Category: Basketball

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The Sacramento Kings are on a mini-heater and look to extend their one-game winning streak when they host the Indiana Pacers.

Fast-paced offenses meeting lousy defenses mean scoring, and my Pacers vs. Kings predictions expect a high-scoring affair at Golden 1 Center.

Read on for my NBA picks for Tuesday, March 10.

Pacers vs Kings prediction

Pacers vs Kings best bet: Over 236 (-110)

The Indiana Pacers have been a defensive disaster, allowing more than 125 points in eight straight games and giving up 126.9 points per game over their last 10.

The Sacramento Kings haven't been much better defensively, surrendering 114+ points in eight of their last 10 contests, and both teams rank in the bottom five in Defensive Net Rating during that stretch.

With both groups also playing at a top-five pace, the combination of extra possessions and awful stop units sets up as a high-scoring affair in Sacramento.

Pacers vs Kings same-game parlay

Maxime Raynaud has cleared his scoring prop in three of his last five games and now faces an Indiana Pacers defense allowing 61 points per game in the paint over its last five contests.

The Sacramento Kings may sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, but they’ve shown signs of life with wins over Chicago and Dallas in their last five games. Meanwhile, Indiana enters on a nine-game losing streak and has dropped five straight on the road.

Pacers vs Kings SGP

• Over 236
• Maxime Raynaud Over 16.5 points
• Kings moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Monk makes it rain

Malik Monk is knocking down 45% of his long-range attempts and will jack up as many as 10 triple tries. He’ll meet an Indiana defense allowing over 16 made threes per game during their last five games.

Pacers vs Kings SGP

• Over 236
• Maxime Raynaud Over 16.5 points
• Kings moneyline
• Malik Monk Over 2.5 made threes

Pacers vs Kings odds

• Spread: Indiana +4 (-110) | Sacramento -4 (-110)
• Moneyline: Indiana +150 | Sacramento -180
• Over/Under: Over 236 (-110) | Under 236 (-110)

Pacers vs Kings betting trend to know

The Indiana Pacers have hit the Game Total Over in 14 of their last 19 games (+8.50 Units / 41% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Kings.

How to watch Pacers vs Kings

Pacers vs Kings latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Cincinnati Reds’ ace Hunter Greene is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday on his right elbow and could miss up to the first four months of the season.

The Reds said Greene was diagnosed with bone chips and loose bodies in his elbow. Greene needed an MRI last week after he left spring training camp due to right elbow stiffness.

Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA last year, helping Cincinnati earn an NL wild card for its first playoff appearance since 2020.

Greene, whose 99.5 mph average four-seam fastball velocity led the major leagues among those throwing at least 1,250 pitches, was limited to a career-low 19 starts and 107 2/3 innings. Still, his 296 pitches of 100 mph or higher were second in the major leagues behind Mason Miller’s 422.

Greene was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 9 with a right groin strain. He returned on May 23 and made three starts before going back on the IL with the same injury. This time, he was sidelined until Aug. 13.

The 26-year-old Greene is entering his fifth big league season. He made the NL All-Star team for the first time in 2024 while going 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts. He also had 169 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings despite spending time on the IL that year with elbow soreness.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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The Detroit Pistons are in NYC tonight to take on the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Jalen Duren continues to ball out, and my Pistons vs Nets predictions are eyeing him to have a big evening in the Big Apple.

Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, March 10.

Pistons vs Nets prediction

Pistons vs Nets best bet: Jalen Duren Over 17.5 points (-110)

Jalen Duren has been a monster for the Detroit Pistons. Even amid a four-game losing skid, the big man is still doing his part. He's cashed the Over in points in four of his last seven contests, including a 24-point outing Sunday night in Miami.

The center is averaging 18.5 ppg overall and 22.7 points across three meetings with the Brooklyn Nets this season. In March, his average sits at 17.6 ppg.

Duren is set to cook Brooklyn and help Detroit end its losing streak tonight.

Pistons vs Nets same-game parlay

Cade Cunningham ranks second in the league in assists, producing 9.8 per game. He’s hit the Over in assists in three of his last four outings, including 10 against Miami on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Pistons have eclipsed their team total Over in two of their last three matchups with Brooklyn.

It’s only a matter of time before one of the league’s top teams finds its rhythm again — they’re averaging 116.7 points per game this season.

Pistons vs Nets SGP

• Jalen Duren Over 17.5 points
• Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists
• Pistons team total Over 116.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Duren Duren

Duren is averaging 11.7 rebounds against Brooklyn this season.

Pistons vs Nets SGP

• Jalen Duren Over 17.5 points
• Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists
• Pistons team total Over 116.5
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds

Pistons vs Nets odds

• Spread: Pistons -15.5 (-110) | Nets +15.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pistons -1200 | Nets +750
• Over/Under: Over 217.5 (-110) | Under 217.5 (-110)

Pistons vs Nets betting trend to know

Detroit has cashed the game total Under in 28 of its last 45 games (+10.40 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Nets.

How to watch Pistons vs Nets

Pistons vs Nets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

If Indiana can be a football school, then why can’t Florida be a basketball school? The Gators were selling out the O'Connell Center this season, while lording over the SEC.

Todd Golden is looking to emulate Billy Donovan and guide the Gators to back-to-back national championships. As the SEC Tournament arrives, Florida has won 11 straight and is making a beeline for a No. 1 seed in March Madness.

Toppmeyer: March Madness loses its first Cinderella after 6 games in 6 days

Adams: No shortage of star power in SEC Tournament. What I'll be watching

In the meantime, can anyone stop Florida in Nashville?

On today’s basketball-themed episode of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss top threats to Florida in the SEC Tournament and debate whether it’s hyperbolic to claim Florida is a basketball school.

Is Florida a basketball school?

Adams: For the moment, yes. Do you not remember the Gators holding up the trophy at the end of last basketball season? When you're hoisting the hoops hardware, and your football team is 29-34 the past five seasons, that's how you become a basketball school. As long as Golden is on Florida's sideline, Gators hoops is here to stay, too. Florida has better luck hiring basketball coaches than football coaches.

Toppmeyer: I strongly suspect football remains No. 1 in most Florida fans' hearts, but who doesn't like a winner? Since Urban Meyer left, the football team has let down Florida faithful as often as not, especially recently. Meanwhile, Florida basketball is a top-five job in the SEC, and Golden has made it look like a top-five job in the country. It's not an exaggeration to call Florida a basketball school — the past couple of years, anyway. A repeat national championship would strengthen that claim.

Is Florida basketball a serious threat to repeat as national champions?

Adams: Definitely. Within a deep SEC, Florida is the cream of the crop. Florida's frontcourt is as good as any team's.

Toppmeyer: Yes. I put Florida in the same group as Duke, Michigan and Arizona as the top-tier national title contenders. Everyone else is chasing those four.

Who's the top threat to Florida in the SEC Tournament?

Adams: Tennessee. With Vols star Nate Ament expected to be back for the conference tournament, Tennessee becomes the biggest challenger to Florida's throne.

Toppmeyer: Vanderbilt. The Commodores have several sharpshooters, including star guard Tyler Tanner. If they get cooking from 3-point range, look out.

Also in this episode

∎ The hosts weigh in on Bruce Pearl’s vendetta against Miami (Ohio).

∎ The hosts discuss the latest on March Madness expansion talk, and Adams explains why he likes the idea of a 76-team NCAA Tournament even less than he likes the idea of a 24-team playoff.

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

• Apple
• Spotify
• iHeart
• Google

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Todd Golden (and Billy Napier) turn Florida Gators into basketball school

If Tim Duncan was a normal basketball star, NBA history would be totally different. Anyone else who had Duncan’s level of individual success in college would have jumped to the NBA as soon as possible.

Duncan could have been the top pick in the 1996 NBA Draft or even the 1995 NBA Draft had he chosen to leave Wake Forest after his sophomore or junior season. Had he done so, the hypothetical ripple effect is wild. Duncan entering the NBA in ’96 would have changed the futures of everyone from Allen Iverson to Steve Nash to Kobe Bryant and their respective draft teams.

But Tim Duncan had unusual priorities as a player, a student, and a son, and because of that, he made an extremely unusual choice that, to his credit, played out even better than he could have hoped. Let’s go inside Tim Duncan’s unique, history-changing decision to stay in school.

HOUSTON (AP) — Randy Arozarena had vulgar words for Seattle teammate Cal Raleigh after he was left hanging at the World Baseball Classic.

Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder, seemingly lashed out at Raleigh after the Team USA catcher did not accept a handshake before an at-bat in the United States’ 5-3 win over Mexico.

Speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, Arozarena said Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated,” and said he recently hugged them during a friendly greeting at the team hotel.

He then used profane Cuban and Mexican slang to insult Raleigh before pivoting to English and saying Raleigh could shove his “good to see you” in his rear. Arozarena was born in Cuba but defected to Mexico to pursue an MLB career.

Arozarena had reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher's squat at home plate, and Raleigh declined to offer his hand back. Raleigh appeared to say something to Arozarena during the exchange at the plate that could have set off the Mexican star.

Arozarena appeared to be visibly upset at Raleigh, though it wasn’t totally clear if he was just having fun at his teammates’ expense. The pair have been teammates since Arozarena was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle during the 2024 season.

Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drive in a big third inning to lead the United States to the win. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy (2-0) on Tuesday night, seeking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.

Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico (2-1), which will face Italy on Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

And just like that, the Nets took care of business yet again! We’re streaking! The Memphis Grizzlies were lacking their eight highest paid players. So, Brooklyn used a balance of perimeter offense and size down low to literally out man the Grizzlies. As I predicted, Day’Ron Sharpe did his thing with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, which means I can now deem myself the official fortune teller of the franchise! Nolan Traore also had a great game with a 17 point performance. 

With all the smiles and bench celebrations the Nets had last night, tonight brings a reality check. They will take on the Detroit Pistons. No, this will not be the same banged up Pistons team that fell short to Brooklyn two games back. Tonight, this will be a Cade Cunningham-led Pistons squad that is looking to make a strong push in the playoffs. As the No. 1 seed, Detroit will look to assert its dominance as a potential championship contender.

Where to Watch

Catch the action on the YES Network and NBA League Pass, as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

Injury Report

Don’t know about the Nets just yet, but we do know that Egor Demin won’t be playing. He’s out for the rest of the season. Michael Porter Jr. was out last night for rest so presumably he’ll be back.

For the Pistons, our old buddy Caris Levert (left wrist sprain) and Ausar Thompson (right ankle sprain) will be out.

The Game

A couple of seasons ago, the Detroit Pistons had a record of 14-68. The situation was so bad, that Cade Cunningham went viral for his distraught at his own franchise after they had lost their 25th straight game.

Even three straight years with the NBA’s worst record didn’t help in the lottery. They kept falling to No. 5, the worst possible luck.

Now, the Pistons hold the best record in the Eastern Conference, Cunningham has transformed into an MVP candidate, and the city of Detroit now has something that could remind them of that championship taste they had back in 2004.

While there are other teams that basketball minds believe are a step further along than the Pistons, like the Knicks and the Boston Celtics, who now have Jayson Tatum back. That said, the future in Motor City is looking very scary considering that Cunningham is only 24 and his Robin in Jalen Duren is 22.

Indeed, the New Bad Boys have special motivation to kick Brooklyn’s butt following that ignominious loss a couple of days back and that loss is part of an ongoing four-game losing streak. There’s no panic (yet) in Motor City but a loss to the 16-win Nets would probably bring it on. For Brooklyn, the motivation is simple as well: they have the chance at a three-game winning streak, a first this season.

Ausar Thompson is arguably the best athlete in the NBA, the only one who could take his place is his twin in Houston. , injured his ankle last week against the San Antonio Spurs. Since then, Detroit has lost a generational defender who can guard multiple positions. With MPJ possibly back, this can lead to him getting many more clean looks and chances to get his teammates involved. Brooklyn lost some of its shooting with Egor now out for the rest of the season, but if Porter Jr. can balance creating offense for himself and for others, this can be a closer game than we think.

Player to Watch

Tobias Harris is the quintessential role player at this point in his career and with injuries to the Pistons core, many in Detroit see him as the key guy to step up and bridge the gap. Now 33, he can still make a point both on the court and in the locker room. Sports Illustrated this week suggested that the Pistons need him now and in the post-season.

Throughout his NBA career, Tobias Harris has proven to be a reliable role player, however he’s also shown flashes of inconsistency. Just ask Philadelphia 76ers fans, who Harris played for from 2018 to 2023. In the Pistons’ recent loss to the Miami Heat, Harris scored nine points, three blocks, and one rebound. 

As the team’s third leading scorer, Harris has the opportunity to be a difference maker for the Pistons. His offensive performance, along with Cunningham’s and Duren’s, will fuel a playoff run for the Pistons. One poor performance by Harris in a postseason game could be the difference between the Pistons winning a playoff series and being eliminated. 

Look for the Pistons to look to him tonight to pull it together.

The Vault

With Detroit coming to Brooklyn, I think it’s a good time to honor one of the greatest hip hop songs of all time with two of arguably the greatest rappers of all time, who are from Brooklyn and Detroit. Enjoy.

More reading: Detroit Bad Boys, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Detroit Pistons Game Notes – Detroit Pistons
• Detroit takes on Brooklyn, looks to halt 4-game slide – AP
• Jordi Fernandez explains why Nets rode veteran-heavy rotation to win despite tight tank race – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

March Madness captivates audiences across the country. But which markets have been tuned in all yearlong for the men's and women's 2025-26 basketball season?

The Nielsen ratings for this season are out, and Louisville got the spot, which isn't entirely surprising since it's basically a Holy Trinity of Hoops with Indiana, Louisville and Kentucky fans. Plus, the Cardinals' men's (No. 24) and women's (No. 12) teams are having decent seasons,

Men's bracketology: NCAA tournament bubble predictions, new No. 1 seed

Women's bracketology: How bracket looks after Power 4 Conference tournaments

Indianapolis is No. 2 on the list. Purdue began the season ranked No. 1 in the country, but has stumbled down the stretch, and Indiana also has been a rough watch lately. But basketball is king in the Hoosier State.

UConn's men's and women's basketball success puts the Hartford/New Haven market in the top 3. And Ohio is well-represented with three cities from the Buckeye State cracking the top-10.

Here's a look at this year's top 10 markets:

Top TV markets for 2025-26 college basketball season

1. Louisville
2. Indianapolis
3. Hartford/New Haven
4. Columbus, Ohio
5. Detroit
6. Milwaukee
7. Dayton
8. Cincinnati
9. Minneapolis/St. Paul
10. Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point

Top 10 TV markets for college basketball. Not surprised to see Indy high on the list (even with a meh #iubb team). pic.twitter.com/CYKvqGnNB8

— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 10, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top TV markets for college basketball ratings for 2025-26 season

With last night’s 126–118 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, their second straight defeat, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beating the Philadelphia 76ers 115–101, the cushion the New York Knicks once had in the standings is suddenly very thin. New York now holds just a half-game lead over Cleveland for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The two teams will not see each other again this season, which means the race will be decided over the final 16 games. What looked like a comfortable position just a couple weeks ago is now shaping up to be a tight finish.

The Knicks are not going to have an easy path the rest of the way. Their remaining schedule includes matchups with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Boston Celtics, all teams firmly in the playoff picture. Boston has been one of the most complete teams in the league this season and recently got a major boost with the return of their superstar player, Jayson Tatum, who came back from an ACL injury much earlier than expected. Oklahoma City presents arguably the toughest challenge of the group as the defending NBA champions and current top team in the league. And Golden State always remains a threat as long as Stephen Curry laces up, which pair of shoes he decides to wear on any given night.

New York will also face the Indiana Pacers twice before the season ends, a team that has caused them problems with its fast pace and high-powered offense. The Knicks also have tough road games coming up against the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. Houston has been a much tougher team at home this season, while Memphis always seems to turn games into a physical grind.

Several Eastern Conference matchups could directly affect playoff positioning. The Knicks still have games remaining against the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets. Toronto is especially important in the playoff race. Currently sitting in the No. 5 spot, the Raptors remain close enough in the standings that a few wins could quickly tighten things up even further.

Cleveland’s schedule down the stretch looks slightly more manageable. The Cavaliers still have several games against teams near the bottom of the standings, giving them opportunities to gain ground if they take care of business. They do, however, have two remaining matchups against the Orlando Magic, who sit 4.5 games behind the Knicks and are still trying to climb the standings themselves.

The Miami Heat and Magic both face a mixed schedule that includes playoff teams and rebuilding clubs. That means consistency will be the deciding factor for them. Toronto might have the toughest road of the group with several games still remaining against playoff-caliber teams.

What makes the situation interesting is just how tight everything is. The difference between the No. 3 seed and the No. 7 seed is only a handful of games. If the Knicks were to hit a rough stretch, the standings could shift quickly. The Heat currently sit in seventh place, but in a race this close, a couple of wins or losses can change the entire picture almost overnight.

For the Knicks, the mission is simple. Take care of business and hold their ground. The final 16 games are going to feel a lot like playoff basketball, and every result is going to matter. If New York can navigate a schedule filled with contenders and keep stacking wins, it will stay right where it wants to be when the postseason arrives. If not, the Eastern Conference race could get even more chaotic before the regular season comes to a close.

Top-seeded Duke basketball will be without one of its key starters for a "foreseeable time," ahead of the ACC Tournament and 2026 men's NCAA Tournament.

In a media availability on Tuesday, March 10, Duke coach Jon Scheyer said that junior guard Caleb Foster suffered a fracture in his right foot during the Blue Devils' 76-61 win over rival North Carolina on Saturday, March 7.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: NCAA tournament bubble predictions, new No. 1 seed

Scheyer added that Foster had surgery the following morning and is already working on his rehab process.

"He's on the road to recovery," Scheyer said. "In his mind, in our mind, we'll do everything we possibly can with our mindset to continue to advance, where we can give him a shot to come back when it's all said and done. But he is gonna be out for a foreseeable time here coming up."

Caleb Foster injury update

Foster suffered his injury in the first half following a made basket by UNC. He lunged toward the ball and went down immediately, grimacing in pain. He was treated on the bench before limping to the locker room with a trainer. Foster spent the second half in street clothes and a walking boot and was using a knee rover to move around.

"It was just an awkward play," Scheyer said. "He lunged and it just happened. He wasn't feeling anything before, and it just happened really out of nowhere and you hate to see it. Some things you feel are preventable and you want to manage it and other things, other times, freak things happen. And I think this is one of them."

Foster missed the last nine games of his freshman season with an ankle fracture.

Scheyer provided a timeline on a potential return for Foster, which would require another deep run for the Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament.

"I think the reality of it is we'd have to advance to a Final Four," Scheyer said. "And is there a chance earlier? I'm not going to eliminate that right now, but I think that's really difficult to try to even imagine that scenario. But we're not going to have him the next couple of weeks, next few weeks here.

"But again, in Caleb's mind, he's going to be back tomorrow, and so for me, I'm with them in the sense of doing something that hasn't been done. Like I'm with them in the sense of let's chase this, let's keep winning and let's give him the opportunity to join us."

Caleb Foster stats

Foster has started every game this season for the Blue Devils. He reached his season-high 20 points against Louisville on Jan. 6.

Here's a look at Foster's stats in his junior season with Duke:

• 2025-26: 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.3 steals per game on 44.2% shooting, 40.2% 3-point shooting in 25.4 minutes per game (31 games, 31 starts)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Foster injury update: Duke G out for a 'foreseeable time'

When the Suns acquired Jalen Green from the Houston Rockets this past summer, most people understood the profile of the player they were getting. The strengths were clear. The efficiencies, or lack thereof, were part of the conversation as well. The scouting report had already been written in many ways. One thing not written in that report was the intangibles.

Green feels like the kind of teammate people naturally rally around. He celebrates the success of others, he brings energy to the floor, and he connects with the group in a way that becomes noticeable over time. Those are the types of players fans tend to root for. At some level, everyone hopes to be that kind of teammate. The person who lifts the room, adds motivation, and helps move the mission forward. We should all want to be a Jalen Green-type of co-worker in your office.

This season has not been easy for him. For the first time in his career, he dealt with an injury that impacted his greatest weapon. Speed has always been his superpower. It is what allows him to break defenses down, collapse the paint, and create chaos in transition. When that element of his game became limited, it clearly shook his confidence.

Over time, the bounce has begun to return. The movement looks a little more fluid, the bursts downhill feel sharper, and the spring in his step is slowly coming back.

The percentages, though, have taken longer to follow.

The last time I wrote about Jalen Green, I mentioned that at some point the numbers would have to move back toward the mean. Or at least I hoped they would. I do not believe there is a version of reality where he settles in as a 26% three-point shooter over the long term. The sample size tells part of the story. The other part comes from circumstance. He entered the season while most players around the league were already in rhythm, while he was still trying to find his legs and rebuild confidence after the injury. Those are real factors when it comes to late-season productivity for someone just starting their season.

The hope has always been that progression would arrive eventually. That he would settle into the role Phoenix needs him to play and start contributing in a way that matches his skill set. Because of that, there has not been any overreaction to the numbers. Just reaction. It has been more about documenting the progression throughout the season. Early on, that progression looked like regression. The shots were not falling, and the rhythm was missing.

Over the past two games, though, there have been signs that things are starting to click. Green looks more comfortable on the floor. The spacing makes more sense to him. The timing of when to attack and when to move the ball appears clearer. It certainly helps having Devin Booker on the floor, the adult in the room who understands exactly where players need the ball in order to succeed. Booker knows when to deliver it and where to place it. Green’s job is to take those opportunities and finish them.

That was not the case in the game against Chicago. He had a layup that would have sealed the win for Phoenix, and it slipped away. The opportunity was there, though, which is part of the larger story. The chances are beginning to appear more often.

As Green noted after the game, “I saw a lane and just took it. We had some good ball movement off of it. Yeah, just missing shots I normally make right now.”

“Just keep shooting, keep working, staying in the gym,” he added. “That’s all I can do.”

Since then, against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Charlotte Hornets, Green has started to look far more comfortable. Over those two games, he is averaging 24.5 points, doing so on 44.4% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc. Add in 4.5 rebounds, and you have a well-rounded pair of performances, the kind that signal progress.

His first half against Charlotte might have been the best stretch of basketball we have seen from him since arriving in Phoenix. Yes, he scored 16 points in the first half of his Suns debut on November 6 against the Los Angeles Clippers, although that night required 6-of-13 shooting to get there. On Sunday night, he needed far fewer attempts. Green went 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep, pouring in 20 points before the break.

It was the most comfortable he has looked in a Suns uniform. The drives came with purpose, the finishes around the rim carried confidence, and the touch on the perimeter looked natural. Some of those buckets required real craft. One possession featured a smooth up and under around the defender at the rim. The three-point shot looked decisive, and the aggression attacking the cylinder never disappeared.

The second half was not nearly as smooth for Green. He went 1-of-8 from the field and 0-of-3 from beyond the arc, finishing the half with four points. The scoring cooled off, although he still found ways to impact the game. He grabbed three rebounds, handed out a couple of assists, and picked up a steal. The offensive rhythm may have disappeared, although the effort showed up in other areas.

That matters for his development in Phoenix.

Within the structure of this Suns team, the question always becomes the same. How can you impact the game in a positive way? There will be stretches where scoring takes center stage. But this roster leans heavily into defense. Effort on that end carries real value. When you commit to that side of the floor, the offense tends to reward you later. You can see that in the way players like Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin operate. Both built their role through defense, energy, and disruption. The offensive opportunities followed because of that commitment.

We still have a long road ahead when it comes to understanding who Jalen Green will become within the structure of this team. There may not even be enough games left this season to gather a complete evaluation before the offseason arrives. Although the past couple of games offered something valuable. They offered a glimpse. Not the idea that he will suddenly transform into some hyper-efficient scorer. The hope is simpler than that. The hope is that he becomes a player who contributes to winning basketball in Phoenix.

It is also hard not to enjoy the athletic element he brings to the floor. There is something refreshing about having a guard who can explode toward the rim, someone you can throw a lob to and watch him rise up and hammer it home. That has not been a common feature in Phoenix for a long time. You probably have to rewind the tape back to Gerald Green to find the last time that kind of vertical pop lived in the guard rotation.

Any contribution that pushes this team toward winning deserves recognition. But this is not a full love letter. I save those for Rasheer Fleming. It is a reaction to what we have seen over the past couple of games. The process remains the same. Watch. Observe. Take notes on how his progression and integration into the Phoenix Suns system continues to unfold. Because when the offseason arrives, and the conversations begin about the next steps for this franchise, it helps to understand which options are sitting on the table. Jalen Green is one of those options.

The next step for Green is understanding that he does not need to carry the same offensive burden he once did in Houston. Phoenix operates differently. The job here is to make winning plays. Sometimes that means scoring. Sometimes it means moving the ball, defending with purpose, or attacking the rim at the right moment. The key is timing.

And if he continues to learn when those moments arrive, his role in Phoenix will begin to make a lot more sense.