Category: NBA

Sometimes you need a slump buster, and there is no shame in that. The Phoenix Suns came in 1–6 over their last seven, searching for something to steady them, and the Utah Jazz provided that opportunity. Utah is deep in tank mode, and on Saturday night in downtown Phoenix, it showed early and often as the Suns easily dispatched them, 134-109.

Watching from the stands, the first thing that jumped out was the defensive intensity from Phoenix. There was purpose to it, a level of connection that made everything look clean. When one team is moving in sync and the other is not, it becomes obvious quickly. The Suns were rotating, communicating, and turning defense into offense. The Jazz were stuck in isolation, one pass, one move, one shot, the kind of possessions that stall before they ever really start.

It felt familiar in a different way. Watching so much college basketball this time of year, you see those same empty possessions from teams that are not connected, where everything leans on one player and the result is rushed and inefficient. That is where Utah is right now, limping toward the finish line, eyes on the lottery. Phoenix is in a different space, trying to build rhythm, trying to sharpen habits, trying to turn effort into execution.

One moment in the third quarter stuck with me. Jordan Ott pulled Rasheer Fleming aside after a substitution and spent two possessions talking him through a previous sequence. Teaching, correcting, reinforcing. It was not loud, it was not dramatic, but it mattered. Those are the moments that define a season like this one. A transition year is built on those exchanges, on the small adjustments that turn into growth over time.

There is still plenty to appreciate in the present. Wins like this serve a purpose. They restore a little confidence, they remind you what it looks like when things click. At the same time, it is hard not to glance ahead, to think about what this team could become as these lessons stack. It is a small takeaway from a comfortable win, but it is one that lingers.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

He wasn’t the highest scorer against the Nuggets, but having Royce O’Neale back and seeing him hit 5-of-8 from deep got into your feels. He joins Jordan Goodwin and Jalen Green with 4 Bright Side Baller’s on the year.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 74 against the Jazz. Here are your nominees:

Jalen Green
31 points (13-of-22, 5-of-11 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers, +9 +/-

Devin Booker
26 points (8-of-14, 1-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, +21 +/-

Grayson Allen
19 points (7-of-16, 4-of-11 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +14 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
13 points (6-of-6), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4 turnovers, +19 +/-

Khaman Maluach
12 points (5-of-7), 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, +6 +/-

Ryan Dunn
9 points (4-of-7, 1-of-3 3PT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +5 +/-

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Who you giving it to?

Per a Spurs press release:

The San Antonio Spurs announced the launch of Spurs AI Studio, a new innovation platform designed to create AI-powered fan experiences in collaboration with leading brand partners. The platform allows the Spurs to deliver premium AI-driven experiences to their fans with interactive, personalized activations in-game and digitally. Spurs AI Studio will debut its first production, “ULTRA Arrivals,” alongside Michelob ULTRA, offering fans the ability to transform themselves into personalized player-style arrival moments. The experience is now live at UltraArrivals.SpursAIStudio.com.

Through the platform, fans can personalize fan content.

Jordan Kolosey, VP of Business Strategy, Innovation & Data Operations at Spurs Sports & Entertainment stated,

“Spurs AI Studio is about breaking down barriers and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans. This represents the future of fan engagement, and by working alongside innovative partners like Michelob ULTRA, we’re unlocking moments that were once impossible and bringing fans closer to the game than ever before.”

The first experience powered by Spurs AI Studio, ULTRA Arrivals, invites fans to snap a photo of themselves and instantly generate a cinematic “arrival” video inspired by the iconic tunnel walks typically reserved for NBA players.

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Tonight, the New York Knicks (48*-26) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (58-16) at Paycom Center. This matchup tests whether New York can hang with the reigning champs or are just part-time sluggers. The Knicks dropped their seven-game win streak Thursday night in Charlotte, falling 114-103, while the Thunder keeps rolling at home with the best record in basketball.

The teams last met on March 4 in New York, where the Thunder won 103-100. Chet Holmgren dropped 28 points with eight rebounds and six threes, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26 points and eight assists. Jalen Brunson (15 assists) and Karl-Anthony Towns (17-17 double-double) kept the Knicks close, but Oklahoma City’s timely stops and spacing made the difference in the final minutes.

The Okies have the league’s best defensive rating and seventh offensive. They’re fifth for points per game with 118.8. OKC is an average shooting team beyond the perimeter, but they clean up inside the arc. This is a switch-heavy, multi-positional team that plays fast when it wants and grinds when needed.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 31.3 points and 6.6 assists, getting to his spots with crafty mid-range play and leading the league in phantom fouls. Chet Holmgren puts up 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds while stretching the floor at 35%from three and anchoring the paint. Jalen Williams delivers two-way production as a 17 PPG scorer and sticky defender. Luguentz Dort brings physical wing defense and spot-up shooting, and Cason Wallace adds elite perimeter D and secondary playmaking.

Holmgren is a game-time decision with a hip issue. If he sits, expect OAKAAKUYOAK Isaiah Hartenstein to get the starting nod. The Knicks’ injury report still lists Landry Shamet (right knee contusion) as OUT, but Miles McBride has been upgraded to questionable.

Prediction

ESPN gives the Knicks roughly a 37% win probability here. We thought so. In the last matchup, the Hicks were in the driver’s seat for most of the game, but the Knicks hung in there despite falling behind by 15. Tonight, the Thunder could pull away in the second half if they exploit switches and get out in transition. For the Knicks to stay competitive, Brunson needs to draw fouls and create for his teammates, their bigs have to win the rebounding battle, and their defense must contest threes and mid-range buckets from Gilgeous-Alexander. Force half-court play, protect the paint, and make the home team work for everything…still lose by two, but do it with dignity!

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (48*-26) at Oklahoma City Thunder (58-16)
Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Paycom Center, OKC, OK
TV: NBC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups don’t believe the hype.

The Milwaukee Bucks will miss the NBA play-offs for the first time in 10 years following a 127-95 defeat by the San Antonio Spurs.

The Bucks have lost nine of their past 11 games and were without their star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the sixth game in a row as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

It was an eighth consecutive win for the Spurs as they remain hot on the heels of defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder for both the top seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the league.

The Spurs are two games behind the Thunder with eight games left to play.

The play-in tournament begins on 14 April, with the playoffs starting four days later.

Stephon Castle had his fourth triple-double of the season - 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists - and was among seven Spurs players who scored in double figures led by Victor Wembanyama, who had 23 points and 15 rebounds.

Last week, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers rejected a claim by the National Basketball Players Association that his side were keeping a healthy Antetokounmpo out of games against the wishes of the 10-time All-Star and two-time league MVP.

"He's not [healthy]," Rivers said when asked about the NBPA's assertion that the 31-year-old is healthy and not being allowed to play so the Bucks can improve their NBA Draft lottery positioning by tanking.

"He's progressing. He's just not healthy."

The late Bill Walton occupies a unique place in basketball history. He ranks with the greatest centers – Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon, among others – but injuries greatly limited his career.

But when he was healthy, he was indisputably great.

Boston Celtics teammate Robert Parish was speaking to former Celtic Cedric Maxwell recently and said as much. He talked about how much Walton pushed him in practice, how he made him a better player.

Keep in mind that this was quite late in his career. Walton won the title as a Portland Trail Blazer in 1977, but played in just 65 games.

He only topped 60 games three times in his NBA career, but made 80 in 1986 with Boston, where he helped the Celtics win the championship for his second ring.

In college, Walton was a massive success. He was probably the most fundamentally sound big man who ever played the game, and his best game came in the 1972 championship game against Memphis State.

In a legendary performance, Walton scored 44 points while shooting 21-22 from the floor. That’s 95.5%. He also had four shots waved off as offensive goaltending.

Toss in 13 rebounds, two assists, and a block, and it was the greatest performance in the Final Four, and it’s not particularly close.

The great shame about Walton’s career is that his bones just proved too fragile for him to play much. He had dozens of surgeries and at one point, seriously considered suicide to escape the constant pain. He found joy again and was a lively, if eccentric, presence on basketball broadcasts.

He found answers, though, and lived until 2024, passing away from colorectal cancer.

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For the third straight season, Rick Barnes has Tennessee basketball in the Elite Eight. After Sunday, March 29's game against No. 1 Michigan, he's hoping to have taken the Vols where they've never been before.

Despite becoming a March Madness fixture, the Tennessee Vols have never, in their history, made the Final Four. Despite a pedigree of modest success, including 11 regular season SEC titles and and five conference tournament championships (most recently in 2022), Tennessee has not been able to cross the threshold to college basketball's most coveted weekend.

ARMOUR: 'Regular-Season Rick' is winning in March. Rick Barnes won't gloat about it, though

The Barnes era marks the closest Tennessee has come, with consistency, even though its best shot arguably came before Barnes' time. The Vols' first Elite Eight trip was under Bruce Pearl in 2010, while Barnes was still roaming the Longhorns bench in Texas.

Barnes has taken Tennessee to the 2024, 2025, and 2026 Elite Eights. There's an argument to be made 2026 is his most impressive run yet, as a No. 6 seed in the Midwest bracket.

The Vols went as a No. 2 seed in both 2024 and 2025, ultimately losing to the No. 1 seeds of their respective brackets in the Elite Eight. While it could be easy to think it will be more of the same Sunday against No. 1 Michigan, Tennessee has now taken down No. 3 Virginia and No. 2 Iowa State to get to this point. So perhaps one more upset is in store.

Has Tennessee basketball ever made a Final Four?

Tennessee has not made a Final Four in its history, making it one of five SEC schools to not get to the national semifinal round.

The others are Missouri, Mississippi, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. Alabama basketball made its first Final Four in 2024.

Tennessee basketball Elite Eight record

The Vols are 0-4 in the Elite Eight, with losses in 2010, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Here's a look at their full history in the fourth full round of the tournament.

• 2010: No. 5 Michigan State 70, No. 6 Tennessee 69
• 2024: No. 1 Purdue 72, No. 2 Tennessee 66
• 2025: No. 1 Houston 69, No. 2 Tennessee 50
• 2026: TBD, vs. No. 1 Michigan

Rick Barnes Elite Eight record

Barnes is not just defined by his career at Tennessee. He does have a Final Four appearance, winning his first Elite Eight game with Texas in 2003. Since then, though, he is 0-4 in the Elite Eight, with two losses at both Texas and Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Has Tennessee made a Final Four? Vols looking to make March Madness history

Jaylen Brown had some things to say about the NBA’s regular season awards on Wednesday.

In the wake of Cade Cunningham’s lung collapse, robbing him of consideration for All-NBA and MVP awards, Jaylen Brown reminded everyone that back when the 65-game minimum threshold was written into the current CBA—by the NBPA and the league—it was met with largely unalloyed approval from fans and players alike.

We felt that players should be expected to appear in a significant majority of their team’s game in order to qualify for season awards that are, after all, awards for performance over the entire season.

On his Twitch stream, Brown said, “You can’t have dudes playing 45-50 games and winning First-Team All-NBA. You basically came to work half the time and got rewarded for it.”

And that, friends, is the rub.

Consider a pile of sand.

Remove one grain.

Is it still a pile of sand?

Yes?

Remove another grain.

Is it still a pile of sand?

Yes?

Remove another grain.

At some point in time, your pile of sand will stop being a pile of sand.

And so it goes with this notion that there shouldn’t be any game limit for regular season awards. You can say that you don’t think there should be a limit, but common sense dictates that there is, in fact, a limit.

After all, absent any limits, you could make a case for an All-NBA nod for a guy who plays one game, scores 40 points, and then tears his ACL in his next game out. I mean, the guy has a 40 PPG average!

Obviously, no one who wants the games played limit abolished would say that a guy who plays a single game deserves consideration for All-NBA status, which means that they have a games played limit—even if they don’t admit to it.

The only thing this dictated games played limit does is put the limit out there in the open for everyone to apply. It doesn’t establish a limit, it standardizes it.

It stops voters from shading things so that they’ll give LeBron consideration for All-NBA status (played in 53 games so far), while dismissing Victor Wembanyama—who’s been subject to more obvious load management—and who’s appeared in five more games than LeBron thus far.

This way, the arbitrary rule—and it is as arbitrary as most rules of this sort are—is at least universally arbitrary.

The fact that some players are going to be ineligible due to the existence of the rule is hardly a plausible argument against the existence of that rule. The whole point of rules is to set boundaries, to establish limits. Rules define things, and definitions, by their very nature, exclude as well as include.

That some of these players received consideration in the past despite missing a significant number of games is not an argument in favor of abolishing this rule, and the fact that some players have been hampered by injuries is, to be blunt, the nature of the game.

Look, if you play in fifty games and look absolutely amazing in those 50 games, and because of you, your team wins most of those games handily, that’s great. But what are you doing for your team during the 32 games you missed? Nothing. What are you doing as far as performance against your peers in those games? Nothing.

That’s what matters in this debate—and what gets overlooked—when you’re not playing, you’re not contributing, and when you’re not contributing, you shouldn’t be accruing “points” towards regular season awards.

Basketball in the NBA is a mass-produced commodity. In the course of the regular season almost 60,000 minutes of basketball are manufactured and consumed. When you’re playing, you’re putting something out there that can be evaluated, measured, weighed and considered in context. When you’re not, you’re not.

Yes, there’s a laundry list of name brand players who are either ineligible for these awards or are on the cusp of ineligibility this season, but the thing about these awards is that they are supposed to be about what you do, not who you are.

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli wins Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

REQUIRED READING: From overlooked to overjoyed, Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to Final Four

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:

"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

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 29, 2026

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

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.

After one@match_mortgage | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/iglIKgMPva

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 29, 2026

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.

MAN MAN SLAM 🫨 pic.twitter.com/2giFlvb2J1

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 29, 2026

OSO UP TOP 😤 pic.twitter.com/37dV6GskuH

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 29, 2026

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.

Halftime at home@match_mortgage | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/rJ7qegF81z

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 29, 2026

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.

Khaman Maluach is doing it all tonight 😤

He's just scratching the surface of his potential 👀 pic.twitter.com/oTeEhegnUE

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) March 29, 2026

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.