BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to soccer's international governing body to postpone his team's intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war.
The Iraq squad faces major logistical issues ahead of a winner-takes-all playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to the escalating conflict, Arnold’s squad — containing predominantly players from the domestic league — is unable to fully gather.
Players haven't secured visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico due to foreign embassy closures, and Arnold is stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the conflict.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq,” Arnold, a former coach of Australia's national team, told the Australian Associated Press.
The turmoil has already forced the postponement of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold said fielding a team comprised only of overseas-based players is not a viable option.
“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said.
Arnold has proposed a strategic delay to the playoffs schedule, suggesting FIFA allow Suriname and Bolivia to play their preliminary match this month but postponing the final playoff until a week before the World Cup begins.
“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold said. "In my opinion, it also gives FIFA more time to decide what Iran is going to do. "
“If Iran withdraws we go into the World Cup, and it gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, the chance to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.
“Our federation’s president Adnan Dirjal is working round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors have taken considerable criticism in recent years for their development of young players. Much of the blame is directed at coach Steve Kerr, who generally is loyal to the veterans who provided the greatness behind to six trips to the NBA Finals and four championships.
Are these assessments fair?
Not if you’ve followed the basketball evolution of Gui Santos – or asked him about it, as I did recently.
“I think the key word for that is patience,” Santos said of his journey that began almost four years ago.
Each Warriors draft pick is given a plan for his development, which includes learning how to effectively play with franchise superstar Stephen Curry. That blueprint is reinforced by the coaching staff. Some young players resist, either unable or unwilling to follow the individual plan, and some digest it and embrace it.
Santos, like Moses Moody before him, accepted it as kind of an NBA internship. They watched as the likes of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson – all four-time NBA champions – and, later, Jimmy Butler III, set examples.
A late second-round pick (55th overall) in the 2022 NBA draft, Santos has become a valuable member of Golden State’s playing rotation. The 6-foot-7, 218 pound forward has started 12 of the last 13 games in one of the forward spots. He has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive starts. He has led the team in scoring three times this season, most recently on Saturday at Oklahoma City, dropping a career-high 22 points and adding 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season.
After mostly watching from the bench for three years, he has become too effective to sit. He forced his way into playing time.
Santos was one day beyond his 20th birthday when he arrived in the Bay Area from Brazil. At 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, his physique was begging for bulk. His command of the English language was reasonably good, his vocabulary relatively limited.
The Warriors drafted Santos largely on the advice of player-development coach Leandro Barbosa, a former Golden State guard and fellow Brazilian. Selected 55th overall, it was a low-risk move that has yielded rewards that didn’t surprise Barbosa, one of Santos’ mentors.
“Trust me,” Barbosa told me after the ’22 draft. “He’s young. He’s got a lot to learn about the NBA, but he’s a hard worker and he listens. He has what it takes to play in this league.”
Santos was disappointed by and stayed focused when, two months later, Barbosa was recruited to Sacramento by Mike Brown, the former Golden State assistant who had been hired as head coach of the Kings. Santos spent the entire 2022-23 season in the G League, working with Santa Cruz Warriors coach Seth Cooper and his staff. There were highs and lows, but his zest for the game was undeniable.
After spending the summer of ’23 with Brazil’s national team in the FIBA World Cup, Santos returned to the Bay Area with a fortified physique – he added about 20 pounds – and longing for a chance to play in the NBA.
“That’s my goal,” Santos told me at the Santa Cruz Warriors Fan Fest. “I really, really want to be there.”
Roughly two weeks later, he got his wish. The Warriors had seen enough in training camp to sign Santos to a standard NBA minimum salary. They opted for his youth and enthusiasm over veteran camp invitees Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder.
As Santos’ development continued, he played only 23 games in 2023-24. He never started and rarely played more than 10 minutes unless the roster was shortened by injuries or it was a rest night for select veterans. In the final game of the regular season, he provided 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal in a win over the Utah Jazz.
By the time Santos arrived for training camp in 2024, he was up to 210 pounds. His desire to play had become an obsession. He went from coach to coach, asking for advice, listening to it and attempting to implement their direction.
“I was a point guard playing back in Brazil, having the ball in my hands,” Santos said. “Then I spent a whole year in the G league just learning how to fit in the system here because my goal always was playing NBA, playing for the Warriors. And when I asked (coaches) what I gotta do, they were like, ‘Alright we’re going to (show) you the way. You gotta play hard and play defense. You gotta to be crashing the boards all the time.
“’And you gotta find Steph.’”
Those five words have applied to anyone on the roster since 2014, when Steve Kerr became head coach. Curry’s movement triggers Golden State’s offense. Learning how to play with him is the shortest bridge to playing time. Green and Thompson understood that. Kevin Durant, one the greatest offensive players ever, once told me he realized it within a couple months after arriving as a free agent in the summer of 2016.
Santos mastered it. He excels at snagging offensive rebounds, which often sends the ball to Curry. This is the first time Santos has displayed his entire set of offensive skills beyond offensive rebounding. In the 13 games since entering the starting lineup on Feb. 3, he is averaging 14.8 points and 4.0 assists, four times recording at least six. He shot 52.5 percent from the field, including 35.5 percent from deep. For good measure, he averaged 6.5 rebounds per game.
The Warriors thought they had a keeper in Jordan Poole, but his career took a downward turn after the viral video of Draymond punching him in the face during a training-camp practice in October 2022. They hoped to mold James Wiseman into their center of the future before the detrimental move of rushing him onto the floor prematurely and him sustaining a series of injuries. They drafted Jonathan Kuminga on the belief that he would be a star sometime around 2026, and despite spectacular moments it was clear he had difficulty accepting the team’s plan for his development.
Which includes those five words: And you gotta find Steph. That’s Draymond’s specialty. It’s high on the list of reasons the Warriors reacquired Gary Payton II from Portland seven months after letting him walk.
Santos, now 23, followed a blueprint that Kuminga – with considerably higher potential – had difficulty accepting. The Warriors hoped JK would use a few years as a role player to launch himself to stardom, but stardom always was on his mind. He might become an All-Star in Atlanta, in which case he’ll be the first Golden State draft pick to reach such heights after leaving the franchise since Gilbert Arenas did so in 2005 with the Washington Wizards.
Santos is the ideal development example. He stayed with the blueprint that fits these Warriors and has become a valuable role player still with room to grow.
“I spent the whole year in the gym just learning how to fit in the system,” he said of his time in the G League, “because my whole power, like my goal, always was playing in NBA. Playing for the Warriors.”
Mission accomplished. Santos nine days ago signed a three-year contract extension, beginning in 2026-27, worth $15 million. CEO Joe Lacob, general manager Mike Dunleavy and Kerr all consider him a keeper.
“It’s a great story,” Kerr said. “But it only happens because of his intestinal for fortitude, his work ethic and commitment.”
With a little help from the staff that, despite taking a few knocks from the public, puts in the work.
BOTTOM LINE: Eastern Conference foes Cleveland and Philadelphia will play on Monday.
The Cavaliers are 25-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks eighth in the league with 28.3 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.1.
The 76ers are 21-21 in conference games. Philadelphia is 18-12 in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Cavaliers are shooting 47.5% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.1% the 76ers allow to opponents. The 76ers average 115.8 points per game, 1.0 more than the 114.8 the Cavaliers give up.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers won 117-115 in the last matchup on Jan. 17.
TOP PERFORMERS: Harden is shooting 42.4% and averaging 24.2 points for the Cavaliers. Jarrett Allen is averaging 17.2 points over the last 10 games.
Quentin Grimes is averaging 12.7 points and 3.4 assists for the 76ers. Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 114.2 points, 43.7 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.
76ers: 4-6, averaging 111.2 points, 41.9 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Tyrese Proctor: out (quadriceps), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee).
76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (hand), Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), VJ Edgecombe: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (15-49, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (15-50, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana will look to stop its five-game road skid when the Pacers play Sacramento.
The Kings are 10-22 on their home court. Sacramento is the worst team in the Western Conference shooting 33.5% from 3-point range.
The Pacers are 5-27 in road games. Indiana gives up 120.0 points to opponents and has been outscored by 8.6 points per game.
The Kings score 110.6 points per game, 9.4 fewer points than the 120.0 the Pacers allow. The Pacers average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than the Kings allow.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pacers won 116-105 in the last matchup on Dec. 9.
TOP PERFORMERS: Russell Westbrook is averaging 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists for the Kings. Precious Achiuwa is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
Andrew Nembhard is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 44.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-7, averaging 111.5 points, 44.8 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.9 points per game.
Pacers: 1-9, averaging 113.2 points, 39.6 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.9 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), DeMar DeRozan: day to day (illness), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Pacers: T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (21-43, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (33-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta will try to keep its five-game home win streak alive when the Hawks play Dallas.
The Hawks are 15-16 on their home court. Atlanta is the league leader with 30.5 assists per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 7.9.
The Mavericks have gone 7-24 away from home. Dallas gives up 117.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 4.7 points per game.
The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.5% lower than the 47.3% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Cooper Flagg is averaging 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Brandon Williams is averaging 13.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 7-3, averaging 118.8 points, 48.7 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 107.7 points, 44.9 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24, third in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (39-25, fifth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles hosts Minnesota aiming to continue its four-game home winning streak.
The Lakers are 26-16 in conference matchups. Los Angeles is 18-17 against opponents with a winning record.
The Timberwolves have gone 24-17 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota ranks second in the Western Conference shooting 37.2% from 3-point range.
The Lakers' 12.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 13.0 per game the Lakers allow.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Lakers won 116-115 in the last meeting on Oct. 30. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 28 points, and Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 33 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Doncic is shooting 47.4% and averaging 32.5 points for the Lakers. Reaves is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Randle is averaging 21.4 points, seven rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 29.5 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 115.1 points, 39.8 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points per game.
Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 116.0 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.9 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: LeBron James: day to day (elbow).
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Toronto Raptors (36-27, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (39-24, fourth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Raptors visit the Houston Rockets in a non-conference matchup.
The Rockets are 21-8 on their home court. Houston is third in the Western Conference with 52.2 points per game in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 13.8.
The Raptors are 19-11 on the road. Toronto is fourth in the Eastern Conference allowing only 111.7 points while holding opponents to 46.3% shooting.
The Rockets average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 fewer makes per game than the Raptors give up (12.8). The Raptors average 11.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Rockets won the last matchup 139-121 on Oct. 29, with Kevin Durant scoring 31 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is shooting 51.0% and averaging 26.1 points for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 4.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Brandon Ingram is averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 6-4, averaging 114.4 points, 45.7 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points per game.
Raptors: 5-5, averaging 112.1 points, 40.9 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles: out (thumb).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Phoenix Suns (37-27, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (27-36, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Ryan Rollins and the Milwaukee Bucks take on Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in out-of-conference action.
The Bucks are 15-17 in home games. Milwaukee is 10-8 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 13.9 turnovers per game.
The Suns are 15-14 on the road. Phoenix is fourth in the NBA averaging 14.7 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.0% from downtown. Collin Gillespie leads the team averaging 3.1 makes while shooting 42.4% from 3-point range.
The Bucks average 111.1 points per game, 0.1 more points than the 111.0 the Suns give up. The Suns average 112.1 points per game, 3.7 fewer than the 115.8 the Bucks give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Rollins is averaging 16.7 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 14.1 points over the last 10 games.
Royce O'Neale is scoring 9.8 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 15.8 points and 3.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 4-6, averaging 107.2 points, 41.0 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points per game.
Suns: 5-5, averaging 103.3 points, 45.2 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Kyle Kuzma: day to day (spine), Taurean Prince: out (neck), Giannis Antetokounmpo: day to day (calf).
Suns: Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Wizards (16-47, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (36-29, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Miami heads into a matchup against Washington as winners of five consecutive games.
The Heat are 6-5 against division opponents. Miami has a 6-3 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Wizards are 11-28 in conference games. Washington allows 123.3 points to opponents and has been outscored by 11.0 points per game.
The Heat score 120.1 points per game, 3.2 fewer points than the 123.3 the Wizards give up. The Wizards average 112.3 points per game, 4.2 fewer than the 116.5 the Heat give up to opponents.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Heat defeated the Wizards 132-101 in their last matchup on Feb. 8. Kasparas Jakucionis led the Heat with 22 points, and Tristan Vukcevic led the Wizards with 14 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kel'el Ware is scoring 11.4 points per game and averaging 9.3 rebounds for the Heat. Bam Adebayo is averaging 22.0 points and 9.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Bub Carrington is scoring 9.8 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the Wizards. Tre Johnson is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 8-2, averaging 123.5 points, 49.7 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.3 points per game.
Wizards: 2-8, averaging 113.1 points, 40.4 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.0 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Andrew Wiggins: day to day (toe), Norman Powell: out (groin), Simone Fontecchio: day to day (groin).
Wizards: Jamir Watkins: day to day (foot), Anthony Davis: out (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (thigh), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (not injury related).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: New York heads to Los Angeles for a non-conference matchup.
The Clippers are 16-13 on their home court. Los Angeles is 15-24 against opponents over .500.
The Knicks are 18-15 on the road. New York is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 46.1 rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.
The Clippers make 48.1% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.4 percentage points higher than the Knicks have allowed to their opponents (45.7%). The Knicks average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 more made shots on average than the 13.5 per game the Clippers give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Knicks won 123-111 in the last meeting on Jan. 8. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points, and Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals for the Clippers. Brook Lopez is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Towns is scoring 19.8 points per game with 11.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 21.8 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 42.9% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 115.5 points, 42.4 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 9.6 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.7 points per game.
Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.9 points, 44.7 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.8 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm).
Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Allen Graves came off the bench to score 19 points and Santa Clara beat Pacific 76-68 on Sunday night in a West Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinal.
No. 3 seed Santa Clara (25-7) will play No. 2 seed Saint Mary's in a Monday semifinal. No. 4 seed Oregon State will play top-seeded Gonzaga in the other semifinal.
Graves made 7 of 10 shots with three 3-pointers and both of his free throws for the Broncos. Christian Hammond had 14 points and Elijah Mahi posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Reserve Sash Gavalyugov totaled 11 points and six assists.
Elias Ralph sank five 3-pointers and scored 25 to lead the sixth-seeded Tigers (18-15). Jaden Clayton pitched in with 12 points and nine assists.
Graves buried all five of his first-half shots, including two 3-pointers, to guide Santa Clara to a 45-38 advantage at halftime.
Graves hit another 3 to finish off a 12-0 run and the Broncos took a 62-48 lead with 14 minutes left. Pacific got no closer than eight from there.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and Jayson Tatum had 20 in his second game back from a torn right Achilles, lifting Boston to a win over Cleveland in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders.
Brown also had nine rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics built an 81-55 lead in the third quarter, sweeping their three-game season series with Cleveland. Tatum scored six points in the fourth, finishing 6 of 16 from the field in 27 minutes.
Payton Pritchard added 18 points and Baylor Scheierman had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Boston moved within three games of East-leading Detroit. Neemias Queta grabbed 11 boards.
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Evan Mobley had 24 points and eight rebounds for the fourth-place Cavaliers, who had won a season-high seven straight at home. James Harden had 19 points and 10 assists.
Cleveland, which is 22-9 since Dec. 29, pulled within 94-86 midway through the fourth on Jaylon Tyson’s 3-pointer. Pritchard answered with a 3-pointer and tacked on back-to-back hoops to restore the Celtics’ double-digit lead.
LAKERS 110, KNICKS 97
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds, Austin Reaves added 25 points and Los Angeles overcame LeBron James’ injury absence to grind out a 110-97 victory over New York.
Rui Hachimura scored 13 points for the Lakers, who never trailed the surging Knicks in their fourth consecutive victory even while James missed his second straight game with a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury.
The Lakers slumped in the fourth quarter, managing just one basket in a 6 1/2-minute span down the stretch while New York cut its 23-point deficit to 10. But the Knicks couldn’t hit enough shots to capitalize and committed eight turnovers in the fourth.
Luke Kennard made a 3-pointer with 1:37 left before Doncic iced it on his fifth 3-pointer with 1:05 left.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for just the second time in six games.
HEAT 121, PISTONS 110
MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 25 points, Bam Adebayo had 24 to go over the 10,000-point mark for his career, and Miami beat Detroit to extend the Pistons’ season-worst losing streak to four games.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 19 points and seven assists for Miami (36-29), which has won five straight and matched a season best by moving seven games over .500. The Heat are still without Norman Powell (groin) and Nikola Jovic (back), and Andrew Wiggins (toe) was also sidelined.
Adebayo — who added nine rebounds and six assists — entered the night 23 points away from the scoring milestone. He and Dwyane Wade are the only players with 10,000 points in a Heat uniform.
Cade Cunningham finished with 26 points and 10 assists and Jalen Duren scored 24 for the Pistons, whose lead in the Eastern Conference is down to 2 1/2 games over Boston.
RAPTORS 122, MAVERICKS 92
TORONTO (AP) — RJ Barrett scored a season–high 31 points, Scottie Barnes added 17 and Toronto beat struggling Dallas.
Jakob Poeltl had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 13 points as the Raptors snapped a four-game losing streak against Dallas.
Daniel Gafford had a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds, Cooper Flagg scored 17 points and Brandon Williams added 16 but the slumping Mavericks lost their seventh straight and 17th of 19.
Brandon Ingram and Ja’Kobe Walter each scored 11 points, and Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick both had 10 as Toronto won for the first time in five home games.
PELICANS 138, WIZARDS 118
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 24 points, Saddiq Bey added 23 against his former team and New Orleans defeated the reeling Wizards to extend Washington’s losing streak to eight games.
Zion Williamson had 20 points and Dejounte Murray provided 19 for the Pelicans, who outscored Washington 72-44 in the paint.
Trae Young, playing his second game for the Wizards since being traded by Atlanta, had 17 points and eight assists in 18 minutes on the court. It was his 12th game all season.
Wizards rookie Tre Johnson scored 20 points — his fourth time reaching that total. Will Riley added 19.
MAGIC 130, BUCKS 91
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and Orlando cruised to a win over Milwaukee, who rested Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second game of a back-to-back.
Jalen Suggs added 20 points and Desmond Bane had 18 for the Magic, who won their fourth straight to remain sixth in the Eastern Conference, one game behind fifth-place Toronto and percentage points ahead of Miami.
Orlando never trailed and led 67-55 at halftime. Early in the fourth quarter, Suggs hit a 3-pointer to start a 12-0 run that extended the Magic’s lead to 26 points. Banchero headed to the bench for good late in the third with Orlando ahead by 31.
Bobby Portis had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Cam Thomas scored 17 for the Bucks, who beat Utah on Saturday night but have lost five of six.
SPURS 145, ROCKETS 120
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, De’Aaron Fox had 20 points and 10 assists and San Antonio won their fourth straight, rolling to a victory over Houston.
Stephon Castle added 23 points for San Antonio, which has won 15 of 16.
Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson had 23 points each for Houston, which allowed a season high in points.
The Spurs (47-17) won the season series against the Rockets 3-1 and strengthened their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Houston (39-24) dropped into fourth in the West, a half-game behind Minnesota (40-24) and seven games behind San Antonio in the loss column.
The Rockets, who have alternated wins and losses over their past six games, allowed a season-most 56 points in the paint.
TRAIL BLAZERS 131, INDIANA 111
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Scoot Henderson scored a season-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting and Portland beat skidding Indiana.
Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday added 21 points apiece for the Blazers, who handed Indiana its ninth straight defeat. Henderson also had six assists with no turnovers.
Deni Avdija, who leads Portland in scoring (24.4 points per game) and assists (6.6), returned from a six-game absence caused by a lower back injury. He finished with 18 points and eight assists.
Indiana has dropped its past six games by an average of 20 points. This marks the team’s third losing streak of at least eight games this season.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points and Jay Huff had 16 points and five blocks. Andrew Nembhard added 14 points and nine assists, and Jarace Walker also scored 14.
KINGS 126, BULLS 110
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his NBA-record 208th career triple-double, and Sacramento beat Chicago.
Westbrook shot 7 of 17 with three 3-pointers in 35 minutes. It’s the fourth triple-double of the season for the 37-year-old, who moved within one assist of passing Mark Jackson for sixth on the NBA’s all-time list.
Westbrook’s triple-doubles are an ongoing record for the nine-time All-Star and came six days after he ripped into the Sacramento media for the narrative around the Kings this season.
Denver center and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has the second-most triple-doubles in the NBA with 181.
SUNS 111, HORNETS 99
PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker had 30 points and 10 assists as Phoenix stopped Charlotte's road winning streak at 10 games with a victory.
Booker was 1 for 6 from 3-point range but made all 15 of his free throws.
Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green each scored 24 points for the Suns, who have won four of five. Rasheer Fleming added 16 off the bench, including four 3-pointers.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 22 points. Their road winning streak was the NBA’s longest since the Los Angeles Lakers won 11 straight away from home in 2019-20. Charlotte hadn’t lost on the road since Jan. 17 at Golden State.
The longest road winning streak in NBA history is 16 games, by the 1971-72 Lakers during their league-record 33-game run overall.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball past LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets entered Sunday night as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They had won six of their last seven games and arrived in Phoenix riding a 10-game road winning streak. That run ended in the desert as the Phoenix Suns secured a 111–99 victory.
One of the league’s most explosive offenses was quieted. Phoenix held Charlotte under 100 points for only the fifth time this season, using active defense and controlled possessions to slow the pace of the game.
Devin Booker led the way with 30 points and 10 assists, converting a season high 15 free throws in the process. Rasheer Fleming continued his strong stretch, scoring a career high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Ten of those points arrived in the fourth quarter as Phoenix pulled away late.
Jalen Green looked far more comfortable offensively, scoring 20 points in the first half and finishing with 24 for the night. Collin Gillespie added 24 points of his own, knocking down 5-of-10 from deep and providing steady offense throughout the game.
Phoenix also controlled the possession battle. The Suns turned 13 Charlotte turnovers into 14 points while committing only one turnover themselves, which resulted in four points for the Hornets.
The win moves Phoenix to 37 victories on the season, already surpassing last year’s total.
Game Flow
First Half
First matter of business was the pregame announcements that the Suns would be without the services of Grayson Allen, who popped up late on the injury report and ultimately was ruled out an hour prior to tipoff.
Both offenses came out humming early, trading blows back and forth. LaMelo Ball knocked down a pair of threes, while Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie answered with one apiece from deep. As the quarter wore on, Charlotte could not miss. They opened the game 9-of-11 from the field while the Suns sat at 5-of-10, which helped the Hornets build an eight-point lead midway through the first quarter.
With Grayson Allen out, the Suns turned to Haywood Highsmith early, giving him first quarter minutes as part of the first wave of substitutions alongside Khaman Maluach. It marked his second appearance of the season and the first time he has seen meaningful minutes since arriving via the buyout market.
Maluach made his presence felt right away. He converted after receiving a clean interior pass from Devin Booker and later added an early block on fellow rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner. He followed up with an impressive block on Josh Green.
Charlotte’s offense cooled off after their initial burst, as they went more than four minutes without a field goal. The Suns answered with an 8–0 run of their own, pulling even as the momentum shifted. The drought ended when Ryan Dunn fouled Kon Knueppel on a three-point attempt, sending the rookie to the line. The Rookie of the Year favorite finished the quarter with 10 points tolead all scorers.
Phoenix closed the period with a lineup of Collin Gillespie, Haywood Highsmith, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, and Khaman Maluach. That group finished the quarter at +1, helped by a logo buzzer beater from Gillespie.
After one quarter, the Suns trailed 30-28.
Collin Gillespie beats the Q1 buzzer.
What I like about this, sneakily, is that Collin rushes to *be* the inbounder then can have even more momentum off the handoff from Maluach.
Little thing but important in that situation, for a longer distance shot attempt. pic.twitter.com/RJbO1mIwzh
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) March 9, 2026
Charlotte opened the second quarter with a 9–5 run. They went 3-of-6 from the field and knocked down a pair from deep, which prompted Jordan Ott to call a timeout and settle things down.
The break did not immediately fix the rhythm. The next two Suns possessions ended with a short-armed paint shot from Oso Ighodaro and a turnover. Meanwhile, Charlotte was flying around the rim, throwing lobs and hammering them home. The run stretched to 10–0, and the Hornets suddenly held an eight-point lead.
Jalen Green helped shift the energy. He went into attack mode, driving downhill possession after possession, finishing at the rim or drawing trips to the free throw line. His finishing in the first half looked sharper than it had during his previous 14 games.
Green sparked the Suns as they pushed back midway through the quarter. He knocked down a three, slipped in an up-and-under around the rim, and continued to pressure the defense. Phoenix rode that momentum back into the game and took a two-point lead with five minutes remaining in the second quarter.
One of the better moments of the first half came from Khaman Maluach, who powered in a putback around the rim, flashing the kind of size and interior presence the Suns rarely get on the offensive glass. A productive Maluach changed the matchup math. Charlotte prefers smaller lineups with Diabate, but Maluach’s size forced them into more Kalkbrenner minutes in the first half.
It was a solid second quarter for the Phoenix Suns, who outscored the Charlotte Hornets 32–28 in the period. Phoenix went 4-of-9 from beyond the arc while Charlotte finished 4-of-12 from deep.
Jalen Green carried much of the scoring load in the quarter. He poured in 12 points and finished the half with 20, doing so on 7-of-11 shooting and 4-of-7 from three. Devin Booker added 14 points and 4 assists in the half, while Khaman Maluach chipped in 4 points and 5 rebounds.
Charlotte had balanced production of its own. Four Hornets reached double figures in the first half, with Brandon Miller leading the way with 11 points. Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, and LaMelo Ball each added 10.
At halftime, the Suns held a narrow 60–58 lead.
Second Half
Phoenix opened the second half with aggression on both ends of the floor, jumping out on an 8–0 run to set the tone, opening up a 10-point lead.
During that stretch, Devin Booker was fouled by LaMelo Ball on a drive, and it appeared that Ball stepped on Booker’s ankle during the play. Scott Foster ruled it a common foul almost immediately. Booker stepped to the line for his 12th free throw of the night and converted both, moving to 12-of-12 from the stripe at that point in the game.
The Hornets began 0-of-5 from the field, turning the ball over 4 times as Phoenix was jumping passing lanes, leading to 4 Suns’ points.
The Suns came out active in the third quarter, playing with a bit of spunk that has not consistently appeared over the past few weeks. Their energy translated into a lead that hovered between nine points and six points for much of the period.
As the quarter wore on, Charlotte’s defense began to assert itself. The Hornets have been one of the stronger defensive teams since January 1, and that pressure started to show. Phoenix went more than three minutes without a field goal as the offense stalled. Moussa Diabate made his presence known in the paint, recording three blocks in the quarter alone. That defensive stretch helped spark an 8–0 run for Charlotte, trimming the Suns’ lead down to one.
Collin Gillespie provided a late lift. In the closing seconds of the quarter, he launched another logo three and was fouled by Coby White on the attempt. Gillespie knocked down all three free throws, giving Phoenix a small cushion heading into the fourth.
It was not a clean offensive quarter for the Suns. They finished 6-of-21 from the field, good for 28.6% shooting in the period. Still, they managed to carry an 81–77 lead into the final quarter.
Both offenses stumbled a bit to open the fourth quarter, with possessions feeling clunky and rhythm hard to find. Rasheer Fleming had no such issue. He scored 7 of the Suns’ first 9 points, then punctuated the stretch with a fast break dunk that pushed him to 13 points on the night, setting a new career high after previously reaching 8 on four separate occasions earlier in his young career.
The Suns’ offense began to find its rhythm, and a pair of three-pointers from Collin Gillespie pushed the Phoenix lead to 13 points with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Buzz City kept pushing. Charlotte is one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league, so the game never feels safe when they are within striking distance.
Devin Booker continued to look sharp through the middle stretch of the fourth quarter. He found open shooters, knocked down his own looks, and kept the offense moving with control. Charlotte applied pressure, Phoenix answered each time.
The biggest moment came late in the quarter when Collin Gillespie buried a buzzer-beating three. It was his fifth make from deep and pushed his total to 24 points on the night. The shot arrived with under three minutes remaining and stretched the Suns’ lead to 16.
With 1:39 left, Charlotte head coach Charles Lee waved the white flag and pulled his starters. Rasheer Fleming finished with a game-high 10 points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix closed strong.
The Suns outscored the Hornets 30-22 in the final period. The final score, Phoenix 111, Charlotte 99.
Up Next
A long and winding road begins for Phoenix as they set out on a six-game, 10-day road trip. Their first stop is in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Early Arizona start. 5pm. We shall see you then!
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Biko Johnson had 19 points and Isaiah Brickner scored 15 — all in the second half — to propel Idaho to a 78-74 victory over No. 2 seed Montana State on Sunday night in a Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal.
No. 7 seed Idaho (19-14) moves on to Tuesday's semifinals where it will play the winner of a Monday quarterfinal between No. 3 seed Eastern Washington and sixth-seeded Weber State.
Johnson made 7 of 12 shots with a 3-pointer for the Vandals, adding five rebounds and four assists. Brickner missed all three of his first-half shots before sinking 6 of 8 after the break. He had seven rebounds and blocked a shot. Jack Rasmussen scored 11.
Jeremiah Davis hit four 3-pointers and scored 22 to lead the Bobcats (18-14), who split two games with Idaho during the regular season. Christian King connected three times from distance and scored 21. Jed Miller added 18 points.
Davis and King both scored 12 points in the first half and Miller added 10 as Montana State took a 40-34 lead into the break. Brickner scored in the paint to give Idaho a 63-61 lead and the Vandals never trailed over the final five minutes.
"The bottom line is they kicked our behind on the glass, we did not box out, their second-chance opportunities in terms of 15 points was something that we don't give up -- we can't get beat in that area, and it was due to our ability to put bodies on bodies and boxing out -- it's the first thing," Brown said of the Knicks (41-24), whom the Lakers (39-25) outrebounded by a 12-10 margin on the offensive boards. "The second thing is we fouled 'em. We got beat off the dribble often. We got beat middle and, being real lazy about it, we reach at the last second and send 'em to the free-throw line. And then, lastly, we didn't take care of the basketball.
"That's a recipe to get your behind kicked, especially on the road. If you're going to get beat in second-chance points like we did without boxing out, if you're going to reach because you can't contain the basketball for the 30 free throws and then having 18 turnovers -- that's a recipe for disaster on the road, no matter who you play. So you've got to give the Lakers credit."
The Lakers were 25 of 30 from the free-throw line, led by Luka Doncic's 8-for-10 clip.
"I'm always direct," Brown said of what he told his team after the game. "Whether it's this game or another game, I'm always direct. There's nothing to sugarcoat -- you just tell the truth."
New York's five-game road swing, which included this past Friday's 142-103 win at the Denver Nuggets, continues with Monday's 10 p.m. game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
"Our guys have been playing well -- I'm just talking about tonight," Brown said of the Knicks, who won three straight games before this past Wednesday's 103-100 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder. "And could it linger? Yeah, we could take another step back tomorrow. I don't know. But I'm talking about tonight. I did not like the way we played in those three areas. There's some games that you may say, 'You know what? Hey, they just shot the s--t out the ball and wasn't our night and we missed some shots.' Because we missed some shots tonight -- I thought we had some good looks that we've been normally knocking down.
"But to have a hand in losing the game yourself by not taking care of the things that are just effort and locked-in things ... those are things that we, in my opinion, could've controlled tonight, which we've done a pretty good job of, as of late, that we did not control. And the Lakers deserved to win, the way we played in those three areas."
