Georgia Tech has decided to fire Damon Stoudamire as its coach following a three-year stint, the school announced Sunday, March 8.
The Yellow Jackets made the move one day after their 79-76 loss to Clemson in the last game of the regular season. With a 2-16 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play, Georgia Tech finished 18th out of 18th in the league and did not qualify for the ACC tournament.
With Saturday's loss, the Yellow Jackets ended the season on a 12-game losing streak. The last win for Georgia Tech was a 78-74 road win over North Carolina State on Jan. 17. The Yellow Jackets won just two out of 17 games since the calendar flipped to 2026. They ended 2025 at 9-5.
Stoudamire, who played in the NBA for 13 years, went 42-55 in three seasons with Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets failed to make the NCAA Tournament under Stoudamire, who replaced Josh Pastner following a seven-year stint.
Georgia Tech owes Stoudamire $2.6 million during the next two years for the remainder of his contract, unless he takes another job.
Georgia Tech has not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2020-21 season and has just four appearances since finishing as the runner-up in the 2004 tournament to Connecticut.
Prior to taking the job with the Yellow Jackets, Stoudamire was an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. He also coached Pacific from 2016 to 2021, posting a 71-77 record in five seasons with the program.
Stoudamire played college basketball at Arizona from 1991-95 before becoming a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. He was rookie of the year for the Raptors in 1995 and also played for the Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs.
Despite some bumpy spells, the New York Knicks have all the ingredients to be the last team standing in the East, and today’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers is a chance to show their playoff pedigree.
My Knicks vs Lakers predictions expect New York’s superior depth to be the X-factor here against a L.A. side struggling with consistency.
Check out my NBA picks for this marquee March 8 showdown.
Knicks vs Lakers prediction
Knicks vs Lakers best bet: Knicks -3 (-110)
The New York Knicks are 16-5 straight up since January 19, and I’m buying into a hot streak that includes victories over the Spurs and Nuggets.
N.Y. has won six of its past seven road games with a balanced attack the Los Angeles Lakers can only dream about. The Lakers are 2-7 against the spread as home underdogs, and LeBron James is questionable.
No King James means OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges can share the Luka Doncic assignment.
The hosts have lost six of their past seven matchups against teams above. 500, and tonight will be more of the same.
Knicks vs Lakers same-game parlay
With the Lakers short on frontcourt help, the Knicks’ rebounding edge should be decisive here. Karl-Anthony Towns has had 12+ boards in five straight contests, and he grabbed 13 rebounds against L.A. earlier this season.
I like the Under today, too, with New York holding its last five opponents Under 105 points. It’s also been a winning ticket in seven of the Lakers’ past 10 games — and five of the last six meetings between these two.
Knicks vs Lakers SGP
Knicks moneyline
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Under 228
Our "from downtown" SGP: All-Stars assemble
A national TV game in L.A. is a perfect stage for All-Stars to shine, and this SGP banks on Jalen Brunson continuing his elite playmaking — 40 assists in his last three games — and KAT owning the boards.
Plus, I like Luka to nail his rebounds Over for a fourth straight contest.
Knicks vs Lakers SGP
Jalen Brunson Over 7.5 assists
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Luka Doncic Over 7.5 rebounds
Knicks vs Lakers odds
Spread: Knicks -3 | Lakers +3
Moneyline: Knicks -155 | Lakers +130
Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228
Knicks vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Knicks are 14-9 ATS this season against Western Conference opponents. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Lakers.
How to watch Knicks vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Knicks vs Lakers latest injuries
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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Dan Bradbury of England hit the perfect chip at just the right time, saving par on the final hole Sunday for a 5-under 65 and a one-shot victory in the Joburg Open.
His clutch par on the 18th hole at Houghton Golf Club denied Casey Jarvis of South Africa a chance to join Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros as the only players in European tour history to win three consecutive tournaments.
Brandon Robinson Thompson was tied for the lead, playing one group ahead of Bradbury, when he three-putted the 18th green from about 45 feet for a bogey that gave him a 66.
Bradbury won the Joburg Open in the fall of 2022 for his first European tour victory. The Englishman, who finished his college career at Florida State, also won the French Open in 2024.
“I thought I'd lost it on the front nine. I had so many chances and didn't take them,” said Bradbury, who started the final round two shots behind Hennie Du Plessis. “It feels really good to put it together. I somehow managed to get it done at the end.”
Jarvis was coming off wins at the Kenya Open and the South African Open — the latter earned him spots in the Masters and British Open. He was one shot behind when he hit a superb approach on the par-4 18th that just cleared a ridge and rolled down to 7 feet.
But he pulled his birdie putt and knew it immediately, walking to the hole. He shot 66.
That left it to Bradbury, whose approach bounded over the green into the rough. He chipped it over a slight hill and it rolled with perfect pace toward the cup, stopping a few inches short for his par and the victory.
Du Plessis was in control after a 31 on the front nine, only to lose his way on the back nine with a pair of bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 15th that took him out of contention. He closed with a 70 and finished fourth.
The tournament was co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour.
The Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings rank in the Top 5 in pace, so this game should have plenty of possessions and scoring chances.
The Kings’ defense ranks in the Bottom 5 in defensive efficiency over the past five games. Chicago’s defense has been better, ranking 10th in that same stretch, but playing this fast with a seasonally Bottom 10 defense won’t work out well.
The pace and bad defense are why four of their last five contests have ended Over the total.
Bulls vs Kings same-game parlay
Chicago has covered the spread in three straight contests and should cover tonight against a bad Kings defense.
The Kings have allowed the second-most made threes per game across the last five games than any other team, and Josh Giddey has knocked down two or more triples in three straight.
Sacramento is only 1-4 against the spread in its last five, while the Bulls are better built defensively to get enough stops down the stretch to cover as short favorites.
Bulls vs Kings SGP
Over 234.5
Josh Giddey Over 1.5 threes
Bulls -2.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: In too deep
Let’s have some fun from downtown tonight.
Matas Buzelis has cleared this number in three of his last four games, Guerschon Yabusele has hit two or more in six of his last seven, and Russell Westbrook has made at least two threes in three of his past five games.
Bulls vs Kings SGP
Matas Buzelis Over 2.5 threes
Josh Giddey Over 1.5 threes
Guerschon Yabusele Over 1.5 threes
Russell Westbrook Over 1.5 threes
Bulls vs Kings odds
Spread: Bulls -3 (-115) | Kings +3 (-105)
Moneyline: Bulls -155 | Kings +130
Over/Under: Over 235.5 | Under 235.5
Bulls vs Kings betting trend to know
Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last five meetings with Sacramento. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Kings.
How to watch Bulls vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, NBCS California
Bulls vs Kings latest injuries
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The Charlotte Hornets’ six-game win streak was snapped on Friday, but the visiting team will look to keep another win streak intact when it takes on the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Hornets have won 10 straight road games, and my Hornets vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks expect Charlotte to cover the spread as a small favorite.
Hornets vs Suns prediction
Hornets vs Suns best bet: Hornets -4.5 (-110)
The Charlotte Hornets are a league-best 40-24 ATS this season. They’re 7-3 as the road favorite and a league-best 22-11 on the road, and they can get back on track against the shorthanded Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix is 3-6-1 ATS across its last 10 games overall and 2-5-1 across its last eight at home. Conversely, Charlotte has covered six straight and nine of its last 10 on the road.
The Hornets are playing at full strength, while the absences of Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams will have a significantly negative impact on the Suns.
Hornets vs Suns same-game parlay
Moussa Diabate has averaged 11.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game across his last seven road games. He's recorded 16 double-doubles on the season, including six across his last 15 appearances. Over the last three games, the Suns have allowed the sixth-most points in the paint and the eighth-most offensive rebounds.
Brandon Miller has averaged 7.6 rebounds across his last five outings, grabbing 6+ three times and at least five in every game. Without Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks, Miller is set up with a favorable matchup to cash the Over on this modest rebound line.
Hornets vs Suns SGP
Hornets -4.5
Moussa Diabate to record a double-double
Brandon Miller Over 5.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Booker the Board Man
Devin Booker is grabbing four rebounds per game, and he's reached that mark in 24 of 47 games, including 12 of 23 at home. He's recorded 4+ rebounds in three straight games, and without Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks, more rebounding boards will be available.
Hornets vs Suns SGP
Hornets -4.5
Moussa Diabate to record a double-double
Brandon Miller Over 5.5 rebounds
Devin Booker Over 3.5 rebounds
Hornets vs Suns odds
Spread: Hornets -4.5 | Suns +4.5
Moneyline: Hornets -185 | Suns +155
Over/Under: Over 219 | Under 219
Hornets vs Suns betting trend to know
The Hornets have covered the spread in 32 of their last 45 games for +18.8 units and a 38% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Suns.
How to watch Hornets vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Network
Hornets vs Suns latest injuries
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CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 30, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (42-21) at Cleveland Cavaliers (39-24) Sunday, March 8, 2026 1:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #64 Road Game #33 TV: ABC Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WFAM/WMMS Rocket Arena
The Celtics visit the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 3rd, and final, meeting between these two teams. The Celtics won the first game 125-105 at Boston on October 29. The Celtics also won the second meeting 117-115 in Cleveland on November 30. These 2 teams split the series 2-2 last season with each team winning one at home and one on the road. The Celtics are 143-89 overall, all time against the Cavaliers and they are 56-61 in games played in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are quite different from the team the Celtics faced in November. At the trade deadline, they traded De’Andre Hunter to the Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder. They also sent Lonzo Ball to to the Utah Jazz, along with 2 second round picks for them to take on his contract. Their big trade, though, was to trade Darius Garland to the Clippers for James Harden.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York , 3 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 7.5 games ahead of 6th place Orlando and 7th place Miami and 8 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 27-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 21-11 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
The Cavaliers are 4th in the East, 6.5 games behind 1st place Detroit, 3 games behind 2nd place Boston, 1.5 games behind 3rd place New York. They are 3.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, and 4.5 games ahead of 6th place Orlando and 7th place Miami and 5 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. They are 25-15 against Eastern Conference teams and 21-11 at home. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have won their last 2 games.
After this game at Cleveland, the Celtics continue on a tough 3 game road trip through San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Next, it is 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.
The Cavaliers are playing in the 2nd game of a 3 game home stand. They beat the 1st place Pistons in the first game on Tuesday. They will host Philadelphia in the 3rd game of the home stand. They will then play Orlando and Dallas on the road before returning home to play Dallas once again. Then they will play Milwaukee, Chicago and New Orleans on the road.
For the Celtics, after 298 days, Jayson Tatum was available to play against Dallas on Friday. He is expected to play in this game also. Jordan Walsh missed Friday’s game due to an illness but is not on the injury list at this time. Nikola Vucevic fractured his finger in Friday’s game and had successful surgery to repair it. He is expected to miss approximately a month.
For the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen injured his right knee during the Cavaliers’ win over the Pistons on Tuesday and has been ruled out for this game. Tyrese Proctor is out due to a right quadriceps strain. Max Strus has been cleared for on-court workouts after off season foot surgery but has been ruled out for this game. Jaylon Tyson is questionable due to a neck strain. After missing the past four games with a groin injury, Donovan Mitchell is probable for this game. Dean Wade is also probable with an ankle injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs James Harden
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesJames Harden | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Donovan Mitchell
Jaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty ImagesDonovan Mitchell | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Jaylon Tyson
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesJaylon Tyson | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Evan Mobley
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesEvan Mobley | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Thomas Bryant
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesThomas Bryant | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga John Tonje Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Cavaliers Reserves Keon Ellis Larry Nance, Jr Craig Porter Jr Dennis Schroder Nae’Qwan Tomlin Dean Wade Sam Merrill
Injuries/Out Donovan Mitchell (groin) probable Dean Wade (ankle) probable Jaylon Tyson (neck) questionable Max Strus (foot) out Tyrese Poctor (quad) out Jarrett Allen (knee) out Head Coach Kenny Atkinson
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Donovan Mitchell Mitchell is averaging 28.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.6 assists per game. He is shooting 48.3% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc. In the first two games against the Celtics, he averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to stay with him both in the paint and on the perimeter because he is a threat to score from everywhere.
Derrick White vs James Harden This is the first time the Celtics are facing the Cavs since they acquired Harden. He is averaging 24.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 42.5% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. In 2 games with the Clippers against the Celtics, Harden averaged 27.5 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting 43.2% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. Honorable Mention Jayson Tatum vs Evan Mobley Mobley is averaging 17.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. He is shooting 51.7% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 23 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block per game while shooting 50% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint as he is a very good rebounder and also a rim protector.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game. The Celtics are 6th with a defensive rating of 111.7. The Cavaliers are 13th with a defensive rating of 113.1. The Celtics must make defense a priority and play tough lock down team defense for all 48 minutes. They can’t play tough defense for just 2 or 3 quarters and expect the other team to give up. The Celtics need to especially defend the perimeter as the Cavs shoot 40.3 threes per game and make 14.5 of them. They also average 51.0 points in the paint per game so the Celtics also must defend the paint.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 46.4 rebounds per game (4th) to 44.4 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers (12th). The Celtics will need to crash the boards to keep the Cavs from getting extra possessions and second chance points. Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have got to work harder on the boards than the Cavs. But they also have to give a consistent effort on the boards for the whole game.
3 Point Shots – When the Celtics make their 3’s they are tough to beat but when the 3’s aren’t falling, the game gets really ugly. The Celtics are 2nd in the league, taking 42.5 threes per game. The Cavs are 6th with 40.3 threes a game. Although the Celtics are 3rd in 3 pointers attempted, they are 9th, shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc. The Cavs are 14th, shooting 36.0% from beyond the arc. The key is simple. The Celtics must make their threes and they have to defend the perimeter well to keep the Cavs from making theirs.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball and find the open man. They play their best when they share the ball. They are 27-2 when they have more than 25 assists in a game and they are 14-0 when they have 29 or more assists. However, the Celtics need to take care of the basketball and limit turnovers. They have to make careful passes and also be aware while dribbling and not drive into a crowd or allow a defender to steal the ball since the Cavs average 19.6 points off turnovers per game.
X-Factors Matinee Game On the Road – The Celtics are playing on the road and will need to stay focused in spite of the distractions of travel and playing in front of a hostile crowd. Cavs fans really do not like the Celtics and will likely be loud and antagonistic. They need to come into this game focused and ready to play harder than the Cavs. They are also playing in an early afternoon game and sometimes players struggle in the early games, especially after travel.
Officiating – The officiating is always an x-factor. Sometimes a crew will call the game tight and blow a whistle on every play. Other times they will let them play and let the game get physical. The Celtics need to adjust to the way the game is called and not let missed calls or bad calls affect their focus. If the calls are bad, they just need to play harder to make up for them and not lose focus on playing the game.
Southwest Division rivals face off in tonight's “Battle of Texas” as the San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets.
Elite defense will be on display from both teams, and my Rockets vs Spurs predictions call for the Under to hit at Frost Bank Center.
Here are my free NBA picks for this divisional tilt on Sunday, March 8.
Rockets vs Spurs prediction
Rockets vs Spurs best bet: Under 222.5 (-115)
Don’t expect a high-scoring affair tonight, as the Under has hit in two straight and eight of the last 10 head-to-head matchups between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Houston is 27-35 to the Under — including a 13-30 mark on the road — while San Antonio is 26-38 (12-17 at home).
The Rockets have allowed the third-fewest points per game at 109.3, and the Spurs have allowed the seventh-fewest at 111.4.
Rockets vs Spurs same-game parlay
Alperen Sengun has found success against Victor Wembanyama, averaging 20.2 points and 5.4 assists across nine head-to-head matchups.
Sengun has recorded 19+ points in 30 of 55 games overall and two of three against the Spurs this season.
He's recorded at least six dimes in 33 of 55 games overall, cruising past this line in all three games against San Antonio.
Rockets vs Spurs SGP
Under 222.5
Alperen Sengun Over 18.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Battle of the bigs
Victor Wembanyama has averaged 12 rebounds in nine career matchups against Sengun, and he's pulled down 12+ in two of four of those at home.
Rockets vs Spurs SGP
Under 222.5
Alperen Sengun Over 18.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 5.5 assists
Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Rockets vs Spurs odds
Spread: Rockets +5 | Spurs -5
Moneyline: Rockets +170 | Spurs -205
Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-105) | Under 222.5 (-115)
Rockets vs Spurs betting trend to know
The San Antonio Spurs have hit the game total Under in 28 of their last 40 games (+14.80 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Spurs.
How to watch Rockets vs Spurs
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Rockets vs Spurs latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 6: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after the game against the LA Clippers on March 6, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Most people have heard of the five stages of grief. As described by author David Kessler:
“The five stages — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling.But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or in a prescribed order.”
But I am not writing about grief today. No, I am writing about hope — the five stages of hope. The Spurs have had two recent games in which fans realistically had no hope that our favorite team could pull out a win.
One of those games was the second of a back-to-back on a cold February night in Toronto. (The words “February night in Toronto” are always preceded either by “snowy”, ‘freezing” or “cold”.) The night before, the Spurs had beaten the “best record in the league” Pistons in an extremely physical game against the number one defense in the NBA. In Toronto barely 24 hours later, the Spurs trailed 90-75 with less than a minute left in the third quarter. While fans had little to no hope, the players had other thoughts. After making a three to close the gap to 12 entering the fourth, the Spurs outscored the home team by 32-17 in the final quarter to win by 110-107. In some ways, that win was more impressive than the win the night before.
Last Friday against the Clippers was perhaps even more unlikely. Once again, it came 24 hours after an emotional homecoming win against those same Pistons in which Victor Wembanya played a season-high 39 minutes, which meant he was on a severe minutes restriction against the Clippers. Even worse, the Spurs fell behind by even more than in the Raptor game, trailing 75-50 in the third quarted. Check out the ESPN odds of the Clippers winning after Kawhi Leonard’s three put the Clippers up by 25 points:
+3 Points 9:23 – 3rd
Kawhi Leonard makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kris Dunn assists)
75-50
Win %: LAC, 98.8
Once again, the Spurs kept hope alive, outscoring the Clippers by 9 in the third quarter (thank you, Julian Champagnie!) and by 15 in the fourth. Yes, hope is a powerful thing.
But hope does not spring from nothing, nor does it occur suddenly or magically in a gym in Toronto or San Antonio. Like grief, hope comes in stages. Like grief, hope can arise in people, or teams, after different stages and in different orders.
For this Spurs team, I believe the first stage of developing hope arose from the strength of the organization. Perhaps we can describe this stage as having a solid foundation or core — the Spurs, with their remarkable history of success, certainly provide that. This also meant instilling the right habits. Even when the team was not winning, the coaches insured the players played the right way and learned the structure and effort that makes winning possible.
The second stage in the Spurs journey was planning. Even when painful to do so, the Spurs organization planned their future. This meant trading away popular and talented players such as Dejounte Murray and Derrick White. While the organization and fans loved what those players contributed, they knew that they could not bring the team to the level we wanted. Even bringing in Chris Paul on a one-year deal last year was part of the planning, and learning, process.
The next stage for the Spurs was good fortune — being in the right place at the right time. For the Spurs, this happened when they won the lottery the same year that Victor entered the draft. We can call this stage “opportunity”. Others could call this “karma”. Certainly the entire NBA was happy that he landed with the Spurs, with their history of success and their solid organization. Pairing him, with his immense desire to succeed, with an organization known for its success, has been a perfect marriage. And while the Spurs were fortunate to be the team to select him, the organization’s intelligence led to the drafting of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — plus the under-rated selection in the last draft of Carter Bryant with the 14th pick,
The fourth stage was, and remains, patience. The Spurs have not attempted to skip any steps on their way back to relevance. The only significant trade they have made to bring in talent was the trade for De”Aaron Fox, a player who really wanted to come play in San Antonio. And acquiring Fox did not require squandering significant future capital — the only one of their picks surrendered was next year’s first round pick. That pick will surely be in the high 20’s, and thus reasonably expendable.
The fifth stage of hope is belief — an outgrowth of the prior four steps. Because of the solid foundation, the careful planning, the good fortune to take advantage of opportunity, and the patience to stick with it the plan, the Spurs, their players and their fans now can sincerely believe that this will all come together. And because the players and coaching staff believed that they could be better than everyone else predicted, they are now significantly ahead of everyone else’s schedule, but not their own. Which is why we all have high hopes, not only for the bright future but also for the blindingly breathtaking present.
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Mitchell Santner won the toss as New Zealand opted to bowl against defending champions India in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday.
It is a second consecutive T20 World Cup final for India after it beat South Africa in 2024 at Barbados to claim a second title. India won the inaugural tournament in 2007 and could become the first team to lift this trophy for a third time.
India is the only team to reach four finals. West Indies (2012 and 2016) and England (2010, 2022) are the other teams to have won the T20 World Cup twice.
New Zealand is aiming for its first T20 World Cup triumph. It finished as runner-up in the 2021 final, losing to Australia in Dubai.
India topped Group A in the first round and then finished second in Group 1 in the Super 8s. Its only loss came against South Africa in the Super 8s at the same venue. The co-hosts beat England in the second semifinal in Mumbai.
New Zealand finished second in Group D in the first round and finished second in Group 2 in the Super 8s. It beat South Africa in the first semifinal at Kolkata.
The Black Caps have made one change with medium pacer Jacob Duffy coming in for Cole McConchie.
India is unchanged from the Mumbai semifinal.
The Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket ground in the world, with a crowd in excess of 100,000 expected at today’s final. The pitch should aid batters through both innings, with evening dew possibly aiding the chasing side.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (captain), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
DENVER, CO - MARCH 6: New York Knicks bench celebrates during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 6, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Say, whatever happened to those Knicks that were a disgrace to basketball during a 2-9 stretch, which saw them play some of the worst defense the NBA has ever seen?
Wait, what do you mean that team has now been the best defense in basketball for six weeks?
It’s been a weird year. The Knicks are on pace for 52.5 wins, just marginally better than similarly topsy-turvy seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Through 64 games, they’re 41-23… identical to last season. They’re once again winless against No. 1 seeds. If you looked at it from the periphery, you’d think this is the exact same season with a different tone.
But if we exclude that 11-game stretch of basketball, which, let’s be completely real, isn’t representative of this team, they’re playing at a 61-win pace. The stretch did happen, and it represents over 15% of the season, but even the most pessimistic Knicks fan cannot seriously think that a team that’s currently sixth in defensive rating is in any way similar to what they did during that stretch.
The Knicks started 23-9 (24-9, the NBA Cup counts to me, dammit!). They’re 16-5 in their last 21 games. That’s 39-14. That’s ridiculously elite basketball.
What’s the best Knicks team you’ve ever watched? Are you old enough to remember Clyde Frazier and Willis Reed winning championships in the early 1970s? Did you watch Patrick Ewing’s glory throughout the late 80’s and 90’s? Was Carmelo Anthony your introduction to Knicks playoff basketball? Do you hold really, really fond memories of the January 2024 Knicks?
I’m not arguing that the 2026 Knicks are better than any or all of them, as they can still embarrass me depending on how the last 18 games and playoffs go. That said, I’ll provide some stats that put them in some company that you’re going to want to see to believe.
Defense
Mike Brown: Defensive guru?
Probably not, but the way the Knicks have played defense with guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson playing big roles is certainly notable. Towns, specifically, has tremendously improved defensively in several aspects and has had individual games of brilliance
The Knicks were at their best defensively with Karl-Anthony Towns guarding Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs shot 26% from three on Sunday, including 2-14 (14%) on plays where KAT guarded Wemby 🔒
As previously stated, the Knicks are tied with the Celtics for the sixth-best defensive rating in the NBA. They never truly had a bad defense under Tom Thibodeau, but the only year it was this good was in 2020-21, where the team sold out to muck up games with lineups that included Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock, and Nerlens Noel. This team has more offensive firepower in Brunson and Towns’ pinkie toes than that team had, especially considering Julius Randle’s playoff woes.
They’re just 0.3 back of the Heat for the fourth-best defense. They’ve been better as the game goes on, sporting the league’s best defensive rating by a considerable margin in fourth quarters. When the team needs it most, they’re putting the clamps on. The dream of having defensive wings like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges is being realized, potentially to a degree never thought conceivable.
The Knicks have held 13 opponents under 100 points, fourth in the NBA. They’ve held 23 to under 105, third in the NBA. Among the teams they’ve held under these numbers:
Few things are more satisfying than a blowout. Usually, you can rely on games against undermanned teams like the Wizards, Jazz, and Nets to pick up an easy win, and the Knicks have done that. But what’s separated this team from others? They’re blowing out good teams, too.
It ended in a 10-point win, but the Knicks took the Celtics behind the barn in October, leading by as much as 24.
In early November, they boatraced Minnesota with a hobbled Anthony Edwards. They’ve blown the Raptors out repeatedly, and even the competitive games eventually see a massive run make the final result look uncompetitive. For a while, that was about it. That was until a month ago.
In the last 30 days, the Knicks have blown out the Celtics (by 22), the Sixers (by 49), the Spurs (by 25), and the Nuggets (by 39). You can add whatever context you want, these are still very impressive victories to come by this margin.
The Knicks have won 14 games by at least 20, 11 games by 25, seven games by 30, four games by 35+, two games by 40, and one by 50 this season. The only team that matches or exceeds them in any of these categories is OKC.
Here are the last Knicks teams to accomplish these numbers (remember: we still have 18 games left):
14 by 20+: 2024-25 (15) 11 by 25+: 1969-70 (11) 7 by 30+: 1969-70 (7) 4 by 35+: 1993-94 (4) 2 by 40+: 1993-94 (2) 1 by 50+: Never
In the last five categories, the Knicks have already tied the franchise record. In all of the seasons that meet the same criteria as the current Knicks, they made the NBA Finals (1970, 1973, 1994).
Consider the following, all of these things have happened in Knicks’ blowouts in the last month:
Worst loss by the Sixers since 2015, worst loss in 480 all-time meetings with the Knicks
Worst loss by the Spurs this season, only loss for the Spurs since late January (14-1)
Tied for the worst home loss by the Nuggets ever (2/2/1998 vs CHI), worst loss of Nikola Jokic’s career, worst Nuggets loss since January 2015
In about 1,000 words, I have, in a way, compared this team to the 1998 Bulls, 1970 Knicks, the 1994 Knicks, and a few others. Surely, all of these comparisons will be received well!
The Dallas Mavericks will seek a fifth straight win against the Toronto Raptors when they visit Scotiabank Arena tonight.
Toronto is a healthy 9.5-point home favorite, but my Mavericks vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks have the home team struggling to put away Dallas by double digits.
Mavericks vs Raptors prediction
Mavericks vs Raptors best bet: Mavericks +9.5 (-110)
Of the current 12 teams sitting in the Top 6 spots in each conference, the Toronto Raptors are the only ones that don't have a winning record at home (16-16).
The Dallas Mavericks should be the get-right opponent, as they’ve lost six straight and have just two wins in their last 18, but Dallas is 3-1 against the spread against Toronto in the last four meetings.
Injuries could play a factor too, as Cooper Flagg (foot) is questionable, as is Brandon Ingram (illness). Either way, the Raptors are just 4-7 ATS in their last 11 at Scotiabank Arena, while Dallas is 4-2 ATS in their last six road games.
Mavericks vs Raptors same-game parlay
RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 25 points in their loss to Minnesota, and he’s grooving right now, hitting 20+ points in four of his last five games.
Khris Middleton has connected on just one moneyball in his last five games, and since leaving Milwaukee, he’s yet to hit from downtown in four games against Toronto.
Mavericks vs Raptors SGP
Mavericks +9.5
RJ Barrett Over 19.5 points
Khris Middleton Under 0.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: All aboard the Klay-Train
Klay Thompson is in one of his best shooting grooves of the season. Coming off a 5-for-11 night from downtown against Boston, he’s now hit at least three triples in five of his last seven games.
And Jakob Poeltl has been Toronto’s leading rebounder in three straight games, but only once has he hit nine rebounds, and he’s yet to reach that mark in four games against Dallas as a Raptor.
Mavericks vs Raptors SGP
Mavericks +9.5
RJ Barrett Over 19.5 points
Khris Middleton Under 0.5 threes
Klay Thompson Over 2.5 threes
Jakob Poeltl Under 8.5 rebounds
Mavericks vs Raptors odds
Spread: Mavericks +9.5 | Raptors -9.5
Moneyline: Mavericks +325 | Raptors -425
Over/Under: Over 229 | Under 229
Mavericks vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Mavericks have lost 14 straight games as underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Raptors.
How to watch Mavericks vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
MavsTV, Sportsnet
Mavericks vs Raptors latest injuries
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Earlier this week, NBA.com released an article talking about this season’s MVP race. Obviously, the race is headlined with names like Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander, but another player who many fans who aren’t as tuned in to the NBA would not expect has emerged onto the list. That player is Kevin Durant. Durant comes in this week at ninth behind Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembenyama, Jaylen Brown, Luka Doncic, and Donovan Mitchell.
Naturally, Durant deserves praise for his prowess as one of the game’s all-time scorers, but he also deserves praise for his ability to play at a high level even at 37. Even though players like LeBron and Curry, who are also having successful seasons, and have multiple MVPS aren’t even on Durant’s level this year.
The four-time scoring champion is currently in the top ten with a 51% overall and 40.1% 3-point shooting percentage. He continues to lead double-teams. He has only missed four games. Additionally, he has the Houston Rockets comfortably above the sixth-place cutoff and in the middle of the Western Conference playoff hunt.
The important statistic is that Durant, who is currently in his 18th season, has averaged at least 26 points each season for each of the teams he has played for, including the Thunder, Warriors, Nets, Suns, and now the Rockets. His first season in Seattle, which naturally led to a relocation to Oklahoma City the following season, was the only other occasion in his career that he failed to average 25 points per game. Additionally, he averages 51% for the Rockets and has made at least half of his shots in a season for every franchise. He is scoring with incredible efficiency. Additonally even though the Rockets are undefeated without Kevin Durant playing its a small sample size and against lesser opponents in the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors.
Obviously, Durant winning MVP is far from likely, but there’s no debate that he has been integral to the Rockets this season.
SYDNEY (AP) — South Korea edged host Australia for top spot in Group A at the Women’s Asian Cup on goal difference after a 3-3 draw Sunday in front of a tournament-record crowd at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
Philippines maintained a chance of advancing to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Iran in another Group A match that kicked off simultaneously in wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium.
The Iranian women’s team exited the tournament on three losses and faces a return to a country embroiled in war. Organizers have not announced details for Iran's departure from Australia.
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams, meaning Philippines will have to sweat on other results after placing third in Group A.
South Korea will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals, while Australia will have to face either defending champion China or three-time champion North Korea.
Australia's late goal not quite enough
Australia twice rallied from a goal down in front of a crowd of 60,279, with Chelsea forward Sam Kerr playing a key role and with Alanna Kennedy scoring twice, including the late equalizer in stoppage time. Both teams finished unbeaten in the group, but 2022 finalist South Korea finished with a goal difference one better than Australia's.
The crowd surpassed the attendance of 44,379 at Australia's opening game aganist Philippines in Perth on March 1, which was a Women's Asian Cup record.
Kerr and Caitlin Foord both missed scoring chances for Australia before South Korea opened with a counter-attacking goal in the 13th minute after Jeon Yu-gyeong outpaced the defense and set up Mun Eun-ju for the score.
Kenney made it 1-1 in the 32nd after lead-in work from Foord and Mary Fowler and Kerr gave Australia a 2-1 lead going into halftime with Kerr scoring from close range just before the break.
Kim Shin-ji and Kang Chae-rim came on as substitutes in the second half and had a quick impact, giving South Korea a 3-2 lead. Kim Shin-ji's penalty kick made it 2-2 in the 53rd and she delivered the cross for Kang's goal four minutes later.
Kennedy's goal eight minutes into stoppage time ensured Australia finished unbeaten, albeit not entirely happy with the result.
“We all know we needed to win tonight, so it felt like a loss to be fair,” Kerr said.
South Korea coach Shin Sang-Woo felt like his team should have won.
“I’d like to say thank you to all of my players because they did not give up and gave 100% to the end. I slightly feel sorry that we couldn’t end this game with three points, but I’m still delighted with the first goal to be winner of this group.”
Philippines still in contention
Philippines scored a goal in each half in a tough encounter against the Iranian women's team to clinch third place and maintain a chance of progressing.
Sara Didar had an early chance for Iran but her strike in the sixth minute was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
At the other end, 38-year-old Iran goalkeeper Raha Yazdani kept it level with three saves in four minutes but Philippines opened the scoring in the 29th when Sara Eggesvik had a goal awarded after a VAR review.
Yazdani made three more crucial saves late in the first half to keep it to 1-0 at the break and it took until the 82nd minute before substitute Chandler McDaniel fired in the goal to give Philippines a two-goal buffer.
State of play
In Group B, defending champion China and three-time winner North Korea are into the quarterfinals after their second consecutive wins. On Monday, North Korea plays China in a match that will decide top spot, while Bangladesh takes on Uzbekistan.
In Group C, two-time champion Japan leads with six points following an 11-0 win over India in Perth on Saturday. Japan will next face Vietnam, which lost 1-0 to Taiwan on Saturday after opening with a 2-1 win over India.
Kristaps Porzingis was healthy enough to accompany the Warriors on their current road trip, and he took another step in the right direction, returning to the court Saturday night against the Thunder.
Before Saturday, the center had only played 17 of a possible 533 minutes since the Warriors acquired him at the NBA trade deadline. Despite his recent progress, his outlook remains a mystery.
That is the unfortunate reality of living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, doctors who specialize in the autonomic disease told The California Post.
Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired by the Warriors in a trade deadline deal with the Hawks, had only played 17 of a possible 533 minutes for Golden State before Saturday’s game against the Thunder. Getty Images
“It is a difficult, difficult thing to deal with,” said Dr. Tom Clennell, a physical therapist who works with POTS patients at UC San Francisco. That said, “I do think he should be able to contribute and be a productive player. … I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think they can get it under control.”
About 3 million Americans have been diagnosed with POTS, Dr. Alba Azola said. Cases in elite-level athletes such as Porzingis are rarer. But the Latvian said last fall that he got an answer to his unexplained absences toward the end of his time with the Celtics: He told The Athletic that doctors diagnosed him with POTS, which deregulates the nervous system.
“It hit me, and it hit me like a truck,” Porzingis said. “The breathing wasn’t good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn’t running the way I wanted. …
“You know how people say, ‘Oh, I’m so fatigued.’ I’ve never used those words. I don’t even like to speak in those terms, but I really was like that. At that time, I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat.”
The prone position — the natural state for many a house cat — is often the only comfortable one for a patient suffering from, as Clennell put it, “a POTS crisis.”
Without the nervous system regulating things we take for granted — heart rate, blood pressure, etc. — “the heart is not able to adjust to the demands of the body,” explained Azola, who treats patients dealing with POTS and chronic fatigue at Johns Hopkins.
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Typically the body would send a signal upon standing to tighten the blood vessels in the legs and allow the heart to redistribute that blood to other areas, Azola said. The misfiring nervous system in POTS patients prevents that from happening, causing blood to pool in the legs and feet. Lacking blood flow, the brain sends a “fight or flight” signal,” Azola said.
“That, in turn, triggers this response of tachycardia (heart palpitations), sweating, nausea, lightheadedness — all of those symptoms come from that.”
The simple act of standing rapidly increases the heart rate by more than 30 beats per minute, according to Azola. “And it doesn’t normalize. It stays up, just from standing.”
All considered, it might sound like a feat for Porzingis to be playing at all. He has been effective when on the court, too, looking like the Warriors’ missing puzzle piece in his first game with Golden State and averaging 18.7 points over 60 games the past two seasons.
Unlike a broken bone or a torn ligament, POTS “is not an injury you can truly see,” said Clennell, the physical therapist. “He can come out and he can play and look really good, but the issue is … small changes to what’s going on physiologically … can create a kind of crisis.”
Hydration and electrolyte levels have to be closely monitored. Getting sick is a common precursor — 31% of POTS patients suffer from long COVID, Azola said — but environmental changes routine for most NBA players, such as the dry air on flights, can cause complications.
Porzingis’ conditioning as one of the league’s scariest stretch 5s should help him manage the disease, but his 7-foot-3 frame could also predispose him to more frequent disruptions.
“I think it can be hard for fans to grasp,” said Dr. Nirav Pandya, an orthopedic surgeon at UC San Francisco who has treated several patients with POTS. “Because it’s like, ‘Well, you should be able to push through something. You’re sick; you should be able to push through it.’
“But it becomes so debilitating for people that even doing basic day-to-day things can become really hard.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr had to walk back a claim that POTS wasn’t actually a problem with Kristaps Porzingis. AP
Warriors coach Steve Kerr described Porzingis’ condition as “mysterious,” and he’s not entirely wrong. The doctors all said POTS was not part of their curriculum in medical school.
Kerr had to walk back a claim that POTS wasn’t actually the problem with Porzingis. He told a local radio station that he consulted Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, a former Golden State front office employee, and “got confirmation it was not POTS but it was something else that was really difficult to figure out.”
It’s possible Kerr wasn’t misled, according to Pandya. There isn’t a definitive blood test.
“We kind of diagnose it based on your symptoms,” he said. “That’s where I can understand how there can be some confusion around what the actual diagnosis is. …
“At the end of the day, you have a player that can’t play and you have something that’s not related to a torn meniscus or quad,” for example, Pandya said.
When general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. acquired Porzingis at the trade deadline from the Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, he said he wouldn’t have done so if the team wasn’t confident that it could keep him on the court — a goal that has, for one reason or another, evaded the medical staffs at all of his five previous stops.
The doctors and trainers in the Warriors’ building are widely considered to be among the best in the NBA, but Porzingis presents a novel challenge.
Azola treated one high-level athlete at the Johns Hopkins clinic in Baltimore — an Olympic swimmer — whose career she said was “absolutely” impacted by POTS. “It’s something that requires medical management to continue to compete at that level.”
Porzingis is running out of time to prove the Warriors’ return for Kuminga is more than a $31 million expiring contract. When healthy, he gives them the ideal package of size and spacing.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 07: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against John Konchar #55 of the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 07, 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t pretty, but the Bucks snapped out of their four-game skid last night at Fiserv with a victory over the Jazz. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
I get that Sims is playing well lately, but I don’t think Turner has been bad enough to necessitate being benched so often in clutch time. Not by a mile. I did like how they tried to get him involved inside—more of that, please.
Though Rollins had pretty loose handles and couldn’t find his shot, another sneaky near-triple double is nothing to sneeze at. Some pretty nice finishes through traffic and larger defenders.
This was the best I’ve seen Dieng as a playmaker for both himself and others—an even sneakier near-triple double. Nine assists ties a career high. Had another high-release catch-and-shoot three near the top of the arc. Stayed with his man pretty much every time.
Starting again as the Bucks opted for more size. The shooting line is nice, but it hides a rough first half. He biffed two early layups and struggled guarding Keyonte George. Came up big late with an and-one that extended the lead to six. One of his two late threes might have been a dagger, though the second was when the game was well in hand.
Grade: B
AJ Green
21 minutes, 7 points, 4 fouls, 2/8 3P, +0
The first sub after being removed from the starting lineup, Green is shooting just 30% from deep since the All-Star break. Three for his last 17 including this one. Didn’t make his first shot until 2:30 in the third but did get another shortly thereafter. Abused on defense routinely, but finally stopped fouling when bigger guys switched onto him.
Grade: D+
Bobby Portis
18 minutes, 12 points, 5/8 FG, -6
Doc remarked postgame how Portis was too uninvolved towards the end of the first quarter, when the offense first dried up. That was corrected to begin the fourth quarter, when he scored half his points. Also had a flashy spin move on Elijah Harkless during that stint.
Grade: B+
Jericho Sims
30 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3/4 FG, -2
Probably would have had a nicer scoring line had a few lobs been better placed. Generally good defensively and on the glass. Doc says he closes because he defends and he’s switchable—also hailing his passing—but I wouldn’t say Turner doesn’t defend and isn’t switchable…
One of several Bucks whose jumper was MIA, though I was impressed by Nance on the other end. He moves his feet so well, and for all people talk about his “lack” of athleticism, you’d never notice it defensively. Doc called him a connector postgame, noting that the ball moved much better in the second unit when Nance was on the floor.
Grade: B-
Doc Rivers
Credit where it’s due for upgauging the starting lineup, benching Green, sliding Dieng to guard, and reinserting Kuz. He mentioned after the Atlanta loss that they just needed more size (Giannis echoed this postgame too) and while I don’t know if this group will be as effective with Orlando or other teams, it’s worth a try. As this was another game the Bucks struggled out of half, I asked him why he thought that was:
“I don’t know why. We’ve talked about it; I have one of my coaches going out now and watching them [while shooting during halftime] to make sure they’re moving. Because this has happened a lot to us. We come out stagnant, slow… I will say this: it wasn’t because we were not playing right. We just didn’t come out and play well… in Chicago—I’ll give you an example—we just didn’t play right. We came out and didn’t play the right way. And so that’s why you could live with it a little bit more tonight. Maybe tht’s why it wasn’t pronounced as much, because once we got out of it, we got some stops. We gotta start the second half thinking defense, though. That’s the culprit, in my opinion. When we get stops, we get out running. It just seems like we ease into the third quarter, and we have to stop doing that.”
Kuzma mentioned that their sense of urgency is gone after they get momentum in the first half. We asked Giannis too, and he didn’t mention defense as much. He took it on himself:
“Today… you could see it. We come down, miss a shot, put our head down. We go the other way, they make a shot, we go to the free throw line, we wait, and we look down… everybody’s in their head… And that’s gotta change, and it starts for me. I gotta be more aggressive with it. I feel like the more aggressive I am, the more I’m [getting] downhill, the more I play with a good pace, it translates to everybody. Everybody follows, right? So sometimes, especially in the third quarter, I’m just warming up. I’m waiting for everybody else to kind of take that step, and maybe that’s a mistake for me. As a leader, I got to be able to come and set the tone, be that engine for our team. And hopefully in the next third quarters moving forward, I can do a better job with that.“
Probably more of a team effort than Giannis is letting on. But whatever that coach is doing at halftime, I guess it’s not working.
Grade: B
Limited Minutes: Cam Thomas, Gary Trent Jr.
DNP-CD: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr.
Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Oscar Tshiebwe got the assignment on Giannis out of the chute. You’ll recall his first career points from the Ballgate game back in 2023.
Milwaukee went without a point guard often: at first, Green came in for Rollins, and Giannis predictably ran the offense, and it predictably looked good. They ran this one-guard soon after with Trent, less successfully.
It took Utah nearly seven minutes to make their first two-point field goal.
The Bucks missed six free throws in the first, and only two were from Giannis. Sims and surprisingly Thomas also missed back-to-back FTs in this game.
Trent saw first-half minutes for the first time since February 6 against Indiana. Every appearance he’s had since has been in garbage time.
Thomas saw six first-half minutes, made a shot, but did not appear in the second half.
Utah shot only 30.6% from the field in the first half. Yuck. In general, this game had a college feel with the poor shooting on both sides, especially in the first half.
Milwaukee got outrebounded again (53-48) on both ends (13-7 offensive) and lost the shot battle by five. Most of that damage came in the second half.
At least the Jazz had only one more free throw. But unlike the Bucks, who missed 12 of them, they only missed four (86.2%).
33 assists is tied for third most this season. Sounded like ball movement and advance passes were a big focus of Friday’s practice.
Rollins eclipsed 1,000 points for the first time in his career.
Marquette took down UConn earlier in the day at Fiserv, and apparently, that meant Huskie alum Andre Jackson Jr. lost some money to Marquette legend Rivers.
Up Next
The Bucks are immediately back in action tonight vs. the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
