CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 03: Sam Merrill #5 talks with head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Arena on March 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 113-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t had many opportunities to see how this team looks when it’s at — or even near — full strength. That’s one of the downsides to having a team undergo renovations at the trade deadline.
As of now, head coach Kenny Atkinson still doesn’t know who the starting small forward will be in the playoffs. Right now, the plan is to decide who’s in that spot based on the matchup and how they’re playing.
Atkinson was asked if Max Strus was going to be the starting small forward going forward, and said no.
“That position is going to be flexible in terms of starting and finishing,” Atkinson said before the Indiana Pacers game on Sunday. “You have to earn it.”
Atkinson listed five options for who could be in the starting small forward spot: Max Strus, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Keon Ellis.
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As you can see, the sample size is incredibly small. So much so, the data from any of these numbers isn’t really that useful. The Cavs shouldn’t be making any decisions based on this. At the same time, it is encouraging that they have performed well in the limited time their four best players have shared the floor.
Atkinson admitted before Sunday’s game that he’s still trying to figure out how to best use Harden, who will be playing in just his 24th game with the Cavs on Sunday.
“I’m still looking back at James’s career, stealing ATOs (after timeout plays) from Houston,” Atkinson said. “How did the spacing look with the Clippers? I look at some of the Nets’ stuff. … Past teams, have used him as a defender on the four-man?”
The Cavaliers are in a tough position. The playoffs are two weeks away, and they’re still assessing what they have and how to use their best players. There was really no way around this problem when the Cavs decided to overhaul the roster in February. The hope was that talent would win out this season. And at times it has. Other times, they’ve looked like a team still piecing things together.
We’ll see how this looks in the playoffs. As of now, Atkinson doesn’t know who will be at the starting small forward spot. He is, however, confident in the options that he does have.
“It’s a good problem to have, but these are tough decisions to make, so it’ll be flexible,” Atkinson said.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 05: Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks scores on a dunk during the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum on April 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Bucks closed out their two-game home stretch on Easter with a 131-115 win over the Memphis Grizzlies to improve to 31-47. Ryan Rollins, returning from a hip strain, contributed 24 points to the Bucks’ victory, while Rayan Rupert led the Grizzlies with 33.
The Grizzlies, missing an alarming number of players to “injury,” jumped out to an early 9-3 lead, fueled by two-way guard Rayan Rupert’s early five points. However, the Bucks quickly embarked on a 13-0 run through three-pointers from Myles Turner and AJ Green, and they built on their lead as the first quarter wore on. Ryan Rollins shook off ten-day forward Toby Okani on a smooth pair of dribble moves before cleanly converting a mid-range fadeaway, showing that the Bucks were beginning to find their rhythm. The Grizzlies were still in it, largely thanks to Milwaukee’s persistent defensive lapses, like Taurean Prince’s hard flagrant foul on Rupert. Cormac Ryan closed out the first frame with a buzzer-beating three to take Milwaukee up by nine, 34-25.
Rollins led Milwaukee to a dominant start to the second quarter. He used a dizzying array of body checks and step-backs to get to his spots. His eight early points in the second fueled Milwaukee’s early 12-3 run, and before long, the home side found itself up by as much as 19 points. It was obvious that the Grizzlies’ hodge-podge lineup didn’t really click; spacing worked against them on both sides of the ball, and they looked helpless against the pick-and-roll. Rupert was their only bright spot; the Frenchman poured in 25 first-half points, torching the Bucks’ defense. The Grizzlies clawed back some ground in the game by getting to the line in droves and strung together a 12-0 run, but the Bucks still held a 62-56 lead at half.
The Grizzlies and Bucks went back and forth in the third quarter. The Bucks’ offense began to take off through Rollins’ tough buckets and interior plays from Myles Turner. However, the Grizzlies took off at the same time. Rookie Walter Clayton Jr. finally woke up from his quiet first half, and Rupert continued to slice Milwaukee’s defense with his dribble. Despite Milwaukee gradually losing ground as fatigue kicked in, the Bucks ended the penultimate quarter up five, 92-87.
Olivier Maxence-Prosper’s breakaway jam trimmed Milwaukee’s once-mighty lead to just two early in the fourth quarter, and, suddenly, it felt like this game could go either way. However, Jericho Sims’ heroics halted Memphis’ momentum. His defense, denying Dariq Whitehead and Taylor Hendricks key looks at the rim, kept Memphis quiet on offense. It was his intelligent assist that found Ryan open under the rim, it was his screen that freed up Prince for an emphatic three, and it was his putback dunk to widen Milwaukee’s lead to double digits with just six minutes left of game time. Milwaukee continued to flow offensively, limiting Memphis to tough under-the-rim attempts and finding quick transition points. The Bucks accentuated their Easter Day victory with a smooth Alex Antetokounmpo midrange jumper and a technical-foul-inducing lob to Thanasis that set Fiserv on fire.
Stat That Stood Out
The Bucks’ bench scored 61 points in Sunday’s win, 32 more than the Grizzlies’. Sims’ and Ryan’s contributions in crunch time helped Milwaukee go the distance and fight off a dangerous Memphis comeback.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 22: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 22, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will reach the midway point of their five-game homestand with Sunday night’s primetime matchup against the Houston Rockets. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and will be nationally televised on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock.
The Warriors had a chance to snap their two-game losing streak against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, but their late push came up short in a 118–111 loss. After playing severely shorthanded the night prior, Golden State welcomed back several key contributors, including Gui Santos and Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with 25 and 16 points, respectively. In addition to that, Brandin Podziemski tied Santos for the team-high with 25 points of his own.
Their combined scoring helped keep the game competitive, but Cleveland’s star power ultimately proved too much. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 44 points, while Max Strus caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down six of his 10 three-point attempts to seal the Warriors’ 41st loss of the season.
The biggest storyline entering Sunday night’s matchup against the Rockets is the expected return of Steph Curry. The Warriors’ superstar has missed 27 games with a knee injury suffered in January, but after fully participating in practice earlier this week, he appears on track to return.
On Saturday, Curry spoke about the injury during his press conference.
Steph Curry details the knee injury that held him out 27 games
“I thought I was going to be out a week. Ten days max.”
“There is nothing structurally wrong with my knee. So it’s not like I’m compromised out there. It is a new normal, though.” pic.twitter.com/5ZIL6xyyJN
If Curry does suit up, one key element to watch will be his on-court fit with Porzingis. The Warriors’ starting big man has already shown he can thrive in team’s system, but his ability to complement Curry could elevate the offense to another level. With Porzingis providing both floor spacing and a vertical lob threat, and Curry’s gravity consistently drawing multiple defenders, the pairing has the potential to be highly effective.
“I don’t know how people are going to guard our pick and roll.”
Steph Curry is excited to play with Kristaps Porzingis. Warriors face the Rockets tmrw. pic.twitter.com/OWjChjKWbG
Of course, with just five games remaining, the Warriors are virtually locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, making the results of these final games largely insignificant from a standings perspective. Still, Curry understands the importance of building momentum heading into the Play-In Tournament and will look to make the most of his time on the floor as Golden State prepares for the challenge ahead.
Steph Curry on what can still be ahead for the Warriors this season
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 05: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives with the ball against Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half at TD Garden on April 05, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen Brown’s 26 points led the Boston Celtics to a 115-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Easter Sunday at TD Garden, completing the team’s 4-0 season sweep over its division rival.
That “rivalry” has been pretty lopsided in recent years. Boston has gone 15-1 against Toronto over the past four regular seasons and has not lost a season series against the Raptors since 2016-17.
While the teams have not faced off in the playoffs since the 2020 NBA Bubble, that could change this year.
With today’s win, the Celtics are 53-25 and hold a commanding three-game lead over the New York Knicks for second seed in the Eastern Conference, with only four games left to go. Unless Boston bottoms out over that final run, it will face the seventh seed as determined by the Play-In Tournament.
With today’s loss, the Raptors are 43-35 and tied record-wise with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, Toronto loses that tiebreaker since its 4-11 division record is worse than Philly’s 9-7. That leaves the Raptors as the East’s current seventh seed and lined up for a potential appearance in the play-ins.
Today’s game was the first time all season that the Celtics’ injury report was clear, as Nikola Vučević returned almost a month after undergoing surgery to stabilize a fractured right ring finger.
Boston started Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta.
The Raptors were without Immanuel Quickley, who missed his eighth straight game to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, and Chucky Hepburn, who tore the meniscus in his right knee in January and has yet to return.
Toronto started Ja’Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl.
Boston got off to a hot start, taking a 10-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. A lot of that can be credited to Neemias Queta, who got three easy buckets off of assists from Brown and White as Toronto’s defense crowded the perimeter and left the paint open for Queta to dominate.
With the help of some sloppy play and three Celtics turnovers, the Raptors went on a mini-run and tied the game at 12-12, but a Tatum three-pointer, Queta putback and four straight points from Brown put Boston back up 19-15.
With five minutes to go in the first quarter, Coach Joe Mazzulla subbed in Baylor Scheierman — who immediately hit a three-pointer — Vučević, Jordan Walsh and Payton Pritchard for everyone but Brown.
Vooch looked rusty in his first minutes back on the court, turning the ball over on a bad pass and missing his first three-point attempt. During that time, Toronto took its first lead of the game 24-22, with about two minutes to go in the quarter.
During the last play of the quarter, Tatum drove to the rim and made an impressive pass to Vučević on the perimeter, but Vooch missed his second three-point attempt. The quarter ended with the teams tied 26-26.
Early in the second quarter, Tatum strong-armed a block on RJ Barrett, leading to an open Hauser three-point make and a technical foul on Barrett, who was upset with the no-call.
Tatum hit the technical free throw to put the Celtics up 31-30, but the Raptors hit the next two shots and took a 34-30 lead with 10 minutes to go in the half. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto’s early efforts with a 13-point start on 5-6 shooting from the field and 3-4 shooting from three-point range.
A 10-0 run increased the Raptors’ lead to 38-30, but the Celtics got a few offensive rebounds on the next play to snap their scoreless run with a strong Queta layup. His early dominance continued into the second quarter, as he got another putback bucket, as well as an easy cutting dunk off of a Tatum assist.
While the Celtics continued to struggle on offense, the Raptors shared in the lull, allowing Boston to tie the game at 42 with about three minutes to go in the half.
Derrick White hit a three-pointer to take the lead back, 45-42, and after some back-and-forth scoring, Tatum hit a three from the top of the key to go up 52-46.
Brown hit the team’s final shot of the quarter to extend the lead to 54-46 at the half. He finished the half with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 6-10 shooting from the field.
Tatum had 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals on 50% shooting from the field and 2-3 shooting from three-point range, but also had 5 turnovers — more than half of the team’s 9 total turnovers — and 3 personal fouls at the half.
Queta was the Celtics’ undisputed MVP of the first half, leading the team with 16 points on 8-9 shooting from the field, 5 rebounds and an assist. He was at the heart of the Celtics’ 24-8 run to end the second quarter, which began when he subbed back into the game with less than nine minutes to go in the half.
To begin the third quarter, Tatum slithered past a solid Queta screen and through the Raptors’ defense for a dunk. He also secured his sixth double-double in seven games with his 10th rebound with 22 minutes left to go in the game.
Queta’s strong play continued with a pair of soaring blocks over the first few minutes of the second half, but he was subbed out in favor of Vučević with about 7:30 to go in the third quarter as the team was up 62-57.
Vooch got his first bucket of the night off of an offensive rebound, but did little else during his second stint on the court.
Boston’s struggles with turnovers did not let up in the third quarter, as the Celtics racked up 5 more turnovers over the first six minutes of the second half. The Raptors kept up the pressure and tied the game at 69-69 with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter.
Queta was subbed back in for Vučević with about four minutes left to go in the third quarter and he got his third block of the night shortly after.
Toronto again tied the game at 75-75, but a wild corner three from Brown once again put the Celtics on top, 78-75.
The teams went back-and-forth over the last two minutes of the third, which finished with Boston leading 80-77.
The fourth quarter began with an absurd behind-the-back pass from Tatum to an open Payton Pritchard for a three-pointer, then a Vučević bucket to put the C’s up 85-77.
With the help of another Pritchard bucket and a Toronto turnover, then a foul on a Tatum three-pointer, the Celtics secured their first double-digit lead of the night at 89-79 with 10 minutes to go in the final frame.
When it looked like the Raptors may bring the lead back to single digits, Sam Hauser got an and-1 to extend the lead to 96-83.
Toronto cut the lead to 98-91 with a couple Brandon Ingram jumpers over Pritchard, but Queta got a massive putback dunk and White hit his second three-pointer of the night to extend the lead back up to 103-91 with about four minutes remaining.
The Celtics all but ended the night with a sudden scoring explosion sparked by Brown in the final minutes. Brown used some slick moves to make Barrett buckle over and touch the court before he blew by for an easy driving layup. He then got his own rebound off of a free throw miss and put it back in for another bucket to put Boston up by 14.
After a Tatum layup and White fadeaway, Brown got a steal and dunked it to bring the Celtics’ lead to 18 points with less than three minutes to go.
Brown finished the game with 26 points on 55% shooting from the field, with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Tatum had 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 5 turnovers.
Queta racked up 18 points, 7 rebounds — five of them on the offensive end — 4 assists and three blocks.
In Vooch’s first chance to play alongside Jayson Tatum, he finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes of play.
Overall, Boston shot an abysmal 8-28 (28.6%) from three-point range, but finished the game with 76 points in the paint and 9 more rebounds than Toronto (44-31). While turnovers were an issue for the Celtics, both teams ended with 15 turnovers, and there was only a 2-point difference in points off of turnovers for the game.
The Celtics’ next game will be another potential first-round preview, as Boston will take on the rolling Charlotte Hornets at 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 7, at the TD Garden.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers signs autographs after the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A skeleton-crew version of the Cleveland Cavaliers is taking on a more skeleton crew version of the Indiana Pacers. This should be fun (depending on how you define fun).
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Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 25: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 25, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are racing to the finish line. With just a week before the regular season ends, the team is still waiting on two of its most important players to return to action.
Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson both missed Cleveland’s recent trip to the West Coast. Wade is out with an ankle injury that he suffered after falling on a ball boy during his pre-game warmup against the Miami Heat on March 25.
“[He’s doing] better,” said Kenny Atkinson before the game. “I watched Dean work out yesterday. It was a one-on-one workout, but he was moving at game speed, so big progress. I do think we need to get him a three-on -three, four-on-four [workout]… but I think that’s the next step.”
Tyson, meanwhile, is nurturing a bone bruise in his left great toe. The sophomore wing has been one of the biggest revelations of the season, averaging 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Tyson is also shooting 45.5% from downtown. That’s elite efficiency for a guy who wasn’t previously seen as a catch-and-shoot threat.
“Jaylon is on court, probably not at game speed yet, so maybe a step or two behind Dean,” said Atkinson. “Still some soreness, but again, love to think he’ll be ready by the playoffs.”
Time is running out for the Cavs to get healthy. The final game of the regular season is on April 12. From there, they have roughly a week to rest and recover before the playoffs begin the following weekend. Hopefully that’s enough time for both Wade and Tyson to get their legs under them.
It’s because Connecticut is about to face the “Monstars.”
The Final Four magic Hurley has crafted — 5-0 in his career — will face its toughest challenge yet with the vaunted No. 1 seed Michigan awaiting the Huskies in Lucas Oil Stadium, playing like it gained some basketball superpower to make them supersized and on a warpath to make UConn its final victim to punctuate a dominant season.
“Their size kind of do remind you of the Monstars,” said UConn guard Silas Demary Jr.
Monstrous would be one way to describe Michigan’s performance against Arizona. A game billed as the true national championship between the two heavyweights of the season looked like a buy game in December, with the Wolverines overwhelming the Wildcats from the start for their fifth straight tournament win by double-digits.
UConn staff and players made sure to watch the game following their win over Illinois, and it was just as much of a shock to them.
“I kind of didn't see that happening,” Demary said. “Everybody was just hitting shots… They pretty much kind of dominated the game throughout the whole game.”
Whether it’s knocking down 3-pointers, turning the game into a dunk contest or leaving opposing offenses helpless, Michigan is “scary,” Hurley said, adding “you've got to have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C” against it.
Michigan is the first team to score at least 90 points in five straight March Madness games.
UConn has built a reputation on succeeding on the biggest stage, one win away from its third national title in four years. However, that run didn’t come with a whole bunch of struggle.
The best seed the Huskies saw in the 2023 title run was a No. 3, and the 2024 championship team was so talented, not even the Zach Edey-led Purdue team stood much of a chance. UConn came close to beating eventual champion Florida in the second round last season, but it’s not farfetched to say the Wolverines are the best team Hurley will have ever faced in the tournament.
Everything (including the 7.5-point spread) screams Michigan running away with this one to cement one of the most impressive seasons, especially with fresh UConn's injury issues. But if there is one team to spoil it all, it would be UConn.
After all, remember how they got here?
“We shot 1-for-18 vs. Duke, down 19. Nobody in the country, in the whole wide world, thought we were going to win that game,” said UConn center Tarris Reed Jr.. “The second half, we promised each other we're gonna go out with fighting honor, no matter what the result is. We knew there was going to be a slight chance that Duke will slip up, we're going to have a small window for us to really win this game, and we have to take advantage
“We kept fighting, kept running through the fences, and we ended up winning that game,” he added.
The Huskies may in fact be the perfect team to spoil Michigan’s title hopes. While Michigan is capable of delivering a knockout blow like Mike Tyson, UConn is able to make it an extremely ugly — perhaps boring — bout that can frustrate the other side.
That’s why even though they’re the clear underdog, Hurley actually sees advantages on his side.
“Every team has some vulnerabilities. No teams are perfect,” he said. “We're going to do things to make our opponents move defensively maybe more than they are accustomed to, and then hopefully that has a compounding effect for us during the course of the game where it could just wear an opponent down a little bit, just having to run around and chase people and off-ball movement more than they're accustomed to.”
The evidence supports it. Illinois came into the Final Four the top offensive efficiency team in the country, and the Huskies' defense made it uncomfortable to grind out the win. Even with UConn’s own middling offensive showing, the Fighting Illini shot 33.9% from the field and scored 62 points, its worst performance since — playing UConn in November, when it shot a season-low 31.7% and scored 61.
That 90-point benchmark Michigan has reached, UConn has only allowed twice this season, and one of those games ended in overtime.
Plus, you have to account UConn has been here before. Hurley is undefeated in the Final Four and has guys who have won titles with him. In a tournament that has proven how valuable experience is, it doesn’t get better than championship expertise.
That’s why May isn’t counting on his team to coast to the title.
“We never ride momentum. It's ‘What do we need to do to prepare to play well against UConn?’ They have championship DNA. They're conditioned to win. This run they're on is one of the best — probably the best since John Wooden,” May said. “If we think any momentum or wave, riding in on a wave is going to take care of UConn, then we're going to be very disappointed at about 11 p.m. (Monday) night.”
Remember why we love March Madness? A whole season gets thrown out the window the moment the ball tips. Who is more talented doesn’t matter. It’s all about being the better team for 40 minutes, surviving and advancing. Hurley and May reminded everyone this isn’t a seven-game series where the best team typically wins.
It will be a de facto Game 7, and anything can happen in the final 40 minutes of the college basketball season — like UConn shocking the college basketball world.
After all, the "Monstars" did end up losing.
“There's been plenty of times in the history of this tournament where the best team hasn't won it,” Hurley said. “You've just got to be better for one night.”
The Charlotte Hornets need a flawless finish to avoid the Play-In tournament, and they can help their chances tonight against the faltering Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota has dropped three of its last four games and will be without Anthony Edwards, but my Hornets vs. Timberwolves predictions trust Rudy Gobert to hold down the paint at Target Center.
Take a closer look at this marquee showdown on Sunday, April 5, with my free NBA picks and betting angles.
Hornets vs Timberwolves prediction
Hornets vs Timberwolves best bet: Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds (-115)
The Minnesota Timberwolves offense has been stuck in the mud lately, with 110 or fewer points in six of their last seven games. But Minnesota continues to do a nice job at the other end of the floor, led by Rudy Gobert’s elite rebounding.
Gobert has nailed this Over in seven of his past nine contests, and he’s actually finished with 14+ boards in five of those outings, despite only playing 30+ minutes just once in his last six games.
Make no mistake, the hosts are going to ask even more of Gobert defensively without Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels to take on the perimeter assignments. As long as he can avoid being dragged out to the 3-point line on the Charlotte Hornets' shooters, I expect him to have an edge against Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Gobert dominated the Hornets on the glass earlier this season, on the way to 15 rebounds, and he’s on pace for a career-high with 4.0 offensive rebounds per night.
Charlotte’s style of play helps, too.
The visitors launch the second-most 3-pointers per game (43), and that should create opportunities for long rebounds. Against the Hornets’ smaller lineups, Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle will all have chances to hit their rebounding Overs, but I’ll stick with the Frenchman as the value pick.
Hornets vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
I’m banking on a fierce battle on the glass tonight, with Gobert coming off a 16-rebound effort on Friday against the 76ers and Diabate hauling in 10+ boards in three of his last four outings. Rudy has the extra size, but Diabate is a relentless pest on the glass.
The Under also offers good value. It’s 1-9 in the T-Wolves’ last 10 games, and Minnesota’s offensive numbers will take a hit again without Ant Man. Plus, six of Charlotte’s past eight contests have cashed the Under.
Hornets vs Timberwolves SGP
Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds
Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 rebounds
Under 226.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Feel the sting
The Hornets are 8-2 in their last 10 games, and this SGP taps into the visitors’ hot streak, which has kept them in the fight for the No. 6 seed. LaMelo Ball has dished 8+ dimes in four of his past five contests, while Kon Knueppel is fresh off consecutive 20-point games.
Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Hornets vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Under is 48-30 for the Hornets this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Hornets vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southeast Charlotte, FDSN North
Hornets vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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While Dan Hurley and the Huskies look to make history with their third championship in four seasons, Dusty May will look to help the Wolverines end a 37-year drought with the program's first national title since 1989.
UConn defeated No. 3 seed Illinois 71-62 to advance to the title game, while Michigan torpedoed Arizona 91-73 to win another game by double figures during an impressive NCAA Tournament run.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 men's NCAA national championship game, from the time to the TV channel.
When is March Madness national championship game?
The men's national title game tips off on Monday, April 6, at 8:50 p.m. ET.
Where is March Madness national championship game?
The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament national championship game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
What channel is March Madness national championship game?
The men's title game will be broadcast nationally on TBS, TNT and truTV, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter) on the call from the game.
Where to stream March Madness national championship game
The men's NCAA Tournament national championship game can be streamed on NCAA March Madness Live (with a valid cable login), HBO Max, which requires a subscription, and Sling TV , which carries Turner Broadcast stations.
Who won March Madness in 2025?
Last year, Todd Golden and Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida to the program's third national championship with a 65-63 win over Kelvin Sampson and Houston in the title game.
There won't be a back-to-back champion this year after Iowa took down the Gators in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this season.
March Madness champions, by year
Here's a look at the year-by-year NCAA Tournament national champions in men's basketball, since 2006. The full list can be found here:
2025: Florida defeats Houston, 65-63
2024: UConn defeats Purdue, 75-60
2023: UConn defeats San Diego State, 76-59
2022: Kansas defeats North Carolina, 72-69
2021: Baylor defeats Gonzaga, 86-70
2020: Canceled due to COVID-19
2019: Virginia defeats Texas Tech, 85-77, OT
2018: Villanova defeats Michigan, 79-62
2017: North Carolina defeats Gonzaga, 71-65
2016: Villanova defeats North Carolina, 77-74
2015: Duke defeats Wisconsin, 6-63
2014: UConn defeats Kentucky, 60-54
2013: Louisville defeats Michigan, 82-76 *
2012: Kentucky defeats Kansas, 67-59
2011: UConn defeats Butler, 53-41
2010: Duke defeats Butler, 61-59
2009: North Carolina defeats Michigan State, 89-72
INDIANAPOLIS – Dusty May is a self-described “blue-collar guy” who cut grass, cut tobacco, baled hay and worked in turkey barns growing up in Greene County, Indiana, where he learned that “if you see a neighbor moving in, you go help them.”
So when Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau arrived on campus last year as a transfer from North Carolina, May was there to help carry a table up a flight of stairs to the junior’s new apartment.
“When a player is moving in, it's a lot quicker if we walk across the parking lot and help them move in rather than just mom and dad,” said May. “It's kind of how we run our program.”
And Michigan’s program runs on transfers such as Cadeau, who after two often tumultuous seasons with the Tar Heels has found a home and flourished on the Wolverines’ newcomer-heavy roster.
“I think that just comes from the coaching. They have so much confidence in me,” Cadeau said after Michigan’s Final Four win against Arizona. “It just helps me stay calm. If I turn the ball over and I look over at coach, they're calm. So that just helps me stay calm as well.”
There is no bigger test for a major-conference program and coach than personnel management, the annual acquisition and blending of talent in an era of NIL and rampant player movement.
May and Michigan have aced this test with flying colors, piecing together a rotation largely composed of portal additions to evolve into a seemingly unstoppable force heading into Monday night’s national championship game against Connecticut.
“It came together even better than we could ever imagine,” said assistant coach and general manager Kyle Church.
The Wolverines have done so by stressing three assets when evaluating transfers, said May.
While production and potential play a role in deciding who Michigan pursues out of the transfer portal, the search ultimately centers on “guys who love ball, who are great teammates, who are competitors,” he said.
“Competitors because we have a strong belief that competitors are going to figure out a way to win. Whatever that is, they're just going to figure out a way to win whatever they're playing.
“And then loving ball would probably be a close, close second. Sometimes we say we don't really care. You can love to compete or you can love ball. We think we can get to the end result as long as you have one of those.”
Leaning on personality and cultural fit has helped the Wolverines divvy up minutes among one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country.
“Now, what makes Dusty May special as a coach is obviously his eye for talent, his ability to construct a roster, the fact that he insulates himself with an excellent coaching staff, and his ability to build team and culture. Like he's got a special eye for how to put together a great team,” Connecticut coach Dan Hurley said.
“Things are volatile. It's year to year. You've got to have the skill set to do it on a year-to-year basis because things are volatile.”
Of the eight players in the Wolverines’ tournament rotation, six started their college careers elsewhere and transferred into the program. The exceptions are redshirt senior forward Will Tschetter and freshman guard Trey McKenney.
Two joined the program at least two seasons ago: guard Roddy Gayle Jr. transferred from Ohio State before May’s debut in 2024, and former Texas Tech and Alabama guard Nimari Burnett enrolled in 2023, when the Wolverines were led by former coach Juwan Howard.
“During the summer, I just told the guys that everything is going to happen quickly,” Gayle said. “Especially under coach May, you may not understand what he’s asking of you early on. But once you just buy into his program, buy into what he’s telling you, everything will work out just fine. I’m a true believer in that.”
“I would say we have the right people around this program, and we have the right players,” McKenney said. “We have players that are really selfless, and you can tell that even when we're under one roof in the summer, so I think it just really carried over from the summer and the fall when we were putting in all that work together and all that sweat that we had.”
None have bigger than Alabama-Birmingham forward Yaxel Lendeborg. The All-America selection has been a remarkably consistent inside-out threat in an offense that can still flourish in his absence, as in the Final Four blowout of Arizona.
Former UCLA center Aday Mara has taken on a starting role after coming off the bench for the Bruins and has evolved into a dominant interior presence. He scored a career-best 26 points in the win against the Wildcats.
Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. has made a similar leap after transferring from Illinois, showcasing the strength and athleticism that have made him a likely first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft. And Cadeau has stabilized his game in Ann Arbor, with a newfound sense of confidence in his shooting that has given Michigan yet another perimeter threat.
Between the 7-3 Mara, 6-10 Johnson and 6-9 Lendeborg, the Wolverines added major size to the frontcourt this offseason. In that way, they resemble May’s Final Four team at Florida Atlantic, where the Owls “were so big, our defensive numbers were top five in the country,” he said.
But the Wolverines aren’t “married to being big,” May added. “If everybody goes big, we might weave and go small. Who knows? We're not winning because we're big. We're winning because we have really good players and smart players.”
Overall, transfers have combined for 75.6% of Michigan’s scoring. Transfers are the Wolverines’ four leading rebounders. The top three in assists are transfers, and so are the top four in blocks per game.
“You can build a cohesive unit maybe a little bit faster than anyone can really realize,” Church said. “If people like the work and enjoy the process, then you can find that cohesion fairly quickly.”
But the recruitment of players in the transfer portal is much different than traditional recruiting on the high school level, when programs can often spend months to years building relationships.
In comparison, recruiting the portal is like speed dating. Given the abbreviated courtship, Michigan will do background work on a prospective transfer by “leaning on people around them that you trust,” Church said, including the player’s former coaching staff, coaches they might have played against or their former high school and AAU coach. If the Wolverines are lucky, they may have a preexisting relationship by virtue of recruiting the player coming out of high school.
“We try to be brutally honest,” said Church. “And we try to over-deliver and under-promise. If they want to come under those circumstances and we feel like we have a good character reference and they like playing hard, they like passing the ball, they like basketball, then we’ll find a way to make it work.”
Yet none of these transfers were necessarily a sure thing, and many arrived as underdeveloped or inconsistent producers at their previous stops. There’s no greater example of this than Cadeau, who failed to deliver on his five-star billing at UNC and was seen as the poster child for the Tar Heels’ unrealized expectations.
Lendeborg came from UAB. Johnson was a backup at Illinois, though his explosiveness was obvious even in this reserve role. Mara’s career never got off the ground at UCLA. In one way or another, each new addition this offseason represented a roll of the dice for May and Michigan.
“Look, I know this is going to set off a Twitter firestorm, but I think we all are better in certain situations than others,” May said. “There's an environment that's right for me. There's an environment that's right for you. Sometimes you don't choose the right environment from the beginning or sometimes as people we change and we need something different, for a number of reasons.
“The way we choose to look at it, we're going to bring in really, really good guys that are high achievers, that want to do it the way we want to do it.”
Mar 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) drives past Golden State Warriors guard De'anthony Melton (8) during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti-Imagn Images
After going undrafted in 2023 and then being shipped off to four different NBA G League teams, former Gonzaga Bulldog guard Malachi Smith has secured a roster spot with the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season and potentially further. Smith’s two-year deal comes after two 10-day contracts with the organization.
He made $73,153 on each of his two 10-day contracts and will now be earning $65,838 for the remaining five games of the 2025-26 season.
We’ve signed Malachi Smith to a multi-year contract.
Smith has averaged 7.3 points on a shooting split of 52.7 percent from the field/54.5 percent on three-pointers/100.0 percent at the free throw line, 2.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in 10 appearances across two 10-day contracts with the Nets after playing for the team’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and now lands a full standard deal.
Along with most bottom-tier franchises at this point in the end of the regular season, Brooklyn took a shot on someone from their development team. Smith used that opportunity and proved his worth amongst the world’s best.
Quick instincts from Malachi Smith. Making the most of his second 10-day contract. https://t.co/NpEMNhmtXM
— The Slipper Still Fits (@slipperstillfit) April 4, 2026
He fought through the grind that is the G League to get in this position. Smith had stops with the G League’s Rip City Remix, Wisconsin Herd, Memphis Hustle, and Long Island over the last three years.
Smith started his collegiate career with the Wright State Raiders from 2018-19, transferred to the Chattanooga Mocs from 2020-22, before making his way to Spokane, Washington. He was named the West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 before entering his name into the 2023 NBA Draft, bypassing his final season of college eligibility.
This further proves not only how much professional talent that Few has been able to bring through the program, but players that are willing to work their way to this uber-selective pool of talent. Smith could have opted out of the G League and shipped himself over to Europe or Asia, but had trust in his abilites and work ethic to continue to get better over the course of these last three years.
Shows a lot about the type of players that the Zags search for and want to be involved with what they have built in the 21st century.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 5: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 5, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Barring an unexpected return far ahead of schedule, Cameron Payne won’t play again for the Sixers this regular season.
A team official said Sunday that an MRI confirmed Payne suffered a strained right hamstring during the Sixers’ loss Saturday night to the Pistons. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, the official said.
The Sixers’ final regular-season game will be next Sunday vs. the Bucks. With the Raptors’ loss Sunday to the Celtics, the Sixers are again sixth in the Eastern Conference standings at 43-35. The seventh through 10th seeds will participate in the play-in tournament, which is set to start April 14. Round 1 of the playoffs will begin April 18.
Payne had recently been on the edge of the Sixers’ rotation and didn’t play in two of the team’s last four games. His absence would make an injury to one of the Sixers’ healthy rotation guards — Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes — a bit more damaging. The next guard on the depth chart would be Kyle Lowry, who turned 40 years old last month and has only appeared in 13 games during his 20th NBA season.
The 31-year-old lefty has averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in his second stint as a Sixer. He’s shot 37.6 percent from the floor, 33 percent from three-point range and 86.4 percent at the foul line.
Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) was the one other Sixer listed as out for the team’s Monday night meeting with the Rockets. Joel Embiid was not listed on the Sixers’ injury report after sitting out the second leg of their back-to-back vs. Detroit.
The university announced Oats signed a new contract on Sunday, April 5, making him one of the top five highest-paid coaches in college basketball, per a statement from athletic director Greg Byrne.
The new contract was announced via Yea Alabama, the school's name, image and likeness platform.
"Nate Oats has signed a new contract that will make him one of the top five compensated men's basketball coaches in the country," Byrne said in the announcement. "Appropriate members of the board of trustees have been notified of the proposed terms of the new agreement and it will soon be formally approved through the board process."
The move comes after Oats was tied to North Carolina's open coaching position. The blue-blood program fired coach Hubert Davis after its first-round loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the Men's NCAA Tournament, and has been tied to numerous high-end coaches such as Oats, Michigan coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, who also signed an extension on Friday, April 3.
The announcement didn't include details regarding Oats' salary, though it stands to be a substantial raise from his old agreement, which was signed in 2024 after Oats led Alabama to its first-ever Final Four appearance.
According to USA TODAY's coaching salaries database, Oats was the 10th highest-paid basketball coach among programs at public institutions in 2025-26, making roughly $5 million. He was set to receive $7.75 million in the final year of the deal that ran through 2030.
The fifth highest-paid coach is UCLA's Mick Cronin, who made $6.1 million, while Kansas' Bill Self was the highest paid at $8.8 million.
Nate Oats record at Alabama
Oats has taken Alabama to new heights since being hired from Buffalo in 2019, accumulating a 170-73 record in seven seasons at the helm. He has taken the program to five Sweet 16s, making four in a row, and has the most NCAA Tournament wins in program history (13).
The banged-up Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks square off tonight, two nights removed from NBA Rookie of the Year favorite Cooper Flagg’s 51-point outburst against Orlando.
We’ve looked at the stats, the betting data, as well as our Covers projection model to see where the market missed the mark.
The Mavericks' interior defense is a sieve, and Hachimura attacks the paint effectively. Expect an uptick in his usage and finishing opportunities tonight against a vulnerable front court.
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Lebron James Over 1.5 made threes (-125)
Projection: 2.0 made threes
LeBron James has been cold from 3-point range lately, but he continues to launch as many as four attempts per night.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend may catch a break against the Mavericks, who have allowed the 27th most made threes per game over their last 10 contests.
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Jake LaRavia Over 4.5 rebounds (-150)
Projection: 5.7 rebounds
Jake LaRavia has seen an uptick in minutes since Luka Doncic hit the IR, and he’s made the most of his time, pulling down at least seven boards in his previous two games.
Dallas ranks 26th in the NBA in opponent rebounds in their past 10 contests, and won’t have enough size to handle LaRavia.
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Mavericks computer picks
Max Christie Over 9.5 points (-120)
Projection: 10.7 points
Dallas guard Max Christie has been in a scoring slump but seems to have turned things around after scoring 14 points against Orlando.
Christie should have ample opportunities to score tonight, as he won’t have to deal with Austin Reaves defending him.
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Max Christie Over 2.5 rebounds (+100)
Projection: 3.1 rebounds
Christie may be in a scoring slump, but he’s been a sneaky rebounder and has snatched at least three boards in four straight games.
The Dallas guard should grab at least three tonight, as he won’t have to worry about the handsy Reaves or Bronny James slowing him down.
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Cooper Flagg Under 24.5 points (-105)
Projection: 22.5 points
Cooper Flagg is coming off a 51-point explosion against the Magic, but this Lakers defense is a tough test.
Before that outburst, Flagg stayed Under his scoring prop in five of eight games. Expect the Lakers to slow him down again, making the Under our play tonight.
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How to watch Lakers vs Mavericks tonight
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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