NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Cam Gillus, Ose Okojie and Bryce Harris all scored 14 points, and top-seeded Howard opened the second half with a decisive run to beat No. 3 seed North Carolina Central 70-63 on Wednesday, claiming the MEAC title and a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Howard (23-10) led 26-23 at halftime before breaking the game open down the stretch. The Bison opened the second half on a 15-1 run, turning a three-point lead into a 41-24 advantage with 16:18 remaining and did not trail the rest of the way.
The Bison, who have won two of the last three MEAC Tournament titles, got 14 points apiece from Gillus, Okojie and Harris. Cedric Taylor III added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Harris finished with 10 rebounds.
N.C. Central (14-18) spent the rest of the half trying to recover and got within six points several times, including 58-52 after a 3-pointer by Dionte Johnson with 4:19 left. Howard answered each push and closed the game at the free-throw line.
Johnson led the Eagles with 14 points and seven rebounds. Gage Lattimore added 12 points, Kelechi Okworogwo scored 11 and Jae Slack had 11 off the bench.
Howard made 27 of 35 free throws, while North Carolina Central committed 13 turnovers.
Up Next
Howard claimed an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament, which begins Tuesday with the First Four. They await their matchup and seeding, which will be revealed on Sunday.
The epic finishes that makes this such a great time in college basketball are already happening, with the latest example coming in the Big Ten tournament. The semifinal matchup between Michigan and Wisconsin was setting up for an epic finish, with the Badgers pulling off a furious comeback to make it a tie game at 65-65 with under 30 seconds left.
The Wolverines had the final possession and for a moment, it didn't look like much was materializing. That was until Elliot Cadeau found Yaxel Lendeborg behind the arc, and he showed why he's the Big Ten Player of the Year.
Lendeborg drilled a 3-pointer with less than a second left to get a 68-65 lead as the Michigan crowd inside United Center erupted.
YAXEL GIVES MICHIGAN THE LEAD IN THE FINAL SECOND!
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 14, 2026
Wisconsin was unable to hit the miracle heave as Michigan avenged a loss from the regular season. It provided an exclamation mark on what was a rather quiet afternoon for Lendeborg, who finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
But all was redeemed when he hit what play-by-play commentator Ian Eagle called a "triple Yaxel."
"I live for those moments. I've always dreamed of hitting a shot like that, so today was my moment to hit a shot like that, and I did," Lendeborg said on the CBS broadcast.
The win advanced the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship game against the winner of Purdue vs. UCLA on Sunday, March 15, as Michigan closes in on a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 14: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just when you thought they’d win a game in a manner you could feel good about.
The Sixers survived blowing a 28-point lead to the tanking Brooklyn Nets Saturday afternoon, escaping with a 104-97 win.
They are 36-31 and now a half game up on the Atlanta Hawks for the East’s eighth seed.
Quentin Grimes led all scorers with 28 points and eight rebounds shooting 10-of-22 from the floor.
VJ Edgecombe had a solid first half, captaining the offense to put up 16 points and seven assists shooting 6-of-13 from the floor. Justin Edwards continued his solid play of late with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Danny Wolf led the Nets with 15.
Joel Embiid (oblique strain), Tyrese Maxey (finger strain), Paul George (suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain), Jabari Walker (illness), Johni Broome (meniscus tear) and Andre Drummond (back spasms) were all out for Philadelphia. The Nets were down five players including Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Demin.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
A much better start for Edgecombe who finished a couple early fast breaks with cutting dunks. His first turnaround jumper in the midrange fell as well before the second rimmed out. Dominick Barlow also started well with a couple of drives after erasing a Nolan Traore layup attempt.
VJ Edgecombe into double digits early with 10 points on 5-for-7 FG shooting so far in Q1 pic.twitter.com/BrHIOgX3yq
Edwards has also had some momentum as of late. He had a jumper just rim out as well but had success going to the basket early too. The Nets looked every bit like a high lottery team in March. They gave it away four times early and took nearly eight minutes to crack double-digit points.
Yet another near-poster from Edgecombe, who was just a bit too hard on his attempt to turn poor Josh Minott into dust. His teammates gave him quite a hard time for not being successful, including a big thumbs down from Maxey that was shown on the big screen. Trendon Watford became the latest Sixer able to drive to the basket with relative ease, helping them get out to a 10-point lead.
VJ Edgecombe couldn't quite complete what would have been his third huge slam of the game already… and Tyrese Maxey gave him a thumbs down 😂 pic.twitter.com/vw5Pz7ua8i
It was another shift for Watford that was all over the place. He picked up two quick fouls and a silly technical foul. On top of the baskets he got for himself he had a couple decent actions with Cam Payne. Payne breathed some life into this one by actually being blessed to hit a three-pointer. The bounce pass he hit Watford with on a roll was nice as well.
The Sixers could have messed around a lot and still got out to a 20-point lead with how this Nets team was playing. This sequence below is evidence that they did not have to be at their sharpest. After knocking down a three on their first possession of the second the Nets would go another five minutes before scoring another field goal.
Cam Payne comes up with the steal, misses the pass in transition but makes up for it with another three! pic.twitter.com/UruRzl2C8S
The action was so ugly that Ben Saraf slipped and fell, completely wiping out Dalen Terry as he was trying to make a fast break layup. Terry landed on his shoulder, split his free throws, and drove to the basket a few moments later so it would seem no harm was done. The Sixers took a 22-point lead into the break after the Nets put up 31 points in the half. Brooklyn had more turnovers in the first half (14) than made field goals (11).
Third Quarter
The early third quarter surge from the opponent in this one was just the Nets making a couple of threes — the Sixers were able to withstand that. Edwards had another bout of aggression, scoring six of the Sixers’ first eight points coming out of the half, again walking into the shots he wanted. Those two points he wasn’t responsible for came from a fast break that started with his steal.
Justin Edwards really heating up now, hitting back-to-back jumpers and leading the Sixers with 14 points pic.twitter.com/cEdzsX2NsU
There were some moments where he could have looked for his own shot more, but it was fun to see Edgecombe play a relaxed, controlled game as the lead ball-handler. The only mistake he made halfway through the third was an ambitious cross court outlet pass that was picked off.
The Sixers did look like their regular third quarter selves for a good stretch. They had three ugly turnovers and smoked multiple layups. Edgecombe was also dealing with something at the end of the quarter after getting hit on the head on a drive but didn’t seem to need much medical attention for it on the bench. The best the Nets were able to do with all of that was cut the Sixers’ lead to 21.
Fourth Quarter
Credit to Brooklyn’s pressure because it had proved disruptive. The Sixers didn’t look very capable of scoring with Edgecombe on the bench. A very up-and-down Grimes performance was a big factor in that. It took over three minutes for the Sixers to get their first field goal of the fourth when Grimes drove for a dunk.
It’d be very hard to believe with how this game started, but Brooklyn’s three-point shooting surpassed the Sixers, who hadn’t hit one since the second quarter. Good shooters like Payne and Grimes were cold, but that’s the problem with the roster, they can’t afford the shooters they do have to have bad nights. As the Nets continued to heat up they had cut the lead all the way down to seven halfway through the fourth.
Brooklyn continued to rain down threes as the Sixers continued to try to barrel through double teams unsuccessfully on their end. The Nets took their first lead of the game with a little over three minutes remaining.
It was another reckless drive into two defenders, but Adem Bona was able to draw a foul and retake the lead at the line. Edwards finally got back to going to the rim for a layup. Grimes dribbled out plenty of possessions, but hit just enough midranges to put the game away. This team’s ability to make their wins feel bad as well is second to none.
TORONTO (AP) — Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored an equalizer in the 98th minute to recover a point for the New York Red Bulls in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday in Toronto’s home opener.
Toronto (2-1-1) broke through in the 43rd minute when Dániel Sallói finished from the center of the box after a pass from Djordje Mihailovic. Goalkeeper Luka Gavran helped preserve the lead before halftime, turning aside several early chances from the Red Bulls.
New York (2-1-1) controlled much of the match, holding 63.3% possession and finishing with an 18-12 advantage in shots and an 11-5 edge in corner kicks. Gavran kept Toronto in front throughout the second half with multiple saves as the Red Bulls pressed for an equalizer.
Toronto nearly doubled the lead in stoppage time, but Ethan Horvath denied Sallói to keep New York within reach.
Moments later, the Red Bulls found their breakthrough. Choupo-Moting scored in the eighth minute of added time to salvage the draw and extend New York’s unbeaten streak against Toronto to 14 matches (9 wins, 5 draws) dating back to 2019.
The match was the 45th all-time regular-season meeting between the clubs, with New York holding a 24-10-11 advantage.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 10: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket on Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Fiserv Forum on March 10, 2026 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. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker and SB Nation Reacts poll, we asked about the Bucks’ two centers, plus their closeness to the Pelicans in the lottery standings and Taurean Prince. Here are the highlights:
There’s close to an even split among our respondents on who should be seeing the lion’s share of minutes at the five. 52% think Myles Turner should be playing more (he’s averaging 27.5 MPG this year and just 22.7 MPG since the All-Star break) than Jericho Sims (17.7 and 24.5, respectively).
However, the numbers slightly skew the other way when considering end-of-game scenarios: 51% think Sims should be Milwaukee’s closing center.
The majority of fans polled (75%) don’t care about the Pelicans’ place in the lottery standings relative to the Bucks. Right now, New Orleans is a half-game away from rising out of sixth to seventh, while Milwaukee is a game ahead of ninth.
If the season ended today, the Bucks would receive the 10th overall pick 60.7% of the time in the draft lottery. 78% of voters would want Milwaukee to make that pick come June instead of trading it, either for star talent or future firsts.
Thanks again for voting! Check back on Tuesday for another slate of questions.
Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 4: Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on December 4, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards (16-49) at Boston Celtics (43-23) Saturday, March 14, 2026 6:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #67 Home Game #32 TV: NBCSB, MNMT2, NBA-TV Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 106.7 The Fan, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics host the Washington Wizards for the 3rd, and final, meeting between these two teams this season. The Celtics beat the Wizards 136-107 in Boston on November 5 and hey beat them 146-101 in Washington on December 4. The Celtics won the series 4-0 last season winning 1 game at home and 3 games on the road. The Celtics are 208-120 overall against the Wizards all time. They are 109-44 all time in games played in Boston. The Celtics have won their last 10 games against the Wizards.
The Wizards made significant changes at the trade deadline. They traded Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum to the Atlanta Hawks for Trae Young. They also traded Khris Middleton, Malachai Branham, Marvin Bagley III, and AJ Johnson to the Mavericks for Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy and Dante Exum. They then waived Dante Exum.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York , 3 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 5.5 games ahead of 5th place Orlando and 6th place Miami and 6.5 games ahead of 7th place Toronto. The Celtics are 28-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 21-10 at home and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 2 games. (The Pistons, Knicks, Cavs, and Raptors are playing as I write this so that may change.)
The Wizards are 14th in the East, 31 games behind 1st place Detroit, 17 games behind 10th place Charlotte, 11 games behind 11th place Milwaukee, 10.5 games behind 12th place Chicago, and half a game behind 13th place Brooklyn. They are 1.5 games ahead of 15th place Indiana. They are 11-30 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 5-27 on the road and 0-10 in their last 10 games. They are on a 10 game losing streak.
After this game at home against Washington, the Celtics will host Phoenix and Golden State. Then they will play one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.
The Wizards are playing in the 4th game of a 4 game road trip. After this, they will have a 4 game home stand where they will host Golden State, Detroit twice, and Oklahoma City. Then, they have a 5 game road trip through New York, Utah, Golden State, Portland and the LA Lakers. After one game at home against Philadelphia, they play at Miami and at Brooklyn.
Jayson Tatum missed Thursday’s game due to injury management for his Achilles. He is expected to play in this game. Derrick White also missed Thursday’s game with knee soreness and is probable for this game. Baylor Scheierman has been playing with a fractured thumb but is listed as probable for this game with ankle soreness. Nikola Vucevic remains out due to surgery on his injured finger.
For the Wizards, Anthony Davis is recovering from ligament damage in his left hand and, although he has been cleared for some individual on court activity, he is out for this game. Kyshawn George is out with a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow. Cam Whitmore is out for the season with a diagnosed venous condition. D’Angelo Russell has not played for the Wizards since he was traded but it is not injury related and he is not with the team. Sharife Cooper is questionable with an ankle injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Trae Young
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesTrae Young | Getty Images
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Tre Johnson
Baylor Scheierman | NBAE via Getty ImagesTre Johnson | Getty Images
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Bilal Coulibaly
Jaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty ImagesBilal Coulibaly | NBAE via Getty Images
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesAlex Sarr | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Sam Hauser 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga John Tonje Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out Derrick White (knee) probable Jayson Tatum (injury available Baylor Scheierman (ankle) probable Head Coach Joe Mazzulla Wizards Reserves Bub Carrington Anthony Gill Jaden Hardy Tristan Vukcevic Jamir Watkins Justin Champagnie 2-Way Players Leaky Black Sharife Cooper Juju Reese
Injuries/Out Sharife Cooper (ankle) questionable Anthony Davis (finger) out Kyshawn George (elbow) out D’Angelo Russell (not injury related) out Cam Whitmore (shoulder) out
Head Coach Brian Keefe
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Trae Young Young is averaging 18.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. He is shooting 43.9% from the field and 32.9% from beyond the arc. He has not played against the Celtics this season with the Hawks or with the Wizards. He has averaged 25.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 15 games against the Celtics in his career.
Neemias Queta vs Alex Sarr Sarr was the 2nd overall pick in last year’s draft and is playing well for the Wizards. He is averaging 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. He is shooting 49.9% from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc. In one game against the Celtics this season, he finished with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. The Celtics need to stay with him on defense and also keep hm off the boards as well as be aware of his ability to block shots. Honorable Mention Baylor Scheierman vs Tre Johnson Johnson is averaging 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He is shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.7% from beyond the arc. In one game against the Celtics this season, he finished with 7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist while shooting 40% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc,.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning games. The Celtics are now 5th with a defensive rating of 111.9. The Wizards are 29th with a defensive rating of 120.5. Although the Wizards have an offensive rating of 109.6 (27th), they can get hot at any time if they are not being defended. They beat the Pistons on the road and so the Celtics need to take them seriously and play lock down defense from start to finish and not allow them to get their offense going.
Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning. The Wizards are 23rd with 42.9 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 5th with 46.3 rebounds per game. They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds than the Wizards. Much of rebounding is effort as evidenced by Payton Pritchard being the shortest guy on the court most nights and averaging over 4 rebounds per game. Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Don’t Underestimate – The Wizards are next to last in the East and actively tanking. The Celtics can’t take the Wizards for granted, even though they beat them handily twice already this season. Even tanking teams want to beat the Celtics. The Wizards wins have come mostly against middle of the pack teams, but they did beat Detroit as well. The Celtics have to take the Wizards seriously and play hard.
Maximum Effort for 48 Minutes – Many of the Celtics losses this season can be traced back to a lack of effort. Also, at times it seems that they either start off slowly and end up in a hole that they need to dig themselves out of or they jump out to a lead only to let up in the second half and allow their opponent to get back into the game and make it close. The Celtics have to play hard on both ends of the court for the full 48 minutes with no let up.
X-Factors Home Game – The Celtics are once again at home. They should get a boost from the home crowd and from being in familiar surroundings. The Celtics need to have a sense of urgency at home to protect home court and not expect to win because the Wizards have been tanking. The Wizards will have to deal with travel, staying in a hotel, and a hostile crowd and hopefully that will give the Celtics the advantage.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. Some favor the home team. Some favor the road team. Some just make bad, head scratching calls as we have seen many times. The ejection of Jaylen Brown and the foulcalled with .8 left against the Thunder are examples of how officiating can be an x-factor. The Celtics need to adjust to the way the refs call the game and not let bad calls and no calls take them out of the game or affect their focus.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 31: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets guards Harrison Barnes #40 of the San Antonio Spurs during their game at Spectrum Center on January 31, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
Today is an auspicious day, as it’s π day, and also Albert Einstein’s birthday, who entered this world on March 14, 1879. It’s also the final game of the current six game home stand, as the Spurs face the Charlotte Hornets, who previously defeated the Spurs 111-106 on January 31, just before the Silver and Black’s undefeated February run of 11 straight wins. San Antonio is coming off of a tough loss to the Nuggets, who used an unstoppable offensive surge from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic to take over the game in the fourth quarter. The Spurs had incredible offensive efforts from Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, but without Victor Wemanyama to anchor the defense, they just couldn’t get enough stops to hold on late. Some might say that the Spurs ran out of gas, but the fact is that the Nuggets kept their foot on the gas pedal, and they outran the home team late to take the win.
Victor is listed as questionable for today’s game, and Dylan Harper is a little banged up with a calf contusion. The Hornets have been one of the league’s hottest teams in 2026, and shoot and make a lot of three points shots. Kon Knueppel is having a terrific rookie season, and is shooting 44% on three-point shots, so the Spurs will have to keep an eye on him. This is just the kind of team that gives the Spurs defense fits, so the Spurs can’t afford to let down after the emotional letdown from Thursday night’s contest. Stephon Castle’s defense will be key for this game, and Castle must dominate Ball. The Spurs always seem a little out of sorts for these early afternoon games, so it’s probably a good idea to have coffee in the locker room before the game. Let’s GOOO Spurs!!
Game Prediction:
Victor Wembanyama will surprise the team with a selection of pies in the locker room for PI day. The game will be slightly delayed due to blueberry stains of some of the players’ jerseys.
San Antonio Spurs vs Charlotte Hornets March 14, 2026 | 2:30 PM CT Streaming: FanDuel Sports Southwest, Prime TV: FanDuel Sports Southwest, Prime Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Big Baby hopefully, has done some growing up following a stint in prison.
Glen Davis, who played for three NBA teams over eight seasons in the league, was released this week from prison 17 months into a 40-month sentence for his part with several other former players in defrauding the league’s health insurance plan.
“They tried to hold me down. You know what I’m saying?” the 40-year-old Davis, a member of the Celtics’ 2008 championship team, declared earlier this week in a video posted to X. “But I’m back, man. I’m back, baby.”
Davis, 40, was among two dozen former players, also including former Lakers player Andrew Bynum, and doctors convicted in a Manhattan court in November 2023 of cheating the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan out of more than $5 million over a four-year span for submitting bogus medical and dental claims.
You & Diamond… Been playing gaaammmmeezzzz!! BIG BABY FREE!! WELCOME HOME KING KILO!! pic.twitter.com/R1CWkLLZsK
Glen ‘Big Baby” Davis was released from prison. @RealKrisDLofton
The start of his sentence was initially delayed several months so he could complete a documentary he was working on to help pay some of the $80,000 in fines and restitution associated with this case.
Davis still faces time in a halfway house and three years of probation as part of his early release
Boston Celtics center Glen Davis (11) celebrates after making a free throw late in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Hornets during the second half of their NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Louisiana March 19, 2011. REUTERS
“He used his time productively while serving his sentence and took many programs during that time,” attorney Brendan White told The Athletic.
“He’s ready to become a productive member of society again.”
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales tasted Six Nations success for the first time in 1,099 days after blowing away Italy 31-17 in Principality Stadium on Saturday.
The growing confidence from spirited losses against Scotland and Ireland spilled over into an unexpected and dominant bonus-point win, Wales' first in the championship since March 2023 when it beat Italy in Rome.
Wales was physical, direct and ruthless, leading 21-0 by halftime then 31-0 before Italy scored.
“That performance has been coming,” Wales coach Steve Tandy told broadcaster the BBC. “We've focused on not getting ahead of ourselves and making sure each part of our game improves. But the intent was there from the start from this young group. They’re desperate to learn and get better whether they win or lose. Their effort is amazing.”
Their scramble defense was also amazing as Italy had two tries disallowed, one held up, and another prevented by an ankle tap.
While Wales ended the nightmare of a national record 15-match losing streak in the Six Nations, it finished with a third consecutive wooden spoon.
“Not ideal to finish bottom of the table but everyone can see we're growing and moving in the right direction,” Wales No. 8 and player of the match Aaron Wainwright said. “The way we started today and hung in there shows how far we've come.”
Italy equaled its best Six Nations finish — fourth in 2007 and 2013 — but it wanted more, an historic third win in a single championship after beating Scotland and England. However, the Azzurri were smashed in the first half, and ultimately missed 30 tackles.
“We gave away too many penalties, too many times in their 22. ... We lost a lot of energy to try and max the energy Wales were giving,” Italy captain Michele Lamaro told ITV. “In the end it was too late. The first half cost us.”
Wales made the eight first-half penalties count.
A kick-chase penalty earned by workaholic winger Ellis Mee was booted into the corner and Wainwright crashed over. Despite lineout issues, Wales used the platform again to drive at the line for a second Wainwright try.
Another lineout drive finished with captain Dewi Lake touching down. With Dan Edwards a perfect four-of-four off the tee and nine-for-nine in the tournament, Wales was a deserved 21-0 up after 29 minutes.
They resumed from the second half kickoff. Edwards slanted through a tired defense, converted his try and chipped a drop goal for a scarcely believable 31-0 lead.
Italy ruled the last 30 minutes. But Wales still made it tough for the visitor.
Paolo Garbisi and replacements Tommaso Di Bartolomeo and Tommaso Allan dotted down for Italy but Wales' defense shone.
Mee held up hooker Giacomo Nicotera and made a try-saving tackle on opposite wing Monty Ioane, Edwards ankle-tapped Tommaso Menoncello when the midfielder looked like he was away, Tomos Williams stopped Allan on the tryline, and James Botham's sliding hip ruined a chance for Leonardo Marin.
“Those tries were not tries because (Wales) didn't give up,” Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada said. “The will was bigger for them. Their heart and physicality they put out there was stronger than ours, at least in the first half. That first half defined the game.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
During LA’s current homestand, they’ve faced some of the toughest competition in the league. They responded impressively, earning results over the Knicksand Wolves. Even more surprising is that they won these games while LeBron James was out.
LA winning and Austin Reaves playing better in James’ absence led people to speculate that this team is better when James is unavailable.
While narratives like that can be exhausting to hear when the main takeaway should’ve been that the Lakers are playing well, everyone wanted to see what they would look like upon LeBron’s return. On Thursday, the answer came as James joined LA in their contest against the Bulls.
The result was the Lakers winning dominantly. LeBron was part of a starting lineup that scored 137 points, the most by a starting unit in a regular season game since the 1970-71 season.
After the game, Redick talked about LeBron’s willingness to take on whatever role benefits the team.
“LeBron and I, we talked, we had a great conversation over the last couple days,” Redick said. “I think again, he wants to do everything possible to help this team win. He understands the importance of making sure Luka and AR can be at their best. That’s incredible of him. It speaks a lot to just how much he cares about this team and his teammates and how much he wants to win.”
Throughout his career, LeBron has always been a team-based player. On the floor, he makes the right play even if it means he doesn’t take the last shot. So, of course, he’s willing to take a backseat to Luka Dončić and even Reaves if it means the team’s play is more optimized by him doing so. After the win over the Bulls, LeBron talked about how he did it against them.
“I’m able to adapt to whatever needs from the team,” LeBron said. “With Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber being out, two of our really good screen setters, Jaxson being one of our best rollers, that’s a void that I could put myself in to help the team while Jaxson and Maxi are out. Just try to do that.
“Allowing AR and Luka to continue on the things that they’ve been doing. Obviously, ball handling, scoring, pick-and-roll play. Trying to help on the glass. I mean, I’m always past the ball, so I’m not worried about that. Also trying to be a little more active.”
The idea that the Lakers are actually better without LeBron was always ridiculous. This season, LeBron is still an All-Star and averaging 21.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and seven assists per game. At worst, he’s the third best Laker and no team improves when a player of that level is out.
The main thing to figure out is how to make three players who are best with the ball in their hands work well together as a unit. Against the Bulls, we saw signs of what that can look like.
LeBron had seven assists, did more offensive work inside the post and shot less than Dončić or Reaves.
While Chicago is one of the weaker teams in the NBA, the process the Lakers took toward success with their big three can be replicated against many teams.
Overall, there is still work for the Lakers to do, but with LeBron embracing any role that’s needed, they should be able to figure out how to optimize their roster.
And if they do that, they’ll enter the playoffs as a Western Conference team with homecourt advantage in the opening round. All things considered, that’s a great place to be in.
The jump that Thomas Haugh has made from last year cannot be overlooked. With the transfers of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee to Florida the hopes of a back-to-back National Championship run were at an all-time high, and with the departures of Will Richard, Alijah Martin, and Walter Clayton Jr. to the NBA there was certainly a need for someone to step up into the roles that were left behind. I’m not sure that many people would have suspected that Thomas would be the guy after his season last year, but he proved us all wrong.
Tale of the Tape
Team: Florida Gators
Position: Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 215 lbs
Counting Stats: 17 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2 APG, 1.1 Steals Per Game, 1 Block Per Game
Shooting Splits: 46.4 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 76.4 FT%
Hardware/Honors: First-Team All-SEC, Potential All-American Team Selection (?)
Triumphs
The jump from year to year should not be overlooked. Haugh had a perfectly respectable 2024-2025 campaign, but to be asked to carry so much more responsibility AND deliver should be praised. Last year during Florida’s NCAA Championship season he averaged nearly 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game on decent shooting splits. He didn’t have many opportunities (only shot 6 times per game on average) but when he did get a chance he made it count.
Now when you compare that to this year, it is almost night and day. He added seven points to his scoring average, nearly doubled his shot attempts, sacrificed very little in efficiency (at least for his standards), and was able to step up on the defensive end as well. Not everyone that gets a green light can stay close to their previous efficiency numbers but Thomas was able to do that.
The counting stats look great but what’s going to get him to the league and keep him there is his ability to play without the ball. When we usually see these kinds of scoring jumps it’s because the ball is constantly in their hands but that hasn’t been the case this year. Lee and Fland still command a lot of the touches so Haugh has been able to take this leap by doing more of what he did well last year: off-ball cutting and rim-running.
Haugh has never seen a 45 cut he hasn’t liked and he is constantly running with his guys in transition. When Florida is in the half court set he also does a great job of relocating. You’ll see a few times in the video above where a Florida player will get a post touch and before you know it their dumping the ball off to Haugh who was in completely different position than he was at the start of the play. Taking advantage of the defense like this and being deceptive would be a welcome addition to any team in the association. Shooting nearly 63% around the rim doesn’t hurt either.
Shortcomings
Truthfully, there aren’t many shortcomings for Thomas other than a very glaring one; his shooting touch. He’s a great off-ball cutter, a good downhill attacker, and the percentages show that: he’s shooting nearly 91% on his dunk attempts and 63% around the rim that we just mentioned. Everything outside of that range? Could use some work.
Just looking at the 46.4 FG% you could say to yourself “yeah, that’s not very efficient, but he can work on it.” It gets a little worse when you realize that he’s shooting 32.4% from 2-point range that isn’t at the rim. Midrange shots are difficult (believe me I’m on a horrific midrange run at my local park) but in today’s NBA it’s vital to be accurate in your shot attempts, especially if you aren’t going to be the 1A, 1B, or 1C kind of guy.
His three point shooting, again, looks respectable on paper. On 5 attempts a game 33% is decent, but these are WIDE open shots he’s taking. Like, lick your finger and check the wind type of open. There’s a very good chance that he will get these same kind of looks in the NBA during his first few years, but depending on where he gets drafted there’s a chance that his coach won’t allow him to shoot through his mistakes and slumps. There is a silver lining in all of this and it’s that his shooting mechanics seem really solid. I’m not sure that he’ll ever be a 40% guy from deep but I also don’t think he’ll ever be any worse than league average once he get’s his footing in the NBA.
Is He Worth The Pick?
At the end of the day I do think that Thomas Haugh is going to be a very serviceable role player in the NBA. Will he be an All-Star? I doubt it. Will he be an elite 3-and-D guy? Elite might be stretching it. I do think that he has the intangibles to have a long career, though. He’s already played with NBA caliber players in a role player capacity. He’s been able to taste a bit of that “star player” role this year for the Gators, and now that he has a chance to be a first round draft pick I think he’ll be able to fall back into that role player mold very well.
For the Jazz specifically, we are in the midst of finding our role players for the future. A lot can be said about the play of guys like Elijah Harkless, Blake Hinson, and Brice Sensabaugh. I still believe in all of their futures but I know that the fanbase is split. The real question is how does the front office feel about them?
The way our first round pick is protected this year is if it falls between 1-8 we get to keep it, and if it falls after 8 it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder (of course it does). If our pick lands in the top 3 I think there is a very clear hierarchy we need to adhere by to find our next “Face of the Franchise.” If it falls between 4-8, I also think that there are better prospects we could select from because this draft class seems to be so deep. With that being said, I don’t think that it would be wise for us to take Thomas Haugh at 8 when we could have someone else with a bit more upside.
So much of your early career is dependent on where and who you get drafted to, and I think that Haugh would be best served to be drafted by a team that is ready to compete right now or in the near future: the San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, and the Charlotte Hornets come to mind. If we had another first round pick this year around the 12-20 range I would LOVE it if we could snag him, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for us unless our front office can make some magic happen after the season is over.
So is he worth the pick? I think so… just not for us. Just don’t be surprised when he’s an impact player for a Playoff team soon.
What kind of career do you think Thomas Haugh will have? Do you think Florida can repeat as NCAA Champions? Sound off in the comments!
ATLANTA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn't available for the Milwaukee Bucks' matchup with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, marking the 31st game the two-time MVP has missed this season.
Although Milwaukee's injury report initially had listed Antetokounmpo as questionable due to injury management of his right calf, the team later ruled him out because of a left ankle sprain.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said at his pregame availability that the issue stemmed from the Bucks’ 112-105 loss to Miami on Thursday night.
The Bucks are playing on back-to-back days; they return home to face the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played on consecutive days since returning on March 2 from a right calf strain.
This represents the highest total of games Antetokounmpo has missed in any season during his 13-year career.
LORIENT, France (AP) — Substitute striker Aiyegun Tosin scored the winner as second-placed Lens lost 2-1 at Lorient in the French league on Saturday, missing the chance to move back to the top of the standings.
With Paris Saint-Germain not playing this weekend, Lens had the chance to move two points clear with a win at mid-table Lorient.
But coach Pierre Sage's players struggled to get things going and were punished in the 18th minute when Bamba Dieng was left unmarked and scored from close range with a right-footed effort.
Following Odsonne Édouard's second-half equalizer, Tosin snatched three points for Lorient in the 65th minute, fluffing his initial attempt before rounding the Lens goalkeeper to score. Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo made five saves for the hosts.
PSG is off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday in order to give PSG better preparation for the Champions League second leg against Chelsea next week. PSG is leading 5-2 from the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Balogun scores again
American forward Folarin Balogun continued his excellent run of form as Monaco posted a fifth consecutive win. He broke the deadlock from close range before Aleksandr Golovin made it 2-0 against Brest.
Monaco moved up to fifth place. Balogun has 14 goals overall this season.
Elsewhere, Nice won 2-0 at Angers with goals from defender Melvin Bard and Elye Wahi. The striker, a France youth international, joined the Riviera club on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt this winter until the end of the season.
Third-placed Marseille won 1-0 against struggler Auxerre on Friday. The result left Marseille in third place, three points clear of Lyon, which plays at Le Havre on Sunday. Marseille was seven points behind Lens and eight adrift of PSG.
BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich came from behind and finished the match with nine players in a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, allowing Borussia Dortmund to close to within nine points of the Bundesliga leader.
Luis Díaz, who scored the equalizer following Aleix García's opener, was sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow card. Nicolas Jackson had received a red card in the 42nd minute.
Leverkusen took the lead in the sixth minute after Montrell Culbreath stole the ball off Díaz and fed it to Patrik Schick, who set up García on the edge of the box. The midfielder slotted home with a deflected shot.
The hosts defended well to contain Bayern's attempts to come back, and frustration showed when Jackson was sent off before halftime for a late challenge on Martin Terrier.
Bayern played with third-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich because Manuel Neuer has a calf issue and backup Jonas Urbig was concussed in the 6-1 win over Atalanta midweek in the Champions League. Ulreich denied an effort from Schick in a one-on-one situation at the hour mark just before Harry Kane came on.
Back from a calf injury, Kane played for the first time since Feb. 28 after scoring eight goals in his past four Bundesliga games. He fired the ball into an empty net in the 62nd minute but it was disallowed for blocking the goalkeeper's clearance with a hand in the buildup.
Diaz leveled in the 69th with a low shot from Michael Olise's precise setup. The Colombia winger later received a second yellow card for diving and Bayern was down to nine men with six minutes left to play. The hosts could not snatch the win despite pushing hard until the end as Jonas Hofmann had a goal ruled out deep in stoppage time.
Bayern hasn’t won at Leverkusen in the league since October 2021.
Dortmund beats Augsburg
Dortmund was in total control throughout the first half and Augsburg was lucky to trail by just one goal at halftime. Karim Adeyemi broke the deadlock in the 13th and had several other chances, hitting the woodwork twice. Luca Reggiani made it 2-0 in the 59th.
Hoffenheim, aiming to qualify for Champions League for first time since the 2018-19 season, stayed third — 17 points behind Bayern — after a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Wolfsburg. Eintracht Frankfurt beat Heidenheim 1-0 with a goal from Arnaud Kalimuendo.
The stars will be out in Hollywood as LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena tonight.
My Nuggets vs. Lakers predictions expect the visiting team to cover the spread, with Nikola Jokic picking apart the pitiful defense of Los Angeles.
Here are my free NBA picks for this powerhouse showdown on Saturday, March 14.
Nuggets vs Lakers prediction
Nuggets vs Lakers best bet: Nuggets -3 (-110)
DeAndre Ayton’s pitiful 117.1 defensive rating ranks 32nd among 40 centers averaging at least 27 minutes per game.
He won’t have any answer for the size and physicality of the Denver Nuggets' frontcourt, who will feast down low.
The Los Angeles Lakers lack quality defenders to throw at Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and a cast of capable 3-point shooters.
Expect plenty of drive-and-kick opportunities for Murray to feed teammates and some quality looks in the lane as Aaron Gordon and Jokic pull interior defenders out to the perimeter.
Denver has unlimited ways to score and pull away tonight.
Nuggets vs Lakers same-game parlay
Denver has played in plenty of high-scoring games, going 26-10 to the Over on the road. The Lakers are 20-14 to the Over at home, and will do their fair share of scoring against a Nuggets defense ranked 22nd.
Jokic has been so effective stuffing the stat sheet that his odds to record a triple-double are down at -150.
He’s recorded one in three straight, four of his last five, and six of his last 10. Joker has reached the statistical milestone in three straight head-to-head matchups, and he’s averaged 22.9 points, 13 rebounds, and 8.8 assists over his last 10 matchups against his pal Luka Doncic.
Nuggets vs Lakers SGP
Nuggets -3
Over 245.5
Nikola Jokic triple-double
Our "from downtown" SGP: Stars shine brightest
Luka Doncic recorded a 51/10/9 line in his last outing, narrowly missing a second straight triple-double. He’s got seven on the season, including one of two games against Denver.
I expect him to be at his best against a Nuggets team that ranks 23rd in defensive rating (119.9) across its last five games.
LeBron James returned from a three-game absence and went for 18/7/7 against the Chicago Bulls. He’s recorded two games with double-digit boards and 11 with double-digit dimes.
Double-doubles haven’t been easy to come by for King James, but Luka Doncic will need help to keep pace with the Nuggets’ top-rated offense.
Nuggets vs Lakers SGP
Nikola Jokic triple-double
Luka Doncic triple-double
LeBron James double-double
Nuggets vs Lakers odds
Spread: Nuggets -3 | Lakers +3
Moneyline: Nuggets -155 | Lakers +130
Over/Under: Over 245.5 | Under 245.5
Nuggets vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Denver Nuggets have hit the game total Over in 35 of their last 50 away games (+18.53 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Lakers.
How to watch Nuggets vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Nuggets vs Lakers latest injuries
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