MILWAUKEE, WI - March 2: John Tonje of the Boston Celtics boxes out during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 2, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
John Tonje has had a whirlwind couple of months.
The 24-year-old guard was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Celtics in the trade that sent Chris Boucher to Utah, and quickly became the Celtics’ third two-way player.
Tonje has split his time between the Maine Celtics and the Boston Celtics so far, and made his NBA debut on February 24th. Just a few days later, he scored his first NBA points in a game against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden.
“It all happened fast, it kind of caught me by surprise,” Tonje told CelticsBlog last month. “But I’m blessed to be in this position.”
On Tuesday night, Tonje recorded his best G League game yet. He exploded for 42 points on 12 of 20 shooting and sank 8 of his 10 three-point attempts. In turn, the Maine Celtics beat the Osceola Magic 119-112 to improve to 14-16 on the season. The Magic currently has the best G League record in the Eastern Conference, at 19-8.
☘️ John Tonje hits his 8th three of the night and is up to a career-high 40 points. pic.twitter.com/RNjnRbzdy8
John Tonje’s rookie campaign continues with the Celtics
Before the trade, John Tonje appeared in 32 games for the Jazz’s G League affiliate this season, the Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
That came on the heels of an NCAA Tournament run with the Wisconsin Badgers, in which he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Before Wisconsin, he spent four seasons at Colorado State and one year in Missouri.
A fun tidbit about Tonje is that he was high school AAU teammates with Baylor Scheierman in Nebraska, almost a decade ago.
And, Scheierman remembers him as a prolific scorer.
“He can score in a variety of ways,” he said. “He’s a good defender. I think those are the two biggest things that stood out to me back in those days. I was a completely different player and build back in those days, but I think those are the two things that stuck out the most, was just his physical maturity, it was just the ability to score.”
After being drafted 53rd overall by the Jazz back in June, Tonje assumed he’d be in Utah at least for a bit. But he landed in Boston, not even a full season into his NBA career.
And, the Celtics already feel different.
“I think it’s the culture — just the way that everyone is bought in there’s a little bit of aura, for lack of a better term, on the team,” he said.
For now, Tonje is getting up to speed with the Maine Celtics.
But, he’s also spent plenty of time with the parent club, joining the Celtics for their West Coast road trip last month on a 10 Day contract.
“Everyone’s been super welcoming, and Joe is super humble, so it’s been great,” he said. “Just kind of learning from him. And, knowing some of these guys from afar — getting a chance to meet them and be around them has been awesome.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 10: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball to the basket against P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on March 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks took on the Dallas Mavericks on March 10th at State Farm Arena. Ahead of the game, the Hawks were 33-31, above .500, on a 7-game win streak. Dallas had a record of 21-43. Atlanta has had recent victories over the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and others.
Atlanta defeated Dallas 124-112, increasing their record to 34-31.
The Hawks are currently the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, behind the 76ers and Miami Heat, while being ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and Bucks. Dallas Mavericks forward and no. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg did play in this game as he was dealing with an injury previously.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Big Game
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker had himself a game, especially in the first half, scoring 14 points and accumulating an assist. Alexander-Walker was an important piece to the Hawks tonight, making a lot of plays and getting off to a great start, especially from three.
Alexander-Walker did a good job of creating space against defenders to get good shots while driving past them to the basket at a high rate. Alexander-Walker was one of the better players on the floor.
Alexander-Walker concluded the game with 29 points, two rebounds, and three assists. Alexander-Walker was also 5/8 from three, with 15 points in that feat. Alexander-Walker has been averaging 19.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the regular season.
In the postgame press conference, Alexander-Walker stated that assistant player development coach Ashton Smith had been on him about “slowing down and playing with pace.”
What’s Next For Atlanta?
The Hawks are on an 8-game win streak, and they will face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, March 12th.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 18: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks looks on in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Did anyone else have a good Tuesday afternoon? What did you say? ██ ███████ dropping █ points? I have no idea what you’re implying. You’re speaking nonsense. Over here, we’re only focused on things that are actually real and matter, such as Utah staying inside the top five so they can have the best chance at keeping their pick. And that mindset begins tonight, as the third-seeded Knicks come to town looking to create some separation between them and the lower dwellers in the East. Albeit I did crack a smile at seeing Blake Hinson hit a dagger shot over Draymond Green Monday night, that win crossed some dangerous territory for Utah; the chosen children Mavs are only one game behind the Jazz in the Tankathon standings. As we all know, they are the most deserving of AJ Dybantsa after only being in the finals a pitiful two years ago.
It’s a perilous trajectory for Utah, considering the rebuild has yielded only one top-five pick and a couple of late lottery picks. Now they must call a forfeit against a cold-streaking Knicks team that has dropped three of their last four matches. New York has practically been playing on dead legs after playing 12 playoff contenders in their last 16 games. And they’ve mirrored a lot of the Jazz’s mistakes — during that stretch, they’ve recorded a higher turnover percentage (16.1%) than the founding fathers of poor ball security, as well as 33.6% three-point percentage that ranks 22nd in the league.
This is a team that threw in all their future chips for Mikal Bridges, who is literally being played off the floor by rookies. He’s been the weakest link of the Nova Knicks trio, scoring his fewest points per game since 2022 (15.2). They may chow down on the actively trying to lose each possession Jazz if they’d like, none of this concerns the front office, who have been throwing out lineups composed of guys on two-way contracts and guys fighting for their next contract.
Case in point, Monday night in the Delta Center, where the closing lineup consisted of Cody Williams, Elijah Harkless, John Konchar, Blake Hinson and Kyle Filipowski. Keyonte George played through two and a half quarters before unfortunately falling ill to cholera. Brice Sensabaugh had 21 points through three quarters before stubbing his pinky toe while walking back to the bench.
But what all eyes are actually falling on is the return of The Flamethrower. JC. Sixx. Manila Man. All the nicknames I could find online. Jordan Clarkson is welcomed home in the Delta Center for the first time since his departure in the offseason. We saw a glimpse of him in the Knicks orange when the Jazz visited them back in December, but now it’s really gonna hit home Though he’s been shackled to the Knicks bench, rarely playing over 10 minutes a game, Mike Brown would be a cruel and sickened man not to give him extended runtime against the city that embraced him with open arms for over six years.
The Knicks are going to hilariously beat them down, or at least in theory — no one is sure what Blake Hinson is capable of as of this moment. The Jazz are once again going to see how long they can get away with using the illness label on any player capable of contributing more than a single win share. Keyonte gets hit with a big fat questionable on the injury report, John Konchar is uncertain with left calf soreness, but Ace and Collier rejoin the team.
ESPN gives the Jazz a 13.5% chance to win. That’s a little higher than what I’m comfortable with, but one man’s toxic sludge is another man’s potpourri. It’s tough to say out loud that your team needs to be as bad as possible, but this is more about future survival in a brutal Western Conference than anything else.
Injury Report
Jazz:
QUESTIONABLE – Keyonte George (illness), John Konchar (left calf soreness)
OUT – Lauri Markkanen (right hip impingement), Jusuf Nurkic (nose surgery), Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee surgery), Walker Kessler (left shoulder surgery)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Orlando tonight for a matchup with the Magic. ESPN has live coverage from Kia Center at 7:30 p.m. ET.
My Cavaliers vs. Magic predictions note that James Harden already cooked Orlando once this season, and are calling for an encore effort from "The Beard" this evening.
Check out my free NBA picks and best bets for Wednesday, March 11.
Cavaliers vs Magic prediction
Cavaliers vs Magic best bet: James Harden Over 19.5 points (-110)
James Harden has been solid since coming to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster trade, averaging 19.3 points over 11 games. Not the numbers we saw in LA, but he’s also sharing the rock more.
“The Beard” has cashed the Over in points in two of his last four, and he just dropped 21 on Monday night in a revenge game against the 76ers.
Back in November, while still with the Clippers, Harden erupted for 31 points against the Orlando Magic. He’s also hit the Over in back-to-back road outings.
Cavaliers vs Magic same-game parlay
Donovan Mitchell has been a solid playmaker, averaging 5.8 dimes per night. While Harden’s arrival helps Cleveland facilitate, Spida has also been relied upon to pass more, now that Darius Garland is gone.
The Louisville product has hit the Over in assists in three of his last four, and is averaging 6.4 dimes on the road. He's compiled 13 assists vs. the Magic this season across two meetings.
Cleveland has won three of its last four games, covering tonight’s spread in each of those victories. It's also grabbed two straight wins against the Magic, winning 119-105 and 114-98.
Cavaliers vs Magic SGP
James Harden Over 19.5 points
Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 assists
Cavaliers -3.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Wading in the deep end
Dean Wade is averaging 1.3 makes this season, but he’s cashed the Over in triples in two of his previous three appearances.
Cavaliers vs Magic SGP
James Harden Over 19.5 points
Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 assists
Cavaliers -3.5
Dean Wade Over 1.5 made threes
Cavaliers vs Magic odds
Spread: Cavaliers -3.5 (-110) | Magic +3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Cavaliers -165 | Magic +140
Over/Under: Over 226 (-110) | Under 226 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Magic betting trend to know
The Cavaliers have hit the Moneyline in 18 of their last 24 games (+10.85 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Magic.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Cavaliers vs Magic latest injuries
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The Orange's season ended March 10 with their 86-69 loss to SMU in the first round of the ACC tournament. Syracuse finished 15-17 on the season as the post-Jim Boeheim era for the program struggles to find its footing.
"It has been an honor to coach at my alma mater, " Autry said in the announcement. "I want to thank Chancellor Syverud, (athletic director) John Wildhack, Jim Boeheim, my team and my staff for their support."
Autry, a former Syracuse point guard, finishes his 3-year coaching tenure with a 49-48 record and no NCAA Tournament appearances. He was an assistant under Boeheim, who was second in all-time wins among Division I head coaches, from 2011-23 before being promoted, and was also coached by him as a player.
Syracuse was 12-5 on the season in mid-January but ended the year with losses in 14 of its last 17 games after starting with a 3-1 record in conference play.
Autry acknowledged he wasn't able to accomplish what he should've at Syracuse in his postgame press conference on March 10.
"I don't shy away from the job that I did," Autry said. "I'm harder on myself than anybody. I didn't get the results that we wanted."
Syracuse signed a pair of top-40 ranked recruits last offseason, including Kiyan Anthony, the son of Syracuse and NBA legend Carmelo Anthony. Kiyan Anthony wasn't able to find a rhythm as a true freshman, averaging 8 points per game on 39.9% shooting.
"Adrian first came to Syracuse as a student-athlete in 1990, and this program has been a constant in his life ever since: as a player, assistant coach, associate head coach and ultimately as head coach," Wildhack said. "His dedication to our student-athletes on and off the court never wavered throughout his time here, and we are grateful for his service and commitment to Orange Basketball."
There's a handful of coaches that could be tied to the opening at Syracuse, including former Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara, who led Siena to an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2010 on March 10 after winning the MAAC. Saint Louis' Josh Schertz and USF's Bryan Hodgson, two of the hottest names in the coaching carousel, could also be options.
McNamara was a Syracuse assistant from 2009-24, including a season under Autry. He was a part of Syracuse's last national championship team in 2003, and has his No. 3 jersey retired at the school.
One thing's certain: Syracuse's next coach will be looking to revive a rather dormant program the last few years.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 10: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 10, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a season-long road trip, looking to get a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. The Hawks had other ideas, handing the Mavs a 124-112 loss.
Let’s get to the grades!
Max Christie: C
6 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Christie’s shooting woes continued (2-for-6), but the bigger knock on his grade is that he camps out (almost) exclusively at the three-point line when he doesn’t need to. His best stretch of the season came when he was driving and scoring at three levels. Maybe he’s trying to shoot his way out of a slump or maybe he’s quietly improving the Mavs’ draft odds, but it hasn’t been good of late.
Naji Marshall: B
14 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 30 MIN
While not his best game, his overall numbers were probably somewhat impacted by Jason Kidd’s distribution of minutes. Regardless, Marshall scored efficiently in all aspects of the game, but he turned it over (3) and fouled (3) too frequently.
Cooper Flagg: B+
14 PTS / 12 REB / 5 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 32 MIN
Flagg is surely still recovering from his foot sprain. His shot isn’t quite right and his production overall is way down. Credit to Atlanta’s defense against him as well, as they often sent double-teams his way. He never quit, finding other ways to contribute, but it was a largely forgettable game for Flagg. The silver lining to a game like this is how a 19-year old rookie persists in doing little things such as driving and collecting fouls when his shot isn’t falling.
P.J. Washington: C
7 PTS / 5 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 29 MIN
Washington is a bit of a conundrum lately. He certainly hasn’t forgotten how to play, yet looks to not yet be himself. Tonight his shot wasn’t falling and he wasn’t able to do a whole lot else. Worse still, he held the worst plus/minus for the bulk of the game, demonstrating that his personal struggles indeed hurt the team overall.
Daniel Gafford: A-
14 PTS / 10 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Gafford continues to give credence to the thought his long stretch of mediocre games was perhaps in part due to recovering from injury. Whatever the case, Gafford got back to some high-flying and dunking for the second game in a row, shooting well and even rebounding better than he has recently. Simply put – he looks better than he has in a while. His foul total was high, but over-aggression after being forced into passivity for so long is a fine exchange under the circumstances.
Marvin Bagley: B+
7 PTS / 6 REB / 6 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN
Bagley continues to do a variety of things, with the highlight of Tuesday night being his assist total. The Mavs’ backup forward/center led the team in that category. His shot was suspect (3-for-7) but he chipped in everywhere, including a bit from beyond the arc. Solid outing for Bagley as an overall positive force for Dallas.
Klay Thompson: A-
21 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN
Thompson was having a somewhat quiet night before a 10-point third quarter burst. He didn’t contribute much in other facets of the game, but as a primary shooter, he did his job just fine (8-for-16 including 5-for-11 from deep). He and Middleton were the cogs of a huge comeback that ultimately fell short.
Khris Middleton: A-
16 PTS / 1 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Middleton often looks like he’s playing a slightly different game than his teammates. That is to say, you can see his brand of “veteran” in the little things – the way he works a possession, willingness to take a shot when the team is starved for a bucket and an overall calm that often steadies the team when they’re trying to make a run. Middleton shot well (5-for-8) and did a lot of little things
Final Thoughts
Dallas has been consistent for the last 20 games or so. They give up huge first quarter point totals regardless of the opponent, then spend the rest of the game putting on an entertaining show as they draw closer and closer. Jason Kidd’s spread of minutes is impressive – he’s not burning anyone out while doing just enough to collect losses. Whether it’s his intention or not, anyone supportive of tanking is probably enjoying this as much as anyone can enjoy a string of losses.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 23: Philadelphia 76ers correspondent Matt Cord (L) poses with Allen Iverson at the Wells Fargo Center on May 23, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Iverson's original Reebok Question re-launches Friday, May 25th for the first time since 1996. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images for Reebok) | Getty Images for Reebok
After 28 seasons as the in-arena voice of the Philadelphia 76ers, Matt Cord has announced he will retire, bringing an end to one of the longest-tenured runs as a PA announcer in NBA history.
After 28 years as the PA announcer for the @sixers I’m officially retiring at the end of the season. I’ve had the best seat in the house announcing for the best fans in the world. Thank you to the players and the 76ers organization. What a privilege it’s been. pic.twitter.com/CF3z2puy2h
Cord’s path to the mic is a quintessential Philly story. He got his start in radio at 93.3 WMMR in the early ’90s, and the Sixers gig came about through a chance connection. When Pat Croce bought the team in 1996, he told Cord he loved the energy he brought to the mic at Philadelphia Wings lacrosse games — and offered him the job. Cord officially took over as the Sixers’ PA announcer in 1998.
From there, he made the role entirely his own. Known for the sharp contrast between his thunderous enthusiasm for Sixers players and the flat, disinterested tone reserved for visiting teams, Cord became as much a part of the game-night experience as anyone on the court.
And he was there for all of it. The 2001 Finals run. “Slam-it” Samuel Dalembert. Andre “Iguodalalala.” Joel “The Process” Embiid. For nearly three decades, his voice was the soundtrack to every Sixers home game — the one constant through every rebuild, every playoff push, and every era. Now, for the first time since the late ’90s, Sixer games will sound a little different.
Who replaces the iconic voice is anyone’s guess. The Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, has had their announcer fill in for Cord at points throughout the season. It’ll be interesting to see if the Sixers go that route or bring in someone new entirely.
Whatever direction the organization goes, filling that seat won’t be easy. PA announcers don’t often get their flowers while they’re still on the mic, but Cord was always the exception. He wasn’t just a voice. He was part of the experience, part of the culture, and honestly, part of the team. Sixers fans will feel his absence the moment that first starting lineup is called and it doesn’t sound quite right.
Congratulations to Matt Cord on an incredible, legendary career.
Brown started arguing with officials after he turned the ball over while going out of bounds, saying he felt that Spurs guard Stephon Castle had pushed him.
Then Brown began shouting at official Tyler Ford to state his case and didn't stop, even when another official, Suyash Mehta, called him for a second technical, leading to a game ejection. Brown had to be held back by teammates from going after the officials.
Ford said after the game the first technical was called because Brown was "aggressively pointing and using profanity and resentment to the no-call." The second technical was because Brown "aggressively approached a game official while pointing and using profanity."
The Celtics contingent had plenty to say about the officiating after the game.
"I just give a ton of credit to my high school principal. He had the balls to throw a student out. He didn't leave it to the hall monitor," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "He was a hell of a principal."
Brown, who was fined $35,000 by the NBA in January for his comments about the officials, took to social media posting, "this the (expletive) I be talking about."
Victor Wembanyama had 39 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio in the victory.
"I disagree with it. The NBA makes a big deal about prime-time games and stars playing and being available," said Jayson Tatum, who scored 24 points in his third game back after returning from an Achilles injury. "National TV game, two of the best teams in the league, and you make a big deal about stars playing, then you (get) trigger-happy and throw somebody out the game, I disagree with it.”
Dec 20, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after a basket during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Thanks to the wonkiness that is the NBA Cup, the Houston Rockets are making their third trip the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets this season. Things do even out overall, as Houston got the Los Angeles Clippers three times in Houston and just once in Ballmer’s Toilet Emporium (I think Xiane said this once and it made me cackle, so he gets the credit if you like it).
The Nuggets have dealt with their fair share of injuries this season, but they still boast the league’s most efficient offense. While they don’t jack up a ton of threes, they get to the line a lot and make the highest percentage of threes (39%) in the league. Defensively, they’ve taken a step back this season. They don’t force a lot of turnovers, but when they do they make teams pay. They also rebound well on that side of the ball. Basically, if Houston turns the ball over more than a dozen times (which they will), they won’t have much of a chance. Denver is too good on offense to try to catch them from behind. And when they need buckets, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are two of the best in the league at creating good looks for themselves and teammates.
This game is on national television, which has been a bugaboo for this Rockets squad, and it’s also a back-to-back, another bugaboo. Two bugaboos does not make a bugaright, so the deck is stacked pretty heavily against the good guys in this one. Denver didn’t play yesterday and are coming off a hard-fought loss against their nemesis, the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s a recipe for a big first quarter from Denver and a sluggish start for Houston (which has been par for the course). I’d be surprised if Houston isn’t down double digits early and having to work out of that hole. I’d love to be proven wrong, but I’ve watched the same team you have all season.
Mar 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) shoots over Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach (10) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Showing big fight fueled by Taurean Prince’s return and Kyle Kuzma’s 10k milestone, the Milwaukee Bucks couldn’t keep the momentum down the stretch, losing to the Orlando Magic 129-114. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Kuzma came to play tonight, and it’s a pity the team couldn’t rally around Big Kuz as he passed 10,000 career points. The big man was in attack mode throughout the first three quarters, driving with purpose and draining deep triples. He was a menace defensively too. Small demerits for losing his touch in the fourth quarter and for a ghastly -16 in the plus-minus. It feels deceptive, though. His energy and marksmanship stood out, carrying the team for significant stretches and fueling big runs.
An up-and-down game for Ryan, with more significant downs than ups. His five turnovers led the team and contributed to a glaring discrepancy that largely decided the game. His giveaways were symptomatic of a player going too fast and losing control. His seven helpers are not to be overlooked, though, nor was his solid shooting.
Throw out the stats. In this case, they’re irrelevant. What mattered was heart, grit, and tenacity. Prince playing in a game this season was something no one expected (and no one had ever done before with the severe neck injury he suffered earlier in the season). Instead of giving up, Prince has been a vocal member of the Bucks’ bench and practices all season, while working diligently to get back on the floor. That season-long commitment was rewarded with a return to action. He’s got a ways to go in regaining rhythm and playing at game speed, but proved to everyone that his heart can never be questioned.
An uncharacteristically sluggish game for the superstar, who was swarmed by two or three Suns every time he touched the ball. Giannis looked a bit hobbled and, for him, low-energy as he returns from injury. He missed some gimmes, didn’t always close out on shooters with his usual verve, and on a few occasions took defensive possessions off. His shoulder was wrapped, hinting at another lingering sore spot.
Turner also came to play tonight, showing the kind of all-around impact player Bucks fans thought they were getting when he joined the team after a decade of tormenting them as a Pacer.
Another no-show game for Green, who in better days would have connected on some long-range missiles to stem the bleeding in the fourth quarter, when the team most needed a lift. The one play that stands out for AJ came for the wrong reason: he fouled old friend Grayson Allen on a three-pointer at the close of the first quarter. Allen drained the jumper and the freebie, padding the Suns’ lead.
Cam’s downturn continued, with this game being more of the same from what we’ve seen over the past few weeks. I mean, Thomas was efficient with the court time he got—particularly with the four assists—but playing just 15 minutes with KPJ out is probably a reflection of where he’s at.
Pete’s minutes weren’t bad, but he really did nothing of note. Two turnovers for a player like him isn’t great either.
Grade: C-
Doc Rivers
Plus side: the team didn’t fall into its familiar habit of a lackluster play to start the third quarter. They were the aggressors, running up an 11-point lead. Downside: the rest of the game, when the Bucks looked like they too often do, a team without an identity or requisite hunger to close out competitive games. How much of it falls on coaching, and how much on personnel—the team was missing Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jerico Sims tonight—can be debated.
Grade: C+
Limited Minutes: Andre Jackson Jr.
DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Gary Trent Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Bobby Portis, Jericho Sims, Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Huge shout-out to Kyle Kuzma on passing the 10,000-point milestone. He went on one of his scoring benders that happens a few times every season, and was borderline unstoppable during stretches.
Gary Trent Jr. has returned to the doghouse. Did not play. Was the only Buck taking extra shots after the game.
Jalen Green clearly won the battle of the Greens, outscoring AJ 25-3. And let’s not forget that Jalen provided us with the first Fiserv wedgie in a while.
Up Next
The Bucks travel to South Beach for a Thursday night tilt against the Miami Heat. Catch the action at 6:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
It was the second-most points scored in a game in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point effort in 1962.
As he kept piling up the points, Adebayo remained on the court deep into the fourth quarter of Miami's eventual 150-129 win, eventually surpassing the 81 points Kobe Bryant scored in 2006.
Adebayo also filled up the box score in several other categories during his 42 minutes of action. He collected nine rebounds, handed out three assists, blocked two shots and made a pair of steals.
And that just begins to tell the story.
Crazy stats from Bam Adebayo's 83-point game
83 points: second-most in a game in NBA history
36 made free throws: most in NBA history
43 free throw attempts: most in NBA history
22 3-point attempts: tied for third-most in NBA history
Adebayo's previous career high: 41 points
Bam Adebayo points by quarter
First: 31
Second: 12
Third: 19
Fourth: 21
Highest-scoring games in NBA history
Every high-scoring game in the NBA has its own story. Here's a quick look at the 10 highest totals in a game in league history:
Bam Adebayo celebrates with teammates after his 83-point night.Photograph: Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Second in points, last in ethics?
That will be the accusation against the Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo, after the big man moved into second on the NBA’s single-game scoring list with 83 points against the woeful Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Adebayo surpassed the 81 points that Kobe Bryant scored in a 2006 game and left only Wilt Chamberlain, with 100 in a game in 1962, ahead of him on the all-time list.
The Heat won, 150-129, and basketball watchers quickly turned their attention to the most skeptical, cynical line of questioning possible: Was Adebayo’s achievement sullied by the Heat’s decision to build their gameplan around letting him pack the stat sheet as much as possible in a long-decided contest? On the record sheet, the answer will be no. But as most people in the NBA well know, the stat line takes a distant second place to fans’ perceptions of players and their accomplishments. And the manner in which the Heat helped Adebayo get to 83 will be under the microscope for a long time.
On the one hand: Anyone who takes issue with Adebayo scoring 83 points –more than the entire Milwaukee Bucks team managed in a game earlier this month – is a pedantic loser. This league holds 1,230 regular-season games each year. Just among starting players, that works out to 12,300 individual games per year. Exactly one of those opportunities, in the whole history of the NBA, has yielded more points than Adebayo put on the Wizards on Tuesday. Objectively, there is no such thing as a “cheap” way to do something that no player other than Wilt has ever done.
Moreover, Adebayo’s 43 field goal attempts are not a major outlier. Chamberlain put up a hilarious 63 shots in his 100-pointer, Bryant 46 on the night he scored 81. Adebayo was also busy in other respects; he pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, with eight of them coming on defense in his 42 minutes, the most of any player on court. It’s not like the 28-year-old was slacking on the other end.
On the other hand, what fun would sports be if we couldn’t spend time and energy tearing players down on the occasion of their grandest achievements? Where Adebayo’s game reaches the theater of the absurd is at the foul line. The previous record for free-throw attempts in an NBA game was 39, reached twice by Dwight Howard during the “Hack-a-Howard” era in 2012 and 2013. Teams knew Howard wouldn’t make much more than six in 10 free throws, and they felt fine sending him to the stripe to make 21 and 25 out of his 39 shots on those respective nights. Adebayo took a new-record 43 free throws on Tuesday and, to his credit, made 36 of them. Nothing dishonorable about cashing in one’s opportunities.
Or maybe there is, when a player’s team turns the late stages of the game into a joke whose sole purpose is to run up one guy’s numbers at the foul line. In the fourth quarter, Adebayo was 3-for-8 from the field and a gruesome 1-of-6 from the three-point line. But the Heat kept feeding him, and the Wizards kept fouling him to send him to the line. That would normally be no big deal, except Miami, leading by nearly 30 points in the final few minutes, repeatedly fouled the Wizards to speed up their possessions and get the ball back. Adebayo hit 14 of 16 foul shots in the final 12 minutes.
Even that doesn’t fully explain how farcical Miami’s effort to get Adebayo to 83 was. The Heat simply gave Adebayo the ball and had him run full steam ahead at the Washington basket, taking low-percentage shots that may or may not lead to a foul call. In just the final five minutes of a game that was long over, Adebayo went 1-of-5 from the field and 7-of-7 at the foul line, with his final points coming at the line with 1:16 left to push the lead to 150-126. You have to watch the video for yourself to understand how uninterested the Heat were in playing anything resembling regular “offense.” The end of this game was pure stat sheet-stuffing, which paid off in buckets when Adebayo nailed his 42nd and 43rd attempts from the stripe. Heat’s head coach, Erik Spoelstra, had the decency to sub Adebayo out eight seconds later, the big fella having inched past Bryant on the scoring list. It was not much different than a 10-year-old video gamer trying to run up a gaudy total against the CPU after school.
None of this means Adebayo’s night wasn’t extraordinary. Eighty-three is the highest point total in the league’s three-point era (since 1979), and for a frontcourt player to get there is truly out of this world. Only Joel Embiid in 2024 and David Robinson in 1994 had even gotten to 70 among big men in that span, and neither cleared 71. Adebayo – an excellent rather than an all-time great player – had a great enough game that historians won’t be able to ignore him. But the manner in which he got into the record books means the haters will still hate. Perhaps he’ll go for 84 sometime.
Auburn, Indiana, West Virginia, Cal and Oklahoma may need more than one win this week to impress the selection committee.
SMU's win over Syracuse in the first round of the ACC tournament Tuesday was a must. As was Cincinnati's win over Utah in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.
Virginia Tech and Stanford's first round losses in the ACC tournament Tuesday pretty much removes them from bubble consideration.
A lot has been made about Auburn's case. The Tigers (16-15) have to beat Mississippi State in the first round of SEC Tournament play (3 p.m., SECN). If the Tigers lose, they can kiss their at-large hopes goodbye no matter how many times Bruce Pearl says otherwise.
Indiana had a chance at a bubble play-in, but blew it at Ohio State over the weekend. The Hoosiers open Big Ten Tournament play at 6:30 p.m. (BTN) against Northwestern State winner.
Twelve teams have already punched their tournament tickets in Long Island (NEC), Queens (ASUN), High Point (Big South), Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley), Tennessee State (OVC), Furman (SoCon), North Dakota State (Summit League), Troy (Sun Belt), Gonzaga (WCC), Siena (MAAC), Wright State (Horizon) and Hofstra (CAA).
Mar 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) shoots during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns began their six-game road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday night and opened it the right way. A 129-point performance against the Bucks felt almost surreal when you think back a couple weeks. This is the same team that once struggled to scrape together 77 points in a loss. Granted, that stretch came during a period when injuries were chewing through the roster and the offense looked like it was searching for oxygen. What makes the night even funnier in the grand scheme of NBA chaos is what happened elsewhere across the league. One player scored 83 points on Tuesday night. That player was Miami’s Bam Adebayo. Basketball…she’s a funny sport.
SECOND-MOST POINTS IN NBA HISTORY FOR BAM ADEBAYO 😳
It is always interesting when the Suns head to Milwaukee. That building still carries memories that linger, even though the calendar says it has been half a decade since those moments were fresh. And early in the game, it started to feel familiar again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the same force he has always been. A freight train with a runway, barreling toward the rim with the kind of momentum that leaves defenders bracing for impact. If you happen to be standing in that path, the whistle usually follows. That has been part of the experience for years now. Trying to absorb contact from Giannis is almost treated like a violation. Step into the runway, and the call rarely goes your way. That reality has lived in Milwaukee for a long time.
Watching Giannis sometimes feels like watching a fullback run the dive play over and over…except the defense gets called for the foul. We’ve been seeing this shit for too many years
Some things in Milwaukee feel familiar, although one thing has clearly changed. The way the Bucks are built around Giannis does not feel nearly as stable as it once did. It is something I mentioned earlier this season. Yes, they still have that championship banner hanging in the rafters. However, the years that followed have not exactly produced a roster that feels cohesive around their superstar.
You look at this season and it feels like another one slipping through the cracks for Giannis. Injuries have played a role, although the supporting cast has never quite clicked into place. The coaching tenure of Doc Rivers has not brought the level of consistency people expected, either. You could see pieces of that Tuesday night.
Milwaukee had its moments. Players like Kyle Kuzma caught fire for stretches and kept the Bucks within striking distance. Although when the game slowed down and the fourth quarter arrived, Phoenix leaned into its identity.
Defense.
The Suns clamped down and held Milwaukee to 17 points in the final quarter. Possessions became uncomfortable. The pace slowed as the execution tightened. On the other end, the offense continued to produce balance. Three Suns finished with over 20 points for the second consecutive game. I do not even know where to begin digging to see when that last happened, although it speaks to the rhythm this group has started to find.
The result is Phoenix walking out of Milwaukee with another win, opening the road trip the right way. It marks their third straight victory and pushes them to 11 games over .500.
Momentum is beginning to build in Phoenix. That is not something you can currently say about the Bucks.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Booker was the engine. He was the gravity. He was the reason the Charlotte Hornets — one of the hottest teams in the league — finally saw their 10-game road winning streak evaporate in the Phoenix desert.
A 30 and 10 night against a team playing that kind of high-level basketball isn’t just a stat line. It is a statement. While we were all (rightfully) impressed with the 24 points that Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green poured in, and we loved every second of Rasheer Fleming’s 16-point breakout off the bench, everything flowed through Number One. He was the catalyst. He was the one bending the defense until it snapped.
Booker rightfully takes home his 15th Bright Side Baller of the season, securing 43% of your votes. That gives him two in a row and means he has accounted for 23.4% of all Baller awards handed out this year. Kudos to Fleming, too, who grabbed 37% of the vote. It was a well-deserved nod for the rookie’s career night.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 65 against the Bucks. Here are your nominees:
They became catnip for night owls, must-see TV for the insomniacs among us.
Hours after ACC basketball hit the hay and after the Big 12 tucked itself into bed, the West Coast Conference, starring Mark Few’s Gonzaga Bulldogs, would treat our bleary eyes.
Gonzaga ‘Til Midnight — or beyond, depending on your time zone — became the college hoops predecessor to Pac-12 After Dark.
It started in earnest in 2001, when ESPN struck a deal with the WCC. By then, the Zags were already of “The slipper still fits!” fame.
Gonzaga served up such late-night ESPN fare as playing St. John’s at midnight Eastern on Thanksgiving night in the ’01 Great Alaska Shootout (RIP), the perfect pairing for your third slice of pumpkin pie.
Gonzaga beat the Johnnies, of course, because Zags basketball is good any time of day, but it’s spectacular in the wee hours.
Trading sleep for hoops meant watching Few’s assembly line of stars. Dan Dickau. Ronny Turiaf. Kelly Olynyk. Rui Hachimura. Drew Timme. Present-day Graham Ike.
And who could forget Mr. Mustache himself, Adam Morrison, the only thing finer in 2006 than J.J. Redick?
The casuals didn’t catch their annual glimpse of Gonzaga until March Madness. The diehards and the sleep-deprived had a catalogue of film on them by then. They watched the WCC grow up alongside Gonzaga.
As BYU cycled in and then out of the league, the WCC maintained staying power to the point it regularly sends multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s series blossomed into one of the best rivalries anywhere on the Pacific Coast.
No matter how sturdy the WCC became in any given year, Gonzaga kept showing up in the conference tournament finals.
Death. Taxes. Gonzaga cutting down WCC nets on a weeknight in early March.
Conference realignment consumes all things holy in the end, and Gonzaga’s majestic, nocturnal run in the WCC concluded this season — but not before one last celebration.
Gonzaga beat Santa Clara in the WCC final, 79-68 on Tuesday, because how else was this supposed to end but with Few celebrating his 21st conference tournament title?
“We’re 30-3 now," Few said of his team's record entering March Madness, where the Bulldogs are a projected 3-seed, "which is a hell of a record, a hell of a year."
And not finished yet. Just done with the WCC.
Mark Few exits WCC with another March Madness bid
Gonzaga will move next season into the Pac-Whatever Conference, a Pac-12 cheap-fake.
The decades-long WCC-Gonzaga union provided a runway for Few to go 56-6 in WCC tournament games.
Pause, for a moment, and marvel at that record.
I don’t care the league is filled with a bunch of private California schools with smallish enrollments instead of Duke and North Carolina or Kansas and Arizona, the WCC is no joke, and winning 56 times in 62 tries against teams playing for their shot at a March Madness ticket is serious dominance.
Gonzaga rules West Coast Conference, to the end
This team won’t go down as Few’s most electric, but you wouldn’t have known that with the way Gonzaga rallied after Santa Clara dominated the first half.
“It’s a special feeling to go out the right way — on top,” Ike, Gonzaga’s star, told reporters, with a WCC champions hat perched on his head. “Ultimately, we ended where we started this … We started off with championships. That team and those teams that came before us, we just wanted to continue the success that they had.”
Ike must have remembered at halftime he was the best player in the building. He finished with 15 points on perfect shooting. Few was so pleased he publicly stumped for his senior big man’s All-America bona fides.
“He has absolutely, unequivocally, carried us,” Few said on ESPN afterward.
Gonzaga's got its very own Super Mario, too. That's Mario Saint-Supery, who went off for six 3-pointers and 21 points.
The real story, though, was the same as it's been all year for Gonzaga: Its defense ruled the day, leaving Santa Clara on the NCAA bubble, although in Few’s eyes the Broncos ought to be a slam-dunk selection alongside Saint Mary’s. That’d be good for three WCC bids for the fourth time since 2008 and probably the last time for a while, with Gonzaga leaving.
Gonzaga’s conference departure ranks nowhere near the worst sin of realignment. It’s something of an upset the WCC managed to hang on for so long to this team that outgrew the Cinderella label long ago. Surely, the Zags will keep playing late-night tipoffs in their new home. Networks need late-night programming, and Gonzaga is a reliable supplier.
Gonzaga let the night owls off easy in this WCC swan song. It wasn’t even midnight yet on the East Coast when Few donned the postgame headset for a chat with Scott Van Pelt.
Still, the Las Vegas sun was long gone, and night had replaced it. To the very end, Gonzaga ruled the West Coast after dark.
