SEATTLE (AP) — Emma Maltais scored a go-ahead goal early in the third period, and Sara Hjalmarsson and Kali Flanagan added empty netters in the final two minutes to give the Toronto Sceptres a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Torrent on Friday night.
Toronto (5-1-3-8) had gone winless in four straight road games. The Sceptres were also held scoreless in their last two games before the Olympic break.
Four different players scored their first goal of the season.
Jesse Compher scored 28 seconds into the game for Toronto off a nice back pass from Daryl Watts, who led Canada in her Olympic debut with eight points on two goals and six assists.
Renata Fast gave Toronto a 2-1 lead on her first goal of the season 4:25 into the second period with a shot from a sharp angle that bounced off the stick of goaltender Hannah Murphy.
Maltais scored her third goal after getting past the defense for a two-on-one opportunity.
Both goals for Seattle (4-1-2-8) came in the final 80 seconds of the first and second periods. Aneta Tejralová had a one-timer to tie it at 1-all with 11.2 seconds left in the first and Natalie Snodgrass sent in a rebound off of Alex Carpenter's breakaway shot with 1:12 left in the second.
Seattle, which was without Hilary Knight due to a lower-body injury suffered at the Olympics, announced it was the first sellout in franchise history with 17,335 fans.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 27: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 27, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DETROIT — The Cleveland Cavaliers had numerous chances to win Friday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, even though they were without four rotation players, including James Harden (finger) and Donovan Mitchell (groin). They couldn’t make the one play they needed to seal the victory. As a result, they fell 122-119 in overtime.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson believes in luck. He was asked before the game if his team was cursed given their latest rash of injuries.
He laughed the question off, but then proceeded to provide the perfect table setter for one of the wildest games of the season.
“I believe in luck,” Atkinson said before the game. “I think luck plays more into this whole thing in sports. I know in America, we don’t like to talk about luck, like you earn it, you win it. That was a good thing about being overseas for so long. I was shocked when I first went out there, especially in Spain, they talked about luck so much. … When you read the sports papers, it was part of the way they talked. … Here, we want right and wrong and clear yes and no. That’s kind of how our mentality is. So I definitely think luck plays a lot into this.”
The Cavs lost this game, so we’re programmed to see things in the worst possible light. Instead of viewing the areas that the Cavs did right, we automatically look at what didn’t go their way, and there’s a long list of those things.
Poor rebounding, inability to create offense late, turnovers, and blowing multiple chances to defeat the top team in the conference are a few that come to mind. All of these are problems that could be explored deeper, considering they’re things that could be an issue in a possible playoff series.
However, if a few calls go slightly differently, we’re likely looking at all the things that went right, such as Jarrett Allen’s dominance, Evan Mobley’s resurgence, and the role players stepping up.
This is a results-based business, but sometimes, the results come down to things far outside of the player’s control.
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Cleveland should’ve won this game.
They were up six with two minutes left when MVP candidate Cade Cunningham fouled out of this game. That should’ve been the final nail in the coffin, but the Cavs failed to execute from there.
In the final two minutes, they turned it over in the backcourt, allowed baskets on Detroit’s final eight possessions in regulation, Evan Mobley missed a free throw with seven seconds left that would’ve made it a two-possession game, and they didn’t properly commit a foul on the floor while up three, which led to the game-tying free throws.
It was a litany of errors from a team that has blown more than a few important games in this embarrassing way in the past.
“That was our game to take,” Jaylon Tyson said. “We were definitely there. We should have won that game. Yeah, we should have won that game.”
Overtime presented its own issues.
The Cavs struggled to generate offense after Allen fouled out, but they still had chances to win. They were on the wrong side of a few calls (and weren’t afraid to make that known in the locker room afterward), including what could’ve been easily called a shooting foul on a potential game-tying Sam Merrill three-point attempt.
Even so, they kept fighting, forced a jump ball when providing defensive pressure in the backcourt, and created what would’ve been a game-tying three-point attempt for Mobley that didn’t go.
“There’s no moral victories,” Atkinson said. “This was a big game. We had chances. … The execution, turnovers, you know, we’re just kind of kicking ourselves.”
Still, there are things that the Cavs should feel encouraged about if they happen to play the Pistons in the postseason, the most important being Allen’s continued dominant play.
Allen once again couldn’t be stopped, scoring 25 points on 10-12 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, four assists, and a block.
“Jalen Duran is one of the toughest, strongest guys in the league,” Atkinson said. “He went toe to toe with him. And I just love [it]. … We just got to keep him there. You know, it’s our job as coaches to keep him in this great, great space. But I loved his energy tonight.”
It’s easier to keep Allen in check when he doesn’t have the benefit of playing alongside dynamic guards like Mitchell and Harden. This allowed the Pistons to crash inside anytime he rolled to the basket, which made it difficult for them to get him the ball.
But if Allen got his hands on the ball, he was able to make them pay as he converted nine of his 10 shots in the paint. He spent stretches of this game being the best player on the court, which is incredibly impressive considering the talent on the other team.
Detroit also didn’t have an answer for Mobley.
He did more of his damage outside, going 4-8 from three. But they also couldn’t handle Mobley inside as he went 5-6 in the restricted area.
“He’s starting to catch a groove, I can see it,” Atkinson said. “Just seems like when he comes back from injury, it just takes him a little bit to get going. So that might be the most positive thing about this, about this game tonight.”
The Cavs are on the Pistons level, even though they couldn’t get the result on Friday, and rightfully so. They routed the New York Knicks on Tuesday and went toe-to-toe on the road with the conference leaders despite being severly short handed. They should feel that way.
“I feel like we’re one of the top teams,” Mobley said. “They’ve got to face us, honestly. We’re playing pretty good basketball, and we’re going to continue to play good basketball. Just got to play our best basketball in April, May, and June. That’s our goal right now. We’re going to learn from this game and just keep stacking wins and get ready for the playoffs.”
Right now, the Cavaliers are unlucky. Injuries are happening at all the wrong times. And on top of it, they weren’t rewarded with a win despite playing well enough to get one.
Yes, they should’ve closed it out, but they were also on the wrong end of more than a few calls that went against them. If the referees called the foul on the floor on the Dannis Jenkins “shot attempt” as they should’ve, this game ends differently. The same could be said about several other calls.
However, the end result in a game like this isn’t the only thing that matters. This team is putting the pieces together at the right time. And if they ever get healthy, they will be a problem in the playoffs.
And that’s true, even though luck wasn’t on their side on Friday.
“Learn from our mistakes right now and just keep ramping up, staying focused,” Mobley said. “Game in and game out, just being locked in, knowing what our game plan is and figuring that out. Getting comfortable with the new guys. But I feel like we’re getting there pretty quickly and we’re on a good trajectory right now.”
The NBA got a little spicy in the Thunder’s 127-121 win over the Nuggets on Friday night in Oklahoma City.
The two teams got into a heated scrum in the fourth quarter after it appeared Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort tripped Denver star Nikola Jokic, leading to a heated scene at center court with both teams pushing and shoving.
Things all started after Jared McCain hit a two-point bucket for OKC, and on the ensuing inbound, Dort appeared to make an intentional step — almost like a hip check — into Jokic as he made his way back up the court.
Lu Dort was ejected after appearing to trip Nikola Jokic on this play.
Nikola Jokic was not happy with Lu Dort after the trip. ESPN/XThe Nuggets and Thunder got into it on Friday night. ESPN/X
Jokic immediately fell and tumbled onto the floor at Paycom Center. But that’s only where the fun began.
Dort was called for a foul, and he didn’t appear to agree with it, and as Jokic got back to his feet, he immediately got in his opponent’s face, eyes wide as he was incensed over what had just taken place, bumping Dort’s chest before anyone could step in.
The teams converged but officials eventually calmed things down before things could really escalate.
After reviewing the play, Dort was assessed a flagrant 2, meaning he was ejected from the game.
Jokic and the Thunder’s Jaylin Williams also received technicals in the bizarre scene in Oklahoma City.
Dort finished his night with eight points and six rebounds.
The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder are among two of the top teams in the Western Conference this season. That was on display as the two teams played in a tightly contested game that went into overtime at the Paycom Center on Friday, Feb. 27.
Tensions were running high during the game between the two championship contenders.
Luguentz Dort was ejected following a Flagrant 2 foul after it was considered unnecessary and excessive by the officials.
Dort tripped Nuggets star Nikola Jokic while the Thunder had a 90-88 lead with 8:03 left in the fourth quarter.
Lu Dort was ejected after appearing to trip Nikola Jokic on this play.
Jokic was upset and immediately approached Dort. Jokic and Jaylin Williams received technical fouls for pushing and shoving one another following the initial tripping incident. The fouls offset.
Dort scored eight points and six rebounds in 28 minutes of play before the ejection. Even with Dort ejected and reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sitting out the overtime period, Oklahoma City prevailed, 127-121.
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 27, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: GG Jackson #45 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket against Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at American Airlines Center on February 27, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Commentary on the alleged basketball game that transpired on Friday between the Dallas Mavericks (21-38) and the Memphis Grizzlies (22-36) is not worth the bits and bytes it took to make the web page you’re reading appear on your screen. You would have sworn you were watching an NBA Summer League game if it weren’t for the calendars hanging from your wall, letting you know it is, indeed, still February.
Nobody wanted to win this game — least of all the Mavericks, who outlasted the Grizzlies for the 124-105 loss at American Airlines Center. The dozens of fans in attendance were serenaded by a symphony of ineptitude on both ends of the floor. This was tanking in its purest form.
Cam Spencer led eight Grizzlies’ scorers who reached double figures, with 25 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range in the win. Brandon Williams led the Mavericks with 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Here are, mercifully, just three quick stats from the game that was and should not have been.
6:02: Mavericks’ first-quarter stretch between field goals
Dallas put lineups on the floor against the Grizzlies that were unfit to compete against professional basketball players. It resulted in an early stretch of 6:02 of game time between made field goals for the Mavericks. Khris Middleton sank a long two-point jumper with 8:44 left in the first, and Dallas went 0-for-11 from there. A.J. Johnson finally ended the drought with 2:42 left in the opener on a driving finger roll through the lane for his second bucket of the game to bring the Mavs to within 22-14.
Dallas trailed 34-20 at the end of one, shooting just 25% from the field and turning the ball over five times. They had been on a better run to start games recently, averaging 54% shooting from the field in their last three games.
16/10: Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s revenge-game stat line
Further proof that we now reside in the Upside Down, Olivier-Maxence Prosper started for Memphis against his former team on Friday, his fifth start of the season with the Grizzlies. Prosper finished with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting against the Mavs, a huge step up in development from when Mavs fans last saw him play.
He has now scored 13 or more points in six of his last eight games. It’s hard to tell how much of that development means anything at all in the day-to-day reality of the NBA, as it’s all come during NBA Silly Season, but feel free to put a feather in your cap if you always thought he’d be something one day.
36-15: Memphis’ points off turnovers advantage
Dallas turned the ball over 21 times in the loss to Memphis, one night after turning the ball over 18 times in a 130-121 loss to the worst team in the NBA, the Sacramento Kings. The Grizzlies scored 36 points off those 21 Mavericks’ turnovers, all in the first three quarters, as they took their foot off the gas down the stretch in the fourth.
Max Christie and Naji Marshall combined to account for eight of the Mavs’ 21 turnovers on the second night of the back-to-back set.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 21: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 21, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a hard-fought win in Orlando, the Houston Rockets travel to South Beach for a game about 40 hours later. This is a recipe for disaster. At least James Harden isn’t on the team anymore.
The Heat are 31-29 and are coming off back-to-back losses against the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. They play offense at the league’s fastest pace and take (and make) the most shots in the league. They grab the most defensive rebounds and are fourth on defense.
Norman Powell got hurt against the Sixers so Miami’s offense will mostly revolve around Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Amen Thompson’s nemesis, Tyler Herro.
The early games are basically always losses for the Rockets, regardless of roster. I expect Miami to come out hot after two losses and treat this game a bit more seriously than Houston. If the Rockets come out sloppily, this could be over in a hurry.
DETROIT (AP) — Jalen Duren had 33 points and 16 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons outlasted the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 122-119 on Friday night in a game that was delayed for 18 minutes in the third quarter because of a blaring horn.
During a timeout with Detroit up 65-64, a power surge caused the overhead scoreboard to malfunction, with the horn remaining on after signaling the teams to return to the floor. Eventually, the scoreboard was shut down to stop the horn and a manual airhorn was used when play resumed.
Cade Cunningham had 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for East-leading Detroit before fouling out.
Cleveland — which will host Detroit on Tuesday night — led by nine points with 2:44 left in regulation, and Cunningham fouled out with 1:56 to play, but the Pistons outscored the Cavaliers 16-7 to force overtime.
With Cleveland up 114-111 with 4.7 seconds left in regulation, Jaylon Tyson tried to intentionally foul Daniss Jenkins near halfcourt, but Jenkins was able to shoot and draw three free throws that he made.
In overtime, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
CELTICS 148, NETS 111
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and Boston rolled past Brooklyn.
Nikola Vucevic finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double since joining the Celtics. Payton Pritchard added 22 points for Boston, which has won five of six since returning from the All-Star break.
The Celtics shot a season-high 66.7% from the field and connected on 22 3-pointers. They also got 77 points from their bench.
Michael Porter Jr. finished with 18 points for Brooklyn, which has lost seven straight games.
The Celtics took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Nets 43-26. Brooklyn managed only seven points over the final 6:23 of the period.
Boston shot 15 of 19 from the field with 12 assists in the pivotal quarter and connected 5 of 7 attempts from the 3-point line
Boston’s lead grew to as many as 41 points in the fourth.
KNICKS 127, BUCKS 98
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 27 points and OG Anunoby added 24 as New York routed Milwaukee.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Landry Shamet added 15 points, Josh Hart finished with 12 and Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara each had 10 for the Knicks, who shot 21 for 42 from 3-point distance.
Myles Turner had 18 of his 19 points in the first half, Kyle Kuzma scored 17, Bobby Portis 14 and Ryan Rollins 13 to pace the Bucks. Milwaukee had won eight of 10 coming in and was playing its fifth game in eight days, including four in a row at home. Kevin Porter Jr. chipped 11 points and 10 assists.
The Bucks entered the game as one of the hottest offensive team in the league, but it was the Knicks who controlled play early.
New York jumped out to a 38-30 lead after one quarter fueled by 22 points from Brunson, the most by a New York player in any quarter this season. Brunson made 9 of 10 shots, including all three 3-pointers he attempted.
GRIZZLIES 124, MAVERICKS 105
DALLAS (AP) — Cam Spencer scored 25 points off the bench and Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Memphis to a victory over Dallas.
Scotty Pippen Jr. added 15 points and Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson each had 12 to help Memphis snap a three-game skid.
The Grizzlies, who had lost seven of their previous eight, led the entire game and won despite being short-handed with star guard Ja Morant out for a 16th consecutive game with an injured left elbow, and Zach Edey (ankle) and Cedric Coward (knee) also sidelined.
Taj Gibson, signed by Memphis on Thursday to help deal with the absences, wasn’t active.
Brandon Williams scored 16 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Mavericks, who have lost seven straight at home. Daniel Gafford added 14 points, Dwight Powell had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Max Christie also scored 13 points.
Rookie Cooper Flagg missed his sixth straight game with a sprained foot.
THUNDER 127, NUGGETS 121
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points in his return after missing nine games with an abdominal strain and Oklahoma City defeated Denver in overtime in a testy matchup that featured multiple technical fouls and an ejection.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, didn’t play in overtime, but the Thunder still pulled through in the extra period.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who got into an altercation with Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort in the fourth quarter, had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Dort was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, listed as questionable with an illness before the game, led the Nuggets with 39 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander started and drew loud applause when his name was announced in pregame introductions. His first basket came on a driving layup two minutes into the game.
The teams are very familiar with each other — the Thunder defeated the Nuggets 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last year. The Thunder won the first two meetings this season and they play twice more.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 27: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 27, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While many expected the Cavaliers to struggle against the Pistons without their star backcourt. Instead, the Cavaliers went toe to toe with the relentless Pistons, eventually falling to the number one seed in the East 122-119 in overtime.
Winners
The Cavalier Bigs
Many would think that without James Harden and Donovan Mitchell on the floor, it would be difficult for the bigs to generate the quality looks they’ve enjoyed throughout February. However, this game was decided by Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Thomas Bryant. The trio combined for 61 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 122 points against a stout Detroit Pistons frontcourt defense.
Whether it was Allen leading the team with 25 points, Mobley knocking down 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, or Bryant providing a spark off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds, Cleveland received outstanding contributions across the board. This is exactly what you hope to see from your All-Stars when your All-NBA-caliber stars are sidelined for the night.
Sam Merrill’s dependability
In the absence of other primary offensive weapons, Sam Merrill continues to prove just how elite a shooter he is in this league. The constant motion he plays with within the offense creates quality looks regardless of who shares the floor with him. Tonight, Merrill went 6-for-12 from the field, and nearly every attempt came off movement that generated clean windows to fire away.
We even saw Merrill leverage his perimeter gravity to create quality opportunities inside the three-point line. That’s what separates high-level shooters from situational ones — the ability to bend a defense simply by relocating. It’s reassuring to know that Merrill isn’t solely dependent on others to manufacture his looks; he has the skill set and awareness to operate autonomously within virtually any system.
The Cavaliers Energy
The Cavaliers used to be where the Pistons are, a team that hangs its hat on its heart and hustles every night. Nowadays, it looks like that level of effort can come and go in place of nuclear offensive levels. On Friday night, this was an effort reminiscent of the Cavaliers’ JB Bickerstaff era. Ironically enough, it was against JB, but the Cavaliers matched the Pistons’ grit and grind mentality.
The Cavaliers were fighting for loose balls, getting dirty on the glass, and were not playing complacently. This was a pleasant surprise for a team that at times was sleepwalking during stretches of the season. Hopefully, this is a real sign that the Cavaliers’ mentality has shifted. Whether it is the new players in the locker room or this team has turned the page, the Cavaliers look like they are getting locked in for the postseason.
Losers
Late game execution
The Cavaliers had this game in the bag up four late in the fourth quarter. Cade Cunningham had fouled out for Detroit, the Pistons made up for the lack of offensive direction by creating havoc for the Cavaliers. The Cavalier generated little to no offense in the final two minutes; they turned the ball over multiple times due to the pressure Detroit exhibited.
The nail in the coffin was Jaylon Tyson fouling up three with 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Daniss Jenkins proceeded to knock down all three free throws. By the time overtime hit, the Cavaliers did what they could to stay afloat; however, without Allen, the offense did not look the same. This was a sour end to what was shaping up to be one of the most impressive wins of the season.
For those who didn’t watch the game in real time, there was about a 12 minute stretch in the third quarter where the horn was relentlessly blaring. The ESPN broadcast was having a field day capturing the looks of coaches, players, and fans looking miserable. As they should, by the way, that horn was BLASTING.
The icing on the cake was this was when ESPN decided to conduct their interview with Donovan Mitchell, and it went as one would expect. Mitchell tried his best, but imagine talking with anyone with that blasting your eardrums, and having to conduct an interview. Eventually, they resolved the issue, but I am sure that the arena operator will be having a heavy beverage tonight after looking like he was in hell for those 12 minutes.
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: AJ Johnson #8 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Taylor Hendricks #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on February 27, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Memphis Grizzlies (22-36) disassembled what was left of the Dallas Mavericks (21-38) on the second night of a back-to-back set on Friday, taking a 124-105 win at American Airlines Center. Cam Spencer led eight Grizzlies in double figures with 25 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range in the win. Brandon Williams led the Mavericks with 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss. It was, in a word, unwatchable.
The first quarter was exactly as ugly as it felt. Dallas managed just 6-of-24 (25%) shooting and went 2-of-10 from distance, finishing with only 20 points in the frame. The offense had no rhythm whatsoever. Naji Marshall went 0-for-4, Max Christie went 0-for-4, and the Mavericks could not generate clean half-court looks. Even the makes felt scattered rather than sustainable. Williams and Khris Middleton did what little damage the Mavs could manage. Middleton went 2-of-6 for five points, while Williams added five of his own on 2-of-4 shooting. It was slow, disjointed, and offensively painful to watch, and the 20-point output reflected exactly how stagnant the opening twelve minutes were.
The second quarter did not fix anything. Dallas had just 30 total points through 18 minutes and made only two field goals in the first half of the period, while Memphis feasted on open 3-pointers and layups. By halftime, the numbers showed the gap. Memphis shot 50.0 percent from the field and 7-of-19 from 3-point land, while Dallas managed just 33.3 percent overall and 3-of-15 from deep. The Grizzlies moved the ball for 15 assists and consistently generated clean looks. At the same time, the Mavericks’ halfended the same way it began, with turnovers and empty possessions piling up, sending Dallas into the break trailing 64–44.
Dallas couldn’t make a game of it in the second half, either. The Mavericks came out of halftime stuck in the mud again. Memphis continued to generate clean looks while the Mavericks’ offense stayed shaky. The third quarter was more of the same script as the second: Memphis kept getting downhill, turning broken Dallas possessions into easy chances, and the lead kept creeping wider, swelling as large as 34 points.
Memphis managed their blowout in-hand throughout the fourth, while Dallas tried to find anything functional with its bench unit. The Grizzlies stayed comfortable, kept scoring at the rim, and kept winning the possession game with rebounds and extra chances, while the Mavericks traded isolated buckets for empty trips. Dallas did get some late interior scoring and effort plays, but by then the margin was already massive, and Memphis never let it get interesting. In the end, the second half felt like a continuation of the first, just with the deficit growing from bad to out of reach.
Two important losses
The Mavericks are in the part of the calendar where “watchability” stops being the point and lottery balls take over. If Dallas is serious about landing the best pick it can get in June’s NBA Draft, you do not get there by stealing feel-good wins in late February. You get there by banking losses, stacking ping pong ball combinations, and minimizing the nights where you accidentally look competent because one role player got hot.
The urgency is amplified by what Dallas does and does not control going forward. The franchise already owes Charlotte a 2027 first-round pick that is only top-two protected, which means the moment Dallas is merely bad instead of atrocious, that pick is gone. Beyond that, the pick sheet is littered with swaps and obligations in the late 2020s, which is why every season where Dallas actually has a clean shot at a premium pick feels like a rare window. In plain terms, you cannot afford to waste the years where you still own your own outcome, because the bill comes due later.
That is why nights like this, back to back, where half the roster sits, and the remaining starters play 20 to 25 minutes, are not just “embarrassing losses.” They are a front office choosing the only path that realistically matters. Dallas is not one hot streak away from a title, and pretending otherwise drags you toward the worst possible place in the NBA, the middle, where you pick 10th, pay veterans, and pray for miracles. The Mavericks do not need moral victories. They need lottery leverage because the next cornerstone after Cooper is far more likely to arrive via a top pick than via internal development from a patchwork roster. In a season like this, the tank is not a vibe. It is the plan.
The Mavericks need shooting
The Grizzlies did not just beat Dallas; they shot them out of the AAC. Memphis spaced the floor, forced weak closeouts, and punished every late rotation with confident catch-and-shoot threes. When a team is already playing downhill and getting paint touches, the difference between a competitive game and a runaway is whether those kickouts fall. They did. The Mavericks were constantly in scramble mode, and every time they collapsed to stop a drive, the ball found an open shooter who was ready and willing. That is what real spacing does. It turns decent offense into efficient offense and efficient offense into a blowout.
That is the lesson Dallas needs to internalize heading into the offseason, especially if Cooper Flagg is the centerpiece of the rebuild. Flagg’s value will be maximized by driving lanes, short-roll playmaking, and the ability to attack tilted defenses. None of that works if defenders can sit in the gaps and ignore weak-side shooters. The Mavericks cannot half-commit to spacing around him. They need legitimate movement shooters, reliable corner threats, and frontcourt players who can stretch the floor just enough to keep help honest. If this season is about lottery positioning, this summer has to be about shooting infrastructure. Build it correctly, and Flagg elevates everyone. Ignore it, and you are asking a young star to score through traffic every night.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 27: Jarrett Allen #31 and Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers boxes out during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 27, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I don’t even know the official job title of whoever was in charge of the buzzer. All I know is they should start finding a new job after tonight.
Grade: F
Dennis Schroder
12 points, 9 assists, 1 rebound, 8 turnovers
The Cavs have turned to Schroder to carry them while they are without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. That has led to some pretty ugly box scores, like tonight. I can’t in good faith ignore 8 turnovers or 4-16 shooting.
But maybe I’m delusional, because I thought this game was better than the stat line suggests. Schroder’s usage was insanely high because the team didn’t have many other options. And for all the mistakes he made, the team’s best moments were often being funneled through Schroder’s aggression.
In short, the highs were high, and the lows were low. I don’t think a letter grade can accurately describe this one from Schroder.
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Jarrett Allen
25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block
Allen ends the month with another strong performance. For all the lack of “toughness” we hear about, Allen has always seemed to fare well against the Pistons. If he hadn’t fouled out in the fourth, Cleveland might have gotten over the hump.
Grade: A
Evan Mobley
23 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks
This game ended in misery, but Mobley showed his brightest flashes of the season since returning from his latest calf injury. A big scoring night on 4-of-8 three-point shooting should make everyone feel happy. I only wish he hadn’t disappeared in the final few minutes, especially overtime, where he only attempted one field goal at the buzzer.
Grade: B+
Jaylon Tyson
15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Tyson was steady for most of this game. He hit a few momentum-swinging jumpers and was one of Cleveland’s better defensive options. It wasn’t until his errant foul at halfcourt that everything unraveled. Even then, Tyson nailed a huge three-pointer in overtime to keep this game close.
It’s not easy to have your minutes stripped midway through the season. Porter had earned a place in the rotation before Cleveland’s latest acquisitions at the deadline. But injuries have opened the door again for Porter to see the court — and he’s responded with 21 assists across his last two games.
The limitations are obvious. Porter isn’t a three-point threat or an elite finisher. He had his shot rejected twice in overtime. That hurts.
Grade: B
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
We’ve reached the point of diminishing returns on Tomlin. His inexperience has become more noticeable as the season goes on. Make no mistake, he’s been a massive success story. But his current limitations are starting to show.
Grade: F
Sam Merrill
20 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals
Merrill is a big reason this offense was able to function tonight. His three-point shooting bailed them out of a couple of poor stretches. He even shook Duncan Robinson on a mid-range jumper that unfortunately didn’t count.
Grade: A-
Thomas Bryant
13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Bryant was getting shots up tonight (12 field goal attempts). But the Cavs have needed a backup big man who can deliver games like this. I’m a fan.
DALLAS (AP) — Cam Spencer scored 25 points off the bench and Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 124-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
Scotty Pippen Jr. added 15 points and Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson each had 12 to help Memphis snap a three-game skid.
The Grizzlies, who had lost seven of their previous eight, led the entire game and won despite being short-handed with star guard Ja Morant out for a 16th consecutive game with an injured left elbow, and Zach Edey (ankle) and Cedric Coward (knee) also sidelined.
Taj Gibson, signed by Memphis on Thursday to help deal with the absences, wasn't active.
Brandon Williams scored 16 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Mavericks, who have lost seven straight at home. Daniel Gafford added 14 points, Dwight Powell had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Max Christie also scored 13 points.
Rookie Cooper Flagg missed his sixth straight game with a sprained foot.
The Mavericks were within eight points at 44-36 with 5:23 left in the second quarter on Miles Kelly's 3-pointer. But that was as close as Dallas would get the rest of the way.
The Grizzlies used a 20-8 run to lead by 20 at halftime at 64-44, and extended their advantage to a game-high 34 points twice in the third quarter.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lawson Crouse scored twice, U.S. Olympian Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists and the Utah Mammoth beat Minnesota 5-2 on Friday night to end the Wild's winning streak at six games.
Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton also scored and Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves to help the Mammoth rebound from a 4-2 home loss to NHL-leading Colorado on Wednesday night in their return from the Olympic break. Utah holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, three points ahead of Seattle.
U.S. Olympian Matt Boldy scored and assisted on Kirill Kaprizov's goal for Minnesota. Second behind Central Division-rival Colorado in the West, the Wild are 9-2-1 in their last 12. They beat the Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night in Denver.
Cooley opened the scoring with a short-handed goal with 6:37 left in the first period. The former University of Minnesota star got the puck on the right side off a deflection and put a shot between Wallstedt’s legs for his 15th goal.
Keller scored his 18th at 4:26 of the second. Nick Schmaltz forced a turnover on a forecheck and fed Keller on the right side.
Crouse made it 3-0 at 7:49 of the second. He came down the middle, took a pass from Keller and beat Wallstedt with a backhander.
Kaprizov countered for Minnesota on a power play with 5:57 left in the second. He has 33 goals this season.
Hayton made it 4-1 on a power play at 1:19 of the third, and Crouse added his 16th of the season on a tip with 7:12 to go.
Boldy got his 35th of the season with 5:57 remaining.
The game between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers experienced technical difficulties during the second half at the Little Caesars Arena on Friday, Feb. 27.
The Pistons held a 65-64 lead against the Cavaliers with 7:24 in the third quarter when the horn at the scorers' table had a malfunction.
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell was interviewed by ESPN during the third period when the horn started and would not stop.
The interview continued for several moments before Mitchell asked, “Do you guys hear the horn?”
The delay went on for at least 12 minutes before the arena staff managed to restart the scoreboard to stop the ongoing sound.
The staff then had to get the scoreboard back up and running before the game could continue. The area used a physical air horn to finish out the game.
Pistons defeat Cavaliers
The game went into overtime, where Detroit outscored Cleveland 8-5 to secure the 122-119 victory. Center Jalen Duren produced a double-double with 33 points and 16 rebounds against the Cavs.
"All the things are coming together for him,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said about Duren. “The game’s slowed down for him. His understanding of spacing and when to attack, all of those things have slowed down and are giving him opportunities."
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. had 19 points and 11 rebounds against his former team as No. 3 Michigan defeated No. 10 Illinois 84-70 on Friday night and clinched Big Ten regular-season title.
Johnson, who played for the Illini last season after verbally committing three years earlier, was booed throughout the game by Illinois fans.
Aday Mara had 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Yaxel Lendeberg finished with 16 points and seven rebounds for the Wolverines (27-2, 17-1), who are 10-0 on the road and have won 23 games by 10 or more points.
The Wolverines won their first outright conference regular-season title since 2014, when they also clinched with a win at Illinois.
Michigan’s 17 conference victories are the most in school history.
Keaton Wagler scored 23 points for the Illini (22-7, 13-5), who have lost four of six, including three in overtime. Wagler scored in double figures for the 21st straight game.
Kylan Boswell scored 15 points and David Mirkovic had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Illini, who entered the game as the Big Ten’s top 3-point shooting team. Illinois was just 9 of 29 from distance against Michigan.
Michigan led 38-31 at halftime behind Johnson’s 13 points.
Down 16-11 after a four-point play by Wagler, the Wolverines responded with an 11-point run capped by a 3 by Johnson and never trailed again. They led by as many as 21 points in the second half.
NO. 21 MIAMI (OHIO) 69, WESTERN MICHIGAN 67
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Trey Perry scored on a driving layup with a second remaining and Miami of Ohio rallied to beat Western Michigan to remain the only unbeaten Division I team.
The RedHawks (16-0 Mid-American Conference) remain the only undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball. Miami extended the best start in program history and added to its school record for wins in a season. Miami also boasts the best start and longest win streak in MAC annals.
Peter Suder scored 18 points for the RedHawks before fouling out with just over seven minutes remaining. Almar Atlason added 16 points, Perry finished with 14 and Eian Elmer 10.
Jayden Brewer led Western Michigan (10-19, 4-12) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Justice Williams and EJ Ryans each added 14 points.
Miami is used to playing close games and won for the seventh time this season by less than six points.
The RedHawks trailed by four points, 30-26, at the half and fell behind by eight points twice early in the second half before tying the game at 49-all with 11:02 remaining.
Western Michigan ran off eight straight points for a 57-49 advantage with 8:40 remaining and led by nine (59-50) with 6:38 left before Miami chipped away and moved ahead 66-65 on a layup by Antwone Woolfolk with 14 seconds left.
Elmer’s free throw with 37 seconds remaining gave the RedHawks a 67-65 edge, but Western Michigan tied it with 11 seconds left on a basket by Williams before Perry made the game winner.
