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Top NBA prospects in 2026 March Madness Sweet 16: Analysis, players to watch in NCAA Tournament including Darius Acuff Jr.

We don't get this every year (or even many years): Some of the highest-projected picks in June's NBA Draft are still playing in the Sweet 16.

We've got it this year, and it has set up some great matchups and plenty of players to watch. Here are just some of the things we will have our eyes on this week, starting with two really great matchups.

Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) vs. Brayden Burries (Arizona)

Darius Acuff Jr. has helped his stock in this draft and maybe moved himself into the top five because starting with the SEC Tournament and through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, he has averaged 30.2 points and 7.2 assists through five games. Plus, he's just fun to watch — Allen Iverson wrote on Instagram Acuff was the "next him." The other comps his supporters like to use are Damian Lillard or Stephon Marbury.

What do all of those guys have in common? They are undersized point guards who are poor defenders — and Acuff is those things too (he is officially 6'3", but most expect him to measure a couple of inches shorter at the NBA Draft Combine). It is increasingly hard to thrive in the NBA as a small point guard who doesn't defend. That's why most teams don't have Acuff higher than fifth on their draft boards, something NBC’s Grant Liffman reported on NBA Showtime, and it echoes what I have heard as well.

Acuff can help his case going up against a very good, No. 1 seed Arizona team led by another first-round point guard in Brayden Burries. This is just a great contrast of styles. Burries isn't flashy, he is more old school, but he does a lot of things well and is efficient. He's the kind of guy you can see stepping in and helping an NBA team immediately as a rotation guard because he can play on and off the ball, knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers, and get downhill off screens, but also has a midrange pull-up game. He could have a big day against Acuff and help his draft stock, too.

Keaton Wagler (Illinois) vs. Kingston Flemings (Houston)

There is a group of guards that are going to go in the top 10 in the draft — Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville, he missed the tournament with an injury). This game has two of them going head-to-head and will draw a lot of scouts' attention.

Wagler has been one of the great stories of the college basketball season, an unheralded 6'6" guard/wing who led Illinois to the best offense in the nation (126.1 offensive rating) and pushed himself into the lottery, averaging 17.7 points per game while dishing out 4.3 assists a game and shooting 41% from 3-point range.

However, Wagler has struggled at times against pressure defenses. Now he goes up against Flemings and a Kelvin Sampson-coached Houston team that does high-pressure defense better than any team in the land. What scouts and GMs want to see in the NCAA Tournament is how players handle high-pressure situations. This game is exactly that for Wagler, and a lot of people will be watching.

Flemings has a lot of fans in NBA front offices. He's a 6'4" point guard with an explosive first step and the ability to get around people and to the rim. He's used that and a steady jumper to average 16.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range. Can he keep that up as the lights get brighter?

Cameron Boozer, Duke

It's not like Boozer played poorly the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament: 20.5 points and 12 rebounds per game, shooting 52.4%, and he had some steals and blocks while leading his team to the Sweet 16. But Siena and TCU — and Virginia in the ACC Tournament — seemed to slow the projected top-three pick down, make things difficult for him. NBA personnel noticed, and not everyone is as high on him because of concerns about his level of athleticism (the analytics guys tend to be bigger fans). Boozer is a high-IQ player who does so many things well, but he's not an explosive athlete by NBA standards, and that has seemed to show.

Now he and the Blue Devils face a St. John's team that can throw a very athletic defender at him in Dillon Mitchell, and you can bet Rick Pitino is going to dial up the pressure. How does Boozer handle that? Can he show another gear we have not seen so far in the tournament?

That said, Boozer is a lock to be a top-four pick in June because he is so good and rock solid, his floor is just so high that he's not going to be a bad pick. The question is, how high is his ceiling?

Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

Stirtz is the kind of point guard coaches love because he just knows how to play the game. The 22-year-old, 6'4" point guard is averaging 20 points and 4.5 assists a game, shooting 37.6% from 3-point range, and he's doing it with one of the slowest-paced, most deliberate offenses in basketball. Stirtz fits the mold of the kind of player teams take a long look at in the second half of the first round: A high-IQ player who can plug-and-play as guard depth off the bench.

What to watch in the Sweet 16 is how he handles pressure — he and slow-it-down Iowa are taking on a Nebraska team that wants to shoot 3s and play fast. Stirtz handled the pressure well against Florida in upsetting the No. 1 seed (he scored 13 and had the assist on the game-winner). Can he do it again?

Dailyn Swain, Texas

Swain is exactly the kind of player who can most help his draft stock in the tournament. The 6'8" wing is projected to go in the mid-20s and could become a two-way rotation player in the league (comps often used are Jared McCain or Naji Marshall, although that would be his high-end outcome). He averaged 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Longhorns this season and showed he could get downhill and to the rim, but there are questions about his jump shot. Teams are watching him in this tournament to see how he performs under pressure. The bigger question is, will he stay in the NBA Draft or go back to college for his senior season?

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Hawks add unnecessary drama, finish off top-seed Detroit 130-129

Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) brings the ball up the floor against the Orlando Magic during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Pistons have the Hawks’ number so far this season, but with a healthy squad and no Cade Cunningham available, Atlanta had a chance for some get back tonight.

Both teams were blazing red hot to begin the game, including these warmup shots for Onyeka Okongwu:

Atlanta got out in transition and poured it on there, too.

It was an avalanche against the second-rated defense in the NBA with the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker absolutely engulfed in flames the entire first quarter to the tune of 14 points:

After one, the Hawks led 37-29.

Jonathan Kuminga was a sparkplug off the bench, chipping in with some good deflections on the defensive end:

And hitting some buckets on the other end:

Jalen Johnson flashed some brilliant passes in the first quarter, but he got involved scoring-wise in the next period:

Johnson was completely unstoppable in the second quarter, and with Cunningham out he was easily the best talent on the court in the first half. His 15 points helped the Hawks push their lead up to as much as 21 points.

The Hawks went into halftime with their heads high leading 73-55. But things can turn on a dime quickly in the NBA. The team needed to come out focused and ready to close out the game in a second half.

And like clockwork, the Hawks gave up an immediate 19-0 run to the Pistons (22-0 if you span halftime). The Hawks couldn’t buy a bucket — nor could they handle Jalen Duren down low.

The Hawks gave the lead up entirely, but they managed to recover and string together some good possessions later in the quarter. Alexander-Walker helped quiet the storm:

After three quarters, the Hawks suddenly found themselves in a close one, 98-95.

Detroit continued to feast on Atlanta’s mistakes, jumping in front of lazy halfcourt passes for a pair of ‘pick-2’ scores.

It was a scrappy affair for the first portion of the fourth quarter, and that helped the Hawks get into the bonus early. But they still couldn’t handle Duren down low, including him drawing a sixth and final foul on Okongwu.

But CJ McCollum put the team on his back, registering eight straight points for the Hawks all by himself. He even hit this circus one-legged shot with the shot clock all the way down:

The Hawks grabbed ahold of a 118-116 lead with less than two minutes remaining despite their numerous turnovers to this point. And after a long possession with multiple offensive rebounds, McCollum hit another tough two plus the harm:

But a Duncan Robinson triple and a Pistons stop gave Detroit a chance down two with around 13 seconds left in the contest.

And Tobias Harris answered the call with a turnaround jumper off a sideline inbounds pass. Tie game with 9.5 seconds left.

McCollum created for himself a decent look, but his stepback jumper didn’t fall. The teams headed to overtime.

Atlanta’s offense ran like a well-oiled machine for the first few minutes of overtime. But Detroit had an answer for every time the Hawks jumped out to a multiple possession lead.

Detroit found themselves down just one, 130-129, with a chance to win with 8.2 seconds on the clock. After a foul to give, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren both had shots to win the game but failed:

The Hawks mercifully closed this one out, 130-129.

Johnson dropped a monster double-double with 27 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds. McCollum also added 27 big points.

The Hawks are now guaranteed at least a .500 record at 41-32 and head to Boston to try to keep the good times rolling.

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DraftKings says it has used 'March Madness,' other terms for 5 years in response to NCAA complaint

DraftKings has been using “March Madness” and other familiar terms to refer to the NCAA Tournament for more than five years and has the legal right to do so, the sportsbook said in a court filing Wednesday in response to a complaint filed by the NCAA last week.

The NCAA is seeking an emergency temporary restraining order to stop DraftKings from using registered trademarks associated with its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

The complaint for trademark infringement, filed in the Southern District of Indiana, requests that DraftKings stop using “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight” and “Sweet Sixteen” and variations of those terms to promote its business.

In its response, DraftKings described those terms as “the universally recognized names for the tournaments and their rounds, used by millions of college basketball fans, journalists, and participants in the sports-betting ecosystem. They are the same words used by other online sportsbooks, who have not been singled out by the NCAA’s fevered complaint.”

DraftKings said the NCAA had asked for the restraining order “based on a contrived and manufactured ‘emergency,’” and it noted that the NCAA has a commercial agreement with a company whose business is providing in-game data to sportsbooks.

The NCAA said it actively avoids any appearance of affiliation with gambling and said in the complaint that DraftKings’ use of the terms confuses customers by making it appear the NCAA is on board.

DraftKings said its use of the terms is protected under the First Amendment, arguing the NCAA's trademark claim would fail on the merits.

“No trademark gives any organization the right to monopolize the language fans, players, journalists, and sportsbooks use every day to accurately refer to college basketball tournaments,” the company said in a statement.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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Luka Doncic scores 43 as road weary Lakers hold off late Pacers rally

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Lakers guard Luka Doncic pulls up for a jumper over Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith during the first half on Wednesday at Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

Even LeBron James couldn’t muster the energy. With a wide-open lane in the ending moments of the Lakers’ 137-130 win over the Indiana Pacers, James simply dumped off a pass to Jake LaRavia. The 24-year-old had hops to put the finishing touches on the Lakers’ successful six-game trip.

Tired and shorthanded, the Lakers punctuated their extended trip with a fifth win Wednesday. Luka Doncic effortlessly scored his league-leading 14th 40-point game of the season, 43 points and seven assists.

The NBA's leading scorer appeared ready to settle for simply his 11th consecutive 30-point performance — which is tied for the longest streak of such games in the last 20 years — after the Lakers opened a 20-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but he returned to the game because Indiana, despite having the worst record in the NBA, was still pressuring with its starters. The Pacers (16-57) trailed by as many as 29 in the third quarter and trimmed the deficit to six with 27.9 seconds left.

“I think everybody was a little bit tired,” Doncic said. “It's been a long trip, but we got the win in the end; that’s what matters."

The wear and tear of an intense trip in which the first five games all came down to the final minutes didn’t faze Doncic. He nearly outscored the Pacers alone in the first quarter, putting up 21 while the Pacers trailed 45-28. He threw a lob to Maxi Kleber for a dunk in the third quarter then pumped both of his fists. Doncic nailed a step-back three from the top of the key, held his follow through and hopped backwards on one leg.

The Lakers (46-26) toyed with the struggling Pacers (16-56) for much of the night. Indiana’s Andrew Nesmith and Pascal Siakam fell over each other trying to contest a Euro-step layup by James, who then posed over them and pointed to the Pacers players. Nesmith and Siakam could only grimace at each other.

James finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Austin Reaves had 25 points and eight assists Jaxson Hayes dunked seven times as the center had his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, both season highs.

While players typically would drag through the end of such a long trip, Hayes found home-cooked fuel. Hayes stayed with his parents in his hometown of Cincinnati on Monday night after the Lakers’ win in Detroit. He woke up to a full home-cooked breakfast from his mother, who stacked plates of pancakes, eggs and bacon in front of her son. He scoped out properties he’s hoping to buy in the summer and hung out with his dad all day. The family made the hour-and-a-half drive to Indianapolis and had dinner Tuesday night.

“Best way to end the trip for sure,” Hayes said with a blissful smile.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, and Pacers center Jay Huff reach for a rebound.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, who finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, battles Pacers center Jay Huff for a rebound during the first half Wednesday. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

Hayes brought the energy for the shorthanded Lakers, who were without Deandre Ayton (back soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness). Smart and Hachimura remain day-to-day as they missed their second consecutive games while Ayton was ruled out immediately before the game. Even the reinforcements were shorthanded as rookie Adou Thiero missed the game because of left knee soreness.

Thiero, who has been back and forth between the NBA and the G League‘s South Bay Lakers, played 29 minutes in a G League game on Saturday and flew directly to Detroit for Monday’s game. He played two minutes against the Pistons, making his first appearance in a first half of a game since Dec. 7, but his knee didn’t feel good the following morning, Redick said. The team held the forward out for precautionary reasons, Redick said, as Thiero has struggled with injuries in both knees this season.

The Lakers relied on another part-time G League contributor to carry them through a sloppy fourth quarter. Bronny James had four points, two steals and one block in 13:22 off the bench. Lakers coach JJ Redick said the second-year guard's pull-up free-throw line jumper with 3:55 to go “was big to kind of settle us.” It stopped a 6-0 run by the Pacers.

It was just the second game father and son have shared the court together this season. The elder James had the perfect shirt for the occasion. He walked out of the locker room wearing a gray T-shirt with a photo of him and his son on the front. Across James’ shoulders on the back read “The Chosen 1.” Across the bottom of the shirt, it read “The 1 who chose.”

“Felt like this was a game we really needed him,” Redick said of Bronny James. “It was a game that [we needed] his athleticism, his defense. … I think the biggest thing with him is he's got a lot of confidence right now.”

The Lakers have won 13 of their last 15 games to vault to third place in the competitive Western Conference. They have six of their last nine regular-season games at home and, after this grueling stretch, they can’t get there soon enough.

“Do we have to do this?” Redick said quietly as he sat down for his postgame news conference.

He knew everyone in the room wanted to get home.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Ann-Renée Desbiens earns 5th shutout and the Victoire beat the Frost 3-0 to sweep season series

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Hayley Scamurra and Lina Ljungblom each scored their third goal of the season, Ann-Renée Desbiens earned her fifth shutout, and the Montréal Victoire beat the Minnesota Frost 3-0 on Wednesday night to sweep the season series.

Montréal (11-4-2-5) has earned points in 10 straight games (6-2-2-0), a streak that began with an overtime win at Minnesota on Jan. 21. It's the longest such streak in PWHL history since Toronto's 11 in 2024.

Catherine Dubois scored her second goal of the season to open the scoring with 40.7 seconds left in the second period. Dubois took advantage of a Minnesota turnover with a quick one-timer.

Scamurra made it 2-0 early in the third when she controlled a loose puck in front of the net and tucked it around goaltender Maddie Rooney.

Ljungblom matched her goal total from a year ago to help Montréal improve to 9-2-1-1 when scoring at least three goals this season.

Minnesota (11-3-3-5) is 7-2-0-0 since Jan. 4 when facing any team other than Montréal. The Frost are 0-0-2-2 against Montréal in that span, scoring two or fewer goals in each game.

Rooney had won her previous seven straight for the Frost.

Up next

Montréal travels to Detroit to play the New York Sirens on Saturday as part of the Takeover Tour.

Minnesota remains home to play the Boston Fleet on Sunday.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark takes photos at Pacers-Lakers game

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has become a regular at Indiana Pacers games held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, especially games played during the NBA team’s 2025 playoff run.Clark appeared to take in the Pacers’ home game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday as a media member. She was spotted taking photographs from the photo positions located along the baselines behind the baskets.She spent the first half taking photos, but returned to the crowd to take in the second half of the game as a fan.

It wasn't her first time serving in a media capacity; she spent time on the NBC broadcast before a game between the Lakers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 1.

Will Caitlin Clark play in Indiana?

Caitlin Clark returns to Indiana for her third season with the WNBA franchise. She played in just 13 games in 2025 before having her season cut short due to injury.

Clark has averaged 18.5 points, 8.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in 53 career WNBA games played.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark was courtside photographer at Pacers-Lakers game

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Lakers close out road trip with win over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 25: Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers, Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers boxes out during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 25, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After seeing their win streak come to an end in Detroit on Monday, the Lakers bounced back in Indiana on Wednesday, closing out their six-game road trip with a win over the Pacers, 137-130.

LA’s lone blemish during this stint away from home was against the Pistons as they finished 5-1.

The Lakers jumped out to a big lead early by not committing a turnover until midway through the second quarter, then rode strong shooting across the board to keep their double-digit lead nearly throughout.

Indiana had a great tanking effort by making a spirited late comeback, but all it did was make the final score look closer than the game ever was.

LA shot 56.2% from the field and 39.1% from the 3-point line while also tallying 29 assists.

It was the Jake LaRavia game to start as he racked up two steals and a dunk early. Luka Dončić drained two 3-pointers and had eight points. All five starters for LA scored to go up 10 early before former Laker Jay Huff hit two straight triples for Indiana. 

At the 7:33 mark, the Lakers were up six. 

Luka entered double figures with 10 points after converting on a pair of free throws. LeBron James threw down an emphatic dunk over Huff, extending LA’s lead to eight. 

The team continued to keep their foot on the gas with Luke Kennard coming in and knocking down two triples, while Jarred Vanderbilt also drained a 3-pointer.

A major positive for Los Angeles was zero turnovers in the quarter. Luka continued to dominate, ending the period with 21 points to help the Lakers to a 17-point lead.

The second period began with LeBron converting on a layup. Pascal Siakam responded with a layup on the other end. Jaxson Hayes scored two buckets in a row with the help of LeBron, who was up to five assists in the half with his nine points. 

At the 5:29 mark, Los Angeles was up by 22. 

Indiana then surged with a 10-2 scoring run, featuring triples from Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard, that cut the deficit to 16. The Lakers started turning the ball over, giving up three after playing a clean game for most of the half. 

LA stopped the run by scoring four in a row. 

Most of the rest of the half involved free throws for both teams, minus a dunk from Siakam and a layup from LeBron. At halftime, the Lakers were up by 16. 

The third period began with Austin Reaves knocking down a 3-pointer for LA. Huff responded with a dunk on the other end.

Hayes then scored seven in a row. He was playing well as the Pacers struggled to stop him in the third. The lead extended to 23 for Los Angeles.

Reaves and LaRavia were having an excellent defensive game, combining for six steals. The lead had extended to as much as 29 before Indiana’s 12-4 run.

At the end of the third, LA was up by 20. They ended the quarter with Luka draining a triple and throwing up a lob to Maxi Kleber for a dunk. 

The final frame started with T.J. McConnell converting on a jumper. He scored again, pushing his point total to 17. Bronny James threw down a dunk that had the crowd dazzled. 

An 8-2 run from Indiana made it a 16-point deficit. Siakam was ejected with 5:08 left in the game. The Pacers were putting together a commendable comeback, chipping away at the deficit. 

With 1:29 left, it was a 10-point lead for LA. 

Reaves converted on a jumper to add some cushion on the lead. Indiana then scored five in a row, making it a seven-point deficit. LeBron converted on a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left.

Walker drained a triple with 28 seconds left, making it a six-point lead for Los Angeles. Luka was fouled and converted on both free throws, sealing the win. 

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 43 points, five rebounds and seven assists. LeBron notched 21 points with nine rebounds and eight assists. Reaves had 25 points with eight assists and two steals. 

Hayes had 21 points with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Kennard logged eight points off the bench. LaRavia ended with six points, five rebounds and four steals. Kleber grabbed four rebounds and had two steals. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

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Caitlin Clark works as a photographer for the Indiana Pacers as they host LeBron and the Lakers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was taking a different kind of shot while the Indiana Pacers hosted LeBron James, Luka Doncic the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

Clark, donning a photographer’s vest, was credentialed by the Pacers as a photographer and snapped pictures along the baseline. She was presented with a folding seat with her personal logo before the game.

“Got some good stuff coming,” Clark posted on social media.

Clark is entering her third season with the Fever. After missing most of last season because of injuries, she returned to action earlier this month in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She led the United States in scoring at 11.6 points per game as the Americans went 5-0.

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

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Sixers obliterate Bulls as Embiid, PG make impressive returns

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with Paul George #8 against the Chicago Bulls in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 25, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It turns out having your max contract players available is more helpful than not.

The Sixers took care of business as they welcomed guys back, blowing out the Chicago Bulls 157-137 Wednesday night. It’s the most points they’ve scored in a game since 1986.

They are 40-33 and can pull into a tie for the sixth seed should Atlanta lose, though the Hawks own the tiebreaker.

After missing his last 13 games, Joel Embiid was back to lead all scorers with 35 points shooting 12-of-17 from the floor along with six rebounds and seven assists. In his first game back from his 25-game suspension, Paul George found his shot as the game progressed, finishing with 28 points shooting 11-of-22 from the floor. He also had six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

VJ Edgecombe acclimated well to having some guys back, putting up 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting along with six boards and six assists. Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 23.

The Sixers were only down Tyrese Maxey (finger strain), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) while the Bulls were missing Anfernee Simons, Zach Collins, Jaden Ivey, and Noa Essengue.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

  • George coming up with deflections as soon as the game tipped off was a great sign; as was Embiid scoring on his first four touches of the night. The most impressive part of the Sixers’ start was Edgecombe being able to reverse course and get this layup off after he had fully committed to a two-handed dunk.
  • The defensive intensity the Sixers started the game with wasn’t able to survive the timeout Chicago took 90 seconds into the game. Embiid’s heater kept the Sixers out in front as he put up 15 in the first.
  • Justin Edwards has already understandably seen his role decrease with some guys getting back, but he had an impact jumping right off the bench. He beat his defender off the dribble to get to the hoop before knocking down a three moments later. Edgecombe wasn’t working in those big flurries like Embiid. He did most of his work in the quarter at the line but he put up 11 himself. He did a good job manning the second unit as the Sixers pushed their lead to 12.

Second Quarter

  • George was off with his first three jumpers of the night, but he finally got on the board by driving through Josh Giddey to the post. Cam Payne and Adem Bona put together nice shifts, the former hitting a pair of threes while the latter was able to put back a layup while picking up a couple of blocks on the other end of the floor.
  • Staggering these guys is certainly the way to go big picture-wise, but with this opponent the Sixers probably could have snuck in a few more minutes with Embiid and George together — the two still haven’t played together a ton. They did have a really nice possession together where Embiid found PG on the baseline, then George immediately dumped it off to Dominick Barlow who was cutting down the lane. There are plenty of reasons they may struggle with continuity, but the Sixers did move the ball well in this half.
  • Embiid technically only made two field goals in the quarter as he did most of his damage in the second from the line. After missing his first five shots of the night Quentin Grimes finally buried a three before hitting a finger roll layup. After making another three himself, Edgecombe capped off a great half of passing by hitting George right in the shotpocket on a skip pass, getting the three up with no extra movement. Isaac Okoro was able to get a quick put-back layup in before the buzzer, cutting the Sixers lead to 19.

Third Quarter

  • Thanks to having such a lethal jumper, Embiid was able to takeover the game early without really having to exert himself. Both starting bigs for Chicago leaving the game to injury probably helped as he was much more intent on attacking guys on the block to start the second half. He started that campaign with a bang, sealing his defender and power-stepping to dunk over Matas Buzelis. He was still in the mood to show off after that, slapping his swing pass to Edgecombe on the following possession.
  • The Sixers didn’t ever really have to turn up their intensity on defense to match those opening minutes, but they started piling up deflections again as the quarter went on. There was a stretch where they had a steal on three straight possessions, using those fast breaks to really make the score look ugly.
  • The only knock on George’s night had been that his jumper wasn’t falling, and he rectified that by making all four of his attempts in the quarter. As his longest shift of the night wore on, Embiid did go back to attacking with the jumper. By this point in the game the Sixers were pretty much getting wherever they wanted. Edwards was having a good night, but the lane opened for him like the Red Sea for a wide open dunk as the Sixers stretched their lead to 48.

Fourth Quarter

  • Under normal circumstances the veterans should take a seat for the rest of the night, but having not played since January, George can definitely use some more run to get his legs under him. After opening the quarter with a three, he really fell into a groove. He pulled up for a pair of midrange jumpers before doing so from behind the arc again as well before the Bulls called a timeout. Not that the timeout stopped him — he hit another three off the dribble before the Bulls started throwing heavy doubles at him. His night did not last much longer.
  • It took a couple rounds of the benches being emptied, but even the birthday boy himself Kyle Lowry saw some minutes in this one. It took two attempts, but he knocked down a three to contribute to the Sixers having their highest scoring night in 40 years.
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LIVE DISCUSSION: Brooklyn Nets at Golden State Warriors, 10:00 PM ET

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 23: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors watches play during the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 23, 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

Late night Nets in Golden State! They have 17 wins to their name and most fans are really just holding out hope for May. Until then it’s just an excruciating wait game. Sure, we’ll miss it when it’s gone, but these late games mid-tank are a brutal reminder how meaningless these games are – or feel.

🏀 KEY INFO

Who: Brooklyn Nets (17-55) at Golden State Warriors (34-38)
When: 10:00 PM ET
Watch: YES Network

💬 DISCUSSION

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Mavericks vs Nuggets Preview and Injury Update: Late road game in Denver

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 14: Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during a game at American Airlines Center on January 14, 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (23-49) head back out on the road and play the Denver Nuggets (45-28) on Wednesday night. Dallas is reeling, losing four in a row, including a pair of home overtime games against the Clippers then the Golden State Warriors. Denver played in Phoenix last night and won, but they’re likely tired after having to expend a lot of energy to get that win.

Here are the main things you need to know:

  • WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets
  • WHAT: Back out on the road, where Dallas has won just nine times this season
  • WHERE: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
  • WHEN: 9:00 pm CST
  • HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

There’s still much going on with the Dallas Mavericks injury report. Caleb Martin is out still with his plantar issue. Brandon Williams is questionable, a step in the right direction with the concussion he suffered. Daniel Gafford is as well, following the shoulder injury on Monday. Moussa Cisse is doubtful, he just doesn’t have enough eligibility left. The other two way guys should get to play tonight. Everyone else is playing.

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The Denver Nuggets have two key players questionable in Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson. The rest of the roster gets a clean bill of health.

The Mavericks could up and steal this one. Denver’s defense has been very bad for some time now, but they make up for it with incredible offense. Dallas is going to need to bring some actual fight to this game if they want to get a win. I’d love to see Cooper Flagg bounce back rom a playmaking point of view after so many turnovers Monday.

Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!

Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

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Caitlin Clark credentialed as Pacers photographer as LeBron James, Lakers visit Indiana

Caitlin Clark credentialed as Pacers photographer as LeBron James, Lakers visit IndianaThe future of Indiana professional basketball was in Gainbridge Wednesday night, though neither of them took the court.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark took her shot at Wednesday’s Lakers-Pacers game. But this time from behind the camera.

Wearing a Pacers photographer’s vest, the two-time WNBA All-Star was spotted sitting baseline with other working photographers alongside her.

It wasn’t the first time Clark worked a game as a team photographer. Clark only appeared in 13 games during the 2025 season due to a series of injuries. While she was unable to join her teammates on the court, Clark was armed with a camera, supporting them from the sidelines.

In March, Clark made her USA basketball senior team debut at the FIBA Women’s World Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. Though she only started one game, Clark broke 14 FIBA records while averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. She was also named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton returned to the bench for the first time since coach Rick Carlisle announced Haliburton was away from the team with shingles. The two-time All-NBA selection will miss the entire 2025-26 season as he rehabilitates from rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals, which Indiana lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Haliburton’s absence has left a huge void for the Pacers, who are finishing one of their worst seasons in team history. Indiana entered Wednesday with the NBA’s worst win percentage (.222). On Monday, the Pacers snapped a 16-game losing streak by beating the Orlando Magic. The previous franchise record was 13 consecutive losses in December and January.

Haliburton said earlier this season that he spent part of his rehabilitation working out with Clark. Both players have used their time away from the court to work on their bodies and hone hobbies. In Haliburton’s case, he’s found time to learn how to DJ, joined Amazon Prime as a player contributor, collaborated with his shoe sponsor Puma on new colorways, and been a veteran voice for Pacers teammates who undoubtedly miss his on-court presence.

In addition to photography, Clark has dabbled in golf, a skill she showcased in last year’s The ANNIKA’s pro-am with Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham. Clark’s group tied for 36th in the event but had plenty of fun doing so.

Both her and Haliburton’s returns to the court in 2026 are highly anticipated.

Clark’s return will also start on time after the WNBA and the league’s players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement this month. The WNBA’s 30th season tips off on May 8, with the Fever’s regular season set to begin May 9 with a visit to the Dallas Wings. But there’s still plenty to do between now and then, including the WNBA expansion draft on April 3 for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, as well as free agency, the college draft and training camp.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, NBA, WNBA, Culture

2026 The Athletic Media Company

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Rockets and Timberwolves in key west battle

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 23: Alperen Sengun (28) of the Houston Rockets chats with his teammate Kevin Durant (7) during the NBA game at the United Center on March 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Sengun finished the night with a dominant 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, though the Rockets ultimately fell to the Bulls 132-124. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images

Houston Rockets vs Minnesota Timberwolves

March 25, 2026

Location: Target Center — Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: ESPN

Radio: KBME Sports Talk 790

Online: Rockets App, SCHN+

Time: 830pm

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun

Wolves: Donte DiVincenzo, Bones Hyland, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert

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Adam Silver: 'We are going to fix' tanking before next season, likes 65-game rule

Saying the NBA owners were unanimously behind him, NBA Commissioner said that the league needed to do something more "extreme" than it has done in the past to curb tanking.

"We are going to fix it… full stop..." Silver said at a press conference Wednesday in New York following the league's Board of Governors meeting (quote via the Associated Press). "Exactly what that change is, we're continuing to work on... [but] going into next season, the incentives will be completely different than they are right now."

Silver was not giving out details on exactly how the league would suddenly curb a tanking issue that has plagued the league for more than a decade, since analytics showed the easiest path to build a championship roster starts with high draft picks. Silver has been on a quixotic quest to end tanking in recent months, in part because tanking has peaked this season due to a particularly deep draft at the top, with nine teams actively focused more on their draft spot than winning games right now.

Silver said there will be a special Board of Governors meeting before this year's NBA Draft to put in the new tanking rules for next season.

65-Game rule

In the wake of Cade Cunningham's collapsed lung, which very possibly means he will fall short of the league's 65-game threshold to qualify for postseason awards, there has been a rash of criticism of the league's 65-game rule. That includes the NBPA, the players’ union, as well as from agents and media members.

Silver still supports it. He thinks it's doing its job.

"We always knew when there's a line you draw that somebody's going to fall on the other side of that line and it may feel unfair in that particular instance," Silver said. "Let's see what happens at the end of this year. By the way, Cade Cunningham, he's an incredible player. I'm sorry that he's injured and can't wait to see him back on the floor.

"But having said that, we also have to remember that to the extent that one player is no longer eligible, some other player will then be All-NBA and will slot into that spot. I'm not ready to stand here saying, I don't think it's working. I think it is working."

Yes, if Cunningham falls short of 65 games (as appears likely), another player will slide into the All-NBA teams — but not as good a player. Not one who had the franchise-changing impact of Cunningham in his 61 games. Voters (made up of select media members) already took games played (and minutes played) into account in making their teams, why take that discretion out of their hands, much like minimum mandatory sentences for judges (something that has frustrated many on the bench).

That said, if Silver wants the 65-game rule to stand, it likely will.

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'Killer mentality' makes Darius Acuff Jr. one of March Madness' top players

SAN JOSE, CA — Darius Acuff Jr. stood at the top of the arc inside the Moda Center and took a deep breath.

The second-round game against High Point was in the balance, Arkansas up by two points with two minutes to go. The Razorbacks needed a bucket to stave off the upset, and the ball was in the hands of the right man.

Acuff looked at the clock and looked back down at the court. Like a lion grazing through the prairies, a rattlesnake rattling its tail, a hawk circling the sky, he let everyone know it’s time for the deadly strike.

“We know who he is, that killer mentality that he's got,” said forward Billy Richmond III. “We just knew he was going to score that play.”

Sure enough, Acuff drove down the lane for a picturesque finger-roll layup, making it a two-possession game. On the Razorbacks' next possession, he hit the dagger 3 to finish off the kill.

Of all the talented freshmen in the country, none of them may be more clutch than the SEC Player of the Year. He has elevated his game on the biggest stage, becoming a deadly assassin, turning anyone standing in his way into his next victim.

“He's like all the best players that I've coached,” said Arkansas coach John Calipari. “He's like that.”

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives against High Point Panthers forward Cam'ron Fletcher (11) in the second half of their NCAA Tournament second round game.

Acuff has been lighting it up for Arkansas all season, but what has been most impressive is he did it largely not at 100%. An ankle injury had been nagging him for the majority of the final month of the regular season. Calipari employed strategic load management to get him back healthy.

It’s worked wonders, leading to an incredible stretch of performances.

There’s a lot of ways to measure Acuff's success. He led the SEC in scoring (24.8) and assists (6.6) per game. His numbers actually went up in conference play. What he's done when the games have mattered most is the most impressive.

Since the calendar flipped to 2026, he has been a second-half monster. He averages 14.5 points in the second half, shooting 53.9% from the field with an even wilder 50.8% mark from deep.

His performances in the clutch are even more impressive. Since the start of the SEC Tournament, his shooting percentage is 61.1% in the final five minutes, a mark that would even wow in the NBA. The latest showing was against the Panthers in the second round, when he scored 12 of his team’s final 16 points to advance to the Sweet 16. 

That capped off a first weekend unlike any other, as his 60 points in the first two rounds were the most ever scored by a freshman.

It’s why, when he has the ball, his teammates know the opponent might as well call it a night, and why Hall of Famer Allen Iverson labeled Acuff “the next HIM.” Acuff signed a signature shoe deal with Reebok, and will become the first NBA rookie with a Reebok signature shoe since Iverson in 1996.

“We've been seeing it all season,” said Trevon Brazile. “We know he's going to go get a bucket. We don't think nobody can guard him.”

What makes Darius Acuff Jr. so good?

Calipari believes Acuff could run for president. Basketball is likely the career path, given he’ll likely be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but his “otherworldly confidence” makes his coach believe he could run for office.

“You only gain that by being a gym rat. You only gain that by demonstrated performance, which is go in the game and perform, and then you live in the gym,” Calipari said. “Everything you do is about basketball. The other stuff doesn't matter. All the other outside stuff does not move you.”

Acuff agreed with his coach’s sentiment.

“You got to be a gym rat,” he said. “You’re not going to be who you say you can be if you're not in the gym. I'm always at a gym, especially knowing what I want to achieve.”

That’s why he gets a different type of treatment from the coach. Calipari admitted he is always the hardest on his best players, and Acuff fits the bill. By expecting greatness from his star, he has seen Acuff's maturity, leadership and body language grow, culminating in the dazzling performances.

Arkansas may need more late-game heroics in the Sweet 16, facing an Arizona team that is a national title favorite, having coasted through the first two rounds and won 11 straight. Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd knows all about Acuff, having coached him for USA Basketball at the 2024 FIBA Men's U18 AmeriCup, where Acuff was named most valuable player.

“Darius is a supreme talent, and he's a great young man,” Lloyd said.

If the game is close down the stretch, all eyes will be on what Acuff does next. If the ball is in his hands, the Wildcats better be prepared, because this is a player raised to be in the moment, ready to do what it takes to get a win.

Even if it means dealing another fatal blow.

“I'm always doing it,” Acuff said. “I gotta do enough for my team to win.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darius Acuff Jr. has a 'killer mentality' in clutch for Arkansas