Category: NBA

PARIS (AP) — Senegal players paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in front of thousands of fans on Saturday, despite the Confederation of African Football's decision to strip the country of the title and award it to Morocco.

Ahead of a friendly match against Peru at Stade de France, Senegal players led by captain Kalidou Koulibaly took to the pitch with the trophy as part of pre-game celebrations.

The Senegalese Football Association had announced it would present the Africa Cup trophy to its fans before the game in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. Paris has a significant Senegalese community.

Earlier this week in the French capital, Senegalese FA president Abdoulaye Fall said Senegal was the victim of “ the most grossly unfair administrative robbery” in the history of soccer and pledged that the country would defend its players’ “honor” at the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Senegal is challenging CAF's surprise ruling last week to strip the team of the title won in a chaotic final in January and give it to host nation Morocco.

Senegal’s legal team said the country still considers itself the champion of Africa. The CAF ’s appeals board ruled that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited the final” and its 1-0 win in extra time became a 3-0 default win for Morocco. The rationale was that Senegal players led by their coach had left the field in protest when Morocco was awarded a penalty, leading to a 15-minute stoppage.

Senegal’s appeal to be reinstated as champion was registered this week by CAS, which set no timetable for a likely long process toward a verdict. The appeal was promised by the Senegalese government, which also called for an international investigation “into suspected corruption” within CAF.

An appeal to CAS can typically take months to schedule a hearing then weeks or months more to announce a verdict. Senegal’s lawyers, however, will ask CAS to open an expedited procedure and hope the Moroccan federation and the CAF agree so that the case can be dealt with within two months.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Dallas Mavericks travelled to the northwest to take on the Portland Trailblazers Friday night. The Mavs have officially been eliminated from Playoff contention, while the Blazers have clinched a spot in at least the Play In tournament. Despite having nothing to play for, Dallas got the 100-93 win.

Let’s get to the grades!

Cooper Flagg: B+

24 PTS / 3 REB / 2 AST / 4 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN

Flagg nailed 9-of-17 overall and had sticky hands to net himself a whopping four steals. His rebounding and assist totals were lower than we normally see, but this was still a very solid game if not for a few turnovers (three).

Max Christie: C-

5 PTS / 3 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 25 MIN

If it wasn’t for everything but scoring, Christie likely would have been a “D” Friday night. His 1-for-8 shooting was somewhat mind-boggling, especially after having found his rhythm over the past few games. Nice job doing some other things, including blocking shots.

Naji Marshall: A-

19 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 5 STL / 0 BLK – 33 MIN

Marshall connected on 7-of-14 from the floor and had an insane number of steals, somehow outdoing Flagg’s exceptional performance in that category. This was a very nice, well-rounded game in which Marshall contributed to a long-awaited win.

P.J. Washington: C+

5 PTS / 5 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN

Washington no-showed this one to a large degree, which was more disappointing that it otherwise would have been, given how well he played last game. There just simply isn’t much to say about this one.

Dwight Powell: C+

4 PTS / 5 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN

Powell was Powell, giving the team a solid effort in limited minutes, but he also had some slightly inordinate negatives on the ledger. His total assists stand out, and he was 2-for-3 from the floor, but he bricked his only two free throw attempts and had three turnovers and three fouls.

Marvin Bagley: A+

26 PTS / 9 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 27 MIN

Bagley had his highest scoring quarter of the season in the first, with 11 points, en route to his season high point total. He led the team in points, rebounds and assists (the latter of which he tied for the lead) and drilled 11-for-14 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from deep. Bagley was the best player on the floor and there is no chance the Mavs win without his efforts Friday night.

Final Thoughts

The Mavs don’t need to win, but they sure did need a win. It’s been a while since they’ve been on the positive side of an outcome and while it doesn’t help their draft position to win, it’s nice to see guys who work so hard every night get a taste of victory. Kudos to Flagg for a nice game, and to Bagley for serving as a one man gang.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves will be without their go-to options in tonight’s matchup. Detroit travels to Minnesota after torching the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jalen Duren (questionable) has done his part as the first option. He is averaging 26.5 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 86 percent from the charity stripe since Cade Cunningham’s absence. Duren has also picked up the slack in ways Cade flourishes.

Minnesota may be without Anthony Edwards, but this is a squad that just became the first team to overcome a 10-point deficit in overtime in the play-by-play era. Edwards didn’t suit up for that one. The Timberwolves don’t draw dead without their star. 

Game Vitals

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

When: 5:30 PM

Watch: ABC/ Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Pistons (-1.5)

Analysis

Duren has not just dominated in the paint. He showed off skill work against the Pelicans.

For starters, this modern-day step tap tap back is not in a lot of centers’ arsenal. Duren pulled this off against a past-his-prime defender, but this can be a good counter when teams pack the paint.

That is exactly what teams have done to combat Duren’s dominance. His playmaking for others has seen an uptick during this stretch as he has seen more bodies. Duren almost had a triple-double, notching a season-high seven assists in the last outing.

Kevin Huerter was one of the main beneficiaries of Duren’s passing. Huerter had his best offensive game as a Piston, knocking down four 3s. Huerter contributes doing the little things, but flame on shooting will keep him on the floor. It is hard to deny him when he is scrapping on defense, knocking down range shots, and making closeouts look silly.

Newly acquired Timberwolves combo guard Ayo Dosunmu would usually take a matchup like Huerter, but he is out with a calf injury. He has been a godsend for Minny. They have needed more ball handling around Edwards, and Dosunmu is more than solid.

The Timberwolves will be without Jaden McDaniels. He is their version of Ausar Thompson, who is questionable. Both are lanky, versatile, cream of the crop defenders who opponents hate to see coming. Ausar is more susceptible to blowing up plays off the ball, which takes his defensive value to another level. On the ball, Ausar is a different animal, too. 

There is not a stickier on-ball defender than No. 9 in Detroit. The way he recovers to remain unscreenable is one of one stuff. Once you are in Ausar’s sight, you are his.

Julius Randle could see a lot of Ausar as Ausar just battled with a similar beast in Zion Williamson. Ausar takes on all archetypes. 

The Pistons will need to crack the Rudy Gobert code. He is quietly having another dominant defensive year. Kevin Durant thought Gobert was easy work in isolation, but he got put in a box in the clutch. Duren has the strength and skill to handle Gobert. That is a good test for the Pistons All-Star. 

You can not discuss Detroit without acknowledging the work Daniss Jenkins is putting in. The fearless point guard from Dallas is averaging 20 points and eight assists while sporting a 61 true shooting percentage over the last five games. He buried five 3s as Detroit was scorching against the Pelicans (15-28 from 3). 

I expect to see a lot of full-court pressure from Jenkins (and Marcus Sasser if he plays) on Timberwolves guards like Bones Hyland.

The Hyland resurgence has been cool to see. He’s rangy with certified handles. Accountability and defensive buy-in keep him on the floor, but he’s dealing with different types of defenders tonight. 

Detroit does more than get stops; they’re trying to take your basketball soul and make you double-think if you belong in this league with their defensive tenacity. Detroit looks to keep that intensity up against the Timberwolves, who are 4-1 over the last five without Edwards. 

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (53-20): Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson (questionable), Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Minnesota Timberwolves (45-28): Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert

Question of the day

What regular-season award is any Pistons player/coach most likely to get?

Thank you for your responses to this week’s SB Nation NBA Reacts survey. Here are the results.

In our Washington Wizards survey, we asked you whether you believed the team would ultimately clinch an NBA record 29 game losing streak. If that were happen, that streak would have stretched into next season where Washington would have an 0-2 start. Only 22 percent of our respondents believed that the Wizards would sink that low.

Now, thankfully, the question is moot now. That’s because the Wizards won last Wednesday against the Utah Jazz.

In our national survey, respondents were asked which NBA team should move to the Eastern Conference if the NBA expands. Thirty seven percent each selected the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves as the teams most likely to go to the Eastern Conference. The NBA is likely going to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas which would both be Western Conference teams. In a 32 team NBA, that would require one Western team to be placed in the Eastern Conference.

Thanks again for your responses. We’ll always keep asking questions on the regular with SB Nation Reacts!

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The Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies meet for the second time this season when the two teams collide at FedExForum.

Two fast-paced and defensively shy teams go head-to-head, and my Bulls vs. Grizzlies predictions expect the scoreboard to light up in Bluff City.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference matchup on Saturday, March 28.

Bulls vs Grizzlies prediction

Bulls vs Grizzlies best bet: Over 245 (-110)

Fast-paced game? Check. Lackluster defense? Check. Young teams constantly rotating players with monitored minutes? Check, check, and check.

Tonight’s matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies is going to be full of points, and I’m hammering the Over.

The Bulls have hit the Over in 21 of 35 road games, including a 7-4 mark to the Over as the road favorite. The Grizzlies are 18-17 to the Over at home. Chicago has hit the Over in three straight games, and Memphis has done so in two of its last three.

Over the last 10 games, the Bulls have allowed the third-most points per game at 128.1, while the Grizzlies have surrendered the fourth-most at 126.4. In that span, Chicago’s 120.7 defensive rating ranks 24th, and Memphis’ 125.1 defensive rating ranks 28th.

Chicago sports the fastest pace across the last 10 games at 104.8, while Memphis isn’t far behind in ninth with a 101.1 pace.

Injuries have decimated both teams, and both are playing the second legs of back-to-back sets, but fatigue isn’t something I’m worried about. Memphis players rarely sniff 30 minutes these days, and the roster is one of the youngest in the Association.

Chicago is going deep down the bench, so the available players should all have relatively fresh legs.

Bulls vs Grizzlies same-game parlay

The Grizzlies are just 9-12 ATS as the home underdog, but the Bulls are 1-10 ATS as the road favorite. This should be a competitive game, and the home team can keep it close.

Josh Giddey has dished 12+ dimes in six of his last nine games and three of his last four. He handed out 13 assists in his first matchup with the Grizzlies, who have allowed the sixth-most assists per game across their last 10.

Bulls vs Grizzlies SGP

• Over 245
• Grizzlies +3.5
• Josh Giddey Over 11.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Giddey-Up!

Giddey has five triple-doubles across his last 12 outings, including one against the Grizzlies. He’s doing it all for Chicago right now, and another triple-double is within reach in this favorable spot.

Matas Buzelis has averaged 21.8 points and 7.1 boards across his last 10 games with one double-double to his credit. Over the last 10 games, Memphis has allowed the most rebounds at a whopping 51.1.

GG Jackson is averaging 22.5 points and rebounds in 12 March games. That number is up to 24.7 across his last three games, and he’s hit the Over twice in that span. Jackson leads the Grizzlies in points and is second in minutes over his last three.

Bulls vs Grizzlies SGP

• Josh Giddey triple-double
• Matas Buzelis double-double
• GG Jackson Over 23.5 points+rebounds

Bulls vs Grizzlies odds

• Spread: Bulls -3.5 (-110) | Grizzlies +3.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bulls -170 | Grizzlies +145
• Over/Under: Over 245 | Under 245

Bulls vs Grizzlies betting trend to know

The Chicago Bulls are 1-10 ATS as the road favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Grizzlies.

How to watch Bulls vs Grizzlies

Bulls vs Grizzlies latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

You used to root for Bronny James to come into games ironically. Or because you just wanted to see history.

But now I bet you want to see Bronny come into the game to hoop.

That’s a pretty cool plot twist.

Especially because LeBron James’ son has had to develop his game with the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders, the only expectation being that he would fail to amount to anything resembling an NBA player.

But over the past couple seasons, Bronny has developed into an NBA reserve who is worth rostering, whether or not his dad is part of the program.

Shocker, right?

For the second consecutive game Friday, Lakers coach JJ Redick called the second-year guard’s number for important minutes.

Not to complete garbage time chores. Not as a gimmick to please the King. But because he needed a ball-handler he could trust after the regular rotation got wonky in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena.

For the second consecutive game, Bronny helped buoy the Lakers. In four minutes, he had a deflection and drained a three-pointer that not only keyed a much-needed 9-0 Lakers run but also was the first father-to-son assisted basket in NBA history, coming on a pass from LeBron.

Trailblazers, like at Sierra Canyon High. That’s where Bronny and the Nets’ Ziaire Williams were teammates before Bronny and his dad, “Big Bron,” were Williams’ opponents Friday.

Read more:'We want Bronny': Guard Bronny James shines during Lakers' ugly loss to Cleveland

His former teammate sees in Bronny what his current teammates do: A hard worker who needs only to nurture his confidence to be able to contribute in the NBA.

“He’ll be great,” Williams said. “Especially starting off on the defensive end. He can guard one through four, pick up full [court,] have good ball pressure. On the offensive end, he’s a gamer. He can make shots, he can drive the ball. He can get his teammates open. The biggest thing with him is just keeping that confidence.

“When he’s confident and he’s in flow state, in rhythm, he’s a great, great player. … He’s just gotta keep working.”

Bronny’s been working in the G League the last two seasons, bouncing between the big leagues and the developmental circuit, where last season his averages were solid — including 21.9 points, per game — but nowhere near as efficient as they’ve been this season. In 13 games, he’s averaging 14.8 points on 54.7% shooting, including 41.7% from three-point range.

“It's just getting back to where it was before the incident,” LeBron said Friday, referencing Bronny’s cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect on July 24, 2023.

“He’s always been able to shoot the ball. He shot the ball at a high level pretty much throughout his years of playing ball. So I just think there’s the confidence in the rhythm and just getting the strength back and his wind and everything. Everything is just coming back.”

That’s carried over to the big club; Bronny is shooting 41.9% from three-point range in those instances when Redick has called on him — as he also did in a 137-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

In that victory, Bronny had four points, two steals and a block in 13 minutes. Redick credited the 21-year-old with settling the team with a pull-up jumper with 3:55 to go in the game, which was the second this season LeBron and Bronny played together.

Read more:'I always had a mission': How LeBron James has maintained peak performance

The first time it happened, in the season opener in 2024, the prevailing thought was that it wouldn’t happen again for a long time — and if it did, something had probably gone very wrong for the Lakers that game.

But that’s not the case. No, because Bronny has made a convincing case as an NBA player.

“I’ve been wanting to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny said. “It’s a dream come true. I’m so privileged to be able to play basketball for a job and I love every single second of it. My teammates embrace it. I’m best friends with all my teammates and my coaches. I’m just happy to be here.”

He’s become an effective plug-and-play piece — and not on a tanking Nets team that regularly runs out G League-caliber players, but on a playoff-bound Lakers team that has won 14 of its last 16 games.

Read more:Lakers' JJ Redick defends LeBron James amid 'unfortunate' criticism

The No. 55 draft pick in 2024, Bronny has surpassed Dalton Knecht, the 17th pick in that same draft, in the Lakers’ pecking order.

He’s become a player who can be counted on, and he’s especially valuable to a team that happens to badly need youth and athleticism, as the Lakers do.

You want to talk twists? How about whatever happens with LeBron — when, or if, he retires — the Lakers should seriously consider keeping Bronny in the fold. Seriously.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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While it’s another light slate for the NBA on Saturday, there are six games on tap, and that gives us plenty of excellent targets for our player props today.

Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Johnson get outstanding matchups today against the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings, respectively, while I also like Kon Knueppel to continue his three-point barrage.

Let’s take a look at all three of these matchups as I break down my NBA picks for Saturday, March 28.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Victor Wembanyama	Over 24.5	-112
Kon Knueppel	Over 3.5 made threes	-115
Jalen Johnson	Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists	-105

Prop #1: Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points 

-112 at bet365

Victor Wembanyama continues to have the best offensive season of his young career. The San Antonio Spurs center is averaging 24.2 ppg on 50.5% shooting from the field. He’s also getting to the line more and shooting 81.8% from the charity stripe.

Wemby isn’t taking it easy down the stretch, either. The Spurs have won seven in a row as they attempt to chase down the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, and they’ve won 12 straight with Wembanyama in the lineup – a stretch in which he’s averaged 26.1 ppg.

Wembanyama is in a great spot against the Milwaukee Bucks this afternoon, who have lost four of five and allowed 123.0 ppg during that span. Wemby should have no trouble getting Over his scoring total.

• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #2: Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes made 

-115 at bet365

Kon Knueppel has been perhaps the most surprising rookie in the NBA this season, averaging 19.1 ppg for the Charlotte Hornets after being picked fourth overall in last year’s draft. He’s already established himself as one of the league’s premier sharpshooters, hitting 3.5 shots from deep per game and making them at a 43.8% clip.

As Charlotte has worked its way up the Eastern Conference standings, Knueppel has continued to be a major contributor. The former Duke standout has hit at least four shots from deep in three of his last four games.

The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been great at shutting down opponents at the three-point line, where teams are shooting 35.7% against them. Knueppel is in a prime position to take full advantage of that fact today.

• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Prop #3: Jalen Johnson Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists

-105 at bet365

Jalen Johnson has been one of the Atlanta Hawks most versatile all-around threats in the NBA this year, averaging 22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. That works out to a combined PRA average of 41.3 per contest this season.

Those numbers haven’t slipped late in the year. Johnson is averaging 39.5 PRA in March and has two triple-doubles this month alone. He’s also hit tonight’s PRA total in four of his last six games.

The Sacramento Kings are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, giving up 121.2 ppg on the season and ranking 28th in defensive efficiency. Sacramento has lost four of its last five while playing out the string, and I like Johnson to put up big numbers against the Kings tonight.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBC Sports California

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The best things from the Wizards loss to the Golden State Warriors were these:

1. Another aggressive and effective offensive performance from Bilal Coulibaly. The Warriors could not effectively defend him. He attacked wings and guards with dribble drives. When Golden State put Kristaps Porzingis on him and dared him to shoot, he knocked down threes…and then attacked the closeouts. Coulibaly had a 36.4% usage rate and a 130 offensive rating.
2. Will Riley had a hyper-efficient offensive game (160 offensive rating on 22.0% usage) that included outfoxing Draymond Green a few times, who is one of the NBA’s best defenders ever.

What most interested me in this game was the solid performance of Pat Spencer, who was scouted and signed by the former Wizards management team led by Tommy Sheppard. Spencer played well in the G-League and summer league, and my statistical analysis suggested he might be able to make an NBA rotation.

Aside: Maybe there’s something to this statistical analysis stuff?

Despite a paucity of talent, the Wizards inexplicably (at least to me) traded Spencer to Golden State for some G-League draft picks.

Spencer is getting an extended run in Golden State’s rotation (17.7 minutes per game in 58 appearances this season), and he’s been okay. Last night, he looked like a standard NBA backup guard — 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal with solid efficiency in 24 minutes.

Spencer’s backstory is the best part because of his non-standard path to the NBA. His first sport was lacrosse, and he was one of the sport’s best players, all-time. He eschewed professional lacrosse, opting instead to attempt a basketball career.

He used his season of graduate eligibility to play at Northwestern only to have the season disrupted by the COVID pandemic. He played a season for the Hamburg Towers before signing to play for the Capital City Go-Go and Washington’s summer league squad.

Since then, he’s bounced between Golden State’s NBA roster and G-League team. This season, he’s played well enough that the Warriors converted his two-day deal to a standard NBA contract.

He also inspired one of the best quotes from a coach ever. After Spencer scored 19 points in his first NBA start, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr explained the decision to start Spencer by saying, “His coach realized Pat is that m*****f***er.” (Spencer had said something similar about himself a few days earlier.)

Anyway, kudos to Spencer for being an all-time great in one sport, and then switching to another and becoming good enough to earn a role in the NBA — the world’s best basketball league. There aren’t many people who have proven to be a great in one sport and being among the 500-600 best on the planet in another.

From the Notebook

• Alex Sarr kept trying to score on Porzingis, which did not go well. He shot 0-3 from inside the arc when Porzingis was defending, and 1-3 from three-point range. He also fouled out in just 23 minutes.
• Anthony Gill played another strong game — an example of how players can be successful by playing within the flow of the game and taking what the defense gives. In this game, he pump-faked threes and attacked closeouts to get relatively easy shots. This is a progression from him — earlier in the season (and throughout his career), he’s pump faked but not converted the advantage into good shots. Last night, he did.
• I’ve written recently about broadcasters asserting that Leaky Black was a strong defender in college. Perhaps that’s true. At the NBA level, he’s been a disastrous combination of low effort and weak when he’s on-ball, and inattentive and slow when off-ball. He routinely gets caught ball-watching when he should be paying attention to his man cutting past him (sometimes in front of him) or sticking to his man when he should be helping. Last night, NBA tracking indicates the Warriors scored 28 points on 19 field goal attempts and produced 5 assists when Black was defending.
• I still think Riley carries the ball constantly, which irritates the hoops purist in me. But, as someone in the comments suggested, if the refs aren’t going to call it, the “carries” are a kind of super power. Last night, he burned Green with a…hmm, gotta call it something…elongated hesi dribble (?) to get a layup.
• Jaden Hardy did Jaden Hardy things in the fourth quarter, which is to say, he hit 4-5 from three-point range…and basically nothing else. That instant offense is fun, though. He kinda reminds me of Jordan Crawford, which is not intended as criticism or praise. There is definitely an empty calories flavor to Hardy’s game, but empty calories can be fun.
• It was good to see an Omer Yurtseven make an appearance because his name is fun to say.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

Jordan Walsh’s third season has been a bit of a roller coaster.

He started the season as a distant idea, where youth and potential still held weight, but it was unclear if he could break through. That breakthrough did happen, and it led to a string of promising starts with consistent and meaningful playing time.

There are no guarantees in the NBA, or in the Celtics rotation. Just as quickly as Walsh ascended, he faded into the background. At no real fault of his own, Walsh became a minutes casualty due to several factors: Jayson Tatum’s return, and Baylor Scheierman’s own ascension, to name a few.

He went from starting 20 straight games, averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds on 60-45-85 shooting splits, to being stapled to the bench. He hadn’t seen the floor in six straight games.

Last night though, in the absence of Jaylen Brown, his number was called and he seized the opportunity.

Walsh’s modest statline of 5 points and 3 rebounds don’t tell the whole story. More important was the 27 minutes he logged, and what he did with them.

He finished with 3 blocks, a reminder of just how deep his defensive skill set runs. He contained a Jonathan Kuminga physical drive to the rim, and hung with the shiftier CJ McCollum, stuffing his shot twice. Walsh brought his usually frenetic style, finding the spots where his chaos and motor could do the most damage.

“Yeah, it was huge,” Mazzulla said. “Games call for toughness and physicality. Something that he brings to credit to him.”

His return to the rotation was another example of Boston’s stay-ready culture doing exactly what it’s supposed to. Walsh got his chance and delivered. He didn’t try to overdo it to win his spot back, instead playing within himself and letting his best attributes carry the night.

“The professionalism to stay ready over the course of a season says a lot about him,” Mazzulla said. “And I thought he gave us some great minutes tonight, great energy and great physicality.”

Adding a player of Tatum’s caliber back into the mix meant minutes had to come from somewhere, and Walsh was the one who lost them. But a game like this can earn him extended looks again. Mazzulla has consistently rewarded depth pieces after strong showings, and the trust never fully disappeared.

“Even when he wasn’t playing, I still had a level of trust,” Mazzulla said. “And when he’s out there, he’s going to put us in position to win. And I thought he did that tonight.”

Some uncertainty remains in the Celtics wing room. Among Scheierman, Walsh, and Gonzalez, none have meaningful NBA playoff experience. They’ve each proven themselves in different ways, but postseason basketball demands precision. There’s a real chance Walsh gets called on in a playoff series, and he’ll need to be ready. Against the Hawks, he was.

Luka Doncic had every right to be frustrated. 

Entering Friday’s game against the Nets, he had averaged 40.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.6 steals in the Lakers’ last six games, becoming the first player to average 40 points over six road games since Michael Jordan in 1986. 

And yet he dropped in NBA.com’s MVP Ladder from second to fourth place over the last week. 

So on Friday, after finishing with 41 points on 60% shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in the Lakers’ 116-99 win, Doncic showed his exasperation when asked what winning the MVP Award would mean to him. 

“…The better I play, the more I go down in ratings,” Doncic said. “So I don’t know what more I can do.”

For Doncic, who’s not a man of many words, that’s about as much advocacy as he has done for himself all season when it comes to the league’s most heralded individual honor. 

Doncic needs to start speaking up more. 

Victor Wembanyama surpassed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for No. 1 on the MVP Ladder this week after the Spurs’ star was asked why he should win the award — and he went on to argue his case as though he were an attorney trying to win over a jury. He pointed to defense being 50% of the game, the fact that the Spurs beat Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder in four of their five meetings and that offensive impact is more than just scoring. 

A video of Wembanyama’s answer went viral and multiple pundits acknowledged it made them reevaluate their thinking on the award. (It also helped that he had 17 blocks in his last three games for the streaking Spurs, who have won seven straight contests.)

Of course, Draymond Green, who’s a master at using his words to shape narratives and has become a future Hall of Famer by pouring himself into the defensive end of the court, didn’t hesitate to point out the absurdity of Wembanyama’s words being viewed as revelatory. 

“Everybody says he has a great point,” Green said Thursday of Wembanyama emphasizing the importance of defense. “Hello? You think? I hated that he had to do that for it to be said. All of a sudden, you turn on the TV and everybody is like, ‘Actually, maybe Wemby is the MVP.'”

But the truth is that the MVP Award is wildly subjective, with some voters emphasizing seeding, others placing importance on stats and others prioritizing things that don’t even show up in box scores, which is often the case for defensive impact. 

So, self-advocacy is smart. It’s the ultimate explanation by the foremost expert on the subject. It’s powerful. It resonates even if it’s obvious. 

Doncic’s case is clear: He’s leading the league in scoring (33.6 points) and is third in assists (8.3). He has helped the third-seeded Lakers win 14 of their last 16 games, including going on a recent nine-game winning streak.

And while the defensive end is where holes can be poked in his MVP case, he has led the league in steals (41) since the All-Star break. 

The race has become tight. 

There’s Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s the best player on the best team in the league. There’s Wembanyama, who’s elite on both ends of the court and has helped the Spurs win 23 of their last 25 contests. There’s Nikola Jokic who’s a triple-double machine. And there’s Jaylen Brown, who has carried the Celtics to second place in the East despite Jayson Tatum being sidelined for the first 62 games of the season because of a torn Achilles’ tendon. 

For Doncic, the MVP race is going to come down to the final nine games of the season, especially considering the Lakers play the Thunder twice over the next few weeks. If Doncic outshines Gilgeous-Alexander, his case for the award will skyrocket. 

But in the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt Doncic to advocate for himself.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates have been doing his dirty work for him, arguing that he deserves the award. Brown recently called himself the best two-way player in the world. Wembanyama is acting as though he’s on a campaign trail.

Doncic recently squandered a great opportunity to follow suit.

After scoring 60 points against the Heat on March 19, inspiring a hostile crowd to chant “MVP,” he was asked why he believes he’s not getting more recognition.  

His response? 

“It’s you guys, the media,” he said. “I ain’t got nothing to do with it.”

That’s where he’s wrong.

If he wants to win, he should start chiming in.

It can make a difference.

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Andrej Stojakovic has been an impact scorer off the bench this season for Brad Underwood and Illinois men's basketball, and is one of the top impact first-year transfers left in March Madness.

The No. 3-seeded Illini will need another impact game off the bench on Saturday, March 28 when they meet up with No. 9 Iowa in the Elite Eight out of the South Region, where they are looking for their first Final Four appearance since 1989.

He also comes from an NBA bloodline, as his father, Peja Stojakovic, is a former NBA small forward.

REQUIRED READING: Who's in Elite 8? Updated March Madness bracket, NCAA Tournament schedule

Following a quiet first-round game vs. No. 14 Pennsylvania, Andrej Stojakovic has come alive for the Illini, scoring 21 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting from the field vs. No. 11 VCU in the second round. He then scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting in Illinois' upset over No. 2 Houston.

He's averaging 14.3 points per game in Illinois' three tournament wins thus far, and has shot over 50% from the field, at 53.6%.

Here's what to know:

REQUIRED READING: Illinois vs Iowa live updates, predictions, time, how to watch Elite 8 game

Are Andrej Stojakovic, Peja Stojakovic related?

Yes, the Fighting Illini guard is the son of the 13-year NBA veteran shooter Peja Stojakovic.

The elder Stojakovic played 13 seasons in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors and the Dallas Mavericks. Peja Stojakovic — taken with the No. 14 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by Sacramento — earned three All-Star selections with the Kings. He was also part of the 2010-11 Mavericks, who beat LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosch and the Miami Heat in six games in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Stojakovic has been in the stands watching Illinois before the Men's NCAA Tournament, which has helped the younger Stojakovic receive real-time feedback.

"Having my dad over there who has been through it means a lot to me," Andrej Stojakovic said after an Illinois game back in November. "Looking at him during timeouts, whether he is yelling at me or encouraging me, after the game, he's always going to have points for my teammates and myself.

"It means a lot for him to be here."

REQUIRED READING: March Madness games today: Full schedule for Saturday's Elite 8 games

Andrej Stojakovic stats

Stojakovic enters the Elite Eight as Illinois' third leading scorer with 13.9 points per game on 49.5% shooting from the field. He has scored eight games of at least 20 points going into Saturday's regional final.

Stojakovic puts @IlliniMBB up 7️⃣#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/dyPzs7sbDL

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2026

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Stojakovic's stats in the Men's NCAA Tournament this season:

• vs. Penn (First Round): 9 points on 3-of-8 shooting with three rebounds and an assist
• vs. VCU (Second Round): 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting with four rebounds, an assist and a block
• vs. Houston (Sweet 16): 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting with two assists and a steal

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Andrej Stojakovic related to Peja Stojakovic? What to know of Illinois G

The Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in a meeting between two NBA championship contenders. Minnesota is favored with a -2.5 spread and a -140 moneyline. The Timberwolves are trying to improve their playoff seeding in the West.

How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

• Date: Saturday, March 28

• Time: 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Target Center, Minneapolis

• TV Channel: ABC

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Detroit Pistons: 53-20 (No. 1 in Central Division)

• Minnesota Timberwolves: 45-28 (No. 3 in Northwest Division)

Odds

• Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves -2.5

• Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves -140.0 / Detroit Pistons 115.0

• Over/Under: 223.5

No other NBA team had played more games than the Lakers had over the last 2 ½ months. 

And it showed during the Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Nets on Friday at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers’ margin of victory didn’t reflect how competitive the matchup was until the game’s final minutes, with the team not only showing the fatigue from the six-game trip they were coming off of, but also the wear and tear from how condensed their schedule has been lately.

The Lakers played a league-high 38 games from Jan. 12-Friday. 

Ironically, the only other team to play that many games in that span was the Nets, with every other team outside of the Rockets (37) playing between 33-36 games in that span. 

It’s why the Lakers were relishing having two games off between games for the first time since Jan. 10-11, outside of the All-Star break, with their next game not until Monday when they hosy the Wizards.

The matchup against the Wizards will be the first night of a back-to-back, with the Lakers also hosting the Cavaliers on Tuesday. 

“It’s gigantic,” LeBron James said. “And we got to take full advantage of it, for sure.”

What will taking advantage of the time look like?

A day off for the team on Saturday before a rare late-season practice on Sunday, with coach JJ Redick already mentioning inbounds passing as something he wants his team to work on.

But it will also allow for much-needed rest with multiple players popping up on the injury report the last few games.

“It’s the first time we got two days between the games after All Star,” Luka Doncic said. “So definitely get a lot of ice and a lot of recovery.”

Doncic won’t be available for the matchup against the lowly Wizards after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season against the Nets, triggering a league-mandated one-game suspension because of technical foul accumulation.

He picked up the technical foul when he and Nets forward Zaire Williams were double T’d up after an altercation midway through the third quarter of Friday’s matchup.

After Doncic was called for an offensive foul against Nic Claxton on an inbounds play underneath the Lakers basket, Williams was yelling next to Doncic after the turnover. Doncic shoved Williams in the back before Williams hit Doncic in the face while his back was turned to him. 

The referees review saw a “push” from Doncic, followed by an “action” after the push by Williams, leading to the double technicals. 

“He [yelled] in my face three times,” Doncic said postgame. “I just wanted to get out of there. It’s a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed. My push was exaggerated, which was obviously not. And I don’t know what else to tell you.”

Doncic is unlikely to dodge the one-game suspension for accumulation of technicals this time around, like he did just a week ago, with the referees already reviewing the sequence during the game.

“I’m sure we will appeal it,” coach JJ Redick said. “I didn’t see what happened.”Doncic was assessed a 16th technical during the March 21 road win over the Magic for a verbal back and forth with Magic center Goga Bitadze, who was also given a technical foul, but they later rescinded by the league, allowing Doncic to be eligible for the March 23 road loss to the Pistons.

Doncic, who named the Western Conference player of the week back-to-back weeks, has been on a tear over the last month. He’s averaged 36.5 points (49.3% shooting, 39% on 3-pointers), 8.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.3 steals during the Lakers’ 14-2 stretch going back to Feb. 28.

“We’re just playing our game,” James said. “Obviously, [Doncic is] the head honcho when it comes to our offensive power and then it goes to [Austin Reaves]. And those two guys, they attract so many eyes, so much energy. But [Doncic is in] just in an unbelievable rhythm right now, shooting the 3-ball exceptionally well, getting to the line as he always does and just being super efficient. So we’re all just playing off of him.”

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