The Golden State Warriors travel to Salt Lake City on Monday night to take on a Utah Jazz team dealing with a sickness that’s making its way through the team.
Isaiah Collier has already been listed as out, but now Ace Bailey and Keyonte George are among those on the Jazz roster who are questionable with illness.
The Jazz are 2-10 in their last 10 games, and currently have the fifth worst record in the league, which is the goal for a team that looks to add a top-3 pick to its playoff-ready roster next season.
The Warriors are firmly in the play-in, holding onto the 8-seed with 4.5 games separating them from the No. 7 Suns and 8.5 games away from the No. 11 Grizzlies. They will be without hall of famer Steph Curry on Monday night.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Houston Rockets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a miraculous comeback win against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Spurs took on the Houston Rockets for their last meeting of the regular season. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Spurs’ offense exploded, outscoring the Rockets 37-24 in the second. Coming into the third quarter with a 12-point lead, the Spurs’ offense continued to blaze. They continued to have one of their best three-point shooting games of the season, and they led by as much as 27. The Rockets cut into the deficit to only make it a 16-point lead for the silver and black heading into the fourth. Even though the Rockets would try to keep pace, the Spurs’ offense was unstoppable. They led by as much as 30 and ultimately won 145-120.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 29 points (9-13 FG, 9-10 FT), eight rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and one assist. From the start of the game, Wemby played like he was well rested. Having only played 22 minutes against the Clippers on Friday, the day of rest helped Wemby play 30 minutes and dominate. He shot 69% from the field and 90% from the free-throw line. He also locked down the paint and got deflections that resulted in steals. If Wemby ends up playing 65 games, it is safe to say that he is a lock for Defensive Player of the Year.
W3MBY! The first bucket for both teams comes from a pull-up three in the face of Alperen Sengun!
First bucket of the night and FBC is already rocking 👀
Stephon Castle dropped 23 points (7-13 FG, 6-7 FT), five assists, and three rebounds. This is Steph’s first 20+ point game since February 19th against Phoenix. After a rough week shooting from the field, Steph took advantage of mismatches and drove into the paint with patience or took open midranges. He also splashed home three three-pointers. His young role as a two-way player continues to blossom, drawing the assignment of guarding Kevin Durant and taller forwards.
De’Aaron Fox dropped a double-double: 20 points (9-15 FG) and 10 assists to go along with two boards. Fox has been putting up at least 19 points in the last three games, and the last time he dished out double-digit assists was February 4th against OKC. This is also his 7th double-double of the season. Ever since the Pistons game, it seems like Fox has played a more aggressive style, as the playoffs continue to appear closer every game.
ACROBAT! Fox crosses over Sengun and finishes at the rim with a smooth reverse layup!
Keldon Johnson dropped 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3PT), two assists, and a rebound. This is KJ’s first 20-point game since February 11th against Golden State. He looked like the 6MOTY KJ Spurs fans have grown accustomed to watching. Shooting 61% from the field and four threes on 57% shooting, KJ could hardly miss. His infectious energy has infiltrated the rest of the rotation, as they have bought into the unselfishness and never-say-die spirit KJ brings to the court every game.
The Beautiful Game. Immaculate Spurs ball movement results in a wide-open KJ trey!
Dylan Harper dropped 19 points (8-12 FG, 3-4 3PT), six assists, and two rebounds. Dyl shot about 67% from the field and 75% from three. 17 of his 19 points came in the first half, as it seemed like he could not miss. Whether it was driving into the lane and finishing with ease or draining open threes, Dyl could not be slowed down. It is such a luxury to have an elite guard rotation where any one of Castle, Fox, or Harper could put up numbers on any given night and also dish out dimes all over the court.
Too fast! Dyl catches the ball in the corner and drives past Dorian Finney-Smith for the athletic one-handed slam!
All in all, this was another statement win by the silver and black. Beating a playoff team in the Rockets three out of four times is no fluke, and this win was the most dominant. The Spurs shot 58% from the field and 51% from three. It is hard to lose when your shooting is this efficient. Now having won 15 of their last 16 games, the Spurs are keeping pace with the OKC Thunder for the one seed. However, they face a tough schedule this week in the Celtics, Nuggets, and Hornets. Nonetheless, a performance that brought the best out of everyone is a great sign, as there is only one month left in the regular season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 14: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 14, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers will be without their four best players: Joel Embiid (oblique), Tyrese Maxey (finger), Paul George (suspension), and VJ Edgecombe (back). Meanwhile, the Cavs are expected to have their starting lineup from yesterday available, even though Jarrett Allen (knee) still won’t be available.
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Cavs -13.5
Cavs injury report: Jarrett Allen – OUT (knee), Dean Wade – PROBABLE (ankle), Tyrese Proctor – OUT (quad), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Olivier Sarr – OUT (G League)
76ers injury report: Joel Embiid – OUT (oblique), Paul George – OUT (suspension), Tyrese Maxey – OUT (finger), Johni Broome – OUT (knee), VJ Edgecombe – OUT (back)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley
76ers expected starting lineup: Cameron Payne, Quintin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona
These are gloomy times for the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers, and tonight’s visit to Cleveland to battle the Cavaliers won’t help their chances of climbing back above the play-in line.
Tyrese Maxey’s finger injury means he’ll join Joel Embiid and Paul George on the sidelines here. My 76ers vs. Cavaliers predictions expect Evan Mobley to help Cleveland cash in.
Take a closer look at this March 9 clash with my free NBA picks.
76ers vs Cavaliers prediction
76ers vs Cavaliers best bet: Evan Mobley Over 26.5 points + rebounds (-115)
It’s a simple equation, really. No Joel Embiid for Philadelphia plus no Jarrett Allen for Cleveland equals a monster night for Evan Mobley.
Mobley finished with 24 points and eight rebounds in yesterday’s loss to the Celtics, and I’m counting on similar production here in the starting center role.
He’s off to a bright start in March, with 19.7 PPG and 8.7 RPG, and there’s room to push those numbers up against a Philadelphia 76ers team that’ll be turning to backups for big minutes tonight.
Mobley posted a 17-13 line in Philly last month.
76ers vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
If Mobley feasts, he’ll surely have James Harden to thank for some of his buckets. "The Beard" has nailed this assists Over in three of his last five home games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have won six of the past seven meetings between these teams, so I’ll round out my SGP with the hosts’ moneyline.
Cleveland is 21-12 SU at Rocket Arena this season, and the 76ers are in a tough spot without Maxey.
76ers vs Cavaliers SGP
Evan Mobley Over 26.5 points + rebounds
James Harden Over 8.5 assists
Cavs moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Let Kelly cook
When the 76ers are fully healthy, Kelly Oubre Jr. might be the fifth or sixth scoring option, but he’ll have the keys at times tonight.
He’s coming off a 24-5-4 stat line at the weekend, and he’s a prime candidate to absorb some of the shots vacated by Maxey.
76ers vs Cavaliers SGP
Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 18.5 points
Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 2.5 assists
Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 4.5 rebounds
Over 227
76ers vs Cavaliers odds
Spread: 76ers +13.5 | Cavaliers -13.5
Moneyline: 76ers +530 | Cavaliers -770
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
76ers vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch 76ers vs Cavaliers
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, March 9, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Philadelphia, FDSN-Ohio
76ers vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 20: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 20, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
May 5, 2018.
That was the last time I had even the slightest inclination that the Sixers might have the upper hand against the Boston Celtics. That was the date of the infamous “Confetti Game” in the Eastern Conference Semifinals when the Sixers hosted Boston. An eventual overtime loss for the Sixers gave way to a 3-0 series hole and ultimately a gentleman’s sweep in a five-game loss.
Even a handful of years later when the Sixers held a 3-2 series lead against the Celtics in the East semis, I never had a shred of confidence that the Sixers could get it done. An embarrassing Game 6 loss at home in a would-be closeout situation led to an embarrassing no-show loss on Mother’s Day up in Boston in Game 7. Fast forward a year later and the Celtics had won their second title of the 21st century while the Sixers continued to be allergic to the Eastern Conference Finals.
That brings us to the 2026 campaign. After some fleeting moments of joy this season, the Sixers are cratering. Joel Embiid once again has a prolonged absence. Tyrese Maxey just suffered a hand injury that will keep him out of the lineup for the time being and VJ Edgecombe is banged up as well. They have stumbled down the standings and currently sit as a Play-In team. As Mick Jagger once sang, “All the dreams were held so close, seemed to all go up in smoke.” That sums up the colossal disappointment of this era of Sixers basketball.
Conversely, everything is coming up Celtics. Jaylen Brown is having a career-best year in his age-29 season, dropping almost 29 points per night while guiding Boston to the No. 2 seed in the East. On Friday night, six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum returned to the lineup after an Achilles injury that had previously kept him sidelined all season. Tatum is settling in, putting up 15 points on Friday against Dallas and 20 points on Sunday against Cleveland, both Boston wins.
Let me guess how the next couple of months play out… Tatum gets his legs under him and Boston starts rolling. The Sixers scrape their way through the Play-In Tournament only for Boston to annihilate them in the first round. Shortly after, the Celtics will roll their way to their third Finals appearance in five seasons.
It sucks! It all sucks!
The Sixers’ pendulum has swung back to mediocrity and I can’t foresee them getting unstuck from there anytime soon.
Grant Nelson drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston.
In a surprising move, the Nets declined to give Grant Nelson a second 10-day contract, league sources told the Post.
Rebuilding Brooklyn is reshuffling the roster in talent-acquisition mode, and Nelson appeared to fit the bill.
After the Nets took a record five first-round picks in June, they scooped up Nelson after the draft as a sixth rookie.
Following early season injury woes that hampered his progress in the G League, the 23-year-old Nelson came on strong with Long Island and earned his initial 10-day deal with Brooklyn on Feb. 27.
Grant Nelson drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. AP
In four games with the Nets, Nelson averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks, shooting .556 percent overall and .700 from the foul line.
In a 106-102 loss to Cleveland on March 1, Nelson had 11 points, four boards and three blocks in just over 20 minutes against the Cavaliers.
He finished with six stocks -— steals and blocks combined — in 29 minutes, showing mobility and defensive energy. But apparently not enough to stick around.
“(He’s) a very good basketball player,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said of Nelson over the weekend. “Everything he does, he does it well. He doesn’t over-dribble or try to do too much. Everything is efficient.
“His size is great. He’s a multi-positional defender, very good playmaker, fast. All of those things have been very good. It translates to this level … We’ll have to discuss and see what the next move going forward is.”
Nelson’s next move could be back to Long Island, with the Nets’ affiliate still holding his G League rights and for the run-in before their playoffs.
But any NBA team can sign Nelson, should they want.
Brooklyn now has an open roster spot. They’ve reached the deadline to convert two-way players to standard deals, but the Nets certainly could simply call up two-way forward Chaney Johnson, who has played well of late.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs greets the fans after the game against the Houston Rockets on March 8, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll get the usual caveats out of the way first. It’s just one game. It’s the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal. We shouldn’t get carried away.
“Weren’t you the guy sitting here this time last week after the Knicks loss telling us not to get too high or low about anything right now?”
Yes. Correct. Fair point.
Okay. Have we done that? Are we good? Have we done our acknowledgements? Have we given our quick nod to mortality?
Good.
Because I’m starting to think things I probably shouldn’t. Starting to feel things I didn’t expect to feel for a while. Starting to remember things I’d kind of forgotten.
We’re at that point where the endgame of the season can only break a few different ways.
Maybe it ends in heartbreak. A hard fought playoff series against a really good opponent who just has one or two more answers than we do. A break here or there that we don’t get. A shot that goes in and suddenly we’re all laying on the floor absolutely spent because we can’t believe what just happened actually happened.
Something to add to the Ray Allen folder we keep in the attic and only open when a national TV broadcast rudely blindsides us with it.
That’s on the table now. We’re in range. That kind of pain is part of the table stakes for the game we’re now playing.
We could also find ourselves a few weeks from now sitting here feeling a little sheepish about getting out over our skis back in March. Some version where the season ends with a 4-1 or 4-2 series loss to a team that simply outclasses the Spurs. Maybe they have more experience. Maybe our guys wobble just a little under the pressure.
Not a meltdown. Just a wobble. A cartoon Coyote who has run off the edge of the cliff and is only able to keep running until he accidentally looks down and realizes where he is.
With a team this young, it would be naive, maybe even a little irresponsible, not to at least acknowledge that possibility. A group with this little playoff experience being dropped straight into the fire.
We don’t have to dwell on it. We just have to, you know, give it a nod.
Because.
Because the other possibility is here now too.
Loud. Present. Practically shouting in our faces. Like a toddler who is up at 6:00 AM even though their parent’s body clock insists it’s still 5:00.
This team can win the whole thing.
They can play with anyone. They can beat anyone. They can get this thing done and, for as many reasons as there are that it might not happen, at this point there are just as many reasons that it might.
Which is wild.
Like, genuinely wild.
When the Spurs made their first championship run, I was ten years old. When I really think about it, that playoff run might be one of the earliest memories I have where every detail still feels as vivid as if it happened yesterday.
Fiesta was happening in April and the whole city felt like it was on tilt. If you weren’t partying, you were watching the Spurs. If you weren’t watching the Spurs, you were talking about the Spurs.
Every other car had one of those little plastic flags clipped to the window. Homemade posters and signs hung off front porches. Giant “Go Spurs Go” banners flapped off the sides of buildings. I remember driving down Austin Highway and seeing all those tents selling bootleg merch. I remember marveling at the massive Spurs flag out on 410 that I’m pretty sure Body Solutions put up. Remember Body Solutions? The weight loss supplement? Good times.
This was a ten year old’s brain, mind you, but it felt like I went to bed every night thinking about the Spurs and woke up every morning feeling like it was Christmas because I got to go out into the world and be a Spurs fan.
We went to a game against the Jazz during that run where we absolutely waxed those nerds. Tim had 36 and basically stuffed Karl Malone in a locker. John Stockton kept bricking threes and the crowd reacted like his pants had fallen down while he stepped on a rake.
I still have these really tangible sense memories of sitting in the Alamodome that night. The sounds, the smells, the colors. Fiesta colors popping against the white uniforms. The deep vivid blue of that weird curtain that separated the stadium. Asking my dad who Johnny Moore was. During timeouts they kept playing “Hey Macarena” even though that trend was about four years too late. Didn’t matter. We ate it up.
Mostly I remember how happy everyone was. Just pure joy. We were acting like fools because we were fools in love. I’d never been part of something bigger than myself before and it felt like my brain suddenly opening up to a wider world.
The Spurs were 9-0 at home during April and something like 13-2 overall. I was too young to care whether the national media was saying “This Spurs team has arrived” or not.
As a ten year old experiencing an unprecedented level of sports bliss, I probably couldn’t have explained any of that. But even if I didn’t have the words for it yet, I could tell we were standing on the edge of something special.
Watching this team come back from the Rodeo Road Trip and play in front of these rocking home crowds has got me feeling some type of way. It’s loud in there, y’all. It feels like a party. Limbs flying around after every bucket. “Olé” songs breaking out like it’s a soccer match. Every single cut to the crowd showing people with those “just can’t help it” grins plastered all over their faces.
The energy in that building feels insane. Even through the TV you can feel it. Watching the games lately has been this constant burst of color and light and sound that elevates everything happening on the floor to a level I was simply not prepared for.
As I’m reminded on a daily basis, I am no longer ten years old. I’ve experienced a lot more of the world since then. I’ve been in love and had my heart broken. I’ve lived in different cities. I’ve started a family. It’s the most cliché thing in the world but, you know, life has a way of just sort of happening when you aren’t even paying attention.
Life kept moving.
And somewhere along the way the Spurs kept happening too. I watched them win more championships than that ten year old version of me could have possibly imagined. I watched Manu turn back the clock and dunk on Chris Bosh. I watched Tim Duncan walk off the floor for the last time. I watched the whole thing slowly wind down. I even watched the Spurs bottom out to the point where I wasn’t really watching anymore.
You accumulate a lot of context along the way. A lot of scar tissue. The older you get, the harder it becomes to let yourself feel things the way you did when you were a kid. Logistically, it simply can’t matter as much as it did back then. You become cautious. Analytical. You start protecting yourself a little bit. There’s other stuff going on. Life’s out there happening, right?
And yet.
Right now the building is shaking again. Victor is coming into his own. The team is playing like they’ve been together for years. Dunks bring the house down. Threes send people over the edge. There’s no deficit we can’t come back from. There’s no opponent we can’t run out of the gym. The music is loud. The party is constant.
You’ve got the crowd randomly deciding to start chanting “CAR-TER BRY-ANT” just because he’s our dude and we simply must chant for him. We’re losing our minds.
We’re fools in love.
I’m just noticing, is all I’m saying.
My knees hurt more than they used to, but the colors are starting to feel pretty vivid again.
Takeaways:
– Here’s a freakin’ takeaway, the Spurs are good! Watch this dunk!
The offense is absolutely humming right now. I don’t know how sustainable it is but, man, when the Spurs are moving the ball like this it feels like they’re capable of setting the world on fire. Thirty-eight assists is a lot! It’s one of the best vital signs you can check when you’re trying to figure out how good this team can actually be. Even just watching the game you can tell when they hit that flow state. The ball is constantly bopping around and it’s not just one person leading the charge, everybody is involved and everybody is trying to find the best shot for the team. It’s unselfish, it’s beautiful, and it’s about as fun as basketball gets.
When this one ended I walked away thinking Devin Vassell had a really good game. He’s been on such a great run lately and it just felt like another example of how well he’s been playing. Then I checked the box score this morning and saw he went 0-6 from the field, which honestly surprised me because I still feel like he was really good last night. He was facilitating the offense, he demands respect from opposing defenses, and he was working hard on the defensive end. Sometimes guys can impact the game even when the shot isn’t falling, and Vassell feels like he’s reached that point in his development. I don’t know man, I’m just some dummy on the internet but I think Devin Vassell is pretty great.
Just saying this now so we can start preparing for it it, but the Spurs are going to play the Celtics in the finals and its going to be annoyinggggggggggggggggggggggg.
– Felt like a big swing here, bringing up old childhood memories and what not. Are you worried about maybe pressing the “Nostalgia Memories” button too early here?
– Like, is this the right time for it?
– Right, is this maybe one you want to save for the playoffs?
– I think, look, if you have the shot then you take it. That’s the mentality here. You can’t count on it coming back around. I had something to say so I said it. I have to trust that, should the Spurs find themselves in the playoffs or, Lord willing, a situation where they win some big games down the road, that I will have something to say then as well.
– Are you worried about a jinx?
– A jinx? You’re asking me about jinxes? I’m never worried about a jinx, get out of here with that. Everything I write is steps to success. Some nights you get some nostalgia bait, some nights you get 900 words on pick‑and‑roll coverage. It’s not jinx; it’s process.
Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday coverage features an exciting doubleheader. First, at 7:30 PM ET, the Denver Nuggets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then, at 10:00 PM, the LA Clippers host the New York Knicks at Intuit Dome. Live coverage begins at 6:30 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Tonight's game is the third of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Thunder, who currently boast the best record in the league, won the first two games, including a 127-121 overtime victory on February 27. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 36 points in the win.
The All-Star guard is currently the odds-on favorite at DraftKings (-300) to win his second straight MVP. He is averaging 31.6 points, only second in the league behind Luka Doncic.
The Nuggets have fallen from second to sixth in the Western Conference since January 31, and look to bounce back after going 6-9 in their last 15 games.
Despite missing 16 consecutive games with a hyperextended left knee, Nikola Jokic has remained a force for the Nuggets. He is averaging a team-high 28.8 points per game and leads the league in assists (10.3) and rebounds (12.5) per game, while also recording a league-high 23 triple-doubles.
How to watch Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder:
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A new week of NBA action tips off with some awesome matchups, including Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks visiting the Los Angeles Clippers.
I’ve got NBA player prop bets for both of those All-Stars and more in my NBA picks for Monday, March 9.
This is about as straightforward a bet as you can get. The Oklahoma City Thunder are great, but they aren’t perfect.
OKC ranks 23rd in rebounding rate and will be without Isaiah Hartenstein, while Chet Holmgren is questionable due to an illness. And I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but the Denver Nuggets have this guy who’s pretty good at rebounding named Nikola Jokic.
The two-time MVP is averaging 12.5 rebounds per game this season and has hauled down 13 or more boards nine times over this last 14 games.
Let's not overthink this. Jokic. Rebounds. Over.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Peacock
Prop #2: Kyle Filipowski double-double
+155 at bet365
The number of injuries for both teams means tonight’s matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz is for true NBA nerds.
Injuries mean opportunities. And the Jazz’s Kyle Filipowski is making the most of his.
Filipowski has started the last nine games for the Jazz and is averaging 14.7 points and 8.4 rebounds over that stretch. He’s also hauled down 11 or more boards in three straight games.
The Dubs rank 22nd in rebounding rate, and Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are both out.
This looks like a great spot to back Filipowski to record another double-double.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSBA, KJZZ
Prop #3: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
+110 at bet365
The New York Knicks can be an infuriating team. Sometimes they look like the best team in the East. Then they turn over the ball 19 times and get blown out by the Lakers.
But one thing you can always count on is Jalen Brunson, and the Knicks’ star point guard has been on fire from beyond the arc. Brunson is shooting 40.4% from three on 5.7 attempts over his last 10 games.
Bruns has hit three or more threes in five of his last 10 games, and tonight, he faces a Los Angeles Clippers team that ranks 24th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
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The New York Knicks (41-24) are on the second night of a back-to-back as they stay in Los Angeles to take on the Clippers (31-32). This is the second and final matchup of the season between the Clippers and Knicks. New York won the first meeting, 123-111.
New York lost to the Lakers on Sunday (110-97) as they fall to 1-2 over the last three games. The Knicks are 6-4 since the All-Star break and 4-2 in road games during that span. New York is 6-5 on the ML and ATS when playing on no rest this season.
Los Angeles is starting a five-game home stand with the Knicks as they finish up a 4-1 record over the last five games. With a win, the Clippers will be .500, which they haven't been all season. With a rest advantage, the Clippers have lost 10 out of 15 games this season, so being more rested than their opponent hasn't led to wins.
The Clippers are ninth in the Western Conference and 1.0 game back from the Warriors and 1.0 ahead of the Trail Blazers. The Knicks are third and 1.5 games ahead of the Cavaliers and 2.5 behind the Celtics for the second spot.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Nuggets at Thunder
Date: Monday, March 9, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Knicks at Clippers
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (-142), Los Angeles Clippers (+120)
Spread: New York -2.5
Total: 220.5 points
This game opened Knicks -3.5 with the Total set at 221.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Knicks at Clippers
New York Knicks
G Jalen Brunson
SG Josh Hart
SF Mikal Bridges
PF OG Annoy
C Karl-Anthony Towns
Los Angeles Clippers
PG Darius Garland
SG Kris Dunn
SF Kawhi Leonard
PF Derrick Jones
C Brook Lopez
Injury Report: Knicks at Clippers
New York Knicks
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game
Miles McBride (core muscle) has been ruled OUT of tonight’s game
Los Angeles Clippers
John Collins (neck) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Bradley Beal (hip) is listed as OUT for tonight's game
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (lisfranc) is OUT for tonight's game
Important stats, trends and insights: Knicks at Clippers
New York is 36-30 ATS and 6-5 ATS with no rest
New York is 13-19 ATS, ranking sixth-worst
New York is 8-13 ATS as a road favorite, ninth-worst
New York is 35-31 to the Under and 18-14 to the Under as the road team
New York is 11-10 to the Under as a road favorite
Los Angeles is 34-29 ATS
Los Angeles is 15-14 ATS as the home team
Los Angeles is 6-3 ATS as a home underdog
Los Angeles is 32-31 to the Over
Los Angeles is 15-14 to the Over as a home team and 5-4 to the Under as a home underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Knicks and Clippers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks' Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks -2.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 220.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
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A few teams capped off historic regular season finishes and are looking to finish with a championship win before heading into the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament. Miami (Ohio), ranked No. 20 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, became the third team to ever enter its conference tournament with a 31-0 record, joining Wichita State and Kentucky.
The RedHawks' undefeated season should be enough for them to reach March Madness, even if they fail to win the MAC tournament. They'll certainly be on or close to the bubble in that scenario, though.
Duke, Arizona and Michigan, ranked Nos. 1-3 in the latest poll, respectively, all finished with two losses on the regular season and take winning streaks into their respective conference tournaments. The national championship favorites are looking to add a conference title before potentially winning it all in March Madness.
Here's a look at the updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for men's college basketball:
Others receiving votes: Villanova 27; Tennessee 22; Saint Louis 9; UCLA 6; Georgia 6; Utah State 3; Ohio State 2; BYU 2;
AP Top 25 poll
Duke (56)
Arizona (4)
Michigan (1)
Florida
Houston
UConn
Iowa State
Michigan State
Illinois
Virginia
Nebraska
Gonzaga
St. John's
Kansas
Alabama
Texas Tech
Arkansas
Purdue
North Carolina
Miami (Ohio)
Saint Mary's
Vanderbilt
Wisconsin
Louisville
Tennessee
Others receiving votes: Miami (Florida) 60; TCU 19; BYU 18; Saint Louis 12; High Point 11; Georgia 10; Villanova 10; UCLA 3; VCU 3; Stephen F. Austin 2; Utah State 2; Ohio State 2; Missouri 2; Akron 1;
Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 - Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shares a laugh with referee Tre Maddox (23) during a break in the action against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
If the Lakers were going to convince anyone they were serious, then wins against actually good teams were going to have to come. Prior to Sunday, the Lakers faltered time after time when given the opportunity to beat a contender, including very recently in Denver.
In beating the Knicks, then, they not only put together a strong performance in a wire-to-wire win, but they did so against one of the Eastern Conference’s best sides which was playing at a high level. Coming into the game, they had won 16 of the last 21 contests.
No matter how you slice it, it was a big win.
“I feel like we’re doing some really good things and we still have room for improvement, but tonight was a good step in the right direction,” Austin Reaves said. “They’re a really good team. I think they told me out there that they average 117 [points]. To hold a team to 97 points of that caliber just shows our grittiness that we’ve come to enjoy to do on the defensive end.”
As Reaves notes, not only was it a big win, but the way they did it was important, too. Not often this year have they won a game on the back of their defense.
On top of that, this was a Knicks team fresh off a dominant win in Denver on Friday, a team the Lakers came up just short against.
“It’s a pretty awesome win,” Luka Dončić said. “They just beat the Nuggets by 40, so I think it’s a pretty big win for us. It’ll give us a lot of confidence moving forward.”
This is also to say nothing of the fact that the Knicks handed the Lakers a pretty frustrating loss in New York earlier this season, which was also something very much on the minds of the team as well.
“A very big win,” Jaxson Hayes said. “I mean, obviously, any wins a big win in this league. It’s a very hard league to play in. I just feel like we owed them that one, at least, for New York. We lost bad in New York, got punked by them in New York, so we just needed to get that one back.”
No matter how you slice it, the Lakers picked up a big win on Sunday. The challenge now will be to build on Sunday’s win and not make it an aberration.
LA will immediately have a chance to do it again on Tuesday. We’ll quickly find out how serious they will be moving forward.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (50-15) and Denver Nuggets (39-25) meet for the third time this season. The Thunder are 2-0 against the Nuggets, and this matchup is set at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is on a five-game winning streak and took eight of the past nine contests. During this winning streak, the Thunder beat the Nuggets in OT, 127-121. It was one of the more dramatic games of February. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back in the mix, the Thunder are 4-0 with wins of 6, 13, 3, and 7 points.
Denver is 4-5 since the All-Star break and dropping in odds to win the Championship and Western Conference. The Nuggets are 7-9 since Nikola Jokic returned from injury. Jokic has triple-doubled in seven out of the 16 games this season and remains second in terms of MVP odds behind Gilgeous-Alexander.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Nuggets at Thunder
Date: Monday, March 9, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Nuggets at Thunder
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-270), Denver Nuggets (+220)
Spread: Oklahoma City -6.5
Total: 232.5 points
This game opened Thunder -7.5 with the Total set at 234.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Nuggets at Thunder
Denver Nuggets
G Jamal Murray (questionable)
SG Christian Braun
SF Cam Johnson
PF Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokic
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Isaiah Joe
SF Cason Wallace
PF Lu Dort
C Chet Holmgren (questionable)
Injury Report: Nuggets at Thunder
Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray (ankle) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game
Peyton Watson (hamstring) has been ruled OUT of tonight’s game
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams (hamstring) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Chet Holmgren (illness) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game
Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) is OUT for tonight's game
Alex Caruso (hip) is QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game
Important stats, trends and insights: Nuggets at Thunder
Denver is 35-29 ATS and 21-13 ATS as the road team, ranking fifth-best
Denver is 9-2 ATS as a road underdog, ranking third-best
Denver is 40-29 to the Over, ranking first
Denver is 24-10 to the Over as the road team, ranking first
Denver is 6-5 to the Over as a road underdog
Oklahoma City is 31-34 ATS
Oklahoman City is 15-17 ATS at home and 14-17 ATS as a home favorite
Oklahoma City is 33-32 to the Over
Oklahoma City is 17-15 to the Under at home
Oklahoma City is 17-14 to the Under as a home favorite
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Nuggets and Thunder’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Thunder's Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Thunder -6.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 232.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Feb 28, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; NC State Wolfpack head coach Will Wade claps against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Scanning the comments sections on multiple sites after the Stanford loss it is easy to see that the Wolfpack basketball faithful haven’t really changed. Coach Wade has been telling us that it’s a new day, and while the results are more positive than negative, the switch hasn’t flipped in the fanbase because bad results keep happening. The team has been disappointing often, and there has not been a win that that gave us any reason to expect greatness this season. And while I don’t think this season is going anywhere, I am still very high on Coach Wade and believe this season was close to being really good. But next season will be better.
Coach Wade Knows We Need Better Talent
In one of his first interviews after being hired, Coach Wade was asked about his roster philosophy and he said generally he would like to retain a third, and get the rest from either portal/international or high school.
In a question and answer portion of his radio show in late January, he was again asked about roster retention. He said, “I suspect we’ll keep a couple off [this year’s team]. It won’t be a third. We have a very clear vision of what we want to do.” “…We have much more time this time around. Our hit rate will go way up.”
Player
Done
Not Retained
Keeper
Darrion Williams
*
Ven-Allen Lubin
*
Tre Holloman
*
Jordan Snell
*
Quadir Copeland
*
Scottie Ebube
*
Musa Sagnia
*
Terrance Arceneaux
*
Alyn Breed
*
Jerry Deng
*
Jayme Kontuniemi
*
Zymicah Wilkins
*
Colt Langdon
*
Matthew Able
*
Paul McNeil
*
Cole Cloer
Freshman
Trevon Carter-Givens
Freshman
2. The Current Team is Not Meeting His Standards
“In his radio show January 29, he said, ”I don’t care about [just] the win, it’s how we win. That’s the problem,” “You get intoxicated with the final result. It’s not just the winning, it’s how we do it. If we go on the road at Wake and only get two of our five game standards, we’re probably going to lose. You have to play to a standard every game.”
Five Games
There were five losses that were a couple of possessions away from being wins. If the Wolfpack wins those games, this is a special season. In each case, the Wolfpack had opportunities to score and put the game away, but did not execute. In the GT and Notre Dame games the Pack was definitely the better team, but just gave them away. In the other three, the Pack just didn’t execute at the end.
Date
Opponent
Difference
End of Game
1/17
Georgia Tech
4
Missed 3 3PT shots (2 PM, 1 Copeland)
2/14
Miami
1
Williams fouled a 3PT shooter
2/28
Notre Dame
6
Williams missed 3 3PT shots
3/7
Stanford
1
Copeland turnover
12/13
Kansas
1
Williams missed shot
3. Coach Wade Knew Early That This Team Was Limited
In his radio show January 22 [19 games into the season, after the Clemson win], he was asked if there is something about he and his staff that Wolfpack nation hasn’t see yet. “We haven’t won as much as we’re gonna win yet. I don’t think they’re ready for how rowdy we’re gonna be when we win. We’ve got to be a little bit quiet right now because we’re not quite where we want to be. But in the next year or two, we’re gonna be, I think people are going to be like, “Where did all of these people come from? Who are they?”
With the regular season in the books and the top men’s basketball teams heading into conference tournament week, the top portion of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll more or less mirrors bracket projections as Selection Sunday looms.
Duke enters the ACC tournament as the top-ranked team in the nation with a chance to secure the first overall seed. The Blue Devils once again received 28 of 31 first-place votes. The remaining three firsts again go to No. 2 Arizona, the Big 12 tourney top seed also well positioned to head a regional in the Big Dance. Big Ten regular season champ Michigan holds at No. 3 in the poll, with Surging Florida continuing its upward trajectory climbing to fourth. Houston is back in the top five as Connecticut slips two positions to No. 6 after a loss to Marquette.
The rest of the top 10 is shuffled slightly, though No. 7 Iowa State and NO. 8 Michigan State hold steady. Illinois moves back up to No. 9, edging ahead of Nebraska, as Texas Tech slides four spots to No. 14.
No. 23 Wisconsin and No. 24 Louisville return to the poll as Saint Louis and Tennessee drop out.
Raphielle Johnson
Nikola Jokic
Kyle Filipowski
Jalen Brunson
