Hartenstein is sidelined with a calf injury, and Holmgren is overcoming illness, leaving him questionable. Along with backup center Branden Carlson’s absence, 6-foot-9 Jaylin Williams is the lone big man left to fight Jokic on the glass.
Jokic has averaged 20.6 rebounding chances per game since the All-Star break (fifth most), and projections range from 11.9 to 13.3 boards.
Nuggets vs Thunder same-game parlay
The Denver Nuggets have had some trouble away from home recently. They’re 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS as a visitor since the start of February. OKC is 26-6 as a host so far this season.
Game models call for less than 230 combined points in a heated Western war that will have a postseason-like intensity to it, especially after the fireworks of their last matchup.
Jokic’s rebounding chances are sitting north of 20 boards per game, and OKC is a bad rebounding team even at full strength. The Thunder are 25th in rebound rate and allow a lot of offensive rebounds.
Nuggets vs Thunder SGP
Thunder moneyline
Under 231.5
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Why So Serious?
Lu Dort and Jokic decide to leave the fighting on the scoreboard, with OKC’s forward projected to reach double digits and Joker’s forecasts flirting with 27 points.
Nuggets vs Thunder SGP
Nuggets +7
Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Lu Dort Over 9.5 points
Nuggets vs Thunder odds
Spread: Nuggets +6.5 (-115) | Thunder -6.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Nuggets +210 | Thunder -260
Over/Under: Over 232 (-110) | Under 232 (-110)
Nuggets vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Nuggets are 6-11 SU but 10-7 ATS against OKC over the last three years. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Thunder.
How to watch Nuggets vs Thunder
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Monday, March 9, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Nuggets vs Thunder latest injuries
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The Golden State Warriors have lost three of their last four games, but they’ll look to get back on track when they face the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center tonight.
Both teams have hit the Over often this season, and my Warriors vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks expect another high-scoring affair in Salt Lake City.
Warriors vs Jazz prediction
Warriors vs Jazz best bet: Over 226.5 (-110)
Strong defense certainly hasn’t been a hallmark of the Utah Jazz this season, as the team ranks dead last in defensive rating. Utah is 37-27 to the Over, including an NBA-high 22-10 at home. Utah has hit the Over in three of its last five at the Delta Center.
This Golden State Warriors defense has been better than Utah’s, but the Warriors are 36-27 to the Over and 12-5 as the road favorite.
The Warriors have hit the Over in seven of their last 10 games, and the teams have gone Over in three of their last four head-to-head matchups.
Warriors vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Jazz are 34-30 ATS, and they've covered in 17 of 32 home games. Conversely, the Warriors are just 28-34-1 ATS. The visiting team is 14-17 ATS on the road and 6-11 as the road favorite. Both teams are shorthanded, but I'll give the edge to the home team.
With all of Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, and Jusuf Nurkic sidelined, Kyle Filipowski is the go-to guy in Utah's frontcourt. As a starter, the big man has averaged 13 points and 8.5 boards, and across his last nine games since rejoining the starting five, he's averaged 14.7 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Filipowski has scored 12+ in eight of his last nine, and he's grabbed 9+ rebounds four times in that span, including three straight appearances. He's got plenty of opportunity, and he'll face a Warriors frontcourt that will once again be missing Kristaps Porzingis.
Warriors vs Jazz SGP
Over 227
Jazz +6
Kyle Filipowski Over 11.5 points
Kyle Filipowski Over 8.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Can't stop Kyle and Keyonte!
Keyonte George is averaging a career-best 24 points per game this season, and he's been Utah's most consistent — and electric — scoring option. Across his last three, George has averaged 29.3 points and hit the Over on this line twice. Strong play from him and Kyle Filipowski will keep Utah competitive tonight.
Warriors vs Jazz SGP
Over 227
Jazz +6
Kyle Filipowski Over 11.5 points
Kyle Filipowski Over 8.5 rebounds
Keyonte George Over 23.5 points
Warriors vs Jazz odds
Spread: Warriors -6 | Jazz +6
Moneyline: Warriors -245 | Jazz +200
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Warriors vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Jazz have gone Over the total in 25 of their last 35 home games for +14.0 units and a 36% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Jazz.
How to watch Warriors vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Monday, March 9, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Bay Area, KJZZ
Warriors vs Jazz latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 8: Jericho Sims #00 and Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks box out Moritz Wagner #21 of the Orlando Magic during the game on March 8, 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
Down Giannis, Kyle Kuzma, and Kevin Porter Jr., the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Orlando Magic 130-91 in yet another blowout. Without the aforementioned creators, the Bucks just didn’t have enough juice to go with the Magic, who have now taken the season series 2-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Another invisible Turner game. For what it’s worth, big, athletic teams like the Magic would appear to play against Myles’ strengths, and that played out last night. He was only able to get three triples up and six shots overall. Posting up is usually not a go-to for him, but especially not against that team. There was also next to no resistance on defence as he played sparingly yet again.
Ryan really felt the burden of being one of the only playmakers available last night, reflected in his five giveaways. The Magic were physical with him, succeeding in getting him off his game. I did feel like he got a raw deal on a few no-calls, though. Doc actually admitted postgame that too much was placed on Rollins’ shoulders:
“It was too much on [Ryan], honestly. Ous was the other ball-handler tonight. We just didn’t have a lot to start. We did run our stuff; didn’t run it well. They were up pressuring us… taking us out of stuff… It’s one thing to have injuries. It’s another when you have injuries to everybody who facilitates your offence. Puts you in a tough spot.”
Dieng did have a nice stretch in the second quarter, racking up four of his five dimes in the period (including a nice lob to Sims), but his shot escaped him for the game. I’ve referenced other guys who struggle with physicality; well, Ousmane might be the worst offender. The Magic neutralised him pretty well because of his lack of strength, heavily restricting his freedom with the ball (specifically his ability to come tight off screens).
BP was the one of the only shining lights last night. He was aggressive in seeking shots and, due to his recent form, was able to pump-and-go to the rack once or twice.
A better night for CT, who finally got some shots to fall amid a rough stretch. That said, I was more impressed with his six assists than anything else. On two chances where he could reasonably have shot it in the second quarter, he made the right play, hitting BP and AJ for triples.
I liked Jericho’s game. He scored eight of his 10 points in the first half, but all were dunks in which he made himself available and assertively flew to the rim with no messabout. Sims also continues to make a real difference by pursuing offensive boards. Finally, he stuck with the Magic’s guards and bigs on switches, forcing a good amount of tough shots from the likes of Bane and Banchero.
A solid game from Nance, who did most of his damage in the final frame with hustle and smart play. That said, he made an intelligent play in the first quarter, cutting from the short corner after Bobby caught it on the short roll, receiving the ball for the dunk. Gets in the right spots.
Grade: B
Doc Rivers
I thought Doc did a decent job coaching with the players available. Tough to battle that team without a creator like KPJ, who was huge in helping them get a win the last time these teams played. Maybe he should have given some of AJ’s minutes to Cam—given AJ’s struggles and Cam’s ability to get hot and score off the bounce—but I get not doing that, given CT has been off himself.
Grade: C
DNP-CD: Gary Harris
Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.,
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
I suspect the coaches are deliberately putting Ousmane Dieng one pass away from the guy running pick-and-roll, so that if/when the defence blitzes the ballhandler, Dieng is the release valve and can use his size and passing instincts to hit the open man as the defence recovers. He took advantage of this more against the Jazz than the Magic, but look for it in the coming games.
This was the second game in a row in which Gary Trent Jr. has been a part of the rotation.
Thanasis got on the court with over nine minutes left in the fourth, which is to say garbage time started early.
AJax made a nice lookaway pass to Nance in the final minutes.
The Magic were also on the second game of a back-to-back, but they played at midday the day before and thus would’ve arrived in Milwaukee at a decent time.
Orlando shot 14/33 from three (42.4%).
Paolo Banchero, who’s had a poor season relative to expectations, went 12/16 and 3/6 from three. He is shooting 46.5% from the floor and 31.0% from deep this season.
Former Buck Jevon Carter has been a part of the Magic’s rotation after getting picked up by Orlando at the deadline following his being waived by the Bulls.
Up Next
The Bucks are back at Fiserv tomorrow night against the Phoenix Suns. Catch the action at 7:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 3: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the second half of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 3, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During a January game in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks did something that should have never happened: they didn’t defend their teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns, 30, the Knicks’s second best player, was being subjected to aggressive intimidation by Warriors defensive stalwart Draymond Green, as Green is accustomed to doing to an opposing forward. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Towns drove on Green who tried to take a charge, then proceeded to trip him when he was on the ground as Towns rose up for a layup. Earlier in the game, Green had walked over to Mike Brown, the head coach of the Knicks, and exchanged pleasantries. After the game, they laughed heartily even though the Knicks lost a game that they were a better fourth quarter away from winning. Green said on his podcast that Knicks coaches chirped him throughout the game but it all felt too friendly; the spirit of friendly competition remains a good rule of law, but Green’s an antagonizer who needs to be pushed back. Furthermore, it was not the first time that Green had provoked Towns. A season ago, he called him soft, then claimed that Towns was ducking him when he missed the game against the Warriors in March. The hell with fraternizing when the opposition is attempting to punk one of our star players: if the game was competitive, then the soul of the cordial association with Green during and after the game was a corrupt comedy.
There wasn’t nearly enough of a defense of Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns, or “KAT”, as he known as, is in the midst of his second season with the Knicks. The deft shot-making that he possessed in his first season hasn’t always been there during his second season. It is easy to forget — with his struggles this season and the general criticisms about his body language and toughness that are often thrown Towns’s way — that his shot making in the fourth game of the first round against the Pistons gave the Knicks some breathing room in the form of a 3-1 series lead. Even if Brunson doesn’t do his sixth game heroics, they would have still had a seventh game at Madison Square Garden because of Towns’s clutch shots. Where Brunson is the team leader, the politician with everyone in his back pocket, the backcourt stalwart that is reminiscent of the great scoring guards of this generation, Towns is a luxurious weapon.
Towns is an earnest star. His instincts lead him to show emotion on the court, emotion that allows for the most traditional kinds of men to question his mental toughness. For instance, when Towns was told by Shaquille O’Neal that it would take a formidable one-two punch with Brunson for the Knicks to finally hoist the trophy the fans have been longing to see, Towns pushed back with some of his trademark humility and kindness. “I said you were playing soft… It’s high aspirations, of course there are going to talk about Brunson, but it’s you and your play, you have to be dominant… You played in the paint tonight, that’s the way you have to play”, explained Shaq. Shaq is from a different time, where the center was supposed to play behind the basket and although he played against Dirk Nowitzki in his prime, nor was it like athletic specimens such as Kevin Garnett or Patrick Ewing played as restrictedly as Shaq played, he believes that a big man belongs in the paint. Towns pushed back with slight vigor. “We win a championship, we can talk about anybody, as long as all we get a ring. The main goal is to win, it don’t matter who gets the credit.” Whatever one takes from this conversation, it showed who Towns is compared to the some of the legends that he grew up with. There’s such a toxic masculinity, a sense of selfish responsibility in Shaq that is catered to the ideas of 1990’s America, a guy’s guy persona that sits right next to his inability to stay out of commercials on our television screen. If receiving credit was a woman, Shaq would marry it after the first date.
Towns is much different than that. He grew up in the Obama era, where players team up in free agency together, played for John Calipari at Kentucky, where freshmen used to hone their skills in Lexington without haggle. He is the son of Jackie Towns, who passed away during COVID, and Karl Towns Sr. When Mrs. Towns was alive, you could find her cheering on Karl at the games. Everyone in the NBA has supportive parents, the trope of the no-father Black men is ridiculous, but the outward love that Towns has for his parents is apparent. The best version of Towns’s personality exists when he recollects his close relationship with his mom, and the toll that her death has taken on him and how he has fought to keep his emotions at bay whenever he thinks about her. He is an emotionally intelligent, genuine person in the sea of what is sometimes braggarts and wooden personalities. Whatever one makes of Towns’s gentleness at times, his babyish complaints to the referees and his three point launches, there is nothing cynical in him. Towns is much maligned because he does not perform the unadulterated masculinity, the traditional sense of duty and honor that some of the greatest NBA legends have performed. Not since Chris Bosh has there been a big man that is teased for not being as performatively macho as someone like Shaq is.
Sometimes Towns’s emotions on the court get the best of him, though. In the midst of being human, he can be annoying. He can be overly sensitive to contact, he can complain about the previous call when he should block it away and move on to the next possession. His lift is not the same as it was the year before and my mind immediately wonders whether Towns has an injury he doesn’t want anyone to know about it. In the year of 2025-2026, I am reminded of Sensei Sergio from One Battle After Another, who tells Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson, “Ocean Waves, Bob, Ocean Waves.” Whenever Towns is sulking, or conversing with Mike Brown over a play or two on offense and defense, Sensei saying “ocean waves” is what I keep thinking about. Macho men like Jimmy Butler were trying to teach him that, but they forget to uplift the sensitive Towns first, before being tough on him. Towns’s methods of receiving communication is the method of a younger millennial: with kindness and collaboration. Furthermore, it is not as if being on the block would miraculously change the Knicks’s team. Towns is best used as a pick and pop player, a forward in space, a matchup nightmare for teams that put undersized players on him, and a shot maker that can hit three that no man his size should be able to hit. Other than the great Dirk Nowitzki, he is the best shooting big man of all-time, although, at 36.8%, his percentage this season has creeped down from what they were last season.
In 2024-2025, Towns’s task was score when Brunson was not on the court, take over games when Brunson was not quite there. He did that against the Pacers in the comeback third game of the Eastern Conference Finals, when Towns had a monster second half. He looked unstoppable. Knicks fans can’t expect that every time but we have seen a dominant player before and are waiting for it to come out this season. Shaq, in his twisted, selfish, slightly toxic way is absolutely correct: this team will go nowhere without Towns and he needs to take the responsibility like he knows that he can. He knows that more than he lets on even though he wants to play the role of good teammate. One can understand that it is a team sport while taking the responsibility for the hopes of a championship contending team. This is the world that the big man before him made, and although his talents are different than them, it is fine to follow in their footsteps. He knows that. As he says to Shaq after the pushback, “Legend, I agree with you”, even though to call Towns soft is to mischaracterize his style of play. Watching him defend himself alone against Green was torturous. One got the sense that he was tired of this bully attempting to literally bully him and wanted a teammate to get in Green’s face so Green would dumb his fake tough guy persona down. It must be tiring to go to war with no one next to you but the pleasant OG Anunoby. It’s just basketball, of course, but it did not inspire the tough New York kid that is inside of me. I felt for Towns after that game. He needed his brothers to tell the neighborhood bully to go away.
The Knicks know that an opposing player dissing Towns publicly and on the court can’t happen anymore. Leon Rose traded for the pest Jose Alvarado, a tough kid from Brooklyn who if he ever backed down a day in his life would not be in the NBA. Jeremy Schoen will be good for a few technical fouls come April and May. Towns’s affinity for avoiding corny macho behaviors is what makes him an unique talent but the events of Green and the Shaq interview shows that the league wants him to perform those things as if they are going to help him make shots. They won’t but the complaining to the referees adds fuel to the fire, adds to the lore that he is someone who you can disorientate. All Knick fans want is a title, or at least a trip there, a chance at surprising someone in Oklahoma City, San Antonio, or Denver, and if Towns can play like he did last postseason, the Knicks can make it there. He will be a legend in this city and beyond if he does that, no matter how Shaq and the one-step-away-from-being-part-of-the-manosphere dudes think he should play like. However, hope is not something that is myth. It is earned. The Towns that I saw last season is needed.
Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll be honest, even feigning the tiniest bit of optimism about some of these games is now becoming extremely difficult.
The Philadelphia 76ers begin their second of three back-to-backs in March on Monday with a visit to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Sixers will be wildly shorthanded, to say the least — the end of 2024-25 season-level shorthanded.
Tyrese Maxey, truly the very last bit of paper clips and string holding this mess of a team together, will miss at least both games of the back-to-back after being diagnosed with a right fifth finger (pinky) sprain suffered in the final moments of Philly’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Got curious when this said specifically "his right finger".
Here's some footage: it looks like Maxey is mainly grabbing the pinky of his right hand. He is able to make a fist with the hand but grabs it again. (I am not a doctor by any means, not speculating anything further) https://t.co/hTW5SSdm03pic.twitter.com/4u6nVClACL
The team announced the diagnosis on Sunday, adding that Maxey would be undergoing further testing and would reevaluated after the back-to-back.
The news comes as the team was already struggling along without the help of Joel Embiid (right oblique strain) as well as Paul George (suspension), who both remain sidelined for Monday. As of Sunday evening, VJ Edgecombe is questionable after missing the Sixers’ last two contests due to a back contusion suffered from a hard fall in a game against the San Antonio Spurs last week.
So, the Sixers will be without their top three scorers and may even be missing their fourth.
Not that there’s any optimal time for that, but this really isn’t the time if the team still has some sort of playoff contention ideas in their minds. Philadelphia have fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference at 34-29, and the tumble may only accelerate. The Sixers are just a game and a half ahead of the Atlanta Hawks in ninth and three ahead of the Charlotte Hornets in 10th — both teams with some real positive momentum behind them that could see them jump Philadelphia sooner rather than later if the Sixers aren’t careful.
It gets to a point where you run out of things to say about this Sixers team, I’ll be honest. I’m running out of contingencies like “if they can just do this in this game” or “if they can just survive these few games” or “if they can just wait until this player gets healthy.” There comes a point when even I, someone employed to write words about these games, am simply at a loss for them.
So let’s talk about Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are coming into Monday night’s contest on the second leg of a back-to-back, having fallen to Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Even considering that loss, though, Cleveland is playing great basketball. They’ve won 16 of their last 22 contests, with two of those victories being consecutive wins against the Sixers on Jan. 14 and 16. And both of those came against a full-strength Philadelphia squad — Embiid, George, Edgecombe and Maxey all played.
And you can bet they’ll be looking to use this golden opportunity to get themselves back in the win column on Monday against the hospital Sixers. The Cavs currently sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference, just a game and a half back from the New York Knicks for third and four games behind the Celtics in second. They are another squad looking to actually ascend in the East, in comparison to the Sixers who seem to be trying to plummet as quickly as possible.
Coming in on the end of a back-to-back, the Cavaliers’ injury report is not due to be available until Monday afternoon. That being said, Cleveland’s only major absence on Sunday was Jarrett Allen, who missed the matchup with Boston after having to exit early from the Cavaliers’ win over the Detroit Pistons last Tuesday with a knee injury. The veteran center had been playing his best basketball of the season recently too, averaging 22.1 points and 11.1 rebounds across 12 games prior to the one he exited early. Allen is also shooting 63.6% from the floor across 51 contests.
He’s far from the only one playing good ball in Cleveland right now, though. Donovan Mitchell continues to lead the Cavaliers averaging a career-best 28.6 points in 56 games this season. Former Sixer James Harden, traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cavaliers at the beginning of February, has played 10 games for Cleveland so far, averaging 19.1 points shooting 54.8% from long range (on 6.5 attempts per outing) and 8.1 assists in that stint. Evan Mobley is also chipping in 17.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
So, coming into this Monday matchup a bit stronger than the Sixers, I’d say.
Could we see a miracle? Of course, I suppose… but it would have to be one of borderline-biblical proportions for the available Sixers lineup take down the Cavs right now.
Philadelphia — what’s left of them — tip off against Cleveland at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Monday, March 9, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: RocketArena, Cleveland, OH Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Mike Jordan became Michael Jordan thanks to the Olympics.
Jordan looked back on his Olympic experiences in 1984 and 1992 in the latest installment of "MJ: Insights to Excellence" on the NBA on NBC and Peacock.
"That is very genuine," he said of playing for the national team. "That is no money involved. It's pure, pure passion and dedication to the country as well as to the game."
The 1984 Los Angeles Games took place in the summer between Jordan's final year at North Carolina and his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. He was not yet known internationally.
Under coach Bobby Knight, Jordan led the team with 17.1 points per game as the U.S. outscored its eight opponents by an average of 32 points per game.
In 1992, though Jordan was coming off back-to-back NBA titles, some still thought that Magic Johnson was more famous globally — even though Jordan shared a building-covering billboard in Barcelona with Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka.
Jordan scored 14.9 points per game (second to Charles Barkley's 18) as the Dream Team outscored its eight opponents by an average of 43.8 points per game.
Jordan noted one contrast between those two Olympics: accommodations.
"Representing your country, feeling that energy with the United States in '84, staying in the (athletes') village and understanding and spending time with all the other athletes and seeing their passion and their efforts," he said. "In '92, we rented a whole hotel. We were away from everybody. We had a police escort back and forth to the events. It was a total different experience. I mean, if you had to ask me which one I enjoyed the most, it was '84 by far."
In 2028, the Games return to Los Angeles. Since the Dream Team, the Olympic men's basketball tournament has become more competitive — the U.S. took bronze in 2004, lost another group-play game in 2021 and led the 2024 gold-medal game by three points with three minutes left before Stephen Curry's series of three-pointers.
Jordan's thoughts on LA28?
"Basketball is so strong in the United States," he said, "I think there's no way we should lose."
SYDNEY (AP) — Defending champion China edged North Korea 2-1 in a physical, high-energy game Monday to take top spot in Group B in the Women’s Asian Cup.
China and North Korea were already assured of quarterfinal spots with two wins apiece ahead of their showdown at Western Sydney Stadium. Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage.
Playing in its first Women's Asian Cup tournament since losing the 2010 final to Australia, North Korea only needed a draw against China to top the group. And they took the lead when Kim Kyong Yong finished off a counter-attacking goal in the 32nd minute, the first shot on goal in the game.
The lead was short-lived, though, with China equalizing two minutes later with Chen Qiaozhu's stunning strike through traffic from the edge of the area.
China went ahead in a tense finish to the first half, when Wang Shuang’s goal was awarded after a VAR review deep in stoppage time.
The VAR decision to overturn the assistant referee’s offside call upset the North Korean players and led to coach Ri Song Ho being yellow carded by referee Thi Ly Le as his team protested on the sideline. The North Korean players didn't return to the pitch before halftime was called.
Both teams had chances in the second half, with North Korea goalkeeper Yu Son Gum making a full-length diving save to Wang's powerful left-foot shot in the 78th, and then 19-year-old Choe Il Son appearing to equalize two minutes later before being ruled offside after a VAR review.
In Perth, Dildora Nozimova scored twice in six minutes for Uzbekistan, her first just two minutes after entering the game as a substitute on the hour.
State of play
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.
In Group A, South Korea edged Australia for top spot on goal difference after the 3-3 draw in Sydney on Sunday night. The South Koreans will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals. Philippines still has a narrow chance of advancing after placing third, finishing with a win over Iran. That put Iran women’s team out of contention, and facing the prospect of a return to country at war.
In Group C, two-time champion Japan leads with six points ahead of its last group match against Vietnam, which is tied with Taiwan for second spot on three points. Taiwan finishes the group stage against India.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 8: Haywood Highsmith#19 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets entered Sunday night with a 32–32 record, although anyone who has been following the league understands that number does not fully capture how well they have been playing recently. They have been clicking on offense, defending with intensity, and stacking wins against teams across the NBA.
That is what makes the victory for Phoenix stand out.
It was a quality win because of the opponent, although it also served as another example of the Suns’ system functioning the way it is designed to function. Look at the personnel on the floor. There was no Dillon Brooks. No Jordan Goodwin. No Grayson Allen or Mark Williams. Each of those players has played an important role in getting Phoenix to its current position in the standings. Instead, the Suns leaned on other pieces of the rotation. Haywood Highsmith logged 21 minutes. Rasheer Fleming played 23. Khaman Maluach saw 20 minutes of action.
Different spokes, same wheel.
Phoenix also showed better offensive balance than it did in the win against the Pelicans. Only 52% of their attempts came from beyond the arc, and they converted 39% of those looks. The perimeter remained a major part of the offense, although the overall shot distribution felt more controlled.
The win came from players executing the system rather than relying on one singular performance. Devin Booker delivered 30 points. Jalen Green continues to grow within the offense. Collin Gillespie added 24 points. Those numbers certainly help.
Although the deeper part of the story comes from the supporting cast. Rasheer Fleming scored 16 points, Maluach pulled down 9 rebounds and protected the paint, and Highsmith and Amir Coffey provided steady minutes.
That is the system working. The structure remains the same, the roles shift slightly, and the wheel keeps turning.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
His 32-point performance against the Pelicans earned Booker his 14th Bright Side Baller of the season.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 64 against the Hornets. Here are your nominees:
The Boston Celtics, winners of 14 of their last 17 games, have shimmied within 2.5 games of Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons with more than a month remaining in the regular season.
The lingering question: Can the Celtics make a play at the top spot in the East? And, maybe more importantly, should they want to?
Boston stands at 43-21 with 18 games remaining, while Detroit is at 45-18 after losing its fourth straight in Miami on Sunday. The Celtics would have to finish ahead of Detroit in the final standings after the Pistons won three of the four regular-season matchups to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Stil, getting ahead of the Pistons won’t be an easy task.
Basketball Reference runs 10,000 daily simulations to produce their Playoff Probabilities Report. Monday’s simulations give the Celtics just a 5.6 percent chance of leapfrogging Detroit.
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The big thing here is strength of schedule. Despite their stumbles, the Pistons are about to enter a soft part of their schedule. In fact, Detroit has the seventh-easiest schedule in the NBA the rest of the way with a combined opponent winning percentage of .476. Four of Detroit’s next six games are against lottery-bound teams (Brooklyn, Memphis and a double dip with Washington).
The Celtics, meanwhile, have the third-toughest remaining strength of schedule (opponents’ winning percentage at .539). That includes two road games this week against the two teams with the NBA’s best records in Oklahoma City and San Antonio. What’s more, a second game with the defending champion Thunder looms later this month, and the Celtics still have one more game each against the Knicks and Timberwolves, too.
Which is to suggest that, if Detroit can simply steady itself a bit moving forward, the Celtics are going to be hard-pressed to make a true push. The bigger concern might simply be trying to hold onto the No. 2 seed, which would ensure home court if Boston made it to Round 2 of the postseason.
“Boston is obviously a good team, but we’re not concerned about Boston,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters on Sunday. “Our biggest concern is making sure that we’re doing what we need to do to go out and be as good as we possibly can. We’ve got plenty of time to figure it out and we will.”
There’s still a lot of volatility in the East play-in standings, but if the Hornets are not able to shimmy up to the No. 7 or No. 8 spot, they’d be out of play to earn the seventh seed in the play-in tournament (and play the No. 2 seed). The No. 1 seed would still be vulnerable to a Charlotte matchup if the Hornets were to land the No. 8 spot by emerging from the 9-10 bracket.
Boston’s bigger concern over its final 18 games should be the reintegration of Jayson Tatum and helping the All-NBA forward get comfortable again after missing nine-plus months while rehabbing from Achilles surgery. Early returns have been encouraging, but there’s still chemistry to rebuild on the court.
Surging to the No. 1 seed might help the cases for some of Boston’s award-eligible players and staff. Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy and Joe Mazzulla’s case for Coach of the Year would be strengthened by getting ahead of the Pistons. Alas, Mazzulla would be the first to balk at the mere mention of awards — at least his own — and will keep the focus on the games.
It will be interesting to take inventory on the East standings as the calendar flips to April. The Celtics play seven games in 13 days to wrap up the regular season and the standings could dictate just how hard they push to the finish line.
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Twenty-three players were shown a red card as a lengthy brawl requiring the intervention of military police marred the final seconds of a Brazilian soccer match between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro.
Former Brazil forward Hulk was among the players sent off following the violence that lasted more than a minute and spread from one end of the field toward the other as substitutes, members of coaching staff and security also weighed in.
“We need to acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them,” Hulk wrote on Instagram on Monday. “What happened yesterday does not represent the values that soccer should embody. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must always prevail over any emotion.”
It was sparked by a challenge by Cruzeiro midfielder Christian on Atletico goalkeeper Everson, who responded by rugby-tackling his opponent to the ground and dropping both knees into his head.
That led to a mass fight as players from both teams piled in, punching and kicking each other. In footage shared across social media, Hulk, who plays for Atletico, was seen punching an opponent on the back of the head then getting kicked in the chest.
“I apologize to everyone who was in the stadium, to those who watched it on television, and especially to the children who look up to football. What we saw on the pitch is not the example we want to set,” Hulk added.
According to statistics provided by the teams, Cruzeiro had 12 players sent off and Atletico had 11.
Cruzeiro wound up winning 1-0 in the Campeonato Mineiro final to become state champion in Minas Gerais.
Last week Luke Kornet made headlines by speaking out against the Atlanta Hawk’s “Magic City Night” theme. The ATL gentleman’s club has received shout outs in numerous rap and hip-hop songs. The hot spot is also known for lemon-pepper wings.
Jared Weiss of the The Athletic ran into Kornet as he was writing a post on his blog shortly after the Spurs loss in New York last month.
The former Celtics center started his blog during the 2022-2023 season. Kornet, a lifelong Catholic, decided to write about the churches he visited while on the road playing basketball.
On January 23, 2023, he introduced himself with the post “Don’t Pass the Rock: The Catholic Churches of the 2022-23 NBA Season” showcasing his wit, humor, and penchant for the pun.
Kornet posts three more “Don’t Pass the Rock” pieces in 2023 before going dark…until now.
On January 26, 2026, three years and three days after launching his initial post, he submitted “Don’t Pass the Rock: Back in the Saddle,” stating “I’m back trying to find my voice.”
And found it, he has.
Kornet’s self-effacing humor was apparent from the get-go in San Antonio. When signing with the Spurs he chose #7, stating his goal to become one-third the player Tim Duncan was. His fascination with places of worship came through an authentic tone, but his personal writing peels back layer after layer of his “self” and how that has played out in the basketball world.
Last month, Kornet released “Luke’s Declassified Spurs Survival Guide” after losing to the Chrlotte Hornets:
“The problems persist and our voyage seems increasingly destined for failure. Morale hangs by a thread and rations are low. Most notably the water pipe is frozen meaning no coffee and therefore no caffeine, the elixir of hope. Withdrawal headaches have led to infighting and I’m concerned factions are beginning to form. So fragile the human condition. At the first sight of death, fear manifests and people’s true colors are shown. We fear if conditions worsen and hunger grows certain….sacrifices may need to be made. I vote a rookie. Their offering will be remembered and a small donation to a food bank will be made in their memory.”
The trials and tribulations surrounding the Spurs snow-laden Charlotte game followed by the arduous journey home for the second night of a back-to-back told through a most humorous tone.
He followed up a few days later with a heartfelt proclamation of what the NBA trade deadline meant to many players as well as what it has meant to him in the past.
Next came some musings regarding the Super Bowl and Mike Vrabel.
On February 23, he posted his tribute to the Bus 1 Boys, the guys at the far end of the bench hoping to get their name called during the game so they can shine on the court.
And then, of course, his most recent — and least humorous share — “Concerning the Atlanta Hawks.”
Without Weiss crossing his path in the locker room and asking him what he was up to, Kornet’s disquiet for the event may have been limited to his 993 followers. Instead, he spoke on camera and was picked up by multiple news sources, including The New Yorker. He took criticism from players, pundits, and fans for his take. But it is of no matter.
If Luke Kornet has something on his mind he will say it, and say it well.
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Feb 16, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Team Braxton guard Jahmir Young (right) of the Grand Rapids Gold dribbles against Team Swish Cultures guard Dink Pate (left) of the Mexico City Capitanes during the G-League-Next Up Game championship at Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Kentucky Basketball’s coaching staff continues to explore new recruiting avenues, and one potential addition to the roster in the future is G League guard Dink Pate.
According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Pate is expected to have a Zoom meeting with the Kentucky staff within the next week. The meeting comes after head coach Mark Pope recently traveled to Philadelphia to see Pate in person while he plays with the Westchester Knicks.
The 6-foot-7 point guard has expressed interest in transitioning to college basketball for the 2026 season.
“I’m going to college, but I’m not set in stone on any school,” Pate told Polacheck of KSR+ in January. “If UK likes me, that’s where I want to go.”
Pate has a connection with Kentucky through assistant coach Jason Hart, who coached him during the 2023–24 season with the NBA G League Ignite. Pate joined Ignite in 2023 and became the youngest professional basketball player in U.S. history.
This season with the Westchester Knicks, Pate has appeared in 27 games, averaging 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range.
Mar 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks up in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets had a gut check game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and failed miserably, being dominated by the Spurs, who shot 58 percent from the field, to the tune of a 145-120 San Antonio victory.
The Rockets had no defense, as the Spurs got pretty much whatever they wanted, with Victor Wembenyama leading the way with 29 points, and they also got 23 from Stephon Castle and 20 each from Keldon Johnson and De’Aaron Fox, who also had 10 assists.
As for the Rockets, they got 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks from Kevin Durant on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, as well as 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists from Amen Thompson, who was 8-for-15 from the floor.
Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. had 17 points each, with Reed going 3-for-10 from deep to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while Smith had 5 rebounds and 3 assists to round out Houston’s double-digit scorers.
The Rockets showed that they were not quite on par with some of the west’s best, as they lost the season series to San Antonio 3-1. They also fall to the fourth seed in the west with a 39-24 record, on pace for a slightly worse record than last season. If they playoffs ended today, the Rockeys would take on the Los Angeles Lakers, which is an admittedly good matchup for them, but do you have any real faith in the Rockets going anywhere this postseason? I know that I do not.
But it could also get worse. The Rockets are only two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for a Play-In spot. Falling down to the Play-In is not out of the question.
The Rockets need to find an answer for the shooting discrepency. They were just 8-for-28 from deep, while the Spurs were 21-for-40. That’s almost a 40-point swing on three-point shooting alone. You’re not going to win much basketball that way.
Anyway, the Rockets will return to action on Tuesday with a home game against the Toronto Raptors. That’s a 7pm CST start.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, wrestles for control of the ball with Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the second half of the Lakers' 110-97 win Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Jaxson Hayes remembered the bruising the Lakers got at Madison Square Garden a month ago when the New York Knicks bullied them on the boards, outscored them by 14 in the second half and had six players score in double figures. Hayes was happy to return the favor Sunday in the Lakers’ 110-97 win at Crypto.com Arena.
“I just feel like we owed them that one,” the Lakers center said.
The wire-to-wire win over the Knicks (41-24) was only the second time since early November that the Lakers (39-25) recorded a win over a team with a record of .600 or better. They improved to 5-12 against such teams after losing 12 of their last 13 games against the league's upper echelon. With the win and a tiebreaker against Denver, the Lakers moved into fifth in the Western Conference. They play fourth-place Minnesota (40-24) on Tuesday.
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s win:
Lakers show their playoff mentality
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, dives for a loose ball next to Knicks forward OG Anunoby in the first half Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Hayes crawled across the floor for loose balls. Marcus Smart stepped in front of driving opponents. Jarred Vanderbilt leaped into the laps of front-row fans.
With energy and focus from every player, the Lakers delivered one of their best defensive efforts of the season despite circumstances that could have made Sunday's game a snoozer.
The Lakers were playing their third game in four days. Losing an hour of sleep because of daylight saving time had Rui Hachimura sleepwalking into the arena Sunday morning for a 12:30 p.m. tip. Hoping to wake himself up, the Lakers forward said he got into the hot tub when he arrived.
Players tried to hype themselves up in the locker room by blasting music. Instead of listing three defensive keys before the game, coaches whittled the game plan to one focus: multiple efforts.
“It wasn't gonna be an offensive game,” coach JJ Redick said. “This was gonna be a gritty, tough game that we had to win with effort. And we did that."
Smart led that effort with a game-high plus-27 in 29 minutes and 17 seconds. He drew two charges. His signature moment didn't even show up in the game play-by-play. After Luka Doncic turned the ball over with 2.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Smart hustled back to force Jordan Clarkson to pass the ball at the buzzer, keeping the Knicks from getting a last-second layup attempt. Smart walked to the bench with his arms extended like a defensive back who had just broken up a touchdown pass.
The Knicks were held to less than 100 points for only the seventh time and had their fourth-worst three-point shooting performance of the season, going eight for 34. The Lakers went nearly five minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter, but held on by forcing eight turnovers.
“It was not a perfect game,” said Doncic, who led the Lakers with 35 points on 11-for-25 shooting. “But we fight at the defensive end. I think we did a great job. It says a lot about the team, bringing this much energy in a game like this.”
Deandre Ayton stands out in return
Lakers center Deandre Ayton, center, and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson battle for a rebound in the second half Sunday. (Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
Returning from left knee soreness that kept him out for one game, Deandre Ayton had a quiet six-point, eight-rebound stat line, but he made a loud statement early by setting the tone with his activity in the first quarter.
Often criticized for his inconsistent effort, the 7-foot center scrambled for an offensive rebound to set up a second-chance three-pointer from Austin Reaves, combined with Hachimura to swat away a layup attempt from Josh Hart and blocked a shot from Karl-Anthony Towns all in the first three minutes. He caught a lob from Doncic that forced the Knicks to take an early timeout.
“I thought he played really hard tonight,” Redick said. “He was great."
Ayton was limited to only four minutes and 30 seconds in Thursday’s loss to Denver after he felt discomfort in his left knee. Behind Ayton, Hayes has continued his career season. Not far behind Ayton’s 19 minutes and 55 seconds of playing time, Hayes played 16 minutes and 38 seconds off the bench Sunday with five points — all on free throws as he attacked the rim for high-flying dunk attempts — four rebounds and one steal.
LeBron James, who suffered an elbow contusion in the final minutes against Denver, did not play Sunday, missing his second consecutive game. Redick said Friday he expected James could return against the Knicks, but he was ruled out shortly before tip-off.
JJ Redick won't 'overreact'
Lakers coach JJ Redick gestures during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on March 3. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
With the Lakers having struggled against top competition all season, Sunday’s victory was the type of statement win they were looking for. In Redick’s previous career, it may have led him to serve up hot takes on a podcast or on television. If he were a fan, maybe he would be loudly celebrating only to turn around on the next loss and cry the way he did when he was a child watching Duke.
But not as an NBA coach.
“I'm not in a position where I can overreact,” Redick said when asked about the significance of a gritty win for a team that hasn’t accumulated many of them this season. “You guys do that. The fans, rightfully so, should always overreact. It's what makes fandom so awesome. ... My job is not to overreact.”
The Lakers are 15-9 in their last 24 games, Redick said matter-of-factly. They’re ranked eighth in offense and 14th in defense over that span.
It’s close to what the Lakers envisioned for their team entering the season.
With 18 games remaining, the Lakers could still earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They’re only one game behind third-place Houston (39-23) and play the Rockets twice next week. This week, they have two more games against Western Conference foes battling for playoff position with Minnesota (40-24) on Tuesday and Denver (39-25) on Saturday.
“Every game is going to matter,” said Hachimura, who had 13 points and seven rebounds while starting in place of James. “We gotta get one by one. We have a big week coming up too. So I think today's game was great. We needed it.”
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 08: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 08, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wizards lost their eighth in a row — this time a semi-competitive that transmogrified into a New Orleans Pelicans blowout.
This game highlighted what different incentives does to teams. During the 2025 draft, the Pelicans traded this year’s first round pick in a deal to acquire Maryland center Derik Queen. New Orleans was terrible for a long stretch of the season — at times they sported the league’s worst winning percentage.
With the pick out the door, they have no reason to remain awful. And, as they’ve gotten healthier and adjusted the rotation to get minutes to better players, they’ve improved — postingt an 11-9 record over their last 20 games. Not exactly a juggernaut, but there’s at least an outline of a potentially decent team next season.
Tre Johnson shot well in the team’s 20-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington has just six wins over their last 20, and they’re likely chiding themselves for winning even that much. They’ve treated games like exhibition season, sitting anyone with even the mildest of injuries, keeping healthy youngsters on tight minutes restrictions, and using what amounts to G-League lineups for long stretches of games.
This is smart. To increase their chances of being good in the future, the team needs to lose a lot now. I remind myself of these facts every game because…well…the actual basketball gets brutal to watch. One fun aspect of watching a young and rebuilding team is seeing those youngsters try hard, make mistakes, and learn. The imperative to lose games, which leads to curtailing minutes for kids who figure to be part of the rotation when the team is competitive again in the near(ish) future, which means a) we don’t get to see them as much, and (worse) b) they get fewer opportunities to learn and grow.
One other thing that intentionally losing sometimes does is cause players to play with lesser effort and mental focus. The “little things” just don’t matter as much when you know you’re going to lose. I think I see some of that in Wizards games lately, and I’ve been trying to convince myself it’s mostly coming from players who won’t be around next season.
But I’m also seeing some stuff from kids who should be around, so…yeah I’m a little concerned about it.
Thoughts & Observations
Alex Sarr was back in the starting lineup. The offense was rusty, and his teammates kept him busy defensively.
Last game, I wrote a bit about how bad Leaky Black was on defense. He was just as bad against New Orleans. His name shows up a lot in my notes from last night’s game.
Lest anyone think I’m picking on Black, I have to say that Trae Young’s defense is shockingly awful. I mean, I’ve seen him play terrible defense in Atlanta. As an example, in the first quarter, he got switched onto Saddiq Bey in the post. I’d have been fine if Bey used his superior height to shoot over Young or strength to bully-ball him into the basket. But Young got out-quicked. Yikes.
Speaking of Young, New Orleans repeatedly did the force a switch to attack Young thing, and it worked quite well for them. He’s a problem defensively the Wizards might be able to overcome with Sarr and Anthony Davis patrolling the paint — at least to the extent that opponent offensive scheming allows that to happen.
Young is also a terrific passer, at least when he’s focused on making good passes instead of showboating. He produced eight assists, and set up teammates for several other open looks, which they missed.
Want to see a bad defensive possession? At 6:41 of the first quarter, Zion Williamson drives on Bilal Coulibaly, who does an okay job of at least staying in contact with Williamson. Black was low man and should have been stepping up. He got there late and gave a classic “ole” effort. Tre Johnson was weakside low man and did absolutely nothing on the play.
Throughout the night, Wizards bigs (JuJu Reese and Anthony Gill) were playing deep drop coverage in pick-and-rolls where Trey Murphy III was the ball handler. This baffled me because Murphy is a great three-point shooter. The Wizards were conceding open threes to one of the game’s better three-point shooters. Even if you’re playing drop and don’t want to switch, that big should still be at the level of the screen.
Late in the first quarter, Sharife Cooper ran a 2-on-1 fastbreak I loved. The New Orleans defender kept giving ground, so Cooper kept the ball. When he got almost to the rim, the defender finally committed, and Cooper dropped the ball off to Will Riley for an easy bucket. I liked the patience Cooper showed — staying under control, forcing the defender to make a decision, and then giving a teammate a simple play to make.
I think there’s some fairly low-hanging fruit that might help Jaden Hardy shoot more accurately. Even when wide-open from deep, he tends to twist a little and fade as he jumps. Better balance and a more controlled jump could boost his percentage.
The Pelicans attacked the paint relentlessly and generated 47 free throw attempts as a result. They had 36 free throw attempts in the first half.
With 4:20 left in the second quarter, the Wizards ran a pindown for Trae Young, which produced an open three. I liked them using Young off-ball. More please.
Dejounte Murray was too athletic for any of the perimeter defenders the Wizards had available last night — Johnson, Young, and Bub Carrington are all too small, too weak, and too slow to guard him. The team’s best defender against a player like Murray is Coulibaly, but they had him on Williamson much of the evening.
The third quarter contained some truly egregious defensive plays. Williamson drove on Black, who provided no resistance at the point of attack.
On the first, Reese was low man, and Johnson was in help position at the elbow. What should have happened was Reese helping hard, and Johnson dropping into a zone to cover the weakside corner and wing. What did happen was that neither Reese nor Johnson even moved.
On the second, it was Reese and Carrington not reacting to Williamson’s drive.
On the third, Riley helped hard from the weakside and Black fouled. While the result wasn’t great, Riley at least played the scheme correctly,
One other defensive possession I didn’t like — Reese jogging back in transition and arriving too late to contest a Bryce McGowens dunk.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
WIZARDS
PELICANS
LGAVG
eFG%
52.7%
56.7%
54.3%
OREB%
28.9%
30.0%
26.0%
TOV%
16.3%
7.6%
12.8%
FTM/FGA
0.242
0.416
0.207
PACE
105
99.4
ORTG
113
132
115.3
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
