Category: Basketball

After the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, head coach Mitch Johnson had high praise for Keldon Johnson, who led the team with 24 points.

“We are a team with an MVP candidate, multiple All-Stars, multiple All-Defensive NBA candidates, and every single one of our players has said he’s the heart and soul of our team,” Johnson said. “For the team that he is on and the circumstances that I just laid out, with the record that we have, I would find it very hard-pressed to find a better candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.”

KJ is just one of the many members of the team who should be considered for end-of-season accolades. Victor Wembanyama could be the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Castle could join him on the All-Defensive team, Dylan Harper should be in the running for an All-Rookie team, and Johnson himself is in the running for Coach of the Year.

SB Nation polled readers this week on who should win some of the NBA’s most important awards.

The most interesting finding was that Wembanyama was the favorite to win MVP based on the poll. Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3 blocks while shooting 50.4% from the field, 35.6% from three, and 81.8% from the free throw line. Wembanyama’s offensive numbers don’t quite stack up with other MVP contenders like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, but his defensive impact is immeasurable. There is no perfect defensive stat, but Wembanyama leads the league in individual defensive rating per 100 possessions at 102. The Spurs have a 106.9 defensive rating when he’s on the court and a 117 rating when he’s off. Teams have to change their entire offensive strategy to account for Wembanyama’s presence.

Wembanyama would be the first MVP to average under 25 points per game since Steve Nash in 2005-06. If he gets the votes, his all-around defensive dominance and team success will be leading factors for voters.

The poll also displayed what could be the tightest race for end-of-season awards. Johnson and Detroit Pistons’ head coach JB Bickerstaff are neck-and-neck for Coach of the Year. Both coaches have similar candidacies. They took good young teams to another level, overcoming preseason expectations to establish them as championship contenders. Both teams have two All-Stars in Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Cade Cunningham, and Jalen Duren, and similar talent to build out their rosters.

Currently, the Spurs hold a better record than Detroit at 53-18, while the Pistons are 51-19. San Antonio also swept the season series, going 2-0 against the Pistons. You could argue that those factors give Johnson the edge. Bickerstaff is more likely to win his conference, with the Boston Celtics 4 games back in second place, and the Spurs still 3 games back, chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder for best in the West. As the poll indicates, it’s tough to decide who will win the honors when the season ends.

San Antonio has one of the best records in the NBA, so it makes sense that they will be top of mind for end-of-season award voters. There is a real chance the Spurs could take home serious individual hardware before they make their push for the biggest award of them all: the Larry O’Brien trophy.

To see the betting odds for the awards, use this link: https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba

Follow all of Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

The last entrant into this year's Sweet 16 will either be Texas Tech or Alabama.

Both are dealing with major absences in their lineups -- for two very different reasons.

Texas Tech star JT Toppin, the 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year, tore his ACL on Feb. 18 and will miss the rest of the season. The Red Raiders went 3-3 entering the NCAA Tournament without him.

March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 12-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

Alabama will be playing without its second-leading scorer Aden Holloway after he was arrested on two felonies on March 16, for possession 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence. The University of Alabama released a statement and said Holloway was removed from campus and won't return to the team until the university's office of student conduct finishes its investigation.

But even with those two missing, there's still a matchup of stars worth your attention: Texas Tech's Christian Anderson vs. Alabama's Labaron Philon.

The winner of tonight's game will advance to next week's Sweet 16 where it will face No. 1 Michigan in Chicago.

Here's what you need to know for tonight's game:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Texas Tech vs Alabama live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Texas Tech	—	—	—
Alabama	—	—	—

What time is Texas Tech vs Alabama?

• Time: 9:45 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is Texas Tech vs Alabama? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on TBS, streaming via Fubo.

Texas Tech vs Alabama prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 4:30 p.m., Sunday.

∎ Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech 82, Alabama 79

One thing Texas Tech has going for it is the plethora of offensive weapons beyond Anderson. Alabama, meanwhile, has to rely on Philon to carry much of the offensive burden without Aden Holloway. The Red Raiders do well when they can let one player do the damage and take everybody else out of the equation.

∎ Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 84, Texas Tech 80

• John Leuzzi: Texas Tech
• Jordan Mendoza: Texas Tech
• Ehsan Kassim: Texas Tech
• Blake Schuster: Texas Tech
• Moneyline: Alabama (-110); Texas Tech (-110)
• Spread: Texas Tech (-1.5)
• Over/under total: 164.5

Why isn't Aden Holloway playing for Alabama? Latest arrest details on drug charges

Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 16 and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp after the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.

He was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and was set with a $5,000 bond, according to The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The University of Alabama later released a statement and said he was removed from campus and won't return to the team until the university's office of student conduct finishes its investigation.

Duel between Labaron Philon vs Christian Anderson will be must-see

Texas Tech's Anderson averages 7.5 assists to rank No. 3 in the country, trailing just Braden Smith of Purdue and Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State. Meanwhile, Philon's 4.8 assists struggle to crack the top 75. That being said, Alabama had one more elite option to dish out the ball in its nationally-acclaimed backcourt prior to the arrest of Aden Holloway on Monday, March 16.

Both sophomores can shoot, too. Philon touts a field-goal percentage of better than 51% to average 22 points per game, but Anderson isn't far behind, shooting 48% from the floor to average 19 points per contest.

Where is JT Toppin? What happened to Texas Tech star?

Toppin, a first team All-Big 12 pick, started 25 games before his season-ending ACL tear against Arizona State on Feb. 18. At the time, Toppin was averaging career-highs in points (21.8) and rebounds (10.8) per game, shooting 54.8% from the field.

This isn't the JT Toppin show anymore, and it hasn't been for a while. Texas Tech has had to move on. While Toppin is still very much part of the team — he was on FaceTime with several Red Raider teammates in the locker room after the Akron game — it's unfair to the players still on the floor to make it about the guy who isn't there.

"It's tough because we all care for JT," Petty said. "I love him. He's my brother. It's tough."Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Nathan Giese contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas Tech vs Alabama live score updates, highlights from March Madness Round 2

The Washington Wizards play the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Madison Square Garden. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.

He’s the hottest player in the NBA. Not even the NBA’s technical foul rule can slow Luka Doncic down.

The NBA rescinded Doncic’s 16th technical foul, the league announced Sunday, allowing Doncic to avoid a mandatory one-game suspension that would have kept him out of Monday’s game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

Doncic and the Lakers appealed the call after he was given a technical for taunting against Orlando Magic forward Goga Bitadze in Saturday’s Lakers win. Bitadze's technical foul was also rescinded after the European players were arguing while Doncic was shooting free throws. Doncic claimed Bitadze made a vulgar comment toward Doncic’s family in Serbian while Bitadze said he first heard inappropriate comments from Doncic and only repeated what he heard the Lakers guard say.

Read more:Luka Doncic says vulgar comment from Orlando player led to his 16th technical

Often criticized for arguing with officials, Doncic remains at 15 technical fouls this season, second in the NBA behind Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks. In 2023, Doncic also had his 16th technical foul rescinded, avoiding a one-game suspension.

Doncic’s historic scoring run has fueled the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak, their best since the 2019-20 season that ended with an NBA championship. Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, is averaging 40 points per game during the winning streak while shooting 40.3% from three-point range. His 60-point outburst against the Miami Heat last Thursday was the first 60-point game in Lakers history since Kobe Bryant’s last game in 2016. He was just the seventh Lakers player to record a 60-point game, joining legends Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal.

The winning streak has vaulted the Lakers from sixth in the West to third. They have navigated the most difficult stretch of their schedule with seven wins over playoff-bound teams.

Read more:Luke Kennard's last-second three-pointer lifts Lakers to ninth consecutive win

The Pistons, poised to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2007, are without their own star player as guard Cade Cunningham is sidelined for at least two weeks with a collapsed lung. Detroit is 2-0 without him with wins over Washington and Golden State.

Note: Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) and Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) are questionable for Monday's game.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Kentucky men's basketball's confusing season came to an end on Sunday.

The 7th-seeded Wildcats of the Midwest Region were handed a 19-point loss by 2-seed Iowa State on Sunday in St. Louis in overtime, giving Kentucky its first exit in the first weekend under Pope, who helped lead the program to a national championship under Rick Pitino as a player.

Toppmeyer: Kentucky's win over Santa Clara leaves Jamal Mashburn unimpressed

Mark Pope facing heat: Kentucky faces March Madness pressure

Kentucky found some March magic in Friday's first-round overtime win over 10-seed Santa Clara with Otega Oweh getting off a game-tying 3-pointer from near the logo to tie the game and force overtime. Oweh, who hit a pair of key free throws in overtime, went off for 35 points in the win over the Broncos.

Coming off a Sweet 16 run in Pope's second season, the honeymoon stage of his return to Lexington was quickly ended this season, as the Wildcats had an up-and-down year that featured losses they "should not have" taken as a "blue blood", like Missouri, Georgia, and Auburn in SEC play. Kentucky went 1-4 against top-ranked opponents in the nonconference as well.

There were also wins — like Tennessee, Arkansas, St. John's and Vanderbilt — for the Wildcats that reminded the SEC (and the country) of the talent — that has come at the cost of well over $20 million in NIL value — that Pope has on his roster.

Here's what to know of Pope's buyout and contract information at Kentucky following the Wildcats' loss to Iowa State:

Mark Pope buyout at Kentucky

According to Pope's contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, Kentucky would owe the coach $$12,937,500 million if he were fired on April 1.

Mark Pope contract details at Kentucky

• Length: Contract has three years remaining
• Base salary remaining: $1.2 million
• Supplemental compensation remaining: $16,050,000 million

According to Kentucky's contract with Pope, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, there are three additional years remaining. addition to his $1,250,000 annual base salary, he is earning $1,800,00 in supplemental pay for the 2026 contract year. In addition to the $1.2 million in base salary remaining ($400,000 per year), there is $16.05 million in supplemental compensation remaining.

All told, the total left on Pope's deal is $17,250,000. Kentucky would owe the buyout for the remaining 75% of his contract if it decided to fire Pope without cause at anytime.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Pope buyout, contract details for Kentucky basketball coach

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Seattle's Andrew Thomas finished with two saves and Drake Callender did likewise as the Sounders and Minnesota United played to a scoreless draw on Sunday.

It was the third straight and fourth shutout in five starts this season for Thomas. The 27-year-old took the starting reins from mainstay Stefan Frei — now in a backup role. He hasn't allowed a goal since a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake in Seattle's road opener. He also blanked the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the season opener at home. Thomas had the lone save of the first half.

Callender notched his second clean sheet in his first season with Minnesota United. Callender and Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Claire switched teams in the offseason. Callender made 92 starts for Miami beginning in 2022, but only five last season.

Jordan Morris saw his first action for the Sounders (3-1-1) since he was injured in the season opener. Morris entered in the 65th minute along with Jesús Ferreira and 18-year old midfielder Snyder Brunell.

Seattle was coming off back-to-back 1-0 road victories over St. Louis City and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Minnesota United (1-2-2) came in after being outscored 9-1 in two straight road losses to Nashville SC and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Minnesota swept Seattle during the regular season last year and then eliminated the Sounders in the best-of-three first round of the playoffs, winning twice at home on penalty kicks after 0-0 and 3-3 draws in regulation. Seattle posted a 4-2 victory at home in the middle match.

Up next

Seattle: Visits the Houston Dynamo on April 4.

Minnesota: Visits the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 4.

___

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

Follow all of Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

The unpredictability of Dan Hurley and Mick Cronin on the sidelines will draw a spotlight, but it's what happens on the court that will determine whether UConn or UCLA reach the Sweet 16.

The No. 2 Huskies messed around a little bit No. 15 Furman before putting the Paladins away, 82-71. UConn was shorthanded without point guards Silas Demary Jr. and Jaylin Stewart.

March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 11-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

Demary listed as questionable on the NCAA's availability report for today's game vs. the No. 10 seed Bruins, and the Huskies will hope to have their point guard back.

No. 7 UCLA beat 10th-seeded UCF in 75-71 in the first round. The Bruins controlled most of the game but had some nervy moments late. Eric Dailey Jr. led the way with 20 points, with Trent Perry and Xavier Booker adding 15 each.

The winner of today's game advances to next week's Sweet 16 against No. 3 seed Michigan State in Washington D.C.

Here's what you need to know for today's game:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

UConn vs UCLA live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
UCLA	—	—	—
UConn	—	—	—

What time is UConn vs UCLA?

• Time: 8:45 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is UConn vs UCLA? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on TNT, streaming via Fubo.

UConn vs UCLA prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 1 p.m., Sunday.

• John Leuzzi: UConn
• Jordan Mendoza: UCLA
• Ehsan Kassim: UCLA
• Blake Schuster: UConn
• Moneyline: UConn (-200); UCLA (+165)
• Spread: UConn (-4.5)
• Over/under total: 136.5

Will Dan Hurley, Mick Cronin control emotions or get technical fouls?

Hurley and Cronin are among the more volatile coaches on the bench. Put them together and there's a chance for a sideline explosion.

"It’s ridiculous. Everybody needs to get a life," Cronin said Saturday, March 21 when asked if he cares about how people perceive Hurley and himself. "You want to win big? Do you think Coach Hurley’s not supposed to be intense, but you want to win? We’re not coaching Little League."

Silas Demary Jr injury update: Will UConn guard play vs UCLA?

The 6-4 guard was held out of UConn's first-round win over 15-seed Furman at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday, March 20 as he continues to rehab from an ankle injury he sustained in the Big East Tournament.

He was listed as questionable for the March 22 second-round game against the 10-seed Bruins in the NCAA's initial player availability report.

Why is Bill Murray at UConn vs UCLA March Madness game?

Murray's son Luke Murray is an associate head coach on the Huskies' coaching staff.

Luke Murray is in his fifth season on the UConn bench. Before taking the Huskies assistant job in 2021, he was an assistant at both Xavier and Louisville under now the College of Charleston coach Chris Mack. He is in his ninth season on Hurley's staff across three different stops.

Tarris Reid stats: Huskies big man's big night matches Elvin Hayes

Reid scored 31 points and pulled down 27 rebounds in the Huskies' first round win over Furman.

The 6-11 forward became the first player since Houston's Elvin Hayes in 1968 to finish with at least 30 points and 25 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game.

"That's as good as you are ever going to see it," UConn coach Dan Hurley said of Reed's performance after his team's 82-71 win over Furman to a group of reporters outside the Huskies locker room.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn vs UCLA live score updates, highlights from March Madness Round 2

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame's Ahmed Hesham won the men's saber on Sunday, and the Fighting Irish men joined the women in winning the inaugural three-weapon national championship at the Joyce Center.

Hesham defeated St. John's Adham Moataz 15-12 in the final after a third-place finish last season.

Notre Dame finished with 91 points, 10 better than runner-up Columbia. St. John's (63), Harvard (62) and Pennsylvania (58) rounded out the top five.

Notre Dame's Chase Emmer fell short in defense of his foil title after losing 15-8 to Columbia's Sam Kumbla in the final.

Fighting Irish freshman Kruz Schembri made it to the épée final before losing to North Carolina's Youssef Shamel 15-7.

The Fighting Irish trio led all three disciplines after the first day.

Notre Dame won 14 co-ed championships, including six of the last eight. The Fighting Irish won last season's title in the final year of the combined men's and women's team championship.

Notre Dame edged Columbia 102-99 on Friday to win the first women's three-weapon title. Eszter Muhan won the épée for the Irish.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Follow all of Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

No. 1 seed Arizona made it look easy against No. 16 Long Island in the first round, even if Wildcats players said it wasn't.

Arizona jumped out to a 27-point lead in the first half and got at least 14 points from three freshman starters and coasted to a 92-58 win over the Sharks.

March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 11-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

No. 9 Utah State played in a much closer game, surviving No. 8 Villanova, 86-76, in one of the more entertaining first round games.

Mason Falslev had 22 points and MJ Collins Jr. had 20 points as Jerrod Calhoun's Aggies put on an offensive clinic that had broadcasters and studio analysts gushing afterward.

The winner of today's game advances to next week's Sweet 16 to play No. 4 Arkansas in San Jose.

Here's what you need to know about today's game.

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Arizona vs Utah State live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Utah State	—	—	—
Arizona	—	—	—

What time is Arizona vs Utah State?

• Time: 7:50 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is Arizona vs Utah State? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on truTV, streaming via Fubo.

Arizona vs Utah State prediction, odds

∎ Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Arizona 83, Utah State 72

The Wildcats are seeking their first Final Four appearance since 2001. They will get one step closer with a win over Utah State, although it won't come quite as easily as the win over Long Island.

• John Leuzzi: Arizona
• Jordan Mendoza: Arizona
• Ehsan Kassim: Arizona
• Blake Schuster: Arizona
• Moneyline: Arizona (-800); Utah State (+550)
• Spread: Arizona (-11.5)
• Over/ under total: 153.5

Who is Jerrod Calhoun? What to know about Utah State coach and Aggies offense?

"This guy is an offensive genius," CBS commentator and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said of Calhoun during Utah State's first round win over Villanova.

CBS Sports analyst Jamal Mashburn, who played 11 NBA seasons, also had high praise for Calhoun and what he's done with the Aggies program.

"Just a masterful job of what he's been able to do," Mashburn said. "Teach these kids how to play that way, and also put them in a position to be aggressive and not be afraid to make mistakes."

Even TNT Sports host Adam Lefkoe had to admire Calhoun's coaching prowess.

"Many of you have not seen Utah State. But we sat here and went, 'Coaches around the country need to steal their plays.' Hopefully they don't steal their players," Lefkoe said. "Utah State's offense was phenomenal. ... Let's look at the highlights because almost every play you see is a masterclass from coach Calhoun."

Is Jerrod Calhoun a candidate for Cincinnati coach job?

Calhoun, who's in his second season as head coach at Utah State, is being linked with a number of power conference openings, including Cincinnati.

An Ohio native, Calhoun got his start in coaching as a student assistant on the Bearcats staff in 2003-04. He spent seven years as head coach at Ohio's Youngstown State before heading to USU.

"Calhoun is going to be great walking the sidelines at UC," former Bearcat great Nick Van Exel tweeted after Calhoun's Aggies defeated Villanova. "Offense is great. Lots of ball/body movement and paint touches. And he gets the history of the program and understands that the UC vs X is a rivalry and not just another game."

Koa Peat 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 19 overall to Miami Heat

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to their organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace (4.6 extra possessions) when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miamis fastest-paced offense in the NBA.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Koa Peat stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 13.6 points per game
• 5.3 rebounds per game
• 2.7 assists per game
• 53.7% field goal percentage
• 31.6% three-point field goal percentage

Brayden Burries 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 10 overall to Milwaukee Bucks.

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard has continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Brayden Burries stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 15.9 points per game
• 4.7 rebounds per game
• 2.6 assists per game
• 49.2% field goal percentage
• 36.7% three-point field goal percentage

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona vs Utah State live score updates, highlights from March Madness Round 2

BOSTON — Paul Pierce is no stranger to winning at TD Garden. So, when the 10-time NBA All-Star and Celtics champion took the parquet for a three-point competition on Sunday afternoon, it felt just like the good ol’ days.

Pierce competed in the Celtics’ first annual Causeway Classic three-point shooting competition, going up against former ‘08 teammates Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe, as well as former Celtic Evan Turner. The event, presented by Ticketmaster and held in front of Season Ticket members at the Garden, began with a first round that included all four competitors, and a final round between Pierce and Scalabrine.

Despite a cold start in the finals, Pierce edged out Scalabrine to win the inaugural competition.

Then, in a postgame interview with 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell, Pierce jokingly shouted, “We did it!” and “Anything is possible!” an ode to the words he and Kevin Garnett yelled out as confetti fell, moments after the 2008 championship became officially theirs.

Paul Pierce after winning the first annual Causeway Classic, presented by Ticketmaster:

“Anything is possible!” pic.twitter.com/TE5lNtdbSU

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 22, 2026

The former Finals MVP then spent his post-competition press conference advocating for this current group of Celtics, who have exceeded expectations.

He began with Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 28.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game this season — all-career highs. Pierce has been very impressed with Brown’s 2025-2026, which included setting a new franchise record for most consecutive 30+ point games (9).

“Brown is having an MVP season,” Pierce said. “Not enough is being said on how he’s held down the fort pretty much all year. To still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time, guys are who they are by the time they are in their 4th or 5th year.”

Paul Pierce on Jaylen Brown:

“Brown is having an MVP season. Not enough is being said on how he's held down the fort pretty much all year.”

“To still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time guys are who they are about time in their 4th or… pic.twitter.com/yPiTPuIQjm

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 22, 2026

“It’s just unfortunate that he’s not in MVP talks like he should be,” Pierce said.

Pierce also showed love to Joe Mazzulla, who has led the Celtics to a 47-23 record this season despite critical offseason departures and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture.

“This is just a testament of who Coach Mazzulla; he’s hands down the Coach of the Year,” Pierce said. “Coach Mazzulla hasn’t gotten enough credit for what he’s done to develop some of these young guys.“

Many former Celtics have maintained they’re not surprised at how much success the Celtics have had this season, but Pierce is not in the camp. He’s happy to admit he did not see this level of success coming so quickly.

“A lot of us was like, you know, not this year, maybe next year,” Pierce said. “Now, we’re weeks away from the playoffs, talking about we can actually win the East and be in the Finals.”

Pierce said he’ll be seeing Tatum for the first time since his return on Sunday evening, when the Celtics face the Minnesota Timberwolves. He briefly checked in with Tatum during his recovery, but said he wanted to give Tatum his space as he worked toward his recovery, recalling how Kevin Garnett went about his rehab in 2009 when the two were teammates.

Paul Pierce continues to embody Celtics culture

Nowadays, Pierce lives in Los Angeles, but said he always likes to see Tatum, Brown, and others on the road when they come through his city. Staying connected to the Celtics organization feels important, and it’s something that Mazzulla has always encouraged during his tenure as head coach.

That’s how it was when Pierce was a player, too.

“When I was coming up, there’d be times when I’d always look up, and I’d see Bob Cousy, I’d see John Havlicek, JoJo White — so it’s always been like that,” Pierce said. “And these guys will come to our practice also. And it was always open arms to the former players who helped build this place, who helped decorate this place. And that’s what Celtic culture is – it lives on through our history, through our culture. That’s something that’s always gonna be, no matter who’s here, as players or coaches or owners — the former players who helped build this arena, they always will be invited back, no matter who’s here.”

Pierce also explained why he uses his platform to shine light on the current Celtics’ success. He feels that in recent years, Celtics athletes have been snubbed, and pointed to the 2024 US Olympic basketball team as the latest example. Brown was left off that team just weeks after winning Finals MVP, and Tatum largely fell out of the rotation, just weeks after the two led the Celtics to the 2024 championship.

“I feel like Boston players don’t get their just due, for the most part,” Pierce said. “Obviously, Brown not being in the Olympics, Tatum not getting the minutes. I’m always advocating and pushing for them and fighting for them.”

Why does he think Boston athletes are often overlooked?

Pierce laughed when posed that question, pointing to what he perceives as envy from other parts of the country.

“I’d be jealous! We have everything,” Pierce said, with a grin. “We got the most championships — probably the best sports city in all of America.”

LeBron James has added another NBA record to his resume.

With his appearance in the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Orlando Magic March 21, the 22-time NBA All-Star broke Robert Parrish's all-time games played record. Now, LeBron stands alone with 1,612 games played in his career.

While James has numerous iconic moments under his belt, any NBA fan can probably pinpoint one or two moments where the four-time MVP went off against their favorite team. It may not be a fond memory for them, but it's just another example of the type of legacy James has left on the league.

But which team has James played the most games against? Has he won a game against every team in the league? Has he won a playoff game against every team in the league? Here's a full breakdown of James' 1,612 career games (and 292 playoff games).

LeBron James' games played, regular-season record vs. each team

*- record against each team is listed in parentheses following total games played

NOTE: Teams no longer in existence (e.g. Seattle Supersonics, New Jersey Nets, etc.) are not listed, but are counted as part of the franchise's current location (e.g. Supersonics are counted with Oklahoma City Thunder).

• Atlanta Hawks: 67 (48-19)
• Boston Celtics: 62 (34-28)
• Brooklyn Nets: 63 (40-23)
• Charlotte Hornets: 59 (50-9)
• Chicago Bulls: 68 (37-31)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: 25 (19-6)
• Dallas Mavericks: 49 (31-18)
• Denver Nuggets: 48 (23-25)
• Detroit Pistons: 66 (42-24)
• Golden State Warriors: 47 (27-20)
• Houston Rockets: 50 (27-23)
• Indiana Pacers: 67 (42-25)
• Los Angeles Clippers: 53 (31-22)
• Los Angeles Lakers: 30 (22-8)
• Memphis Grizzlies: 53 (36-17)
• Miami Heat: 48 (26-22)
• Milwaukee Bucks: 62 (43-19)
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 45 (33-12)
• New Orleans Pelicans: 55 (38-17)
• New York Knicks: 62 (44-18)
• Oklahoma City Thunder: 43 (28-15)
• Orlando Magic: 66 (42-24)
• Philadelphia 76ers: 60 (42-18)
• Phoenix Suns: 52 (31-21)
• Portland Trail Blazers: 45 (30-15)
• Sacramento Kings: 48 (30-18)
• San Antonio Spurs: 47 (25-22)
• Toronto Raptors: 64 (48-16)
• Utah Jazz: 47 (32-15)
• Washington Wizards: 61 (40-21)

LeBron James' games played, playoff record vs. each team

• Atlanta Hawks: 12 (12-0)
• Boston Celtics: 41 (25-16)
• Brooklyn Nets: 11 (8-3)
• Charlotte Hornets: 5 (4-1)
• Chicago Bulls: 21 (16-5)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: N/A
• Dallas Mavericks: 6 (2-4)
• Denver Nuggets: 14 (5-9)
• Detroit Pistons: 21 (15-6)
• Golden State Warriors: 18 (11-17) — James has an additional win against the Warriors in the NBA's play-in tournament.
• Houston Rockets: 5 (4-1)
• Indiana Pacers: 30 (20-10)
• Los Angeles Clippers: N/A
• Los Angeles Lakers: N/A
• Memphis Grizzlies: 6 (4-2)
• Miami Heat: 6 (4-2)
• Milwaukee Bucks: 5 (4-1)
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 (1-4)
• New Orleans Pelicans: N/A — James did beat them in a play-in tournament game in 2024, though.
• New York Knicks: 5 (4-1)
• Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 (4-1)
• Orlando Magic: 6 (2-4)
• Philadelphia 76ers: 5 (4-1)
• Phoenix Suns: 6 (2-4)
• Portland Trail Blazers: 5 (4-1)
• Sacramento Kings: N/A
• San Antonio Spurs: 16 (5-11)
• Toronto Raptors: 14 (12-2)
• Utah Jazz: N/A
• Washington Wizards: 16 (12-4)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James games played, record, playoff success vs every NBA Team

Tennessee's star freshman is playing in the NCAA Tournament banged up.

Forward Nate Ament is pushing through the Big Dance with an injury that has been bothering him for nearly a month, and kept him out of the last week of the regular season. While he did play in the first round game against Miami (Ohio), he clearly wasn't 100%. Ament didn't score in the 18 minutes of action.

March Madness live scores, highlights: An upset, near-misses alter Sweet 16 bracket

It was a concerning outing, and will be something to monitor as the Volunteers continue their March Madness run. So how will it affect Ament's status for the second round matchup against Virginia?

Will Nate Ament play today vs Virginia?

Yes, Ament will play. The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness but expects to play against the Cavaliers and through the rest of the tournament.

"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game," he said. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season. While he will play, it's unknown if there will be a minutes restriction, as it will all depend on how he looks and feels

"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could. We'll see game time," Barnes said.

What happened to Nate Ament?

Ament suffered a high ankle sprain against Missouri on Feb. 24, and then hurt his knee in the next game against Alabama on Feb. 28. He missed the final two regular season games as a result.

Ament averages 17 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nate Ament injury update: Will Vols star play vs. Virginia in March Madness?

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Messi scored the equalizer off a free kick in the second half before helping to set up Micael dos Santos' winner and Inter Miami came from behind to beat New York City FC 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

Inter Miami (3-1-1) pulls into a second-place tie in the Eastern Conference by handing NYCFC (3-1-1) its first loss.

Gonzalo Luján scored his first career goal — unassisted off a rebound in the 4th minute to give Inter Miami an early lead. The 21-year-old defender has started in 23 of his 30 career appearances.

Nicolás Fernández continued his red-hot start with his fifth goal, scoring off a free kick in the 17th minute to pull NYCFC even. Fernández has eight goals in 16 career appearances since last season.

Agustín Ojeda scored — with assists from Maxi Moralez and Kevin O'Toole — to give NYCFC a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. It was Ojeda's second goal this season and his fifth in 61 career matches. Moralez already has four assists this season.

The advantage lasted for two minutes until Messi drilled a left-footed free kick that ricocheted its way past Matt Freese for his fourth goal this season. It was Messi's 54th goal in his 58th MLS appearance. The Argentine legend has scored 901 goals in his illustrious international and club career.

Messi's corner kick in the 74th minute helped set up a header by Micael and Inter Miami took a 3-2 lead. Noah Allen and David Ayala assisted on Micael's first goal with his new team.

Dayne St. Claire turned away three shots on goal for Inter Miami in his first season with the defending MLS Cup champions. He has surrendered eight goals in his four starts.

Matt Freese had five saves for NYCFC.

Messi had shots bounce off the post and crossbar in the first half.

NYCFC leads the series 7-4-4, but Miami has gone 3-0-4 in the last seven matchups.

Up next

Miami: Hosts Austin FC on April 4.

New York: Hosts St. Louis City on April 4.

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

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tom Barlow scored short-handed for the equalizer in the 80th minute and Kévin Denkey followed with the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, rallying FC Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory over CF Montreal on Sunday.

Barlow tied it 3-3 when he scored three minutes after subbing in to the match. It was his first MLS goal with his new team. Denkey scored for the second time this season — also unassisted — after notching 15 goals in 29 appearances last season — his first in the league.

Cincinnati (2-3-0) was forced to play a man down after Miles Robinson's red card in the 60th minute.

Newcomer Wiki Carmona used assists from Prince Owusu and Bode Hidalgo in the 6th minute to score for the third time in three matches and give Montreal a 1-0 lead.

Ender Echenique tied it in the 40th minute for Cincinnati with his first goal this season. The 21-year-old scored once in eight appearances last season. Defender Alvas Powell and Matt Miazga had assists. Powell picked up his first assist of the campaign and became the fifth player to make 150 appearances for the club.

Montreal took a 2-1 lead into halftime when Owusu scored in the 45th minute. Carmona and Iván Jaime had assists. It was the third goal this season for Owusu and his 25th in 79 career appearances.

Cincinnati knotted the score again in the 52nd minute on Ayoub Jabbari's first career goal in his 10th appearance. Echenique had his first assist and second overall, while Pavel Bucha notched his first — and 13th in 70 appearances.

Evan Louro totaled four saves in his first start this season for Cincinnati and his sixth career start since 2024.

Thomas Gillier, 21, finished with four saves for Montreal (1-4-0) in his 13th career start.

Cincinnati improves to 8-4-2 all-time versus Montreal and its eight victories in the series is its most against any club.

Up next

Montreal: Visits the New England Revolution on April 4.

Cincinnati: Visits the New York Red Bulls on April 4.

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