PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls held off the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday night for their second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with under six minutes left, Phoenix pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker's 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns' their first lead, but missed a running layup, with Phoenix's Amir Coffey fouling Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to go. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for Chicago in the opener of a five-game trip. The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they injured ankles in a home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Booker led Phoenix with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Seventh in the West, Phoenix had won two straight. The Suns are without Dillon Brooks because of a fractured left hand.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 05: Leonard Miller #11 of the Chicago Bulls and Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns reach for a loose ball during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This might be the worst loss of the season, considering the circumstances. Chicago was down eight players and had lost 12 of their last 13 games entering this contest.
The Phoenix Suns operated with the panicked urgency of a college student starting a midnight term paper at 11:00 PM. Unfortunately for them, they got close to submitting it on time, but procrastination early on is what cost them the game in the final moments.
It was an ugly game until the very end. Collin Sexton took over and dropped 30 points, and the young guys were running wild, which is fitting for a team named the Bulls. Tre Jones had 21 points on 9-15 shooting. Credit to Chicago for playing hard, but it is unacceptable for this type of game to happen in the first of a back-to-back.
Chicago was without a great deal of key players, including Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, who were questionable entering the day.
Devin Booker poured in 27 points, and Grayson Allen chipped in 21. Outside of that duo, the offense was just not there. They made a late run, but fell short.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns got off to a slow start. Chicago jumped ahead to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes after stagnant offense and easy buckets for the Bulls. That led to a frustrated Jordan Ott timeout with 8:13 remaining in the quarter.
A beautiful (ATO) after-timeout play was drawn up by Ott and executed to perfection to free up Jalen Green for a three-point connection.
We had early Khaman Maluach minutes! He checked about halfway through the quarter. He snatched two rebounds in his first minute on the court.
Cold shooting and lazy defense from the Suns led to a 20-9 Chicago lead and another Suns timeout.
The lineup of Maluach, Fleming, Dunn, Allen, and Gillespie brought some needed life back into the Suns, at least defensively. One of the lone highlights of the quarter was this rookie connection.
The offense continued to struggle. It was an ugly quarter. Phoenix trailed 24-20 after one. Scoring 20 points against this Bulls team in any quarter is unacceptable.
Grayson Allen knocked down a pair of threes early in the second quarter to kickstart the offense. The first chunk of the second quarter was just as frustrating as the first quarter was. The offense was stagnant. Iso ball. Turnovers. Lazy defense.
Chicago was in control, 41-32, while dictating the pace of the game at that point.
Devin Booker scored 7 straight points after he was frustrated with a no-call the previous play, but the Suns’ defense was not getting it done, so they didn’t cover any ground during that stretch.
The Bulls were playing loose, they were playing free, and having fun while pushing the ball up the floor nearly every possession.
Phoenix closed out the half strong and was fortunate to only be down by five after being down by as many as 11. Chicago led 55-50 at the break. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 16 points, followed by 14 from Grayson Allen. Collin Sexton led Chicago with 16 of his own.
Second Half
The third quarter looked like more of the same early on. Chicago made it clear they were not going down without a fight.
Oso Ighodaro started to find himself offensively a bit, as teammates were hitting him in stride on the way to the rim a few possessions in a row.
The defensive intensity picked up a bit for Phoenix, but unfortunately, the shots weren’t consistently falling, not to mention the turnover issues. Devin Booker was still getting to his spot, at the very least.
Collin Sexton was absolutely cooking Phoenix, pouring in 24 points well before the end of the third quarter.
Outside of Booker and Allen, the rest of the Suns’ shotmakers struggled to put the ball through the hoop. The Bulls had 58 points in the paint through the opening three quarters. They were relentless in attacking the rim all game long.
After three, Phoenix trailed 83-77.
Chicago opened the 4th on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 11, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout. Chicago was leading by double digits with less than five minutes remaining. A Jalen Green transition slam, followed by a Grasyon Allen triple, made it a seven-point ballgame with 4:22 left in the game.
An Amir Coffey triple injected some caffeine (sorry) into the arena to cut it to four, 98-94. Coffey drilled another one to cut it to three with less than 40 seconds remaining to answer a Yabusele triple the prior possession.
A Devin Booker triple made it a one-point game after Chicago split a pair of free throws on the other end. It was 104-103 with 22.2 seconds left after a 16-4 Phoenix run.
Nick Richards missed a free-throw in a two-point game with just a few seconds left, then Tre Jones made a high IQ play after the rebound bounced his way by throwing it straight up in the air as the time expired.
Up Next
The Suns get the Pelicans at home tomorrow night for the second of a back-to-back.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The return of Cooper Flagg netted an all too familiar feeling for Mavericks fans; another clutch loss.
The Mavericks fought hard all night, but as usual were unable to execute in the clutch, leading to the Magic stealing an improbable win.
Without further ado… let’s grade the Mavericks
Cooper Flagg: A
18 PTS / 5 REB / 6 AST / 1 STL / 5 BLK -26 MIN
After what felt like an eternity, Cooper Flagg finally made his return to the lineup.
It’s wasn’t Flagg’s best shooting game, as his touch was clearly rusty, but he impacted the game in a multitude of ways. His defense was especially impressive, as his rim protection was felt all night, including an incredible sequence towards the end of the game.
His ability to effect the game in so many ways, on both ends, is what separates him in the rookie-of-the-year race, and makes his potential so tantalizing.
Khris Middleton: B
19 PTS / 2 REB / 7 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -32 MIN
Khris Middleton may be older than time itself, but he can still get buckets.
Middleton’s off-ball ability and scoring chops have proven to be very valuable for this team, and could be very valuable for next year.
Daniel Gafford: B
12 PTS / 13 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK -25 MIN
While Daniel Gafford had a good statistical performance, he still had a very frustrating game.
This mainly boils down to his sheer lack of awareness defensively, as he often finds himself completely out-of-position, which included the game winning shot by Wendell Carter Jr.
Max Christie: C-
6 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -28 MIN
Max Christie receives this grade simply because he was nearly invisible during the game, contributing nothing on either offense of defense.
P.J. Washington: B+
18 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK -33 MIN
P.J. Washington has had an incredibly frustrating season, but has begun to find his form in the last month.
While this won’t quell the trade rumors that are sure to follow him into the offseason, it is nice to see the old, uber-impactful version of Washington.
Klay Thompson: A+
24 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK -26 MIN
Klay Thompson may be washed in many aspects, he can still shoot the ball with the absolute best of them.
Thompson’s ability to make threes from any angle is so unique, and could be so valuable for next year’s Mavericks.
Naji Marshall: D-
6 PTS / 4 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK -25 MIN
In a game that was decided by one point, Naji Marshall’s scoring was missed dearly, as he struggled to find any offense.
The one positive was his playmaking, as he racked up five assists.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Target Center on March 05, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are games that you want to remember and ones you want to forget. There are games where everything goes perfectly, and games where everything goes terribly. There are also games like tonight, where seemingly all of those things happen all at once. Most nights, that would be a nightmare to watch and even worse to be on a recap for. Instead, tonight was fun.
It was not fun for Jaden McDaniels, who found himself in foul trouble for the entirety of this game, leading to what was likely the worst performance of his season. It was not fun for head coach Chris Finch, who perpetually looks miserable on the bench, whether it’s through ten point deficit or a 21-5 run.
21-5 Wolves run from 7:48 to 2:26 to turn a 1-point deficit into a 15-point lead
Started with consistently great Rudy defense + Donte hustle plays
Amplified by an Anthony Edwards poster
Taken to another level by a crowd pop for two straight loud Naz Reid buckets https://t.co/RYJRRwftih
Still, it was also really fun for most of the team. Donte DiVincenzo had three threes in the first half. Kyle Anderson is playing backup point guard. Anthony Edwards had that aforementioned crazy poster dunk.
Nights like this are the meat and potatoes of the NBA season. These are not headlining matchups. These are not appointment viewing. These are not even on primetime television; instead, boasting the “FanDuel sports network.” Instead, these are the games that we miss in August when the season is a distant memory.
There’s so much left to discuss, so many bits of minutia we can focus on. So, to that note, let’s get started—
Wait, I’m being told I failed to mention something here.
Here’s what you guys missed from this game.
ANTHONY EDWARDS REALMENTE ACABOU COM A CARREIRA DO RJ BARRETT
Alright. With all our Ts crossed and Is dotted, let’s get down to business.
The Kyle Anderson Experience
Slo Mo finished tonight’s game with four points, four assists, and three rebounds in only 15 minutes. Even with the deadline’s other acquisitions all being point guards, it’s been Anderson who is taking the bulk of the bench playmaking role.
When people spoke about how the Wolves needed to improve, so many of the questions came down to backcourt depth. Conversations largely focused on finding a point guard to fix both playmaking and ball-handling deficiencies. Instead, Minnesota has found a bit of a platoon approach.
Anderson’s role also holds some playoff promise. The rotation has now expanded out to nine players. While it’s probably less than ideal long term that both TJ Shannon have been relegated to garbage time, Kyle offers the type of backup 3/4 minutes that Shannon ideally would have provided.
A frequently threadbare bench has now become a bit of a strength, with both the depth and specialists that mean that Finch can go from a seven-man rotation to a nine-man one and back again if needed.
Which brings us to our next topic…
Bench Mobbing
Remember when the Wolves relied on Naz Reid as the only capable player outside of the top five starters? Remember when Mike Conley would come in and immediately get blown by, only for Chris Finch to tell non-believers that there were just no other options up and down the roster (Rob Dillingham believers did NOT like that idea)? Remember when Bones Hyland needed to be relied upon, even on nights when his shot wasn’t falling?
Well, these are not those Wolves of yesteryear. Between the additions of Ayo Dosumnu and Kyle Anderson, and the continued value of shock impact player Hyland and Sixth Man of the Year favorite Naz Reid, this bench unit is shockingly capable.
Nowhere was that more obvious than in the scoring column tonight. Six players finished in double digits. That was with McDaniels missing out by one bucket because of foul trouble.
There is no reason that can’t continue.
Most importantly, there’s no reason why that isn’t translatable to a playoff environment. This era of Wolves basketball is defined by an overperformance of unexpected players. Realistically speaking, it is Bones Hyland who will find himself out of the rotation in May. However, that doesn’t mean his role of offensive sparkplug will cease to matter.
To that end, this team makes sense in a way that I can buy into. That has to count for something.
Kyle Anderson and Ayo Dosunmu pretty much help with all of Minnesota’s weaknesses. Incredible
With just about two months left in the regular season, the Wolves now sit at third in the West, a full game ahead of the fourth-seeded Rockets. They are a full five games back from the Thunder and Spurs pack of it all, but a few months ago, the idea of escaping the play-in felt far away and unlikely.
There is no team that these Wolves can’t beat. They will once again be a popular dark horse for the title. But the good news is that no one is playing better than them. The same thing happened last year. And the year before.
Maybe the Anthony Edwards era will be defined by late-season runs that extend deep into the playoffs. There are far worse things to be known for than that. Even better, maybe sometime soon, those flameouts will become Finals appearances. And maybe, just maybe, those appearances become victories.
While Edwards is unquestionably the motor and frame of the car that is the Timberwolves, there is more to this vehicle than there was earlier. It’s not a carry job. It is an F1 construction finding stability through its well-tested and well-engineered parts, each functioning as needed.
Goodnight Wolves fans. Dream of Max Verstappen, or Dale Earnhardt, or Lightning McQueen. The race starts in 60 days. The car is hitting top form. The drivers are raring to go.
Time to get to work.
Up Next
The Timberwolves will go for six in a row on Saturday afternoon against the Orlando Magic. The game begins at 2:00 PM CT, airing on Amazon Prime Video.
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 5: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 5, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You can criticize the 2025-26 Golden State Warriors for a lot of things, but lack of heart is not one of them.
Missing Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porzingis and Gary Payton II, the Warriors rode an incredible team effort on defense to a 115-113 overtime win against the Houston Rockets. Draymond Green locked down Kevin Durant late and then the NBA’s burner account king missed two clutch free throws and accidentally made another in OT.
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 26 points and nine rebounds, but the shorthanded Warriors got contributions all the way down the roster. DeAnthony Melton scored 23 points, blocked two shots and got three steals. Green led the team with eight assists, scored 10 points and turned the ball over only once.
Al Horford scored 17, drained three threes and got a huge hustle block on Alperen Sengun in overtime. And Gui Santos had 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists and was +20 in 42 minutes, a remarkable accomplishment for a two-point victory. He also delivered what turned out to be only the second-most embarrassing moment of the game for Durant.
Golden State looked like they’d taken control of the game late in overtime when Podziemski hit a three and a driving layup on consecutive possessions, thanks to some powerful screens from Green.
The Warriors’ timely help defense on Durant forced a miss and they had the ball and a five-point lead with 1:20 to go.
It fell apart quickly. All-Defensive guard Amen Thompson stole the ball and got fouled. He split his free throws, but the Rockets got an offensive rebound and whipped the ball around to Durant, who canned a three to cut the lead to one. But the resilient Warriors went to the veteran Horford, who posted up Thompson, 16 years younger then him, and hit a bucket.
Durant drew a three-shot foul on Melton, and it looked like the game would be tied. After all, Durant had made 34 consecutive free throws. That streak would end at 36.
He missed the third freebie, then the Warriors got two offensive rebounds on their next possession before Melton scored for another three-point lead.
DE'ANTHONY MELTON SEALS IT FOR THE WARRIORS IN OT!
It’s a testament to the tenacity of the Warriors that they got the most important offensive rebound against the Houston Rockets. Up three, Green fouled Durant, who missed another free throw. Needing to miss and get an offensive rebound, KD accidentally made his final free throw.
To add insult to injury, the game ended after the Rockets let all but 0.1 seconds run off the clock before fouling, and Green threw the ball off Durant to end it. X.com user “getoffmydickerson” will surely have a lot to say about that later.
Steve Kerr has plenty of critics among Warriors fans and people writing this very recap, but Thursday’s game was another example of why he remains one of the NBA’s best-ever coaches. Somehow, the Warriors have a top-12 defense this season, and they handled everyone but Reed Sheppard (30 points, six threes) and forced 17 turnovers.
Out of a timeout just under four minutes, Kerr drew up a sweet out-of-bounds play for Green, who got an and-one off a dime from Brandin Podziemski.
Of course, the real secret to a killer defense is having Draymond Green. He did a great job of denying his old teammate the ball, but Sengun kept making tough shots to keep the Rockets in it. But, the Warriors won the mathematics battle, because three is more than two. De’Anthony Melton hit a three and then Al Horford nailed a huge triple off a broken play and a heads-up pass from Green.
At the end of regulation, Durant blocked Melton, a play originally called a foul and reversed, because this is what happens late in Rockets-Warriors games. The ageless Horford won the subsequent jump ball, but Thompson blew up the Warriors’ inbounds play to send the game to OT.
LJ Cryer had a strong performance back in the city of his college basketball glory. In his first game since Jan. 25, Cryer scored 12 points, guarded Reed Sheppard in big moments, sank four three-pointers and provided 20 crucial minutes for a Warriors team light on guards.
But the star was Podziemski. Eight days after his 23rd birthday, Podziemski took command of the offense late in games, grabbed five offensive rebounds and went 4-for-8 from behind the arc. For a player who seems to constantly draw the ire of the Warriors fanbase, Podziemski continues to do a lot of good things for his team, even while being clotheslined by Rockets defenders and being constantly whipped in the face by his beautiful, wild hair.
Golden State moves to 32-30 and 1.5 games ahead of the 9th-place Los Angeles Clippers. They’ll play the San Antonio Spurs Friday while the Warriors play the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, so let’s just assume they’ll be 32-31 1.5 games ahead on Sunday.
Except, after Thursday, you just never know with this team and their new adopted Splash Cousin LJ Cryer. There will be time enough to bemoan Kerr’s coaching decisions and the insane roster choices later. This is the time to savor the most satisfying Warriors win of the season.
LeBron James has broken yet another NBA record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In the final seconds of the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, James posted up Zeke Nnaji along the baseline before hitting him with a turnaround fadeaway for the 15,838th made field goal of his career — the most all-time by a player.
Though he passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer in 2023, the fact that it took another three years to surpass him in made field goals speaks to the evolution of the game, and the power that the 3-ball and the free throw line have in today's NBA.
James and Abdul-Jabbar are the only two players to score at least 15,000 career field goals; the next closest is Karl Malone with 13,528. The only other active player in the top 10 is Kevin Durant, who is in ninth with 11,075.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ehis Etute and Katie Fiso combined for 32 second-half points to lead Oregon 73-68 past No. 14 Maryland in the second round of the Big 10 Tournament on Thursday.
After two points from Etute in the first half and none from Fiso, Etute tallied 18 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the second half. Fiso had 14 on 7-of-13 shooting and four assists after halftime.
After a back-and-forth in the final three minutes that had Maryland within two points, Avary Cain hit a 3-pointer with five seconds to go to seal the result for the No. 11 seed Ducks (22-11). She had 13 points and two blocks.
Oluchi Okananwa scored 27 points — including 17 in the second half — going 10 of 18 from the field and 7 of 8 at the line to go with three steals for the Terrapins (23-8).
Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu added 10 points as the only other Terrapins player in double figures.
Neither team lead by double digits, with Maryland's eight-point lead in the first quarter the largest of the game. It's the second meeting and second time this season that the Ducks have upset the Terrapins.
Up next
Oregon will face No. 8 (and No. 3 seed) Michigan on Friday.
Lakers star LeBron James dunks to tie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 15,837 career field goals in the regular season during the first quarter Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
James broke Abdul-Jabbar's record for the most career field goals in the regular season Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, but an elbow injury limited his contributions in crunch time of the Lakers' 120-113 loss.
After scoring over Denver center Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter, James fell to the court and immediately grabbed his left elbow. He eventually got up and went to the bench with 3:58 remaining. He returned with 2:05 left and the Lakers down 112-111 before leaving again with 22 seconds left after Jokic scored consecutive baskets to give the Nuggets a 116-111 lead. Jokic finished with a triple-double of 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.
Jamal Murray had 28 points and two game-sealing free throws for Denver (39-24).
James finished with 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds and Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
James entered the game needing to make three field goals to pass Abdul-Jabbar for the most made field goals in league history. James tied Abdul-Jabbar’s mark for most regular-season field goals when he dunked off a lob pass from Doncic with 8:33 left in the first quarter.
He set the new mark of 15,838 with a fadeaway jumper near the Lakers’ bench with 11.8 seconds left in the first quarter.
When James went to the bench with the Lakers (37-25) trailing 32-22 at the end of the quarter, the Denver Nuggets’ public address announcer told the crowd about his accomplishment. James was given a standing ovation from the fans at Ball Arena.
“LeBron's greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick before the game. “He just plays and plays and plays. And the greatest hits are just ... he's got a hell of a catalog.”
James finished the game with 15,842 career field goals.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton didn’t return for the second half against the Nuggets after sustaining a knee injury.
Ayton left the court in the first quarter. The Lakers didn’t say which knee Ayton injured.
He played four minutes and 30 seconds and had two rebounds and no points.
Jaxson Hayes started the second half in Ayton's place.
Ayton entered the game averaging 12.8 points on 66.8% shooting with 8.3 rebounds.
Not having Ayton meant Hayes (19 points) and Rui Hachimura (16 points) had to take on the role of defending Jokic.
Etc.
Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season against the Nuggets. If he draws one more technical before the end of the season, he will receive an automatic one-game suspension.
“Yeah, he's aware that he's close,” Redick said before the game. “And I think he's trying [not to get anymore].”
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Mavericks fought valiantly in Orlando before dropping a tough 115-114 loss to the Magic Thursday night.
Dallas opened the game with strong early energy, jumping ahead behind a Khris Middleton pull-up three and quick interior activity from Daniel Gafford and Cooper Flagg. Flagg added a putback and set up Max Christie for a three, while Gafford finished an alley-oop that helped Dallas build an early cushion. Orlando slowly worked back into the game behind Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., who generated points inside and on second-chance opportunities to keep the Magic close. Klay Thompson provided a late first-quarter boost with a pair of threes, including a deep one in the closing seconds that gave Dallas a 33–26 lead after one. The second quarter stayed tight, with Gafford continuing to impact the paint and Flagg attacking the rim while PJ Washington added a transition layup, a three, and free throws during a mid-quarter run. Orlando countered through Banchero’s midrange scoring and a Tristan Da Silva three, trimming the margin multiple times. Despite those pushes, Dallas held on to a narrow 62–60 lead at halftime, thanks to timely threes and consistent interior scoring.
The second half turned into a momentum swing that ultimately slipped away from Dallas. The Mavericks briefly stayed in control early in the third quarter with interior scoring from Daniel Gafford and a Cooper Flagg dunk and three. Still, Orlando flipped the game with a decisive 17–5 run late in the period behind shot-making from Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero that erased the Dallas lead and gave the Magic control heading into the fourth. From there, the final quarter became a back-and-forth shootout. Orlando repeatedly pushed its lead with timely buckets from Goga Bitadze and Tristan Da Silva. At the same time, Dallas answered through Khris Middleton’s midrange scoring and a pair of Klay Thompson threes that kept the Mavericks within striking distance. Daniel Gafford’s rebounding and interior presence helped Dallas generate extra chances as they chipped the deficit down possession by possession. In the closing minutes, Middleton continued to hit tough jumpers to keep Dallas alive, but Orlando consistently had a response, allowing the Magic to hang on for a narrow 115–114 win.
7: Klay Thompson threes
Klay Thompson looked like vintage Klay for long stretches of this game, finishing with 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting from three and 8-of-14 from the field overall. Every time Dallas needed a scoring jolt, it seemed to come from Thompson sprinting into a catch-and-shoot triple or rising for one of his quick-release jumpers. His shooting was the primary reason the Mavericks stayed within striking distance for most of the night, especially during the second half when Dallas struggled to generate consistent offense elsewhere. When Klay gets hot like this, the entire offense opens up, and tonight felt like one of those classic “Klay heater” games where every clean look felt automatic.
Beyond the scoring impact, the night also carried historical significance. Thompson’s seven threes allowed him to tie and then pass Ray Allen for the most three-pointers made in NBA history when combining regular-season and playoff totals. This milestone speaks to just how elite and consistent a shooter he has been throughout his career. At the same time, there is a slightly bittersweet element to watching performances like this in Dallas right now. Thompson is still capable of explosive shooting nights that swing games, yet those performances come for a team far from contention. Seeing flashes of prime Klay while the Mavericks sit in a transitional season makes it feel like one of the league’s greatest shooters is spending these late-career heaters on games that ultimately do not matter in the standings.
6: Cooper Flagg assists
Cooper Flagg returned to the lineup after missing the previous nine games and looked surprisingly comfortable for someone coming off an injury layoff. His shot was not particularly efficient, finishing 7-of-22 from the field and 1-of-5 from three, but the overall production was still there as he ended the night with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in just under 26 minutes. Even on a night when the jumper did not fall consistently, Flagg was able to score by attacking the rim, finishing through contact, and getting to the line, which helped stabilize the Mavericks’ offense in several stretches.
What stood out most, though, was everything he did outside of scoring. Flagg was constantly making plays on both ends of the floor, finishing with six assists while repeatedly creating opportunities for teammates when Orlando collapsed on his drives. Defensively, he was even more impactful, recording five stocks with four blocks and one steal while flying around as a weakside rim protector and help defender. For a player returning from injury, that level of activity and playmaking was an extremely encouraging sign. The efficiency will come back with rhythm, but seeing him immediately influence the game as a passer, rebounder, and defensive playmaker was the most important takeaway from his return.
42%: Mavericks 3 point shooting
Dallas’ offense stayed competitive in this game largely because of its perimeter shooting. The Mavericks finished the night shooting 42 percent from three as a team, finishing 14-of-33, which repeatedly allowed them to answer Orlando runs and keep the game within a possession deep into the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson’s seven threes headlined the performance, but he was not alone. PJ Washington knocked down three triples of his own and Max Christie added two, helping Dallas stretch Orlando’s defense and open up driving lanes and paint touches for players like Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford. Without that outside shooting, this game likely gets away from Dallas much earlier.
Performances like this also highlight something that has become increasingly clear about the Mavericks’ roster construction moving forward. If Cooper Flagg is going to be the centerpiece of the offense, the team must prioritize shooting around him this offseason. Flagg thrives when the floor is spaced, and defenders cannot collapse into the paint on his drives. Nights when Dallas shoots well from three make the offense look functional and dynamic, while poor shooting nights tend to stall the attack completely. Adding more consistent perimeter shooting this summer would not only raise the offensive ceiling of the roster but also make life much easier for Flagg as a primary creator.
DENVER, CO – MARCH 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all time career field goal record of 15,837 on March...
The arena buzzed with anticipation on Thursday night as LeBron James once again surpassed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the history books.
James hit a turnaround fadeaway jumper on the baseline to achieve the feat.
The Lakers entered the game as the No. 6 seed in the NBA’s Western Conference standings, just a half-game behind the Nuggets. A victory on Thursday night and they would leapfrog them into 5th place. A loss, and they fall further behind.
With his fadeaway, LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most made FGs in NBA history: pic.twitter.com/LCUgXJcESm
James entered the night just three field goals away from passing Kareem for the most made shots in NBA history–15,387, a number that a few decades ago felt untouchable.
LeBron James hits a fadeaway to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all time career field goal record. NBAE via Getty Images
By now, LeBron has turned basketball longevity into something closer to performance art. In his 23rd season, the man still moves through games like a player half his age. His body might carry 41 years of life, but his mind still reads defenses like a book.
Every three-pointer, every pull-up jumper, every glide through the lane for a thundering dunk feels like another brushstroke on the largest statistical mural the sport has ever seen.
“I’m a big Bruce Springsteen fan,” said Lakers head coach J.J. Redick before the game, comparing ‘The Boss’ to LeBron. “You can see the evolution of him as a singer/songwriter…you get to the end of his career and you’re like holy s—, this guy’s greatest hits are like insane and LeBron’s greatest hits are too. He just keeps adding to them. He just plays and plays, and he’s got a hell of a catalog.”
James is already the greatest scorer in NBA history—holding the all-time points record with 43,111—he has built his legacy not on a single unstoppable move like Kareem’s skyhook or Michael Jordan’s fadeaway, but on sheer, relentless versatility and durability.
Critics spent years waiting for the decline. Waiting for the body to betray him. Waiting for Father Time to finally catch the man who has spent two decades outrunning him.
He’s still waiting.
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James now owns more than 30 NBA records, leads the league’s history in field-goal attempts (over 31,000), and is somehow still productive enough to earn his 22nd All-Star selection while averaging 21.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in his 23rd season.
James is in the final year of his contract with the Lakers and could retire at the end of the season or he could return for one last run with another team.
For now, though, the spotlight remained firmly fixed on history.
An NBA crowd that has seen Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem himself rise into basketball immortality watched another chapter unfold. The Nuggets were simply the latest witness, their presence little more than background scenery on a night all about legacy.
On the fifth day of March, men’s college basketball got its first true moment of madness during the sport’s trademark month.
In the quarterfinals of the Patriot League tournament, Lehigh guard Nasir Whitlock sank a half-court heave as time expired to lift the Mountain Hawks to a 69-66 victory against Holy Cross on Wednesday, March 5.
— Lehigh Men’s Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 6, 2026
The basket served as an exclamation mark on a night in which Whitlock had 29 points on 11-of-24 shooting, including a 4-of-6 effort from 3-point range.
Even before his buzzer-beater, Whitlock had been the star of the game’s final minutes. He made a driving layup to tie the score at 66 with 11 seconds remaining and forced a turnover on Holy Cross’ ensuing possession, giving Lehigh the ball back near the opposing basket with 2.1 seconds remaining.
After leading by five at halftime, the Mountain Hawks trailed 64-58 with 2:43 remaining before finishing the game on an 11-2 run, with all 11 points coming from Whitlock.
At a school that’s had its share of excellent guards — most notably, NBA standout CJ McCollum — Whitlock has been a revelation for Lehigh this season, averaging 20.8 points per game and shooting 43.1% from 3. The 6-foot-2 junior from Minnesota has nearly doubled the 10.8 points per game he averaged last season.
With the victory, Lehigh advances to the semifinals of the Patriot League tournament, where it will host Colgate on Sunday, March 8. The Mountain Hawks are the event’s No. 2 seed. Colgate, the No. 3 seed, has won the conference and earned its automatic berth to the NCAA tournament in five of the past seven seasons.
No. 1 seed Navy will host No. 4 seed Boston University in the other semifinal.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 22 points, including an impressive two-handed slam over RJ Barrett, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Toronto Raptors 115-107 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.
In the third quarter, Edwards used a crossover dribble to get free in the lane, elevated well above the rim and slammed it home, flexing and yelling at Barrett afterward. Barrett gave Edwards a little bump as they ran back up the court.
Coming off a 41-point performance in Minnesota’s 117-110 win over Memphis on Tuesday night, Edwards had an efficient night, shooting 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
With Houston falling to Golden State in overtime, the Timberwolves (40-23) moved one game ahead of the Rockets for third place in the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Julius Randle scored 17 and Donte DiVincenzo had 16 points for the Wolves.
Barrett led the Raptors with 25 points and Immanuel Quickley added 18. Toronto has lost four of five but remains fifth in the East.
Listed as questionable for the game with a sprained left thumb, the Raptors' Brandon Ingram scored 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
Minnesota led 55-54 at halftime and took control with an 11-0 run in the third quarter for an 86-70 lead.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 5: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 5, 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
The San Antonio Spurs denied the Detroit Pistons revenge in the first game at Frost Bank Center since Feb. 7. The difference was that they got everything they wanted at 0-3 feet, plus got a nice boost from second opportunities and playing in transition.
They kept it simple early, running one of the most successful plays coach Mitch Johnson has: give it to Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. They were shooting stars at long, mid and short range, which took away the Pistons’ transition attack since they had to check the ball in often.
Wemby plus Fox still were unrestrained, keeping their feet on the gas like a boxer trying to close while their opponent was on the ropes. They combined for nearly two-thirds of the team’s first-half points, and the defense didn’t give the Pistons any breaks either, making Cade Cunningham look ordinary, and blowing up the actions they ran in the lane.
The Spurs then came out of intermission with a 16-point lead, pushing the pace and invading the lane. Wembanyama was like a shark that sniffed blood, and went back at Duren, forcing him to sit, which compromised Detroit’s backline defense. Yet, they allowed the Pistons to maintain a pulse as they were close to flatlining when there was 22 points of separation. The lead was eventually cut to eight going into the fourth, and Detroit was able to take advantage when Wemby sat.
He was back for the start of the fourth and his two-way impact was the ingredient the team needed, as their mojo returned. Fox had a late burst, but they made the same mistakes as the last quarter, inviting the Pistons back into the game when lowering the RPMs. Cunningham even cut the lead to 10 points with fewer than three minutes left on a 3-pointer with contact, yet the Spurs prevailed thanks to late heroics from Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie.
Observations
Jalen Duren is built like a stack of bricks. Seeing how Wembanyama can handle that type of strength is illuminating, and on some occasions, his length was the perfect counter. Wembanyama intelligently went at him when he was in foul trouble and kept getting defenders to bite on his fakes. Additionally, Isaiah Stewart is smaller, but powerfully built and he got shot over, too.
The Pistons have notably been the East’s top team without a second big-time shot creator next to Cunningham. Their defense is second-best in the league thanks to a surplus of quick guys with size and desire, making up for being a poor 3-point shooting team. But Ausar Thompson, one of the key players on the perimeter, was limited to two minutes because he twisted his ankle on the break. Still, this shouldn’t be looked at as a letdown performance from Detroit, but instead one of those top-notch showings by the Spurs that exposed them.
Cunningham got off to a slow start in part because of pressure from Castle, and the quick help defense bothering him. Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant, two youngsters with size and quickness, also got time guarding him. The Spurs’ defense held them to 110.5 points, good enough for the 36th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.
In a lot of cases, the fourth quarter is not the most important one, but rather the first one is since it sets the tone with a double-figure lead. Keep in mind how exhausting it is to erase a deficit like that. On top of that, the Spurs made seven 3-pointers in the first quarter along with four offensive rebounds that turned into eight second-chance points. They even scored 71 points by intermission, and it was the 14th time this season they have logged at least 70 in that stretch, and their record is 12-2 on those nights.
Credit to the Los Angeles Clippers, who are Friday’s opponent, for turning their season around, but this game should have been put on national TV instead when scheduling was done because both sides were on the come-up. It would have also been a nice opportunity to get more eyeballs on their second encounter in 10 nights.
Wembanyama had 38 points, tying his third-highest scoring night of the season. He and Fox will get most of the glory, yet Castle played a fine game, taking care of the ball and setting up his teammates with 12 assists, with seven coming in the first half.
If these teams meet up in the Finals, it will be a tough series for Luke Kornet as he doesn’t play high enough against screen rolls. He was a weakness at the end of the third quarter, when Detroit sliced the lead from 15 to eight in his minutes.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Jessica Timmons and Ta'Mia Scott combined for 43 points to lead Alabama 76-64 past Tennessee in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.
Timmons and Scott were both 3 of 5 from behind the arc. Timmons had 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting and Scott had 20 on 7-of-11 shooting to go with five rebounds. Scott fouled out with 3:46 to go.
Essence Cody scored 10 points. Karly Weathers had seven assists and six steals.
The No. 11 seed Crimson Tide (23-9) built up a 39-29 halftime lead after a 9-0 first quarter run, and a 12-5 run to end the half. Alabama never trailed in the contest and held the lead from the 3:16 mark in the first quarter.
The No. 6 seed Volunteers (16-13) were led by a 20-point, five-rebound performance from Janiah Barker. She turned the ball over seven times. Zee Spearman added 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Tennessee leads the SEC with 17 conference titles.
Up next
Alabama will face No. 3 seed Texas in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Tennessee, after seven consecutive losses, will await to see if it will receive a bid to the NCAA tournament.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg scored 16 points apiece, and Aday Mara had two tiebreaking shots in the final 1:22 as Michigan defeated Iowa.
The Wolverines (28-2, 18-1 Big Ten) were held 18 points below their season scoring average, but managed to hold off the Hawkeyes (20-10, 10-9) in the closing seconds.
Iowa went on an 11-1 run to tie the game at 64 with 1:56 to play before Mara banked in a shot before the shot clock expired, putting Michigan in front again. After Iowa’s Cam Manyawu scored inside to tie the game at 66, Mara, who finished with 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting, scored off a lob with 43 seconds left to put the Wolverines ahead to stay.
Iowa had chances to tie the game on back-to-back possessions, but missed three shots on one of the possessions and lost the ball on another after a turnover by Tavion Banks with seven seconds left.
The Hawkeyes had a final chance to tie the game after Lendeborg made two free throws with four seconds remaining, but Bennett Stirtz’s 3-pointer try was long.
Elliot Cadeau added 11 points for the Wolverines, the Big Ten regular-season champions.
Stirtz led Iowa with 21 points. Manyawu had 14.
NO. 8 MICHIGAN STATE 91, RUTGERS 87
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fears had 21 points and eight assists and Coen Carr also scored 21, helping Michigan State hold off Rutgers.
The Spartans (25-5, 15-4 Big Ten) will close the regular season on the road against rival and third-ranked Michigan on Sunday.
Michigan State has won five straight games to secure a top-four seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament and a double-bye into the quarterfinals.
The Scarlet Knights (12-18, 5-14) have slumped toward the bottom of the 18-team conference.
Rutgers’ Tariq Francis scored 25 points, Lino Mark had 14 and Emmanuel Ogbole added 13.
