Category: Basketball

The chants started in a purple-and-gold-clad cluster in the upper deck at Kaseya Center. As Luka Doncic’s scoring total crept up with each step-back three, free throw or fadeaway shot, the cheers grew louder, coming from every corner from fans dressed in every color.

“M-V-P! M-V-P!”

“That’s what I think every player wants to hear,” Doncic said.

Doncic’s season-high 60 points — the first 60-point game for a Lakers player since Kobe Bryant’s swan song in 2016 — led the Lakers to a 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday. It was another exceptional feat in Doncic's late-season campaign for the NBA's most valuable player.

Read more:Luka Doncic scores 60 and LeBron ties NBA games record in Lakers' eighth straight win

The NBA’s leading scorer poured in 100 points in less than 24 hours, helping the Lakers extend their winning streak to eight games. Doncic is averaging 40.9 points per game over the streak, shooting 42.2% from three-point range. He became just the seventh Laker to record a 60-point game, joining franchise legends Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal.

“It was a superhero performance,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

Doncic’s dominance has rescued the Lakers, propelling them to season-best winning streak. The team’s previous best winning streak was built by taking down bottom-feeding teams including New Orleans, Utah and Dallas. This streak is against some of the league’s best: Six wins are against teams with a .500 record or better and five were against .600 teams. The Lakers have climbed from sixth to third in the Western Conference in two weeks, netting critical tiebreakers against rivals Minnesota, Denver and Houston.

Doncic, in his first full season with the Lakers, began the year as one of the betting favorites to win MVP. But the Lakers went through December doldrums losing four out of five. He missed two games while traveling to Slovenia to be present for the birth of his second daughter, Olivia. When he returned, Doncic shot 24.5% from three over the next five games.

Doncic’s defense was criticized, along with his consistent complaining to referees. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder with 31.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists, figures to still be the favorite in the MVP race, especially with the Thunder on a conference-best 10-game winning streak.

Doncic’s productions never dipped — he has maintained the league’s top scoring average for most of the season — but his play still lacked the same zip that made him a must-watch star in Dallas.

The Lakers embodied some of their star’s struggles. The team was sorting through injuries while trying to integrate new pieces. The chemistry “wasn’t there,” guard Marcus Smart said.

Finally, it all clicked, starting with Doncic.

“Just trusting my game,” Doncic said of how he’s reached this level at this stage of the season. “I know some games I won’t have it. ... I've been there, so you just got to trust in yourself. I got all the support from my teammates, which helps me a lot.”

Teammates cheered, jumped and raised their fists from the Lakers bench when Doncic made his final free throw to finish off his 60-point night. On a night when LeBron James tied the NBA’s regular-season games played record, appearing in his 1,611th game and notching a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist night, it was Doncic’s final points that seemed to make James smile the widest.

Doncic, who said the crowd’s chants gave him goosebumps, added it “makes my heart happy” seeing the reaction from all of his teammates.

“We all know the talent that Luka is,” Smart said. “And when he gets in those modes, man, it's definitely a sight to see, and you don't want to miss it.”

Before the game, Redick sarcastically wouldn’t even utter the name of the award Doncic has positioned himself for, only saying he believed Doncic should be in the "M-word conversation."

If it’s not the cheers from the crowd, Doncic doesn’t care about the chatter either.

“It’s you guys, the media,” Doncic said. “I ain't got nothing to do with it.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly coughed up a 29-point second-half lead to a bad Chicago Bulls team before escaping with a narrow 115-110 victory.

The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass.

	Offensive Rating	Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	112.9, 45th percentile	51.3%, 34th percentile	15.8%, 37th percentile	33.3%, 72nd percentile	23.1, 62nd percentile
Bulls	105.8, 23rd percentile	52.7%, 41st percentile	15.5%, 40th percentile	24.5%, 33rd percentile	11.7, 9th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• James Harden put up 36 points in a vintage performance. He did a good job of attacking off the dribble, getting to the line, and facilitating for his teammates. This led to him going 10-23 from the field with nine assists, seven rebounds, and five turnovers.
• Harden went 7-13 from three. The step-back triple — which has infuriated “purists” for nearly two decades — was in perfect form. He also did a good job of nailing catch-and-shoot opportunities. Overall, he’s been lethal from the outside since coming to Cleveland. He’s now shooting 46% from three in his 17 gams in a Cavaliers’ uniform.

• Harden drew two fouls on three-point shots. One of these fouls resulted in a seven-point possession. According to the FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland broadcast, this was the eighth and ninth times he’s drawn shooting fouls on three-point shots since coming to the Cavs. In total, he’s drawn a league-leading 50 fouls on outside attempts this season.

• Harden finished with double-digit free-throw attempts for the second game in a row and the fourth time since the trade. He went 9-11 from the charity stripe in the victory.
• Evan Mobley scored over 25 points for the third time in four games. He totaled 26 points on 12-19 shooting. The Cavs are now 4-2 on the season when he registers 25 or more points.
• Mobley feasted in the restricted area, converting 10 of his 14 shots at the rim (71.4%).
• Neither team could consistently finish at the basket, with both being below the 10th percentile in rim-shooting accuracy. The Cavs converted just 50% of their shots at the rim (4th percentile) while the Bulls converted just 51.3% (7th percentile).
• Cavaliers outside of Mobley went just 6-18 (33.3%) on shots in the restricted area. For context, the league average is 66.9%.
• Harden assisted on five of Mobley’s 12 made baskets.
• Four of Harden’s assists to Mobley came off screens. Their two-man game has continued to grow. After the victory, Harden told sideline reporter Serena Winters that they’ve been forced to use games as practice, given their limited time together. Performances like this show how they’ve been able to develop chemistry. All four baskets are in the clip below.

• Mobley led the team in plus/minus by being a +11. The Cavs played their best basketball with Mobley on the floor. Harden wasn’t far behind at +9.
• Mobley went 2-6 at the free-throw line. This has become an alarming trend for Mobley, who once again missed two clutch free throws. He’s now shooting just 48.3% from the line in March.
• The Cavs went just 21-31 (66.7%) on free-throw attempts.
• Cleveland converted 1-9 three-point attempts (11.1%) in the fourth quarter. The Cavs’ inability to consistently score late, combined with shaky defense, led to them almost choking away a 20-point fourth-quarter lead.
• The Bulls put up 37 fourth-quarter points. They did most of their damage in the paint during the final quarter as they went 10-14 in the fourth on their paint shot attempts (71.4%).
• Chicago’s bench outscored Cleveland’s reserves 43-22. The Bulls had three bench players finish with double-digit points: Rob Dillingham (17), Leonard Miller (10), and Guerschon Yabusele (10). The Cavs had none.
• Max Strus found his way into the closing lineup, despite going 0-5 from the field. Strus was held without a point and had a team-worst plus/minus of -7. This wasn’t Strus’s best game despite showing good activity off-ball and being a helpful rebounder.
• Cleveland won the second-chance points battle 14-8. The Cavaliers did a good job of controlling the glass, despite opting for several small-ball lineups. It’s worth pointing out that the Bulls are one of the smaller and faster teams in the league.
• Chicago was in the 27th percentile for transition offense efficiency. The Bulls picked up two wins against the Cavs earlier this season, largely due to their ability to run in the open floor. Cleveland did a much better job of limiting that this time around.
• Keon Ellis provided four stocks. He remains one of the most active defenders in the league for his size. Ellis finished with three steals and a block.
• Jaylon Tyson provided 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tyson needed this game after his struggles the last few weeks.
• The Cavs are now 5-4 when Donovan Mitchell doesn’t play. The Cavs have been at their best this season when Mitchell is on the floor. Even though this was an ugly win, victories have been hard to come by without their best player. He missed Thursday’s game with a left eye contusion.

Jordan Walsh’s season has already had two distinct phases.

Back in mid-November, he stepped into the starting lineup and stayed there for the next 20 games. The Celtics went 15–5 during that stretch, and his role made sense within what Boston needed at the time. He defended across positions, ran the floor, and kept the offense moving without forcing anything.

The production followed. In November, Walsh averaged 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24 minutes per game. In December, that jumped to 9.5 points on nearly 70%(!) shooting, with his three-point percentage climbing above 50%. For a young wing on one of the best teams in the league, that’s no joke, especially for someone who, two months prior, most of us were still trying to figure out.

Jordan Walsh 20 PTS, 8 REB, 3 STL, 8/10 FG, 3/4 3FG, 95.8% TS vs Bucks https://t.co/NGwGvOE8ZCpic.twitter.com/Y7o3h6Fu5w

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) December 12, 2025

Since then, the shape of his season has changed. His minutes have dropped each month, from 20.6 in December to 15.8 in January, then 14.0 in February, and under 12 per game in March. The production has come down with it.

So what changed?

A role that fit what Boston needed

When Walsh entered the starting lineup on Nov. 12, it made a lot of sense.

Boston needed length on the wing. Someone who could defend multiple positions, stay active, and keep possessions moving when the ball found him. Walsh did that, and then some. He was often the one getting the offense to pick up the pace, and took on defensive assignments that allowed others to conserve energy.

Walsh fits the type of wing Brad Stevens has prioritized for years. Defend, connect plays, don’t hijack possessions. It’s the same connective archetype Boston has leaned into across the roster — the idea of building, as Nate Moskowitz recently put it, an army of Derrick Whites. For a stretch, Walsh executed his role well enough to stay on the floor, and the statistics backed up the eye test. On top of that, most of those minutes came in lineups that were already winning, so there wasn’t much reason to change anything.

Where the rotation started to change

The change didn’t come all at once.

It showed up in smaller moments. A shorter stint against Sacramento, then a lineup change against the Clippers, when Sam Hauser moved back into the starting group. After his minutes began to dip, Walsh didn’t point to matchups or rotation decisions. He went straight to impact.

“I think just leaving a print on the game,” he said in January. “The other team has to feel me… Every time I’m on the court, I’ve got to constantly make it hard for everybody else to kind of survive on the other team.”

That quote gets to the heart of why it’s hard to keep minutes on this Celtics roster. On a team this deep, checking the boxes is the bare minimum. To be a real contributor, you have to impact the game in a way that forces the coaching staff to keep you out there.

Jaylen Brown related to a good question about Jordan Walsh’s up-and-down minutes:

“He just needs to keep his mind right and stay focused…He's in a tough spot, because we have a lot of talented players…”

“My 3rd year, I got moved to the bench when Kyrie, Gordon came back.” pic.twitter.com/Z1cmKZRyho

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 14, 2026

Mazzulla framed it from the team side.

“It’s just that we can go do so many different things,” he said. “You saw what Sam was able to do…our offense was obviously different with him out there.”

Nothing broke. The Celtics just have a lot of toys to play with, and they want to see how they all work together before the playoffs arrive.

The “young wolves” are fighting for the same minutes

Jaylen Brown recently called the Celtics’ youthful wings the “young wolves.” That group has been competing for the same rotation spots all season.

Walsh is competing directly with Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González, and the newest wolf cub, Ron Harper Jr., for minutes that don’t have much margin to begin with.

From a statistical standpoint, Walsh’s profile stands out in one specific area. He uses very little of the offense.

Among the group of wolves, Walsh’s usage rate sits near the bottom, around 11%. Scheierman is slightly higher. Harper Jr. and González operate in a similar range, but with more on-ball responsibility in short stretches.

That low-usage role can work (it did earlier in the season), but it comes with a tradeoff. When you’re not creating offense, your value has to show up quickly in other areas.

Walsh does that defensively. Last season, Xavier Tillman dubbed Walsh “The King of the Lockdown.” Bit of a clunky nickname for my liking, but the point stands. His activity, length, and ability to disrupt possessions still give him a clear edge on that end compared to most of the other young players.

Offensively, the gap is slightly visible when it comes to decision-making and versatility.

Scheierman has earned trust as a secondary playmaker as the season has gone on. His assist-to-usage numbers reflect that, showing a real comfort making reads with the ball in his hands. González, even in more limited minutes, has shown flashes of that same ability.

Walsh’s assist rate, by comparison, sits near the bottom of the group. That doesn’t make him ineffective. It just narrows the ways he can put his fingerprints on a possession offensively. When the ball finds him, the play usually needs to move quickly — catch, swing, or finish.

On a roster like this, the players who stay in the rotation tend to give Mazzulla multiple options within the same possession. Shooting, passing, or attacking off the catch. The more paths a player offers, the easier it is to keep him on the floor.

Walsh’s path is more defined. Defend, run, finish plays. Earlier in the season, that path was enough to hold steady minutes. As the rotation tightened and more talent rose to the surface, that path became harder to rely on consistently.

The margin for Walsh right now

There was a sequence against Oklahoma City last week that keeps replaying in my head as I write this article. Sam Hauser jumps a passing lane, pushes it ahead, and Walsh steps into a transition three and knocks it down. Clean, immediate, decisive. No hesitation, no extra dribble, no pause. That version of Walsh fits anywhere in this rotation. You don’t have to think about it and, more importantly, neither does anyone else.

Sam Hauser steal, Jordan Walsh three! pic.twitter.com/6C1AXyiIjx

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 13, 2026

The challenge is not knowing how often that version is going to show up possession to possession. In a tighter rotation, the ball finds different players in similar spots, and the ones who stay on the floor tend to keep the advantage moving in the right direction. Catch, decide, go. When that rhythm stalls, even briefly, the possession shifts somewhere else. On a team with this many options, that’s usually all it takes for Mazzulla to start looking for other answers.

Now, the context around those possessions has changed even more. With Tatum back and his minutes climbing into the low 30s, there are simply fewer opportunities to begin with. The role Walsh filled earlier in the season hasn’t disappeared, but it has shrunk, and it now requires a sharper version of the same impact to justify staying on the floor.

That’s the bar Walsh is trying to clear now. Not whether he can contribute, because he already has, but whether he can do it in a way that keeps him in the flow of what Boston is doing on both ends, game after game after game. The minutes earlier in the season proved he belongs in that mix. The last few weeks have shown how narrow that window can get.

Walsh said it himself. The other team has to feel him. Otherwise, we might not see him.

Half of the first round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament is complete. But we’re far from done, March Madness fans.

The action Friday continues with another full slate of 16 contests. Once again, this will be your guide for the day with all the matchups, channels and tip times. Stick with us all day as teams advance and brackets are busted.

Once again, the times listed can vary slightly if preceding contests run long, but there should always be something happening throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Here’s the ranking of all the games and everything you need to know about how to watch Friday’s contests.

1. No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State

Time/TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, TNT

The Aggies have appeared in every NCAA Tournament but one since 2019 but own just one victory in that stretch, something this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to change. They should match up well with the Wildcats, though Duke Brennan could give Villanova the edge in the paint.

2. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS

You’d be hard-pressed to find a first-round contest featuring more contrasting styles. The free-wheeling RedHawks won over plenty of skeptics in Wednesday night’s First Four victory against SMU, but the Volunteers will do their best to make this affair a grind with a premium on controlling the boards.

3. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa

Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

The final 8-9 matchup tips off the evening session, though it, too, provides something of a contrast. The Hawkeyes have a true floor general in Bennett Stirtz, who rarely leaves the floor. But the Tigers’ ability to spread the offensive load could serve them well given their recent injury woes. This looks to be tight throughout.

4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara

Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

One of the sport’s name-brand programs appears in the leadoff spot, though this year’s Wildcats can hardly be considered Final Four contenders. They figure to get a formidable first-round challenge from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its own on the glass.

5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri

Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

The final game of the round of 64 features what is as de facto home game for Mizzou despite its lower seed. The Tigers, however, enter the tourney on a three-game losing streak, so a fast start by the Hurricanes could neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri leading scorer Mark Mitchell will have to keep pace with the Miami duo of Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson.

6. No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida

Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS

The Bruins’ late push in the crowded Big Ten could elevate them only so far up the seeding hierarchy, but they should at least be at full strength for this assignment. The Knights weren’t at their best in the closing weeks of the season but have enough weapons to be dangerous.

7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron

Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV

Unfortunately, the loss of All America forward JT Toppin to a season-ending knee injury severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn’t phone in the rest of their season, of course, but they now find themselves as credible upset picks against the experienced and very talented Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile forward Amani Lyles.

8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra

Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV

While courts of a different sort have kept Alabama in the news for much of this season, the Crimson Tide are still capable of making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His opposite number here will be Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, a high-usage point guard who puts up 20.2 points and 4.6 assists a game.

9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist

Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

With plenty of questions about their overall chemistry and the uncertainty around star freshman Darryn Peterson entering the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably need an easy first-round tuneup more than most upper-tier squads. They might not get it against the Lancers and WAC player of the year Dominique Daniels (23.2 ppg).

10. No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Big East champion St. John’s and its supporters have plenty of reasons to be displeased with the committee for their tournament draw, not the least of which is this first-round matchup in far away San Diego against a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a reputation as a March giant killer. Be that as it may, the Panthers might not have an answer for Red Storm big man Zuby Ejiofor.

11. No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State

Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS

The new-look Cavaliers have a different playing style than the past versions that proved susceptible to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they must be ready for a challenge from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who also like to play fast and connect on 36.1% of their three-point tries.

12. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State

Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS

When everything is working, the Cyclones can look like a Final Four team. But the program has been here before as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton in the first round. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) could keep the Tigers in it for a while.

13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens

Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

The Boilermakers were undoubtedly happy to see their name on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a hard weekend of work in the Big Ten tournament. And the improvement to a No. 2 seed means a favorable matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the big stage, at least hope to make a good first impression.

14. No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman

Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

All UConn coach Danny Hurley has to do to get his players’ attention is remind them what Furman did the last time it played in this event. Bob Richey is still coaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 when they sent Virginia packing in the first round, and he once again has a dependable floor leader in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this year.

15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island

Time/TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TNT

Arizona has a history of underachieving in March, but that usually comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed version of the Wildcats should make short work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a guy to watch for coach Rod Strickland’s Sharks.

16. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M

Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

Congratulations are in order for the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run almost certainly stops here against the defending champion Gators, though Prairie View’s Dontae Horne can make things happen at both ends of the floor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first-round schedule Friday

Well, that didn't stink.

How about March Madness? Does it ever disappoint?

Nope.

Thursday's first round had the upsets we love, the close calls that nearly wreck brackets nationwide and memorable moments, like Nebraska's NCAA Tournament long-awaited breakthrough.

Armour: One day in and March Madness already it's usual marvelous self

Can Friday top it?

Here's a look at Friday's full slate of games and TV listings:

March Madness today: NCAA Tournament schedule, TV listings for Friday, March 20

• 12:15 p.m.: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara, CBS (Fubo)
• 12:40 p.m.: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron, truTV (Sling TV)
• 1:35 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU, TNT (Sling TV)
• 1:50 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State, TBS (Sling TV)
• 2:50 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State, CBS (Fubo)
• 3:15 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra, truTV (Sling TV)
• 4:10 p.m.: No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State, TNT (Sling TV)
• 4:25 p.m.: No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio), TBS (Sling TV)
• 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, TNT (Sling TV)
• 7:10 p.m.: No 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa, CBS (Fubo)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida, TBS (Sling TV)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens, truTV (Sling TV)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M, TNT (Sling TV)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist, CBS (Fubo)
• 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman, TBS (Sling TV)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami vs. No. 10 Missouri, truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness today: NCAA Tournament schedule, how to watch first round

Luka Doncic became the first player since Kobe Bryant to score 60 points in a game for the LA Lakers as they overcame the Miami Heat 134-126.

Doncic – the NBA's leading scorer this season – has reached 30 points in eight consecutive games and got to 50 twice in his last five appearances but in hitting 60 achieved a mark that no Lakers player had managed since Bryant in 2019.

And on a night of notable marks for the Lakers, LeBron James scored a triple double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to move.

The game was his 1,611th regular-season outing, moving him level with Robert Parish for the most in NBA history. The all-time leading scorer in NBA history will set a new record if he features for the Lakers against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

"He's not only competing against the entire league but also Father Time. And he's giving Father Time hell," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said of the 41-year-old.

Wembanyama stars as Spurs seal play-off spot; Curry honoured by Hornets

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns 101-100 thanks to a Victor Wembanyama effort with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Wembanyama had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and his winning point secured Spurs a play-off spot for the first time in six seasons in the Western Conference.

The in-form Charlotte Hornets also continued their winning run, beating the Orlando Magic 130-111.

But the game was arguably more notable for a half-time ceremony which saw former Hornets star Dell Curry's number 30 jersey retired.

His shirt was lifted to the rafters at the Spectrum Center as his family - including NBA all-star sons Stephen and Seth, watched on.

Meanwhile the Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 117-95 in their first game without the injured MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame the Chicago Bulls 115-110.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to field Friday in the third Twenty20 cricket international against South Africa at Eden Park.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after South Africa won the first match by seven wickets and New Zealand the second by 68 runs.

Both teams made one lineup change. South Africa named right-arm pacer Lutho Sipamla in place of Ottneil Baartman while New Zealand recalled Bevon Jacobs in place of Josh Clarkson.

___

Lineups:

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (captain), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson.

Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Nqobani Mokoena, Lutho Sipamla.

___

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

BUFFALO, NY — This was a moment delayed by two years, a coaching change and a transfer.

Two seasons ago, Indiana State won the Missouri Valley regular-season crown, earning the program’s first national ranking since the Larry Bird-led team in 1979 along the way, before losing to Drake in the finals of the conference tournament.

The Sycamores were then snubbed by the NCAA selection committee, who held them out of the at-large field despite a NET rating of 28, the highest of any team to miss the tournament.

“It was kind of the biggest disappointment we’ve ever had,” said former Indiana State and current Saint Louis assistant coach Antone Gray. “It was a huge letdown that night.”

Two years later, the biggest pieces behind that season’s success — coach Josh Schertz and center Robbie Avila — embraced after No. 9 Saint Louis routed No. 8 Georgia, 102-77, in the opening round of the Midwest region, celebrating an achievement rooted in the decision to leave Indiana State after the 2024 season.

“Our goal was from the beginning of the year to reach this moment, so we got here, we kind of accomplished that goal,” Avila said. “But obviously that 2024 year was just what it was. I'm just excited and blessed to have the opportunity to do it here.”

The Billikens advanced to face No. 1 Michigan, which pulled away from No. 16 Howard in the second half of a 101-80 win.

Shertz accepted the Saint Louis opening days after the Sycamores lost to Seton Hall in the NIT championship game. Two weeks later, Avila followed suit to become the centerpiece of the Billikens’ transformation from 13-20 in 2023-24 to a school-record 29 wins and growing this season.

“I wanted to get this team to the NCAA Tournament for a lot of reasons, but he was the biggest,” Shertz said of Avila. “There was a lot of people that helped bring me here, but I just never wanted for him to have ended his career not in the tournament, particularly after what happened to our Indiana State team.”

The player with a collection of the best nicknames in the sport — Bert, Steph Blurry, Larry Nerd and many more — showcased his deft touch near the basket and skills as a passer against the Bulldogs, posting 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal before being replaced with 4:45 remaining and the Billikens holding a 38-point lead.

After drilling a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis ahead 86-52 with just over nine minutes left, Avila raised his arms as fans chanted his first name. At this point, Avila and the Billikens had so demoralized the Bulldogs that Georgia fans sitting behind press row began discussing Thursday’s start of spring football.

“Major impact. Energy booster,” said Saint Louis guard Trey Green. “Robbie hit some key buckets. He made some good passes. Defensively, he held his own. To have your leader make an impact like that, you know, it drives us to have his back and do the same thing.”

This was par for the course for one of the top players on the mid-major level and one of the most balanced players in the country, period, even if Avila was not named one of the five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation’s best center.

Avila is now averaging a team-best 12.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and a team-leading 4.1 assists per game, all while shooting 50.9% from the field, a career-best 41.7% from deep and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

All this while looking like, well, someone who shouldn’t be this good. With his goatee, beefy frame and lack of rim-shaking athleticism, Avila is a human version of the Spider-Man-pointing meme for those watching at home: Hey, he looks just like me!

“He’s the most team guy that we have,” said Gray. “He leads us. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country and he came here for a reason. He came back for this.”

Like Avila, Schertz saw his profile grow at Indiana State, which hired him in 2021 after a hugely successful run at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He’s since become one of the hottest names in mid-major coaching, drawing heavy attention for the Syracuse opening before declining the Orange’s overtures and signing a contract extension with Saint Louis last week.

There’s no wonder larger programs are so interested: Schertz has made things happen at every stop, making three Division II Final Four appearances at Lincoln Memorial, winning 62.3% of his games with the Sycamores and now posting a 48-20 mark in his two seasons with the Billikens.

“It’s been everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more,” said his son, Jaden, a walk-on junior guard who followed his dad from Indiana State.

“It’s surreal, man. I’ve known my dad is a great coach since the D-II days. We’ve watched March Madness since we were little. So it’s awesome watching it on this stage.”

Overall, Schertz has won 77.8% of his games, ranking him eighth among active college coaches across all NCAA levels. In four seasons with Avila on the roster, he’s gone 103-40. But this win stands alone.

“This was just a full-circle moment,” said Gray. “I think this was what we deserved and honestly, what Robbie and coach deserved the most.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saint Louis' NCAA Tournament blowout win was two years in the making

The Knicks again will be a bit shorthanded for their clash against the Nets on Friday.

Josh Hart is out, with the Knicks listing his ailment as patella femoral syndrome in his right knee.

That’s notably different from when he missed two games in Utah and Indiana last week, which was due to left knee soreness.

Hart had his best offensive game of the season Tuesday when he erupted for a season-high 33 points in a rout of the Pacers at MSG.

But the Knicks will be getting Jalen Brunson back.

He missed Tuesday’s game for right ankle management and a neck strain. Brunson practiced fully Thursday.

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The Knicks carry a 13-game winning streak against the Nets into Friday’s game.

Brunson had no interest in talking about it.

“No comment,” Brunson said after practice Thursday. “We’re gonna focus on winning the game then moving on from there. I don’t care about the streak.”

The last time the teams met, the Knicks won by 54 points at Madison Square Garden — their biggest-ever margin of victory.

It came during their low point of the year, after they had lost nine of 11 games, and helped reignite their season.

“You have to be ready to go,” Brunson said. “Short-term memory. No matter what the result is, you gotta come ready to play next time you play, next game, whatever it is. We gotta look past it, we gotta look forward. It’s 0-0, new game.”

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Jose Alvarado is featured in a new AT&T commercial alongside Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Patrick Ewing and John Starks. It’s the first commercial for Alvarado.

“That’s what New York can do for you: get you in commercials,” Alvarado said. “My agent called me and said, ‘We’ve got a special thing, do you want to be in a commercial?’ I said ‘Yeah,’ I didn’t know who was going to be in the commercial at first. But the commercial came out pretty dope.”

Cleveland Cavaliers (43-27, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (25-46, 12th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans is looking to prolong its three-game win streak with a victory against Cleveland.

The Pelicans are 16-21 in home games. New Orleans is 14-20 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 13.6 turnovers per game.

The Cavaliers are 21-14 on the road. Cleveland is eighth in the league averaging 14.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.0% from downtown. Donovan Mitchell leads the team averaging 3.3 makes while shooting 36.4% from 3-point range.

The Pelicans average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.6 fewer makes per game than the Cavaliers allow (13.9). The Cavaliers are shooting 47.7% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 47.4% the Pelicans' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Cavaliers won 141-118 in the last matchup on Dec. 24. Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 27 points, and Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 26 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is averaging 22 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Williamson is averaging 18.2 points over the last 10 games.

Evan Mobley is scoring 18.3 points per game and averaging 8.9 rebounds for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 20.3 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 119.0 points, 45.4 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.

Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 116.9 points, 42.5 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 6.8 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.2 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Dejounte Murray: day to day (achilles), Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe).

Cavaliers: Craig Porter Jr.: day to day (groin), Tyrese Proctor: day to day (quadricep), Donovan Mitchell: day to day (eye), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee).

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

Los Angeles Lakers (45-25, third in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (38-31, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits the Orlando Magic after Luka Doncic scored 60 points in the Lakers' 134-126 victory against the Miami Heat.

The Magic have gone 22-13 in home games. Orlando is 17-21 against opponents over .500.

The Lakers have gone 22-13 away from home. Los Angeles is 7-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Magic average 115.4 points per game, 0.3 more points than the 115.1 the Lakers give up. The Lakers average 116.6 points per game, 2.2 more than the 114.4 the Magic give up.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic won the last matchup 110-109 on Feb. 25, with Paolo Banchero scoring 36 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Banchero is averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and five assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 22.3 points over the last 10 games.

LeBron James is averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 38.1 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 49.4% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 120.6 points, 44.7 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.

Lakers: 9-1, averaging 120.8 points, 41.2 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.0 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Wendell Carter Jr.: day to day (rib), Anthony Black: out (abdomen), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).

Lakers: Maxi Kleber: day to day (back).

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

Indiana Pacers (15-55, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (52-18, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will look to keep its four-game win streak alive when the Spurs take on Indiana.

The Spurs are 27-7 in home games. San Antonio ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 16.1 fast break points per game led by Devin Vassell averaging 2.7.

The Pacers are 5-30 in road games. Indiana is 7-35 against opponents over .500.

The Spurs are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 49.0% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers average 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than the Spurs allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Jan. 3 the Spurs won 123-113 led by 24 points from De'Aaron Fox, while Pascal Siakam scored 23 points for the Pacers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is scoring 24.3 points per game with 11.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Spurs. Fox is averaging 20.4 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 53.0% over the last 10 games.

Siakam is averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jay Huff is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 123.6 points, 47.7 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 5.9 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.2 points per game.

Pacers: 0-10, averaging 110.2 points, 39.2 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.9 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Stephon Castle: day to day (hip).

Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (knee), Micah Potter: day to day (triceps), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: day to day (head), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (calf), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Obi Toppin: day to day (foot).

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

Los Angeles Clippers (34-36, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (23-47, 13th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas takes on Los Angeles looking to end its 10-game home slide.

The Mavericks have gone 12-30 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas has an 8-25 record in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Clippers have gone 21-23 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 17-25 record against opponents above .500.

The Mavericks average 10.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer makes per game than the Clippers allow (13.4). The Clippers are shooting 48.3% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.4% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Mavericks won the last meeting 114-110 on Nov. 30, with Cooper Flagg scoring 35 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Naji Marshall is shooting 52.1% and averaging 15.1 points for the Mavericks. Flagg is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games.

Kawhi Leonard is scoring 28.2 points per game and averaging 6.4 rebounds for the Clippers. Darius Garland is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 109.4 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.2 points per game.

Clippers: 5-5, averaging 119.5 points, 39.0 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 11.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Brandon Williams: day to day (head).

Clippers: Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Kawhi Leonard: day to day (ankle), Bennedict Mathurin: out (toe).

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

Philadelphia 76ers (38-32, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-49, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Utah Jazz in non-conference play.

The Jazz are 13-22 in home games. Utah ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.3.

The 76ers are 18-16 on the road. Philadelphia is ninth in the Eastern Conference allowing only 116.1 points while holding opponents to 47.0% shooting.

The Jazz's 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.4 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers give up. The Jazz average 115.6 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 124.8 the Jazz allow.

The two teams match up for the second time this season. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 106-102 in their last meeting on March 5. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 25 points, and Keyonte George led the Jazz with 30 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Dominick Barlow is shooting 53.9% and averaging 8.3 points for the 76ers. Justin Edwards is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.8 points, 43.0 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 10.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points per game.

76ers: 5-5, averaging 111.0 points, 42.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), John Konchar: day to day (quad), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

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

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