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Good news, tankers: The Nets are playing the Thunder tonight. That alone should provide some solace, but you never know in today’s NBA. OKC just clinched the postseason last night, their 13th since 2010. If only the Nets could have some of their fortunes come this May (and June).
🏀 KEY INFO
Who: OKC Thunder (54-15) at Brooklyn Nets (17-51) When: 7:30 PM ET Watch: YES Network
💬 DISCUSSION
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
Jan 25, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) celebrates in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Victor Wembanyama seems like a lock to win Defensive Player of the Year and get an All-NBA spot if he is eligible. Is there a chance he could also win MVP if the Spurs stay hot?
Marilyn Dubinski: The MVP hype is definitely on the rise for Wemby, but I can’t see him winning both in the same season this early in his career for a few reasons. One is that voters may fear future voter fatigue will eventually set in, so they don’t want to give him too much, too early. I also believe many voters have a block against giving players more than one award per season. (I believe this is the same reason Tim Duncan never won DPOY: voters already had him on their MVP ballot.) This is not to say Wemby will never win both in one season, but he’d be just the fourth player to ever do it, along with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which leads to my final reason why it won’t happen this season. Knowing the media, they’ll want Wemby to prove himself in the playoffs before putting him in that esteemed group (even if they are regular-season awards).
Bill Huan: I love Wemby to death, but MVP is out of reach. Shai has locked it up, and rightfully so: he’s been the best player in the league this year (and that’s also coming from a Jokic “glazer”) while also playing on the best team, and the narrative is on his side too after breaking Wilt’s 20-point streak. Wemby’s time will come, maybe as soon as next year, but for now, it’s Shai’s.
Devon Birdsong: As Marilyn has very accurately pointed out, the MVP- DPOY double has only happened thrice in the history of both awards existing. It’s incredibly rare to begin with. Does Wemby have an argument for both? Yeah, I think he does. But so did David Robinson and Tim Duncan, with 1995 and 2002 both serving as perhaps the most glaring examples of seasons deserving that distinction. You can call it media bias, you can call it voter fatigue, you can call it a certain degree of veiled pettiness, but I just don’t see it happening this season (unless the games-played threshold is exceeded by the frontrunners). And in all fairness, both of Dave and Tim’s seasons were better than this season for Wemby. I absolutely see it happening in the future, perhaps even more than once, but I think we’ll all have to satisfy ourselves with the knowledge that Wemby is already good enough on both ends to be having this conversation at all. Besides, with the way things are going, there’s a chance that Wemby could pull off an even rarer feat: becoming only the 2nd player to ever win DPOY and Finals MVP in the same season.
Jeje Gomez:I don’t think it will happen this season, unless he’s the only one out of the contenders to be eligible for the award. A lot of the conversation about the Spurs in the media, even among some apologists, is that their success is impressive, but they’ll need to show how good they are in the playoffs. I feel like they likely feel the same is true for Wembanyama. It’s not the most reasonable of takes, but I can understand the fear of anointing someone the most valuable player in the league only to see them flame out early in the postseason. Plus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander actually does have a stronger case after putting together an even more efficient scoring season than last, while likely leading the Thunder to the league’s best record despite Jalen Williams’s long absence.
Keldon Johnson has a strong case for Sixth Man of the Year, and Stephon Castle should get consideration for an All-Defensive team. Will they get the distinctions?
Dubinski: While both are equally deserving, I think Castle stands a better chance at All-Defense than Keldon does at Sixth Man. I’ve been hyping Keldon’s case all season, but his impact seems to go relatively unnoticed by outsiders, and the odds have consistently had him behind Naz Reed, Jaime Jaquez and even Reed Sheppard at times. Probably the fact that the Spurs’ second unit is so deep, combined with players like Dylan Harper stealing some spotlight from intrigued viewers, is not helping his case, but the good thing is, like Manu Ginobili before him, he doesn’t care.
Huan: I don’t think that there is any chance Keldon actually wins 6MOY, and I’d still bet on Castle getting on an All-Defensive team over Keldon being a finalist for 6th man. Currently, there are 12 names I’d say are fighting for 10 All-Defense spots, while Keldon seems to be behind the likes of Naz Reid, Isaiah Stewart, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and even Reed Sheppard for 6th man. Whether or not that’s fair is a separate discussion, but those are the reasons why I’d bet on Castle over Keldon.
Birdsong: Keldon was arguably the frontrunner for the first two-thirds of the season, but his performances have been more uneven since his shoulder injury, and it’s been noticeable in the games the Spurs lost against the Knicks and Nuggets. The reality is that now more than ever, you really need a narrative to sell for awards, and Keldon’s isn’t the flashiest of sells. He’s not leading the other candidates in scoring and the Spurs are still really good without him, whereas the Heat and Timberwolves are more visibly dependent on Jaquez and Reid. The sixth-man award has long been a scoring award, which is part of why Manu had so few. Like Manu, Keldon has some advanced stats that show his value, but they’re no longer obscene, so my guess is that it goes to Reid, especially if Minnesota secures a Top 4 seed in the West. Castle, on the other hand, should be a lock for All-Defense. The only question (in my mind) is whether it’s first team or second. My guess is he lands on the second, though it should arguably be the first. Good luck getting two Spurs on the first team, though, since it’s only ever happened once (Duncan and Bowen in ‘07), which feels insane.
Gomez: I think the fact that 10 guys make the All-Defensive Teams while only one player gets 6MOY gives Castle a clear advantage. He definitely deserves a spot, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t picked, assuming voters have been paying attention, which is not a given considering how some in the media still mispronounce Wembanyama’s name. Since Wemby is going to be in the first team, I feel like Castle is likely going to be on the second team. For Keldon to get some hardware, he would have to go on a tear in this last stretch, and he might have the opportunity with the Spurs resting some players. But I doubt Johnson would force the issue, and he might be getting rested as well at some point. Hopefully, he’ll at least be one of the finalists.
Mitch Johnson is leading the Spurs back to the playoffs while surpassing expectations. Can he win Coach of the Year, or do others have better cases?
Dubinski: I certainly think he has one of the best cases, but again, from what I’ve seen from the media, it might go to the Celtics’ Joe Mazzula for the job he’s done keeping them near the top of the East after most figured it would be a “gap” year, with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season and Boston having to salary-dump a lot of key players from their 2024 championship team. Is he more deserving than Mitch? I don’t feel like it since they’re already a proven commodity and still have another MVP-level player in Jaylen Brown and a borderline All-Star in Derrick White, but I would understand the logic if Mazzula won over Mitch.
Huan: I’d firmly place Johnson in the second tier of Coach of the Year candidates, with Joe Mazzulla and JB Bickerstaff fighting for first. Johnson is up against the likes of Charles Lee, Jordan Ott, and Mark Daigneault for that third and final spot, and there are credible arguments for each of them to be nominated. Even with my Spurs bias, I think Mazzulla is the obvious choice given what he’s accomplished with an undermanned Celtics roster this year, so Johnson won’t (and shouldn’t) win. Like Wemby, though, his time will come.
Birdsong: I certainly think that he *can*, but I’m not sure it’s likely unless the Spurs go on another prolonged tear. Most of the conversation seems to favor Mazzula in Boston and Jordan Ott in Phoenix. I think all three are deserving, but Ott’s is perhaps the most shocking, and Mazzula’s features the most well-known injury. If Mitch had, for instance, gotten the team to 50+ wins with Victor out most of the season, that probably would have earned him the award, but that’s just the kind of season it is. Consider that Pop only won three, and two of them came in championship seasons. The national media always wants the flashiest story, and that’s almost never the Spurs. My guess is that Ott is going to take it, especially if the Suns manage to get close to 50 wins and avoid the play-in.
Gomez: All awards are about narratives, and Johnson has been, fair or not, almost a footnote in what has been Wembanyama’s big comeback season after the deep vein thrombosis. It seems that Mazzula and Ott are getting rewarded for overachieving without a top player, and that doesn’t fit what Johnson has done, which is keep a young group engaged on both ends and playing selflessly despite this being just his first year as a head coach. Bickerstaff, meanwhile, will get consideration if the Pistons finish first, which is not something that the Spurs are likely to replicate in the West. It just doesn’t feel like it will happen for Mitch, unfortunately, but he at least got to coach an All-Star team.
BUFFALO, NY – South Florida’s NCAA Tournament opener against Louisville marks a homecoming for first-year coach Bryan Hodgson, who was born in western New York, went to college in western New York and started his coaching career in western New York, eventually working under current Alabama coach Nate Oats at Buffalo from 2015-19.
An Olean, New York native who attended Jamestown Community College and Fredonia State, Hodgson said he’ll have 38 relatives in attendance for the No. 11 Bulls’ matchup with the No. 6 Cardinals. He’s also been texting with a group of college coaches who hail from the region, including Florida assistant Carlin Hartman, Texas assistant Adam Cohen, Army head coach Kevin Kuwik and Rice head coach Rob Lanier, talking Buffalo Bills football and the local food scene.
“This is home,” he said. “Just icing on the cake to be able to do that back here at home in western New York in front of friends and family, and really looking forward to the opportunity of playing against a very good Louisville team.”
The area is home — but this is only a visit.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hodgson turned down an offer to be the next coach at Syracuse, according to multiple reports. The Orange fired third-year coach Adrian Autry earlier this month and were attracted to Hodgson’s quick turnaround at 25-win USF, which took home the American Conference regular-season and tournament championships after posting just one winning season since 2019.
Ironically, the game against the Cardinals makes Hodgson the first coach from western New York to start tournament play in Buffalo since former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim in 2014.
“When it comes to situations like these, we try to stay away from social media because everything is fake,” said senior forward Izaiyah Nelson. “Everybody goes on social media and says anything, and it's been happening for the last couple years. It's the same old things every year.”
USF heads into Thursday’s matchup on an 11-game winning streak, tied with Duke for the second-longest active run in the country. Known for a potent offense — USF ranks eighth nationally with 87.7 points per game — the Bulls’ defense has made huge strides of late, holding seven of their past nine opponents to under 67 points.
“Yeah, I'm just a firm believer that's just what good teams do. They get better and they play their best basketball in February and March,” Hodgson said. "Our guys have been locked in. They're very process driven. They're extremely selfless, and they wake up every morning with an intent to get better. That's really showed on the court.”
But the Bulls will face two serious tests in Friday’s matchup against the Cardinals. The first is Louisville’s own electric offense and talent level, which is beyond anything USF has faced since a road loss to Alabama in December.
The second is the drama over Hodgson’s future that may not die down anytime soon, not with his name now being drawn in connection with the opening at Providence.
This is the dilemma for all up-and-coming coaches outside the major-conference structure: While every successful season and tournament appearance raises the profile of the coach and his program, this same success raises the likelihood he’ll be poached by a deeper-pocketed suitor.
“Does it look like we pay attention to any of that? We're out here playing basketball,” said Nelson. “We don't get into those kind of things. We come out here every day, grinding, working hard, and just keeping our head down, worrying about the next game.”
To his point, the scrutiny on Hodgson’s future didn’t slow the Bulls’ push for the program’s first conference tournament championship since winning the Sun Belt in 1990. Autry was dismissed on March 11, four days before USF topped Wichita State in the American final.
“Yeah, I'll say this: Time of the year doesn't matter,” he said. “I can tell you that my sole focus is on winning basketball games and enjoying every single second with this group of young men I have right now.”
And Hodgson can lean on his experience as an assistant, when Oats coached Buffalo to successive tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019 — beating Arizona as the No. 13 seed in 2018 and Arizona State as a No. 6 a year later — when his name was bandied about in connection with major openings.
“Yeah, you come in with a chip on your shoulder and an edge,” said Hodgson. “When we beat Arizona, our guys got on that plane from the Buffalo airport full-heartedly believing we were going to go in there to win that game.
“My guys in that locker room right now feel the same way. We know that we're here because of the work we've put in. There's no luck. I've got a great group of young men that believe in their abilities. They're confident in their abilities because, quite frankly, they work, and for us confidence comes from work.”
The Bulls received a major boost to their upset hopes with the news Louisville freshman star point guard Mikel Brown Jr. will miss Thursday's first round game with a back injury.
Louisville enters March Madness with a 7-5 record with Brown on the bench vs. a 16-5 record when he plays. Per CBBAnalytics.com, it averages 6.4 fewer points per 40 minutes (88.1 vs. 81.7) and shoots 4.8% worse from beyond the arc (38.2% vs. 33.4%) when he's not on the court.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates his three point basket and foul with Al Horford #20 against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Chase Center on November 09, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a much-needed win on Monday in Washington D.C., the Golden State Warriors head north to try to make it two straight Ws. Unfortunately, they’re playing a much, much harder team: the Boston Celtics. In case you haven’t been paying attention to the NBA this year, the Celtics have had a magnificent season, despite Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear … and, just as importantly, Tatum has returned.
While the Warriors are still missing a lot of key players, they are mercifully getting healthier. Quinten Post, and Gary Payton II, who were listed on the initial injury reports with questionable health, are now listed as available. Draymond Green, who has been a staple of the injury report lately, is nowhere to be found. And not only is Kristaps Porziņģis absent from the injury report for what is the Dubs’ third-straight game against one of his former teams, but Steve Kerr revealed that the former All-Star is ready for a minutes increase.
That said, Boston is still the much healthier team. Here’s the full injury report.
Warriors
Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
Curry has been traveling with the team, and Kerr revealed that he went through a workout on Tuesday. Golden State will provide an injury update on Saturday.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Butler, who is out until probably January or February, surprised the team by joining them on their six-city road trip. Hopefully that means that his rehab is going well.
Out — Moses Moody (right wrist sprain)
It looked like Moody was close to a return, but sadly that no longer is the case. It’s looking like he’ll probably miss the entirety of the road trip.
Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)
No updates on Horford. He’ll probably be out for a while, but hopefully is back in time to get in a rhythm before the play-in tournament.
Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)
Still just four games played this year for the younger Curry brother. What a bummer.
Out — LJ Cryer (left hamstring injury management)
It’s really such a bummer that Cryer has dealt with so many injuries at a time when there would be a bunch of minutes for him. He’s really impressed in the rare instances when he’s been healthy.
Celtics
Out — Nikola Vučević (right ring finger fracture)
Vučević was playing a key role for the Celtics after coming over in a deadline trade, but suffered a finger injury in his 12th game with the team. He’ll be re-evaluated shortly before the playoffs.
Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips of at 4:00 p.m. PT on ESPN.
The history books will rightfully remember last year's March Madness as a chalk, with four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four and three No. 2 seeds in the Elite Eight. But as the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament first round gets set to begin on Thursday, March 19, it's perhaps worth noting what happened to the bracket on the first two days of college basketball's biggest event in 2025.
Five double-digit seeds pulled off upsets in the first round, including four from non-power conferences. Only one (No. 10 seed Arkansas) advanced to the Sweet 16, which significantly reduced the brackets busted and eventually led to just the second Final Four featuring all No. 1 seeds since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament field is also seen as top-heavy by college basketball experts, but there are several intriguing opportunities for a potential Cinderella to emerge this year. Here's a look at five March Madness first-round games that could produce an upset this week:
The school that went from the original First Four all the way to the Final Four 15 years ago is a potential Cinderella again in the South region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket after a run to the Atlantic-10 Conference tournament championship. VCU has lost just once over the past two months and it slots ahead of UNC since Feb. 1 in the Torvik Rankings, which are based on offensive and defensive efficiency and weight recent performances more heavily than other predictive metrics. North Carolina, meanwhile, will enter the NCAA Tournament with back-to-back losses to Duke and Clemson and continues to be without freshman star Caleb Wilson. No game during Thursday's March Madness first-round action has a smaller spread than VCU vs. UNC (-2.5).
No. 11 South Florida over No. 6 Louisville
Only one team in this year's NCAA Tournament has a longer current winning streak than USF's 11-game streak entering its East region first-round matchup and six of the Bulls' past seven wins have been by at least 15 points. Guard Wes Enis has been held under 19 points just once in the past five weeks. Louisville also plays the same up tempo style as USF and the Cardinals are just 4-4 over their past eight games. They won't have star freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. available again due to injury.
No. 11 Texas over No. 6 BYU
This West region first-round matchup will pit two teams with bad defenses that played much better earlier in the season. Now that Texas escaped with a buzzer-beater win over North Carolina State in the First Four, it gets a juicy upset chance against A.J. Dybantsa and BYU. The Cougars had a 7-9 record over the final two months of Big 12 play and uses one of the thinnest benches in the field. Though the Longhorns limped to the finish line with five losses in their final six games before Tuesday's NCAA Tournament triumph, they do have wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt on their ledger this season.
Though Miami (Ohio) garnered most of the headlines out of the MAC with its undefeated run through the regular season, conference tournament champion Akron had the better offensive and defensive efficiency ratings and could take advantage of its draw in the Midwest region. Though Akron lost by 18 points to the only other power conference team on its schedule (Purdue), Texas Tech hasn't looked the same since star J.T. Toppin suffered a season-ending injury. The Red Raiders are 6-5 over their past 11 games, with three defeats in a row entering the NCAA Tournament.
Missouri is a trendy pick in this West region first-round matchup because the game will take place in nearby St. Louis. The Tigers also had a strong surge through SEC play in February and early March, beating Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M to secure an NCAA Tournament at large berth. Missouri, however, has lost three in a row, including an SEC tournament quarterfinal setback to Kentucky. But the Tigers already beat Kentucky on the road earlier this season and the crowd should be on their side this week.
The NBA playoffs are just around the corner. Sure, there is still time for teams on the cusp to make one final push for the postseason, but for the most part, we know which teams are competing for an NBA title.
That said, many of the teams in the middle of the pack in each conference are jumbled up, so close together that a bad or good stretch could determine whether they get home-court advantage in their opening series or the conference semifinals.
As it stands right now, as of the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18, the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed Boston Celtics are just eight games ahead of the No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks. In the West, the No. 3 and 6 seeds are within 1.5 games of one another.
A lot could happen between now and the end of the regular season that could shape the postseason. That said, it's still interesting to look at where each team would fall if the season ended today.
NBA playoff bracket
Records and standings through games played on Wednesday, March 18
*-indicates play-in team
Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons (49-19)
Boston Celtics (45-23)
New York Knicks (45-25)
Cleveland Cavaliers (42-27)
Toronto Raptors (38-29)
Orlando Magic (38-30)
Miami Heat (38-31)*
Atlanta Hawks (37-31)*
Philadelphia 76ers (37-32)*
Charlotte Hornets (35-34)*
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (54-15)
San Antonio Spurs (51-18)
Los Angeles Lakers (43-25)
Houston Rockets (41-26)
Denver Nuggets (42-27)
Minnesota Timberwolves (42-27)
Phoenix Suns (39-30)*
Los Angeles Clippers (34-34)*
Golden State Warriors (33-35)*
Portland Trail Blazers (33-36)*
When does NBA regular season end?
The regular season will end on Sunday, April 12. The play-in tournament will start just two days later on Tuesday, April 14 with games played through Friday, April 17.
The classic NBA postseason will begin on April 18.
How does NBA play-in tournament work?
The tournament is divided into three games for each conference.
The first game will see the No. 7 seed host the No. 8 seed with the No. 7 seed in the playoffs on the line. The loser will face the winner of the game between the conference's No. 9 and No. 10 seeds.
Whoever loses that third game will be eliminated from the postseason, while the winner will claim their conferene's No. 8 seed and a date with the No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs.
NBA playoffs schedule
Play-in tournament: April 14-17
First round: Begins April 18
Second round: Expected to start early May
Conference finals: Expected to start late May
NBA Finals: June 3 - June 10/17 (dependent on series lengths)
Throughout the season, we have used FTN’s new NBA StatsHub to help separate surface-level production from true impact. Those advanced metrics have provided the necessary context to effectively identify emerging stars, analyze trades, give insight into awards races, and provide analysis on the league’s top playoff contenders.
Now, as the regular season enters its final stretch, the focus shifts to identifying which stars are peaking at the right time. Using NBA StatsHub, let’s take a look at a few players who are playing at a high level since the All-Star break.
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
In the coming days, Kevin Durant will surpass Michael Jordan for the fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Yet, the 37-year-old Durant, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the middle of his prime, isn’t just stat-padding his Hall of Fame resume.
Since the All-Star break, he’s averaging 25.9 points on only 17.5 field goal attempts per game. He’s the only player in the league averaging 25+ points while shooting 50%-plus from the field, 40%-plus from 3-point territory and 90%-plus from the free throw line.
He leads the NBA by a substantial margin in Points Over Expectation (+5.5) in that span, with Luka Dončić (+4.1) and Anthony Edwards (+3.8) a distant second and third, respectively.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Earlier this season, we examined the league’s most underrated scorers using Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and came away wondering if Kon Knueppel could be the NBA’s next superstar.
Since that point, he’s averaged 19.7 points per game while shooting 49.3% from the floor, including 44.0% from 3-point territory. Since the All-Star break, he ranks sixth in the entire NBA in Points Over Expectation. He’s been Charlotte’s most valuable player during that stretch, with an incredulous +22.4 Net Rating.
Knueppel was +500 in the Rookie of the Year race when we wrote Feb. 18 that he has been the NBA’s most impactful first-year player. One month later, he’s -200 to win the award, looking like a clear and obvious favorite if he can stay healthy during the final month of the regular season.
James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers
Immediately following the Cavaliers trade for James Harden, ESPN gave Cleveland a B grade for the deal. CBS Sports gave Cleveland a C. Bleacher Report was the most critical, giving the Cavaliers a D+.
Since the trade, the Cavaliers own the second-best offensive rating in the NBA, despite Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen both missing substantial time due to injury.
A big reason for their success has been the play of Harden, who ranks 7th in the league in Points Over Expectation since the All-Star break. The team has a +4.7 Net Rating with him on the floor, benefitting from his playmaking ability, efficient scoring and veteran leadership.
The Cavaliers have emerged as the primary threat to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. If healthy, they have their best chance to return to the NBA Finals since LeBron James left for the Lakers nearly a decade ago.
The Takeaway
Kevin Durant, Kon Knueppel and James Harden haven’t simply been filling the stat sheet on a nightly basis because they take a lot of shots or operate in a high-usage role for their respective team. These players are offering measurable, sustainable benefits to their club at the most important time of the season.
If you thought the Utah Jazz’s overall record was bad, their mark against division rivals is even worse – and it’s not likely to get any better tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This feels like a hopeless task for a Utah team that’s 1-11 against the rest of the Northwest Division and firmly in full tank mode, but my Jazz vs Timberwolves predictions target one of the visitors’ youngsters getting a chance in the spotlight.
Check on my NBA picks for this clash on Wednesday, March 18.
Jazz vs Timberwolves prediction
Jazz vs Timberwolves best bet: Cody Williams Over 20.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)
The Utah Jazz don’t seem focused on boosting their win total, but the coming weeks give them a chance to evaluate their roster. That’s good news for Cody Williams, who has played 36+ minutes in six straight games, hitting this combo Over in five of them.
Williams posted an eye-popping 34-7-7 stat line on Sunday and should be active again as Utah navigates games without Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves can be elite defensively, Williams doesn’t need to match his season averages to make this prop a winner.
Jazz vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
Even on the second night of a back-to-back set, the T-Wolves have the defensive studs to keep Utah at bay, but the offense will largely be in the hands of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Randle is coming off back-to-back 32-point outings, and I expect DiVincenzo to bounce back from last night’s 0-for-8 dud, as he boasts a 39% mark from downtown.
Jazz vs Timberwolves SGP
Timberwolves -13.5
Julius Randle Over 25.5 points
Donte DiVincenzo Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Stifle Tower
No one needs to tell the Jazz about Rudy Gobert’s impact.
This SGP jumps on the Frenchman’s presence around the rim at both ends of the floor, and he’s coming off a monster effort last night, finishing with 19 rebounds and four blocks.
Naz Reid’s absence should also mean an uptick in minutes for Gobert.
Jazz vs Timberwolves SGP
Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 points
Rudy Gobert Over 13.5 rebounds
Rudy Gobert Over 2.5 blocks
Timberwolves -13.5
Jazz vs Timberwolves odds
Spread: Jazz -13.5 (-110) | Timberwolves +13.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Jazz +550 | Timberwolves -800
Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)
Jazz vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Timberwolves are 8-2 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Jazz. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Jazz vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN North, KJZZ
Jazz vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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The question was never whether it would be best for the Milwaukee Bucks to shut Giannis Antetokounmpo for the season after his knee hyperextension and bone bruise — it would have been best to shut it down after his previous injury and give them a chance to improve their draft status (making it easier to put a contending team around him in the long run).
The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.
Antetokounmpo is one of the most competitive players in the league, something he wears on his sleeve. It's part of his identity, part of his story of rising from the streets of Athens to the peak of the NBA.
In this case, it also feels performative. Antetokounmpo has talked countless times about how he wants to play his entire career for Milwaukee, how he loves the city, and how the people of Wisconsin embraced him and his family. If he wants the Bucks to build a team around him that can compete for a title, their 2026 draft pick is key to that — either trading it for a star player, or lucking out in the lottery and being able to draft that player (Milwaukee currently has the ninth-worst record in the league and a 17.3% chance at a top-four pick). There is still time for the Bucks to marginally improve their odds in that lottery (they have a worse record than New Orleans, a team still actively trying to win games).
As noted above, the Bucks are 6.5 games out of the play-in with 14 games left to play, they are not making the postseason. If the Bucks were close to the postseason, this could be a different conversation. Instead, Antetokounmpo is pushing to get back on the court because... he has to show everyone how much he wants to compete? I hear the argument that Antetokounmpo's competitiveness is not a switch he can flip on and off, that's not how it works. That said, there are times the bigger picture beats out personal ego for a handful of games.
Milwaukee, as an organization, has bent over backwards for years to accommodate Antetokounmpo and his desires. They have won a title in part because he pushed them, so the franchise went and got Jrue Holiday. Now, his desire to get back on the court could be hurting the Bucks' chances to put the best team possible around him.
All of this will likely bubble up again this offseason, when the Bucks talk to Antetokounmpo about a max contract extension and, with that, his future in Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday’s announcement that Giannis Antetokounmpo would miss some time with a hyperextended left knee probably came as a relief to many Bucks fans. Milwaukee is 6.5 games out of the East’s 10th seed with 14 games remaining, making it essentially impossible to climb back into the race, so there are plenty who feel the star should be—or should already have been—shut down. The temptation to tank and improve lottery position remains, even as other teams that exited the playoff hunt earlier already tanked harder. Though the Bucks are just 2-6 since Giannis returned from his calf strain, they have only just now moved into a tie for the ninth spot with the Bulls.
Today, we have a report from The Athletic’s Eric Nehm—later echoed by ESPN’s Shams Charania—that Giannis and the team are “at odds” about what to do moving forward. The Bucks, probably on the same side as most fans, want Giannis to remain sidelined as the year ends. A fair ask, considering he’s missed 32 games this season with a variety of lower-body injuries and the team isn’t really battling for seeding. Ever the competitor, Giannis doesn’t want to do that, though: he wants to play, presumably when/if he’s cleared.
Whether the team’s medical staff clears him anytime soon is unknown. Yesterday’s report stated he’d be reevaluated in a week, so nothing appears imminent, but it’s not just the knee: he also sprained his ankle last week. Add that to the calf strain that hampered him from December into March, plus a groin strain in November, and it’s not hard to see him as less than 100% on the floor, no matter what he’s self-diagnosed. To the organization and fans, Giannis’ health is a top—probably the top—priority.
The issue here is weighing what makes Giannis happy. Even if they’re far removed from the race, he clearly wants to be playing. I don’t think the Bucks’ sole motivation here is necessarily to lose more games and move into a higher lottery position, even though this from Nehm might suggest that’s the case:
The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.
And later in the same article:
Bucks leadership has already approached Antetokounmpo about the idea of not playing another game for Milwaukee this season, which the franchise’s all-time leading scorer firmly rebuffed, league sources told The Athletic Tuesday.
“Shared interest” can merely just mean “we want you healthy, you want to be healthy” with no regard towards the standings. After all, it’s going to be tough for Milwaukee to move further down: at 28-40, they could stay in ninth depending on how Chicago finishes, but they are at least 4.5 games clear of other teams. Memphis is in eighth, with Dallas and New Orleans—who own the right to swap picks with Milwaukee—tied in sixth. All have 23 wins and either 44 or 46 losses. Even without Giannis, it will be nearly as hard to surpass those teams as it would be to make the playoffs. Those franchises are also trying to tank. On the flip side, they are 4.5 games clear of Portland in 11th, so the 9–10 range seems all but guaranteed, regardless of how long Giannis misses.
What I think this ultimately comes down to is being on the same page with Giannis. Of course, neither party wants him to sustain a more catastrophic, long-term injury. For their part, the Bucks want Giannis to extend this summer: he’s the most important player in franchise history, and without him, their profits completely dry up along with whatever title odds employing him brings (which are never zero, as long as he’s here, healthy, and in his prime). Giannis wants to be back in the business of competing in the playoffs, which could happen in Milwaukee as soon as next year if the Bucks play their cards right this offseason. One-year gaps in contention are common: see Golden State in 2019–20, Philadelphia and Phoenix last year, etc.
For Giannis’ part, he needs to listen to the medical professionals. On Sunday, he told trainers he thought he could have reentered the game, but they convinced him it wasn’t worth it since they were up double-digits at the time. Good on him for taking their advice. He said after the game he didn’t think he needed any imaging, but the Bucks had him undergo it yesterday anyway. Those results came back clean, per Doc Rivers.
I was in that postgame huddle on Sunday, and Giannis seemed outwardly positive about his conversation with the trainers and respected their opinion. But that’s just a single game, not the remaining 14, and it’s a medical opinion not being relayed by the front office. I don’t necessarily think this is the high drama some will undoubtedly spin it as, but the Bucks have a delicate line to walk here. Tanking isn’t something Giannis wants, and he’s going to approach this offseason looking for reasons to stay in Milwaukee. Being told not to play when he’s medically cleared—which he currently is not, we can safely assume—probably won’t sit well with him.
I’m of the belief that when the medical staff clears him to play, the front office should acquiesce. It’s incumbent on those professionals to clear him responsibly, affirming that no, he won’t be risking significant injury to play NBA basketball, whenever that may be. Whether that’s in a week or two, or it’s the final week of the season, we don’t know. But since his presence is pretty unconnected from their record at this point, and assuming Giannis continues respecting trainers’ opinions (he’s never indicated he has anything less than complete trust in them), the Bucks should let him play when they say it’s safe. Shutting him down unnecessarily strains a player-team relationship that must be preserved entering the offseason.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: The sneakers worn by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 20: Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 20, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz have achieved 2 essential losses already on this quick road trip, and are looking to continue the trend Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, these are not the same Timberwolves we’ve gotten used to seeing in the Western Conference finals; they will be without star guard Anthony Edwards, who is projected to be out 1-2 weeks with right knee inflammation. This is unfortunate on 3 fronts. First; Anthony Edwards is consistently one of the most entertaining star players to watch in the league, and this contest will be worse without him. Second; a matchup with a player of Edward’s caliber provides very useful experience for the youngsters, who can use every minute of playtime versus star players in preparation for the Jazz 2027 playoff run. And, perhaps most importantly, third; the Jazz’s likelihood of pulling off a stunning win against the Timberwolves increases when Anthony Edwards is nursing a sore knee on the bench.
Nevertheless, the Timberwolves have every incentive to win – they’re currently tied for the 4th seed with the Nuggets and Rockets, so any separation in the race for home court advantage in the first round would be huge for them. And, on the other side of the same coin, the Jazz have a few incentives to lose. They are currently slotted with the 5th best lottery odds, which gives them a 99.4% chance of staying in the top 8 and keeping their pick in the loaded 2026 draft. However, they’re only 3 games behind the Sacramento Kings for the 4th worst record, which would guarantee their keeping the pick. This is to say that this game is enormously important for both parties.
Cody Williams will look to continue his momentum from his career high, 34 point night on Sunday versus the Kings. Additionally, Anderrson Garcia and Bez Mbeng will have another opportunity to show their defensive chops during their 10-day contract tryouts. If I had to bet on which Jazz player will have a big night, my money would be on Isaiah Collier – the combination of Keyonte George and potentially Ace Bailey (got whacked by Anderrson Garcia on a rebound all the way into the concussion report) out with injury, with the Timberwolves sometimes-shoddy guard point of attack defense, Isaiah will have the usage and matchups necessary to put up a big night statistically.
The Timberwolves, who have struggled a bit without Edwards this year (7 wins and 4 losses), will likely funnel additional usage to Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle. We will also get a good look at newest Timberwolf Ayo Dosunmu, acquired from the Bulls at the trade deadline, who took the open starting spot on 3/17 against the Suns with Edwards injured.
Which Jazz youngster are you hoping to see a big game from against the Timberwolves? Let me know below!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 19, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Golden State Warriors (33-35) at Boston Celtics (45-23) Wednesday, March 18, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #69 Home Game #34 TV: ESPN, NBCSB, NBCSBA Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 95.7 the Game, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics host the Golden State Warriors for the 2nd, and final, game between them this season. The Celtics won the first game 121-110 at Golden State on February 19. These two teams tied the series last season with each team winning on the road. The Celtics are 212-141 overall, all time against the Warriors and 118-40 in games played in Boston.
There are plenty of story lines surrounding this game. Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, coached the last Olympics team and he treated Jayson Tatum shabbily, not playing him in 2 games and limited minutes in others. We could also talk about the 2 former Celtics on the team. Al Horford left Boston expecting to have a better chance at another ring but it hasn’t turned out that way. Kristaps Porzingis joined the Warriors at the trade deadline and although he has played in just 22 games this season, he played in the Warriors’ 1st game against the Celtics and is expected to play in this game as well.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 7 games ahead of 6th place Orlando, and 7.5 games ahead of 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 16-9 against Western Conference opponents. They are 23-10 at home and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Warriors are 9th in the West, 20 games behind the 1st place Thunder, 8 games behind 6th place Minnesota, 6 games behind 7th place Phoenix, and 1 game behind the 8th place Clippers. They are half a game ahead of 10th place Portland and 9.5 games ahead of 11th place Memphis. They are 14-20 on the road and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They are 11-13 against Eastern Conference opponents and they are coming off a win in their last game.
After this game at home against Golden State, The Celtics will play one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.
The Warriors are playing in the 3rd game of a 6 game road trip. They will finish it playing at Detroit, Atlanta and Dallas. They will return home for games against Brooklyn and Washington before one game on the road at Denver. They will then have a 5 game home stand where they will host San Antonio, Cleveland, Houston, Sacramento, and the Lakers. They will finish the season on the road against Sacramento and the Clippers.
The Celtics have just one player on the injury report at this time. Nikola Vucevic remains out after surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger. The Warriors have 5 players out and another 2 players questionable. Jimmy Butler (knee), Seth Curry (thigh), Stephen Curry (knee), Al Horford (calf), and Moses Moody (wrist) are all listed as out. LJ Cryer (hamstring) and Quinten Post (foot) are both questionable. Finally, Gary Payton II (tibia) is listed as probable.
Probable Celtics Starters PG: Derrick White vs De’Anthony Melton
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesDe’Anthony Melton | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Brandin Podziemski
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesBrandin Podziemski | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Will Richard
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesWill Richard | Getty Images
Neemias Queta | NBAE via Getty ImagesDraymond Green | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Charles Bassey (10-Day) 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out John Tonje (G-League) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Warriors Reserves Pat Spencer Gary Payton II Kristaps Porzingis Omer Yurtseven (10 Day)
2 Way Players LJ Cryer Malevy Leons Nate Williams
Injuries/Out Jimmy Butler (knee) out Seth Curry (thigh) out Stephen Curry (knee) out Al Horford (calf) out Moses Moody (wrist) out Quinten Post (foot) questionable LJ Cryer (hamstring) questonable Gary Payton II (tibia) probable Head Coach Steve Kerr
Key Matchups Derrick White vs De’Anthony Melton Melton is averaging 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He is shooting 42.5% from the field and 29.8% from beyond the arc. He is coming off a game where he finished with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 18 points, 3 rebounds 1 assist and 1 steal while shooting 53.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Jaylen Brown vs Brandin Podziemski Podziemski is averaging 13 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He is shooting 44.7% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 11 points 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 62.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Honorable Mention Luka Garza vs Kristaps Porzingis This is a battle of big men off the bench. Porzingis has played in just 5 games for Golden State this season and in 17 games for the Hawks before being traded. He is averaging 17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He is shooting 45.8% from the field and 34.5% from beyond the arc. He is coming off his best game as a Warrior in which he finished with 30 points, , 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. In the first game against the Celtics,he finished with 12 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40% from 3. Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning. The Celtics are 5th in the league with a defensive rating of 111.8. The Warriors are 13th in the league, with a defensive rating of 113.4. The Celtics are 2nd with an offensive rating of 119.7 while the Warriors are 14th and have an offensive rating of 114.3. The Celtics need to play lock down defense consistently. The Celtics need to especially defend the perimeter as the Warriors are 1st in the league making 16.2 threes per game. They are 26th with 44.6 points in the paint per game. Of course, their biggest 3 point threat, Steph Curry is out for this game, but the Celtics can’t let up on defense because of it since other Warriors are capable of hitting shots as well.
Rebound – Rebounding is always a key to winning as you need the ball to score and a good way to get it is to grab rebounds. It takes effort to grab rebounds and the Celtics must make an extra effort to crash the boards and beat the Warriors to rebounds. If they put out extra effort on the boards, that usually carries through to the rest of their game. More rebounds gives them extra possessions and limits the possessions for the Warriors. The Warriors are 22nd with 42.9 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 4th with 46.2 rebounds per game.
Three Pointers – Both of these teams shoot a lot of 3 pointers. The Celtics are 3rd in the league, shooting 42.5 threes a game. The Warriors are 1st, shooting 45.2 threes a game. The Celtics shoot 36.2% from beyond the arc while the Warriors shoot 35.7% on threes. With Steph Curry out, they don’t shoot quite as many 3’s or quite as well but they still are dangerous from the perimeter. The Celtics are tough to beat when their 3’s are falling but they struggle when they aren’t They need to stay focused on taking and making good shots and if the 3’s aren’t falling they should take a page from Jaylen Brown’s book and drive into the paint.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics play the best when they move the ball and find the open man. They struggle more when players try to do too much and when the ball sticks with one player too long and when they take quick shots without looking for the best shot. The Celtics are 30-2 when they have at least 25 assists and they are 16-0 when they have at least 29 assists. They need to look to share the ball and not over dribble or try to take over at the expense of open teammates. They have to be careful with their passes as the Warriors average 19.4 points off turnovers per game.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics need to be the more aggressive team from start to finish. They need to be aggressive in going to the hoop, in crashing the boards, in fighting for loose balls and in running the court. They also have to be more aggressive on defense. The Warriors are short handed and will be playing hard to make up for that. The Celtics can’t slack off and expect an easy game because key Warriors are out. Effort and being more aggressive will likely be the difference in this game.
X-Factors Home Game vs Road Fatigue – The Warriors have won 1 and lost 1 game on this road trip and have 3 more games to go on the trip after this one.. The Warriors are away from family and home and have the distractions of staying in a hotel and playing in an unfamiliar arena in front of a (very) hostile crowd. Hopefully the Celtics crowd will be loud and rowdy and give the Celtics extra energy to avenge Kerr’s treatment of Tatum in the Olympics along with their loss in the 2022 Finals.
Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be a factor in every game. Every officiating team calls the game differently. Some call it tight and others let them play. Some favor the home team while some call it evenly. However the game is called, the Celtics must adjust to it and not allow the officiating to take away their focus on playing the game. They need to play well enough that a few bad calls won’t make a difference in the game.
