Philadelphia 76ers (37-32, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (18-52, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will try to end its five-game road skid when the 76ers take on Sacramento.
The Kings have gone 12-24 in home games. Sacramento ranks last in the NBA shooting 33.7% from 3-point range.
The 76ers have gone 17-16 away from home. Philadelphia is 14-25 against opponents over .500.
The Kings average 10.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 fewer makes per game than the 76ers allow (13.4). The 76ers' 45.9% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.4 percentage points lower than the Kings have allowed to their opponents (49.3%).
The teams meet for the second time this season. The 76ers won 113-111 in the last meeting on Jan. 30. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 40 points, and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is scoring 18.6 points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 61.4% over the past 10 games.
Quentin Grimes is averaging 13.5 points and 3.4 assists for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 10.3 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 36.3% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 5-5, averaging 114.7 points, 46.1 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.4 points per game.
76ers: 4-6, averaging 106.9 points, 41.3 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Malik Monk: day to day (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Devin Carter: day to day (calf), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Jabari Walker: day to day (illness), Joel Embiid: day to day (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
By his own admission, Josh Hart has been ‘kind of in my head with a lot of stuff’ since the All-Star break.
He’d missed 28 of his 38 three-point attempts since the break. And he was part of a Knicks starting lineup that was struggling early in games.
As is usually the case, there were calls in some corners of social media to pull Hart from the starting lineup.
But he showed those fans – and anyone else watching – why he should stay put on Tuesday night.
Hart scored a Knicks career high 33 points in a win over Indiana. He went 12-for-13 from the floor and hit all five of his three-point attempts.
“I just like that he took the right shots and he didn’t hesitate,” Mike Brown said after the game.
Brown said earlier in the week that he wouldn’t hesitate to change his starting lineup if the group continued to struggle. But it doesn’t sound like he would consider taking Hart out of the lineup.
“I think the main thing…is him connecting the group. I’m not saying he is Andre Iguodala or his game is like Andre Iguodala’s, but there are a lot of similarities where you watch him…he’s really good in a lot of different areas,” Brown said Tuesday. “But more importantly, he connects the group and having a guy like that, especially to start games, is huge…. He’s been fantastic giving us that energy, giving us the connectivity we needed with that starting group and then doing the little things. Offensive glass, pushing the pace, getting off in transition. He’s a switchable guy, he’s a physical guy and (he does) a lot of things that don’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet that … help with connectivity as well.”
Hart did plenty that showed up in the stat sheet on Tuesday. In addition to hitting all of his three-point attempts, he had seven rebounds and five assists. But anyone who watches this team knows that they are at a different level when Hart is hitting his shots.
After the Knicks’ win over Indiana, Hart was asked if he could gain confidence from his strong shooting.
“I think since All-Star I was struggling in terms of shooting,” he said. “I think I’m kind of in my head with a lot of stuff. So I just got to trust my work and go out there and shoot my shots.”
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) celebrates center Mitchell Robinson (23) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
MIKAL CONNECTS LATE
Speaking of hitting shots, Mikal Bridges knocked down two threes in the fourth quarter after missing his first four attempts against Indiana. He hit those two threes with under seven minutes to play and the Knicks up by 22. Normally, a coach would rest his veteran starter in this circumstance. But Brown wanted Bridges to knock some shots down. The veteran wing had made just 29 percent of his threes in the past 15 games.
“To try to get anybody that hadn’t shot it well from the three-point line to get another look, especially in a game like this, was a good thing,” Brown said Tuesday. “You talk about Mikal’s streak and his durability – when he turned his ankle (in the first quarter), I was like, ‘Whoa.’ So for him to be able to somehow someway fight through that was good to see. So to try to get him an extra look or two down the stretch was something that we wanted to do.”
Brown said he played Jordan Clarkson over Mohamed Diawara because Clarkson had been scoring the ball at a high clip over the past four games.
“We’ll continue to see what happens going forward,” Brown said. “We’ve all had the pleasure of being able to see Mo at a young age contribute a lot. He just has to keep himself ready like Jordan did. Go out there when your number’s called, don’t do too much but do what you can do and perform at the highest level in terms of your work ethic, focus and attention to detail and just go from there.”
CARLISLE SUPPORTS KERR CAUSE
Steve Kerr has said several times this season that he thinks the NBA should shorten its schedule. Rick Carlisle was asked about it on Tuesday.
“It’d be great if it was possible to do that. There would be a lot involved with it. An obvious big revenue shift,” Carlisle said. “You’re talking about 10-12 percent of the games being eliminated... the question is, would everyone be willing to do that if it was deemed that it would really help the game. It's a lively conversation. I’ve heard Adam talk about the possibility of shortening the season slightly, going back a few years. The game has changed. One of the compelling aspects of it to me is that when the effort was made to eliminate back-to-backs, in order to have the space to do that, you needed to shorten training camp. So training camp essentially became three weeks instead of four. That extra week to build a base in terms of strength, many layers of protection that you can get for the body, I’ve always wondered if the effort to have less back-to-backs was really worth it. Essentially, you’re playing every other day. But these are all questions. There are a lot of great things about today’s game (and) schedule. The longer All-Star break has been a real positive…. To get to the heart of the matter, you’re going to have to talk about the finances of it. I certainly am in agreement that it’s conversation worth having…. (The exact solution) is hard to say… but the nature of the game has changed significantly. Steve is right on point with that. The speed and everything is quite different than it was 5-6 years ago, 3-4 years ago.”
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 17: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter at Ball Arena on March 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 9 Paul George – 6 Justin Edwards – 4 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 1 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers looked to continue their winning ways as they traveled to Denver on Tuesday night for a cross-conference clash. The Sixers came into the night tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They were once again without all three of their stars while the Nuggets had their full complement of players available, save for Peyton Watson.
The Nuggets jumped all over the Sixers from the jump in this one and took a 38-22 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter. Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe struggled to get into any kind of flow as the Nuggets made it a priority to make life hard on them. Edgecombe and Grimes went a combined 4-for-13 from the field in the first quarter while the Sixers struggled to provide any resistance to the Nuggets’ offensive attack.
Things got worse for the Sixers in the second quarter as Denver continued to get whatever it wanted offensively. The Nuggets hit 9-of-17 from beyond the three-point line in the first half to go along with 25-for-44 from the floor overall. Denver held a 72-40 lead at the halftime break.
The Sixers won a quarter! The Nuggets headed to the fourth quarter with a 100-71 lead. The Sixers went to the final period a robust 37% from the field and 24% from three.
Denver went on to close this one out with no drama in the fourth. Nuggets win, 124-96.
Time for tonight’s Bell Ringer.
Marjon Beauchamp: 16 points, 6-for-11 from the field, 4-for-8 from three
The Bell Ringer for tonight goes to Marjon Beauchamp. Beauchamp got it going late in this one when the game was well out of reach. The Sixers’ athletic two-way swingman took advantage of his opportunity in an otherwise very forgettable game. Beauchamp knocked down a team- and game-high four threes in his 18 minutes of action.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 17: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 17, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Medals of bravery will be going out for every Sixers fan that stayed up for this one.
Philadelphia was crushed 124-96 by the Denver Nuggets Tuesday night.
They are 37-32, only two games back of falling to the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.
VJ Edgecombe had just nine points, three rebounds and four assists shooting 3-of-12 from the floor. MarJon Beauchamp shot it well again with the game out of hand, leading the Sixers with 16 points. Christian Braun led all scorers with 22. Nikola Jokic had eight points on seven shots along with 14 assists.
The Sixers were once again without Tyrese Maxey (finger sprain), Joel Embiid (oblique strain), Paul George (suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain), Jabari Walker (illness) and Johni Broome (torn meniscus). Denver was without Peyton Watson along with their two-ways.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
The early battle was between Dominick Barlow and Aaron Gordon. Gordon sealed him off a couple of times for baskets but Barlow was able to swat a couple shots away. The Sixers offense’ looked overmatched early, only scoring on an Edgecombe drive and a rolling dunk by Adem Bona.
Edgecombe was hunting his midrange pull-ups, but it took three tries to make his first one. Quentin Grimes was also aggressive early but could only get one pull-up three to go. It was another unbalanced start from behind the arc, with Denver making five of their first seven triples while the Sixers started 2-of-8 from deep.
One of the few edges the Sixers had early was the chippiness of the game. Andre Drummond got Jokic T’d up in the process of drawing an offensive foul. That was about as much resistance as the Sixers had early, as the Nuggets shot 56% from the field in the first and jumped out to an 18-point lead.
Second Quarter
Even the high of Bona’s impressive dunk was quickly overshadowed. The 33-year old Jonas Valancuinas beat him off a couple dribbles and threw down a contested dunk of his own. For once, the Sixers were at least outpacing their opponent in three-pointers attempted but nothing fell for them. They missed their first four threes of the quarter.
This pace continued so much so that any positive play for the Sixers felt like a noteworthy event. Dalen Terry cut his way for a basket and made a nice little dribble move to get himself a floater. Edgecombe threw a nice lob to Grimes cutting backdoor but neither of them were able to get into a rhythm off the dribble. On top of that, Edgecombe picked up four fouls in the half.
On top of a subpar defensive performance, the Sixers were buried early because their shooters couldn’t buy anything. Edgecombe, Grimes and Cam Payne shot a combined 8-of-29 from the field in the half. The Sixers made 17 field goals in the half while the Nuggets had 20 assists. Denver led by 32 at the break.
Third Quarter
Still scourging for any positive, Justin Edwards became the first Sixer of the night to make multiple three-pointers, MarJon Beauchamp would join him late in the quarter when he finally got his second shift. Bona picked up two more blocks and was somehow only -7 to this point in the night but still got an early hook.
Edgecombe picked up his fifth foul early in the third, but he was able to make it over halfway through the quarter before the white flag was waved. Perhaps he could have gotten a few more shots up, but he was cold and his night was ending quickly one way or another. After winning a third quarter for once, the Sixers only trailed by 29.
Fourth Quarter
Beauchamp again took advantage of the run he was given, making five of his first seven shots of the night. It’s weird that he’s seemed to fallen down the hierarchy even amongst two-ways when they’ve been slightly healthier. There’s plenty of reasons he’s on a two-way, but at least he’s made shots. As a Sixer, Beauchamp came into this game shooting 47% from the field and 36% from three-point range.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Bryce Harris had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and he sank a turnaround jumper with 13 seconds remaining that sent Howard to its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history, 86-83 over UMBC in the First Four on Tuesday night.
Ose Okojie scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Bison (24-10), who entered with an 0-4 record in March Madness and had to hold off a late rally by the Retrievers (24-9).
DJ Armstrong Jr.‘s 3-pointer with 43 seconds left got UMBC within 83-81. After Harris’ jumper as the shot clock expired gave Howard a four-point lead, Jah’Likah King made a layup to make it 85-83.
Isaiah Brown made one of two free throws and Armstrong couldn’t convert a 3 at the buzzer, sealing a trip to Buffalo, New York, for the Bison, who enter the Midwest Region bracket as the No. 16 seed and will face top-seeded Michigan on Thursday.
Coach Kenneth Blakeney also led Howard, one of the country’s premier historically Black universities, to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023 and ’24.
UMBC was seeking its first March Madness win since it shocked top overall seed Virginia in 2018, becoming the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1. The Retrievers lost in the second round that year and this was the first NCAA Tournament appearance since for the suburban Baltimore school, located 31 miles north of the Howard campus in Washington.
King led UMBC with 19 points, Armstrong had 17 and Caden Diggs scored 15.
Cedric Taylor III scored 16 points for Howard, going 9 of 10 at the free-throw line before fouling out in the final minute
TEXAS 68, NC STATE 66
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Tramon Mark hit a fadeaway jumper from just inside the 3-point line with 1.1 seconds left, and Texas survived a late rally to beat N.C. State in a First Four matchup of power-conference teams that limped into March Madness.
Mark scored 17 points to lead the Longhorns (19-14), who had lost five of six entering the NCAA Tournament. Texas moved into the bracket as the No. 11 seed in the West region and will face sixth-seeded BYU on Thursday night in Portland, Oregon.
Coach Sean Miller’s Longhorns led 62-53 on Chendall Weaver’s two free throws with 2:56 left, but the Wolfpack (20-14) — who also lost five of six before getting sent to Dayton — scored 10 points in a span of 1:12. Paul McNeil Jr. hit two 3s before Mark beat the shot clock with a fadeaway.
Darrion Williams connected from deep to get N.C. State within one. The Wolfpack then forced a turnover by Dailyn Swain, and Tre Holloman made one of two free throws to tie it at 66-all.
Texas ran down most of the game clock before Mark connected from 19 feet, and N.C. State couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.
Mark finished with 17 points, Matas Vokietaitis scored 15 and Swain added 13 for the Longhorns. Weaver recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Darrion Williams led the Wolfpack with 21 points. Quadir Copeland scored 16 and McNeil finished with 11.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Victor Wembanyama #1, Stephon Castle #5 and De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Short rest on the second game of a back-to-back is no issue when the game ends in the first half. The San Antonio Spurs rolled into Sacramento after a tough game with the Los Angeles Clippers the night prior. The Spurs thoroughly and utterly dominated the Kings in a blowout 132-104 victory.
San Antonio took a 78-47 lead in the first half, effectively ending the game after the second quarter. The Spurs were able to go deep into their bench against a Sacramento team that was without key players like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray. The shorthanded Kings didn’t provide much defensive resistance against the Spurs, allowing them to get to the basket or take open looks all night long.
The Spurs were red hot from three, shooting 25-49 from deep. It was the most single-game three-pointers made in franchise history. Everyone got in on the fun, as ten different Spurs hit a three-pointer. San Antonio shot 52% from the field overall. The Kings had a solid offensive game despite their defensive woes, shooting 44% from the field and 38% from deep. Interestingly enough, the Kings actually outscored the Spurs in the paint 48-40.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in the win. His French counterpart on the Kings, Maxime Raynaud, had a game-high 32 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double.
The Spurs improve to 51-18 with the win. Next, they’ll head back to San Antonio for a matchup with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
Observations
Stephon Castle put up a stat line that Chris Paul would be proud of. He had 3 points, 12 assists, and 0 turnovers. His only made basket came on a spot-up three-pointer. Castle’s evolution this season has been fun to see. He’s distributing the ball at a high level, cutting down on turnovers, and shooting the ball better from deep.
Harrison Barnes stepped into the starting lineup in place of Devin Vassell, who is dealing with some ankle soreness. Barnes was on fire, going 4-5 from three on his way to 16 points. Getting him going before the playoffs would be extremely beneficial for their title chances.
We caught a glimpse of what Dylan Harper could become on Tuesday. He, of course, did damage around the basket like he usually does, but he also knocked down 3-5 three-pointers. He made some nice step-back moves that led to mid-range jumpers. He has all of the tools to become a good three-level scorer, and showed a lot of them against the Kings. Harper had 15 points and 5 assists in the win.
It was an “old-friend” game for both teams. DeMar DeRozan and Doug McDermott faced their former squad in the Spurs, and De’Aaron Fox and Barnes had significant stretches of their careers in Sacramento. McDermott looked just like he did when he was in San Antonio, flying off screens and hitting threes. He had 12 points on 4-8 shooting from three. Fox was great in limited minutes, scoring 15 points and tossing 6 assists.
Every single player on the Spurs roster who logged a minute scored a point. Bismack Biyombo knocked down a free throw late in the game to solidify the feat. Mason Plumlee was the only Spur not to play on Tuesday night.
Mar 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends against Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
After Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, tonight’s game will determine the winner of the season series between these two teams. Maybe now that the Houston Rockets lost the first game, they will lock in and play with more intensity and might actually, you know, make some shots.
I think Ime Udoka should have ripped into the officials after Monday’s loss. Maybe he could have made a big deal about the Kevin Durant flagrant foul or how the Lakers took more free throws than Houston while Durant was being held every time down the court. He didn’t need to mean it, but it would have made referees second guess themselves in tonight’s game. The Lakers have led the league in free throw differential basically every year of their existence, so harping on the discrepancies would have possibly helped Houston tonight.
Anyway, Alperen Sengun should be back for tonight’s game and needs to bully the smaller Lakers inside. If he can’t get going against this team, he really might be broken. I think he’s been playing injured, but if he’s good to play then he needs to give Houston everything.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers did just enough to outscore a bad Milwaukee Bucks team 123-116 that was without two of their best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. It’s difficult to be too positive about the overall effort after a game like this, even though it’s an improvement from Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents that player performing to our expectations for them.
James Harden
27 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
This was a vintage, prime Harden game. He put up 27 points on just 10 shot attempts, got to the free-throw line at will, and made sure the offense got a quality shot every time he had the ball in his hands.
It was a great response from someone who struggled on both ends of the floor in the loss to the Mavs.
Grade: A
Donovan Mitchell
19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
This was about as rough a game as you’re going to see from Mitchell, even though the box score numbers above wouldn’t suggest that.
He wasn’t inefficient from the floor, going 4-14, and struggled defensively against a team that doesn’t have many players who should be able to easily take opposing guards off the dribble. This led to Mitchell being a team-worst -15 in the minutes he was on the floor. That means the Cavs won the 14 minutes he was on the bench by 22 points.
This was just rough all the way around.
Grade: F
Evan Mobley
27 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks
The box score numbers are great, but it’s how he achieved them that’s most impressive.
Mobley was excellent at attacking in the pick-and-roll as the roller. He was forceful when diving to the basket, which is something he’s struggled with throughout his career. That aggression was rewarded as he took a team-high 21 shots.
Additionally, he did a great job of taking advantage of the Bucks’ thin frontcourt. He completely dominated his matchup with Jericho Sims to the point that he only played 16 minutes.
This was exactly what you want to see from Mobley.
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Max Strus
6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Strus struggled to find his shot, going 2-6 from beyond the arc. He did, however, do all of the dirty work that makes him so valuable and was a useful second-side playmaker.
This was a solid second game back from injury.
Grade: B-
Keon Ellis
8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks
This was a rare game where Ellis didn’t record a block or a steal. He did, however, nail both of his three-point looks.
Grade: B-
Jaylon Tyson
2 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists
Tyson has struggled to establish any momentum after putting up 22 points against the Detroit Pistons at the beginning of the month. He’s dealt with injuries to his neck and ankle recently. Maybe that plays a part in it. But his play on the court was once again rough.
Atkinson limited Tyson to just 13 minutes in this game, and understandably so. He wasn’t good defensively (he lost Pete Nance numerous times), had no impact on the glass, and was mostly out of place on offense.
Grade: F
Dennis Schroder
3 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound
Schroder didn’t make an impact scoring, but he set up his teammates, as he finished with five helpers in just 16 minutes of play.
Grade: C+
Dean Wade
9 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
Wade attacked the basket offensively, took four outside shots, and did his job defensively. This led to him having the third-best plus/minus on the team at +13. What more can you ask for from Wade?
Grade: B
Thomas Bryant
5 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists
This wasn’t a good showing from Bryant. He was picked on defensively and didn’t provide enough on the glass or offensively to make up for it.
Grade: D-
Sam Merrill
17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Merrill provided a spark to the offense. He did a great job of reading how the defense was playing him and attacking the weaknesses off ball. This led to him going 3-4 in his shots in the paint.
Additionally, he knocked down timely triples and competed defensively. It isn’t surprising that the Cavs played their best basketball with him on the court, as he led the team in plus/minus by being a +22 in the 28 minutes he played.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 Tuesday night for their 10th straight win.
Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder and Ajay Mitchell had 16 points, five of them during a mid-fourth quarter run that put the Thunder ahead to stay.
Paolo Banchero had 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Orlando. Jalen Suggs added 14 points for the Magic, who lost on a second straight night after a seven-game win streak of their own.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s record 129th game scoring 20 or more points was accomplished on 14 for 27 shooting and 9 of 11 free throws. He hit 3 of 5 3-point shots, the final one giving the Thunder a 102-96 lead with 3:11 remaining.
His streak of 20-plus point road games, also an NBA record, reached 61 games.
PISTONS 130, WIZARDS 117
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Duren had 36 points and 12 rebounds for Eastern Conference-leading Detroit, who lost fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham to back spasms in the first half of a victory over Washington.
Cunningham was hurt early in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball. He played for a few more minutes before being taken out at the 6:40 mark, and the team said during the second quarter he would not return.
Reserve Daniss Jenkins added 15 points for the Pistons, who have won four of five and sent the Wizards to their 13th straight loss. The teams meet again on Thursday; should Detroit prevail, Washington would equal its 14-game skid from early this season that sent it to a 1-15 start.
Bub Carrington scored a season-high 30 points for the injury-depleted Wizards, who had little-used veteran Anthony Gill in the starting lineup. Rookie Will Riley added 21 points and Justin Champagnie scored 18.
KNICKS 136, PACERS 110
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored a season-high 33 points on 12-of-13 shooting including 5 of 5 from 3-point range to lead New York over Indiana.
OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Karl Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Knicks’ fourth straight win.
Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 16 points as Indiana’s losing streak reached 14 games.
Indiana led 12-11 when Anunoby scored the next eight points and the Knicks went ahead 38-34 after the first quarter.
New York stayed in front until Jalen Slawson’s 3-pointer gave the Pacers a 44-43 lead.
Indiana increased its lead to 57-51, but the Knicks ended the quarter on a 21-7 streak and took a 72-64 halftime advantage.
After the Pacers cut the deficit to six, the Knicks went on a 19-8 run to open a 94-77 lead.
Indiana pulled within 99-89, but New York opened its lead to 105-91 entering the final quarter.
HORNETS 136, HEAT 106
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 13 assists, and Charlotte pulled away in a huge fourth quarter to beat short-handed Miami.
Coby White scored 24 points off the bench and rookie Kon Knueppel added 22 as Charlotte (35-34) won for the ninth time in 12 games. Brandon Miller scored 16 for the Hornets, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference.
Tyler Herro had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Heat (38-31), who dropped their second straight following a season-best seven-game winning streak. They played without star forward Bam Adebayo, who sat out with right calf tightness after being listed as questionable before the game.
Adebayo hadn’t missed a game since Dec. 27. He scored 83 points last Tuesday in a 150-129 win over Washington, second-most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.
Andrew Wiggins missed his sixth consecutive game with a toe injury, and Miami forward Nikola Jovic (back) did not play for the 12th game in a row. He was listed as probable before the game and was expected to return.
Miami remained seventh in the East, a half-game behind Orlando.
TIMBERWOLVES 116, SUNS 104
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle scored 32 points and Bones Hyland had 22 points off the bench to help Minnesota offset absence of All-Star Anthony Edwards and beat Phoenix.
Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who are 7-4 without Edwards this season. The NBA ’s third-leading scorer will miss the next week or two with knee inflammation.
Devin Booker scored 34 points despite shooting 1 for 7 from 3-point range for the Suns, who finished a five-game road trip with their third straight loss.
After losing 120-112 in Boston the night before, the Suns played without three of their top five scorers as Grayson Allen (knee soreness) joined the previously sidelined Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams.
The Timberwolves (42-27), who entered the evening tied with Denver for fifth place in the Western Conference, used a 16-2 run that started late in the third quarter to take control as Randle posted his second straight 32-point game.
The seventh-place Suns (39-30) were within one game of the Timberwolves just five days ago, trying to move above the cut for avoiding the play-in tournament. Phoenix still won the season series with Minnesota 2-1.
CAVALIERS 123, BUCKS 116
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Evan Mobley had 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden also scored 27 as Cleveland opened a three-game trip by beating short-handed Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. This was the career-high 32nd game the two-time MVP has missed this season, and the Bucks fell to 11-21 without him.
The Bucks also didn’t have Myles Turner because of a right calf strain. Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen missed a sixth straight game because of tendinitis in his right knee.
In a game featuring 11 ties and 16 lead changes, Cleveland pulled ahead for good 103-100 on Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer with 6:55 remaining, which started an 8-0 run.
Milwaukee cut the lead to 110-106 on an Ousmane Dieng’s 3-pointer with 3:39 left, but Cleveland responded with seven straight points. The Cavs stayed in front by at least five the rest of the way.
Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points and 10 assists. Dieng, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins added 19 points each.
SPURS 132, KINGS 104
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 18 points and eight rebounds, and San Antonio beat Sacramento.
Wembanyama shot 7 of 14 with a pair of 3-pointers and three assists to help the Spurs to their first win in Sacramento in more than two years.
Former Kings star De’Aaron Fox added 15, five rebounds and six assists for San Antonio. Keldon Johnson scored 18 points and Dylan Harper had 15.
The Spurs (51-18) have won eight of nine. They also improved to 11-3 on the second half of back-to-backs.
Maxime Raynaud had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Kings (18-52). Doug McDermott added 12 points.
Russell Westbrook had 10 assists to move past Mark Jackson and Steve Nash into fifth place on the NBA all-time list.
The Spurs led by 41 in the third quarter, made 25 of 49 3-point attempts and cruised to their 25th road win of the season.
NUGGETS 124, 76ERS 96
DENVER (AP) — Christian Braun had 22 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 assists, and Denver routed injury-plagued Philadelphia.
Denver kept pace with Minnesota, which beat Phoenix on Tuesday night, in a tight Western Conference race. There are 1 1/2 games separating the third-place Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves in sixth.
Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid (right oblique strain), Tyrese Maxey (sprained finger) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow strain). Paul George is serving a 25-game suspension.
The sold-out crowd booed Embiid when he came to the bench for the first time in the third quarter. Embiid has missed the last six Sixers games in Denver, denying Nuggets fans an MVP matchup between the Philadelphia big man and Jokic.
Jokic scored eight points on 4 of 7 shooting but reached 10 assists in less than 12 minutes. He picked up two quick fouls and a technical in the first quarter after dishing out eight assists.
SACRAMENTO, CA — When you think of the greatest point guards to ever play in the NBA, one name you have to mention when it's all said and done is Russell Westbrook.
The former MVP and future Hall of Famer has added to his extensive resume with his most recent history-making feat.
Westbrook has surpassed two legendary point guards on the NBA's all-time assist list, Steve Nash and Mark Jackson, and now sits alone at No. 5 with 10,343 assists. He passed those greats during the Sacramento Kings' game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17.
He moved Nash and Jackson down to No. 6 and 7, respectively.
Most assists in NBA history:
John Stockton - 15,806 Chris Paul -12,552 Jason Kidd - 12,091 LeBron James - 11,909 Russell Westbrook - 10,336
Westbrook has passed Steve Nash and Mark Jackson to enter the all-time top five. pic.twitter.com/GMlvrElRiJ
Westbrook made history after dishing a pass inside to Kings rookie center Maxime Raynaud, who made a 6-foot push shot with 5:00 remaining in the second quarter.
Going into the contest, Westbrook needed two assists to pass Jackson and three assists to pass Nash.
"We are really a part of history," Kings rookie guard Nique Clifford told USA TODAY Sports after the game. "He's making his legacy, displaying his greatness on a night to night basis just breaking records. ... We can't take that for granted. It's pretty special to be around Hall of Fame-level players like him."
The Spurs won the game 132-104. San Antonio has the second-best record in the league at 51-18, whereas Sacramento is 18-52.
Westbrook making case as one of the all-time greats
Westbrook has averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists on 42.8% field goal shooting during the 2025-26 NBA regular-season. He's shooting 34% from 3-point distance, the best of his career since his MVP season in 2017.
Throughout the season, his 18th, Westbrook has continued to climb multiple all-time lists.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 16: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The streaking Lakers (43-25) will be back in Toyota Center on Wednesday when they will take on the Houston Rockets (41-26) again. This is the last matchup between the teams with the tiebreaker currently split at one game apiece.
The Lakers nabbed a huge win on Monday against the Rockets, which sets up an exciting rematch. It may have been an ugly victory but it was one they needed in order to get the chance to claim the season series.
The tiebreaker could play a huge role, especially for these two teams, because they’re currently two games apart in the competitive Western Conference standings. Remember, if the Lakers and Rockets end up having the same record at the end of the season — which is in the realm of possibility — then the team that won the season series, the first tiebreaker, gets the higher seeding.
So yes, this game is yet another crucial one for the Lakers, who have been rising to the occasion as of late. Not only will the Rockets look to take revenge for Monday’s loss, but it’s hard to defeat a competitive team twice in a row. So L.A. will most likely see a more aggressive Rockets team, prepared with adjustments.
The key for the Lakers is to once again make sure that they don’t get dominated inside the paint. On Monday, LA did a slightly better job of matching the Rockets’ production in the paint (56-48). They still lost the rebounding battle (44-32) by a lot, but the Lakers bounced back in transition where they outscored the Rockets 16-4.
Obviously, Luka Dončić’s superb 36-point performance led the way, but so did the team’s overall effort on both ends of the floor. The Lakers may have shot poorly, but they grinded out a victory thanks to their defense as well. Blitzing Kevin Durant and forcing him to be a playmaker down the stretch was a brilliant strategy by head coach JJ Redick as it was what led to the Rockets just scoring a total of four points in the last six minutes of the game.
There’s no doubt that KD and the Rockets will be better, especially since Alperen Şengün — who is no longer listed on the injury report — suits up for this one. The Lakers will have to be prepared. Hopefully their shots fall this time and they once again out-execute the Rockets. It’s going to be tough to win this one but not impossible, especially given that the Lakers are playing very good basketball right now.
Let’s see if the purple and gold leave Houston with the tie-breaker advantage on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
Aside from containing KD — who scored just two points in the second half — the Lakers’ defense also limited Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard offensively.
For the Lakers’ injury report, Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) is out.
As for the Rockets, Steven Adams (left ankle surgery), Jae’Sean Tate (right knee sprain) and Fred VanVleet (ACL repair) are out.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without Giannis and Myles Turner, the Milwaukee Bucks put up a surprisingly good fight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but their hot shooting wasn’t enough in Tuesday’s home loss, going down 123-116. Without Giannis and Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr. led all Bucks scorers with a 25-point, 10-assist performance. Evan Mobley and James Harden paced Cleveland with 27 points each.
Surprisingly, the Bucks kept it close against the Cavs heading into the first timeout. They balanced out Evan Mobley’s tough paint buckets with solid shooting from the three-point line and throughout the midrange. However, a couple of physical buckets from Mobley only reinforced Cleveland’s size advantage, one they would exploit throughout the game. After some physical play between James Harden and Jericho Sims, Sims exited the game with a lacerated lip—he would return with stitches after halftime. Off of Harden’s 14 and Mobley’s 10, the Cavs ended the first quarter with 37 points to the Bucks’ 24.
The Bucks chipped away at the Cavs’ lead with a 17-4 run to start the second quarter. They found a reprieve from their offensive struggles via the three-point shot, with Ryan Rollins, Ousmane Dieng, and more all making shots from deep. A Dieng three from the wing with 7:02 left in the second quarter gave the Bucks their first lead of the game. From there, the Bucks took advantage of the Cavs’ lazy defense, going bucket for bucket to keep the game close going into halftime. Cleveland’s shooting, especially from the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Strus, was poor; they didn’t make a single triple throughout the entire quarter. KPJ converted a tough fadeaway over Strus to give the Bucks a 58-56 lead at half, capping an impressive second-quarter comeback.
The Cavs desperately needed some sort of three-point shooting boost, and they got that towards the middle of the third quarter. Sam Merrill began to find his rhythm, and James Harden baited defenders into heavy contact on three-point shots. Before long, Cleveland widened its lead to seven and threatened to extend it further. However, Kevin Porter Jr. continued to be the spark plug for the Bucks; on one side of the ball, he swatted away a Mitchell lay-up attempt, and on the other, he posterized Mitchell after getting downhill. Porter used his athleticism to wrench away tough buckets inside on defence, while stretching out the Cavs with a dangerous midrange shot on offence. His scoring and playmaking were vital as the Bucks fought off a late third-quarter rally, powering the Bucks to a two-point lead after three, 87-85.
Both sides turned it on to start the final frame. Mitchell finally began to click from three-point land, while the Bucks got to the paint in droves. Cleveland found its footing by drawing fouls and getting free throws; they had 34 free throw attempts to Milwaukee’s 17 for the game! Despite Pete Nance’s solid play off the bench, a couple of key Cleveland defensive stops paired with dynamic offense helped them build a seven-point lead with five minutes to go. Strus’ shot clock-beating triple essentially iced the game for the visitors, placing them firmly in the driver’s seat and forcing Milwaukee to play the foul game.
Stat That Stood Out
The points-in-the-paint disparity was large today; the Cavs put up 56 to the Bucks’ 34. Without Giannis or Turner, Mobley dominated the Bucks on the inside while frustrating their offense on the outside. It took an all-around great shooting performance from the Bucks to keep the game close.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up a win on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
LOSER – Perimeter Defense
I’m not sure how this gets better. Cleveland’s shown a general lack of interest in defending the perimeter this season. It’s probably due to a combination of poor effort and not having the right personnel. All I know is it’s something to be worried about.
The Cavaliers should be able to impose themselves over a team like the Bucks. No disrespect, but a 28-39 team that ranks 21st in offense and doesn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo should be easy enough to bully. So when the Bucks started to look comfortable operating their offense, I started to get anxious.
Three-point variance is one thing. I believe the Cavs have lost a few games this season due to simple bad luck. It happens to everyone. But tonight was no such case. The Cavs didn’t contain the point of attack or recover to contest three-point shots. Not at a winning rate, at least.
Cavs rank in Opponent Shooting Frequency this season vs (last year): Higher rank = more attempts
The sample size is large enough to call this a legit trend. Not only do we have their last few games against the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic as examples, but the Cavs are allowing opponents to shoot the third-best three-point percentage in the NBA against them.
That’s… startling.
LOSER – Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell has had a brilliant season. Perhaps the best he’s ever played. So please, do not interpret this section as slander. I’m not getting swept up in the moment. But Spida is having trouble spinning his web right now.
It’s not just his 4-14 shooting from tonight. Every star player is going to have games where shots don’t fall. The problem is his decision-making. Mitchell’s taken some unnecessary shots that would feel bold even if he was rolling. They look truly bad when he’s struggling, as he did in Milwaukee.
There’s value in recognizing when it’s not your night and instead shifting your attention to playmaking. Using yourself as a decoy to create for others. This is something we’ve seen him do in the past. He didn’t do it in this one.
Mitchell’s process has been questionable for a few games. He’s felt quick to call his own number and is possibly feeling some growing pains next to James Harden. The offense hasn’t felt as seamless as it did in their first weeks together. And, the defense has fallen off a cliff, as we highlighted above.
WINNER – Rapid Fire Round Up
I wouldn’t say that any individual player stole the show tonight. Not when it took this much effort to beat the Bucks. But I do think it’s worth highlighting the names who helped secure the win.
Evan Mobley finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks. The easiest offense of the night came whenever the Cavs played through Mobley. He had a major advantage in the paint and made quick work whenever he drew a mismatch.
James Harden was also decisive on offense. He came out aggressive, scoring in bunches to start the game and carrying Cleveland’s backcourt with his playmaking. The Cavs don’t get over the hump without Harden keeping them alive throughout.
Finally, Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Keon Ellis hit key shots. Merrill ended the game with 17 points while Ellis hit two big threes in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Strus, in just his second game of the season, helped Cleveland close the door on this one. It says a lot about how much Kenny Atkinson trusts Strus to lean on him — and he delivered.
With Jalen Brunson missing his first game in two months due to a neck issue Tuesday night, the Knicks knew they’d need someone to step up and carry their offense.
Fittingly, on the Mike and Ike sponsored t-shirt giveaway night at MSG, it was Josh Hart who delivered.
“He must’ve ate some pregame,” Mike Brown joked.
Whatever Hart did, it certainly worked, as he put together one of the most efficient scoring performances of his Knicks career in a commanding win over the Pacers.
He had nine points in the first quarter, then added 10 more in the second to go into the halftime break with a game-high 19 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point land.
Hart wasted no time drilling his fifth three on the opening possession of the third.
His heroics only continued from there, as he knocked down bucket after bucket to stretch his total out over the 30-point mark for the first time this season.
With the game out of reach, he wouldn’t record a bucket in the fourth, but still finished with a game-leading and new Knicks career-high 33 points.
He missed just one of his 13 field goals and was a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the arc.
“Mike and Ike night, I knew I had to turn up a little bit,” Hart said postgame.
“It was fun just being aggressive,” he continued. “Today my PD guy was just telling me to be aggressive, so I just went out there and just played my game and was shooting my shots and I was comfortable with it.”
That aggressiveness is exactly what Brown wants to see from Hart moving forward.
“I just like the fact that he took the right shots, he didn’t hesitate,” the head coach said. “He was 5-for-5 from the three-point line and at least four of them were from the corner, and he’s been really, really good from the corner all year -- if he’s open, we don’t want him to hesitate.
“Usually, when he does hesitate, he takes a couple of dribbles to the basket and it messes up his rhythm and stuff like that. He puts in the work, so for him to let it fly like he did tonight and more of them going in, I was more excited about that than anything else.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 17: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 17, 2026 at Target Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night carried real weight. This was one of those opportunities you circle, one where you can make up ground and shift the standings in your favor as you try to climb out of the Play-In.
And they let it slip.
Phoenix walked out of Minnesota with a 116-104 loss, and the story felt familiar. The Timberwolves brought physicality, defensive intensity, and rim protection, and it took the Suns out of what they wanted to do. For the third straight game, a quality defense made second-half adjustments that completely disrupted Phoenix’s offense. Once that happened, everything unraveled. The offense stalled, and the response on the other end did not hold. The paint opened, possessions became easier for Minnesota, and it turned into a layup line. That has been the pattern during this stretch. When the offense goes quiet, the defense does not stabilize things. The Suns scored just 18 points in the 4th.
Phoenix shot 38% from the field, and the inefficiency showed up everywhere.
Jordan Goodwin went 1-of-6. Collin Gillespie finished 4-of-13. And Jalen Green, whose last name happens to align with St. Patrick’s Day, had an ironic night, going 3-of-17 and scoring only nine points.
It’s St. Patty’s Day and Jalen Green is honoring the occasion…by going 3-of-17☘️ pic.twitter.com/UcDcZCy7y8
Now the Suns find themselves three games out of the sixth seed with 13 to go, and the margin for error continues to shrink.
Game Flow
First Half
Minnesota came out with a clear intention. Attack the interior, lean into their size, make Phoenix feel it early. No surprise there. But to the Suns’ credit, they had a counter ready. They went five out with Oso Ighodaro pulling Rudy Gobert away from the paint, and that changed the geometry of the floor immediately. The lane opened. The spacing felt clean. Suddenly, those driving angles were there, and Phoenix took advantage.
Phoenix opened the game 7-of-11 from the field, and every single make came with an assist attached to it. The ball was moving. The offense was breathing, and Collin Gillespie was at the center of it. Four assists on those seven made field goals, orchestrating, reading, making the right decision. He kept things connected, which is when this offense looks its best.
The first round of rotations brought a familiar name back into the mix. Ryan Dunn checked in, which stood out considering the past few games had leaned toward Rasheer Fleming or Haywood Highsmith in those minutes. This time, Jordan Ott gave the sophomore a longer look. Khaman Maluach was part of that initial rotation as well.
Devin Booker set the tone early in a way that felt both encouraging and familiar. He had a pair of and-1 opportunities, leaning into Minnesota’s physicality and turning it into an advantage. There was a stretch where he scored 9 consecutive points. It echoed what we saw in Boston, where he carried the load and kept Phoenix steady when things could have tilted.
Minnesota stayed within reach through effort plays. Long rebounds bounced their way, and they capitalized. Five offensive rebounds early turned into 11 second-chance points, which kept them afloat while Phoenix controlled much of the flow.
While last night it was Derrick White and Payton Pritchard catching fire from beyond the arc, this time it was Bones Hyland for Minnesota. He checked in midway through the quarter and immediately got going, finishing 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from deep for a quick 11 points.
Despite Phoenix scoring 39 points in the first quarter and shooting 46.2% from three, they only led by three at the end of the frame. Devin Booker led all scorers with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, and Collin Gillespie added six assists as the Suns took a 39–36 lead into the second.
With Devin Booker on the bench to start the second, it was Jalen Green running the offense, and he was doing a good job. He hit a step-back three and delivered a smooth assist to Rasheer Fleming in the lane. But there is a reason we call him “Guacamole”. Because sometimes is browns fast, and it did for Green in the second. He went 1-of-8 in the quarter, including a missed wide-open layup at the end of the quarter.
With 9:24 left in the quarter, Naz Reid went down on a play where Jordan Goodwin grabbed a couple of offensive rebounds. Reid came down on Goodwin’s ankle and tweaked it. The Suns challenged the play, and for the 48th time this season, they were right as Goodwin was fouled. Insult to injury for Minnesota, although Reid would return in the third.
Rasheer Fleming continued to look good early, starting 3-of-5 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, with one of those attempts being a grenade passed to him with under a second on the shot clock.
Rasheer Fleming is hitting threes then attacking in the pick and roll like this with no dribble and no hesitation. pic.twitter.com/zSivdw3eLe
As the second quarter went on, both teams traded blows. Five minutes in, the Suns were being outscored 15–14 by the Timberwolves. The Suns’ offense started to sputter, going 3-of-12 from the field, but it came at a time when Minnesota cooled off as well. Still, with 2:23 left in the second quarter, the 11-point lead Phoenix built early was gone as the Timberwolves tied the game.
The Suns shot 35.7% from the field in the quarter, and Jalen Green struggled, going 3-of-14 in the first half with eight points and four assists. Oso Ighodaro led the way efficiently with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with five rebounds, while Devin Booker added 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Minnesota had three players in double figures, led by Bones Hyland with 15 off the bench, Julius Randle with 13, and Jaden McDaniels with 12. Entering halftime, the Suns trailed 64–63.
Collin Gillespie has struggled offensively of late, and he had zero points in the first half. But he opened the second half with a pair of three-point makes. It was clear the Suns made a point to get him involved, as he had four of their first six shot attempts.
The Suns’ offense started to go cold again, as they put together another scoreless stretch. They missed eight consecutive shots midway through the third, and turnovers began to pile up. Credit Minnesota’s defense; they were dictating the pace and disrupting everything Phoenix tried to run. Despite all of that, with six minutes left in the quarter, the Suns only trailed by two.
Devin Booker was clearly frustrated with the physicality, which is not surprising against a team like Minnesota. They lean into that style and make you feel it on every possession. On one end, Booker thought he deserved an and one after getting bumped on a drive and finish at the rim. On the other, Bones Hyland attacked and got a foul call on a very similar play. Jordan Ott challenged it and lost, but the moment stood out.
The physicality was ramping up on both sides, and you could feel the temperature rising. Players were chirping, reactions were getting sharper, and the officials were right in the middle of it as the game started to take on that edge.
Ryan Dunn, who had logged consecutive DNPs, played quality minutes in the third. He had seven points and four rebounds in the quarter, along with an impressive block on Bones Hyland. For someone who has not seen the floor much lately, his number was called, and he delivered.
Devin Booker once again carried a heavy load, especially with Jalen Green struggling to find offense. Booker scored or assisted on 15 consecutive points in the third, keeping Phoenix afloat. Late in the quarter, with under 30 seconds left, he tried the Chris Paul slow roll move, letting the ball drift up the floor. Minnesota jumped it, forced the turnover, and Booker followed it with a frustration foul on Julius Randle.
That is just unacceptable to turn the ball over by letting it roll when there was 32 seconds left!
The next possession? Booker turned it over again, which led to a fast break layup for Minnesota.
So despite a solid individual quarter, where Booker had 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, the team struggled as a whole. Phoenix shot 7-of-21 from the field, good for 33%, while Minnesota stayed hot at 10-of-23.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Suns trailed 92–86.
This was starting to feel like one of those games where every Suns possession required real work to even get a shot up, while on the other end, it was a turnstile in the paint for Minnesota. Soon, the Suns were down 10.
The slide continued. Phoenix opened the quarter 0-of-5, while the Timberwolves came out 3-of-3, added and ones, and jumped out to a 7–0 run to start the fourth.
Ah, we’ve seen this before. Suns struggling to make anything happen on offense, and on defense? It’s a turn style in the paint. Come on down, get your points!
Once again, it was the paint where the opposition set up camp, started a fire, and got comfortable.
Minnesota opened the quarter 6-of-6 from the field, and every make came at the rim. They did not miss their first shot until the 6:32 mark, living in the paint and dictating everything on that end of the floor. Phoenix put together a 9–2 run late in the quarter, getting the deficit to within nine with 1:32 left in the game. But alas, it was too much to overcome.
Up Next
Phoenix gets one night of rest as they pack their bag and head to the final stop on their six-game road trip. That stop? San Antonio, Texas.
