The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best team in the Association, and a clear favorite to win the championship again. They head into tonight’s contest in the midst of an 11-game winning streak.
The Thunder just covered the 15-point spread in back-to-back games against the Nets and Wizards. They’ve also won by an average of 24.6 points against the Philadelphia 76ers across the last three meetings.
Philadelphia is still without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. OKC ranks in the Top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, meaning a shorthanded Sixers squad doesn't stand a chance to compete.
Thunder vs 76ers same-game parlay
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.6 points per game, ranking second behind only Luka Doncic. He’s cashed the Over in two of his last three appearances, dropping 40 points in each contest.
SGA had 27 earlier in the campaign against Philly, and he’s averaging 30.3 PPG in March so far.
Chet Holmgren went nuclear earlier this season vs. the Sixers, scoring 29 points. He’s hit the Over in points in three of his last four, posting 18 points in Saturday’s blowout win over the Wizards.
Thunder vs 76ers SGP
Thunder -15.5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: The Thunder Rolls
Isaiah Hartenstein is one of the best passing bigs in the league. He’s averaging 3.8 dimes per night, and he’s cashed the Over in two straight, notching 18 assists in that span.
Jalen Williams returns tonight after nearly a month sidelined due to injury. He will see a smaller workload as OKC eases him back in, but the Santa Clara product is averaging 17.5 points and 5.4 dimes this season. Even with limited minutes, he will still hit the 20 combo.
Thunder vs 76ers SGP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 3.5 assists
Jalen Williams Over 19.5 points + assists
Thunder vs 76ers odds
Spread: Thunder -15.5 (-110) | 76ers +15.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Thunder -1100 | 76ers +700
Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)
Thunder vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Oklahoma City Thunder have covered the 1Q Spread in 18 of their last 25 away games (+9.90 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. 76ers.
How to watch Thunder vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Oklahoma, NBCS-Philadelphia
Thunder vs 76ers latest injuries
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March Madness is about moments. Buzzer-beaters and dramatic game-winners draw us in like nothing else in sports.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament has been no different. While the upsets have been in short supply and Cinderella missed her carriage to the ball, there has still been plenty of iconic moments through the first two rounds.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to hold up Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics from getting to a loose ball during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Surviving thanks to Jaylen
At half-time, Jaylen Brown had scored or assisted on 50% of the Celtics’ points. As the Timberwolves have one of the best rim protections in the league, Brown’s ability to be somewhat efficient from the mid-range is what got the offense going.
The problem the Wolves sometimes have is that, because of Gobert, the spacing gets too crowded and their offense struggles. That is one of the reasons they were stuck at 14 points after the first quarter. In the second period, the Wolves were able to go on a run with the Frenchman out, thanks to better spacing but also more aggressive defense.
Yet, these moments without Rudy Gobert create another problem for the Wolves: Jaylen’s drives. In the first half, the Celtics were able to get to the rim thanks to Brown and make the most of the lack of rim protection. Here, JB first gets the switch he wants and goes for an impressive reverse drive.
But after a remarkable start, Jaylen Brown slowed down in the second half, going 3-for-13 from the field. And, like the rest of the team, he collapsed in the fourth quarter, when the intensity was at its peak for the Wolves.
#2 – A fourth quarter to forget
To start the last quarter, the Wolves decided to go small and be mobile rather than tall. They put pressure on the ball as early as possible in the possession and tried to disrupt the offense that the Celtics were trying to run. As Joe Mazzulla said, the Wolves’ defense without their big man disrupted the Celtics’ offense even more.
For the @celticsblog I asked Joe Mazzulla why the Celtics struggled a little bit more against the Wolves defense when Gobert was out:
"A little bit more physical at the point of attack, a little more switching, higher pick-up points and that impacted the timing of our offense" pic.twitter.com/uqVCAllsxJ
On this drive from Jaylen Brown, we can see that the pressure on the ball comes much higher than in the first quarter, and the screen from Luka Garza isn’t really set. The All-Star drives early—maybe too early—and goes into a crowd of three Wolves ready to protect the paint.
Behind the Celtics’ collapse in the fourth, there was also a big shooting slump, going 0-for-7 from deep. Some of these shots were really well contested, and the Celtics weren’t able to get the good 2-vs-1 situations they wanted.
These misses created another problem: the Wolves could attack much more in transition and didn’t have to deal with the Celtics’ half-court defense.
#3 – The quickness off the bench
While the small-ball defense offers much more mobility for the Wolves, it also gave them an opportunity to run faster in transition and avoid being stuck in half-court situations. Without Anthony Edwards, the Wolves must avoid stagnant situations as much as possible because they lack the driving force that usually creates gaps.
So, as soon as they got a rebound, they ran. On the play below, you can see the willingness to push the ball up the floor as quickly as possible, with everyone running to offer passing options to the ball-handler until someone cuts to the rim.
With more speed off a miss, the Wolves could also force the matchups they wanted early in the possession. Here, Naz Reid gets a post-up against Brown while his normal matchup, Luka Garza, is far away from the ball. So this isn’t strictly transition, but because the Celtics weren’t able to get an offensive rebound or stop the break, Reid gets the ball exactly where he wants it against a favorable matchup.
As the Celtics kept missing, the Wolves had more and more opportunities to play fast, get away from half-court offense, and capitalize on their defensive intensity.
#4 – Getting Jayson Tatum in rhythm
The first half was a little brutal for Jayson, with one assist, one turnover, and four missed shots. But to get his groove back, the Celtics coaching staff involved him right away after half-time. A couple of play calls with Neemias Queta particularly stood out. They went to a Spain pick-and-roll action, with Sam Hauser positioned to bother Gobert. That gives a bit more space to JT after Queta’s second screen to attack the rim.
Same play call on the possession below. This time, Jayson snakes the pick-and-roll, and we can see that Queta isn’t fully used to that pattern. Yet, Tatum isn’t bothered and can launch a triple like he used to when a defense is in drop coverage. Bang!
With this action putting a player behind Gobert, the Celtics could punish his presence on the court and give Jayson Tatum the momentum needed to get back on track. Still, Tatum needed Queta’s screens, and the Portuguese big did a great overall job helping him attack the Frenchman’s coverages.
#5 – Going around Mount Gobert
Before the game, Joe Mazzulla and Chris Finch talked about the central role of Rudy Gobert in the Minnesota Timberwolves. They both highlighted that the French center has improved his versatility and is doing a better job on the perimeter than earlier in his career.
The Wolves’ coach also mentioned that, with Neemias Queta at center, the Celtics don’t have the typical stretch-five they had with Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis. However, recently, the Celtics have started using the Portuguese big man as a hub on the perimeter.
Before the game, Chris Finch said the Boston Celtics don't have a stretch-big like Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford to take Rudy Gobert of the paint. Which is true.
HOWEVER, they have Neemias Queta whom they love to use as a hub recently.
With Queta’s screen quality, the Wolves were sometimes forced to switch instead of staying in drop coverage. Here, Reid gets stuck in the screen long enough that Gobert has to switch on the perimeter, which opens a cut to the rim for Queta.
The Celtics’ defense is elite but still has a couple of weaknesses: quick guards and heavy wings like Julius Randle are among them. Going into the game, the Celtics knew they would have to adjust: do they let him play one-on-one, or send help and rotate behind his passing?
The biggest threat comes from his post-ups because of his frame, but also because his passing improves when he’s stationary. The Wolves knew that and started the game right away with a post-up for Randle. What I didn’t expect was to see Hauser matched up with him. Yet, you can clearly see that the others are ready to help and willing to leave Jaden McDaniels open, for example.
With players like McDaniels and Gobert on the court, the Wolves made it easier for the Celtics to decide how to defend. As often, the goal was to protect the paint and leave below-average shooters open, as long as the drive didn’t break the first defensive line.
This is another reason the Wolves went small later in the game. Reid is a much better offensive fit next to Randle. Here, he sets the screen, and Garza is stuck for a second protecting against a potential drive from Julius. This leads to more space for Reid when he catches the ball, and the shot is open.
As we said earlier, the Celtics struggle with quick guards and heavy wings. And while Julius Randle’s threat was well managed, the quickness of Bones Hyland was not. The guard, who was first signed on a two-way contract, is showing very good offensive potential for the Wolves. Not only was he fast in transition, but he also exposed the Celtics’ pick-and-roll defense.
But, as Joe Mazzulla mentioned after the game, it was his speed in transition that caused the biggest problems. On this play, he outruns everyone and gets to the rim in just a couple of seconds. Brown doesn’t have time to get set, and the Wolves get another layup.
After the Thunder, the Suns, the Warriors, and now the Wolves, this is the fourth team in recent games trying to avoid the Celtics’ half-court defense as much as possible by pushing in transition.
While the three other teams mostly did it by forcing turnovers, the Wolves were able to combine speed off live rebounds with on-ball aggressiveness to disrupt the Celtics’ flow.
Opponents are now aware that the Celtics’ ability to take care of the ball can be used against them. They can attack more freely but also make sure they are set defensively. With the Thunder and the Hawks coming to town this week, it will be interesting to see how the Celtics adapt to that level of aggressiveness.
#9 – Losing the bet against McDaniels
In the second half, the Celtics paid the price for their bet on McDaniels’ shooting. We mentioned earlier that Celtics defenders were often helping off McDaniels because he was seen as the lesser shooting threat. However, he scored 9 points from deep in the second half, fueling the Wolves’ run.
The defense would rather go under screens against him to protect the paint, but this gives him a chance to punish that approach if the shooting variance swings his way. It was a bold choice considering his efficiency from deep this season (41%), but the Celtics’ paint protection is sometimes worth the gamble. It just didn’t work this time.
#10 – Too lackadaisical
After the game, Jaylen Brown spoke candidly and said, “we didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight,” and used a word I had never heard back in French school: “lackadaisical.” For those who, like me, hadn’t heard it before, it means “lacking life, spirit, or zest.” And I think that perfectly captures the Celtics’ performance once the Wolves went small and attacked them with speed and intensity.
The Celtics will need to regroup and find their “zest” again before Wednesday to be ready for the biggest game of the season: OKC Thunder at home, with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Williams back on the court.”
Mar 3, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
As the standings start to take shape, I believe the ideal scenario for the Knicks is to finish third, and for the Raptors to finish sixth. While an argument—a strong one—could be made that the Knicks should chase the second-seed and secure home-court advantage in the second-round, being the third-seed and facing the Raptors would help them avoid the winner of the play-in game between the seventh and eighth-seed, which, right now, would be between the 76ers and the Magic.
I don’t think the Knicks or their fans should be afraid of either team, but at their very best, they both pose a tougher matchup for the Knicks than the currently fifth-seeded Raptors.
If they could get the second-seed, secure home-court advantage in the second-round, and have the Raptors win the play-in game between the seventh and eighth-seed, that’s obviously the best-case scenario. And look, if the Knicks are looking to win it all, or at the very least, reach the NBA Finals, none of this should theoretically matter. They shouldn’t, and likely don’t, care about who they are playing.
There are still a few weeks left in the season and with the bottom half of the playoffs still looking very close, a lot can happen. But for now, as a fan hoping the Knicks can secure the safest and most ideal route to said Finals, I’d root for whatever scenario most likely matches New York up with Toronto.
Overall, though, this is a very convoluted week of games, and this is just a general guide to who you could root for based on what could happen. With any given day, wins, losses, injury reports, and standing shifts, who to root for can change. And even that will likely differ from person to person based on who you want the Knicks to play, how good or bad you think certain teams are, and if you even care at all.
March 23rd
Kicking off Monday’s slate of games is the Pistons, who’ll be hosting the red-hot Lakers. The Pistons are just 6-4 in their last 10 games, and will once again be without Cade Cunningham, who was diagnosed with a collapsed lung late last week. Root for the Lakers to continue their streak to make it 10 wins in a row, and the Knicks could pull to 4.5 games behind them.
The Magic will also be playing the tanking Pacers, with the Raptors playing the Jazz later on. If the Knicks end up overtaking the Celtics for the second-seed, they’d play either the Magic or 76ers if the standings hold up the way they are right now. As I mentioned earlier, the Knicks shouldn’t be avoiding anyone, but as a fan, I’d rather them play the Raptors. Root for the Magic in this one, as it gets one game closer to passing the Raptors, unless you want to see the Magic take on the Pistons. In that case, root for the Pacers.
March 24th
Aside from the Pelicans vs. Knicks game, the Magic vs. Cavaliers game is the only one that has any real seeding implications in the Eastern Conference. For the reasons listed above, root for the Magic to win. That would not only put them another step closer to overtaking the fifth-seed, but it would also put a bit more breathing room between the Knicks and the Cavaliers. The only caveat is, if you really think that the Knicks can’t take over the second-seed, and will finish the season third in the conference, and would rather face off against the Hawks than the Magic, then you’ll be better off rooting for the Cavaliers in this one so that Orlando doesn’t climb too high in the standings.
March 25th
In what could still end up being a playoff preview, the Pistons host the Hawks. With the Knicks still trying to overtake the Pistons, and with the Hawks being the prime candidate to leapfrog the Raptors, root for Atlanta in this one.
While that game is taking place, the 76ers will host the Bulls. Tyrese Maxey is still out, as is Joel Embiid, but neither has been ruled out for the season just yet. If they can ever get fully healthy, or even remotely close to it, they likely pose the biggest threat to the Pistons and Celtics out of the play-in teams. Root for them to win this one so they can stay a seventh or eighth-seed, giving them an extra life in the play-in stage.
A few minutes after those games, the Heat vs. Cavaliers game will also be tipping off. If you are still worried about the Cavaliers potentially catching up to the Knicks, or want the 76ers to match up with the Pistons, root for the Heat. A Miami win would further the distance between New York and Cleveland, while also allowing Miami to keep pace with Philadelphia. But if you just want the 76ers to have two lives, just hate the Heat, or want to keep the Heat in the lower half of the play-in bracket, root for the Cavaliers in this one.
That game, though, as good as it may be, will likely be on the back burner for many NBA fans, as the Celtics host the Thunder in one of the few premier matchups left in the regular season. This one not only has the potential of being a Finals preview, it also has standings implications. Root for the Thunder to beat the Celtics and clinch the season sweep.
And lastly, we have the Raptors, who’ll be headed out west to take on the Clippers. Root for Los Angeles to take this one in an attempt to get the Raptors down to the sixth or seventh-seed to set up the aforementioned matchup with the Knicks.
March 26th
The Pistons host the lowly Pelicans…. Root for the Pelicans. Good luck. The Pistons did drop a game to the Nets not too long ago, so you never know. Plus, the Pistons holding on to the first seed could be argued to be better for the Knicks? More on that later.
The Magic take on the Kings. By this point, the Magic could be up to the fifth-seed, and the Knicks could be the second-seed. That would line up nicely for the Knicks, as it would mean avoiding them in a possible playoff series. Again, not that Orlando should be feared, but if you are looking for the easiest path to the Finals, it would likely mean avoiding the very physical Magic.
But remember, there’s a possibility that both the Hawks and Magic surpass the Raptors in the standings. If that happens, and the Knicks end the season as the third seed, they would play one of them. We’ll have to see how the standings look by Thursday, but there is a slight chance that fans will want to start rooting against the Magic (or Hawks) every now and then as well, to keep the Raptors matched up with the Knicks.
March 27th
The Cavaliers and Heat face off once again, and rooting guide for this one, while depending on how the standings look by this day, will mostly be the same as how it was on the 25th.
The Celtics also host the Hawks in another potential playoff preview. Most fans will root for the Hawks, as they should. But, as mentioned several times already, if you want to play things on the safe side, and secretly want to root for the Knicks to stay the third-seed, and avoid playing a potentially dangerous 76ers, or Magic team, secretly rooting for the Celtics to win and maintain the second-seed may not actually be the worst idea.
The Raptors will then host the Pelicans, in what should be a relatively easy win for them. But you never know. Root for the Pelicans to continue the Raptors’ downward spiral into the sixth, seventh, or eighth-seed.
March 28th
In an exciting cross-conference game, the Timberwolves host the Pistons. The first-seed is still unlikely to be in the Knicks’ reach, and with the Heat, Hornets, 76ers, and Magic all maybe matching up with the Knicks better than the Raptors, it may be time to start rooting for the Pistons to maintain the first-seed? Is that weird? Yes. But if by this point, the Raptors have fallen into ninth or tenth-seed, maybe rooting for the Timberwolves still actually makes sense.
Not too long after that, the 76ers and Hornets tip off in a matchup where fans will have to decide themselves who to root for based on the standings at the time, and how they want the playoff bracket to look. If you want to see the 76ers maintain two lives to potentially (still only a very small chance) matchup with the Pistons or Celtics, root for them. If you think the Hornets, given their overall good play in the second half of the season and health, would prove to be a tougher challenge for the Pistons or Celtics, root for them.
And in the last meaningful game in the Eastern Conference seedings for the week, the Hawks take on the Kings. In case the Raptors have held on to the fifth-seed this far into the week, root for the Hawks to win what should be a relatively easy game against the very, very bad Kings. If, though, the Magic have made it all the way up to the fifth-seed, and the Raptors have dropped too low, rooting for the Kings to either allow the Raptors to catch back up, or hold the Hawks below the Magic, might not be a bad idea.
The Detroit Pistons have been able to stay afloat without star Cade Cunningham in the lineup the last two games.
Monday’s home matchup with the scalding-hot Los Angeles Lakers will be the toughest test for a shorthanded Detroit squad, which needs small forward Ausar Thompson to step up his scoring against this high-octane L.A. offense.
Thompson’s touches and field goal attempts spiked last time out, and our Lakers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks see him playing a bigger role tonight, which so happens to be “Ausar Thompson Bobblehead Night” at Little Caesars Arena.
Lakers vs Pistons prediction
Lakers vs Pistons best bet: Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points (-120)
Ausar Thompson grabbed a shovel last time out, with his touches increasing alongside his shooting activity. He finished just 4-for-10 for eight points over 25 minutes in a one-sided win against Golden State.
Thompson has been on a minutes restriction since returning from a sprained ankle earlier this month, but with Cunningham out and the L.A. Lakers' high-octane offense on deck, Detroit needs his defensive and offensive output.
Player forecasts all sit north of 9.5 points from Thompson, with a ceiling of 13.3.
Lakers vs Pistons same-game parlay
The Pistons are outgunned against the Lakers without Cunningham. Game models call for a close L.A. victory, with the Purple and Gold extending their winning streak to 10 games.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is making a late push for MVP, scoring 30+ in nine straight games. The Pistons will focus their energy on taking the ball away from Luka. His projections still call for 30 points — just not 33.
Lakers vs Pistons SGP
Lakers moneyline
Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points
Luka Doncic Under 32.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Get your motor running!
With Cunningham out, Detroit needs others to pick up the scoring slack. On top of Thompson’s added touches, Daniss Jenkins is getting more minutes and looks from long range. Game models have this non-conference clash tipping the total and going Over 226.5.
Lakers vs Pistons SGP
Pistons +2
Over 226.5
Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points
Daniss Jenkins Over 1.5 threes
Lakers vs Pistons odds
Spread: Lakers -2 | Pistons +2
Moneyline: Lakers -130 | Pistons +110
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Lakers vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Pistons are 10-2 SU and ATS as underdogs this season, including 3-1 SU and ATS as home pups. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Pistons.
How to watch Lakers vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Spectrum SportsNet, FDSN-Detroit
Lakers vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics tries to get untangled from Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at TD Garden on March 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Everyone has something to say about Jayson Tatum’s return to the court. That’s the reality of the world we live in, after all: basketball is consumed by millions of fans worldwide, and the media’s job is to discuss the most hot-button topics, sometimes ad nauseam.
Tatum gets it worse than most: he plays for the Celtics, on one of the brightest stages in basketball, and in a city where athletes’ every moves are especially-scrutinized. He’s long been one of the sport’s best players. And, he’s coming back from what’s widely regarded as one of the worst injuries in basketball. So, it’s no surprise that his rehab and return have been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this season.
As a member of the media, I’ve had to speculate about, talk about, and write about Tatum’s journey back to basketball for more hours than I could possibly count. I recognize the irony of a media member sharing this message, but I’ll share it anyway:
Now is not the time to scrutinize Jayson Tatum’s on-court play.
That’s not because he can’t handle the scrutiny; he can, and he knows it’s a part of the job. But, it’s because dissecting his every move — his shooting numbers, his efficiency, his usage — completely loses sight of the big picture.
The big picture is this: Tatum tore his Achilles tendon last May and returned to the floor less than 10 months after suffering the injury. He’s been back on the court for less than three weeks. The choice to re-acclimate (and, unavoidably, struggle) in the public eye was a brave one, and, though it’s not unheard of to do so, it’s also very uncommon for a player of his caliber to return as quickly as he did.
Take a look at three other former NBA All-Stars who suffered the same injury in 2025: Dejounte Murray (injured in January), Damian Lillard (injured in April), and Tyrese Haliburton (injured in June). Lillard and Haliburton were immediately ruled out of the 2025-2026 season, while Murray rehabbed for 13 months — nearly four more than Tatum — before returning to the floor.
Tatum did not give himself that same grace; he opted to work tirelessly to lace up for the Celtics this season, knowing that a playoff run was ahead. A part of why he was able to pull that off is because, by all accounts, he has a wonderful training and medical staff around him — Celtics trainer Nick Sang is the mastermind behind his rehab, and his surgeon, Dr. Martin O’Malley, is considered to be among the best in the world.
But a big reason why he is where he is is due to his courage. Tatum recognized the Celtics were in position to make a real run at a championship, and decided he’d give whatever he could to the team, even if it wouldn’t always be perfect. The Celtics held the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Tatum knew that he could come back and contribute, even if it wasn’t seamless right away.
Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves wasn’t perfect. Tatum was scoreless in the first half — a rarity in his career — but found his rhythm in the third quarter, when he erupted for 13 points. He finished the game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, converting on 6 of 16 field goal attempts.
Throughout the game, there were moments where the Celtics star was clearly frustrated, particularly early on. Asked whether he was giving himself grace during this stretch, he was honest.
“I didn’t know how this shit was going to be,” Tatum said. “It’s tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously gonna take some time. I think the next day, I can give myself a little more grace over certain things, but in the moment, it’s frustrating.”
Asked Jayson Tatum if he feels like he’s giving himself grace throughout this stretch:
“It’s tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I'm not Superman, so it's obviously gonna take some time. I… pic.twitter.com/b2pugYNgNn
That’s only human, and it’s commendable that Tatum is willing to give us a glimpse into his mindset as he learns to regain full trust in his body. At the same time, it’s our responsibility to recognize that the fact he’s even able to be out there is incredible and a testament to his work ethic — 7 months ago, he was in a boot, and now he’s dunking in an NBA game, battling against some of the greatest athletes on this planet.
His teammates recognize that he could have just taken the summer to get his on-court reps in in private. Jaylen Brown praised Tatum for making the decision to return to the Celtics as soon as he was able to.
“Him even wanting to come back is an unselfish act,” Brown said on the Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady podcast earlier this month, just a few days before Tatum made his debut. “[He’s] putting potentially his body on the line in order for us to accomplish something great.”
That’s exactly the way that we on the outside need to assess Tatum’s long road back to being Jayson Tatum.
Tatum’s rehab occurred behind closed doors, in private, in an empty gym, away from the gaze of the public. We didn’t see every struggle, only what he chose to include in his docuseries. But his on-court re-acclimation is taking place on national television (and it seems like every day, another one of the Celtics’ games is being flexed onto national TV).
He didn’t give himself much time to re-acclimate in private.
Tatum’s first real 5-on-5 scrimmage came on February 9th, when the Maine Celtics came down to Boston for a special game at the Auerbach Center. Less than one month later, he took the TD Garden parquet in a March 6th game against the Dallas Mavericks, in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the NBA season.
There have been some great moments since his return, and some struggles. He had a 12-point first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers, displayed hot outside shooting against the Golden State Warriors last week, and showed some flashes of tremendous defense.
He’s been a beast on the glass — he’s already re-established himself as the Celtics’ leading rebounder — and some stretches where he’s displayed the playmaking chops that make him one of the most versatile players in the game.
“He’s giving the game what it needs,” Joe Mazzulla said last week of Tatum.
There have also been some stretches where Tatum has looked a bit tentative, where his timing and rhythm has been noticeably off. That could be a result of his own physical and mental hurdles, and it could also be a result of the team trying to figure out how to implement him best (Does he have the ball enough? Is he getting it in the right spots? It’s hard for me on the outside to say for certain, because I’m not privy to the conversations going on behind closed doors).
Tatum, for one, is letting it all come to him.
“I’m just taking it day-by-day. I had probably the worst injury you can have. I came back in 10 months and am getting better, [I have a] better feel each game. I want it to be perfect — First Team All-NBA Jayson, like that,” he said, snapping his finger. “I didn’t rush the rehab, so I can’t rush this. It’s all going to work out.”
For what it’s worth: Tatum is averaging 19.1 points — second-most on the team — and still drawing plenty of double-teams when the ball is in his hands. Yes, his efficiency is down; he’s shooting 38.8% from the field and 29.3% from three. But the sample on those numbers is so small that, in my view, they are pretty much irrelevant.
His usage rate is down from last season, but not by as much as you’d think — last year, Tatum’s usage was a 31.1%, this year’s it’s slightly dipped to 30.2%. Though it feels like a noticeable decline, he’s attempting 17.4 shots per game, only 0.4 fewer than his career averages.
And, while in totality, he hasn’t looked exactly like pre-injury Jayson Tatum yet, the most encouraging thing is that, in spurts, he has. Those moments, those plays where he does fully look like himself? He points them out to Sang, one of his closest friends and confidants, for reference.
“There’s a lot of things I talk to Nick about, just things that I notice throughout a game — certain plays, certain moments of contact, explosion, attacking, getting downhill, the pace and speed of certain plays that just felt really normal, felt really good, or I didn’t think about it at all,” he said. “Just finding more and more moments of those from game to game — that gets me really excited.”
The NBA playoffs are less than a month away. And, Tatum will continue to ramp up his minutes and play in the days ahead. He’ll do so in the public eye, where every missed shot is at risk of becoming the front story on ESPN, where every sigh and emotion will be dissected by viewers at home.
He knew that would be part of the deal, and he opted to return anyway, even though his first five months of 5-on-5 scrimmaging could have occurred in private. He made the courageous decision to return anyway, because he’s a competitor. Because he loves basketball. Because he knows he can elevate this Celtics team even further.
For now, he’s leaning on those around him — his mom, his 8-year-old son Deuce, his medical staff — as he continues to publicly work through what’s undoubtedly been the biggest hurdle in his basketball career.
“That’s the first time I went through something like this,” Tatum said. ”It’s been a long time — a long time before I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk.”
Pacers vs Magic best bet: Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points (-120)
Desmond Bane is averaging 20.4 PPG across 70 appearances in his first season with the Orlando Magic. In March, he’s averaging exactly 21 points per night.
The guard has cashed the Over in four of his last seven appearances, and he has played better at home, averaging 22.5 PPG compared to 19.5 on the road. Most notably, he’s averaged 24.5 PPG against the Indiana Pacers this season, who are losers of 16 straight contests.
Bane will have no issues delivering a big performance against an Indiana defense that ranks Bottom-4 in defensive efficiency.
Pacers vs Magic same-game parlay
Orlando is averaging 115.3 PPG, but it's up against a Pacers team allowing a minimum of 127 points across their last four contests.
Also, in their last matchup in January, the Magic dropped 135 points. Indiana is hopeless defensively, and this is a prime opportunity for Orlando’s offense to find their best again.
Jalen Suggs is averaging 5.3 dimes this season, and he’s cashed the Over in four of his last six outings. He’s averaging 5.8 assists at home compared to 4.5 on the road.
Pacers vs Magic SGP
Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
Magic team total Over 122.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: I Put a Spell on You
Wendell Carter Jr. is averaging 12 PPG across two meetings with the Pacers in 2025-26, and he’s hit the Over in points in four of his last five. Two of those contests have been at home. He just scored 13 on Saturday against the Lakers.
Paolo Banchero has cooked Indiana this season, averaging 28.5 points and 4.5 assists against them in two matchups. Banchero is averaging 24.3 points and 5.0 dimes this month.
Pacers vs Magic SGP
Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
Magic team total Over 122.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
Wendell Carter Jr. Over 11.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 30.5 points + assists
Pacers vs Magic odds
Spread: Pacers +13 (-110) | Magic -13 (-110)
Moneyline: Pacers +575 | Magic -850
Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)
Pacers vs Magic betting trend to know
The Orlando Magic have hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 16 of their last 23 games at home (+9.00 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Magic.
How to watch Pacers vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Indiana, FDSN-Florida
Pacers vs Magic latest injuries
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You’re nipping at the heels of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the NBA MVP Award. You’ve led the Lakers to nine straight wins, the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2019–2020 season when it won a championship.
And you’re going to get in your own way now?
Lakers guard Luka Dončić argues a call during Thursday’s game against host team Heat. AP
Dončić picked up his 16th technical foul Saturday after he and Magic reserve Goga Bitadze exchanged words as he shot free throws with 1:19 left in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 105–104 win. (Bitadze was also assessed a technical.)
Luckily for Dončić and the Lakers, the technicals got rescinded Sunday, preventing him from having to serve a one-game suspension Monday against the Pistons.
But this should be a warning.
Dončić knew he was at the technical foul threshold. And he still opened his mouth. He needed to be better at that moment. Smarter. That was not worth it.
Especially not amid his breakthrough stretch, averaging an eye-popping 40 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.6 steals over the last nine games.
His MVP odds have quadrupled over the last five days. He had a 51-point performance and a 60-point performance within a week. Oh, and he made a game-winning jumper in a 127–125 overtime thriller against the Nuggets on March 14. He has been playing brilliantly. He has been hustling on defense. He has been the best player in the league lately.
The Magic’s Goga Bitadze got into a verbal altercation with the Lakers’ Dončić on Saturday. NBAE via Getty Images
And he nearly allowed words from a player who’s averaging 5.7 points over 15 minutes a game to get under his skin so deeply that it could’ve messed with his availability?
That’s self-sabotage.
“Obviously, I let my team down getting that last tech,” Dončić said Saturday after finishing with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. “But honestly, I wasn’t trying to. He said at the free throw, he would f–k my whole family. And at some point, this is a basketball court. At some point, I just can’t stand it. I gotta stand up for myself.”
Wrong.
That nearly cost him a game. It could’ve curtailed the Lakers’ momentum. All for what? So he could’ve spewed some venom back? Where would that have gotten him?
If anything, the incident showed other NBA players his kryptonite. It taught them that a taunt could make him lose his cool. It gave other players the cheat code on how to unravel him.
What’s the point of it all?
Bitadze claimed things went down differently. In a phone interview with ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel, the forward/center from Georgia said Dončić cursed at him in Serbian and he just repeated those same words back to him.
“He said something about my mother, which, it’s really inappropriate,” said Bitadze, who played professionally in Serbia from 2016–2019. “We don’t say that stuff during the game. … So I just said whatever he told me or [about] my mother [and] said it back.”
Honestly, the details don’t even matter. Who cares who said what first? Who cares if someone dissed his mom or his daughter or his grandmother or his ex-fiancée.
The words are empty. Meaningless. They have no teeth.
Dončić avoided a one-game suspension when the NBA rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season Sunday. Getty Images
It’s tough because what makes Dončić great also makes him a liability. He’s fiery, intense and as competitive as they come. He was assessed 16 technicals twice during his tenure with the Mavericks, but both times the 16th technical was rescinded.
Against the Bulls a little over a week ago, he used trash talk with Matas Buzelis to inspire his 51-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist explosion. He claimed Buzelis said something “not very nice” to him, and that woke him up.
It’s funny because that situation was also a “he said, he said” moment. Dončić claimed Buzelis trash-talked him first, while Buzelis insisted Dončić initiated things and he merely responded.
Again, the details don’t matter. But there’s a theme here.
Trash talk can bring out the best in Dončić. Or the worst.
And on Saturday, with his 16th technical foul and a one-game suspension looming, it wasn’t worth him taking the risk.
He shouldn’t have engaged.
He should’ve put his head down and found a different form of motivation. He should’ve shrugged off any insult. He should’ve made Bitadze pay for his alleged indiscretion by going on a scoring tear.
With only 11 games left, a one-game suspension is the last thing a surging superstar and a team on a heater need.
Dončić got lucky this time.
But he can’t put himself in this position again.
His team needs him too much.
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Feb 20, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) drives against LA Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
There are just a dozen games left in the Milwaukee Bucks’ season and the first of them takes place tonight at Intuit Dome against the LA Clippers. Coming off a gritty win against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, the Bucks continue their west-coast road-trip against a Clippers team that has been staggering to the play-in, going 1-4 over their last five games. Despite being the 71st game of the Bucks’ season, tonight’s is the first against the Clippers, with another to come on March 29.
Where We’re At
This Bucks season might’ve felt like Cormac McCarthy’s TheRoad—post-apocalyptic, sorrow at every turn, death ever-present—but, like in the novel, there’s just enough positivity to keep hope alive; just enough promise that next year will be better. Saturday’s win over the Suns is the most recent example of this, Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng coming up clutch in the fourth in a glimpse of what could be for years to come—dynamic guard and dynamic wing. Of course, like the ending to The Road, nothing is for certain. Hope exists, but it’s fragile, conditional, unproven.
The Clippers’ future is also unclear, with the team shipping off stalwart centre Ivaca Zubac at the trade deadline and relying heavily on an older trio of Kawhi Leonard (34), Brook Lopez (37), and Kris Dunn (32). Yet, they also have in-his-prime Darius Garland (26) and entering-his-prime Bennedict Mathurin (23). Unlike the Bucks, the Clippers have weathered the storm of their season—a brutal 6-21 start and recent 1-4 skid—to be in the thick of postseason action; Los Angeles currently sits 35-36 and is all-but-guaranteed a play-in performance. Most recently, they won 138-131 in overtime against the Dallas Mavericks behind a season-high 41 points and Clippers-high 11 assists from Garland, to go along with 34 points and five assists from Leonard.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (Left Knee; Hyperextension; Bone Bruise) and Kevin Porter Jr. (Right Knee; Synovitis) remain out, while Kyle Kuzma (Right Achilles) is questionable, and Gary Harris (Left Groin; Contusion) is probable.
For the Clippers, Bradley Beal (Left Hip; Fracture), Bennedict Mathurin (Right Toe; Injury Recovery), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Right Lisfranc Ligament; Tear) are all out. In addition, Kawhi Leonard (Left Ankle; Sprain) is questionable, while John Collins (Left Ankle; Sprain) is probable.
Player to Watch
Despite being waived, Cam Thomas came to Milwaukee with expectations. And he did not disappoint in his first few games, going off for 34 points against the Orlando Magic and 27 points two games later against the New Orleans Pelicans—both wins. In fact, he was so prolific that—for a stretch—he was second in the entire league in points per minute:
But after another efficient night in a blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors, Thomas’ minutes reduced from the low 20s to the mid teens and he soon found himself collecting DNP-CDs. Part of this is a cold shooting stretch, part of it is his singular focus on scoring, and part of it is his defensive struggles. But these were all well-documented prior to Milwaukee signing him and the Bucks have been thin in the backcourt, especially with KPJ in and out of the lineup. Over the last two games, Thomas has been re-activated, putting in 14 points and four assists vs. Utah and seven points—including an important foul-drawing cameo to start the fourth—against Phoenix. So, with just 12 games left and next season’s roster almost certainly in a state of flux, it’ll be worth monitoring Thomas’ role and if he can be part of it. That is, of course, unless a decision has already been made.
How To Watch
Tune in at 9:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 21: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers rushes the ball up the court during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on March 21, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.(NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an ugly yet ultimately victorious night against the Jazz on Saturday, the Sixers have gone 4-1 in their last five games. Sure, it may have included a few opponents trying to tank, but it isn’t too bad considering the Sixers have been missing all their stars. Crucially, it’s kept them alive in the playoff picture at seventh in the East, rather than slipping any further down the incredibly tight conference standings.
The story might be a little different on Monday, though: they’re welcoming the best team in the NBA to Philly.
Even though the Pistons and Spurs are within three or four wins of the Thunder, OKC still sit atop the league with their 56-15 record.
The Sixers are going to have to compete shorthanded yet again too. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Johni Broome all remain out. And as if they weren’t already down enough rotation players, Dominick Barlow is only doubtful to return after suffering a left ankle sprain against Utah.
For the Thunder, the notable absence is starting guard Ajay Mitchell, who’s suspended one game following the Wizards-Thunder altercation.
Meanwhile, the the Thunder are getting more firepower back — as if they even needed it for this game. 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams, who was having another quality season this year before being out since mid February with a hamstring injury, is now available.
With an excellent offense and the league’s top defense, stellar top-end talent and unbeatable depth, the Thunder comfortably have the league’s top net rating at a ridiculous +11.0 — way ahead of the second-place Pistons and Celtics, tied at +8.0.
There are obviously going to be nightmare matchups across the board in this one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is yet again playing like an MVP-level force this season after winning the award last year. His scoring has somehow become even more efficient, as he’s racking up 31.6 points per game with improved three-point accuracy (39.0 percent), an absurd career-high of 60.0 percent from two-point range (including 76.2 percent within three feet) and, unsurprisingly, a career-high 66.5 true shooting percentage as a result.
Shai is going to get his points against anyone, but it’s good experience for VJ Edgecombe to compete his hardest, utilize his athleticism, and see if he can disrupt some of Shai’s possessions at least.
First-time All-Star Chet Holmgren is having his best season yet too, and will give these smaller Sixers (and Adem Bona and Andre Drummond when he’s at center) plenty of work to cover ground against his mobility, size, and range from the arc. Paired with Isaiah Hartenstein’s skill, size and strong rebounding at center, the Sixers’ frontcourt is really going to be bullied without Embiid around.
With a host of other talent in their guard and wing rotation as well, providing shooting and/or top defense — from Cason Wallace to Lu Dort and Alex Caruso — there really is no letup when facing the Thunder.
And then finally, there’s the other guard we have to mention… Jared McCain. He was always going to thrive in an offense with as much balance, playmaking, and spacing as OKC’s, and he hasn’t hesitated to do just that with the solid play time he’s had already. McCain already has four 20-point games in his brief spell with OKC, compared to a mere one with the Sixers this season.
He’s averaging 12.3 points on a 62.0 true shooting percentage through his first 19 games there. McCain looks right at home in the Thunder offense with the way he’s getting open off the ball, running off screens, and creating off the bounce for himself. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him bring a bit of extra fire against the team that foolishly traded him away.
As special as Edgecombe’s arrival has been for the Sixers this season, and as good as he’s looked over the last two games with his career night against the Kings and 22-point, 13-rebound double-double against Utah, trying to lead the way against this Thunder defense is another kind of game altogether. That said, even if (when) the Sixers get crushed, Edgecombe delivering against the NBA’s best defense would be a fun statement for the rook to come away with.
Hopefully for the Sixers, Quentin Grimes can keep his strong play rolling after averaging 24.6 points over the last five games. And if Justin Edwards can find the kind of groove he had in his 32-point, seven-triple outburst against Kings too, that’ll make things a little more interesting.
None of that will really matter much in this one, though. It’s hard for any team to beat the Thunder on a good day, let alone the Sixers in their current state.
At least last week was a success for the Sixers’ place in the East. And once they get through what will likely be a brutal loss on Monday, life will at least get easier for them for the rest of the week with the Bulls then Hornets for their next two games.
Game Details
When: Monday, March 23, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 22: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on March 22, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns finally snapped their losing streak. We have said it throughout this stretch: this team is injured, and expecting them to win every game in this state is unrealistic. What made it frustrating was how close they were. Four of the five losses were competitive. They were right there, within reach, and for a variety of reasons, they could not finish.
None of that mattered on Sunday night.
Phoenix handled the Toronto Raptors with ease, and honestly, it was a bit surprising. Toronto is a good team, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference and playing with something to protect. But the Suns came out with pressure and never let it go. From the opening tip, they dictated the pace and never allowed themselves to be put into a position where they had to close late. That was the difference.
When Toronto made its push, which they did after the first quarter, Phoenix responded. A 10–2 run right back at them. That has not been happening during this losing streak. Too often, the opponent dictated terms. On this night, the Suns punched back. And they did it together. Shots were falling. Rebounds were secured. The offense had flow. The defense had purpose. It looked like a cohesive group again. Maybe it is growth. Maybe it is players settling into roles. Maybe it was an off night for Toronto.
Either way, you take it.
Because losing wears on everyone. Prolonged losing brings out all the noise. The trade conversations. The overreactions. The hot takes about Devin Booker or Jalen Green that start to creep in. That is not where this team is right now. They are hurt. They are navigating a difficult stretch. It is hard to make clean evaluations when the roster is this limited. The goal is to get healthy, and with each passing day, they move closer to that.
Sunday night was one of those days where it resulted in a win.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Second consecutive game in which Gillespie has earned the BSB. He’s creeping up on Booker in the standings.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 72 against the Raptors. Here are your nominees:
Boston has 11 regular-season games remaining, while Detroit has 10. If the Pistons win just six of their last 10 games, they’re guaranteed the No. 1 seed. Even if they stumble and go 4-6 down the stretch, the Celtics would need to win 10 of their last 11 games to make up that 4.5-game gap.
So, it’s time for Celtics fans to shift their focus to a much tighter race: the battle with the New York Knicks for the No. 2 seed.
Let’s lay everything out.
Eastern Conference standings
As of Monday morning, the Celtics are up just 0.5 games on the surging Knicks, who have won six in a row.
Basketball Reference’s Playoff Probabilities Report, which is based on 10,000 simulations for the remainder of the season, gives Boston a 53 percent chance of earning the No. 2 seed, just ahead of New York at 43.5 percent.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are lurking 2.5 games behind the Knicks (and three games behind the Celtics), but for all intents and purposes, the No. 2 seed should come down to New York vs. Boston.
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Remaining schedules
Which team is better positioned to earn the No. 2 seed?
Both the Celtics and Knicks have pretty difficult schedules down the stretch: Per Tankathon, Boston owns the NBA’s third-toughest remaining schedule (opponents have a combined winning percentage of .544), while New York has the ninth-toughest (.530 opponent winning percentage).
In fact, just two of the Celtics’ remaining 11 games are against teams with losing records, while the Knicks play just three of their remaining 10 games against teams below .500.
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What’s at stake
Why is the No. 2 seed so important, you ask?
While the Pistons hope Cunningham will return at some point in the playoffs, his injury casts major doubt over their ability to make a deep playoff run. And if a Cunningham-less Detroit team gets eliminated early, the No. 2 seed would have home-court advantage for the rest of its postseason run through the East.
As for first-round matchups, the No. 2 seed would face the winner of the East play-in tournament (the No. 7 seed), while the No. 3 seed would face the No. 6 seed. The bottom of the East playoff race is an absolute mess — just 2.5 games separate the No. 5 seed from the No. 10 seed — so it’s impossible to predict Round 1 matchups at the moment.
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The Celtics would be favored to win any first-round matchup, but there are some teams that could give them trouble — notably the red-hot Atlanta Hawks, who are 12-1 in their last 13 games.
For now, Boston’s goal should be staving off the Knicks for the No. 2 seed and letting the chips fall where they may. And based on the current standings, we could be gearing up for a photo finish.
The idea that there might not be one particular skill that they excel at, but that there a bunch of areas they affect the game and when you look at the whole body of work, it results in a winning player.
Josh Hart celebrates on Knicks bench during win over Wizards on March 22, 2026. Jason Szenes / New York Post
What does Hart think of that comparison?
“Andre is extremely talented, definitely was a better player in this league than I am,” Hart told The Post before the Knicks’s game against the Wizards Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. “But we can be like an older version of Andre. Older, less athletic, scoring version of Andre. But it’s cool, Andre is someone who is highly respected for everything he’s done for the game. So it was cool.”
Iguodala was a key glue guy — and one-time finals MVP — on four championship teams with the Warriors. His impact often did not necessarily jump off the box score, though.
It’s that part of the comparison Hart most enjoys — and knows often goes unnoticed.
Andre Iguodala during Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals. USA Today Sports
“I take a lot of pride in it,” Hart said. “Especially right now, you just look at numbers and you don’t understand the process of the game. A lot of people think you can just throw five guys in that score X amount of points, and that’s how it’s gonna be.
“But that’s not always what it is, situations are different. So for me, especially in that [starting] group, I’m a guy that’s gonna connect the dots, a guy that’s gonna try to be unselfish, get other guys involved, get other guys flowing in good rhythm. I think that gets overlooked, but for me, I take pride in it.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks react during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards (16-55) are in a neck-and-neck race with the Indiana Pacers for last place in the conference. They had lost 15 games in a row before tonight’s tilt at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks (47*-25). The Wizards showed some signs of life in the first half, and a brief heartbeat after intermission, but their 16th loss was never really in doubt. New York took the W, 145-113, beating the Wiz for the 12th straight time.
New York started on the right foot, with Mikal Bridges (14 PTS, 6 AST) and Karl-Anthony Towns (26 PTS, 16 RBS, 9-13 FG) helping to build a small cushion. Washington kept up with them, though, with five points by Tristan Vukcevic (13 PTS) and Bub Carrington (14 PTS, 8 ASTS) getting to the line. Once again, New York allowed their opponents to shoot freely from the perimeter. Luckily for them, Washington’s not a strong three-point shooting team, making 4-of-10 from deep over the first 12 minutes. With the visitors coughing up the rock seven times, the Knicks built a head of steam and went up by double-digits late in the quarter.
The Knicks’ best stretch came midway through the quarter, with Towns flexing his muscles on the glass, Jalen Brunson (23 PTS, 4 AST) drawing contact, and Josh Hart (16 PTS, 6 RBS, 4 AST) logging rebounds, steals, and an alley-oop to Mitchell Robinson (10 PTS, 10 RBS, 2 BLK). Then the pendulum swung the other way. Jaden Hardy (25 PTS, 7-13 3PT) sparked a run with three triples in a short span—two assisted by Sharife Cooper (11 PTS)—narrowing the Knicks’ lead to 32-27 by the buzzer.
KAT with the smooth reverse layup 👌
He's got 15 PTS and 10 REB at the break as the Knicks seek their 6th win in a row! pic.twitter.com/V4We9Dri0U
The quarter opened with Washington briefly finding a rhythm—Cooper hit an early jumper, and Anthony Gill (18 PTS, 3 STL, 8-10 FG) followed a steal with a dunk. A few minutes in, a Cooper triple tied the score at 38 before New York got serious. After that, Towns cleaned up inside with putbacks and rebounds, while Bridges and OG Anunoby (9 PTS, 4 TO) chipped in buckets. Jose Alvarado (8 PTS, 8 AST) played but was a mixed bag. Hart helped to push the pace, and Robinson made his presence felt as the good guys regained a double-digit lead. Down the stretch, New York turned stops into buckets, pushed the margin to 15, and went into halftime ahead 68-52.
The Knicks shot 57% from the field and 50% from yard, which beat Washington’s 43% and 29%. KAT gave NY a big advantage in the paint, which they won 34–20, and where they outrebounded the Zards, 22–16. Towns led all scorers with 15 points. For the visitors, Gill scored 11 to lead a bench that contributed 30 points.
Hart and Bridges hit a pair of triples to start the second half, then Vukcevic scored eight straight points to chase New York into a timeout. Following that, Hart and Bridges knocked down threes, and Brunson hit some middies. The key, though, was Towns, who scored with hook shots, drives, free throws, and a three-pointer. Washington’s sorry frontcourt had no antidote for the big fella. With the Knicks starting to get in sync, a 13-5 run pushed their lead to 20 by the midway point.
Washington made a push when Hardy drilled a trey and a pull-up jumper, and Gill converted from long range. All that effort was little more than a death rattle, though. New York took a 105-81 score into the fourth.
The Knicks kept the party going in the fourth, pushing their lead to 27. Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson (8 PTS) provided steady hands, and Mouhamed Diawara (12 PTS, 3-4 3PT) hit back-to-back threes. Jeremy Sochan (8 PTS, 6 RBS, 8 MIN) subbed in and benefited from a gorgeous Clarkson lob. But the most interesting storyline of the final frame: Tyler Kolek scored 42 points for the Westchester Knicks this morning, and added 11 points (on 4-of-4 shooting) tonight to finish the day with 53! Quoth Jslashnoel: “Tyler going nuclear is a nice victory cigar.”
With tonight’s totals, KAT has 50 double-doubles for the season to lead the league.
March 22, 2013: Ray Williams passed away at the age of 58. That night, Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points and Kenyon Martin added 19 points and 11 rebounds in a 99-94 win at Toronto, securing New York’s third straight trip to the postseason.
Hart is pumping! Josh has made 12 of his last 17 three-point attempts.
Their 16th consecutive loss ties Washington’s franchise record. The Knicks have won six straight three times this season.
New York scored 93 points against the Nets on Friday. They topped that with four minutes left in the third quarter tonight.
Washington head coach Brian Keefe was an assistant coach for the Knicks during the 2015-16 season.
Up Next
New York visits the Big Easy on Tuesday to pluck the Pelicans. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
The San Antonio Spurs announced the launch of “Spurs Rewards,” powered by Fanmaker, a new loyalty program offering fans a way to earn rewards, unlock exclusive experiences and receive value through their support of the Spurs. Debuting March 12 vs. the Denver Nuggets, Spurs Rewards allows fans to earn points for activities such as attending games, shopping and engaging with the team across digital and in-person experiences. Fans can learn more and sign up for free by texting REWARDS to 210-444-5940 or visiting the Official Spurs Mobile App, presented by Frost. Official program terms apply.
Chief Commercial Officer at SS&E Frank Miceli stated,
“Spurs Rewards is about creating a smarter, more rewarding fan experience that recognizes the many ways our fans support the team throughout the season. Whether it’s attending games, shopping or engaging digitally, this platform turns that support into meaningful value.”
Fans can earn one point for every dollar spent on Spurs single-game tickets via Ticketmaster, retail purchases through the Spurs Official Fan Shop, and Frost Bank concessions at Frost Bank Center.
