Category: Basketball

One of the most popular men’s basketball players in the Southeastern Conference recently bought a million-dollar lake house in North Carolina and has gotten so wealthy from his name, image and likeness he could retire from work now if we wanted, according to his father.

But this particular player isn’t a top NBA prospect like Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff or big Tennessee forward Nate Ament.

Instead, he’s a short freshman bench player on the 14^th-place team in the league.

March Madness bracketology: NCAA tournament bubble predictions, new No. 1 seed

His name is Eli Ellis, a guard for South Carolina who has more than 2.1 million followers combined on social media, ranking him No. 5 nationally in Division I men’s college basketball, more than double of any other player in the SEC, according to NIL marketplace company Opendorse.

This means he’s already made a fortune off of his NIL.

“He actually could retire now,” his father and former coach Jeremy Ellis told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s been making a lot of money since really 10^th grade. And he doesn’t spend it.”

This might even make him the business model of the future for college athletes — a social media entrepreneur who also happens to be a good player, too. He’s skilled at both. Not many are. And he’s only 20 years old heading into the SEC tournament this week in Nashville.

“Especially in my position, if you're at two million followers and you really know what you're doing, you can make seven figures,” Eli Ellis said in an interview with USA TODAY Sports.

How Eli Ellis built his social media following

Ellis by his own admission can’t dunk a basketball — or at least hasn’t in a game yet, he said. But he became such a highlight reel on the court over the years that his social media following just kept growing after getting his first iPhone in ninth grade.

Ellis traces it back to about 2021, when he and his younger brother Isaac led their Moravian Prep team in North Carolina to a win against top high school recruit Mikey Williams of Vertical Academy. The Ellis brothers combined for nearly 60 points despite being in ninth and eighth grade, raising eyeballs in the basketball world and gaining a follow from NBA star Kevin Durant.

A documentary show featuring the brothers followed in 2022 from the sports media company Overtime.

Now look at him. Ellis ranks No. 5 in men’s college basketball with 1.4 million followers on TikTok, 690,000 on Instagram and 6,400 on X, in addition to his 55,000 subscribers on YouTube.

The Top 5 most-followed men's college players

Here are the top five most-followed men’s players in Division I college basketball this season on TikTok, Instagram and X combined, according to data provided to USA TODAY Sports by Opendorse.

1. Mikey Williams, Sacramento State guard, has 5.2 million followers combined, as of March 4. Williams was a middle school and high school basketball star who grew his own following with similar basketball highlight reels.
2. Shaqir O’Neal, Sacramento State forward, has 4.26 million followers as of March 4. He is the son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
3. Hansel Enmanuel has 4.23 million followers after starting the season at Austin Peay. He has gone viral for his basketball skills despite having only one arm.
4. Bryce James, freshman guard at Arizona, has 2.9 million followers and is the son of NBA legend LeBron James.
5. Ellis, whose team plays Oklahoma Wednesday, March 11, in the SEC Tournament.

How Eli Ellis makes his NIL money

Huge social-media followings appeal to brands, who want to market themselves to that audience. Ellis has gotten paid to promote brands such as Under Armour, Fortnite and Dr. Pepper.

Such deals also come with perks. A car dealership last year gifted him a new Chevrolet Traverse before his freshman year at South Carolina. Instead of buying jewelry, his father said Eli will do a deal with a jewelry company in which he’ll get paid with jewelry and cash.

In between those paid spots, Ellis posts relatable content about basketball and everyday life. On TikTok, 95 of his posts received at least one million views, including one last year that got nine million views. The latter video shows one of his younger brothers reacting with displeasure after his other brother takes a lick from the little brother’s ice cream cone.

“In the age of NIL, collegiate athletes need to cultivate brands that are authentic and resonate with fans,” said Natasha Brison, an associate professor at South Carolina with expertise in sports marketing. “Social media is an optimal way to leverage an athlete brand, maximize fan engagement, and attract potential sponsors. Given that Eli is only a freshman, he is the epitome of what an athlete should aim to be (and do) in athlete brand development.”

Eli Ellis has three jobs

He’s not ready to retire, even if he could. He is a basketball player, social media influencer and a businessman who runs a training academy for $189 per annual subscriber for those who want to improve their basketball and social media games.

He also recently started a podcast that is produced by The College Sports Company. His first guest was Gary Vaynerchuk, an entrepreneur and author who has taken Ellis under his wing.

"He is not a typical college athlete," said Russell Wilde Jr., chief operating officer of The College Sports Company. "He is a true creator who values his audience and understands the platform he has as a college athlete to grow his personal brand."

But one job is still more important to him than the rest.

“The biggest thing I've learned is keeping the main thing the main thing, and that's basketball,” Eli Ellis said. “That's how I got here. That's how I blew up.”

Sharing the wealth with teammates

Ellis' height is listed at 6-feet, though he said on the same podcast last week he’s 5-11. He enters the SEC tournament this week as his team’s fifth-leading scorer with 8.7 points per game for the Gamecocks, who finished the regular season with a 13-18 record. He played in 27 games as a freshman, all coming off the bench as he strives to realize the potential he showed while playing in high school for the YNG Dreamerz of the Overtime Elite league in Atlanta.

He won the league’s MVP award twice after scoring more than 30 points per game in consecutive years, helping rack up social-media highlights in the meantime. One thing feeds the other.

“I need to have a good year basketball-wise, and the social media stuff will follow if I'm playing good,” Ellis said.

He previously said he posted on social media two or three times per day and now only does it about twice a week during the season, all from his one phone. He  shares certain proceeds from it sometimes with teammates — including headphones or gift cards from restaurants where he has deals.

“Involving them helps a lot, especially with (how) I get a lot of attention,” he said. “I try to let everybody feel some of the love.”

He plans to keep it going as an influencer and entrepreneur whenever his basketball career ends. In the meantime, he just wants to keep his freshman season going in Nashville this week. .

“We have the opportunity to make a run for sure,” Ellis said.

The views surely will follow if they do.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eli Ellis social media following leads to NIL riches for South Carolina freshman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Pakistan awarded ODI debuts to four players and Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field Wednesday to open the three-match series.

Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain and Abdul Samad formed the new-look Pakistan top order. Farhan was rewarded for his outstanding performance at the T20 World Cup, where he scored 383 runs.

Both teams went with three fast bowlers in a hope the wicket will suit the pacemen. Bangladesh included Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, and Pakistan's pace trio had captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf.

Bangladesh recalled Tanzid Hasan in place of Soumya Sarkar. Litton Das and Afif Hossain were included in the middle-order.

Pakistan dropped experienced Babar Azam and Saim Ayu b for the series after their disappointing T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland at the T20 World Cup after it refused to travel to India amid security concerns.

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Lineups:

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers had plenty of excuses ready if they lost to the Wolves.

Minnesota entered the night as the third-best team in the West. The Lakers entered the night without their All-Star LeBron James for the thirdstraight game as well as bigs Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber.

But they still had Austin Reaves.

Behind their budding star and the superhero of the night, the Lakers earned a hard-fought 120-106 win over Minnesota.

Reaves ended the night with 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. It was his second consecutive strong showing after scoring 25 in a win against the Knicks.

“Really it was [that] he was able to get downhill,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “I mean, that’s the biggest thing. That’s when he’s at his best. He’s a fantastic shooter, but he’s at his best when he’s touching the paint.

“I thought early on, him getting into the paint, getting fouled, seeing the ball go through the hoop [was good]. And then we saw him as the half wore on, he just got into his bag and a lot of those were on paint touches and he hit those non-rim paint two.”

Reaves’ big night wasn’t so great at the start.

In the opening quarter, his jumper was cold as he went 0-3 from the field. At the halftime break, he had just one made field goal and a sensational night seemed out of reach.

However, as the third quarter began, Reaves’ jumper began to warm up. He drove to the paint and converted on a layup. He found Luka Dončić for a floater, giving the Lakers a two-possession lead.

Then, Reaves’ confidence and productivity really ratcheted up.

First, heconverted on a four-point play. He followed that up with another deep make and then drove into the paint and scored on a foater. Suddenly, a close contest became a double-digit lead for LA.

4-POINT PLAY FOR REAVES 😱#LakeShowpic.twitter.com/Fcilpgq8nv

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 11, 2026

“I think he’s just a great player,” Dončić said. “He’s very talented defensively. He gets to his spots, he tricks the defense, and that’s why he’s a great player.”

Reaves’ dominance continued in the fourth. He checked in with 10:38 left to play and immediately had another four-point play. After another lob connection with Deandre Ayton and a floater, LA had put the Wolves to bed with three minutes left on the clock.

In the NBA, things can change in the blink of an eye. After their tough loss to the Nuggets a week ago, the Lakers have bounced back with three straight wins and are now fourth in the West.

While Luka has been at the center of that streak, Austin hasn’t been far behind. He showed glimpses against the Pacers before really finding his groove in the last two games.

As a result, both he and the Lakers are on an upward trend now

“It feels like we’re trending in the right direction, just got to continue to stick to the plan,” Reaves said. “And continue to get better every single day and compete at a high level.”

For the Lakers’ to be at their best, Reaves must play his best against elite teams.

On Tuesday night, he did just that.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

A week ago, the biggest question surrounding the Lakers was whether they were a serious team capable of beating good opponents. Fast forward a week and the answer is much clearer.

Two games do not define a team, but the Lakers beating the Knicks and Timberwolves in back-to-back contests at this time in the season should go some way in quelling the notion that they can’t hang with the top teams in each conference.

Do the teams they beat have flaws? Yes. But they largely dominated both contests, too. On Tuesday, they had one of their worst quarters of the season offensively to open the game, found their footing in the second period and took off after halftime.

The result is the Lakers winning six of their last seven games as they’re finding their groove at the right time.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

Marcus Smart

31 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls, 3-7 FT, 1-4 3PT, 1-1 FT, +14

Another game where Smart doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but he’s still fantastic. He took a pair of charges and was making all sorts of plays defensively for the second game in a row.

Grade: A-

Rui Hachimura

24 minutes, 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 5 fouls, 4-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, +3

Rui had the unenviable task of being the nominal big in some small ball looks the Lakers had to go to with so many of their forwards and centers out. That meant he got into foul trouble pretty quickly in the second half and didn’t have much of an impact in the final two quarters.

Grade: B-

Deandre Ayton

34 minutes, 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 fouls, 7-11 FG, 0-2 FT, +10

There’s an argument, given the opponent and the context of who wasn’t available, that this was Ayton’s best game of the season. There was a lot of pressure on him to perform because the Lakers had noone else to turn to and he responded in a huge way.

Grade: A

Austin Reaves

38 minutes, 31 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 10-20 FG, 4-10 3PT, 7-9 FT, +18

Austin was very quiet in the first half and very loud in the third quarter and second half overall. He roared to life out of the locker room and started burying four-point plays and every midrange jumper possible.

Grade: A

Luka Dončić

35 minutes, 31 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 11-24 FG, 4-12 3PT, 5-6 FT, +20

Another ho-hum triple-double and a game where he has a plus-minus of +20. Nothing big here. In a race for so many in the national media to try to explain why Luka’s numbers actually aren’t that good, they seem to just be overlooking how consistently great he’s been.

Grade: A

Luke Kennard

26 minutes, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4 fouls, 5-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, +2

On a night where he was great yet again, it could have been even better. He had a three roll all the way around the rim and out and set up Ayton with a fantastic pass before he was blocked by Naz Reid.

Grade: B+

Jake LaRavia

25 minutes, 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, 1-7 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-8 FT, +13

This was a great Marcus Smart imitation from LaRavia. He could not hit a shot to save his life, but made up for it with his activity, effort, hustle and defensive playmaking. It was a great game from him despite shooting 14% from the field.

Grade: A-

Jarred Vanderbilt

15 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, -1

Vando was up to his old tricks in this one. He had some great defensive sequences by staying in front of ball handlers. But it was the stuff he did when the ball wasn’t even in play that is typical Vando with small brouhahas with Bones Hyland and Donte DiVincenzo.

As a quick aside, since we’re on the topic, I’m sure I didn’t see Hyland tell the Lakers bench to sit down after hitting a shot when his side was trailing by nearly 20 points, right? Because that would be a crazy thing to do.

Grade: B

Drew Timme, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Kobe Bufkin

I was a little surprised we didn’t see more Timme in this one, but Redick clearly tends to go small and space the floor when he doesn’t have centers.

JJ Redick

Even the most ardent Redick non-believers surely have to admit that he’s, again, doing a great job of getting this team playing its best basketball late in the season.

The Lakers are playing terrific defense and have navigated injuries all year long. Despite how infrequently he’s had his big three together, they are 15 games over .500 heading into the final month of the season with home court advantage well within their grasp for the playoffs.

Friday’s inactives: Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber, LeBron James, Nick Smith Jr., Chris Mañon

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Chicago Bulls (27-38, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (40-25, fourth in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Thursday, 10:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago visits the Los Angeles Lakers after Matas Buzelis scored 41 points in the Bulls' 130-124 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers have gone 21-12 at home. Los Angeles ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 14.5 fast break points per game led by LeBron James averaging 5.7.

The Bulls are 11-20 in road games. Chicago is 16-21 against opponents with a winning record.

The Lakers make 49.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Bulls have allowed to their opponents (47.2%). The Bulls average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Lakers give up.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Lakers won the last matchup 129-118 on Jan. 27, with Luka Doncic scoring 46 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Doncic is averaging 32.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. Austin Reaves is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Buzelis is averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulls. Collin Sexton is averaging 14.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 114.6 points, 41.3 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points per game.

Bulls: 3-7, averaging 109.4 points, 47.6 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points.

INJURIES: Lakers: Jaxson Hayes: out (back), Maxi Kleber: out (back), LeBron James: out (elbow).

Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out (knee), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Patrick Williams: day to day (ankle), Collin Sexton: day to day (leg).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Milwaukee Bucks (27-37, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (37-29, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Miami hosts the Milwaukee Bucks after Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in the Miami Heat's 150-129 win against the Washington Wizards.

The Heat have gone 21-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is 6-3 in one-possession games.

The Bucks are 19-24 in Eastern Conference play. Milwaukee is 15-24 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Heat score 120.6 points per game, 4.6 more points than the 116.0 the Bucks give up. The Bucks are shooting 47.9% from the field, 2.3% higher than the 45.6% the Heat's opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Feb. 25 the Bucks won 128-117 led by 32 points from Kevin Porter Jr., while Norman Powell scored 26 points for the Heat.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adebayo is shooting 44.8% and averaging 20.0 points for the Heat. Tyler Herro is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Myles Turner is shooting 44.1% and averaging 12.3 points for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 8-2, averaging 126.2 points, 49.0 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points per game.

Bucks: 3-7, averaging 104.7 points, 41.2 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.9 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Kel'el Ware: day to day (shoulder), Andrew Wiggins: day to day (toe), Norman Powell: out (groin), Tyler Herro: day to day (quadriceps).

Bucks: Bobby Portis: day to day (back), Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Jericho Sims: day to day (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (32-32, eighth in the Western Conference)

Inglewood, California; Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Clippers -1.5; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles hosts Minnesota looking to extend its three-game home winning streak.

The Clippers are 20-19 against conference opponents. Los Angeles is 16-24 against opponents over .500.

The Timberwolves are 24-17 in conference games. Minnesota is ninth in the league with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.6.

The Clippers are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.8 percentage points higher than the 46.3% the Timberwolves allow to opponents. The Timberwolves are shooting 48.3% from the field, 1.8% higher than the 46.5% the Clippers' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Timberwolves won the last matchup 94-88 on Feb. 27, with Anthony Edwards scoring 31 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals for the Clippers. Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 20.5 points and 6.7 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Julius Randle is scoring 21.4 points per game and averaging 7.0 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 4.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 117.6 points, 42.8 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.3 points per game.

Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 116.0 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.9 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.

INJURIES: Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm).

Timberwolves: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Phoenix Suns (38-27, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (15-50, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

Indianapolis; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana hosts Phoenix looking to stop its six-game home slide.

The Pacers have gone 10-22 at home. Indiana is 4-30 in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Suns are 16-14 in road games. Phoenix has a 7-7 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Pacers score 111.4 points per game, 0.4 more points than the 111.0 the Suns give up. The Suns average 14.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Pacers give up.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Suns won the last meeting 133-98 on Nov. 14. Devin Booker scored 33 points to help lead the Suns to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jarace Walker is averaging 11.1 points for the Pacers. Micah Potter is averaging 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Booker is averaging 24.9 points and 6.1 assists for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 18.3 points and 1.6 steals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 0-10, averaging 112.6 points, 40.2 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.3 points per game.

Suns: 6-4, averaging 105.3 points, 44.8 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 41.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.7 points.

INJURIES: Pacers: T.J. McConnell: out (hamstring), Pascal Siakam: out (knee), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: out (back), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).

Suns: Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Philadelphia 76ers (35-30, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (46-18, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia hits the road against Detroit looking to break its three-game road losing streak.

The Pistons are 31-10 in Eastern Conference games. Detroit is fifth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding averaging 45.9 rebounds. Jalen Duren paces the Pistons with 10.6 boards.

The 76ers are 21-22 in conference matchups. Philadelphia has a 6-8 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Pistons average 10.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 fewer makes per game than the 76ers allow (13.3). The 76ers score 6.3 more points per game (115.9) than the Pistons give up to opponents (109.6).

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Pistons won 114-105 in the last matchup on Nov. 15.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Duren is averaging 22.7 points over the last 10 games.

Quentin Grimes is scoring 13.0 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the 76ers. Cameron Payne is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 5-5, averaging 114.9 points, 47.3 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 10.0 steals and 7.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points per game.

76ers: 5-5, averaging 115.6 points, 41.7 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 10.3 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.1 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Caris LeVert: day to day (wrist).

76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (33-33, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (16-50, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hornets -12.5; over/under is 226.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Charlotte Hornets visit the Sacramento Kings in non-conference action.

The Kings have gone 11-22 at home. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Hornets are 19-16 on the road. Charlotte is second in the Eastern Conference with 46.3 rebounds per game led by Moussa Diabate averaging 8.7.

The Kings average 10.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 fewer makes per game than the Hornets give up (12.9). The Hornets' 45.9% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.5 percentage points lower than the Kings have allowed to their opponents (49.4%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Russell Westbrook is shooting 43.1% and averaging 15.5 points for the Kings. Malik Monk is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 21.3 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 4-6, averaging 113.6 points, 45.8 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.7 points per game.

Hornets: 7-3, averaging 117.2 points, 47.8 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.0 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Malik Monk: day to day (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).

Hornets: Liam McNeeley: day to day (ankle), Coby White: day to day (calf), Tidjane Salaun: day to day (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Brooklyn Nets (17-48, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (34-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta will try to keep its six-game home win streak alive when the Hawks play Brooklyn.

The Hawks are 19-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is first in the Eastern Conference with 30.5 assists per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 7.9.

The Nets are 12-29 in conference play. Brooklyn is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference scoring averaging 107.0 points per game while shooting 44.6%.

The Hawks score 117.8 points per game, 1.9 more points than the 115.9 the Nets give up. The Hawks average 107.0 points per game, 10.2 fewer points than the 117.2 the Hawks allow to opponents.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Hawks won the last meeting 115-104 on Feb. 22, with Johnson scoring 26 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 17.6 points and 4.7 assists over the last 10 games.

Nic Claxton is averaging 12.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and four assists for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 19.8 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 42.8% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 8-2, averaging 119.6 points, 48.5 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.

Nets: 2-8, averaging 108.2 points, 37.5 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee).

Nets: Ziaire Williams: day to day (illness), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: day to day (thumb).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Houston Rockets (40-24, third in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (39-26, sixth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Nuggets -5.5; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

The Nuggets have gone 23-14 against Western Conference opponents. Denver averages 120.3 points while outscoring opponents by 3.7 points per game.

The Rockets have gone 22-18 against Western Conference opponents. Houston is 15-7 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 14.7 turnovers per game.

The 120.3 points per game the Nuggets average are 10.6 more points than the Rockets allow (109.7). The Rockets are shooting 47.6% from the field, 0.5% higher than the 47.1% the Nuggets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on Dec. 20 the Rockets won 115-101 led by 31 points from Durant, while Jokic scored 25 points for the Nuggets.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is averaging 28.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 10.3 assists for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 23.8 points over the last 10 games.

Amen Thompson is scoring 17.7 points per game and averaging 7.6 rebounds for the Rockets. Durant is averaging 26.6 points and 6.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 4-6, averaging 119.7 points, 46.4 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.3 points per game.

Rockets: 6-4, averaging 115.2 points, 47.0 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Jamal Murray: day to day (ankle), Cameron Johnson: day to day (back), Peyton Watson: out (hamstring).

Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

After an ice-cold start to the game, the Lakers roared back to win their third straight game, knocking off the Wolves, 120-106.

The win gives the Lakers a season sweep of Minnesota. All three wins came without LeBron James, who missed Tuesday’s game with both a hip contusion and left foot arthritis.

LA opened the game with an abysmal performance in the first quarter, scoring just 16 points. By halftime, they had tied the game up before exploding for 39 points in the third to take complete control of the game.

The Lakers turned 11 Minnesota turnovers into 20 points and scored 56 points in the paint to Minnesota’s 42. That helped them overcome the Wolves’ 61-27 advantage in bench points.

Both teams started the game cold from the field until Anthony Edwards converted on a jumper in the paint. Julius Randle then drained a triple after LA missed another shot as part of a string of seven straight missed field goals. Marcus Smart stopped that drought with a layup at the 7:25 mark. 

The Lakers couldn't buy a bucket early, missing their first 8 shots before a Marcus Smart layup. But they held Minnesota to 2 of 11 on the other end, so the deficit is only 3 at 5-2 at the 6:55 mark.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 11, 2026

Luka Dončić stopped a 9-0 Minnesota run with a layup. 

With 2:19 left in the period, LA had only put up nine points. They were 0-9 from behind the arc and were shooting 20% from the field. Smart was leading the team with five points and Luka was close behind with four. 

Neither team could make a 3-pointer, shooting a combined 1-23 from behind the arc. 

The rest of the first frame saw Los Angeles add more points, but they continued to look rough. Luka only made two of his 10 shot attempts. Despite the struggles, the purple and gold trailed by five entering the second frame. 

The Wolves lead the Lakers 21-16 after one quarter of play. It was an ugly offensive period for everyone involved.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 11, 2026

Rudy Gobert opened the second quarter by being fouled and converting on one of two free throws. Luke Kennard scored on a midrange jumper on the other end. There was a huge lid on the basket for LA, as they were up to 11 missed triples. 

Deandre Ayton scored a quick four in a row, giving Los Angeles a boost. 

Naz Reid and Ayo Dosunmu both had five points off the bench for the Timberwolves. Ayton scored again, giving him eight points with his 10 rebounds. Austin Reaves tied the game with a layup. 

Donte DiVincenzo put the Wolves back in the lead with a 3-pointer. 

Luka knocked down the first Laker three in 16 attempts. Ayton entered double figures with 10 points. Fortunately for LA, Anthony Edwards had only three points so far. With 2:42 left in the half, Minnesota was up by two. 

Luka started heating up as the quarter was winding down, scoring five points. He had a total of eight in the quarter. Rui Hachimura tied the game heading into the locker rooms after he drained a 3-pointer. 

In a defensive battle, the Lakers head into halftime tied at 45.

Deandre Ayton had 12 points and 11 boards, with Dončić adding 12 points with 6 assists and 5 boards.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 11, 2026

The third period began with Smart drawing a charge on Edwards. On the other end, Luka scored on a layup, which put LA ahead. After only scoring two points in the first half, Austin Reaves finally scored again on a layup. 

Hachimura, unfortunately, picked up his fifth foul and was forced to sit early. 

Luka went on a 6-0 run himself to give Los Angeles a seven-point lead at the 8:13 mark. Minnesota was on a six-minute scoring drought. Jake LaRavia put up five points despite his shooting woes. 

At the halfway mark, Reid scored on a hook shot, breaking the Wolves’ drought. 

Reaves was now in double figures with 16 after draining a triple, completing a three-point play, and capping it off with a four-point play. He had 14 in the quarter. 

Kennard then converted on a layup that put the Lakers up by 19 and forced a timeout.

Austin Reaves typically bounces back in the 2nd half if he has a rough shooting first half. Tonight:

1st half: 2 points, 1 for 8 FG's, 0 for 5 3's, 4 assists
3rd Q: 16 points, 5 for 6 FG's, 2 for 2 3's, 2 assists

Lakers lead 82-63 with 1:53 to play in the period.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 11, 2026

At the end of the third, LA was up by 16 points. 

The final frame began with Kennard scoring four in a row. Reaves converted on yet another four-point play as LA kept its foot on the gas. With 7:15 left, the purple and gold were up by 18. 

Both teams started getting chippy with Jarred Vanderbilt and Donte picking up technical fouls. The deficit did get cut to 15, but Los Angeles responded fast with back-to-back threes from Smart and Luka. 

Minnesota scored five in a row to make it a 16-point game at the 5:29 mark. 

Luka and Ayton combined for a quick four points to put the finishing touches on the win. The Timberwolves emptied their bench at the 3:55 mark. 

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with a triple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Reaves ended with 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Ayton scored 14 points with 12 rebounds. 

Kennard notched 10 points. LaRavia pitched in with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Hachimura had nine points and Smart put up eight points. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at 7:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.