Category: Basketball

The San Antonio Spurs let it fly in their big win over the Miami Heat. From a voracious volley of threes to camping out at the charity stripe to the tune of 28 free throw attempts, these Spurs were cooking with gas on a night that 6 players scored in the double digits and the bench was able to spread its wings to protect their wide lead. Victor Wembanyama Sega Dreamcasted his way to 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks while Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper scored 21 points apiece from the bench.

The future is now. Here, the rookie duo of Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant showed off some chemistry and athleticism on the fast break. Carter Bryant, for his part, has been getting more run after the All-Star break partly due to sporadic injuries along the wings and the Spurs blowing out their opponents. While the youngster has been getting valuable learning time on the court, it’ll be interesting to see if he cracks the rotation during the playoffs.

Dylan ➡️ Carter

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/ttR2qN6mVJ

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 24, 2026

Don’t let Carter Bryant’s aerial acrobatics fool you, he jumped so high he could have blocked this attempt with his elbow, but he chose not to because his mother taught him better. Without manners, we are all just animals.

CARTER BRYANT WHAT A BLOCK —

OH MY GOODNESS. 🤯

(h/t @UsherNBA)

pic.twitter.com/qwefYOzIIW

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 24, 2026

On night chock full of highlights, it’s worth noting Wembanyama clearing 4,000 career points aaaaaand

.@wemby goes back to back 🔥

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/JDjI14MgqA

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 23, 2026

600 blocks!!

6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ CAREER BLOCKS FOR @wemby!

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/iGGgLKH42E

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 23, 2026

We are all familiar with Keldon Johnson’s game, but I was not familiar with his behind-the-back dribble drive move.

KJ gettin' it done 💪

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/WhubcPCMlz

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 24, 2026

I want to commission a study of all the lobs thrown to Wembanyama and see the percentages of passes that are too low or too high, but he converts them regardless because of his insane length and coordination.

🗣️ YEAH VIC!

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/0E4pkFaZNQ

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 24, 2026

My middle school gym teacher always told us to use the rim to protect your shot from any shot blockers, but even he was not a clairvoyant to know one day someone like Wembanyama can challenge that specific tenet of fundamental basketball 101. Would have also been nice if my middle school gym teacher told me to invest in Apple when it was $12 a share.

"This is not a play guys are able to do." https://t.co/epgowrXGWqpic.twitter.com/RmppxQIx61

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

There’s only three things I want in life: (1) The Spurs’ Beautiful Game to live on in perpetuity, and (2) for one game only, let these two teams play in their Miami Vice and Fiesta colors on a court drenched in turquoise, aqua, orchid, teal, fuchsia, and orange. Our retinas have been freeloading in our skulls for long enough, time to assault them with a vibrantly violent color palette.

11-0 Spurs run.

CLICKING. ON. ALL. CYLINDERS. pic.twitter.com/wL6IXoscoO

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

Here’s another shot of that gorgeous sequence from another angle. On the house.

you gotta see this angle 🎥

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWhttps://t.co/01zotOidRQpic.twitter.com/4zJJysI3aW

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 24, 2026

The third thing I want in life is birria pizza. But I’ll settle for a deep Spurs playoff run led by Victor Wembanyama.

don't hurt em, Vic 🫣

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/vHn5T65kRO

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 24, 2026

If you missed the game because you were too busy writing a 5,000 word manifesto critiquing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s hair in the live action “Moana” movie, here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

HOUSTON (AP) — Scottie Scheffler withdrew from the Houston Open on Tuesday, a tournament that was always questionable for him to play because his wife is expecting their second child.

Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, has been runner-up at the Houston Open three times, including the last two years when he made it his final stop before going to the Masters.

He was replaced in the field by Matt Kuchar.

Scheffler's wife gave birth to a son they named Bennett on May 8, 2024, one week before the PGA Championship.

Scheffler, who won the PGA Championship and the British Open last year, began 2026 with a victory in The American Express. His streak of 18 consecutive finishes in the top 10 — which started at the Houston Open last year — ended at the Genesis Invitational with a tie for 12th.

His last tournament was a tie for 22nd in The Players Championship.

___

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

Alabama men's basketball player Aden Holloway is pushing back against allegations made against him after police arrested him last week and said they found more than two pounds of marijuana at his Tuscaloosa residence.

Holloway's attorney, Jason Neff, wrote to the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court in a March 23 filing in response to the initial police complaint that his client denies "each and every material allegation," according to the Tuscaloosa News. Holloway is also seeking "strict proof" of any allegations listed in the complaint and Neff demanded a trial based on the claims made by state and law enforcement officials.

In addition to first-degree possession of marijuana, which remains illegal for recreational use in Alabama, Holloway is also charged with failure to affix a tax stamp. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for April 14. Holloway has been suspended from team activities with Alabama basketball and did not play in the Crimson Tide's first two games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. His status with the program moving forward will be determined through a trial with Alabama's Office of Student Conduct.

ANALYSIS: Grading hires from 2026 men's college basketball coaching carousel

According to court documents obtained by The Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa district attorney Hays Webb wrote in a criminal complaint that agents from the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force saw "drug transactions on Holloway's phone, with people texting that they were going to get up with him after the season."

Holloway told agents during questioning that he got the marijuana from "someone out of town." Holloway was also asked if he sold marijuana, as well as how much he had on him. Per the complaint, Holloway said that he "only smokes" and claimed to only have a "quarter pound."

Law enforcement officials noted in the complaint, "the marijuana was in separate packing, from plastic bags to prepacked marijuana to vacuum sealed bags." Holloway was released from custody on $5,000 bond the same day he was arrested.

The Charlotte, North Carolina native is averaging 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game for the Crimson Tide this season. No. 4 seed Alabama is set to face No. 1 seed Michigan in a Midwest region Sweet 16 game on May 27 in Chicago.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Aden Holloway denies charges in Alabama drug case

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There’s nothing magical about the Orlando Magic’s recent slide. 

Orlando, which visits the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday, is playing the second of back-to-back outings after failing to snuff out a five-game losing skid last night.

If the Magic are going to get right, it will all be on star Paolo Banchero. 

Orlando enters tonight without three of its top five scorers, as Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black are all out of commission.

Our Magic vs. Cavaliers predictions dig in Banchero’s bag and my NBA picks like the value on his 3-point shooting prop tonight.

Magic vs Cavaliers prediction

Magic vs Cavaliers best bet: Paolo Banchero Over 1.5 3-pointers (+150)

Due to those injuries, Paolo Banchero’s usage has shot up during the Orlando Magic’s five-game skid.
 
He’s coming off a busy night in the loss versus Indiana Monday, firing up 27 shots (second most of the season), including nine attempts from outside.

Banchero made four triples and has been active from outside during this slump. In fact, his long-range looks have climbed this month, averaging 4.5 3-point attempts (up from 3.8).

The Cleveland Cavaliers rank 26th in opponent 3-point percentage and have allowed an average of almost 16 3-pointers over their last three contests. 

Banchero’s projections lean toward two triples.

Magic vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

Cleveland has strung together recent wins against some of the worst clubs in the NBA. They face a hungry Orlando team desperate to stop sliding down the standings, with the threat of falling out of the play-in tournament looming. Game models have this closer than the 10.5-point spread.

With Franz Wagner out for Orlando and frontcourt mate Jarrett Allen sidelined, Evan Mobley patrols the paint and cleans the glass. Forecasts call for as many as 10 rebounds from Mobley, who has recorded double-figure boards in four of his last six games.

Magic vs Cavaliers SGP

• Magic +10.5
• Paolo Banchero Over 1.5 3-pointers
• Evan Mobley Over 9.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: One-Man Magic

Orlando needs to stop the bleeding and without three of its top five scorers, Banchero gets all the touches he wants. He dropped 25 points, eight rebounds and two triples on the Cavs back on March 11.

Magic vs Cavaliers SGP

• Orlando moneyline
• Paolo Banchero Over 24.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 1.5 3-pointers
• Paolo Banchero Over 7.5 rebounds

Magic vs Cavaliers odds

• Spread: Magic +10.5 | Cavaliers -10.5
• Moneyline: Magic +375 | Cavaliers -500
• Over/Under: Over 231 | Under 231

Magic vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

Cleveland is 15-4 SU but just 4-15 ATS when set as double-digits favorites this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Magic vs Cavaliers

Magic vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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On today’s episode, Ryan Eichten and Leo Sun discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first win in the city of Boston in over 20 years, the loss to the Portland Trail Blazers the game before, and much more:

— For the first time since March 6, 2005, the Timberwolves won a road game against the Boston Celtics. Minnesota gave up just 15 fourth-quarter points on the way to a 102-92 win.

— The Wolves were 10.5-point underdogs coming into the game without Anthony Edwards, making the game the biggest upset victory for Minnesota this season.

— In the game, the Timberwolves scored 22 fast break points, which continued a trend of playing with more pace as the Wolves have been in the top five of that category since the trade deadline. The question now is whether or not they can keep it up when Edwards returns to the lineup.

— For much of the spectacular defensive fourth quarter for the Wolves in Boston, Rudy Gobert was on the bench as Minnesota broke the game open. The premier defensive stretch without Gobert, while far from an indictment of the Wolves’ starting center, showcases the ceiling this group has on that end of the court.

— In Friday’s loss to the Blazers, the Wolves gave up a total of 18 offensive rebounds. Chris Finch talked about the rebounding issue postgame, directly naming Julius Randle as a player who needs to be better in that area of the game.

— Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu were the Apex Alphas of the week. Both have played phenomenally over the past week without Edwards and have cemented themselves as quality rotation pieces on a Timberwolves team bound for the Playoffs.

— Kyle Anderson showed off his best “Slo-Mo” moves against the Celtics, hitting Luka Garza with three straight in-and-out dribbles before putting in a midrange shot.

Taking care of business against the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings has given the Sixers a shot at new life. It may not be likely that they’re able to climb out of the Play-In tournament in the Eastern Conference, but it’s a lot more possible than it was a week ago.

It’s good to have something to root for other than draft positioning this time of year. The Houston Rockets managed to have a week that helped both the first-round pick they owe the Sixers, as well as Philly’s standings in the Eastern Conference.

Houston had another middling week with two wins sandwiched in between two losses. Crucially, those two were against the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat, two teams bunched right up with the Sixers in the standings. That’s kept Philly just a game out of the sixth seed.

After knocking off those two opponents, the Rockets surprisingly dropped a game to the tanking Chicago Bulls, dropping their pick all the way down to 21 in the process. That area remains as close as ever — the Rockets are just a half game up on the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves for that 21st spot.

The Rockets will see those Wolves in a nationally televised bout for their next contest. Their week gets easier after that though as they’ll head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.

There are still plenty of draft prospects to watch as the NCAA Tournament progresses to the Sweet-16 and Elite-8. Alabama and Houston are still alive with multiple guys that have gone to the Sixers in different mock drafts.

Michigan’s center Aday Mara put up 19 and 16 points in his first two games of the tournament, respectively. Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. put up 21 and 15.

Iowa State is still rolling as well, although there hasn’t really been a chance to get a look at Joshua Jefferson in the tournament. Jefferson hurt his ankle early in the round of 64 and missed the next round. The team is hopeful he can return for the tournament, but that is very much up in the air.

Pick status last week: 24

Pick status this week: 21

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wizards fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Right now, the Washington Wizards have lost 16 games in a row and have a 16-55 record. With 71 regular season games done this season, the Wizards, in theory, could lose out and finish with a 16-66 record. That would mean that Washington could lose 27 games in a row to finish the 2025-26 season. Then, if the Wizards start out the 2026-27 season 0-2, that losing streak, combined with the 27 game losing streak to end the 2025-26 season, will give the Wizards a 29 game losing streak, the longest in NBA history?

Survey question is below.

We’ll share the results later this week.

The Atlanta Hawks returned to winning ways — and an 11th consecutive victory at home — with a lopsided 146-107 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night at State Farm Arena.

The Hawks — without Jalen Johnson — were led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 28 points, while Onyeka Okongwu and Jonathan Kuminga both added 16 points. For the Grizzlies — who are injury hit/running for the lottery — GG Jackson scored 26 points with Tyler Burton adding 20 points.

We’re at a point in the season where teams who are gunning for the playoffs, jostling for playoff seeding, meet teams whose have a very different objective at this time of the year — and there’s more teams than usual who fit this criteria this season. As a result, some games are more so formalities than contests; box-ticking exercises.

In this case: did the Memphis Grizzlies show up to the game? Yes, yes they did. They took a 5-0 lead, hung around in the first quarter (trailing by just 10 points to end the first quarter), and that was their general team contribution to this game.

The Hawks — who by no means played a sexy first quarter (eight turnovers, forcing passes that were a bit too far out of reach) — were extremely comfortable in this game, and while this game was never really a contest (leading by double digits in the first quarter, running the lead to 26 points in the second quarter, 30 points — and quickly 40+ points — in the third quarter) the Hawks remained professional throughout, and their first quarter play was a microcosm for how the rest of the game essentially unfolded, so we’ll look at some of the plays from last night.

From the outset, the Hawks’ ball movement was excellent, this three-pointer finished by CJ McCollum one such example of the Hawks’ willingness to pass, move, relocate, and find the open man:

Even when the Hawks were absolutely blowing the Grizzlies out in the third quarter, they still committed to this style of play when the ball moved around to find Gabe Vincent for a three-pointer with 1:41 remaining.

The Hawks tallied 37 assists and would only register three more turnovers for the remainder of the game following their eight turnovers in the first quarter.

“That’s the possession game,” said Hawks head coach Quin Snyder of cleaning up the turnovers. “The fact that we did that to be able to clean that up against a team that was denying passes and trying to extend pressure up the floor. I thought our guys settled into that and were much more secure with the ball, and that takes more than just one player. You’ve gotta work to get open, sometimes you’ve got to ball fake, you got to be spaced if someone needs help. It was good to see.”

Alexander-Walker scored 13 points in the first, and with Memphis’ lack of size inside the paint Alexander-Walker was able to consistently get to the rim and finish.

The Grizzlies did their share to help the Hawks at times, and a breakdown on the switch with Taylor Hendricks allows Alexander-Walker to turn the corner, attack the paint where he takes the bump, adjusts, and finishes for the ‘and-1’ play:

Coming off the curl from the corner and off the dribble hand-off from Jock Landale, Alexander-Walker is able to burst into the paint where he is uncontested for the dunk:

And, of course, the pick of the bunch. Kuminga intercepts the pass, does well to twist and turn to get the ball to the streaking Alexander-Walker, who charges to the rim and finishes the left-handed poster dunk, plus the foul:

“From when I got the ball, I could see the defender was timing me,” said Alexander-Walker of the play. “So, I knew I had to go aggressively. If I tried to lay it up, I think like the more aggressive guy wins in that situation. For me, it was just like, ‘All right, let’s just go for it,‘ mentality. I wanted to battle that one. I was just surprised. It’s funny because the guys get on me to dunk all the time. I tell them, like, ‘That’s just not what I like to do,’ you know. For me to go get one in that fashion was pretty funny.”

This play — and the Kuminga three the possession prior to this — were a big swing to end the first quarter as the Hawks had allowed Memphis to creep back towards them after a sloppy first quarter. With these two plays, the Hawks never really looked back.

Memphis did their best to help the Hawks with their turnovers and shot selection, such as this turnover where DeJon Jarreau loses the handle for the turnover:

On the drive, Walton Clayton Jr. attempts to throw a lob for Hendricks, only for Hendricks to have already fanned out to the corner, resulting in a turnover:

Memphis’ shot selection, however, was their greater issue. The early recipe to try attain a foothold in this game was Ty Jerome, and from the early exchanges this did yield success.

Jerome is well defended on the drive by Dyson Daniels, and forces him to take a turnaround jumpshot, which is short:

On the switch, Jerome looks to take McCollum, and rises into a three-pointer which is contested and results in an airball:

In transition, the Grizzlies find Clayton Jr. in the corner, but with 18 seconds remaining on the shotclock there’s likely a better shot than a fading three-point attempt in the corner:

The Hawks did their part to limit the Grizzlies, too, with some good Alexander-Walker defense preventing Clayton Jr. fro getting to the rim, and forcing a tough turnaround airball:

On the drive from above the break, Zaccharie Risacher initially loses ground on the drive before recovering to block the shot at the rim:

The Grizzlies would take many jumpshots in this game, indicative of both the Grizzlies’ lack of quality to create offense and the Hawks’ ability to limit penetration (and defend the rim when the Grizzlies got there) and keep Memphis in front of them.

Looking at some other team stats, the Hawks scored a whopping 39 points off of 23 Memphis turnovers, which also contributed to 26 fastbreak points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker pointed to the team’s defense in contributing to the Hawks’ fastbreak scoring, crediting Mo Gueye for his contributions (starting in place of Jalen Johnson).

“Just defense, active gaps,” said Alexander-Walker postgame of the fastbreak scoring. “Mo Gueye has been tremendous in terms of bringing activity for us, deflections. If you notice, he always racks them up whenever he’s playing. I think that’s just been big for us, what he has been able to do defensively. Dyson’s going to be him, he’s going to be disruptive, challenging passing lanes for everybody. I think it was a collective unit; we felt like we were on a string with rotations, with shifts, cycles, etc.”

The Hawks enjoyed a rare advantage on the offensive glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second chance points; an efficient conversion. Efficient would be a good adjective to describe the Hawks in this game: 53% shooting from the field, 46% from three (making 25 in total), and shooting 23-of-25 from the free throw line.

The Hawks took care of business, which was the theme of the night in the postgame availability.

“I think it’s a collective thing where guys are just putting the team first,” said Snyder when asked about the maturity of his side taking care of business.“ When you say that, the things that those guys are doing right now demonstrate that. That’s got to be our focus, and when it is we’re crashing the offensive glass, we’re sharing the ball, getting in the lane, breaking the paint, and then sharing the ball. The focus on the defense is the most important thing when you see everybody bought into that, that says a lot about the guys in our locker room. Their maturity, but also just their focus. Whether you’re 22 or 32.”

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as ever, summed up the matter very eloquently, saying the Hawks were very much aware of who they are playing, and who they should beat.

“I think as a group, we’ve been professional and that’s what it’s about, doing your job,” said Alexander-Walker. “It doesn’t matter who they put out in front of you. We were very conscious of who we were playing against tonight. We’ve seen the Boston game, we’ve seen the Denver game, and those are teams playing their full roster. Those are teams trying to get wins for seeding in the playoffs. Those guys, they’re winning games. One thing I learned is that if you lose to a team like that, it’s bad. If you beat a team like that, ‘Oh, you’re supposed to blah, blah, blah, blah’. You don’t really win in that situation. So, you kind of got to drown out the noise. You just got to be professional. It’s my job to play the game, it’s my job to play hard, it’s my job to try to win and do what I need to do for the team. Everyone showed up tonight to do that, and I think that’s been the one consistent thing that’s shown over time.”

“At the end of the day, these are the 450 best players in the world,” added Onyeka Okongwu. “Those guys over there, the Grizzlies, are dealing with a lot of injuries, a lot of guys in and out of the lineups. Those guys are just getting opportunities; you see guys like Prosper and Hendricks, they’re all just playing so hard and giving their all. Still got to respect it, but we still do what we do and take care of business at the end of the day.”

Aside from taking care of business, Snyder was pleased with the Hawks’ ball movement, crediting CJ McCollum’s contributions in the first quarter in setting the standard early, then Alexander-Walker’s efforts in the third quarter.

“It’s terrific. I thought CJ set the tone early, where he was just in the lane, had his eyes out finding people,” said Snyder of the Hawks’ unselfishness. “Then, Nickeil had a stretch, beginning the third quarter, where those guys playing that way, it raises everybody’s level, it sets a tone. It wasn’t just the two of them but, to me, they stood out because they’re both capable scorers and they get in there too. For them to be looking for their teammates, and they do. but it was noticeable tonight in those two situations, I thought, in a very obvious way. We were obviously unselfish, which I like to be able to say that.”

The nature of this game meant there was a lot of garbage time in the fourth quarter, and every player who checked into the game scored for the Hawks, including eight players in double-digit scoring. Alexander-Walker led the way with 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, and 4-of-6 from three, scoring 22 points in the first half. Jonathan Kuminga enjoyed a stronger game, also hitting four threes en route to 16 points off the bench, while Okongwu was an ever-present threat inside the paint on both ends of the floor.

Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway was a second consecutive game where Dyson Daniels hit multiple three-pointers in a game, shooting 2-of-3 from behind the arc.

“He’s done that before,” said Syder of Daniels’ shooting. “If you look, maybe not as much this year, but that’s who he is, and we don’t want him to not be aggressive in any situation. His aggressiveness offensively can manifest itself a lot of ways, just being prepared to shoot. I’ve talked to you guys before about just space, and then read, and if he’s got the shot, take the shot. He’s pretty good getting in the paint, too.”

As Snyder said, this is not new for Daniels overall — and those threes he took and hit last night looked like the threes he made last season — but for this season, it is an enormous boost. In 10 games in March so far, Daniels is shooting 31% from three; obviously not a high percentage but in the context of Daniels’ season it’s an enormous step forward.

All-in-all, a very professional game from the Atlanta Hawks, who won with ease in a spot where victory was expected. What was most impressive was the how the Hawks didn’t ease off the throttle in the third quarter, playing in a similar manner than in the first quarter with their ball and man movement when they could have easily began to ease up and play in a carefree manner. It speaks to a focus and a recognition of the seriousness of where the Hawks are in their season, now with a clear opportunity to make the top-6 in the East.

It was a very good night in that regard; Orlando inexplicably broke the Pacers’ 16 game losing streak, while Miami and Philadelphia suffered heavy home losses against the top two in the West. The Hawks need as much margin as they can get, as they have the fourth most difficult schedule remaining in the NBA.

The Hawks (40-32) are back in action on Wednesday, when they’ll take on the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

The Pistons will be without Cade Cunningham, and while it’s a great time to play the Pistons in that sense, they should not be underestimated having just snapped the Lakers’ nine game winning streak without Cunningham.

Until next time!

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Zion Williamson is putting in work since the All-Star break, pushing the New Orleans Pelicans out of the Western Conference basement with 10 wins in their last 16 games.

With no first-round draft pick, New Orleans lacks an incentive to tank down the stretch, and Williamson is stacking the box score with points, rebounds, and assists.

Our Pelicans vs. Knicks predictions single out that latter stat — assists — with my NBA picks calling for Zion to pump up his playmaking at MSG tonight.

Pelicans vs Knicks prediction

Pelicans vs Knicks best bet: Zion Williamson Over 2.5 assists (-115)

Since coming off a minutes restriction in January, Zion Williamson has been a force, but he’s done so with the New Orleans Pelicans being selective about his usage, running the offense through him — not necessarily for him.

For all his sound and fury at the rim, Williamson is an underrated passer.
 
He generates 6.3 potential assists per game, trickling down to an average of 3.3 dimes. He’s dished out 3+ assists in 21 of his last 34 outings, including four helpers in the loss at Cleveland on Saturday.

Tonight’s player projections range between 3.4 and 4.4 assists for Zion.

Pelicans vs Knicks same-game parlay

The New York Knicks are in pursuit of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, which would earn them home court if they run into Boston in the playoffs. Game models have the Knicks getting by the Pelicans tonight.

Mikal Bridges is one of the streakiest scorers in the NBA. New York's small forward seems to have snapped another cold shooting slump with a 6-for-11 night and 14 points in the win over Washington. He’s projected for a similar stat line tonight.

Pelicans vs Knicks SGP

• Knicks moneyline
• Zion Williamson Over 2.5 assists
• Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Zion’s Garden Party

Superstars tend to get up to play at MSG. Zion’s projections lean toward 21 points and three assists, and let’s not forget how explosive a shot blocker he is. The Pelicans have also been one of the better ATS bets over the past month and a half.

Pelicans vs Knicks SGP

• Pelicans +8.5
• Zion Williamson Over 20.5 points
• Zion Williamson Over 2.5 assists
• Zion Williamson Over 0.5 blocks

Pelicans vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Pelicans +8.5 | Knicks -8.5
• Moneyline: Pelicans +280 | Knicks -360
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 | Under 231.5

Pelicans vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Pelicans have covered the spread in 20 of their last 30 games for +10.10 units and a 31% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Knicks.

How to watch Pelicans vs Knicks

Pelicans vs Knicks latest injuries

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

Two clutch teams walk into a bar…

And instead of ordering drinks, they start trading daggers.

Not the loud, reckless kind that comes early in games when legs are fresh and defenses are polite. No, these are the quiet, suffocating possessions that define reputations — the kind that happen when the clock bleeds, the crowd leans, and every decision carries weight.

That’s who the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons have been all season. Not just good teams. Not just surprising teams. Clutch teams. Cold-blooded, mathematically undeniable closers.

Entering Monday night in Detroit, the Lakers owned the best winning percentage in clutch games in the NBA at 22–6 — a staggering .786 mark that isn’t just elite, it’s historic. We’re talking about the best clip in over two decades.

Across the floor stood a Pistons team with a different but equally dangerous profile. Detroit had 25 clutch wins — now 26, the most in the league — and a .676 winning percentage in those same moments. 

Advanced metrics only reinforced the inevitability. The Lakers ranked No. 1 in clutch offensive rating and No. 1 in net rating. Detroit sat comfortably in the top tier at No. 7 and No. 5 respectively. Zoom out even further, and it gets almost absurd: Los Angeles was 24–6 in single-digit games; Detroit 27–7. In games decided by three points or less, the Lakers were 8–2, the Pistons 9–5.

So when these two collided inside Little Caesars Arena, there was no mystery. No guesswork. This wasn’t going to be a blowout. This wasn’t going to be decided by halftime, even though Detroit thought it would be.

This was always going to come down to one possession.

And it did.

The Lakers, short-handed without Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura, spent the first half looking like a team that forgot its identity somewhere over the Midwest. Down 16, disjointed, a step slow. But here’s the thing about teams that live for those clutch moments — they don’t panic. They bend but don’t break.

“We’ve been able to bend and not break, and tonight was another example of that,” head coach JJ Redick said. “We’re a good basketball team and we have to continue to play together.”

They bent all the way back into the game, erased the deficit, and with just over 30 seconds left, even stole a one-point lead. 

AUSTIN REAVES CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/gadm9yHirC

— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) March 24, 2026

But Detroit didn’t blink.

Without Cade Cunningham — their All-NBA engine — the Pistons leaned on Daniss Jenkins, who authored the kind of night that turns role players into folk heroes. Thirty points. Four free throws in the final stretch. No hesitation. No fear.

DANISS JENKINS COMES UP HUGE

The @DetroitPistons guard goes 4-4 from the line in the final minute and hits the game-winner to cap his career-high 30-point night! pic.twitter.com/8CNGEkSYrQ

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

And suddenly, the narrative tightened like a noose.

Because on the other side stood Luka Dončić, the very embodiment of why the Lakers have owned late-game situations all year. Western Conference Player of the Week. Ten straight games with 30-plus points. Forty-one such performances this season. The first player this season to eclipse 2,000 total points. A human avalanche who had just poured in 100 points across two nights like it was a casual inconvenience.

This is the part where the script usually is written by him.

Down one, 12 seconds left, ball in his hands — a 14-foot pull-up from the left wing. The kind of shot Dončić makes in empty gyms, crowded arenas, probably in his sleep.

Missed.

LUKA FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/TLiJMD8qHL

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) March 24, 2026

Detroit rebounds. Jenkins sinks two free throws. Now it’s 113–110, and the air inside the building shifts from tension to anticipation.

“It was good basketball and they made one more shot,” Austin Reaves said, blunt and honest in his assessment. 

One more chance. One more possession. One more moment for the league’s most prolific closer.

Dončić again. Spinning. Fading. Launching a three at the buzzer that never had a chance.

UNREAL perimeter defense from Jalen Duren seals a THRILLER

Pistons: 113
Lakers: 110 pic.twitter.com/diXCp6GIbi

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

And just like that, the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak vanished into the Detroit night.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about clutch teams: Being clutch doesn’t mean you always win. It means you live on the edge so often that eventually, gravity wins one.

Even your best player misses from time to time. But on this night, it was the Pistons with the steadier hand — without their best player, no less. 

“They’re the No. 1 team in the east, even without their All-NBA player being out,” LeBron James said. “We gave ourselves a chance, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Maybe that’s true. Maybe.

But for a Lakers team that has built its identity on finishing games, “a chance” feels like a consolation prize.

Because when you’re the best clutch team in basketball, expectations don’t stop at the opportunity. They demand the result.

And Monday night in Detroit, against a team cut from the same late-game cloth, the Lakers learned something brutal and simple:

Sometimes, the other guy is just as clutch.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods has put himself into the lineup Tuesday night for his Jupiter Links team in the TGL final, waiting until the last day to make his first appearance in the tech-infused indoor league.

Woods has been at every match as a captain and a cheerleader while recovering from a seventh back surgery last October. He has gone more than a year since competing anywhere because of a ruptured Achilles tendon in March 2025.

Jupiter Links lost the opening match Monday night in the best-of-3 final against Los Angeles and now has to win two matches at the SoFi Center.

Wood said last week after Jupiter won to reach the finals he has been trying to play the matches.

“I’ve been trying to come back. But it just hasn’t worked out that way,” he said. “I’ve had a bad run of injuries last year. I think it’s been a year and a few days since I blew out my Achilles. And so then I’ve had two back operations. So it’s been a little rough go. But the guys here, this team, we have so much fun, I really don’t want to screw up the lineup, I just want these guys to keep playing.”

Woods will be replacing Kevin Kisner, who was on the losing end of the decisive hole in singles. Jupiter had a 5-4 lead when Los Angeles threw the hammer — meaning the hole was worth two points — for the par-5 closing hole.

Sahith Theegala had the length to easily reach the green in two and set up a two-putt birdie. Kisner, who has spent most of March in the booth for NBC's coverage of the PGA Tour, drove into the rough, laid up in the rough and hit wedge that didn't quite reach the green. His birdie chip from 20 feet to tie the hole — and win the match — narrowly missed to the left.

Woods joins Tom Kim and Max Homa for Jupiter Links. Akshay Bhatia had been filling in as an alternate, but he is in New Delhi this week on a sponsor invitation to play the Hero Indian Open.

___

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

DETROIT — It isn’t a coincidence that the Los Angeles Lakers’ best stretch of the season has come when they’ve had their full rotation available. 

It also isn’t surprising that their season-best nine-game winning streak ended with Monday night’s narrow loss to the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, which was the first game the Lakers were without at least two main nine rotation players since the March 12 win over the Bulls. 

Because, even though the Lakers fought back from down 16 points and led within the final 30 seconds against the Pistons, there were multiple moments throughout the game where it was evident they missed Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura.

Hachimura’s perimeter shooting (43.8% on 3s for the season for the league’s seventh-best mark) and ability to quickly create shots for himself would’ve been an ideal release valve for the Lakers’ offense that struggled to score like it normally does against the Pistons defense that ranks second in the NBA.

Smart’s ability to not only match physicality, but also dish it out, was missed against an ultra-aggressive Pistons team that regularly pushed the Lakers around on the perimeter. 

The Lakers still hung in despite the absences from Smart, who was dealing with a bruised right ankle and right hip tightness, and Hachimura, who was sidelined because of right calf soreness.

And Jarred Vanderbilt, the player who saw the biggest increase in his playing time, going from out of the rotation to being on the floor for 15-and-a-half minutes, played his role as well as expected. He finished with four points, four rebounds and two assists.

But nearly 30 minutes of Smart’s ball-handling and playmaking would’ve made it more challenging for the Pistons to key in on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And the perimeter defense would’ve been handy when it came to trying to slow down second-year Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins, who scored a career-high 30 points in his third straight start for injured All-Star guard Cade Cunningham. 

“Not having Smart [on Monday] killed us,” coach JJ Redick said. “Vando did a great job. When he had his minutes, he was ready to play, but the way our team works, you need Smart for his ball handling, you need Smart for his defense, you need Rui for his shooting. Those pieces are important to complement everybody.”

So much of the Lakers’ season has been focused on their stars, in good or challenging times.

Dončić’s recent hot streak.

Reaves being established as the second option in the offensive hierarchy.

LeBron James adapting to what this version of the Lakers need from him.

But Monday was a reminder of the little things everyone can provide — from Deandre Ayton’s offensive rebounding physicality on the interior to Jaxson Hayes’ low man presence on defense — and how the usual nine-man rotation of Dončić, Reaves, Smart, James, Ayton, Hachimura, Hayes, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard complement one another.

The Lakers have an 8–2 record when all nine rotation players have been available since the All-Star break.  

“That’s important for us: That we can get healthy and we can play our rotation,” Redick said. “Post-Luke trade, I think when all nine guys have played, we’ve been a good basketball team. We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy.”

But for now, the Lakers’ focus will be on finishing the six-game trip on a high note when they play the Pacers on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Pacers, who are nine months removed from playing in the NBA Finals, have the league’s worst record (16–56) in light of All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton being sidelined for the season after tearing his Achilles last June. 

And it’s no secret they benefit from tanking, giving themselves a better chance of securing a higher draft pick in the summer’s draft. 

But the Pacers also ended their franchise-record 16-game losing streak on Monday with a road victory over a Magic team that’s fighting for a playoff spot.

“They play extremely hard, extremely fast, and they’re super well-coached,” James said of the Pacers. “So we got to be ready for that. It’s the last game of the road trip. I know everybody’s trying to get home, but we got business to take care of, so we’ll be ready.”

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It was well after 10 Monday night, well after Jared McCain’s new team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, had beaten his old one, the 76ers. And still McCain, in street clothes by then, lingered in Xfinity Mobile Arena’s lower stands, visiting with friends.

A handful of people hovered about the place. Workers folded up chairs and pulled up ratty carpeting, the beginning stages of the changeover for Tuesday’s Flyers game. Some kids romped around the court, firing shots in the general direction of the rim. 

“Jared,” one of them yelled up to McCain, “can we get a picture, please?”

“Yeah, I gotcha, buddy,” the second-year guard said.

A minute or two later he made good on his promise, posing with four youngsters in various Sixers jerseys – two Joel Embiids, one James Harden, one Dr. J.

It was almost as if McCain didn’t want to leave.

He played just 60 games for the Sixers, spread out over a season and a half. He performed really well for a really bad team last year, not so well for an improved one this year. In between he was injured, twice. He even did some time in the G-League this winter.

But if he struggled to find his place on the court, that was never the case off it. As had been the case elsewhere (and as is the case in OKC), the 22-year-old Californian very clearly made some strong connections, very clearly made himself at home. Which is why the crowd greeted him so warmly when he entered Monday’s game, and why, from the beginning of the night to the end, he always had time for one more photo, one more hug, one more handshake.

“I really believe in, you put good energy out and it comes right back to you,” he said. “And I really feel like I was able to do that with the Sixers and with the fans, with the organization.”

It can be said with certainty that while the Sixers have traded better players than McCain during their long, tortured history, they have seldom traded a better human being. Sixers coach Nick Nurse was saying before the game that McCain’s approach and attitude always stood out as much as his ability as a shooter and scorer – that he is, in Nurse’s words, “a tremendous person, worker and competitor.”

And, the coach added, “That’s always good to have on your team.”

That McCain is not is something that seems likely to stick in the craw of Sixers fans for years to come. He was shipped to the defending champs for four draft picks on Feb. 4, and he has fit like a glove. After averaging 6.6 points a game on .385/.378/.880 shooting splits in 37 games with Philadelphia, he has raised those numbers to 12.3 on .468/.439/.862 accuracy in 20 games with OKC. That includes his 5-for-11, 13-point effort in over 25 minutes off the bench in Monday’s 123-103 victory.

The Thunder had scouted McCain during his lone season at Duke, and thought highly of him. Coach Mark Daigneault alternately called him a “gym rat,” a “self-made player” and a “craftsman” on Monday, and said that while the newcomer has been respectful of the holdovers, he has hardly been deferential.

“He’s been who he is, and has played aggressively and confidently,” Daigneault said, adding that it says as much about the rest of the team as it does McCain – that the other players have “gone out of their way to try to make sure that we’re getting the best version of him.”

The bottom line?

“It’s felt,” the coach said, “like he’s been here longer than he has.”

Still, McCain was more or less on his own when it came to Monday’s homecoming. He had not been back in Philadelphia since the trade, which came in the middle of a road trip, and admitted he felt “a lot of anxiety” about his return.

“When I was meditating this morning, it was a lot of just acceptance of, it’s going to happen,” he said. “You’re going to have those feelings, you’re going to have those emotions” – including, he added, “that subtle feeling of you want to prove the team wrong that traded you.”

He said he tried to put that aside, but he nailed two three-pointers soon after entering the game midway through the first quarter. After the first, from the left corner, he talked some smack to veteran center Andre Drummond – “It’s all love,” McCain said with a grin – and seemed no less emotional after drilling the second, from the top of the circle.

He missed his next five attempts from the floor, but made three of his last four. McCain, who went 3-for-7 from the arc in all, was one of six players to crack double figures for the Thunder, who won their 12th straight to improve their league-best record to 57-15.

McCain said the night provided him “a little bit” of closure. Mostly, though, it had been weird. Weird to walk onto the court before the game and see veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who gave him a big hug, as well as assistant coach Rico Hines and so many others. (“It felt like I was on the Sixers again,” McCain said.) Weird to go to chapel with former teammates Justin Edwards and Adem Bona. And weird not to be able to drive by his old house, which he had loved but was too far from the Thunder’s hotel.

“It had a sauna,” he said. “It was really nice.”

Others had cleaned the place out, under the supervision of his mom. So it was that the cord had been cut, and the page turned.

But the connections remain. As the night wound down, McCain signed one of his old No. 20 Sixers road jerseys for two men, right outside the visiting locker room.

“Next year,” he said to them in parting.

Indeed, that will likely be the next time he is in town – next season. But after thinking it over for a moment, he chose to look at it another way.

“See you guys in the Finals,” he told the men.

Still spreading the positive vibes. Still true to himself. And this night of all nights, feeling it all come back to him, in waves.

Always good to have a guy like that on your team.

Several former Rutgers basketball players have made their mark on the NBA this season. Dylan Harper has looked good coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs, while his brother, Ron Harper Jr, has contributed solid minutes to the Celtics when he was called up from the G-League. After taking some time to adjust to the NBA in the first half of the season, Dylan’s former teammate and good friend Ace Bailey is starting to prove why he was drafted so high.

Over the past few games, Bailey has scored 95 points for the Utah Jazz. He recorded 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in the team’s 128-96 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He followed that up with a 25-point game in a losing effort to the Philadelphia 76ers before scoring 37 points in a losing effort to the Toronto Raptors. He is the fifth-youngest NBA player to score 25 points per game in three straight games. The four ahead of him are LeBron James, Cooper Flagg, Carmelo Anthony, and Devin Booker.

While it is stunning how well he has done in this recent set of games, this reflects an overall trend that shows him starting to adjust to the league overall. In the 10 games the Jazz have played since the start of March, Bailey has scored at least 20 points in five of them and has had 15 or more points in all but three. His average of 21.2 points this month is his highest monthly average since joining the league. His overall shooting percentage has gone up drastically as well, as he is hitting 46.6 percent of his shots from the floor and 43.8 percent of his shots from three.

Bailey will look to continue his streak of dominance as the Jazz are set to play a very vulnerable Washington Wizards team next on their schedule.

In addition to Bailey, Dylan Harper has had a few solid outings in his last few games, recording 24 points against the Indiana Pacers and 21 points against the Miami Heat. He is still being used largely in a reserve role, recording just over 20 minutes per game in most of his appearances, while Bailey, on the other hand, has been playing around 30 minutes on average. This is largely due to the teams that each of them is on, rather than their overall skill.

The hope is that Bailey will finish the season strong and give the Jazz faithful a reason to be excited for the future while both Harper brothers continue to contribute meaningful minutes on a playoff contender.