ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Rookie Peyton Anderson scored her first career goal to spark the Minnesota Frost to a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Torrent on Friday night in the PWHL.
Minnesota (8-3-3-4) needed just 2:30 to grab the lead when Anderson used assists from Élizabeth Giguère and Claire Butorac to score. It was the first assist this season for Giguère and the second for Butorac.
The Frost took a 2-0 lead with 2:32 remaining in the first on Abby Hustler's third goal this season. Kendall Cooper notched her 10th assist and Grace Zumwinkle collected her fifth.
Minnesota went up 3-0 with 4:38 remaining in the second period when Klára Hymlárová scored for the second time this season. Britta Curl-Salemme picked up her 11th assist and Kelly Pannek added her eighth.
Seattle (5-1-2-10) cut it to 3-1 with 8:19 remaining on a power-play goal by Lexie Adzija. Anna Wilgren earned her fifth assist and Danielle Serdachny her fourth on Adzija's fourth goal of the season.
Taylor Heise sent a shot into an empty net in the final minute to complete the scoring with her fifth goal. Heise joins Alex Carpenter and Marie-Philip Poulin as the only players in the league’s first three seasons to top 20 points in back-to-back campaigns.
The two-time defending champion Frost became the first team to beat an opponent by three or more goals in three consecutive matches after posting a 3-0 victory in Seattle and a 6-2 victory at home earlier this season.
Maddie Rooney finished with 28 saves in goal for the Frost.
Corinne Schroeder saved 27 shots for the Torrent in the first of five straight games away from home for the first-year club.
The Frost had a 23-11 advantage in shots through the first 40 minutes, but the Torrent outshot Minnesota 18-8 in the final period.
Minnesota's 20 first-period goals this season trails only the 21 of Ottawa. Seattle has allowed 19 first-period goals, tied with New York for the most in the league.
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant hit a go-ahead 18-footer with 7.6 seconds left and the Houston Rockets outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 on Friday night to move into third place in the crowded Western Conference.
Durant scored 32 points two nights after matching his season low with 11 in a blowout loss at Denver. Against the Pelicans, he was 13 of 24 from the field and had six rebounds and five assists.
Amen Thompson added 23 points for Houston in the opener of five-game homestand. Reed Sheppard scored 18 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16.
Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with 35 points, but stepped out of bounds with the Pelicans up a point with 13 seconds remaining. After Durant put the Rockets ahead, Zion Williamson threw the ball out of bounds, and Durant hit two free throws to put it away.
Murray was 14 of 18 from the field, hitting 4 of 5 3 pointers.
Williamson had 21 points. The Pelicans had won won two straight and three of four.
Up next
Pelicans: Host Dallas on Monday night.
Rockets: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday and Wednesday nights.
Mar 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) reacts after making a three point basket against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Back from their disappointing Houston/New Orleans road trip and in Toronto to face the Phoenix Suns on Friday, the Raptors had a lot of people to answer to. Their last game was a horrible loss against the Pelicans, made even worse by a late-game scuffle that drew a ton of online criticism.
The Raptors were called everything from fightless to directionless, and some of it has merit (especially the criticisms about the ceiling of this roster). They fell out of the top six in the standings, are clinging to a play-in spot, and their chemistry is being questioned. What else could go wrong? A locker room illness, anyone?
Yeah, to top it all off, Scottie Barnes went into the Phoenix game Friday fighting an illness that’s been making its way through the locker room.
Despite all of this, Darko Rajakovic was in a pretty good mood on Friday afternoon. He’s always a glass half full kinda guy, but today, especially, the strategy in responding to the noise was to be incredibly optimistic. He not only said the Raptors were exactly where they needed to be, but he even went so far as to say he was happy about where they find themselves right now — seeing a bit of adversity.
The Raptors found themselves chasing the Suns for a lot of tonight’s game. Barnes had a quiet night, his illness obviously slowing him down a bit, but Brandon Ingram was able to pick up the slack. Unfortunately for the Raptors, outside of their starting lineup, no one was really able to give them anything. Fortunately for the Raptors, their starters did enough to keep them in it late in the game. Amid Barnes being ill, Ingram and RJ Barrett led the team, and Quickley was solid.
In the end, the Raptors figured out how to close a tight game on the winning side, something they haven’t seemed to be able to do in recent weeks. A mix of strong action on the defensive glass, clutch shooting from Ingram and Barrett, and some of the grit they were missing on the road came into play as the Raptors were able to win their game, 122-115, over the Phoenix Suns. It was more of a sigh of relief than a huge celebration, and knowing this Raptors team, they will quickly shift focus into bringing whatever good energy they created today into their next game.
Ingram, in particular, was phenomenal. He scored 36 points on 13-20 shooting from the field. A few of those shots came in the clutch, when the Raptors needed him most. After the game, Darko mentioned Ingram was being exceptionally communicative with his teammates, stepping up to lead the team.
“This is what Brandon expects from himself, and what we expect from Brandon,” Darko said of Ingram’s 36-point showing tonight.
Barrett was also key in the clutch in this win. “It felt good to win in the way that we want to,” Barrett said after he scored 22 points on 9-16 from the field.
I feel like this season has come in phases. There was the shiny and new phase — seeing Ingram integrated into the team. There was the wild hype phase — when they went on that wild winning streak. Then came the adjusting expectations phase — realizing this team was playing ahead of their true current capabilities and adjusting accordingly. Some might call this current phase a slump, but I think it’s more of a time to start thinking about what’s next and what needs to be changed so that we continue to see improvement next season. When you stop catastrophizing and realize how far the Raptors have come this year alone, it’s easier to swallow a slump month… but that can’t last too long. In order for people to maintain patience with this rebuild, next season needs to continue to progress.
As we head into the final weeks of the NBA season, some glaring problems arise with this Raptors team. Their lack of bench offence and the Poeltl problem stood out tonight, to me. You’re getting nothing from guys like Gradey Dick and Jamison Battle, who are supposed to be off-the-bench shooters. Things would be better if Murray-Boyles were playing, but he’s hurt. Ja’Kobe has been great, but his 10 points can’t carry the bench.
In the starting lineup, Ingram is undeniably a star, as is Scottie Barnes — even if he didn’t have the best “flu game” tonight. To me, the last piece of the core trio is Barrett, who is solid when he needs to be and when he is healthy. He can get you 20 points a night pretty effortlessly, is efficient, and fits well on the court with Barnes and Ingram. Quickley has been pretty good as of late, but there is still the question of whether a more dynamic point guard would boost this team into actually being good enough to be mainstays in a playoff conversation. When he gives you 15 points, though, you can’t complain too much.
It’s Jakob Poeltl who seems to be the most glaring problem in the Toronto Raptors’ core. Your big man giving you 6 points in a game isn’t all that acceptable. Is the difference between this team being just big and them being great having a star center on the roster? Would a capable big man turn this team into a contender? Regardless, Poeltl’s lack of oomf is a glaring eyesore on an otherwise decent performance from the Raptors starters Friday night.
With 16 games left in the regular season, the Raptors need every win they can get. They’ll have another chance to improve from the slump of the beginning of March when they play a Sunday matinee game against the Detroit Pistons.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 13: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball against Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 13, 2026 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. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a house of horrors for the Knicks. There are other places, namely Utah and Los Angeles lately, that have given the Knicks’ fits, but there’s no place that just hurts more to play at than Indianapolis.
The Pacers (15-52) are trying to lose. They’ve load-managed as many players as humanly possible for much of the season, but they’ve happened to be particularly healthy whenever they see the orange and blue on the schedule. The Knicks (43-25) were lucky not to see Pascal Siakam tonight, but essentially every Pacer that wasn’t recovering from a torn Achilles was out there to try and spook a team they’ve eliminated in consecutive years.
Fortunately for our Knicks, they won’t see the now-eliminated Pacers in the playoffs in 2026, and there’s only one game left this season against them. For the third time in as many games, the Pacers forced the Knicks to get down and dirty and overexert to get a win against a team that would rather lose, but ultimately, unlike the overtime slugfest in MSG last month, the Knicks got it done, winning 101-92.
The biggest catalyst behind this win? To quote PW, “Mitch is killing it.” Robinson was forced to start due to a sore knee for Karl-Anthony Towns, and he wound up playing a season-high 31 minutes. He made it count—12 points, 22 rebounds (a career-high), nine offensive rebounds, and four stocks. It was as Mitch-y of a game as it could get.
Jalen Brunson poured in 29 points, mostly in an efficient first half, before a choppy second half. OG Anunoby attacked the rim all night and went 25-8-5. The starters were very, very good, all registering plus-minuses over 10.
First Half
The game got off to a choppy start on both ends, as the two teams looked to settle into a groove. Jalen Brunson, missing his co-star due to a balky knee, needed a few minutes to settle in and looked a tick off early. It was tied at four over four minutes in before the pace began to quicken and the Knicks got into a groove.
A trend of the first half? Gainbridge Fieldhouse became Lob City for the Knicks, who were setting up Mitchell Robinson for several thunderous jams (and an acrobatic layup for Mikal Bridges).
Very shorthanded, the Knicks went deep into the bench early, including a cameo by Pačome Dadiet. The second-year Frenchman announced his arrival early, nailing a late shot clock logo triple to give the Knicks an early 17-8 lead.
Of course, this Pacers team was never going to make things easy. Even as the Knicks settled into a groove with Brunson scoring 11 in the opening frame, the Pacers fought back to make it 24-21 after one.
The Knicks got the lead back to eight multiple times early in the second as OG Anunoby decided to get in on the lob threat (not to mention his poster dunk earlier). Still, those pesky Pacers battled back and even took the lead on an Andrew Nembhard mid-range five minutes into the quarter.
An 11-0 run immediately after for the Knicks put them up eight, partially aided by a Rick Carlisle technical foul, who got mad at the refs overturning a bad call of their own. A strong end to the first half saw Brunson get to 23 points and the birthday boy Landry Shamet stretching the lead to a game-high 11 to end the first half, 56-45.
The Knicks led 62-47 after a Shamet free throw with 9:02 left in the third. That would be the high-water mark, as things immediately fell apart after that.
The Pacers, who had Nembhard and Ivica Zubac playing in the second half of a SEGABABA after resting the second half the night before, went on a run, but that run was mostly done with them off the floor. Over the next nine minutes, the Knicks were outscored 27-11 by a Pacers run that was buoyed by underrated backup center Jay Huff, who was draining top-of-the-key threes like Karl-Anthony Towns himself.
It also didn’t help that the Knicks’ lack of depth showed greatly. Brunson was playing in lineups that included Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, and Jordan Clarkson. Those three, coupled with the up-and-down Mo Diawara, would share the floor with the captain during this run, where the Knicks were badly struggling to put the ball in the basket. The Pacers were content blitzing JB at halfcourt and daring the hodgepodge of other Knicks to make the right reads and make shots.
Eventually, the Pacers briefly came all the way back to take the lead on a catch-and-shoot triple by (who else?) Aaron Nesmith at the end of the shot clock with five seconds left. Not to worry, as Clarkson got him back with a buzzer-beater to give the Knicks the lead into the fourth, 76-74.
Aaron Nesmith's triple to beat the shot clock is tonight's Shot of the Game 🔥
Anunoby opened the fourth with a strong drive to the rim for an and-1. Needing a spark defensively, Mike Brown threw out a lineup that included Robinson, Anunoby, and Jose Alvarado, who were able to muck things up for the Pacers. A block by Robinson on one end led to a tough Clarkson layup on the other, getting the lead back to seven just over two minutes in.
Normally, a 15-win team that’s actively trying to lose would eventually let go of the rope and happily accept the contribution to the tank, but not the Pacers against the Knicks. OAKAAK Obi Toppin hit a three, perpetual pest TJ McConnell nailed his patented 9-footer, and you’re back in a dogfight.
Brunson had to re-enter the game with just a hair under seven minutes to play to stabilize the offense as McConnell’s comically tough shotmaking frustrated fans across the globe. In a three-point game with 5:47 to go, the refs granted Brown a very delayed challenge because of some gamesmanship to delay an inbound, and it got the team an extra possession. Coach is now batting nearly .800 on challenges this season.
The game turned into a real slog as the closing lineups took the court. 88-83 entering the final four minutes is not a score you expect in 2026, but that’s what happens when all-star forwards are in street clothes on both sides. Jarace Walker nailed a corner three to cut it to two, the two teams exchanged free throws, and we entered clutch time.
Quiet for much of the night, and much of the road trip, it was Bridges who nailed a massive triple to extend the lead to seven with 1:58 to go. Who set it up? Big Mitch, who was up to 21 rebounds. A mid-range miss by Nembhard and a beautiful fastbreak Anunoby layup got the lead to nine and forced a timeout from Carlisle.
But of course, the Pacers were never going to make it easy. An acrobatic layup from Nesmith and a quick steal gave them a chance to cut it to four, but Nesmith couldn’t replicate his Game 1 heroics. In fact, Indiana got a few opportunities to show they were still capable of the magic that they had with Tyrese Haliburton out there, but they didn’t.
Game Notes
Robinson’s 22 rebounds are a career high. He played 30:37, which is the second-most he’s played in a game since suffering a stress fracture in his ankle in December 2023. It’s the first time since April 2023 that he registered 20 rebounds.
Brunson started 9-for-15 in the first half and finished 2-for-10. Around halftime, the Pacers figured out that they could just send two at Brunson and dare his teammates to capitalize, so that explains it. Overall, fine game.
First time that Mikal Bridges has scored 10+ points since March 4 against the Thunder.
Alright, about Indiana. If you don’t think that they are circling these games on the calendar as one of the only ones they’re trying to win in this tankfest, I don’t know what to tell you. Two of Andrew Nembhard’s top four games in minutes are against the Knicks. Tonight, he played 32 minutes, which is his most since before the All-Star break. He rested the entire second half yesterday, but apparently needs to be load-managed otherwise? But he can play back-to-backs like this? Ivica Zubac made his Pacers debut yesterday and also rested in the second half. He played 29 minutes and closed tonight.
Up Next
Knicks head home for a primetime clash with the shorthanded Golden State Warriors on Sunday night at 8 pm. Stephen Curry, who’s had some of his best games ever at MSG, will not play.
WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) — Olivia Moultrie scored early in the second half to give the Portland Thorns a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League season opener on Friday night.
It was the first road shutout for the Thorns against the Spirit since 2021. Portland fell to the Spirit 2-0 in the semifinals of the playoffs last season at Audi Field.
Moultrie broke through for the Thorns with her goal in the 52nd minute off a pass from Pietra Tordin. Moultrie broke by defender Tara Rudd and finished with a shot that Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver couldn’t reach.
The Spirit, who went on to play in the NWSL title game last season but fell 1-0 to Gotham, welcomed a sellout crowd of 19,215 for the game.
Trinity Rodman started for the Spirit after signing a three-year deal to return to the team in the offseason. The effort to keep Rodman prompted the NWSL to adopt the “High Impact Player” rule, which allows teams to go up to $1 million over the league's salary cap to sign players who meet certain criteria.
Hal Hershfelt had a shot from distance in the 75th minute hit the cross bar as the Spirit scrambled to equalize. Rodman had a header that popped up and over the goal in the final minutes.
Shortly thereafter, Sophia Wilson, who didn't play for the Thorns last season while on maternity leave, subbed into the game.
There were questions around the Thorns this season after losing midfielder Sam Coffey to Manchester City in the offseason. Portland is also playing under a new coach, Robert Vilahamn, who joined the team for the first time earlier this month.
Andi Sullivan was unavailable for the Spirit with an illness.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers, as they seemingly always do, made the Knicks sweat.
But there’s a reason there’s such a disparity in where the two teams are in the standings. By the end, it showed.
Jalen Brunson, after scoring 23 points in the first half — including an 8-0 run by himself — went quiet after halftime. Already without Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart (both out with knee soreness), they badly needed
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to step up on the offensive end. And Anunoby responded to the call with 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Bridges drilled a key 3-pointer that extended the Knicks’ lead to seven with just under two minutes to play, then Anunoby’s dunk gave them a nine-point lead and pretty much put it out of reach as the Knicks survived with a 101-92 win over the Pacers Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“OG was huge for us,” coach Mike Brown told The Post after the game. “His ability to attack the rim tonight was big time, especially with the force that he did to get the nine free throws. He was a man on a mission.”
Anunoby finished with 25 points along with eight rebounds and five assists. Bridges, who finished with 11 points, reached double figures in scoring for the only time of this now-completed five-game road trip, during which the Knicks went 3-2.
OG Anunoby attempts a shot during the Knicks’ March 13 win against the Pacers. NBAE via Getty ImagesMitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 13, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NBAE via Getty Images
And Mitchell Robinson, in the starting lineup without Towns, made a big impact. He recorded a career-high 22 rebounds — nine of them on the offensive glass — and added 12 points.
And Brown won two key challenges in the fourth quarter that won possession back for the Knicks.
The Pacers, despite being the worst team in the Eastern Conference and without their best player in Pascal Siakam (and really two best players, if you count Tyrese Haliburton), never make it easy for the Knicks. The Knicks were without two starters, but they entered Friday 26 ½ games above the bottom-feeding Pacers, who have spent most of this season trying to lose and keep their top-four protected pick.
Yes, the Pacers eliminated the Knicks from the postseason the last two years, but these aren’t those Pacers. For everyone else this year, they’ve been a punching bag. For the Knicks, they are a stress test.
The first two matchups between these two teams were chaotic nail-biters. Brunson hit a clutch 3-pointer in a one-point win in December and the Knicks lost in overtime in an embarrassing loss in February. Friday was another case where you would never know the gigantic gap in the records.
“Coach [Rick] Carlisle does a great job, he’s been doing a great job his entire career,” Brunson told The Post. “He’s gonna have them ready to play, regardless.”
Leading by 13 in the third quarter, the Knicks allowed the Pacers to go on an 18-5 run to tie the game at 71 apiece with under a minute left in the quarter. Aaron Nesmith soon after hit a 3-pointer to give the Pacers the lead. But the Knicks outscored the Pacers by seven in the fourth quarter to end the road trip on a high.
Brunson was angered by an eight-second violation called on him in the second quarter and barked at the officials — then at Carlisle, who was motioning for it to be called — before the call was changed after the referees conferred with each other. Then Brunson proceeded to score the next eight points of the game, including a technical free throw. But he went just 1-for-6 from the field the rest of the way.
Landry Shamet defends during the Knicks’ March 13 win against the Pacers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNew York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
His teammates picked up the slack, though.
“Big time,” Brunson said. “That’s what they do, that’s what they’re capable of. I have the utmost confidence in those guys, regardless of any situation.”
The win moves the Knicks just one game behind the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East. And still, down there at the bottom of the conference, remain the Pacers.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 13: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on March 13, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the Suns, coming off a back-to-back in Indiana with some injuries, it was going to be a battle. That was for sure the case, as even still shorthanded, they chose to fight throughout most of this game. Sadly, though, it was not enough, even though they tried to push this one open multiple times. The scoring fight in the fourth, alongside the Raptors’ paint dominance, was just too much for this team to handle. They end up falling to the Raptors 122-115, in a game they had in their back pocket.
This team is now 2-1 on their road trip, with important games coming up against the Celtics, Spurs, and Timberwolves. All is crucial to their final standings in this West that continues to prove a gauntlet. That being said they were some bright spots in this game that should not go unnoticed.
Devin Booker and Jalen Green combined to prove the doubters wrong about their backcourt pairing, and they continue to do so. We also got to see the rookie Rasheer Fleming have his best game for the club. Add that to Jordan Goodwin’s hustle and impact plays, and there were some positives to be shown even if the outcome was negative.
Game Flow
First Half
When this one kicked off, the Suns looked a bit jet-lagged to start, coming off the back-to-back vs the Pacers yesterday. Defensively, they were allowing the Raptors to drive and score inside, as both Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl started with 4 points each. The Raptors then had the lead, but Jalen Green came in to put that fire out and start one of his own. In the first five minutes, he was already 3/3 from beyond the arc and woke up the team to take the lead.
The Suns then found some rhythm as they traded baskets and free-throw trips with Toronto. That is right, ladies and gentlemen, so far after the first quarter, there have been 17 free throws combined from both teams. One key piece has been Jordan Goodwin, though, as he is trying to help this team create after being listed as available at the last minute. He had 5 rebounds in the first quarter. This has allowed the Raptors to have a 2-point lead, 30-28, after the first quarter.
Remember how I said they came into this game with some jet lag? Well, that could not be the opposite of the start of the second quarter. Here, the Suns took advantage of their stellar three-point shooting, as Green, Highsmith, and Allen all made a triple to push the lead to seven for Phoenix early.
After these timeouts, the team has some more motivation (I want to know what Ott says to them), and that is clearly on display in this contest. Another notable development from this quarter was the rookies breaking out once again. With each game, they continue to get better as the minutes go by, and Rasheer Fleming showed that in a nice little sequence. He had two huge blocks on back-to-back possessions, and then hit a three on the other end to keep the Suns up four.
Rasheer Fleming with the best sequence of his rookie year, so far.
The Suns were able to keep the lead for a bit before Brandon Ingram started getting hot for the Raptors. He had a stint on his own, like Booker, where they completely swung the momentum offensively with a run of their own. Luckily, the Suns have rookie Rasheer Fleming in, though, as he had another crazy block, totaling a career-high of three, and it is just the first half.
After being down two to enter the quarter, the Suns now lead three into the half. They are led by Jalen Green, who has 19 points so far and five three-pointers. After combining for 79 last night with Booker, they now have 36 in this first half. The Raptors are led by Brandon Ingram, who has 16 points.
Second Half
To start the second half, the team kept the same composure as the second quarter, aggressive, and they delivered. The Suns once again went with Green and Booker creating the offense, with both of them finding buckets early on, and Royce O’Neale got involved, making his first basket. As Ingram tried to match them, Green answered with a slam that was worthy of bringing the house down.
Jalen Green with the monster drive and slam
Also, peep Ighodaro screening his man all the way down into the paint. That's, ummm, how you clear room. pic.twitter.com/6RdEGXQbXl
Unfortunately, it was not all sunshine and rainbows in the third, though. As the team looked like they could make this game up to 10, the Raptors started to climb back. Finding easy baskets in the paint from Sandro Mamukelashvili and Ingram, still shooting hot, makes it now a three-point game. The Raptors at this point have outscored the Suns 40-24 in the paint, something the team has struggled with all year. Green, though, has seven made threes and, in this back-to-back, has seemed to convince his doubters wrong.
Luckily for the Suns, they have Devin Booker and Jalen Green, who show up when they need them most. Booker hit a buzzer-beater mid-range to end the third and put the team up 92-86, but they have 53 points combined after the third. Jordan Goodwin continues to do all the little things and show he deserves his appreciation as well.
The first-quarter start is now fantasy, as the team completely forgot about it. They continue to come out hot, with Green making another nice basket and Rasheer Fleming growing right in front of everyone’s eyes. He had a great steal and three makes on the other end to keep him in this lineup.
The team continues to make big buckets as Jalen Green is now up to 43 points and has tied a career high of 8 made threes. Alongside him, everyone in this rotation is making winning plays by playing hard defense, rewarding the offense with three-point makes.
The Raptors, though, will not back down as Ja’Kobe Walter starts making some threes. The Suns are trying to pry this one open, but when they reach double digits, Toronto comes on, crawling back. This time, they fought back enough to steal that lead right back. A scoring drought for the Suns could not come at a worse time, as the officials have their (own fun) too.
With 3:33 left, the Suns now see themselves down one and try to steal the third game of the road trip after an RJ Barrett three. He woke up in the fourth, making big shots late to keep this Raptors team with the lead, even after a clutch Royce O’Neale three. Ingram then made another jumper to bring his total to 36 points and to make the lead up to four. Green tried to make a dunk but was blocked by Scottie Barnes, and the Raptors then found Barrett for a layup to make it six. This was the end for Phoenix as they lost this one by seven and let a tough one get away.
Next Up
This team continues its road trip heading down to Boston to take on the Celtics on Monday. A game they are looking for revenge after getting embarrassed at home, without Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. Will Booker find his rhythm in TD Garden? Only time will tell.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 13: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons drives between DeJon Jarreau #77 and Jahmal Mashack #21 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on March 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons shared the ball and focused on feeding their big men inside in a 126-110 win over the overmatched Memphis Grizzlies. Jalen Duren led all scorers with 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting. Cade Cunningham didn’t even look like he broke a sweat in his 30 minutes of action. He scored 17 points on 11 shots and added 15 assists, eight rebounds, and three steals to his tally. If he wanted more, he could have gotten more of anything he wanted, but you could tell by early in the third quarter that the game was well in hand for the Pistons.
Not that Detroit didn’t make fans sweat for a little bit. Memphis was hitting everything from deep early, and Detroit was hitting Memphis shooters, sending them to the free-throw line on 3-point attempts three times in the first 13 minutes of the game.
But hanging around in a game and actually being in the game are different things, and Detroit never really seemed threatened in this one. They simply had too much working in their favor against a team starting 6-foot-7, 230-pound Oliver-Maxence Prosper at center and 6-foot-5, 206-pound Cedric Coward at power forward. Mainly, Jalen Duren, but you can also add Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland, and even Javonte Green to that list. The Pistons were getting pretty much anything they wanted, and Memphis could do little to stop them.
The Pistons dominated the painted area, with a 74-36 advantage. They capitalized on turnovers, with a 24-8 advantage on the fastbreak. They had a plus-14 rebound advantage and had 36 assists on 50 made field goals.
By controlling the paint, Detroit was also able to create space for shooters on the perimeter, as three to four defenders would regularly collapse on Duren when he would get the ball. Duncan Robinson hit two threes, Kevin Heurter hit two early threes, and Marcus Sasser was 4-of-8 on the night, almost all of them corner threes off of assists from kickouts.
It was a ho-hum game, but it was yet another opportunity for Detroit to wash the stink of their recent struggles off of themselves. It was also Detroit’s ninth win on the second night of a back-to-back. Their 9-2 record in that department leads the NBA.
They now have a three-game road trip, including what could be a tough game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. After that, they play the Washington Wizards in consecutive games on Tuesday and Thursday. After another back-to-back wraps up Friday against the Golden State Warriors, they face the final tough stretch of their regular season schedule.
They host the Lakers, Hawks, Pelicans, then hit the road against the Wolves and Thunder, then come back home for the Raptors and Wolves again. Bear in mind, these games against Minnesota could also have drastic NBA Draft implications, as the Pistons hold swap rights with the Wolves.
If the Pistons manage to win around eight of those 11 games, they will be staring at 55 wins with five games remaining. That would already put them at the third-most wins for a Pistons team since the 1989-90 title season. Only one team has eclipsed 60 wins — the 2007-08 team that went 64-18 in the first year under Flip Saunders.
DALLAS (AP) — Evan Mobley matched his season high with 29 points, Donovan Mitchell had 24 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Dallas Mavericks 138-105 on Friday night in the opener of a home-and-home series.
Mobley had 16 points in the first quarter and was already up to 23 by halftime, the second-highest scoring half of his career. He went 12 for 15 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds while playing just 23 minutes.
James Harden finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who shot 61.5% from the field and were 18 for 38 (47%) from 3-point range.
Cooper Flagg scored 25 points for the Mavericks, who were coming off a victory in Memphis that snapped an eight-game losing streak. Naji Marshall had 17 points.
The Cavs led 38-21 after shooting 60% overall and on 3-pointers in the first quarter. Mitchell then scored 10 points in the second quarter and it was 67-50 at the break, with Mobley 10 for 12. The forward's best half was 28 points on Dec. 7, 2024, against Charlotte.
Mitchell made all five shots and scored 12 more in the Cavs' 41-point third quarter and Cleveland led by 35 in the final period.
Cleveland beat Dallas for the seventh straight time.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 13, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a national game letdown, the Cleveland Cavaliers flexed their muscles from start to finish and beat down the Dallas Mavericks 138 to 105. Evan Mobley led the way with 29 points on a very efficient 12-15 shooting, while Donovan Mitchell and James Harden added 24 and 17 points, respectively. The Cavs led by 17 points at halftime, scored 41 points in the third, and led by as many as 35.
This is the type of game that the Cavs should be having against poor teams like the Mavericks. While Cooper Flagg is certainly an exciting player (he finished with 25 points, including 19 in the second half), he is not enough against what should be a championship contender like the Cavs. Dallas has the third-worst offensive rating in the league, are an equally bad three-point shooting team, and to add insult to injury, they inbounded the ball on the wrong side of the court in the third quarter. The better team did what they were supposed to do.
The Cavs set the tone with quality defense in the first half, with seven different players recording a steal and forcing 11 Dallas turnovers in total.
After a disappointing game from Mobley in Orlando, he righted the ship tonight against a Dallas team that really started Marvin Bagley III at center. The Cavs kept feeding him down low, and Mobley delivered with a monster game. Those 29 points tied his season-high, though the free-throw shooting still leaves something to be desired (3-7). As has been the case all season and last season, it comes down to consistency with Mobley in terms of energy on the offensive side of the ball. It is one thing to dominate bad teams, but it’s a new ball game against the best of the best in the league.
In a high-octane third quarter, where the Cavs had a scorching stretch of eight-straight made field goals, Harden showed off his slick handle and shot-making ability. That included draining a long three over Flagg and erasing Naji Marshall with a nasty crossover and comfortably hit the floater.
Since coming to Cleveland, Harden has been as advertised, and that was on full display against the Mavs.
Keon Ellis started in place of the injured Sam Merrill, and he produced in his absence. Ellis had 13 points and three rebounds on 5-9 shooting, but it’s the energy that is what makes him so important. Even up 25 points in the third quarter, Ellis was the first player down the floor to defend after he made a three, sprinting after his man. There is endless hustle in Ellis.
The Cavs were able to pull their starters and meaningful bench with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, an indication of their dominance all night. Nothing quite like a good old-fashioned beatdown to brighten the spirits. Cleveland will face Dallas once again on Sunday afternoon at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m EST.
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 13: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at American Airlines Center on March 13, 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (22-45) got brushed aside on Friday by the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-26) at American Airlines Center in a 138-105 loss. Evan Mobley scored a game-high 29 points against a Mavericks front line consisting primarily of Marvin Bagley III and Dwight Powell. Cooper Flagg bounced back from a tough stretch of games after returning from his recent foot sprain for a team-high 25 points and five assists in the loss.
The Mavericks’ 12-8 start quickly turned into an 18-12 deficit with the first of two 10-0 Cavaliers runs in the first quarter. Mobley abused the depleted Dallas frontcourt on his way to 16 first-quarter points on 7-of-9 shooting. Craig Porter Jr.‘s runout layup in transition forced Mavs head coach Jason Kidd into his second run-stopping timeout of the quarter with 2:41 left.
Cleveland shot 6-of-10 from 3-point range in the first and 60% from the floor in the first, essentially eliminating the Mavericks’ chances for an upset with a 38-21 lead after one.
Flagg, who has struggled since his return from a foot injury five games ago, keyed a 12-0 Mavericks run early in the second quarter to cut Cleveland’s lead to seven, down 40-33 after Ryan Nembhard’s 3-pointer on Flagg’s fourth assist of the game with 9:21 left in the half. But back-to-back sensational finishes at the rim by Donovan Mitchell pushed the Cavs’ lead back into double digits in response to the run.
Mitchell sliced and diced the Dallas defense in the second on the way to 10 points in the quarter. The Cavs found wide open driving lanes against a porous Mavericks interior defense whenever they wanted. On the other end, Flagg made some plays distributing the ball off drives but had a hard time once again finding the bottom of the net to start the game. He came in shooting just 35.1% from the floor in the five games since his return and managed just 2-of-8 in the first half against Cleveland.
The Cavaliers led 67-50 at the half, fed in part by 11 Dallas turnovers.
Flagg started the second half with seven quick points, including a massive tomahawk slam and his first 3-pointer of the game on back-to-back possessions four and a half minutes into the third. He didn’t elevate quite as high as he has on some of his other spectacular slams throughout his rookie year, which may point to the lingering effects of his foot injury still being worked all the way out, but he’s still a sight to see when he gets going downhill.
Flagg scored all 13 of his third-quarter points in the first seven minutes of the frame, but the damage was done in the first half. The Cavs led 108-83 going into the fourth and coasted to the 138-105 win. Flagg scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half, while Mitchell finished with 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting for Cleveland.
Breaking down the rookie wall
Flagg hasn’t been quite the same since his return from the foot injury that kept him out eight games in February. To his credit, he still makes the right play nine times out of 10 and still affects the game on the defensive end, but his offensive production has taken a hit since about the 45-game mark. There are times during recent games that remind nightly viewers of his first 10 games, when he had wide eyes and hesitated on offense. One came late in Thursday’s second quarter, when he had James Harden defending him in a one-on-one situation and passed out of it to Nembhard with six seconds left on the shot clock. You’d love to see Flagg take on the challenge there, especially with a smaller defender in front of him.
It seems an opportune time to remind oneself that the guy is 19 years old and that, in the grand scheme of things, the Rookie of the Year Award doesn’t mean anything for his development. Plenty of big-time players have hit the proverbial rookie wall. Flagg played in 37 games last year in his only season at Duke. The Mavericks played their 37th game of this season back on Jan. 6.
It also seems an opportune time to remind oneself of the moment surrounding Flagg as well. The lineups he’s playing with are held together by duct tape and bubble gum. He’s playing a lot of point guard by default because the Mavericks guards are, well, awful. He’s on a team that, frankly, doesn’t care about winning. These are not ideal circumstances to grow the young man’s game. They are slightly better for growing the young man’s character, which is one valuable attribute he carried into the league with him even at such a young age.
Don’t worry about Flagg all that much if you didn’t like what you were seeing until his high-flying act in Friday’s third quarter. Charlotte’s Kon Kneuppel can have his trophy, if indeed that is the way it shakes down. He’s had an amazing year. Flagg’s day in the sun is coming.
Three’s a crowd
Let’s not kid ourselves. The Mavericks never had a chance in this one. Cleveland has too many weapons, and without a couple of the bigger bodies in the lineup (P.J. Washington, ankle; Daniel Gafford, rest), Mobley’s big night was all but inevitable.
The Cavaliers didn’t need to put it on the Mavs behind the 3-point line under these circumstances, but they did anyway, shooting 18-of-38 (47.4%) from beyond the arc in the win. Dallas made just 9-of-32 (28.1%) on the other end.
Harden shot 3-of-7 from deep, Dennis Schroeder and Jaylon Tyson combined to make 4-of-7 off the bench, and even Mobley shot 2-of-4 for the Cavaliers. Keon Ellis went 3-for-5 as well. Cleveland made a combined 12-of-19 from 3-point land in the first and third quarters in the brutal thrashing of the Mavs.
However, the Big 12 Player of the Year delivered one of the biggest shots thus far of March (and of his career) Friday night in an all-time thriller for No. 1 Arizona against No. 7 Iowa State in the Big 12 semifinals. With the ball in his hands in a tied game at 80-80 and time expiring, Bradly drove right, faded, shot, and found the bottom of the net for the buzzer-beating winner to send the Wildcats to Saturday's conference tournament championship game.
Bradley's shot at the T-Mobile Center came seconds after Tamin Lipsey hit a game-tying 3-pointer in front of the Cyclones bench to allow for the possibility of playing overtime in Kansas City on Friday.
"JB's one of a kind. He's put in the work like I've seen everyone else do on the team. We have the ultimate confidence in him. He won Big 12 Player of the Year for a reason," Bradley's teammate, Anthony Dell'Orso, told ESPN's Rece Davis, Jay Williams and Seth Greenberg after the game.
The Wildcats had to come from behind to win Friday's semifinal, as they trailed the Cyclones 43-37 after the first half. Arizona, which trailed as many as 12 points in the first half, finished the game on a 26-20 run against Iowa State to keep its chances of being a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament alive.
Bradley finished with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field with seven assists, two steals, two rebounds and a block.
Arizona will face the winner of Houston vs. Kansas in March 14's championship game at 6 p.m. ET.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 5: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets passes the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 5, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Morgan Engel/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers (41-25) have a crucial game to win against the Denver Nuggets (41-26) on Saturday. This is the last time these two teams meet in the regular season, they are currently even in their season series at 1-1.
Just when it felt like the Lakers were falling apart two weeks ago, they’ve completely turned it around once again and are now sitting in third place in the Western Conference standings.
Granted, that can change in an instant, but the fact that they’re a top seed in the West means they’re doing things right. Now, the goal is to remain in that spot.
That will be possible if the purple and gold take care of business against the visiting Nuggets on Saturday.
The same Nuggets team that they’ve had two close games with this season. This time, Aaron Gordon is back, which means Denver will be at their healthiest this year against LA on Saturday.
It should make another exciting clash between two teams who are not only looking to claim the tiebreaker but also to overtake each other in the standings.
Here are three factors that could determine the winner of this heavyweight match.
Whose defense is worse?
Defense will matter a lot in this game because the Lakers and Nuggets have one thing in common: being below-average in that department. The Lakers are 20th in defensive rating and Denver is right behind them, at 21st.
Over the last two games, LA has been successful scoring in the paint against Denver. They’re +26 in points generated inside the paint across both games. The non-Nikola Jokic minutes specifically are when the Lakers should look to capitalize. They’ve also been successful in generating second-chance opportunities and transition points against the Nuggets this season. That should continue if the Lakers want to win on Saturday.
Which superstar will rise to the occasion?
Speaking of defense, it’s a given that the Lakers will have to do everything to contain Jokić. They also have to make sure that Jamal Murray doesn’t play extraordinarily well and now Gordon too.
The Lakers’ defense will have their hands full and will need to put a ton of pressure on the Nuggets as well. For that to happen, Luka Dončić will have to play very well, as well as Austin Reaves and LeBron James. Now is the perfect time for the supporting cast to make sure they don’t disappear too.
Both teams may have their flaws, but they employ All-Stars who can take over games. The question is, who will be the superstar in this one? Hopefully, it will be one that dons the purple and gold armor.
Who will be the X-factor?
In the Lakers’ first victory against the Nuggets this season, it was Marcus Smart who pitched in 15 points to help Dončić and James complete the comeback win. In their second game, when the Nuggets barely escaped the Lakers, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Braun stood out. It’ll be interesting to see who comes up big for both teams on Saturday. The likeliest candidates to be the Lakers’ X-factor are: Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton or even Jaxson Hayes.
Let’s see if the Lakers can find a way to tip things in their favor and win the season series against the Nuggets for the first time in six years.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) is out, while Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) is probable.
As for the Nuggets, Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain) is out while Aaron Gordon (right hamstring) is probable.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 5: Draymond Green #23 and Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After two very disappointing losses on Monday and Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors are back in action tonight, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. It won’t be as disappointing if they lose this game, given how good the Wolves are, but … well … it sure would be nice if they won.
Unfortunately, they’re once again at a health disadvantage. Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
Another week, another Curry injury update that pushes his return further down the road. We’re not far from starting to question whether he’ll be back this season at all.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Well, I’m not exactly breaking any news here, am I?
Out — Moses Moody (right wrist sprain)
This is Moody’s fifth consecutive missed game. He does seem to be nearing a return, though. The Warriors begin a six-game road trip on Sunday, and the expectation is that Moody will return at some point during that trip.
Out — Draymond Green (left low back injury management)
Green is technically still listed as questionable on the official injury report, but the Warriors just announced he won’t play. That’s a big blow to the team.
Timberwolves
Out — Joan Beringer (on G League assignment)
That’s it. That’s the entirety of the injury report. Technically they list Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu as available (as the Warriors did with De’Anthony Melton and Quinten Post), but that’s not really an injury is it? The Dubs are limping, and facing a very healthy team. We’ll see how that works out for them.
Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video.
MIAMI (AP) — Austin Wells hit a walk-off three-run homer in the seventh inning that ended the game under a tournament rout rule, and the Dominican Republic beat South Korea 10-0 Friday night to reach the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
Seeking its second title and first since 2013, the Dominicans play the United States or Canada in a semifinal on Sunday in Miami and will start Luis Severino. The Dominicans are 5-0 in the tournament, have outscored opponents 51-10 while batting .312 and with 14 homers tied the WBC record set by Mexico in 2009.
Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in two runs and has 11 RBIs in the tournament. He is tied for third in a single WBC, trailing only Masataka Yoshida’s 13 for Japan in 2023 and Wladimir Balentien’s 12 for the Netherlands in 2017.
Wells, who entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the seventh, reached down and drove a first-pitch cutter from Hyeong Jun So off the front of the second deck in right. Wells was born in Arizona to a mother is of Dominican descent.
He hit the Dominicans' second walk-off homer of the tournament after Juan Soto's drive that ended a 12-1 group stage win over the Netherlands.
Backed by three runs in the second inning and four in the third, winner Christopher Sánchez struck out eight in five innings of two-hit ball.
South Korea, which lost a semifinal in 2006 and the final in 2009, had been eliminated in the first round three straight times before reaching a quarterfinal this year. The South Koreans had two hits, batted .222 and finished with a 5.91 ERA.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked against loser Hyun Jin Ryu and scored the game's first run from first base with a head-first slide on Junior Caminero’s double into the left-field corner. Julio Rodríguez followed with an RBI groundout and Tatis had a run-scoring single.
Soto scored on Guerrero’s double in a four-run fourth, hooking an arm around catcher Dong Won Park with a head-first slide.
