Mar 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends against Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
After Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, tonight’s game will determine the winner of the season series between these two teams. Maybe now that the Houston Rockets lost the first game, they will lock in and play with more intensity and might actually, you know, make some shots.
I think Ime Udoka should have ripped into the officials after Monday’s loss. Maybe he could have made a big deal about the Kevin Durant flagrant foul or how the Lakers took more free throws than Houston while Durant was being held every time down the court. He didn’t need to mean it, but it would have made referees second guess themselves in tonight’s game. The Lakers have led the league in free throw differential basically every year of their existence, so harping on the discrepancies would have possibly helped Houston tonight.
Anyway, Alperen Sengun should be back for tonight’s game and needs to bully the smaller Lakers inside. If he can’t get going against this team, he really might be broken. I think he’s been playing injured, but if he’s good to play then he needs to give Houston everything.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers did just enough to outscore a bad Milwaukee Bucks team 123-116 that was without two of their best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. It’s difficult to be too positive about the overall effort after a game like this, even though it’s an improvement from Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents that player performing to our expectations for them.
James Harden
27 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
This was a vintage, prime Harden game. He put up 27 points on just 10 shot attempts, got to the free-throw line at will, and made sure the offense got a quality shot every time he had the ball in his hands.
It was a great response from someone who struggled on both ends of the floor in the loss to the Mavs.
Grade: A
Donovan Mitchell
19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
This was about as rough a game as you’re going to see from Mitchell, even though the box score numbers above wouldn’t suggest that.
He wasn’t inefficient from the floor, going 4-14, and struggled defensively against a team that doesn’t have many players who should be able to easily take opposing guards off the dribble. This led to Mitchell being a team-worst -15 in the minutes he was on the floor. That means the Cavs won the 14 minutes he was on the bench by 22 points.
This was just rough all the way around.
Grade: F
Evan Mobley
27 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks
The box score numbers are great, but it’s how he achieved them that’s most impressive.
Mobley was excellent at attacking in the pick-and-roll as the roller. He was forceful when diving to the basket, which is something he’s struggled with throughout his career. That aggression was rewarded as he took a team-high 21 shots.
Additionally, he did a great job of taking advantage of the Bucks’ thin frontcourt. He completely dominated his matchup with Jericho Sims to the point that he only played 16 minutes.
This was exactly what you want to see from Mobley.
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Max Strus
6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Strus struggled to find his shot, going 2-6 from beyond the arc. He did, however, do all of the dirty work that makes him so valuable and was a useful second-side playmaker.
This was a solid second game back from injury.
Grade: B-
Keon Ellis
8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks
This was a rare game where Ellis didn’t record a block or a steal. He did, however, nail both of his three-point looks.
Grade: B-
Jaylon Tyson
2 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists
Tyson has struggled to establish any momentum after putting up 22 points against the Detroit Pistons at the beginning of the month. He’s dealt with injuries to his neck and ankle recently. Maybe that plays a part in it. But his play on the court was once again rough.
Atkinson limited Tyson to just 13 minutes in this game, and understandably so. He wasn’t good defensively (he lost Pete Nance numerous times), had no impact on the glass, and was mostly out of place on offense.
Grade: F
Dennis Schroder
3 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound
Schroder didn’t make an impact scoring, but he set up his teammates, as he finished with five helpers in just 16 minutes of play.
Grade: C+
Dean Wade
9 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
Wade attacked the basket offensively, took four outside shots, and did his job defensively. This led to him having the third-best plus/minus on the team at +13. What more can you ask for from Wade?
Grade: B
Thomas Bryant
5 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists
This wasn’t a good showing from Bryant. He was picked on defensively and didn’t provide enough on the glass or offensively to make up for it.
Grade: D-
Sam Merrill
17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Merrill provided a spark to the offense. He did a great job of reading how the defense was playing him and attacking the weaknesses off ball. This led to him going 3-4 in his shots in the paint.
Additionally, he knocked down timely triples and competed defensively. It isn’t surprising that the Cavs played their best basketball with him on the court, as he led the team in plus/minus by being a +22 in the 28 minutes he played.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 Tuesday night for their 10th straight win.
Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder and Ajay Mitchell had 16 points, five of them during a mid-fourth quarter run that put the Thunder ahead to stay.
Paolo Banchero had 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Orlando. Jalen Suggs added 14 points for the Magic, who lost on a second straight night after a seven-game win streak of their own.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s record 129th game scoring 20 or more points was accomplished on 14 for 27 shooting and 9 of 11 free throws. He hit 3 of 5 3-point shots, the final one giving the Thunder a 102-96 lead with 3:11 remaining.
His streak of 20-plus point road games, also an NBA record, reached 61 games.
PISTONS 130, WIZARDS 117
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Duren had 36 points and 12 rebounds for Eastern Conference-leading Detroit, who lost fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham to back spasms in the first half of a victory over Washington.
Cunningham was hurt early in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball. He played for a few more minutes before being taken out at the 6:40 mark, and the team said during the second quarter he would not return.
Reserve Daniss Jenkins added 15 points for the Pistons, who have won four of five and sent the Wizards to their 13th straight loss. The teams meet again on Thursday; should Detroit prevail, Washington would equal its 14-game skid from early this season that sent it to a 1-15 start.
Bub Carrington scored a season-high 30 points for the injury-depleted Wizards, who had little-used veteran Anthony Gill in the starting lineup. Rookie Will Riley added 21 points and Justin Champagnie scored 18.
KNICKS 136, PACERS 110
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored a season-high 33 points on 12-of-13 shooting including 5 of 5 from 3-point range to lead New York over Indiana.
OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Karl Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Knicks’ fourth straight win.
Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 16 points as Indiana’s losing streak reached 14 games.
Indiana led 12-11 when Anunoby scored the next eight points and the Knicks went ahead 38-34 after the first quarter.
New York stayed in front until Jalen Slawson’s 3-pointer gave the Pacers a 44-43 lead.
Indiana increased its lead to 57-51, but the Knicks ended the quarter on a 21-7 streak and took a 72-64 halftime advantage.
After the Pacers cut the deficit to six, the Knicks went on a 19-8 run to open a 94-77 lead.
Indiana pulled within 99-89, but New York opened its lead to 105-91 entering the final quarter.
HORNETS 136, HEAT 106
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 13 assists, and Charlotte pulled away in a huge fourth quarter to beat short-handed Miami.
Coby White scored 24 points off the bench and rookie Kon Knueppel added 22 as Charlotte (35-34) won for the ninth time in 12 games. Brandon Miller scored 16 for the Hornets, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference.
Tyler Herro had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Heat (38-31), who dropped their second straight following a season-best seven-game winning streak. They played without star forward Bam Adebayo, who sat out with right calf tightness after being listed as questionable before the game.
Adebayo hadn’t missed a game since Dec. 27. He scored 83 points last Tuesday in a 150-129 win over Washington, second-most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.
Andrew Wiggins missed his sixth consecutive game with a toe injury, and Miami forward Nikola Jovic (back) did not play for the 12th game in a row. He was listed as probable before the game and was expected to return.
Miami remained seventh in the East, a half-game behind Orlando.
TIMBERWOLVES 116, SUNS 104
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle scored 32 points and Bones Hyland had 22 points off the bench to help Minnesota offset absence of All-Star Anthony Edwards and beat Phoenix.
Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who are 7-4 without Edwards this season. The NBA ’s third-leading scorer will miss the next week or two with knee inflammation.
Devin Booker scored 34 points despite shooting 1 for 7 from 3-point range for the Suns, who finished a five-game road trip with their third straight loss.
After losing 120-112 in Boston the night before, the Suns played without three of their top five scorers as Grayson Allen (knee soreness) joined the previously sidelined Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams.
The Timberwolves (42-27), who entered the evening tied with Denver for fifth place in the Western Conference, used a 16-2 run that started late in the third quarter to take control as Randle posted his second straight 32-point game.
The seventh-place Suns (39-30) were within one game of the Timberwolves just five days ago, trying to move above the cut for avoiding the play-in tournament. Phoenix still won the season series with Minnesota 2-1.
CAVALIERS 123, BUCKS 116
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Evan Mobley had 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden also scored 27 as Cleveland opened a three-game trip by beating short-handed Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. This was the career-high 32nd game the two-time MVP has missed this season, and the Bucks fell to 11-21 without him.
The Bucks also didn’t have Myles Turner because of a right calf strain. Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen missed a sixth straight game because of tendinitis in his right knee.
In a game featuring 11 ties and 16 lead changes, Cleveland pulled ahead for good 103-100 on Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer with 6:55 remaining, which started an 8-0 run.
Milwaukee cut the lead to 110-106 on an Ousmane Dieng’s 3-pointer with 3:39 left, but Cleveland responded with seven straight points. The Cavs stayed in front by at least five the rest of the way.
Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points and 10 assists. Dieng, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins added 19 points each.
SPURS 132, KINGS 104
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 18 points and eight rebounds, and San Antonio beat Sacramento.
Wembanyama shot 7 of 14 with a pair of 3-pointers and three assists to help the Spurs to their first win in Sacramento in more than two years.
Former Kings star De’Aaron Fox added 15, five rebounds and six assists for San Antonio. Keldon Johnson scored 18 points and Dylan Harper had 15.
The Spurs (51-18) have won eight of nine. They also improved to 11-3 on the second half of back-to-backs.
Maxime Raynaud had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Kings (18-52). Doug McDermott added 12 points.
Russell Westbrook had 10 assists to move past Mark Jackson and Steve Nash into fifth place on the NBA all-time list.
The Spurs led by 41 in the third quarter, made 25 of 49 3-point attempts and cruised to their 25th road win of the season.
NUGGETS 124, 76ERS 96
DENVER (AP) — Christian Braun had 22 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 assists, and Denver routed injury-plagued Philadelphia.
Denver kept pace with Minnesota, which beat Phoenix on Tuesday night, in a tight Western Conference race. There are 1 1/2 games separating the third-place Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves in sixth.
Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid (right oblique strain), Tyrese Maxey (sprained finger) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow strain). Paul George is serving a 25-game suspension.
The sold-out crowd booed Embiid when he came to the bench for the first time in the third quarter. Embiid has missed the last six Sixers games in Denver, denying Nuggets fans an MVP matchup between the Philadelphia big man and Jokic.
Jokic scored eight points on 4 of 7 shooting but reached 10 assists in less than 12 minutes. He picked up two quick fouls and a technical in the first quarter after dishing out eight assists.
SACRAMENTO, CA — When you think of the greatest point guards to ever play in the NBA, one name you have to mention when it's all said and done is Russell Westbrook.
The former MVP and future Hall of Famer has added to his extensive resume with his most recent history-making feat.
Westbrook has surpassed two legendary point guards on the NBA's all-time assist list, Steve Nash and Mark Jackson, and now sits alone at No. 5 with 10,343 assists. He passed those greats during the Sacramento Kings' game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17.
He moved Nash and Jackson down to No. 6 and 7, respectively.
Most assists in NBA history:
John Stockton - 15,806 Chris Paul -12,552 Jason Kidd - 12,091 LeBron James - 11,909 Russell Westbrook - 10,336
Westbrook has passed Steve Nash and Mark Jackson to enter the all-time top five. pic.twitter.com/GMlvrElRiJ
Westbrook made history after dishing a pass inside to Kings rookie center Maxime Raynaud, who made a 6-foot push shot with 5:00 remaining in the second quarter.
Going into the contest, Westbrook needed two assists to pass Jackson and three assists to pass Nash.
"We are really a part of history," Kings rookie guard Nique Clifford told USA TODAY Sports after the game. "He's making his legacy, displaying his greatness on a night to night basis just breaking records. ... We can't take that for granted. It's pretty special to be around Hall of Fame-level players like him."
The Spurs won the game 132-104. San Antonio has the second-best record in the league at 51-18, whereas Sacramento is 18-52.
Westbrook making case as one of the all-time greats
Westbrook has averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists on 42.8% field goal shooting during the 2025-26 NBA regular-season. He's shooting 34% from 3-point distance, the best of his career since his MVP season in 2017.
Throughout the season, his 18th, Westbrook has continued to climb multiple all-time lists.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 16: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The streaking Lakers (43-25) will be back in Toyota Center on Wednesday when they will take on the Houston Rockets (41-26) again. This is the last matchup between the teams with the tiebreaker currently split at one game apiece.
The Lakers nabbed a huge win on Monday against the Rockets, which sets up an exciting rematch. It may have been an ugly victory but it was one they needed in order to get the chance to claim the season series.
The tiebreaker could play a huge role, especially for these two teams, because they’re currently two games apart in the competitive Western Conference standings. Remember, if the Lakers and Rockets end up having the same record at the end of the season — which is in the realm of possibility — then the team that won the season series, the first tiebreaker, gets the higher seeding.
So yes, this game is yet another crucial one for the Lakers, who have been rising to the occasion as of late. Not only will the Rockets look to take revenge for Monday’s loss, but it’s hard to defeat a competitive team twice in a row. So L.A. will most likely see a more aggressive Rockets team, prepared with adjustments.
The key for the Lakers is to once again make sure that they don’t get dominated inside the paint. On Monday, LA did a slightly better job of matching the Rockets’ production in the paint (56-48). They still lost the rebounding battle (44-32) by a lot, but the Lakers bounced back in transition where they outscored the Rockets 16-4.
Obviously, Luka Dončić’s superb 36-point performance led the way, but so did the team’s overall effort on both ends of the floor. The Lakers may have shot poorly, but they grinded out a victory thanks to their defense as well. Blitzing Kevin Durant and forcing him to be a playmaker down the stretch was a brilliant strategy by head coach JJ Redick as it was what led to the Rockets just scoring a total of four points in the last six minutes of the game.
There’s no doubt that KD and the Rockets will be better, especially since Alperen Şengün — who is no longer listed on the injury report — suits up for this one. The Lakers will have to be prepared. Hopefully their shots fall this time and they once again out-execute the Rockets. It’s going to be tough to win this one but not impossible, especially given that the Lakers are playing very good basketball right now.
Let’s see if the purple and gold leave Houston with the tie-breaker advantage on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
Aside from containing KD — who scored just two points in the second half — the Lakers’ defense also limited Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard offensively.
For the Lakers’ injury report, Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) is out.
As for the Rockets, Steven Adams (left ankle surgery), Jae’Sean Tate (right knee sprain) and Fred VanVleet (ACL repair) are out.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without Giannis and Myles Turner, the Milwaukee Bucks put up a surprisingly good fight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but their hot shooting wasn’t enough in Tuesday’s home loss, going down 123-116. Without Giannis and Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr. led all Bucks scorers with a 25-point, 10-assist performance. Evan Mobley and James Harden paced Cleveland with 27 points each.
Surprisingly, the Bucks kept it close against the Cavs heading into the first timeout. They balanced out Evan Mobley’s tough paint buckets with solid shooting from the three-point line and throughout the midrange. However, a couple of physical buckets from Mobley only reinforced Cleveland’s size advantage, one they would exploit throughout the game. After some physical play between James Harden and Jericho Sims, Sims exited the game with a lacerated lip—he would return with stitches after halftime. Off of Harden’s 14 and Mobley’s 10, the Cavs ended the first quarter with 37 points to the Bucks’ 24.
The Bucks chipped away at the Cavs’ lead with a 17-4 run to start the second quarter. They found a reprieve from their offensive struggles via the three-point shot, with Ryan Rollins, Ousmane Dieng, and more all making shots from deep. A Dieng three from the wing with 7:02 left in the second quarter gave the Bucks their first lead of the game. From there, the Bucks took advantage of the Cavs’ lazy defense, going bucket for bucket to keep the game close going into halftime. Cleveland’s shooting, especially from the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Strus, was poor; they didn’t make a single triple throughout the entire quarter. KPJ converted a tough fadeaway over Strus to give the Bucks a 58-56 lead at half, capping an impressive second-quarter comeback.
The Cavs desperately needed some sort of three-point shooting boost, and they got that towards the middle of the third quarter. Sam Merrill began to find his rhythm, and James Harden baited defenders into heavy contact on three-point shots. Before long, Cleveland widened its lead to seven and threatened to extend it further. However, Kevin Porter Jr. continued to be the spark plug for the Bucks; on one side of the ball, he swatted away a Mitchell lay-up attempt, and on the other, he posterized Mitchell after getting downhill. Porter used his athleticism to wrench away tough buckets inside on defence, while stretching out the Cavs with a dangerous midrange shot on offence. His scoring and playmaking were vital as the Bucks fought off a late third-quarter rally, powering the Bucks to a two-point lead after three, 87-85.
Both sides turned it on to start the final frame. Mitchell finally began to click from three-point land, while the Bucks got to the paint in droves. Cleveland found its footing by drawing fouls and getting free throws; they had 34 free throw attempts to Milwaukee’s 17 for the game! Despite Pete Nance’s solid play off the bench, a couple of key Cleveland defensive stops paired with dynamic offense helped them build a seven-point lead with five minutes to go. Strus’ shot clock-beating triple essentially iced the game for the visitors, placing them firmly in the driver’s seat and forcing Milwaukee to play the foul game.
Stat That Stood Out
The points-in-the-paint disparity was large today; the Cavs put up 56 to the Bucks’ 34. Without Giannis or Turner, Mobley dominated the Bucks on the inside while frustrating their offense on the outside. It took an all-around great shooting performance from the Bucks to keep the game close.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up a win on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
LOSER – Perimeter Defense
I’m not sure how this gets better. Cleveland’s shown a general lack of interest in defending the perimeter this season. It’s probably due to a combination of poor effort and not having the right personnel. All I know is it’s something to be worried about.
The Cavaliers should be able to impose themselves over a team like the Bucks. No disrespect, but a 28-39 team that ranks 21st in offense and doesn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo should be easy enough to bully. So when the Bucks started to look comfortable operating their offense, I started to get anxious.
Three-point variance is one thing. I believe the Cavs have lost a few games this season due to simple bad luck. It happens to everyone. But tonight was no such case. The Cavs didn’t contain the point of attack or recover to contest three-point shots. Not at a winning rate, at least.
Cavs rank in Opponent Shooting Frequency this season vs (last year): Higher rank = more attempts
The sample size is large enough to call this a legit trend. Not only do we have their last few games against the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic as examples, but the Cavs are allowing opponents to shoot the third-best three-point percentage in the NBA against them.
That’s… startling.
LOSER – Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell has had a brilliant season. Perhaps the best he’s ever played. So please, do not interpret this section as slander. I’m not getting swept up in the moment. But Spida is having trouble spinning his web right now.
It’s not just his 4-14 shooting from tonight. Every star player is going to have games where shots don’t fall. The problem is his decision-making. Mitchell’s taken some unnecessary shots that would feel bold even if he was rolling. They look truly bad when he’s struggling, as he did in Milwaukee.
There’s value in recognizing when it’s not your night and instead shifting your attention to playmaking. Using yourself as a decoy to create for others. This is something we’ve seen him do in the past. He didn’t do it in this one.
Mitchell’s process has been questionable for a few games. He’s felt quick to call his own number and is possibly feeling some growing pains next to James Harden. The offense hasn’t felt as seamless as it did in their first weeks together. And, the defense has fallen off a cliff, as we highlighted above.
WINNER – Rapid Fire Round Up
I wouldn’t say that any individual player stole the show tonight. Not when it took this much effort to beat the Bucks. But I do think it’s worth highlighting the names who helped secure the win.
Evan Mobley finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks. The easiest offense of the night came whenever the Cavs played through Mobley. He had a major advantage in the paint and made quick work whenever he drew a mismatch.
James Harden was also decisive on offense. He came out aggressive, scoring in bunches to start the game and carrying Cleveland’s backcourt with his playmaking. The Cavs don’t get over the hump without Harden keeping them alive throughout.
Finally, Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Keon Ellis hit key shots. Merrill ended the game with 17 points while Ellis hit two big threes in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Strus, in just his second game of the season, helped Cleveland close the door on this one. It says a lot about how much Kenny Atkinson trusts Strus to lean on him — and he delivered.
With Jalen Brunson missing his first game in two months due to a neck issue Tuesday night, the Knicks knew they’d need someone to step up and carry their offense.
Fittingly, on the Mike and Ike sponsored t-shirt giveaway night at MSG, it was Josh Hart who delivered.
“He must’ve ate some pregame,” Mike Brown joked.
Whatever Hart did, it certainly worked, as he put together one of the most efficient scoring performances of his Knicks career in a commanding win over the Pacers.
He had nine points in the first quarter, then added 10 more in the second to go into the halftime break with a game-high 19 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point land.
Hart wasted no time drilling his fifth three on the opening possession of the third.
His heroics only continued from there, as he knocked down bucket after bucket to stretch his total out over the 30-point mark for the first time this season.
With the game out of reach, he wouldn’t record a bucket in the fourth, but still finished with a game-leading and new Knicks career-high 33 points.
He missed just one of his 13 field goals and was a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the arc.
“Mike and Ike night, I knew I had to turn up a little bit,” Hart said postgame.
“It was fun just being aggressive,” he continued. “Today my PD guy was just telling me to be aggressive, so I just went out there and just played my game and was shooting my shots and I was comfortable with it.”
That aggressiveness is exactly what Brown wants to see from Hart moving forward.
“I just like the fact that he took the right shots, he didn’t hesitate,” the head coach said. “He was 5-for-5 from the three-point line and at least four of them were from the corner, and he’s been really, really good from the corner all year -- if he’s open, we don’t want him to hesitate.
“Usually, when he does hesitate, he takes a couple of dribbles to the basket and it messes up his rhythm and stuff like that. He puts in the work, so for him to let it fly like he did tonight and more of them going in, I was more excited about that than anything else.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 17: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 17, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night carried real weight. This was one of those opportunities you circle, one where you can make up ground and shift the standings in your favor as you try to climb out of the Play-In.
And they let it slip.
Phoenix walked out of Minnesota with a 116-104 loss, and the story felt familiar. The Timberwolves brought physicality, defensive intensity, and rim protection, and it took the Suns out of what they wanted to do. For the third straight game, a quality defense made second-half adjustments that completely disrupted Phoenix’s offense. Once that happened, everything unraveled. The offense stalled, and the response on the other end did not hold. The paint opened, possessions became easier for Minnesota, and it turned into a layup line. That has been the pattern during this stretch. When the offense goes quiet, the defense does not stabilize things. The Suns scored just 18 points in the 4th.
Phoenix shot 38% from the field, and the inefficiency showed up everywhere.
Jordan Goodwin went 1-of-6. Collin Gillespie finished 4-of-13. And Jalen Green, whose last name happens to align with St. Patrick’s Day, had an ironic night, going 3-of-17 and scoring only nine points.
It’s St. Patty’s Day and Jalen Green is honoring the occasion…by going 3-of-17☘️ pic.twitter.com/UcDcZCy7y8
Now the Suns find themselves three games out of the sixth seed with 13 to go, and the margin for error continues to shrink.
Game Flow
First Half
Minnesota came out with a clear intention. Attack the interior, lean into their size, make Phoenix feel it early. No surprise there. But to the Suns’ credit, they had a counter ready. They went five out with Oso Ighodaro pulling Rudy Gobert away from the paint, and that changed the geometry of the floor immediately. The lane opened. The spacing felt clean. Suddenly, those driving angles were there, and Phoenix took advantage.
Phoenix opened the game 7-of-11 from the field, and every single make came with an assist attached to it. The ball was moving. The offense was breathing, and Collin Gillespie was at the center of it. Four assists on those seven made field goals, orchestrating, reading, making the right decision. He kept things connected, which is when this offense looks its best.
The first round of rotations brought a familiar name back into the mix. Ryan Dunn checked in, which stood out considering the past few games had leaned toward Rasheer Fleming or Haywood Highsmith in those minutes. This time, Jordan Ott gave the sophomore a longer look. Khaman Maluach was part of that initial rotation as well.
Devin Booker set the tone early in a way that felt both encouraging and familiar. He had a pair of and-1 opportunities, leaning into Minnesota’s physicality and turning it into an advantage. There was a stretch where he scored 9 consecutive points. It echoed what we saw in Boston, where he carried the load and kept Phoenix steady when things could have tilted.
Minnesota stayed within reach through effort plays. Long rebounds bounced their way, and they capitalized. Five offensive rebounds early turned into 11 second-chance points, which kept them afloat while Phoenix controlled much of the flow.
While last night it was Derrick White and Payton Pritchard catching fire from beyond the arc, this time it was Bones Hyland for Minnesota. He checked in midway through the quarter and immediately got going, finishing 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from deep for a quick 11 points.
Despite Phoenix scoring 39 points in the first quarter and shooting 46.2% from three, they only led by three at the end of the frame. Devin Booker led all scorers with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, and Collin Gillespie added six assists as the Suns took a 39–36 lead into the second.
With Devin Booker on the bench to start the second, it was Jalen Green running the offense, and he was doing a good job. He hit a step-back three and delivered a smooth assist to Rasheer Fleming in the lane. But there is a reason we call him “Guacamole”. Because sometimes is browns fast, and it did for Green in the second. He went 1-of-8 in the quarter, including a missed wide-open layup at the end of the quarter.
With 9:24 left in the quarter, Naz Reid went down on a play where Jordan Goodwin grabbed a couple of offensive rebounds. Reid came down on Goodwin’s ankle and tweaked it. The Suns challenged the play, and for the 48th time this season, they were right as Goodwin was fouled. Insult to injury for Minnesota, although Reid would return in the third.
Rasheer Fleming continued to look good early, starting 3-of-5 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, with one of those attempts being a grenade passed to him with under a second on the shot clock.
Rasheer Fleming is hitting threes then attacking in the pick and roll like this with no dribble and no hesitation. pic.twitter.com/zSivdw3eLe
As the second quarter went on, both teams traded blows. Five minutes in, the Suns were being outscored 15–14 by the Timberwolves. The Suns’ offense started to sputter, going 3-of-12 from the field, but it came at a time when Minnesota cooled off as well. Still, with 2:23 left in the second quarter, the 11-point lead Phoenix built early was gone as the Timberwolves tied the game.
The Suns shot 35.7% from the field in the quarter, and Jalen Green struggled, going 3-of-14 in the first half with eight points and four assists. Oso Ighodaro led the way efficiently with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with five rebounds, while Devin Booker added 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Minnesota had three players in double figures, led by Bones Hyland with 15 off the bench, Julius Randle with 13, and Jaden McDaniels with 12. Entering halftime, the Suns trailed 64–63.
Collin Gillespie has struggled offensively of late, and he had zero points in the first half. But he opened the second half with a pair of three-point makes. It was clear the Suns made a point to get him involved, as he had four of their first six shot attempts.
The Suns’ offense started to go cold again, as they put together another scoreless stretch. They missed eight consecutive shots midway through the third, and turnovers began to pile up. Credit Minnesota’s defense; they were dictating the pace and disrupting everything Phoenix tried to run. Despite all of that, with six minutes left in the quarter, the Suns only trailed by two.
Devin Booker was clearly frustrated with the physicality, which is not surprising against a team like Minnesota. They lean into that style and make you feel it on every possession. On one end, Booker thought he deserved an and one after getting bumped on a drive and finish at the rim. On the other, Bones Hyland attacked and got a foul call on a very similar play. Jordan Ott challenged it and lost, but the moment stood out.
The physicality was ramping up on both sides, and you could feel the temperature rising. Players were chirping, reactions were getting sharper, and the officials were right in the middle of it as the game started to take on that edge.
Ryan Dunn, who had logged consecutive DNPs, played quality minutes in the third. He had seven points and four rebounds in the quarter, along with an impressive block on Bones Hyland. For someone who has not seen the floor much lately, his number was called, and he delivered.
Devin Booker once again carried a heavy load, especially with Jalen Green struggling to find offense. Booker scored or assisted on 15 consecutive points in the third, keeping Phoenix afloat. Late in the quarter, with under 30 seconds left, he tried the Chris Paul slow roll move, letting the ball drift up the floor. Minnesota jumped it, forced the turnover, and Booker followed it with a frustration foul on Julius Randle.
That is just unacceptable to turn the ball over by letting it roll when there was 32 seconds left!
The next possession? Booker turned it over again, which led to a fast break layup for Minnesota.
So despite a solid individual quarter, where Booker had 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, the team struggled as a whole. Phoenix shot 7-of-21 from the field, good for 33%, while Minnesota stayed hot at 10-of-23.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Suns trailed 92–86.
This was starting to feel like one of those games where every Suns possession required real work to even get a shot up, while on the other end, it was a turnstile in the paint for Minnesota. Soon, the Suns were down 10.
The slide continued. Phoenix opened the quarter 0-of-5, while the Timberwolves came out 3-of-3, added and ones, and jumped out to a 7–0 run to start the fourth.
Ah, we’ve seen this before. Suns struggling to make anything happen on offense, and on defense? It’s a turn style in the paint. Come on down, get your points!
Once again, it was the paint where the opposition set up camp, started a fire, and got comfortable.
Minnesota opened the quarter 6-of-6 from the field, and every make came at the rim. They did not miss their first shot until the 6:32 mark, living in the paint and dictating everything on that end of the floor. Phoenix put together a 9–2 run late in the quarter, getting the deficit to within nine with 1:32 left in the game. But alas, it was too much to overcome.
Up Next
Phoenix gets one night of rest as they pack their bag and head to the final stop on their six-game road trip. That stop? San Antonio, Texas.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks. Evan Mobley and James Harden tied to lead all scorers with 27 points. Mobley also contributed 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo in this game. The Cavaliers saw the return of Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson, though Jarrett Allen and Craig Porter Jr. are still on the sidelines. Max Strus, who made his season debut on Sunday, played another 23 minutes tonight.
Cleveland opened the game strong, with big performances from James Harden and Evan Mobley in the opening quarter. Harden scored 14 points in the opening frame while Mobley immediately established himself as a mismatch punisher. This dual threat was firing on all cylinders and made you think this would be a quick game.
Sadly, the Cavs’ defense once again let them down.
Poor closeouts led to a three-point barrage from Milwaukee. The Bucks cut into Cleveland’s lead before they had any chance to truly build a cushion. In no time, the Cavs found themselves trailing going into halftime after allowing the Bucks to hit eight threes in the second quarter.
Defense has been a concern all season. The Cavaliers are struggling to dictate the terms of engagement, succumbing to the will of their opponent on most nights. Opposing teams have been launching three-pointers at far too high a rate. This is something that will need to be resolved before the playoffs begin.
The Cavs did just enough to squeak this one out in the fourth quarter. They can thank Sam Merrill, Keon Ellis and Strus for each hitting big shots down the stretch to keep them in front.
Tonight’s win gives the Cavs a 42-27 record. They have 13 games left before the postseason begins. The most important thing right now is getting healthy. But it would make us all feel better if they took some meaningful steps forward defensively along the way.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 13 assists, and the Charlotte Hornets pulled away in a huge fourth quarter to beat the short-handed Miami Heat 136-106 on Tuesday night.
Coby White scored 24 points off the bench and rookie Kon Knueppel added 22 as Charlotte (35-34) won for the ninth time in 12 games. Brandon Miller scored 16 for the Hornets, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference.
Tyler Herro had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Heat (38-31), who dropped their second straight following a season-best seven-game winning streak. They played without star forward Bam Adebayo, who sat out with right calf tightness after being listed as questionable before the game.
Adebayo hadn't missed a game since Dec. 27. He scored 83 points last Tuesday in a 150-129 win over Washington, second-most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.
Andrew Wiggins missed his sixth consecutive game with a toe injury, and Miami forward Nikola Jovic (back) did not play for the 12th game in a row. He was listed as probable before the game and was expected to return.
Miami remained seventh in the East, a half-game behind Orlando.
Miles Bridges had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, back home from a 2-2 trip against Western Conference teams. After leading 96-88 through three quarters, they outscored Miami 40-18 in the fourth.
Moussa Diabate grabbed 13 boards to go with eight points and four assists.
Ball, who also had six rebounds, reached 6,000 career points on a basket in the third quarter. He also scored 30 points last Wednesday in a 117-109 victory at Sacramento.
Norman Powell scored 17 points for Miami, which had won five consecutive meetings with the Hornets.
Up next
Heat: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Hornets: Host the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 17: Bones Hyland #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter at Target Center on March 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They made you sweat a little bit for it, didn’t they?
The Phoenix Suns came into Target Center on the tail end of a back-to-back, playing in Boston and losing to the Celtics the night before. Making things more intriguing was was the Minnesota Timberwolves relation in the standings to Phoenix. Separated by just two games, a loss would creep the Wolves closer to play-in territory in the middle of a rocky stretch.
Even with Anthony Edwards out for the Wolves, his squad was still 3.5 point favorites.
One of the most durable players in the league, Edwards’ timetable was revealed Tuesday afternoon as a re-evaluation in 1-2 weeks. Without their heartbeat, a source of energy and production was going to need to reveal itself. Early on in the game, that source was non-existent.
Blitzing pick and rolls lazily and leaving the rolling big wide open, oftentimes reserve big Oso Ighodaro. Ighodaro is averging jsut under 5 points per game this season. He started out the game 5-6 from the field and paired it with 10 points. He wasn’t doing anything outside of the norm; simply setting screens and rolling hard.
More to Ighodaro’s big start was a Wolves team that seemed lost without their best player, standing in a circle pointing at each other in trying to figure out who would inevitably set the tone.
Not only did Hyland get his jumper working early, he also did his part in instilling pace into the Wolves offense, making in synonymous with rhythm and allowing the Wolves to ease into the game offensively. Though the Suns held a near double-digit lead for much of the first half, the home team was able to pull it back down and strolled into halftime with a one point lead.
Notable adjustments were made on the hard roller Phoenix was sending to the basket. Rudy Gobert stayed down in coverage defensively, and it forced the Suns, specifically Jalen Green, to hoist shots. Green finished the game 3-17 from the field.
Pair an increase in defensive involvement from Minnesota with a Julius Randle second half surge and the drag race down the floor that Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu created, it was a night that came up aces for the Wolves after a less than ideal start.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 17: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his dunk against the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 116-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Goosebumps Once Again
Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle had been going through another awkward stretch on the court.
Over their last six games together, they carry a -4.0 net rating. Uncharacteristic yes, but the product on the court was much worse than what the net rating simply gives you.
Prone to falling into your-turn, my-turn offense where one starts taking shots when they feel like the other isn’t passing as much, therefore taking flow out of the offense, was starting to rear its head.
It’s never ideal when your best player goes down and needs to miss time, but in this situation, it might be beneficial for Randle to take the reigns in order to get his confidence back for Edwards’ return and a playoff push. Heading into the Oklahoma City game, Randle had hit on just 27 percent of this threes since the new year. Over the last two games now, Randle is shooting 62 percent.
But according to Head Coach Chris Finch, it’s not the shot in which he’s seen the biggest sign of improvement for Randle over the last couple games.
“His decisiveness,” he said. “The ball is finding him earlier in the offense, and I think he’s also trusting the next play a little more too.”
Randle said after the game that not much changes with Edwards not in the lineup. It’s hard to imagine that being the case. Randle has played extremely free over the last two games, and a tough third quarter from Edwards in Oklahoma City took rhythm out of the offense when he had the hot hand.
“Regardless, I gotta be aggressive,” he said.
I don’t want to sound like this is at all a slight on Ant. But sometimes, when that production gets taken out of the lineup in a group of talented players, it can force new solutions to arise, and perhaps that production can be replaced in the aggregate by good ball movement and free flowing offense that Edwards can work to ingrate into upon his return.
Randle finished the night with 32 points, marking the first time this season he’s finished with back to back 30 point games.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 17: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 116-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Emptying the Notebook
1). Jaden McDaniels activity on offense while Edwards is out is a non-negotiable. He was an efficient 6-12 from the field for 16 points, but I would have loved to see him a little more active. Granted, he had his hands full guarding Devin Booker (to which he got called for a couple really tough fouls), but this stretch of games is one where i’d like to see Jaden start demanding the ball. The ball being in his hands is one of the best forms of offense this team can put together.
2). This game showed the problem the NBA has on its hands from a game flow standpoint. It was after 9:00 (CST) and the game still had time left in the third quarter. Due to flagrant reviews, coach challenges, and regular timeouts, there were several times in which eye-rolling pauses were taken to make everything was set up perfectly on the floor. Look, I appreciate the effort that the NBA has put in in making sure the determinations on the floor are correct. However, it’s getting to a point where it’s taking pace out of the game, which is one of the best parts about the game itself. I hope there are tweaks that can be made in the next couple offseasons (think the Sky Judge the NFL has, or a shot clock getting put on how long a game stoppage takes for a challenge. Just a couple thoughts.
Up Next
The Wolves will bring in an easier challenge for a back-to-back on Wednesday night against the tanking Utah Jazz. The Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen, and are literally trying to lose. It would be very hard to blow that one, let alone at home.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham left the March 17 game against the Washington Wizards after just 5 minutes due to back spasms.
Cunningham was seemingly hurt while playing defense on Wizards guard Tre Johnson early in the first quarter.
Johnson lost the ball and Cunningham went to dive for the loose ball. Johnson went to regain his dribble and landed on top of Cunningham, who was descending to the hardwood.
Cunningham was slow to get off the floor but was eventually lifted up with the help of teammates Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson.
Cade Cunningham won’t return tonight due to back spasms. This is the play that took him out pic.twitter.com/Mj5ZHcWL7G
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Danny Ainge CEO of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz and Austin Ainge Director of Player Personnel for the Boston Celtics smile and look on during the 2022 NBA Summer League on July 9, 2022 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the NBA will hold a Board of Governors meeting to vote on adding two expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.
Just in: The NBA will hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings March 24-25 to explore adding expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, with the two franchises targeted for the 2028-29 season, sources tell ESPN. There is momentum for stakeholders to approve… pic.twitter.com/H6AYVdhh7S
Shams mentions that “A growing number of owners are believed to support expansion because of the long-term revenue growth for the league from the Las Vegas and Seattle markets.” That revenue growth could be great but it’s not just that, NBA owners would also receive somewhere around $300M each as part of the expansion fee. I know I can be a little radical at times, but something tells me that’s part of the reason owners are booking their private jet as fast as they can to sign warming up to the idea.
Aside from Ryan Smith getting more money than one can count, how does this affect the Jazz? Well, it does give Smith some money to offset a Jazz cap situation that could get really expensive, really soon. That’s a possibily but that’s Smith’s choice. As far as the team itself, it likely means an expansion draft.
Tim Bontemps at ESPN did a great writeup on what an expansion draft would look like:
During the 2004 expansion that brought in the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), existing NBA teams were allowed to protect up to eight players under contract for the next season from being selected.
Past expansion draft rules required that a team had to leave at least one player unprotected, even if the team had fewer than eight players under contract heading into the offseason. Those with options to become a free agent count toward that total, and, if selected, the player’s former team would receive a trade exception in the amount of that player’s 2028-29 salary.
Teams were also allowed to protect players who could become restricted free agents, but past expansion draft rules did not transfer RFA status to the expansion team. The drafting team would be at risk of losing a player for nothing. (However, the player would not be allowed to re-sign with his original team.)
In past expansion drafts, teams were allowed to select only one player from each existing NBA franchise.
There were no two-way players in 2004, so the league will need to determine if they can be protected in a future expansion draft. Every two-way player whose contract is up normally becomes a restricted free agent.
One thing to point out is that the NBA and NBPA would be operating under the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season. There is a provision however that allows either side the option to terminate the CBA on June 30, 2029, if there is notice given on or before Oct. 15, 2028.
So, according to this, Utah would have to make at least one player under contract available for draft. If we use next season as an example (26-27) here is a list of players under contract (I’m assuming the Jazz will sign Walker Kessler, and they should keep their new draft pick):
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Lauri Markkanen
Keyonte George
Ace Bailey
Walker Kessler
New Draft Pick
John Konchar
Cody Williams
Brice Sensabaugh
Svi Mykhailiuk (Non-Guarantee)
Kyle Filipowski (Non-Guarantee)
Isaiah Collier
With this list of players, Utah would have to choose one player to make available to draft. My guess is that the Jazz will guarantee Filipowski and Svi, at the very least, to make sure they have a wide array of choices for who they make available. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone like Blake Hinson gets a contract just for this type of situation.
That said, it does bring up an interesting question: who would you be willing to give up from this list for the draft?
John Konchar
Cody Williams
Brice Sensabaugh
Svi Mykhailiuk
Kyle Filipowski
Isaiah Collier
This makes for an interesting wrinkle to upcoming offseasons when looking at different signings. I’m sure the Jazz are already thinking about this and will likely make signings to ensure they keep the players they want on the roster going forward. There may be a signing made for the sole purpose of being made available for drafting. For some teams, this may become a situation where maybe they hope a player gets picked. Maybe there’s a team with an albatross contract that they’d love to offload. Personally, I’m excited to see how this works out.
One thing to also consider is whether it makes things awkward if the Jazz make a player available, but he’s not drafted? I could see that being a difficult wrinkle as well. It may mean nothing, but it certainly will make that specific player more willing to move on in the future.
The Knicks didn’t need Jalen Brunson. They had his podcast partner.
Josh Hart dropped 33 points — his most since joining the team three years ago — as the Brunson-less Knicks went on a scoring binge Tuesday to beat the Pacers 136-110 at the Garden.
Hart, who played just 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter because it was a blowout, was nearly perfect while hitting all five of his 3s and shooting 12-for-13 overall.
Josh Hart, who scored a game-high 33 points, reacts during the Knicks’ 136-110 blowout win over Pacers on March 17, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hart fell 11 points shy of his career high of 44, set in 2022 with the Trail Blazers. His previous best with the Knicks was 31.
“I just like the fact he took the right shots,” coach Mike Brown said. “He didn’t hesitate. …
“Just tried to give him confidence, let it fly, let it fly. And live with the results.”
Tuesday’s resounding victory — a fourth straight win for the Knicks (45-25) — was their first game in over two months without Brunson, who sat with a neck strain. The All-Star watched in street clothes as the offense took off without him.
Jose Alvarado, making his first start with the franchise because of Brunson’s absence, rose to the occasion with 16 points and 10 assists. He entered the evening on a nine-game skid without hitting a 3-pointer, missing all 11 of his attempts during that stretch.
Then Alvarado hit three treys before halftime against the Pacers, finishing 4-for-7 from deep.
OG Anunoby, who scored 26 points, goes up for a dunk during the Knicks’ blowout win over the Pacers at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It was a weight off my shoulders,” Alvarado said. “I wasn’t really focused on [my shooting slump], but obviously it was in the back of my mind, something that’s not who I am. I just trust the work.”
The Knicks scored 72 points in the first half, including 19 from Hart and 18 from OG Anunoby.
The lone inefficient shooter was again Mikal Bridges, whose night started inauspiciously — he twisted his ankle while badly missing a layup — and who had just four points at the break on 2-for-7 shooting.
Jose Alvarado, who scored 16 points, drives on Quenton Jackson during the Knicks’ blowout win over Pacers at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Bridges finished with 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting.
It continued a slump for Bridges, whose confidence has looked shaken since the All-Star break.
But that didn’t matter Tuesday. The rest of the Knicks caught fire.
“It was special,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 22 points to go with 11 rebounds. “It’s a game obviously we’re missing JB. We all understood the importance of picking up the slack, and I thought all of us in this locker room, particularly Josh, did a great job of playing team basketball. It was great for all of us — obviously one person’s not gonna replace Jalen, but we all can collectively come together and try to play better basketball for each other with his absence.”
The Pacers (15-54) long ago committed to tanking and own the worst record in the league. They lost Tyrese Haliburton for the season, and their second-best player, Pascal Siakam, was out Tuesday because of a knee problem.
Still, Indiana has played harder against the Knicks this season, which is probably related to a rivalry built on consecutive head-to-head playoff series.
On Tuesday, the Pacers led by six early but were quickly overwhelmed by New York’s hot shooting.
Especially Hart’s. The turning point was a 15-2 run to end the half.
