From microwave scorers with tunnel vision to late-bloomers making a lottery push, here’s what we learned about seven prospects on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Lamont Butler has performed on Final Four stage before. He wants to get back there with a new school
The guy who made the buzzer beater to send San Diego State to the 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game is confident he can get back there as a fifth-year senior with Kentucky.
Derik Queen, aka ‘Baby Jokic,’ makes his mark on March Madness
Next up for the fourth-seeded Terps at the NCAA Tournament is a trip to San Francisco to play No. 1 Florida.
Celtics vs. Suns Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for March 26
Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns Preview
The Boston Celtics (53-19) and Phoenix Suns (35-37) are all set to square off from Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Jayson Tatum will be out of the game tonight after injuring his ankle earlier in the week against the Kings.
The Celtics are on a six-game winning streak. The Suns are on a winning streak of their own. They have won four straight, and six of their last 10.
The Celtics are currently 29-7 on the road with a point differential of 9, while the Suns have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Celtics vs. Suns live today
- Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
- Time: 10:00PM EST
- Site: Footprint Center
- City: Phoenix, AZ
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Celtics vs. Suns
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Odds: Celtics (-154), Suns (+129)
- Spread: Celtics -3.5
- Over/Under: 224 points
That gives the Celtics an implied team point total of 113.06, and the Suns 111.24.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday's Celtics vs. Suns game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Celtics -5…
Thomas: “It’s hard to stop this train. The Celtics have been rolling. They are a team that’s more than just Jayson Tatum. Jaylon Brown will step up now. They are also very deep and play great defense.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Celtics & Suns game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phoenix Suns at +3.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 224.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Celtics vs. Suns on Wednesday
- The Celtics have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division teams
- The Suns' average game score this season (230.2) is over the current Total for this game (220.5)
- The Celtics have covered the Spread in 7 of their last 10 road games
- The Suns have lost 4 of their last 5 games against teams with winning records
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Xavier hires Richard Pitino
There will be more than one Pitino in the Big East next season.
West Virginia facing another basketball roster rebuild
For the third consecutive off-season WVU not only faces a coaching transition but essentially a complete roster rebuild.
Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role
Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Wes Wilcox’s time in Sacramento has come to a close.
Wilcox, who spent nearly five seasons as assistant general manager of the Kings, is leaving the NBA to become the next general manager of the Utah men’s basketball program.
The front-office exec released a statement Wednesday afternoon bidding farewell to the Kings and the city of Sacramento.
“I want to give particular thanks to the great and dedicated players, coaches and staff who have helped the Kings make history in recent seasons,” Wilcox wrote, in part. ” … Also, I want to thank the most passionate, loyal fans in the NBA for your endless enthusiasm and unconditional care of Kings basketball. Like you all, the Wilcox family will keep cheering for Sacramento Kings basketball.”
It's official: Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox is headed to the University of Utah.
His message to Sacramento: pic.twitter.com/iKaQPetwMg
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) March 26, 2025
Utah head men’s basketball coach Alex Jensen announced the addition of Wilcox to the Utes program.
“I’m thrilled to have Wes, his wife Larisha and their kids join our Runnin’ Utes family here in Salt Lake City,” Jensen said in a statement. “I couldn’t think of a better person to trust with the general manager position for our basketball program. Wes has such a wealth of experience not only at various levels in the NBA level but in the front office role for multiple organizations as well.
“That experience along with the multiple positions he’s had in all facets of the game will be critical as we move forward in this new frontier of college basketball.”
Before Wilcox’s tenure in Sacramento, he spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Hawks (2012-20) in various roles. Wilcox started as an assistant GM for the Hawks from 2012-15 before being promoted to general manager for three seasons. He then transitioned to a special advisor role from 2017-20 before joining the Sacramento front office.
The Kings have endured a plethora of changes this season, beginning with a coaching change, trading their franchise player away, and now losing a prominent front-office figure.
Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role
Wilcox bids Kings farewell after accepting University of Utah GM role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Wes Wilcox’s time in Sacramento has come to a close.
Wilcox, who spent nearly five seasons as assistant general manager of the Kings, is leaving the NBA to become the next general manager of the Utah men’s basketball program.
The front-office exec released a statement Wednesday afternoon bidding farewell to the Kings and the city of Sacramento.
“I want to give particular thanks to the great and dedicated players, coaches and staff who have helped the Kings make history in recent seasons,” Wilcox wrote, in part. ” … Also, I want to thank the most passionate, loyal fans in the NBA for your endless enthusiasm and unconditional care of Kings basketball. Like you all, the Wilcox family will keep cheering for Sacramento Kings basketball.”
It's official: Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox is headed to the University of Utah.
His message to Sacramento: pic.twitter.com/iKaQPetwMg
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) March 26, 2025
Utah head men’s basketball coach Alex Jensen announced the addition of Wilcox to the Utes program.
“I’m thrilled to have Wes, his wife Larisha and their kids join our Runnin’ Utes family here in Salt Lake City,” Jensen said in a statement. “I couldn’t think of a better person to trust with the general manager position for our basketball program. Wes has such a wealth of experience not only at various levels in the NBA level but in the front office role for multiple organizations as well.
“That experience along with the multiple positions he’s had in all facets of the game will be critical as we move forward in this new frontier of college basketball.”
Before Wilcox’s tenure in Sacramento, he spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Hawks (2012-20) in various roles. Wilcox started as an assistant GM for the Hawks from 2012-15 before being promoted to general manager for three seasons. He then transitioned to a special advisor role from 2017-20 before joining the Sacramento front office.
The Kings have endured a plethora of changes this season, beginning with a head coaching change, trading their franchise player away, an assistant coach’s departure and now losing a prominent front-office figure.
Bucks vs. Nuggets Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 26
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets Preview
The Milwaukee Bucks (40-31) and Denver Nuggets (45-28) are all set to square off from Ball Arena in Denver.
Both the Bucks and the Nuggets have struggled recently. Both are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Much like other teams, they have both been bitten by the injury bug. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damien Lillard, and Nikola Jokic have missed time recently, and both are questionable for this game.
The Bucks are currently 16-19 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Nuggets have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Bucks vs. Nuggets live today
- Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
- Time: 9:00PM EST
- Site: Ball Arena
- City: Denver, CO
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Bucks vs. Nuggets
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Odds: Bucks (+138), Nuggets (-163)
- Spread: Nuggets -4
- Over/Under: 226 points
That gives the Bucks an implied team point total of 112.16, and the Nuggets 114.24.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday's Bucks vs. Nuggets game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning toward Giannis Antetokounmpo over 31.5 points…
Thomas: “This is a challenging game to forecast, given the limited information on player availability.
However, we know that Lillard is out indefinitely. That means there’s a slight increase in Kyle Kuzma's usage. His number is a bit too high for me to take. Antetokounmpo also received a usage boost, and this matchup feels perfect for him. He’s also cleared this number in back-to-back games.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Bucks & Nuggets game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Denver Nuggets on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Bucks at +4.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 226.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Bucks vs. Nuggets on Wednesday
- The Nuggets have won 15 of their last 20 games when a home favorite
- 7 of the Nuggets' last 9 games (78%) have gone over the Total
- The Bucks have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 games as a road underdog
- The Nuggets have won 12 of their last 20 games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
March Madness best bets, odds, picks, lines: Respected bettors give their men’s Sweet 16 best bets
Several sharp handicappers share their best bets for the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 NCAA tournament.
Sixers add Phillip Wheeler on 10-day contract through hardship exception
Sixers add Phillip Wheeler on 10-day contract through hardship exception originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers signed Phillip Wheeler to a 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday.
According to a source, the deal was again done via the NBA’s hardship exception.Marcus Bagley, Oshae Brissett and Chuma Okeke have been other March 10-day signings for the injury-depleted, 23-49 Sixers.
Wheeler has taken a unique, circuitous route to the NBA. The 6-foot-8 forward decided to forego his senior year of high school in New Jersey, playing in Italy instead.
In 2021, Wheeler tried out for the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and got cut. He then moved to Texas to become an unpaid RGV practice player. Eventually, the Vipers signed Wheeler and he made two appearances in the 2021-22 season.
Wheeler averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists this year in 25 games between the Texas Legends and Maine Celtics.
As of the 2:30 p.m. ET injury report, the Sixers listed nine players as out for their Wednesday night matchup with the 15-56 Wizards.
They’ve ruled Joel Embiid, Paul George, Jared McCain and Eric Gordon out for the season, and everyone available has gotten minutes in recent games.
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Joseph Tugler, F, Houston
Tugler is a defensive nightmare with an insatiable motor that lets him guard anyone.
Numbers to know for each of the 16 teams remaining in March Madness
Arkansas, the No. 10 seed in the West Region, is the only double-digit seed still alive heading into the regional semifinals. Alabama: The Crimson Tide score a Division I-leading 90.8 points per game. The 90-81 first-round victory over Robert Morris marked the DI-leading 19th time this season they’ve scored at least 90 points.
Johnson: NCAA need ‘limitations’ on NIL
Dan Patrick sits down with legendary sportscaster and 'Inside the NBA' host Ernie Johnson, in which he talks about his relationship with Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley and how NIL is impacting college hoops.
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Bennett Stirtz, G, Drake
Stirtz is a savvy shot-creator with high-level feel who carried Drake like a one-man band.