HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 16: Kevin Durant #7, Reed Sheppard #15, Jabari Smith Jr. #10, Dorian Finney-Smith #2, and Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets celebrate during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 16, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The fact that the Sixers trying to keep their own pick this year has become a real conversation is astounding.
To say it’s been a rough couple of weeks for Philadelphia is an understatement. Thanks in large part to having four different starters go down for an extended period of time with injury, they’ve plummeted down the Eastern Conference standings into the Play-In tournament.
The skid, combined with the uncertainty of when those guys may be back, has made the topic of the Sixers trying to retain their top-4 protected first round something seriously considered.
The good news is unlike last season, the Sixers won’t be completely screwed if they happen to fall into the lottery and the slim odds don’t break their way. They of course own the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick from a trade you might have heard about.
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Houston had another tough week in which they posted another 1-2 record. They squeaked out a win over the New Orleans Pelicans but dropped their games against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, that hasn’t resulted in any movement for the pick — it’s still 24th overall, where it was a week ago. The early 20s remains a very tight bunch though. The Rockets are just a half game behind three teams that are tied for the 21st spot.
Another reason to think about the draft is March Madness is about to start. This very blog may have something in the works about prospects to keep an eye on in the tournament. For now, Iowa State, Alabama, Arizona and Michigan may all be teams worth keeping an eye on from a Sixers perspective. All four of those teams are high seeds as well, with the potential to make a deep tournament run.
The Charlotte Hornets have clearly turned the corner from also-ran to up and comer. Getting past the Miami Heat might be another step in that development.
The Heat visit Charlotte Tuesday night, looking for their fifth straight win over the Hornets, and their eighth win in nine games overall.
Despite that dominance, injuries to the visitors have my Heat vs. Hornets predictions and free NBA picks backing the home team on March 17.
Heat vs Hornets prediction
Heat vs Hornets best bet: Hornets -3.5 (-110)
Miami is punching at the door of the East’s top six, starting the day just a half game back of both the Raptors and Magic.
The Miami Heat are scoring 124.1 points per game on their current 7-1 streak, which ranks second in the NBA.
But Bam Adebayo (calf) is questionable Tuesday, while Andrew Wiggins (toe) has already been ruled out.
That might be enough for the Charlotte Hornets to end their skid vs. Miami. They have just three losses in their last 11, and are holding teams to 105.1 points per game, which is third in the NBA over that time.
Heat vs Hornets same-game parlay
Kon Knueppel has topped his 18.5 scoring line in four of his last six starts, and he’s gone for at least 27 in each of his last two starts against the Heat.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has led the team in assists in four straight games, and he’s had five or more assists in four straight, and in two of his last three against Charlotte.
Heat vs Hornets SGP
Hornets -3.5
Kon Knueppel Over 18.5 points
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 4.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Ride with Knueppel until the wheels fall off
Let’s ride the rookie to fill out this SGP.
Knueppel has grabbed six boards in back-to-back games, and had an 8-rebound game against the Heat earlier this season.
His 2.5 assist line is gettable: Knueppel has hit the Over in all three games vs the Heat, and has had at least three dimes in five of his last seven games.
Heat vs Hornets SGP
Hornets -3.5
Kon Knueppel Over 18.5 points
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 4.5 assists
Kon Knueppel Over 5.5 rebounds
Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
Heat vs Hornets odds
Spread: Miami +5.5 (-110) | Charlotte -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Miami +180 | Charlotte -220
Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)
Heat vs Hornets betting trend to know
Charlotte is 18-13-0 ATS at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.
How to watch Heat vs Hornets
Location
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Sun, FDSN-Charlotte
Heat vs Hornets latest injuries
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Now, after a season filled with inconsistency, the pressure’s on second-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope to achieve something in March Madness — or, at least last as long as Calipari does.
On this basketball-themed episode of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the SEC teams facing the most pressure in this NCAA Tournament, plus teams that were “snubbed.”
Then, they offer first-round upset picks, and they highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight. Finally, they give their Final Four picks! In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.
Which SEC basketball team faces most March Madness pressure?
Adams: Kentucky. Ask me again next year, and my answer will be the same. Ask me again the year after that, well, you get the idea. It’s always Kentucky. You want to be Kentucky’s coach? You get the reins of a tradition-rich program with an elite fan base and excellent resources. You also get the maximum pressure. Calipari’s success at Arkansas does Pope no favors. This first-round draw does Kentucky little favor, either. No. 10 Santa Clara is good enough to slay a blue blood.
Toppmeyer: Of course it’s Kentucky. Big Blue Nation demands banners, not participation ribbons. Pope will have a new boss soon, with Mitch Barnhart retiring as athletic director and moving into a golden parachute role. Pope is good for now, but an early exit paired with new leadership spells Year 3 heat. Better to win a few games this March and show a hint of momentum.
Beyond the obvious of Kentucky, though, how about Missouri facing some first-round pressure after drawing a de facto home game as a 10-seed in St. Louis, against No. 7 Miami? The last time the Tigers appeared in St. Louis, they got embarrassed by Illinois. Missouri basketball took a bleak turn after joining the SEC. Instead of dominating a bunch of football-crazed Southerners, the Tigers went into a hoops tailspin. They’ve produced just one NCAA Tournament win in 14 years as an SEC member. Now, here’s a golden draw in front of a home crowd.
SEC sleeper team to make the Elite Eight?
Adams: Arkansas. Get hot, stay hot. Darius Acuff is the SEC’s best player. He’s exactly the type of dynamic freshman you’d expect from a Calipari lineup.
Toppmeyer: Vanderbilt. The Commodores beat Florida in the SEC Tournament, a flash of what they can achieve when their shooters are hitting. Vanderbilt is fueled by multiple 3-point marksmen, including star guard Tyler Tanner. If their jumpers are falling, they could go deep.
ASB GlassFloor, the Swiss manufacturer behind the controversial glass basketball court installed—and then ultimately removed—during last week’s Big 12 basketball tournament, has since defended itself by citing a study of the surface commissioned by the NBA ahead of the 2024 All-Star weekend.
ASB’s LumiFlex flooring contains LED panels sealed beneath tempered safety glass, which are covered in ceramic dots that are designed to improve friction to prevent slipping.
But its high-profile collegiate debut at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., proved rocky—or, critics say, too slick—after Texas Tech star guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle while slipping on the surface during a quarterfinal loss to Iowa State. Following Anderson’s injury and complaints from other players and coaches, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark announced that a traditional wooden court would replace the glass for the tournament’s final two rounds.
In an interview last week with CBS Sports, Benedikt von Dohnanyi, ASB’s CEO, touted the NBA’s study of his product, saying it scientifically concluded the glass court “plays the same as a wooden court,” including “from a grip perspective.”
However, the 50-page report by engineering consulting firm Rimkus—reviewed by Sportico—suggests a more nuanced conclusion.
While Rimkus concluded that its research and the available data did not suggest “increased risk of injury” for NBA’s intended use, it also acknowledged the significant limits of the analysis.
In the aftermath of the Big 12 tournament, an ASB spokesperson said company had launched “an active investigation” that included engaging an “independent scientific institution.”
“This process is our highest priority at this point to ensure we continue to meet the 100% satisfaction rate we have achieved at other high-profile venues,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Despite von Dohnanyi’s public comments last week, the ASB spokesperson declined to specifically address questions about Rimkus’ report, saying, “We generally do not comment on specific details in external studies not commissioned by us.”
The spokesperson added that the company has worked with “various independent test institutes globally,” and that its floors, including the one used in Kansas City, have undergone “strict, independent testing” as part of their certification for use by FIBA.
The Big 12 declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Rimkus did not immediately respond to an email inquiry.
The NBA retained Rimkus in 2024 to evaluate the safety of the court for limited use during All-Star Weekend events, including the skills challenge, 3-point contest and slam dunk contest. The firm assessed performance metrics such as force reduction, vertical deformation, ball rebound, surface friction, flatness and surface temperature—but only in the context of non-game use.
“It was beyond the scope of the assignment to address all possible sources of injury from the playing surface … so we are unable to opine on the overall safety of the court for full game use,” the study said. “Additional considerations, such as risk of skin abrasion, fall injury risk, and court-shoe traction may warrant additional tests if the floor is to be used on a frequent basis for training or competition.”
The study also noted the testing was not conducted on a full court. Instead, Rimkus examined four panels—each measuring roughly 6.5 feet by 5 feet—that were placed atop a ceramic-tiled floor in the atrium of the NBA’s headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. The tests were conducted in an environment with an air temperature of 72 degrees and relative humidity of 20%.
Due to the small sample size, the study’s researchers said they lacked the ability to assess the “uniformity of a larger set of panels.” A more thorough examination would have included linear and rotational traction testing on the floor using a standard basketball shoe.
Rimkus noted that the rubber of the test foot it used was “rapidly worn down by” the ceramic dots on the floor.
“This resulted in rubber residue being left on the court, which may reduce the surface frictions,” the report said. “It would also be expected to wear down the shoe outsole and potentially reduce shoe-surface traction.”
According to Rimkus, the NBA lacked its own formal standard for assessing court performance, so the firm based its testing methodologies on guidelines from FIBA, ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association. The LumiFlex floors’ results were compared against practice and game courts used by the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks.
To measure surface friction, Rimkus used two methods: the ASTM standard (ASTM E303-22) and the British Pendulum Tester, also known as the XL Variably Incident Tribometer.
In dry testing conditions, the ASB glass court registered lower surface friction—meaning the court was more slippery—than any of the NBA hardwood courts under the ASTM standard, though it was still within the range considered slip-resistant. The glass court produced higher friction readings when measured using the British Pendulum Tester. The report noted the contradictions of these findings are “not typically seen for standard flooring and was not apparent among the NBA courts tested.”
When the surfaces were wet, Rimkus found the ASB glass court’s slip resistance held up better than that of the NBA hardwood floors.
When it came to force reduction, the level of shock absorption provided by the floor, and vertical deformation, or how much the surface deflects underfoot, Rimkus found that that the ASB floor “appears to be slightly stiffer/less shock absorbent” than the average NBA courts, but “within or very close” to their range.
“This would not be expected to pose an issue for the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge since players are not spending an extended time on the court,” the report stated. “However, should the court be used for training or game play on a frequent basis, additional considerations may be warranted.”
About a month prior to the conference’s public announcement on Feb. 12, the league briefed basketball coaches about its interest in using the surface in Kansas City and encouraged teams to check out a full-court model the company had set up at a court testing facility in Orlando while they were in the area to play UCF.
While the NBA-commissioned study was not the only factor, one Big 12 school official told Sportico that was among the materials discussed.
Beyond the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, the court has been used for the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Women’s World Cup in Madrid, and it has also been employed by European clubs FC Bayern Basketball and Panathinaikos BC. The University of Kentucky used the floor for its “Big Blue Madness” event ahead of the 2024-25 basketball season, though no NCAA college game had been played on it until last week.
The Sacramento Kings are looking for a little luck on St. Patrick’s Day when they host the San Antonio Spurs.
Sacramento heads into this homestand with some heat, winning four of its past five games while covering in all of those outings.
My Spurs vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks look at the pile of points being offered by oddsmakers and back Sacramento as a big home dog tonight.
Spurs vs Kings prediction
Spurs vs Kings best bet: Sacramento +13.5 (-110)
The hell with tanking. The Sacramento Kings are on a roll, thanks in part to an extended home run and improvements on both ends of the floor. Defense is the most notable uptick, boasting the third-best rating in the NBA over the past five games.
While this push came against some fellow bottom feeders, Sacramento has surpassed the oddsmakers’ expectations and catches the San Antonio Spurs in a tough spot.
San Antonio is playing the second of a back-to-back and comes down in intensity after a slate packed with playoff-bound opponents.
Game models like the Spurs but by less than 12 points tonight.
Spurs vs Kings same-game parlay
The Kings’ defensive improvements and the Spurs’ road-weary legs will keep scoring low tonight. Forecasts come in around 234 points.
DeMar DeRozan isn’t packing it in. The veteran just dropped 41 points and has scored 107 points over his last three games. He’d love to stick it to his old team tonight.
Spurs vs Kings SGP
Kings +13.5
Under 236.5
DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Royal flush
If Sacramento could ever catch San Antonio sleeping, this is the game. The Spurs are playing back-to-back outings and have laid eggs against some terrible teams this season.
Spurs vs Kings SGP
Sacramento moneyline
Under 236.5
DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
Spurs vs Kings odds
Spread: Spurs -13.5 | Kings +13.5
Moneyline: Spurs -900 | Kings +600
Over/Under: Over 236.5 | Under 236.5
Spurs vs Kings betting trend to know
The Kings are 6-3 ATS as home underdogs of 10 or more points this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Kings.
How to watch Spurs vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Southwest, NBCS-California
Spurs vs Kings latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 15: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives during the fourth quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you received a snapshot of a certain timestamp in almost every single Knicks game since the all-star break, you’d think the team was in the midst of another January collapse that would have them plummeting towards the play-in tournament and have Mike Brown receiving his pink slip:
Trailed 93-75 with 10:50 left in the 4th vs HOU (2/21) Trailed 95-94 with 2:40 left in 4th @ CHI (2/22) Trailed 19-7 with 4:00 left in the 1st vs SA (3/1) Trailed 27-17 with 3:10 left in the 1st @ TOR (3/3) Trailed 23-14 with 3:05 left in the 1st @ DEN (3/6) Trailed 49-31 with 9:35 left in the 2nd @ UTAH (3/11) Trailed 74-73 with 0.1 left in the 3rd @ IND (3/13) Trailed 46-25 with 9:10 left in the 2nd vs GSW (3/15)
Add in the lopsided losses in Los Angeles and the Detroit/Cleveland losses, it paints the picture of a team that’s just not good.
Well, except that the Knicks won all eight of the games listed above. That includes three 18+-point comebacks, surviving scares from multiple lottery teams, and overcoming terrible offensive and defensive starts against playoff teams. It’s proven that the team, does in fact, have the ability to overcome adversity, regardless of what some people say.
But it doesn’t make the way they go into lulls any less baffling. They sleepwalked for much of the first quarter against both San Antonio and Denver before blitzing them the rest of the game. They got utterly barraged from downtown by the Warriors and Jazz before taking control and throttling those teams over the remaining 2.5 quarters. They’ve played with their food several times, but have usually come out on top.
It’s frankly inexplicable. The Knicks still boast the league’s best defensive rating over the past eight weeks, but have started several games recently, unable to defend a high school offense. The talent eventually has overwhelmed both Utah and Golden State in the last week, but look at the way they started these games offensively:
The defense was so bad against the Warriors that Mike Brown refused to name a DPOG for the first time this season!
Even when they get off to unbelievably poor starts, both luck and effort-wise, the Knicks have had an ability to just flip a switch and immediately start mucking things up defensively, which we’ve seen in these games and several others. Remember the Houston game where they couldn’t stop a nosebleed and then had one of the most ferocious defensive quarters of the season?
It seems to be a trend that the team plays better defense as the game goes on. Over the last 26 games, the Knicks have a blistering +24.2 net rating and 96.6 defensive rating in fourth quarters, numbers that have the team firmly as the best fourth-quarter team in basketball.
Is it a problem with the starting lineup? Maybe, but consider this:
Starting lineup in 1Q since Feb. 22 (CHI): 100.0 OffRtg, 131.1 DefRtg, -31.1 NetRtg
Starting lineup in other Qs since 2/22 (CHI): 120.9 OffRtg, 108.7 DefRtg, +12.2 NetRtg
The lineup isn’t necessarily poor; it just cannot get off to a good start. The offense looks like it’s stuck in quicksand, and everyone is a step late defensively. We’ve seen incredible stretches from this lineup that starts on the defensive end and turns into offensive brilliance when the wings make their threes and Brunson is cooking in isolation.
Speaking of the offense, they’ve had some frigid stretches lately:
You see stretches like these, but then you see that they’re third in both 35-point quarters (62) and 40-point quarters (18) and see that they remain fourth in 3-point percentage and it’s one of the most confusing things you’ll ever see.
The Knicks are an enigma. One minute, they’re unstoppable, playing ferocious defense and knocking down threes to overwhelm the competition. The next minute, they can’t hit the side of a barn, and the defense looks more like Swiss cheese. It’s not a game-to-game inconsistency, it’s a quarter-to-quarter inconsistency.
Feb 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) celebrates his three-point basket in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
It’s been a month and a half since the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for James Harden. So far, the results have pretty good.
The Cavs won their first five games with Harden in the lineup. Since that time, he’s broken a finger, and the team has lost four of their last nine games with him. The Cavs are now 10-4 in games Harden plays.
In that time, Harden is averaging 19.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game with .480/.436/.808 shooting splits.
The three-ball has boosted Harden’s efficiency. The outside shot will undoubtedly cool off. He’s never shot over 40% from three for a season. The closest he’s gotten was converting 39% of his triples back in the 2011-12 season.
Harden has done a great job of bolstering the offense while adjusting to a secondary role alongside Donovan Mitchell. Harden’s usage rate in Cleveland has been 27.9% (67th percentile). That’s the lowest it’s been since 2023-24, when he first played alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George with the Los Angeles Clippers.
More impressively, Harden has done a great job of fitting into head coach Kenny Atkinson’s offensive system. The Cavs are playing slower with Harden on the court compared to their season-long average, but since he’s come to the team, they’re playing at a slightly faster pace when he’s on the court compared to when he’s off.
Atkinson’s system isn’t built on just playing fast. It’s a movement-based offense that runs a lot of off-ball action. That’s the opposite of Harden’s isolation system, where every player stays perfectly spaced at all times.
The Cavs have done a good job of blending the two. They’ve been able to incorporate a decent amount of off-ball movement around Harden, which has allowed him to showcase how good a passer he is.
As a team, the Cavs have scored 122.7 points per 100 possessions (94th percentile for offensive ratings) when Harden is on the court. An individual player’s offensive rating isn’t usually indicative of how well they’ve performed. In this instance, it shows how well he’s bought into the team’s philosophy, leading to their success.
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More importantly, the offense has remained elite no matter which core player he’s been paired with.
Harden has paired incredibly well with Mitchell. He’s allowed Mitchell to keep the reins as a scorer while finding ways to fit in around him. As a result, the Cavs have posted a 128.8 offensive rating with both Mitchell and Harden on the court (99th percentile). This has led to the Cavs outscoring their opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions when both are on the floor (94th percentile for net ratings).
As seamless as the fit has been, there are two things that we can clearly knock Harden for.
First, he’s been able to stabilize lineups without Mitchell — which was a big issue before the Harden trade — but those lineups haven’t been too impressive.
Atkinson hasn’t found the right bench combinations to play alongside Harden. There hasn’t been much consistency in those lineups, which makes it difficult to have too strong an opinion as to why they haven’t thrived. This has led to the Cavs outscoring opponents by 1.6 points per 100 possessions (59th percentile for net ratings) when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell.
Secondly, the defense has been rough with Harden.
Opponents are scoring 4.7 more points per 100 possessions with Harden on the floor compared to when he’s off (17th percentile). This is due in part to how little resistance Harden has provided at the point of attack.
The Cavs have tried different ways to cover for Harden defensively, but haven’t found much success in doing so. They’ve experimented with the 3-2 zone with Harden at both the top and the bottom of the zone, but he’s fared poorly in both situations. He doesn’t contain the ball at the top of the zone, and the rotations are too slow when he’s at the bottom.
These issues are amplified when he’s playing alongside Mitchell, who’s been a poor point-of-attack defender in his own right recently.
The defense has been without either Mobley or Allen in most of Harden’s tenure with the team. Harden has only played with both bigs in five of his 14 games. The defense has been exceptional in the brief time he’s shared the floor with both bigs — they’ve posted a 95.4 defensive rating (100th percentile) in 72 minutes together. The issue is that the Cavs play a majority of their minutes with just one of the two bigs on the court, even when both are healthy.
Harden isn’t magically going to become a great defender in his 17th season. However, there are likely better ways to cover for him on that end. The question is whether the Cavaliers can find those before the postseason.
Overall, Harden has fit in well with his teammates. He was brought in to boost their chances of going to the Finals this season and in the next few. Based on the early returns, they’re in a better situation to do that even with him playing through a broken finger.
Harden’s grade for his first month and a half of play: A-
The Indiana Pacers have some good recent memories at MSG, but don’t count on a repeat for Rick Carlisle’s short-handed squad as they visit the New York Knicks tonight.
Indiana arrives on a 13-game losing streak while tumbling towards maximum lottery odds, so my Pacers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks see New York running riot here, with OG Anunoby stepping up in the likely absence of Jalen Brunson.
Pacers vs Knicks prediction
Pacers vs Knicks best bet: OG Anunoby Over 22.5 points + rebounds (-125)
OG Anunoby ranks among the NBA’s elite 3-and-D weapons, but he’s much more than a role player – and this combo Over feels like a value pick, with Anunoby nailing it in three of his last four games.
Just look at his numbers this month — OG is averaging 19.2 points per game and shooting 45% from beyond the arc. He dropped 25 points on the Indiana Pacers last week, and there’s a path to more offense with Brunson listed as doubtful.
I see Anunoby chipping in on the boards too, where he’s grabbed 5+ rebounds in six of his past nine outings.
Pacers vs Knicks same-game parlay
The New York Knicks won’t need to get out of first gear to land a victory, and I see Anunoby and Towns doing most of the damage. KAT has finished with 13+ rebounds four times already this month, and New York is 24-9 SU at home this season.
Pacers vs Knicks SGP
OG Anunoby Over 22.5 points + rebounds
Knicks moneyline
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: New York Minute!
This is a perfect chance for the New York wings to put up big numbers, and I see Bridges joining Anunoby with a strong scoring night.
Plus, Hart will take on more playmaking responsibilities without Brunson on the floor. That should be a winning formula against the slumping Pacers, who are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 contests.
Pacers vs Knicks SGP
OG Anunoby Over 18.5 points
Josh Hart Over 6.5 assists
Mikal Bridges Over 14.5 points
Knicks -14.5
Pacers vs Knicks odds
Spread: Pacers +14.5 | Knicks -14.5
Moneyline: Pacers +600 | Knicks -900
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
Pacers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Pacers are 5-29 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Knicks.
How to watch Pacers vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
MSG, FDSN-Indiana
Pacers vs Knicks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Long before he became an NBA Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce was a senior at Inglewood High School thrilled to be chosen to play in the 1995 McDonald's All-American Game, a nationally televised showcase that has brought together 24 of the best prep players in the country every year since 1978.
The McDonald's all-time scoring record of 30 points had been set in 1981 by (who else?) Michael Jordan a month after his 18th birthday. Fourteen years later, Pierce scored at a blistering pace, yet because someone had stolen his jersey, he played a portion of the game with the name "McCoy" on the back.
Broadcasters credited "McCoy" with several baskets and apparently the scorekeeper couldn't keep track either. In the box score, Pierce was credited with 28 points. In his mind, he was certain he had more than 30.
He painstakingly watched the game tape and, sure enough, he had scored 31 points. Yet the official McDonald's record book didn't recognize it, and Jordan continued to hold the record until Jonathan Bender put up 31 in 1999.
That is just one of the delightful, insightful stories included in the feature-length documentary "Meal Ticket," an exhaustively researched labor of love by co-directors Corey Colvin and Carlton Gerard Sabbs of production company Stony & Yates. The film will premiere Thursday on Prime Video.
Meanwhile, Jordan had his own beef with McDonald's — or at least his mother did. He was not given the John R. Wooden Award as Most Valuable Player in that 1981 game even though he set the scoring record and made shots during the East team's last five possessions, including the winning basket in a 96-95 victory.
Chase Budinger, left, and Kevin Durant, co-MVPs of the 2006 McDonald's All-American High School basketball game, hold the MVP trophy in front of legendary coach John Wooden, center. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)
Deloris Jordan was not happy. On the elevator leaving the arena, she told broadcaster Billy Packer, "Poor Michael. My poor son Michael. He never gets any recognition. He never gets any respect."
Soon, of course, her son would get his due, first for leading North Carolina to the NCAA title as a freshman — again sinking the winning shot — then for leading the Chicago Bulls to a record six NBA titles in eight years while winning 10 scoring titles. Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.
Produced by Roc Nation, Known Originals and Creative Control, "Meal Ticket" chronicles the 49-year history of the McDonald's All-American Games. Nearly 50 Naismith Hall of Famers were participants, and many reminisce for the documentary.
For most, the showcase was their first time on national television. At 17 or 18 years old, they were fresh-faced, eager and ultra-competitive. Colvin, 41, and Sabbs, 39, dug deep into archives of games and surrounding activities provided by McDonald's and ESPN, and the result is a balanced blend of action footage and fond memories.
"We tried to illustrate the parallel between the McDonald's game and the growth of the sport," Colvin said. "I honestly feel it’s a power hidden within the McDonald's game that people haven’t paid attention to. If you want to know where basketball is going, watch the McDonald's game."
Among the key developments was founder Bob Geoghan expanding the event to include girls' basketball, launching a doubleheader format with the boys beginning in 2002 that proved immensely popular.
Two years later, Candace Parker won the annual Slam Dunk Contest, defeating, among others, JR Smith and Josh Smith, both of whom would be NBA first-round picks within months. Parker's achievement was so unlikely that her own brother hung up on her when she called to tell the family, according to the documentary. Just another nugget unearthed by Colvin and Sabbs.
The creative careers of the Chicago South Side products began with directing branded content, and their mentors, directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, helped them make a pitch to McDonald's in 2022 for an independent documentary.
Early fears that the fast-food colossus would be overly brand conscious and dictate content were allayed. Mickey D's not only gave the directors the rights to tell the story, but also provided game footage while steering clear of editorial meddling.
Bronny James of the West team talks to his dad, LeBron James of the Lakers, at the 2003 McDonald's All-American Game in Houston, Texas. (Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images)
"You’d think with McDonald's, they'd be very hands-on to position and push the brand," Sabbs said. "But they were good partners. We were even concerned about the name, 'Meal Ticket,' because it's kind of edgy, a quadruple entendre. Would McDonald's approve it? They stood by us. Nobody micromanaged us. And when they were around, we knew we’d be getting some french fries."
The closest Sabbs and Colvin came to deviating from McDonald's sanitized version of events came when the directors recognized the role Geoghan played in launching the Games. Amateur basketball luminaries Wooden — the legendary former UCLA coach with 10 national championships — Sonny Vaccaro and Sonny Hill were drawn into promoting the Games largely because Geoghan earmarked profits for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The documentary team immersed itself in the 2022 McDonald's All-American Games, shadowing two boys and two girls throughout the weekend. Part of that story was the outpouring of emotion for Geoghan, who died at 87 in February 2022 and was honored at the Games a month later.
"When we were filming in 2022 we saw how deeply everyone respected Bob," Sabbs said. "They did a tribute on the Jumbotron before the game and put a Bob Geoghan jersey and a dozen roses on the seat where he watched games.
"Bob never wanted to get rich off the McDonald's Games. He was a humble guy who some said died penniless. I hope this film helps him and his family get some recognition for what he contributed to basketball. He really ought to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame and I hope that happens."
Geoghan redirected attention to the court and the sheer number of precocious youngsters who went on from the showcase to legendary professional careers. California has produced the most McDonald's players on both the boys' and the girls' teams. And simply considering those who eventually made their marks with the Lakers is staggering.
Magic Johnson starred in the first McDonald's game in 1978. James Worthy played alongside Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Ralph Sampson the next year. Shaquille O'Neal was MVP in 1989. Kobe Bryant made highlight reel plays in 1996. JJ Redick was 2002 MVP and won the three-point shootout. LeBron James was MVP in 2003.
Bryant and James, of course, were among the elite players to jump straight from the showcase to the NBA, skipping college. Another player who did so, Amar'e Stoudemire, was physically dominant even when sharing the court with other future greats.
"I was a different kind of beast, man," Stoudemire says in the documentary. "I'm not doing a finger roll off the glass move. I'm attacking the basket and I'm shaking the whole backboard. I think from that point on, everyone knew, 'Stoud, he's going to the NBA. He ain't going to college.' By the time we left, I'm sure there were a few screws and hinges that had left the rim."
JR Smith realized he was going to skip college for the NBA after dominating the McDonald's Game in 2004, scoring 25 points on an assortment of dunks and long-range jumpers. He was committed to North Carolina but made no secret that he didn't want to go to school.
Upon returning to the hotel after the game, Smith began running through the halls, yelling, "I'm going to the league!"
This year's Games will take place March 31 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The West boys' roster will include Southern California products Brandon McCoy Jr. and Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon, Christian Collins from St. John Bosco and Jason Crowe Jr. from Inglewood. Jerzy Robinson from Sierra Canyon and Cydnee Bryant from Corona Centennial will play in the girls' game.
Even with NIL money seeping into players' bank accounts, Sabbs and Colvin haven't noticed a change in how the best of the best approach the McDonald's All-American Games.
"All you hear are these stories from all-star games that the players don’t care anymore because there's too much easy money," Colvin said. "But these guys are competing, playing defense, diving on the floor. The McDonald's Games are still a precursor for where the game is going, from elevating the girls to NIL, and we hope that comes across in the film."
The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to push their winning streak to nine when they tip off against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center tonight.
All eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and deservedly so, but I’ve got my eye on a Chet Holmgren prop in my Thunder vs. Magic predictions & NBA picks for Tuesday, March 17.
Thunder vs Magic prediction
Thunder vs Magic best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds (-112)
The OKC center has averaged 10.9 boards per game since the break – eighth-most in the NBA.
Holmgren has collected Over 8.5 rebounds in seven of his last eight outings, so we’re getting good value tonight.
The Orlando Magic are a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team, ranking 15th in boards per game (43.8), and starting center Wendell Carter Jr. is no match for the 7-foot-1 Holmgren.
Thunder vs Magic same-game parlay
Holmgren hasn’t just been a monster on the glass; he’s also scored Over 16.5 points in three of his last five games while averaging 18.8 ppg through that span.
The Thunder are also 5-0 in their last five games vs. the Magic and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
Thunder vs Magic SGP
Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
Thunder moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: All hands on deck for Magic
The Thunder may be on a nine-game run, but they’ve only covered the spread once in their last eight contests. The Magic, meanwhile, are 4-2 ATS in their last six.
It’ll take a full team effort to keep this one close, but Paolo Banchero (25.6 ppg), Desmond Bane (22.8 ppg), Tristan da Silva (15.3 ppg), and Jett Howard (8.8 ppg) are each scoring well above their season average this month.
Thunder vs Magic SGP
Magic +9.5
Paolo Banchero Over 20.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
Tristan da Silva Over 11.5 points
Jett Howard Over 5.5 points
Thunder vs Magic odds
Spread: Oklahoma City 9.5 (-110) | Orlando +9.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Oklahoma City -450 | Orlando +350
Over/Under: Over 223 (-110) | Under 223 (-110)
Thunder vs Magic betting trend to know
The Thunder have hit the 1H Moneyline in 17 of their last 21 away games (+11.45 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Magic.
How to watch Thunder vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Oklahoma, FDSN-Florida
Thunder vs Magic latest injuries
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Matt Hayes' bracket is go big or go home. He has seven double-digit seeds winning first round games.
He's got your typical 5-12 upsets, going with High Point to beat Wisconsin and McNeese beating Vanderbilt in the first round.
But he wasn't done. His prediction of 14-seed Wright State beating 3-seed Virginia in the Midwest Region was our boldest take.
Our biggest Sweet 16 surprise
12-seed Akron was picked to reach the Sweet 16 twice in the Midwest Region (Eddie Timanus and Jordan Mendoza are bullish on the Zips).
12-seed McNeese got a vote for the Sweet 16 from Matt Hayes. He picked the Cowboys to beat Vanderbilt and then Nebraska in the South Region.
Craig Meyer has 11-seed Texas winning Tuesday night's play-in game vs. NC State, then beating 6-seed BYU in Round 1 and shocking 3-seed Gonzaga in the second round before losing to Purdue.
10-seed UCLA got some hometown cooking from Jordan Mendoza, one of our L.A.-based reporters. He picks the Bruins to knock off 2-seed UConn in the second round of the East Region.
Blake Toppmeyer has BYU making the Elite Eight and beating former WCC foe Gonzaga in Round 2.
Paul Myerberg and Craig Meyer have BYU losing in the first round to the Texas/NC State play-in game winner.
Dark horse Final Four prediction
For the most part, there were no real surprises in our Final Four picks. Jordan Mendoza and Eddie Timanus went chalk, hoping to match last year's all-1-seed Final Four. The highest-seeded team picked by our staff to reach the Final Four was 5-seed St. John's, who Paul Myerberg picked to win the loaded East Region.
Most popular Final Four predictions
Arizona to win the West Region was picked eight times (80%).
Duke, Michigan and Florida were each picked six times to win their respective regions (60%).
Arkansas got two votes to win the West Region. Brent Schrotenboer and Craig Meyer are buying stock in John Calipari, and more likely Darius Acuff Jr.
Three teams got one vote. In addition to Paul's St. John's pick, Craig Meyer has UConn winning the East and John Brice predicts Illinois will win the South.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs drives past the defense of John Collins #20 and Bennedict Mathurin #9 of the LA Clippers during the first half of a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Intuit Dome on March 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ok so let me walk you through how this night went for me and see if it tracks similarly for you.
I turn on my TV at 7:00 because I forgot it was a road game.
False start. That’s OK. We can recover from this. We’ll be fine.
The game starts when? 9:00? P.M.? That can’t be right. Wow. Pacific Standard Time, eh? We’re still doing that? I thought we voted to end PST just like we did Daylight Saving Time. Wait, we’re still doing that? I swear, this country has to get its act together.
Alright. 9:00. Here we go.
Spurs–Clippers. Last time we played it was one of the highlights of the season and I can’t wait to see what kind of fireworks we have in store tonight. Should be electric.
Kawhi’s out, eh? Shocking. Dylan’s still out? Bummer. And Kornet? Bummer. Well. Alright. Still might be fun.
Oh shoot, the game started already.
Let’s see. Peacock. Peacock. Where is Peacock?
No, I don’t want to watch Ted. Or Hamnet. Or Love Island All-Stars (it always gets boring near the end anyway).
Ok. Spurs–Clippers. Here we go.
WE’RE DOWN HOW MUCH?
I don’t need to watch this. This is… this is a throwaway game. We’re missing guys. They’re missing guys. It’s Monday night. It’s late. I’m just going to call it a night and see what happened in the morning.
Ok, nice dunk though Devin. I see you. I’m still going to bed though.
Alright, well. De’Aaron, that was nice. Steph, that was very nice.
The funny thing is, the Spurs had already started climbing back into the game while I was busy trying to convince myself to go to bed. And that’s kind of become their thing this year. Games get weird, momentum swings around, and they just calmly work their way back into it.
Stephon Castle was flying around for offensive rebounds and putbacks, and before long the Clippers’ 17–3 start had quietly started to fade. Wemby started controlling things defensively and almost effortlessly asserting himself on offense. Devin Vassell found space and knocked down a couple shots. Fox started getting downhill and bending the defense the way he does. The Spurs started getting stops, the pace flipped, and suddenly the whole thing felt different. By the time Jordan McLaughlin hit a three to tie it early in the second quarter, the entire game had reset.
And honestly, that kind of swing doesn’t even feel unusual anymore.
One thing that’s really stood out to me this year is that across the NBA, no lead feels particularly safe. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you’re playing. Twenty point leads happen all the time, and twenty point comebacks seem to happen just as often.
I don’t know if it’s because scoring is completely off the rails or because defense is now more of a suggestion than a requirement. Maybe the rules are too soft. Or too hard? Look, I honestly don’t know.
What I do know is that a quick 10-point lead doesn’t even register with me anymore when the Spurs have it. That’s nothing. That can disappear during a bathroom break.
For some reason that logic never applies when the Spurs are down, though. That still feels catastrophic. Just one of life’s little mysteries, I guess.
I’m fine. I’m actually the normal amount of anxious for a guy my age. Why do you ask?
The Spurs handled their business in this game. Even when it felt like they weren’t going to. Even when things got a little wobbly down the stretch and it briefly seemed like Darius Garland might have invented a floater that could somehow arc just high enough to evade Wemby’s outstretched arms enough times to pull the Clippers back into it.
But the Spurs were good. They were solid. They got the job done.
I don’t know if I give them enough credit for being professional like that. We talk all the time about their youth and inexperience, as if it’s a defining trait that’s inseparable from who they are. But for all that talk, they don’t really play like it.
They have their ups and downs. Stretches where things aren’t working the way they should. That part can absolutely be chalked up to youth and inexperience.
The key part, though, is what happens next.
They don’t spin out. They don’t let the rough stretch become the whole story. They just attack it like a problem that needs to be solved. A puzzle to figure out.
There’s a steely resolve when they hit a roadblock instead of panic.
I have no idea how or if this will play out in the playoffs. Every single person even tangentially associated with having an opinion on basketball is so quick to fall over themselves and breathlessly explain to you how “the playoffs are a completely different animal.” The intensity is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. All that jazz. I’m as guilty of doing this as anyone!
The truth is that I don’t know. Frankly, I don’t remember. It’s been a long time since the Spurs were in the playoffs and an even longer time since they were in there with a team full of guys who hadn’t been there before. I don’t know how any of this works anymore. I don’t know what any of these guys are capable of.
I know it will be different, and I know that they know it. They’re getting it from all sides just like we are. It’s not the last test they have to pass, but it certainly is the next one.
“They don’t have enough experience though”. That’s the story on this team. That’s the line you hear over and over again. The playoffs are different. The intensity is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. Remember?
But when I think about what this team has spent the entire season doing, I’m not sure the word “experience” means quite what people think it does. Because every night it feels like they’re running into something new. A weird game. A bad stretch. A matchup problem. A moment where things stop working the way they’re supposed to.
And every night they treat it the same way.
They slow down. They look at it. They start figuring it out.
They treat it like a puzzle.
The playoffs are a completely different test. It will expose things this team hasn’t seen yet.
But if experience is really just learning how to solve the problems in front of you, then this team has been getting plenty of it all year.
And so far, when these Spurs run into a problem, they don’t panic.
They solve it.
Takeaways
50 wins feels pretty good. What was our over/under for wins? like, 43? 50 is pretty good! I find this acceptable!
I feel like I could come in here after every single game and just make the whole thing about how much I enjoy watching Stephon Castle play basketball. I love the way he moves. He sort of lopes down the court with this really tall posture, like he’s almost teetering forward when he runs, and it creates this constant feeling that something unexpected might happen. He’s explosive, but not in the same way De’Aaron Fox is explosive. Fox is lightning fast. Castle is more like… sudden. Once he decides to go, everything just starts happening quickly. I realize I’m kind of spinning out trying to explain this, but he’s just an aesthetically pleasing basketball player to watch. The movements are fun. The chaos feels intentional. I saw someone on Twitter say he’s a consistent three point shot away from being Dwyane Wade and I nearly passed out.
It was nice to see the Spurs figure out a way to win without shooting particularly well from three. Obviously I’d prefer them to shoot well from three, but come playoff time that’s the kind of thing that tends to wax and wane a little. So: how to succeed in business without hitting many threes. Step one is you’ve got to grab somewhere in the vicinity of a million rebounds. Absolutely pound the boards. The Spurs did that. They were aggressive, especially on the offensive glass, and it never really felt like they were wasting possessions even when the shots weren’t falling. Step two is you put the clamps on defensively. (This is admittedly a little easier when Kawhi isn’t playing, but still. Odds are pretty decent that on any given night Kawhi won’t be playing.) If you can’t score, then they sure as hell better not be scoring either. Basketball is actually pretty simple when you think about it. As always, my door is open for any NBA consultancy opportunities.
Hi! This is Charlie’s anxiety talking now. For some reason the Clippers feel kind of spooky to me as a playoff matchup and I would simply prefer that we not do that. I know we’ve won these two games against them, but they play us really hard. They’re well coached, they’re disciplined, and they just seem to do a lot of things well. I don’t know. I don’t like the Kawhi storyline being something we have to hear about constantly. I would prefer to simply not experience that. That said, I could probably talk myself into every single possible matchup feeling spooky if you gave me enough time, so please feel free to disregard Charlie’s anxiety. Please feel free to disregard Charlie altogether, he really is just kinda making this up as he goes along.
WWL Post Game Press Conference
– Ok, so it seemed like you were about to do one of those old school running diaries here and then just bailed halfway through. Can you walk us through that decision?
– Yeah, sure. I mean, sometimes you sit down to write and you know your angle. You watched the game, it all made sense, you were in the flow and felt it coming together, and the only step left is pen to paper. Other times… nothing.
– And this was one of the nothing times?
– Yeah, for sure. The game ended so late last night and I really felt like I’d just find it in the morning. Then, sure enough, I sat down in front of a blank WordPress doc and it was crickets.
– So the running diary bit was maybe a way in?
– Yeah. There are a couple tricks like that in the arsenal that are really just a ploy to start writing. Get anything on the page. It’s stupid, but sometimes literally typing out what happened in the game can kickstart something. I don’t know. The biggest enemy of writing is not writing, so sometimes the only answer is to write.
– Of course. So then it seems like you eventually found what you wanted to talk about, but you kept part of the diary bit. I’m not sure I understand that.
– Well, see, I kept it because I had already written it and didn’t want to erase it.
– Sure.
– I thought it was good! I always enjoy poking at Peacock as a streaming service. I thought the thing about dropping into the game down 17–3 was funny. The daylight savings bit?? That’s good stuff! And I really did forget that the game didn’t start until 9. Jokes aside, if I didn’t have to write about it I absolutely would’ve bailed. I don’t know, it felt like a pretty accurate portrayal of the watching experience and I wanted to keep it.
Makes sense. But you didn’t feel like doing it for the whole game?
– I think if you’re going to go full Bill Simmons and run back a Game Watchalong Diary, you have to commit from the beginning. If you want to do it well, you have to go into the game taking notes, workshopping jokes, feeling it in the moment. It’s really hard to fake that. People can tell.
Dec 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla (center) looks on between Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Chris Paul (3) at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Celtics and the Suns met last night, and beyond the game itself, it was a good snapshot of how both teams have evolved over the past year. Not long ago, neither team was particularly effective on the offensive glass. Boston finished 18th in offensive rebound rate last season, Phoenix 26th. This year, both are among the best in the league, ranking 5th and 6th respectively, which says a lot about how intentional that shift has been.
That evolution didn’t happen in a vacuum. Both teams went through an eventful summer and lost a significant part of their offensive creation, forcing them to find other ways to generate an edge. Instead of relying purely on shot-making, they leaned into the possession battle — creating extra chances through offensive rebounds and limiting wasted possessions.
Joe Mazzulla vs. Jordan Ott: two perspectives on the possession battle.
Here's what Jordan Ott said about the Celtics and the Suns possession battle different approaches before the game.
And then, Joe Mazzulla thoughts of the Suns approach for last night game.
When talking with Suns assistant Jordan Ott before the game, what stood out was how differently both teams approach that same objective. The common ground is obvious with offensive rebounding, but the real gap shows up in turnover management. Phoenix has completely changed its defensive profile, going from one of the worst teams in the league at forcing turnovers last season (28th in opponent turnover rate) to one of the best this year (3rd). Boston hasn’t followed that same path and still ranks in the lower third in that category, around 22nd.
However, the Celtics compensate for that on the other end. They are one of the best teams in the league at taking care of the ball, with a turnover rate around 12.5%, second overall, while the Suns are significantly higher at about 14.5%. As Ott explained, that difference has a direct impact on how the Celtics defend. Because they rarely give the ball away, they force opponents to operate more in the half court, naturally reducing transition opportunities and giving Boston a more stable defensive base.
That contrast was visible throughout the game. The Suns leaned heavily into pressure, trying to disrupt ball-handlers and speed up decisions, while also making a clear effort to control the glass after being exposed in that area in the previous matchup in Phoenix. Their approach was aggressive and physical, designed to create the extra possessions they rely on.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory!
Thursday 9am-12pm: Chris Dobbertean and Mike Rutherford
Boston answered in a different way. The Celtics didn’t try to match that chaos but instead leaned into their structure, spacing the floor properly and moving the ball to break the pressure. Jaylen Brown was at the center of that, repeatedly attacking downhill with space and finishing with 41 points and 21 free throw attempts. Around him, the ball kept moving, forcing the defense to shift and eventually opening up clean advantages.
That approach translated directly into production, with Boston posting a 79.5% assist rate, their highest of the season. It was less about forcing the issue and more about letting the offense breathe until the right option appeared.
In the end, both teams are chasing the same goal — winning the possession battle — but through very different levers. Phoenix looks to create chaos and generate turnovers, while Boston prioritizes control and limits mistakes. Last night didn’t show who executed better but highlighted two distinct ways of building an edge when pure talent alone isn’t enough.
Brackets are filled out. Cinderellas headed the sweet 16 are selected. There's even a first-round upset you know isn't going to happen but just had to take anyway.
Now it's time to start watching NCAA Men's Tournament games — and seriously scouting for your favorite NBA team for the draft. NBA teams are way ahead of you; they have already done much of their work (they care more about interviews and medical reports from the NBA Draft Combine, as well as individual workouts, than the tournament games). That said, players can help or hurt themselves in the tournament, especially late first-round and second-round picks.
If you're an NBA fan watching a ton of games this week, here are 15 names to keep an eye on.
Cameron Boozer, Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
Cameron Boozer has lived up to the hype — 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game, leading the Blue Devils to the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Scouts have noticed, and Boozer is firmly ensconced in the top tier of this draft and is almost certainly going to be taken in the top three. Watch him against Sienna on Thursday and you'll see a polished player who is just good at everything: Shooting (with 3-point range), rebounding, setting picks, using angles, passing, all of it.
Cameron Boozer went off in his final regular season game against UNC
Boozer is the biggest name, but he's not the only guy getting drafted out of Duke this year. Also, keep an eye on Patrick Ngongba II, the Blue Devils' 6'11" center. There are teams that like Ngongba's defensive presence in the paint and his passing skills as a big man. However, he is a divisive prospect because he's not an explosive leaper, leading to questions about his ability to rebound and finish at the rim at the next level. That will matter less in the next few weeks, and he is going to get drafted in the first round because of what he can be as a defensive big man.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara, Michigan
You should get plenty of chances to watch this trio over the next few weeks, as the No. 1-seeded Wolverines expect a deep tournament run (they are my pick to win it all).
Michigan has been one of the best teams in the league because of their depth of talent — and their big man have skill. That starts with Yaxel Lendeborg, the 6'9" Big 10 Player of the Year. He plays bigger than his size because of his 7'4" wingspan and has the kind of versatility NBA teams crave: He can handle the ball some on the perimeter, and he can also defend guards out there for a stretch. The only reason he is projected as a mid-first-round pick is because he will be 24 before he sets foot on an NBA court.
Then there is Morez Johnson Jr., another 6'9" big man with a long wingspan (7'2"). Johnson has climbed up draft boards as the season wore on because he plays hard and he's strong, allowing him to defend in the post. While he's averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds a game for Michigan and shooting 63.5%, he's not seen as a scorer at the next level, but he can score enough in the paint to be part of a big man rotation in the NBA next year. Then there is 7'3" Aday Mara, whose shot blocking has him in the mix for a late first/early second round selection (if he stays in the draft). Mara plays a high-IQ game and is a good passer, but his hands and foot speed have him going later than one might expect.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Peterson is must-watch — he's an incredible shot creator, the best playmaker in this class and he's averaging 19.9 points a game while shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc. Peterson may have missed time this year — and teams want to see his medical reports out of the NBA Draft Combine — but he is too dynamic to pass up, both for teams lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery and for fans watching the NCAA Tournament. He may very well go No. 1.
Another must-watch player — he was No. 1 in the first NBC Sports Mock Draft of the season. Dybantsa is averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, but what has NBA front offices drooling is that he's maybe the best athlete in the draft as a 6'9" wing player, the archetype most in demand around the NBA right now. Dybantsa can get downhill, create space and hit tough shots when needed. He has great footwork for a young player, and a comfort level shooting contested shots. He will be put to the test in BYU's opener against Texas or NC State (whichever team comes out of the first four game Tuesday).
Mikel Brown, Ryan Conwell, Louisville
I am higher on Brown than the consensus and have him going No. 6 overall in the first NBC Sports Mock Draft of the year (pretty much every team has him going in the top nine). The 6'4" point guard is built for the NBA game with its more spaced out floor and shooters all around him. Brown is very skilled as a scorer and shot creator, and he should show that off against South Florida in the Cardinals' opener.
Conwell is a strong guard who can bully his way in the paint and finish, plus he can drain the 3. Conwell (who played at Xavier before Louisville) is a 22-year-old senior projected as a mid-second-round pick, but a strong showing in the tournament could help boost his stock.
Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
Houston's got a number of players who could be taken at one point during the draft, but these are the two must-watch guys — and for very different reasons. Kingston Flemings, the team's 6'4" point guard, has steadily climbed up draft boards this season as he has shown an explosive first step and ability to get around people and to the rim. He's averaging 16.5 points and 5.4 assists a game, and is shooting 37.6% from 3-point range. We have Flemings going fifth in the NBC Sports Mock Draft.
Chris Cenac Jr. has scouts divided, and he could go anywhere from the late lottery to the 20s. He's 6'10" and very athletic, he's shown off a nice jumper at points, and he's thriving in his role with the Cougars. He also doesn't get to the line very often and is not a shot blocker despite his size. Will he be able to fill that same role as a rim-running big man in the NBA? Will he go pro or decide to spend another year developing in college, then go pro? Watch and decide for yourself what he should do.
Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
Darius Acuff Jr. is just a fun player to watch. Acuff can play on or off the ball, has a high motor, a good shot and a high basketball IQ. He is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, he is an old-school true point guard who is a great floor general but can also get a team a bucket. What keeps him out of the very top of this draft is his size (6'2") and the fact that he is the worst defender of any player in the lottery.
Meleek Thomas is the Razorback's other guard, and he's shown he is an explosive scorer in transition, can get to the rim and has a nice floater game. That said, most teams have him in the second round (or at best, late first), which means the 19-year-old likely will return to college for another year, but watch him because he is going to the NBA at some point.
Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Arizona
Brayden Burries is a little old school. He isn't flashy, but he is well-rounded and efficient, which has made him one of the real risers in this draft class. He can play on and off the ball, knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers, attack closeouts, and get downhill off screens, with a midrange pull-up game. He has a lot of fans in NBA front offices.
Peat is a bit divisive among those same front offices, and drafting him would be a bet on a team's player development staff. There's a lot to like, Peat is 6'8" and physical, he hits the boards hard, can do some playmaking and has enough versatility to keep teams interested. He is averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The question mark is his jump shot, he hit just 31.6% from 3-point range this season. A player of his size and skillset has to hit the 3 in the NBA. If he learns to do it consistently, he will earn his likely late lottery selection.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on March 15, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons will square off with the Washington Wizards in back-to-back games. Detroit looks to improve its road record as Washington hosts the matchups.
Detroit remains the one seed in the Eastern Conference after an uneven last 10 games. They are 3.5 games over on the Boston Celtics, who are getting healthier.
With 15 games remaining in the regular season, Detroit controls its own path to the top seed and homecourt advantage throughout the East side of the bracket. Take care of the Wizards to keep the separation.
Game Vitals
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
When: 7:00 PM
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-17.5)
Analysis
Homecourt should be something the Pistons strive to keep. They are a young, energetic, chaotic group that thrives on punishing opponents. Detroit isn’t a high-powered offensive group with loads of playoff experience.
When you are behind the eight-ball offensively and a lesser-experienced group, leaning on your fans in the postseason is a needed advantage. Homecourt advantage doesn’t guarantee playoff success, but it’s not easy for opponents to play in front of a ruckus Detroit crowd.
With the 22nd hardest schedule remaining, Detroit has a clear path to stay No. 1. The Celtics have the eighth hardest schedule and ground to make up to catch Detroit. In reality, you still have to play and win the games no matter who’s on the schedule.
Detroit might have gotten a look at the Wizards with Trae Young, but he exited last night’s game with a right quad contusion. One would think Young could bring some offensive juice to the Wizards when they are trying to compete.
Washington will be without Kyshawn George and Anthony Davis. Those two will be integral pieces for them moving forward. Alex Sarr may be their most intriguing piece, but he hasn’t played 25 minutes in a game since early February. It’s hard to gauge how much he’ll play on a nightly basis due to Washington having its eyes set on the draft.
Detroit isn’t fully whole with Isaiah Stewart out with a calf strain. Ausar Thompson being back in the lineup is major, but losing Stew is a huge loss. They’ll need him healthy and sharp for the postseason.
Games against the Grizzlies, Nets, and now Wizards are opportunities for the others to get going. It’s common knowledge how teams will defend Cade Cunningham in the playoffs. Teams are going to attempt to force others to beat them by throwing multiple bodies at Cade consistently, so the others will have opportunities to take advantage.
Tobias Harris did in the Toronto Raptors L. Those corner 3s can swing the momentum in a playoff game. The shooters need to provide more. Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter can bounce back against a Wizards team that allows guys to build confidence.
Before the snipers in Detroit start flowing, the Pistons need to do what got them here. Toronto out-hustled Detroit in the last outing. Dominating on the glass and on the paint are staples in Detroit’s success this year. Get back to doing what got you here and continue the homecourt quest.
