Category: Basketball

The Toronto Raptors continue their five-game road trip in the mile-high city tonight, facing the Denver Nuggets. This is their second and final matchup of the season, with the first ending in a called-off successful 3-pointer by Ingram as the clock expired that would’ve send the game to overtime on New Year’s Eve:

Brandon Ingram's game-tying shot got called back 😳 pic.twitter.com/BzDG3nXv91

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 1, 2026

The last time they met, Denver’s roster looked very different. They were missing four of their five starters due to injury, but still managed to overtake Toronto. This will be the Raptors’ opportunity for redemption, but they will have to do it against a Nuggets team at full strength.

Currently in the league, their are 10 teams above the Raptors, with Denver a single spot ahead. So far this year, Toronto has struggled greatly when facing the League’s elite, with a record of 5-18 against those teams. Three of those wins came against the Cavs, one against Detroit and one against the Thunder.

Including this game, there are 14 left in the season. Only four of those are against top 10 teams. Now, more than ever, Toronto needs to see what they are capable as the postseason looms. Only four games separate Toronto in 5th from Charlotte in 10th in the East. They will need to view every game as must-win until they secure their spot and avoid the play-in.

It also couldn’t hurt for them to see what they can do when they go toe-to-toe with tougher competition. Luckily for Toronto, they’re coming into this matchup with momentum. On Wednesday, the Raptors steam-rolled the Bulls in a 30-point victory that showed what Toronto is capable of. They did everything right. Passing. Shooting. Defence. Now, if they can channel that energy again, they should have a chance against Denver too.

The biggest challenge in overcoming the Nuggets is Jokic. Not just because of his ability to score and take over games, but also the way he facilitates for his teammates. He is often doubled by defences, leaving someone open. Jokic capitalizes and finds the open man for the easy basket. Even without him in their last matchup, that’s the system Denver ran. Cutting, driving, and kick-outs for open shooters to pick apart defences.

The Raptors know this, so they will have to be fully engaged tip to buzzer. Help defence will need to be active and mobile. Players will need to do a better job following their man to prevent back-cuts. They may even need to utilize a single coverage on Jokic, which they have options for. Poeltl is back, Mamu has good size as a backup, and should-be DPOY candidate Scottie Barnes will likely end up with some coverage against him too.

Canadian Jamal Murray will also draw some attention as he is able to find his shot from all over the floor. His long-range shooting is one of his best assets that often help him run up the score. Keeping the ball out of his hands helped the last time out, but will be a bit more of a challenge now that he doesn’t need to be their primary ball handler. Even still, the less he touches the ball tonight, the better for the Raptors.

While the rosters are different than the last matchup, the script is the same. Let’s just hope for a different outcome.

Probable Starters

Toronto: Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett

Denver: Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun

Injury Report

Toronto: Chucky Hepburn (Out: G-League), A.J. Lawson (Out: G-League), Alijah Martin (Out: G-League), Collin Murray-Boyles (Doubtful: Thumb sprain).

Denver: DaRon Holmes II (Out: G-League), Curtis Jones (Out: G-League), KJ Simpson (Out: G-League), Peyton Watson (Out: Hamstring strain)

Where to Watch

Tune into Sportsnet at 9pm ET!

Queens is looking to make some noise in its first Men's NCAA Tournament appearance.

The No. 15-seeded Royals are set to take on No. 2 Purdue in the first round of March Madness on Friday, March 20, from Enterprise Center in St Louis. Queens won the ASUN Conference Tournament for the first time in program history to qualify for the tournament.

REQUIRED READING: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

While just appearing in Friday's game will be a historic moment for the school, which is just in its fourth-year competing at the Division I level, you can imagine that the Royals enter the game with a bigger goal: an upset of the Boilermakers.

For those tuning in to see Queens making history, here's what to know about Queens before it takes on Purdue heading into the NCAA Tournament:

Where is Queens located?

No, your first guess of "on the western end of Long Island in New York" is not correct.

Queens is a private school located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has an approximate undergraduate figure of 1,900 and it was founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute.

In 2025, Queens and Elon University (located in Elon, North Carolina) announced the two universities would be merging, which is expected to be completed in August 2026.

Queens NCAA Tournament history

Friday's matchup against Purdue will be the NCAA Tournament debut for the Royals. The program first fielded a men's basketball team in the 1989-90 season.

Queens has been a Division I team since July 1, 2022.

What conference does Queens play in?

Queens competes in the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference, a member since July 1, 2022. The ASUN has members in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina and Georgia.

The Royals competed in the Conference Carolinas from 1995 to 2013, then joined the South Atlantic Conference in 2013, before moving up to Division I in 2022.

Queens won its first ASUN Conference tournament championship this past season, qualifying them for the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I school. The Royals also won the Conference Carolinas three times (1996, 1998, 1999) and the South Atlantic Conference twice (2017, 2022).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where is Queens? Nickname, March Madness history for ASUN program

Troy coach Scott Cross has emerged as the leading candidate in Georgia Tech's basketball coaching search, multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Friday, March 20.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Cross' candidacy. It wasn't immediately clear whether Cross, who led Troy to its second straight Men's NCAA Tournament berth this season, has been offered the job.

The Georgia Tech job came open when athletic director Ryan Alpert fired Damon Stoudamire on March 8 after the Yellow Jackets closed their season on a 12-game losing streak and failed to make the 15-team ACC Tournament. Stoudamire, an ex-Arizona star, lasted three seasons with the Yellow Jackets and posted a 42-55 record.

Cross and Furman coach Bob Richey were among the candidates thoroughly vetted by Alpert during Georgia Tech's search, with Cross emerging as the focus, multiple sources told USA TODAY Sports.

Richey coached Furman to its eighth March Madness berth this season and second since 1980. The 15th-seeded Paladins (22-12) will face No. 2 UConn (29-5) in the first round on Friday.

Why Georgia Tech is targeting Scott Cross

Georgia Tech is trying to revive a program that has lost 93 games the past five seasons and has just one NCAA Tournament berth since 2010.

In narrowing the focus on Cross, Georgia Tech is targeting a coach coming off a successful stint after spending more than two decades at the Division I level.

Cross, who has 19 years' experience as an NCAA head coach, led Troy to a Sun Belt Conference championship and 22-12 record this season, ending with Thursday's 76-47 loss to Nebraska in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Cross' last five Troy teams won at least 20 games. His past two reached the NCAA Tournament and another reached the now-defunct College Basketball Invitational.

Before arriving at Troy, Cross guided Texas-Arlington to postseason appearances in the NIT and College Invitational Tournament (CIT) quarterfinals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scott Cross top Georgia Tech basketball candidate after March Madness loss

To some of us, it may sound like an echo from a not-so-distant past. How do we protect our superstar and franchise player from constantly getting hit and banged up – and carrying too much of the load? 

“Health is the biggest thing,” Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said a few days ago about Cooper Flagg. “We’re looking for Cooper to come out of this (season) healthy.”

The focus is on injury prevention and finding ways to save his energy. In order to do that the coaching staff wants Flagg to take a new approach – or at least refocus his offensive game a little. 

“Because he plays hard, because he attacks, he gets hit a lot, so that’s one of the areas that we want to make sure that he gets better at.”

And Kidd has a specific thing in mind that could help limit the amount of hits and bumps Flagg receives during the course of a game, but also save his energy: more shooting beyond the arc. 

“He feels comfortable shooting it off the dribble,” Kidd said about Cooper Flagg. “We would like for him to get a little bit better at catch-and-shoot. Less energy spent, less banging.”

Sound familiar?

In many ways, this is not a new situation in Dallas. Not long ago, the calls for Luka Doncic to avoid getting banged up constantly were loud in the media and among fans. Back then, everyone wanted Luka Doncic to take more catch-and-shoot threes, as well. The issues were similar, but the question remains:

How do you save the energy of the franchise player and decrease the amount of times he gets hit and banged up during a game?

Back on January 1st, 2023, Jason Kidd talked in similar fashion about how Luka Doncic’s next step should be to learn to play in a way that would put less stress on his body:

“After that New York game, I wanted to see – could we say a Klay-type game where he had 5 dribbles and had 70 points? That’s the next step for him, to understand how to pick the defense apart without putting so much stress on his body.”

Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic's next step: "After that New York game, I wanted to see — could we say a Klay-type game where he had 5 dribbles and had 70 points? That's the next step for him, to understand how to pick the defense apart without putting so much stress on his body." pic.twitter.com/AuR0lolceL

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 31, 2022

And in yet another repetition of past struggles in Dallas, fans and media alike have been calling out the referees for not protecting Cooper Flagg. The same sentiment was very prevalent around Doncic for most of his career. 

But isn’t this an issue with all stars, especially in that rookie year? you might ask. And the answer could very likely be yes. But that doesn’t mean that we should just accept the status quo. 

There are ways to protect stars, superstars and even rookies. Jason Kidd knows what he’s doing, he understands that catch-and-shoot threes would help decrease the hits which Flagg receives every game. 

But that’s not the only solution. Running plays that encourage more catch-and-shoots, forcing the rookie to sometimes settle for the shot, would help. 

Making sure there’s always players around him to share the physical load (or upgrade the roster to accommodate it), and a playmaker to set the table on offense. 

And then there’s simply standing up for Flagg more during games from the coaches, reminding referees, pushing back, taking a tech sometimes to prove a point. All of this could make a big difference. Same in the press conferences after. Make sure the focus is on this issue, shape the narrative. 

Look, I get it, I’m not a refs complainer either. But when you see how other coaches go to war for lesser incidents and often end up with a better whistle down the road, you have to consider starting the conversation. Here’s a good example of how Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr always campaigns on behalf of his players. 

STEVE KERR: "I'm pissed off. I wanted to go to Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup. We aren't going because of a loose ball foul 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I've never seen anything like it in my life. That was ridiculous. Thank you."pic.twitter.com/lO5S2qJVlK

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 12, 2024

As it did with Doncic, it is now beginning to take a toll on Cooper Flagg. In last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Flagg was clearly more agitated – both complaining more and showing bad body language, which seems to be an increasingly regular occurrence as the season wears on. 

the foul is called on the floor and Coop doesn't like it pic.twitter.com/HkIruvis3G

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) March 19, 2026

Obviously, this is a problem for the coaching staff to solve. They never really figured it out while Luka Doncic was in Dallas, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find a way to help Cooper Flagg.

It’s easy to sit behind a screen or in the arena and be an expert on how other people should do their jobs. It’s a different thing altogether to maneuver the situation on the floor in the moment it’s happening. Everybody who has played real and competitive basketball and coached knows that.

But the Mavs have to find a way to protect their franchise star one way or the other, and a concerted effort might be more effective than leaving the responsibility with the player.

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

The Milwaukee Bucks played what was definitely their worst game of this season, getting blown out by the 20-48 Utah Jazz, 128-96. Along with their play itself, this was also the team’s worst game from a body language standpoint, and that’s saying a lot. The Jazz, who, make no mistake, are going to extreme lengths to lose, simply couldn’t suck as much as the Bucks, no matter what they tried. Yikes. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

23 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers 5/10 FG, 3/7 3P, -14

Was decently efficient, but unable to make much impact as a primary playmaker.

Grade: C-

Myles Turner

18 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 1/3 FG, 1/3 3P, -12

Maybe the worst game from Turner all season? Completely irrelevant all game on both ends. I hesitate to use the word “soft” these days, but this was pretty soft from the big man. Couldn’t assert any will on the game against dudes who, let’s be honest, are not even close to being NBA centres.

Grade: F

Kyle Kuzma

19 minutes, 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 3/7 FG, 0/2 3P, –19

Got out in transition a few times, but same as Turner: irrelevant.

Grade: D-

AJ Green

11 minutes, 0 points, 0/4 FG, 0/4 3P, -13

Had multiple bad mistakes on defence as an off-ball defender, and couldn’t find his shot either. Been a rough stretch for AJ.

Grade: D-

Ousmane Dieng

24 minutes, 13 points, 5/7 FG, 3/4 3P, -27

Hit open shots, but made very little impact as a passer (apart from one nice skip pass). Also got dominated a few times by physical defenders. Being physical is going to keep popping up on the scouting report for those defending Ous until he proves he can beat it.

Grade: C

Bobby Portis

23 minutes, 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4/12 FG, 1/4 3P, -17

Made some early impact, but this was one of the few games this year where Bobby looked like the player he has been in seasons past. Looked slow and lethargic on both ends, getting blown by more than his standard this year. Also got beasted by Andersson Garcia way too many times on the boards; this was Garcia’s fifth game.

Grade: C-

Pete Nance

13 minutes, 0 points, 0/2 FG, 0/1 3P, -14

Nothing from a bloke who usually finds a way to make an impact on some level. That said, he didn’t get any real run until the fourth quarter, making it tough to find a rhythm.

Grade: F

Jericho Sims

17 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1/1 FG, -9

Jericho feeds off others making plays for him, and so when the likes of Rollins, Kuzma, and Dieng don’t produce in that area, it has a negative impact on Sims.

Grade: D+

Cam Thomas

22 minutes, 14 points, 4 assists, 5 turnovers, 5/11 FG, 1/3 3P, -20

Cam’s stat line doesn’t look too bad, but I actually thought he was pretty horrendous from a process standpoint. His turnovers were ghastly. Plus, he didn’t play a lick of defence.

Grade: D+

Taurean Prince

16 minutes, 6 points, 2/5 FG, 2/5 3P, -4

I’d apply much of my “critique” for Sims—that his player type only works if the playmakers do their job—to Prince. That said, he did make a smooth self-created corner three.

Grade: C-

Gary Trent Jr.

17 minutes, 4 points, 1/5 FG, 1/5 3P, +0

GT just couldn’t hit shots, but he took the right ones. Was clearly trying to show the coaches that he was fighting like all hell on defence, though, which I appreciated.

Grade: C-

Doc Rivers

Part of me feels like the players came out with no want to play with any sort of intensity, and that’s not on Doc. But the number of guys the Jazz played who simply weren’t NBA players (or were fringe players at best)… you simply have to find ways to assert your dominance over them. I don’t recall Turner getting one look in the post against a 10-day guy. Advantages like these were almost never exploited, and that falls on the coach.

Grade: D

Garbage Time: Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan, Andre Jackson Jr.

Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Bless Lisa and Marques… they tried their hardest to keep the vibe at least somewhat upbeat.
• We got our first look at Cormac Ryan, who scored on his first NBA shot attempt (a three, of course).
• Ace Bailey was a flamethrower, dropping a career-high 33 on 7/17 from three. That’s a lot of threes.
• The Jazz were on the second night of a back-to-back, and played just eight guys.
• The experience of watching your team get blown out by a tanking team is truly unique. I mean, the Jazz were already tanking hard, but I want to say Will Hardy gave it an extra push at one point by subbing out all of the best players who were playing all at once, but it quickly became evident that the Bucks were just too bad on the night for Utah to steal the L.
• Just flagging that the Pelicans—having won consecutive games against the Clippers over the last two days—are now just four games “ahead” of the Bucks in the tank standings.

Up Next

The Bucks play again tomorrow against the Phoenix Suns. Catch the game at 9:00 p.m. CDT on NBA TV or FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

March Madness officially kicked off on Thursday, March 19.

When the cameras went to the studio analysts for CBS and TNT Sports, some fans were shocked to see Ernie Johnson not present along with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, the longtime loved trio of "Inside the NBA," but also regulars hosting the NCAA Tournament.

REQUIRED READING: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

Instead of Johnson, former NFL player turned "CBS Mornings" host, Nate Burleson, replaced Johnson with his hosting responsibilities. The former wide receiver also does football analysis in the studio with CBS and has been one of the commentators for Nickelodeon's Super Bowl broadcast for kids.

Nate Burleson makes his March Madness studio hosting debut. 🏀🏈📺🎙️ #MarchMadness#NCAATournamenthttps://t.co/3F2OcAG31Bpic.twitter.com/NKcDR0l3Hw

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2026

But why was Johnson not present for the opening of the NCAA Tournament and who is Burleson? Here's what you need to know:

Where is Ernie Johnson?

Johnson took on the lead role as the host last year, following the death of the legendary Greg Gumbel in December 2024.

However, this year, Johnson requested additional time off, necessitating the need for CBS to bring in a brand new host.

“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson said to NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”

Johnson is set to return for the Final Four and championship game in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6.

Who is Nate Burleson?

Burleson, 44, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Aug. 19, 1981. His father, Al, was a defensive back in the CFL. His brother, Kevin, played in the NBA.

After attending Nevada for college, Burleson was a third-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Vikings, Seahawks and Lions, finishing his career with 457 receptions for 5,360 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Burleson began his broadcasting career soon after his playing career ended in 2014, as an analyst for NFL Network. In 2021, the responsibilities for the two-time Sports Emmy Award winner grew as he expanded his work with CBS. He served as the first color commentator for Nickelodeon's NFL Wild Card game and as a host of CBS' reality show "The Challenge: All Stars."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Nate Burleson? Why has he replaced Ernie Johnson?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Date: March 20th, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

The Timberwolves spent so much of this season making the simple feel complicated that when they finally take care of business the way they’re supposed to, it almost catches you off guard.

No Anthony Edwards. No Naz Reid. Second night of a back-to-back. A team that has spent months occasionally tripping over its own shoelaces in games it should control. And yet on Wednesday night, Minnesota handled the Utah Jazz like a mature, serious basketball team that understood the assignment, respected the opponent enough to not mess around, and went out and got the win.

The Wolves had already done the hard part Tuesday night by surviving the Phoenix Suns without Edwards and creating some desperately needed breathing room between themselves and the play-in line. But that win only meant something if they could follow it up 24 hours later against a tanking Utah team that, by all appearances, is more interested in ping pong balls than victories. We’ve seen too many versions of this season to assume Minnesota would automatically connect those dots. We’ve seen the Wolves beat a good team, feel great about themselves, and then immediately face-plant into a game they had no business losing. So the fact that Wednesday never really felt in doubt was meaningful.

The Jazz were missing multiple starters, but even against an opponent that compromised, Minnesota still had to show up and execute, especially without its best player and without Reid’s usual offensive spark off the bench. To the Wolves’ credit, they did. They played like a team that has finally realized there are only so many games left to mess around with before the standings lock in and the consequences get real.

Ayo Dosunmu stepped into the lead guard role and looked comfortable doing it. Julius Randle continued the strong stretch that has quietly started to build over the last few games. And Rudy Gobert, facing his former team, was an absolute menace. He defended the rim, vacuumed up rebounds, got involved offensively, and took advantage of Utah’s lesser frontcourt.

Now comes the next test, and this one won’t be quite as forgiving.

Portland rolls into Target Center next. The Blazers are young, scrappy, and still jockeying for position in the Western Conference play-in picture. Portland has already proven twice this season that it can make life uncomfortable for the Wolves. Opening night required Anthony Edwards heroics just to avoid a miserable start to the season. The most recent meeting at the end of February was a clutch-time three-point affair that required 34 points from Edwards. Clearly Portland won’t be intimidated by the Wolves, especially now that Ant is out.

With the schedule about to turn ugly again, this is one they absolutely have to bank. Starting Sunday, the Wolves walk into a three-game stretch against the Celtics, Rockets, and Pistons. That is not the time to be looking back at a missed opportunity against Portland and wondering why you made life harder than it needed to be. It’s still unclear whether Edwards will be available for any of those games, and that makes Friday night all the more important. Against a team Minnesota is more talented than, on its home floor, with a chance to extend the streak to three and stack more cushion before the fire gets hot again, there really isn’t room for excuses.

So with that, here are the keys to the game.

---

#1 – Continue keeping the ball moving.

One of the more interesting developments during Edwards’ absence is how much more democratic the offense has looked. When Ant is on the floor, there are naturally going to be stretches where the game tilts toward letting the superstar cook. That’s part of having an All-NBA-caliber player. But without Ant, the Wolves have been forced to find offense the old-fashioned way through ball movement, spacing, cuts, extra passes, and trust. The results have actually been encouraging. The lanes open up. The role players stay engaged. The defense has to chase instead of load up. Against a young Portland team with active legs and plenty of energy, Minnesota can’t let the offense sink into isolation sludge. They need to keep sharing it, keep whipping it side to side, and make the Blazers defend for the full possession instead of standing around and waiting for one guy to go one-on-one.

#2 – Gobert needs to keep feasting.

Utah showed again how valuable it is to get Rudy involved early and often, not just because of the points, but because of the emotional effect it has on his whole game. When Gobert feels like he’s part of the offense and is getting touches around the rim, it seems to light up everything else. He rebounds harder. He rotates quicker. He defends with more edge. Minnesota should absolutely continue leaning into that. While Donovan Clingan can certainly be a nuisance, this still ought to be another game where Gobert can dominate the paint, create second-chance points, and turn the basket area into a no-fly zone. If the Wolves are getting high-efficiency offense from Rudy while also getting vintage paint protection, they’re a much more dangerous team, even without Edwards.

#3 – Ayo and Bones need to push pace and fill the backcourt void.

This is where Edwards’ absence, while obviously not ideal, may actually be giving Minnesota something useful. Dosunmu is getting a chance to settle in, get real on-ball reps, and figure out where he fits in the ecosystem. Bones Highland is getting the kind of meaningful minutes that can either sharpen him or expose him, and lately it’s been more of the former. Both guys have the ability to get downhill, push tempo, and provide enough scoring punch to keep the offense from collapsing into one-dimensional sludge. The Wolves don’t need either player to become Anthony Edwards, but they do need both of them to keep taking advantage of this runway so that when Ant does come back, Minnesota has a clearer, deeper, more useful rotation heading into the playoffs.

#4 – Jaden McDaniels has to stay aggressive offensively.

Jaden’s touch count and assertiveness always seem to swing the overall feel of the team. When Jaden is just hanging out, taking the occasional catch-and-shoot three, and treating offense like a side quest, the Wolves become much easier to guard. But when he’s cutting hard, getting downhill, and using his length to get into the paint for high-efficiency looks, the offense starts to breathe differently. Without Edwards, those extra opportunities are there for him. McDaniels needs to look at those openings and attack them.

#5 – Julius Randle needs to keep being the leader.

The Phoenix game felt like the loud reminder that Big Julius can still carry an offense. The Utah game felt like the quieter confirmation that he doesn’t always need to score 30 to control things. He was active defensively, jumping passing lanes and creating transition opportunities, and he played with the kind of composed force this team needs from him. Portland is not Utah. This game will require more from him. The Blazers won’t just fold because Minnesota put on their jerseys. If the Wolves want to finish off the four-game season sweep of Portland and head into next week’s schedule gauntlet with momentum, they will need an A-game from Julius again.

---

That’s the story of tonight. It’s not glamorous. It’s not some giant statement game. It’s not a nationally televised heavyweight fight where the whole league is watching. But it’s the kind of game real teams bank instead of letting it slip away. For a Wolves team trying to hold its place in the standings while waiting for its superstar to heal, that matters every bit as much as the flashy ones.

The encouraging thing is that, over the last two games, Minnesota has looked a little steadier and more mature. That doesn’t mean all the problems are gone or that the identity crisis is over, but it does mean the Wolves have a chance to make something useful out of Edwards’ absence. It’s an opportunity to integrate Ayo more fully, to give Bones real rhythm, to remind Gobert and Randle how dominant they can be, and to build the kind of collective momentum that can matter in April.

Now they just need to not step on their shoelaces again.

The New York Knicks (45*-25) face the Brooklyn Nets (17-52) tonight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Over their last 10 games, the Knicks have gone 7-3, while the Nets have won twice (one against Detroit, one against Memphis). The last meeting between the Knicks and Nets came on January 21, 2026. The Knicks won, 120 to 66, on January 21, holding Brooklyn to the lowest single-game point total of the NBA season. Jalen Brunson led the team with 20 points.

The Nets have had a dismal season, ranking near the bottom in most offensive categories. They sit last in points per game at 106.6 and offensive rating, with poor shooting efficiency including 44% from the field (30th). They rank 27th in both three-point accuracy (34%) and defensive rating. All adds up to: no bueno.

Michael Porter Jr. has been the Nets’ top scorer at 24.2 points per game and making 3.4 triples per game. He sat out of Wednesday’s game against the Thunder due to an ankle issue. Nic Claxton anchors the frontcourt with 11.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, while Noah Clowney provides 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds.

The Nets have several players sidelined or doubtful for tonight’s tilt. Ben Saraf (foot), Noah Clowney (wrist), and Michael Porter Jr. (ankle) are game-time decisions, while Egor Demin (foot) and Day’Ron Sharpe (thumb) are out for the season. Tonight they are likely start rookie point guard Nolan Traoré (8.3 PPG, 3 AST) alongside Drake Powell, Danny Wolf, Clowney, and Claxton.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson is day-to-day and Miles McBride remains out.

Prediction

ESPN gives the Knicks an 88% chance to win. Did you expect any less? Unfortunately, our Knicks have a troubling tendency to play down to their opponents. They won’t tonight. Watch for New York to exert their dominance early, run up the score, and let the starters eat popcorn through most of the second half. Further, this is a prime opportunity to rest Brunson for a second game and let Jose Alvarado run the offense in the borough of his birth—and to let the bench guys air out their legs, showing us what they can do as the playoffs approach on the horizon. I’ll be attending my uncle’s funeral, but probably won’t miss anything interesting. Enjoy this Knicks win without me, fans. New York by a dozen.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (45*-25) at Brooklyn Nets (17-52)
Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins smell funny.

You want to be mad about the result of the Phoenix Suns game in San Antonio on Friday night. You want to be pissed about losing 101-100 on the road to the second-best team in the NBA. You want to be upset that Rasheer Fleming missed two free throws that would have put pressure right back on San Antonio, only to see those misses become part of a sequence that now feels destined to live forever in the mythology of Victor Wembanyama. You want to be annoyed that a team holding a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter somehow let it slip away.

And yet, I am having a hard time getting there.

Because the truth is, the fact that Phoenix was even in that position felt impressive in its own right. This team was without Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Haywood Highsmith and still found itself trading punches deep into the fourth quarter against one of the best teams in basketball. For long stretches, this did not feel like a roster held together by available bodies and good intentions. It felt like a team competing with purpose, with structure, and with enough grit to make San Antonio work for every inch of the floor.

Some losses leave you irritated because they expose something hollow. This one felt different. This one felt like a team earning its place in the game, earning its opportunity to steal one, earning the frustration that comes with letting it get away. Phoenix did not stumble into this. They built it, carried it, and gave themselves a real chance to walk out of San Antonio with something memorable.

Instead, they became part of someone else’s memory.

That is what stings. Not that they were embarrassed. Not that they were exposed. It is that they were good enough, shorthanded as all hell, to make the moment hurt.

Jordan Ott was impressive all night, both in his approach and in the way the Suns executed what he asked them to do. It was almost enough to steal a win. Almost.

But credit where credit is due, San Antonio earned that ending.

The Spurs were smart in the way they forced Phoenix to burn a timeout with nine seconds left, trapping on three straight possessions and making it clear what they wanted. Their goal was to get the ball out of comfort, out of rhythm, and eventually into the hands of a rookie. They got exactly what they wanted. Rasheer Fleming stepped to the line, went 0-of-2, and the Spurs answered with a buzzer-beater. That is part of why they are the second-best team in the NBA. They understand leverage, they understand pressure, and they know how to tilt a moment in their favor.

And still, I cannot crush the Suns for how it unfolded.

Who else were you going to put in the game? Oso Ighodaro? Ryan Dunn? Jamaree Bouyea with Wemby on him? (if that were the case, then I’m sure Wemby doesn’t foul). Phoenix played the hand it had. It was a short-handed roster, a young group in key moments, and a coaching staff trying to navigate the reality in front of it. They made the choice, they lived with the result, and sometimes that is the game.

That is also growth.

It sucks for Rasheer that those free throws are attached to the final sequence. Nobody is pretending otherwise. But this season has always carried a larger purpose than chasing a result on one random night in March. It is about development. It is about evaluation. It is about finding out who these players are when the moment tightens and the air gets heavy. Rasheer felt that. He will remember it. And one day, if this thing goes the way Phoenix hopes it can, that may be one of those moments he pulls from rather than one that defines him.

And the adjustments, I thought those worked.

One thing I have been saying throughout this road trip is that you cannot keep Devin Booker in primary actions when opposing defenses know he is the guy everything runs through. Good defenses load up for that. They sit on it and they wait for it. So what did the Suns do in multiple possessions late in the game? They shifted Booker into secondary and tertiary actions. On one trip, it got him a wide-open look from beyond the arc, one he simply missed. On another, it allowed him to find Jordan Goodwin in the corner for a massive three. The adjustments are happening. The reads are evolving and the execution still has to be better.

That part is harder when you are missing so many key pieces in the rotation.

Would this have been a nice win? Absolutely. But when the final buzzer sounded, the reality stayed the same. Had Phoenix won, they still would have been sitting in the seventh seed. After the loss, they are still sitting in the seventh seed. So in these final few games, the objective becomes bigger than one result. It is about learning from the opportunities in front of you. It is about storing these moments away, both the good and the painful, and finding value in them later.

Rasheer Fleming will learn from what he experienced on Friday night.

The coaching staff already showed that it is learning too. What happened in Toronto and Boston mattered. Those games did not turn into wins, but they did turn into experiences, and you could see some of that carry over in the way Phoenix adjusted in San Antonio. That is part of this process, especially for a team stretched thin, searching for answers, and trying to build functional habits on the fly.

Maybe that serves them well this postseason. Maybe it ends up mattering at some point much further down the line, in a moment we cannot see coming yet.

Either way, it is hard for me to be mad at that.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

Oso was solid against Minny, and we continue to see him grow…and move up the standings.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 70 against the Spurs. Here are your nominees:

Collin Gillespie
24 points (7-of-13, 6-of-11 3PT), 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +3 +/-

Devin Booker
22 points (8-of-21, 0-of-4 3PT), 5 assists, 4 turnovers, -12 +/-

Jalen Green
17 points (7-of-20, 1-of-7 3PT), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -5 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
15 points (7-of-10), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, -1 +/-

Rasheer Fleming
8 points (3-of-7, 2-of-5 3PT), 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 blocks, +11 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
5 points (2-of-9, 1-of-5 3PT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 0 turnovers, -14 +/-

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Who you got?

The start of March Madness is always exciting, not only because it signals the season of bracket busting, but because it also means the NBA Playoffs are almost here. 

With the Milwaukee Bucks fizzling out, we now know with almost absolute certainty the 20 teams that will be participating in the play-in/playoffs this year. Still, there is a lot in flux as far as seeding goes. So, there is still plenty to keep an eye on as we enter the final stretch of the regular season.

I’m here to try and make sense of where every team ranks in the league hierarchy with four weeks remaining. 

The Tankers

30. Indiana Pacers

29. Washington Wizards

28. Brooklyn Nets

27. Sacramento Kings

26. Utah Jazz

25. Chicago Bulls

24. Memphis Grizzlies  

23. Dallas Mavericks 

22. Milwaukee Bucks 

Listen, when it comes to the bond between the reader and the writer, honesty is paramount. For you to truly believe what I’m putting on paper, you have to feel like I’m keeping it a buck with you. With this said, you can take this portion of the rankings with a grain of salt. Think the Utah Jazz are a tougher out than the Chicago Bulls? Or that the Sacramento Kings are the worst team in the NBA? That’s fine. I won’t argue with you there. The point is that all of these teams are not in the business of winning games and are basically a free win for whoever they are playing – that is, unless they are playing each other. 

The Spunkiest Team In Basketball

21. New Orleans Pelicans

Unlike the other nine teams that are out of the play-in/playoff mix, the New Orleans Pelicans don’t own their first round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. So, they have no incentive to tank. The Pelicans have used this opportunity to start building a winning culture – hence their place in their own special tier. Since January 22, the Pelicans are 14-10 with the 10th best offense and 14th best net rating. A lot of this is them taking advantage of The Tankers, but the Pelicans have also mustered impressive wins over the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Toronto Raptors. Their front office is still as aimless and dysfunctional as they come, but you have to admit that they are playing some respectable ball of late. 

A Playoff Berth Is A Win

20. Portland Trail Blazers

19. Philadelphia 76ers

18. Golden State Warriors 

17. Charlotte Hornets 

16. Phoenix Suns 

15. Toronto Raptors 

14. Los Angeles Clippers 

Unfortunately, with only 16 playoff spots, four of these seven teams are going to go home disappointed. But for all these groups, even getting a chance to compete in the game’s second season should be a win for them. Injuries have made the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors obvious members of this group (I personally trust Stephen Curry to be healthy during the playoffs more than Joel Embiid). The Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns have been two of the best stories in the league this year, but both of them have started to lose steam in recent weeks (plus, the Hornets are going to need to win two play-in games to even make the postseason). The Toronto Raptors are the only team in this group who isn’t currently slated to appear in a play-in game. However, their below average offense (18th in offensive rating) and good, but not great, defense (seventh) isn’t exactly a recipe for postseason success. After failing to make the postseason in each of the last three seasons, Toronto should consider a playoff berth a step in the right direction. And while the Los Angeles Clippers have been spiraling (losers of their last three contests), they still have the most high-end firepower of any team in this group. Since their infamous 6-21 start, the Clippers have been 28-14 with the fourth best offense and eighth best net rating. They also have the best player of any team in this group (Kawhi Leonard, 5th in the NBA in Estimated Plus-Minus). 

Solid Playoff Teams Without Real Title Equity

13. Houston Rockets 

12. Miami Heat

11. Orlando Magic

10. Atlanta Hawks

This group is filled with teams that should be playing in a first round series, but don’t have the juice to do anything more than maybe win a playoff series. The Houston Rockets may have the most wins of any team in this group, but they play in the tougher conference and just have not been the same since Steven Adams went down with a season-ending ankle injury. The Miami Heat continue to win games in Heat ways (running more zone than any team in the league!). However, they don’t have enough offense or size/physicality to be a true threat, as we saw in their recent loss to the Orlando Magic. What will surprise a lot of people is the decision to put the Atlanta Hawks over the Orlando Magic in our power rankings, despite the latter being higher than the former in the standings. The Hawks are winners of eleven straight games (!!). That is tied for the third-longest streak of the year (all the other teams ahead of them are still yet to be listed on these power rankings). Most of these wins are against The Tankers, but they did just put the hurting on the Magic in a key home victory. What makes them so dangerous is how good their starting lineup is. When CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu share the floor together (456 non-garbage time possessions), the Hawks are outscoring teams by 31.1 points per 100 possessions. That is the highest mark of any five-man combination that has played at least 300 possessions this season (per Cleaning the Glass). 

Puncher’s Chance At The Championship

9. Los Angeles Lakers

8. New York Knicks 

7. Minnesota Timberwolves 

6. Detroit Pistons 

5. Denver Nuggets 

These teams all have flaws, but they also have enough strengths to make a deep playoff run if everything breaks their way. Recently, I did a deep dive on the history of five-man lineups. Long story short, to win an NBA Championship, you need a regular season lineup featuring most/all of your best players that have played at least 300 possessions together and posted a +9 per 100. As of writing this, none of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, or Minnesota Timberwolves have a lineup that fits this description. That’s why they are in the back half of this tier. But they still need to be in this group because Luka Doncic (LAL), Jalen Brunson (NYK), and Anthony Edwards (MIN) have all shown the ability to take over a series on their lonesome, and all of them have been to the conference finals as recently as the past two seasons. The Detroit Pistons have been faltering of late (5-5 in their last ten), but they still have a distinct identity, homecourt advantage through the first three rounds, and a five-man lineup they can count on (Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren are a +12.8 per 100).* The Denver Nuggets cannot seem to find a groove. Just yesterday, they dropped an unnecessary game to one of The Tankers (the Memphis Grizzlies). Still, they have the best player on the planet (Nikola Jokic), and when you have that, you always have the chance.

*The recent injury news regarding Cunningham has the chance to seriously derail the Pistons’ season. But until we know whether he will be missing any postseason basketball, we are going to keep them in this tier for now. 

True Championship Contenders

4. Cleveland Cavaliers 

3. San Antonio Spurs

2. Boston Celtics

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 

Finally, the cream of the crop. Ricky O’Donnell has framed this season as “the Thunder vs. the field.” It’s still that way, but like he said during his midseason edition, the field is definitely catching up. The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t really done anything to deserve their place in this tier, but they do have the second-most talented/well-balanced roster of any team in the East. Plus, they haven’t been able to have their core four healthy for very long. According to PBP Stats, when James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen share the floor (35 minutes), Cleveland has +35.2 net rating. Pretty darn promising. Also, since they are in the weaker conference, their chances of making it to the NBA Finals are just inherently higher than teams like Denver and Minnesota. The San Antonio Spurs have incredible indicators, especially when their prodigious big man is on the floor. The only thing keeping them from being higher is the relative unknown with how their young core will perform in the playoffs (typical cop out, I know). The Boston Celtics have completely re-invented themselves, and now, they are doing a fantastic job of integrating Jayson Tatum back into the mix. They are 5-1 with Tatum in the lineup, and man, does he look way better than any human ten months removed from a torn Achilles ever should. The Thunder will remain the top dog until proven otherwise. 

Alabama basketball will be without starting guard Aden Holloway for the Crimson Tide's March 20 game vs. No. 13 seed Hofstra after he was arrested on two felonies on Monday, March 16, for possession 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.

He's slated to miss the entire first weekend and potentially more, should Alabama advance to the Sweet 16.

The 6-foot-1 junior is the Tide's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points with 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season as a first-year starter after coming off the bench last season. He was a starter at Auburn in 2023-24 as a true freshman.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness live scores: Upsets, close calls, highlights from NCAA first round

It's a massive blow to the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide, which boasts one of the top backcourts in college basketball alongside sophomore Labaron Philon Jr. They take on No. 13 seed Hofstra in the first round on Friday, March 20.

Alabama will likely turn to Houston Mallette in Holloway's absence. The fifth-year senior guard is averaging 6.6 points per game mostly in a bench role this season, averaging 23.3 minutes per game.

Here's what to know of Holloway's absence and why he was arrested before the NCAA Tournament:

Why was Aden Holloway arrested?

Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 16 and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp after the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.

He was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and was set with a $5,000 bond, according to The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The University of Alabama later released a statement and said he was removed from campus and won't return to the team until the university's office of student conduct finishes its investigation.

What Nate Oats said of Aden Holloway's absence

Alabama coach Nate Oats said he has talked to Holloway since his arrest, and said he'll continue supporting the junior guard. He also declined to speculate whether Holloway has any chance of returning to the Crimson Tide should they advance to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

"I've met with him in person, talked to him on the phone multiple times," Oats said March 19. "Look, I'm an adult. I've made mistakes. We all have things we'd like to do differently. Now is not the time to ignore a kid that you've built a real relationship with. Now is the time he needs more love from the adults in his life than at any point. ... you get into it to help impact young men's lives. Well, if you disappear when they make a mistake, I'm not so sure that's a genuine relationship you've built.

"I've got three daughters. They've made mistakes. You don't disappear on them when they need your help. I won't be disappearing on him. I talked to him yesterday morning on the phone. I talked to him the night before that. I've talked to him every day so far."

Alabama center Aiden Sherrell also said the team still supports Holloway, but is focused on its first-round game.

"We're just focusing on the task at hand. Biz (Holloway) is our brother," Sherrell said. "We're here for him, but we're focused on the game and focused on making a long run in March."

Aden Holloway stats

Here are Holloway's per game averages during his three-year college career:

• 2023-24 (Auburn): 7.3 points with 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on 31.8% shooting
• 2024-25 (Alabama): 11.4 points with 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 46.5% shooting
• 2025-26 (Alabama): 16.8 points with 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 48.1% shooting

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aden Holloway not playing in March Madness after Alabama guard's arrest

PHILADELPHIA — The Speedos have invaded March Madness.

The Miami (Ohio) men's swim team has been one of the most unusual sites in their bid to support the men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament run, as demonstrated in the RedHawks' First Four game vs. SMU in Dayton, Ohio.

'Don't count us out.' Miami Ohio done proving doubters wrong

Pipe down, Bruce Pearl: Miami (Ohio) shows it belongs in March Madness

As SMU's Corey Washington lined up for a free throw, the swimming team ambled down the stairs of UD Arena and, dressed as if they were about to compete, arguably caused the Mustangs to miss a game-tying free throw:

Andy Enfield doesn't seem amused 😅 pic.twitter.com/uwaiph2aqk

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2026

It remains to be seen whether the Speedos will make a return visit for the RedHawks' first-round game against 6-seeded Tennessee on Friday, March 20 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. If they do, it will be the second consecutive March Madness game that the men's swim team has attended.

RedHawks coach Travis Steele said an appearance was still up in the air when the Mid-American Conference regular season champions met with media at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19.

But the swim's team has been a presence at RedHawks basketball home games at Millett Hall all season.

"Number one, in the game, you're really locked in. Then all of a sudden, you see a group of young men in Speedos coming down the stairwell right there in the end zone, and the place just absolutely erupted when it happened," Steele said.

"I know if I was distracted, I know the young man at the line was distracted. Obviously, it worked. He missed a free throw, but it's been just super cool across the board, the support we've gotten, like from where we were in my year one, we were getting 200, 300 people at a game. This past season, we're at 10,640 selling out. All of sudden, tickets are going for $200 or $300 on StubHub or SeatGeek to see the crowd we had last night. I'm happy that our guys were able to get that experience as well."

Both of Miami (Ohio)'s Brant Byer and Eian Elmer told reporters in Philadelphia on March 19 they don't specifically know members of the swim team, but, like Steele, they appreciate the support this season.

"They got a missed free throw out of SMU yesterday, so we'll definitely take it," Byer said. "The support they have given us all season has been pretty special."

Added Elmer: "They're a great group of guys. That's pretty awesome how they support us all the time. Also, they're very effective. We'll make sure we return the favor and show up to some swim meets."

The RedHawks are making their 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, and their first since the 2006-07 season. They are the first team in MAC history to earn an at-large bid since 1999. They are 32-1 after a perfect 31-0 regular season.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Speedo takeover? How Miami Ohio swim team has helped March Madness run

If Jared Weiss from The Athletic is right, this will be the game we remember for years to come, because it is the night Victor Wembanyama took his next step toward greatness.

With 11 ticks left in the game, the ball went into Wemby’s hands, a for a brief moment it felt like time stood still.

There were no unsure moves, there was not even a hint of unassuredness on the court. There was a calmness in the arena considering what a truly nail-biting situation it was.

But Victor Wembanyama put 18,000 people at ease. And as soon as the ball hit the hoop, the collective of devout fans simultaneously screamed.

For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, the San Antonio Spurs are going to the playoffs.

There was more fandom on the court after the final buzzer. The team mobbed Wemby while he was roaring along with the crowd. The drum was immediately brought out and Victor launched into the Jackal-designed call-and-response-celebration that has become a new tradition at the Frost Bank Center. And then Keldon took the mic and got the crowd shouting “MVP” chants for Wembanyama. Finally, Wembanyama took the mic and lead everyone in night-ending “Go Spurs Go!”

In the postgame press conference, Victor broke down the shot:

“We ran the play and De’Aaron reacted well. I anticipated what the defense would do, so that told me what to do. In these situations, the key is not to overcomplicate…we hadn’t had this type of situation for a while and it was good test, and we passed it. It doesn’t mean that our game is perfect, far from that…

He broke down how the he looked at the eleven seconds as far as when to time his release allowing for optimum opportunity for a quick rebound or tip in if the shot was missed, and not to give the opponent enough time to get a shot off, which is exactly what happened.

“It’s a shot I’ve worked on. Our game plan is not inventing things, some things we’ve been working on. This shot especially is a shot I’ve been woking on with (Spurs Assistant/Player Development Coach) Tim Martin, five or six years ago, so it’s not something new.”

He admitted his only fear moving forward.

“I’m scared to become complacent.”

Mitch Johnson also addressed how he was facing the new reality of a playoff berth by stating “the North Star is just keep getting better,” allowing the moment to dictate the need. That statement comes from building trust with the team.

That trust was echoed by Keldon Johnson, the longest tenured member of the Spurs, who game shouts out to everyone in the Spurs organization from the front office to the coaching staff, teammates. equipment managers, videographers, through everyone who dedicated themselves to the picture. His passion was reflected in his relationship with Devin Vassell, who Johnson referred to as his “brother,” the guy who he calls after the game to discuss.

They have been partners in crime since 2020 when Vassell was drafted by the Spurs and KJ was kicking off his second season.

Now, after six years together, they will experience the postseason with the team that drafted them, the only NBA home they’ve known.

Johnson honed in on how what they have built is taking shape, and the hopes and dreams that were seeded as he entered into the league are now budding.

Keldon can feel it.

And if Keldon can feel it, then everyone can feel it.

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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.

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.