Category: Basketball

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr reacts to Warriors dropping back-to-back ‘winnable games’ after 130–124 loss to Bulls.
• Kristaps Porzingis reflects on 17-point, four-block performance in third game with Warriors.
• Heat’s Bam Adebayo scores 83 points in historic performance vs. Wizards.

The Golden State Warriors had opportunities to pick up two much-needed wins this week. Instead, they walked away empty-handed.

Golden State dropped back-to-back games against two teams near the bottom of the standings — first a loss to the Utah Jazz (20-45) on Monday night, followed by a 130-124 overtime defeat to the Chicago Bulls (27-38) on Tuesday. Both games were within reach late, making the results even more frustrating for a Warriors team still trying to stabilize its season.

After Tuesday’s loss, head coach Steve Kerr reacted to the team’s missed opportunities.

“Both very winnable games,” Kerr said. “We had the lead late tonight — obviously, one we should have had — but this is how the NBA is, especially when you’re beaten up. You’re not going to blow anybody out. Games are going be tight. You got to finish, and we didn’t finish either of the last two nights.”

Against Chicago, the Warriors appeared to be in control late in regulation before the game slipped away, eventually being forced into overtime where the Bulls pulled ahead behind Matas Buzelis’ career-high 41 points. It was a similar story the night before against Utah, when Golden State struggled to keep up with the Jazz down the stretch, despite them benching their second-leading scorer in Keyonte George.

Kerr’s message reflects the reality of where Golden State currently stands. With multiple key players sidelined, the Warriors have been forced to lean heavily on the bottom half of their roster to take on larger roles. While the group deserves credit for keeping games competitive, it has also left the team with little margin for error — even against teams near the bottom of the standings. 

Those missed opportunities have now proven costly, dropping the Warriors below .500 at 32–33 and down to ninth place in the Western Conference standings.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, March 11th:

Warriors News:

Warriors’ back-to-back losses reveal thin margin of error, even against tanking teams | The Athletic

The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls have a combined 83 losses this season. The Bulls made several trade-deadline deals that made their roster worse in the short term. The NBA fined the Jazz $500,000 last month for sitting healthy players late in games, describing the substitution patterns as “actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”

The Bulls pulled off the rare feat of losing all of their games in a calendar month — 11 straight in February. Some Bulls fans are upset that Chicago has won three of its last five games because the team’s draft lottery chances decrease with each victory.

The Jazz and Bulls are opponents that any team still playing for something should beat. Golden State’s back-to-back losses to them underscore how slim the margin of error is for the undermanned Warriors. Even teams incentivized to lose are still finding ways to beat Golden State.

What we learned as Warriors squander late lead in overtime loss to Bulls | NBC Sports Bay Area

Golden State’s first half was anything but warm. The defense was haphazard, the offense listless and uncoordinated. The result was the Warriors going into the locker room trailing the lowly Bulls by six, 57-51.

Chicago outhustled the Warriors on both ends, picking apart their defense (19 assists, 10 by Josh Giddey) and disrupting their offense to such degree that they shot 37.5 percent inside the arc and managed only nine assists – their lowest in a half since recording eight on Nov. 14 at San Antonio.

Kristaps Porzingis on how he feels after his third game with the Warriors: ‘I’m pretty gassed’

NBA News:

Bam Adebayo pulls off statistical shock with historic 83-point outburst | NBA

“It’s a special moment,” he said. “It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy.” 

He shot 20-for-43 from the floor. Almost half of those attempts, 22, were on 3-pointers. This was a good player on a hot night, which happens frequently in the NBA, just not to this level or anywhere close, actually. 

Before Tuesday, Adebayo averaged 4.8 free-throw attempts per game this season. He finished this game with an astounding 43 attempts, making 36 — which is rather impressive for a 77% shooter. His attempts and makes are single-game NBA records. 

Former Raptors’ coach Sam Mitchell jokes to Wizards’ Brian Keefe after Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game: ‘Thank you for taking my spot’

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steve Kerr: Fewer games would improve the NBA

However, Kerr also acknowledges that the prospect of reducing the number of regular season games runs anathema to the league’s main goal, which is to maximize revenue.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Rockets, Cavaliers, Spurs, Raptors, Thunder and Lakers. Those are some of the teams the Knicks have played since February.

New York has gone against the Wizards, Pacers, Bulls, and the Bucks—all of those matchups sandwiched in between the aforementioned ones—but for the most part, the Knicks have had test after test over the last five weeks. And outside of the last two games against the two Los Angeles teams, and the two drubbings at the hands of the Pistons, the Knicks answered some questions and came out looking relatively unscathed.

They may not have made up the kind of ground they wanted to in the stands, largely due to the exceptionally strong play of the Pistons, Celtics, and even the Cavaliers. But their much-improved defense, Karl-Anthony Towns’ hot play, and the sudden emergence of Mo Diawara have ignited some hope and confidence. And the good news is, those things, as well as some other factors, should be a mainstay for the next couple of weeks.

Over the next few weeks, the Knicks’ schedule goes from incredibly tough to a cakewalk. It starts with a road game against the tanking Jazz tonight, then a matchup against a Pacers team that, to their credit, did beat the Knicks a few weeks ago. They then host the Warriors, who enter tonight under .500, and the Pacers, then play the Nets, Wizards, and the Pacers again over five days.

New York does have a tough three-game stretch against the hot Hornets, which could end up being a potential playoff preview, defending champion Thunder, and the Rockets. After that, it’s a mixed bag, as they round out the season with games against the Grizzlies, Bulls, and Hawks, before facing off against the Celtics, Raptors, and Hornets. Now, the last three games look like they could be tough on paper, but as is the case every season, it’s hard to project what games in the last week of the season could look like with teams often sitting guys as they prepare for a long and grueling playoff run.

The rest of the regular season should provide the Knicks with enough tests with games against the Hornets, Thunder, Rockets, and Celtics, but also give the Knicks plenty of games to improve heading into the playoffs.

They can use some of the aforementioned games against the worst teams in the league to either rest guys, especially Jalen Brunson, who has looked a tad bit slow, and hampered. And they can maybe look to get Mikal Bridges going again offensively. While the Knicks won’t want to punt games as the standings are still very much in flux, if they can take care of business early on in the games, it should also allow head coach Mike Brown to continue playing with the rotations, and possibly get guys like Diawara, and maybe even Tyler Kolek for some potential playoff minutes.

The last week(s) of the season will likely prove to be a big deal for the Knicks, regardless of what other teams are doing, though. As stated above, the standings may not be fully locked in until the very last day of the season, and even if they are, the Knicks have the task of trying to re-integrate a key piece in Deuce McBride. Every minute they can get him will be pivotal, as having him return to game shape and in rhythm could end up being a make-or-break factor in just how far this team can go.

In making sense of Bam Adebayo’s historic night, a couple of things became clear.

For one, the exasperation and handwringing is bordering on the absurd. For another, Adam Silver may have inadvertently found the NBA’s solution for tanking.

In what has become the most unexpected individual performance in NBA history, the Miami Heat center dropped 83 points Tuesday, March 10, against the Washington Wizards. It was a singular achievement, one in which he surpassed late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant (81) for second-most points in a single game in history.

Some corners of the Internet whined that Adebayo required 43 free-throw attempts and 36 conversions — both NBA records — to make history.

Make no mistake: his night should be celebrated. You’d be hard-pressed to find many humans who can scratch 83 on their own driveways, let alone an actual NBA game.

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Our NBA player prop projections are here to help make your Rockets vs. Nuggets predictions process easier.

Read on for our computer's free NBA picks for Wednesday night, featuring a five-star Tari Eason prop.

Rockets vs Nuggets computer picks for March 11

Rockets	Nuggets
Eason o10.5 points  +100	Gordon o2.5 assists  -105
Sengun o17.5 points -120	Hardaway Jr. o10.5 points -112
Thompson o6.5 rebounds  -125	Jokic u28.5 points  -115

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Rockets computer picks

Tari Eason Over 10.5 points (+100)

Projection: 12.6 points

Our computer would be salivating if it were capable over this Tari Eason points prop. He's projected to beat this line by over two full points for a +23.6% EV.

"The Houston Rockets are expected to see an increase in possessions in this game from being pitted against the 8th-most up-tempo pace team in the NBA over the last 10 games (the Denver Nuggets). The Houston Rockets have been the best offensive rebounding offense in the NBA this year (offensive rebounds maintain possession and can therefore lead to new chances for scoring and assists)."

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Alperen Sengun Over 17.5 points (-120)

Projection: 20.0 points

Our system likes this Alperen Sengun prop for the same reasons it likes the Eason one. This four-star play checks in at a +21.5% EV.

This line is as low as it's been in a nine-game span, and now looks like the time to buy.

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Amen Thompson Over 6.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 7.7 rebounds

Amen Thompson has cashed the Over on his rebounding prop in eight of his last 10 overall.

The juice takes some of the shine off this wager, but our computer believes there's still a +10.2% EV edge to be had based on the projection of 7.7 boards.

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Nuggets computer picks

Aaron Gordon Over 2.5 assists (-105)

Projection: 2.8 assists

Aaron Gordon is on a hot streak when it comes to handing out helpers. He's cleared his assists Over in nine of his last 10 overall.

Gordon, who missed all of February due to injury, has had three assists in each of his first two games back. 

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Tim Hardaway Jr. Over 10.5 points (-112)

Projection: 12.4 points

Our computer notes that the Nuggets have played at the eighth-speediest pace in the NBA over the last 10 games, so it's not surprising to see Denver at second in the league in scoring. Tim Hardaway Jr. has made some contributions, clearing his point total Over in six of his last nine overall.

Our system suggests he'll beat this line by nearly two full points, good for a +16.8% EV.

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Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-115)

Projection: 26.8 points

Another night, another big point total for Nikola Jokic to clear. Unfortunately for Nuggets fans, our system sees the former MVP falling short of his prop line by nearly two points.

"Offensive rebounds maintain possession and lead to extra chances for scoring and assists, but the Nuggets rank second-worst in the NBA with the home court advantage, with just 8.5 offensive rebounds per game over the last 20 games."

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How to watch Rockets vs Nuggets tonight

Location	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date	Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

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The Toronto Raptors will look to bounce back following a loss to the Houston Rockets last night. Luckily, the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t a Top 10 team in the NBA.

The Pelicans may not be tanking like some of the NBA’s other bottom feeders, but they aren’t exactly giving their all either.

My Raptors vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks explain why Toronto will bounce back when they visit the Smoothie King Center at 8 pm ET in New Orleans on Wednesday, March 11.

Raptors vs Pelicans prediction

Raptors vs Pelicans best bet: Raptors -2 (-110)

Much has been made about the Toronto Raptors’ struggles against the NBA’s best teams. Heck, I faded them against the Houston Rockets last night.

Luckily, the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t that. New Orleans ranks 26th in defensive rating and, since the All-Star break, 22nd in turnover rate. Toronto’s sixth-ranked defense will take advantage of that, getting extra possessions, helping to pad their lead.

Expect the Raptors to move the ball well with Immanuel Quickley leading the way and RJ Barrett to continue his heater. Toronto is also 4-1 ATS in its last five games in the second half of a back-to-back.

Raptors vs Pelicans same-game parlay

Speaking of moving the ball, Quickley is averaging 6.1 assists per game this season, but has that number up to 8.8 per contest over his last five games. The Pels allow the fourth-most opponent assists per game this season.

The Raptors could get another boost if center Jakob Poeltl returns. He sat out last night with an illness. If he goes tonight, Toronto could have an edge on the inside, where New Orleans ranks 24th in opponent points in the paint.

Raptors vs Pelicans SGP

• Raptors -2
• Immanuel Quickley Over 6.5 assists
• Jakob Poeltl Over 11.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sharing is caring

The Raptors have one of the highest assist rates in the NBA. The Pelicans allow a ton of assists.

Raptors vs Pelicans SGP

• Immanuel Quickely Over 6.5 assists
• Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
• Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
• RJ Barrett Over 3.5 assists

Raptors vs Pelicans odds

• Spread: Raptors -2 | Pelicans +2
• Moneyline: Raptors -130 | Pelicans +110
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5

Raptors vs Pelicans betting trend to know

The Raptors have hit the Game Total Under in 33 of their last 50 games for +14.30 Units and a 26% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Pelicans.

How to watch Raptors vs Pelicans

Raptors vs Pelicans latest injuries

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CHICAGO (AP) — Cooper Koch scored a career-high 19 points, Bennett Stirtz added 17 and the pair fueled a run of 21 straight points to help send Iowa to a 75-64 win over Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.

Koch made 5 of 8 3-point attempts and Stirtz had eight assists and a team-high six rebounds for the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (21-11), who snapped a three-game losing streak and will take on eighth-seeded Ohio State in a quarterfinal Thursday. Tavion Banks added 12 points and Cam Manyawu 10.

Darius Adams led the No. 17-seeded Terrapins (12-21) with 14 points. Isaiah Watts made four 3s for his 12 points and David Coit also scored 12 points. Solomon Washington grabbed 13 rebounds.

Koch hit a trio of 3-pointers and Stirtz — who had missed his first seven from the arc — added two more in the 21-0 run that ended with Iowa ahead 51-34 eight minutes into the second half.

Maryland rallied to get the deficit down to nine but Koch hit his fifth 3 to put the lead back into double figures where it remained for the final 6 1/2 minutes.

Watts came off the bench in the first half to make three 3-pointers and the Terrapins sank six straight shots in a 15-0 run for a 21-10 lead. But the Terrapins made just one of their last 12 shots — including nine misses from beyond the 3-point line — over the final eight minutes. Iowa took advantage, outscoring the Terrapins 15-5 to cut the deficit to 26-25.

Up next

Iowa beat Ohio State at home 74-57 on Feb. 25 in the teams' only regular-season meeting.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland had 24 points and eight assists, Ven-Allen Lubin added 18 points and No. 7 seed N.C. State beat 15th-seeded Pittsburgh 98-88 on Wednesday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.

N.C. State (20-12) advances to play No. 2 seed and 10th-ranked Virginia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

N.C. State led 51-50 at halftime as both teams shot over 60% from the field and had three players in double-figure scoring. The Wolfpack went 7 of 9 from 3-point range, while Pitt was 9 of 16.

N.C. State began the second half on a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 63-52 before Pitt made its first field goal at the 16:31 mark. Matt Able made the Wolfpack’s 11th 3-pointer — in just 15 attempts — for a 76-62 lead.

The officials upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul with 2:13 remaining after Lubin was pushed from behind on an alley-oop attempt. Lubin made both free throws to give N.C. State a 92-83 lead and Paul McNeil Jr. made it a four-point possession for an 11-point lead on an easy layup.

McNeil finished with 15 points, Tre Holloman had 14, and Darrion Williams and Able each scored 12 for N.C. State.

Cameron Corhen scored a career-high 27 points for Pittsburgh (13-20). Nojus Indrusaitis added a season-high 19 points and Omari Witherspoon also scored 19.

Pitt reached its season average for made 3-pointers in a game with 8:40 left in the first half when Indrusaitis made his third straight and the Panthers’ eighth in 12 attempts for a 34-25 lead.

The Panthers finished 12 of 27 behind the arc, while the Wolfpack went 13 of 23.

Up next

N.C. State lost both regular-season matchups with Virginia this season, most recently a 90-61 contest on Feb. 24.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The head priest and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh is facing charges after being accused of stealing more than $1,000 in baseball cards from a Walmart.

The Very Rev. Aidan Smith was arrested Feb. 27 by police just after leaving the Walmart in Economy Borough, just outside Pittsburgh, with 27 packs of baseball cards concealed under his clothing and in a cardboard box, according to court records.

Smith, 42, was charged with receiving stolen property and retail theft.

Police responded to a call from Walmart security, who said Smith was in the store again after having stolen from it in previous days. Police said Walmart security video shows Smith also taking baseball cards each of the four previous days and leaving without paying.

Walmart valued the stolen baseball cards at $1,099.99, police said.

In a message last week to the cathedral's members, the Right Rev. Ketlen Solak, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, said diocese officials will investigate the situation and follow the church canons that lay out the process for handling clergy misconduct.

“I have spoken with Aidan and assured him of our prayers for him in this difficult time. Please pray for Aidan, for Melanie and their children, for the entire cathedral congregation as we grieve this news, and for everyone involved in this hard situation,” Solak wrote.

Smith had been on administrative leave since late January, Solak's message said. The diocese did not explain why. Smith's defense lawyer declined comment.

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It’s a light night of NBA action with just six games on the board, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of value to be found in the player prop market.

My favorites for today include OG Anunoby giving Jalen Brunson and KAT some support, and Brandon Miller doing more than just scoring for the Hornets.

Check out those and all my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 11.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Immanuel Quickley	Over 6.5 assists	-105
OG Anunoby	Over 2.5 threes made	+115
Brandon Miller	Over 5.5 rebounds	-105

Prop #1: Immanuel Quickley Over 6.5 assists

-105 at bet365

Immanuel Quickley has been dishing out the dimes lately, and the Toronto Raptors will need him to keep that up when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Raps’ are playing their second game in as many nights and will need his playmaking. Quickley is averaging 6.1 assists per game this season, but has that number up 8.8 per contest over his last five games. 

The Pels struggle defensively, ranking 26th in defensive rating allow the fourth-most opponent assists per game. IQ has an assists prop sitting at 6.5 and has gone Over that in four of his last five games overall.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, GCSEN

Prop #2: OG Anunoby Over 2.5 threes made

+115 at bet365

If the New York Knicks want to achieve their goals this season, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are going to need more support. OG Anunoby is one of those guys, and right now, he looks up to the task.

Anunoby has found his shooting rhythm, shooting 46% from three-point range on a big 7.1 attempts over his last seven games, and is putting up 19.4 points per game over that stretch. 

Tonight, he takes on the not-so-subtly tanking Utah Jazz, who rank 29th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and surrender the most made threes per game.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MSG, KJZZ

Prop #3: Brandon Miller Over 5.5 rebounds

-105 at bet365

Brandon Miller’s jump in development is a big reason why there is so much buzz around the Charlotte Hornets. And it’s not just because he’s putting up more than 20 points per game.

Miller’s putting in effort all over the floor, including on the glass. He is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game this season and has bumped that up to 8.0 over his last seven games. I’m betting he keeps that up tonight against the Sacramento Kings.

With Domantas Sabonis sidelined, the Kings have little to no presence on the boards. They have the third-worst rebounding rate in the NBA, and Miller has topped this number in five of his last seven games.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-New Orleans, FanDuel Sports Network-SC

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers
Date: March 11th, 2026
Time: 9:30 PM CDT
Location: Aspiration Dome
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

It’s a funny thing about ladders.

They take forever to climb. You’re careful with every step. You grip the sides, feel your way upward, and slowly gain ground. But all it takes is the tiniest misstep, one foot slipping, one loose rung, and suddenly you’re tumbling down faster than you ever climbed.

That’s exactly what happened to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night.

After spending the better part of two weeks clawing their way up the Western Conference standings to claim the three seed, the Wolves managed to fall two rungs down the ladder in a single ugly night in Los Angeles. Their loss to the Lakers, punctuated by a disastrous third quarter, sent Minnesota plummeting to the fifth spot in the standings, a reminder of just how fragile life is in the Western Conference playoff race.

And this wasn’t one of those losses where you shrug and say, “Well, Luka had one of those nights.” This was a bad game. Across the board.

The Wolves shot 25 percent from three-point range, which somehow managed to barely eclipse the shooting disaster they put on display against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Anthony Edwards, who has carried the team offensively for much of the season, had one of his roughest nights of the year, finishing 1-for-10 from deep and getting completely overshadowed by Luka Doncic and, to add insult to injury, Austin Reaves.

But if you’re tempted to pin the whole thing on Edwards, don’t. His teammates didn’t exactly come riding in with cavalry support.

The Lakers Beat the Wolves at Their Own Game

Rudy Gobert had a nightmare matchup in the paint, getting outhustled and outworked by Deandre Ayton, who looked like the dominant big man Gobert was supposed to be in this game. For Wolves fans who remember Gobert absolutely demolishing the Lakers’ frontcourt during Game 5 of last year’s playoff series, watching him struggle like that was… unsettling. Naz Reid and Julius Randle didn’t offer much resistance either.

Meanwhile, the Lakers did exactly what good teams do when they smell weakness: they attacked the rim relentlessly. Minnesota’s perimeter defense cracked open again, allowing a parade of drives into the paint. When the Wolves tried to collapse the defense to help, the ball kicked out for open looks.

It was the exact script we’ve seen too often recently. Minnesota struggled to generate quality offense while making it far too easy for their opponent to score. Every Wolves basket felt like climbing uphill. Every Lakers possession felt like a fast break. By the time the dust settled, the Wolves had been run out of the building.

The Most Alarming Stat of the Season

Here’s the number that should make Wolves fans uncomfortable. Against the Lakers, Rockets, and Nuggets, the teams Minnesota is directly competing with in the crowded 3-through-6 standings race, the Wolves are now a combined 1–7 this season.

One win.

Seven losses.

Those aren’t just random defeats. Those are the games that determine tiebreakers. Those are the games that decide playoff seeding. Those are the games you absolutely cannot afford to keep losing if you’re serious about holding the three seed.

And yet Minnesota has consistently dropped them. The Wolves are essentially handing away leverage in the standings while giving their direct competitors the exact advantage they’ll need in April.

That raises an uncomfortable question. If Minnesota can’t beat these teams in the regular season, what happens when they meet them in a seven-game playoff series? Because barring a major collapse, the Wolves will find themselves playing in either the 3 vs. 6 or 4 vs. 5 matchup.

And the teams occupying those spots? Houston. Denver. Los Angeles.

The same teams Minnesota keeps losing to.

The Clippers Are Waiting

After getting embarrassed by the Lakers, the Wolves now face the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. If anyone thinks Minnesota is about to waltz into that building and grab an easy bounce-back win, they haven’t been paying attention.

The Clippers have already shown they can beat the Wolves, decisively, earlier this season. Minnesota did manage to get revenge in their most recent matchup in Los Angeles, but that game required a significantly better performance than what the Wolves showed against the Lakers.

If Minnesota plays like they did last night? I will undoubtedly turn into another long evening. So if the Wolves want to salvage this road trip before it spirals into something worse, they need to start by fixing the fundamentals.

Keys to the Game

#1 – Run an Actual Offense

It’s easy to say “the Wolves just need to shoot better.” Shooting in the low 20s from three isn’t going to beat anyone in this league, but the bigger problem is the offense itself.

Against both the Magic and the Lakers, Minnesota’s offensive flow completely disappeared. The ball stuck. Players stood around. Possessions devolved into isolation attempts or rushed threes late in the shot clock.

When things go wrong offensively, the instinct is to ask Anthony Edwards or Julius Randle to throw on the superhero cape and save the day. But that’s not how this team works at its best. Minnesota needs five players engaged in the offense, cutting, moving, swinging the ball, and forcing the defense to rotate. When the Wolves generate high-quality looks, the shots usually fall.

When the offense turns stagnant? The percentages start looking like they did the last two games.

#2 – Reestablish Dominance in the Paint

One of the most surprising elements of the Lakers loss was Minnesota getting beaten on the boards. That simply can’t happen again tonight. The Wolves still have a significant size advantage against the Clippers with Gobert, Randle, and Reid. That trio should control the glass, limit second-chance opportunities, and establish a physical presence in the paint.

Gobert in particular needs to bounce back. If he can protect the rim and dominate the boards the way he did against the Lakers in last year’s playoff series, the entire game flips.

#3 – Fix the Perimeter Defense

Doncic and Reaves absolutely torched Minnesota. Some of that is simply the reality of playing against elite shot creators. But too often the Wolves allowed easy penetration into the paint, which forced the defense to collapse and opened up scoring opportunities all over the floor.

Minnesota needs to rediscover the perimeter defensive identity that defined the team two seasons ago. That means strong containment from players like Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu.

And honestly? This might be a game where Jaylen Clark deserves some minutes. Clark’s defensive intensity has been one of the few bright spots when Minnesota has needed energy on the perimeter. With Kyle Anderson now in the rotation, Clark has been pushed deeper down the bench, but in games where opposing guards are cooking, a defensive spark might be exactly what the Wolves need.

#4 – Win the Hustle Plays

When shots aren’t falling, effort becomes the difference. Rebounding. Transition defense. Loose balls. Avoiding careless turnovers. Those are the plays that keep games from spiraling when the offense goes cold.

The Wolves didn’t make enough of those plays against the Lakers. They’ll need to against the Clippers.

#5 – Make the Game Easier

When things start going sideways, the Wolves have a tendency to increase the degree of difficulty instead of simplifying.

That has to stop.

High-efficiency offense should come from players like Gobert finishing around the rim, McDaniels cutting and attacking closeouts, and Edwards driving to the basket to collapse the defense.

Yes, Edwards should continue shooting threes, it’s a core part of his game. But the Wolves also need to get him downhill more often. When he attacks the rim, it bends the defense and creates opportunities for everyone else.

The offense has to return to Wolves Basketball 101.

Time to Re-Grip the Ladder

This road trip got off to the worst possible start. The Wolves slipped from the third seed to the fifth. Denver is creeping closer. The Play-In line isn’t as far away as Minnesota would like.

But here’s the thing. They haven’t fallen off the ladder entirely.

They’re still hanging on.

Now it’s time to stabilize, grab the next rung, and start climbing again.

Because if the Wolves slip one more time, the fall could get a lot steeper.

Oubre suffers elbow injury in win over Grizzlies, will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Another day, another piece of unfortunate Sixers injury news.

The Sixers announced Wednesday that an MRI on Kelly Oubre Jr. revealed the 30-year-old wing suffered a sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his left elbow. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. 

Oubre hurt the elbow during the Sixers’ win Tuesday night over the Grizzlies and wore a wrap around it postgame. He logged a team-high 38 minutes and scored a season-high 30 points.

The 35-30 Sixers’ injury troubles have escalated in recent days. On top of Oubre, the Sixers won’t have the following players for their game Thursday in Detroit against the 46-18 Pistons:

• Tyrese Maxey (right pinky finger tendon sprain)
• Joel Embiid (right oblique strain)
• Paul George (suspension)
• Johni Broome (right knee meniscus surgery recovery) 

The team also listed Adem Bona as questionable with back soreness.

Oubre was out from mid-November to early January after suffering a left knee LCL sprain. He’s played an important role for a Sixers team light on wing depth and averaged 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals over 41 games. 

In the short term, two-way contract player Dalen Terry and 22-year-old Justin Edwards may very well be in line for increased minutes on the wing. Terry closed out the Memphis game and had a solid night, posting five points on 2-for-3 shooting, four assists and two rebounds. 

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The New York Knicks head to Utah looking to bounce back from a tough start to their west coast trip.

New York dropped back-to-back games in Los Angeles, completing a stretch where they played 12 playoff contenders in 16 games.

Now, the Knicks get to play just their fourth opponent with a losing record since February 4. My Knicks vs. Jazz predictions & NBA picks look for New York to get a cover on Wednesday, March 11.

Knicks vs Jazz prediction

Knicks vs Jazz best bet: Knicks -14.5 (-110)

The New York Knicks will relish the chance to play the outmanned Jazz. New York has played more games against .700 teams (4) than sub .500 teams (3) over the last 16. The Utah Jazz has played three losing foes in the last five, producing the 4-1 ATS record that has them as a trendy upset pick here.

This will be just New York’s fourth game this season with a point spread this large. They’re 3-0 ATS, winning by an average of 28.7 points. Utah has two 30-point losses in the five games where they’ve been this large an underdog, going 3-2 ATS.

Knicks vs Jazz same-game parlay

The Knicks play at the No. 24 pace in the NBA, the Jazz at No. 5. Something’s got to give. Utah has played just five games this season with an Over/Under cutoff this low. New York has gone Under in four of their last five with a cutoff this high.

Mikal Bridges has struggled with consistency scoring this season and appears to be taking on more of a “glue” role in recent games. He’s played fewer than 30 minutes and taken fewer than 10 shots in each of the last three games—both are his longest streaks of the season.

Meanwhile, his rebounding and assist rates are both up. It may only be a temporary change, but it should last at least another game.

Knicks vs Jazz SGP

• Knicks -14.5
• Under 229.5 points
• Mikal Bridges Over 3.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rebounds aplenty for Knickerbockers

Utah has been outrebounded on the year and is slightly below average on both the offensive and defensive boards. That’s what makes the Knicks’ rebounding props so odd. Whatever the reason, there are bargains to be had.  

OG Anunoby has pulled down 21 boards in the last three games. He’s been below five just once in the last six games.

Karl-Anthony Towns has had 12 or more in each of the last seven, averaging 13.9 over that span. Neither is a lock to hit their over, but they’re definitely priced right with both in plus odds.

Knicks vs Jazz SGP

• Knicks -14.5
• Mikal Bridges Over 3.5 assists
• OG Anunoby Over 5.5 rebounds
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds

Knicks vs Jazz odds

• Spread: New York -14.5 (-110) | Utah +14.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: New York -1000 | Utah +650
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)

Knicks vs Jazz betting trend to know

New York and Utah have gone under in seven of their last 10 head-to-head matchups. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Jazz.

How to watch Knicks vs Jazz

Knicks vs Jazz latest injuries

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The 2026 College Basketball Crown bracket reveal has a set date and time.

The men's college basketball postseason tournament will unveil its field Monday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET, USA TODAY Sports confirms. The bracket will be announced on the FS1 show "First Things First" with Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes. Fox Sports analysts LaPhonso Ellis and Danny Parkins will join the program as part of the reveal.

March Madness automatic bids: Who has punched NCAA Tournament ticket?

March Madness bracketology: NCAA Tournament final field prediction for Selection Sunday

Introduced in 2025, the College Basketball Crown is a postseason tournament in Las Vegas for teams that don't make the NCAA Tournament, with name, image and likeness prizes as its major selling point. The inaugural field featured 16 teams, capped by Nebraska beating Central Florida in the final.

As a result, the Cornhuskers received a $300,000 prize pool for winning the tournament, while the Knights got $100,000 as the runner-up. Semifinalists Boise State and Villanova each got $50,000 for their respective finishes.

Nebraska used that Crown run as a springboard into the 2025-26 season, which saw the Huskers finish second in the Big Ten regular season.

The 2026 edition will remain in Las Vegas, but with a smaller field of just eight teams. It will have the top two teams from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East that didn't receive an NCAA Tournament bid, as well as two wild card selections determined by its committee.

By having automatic spots from the three conferences, the Crown hopes to avoid a growing issue in the sport where teams turn down postseason invitations after missing March Madness. Not getting the chance to win a national championship usually means players hit the transfer portal, leaving rosters in doubt of whether it will have suitable lineups to play with.

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When will College Basketball Crown 2026 bracket be announced?

The College Basketball Crown bracket will be announced one day after the NCAA Tournament and NIT reveal its field

• NCAA Tournament bracket announcement: Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. ET
• NIT bracket announcement: Sunday, March 15 (Time TBD, after NCAA Tournament announced)
• College Basketball Crown announcement: Monday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET

College Basketball Crown 2026 schedule

The 2026 College Basketball Crown will be played April 1-5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will air on Fox and FS1.

• Quarterfinals: April 1-2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena
• Semifinals: April 4 at T-Mobile Arena
• Final: April 5 at T-Mobile Arena

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College Basketball Crown tournament bracket date, time set

EDITOR'S NOTE: When Kobe Bryant scored 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 22, 2006, against the Toronto Raptors, it was the second-most points scored by a player in NBA history. The record was set by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points on March 2, 1962, against the New York Knicks. Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo scored 83 points Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards to pass Bryant on the list of most points scored in an NBA game. The Associated Press is republishing its story from Bryant's historic performance:

___

By JOHN NADEL

AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant kept shooting, from all over the court and from every angle.

By halftime, he had 26 points — not a bad tally for most players. By the end of the game, he had put up the second-highest total in NBA history.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ star scored a staggering 81 points Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors in a 122-104 win. Only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game stands ahead of him.

“It just happened, man,” Bryant said. “It really hasn’t, like, set in for me. It’s about the ‘W,’ that’s why I turned it on. It turned into something special.

“To sit here and say I grasp what happened, that would be lying. Not even in my dreams.”

The NBA’s leading scorer left to a standing ovation with 4.2 seconds remaining, having shot 28-of-46 from the floor, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range and 18-of-20 from the foul line.

With the fans at Staples Center chanting “MVP! MVP!” Bryant made two free throws with 43.4 seconds remaining for his final points. He scored 27 points in the third quarter, 28 in the fourth.

“It feels great to put on a great show here,” he said.

Chamberlain scored 100 points for Philadelphia against the New York Knicks at Hershey, Pa., on March 2, 1962, making 36-of-63 from the field and 28-of-32 from the foul line while playing all 48 minutes.

Chamberlain had 59 points in the second half — the only player with more points in a half than Bryant’s 55 after halftime in this game.

Chamberlain’s second-highest total was 78 against the Lakers in three overtimes on Dec. 8, 1961.

Elgin Baylor held the previous franchise record of 71 points at New York on Nov. 15, 1960. Lakers assistant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, saw that game, too.

“Elgin’s game was an incredible performance, also. I don’t think there’s any comparison. Elgin did it without 3-point lines. His game was attacking the hoop and hitting jumpers inside 20 feet. Kobe’s range is unreal, and he does it his way,” Abdul-Jabbar said.

“It was a real treat. His ability to shoot from long range and also attack the hoop, split the defense and get in close for opportunities near the basket is unique. He’s made a niche for himself and he deserves it.”

Michael Jordan’s career high was 69 points, and only four players had ever scored more than 70 — Chamberlain, Baylor, David Thompson and David Robinson.

The 27-year-old Bryant made it five. His previous career high was 62 points during a 112-90 victory over Dallas last month — he sat out the fourth quarter because of the one-sided nature of the game.

“I was just determined. I was just locked in, tuned into what was going on out there,” Bryant said. “These points tonight mattered. We needed them. The points I put in the basket were instrumental. It means a lot more.”

Bryant raised his scoring average to an NBA-leading 35.9 points this season.

“I never imagined I would see history like that,” said Devean George, a teammate of Bryant’s with the Lakers for 6 1/2 seasons. “I can’t tell you where that came from. He just kept attacking, attacking, attacking — every time he got the ball.”

Bryant played nearly 42 minutes, going the entire second half until being lifted by coach Phil Jackson.

Jackson coached Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six championships in the 1990s and the Lakers, with Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, to three more titles, from 2000-02.

“That was something to behold,” Jackson said. “It was another level. I’ve seen some remarkable games, but I’ve never seen one like that before.”

Bryant’s performance came on the same night the NBA had its highest-scoring game in 11 years when Seattle beat Phoenix 152-149 in two overtimes. The last 300-point game in the league came when Dallas beat Houston 156-147 in two overtimes on April 11, 1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“You’re sitting and watching, and it’s like a miracle unfolding in front of your eyes and you can’t accept it,” Lakers owner Jerry Buss said. “Somehow, the brain won’t work. The easiest way to look at it is everybody remembers every 50-point game they ever saw. He had 55 in the second half.”

Lamar Odom’s 3-pointer with 7:04 remaining gave the Lakers a 100-93 lead, and Bryant scored 30 seconds later to give him 61 points and his team a nine-point advantage. The Raptors didn’t pose a serious threat after that.

Bryant scored all but 15 of the Lakers’ 42 points in the third quarter, shooting 11-of-15 including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Six of his points came during a 12-0 run to finish the period, giving Los Angeles a 91-85 lead.

The Lakers outscored the Raptors 38-14 to finish the third quarter to go ahead for good. They trailed by as many as 18 points early in the period, angering Bryant.

“He was ticked off,” Odom said.

When asked what Bryant said at that stage, Odom replied: “Nothing. That’s when it’s bad.”

Bryant scored 51 points after the Raptors took a 71-53 lead. It was 63-49 at halftime.

“The thing about him that is most amazing is that he is relentless,” Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. “We played man-to-man, box-in-one and zone. We tried to put smaller guys on him to deny him the ball.

“I saw that game he had against Dallas where he scored 62, what more can you say?”

Smush Parker added 13 points and Chris Mihm had 12 points and six rebounds for the Lakers.

Mike James led Toronto with 26 points and 10 assists. Chris Bosh added 18 points and eight rebounds and Jalen Rose scored 17 points for the Raptors.

Notes: Bryant scored a season-low 11 points in the Lakers’ 102-91 victory over the Raptors in Toronto last month. He had 14 in the first quarter of this game. ... Bryant has led the Lakers in scoring in the last 21 games in which he’s played. He is averaging 45.5 points in 10 games since sitting out a two-game suspension. ... Toronto C Rafael Araujo, who has made 30 starts this season, missed his second straight game and third of the season because of a sore right shoulder. ... Bryant made his first five foul shots before missing late in the second quarter, snapping his streak of consecutive made free throws at 62. Michael Williams made an NBA-record 93 straight for Minnesota in 1993. ... Bryant received a technical foul with 10:44 left — shortly after being accidentally struck above the right eye.