Category: Basketball

CLEVELAND — Not much went right for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. They couldn’t make a shot, struggled to stay with the Boston Celtics’ stars on the perimeter, and were outhustled all afternoon. This all led to a 109-98 loss to the class of the Eastern Conference that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score would indicate.

For as badly as things ended, the game started well for the Cavs. Evan Mobley took advantage of mismatches early on as he scored nine of the team’s first 13 points. This led to Cleveland taking a brief five-point lead at the start of the game. That was as good as it would get.

Boston controlled the remainder of the quarter thanks to a strong opening from Jayson Tatum. He poured in 12 points on 4-6 shooting in the first to give his team a nine-point advantage after one.

Things went from bad to worse in the second.

The Cavaliers couldn’t buy a basket in the second quarter. Boston cut off lanes to the basket and made them a jump-shooting team, which proved to be the right strategy this afternoon. The Cavs failed to convert any of their 14 three-point attempts in the quarter and went just 4-25 from the field overall. This led to them scoring just 10 points in the quarter.

Boston didn’t take advantage as much as they should’ve. They scored just 21 points of their own, going 5-20 from the field (20%). But the 20-point advantage they took into the break was enough to cruise to the stress-free victory.

The Cavs were able to make the game more respectable in the second half. They cut Boston’s lead to eight midway through the fourth quarter, but it never really felt like they had a chance to actually win the game.

The Cavaliers were led by Donovan Mitchell. He scored 30 points on 9-18 shooting with five assists in his return to the lineup after missing four games with a groin injury.

Mobley added 24 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

James Harden struggled to find his shot. He didn’t have his most efficient night from the floor, going 6-16, and he wasn’t able to make up for it by getting to the free-throw line. He ended the day with 19 points and 10 assists.

The Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown’s 23 points and eight assists. Tatum provided 20 points in his second game back from injury.

Payton Pritchard supplied 18 points, with each seemingly coming every time the Cavs were starting to turn the momentum of the game around. He has a knack for making back-breaking shots against the Cavs.

This was a disappointing loss for a Cleveland team that had really established good momentum over the last few weeks. They had big wins over the other top teams in the conference, the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, in the James Harden Era. The Celtics could be a different story. Even though the Cavs didn’t play up to their skill level, the Celtics present a lot of problems for the Cavs with their wings and spaced-out offense.

The Cavs will be back in action Monday evening when they host the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sarah Fillier and Taylor Girard each scored twice and the New York Sirens defeated the Ottawa Charge 6-2 on Sunday in the PWHL.

The Sirens won at home against the Charge for the first time in the last five meetings at the Prudential Center and took a 2-1 advantage in the season series.

In an explosive first period between two of the higher-scoring teams in the league, the Sirens came away with a 3-1 lead. Maddi Wheeler, Fillier and Girard scored to give New York a 3-0 lead before Brianne Jenner connected for Ottawa.

Jenner's goal was her ninth of the season, tied for fourth in the league. Kristýna Kaltounková of the Sirens leads with 11.

After a scoreless second period, Ottawa closed to within 3-2 when Gabbie Hughes found the back of the net three minutes into the third period.

New York then clicked again on offense, getting goals from Girard, Ally Simpson and Fillier.

Fillier had an assist on Girard's first-period goal.

In the net, Kayle Osborne made 16 saves for New York (8-0-3-8, 27 points) and Gwyneth Philips stopped 26 for Ottawa (5-5-1-8, 26 points).

The game drew a Sirens-record attendance of 8,264. Among New York's promotions was #23HourPlay for International Women's Day, which was shortened by one hour due to the switch to Daylight Saving Time.

Up next

Ottawa: at Vancouver on Saturday.

New York: at Minnesota on Sunday.

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AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

The Knicks (41*–23) visit the Lakers (38–25) at Crypto.com Arena in a nationally televised tilt. Los Angeles ranks middle-of-the-pack on both ends (12th in offense, 15th in defense) and is powered by Luka Dončić (32.5 PPG), Austin Reaves (23.5 PPG), and LeBron James (GTD, elbow). Favored to win, the Knicks will look to exploit the Lakers’ weak rebounding and push the pace against these plodders.

Tip off is 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Silver Screen and Roll. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Practice kindness. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but the CIA made the win disappear.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Rob Martin scored 24 points, Cam’Ron Fletcher added 17 with 19 rebounds, and top-seeded High Point beat No. 2 seed Winthrop 91-76 on Sunday for the Panthers' second straight Big South Conference Championship title.

High Point (30-4) set a program and Big South record with its 30th victory of the season. It is also coach Flynn Clayman's first year at the helm with the Panthers.

Martin shot 6 of 19 from the floor and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line to go with seven assists. Fletcher made two 3s and matched a tournament record for most rebounds in a game.

Terry Anderson added 18 points for the Panthers. Owen Aquino and Chase Johnston chipped in with 11 points apiece.

Kareem Rozier scored 22 points and Daylen Berry 18 for Winthrop (23-11). Logan Duncomb, the Big South Conference player of the year, scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds before fouling out with 4:32 to play and the Eagles down 79-68.

High Point took the lead for good early in the second half and had its largest lead, 67-51, with 9:49 remaining.

The teams split the regular-season series, each winning at home. Winthrop won the first meeting 92-75. High Point won the second 89-87.

Up next

Selection Sunday is March 15.

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Lakers star LeBron James was sidelined for Sunday’s home game against the Knicks, the second straight game he missed after sitting out of Friday’s win over the Pacers.

The Lakers hoped James would be available against the Knicks, but he was ruled out a little over an hour before tipoff because of the bruised left elbow injury he suffered during Thursday’s road loss to the Nuggets and left foot arthritis.

The Lakers have listed James on the injury report because of arthritis multiple times on the second night of back-to-backs since the 41-year-old, four-time MVP made his season debut in mid-November after he missed the first 14 games because of sciatica. 

James was icing his left elbow during his postgame media availability at Ball Arena inside the visitor’s locker room after falling onto the court after Nuggets star Nikola Jokic made contact with him in the air while James made a layup to cut the Lakers’ deficit to 110-106 with just over four minutes left.

He wasn’t on the court for the final 20 seconds of the game in the loss to the Nuggets. 

“It felt like one of those funny bone situations,” James said Thursday. “But like, super more intense.”

Sunday was the first time James missed consecutive games since making his season debut.

He’s averaging 21.4 points (50.4% shooting), seven assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in the 44 games he’s played this season.

Rui Hachimura started against the Knicks in James’ place.

Deandre Ayton was available and back in the starting lineup after sitting out of Friday’s win over the Pacers and only playing a few minutes against the Nuggets before leaving the game with left knee soreness.

Backup big man Maxi Kleber was also available against the Knicks after sitting out the last couple of games with back ailments.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t play Sunday night against the Orlando Magic as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to work him back gradually from the right calf strain that caused him to miss 15 straight games.

The Bucks are playing for a second straight night, which explains the decision to rest Antetokounmpo. The 6-foot-11 forward had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 27 minutes Saturday as the Bucks snapped a four-game skid with a 113-99 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Antetokounmpo has played three games since returning from the calf injury that knocked him out for five weeks. He has missed time with a right calf strain on two separate occasions this season.

This will mark the 30th game Antetokounmpo has missed this season. Never before had he missed more than 21 games in a single season.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is averaging 27.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 33 games.

The Bucks also will be missing second-leading scorer Kevin Porter Jr. for a third straight game because of swelling in his right knee.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Much has been made about the need for the Lakers’ big three to build chemistry with one another. While that can sometimes be a blanket statement, the easiest evidence of their current problems has been the play of Austin Reaves.

Luka Dončić certainly has still been able to produce at a high level. LeBron James has some early bumps in the road before starting to find his groove in more recent games.

Austin Reaves, however, has not had that breakthrough. Often, he’s been relegated to being just another guy on the court, looking more like a role player as opposed to the All-Star he was to start the year. While there have been glimpses in plenty of games of the player he was, it’s never been sustained.

As he’s continued to struggle, the volume of the conversation around him has grown. Prior to Friday’s game against the Pacers, Redick was asked about Reaves.

“Austin and I talked,” Redick said. “In the same way that LeBron sort of is hunting those transition opportunities, Austin, when he gets those throw-aheads, has to hunt those paint touch opportunities and sort of make plays out of that. We can obviously do a better job of calling a play for him.

“Last two games we’ve given him a minute less with Luke and a minute more with LeBron in the substitution matrix, so I think that’s given him a little bit more on-ball duties, But, look, I’d have to look back at last year or the beginning of the season when we did have those three for those few games, his usage percentage is like 1% lower. It’s not like something drastic.”

Not much changed for Reaves in the game that followed. He finished with 19 points on 6-14 shooting and was a -12 in a game the Lakers won by double digits. It was another game where he struggled and showed glimpses of his old self, too.

Predictably, Reaves was a topic of conversation again prior to Sunday’s game.

JJ Redick on Austin Reaves: "The messaging to him has been to just be himself." Says he wants Reaves to be aggressive.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 8, 2026

In theory, with LeBron sidelined with an elbow injury, this could serve as a time for Reaves to find his groove again. However, even if that happens, the return of LeBron changes the dynamic again.

However, as things are, anything would help Reaves right now. He’s clearly not himself and needs some type of boost. Hopefully, it’s something that comes in the absence of LeBron as the Lakers can’t rely on heroic performances from Luka every night.

At their best this season, the Lakers had an All-Star version of Reaves. If they want to get back to that point, they certainly need him to turn things around and do so soon.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Trey Campbell hit six 3-pointers in scoring 23 points and Northern Iowa defeated UIC 84-69 to win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and an automatic NCAA bid on Sunday.

The Panthers (23-12) won the tournament for the sixth time and earned their ninth NCAA appearance and first since 2016. Sixth-seeded UNI became to lowest seed to win the tournament and the first to win four games in four days.

Campbell was 8-of-13 shooting, including 6 of 9 from the arc, for the Panthers, who shot 63% and were 12 of 23 on 3-pointers. Ben Schwieger was 7-of-8 shooting and made three 3-pointers to finish with 18 points. Will Hornseth and Leon Bond added 10 each. Tristan Smith had a game-high eight rebounds to go with nine points.

Elijah Crawford scored 28 points on 13-of-29 shooting to lead the fifth-seeded Flames (19-15). Ahmad Henderson II added 13, and Rashund Washington Jr. and Jayce Nathaniel 10 each. UIC shot 44% against the nation's top scoring defense (61.1 ppg).

The Panthers led all the way and were ahead 48-41 at halftime. After hitting just one of its first six shots to open the second half, the Panthers made seven in row, including a pair of 3s from Campbell and another by Schwieger, to lead by 13.

The Flames rallied behind Nathaniel and Crawford who scored all the points in a 9-2 run to get within six. Campbell stopped that run with a straightaway 3-pointer to begin a 13-2 run that ended with UNI up by 17 — their largest lead — with 37 seconds left.

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UPDATE: The Lakers will, in fact, not have LeBron James for Sunday’s afternoon showdown with the Knicks. After head coach JJ Redick called him a gametime decision during his pregame presser, the Lakers ruled LeBron out with a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis.

LeBron James (left elbow contusion; left foot arthritis) has been downgraded to out for today’s game vs. New York, per the Lakers.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 8, 2026

Technically, it’s not known for certain that the elbow is what is keeping him out of his this game since he’s listed with two injuries. However, the left foot arthritis has existed for most of the season while the elbow contusion is new.

The Lakers beat the Pacers without LeBron on Friday, but Sunday’s game against the Knicks will certainly be a tougher task.

The Lakers’ next game will be on Tuesday at home against the Timberwolves.

Original story follows.

---

It appears LeBron James’ absence from the Lakers’ lineup will be a short one.

After suffering an elbow injury against the Nuggets on Thursday, LeBron missed Friday’s game against the Pacers. On Saturday’s injury report, he was listed as questionable for the game with both a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis.

Deandre Ayton is off the injury report for Sunday. LeBron James is questionable. pic.twitter.com/hdHDfpsC4a

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 8, 2026

Prior to that contest against Indiana, head coach JJ Redick noted that the expectation is LeBron will be available on Sunday.

“LeBron has a contusion,” Redick said. “He’s still banged up, but we think he’ll be available for Sunday.”

The Lakers will play the Knicks in a matinee game starting at 12:30 p.m. PT. It’s a quicker-than-normal game, so it changes everyone’s routines. In some senses, it could be a positive that LeBron missed Friday’s game as that means he has a bit of extra time to recover.

LeBron didn’t seem too concerned about his injury following Thursday’s game when speaking to the media.

“It’s pretty sore right now,” LeBron said. “What was I feeling? Feeling like one of them funny bone situations but super more intense.”

Largely because of his injury at the beginning of the season, LeBron is already ineligible for postseason awards as he will not meet the 65-game minimum. It’s been a trying year for him and the Lakers when it comes to injuries.

Ayton being off the injury report is also notable. The big man played just 4:30 against Denver and sat out against the Pacers. At this point in the year, he has dealt with soreness in both knees, so it’ll be something to monitor the rest of the season.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Kaylee Yarbrough scored 25 points, Francie Morris added 22, and their 3-point shooting was instrumental in sixth-seeded Samford's 72-67 victory over top-seed Chattanooga in the championship game of the Southern Conference Tournament on Sunday.

Samford advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time, the other appearances coming in 2011 and 2012.

Samford’s three-game SoCon Tournament run included victories over Chattanooga, ETSU and Wofford — the three teams that tied for first place in the regular season. The Bulldogs, 16-18 this season, are the 12th team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament with a losing record.

Yarbrough, a part-time starter during her freshman season, came off the bench to make 5 of 7 3-pointers and Morris made 3 of 6. Samford averages 26 3-point attempts and 8.4 made 3s per game. The Bulldogs made 10 of 17 on Sunday.

Samford took a 54-43 lead to the fourth quarter and saw the margin cut to two points when Chattanooga's Izzy McPherson buried three 3-pointers in a two-minute stretch, making it 60-58 with 5 1/2 minutes left.

Although the Mocs made only two shots the rest of the game, they had a chance to tie in the final minute. Caia Elisaldez made two free throws to make it 70-67 with 29 seconds left and her steal a few seconds later gave the Mocs a shot at overtime. Kalifa Ford missed from 3-point distance with eight seconds left, Samford rebounded, and Briana Rivera made two free throws to close it out.

Elisaldez scored 20 points and McPherson 17 for Chattanooga (20-10).

Sierra Godbolt scored 12 for Samford.

Chattanooga played in the SoCon Tournament title game for the 22nd time. The Mocs have played in the NCAA Tournament 17 times.

Up next

Selection Sunday is March 15.

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Tariq Francis and Lino Mark combined for 34 points to lead Rutgers to a 74-62 victory over Penn State on Sunday in a Big Ten Conference regular-season finale.

Rutgers (13-18, 6-14) swept the season series against the Nittany Lions, and has won two of its last three games. Penn State (12-19, 3-17) has lost five of its last six.

Francis made three 3-pointers and scored 18 points. Mark finished with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting overall. Darren Buchanan Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points for the Scarlet Knights. Jamichael Davis added 11 points off the bench.

Ivan Juric and Freddie Dilione V scored 16 points apiece for Penn State. The Nittany Lions made just 3 of 22 from long range and 13 of 22 from the free-throw line.

Rutgers used a 16-0 run for a 37-14 lead and led 43-21 at the break. Francis scored 10 points in the first half and Mark added nine for the Scarlet Knights. Dilione scored eight first-half points for the Nittany Lions.

Back-to-back 3s from Mark and Francis pushed the lead to 26 points early in the second half. Rutgers led 58-38 after Emmanuel Ogbole's dunk with 9:36 remaining.

Up next

The Big Ten Conference Tournament starts Tuesday in Chicago.

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The Detroit Pistons will be looking to break their season-long three-game losing streak as they visit the Miami Heat tonight.

Detroit is still far from completely healthy and faces a team that has won four straight, so I’m taking Miami to win in my Pistons vs. Heat predictions.

Let’s take a closer look at this Eastern Conference showdown in my free NBA picks for Sunday, March 8.

Pistons vs Heat prediction

Pistons vs Heat best bet: Heat moneyline (+110)

The Detroit Pistons suffered one of their worst losses of the year last night, losing 107-105 to the Nets. Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson both missed that game, and while they may play tonight, it’s unclear how limited they might be.

Detroit is playing banged up and in the second half of a back-to-back against a rested Miami Heat team that has won four straight.

The Heat have one win against the Pistons this year and played Detroit tough in both meetings. The way these teams are playing right now, I like Miami to win outright at home.

Pistons vs Heat same-game parlay

If the Heat are going to win tonight, it will be on the back of two of their biggest stars. Bam Adebayo has put up at least 21 points in each of his last five games, while Tyler Herro is coming off a monster game where he compiled 51 points + rebounds + assists, his second straight game going Over tonight’s total.

Pistons vs Heat SGP

• Heat moneyline
• Bam Adebayo Over 18.5 points
• Tyler Herro Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Double-double trouble

Miami has two potential double-double threats every night in Adebayo and Kel’el Ware, and both have been getting them regularly as of late. Adebayo has three double-doubles in his last five games, while Ware has gotten there in six of his last nine games.

On the outside, Davion Mitchell has been busy from 3-point range as well, hitting at least two shots from beyond the arc in three of his last four contests.

Pistons vs Heat SGP

• Heat moneyline
• Bam Adebayo double-double
• Kel'el Ware double-double
• Davion Mitchell Over 1.5 made threes

Pistons vs Heat odds

• Spread: Pistons -2.5 (-110) | Heat +2.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pistons -130 | Heat +115
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 (-110) | Under 231.5 (-110)

Pistons vs Heat betting trend to know

The Heat are 7-2 straight up in their last nine games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Heat.

How to watch Pistons vs Heat

Pistons vs Heat latest injuries

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nathan Miller won the 41st Los Angeles Marathon in the final stride on Sunday, becoming the second straight American men's winner in the race's closest finish ever.

Miller, of Jackson, Michigan, completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 18 seconds, overtaking Michael Kamau of Kenya, who was second in the same time.

Kamau didn't take any fluids during the race and fell at the finish. He was taken away on a stretcher.

Miller, 36, is a substitute teacher and a high school track and cross country coach at Jackson High School. His personal best is 2:10:45 at the 2023 Grandma's Marathon, where he set a record as the fastest U.S.-born Black marathoner.

Last year, Matt Richtman became the first American to win the men’s race since 1994. He won in 2:07:56.

Enyew Nigat of Kenya was third on Sunday in 2:14:23.

In the women's race, Priscah Cherono of Kenya won in 2:25:20. The 45-year-old mother of three lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was 10th in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, Arizona, finished second in 2:27:37. Antonina Kwambai of Kenya was third in 2:28:50.

Race organizers had announced that because of the weather medals would be given out to runners who completed just 18 miles of the course that began at Dodger Stadium and ended in the Century City section of Los Angeles. Temperatures were expected to rise into the 80s by midday.

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

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — India wins cricket's Twenty20 World Cup with 96-run victory over New Zealand.