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Michigan State and Harvard meet in opening round of NCAA Tournament

Harvard Crimson (24-4, 13-3 Ivy League) vs. Michigan State Spartans (21-9, 11-8 Big Ten) Raleigh, North Carolina; Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spartans -5.5; over/under is 136.5 BOTTOM LINE: Michigan State takes on Harvard in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans' record in Big Ten games is 11-8, and their record is 10-1 in non-conference games.

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Iowa faces Murray State in first round of NCAA Tournament

Murray State Racers (25-7, 19-4 MVC) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (22-10, 12-9 Big Ten) Norman, Oklahoma; Saturday, 12 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawkeyes -9.5; over/under is 165.5 BOTTOM LINE: Iowa and Murray State square off in the NCAA Tournament first round. The Hawkeyes have gone 12-9 against Big Ten opponents, with a 10-1 record in non-conference play.

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Southern Indiana plays Campbell in NIT matchup

Campbell Camels (22-12, 14-7 CAA) at Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (22-12, 14-9 OVC) Evansville, Indiana; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Southern Indiana squares off against Campbell in the National Invitation Tournament. The Screaming Eagles are 14-9 against OVC opponents and 8-3 in non-conference play.

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Ejim leads Gonzaga against Colorado after 24-point outing

Gonzaga Bulldogs (23-10, 17-4 WCC) at Colorado Buffaloes (21-12, 11-10 Big 12) Boulder, Colorado; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Gonzaga plays Colorado after Yvonne Ejim scored 24 points in Gonzaga's 67-51 win over the UTSA Roadrunners. Colorado is ninth in the Big 12 scoring 69.0 points while shooting 46.7% from the field.

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Watch Kevin Durant drop 42, Suns hand Cavaliers fourth straight loss

Cleveland Cavaliers v Phoenix Suns

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after hitting a three point basket during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at PHX Arena on March 21, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

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At age 36, Kevin Durant is a bucket.

Even with Evan Mobley — the betting favorite for Defensive Player of the Year — as the primary defender, Durant dropped 42 on the Cavaliers giving the Suns a critical win and the Cavaliers their fourth straight loss.

Phoenix has won three in a row and, more importantly, is tied with Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West (the No. 10 seed). The Suns are defending better and finding their game with the playoffs a month away.

Durant poked holes in Evan Mobley's case for Defensive Player of the Year: In the 4:42, Mobley was KD's primary defender. He scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a couple of 3-pointers, and the Mavericks as a team scored 23 points in those minutes. DeAndre Hunter also got time on Durant, but that went worse, with Durant shooting 6-of-10 in those nearly four minutes.

Cleveland has lost four in a row and looked out of sync as they swing through a West Coast road trip, nobody more than Donovan Mitchell, who started the game 0-of-7 and finished the night 2-of-18 from the floor. All of this is a troubling sign for a Cavaliers team that has serious playoff aspirations. It's possible teams are starting to figure out the Cavaliers, that said the streak likely ends on Sunday when Cleveland faces Utah.

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Bryant guard Earl Timberlake gives the Bulldogs their One Bloody Moment in March Madness

Earl Timberlake's toughness is no secret to his Bryant teammates. Facing Michigan State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament late Friday night, Timberlake offered a glimpse of it to the rest of the college basketball world. The senior guard and American East Player of the Year took an elbow to the forehead from Spartans center Carson Cooper that left Timberlake's face awash in blood.

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James Harden scores 30 as red-hot Clippers pick up their fifth straight win

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, center, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr..
Clippers guard James Harden puts up a shot during the first half of a 128-108 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Intuit Dome on Friday night. Harden finished with 30 points and nine assists. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

The high-level competition the Clippers faced this week allowed them to gauge themselves against some of the NBA's best teams.

The Clippers have proven they can go toe-to-toe with elite teams and they've done so without coach Tyronn Lue, who has missed five of the last seven games because of back pain.

And the Clippers displayed their grit again Friday in a 128-108 blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Intuit Dome.

The seventh-seeded Clippers not only moved to 2½ games behind the fifth-place Grizzlies with their fifth consecutive win, but they also swept the season series 3-0. The Clippers (40-30) are just one game behind sixth-place Golden State.

Read more:Clippers continue playoff push against formidable opponents

“We want to focus on ourselves and win as many games as we can,” said Clippers center Ivica Zubac, who had another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. “But at the same time, every night I’m watching the games, watching the teams in front of us, teams that are behind us in the standings, hoping they lose — I’m being a hater. ... But now, we’re trying to win as many games as we can, focus on us and see where that takes us.”

James Harden led the Clippers with 30 points and nine assists. He was five for 10 from three-point range, giving him 202 on the season. He joined JJ Redick and Paul George as the only players in franchise history to make at least 200 threes in a season.

Kawhi Leonard had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Norman Powell got back in the groove, scoring 14 points. Powell, who was one for two from three-point range, has made 448 three-pointers with the Clippers, pushing him past Lou Williams for seventh on the team's all-time list.

“Obviously we’re playing our butts off and finding the rotations, who is playing well and going with that,” Harden said. “We got a full roster. We’ve been waiting on this moment the entire year and now we’re here to where we actually see some good Clipper basketball. So, for us it’s just figuring out who is playing well, what works and what doesn’t work and in the midst of that trying to win games.”

With Lue at home, Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw was at the helm. The Clippers are 5-1 under his guidance.

Before the game, Shaw was asked how being in charge of a team is different from being an assistant.

“A lot less sleep,” Shaw said, laughing.

Shaw led the Clippers to an impressive win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the best record in the NBA. On Sunday in Inglewood, the Clippers meet an Oklahoma City Thunder team that has the best record (58-12), and Shaw will be ready.

Read more:No coach, no problem as Clippers rise up to beat NBA-leading Cavaliers

"Every game is a must-win for us," Zubac said. "So, we’re feeling good, we’re playing good. I think we’re in a good rhythm right now and it’s obviously going to be a challenge. I think that’s the best team in the league throughout the whole year. ... I don’t know if it’s going to show where we’re at, but it’s going to be a good challenge for us.”

Assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy missed his second straight game dealing with a family medical issue. He won’t return to the Clippers for at least a couple of weeks, the team said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.