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Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn could be one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA.

He's not only Los Angeles’ top perimeter defender, but the veteran guard has upped his offensive efforts over the past month, averaging almost 10 points per game in the Clippers' last 10 outings.

Los Angeles is a sizable home favorite against the Indiana Pacers tonight, and my Pacers vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks like Dunn to keep contributing on both ends of the floor.

Pacers vs Clippers prediction

Pacers vs Clippers best bet: Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points (-105)

As mentioned, Kris Dunn has been doing more on the offensive side since early February. 

He’s scored 8+ points in seven of the L.A. Clippers' past 10 games, including 16 points in the recent win over Golden State.

Dunn, who went 7-for-10 in just 26 minutes Monday, faces an Indiana Pacers team riding out a lost season. Indiana has dropped six straight showings and sits 27th in defensive rating over its last 10 outings.

Wednesday’s game will have a quicker tempo, with Indiana involved, and Dunn’s player projections range from 7.9 to 8.8 points.

Pacers vs Clippers same-game parlay

The Clippers are fighting to stay in the conversation for the play-in tournament while the Pacers are in full “tank mode”, sliding into L.A. on a six-game losing skid. Indiana is 1-9 SU and 4-6 ATS in non-conference road games.

Dunn is averaging almost 10 points over the last 10 games. His projections flirt with nine points versus a Pacers team trying to tank for a Top 3 pick.

Andrew Nembhard is seeing his playing time tick down with Indiana giving up on the season, and the guard is nursing a sore back. His projections are as low as 12.4 points tonight.

Pacers vs Clippers SGP

• Clippers -12.5
• Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points
• Andrew Nembhard Under 15.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Best Supporting Actors

In La La Land, you need a strong supporting cast. With the Clippers running away from the Pacers, I like L.A. to spread the love around to Dunn, Brook Lopez, and Kobe Sanders — all of whom are projected to top their scoring totals tonight.

Pacers vs Clippers SGP

• Clippers -12.5
• Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points
• Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
• Kobe Sanders Over 6.5 points

Pacers vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Pacers +12.5 | Clippers -12.5
• Moneyline: Pacers +500 | Clippers -700
• Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227

Pacers vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Pacers have only covered twice in the past 11 games since February 3. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Clippers.

How to watch Pacers vs Clippers

Pacers vs Clippers latest injuries

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Once again, the Western Conference playoff race is looking to be a tight one, and the Lakers are right in the thick of it.

With 21 games left to play, they sit at the No. 6 seed, but just a game and a half from the third spot. However, they are also just two games in front of the Phoenix Suns, who are currently a play-in team.

With home-court advantage or a play-in position, both realistic possibilities for Los Angeles, the way playoff seeding could be decided might very well come down to a tiebreaker situation.

Here is how seeding is decided in the event that two teams have an identical record at the end of the regular season, via NBA.com

TIEBREAKER BASIS FOR TWO-WAY TIES:

• (-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
• (1) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
• (2) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
• (3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
• (4) Conference won-lost percentage
• (5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff eligible teams, own conference
• (6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff eligible teams, other conference
• (7) Net Points, all games

With head-to-head being the first decider, let’s take a look at the tiebreaker situation between the Lakers and all teams they are currently competing with for a playoff spot.

Houston Rockets

The Lakers lost to the Rockets on Christmas Day, which is currently the only matchup the two teams have had. That’ll change later this month when LA heads to Houston for a pair of games. If the Lakers win both contests, they’ll own the tiebreaker.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Since the Lakers have beaten the Wolves twice and have just one game left against them, they have the season series secured. It’d be ideal to still beat Minnesota on Mar. 10, since it’ll help them in the standings race, but they have the advantage if they end up with the same record at the end of the year.

Denver Nuggets

Under Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have had success against the Nuggets. Last year, they split the season series 2-2, and this season, they’ve beaten Denver the only time they’ve played.

The Lakers have two games left against the Nuggets, so they need one more victory to gain the advantage over their Western Conference foe.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns already own the tiebreaker over the Lakers since they’ve won three of the four games they’ve played against them, and only one matchup remains.

Luckily, the Lakers are a couple of games ahead of the Suns in the standings. So, they’d better make sure they stay in front of Phoenix because they have the edge in a tiebreaker scenario.

Golden State Warriors

Considering that the Lakers are six games ahead of the Warriors and that Golden State is currently playing without Steph Curry, it’s very unlikely these teams will have the same record when it’s all said and done.

Currently, LA is ahead 2-1 in the season series, but they need to win the final matchup they have against the Warriors on Apr. 9 or else they’ll be even in head-to-head matchups on the year.

Even if LA loses this upcoming game, the Warriors would have to have a better record in the Pacific Division, since that’s the next tiebreaker. Currently, Golden State is 6-6 in the division, and the Lakers are 8-7, so LA has that edge for now.

Overall, the Lakers are in a good position in most tiebreaking situations. They have the advantage over the Wolves and can still win the tiebreakers over the Warriors, Nuggets and Rockets.

The only team they have lost the season series to already is the Suns, and they are a couple of games ahead of them in the standings.

If the Lakers win their upcoming games against these opponents, then they’ll be in control of their destiny and can be a top seed in the West. This late into the season, that’s the exact situation teams want to be in.

Now, it’s up to the purple and gold to go out there and execute and prove that they are, in fact, better than these teams.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The Milwaukee Bucks brought back Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it is fair to wonder to what end. The Atlanta Hawks are four games ahead in the standings for the final Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference, and that should become five games tonight.

My Hawks vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks will not put faith in Atlanta, but they will also not put faith in Giannis aside from crashing the glass on Wednesday, March 4.

Hawks vs Bucks prediction

Hawks vs Bucks best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds (+110)

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court on Monday, his first action since late January. The Milwaukee Bucks’ cornerstone struggled from the field, going 7-of-18 for 19 points, but he was still an asset.

Antetokounmpo’s 11 rebounds showed he’s still impacting the game despite being out of rhythm. That rhythm might take time to return, but those misses create more chances for him to crash the boards against the Atlanta Hawks.

Hawks vs Bucks same-game parlay

Antetokounmpo’s rhythm will struggle as long as he is on a minutes restriction, playing just 25 in his return.

Milwaukee’s three-game losing streak will also plague some of his play, as the Bucks have little incentive to win or stress their superstar.

Hawks vs Bucks SGP

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds
• Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 25.5 points
• Hawks moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Broken Bucks

Milwaukee has not cracked 100 points in its last three games, a trend that underscores that this roster is more broken than Antetokounmpo deserves.

Hawks vs Bucks SGP

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds
• Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 25.5 points
• Hawks moneyline
• Under 232.5

Hawks vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Hawks +1 (-110) | Bucks -1 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hawks -105 | Bucks -115
• Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-110) | Under 232.5 (-110)

Hawks vs Bucks betting trend to know

Milwaukee is 0-3 against the spread in its last three games, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by at least 20 points in each of those games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Bucks.

How to watch Hawks vs Bucks

Hawks vs Bucks latest injuries

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Nikola Jokic is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA today. He's even earned some top-ten all-time chatter in recent years. So, when Jokic's Denver Nuggets face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, defensive specialist Lu Dort's job is simple: make Jokic's life a living hell for 48 minutes.

On Friday, Feb. 27, Dort tried to do just that, but went overboard, hip-checking Jokic as he was coming up the court.

Lu Dort was ejected after appearing to trip Nikola Jokic on this play.

Nikola Jokic and Jaylin Williams both received technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/ZFyNHpigsM

— ESPN (@espn) February 28, 2026

Tempers flared. A fight broke out. And Dort was ejected.

Following Tuesday's win over the Chicago Bulls though, Dort was asked about the scuffle, to which he is now saying he crossed a line.

Dort said, "That’s a physical game and there’s limits to it. And I went over the limit." He continued, "That was an unnecessary move by me, something I shouldn’t have done."

What else did Dort say?

While Dort did admit he went too far, he also noted that any game between the Thunder and Nuggets turns into a physical affair.

"Every time we play against each other, it’s always a battle," he said. "It was a physical game throughout the whole game."

Dort continued, noting that his job of guarding the opposing team's best player every night can be taxing. "It’s not easy. Obviously, I play hard. I’m a physical player. It’s what I do for my team, and sometimes people think it’s too much, but it’s always [within] the rules of the game."

When asked if Dort considered himself a dirty player, Dort said no.

"I don’t think I’m dirty," he said. "I can’t control media. Media always wants to have some type of attention or anything. They want that buzz. I can’t control that. I’ve been doing well with this organization for years now.
I’m happy with how I play and what I do with my teammates. I go out there, compete every night. So I’m gonna keep doing what I do on the court."

Is Dort considered a dirty player?

Throughout his seven years in the NBA, Dort's ejection on Friday was just the fourth of his career. He has nine technical fouls and six flagrant fouls to his name as well.

Those are actually small figures compared to some of the more notable enforcers around the league, like Draymond Green. However, Dort's reputation is that of someone willing to get physical, and although many of his tactics have not resulted in ejections, many players around the league believe he has earned the "dirty" moniker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lu Dort regrets flagrant foul on Jokic, 'I went over the limit'

The vibes for the Philadelphia 76ers are at a low point for the season. The team has lost six of their last nine games, Paul George is about halfway through a league drug policy-related suspension, and Joel Embiid is currently missing time with an oblique injury. Losses to Boston and San Antonio this week looked like blowouts going in and played out accordingly. Philadelphia is less than one full game clear in the standings of the Play-In tournament.

At least the team’s 2024 first-round pick is flourishing, rounding into form after dealing with a couple of injuries coming into the season. Jared McCain has three 20-point games across his last seven appearances, shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three since Feb. 6. Of course, that was the date the Sixers traded McCain to Oklahoma City for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick and a few second-rounders. And as much as some people want those covering the team to stop bringing him up and focus on those players still here in Philadelphia, the McCain trade is hanging over everything going wrong with the Sixers right now.

First, the Sixers lost a rotation player and didn’t add one of even a similar caliber. So their ‘glut of guards’ right now is really just Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe getting run into the ground, plus Quentin Grimes. We saw when Grimes missed time recently with an illness, and might again with Edgecombe being ruled out after the fall he took Tuesday night, that everything completely crumbles if any of those guys are unavailable.

McCain leaving has also shined a light on coaching issues with Nick Nurse at the helm. McCain wasn’t given much runway this season in Philadelphia, and we all assumed it was mostly due to struggles coming back from the injuries. Except now, Jared immediately slotted into the rotation for the defending champions, a team with much more guard and wing depth than the Sixers by the way, and is being used in a bunch of creative actions by head coach Mark Daigneault to great effect. Why weren’t sets incorporated in Philly that played to McCain’s strengths, particularly for a team searching for scoring punch off the bench? With how dramatic the shift in his production has ramped up, the “Sixers really screwed the pooch with the McCain trade” narrative has exploded from a local push to a national media blitz with recent articles from Kevin O’Connor, Jake Fischer and Tom Ziller.

Finally, the chemistry for the team has just been completely off since the trade deadline, something that was actually really good during the first half of the season. It’s something that even during his more-lauded days, Daryl Morey would be criticized for: overlooking the human element. Even supposing his calculation of Jared McCain’s trade value was correct (and it’s looking like it very, very much was not), what message does shipping him out and not doing anything else to backfill that rotation spot at the deadline send to the rest of the team? You have your major building block for the future, Tyrese Maxey, talking about how difficult the trade deadline was, and then how he misses Jared.

Maxey is being diplomatic, but it’s not hard to connect the dots that he’s bothered by how management kind of gave up on this season last month. And I think we all know how Joel Embiid feels about things after he publicly implored the front office not to duck the tax prior to the deadline. O’Connor reported that the Sixers made some calls around Kawhi Leonard, but you can’t fracture a team’s chemistry to the degree trading McCain did on a pipe dream. You need to have Plans B, C, and D in place.

So the Jared McCain trade hurt the Sixers’ chances this season and hurt the organization’s standing in the minds of their star players. Early returns look like the ‘sell high’ was anything but, and signs are pointing to a potential coaching change being needed. McCain once looked to be part of the bridge to the next era of Sixers basketball, but now, his departure looks like the death knell of the previous era.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jordan Speiser, Nastja Claessens and Taryn Sides led 12th-seeded Kansas State to a program-tying and Big 12 Tournament-record 17 3-pointers and the Wildcats beat 13th-seeded Cincinnati 91-66 in a first-round game on Wednesday.

The Wildcats will play fifth-seeded Texas Tech in Thursday's second round.

Speiser made six 3-pointers and Sides five in each scoring 20 points. Claessens also hit five 3s and scored 18 points. The Wildcats (16-16) were 17 of 32 from the arc. The Wildcats tied the school record of 17 3-pointers made against Columbia on Nov. 27. The previous tournament record of 14 had been reached three times. Gina Garcia had 10 assists.

Mya Perry made four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead the Bearcats (11-20). Destiny Thomas added 13 points and Caliyah DeVillasee 10.

Claessens scored 12 points and Sides 11 as Kansas State took a 49-20 lead at halftime with the Wildcats having made eight 3-pointers. Speiser went 3 of 4 from the arc and scored 11 points in the third quarter when the Wildcats made seven 3s and outscored the Bearcats 27-13. Kansas State led by as many as 29 in the final quarter.

A 3-pointer by Sides gave the Wildcats the lead for good with about five minutes left in the first quarter and began a 14-2 period-ending run.

Cincinnati had just 23 made field goals on 69 attempts (33%).

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has signed a multi-year contract.

The Grizzlies announced the deal Wednesday without disclosing terms.

Prosper, 23, has averaged 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 15.8 minutes in 36 games with the Grizzlies this season. He has made seven starts for them.

Over Prosper's last nine games, the 6-foot-7 forward has averaged 14 points and 24.3 minutes while shooting 67.5% from the floor.

Memphis signed him to a two-way contract on Sept. 4.

The Sacramento Kings selected Prosper out of Marquette with the 24th pick in the 2023 draft and immediately traded him to the Dallas Mavericks. Prosper played 40 games for Dallas in 2023-24 and 52 games last season.

___

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Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight’s primetime Thunder-Knicks showdown, and the model has highlighted a few plays that really stand out.

We crunched the numbers, matched our projections against the market, and zeroed in on the spots with real value.

For these Thunder vs. Knicks predictions, it’s not guesswork — it’s data-driven.

If you’re putting together your card, these are the NBA picks the model likes most for Wednesday, March 4.

Thunder vs Knicks computer picks for March 4

Thunder	Knicks
Joe o9.5 points -112	Towns o17.5 points -112
Gilgeous-Alexander o1.5 3-pointers  +160	Brunson o5.5 assists -140
Holmgren o7.5 rebounds -135	Hart o7.5 rebounds  +110

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Thunder computer picks

Isaiah Joe Over 9.5 points (-112)

Projection: 10.4 points

Isaiah Joe has found a groove on the road lately, averaging 15.8 points over his last five away games. That’s 5.5 points higher than his usual road average this season.

Even without home-court advantage, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been the third-highest scoring offense in the NBA over their last 25 games.

Joe’s also been clearing this number consistently, hitting the Over in eight of his last 10 games when the line is set at 9.5 points.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 1.5 3-pointers

Projection: 1.8 3-pointers

The Thunder have been letting it fly lately, ranking seventh in the NBA in 3-point attempts over their last 15 games.

That sets the stage perfectly for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who draws a New York Knicks squad that’s had its issues defending the perimeter all season.

If there’s a spot for him to heat up from deep, this is it.

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Chet Holmgren Over 7.5 rebounds (-135)

Projection: 9.1 rebounds

Chet Holmgren has been clearing this number consistently, going Over 7.5 rebounds in eight of his last 10 games, and the matchup sets up well for him to keep that trend rolling against the Knicks.

The Knicks play at a steady pace and aren’t shy about putting shots up from the perimeter, which often leads to long rebound opportunities for a mobile big like Holmgren. His length and timing give him an edge tracking those boards outside of his immediate area.

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---

Knicks computer picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (-112)

Projection: 18.7 points

The Thunder are known for pushing the tempo by ranking sixth in pace over their last five games, which should translate into extra possessions for the Knicks.

That uptick in opportunity bodes well for Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s gone Over 17.5 points in six of his last 10 games and continues to see the kind of volume that can take advantage of a faster game script.

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Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists (-140)

Projection: 6.3 assists

With OKC speeding things up as of late, more opportunities have been created. That kind of game flow should work in favor of the Knicks.

That creates a nice setup for Jalen Brunson, who’s gone Over 5.5 assists in seven of his last 10 games. With extra trips up and down the floor, he should have plenty of chances to rack up dimes.

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Josh Hart Over 7.5 rebounds (+110)

Projection: 7.7 rebounds

Josh Hart has been a consistent force on the boards lately, going Over 6.5 rebounds in five of his last 10 games. Tonight’s matchup against the Thunder sets up nicely for him to keep that streak alive.

Additionally, Hart often positions himself well in transition, snagging rebounds that turn into fast-break chances.

With his minutes stable and the matchup favorable, there’s a solid path for him to hit the Over on 6.5 rebounds once again tonight.

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How to watch Thunder vs Knicks tonight

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Ra Shaya Kyle had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Amarachi Kimpson scored seven of her 20 points in overtime and 12th-seeded Miami survived a fourth-quarter collapse to beat 13th-seed Stanford 83-76 in the opener of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.

Gal Raviv also scored 20 points for the Hurricanes (17-13), who take on fifth-seeded Notre Dame in Thursday's second round. Kyle's double-double was her 20th this season.

Courtney Ogden led Stanford (19-13) with 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter when the Cardinal scored the final 11 points to tie the game at 70.

Hailee Swain added 17 points, Lara Somfai 12 and Nunu Agara 11 for the Cardinal.

Kimpson hit a 3-pointer to open overtime and Miami led by rest of the way with Kimpson adding four free throws in the final 22 seconds.

The Hurricanes outscored Stanford 28-13 in the third quarter to lead 65-52 and looked to be in command. But Miami went scoreless over the final 6:21, scoring only five points in the fourth quarter, and Stanford tied the game on Ogden's bucket with 18.8 seconds remaining. Miami ran the clock down on its final possession then failed to get a shot off.

Stanford made 7 of 9 3-pointers in the second quarter in taking a 39-37 halftime lead. But the Cardinal made just one 3 and had seven turnovers in the third quarter when Miami outscored Stanford 20-3 over the final six minutes to lead 65-52.

Stanford made 12 of 27 from the arc but the 6-foot-6 Kyle helped Miami dominate in the paint, outscoring the Cardinal 40-28.

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The Cleveland Cavalierstook down the conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, but they didn’t come through the game unscathed. Jarrett Allen, who’s played the best basketball of his career for the last month, injured his knee midway through the third quarter and wasn’t able to return.

Afterward, head coach Kenny Atkinson was asked about the injury after the game. He said it was the result of a collision.

“He got a knee-to-knee [hit],” Atkinson said. “So that’s the only update I got.”

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Allen has been unfairly criticized for not playing through injuries. He played through a broken finger in his left hand and a finger strain in the other earlier this season. Last year, he participated in all 82 games and has missed just 12 so far this season.

Atkinson doesn’t believe that the injury came from being overworked.

“He does want to play every game,” Atkinson said. “Especially as well as he’s playing. … I think that’s part of this job, it’s figuring out when you can get a guy a game, when you look at the schedule. We try to do that the best we can. And you always look back on it [and have regrets]. … Like I said, I think this is more about a contact thing. The soft tissue [injuries] are the ones where you’re like, ‘Man, that’s overuse.’ The hits like that there, you can’t really avoid that.”

Fortunately for the Cavs, they have time for Allen and a few of their other injured players to get healthy. They have a rare four-day break before they play the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Allen has been great since the start of February. In that time, he’s averaged 21 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 72% shooting. On the season, Allen is averaging 15.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Clara Strack had 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, Amelia Hassett scored 18 points and made six 3-pointers, and No. 17 Kentucky started the second half on an 18-2 run to help beat Arkansas 94-64 on Wednesday in an SEC Tournament opener.

It was the largest margin of victory in Kentucky's SEC Tournament history. The Wildcats (22-9), the No. 9 seed, advance to play 22nd-ranked Georgia in the second round on Thursday.

Tonie Morgan and Jordan Obi also had double-doubles for Kentucky. Morgan had 14 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, and Obi added 14 points and 10 boards. Starters Teonni Key chipped in with 12 points and Asia Boone had 10.

Taleyah Jones scored 21 points for Arkansas (12-20), which was coming off its first SEC win of the season to snap a 16-game losing streak with a 70-41 win over Auburn on Sunday. Freshman Bonnie Deas added 10 points.

Boone gave Kentucky its first double-digit lead of the game at 16-4 less than five minutes into the game. Then Hassett made two 3-pointers during an 11-0 run to extend the Wildcats' lead to 27-7.

Kentucky was limited to just 13 points in the second quarter but still held a 42-33 lead at the break.

Obi scored seven points and capped Kentucky's big third-quarter run for a 60-35 lead, while Arkansas missed nine of its first 10 shots after the break.

Morgan scored 10 points in the third quarter to match Arkansas' point total as the Razorbacks went 4 of 17 from the field.

The Razorbacks shot just 36% from the field, including 6 of 28 from 3-point range.

Up next

Arkansas: Season comes to an end under the direction of first-year coach Kelsi Musick.

Kentucky: Looks to avenge a 72-67 loss to Georgia on Jan. 24.

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Only missing a game or two here is probably far from the worst case scenario.

The Sixers announced that VJ Edgecombe has suffered a lumbar contusion and will miss their upcoming contest against the Utah Jazz. The team says that he’ll be reevaluated before their next game against the Atlanta Hawks.

This happened on the last play before halftime during a 40-point drubbing the Sixers received at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. Edgecombe hit the deck hard when he was fouled by Carter Bryant attempting to block his shot from behind. Edgecombe made two of the three free throws he was awarded before being ruled out for the night at halftime. Here’s the play for anyone who missed it.

Missing any time is not ideal for a Sixers team that needs to stack wins, but walking away from this with just a contusion feels like a good outcome long term.

In the short term, the Sixers are still facing an uphill battle to get back in the win column despite being slated to take on the tanking Utah Jazz. On top of Edgecombe and Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr. will also be out for this one with an illness. Oubre was scratched the day of the Spurs game and will miss at least two games now with this illness. In related news, Tyrese Maxey might play all 48 minutes in this one.

Utah will of course be without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler, as well as Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic and Vince Williams Jr., all of whom they’ve tried to shut down for the season in one way or another.

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Get the popcorn ready, as the New York Knicks host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday in a potential Finals preview.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shines at the Mecca, and my Thunder vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect him to get the better of fellow superstar Jalen Brunson with a productive scoring performance.

Thunder vs Knicks prediction

Thunder vs Knicks best bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points (-110)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in scoring average at 31.8, and he’s third in points per game on the road at 32.

SGA returned to action on February 27 after a three-week absence, and he scored 30 and 36 across his first two games back.

The reigning MVP has found success against the New York Knicks in recent matchups, going for 31+ in four of his last six head-to-head meetings, including two of his last three at MSG.

He sat out Tuesday for rest and should be fresh to shine under the brightest lights.

Thunder vs Knicks same-game parlay

The Knicks are an NBA-best 20-11 ATS at home and 2-0 as the home dog. The Oklahoma City Thunder, however, are 16-15 ATS on the road and just 15-14 as the road favorite.

Oklahoma City has won six straight at MSG, but a mostly-healthy Knicks team can keep this one close at home.

These are two strong defensive units, but they're also great offenses. New York has hit the Over in 15 of 31 at home, and Oklahoma City has gone Over in 18 of 31 on the road.

With both teams operating at nearly full strength, I'm betting the Over on a point total that's set a bit too low.

Thunder vs Knicks SGP

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points
• Knicks +4
• Over 222.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Brunson Balls Out

Jalen Brunson has scored 25+ in 37 of 57 games overall and 17 of 29 at home. I expect him to thrive in front of the home crowd at Madison Square Garden and show out against the defending NBA champs.

Thunder vs Knicks SGP

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points
• Knicks +4
• Over 222.5
• Jalen Brunson Over 24.5 points

Thunder vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City -4 (-110) | New York +4 (-110)
• Moneyline: Oklahoma City -170 | New York +145
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Thunder vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Knicks have covered the spread in 31 of their last 50 home games for +11.20 units and a 20% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Knicks.

How to watch Thunder vs Knicks

Thunder vs Knicks latest injuries

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The Knicks decided they’d rather beat the in-conference Raptors than gamble on a win over the Thunder.

Coach Brown used Mitch against Toronto, keeping him under wraps for the what-if matchup against the reigning champions.

As KAT said, “Count your eggs.”

Mike Brown

On hanging defensively in a low-scoring third quarter against Toronto:

“We came out the third quarter… couldn’t score the ball like we did in the first half, but we hung in there defensively. And to hold a team like that that kicks out and runs in transition the way they do to 37 points in the second half, is a pretty good half defensively. We got to hang our hat on that end of the floor and our guys are doing it, they’re doing it with physicality first and then trying to go get that ball off the glass second.”

On Josh Hart’s defensive performance:

“Josh Hart was phenomenal in a lot of different areas. 50-50 balls, guarding different guys. Skills, deflections, you name it. Josh seemed like he was everywhere tonight on that end of the floor.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive impact:

“It’s been huge. Again, I say this all the time, one guy can’t guard one other guy in the league. It’s almost impossible, especially when they do call fouls. And in the way the floor is spaced. It’s tough to do that, and so you have to have five guys on a string. The game right now is space and pace, and everybody looks at KAT like, ‘oh, you can’t do it.’ Well, he can do it. He’s showing he can do it, and we need him to continue to do it. Whether it’s in the pick-and-roll, coming back in transition, coming over to help from the weak side or guarding this guy in a one-on-one situation. He’s been fantastic.”

On the need for relying on defense when shots aren’t falling:

“We feel like we can score. It was a good offensive game, shooting 56 percent from the floor, 32 assists, but we didn’t play well, especially offensively in the second half. To be able to know that you can hang your hat on that end of the floor is going to be huge for us because the ball doesn’t always go in the hoop.”

On seeing the Thunder matchup as an opportunity to grow:

“If they beat us, at the end of the day, or if we beat them at the end of the day, what does it mean? But they do a lot of things at that end of the floor. From the standpoint of this is a really good defense, a really good offense, they got an MVP candidate (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), they have two bigs (Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren), they have two individual defenders. So how are we going to handle the stuff they do on both ends of the floor? If we get stuck here, or stuck there, it’s an opportunity to continue to grow.”

On prioritizing the Raptors game in the back-to-back:

“[The Raptors] are in our conference and all that stuff. Oklahoma City is in the Western Conference.”

On crediting the medical staff for Robinson’s availability:

“We love the medical group that we have. [Vice president of sports medicine] Casey [Smith] and [senior vice president of player performance] Quentin [Dolan] and [head athletic trainer] Anthony [Goenaga], they’ve done a nice job heading it with our doctors. They’ve spearheaded this, so I’ve gotta give those guys a ton of credit. And starting with Mitch because he’s bought into this plan and he’s tried to execute it at the highest of high levels. So I give all those guys a ton of credit because I’m just kind of jumping on the bandwagon and following their lead. To see him out there, because the best thing almost anybody can have is their availability, so to see him out there as much as he’s been out there has been really good for us.”

Mitchell Robinson

On letting coaches decide his back-to-back availability:

“It wasn’t my choice. I let coaches decide which game they want me to play.”

On sticking with the current load management plan:

“I feel great. It’s awesome. This plan we’re on, we should just stick to it.”

On returning after tweaking his ankle:

“I came in here, re-taped, sat my ass right here [in the locker room] and listened to coach and went right back out.”

On whether his ankle will be examined:

“They’ll look at it probably [Wednesday]. But I’m straight.”

On why his free-throw percentage has dropped:

“I don’t get shots up like that (in practice). I just do a lot of lay-ups, hook shots, stuff like that. If you don’t get shots, you don’t know how it is. You’re not comfortable with it. So it’s just like — you got to get some shots up. I do it in the summertime, and I’m straight. And I just get away from it.”

On his rookie-year shooting compared to now:

“Like I said before, when I was getting up shots, rookie year, I was 60 percent. So if I get shots up, everything will be alright. Until then, it is what it is.”

On needing shooting reps for confidence:

“If you’re not shooting shots — even if you’re not going to shoot them in the game, it’s still good to have that muscle memory like that. And also confidence (comes) with it, too. It goes hand in hand.”

On finding rhythm and comfort with his new Knicks role:

“If you ain’t comfortable with your shot you know what the result is gonna be. When I’m not in New York in my offseason I get up shots not just layups all day. I make 10 in a row sometimes even 20 in a row but that’s after I get done running and shooting. It’s a big difference than just doing layups and also let’s face the fact usually it takes maybe 11-16 (times up and down the court) before I touch the ball. I’m not complaining about it. I expected it for what it is.”

On his role bringing energy off the bench:

“That’s like my job. That’s my job on this team. Bring energy off the bench. That’s what I try to do every night when I play. So continue to do that.”

On rejecting the idea of shooting underhand free throws:

“Nah. I feel like that’s silly as hell.”

Jalen Brunson

On the need for accountability and sticking together:

“We have a goal in mind. We’re striving every day for that goal. There’s gonna be days where we take steps back. There’s gonna be days where we take steps forward. It’s all about how we trust each other and stick with each other. I know that sounds like a bunch of BS but it’s important for us to stick together.”

On closing the Raptors game with defense:

“It started with stops. I think it’s always big-time when you hold a team to 100 points, especially a team like that that plays so fast, gets downhill and creates opportunities for each other. They’ve been playing great all year, and in that fourth quarter, we found a way to string some stops together.”

On the late-game defensive push:

“We got stops. We were able to run late. We were trying to get as many easy baskets as much as possible. Made a couple key shots as well. But it really started with our defense.”

On piecing things together heading into the playoffs:

“There may be times during a game when things aren’t going our way but we find a way to put the pieces together at the right time. So we just have to continue to do that.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the team’s defensive ceiling:

“I mean, when our team is rolling and playing at a level defensively I know we can play at, we’re pretty damn good. We need to be that if we expect to have a chance to have a deep playoff run. Obviously every round is a challenge in itself and you don’t want to count your ducks too far ahead and count your eggs, but for us to be the best version of ourselves, it’s going to have to happen on that end of the basketball.”

On the Knicks’ defensive standard this season:

“I mean, when our team is rolling and playing at a level I know we can play at we’re pretty damn good. … We’ve been No. 1 [defensively]. That’s what we need. We need to be that if we expect to have a chance to have a deep playoff round. Obviously, every round is a challenge in itself and you don’t want to count your ducks too far ahead and count your eggs, but for us to be the best version of ourselves it’s going to have to happen on that end of the basketball.”

Josh Hart

On facing the Thunder on a back-to-back:

“Obviously, each game you want to build and learn. And we know that some games are tougher than others in terms of travel, back-to-back, things like that. [Wednesday] is going to be tough, a back to back playing a great team. But we’ve got to make sure we bring it, find where we can build off of and keep it moving. We let you guys [in the media] kind of argue and converse about the record and the teams.”

On defense fueling offense on Tuesday:

“We look at our defense spurring our offense. So games like this where we have little spurts of not scoring the ball we have to make sure we lock in and focus on creating easy opportunities, not letting them score, but getting our offense off our defense. I think we’ve done a good job with that.”

On his shooting slump and fluctuating confidence:

“The frustrating thing for me [is I’m] in a slump. The confidence is coming and going.”

On adjusting when shots aren’t falling:

“I ain’t make a damn thing, so I gotta do something else. That’s all I’m thinking about. … I’m putting the work in; I gotta make sure I play my game, shoot my shots with confidence and those kinds of things. But if you can’t hit the side of a barn, you gotta do something different. Wemby’s in a deep drop against me, I gotta make sure I have the opportunity to get guys wide-open shots on some of those handoffs, pitch backs, stuff like that.”

On his recent rough stretch from deep:

“Shooting, it was probably, obviously, one of my worst games of the season, worst three– or four-game stint.”

Mikal Bridges

On building habits during the regular season:

“Yeah, regular season means a lot. You build habits. That’s the biggest thing. You build habits an more time to learn to play off of each other. And to not let people think, let it be second nature when we’re out there. So that’s why we’ve got 82 games. Not going to get it Game one. You might not get it Game 40. Just continue to keep growing and bring that into the playoffs.”

David Fizdale

On regretting not fighting the tanking directive supposedly imposed on him:

“If I was doing it over again, I would’ve fought more to build a team early on and not cash in my record. That’s the hard part for coaches when you agree to the tanking.”

On missing out on star free agents and having to do with Bobby Portis and Julius Randle:

“That s–t didn’t work out.”

On the toll of losing in New York:

“Losing all those damn games. Donating my record.”