Category: Basketball

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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

The Los Angeles Lakers won’t have Luka Doncic when they face the Washington Wizards on Monday. Doncic will serve a one-game suspension after he picked up his 16th technical foul of the season. The Lakers are closing in on the Pacific Division title while the Wizards are headed for the NBA Draft lottery. The Lakers are heavily favored with a -15.5 spread and a -1400 moneyline, indicating an 89.4% implied probability of winning.

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Date: Monday, March 30

• Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles

• TV Channel: SN-LA, MNMT

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team Records

• Washington Wizards: 17-57 (No. 5 in Southeast Division)

• Los Angeles Lakers: 48-26 (No. 1 in Pacific Division)

Odds

• Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -15.5

• Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers -1400 / Washington Wizards +800

• Over/Under: 235.5

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The Philadelphia 76ers will look for a third straight win when they travel south to face the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center tonight.

The 76ers’ "Big Three" is finally available at the same time, and my 76ers vs Heat predictions expect the trio to deliver a big performance on the road.

Here are my free NBA picks for Monday, March 30.

76ers vs Heat prediction

76ers vs Heat best bet: Joel Embiid Over 28.5 points (-105)

Joel Embiid has had trouble staying on the court again this season, but he’s played in two straight contests and is absent from Monday morning’s injury report.

In two games since returning from a lengthy absence, Embiid shows no signs of rust, posting 29 and 35 points. 

Embiid has scored 29+ in 16 of 35 games overall this season, reaching that mark in two straight and 11 of his last 14.

The big man has logged 30+ minutes in 23 games this season, averaging 29.3 points in those games and hitting the Over on this scoring line 13 times. Embiid has recorded 30+ minutes in 11 of 15 road games.

Over the last 10 games, the Miami Heat have allowed the third-most points and the third-highest 3-point percentage, and they own the eighth-worst defensive rating.

Both teams rank in the Top 4 in pace, and the point total for Monday’s matchup is set at a whopping 246.5. 

Embiid should push for 30 minutes, and he should see plenty of opportunities in a fast-paced, high-scoring environment.

76ers vs Heat same-game parlay

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the best teams against the spread on the road this season, going 23-13. In the last game out with all of Philly's Big Three — Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George — available, the Sixers earned a quality win over the Charlotte Hornets.

They dropped 157 points on the Chicago Bulls with Embiid and George in the lineup, and Maxey sidelined. The Sixers will also have Kelly Oubre Jr. back for a second straight game, and a healthy team will overwhelm Miami's lackluster defense.

The Heat have hit the Over in four of their last five games at home and eight times across their last 10 games overall. The 76ers have hit the Over in three of their last five on the road. 

76ers vs Heat SGP

• Joel Embiid Over 28.5 points
• 76ers -2
• Over 246.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Big 3

Miami's defense has been one of the most generous in the Association over the last 10 games, and I expect Embiid, Maxey, and George to feast tonight in South Beach.

Maxey returned from a 10-game absence and dropped 26 points against the Charlotte Hornets in his last game out. He’s scored 26+ in 45 of 62 games overall, including 26 of 30 on the road.

Since returning from suspension, Paul George has played like a man possessed. He scored 28 and 26 in his last two games, and he’s reached 17 points in six of 13 road games.

76ers vs Heat SGP

• 76ers -2
• Over 246.5
• Joel Embiid Over 28.5 points
• Tyrese Maxey Over 26.5 points
• Paul George Over 16.5 points

76ers vs Heat odds

• Spread: 76ers -2 | Heat +2
• Moneyline: 76ers -130 | Heat +110
• Over/Under: Over 246.5 | Under 246.5

76ers vs Heat betting trend to know

The Philadelphia 76ers have hit the team total Over in 23 of their last 35 away games (+8.95 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Heat.

How to watch 76ers vs Heat

76ers vs Heat latest injuries

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Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the road tonight to visit his former team, the Utah Jazz, at the Delta Center. 

My Cavs vs. Jazz predictions are targeting Spida to bounce back after a quiet game in his last appearance. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, March 30. 

Cavaliers vs Jazz prediction

Cavaliers vs Jazz best bet: Donovan Mitchell Over 26.5 points (-115)

Donovan Mitchell is having another stellar campaign for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s seventh in the league in scoring, averaging 27.9 PPG. Mitchell is a walking bucket, and his ability to score from all three levels is usually present on a nightly basis. 

While Spida was held to just six points in 31 minutes of action on Friday against the Heat, the Louisville product did cash the Over in three straight appearances before that, dropping 28, 42, and 27 points. 

It’s very rare for Mitchell to be held to just single digits, and tonight is a prime opportunity for him to respond as he faces his former team in the Utah Jazz. Utah is an easy matchup for opposing shooting guards, and they’re one of the worst defensive clubs in the Association. 

Mitchell is averaging 27.4 points per contest on the road, and he scored 27 in his last road game in New Orleans. 

He’ll cook tonight in Salt Lake City.

Cavaliers vs Jazz same-game parlay

James Harden is averaging 8.1 dimes per game this season, which ranks fifth in the NBA. The guard has cashed the Over in assists in three of his last five, and he just dished out 14 on Friday against the Heat. Utah is allowing over nine assists per game to point guards. 

Mitchell scores a decent amount of his points from downtown, averaging 3.3 makes on 9.0 attempts per game. He’s cashed the Over in treys in three of his last four, and the Jazz are allowing 3.8 triples per contest to opposing shooting guards. 

Evan Mobley is a physical presence down low, averaging 8.9 rebounds per game. Coming off a 10-board performance, the big man is averaging 9.2 rebounds on the road, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three away from home. Utah is allowing nearly 15 boards per contest to opposing centers.

Cavaliers vs Jazz SGP

• James Harden Over 8.5 assists
• Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 made threes
• Evan Mobley Over 9.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Web-slinging goodness

Mitchell has averaged 5.8 assists this season to go along with his 27.9 points, and he’s hit the Over in points+assists in two of his last three games. The Jazz are weak on the perimeter, so he could truly thrive as a passer tonight as well. 

Sam Merrill is averaging 13 PPG, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three appearances. Before a 10-point performance on Friday, he had posted 18 and 19 points in back-to-back games.

Cavaliers vs Jazz SGP

• James Harden Over 8.5 assists
• Donovan Mitchell Over 31.5 points+assists
• Evan Mobley Over 9.5 rebounds
• Sam Merrill Over 14.5 points

Cavaliers vs Jazz odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -17 (-110) | Jazz +17 (-110)
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -2000 | Jazz +1000
• Over/Under: Over 242.5 (-110) | Under 242.5 (-110)

Cavaliers vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the 4Q Moneyline in 28 of their last 40 away games (+13.40 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Jazz.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Jazz

Cavaliers vs Jazz latest injuries

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.

On his eponymous podcast Sunday night, Bill Simmons took a bucket of cold water and poured it on the idea of the NBA expansion plans. Then he refilled the bucket and held the NBA expansion plans — including the idea of placing a team in Las Vegas — under the water until it was but a memory.

In short: Simmons, who has octopus-like connections throughout the NBA, thinks it ain’t happening.

He broke it down into two parts, with the first — and most pressing — issue being his certainty expansion will not pass muster with the owners. There are 30 NBA franchises, and 23 have to approve any expansion. Simmons is sure NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is going to have problems with nearly half of the owners.

“They don’t have the votes,” Simmons said, in conversation with fellow podcaster/NBA insider Zach Lowe. “I think it got a little testy in the Board of Governors when they were all together last week, with some people like, ‘Why are we doing this? I’m never voting for this. This is stupid. We’re not doing this.’”

Then Simmons went through 13 owners who he believes are either wholly against the idea or would need some serious arm-twisting.

He first broke down the “new” generation of owners, such as the groups that control the Celtics, Jazz, Hornets, Rockets, Suns, and Timberwolves, and how as new (or relatively new) owners, they don’t want to dilute their chances at winning a title.

Then he went into Jim Dolan, the owner of the Knicks who is against it, as well as the new Trail Blazers owner, who Simmons questioned whether he’d want a team two hours away in Seattle.

Then he noted Steve Ballmer, owner of the Clippers, whose net worth is north of $100 billion and couldn’t care less about the proposal for each team to get upward of $500 million if the league expands by two.

“They don’t have the votes. I’m just telling you they don’t,” Simmons said.

Timing off

Simmons was also put off by the timing of the announcement about the expansion plans, as it was leaked to the press last Monday.

“And when my s**t detector started going off — it was a Monday morning news leak, which as we know, Monday morning is always when you put a story out trying to set the tone for the week, and they put it out in a way that made me think this almost seems like they’re testing this out to see what the reaction is,” he said. “Like they’re either trying to convince the fans this is a good idea or they’re trying to convince the votes that they don’t have that this is a good idea. So I do not think they have the votes.”

Simmons also isn’t sold that Seattle and Vegas are slam dunks to get the teams if expansion did happen.

“This is a two-part process where part one is you get the 30 owners together and they have to vote, you need 23 votes to proceed,” Simmons said. “And basically, Silver is going, ‘I want to see what we can get for these two teams. We’ve decided it’s going to be Seattle and Vegas. We haven’t decided if we’re expanding, but let’s see what kind of price we can get for each of those, and then I’ll bring that back to you and we can vote on it.’”

The number floated was $8 billion per team, a figure Simmons thinks is a fugazi.

“I don’t think the owners are going to necessarily vote for it even if they do get $8 billion a team. And if it’s like $5 to $6 billion, they’re definitely not voting for it,” he said. “And I don’t really understand the point of any of this. Why not just be transparent and say, ‘Hey, we’re just curious to see what we get for these expansion teams, this doesn’t mean we’re gonna have expansion.’”

UConn coach Dan Hurley is known for his high-energy antics on the sideline. That unsurprisingly didn't change after true freshman Braylon Mullins buried a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the Huskies' 73-72 win over top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight.

Hurley, a two-time national champion at UConn, came face-to-face with the referee after Mullins' shot, despite there still being 0.4 seconds left on the clock. He wasn't given a technical foul despite coming in contact with the referee, resulting in UConn moving onto the Final Four.

pic.twitter.com/kMA7lvN1av

— SendDaVideo (@SendDaVideo) March 30, 2026

Former Wisconsin star Sam Dekker, who played in the Final Four in 2014 and 2015, was one of many that said Hurley should've been given a technical foul in the moment.

"I have no bias here," Dekker wrote on X. "This is a tech 10/10 times. For multiple reasons… it would have lost the game for his team and he would have tried to fight the officials like he did nothing wrong. I just don’t understand it at all. Also, referees need to grow a spine in instances like this."

Hurley went wild in the aftermath of the shot, just like any personnel would given the intensity of the moment. He threw his arms up in celebration and even had his suit jacket fall halfway off after multiple other staff members swarmed him.

NC State has found its replacement for Will Wade. The Wolfpack are hiring former NC State guard Justin Gainey as their new basketball head coach, three people with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday, March 29 and Monday, March 30.

Gainey, who just wrapped his fifth season on Rick Barnes' Tennessee staff Sunday when the Vols lost to No. 1 seed Michigan in the Elite Eight, interviewed in person with NC State officials Saturday in Chicago, sources confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The news was first reported by On3's Mike Wilson.

The sources spoke on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Just a year after being hired, Wade abruptly left NC State last week to return to coach at LSU.

Opinion: Will Wade's LSU comeback makes perfect sense

Boo Corrigan, NC State's athletics director, has spearheaded the search to find Wade's replacement since Wade left in the days after the Wolfpack's NCAA Tournament First Four loss to Texas.

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Just when the Minnesota Timberwolves should be tuning up for a postseason run, injuries have ripped through their backcourt, and it’s going to take a “next man up” mentality as they host the Dallas Mavericks.  

Anthony Edwards has missed six straight, and he’s joined on the injury report by Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu, so my Timberwolves vs. Mavericks predictions pivot to a Minnesota sharpshooter who’s had an even brighter green light during this short-handed stretch.

Check out my NBA picks for this March 30 matchup.

Timberwolves vs Mavericks prediction

Timberwolves vs Mavericks best bet: Donte DiVincenzo Over 13.5 points (-110)

Donte DiVincenzo rarely has to be asked twice when it comes to launching 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have needed his volume shooting more than ever over the past few weeks. DiVincenzo has responded with 39 points across his last two outings, while making 10 of his 26 attempts from beyond the arc.

Though Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu could return tonight to beef up Chris Finch’s backcourt, that shouldn’t drastically alter the script for DiVincenzo, and I’m counting on the recent extra reps translating to another Over on his points prop.

DiVincenzo is attempting almost eight 3-pointers a game this season, but don’t be surprised if he ends up with double-digit shots from downtown for the fourth time in his past five contests.

Most of all, Minnesota is desperate for spacing, and that makes DiVincenzo a lock for steady minutes. With Edwards sidelined, the visitors have been held below 105 points in three of their last four games, but the Dallas Mavericks’ defense could be the perfect medicine to get the T-Wolves firing again.

Dallas has given up 135+ points in four of its past five matchups en route to the draft lottery, and the Nuggets shot 56% from the field against Cooper Flagg & Co. last Wednesday. With the Mavs going through the motions, sign me up for a splashy effort from DiVincenzo tonight.

Timberwolves vs Mavericks same-game parlay

If DiVincenzo gives the offense a jolt, Rudy Gobert can carry Minnesota on the other end of the floor. The Frenchman has cashed this Over in three of his last four games to keep the Wolves’ defense afloat, and he’s got a natural assignment around the rim against Daniel Gafford.

Minnesota has won five in a row against Dallas, so I’m riding with the visitors, who should come out with urgency after being blown out at home over the weekend. The prospect of Ant getting back on the court is enticing, but the Wolves have enough talent to grind out a win regardless.

Timberwolves vs Mavericks SGP

• Donte DiVincenzo Over 13.5 points
• Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 rebounds
• Timberwolves moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Championship Remix

I’m reuniting championship teammates in this SGP, with two sweet-shooting former Bucks.

DiVincenzo is poised for another high-volume night, while Khris Middleton has knocked down 1+ 3-pointers in four of his last five, as well as dishing eight assists across his last two games. The Wolves have covered the spread in three of their past four trips to Dallas and will do so again.

Timberwolves vs Mavericks SGP

• Donte DiVincenzo Over 13.5 points
• Khris Middleton Over 1.5 assists
• Khris Middleton Over 0.5 made threes
• Timberwolves -7

Timberwolves vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Timberwolves -7 (-110) | Mavericks +7 (-110)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves -270 | Mavericks +220
• Over/Under: Over 236 (-110) | Under 236 (-110)

Timberwolves vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Timberwolves are 16-7 SU this season as road favorites. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Timberwolves vs Mavericks

Timberwolves vs Mavericks latest injuries

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As the Knicks gear up for another playoff run, we’ve learned a few strengths and weaknesses of the club. But still, questions remain about how the team will fare in the postseason. 

After New York’s 111-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, there are just seven games left in the regular season. With the playoffs on the horizon, here are four questions the club is facing as the postseason rapidly approaches.

Is Towns ready for the postseason?

The 2025-26 season has been an adjustment for Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks All-Star center is averaging 20.0 points, the lowest scoring average of his career since his rookie season, and a career-low 30.9 minutes. 

But recently, Towns has improved his play. His defense has taken a step in the right direction, he’s cut down fouls and his offensive efficiency has risen. In March, Towns is averaging 20.6 points on 57.1 percent from the field and 12.9 rebounds.

But Towns can still be susceptible to having stretches of ineffectiveness. In New York’s 114-103 loss against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night, Towns scored just 13 points. He seemed uninvolved for most of the game, scoring just two points in the first half. On Sunday night, Towns had just four points in the first half as the Thunder had smaller defenders like Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso guard him.

If the Knicks are going to make any noise in the postseason, they will need Towns to be productive and consistent.

Does the club have enough depth?

One of the top priorities for the Knicks heading into the season was shoring up the bench. New York has added depth to the roster. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride have been integral pieces of the rotation. Landry Shamet has emerged as a valuable reserve. Jordan Clarkson has seen a recent boost in minutes. Young players like Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek have shown flashes at times. 

Despite these positives, the Knicks bench hasn’t been exactly electric. New York’s reserves have the third-lowest scoring output in the NBA. They also are ranked just 28th in total minutes.

In the postseason, many teams stick with a short rotation. That favors the Knicks. But any injury to its core players could be hard to recover from.

Can the Knicks limit opponents from three?

All season long, the Knicks have struggled to defend the three-point line. New York is giving up 38.9 three point attempts per 100 possessions, the fifth-highest mark in the NBA. The Knicks are tied for 19th in opponents three-point, percentage.

The three-point defense issue was a factor in the loss to Charlotte. The Hornets connected on 16-of-41 threes (39 percent). Even in wins against the Washington Wizards and the New Orleans Pelicans, the Knicks gave up 18 and 15 trifectas, respectively.

Under head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks defensive strategy leans on helping in the paint and then recovering back to the perimeter. The extreme help around the basket is giving opponents easy looks from three.

New York’s overall defense has been much better over the past two months. The club has risen to fifth overall in defensive efficiency. But in the wrong matchup, the three ball could become pivotal.

Will the team fix first quarter struggles?

A trend for New York throughout the season has been the club getting off to slow starts. During its recent seven-game win streak, the Knicks trailed in the first quarter of three games.

The Knicks starting lineup has been passable, outscoring opponents by 3.3 points per 100 possessions in 459 minutes before Sunday night per NBA Stats. But the group has struggled in the first quarter. In 184 first quarter minutes, New York’s starting five has a net rating of -4.5 points per 100 possessions.

It seems too late to make a change to the starting lineup. But falling behind at the start of games creates a tough task to have to make the uphill climb of getting back into a game. And in the playoffs, where every moment matters, that’s even more important.

For every iconic moment we see on television during March Madness, there are many other captivating subplots going on at the same time.

Weaving them all together is what makes the best in the TV production business so great at what they do.

During CBS's coverage of UConn's improbable 73-72 comeback win over Duke in the Elite Eight, Braylon Mullins' 35-footer to beat the buzzer was obviously the focal point. But the network's camera operators also had to be ready for the reaction shots.

Shortly after the game ended, the NCAA released its own "sizzle reel" with 10 different angles of the key game-ending sequence and its aftermath that wonderfully captures the wide range of emotions.

Bench angles of UConn's unbelievable shot 🎥#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/alunQ3Ks4q

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2026

One angle that didn't make the cut there was a reaction shot of CBS announcers Bill Raftery and Grant Hill as they joined play-by-play man Ian Eagle on the call.

Here’s another view.

Unapologetically.

Cannot get enough. pic.twitter.com/gOvzP6sbLx

— Big East Rewind & Hoops 24/7 (@bigeastrewind) March 30, 2026

It certainly was a magical moment for UConn. And a bitter defeat (once again) for Duke.

It's just another reason why we can't get enough of March Madness.

The undermanned Milwaukee Bucks lost 127-113 at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday in what was their first “meaningless” game after being eliminated from play-in contention. The game was trending toward embarrassing blowout territory, but a fourth-quarter rally from Milwaukee made the final score look respectable. The Clippers sealed a 2-0 season series victory over the Bucks with this win. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Gary Trent Jr.

37 minutes, 36 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, 12/21 FG, 9/15 3P, 3/4 FT, -8

Trent was lights-out in this one. He started off hot, scoring 11 of Milwaukee’s first 15, and he never lost his groove. The veteran delivered 16 points in the fourth quarter as part of a late rally for the Bucks. Awesome performance from a guy who keeps stacking good days. Gary’s 36 points were a season-high and the most he’s scored in a game since March 11th, 2022, when he had 42 against the Suns.

Grade: A

Taurean Prince

38 minutes, 18 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 5 turnovers, 7/12 FG, 4/7 3P, -2

Usually, you don’t want a player like Prince playing such a featured role, but to his credit, he was good in this one. TP hit timely shots and kept the ball moving, tying his career-high with eight assists. Five turnovers isn’t ideal, but he wasn’t the only guy coughing it up too much.

Grade: A-

Andre Jackson Jr.

33 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 5/8 FG, 1/2 3P, -15

AJax continues to look more aggressive on the offensive end. He made solid plays within the team’s sets and disrupted a bit on defense. More and more, he’s showing flashes that justify Milwaukee’s decision to keep him around.

Grade: B

Pete Nance

38 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2/9 FG, 1/6 3P, -10

Nance’s offensive production has begun to tail off lately, and it’s limiting his ability to impact the game. He does enough on defense and as a hub at the five to make himself a factor when he isn’t hitting shots, but he’s gotta start doing that again.

Grade: C-

Ousmane Dieng

21 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 6 fouls, 3/8 FG, 0/4 3P, -5

This was one to forget for the young Frenchman. Dieng forced some tough shots, missed all his triples, turned it over too much, and fouled out. This feels like a needed reminder to some fans who jumped the gun with him. Ous is still raw and young with a lot of development left.

Grade: D

AJ Green

28 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 6 fouls, 4/8 FG, 2/5 3P, 5/5 FT, -18

Dairy Bird was aggressive, but maybe a little too much, as he also fouled out. But on the positive side, he set a new career-high in free throws made with five.

Grade: B-

Jericho Sims

22 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3/5 FG, -16

Somewhat pedestrian game for Sims, relative to the heightened standards he’s beginning to set for himself. Two of his three baskets came in the first two minutes of the game, both of which were impressive finishes over Brook Lopez.

Grade: C

Cormac Ryan

20 minutes, 13 points, 1 steal, 4/6 FG, 3/5 3P, +4

The rookie had the first double-digit outing of his young career yesterday. He looked comfortable, confident, and energetic. He hit a three as part of a big fourth-quarter run that got the few faithful fans in Fiserv jumping. Fun game for the kid.

Grade: B

Doc Rivers

“Playing the right way” has been Doc’s go-to buzzword phrase this season, but honestly, it’s the most accurate way to describe how the Bucks played in this game. Every guy on the floor kept the ball moving and played unselfishly. The offense really felt connected from start to finish, with each player (save maybe Dieng) hunting the best shot for the team. They turned it over too much, but that’s a natural byproduct of having no point guards in the lineup (where’s Mark Sears when you need him). So, assuming the structure of the game plan can be attributed to Doc, he did a solid job.

Grade: B

Inactive: The Antetokounmpos (Giannis, Alex, Thanasis), Ryan Rollins, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Doc on Brook Lopez, who made his return to Milwaukee yesterday for the first time since he left in free agency:
  • “I wasn’t here when he won the title. I can just tell you what he meant to me, and I texted him and this, after everything went down, you know, I hate ranking cause every time I rank somebody I get some blowback, you know, but he is a top five character person, by far, I’ve ever been around in the NBA, forget coaching, player. Brook was, I fell in love with the guy as a human being. He did everything right. Prepared right. He’s emotional about the game. You know, people don’t see that because he’s so stoic, but Brook is fiercely competitive. He hates… last year, when we were struggling, that one stretch with all the injuries, every time we lost a game, he would text me, ‘what can I do more?’ That was all. Not, what someone else is not doing, I want more shots, it was ‘what can I do more to help you help the team?’ That’s, I’ve never got that text from any player in my career, like that, and he did it every time, and he meant it, and so he was amazing. This city should embrace him every time he comes to the city.”
• Tyronn Lue on one thing that’s surprised him about Brook Lopez in his first season with the Clippers:
  • “His work ethic. I mean, every single day, coming in with JVG, doing his shooting every day, doing his defensive stuff every single day, and no days off. You know, a guy who’s been in the league that long and that’s solidified as a great player this whole time, to just see him come in every single day and work, and so the same routine every single day, you can see why he’s had a long career. He’s a really good player.”
• Gary Trent Jr. on what he does to stay positive and loose regardless of the outcome of games and how many minutes he’s playing:
  •  “Again, you can only really control what you can control. I’m going into the eighth year of my NBA career. I’ve starred in games, I’ve been benched, I’ve been behind the bench in a suit, I done started and scored 40 before, so again, I done touched every aspect that you can be a part of, good and bad, so really just over those years, throughout my course of my career, helped me how to deal with things, how to stay sane, how to continue to keep working, little things like that.”
• Cormac Ryan went down chasing after a loose ball in the fourth quarter, and two Clippers helped him up. Always fun seeing little displays of sportsmanship like that, and Ryan’s overall energy has been very noticeable since he joined the team. He’s constantly standing up on the bench and cheering his teammates on.

Up Next

The Bucks will continue their homestand on Tuesday night, March 31st, against the Dallas Mavericks. Catch that one at 7:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.