. The ball found Victor Wembanyama — as if it had been destined to all along when he was drafted just three years ago. It was only fitting that Wemby had the chance to return the Spurs to playoff glory.
“I’m happy for the city, the community, and organization,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of clinching the team’s first playoff berth since 2019. “To be a part of that process is rewarding.”
There was a stillness in the moment. No rush, no panic. Just Wembanyama, rising above the defense, his long frame creating space where there seemed to be none. The shot — a soft, controlled pull-up — left his hands as the clock neared zero.
For a split second, everything held its breath. Then the net snapped as the ball went through.
“It’s very fun. We hadn’t had this type of situation in awhile. It was a test and we passed it,” Wembanyama said. “It was a meaningful game and close to the playoffs, this was a good test right now.”
With just over a second remaining, the Spurs had flipped the entire night on its head, stealing a 101-100 victory from a game that had seemed lost. Teammates swarmed Wembanyama. The arena erupted, the earlier tension replaced by a roar that shook the building.
He finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, but numbers felt almost secondary. This was about presence. About timing. About the growing sense that when the game tightens and the lights get brighter, the Spurs have someone who can bend the moment to his will.
For this young Spurs team, this win felt like more than just another mark in the standings. It felt like a turning point for the present and their future, the kind you remember later, when close games stop slipping away and start becoming something else entirely.
“It feels good, it feels like a long time coming,” Keldon Johnson said of clinching the playoffs. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or do it anywhere else but here…this is a special group that we have. And I am blessed to be a part of it.”
Game Notes
Phoenix is one team that’s been a thorn in the Spurs’ side all season, officially splitting the season series 2-2. But in all four games, the Suns have been a solid team against San Antonio. If this is the first round matchup, it’ll be juicy.
Stephon Castle’s perimeter defense was missed against Devin Booker, who scored 22 points on the night. However, even without Castle defending him, he only shot 8-for-21 for the game.
If this is the Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox we’re getting in the postseason, the Spurs will continue to surprise people. And they will go further than many are expecting.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 19, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Don’t look now, but they’ve won three of their last four!
The Sixers blew out the Sacramento Kings 139-118 Thursday night.
They are 38-32, a big win given big losses by the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat earlier in the night.
Reaching 30 points for the first time since his NBA debut, VJ Edgecombe cruised past that to put up a career-high 38 points and 11 assists, shooting 16-of-27 from the floor. It’s the most a Sixer has put up as a rookie since Tyrese Maxey. Justin Edwards went for a career-high as well, finishing with 32 points going 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-11 from three.
Quentin Grimes dished out seven assists as well while putting up 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Maxime Raynauld led the Kings with 30.
Joel Embiid was originally listed as doubtful for this one and was eventually ruled out for his 11th straight game with an oblique strain. Tyrese Maxey (finger sprain), Paul George (suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) remained out.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Neither team put the clamps on early, but no one took better advantage than Edwards, who made five of his first six shots of the night. He came out gunning from behind the arc, and was about the only player to meet the resistance at the rim on a drive but hit a nice spin move to get around it.
Of course Sacramento started just as well offensively. They made nine of their first 11 field goals just like the Sixers. Rather than just getting right to the basket their drives resulted in wide open dump-offs for both of their bigs.
Edgecombe and Grimes each helped the Sixers spread the ball around as the team went for 10 assists in the quarter. The flashiest assist though went to Edgecombe on a big alley oop in transition. He nailed a pull-up jumper to tie the team’s highest scoring quarter this year at 45 and give the Sixers a 12-point lead.
The mostly bench unit had a very rough go of it to kick off the second, giving up that lead entirely early in the quarter. The offense went ice cold while the zone they sat in as a result of a Cam Payne-Kyle Lowry backcourt got beat by three after three.
The offensive struggles became team wide, as their start from the field in the second got as bad as 1-of-15. They were frankly lucky the Kings weren’t able to punish them more in this stretch. Nearly every player on the court took place in a sequence like this.
An insanely fast-paced and collision-filled 20 seconds of action with nothing either team can show for it pic.twitter.com/wtOlbDyyn4
Edgecombe hitting a couple fadeaway jumpers by the block gave the Sixers some sense of stability. Grimes got under control with his drives, hitting a couple slick finishes before nailing a much-needed three off the catch. Adem Bona was able to complete one of those solo fast breaks for a dunk and a putback a few possessions later, helping the Sixers get back up nine at the break.
Third Quarter
Grimes and Edwards remaining consistent only buoyed the Sixers to start the half. Raynaud was an imposing force all night. Bona tried his best pushing him around but he needed every bit of strength to match the height disadvantage.
Even after throwing a very errant lob pass, it was shaking out as a very solid night for Edgecombe as the primary ball handler again. His go-to shots, especially the little fadeaway, routinely got the Sixers out of ruts.
Edgecombe had seven assists to this point as well, and perhaps his best read of the night hadn’t fallen on a skip pass to MarJon Beauchamp for a corner three attempt. A simple bounce pass from him was enough to hit Andre Drummond for his third three of the night as the Sixers lead jumped up to their largest of the night at 18.
Fourth Quarter
Edwards’ performance had understandably become overshadowed, but a couple of three-point plays got him quickly back on track. Not only did burying a three set his new career-high, but it set Edgecombe’s career-high in assists. For the starters at least, it was just one of those nights offensively.
This team was really in no position to nitpick — they needed an easy win no matter who the opponent. This was their first win by 11 points or more in nearly a month, back on Feb. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ziaire Williams is a generally optimistic guy. Always a smile and positive vibes. Earlier this week, speaking to NetsDaily at a Special Olympics event at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, the 24-year-old was asked about the Nets future.
“We have something very special brewing here in Brooklyn. A year or two from now we’ll be in the mix for the playoffs and winning a lot more games,” he said when asked about the Nets situation. “I’m trusting the front office and our GM Sean Marks. Shoutout to Joe Tsai as well for believing in me and trusting in me as well. We have a bright future ahead.”
Of course, things are nowhere near that level of success at the moment and the 6’9” Stanford product admits it’s uncertain whether he’ll still in Brooklyn when that happens.
“If I can end my career here, I would be more than happy and grateful,” Williams said. “But it is out of my control so I just try to stay present in the moment and try to make as much of an impact that I can.”
Williams has a $6.3 million team option next season, a reasonable deal and he’s played well this season. On the other than, Brooklyn’s roster is going to be fluid over the next year and a half.
In his two years with Brooklyn, “Z” has played well enough as a bench 3-and-D to warrant the team option. In 112 games, 52 starts, he’s averaged 9.8 points in 22 minutes per game on shooting splits of 43/33/84. In his two years in Brooklyn thus far, Williams has had his best scoring seasons while playing the most minutes since being drafted at No. 10 by the
His biggest issue is consistency but he’s had his moments and he loves his head coach and staff.
“We definitely have built a great relationship over the two years I have been here. Jordi is a great coach, his office doors are always open, and he is always looking for feedback,” he told ND about Jordi Fernandez. “As a part of the leadership group of our team, it is my responsibility to bring all of our problems to Jordi. That has resulted in a great bond.”
He also talked about his community service. This week it was a practice session of the New York Wildcats who are currently preparing to play in the 2026 Special Olympics USA games this summer in Minnesota. The event was sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, Special Olympics New York and the office of Brooklyn Borough President.
“I love everything about this man, I feel like both basketball and helping out others are my purpose in life,” Williams said. “I’m always really appreciative to be a part of events like this.
“Sharing the court with these athletes is an incredible honor. Their commitment, teamwork, and love for the game inspire me, and I’m excited to support them as they get ready for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games,” he added.
Williams, who came with some members of his family, was very hands-on, helping out with the drills and showed support to each of the young athletes as well as each camp staffers as they tried to get better with their skills.
As we all know, the Nets’ season has not gone as smoothly as the Wildcats’ practice. Brooklyn currently holds a 17-52 record in the Eastern Conference. With many of the losses being bad ones, including their last matchup with the OKC Thunder, it can be detrimental for a young player to want to continue to be a part of that franchise. But Williams’ attitude is uplifting.
Jan 29, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) drives on Atlanta Hawks forward Corey Kispert (24) in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The good news for the Houston Rockets is that they can now move on to another opponent after getting swept twice at home by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The bad news is that their next opponent, the Atlanta Hawks, have won 11 games in a row and look quite mighty these days. And if you’d like more bad news, this is the first game of a back-to-back where Houston next opponent, the Miami Heat, will be rested and ready.
This homestand was clearly going to be supremely important to Houston, but they were dealt kind of a bad hand. The Pelicans came in playing really well, the Lakers were on a five-game winning streak and had finally found themselves, the Hawks are obviously red-hot, and the Heat have won seven of their last ten games too. In reality, the Rockets needed to get out at 3-2 or 4-1, and they certainly couldn’t drop two to the Lakers. Now, they’ll have to try to salvage what’s left.
Houston did finally seem to have some answers against the double teams that were sent at Kevin Durant. Those strategies will be tested once again versus a Hawks squad with much better perimeter and on-ball defenders than the Lakers employ.
While the Men's 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Friday, March 20, we already have 16 teams on to the second round.
Eight games will kick off the second round of March Madness on Saturday, March 21. Two top seeds in Duke and Michigan will be in action, as well as double-digit seeds that pulled off upsets in Texas, VCU and High Point.
Game times and TV assignments for Saturday's second round were announced late Thursday night ET. Here is the schedule for the first day of the second round, as well as what network it will air on.
Virginia (20-11), the No. 10 seed, will face seventh-seeded and 24th-ranked Georgia in the first round on Saturday. The Cavaliers are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 and first under coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.
Johnson's key 3-pointer — Virginia's first of the second half in 10 attempts — made it 54-51.
Johnson went 1 of 2 from the free-throw line with 5.3 seconds left to cap the scoring and Arizona State guard Jyah LoVett lost control of the ball in the paint at the other end as the clock ran out.
Johnson also had 10 rebounds and five assists for her ninth career double-double. Caitlin Weimar added 11 points off the bench for Virginia and Romi Levy scored 10.
Marley Washenitz made five 3-pointers and scored 19 points for Arizona State (24-11). McKinna Brackens had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Heloisa Carrera also scored 10.
Gabby Elliott, who entered averaging a team-high 16 points per game for ASU, made just her second field goal in 10 attempts with 3:18 remaining to get within 48-46. She finished with 11 points, on 3-of-13 shooting, and nine rebounds.
The Sun Devils were in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 under first-year coach Molly Miller.
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Virginia, which reached 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2017, will play a Georgia team that had the best single-season turnaround in school history after going 13-19 last year. The Bulldogs are making their 37th appearance in the tournament.
NBA leading-scorer Luka Doncic put on another epic performance of bucket-getting in the Los Angeles Lakers' 134-126 win against the Miami Heat on March 19.
Doncic dropped 60 points in South Beach, the third-highest scoring output of his career and the most he's scored since being traded to the Lakers in February 2025.
Doncic, who averages 33 points per game, had his onslaught performance just weeks after Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points, the second-most points scored in an NBA game, in the same arena.
Luka Magic was on full display at Kaseya Center in Miami as the MVP candidate shot 18-of-30 from the field, connecting on 9-of-17 long-distance shots. He shot 15-of-19 from the free-throw line. He added seven rebounds, three assists and was even locked in defensively, grabbing five steals.
Lakers climbed to 45-25 and have the third-best record in the Western Conference behind the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. According to the latest Kia MVP Ladder on NBA.com, Doncic is ranked fourth for Most Valuable Player.
However, Doncic wasn't the only Laker to have himself a historic night.
LeBron James crowned NBA iron man as notches triple-double
LeBron James, the longest-tenured Laker, notched a triple-double, alongside Doncic's 60-point game in the win against James' former team.
James filled the stat sheet with 19 points, a season-high 15 rebounds and 10 assists in just under 38 minutes of play.
The four-time MVP and NBA champion officially became the league's iron man in Thursday's game. James played in the 1,611th game of his career, tying Hall of Famer Robert Parish for the all-time games-played mark.
Lakers vs. Heat highlights: Luka drops 60, LeBron gets triple-double
