Category: Basketball

No surprises in New York: the Knicks are one of the better teams in the East, the Wizards one of the worst. The Knicks want to win, the Wizards have every incentive to lose. The result: a 145-113 walloping that gave New York their fifth straight victory and Washington a 16th consecutive defeat.

That losing streak ties the franchise record for sustained futility, which was set last March…when the team was also trying to lose to increase their chances of getting a high draft pick. They ended up drafting sixth and selecting Tre Johnson.

Up next for the Wizards, a theoretically winnable game against the Utah Jazz. In recent years, the Jazz have been league leaders in tanking shenanigans. This season, they have the NBA’s fifth worst record and have already likely taken themselves out of the running for bottom three status.

This one ran true to expectations. The Wizards were short-handed due to injuries, “injuries,” and Justin Champagnie’s suspension for his role in the fight with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks were better from opening tip and progressively ground their way to a steadily increasing margin. Washington went on a run early in the second quarter to briefly tie the game, but were quickly slapped aside by the business-like Knicks.

As would be expected for an undersized and undermanned squad — the 6-8 Anthony Gill played 26 minutes at center — the Wizards got pummeled on the boards. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson combined for 26 rebounds — just two short of Washington’s total for the game.

Thoughts & Observations

• Knicks broadcaster Walt Frazier wore an amazing ensemble, even by his lofty standards for the outlandish. I started writing a description, but it would take more than a thousand words. I’m not sure we have enough words in English to do it justice. So, click to see it for yourself.
• The Knicks opened the game with Jalen Brunson on Bilal Coulibaly. The Wizards went straight to Coulibaly, who promptly committed an offensive foul by pushing off with his forearm. Cue sad trombone sound effect.
• The Knicks ran a high pick-and-roll with Towns screening for Brunson. For some reason, Vukcevic was so deep in the paint, he was standing nearly under the basket. Brunson drilled a wide open three. My instinct on this based on the personnel involved is that Vukcevic should have been at the level of the screen. Another possibility is that the Wizards coaches have decided Vukcevic can’t play anything but deep drop. If so, his usefulness when the team wants to win will be greatly diminished.
• Midway through the first quarter, the Wizards challenged a blocking foul called on Vukcevic. The official review upheld the call, as it should have based on current rules. I think that rule should be adjusted, though. While Vukcevic was still moving, he was sliding laterally and got to that spot well before Towns arrived. The collision was caused by Towns plowing through the spot. I’d love to see the rulebook acknowledge that defenders have a right to exist in space on the basketball court.
• An example of good play/system design by Brian Keefe came at 5:51 of the first quarter. The set involved a pindown for Coulibaly, which morphed instantly into a pick-and-roll. Coulibaly attacked Brunson, driving into the paint and converting a layup.
• A recurring note basically all season: I’m tired of seeing Bub Carrington (and nearly everyone else) bring the ball across halfcourt and immediately put up a three without making a pass or running an action.
• A bit of Knicks trivia: Mike Brown got his 500th win in the previous game. He’s the 10th fastest coach to 500 wins in NBA history. The top nine: Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, KC Jones, Greg Popovich, Steve Kerr, Don Nelson, Chuck Daly, Red Auerbach, and George Karl.
• Wizards rookie Jamir Watkins had several strong defensive possessions on Brunson, including some superb ball denial. He probably should have been called for a foul a few times, but the refs let some contact go.
• The Knicks scored 68 points in the first half while attempting just 10 threes.
• At one point, Knicks play-by-play man Mike Breen said Leaky Black had been a superb defender in college. Not sure I believe that based on what I’ve seen at the NBA level, though Black did have a handful of good defensive plays last night.
• From the notebook: Jaden Hardy is a bucket — good shooter; aggressive offensively — 11 minutes, 14 points. He finished with 25 points in 29 minutes. While I like the offense, he needs to do more out there to earn significant playing time.
• Josh Hart was 3-3 from three-point range. He’s now made his last nine threes in a row. The Knicks record is 10 consecutive makes. The NBA record is 13.
• Gill tied his career high with 18 points. He reached 18 twice before — both in 2023.
• Knicks guard Tyler Kolek scored 11 points in garbage time. Earlier in the day, he had 42 points and 11 assists in a game for the G-League Westchester Knicks. That’s 53 points and 12 assists combined between the two leagues/games on the day.
• This was Washington’s second worst defensive performance of the season. The worst was their 146-101 drubbing by the Boston Celtics.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	WIZARDS	KNICKS	LGAVG
eFG%	58.4%	67.6%	54.4%
OREB%	18.6%	39.4%	26.1%
TOV%	13.9%	13.9%	12.8%
FTM/FGA	0.101	0.191	0.207
PACE	100		99.3
ORTG	113	144	115.5

esigned for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Jaden Hardy	29	61	131	25.5%	2.5	130	-12
Anthony Gill	26	55	135	21.5%	2.4	130	-20
Sharife Cooper	29	61	132	15.6%	1.6	105	-23
Bilal Coulibaly	29	61	86	24.5%	-4.4	74	-21
Bub Carrington	34	72	109	22.6%	-1.0	62	-33
Tristan Vukcevic	15	32	133	27.5%	1.5	98	-14
Will Riley	29	62	105	18.2%	-1.2	41	-16
Jamir Watkins	31	64	78	14.3%	-3.5	32	-20
Leaky Black	17	35	104	8.3%	-0.3	57	-1

KNICKS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Karl-Anthony Towns	26	54	165	29.8%	7.9	316	16
Josh Hart	28	58	150	18.9%	3.8	219	24
Mitchell Robinson	17	35	223	13.0%	4.9	315	14
Jose Alvarado	16	34	161	20.5%	3.2	261	2
Mikal Bridges	30	62	141	16.6%	2.6	117	28
Jalen Brunson	28	59	118	30.0%	0.5	108	24
Jordan Clarkson	23	48	143	13.6%	1.8	125	3
Mohamed Diawara	20	41	160	15.4%	2.8	130	3
OG Anunoby	29	61	77	15.9%	-3.8	-26	13
Tyler Kolek	5	11	293	27.5%	5.5	860	6
Jeremy Sochan	8	17	193	25.8%	3.5	379	9
Ariel Hukporti	3	7	52	16.8%	-0.8	-38	6
Dillon Jones	3	7	0	9.9%	-0.8	-194	6
Pacome Dadiet	3	7	0	19.9%	-1.7	-257	6

So long, upsets, and goodnight Cinderella.

Goodnight, Hubert Davis? Maybe in a day or two.

Goodnight, Mark Pope? Wait 'til 2027 on that one.

Although blue-bloods North Carolina, Kentucky and UCLA are mired in misery, most of the big dogs march on in March. Cinderella's glass slipper shattered after the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Well, except for Iowa. The Hawkeyes retained a slipper.

March Madness scores: Buzzer-beater, monster upset and more nail-biters

What to make of the mostly chalky first two rounds?

Well, the easy and perhaps most relevant explanation is NIL and transfer free agency mostly benefited Power conference brands, at the expense of mid-majors. Plus, this is a particularly good freshman class, and Power programs tend to gobble up the five-star prospects. With so many five-stars (see Cameron Boozer and Darius Acuff) playing up to their billing, that’s a boon for the high majors, because blue-chippers don't sign with mid-majors.

Also, this year’s bubble was particularly weak. The wheat separated from the chaff. A soft bubble is good for frontrunners.

Quiet tournament for upsets, but all eyes on Final Four

Does a relative lack of major upsets amount to a boring tournament? That depends on your perspective. If your interest in March Madness mostly hinges on upsets and bracket-busting stunners, then this tournament isn’t for you.

On the other hand, the favorites also ruled last year’s tournament, but that created an epic Final Four featuring three great games, on the heels of some Sweet 16 and Elite Eight thrillers.

In other words: Stay tuned. The tournament should get better as it goes.

If you’re hungry for upsets, though, here are three possibilities for the Sweet 16:

Four Sweet 16 games with upset potential

No. 4 Arkansas over No. 1 Arizona

Arizona is the most complete team in the bracket, with five starters who each average in double digits, plus two bench players who started on last year’s team that reached the Sweet 16.

So, why the upset potential? Well, because Arkansas is playing as well as anyone the past few weeks. John Calipari’s team hasn’t lost this month, and Acuff is becoming one of the top individual stories of the tournament. Asked about Acuff’s 36-point barrage in the second-round win over High Point, Calipari said, “What you saw is what he be’s.”

I’m not sure if that’s grammatically correct, but his point resonates, nonetheless.

No. 6 Tennessee over No. 2 Iowa State

Rick Barnes’ two best NCAA Tournament finishes at Tennessee came the past two seasons. Now, he's trying for a third consecutive Elite Eight. If Tennessee plays defense like it did in wins against Miami (Ohio) and Virginia, it’ll position itself to pull off the mild upset.

Never mind the seeds, because KenPom metrics would tell you Tennessee is closer to a 3-seed or a 4-seed. Iowa State has been under-manned without star scorer Joshua Jefferson. He's dealing with an ankle injury. Of course, if Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic play like they did against Kentucky, Iowa State might be just fine.

No. 5 St. John's over No. 1 Duke

Kentucky might be interested in what Rick Pitino has achieved these past two seasons at St. John's. His Red Storm have won 21 of their past 22 games.

Duke hasn't looked particularly stout in this tournament, and the ACC appears to be a fraud.

Pitino has St. John's into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, after winning 31 games last season. The more Pitino wins, the more Big Blue Nation will wish he'd never left "Camelot."

Final Four picks: Be skeptical of Duke

This much we know: We won't see a repeat of all four 1-seeds in the Final Four, not after Florida went down to Iowa. Duke might be next.

If basing an evaluation on the tournament’s first two rounds, you might think Michigan or Arizona or Houston was the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. Duke didn’t perform like the No. 1 overall seed in either of its wins against Siena or TCU, and the sharpest teeth of the East Region still awaits.

An early scare or two is not a doomsday scenario. Last year, Florida got pushed to the brink by UConn in the second round before rallying. The Gators also trailed Texas Tech by nine points with less than three minutes remaining in the Elite Eight, but Walter Clayton Jr. refused to let Florida fall.

Point being, Duke's scare against Siena could become nothing more than a minor footnote for the Blue Devils, and yet I’d trust Duke more if they had a clutch veteran guard like Florida had in Clayton in 2025. I'd also trust Duke more if it didn't have to face a scorching-hot St. John's team, led by a veteran coach who's a shark in March.

On Selection Sunday, I picked a Final Four of Michigan State, Arizona, Michigan and Houston. All four teams looked good through two rounds. No reason to change those picks.

Put it in Sharpie: Michigan State. Arizona. Michigan. Houston.

National championship: Arizona beats Houston

I highlighted Arkansas-Arizona as a potential Sweet 16 upset, but I'm picking the Wildcats to survive and overcome their history of March Madness fizzles, which plagued this program for the past quarter-century.

History aside, there’s nothing to dislike about Arizona. I subscribe to the cliche old guards win in March, and Jaden Bradley is an excellent engine for Arizona at point guard. The Wildcats balance Bradley's experience with an excellent counterpart in freshman guard Brayden Burries. Add in a frontcourt that’s unmatched, and you see why Arizona is 34-2, despite playing a tough schedule.

As for Houston, I'm impressed by the guts of point guard Kingston Flemings, the big-game experience of Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler, and the savvy of coach Kelvin Sampson. Nobody in the South Region plays better defense than Houston. The Cougars should benefit from playing the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in Houston, too.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA bracket predictions: Sweet 16 upsets, updated Final Four picks

What a way to end the first weekend of March Madness.

After a mostly tame opening round of the men’s NCAA Tournament, the second round absolutely cooked. Whether it was the outstanding performances, thrilling finishes and shocking upsets, Saturday and Sunday truly brought the unexpected to set the stage for an exciting Sweet 16.

It’s tough to pick which moments were the best since there were so many to choose from the two days, but these ones stood out as ones we’ll remember from this year’s tournament.

The fight to make it to the Sweet 16 provided some all-time moments. Here are the best ones from the 16 games of the second round:

Iowa stuns defending champion Florida 

It starts with the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

The defending champions will not get to keep their crown after Iowa sent Florida home packing early. The Hawkeyes controlled the majority of the game but the Gators stormed back to take a late lead, looking like they would survive.

However, Iowa didn’t falter. It stuck around until the very end, when Alvaro Folgueiras knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer with four seconds left. What makes it even sweeter is Folgueiras honors his late father with every bucket, and he pointed to the sky after he hit the shot that will live in Iowa history forever, sending his team to its first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Folgueiras also hit the shot in front of his mom, who hadn’t seen him play for Iowa in two years.

“This one is for her and my dad,” he said. “He's watching up there.”

Texas clutch shot from Camden Heide

Camden Heide picked the best time to score his first points of the second round.

After not recording a single point for 39 minutes against Gonzaga, Heide came in with the Longhorns up one point in the final seconds. Texas needed a bucket to avoid a Bulldogs win, and Heide got the ball in the corner and drilled a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left for the dagger in the upset.

Truly saved the best for last.

Nebraska beats Vanderbilt in a thriller

You would’ve thought it was a national championship game with the environment in Oklahoma City.

Perhaps the game of the year so far, Nebraska and Vanderbilt played a thrilling back-and-forth affair that captivated everyone watching, and it ended with a spectacular finish. Braden Frager drove down the lane for a go-ahead bucket with two seconds left. All that was needed was to avoid a Vanderbilt game-winner, and oh how close it came to happen.

Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner heaved the ball from halfcourt as the buzzer sounded and the ball looked like it was going inside the bucket, but it bounced out, putting everyone in disbelief on how it didn’t go in.

It was the perfect ending to what was a near-perfect game.

Darius Acuff Jr.-Rob Martin duel

March is where stars are made, and an established one and new one emerged in a classic fun battle in Portland.

Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and High Point’s Rob Martin put on a show in the second round, putting their teams on their back in an exciting contest. Acuff, a projected lottery pick, dropped 36 points and Martin cemented himself as a star with a 30 point effort against the SEC champions.

What was incredible is their performance in the clutch. They accounted for a combined 31 points in the last 12 minutes of the game, capped off by Acuff’s nine points in the final three minutes. An entertaining battle between elite playmakers.

St. John’s buzzer-beater

We knew we were getting a hall of famer coaching matchup in St. John’s vs. Kansas, and the teams went down to the wire, capped by an amazing finish.

Tied at 65 with 3.9 seconds to go, St. John’s guard Dylan Darling raced down the basket and avoided the Jayhawks defenders to sink a layup as the buzzer sounded for the win in an amazing battle.

What made it even better was Darling called for the play himself, and it paid off.

“The play coach was trying to run, there wasn't enough time for it. I threw the suggestion out, and I don't think Coach really had a choice at that point in time.” he said. “So we went with it, and I probably don't deserve this. I was pretty bad all night long, but my teammates held it down tonight.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness best moments of Round 2 include upsets, buzzer beaters

BOSTON — Riding a four-game winning streak and facing a Minnesota Timberwolves team without Anthony Edwards, the Boston Celtics had momentum on their side. But circumstances only meant so much in Sunday night’s 102-92 loss at TD Garden.

In Edwards’ absence, the Celtics faced a challenge that Jaylen Brown admitted they failed to meet.

“They were physical. They played fast,” Brown said. “They definitely upped the level of intensity, and we didn’t necessarily meet the challenge. So that’s what the story of the game was. We got to be better. We got to be ready for that, and that’s uncharacteristic of us. We’re usually the harder-playing team, and tonight Minnesota was.”

The Timberwolves quickly rebounded from a 6-of-23 shooting performance in the first quarter by settling in before halftime. Maintaining their physical defensive presence, Minnesota turned the tables on Boston in the second quarter, outscoring the Celtics, 33-21. Backup guard Bones Hyland took charge of the Timberwolves’ offense, matching his season-high 23 points as he continued to lead in the second half. He nearly outscored Boston’s entire bench, which managed just 26 points on 34 percent shooting.

Minnesota’s strategy of smothering Boston’s offense held up long enough to swing the game. Five minutes into the third quarter, the Celtics built a nine-point lead. That didn’t hold up. In the fourth, Boston managed an 81-78 edge two minutes in, which proved to be their last real chance to gain control. That didn’t hold up either, as less than five minutes later, the Celtics were trailing the Timberwolves by 12.

“They started off the game with one coverage and then switched and we weren’t alert enough or they went smaller,” Brown said. “They tried to blow up hand-offs and then the second quarter we just was too lackadaisical with the ball. I was too lackadaisical with the ball, and we just wasn’t good enough. It’s definitely a game you look back and, you know, wish you could have some possessions back, because I feel like you’re in a position to win that game. But yeah, we didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight.”

Boston’s 15-point fourth quarter on 5-of-27 shooting was a season-worst.

Seven of Boston’s 11 turnovers came in the second quarter, and they were all committed by the starting unit.

“We learn from it and move on,” Brown said.

Beyond Hyland’s 23 points, Minnesota’s bench dominated Boston’s. The Timberwolves’ reserves outscored the Celtics bench, 40-26, providing steady offensive firepower that Boston’s starters couldn’t muster all night. Mazzulla credited Minnesota’s second unit, calling them the game’s difference makers

“That unit, in the second quarter and the fourth quarter, was the difference in the game,” Mazzulla said.

Disruption plagued the Celtics. Jayson Tatum attempted just four shots in the first half, Sam Hauser and Derrick White combined for 1-of-8 from three, and eight players — including two starters — failed to record a single trip to the free-throw line.

“It messed up the timing of our offense, messed up us getting the ball in the scoring area,” Mazzulla said. “I thought that it impacted our screening. It impacted our creating advantages, so I thought that was the tale of the fourth quarter from an offensive standpoint.”

Mazzulla didn’t question Boston’s effort, though he acknowledged that the Celtics were outmatched physically

“I thought they were more physical, and there’s a difference there,” Mazzulla said. “You look at the entire game, to me, it comes down to we go up nine in the third quarter and they cut it to one, and then the fourth quarter. I thought in spots of the game they were more physical, but both teams play hard.”

There was one unique bright spot on the night. When Mazzulla pulled the starters and emptied the bench for the final 1:45 of regulation, Max Shulga’s layup marked only the fourth basket the Celtics made in the period. Shulga, who had scored 12 points for Boston’s G League affiliate in Maine just hours earlier, became the first player in NBA history to score in both a G League game and an NBA game on the same day.

It's been a long time since the Big Ten has won the Men's NCAA Tournament.

Since 2000, to be exact.

But the Big Ten is winning this NCAA Tournament.

March Madness conference records: Big Ten is 13-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

The Big Ten is 13-3 through the first two rounds and have six teams in the Sweet 16, one shy of the record set by the SEC last year. UCLA had a chance to equal that mark, but lost late Sunday night to No. 2 seed UConn.

Three of the four teams left in the South Region are from the Big Ten, so there's a 75% chance one of them will reach the Final Four.

Iowa, who stunned No. 1 Florida in the second round, plays Big Ten brethren and neighbor Nebraska in Thursday's Sweet 16 game in Houston. It marks only the second All-Big Ten Sweet 16 game in history, per CBS, and the first since 1980, when Purdue and Indiana met.

The Big Ten has won three straight football national championships, maybe it's time the good times extend to the hardwood.

Big Ten teams in 2026 Sweet 16

• No. 1 Michigan (Midwest)
• No. 2 Purdue (West)
• No 3 Michigan State (East)
• No. 3 Illinois (South)
• No. 4 Nebraska (South)
• No. 9 Iowa (South)

Sweet 16 teams by conference: Who has most?

• Big Ten: 6
• SEC: 4
• Big 12: 3
• Big East: 2
• ACC: 1

Conference records in 2026 March Madness

Conference	Record
Big Ten	13-3
SEC	12-6
Big 12	9-5
Big East	4-1
ACC	5-7

Who is in Sweet 16? March Madness Sweet 16 schedule, game times

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

• 7:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas (West), CBS
• 7:30 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa (South), TBS/truTV
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas (West), CBS
• 10:05 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois (South), TBS/truTV

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

• 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's (East), CBS
• 7:35 p.m.: Texas Tech/Alabama winner vs. No. 1 Michigan (Midwest), TBS/truTV
• 9:45 p.m.: UCLA/UConn winner vs. No. 3 Michigan State (East), CBS
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Midwest), TBS/truTV

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many Big Ten teams in Sweet 16? Big 10's March Madness record

By Mike Barner, RotoWire.com

Navigating the fantasy basketball playoffs requires a sharp edge, and understanding the weekly NBA schedule can make all the difference. With most teams playing three or four games in Week 22, maximizing volume through smart streaming and lineup decisions is key. Identifying favorable matchups, pace environments and defensive weaknesses can help fantasy managers uncover hidden value and gain an advantage. This breakdown highlights the top streaming teams, players to target and schedule quirks to exploit, helping you optimize your roster and stay competitive as the fantasy basketball season reaches its most critical stretch.

Days with fewer than six games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

Tuesday, March 24: SAC at CHA, NO at NYK, ORL at CLE, DEN at PHX

Thursday, March 26: NYK at CHA, NO at DET, SAC at ORL

Teams with more than three games this week

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season

Hawks (4), Nets (4), Hornets (4), Bulls (4), Nuggets (4), Pistons (4), Warriors (4), Rockets (4), Pacers (4), Clippers (4), Grizzlies (4), Heat (4), Bucks (4), Pelicans (4), Thunder (4), Magic (4), Trail Blazers (4), Kings (4), Raptors (4), Jazz (4)

Teams with fewer than three games this week

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:

Timberwolves (2), Suns (2)

Top Streaming Teams This Week

Golden State Warriors

at DAL, vs. BKN, vs. WAS, at DEN

Talk about a great schedule for the Warriors. They begin the week facing three tanking teams. Over their last 10 games, the Mavericks, Nets and Wizards all rank inside the bottom 10 in the league in defensive rating. The Mavericks and Wizards also rank inside the top five in pace of play during that span. Another huge positive for the Warriors is that none of these games are part of a back-to-back set.

There was a recent report that Stephen Curry (knee) is expected to be re-evaluated Tuesday. However, that doesn't mean he will play in any of these four games. Even if he does return, it might not be until the end of the week. Continue to expect increased production from Brandin Podziemski and De'Anthony Melton. Considering there are no back-to-back games, we could also see four games from Kristaps Porziņģis, who recently torched the Wizards for 30 points.

Houston Rockets

at CHI, at MIN, at MEM, at NO

The Rockets begin the week with a terrific matchup against the Bulls, who play at the fourth-fastest pace and have the eighth-worst defensive rating in the league. The Timberwolves can shine on defense, but the Grizzlies and Pelicans also rank inside the bottom 10 in defensive rating. Like the Warriors, none of the Rockets' games next week will be part of a back-to-back set, which is especially important for the 37-year-old Kevin Durant.

The Rockets lean heavily on their starters. Amen Thompson averages 37 minutes a game, Durant 36 minutes, Jabari Smith Jr. 35 minutes and Alperen Şengün plays 33 minutes a night. The four-game week should also provide a boost for the likes of Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard. Sheppard continues to be a great source of 3-pointers, with him averaging 2.7 of them a night.

Portland Trail Blazers

vs. BKN, vs. MIL, vs. DAL, vs. WAS

The Trail Blazers will face four teams that are looking on the outside of the playoff hunt. They also all rank inside the bottom 10 in defensive rating over their last 10 games. As good as the schedule is, the first game of the week against the Nets on Monday might be tricky. The Trail Blazers played Sunday in Denver, so we'll need to be mindful of possible rest days for some of their starters. The Trail Blazers are fighting for playoff positioning, though, so they might not sit anyone.

Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan could be fantasy forces with this favorable schedule. Jrue Holiday should also be started in all formats. Monitor for updates on Jerami Grant (foot), who did not play Sunday. As far as viable streamers go, Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson have upside. We might only get three games from Robert Williams III, who hasn't been playing both halves of back-to-back sets.

Los Angeles Clippers

vs. MIL, vs. TOR, at IND, at MIL

Playing two games against the Bucks is a major boost for all players on the Clippers. The Pacers have also been awful, posting the worst defensive rating in the NBA over their last 10 games. The only negative matchup is the Raptors, who rank eighth in defensive rating for the season. Some more good news for Leonard and company is that none of the four games will be played on consecutive days.

No back-to-back games could be key for Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland. Leonard has battled an ankle injury lately, while Garland has been receiving rest days for his toe. They have the potential to play four games each. Bennedict Mathurin (toe) missed the team's recent road trip and has been ruled out for Monday, so at best, he will only play three times. John Collins should be started in most formats, while Kris Dunn can help fantasy managers with steals.

Less than 2 weeks ago, Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat were the talk of the NBA. An 83 point performance that put Adebayo in the record books also happened to coincide with a 7 game win streak that’s kept them right in the thick of things out East as the season winds down. Since Adebayo’s historic night though they’ve gone a paltry 1-4, including two losses to two teams that they’re fighting for positioning with in the standings. Currently the 9th seed with 11 games left in the regular season, the Heat have just 1 less win than the current 5th seed Toronto Raptors.

Meanwhile for the Spurs, the possibility of 60 wins remains alive and well. Currently holding a 7 game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2nd seed and still just 3 games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio might just be locked into that 2nd spot. Even with six of their next seven on the road, there’s a good chance they could wrap that race up very soon. Once that happens, the focus can be entirely on health and fine-tuning for the franchise’s first postseason run in a very long time.

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San Antonio Spurs (53-18) vs Miami Heat (38-33)
March 23 2026 | 6:00 PM CT
Watch: Peacock, FDSS | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Stephon Castle, hip (day to day), Devin Vassell, hamstring (day to day), David Jones-Garcia, OUT

Heat Injuries: Andrew Wiggins, toe (day to day), Jaime Jaquez Jr, hip (day to day), Norman Powell, calf (day to day)

What to watch for

• While he’s obviously not averaging 83 points a night, Bam Adebayo has nonetheless had a phenomenal season. He’s hit at least the 20 point mark in his last 11 games and is second on the Heat in scoring this season, behind only Tyler Herro. He’s coming off a 32 point, 21 rebound game in a loss to the Houston Rockets, a game in which he played 45 minutes. Adebayo is the bedrock of an elite Miami defense, shutting off driving lanes with his quickness and providing solid rim protection. With Victor Wembanyama playing some of the best basketball of his career, the potential for a classic confrontation is there.
• No one plays faster than Miami, averaging nearly 104 possessions per game this year. They like to push the ball in transition while leaning on a defense that’s just outside the top 5 (6th in defensive rating) to stifle opposing offenses and force them into turnovers to fuel their offensive attack. San Antonio, who are no slouches themselves when it comes to pushing the tempo and playing elite defense, protect the basketball as well as any team in the Association, but there’s always a chance for things to get ugly on the road. Keeping turnovers down and cleaning the defensive glass will be key in limiting the Miami offense.
• Dylan Harper took full advantage of his first career start, tying a career-high 24 points in Saturday’s win against the Pacers on a super-efficient 9/13 from the field. With Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell potentially out once again for this one, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mitch Johnson give the impressive rookie the starting nod once again tonight. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has more than a few great options to throw at San Antonio’s wings, but Harper and the rest of his teammates should be up to the task The 20 year old Harper has scored in double figures nine times since the All Star break.

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If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

New Orleans Pelicans (25-47, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (47-25, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New York will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Knicks play New Orleans.

The Knicks are 26-9 on their home court. New York is 8-4 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Pelicans have gone 9-25 away from home. New Orleans is 14-21 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 13.5 turnovers per game.

The Knicks score 117.2 points per game, 2.0 fewer points than the 119.2 the Pelicans allow. The Pelicans average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 fewer made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Knicks allow.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Knicks won the last matchup 130-125 on Dec. 30, with Jalen Brunson scoring 28 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.2 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 20.4 points over the last 10 games.

Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 117.6 points, 48.7 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.

Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 117.9 points, 45.3 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 9.5 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.7 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Landry Shamet: day to day (knee), Miles McBride: out (ankle).

Pelicans: Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Sacramento Kings (19-53, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (37-34, 10th in the Eastern Conference)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte hosts Sacramento aiming to extend its three-game home winning streak.

The Hornets have gone 17-17 in home games. Charlotte is eighth in the league allowing just 112.1 points per game while holding opponents to 46.7% shooting.

The Kings are 6-28 on the road. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 3.4 percentage points lower than the 49.4% the Kings allow to opponents. The Kings average 10.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.6 fewer made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Hornets allow.

The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Hornets defeated the Kings 117-109 in their last matchup on March 12. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 30 points, and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 39 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ball is averaging 19.7 points and 7.1 assists for the Hornets. Kon Knueppel is averaging 18.2 points over the last 10 games.

Maxime Raynaud is averaging 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Kings. DeRozan is averaging 17.6 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 7-3, averaging 116.6 points, 45.1 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.1 points per game.

Kings: 5-5, averaging 115.7 points, 45.5 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.6 points.

INJURIES: Hornets: Tidjane Salaun: day to day (calf).

Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Russell Westbrook: day to day (foot), Killian Hayes: day to day (toe), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Isaiah Stevens: day to day (ankle), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), Daeqwon Plowden: day to day (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Denver Nuggets (44-28, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (40-32, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets visit Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in Western Conference action.

The Suns are 25-20 in Western Conference games. Phoenix is at the bottom of the Western Conference scoring 42.5 points per game in the paint.

The Nuggets have gone 26-16 against Western Conference opponents. Denver is fourth in the Western Conference with 33.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Jokic averaging 9.7.

The Suns average 14.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the Nuggets allow. The Nuggets score 9.8 more points per game (120.8) than the Suns give up to opponents (111.0).

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Nuggets won 130-112 in the last meeting on Nov. 30. Jokic led the Nuggets with 26 points, and Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 27 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Booker is scoring 25.5 points per game with 3.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 23.5 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 45.6% over the past 10 games.

Jamal Murray is averaging 25.1 points and 7.1 assists for the Nuggets. Jokic is averaging 25.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 113.7 points, 39.7 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.2 points per game.

Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 123.0 points, 43.7 rebounds, 31.4 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.3 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot), Haywood Highsmith: day to day (knee), Royce O'Neale: day to day (knee), Amir Coffey: day to day (ankle).

Nuggets: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Brooklyn Nets (17-54, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (35-37, ninth in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Monday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trail Blazers -14.5; over/under is 219.5

BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn hits the road against Portland looking to stop its three-game road losing streak.

The Trail Blazers are 18-16 on their home court. Portland ranks ninth in the Western Conference with 31.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Donovan Clingan averaging 7.1.

The Nets have gone 8-28 away from home. Brooklyn is the worst team in the Eastern Conference scoring averaging just 106.4 points per game while shooting 44.3%.

The Trail Blazers are shooting 45.1% from the field this season, 4.2 percentage points lower than the 49.3% the Nets allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 106.4 points per game, 10.8 fewer points than the 117.2 the Trail Blazers give up.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Trail Blazers won 114-95 in the last meeting on March 16. Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 18 points, and Chaney Johnson led the Nets with 17 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Avdija is scoring 24.2 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 17.1 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 52.3% over the last 10 games.

Danny Wolf is averaging 8.9 points for the Nets. Tyson Etienne is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 114.1 points, 48.1 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 8.5 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points per game.

Nets: 2-8, averaging 103.8 points, 39.9 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant: day to day (calf), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Vit Krejci: day to day (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

Nets: Noah Clowney: day to day (wrist), Danny Wolf: day to day (ankle), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out (hamstring), Nic Claxton: day to day (rest).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (39-31, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-50, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Monday, 9 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Raptors -12.5; over/under is 230.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Jazz host the Toronto Raptors in non-conference play.

The Jazz have gone 13-23 in home games. Utah ranks second in the NBA with 29.4 assists per game. Isaiah Collier leads the Jazz averaging 7.2.

The Raptors are 20-15 on the road. Toronto ranks fourth in the league with 28.8 assists per game led by Immanuel Quickley averaging 6.0.

The Jazz are shooting 46.5% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points lower than the 46.7% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors are shooting 47.5% from the field, 1.4% lower than the 48.9% the Jazz's opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Raptors won 107-100 in the last matchup on Feb. 1.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is scoring 10.6 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 18.2 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 48.6% over the last 10 games.

Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 22 points and 5.3 rebounds over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 113.9 points, 43.6 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 9.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.

Raptors: 4-6, averaging 112.7 points, 38.8 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: out (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Lakers (46-25) look to extend their winning streak to double digits on Monday against the Detroit Pistons (51-19). L.A. looks to even the season series with the current first seed in the Eastern Conference.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons

When: 4 p.m. PT, Mar 23

Where: Little Caesars Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

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Just when it looked like the Lakers were about to see their longest winning streak this season come to an end, Luke Kennard saved it by knocking down the game-winner. That moment was the perfect depiction of this current winning streak: finding ways to win even when the odds have been against them. As a result, the team is currently playing its best basketball of the season.

Los Angeles will look to continue doing that on Monday when they take on the best team in the Eastern Conference by record in the Pistons. This is the same Detroit team that blew them out at Crypto.com Arena in December. This time around, Cade Cunningham won’t be available for Motor City, though they’ve been holding up well without their MVP candidate so far.

The Pistons, who are currently on a three-game winning streak, are still quite a matchup problem for the Lakers even without Cunningham. They have quality scorers in every position and the defense to match up against the Lakers’ elite offense. That’s why this match will be about whether Detroit’s defense can contain the L.A.‘s offense.

Without Cunningham in the mix, the Lakers can focus on Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, who are currently running the Pistons’ offense. They have to make sure shooters like Duncan Robinson don’t make their presence felt either.

Remember, in the last matchup, the Pistons demolished the Lakers in transition (31-12) and points in the paint (74-44). It didn’t help that they had a terrific game from the 3-point arc (45.8%) as well.

On Monday, we’ll get to see how much the Lakers’ defense has improved from last December as well as whether or not this Lakers team can beat the best team in the Eastern Conference on the road to earn their 10th straight victory.

Notes and Updates

• The Lakers’ injury report indicates Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) as questionable.
• For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax), Marcus Sasser (right hip strain) and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain) are out.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

Have the Houston Rockets turned the corner after adding Reed Sheppard to the starting lineup?

Well, it bears mentioning that it took a great bounce to beat the Miami Heat on Saturday night. It also bears mentioning that Houston was only down in that situation because the player that Sheppard replaced in the starting lineup, Tari Eason, made a boneheaded play late. And it’s not his first time.

Anyway, Houston now heads on the road for their second-to-last road trip of the season. Houston will play four straight on the road, followed by two more back at Toyota Center. Then it’s two more on the road (including Kevin Durant’s only trips to Golden State and Phoenix) and three at home to wrap up the season. There are only two more back-to-backs, and both take place entirely at home. We’re in the home stretch now folks!

In terms of importance, all the games are important now. If Houston wants to finish with a top 4 seed, they basically need to win all the games they are supposed to win. And on paper, they’ll probably be favored in at least ten of their final 12 games. Catching the Lakers seems impossible without the tiebreak (and LA has stopped losing altogether). Denver also holds the tiebreak over Houston, but they still have games against OKC and San Antonio.

Tip-off

7pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Bulls

Zach Collins: OUT

Noa Essengue: OUT

Jalen Smith: GTD

Jaden Ivey: GTD

Isaac Okoro: GTD

Guerschon Yabusele: GTD

Anfernee Simons: GTD

The Line (as of this post)

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Wednesday night on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Mick Cronin won the battle against Dan Hurley over who would receive a technical foul first.

The UCLA men's basketball coach was assessed a technical foul at the 4:41 mark of the second half of Sunday's Men's NCAA Tournament second-round game against 2-seed UConn at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It led to Huskies forward Alex Karaban making a pair of free throws that helped UConn build its lead against UCLA.

Replay from the TNT broadcast showed Cronin clapping his hands in front of the official.

"I have no comments about any of that," Cronin said in his postgame news conference when asked by USA TODAY Sports on whether he received an explanation from the official on what led to the technical foul.

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin is issued a technical foul. pic.twitter.com/NmTt9cOAIT

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 23, 2026

REQUIRED READING: UConn vs UCLA final score, highlights: Alex Karaban sends Huskies to Sweet 16 of March Madness

Here's another look at what led to the technical:

Another angle of Coach Mick Cronin's technical foul. pic.twitter.com/Co7O6wDB2r

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2026

In a pool report handed out through a request from the United States Basketball Writers Association, Cronin was issued the technical foul for Class A Unsporting Infractions, which is in accordance with Rule 10, Section 3, Article 2 of the NCAA Division I Men's College Basketball rulebook.

The statement includes paragraphs A and E of the rule, which states that bench personnel committing an unsportsmanlike act including, but not limited to, the following:

• "Disrespectfully addressing an official"
• "Objecting to an official’s decision by rising from the bench or using gestures"

On the TNT broadcast, CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore didn't think it should have been elevated to a technical, and that there should have been more to it.

"From what I'm looking at here just on its own, that doesn't look like something that would elevate to a technical foul," Steratore said. "Now, I'm not sure if there's been something that's been building up previously. It doesn't appear that he's saying something verbally at that point. But you don't want to speculate, right? ... I think there's something more to it than just that clap. I can't see just the clap making this a technical foul scenario."

Part II:

Mick Cronin receives a technical foul in that same game. #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/zovtvEsPOu

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2026

REQUIRED READING: Dan Hurley, Mick Cronin to meet in March Madness: 'We're not coaching Little League'

Cronin's technical foul came at a bad time for the Bruins, as their offense was already in a rut and their deficit was up to nine points. That deficit grew to 11 after Karaban's pair of free throws, then to 13 when Silas Demary Jr. found Mullins for a layup, with UConn retaining possession after the free throws.

The Huskies would finish the game on a 15-3 run in the final 5:23 of the second half to defeat the Bruins. UCLA finished the game 1-of-9 from the field on their last nine shot attempts and went scoreless for the last 2:55 of the game.

The Bruins end their season with a 24-12 overall record while not making it out of the first weekend of March Madness for the third consecutive season.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mick Cronin gets technical foul after seemingly clapping at official