PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey will sit out at least the next two games with a sprained finger and the two-time All-Star will have additional tests to determine how long he'll be sidelined, the team announced Sunday.
The 76ers said Sunday that Maxey will be consulted after the additional tests to determine a treatment plan. The team added that it would have no further update until after the 76ers' next two games: at Cleveland on Monday night and home against Memphis on Tuesday night.
Maxey, who was selected to his second All-Star team this season, led the 76ers with 31 points against the Hawks before injuring his finger. He's Philadelphia's leading scorer with 29 points per game, which ranks him fourth in the NBA, while also averaging 6.7 assists and two steals.
The 76ers (34-29) entered Sunday eighth in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of the ninth-place Hawks.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves is fouled by New York's Mikal Bridges, right, while driving to the basket in front of Karl Anthony-Towns, left, in the first half of the Lakers' 110-97 win over the Knicks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers have struggled against the NBA's elite teams this season, something that's been a source of consternation for the team.
The opportunity to start shaping another narrative was presented Sunday against one of the league’s top teams in the New York Knicks.
Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds. Though he was 11 for 25 from the field and five for 16 from three-point range, his three with 1:05 left sealed the win for the Lakers (39-25).
Reaves had 25 points, five assists and four rebounds. He was eight for 16 from the field and three for six from three-point range.
Rui Hachimura (13 points, seven rebounds) and Luke Kennard (12 points) helped make sure the Lakers didn’t blow a 23-point lead against a New York team that is third in the Eastern Conference.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson had 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Knicks (41-24).
The Lakers entered the game with a 4-12 record against teams with a winning percentage over .600. Many of their losses to top teams have been by double digits, which has become a significant reason for concern with the playoffs fast approaching.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, dives for a loose ball in front of New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during the first half Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
It wasn’t going to be easy against a Knicks team that’s one of the NBA's best on the defensive end. They entered Sunday ranked fifth in points allowed (110.6) and seventh in both field-goal percentage (45.7) and defensive rating (111.7).
When the Lakers extended their lead to 21 points in the third quarter, they did so, in part, by playing stingy defense. They held the Knicks to 24 points in the third, with 35% shooting from the field and 18% shooting from three-point range.
The Lakers also scored 34 points in the quarter, shot 55% from the field and 50% (five for 10) from three-point range.
The Lakers played without LeBron James, who missed his second straight game because of a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis. James sustained his elbow injury after falling to the court in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
But Lakers center Deandre Ayton, who missed Friday's win over Pacers with left knee soreness, returned.
It has been an up-and-down season for Ayton, but Lakers coach JJ Redick said he is confident the 7-foot center can be more consistent moving forward.
Ayton showed flashes of his talent against the Knicks by being more engaged. He was active on defense from the start, blocking a shot in the first quarter. He set a hard screen to get Doncic open and then rolled to the basket and took a lob pass from Doncic for a two-handed dunk in the first quarter.
Ayton finished with six points and eight rebounds.
“Ultimately, the player has to be consistent," Redick said. "And that's not to say that's a knock on DA. That's just the NBA. We've been very consistent with how we've coached him. And we recognized early that was, maybe not a change, but that was something we had to be adaptable with. And I think we're hopeful and optimistic that we're gonna get a consistent version down the stretch of the season."
GLEN ALLEN, Va. (AP) — Brooklyn Gray scored 16 points and Rhode Island beat George Mason 53-51 on Sunday for the Rams' first Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament title.
Top-seeded Rhode Island (28-4) will make just its second trip to the NCAA Tournament and the first since 1996. No. 2 seed George Mason (23-9) won the tournament last season.
Rhode Island led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter, but Jada Brown hit a 3-pointer with 15.4 seconds left to pull George Mason to 51-48.
Gray added a pair of free throws with 8.9 seconds left before Mary Amoateng hit a 3 at the buzzer.
Gray made two 3-pointers and shot 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. She made six free throws and scored eight in the fourth quarter.
Rhode Island used a 15-9 third quarter to take a 39-34 lead into the fourth. Kennedy Harris hit a 3 to pull George Mason to 42-39, but the teams then went scoreless for nearly a four-minute stretch before layups from Gray and Sophia Vital stretched the Rhode Island lead to 46-39 with 1:06 left.
Albina Syla grabbed 10 rebounds to go with nine points for the Rams.
Harris scored 15 points to lead George Mason. Amoateng finished with 13 points and Zahirah Walton added 10.
The Rams made it to the final in 1984, 2003, and 2024. There hasn't been back-to-back champions in the A-10 tourney since George Washington in 2015-16.
His mindset changed after he started for the U.S. in a 9-1 win over Britain on Saturday night.
“I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ,” Skubal told reporters. “I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp. Things have changed, obviously. That’s why I’m going to have some conversations and try to figure out a plan for me. But yeah, I don’t know either way.”
Skubal, who has won the last two AL Cy Young Awards, said he was talking to his agent, Scott Boras, and the Tigers about the situation. But the left-hander, who can become a free agent after this season and is expected to command a huge contract next winter, added he was “not in the right headspace to make a decision right now.”
Last month, Skubal said he would make only one WBC start regardless of how far Team USA advances because he wanted to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday in Florida that he talked with Skubal briefly on Saturday night.
“I don’t think anything’s been determined,” Hinch said, according to MLB.com. “I think he’s incredibly emotional about the experience. It’s a difficult time that weighs heavily on players because they want to do it all.”
Hinch said they planned to have more conversations about it soon.
“We agreed to talk again as things settled down a little bit and he got a good night’s sleep,” Hinch said. “He’ll wake up and get a good work day in today.”
Skubal added the situation has created “one of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career so far.”
He also expressed appreciation for the U.S. team supporting whatever he chooses to do.
“They’ve been extremely supportive of everything,” Skubal said. “They totally get what’s going on with my situation — it’s unique. I’ve had these discussions with people, and most of it is, they’re extremely supportive of me being here in the first place. And I’ve got a ton of respect for that. But it’s just hard. When you get in these environments, and you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that.”
Skubal gave up a home run to Nate Eaton on his first pitch Saturday night but allowed just one single after that while striking out five in three innings. The U.S. improved to 2-0 with the win and faces Mexico on Monday night with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on the mound.
The Sixers All-Star collided with Adem Bona while diving for a loose ball in the final seconds of their 125-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, March 7. Maxey stayed down for a few moments longer as he grabbed at his right hand before getting up and heading to the locker room while wrapping his hand in the bottom of his jersey.
It's a tough blow for Maxey, who is averaging career-highs across the board with 29.0 points, 6.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game on 46% shooting. During a season in which the Sixers (34-29) have at times looked like bona fide contenders at their best, Maxey has been their most consistent presence.
But th 76ers have been marred by injuries and other issues all season.
Joel Embiid has missed the team's last four games with a right oblique strain and won't be re-evaluated until March 14, so he'll be out at least three more games. Paul George hasn't lived up to the max contract he signed with the 76ers in 2024 and is currently serving a 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Even Rookie of the Year candidateVJ Edgecombe has been out the last three games with a lumbar contusion.
The injury bug comes at a crucial point in the season for Philadelphia as they're currently locked in a heated race for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Entering Sunday, they sit half a game behind the Orlando Magic for the sixth seed, but also just a game and a half ahead of the ninth-seeded Hawks, who now own the tiebreaker after the March 7 contest.
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) — Ricky Castillo made back-to-back birdies right after 18-year-old Blades Brown came undone with one bad hole, closing with a 5-under 67 to win the Puerto Rico Open for his first PGA Tour title.
Castillo, playing in the final group behind Brown, holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 13th, and then hit a beautiful pitch over the mounds to 5 feet for birdie on the par-4 14th.
Castillo narrowly missed out — by 11 points in the FedEx Cup standings — on getting into the $20 million signature event at Bay Hill this week. He headed to Puerto Rico, played bogey-free in the final round at Grand Reserve and earned his way into his first major championship as a pro.
The victory gets him into the PGA Championship. He already was eligible for The Players Championship next week at the TPC Sawgrass.
“It's really cool to put into words to be able to win my first event,” Castillo said. “I felt like I wanted to be in Bay Hill and I decided to just come out here and play this and ended up winning, so it all works out in the end. Yeah, surreal week.”
He finished at 17-under 271, one shot ahead of Chandler Blanchet, who birdied the final hole for 67.
Brown, who turned pro last year and didn't graduate high school until January, birdied his last hole for a 69 to finish alone in third, his first top 10 on the PGA Tour.
But it was one hole — the 455-yard 13th — that did him in. It was similar to The American Express in January, when Brown played in the final group with Scottie Scheffler. He put a tee shot into the water on the fifth hole and made double bogey and was quickly out of reach of golf's best player.
This time, he drove into a fairway bunker and his approach to a green with water all the way down the right side drifted well to the right. He took his drop, then got too aggressive with a wedge and the ball trickled over the green. He chipped to 7 feet and missed the putt, taking triple bogey.
Brown had a one-shot lead going to the 13th and was four shots behind when he finished the 14th.
John Daly II, the 22-year-old son of two-time major champion John Daly, started three shots behind and shot 34 on the front nine. But he fell back quickly with five bogeys in seven holes to start the back nine and shot 74.
“I learned that you’ve got to put four rounds together and it’s not easy out here,” Daly said. “But very happy, not mad at all. Just a great day, great week.”
He heads back to Arkansas with eyes on trying to win an NCAA title.
Brown earned his spot in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook with his first top 10. He already had a sponsor exemption into the event.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jillian Huerter scored 19 points and Meghan Andersen added 18 points and nine rebounds as No. 25 Fairfield advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference final with a 65-48 win over Merrimack on Sunday.
The second-seeded Stags (27-4) will take on top-seeded Quinnipiac in Monday's championship game. Quinnipiac was a 63-62 overtime winner over fourth-seeded Iona on Sunday.
Huerter was 7-of-13 shooting, including 5 of 8 from the arc. Andersen missed all eight of her 3-point tries but was 7 of 9 otherwise. Janelle Brown added 10 points as the trio came through with conference player of the year Kaety L’Amoreaux (18.6 ppg) held to no points on just three shots in 26 minutes.
Se'Lah Reddick scored 17 points and Paloma Garcia 10 for the Warriors (19-12).
Fairfield led the entire second half but was only up by two in the third quarter before finishing the period on a 7-2 run. Brown's four-point play to open the fourth quarter made it a double-digit lead where it would stay.
Huerter hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute of the first quarter for a 14-10 lead. Merrimack came back to tie the game early in the second period, but Huerter hit her second 3 of the quarter to restore the advantage and the Stags led 28-24 at halftime.
Up next
Fairfield advances to its 14th MAAC title game. The Stags defeated fellow finalist Quinnipiac 84-65 in December.
"I go out every game and I play hard. I don't intentionally try to hurt anyone,” Fears said after Michigan State's game at Minnesota back in February, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I go out and play every game like it's my last, because at one point it was my last. So I don't take a game for granted. I don't take a moment for granted. So I'm going to go out there and play as hard as I can every possession, every game.
"Like at one point, I had basketball taken away from me, so something I love to do, I couldn't do it for a whole year. So most people wouldn't understand that. And that's on them, I guess. At the end of the day, it doesn’t change who I am or what I do. I'm just go out there and play 150(%) no matter what."
Mar 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) reacts and is assisted after being injured against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Maybe one day the Sixers can have nice things.
Tyrese Maxey suffered a sprain of his right pinky in the team’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks Saturday night. He will miss the next two games and undergo additional testing, per the Sixers.
Sixers say Tyrese Maxey suffered a sprain of the right fifth finger. He will undergo additional testing and consultation in the coming days to determine a treatment plan. He is OUT for the next two games and further updates will be provided after the back-to-back.
The play occurred with 16.2 seconds left in the game. Maxey and Adem Bona collided while going for a loose ball. The All-Star guard went down immediately, favoring his right hand. He looked to be in a great deal of pain and went straight back to the locker room with the hand tucked inside his jersey.
Doesn't get much worse than this for the Sixers: Tyrese Maxey exits the loss early after immediately grabbing his right hand in pain after this collision with Adem Bona.
Hard to see exactly what happened in the collision, but it did not look good based on Maxey's reaction. pic.twitter.com/uRkU6q3bLC
Not only will the Sixers be missing Maxey, but Joel Embiid (right oblique strain) and Paul George (suspension) will remain out when the team travels to Cleveland to take on James Harden and the Cavaliers. The only bit of good news is rookie VJ Edgecombe is listed as questionable. He’s missed the last two games with a lumbar contusion.
It’s not hyperbolic to say the Sixers’ season is on the brink. After Saturday’s loss, their record is 34-29. They’ve fallen out of a guaranteed playoff spot and sit in eighth. They’re only 1.5 games up on the Hawks and 2.5 up on the surging Charlotte Hornets. After the matchup with the Cavs, they play the very next night at home against the Memphis Grizzlies — without any members of the Big 3 — before hitting the road again to take on the East-leading Detroit Pistons.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Chris Ashby made 10 3-pointers and scored 34 points to lead Queens University to an NCAA berth in its first year of eligibility with a 98-93 win over Central Arkansas in the Atlantic Sun Tournament on Sunday despite 49 points by Camren Hunter.
The third-seeded Royals (21-13) of Charlotte, North Carolina, survived a late fourth-quarter collapse and Hunter's heroics to reach the NCAA Tournament in its fourth season of Division I play.
Queens had an 11-point lead with 3:25 remaining in regulation but couldn't handle the Bears' full-court pressure, turning the ball over five times while Hunter went on a 20-point scoring binge to tie the game at 82.
Ashby scored the first five points of overtime and the Royals kept the lead, making 9 of 10 free throws including two more by Ashby for a 95-90 edge.
All of Ashby's shots came from beyond the arc, finishing with a tourney record 10 made 3s on 19 attempts. Jordan Watford added 19 points, Nasir Mann 14 and Yoav Berman 10 with Avantae Parker collecting 10 rebounds to go with eight points.
Hunter bested his career high by 16 points, hitting 17 of 30 shots, including 8 of 12 on 3-pointers on his way to his tournament-record total. Ty Robinson added 16 points and Javion Guy-King 10 for the Bears (22-12), who were also seeking their first NCAA berth.
The teams combined for 74 3-point attempts, Queens making 16 of 38 and Central Arkansas 15 of 36.
Queens had a six-point lead in the first half before Central Arkansas closed the final 5 1/2 minutes on an 12-2 run to take a 34-30 lead.
TORONTO (AP) — Kelly Pannek scored an overtime winner to lead the Minnesota Frost over the Toronto Sceptres 3-2 on Sunday in the PWHL.
The Frost, who played without captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, picked up their first win in their second game following the Olympic break. Minnesota was coming off a shutout loss to the Montreal Victoire.
Toronto extended its point streak to four games despite the loss.
Forward Taylor Heise was in on all three goals for Minnesota. Her power-play slap pass set up Pannek for the winning goal seconds after Toronto’s Renata Fast was sent off for slashing.
Heise tied the game in the third period on another power play, beating Sceptres goalie Raygan Kirk with a slap shot. She fed Denisa Krisova on a breakaway for the Frost’s first goal in the first period.
Daryl Watts had a goal and assist for Toronto. Emma Woods had the other goal for the Sceptres.
Frost goalie Maddie Rooney made 22 saves for the win.
Toronto entered the game in sixth place but lost crucial points by failing to hold onto its third-period lead as the standings tighten ahead of the Walter Cup playoffs.
Up next
The Frost will host the Seattle Torrent on Wednesday.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 26, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-42) start the second half of this road trip, playing the Toronto Raptors (35-27) on Sunday afternoon at the odd start time of 5:00 pm CST. Toss in the start of Daylight Savings Time and I expect both teams to be out of sorts. Dallas is riding a six-game losing streak, falling Friday to the Boston Celtics in a big way. The Raptors have lost four of their last five and need to find some consistency.
Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Boston
WHAT: Becoming one with road games.
WHERE: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
WHEN: 5:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
Dallas has a more reasonable injury report compared to the past several games. The two-way guys are all out. Cooper Flagg is questionable with his ankle/foot injury he aggravated against the Celtics. Marvin Bagley is as well after being out since the Sacramento Kings game with a neck sprain. Dwight Powell is listed as probable with an injury I don’t remember him getting. Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington don’t carry any designations, a rarity this season given the ankle issues both have had.
The only player of note on the Raptors’ injury report is Brandon Ingram, who is questionable with an injury.
I wonder if anyone remembers the first time these teams met. It was one of the bigger Dallas wins this season, where they outraced the Raptors. Now, the Mavericks are just trying to make it to the end of the season with way too many road games left to go and the Raptors are not playing their best basketball as teams try to solidify their spots in the playoff race.
Perhaps the Mavericks will bring enough to out-hustle this Raptors team, but that depends largely on if Cooper plays. Or maybe Toronto will show up with some pride and torch Dallas . Basketball!
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Amir Coffey #2 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 113-110. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Suns at the trade deadline had one goal in mind: to avoid the luxury tax line. This was a movement set by many teams in the league, and the Suns were able to do so. Little did everyone know, though, that by making this move, the team would also regain a valuable piece.
Amir Coffey has consistently brought energy and impactful plays for this team since his addition at the deadline
Love his hustle and grind to do the little things for Phoenix, definitely should not go unnoticed
As we all know, the Suns traded Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards to the Milwaukee Bucks for Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey. Anthony never actually came to Phoenix and was then eventually waived for standout two-way player Jamaree Bouyea. Yet, Amir Coffey was said to be a throw-in, someone who had fallen out of the Bucks’ rotation and someone many Suns fans did not think would make an impact.
Well, so far for the Suns, he has suited up in nine games, and even if he is not a hot commodity on the stat sheet post-game, his impact has definitely helped this Suns squad. As we all know, this team has not caught a break against the injury bug this season. Time and time again, we see the squad get fully healthy, only for someone to get hurt in that game.
Right now, for the Suns, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams are out, giving Coffey more of an opportunity to show what he can bring to this team. Just in his small sample size, he has shown to be more valuable in Ott’s system than in River’s over in Milwaukee. As I stated, it’s only been nine games, but in 16 minutes per game, he averages 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, with 47/38/69 shooting splits.
Compare that to his time in Milwaukee: in just a third of the games, he is getting double or more minutes, points, rebounds, and assists while shooting +10% from three (8, 2.5, 0.9, 0.4). That should tell you multiple things.
One Coffey is still a valuable player in the right system.
Two that the Bucks still (due to Doc’s influence) fail to bring the best out of certain players.
He fits the system Jordan Ott wants, with his ability to shoot the three-point shot, alongside the hustle and dirty work this team envisages.
So far, all of that has been true, and recent performances support it. In the game against the Chicago Bulls, he had his best performance for the Suns. In 17 minutes, he posted a season-high 12 points with 4 rebounds, missing only one shot and making both of his threes. Once again, the stat line does not scream difference maker, but Coffey most certainly was.
In a game where the Suns shot 28% from three and had only two other players make multiple three-pointers (Grayson Allen and Devin Booker), his three-point shot was especially needed, given that he made them.
His first came with the Suns down seven in the fourth with just under three minutes to go. His hitting this three in clutch time when the team needed it most made it a four-point game.
His second three also came in another key moment, down six with under a minute left. Hitting another big three with just 45 seconds left made it a one-possession game.
Even if they lost, this game would not have been as close if Coffey had not given his best effort and almost helped them climb back in, his clutch gene kicking in. Once again, this is something many did not factor in when the Suns acquired him: that he would be helping the Suns almost pull out a win.
Not only does he have a good three-point shot, but he also hustles and rebounds effectively. As I mentioned, he had 4 rebounds in this game vs the Bulls, and 3 of them were offensive rebounds. Two of those actually ended up in the same possession, and Coffey was then rewarded a trio to the free-throw line for his hard work.
This is just another valuable aspect for a team that is in the top four in OREB per game at 13.2.
Coffey deserves his credit, even if he is not going to be dropping 25 or having a game with 15+ rebounds. His effort and determination to keep pushing through after not working out in Milwaukee are inspiring. I am very excited for his addition to this team, and can’t wait to continue seeing him improve within this system as his playing time increases.
This continues to push the narrative of the shift in culture, identity, and Phoenix that was brought this season. Something many clowned this offseason, but one that has clearly shown to be a core part of this team’s success, top to bottom.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
James Harden
19 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds
This game might have been different if Harden were more assertive at the start. Cleveland eventually found success in the second half by spamming the classic Harden pick-and-roll. With Neemias Queta on the floor for 53 minutes and being a giant weak point in pick-and-roll, it is puzzling that it took the Cavs so long to start picking on him.
Grade: B
Donovan Mitchell
30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
We’ve seen Mitchell put the team on his back before. Many times in this specific matchup. But it’s not a great sign that Mitchell is being tasked with carrying the offense to this degree. It can bring out the worst in both Mitchell and the team at large. I wouldn’t say we saw the absolute worst of either of those things today, as Mitchell finished 9-18 from the floor, but it was far from ideal.
The Cavs are at their best when the ball is humming. Boston forces them into playing isolation basketball. That’s contributed to some of Mitchell’s high-scoring performances, but it leans into the Celtics’ style.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the new City Edition shirt can be found HERE.
Evan Mobley
24 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
This was one of Mobley’s better games this season. He took advantage of his favorable matchup and even managed to lift the Cavs with a pair of three-pointers. His defense, as usual, was superb. The Cavs just didn’t have enough firepower around him for this to tip the scales.
Grade: A-
Jaylon Tyson
8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Boston provides a tough challenge for Tyson. They don’t give as much space in the pick-and-roll due to their willingness to switch everything. That limits Tyson on a day when he shot 2-6 from downtown.
Grade: C+
Dennis Schroder
2 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds
This wasn’t one of Schroder’s strong performances. He fell asleep off-ball a handful of times and conceded some easy looks for Boston’s offense.
Merrill wasn’t able to free himself for most of the day. Boston did a fantastic job suppressing him as a three-point shooter. The few open looks he had didn’t drop. He finished 1-7 from downtown.
Grade: D+
Keon Ellis
0 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists
Ellis helped to keep this game somewhat under control with his defense. This would have been a 30+ point loss without someone setting the tone. But he didn’t do enough to change anything truly, and he went scoreless, shooting 0-1 from the field.
Grade: D
Dean Wade
5 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds
Wade committed a couple of tough luck fouls throughout the game, but was otherwise helpful on defense. I can’t say Wade was great on offense, but he wasn’t bad either. This was a fine game. Just OK.
Grade: B–
Thomas Bryant
3 points, 2 rebounds
Look, we’ve given Bryant plenty of credit recently. So it brings me no joy to say this was his worst game as a Cavalier. Poor shot selection and even worse mobility on defense. That’s tough. Bryant finished 1-6 from the floor.
Navy led 72-70 with 3.6 seconds remaining when Boston University basketball freshman guard Chance Gladden took the in-bounds pass, sprinted up court and sank a deep 3-pointer from the Navy logo on midcourt to send the Terriers to the Patriot League championship game, while ending the top-seeded Midshipmen's hopes of making March Madness.
"I saw three seconds to go, I was just sprinting up the court, and when I let it go, it felt so good, I knew it was in," Gladden said in a postgame interview with CBS Sports Network.
WHAT. A. FINISH.
CHANCE GLADDEN AT THE BUZZER SENDS @TERRIERMBB TO THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TITLE GAME.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 8, 2026
The Terriers trailed as many as six points in the second half. Gladden's heroic shot came after Navy's Austin Benigni put the Midshipmen back up by two with 3 seconds to go after Gladden tied the score with a jumper inside the paint.
The win is a bracket-shifting one for the Patriot League. Not only does Navy get knocked out of the conference tournament game, but the conference will send a different representative to March Madness now with its automatic qualifier bid. The Midshipmen had been projected for a good chunk of the season as the conference's representative in bracketology predictions for several weeks after going 17-1 in the regular season.
It also snapped a 14-game win streak for Navy.
Boston University will now travel to Lehigh on Wednesday to play for the right to win the conference championship and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Terriers haven't won the Patriot League since 2020.
