Category: NBA

Not every top seed features a compelling storyline.

Not every 16-seed is fit to wear Cinderella's slipper.

No Men's NCAA Tournament is without its share of intrigue, but the storylines hardly are limited to those teams who populate the top- and bottom-seed lines.

March Madness printable bracket: Fill out for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

Here are five teams, slotted as high as No. 2 upon the onset of March Madness and relatively mid-tier as the West's No. 7-seed, to consider among this tournament's most intriguing.

Arkansas

The SEC tournament champion. John Calipari. A potential lottery pick.

Might this Arkansas squad that's won five straight games have enough to give Calipari a fourth program in the Final Four and the Arkansas program its first run to the semifinals since 1995?

Well, Darius Acuff Jr. is a consensus projected NBA Draft lottery pick; he's riding SEC tournament MVP honors into the next wave of March basketball. The 6-3 freshman guard on Sunday became the first player in SEC history to score 30 points and dish at least 10 assists after he closed with 11.

Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond III bring frontcourt presence for the Razorbacks, who don't have a deep bench but do count former McDonald's All American game MVP D.J. Wagner among their reserves.

Only two teams in college basketball — Alabama and Miami (Ohio) — scored more than the 90 points per game Arkansas averaged.

Iowa State

The Midwest's No. 2 seed didn't drop its first game of the 2025-26 season until a mid-January road trip to Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks.

The Cyclones have three players who score in double digits, with Milan Momcilovic pacing things at 17.1 ppg, and eight players averaging 4.5 ppg or more.

Iowa State enters the tournament with the nation's No. 12 scoring defense (65.1 ppg).

Miami (Fla.)

College basketball's largest year-over-year turnaround belongs to the Miami Hurricanes and first-year coach Jai Lucas.

After closing the Jim Larrañaga era amidst a 7-24 season, the Hurricanes already own an 18-win improvement and get No. 10 seed Missouri to open the NCAA Tournament.

Malik Reneau, starter in all 33 games, is Miami's top scorer (18.8 ppg) and No. 2 rebounder (6.6), trailing only the 9.3 boards of Ernest Udeh Jr.

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Purdue

The preseason No. 1 team was the Big Ten's No. 7 seed for its league tournament. But the Boilermakers won their four Big Ten tournament games by 44 combined points, punctuated by Sunday's eight-point win against top-seeded, regular-season champion Michigan and nabbed the No. 2 seed in the West.

Purdue has Braden Smith, in any jersey number, chasing Bobby Hurley's NCAA career assists record — he's one shy, at 1,075 dimes.

The Boilermakers also have their latest rec-league basketball star, Oscar Cluff, poised for his March Madness breakout.

The 6-11 Sunshine Coast, Australia, native taxed Michigan Sunday for a game-high 21 points.

Vanderbilt

Second-year Commodores coach Mark Byington has Vanderbilt dancing in back-to-back years for the first time since 2016-17.

Vanderbilt has wins against fellow NCAA Tournament teams Saint Mary's, SMU, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee (twice).

The Commodores get 19.1 ppg from hometown sophomore Tyler Tanner and graduate-transfer guard Duke Miles — playing for his fourth team after previous stints with Troy, High Point and Oklahoma — adds 16.5.

AK Okereke skipped the 2025 NBA Draft for an extra year in college, in which he transferred from Cornell to Vanderbilt and has seen his pro status continue to generate NBA intrigue.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Tournament predictions: Teams that could make Final Four run

Come this week, four televisions will assemble in my living room, because once March Madness arrives, neither one nor two nor three TVs is enough to capture all of the simultaneous magic of America’s greatest postseason sporting event.

I’m happy to know I’m not alone.

“Love those first-round games. Those are my favorite two days the entire year, those first two days. We have four TVs set up,” Troy basketball coach Scott Cross told me after the Sun Belt Tournament championship.

March Madness predictions: One of these teams will win NCAA Tournament

Except Cross can skip the TVs this year. His Trojans will be playing in March Madness for a second straight season. That means they’ll be on one of my four TVs.

When I think about what I love about March Madness, I think about that four-TV setup, including one TV I keep in a closet for 11 months, purely to use each March.

March Madness region breakdown: South | East | Midwest | West

Here are six more reasons why we love March Madness, with the NCAA Tournament nearly upon us:

1. The March Madness bracket

The bracket is ubiquitous to the tournament, so much so that the NCAA even embraced it into its March Madness branding.

Four regions with 16 teams apiece. No byes. No bizarre seeding rules. Perfectly symmetrical. Neurologically pleasing. Win and advance. Lose and you’re out.

So easy to understand that everyone from your 90-year-old grandma to your 9-year-old son can fill out a bracket without much need for explanation of how this works.

2. The March Madness upsets

Pop quiz!

I’ll give you the underdog, and you provide the opponent it stunned in the first round.

Ready?

1. Norfolk State
2. Saint Peter's
3. Florida Gulf Coast
4. Hampton
5. Farleigh Dickinson
6. Richmond

Here come the answers . . .

1. Missouri
2. Kentucky
3. Georgetown
4. Iowa State
5. Purdue
6. Syracuse

How’d you score? Pretty good, I’m guessing.

The Cinderellas stick with us, decades after we’ve forgotten who won the national championship in a long-ago year.

Cinderellas cause the bracket-busting havoc that adds that layer of unpredictability to level the playing field in your office bracket pool. Nothing’s more satisfying than knowing you called the 14-over-a-3 upset all your buddies were sleeping on.

The Final Four tends to belong to top seeds and blue bloods, but we owe the thrills of the tournament’s first two rounds to the Cinderellas.

3. The gambling

People who’d otherwise never bet on sports, who might otherwise never watch sports this side of the Super Bowl, throw down $5 for the chance to enter a bracket and earn potential bragging rights over friends, family and coworkers.

More ambitious gamblers have the chance to bet on 48 games across four days. The tournament is a degenerate’s paradise.

4. The NCAA selection show

The College Football Playoff selection show specializes in team-specific outrage and faux drama. Fact is, we could predict most of the football bracket without needing to tune in.

The NCAA Tournament selection show, on the other hand, is legit entertainment, as we see the bracket slowly revealed.

Who slipped in? Whose bubble burst? Which first-round upsets catch our eye? Which region is toughest? Who’s your knee-jerk Final Four?

The selection show lubricates each of those conversations.

[ This column first published in our SEC Unfiltered newsletter, emailed free to your inbox. Want more commentary like this? Sign up here. ]

5. The broadcasters

I can still picture where I was when I heard Gus Johnson holler: “The slipper still fits!”

Or Steph Curry drilling a 3-pointer for Davidson, followed by Gus: “Ha, haaaaa!”

Johnson works for Fox now, so we miss him on the NCAA Tournament, sadly. But CBS and its TNT Sports partners still have a great lineup of broadcasters.

Kevin Harlan and Ian Eagle headline my favorites.

Then we get halftime laughs served by America’s favorite comedy trio: Ernie, Chuck and Kenny.

6. The music

Is “One Shining Moment” a tad corny? Yes.

Do I watch it every year? Yes.

Do I try to guess which clutch shots, goofy moments or epic cutaways will make the reel? You bet.

The music, paired with the scenes, hits us right in the feels, every dang time.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the iconically peppy March Madness intro music.

Chills, the first time I hear it each NCAA Tournament. Maybe the second and third time, too.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket, upsets make it America’s greatest postseason

The last tThe last time the San Antonio Spurs faced the Los Angeles Clippers, we saw a viscerally emotional Victor Wembanyama. The 25-point comeback on the second night of a back-to-back was one of the hardest games of Wembanyama’s life, according to him. Now the Spurs will be better rested as they travel to Los Angeles for a rematch with the Clippers, and the first game of a back-to-back.

They’ll face a far different Clippers team on Monday. Kawhi Leonard is doubtful for the game as he recovers from an ankle injury. San Antonio will be without Dylan Harper, who misses his second game with a calf contusion, and Luke Kornet, who will sit with knee soreness.

Even without Leonard, the Clippers are still a tough defensive team. But it’s tough to imagine Los Angeles creating too much offense without their star. Wembanyama and the Spurs will look to build off their convincing win against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday with a road victory against a Clippers squad that has won seven of its last ten games.

San Antonio Spurs (49-18) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (34-33)

March 16th, 2026 | 9 PM CT

Watch: Peacock| Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Dylan Harper – Out (calf), Luke Kornet – Out (knee), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)

Clippers Injuries: Bradley Beal – Out (hip), Kawhi Leonard – Doubtful (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out (foot)

What to watch for:

Mason Plumlee minutes

Wembanyama has been playing more minutes, especially in closer games. He logged 38 minutes against Detroit and 36 minutes against Boston. Without Kornet, he could be tasked with more minutes on Monday night. That will likely come down to how effective Mason Plumlee is in his backup minutes. Plumlee has looked solid in his limited minutes so far. He’s adept at operating dribble handoffs and hasn’t been a defensive liability. He’s a bit undersized, which may hurt him against the larger bigs on the Clippers like Brook Lopez. Plumlee’s ability to keep things close while Wembanyama sits will be a crucial aspect of the game.

Controlling the rebounding battle

The Clippers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. They are 29th in total rebounding and 26th in offensive boards. There is a distinct advantage for the Spurs, who are one of the best teams in the league at attacking the glass. Losing Kornet certainly doesn’t help, but against a poor rebounding team like Los Angeles, the Spurs should have plenty of bodies to secure extra offensive possessions and secure stops on the other end.

Playing fast

San Antonio has looked great when they can get up and down. The Clippers are one of the slowest-paced teams in the NBA, and they don’t turn the ball over a ton. The Spurs can apply defensive pressure and move quickly off missed shots and giveaways to attack Los Angeles before they can set their defense. Especially with Leonard sitting, and the offensive hierarchy of the Clippers getting thrown off, the Spurs have an opportunity to create a bit of chaos in Los Angeles by getting up and down to score easy buckets.

This has been one tumultuous season for the Golden State Warriors.

Not everything was fine and dandy even with everyone healthy and in rhythm. However, there was always a chance of them finding their groove in the middle of the season, and for a while, it looked like they were about to capture it. That is, until Jimmy Butler suffered an unfortunate ACL tear that ended his season prematurely. Steph Curry has also been out of commission due to a persistent runner’s knee issue that has sidelined him for 17 consecutive games. Injuries have been prevalent to the older veteran role players such as Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Seth Curry.

With the Warriors’ sole trade-deadline move being a trade for Kristaps Porzingis that ended the controversial Jonathan Kuminga tenure in Golden State, SB Nation has asked fans one key question in relation to Porzingis.

Here’s how voters responded:

Among those polled, most seem to be in favor of Porzingis re-signing with the Warriors, with the caveat that it should be on a team-friendly deal. However, it won’t be up to the Warriors whether Porzingis will return to them or not, with the Latvian big man becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Should the Warriors seek to reclaim Porzingis, they will do so banking on the hope that Porzingis — someone who has had trouble staying healthy as of late — will see the Warriors as his best option to rehabilitate his worth and improve his health, under the tutelage of a medical staff whose cautious approach has seen positive results.

How do you think the Warriors will end their regular season? Will Porzingis re-sign with the team? Head on over to https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba if you want to test your luck.

Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (28-39, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Ryan Rollins and the Milwaukee Bucks host Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Bucks are 9-5 against Central Division opponents. Milwaukee is the worst team in the Eastern Conference scoring 43.1 points per game in the paint.

The Cavaliers are 8-5 in division play. Cleveland is 2-5 in one-possession games.

The Bucks are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.7 percentage points higher than the 46.3% the Cavaliers allow to opponents. The Cavaliers average 119.1 points per game, 3.0 more than the 116.1 the Bucks allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Bucks won 118-116 in the last matchup on Feb. 26.

TOP PERFORMERS: Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games.

James Harden is scoring 24.0 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Jaylon Tyson is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 2-8, averaging 104.5 points, 39.7 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 7.7 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points per game.

Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 115.6 points, 41.3 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Ousmane Dieng: out (illness).

Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson: day to day (ankle), Craig Porter Jr.: day to day (groin), Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring), Tyrese Proctor: day to day (quadricep), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Indiana Pacers (15-53, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (44-25, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New York is looking to continue its three-game win streak with a victory against Indiana.

The Knicks are 28-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks fifth in the NBA with 46.2 rebounds led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.

The Pacers are 11-32 in conference games. Indiana is 4-32 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Knicks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 more made shots on average than the 11.8 per game the Pacers give up. The Pacers are shooting 45.0% from the field, 0.7% lower than the 45.7% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won 101-92 in the last matchup on March 13.

TOP PERFORMERS: Towns is averaging 20 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is averaging 24.1 points over the last 10 games.

Jay Huff is scoring 9.5 points per game and averaging 3.9 rebounds for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 115.4 points, 47.9 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.0 points per game.

Pacers: 0-10, averaging 109.6 points, 39.5 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.4 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle).

Pacers: Pascal Siakam: out (knee), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: out (calf), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Ben Sheppard: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Golden State Warriors (32-35, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (16-50, 14th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Warriors -7.5; over/under is 231.5

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State comes into the matchup with Washington after losing five in a row.

The Wizards have gone 11-22 in home games. Washington is ninth in the Eastern Conference with 47.3 points per game in the paint led by Anthony Davis averaging 13.1.

The Warriors are 13-20 on the road. Golden State ranks seventh in the Western Conference shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.

The Wizards' 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.2 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Warriors allow. The Warriors' 45.8% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.1 percentage points lower than the Wizards have allowed to their opponents (47.9%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is averaging 9.8 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 14.4 points over the last 10 games.

Gui Santos is shooting 50.0% and averaging 7.9 points for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 0-10, averaging 113.6 points, 39.5 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.5 points per game.

Warriors: 2-8, averaging 112.0 points, 44.9 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Leaky Black: out (ankle), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related).

Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Seth Curry: out (adductor), Al Horford: out (calf), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: out (wrist), Draymond Green: out (back), Kristaps Porzingis: out (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Portland Trail Blazers (32-36, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (17-50, 13th in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trail Blazers -9.5; over/under is 222.5

BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn looks to break its three-game skid when the Nets take on Portland.

The Nets have gone 9-23 at home. Brooklyn ranks last in the Eastern Conference averaging only 106.7 points per game.

The Trail Blazers are 14-20 on the road. Portland has a 6-5 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Nets are shooting 44.5% from the field this season, 2.9 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 115.1 points per game, 0.5 fewer than the 115.6 the Nets allow to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nic Claxton is averaging 12 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Nets. Danny Wolf is averaging 12.2 points over the last 10 games.

Deni Avdija is scoring 24.1 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 19.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 49.2% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 2-8, averaging 105.8 points, 39.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 111.6 points, 45.5 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 9.3 steals and 7.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points.

INJURIES: Nets: Noah Clowney: out (rest), Ben Saraf: day to day (calf), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out (ankle), Terance Mann: out (achilles).

Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Dallas Mavericks (23-45, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (22-46, 13th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pelicans -8.5; over/under is 238.5

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans will try to keep its four-game home win streak intact when the Pelicans play Dallas.

The Pelicans are 6-8 against division opponents. New Orleans is fourth in the Western Conference with 12.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 2.8.

The Mavericks are 4-10 against opponents in the Southwest Division. Dallas is the best team in the Western Conference scoring 17.7 fast break points per game led by Cooper Flagg averaging 3.4.

The Pelicans average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 fewer makes per game than the Mavericks give up (12.5). The Pelicans average 113.2 points per game, 6.6 fewer points than the 119.8 the Pelicans give up.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans won the last meeting 119-113 on Dec. 23, with Zion Williamson scoring 24 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 19.2 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.

P.J. Washington is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 7.0 rebounds for the Mavericks. Flagg is averaging 13.0 points and 4.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 118.9 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points per game.

Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 105.5 points, 46.0 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe).

Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Daniel Gafford: day to day (rest), Klay Thompson: day to day (rest), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Philadelphia 76ers (37-31, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (41-27, fifth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will try to break its four-game road slide when the 76ers play Denver.

The Nuggets are 18-13 on their home court. Denver has a 7-11 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The 76ers are 17-15 on the road. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.7 fast break points per game led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 5.7.

The Nuggets score 120.7 points per game, 4.7 more points than the 116.0 the 76ers give up. The 76ers average 115.6 points per game, 1.1 fewer than the 116.7 the Nuggets give up.

The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Nuggets defeated the 76ers 125-124 in overtime in their last meeting on Jan. 6. Jalen Pickett led the Nuggets with 29 points, and Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 32 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Hardaway Jr. is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 2.6 rebounds for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is averaging 27.9 points and 13.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Dominick Barlow is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.7 rebounds for the 76ers. Quentin Grimes is averaging 17.1 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 119.9 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points per game.

76ers: 5-5, averaging 109.7 points, 42.0 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 10.0 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Peyton Watson: out (hamstring).

76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Jabari Walker: out (illness), Dalen Terry: out (shoulder), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Mike Brown is ticked off by the starts but isn’t considering a lineup change. 

At least not yet. 

“Right now I don’t feel the need to,” Brown said Sunday after his team beat the shorthanded Warriors 110-107, but not before falling into a 21-point hole in the first quarter. “But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don’t feel the need to right now.” 

When fully healthy, the Knicks starting lineup has consistently included Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

However, recent injuries to Hart, in particular, have thrown the lineup in flux.

Landry Shamet has been the most reliable plug-in. 

Bridges, meanwhile, has struggled mightily and was benched again in the fourth quarter Sunday.

He logged just 21 minutes as Shamet and Jordan Clarkson soaked up a lot of the two-guard playing time. 

“It’s not too late to do anything. And if I feel the need, I will,” Brown said of a lineup change. “I’m not thinking that right now. I’m not concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times.” 

Brown said he’s disappointed in the starts in four of the last five games, including the entirety of their current three-game winning streak — all against subpar opponents. 

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After Warriors coach Steve Kerr again campaigned Sunday for fewer games on the schedule, Hart agreed it would help the NBA product but doubted the relevant parties — meaning owners and players — would sacrifice money. 

“Do I think it will probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven,” Hart said. “I think everybody puts that above everything else.” 

Kerr has been publicly pitching to reduce the schedule because of the rash of injuries, believing a lighter load would allow players to be more effective and available. Sunday’s game became another example of a diminished product on prime-time national TV. 

The Knicks were fully healthy outside of Miles McBride.

But the Warriors were missing almost all their top players, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III. 

“Looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph or Al [Horford] or Jimmy — we have to manage them through 82,” Kerr said. “So there are nights where you just have to say, ‘Can’t play this guy.’ I get emails all the time from fans saying, ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ 

“And it wasn’t an injury designation, and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow?” 

Kerr said Sunday he’d take a pay cut. 

“I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing,” he said.

Since the All-Star break, the Knicks’ starting five has been outscored by a combined 34 points in the first quarter. 

On Sunday, after his Knicks were outscored by six against a Warriors team missing eight rotation players, Mike Brown had seen enough. 

 "We have to figure out individually, collectively, how we can start games better…. I’m not talking about the outcome, win or loss, I’m talking about the start of the game,” Brown said after the Knicks walked off the floor with an ugly three-point win over Golden State. “(We need to start games) with a level of focus, a level of physicality, so that they’re feeling us to start the game.

"This group knows it. They understand it. Now we've just gotta go do it." 

Is Brown going to change the starting five of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Karl-AnthonyTowns?

Not yet.

"If I feel the need, I will. I’m not thinking that right now,” Brown said. “I’m not concentrating on each individual (in the starting lineup) because….we’ve started different people (in recent games)... So it’s collectively (been a problem) in the last seven, eight games.”

The Knicks started Brunson-Bridges-Hart-Aunonoby-Towns for most of last season. The unit helped the Knicks win 50-plus games but had issues offensively in the final 3.5 months of the regular season. Those issues were exposed at points during the postseason. Eventually, Tom Thibodeau changed the starting lineup. That change – which came midway through the Eastern Conference Finals – was ultimately too late.  

Will Brown stick with this starting five for as long as Thibodeau did? He’s not changing anything now, but Brown certainly sounded like a coach ready to shake things up.

“Right now I don’t feel the need to,” said Brown. “But, like I said, if I felt the need to, I would.” 

Brown has been willing to change his closing lineup throughout the season. On Sunday, he again went away from Bridges in the closing minutes of a close game. 

Bridges finished the game with seven points in 21 minutes. He missed five of his six three-point attempts. 

Afterward, Brown praised Bridges’ overall impact on the club. 

“It’s no secret Mikal has not shot the ball well. But he’s given us life at times, and he’s given us life at the right time at times,” the head coach said. “I thought he was fantastic in Indiana (on Friday). On both ends of the floor. So it’s not just Mikal. It’s us collectively as a group.”

Once again, Brown turned to Jordan Clarkson to spark his sleepy team. And Clarkson delivered again. 

He finished with 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting in 21 minutes. New York outscored Golden State by 14 with Clarkson on the floor. 

“Special. The stats don’t lie,” Towns said of Clarkson. “One of the best players coming off the bench in NBA history. He does one thing better than almost anybody in the league, and that’s put the ball in the basket. When he’s doing that, he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has; there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.” 

You wonder if, at some point, Brown decides to insert Clarkson more into the rotation. 

Clarkson was averaging just 2.4 minutes per game after the All-Star break until Brown called his number. Over the last three games, Clarkson has scored 49 points on 19-for-35 shooting.

Shorter season?

Steve Kerr wants NBA stakeholders to have a "meaningful discussion" about changing the length of the regular season.

“I’m just saying what I see with all the injuries. The soft tissue injuries. I see all the data about how fast the guys are running, how much distance guys are covering now compared to 20-30 years ago. I see all the injuries, the tanking. I see everything,” Kerr said before the Knicks-Warriors game on Sunday. “I’ve been in the league a long time. I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue, which means everybody takes a pay cut, and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing. So I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them.

“I think there’s a meaningful discussion to be had, and I love the league, I’ve loved the NBA my whole life. My whole adult life has been spent in the NBA in some form and it’s an amazing league. We have incredible people in this league and great fans. I just want to make sure we give our fans the very, very best product we can and try to satisfy all of our corporate partners, and I just think there’s probably a way to do that without just completely — I don’t know, ignoring some of the obvious issues we’ve established.”

Earlier this month, Kerr suggested that the NBA shorten its season by 10 games. As stated above, Kerr is well aware of the revenue loss that comes with a shortened season. But he believes something needs to change.

“In talking to performance people, looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph (Curry) or Al (Horford) or Jimmy (Butler) – we have to manage them through 82 (games). So there are nights where you just have to say, can’t play this guy. I get emails all the time from fans saying ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ And it wasn’t an injury designation and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow?

“Maybe it’s stretching the season out a little bit. If you can’t give up 10 games, can you extend the season by two weeks and give players more time in between games? I don’t know,” Kerr said. “I know there’s no guarantee that players are going to be out there every night, but I know that we have enough issues all clumped together that if we put our heads together – we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this league. I think we can address a lot of them and satisfy the fans, the owners, the TV partners. I believe that’s possible. Maybe I’m naïve. But I think it’s important to put it out there just for discussion and see where it goes.”

For his part, the Knicks’ Hart seemed lukewarm to the idea of changing the schedule.

“I probably be retired before that happens. So I don’t care,” Hart said. “Nah, do I think it will be probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. 

“Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven. I think everybody puts that above everything else.”

The Utah Jazz fell to the Sacramento Kings, with a final score of 111-116.

For tank-watchers at home, this game was vital for Utah’s chances at picking up a few more lottery balls in May. The Jazz, currently fifth in the lottery standings, are now only 2.5 games behind the Kings for fourth place. Jumping up to fourth would give Utah ~5% increased chance at a top-four pick, and most importantly, eliminate any remote chance of conveying their top-eight protected pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lottery considerations aside, 17-year veteran DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 41 points and 10 assists on an efficient 11-21 from the field. At 36 years-old, DeRozan is still one of the most impressive isolation scorers in the league. Utah’s inexperienced group bit on his array of lullaby dribbles, slow spins, and pump fakes. He was helped by recent signee Killian Hayes, who chipped in 16 points and 8 assists. Hayes signed a two-year deal on Sunday following a 10-day contract.

Cody Williams continues to shine for Utah. After setting a career-high of 19 against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, he blew that away with 34 points on 12-19 on the field tonight. While Williams has struggled with on-court confidence at times, he attacked the rim, made a number of smooth turnaround jumpers, and even attempted seven shots from three.

Isaiah Collier, who left the game because of a right knee contusion, scored 21 points on as many shots and had a team-low plus-minus of minus-15. 10-day contract player Andersson Garcia snagged 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in a team-high 43 minutes.

Utah returns to action in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

The Houston Rockets are about to play the most important two-game slate on their schedule tonight and Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Houston has lost their season series against the Denver Nuggets, but have chances to win thei season series against the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Houston leads both series 1-0 thanks to wins earlier this season, so only need one win against each to clinch the series since they only play each other three times this season. Both games against the Lakers are obviously at home and Houston has one game left against the Timberwolves at Toyota Center.

The Lakers have won five straight and eight of their last nine games. Their only loss was to the Nuggets, which they avenged on Saturday night. That streak also includes wins over the Knicks and Timberwolves.

Houston won the first game against LA due to their size advantage and great defense. The Lakers are also the top team in the league at getting to the free throw line (hold your gasps), but Houston held them to 11 trips there on Christmas Day. If LA gets to the line as much as they normally do, this could get ugly.

Tip-off

8:30pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network and Peacock

Injury Report

Rockets

Alperen Sengun: GTD

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Jae’Sean Tate: OUT

Lakers

Bryce McGowens: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

HOU -2.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Wednesday night at home against the Los Angeles Lakers

Exactly 10 days ago, the Golden State Warriors — sans a whole cast of players — shocked the Houston Rockets with an overtime win on the road. I emphatically proclaimed it as the win of the year, stating that no other game for the rest of the season can match it.

Golden State followed it up by losing four consecutive games, but on Sunday they almost made me eat my words. Again on the road, this time against an arguably even better team in the New York Knicks, and now missing even more players, the Warriors came oh-so-close to pulling off a truly stunning upset, ultimately losing 110-107.

The Warriors were playing without Steph Curry. And without Jimmy Butler III. And without Draymond Green. And without Al Horford. And without Kristaps Porziņģis. And without De’Anthony Melton. And without Moses Moody. And without Seth Curry.

Against a team with NBA Finals aspirations, the Warriors ran out a 10-player rotation that featured one first-round pick, three second-round picks, and six undrafted players. A rotation that used all three two-way contracts, plus a player who began the year on a two-way contract, and also someone just signed to a 10-day contract who was playing in his first NBA game in 23 months.

And it came down to the final possession. And they at one point led by 21.

But they came up just short.

The game started well. The Warriors looked good on offense in the early going, and had lots of energy as they jumped out to an early lead. Quinten Post was pouring in the buckets as the team built up a quick 19-13 lead. Ömer Yurtseven, the aforementioned player on a recently-signed 10-day contract, made his team and season debut before the halfway mark and looked solid. The Dubs weren’t getting much separation until the end of the quarter, when Brandin Podziemski’s aggression started to steer the game, and the Warriors ended the quarter on an 11-0 run that was punctuated on the final possessions when they forced a turnover, then scored on the other end courtesy of a Malevy Leons tip-in. It was a shocking 35-21 advantage after the opening frame.

They continued to pour things on in the second quarter, and within a few minutes held a 46-25 lead. Madison Square Garden was quiet, confused as to why their successful team was getting crushed by a squad that might struggle against some G League teams.

Golden State’s offense, which did a great job all night of penetrating rather than settling for threes, was getting the job done, while the defense was solid, and aided by the Knicks missing plenty of shots. That led to New York defaulting to isolations, as their offense stagnated and the frustration mounted.

Finally, near the end of the half, New York started to shift the momentum. As they tightened their defense, Golden State’s offense started to get sloppy. Not only were the Dubs leaving points on the table, but their turnovers were allowing the Knicks to find a rhythm. It was all punctuated with a very poorly run two-for-one to end the half, where the Warriors missed their chance for two possessions, turned the ball over, and then ceded a three on the other end. Still, they led 54-45 at halftime.

The Knicks picked up where they left off in the second half, quickly scoring the first five points of the third quarter. It was all slipping away from the Warriors, but they refused to back down. From second-chance opportunities to quick hands on defense to a Will Richard poster, the Warriors were finding ways to stay just ahead of the Knicks.

But eventually the damn would break. With just under four minutes left in the frame, Mikal Bridges sank a long corner two to tie the game. With 2:17 remaining, Jalen Brunson banked home a floated to give the Knicks a 77-75 advantage … their first lead since 9-8 in the opening minutes. When the buzzer rang marking the end of the third quarter, New York led 83-80.

To the Warriors credit, they were not at all discouraged. They didn’t stop hustling or flying around the court. Unfortunately for them, the Knicks started to do those things, and the result was that the loose balls and unclaimed rebounds started to equalize, rather than all going in Golden State’s direction. New York, with all their key players healthy, were finally flexing it, and simply executing much better than the Warriors were. And by the halfway mark of the final frame, they had pushed the lead to seven.

That’s the point where the game is supposed to unofficially end. Once you’ve taken your best shot as an underdog, and then blown the lead, you’re supposed to cave as the game gets away from you.

But it didn’t. The Warriors kept making hustle play after hustle play, and highlight after highlight. They blocked shots to get surprising stops, and creatively found their way to the bucket on offense, led by 11 ultra-crafty fourth-quarter points from Gui Santos. And in the final moments of the game, they pulled to within a point.

After getting a stop inside the final minute, Golden State had a two-for-one — if they acted quickly — and a chance to take the lead. They couldn’t quite get a shot off quickly enough, but Podziemski still got a good look at a three, though it didn’t fall. The shot clock was now off, and the Dubs were forced to foul. Landry Shamet made a pair of free throws to push New York’s lead back to three points, but Podziemski answered with a quick layup, pulling the Dubs back to within one. After OG Anunoby made his free throws, the Warriors had one last chance, and inbounded the ball from their own sideline with 6.2 seconds remaining, needing a three to force overtime.

But New York’s defense smothered them, and they were unable to get a shot off. And instead of a shocking win, the Warriors got a fifth straight defeat.

Podziemski led the Warriors with 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting, and added five rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Also clearing the 20-point barrier were Post, who had 22 points, three rebounds, and three assists, and Santos, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. That trio, though, combined for 13 turnovers as the Warriors squared off with one of the sport’s strongest defenses.

The Dubs will be back in action tomorrow night at 4:00 p.m. PT, when they visit the Washington Wizards. That should be an easier game — the Wizards are very bad, and the Dubs should be getting at least Green and Melton back — but then again, the Warriors seem to struggle more with the easier games these days.