Category: Basketball

GUWAHATI, India (AP) — Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a 15-ball half-century as Rajasthan Royals thrashed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

On a pitch which was under covers for most of the last two days due to wet weather, Chennai was put in and crumbled to 127 all out in 19.4 overs. All six Rajasthan bowlers shared the wickets.

The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi was dropped on the first ball he faced then powered the chase with 52 off 17 balls — raising the third fastest fifty in the IPL — as Rajasthan cruised to 128-2 in only 12.1 overs.

Five-time champion Chennai has undergone a youth movement in order to make a long-term rebound from finishing in last place last year. But it made an inauspicious start thanks to the youngest player in the league.

Sooryavanshi's miscued pull shot against Matt Henry in the first over was dropped by debutant Kartik Sharma, a tough two-handed catch over his shoulders while running backward from midwicket. Sharma failed to chase the ball and it dribbled over the boundary, the first of Sooryavanshi's four boundaries plus five sixes.

Sooryavanshi gave Rajasthan a blazing start of 74-0 in the powerplay. He clobbered wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad for successive sixes and raised his half-century off just 15 balls before he holed out to Sarfaraz Khan at sweeper cover in the seventh over.

Fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a front row seat to Sooryavanshi's artistry. He was dropped on 26 before finishing 38 not out off 36 balls.

“The plan was to decide the game in the powerplay as we’d restricted them to a low score," Sooryavanshi said. “After every ball Jaiswal doesn't tell me to take a single. He tells me that the ball's going off the bat nicely and to keep going.”

New Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag’s decision to bowl first in favorable conditions was vindicated when Chennai slumped to 38-4 against the express pace of Jofra Archer (2-19) and Nandre Burger (2-26).

Former Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson (6) had a forgetful first game for his new franchise Chennai when Burger flattened his off stump with a 140 kph delivery.

Samson was hired to fix the top order batting issues for Chennai but captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also made only 6 when he exposed his stumps against Archer’s pace and was clean bowled.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-18), playing for Rajasthan after 17 seasons with Chennai, struck twice in his first over to reduce Chennai further to 57-6.

With Mahendra Singh Dhoni not available for the first two weeks due to a calf injury, Chennai was in danger of opening its campaign with less than 100 runs. But Jamie Overton top-scored with 43 off 36 balls before he was run out in the last over.

___

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

It’s amazing what can happen in a week, especially for a franchise as strange as your Philadelphia 76ers.

This was the Sixers’ starting lineup last Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder:

This was their starting lineup this past Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets:

Truly hilarious.

But hey, Saturday’s win over the Hornets was a big one. It felt like a playoff atmosphere and the Sixers dominated in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory. They’re in seventh in the East as of this posting, but with plenty of room for movement at 41-33. They’re a full game back of the fifth-place Toronto Raptors and a half game back of the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks (who swept the Sixers this season). They’re two games up on the Orlando Magic, who sit in eighth (the Sixers own the tiebreaker).

They’ll continue their run of good health when they take on the Miami Heat Monday night. The Heat are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Indiana Pacers Sunday. This is also the season rubber match for these teams after they split the first two matchups. It’s not a must-win by any means, but taking care of business in South Beach would be another meaningful win.

So, what’s on your mind right now? Hit me with your questions and comments below.

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Two division leaders in the Eastern Conference tip off for the second time in four days when the Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics.

Points might be hard to come by against Boston, but Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson will do his best to get his teammates involved.

I’ll break down my Johnson prop and more in my Celtics vs. Hawks predictions and NBA picks for Monday, March 30.

Celtics vs Hawks prediction

Celtics vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists (-110)

The Atlanta Hawks have been on a heater since the All-Star break, but they face a tall task tonight when they take on the Boston Celtics, who have won three straight and seven of their last eight games — including last Friday’s meeting versus Atlanta.

The C’s are expected to have all three of their top scorers — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White — in the lineup, so the Hawks will need someone to step up and equalize. Enter Jalen Johnson.

The Hawks forward is a jack of all trades, averaging 22.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg, and 8.1 apg for Atlanta this season, but it’s his playmaking that’s been exceptional down the stretch.

Since the start of March, Johnson is logging 8.8 dimes per contest and has recorded Over 7.5 assists in nine of 12 appearances.

The Celtics, who own the best defense in the NBA, will try their best to shut Johnson down, but his ability to threaten the shot and find the open man is borderline unstoppable.

Atlanta is averaging 91.8 field goal attempts per game this season, the second-most in the NBA, and that high-volume approach will also help Johnson’s chances of picking up Over 7.5 assists.

Celtics vs Hawks same-game parlay

If Johnson’s going to hit his assist numbers, he’ll need someone to dish the rock to, and his best option tonight will be Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The Hawks guard has been scorching hot this month, shooting 54% from the field and over 47% from long range while averaging 23.1 ppg. Alexander-Walker has scored Over 17.5 points in four straight and 12 of his last 13 games, including 20 points vs. the Celtics last week.

Celtics vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists 
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Double up the J's

Johnson has 13 triple-doubles this season, tied for the second-most in the NBA. The Hawks forward has two in his last seven games while averaging 8.3 rpg and 8.8 apg this month.

Tatum has found his groove since returning to the lineup in early March, logging three double-doubles in his last four outings.

Celtics vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson to record a triple-double
• Jayson Tatum to record a double-double

Celtics vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Celtics +2 | Hawks -2
• Moneyline: Celtics +105 | Hawks -125
• Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222

Celtics vs Hawks betting trend to know

Atlanta is 6-3 ATS in the last nine meetings, and 13-4 ATS in its last 17 overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Hawks.

How to watch Celtics vs Hawks

Celtics vs Hawks latest injuries

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Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!

Week 22: The Spurs saw it all in another undefeated week, from tight wins against potential first-round opponents in the Clippers and Suns, to blowout yawners against two of the worst teams in the league (the Kings and Pacers). The win over the Suns at home was especially notable since it featured Victor Wembanyama’s first ever NBA game-winner as he hit a jumper with under a second left to officially secure the Spurs’ first playoff berth since 2019.

Week 23: 3-0 (56-18, 2nd in West)

136-111 win at Miami Heat

After talking the talk, especially with regards to defense, Bam Adebayo and Co. couldn’t walk the walk against the surging Spurs. While still at least play-in bound, the slumping Heat stuck to their physical, transition/pace-dictated style of play and were able to hang around for a quarter, but it didn’t take long for the Spurs to insert their will and turn what could have been a fun game into another laugher on national TV streaming. The Heat had no answer for Wemby on either side of the ball and couldn’t hit enough jumpers to keep up with the Spurs’ red-hot shooting against their zone defense. (The win also secured the Spurs’ first Southwest Division title since 2017 and 23rd overall, not that it matters since it has zero impact on seeding these days.)

123-98 win at Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs seem officially done taking inferior teams lightly, as the blew out a short-handed Grizzlies squad that has always found ways to be a thorn in their side over the years. The Spurs got a little complacent on offense in the second quarter after dominating the first, but they got the memo after halftime and ended things with a 41-20 third quarter in a game that will mostly be remembered for a massive amount of posterization dunks.

127-95 win at Milwaukee Bucks

Usually this is an exciting matchup between Wemby and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but with the latter (plus many other main rotation Bucks) out and the former not having his finest game on offense, there wasn’t much excitement in this one. Instead, the Spurs rode their depth and another triple-double from Stephon Castle to methodically put away another shorthanded team, although to the remaining Bucks’ credit, they played a physical game and made the Spurs work for it. The win technically gave the Spurs their third winning streak of eight games or longer this season (reminder: the Cup Finals loss doesn’t count). It also made them the first team in NBA history with win four road games in a row by 25+ or more points, going back to their win in Sacramento.

Power Rankings

John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 2 (last week: 2)

OffRtg: 118.4 (4) DefRtg: 110.1 (3) NetRtg: +8.3 (2) Pace: 100.8 (12)

With the league’s longest active winning streak (eight games), the Spurs are keeping the pressure on the Thunder, who they trail by just two games in the loss column.

Three takeaways

1. Victor Wembanyama had three steals and seven blocks (in less than 27 minutes) in the Spurs’ win in Memphis on Wednesday, giving him 11 games of at least 10 steals + blocks over his three seasons in the league. The rest of the league has just five such games over those three years, with no other player having more than one.
2. Wembanyama being healthier this season is one reason why the Spurs have been the league’s most improved defensive team by a wide margin, allowing 6.2 fewer points per 100 possessions than in 2024-25. However, he’s still only played about 200 more minutes (1,725) than he did in 2024-25 (1,527), and the Spurs have been much better defensively in both his minutes on the floor (102.9 vs. 110.0 allowed per 100) versus his minutes off the floor (113.8 vs. 118.2 allowed per 100).
3. The Spurs are the only team that ranks in the top five in both opponent field goal percentage in the paint (54.4%, fourth) and opponent free throw rate (23.0 attempts per 100 shots from the field, first). Their win on Saturday was the first time in more than five years that a team (the Bucks) attempted fewer than 25 shots in the paint (they were 14-for-24) and fewer than 10 free throws (5-for-6).

Coming up: With the Spurs set to finish first or second in the West, a first-round series with the eighth-place Clippers is a distinct possibility. The Spurs have won both of the first two meetings (both in March) by exactly four points, and the final meeting will be in LA on Thursday, the second half of the Spurs’ final back-to-back.

Law Murray, The Athletic — 1 (last week: 2)

Frontier Award: Julian Champagnie

Center Victor Wembanyama already made his case for MVP, and presumably Defensive Player of the Year and supreme alien leader. But he did not advocate for the Power Rankings Frontier Award. That is going to Champagnie this season, who went from undrafted in 2022 and waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 to a fixture in San Antonio’s starting lineup since the turn of the new year. Champagnie has been durable and consistent, playing in every Spurs game this season and hitting 38.3 percent of his 3s. Along the way, the Spurs have continued to steamroll the league, winning 24 of 26 games since the beginning of February.

Brett Siegel, Clutch Points — 1 (last week: 2)

The Spurs have moved back into the top spot of the NBA power rankings with two weeks remaining in the season by picking up three wins with a point differential of +82. There is no word to describe the Spurs right now other than dominant.

This team only has two losses since the start of February, and San Antonio’s third-ranked defense continues to improve. Three road games in four days against Golden State, LA, and Denver will be a small test for this group, but their hopes of catching the Thunder and claiming the 1-seed are still very much alive.

Coming up: Mon. 3/30 vs. Chicago Bulls (29-45); Wed. 4/1 at Golden State Warriors (36-39); Thurs. 4/2 at Los Angeles Clippers (39-36); Sat. 4/4 at Denver Nuggets (48-28)

Prediction: 4-0 — 3-1 would be a much safer prediction here (and it might have been 2-2 if this were January), but the Spurs have been on such a roll lately that I can’t bring myself to doubt them. They should at least start 2-0 against a shorthanded Bulls team at home and a Warriors squad on the road that reportedly still won’t have Steph Curry back, but then things get tougher. The Spurs continue their final road trip of the regular season with their third and final match-up against another potential first round opponent that should have Kawhi Leonard again, followed by a trip to Denver, who are starting to find their groove and will be fighting for seeding. This game should also feature the first Wemby-Joker match-up of the season.

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — Ahead of the World Cup, Chris Richards has a new take on what makes America unique.

“Maybe the TSA lines right now, that’s pretty American,” the U.S. defender said Monday ahead of a World Cup warmup match against Portugal.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Richards lives much of the year in London, where he plays for English club Crystal Palace. He arrived in the U.S. last week for a pair of national team friendlies in Atlanta.

His earlier take on what was uniquely American focused on food. During October friendlies in Texas and Colorado, he took teammates Cameron Carter-Vickers and Antonee Robinson, who grew up in England, to Chili's Grill and Bar as part of a group with Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and Mark McKenzie, according to cbssports.com.

“The Triple Dipper you have to get but then I think it’s the endless chips and salsa, but then also there’s sports on TV and also the chocolate molten lava cake and it’s just like you’re sitting there and you’re looking at the ground, the tile,” Richards was quoted as saying. “You’re like, this is beautiful. This is nostalgia. This is really America … I think that’s one of the things that makes us American — places like Chili’s are like a staple and I think they finally could have that stamp on their passport now that they’ve had Chili’s so I was happy for them.”

France coach Didier Deschamps spoke of airport security ahead of Sunday's friendly against Colombia at Landover, Maryland.

Speaking in a news conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Colombia in Maryland, Deschamps revealed his shock at the rigorous protocols encountered upon arrival.

“At our arrival, we spent an incredible amount of time at the airport, with checks that I’ve never seen in my life,” the coach explained to reporters. “We are adapting.”

___

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

Only two games this week for the Phoenix Suns, which was much needed for the team after they had five games in seven days the week before. Finishing 1–1 this week, with a loss to the Nuggets and a win against the Jazz, it was a pretty mellow week for Phoenix as the basketball world was mostly focused on March Madness.

Here are the main questions for Week 23 we want your thoughts on:

Fending off the Clippers

After a five-game win streak and with the Suns recently dropping five straight, the Los Angeles Clippers are the closest they’ve been to dethroning Phoenix for the 7th spot. Currently 2.5 games back of Phoenix, the Clippers and Suns split their season series against each other. The Suns have the better division record, so assuming they’re the only two teams in the West that finish with the same record, Phoenix will be the higher seed.

Since their 6–21 start to the season, Los Angeles has been one of the best teams in basketball, boasting a 33–15 record over their last 48 games—the fourth-best record in the league in that stretch. Whether they surpass them in the standings or not, Phoenix is likely to face them in the first round of the play-in tournament.

How do you feel about the Clippers as an opponent for the Suns in the play-in? Do you think they can catch the Suns in the standings?

Brooks and Williams Returns Loom

Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams are getting closer to returning from their respective hand and foot injuries. Both participated in 5-on-5 over the weekend, and Jordan Ott said that “everything is headed in the right direction” when it comes to their injuries.

Williams has been out since March 3rd, and Brooks has been out since February 21st. Williams will presumably replace Oso Ighodaro in the starting lineup at center, while Brooks looks to be replacing Royce O’Neale.

How do you think Ott and company should handle both starters’ pending returns? What do you think rotations should look like?

The Final Stretch

Phoenix has just eight games left in the regular season, about 10% remaining. The team is 4–6 in their last 10 and recently endured their longest losing streak of the season. With six more road games and two more home contests, the Suns have a chance to even out their road and home records, as the team is 24–15 at home this season and 17–18 away from the Mortgage Matchup Center.

What do the Suns need to prove to you in the last two weeks of the season for you to feel confident in them come playoff time?

On the Suns’ Plate This Week

After just two games this past week, Phoenix will have four this week. Starting tonight against the Grizzlies, the team will then head to Orlando to face the Magic tomorrow, and then the Hornets and Bulls on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.

The Dallas Mavericks might be playing with lottery fire. Every few games they have a key result that risks their positioning in a bottlenecked cluster in the top ten. Last week it was a win against the Portland Trail Blazers on a night those around them lost.

We should take a moment and pause — positioning ultimately decides nothing. The story will only be fully told when the lottery order is decided in a draw on Sunday May, 10. Go back 12 months and look at teams like the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and New Orleans Pelicans who all positioned themselves better than the Mavericks and ultimately they fell back three and four spots. So sweating game to game results too closely isn’t productive. But in the event the Mavericks do get bumped backward in May, being nearest to the top will help pad the fall.

Here at Lottery Watch we’re doing the unproductive thing. We’re looking at the weekly results and measuring where the Mavericks will land as the season comes to a close and as the organization looks to this summer to find Cooper Flagg’s future running mate.

Lottery standings

The Mavericks went 1-2 last week, and face a shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves squad Monday night. No matter the opponent Dallas plays hard every night, even as the accumulate losses, and flirt with stealing some surprising wins. They find themselves currently tied for sixth in the lottery standings with the New Orleans Pelicans, 3.5 games behind the Utah Jazz — which is likely an impossible gap to make up with so few games.

Where they’re certainly looking is behind them, where the Memphis Grizzlies sit just one game behind the tie, after a dramatic near-loss-but-somehow-surprising-win to the Chicago Bulls. Dallas has a marginally tougher schedule over Memphis. But notably the New Orleans Pelicans, who once again have no incentive to lose (owe their pick to the Atlanta Hawks), has the fifth easiest remaining schedule. Something will eventually have to give…that or we all bite our nails until May 10. Probably the latter.

Weekly schedule

The Mavericks play most of their games at home this week (14-23 this season), with one game on the road to face the hobbled Milwaukee Bucks, who are currently just behind Memphis in the lottery standings. This is one of those weeks where the hustle-heavy Mavericks could grab a win or two.

The Pelicans don’t play until Thursday, and also have some winnable games on their slate, while Memphis ay have opportunity to move up in the standings.

• Dallas Mavericks: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, @ Milwaukee Bucks, vs. Orlando Magic, vs. Los Angeles Lakers
• New Orleans Pelicans: @ Portland Trail Blazers, @ Sacramento Kings, vs. Orlando Magic
• Memphis Grizzlies: vs. Phoenix Suns, vs. New York Knicks, vs. Toronto Raptors, @ Milwaukee Bucks

One magic spin

Each week we’ll take one spin around the block at tankathon.com and see where the chips fall. This week the Mavericks move back into the top four after losing out on last week’s spin. And in a “no one cares about this witchcraft but me” scenario the Atlanta Hawks jump to first FOR THE SIXTH WEEK IN A ROW. They have gone 6-of-6 in this series. Demons.

This week’s simulation really drives the point home on positioning not guaranteeing anything but it does pad the fall back.

Will Wade is back in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

After four seasons away, the 43-year-old coach is back as the LSU men's basketball coach following stops at McNeese and North Carolina State. Wade was introduced as the new Tigers coach, starting for the 2026-27 college basketball season on March 30.

REQUIRED READING: Did Dan Hurley deserve a technical after game-winning shot for going face-to-face with ref?

In his first stint with LSU, Wade had a 105-51 record, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2019. However, he was suspended for the final five games of the 2021-22 season after the NCAA issued a notice to the school based on findings from investigations into alleged recruiting violations.

"The last four years have humbled and changed me," Wade said. "You're getting a better coach, a better leader this time around."

Wade spent the 2023-24 season with McNeese, leading the program to an NCAA Tournament berth. He then coached the program to its first tournament win the following season. He signed a six-year contract with N.C. State on March 22, 2025.

He said on Monday that he had no concerns about how he left the Wolfpack after just one season.

"I long ago quit worrying about my perception," Wade said. "That part doesn't bother me too much. I'd like to focus more on what's going on at LSU. NC State was great to me. I think there have been things I have been mischaracterized on how I left."

"I am at peace with how I left. ... They are pretty mad for a coach they didn't think was very good," Wade added.

LSU opted to bring back Wade and fire head coach Matt McMahon last week. McMahon was 60-70 in four years after replacing Wade, including going 15-17 and 3-15 in SEC play this past season.

USA TODAY brought you coverage of Wade's introductory press conference with LSU on Monday. Catch up here:

Will Wade introduced as LSU coach live updates

Will Wade's LSU introductory press conference concludes

The nearly 50-minute press conference to introduce Will Wade as the new men's basketball coach is over. Wade spoke for nearly 30 minutes, including fielding questions from the media.

Will Wade addresses exit from NC State

"I long ago quit worrying about my perception," Wade said. "That part doesn't bother me too much. I'd like to focus more on what's going on at LSU. NC State was great to me. I think there have been things I have been mischaracterized on how I left."

"I am at peace with how I left. ... They are pretty mad for a coach they didn't think was very good," Wade added.

Wade added he wishes NC State "nothing but success."

Will Wade said he has met with five or six players

Wade added he has met with five or six players since he took the job. He said that with a ton of seniors, there will be a lot of roster. He said conversations will continue for the guys who want to stay with LSU, but will also support players who want to transfer.

He said there has not been a team meeting, but he has met guys one-on-one.

Will Wade will hire some assistant coaches before portal opens next week

Will Wade said he'll have a shell "recruiting staff" in place by next week. The NCAA transfer portal opens on Monday.

He added that as the head coach, he is also the GM, and the final say on who is on the roster will be on him.

Will Wade says first contact with LSU was made last Wednesday

"There wasn't some formal interview," Wade said. "We all knew each other for a long time. It pretty much kicked into high gear on Wednesday, when first contact was made. That was when the process started."

Will Wade says team will add a 'bunch of new players'

"We're going to have to get a bunch of new players," Will Wade said. "Good players cost, they ain't cheap."

Will Wade says he's best coach for LSU men's basketball

"I believe I am the best coach for this university in men's basketball," Will Wade said.

Will Wade said he'll get LSU back to NCAA Tournament

"We're going to get this program back to the NCAA Tournament, back to the top of SEC in short order," Will Wade said. I am honored to be your coach and represent the state in this great school."

Will Wade wants to build a winner at LSU

"We're going to get in that portal when it opens next Monday and we're going to put together a winner, because that's what everyone in here deserves," Will Wade said.

Will Wade says last four years have 'humbled and changed me'

Will Wade said he will be a "better leader" for LSU this time around.

"The last four years have humbled and changed me," Wade said. "You're getting a better coach, a better leader this time around."

Will Wade ready to make history at LSU

Will Wade said he's going to make history with LSU basketball. He will either win a national championship or he will be the first coach fired twice from the same school.

Will Wade speaking now

Will Wade is at the podium speaking now, after being introduced as the new LSU men's basketball coach.

"This is home. I wasn't born in Louisiana, but Louisiana is home for my family."

LSU president Wade Rousse says 'LSU wants to win national championships 

LSU president Wade Rousse, who worked with Will Wade at McNeese, introduced Wade and added that the Tigers are bringing in Wade to win. 

"We want to win national championships," Rousse said before introducing Wade.

LSU AD Verge Ausberry thanks Matt McMahon

LSU's Vice President and Director of Athletics, Verge Ausberry, is the first to speak at Will Wade's introductory press conference. He starts the press conference by thanking Matt McMahon.

Ausberry said that Wade was the only coach that LSU spoke to about the position.

Will Wade greeted by 'LSU' chants

Will Wade has made his entrance and was greeted by "LSU" chants from fans in attendance.

How to watch Will Wade, LSU press conference

Will Wade's introductory press conference for LSU men's basketball will be streamed on SEC Network+, available on ESPN+ or in the ESPN app.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LSU basketball introduces Will Wade as head coach: Highlights

ATLANTA — The Celtics will once again be shorthanded when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night on the second night of a back-to-back.

Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair management) will be sidelined after exploding for 32 points and 8 assists on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets. And Nikola Vucevic remains out with a right ring finger fracture suffered on March 6th.

The good news for the Celtics, however, is that Jaylen Brown, who missed the last two games with left Achilles tendonitis, is available. Joe Mazzulla said last week that Brown was day-to-day.

Derrick White, who, like Brown, missed Sunday’s game, is probable to play in this one. Neemias Queta, who is dealing with a right thumb sprain, is doubtful. And, Ron Harper Jr., who sprained his ankle in Sunday’s game, is questionable to play. Harper Jr. left in the second quarter of the game, but returned in the second half and played 4 minutes the rest of the way.

Monday will mark Tatum’s second rest night since returning to action on March 6th.

Atlanta, meanwhile, will be fully healthy in the match-up.

How the Celtics, Hawks stack up

The Celtics are 2-1 against the Hawks this season, most recently beating them 109-102 last Friday at TD Garden. The Celtics overcame a 16-point first-quarter deficit in that game, fueled by a 26-point performance from Payton Pritchard and a 26-point, 12-rebound outing by Jayson Tatum.

Both the Celtics and the Hawks have been two of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Hawks (42-33) are 16-3 since the All-Star break, the third-best record in the NBA in that span.

Celtics-Hawks tips off at 7:30pm ET on Monday night in Atlanta.

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Yeah, it’s Monday again. But look on the bright side: Easter makes it a short week, and the Association eases you back into things with eight games on the board.

With tipoffs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET tonight, basketball fans have a surplus of betting options, including a massive menu of NBA player props.

I dig into those “games within the game” and give you my NBA picks and predictions for March 30.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Kelly Oubre Jr.	Over 9.5 points	+100
Rui Hachimura	Over 1.5 threes	-125
Julian Champagnie	Over 9.5 points	-130

Prop #1: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 9.5 points

+100 at bet365

Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. was back in action Saturday after an eight-game absence due to an elbow injury. 

Oubre came off the bench for the Sixers but still logged 28 minutes, showing a little rust in his return. He scored nine points on 3-for-5 shooting but looked plenty healthy after putting Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté on a poster in the fourth quarter. 

Oubre, who rated his return as “ehh” on Instagram, will play a bigger role against the Miami Heat tonight. Philadelphia is fighting to avoid the Play-In tournament and sits just a half-game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Miami offers ample opportunities for Oubre to find his form. The Heat have been one of the worst defensive teams since the All-Star break and have allowed more than 122 points per game over their last 14 outings.

Oubre scores over 14 points a contest on the season, and Monday’s projections have him coming close to that output, ranging from 11 to 13 points. My number comes out just north of 12 points, providing excellent value for the Over 9.5 points tonight.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Peacock

Prop #2: Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 threes

-125 at bet365

The Los Angeles Lakers are without star Luka Doncic against the Washington Wizards, which means offensive touches trickle down throughout L.A.’s lineup.

Rui Hachimura returned to action just in time to pick up that offensive slack. He logged 26 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets Friday, which was his heaviest workload since getting hurt in mid-March.

While Hachimura finished with eight points and went 0-for-2 on triples, he’ll play a bigger role on the perimeter with Doncic absent tonight. Player projections call for an uptick in scoring, but I believe the better value is in his 3-point prop.

If Hachimura is going to put up points, those will come from beyond the arc. In Luka’s absence, LeBron James plays more of a distributor, and he’ll attack and kick to spot-up shooters like Rui on the wing.

In Hachimura’s eight appearances without Doncic in the lineup, he knocked down two or more triples in five of those games. This prop is as high as Over 1.5 -172 at some books, but you can get it as low as -125 at bet365.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SportsNet LA, MNMT

Prop #3: Julian Champagnie Over 9.5 points

-130 at bet365

The San Antonio Spurs are pushing toward the No. 1 seed in the West and have a solid shot at picking up a win against the visiting Chicago Bulls tonight.

Power forward Julian Champagnie is hitting his stride at the right time. After suffering through a scoring lull for most of the month, he’s averaging more than 11 points over the past six contests.
 
Outside shooting has been the biggest factor for Champagnie’s surge, going a collective 15-for-38 from beyond the arc in that span (39.5%). He’s hit at least three triples in four of those six games.

The Bulls are sinking like a stone in the Eastern Conference standings with only one win in their last six showings. Chicago is hemorrhaging almost 132 points against in that skid, and with plenty of points to go around, Champagnie’s scoring projections sit north of 11 points Monday.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Peacock, NBCSN Extra, FanDuel Sports Network Southwest

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

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

Braylon Mullins, an Indiana kid, sent UConn basketball to the Final Four in Indianapolis with the shot of his life against Duke in the Elite Eight.

The true freshman guard nailed a game-winning 3-pointer from 35 feet out in the Huskies' 73-72 win over top-seeded Duke on Sunday, March 29, securing his spot in March Madness lore. The sharpshooter was 0-of-4 from 3-point range before the shot, but no one will remember UConn's shooting struggles after his all-time make.

REQUIRED READING: Braylon Mullins on game-winning 3 vs Duke: 'You play for those moments'

The 6-6 guard has been an important addition to Dan Hurley's squad in 2025-26. After UConn was bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, Hurley shored up the Huskies' backcourt with Mullins and Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr., both of whom were huge down the stretch in their win over Duke.

Mullins, one of the best players of the 2025 high school recruiting class, proved the moment wasn't too big for him.

Here's everything to know of Mullins, who became a household name against Duke in the Elite Eight:

Braylon Mullins shot

Mullins' 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in UConn's win vs. Duke will go down as one of the top buzzer-beaters in March Madness history. Here's a look at the shot:

OH MY GOODNESS 😱

UCONN LEADSSSS UNBELIEVABLE #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/IPX2JWiw0b

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2026

Braylon Mullins NBA mock draft projection

• USA TODAY Sports: First round, No. 29 overall to Cleveland

USA TODAY Sports projects Mullins as the No. 29 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Draft analyst Bryan Kalbrosky wrote March 26: Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American, missed the start of the season due to an ankle injury. But he has returned to action for the Huskies and has shown what makes him such an appealing player. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup, but it may be tough for scouts to forget his 0-for-8 performance from beyond the arc during his first game in March Madness.

Braylon Mullins recruiting rank

Mullins was one of the top-rated players of the 2025 high school recruiting class, tabbed as a five-star recruit. He was rated the No. 15 player nationally and No. 4 shooting guard, according to 247Sports' Composite ratings.

Mullins chose UConn over Michigan, North Carolina and Indiana, his hometown school.

Where is Braylon Mullins from?

Mullins is from Greenfield, Indiana, where he attended Greenfield-Central High School. Greenfield is roughly 30 minutes outside of Indianapolis, where the Final Four is located in 2026.

Braylon Mullins high school stats

Mullins was ridiculous in high school, averaging 32.9 points with 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a senior, along with 3.7 steals and 1.1 blocks, per MaxPreps. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2025, the highest honor in the state, and was a McDonald's All American.

Braylon Mullins parents

Mullins' parents are Katie and Josh Mullins. His dad played two seasons at IUPUI averaging 10.7 points per game.

How old is Braylon Mullins?

Mullins is 19 years old, as he was born on April 18, 2006, according to his UConn bio.

Braylon Mullins stats

Here's a look at Mullin's per-game averages in 2025-26:

• 2025-26: 11.9 points with 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 43.4% shooting (32.8% from 3-point range)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Braylon Mullins? Get to know of UConn basketball's March Madness hero