Category: NBA

If you were hoping for an upset tonight by the Washington Wizards tonight, you would be disappointed. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier tonight, 120-101.

Though Washington was able to head out of the first quarter with a 26-25 lead, they allowed the Lakers to outscored them 40-18 in the second quarter, which was more than enough to make the difference in this one.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. For the Wizards, Will Riley led with 20 points while Justin Champagnie added 18 more.

The Wizards’ next game is on Wednesday when they head back home to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.

In another matchup where the Utah Jazz had to do everything they could to lose, Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs pulled away late to win 122-113.

It’s another example of the Utah Jazz having to manipulate games to make sure they lose. What’s incredible is that this is against Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and a Cavaliers team that’s 4th in the East. What’s interesting about watching this game is that there wasn’t a lot of emotion watching Donovan Mitchell. There have been players in the past that Jazz fans have hated and felt residual emotion about after they left. A good example is Gordon Hayward, who left in a very cowardly fashion. The difference with Donovan Mitchell, and maybe it’s because Mitchell did give the Jazz an opportunity to get assets back for him, isn’t getting a lot of emotion from fans, almost nothing at all. Utah seems to be completely over their Ex… player, and it’s because they’re in a much better situation than before.

The time with Donovan Mitchell, even though it had some really fun moments, was like a toxic relationship. It’s now nearly four years later, and it feels like the Jazz have spent the last four years working on themselves, finding out who they are. The best part? They’re better for it and will be better than they ever were with Mitchell and Gobert. The core the Jazz have now is deeper, more talented, and more well-rounded than they ever had in the previous iteration. Oh, and they’re better coached as well. Keyonte George and Walker Kessler came in the Gobert trade, and you can bet the Jazz wouldn’t take that trade back. In the Cleveland trade, Utah received Lauri Markkanen and have picks to come down the road that’ll be helping the depth as the Jazz compete for the title. In the absence of Mitchell, they were able to draft players they traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., and one of their own picks became Ace Bailey. It’s a core that should be really good next year and for years to come.

Tonight, just like every game with the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell got his points (34), but it was not a victory that felt dominant, it felt like a soft win. It’s not the type of win I’d be excited about if I’m a Cavs fan.

For Utah, there’s a lot to be excited about. It’s a loss that will help lead the Jazz to keep their pick while also showcasing some of their young talent that will contribute to wins next year. Ace Bailey continues to show more and more consistent flashes of solid play. Tonight, he had 19 points on 8/15 shooting from the field and 3/6 from three. He also showed more ability playmaking with 5 assists. More and more, you see him being comfortable handling the ball. Bailey is never going to be Kyrie Irving handling the ball, but he is learning more and more how to handle the ball in situations, so he’s not turning it over or wasting possessions. Cody Williams had another impressive outing with 26 points on 11/22 shooting, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. He’s also proving to be yet another nice young piece that is developing nicely with the team. Utah also has some pieces in Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski, who are putting up consistently good numbers. Filipowski is showing some great late-season signs, and Sensabaugh has found a real groove lately, scoring at a high level in these games. That consistency from Filipowski and Sensabaugh is a fantastic sign and will make them invaluable next year, even if they may be doing more spot minutes.

All in all, it’s a nice night for the Jazz. Maybe the nicest thing was seeing Donovan Mitchell. Not because he was missed, but because he’s not missed, maybe at all. It’s a great feeling to feel free of all the baggage of the past and enter a new chapter that feels like it’s been done the right way.

Jaden Ivey called the Bulls “liars” after the team waived him on Monday for “conduct detrimental to the team” following an Instagram livestream where he criticized the NBA’s support of Pride Month. 

Ivey has hosted several livestreams recently where he has gone on lengthy tangents about religion and has made inflammatory remarks, including calling Catholicism a “false religion.” 

He took to the familiar platform on Monday night to address the Bulls’ decision, along with a winding diatribe about religion and calling out other NBA players. 

“They’re liars, bro. This is lying,” Ivey said during the Instagram Live, which appeared to be taking place while he was boarding a flight. “They’re lying saying my conduct is detrimental to the team. That’s a lie. Ask any one of them coaches in there, ‘Was I a good teammate?’ All I’m preaching about is Jesus Christ and they waived me. They say I’m crazy, right? I’m psycho.” 

He added that he was “doing what was required of my job” by being in the gym and rehabbing when the Bulls decided to waive him. 

Ivey had his season shut down last Thursday while he deals with left knee pain. 

Ivey also questioned why the Bulls didn’t outright say that the organization did not agree with his stance on LGBTQ issues, while continuing to insist that he had been a good teammate.

The former Bulls guard later appeared to question Steph Curry’s Christianity. 

“He don’t know Jesus and I pray he comes to the truth,” Ivey said. “All that stuff isn’t going to matter on Judgement Day. All them rings he got. All them rings LeBron [James] got. All them rings Michael Jordan got.”

Word of Ivey’s release broke on Monday afternoon, hours after the latest livestream, his third in roughly a week. 

Ivey’s behavior had started to raise some concerns among basketball fans. 

Asked about the decision to waive Ivey, Bulls head coach Bill Donovan said that “there’s a certain level of standards and expectations that are here.”

“I mean, we have people from all different walks of life working in the building and players from all different walks of life, right?” he said. “So, the first thing is, everybody comes with their own personal experiences. But one is, we’ve got to all be professional. I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”

The Dallas Mavericks continued their slide Monday night, getting blown out at home in a 124-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game that got out of hand early and never recovered. Dallas showed brief flashes on offense, but Minnesota’s size, ball movement, and physicality quickly took over, controlling the flow throughout. Daniel Gafford stood out with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, providing efficient scoring inside, while Cooper Flagg finished with 12 points, showing moments as a creator and defender despite an uneven night overall. Minnesota, meanwhile, attacked from all angles, with multiple players scoring efficiently and racking up 33 assists, consistently creating high-quality looks. By the fourth quarter, the game had already been decided, turning into extended garbage time with both teams going deep into their benches.

Dallas actually had a few early stretches where the offense looked functional, with Gafford finishing lobs and putbacks and Cooper Flagg getting out in transition for dunks, including one off a Brandon Williams assist that briefly cut into the deficit. There were also moments where Khris Middleton hit turnaround jumpers, and Klay Thompson knocked down a three off a Flagg assist, giving the appearance of some rhythm. But even in those moments, Minnesota’s response was immediate. Julius Randle hit a step-back three, Rudy Gobert finished inside, and Naz Reid spaced the floor with a three, keeping Dallas from ever building real momentum. The biggest issue was consistency: possessions would stall into missed pull-ups, turnovers, or blocked shots, while Minnesota kept generating high-quality looks through ball movement and interior pressure. By halftime, Dallas was already chasing the game, with the Timberwolves controlling both efficiency and physicality, and the gap reflected it as things started to tilt heavily in Minnesota’s favor.

The second half never really had any juice. Dallas got a couple of quick buckets early, mostly through Daniel Gafford’s finishes at the rim, but it never felt like the start of a real run as Minnesota answered every time down the floor. Julius Randle continued to score efficiently, Anthony Edwards got downhill when he wanted, and Donte DiVincenzo hit timely threes, keeping the lead comfortably in double digits. The Mavericks’ offense stayed inconsistent, with missed jumpers and empty possessions preventing any momentum from building. By the fourth quarter, it had fully shifted into garbage time, with both teams going deep into the bench and the outcome long decided.

-29: Max Christie plus/minus

Max Christie was almost invisible in this one, and it’s becoming a larger trend rather than a one-game issue. He finished with just three points on 1-of-5 shooting in 28 minutes, offering very little scoring punch or playmaking, and ended up a minus-29, which matched how the game felt when he was on the floor. It wasn’t just missed shots, either; possessions stalled, drives went nowhere, and there was no real pressure applied to the defense.

Looking at the bigger picture, this has been a rough stretch. Over his last 15 games, Christie has consistently hovered in that low-impact range inefficient shooting nights, minimal scoring output, and very little playmaking to offset it. There have been a few decent performances mixed in, but far too many games where he’s struggled to even reach double digits or influence the game in a meaningful way. For a guard playing real minutes, that’s a problem.

At some point, it becomes more than just a slump, it’s a real question. Dallas needs reliable guard production, especially next to a developing player like Cooper Flagg, and right now Christie just isn’t providing that. If this play continues into next season, it’s fair to start questioning how he fits into the long-term plan.

14: Missed Cooper Flagg shots

Cooper Flagg’s night was productive in flashes, but the efficiency continues to be the swing skill in his development. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting, and when you look closer, a lot of those misses came from the in-between areas, such as pull-ups, floaters, and contested midrange attempts, where he hasn’t quite found consistency yet. That’s the key right now. He has already proven he can impact the game at a high level when he’s getting downhill or creating for others, but when defenses take away the rim and force him into that middle ground, the offense starts to stall.

This isn’t a negative long-term. It is actually the exact kind of growth step you want to see. He’s getting to those spots, he’s comfortable taking those shots, and he’s clearly being asked to operate as a primary option. The next step is to turn those possessions into efficient ones. Whether it’s tightening the handle to create cleaner separation, adding touch on floaters, or becoming more decisive with his pull-up game, that in-between scoring will unlock everything else. Because once he can consistently punish defenses there, it becomes much harder to scheme against him, and nights like this, where the volume is there, but the efficiency isn’t, start to turn into real offensive production.

45: Timberwolves’ three-point percentage

The defensive numbers from this game were not just bad. They were revealing. Dallas allowed Minnesota to shoot 55% from the field and 45% from three, and those shots rarely felt contested. Too many possessions began with a breakdown at the point of attack, forcing help rotations and leading to open kick-outs or second-chance opportunities. It was not just one player getting hot. It was the entire defensive structure failing to hold up.

That is what makes it a bigger concern moving forward. This is not about one matchup or one night. It is about personnel and identity. Right now, Dallas lacks consistent perimeter defense, especially against teams that move the ball well and have multiple creators. When guards are getting downhill too easily or forcing help early in possessions, it puts the entire defense in scramble mode, and that is when shooters start getting clean looks. Minnesota took full advantage of that by moving the ball, finding the extra pass, and generating efficient offense all night.

This is where the offseason becomes critical. Whether it is through the draft or roster changes, Dallas has to prioritize perimeter defense. They need players who can stay in front, fight over screens, and disrupt rhythm. Until that improves, it will not matter how much size or versatility they have behind the play. Nights like this will keep happening, where the opponent gets comfortable early, finds a rhythm, and never really gets pushed out of it.

ATLANTA — The Celtics aren’t looking for moral victories after losses. That’s been their mindset all season, and that was their mindset on Monday night, after they fell to the Atlanta Hawks 112-102.

But, from an onlooker’s perspective, Monday’s loss did come with one fairly significant moral victory: Luka Garza is becoming an important (and impactful) member of the Celtics rotation, and he could be just scratching the surface of what he’s ultimately capable of.

The Celtics faced the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back, and Neemias Queta got the night off. As such, with Nikola Vucevic missing his 12th straight game with a fractured ring finger, Garza slotted into the starting lineup for the fifth time this season.

And, the 27-year-old — who is currently on a minimum contract with the Celtics — more than capitalized on the increased opportunity.

Garza scored 20 points on 8-9 shooting, including 2 of 3 three-point attempts as well as both of his free throws. He grabbed 9 rebounds, but helped secure several more. The Celtics outscored the Hawks by 6 points in Garza’s 28 minutes on the floor.

Luka Garza is up to 20 points! pic.twitter.com/ekRe66pdn5

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 31, 2026

The game posed the question: What kind of scorer could Garza become, if given the chance?

“I view myself as a scorer — I always have, just since being a kid,” Garza said. “I always felt like I had a knack for it. But I also have the awareness and understanding coming into the NBA — you can find how to do that in spots that make sense, especially when you have a team of guys who score a ball at a super high level, at a superstar level. That’s what the NBA is about — being able to shape and mold your game and fit in different ways. And, I think it goes beyond scoring for me.”

The former Iowa star has scored 15 or more points on 10 occasions this season and is averaging a career-best 7.5 points per game on 57.7% shooting. He’s converted 43.2% of his three-point attempts, the highest mark on the team.

He attributed a lot of his offensive prowess to his tenure in Iowa, where he was named National Player of the Year in 2021.

“I feel like I have an understanding of just good offense,” Garza said. “And I think that’s what helps me with screening or spacing or whatever, just my IQ from, mostly from college, playing for Fran McCaffrey taught me that. So, I just try to use that to my advantage. And when the opportunities come, I feel really confident I can put the ball in the basketball.”

Still, Garza’s season hasn’t come without adversity; twice now, the Celtics big man has fallen out of the rotation. The first stint was a couple-week stretch in December, and the second came after the trade deadline, after the Celtics acquired Vucevic.

But, both times, Garza ultimately got another stab at the rotation, and both times, he was ready.

How’d he do it?

Garza said he’s been able to deal with inconsistent minutes in large part because he knows that Joe Mazzulla has continuously gone back to players who have fallen out of the rotation; Jordan Walsh, who tallied 31 minutes on Monday night, is the latest such example.

“He keeps coming back to you,” Garza said. “And I think that’s a huge thing. Obviously, you go through stretches where you’re not playing or whatever, and that sucks. But to have a coach always gives you back that chance, gives you an opportunity at different points. You don’t know when it’s coming, necessarily, but you know it is coming, so that helps you with the mindset of staying ready, staying locked in.”

Garza said that hasn’t necessarily been the case in all of his previous stops: “But here with Joe, he has the ability and the confidence to go to all of us at any given point, and that breeds confidence for our guys, especially the guys not playing — because you know it’s coming.”

It remains to be seen what kind of role Garza will have in the Celtics’ playoff rotation. But it’s become increasingly clear that if his number is called, he’ll more likely than not be ready.

I was tempted to write “This is a nationally televised game so it’s definitely a loss” and leave it at that.

Most teams don’t have terrific records in nationally televised games. At least one of the teams is usually a contender, or at least was considered one when the season started. Other primetime games are ones where there is public interest, like Kevin Durant’s return to Phoenix, which didn’t happen originally but will in one week.

Counting tonight’s contest, the Houston Rockets play four of their final eight games on national telelvision. That’s scary enough, especially when you factor in that they’re all big games.

The New York Knicks are the best team Houston has left on the schedule by record, though obviously the Minnesota game next week is the more important one. Still, tonight is the start of a back-to-back and unless New York just smokes Houston, it’s likely that Ime Udoka will keep his starters in for their full shifts.

It bears mentioning that New York is one of two teams that have a shot to sweep Houston this season. The Knicks and Sixers both beat Houston in their own buildings and each will make the trip to Toyota Center in the season’s final weeks.

Tip-off

7pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network and NBC/Peacock

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Knicks

Miles McBride: GTD

Landry Shamet: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

New York -1.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Tomorrow night at home against the Milwaukee Bucks

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz 122-113.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

34 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

One might take this stuff for granted. You shouldn’t. This was Mitchell’s 32nd game of the season, scoring more than 30+ points. The fact that he did it while shooting 10-18 from the floor and without limiting Evan Mobley (who also scored 34 points) is everything you want from your star.

Everything…. except stellar defense. I can’t give him the full A+ because of that. Sorry, Don.

Grade: A

James Harden

13 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds

Harden has now dished 28 assists across his last two games. That’s impressive. More impressive is how he kept the offense focused on feeding Mobley. The Cavs didn’t have it going from downtown (just 6-32 shooting), but they scored their most points in the paint all season — in large part due to Harden’s playmaking.

Again, lackluster defense is holding back his grade.

Grade: B+

Evan Mobley

34 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal

This was Mobley’s best game of the season. Aggressive drives and deep seals in the paint led to his highest scoring game since last year. Mobley made himself available early and often, playing with so much authority that Cleveland couldn’t help but play through him. More of this, Ev.

Grade: A+

Sam Merrill

9 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds

Merrill turned Utah’s defense into Swiss cheese with his quick attacks off the catch and well-timed cuts. He’s blossomed into an all-around offensive player, dashing to the basket and even tossing a lob to Mobley in the second half.

That’s important to note, because Sam shot 0-8 from deep tonight but finished 4-6 inside the arc.

Grade: B–

Keon Ellis

13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, block

Ellis makes some great defensive plays. He also makes some bad ones. That’s something that’s become more apparent as he plays more minutes in Cleveland.

For every steal or block, there’s a blown switch or gamble that leads to a breakdown. Some of this should be cleaned up as Ellis becomes more familiar with his team. But some of the dangerous gambles he takes are inherent to his playstyle. He’s a high-risk, high-reward defender.

Ellis turned this into a positive outing by shooting 5-7 inside of two-point range.

Grade: B

Craig Porter Jr.

2 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds

Porter played his first game since March 13. It was a quiet performance, with Porter mostly getting his feet back under him rather than doing anything special.

Grade: C-

Tyrese Proctor

8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist

Proctor was the best guard off the bench tonight. The rookie shot efficiently (3-6 from the floor) and fit in defensively. I’m excited to see him develop and hopefully crack the rotation next season.

Grade: B

Dennis Schroder

3 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

Schroder shot 1-4 and wasn’t particularly helpful on defense. That said, he didn’t turn it over and dished 3 assists. So it wasn’t all bad.

Grade: C–

Thomas Bryant

2 points, 7 rebounds, 3 turnovers

Bryant gets stretched thin against faster teams. We’ve seen that a few times this season. He finished as a team-worst minus-12 in 18 minutes.

Grade: D

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz behind a monster game from Evan Mobley. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

WINNER – Evan Mobley

It’s not every night that Evan Mobley looks like a bully. But tonight, the Utah Jazz had no one who could defend Mobley in the paint.

Mobley commanded multiple bodies to stop him from burrowing his way under the basket for a bucket. That gravity made it easier for the Cavs offense to operate — as Mobley was routinely sucking in the defense and getting the Jazz to scramble.

All of that was made possible by Mobley’s 16 points in the first half. Each basket came in the paint, with Mobley going 8-11 from the field in the opening half. He was a dominant force, attacking in transition and sealing mismatches deep in the restricted area.

Mobley finished with 34 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks. It was his first game of 30+ points since March 19, 2025. If this is Mobley peaking, then he picked the right time. They’ll need this version of him in the playoffs.

This is the mentality that’s expected of Mobley. He won’t always be the focal point of an offense that is led by two ball-dominant guards. But when Mobley has a favorable matchup, he has to make it undeniable. Demand the ball and prove why you should have it. That’s what he did in Utah.

LOSER – 3PT Defense

Rinse and repeat.

The Cavs have an obvious weak point. They haven’t successfully contained the perimeter for most of the season. Whether it be due to simple miscommunications or over-helping on the backline, there’s a pattern that can’t be ignored.

Utah is the latest team to light up the Cavaliers from downtown. They connected on more than half of their attempts (15-29) and nearly shot it well enough to win the game.

Too often it seems like the communication on the perimeter is leading to these breakdowns. pic.twitter.com/eOi9hayZaM

— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) March 31, 2026

I’m more than willing to give credit where it’s due. The Jazz converted some difficult jumpers throughout the night. They did, however, also receive their fair share of quality looks. Again, this Cavs team is detached and far from playing on a string. Breakdowns are internal, with unforced errors resulting in open looks for their opponents.

This is difficult to fix on the fly. It’s one of the limitations they’ve faced since changing the roster in February. This team doesn’t have the continuity or chemistry required to be a flawless defensive team. They have just a few weeks to polish their scheme and get on the same page before the playoffs begin. That’s no small task.

It didn’t help that Cleveland shot just 6-32 from deep in this one. It was their worst three-point shooting game of the season.

But hey, credit to the Cavs for winning a game in which they were outscored by 27 points from deep.

WINNER – A Backcourt Trio

Let’s go down the list and give shout-outs to a trio of guards in the starting lineup. Sam Merrill, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden showcased their own positives in this one.

Harden wasn’t overly aggressive in searching for his own shot. But he read the room and made a conscious effort to feed Evan Mobley. He repeatedly orchestrated the offense to center on Mobley — ultimately fueling the big man’s big scoring performance. Harden finished with 14 assists for the second game in a row.

Cleveland realized Evan Mobley had the biggest offensive advantage and kept him as a focal point from start to finish

Harden and Mitchell did a great job orchestrating that https://t.co/9jvxnl9dEW

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) March 31, 2026

Meanwhile, Mitchell poured in a somewhat quiet 34 points. It’s the type of thing we’ve almost come to take for granted, considering how often it happens. This was Mitchell’s 32nd game of 30+ points this season alone. He did it on 10-18 shooting (11-12 from the free throw line).

Finally, Merrill continues to impress me with his on-ball creation. He’s made a genuine leap in terms of attacking the basket. Merrill has had success putting the ball on the floor and bursting around defenders for layups. And, he’s expertly cut his way to the rim for even more scoring opportunities.

Players like Merrill can easily fall into a box. Specialists who never become anything more. But Merrill has proven he can impact the game in multiple ways. That’s made him a starting-caliber player for the Cavs and someone who can surprise you on any given night.

Much to the delight of both organizations, the Cleveland Cavaliers did enough to pull out the 122-113 win over the tanking Utah Jazz to start their brief three-game road trip.

This game was much closer than it should’ve been in the fourth quarter. The Jazz were without six rotation players and came into this game losers of their last five and having dropped nine of their last 10.

Meanwhile, the Cavs rested two key rotation players, Max Strus and Jarrett Allen, in preparation for tomorrow’s game with the Los Angeles Lakers. That, combined with being without Dean Wade (ankle) and Jaylon Tyson (toe), left the Cavs thin on bench reserves. However, that itself doesn’t explain why this game was close late.

Cleveland simply couldn’t put the game away despite having several chances to do so early. They opened the second quarter on a 13-1 run, which allowed them to stretch their lead to 14, but they didn’t keep their foot on the gas, allowing the Jazz back into the game before the break.

This happened once again in the third quarter. The Cavs pushed the lead to 15 midway through the third, but then allowed the Jazz to claw back. They tied things up three-and-a-half minutes into the fourth and even took a brief two-point lead with five minutes left in the contest.

The Cavaliers’ starters were able to reassert control of the game from there. The offense executed well down the stretch thanks to a strong fourth quarter from Evan Mobley.

As was the case all game, the Jazz didn’t have an answer for Mobley inside. He did a good job of attacking in space, beating mismatches, and finishing lobs inside. This included putting the Jazz away with an and-one layup, an alley-oop from Sam Merrill, and an and-one pick-and-roll with James Harden on three-straight possessions, which started with four minutes to play in the fourth quarter. This took it from a three-point advantage to an 11-point one to help seal the game.

Mobley scored 10 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter. On the night, he finished with 17 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal on 15-21 shooting. This led to him leading the team in plus/minus at +21.

Not to be outdone, Donovan Mitchell also supplied 34 points. He did so on 10-18 shooting with five assists and a steal.

Harden once again showed his skill in manipulating the defense. He seemingly created open shots for his teammates every time down the court. This resulted in him racking up 14 assists for the second game in a row. He also had 13 points on 4-9 shooting to go along with six rebounds.

This game shouldn’t have been close based on how well the Cavs’ three best players performed. But, you’d also expect the team to shoot better than 6-32 (18.8%) from three.

Meanwhile, the Jazz were outclassed for most of the game, but their hot shooting kept them alive. They went 15-29 (51.7%) from beyond the arc. Allowing opponents to get hot from beyond the arc continues to be an issue for the Cavs.

The Jazz were led by 26 points from Cody Williams. Kyle Filipowski had 20 points and 10 rebounds on 7-12 shooting.

The Cavaliers will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Luka Doncic and the Lakers. Tip-off is at 10:30 PM Eastern.

The Dallas Mavericks got blown out at home Monday night, losing 124-94 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Dallas.

Cooper Flagg had a game to forget, as he couldn’t buy a bucket for the entire game. But it wasn’t just him that struggled. Almost every Mavericks was off, besides Brandon Williams.

The Mavericks were soundly outplayed in the first quarter, with the Timberwolves playing with playoff-like intensity. Flagg missed his first four shots, and was heavily bothered by Rudy Gobert’s rim protection.

The Timberwolves three point shooting carried their offensive output, and as usual the Mavericks did not respond in kind.

Flagg was able to get his first bucket on a beautiful cut to the rim, with a great pass from Brandon Williams. He followed it up with a great block on Gobert; although, he wasn’t able to hit the pullup jump-shot over the French big man. The Mavericks offense continued to struggle the rest of the quarter, with the lack of any three point shooters ruining the spacing.

The Timberwolves began to build a cushion in the third quarter, with the Mavericks having zero response to the early Minnesota run. Minnesota’s transition offense was especially crisp, with the Minnesota guards taking advantage of the Mavericks mistakes.

The overall difference in talent felt massive, and with the Timberwolves playing with playoff intensity, the Mavericks had no answer. The fourth quarter was mainly a formality, with the Timberwolves continuing the second half demolition of the Mavericks.

Cooper Flagg’s shot diet has to change

Flagg was pretty horrendous against the Timberwolves, as the pressure and physicality seemed to throw him of his rhythm.

It also didn’t help that he seemed absolutely terrified to shoot from behind-the-arc.

A microcosm of this issue came early in the second quarter, with Flagg settling for a terrible mid range jumper instead of an uncontested three. Obviously it doesn’t really matter for this season, but going forward it has to change, or Flagg’s scoring potential is capped.

It isn’t even the percentage that worries me, but rather the complete lack of confidence he feels in his shot. The Timberwolves perfectly exploited this, as they routinely gave him plenty of room in his isolation or pick-and-roll reps.

Hopefully an offseason of work can help the 19 year-old find his confidence, make-or-miss.

The Mavericks aren’t close… yet

A game like this truly illustrates the massive gap between a real deal contender, and the Dallas Mavericks.

While the Mavericks were without both Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington, it wouldn’t have mattered. The difference in execution, talent and intensity between the two teams was stark.

This game also showed how to build a great team around a slashing superstar wing, with Anthony Edwards not even being needed in this contest.

The Timberwolves three point shooting and point of attack defense are both elite, while the Mavericks have massive holes in both areas.

Hopefully the Mavericks realize this, and seek to actually address this in the offseason.

According to a report by Aris Barkas of Euro Hoops, the NBA, FIBA, and EuroLeague will reignite negotiations about teaming up to revamp professional basketball in Europe over the next few days. While broad discussions surrounding an NBA Europe venture have circulated for years, there has been building momentum for a 2027 start. Barkas’ reporting suggests it really could be close to becoming reality. There seems to be a pathway for all three major basketball institutions to support the new league.

Since Barkas says many investors are hesitant to pour nine-figure investments into an upstart league, the NBA is more open to collaborating with the EuroLeague than at previous points. While the NBA once aimed to immediately take control of the league from current ownership groups, they now appear interested in collaborating with the league on a minor expansion from 20 to 24 teams. It’s unclear if the added teams would be specific NBA affiliates or if the NBA will simply provide smaller support to all 24 squads.

Barkas adds that the NBA’s collaboration with EuroLeague could also help ensure the new venture does not add further conflicts to FIBA’s international competition schedule. While the NBA largely functions independent of FIBA, since basketball powerhouses like the U.S. can often rely on non-NBA talent for qualifying tournaments during the season, the EuroLeague has had a much more contentious relationship with FIBA. Barkas speculates that the NBA’s added presence could help mend those fences.

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 22
VJ Edgecombe – 12
Joel Embiid – 10
Paul George – 7
Justin Edwards – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 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

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Towards the beginning of Philadelphia’s crucial road contest against the Heat, it looked like the Sixers might have contracted the South Beach flu. Miami was racing out for a ton of transition points and opened up a 13-point lead in the first quarter. However, the Sixers rallied to take a seven-point lead in the second quarter and a game of runs ensued. With Philadelphia leading by four with three minutes remaining, the Heat went on a 14-0 run to seize control and put the game away in an eventual 119-109 final. Tyler Herro scored eight of his game-high 30 points during that run. It was a disappointing loss for the Sixers, who now drop 1.5 games behind Toronto and Atlanta in the standings. With this result, Philadelphia also lost the season series, 2-1, to Miami, which could come into play with the Heat just 1.5 games back of the Sixers. Let’s talk Bell Ringer before we move onto Washington Wednesday night.

Paul George: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover

It really is noticeable how much healthier George feels after his time off from the suspension. You could see it on his first bucket of the game when he drove down the lane and rose up for a two-handed dunk. Or when he raced ahead in transition to get ahead of the defense and lay a bucket in for a three-point play. PG was instrumental to the Sixers hanging around in the first quarter. He threw a perfect alley-oop pass to VJ Edgecombe from about 35 feet away. George also made a great play to dig down defensively and knock the ball away from Bam Adebayo from behind, then rushed over to present an outlet option for Dominick Barlow, who had hustled to the floor for the loose ball. As the game wore on, George’s shot grew colder, but I’d still chalk this game up as a good sign of things to come.

PG ends the quarter on a high note. He's got a team-high 11 and the Sixers closed the gap after a tough start. pic.twitter.com/lbj8IyVIBU

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) March 30, 2026

Tyrese Maxey: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers

Like many Sixers on the evening, Maxey had a cold shooting night from deep. I felt he nicely used the threat of his shot to work his way into easier mid-range looks on a few occasions. Tyrese also continued to attack, with a team-high seven attempts from the free throw line, and made some nice drive-and-kick reads to open three-point shooters. We also witnessed the growth in Maxey’s defensive game. On two separate occasions, Tyrese played outstanding isolation defense, staying with his man and blocking Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez as they went up for the shot, then collecting the ball to spur a transition opportunity. Overall, it wasn’t the best Maxey night, but remember he’s playing with a splint on his shooting hand after all.

A nice spurt from Maxey helps the Sixers close the gap. We got a ballgame heading into the fourth. pic.twitter.com/zDiJN6WYjs

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) March 31, 2026

Joel Embiid: 26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers

Joel was the most consistent offensive weapon for the Sixers. He displayed physicality early on with a couple back-down drives and buckets in the face of Bam Adebayo. Later, Embiid was the skeleton key to unlock the Miami zone, finding his sweet spot in the mid-range circle and rising up over the likes of 6-foot-5 Pelle Larsson. Joel tried his best to carry the team across the finish line, leading the Sixers with 10 points in the fourth quarter, including the big three-pointer to put them up by four late.

Big fella getting warm and we're tied up in Miami pic.twitter.com/yc87ERCBmK

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) March 31, 2026

MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 30 points, Bam Adebayo finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, and the Miami Heat used a 14-0 run in the final moments to rally past the Philadelphia 76ers 119-109 on Monday night.

Pelle Larsson added 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for Miami (40-36), which kept some realistic hope of getting out of the play-in tournament range — or at least getting into one of the top two spots and therefore assuring itself two chances of making the playoffs — alive with the win. The Heat are ninth in the Eastern Conference, in a virtual tie with No. 8 Orlando.

Joel Embiid scored 26 points for Philadelphia, which got a 23-point, nine-assist, seven-rebound night from Tyrese Maxey. Paul George added 19 points for the 76ers, who remained seventh in the East.

VJ Edgecombe had 13 points and five assists for Philadelphia, on a night where many from the Bahamas — his homeland — made the short trip to Miami and waved flags in the arena whenever he did something right.

HAWKS 112, CELTICS 102

ATLANTA (AP) — Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson each scored 20 points, and three days after losing to the Celtics on the road, the Hawks responded with a win over Boston. It was Atlanta’s 13th consecutive home win.

Okongwu (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Johnson each had double-doubles. It was Johnson’s (20 points, 12 rebounds) 45th of the season.

A tightly contested first half with 10 ties and nine lead changes ended at 54-all as Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a 27-foot 3-pointer to seal the first half. Atlanta carried that momentum into the third quarter, outscoring the Celtics 36-22 to take a 14-point lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Celtics climbed back from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to come within eight points in the last two minutes. Johnson and Alexander-Walker helped put the game out of reach with four made free throws in the final minute.

Boston’s lineup looked different this time around, with Jaylen Brown returning after a two-game absence and Jayson Tatum on the bench with injury management. Tatum scored 26 points during the teams’ Friday meeting.

Brown had a team high 29 points and 10 rebounds. Luka Garza had 20 points and nine rebounds.

SUNS 131, GRIZZLIES 105

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Devin Booker scored 36 points on 16-of-24 shooting, Jalen Green added 21 points, and Phoenix beat Memphis.

Collin Gillespie had 11 points — all in the fourth quarter — and 10 assists for the Suns. Oso Ighodaro and Rasheer Fleming also scored 11 points.

Booker banked in a straight-away 3-pointer at the buzzer in the third quarter to give Phoenix a two-point lead. GG Jackson threw down a dunk to open the fourth that made it 91-all, but Fleming grabbed an offensive rebound and his putback with 11:14 left in the game gave Phoenix the lead for good.

Ighodaro followed with a dunk and Gillespie added a 3-pointer and a jumper before Jordan Goodwin stole a pass and fed Ryan Dunn for a fast-break dunk that capped an 11-0 run. Goodwin and Fleming made 3s 21 seconds apart that made it 108-95 with 6:59 remaining, and the Grizzlies trailed by double digits the rest of the way.

Tyler Burton led Memphis with 17 points and Cam Spencer scored 16. Jackson and Jahmai Mashack each added 14 points.

SPURS 129, BULLS 114

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had a season-high 41 points and 16 rebounds while collecting the fastest double-double in NBA history, and San Antonio won their ninth straight, defeating Chicago.

Wembanyama had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first 8 minutes, 31 seconds on the court, collecting his 10th rebound 1:55 into the second quarter. Jim Washington of the St. Louis Hawks had a double-double in nine minutes against the New York Knicks on March 6, 1966.

Wembanyama punctuated his season-high with a driving, one-handed dunk for his final points midway through the fourth quarter. He was 17 for 27 from the field and 3 for 6 on 3-pointers in scoring at least 30 points for the 14th time this season.

Stephon Castle added 21 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for San Antonio, which has has won nine consecutive games.

Bulls point guard Tre Jones had 23 points in his first game in San Antonio since being traded to Chicago as part of the deal that brought De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs. Leonard Miller added 21 points and Collin Sexton had 20 as the Bulls lost their fourth straight.

TIMBERWOLVES 124, MAVERICKS 94

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas native Julius Randle scored 24 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 points off the bench in his return following a six-game absence, and Minnesota beat Dallas.

Edwards was announced as a starter but was late to the court and replaced in the lineup by Mike Conley. Edwards checked in after 2:01 elapsed.

Edwards went in needing to play in every remaining Wolves game to meet the NBA’s 65-game minimum for eligibility for all-NBA consideration.

Ayo Dosunmu had 16 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists for his first triple-double since being acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline.

The Timberwolves (46-29) moved into sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of idle Houston.

Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo hit 5 of 9 behind the arc and finished with 15 points.

Daniel Gafford scored 21 points to lead the lottery-bound Mavericks (24-51), who have lost their last 13 home games.

CAVALIERS 122, JAZZ 113

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell each scored 34 points and Cleveland used a late fourth-quarter surge to beat Utah.

Mobley set a season-high for points, including eight dunks, and also had 16 rebounds and three blocks. The 7-footer capped the decisive 14-1 run with a three-point play that made it 117-106 with 3:14 remaining.

James Harden had 13 points and 14 assists for the Cavaliers, who have won five straight road games and six of their last seven overall.

Cody Williams scored 26 points, Kyle Filipowski had 20 and Ace Bailey added 19 for Utah. The Jazz have lost six straight and 10 of their last 11.

LAKERS 120, WIZARDS 101

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, Austin Reaves added 19 points and nine assists, and Los Angeles rolled to a win over Washington.

It was James’ 1,228th career victory, including the playoffs, to tie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most in NBA history.

With Luka Doncic serving a one-game suspension after getting called for his 16th technical foul of the season against Brooklyn on Friday, an energized James led the Lakers to their 12th win in the past 13 games, attacking the rim from the start including throwing down two emphatic two-handed dunks set up by Reaves in the first quarter.

Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes each had 19 points off the bench, Deandre Ayton chipped in with 12, and the Lakers improved to 7-6 without Doncic in the lineup this season.

Los Angeles would have clinched a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title with the win and a Phoenix loss, but the Suns’ 131-105 victory over Memphis delayed the formality of securing a fourth straight trip to the postseason.

Will Riley led the Wizards with 20 points and Justin Champagnie had 18 as they lost for the 19th time in 20 games.

THUNDER 114, PISTONS 110, OT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points and Oklahoma City defeated Detroit in overtime.

The reigning league MVP, and strong candidate to repeat, made 12 of 19 field goals and 21 of 25 free throws. He extended his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 20 points to 136.

The Thunder became the first team in the league to win 60 games this season, and it’s the first time Oklahoma City has won at least that many in back-to-back seasons. The Thunder’s 15th win in 16 games kept them two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs atop the Western Conference standings.

Oklahoma City, which defeated the New York Knicks on Sunday night, looked sluggish against the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who were missing four of their five regular starters. Cade Cunningham remained out with a collapsed lung. All-Star Jalen Duren was out with a right knee injury and Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson were out with right hip injuries. Isaiah Stewart, a key reserve, missed the game with a left calf strain.

Detroit had won five of six without Cunningham, and they hung tough on Monday. Paul Reed had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Javonte Green scored 19 points and Kevin Huerter added 17 for the Pistons.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas native Julius Randle scored 24 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 points off the bench in his return following a six-game absence, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Dallas Mavericks 124-94 on Monday night.

Edwards was announced as a starter but was late to the court and replaced in the lineup by Mike Conley. Edwards checked in after 2:01 elapsed.

Edwards went in needing to play in every remaining Wolves game to meet the NBA’s 65-game minimum for eligibility for all-NBA consideration.

Ayo Dosunmu had 16 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists for his first triple-double since being acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline.

The Timberwolves (46-29) moved into sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of idle Houston.

Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo hit 5 of 9 behind the arc and finished with 15 points.

Daniel Gafford scored 21 points to lead the lottery-bound Mavericks (24-51), who have lost their last 13 home games.

Mavericks star rookie Cooper Flagg scored 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting after starting 1 for 10.

The Mavericks’ home losing streak is their longest at the 25-year old American Airlines Center. It’s their longest since dropping their first 19 games at since-demolished Reunion Arena to begin the 1993-94 season.

Minnesota used a 19-2 run to open a 23-10 lead late in the first quarter and never again trailed. The Wolves led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.

Up Next

Timberwolves: Visit Detroit on Thursday.

Mavericks: Visit Milwaukee on Tuesday.

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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Devin Booker scored 36 points on 16-of-24 shooting, Jalen Green added 21 points, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies 131-105 on Monday night.

Collin Gillespie had 11 points — all in the fourth quarter — and 10 assists for the Suns. Oso Ighodaro and Rasheer Fleming also scored 11 points.

Booker banked in a straight-away 3-pointer at the buzzer in the third quarter to give Phoenix a two-point lead. GG Jackson threw down a dunk to open the fourth that made it 91-all, but Fleming grabbed an offensive rebound and his putback with 11:14 left in the game gave Phoenix the lead for good.

Ighodaro followed with a dunk and Gillespie added a 3-pointer and a jumper before Jordan Goodwin stole a pass and fed Ryan Dunn for a fast-break dunk that capped an 11-0 run. Goodwin and Fleming made 3s 21 seconds apart that made it 108-95 with 6:59 remaining, and the Grizzlies trailed by double digits the rest of the way.

Tyler Burton led Memphis with 17 points and Cam Spencer scored 16. Jackson and Jahmai Mashack each added 14 points.

Phoenix shot 50.5% (55 of 109) and hit 17 3-pointers.

Up next

Suns: Visits Orlando on Tuesday.

Grizzlies: Hosts New York on Wednesday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba