Category: Basketball

There will be a new men's basketball champion in 2026 — or, at least, there won't be a repeat champion.

Following the conclusion of the Final Four national semifinal games, the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournamentnational championship game will feature No. 1 seed Michigan — looking for its second-ever NCAA Tournament title and first since 1989 — and No. 2 seed UConn, which is aiming for its third in four seasons under coach Dan Hurley.

REQUIRED READING: Yaxel Lendeborg is best player in Final Four. Toughest, too. | Opinion

Regardless of who wins between the Wolverines, college basketball was guaranteed a new champion this season as early as the first weekend of March Madness, when last year's national champion was shocked with a second-round exit.

Here's what you need to know about who won the 2025 men's national championship, who has the most championships and past champions:

Who won NCAA championship last year?

Florida won the 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament national championship last season. The Gators defeated Kelvin Sampson's Houston 65-63 in the championship round at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The Gators also defeated No. 16 Norfolk State (95-69), No. 8 UConn (77-75), No. 4 Maryland (87-71) and No. 3 Texas Tech (84-79) in their path to the 2025 Final Four. Florida defeated No. 1 Auburn 79-73 in the national semifinal.

The Gators entered the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament having won the SEC regular season championship and earning a No. 1 seed in March Madness for the second straight season. The Gators opened March Madness with a dominant win over No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M (114-55) in the South Region.

However, No. 9 seed Iowa bounced Florida in the second round, 73-72, on a game-winning shot by Alvaro Folgueiras. The Gators had a shot at their own buzzer-beater, but ran out of time when guard Xavien Lee attempted to get to the basket and find one of his big men for a layup down low.

Todd Golden and Co. were seeking to become just the second program in NCAA history to repeat twice after winning national championships in 2006 and 2007.

REQUIRED READING: Braylon Mullins keeps hitting big shots for UConn in Final Four win

Most men's NCAA championships

UCLA leads all men's programs with 11 NCAA Tournament championships, the last of which came in 1995. Kentucky is No. 2 all time with eight titles, while UConn is tied with North Carolina with six (all of which came from 1999 onward).

Here's a look at the men's programs with the most NCAA Tournament national championships:

• 1. UCLA, 11 (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995)
• 2. Kentucky, 8 (1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2012)
• T-3. UConn, 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
• T-3. UNC, 6 (1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2017)
• T-5. Duke, 5 (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015)
• T-5. Indiana, 5 (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987)
• 7. Kansas, 4, (1952, 1988, 2008, 2022)
• T-8. Villanova (1985, 2016, 2018)
• T-8. Florida (2006, 2007, 2025)

REQUIRED READING: Michigan overcomes Yaxel Lendeborg injury in Final Four demolition of Arizona

NCAA Tournament champions by year

Here's a look at the year-by-year NCAA Tournament national champions in men's basketball, since 2006. The full list can be found here:

• 2025: Florida defeats Houston, 65-63
• 2024: UConn defeats Purdue, 75-60
• 2023: UConn defeats San Diego State, 76-59
• 2022: Kansas defeats North Carolina, 72-69
• 2021: Baylor defeats Gonzaga, 86-70
• 2020: Canceled due to COVID-19
• 2019: Virginia defeats Texas Tech, 85-77, OT
• 2018: Villanova defeats Michigan, 79-62
• 2017: North Carolina defeats Gonzaga, 71-65
• 2016: Villanova defeats North Carolina, 77-74
• 2015: Duke defeats Wisconsin, 6-63
• 2014: UConn defeats Kentucky, 60-54
• 2013: Louisville defeats Michigan, 82-76
• 2012: Kentucky defeats Kansas, 67-59
• 2011: UConn defeats Butler, 53-41
• 2010: Duke defeats Butler, 61-59
• 2009: North Carolina defeats Michigan State, 89-72
• 2008: Kansas defeats Memphis, 75-68, OT
• 2007: Florida defeats Ohio State, 84-75
• 2006: Florida defeats UCLA, 73-57

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament championship? NCAA championship history

Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg is dealing with multiple injuries heading into the national championship game against Connecticut on Monday, April 6.

The first-team All-American forward and Big Ten Player of the Year was held to 14 minutes in the Wolverines' 91-73 dominant win over Arizona in the Final Four, as he dealt with ankle and knee injuries that were re-aggravated in the first half against the Wildcats.

REQUIRED READING: Michigan overcomes Yaxel Lendeborg injury in Final Four demolition of Arizona

Lendeborg, a first-year transfer from UAB, was the most sought-after transfer portal recruit last season and he has proved it in 2025-26. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season, and his points-per-game average has risen to 19 points per contest in the NCAA Tournament.

Lendeborg returned late in the second half of Michigan's win, and will spend the next day preparing for his final collegiate game.

Here's everything to know of Lendeborg's injury before the national championship game:

Will Yaxel Lendeborg play vs UConn in national championship game?

Lendeborg is dealing with a sprained MCL and a tweaked ankle, which he has been playing with since the Big Ten Conference Tournament. He said he will play against UConn in the national championship game, although likely not at 100%.

"I'm sure he'll give it a go tomorrow, but that'd be entirely up to him and the medical staff," Michigan coach Dusty May said April 5.

Lendeborg explained what happened on the play after the game on April 4, and also said he's playing no matter what.

"I tried to go up for a dunk in between three people like a dummy," Lendeborg told CBS Sports after the game. "I stepped on (Arizona forward Motiejus) Krivas' foot, turned (and) felt the pain right away. My knee, at worst is like an MCL sprain. ... My ankle got re-rolled, so that's bothering me a little bit.

"But I'm going to feel good, I'm going to do a lot to work on it and I'm playing on Monday for sure, no matter what."

Yaxel Lendeborg injury update

Lendeborg exited the floor and entered the locker room with 8:51 in the first half against Arizona after injuring his knee and ankle. He didn't return for the first half but did start the second half with a brace on his knee, playing 14 total minutes.

Lendeborg, a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, said his agent and his mom both said he should sit out the first half, but he declined. His imaging and MRI came back clear after testing on April 5.

When Lendeborg returned in the second half, he was clearly hobbled. May said whatever version of Lendeborg they get still makes the Wolverines a better team, though.

"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," May said. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."

Yaxel Lendeborg stats

Here are Lendeborg's per-game averages in 2025-26, along with his final stats from each of Michigan's NCAA Tournament wins this season:

• 2025-26: 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 52.3% shooting

NCAA Tournament

• vs. No. 16 Howard: 9 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 40% shooting
• vs. No. 9 Saint Louis: 25 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists on 69.2% shooting
• vs. No. 4 Alabama: 23 points with 12 rebounds and 7 assists on 66.7% shooting
• vs. No. 6 Tennessee: 27 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists on 52.6% shooting
• vs. No. 1 Arizona: 11 points with 3 rebounds and 1 assist on 75% shooting

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Yaxel Lendeborg play in national championship game for Michigan?

Remember, at the beginning of this NBA season, when people compared Cooper Flagg to Andrei Kirilenko, also known as AK-47?

Kirilenko was an athletic defensive star, and many people thought that is where Flagg would end up.

Well, not so much.

He’s an excellent defender, as promised, but has also emerged as an offensive star. In the last two games, he has scored 96 points, and shot a collective 33-57, or 57.8%. He’s also shot 8-15 on his threes for 53.3%.

On Sunday night, Flagg followed up his 51-point game against Orlando with a near triple-double against the Los Angeles Lakers: Flagg had 45 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.

He is the first rookie to have back-to-back 40-point games since Allen Iverson did it in 1997.

This comes near the end of the season as the league is witnessing an amazing Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel, and it’s a great way for Flagg to put a bow on his season as it winds down.

You know what would make this story even better?

Co-Rookies of the year.

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions | Drop us a line

1. Big 4th Quarter

Through the first three quarters of this game the Celtics looked like they were stuck in mud when it came to their offense. After having some huge first halves in back to back games, Boston only had 80 points going into the fourth quarter, keeping Toronto in the game.

The Celtics would flip the switch in the final frame, outscoring the Raptors 35-24. Boston shot a ridiculous 14-21 (67%) from the field and only 2-4 (50%) from three point range while only turning the ball over once. Toronto shot 10-14 (71%) in the fourth quarter but Boston was able to force 6 turnovers on them, explaining the reason why the Celtics had 7 more shots.

The lineup they ran for most of the fourth quarter with Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta looks to be the closing group of the future going into the playoffs. This looks to be a potent end of game lineup that can space the floor and still defend. Excited to see this when the games really start to count.

2. Neemias Queta is Peaking

When it comes to his play this season, I think Neemias Queta has exceeded all exceptions set for him and is just now starting to play his best basketball of the season right as the Celtics are heading into the playoffs. Queta had a great performance against the Raptors, finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks on 9-10 shooting.

His offense was carrying Boston for long stretches in the first half, dropping 16 points through the first two quarters and being the spark the offense needed when it stalled out. Queta did an incredible job when it came to cutting to the basket whether it was slipping out of screens or just running the running the fast break. His ability to overpower the Raptors weak center depth also helped when it came to grabbing offensive rebounds for put-backs.

The second half saw Queta turn into 2022 Robert Williams with his ability to block shots, with all 3 coming in the second half. His improvement on the defensive end with his timing on blocking shots has been incredible to watch this season and really does remind me a lot of Time Lord. He always had this ability but now that he has had the opportunity to shine, Queta is becoming a more dangerous player to this Celtics offense than anyone would have thought possible.

3. Jayson Tatum is Seeing Everything

For the 9th time in 14 games, Jayson Tatum has finished with a double-double scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. I don’t think I have ever seen a player go down with a major injury and come back playing arguably better than they were before but Tatum is starting to reach that point for me. I wanted to highlight his ability to see the floor with his passing because he made some incredible assists that arguable only he could have made possible.

Tatum had 3 assists in the first half but 2 of them highlight his mastery of passing out of the double team. When Toronto tried to pressure him, Tatum used his gravity to pass it to a wide open teammate who was able to finish with an easy basket.

When the fourth quarter came around, Tatum was a driving force as to why Boston was so successful with 4 assists. It is amazing to see the Raptors memorized with what Tatum is going to do with the ball in his hands that they completely disregard their defensive assignments to stop him. This leaves Tatum to just make some incredible passes to wide open teammates like this one to Pritchard.

4. Another Great Jaylen Brown Game

While some people out there were worrying about how Jaylen Brown was going to look when Jayson Tatum returned, it was pretty obvious that those concerns were incredibly overblown. Brown finished with another efficient scoring game against the Raptors with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals on 11-20 shooting. Brown is currently ranked first in the Eastern Conference in 20+ point games this season with 62 and second in the NBA only behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who has 66.

Brown was able to get to the basket with ease in this game starting from the opening tip, making an effort to be aggressive. Ten out of his eleven baskets in this game ended in the painted area which doesn’t even sound real but Toronto just had nobody who could guard him inside, finished off with an emphatic dunk for the exclamation point. His one three pointer that he made looked similar to his shot in the corner against the Pacers in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Similar to the Bucks game on Friday, Jaylen Brown made this game look easy and put up another MVP level performance.

5. Payton Pritchard 4Q Explosion

Going into the fourth quarter of this game, Payton Pritchard only had 6 points on 3-5 shooting which wasn’t bad but Boston needed a spark to ignite the offense and he did just that. Pritchard had 11 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals on 4-7 shooting in the final quarter of play and was the biggest reason why the Celtics were able to pull away from Toronto in this game.

Pritchard did a great job of being aggressive and looking for his shot, taking advantage of a Raptors team who was really fighting above their weight class and tiring out. He was able to exploit their lack of paint defense by driving to the basket and finishing over Toronto’s big men. On defense he was also factor, grabbing his first steal to continue a 16-4 run the Celtics had dating back to the 2:04 mark of the third quarter and getting his second one to essentially ice the game before the Raptors put in their reserves.

6. Jordan Walsh Big 3Q Minutes

I think an underrated stretch in this game were the 6 third quarter minutes that Jordan Walsh received where his defense made a legitimate impact. He had 4 points and 1 steal on 2-2 shooting in this quarter and it shows that Joe Mazzulla is starting to rely on him as the main energy provider off the bench.

Walsh was able to nab a steal on Brandon Ingram and outrun the Raptors defense for a dunk on his first basket and made a really a really nice reverse layup on his other. It is really interesting to see Mazzulla entrust Walsh with this role since it was interchangeable for most of the season with Hugo Gonzalez and Ron Harper Jr also seeing time. Walsh has been solid since return to the lineup and it is cool to see him run with the opportunity. I am excited to see him inevitably make a big play in a playoff game this year.

7. Nikola Vucevic Return

For the first time since May 6th, Nikola Vucevic returned to the Celtics rotation after suffering a fracted right ring finger. You could tell he was still trying to get back after missing a month of time but he had okay game, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist on 2-5 shooting but was a -14 overall in 13 minutes.

I would say the best part about this game was his two man game with Payton Pritchard at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He was able to clear out space when Pritchard was attacking to the basket and it resulted in a basket and an assist in this time frame.

I think we are going to have to be patient with Vucevic’s return. It took him a few games to get going when he was first traded to the Celtics so once the playoffs come around I have faith that he will be able to mesh well together with the rest of the team. If not, Neemias Queta has been playing out of his mind recently so he could always get more minutes or they can see if Luka Garza can provide a spark from the back up center position. Overall though I think Vucevic will be fine and will provided much needed bench scoring in the playoffs.

8. Historic Paint Scoring

If you’ve noticed throughout the takeaways so far, I have highlighted the Celtics ability to get to the paint with relative ease against the Raptors defense. That is because Boston finished with a ridiculous 76 Points in the Paint compared to Toronto’s 58. This was the most points in the paint that the Celtics have scored in a game in the play-by-play era which is an incredible feat.

The Celtics are a team known for their three point shooting, averaging 41.8 threes a game but in this game they were only 8-28 (29%) shooting from beyond the arc. In the painted area, Boston shot 38-57 (67%), just getting whatever they wanted whenever they wanted against Toronto.

9. Defensive Improvements

Over the last two games, although Boston was blowing out their opponents, they also allowed back-to-back games with the other teams making 20+ three point shots. I didn’t file it away as a concern but it was just something that was very strange. All of my possible concerns were put to bed with this game against the Raptors where the Celtics defense held them to only 8-20 (40%) shooting from three and 40-84 (48%) shooting from the field.

The only reason why Toronto stuck around so long in this game was the fact that Boston wasn’t able to hit their threes to match. Although Boston had a little bit of a problem turning the ball over themselves with 15, they responded by forcing Toronto into 15 turnovers as well. The Celtics turned them into 26 points off turnovers and that was most relevant in the fourth quarter when Boston forced the Raptors into 6 turnovers.

10. Possible First Round Matchup

With the regular season quickly coming to an end, this game had some interesting implications for both the Celtics and the Raptors. With the Celtics win to push their record to 53-25, their Magic Number to clinch the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference has been lowered to 2. This means that Boston needs either 2 more wins or the New York Knicks to lose 2 more games to official have home court advantage on their side of the playoff bracket.

The Raptors on the other hand needed to win this game to possibly avoid playing the Celtics as a part of the Play-In Tournament. Toronto is currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference but have the same 43-35 record as the Philadelphia 76ers who are at the 6th seed. If Toronto did end up in the Play-In and beat the 8th seed who is currently the Charlotte Hornets, they would face Boston in Round 1 of the Playoffs.

Thinking of a Toronto vs Boston matchup in the first round makes me think it will end similarly to the way this game played out. The Raptors would put up a good fight against the Celtics for the first three quarters of games but run out of gas in the end. At best I think Toronto could end up finishing similar to the Orlando Magic last season against Boston, losing in at most 5 games or get flat out swept.

Why Warriors did not call timeout before Steph Curry's final shot vs. Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors had the ball in the right hands in the final seconds of their 117-116 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday at Chase Center, but Steph Curry came up empty.

Golden State trailed by one point with 11.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter before Curry dribbled up the court to attempt the game-winning shot.

Defended by two Rockets at the top of the key, Curry threw up a deep shot that clanked off iron right before the final buzzer rang and ended the Warriors’ spirited fourth-quarter comeback attempt.

Rockets-Warriors end of game sequence 😮

KD finds Sengun for the lead … Steph tries a game winner! pic.twitter.com/BqK9c3scDY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 6, 2026

Speaking to reporters after the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked why he did not call timeout to draw up a play before the final possession.

“Well we didn’t want to take the timeout because we wanted to keep their defensive guys on the floor, that lineup on the floor,” Kerr explained. “You take the timeout, they just put all their Dobermans in and switch everything and it’s really hard to get a good look.

“I haven’t seen a replay yet. My gut is our spacing wasn’t great. I think I saw three guys on one side, we wanted to give Steph a high screen, pulling their weaker defenders in. He got a decent look, but it’s probably a good clip for us to have for these last games and the play-in, just to go over that again. I never really like to take timeouts in that situation if there’s time. I’d rather have the chaos that ensues and the matchups that you want. And so, the process was what we wanted, I’m not sure we got spaced very well, I’ll have to look at it.”

At the 0:12 mark in the clip above, both Kerr and Warriors forward Draymond Green can be seen emphatically motioning to, it appears, guard Brandin Podziemski, to come help set a screen for Curry, who ended up double-teamed on the final shot.

Curry also was asked about the final possession, and echoed similar sentiments as his coach, while stating he had no regrets from the sequence.

“We didn’t have a play call because we thought we were going to get a stop, but the usual kind of reaction there is to try and get, they had [Alperen] Şengün out there, is to try and get him in a pick and roll and see what they were going to do, but everything kind of got a little stagnant at the top of the key,” Curry said. “I haven’t watched the possession to see where there might have been a better option, but it seems there was a wall at the 3-point line and I couldn’t figure out exactly where to go.

“There’s no regrets there, you like the matchup with their lineup out there thinking you can get a good shot with whatever it was, 11-12 seconds left. Tough finish for sure, but proud of the way we fought down the stretch.”

While Curry was unable to hit the shot that ultimately mattered most, he still had an excellent game in his long-awaited return to the court, scoring 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range in 26 minutes.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

INDIANAPOLIS – Shove over, Duke. There’s a new team in men’s college basketball that everyone loves to hate.

If there was any debate UConn is the game’s new villain, that chorus of boos raining down on Dan Hurley after his team reached its third NCAA title game in four years erased all doubt. UConn has become a team only UConn fans can love.

And, depending on the outcome of the game, maybe not even them!

“When we lose a game, our fans are so brutal on social that — and obviously I'm disliked by a number of different programs. When we lose, the celebration that goes on and the mocking, that's kind of like a loud external,” Hurley said Sunday, April 5.

Can UConn beat Michigan? Huskies have a better chance than you think

Is UConn a blue blood? Huskies may be the bluest. Ranking MBB's top programs

Don’t sell Hurley and the Huskies short. They’ve earned their position atop the hate-meter.

Hurley off the court is nothing like the maniac he is on the court. He’s not condescending like Jim Boeheim was and he doesn’t have the arrogance of Mike Krzyzewski.

But if he’s not coaching your team, Hurley is going to rub you like sandpaper with his yelling at the refs, snarking about officiating and ignoring the boundaries of the coach’s box.

Thus, those boos after UConn beat Illinois in the Final Four.

“I don’t know why they’re booing,” Hurley said, tongue in cheek.

Of course he does.

If Hurley was just some obnoxious coach, it would generate yawns or “this guy again” eye rolls. But Hurley and his team are really, really good. Like historically good. Especially at this time of year.

And that’s what really sets people off.

College basketball has undergone so many seismic changes in the past decade that anyone watching has at least a mild case of whiplash. There are no constants, no continuity. Even Duke doesn’t seem quite so smarmy these days, going more than a decade without a title and losing to UConn in the Elite Eight in such shocking fashion that you almost felt sorry for the Dukies.

I said almost. Let’s not get carried away.

Yet UConn has been impervious to the turmoil. By winning their second consecutive title in 2024, the Huskies joined Duke (1991 and 1992) and Florida (2006 and 2007) as the only repeat champions since 1973.

Now UConn and those early-90s Dukies are the only teams to get three cracks at the title in four years since John Wooden’s heyday.

UConn is 18-3 in the NCAA tournament since 2021, and its 13-1 overall record in the Final Four is the best in tournament history. At 20-5, Hurley’s record in the tournament is third behind only Phil Woolpert and that Wooden guy.

Should UConn beat Michigan, Karaban will be the only non-UCLA player to win three NCAA titles.

“They have championship DNA,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “This run they're on is one of the best — probably the best since John Wooden.”

But success has a very short shelf life in American sports. The only thing fans root for more than the dominance of a dynasty is seeing that dynasty get its comeuppance.

The New England Patriots. The New York Yankees. The Kansas City Chiefs. UConn’s women. We love to see them win and we root for them to lose.

And now Hurley and his UConn program have joined the ranks of the reviled.

“People don't necessarily want to see the same team win over and over again. And what coach Hurley's been able to do these last four years has been incredible and it's just adding to the history of college basketball,” senior forward Alex Karaban said.

“A lot of people don't want to see the Chiefs playing in the Super Bowl again. That’s kind of like the example that coach used for us, too,” he added. “People don't want to keep seeing the same team win, but why does that matter with us? We want to keep winning.”

That’s the thing with villains or bullies. The only way to stop them is to shut them down.

Until then, you can boo Hurley and UConn all you want. They’ll be too busy winning to care.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn basketball's success makes Huskies latest team you love to hate

Michigan laid waste to Arizona. So much for the de facto national championship game. That semifinal was an annihilation game.

The No. 1 Wolverines enter the national title game against No. 2 UConn as a clear favorite.

Here are five reasons Michigan will win — and one reason it won’t:

Michigan vs UConn prediction, spread: Who is favored to win national championship?

Five reasons Michigan will beat UConn to win national championship

1. Nobody looks better than Michigan in this tournament

UConn has been playing well since halftime of the Duke game, but nobody has looked more dominant than Michigan throughout this entire tournament. The Wolverines won their past five games by an average margin of 21.6 points, with no game closer than a 13-point margin against Alabama in the Sweet 16.

In wins against Arizona and Tennessee, Michigan left no doubt by halftime as to which direction the game was headed. The Wolverines did it against Arizona despite star player Yaxel Lendeborg barely playing in the first half because of foul trouble and injury.

UConn can’t expect to rally against Michigan the way it did against Duke.

2. Wolverines have sufficient experience

Old teams win in March Madness. That’s a cliché for a reason — because it plays out time and again. Duke’s young team wilted in the second half against UConn. Arizona started three freshman in the semifinal loss to Michigan. You saw how that went.

Michigan’s national title hopes don’t rest on the shoulders of teenagers. The Wolverines start two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore. They’ve got ample depth, too, which became apparent and impressive while they established a commanding lead against Arizona even without Lendeborg on the court.

3. Michigan’s frontcourt is big and dominant

The length and wingspan of Michigan center Aday Mara is so extreme, he can almost dunk without ever leaving the floor.

The size of Michigan’s starting frontcourt goes like this: 7-3. 6-9. 6-9.

Nobody can match that. These aren’t big stiffs, either. The 6-9 Lendeborg went 3 for 3 from 3-point range against Arizona. He’s a good assist man, too.

UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. — he’s 6-11 — came up big in the Final Four win against Illinois. The Huskies will need Reed to be at his best against Michigan, but he’ll need help, too.

Dan Hurley called his shot: Tarris Reed Jr. would be X-factor for Final Four run

4. Michigan plays tough defense

Somewhat lost in the fact that Michigan has topped 90 points in every game of the tournament is the fact that the Wolverines play tough defense. Arizona shot just 37% against Michigan.

Analytics guru Ken Pomeroy ranks the Wolverines No. 4 nationally for offensive metrics.

And, Michigan’s defensive rating? No. 1.

5. Michigan plays with winning attitude

This team is locked in and playing with swagger and guts. The Wolverines showed against Arizona they’re about more than one man, winning big on a night when the team’s star, Lendeborg, played only 14 minutes.

Fact is, they have multiple stars. They’re sufficiently battle tested, having faced one of the nation’s toughest schedules. In Dusty May, they have one of the nation’s best coaches on the sideline.

Simply put, the Wolverines just believe they should win. And, so, they do.

One reason Michigan won’t beat UConn

Taking down a dynasty is tough work

Michigan is the nation’s best team, but UConn is a dynasty, and dynasties are difficult to topple. Ask Duke.

UConn can match Michigan’s experience, and its winning attitude.

As Huskies coach Dan Hurley put it after UConn rallied against Duke, “We just believe we’re supposed to win this time of year.”

They usually do.

UConn’s 3-point shot can be an equalizer, too, if the Huskies get hot. They made 12 3-pointers against Illinois, after going 9 of 21 from distance in a Sweet 16 win against Michigan State.

UConn needs Reed to be tough on the interior and for Alex Karaban, Braylon Mullins, Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. to get their 3-point shots falling.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 reasons Michigan basketball will beat UConn for national championship

The stage at American Airlines Center on Easter Sunday felt exposed. LIke it was stripped of its stars. Sure, there was still LeBron James and on the other side of the court 19-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg, but there was no Luka Doncic making his return to Dallas. No Austin Reaves or Kyrie Irving either. 

In their absence, multiple players on the Los Angeles Lakers roster will have an opportunity to step up and shine. One of those players is Luke Kennard. 

For the Lakers, this is no longer about surviving a stretch without their top two scorers who average 58 points per game combined. This is about forging a new identity without them. One that will hopefully sustain them through not just the remainder of the regular season, but into the first round of the NBA playoffs as well. 

“Both those guys are going to try and come back,” said Lakers head coach J.J. Redick of Doncic and Reaves. “It’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back.”

Playing without their engine and their spark plug, the Lakers sputtered on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks 134-128. But a silver lining in the loss was the play of Kennard. 

The former 12th overall pick in the 2017 Draft was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 5 for Gabe Vincent and a future second-round pick. Kennard was always seen as a luxury for the Lakers, a spot-up shooter off the bench that could improve their paltry three-point percentage. 

Thrust into the starting lineup at point guard in place of Doncic, Kennard was suddenly asked to do something he hasn’t done before in his nine-year career: become a playmaker. 

Entering the game, Kennard was averaging 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Through two-and-a-half quarters on Sunday, he had his first career triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists. He also had the highest rating out of any Lakers player on the floor with a +8.

“It’s an encouraging sign. He did a nice job,” said Redick of Kennard’s performance. “Him playing 41 minutes and having to handle the ball that much is not a normal thing for him…but he did some amazing things.”

Before we get carried away, it’s worth noting that one game does not erase years of precedent. Kennard has built his career as a three-point specialist. A sniper that can hide in the corner, and space the floor. Asking him to morph into any version of Luka Doncic is not just ambitious, but it borders on reckless.

But honestly, what other choice do the Lakers have?

Without Doncic and Reaves, the offense doesn’t just shrink, it collapses inward. The geometry changes. A 41-year-old James will be asked to shoulder the offensive load, but he can’t have the ball in his hands for 48 straight minutes. And unless someone stretches the floor not just with shooting, but with decision-making, this team becomes predictable. Easy to guard. Easy to beat.

“We’re going to play lineups that haven’t played together all season,” said Redick before the game. “All the guys know that we need to step up. We need all hands on deck.”

One of those hands has to be Kennard. 

He has to be aggressive. Not selectively. Consistently. That means hunting his shot, not waiting for it. That means turning a closeout into a drive, not a swing pass. That means reading the second defender, manipulating weak-side help, and delivering passes that create advantage—not just maintain it. Sunday was a promising start, especially when he threw a lob to James on the break in the third quarter.

But if the Lakers think they can outscore teams without Doncic and Reaves, they’re fooling themselves. This team’s margin for error just evaporated. Effort, communication, physicality—those aren’t optional now, they’re survival tools. And while Kennard’s offensive evolution is a must, his defensive engagement might quietly be just as critical.

LEBRON STEAL. LEBRON SLAM.

pic.twitter.com/jKrq5yc0Sf

— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2026

Because on Sunday, it wasn’t even the Lakers offense that was the problem. It was the defense. Against a Mavericks team that was 24-53 and already looking ahead to ping-pong balls, the Lakers defense, that had held opponents to 115 points per game this season, allowed Dallas to score 134. Nearly 20 points more than normal.

“Missing those two guys is a big change,” admitted Kennard after the loss. “We did some really good things offensively, but it has to be defense for us. That’s what we have to hang our hat on going forward.”

Kennard isn’t being asked to replicate Doncic. That would be absurd. He’s being asked to expand—to stretch the edges of his game in real time, under pressure, with no runway. That’s where players either evolve or get exposed.

“It’s something I’ve never really done, being that involved and having the ball in my hands that much,” said Kennard of his new role. “I have to be better with it. The shots are going to fall, but it’s about getting everyone connected and being organized out there and just being confident with it. It’s something I’m looking forward to getting better with.”

If Kennard can sustain even 70% of what he showed on Sunday–double-digit assists, keep defenses honest with his shooting, and compete defensively–then the Lakers can stay afloat.

But if he shrinks—if he defaults back into being a spot-up spectator—then the Lakers season will be over sooner than later.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Teenage rookie Cooper Flagg continued his superb run of form by scoring 45 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 on Sunday.

The 19-year-old had made history on Saturday when he became the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game - finishing with 51 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter, in a defeat by the Orlando Magic.

He followed up with a 45-point haul in the win over the injury-hit Lakers, adding nine assists and eight rebounds.

Flagg is the first rookie with back-to-back 40-point games since Allen Iverson in 1997, and is among the favourites to be named this season's rookie of the year.

The Mavericks started quickly against the Lakers, who were missing both the NBA's leading scorer Luka Doncic and rising star Austin Reaves, and were 41-30 up at the end of the first quarter.

LeBron James, 41, led the Lakers with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, while Luke Kennard had 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

PJ Washington scored 15 points for the Mavericks, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams added 13 points, and Klay Thompson scored three three-pointers in his 11-point haul.

Lakers coach JJ Redick it was a "just a poor defensive night" for his side, adding: "We didn't start the game the right way and just played catch-up the rest of the game."

The Lakers are third in the Western Conference, with the 12th-placed Mavericks already out of play-off contention.

BOSTON — Nikola Vučević rejoined the Boston Celtics for Easter Sunday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors. That was the plan, set nearly a month ago when he underwent surgery to stabilize his fractured right finger on March 7.

At that time, Vučević had logged 12 appearances since being acquired at February’s trade deadline. He played less than two minutes during Jayson Tatum’s return on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks and ended up sidelined for nearly a month. While watching from the bench, there was little concern about how Vučević would mesh with the team once he returned.

“He just wants to win,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after Boston’s 115-101 win over Toronto. “He’s been in the league a long time. If anything, making sure he’s aggressive enough to where we have the best version of him, so we could add another layer to what we want to accomplish, is the most important thing.”

Vučević played 13 minutes against the Raptors, checking in for Neemias Queta with 4:57 in the first quarter. He took just five shots, finishing with four points, missing both of his two 3-point attempts, and grabbing four rebounds. It wasn’t a performance that netted Vučević a standing ovation once he checked out in the fourth quarter, but it was a step in the right direction.

Behind the scenes, Vučević had been working toward that moment, regardless of how it would end up. Getting back on the floor was more important than anything else.

“That was kinda the plan from the beginning, after I got the surgery,” Vučević shared. “We kinda had this game at the four-week mark, so we kind of had this day in mind, that’s how the plan went. I felt pretty good the week leading up to today. Did some on-court stuff with my right hand. On Friday, I was able to scrimmage a little bit, get up and down the court, and felt pretty good. You know, I just felt like it was good enough for me to get out and play.” 

The Celtics added Vučević to upgrade their frontcourt depth. After the Chris Boucher signing didn’t pan out, and with Luka Garza the only other reliable big behind Queta, the front office turned to the 15-year veteran. An All-Star with a career 35.1% 3-point shooting clip, Vučević immediately added value to Boston’s roster.

So in the eyes of Mazzulla, Vučević won’t have an issue carving his place with the team.

“His role as a big is, one, defensively controlling the paint with rebounds and his pick-and-roll defense,” Mazzulla said. “And then offensively, just being dynamic too. We don’t quite know how teams will defend him, so sometimes we just have to read that in real time, right? So I think his role is just like our other fives: they’re the connectors. They’re the people that make plays for us on the offensive end with their screening, which he takes pride in. Then defensively, rebounding and controlling the paint.”

Shaking off rust, Vučević missed his first three shots, including an alley-oop from Jaylen Brown. Mazzulla wasn’t worried.

“He was fine,” Mazzulla added. “We just gotta continue to get him acclimated.”

As the longest-tenured NBA veteran in Boston’s locker room, Vučević isn’t overanalyzing his role. His focus is on keeping it simple — a direction emphasized by Mazzulla and the coaching staff — as he works to find his footing in the final four regular-season games and before the playoffs.

“Just not overthink things,” Vučević explained.

“I think that’s kind of the message that comes from Joe and the coaching staff, as well as the rest of the guys. Just trying to find my ways and be able to be myself within what we’re trying to do — within what helps us be a good team. Then as I play more alongside these guys, I learn their tendencies. They learn mine, and I think that’ll just come naturally.”

Even though Vučević’s stint in Boston hasn’t been perfect, he’s put in the work whenever he could. While recovering, he spent time off the court building rapport with his new teammates. From the moment he arrived from Chicago, before ever suiting up, Vučević was at the practice facility going over the playbook and meeting with the coaching staff.

Vučević’s commitment is about giving his teammates the best version of himself — the version Celtics fans have long wanted the front office to pursue. So like Mazzulla, he isn’t worried, especially when it comes to building his chemistry on the floor with Tatum.

“Obviously, me and JT didn’t get a lot of time together,” Vučević said. “But we’re both high-level players, both smart players, and I think we’ll be able to figure it out pretty quick. Even just being around the guys during the time I did play, I think that’s helped a lot. Obviously, it would’ve been great to have that full month that I missed, but it is what it is. We’ll try to make the best of it over the next couple of games, and I also think that week leading up to the playoffs is going to help.”

By Mike Barner, RotoWire.com

The 2025-26 fantasy basketball season is in the books for most managers, and it's time to hand out some hardware. From Nikola Jokić delivering another triple-double campaign to Kon Knueppel's record-breaking rookie year in Charlotte, this season provided no shortage of standout performances. Of course, not every early draft pick paid off — just ask anyone who spent a premium selection on Trae Young. Here are the winners of our 2025-26 fantasy basketball awards, including MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Waiver Wire Add, Most Improved Player and Biggest Bust of the Year.

MVP

Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

There are plenty of great options for this award. Still, Jokić is my pick because he averaged a triple-double for the second straight season. While his scoring was down a bit, he still averaged 27.9 points to go along with 12.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game. Even though he doesn't block a lot of shots for a center, he provided 1.4 steals and 1.8 3-pointers a night.

For the first time in his career, Jokić will play fewer than 69 games. However, he enters the final week with 62 games played, so he likely won't miss that mark by much. It likely took a top-two pick to secure Jokić in your league, and he yet again proved to be well worth it.

Defensive Player of the Year

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Wembanyama could have easily been named the Fantasy MVP. At the very least, he is the Defensive Player of the Year. He rejected 3.1 blocks a night, despite averaging a modest 29 minutes a game. He also averaged 1.0 steals, so if he can hold that over the final week of the season, it will be his third straight season in which he averaged at least 3.0 blocks and 1.0 steal.

How dominant was Wembanyama in terms of blocks? No other player has even averaged 2.0 blocks a game, let alone approached Wembanyama in that department. Chet Holmgren, Evan Mobley and Jay Huff are the players immediately behind Wembanyama with their averages of 1.8 blocks per game. He can almost single-handedly win the category for fantasy managers.

Rookie of the Year

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

Cooper Flagg entered the season as the overwhelming favorite to be the best rookie in fantasy. He certainly hasn't disappointed, averaging 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 3-pointers. While he dealt with some injuries, he enters Monday having played 66 games.

As good as Flagg has been, I think Knueppel edged him out for this award. Not only is Knueppel averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.4 3-pointers, but he has been extremely efficient. He has shot 48.1% from the field, 86.2% from the charity stripe and 43.0% from 3. In terms of his historical perspective, Knueppel made the most 3-pointers in a season for the Hornets in their history. He also set an NBA record for most 3-pointers made by a rookie. Another key stat is that he has already appeared in 78 games. The 12 more games played than Flagg is significant. The level of value has also been enjoyed by fantasy managers. Knueppel is No. 1 on the list of players who appear most often on the top-500 Yahoo Public League teams at 28.2%.

Waiver Wire Add of the Year

Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks

Rollins was not expected to play much for the Bucks, but he was thrown into the fire early after Kevin Porter Jr. was injured in the first game of the season. Porter would end up being sidelined for more than a month and appeared in just 38 games for the season as he dealt with other ailments down the stretch. Giannis Antetokounmpo has also appeared in only 36 games.

With minutes and shot attempts up for grabs, Rollins became a stellar waiver wire add for managers who took a chance on him. He has appeared in 73 games, averaging 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 3-pointers. His points came in efficient fashion, with him shooting 47.3% from the field and 40.9% from behind the arc. Not only was he a great fantasy asset, but he has likely played himself into being one of the building blocks for the Bucks heading into next season.

Most Improved Player of the Year

Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

The Jazz selected George with the 16th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft with the hopes that he could be their point guard of the future. He flashed promise during his first two seasons, but it looked like a lack of efficiency was going to keep him from reaching his full potential. He shot 39.1% from the field over his first two seasons, and it looked like Isaiah Collier could push him to be the team's point guard of the future towards the end of last season.

George has taken his game to another level this season, shooting 45.6% from the field. That helped him average 23.6 points and 2.5 3-pointers to go along with 3.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals. The only negative was that he played just 54 games because of injuries and the Jazz tanking. The franchise could compete for a playoff spot next season following the acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. and the likely addition of another lottery pick. If they finally shed their tanking ways, George could take his fantasy value to an even higher level next season.

Biggest Bust of the Year

Trae Young, Washington Wizards

If you wanted Young on your fantasy basketball team, you likely had to select him towards the end of the first round or in the beginning of the second round, depending on your league size. He was coming off three straight campaigns in which he averaged at least 24.2 points, 10.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 3-pointers. He also appeared in at least 73 games in three of the last four campaigns.

Young only made it to the fifth game of the season before suffering an injury. After missing over a month, he only played a handful of games before being sidelined again. Eventually, he was traded to a tanking team in the Wizards, who had no reason to play him. He appeared in just five games after the trade and didn't log more than 24 minutes in any of them. In addition to appearing in only 15 games, he is averaging career lows in points (17.9) and assists (8.0) per game. It's difficult to recover from getting that type of production from an early selection in fantasy drafts.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Celtics started their final stretch at TD Garden with a 115-101 win over the Raptors. Jaylen Brown was a driving machine, Jayson Tatum held court as Boston’s primary playmaker and nearly racked up another triple-double, and Nikola Vucevic returned with mixed results.

Toronto could potentially be a first round opponent when the playoffs start in two weeks. They currently have an identical 43-35 record with the 76ers. Philadelphia owns the tiebreak and subsequently, the #6 seed. That would put the Raptors in the Play-In Tournament with the Hornets, Magic, and Heat as possible opponents.

For the Celtics, their magic number to clinch the second seed is now two. Their odds have improved all month with our friends at FanDuel and now are +550 to raise Banner 19 and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.

Jaylen Brown

35 minutes, 26 points (1-3 from 3, 3-5 from the free throw line, 11-20 from the field), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 turnovers, 2 steals, +13

The Raptors have plenty of size on the wing to defend the JB. No matter. Brown drove the ball effectively all afternoon and scored nearly all his points in the restricted area.

It seems like ever since Brown was ejected in San Antonio, he’s made it a point to force the issue with the officiating. He went to the line only five times against the Raptors, but he averaged over ten trips to the line during the road trip. Those could be valuably efficient points in the playoffs — if the refs blow the whistle.

Grade: B+

Jayson Tatum

34 minutes, 23 points (2-6 from 3, 7-8 from the free throw line, 7-15 from the field), 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers, 3 steals, +13

For the third straight game, Tatum put up near triple-double numbers, this time against a potential playoff opponent. His three-point stroke just hasn’t clicked yet (33% in his return), but he hasn’t leaned on it too much whenever he’s working at the top of the arc.

Big fella's gotta eat 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/drGdrtt7kd

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 5, 2026

Instead, he’s really embraced the hub-of-the-wheel role as the team’s primary playmaker, particularly when it comes to connecting with Queta.

Grade: A-

Neemias Queta

34 minutes, 18 points (9-10 from the field), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, +30

Queta has now made 30 of his last 41 field goal attempts over the last four games. He can either be quick off the catch by not dropping the ball below his shoulders and getting off a shot before his counterpart can contest or dial into a series of McHale-esque drop steps and finishes around the rim.

Grade: A

Sam Hauser

26 minutes, 8 points (1-4 from 3, 3-7 from the field), 2 rebounds, one assist, one turnover, +9

In what has become a familiar theme with Hauser over the past few weeks, Sam has hit the hard ones and missed the bunnies.

Sam so tuff for this 💪 pic.twitter.com/MuAnVkVBd5

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 5, 2026

That reminded me of Larry Legend when IQ > physical ability.

Grade: B-

Derrick White

35 minutes, 10 points (2-3 from 3, 4—7 from the field), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, one turnover, one steal, +20

My theory is that at this point, Brown and Tatum are experimenting with roles and where their shots are going to come from when the playoffs start in two weeks, whereas White is just laying in the cut and picking his spots. To wit, he scored half of his points with less than five minutes left in the game. They didn’t exactly qualify as clutch minutes, but no doubt he’ll be there when it matters.

Grade: B

Payton Pritchard

30 minutes, 17 points (1-3 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 7-12 from the field), one rebound, 3 assists, one turnover, 3 steals, +9

Pritchard was 6-for-9 in the paint in other masterclass of the mid-range.

I hope Joe Mazzulla appreciates this, but Payton’s game reminds me of when Bruce Lee would train on those wooden dummies. He’s got a counter to any defense.

Grade: B+

Nikola Vucevic

13 minutes, 4 points (0-2 from 3, 2-5 from the field), 4 rebounds, one assist, 2 turnovers, +14

Vucevic has five games to get his feet wet again before the playoffs. After missing fourteen games with a fractured finger — he’s been out since Tatum’s return — he looked rusty and not ready for game speed. However, there’s little doubt that the 14-year vet won’t be ready for Round 1. His pick-and-pop game is perfect for Boston’s offensive system.

Grade: B

Baylor Scheierman

17 minutes, 5 points (1—5 from 3, 2-8 from the field), 5 rebounds, +0

Just a ho-hum game for the King of the Wings.

Grade: B

Jordan Walsh

13 minutes, 4 points (0-2 from 3, 2-4 from the field), one steal, +6

After a stretch of DNP-CDs, Walsh has unexpectedly rejoined the rotation as the 9th man/2nd wing off the bench, with Gonzalez’s playing time as the main casualty.

Although both have had positive stretches defending the opposing team’s best players, the slight edge belongs to Walsh with experience winning over just not knowing any better. Moments like this can change the complexion of a game and subsequently, a series:

Things you love to see ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/CPbyUObqw5

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 5, 2026

Grade: B

Hugo Gonzalez & Ron Harper Jr.

2 minutes, -2

With how well Gonzalez and Harper Jr. have looked in spurts this season, it’s unfortunate that we don’t get to see them play meaningful minutes here at the end of the season. At least Harper Jr. is now signed for the remainder of the regular season.

Mazzulla seems to be trimming the rotation down to nine players and they’re just simply the odd man out…until Mazzulla throws another curve ball and one of those guys are starting a game next week.

Grade: INC

DNP-CDs: Luka Garza, Max Shulga, John Tonje, Amari Williams

Not a whole lot has changed for the Philadelphia 76ers since their last meeting with the San Antonio Spurs. With 4 games left in the regular season, the 76ers are currently 7th in the East with a chance to still move up or down in the standings. They’re just a half game back of the Toronto Raptors for the 6th seed, a position which would bypass the play-in tournament and guarantee them a spot in the first round of the playoffs. Luckily for them, both Paul George and Joel Embiid made their return to play on March 25th in a win over the Chicago Bulls after prolonged absences. Neither of those guys makes Philadelphia a title contender, but it does make them a potentially tough 1st round opponent for anyone, especially if Embiid manages to stay healthy. That’s a pretty big, “if,” considering what Embiid has been through, though.

San Antonio is still in a chase of their own as far as seeding goes, but they’re running out of games to gain on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now 2.5 back and with 4 home games to finish out the regular season, the math is starting to become too tight for the Silver and Black. Regardless of the standings, expect head coach Mitch Johnson to play his guys down this final stretch of the regular season in an effort to fine-tune everyone as the playoffs approach.

---

San Antonio Spurs (54-18) at Philadelphia 76ers (43-35)
April 6 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: FDSS | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: David Jones-Garcia, OUT

76ers Injuries: Joel Embiid, oblique (day to day), Cameron Payne, hamstring (day to day), Johni Broome, knee (OUT)

---

What to watch for

• Paul George has played in 6 games since returning from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program. The soon-to-be 36 year old George signed a lucrative deal with Philadelphia two summers ago, but has appeared in just 74 total contests for the 76ers, hampered by a knee injury and the aforementioned suspension. He’s put up 25.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists since coming back from the suspension on 50/44/79 from the field, a glimpse of the player the 76er faithful thought they were getting when George signed his deal. George scored 39 points in a win over the Washington Wizards last week, the most he’s scored since joining the 76ers.
• While he probably isn’t anywhere near to the Rookie of the Year trophy, VJ Edgecombe has still had a phenomenal rookie season. Averaging 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in his first season, the 20 year old Edgecombe’s breakout gives Philadelphia a tantalizing young prospect to pair in the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey as they begin to navigate what appear to be the lean years of Joel Embiid’s career. He’s shown the ability all season long to be able to put the ball on the floor and make things happen, whether it be secondary playmaking or creating a look for himself. Edgecombe scored a career-high 38 points during mid-March in a road win victory Sacremento.

• In year’s past, the Victor Wembanyama-Joel Embiid match-up would have been the #1 talking point when discussing this match-up. Alas, Embiid’s injury history has only grown, as the former MVP has played in just 56 games between this year and last. Embiid is still more than talented enough to put up big numbers when he’s actually on the court, averaging 27 points a game in 37 contests this season, but overall he’s not close to the same dominant player people have come to expect him to be. This is especially apparent on the defensive end, where years of lower body injuries are beginning to take their toll. His 7.6 rebounds per game are a career-low.

---

If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

For the first time in nearly three months, the Dallas Mavericks finally won a game at the American Airlines Center against a depleted Lakers squad.

The Mavericks offense was clicking all night, with the paint scoring being especially impressive. While the defensive effort was lackluster, it’s hard to ask anymore of this Mavericks team.

Without further ado, let’s get to the grade.

Cooper Flagg: Off The Charts

45 PTS / 8 REB / 9 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK – 39 MIN

Since 1968, no rookie has scored more points over a two game span than Cooper Flagg.

Flagg was simply unstoppable Sunday night, as the Lakers had no answers for his constant downhill pressure. This game was also very different than Friday night’s 51 point explosion, as Flagg dominated the paint and free-throw line.

It is simply hard to put into words how good Flagg already is, because how is the youngest player in the league this good?

And for any Mavericks fans who might have tuned out after the trade, Flagg might be better than anyone who came before him.

Daniel Gafford: B+

7 PTS / 7 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 20 MIN

Daniel Gafford played another good game, but left with another injury.

In my opinion, Gafford should be shut down until next season to let him heal from his various ailments.

Max Christie: C

8 PTS / 1 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN

Max Christie continues to feel invisible in almost every game he plays, as Sunday night was another meaningless performance.

Unless Christie can shoot with more volume he doesn’t really add that much positive impact.

I still believe in the 23-year-old shooting-guard, but he needs to play better.

P.J. Washington: B

15 PTS / 5 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 30 MIN

P.J. Washington is simply not an important player to this team going forward.

While Washington can be a great role-player, I think his fit in Dallas simply doesn’t work anymore.

Naji Marshall: B

13 PTS / 7 REB / 7 AST / 2 STL / 0 – 32 MIN

If Naji Marshall could make threes, he would be a star, but he can’t

If the Mavericks elect to keep Marshall this offseason, his minutes should be heavily staggered with Flagg.

But past the on-court fit, Marshall’s locker room presence might be too important to trade.

Brandon Williams: A

13 PTS / 2 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN

Everyone knows that the Mavericks need to reshape their guard room, but Brandon Williams may be worth keeping around.

Specifically he would thrive in a third guard role where his speed and change of pace could surprise defenses.

Now, if he could add a three-point shot, his ceiling could be limitless.

Klay Thompson: B+

11 PTS / 0 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 18 MIN

It’s still incredible to see how much gravity Klay Thompson possesses, even at 36 years old.

While I may be in the minority, the Mavericks should bring back Thompson next year unless they receive real assets in a trade.

Thompson is very old, but can still shoot threes with the best of the best.

This one will actually be fairly brief, as it’s very late for me. It almost got very late for the Rockets, too. Despite having a double digit lead in the 4th quarter, the Rockets almost (but didn’t!) lost it late. If you’ve ever seen most games where the Rockets play Golden State in San Francisco, with Steph Curry playing, you can be forgiven in the fourth quarter for thinking that you knew how this one would end.

Steph Curry would shoot a bunch of difficult three pointers late, make them, and the Rockets would be unable to match it. There would be gushing announcers, if a national game. (Check!) There would be some iffy calls. (Check!) There would be Draymond and his special, personal, set of rules. (Check!) There would be a Curry dagger to give the Warriors an improbable win. (Nope!)

I signed up for this recap with a healthy amount of trepidation, but no one can say that I am not a glutton for punishment. I wouldn’t have done that, though, if I realized that

A. Steph Curry would be returning from a long absence.

In retrospect, of course he would. He would definitely return at home, against the Rockets, if such a thing was even remotely possible.

B. It was Easter Sunday.

I did know it was Easter of course, but I hadn’t put the two together. That Rockets fans were being set up to endure some sort of “He Is Risen! The Holy Gnawer Himself! The Bay Area’s Lord and Savior!” story line. It was very close, but fortunately this reverse miracle didn’t quite occur.

What happened? Well, the Rockets had a fairly solid lead. Then they put in some weird lineups, and lost most of that lead to Warriors Randos. The the Warriors put in Steph Curry, the Rockets answered with still odder lineups, with even less shooting, but in theory (but not practice, as it didn’t get stops) more defense. Yeah, you’ve seen this movie before, right?

Well, not quite. The the Warriors took a 116-115 lead at 19.6 seconds remaining on a goaltend call on Amen Thompson that looked like it might not withstand a challenge. The Rockets didn’t have a challenge, so we will never know. The Rockets called a timeout.

You can be forgiven for dreading this sort of out of timeout situation, late, with the game on the line. You might have been expecting that the Rockets would force a dangerous inbounds pass to Kevin Durant in the center of the court, somewhere near mid court. You might foresee that he’d be immediately swarmed, and either throw a dangerous pass to a player who couldn’t get a shot off, and would then lob a grenade to someone else. That person would miss. That would be lost fourth quarter lead #18.

Friends, it didn’t happen. The Rockets ran a play. That’s the Easter Basketball Miracle. They ran a play. Durant did get the ball, but not on the inbounds, and not at midcourt. He dribbled along the sideline, while Alperen Sengun rambled down the lane towards the basket. Golden State, having lost Kristaps Porzingis to fouls, was playing very small by necessity. It had been working well for foiling the aforementioned strange lineups (a lot more Aaron Holiday and JaeSean Tate than seemed wise.) The 7ft Durant made an easy pass to the 6’11” Alperen Sengun over the Golden State defenders, for an easy finish. 117-116.

Sill there were a few seconds left, but Golden State was out of timeouts. If you’ve watched enough of these games, you have a healthy fear of what might come next. Curry makes a miracle heave, also falls down, just in case, and then does a little dance on the ground. Reggie Miller squeals in delight. Etc.

But no. It wasn’t a good look, there was no possible foul, and Curry just missed from 30ft. The game was over. The Narrative was defeated, somehow. The Rockets won.

There’s more to talk about on this one, but not at 2am for me. That was the defining moment of this game, despite an excellent game from Kevin Durant overall (late, painful turnovers aside), Jabari Smith, and very good games from Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.

Let’s take this win and be happy. It’s not what I expected, but it’s definitely what I hoped for when I signed up to write up this game.

PS – Jabari Smith had a very fine game, and was the player interview at the half. He wasn’t asked about his game, or his team. Nope. Jabari was asked to talk about what Steph Curry returning meant to him. I’m not kidding.This happened.