The Washington Wizards play the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Watch it on Monumental Sports Network in the team’s last late night game of the 2025-26 NBA season. Go Wizards!
Wizards at Lakers discussion
Pistons vs Thunder Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More
The Detroit Pistons seem to be taking a proactive schedule loss tonight against the NBA’s top team and reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart already sidelined, the Pistons appear to be letting their crop of banged-up players get a night off. Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Duncan Robinson are all out tonight. The last starter left standing is Ausar Thompson, who will suit up as he attempts to reach the minimum-game threshold to qualify for an All-NBA defense nod.
The Pistons won’t be the only team with absent players, to be clear. The Thunder will be without Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams. The last time these two teams faced off, the Thunder were even more banged up, and Detroit stole a 124-116 win. I’m not sure that’ll be in the cards tonight. Hopefully, the Pistons can keep it as close tonight as the Thunder kept it in February.
Game Vitals
When: 9:30 p.m.
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Watch: Peacock, NBC Sports Network
Odds: Pistons +12
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (54-20):
Daniss Jenkins, Kevin Huerter, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Paul Reed
Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16):
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams
Cavs at Jazz open gamethread
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to start their three-game road trip out with a win against the Utah Jazz.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
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.
Go Cavs!
Bulls waive guard Jaden Ivey after anti-LGBTQ comments, remarks about religion on Instagram
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey on Monday in the wake of anti-LGBTQ comments and remarks about religion he made in videos on his Instagram account.
“They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA,” he said. “They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say come join us for Pride, for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness. They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness. So how is it that one can't speak righteousness? How are they to say that this man is crazy?”
Coach Billy Donovan said the Bulls have employees from “all different walks of life" and Ivey's comments don't reflect the values of the organization.
“Everybody comes with their own personal experiences, but one is we’ve got to all be professional,” Donovan said prior to Chicago's game at San Antonio. "I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we’ve got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”
In an Instagram live conducted on an airplane hours after the Bulls let him go, Ivey again spoke at length about religion. He said the championship rings LeBron James and Michael Jordan earned are “not gonna matter on judgment day.”
He also insisted he “didn't get myself waived” and that other teams won't sign him because they think “he's too religious.” He said he was in the gym, rehabbing and “doing what was required of me in my job” on Monday.
At one point, a flight attendant asked him to end the session because the plane was about ready to depart and the cellphone could interfere with the communication systems. He continued to discuss religion for about another minute before wrapping it up.
Ivey has spoken this season about dealing with depression. He recently started posting lengthy videos expressing his thoughts about religion on Instagram.
“How is it when the gospel is preached that people hate it?” Ivey said. “That people don't want to hear it? And they think it's strange when someone preaches the gospel, the true gospel?”
Chicago acquired Ivey from Detroit in a three-team trade on Feb. 3. He had an expiring contract.
The Bulls shut him down for the remainder of the season last week after being sidelined since Feb. 11 with a sore left knee. He averaged 8.5 points in 37 games this season, including four for Chicago.
“I don't want to get into what he put out there, but certainly, I hope for him he's okay,” Donovan said. “I've had conversations with Jaden and he's always been about rehabbing his knee and trying to get on the court and wanting to play. But I think organizationally, there are certain standards we want to have as an organization and try to live up to those each and every day.”
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Bulls waive guard Jaden Ivey hours after homophobic social media rants
The Chicago Bulls are waiving guard Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental to the team, the organization announced Monday, March 30.
Since being shut down for the season Thursday, March 26 because of lingering knee issues, Ivey, 24, has gone live on his Instagram on three separate occasions to rant about his religious beliefs and other issues. Several comments he made in reply to fans have since gone viral, including referring to Catholicism as a "false religion" and telling a fan that "God does not hear your prayer if you are a sinner."
But the final straw for the Bulls appears to have come on Monday morning, when Ivey again took to social media – this time targeting the LGBTQ community, Pride Month and the NBA's advocacy efforts in a 45-minute-long rant.
"... the NBA, they proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, 'Come join us for Pride Month,' to celebrate unrighteousness," Ivey said on his livestream.
Ivey has spoken in the past about dealing with depression.
A former fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Bulls acquired Ivey from the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline on Feb. 3 in exchange for Kevin Huerter. He appeared in four games for Chicago and has been sidelined since Feb. 11 with left patellofemoral pain syndrome, a common and sometimes chronic pain behind or around the kneecap more widely known as runner's knee.
Ivey averaged career-lows in points (8.5), rebounds (2.5) and assists (1.8) across 37 games played this year and played just 30 games in 2024-25 due to a broken left fibula. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in October that forced him to miss the Pistons' first 15 games of the season.
Ivey, in his fourth NBA season, was set to be a restricted free agent this summer after he and Detroit could not finalize an agreement on a contract extension last offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jaden Ivey waived by Bulls after religious, anti gay Instagram stream
Steve Kerr reassures Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider
Steve Kerr is no stranger to catastrophic losses. As much as he’s won both as an NBA coach and as a player, he’s also lost in both scenarios. Most notably, in 2016, the Warriors lost in 7 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite starting the series 3-1 — which is an oddly similar scenario to what happened to the Toronto Blue Jays last season versus the Dodgers in the World Series.
Per The Athletic, Kerr reached out to John Schneider, the manager of the Blue Jays, shortly after their loss last year, writing a handwritten letter which Schneider recently discussed with The Athletic.
“I don’t know you,” Kerr wrote, “but I felt compelled to reach out after watching your incredible leadership on display during the World Series.”
“The pain [in 2016] was real,” Kerr wrote. “But what always survives through the tough losses is the character and connection of the group. The loss won’t define you, but the way you and your guys carried themselves afterwards will.”
As the MLB season begins and as the Warriors approach the play-in tournament, this sentiment rings true, and also speaks to Kerr’s expertise and experience as a coach — no matter how the season goes, how you and your players react is what matters most. It’s pretty sound life advice for us non-athletes too.
“It was the message we’ve been preaching all offseason and in spring,” Schneider told The Athletic. “The run was great, and the heartbreak was real, but it’s not going to define who we are. We all went through it together. What we’re going to be defined by is how we persevere through it… If he can see the good in what we did, it kind of gives you a little bit of reassurance that you’re preaching the right things.”
After that 2016 loss, Kerr won three more championships with the Warriors. Schneider hasn’t won anything yet with the Blue Jays, but this past World Series proves that he’ll be able to — and he recently signed a two-year extension, so he’ll definitely have a chance.
March Madness favorites: Ranking Final Four teams' odds to win national title
The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament is down to the Final Four.
The initial 68-team field has dwindled to the semifinals, with a national champion to be crowned a week from today. After a bracket that featured four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four last season, this year's bracket has a couple of shockers.
No. 2 Connecticut knocked off No. 1 overall seed Duke on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Braylon Mullins. No. 3 Illinois advanced to the Final Four with a win over No. 9 Iowa, which had knocked out No. 1 seed and defending national champion Florida in the second round action.
That leaves Michigan and Arizona as the lone remaining No. 1 seeds left in the tournament. But are those two the favorites to cut down the nets? Both programs are seeking their second national title, while the Huskies are seeking their seventh. The Fighting Illini are seeking their first.
Here's a look at the Final Four teams with the best odds of winning the national championship:
March Madness favorites: Ranking Top 20 college basketball teams based on odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 30
- Michigan: +165
- Arizona, +180
- Illinois, +475
- UConn, +550
Final Four schedule, game times
Saturday, April 4
- Game 1: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 UConn | 6:09 p.m. | TBS | Sling TV
- Game 2: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan | 8:49 p.m. | TBS | Sling TV
No. 3 Illinois and No. 2 UConn get the Final Four started at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 4, from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. No. 1 Arizona and No. 1 Michigan are scheduled for an 8:49 p.m. ET tip to set the stage for the national title game on Monday, April 6.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness power rankings: Michigan with best odds to win national title
NBA power rankings: Thunder, Spurs stay hot, but who took the No. 1 spot?
We’re down to the final stretch of the 2025-26 NBA season.
No team has more than eight remaining games, and the 10 teams – five from each conference – that will miss the playoffs and Play-In Tournament are already determined.
Still, there’s plenty at stake, where teams can mount late charges to improve their seeding. In the East, only one game separates the No. 5 team, the Toronto Raptors, from the No. 7 squad, the Philadelphia 76ers. The six-seed, an automatic playoff spot currently occupied by the Atlanta Hawks, is the prize everyone below is chasing.
Out West, the San Antonio Spurs suddenly have a very real shot to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 1 seed. OKC has been rolling lately, but its remaining schedule is the toughest in the NBA, according to Tankathon.com.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 21 of the 2025-26 regular season:
USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings
Note: Records and stats through March 29. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.
NBA Week 22 power rankings: Top 10
1. San Antonio Spurs, 56-18 (+1)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder, 59-16 (-1)
3. Detroit Pistons, 54-20 (—)
4.Boston Celtics, 50-24 (—)
5. Los Angeles Lakers, 48-26 (+1)
6. Denver Nuggets, 48-28 (+1)
7. New York Knicks, 48-27 (-2)
8. Cleveland Cavaliers, 46-28 (+2)
9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 45-29 (—)
10. Houston Rockets, 45-29 (-2)
It might not be fair, in practice, to drop the Thunder down one spot, even as they’ve won 14 of their last 15. But the Spurs have been even hotter, and, with their 4-1 record this season over Oklahoma City, they look every bit like a legitimate title contender. Over the last nine games, the Spurs have posted the NBA’s second-best offensive rating, scoring 123.9 points per 100 possessions.
The Lakers and Nuggets, who have been stellar recently, are each angling for the coveted No. 3 seed in the West and both have 48 wins.
The teams sliding here are the Knicks, who have been outperformed by Los Angeles and Denver, and the Rockets, who have lost five of their last 10.
NBA Week 22 power rankings: Nos. 11-20
11. Atlanta Hawks, 42-33 (+4)
12. Toronto Raptors, 42-32 (+2)
13. Phoenix Suns, 41-33 (—)
14. Los Angeles Clippers, 39-36 (+2)
15. Philadelphia 76ers, 41-33 (+2)
16. Orlando Magic, 39-35 (-5)
17. Miami Heat, 39-36 (-5)
18. Charlotte Hornets, 39-36 (—)
19. Portland Trail Blazers, 38-38 (+1)
20. Golden State Warriors, 36-39 (—)
There’s movement all over the middle of the pack. The Hawks have maximized new acquisitions, and no one has been better than point guard CJ McCollum. The Hawks don’t miss Trae Young, and his absence has allowed Jalen Johnson to fully take over as the star point-forward of the team. Headed into its game Monday against the Celtics, Atlanta has gone 12-2 in March, best of all teams in the East.
Though there’s probably too much ground for them to make up, the Clippers have won five consecutive and could be a lurking threat out West, especially after they struggled to start the season.
Two teams plummeting down the rankings are the Magic and the Heat, who have each gone 1-7 in their last eight games. Miami’s defense, which had been a strength most of the season, has been a recent liability. The Heat rank 27th in the league over the last eight games with a defensive rating of 125.5. A loss Sunday, March 29, against the Pacers – one in which Miami scored 11 points in the fourth quarter – at this point in the season, is inexcusable.
The Magic aren’t doing much better, with a defensive rating over that span of 125.4.
NBA Week 22 power rankings: Nos. 21-30
21. Milwaukee Bucks, 29-45 (—)
22. Chicago Bulls, 29-45 (—)
23. Memphis Grizzlies, 25-49 (—)
24. Dallas Mavericks, 24-50 (-1)
25. New Orleans Pelicans, 25-51 (—)
26. Utah Jazz, 21-54 (—)
27. Sacramento Kings, 19-57 (—)
28. Brooklyn Nets, 18-57 (—)
29. Washington Wizards, 17-57 (—)
30. Indiana Pacers, 17-58 (—)
There are 10 teams currently eliminated from playoff and play-in contention. Each of them is in this bottom third. These teams have, by and large, shut down star players and are playing to lose. It’s a common tactic in the NBA and shouldn’t even carry some moral judgment. But it’s also not worth spending a lot of time dissecting the recent play of these teams, as they build for the future.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: San Antonio Spurs, OKC Thunder battling for No. 1
Knicks listing Miles McBride as questionable for Tuesday's game after 'tough' exit vs. Thunder
Miles McBride's first game back since mid-February surgery for a sports hernia left the Knicks holding their collective breath.
McBride collided with Luguentz Dort going for a loose ball and did not return to the game, leaving the court for the locker room midway through the third quarter of Sunday's 111-100 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now, New York is listing McBride as questionable for Tuesday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. Additionally, Landry Shamet (knee) will remain out.
"I haven't talked to medical yet, so I don't know how bad it is," Knicks coach Mike Brown said Sunday night, according to the New York Post's Stefan Bondy. "But it's tough. He's worked his tail off to be back.
"And I don't think he made a shot in the first half, but he gave us a lift. You felt his presence. It made us deeper. And because of the foul trouble we had, we were a little shorthanded in that second half, and it was part of the reason they were able to pull away, too."
McBride was scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting but grabbed a rebound, dished an assist and blocked a shot in 11 minutes off the bench against the NBA-best Thunder (59-16).
Prior to his Sunday return, he last played Jan. 27 in New York's 103-87 win over the Sacramento Kings.
McBride entered Sunday with averages of 12.9 points and 2.8 assists in 28 minutes through 35 games (14 starts).
Pistons vs Thunder Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight’s NBA Game
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The top teams in each conference face off tonight as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Detroit Pistons at Paycom Center.
With defensive attention focused on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Detroit’s frontcourt decimated by injuries, my Pistons vs. Thunder predictions call for Chet Holmgren to have a monster night at home.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this powerhouse showdown on Monday, March 30.
Pistons vs Thunder prediction
Pistons vs Thunder best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 22.5 points+rebounds (-120)
Chet Holmgren is averaging 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and he’s recorded 24-plus points+rebounds in 39 of 64 appearances. That includes five of his last eight games heading into tonight's tilt with the Detroit Pistons.
Holmgren has been more productive at Paycom Center, averaging 27.4 points+rebounds at home compared to just 24.8 on the road. He’s hit the Over on this combo line in 20 of 31 games in front of the home crowd, recording exactly 23 twice more. Holmgren has posted 24+ points+rebounds in four of his last five at home, finishing with 23 once more.
Star defender Ausar Thompson should be tasked with guarding superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight, which means Holmgren should see more open looks. In a game with a 218.5 implied point total, there may be additional rebounding opportunities if the teams are forced into tough, contested shots.
Isaiah Hartenstein will be sidelined for the second leg of the Oklahoma City Thunder's back-to-back set, allowing Holmgren to operate as the team’s unquestioned leader in the frontcourt. He’s averaged 25.3 points+rebounds while sharing the court with Hartenstein, compared to 27.2 with Hartenstein sidelined. Jalen Williams’ absence will also boost Holmgren’s statistical workload.
All-Star center Jalen Duren is out tonight, and backup Isaiah Stewart is still sidelined. Detroit will have to rely on undersized big man Paul Reed to pick up the slack and limit Holmgren in the paint and on the glass. That’s a mismatch opportunity, and Holmgren should feast.
This line has fluctuated between 22.5 and 24.5 throughout the day, but I’m more than willing to bet it up to 24.5.
Pistons vs Thunder same-game parlay
Detroit will be missing Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, and all of Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren are doubtful.
Despite Detroit’s deep bench and scrappy style of play, they’re simply outmanned by the first-place Thunder, who will cruise to their 60th win of the season.
The Thunder should put away the Pistons with ease, and starters on both sides may see less run late in the game. The short-handed Pistons will struggle to score against OKC’s dominant defense, so I’ll take the Under here.
Pistons vs Thunder SGP
- Chet Holmgren Over 22.5 points+rebounds
- Under 219
- Thunder -12
Our "from downtown" SGP: Defense matters
SGA has seen his scoring dip from 31.4 points to 29.4 points per game across his last 12 outings, and he’s reached 30+ points only six times in that span.
Get the popcorn ready as one of the NBA’s best scorers takes on one of its best defenders. Thompson is one of the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year, and he should be tasked with guarding SGA tonight.
Thompson’s 107 defensive rating ranks seventh among starters with at least 40 appearances and 25 minutes per game, and he can limit the reigning MVP in the scoring column.
He's also recorded multiple swipes in 36 of 65 games, including three straight. In his first tilt with OKC, Thompson recorded three steals.
Pistons vs Thunder SGP
- Chet Holmgren Over 22.5 points+rebounds
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 29.5 points
- Ausar Thompson Over 1.5 steals
- Under 218.5
Pistons vs Thunder odds
- Spread: Pistons +12 (-110) | Thunder -12 (-110)
- Moneyline: Pistons +475 | Thunder -650
- Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)
Pistons vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Oklahoma City Thunder have hit the Team Total Under in 15 of their last 20 games at home (+9.25 Units / 41% ROI) Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Thunder.
How to watch Pistons vs Thunder
| Location | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK |
| Date | Monday, March 30, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Peacock |
Pistons vs Thunder latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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Bulls waive Jaden Ivey after homophobic rant on social media
The Chicago Bulls acquired Jaden Ivey at the trade deadline from the Detroit Pistons in an attempt to cash in on the potential he once showed as a former top-five pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Ivey only played four games with the Bulls before being shut down with knee soreness, which had been bothering him since the start of the season. Ivey was slated to become a restricted free agent this summer, but he’s no longer in the Bulls’ plans after some strange rants on social media over the weekend.
The Bulls waived Ivey on Monday after he made homophobic comments on social media during a speech about his religion views, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The Bulls put out a statement saying Ivey was released for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Ivey went on Instagram live and discussed his Christian faith as it relates to topics like gay rights and abortion.
“They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA,” Ivey said in the video. “They say come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness. They proclaim it”
Ivey also made these comments about how two women can’t have a baby.
Ivey said he was struggling with drinking and pornography addiction before finding Jesus.
Ivey was also responding to fans on Instagram comments. When asked if he goes to confession, Ivey called Catholicism a “false religion” and said it “does not lead to salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Ivey drew headlines earlier this season when he said “the old JI is dead.” Here’s the full quote:
“I’ve been dealing with knee soreness in my knee,” Ivey said. “I’m sure people can call it out that I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. But the old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.”
Ivey suffered a horrific leg injury when he broke his fibula during a terrifying play on New Years Day 2025. He was out through Nov. of that year, and then experienced knee soreness when he tried to come back, which ultimately ended his short run with the Bulls.
When Detroit fans commented on Ivey’s social media videos, he said “the Pistons aren’t going to matter on judgement day.”
Ivey had a $30 million cap hold this summer if the Bulls would have extended him the qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. Essentially, the Bulls would not have been able to access their cap space unless they came to a quick free agent agreement with Ivey. That’s not a problem anymore with the team deciding to move on.
Ivey had a reputation as a “preacher” in the locker room before he got to the Bulls, and there were rumblings he liked to talk to teammates about their faith. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley first reported that the Bulls planned to move on from the guard.
Read our old scouting report on Ivey ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft. His explosiveness was taken away by the ugly leg injury. Maybe the 24-year-old can get his career back on track if he gets healthy. It just won’t be with the Bulls.
Deniz Undav makes his World Cup case for Germany with winning goal in Ghana friendly
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Deniz Undav turned up the pressure on Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to select him for the World Cup after he scored the 2-1 winner against Ghana on Monday to back up strong club form.
Undav hadn't played for Germany since June but seven goals in his last six Bundesliga games helped him earn a recall. Germany was playing the friendly at the home stadium of his club Stuttgart and fans chanted for Undav long before he came off the bench.
The game seemed to be fizzling out to a draw when he flicked the ball over Ghana's goalkeeper in the 88th minute to give Germany a seventh successive win.
Ghana's Abdul Fatuwu earlier scored on the counter to cancel out Kai Havertz's penalty for Germany.
After Florian Wirtz's spectacular attacking display in Germany's 4-3 win against Switzerland, Germany was expected to score high against an opponent coming off a 5-1 loss to Austria. It ended up being a subdued win in constant driving rain.
Nick Woltemade started in one of four German changes but his main impact was heading against the bar in the second half.
Havertz put Germany ahead with his penalty just before halftime after Jonas Adjetey blocked a shot with his arm. Ghana leveled on the counter in the 70th when Germany-born Derrick Köhn surged down the left flank, beat defender Josha Vagnoman and crossed low for Fatawu to score.
Ghana defender Kojo Peprah Oppong of Nice had to be helped off the field after injuring his left leg challenging Woltemade.
Germany has further pre-World Cup friendlies against Finland in May and co-host the United States in June before facing Curacao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E of the tournament.
Ghana has lost four friendlies in a row. It's in Group L with Panama, England and Croatia.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Preview, start time, how to watch
As the season slowly winds to a close, Utah Jazz fans should be excited for the future at this point. It’s finally the end of this years-long blatant tank job. Depending on what happens with the Draft Lottery and the 2026 NBA Draft, next year should look tremendously different for this young Jazz squad.
There are 7 total games left. All of them are against decent team, apart from the last three against New Orleans, Memphis, and the Lakers. Tonight, we see an old friend back in town. Donovan Mitchell and the 46-28 Cleveland Cavaliers. Don is our what-if after the what-if of Gordon Hayward. To be fair, we did give that Mitchell-Gobert core a good run, but it’ll be interesting to see how Utah greets Spida Mitchell, as his exit wasn’t necessarily negative or even positive. It just was.
On the Cavs side, they will be without several rotation players, including Craig Porter Jr, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, and Dean Wade. For Utah, expect a lot of the G League guys and end of roster fill-ins. For the Jazz injury report, most of the main guys are out, including Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic (out for year), Jaren Jackson (out for rest of year), and Walker Kessler (he’s been out folks).
It’ll continue to be fun watching these young guys develop. We’ve seen a lot of promise for Filipowski, Elijah Harkless, and Brice Sensabaugh to grab rotation bench sports next year. We still don’t know what we have in guys like Blake Hinson, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Bez Mbeng. Perhaps tonight will be another big game for future star Ace Bailey.
Have fun and enjoy these final test games! Next year will be much different.
How to watch
Who: Utah Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
When: 7:00 PM MT
Where: Delta Center – Salt Lake City, UT
How to watch: Jazz+, KJZZ
NBA Playoff scenarios for Monday, March 30: Knicks, Lakers, Nuggets can clinch playoff spots
Three marquee NBA teams can secure their playoff seeding on Monday night, and there are a couple of must-watch games with playoff seeding on the line. Here's what you need to know about NBA playoff scenarios for March 30.
Playoff Scenarios
• The Los Angeles Lakers can clinch a playoff spot and the Pacific Division title with a win over the Washington Wizards and a Phoenix loss at Memphis. The Lakers will have to pick up that win without Luka Doncic in the lineup, he is suspended for the game after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season over the weekend.
• Denver can clinch a playoff spot with the exact same scenario above: A Lakers win over Washington and a Phoenix loss to Memphis.
• New York has the night off, but the No. 3 seed in the East can still clinch a playoff spot if Miami beats Philadelphia (in a game that is important for the East's tight 5-10 seeding race.
• Detroit will clinch the Central Division title with a win against Oklahoma City in the best game of the night. The Pistons can also clinch that title if the Cavaliers are upset by the Jazz Monday night.
Games to Watch
Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET, Peacock)
These two teams are just 2.5 games apart in the crowded middle of the Eastern Conference, but headed in opposite directions. Philadelphia has finally gotten healthy with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all expected to play. The No. 7 seed 76ers are just half a game behind the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, so a win here is a huge boost for Philly. Miami is 1-7 in its last eight games.
Detroit Pistons at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)
This is a potential NBA Finals preview, with both teams sitting as the No. 1 seeds in their conferences. However, this isn't all about sending a statement for June, both of these teams are trying to hold off hot teams (Boston and San Antonio) to maintain those No. 1 seeds, so the wins matter. Detroit will be without Cade Cunningham, but has gone 5-1 without its All-Star.
Luka Dončić is a big fan of Caitlin Clark, wants to go to game next season
During the Lakers’ recent stop in Indianapolis, an unexpected face was on the baseline taking photos in Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark.
There aren’t many things Clark can’t do on a basketball court, which now apparently includes photography as Clark snapped photos of LA’s win over the Pacers.
After the game, Luka Dončić said he noticed Clark taking photos and revealed that he’s a fan of her game.
“I’m a big fan, for sure,” Luka said. “I watch a lot of games. Definitely, her hooping, it’s great to watch. For sure, I got to go to one game this year.”
This came a couple of days before Clark appeared on NBC’s pregame show on Sunday before Thunder-Knicks and declared Nikola Jokić was her favorite player and the best player in the world.
That led to Jokić being asked about Clark’s comments postgame and a hilarious, if also entirely untrue, response.
Before Lakers fans turn on Clark too much, she did call LeBron her GOAT when talking about the experience of taking photos at the game.
Caitlin comes to Los Angeles a couple of times this year to play the Sparks, which could be an opportunity for Luka to catch her in person, though one of them is in mid-May when the Lakers could be in the playoffs and the other is in early July when players typically flock to Las Vegas for Summer League.
Still, regardless if Luka shows up or not, it’s very cool to see greats of the game showing respect for one another. Just maybe a little less praise for the Nuggets in the future, please.
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