BOTTOM LINE: Washington travels to Brooklyn looking to break its four-game road losing streak.
The Nets are 12-34 in Eastern Conference games. Brooklyn is the worst team in the league with just 39.5 rebounds per game led by Nic Claxton averaging 6.9.
The Wizards are 11-36 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington is 8-47 in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Nets' 13.2 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.4 fewer made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Wizards allow. The Wizards' 46.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.3 percentage points lower than the Nets have given up to their opponents (49.5%).
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Nets won the last meeting 127-113 on Feb. 7, with Michael Porter Jr. scoring 23 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Noah Clowney is averaging 12.3 points for the Nets. Josh Minott is averaging 9.6 points over the last 10 games.
Bilal Coulibaly is shooting 41.6% and averaging 11.4 points for the Wizards. Jaden Hardy is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 1-9, averaging 101.4 points, 35.1 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.0 points per game.
Wizards: 1-9, averaging 115.1 points, 37.4 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 131.3 points.
INJURIES: Nets: Ziaire Williams: out (foot), Noah Clowney: day to day (ankle), Nic Claxton: out (hand), Danny Wolf: out for season (ankle), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out for season (hamstring), Terance Mann: day to day (achilles), Ben Saraf: day to day (back).
Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (knee), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Kyshawn George: out for season (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out (quad).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New York Knicks (50-28, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (45-33, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta will look to keep its four-game win streak going when the Hawks take on New York.
The Hawks are 26-22 in conference play. Atlanta ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 18.4 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 4.1.
The Knicks are 32-16 in Eastern Conference play. New York has an 8-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Hawks' 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Knicks allow. The Knicks are shooting 47.6% from the field, 0.4% higher than the 47.2% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Hawks won the last matchup 111-99 on Jan. 3. Onyeka Okongwu scored 23 points to help lead the Hawks to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.6 points and 3.7 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 19.7 points over the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is averaging 18.9 points and 6.4 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 8-2, averaging 124.0 points, 42.6 rebounds, 30.2 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.5 points per game.
Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.8 points, 44.3 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
INDIANAPOLIS — Yaxel Lendeborg kept it together, barely, as he limped away from the court in the first half.
He'd worked so hard. Come so far. And now he feared it was all over, his hopes for a national championship ruined by an injured left knee and once-again throbbing ankle.
"As soon as I got in the tent, I started crying," Lendeborg said, his left knee heavily wrapped. "... I definitely felt like I did all this for nothing in the moment. I definitely had to calm down for a little bit, speak with myself, get out of my thoughts.
"The training staff, they were being very nice to me, just being genuine, assuring me that I'm going to be OK."
OK? If Lendeborg isn't the best player in the country, he is for sure the toughest.
As his Michigan teammates got up a couple last shots before halftime ended, Lendeborg returned to the court with a trainer. He walked on his tip toes. He ran the width of the court. He hopped on both feet. And when the second half began, Lendeborg was on the floor with the rest of Michigan's starters.
Despite spraining his left MCL and aggravating the ankle injury he suffered in the Big Ten tournament, Lendeborg would play nine minutes in the second half. He made two 3-pointers in an 80-second span and grabbed two rebounds as Michigan routed fellow No.1 seed Arizona, 91-73.
At one point, Lendeborg had more points (11) than minutes played (10).
"We know what type of guy Yaxel is. If he can play, he's going to play," Elliott Cadeau said. "He told us when he got on the court, he was going to give it his all."
As for the national title game on Monday, April 6, Lendeborg laughed when asked if he would play. So long as he can walk, he said, he's playing.
"(The trainers) say they've got my back," he said. "They're going to make me feel good and we're going to spend a lot of time together tomorrow and Monday before the game."
Michigan has scary depth — of the eight players in its main rotation, all but two had nine or more points against Arizona — but Lendeborg is what transforms the Wolverines from a good team into a great one. He was the Big Ten player of the year and a first-team All-American. He also was on the Big Ten's all-defensive team.
A 6-foot-9 guard, Lendeborg is the basketball equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. He can score around the basket and make 3s from the logo. He can get rebounds and run the offense. He can shut down guards and big men.
He's unselfish, too. If Michigan needs him to score, he'll do it. If one of his teammates is on a heater, he's happy to help make their spotlight.
"Yax is about winning. And from day one, he's always just been one of the guys," Michigan coach Dusty May said. "When you have a first-team All-American potential player of the year that just wants to be one of the dudes, it helps everyone else fall in line and just accept their role."
So, too, when they see Lendeborg playing through the pain to make sure Michigan extended its season for one more game. The game that's been their goal since last summer.
Lendeborg had to take a seat after picking up two fouls in the first 90 seconds of the game. He came back in after sitting for about almost six minutes and quickly made a 3-pointer. But with 8:51 left in the first half, Lendeborg and Motiejus Krivas collided and Lendeborg stepped on Krivas' foot.
The pain, and the fear, was immediate.
"I tried my best to get up as quickly as possible to try to not dwell with the pain, try to walk it off," Lendeborg said. "It didn't get walked off."
Lendeborg made his free throws and then headed back to the locker room. When he returned to the Michigan bench six minutes later, he had a towel on his head and looked downcast. He didn't stay on the bench for long, returning to the locker room to get more treatment.
Though Michigan had things under control without Lendeborg, thanks in large part to Aday Mara's career night, Lendeborg knew he wanted to play in the second half. He owed it to his teammates.
More importantly, he wanted to prove to himself he could play before the title game.
"I told them I was going to stay to the 3-point line and not go into paint," he said, smiling. "I want to get a feel for the rim and try as best as I can because I want to play Monday. So those two shots going in were big-time for me and my confidence."
Lendeborg wasn't at 100% in the second half. Nowhere close. He won't be Monday, either. But nothing is going to stop him from playing.
Not when there's only 40 minutes standing between him and a national title.
"Watching the game back here in the locker room, it's like, man, we can really do this," Lendeborg said. "This is what we talked about all year, and we're really one step away from getting that goal."
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
No. 1 seed Michigan vs. No. 1 seed Arizona. Two of the most dominant teams of the season meeting in the Final Four. Unstoppable force vs. immovable object. A box office attraction that billed heavyweights duking it out in what could be one of the all-time games in tournament history.
“No one's been able to do that to us all year,” said Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd. “It was an impressive performance.”
It wasn’t one of the largest blowouts in Final Four history, but the 18-point differential doesn’t fully grasp how much of a beatdown this was. The Wolverines blitzed Arizona out of the game with a 10-1 run to open the game and never looked back in the wire-to-wire win.
“We came out, and we really knew how high the stakes were,” said Michigan guard Trey McKenney.
It took just less than 10 minutes for Michigan to hand Arizona its largest deficit of the season at 14 points, stunning the Wildcats. When Yaxel Lendeborg suffered an injury, Arizona cut the deficit and it felt like we had a game. Then the depth of Michigan flexed its muscle to show it’s far more than the Big Ten player of the year.
For as ugly as the first half was for Arizona, it had a knack for being a second half team. Before Saturday, the Wildcats were 6-0 when they trailed at halftime. Sure, the 16-point deficit was quite large, but Arizona had shown all season it was never out of games. Plus, Michigan didn't shoot the ball that great. There was a chance to come back.
Instead, it only got worse.
Michigan gave a dose of deja vu out of the break, once again unleashing a full assault while Arizona was already clinging onto the ropes. The only drama left was how much more Lendeborg would play.
The lead only ballooned from there, with the Wolverines up by as much as 29 points. The Maize and Blue inside Lucas Oil Stadium were already celebrating by singing “Mr. Brightside” midway through the second half. It made the final 10 minutes just a formality, the game already well decided and Arizona just trying to not make it as ugly as it was.
In the end, it was a disastrous showing for Arizona.
“Michigan just did a great job, and we weren't able to kind of catch up,” said Arizona guard Jaden Bradley.
So how did it happen? Despite the physicality and size Arizona brought to Indianapolis, Michigan coach Dusty May felt his team matched up extremely well to the Wildcats. The interior battle was going to be a key point, and the size of Michigan’s bigs made it tough for Arizona to drive downhill in the paint.
If Michigan could establish a hold inside early and make some perimeter shots, it was going to quickly force Arizona into an uncomfortable position, and the plan unfolded to near perfection.
“Once they get on a good start, (May) kind of really knows how to control the game,” Lloyd said. “When you're controlling the game and you're running your actions and you're getting some open shots or semi-open shots, you knock them down, it makes it really tough to come back, and that's what they were able to do.”
The Wildcats were ninth in the country in shooting percentage, and it shot a season-worst 36.6% from the field. One of the best fast break teams just had two points on breakaways. Michigan’s 91 points was the most Arizona allowed this season, and the 47.8% shooting percentage was the third-best an opponent had against the Wildcats this season.
All of it resulted in a sudden end to one of the best seasons Arizona has had in decades. When it finally broke the spell that cast a 25-year Final Four drought, it felt like these weren’t the same old Wildcats, and this one had a real good shot of winning it all.
Instead, their season ends in another March disappointment. It does sting to have another disappointing March Madness ending. It doesn’t take away it’s still a season worth celebrating in Tucson, and the game said a lot more about Michigan than it did Arizona, with the Wolverines becoming the first team to score at least 90 points in five straight NCAA Tournament games.
“Michigan gets all the credit today. I mean, it wasn't our night, but it probably had a lot to do with them,” Lloyd said.
If anything, it showed Connecticut another weapon of mass destruction is on the way, and it better be prepared – or Michigan will drop it again.
INDIANAPOLIS — For a moment there, Michigan looked in trouble.
All-America forward Yaxel Lendeborg picked up his first foul 72 seconds into the Final Four matchup against Arizona and then was whistled for another just five seconds later, sending the senior to the bench.
Worse yet, Lendeborg began favoring his left leg after landing awkwardly with nine minutes left in the half, which forced him to enter the locker room for treatment. After returning to the Michigan bench with five minutes left in the first half, Lendeborg was again escorted through the tunnel. He ended up playing a season-low 14 minutes, though he poured in 11 points in this limited duty.
“I had to calm down a little, speak to myself, get out of my thoughts,” Lendeborg said of the injury. “I didn’t feel like I was going to be OK. I was definitely really worried.”
Losing your star and your leader early in the national semifinals would be a doomsday scenario for nearly anyone in college basketball — just not these Wolverines.
Even without Lendeborg making his usual impact, the Wolverines rolled to an impressive 91-73 win against the Wildcats and will meet Connecticut in Monday night’s championship game.
The win is proof of a key point about this team: Michigan is more than the sum of its parts, with a powerful supporting cast that more than overcame Lendeborg’s absence and could clearly do the same if he’s limited against the Huskies.
“We’re an unselfish team,” forward Joe Tschetter said. “It can be anybody’s night on any night. That’s what we’ve showed all year.”
Five players scored in double figures. Six of the seven players who logged the most-significant minutes outside of garbage time scored at least nine points. The Wolverines assisted on 22 of their 33 made field goals. They forced 14 turnovers. A lengthy and aggressive defense held Arizona in check from start to finish, stymieing what was one of the nation’s top-scoring offenses.
“With our depth, it allows us to be able to pick up where he left off, especially being able to plug in other guys in different areas,” guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said. “And everyone feels comfortable in that.”
Taking on a beefier role, center Aday Mara scored a career-best 26 points while making 11 of his 16 attempts. Forward Morez Johnson Jr. had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Point guard Elliot Cadeau had 13 points, 10 assists and 4 steals. Despite dealing with foul trouble of his own, guard Trey McKenney had 16 points and was a team-best plus-22 across his 27 minutes of playing time off the bench.
“That shows how much versatility we have in this group,” said Lendeborg. “Aday's been dominating all year. So I'm super happy that he did his thing today, tonight. Trey had a big game, man. We talked about this a lot. We spent a lot of time together, so I'm really happy for the (freshman). As long as we continue to keep playing team basketball, we should be in good shape.”
On the defensive end, Mara keyed a suffocating effort that held Arizona to a season-worst 36.6% shooting and forced 14 turnovers, leading to 19 second-chance points.
“Aday was sensational,” coach Dusty May said. “He was at the rim, catching lobs. He was a force down low. He was a pressure release up top. I mean, he's such a smart basketball player.”
Teammates didn’t realize the extent of Lendeborg’s injury until halftime; for one, Gayle thought he’d just been taken out because of his foul trouble and remained out of the rotation as Michigan built a double-digit lead.
Clued into the situation in the locker room, the Wolverines rallied around their senior leader: Let’s do this for Yaxel, Gayle said to the team.
But when Michigan exited for the second half with a 16-point lead, there was Lendeborg back on the court, in the lineup despite the double-digit advantage and the possibility that he could further aggravate his injury — causing him to not only miss the championship game but also potentially damage his NBA draft stock.
He drilled a 3-pointer to push Michigan’s edge to 53-32 with 17:47 to play, and then added another a minute later. That put the Wolverines in front 56-34 and sent a pro-Michigan crowd at Lucas Oil Arena into a frenzy.
“I think it just shows the guy who Yaxel is,” McKenney said. “I mean, he just wants to put it all on the floor for Michigan, and he wants to give the fans what they came here for. I'm just really grateful to have him as a teammate. He's one of the best players in the country and he showed that tonight. But he's selfless as well.”
Lendeborg would be removed from the game with 13:30 to play but asked to be reinserted about six minutes later after Arizona had gone on a 15-4 run. When he was taken out with 5:19 left, Michigan had an 86-64 lead and was on cruise control into Monday’s final.
“I felt like they were making sort of a run and I wanted to kind of neutralize it,” he said. “I wanted to be the guy who helps out. I didn’t want to sit out when my teammates needed me.”
Whether Lendeborg plays against Connecticut will be the dominant storyline heading into the championship game. “I want to play on Monday,” he said.
Even if Lendeborg is available, there will be questions about his ability to produce on one healthy leg against an opponent that’s allowing just 65 points per game in this tournament and held Illinois to just 19 of 56 shooting from the field in a 71-62 win.
But few teams — maybe the Huskies in 2024, but not many others — will enter the championship with this much confidence. Facing a fellow No. 1 seed with an equal amount of NBA talent and an equally explosive offense, the Lendeborg-less Wolverines advanced out of the national semifinals with ease.
“This game was very indicative of how this group has played throughout the season, unselfish basketball,” May said. “A connected group who defends, gets out in transition and then shares the basketball.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (50-27) are back in action on Easter Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks (24-53) on the road.
L.A. looks to sweep the four-game season series against Dallas this season.
And just like that, the state of the Lakers feels more bleak than ever. With the playoffs beginning in less than two weeks, a championship now feels more out of reach for Los Angeles than ever before. Now, they’re left having to figure out what to do in the midst of all of this instead of gearing up for the most crucial time of the year.
The Lakers will have to do that starting Sunday when they face a lottery-bound Mavericks team that’s currently on a three-game losing streak. While it’s tempting to say that it’s just the Mavs and that this game is pretty much meaningless for them, it’s hard to do so knowing that the purple and gold’s faith now relies on 41-year-old LeBron James.
For as incredible as James still is, the superstar can’t carry this team by himself and without Dončić and Reaves, it’s hard to picture how this Lakers team can be competitive.
That said, they’re going to have to try and that means practicing the next man up mentality. Can Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and the rest step up? They obviously won’t be able to fill the void that Dončić and Reaves left but at the very least, it would be nice to see if they can help keep this team competitive.
Note that the Mavericks may be in the middle of a three-game losing streak but their rookie Cooper Flagg is still playing at a high level. Flagg is coming off a 51-point performance and is surrounded with quality role players like Max Christie, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Brandon Williams and Daniel Gafford. So this one isn’t by any means going to be a walk in the park.
For the first time ever this season, it feels as if the Lakers are very much the underdogs without two of their best players. On Sunday, we’ll get a first look at how they’ll be until the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.
Sigh.
Let’s see if there’s anything still worth being hopeful about for the purple and gold on Easter Sunday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain), Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) are out.
Jared Vanderbilt (right calf soreness) is also listed on the report as questionable.
As for the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Caleb Martin (right plantar fascia) are out.
Marvin Bagley III (left shoulder impingement) is probable while Tyler Smith (low back spasms) is questionable.
A game that was expected to be a thriller between two of the best teams in the country was far from it, as Michigan blitzed the Wildcats right out of the gate. Arizona couldn't ever really recover as Michigan relentlessly built a lead that ballooned to 30 points at one point.
It's not often you see lopsided games on the biggest stage in college basketball, but it has happened before. But does Michigan's victory rank among the biggest Final Four blowouts in history?
Here's what to know:
Biggest Final Four blowouts
Here are the biggest blowouts in men's Final Four history:
Note: List begins when tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951.
1. 44 points: Villanova (95) vs. Oklahoma (51), 2016 Final Four
2. 36 points: Princeton (118) vs. Wichita St. (82), 1965 third place game
T-3. 34 points: Cincinnati (80) vs. Oregon St. (46), NSF, 1963 Final Four
T-3. 34 points: Michigan St. (101) vs. Penn (67), 1979 Final Four
5. 33 points: Kansas (94) vs. Marquette (61), 2003 Final Four
6. 32 points: UCLA (101) vs. Houston (69), 1968 Final Four
7. 30 points: UNLV (103) vs. Duke (73), 1990 Final Four
8. 27 points: Purdue (92) vs. North Carolina (65), 1969 Final Four
T-9. 26 points: Kansas (79) vs. Washington (53), 1953 Final Four
T-9. 26 points: Ohio State (95) vs. St. Joseph’s (69), 1961 Final Four
INDIANAPOLIS — A Final Four matchup of high-scoring offenses was instead decided by Michigan’s defense, which held Arizona in check and delivered a 91-73 win to send the Wolverines to Monday night’s national championship game.
Michigan won despite the extended absence of All-America forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who battled foul trouble and an apparent lower-body injury and played a season-low 14 minutes. He still managed to score 11 points on 3 of 4 shooting.
Without Lendeborg serving as the focal point, the Wolverines leaned on center Aday Mara, who had a career-best 26 points to go with nine rebounds and three blocks. Point guard Elliot Cadeau had 13 points and 10 assists while guard Trey McKenney added 16 points while hitting 6 of 9 attempts.
Arizona was led by forward Koa Peat's 16 points, though the freshman made just 6 of 18 shots from the field. Overall, Arizona shot 36.6% and committed 14 turnovers. The Wildcats came into the semifinal ranked 11th with an average of 86.5 points per game.
Thanks to a suffocating style that unsettled Arizona’s tempo, Michigan took a 26-10 midway lead through the opening half despite losing Lendeborg, who picked up two quick fouls and then limped off the court later in the half to have his ankle re-taped.
After returning to the Wolverines’ bench with about five minutes to go, Lendeborg was escorted back to the locker room and didn’t return until entering the lineup to open the second half.
The Wildcats finally gained their footing with a 13-2 spurt to make it 28-23 with 6:43 to play until halftime. Michigan answered with a quick 7-2 run of its own and pushed the lead to as many as 18 points before heading into the break ahead 48-32.
The 48 points were the most in the first half of a national semifinal since North Carolina had 49 against Villanova in 2009.
Both teams went into halftime with foul issues. Morez Johnson jr., Mara and McKenney also had two fouls for the Wolverines. Arizona guard Jaden Bradley picked up three fouls, limiting him to just 11 minutes in the first half, while star freshman Brayden Burries had two fouls and was 0 of 5 from the field.
The Wolverines kept their foot down coming out of the break, pushing the lead to 53-32 on a Lendeborg 3-pointer with 17:47 to play. That edge grew to 23 points at 64-41 on a Mara dunk with 14 minutes left and then ballooned to 27 points under two minutes later.
Michigan would continue to control the flow of the game on both ends, answering every brief Arizona run with a key bucket while forcing the Wildcats into increasingly difficult looks thanks to its lengthy frontcourt.
After the Wolverines went in front 77-47 with 10:31 to play, the only question left in this matchup asked they'd become the first team to score 100 points in the Final Four since Michigan State in 1979.
While they came up short of the century mark, the Wolverines’ 91 points were the program’s most in a semifinal since beating Princeton 94-76 in 1965.
Michigan is chasing the program’s second national title. The Wolverines previously reached the title game in 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992-93, 2013 and 2018, winning it all in 1989.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 4: Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 4, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 12 Joel Embiid – 10.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
Well, that wasn’t great.
The Philadelphia 76ers fell 116-93 to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday evening. The game was the close of the 15th of 16 back-to-backs for the Sixers this season after they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves just last night. Unfortunately, the Sixers looked like a team on the end of a back-to-back.
Joel Embiid was out on Saturday for oblique injury management and illness (he hadn’t played both legs of any back-to-back this season, though). The Pistons were without Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart.
It’s a testament to the Pistons’ depth how good they still are even without a player like Cunningham. Every time the Sixers would pull close to them, Detroit would suddenly have a burst of scoring to stretch their lead again. For the first half, Philadelphia were doing an alright job hanging in and battling back and forth.
The third quarter, as it has been so many times this season, was a different story. The Sixers started falling victim more often to the Pistons defense, committing a number of turnovers (some relatively unforced, even) while the Detroit offense continued to cook. In what truly felt like one fell swoop, the Sixers were suddenly down nearly 20 points. The Sixers were never able to recover in any meaningful way from then on.
With tonight’s loss, Philadelphia falls to the No. 7 seed in the East at least temporarily, now half a game behind the Toronto Raptors who did not play on Saturday. The Pistons, meanwhile, clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference with their victory over the Sixers.
The Sixers get a day to rest on Sunday before getting back to work on Monday visiting the San Antonio Spurs. Just four games remain.
Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer.
Paul George: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul George was available to play tonight after initially being listed as probable. Good thing, too, because he went right back to work doing exactly what he’s been able to do since returning from suspension: pretty much whatever he wants. He scored nine points in the first four minutes of the game by way of a catch-and-shoot three and a few mid-range jumpers. The only thing that slowed PG down was picking up two early fouls in the first. It didn’t stop him for long, however, with George reentering the game to start the second quarter and sinking yet another catch-and-shoot three in the first two minutes. By halftime, he was leading the field with 18 points on 6-for-7 field goal and 3-for-4 long range shooting in just under 14 and a half minutes on the floor.
PG’s night slowed down drastically from there as did the night for all of the Sixers, but it was still a good sign to see how well George is playing coming out of 25 games sidelined due to suspension.
George finished the game with 20 points on 7-for-14 field goal and 3-for-5 three-point shooting. He also had five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Paul George still looking DAMN good since returning, starts this one off with nine points in the first four minutes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OoEX6VAV0p
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Tyrese Maxey hit a number of really tough twos in the first and led the Sixers with 14 points after one on 5-for-8 field goal shooting (1-for-2 from long range). That being said, Maxey was another Sixer hamstrung by early fouls, picking up two in the first frame (and he was NOT happy about it). He went scoreless in the second, but fortunately PG and Edgecombe picked up in the slack in that frame.
As the game went on, Maxey seemed to start to fall out of sorts. Not sure if it was the fatigue of playing last night, a testament to the Detroit defense, or maybe a bit of both, but Maxey struggled in the third frame with some sloppiness and missed shots. His body language and facial expressions seemed to match the issue, with Maxey looking tired and/or frustrated quite a bit as things went on. He struggled, and the Sixers struggled without his offensive production setting the tone and pace the way it typically does.
Nevertheless, Maxey still found ways to chip in offensively here and there, and it added up. Despite what could probably be considered a lackluster game by Maxey’s standards, he still led the Sixers with 23 points. He also finished the game with one rebound, one assist and one steal.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It took a little bit for the rookie to get going tonight, posting just two points on 1-for-4 field goal shooting in the first frame, but he seemed to lock in quick once the second came around. Edgecombe began relying more on his speed and footwork and suddenly the shots started falling, totaling 11 points on 4-for-5 field goal shooting in the second quarter.
It just continues to be impressive to see the shots that the rookie is able to create for himself even against the better teams in the NBA. It doesn’t seem to matter how many defenders are right in his face, Edgecombe is able to use his athleticism and quick footwork to create just enough space that he’s able to sink buckets. Sometimes, I think we even take for granted just how good Edgecombe looks at just 20 years old, still in his first year as a professional. Sure, his efficiency shooting still leaves some to be desired on nights like tonight (he shot just 7-for-18 from the floor), but there’s so many positives to this rookie’s game night in and night out that it’s easier to have some grace for that… especially since no one else on the team can seem to shoot either at times.
The rookie finished with 19 points, six rebounds (three offensive), one assist, two steals and a block.
VJ Edgecombe makes the most of a little space and the rookie is up to 13 points so far tonight pic.twitter.com/ljzny7qb5C
<p> (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
Nick Nurse opted to start Andre Drummond instead of Adem Bona in place of the absent Embiid tonight, but Bona made the most of his minutes on the floor. He started his first stint with a tap-in put-back, something we have seen him do plenty of times. Then, however, he found success in a much different way: putting some genuinely nice footwork moves on Jalen Duren to find buckets. It was nothing incredibly wild, but it was really unexpected from someone we typically don’t see that from like Bona. Nevertheless, it paid off with six points on 3-for-3 field goal shooting in the first half (in addition to an offensive board and two assists).
Bona continued his efforts in the second half, seemingly having a lot more success against the Pistons (both offensively and defensively) than Drummond was able to at any point.
Bona finished the game with 10 points on perfect 5-for-5 field goal shooting with four rebounds (three offensive) and two assists in 23 minutes off the bench.
Just a really nice sequence from the Sixers here to pull within two of the Pistons. Another PG three, a steal, and Adem Bona with a great move for a bucket. pic.twitter.com/uKxnnmeXia
Hurley was asked about Auriemma following his team's win in the men's Final Four against Illinois on Saturday, April 4. Known for his bold, emotional antics on the sidelines, Hurley joked "obviously I've had a negative influence on Geno." He added it was crazy because "Geno has helped me so much," and he credited how Auriemma handled the fallout from it.
"Geno, the way handled the whole thing, such a stand up guy with the way he handled it with the statement, and he's one of the classiest people," Hurley said. "If any one should get the benefit of the doubt in the world of sports, it's Geno Auriemma, because he's one of the most authentic, genuine, great people you'll ever meet in your life."
Just as the previously undefeated UConn women were about to officially lose to South Carolina in the national semifinal on Friday, April 3, Auriemma had a heated end-of-game exchange with Staley as they went to shake hands, resulting in him heading to the locker room without shaking Staley or her team's hands.
That happened after Auriemma took a shot at Staley when complaining about the officiating during the game to ESPN's Holly Rowe. He said "their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referees some names you don't want to hear" and "I got a kid with a ripped jersey and (the refs) go, ‘I didn’t see it.’" The player with the ripped jersey was Sarah Strong, who said she actually ripped the jersey herself.
In his statement, Auriemma said "there’s no excuse" for how he handled the situation and said it was uncalled for how he acted.
Staley and South Carolina did not have much to say about the situation when speaking to media one day before the Gameocks play UCLA in the national championship game, with Staley saying it wasn't a distraction to the team.
"Just continue to focus on our team and their ability to advance in this tournament. And hopefully win another national championship," Staley said.
Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg limped off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium and headed immediately into the tunnel in the first half to get tended to by Michigan's medical staff. He appeared to have twisted his ankle on the previous play after stepping on the foot of Wildcats forward Motiejus Krivas while going to the basket for a layup. The broadcast later added that his knee was hurt on the play as well.
He is dealing with a sprained MCL of his left knee and an injured ankle, per CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson, who spoke with Michigan basketball head athletic trainer Chris Williams during halftime. Lendeborg also received ice to numb the pain and a massage in the Wolverines' locker room.
Here's the play that Lendeborg appears to have been injured on at the 8:51 mark of the first half:
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 5, 2026
The absence of Lendeborg, who picked up two fouls fewer than 90 seconds into the game, was immediately felt by the Wolverines, as the Wildcats went on a quick 9-0 run to get themselves back in the game. Michigan would then take over the game to build a 16-point halftime lead over Arizona.
He exited the game with five points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field to go along with a rebound and a steal. He was back on the court with the Wolverines' starting lineup to start the second half, and immediately hit back-to-back 3-pointers on his first two shot attempts.
On the court for post-game interviews, Lendeborg talked about the extent of injury and committed to playing unless he "can't walk at all."
"it's a weird feeling to have the pain that I'm having right now, I've never experienced it before," he said. "So um, coach said at worst it's an MCL sprain and obviously I rolled my ankle so I mean just that. But I'm gonna push through there's no way I'm missing (the) game on Monday night no matter what goes on. So I'm gonna play unless I can't walk at all."
With 5:15 left, Lendeborg heads back to the Michigan bench with a big smile. It's unknown if that's a wrap on him for this game, but his teammates should be able to close the game from here.
Lendeborg is subbed out of the game at the 13:02 mark of the second half and immediately heads to the stationary bicycle near the Wolverines' bench. In an additional report, Wolfson mentioned that Michigan athletic trainer Chris Williams and team doctor said it was up to Lendeborg to play in the second half.
According to Wolfson, Lendeborg is dealing with a sprained MCL and an injured ankle. As he continues to try to contribute in any way he can, he is clearly hobbled on the floor.
.@tracywolfson reports that Yaxel Lendeborg is dealing with a MCL sprain and an ankle injury
Ahead of the second half against Arizona, Lendeborg took the floor and tried to walk the floor a bit, not putting much pressure on his leg. He then tried some light jogging, and joined the Michigan huddle as the team convened before taking the floor.
Lendeborg appeared to twist his left ankle after going up for a layup at the 8:51 mark of the first half against Arizona in the Final Four.
As noted by Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, Lendeborg screamed and slapped his hands onto the floor of the court after landing awkwardly on his ankle before taking his two free throw attempts.
Yaxel screamed and slapped his hands on the ground after coming down awkwardly on that layup attempt. He hits both FT.
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) April 5, 2026
After Lendeborg hit both free throws, Michigan coach Dusty May took his veteran forward off the court. Lendeborg then immediately went into the tunnel to go back to the locker room to be looked at by members of the Wolverines' medical staff.
Later, it was reported that he also injured his knee on the play. The extent of the injury is unclear.
Here's a look Lendeborg initially heading back to the locker room:
Yaxel Lendeborg heading back to the locker room
"Yaxel Lendeborg is getting ice, and he's getting his ankle re-taped and should be back out here as soon as they can complete that." -- @tracywolfsonpic.twitter.com/sRbEhOyCAQ
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 5, 2026
Lendeborg was shown on the TBS broadcast at the 6:06 mark of the first half coming out of the locker room tunnel, walking gingerly back to the Michigan bench with a towel over his head. However, his presence on the Wolverines bench was short-lived, as he was brought back into the locker room. He was seen with a brace on his knee.
"It is the same ankle that he injured in the Big Ten tournament," Wolfson said in an additional report. She also reported that Michigan will continue to give Lendeborg more treatment in the locker room and then re-evaluate whether he is able to return to the game.
“I think it was the flow of the game, but coming into the game I knew I needed to shoot it with confidence coming off last Sunday just to have that flow, that momentum,” Mullins said. “Seeing the first two go in, it just boosts all the confidence for you to keep shooting. I think it just happened within the game.”
His teammates also had a good feeling: “When he hit that first one I kind of knew it was a going to be a good day. Once he hits that first shot and he’s aggressive, he’s kind of unstoppable, to be honest with you,” said junior forward Jaylin Stewart.
“His game’s always on point,” added freshman center Eric Reibe.
With the game still in the balance and the Illini cutting a 14-point deficit to a four-point UConn lead with under a minute to play, Mullins made another 3-pointer from the wing to secure the win and a matchup against the winner of the second national semifinal between No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona.
“Really, just since he stepped on campus he’s had such a great maturity to where I just want him to be himself and not let the moment get to you, don’t let any external pressure get to you,” said senior forward Alex Karaban. “Because at the end of the day, everything is amplified here. But you’re just playing basketball.”
Mullins finished with 15 points on 5 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 7 makes from deep. He had been mired in a long shooting slump, making a combined 11 of 59 3-pointers in his past nine games and just 5 of 25 in the Huskies’ first four tournament games.
Again and again this NCAA Tournament, Mullins has proved this stage isn’t too big for him to handle.
“I think he’s one of the best freshmen in the country,” Stewart said. “One of the best players in the country, honestly.”
Even against an opponent from the vaunted Big Ten and with his family in attendance for the national semifinals, the Greenfield, Indiana native remained poised and helped the Huskies stand a win away from the seventh national championship in program history.
“The way he’s playing is phenomenal as a freshman,” said senior guard Malachi Smith. “Braylon doesn’t really talk that much, but he talks to us on the court. And that’s what we need. Even when he’s not hitting shots, that’s what we need. He has the mamba mentality of going to the next play.”
After he was held in check until the final seconds against the Blue Devils, Mullins’ ability to get into a flow in the Final Four helped the Huskies take a 37-29 halftime lead after briefly falling behind 22-21 with seven minutes until the break.
But he went cold coming out of the locker room, missing his first five attempts from the field as the Illini began to cut away at the UConn advantage to make it a 63-59 game with a minute left.
All throughout this season, UConn veterans such as Karaban have preached to Mullins the importance of remaining confident even if his shots aren’t falling. Those lessons have continued to pay off: On the next possession, the soft-spoken freshman drilled his game-clinching jumper.
“You've always got to shoot with confidence,” Mullins said. "The set was going to be run for anybody on the team, you've just got to shoot with confidence. Just trying to find the best look on the floor and I know our point guards are going to get us the ball, so I think that was the biggest shot I hit tonight.”
Overshadowed by this late-game magic are the little things that Mullins continues to do even when his shot isn’t falling, teammates said. In the second half against Illinois, that included a pair of steals that helped the Huskies turn a 44-36 game with 17:08 to play into a 13-point lead just two minutes later.
“He gets it done every night. Even if he’s not hitting shots, he impacts the game in so many ways. He’s just a special player,” Stewart said.
But it’s a cold-blooded scorer that Mullins has played a starring role. Shot by shot, he’s building a postseason résumé full of shining-moment memories that will long outlast what could be a one-and-done run with the Huskies.
“We all know what kind of a shooter he is and what kind of scoring ability he has,” said Reibe. “And we really need his confidence. If we bring that together, we’re going to have a good night on Monday.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 4: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 4, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Two years ago, the Detroit Pistons were the laughing stock of the NBA and seemingly without hope. Tonight, they clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons used suffocating second-half defense to easily handle a tired Philadelphia 76ers team en route to an easy 116-93 win. All five Pistons starters scored in double figures, and two bench players joined in on the fun. They were led by Tobias Harris, who was booed lustily by a still-angry Sixers crowd that is apparently mad at Harris for saying yes to a huge contract that Sixers ownership offered him. Apparently, they are still angry Harris was signed to be the third man in Philly and played like a third man in Philly. He scored 19 points and had four steals on the night. He seemed to relish every opportunity to channel those boos into a patented backdown mid-range jumper.
The best player for the Pistons was Daniss Jenkins, who has been on a tear since entering the starting lineup for an injured Cade Cunningham. Jenkins had 16 points, 14 assists, and just one turnover on the night. He hit a bit of the not-quite-rookie wall in February, but he’s clearly on the other side of that. Now, he looks like he will be more than capable of playing critical minutes for a Pistons playoff run.
The game was a bit back and forth, mainly powered by quick scoring bursts on either side. The Pistons were able to get a 10-point lead after the first quarter, but it was quickly erased, with Detroit nursing a 47-45 lead with 8:09 in the second. It was all tied up at 56 with four minutes to play in the second, thanks to a great 18-point first-half permance by Paul George, but Detroit went on yet another run, taking a 71-60 lead into halftime.
The game completely flipped in the third quarter. The Sixers went into a zone at the midway point of the third quarter, and Detroit couldn’t figure it out. Meanwhile, Philly started to show some tired legs, playing its second game in two days, and could do nothing against Detroit’s ferocious defense. Things just got worse in the fourth.
Adam Bona had a tip dunk for the first basket of the final quarter to make the game 95-83 with 11:16 to play. Philly’s next point came with 5:11 remaining in the game. Not basket. Point. Unfortunately, in that stretch, Detroit only managed to score nine points.
Like so many opponents before them, Philadelphia couldn’t handle Detroit’s pressure, couldn’t resist settling for middling shots, and couldn’t find easy paths to the rim or open windows for passes. Detroit just squeezed the life out of them until there was nothing left.
The Pistons, for the most part, had no such issues. Despite a lethargic second half, Detroit shot just under 50% from the floor and 40% from deep. They had 33 assists on 43 made baskets, outscored the Sixers in the paint, on the break, off the bench, and won the rebounding battle.
Despite not having Cade Cunningham, their creator and engine of the offense, the Pistons just don’t have many weaknesses. They are 8-2 since Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung, and their two losses were in overtime to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks.
They have 57 wins with four more to play. A team that lost 60-plus games for two consecutive seasons just recently has a chance to win 60 games this season. That would make them just the third Pistons team in franchise history to accomplish the feat. They won 64 under Flip Saunders in 2005-06 and 63 in their NBA title season of 1988-89. This team is special.
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 40 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds, Christian Braun added 21 points and the Denver Nuggets beat San Antonio 136-134 in overtime Saturday to snap the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak.
Cameron Johnson scored 17, Jamal Murray finished with 15 points and 10 assists and Aaron Gordon scored 15 for the Nuggets.
Gordon scored with 6.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, then forced Victor Wembanyama into a miss on the final shot of regulation.
Wembanyama finished with 34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots for the Spurs, who lost for only the third time in their last 30 games.
Stephon Castle scored 20 points for San Antonio, while Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie each scored 18 for the Spurs.
HEAT 152, WIZARDS 136
MIAMI (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 32 points before dashing out to fly to the NCAA women’s basketball title game, Kel’el Ware finished with 24 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks, and Miami rolled past Washington.
Bam Adebayo — who scored 83 points in Miami’s last game with Washington — faced a triple-team on his first possession and scored 14 for Miami. Andrew Wiggins had 21 and Pelle Larsson scored 16 for the Heat. Adebayo also had nine rebounds and seven assists.
Miami reached 150 points for the third time in franchise history. It scored 153 against New Orleans last April 11 — and finished with 150 against the Wizards in Adebayo’s 83-point night on March 10.
Will Riley scored 31 for Washington, which has reached the 60-loss mark for the third straight season. Sharife Cooper scored 20 for the Wizards, who trailed by as many as 35 at one point.
PISTONS 116, 76ERS 93
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 19 points, and Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 assists as Detroit beat Philadelphia to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The last time the Pistons (56-21) were the top seed in the East was in 2006-07. They have already clinched the Central Division title for the first time since 2007-08.
Jalen Duren added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Ausar Thompson had 14 points for the Pistons, who have won 12 of their last 15 games.
Both Duren (illness) and Harris (left knee contusion) had been listed as questionable. The Pistons are 8-2 in the 10 games that Cade Cunningham has missed with a collapsed left lung.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 23 points. Paul George scored 20 points, and VJ Edgecombe added 19. George has averaged 25.8 points in six games since returning from a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.
