GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Liv McGill had 22 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, Me’Arah O’Neal also scored 22, and No. 12 seed Florida beat Mississippi State 86-68 — the Gators' largest margin of victory in an SEC Tournament game — on Wednesday in the first round.
Florida (18-14), which never trailed despite starting 5-of-16 shooting, made 28 of 56 from the field and hit 22 of 28 (79%) from the free-throw line.
No. 13 seed Mississippi State (18-13) has lost five in a row.
Favour Nwaedozi led the Bulldogs with 12 points and 10 rebounds, the 6-foot-3 junior's 15th double-double this season. Destiney McPhaul also scored 12 points and had six assists. Madison Francis fouled out with nine points in 17 minutes. The freshman went into the game leading the team in minutes (29.8 per game), scoring (13.4) and blocks (1.53), and second in rebounds (7.5) and steals (1.53).
The Bulldogs committed nine first-quarter turnovers and trailed 21-11 at the end of the period.
After Francis made a layup that trimmed Mississippi State's deficit to eight points, O'Neal hit the first of her three second-quarter 3-pointers to make it 24-13 with 8:30 remaining in the first half and the Gators led by double figures the rest of the way.
The Gators, who won 71-56 at Mississippi State on Feb. 19, have won four in a four against Mississippi State and leads the series 30-28.
Up next
Mississippi State: Awaits a potential postseason invite.
Florida: Plays seventh-ranked and No. 5 seed Oklahoma in the second round on Thursday.
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Sakima Walker had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead California past Wake Forest 75-52 on Wednesday in a first-round game at the ACC Tournament.
Second-team All-ACC guard LuLu Twidale added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Gisella Maul and Aliyahna Morris each scored 10 points for the 10th-seeded Golden Bears (19-13).
Mary Carter scored 13 points and Grace Oliver had 10 for the No. 15 seed Demon Deacons (14-17).
There were five lead changes in the first 13 1/2 minutes of play before the Golden Bears went out front for good with a 10-0 run that left them ahead 25-17 in the second quarter.
It was 32-21 at halftime, then Cal blew the game open with a dominant third quarter in which the Golden Bears outscored the Demon Deacons 29-12. Cal shot 56% in the third and went 7 for 7 at the free-throw line.
Cal's slimmest lead in the fourth was 71-52 with two minutes left after the starters had all come out of the game.
Cal won the regular-season matchup with Wake Forest, 61-52 at Berkeley, California.
Up next
Cal will play No. 7 seed Syracuse in the second round on Thursday. The winner will face No. 2 seed Louisville in the quarterfinals.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ rotation defies the knowledge of most basketball fans. That is by design, and it will be to the Portland Trail Blazers’ benefit tonight.
My Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies predictions and NBA picks recognize a tank when they see one. Tip comes at 8 ET on Wednesday, March 4.
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies prediction
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies best bet: Blazers -10.5 (-110)
This spread moved a full point toward the Portland Trail Blazers early Wednesday afternoon. The Memphis Grizzlies are not only tanking, but they are also on the second night of a back-to-back.
Memphis may be the home team tonight, but it had to fly home after a loss to the Timberwolves last night. And that effort made it clear how glad the Grizzlies are to lose these days.
Playing two five-man shifts has garnered plenty of attention, but that attention has largely distracted from the fact that Memphis is playing Cedric Coward, Taylor Hendricks, and Rayan Rupert for 20+ minutes apiece.
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies same-game parlay
The sign of the Grizzlies’ woes is not that Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored just two points in nearly 24 minutes last night. It's that he took only four shots as their starting center. With no genuine facilitator in the rotation these days, Memphis’s offense is faltering, at best.
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies SGP
Trail Blazers -10.5
Under 235
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Under 11.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Clingan Cleans Up
Donovan Clingan has cleared this modest points prop in seven of his last 11 games stretching across the last month.
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies SGP
Trail Blazers -10.5
Under 235
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Under 11.5 points
Donovan Clingan Over 13.5 points
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies odds
Spread: Trail Blazers -10.5 | Grizzlies +10.5
Moneyline: Trail Blazers -450 | Grizzlies +350
Over/Under: Over 236 | Under 236
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
The last three Grizzlies games have all gone Under their totals and by an average of 9.2 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies
Location
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
KUNP, FDSN-Memphis
Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies latest injuries
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn could be one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA.
He's not only Los Angeles’ top perimeter defender, but the veteran guard has upped his offensive efforts over the past month, averaging almost 10 points per game in the Clippers' last 10 outings.
Los Angeles is a sizable home favorite against the Indiana Pacers tonight, and my Pacers vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks like Dunn to keep contributing on both ends of the floor.
Pacers vs Clippers prediction
Pacers vs Clippers best bet: Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points (-105)
As mentioned, Kris Dunn has been doing more on the offensive side since early February.
He’s scored 8+ points in seven of the L.A. Clippers' past 10 games, including 16 points in the recent win over Golden State.
Dunn, who went 7-for-10 in just 26 minutes Monday, faces an Indiana Pacers team riding out a lost season. Indiana has dropped six straight showings and sits 27th in defensive rating over its last 10 outings.
Wednesday’s game will have a quicker tempo, with Indiana involved, and Dunn’s player projections range from 7.9 to 8.8 points.
Pacers vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Clippers are fighting to stay in the conversation for the play-in tournament while the Pacers are in full “tank mode”, sliding into L.A. on a six-game losing skid. Indiana is 1-9 SU and 4-6 ATS in non-conference road games.
Dunn is averaging almost 10 points over the last 10 games. His projections flirt with nine points versus a Pacers team trying to tank for a Top 3 pick.
Andrew Nembhard is seeing his playing time tick down with Indiana giving up on the season, and the guard is nursing a sore back. His projections are as low as 12.4 points tonight.
Pacers vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -12.5
Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points
Andrew Nembhard Under 15.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Best Supporting Actors
In La La Land, you need a strong supporting cast. With the Clippers running away from the Pacers, I like L.A. to spread the love around to Dunn, Brook Lopez, and Kobe Sanders — all of whom are projected to top their scoring totals tonight.
Pacers vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -12.5
Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points
Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
Kobe Sanders Over 6.5 points
Pacers vs Clippers odds
Spread: Pacers +12.5 | Clippers -12.5
Moneyline: Pacers +500 | Clippers -700
Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227
Pacers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Pacers have only covered twice in the past 11 games since February 3. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Pacers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Indiana, FDSN-SoCal
Pacers vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 25, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Once again, the Western Conference playoff race is looking to be a tight one, and the Lakers are right in the thick of it.
With 21 games left to play, they sit at the No. 6 seed, but just a game and a half from the third spot. However, they are also just two games in front of the Phoenix Suns, who are currently a play-in team.
With home-court advantage or a play-in position, both realistic possibilities for Los Angeles, the way playoff seeding could be decided might very well come down to a tiebreaker situation.
Here is how seeding is decided in the event that two teams have an identical record at the end of the regular season, via NBA.com
TIEBREAKER BASIS FOR TWO-WAY TIES:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(2) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff eligible teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff eligible teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games
With head-to-head being the first decider, let’s take a look at the tiebreaker situation between the Lakers and all teams they are currently competing with for a playoff spot.
Houston Rockets
The Lakers lost to the Rockets on Christmas Day, which is currently the only matchup the two teams have had. That’ll change later this month when LA heads to Houston for a pair of games. If the Lakers win both contests, they’ll own the tiebreaker.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Since the Lakers have beaten the Wolves twice and have just one game left against them, they have the season series secured. It’d be ideal to still beat Minnesota on Mar. 10, since it’ll help them in the standings race, but they have the advantage if they end up with the same record at the end of the year.
Denver Nuggets
Under Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have had success against the Nuggets. Last year, they split the season series 2-2, and this season, they’ve beaten Denver the only time they’ve played.
The Lakers have two games left against the Nuggets, so they need one more victory to gain the advantage over their Western Conference foe.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns already own the tiebreaker over the Lakers since they’ve won three of the four games they’ve played against them, and only one matchup remains.
Luckily, the Lakers are a couple of games ahead of the Suns in the standings. So, they’d better make sure they stay in front of Phoenix because they have the edge in a tiebreaker scenario.
Golden State Warriors
Considering that the Lakers are six games ahead of the Warriors and that Golden State is currently playing without Steph Curry, it’s very unlikely these teams will have the same record when it’s all said and done.
Currently, LA is ahead 2-1 in the season series, but they need to win the final matchup they have against the Warriors on Apr. 9 or else they’ll be even in head-to-head matchups on the year.
Even if LA loses this upcoming game, the Warriors would have to have a better record in the Pacific Division, since that’s the next tiebreaker. Currently, Golden State is 6-6 in the division, and the Lakers are 8-7, so LA has that edge for now.
Overall, the Lakers are in a good position in most tiebreaking situations. They have the advantage over the Wolves and can still win the tiebreakers over the Warriors, Nuggets and Rockets.
The only team they have lost the season series to already is the Suns, and they are a couple of games ahead of them in the standings.
If the Lakers win their upcoming games against these opponents, then they’ll be in control of their destiny and can be a top seed in the West. This late into the season, that’s the exact situation teams want to be in.
Now, it’s up to the purple and gold to go out there and execute and prove that they are, in fact, better than these teams.
The Milwaukee Bucks brought back Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it is fair to wonder to what end. The Atlanta Hawks are four games ahead in the standings for the final Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference, and that should become five games tonight.
My Hawks vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks will not put faith in Atlanta, but they will also not put faith in Giannis aside from crashing the glass on Wednesday, March 4.
Hawks vs Bucks prediction
Hawks vs Bucks best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds (+110)
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court on Monday, his first action since late January. The Milwaukee Bucks’ cornerstone struggled from the field, going 7-of-18 for 19 points, but he was still an asset.
Antetokounmpo’s 11 rebounds showed he’s still impacting the game despite being out of rhythm. That rhythm might take time to return, but those misses create more chances for him to crash the boards against the Atlanta Hawks.
Hawks vs Bucks same-game parlay
Antetokounmpo’s rhythm will struggle as long as he is on a minutes restriction, playing just 25 in his return.
Milwaukee’s three-game losing streak will also plague some of his play, as the Bucks have little incentive to win or stress their superstar.
Hawks vs Bucks SGP
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds
Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 25.5 points
Hawks moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Broken Bucks
Milwaukee has not cracked 100 points in its last three games, a trend that underscores that this roster is more broken than Antetokounmpo deserves.
Hawks vs Bucks SGP
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds
Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 25.5 points
Hawks moneyline
Under 232.5
Hawks vs Bucks odds
Spread: Hawks +1 (-110) | Bucks -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Hawks -105 | Bucks -115
Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-110) | Under 232.5 (-110)
Hawks vs Bucks betting trend to know
Milwaukee is 0-3 against the spread in its last three games, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by at least 20 points in each of those games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Bucks.
How to watch Hawks vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Hawks vs Bucks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Nikola Jokic is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA today. He's even earned some top-ten all-time chatter in recent years. So, when Jokic's Denver Nuggets face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, defensive specialist Lu Dort's job is simple: make Jokic's life a living hell for 48 minutes.
On Friday, Feb. 27, Dort tried to do just that, but went overboard, hip-checking Jokic as he was coming up the court.
Lu Dort was ejected after appearing to trip Nikola Jokic on this play.
Tempers flared. A fight broke out. And Dort was ejected.
Following Tuesday's win over the Chicago Bulls though, Dort was asked about the scuffle, to which he is now saying he crossed a line.
Dort said, "That’s a physical game and there’s limits to it. And I went over the limit." He continued, "That was an unnecessary move by me, something I shouldn’t have done."
What else did Dort say?
While Dort did admit he went too far, he also noted that any game between the Thunder and Nuggets turns into a physical affair.
"Every time we play against each other, it’s always a battle," he said. "It was a physical game throughout the whole game."
Dort continued, noting that his job of guarding the opposing team's best player every night can be taxing. "It’s not easy. Obviously, I play hard. I’m a physical player. It’s what I do for my team, and sometimes people think it’s too much, but it’s always [within] the rules of the game."
When asked if Dort considered himself a dirty player, Dort said no.
"I don’t think I’m dirty," he said. "I can’t control media. Media always wants to have some type of attention or anything. They want that buzz. I can’t control that. I’ve been doing well with this organization for years now. I’m happy with how I play and what I do with my teammates. I go out there, compete every night. So I’m gonna keep doing what I do on the court."
Is Dort considered a dirty player?
Throughout his seven years in the NBA, Dort's ejection on Friday was just the fourth of his career. He has nine technical fouls and six flagrant fouls to his name as well.
Those are actually small figures compared to some of the more notable enforcers around the league, like Draymond Green. However, Dort's reputation is that of someone willing to get physical, and although many of his tactics have not resulted in ejections, many players around the league believe he has earned the "dirty" moniker.
"I am quite confident we were selling high. Obviously, time will tell."
That was Philadelphia president Daryl Morey's quote after a deadline trade that sent second-year guard Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for the 2026 Houston Rockets first-round pick, as well as three second-round picks. Except it may not take that much time to think this is a big win for Oklahoma City — McCain scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Thunder to a win over the Bulls on Tuesday night, the third 20+ point game he's had for the team.
Since the trade, McCain has looked a lot like the guy we saw for the first 23 games last season, when he was the best rookie in the NBA. In 11 games with Oklahoma City, McCain is averaging 12.5 points per game, shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc, and flashing some playmaking skills. He is fitting right in — even getting Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein to be part of his dancing TikTok posts.
All of this has led to a couple of questions: Why did the 76ers trade him in the first place? And why couldn't coach Nick Nurse get more out of him this season in Philadelphia?
The answer to the first question is easy: Money. Trading McCain ($4.2 million this season) got the 76ers below the luxury tax, and then waiving veteran guard Eric Gordon allowed the 76ers to convert the two-way contracts of Dominick Barlow and Jabari Parker to standard deals without entering the tax. This was Morey being good to owner Josh Harris and his crew — it's fair not to want to pay the luxury tax for a 33-28, sixth-seed team that is not a title contender (unless a ridiculous number of things break their way).
The other part of this is that when Morey talked about selling high, his implication was that there was not a lot of runway for McCain on a team with a glut of guards, including All-Star Tyrese Maxey, as well as VJ Edgecombe at the top of the pecking order. Nick Nurse struggled to find rotations he liked with McCain, Maxey, Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes, and to be fair, that's a lot of small guards who are not elite defenders. Also, Maxey and Edgecombe are going to get most of the run and shots, and when Joel Embiid and Paul George are healthy, that's a lot of mouths to feed.
Except, Oklahoma City is a team with a glut of guards and it has found a way to make McCain a valuable part of its rotation. As noted by Kevin O'Connor at Yahoo Sports, McCain is working off a lot more dribble handoffs (more than double early this season in Philadelphia), which is helping him find space.
McCain is simply playing with a lot more freedom and looks good doing it — the kind of play and shot creation the 76ers lacked (outside of Maxey) in Tuesday's blowout loss to the Spurs. Depth matters in the NBA — just look at the Thunder — and no team can have enough shot creation. While there is some logic to the 76ers trading McCain away, he's making it look like they will regret that deal.
WILMINGTON, DE - OCTOBER 20: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Daryl Morey during an open practice on October 20, 2024 at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo byJesse D. Garrabranty/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The vibes for the Philadelphia 76ers are at a low point for the season. The team has lost six of their last nine games, Paul George is about halfway through a league drug policy-related suspension, and Joel Embiid is currently missing time with an oblique injury. Losses to Boston and San Antonio this week looked like blowouts going in and played out accordingly. Philadelphia is less than one full game clear in the standings of the Play-In tournament.
At least the team’s 2024 first-round pick is flourishing, rounding into form after dealing with a couple of injuries coming into the season. Jared McCain has three 20-point games across his last seven appearances, shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three since Feb. 6. Of course, that was the date the Sixers traded McCain to Oklahoma City for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick and a few second-rounders. And as much as some people want those covering the team to stop bringing him up and focus on those players still here in Philadelphia, the McCain trade is hanging over everything going wrong with the Sixers right now.
First, the Sixers lost a rotation player and didn’t add one of even a similar caliber. So their ‘glut of guards’ right now is really just Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe getting run into the ground, plus Quentin Grimes. We saw when Grimes missed time recently with an illness, and might again with Edgecombe being ruled out after the fall he took Tuesday night, that everything completely crumbles if any of those guys are unavailable.
McCain leaving has also shined a light on coaching issues with Nick Nurse at the helm. McCain wasn’t given much runway this season in Philadelphia, and we all assumed it was mostly due to struggles coming back from the injuries. Except now, Jared immediately slotted into the rotation for the defending champions, a team with much more guard and wing depth than the Sixers by the way, and is being used in a bunch of creative actions by head coach Mark Daigneault to great effect. Why weren’t sets incorporated in Philly that played to McCain’s strengths, particularly for a team searching for scoring punch off the bench? With how dramatic the shift in his production has ramped up, the “Sixers really screwed the pooch with the McCain trade” narrative has exploded from a local push to a national media blitz with recent articles from Kevin O’Connor, Jake Fischer and Tom Ziller.
Finally, the chemistry for the team has just been completely off since the trade deadline, something that was actually really good during the first half of the season. It’s something that even during his more-lauded days, Daryl Morey would be criticized for: overlooking the human element. Even supposing his calculation of Jared McCain’s trade value was correct (and it’s looking like it very, very much was not), what message does shipping him out and not doing anything else to backfill that rotation spot at the deadline send to the rest of the team? You have your major building block for the future, Tyrese Maxey, talking about how difficult the trade deadline was, and then how he misses Jared.
Tyrese Maxey was asked about the energy and morale of the Sixers since their five-game road trip out west. They’ve lost 6 of 9.
Tyrese says the trade deadline was difficult, but they moved on. Also, he said if they dwell on it, that will get them nowhere. @KYWNewsradiopic.twitter.com/Y4Rjw8shrN
Tyrese Maxey: “I ain’t going to lie and say I don’t miss Jared [McCain]. But I’m happy for him. I’m happy for him. I watch him in OKC and hope he does well every single night, except for when he plays us.”
Maxey is being diplomatic, but it’s not hard to connect the dots that he’s bothered by how management kind of gave up on this season last month. And I think we all know how Joel Embiid feels about things after he publicly implored the front office not to duck the tax prior to the deadline. O’Connor reported that the Sixers made some calls around Kawhi Leonard, but you can’t fracture a team’s chemistry to the degree trading McCain did on a pipe dream. You need to have Plans B, C, and D in place.
So the Jared McCain trade hurt the Sixers’ chances this season and hurt the organization’s standing in the minds of their star players. Early returns look like the ‘sell high’ was anything but, and signs are pointing to a potential coaching change being needed. McCain once looked to be part of the bridge to the next era of Sixers basketball, but now, his departure looks like the death knell of the previous era.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jordan Speiser, Nastja Claessens and Taryn Sides led 12th-seeded Kansas State to a program-tying and Big 12 Tournament-record 17 3-pointers and the Wildcats beat 13th-seeded Cincinnati 91-66 in a first-round game on Wednesday.
The Wildcats will play fifth-seeded Texas Tech in Thursday's second round.
Speiser made six 3-pointers and Sides five in each scoring 20 points. Claessens also hit five 3s and scored 18 points. The Wildcats (16-16) were 17 of 32 from the arc. The Wildcats tied the school record of 17 3-pointers made against Columbia on Nov. 27. The previous tournament record of 14 had been reached three times. Gina Garcia had 10 assists.
Mya Perry made four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead the Bearcats (11-20). Destiny Thomas added 13 points and Caliyah DeVillasee 10.
Claessens scored 12 points and Sides 11 as Kansas State took a 49-20 lead at halftime with the Wildcats having made eight 3-pointers. Speiser went 3 of 4 from the arc and scored 11 points in the third quarter when the Wildcats made seven 3s and outscored the Bearcats 27-13. Kansas State led by as many as 29 in the final quarter.
A 3-pointer by Sides gave the Wildcats the lead for good with about five minutes left in the first quarter and began a 14-2 period-ending run.
Cincinnati had just 23 made field goals on 69 attempts (33%).
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has signed a multi-year contract.
The Grizzlies announced the deal Wednesday without disclosing terms.
Prosper, 23, has averaged 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 15.8 minutes in 36 games with the Grizzlies this season. He has made seven starts for them.
Over Prosper's last nine games, the 6-foot-7 forward has averaged 14 points and 24.3 minutes while shooting 67.5% from the floor.
Memphis signed him to a two-way contract on Sept. 4.
The Sacramento Kings selected Prosper out of Marquette with the 24th pick in the 2023 draft and immediately traded him to the Dallas Mavericks. Prosper played 40 games for Dallas in 2023-24 and 52 games last season.
Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight’s primetime Thunder-Knicks showdown, and the model has highlighted a few plays that really stand out.
We crunched the numbers, matched our projections against the market, and zeroed in on the spots with real value.
If you’re putting together your card, these are the NBA picks the model likes most for Wednesday, March 4.
Thunder vs Knicks computer picks for March 4
Thunder
Knicks
Joe o9.5 points -112
Towns o17.5 points -112
Gilgeous-Alexander o1.5 3-pointers +160
Brunson o5.5 assists -140
Holmgren o7.5 rebounds -135
Hart o7.5 rebounds +110
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Thunder computer picks
Isaiah Joe Over 9.5 points (-112)
Projection: 10.4 points
Isaiah Joe has found a groove on the road lately, averaging 15.8 points over his last five away games. That’s 5.5 points higher than his usual road average this season.
Even without home-court advantage, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been the third-highest scoring offense in the NBA over their last 25 games.
Joe’s also been clearing this number consistently, hitting the Over in eight of his last 10 games when the line is set at 9.5 points.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 1.5 3-pointers
Projection: 1.8 3-pointers
The Thunder have been letting it fly lately, ranking seventh in the NBA in 3-point attempts over their last 15 games.
If there’s a spot for him to heat up from deep, this is it.
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Chet Holmgren Over 7.5 rebounds (-135)
Projection: 9.1 rebounds
Chet Holmgren has been clearing this number consistently, going Over 7.5 rebounds in eight of his last 10 games, and the matchup sets up well for him to keep that trend rolling against the Knicks.
The Knicks play at a steady pace and aren’t shy about putting shots up from the perimeter, which often leads to long rebound opportunities for a mobile big like Holmgren. His length and timing give him an edge tracking those boards outside of his immediate area.
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Knicks computer picks
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (-112)
Projection: 18.7 points
The Thunder are known for pushing the tempo by ranking sixth in pace over their last five games, which should translate into extra possessions for the Knicks.
That uptick in opportunity bodes well for Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s gone Over 17.5 points in six of his last 10 games and continues to see the kind of volume that can take advantage of a faster game script.
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Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists (-140)
Projection: 6.3 assists
With OKC speeding things up as of late, more opportunities have been created. That kind of game flow should work in favor of the Knicks.
That creates a nice setup for Jalen Brunson, who’s gone Over 5.5 assists in seven of his last 10 games. With extra trips up and down the floor, he should have plenty of chances to rack up dimes.
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Josh Hart Over 7.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 7.7 rebounds
Josh Hart has been a consistent force on the boards lately, going Over 6.5 rebounds in five of his last 10 games. Tonight’s matchup against the Thunder sets up nicely for him to keep that streak alive.
Additionally, Hart often positions himself well in transition, snagging rebounds that turn into fast-break chances.
With his minutes stable and the matchup favorable, there’s a solid path for him to hit the Over on 6.5 rebounds once again tonight.
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How to watch Thunder vs Knicks tonight
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Ra Shaya Kyle had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Amarachi Kimpson scored seven of her 20 points in overtime and 12th-seeded Miami survived a fourth-quarter collapse to beat 13th-seed Stanford 83-76 in the opener of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.
Gal Raviv also scored 20 points for the Hurricanes (17-13), who take on fifth-seeded Notre Dame in Thursday's second round. Kyle's double-double was her 20th this season.
Courtney Ogden led Stanford (19-13) with 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter when the Cardinal scored the final 11 points to tie the game at 70.
Hailee Swain added 17 points, Lara Somfai 12 and Nunu Agara 11 for the Cardinal.
Kimpson hit a 3-pointer to open overtime and Miami led by rest of the way with Kimpson adding four free throws in the final 22 seconds.
The Hurricanes outscored Stanford 28-13 in the third quarter to lead 65-52 and looked to be in command. But Miami went scoreless over the final 6:21, scoring only five points in the fourth quarter, and Stanford tied the game on Ogden's bucket with 18.8 seconds remaining. Miami ran the clock down on its final possession then failed to get a shot off.
Stanford made 7 of 9 3-pointers in the second quarter in taking a 39-37 halftime lead. But the Cardinal made just one 3 and had seven turnovers in the third quarter when Miami outscored Stanford 20-3 over the final six minutes to lead 65-52.
Stanford made 12 of 27 from the arc but the 6-foot-6 Kyle helped Miami dominate in the paint, outscoring the Cardinal 40-28.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during warm ups before their game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavalierstook down the conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, but they didn’t come through the game unscathed. Jarrett Allen, who’s played the best basketball of his career for the last month, injured his knee midway through the third quarter and wasn’t able to return.
Afterward, head coach Kenny Atkinson was asked about the injury after the game. He said it was the result of a collision.
“He got a knee-to-knee [hit],” Atkinson said. “So that’s the only update I got.”
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Allen has been unfairly criticized for not playing through injuries. He played through a broken finger in his left hand and a finger strain in the other earlier this season. Last year, he participated in all 82 games and has missed just 12 so far this season.
Atkinson doesn’t believe that the injury came from being overworked.
“He does want to play every game,” Atkinson said. “Especially as well as he’s playing. … I think that’s part of this job, it’s figuring out when you can get a guy a game, when you look at the schedule. We try to do that the best we can. And you always look back on it [and have regrets]. … Like I said, I think this is more about a contact thing. The soft tissue [injuries] are the ones where you’re like, ‘Man, that’s overuse.’ The hits like that there, you can’t really avoid that.”
Fortunately for the Cavs, they have time for Allen and a few of their other injured players to get healthy. They have a rare four-day break before they play the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Allen has been great since the start of February. In that time, he’s averaged 21 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 72% shooting. On the season, Allen is averaging 15.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Clara Strack had 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, Amelia Hassett scored 18 points and made six 3-pointers, and No. 17 Kentucky started the second half on an 18-2 run to help beat Arkansas 94-64 on Wednesday in an SEC Tournament opener.
It was the largest margin of victory in Kentucky's SEC Tournament history. The Wildcats (22-9), the No. 9 seed, advance to play 22nd-ranked Georgia in the second round on Thursday.
Tonie Morgan and Jordan Obi also had double-doubles for Kentucky. Morgan had 14 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, and Obi added 14 points and 10 boards. Starters Teonni Key chipped in with 12 points and Asia Boone had 10.
Taleyah Jones scored 21 points for Arkansas (12-20), which was coming off its first SEC win of the season to snap a 16-game losing streak with a 70-41 win over Auburn on Sunday. Freshman Bonnie Deas added 10 points.
Boone gave Kentucky its first double-digit lead of the game at 16-4 less than five minutes into the game. Then Hassett made two 3-pointers during an 11-0 run to extend the Wildcats' lead to 27-7.
Kentucky was limited to just 13 points in the second quarter but still held a 42-33 lead at the break.
Obi scored seven points and capped Kentucky's big third-quarter run for a 60-35 lead, while Arkansas missed nine of its first 10 shots after the break.
Morgan scored 10 points in the third quarter to match Arkansas' point total as the Razorbacks went 4 of 17 from the field.
The Razorbacks shot just 36% from the field, including 6 of 28 from 3-point range.
Up next
Arkansas: Season comes to an end under the direction of first-year coach Kelsi Musick.
Kentucky: Looks to avenge a 72-67 loss to Georgia on Jan. 24.
Thunder
Knicks
