Category: Basketball

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March usually belongs to the college kids and their “madness,” but if you’ve ever tried tackling NBA player props in the waning days of the schedule, you know a thing or two about going mad.

With so many mixed motivations, along with injuries and changing rotations, the home stretch of the NBA season is loaded with pitfalls for prop bettors.

I search for simplicity in these complicated times and close out the month with my best NBA picks for Tuesday, March 31.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Paolo Banchero	Over 23.5 points	+100
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 17.5 points	-105
Scottie Barnes	Under 7.5 assists	-140

Prop #1: Paolo Banchero Over 23.5 points

+100 at bet365

The Orlando Magic hit rock bottom in an embarrassing loss to the Toronto Raptors this past weekend.

But hey, you can only go up from there, right?

That’s true for Paolo Banchero, who finished 3-for-14 from the floor and scored just nine points in Toronto. His putrid performance kept Orlando on a 1-7 SU slide, pushing it back into the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament.

I like a bounce-back spot for a desperate Banchero, with the team returning home to face the Phoenix Suns. Before that blip north of the border, he was on a tear, posting 30, 36, and 39 points in his previous three games while averaging more than 25 points this month.

Sunday’s shooting slump has knocked Banchero's points prop down a few pegs. His scoring total was as high as 25.5 O/U during that hot streak, and tonight’s projections sit between 23 and 25 points, with most books leaning above 24. 

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Florida, KPHE

Prop #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points

-105 at bet365

The New York Knicks continue to take three steps forward and two steps back, following a seven-game winning streak with back-to-back losses. 

That stumble puts New York off the pace of the Celtics and Pistons atop the Eastern Conference standings and has fingers pointing at standout Karl-Anthony Towns, following an offensive power outage.

Towns has shot the ball just 17 total times in those losses, hitting 10 of those attempts and finishing with outputs of 13 and 15 points. NBA analysts are calling for KAT to play a bigger role and demand touches in the Knicks’ offense, especially with the playoffs closing in.

His point totals are shrinking like they jumped in a cold swimming pool, down from 20.5 to 17.5 O/U. That presents a buyback spot at Houston tonight.

Towns already torched the Houston Rockets for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting back in February, and his player projections all sit well above this 17.5-point mark, ranging from 19.4 to as high as 23.4. 

Before going MIA the last two games, KAT has scored 21 or more points in seven of eight games. 

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC/Peacock, MSG

Prop #3: Scottie Barnes Under 7.5 assists

-140 at bet365

Scottie Barnes is doing his best John Stockton impersonation. The Toronto Raptors' small forward has stepped up as a primary ball handler, with the lineup missing key cogs in Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram. 

He’s dished out 10, 12, 12, and 15 dimes over his last four outings, generating 16.8 potential assists per game in that span.

Helping those helpers has been a slate of foes immune to playmaking, facing the likes of Utah, the L.A. Clippers, and New Orleans — all of which sit in the bottom half in opponent assist rate. Toronto has also shot a blistering 53% from the field in those outings.

Barnes, who was averaging 5.4 assists on 9.4 potential dimes before this stretch, will see his passing prowess come back to earth tonight. The Raptors visit the Detroit Pistons and their top-tier defense.

The Pistons’ drum-tight No. 2 defensive rating doesn’t let opponents pass gas, let alone the basketball. Detroit boasts the fifth-lowest defensive assist rate and the fewest assists allowed (23.4), tightening that belt to 22.5 assists allowed over the last dozen games.

Ingram could also return to action tonight after sitting out two of those previous four games. That will take the ball out of Barnes' hands more often.
 
Projections remain grounded while the prop market isn’t. Barnes' assist total is up to 7.5 O/U, but models barely breach six dimes, sitting as short as 5.3 assists. The Under is a juicy play, but worth it considering the contrast in forecasts and foe.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Detroit Extra, Rogers Sportsnet Toronto, WMYD

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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

The New York Knicks just clinched a playoff berth while the Houston Rockets are trying to improve their own seeding in the Western Conference. New York is slightly favored with a moneyline of -118.0, compared to Houston's -102.0.

How to watch New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets

• Date: Tuesday, March 31

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

• Where: Toyota Center, Houston

• TV Channels: NBC, MSG, Peacock

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• New York Knicks: 48-27 (No. 2 in Atlantic Division)

• Houston Rockets: 45-29 (No. 2 in Southwest Division)

Odds

• Spread: Houston Rockets 1.5

• Moneyline: Houston Rockets -102 / New York Knicks -118

• Over/Under: 218.5

The NCAA announced its officiating crew for the Final Four of the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 30.

Only No. 2 seed Connecticut, No. 3 Illinois and No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona remain in March Madness after each school won their respective region to secure their trips to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the Final Four site this year. UConn faces Illinois and Michigan takes on Arizona for spots in the national championship.

REQUIRED READING: Final Four predictions: Who will advance to national championship game?

Michigan and Arizona have been dominant all season and in the Men's NCAA Tournament, and their Final Four matchup is shaping up to be one of the most-anticipated games in recent years. The Wolverines are coming off a 95-62 win over No. 6 Tennessee in the Elite Eight, with the Wildcats took down No. 2 Purdue, 79-64.

The Huskies, meanwhile, defeated top-seeded Duke on a last-second 3-pointer from true freshman Braylon Mullins. Illinois punched its ticket after beating fellow Big Ten foe No. 9 Iowa, 71-59.

Here's a look at the full officiating crew for the Final Four in 2026, which is certainly going to appease all college basketball fans:

Who is officiating the Final Four in 2026?

The NCAA didn't announce specific game assignments but did announce the 11 officials selected for the Final Four in 2026. Here's the full list:

• Jeff Anderson
• James Breeding
• Lee Cassell
• Ron Groover
• Keith Kimble
• Kipp Kissinger
• Greg Nixon
• Marques Pettigrew
• Doug Shows
• Doug Sirmons
• Paul Szelc

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final Four officials: Who is officiating Men's NCAA Tournament?

The Los Angeles Lakers can clinch the Pacific Division title and a playoff berth with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Luka Doncic is returning from his one-game suspension for the Lakers, who are favored by 1.5 points with a -135 moneyline in a matchup against the Cavaliers.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Date: Tuesday, March 31

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles

• TV Channels: FDSO, SN-LA

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Cleveland Cavaliers: 47-28 (No. 2 in Central Division)

• Los Angeles Lakers: 49-26 (No. 1 in Pacific Division)

Odds

• Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -1.5

• Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers -135 / Cleveland Cavaliers 110

• Over/Under: 236.5

The tallest player in college basketball history is headed elsewhere next season.

Florida center Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman, intends to enter the transfer portal, he announced on social media on Tuesday, March 31. The window to transfer opens April 7 — the day after the national championship on Monday, April 6 — and ends April 21.

"After taking time to reflect on my journey and what's best for my future, I've decided to enter the transfer portal," he wrote as part of a longer message.

REQUIRED READING: 'You're a big boy!' Florida giant Olivier Rioux's height shocks Prairie View A&M player

The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to nine against the shorthanded Chicago Bulls on Monday night. San Antonio dominated the game in a 129-114 blowout. The Spurs used a 35-19 second quarter to build a lead and never looked back, despite Chicago’s best efforts to keep the game close.

Victor Wembanyama once again looked like an MVP candidate as he’s made a late push to win the award. He single-handedly dominated the game on both ends, helping the Spurs breeze to an easy victory. He’ll headline a new series of articles for every game through the end of the season, where we grade each player on their performance.

These grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. So if someone makes a clutch shot or gets beaten repeatedly on defense, that will be accounted for. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual.

Victor Wembanyama

31 minutes, 41 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 17-for-27 shooting, 3-for-6 threes, +15

Wembanyama owned the entire game. The Bulls didn’t have the size to compete with San Antonio’s big man in the paint. He got everything he wanted at the rim and knocked down three triples, including a clutch shot at the end of the first half as time expired. Defensively, he was up to his usual tricks, keeping the Bulls out of the paint whenever he was in the game. The game was another MVP-level statement. There aren’t many players who can completely own a game on both ends like Wembanyama.

Wembanyama currently trails Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP odds on FanDuel at +300.

Grade: A+

Julian Champagnie

28 minutes, 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 foul, 5-for-7 shooting, 3-for-5 threes, +9

It was a pretty meh game from Champagnie. Early on, the Bulls were going at him defensively and getting some easy buckets. He made up for it by having an efficient shooting night on the other end, only missing two shots. Champagnie’s three-point shooting is a swing skill for San Antonio. When he’s knocking down threes off screens and in catch-and-shoot opportunities, the Spurs offense is hard to stop.

Grade: B

Devin Vassell

31 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 2-for-9 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, +20

It’s hard to complain too much about a player who is +20 in a blowout win. Vassell wasn’t knocking down shots inside the arc, but did go 50% from three. Vassell’s floor spacing makes the Spurs offense run smoothly even if he’s missing shots at the rim or in the mid-range. He also had an emphatic swat in the fourth quarter that was called a goaltend, but for a thrilling few seconds, it was an awesome highlight.

Grade: C+

Stephon Castle

35 minutes, 21 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, 6-for-12 shooting, 3-for-6 threes, +24

Castle was two rebounds shy of his second-straight triple-double. Once again, he was dependable from three, hitting 50% of his six attempts beyond the arc. He didn’t finish at the rim as consistently as he usually does, and he made some pretty silly turnovers early in the game. However, the Spurs were much better with him on the court than with him on the bench, and he put up some big numbers in the win.

Grade: B+

De’Aaron Fox

23 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 3-for-8 shooting, 0-for-3 threes, +9

Fox struggled quite a bit in a game where he wasn’t necessarily needed. Wembanyama had a clear offensive advantage inside, where he demanded the ball. Castle and Dylan Harper were providing plenty of rim pressure. It felt like another one of those games where Fox takes a back seat and kind of floats offensively. When he did take shots, he was way off, especially from deep. Games like this are fine in March against the Bulls, but a bad Fox game in April and May could mean a playoff loss.

Grade: C-

Harrison Barnes

17 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 1-for-5 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, -5

Barnes has been hot and cold lately. Monday night was a frigid one for HB. The veteran couldn’t find an offensive rhythm. He had a solid drive on a smaller defender in the first half, but other than that, he didn’t make much of an impact off the bench. Maybe Barnes is saving it all for the playoffs?

Grade: D

Keldon Johnson

26 minutes, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 5-for-11 shooting, 2-for-5 threes, +5

Chicago is the type of team Johnson can thrive against. They are smaller and aren’t great at transition defense. KJ was able to get into the paint and score against the Bulls with his bully-ball-like drives. He was a key part of the Spurs’ big run in the second quarter that helped them eventually win the game. His spark plug play off the bench continues to be good enough to put him in the Sixth Man of the Year chase.

Grade: B+

Carter Bryant

6 minutes, 0 points, 0-for-1 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, -4

As the playoffs approach, the rotation is tightening. Bryant has been getting squeezed out lately as the team prepares for the postseason. He played sparingly against Chicago and didn’t register a single statistic.

Grade: C

Luke Kornet

19 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 4-for-5 shooting, -8

Kornet has to have one of the toughest jobs in the NBA. It’s easy for him to look bad compared to his starter. Nobody scores on Wembanyama at the rim, so when Kornet comes into the game and gives up a bucket in the paint, it’s easy for fans to feel frustrated. All things considered, it was a fairly solid game from Kornet. Chicago was able to attack the basket more freely when he was in the game, but he made up for it on the other end by finishing plays efficiently.

Grade: B-

Dylan Harper

24 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, 4 fouls, 6-for-11 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, +4

Harper made an immediate impact when he subbed in the game. He knocked down a three and got to the rim a few times. He’s been super efficient at the rim this month, shooting 67.4% on drives, good enough for 3rd in the NBA. His jump shot is looking better, especially in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also one of the best perimeter defenders on the team (even if he could afford to foul less). Harper looks ready to make an impact in the playoffs.

Grade: B+

Monday’s Inactives: Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller

The Boston Celtics sit at 50-25 with 7 games remaining in the regular season. Not too bad for a “Gap year” right Jaylen?

Note this conclusion I wrote in the linked article above:

Unless something very weird and wonderful occurs next season, we won’t be raising Banner #19. But there’s enough interest and intrigue to keep us watching and following this team. At some point next season there will be a stretch where the vision starts coming together and you’ll be able to squint and say, “imagine adding a top-5 player in the NBA to this group.” Because soon enough, that’s gonna happen.

Turns out it was sooner than I ever could have imagined. Perhaps something “weird and wonderful” is occurring before our very eyes. Can’t wait to see how it develops in the playoffs.

Before we get there, however, let’s take a moment or two to reflect on the regular season. What questions do you still have as we finish out the season? Any thoughts on regular season awards? Want to make fun of me for my early season skepticism? I’m open to topics on all things.

Also, if you are the kind of person that’s always looking forward, give us your questions on the playoffs (matchups, rotations, predictions) or even the upcoming offseason (draft, free agency, etc.).

Leave your questions in the comments section below. As always, I’ll give it a few days and try to answer as many questions that I can. I don’t claim to be all-knowing, just a humble blogger that has been doing this for exactly 21 years (as of today – cheers!).

The Dallas Mavericks (24-51) will make a quick trip north to face the Milwaukee Bucks (29-45) for a makeup game that was originally scheduled for January 25. Due to a winter storm that left the Mavericks stranded on the runway for several hours, the game was suspended and eventually moved to March 31.

The matchup will not feature Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains out due to a knee injury. Milwaukee will also be without Kevin Porter Jr. (knee), Bobby Portis (wrist), and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (knee). Gary Harris (personal) is listed as questionable. That leaves the spotlight on emerging Bucks star Ryan Rollins and the Mavericks’ own Cooper Flagg. The injury report for the Mavs has Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington listed as questionable (illness), Marvin Bagley (shoulder), and Caleb Martin (heel) as doubtful. 

It’s warming up outside, but Dallas and Milwaukee didn’t get the memo, because both are ice cold entering Tuesday’s matchup. The Bucks, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, are 2-8 in their past 10 games. The Mavericks are 3-7 in their past 10 games. Here are three notes to keep in mind ahead of Tuesday night.

The Bucks are low hanging fruit

The vibes in Cream City suck. It’s no secret that the past two seasons have been disastrous for the Mavericks, but the Bucks aren’t far behind. Milwaukee was supposed to be in the East’s elite after snagging Damian Lillard, to pair him with franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the results were disappointing. Following a 2024 first-round exit to the Pacers, the Bucks entered last season with renewed hope that they could gain some traction with their new star duo and head coach Doc Rivers. Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles in the first round of the 2025 playoffs and ultimately played his last game as a Buck. He was waived in the 2025 offseason, and Milwaukee owes him $22 million a year for the next five years.

The Antetokounmpo soap opera will enter another offseason, after the Bucks entertained offers up until the trade deadline but ultimately decided to hang onto their star. He has all but demanded a trade, but with Antetokounmpo wanting to compete for a championship and Milwaukee going nowhere fast, it’s likely he’s played his last game in a Bucks uniform.

Entering Tuesday, the Bucks have a plethora of injuries, have lost 14 of 17 games, and are desperately limping to the finish line of the season. They have the NBA’s fifth-worst defense, giving up 119.1 points per 100 possessions. The Mavericks’ schedule the past month has been one of the hardest in the NBA, and Dallas has only lost one game by double digits in the past two weeks – last night against Minnesota. They’re competing. Milwaukee, on the other hand, has seemingly lost its soul from another weary season. If there’s a game for the Mavericks to get another surprising win on the road, this one makes sense.

Should Marvin Bagley III be here next season?

Most of the chatter about the 2018 draft centers around how the Mavericks and Hawks swapped Doncic and Young. It’s often forgotten that Marvin Bagley III was drafted second overall ahead of both. Bagley has had an underwhelming career, but part of that could be the cultures he’s been exposed to. What is your actual ceiling if most of your career has been with the Kings and Wizards? Co-interim GMs Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley were excited about the idea of bringing Bagley to Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis trade, and the results beg the question – should Bagley be in Dallas next season?

This season, Bagley is averaging 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. With the Mavericks, he’s averaging 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. And perhaps most importantly, he’s played in 56 games this season. For Dallas and big men, the best ability is availability, and Bagley is that.

Dallas will be limited in bringing Bagley back next season since they only have his non-bird rights. He’s on a minimum $2.2 million deal this season, but with his production this year, teams could (and probably will) offer him a bigger payday. The most the Mavericks can offer him next season is $3.7 million, unless Dallas decides to pay him part of the mid-level exception. However, splitting the MLE isn’t ideal, as it limits the Mavs in signing other high-caliber role players.

Bagley’s future in Dallas may be uncertain, but we know one thing for sure. He’s on the court and can add high-quality minutes to a big man rotation that’s seen its fair share of injury problems.

Cooper Flagg is finding his shot (again)

In his first five games after returning from a left foot injury, Cooper Flagg shot 27-94 from the floor, 28.7%. He also shot a dismal 3-15 from three, 20%. We’re throwing out last night’s game against the Timberwolves, since it’s more of an exception to the rule.  In his eight games since (minus last night), Flagg has shot 71-139 from the floor – 51% and 5-23 from three, 21.7%. The three-point shot needs work, but his polish at the rim has returned, and the jump shot looks smooth. During this last eight-game stretch, Flagg is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game. On the defensive end, he’s adding 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

Kon Knueppel may ultimately win Rookie of the Year, as his Hornets are looking for their first playoff berth since 2016. But Flagg’s impact on both ends is what makes him arguably the most complete rookie since LeBron James. And similar to James in his early years, Flagg only has one noticeable weakness – his shot.

The NBA is a shooter’s league. Flagg is good in just about every measurable (and non-measurable) way. But his shot, particularly his three-point shot, needs work. This should be a priority for the 19-year-old this offseason. He’ll figure it out. And once he does, he’ll be truly unstoppable.

How to watch

Milwaukee and Dallas are both trying to get to the end of their respective seasons. With injuries and drama derailing the past two years for each franchise, both have their sights set on the offseason. But to get there, you have to play the games. And while wins have come few and far between for both sides, someone will come away victorious. And at the end of the day, it’s another opportunity for Mavs fans to enjoy watching Cooper Flagg play basketball. He’s one of one.

The Mavs and Bucks tip off at 7PM CT from the Fiserv Forum. You can watch on KFAA Channel 29, Mavs TV, or NBA League Pass. Go Mavs!

After an up-and-down road trip the Raptors returned home to win two straight games in a dominant fashion. Now, they embark for a single away game to face the Detroit Pistons for their third and final contest of the season.

Currently 1-1 in prior matchups, Toronto won the most recent game by double-digits only two weeks ago. They also have a rest advantage, but with both teams missing prominent players due to injury, this could be anyone’s game and ultimately come down to effort.

At this point in the season, most games are “must-win”. Tied with Atlanta but holding the tie-breaker, they continue to try to avoid a play-in game. Only 3.5 games separate them from 10th, so there’s little margin for error here. Detroit has a comfortable 4-game lead in first, but wouldn’t want to give away the lead to Boston either.

Without Quickley, the facilitation game will likely be what the Pistons attack. Detroit is a tough, physical team, who leads the league in steals with 10.5 per game. Protecting the ball and limiting turnovers will also limit extra possessions and scoring opportunities for Detroit. Toronto will have to look to Scottie and Shead for most of the playmaking as both have shown an ability to facilitate for the team.

The Raptors are also going to be limited in scorers potentially missing BI, RJ, and IQ. Hopefully at least one of RJ or BI is available, but in the event that neither is, Scottie will have to have a performance warranted of his All-Star nod tonight. Jak could have another strong performance, and Ja’Kobe has had a great season so far and could chip in to help keep them afloat. Preventing lapses on defence that could give up points that would be difficult to earn back could be the key here.

Another challenge for Toronto will be the lack of bodies on the court. With the lengthy injury report, guys are likely going to see more minutes than they’re accustomed to. Pace and transition play, both things that require tremendous effort and energy are going to be a challenge when doing it for that long. This is great conditioning for the playoffs, especially playing fatigued in the fourth quarter and needing to execute effectively. This execution has been another struggle for them this season, one that needs to be worked out before the playoffs.

Probable Starters

Toronto: Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead

Detroit: Ausar Thompson, Daniss Jenkins, Kevin Huerter, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris

Injury Report

Toronto: RJ Barrett (Probable: Shoulder stiffness), Jamison Battle (Out: Not with team), Chucky Hepburn (Out: G-League), Brandon Ingram (Questionable: Heel inflammation), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Out: G-League), Collin Murray-Boyles (Questionable: Back spasms), Immanuel Quickley (Out: Plantar fasciitis)

Detroit: Cade Cunningham (Out: Chest), Isaiah Stewart (Out: Calf)

Where to Watch

Tune in at 8pm ET on Sportsnet!

The Wizards final West coast trip of the 2025-26 season ended about the way you’d expect — with a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The final margin was only 19. The game itself didn’t feel that close, which is pretty normal for the Wizards this season.

Both the Wizards and Lakers shot poorly from three-point range — Washington, a mind-numbing 20.0%; the Lakers a merely bad 29.2%. The Lakers won on the boards (+15 rebound advantage) and by making twos at a much better clip. LA converted 67.3% of their shots inside the arc, and Washington just 58.6%.

The Lakers also won from the free throw line. They earned twice as many trips to the free throw line and outscored Washington 25-12 on foul shots.

The preceding should not be read as complaining about the refs. The Lakers drove frequently, and the Wizards are a group that struggles to defend without fouling. Which is to say, Washington gets beat at the point of attack and then does a lot of reaching and grabbing and swiping, which often draws whistles. They’re also antsy, which in this case is a euphemism for man do they bite on ball fakes a lot.

To be honest, in a lot of ways it felt like the Lakers had some mercy (or perhaps a different agenda) on the offensive end last night. Washington was utterly incapable of doing anything to slow LeBron James and Austin Reaves pick-and-roll actions. In fact, they had a difficult time handling James setting ball screens for anyone.

As an aside, what James is doing this season is impressive. He’s spent his entire life with the ball in his hands. He’s been the guy others set screens to get loose. Now in his 23rd season, he’s setting ball screens (something he rarely did in his previous 22 years in the NBA) and playing as a third option when Luka Doncic is on the floor.

As for the Wizards, Justin Champagnie made shots. There’s a cranky old man vibe to his game, which seems to morph into bemusement when things get physical. He also tends to play hard, and he has a kind of sneaky Jeff Green-esque athleticism. It seems like he’s just kinda gliding along like a normie NBA athlete, and then suddenly he’s throwing down a dunk over a seven-footer or blocking a shot above the box. He was pretty good last night — 18 points on 12 shots.

Tristan Vukcevic notched a decent PPA score, though I did not think he played well. He ended the night with four steals and a block in 20 minutes, which is a lot. His overall defensive effort wasn’t good, in my view.

Jaden Hardy came off the bench to score 11 points on eight shots in 23 minutes. He had several genuinely good defensive possessions against James (the elder one), and grabbed five rebounds. I’m intrigued enough by his shooting and offensive aggressiveness to want to see him in extended action the final seven games. By “extended,” I mean 30+ minutes per night with maybe 2-3 starts mixed in.

Thoughts & Observations

• It’s interesting how context can change the value of a player’s performance. Rui Hachimura with the Lakers is basically the same as he was in Washington, though with fewer rebounds, lower usage and higher efficiency. The latter two go together. In Washington, he had to carry a heavier creation load because the team didn’t have anyone else. In Los Angeles, he plays in the space created by Doncic, James, and Reaves and can take mostly open shots. He was always a good shooter (former assistant coaches told me he routinely won the team’s shooting contests in Washington). In LA, he gets easier shots.
• Early in the first quarter, Hachimura drove a closeout on Will Riley that was an example of Washington’s defensive challenges. First, Riley was late on the closeout and off balance. Hachimura turned down an open three to drive. Riley recovered enough to run along a step behind but had no impact on the play. Meanwhile, Vukcevic was late to rotate, didn’t get into help position, and then was weak on top of it all. Hachimura ended up with a nearly ayup line finish.
• Riley had a lot of trouble contending with Hachimura. He needs to spend a lot of time in the weight room getting stronger this offseason.
• Vukcevic gave a Kornet contest on a three-point attempt in the first quarter. Reaves missed.
• I didn’t think that I would ever write this sentence, but…On one possession, the Wizards forgot to guard LeBron James. Seriously, at 6:20 in the first quarter, literally no one matched up with arguably the best player in basketball history.
• Stat from the Lakers broadcast: Doncic this season is the first player in Lakers franchise history to accumulate 2,000+ points, 500+ assists, and 100+ steals in the same season.
• Another tidbit: Last night, James tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for all-time wins as a player, including playoffs. The LA victory was 1,228th time James has been on the winning team. Tim Duncan is third at 1,158, followed by Robert Parish at 1,121, and Karl Malone at 1,050.
• It’s a shame Anthony Gill isn’t 10-12 years younger. With a steady diet of playing time this season, he seems to be figuring out how he can be successful in the NBA. He’s attacking closeouts, using ball fakes to create openings, and he competes hard on defense and on the boards despite giving up size and strength advantages to most of his matchups.

Four Factors

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

The four factors are measured by:

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

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

Tonight, the Knicks (48*-27) visit the Rockets (45-29) at the Toyota Center. New York has clinched a playoff berth, but need to get through a challenging slate in order to keep their third slot—or catch the 50-win Celtics. Houston is one of five over-.500 teams standing between the Knicks and the finish line. The Texans have been solid at home (25-10) and are motivated to win, as they sit in the thick of the Western playoff picture.

The teams last met on February 21 in New York, where the Knicks rallied from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 108-106. Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby both added 20, and New York limited their foes to 15 points in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant scored 30 for the visitors and tweeted about the game from four burner accounts.

The Rockets score 114.4 points per game and allow 110.1, showing a balanced but efficient attack. They rely on interior dominance, athleticism on the wings, and spacing when healthy. Houston rates ninth for offense and eighth for defense.

Alperen Şengün anchors the frontcourt with 20.7 points, nine rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while shooting efficiently inside. Durant provides elite scoring (around 26 PPG) and spacing as a knockdown shooter. Amen Thompson (17.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.5 SPG) delivers two-way athleticism. Jabari Smith Jr. (15.6 PPG) adds floor-spacing and versatility up front.

On New York’s injury front, Landry Shamet remains OUT with a right knee contusion. Miles McBride is listed as questionable after crashing into Lu Dort in his first game back from hernia surgery. Nothing new to report for Houston.

Prediction

ESPN gives the Knicks a 57% chance. That’s a safe bet. In their February meeting, the Knicks showed they can hang and make comebacks, but on the road in Houston, execution on both ends will be crucial. For New York to stay competitive, Brunson needs to control the tempo and create advantages, the bigs must battle Sengün on the glass and in the paint, and the defense has to limit Houston’s transition buckets. Should be a competitive affair that is decided late, with another late clampdown by our heroes. Knicks by four.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (48*-27) at Houston Rockets (45-29)
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 8 PM ET
Place: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
TV: NBC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup win was forgotten on the tarmac.