Category: Basketball

By the end of this year, the NBA’s long and draining Giannis Antetokounmpo saga should finally be over. At least, it will be if you believe Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens in a conversation with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. With Antetokounmpo able to opt out of his contract after the 2026-27 season, the coming months should pressure the Bucks into action around their clearly frustrated superstar. Antetokounmpo will be eligible for a contract extension on October 1st. If he tells the Bucks he will not sign the $275 million extension, Milwaukee is put in a position where they have to trade him or risk losing him for nothing in free agency the following year.

“Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract],” Edens told Shelburne.”So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded. The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that. It’s not consistent with what’s good for the organization. That’s not a Giannis issue. That’s any player that’s in their last year.”

Shelburne’s reporting around the conversation, however, undermines Edens’ simplistic statement. The fact is Antetokounmpo’s saga in Milwaukee has seemed heading toward him forcing his way out for years. The Golden State Warriors, of course, made an aggressive push to acquire him at this year’s deadline. However, Milwaukee chose to hold onto him for a little bit longer and the Dubs opted to swap Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porzingis.

While the Warriors were one of the few teams interested and able to acquire Antetokounmpo during the current season, it seems far more difficult to envision them getting a deal done this offseason. The fact is, every team has more financial flexibility during the offseason, and several teams with proven young players are more likely to enter the trade market after some squads inevitably under perform during the postseason. Nevertheless, Joe Lacob will surely be trying to wishcast a Warriors deal for Giannis into existence anyway.

The Herd is going through the motions of functioning as a G League team, waiting to finish out the remainder of a fruitless season. The stakes are getting lower, and the Herd is looking inside to see which players might remain on their roster or, better yet, join an NBA team.

Wisconsin Herd 113, Osceola Magic 126

Alex Antetokounmpo: DNP

Kira Lewis Jr.: 36 minutes, 28 points, 3 rebounds, 10/16 FG, 2/6 3FG, -14

Stephen Thompson: 39 minutes, 27 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, 9/20 FG, 3/7 3FG, -3

The Herd’s away match at Osceola wasn’t very close despite the high-scoring efforts of Lewis, Thompson, Mark Sears (21 points, seven assists), and some others. Although they kept the first quarter close, closing it down by six, a significant 14-2 run helped Osceola stretch their lead to 18 points by the half. After that, the Herd struggled to stop the Magic’s bruising offensive style of play and strolled to a 14-point win.

With all of the Herd’s two-way players unavailable, the scoring responsibilities rested on guys like Lewis, who contributed 28 points off the bench on 63% true shooting. Lewis, a former lottery pick who struggled to get game time in New Orleans and Utah, has shown genuine scoring and playmaking potential, matching an NBA rotation guard. Lewis’s speed accentuates his tight handle and ability to convert tough layups in the air. His shooting has long been a concern, but he’s become efficient inside (59.6% on two-pointers), and he’s showing signs of improving from range (career-high 33.7% three-point average)

Wisconsin Herd 115, Windy City Bulls 116

Cormac Ryan: 33 minutes, 29 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 9/17 FG, 3/5 3FG, +12

Alex Antetokounmpo: 15 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 1/4 3FG

Mark Sears: 35 minutes, 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 7/19 FG, 3/8 3FG, +2

Monday’s game against the Windy City Bulls seemed to go as expected: the Herd’s opposition jumping out to an early lead, and despite hot three-point shooting, they controlled the game. However, the Herd fought back in the second half against the Bulls and kept an otherwise out-of-control game very close. 

After getting Ryan back from Bucks duty, they gained a new level of lethality from range. However, the turning point for the Bulls, who needed to win to stay alive in the G League’s playoff race, came with Kevin Knox II’s third-quarter outburst. Knox was unstoppable from deep, helping the Bulls pull away early in the fourth quarter. Although Ryan and the Herd rallied to keep it close at the end, the Herd had to play the foul game at the end, dropping them to 9-22, the worst in the East.

With his 29 points against the Bulls, Ryan is now up to an average of 22.1 points per game on .491/.439/.870 shooting splits. His game shows a player whose main strengths lie in his consistent, dead-eye shooting, but he also offers a versatile skillset, including rebounding, playmaking, and active defense. Ryan made his Bucks debut against the Jazz on Thursday, scoring five points on four shots. Although his first minutes in a Milwaukee uniform started slowly, Ryan may be a name to watch in the Bucks’ long-term plans.

Motor City Cruise 123, Wisconsin Herd 105

Alex Antetokounmpo: 29 minutes, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2/6 FG, 1/2 3FG, 6/8 FTA, -9

Kira Lewis Jr.: 33 minutes, 19 points, 4 assists, 7/14 FG, 2/6 3FG, -4

Stephen Thompson: 32 minutes, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, 6/13 FG, 3/5 3FG, -11

In an unremarkable Friday night game, the Herd fell early against the Motor City Cruise and never found their footing. The Herd didn’t lead at all during the game, and the closest they got to challenging the Cruise was with Mark Sears’ early pair of three-pointers. Without Ryan and Nance, the Herd shot around 36% from three and 43% from the line, but the biggest problem was defense: they couldn’t stop the hot perimeter shooting from guys like John Ukomadu and Bobi Klintman.

Hey, at least Stephen Thompson’s alright! The Oregon State alum is averaging career highs in points (17.9 per game), shooting (.480/.442/.739), rebounding, and assists. Thompson has bounced around from overseas league to overseas league, but his standout season with the Herd could earn him a callback overseas next season, or better yet, a place on an NBA roster.

Three Notes

Butler finds his footing

One important narrative worth following through the last two weeks of the season is John Butler’s efforts to bulk up and add some mass to his spindly seven-foot frame. Butler started the season at 190 pounds, but is now reported at 225 pounds. He’s reached career highs in rebounds (5.7) and steals per game (1.7), and although his rim protection has sagged, Butler is becoming more physical around the rim. Should he stay in the Milwaukee organization through the summer, Butler’s physical development could be something to track; his shooting and finesse could earn him a spot on a roster soon.

Does Davis deserve an NBA spot?

Could Johnny Davis ever live up to the NBA hype that his Badger career promised? At this rate, no. Davis’s move to Oshkosh was supposed to be a second wind, but the red flags surrounding his range as a shooter and shot selection have persisted. Davis’ efficiency has stagnated with the Herd, if not worsened. His reliance on an old-school bully-ball and midrange-focused shot diet didn’t hold up in the modernized NBA. Davis needs to develop his three-point shot if he wants to have any chance at the league.

HERd Night

The Herd held a HER night game on Friday against the Motor City Cruise, wearing specialty jerseys featuring purple, the color symbolizing gender equality, and the lotus flower. The jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit We EmpowHER, a local non-profit providing support and mentorship for women of all ages. 

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

BUFFALO, NY — No. 1 Michigan’s defense stepped up and delivered a 95-72 win against No. 9 Saint Louis to send the Wolverines back into the Sweet 16.

The Wolverines have now reached the second weekend in each of the program’s past seven tournament appearances dating to 2017. Saint Louis was looking for its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1957.

All-America forward Yaxel Lendeborg led Michigan with 25 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Center Aday Mara had 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a team-leading 4 blocks.

March Madness scores: Live updates, schedule for today's second round

Saint Louis was led by guard Dion Brown's 13 points. Playing in his final college game, center Robbie Avila had 9 points on just 3 of 13 shooting, including 3 of 10 from 3-point range.

The Billikens came into Saturday ranked eighth nationally with 87.7 points per game after beating No. 9 Georgia 102-77 in the opening round.

This matchup of two high-powered offenses lived up to expectations in the early going, with a back-and-forth pace leaving Saint Louis ahead 27-25 at the midpoint of the opening half.

But the U-M defense began to assert itself as the Wolverines’ size up front impacted the Billikens’ ability to get to the basket. After scoring 66 points in the paint in the opener against No. 8 Georgia, SLU had 16 such points at the break while UM had six blocks, four by Mara.

Overall, SLU shot 45.5% from the field and made 5 of 17 from 3-point range in the first half, which ended with Michigan leading 48-39 after a pair of Lendeborg free throws with 5.6 seconds left. The first 20 minutes featured seven ties and three lead changes.

The pace picked up again coming out of the break. The two teams combined for 29 points in the first five-plus minutes of the second half, including four 3-pointers by SLU, to leave Michigan ahead 61-55 with 14:17 left.

UM pushed its lead to 66-57 with 11:44 left on an emphatic slam in transition by Lendeborg, who elevated from well outside the circle and dunked over SLU guard Quentin Jones. The lead would grow to 15 points at 73-58 just over a minute later and then to 81-63 on a Morez Johnson Jr. layup with 7:30 to play.

Needing to spark a comeback, the Billikens turned to the long-range game but couldn’t connect: SLU finished shooting 12 of 27 from 3, including 5 of 15 in the second half after making four of its first six coming out of the break.

Lendeborg would give U-M its biggest lead, at 25 points, with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 89-64 with just over five minutes left.

Michigan will next face the winner of No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Texas Tech in the Midwest Region. The program’s stretch of seven Sweet 16 berths in as many tournament appearances spans three coaches — John Beilein, Juwan Howard and Dusty May — and gives May two trips to the Sweet 16 in as many years since being hired from Florida Atlantic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan advances to Sweet 16 with thumping win over Saint Louis

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

From 68 to 16.

By the end of the second round of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 22, that's how many teams will be left to challenge for the national championship in March Madness.

First round winners and losers: Buzzer-beaters and West Coast flops

Upsets, buzzer-beaters and beatdowns: 12 best performances from March Madness first round

The action got underway with eight games on Saturday, March 21, starting first with No. 1 Michigan's 95-72 win vs. No. 9 Saint Louis and ending with No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 12 High Point. While chalk largely held steady through the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, there were enough upsets and close calls to warrant caution from all the higher-ranked seeds heading into the second round of the tournament and beyond.

So, who's making the Sweet 16? Here's a look at which teams will advance following the second round, including updated brackets, matchups and schedules:

Who's in men's Sweet 16?

• No. 1 Michigan (Midwest Region)

Sweet 16 schedule, how to watch

This section will be updated. All times Eastern.

Thursday, March 26

At Toyota Center in Houston and SAP Center in San Jose, California

Friday, March 27

At United Center in Chicago and Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Men's March Madness bracket update

This section will be updated

East Region

First Round

• No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
• No. 2 UConn 82, No. 15 Furman 71
• No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
• No. 4 Kansas 68, No. 13 California Baptist 60
• No. 5 St. John's 79, No. 12 Northern Iowa 53
• No. 6 Louisville 83, No. 11 South Florida 79
• No. 7 UCLA 75, No. 10 Central Florida 71
• No. 9 TCU 66, No. 8 Ohio State 64

Second round

Sweet 16

Midwest Region

First Round

• No. 1 Michigan 101, No. 16 Howard 80
• No. 2 Iowa State 108, No. 15 Tennessee State 74
• No. 3 Virginia 82, No. 14 Wright State 73
• No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 13 Hofstra 70
• No. 5 Texas Tech 91, No. 12 Howard 71
• No. 6 Tennessee 78, No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 56
• No. 7 Kentucky 89, No. 10 Santa Clara 84 (OT)
• No. 9 Saint Louis 102, No. 8 Georgia 77

Second round

• No. 1 Michigan 95, No. 9 Saint Louis 72
• No. 3 Michigan State 77, No. 6 Louisville 69

Sweet 16

• No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama/No. 5 Texas Tech

South Region

First Round

• No. 1 Florida 114, No. 16 Prairie View A&M 55
• No. 2 Houston 78, No. 15 Idaho 47
• No. 3 Illinois 105, No. 14 Penn 70
• No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 13 Troy 47
• No. 5 Vanderbilt 78, No. 12 McNeese 68
• No. 11 VCU 82, No. 6 North Carolina 78
• No. 10 Texas A&M 63, No. 7 Saint Mary's 50
• No. 9 Iowa 67, No. 8 Clemson 61

Second round

Sweet 16

West Region

First round

• No. 1 Arizona 82, No. 16 Long Island 58
• No. 2 Purdue 104, No. 15 Queens 71
• No. 3 Gonzaga 73, No. 14 Kennesaw State 64
• No. 4 Arkansas 97, No. 13 Hawai'i 78
• No. 12 Highpoint 83, No. 5 Wisconsin 82
• No. 11 Texas 79, No. 6 BYU 71
• No. 9 Utah State 86, No. 8 Villanova 76
• No. 7 Miami 80, No. 10 Missouri 66

Second round

Sweet 16

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sweet 16 teams: March Madness bracket, NCAA Tournament schedule update

The Golden State Warriors have officially listed center Kristaps Porzingis as out for Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with lower back tightness. So Porzingis will not face the team that traded him just over a month ago. Jonathan Kuminga, on the other hand, will play after sitting out the Hawks game on Friday.

Porzingis left the Dubs 115-101 loss to the Pistons on Friday night in the second quarter after visibly reaching for his back. He told reporters after the game that it was a mild back spasm and he did not expect it to be a major issue. However, he was skeptical that he would play the second half of the Warriors back-to-back. Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Quinten Post all remain questionable to play.

The timing of Porzingis’ injury is particularly frustrating for the Warriors. Porzingis’ struggles with chronic illness held him out of 10 of Golden State’s first 11 games after he was acquired via trade in February. However, he had appeared in six of the Warriors last eight games as of yesterday. As the Dubs try to build some momentum leading into the play-in tournament, Porzingis finding a rhythm remains critical for the Warriors to have any puncher’s chance. Not that Dub Nation has high expectations left for the team this season.

Porzingis has appeared in just 24 games this season, 17 with the Hawks and seven with the Warriors. He is averaging 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game on 44.6%/33.9%/82.8% shooting. He will hope to return to the Dubs rotation on Monday when the Warriors face the Mavericks.

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It’s fair to wonder if the Cleveland Cavaliers will ever be healthy enough to build playoff momentum, and tonight they’ve got to deal with an in-form New Orleans Pelicans team.

New Orleans’ rough season is trending up, with a 5-1 mark in the past six games, and my Cavaliers vs. Pelicans predictions expect Dejounte Murray to trouble the Cleveland backcourt here.

Check out my NBA picks for a March 21 matchup with plenty of storylines to monitor, including the status of Donovan Mitchell, who’s listed as questionable.

Cavaliers vs Pelicans prediction

Cavaliers vs Pelicans best bet: Dejounte Murray Over 16.5 points (-125)

The New Orleans Pelicans would surely be much closer to the play-in spots if Dejounte Murray had been available all year. They’re 5-4 in his nine outings since returning from an Achilles injury, and he’s averaging 20.7 ppg this month.

Murray sat out Thursday’s win over the Clippers, but he’s gone past this points prop number in four straight games, headlined by 35 points against the Rockets last week.

Though there are other mouths to feed in the New Orleans offense, look for Murray to be in attack mode here against the Cleveland Cavaliers’ shaky perimeter defense.

Cavaliers vs Pelicans same-game parlay

The last three meetings between these teams have nailed the Over, and Murray and James Harden are two playmakers who can get us there again tonight.

Murray has jacked up 50 shots across his past three outings, while Harden is averaging 8.0 apg this year and dished nine dimes against the Bulls on Thursday.

Cavaliers vs Pelicans SGP

• Dejounte Murray Over 16.5 points
• James Harden Over 7.5 assists
• Over 236.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Evan Almighty

Whether or not Donovan Mitchell suits up tonight, the Cavs will rely on Evan Mobley to deliver his best, particularly with Jarrett Allen out.

He’s quietly had a great month, with 21.3 ppg and 10.4 rpg, and he’s racked up 15 assists across his last three contests.

Cavaliers vs Pelicans SGP

• Evan Mobley Over 20.5 points
• Evan Mobley Over 10.5 rebounds
• Evan Mobley Over 2.5 assists
• James Harden Over 7.5 assists

Cavaliers vs Pelicans odds

• Spread: Cleveland -4.5 (-110) | New Orleans +4.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Cleveland -190 | New Orleans +160
• Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)

Cavaliers vs Pelicans betting trend to know

The Over is 21-14 for the Cavs on the road this year. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pelicans.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Pelicans

Cavaliers vs Pelicans latest injuries

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

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

Tom Izzo is "Mr. March."

The Michigan State basketball coach has led the Spartans to 28 straight NCAA tournament appearances, with an overall record of 60-26 in March Madness games.

On Saturday, he'll have a chance at his 17th Sweet 16.

Upset alert! Ranking 5 most likely March Madness upsets in second round

Topp Thoughts: Kentucky's NCAA Tournament win leaves Jamal Mashburn unimpressed

The No. 3 seed Spartans will have to get through No. 6 Louisville first in Saturday's East Region second round game in Buffalo.

The Cardinals will once again be without star freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. A back injury kept him out of Louisville's first round win over South Florida and will keep him sidelined through the tournament's first weekend.

Louisville led comfortably for most of its win over USF until some late, nervy moments. Isaac McKneeley led the Cardinals with 23 points, which included going 7-of-10 from behind the arc. As a whole, Louisville shot 52% from behind the arc. The Cardinals will need that type of hot shooting to knock off the usually rugged Spartans.

Here's what you need to know for today's second round showdown:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Michigan State to the Sweet 16 with win over Louisville

Coen Carr had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead four Michigan State players in double figures, and Jeremy Fears added 12 points and a school NCAA tournament record 16 assists as the Spartans advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 77-69 win over Louisville.

The Spartans, the East Region’s No. 3 seed, used hot shooting beyond the arc in the first half and used spurts of 8-0 and 7-0 to take an early 10-point lead.

Louisville, who played without Mikel Brown, Jr., out with a back injury, hung around as Michigan State was sloppy with the ball, as the Spartans, who averaged 11.5 turnovers a game, turned it over 12 times in the first half, and took a 36-31 lead into the break.

The Cardinals (24-10) relied on the three-point ball all season long but were betrayed by the rim, hitting only 13-36 from downtown and shooting 41% for the game.

Michigan State used a 13-3 run in the second half, capped by Jaxon Kohler’s 3-pointer, which gave the Spartans their biggest lead at 63-50. Trey Fort had 12 points and Kohler had 10 for Michigan State, who had 21 assists on 25 made field goals.

Fears recorded his second straight game with 10 assists in this year's NCAA Tournament, setting a Big Ten record.

Ryan Conwell scored 21 points, and Adrian Wooley added 17 points for Louisville. Isaac McKneely, who hit seven three-pointers and scored 23 points in the Cardinals’ first-round victory against South Florida, had only nine points.

Michigan State (27-7) advances to the East Regional in Washington, D.C. and will play the winner of UConn and UCLA on Friday.

Louisville inching back in game

Louisville won't go away as every time Michigan State pushes the lead near double figures, the Cardinals improved shooting gets them back in the game. Aly Khalifa hit a three point to cut the lead to three, but Trey Fort answered with a three of his own on the Spartans next possession.

Michigan State carelessness with ball keeping Louisville in game

Michigan State center Coen Carr started the second half with his own dunk fest, taking an alley-oop for one basket and a highlight breakaway slam to push the lead to 42-33. Carr has 11 points and has added seven rebounds. The Spartans average 11.5 turnovers a game, and they have already coughed the ball up 12 times with more than 15 minutes left in regulation.

Halftime: Michigan State 36, Louisville 31

In the first half of runs, Michigan State used spurts of 9-0 and 8-0 to take a 36-31 lead at halftime over Louisville in the second round of the East Region.

The Cardinals fell behind by 10, but despite missing at one point 10 of 11 shots, they used a 7-0 run of their own to get back in the game.

The up-and-down pace is expected as Louisville used 10 players and Michigan State played nine in the first half.

Adrian Wooley had nine points, and Ryan Conwell added nine points and four rebounds for Louisville, who shot 36% and went 4-18 from 3-point land. Coen Carr led the Spartans’ balanced scoring attack with seven points and seven rebounds as they went more than four minutes without a point before Trey Fort’s four-point play to push the lead back up to eight with 3:46 left.

Michigan State shot 46 percent in the first half and had 12 assists on its 13 made field goals.

Starting lineups

Louisville

G - J'Vonne Hadley

G - Ryan Conwell

G - Isaac McKneely

G - Adrian Wooley

F - Vangelis Zougris

Michigan State

G - Jeremy Fears Jr.

F - Jaxon Kohler

F - Jordan Scott

F - Coen Carr

C - Carson Cooper

Michigan State vs Louisville live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Louisville	31	38	64
Michigan St	36	39	74

What time is Michigan State vs Louisville?

• Time: 2:45 p.m. ET, Saturday.

What channel is Michigan State vs Louisville? Streaming, how to watch

• The game is airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Michigan State vs Louisville prediction, live odds

• Ehsan Kassim: Michigan State
• Jordan Mendoza: Michigan State
• John Leuzzi: Michigan State
• Blake Schuster: Michigan State
• Moneyline: Michigan State (-210); Louisville (+170)
• Spread: Michigan State (-4.5)
• Over/under total: 151.5

Mikel Brown Jr. injury update: Will Louisville star play today vs Michigan State?

Prior to the Cardinals' first round game against South Florida, Louisville announced Brown wouldn't play in the opener and would also miss the second round game, should they advance.

Brown, who's projected to be an NBA lottery pick later this year, has been sidelined for the Cardinals' past five games (and 13 total this season). Pat Kelsey said Brown re-aggravated a back injury, which surfaced in mid-December, by taking some hard falls during a Feb. 23 loss at then-No. 19 North Carolina.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan State vs Louisville score: Spartans are into the Sweet 16 again

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond has been fined $25,000 for what the league described as an objectionable gesture while on the court.

NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones announced the penalty Saturday.

The incident occurred with eight seconds left in the third quarter of the 76ers’ 139-118 victory at Sacramento on Thursday.

After knocking down a 3-pointer, Drummond appeared to make a shooting motion toward the Kings’ bench, according to a published report.

Drummond finished the game with 13 points, including going 3 for 3 from behind the arc, and 11 rebounds.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

When Rasheer Fleming missed his second free throw in the final seconds against the San Antonio Spurs, you could not help but feel for him. Those are the moments that stick with you, especially early in a career. Those are pressure free throws, the kind you do not fully understand until you are standing there with everything on the line. At the same time, he earned that moment.

San Antonio knew what they were doing. They forced the ball into his hands and put him in that situation on purpose. They understood he is a 54% free throw shooter and played the percentages. This time, the odds went their way.

The hope is that it does not linger. Confidence is fragile for young players, and moments like that can either build you or shake you. Based on what he said after the game, it does not feel like it rattled him too much, which is a good sign.

“They both felt good. I was calm,” Fleming told Suns beat reporter Duane Ranken after the game on Friday. “The noise wasn’t affecting me. I think they were good shots. Just rolled in and out. I’ve been in that situation in college. I wasn’t feeling pressure to shoot them. I just couldn’t hit them. It’s definitely a learning experience because this is my first time it’s happened to me in the league. Just keep working on my shooting.”

“It felt good,” he added when asked about being in the game late. “I didn’t feel the need to shy away from the ball. If I’m in that situation again, I’ll be ready to shoot them again. I’m not shying away from the ball.”

That being said, it is interesting to think about what he could look like as a starting power forward. The best-case scenario coming out of Friday night is that he takes that moment, absorbs it, and builds on it. Because up until that free throw, he was having a stellar game. A highlight dunk over fellow rookie Carter Bryant, a strong defensive stand against Victor Wembanyama; it all felt like another step forward in his development.

This defensive possession showcases the upside of Rasheer and how his length can impact anyone pic.twitter.com/Yac8YX9y07

— Rasheer Fleming Muse (@Fleming_Muse) March 20, 2026

And that is what makes this conversation so compelling right now.

We are late in the season. The runway is short. The postseason is approaching. So the question becomes, is this the time to adjust the lineup? Is this the time to shift roles? Is this the moment to give Rasheer Fleming the starting spot at power forward and move Royce O’Neale to the bench unit? It is not an easy call, but it is one worth asking.

The community has already weighed in and the response was clear. 61% voted in favor of Fleming stepping into the starting lineup for Phoenix.

And how can you blame people for voting that way? Rasheer Fleming has looked good. More than good. It feels safe to say he has exceeded expectations at this point in the season. He looks the part too, standing 6’9” with a 7’5” wingspan, which immediately gives you something this roster has been searching for. Size, length, and the ability to play that role naturally.

He brings more than that. He can space the floor, which matters in this offense, and he has the defensive tools to impact plays in a way that fits what Phoenix is trying to build. He is not trying to survive at the position; he is playing it. Jordan Ott has trusted him with real minutes, and over the last 13 games, he is averaging 18.5 minutes, 6.3 points, and 3.7 rebounds on 48/50/33 shooting splits. That free-throw number stands out, 4-of-12 since earning a consistent run, and that is an area that needs to improve.

At the same time, the shooting touch is real. When you look at his performance in March compared to the rest of his rookie class, he ranks as the second-best three-point shooter among them. That is not nothing. That is a skill that translates.

Rookie 3PT% shooting in the month of March:

1️⃣Dylan Harper – 55.8%
2️⃣Rasheer Fleming – 53.3%
3️⃣Kobe Sanders – 50.0% pic.twitter.com/Cbz1mWmOll

— Rasheer Fleming Muse (@Fleming_Muse) March 21, 2026

And the free-throw shooting should come around. He was a 74.3% free throw shooter in his junior year at Saint Joseph’s, which tells you the foundation is there. He needs reps, he needs rhythm, and he needs opportunity. These are all things he is starting to get now.

And this is where I differ a bit. I understand why people want Rasheer Fleming in the starting lineup, I really do, but I am not there yet. I am part of that 37% that believes Royce O’Neale should continue to hold that spot. It comes down to experience, and it comes down to timing.

What the Suns are doing with Fleming right now is the right approach. They are bringing him along, giving him real minutes, putting him in meaningful situations, and allowing him to grow without overloading him. There will be a time when he is the starting power forward. I believe that. It could be as soon as next season, and it could last for a while. I am a fan of his game and what he can become.

But right now, this moment, this stretch run, it calls for experience. Per FanDuel, this team is trending toward the seventh seed. That means Play In basketball. That means postseason intensity. That means possessions that matter more. In those moments, experience has value. Royce provides that. He spaces the floor, he understands where to be, and he is someone you can trust late in games.

He is also the trigger man. The guy inbounding the ball, organizing the action, making sure things get started clean. It might sound small, but it is not. You felt that absence in moments against San Antonio. Fleming needs reps, no question. He needs to feel pressure, like he did in that Spurs game. That is where growth happens. Keep giving him those opportunities, keep building him up. But starting is different.

He has played above expectations, and that is a great sign, but he has not taken that starting role yet. It still belongs to Royce. And while you can make the case that Fleming brings more defensively, I am not going to argue that, it is encouraging that we are even having that conversation this early in his career. His time is coming. It is simply not right now.

Stay the course. Keep developing him. Use him when needed. But lean on experience when it matters most.

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An injury-riddled Golden State Warriors squad limps into United Center to tip off against the Atlanta Hawks.

Jalen Johnson is having a monster season for Atlanta and I’ll explain why he’ll continue his tear tonight in my Warriors vs. Hawks predictions & NBA picks for Saturday, March 21.

Warriors vs Hawks prediction

Warriors vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 18.5 rebounds and assists (+100)

Nothing is going right with the Golden State Warriors this season, and with Steph Curry still sidelined, it’s looking like a write-off.

The exact opposite can be said of Jalen Johnson, who’s averaging season highs in points (22.9), rebounds (10.5), and assists (8.1) for the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks forward has recorded Over 18.5 assists and rebounds in three of his last four contests, with triple-doubles in two of those games.

Golden State ranks near the bottom of the league in rebounding (22nd) while Atlanta is averaging 91.9 field goal attempts per game (2nd), leaving plenty of boards for Johnson.

Warriors vs Hawks same-game parlay

The Warriors are bad and injured, losing nine of their last 11 games. Morale will be low, and points will be easy to come by for the Hawks stars.

Johnson has struggled offensively in his last two games but is due for a bounce back. He’s scored Over 22.5 points in four of his last seven.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been hot for the Hawks with Over 18.5 points in four straight and seven of eight.

Warriors vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dyson gets in on the fun

Dyson Daniels can surpass 10.5 points tonight as the Warriors’ defense has struggled to contain athletic wings in transition. His ability to attack off the dribble and capitalize on fast-break opportunities sets him up for a productive scoring night.

The Hawks are big favorites for a reason, but they’ll need all hands on deck in order to run up the score against the Warriors.

Atlanta has covered the spread in 10 of its last 12 games, while Golden State is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven.

Warriors vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 points
• Dyson Daniels Over 10.5 points
• Hawks -10

Warriors vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Golden State +10.5 (-110) | Atlanta -10.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Golden State +350 | Atlanta -450
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Hawks betting trend to know

Atlanta is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Hawks. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Hawks.

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Warriors vs Hawks latest injuries

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If the biggest talking point from the Lakers current 8-game winning streak is the unrelenting brilliance of Luka Dončić as he scorches every defense in his path, the second most discussed topic is LeBron James and his buying into a “smaller role” for the benefit of the Lakers.

Listen tomost any talking headspeak about the team, and there it is: LeBron as the third option is the sort of insert-your-superaltive-here fodder that everyone is feasting on.

It’s not just coming from folks outside of the Lakers, either. Prior to the Lakers’ first game against the Rockets this week, head coach JJ Redick spoke about where LeBron’s role is now, particularly in relation to Dončić and Austin Reaves (emphasis added).

“(LeBron’s) still going to be, and still has been, a high-usage player relative to your average player,” Redick said. “The best thing for our team is him being the third-highest-used player. Obviously, there’s been stretches of the year where he’s had to do more, with injuries or guys being out of lineup. And I think finding a rhythm and a groove within the rotations and lineups when those three guys play, I think that’s been the challenge for all of them, not just LeBron, all season.”

After the Lakers’ win over the Heat, LeBron himself built on Redick’s last point about finding that elusive cohesion, noting a key reason things are where they are now is that this group is finally getting more on-court time together and the reps that come with it.

“I think for us, it’s always been about time,” LeBron said. “We haven’t really had a lot of time to actually put in the work on the floor with one another. Obviously, we had a little bit of last year but Luka was just getting to the team and trying to get comfortable with what he wanted to do. We’re all trying to get comfortable with what all three of us wanted to do.

“I start the year not in the lineup. [Reaves] had a moment where he was out. It was just trying to figure it out. Then I was out a couple weeks ago and was able to come back and see how I could best fit [with] those guys because they were playing so dynamic off one another.”

All of these comments ring true to me. But they also obscure something that is hiding right under the surface, and are sort of the unsaid and implied idea that actually make all of this possible.

Namely, that this only works this way because LeBron is a gifted and versatile enough basketball player to lean into the parts of his game that fit the style his head coach wants to play and what best works around a superstar offensive monster like Dončić and a second option like Reaves.

It’s not just that LeBron is being asked to play less of an on-ball role. It’s that he’s also supposed to be someone who can be a screener and finisher out of the pick-and-roll, be a connective passer, a shooter in spot up situations, a cutter who slides into the gaps of the defense as his teammates draw attention, a post up threat who can score in single coverage and pass when the double comes and an elite transition player.

And then on the other side of the ball, he needs to be a defender who can help all over the floor, hold up in isolation and matchup with multiple positions, be a good enough rebounder to play in center-less groups, rotate from the paint to the rim and back to the paint again, force turnovers in passing lanes and as a back-line disruptor and be an expert communicator whose voice helps organize the entire unit he’s on the floor with.

Few players can check all of those boxes at all, but even fewer can do it while also being, historically, one of the best on-ball shot creators the league has ever seen, who just so happens to be playing in his 23rd campaign in his age-41 season. It’s just not supposed to work that way.

But, here is LeBron doing exactly all that.

For example, here are the highlights from LeBron’s triple-double vs. the Heat:

124th CAREER TRIPLE-DOUBLE FOR LEBRON!

👑 19 PTS (8-12 FGM)
👑 15 REB
👑 10 AST

THE LAKERS HAVE WON 8 GAMES IN A ROW 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ROehOt4HPn

— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026

Look at all the different ways he’s scoring and impacting the game. Flashing into the middle of the Heat’s zone to serve as a scorer and a passer, attacking closeouts from the corner to set up teammates for shots, serving as the hub of the offense out of the team’s Horns sets to get Luka and Reaves the ball in scoring position, running the break as a finisher and a creator.

Just an unreal level of versatility that shows an expertise in multiple parts of the game.

Of course, at this late stage of his career, LeBron isn’t perfect. His effort from play to play is not what it once was and earlier in the season, it would not be difficult to find a string of possessions on either side of the ball where he stood and watched too much and simply did not show the type of activity needed to be a positive contributor in those moments.

Those were the stretches that had analysts and fans alike wondering whether the Lakers were better without LeBron and if this should be his last season…and not just with the Lakers.

With how he’s playing now, though, those sorts of thoughts look totally misguided. Because LeBron isn’t just showing that he still has enough juice to play well and put up counting stats, but that he has the intellect and versatility to impact winning.

I struggle to think of any other player in league history who could claim to make this sort of transition, much less tap into these different aspects of their game on any given possession to give the team exactly what it needs at that time.

Which, I think, is actually the bigger and more impressive point to be made.

We have all seen the evolution of players who could play for extended periods. I think of players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant who added to their respective games year after year, turning weaknesses into reliable weapons and showing an ability to adapt with age to whatever new circumstances were presented to them.

LeBron fits into this mold too, incorporating post-ups and 3-point shooting into his arsenal over the years to combat any and all defensive coverages.

But LeBron hasn’t just evolved with time. He’s shown an incredible ability to shape-shift and be whatever his team needs him to be. And not just game to game, but from shift to shift and possession to possession.

In the Lakers second win against the Rockets, LeBron began the game knocking down a spot up three on a play designed specifically to get him that shot, in the same game he had six dunks while dominating in transition and working out of the post. At the same time, he had multiple defensive possessions switching between Amen Thompson, Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant — and getting stops on all of them. He flashed similar versatility against the Nuggets recently, defending Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, all while working offensively from a multitude of spots on the court.

And he’s done stuff like this his entire career. Back in 2011 when he was with the Heat, LeBron famously switched onto Derrick Rose defensively in a matchup with the Bulls in the playoffs to help Miami swing the series in their favor. Less than a year later, I remember LeBron expertly fronting Pau Gasol to deny him the ball in a regular season game to shut down a player who was, at the time, one of the best post-up bigs in the entire league.

Over a decade later, LeBron is still flexing all the different parts of his game to help his team win. And, no, he might not be the main guy he was back then with the Heat. Just like he’s not the same main guy he was with the Lakers just a couple of seasons ago.

But I’d argue that makes what he’s doing now even more impressive. It’s not just that he’s passed the reins to someone else or taken on a lower usage role. It’s that he’s done so while also turning up other aspects of his game that allow him to maintain a baseline level of production while also clearly contributing to winning.

This just isn’t something that we’ve seen in the history of the NBA, and, honestly, I wonder if we’ll ever see it in this exact way ever again.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

SAN REMO, Italy (AP) — Bloodied, bruised and battered Tadej Pogacar finally won the Milan-San Remo race.

Pogacar recovered from a crash about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the finish to edge out Tom Pidcock on the line and win the race known as La Classicissima for the first time on Sarurday.

“When I crashed, for a second I thought it’s all over because to crash in Imperia just before the most important part of the race is not ideal,” said Pogacar, who rides for UAE Team Emirates. "But luckily I was quickly back on the bike and not too much damage to me or to the bike.

“Then I saw my team ... they left out everything to come back to the front and they gave me back hope and the legs were still okay ... today if there is no team probably I would just go straight to the finish line.”

Milan-San Remo is one of the longest one-day classics in Europe at almost 300 kilometers (186 miles), and the first of the season.

It was one of the few titles that still eluded Pogacar, the five-time Grand Tour winner, and the Slovenian admitted several times to being desperate to change that.

Pogacar’s chances appeared to diminish when he was caught up in the crash that shredded the left side of his shorts and left him with scrapes and cuts on his leg.

Last year’s winner Mathieu van der Poel also went down but the duo managed to get back onto the back of the peloton at the start of the penultimate Cipressa climb.

Pogacar worked his way to the front, stuck with an initial attack and then attacked himself towards the top, with only Pidcock and van der Poel able to follow.

The trio had a gap of 25 seconds at the top although that was down to 11 seconds as they began the Poggio climb shortly before the finish.

Pogacar attacked halfway up and managed to drop van der Poel. He tried several times to shake Pidcock but couldn’t distance him and they were locked together as they crested the summit.

Little could separate the duo on the descent. Pogacar opened up the sprint 200 meters from the line and beat Pidcock by half a wheel.

“Honestly, I need time to reflect because right now I’m pretty disappointed because it hurts to be so close,” Pidcock said. "I was told it’s four centimeters.

"Tadej, he’s the best cyclist ever, so I can’t be disappointed but I can’t help it ... It was so close to a monument win. But I need to look at it from a wider perspective. Because I think what I did was quite amazing, I’m quite proud."

Wout Van Aert, who was also caught up in the crash, won a bunch sprint for third.

“I have to say I saw him (Pogacar) next to me on the ground when we crashed and then the next moment I saw him again was after the finish, so I have no clue what he has been doing, but it must have been impressive because it was quite a hard crash and he still managed to get in the front like that,” Van Aert said.

Five-way sprint in women's race

Lotte Kopecky edged Noemi Rüegg and Eleonora Gasparrini in a sprint of five to win the women’s race.

The race was marked by a horrific-looking crash on the descent of the Cipressa.

Several riders were caught up in the incident; Italian Debora Silvestri flew over a guardrail as she tried to avoid the pileup.

Silvestri’s team, Laboral Kutxa, said she was conscious as she was taken to hospital.

The women’s race followed a 156-kilometer (97-mile) route from Genoa to San Remo.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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The Los Angeles Clippers’ four-game losing streak has deflated some of their postseason optimism, and that raises the stakes ahead of tonight’s visit to the Dallas Mavericks.

While this looks like a decent bounce-back spot for L.A., my Clippers vs. Mavericks predictions aren't sleeping on Cooper Flagg, who’s getting quality reps as a No. 1 option.

Get the lowdown on this battle with my free NBA picks for Saturday, March 21.

Clippers vs Mavericks prediction

Clippers vs Mavericks best bet: Cooper Flagg Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)

Cooper Flagg has fallen behind Kon Knueppel in the Rookie of the Year race, but he’s poised to finish strong for the Dallas Mavericks.

With the keys to the offense and great size on the boards, Flagg has eclipsed this combo O/U number in three of his last four games.

His scoring will be the driver for this Over, and that’s a nice volume play. Flagg has taken 17+ shots in 12 of his last 17 games, and he’s averaging 22.5 points per game in his past four outings.

Even if Kawhi Leonard returns for the Los Angeles Clippers, Flagg can still stuff the stat sheet.

Clippers vs Mavericks same-game parlay

With the Clippers trying to improve their play-in seeding and the Mavs seemingly content to pile up losses, I’m taking the visitors’ moneyline here — and wagering on their role players to show up.

Kris Dunn has strung together four straight contests with at least one 3-pointer, while John Collins has cashed this rebounding Over in four of his past five games.

Clippers vs Mavericks SGP

• Clippers moneyline
• Kris Dunn Over 0.5 threes
• John Collins Over 6.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: P.J. Max

This SGP turns to two of Dallas’ steadiest role players, with a focus on P.J. Washington, who’s averaging 18.3 ppg and 9.3 rebounds per game in his last four starts.

Meanwhile, Max Christie has hit the Over on this points prop in four of his past five contests.

Clippers vs Mavericks SGP

• P.J. Washington Over 13.5 points
• P.J. Washington Over 6.5 rebounds
• P.J. Washington Over 1.5 assists
• Max Christie Over 11.5 points

Clippers vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Clippers -7 (-110) | Mavericks +7 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clippers -280 | Mavericks +230
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Clippers vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Over has been a winning ticket in six of the last nine meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Clippers vs Mavericks

Clippers vs Mavericks latest injuries

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Two teams on different trajectories intersect Saturday, when the Indiana Pacers visit the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs are on a 4-game win streak and trying to chase down the top seed in the West, while Indy has dropped 15 straight and is firmly entrenched in the battle for the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

While Miami has dominated this head-to-head series, my Pacers vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks have this one in a more defensive battle, where I will target the total.

Pacers vs Spurs prediction

Pacers vs Spurs best bet: Under 233 points (-110)

The Indiana Pacers are 18.5-point underdogs, but weirdly enough, they still compete. Of their 15 straight losses, just five have been by 20+ points.

Their injury list is long, with Ivica Zubac (rib) and Micah Potter (triceps) out and Pascal Siakam (knee) and Andrew Nembhard (knee) headlining a list of seven players listed as questionable.

The San Antonio Spurs have allowed just 105.3 points over their 4-game win streak, with opponents shooting just 42.9% from the field.

Indy will struggle against one of the NBA's premier defenses, who have cashed the Under in three of its last four.

Pacers vs Spurs same-game parlay

Victor Wembanyama has just a single block in each of the last two games, but he's yet to go three straight without picking up at least two. He's swatted at least three shots in 11 of his last 15 games and has also grabbed 12 boards or more in three of his last four games.

Pacers vs Spurs SGP

• Under 233 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 blocks
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby!

Wemby is coming off a 34-point game against the Suns, and he's gone for 26+ in six of the last eight; those two Unders came during this current 4-game win streak.

I've targeted his 3-point prop because he's been around this number for a while. Wembanyama has hit the Over four times in his last eight, but he's missed the Over by a single triple in each of the other four games.

Pacers vs Spurs SGP

• Under 233 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 blocks
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Under 25.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 made threes

Pacers vs Spurs odds

• Spread: Pacers +17.5 (-110) | Spurs -17.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pacers +1000 | Spurs -2000
• Over/Under: Over 233.5 (-110) | Under 233.5 (-110)

Pacers vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Pacers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Spurs.

How to watch Pacers vs Spurs

Pacers vs Spurs latest injuries

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