SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli wins Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix.
Chicago faces San Antonio, aims to break 3-game slide
Chicago Bulls (29-45, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (56-18, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago looks to stop its three-game losing streak with a victory over San Antonio.
The Spurs have gone 28-7 at home. San Antonio scores 119.4 points while outscoring opponents by 8.2 points per game.
The Bulls are 11-25 in road games. Chicago is 10-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Spurs score 119.4 points per game, 1.6 fewer points than the 121.0 the Bulls allow. The Bulls score 5.2 more points per game (116.4) than the Spurs allow their opponents to score (111.2).
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 121-117 on Nov. 11, with Victor Wembanyama scoring 38 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is scoring 24.2 points per game with 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 16.5 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 50.0% over the past 10 games.
Matas Buzelis is averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulls. Tre Jones is averaging 17.4 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 56.5% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 124.3 points, 50.2 rebounds, 31.6 assists, 6.6 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points per game.
Bulls: 3-7, averaging 122.5 points, 47.6 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.3 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Jalen Smith: out for season (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out for season (knee), Nick Richards: day to day (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Guerschon Yabusele: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
How Arizona players' halftime talk ended 25 years of March Madness heartbreak
SAN JOSE, CA — “Here we go again.”
It was the collective thought nearly every Arizona fan had when the Wildcats went into halftime of their Elite Eight matchup against Purdue down seven points. One of the best teams in program history was on the verge of a familiar result that had plagued the program for 25 years: falling short of the Final Four.
Athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois was nervous. Mix Master Mike was sweating. Families were stressed.
But while Bear Down nation was anxious, all was calm inside the Wildcats locker room.
Everyone rushed in, awaiting to hear what coach Tommy Lloyd would say to flip the script. The inspirational pep talk made for cinema.
But he didn’t have anything to say.
Instead, he turned the attention to his players. Let them figure out what they need to do to change course.
That conversation changed the entire narrative of Arizona basketball.
The rallying of the Wildcats was the secret ingredient needed to get over the hump, propelling Arizona to a thunderous second half that turned the tension into elation, ending years of misery with the program's first Final Four trip since 2001.
When Lloyd left the microphone open, it was the veterans that grabbed it.
Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas, all players that had experienced the shortcomings and were set on making sure the talented freshmen accompanying them wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
“They all talked to us and just told us to keep going. You know, we've been through adversity this season,” said freshman Koa Peat. “Can't get too high or too low. Just stay even-keeled.”
Lloyd and the coaching staff just listened, and couldn’t be prouder how the veterans addressed the situation. It was something he'd done a few times during the regular season, but the situation absolutely called for it, because they needed to figure it out.
“The most powerful thing in a team sport is a player-led program. The coach, you have to help them navigate it, but when you can get the players to kind of own these moments, you are just so much better,” he said.
By the time the players said their piece, the confidence in the room was beaming. This team was ready to get back on the court. Lloyd had one last message for them.
“Let's go kick their ass,” Lloyd said.
They did.
It was a literal tale of two halves as Arizona suffocated Purdue in the final 20 minutes, turning the SAP Center into McKale Center West, the pro-Wildcats crowd rocking the entire arena.
Arizona needed just five minutes to turn a seven-point deficit into a lead it would hold onto the rest of the way, leading by as much as 15 points late to stop any thoughts of a Boilermakers comeback.
The shots were going in, 3-pointers were falling, and the Wildcats got to the foul line just like they wanted to.
But really, the story was the defense.
Purdue got a halftime lead thanks to seven 3-pointers, but the perimeter was closed in the second half. It missed its next seven attempts, only making one 3-pointer, coming with eight seconds left when Arizona was already celebrating.
In fact, Purdue's shooting was just off. It shot 32.1% in the second half, making just nine shots, just above the seven free throws it made in the same time frame.
The Boilermakers were exceptional at taking care of the ball, with the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country at 2.22. Arizona forced turnovers, with Purdue turning it over 11 times, resulting in 15 Arizona points that only added to the pressure.
Arizona took Purdue out completely, resulting in a 22-point advantage in the last 20 minutes.
“We had a couple of turnovers here and there, and then obviously missed shots. Then we weren't able to get a couple of stops,” said Purdue guard Braden Smith. “Obviously, credit to Arizona. They're an unbelievable team.”
An unbelievable team that pulled off a result that was starting to seem unachievable.
Arizona has had so many good squads this century that were capable of reaching the Final Four, but it felt like some sort of hex prevented the Wildcats from getting there. Since 2010, Arizona has the fourth-most wins in Division I ... but was the only program in the top five that had not made a Final Four.
That’s why, when the buzzer officially sounded, there was a collective exhale that was 25 years in the making.
“I am speechless,” Reed-Francois told USA TODAY Sports. “Just feels like a sense of joy. It's just pure joy, and look at all these people around here that are just so excited.”
A joy that Lloyd and company can’t wait to soak in; there likely will be quite the crowd awaiting the team when it lands back at Tucson International Airport.
“Making it to the Final Four is big,” Bradley said. “We appreciate Tucson, the supporters and everybody behind the scenes. We just are happy that we get to reward them with this.”
After dominating the regular season and West Region, Arizona has proven this isn’t the same old Arizona. It's no longer a team that chokes in the tournament.
It’s a national power again. And a team not just satisfied with breaking the Final Four drought, but out to win the program’s second national title, and first since 1997.
That’s thanks to a halftime conversation that changed everything for the Wildcats.
“We're still fighting, and we're still fighting to get better and see if we can get a little bit better before next Saturday,” Lloyd said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside halftime talk that lifted Arizona basketball to Final Four
Dallas faces Minnesota on 12-game home skid
Minnesota Timberwolves (45-29, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (24-50, 13th in the Western Conference)
Dallas; Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas plays Minnesota looking to end its 12-game home slide.
The Mavericks have gone 13-33 against Western Conference teams. Dallas ranks third in the Western Conference with 34.2 defensive rebounds per game led by P.J. Washington averaging 5.5.
The Timberwolves have gone 28-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota has a 6-4 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Mavericks score 113.9 points per game, 0.5 fewer points than the 114.4 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 47.5% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on Feb. 21 the Timberwolves won 122-111 led by 40 points from Anthony Edwards, while Khris Middleton scored 18 points for the Mavericks.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Mavericks. Max Christie is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Julius Randle is averaging 20.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Timberwolves. Bones Hyland is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 3-7, averaging 119.5 points, 43.3 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.8 points per game.
Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 113.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Khris Middleton: day to day (illness), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Daniel Gafford: day to day (shoulder).
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: day to day (knee), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (calf), Jaden McDaniels: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah plays Cleveland, looks to break home slide
Cleveland Cavaliers (46-28, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-54, 14th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Monday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah plays Cleveland looking to stop its three-game home losing streak.
The Jazz are 13-25 in home games. Utah is first in the Western Conference with 29.4 assists per game led by Isaiah Collier averaging 7.2.
The Cavaliers are 22-14 on the road. Cleveland ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 11.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Jarrett Allen averaging 2.6.
The Jazz score 117.4 points per game, 2.2 more points than the 115.2 the Cavaliers allow. The Cavaliers average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 fewer makes per game than the Jazz allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 13 the Jazz won 123-112 led by 32 points from Keyonte George, while Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points for the Cavaliers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.9 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.
James Harden is scoring 24.0 points per game and averaging 5.0 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 1-9, averaging 117.2 points, 41.0 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.8 points per game.
Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 123.2 points, 44.0 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
Cavaliers: Craig Porter Jr.: day to day (groin), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), Jaylon Tyson: day to day (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Brooklyn plays Sacramento on home slide
Sacramento Kings (19-56, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (17-57, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Nets -1; over/under is 221.5
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn is looking to break its four-game home losing streak with a victory against Sacramento.
The Nets are 9-26 in home games. Brooklyn is the worst team in the Eastern Conference recording 39.7 rebounds per game led by Michael Porter Jr. averaging 7.1.
The Kings are 6-31 on the road. Sacramento averages 13.6 turnovers per game and is 13-26 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
The Nets' 13.2 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 13.7 per game the Kings give up. The Kings average 110.9 points per game, 4.8 fewer than the 115.7 the Nets allow to opponents.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Kings won the last meeting 126-122 on March 22. Malik Monk scored 32 points to help lead the Kings to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nic Claxton is shooting 57.1% and averaging 11.8 points for the Nets. Josh Minott is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.5 points and 4.1 assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 0-10, averaging 99.9 points, 36.0 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points per game.
Kings: 4-6, averaging 112.5 points, 43.1 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.7 points.
INJURIES: Nets: Danny Wolf: out (ankle), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Josh Minott: day to day (hip), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out (hamstring).
Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Russell Westbrook: out (foot), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Illinois was Brad Underwood's dream job. Now, he has it in the Final Four
Brad Underwood is a Kansas native who has spent much of his lengthy college basketball coaching career in the Great Plains, southeast and southwest.
His dream, though, was to one day find himself where he currently is — as the head coach of the Illinois men’s basketball program.
On Saturday, March 28, Underwood helped lead Illinois to a 71-59 victory against Iowa in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, sending the Fighting Illini to their first Final Four since 2005.
After his team’s triumph, Underwood was asked about his career trajectory, which has taken him from the junior-college ranks to the lowest levels of Division I to, ultimately, the Big Ten. Specifically, he was asked about a comment he made more than a decade ago that Illinois was his dream job.
Despite having no obvious ties to the school – he didn’t attend it and had never coached there before he was hired by the Illini in 2017 – Underwood said it was.
“I'm going to get emotional, but I've been doing this 39 years, and you dream about this as a kid, and I dreamt about doing it at Illinois,” Underwood said in his post-game news conference. “Back in the day when my wife bought Tyler, who was maybe two, a Brian Cook jersey, and you knew what a special place this was. And it always has been, and there's been no other thing for me. This is my dream job, and it's very fulfilling to get where we're going.”
Brad Underwood on making his first Final Four:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 29, 2026
"I'm gonna get emotional, but I've been doing this 39 years. You dream about this as a kid. I dreamt about doing it at Illinois, when my wife bought Tyler, who was maybe 2, a Brian Cook jersey. It's always been a special place.… pic.twitter.com/2xAOJntPLN
Though much of his coaching career has taken place away from the Land of Lincoln, Underwood had experience in the state. For 11 years, from 1992-2003, he was an assistant coach at Western Illinois, about 140 miles west of Illinois’ campus in Champaign, Illinois. The Illini were an NCAA tournament regular for much of that time under Lou Henson, Lon Kruger and Bill Self, opening Underwood’s eyes to the program’s potential.
The experience of watching that from across the state stayed with him. When he was hired as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin in Texas in 2013, he was asked by his secretary to name his dream job. He told her Illinois, which she wrote down on a card, dated and mailed to Underwood when he accepted the position with the Illini four years later.
Though he inherited a program that had gone four-consecutive years without an NCAA tournament appearance, Underwood has restored the Illini to national prominence. Even before it punched its ticket to the Final Four on Saturday, Illinois was in the tournament for the sixth year in a row and advanced as far as the Elite Eight in 2024.
As Underwood will quickly note, he had a lot of helping getting the Illini there, from his coaching staff to the school’s athletic administration.
“I don't want to sound arrogant – I've never doubted us getting to a Final Four would happen,” Underwood said. “I have thought we have had other teams capable. But I also know how doggone hard it is to do it. For that, I just say thank you.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Illinois was Brad Underwood's dream job. Now, he has it in the Final Four
Game Recap: Suns throttle Jazz, 134-109
The Suns came into this game off some much-needed rest and took care of business against the Jazz in a much-needed win. Jalen Green and Devin Booker took command in this one, combining for 57 points and dominating throughout. The Suns’ rookies also had a great showing, as Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Malauch both made big impacts on both ends as well. Overall, the Suns came together and pulled this one out, dominating the weak Jazz frontcourt and scoring all over the interior.
The Jazz are unfortunately tanking and not doing great this year. This certainly showed in this one, as even though some players tried to keep them in offensively, the defense was not stopping anything.
Game Flow
First Half
In the first quarter, it got off to a rough start as the Jazz matched the Suns in scoring. Jalen Green, as he does best, started this one on a hot note, bringing some life to the Valley and keeping the fans alive. This would then translate and trickle down the roster as the Suns became involved. Devin Booker started going inside and attacking alongside Green. Then Grayson Allen and Rasheer Fleming started nailing some threes.
The Suns saw a lead of up to 20 and seemed to take command early in a must-win game. After losing six of their last seven, a much-needed bounce back against a weak Western Conference team is needed to shift momentum heading to the playoffs. The Suns understood that and took advantage of this by leading 39-21 after one.
The second quarter was a lot like the first as the Suns continued to dominate against the Jazz. Green and Booker continued to attack and score in the paint. With the Jazz having seven players out and top-tier frontcourt players absent, it was feast time for Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach down low.
The Jazz are tanking, and it’s clear as day. Even with players out, the reserves are just chucking up shots and playing little to no defense. This has allowed the Suns to lead 73-45 at the half and to close this one early. Jalen Green and Devin Booker have 34 of the team’s points and continue to show that they can torch weak defenses. If Phoenix can continue this onslaught into the second half, it will only mean an early night for the starters.
Second Half
Did the Jazz even come to play the second half? You could definitely question that, as Phoenix once again just massacred the Jazz defense. Green and Booker were trading baskets, both attacking the lane and making some tough finishes. The Suns have 91 points, and the game is not even halfway through the third, and the Jazz cannot match the Suns’ offense. Every shot, they continue to make the Suns answer tight back as Booker continues to bring the intensity.
This game seems unfair, and with these injuries and the situation the Jazz are in compared to Phoenix. Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh are trying their best to keep Utah in it offensively, but it just does not seem to be enough. Just an absolute tear kept on continuing from Phoenix, as even Maluach had a nice alley oop finish. The Suns, whose biggest lead has been 34, now head into the fourth up 110-83.
The Jazz got off to a hot start here in the fourth with Svi Mykhaholiuk getting hot, with Ace Bailey trying to heat up as well. That being said, the Suns were feeding Ighodaro once again, and he continued to feast inside on the weak Jazz interior defense. Grayson Allen also had a big game off the bench, hitting some big threes and attacking the lane.
This one was over before the second half, even if the Jazz did try to come back in the fourth. The rookies and young guns go to take the floor, and in this game, every rookie scored a point once Kobe Brea made a three-pointer as well. The Suns ended up taking down the Jazz 134-109.
Up Next
The Suns begin a four-game road trip on Monday, as they play another team simply trying to get to the finish line in the Memphis Grizzlies.
David Mirkovic celebrates Illinois' Final Four berth with Texas accessory
HOUSTON — The Illinois men’s basketball team was in the airport in Champaign, Illinois, preparing to board a flight to Houston for the NCAA Tournament regional, when Illini freshman forward David Mirkovic made a prescient purchase.
Mirkovic’s teammate, Keaton Wagler, sent him a link to an artificially generated photo of Mirkovic wearing a black cowboy hat. It was meant as a joke, but Mirkovic found a similar looking hat on Amazon and ordered it for $34. It was delivered to the Illini’s hotel in Houston on Friday, the day before Illinois played Iowa in the Elite Eight.
Mirkovic only intended to wear the hat if the Illini won. They did, 71-59, and after the team celebrated in the locker room by spraying each other with water guns – a program tradition that began two years ago in the NCAA Tournament – Mirkovic proudly donned his new headwear.
Asked if he felt like a cowboy, the Montenegro native paused and replied, “I don’t know. What does it mean, being a cowboy?”
He paused and reconsidered: “Yeah, why not. We’re in Texas.”
Mirkovic scored nine points and had a team-high 12 rebounds in Illinois’ Elite Eight win, coming just one point shy of his second consecutive double-double. He was still named to the South Regional All-Tournament team and his performance helped Illinois advance to the Final Four, where it will play either Duke or Connecticut.
None of Mirkovic’s Illini teammates joined him in buying cowboy hats, but he retained hope that he could start a new NCAA Tournament tradition.
“Maybe for next season,” he said, smiling.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Illinois' David Mirkovic celebrates Final Four with new accessory
Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Tonight, the Houston Rockets return to the scene of their second-biggest collapse of the season. Until their demoralizing loss in Minnesota, I figured the New Orleans game in December would stand alone. Of course, this team has surprised me over and over again with ways to frustrate us.
I was at the Smoothie King Center on December 18. I was visiting my brother and the Rockets just so happened to be in town. Houston led by 22 at halftime and 25 early in the second half. The Rockets even held a 16-point lead heading into the final frame. However, turnovers and poor defensive effort would rear their ugly heads. New Orleans scored 38 points in the third quarter and 36 more in the fourth. Houston missed nine free throws, and all of them came from players 6-10 and taller. More than one miss was an airball. The New Orleans crowd, which had had nothing to cheer about for 30 minutes, roared to life for the final 18 minutes of regulation and all of overtime.
I could tell you about how Saddiq Bey had the kind of game that can get players paid a lot of money in free agency. Or how Derik Queen talked trash all night and backed it up. I could talk about how Kevin Durant didn’t miss a shot in the first quarter and dominated until New Orleans sent a second defender at him, which led to six turnovers. Or how Amen Thompson went 11-14 and made some clutch plays to give the Rockets a fighting chance in the fourth.
None of it matters, though. It was the beginning of a disturbing trend for the Rockets that still hasn’t resolved. Houston still struggles defensively. They still turn the ball over a ton. They have found a few answers for the double team, but it’s still mostly a winning strategy against Durant, who is on pace to turn the ball over more times than in any season since turning 25. They still miss free throws. And they continue to struggle in fourth quarters despite bringing in one of the best closers in NBA history.
The other two matchups against New Orleans have been tight affairs, too. In January, the Rockets rode a monster night from Jabari Smith Jr. to win a game where they never really put the Pelicans away. And last week, Houston needed some boneheaded mistakes down the stretch from New Orleans to walk away with the win after blowing a 7-point lead with under four minutes to go. You were shocked, I know.
The Pelicans have cooled off a bit since that game, where they came into Toyota Center on a hot streak. They won their next three but have dropped four straight against four of the top five teams in the East. They’re returning home after a long week on the road against good teams. They’ll be looking for a bounce back.
And in case in needs to be restated, the Pelicans do not own their 2026 first round draft pick. So unlike Memphis, who was happy to let Houston run away with the game in the fourth quarter, New Orleans is here to play spoiler and decide if this core has what it takes to keep them around for another year. And the early returns are that this team is definitely going to be a tougher out next season, especially if they stay healthy.
Tip-off
6pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Fred VanVleet: OUT
Pelicans
Dejounte Muray: GTD
Trey Murphy III: GTD
Bryce McGowens: GTD
The Line (as of this post)
N/A
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Tuesday night back in Houston against the New York Knicks
From overlooked to overjoyed, Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to Final Four
HOUSTON – Keaton Wagler’s eyes flirted with the rim and his feet appeared to follow suit. The Illinois freshman guard dribbled past the 3-point line and suddenly spun to his left, sending his defender stumbling backward as if propelled by an invisible force.
Iowa guard Isaia Howard scrambled to his feet, but by then Wagler was launching a stepback 3-pointer that gave Illinois a second-half lead.
That misdirection is part of Wagler’s magic: Just when you think you know what to expect, he shapeshifts.
For the entire second half of Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game, Wagler traded buckets with Iowa star Bennett Stirtz — the Hawkeyes’ well-traveled veteran leader and the Illini’s star freshman, both players who were once undervalued during their basketball careers, delivering for their teams in an Elite Eight throwdown.
In the end, Wagler won the duel. Behind his 25 points, Illinois downed Iowa, 71-59, and advanced to the program’s first Final Four in 21 years. Wagler was named the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player.
Following an inefficient shooting night in Illinois’ Sweet 16 win over Houston, in which Wagler shot 4-of-14 from the floor but grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds, he transformed back into a scoring machine down the stretch against Iowa.
Illinois outscored Iowa in the second half 43-27 and held the Hawkeyes scoreless for the final two minutes, with Wagler scoring 14 points in the second half alone.
“Once he finds his rhythm, it’s like a flow state,” said Illinois assistant coach Tyler Underwood. “You can always tell when he’s starting to get into it. It takes him a little bit of time but he just has a unique ability to be in the present moment and be able to live with mistakes and live with the outcome because he knows he’s loved, and he knows how hard he works.”
The telltale signs Wagler is about to go off, according to Underwood: Wagler starts patting the ball, getting to his left-to-right crossover, spinning around defenders. Everything he does becomes a little peppier, injected with an intangible yet immediately identifiable swag.
“It just feels like the game is slowing down for me,” Wagler said. “Just everything’s going right, every pass, getting to the rim, finishing, all that stuff.”
The game’s second half, then, must have felt to him like an eternity. As the last few seconds melted away, Wagler dribbled out the clock and raised one hand to beckon cheers from the crowd. That moment was his to savor alone, and then he wasn’t alone any longer. When the sound of an air horn punctuated Wagler’s lifelong dream, he was wrapped in a bear hug by Illinois forward Ben Humrichous and then swarmed by elated teammates.
After the net was cut and a team photo snapped, Wagler weaved through the confetti-strewn court and finally reached the people he sought.
He embraced his mom, Jennifer, first. Then came his dad, Logan, older brother Landon and older sister Brooklyn. Finally, Keaton looked up and saw Victor Williams, his AAU basketball coach with VWBA Elite. Williams and Wagler’s family nurtured Keaton’s skill as well as his ambition.
“I know that they know that this is my dream,” Wagler said. “Every since I was a little kid I’ve always talked about this. To be in this position, to have them here and we’re going to the Final Four, it just means the world.”
His parents, who met while playing basketball at a community college in Kansas, knew their youngest son truly loved the game when he was in first grade and played on a team of third graders but was not dissuaded by being the youngest or one of the smallest.
“He couldn’t hardly get the ball up to the hoop, but he could do everything else,” Logan Wagler said. “I knew he would amount to something. I didn’t know it would lead him here, though.”
Neither did Illinois coach Brad Underwood and his staff. It was Underwood’s son, Tyler, an Illini assistant coach, who first identified Wagler as a prospect out of Shawnee, Kansas. Wagler had won two state championships with Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025, but according to Tyler Underwood some power-conference programs had reservations about Wagler’s smaller physique.
The first time Brad Underwood went to see Wagler play in person was after Illinois had already signed him. Wagler had scored 36 points in a game the night before, but with Underwood present he scored just two points. Nevertheless, Underwood was ecstatic when he left the gym and called his son.
“I said, ‘We just got an incredible talent,’” Brad Underwood recalled. “They blitzed him, they got it out of his hand, he made every right play, he was not selfish, he was not a pig, he wasn't trying to force things. He just let the game come to him. Very, very mature as a senior in high school when you're the guy. And he just played the game, and so I felt great about it. Did I know a 178-pound kid coming in was going to be this? I didn't.”
When Wagler arrived at Illinois, he added 25 pounds of weight and worked on getting stronger. He was in the starting lineup right away but mostly in an off-ball role, with senior guard Kylan Boswell assuming the lion’s share of ball handling responsibilities.
In mid-January, Boswell broke his hand and was sidelined for several weeks. On Jan. 24, Wagler’s breakout game was a 46-point outburst that led Illinois to a road win at No. 4 Purdue — a Big Ten freshman scoring record with a school-record nine 3-pointers. That performance solidified Wagler’s self-confidence.
“The ascension happened so fast, and I think he showed himself, ‘I can do this,’” Underwood said. “And I think his teammates wanted that out of him. Like, I don’t think he gets here without his teammates’ encouragement.”
Illinois forward Zvonimir Ivisic, who transferred into the program this season from Arkansas, said his first impression of Wagler was of a player who was overlooked — and who let that fuel him.
“We all know what Keat’s capable of,” Ivisic said. “I was amazed. I didn’t hear a lot about him before, but when I see his playing style, how he handles the ball, how he handles himself, I was like, why a lot of people don’t talk about him enough? Everybody underestimated him. He’s a special player.”
Illinois forward David Mirkovic said that whether it’s a preseason scrimmage or a high-stakes NCAA Tournament game with a Final Four trip on the line, Wagler loves to compete.
“Keat looks like he enjoys every type of game,” Illinois forward David Mirkovic said. “Every type of basketball, every style. He just really whatever pass and challenge they offer him he always plays really good. He always adapts, adjusts to anything that’s in front of him. He’s such a big guy, really, most important player to us. When he adjusts like that we all follow him.”
Wagler relishes being called upon to deliver in big moments, but he won’t ever boast or describe himself with superlatives.
On Stirtz, he said, “He’s a really good player. We knew we had our hands full with him, so I just try to go out there and do what I do every game and if it’s for me to score the ball, then I’ll look to score the ball. But if I need to pass it, then do that. And tonight was more scoring so I just tried to do that.”
Wagler walked back to the locker room clutching his NCAA nameplate, which he said he intends to frame. As soon as he walked through the wooden double doors to the locker room, hands reached out from all sides to clap him on the back and offer handshakes. Wagler accepted and acknowledged each gesture with a nod or a high-five, all the while never breaking his stride.
He’s back to being just another kid with a basketball and a dream, until the next game, when he will become whatever Illinois needs him to be.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Keaton Wagler was unheralded recruit. Now, he has Illinois in Final Four
Pistons beat the Timberwolves 109-87 to strengthen hold on East’s top seed
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tobias Harris led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points on Saturday as the Detroit Pistons strengthened their hold on the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 109-87 victory over the injury-riddled Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jalen Duren had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won nine of their last 11 games. They began the day with a four-game lead over Boston in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
Five other Pistons scored at least 10 points, led by Daniss Jenkins and Ronald Holland II with 13 apiece.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) missed his sixth straight game. The Timberwolves also played without starting forward Jaden McDaniels (right knee soreness) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness).
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung) also missed his sixth straight game.
Donte DiVincenzo hit five 3-pointers and led Minnesota with 22 points. Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who shot a season-low 32% (27 for 85) from the floor and 21% (9 for 43) from beyond the arc.
SPURS 127, BUCKS 95
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Stephon Castle had a triple-double with 22 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds as hot-shooting San Antonio steamrolled Milwaukee for its eighth consecutive victory.
Castle was one of seven players to score in double figures for the Spurs, who have won 13 of their last 14 to move within two games of the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings.
Victor Wembanyama added 23 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. San Antonio never trailed and shot 55.1% (49 of 89).
Milwaukee’s loss eliminated the Bucks from playoff contention, snapping their streak of nine consecutive postseason appearances. The Bucks have lost nine of their last 11 games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out a sixth straight game for Milwaukee with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. The Bucks also were missing Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee), Bobby Portis (left wrist sprain), Kyle Kuzma (Achilles tendinopathy), Gary Harris (personal reasons) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (left calf).
Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points to lead the Bucks.
San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell scored 16 points each. Dylan Harper added 14, De’Aaron Fox 12 and Julian Champagnie 11.
76ERS 118, HORNETS 114
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 29 points, Paul George finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds and Philadelphia rallied from 13 points down in the second half for a win over Charlotte Hornets.
With its fourth win in five games, Philadelphia extended its lead over Charlotte to two games in the race for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Tyrese Maxey returned to the Sixers’ starting lineup and added 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The All-Star guard had been sidelined since March 7 due to a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger.
Brandon Miller hit five 3-pointers and finished with 29 points and eight rebounds for Charlotte, which had its five-game winning streak halted. LaMelo Ball pitched in with 20 points and eight assists, and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Charlotte led 36-25 after the first quarter. Philadelphia’s 39-point second quarter cut the lead to 69-64 at halftime. Embiid led all scorers with 21 points in the first half, while Maxey added 17. Miller led Charlotte with 18 points in the opening periods.
HAWKS 123, KINGS 113
ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 27 points and Atlanta shot 8 of 12 on 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to survive a late surge from Sacramento to win for coach Quinn Snyder’s 500th career victory.
Jalen Johnson had 26 points and 10 assists and Jock Landale had 19 points and 13 rebounds to help Atlanta to its 15th win in its last 17 games. It was Johnson’s 44th double-double of the season and Landale’s first since his debut with Atlanta on Feb. 5.
The Kings, who have lost their first three games of a four-game road trip, fell to 19-56. DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 22 points. Maxime Raynaud had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
After a back-and-forth first half during which Atlanta trailed by as many as seven points, the Hawks went on a 26-8 run in the final 5:54 of the second quarter to lead 66-54 at halftime. Atlanta held its lead the entire third quarter.
But Sacramento bounced back to tie it at 97 with 7:56 left. The Hawks went on a 26-16 run to end the game, with 18 of those points coming on 3-pointers.
GRIZZLIES 125, BULLS 124
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Cedric Coward scored 24 points, including a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds left, and had nine rebounds and Memphis outlasted Chicago.
After Coward’s free throws, Josh Giddey made two foul shots with 4 seconds left to pull Chicago within one point. The Bulls had a chance to win after the Grizzlies turned over the ensuing inbound pass, but couldn’t get a shot off in time.
Tyler Burton finished with 18 points and Jahmai Mashack added 17 as Memphis snapped a five-game losing streak.
Matas Buzelis led Chicago with 29 points and Collin Sexton had 26 in a reserve role. Giddey had 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his 13th triple-double of the season for the Bulls, who have lost three straight.
SUNS 134, JAZZ 109
PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 31 points, Devin Booker had 26 and Phoenix routed Utah.
Grayson Allen added 19 points, Oso Ighodaro scored 13 and Khaman Maluach had 12 and nine rebounds for the Suns, who had lost six of their previous seven games. The win moved Phoenix within 3 1/2 games of sixth-place Houston, the last position to stay out of the Western Conference play-in round.
Neither Green nor Booker played in the fourth quarter as the Suns cruised to the victory.
Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski each scored 26 points for the Jazz, who lost their fifth in a row, seventh straight on the road and 10th of their last 11 overall. Svi Mykhailuk scored 14 points and Ace Bailey had all of his 13 points in the second half. Kennedy Chandler had 11 points and eight assists for Utah.
The Suns used a 21-2 run in the first quarter to open up a 37-17 lead. Green had 11 points in the quarter, making three of Phoenix’s eight 3-pointers in the period.
Phoenix posted its biggest halftime lead of the season at 73-45, led by Green’s 20 points.
Finally! Arizona blitzes Purdue in second half, reaches first Final Four since 2001
SAN JOSE, CA — Arizona’s drought is over.
The No. 1 seeded Wildcats continued their March Madness run with a 79-64 comeback win over No. 2 seed Purdue in the Elite Eight, advancing to its first Final Four in 25 years.
It was a back-and-forth opening to the game with both sides trading punches, but Purdue jumped ahead thanks to a run just before halftime to take a seven-point lead, the first time the Wildcats had trailed in the NCAA Tournament.
While it sounded the alarms of the heavy Arizona presence and brought up trauma of March past, it wasn’t a position that scared these ‘Cats. This season, they were 5-0 when trailing at halftime.
Make it 6-0.
Arizona came out with a sense of urgency out of the locker room, and Purdue couldn’t maintain its hot shooting. A 16-3 run gave the Wildcats the lead back, which they held the rest of the way as they overwhelmed Purdue down the stretch.
The Wildcats outscored the Boilermakers 48-26 in the final 20 minutes, shooting 51.6% from the field in that time while Purdue had a 32.1% mark, making just one 3-pointer at the very end after hitting seven in the first half.
Four Arizona starters were in double figures, led by 20 points from Koa Peat, who was named the West Region most outstanding player.
Finally, Arizona has broken the March curse that hovered over the program for the majority of the 21st century with one of the most impressive runs of the tournament so far, winning all four games by more than 10 points.
Last appearing in the Final Four in 2001 under the great Lute Olsen, the Wildcats had fallen short of reaching the stage every time since then despite being one of the winningest programs in the country. Arizona had lost six consecutive Elite Eight appearances, with two of them as a No. 1 seed.
While the Wildcats have featured several NBA stars over the years that had championship potential, this well-balanced unit was the one to end the spell. All it took was winning a program-record 36 games to do it.
Purdue will be returning home to Indiana, except not to play in nearby Indianapolis, denied of reaching its second Final Four in three years after starting the season the No. 1 team in the country.
Now that the Boilermakers won’t win their first national championship and the last team from Indiana remaining, it guarantees a team won’t win the title in its home state, which hasn’t happened since UCLA won in San Diego in 1975.
The loss also keeps an unfortunate March streak intact, with Purdue now 0-10 all-time against No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
Boilermakers guard Braden Smith ends his career as the NCAA all-time assist leader with 1,103 career dimes.
Instead, Arizona now heads to Indianapolis, a city synonymous with its history as it is where it won the lone national championship in 1997. The Wildcats will play the winner of Michigan and Tennessee in the national semifinals, with a chance to add a second championship.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona basketball beats Purdue in Elite 8, advances to 2026 Final Four
Doc Rivers bemoans injuries after Bucks are eliminated from NBA playoff race
The Milwaukee Bucks have officially been eliminated from NBA playoff contention for the 2025-26 season.
The franchise had not missed the playoffs since the 2015-16 season but will now instead land in the NBA draft lottery.
Center Myles Turner and the Bucks fell to 29-44 on the season after losing 127-95 to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Milwaukee is 11th in the Eastern Conference standings as of Saturday afternoon.
“It's been disappointing, obviously,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “Since I've been here, I haven't had a healthy stretch and it's been your key guys. It's been (Giannis Antetokounmpo). It's been (former Bucks guard Damian Lillard). And you hope you can play through that, but we just haven't had the ability.”
The Bucks waived Lillard before the season, and the team has been playing chunks of this season without Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo has not played since March 15, and the team has won just one of its last six games in the absence of its star player.
Rivers added that he believes his team is playing at a deficit with "only one quote-unquote star" while "every other team has two and three."
The team made additions to the roster, acquiring Turner in the offseason, in an attempt to produce a winner, but the team continued to be plagued by injuries this season.
"We needed health," Rivers said. "We were thin. We knew that before the season started, and it just didn't go our way. All the talk and all that stuff probably didn't help, either."
"The talk" was presumably alluding to Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise. The team officially out of the playoff picture will only fuel more speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future with the team.
Bucks co-owner and governor Wes Edens told ESPN that the Bucks will likely pursue one of just two outcomes regarding Antetokounmpo this offseason: either the team will sign the star to another extension, or he will be traded. Antetokounmpo is eligible for a contract extension on Oct. 1.
Rivers has tried to see the silver linings this season, starting with some of the younger players on the roster, including Ryan Rollins, Pete Nance and Ousmane Dieng.
Rivers also credited Bobby Portis for his effort in a leadership role this season.
“He's been a pro throughout this year,” Rivers said. “We had a great talk today about it before the game. I'm just so proud of him as a leader. He tries to do the right stuff.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Doc Rivers bemoans injuries after Bucks eliminated from NBA playoffs
Sixers Bell Ringer: Stars shine bright to pull out big win over Hornets
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22
VJ Edgecombe – 12
Joel Embiid – 10
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 traveled to Charlotte for a Saturday evening tilt with the red-hot Hornets.
For the first time since January, the Sixers had their full complement of players available as Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr both returned to the lineup following extended absences. The Sixers entered tonight’s contest in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, just one game up on the eighth-place Hornets and also just one game back of the fifth-place Toronto Raptors and a half game back of the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks.
Joel Embiid picked up where he left off against Chicago in the first quarter of this one. Embiid led the Sixers with 14 first-quarter points. No other Sixer had more than four points in the opening frame. The Sixers struggled to contain the Hornets’ attack as they knocked down six threes in the first. The Hornets were led by Brandon Miller, who put in 16 first-quarter points. Charlotte led 36-25 after one.
The Sixers fought back, winning the second quarter 39-33. Embiid led all scorers with 21 points at the half. Embiid was joined in double figures by Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, who put in 17 and 12 points, respectively, in the first half. The Sixers trailed 69-64 at the halftime break.
There was zero separation in the third quarter as the teams tied 28-28 in the period. George’s eight points in the third put him up to 20 for the game. The Hornets continued to kill the Sixers on the offensive glass as they had for the entirety of the first half. Charlotte led 97-92 after three.
The Sixers’ stars shined bright in the fourth quarter to give the Sixers their first lead of the night and ultimately the win. They held the Hornets to 17 fourth-quarter points. Maxey, George and Embiid all made timely shots and stops down the stretch to get the Sixers over the finish line for a 118-114 victory.
Time for the Bell Ringer.
Joel Embiid: 29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 8-for-19 from the field
Embiid did most of his work in this one in the first half as he had 21 points at the intermission. Embiid’s massive block down the stretch on a Brandon Miller corner three in the final seconds helped propel the Sixers over the finish line. Embiid has continued to flash his defensive prowess as the year has gone on after a slow start on that end early in the season.
Tyrese Maxey: 26 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 10-for-18 shooting, 3-for-4 from three
Welcome back, Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers’ star guard returned to the lineup and continued to add to his All-Star campaign, stuffing the stat sheet and sharpshooting as is common practice for him. Maxey was a handful in transition all night for the Hornets as his speed allowed him to get to the rim and finish with an array of different finishes. Maxey’s massive slam over Miles Bridges early in the fourth quarter helped spark a Sixers run and momentum they would carry through the end of the contest.
Paul George: 26 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 9-for-19 from the field
Paul George is looking as good as he ever has in a Sixers uniform since his return from his league mandated suspension. George’s work on the glass was big in this contest as the Hornets gave the Sixers issues on the boards for a majority of this one. George hunting threes is a welcomed sight for the Sixers, who will need him to consistently be around that 20 points per game mark if they want to make a run in the postseason. George’s defense continues to be high level and makes a glaring difference with him in the lineup.
The veteran forward has also been more aggressive going to the rim than we have really seen him be in his Sixers tenure. Paul George as a three-level scorer and high-volume three-point shooter adds a completely different element to this Sixers team and raises both their floor and ceiling significantly.