Here's the latest on Matt Rogers, who left American University's First Four game vs. Mount St. Mary's with a knee injury.
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Carter's career night pushes injury-riddled Kings past Cavs
Carter's career night pushes injury-riddled Kings past Cavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
No Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, or Jake LaRavia, no problem.
Well, at least that’s the case when Kings rookie guard Devin Carter erupts for a career night, fueling a short-handed Sacramento team to a pivotal 123-119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.
Carter, one of seven Sacramento players to score in double digits, finished the night with a career-high 16 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and three steals on 6-of-11 shooting from the field.
On a night in which the Kings trailed 20-7 nine minutes into the game against the top team in the East and without some of its major firepower, the stage was set for a new face to step up.
“Next-man-up mentality: young guy Devin Carter came in and played huge tonight,” big man Trey Lyles told NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan and Deuce Mason on “Kings Postgame Live.”
“He could have been hanging his head not playing a lot, but he came out ready to play. [He] picked up full court and he ended the game for us, which is great for him. He was playing well and he stayed confident.”
Fittingly, on the night Carter put together his NBA performance to date, he also delivered the best dunk of his young career.
OH MY, DEVIN 🤯
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 20, 2025
With the Kings and Cavaliers exchanging leads in the dying minutes of the game, interim coach Doug Christie left Carter, who turned 23 on Tuesday, to seal a vital victory.
“Devin brings the physicality, the swagger, the confidence,” Christie said. “I’ll just speak for myself that I expect out of my team.
“There’s a calmness in the competition in him. My grandmother used to say, ‘Still waters run deep,’ and he brought it. Big time.”
Two-way Devin 💪
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 20, 2025
Forward Keegan Murray, who finished with 13 points, alluded to Carter’s growth throughout the season, praising the 23-year-old’s ability to “pick up” advice from Sacramento’s veterans.
“He’s been good,” Murray told reporters. “I think he’s had spurts this year. Like in Boston, he was pretty good. Honestly, he’s a rookie and goes through those ups and downs.
“I went through them, too. He’s able to capitalize on his opportunities tonight when guys are down. Kudos to him, and I know he should have an impact on our team the rest of the way.”
DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk combined for 49 points, with the Kings shooting an impressive 50 percent from the floor.
With just 14 games left in the regular season, the Kings’ record stands at 35-33, placing Christie and Co. at the No. 9 spot in the West.
Injuries might have Sacramento short-handed, but, luckily, it had Carter on Wednesday night.
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Struggling with free throws, Wofford’s Filewich turns to granny-style — with help from Rick Barry
Kyler Filewich doesn't go to the free-throw line looking for style points, just those that count on the scoreboard for Wofford. Or the shot that Basketball Hall of Fame member Rick Barry turned into an art form. Barry even came to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to give Filewich some personal tutoring.
3 observations after Sixers get blown out by West-best Thunder
3 observations after Sixers get blown out by West-best Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Western Conference-leading Thunder never trailed and led by as many as 41 points Wednesday night against the Sixers.
The final score of the 57-12 Thunder’s victory at Paycom Center was 133-100.
Aaron Wiggins was OKC’s top scorer, posting 26 points. Jaylin Williams recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists.
Quentin Grimes had 28 points, five assists and three steals for the Sixers. Chuma Okeke tallied 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Justin Edwards scored 19 points.
The majority of the 23-46 Sixers’ roster remained out, including Tyrese Maxey (lower back sprain and right finger sprain), Paul George (season-ending left groin and left knee injuries) and Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee injury).
OKC also sat quite a few key players. Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rested. Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace were all out with injuries. Notably, the Sixers’ first-round pick this year will convey to the Thunder if it does not fall within the top six.
The Sixers will visit the Spurs on Friday night. Here are observations on their defeat in Oklahoma City:
Sixers struggle vs. OKC’s bigs
Former Sixer Isaiah Joe helped OKC jump out to a lead, draining a three-pointer to open the scoring.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse called timeout less than two minutes into the night after Jaylin Williams hit a triple to put the Thunder up 10-0. OKC racked up 42 points in the first quarter and built a 16-point lead through 12 minutes.
As usual, the Sixers faced significant disadvantages in their efforts to guard opposing big men. OKC’s starting frontcourt of Williams and Chet Holmgren profited on early opportunities to shoot over smaller Sixers inside. As soon as rookie center Branden Carlson checked in, he got a put-back, and-one layup. The trio of Williams, Holmgren and Carlson totaled 28 first-quarter points on 11-for-13 shooting.
Going into Wednesday night, the Sixers ranked 29th in the NBA in opponents’ field goal percentage at the rim, according to Cleaning the Glass (68.6 percent). With centers Embiid, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona still sidelined, their interior defense was never likely to dramatically improve in Oklahoma City.
Nice night for Okeke
The Sixers fell back to earth in the shooting department after sinking 24 threes in Monday’s overtime loss to the Rockets. They started 1 for 8 from long range.
However, Okeke’s jumpers were dropping right away.
Playing the third game of his second 10-day contract with the Sixers, Okeke drilled three shots beyond the arc in the first quarter. The 6-foot-7 forward was also the Sixers’ best rebounder. He pulled down 11 boards (four offensive, seven defensive) in the first half alone.
Whether or not they stick with the Sixers past this season, players such as Okeke, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Oshae Brissett have had chances to essentially audition for the league. They’ve all clearly been glad to show what they can do.
No March Madness
The Sixers cut the Thunder’s lead down to 52-46 with a 16-1 run in the second quarter. That’s as close as they’d get, though.
While Grimes kept piling up the points, he didn’t come near matching his career-high 46-point performance in Houston and had a rough third quarter.
Once the Sixers fall behind, it’s hard to see any realistic path back into games these days. Outside of Grimes lighting it up, there’s just not much the Sixers can lean on to wipe out major deficits. Every time the Sixers take the floor, it seems like a win would be a March Madness-style upset.
And, as the Thunder demonstrated Wednesday, OKC certainly doesn’t need its full-strength team to earn very decisive wins.
Doc Rivers reportedly meets with Lillard, Antetokounmpo to discuss what is holding Bucks back
Bringing in Damian Lillard (and shipping out Jrue Holiday) was supposed to bring the Milwaukee Bucks closer to a title. Last year, injuries got in the way.
This year, a healthy Bucks are good — 38-30, fifth in the East — but have gone 2-5 in their last seven and look worlds away from a contender. Milwaukee is 0-11 against the teams with the four best records in the NBA (Oklahoma City, Cleveland, Boston and New York).
Following Tuesday night's loss to the Warriors (who were resting Stephen Curry), coach Doc Rivers had a sit-down meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard to talk about what is not working in Wisconsin, reports Chris Haynes.
"Now in this meeting, I'm told, was an open forum for both stars to provide input on ways to improve the team. It was a constructive session, with each individual being allowed to share their perspectives."
There is no single answer for Milwaukee. There may not be an answer at all.
The Bucks' biggest problem — in these seven games and all season — has been their offense. Even with Antetokounmpo and Lillard, this has been a middle-of-the-pack offense most of the season that has fallen into the bottom 10 across the last seven games. This is an outstanding shooting team — second in the league in 3-point percentage and fifth in eFG% — but nothing ever feels smooth and natural in getting to those shots.
If the Bucks get beat in the first round (which Indiana could do in a 4/5 matchup) or get routed by the Cavaliers or Celtics in the second round, Milwaukee is going to have to take a step back this summer and ask some hard questions. Can this personnel, at this age, contend? A Kyle Kuzma for Khris Middleton swap-out was not the answer. This summer, much more drastic changes may be called for.
McNeese State’s Will Wade confirms he’s been in contact with NC State about its coaching job
Wade, 42, said he’s always tried to be transparent with both his assistants and players during this time of year.
Navy basketball coach Ed DeChellis is retiring after 29 years as a collegiate head coach
DeChellis coached a school-record 426 games at Navy. The Midshipmen reached the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament this year before losing to American.
Historically Black underdog Alabama State to face in-state powerhouse Auburn in March Madness
Alabama State coach Tony Madlock knows he and his Hornets won't get much sleep before taking the court Thursday against Auburn, the NCAA Tournament's No. overall seed. Madlock isn't worried.
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Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world'
Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has immeasurable respect for two-way force Draymond Green.
And on Wednesday, the 11-year coach showed his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame-bound forward even more love, in talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs.”
“I think he’s the best defender in the world, and I realize how good [Victor] Wembanyama is, how good Rudy Gobert is and others,” Kerr said of Green to Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.
Kerr didn’t lie.
Green, who has made eight All-Defensive teams and is the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, needs no defensive introduction. He has spoiled opposing offensive sets throughout his entire 13-year NBA career and, as a four-time champion alongside Kerr, plays today with the same hunger on both sides of the floor as if he were ringless.
Kerr further explained that Green has plenty of respect outside of the Bay and across the league.
“Draymond said it himself – ask the other coaches around the league who don’t they want to face,” Kerr told Willard and Dibs. “I have personally asked other coaches around the league. Trust me, there’s so much respect around the league for Draymond around the league, amongst the coaches. They see the versatility in his defense.
“These other guys are good defenders; I don’t think any of them can do everything – protect the rim, guard pick and roll out in half court, blow up stuff from the weak side.”
Green can guard any player, from Damian Lillard to Wembanyama. As Kerr said, the same can’t be said for other top defenders.
Green brings with his defensive skill set an unmatchable passion. Kerr acknowledged that sometimes Green goes over the line, but concluded by explaining how that’s part of the deal for the game’s best defender.
“Draymond, he’s a defensive genius,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “He’s also a competitive freak of nature. Obviously, his emotion gets the best of him at times. But it’s all part of the package, and the package is incredibly disruptive to opposing teams. We are so lucky to have him. He remains an amazing player, even at this stage in his career.”
There never will be another player like Green to play for Golden State or in the NBA; Kerr understands and praises his longtime forward often.
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Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks
Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski almost hit one of the NBA’s more iconic celebrations in Golden State’s 104-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at Chase Center.
In talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Wednesday, the second-year Swiss Army Knife detailed his temptation to demonstrate superstar teammate Steph Curry’s “night night” celebration after knocking down a clutch 3-point shot toward the end of regulation against the Bucks.
“I was contemplating it on the second [three-point shot], but then I was like, that’s kind of [Curry and Draymond Green’s] thing, so let me just not intrude on their little celebration,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.
Dub Nation probably wouldn’t have minded. Nevertheless, here’s the “second” triple Podziemski referenced:
Podziemski could’ve done any celebration he wanted Tuesday night in San Francisco.
Over 29 minutes, he finished the Golden State win with 17 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep and collected seven rebounds and one steal.
Sure, the “night night” celebration might be Curry’s trademark – and Green’s new rental – but Podziemski should have his own signature move after a game-sealing play; it’s on his mind, at least.
“I got to find some of mine that I could kind of label as mine and stick with it,” Podziemski admitted to Willard and Dibley.
Something with the hair, maybe? Podziemski said that would be “something.”