DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss Friday and elected to field against Pakistan in the second one-day cricket international.
Bangladesh leads the three-match after fast bowler Nahid Rana skittled Pakistan for 114 with a career-best figures of 5-24 in a resounding eight-wicket win on Wednesday.
While Bangladesh retained the same playing XI, Pakistan made one change.
Pakistan gave another chance to its inexperienced batters despite Sahibzada Farhan, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat and Abdul Samad, who were all on ODI debut in the first game, struggling to cope with the pace of Rana and off-spin of Mehidy.
Pakistan recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf in place of leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in a hope the wicket will suit the fast bowlers more.
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Lineups:
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
Gilgeous-Alexander gets drinks poured on him after the win against the Celtics [Getty Images]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he gives the "game everything" after breaking the 63-year-old NBA record for the most 20-point games in a row.
The reigning MVP scored 35 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 104-102 win against the Boston Celtics – extending a sequence of scoring at least 20 points that began on 1 November 2024 and now stands at 127 consecutive games.
The legendary Wilt Chamberlain held the previous record with a 126-game streak between October 1961 and January 1963.
"All the records and accomplishments are great, but they don't matter if you don't win and that's all that was on my mind," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who starred for the Thunder as they won the NBA title last season.
"I would have given the record for the W any day of the week. I'm glad we won and I got the record."
Gilgeous-Alexander made history when he sank a 20-foot jumper with seven minutes and four seconds remaining in the third quarter as he reached 21 points in the game.
He went on to add 14 more points in a performance which also included nine assists and six rebounds.
"I just give the game everything I have," said the 27-year-old Canadian.
"There are so many things in basketball and life that you can't control. I've just found success in focusing on the things I can control and giving my best effort.
"I put my head down and done those things and look up and I've accomplished a few things."
The victory was a seventh in a row for the Thunder, who are top of the Western Conference with a 52-15 record, while the Celtics (43-23) are second in the Eastern Conference.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — As the NBA’s leading scorer and one of the few players who can make an argument as the best player on the planet, Luka Dončić doesn’t need anyone to inspire him to be great.
Luka’s drive is what makes him such a force of nature and a fierce competitor. When it’s being used for good, he dominates opponents and leads his team to victory. And, at times, it works against him, and he gets technical fouls for saying the wrong thing in the heat of the battle.
In the Lakers’ 142-130 win against the Bulls, we saw the best aspects of his competitive fire, and it came from an unlikely place: Bulls forward Matas Buzelis.
During the second quarter, unprompted, Buzelis decided to start trash-talking Luka.
The moment surprised Luka, but once he took in what was said, Dončić borrowed a page from Michael Jordan’s book and took it personally.
“I’m not going to say what he said, but if I would’ve said that, I would definitely get a tech,” Luka said postgame. “But really, these games, sometimes you’re going easy and we kind of went easy in the first quarter, then he woke me up.”
Luka knocked down a 3-pointer over Buzelis shortly after his remarks. Upon releasing the shot, Dončić smiled maniacally and added some words to his actions.
The officials talked to both players and calmed the situation down, but the damage had already been done. Luka was fully engaged and seeing red.
Dončić tormented Chicago the rest of the night with a buffet of buckets. He scored on long twos, hit eight of nine from the charity stripe, and knocked down nine 3-pointers. It wasn’t just Luka’s scoring that was elite, he dominated the defensive glass with 10 boards and had a team-high nine assists.
When it was all said and done, he had51 points, making this the first time he hit the half-century mark as a Laker.
As he was being subbed out of the contest during the closing seconds, the Lakers showered him with praise for his efforts. LeBron James was encouraging fans to get loud, and they responded by chanting “MVP” as Dončić walked off the floor.
After the game, head coach JJ Redick took a moment to commend his superstar for finding a way to turn this interaction into a peak performance.
“It’s not just the fact that he responds to a rough play or trash talking, it’s that he can channel it,” Redick said. “And he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done. And that’s obviously reflected in his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Again, another game where he gets the high assist number with low turnovers. He’s playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now.”
Los Angeles is fighting for playoff positioning, and even games that seem like easy wins on paper have to be played with a certain level of seriousness and urgency.
Luka upped his backcourt production with the frontcourt depth missing, and it led to LA’s fourth consecutive win, placing them as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with 16 games to go.
Nights like these are a reminder that Luka is a superstar player and whatever weaknesses and gripes one might have with his game, the good far outweighs the bad. And when he gets hot, he is one of the most electrifying players to ever step on a basketball court.
And as for Buzelis, he revealed the key takeaway he had from this experience after the game.
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix visits the Toronto Raptors after Devin Booker scored 43 points in the Suns' 123-108 win against the Indiana Pacers.
The Raptors are 17-16 on their home court. Toronto ranks fourth in the NBA with 28.8 assists per game led by Immanuel Quickley averaging 6.1.
The Suns have gone 17-14 away from home. Phoenix is 17-20 against opponents with a winning record.
The Raptors score 113.4 points per game, 2.4 more points than the 111.0 the Suns allow. The Suns are shooting 45.4% from the field, 1.0% lower than the 46.4% the Raptors' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is shooting 49.9% and averaging 18.8 points for the Raptors. Quickley is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Collin Gillespie is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Suns. Royce O'Neale is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 4-6, averaging 111.4 points, 39.3 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.6 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.
Suns: 7-3, averaging 108.2 points, 44.2 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.4 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Scottie Barnes: day to day (illness), Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb).
Suns: Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana hosts New York looking to stop its seven-game home losing streak.
The Pacers have gone 11-30 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana is ninth in the Eastern Conference with 26.5 assists per game led by Andrew Nembhard averaging 7.3.
The Knicks are 27-15 in conference games. New York is fourth in the Eastern Conference scoring 117.2 points per game and is shooting 47.4%.
The Pacers are shooting 45.0% from the field this season, 0.7 percentage points lower than the 45.7% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 14.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.0 more made shots on average than the 11.7 per game the Pacers give up.
The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Feb. 11 the Pacers won 137-134 in overtime led by 30 points from Pascal Siakam, while Jalen Brunson scored 40 points for the Knicks.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jarace Walker is averaging 11.1 points for the Pacers. Micah Potter is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns is scoring 20.0 points per game with 11.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 22.1 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 41.8% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 0-10, averaging 112.9 points, 38.8 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.4 points per game.
Knicks: 6-4, averaging 114.2 points, 47.6 rebounds, 30.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.9 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Obi Toppin: day to day (foot), T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring), Pascal Siakam: day to day (knee), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Quenton Jackson: day to day (calf), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle).
Knicks: Josh Hart: day to day (knee), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (knee), Miles McBride: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Orlando Magic (37-28, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (38-29, sixth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Orlando visits the Miami Heat following the Magic's 136-131 overtime win against the Washington Wizards.
The Heat have gone 22-18 against Eastern Conference teams. Miami ranks sixth in the NBA with 28.7 assists per game. Davion Mitchell leads the Heat averaging 6.7.
The Magic are 23-19 against conference opponents. Orlando is sixth in the Eastern Conference giving up only 114.0 points while holding opponents to 47.4% shooting.
The Heat are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 47.4% the Magic allow to opponents. The Magic are shooting 46.5% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 45.7% the Heat's opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the fifth time this season. The Magic won 133-124 in the last matchup on Jan. 29.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bam Adebayo is averaging 20 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Heat. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is averaging 14.3 points over the last 10 games.
Wendell Carter Jr. is scoring 11.6 points per game and averaging 7.6 rebounds for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 24.9 points and 4.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 8-2, averaging 124.6 points, 48.5 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points per game.
Magic: 8-2, averaging 117.5 points, 45.7 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Andrew Wiggins: day to day (toe), Norman Powell: out (groin), Tyler Herro: day to day (quadriceps).
Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: out (back), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Charlotte Hornets (34-33, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (48-18, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs host the Charlotte Hornets in non-conference play.
The Spurs have gone 25-7 at home. San Antonio averages 118.9 points and has outscored opponents by 7.0 points per game.
The Hornets are 20-16 in road games. Charlotte is 3-6 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Spurs are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point higher than the 47.0% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 45.9% from the field, 0.7% higher than the 45.2% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Hornets won 111-106 in the last matchup on Jan. 31.
TOP PERFORMERS: Keldon Johnson is scoring 12.8 points per game and averaging 5.5 rebounds for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 18.2 points and 3.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 21.5 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 8-2, averaging 120.8 points, 44.9 rebounds, 30.9 assists, 7.5 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.5 points per game.
Hornets: 8-2, averaging 117.6 points, 47.4 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.1 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Victor Wembanyama: day to day (ankle).
Hornets: Liam McNeeley: day to day (ankle), Grant Williams: day to day (knee), Ryan Kalkbrenner: day to day (illness), Tidjane Salaun: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Wizards (16-49, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (43-23, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Washington travels to Boston looking to stop its eight-game road skid.
The Celtics have gone 28-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston is third in the Eastern Conference with 33.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 6.6.
The Wizards are 11-30 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington gives up 123.9 points to opponents and has been outscored by 11.1 points per game.
The Celtics average 15.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 more made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Wizards give up. The Wizards average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 14.0 per game the Celtics allow.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Celtics won 146-101 in the last matchup on Dec. 5.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is scoring 28.4 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 39.1% over the past 10 games.
Bub Carrington is averaging 9.9 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 108.7 points, 49.4 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 5.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.9 points per game.
Wizards: 0-10, averaging 114.8 points, 39.4 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.3 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: day to day (conditioning), Nikola Vucevic: out (finger), Derrick White: day to day (knee).
Wizards: Jamir Watkins: day to day (foot), Anthony Davis: out (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (not injury related).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Memphis visits Detroit looking to stop its three-game road skid.
The Pistons have gone 25-8 in home games. Detroit is 9-5 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Grizzlies are 11-22 in road games. Memphis ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Zach Edey averaging 3.9.
The Pistons are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Grizzlies allow to opponents. The Grizzlies average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 more makes per game than the Pistons allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Pistons won the last matchup 114-106 on Nov. 4, with Cade Cunningham scoring 33 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Duren is averaging 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Pistons. Cunningham is averaging 19.0 points over the last 10 games.
Jaylen Wells is averaging 12.8 points for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson is averaging 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 5-5, averaging 115.4 points, 46.3 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 9.8 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.
Grizzlies: 2-8, averaging 117.5 points, 37.7 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.4 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Caris LeVert: day to day (wrist).
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: day to day (knee), Taj Gibson: day to day (reconditioning), Walter Clayton Jr.: day to day (ankle), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ty Jerome: day to day (calf), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Cedric Coward: day to day (knee), Cam Spencer: day to day (back), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago visits the Los Angeles Clippers after Matas Buzelis scored 41 points in the Bulls' 130-124 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors.
The Clippers are 18-13 in home games. Los Angeles is the worst team in the Western Conference recording just 40.8 rebounds per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 6.4.
The Bulls are 11-20 in road games. Chicago is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 45.1 rebounds per game led by Jalen Smith averaging 7.0.
The Clippers are shooting 48.3% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points higher than the 47.2% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 more made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the Clippers give up.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Bulls defeated the Clippers 138-110 in their last matchup on Jan. 21. Buzelis led the Bulls with 21 points, and John Collins led the Clippers with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Leonard is shooting 50.3% and averaging 28.3 points for the Clippers. Darius Garland is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Josh Giddey is scoring 17.7 points per game and averaging 8.4 rebounds for the Bulls. Buzelis is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 121.4 points, 41.2 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points per game.
Bulls: 3-7, averaging 109.4 points, 47.6 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Darius Garland: out (toe), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm).
Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Isaac Okoro: day to day (knee), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out (knee), Guerschon Yabusele: day to day (foot), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Patrick Williams: day to day (ankle), Collin Sexton: day to day (leg).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas aims to end its eight-game home skid with a win against Cleveland.
The Mavericks have gone 14-19 at home. Dallas is fourth in the league with 53.2 points in the paint led by Cooper Flagg averaging 11.0.
The Cavaliers are 18-14 on the road. Cleveland is eighth in the NBA with 28.2 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.1.
The Mavericks average 10.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.2 fewer makes per game than the Cavaliers give up (13.8). The Cavaliers average 118.8 points per game, 1.1 more than the 117.7 the Mavericks give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Flagg is averaging 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Mavericks. Max Christie is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Donovan Mitchell is averaging 28.3 points, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals for the Cavaliers. Harden is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 106.4 points, 46.2 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 5.3 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points per game.
Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 112.9 points, 41.3 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.7 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Klay Thompson: day to day (rest).
Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Tyrese Proctor: day to day (quadriceps), Jarrett Allen: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Luka Doncic led the offense in the Los Angeles Lakers' 142-130 victory over the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, March 12.
Doncic nearly produced a triple-double while scoring 51 points in front of the home crowd. It marked his first 50-point game as a member of the Lakers after putting up 12 40-point games, including a 49-point effort on Oct. 24, 2025.
The Lakers have won four straight games and seven of their last eight. Doncic put together a triple-double effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Here's how he did Thursday night against the Bulls:
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 12: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs shots against Denver Nuggets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 12, 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
For much of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs had everything under control. They played fast. They shot confidently. They built a commanding lead against one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams. But against the Denver Nuggets, even a 20-point cushion can disappear in a hurry.
San Antonio watched its lead slowly slip away Thursday night as Denver erupted in the fourth quarter, rallying past the Spurs for a 136-131 victory in a game that turned from promising to painful in the final minutes.
The Spurs came out energized despite missing star center Victor Wembanyama, who was out with ankle soreness. From the opening tip, San Antonio attacked the Nuggets with pace and ball movement, finding open shooters and pushing the tempo in transition.
By the end of the first quarter, the Spurs had seized control with a double-digit lead. The offense kept humming in the second quarter as San Antonio stretched the advantage to 20 points, bringing the home crowd to life and sending the team into halftime with a comfortable cushion. For three quarters, the Spurs looked poised to pull off an impressive win against the defending champions.
But the Nuggets were never going to go quietly.
Led by Nikola Jokić and the shot-making brillance of Jamal Murray, Denver began to chip away at the deficit. Jokić controlled the glass and orchestrated the offense while Murray caught fire from the perimeter, turning routine possessions into momentum-shifting buckets. The pressure finally broke through in the fourth quarter. Denver unleashed a barrage of scoring, pouring in 42 points in the final frame while the Spurs’ offense began to stall. A decisive run erased San Antonio’s remaining lead and flipped the game in Denver’s favor with just minutes left.
Despite the collapse, the Spurs had plenty of bright spots.
Guard Stephon Castle delivered the best performance of his young career, recording a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while orchestrating much of San Antonio’s offense throughout the night. De’Aaron Fox added 27 points and kept the Spurs within striking distance down the stretch, while Harrison Barnes chipped in 20 points with timely scoring in his return from a brief absence.
But against a veteran Denver squad, the Spurs simply ran out of answers late. In the end, what looked like one of San Antonio’s most impressive wins of the season turned into a frustrating reminder of how quickly momentum can swing in the NBA. The Spurs had the game in their hands for most of the night.
The Nuggets just took it away when it mattered most.
Game Notes
Victor Wembanyama was listed as out before the game with ankle soreness. While some fans may get upset this could dampen his chances at postseason awards, but I much prefer him to be healthy at the start of the NBA playoffs.
Keldon Johnson had a poor offensive night and could not really afford it with San Antonio missing their franchise player. He shot just 2-for-12 from the floor, scoring 5 points in 21 minutes.
In games when KJ struggles, I would love to see Mitch opt to play Carter Bryant more. The rookie had 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, but he only played just nine minutes.
Speaking of Harrison Barnes, it was nice to see him return. He scored 20 points off the bench, further proving that moving him to the second unit was a genius move by the coaching staff.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etched himself into the history books Thursday night.
After surpassing the 20-point mark during the Thunder’s 104-102 win over the Celtics, Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed Hall of Fame big man Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive games (127) with at least 20 points scored.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with a team-high 35 points, broke the record with a 3-point shot to start the third quarter after hitting two free throws on the Thunder’s previous possession.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to celebrate with a teammate during a timeout shortly after he broke Wilt Chamberlain’s 20-point streak record during the second half of the Thunders’ 104-102 win over the Celtics on March 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City. AP
The four-time All-Star’s streak dates back to the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in a 137-114 win over the Trail Blazers on Nov. 1, 2024.
Chamberlain held the record with 126 straight games since 1963, with the 13-time All-Star holding the next highest streak at 92 that started the following year. Legendary point guard Oscar Robertson went for 79 straight games in 1963-64.
In the modern era, Kevin Durant had 72 straight games hitting the 20-point mark in 2015-16.
Before breaking Chamberlain’s record, Gilgeous-Alexander referred to the four-time MVP as a “mythical creature,” but admitted he did not know much about him.
Wilt Chamberlain of the San Francisco Warriors grabs the rebound against the Boston Celtics circa 1963 at the Boston Garden in Boston. NBAE via Getty Images
“Not much besides he was pretty insanely dominant,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN. “Based on the stats, did whatever he wanted and was like … honestly, it feels almost like a mythical creature.
“It’s not real.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is having another MVP-caliber season for Oklahoma City, averaging 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field through 54 games played this season, helping lead the Thunder to an NBA-best 51-15 record headed into Thursday’s game.
A fan holds a sign after Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain’s 20-point streak record, during the second half of the Thunders’ win over the Celtics on March 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City. AP
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently told reporters how Gilgeous-Alexander thrives under pressure, saying that he can always mentally stay in the game.
“He never presses,” Daigneault told reporters, according to ClutchPoints. “He’s just got unbelievable awareness of the circumstance, awareness of the length of the game; I think that’s one of his superpowers. He understands how long the game is. So, he can make the right play, knowing that he’ll get his cracks. If he misses shots early, he knows that there’s more game left.
“He always stays in it mentally. I think that’s part of the reason why he’s consistent as he is.”
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