This might be a good instance to avoid the replays.
Golden State's fifth-year guard, Moses Moody, had to be stretchered off the court after his knee gave way going up for an uncontested, breakaway dunk. The play happened in overtime, when Moody stole the ball from Dallas' rookie Cooper Flagg near midcourt and was going in for the exclamation point dunk.
"We don't know what it is, but it sure looked bad," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game, via the Associated Press.
Players from both teams consoled Moody and were around him when he was carted off the court.
There is no word yet on exactly what the Moody's injury is.
Moody had just knocked down a big 3-pointer in overtime and scored 23 for the game. For the season, Moody has averaged 11.9 points per game, shooting 40.2% from 3-point range. This was Moody's first game back after missing 10 games with a sprained wrist.
Moody got a clean steal, poking the ball away from Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg with 1:15 remaining in the overtime period.
Moody was all alone on a fast break when he exploded to the rim for a dunk. It appeared his knee gave out on him, which caused him to land awkwardly. He never attempted the shot.
Moody stayed down and was carried off of the court on a stretcher. He received a MRI at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game.
"I saw his leg buckle and saw him go down in a heap in pain," Kerr said. "We don't know what it is, but it sure looked bad, and it's just hoping for the best. You know, whatever the best case scenario is that's what we're all hoping for. But it looked bad."
Moody missed the Warriors' previous 10 games with a sprained right wrist. He ended the game against the Mavericks with 23 points on 8-of-20 shooting, including four made 3s. He also added three steals and two blocks.
"He was brilliant, by the way, played so well defensively, changed the game for us, or, you know, with his ball pressure, and knocked down big shots," Kerr said. "So great to finally have him back, you know, after he missed whatever it was eight or 10 games and then for that to happen, like I said, we're just praying that it's not too serious, but it sure looked serious."
Moses Moody is down, clutching his leg, appearing to suffer a serious left knee injury.
Players reacted and consoled Moody on the court as he was taken off. Many others took to social media to react to Moody's injury. Please be advised that some of the following images are graphic.
Draymond hugged Moses Moody as he was stretchered off the court after his injury 🫂😕
Re: Moses Moody for #DubNation. Obviously the usual battery of tests will be done by the team (i.e. x-ray and MRI's) but when you see the patella (kneecap) not in the right position you have to worry about a patellar tendon rupture, patellar dislocation, or a larger knee…
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) March 24, 2026
Just awful… one of the scariest ones I’ve had to watch. Prayers up to Moses Moody, horrible sight for one of the Warriors’ hardest workers. https://t.co/bnIErtAazD
Mar 23, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) scores against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Normally the Rockets scoring 124 in regulation time would signal a win. Normally, though, the team wouldn’t give up 41 points in the first quarter, while only scoring 21 points themselves. That’s truly awful offense AND defense. The deficit would grow to over 22 points, but the Rockets, to their credit, did in fact come back in this one, and take the lead in the fourth quarter*.
This game, though, definitely had a “Make or Miss” aspect to it. The Bulls shot 38 three pointers and made 19 of them for a robust 50% average. The Rockets shot 41 three pointers (Wow!) and made 11 of them (Wow…) for a less than robust 27%. The Bulls shot 28 free throws and made 23 of them for 82%. The Rockets shot 24 free throws and made 15 of them, for 63%. Those are the kind of numbers that will rarely get it done on either end of the court. And yet the Rockets almost did get it done. If not for a late flurry of made three pointers by the Bulls the Rockets might well have won this one.
That we’re talking about the Rockets valiantly coming back from way behind to the 28-42 Bulls is a bit sad, but the Bulls do have a solid offense. Though they’re not a good team, the Bulls offense is second in the NBA in pace, and averages 116 points per game, two points per game better than the Rockets 114. They’re much better with Josh Giddey in their lineup as well, as he’s missed around 25 games this season, and is probably their best player. They won’t make their usual play in game assignment with Atlanta and Miami, but that’s likely due to the aforementioned absence of Josh Giddey, rather than a steep fall from mediocrity. All this to say, the Bulls aren’t terrible and are at least a good to decent offense.
The game ended up wasting very good efforts from Alperen Sengun, who scored 33pts on an impeccable 16-19 shooting, including 1-3 from three point range, along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists to two turnovers, as well as two steals and a block. The past few games have seen a return to Alpie looking more like the All Star and often dominant player. Some of this might be a return to health, and some other factors might play into it as well, to be covered elsewhere.
Amen Thompson, due to Reed Sheppard starting again, played off ball, and spent much of his time as a pure downhill attacker, without point guard responsibilities, and in the dunker’s spot, where he’s simply a terror. He scored 23 on 8-12 shooting, went 7-9 from the free throw line, mostly from attacking into contact, added 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. This was one of the best looking overall Thompson games I’ve seen in a while.
Kevin Durant, also largely freed of initiating the offense from the exact same place, the exact same way, every time, scored a mere 40 points, going 15-23, 5-10 from three, adding 7 rebounds, 5 assists (to 4 turnovers) and nearly won the game with clutch makes down the stretch, before being called for a real, but ticky tack, push off on an inbounds play late, when the Rockets still had a chance to comeback.
On the negative side in terms of scoring were Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith. The two combined to score 19 points in 70 minutes. Reed was 5-17 shooting overall, and an uncharacteristic 3-14 from three point range. He added 5 rebounds, 6 assists, but had 4 turnovers, as well as 4 stocks (2 each). It wasn’t an awful game from Reed, and I think his presence with the starters has helped enable some of the great games we’ve seen recently from Sengun, Amen and KD. But he’s still a raw PG, and the learning curve remains steep.
Jabari was just not good tonight. He didn’t score until late in the game, and was 2-10, 1-7 from three point range, and only managed 5 rebounds. Worse still was Tari Eason, whose slump has turned into a full on collapse. I hope it’s a health issue, as he’s shooting 31% for the month of March, and about 8% from three point range, on 33 attempts. Yes, eight percent.
The near unplayability of both Tari and Dorian Finney-Smith is really hurting the Rockets. JaeSean Tate made a return tonight, and the Rockets need him. Why Josh Okogie got only 3 minutes tonight, despite the clear ineffectiveness of Eason and DFS in 20 minutes combined is another Ime Mystery. Josh is shooting 40% from three this season, and is a good defender. The Rockets bench contributed next to nothing.
The season is winding down, and every win is crucial for playoff position. The Rockets needed to get it done tonight, and almost doesn’t do that, despite the comeback being a lot of fun to watch. There might be something happening with the offense, but with 11 games left, it had better happen quickly.
The Rockets head to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves, who have also been slumping lately. That win would get them the tiebreaker with the Wolves.
*The Rockets own a commanding lead over the entire NBA with 16 blown fourth quarter leads as of tonight. That’s more than several teams combined totals! With 11 games remaining there’s still a chance of catching the record 22 blown 4th quarter leads held by the immortal 2010 Sacramento Kings. It would take a kind of reverse miracle, fortunately. Still, august company you’re keeping there, Rockets and Ime.
Jordi Fernández was a big fan of the Brooklyn Nets’ performance against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday evening, a hard-fought game that resulted in a 126-122 Kings victory.
The head coach described it as “very positive,” and it was easy to see why. Ben Saraf turned in a career-best performance as did Malachi Smith, Ziaire Williams handled more on-ball opportunities well, and the team only turned it over seven times. Aside from Danny Wolf’s gnarly ankle sprain, the only uneasy moment was how close the Nets actually came to winning: about two inches of wingspan that Drake Powell doesn’t have. Alas, Brooklyn lost, taking a huge step to securing (at least) the 3rd-best NBA Draft Lottery odds.
The second half of their back-to-back went much differently. Sunday’s game was always going to be a nail-biter. Meanwhile, Monday night’s game tipped off at 10:10 p.m. ET, and the game did not end until after 12:30 thanks to a whistle parade Nic Claxton returned from a one-game rest absence, but Drake Powell and Terance Mann joined Wolf and Noah Clowney on the injury report, in addition to the MPJ/Sharpe/Dëmin trio nursing long-term injuries back on the East Coast.
Infomercial breaks between quarters would have been appropriate.
Pregame, Fernández emphasized the importance of handling Portland’s ball pressure on offense and protecting the paint on defense. I thought the team played fairly hard given the rough scheduling circumstances — Fernández disagreed — but they did not execute in either of these areas. The Nets committed 22 turnovers in this one, though the Blazers committed 24 themselves. In any case, the footage is not headed to Springfield.
Similarly, Brooklyn couldn’t protect their paint, though with the absence of every non-Clax big on the roster, they trotted out some small lineups. There were even some shining moments early on, like Nolan Traore blocking Donovan Clingan in help…
Nolan has made a ton of impressive plays at the rim this season but this is near the top. Fantastic anticipation/hands: pic.twitter.com/Jpg597XIYb
But the Blazers took 40 free-throws, led by Deni Avdija taking a dozen. The hosts also shot 25-of-37 in the paint, whereas Brooklyn once again could not score against the 7’2” Clingan in drop coverage. Nic Claxton shot just 4-of-10 for his ten points, while Traore took the bagel — 0-of-9 on the evening with a couple tough shots over Cling Kong. The Nets shot just 20-of-44 in the paint, though Chaney Johnson did provide one major highlight…
Johnson was one of seven Nets who reached double-digits on the evening, though his five turnovers put a damper on the box score. His lack of size at the center position finally came to a head, outside of that one transition dunk.
It wasn’t too surprising that Brooklyn struggled to score on the interior; what really turned the game into a blowout was the 3-point shooting disparity. Tyson Etienne got hot in the fourth quarter, actually leading the team in scoring with 18, while Josh Minott shot 2-of-4 from deep and Williams’ only make was a 4-point play, but as a team, the Nets shot just 8-of-29 from three.
On the other side, Camara made nine by himself. Yes, Toumani Camara scored a career-high 35 points, shot 9-of-11 from deep, and by garbage time, he was really feeling himself, taking heat-checks from the logo and tween-tween pull-ups…
“I was feeling like Damian Lillard,” said the man of the hour. He was looking like it too. His opponent was not. The Nets did not shoot well from two or three; they turned it over a ton.
When Fernández got asked where the game went “off track,” he did not mince words: “At every level. We got outplayed. We lost every single quarter. So, no excuse of any kind. The second-chance, the free-throws, the points off turnovers ended up being even, but we lost the possession game. We lost the physicality part of it, the effort, everything.”
And there you have it. Jalen Wilson reached double-figures in his first start of the season, as did Claxton, and Ziaire Williams scored another 16 points on just seven FGAs, but this was not a memorable evening. After two equally exciting but very different games against the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings, we were due for this. These end-of-season exercises in futility weren’t all going to be easy on the eyes.
Final Score: Portland Trail Blazers 134, Brooklyn Nets 99
Tankathon Update
The Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic thanks to a game-saving block by Pascal Siakam on Monday night. They have 16 wins, as do the Washington Wizards. The Brooklyn Nets have 17 wins. The Nets play each of those teams one more time this season.
Which means that Brooklyn controls its own tanking destiny. Well, at least before a coin flip. (Teams that finish with the same end-of-season record are subject to a coin flip to determine how many precious ping pong balls they get.)
Here’s an updated look at the standings, courtesy of Tankathon…
Next Up
<p>Paras Griffin/Getty Images</p><br>
The Brooklyn Nets continue their West Coast road trip by visiting the Golden State Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Toumani Camara had career highs of nine 3-pointers and 35 points to help Portland beat the Brooklyn Nets 134-99 on Monday night, the Trail Blazers’ largest margin of victory this season.
The Nets have lost eight straight and 18 of the last 20. Brooklyn (17-55) is a game behind Indiana (16-56) and a half-game behind Washington (16-55) for the best draft lottery odds.
Camara made 10 of 12 shots from the field.
Nets center Nic Claxton (33) shoots the ball over Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) as Trail Blazers’ forward Deni Avdija (8) watches during the second half at Moda Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Deni Avdija scored 18 points and Scoot Henderson had 13 points, five assists and four steals for the Trail Blazers. Donovan Clingan finished with 15 rebounds, seven points and seven blocks.
Camara, who was featured on commemorative glassware as part of a Trail Blazers’ giveaway, banked in his first 3-pointer off the glass and hit his first eight 3-point shots, going 9 for 11 from distance.
Tyson Etienne led the Nets with 18 points, Ziaire Williams added 16 and Josh Minott 15.
Nets guard Tyson Etienne (10) looks to get around Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 23, 2026, in Portland, Ore. AP
Murray converted a three-point play with 4:48 left in the first quarter that gave the Trail Blazers the lead for good and sparked a 13-2 run that made it 28-18.
Ben Saraf converted two free throws that made it a three-point game with 4.7 seconds left, but Jrue Holiday answered with a layup three seconds later and Portland scored 11 of the first 12 points in the second quarter.
The Nets trailed by at least nine points the rest of the way.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Toumani Camara had career highs of nine three-pointers and 35 points to help Portland beat the Brooklyn Nets 134-99 on Monday night, the Trail Blazers’ largest margin of victory this season.
The Nets have lost eight straight and 18 of the last 20. Brooklyn (17-55) is a game behind Indiana (16-56) and a half-game behind Washington (16-55) for the best draft lottery odds.
Camara made 10 of 12 shots from the field. Deni Avdija scored 18 points and Scoot Henderson had 13 points, five assists and four steals for the Trail Blazers. Donovan Clingan finished with 15 rebounds, seven points and seven blocks.
Camara, who was featured on commemorative glassware as part of a Trail Blazers’ giveaway, banked in his first three-pointer off the glass and hit his first eight three-point shots, going 9 for 11 from distance.
Tyson Etienne led the Nets with 18 points, Ziaire Williams added 16 and Josh Minott 15.
Murray converted a three-point play with 4:48 left in the first quarter that gave the Trail Blazers the lead for good and sparked a 13-2 run that made it 28-18. Ben Saraf converted two free throws that made it a three-point game with 4.7 seconds left, but Jrue Holiday answered with a layup three seconds later and Portland scored 11 of the first 12 points in the second quarter. The Nets trailed by at least nine points the rest of the way.
Robert Williams III (knee-injury management) did not play and Jerami Grant (foot soreness) missed his second consecutive game for the Trail Blazers.
Danny Wolf (ankle), Drake Powell (knee-injury management), Terance Mann (rest), and Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain) did not play for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring) missed his seventh straight game.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 21: Bez Mbeng #21 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 21, 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to the Utah Jazz, they’ve signed Bez Mbang to a second 10-day contract.
We have signed guard Bez Mbeng to a second 10-day contract.
Mbeng has been a fun story for the Jazz as he’s provided nice defense and great energy while he’s been on the floor. We’ll see if he continues to get 10-day contracts but it wouldn’t be surprising, he’s fit in well with what the Jazz are doing and brings a defense-first mindset the team needs.
This does make you think that Utah wants him in their system. I wouldn’t be surprised if this means Utah has him on the upcoming summer league team and maybe at training camp. If Mbeng can improve his game enough, he might be able to earn a potential two-way contract next season. Whatever happens, you can tell that Mbeng is playing his heart out and is realizing a dram of playing in the NBA. What would be even more cool is that he plays his way into a contract. We’ll see if that eventually happens but this is a good first step towards that.
INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 23: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 23, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Down Giannis, Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and Cam Thomas (who was waived), the Milwaukee Bucks got their asses handed to them by the LA Clippers in a 129-96 blowout. Gary Trent Jr. led the Bucks with 20 points on 6/10 from deep, while Kawhi Leonard dominated for the Clippers with 28 points.
Both teams got off to a rocky start from a shooting standpoint, but it was Darius Garland and Kawhi Leonard who threw the first punch, combining for the Clippers’ first nine points, grabbing a four-point edge over the Bucks after about four minutes. Then LA went cold for a stretch, allowing the Bucks to stay close via Ryan Rollins’ driving and Myles Turner’s shooting. Bobby Portis checked in and provided his usual spark, but it was the Clippers’ bench crew of Kris Dunn, Jordan Miller, Kobe Sanders, and Isaiah Jackson who sparked the home team to a 28-24 edge after one.
LA punched Milwaukee in the mouth to open the second, going on an 8-4 run as Doc called for a timeout just 1:31 into the period. Kobe Sanders benefited multiple times from the Bucks failing to match up in transition, bombing away for his third three of the night to put LA up 39-30. The Bucks kept the Clippers from extending their lead by more than about 10 for a good amount of time, but the talent of Garland and Leonard proved too much to handle, and the home team ballooned its advantage to 16 halfway through the period. For one, the Bucks couldn’t score, but also, they were back to their high-turnover ways, giving it away nine times in the second quarter alone. Like a boa constrictor, LA continued to squeeze the life out of Milwaukee to end the quarter, increasing their lead to 24 off the back of more Leonard dominance. Clips up 71-47 at half.
Well, if the wheels hadn’t fallen off already for Milwaukee, they did in the third, losing the quarter 37-20. The first eight minutes were dominated by old friend Brook Lopez, who nailed four triples (each followed by his signature celebration) along with a fadeaway jumper. Kawhi continued to cook, getting up to 28 points before he was done for the night. For reference, the Bucks began the quarter shooting 1/11 from the floor; they also shot their first free throw at the 3:59 mark (on a technical foul, no less) since the first quarter. Before long, we had Andre Jackson Jr. minutes, which meant garbage time had started early. LA up 108-67 after three.
TyTy Washington Jr., another old friend, was a beneficiary of garbage-time minutes as the Clippers increased their lead to 45 in short order to open the final frame. There were some nice finishes from Ousmane Dieng, some nice passes by AJax, and some nice threes by Gary Trent Jr. to finish the game. However, nothing else to write home about other than that. Before long, Thanasis checked in for his customary run around, and that was it. A good old-fashioned butt-whooping in a year to forget.
Stat That Stood Out
Milwaukee’s turnover-itis returned, giving the ball away 22 times.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Toumani Camara had career highs of nine 3-pointers and 35 points to help Portland beat the Brooklyn Nets 134-99 on Monday night, the Trail Blazers' largest margin of victory this season.
The Nets have lost eight straight and 18 of the last 20. Brooklyn (17-55) is a game behind Indiana (16-56) and a half-game behind Washington (16-55) for the best draft lottery odds.
Camara made 10 of 12 shots from the field. Deni Avdija scored 18 points and Scoot Henderson had 13 points, five assists and four steals for the Trail Blazers. Donovan Clingan finished with 15 rebounds, seven points and seven blocks.
Camara, who was featured on commemorative glassware as part of a Trail Blazers' giveaway, banked in his first 3-pointer off the glass and hit his first eight 3-point shots, going 9 for 11 from distance.
Tyson Etienne led the Nets with 18 points, Ziaire Williams added 16 and Josh Minott 15.
Murray converted a three-point play with 4:48 left in the first quarter that gave the Trail Blazers the lead for good and sparked a 13-2 run that made it 28-18. Ben Saraf converted two free throws that made it a three-point game with 4.7 seconds left, but Jrue Holiday answered with a layup three seconds later and Portland scored 11 of the first 12 points in the second quarter. The Nets trailed by at least nine points the rest of the way.
Robert Williams III (knee-injury management) did not play and Jerami Grant (foot soreness) missed his second consecutive game for the Trail Blazers.
Danny Wolf (ankle), Drake Powell (knee-injury management), Terance Mann (rest), and Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain) did not play for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring) missed his seventh straight game.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 27 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili added 23 and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Utah Jazz 143-127 on Monday night.
Ja’Kobe Walter had 21 points and Scottie Barnes finished with 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Raptors (40-31) stopped a two-game skid. They remained a half-game ahead of Atlanta for fifth place in the Eastern Conference — the top six teams are assured a playoff berth without needing to qualify via the play-in tournament.
Utah rookie Ace Bailey had 37 points and Brice Sensabaugh scored 24 off the bench for the Jazz (21-51), who have lost six of seven and are eliminated from playoff contention.
Toronto outscored Utah 49-30 in the third quarter to open a 29-point cushion. Led by Walter and Barrett, the Raptors shot 54% from 3-point range (20 of 37) and 61% from the field overall.
Walter went 6 for 8 on 3-pointers and 7 of 10 from the floor. Barrett was 10 for 15 from the field, including 4 of 5 on 3s. He added six assists without committing a turnover in 25 minutes.
Jamal Shead had 15 assists for the Raptors to go with his seven points. Jamison Battle scored 17 off the bench, and Gradey Dick had 13.
Markelle Fultz, the top pick in the 2017 draft, played 16 minutes off the bench for Toronto in his first NBA game this season. He had two points on 1-of-5 shooting with five assists and three turnovers.
The 27-year-old Fultz signed a 10-day contract with the Raptors, the team announced earlier in the day. He had been playing for their G League affiliate.
Up next
Raptors: Wrap up a five-game trip Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jazz: Finish a four-game homestand Wednesday night versus the Washington Wizards.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 23: LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after their loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Given some of the great escapes they’ve had over the last 10 days, the Lakers were certainly due for the defeat that came on Monday against the Pistons.
That’s not to say Monday didn’t bring some positives with it and signs of the growth this team has had in recent weeks and months. Think back to the last meeting against the Pistons, which came at a time when the Lakers were at potentially their lowest point of the season.
Detroit came into Crypto.com Arena and, frankly, punked the Lakers. On Monday, that same physicality certainly impacted the game, but it didn’t knock the Lakers off the tracks as it did three months ago.
To a similar point, this was also a team that, at many points early in the year, would let go of the rope. As things started to slip away in the second period, a Lakers team from December or January would have let things spiral and the starters would be on the bench in a blowout in the fourth.
Now, this is a team that keeps fighting. They not only got themselves back into the game on Monday but had chances to tie or win the game in the final seconds.
By definition, moral victories come with a bittersweet taste. But the Lakers should be able to take some away from Monday’s streak-snapping defeat.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
The Lakers didn’t have many options to put in the starting lineup with both Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura out, so I get turning to LaRavia, someone who has started earlier this season. However, it was a rough outing for him, particularly defensively.
While LeBron is not one to really have a go at the officials — even if he’s not afraid for an initial complaint — I think he’s well within his rights to pick up a technical. There were a half-dozen plays on Monday where he had a legitimate claim for a foul that went by without a whistle.
The bulk of Reaves’ scoring came in the third period. His only bucket in the fourth was a clutch one inside the final minute. Still, it’s hard to fault him for going 5-7 from the field for 16 points in a half.
Specific to this type of article, Luka can have some really funky games. In the first quarter, he had 17 points on 5-11 shooting. Over the next three quarters, he had 15 points on 6-18 shooting. On top of that, he had one field in the fourth and missed two shots in the last 30 seconds.
As good as he was to start, it tailed off pretty badly in the end. If anything, it looks like he’s tired, an understandable excuse at this point on the road trip.
Kennard’s only make came in the first quarter, but he did draw a big shooting foul in the fourth. He also had a nice drive and dish that led to Ayton getting fouled and going to the line in the final minute.
Like Ayton, Hayes had a strong game, particularly defensively with six stocks. He was so good on that end that I can excuse a couple of miscues offensively.
Grade: A-
Adou Thiero, Maxi Kleber
Thiero got a brief run in the first half that was a bit chaotic, as you’d expect. I would have liked to see a second stint, but I get why he didn’t in a tight second half.
Maxi made a cameo he did in Phoenix earlier this year by coming in for the final play and setting a hell of a screen. If LeBron’s inbound pass wasn’t tipped, it would have been an open look.
JJ Redick
There’s probably a conversation to be had about the minutes the Lakers’ stars are playing. Austin has logged at least 38 minutes in the last nine games. Luka has played 37 minutes in eight of the last nine. LeBron’s minutes are a bit lower, but still safely north of 34 minutes on a nightly basis.
These next three games would be a really good time to cut down on those minutes before the run to the postseason.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 23, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks lost again at home in overtime, this time to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, 137-131. Moses Moody led the Warriors with 23 points. Cooper Flagg scored a game high 32 points but also turned the ball over seven times.
Fans in the American Airlines Center were treated to a display of high-caliber offense from both teams in the opening period. Dallas came out attacking early, while Golden State looked dead on arrival. Following a quick timeout, the Warriors rattled off a run that put them past the Mavericks, only for Cooper Flagg to lead the Mavericks to another run to take the lead. Both teams had flames coming off them from three-point range, with Dallas hitting eight of 10 in the frame and the Warriors hitting eight of 13 . That slight shooting advantage carried Golden State to a 34-31 lead after 12 minutes of action.
Dallas took firm control in the second quarter, despite both teams still shooting lights out from everywhere. Turnovers bit the Warriors. Their complicated offense might result in good looks, but it also results in lots of turnovers and Dallas took full advantage, building up a 15-point lead late in the period. Golden State chipped the lead down to six points only to embarass themselves in the final minute, allowing Dallas to chip in two more buckets and carry a 73-63 lead into the half.
A reversal of fortune occred for the Mavericks in the third quarter. After managing to keep the Warriors at bay for most of the period, the Warriors tranferred their turnover bug to Dallas midway through the third. After being up 89-78 with 5:30 to go in the period, Dallas gave up a 20-9 run to Golden State and the game was tied 98 all heading into the final quarter.
Cooper Flagg started the final frame in disasterous fashion: three turnovers in a row. Dallas gave up 11 points in quick succession and the Mavericks looked on the ropes with nearly 11 minutes of game to go. The two teams would exchange buckets throughout the frame. After Kristaps Porzingis scored a basket to make it 122-114 with four minutes left, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd called a timeout (perhaps to admonish Flagg for bypassing an open three). The next possession Flagg buried a three, the Warriors turned it over bringing it up the court, and Max Christie scored a lay up making it a three point game. A pair of Flagg free throws with 1:43 left would bring Dallas within two. Max Christie would tie it at 126 with an awesome three following Porzingis splitting a trip to the line. Neither team could capitalize so the game went to overtime.
The Warriors jumped out to a quick seven point lead in overtime and just like the overtime against the Clippers, Dallas seemed out of gas. The Mavericks, being the Mavericks we all know, of course didn’t die outright, and cut the lead enough to make the game exciting. Sadly, Moses Moody went down very late after a clean steal and looked to suffer a major knee injury.
Cooper’s got to shoot these open threes
This is a minor quibble, but it has to be said: Cooper’s got to take what the defense gives him a few more times per game. I get that Flagg probably didn’t regularly shoot threes in games until last season at Duke. If you followed his games, he didn’t shoot the ball well, then after the new year during his freshman season, all of a sudden he was outstanding from distance. The transition to NBA threes hasn’t been easy, but his shot looks good.
Defense are sagging off and he has to make them pay. He shot 2 of 4 tonight and passed up a few open looks by either moving the ball, dribbling into long twos, or driving when there wasn’t space.
It probably feels bizarre, being urged to take a shot at volume that hasn’t been part of your diet for your entire life. But he has to start. He will make them. I believe that.
Neither team could hold on to the ball or protect their own basket after turnovers
These two teams combined for 47 turnovers and 59 points conceded off of turnovers. It was exciting to watch but pretty sloppy and embarassing if you like cleaner basketball.
Hope Moses Moody is okay
I don’t remember seeing an injury that gruesome in open court before. The camera lingered on his knee for too long and I don’t suggest seeking that out. Here’s to hoping he’s okay.
Golden State's Moses Moody was carted off late in overtime against Dallas with what appeared to be a serious knee injury after his left leg buckled when he went up for a shot with nobody around him.
Moody, who missed the previous 10 games with a sprained right wrist, had just stolen the ball from Mavericks rookie standout Cooper Flagg and was dribbling all alone, planted his left leg to go up for the shot and instead lost the ball as he crumpled to the court with 58 seconds remaining in the extra period.
Play continued at the Dallas end until the ball went out of bounds. After the whistle, Warriors coach Steve Kerr put his hands to his face as the Mavericks' home arena went silent.
The Warriors led 136-131 when Moody was injured, and only one more point was scored in a victory that extended Dallas' home losing streak to 12 games.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket as Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks plays defense during the game on March 23, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
An awful and heartbreaking scene unfolded on Monday night, as the Golden State Warriors wrapped up a six-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks. Late in overtime, Warriors forward Moses Moody leaked out ahead of the defense for an uncontested transition opportunity. As he planted to leap for a dunk, his legs gave out on him. He was blocked by the rim on the way up, and landed on the court in a heap, grasping at his knee.
Play continued until a dead ball on the other end of the court, but Moody was still down under Golden State’s basket. As the cameras panned so fans could see Moody, it immediately became clear that something was horribly wrong with his knee, with a bone protruding at a gruesome and unnatural angle. Recognizing the severity, cameras immediately cut away from Moody, and the national broadcast went to a break.
When the broadcast returned, Moody had his leg in an air brace, and was being taken off the court in a stretcher, while his teammates and opponents embraced him, and the otherwise deadly-silent crowd applauded.
It was a hard scene to watch, and there’s no doubting that it was a serious injury that Moody sustained. The only hope now is that it’s something like a dislocation, where the leg can be stabilized and popped back into place, and that he didn’t suffer structural damage that will cost him a significant amount of time.
Prior to Moody’s injury, the game was stopped multiple times so that wet spots on the court could be wiped up. It’s unclear if that had any impact on his fall and subsequent injury.
Needless to say, it’s always heartbreaking to see a player suffer a serious injury, but doubly so in Moody’s case: this was his first game back after 10 games on the sidelines with a wrist injury. It seems highly unlikely that Moody will play again this year, but that’s both putting the cart in front of the horse, and doesn’t feel very important right now. For now, we all cross our fingers and hold our breaths, and hope for the best for Moses.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks requested waivers on guard Cam Thomas and converted forward/center Pete Nance, who had been on a two-way deal, to a multi-year standard NBA contract.
Nance, 26, entered Monday night’s game with the Los Angeles Clippers having averaged 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 37 games while playing on a two-way deal.
Thomas scored 34 points in a 116-108 victory at Orlando in his Bucks debut and had 27 points in a 139-118 win at New Orleans nine days later, but his role eventually decreased. He didn’t play at all in back-to-back games with Indiana and Cleveland last week.
This move continues what’s been a difficult season for Thomas, who had scored 22.5 points per game in 2023-24 and 24 points per game in 2024-25 while playing for Brooklyn.
Thomas was averaging 15.6 points in 24 games with Brooklyn this season before the Nets waived him. He averaged 10.7 points and 16.6 minutes in 18 games with Milwaukee.
