NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before a 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 Cavaliers drastically shook up their roster at the trade deadline by swapping out former two-time All-Star Darius Garland for James Harden. That move wasn’t exactly popular among long-term fans at the time of the deal. After a month and a string of impressive play, opinions have shifted.
Earlier this week, we asked how Cavs fans would grade the Harden experience so far. And based on that survey, most fans couldn’t be happier. Almost three-quarters of Cavs’ fans surveyed said they would grade the experience an “A” so far, with nearly the rest grading it a “B.”
It’s easy to see why that’s been the result. He’s fit in nearly perfectly with his new teammates, and the Cavs are 8-1 in games he’s played. You can’t ask for much more at this point.
The addition of Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis, in addition to getting healthier, has the Cavs vaulting up the standings. Currently, Cleveland is fourth in the conference, a game behind the New York Knicks for third. But, they aren’t far off the Boston Celtics for second.
According to Cavs fans, they believe the group is going to jump at least one of the teams in front of them.
The Cavaliers could also benefit from the schedule lightening up. They have the second-easiest remaining schedule in the league, with their hardest game coming up against the Celtics on Sunday. A significantly lighter schedule down the stretch could help the Cavs leapfrog one of the teams ahead of them.
FanDuel currently lists the Cavs as having the fifth-best odds to win the NBA Finals at +950. They have the second-best odds to win the Eastern Conference, narrowly behind the Celtics.
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Scotland blew open the Six Nations title race after an astonishing 50-40 win against France at Murrayfield on Saturday.
An estimated 15,000 French supporters came to see their team retain the title with a game to spare but France was beaten up at the gainline and cut to pieces out wide by a fearless Scotland side whose every gamble appeared to pay off.
Instead of France marching to a Grand Slam, Scotland was in position to win the title for the first time since 1999, when it was the Five Nations.
France and Scotland were tied at the top of the table on points, two ahead of Ireland, which has also come back into contention.
France still has the advantage in the final round next Saturday. Scotland plays Ireland in Dublin and France follows knowing what it has to do against England in Paris in the last match of the championship.
“Considering how this tournament started for us ( lost to Italy 18-15 ), we believe now, the tournament is not over for us,” Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu told the BBC. “I could not be prouder to be captain of this team. We've got ourselves an opportunity next week.”
An extraordinary day for Scotland started with a sunny afternoon in Edinburgh. Scotland dazzled in its highest ever score against a flattered France with seven of the game's 13 tries.
It should have been even better. Scotland led 47-14 but allowed France to score four tries in the last 14 minutes to secure a try bonus point and boost its points difference in the table, both important in the context of the title race.
“That game was crazy,” Scotland two-try-scorer Darcy Graham told the BBC. “You know what (France) are like, such a big unit, such a quality team, and we knew what they'd bring today and we did well to stop it. It's a special win for us.”
France had been untested and unflappable but came to Murrayfield duly worried. Gregor Townsend's Scotland had won five of 13 games against France. Both teams like to roll the dice and France was behind inside five minutes.
The French buried Ireland, Wales and Italy early with dominant starts but, for the first time in the championship, they trailed when a break by Huw Jones was finished by Graham, his 36th try making him Scotland's sole record try-scorer.
“It was all about making sure we fired the first shot,” Scotland player of the match Kyle Steyn said. “I was more worried about how much we were celebrating. We needed to get our feet on the ground and keep going.”
France was sloppy until captain Antoine Dupont stripped counterpart Tuipulotu in the Scottish 22 and the ball flashed wide for left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey to touch down in a record-extending ninth consecutive Six Nations match.
Moments later, Bielle-Biarrey set up fellow winger Theo Attissogbe to score. With Thomas Ramos typically lethal off the tee, France was 14-7 ahead and seemingly back on track.
But four of Scotland’s tries came after waiving off kickable penalties, and the first was finished by winger Steyn from a classic scissors move. Then prop Pierre Schoeman crashed over to regain the lead in the 32nd at 19-14 and France trailed at halftime in the Six Nations for the first time since the Murrayfield game two years ago.
Scrumhalf Ben White started the second half with Scotland's bonus-point fourth try from an unguarded ruck and Townsend punched the air.
White then jolted Dupont's pass into the hands of Steyn, who ran 55 meters untouched for his second try.
Murrayfield was ecstatic and France was disintegrating and on a second yellow card warning. The first warning put playmaker Matthieu Jalibert in the sin-bin before halftime and the second caught Lenni Nouchi collapsing a maul.
By then Graham scored his second try of the match and 37th for Scotland from an offload by Blair Kinghorn. Then Tom Jordan flew over between the posts and Russell's sixth conversion made it 47-14.
Desperation and embarrassment drove France to finish strong. Tries by Dupont, Ramos (twice) and Oscar Jegou gave the visitors an undeserved gloss to the scoreline. Jegou faced a potential post-match citing for a hand in the eye of Scotland's Ewan Ashman.
On a night when Jayson Tatum's return had spirits sky high in Boston, there was one dark cloud:
Just-acquired center Nikola Vucevic broke the ring finger on his right hand and underwent surgery for it on Saturday, and likely will miss about a month, the team announced.
Nikola Vucevic today underwent successful ORIF surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger.
He will be reevaluated in 3-4 weeks and further updates will be provided as appropriate.
ORIF stands for “open reduction and internal fixation,” and it's the kind of surgery for displaced or other serious fractures where the surgeon opens up the body part and inserts metal fasteners into the bone to hold the pieces together (it is not just fingers, it can be any body part).
Vucevic suffered the injury in the first quarter of Boston's win over Dallas and did not return to the game. Boston acquired Vucevic at the trade deadline to add front-court depth and optionality heading into the playoffs, and since coming over from the Chicago Bulls, Vucevic has averaged 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Expect to see more Luka Garza with Vucevic out for the next month.
Vucevic is on an expiring $21.5 million contract with Boston and will be a free agent after this season unless he signs an extension with the team before July 1.
Western Conference foes collide on Saturday as the Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Clippers at FedExForum.
Jaylen Wells has been a steady presence on offense for a team plagued by injuries, and my Clippers vs. Grizzlies predictions expect him to clear his scoring line in a favorable matchup.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this inner-conference matchup on Saturday, March 7.
Clippers vs Grizzlies prediction
Clippers vs Grizzlies best bet: Jaylen Wells Over 13.5 points (-112)
Jaylen Wells is scoring a career-best 12.7 points per game on the season, though his scoring average is up over the last month. Across his last 14 games, Wells has averaged 15.9 points, and he’s dropped 20.3 across his last three.
In that span, Wells scored 14+ eight times overall and in three of six at home. In three matchups with the Los Angeles Clippers, Wells posted scoring totals of 16, 17 and 13. The Memphis Grizzlies are sharing the love on offense, but Wells has been the most consistent scoring option over the last five weeks.
Clippers vs Grizzlies same-game parlay
The Grizzlies are giving most of their players 25-26 minutes per game, and a number of young options have emerged as scoring threats. With the Los Angeles Clippers playing the second leg of a back-to-back set on the road, their defense could be less effective against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Gregory Jackson II has scored 18.2 points per game across his last nine appearances, going for 14+ six times. He’s reached 14+ points in four straight home games and in five of his last six at FedExForum.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper is enjoying a revival in Memphis. He’s averaged 14.2 points across his last 11 contests, going for 10+ in eight of them. O-Max has started seven straight games, and he should see enough playing time to reach double digits tonight.
Clippers vs Grizzlies SGP
Jaylen Wells Over 13.5 points
Gregory Jackson II Over 12.5 points
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Over 9.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Points Prop Aplenty
Kawhi Leonard is averaging a career-best 27.9 points per game this season, and he’s found success against Memphis. In three tilts with the Grizzlies, Leonard finished with 21, 24 and 39 points.
After a challenging matchup with the San Antonio Spurs’ elite defense on Friday, Leonard gets a favorable matchup with a Grizzlies’ unit ranked 11th in defensive rating this season.
Clippers vs Grizzlies SGP
Jaylen Wells Over 13.5 points
Gregory Jackson II Over 12.5 points
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Over 9.5 points
Kawhi Leonard Over 26.5 points
Clippers vs Grizzlies odds
Spread: Los Angeles -6 (-110) | Memphis +6 (-110)
Moneyline: Los Angeles -270 | Memphis +220
Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)
Clippers vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
The Memphis Grizzlies have hit the Team Total Over in 13 of their last 15 games (+10.70 Units / 62% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Grizzlies.
How to watch Clippers vs Grizzlies
Location
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Date
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SC, FDSN, SE-MEM
Clippers vs Grizzlies latest injuries
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MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer suffered another injury setback that will rule him out of Tuesday’s Champions League game against Atalanta.
Neuer will be 40 later this month and his contract with Bayern is up at the end of the season. The club reportedly wants to offer him a one-year extension.
HONG KONG (AP) — Thomas Detry was among eight players from LIV Golf who were stranded in the United Arab Emirates at the start of the week during Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran. Now he's tied for the lead with Jon Rahm, the player responsible for getting them out.
“If it wasn't for him, I don't think I'd be there,” Detry said Saturday after a 66 in LIV Golf Hong Kong left him in a three-way tie for the lead with Rahm (65) and Harold Varner III (63). “It's in a way a little bit funny that way.”
Golf.com reported Rahm and his Legion XIII team arranged a charter flight through the Spaniard's partnership with a private aviation company. That required a 280-mile drive from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, to catch the eight-hour flight, getting into Hong Kong at midday Wednesday.
The other players were Lee Westwood, Sam Horsfield, Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbin, Caleb Surratt and Anirban Lahiri. Golf.com said Laurie Canter arranged his own transportation with his family.
“That was incredible of Jon to put (us) on that plane,” Detry said.
Detry said he had originally been booked on an Emirates flight from Dubai — and it left Wednesday morning as scheduled and arrived in Hong Kong that night, but “that was very unknown on Tuesday.”
“I was raised with certain values, that if you have the ability and capability of helping somebody ... especially in a scenario like that where my main focus essentially was getting them out of there, not necessarily playing a tournament,” Rahm said.
“With the ever-changing environment, it looked kind of dark for a second,” he said. “But yeah, here they are. Never thought they would be able to come. It’s amazing that so many of them are safe and that’s the most important thing.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 19, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What a perfect time to start a road trip for the Philadelphia 76ers!
The Sixers kick off a quick but tough two-game roadie with a visit to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday evening. There are a number of reasons this matchup that might not sound terribly scary on paper could pose a problem for the Sixers.
The biggest issue is that they will continue to be without Joel Embiid for at least another week after the team told reporters at practice on Friday he is progressing through individualized strength and conditioning work as he continues to recover from the oblique strain and will be re-evaluated in a week.
To make matters worse, rookie VJ Edgecombe is currently listed as doubtful for the Saturday contest as he continues to heal from a back contusion suffered from a hard fall in a game on Tuesday. Edgecombe missed the following game hosting the Utah Jazz on Wednesday and then missed practice on Friday. Paul George also remains unavailable as he continues his suspension.
The Hawks are much healthier right now, with only Jonathan Kuminga listed as questionable with knee inflammation on their injury report at the time of writing.
Atlanta might not seem like this hugely formidable opponent on paper with a 32-31 record so far this season, but don’t forget they are 3-0 against Philadelphia this season so far — and it’s worth noting that Philadelphia was much less shorthanded for some of those losses.
(The Sixers’ opponent on Monday, the Cleveland Cavaliers, also are 3-0 against them this campaign. Again, a short but possibly deadly road trip.)
The Hawks are also enjoying the opposite momentum of the Sixers right now in that they’ve been stringing together more success in the later half of the season. Atlanta is on a five-game win streak, have won six of their last seven and are 12-6 in their last 18.
It’s interesting to look at the Hawks’ roster as an “outsider” also, because you might not see many names that you really recognize from years past, but Atlanta has a number of players performing at the best (in some cases, by far) that they ever have in their multi-season careers. Jalen Johnson is continuing his All-Star season averaging career-highs of 22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per night. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is putting up a career-best 19.8 points per night and shooting 37.5% from long range on a 8.1 attempt per night clip. Six-foot-ten center Onyeka Okongwu is scoring 16.2 points per night and hitting 38.6% of threes on a 5.5 attempt average, all career-highs.
That’s not mentioning the more than a handful of players down the depth of the roster that can put up double-digit points — some with the capability for much bigger scoring bursts — any given night, such as Dyson Daniels, Jock Landale, Zaccharie Risacher, Corey Kispert, Kuminga (if he’s available) and others.
All of this is to say do not let the Hawks’ record or even their roster fool you. Atlanta currently leads the entire NBA in assists per game with 30.5. They are eighth in the league in offensive rating at 117.6 and seventh in three-point efficiency at 36.8%. This is a team that traded Trae Young at the deadline and has only been getting better since. It’s a squad getting the absolute best of each of their players individually, and it’s resulting in more and more success as a unit.
So, a team playing their best, battling to climb up the East coming in on a five-game win streak against a Sixers’ squad that has 2024-25 season vibes at times right now… what could go wrong?
This is also, unfortunately, not the time for a major skid for the Sixers. As of Saturday morning, Philadelphia sit in sixth in the Eastern Conference at 34-28. The problem is that the gap between the Sixers and the next few teams, down to the Charlotte Hornets in 10th place, is just three games at the most. There is a lot of room to fall and it won’t take much for the Sixers to start tumbling fast. Philadelphia did win their last game, just barely beating the tanking Jazz on Wednesday night, but it didn’t inspire a lot of confidence in how the next few games might go.
But, as they say, the show must go on.
The Sixers and Hawks tip off at 6 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Saturday, March 7, 6:00 p.m. ET Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 27: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on January 27, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Jamie Sabau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks play the Utah Jazz in what should be a relatively simple game for the Bucks. They’ll search for their first win in five games as the gap between the tenth seed and the Bucks continues to widen. With a tanking team like the Jazz offering weak resistance to the Bucks, this game will be a reset for a tense team searching for continuity.
Where We’re At
Four games deep into a contentious losing streak filled with coaching outbursts and moments of frustration, the Bucks are flailing for consistency. Their slide away from the play-in spot has featured moments of incompetence in gameplanning, poor shooting, and defensive struggle. Wednesday’s 131-113 loss to Atlanta showed that. Key players like Cam Thomas (13 points, 3/9 FG), Ryan Rollins (13 points, 4/11 FG), and Bobby Portis (13 points, 4/8 FG) have all lost their rhythm despite Giannis’ return. As they return to Fiserv Forum, the Bucks have more questions to answer about their future than solutions.
They face a Utah Jazz team in the middle of a brutal tank. Resting at 19-44, the Jazz have been fined $500,000 for anti-tanking rules, and their tactical strategies of pulling star players out of close games border on point shaving. They recently notched their first win since February 11 on Thursday night off an Ace Bailey 32-point performance. Led by raw scorer Keyonte George, the Jazz are slogging through a meaningless season as they fight for lottery placement with the Pelicans, Nets, and Kings.
Injury Report
Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) will sit out on Saturday with an injury in the same place he tore his meniscus. Porter’s absence is a big blow to a Bucks team that needed stability and cohesion following an erratic stretch of games. Taurean Prince (neck) will also miss; he hasn’t played since early November.
The Jazz will miss several players due to injury. Isaiah Collier (personal reasons), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), Walker Kessler (shoulder), Lauri Markkanen (hip), Jusuf Nurkic (nose), and Vince Williams Jr. (knee) are all designated as out on the Jazz’s injury report at the time of writing.
Player To Watch
Ryan Rollins will need to be the guard to step up in Porter’s extended absence. Rollins stepped up as a playmaker in Wednesday’s loss to Atlanta, dishing out 12 assists. However, during the Bucks’ four-game losing streak, Rollins has shot .381/.261/.667, averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 turnovers per game. His shift from high-volume shooter to a playmaker and versatile guard hasn’t been without its struggles. He will need to prove his ability to step up as the Bucks’ floor general and shore up his inconsistent shooting going into Saturday’s game against the Jazz, the second-worst team at guarding the three.
How To Watch
Watch at 7:00 p.m. CST on Fanduel Sports Network Wisconsin.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 6: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Tyus Jones #5 of the Denver Nuggets shake hands after the game on March 6, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It looked like New York was in for a tough and long one in Denver on Friday…
…until it was not, as the Knicks put on a show and trounced the Nuggets a few miles away from South Park.
Here’s a bunch of quotes from all of our folks.
Mike Brown: "This team's deep. It's really good. These guys are connected. They're all sacrificing…They believe. They believe in each other. Our bench is up all game. We've gotten delay of games bc our guys are cheering…We needed to take our lumps…all our guys stayed with it" pic.twitter.com/qiH36Y92ba
“We feel like we can still be better. I’ve said this all along, that’s what the season is about. You’re not going to have it all in one week or two months. You got to go through your lumps. Because when you go through your lumps, if you truly have a chance at the end of the day, you’re going to grow from your lumps. That’s what this group is doing — because we’re going to take a couple lumps still. But you hope you don’t [go through more highs and lows]. But this team, it’s deep, it’s really good. These guys are connected. They’re all sacrificing. The competitive spirit is there. They believe in each other. Our bench is up all game. We got delays of games because our bench was up for each other. And we’re holding each other accountable. I’m being held accountable, which is great.”
On OG Anunoby returning to his pre-injury form:
“Before his toe injury, he was playing like this. I felt he was playing high-level basketball. I mean, it’s just powerful. His decisions are quick, you know, he’s touching the paint, and if you don’t get to him, he’s knocking the shot down. And then defensively, he’s just on another level, man. If he keeps that up, that’s Defensive Player of the Year-type stuff for sure. He’s guarding point guards. I don’t know how many times Jokic won MVP, but he’s guarding him, and then he’s guarding everybody in between. And it’s just been phenomenal and fun to watch him because he can do a lot.”
On Anunoby’s all-around impact vs. Denver:
“OG had a whale of a game for us offensively. He was our [Defensive Player of the Game]. He was good.”
On the defensive play trending upward:
“Our guys are trying to be physical without fouling and they’re doing a pretty good job with it. We’re still gonna get better in that area, but it’s been a process. We made a switch defensively several months ago and that was a process, but the guys, they’re pretty comfortable with what we’re doing right now, and they know exactly what they should be doing out there. Again, it didn’t happen with one practice. It didn’t happen because a switch got turned on. It just gradually happened, and I’ve said it before: That’s what the regular season is about. You tinker with this, you tinker with that, you try to get a little bit better here and there and hopefully at the end of the season you’re fairly comfortable and you can start trending upwards.”
On growth happening over time:
“[It happened with] time. Just continuing to watch film, having practice, having shootaround, talking about it, walking through it, drilling it. It wasn’t one thing or one practice or a light being switched on. It’s what should happen over the course of a season. You should get better as you go along as everybody has embraced the process. And with our group, everybody in that locker room has embraced the process, and that’s what makes this team pretty special is they’re in it to try to win it and they know it’s not gonna happen like that. They know at the beginning of the year, they’ll probably [fluctuate between playing good and bad], and they know once the All-Star Break happens, hopefully you get to a point where there’s some comfort with everybody and everything that we’re doing. And we’re able to continue to find [that comfort].”
On Pacome Dadiet’s development and confidence:
“He’s been playing well in the G-League and shooting the mess out of it. And he’s got great size. He’s young. And we want him to keep growing and developing. Anytime young guys like that see the ball go in and do those things on the floor in an NBA game, it helps with the belief. It helps not only in them believing and their confidence level going up, but also their teammates, too.”
.@McNuttMonica: "Smile bro you had an outstanding game!"
“New coach. New systems, and just trying to continue to learn how we can maximize our talents in that system. I think these last 20 games has been us really having a good feel and making good calls out there as teammates. Sometimes, we see something out there and we call it out and make the adjustments needed. It’s been great to see our team on the court making adjustments on the fly ourselves, and it’s been working out really well for us on the defensive end. And we’ve been challenging ourselves to be a better defensive team because we know that’s what it’s gonna take to win a playoff series, which it did last year. It wasn’t the offense that won us the game. It was Mikal Bridges’ steal in Boston Game 1 and 2. It was big rebounds in Detroit. Those kinds of things won us the game. The offense gave us a chance to win. The defense won us the game, so we understand the importance, and we’ll continue to be better every day and continue to be more consistent.”
On whether facing Denver still feels different:
“Hell, yeah.”
On competing against Nikola Jokic:
“He’s really damn good. That’s pretty much it, pretty much all there is to it. You just go out there and compete at a high level against one of the best.”
On the league impact of Jayson Tatum’s return:
“You get a superstar back like that back, obviously it’s great for the league from a VP standpoint (Towns is vice president of the players union) and from a league standpoint. It’s great for the business of basketball.”
On focusing on what they can control:
“I mean, it doesn’t matter to me because at the end of the day, if we’re not executing and playing at a high level and being disciplined, it doesn’t matter who’s on the court. We’ll lose. We’ve got to be our best version. You can’t be worrying about anyone else. We need to worry what’s in-house first.”
On the team still being a work in progress:
“We’re still a work in progress, anyone can tell you that, we all will tell you that, but we’re getting closer to that time when we need to be the best version of ourselves, and I see us getting better. And that’s the most important thing right now.”
“It gives us a lot of confidence. It’s put us in a good trend. We’ve got to continue on that way. It’s what we work on, and it’s something we’ve been stressing, and it’s been showing when the lights are on, but obviously behind closed doors, we’re working at it. We’re talking through everything. We’ve just got to help that convert into wins.”
On wishing Jayson Tatum good health:
“You wish good health for everybody. Obviously, you want to beat everybody you play against. But you don’t wish any negative on anybody, no matter the rivalry. Or whoever you like or don’t like. It doesn’t matter. You want everyone healthy and going home in one piece.”
On competing regardless of who plays:
“Obviously, whoever is on the court, you play to win. And it doesn’t matter who is on the court. That’s the mindset. I’m just saying with a player of that magnitude, obviously you wish them a successful return and everything. Like I said, you just want them healthy.”
On welcoming Tatum back before facing Boston:
“Obviously, you want everyone back healthy, right? You want people to be healthy, be 100 percent. [Tatum’s] worked really hard. Obviously, people have seen the clips on social media with the work he’s put in and everything, coming out. It’s great to see. He’s great for his team, great for the league. Just wish him good health.”
On not getting too high in March:
“It’s a good stepping stone for us, but it’s nothing to get too high about. Obviously, the highs and lows of the season, you’ve got to continue to push forward. Short-term memory, even wins and losses.”
"We just continued to play our game. We got good shooters taking good shots so we knew they were gonna fall at some point. Try to continue to do what we do"
– Josh Hart on first half as Knicks shot 22% from three
“He likes Denver. He likes altitude. That’s what he can do. You know, defensively guard one through five, and then offensively get the response and knock down shots. Get in the paint and just be a force.”
On the Knicks’ defensive mindset fueling their offense:
“I think a lot of it is we’re playing more physical, being more aggressive defensively and dictating the offense and not letting the offense dictate what they want to do. It’s something that we’ve got to continue to do, something that we’re taking pride in. We know that when we do that, we’re getting stops, we’re able to play fast, play our brand of basketball. It’s a mindset that we all really dug in more defensively, and that’s the benefit of it.”
On his Yankees bobblehead night:
“I can’t wait for it. Obviously I love my Yanks. So being able to do that is super cool. I’m super excited when that opportunity came to us. And we really jumped on it.
“It’s my first bobblehead doll ever. So good vibes.”
On scoring a career-high in garbage time at Denver:
“It definitely feels good. Every time I go out there, I try to go out with confidence. Because I know I’m not going to get that much time. So I’ve been working with the G-League team to get some reps and it definitely feels good.”
Mar 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) drives with the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Jazz came into the nation’s capital with their heart on their sleeve, and were only left with shattered dreams. They had lost the first of a 2-game regular season series against the Wizards with a heart-crushing loss, despite Trae Young making an appearance through two and a half quarters. All they can do now is hold their heads low and trudge through the city of Milwaukee, who are technically a basketball team as long as one of the Antetokounmpos are on the court — it doesn’t matter which one at this point of the season.
The foundation of the 2021 championship squad is still there, but a combination of age, regression and Doc Rivers has reeled them back all the way to the 10th spot on Tankathon. The franchise moved on from Damian Lillard’s remaining functioning leg and Brook Lopez to prioritise younger, more versatile players. Their last blowout loss against Atlanta was pretty much the final dagger at what hope fans had left in the season. They can now cruise through their tanking schedule, despite New Orleans owning the rights to swap picks.
Giannis has very clearly stated, “under no circumstances will I depart from the Milwaukee Bucks, unless I have the chance to leave, which I would obviously never do”. The Bucks have alleviated his concerns by holding a 26-35 record while dangling outside a play-in spot. He’s available tonight — only his third game back from a right calf strain — which could counterintuitively have the Jazz do the funniest thing ever and drop them off on their home floor.
This team serves as a cautionary tale for reigning NBA champions, warning them to beware of how to dismantle a dynasty. Don’t get me wrong, I own a small amount of land ownership on Ryan Rollins and AJ Green Islands. Ousmane Dieng and Pete Nance are starting to sway me. But this team is climbing a near-impossible hill in March. The Jazz are hoping to launch a Kickstarter for their campaign, starting tonight.
Utah’s now 5.5 games in front of the bottom spot after Thursday’s win, but a loss tonight (and maybe a cheeky Nets win over the Pistons) could make up some ground. The Jazz fire back by making Keyonte available to play despite breaking a 44-game losing streak stalemate across the bottom ten teams, but they lose Isaiah Collier due to ‘personal reasons’.
Utah’s bench has been the seventh-highest scoring unit in the league through the last 7 games. I unfortunately cannot explain the science behind Will Hardy’s sorcery and why Blake Hinson, Elijah Harkless, and 10-day contract Mo Bamba just kind of work.
In the game against Washington, four Jazzmen had at least two steals, led by John Konchar, who corralled five. Bamba did the heavy work, posting a total of 20 steals in his two games on the floor during the Jazz road trip. I was the lone spectator to Hinson launching a three from a range that normally isn’t permitted from a two-way contract guy. Yes, I know stats against the Wizards are pretty much up there in la-la land, but it’s becoming scarily credible how the Jazz can pretty much transform any role player into their most capable self.
But this game feels more like a watch before you judge. These teams are at polar ends of the spectrum regarding their current status and future, both of them fighting for completely different things. It can all start with a firm handshake and an agreement on what needs to happen to benefit both franchises.
Injury Report
Jazz:
OUT – Isaiah Collier (personal reasons), Lauri Markkanen (right hip impingement), Jusuf Nurkic (nose surgery), Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee surgery), Vince Williams Jr. (torn left ACL), Walker Kessler (left shoulder surgery)
Bucks:
OUT– Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee swelling), Taurean Prince (neck surgery)
How to watch:
Who: Utah Jazz (19-44)) at Milwaukee Bucks (26-35)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Houston Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Oh ye of little faith.
Actually, you’re just realistic. Who can blame you for that? It’s best to remain grounded somewhere in the realm of reality. What’s what? What are we talking about?
Well, the results are in. SB Nation asked you how the Houston Rockets’ season would end. A stout 55% of you said that the team would flame out in the Conference Semifinals.
Rockets predicted to win one series
Frankly, this feels right on the money.
The Rockets currently sit fourth in the Western Conference. If the season ended today, they’d play the Nuggets. The Rockets’ 5.2 Net Rating comfortably edges Denver’s 4.4 mark. Nikola Jokic will give the Nuggets an advantage in any series, but for all their struggles, the Rockets have been the better team this year.
After that, they’d presumably play the Thunder. Article over.
Jokes aside, Houston can easily chase down the third seed heading into the postseason. That would likely pit them against the Spurs in the next round. San Antonio is a tough matchup for the Rockets. Victor Wembanyama’s ability to shut down the paint will mitigate a team that relies on two non-shooters like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Nothing is set in stone. Injuries happen. The Rockets could get hot at the right time. The Rockets still have a (very) outside chance of winning the NBA title this year:
But you shouldn’t bet on it.
On that note, if you do want to bet on your Houston Rockets, head on over to FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) — Mi Hyang Lee made only five pars Saturday in a wild and windy round at the Blue Bay LPGA that ended with a 1-under 71, good enough to seize control with a three-shot lead as the South Korean goes after her first LPGA win more than eight years.
Lee put together seven birdies at Jian Lake Blue Bay, offset by enough mistakes — six bogeys — to keep her from an even larger lead.
She was at 12-under 204, three shots ahead of Hye-Jin Choi (68) and Yu Liu of China (73).
Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan made a charge to get into the mix by playing her final 11 holes in 6 under for a 67 that left her four shots out of the lead.
“Yeah, a lot of up and down,” Lee said of her round. “But still finished under par, so really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Her last LPGA win was the Women's Scottish Open in 2017.
Adding to the difficulty of the wind was a nagging shoulder injury that first surfaced last fall during an LPGA event in Ohio. She wanted to finish the year at the season-ending Tour Championship and had two months off to rest.
“This is my third week, so I think a little overdoing for my shoulder,” she said. “Last night I couldn't sleep without my medication. So hopefully, just one more day for tomorrow.”
Choi, the No. 15 player in the women's world ranking, shot 31 on the front nine to get back into the mix. She was closing in on Lee until taking a bogey on the par-4 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole.
“Back nine, it was not a really good situation compared to the front nine, but I made a lot of good saves,” Choi said. “Because of the wind, I couldn't hit my second shot near the pin.”
Lee wasn't the only player with a roller-coaster round. Liu began the back nine with a double bogey on No. 10, and two holes later made up for that by holing out for eagle on the par-4 12th.
Auston Kim had another rough Saturday. The American was in contention last week at the HSBC Women's World Championship until a 73 in the third round. She shot a 74 at Blue Bay that left her five shots behind.
Blue Bay LPGA is the third straight LPGA event on its first Asia swing of the season. A week after nine of the top 10 in the world played in Singapore, the China field had only one of the top 10. That was Ruoning Yin of China, a former Women's PGA champion. She shot 74 and was nine shots back.
Mar 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) reacts to forward Kevin Durant (7) basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets were able to rebound from an ugly loss to the Golden State Warriors that featured some horrid play down the stretch by closing out the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night with a strong fourth quarter to come from behind and drop the Blazers 106-99.
Houston used a 23-4 run in the fourth quarter and held the Blazers to many misses in what was a turnaround from the fourth quarter and OT versus the Warriors. Alperen Sengun had 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a block while shooting 11-for-15 from the field, while Amen Thompson had 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and a block. He barely missed, shooting 11-for-12 from the field.
Kevin Durant had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, but shot just 8-for-18 from the floor and had 8 turnovers. KD and Sengun combined for 14 turnovers between them. Reed Sheppard finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. He was 3-for-8 from deep as Houston’s only player who hit more than one three-pointer. In fact, the Rockets had a very 90s-esque statline, shooting just 5-for-19 from deep for the game. Reed drew another start with Jabari Smith Jr. back to nursing his sore ankle.
The Rockets outshot Portland 54 percent to 40 percent, but Houston’s 22 turnovers kept the Blazers in the game until the decisive fourth quarter. Portland was led by Jermai Grant with 21 and Jrue Holiday with 20.
The Rockets move to 39-23 on the season and sit firmly in fourth place in the Western Conference. If playoff seeding was today, they’d be taking on the Denver Nuggets in the first round, an interesting matchup to say the least. They are also currently on a 51-win pace, or one game worse than last season’s team.
They’ll return to action on Sunday when they take on their Texas rival San Antonio Spurs.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic scores in front of Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers 128-117 winwon, Luka Doncic dominated and then the conversation moved forward, because even though a 128-117 win over the slumping Indiana Pacers on Friday counts all the same in the tight Western Conference standings, it doesn’t say as much about the Lakers as what comes next.
Buoyed by four recent wins over struggling teams, the Lakers are still searching for a statement victory to announce themselves as legitimate contenders in the crowded Western Conference. The Lakers (38-25) are comfortably in sixth place in the West, but just 3-11 against teams that are .600 or better.
Two of the wins came in the first two weeks of the season. The losses have been ugly: an average margin of 19.9 points per defeat.
Now with five of their next six games against teams that are .600 or better — starting with Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. contest against the New York Knicks — the Lakers get a chance to prove their potential to make a playoff run.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives to the basket as he's chased by Indiana Pacers guards Quenton Jackson and Aaron Nesmith Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
“You play teams that are playing winning basketball and [have] winning records, it definitely can build some confidence in the group,” guard Luke Kennard said Friday. “But I know even some of the close games we've lost just recently, I know we've done some really good things. … We know what we have in the locker room and in this group.”
Even a day and a win later, the Lakers were still ruing Thursday’s road loss in Denver. With a chance to jump to fifth place in the standings, they let the Nuggets (39-25) open the game on an 11-point run. Denver opened up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
But unlike many of their other losses to playoff-contending teams, the Lakers answered Denver’s run. They cut it to one with 2:05 left before the Nuggets held on for the victory.
“That was a game that we’ve broken throughout the year, in games like that,” coach JJ Redick said. “And they made a number of runs that went to double digits and we just kept playing and had a chance. … I’m confident we’re going to find it. How we’re going to find it, that’s where it’s —”
Redick cut off his own thought as he searched for the words.
“You got to figure it out on a daily basis sometimes,” the coach concluded with a tight smile.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes scores at the rim in front of Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers figured it out Friday behind a dazzling 44-point performance from Doncic, who leads the NBA with 10 40-point games this season. The NBA’s leading scorer didn’t even play during the fourth quarter of the blowout.
Doncic’s brilliance was more than enough against the bottom-feeding Pacers, who, at 15-48, are playing more for lottery position than postseason hopes. But the Knicks (41-23) have won four of their last five games, including convincing wins over San Antonio and Denver. The only recent loss was a three-point defeat to Oklahoma City.
Lakers forward LeBron James is expected to be available for Sunday’s marquee game after injuring his elbow late in the loss to the Nuggets and missing Friday’s game. Centers Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) are day-to-day.
Led by Jalen Brunson’s 26.2 points and 6.5 assists per game, the Knicks have the NBA’s third-best offense. Conversely, the Lakers are 21st in defensive rating.
The Lakers emphasized the importance of team defense all season, but Marcus Smart is “the only one that consistently is just doing what he's supposed to do” on defense, Redick said Friday. Sometimes the former defensive player of the year is forced to overcompensate for his teammates’ mistakes.
Doncic’s defensive lapses are magnified, especially with the team’s recent inconsistencies. But Doncic’s oft-criticized defense has provided some bright spots, Redick said.
When he switches onto the ball, Doncic gives up the lowest number of points per possession among the Lakers' perimeter players, Redick said. He led the Lakers in rebounding Friday with nine boards, all defensive. Doncic had both of the team's blocks against the Pacers.
“He's shown that he can contain the basketball,” Redick said of Doncic’s defense. “He's obviously one of the best wing defensive rebounders in the NBA. He's able to generate steals and deflections. And, with some prodding, he's taking charges as well.”
Doncic has drawn 11 charges this season, the most for a single year in his NBA career.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 6: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks guards Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game on March 6, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
An interesting confluence of Brotherhood history as two things happened in Boston on Friday night: Jayson Tatum returned from his Achilles injury in just eight months, and New England native and Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg made his maiden trip to TD Garden, home of the Celtics.
Not surprisingly, Boston won – the Celtics are second in the East and have won twice as many games as the Mavericks.
Tatum, who is going to be on a minutes restriction for a while, got in for 27 and scored 15 points, along with grabbing 12 rebounds. He also had 7 assists. That’s pretty good for a guy who has been out for 3/4 of a year.
For his part, Flagg is also returning from an injury, albeit much more minor. Flagg injured his ankle just before the All-Star break and is in his second game since getting back (his first one was a 114-115 loss to Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter’s Orlando Magic).
He scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out 6 assists.
Both guys are going to take a little time to get their edge back, but it’ll likely happen for Flagg faster than Tatum.
