Apr 2, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Georges Niang (20) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Timing is important in the NBA. Teams that are and aren’t playoff-bound are fairly easy to discern after about 20 to 30 regular-season games. Who is and isn’t a contender is also largely well known by about the same point. There’s jostling for seeding and homecourt advantage, but what’s important for teams looking to make some postseason noise is that, come May, the team is healthy and playing its best basketball. Atlanta looks to be fulfilling those two dependencies, which is not great for a Dallas team trying to halt a seven-game losing streak.
Dallas, at least, can check one of those boxes; they’re heading into Tuesday’s game with as clean of an injury report as they’ve had in some time. Dallas’ young core, Cooper Flagg, Ryan Nembhard, and Max Christie, will all be available to play against a team in Atlanta, with players like Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Dyson Daniels. It’s a matchup that, if nothing else, is perhaps aspirational, as the Hawks’ youth movement is gelling post-deadline, and has the Hawks, who are 7-and-3 over their last 10 games, fighting to break out of the Play-In Tournament and reach the 6th seed in the East.
No Trae, no problem
Atlanta has hit the ground running in their post-Trae era. Literally. Despite trading a player in Young who is nothing if not a high-pace, high-firepower offensive engine, Atlanta is playing with the second-highest pace in the league over the last 10 games.
Their up-tempo playstyle has the Hawks scoring the fifth-most points per game over that span, averaging nearly 119 per contest. No team in the league has generated more possessions than Atlanta has, and their sixth-best assist percentage indicates that it’s not just playing fast, but also unselfishly and with an ability to move the ball.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson are all averaging more than four assists per game over the Hawks’ 7-and-3 stretch. Dallas has just two such players in Cooper Flagg and Brandon Williams.
Best foot forwards
Both lineups will feature future stars at the forward position for both of these teams. For Dallas, obviously there’s Flagg, and for Atlanta, Jalen Johnson has become a do-it-all style player who is filling up the box score. Johnson is leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists, averaging 22.9/10.5/7.9. He’s behind only Nikola Jokic (though by a wide margin) for players with the most triple-doubles this season, with 11.
Flagg is still searching for his first triple-double (He’s had double-digit assists just once this season, 11 against the Lakers in November), but with the team fully focused on his development since trading Anthony Davis, the light couldn’t be greener for him to have the ball in his hands as much as is feasibly possible. Especially as coach Jason Kidd has made getting Flagg reps as the lead ball handler this season a point of focus for his rookie development.
Board battle
The Hawks have been voracious on the board recently. Their rebound rate is 54%, which trails only the Celtics, and they have the seventh-best offensive rebound rate.
The Mavericks and Hawks are roughly equal when it comes to second-chance points scored, with Dallas at 14.7 to Atlanta’s 14.4 points. However, the Mavs are allowing opposing teams to score 16 points on second-chance points, while the Hawks allow just 10.7.
Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell will have their work cut out for them to prevent the Hawks from crashing the boards and tilting those numbers even further in their favor. With how Dallas’ offense has looked recently, giving up easy second-chance buckets wouldn’t bode well for the team.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game at 6:30 pm on KFAA Channel 29 or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (Spanish).
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Thomas Dowd finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and regular-season champion Troy ended the five-day run of No. 10 seed Georgia Southern with a 77-61 victory in the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Monday night.
Dowd made 8 of 12 shots with two 3-pointers and 5 of 6 free throws for the Trojans (22-11), who earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and their fourth overall.
Georgia Southern (21-16) became the fourth team to win five games in five days in a conference tournament — joining N.C. State (2024, ACC) and Connecticut (2011, Big East). North Carolina did it in 1922 and 1925 while members of the Southern Conference.
Jerrell Bellamy scored 15 on 7-for-11 shooting for Troy. Victor Valdes added 12 points and six assists, and Cobi Campbell scored 11.
Spudd Webb had 16 points to pace the Eagles, and Tyren Moore scored 10 on 3-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. Nakavieon White added 11 points off the bench.
Dowd had 13 points by halftime to help the Trojans build a 38-25 advantage. Georgia Southern missed 18 of 26 shots overall and 12 of 16 from 3-point range in the first half.
Moore hit a 3-pointer to begin the game, but Dowd had a layup and Bellamy followed with a dunk and Troy never trailed again.
Georgia Southern has made three NCAA Tournament appearances, none since 1992.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Bowser had 21 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6 seed Furman beat top-seeded East Tennessee State 76-61 on Monday night to secure the Southern Conference Tournament and a NCAA Tournament bid.
Furman (22-12) won its eighth SoCon title in program history and first since defeating Chattanooga in 2023.
Tom House added 13 points off the bench for Furman and Alex Wilkins, who scored a career-high 34 to help rally from an 11-point halftime deficit in the semifinals, scored 12. Bowser was 9 of 12 from the field to help the Paladins shoot 51%.
Brian Taylor II scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for ETSU (23-11), which was in the title game for the second time in three seasons. Blake Barkley added 14 points and Jaylen Smith had 10.
House made Furman's sixth 3-pointer of the first half to extend the lead to 37-27 with four minutes left. The Paladins led 42-35 at the break.
Wilkins' steal and fast-break dunk extended Furman's lead to 72-61 with 2:11 left and Bowser added a hook shot in the lane on their next possession for a 13-point lead.
ETSU went 2 of 7 from the field over the final five minutes to halt a comeback attempt. The Buccaneers finished 3 of 16 from 3-point range and 10 of 18 at the free-throw line.
The Buccaneers were trying for their first NCAA bid since 2020.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 9: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers handled their business against a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers team that was missing their four best players. The Cavs took the lead at the end of the first quarter, stretched the advantage to 25 in the third, and settled for a 115-105 victory.
This was a complete team victory. The Cavs had six players finish in double figures, led by James Harden, who scored his 29,000th career point.
Harden set the tone. He controlled the offense, got his teammates involved, and found ways to score himself. He provided a team-high 21 points on 6-11 shooting with five assists.
Evan Mobley had another solid game. The pick-and-roll partnership with Harden is still a work-in-progress, but games like today show that there is a way that this duo can work together, even if he isn’t the typical big man you’d pair with Harden.
Mobley finished with 15 points on 7-12 shooting with eight rebounds and three blocks.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.
Donovan Mitchell wasn’t his usual efficient self from the floor. He shot 4-11, but was able to make up for it by going 9-9 at the free-throw line. He had 17 points, six assists, and two steals in the win.
The other Cavaliers that finished in double figures scoring were Keon Ellis (19 points), Dean Wade (13 points), and Jaylon Tyson (11 points).
The Sixers were led by Quintin Grimes’s 17 points on 6-13 shooting.
There isn’t a whole lot to take from a game like this. The Sixers weren’t close to having their usual rotation players, and it very much looked that way. There weren’t many ways they could actually challenge the Cavs.
It is, however, worth pointing out that the Cavs didn’t take this game lightly. They approached it as they should’ve, didn’t suffer a letdown from yesterday’s emotional loss, and played up to their skill level.
The Cavs will be back in action on Wednesday when they hit the road to take on the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM.
The Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard has now scored at least 20 points in 126 consecutive games, tying the NBA record set by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Gilgeous-Alexander tied the mark during the Thunder's game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, March 9.
It’s yet another indicator of Gilgeous-Alexander’s remarkable consistency and dominance. Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player, entered the night ranked second in the league in scoring, at 31.6 points per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, set the record in the third quarter, on a stepback 3-pointer that he rattled through the net.
He got off to a quick start, making his first four shot attempts of the game. The Thunder are down three starters in the game, with Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain), Chet Holmgren (flu) and Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion) all sidelined. That meant that Gilgeous-Alexander had to take on a greater role in the team’s offense.
Through the first quarter, aside from Gilgeous-Alexander and backup guard Ajay Mitchell, who combined to go 10-of-13 from the field, the rest of the Thunder started the game just 4-of-14 (28.6%) from the floor.
Gilgeous-Alexander will now have the chance to set the NBA record Thursday, March 12 in a game against the Boston Celtics (Amazon Prime).
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 9: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another 0-4 season series against an Eastern Conference opponent — that’s not exactly ideal.
The hospital Sixers were handled a 115-101 loss by the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night.
They are 34-30, the eighth seed in the East and now a game and a half back from the sixth.
Quentin Grimes led the Sixers with 17 points shooting 6-of-13 from the floor. James Harden led all scorers with 21.
The Sixers were only down Tyrese Maxey (finger strain), Joel Embiid (oblique strain), Paul George (suspension) and VJ Edgecombe (lumbar contusion).
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
The start was about what you’d expect from the Sixers’ side. Adem Bona’s first two attempts of the night were thwarted. Grimes’ first drive ended with a pass sailed into the second row, but the guard went on to knock down his first two threes of the night off the catch. Cleveland opened the game just as cold as their game the day before, missing eight of their first 10 attempts.
The Sixers held an early lead thanks to some hustle plays like Cam Payne’s putback layup and turning a blocked jumper into a transition opportunity. Harden hit his first three before having one blocked. He also got four from the line and was the only source of points in the early going.
On the other end it was a struggle from the stripe, with Dominick Barlow and Tyrese Martin each missing their first two foul shots to start the night. Both Martin and Dalen Terry got early minutes with Barlow and Oubre getting in early foul trouble. Martin somehow made a nice recovery block on a Jalen Tyson layup attempt, but Tyson drilled a corner three at the buzzer to make it a six-point Cavs lead after one. The Sixers went the last 3:05 of the quarter without a field goal.
Second Quarter
Justin Edwards was also on the floor early, getting on the board with a midrange pull-up before trying a deep three of the catch. The two-ways all ended up with short shifts, with Martin and MarJon Beauchamp combining for three ugly turnovers. The Cavs’ offense — DonovanMitchell specifically — took advantage with drive after drive.
Bona got rolling, quite literally in fact, having two nice finishes at the rim being set up by Grimes and Payne. Grimes himself found success getting to the hoop after missing three straight threes. The occasional bucket in the post hardly kept up with the Cavs’ offense coming alive.
At least that’s how it looked like compared to the Sixers shooting 22% from three in the half. Cleveland only shot 33% from beyond the arc, but eight more attempts certainly helped them take a 12-point lead into the half. Payne hasn’t given the Sixers the shooting boost since coming over from Europe so far, coming into the night shooting 18% from three in his return. He finally got one to go with 30 seconds left in the half after missing his first five attempts.
Third Quarter
Bona had another exciting dunk, but his hands problem was on full display, struggling to corral a rebound and a wild turnover trying to get somewhere with his dribble. Harden seemed intent on putting the game away quickly, setting up a couple teammates for threes after nailing one himself.
The broadcast kept mentioning how the Sixers had as many or more made field goals than the Cavs. They rightly attributed that to free throws, but again the three-point disparity was very much on display. Cleveland had only made two more field goals but had made nine more threes as they coasted to a 21-point lead.
Fourth Quarter
It was at least nice to see Terry have a nice little sequence. He pulled down an offensive rebound and kicked it out for a three before stealing the ensuing inbounds pass and knocked down a three of his own. He drove and found Jabari Walker for a corner three a few possessions later.
A rotation note is that Walker had only played a couple minutes in the first half, perhaps a shot to the head ending that shift prematurely. If that was the case it didn’t make much sense in putting him out there. If he had been good to go he probably should have played more minutes before this point in the game.
It didn’t take long for Terry, Edwards and Walker to nearly double the team’s made three-pointers on the night, but that was hardly enough to keep the lead under 20 points. It’s been fitting seeing players who were added by teams that did some cost cutting at the deadline play well against the Sixers such as Jose Alvarado back in mid-February. Keon Ellis dropped 19 points in this one shooting 5-of-9 from the floor.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 9: Seth Curry #31 of the Golden State Warriors watches a shot drop during warmups before their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on March 9, 2026 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.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s something poetic about this. Steph Curry, the greatest shooter in NBA history, is watching from the bench while his little brother Seth laces up for the Golden State Warriors tonight against the Utah Jazz. Three months removed from a left sciatic nerve issue that’s kept him sidelined since December 4th, Seth Curry makes his return for what is technically his third appearance in a Warriors uniform this season.
Two sons of Dell Curry. One family legacy built on the art of putting the ball through the net.
And right now, with Steph still nursing his knee, the Warriors need the other one badly.
Seth Curry is officially making his return tonight for the Warriors @NBCSWarriors
This will be his third game of the season and first since Dec. 4 after missing the last three months to left sciatic nerve irritation
Seth’s sample size this season is microscopic but encouraging: 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in two games back in December. That’s not a projection. That’s not a trend. But it IS a sharpshooting guard on a team that has been scrapping for consistent perimeter shooting while running its “Communist Ball” offense through youth and collective will.
The timing matters. The Warriors’ shooting depth is stretched thin. Seth Curry arriving tonight isn’t just a heartwarming family subplot. Rather, it’s a necessary basketball injection.
We spent all offseason talking about the “Splash Brothers 2.0” narrative when Golden State signed Seth. The blood version of a legacy pairing that helped redefine how the NBA plays basketball. Dub Nation started daydreaming about Steph and Seth running off screens together, surgical and inevitable. The injury report had other plans. But tonight, at least one son of Dell is back.
And in a season that has tested the faith of every Warriors fan repeatedly, that’s worth something.
As the Sun Belt’s No. 10 seed, the Eagles would need to win six games in six days to secure one of those precious auto bids that unlock NCAA Tournament access for super Cinderellas, no matter their record.
A conference 10-seed, becoming a bid-stealer? That really would be mad, but, hey, this is March.
The way the Sun Belt’s “Flying V” bracket works, teams with double-digit seeds like Georgia Southern face a rigorous journey to reach the point of the “V,” the finals, while the conference’s best teams start several rounds closer to the finish line.
The NCAA Tournament starts next week, and mid-majors supply the event's charm and paint some of the most epic scenes for Luther Vandross to croon over. Real ones know, though, the upsets and the mad twists begin in the conference tourneys, where precious NCAA access is on the line, even for teams with damaged records and flawed resumes.
One by one, night by night, Georgia Southern carved through Old Dominion, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and Marshall.
Down went Sun Belt’s No. 3 seed. Out went the No. 2.
One more upset, and the Eagles wouldn't just be soaring, they'd be dancing.
And you can say they ran out of steam, and that’d probably be right. Or you can say they simply ran into the Sun Belt’s best team, and that’d be right, too.
However you put it, super Cinderella bowed out. The Sun Belt’s No. 1 seed, Troy, is headed to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year after a 77-61 victory to turn back Georgia Southern.
"We wanted to make it six, man," Georgia Southern coach Charlie Henry said. "We really did."
How to describe playing six games in six nights?
"It's legendary," Georgia Southern guard Tyren Moore said. "It didn't end the way that we wanted it to, but I'm still proud."
Troy beating Georgia Southern makes NCAA Tournament bracket better
This result works neatly for the Sun Belt, that its best team will be on display on the sport's biggest stage. Troy is likely headed somewhere in the direction of the 14-seed line, after its frontcourt dominated in the paint against the Eagles.
"We won it with defense and rebounding and toughness," Troy coach Scott Cross said.
And with fresher legs, too, a benefit of Troy winning the Sun Belt's regular-season crown and securing the top seed.
It’s good for March Madness when the best teams in mid-major conferences win their respective conference tournaments. That means a better batch of underdogs.
And, still, what a story it would have been — a story that can only be told in March — if Georgia Southern had gotten a crack at playing a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed in a first-round game after a six-night stand in this Panhandle city that’s home to the world-famous Blue Angels and pristine beaches with sugar-white sand.
Georgia Southern came out of halftime burying buckets in a furious final stand that cut Troy’s lead to four points. Ah, but it wasn’t to be, and when Troy’s star big man Victor Valdes made a bucket in the paint to re-establish a double-digit lead, it was clear the postgame Fiskers were headed to the Trojans to do the net snipping.
March Madness expansion is coming, but not to help mid-majors
NCAA Tournament expansion probably is coming for us, not because fans want it or because deserving teams are being left out of the bracket. Expansion is coming because the Power-conference power brokers want to rescue the 10th- and 12th-place teams from the mega conferences they created.
No matter whether the bracket grows to 72 or 76 or even 80 teams, it’s not going to be big enough for 10th-place teams from the Sun Belt.
For teams like Georgia Southern, there’s still only one way in: By banging down the door with six wins in six nights and getting an auto bid.
And in those rare instances when a super Cinderella pulls it off, it’ll be madness, the likes of which Georgia Southern attempted, before Troy took its rightful place in the tournament every mid-major pains to reach.
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo be back with the Milwaukee Bucks next season?
It will be the question of the offseason, and nobody knows the answer — not pundits, not social media influencers, not Antetokounmpo himself, and not his teammates. Here is what Milwaukee's Bobby Portis said when he was asked about his confidence in Antetokounmpo returning during a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s Run It Back (hat tip Bleacher Report).
"I'm at a five, bro. I'm right there in the middle... for real, it's up in the air...
"It's going to be a super lingering thing all summer long, especially leading up into the draft. So, I guess we'll have to see, but I think it's right there at that five."
Antetokounmpo returned to the court last week in an effort to push the Bucks into the postseason, but since then the team is 1-3 and sits four games back of the No. 10 seed with 19 to play. If they miss the play-in, it shows how far away from the contender Antetokounmpo says he wants to play for the Bucks are right now. Antetokounmpo has also said he wants to be a Buck for life and that he loves Milwaukee.
This summer, Milwaukee GM Jon Horst will have three first-round draft picks and some players with tradable salaries — Kyle Kuzma, maybe Portis — to make moves that turn the team back into a threat in the East. That is going to start around the draft.
Ultimately, Milwaukee will talk max contract extension with Antetokounmpo (which he can't officially sign until Oct. 1), and if he says he will sign it, then he stays. If he says he will not (which most people outside Milwaukee expect), the rumor mill starts up again. Milwaukee could work with him on a trade that works for everyone. Or the Bucks could decide he is too important to the franchise to trade, as Oklahoma City did with Kevin Durant, and hold on to him. Antetokounmpo can be a free agent in the summer of 2027 (he has a player option for the 2027-28 season).
Whatever happens, there will be drama, and even Antetokounmpo's teammates don't know how this will play out.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jillian Huerter hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points, Cyanne Coe had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Fairfield beat top-seeded Quinnipiac 51-44 on Monday to claim a third straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
Fairfield (28-4), the No. 2 seed, advances to its fourth NCAA Tournament in the past five years and its eighth overall. Quinnipiac (26-6) was aiming for a sixth appearance in the main event — with its five previous trips coming from 2013-19.
Anna Foley hit a 3-pointer and Jackie Grisdale added a layup as Quinnipiac took advantage of three straight Fairfield turnovers to cut it to 47-44 with 60 seconds remaining. But Sydney Ryan missed a tying 3-pointer with 23 seconds left and Kaety L'Amoreaux and Sydni Scott sealed it at the free-throw line.
Foley led the Bobcats with 17 points and nine rebounds. Ella Ryan added 14 points.
There were four lead changes in the second quarter with neither team leading by more than a point until Huerter sank back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Stags a 20-13 lead.
Ella Ryan's layup with 2:04 remaining was the final basket of the half and left Quinnipiac trailing 25-19.
Coe had six points in the third quarter and the Stags outscored the Bobcats by three to take a 38-29 lead into the fourth. Quinnipiac never had a second-half lead.
The two teams split two games during the regular season, with both winning on the road.
Quinnipiac was the last to win three straight conference tourneys (2017-19). Marist won nine straight from 2006-14.
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 7: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 7, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After yesterday’s stinker against the Lakers, the Knicks (41*-24) get an LA mulligan against the Clippers (31-32) at the Intuit Dome. LA has gone 25-11 after a 6-21 start, powered by Kawhi Leonard’s monster year (27.9 PPG). Fatigue could be a concern for our heroes in this one, especially for Cap, who logged 42 minutes a little over 24 hours ago.
Game time is 9 p.m. 10 p.m.** EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Clips Nation. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Pick up after yourselves and be good humans. Go Knicks.
* Should be one more, but NBA Cups are actually Dixie Cups.
** Sorry about that, folks. Blame it on daylight saving time and wishful thinking.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 24, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers Date: March 10th, 2026 Time: 10:00 PM CDT Location: Crypto.com Arena Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
Every good run eventually meets reality.
For the Minnesota Timberwolves, that reality arrived Saturday afternoon at Target Center when their five-game winning streak came to a screeching halt courtesy of the Orlando Magic. The timing, of course, was almost comically predictable. If you’ve followed this team long enough, you know the Wolves have a weird kryptonite: weekend matinees. For this team, Saturday afternoon basketball is the equivalent of trying to run a marathon after waking up from a nap.
But here’s the important distinction: this loss wasn’t one of the lifeless disasters we’ve seen before. The Wolves have had games this season (the blowouts against the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers come to mind) where it felt like the team simply forgot to show up. Those games were frustrating not just because they lost, but because the effort wasn’t there.
Saturday wasn’t that. Minnesota didn’t play well. Not even close. But they fought. They competed. They tried to claw their way back into a game that kept slipping through their fingers like sand. That doesn’t make the loss any easier in the standings, but it does separate it from the kind of no-show performance that makes you question the team’s focus.
The frustrating part is that the Wolves actually started the game well. The first quarter had the feel of a team ready to extend its winning streak. The ball moved. The defense held up. For a moment it looked like Minnesota might be in line for another comfortable home win.
Then the offense collapsed. Anthony Edwards cooled off after his scoring heater, and the rest of the roster seemed to follow gravity straight back to earth. The Wolves finished the game shooting an absolutely brutal 22 percent from three-point range.
And that’s a problem for this team. Because for better or worse, the Timberwolves’ offensive identity this season has revolved around the three-point line.
When the Threes Don’t Fall, Everything Falls Apart
Minnesota has built its offense around spacing, shooting, and the gravity that Anthony Edwards creates. Edwards has been spectacular this season as a three-point shooter, and players like Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Bones Highland have all proven capable of catching fire from deep.
When those shots fall, the Wolves look unstoppable. The offense opens up, the driving lanes widen, and Minnesota can bury teams under an avalanche of perimeter scoring. But when those shots don’t fall?
It can get ugly fast.
Saturday was one of those days. The Wolves simply couldn’t buy a basket from deep. Some nights the rim looks like the ocean and everything drops. Saturday felt like the Wolves were trying to shoot into a thimble. Without the long ball falling, Minnesota’s offense stalled out completely.
Orlando certainly deserves some credit for that. The Magic played excellent defense. They built a wall in the paint, cut off driving lanes, and forced the Wolves into contested looks. As the misses piled up, frustration crept into Minnesota’s offense. Possessions started ending with rushed shots instead of flowing through the offense.
Meanwhile, Orlando took advantage of Minnesota’s defensive lapses in the exact opposite way. The Magic weren’t lighting it up from three either, but they didn’t need to. Orlando simply attacked the rim over and over again, slicing through Minnesota’s perimeter defense like a hot knife through butter.
Where the Magic put up a wall, the Wolves sometimes looked like a revolving door. The result was a 20-plus point blowout that never really felt like it was coming back.
A Wake-Up Call Before the Road Trip?
If you’re searching for a silver lining, and Wolves fans have spent decades mastering that particular skill, there’s an argument that this loss might not be the worst thing in the world.
Sometimes a good team needs a punch in the mouth.
The Wolves are about to embark on a four-game road trip that will serve as one of the biggest tests of their season. And if there’s a game in that stretch that stands above the rest in terms of importance, it’s the first one.
The Los Angeles Lakers.
Yes, the Wolves need wins against the Clippers, Warriors, and Thunder as well. Those are all tough opponents, and every win will matter in the standings. But the Lakers game is different. Because the Lakers are the team Minnesota is directly battling with in the standings.
The Wolves have already dropped two games to Los Angeles this season, which means they won’t own the tiebreaker. That makes the margin for error razor thin. Minnesota cannot afford to allow the Lakers to gain any more ground, especially at a moment when Los Angeles has started to wobble a little bit. If the Wolves want to claim the three seed, and avoid sliding back into the fourth or fifth spot, they need to establish their authority in this matchup.
There’s also a little psychological edge at play here. These two teams met in the playoffs last season, with Minnesota eliminating Los Angeles in the first round. That history adds a little extra spice to this matchup.
The media will bill this as Edwards vs. Doncic, and honestly, that’s not a bad storyline. But for Minnesota, the bigger story is the standings.
Keys to the Game
#1 – The three-point shooting has to rebound.
Minnesota’s offense lives and dies by the long ball. Anthony Edwards continues to shoot at a high clip, but the Wolves cannot rely solely on him to carry the perimeter attack. Players like DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels need to convert the open looks they’re getting. If Minnesota can push its team three-point percentage back into the mid-to-high 30s, the offensive balance returns immediately.
#2 – Reassert the physical advantage in the paint.
Minnesota bullied the Lakers down low in last year’s postseason series. Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle dominated the boards and controlled the interior, and Los Angeles simply didn’t have an answer. The Lakers attempted to fix that weakness by acquiring Deandre Ayton, who provided more resistance earlier in the season, but Minnesota still holds the edge.
Gobert needs to channel his Game 5 energy from that playoff series by dominating rebounds, protecting the rim, and turning missed shots into second-chance opportunities.
#3 – Contain Luka Doncic.
Doncic has torched the Wolves before, including earlier this season in Los Angeles when he outdueled Edwards. Stopping Luka entirely is impossible, but Minnesota can’t allow him to dictate the game.
This isn’t a one-man defensive assignment. Even elite defenders like Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards can’t handle Doncic alone for forty-eight minutes. It will require coordinated team defense, disciplined rotations, and the willingness to make Luka work for every shot.
If the Wolves force other Lakers players to beat them, they dramatically improve their chances.
#4 – Attack the rim.
Yes, the threes need to fall. But the Wolves can’t sit back and hope that better shooting alone solves their problems. The Lakers’ defense is vulnerable, particularly when it comes to perimeter containment. Doncic, Austin Reaves, and even LeBron James can be attacked off the dribble.
Players like Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Highland, and McDaniels need to apply pressure by driving into the paint, collapsing the defense, and creating easier scoring opportunities.
#5 – Commit to playing the right way.
That means disciplined defense instead of gambling for highlight plays. It means moving the ball instead of falling into isolation hero ball. It means trusting teammates and playing connected basketball on both ends of the floor.
This road trip is where chemistry either strengthens or cracks. With the playoff just around the corner, the Wolves need to establish their identity and their habits. “Later” isn’t an option.
A Defining Road Trip Begins
The margin for error in the Western Conference is razor thin. One bad stretch can undo weeks of progress, and the Wolves know it. This four-game road trip will test their maturity, their discipline, and their ability to bounce back from adversity. And it starts with the biggest game of the bunch. Beat the Lakers and Minnesota keeps control of its destiny. Lose, and suddenly the standings get uncomfortable again.
The Wolves have spent the past few weeks climbing toward that coveted third seed.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Priscilla Williams finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late in regulation, and Comari Mitchell gave Jacksonville the lead for good in overtime to help the Dolphins edge Austin Peay 66-63 on Monday in the title game of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
No. 2 seed Jacksonville (24-8) advances to the NCAA Tournament for the second time by winning the first ASUN title game decided in OT since the tournament began in 1986. Jacksonville's other appearance came in 2016.
Mitchell gave the Dolphins the lead with 1:45 left in OT, and Mychal White stole the ball and scored with a baseline jumper on her only shot for a 64-60 advantage with 20.8 seconds left.
Mya Williams hit a 3-pointer 10 seconds later for eighth-seeded Austin Peay (19-13), but Makiya Miller made two free throws before JaNiah Newell missed a tying 3-pointer on the game's final shot.
Mitchell and Carmaya Bowman both scored 10 for Jacksonville.
Mya Williams had 20 points and seven rebounds for Austin Peay. Anovia Sheals scored 18 and Jim’Miyah Branton added 11 points and eight assists.
Miller hit a jumper with three seconds left in the first half to give the Dolphins the lead at 32-26.
Mya Williams made two free throws in the final second of the third after Priscilla Williams was charged with a technical foul following a traveling violation to cut it to 49-40 heading to the fourth.
Sheals made two free throws with 1:49 left in regulation to give the Governors their first lead, 54-53. Miller made the second of two foul shots with 33 seconds left to force OT tied at 56.
CJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 7 in Atlanta. (Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The famed Magic City adult entertainment club won't be featured at next week's Atlanta Hawks promotional night, the NBA announced on Monday.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged concerns from others in the league on Monday, saying that his decision to cancel the collaboration is in the best interests of the "broader NBA community."
"While we appreciate the team's perspective and their desire to move forward," he said in a statement, "we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees."
The Hawks announced its "Magic City Monday" promotion in late February, featuring a halftime performance by Atlanta-based artist T.I., a collaborative hoodie and the offering of some of the club's popular wings, including the lemon-pepper variety named after former Hawks player Lou Williams.
Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz was a producer on "Magic City: An American Fantasy," a docuseries that aired on Starz. Still, the team's decision to collaborate with the Atlanta strip club ruffled some feathers in the NBA.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to cancel the promotional night in a post on Medium last week, saying that it would "reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society."
Others had argued that Magic City is a big part of Atlanta culture and should be celebrated as such.
The Hawks wrote in a statement on Monday that it was disappointed with the NBA's decision but would respect it.
Rapper T.I. will still perform at halftime, but the live recording of the Hawks AF Podcast featuring Gertz, T.I. and Magic City founder Michael Barney was canceled. Fans who pre-ordered the collaboration hoodie will still receive one, but the sweatshirts won't be available for purchase at the game, the Hawks wrote on X.
"As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together," the Hawks wrote.
Times staff writer Chuck Schilken contributed to this report
Starting last Thursday in Denver, nine of their next 11 games were against playoff teams with six of eight against teams currently bunched up with them in the Western Conference standings.
With 18 games remaining, the NBA’s marathon 82-game season is now a sprint to the finish — that magical time when fans begin squinting at the standings like stockbrokers watching a volatile market.
Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
Every win feels like leverage.
Every loss feels like disaster.
The next nine days could decide if the Lakers will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
But that begs the question: Do the Lakers need or want homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA Playoffs?
The answer might surprise you.
No. Not really.
Of course, if you ask any player or coach publicly, they’ll say the right things. Homecourt advantage matters. The crowd helps bring energy. Sticking to your normal routine helps. Sleeping in your own bed helps.
All of that is true.
But the reality of the NBA playoffs — especially in the Western Conference — is that matchups and health matter far more than geography.
Right now, the Lakers sit in the middle of the Western Conference traffic jam. Seeds three through six are separated by a single game heading into action Monday night. Oklahoma City and San Antonio have already pulled away at the top like two sports cars leaving a crowded freeway.
Everyone else is stuck jockeying for position.
The Lakers are currently tied with Denver for fifth. Minnesota currently sits in third. Houston sits in fourth just a half-game ahead of the Lakers.
Western Conference standings as of 5 p.m. PT Monday.
Over the next nine days, the Lakers will face all of them.
Minnesota on Tuesday. Denver on Saturday. Then two back-to-back road games in Houston.
If the Lakers win their next five games, they will sit alone in third place with homecourt advantage in the first round in their control.
“It’s not something we’re focused on, but we’re definitely aware of,” said Lakers’ guard Marcus Smart about the upcoming stretch. “My experience, we got to focus on one game at a time…We don’t have the luxury to look ahead. We definitely got to take it one game at a time and handle business.”
Handling business is great, but let’s pause for a moment and remember something.
This is exactly what happened last season.
With 18 games to go last year, the Lakers found themselves in fourth place in a crowded Western Conference. Seeds two through eight were separated by four games, with two through five separated by just 1.5 games. Everyone wanted the Lakers to finish second or third.
When the dust settled, they finished third in the West and earned homecourt advantage in the first round.
And it didn’t matter one bit.
Minnesota walked into Crypto.com Arena in Game 1 and punched the Lakers in the mouth. The Timberwolves blew them out in front of their own crowd. The Lakers recovered to win Game 2, but the rest of the series unraveled quickly.
They lost the series in five games, including two of their three home games,
So much for homecourt advantage.
LeBron James goes up for a dunk against the Pelicans. Getty Images
Last season the Lakers were dominant in Los Angeles, finishing 31–10 at home — the second-best home record in the Western Conference behind the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
It looked impressive in the standings, but it meant nothing in April. It rarely does when the matchup is wrong.
And matchups are exactly what the Lakers should be studying during this upcoming stretch, not necessarily results.
LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves — arguably the most fascinating offensive trio in the conference — have played only a little over a dozen games together. The chemistry is improving, but playoff basketball demands instinctive trust.
The kind that comes from repetition.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves hits a behind-the-back step back against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The next nine days will act as a scouting report for April. The Lakers will see how they match up against Minnesota’s size and length, Denver’s experience, and Houston’s relentless athleticism.
These games are not just about wins and losses.
They’re about gathering information. They’re about discovering which lineups survive when the game slows down. They’re about understanding which defensive matchups can lock-up their opponent during a seven-game series.
“This could be a perfect time or not,” Doncic said about the upcoming schedule. “Just gotta approach those games with the same mentality. Obviously, every one of those teams has great players. They’re winning games. So we need to go game by game first of all, and then just try to win all those games.”
If the Lakers secure the No. 3 seed, great. They’ll happily take the home games.
But if they finish fifth, avoid the play-in tournament, and have a more favorable matchup?
That’s perfectly fine too.
Because the truth about playoff basketball is brutally simple.
It isn’t about where you play. It’s about who you play — and whether you’re healthy enough to beat them.
