NEW YORK (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers overwhelmed the Brooklyn Nets 132-100 on Friday night for their second straight victory and 10th in 12 games as they fight to hold on to sixth place in the Western Conference.
Leonard was 5 of 6 from 3-point range, 10 of 14 overall from the field and made all six of his free throws. He also had six rebounds, four steals and two blocks in just under 27 minutes.
Ivica Zubac scored 21 points on 9-for-9 shooting and had 12 rebounds for Los Angeles. James Harden added 17 points.
Keon Johnson had 13 points for Brooklyn. The Nets have lost six straight and are 1-9 in last 10 and 2-16 in last 18.
Takeaways
Clippers: Los Angeles rebounded from a home loss to Oklahoma City to sweep the New York teams. The Clippers beat the Knicks on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Nets: Drew Timme had 11 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes after signing a multiyear contract Friday. The former Gonzaga player is averaging 23.0 points in 29 games this season for Long Island in the NBA G League.
Key moment
Down 27-26 after one quarter, the Clippers outscored the Nets 42-21 in the second and 37-21 in the third to take a 105-69 lead.
Key stat
Zubac passed Swen Nater for sixth place on the Clippers’ career rebounds list.
Without their top three point guards, some unlikely names, and OG Anunoby's 31 points, lifted the Knicks to a 116-107 win over the Bucks in Milwaukee.
The Knicks have swept the season series from the Bucks, a potential first-round opponent.
Here are the takeaways...
-With Miles McBride (groin) and Cam Payne (ankle) out, coach Tom Thibodeau went with veteran Delon Wright as the starting point guard. Wright, the 10-year vet, was in the lineup mostly for his defensive prowess, and he showed it early on. The Bucks were running on the fast break with Wright stuck defending Kyle Kuzma and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wright made the savvy move to anticipate the pass from Kuzma and deflected it to himself.
Wright scored 10 of the Knicks' 25 first-quarter points. In 30 minutes, Wright scored 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting (2 of 5 from three) while dishing four assists, coming down with three rebounds and coming away with a steal.
-Tyler Kolek saw extended minutes in Wednesday's loss after Payne left with his ankle sprain, and he would tell you he needs to be more confident and aggressive when he's the point guard on the court, and he did Friday. Playing in the same arena he played in while with Marquette, Kolek made the right reads on breaks, and held his own defensively.
The rookie scored five points on 2-for-4 shooting (1 of 2 from three) while dishing five assists and not turning the ball over in 17 minutes. He was a game-high plus-18 on the floor.
-Turnovers were a bit part of this one. The Knicks scored 16 points off of 10 Bucks turnovers in the first half. Milwaukee took care of it better in the second, and that helped them cut the Knicks' 14-point halftime lead to three midway through the third, as the Knicks could not buy a bucket. But then Josh Hart took over, being the aggressor and pushing the pace, getting to the line three times in New York's 12-1 run to get their lead back into double digits.
Milwaukee had 16 total turnovers and New York scored 26 points off of them. The Knicks had eight, three in the second half. The Knicks also outrebounded the Bucks, 44-32, including on the offensive glass, 14-3.
-With the game in single digits in the fourth, the Knicks got a lift from an unexpected source. Landry Shamet made two huge threes to push the Knicks' lead to 16. Anunoby made two threes of his own in the fourth. Entering the final frame, the Knicks were 0-for-9 from three.
Shamet scored 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting (3 of 5 from three) off the bench.
-Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter, and his third midway through the second. That limited the All-Star to just eight first-half points. It wasn't the best shooting night for Towns, who scored just 14 points on 6 of 16 shooting.
With Towns on the bench, Mitchell Robinson saw more playing time in the first half, scoring two points and coming down with 10 boards in his 14 minutes of play. The big man finished with two points, 10 rebounds, an assist and a steal in his 18 minutes.
-Damian Lillard (blood clot) is undergoing treatment, which took out a lot of firepower from the Bucks' offense, but Kuzma took on that responsibility. He scored Milwaukee's first six points, getting to the basket at will. But after his outburst to start, the Knicks held Kuzma to 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting. Antetokounmpo, however, would get into spurts where he was unstoppable, muscling his way to the basket. Whenever the Bucks saw the Knicks' lead get big, Giannis was there to get the buckets they needed.
Antetokounmpo finished with a team-high 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting. Ryan Rollins had a career-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 3 of 4 from three.
-Anunoby scored 20-plus points in 10 of his last 13 games entering Friday but didn't get going in this one until the fourth quarter when he scored 20 of his 31 points. Overall, Anunoby was not efficient, he shot 9 of 21 (3 of 10 from three), but he did when it mattered most.
-Mikal Bridges was the aggressor on offense in the first half. He attempted 15 shots, the second most in a half for him this season, but Bridges took a backseat in the second half to Hart, Towns and Anunoby. He finished with 26 points on 12 of 24 shooting with five assists and two steals.
You could tell some of the Knicks players were unfamiliar playing with each other. Injuries and new floor combinations led to some early Knicks turnovers that allowed the Bucks to get back into the game in the first quarter, but they overcame the mishaps thanks to strong play
-Hart was on triple-double watch. He finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. He also added two steals and a block.
Game MVP: OG Anunoby
This was a team win, but Anunoby took over in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks pull away.
Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and former Big 12 player of the year Marcus Morris Sr. react to the Volunteers’ 78-65 win over the Wildcats in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and former Big 12 player of the year Marcus Morris Sr. react to the Spartans 73-70 win over the Rebels in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Around the trade deadline, a few teams called the Indiana Pacers to check on the availability of center Myles Turner, those teams knowing Turner is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Those teams were told Turner was not available and came away with the impression Indiana planned to re-sign Turner this summer, league sources told NBC Sports.
Team sources told me the Pacers absolutely want to keep Turner, who is closing in on his 700th game for the franchise. But Indiana has to manage a cash crunch. They are currently projected to be about $22 million below next season's luxury tax without Turner, and he'll probably be looking for a significant raise on his current $19.9 million salary. The Pacers haven't paid the luxury tax since 2005, and there are no plans to go into it next season, sources said. Keeping Turner is going to require some negotiating and some maneuvering.
With the contracts of guys like Isaiah Hartenstein (three years, $87 million) and Alperen Sungun (five years, $185 million) setting the market, Turner is going to ask for $30 million or more a season. Signing him to a new deal in that range could mean moves with the role players the Pacers have — Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin — to clear out cap space and stay below the luxury tax. Indiana could play hardball — not many teams have cap space available and the teams that do, like the Nets, will not want to spend it on a veteran center — but the Pacers also want to keep a key player happy. It's a fine line to walk.
Turner averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, he is shooting 40.2% on 3-pointers (5.5 a game) plus is a solid rim-protector as a big averaging almost two blocks a night. Most importantly, Turner is a natural fit with the Pacers' up-tempo system and point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
It's going to be a pretty dry free agency market this summer, and the biggest names on the board — LeBron James and James Harden (player option) — are expected to re-sign with their current teams. In the wake of that, expect some big trades to come down. Just not ones involving Myles Turner.
The feud between Lakers forward LeBron James and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith heated up this week. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Time and Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images)
This month James angrily confronted Smith, who was sitting courtside at a Lakers game. Smith didn't appear to respond but days later said on the "Gil's Arena" podcast that he thought James' confrontational move was "weak" and "some bulls—."
Still can't pick a side? Here's how some NBA experts feel about the matter.
Charles Barkley: There are only losers in this scenario
During an appearance Friday on "The Dan Patrick Show," Barkley was asked who had a better week, Smith or James? The Hall of Fame player and TNT analyst said he likes both men but "they both had an awful week."
"I’ve always liked LeBron but him being a bully, it turned me off, Dan," Barkley said. "But I will say this: Stephen A., the way he reacted was so lame and weak. And Stephen A. is a good dude, man. LeBron, like I say, I blame him for starting the bullying, going on Pat’s show just bullying people. ‘Cause you know LeBron, he’s a control freak. He knows everything he’s doing. He knew when he walked up to Stephen A. what he was doing.
"But the way Stephen A. reacted — going on Gilbert’s podcast, talking tough. Come on, man, you’re better than that. So there’s only losers, Dan, in this scenario. You got the biggest star in the game, you probably got the biggest star on television and they both look bad in my opinion. And what bothers me the most — they're both good dudes."
Matt Barnes: Stephen A. crossed the line
The co-host of the "All the Smoke" podcast posted a video Thursday on Instagram in which he stated that he's taking James' side.
“He’s been getting scrutinized the whole time [he's been in the NBA] and he finally came out and was just unfiltered," said Barnes, a former ESPN analyst who had two stints with the Clippers and one with the Lakers during his 14-year NBA career. "An unfiltered, no-holds-barred with Pat Mac, which was dope. Like, I played against Bron for a long time and I don’t know that side of him. So as a fan, as someone who played against him, I want to know the funny side, the talk s— side of Bron. After 22 years of someone who’s always just [taken] the high road, he was tired of it and let off a clip.
"Obviously Stephen A. is the person who caught it, but it was really at all of the media. ... Like, I think you guys forget sometimes that this man is human."
Barnes added, addressing Smith: "You my dog, but I think you crossed the line."
And to James, Barnes said: "Keep talking your s—. We didn’t get to see this side of Kobe [Bryant] until later. People want to know what it’s really like, and you gave them a glimpse today, man."
Adam Silver: I particularly feel protective of our players
The NBA commissioner was asked about the situation while speaking to reporters following a two-day Board of Governors meeting in New York. Silver didn't mention James or Smith by name and didn't take sides but did acknowledge "I particularly feel protective of our players."
“There's seemingly as much social media interest in this league at times than all the other leagues combined," Silver said. "So it's a two-edged sword. Sometimes, it's measured in column inches, and it's wonderful to see so much interest in our sport. At the other time, I cringe at a lot of the coverage.
“I would just say in terms of [the] back-and-forth, again I haven't had an opportunity to watch or read precisely what went on today, but, of course, would like the focus to be on the play on the floor. And I particularly feel protective of our players, of course, but I recognize that there's a cottage industry out there of media that we are often the beneficiary of that talk about our sport around the clock. But I sure wish it would never become personal.”
Paul George: Both parties aren't wrong
The 15-year NBA veteran and current member of the Philadelphia 76ers told USA Today he thinks neither side is necessarily wrong but they both could have handled the situation better.
“I think obviously LeBron, stepping in as a father —you know, as a parent, you got a sensitive side to that, him standing up for his son and coming to his defense. But I think at the same time where Stephen A.’s coming from, and I’ve heard his side of the story of not actually attacking Bronny, but more so attacking the words and what Bron has said — you know, the hype that he’s put on his son — I think more so attacking that. And, say what you want, sports is very much involved with being critiqued and it’s the field that you put yourself into. No one is above it. You step into the ring, you gotta take what comes with it.
"So I think both parties aren’t wrong. As two Black men, I think they could’ve handled that better. But, you know, I’m all for both sides getting off what they need to get off their minds.”
Gilbert Arenas: LeBron has a point, but ...
Weeks after Smith appeared on the "Gil's Arena" podcast to discuss the courtside incident, Arenas and his co-hosts talked about the continuing drama on Thursday's episode. Arenas, who played 11 years in the NBA, said he understands James' point of view but thinks a conversation between the two men is overdue.
“You gotta figure the man’s got his son involved. Everybody’s passionate about their family. They gonna stand up for their family," Arenas said. "But if I’m looking at Bron, bro, I would’ve just went and hollered at him, you know what I’m saying, on the political side. ‘Cause look how he did it. Bron went on the [Pat] McAfee show, bro. If you want to make this about it being in the media, go and have a debate with him. Let’s talk about this. Let’s sit down and talk about this, man.”
Eric Henderson, who led South Dakota State to two NCAA Tournament appearances in six seasons, has been hired as Drake’s head coach, the school announced Friday.
Most times there’s a “first time in program history” stat with Duke’s men’s basketball program, it’s notable. Like this one: For the first time, the Blue Devils have shot at least 60% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 80% at the free-throw line in back-to-back games. “I know we've had teams that have been in great rhythm,” coach Jon Scheyer said on Friday.
South Carolina did just enough to keep its national title defense alive, thanks in large part to MiLaysia Fulwiley. The sophomore guard scored 23 points, including a go-ahead layup with 2:22 left, and Chloe Kitts added 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the No. 1 seed Gamecocks beat fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67 on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA Tournament. Staley added that playing in the tough Southeastern Conference gave her team “confidence to be able to be in a tightknit game and find a way to win because that’s what it’s about at this stage of the game."
Following a hard fall in a March 20 contest against the Toronto Raptors, the star guard missed Golden State’s next two games — both of which ended in losses.
After scoring 23 points on 7 of 21 from the field and 5 of 16 from 3-point range, Curry illustrated the severity of his injury, which he described as a “deep, serious contusion.”
“It just reminded me of 2021 when I fell into the stairs in Houston,” Curry told reporters, referring to a similar fall that resulted in a hairline tailbone fracture. “Thankfully, I didn’t break anything or have any bone damage. … I’ll feel it for a while, but I can play, and I can’t make it worse as long as I don’t land on it again.”
Steph Curry provides an update on the "deep, serious contusion" in his tailbone that caused him to miss two games pic.twitter.com/Xr338mze92
Curry added that the injury didn’t bother or worry him in his return to game action — he said he’s just “aware of it” — though he isn’t sure how long the injury will linger.
“A week off is great in one aspect because you’re rested,” Curry continued. “But the timing, the endurance of getting through your regular minutes, that was a little bit of a challenge. Down the stretch, just trying to manage the game and not do anything crazy.”
While that break might have helped the 37-year-old regain some physical strength for the remainder of the season, Curry also disclosed the mental effects of the absence.
“I was away from the team for three days, which was kind of weird, but I could fill the cup up a little bit,” he explained. “I thought I was going to play in Miami and kind of went through the routine but wasn’t able to go for the game. So, it was another two days to get my mind right.”
Coach Steve Kerr shared a similar sentiment on his veteran leader’s needed return — but valuable break as well.
“I thought [Curry] looked great,” Kerr said in his postgame presser. “He was moving really well, took care of the ball. I thought Steph played an excellent game. He probably missed his last five or six 3s, so the numbers don’t look great, but he looked like himself and I think the week off did him a lot of good.”
With nine games left in the NBA regular season, Golden State needs Curry to have as much mental and physical energy as possible going forward. After Friday night, the Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota all remained within half a game in the Western Conference standings seeking the No. 6 seed and an evasion from the play-in tournament.
