J. Cole is trading the mic for the hardwood again. The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper, born Jermaine Cole, has signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), ESPN reported.
Cole will suit up for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in Jiangsu, China, though the number of games he has committed to remains unclear. It is not his first foray into professional basketball.
In 2021, he played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, recording 5 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds across three games. He also suited up for the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022, averaging 2.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.
Off the court, Cole is riding the momentum of his latest album, “The Fall-Off,” released in February 2026. He is set to embark on a sweeping 73-show tour beginning July 11 in his home state of North Carolina.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 30: Tre Jones #30 of the Chicago Bulls smiles after the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 30, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday night, the Spurs hosted the Chicago Bulls. Prior to the game, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson shared some great memories and kind words regarding former Spurs guard Tre Jones.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson on Tre Jones, who returns to San Antonio tonight as a member of the Chicago Bulls: “He was at the forefront of doing that in terms of bringing the right approach and energy every single day. … He’s a competitive little sucker.” pic.twitter.com/GInen6vIhC
“He was at the forefront of doing that in terms of bringing the right approach and energy every single day. … He’s a competitive little sucker.”
Before the game, I caught Tre in shoot around. He stepped away the moment his family came to the court. He was all smiles, which is how Spurs fans most remember him.
A common practice when a former player returns, the Spurs honor him with a video tribute during the opponent introductions. Monday night was no exception. As the in-arena PA announcer introduced the Bulls, he paused before calling Tre Jones and the lights dimmed as a video displayed on the Jumbotron.
Spurs honored Tre Jones with a tribute video prior to tonight’s game. Tre is one of the kindest people to ever play with the Spurs. He has a big hand in this year’s success by showing this young group how to work, prepare, fight and never give up. pic.twitter.com/h7SsxcpikC
Jones was drafted by the Spurs in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, 41st overall. He played with the Spurs for his first four-and-a-half seasons. He was a key component of the three-team trade that brought De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.
Jones exemplified Spurs culture, played the role asked of him, maintained a positive attitude, and made significant contributions during the team’s greatest transition.
Once the game started, Jones had an impressive night, starting the game with a steal and a layup to kick off all scorers for the night. He ended with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting, two rebounds and three assists as they came up short against the Silver & Black.
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The Thunder have won the first two games of the four-game season series. The fourth game will be played on April 7.
The Thunder have won three straight games and will enter the game as the Western Conference’s top team with a 60-16 record. The Lakers have won 13 of their last 14 games and compiled a 50-26 overall record. The Lakers’ recent success has helped the team push its way up the conference standings; they currently sit in third place.
Thursday night's game will serve as one of the toughest games remaining on the Lakers' regular-season schedule and provide a sense of where the team stands against one of the league's best teams ahead of the postseason.
The Lakers have not made it past the first round since 2023, when the team reached the conference finals as a seventh seed but was then swept by the Denver Nuggets.
Doncic has led the way for Los Angeles this year with an MVP-like season, but the supporting cast around him has stepped up when needed, too. LeBron James produced a triple-double on March 30 in a 120-101 victory over the Washington Wizards while Doncic was suspended. Austin Reaves also showed the ability to produce early in the season, scoring 51 points against the Sacramento Kings and 41 against the Portland Trail Blazers on back-to-back nights.
Doncic has nearly averaged a triple-double with 33.8 points, 8.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game this season in 63 games played. He leads the league in scoring.
Here’s how to watch the big Western Conference showdown:
How to watch Lakers vs. Thunder
When: Thursday, April 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET)
Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
TV: Spectrum SportsNet
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Lakers-Thunder seasons series results
Nov. 12: Thunder 121, Lakers 92
Feb 9: Thunder 119, Lakers 110
April 2: Lakers at Thunder, 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET)
April 7: Thunder at Lakers, 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET)
This is the time of the NBA season, with two weeks to go before the start of the playoffs, when teams want to be playing their best basketball.
Squads that are playing well late in regular seasons often outperform their perceived record and can go on deep playoff runs. Sometimes it’s the case of a team finally finding its identity, sometimes it’s the return of an injured star reinvigorating a lineup and sometimes, frankly, it’s a case of veteran teams coasting through much of the season, saving their best for when games matter most.
Yet, that isn’t necessarily the case for everyone. Some teams have hit recent struggles and are sputtering headed into the end of the 2025-26 season.
Here’s a look at who’s hot in the NBA and who is decidedly not:
Who's hot?
Atlanta Hawks
Since the All-Star break, the Hawks have been the hottest team in the East, going 18-3 in that span. The coaching job Quin Snyder has done this season is nothing short of remarkable. This season alone, the Hawks have been through several iterations of this team — from an opening night starting lineup that played just 24 minutes together to eventual trades of Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis — but have now settled on a team-first, ball-sharing identity that’s backed by defense.
Atlanta is averaging 30.3 assists per game, which is currently tied for eighth-most in NBA history. And, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker settling into a larger role and being paired alongside Dyson Daniels, the Hawks have a ferocious clamp on opposing wing scorers. Recent victories over the Celtics and Pistons — the top two teams in the East — show how dangerous this team can be.
San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder
These two get a quick mention and are paired because they have been the best teams in the West for much of the season. San Antonio has gone an NBA-best 20-2 since the All-Star break and the Thunder are 18-2 over that span. They’re led by their Most Valuable Player candidates in Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they look every bit like title contenders.
Los Angeles Lakers
This one is mostly thanks to Luka Dončić. He’s on an absolute heater lately, averaging 39.7 points per game over his last 10 and 37.5 in the entire month of March. Los Angeles has won 13 of its last 14, and some of those have come against big opponents: the Knicks, Nuggets, Rockets (twice) and the Cavaliers.
LeBron James has embraced play-making and is putting Dončić and the rest of his teammates in position to make shots; over the last seven games, James is averaging 8.4 assists per contest, tied for ninth most over that span. The defense has been better, and this looks like a team — after crashing out in the first round of the playoffs last year — that knew it needed to conserve some energy for this stretch run.
Charlotte Hornets
They’re the No. 8 seed in the East, but Charlotte could be a problem either way in the play-in. Since the All-Star break, the Hornets have posted the NBA’s second-best offensive rating (122.1), which is just 0.1 behind the league’s top team, the San Antonio Spurs. A lot of that offense has come from LaMelo Ball, sure, but Rookie of the Year favorite Kon Knueppel has been a revelation, and Charlotte suddenly has shooting all over the floor.
It hasn’t been one-sided, however. Since the break, the Hornets have posted the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating (109.8).
Who's not?
Miami Heat
On March 12, the Heat toppled the Bucks to improve to 38-29, remaining in the sixth seed. It was their seventh consecutive victory and 10th in 12 tries. Since then, it has been an unmitigated disaster.
Miami has lost eight of its last 10 and its defensive identity has crumbled. This is the side of the ball on which the Heat pride themselves, yet Miami has allowed opposing teams to score 126.4 points per 100 possessions, the worst mark in the NBA over that span. All-Star guard Norman Powell has missed a lot of this run with a back injury and an upper respiratory illness, but the team is hopeless in stopping opposing offenses any time Bam Adebayo sits for even a few minutes. Worst yet, they’ve been struggling as he has been on the floor.
Orlando Magic
In a lot of ways, Orlando’s recent stretch is much like Miami’s: the Magic went on a seven-game winning streak prior to losing six consecutive and eight of 10. The issue for Orlando has been its offense. The one thing that Orlando has on Miami, however, is that the Magic went a perfect 5-0 against the Heat.
The other good thing is that they just got Franz Wagner back Wednesday, April 1 from a left ankle sprain that had sidelined him for more than a month. Still, he was on a minutes restriction, and the Magic lost by 29 against Atlanta.
Phoenix Suns
It turns out Devin Booker couldn’t quite carry Phoenix during a rash of injuries that saw Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams miss extended time, while role players Grayson Allen and Haywood Highsmith have also had to sit in spots.
The biggest blow was the left hand injury to Brooks, who is averaging a career-high 20.6 points per game. He made his return Tuesday, March 31 in an eventual loss against the Magic, and Phoenix has lost seven of its last 10. That’s the bad news.
The good? Phoenix has remained locked into the No. 7 seed, where it has been since Jan. 23, and the Clippers — who are 3 games back — probably have too much ground to make up.
Either way, there had been a slight chance that the Suns could contend for that No. 6 seed and automatic playoff berth in the crowded West. After this recent losing stretch, however, and with the Suns 4½ games back of Minnesota, that’s a near impossibility.
Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona and Michigan made the national semifinals with their major playmakers having the primary roles. But what has allowed this quartet to reach the biggest stage in men's college basketball is that they also get significant contributions from people outside the spotlight. It's going to take more than the top guys to cut down the nets − just look at UConn's Braylon Mullins in the Elite Eight.
So, which under-the-radar players have the chance to step up and be the catalyst for a national championship? Here is one player to watch for each team.
Connecticut: Malachi Smith
The health of Silas Demary Jr. has been a talking point for UConn as the lead guard, but Smith has stepped up well and become a reliable guard during the tournament.
It was big for Smith, who started in 77 games at Dayton before transferring to Storrs this season, to accept a bench role for the Huskies, but he's wound up becoming a vital part of the second unit, and his value has only risen as the season ended. After averaging 2.7 assists per game before the tournament began, he's averaging 5.5 in the four tournament games. Smith made the most his starting role in the first two rounds, when he played more than 30 minutes against Furman and UCLA.
Even with Demary back, Smith has earned increased minutes and it's paying off for Dan Hurley.
Illinois: Kylan Boswell
It makes sense to see a senior playing a big role for Illinois, but it's easy to forget Boswell is won't turn 21 until later this month, and he'll have to play up to his experience in order for the Fighting Illini to break through.
A look at the stat sheet may make you wonder how Boswell makes such a difference − averaging just 8.3 points and 2 assists during the tournament − but he is the heart and soul of the team, a guy that brings energy and intensity. That will be needed defensively since Connecticut is one of the best teams sharing, so he will have to bring pressure to limit passing lanes. Illinois' offense has done well, but it could really use Boswell as he has struggled to score, as he went a combined 0-for-7 from the field in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. If he can find a shooting touch, that makes the back court mightily stronger.
The Final Four means a lot to many, but Boswell is playing a big part on his hometown team. The Champaign native will have the chance to bring its first national title home.
Arizona: Ivan Kharchenkov
You want someone that is willing to lay it all on the line every single play? Kharchenkov is your guy.
There may no be no one with more hustle than than the freshman from Germany who is diving for the ball and playing an aggressive style of ball that really makes opponents uncomfortable. If you look at moments where Arizona swung momentum to its side, most of the time its because of Kharchenkov. Not only that, but he's raised his level in the postseason. He entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, but he's improved that to 14 point and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
Teams cannot relax when Kharchenkov is on the court, as he is will do the little things that could be the key moments in an Arizona win.
Michigan: Elliot Cadeau
Michigan is the highest-scoring offense left in the tournament, averaging 87.7 points per game. None of it happens without the guard play of Cadeau.
The North Carolina transfer has had a renaissance in Ann Arbor, averaging 5.8 assists per game. While he's been dishing it out at a great rate, he's really honed in on taking care of the ball, with fewer than four turnovers in each of the last six games. That's on top averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game and becoming a reliable 3-point shooter. What makes it even more incredible? He is partially deaf in his right ear, has asthma and had surgery his freshman year to treat a progressive eye disorder.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara get most of the attention, but the offense doesn't move as exceptional as it does without Cadeau. Michigan needs its guard to spearhead the attack to keep the offense as lethal as its been all season.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 31: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 31, 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
Cooper Flagg, along with his Duke roommate Kon Knueppel, is generally seen as the leading candidates for NBA Rookie of the Year. It’s been a tremendous year for both former Blue Devils.
In this interview with Pat McAfee, Flagg discusses his rookie season to date. He touches on something that Kevin Garnett discovered in his rookie season that was a bit of a surprise for him and for a lot of underage rookies: the NBA is a lonely place.
Garnett talked about sitting alone in his hotel room; Flagg talks about his teammates being grown men with wives and children.
What he doesn’t mention is the hard-living nature of many NBA players: bars, strip clubs, predatory women who zoom in on more naive players.
It’s not an easy life for a mature player, so it can’t be easy for a 19-year-old either.
In the description, one of the interviewers on McAfee’s show asks Flagg what his Welcome-To-The-NBA moment was. Flagg says it came in practice when he tried to dunk on teammate PJ Washington, who, at 27, is a good bit older and more physically mature. That, Flagg says, “…just did not go very well.”
One wonders what it will be like in a few years when Flagg is bigger and stronger.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has a massive 6-2 lead to protect against Real Madrid when it hosts the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal on Thursday.
The Catalan club is in a commanding position to make a record-extending eighth straight semifinal while Madrid would need an unprecedented quarterfinal turnaround to reach the last four for the first time.
Three-time champion Barcelona seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. Barcelona topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against.
Madrid, in its second consecutive quarterfinal, was eliminated by Arsenal last season. It finished seventh in the league phase.
Thursday’s game will mark Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou for the first time since the stadium partially reopened in November amid ongoing renovations.
“I’m incredibly excited, very motivated, and eager to prepare for the match and train at the Camp Nou beforehand,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said. “It will be a wonderful day to be able to manage a match in that beautiful stadium.”
Barcelona has beaten Madrid five times in all competitions this season.
The winner will play Bayern Munich.
In the night's other quarterfinal, Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 lead against OL Lyonnes to Lyon. The German side hopes to become the third club to eliminate the French record eight-time champion in 17 quarterfinals.
It all comes down to this. What wild things will go down in the Final Four?
There have been some incredible moments that have made the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament unforgettable, truly encapsulating what makes March Madness such a spectacle. It only makes sense those instant classics continue on the sport's biggest stage, with Arizona, Michigan, Connecticut and Illinois headed to Indianapolis, two wins away from becoming national champions.
With just three games left in the season, it's time for one more batch of bold predictions, just in time for the 2026 Final Four.
One thing that will carry over from last season's Final Four is all of the participants are pretty evenly matched. You could make a plausible case for every one of them to end up on top, which is why we will have some extremely close games in Lucas Oil Stadium.
All of the 2025 Final Four games were decided by six points or less, and that will happen once again. Whether its the semifinals or the championship, it goes all the way down to the final seconds, with someone becoming the hero for their team.
UConn extends Final Four streak
The Final Four round is getting close to being called the Connecticut Invitational, and the Huskies will prove why on Saturday, April 4.
In its seven Final Four appearances, UConn has advanced and won the national championship game six times, currently riding a four-game winning streak in the semifinals. Dan Hurley has yet to lose after the round of 32, with a 10-0 record in the Sweet 16 or later. It's truly some mind boggling success UConn has on the biggest stage.
In the Final Four, UConn continues that run. The Huskies are going to have their hands full dealing with the scoring threat of Illinois, but the Huskies are one of the most experienced teams in the quartet. Alex Karaban comes up big down the stretch for some key buckets to get UConn its fifth straight Final Four round win, and back to the title game for the third time in four years.
Big Ten title drought continues
This tournament has been all about the Big Tens success. However, it won't be able to punctuate it with a national championship.
Getting two teams in the Final Four gives the Big Ten a 50% chance of claiming the title-winner, and there's a chance of it being an all-Big Ten championship game, which a conference hasn't done since the Big Eight had Kansas and Oklahoma in 1988. However, the Big Ten teams have some major task ahead of them. UConn's experience will come up clutch against Illinois, and Michigan faces a relentless Arizona team. Even though the Wolverines offense is on a level of its own, the Wildcats defense is able to limit it, and the deep rotation is able to land a few big blows to Michigan. Arizona makes the right plays at the end to win a classic.
With Illinois and Michigan losing, it means the streak without a Big Ten champion extends to 26 years, a tough ending after being the best conference in all of March.
The West wins with Arizona taking it all
In 2026, the West Coast becomes the Best Coast.
Arizona was the last West Coast team to win a national championship, back in 1997, and it will end up being the next one to win it all again. The Wildcats shed off the March woes that have plagued the program for most of the 21st century, thanks to a loaded team that can beat you in a multitude of ways. With too many weapons for teams to neutralize, Arizona powers through the field to claim its second national championship, winning it in the same city it won its first one in.
The West Coast has tried to claim the top prize this century, with Final Four trips from Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga, Utah, Oregon and San Diego State all falling just short, but it will be the 2025-26 Wildcats that bring glory back to the region.
After a dominant victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs will travel south for a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s the third and final regular-season matchup between the two squads. However, it may not be the last time they play this year. The Clippers have won 5 of their last 6 games and are looking like a serious contender for the play-in tournament and the seventh seed.
The Clippers and Spurs have played some interesting games this season. In both matchups, one team took a massive lead only for the other to come back and make the game interesting. Despite the funkiness of both games, the Spurs are 2-0 in the matchup this year. A win on the second night of a back-to-back would be a statement victory for San Antonio against a potential first-round playoff opponent.
Clippers Injuries: Bradley Beal – Out (hip), Isaiah Jackson – Out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out (foot)
What to watch for:
First quarter offense
The Spurs score the second-most first-quarter points in the NBA. On the second night of a back-to-back on a West Coast road trip against a tough Clippers squad, getting out to a hot start will be important. San Antonio lost the first quarter in both games they’ve played against the Clippers this season. Los Angeles can fill it up, especially from three. San Antonio has to come ready to play, even on short rest, if they want to walk away from LA with a win.
Small ball
Luke Kornet missed the Spurs’ last game against the Warriors. Mason Plumlee backed up Victor Wembanyama with mixed results. San Antonio found more success when they went to a small-ball lineup with Carter Bryant playing center. The Clippers will be without both Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, so they’ll likely have to play small themselves. This could turn into a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented game when Wembanyama and Brook Lopez head to the bench.
Guarding the perimeter
The Clippers have shot the ball well from three against the Spurs this season. They are 7th in the NBA in three-point percentage. San Antonio is an average team at defending the three-point line. With Wembanyama roaming the paint, teams are forced to attack them from deep. With players like Darius Garland, Brook Lopez, and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have multiple players who can make it rain from outside. San Antonio is going to have to slow down LA from deep to win this one.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 2: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the third quarter against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on April 2, 2025 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s always tough sledding against the Heat, but a 53-point first quarter (11-15 from 3) and 80 points in the first half are indicative of just how much these teams have changed. The Heat and Celtics are on both ends of the pace spectrum at 104.4 vs. 95.46 possessions per game respectively. However, Boston was happy to ramp up the speed. Even with more possessions to deal with, they finished with just seven turnovers and allowed only twelve offensive boards.
The Celtics are 2-1 on their road trip against potential first round opponents and continue to be a steady +600 to raise Banner 19 with our friends at FanDuel and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Jaylen Brown
37 minutes, 43 points (4-10 from 3, 5-7 from the free throw line, 17-29 from the field), 3 rebounds, 7 assists, one turnover, +9
Andrew Wiggins was a defensive menace against Brown and Tatum in the 2022 NBA Finals, but Brown enacted some revenge, scoring the first 11 points for Boston on 4-4 shooting. He was more relaxed and deliberate with his drives and post-ups and didn’t seem hellbent on just creating contact and trying to draw fouls.
By the end of the night, Brown tallied 43 points on South Beach after ESPN’s Doris Burke called him a dangerous scorer on all three levels. The seven assists with just one turnover was a nice bounce back after six TOs against the Hawks.
Grade: A+
Jayson Tatum
37 minutes, 25 points (4-13 from 3, 3-4 from the free throw line, 9-21 from the field), 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +7
A masterclass in Charlotte helped earn Tatum the Player of the Week honor and after two days off, he continued his recovery to that all-around game that made him an MVP-candidate over the last three seasons before his Achilles tear.
How about a triple-double against a heated rival?
25-18-11 plus some effective defense against Bam Adebayo is another notch on Tatum’s belt.
33 minutes, 16 points (6-8 from the free throw line, 5-7 from the field), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks, +28
Queta does so many unsung things on the court like setting wide screens on the perimeter and rebounding the ball, but sometimes, it’s just nice to see him make a couple of loud blocks on the defensive end.
Neemias Queta rejects the two-handed dunk attempt by Bam Adebayo, who scores the putback shortly after pic.twitter.com/D6mIgLQJz5
In the fourth quarter, with all eyes on the Jays, Queta was the beneficiary at the dunker spot and grabbing offensive rebounds on pursuit alone.
Grade: A-
Sam Hauser
29 minutes, 23 points (5-7 from 3, 0-1 from the free throw line, 9-11 from the field), 3 rebounds, one steal, one block, +23
After coming off the bench during days off for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Hauser was back in the starting lineup and started off hot, hitting his first six shots including five 3s in the first quarter.
After halftime, Hauser went to his mid-range game. After Miami cut it to ten heading into the fourth, Hauser attacked a pair of closeouts for a couple of 12-footers that kept the Heat at bay. It was a nice breakout for Hauser after scuffling through the road trip.
Grade: A
Derrick White
34 minutes, 6 points (0-1 from 3, 3-4 from the field), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, one block, +6
If you’ve read the last couple player grades, we’ve documented White’s shooting slump over the last several games. He only took four shots in the game, but his fingerprints are all over the win. This sequence is akin to that scene in Top Gun: Maverick when they’re playing dogfight football on the beach.
THIS DERRICK WHITE SEQUENCE 👏
Lob to JB. Sprints back. Elite defense to force a miss.
31 minutes, 14 points (4-7 from 3, 5-9 from the field), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, one block, +20
Pritchard was the fifth leading scorer in this offensive exhibition and acted as more of a play finisher rather than a playmaker last night. That will happen with Tatum and Brown going nuclear on the Heat.
Grade: B+
Baylor Scheierman
18 minutes, 8 points (2-2 from 3, 3-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, one turnover, one steal +14
Scheierman’s contributions can often go unseen. His blue collar work shouldn’t go underappreciated. When he shoulders a drive from the free throw line to the baseline and makes the right pass around the horn don’t seem like much, but it’s that consistency that has made him a mainstay in the rotation.
But every once in a while, Baylor Showmanship will pull out the bag of Pistol Pete passes and connect on a fancy behind-the-back:
15 minutes, 12 points (2-4 from 3, 5-10 from the field), 2 rebounds, one block, -10
Former CelticsBlogger Sam LaFrance over at Hardwood Houdini documented Garza’s near-the-rim shot package and they were all on display in Miami: the decel step, the up-and-under, and his three-point shot. Twelve points in under fifteen minutes is making it easy to forget that Nikola Vucevic is still out with a fractured finger.
Grade: A
Jordan Walsh
5 minutes, 0 points (0-1 from the field), one rebound, one assist, one steal, one block, -7
The defensive demon notched two stocks (steals plus blocks) in a game where both teams combined for 276 points. Sometimes, you’re a square peg for a round hole.
Grade: B
DNP-CDs: Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., Max Shulga, Amari Williams, John Tonje, Charles Bassey
Victor Wembanyama was a first-round draft pick for San Antonio in 2023 [Getty Images]
Victor Wembanyama scored a season-high 41 points as the San Antonio Spurs earned a 10th successive win by beating the Golden State Warriors 127-113.
The Spurs have emerged as NBA title contenders during the second half of the campaign, winning 26 of their past 28 games.
The 22-year-old achieved his haul in just 29 minutes at Chase Center in California and also finished with 18 rebounds.
Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie chipped in with 15 points each for San Antonio, who are second in the Western Conference - just two wins behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"We're still going to play 100% to try to win this championship," Wembanyama said.
The Golden State Warriors are 10th after losing two consecutive games.
In the Eastern Conference, Boston tightened their grip on second place as Jaylen Brown registered a game-high 43 points in the Celtics' 147-129 win in Miami.
Tatum's triple-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists helped Boston bounce back from defeat against the Atlanta Hawks.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks halted a three-game losing run with a 130-119 win at the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Knicks are third in the Eastern standings while the Grizzlies are 12th in the Western Conference.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for a shot against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Chase Center on April 01, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a season-high 41-point game, Wemby picked up right where he left off with an identical scoring line in a blowout victory over Golden State on Wednesday night.
The Alien scored two quick layups to start, and spooked the Warriors into shooting tough threes instead of driving into the paint. The home team didn’t make a basket until the 9:00 mark of the first, resulting in the good guys going on a 17-3 run. As soon as Wemby subbed out, though, the Warriors responded. Brandin Podziemski hit back-to-back threes and helped his team cut the deficit down to just 6. It didn’t help that the Spurs committed 5 turnovers in quick succession, forcing Mitch Johnson to call a timeout.
Thankfully, his message was heard loud and clear. San Antonio only had two more turnovers for the remainder of the half and reasserted their dominance in the game. With Kornet taking the night off, Mitch elected to play small ball in the non-Wemby minutes, putting Keldon at the 5. That lineup’s rim pressure and speed in transition gave the Warriors fits, helping the Spurs build a 20-point lead to go into halftime up 70-49.
San Antonio didn’t let up in the second half. Golden State continued to go on mini runs to keep the game within 20, but failed to ever cut the lead down to single digits. It did keep the Spurs honest and forced them to play the starters more than they liked, but the final result was never in question. Garbage time was officially underway halfway through the fourth when Wemby subbed out with the Spurs up 20, and the game ended in a 127-113 victory for San Antonio.
Game notes
Wemby finished with 17 and 9 in the first quarter and 27 and 13 in the first half. He racked up a double-double in just 11 minutes and seemed so bored that he took some ill-advised threes just to see if the shot was falling. Overall, he finished with 41, 18, and 3 on 16-22 shooting with 3 blocks. At this point, it genuinely feels like he deserves to play in a higher-level league made just for aliens.
The Warriors played a zone against Wemby at certain points. It didn’t work (see clip below), but I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams try that against him in the playoffs. They essentially let Draymond play him one-on-one while the other four players zoned up to prevent lobs and drives. The Warriors were too small to do any damage, but most other West teams will have enough size to potentially cause some issues.
Credit the Warriors for fighting and staying in the game. They fielded a lineup full of “who he play for?” guys but kept the game within striking distance.
Apr 1, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA;Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) looks on against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
MIAMI — With just a few seconds to spare in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Celtics-Heat game, Derrick White found Jaylen Brown for an alley-oop.
Brown finished the layup — marking his 10th basket of the first half — and the Celtics bench rejoiced.
But, there was one problem: 1.5 seconds remained on the clock after the ball sank through the net. Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. was well aware of the situation and immediately fired a perfect pass down the court to Pelle Larrson, who had already sprinted down the court, seemingly poised for a wide-open layup.
But White had another idea.
For 1.5 seconds, he looked the fastest man on the planet. White somehow caught up with Larrson, altered his shot, and ultimately forced a miss.
Sitting on press row, I gasped at the speed with which he got from one end of the court to the other.
On the court, White’s teammates expressed the same disbelief.
“That was impressive to make the play,” Brown said. ”I look up, and I’m thinking that Larson has a wide open layup, and then D-White comes flying out of nowhere. That’s impressive. That’s like First Team All-Defense type stuff. Those are Defensive Player of the Year-type plays.”
“It was a great play,” Joe Mazzulla echoed.
After the game, White sat at his locker room chatting with Baylor Scheierman. He wasn’t one of the four players selected to speak to the media after the win, and was surprised when I approached him.
“You’re the subject of my postgame story,” I announced.
He looked at me, a tad surprised
Jaylen Brown had just tallied one of his best offensive performances of the season, erupting for 43 points on 17-29 shooting, and marking his 7th game of 40+ points of the year.
Jayson Tatum posted a 25-point, 18-rebound, 11-assist triple-double, his first triple-double since returning from his Achilles injury.
Sam Hauser finished with 23 points on 9-11 shooting, his second-highest scoring game of the season.
And, Neemias Queta finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.
White’s confused glance seemed to indicate: Why me?
I explained to him that from an onlooker’s perspective, his play to close out the first half didn’t make any sense. I simply needed to understand it.
“I don’t even know,” he said, laughing. “I looked up, and I saw Pelles was open, and I just ran back as fast as I possibly could.”
I asked Derrick if he thought it was the fastest he’d sprinted all season.
“It might be,” he said, after pondering the question for a few seconds. “It was definitely the longest I’ve sprinted for.”
Scheierman, sitting at the adjacent locker, chimed in.
“He’s a pro, man,” Scheierman told me. “We call that ethical hoops university.”
As the halftime buzzer sounded, White’s teammates met him at center court, congratulating him for his effort. Luka Garza fervently slapped him across the chest.
White admitted it felt good to create such an energizing moment, but, as per usual, didn’t give himself too much credit.
“Inspiring basketball — that’s what we call it when guys make plays like that with the extra effort over and over again,” Neemias Queta said, praising the Celtics guard for putting his body on the line for the play.
White only had 4 points at the half — and 6 in the entirety of the ball game — but it didn’t matter.
“That set the tone for the second half,” Queta said.
The play won’t show up on the stat sheet: though White significantly altered Larrson’s layup attempt, it didn’t count as a block or a steal.
The two points his hustle saved also ultimately didn’t come into play; the Celtics won the ball game by 18 points and led by as many as 27.
Still, the moment perfectly captured why White is one of the most impactful players in basketball, according to almost every advanced metric. (White has the 7th-highest LEBRON rating in the league, trailing only legitimate MVP candidates).
I asked Derrick if that’d be the play he thinks would best represent his career at a Hall of Fame nomination ceremony.
He chuckled.
“I told JT — that’ll go in my Hall of Very Good nomination.”
Why Derrick White’s play epitomized Celtics basketball
For Joe Mazzulla, the moment stuck out because it came in a game in which he only attempted 4 shots.
Regardless of offensive production or opportunity, White’s effort, intensity, and attention to detail never wavered.
That’s been the hallmark characteristic of his basketball career.
Mazzulla similarly praised the contributions of players like Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, and Jordan Walsh — all guys who committed to doing the little things in the Celtics’ win, given that Tatum, Brown, and Hauser had the hot hand.
“When you have a team, you have to understand, there are nights where the other guys have it,” Mazzulla said, pointing to Brown and Tatum’s big-time offensive performances. “Tonight, those guys had it going. And you have a group of guys that commit to the other stuff; they commit to transition defense, they commit to rebounding, they commit to defense. And so those [other] guys did that tonight.”
Most nights, White will attempt far more than 4 shots — the Celtics guard averages 16.8 points per game, after all.
But on this particular Wednesday night, the game didn’t call for him to put the ball in the basket.
He just needed to sprint back as fast as he possibly could.
“Every game will have its own story,” Brown said. “This game, offensively, I got off to a great start, but every game has its own story. So, just got to be ready to play basketball and be versatile. Be ready for any scenario. Our team is built on that versatility.”
It’s human nature for players to lose focus, lose some momentum when they’re not as involved in the offense. But, for the Celtics to play their best basketball — and ultimately contend for a title — those kinds of lapses need to happen as little as possible.
“That’s just being a team,” Mazzulla said.
It’s those kinds of plays that have propelled the Celtics to the most improbable 51-win season — and counting.
BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Golden State Warriors in cross-conference play.
The Warriors have gone 21-16 at home. Golden State is second in the league averaging 15.9 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 35.7% from downtown. Moses Moody leads the team averaging 2.5 makes while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range.
The Cavaliers are 23-15 on the road. Cleveland ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference shooting 35.9% from 3-point range.
The Warriors average 114.9 points per game, 0.4 fewer points than the 115.3 the Cavaliers allow. The Cavaliers are shooting 48.0% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 47.7% the Warriors' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Warriors won 99-94 in the last matchup on Dec. 7.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandin Podziemski is scoring 13.3 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Warriors. Pat Spencer is averaging 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 44.3% over the past 10 games.
James Harden is scoring 23.7 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Max Strus is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 4-6, averaging 112.5 points, 39.7 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points per game.
Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 123.0 points, 44.1 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 7.1 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.6 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Quinten Post: out (foot), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Al Horford: out (calf), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Gui Santos: out (pelvis), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Gary Payton II: out (knee), De'Anthony Melton: out (thumb), Kristaps Porzingis: out (illness).
Cavaliers: Max Strus: day to day (foot), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee), Sam Merrill: day to day (injury management), Dean Wade: out (ankle), Jaylon Tyson: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Celtics (51-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (30-46, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Boston visits the Milwaukee Bucks after Jaylen Brown scored 43 points in the Celtics' 147-129 win over the Miami Heat.
The Bucks are 20-27 in Eastern Conference games. Milwaukee is fourth in the league averaging 14.9 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.6% from downtown. AJ Green leads the team averaging 2.8 makes while shooting 40.8% from 3-point range.
The Celtics have gone 32-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Neemias Queta averaging 2.9.
The Bucks' 14.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Celtics allow. The Celtics average 15.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Bucks allow.
The two teams play for the fourth time this season. The Celtics defeated the Bucks 108-81 in their last matchup on March 3. Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 25 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 19 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 17.1 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Ousmane Dieng is averaging 13.2 points and 3.9 assists over the past 10 games.
Brown is scoring 28.8 points per game and averaging 7.0 rebounds for the Celtics. Pritchard is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 3-7, averaging 109.3 points, 39.6 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.0 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 115.1 points, 48.2 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 6.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Gary Harris: day to day (personal), Kevin Porter Jr.: out for season (knee), Kyle Kuzma: day to day (achilles), Myles Turner: day to day (ankle), Thanasis Antetokounmpo: day to day (calf), Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (ankle), Ryan Rollins: day to day (hip), Bobby Portis: day to day (wrist), Taurean Prince: day to day (neck), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (hip).
Celtics: Nikola Vucevic: out (finger).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
