A key deadline has come and gone for the NBA’s venture into Europe, and the league office is buoyed with the result, all of which signals building momentum for the proposed upstart league.
The NBA had set a midnight deadline of Wednesday, April 1 for prospective investors to submit non-binding bids for consideration into the league’s proposed NBA Europe expansion. According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, north of 120 investment groups expressed interest in teams for the proposed league, with multiple bids even surpassing $1 billion. The league had set a loose threshold for entry at around $500 million; according to the person, many of the bid proposals fell within that $500 million to $1 billion range.
The proposed bids essentially act similarly to licensing fees that represent a buy-in into the league.
The non-binding bids came from wealthy individuals, investment firms and even existing teams in the EuroLeague, which is the legacy league that NBA Europe would be looking to compete against, if not replace altogether.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
“We have received significant interest from a range of prospective teams and investors for permanent franchise spots in a new league in Europe backed by the NBA and FIBA,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said Wednesday in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. “The level of engagement and the scale of the bids reflect the marketplace’s belief in our proposed model and the enormous, untapped potential for European basketball. We will now review the bids in more detail and shortlist the partners who share our vision and commitment to accelerating the growth of the game across the continent.”
There are 12 cities across Europe that the NBA and FIBA, its partner in the venture, are targeting for the new league. The cities are among the biggest in Europe and include Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London and Athens.
Now, the NBA will present the most attractive bids to the Board of Governors for approval.
The NBA held a Board of Governors session March 24 and 25, during which the expansion into Europe was discussed. Tatum, who also operates as the NBA’s chief operating officer, updated ownership on the progress of NBA Europe, though no measures were put up for a vote.
The NBA and FIBA are planning to structure the new league with 14 to 16 teams, with 10 to 12 of those being permanent fixtures and the others being open slots based on performance in FIBA leagues.
One key hurdle will be the NBA’s ongoing discussions with EuroLeague leadership over the stakes and control of the proposed NBA Europe league. At last week’s Board of Governors meeting, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he sensed that EuroLeague was willing to engage in discussions with the objective of getting a deal done.
“I think for the betterment of European basketball, the best outcome would be if we came together with the EuroLeague here and that we came up with a systematic approach to growing the game throughout Europe,” Silver said Wednesday, March 25. “That means complementing the country leagues, working together with the EuroLeague and working together with our federation, FIBA.”
Chus Bueno, who was recently appointed as the EuroLeague’s CEO, has a friendly relationship with Silver from the time when Bueno worked in the NBA league office.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor left the Tampa Bay Rays’ game with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday after a foul tip hit him in the face mask.
The game was in the second inning when Tampa Bay’s Nick Fortes swung at a 100-mph fastball from Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and hit a ball that went backward and struck Bucknor.
Bucknor, 63, immediately turned around and went down on his knees as Brewers catcher William Contreras checked on him. After Brewers training staff came to the field and consulted with him, Bucknor left the field.
Chad Fairchild, who had been working as the first-base umpire, took over behind the plate after Bucknor’s departure as part of a transition to a three-man crew. The game was delayed for about 13 minutes.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dances on the bench against the Washington Wizards in the second quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In today’s Dub Hub:
Steph Curry targeting a potential return this Sunday against the Rockets, per The Athletic.
Curry has been sidelined since January with a right knee injury, but he appears to finally be trending in the right direction. He participated in Tuesday’s practice and took part in a 5-on-5 scrimmage — a significant step forward in his recovery.
Steph Curry to ESPN on his scrimmage: "It felt great. I'm checking the boxes. But with this, it's always unpredictable because I don't know how the knee will respond because it hasn't responded well in the past attempts to get to this 5-on-5 level."https://t.co/X5lJ8rNKsn
While there’s still uncertainty surrounding the exact timeline, the possibility alone is a major development for Golden State. The Warriors have continued to compete without Curry, but the margin for error has been thin, especially against top-tier opponents. Getting him back would not only stabilize the offense, but also provide a much-needed lift as the Warriors push toward the postseason and prepare for their matchup in the Play-In Tournament.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, April 1st:
Though Curry has played in only 39 games, the Warriors have a higher effective field goal percentage (55%, 12th) than they did last season (53.6%, 20th). But they’ve seen the league’s third-biggest jump in turnover rate, its fourth-biggest drop in free throw rate, and its sixth-biggest drop in offensive rebounding percentage.
Green has accepted those choices without agitation, letting Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy know that he is willing to move to a bench role, if necessary, while still believing plenty of positive basketball remains ahead.
“It doesn’t have to look a certain way for me,” Green said. “I fear ever becoming one of those guys that everybody else know [their time is up] but me. I just never want to be that guy. Ego and entitlement can very much lead you to be that guy.”
Cuban, who sold the majority share of the franchise to the Adelson and Dumont families in December 2023, has privately grumbled for more than a year about the business partners he chose. He took those complaints public during an appearance on an episode of the “Intersections” podcast that published Tuesday morning.
“I don’t regret selling,” Cuban said. “I regret who I sold to. I made a lot of mistakes in the process, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Amar'e Stoudemire, Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and Doc Rivers are among the members inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6oPR2gBgtE
Deep breath before I rattle off these depressing injury reports…..Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler is watching from a couch somewhere with a surgically repaired ACL. Moses Moody just got diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon. Al Horford’s soleus strain has him re-evaluating week to week. Will Richard and Quinten Post are both day-to-day.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
The Denver Nuggets are on the verge of securing the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.
With a matchup on deck in Utah tonight, my Nuggets vs. Jazz predictions expect Denver to take care of business, spearheaded by the efforts of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Nuggets vs Jazz best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-112)
Just last week, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic needed to play 39 minutes to escape with a six-point win at home against the Utah Jazz.
If Utah had not limited Kyle Filopowski to fewer than 25 minutes — as he scored 25 points — they very well may have won that game.
This is the Jazz template.
Play well early. Play quality basketball... and then bench the contributors in the fourth quarter to assure a loss.
Anytime Jokic is playing significant minutes these days, he should be expected to collect a bounty of rebounds. Jokic has cleared this lofty prop in five straight games and in eight of his last 10, with one of those exceptions being a 25-minute jaunt against the 76ers.
That included collecting 15 boards against Utah in that unexpectedly tight win on Friday. Jokic took only 16 shots, not needing to focus offensively to dominate the Jazz.
Nuggets vs Jazz same-game parlay
On Friday, this same space argued for a first-half moneyline bet on the Jazz at +525.
Alas, it did not cash. The score was merely tied at halftime.
Expect Utah to follow its usual template of quality basketball early and losing basketball late.
Nuggets vs Jazz SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
Jazz 1H +10
Nuggets moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Jazz Tank Extraordinaire
If we came within a point of cashing this longshot same-game parlay on Friday, why not lean into it again tonight?
Although the Jazz went 3-13 in March, they won six of those 16 first halves, including on March 2 against these Nuggets despite being 11.5-point underdogs.
Nuggets vs Jazz SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
Jazz 1H moneyline
Denver moneyline
Nuggets vs Jazz odds
Spread: Nuggets -17 (-110) | Jazz +17 (-110)
Moneyline: Nuggets -2000 | Jazz +1000
Over/Under: Over 249 (-110) | Under 249 (-110)
Nuggets vs Jazz betting trend to know
Denver is just 2-5 against the spread in its last seven games. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Jazz.
How to watch Nuggets vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
ALT2, KJZZ
Nuggets vs Jazz latest injuries
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Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after scoring a run on a single hit by outfielder Kyle Tucker (not pictured) against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Taking the mound against the Dodgers this Wednesday will be Gavin Williams, a pitcher who, in a way, sort of defied the odds over the last year or so to put up solid numbers despite concerning peripherals. Look no further than the 11.8% walk rate Williams ran last season in order to contemplate that his 3.06 ERA is no model of sustainability. Well, start number one in 2026 didn’t inspire much confidence in his ability to take steps forward in that department—Williams’s final line of two runs allowed in five innings of work against the Mariners represented a strong performance, but how he got there despite walking six batters is quite the surprise.
Although Shohei Ohtani leads the league in walks in this early sample, with six, the Dodgers as a team haven’t been that prone to the free pass. Ultimately, though, unlike in Williams’ case, in which the first sample of 2026 merely follows an established trend in the past, the Dodgers’ ability to be patient is well-known. If they can replicate that against Williams, there might be room for a blowup in here for an offense that hasn’t surpassed five runs in a game since Opening Day.
Early wins have come primarily on the backs of pitching and complementary pieces rising to the occasion. Sure, the stars have had their moments here and there, like that Mookie Betts three-run shot against the Diamondbacks, but we’re waiting for their first massive game. Something else to keep an eye on regarding Williams, a right-hander, is that he had pretty aggressive reverse splits last year, and he’s been better against lefties over the course of his career.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 31: Jose Fernandez #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks is dunked with gatorade following the MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Chase Field on March 31, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Tigers 7-5. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
TIGERS
DIAMONDBACKS
Colt Keith – 1B
Ketel Marte – DH
Kevin McGonigle – 3B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Gleyber Torres – 2B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Riley Greene – DH
Gabriel Moreno – C
Dillon Dingler – C
Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
Kerry Carpenter – RF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Matt Vierling – LF
Jose Fernandez – 1B
Parker Meadows – CF
Tim Tawa – LF
Javier Baez – SS
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Tarik Skubal – LHP
Zac Gallen – RHP
Last night’s debut hero, Jose Fernandez, remains in the line-up for this afternoon’s game. However, in an interesting move, he goes across the diamond, taking the place of Carlos Santana at first-base. Fernandez has only 139.1 innings of experience at the position – just sixteen starts. Eight of those were in 2024 with High-A Hillsboro, and the other eight last year at Double-A Amarillo. After last night’s remarkable performance, it feels like Torey Lovullo simply was unable to leave him out of the line-up. Certainly, he did better than Nolan Arenado had done at third; with Santana’s OPS+ being negative 14, the bar is similarly low at first!
Of course, this afternoon, he’s only having to face the back-to-back Cy Young winner, in Tariq Skubal. Now, being the reigning champion there doesn’t preclude you getting knocked around. Just ask Paul Skenes, who didn’t even make it out of the first inning on Opening Day. But that fate certainly did not befall Skubal in his inaugural appearance, who tossed six innings on three hits, allowing only an unearned run, with no walks and six strikeouts. It’s definitely nice for the D-backs to have secured the series win already: a victory here would therefore fall into the “house money” category.
We will certainly need Zac Gallen to pitch a damn sight better than he did. After more or less cruising through four innings, the wheels came off in the fifth, where Gallen was charged with four runs, without recording an out. I also note Alek Thomas getting a day off, with Jordan Lawlar moving over to centre, and Tim Tawa getting the start in left. Ketel Marte moves to DH, with Ildemaro Vargas playing second in his utility role. I’m under no illusions that this is going to be other than a tough game for Arizona, going up against one of the best pitches in baseball. They’ll need to play clean, and take advantage of whatever opportunities they can find, if they are to complete the sweep and get back to .500.
How do the St. Louis Blues recover from that gut punch they took on Monday?
Nothing they can do but get right back on the horse, and after taking a direct kick to the gut when they allowed a game-winning goal with 22 seconds left in a 5-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks, the Blues (31-31-11) have no choice but to pick themselves up when they play an almost certain must-win game against the Los Angeles Kings 29-26-18) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the race for the final wild card out of the Western Conference.
The task is daunting for the Blues, who are only four points behind the Nashville Predators with a game in hand, but the bigger issue is not only do they have to climb over the Predators but they also have to pass the Kings, who are one point back of the Predators and host Nashville on Thursday; they also have to pass the Winnipeg Jets, who are also one point back of Nashville, and the Sharks and Seattle Kraken, each two points back.
Having to pass five teams makes it almost a certainty that the only way for that to happen, and with the teams in front of them having head-to-head matchups, the Blues almost certainly need to someone win out their remaining nine games, or come awfully close to doing that, in order to have a chance.
- - -
Blues coach Jim Montgomery will not tinker with the lineup for Wednesday, other than starting Jordan Binnington in goal.
"The lineup is the same. I've talked to the five guys that haven't played (lately)," Montgomery said to the media in Los Angeles of Oskar Sundqvist, Jonathan Drouin, Nathan Walker, Tyler Tucker and Matthew Kessel. "(I told them) keep being great teammates. They're working hard, they're staying in shape, they have to for when we call upon them. You know we're going to call upon them sooner or later. If we don't have success again tonight, there are going to be changes."
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud
Jake Neighbours-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou
Otto Stenberg-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jonatan Berggren
Alexey Toropchenko-Jack Finley-Pius Suter
Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein-Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler-Justin Holl
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Jonathan Drouin, Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker and Matthew Kessel. Tyler Tucker (lower body) is on the road trip and is close to being an option for selection.
- - -
Kings Projected Lineup:
Artemi Panarin-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore-Quinton Byfield-Alex Laferriere
Mathieu Joseph-Scott Laughton-Joel Armia
Jeff Malott-Samuel Helenius-Jared Wright
Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson-Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin-Cody Ceci
Darcy Kuemper will start in goal; Anton Forsberg will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Alex Turcotte, Jacob Moverare and Taylor Ward. Andrei Kuzmenko (meniscus) is out.
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The Philadelphia 76ers will continue their fight to avoid the play-in tournament as they visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
Washington has suffered more than a few blowout losses recently, and I’m looking for Philadelphia to add to that by covering tonight in my 76ers vs. Wizards predictions.
Read on to see my full analysis of tonight’s matchup in my free NBA picks for Wednesday, April 1.
76ers vs Wizards prediction
76ers vs Wizards best bet: 76ers -14 (-110)
The Washington Wizards are taking full part in the NBA’s race to the bottom this year, as they are currently tied for the league’s worst record at 17-58. Washington has the league’s worst point differential (-11.4), and have gotten even worse as the season has gone along, losing 19 of their last 20 games.
But Washington isn’t just losing, it’s now getting blown out on a regular basis. In five of their last seven games, the Wizards have lost by at least 19 points. Even with massive spreads of 15.5 and 16.5 points, they’ve failed to cover in either of their last two games.
This isn’t completely unexpected, as the Wizards came into the year planning on developing their young talent. But Washington is now even frequently sitting Tre Johnson late in games, as the 19-year-old has been just a little too good for a team looking to claim the best draft position possible.
The Philadelphia 76ers should have little trouble with a Wizards team that is completely uncompetitive right now.
Philadelphia is enjoying a rare moment in which the team is healthy and available, with Paul George back from his suspension and Tyrese Maxey in the lineup after recovering from his finger injury. With Joel Embiid also in the lineup, Wednesday was the first time in two months that Philly’s big three were on the court together.
The talent gap here is massive, and the Sixers have a lot to play for as they fight for playoff position down the stretch. I’m taking Philadelphia to cover even with a big spread on tonight’s game.
76ers vs Wizards same-game parlay
The Sixers should be able to dominate this game, and I like two of their top players to hit props as part of a big win.
Paul George has jumped right back into the lineup since returning from his suspension, averaging 24.3 ppg in his first three games since rejoining the team, so I like him to hit the Over at 19.5 points tonight.
I’m also taking Tyrese Maxey to grab Over 3.5 rebounds, as he’s averaging 4.2 boards per game this season and is coming off two consecutive games where he grabbed seven rebounds.
76ers vs Wizards SGP
76ers -13.5
Paul George Over 19.5 points
Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Raining 3's in DC
We’re truly going beyond the arc for this parlay, as I’m targeting players on both teams to hit the Over on their three-pointer totals. George and Quentin Grimes have each hit their targets in their last two games for Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, I’m banking on both Bilal Coulibaly – who has made at least two shots from deep in five of his last eight games – and Will Riley (1.7 threes per game in the month of March) to hit their Overs for the Wizards as well.
76ers vs Wizards SGP
Paul George Over 2.5 threes made
Quentin Grimes Over 1.5 threes made
Bilal Coulibaly Over 1.5 threes made
Will Riley Over 1.5 threes made
76ers vs Wizards odds
Spread: Philadelphia -14.5 (-110) | Washington +14.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Philadelphia -1200 | Washington +750
Over/Under: Over 238.5 (-110) | Under 238.5 (-110)
76ers vs Wizards betting trend to know
The 76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against the Wizards. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Wizards.
How to watch 76ers vs Wizards
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSP, MNMT
76ers vs Wizards 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.
PORTLAND, ME - MARCH 22: Tristan Enaruna #13 of the Cleveland Charge drives to the basket during the game against the Maine Celtics on March 22, 2026 at Portland Expo Center in Portland, Maine. 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 China Wong/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Charge have had a successful season by any measure. They’ve had multiple call-ups and have improved drastically in the standings as they enter the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 23-13 record after not making the postseason last season.
Those improvements have come with individual accolades. First, Cleveland Cavaliers two-way player Tristan Enaruna has been named the G League’s Most Improved Player. Second, Charge general manager Liron Fanan has been named G League Basketball Executive of the Year.
Enaruna came into the season not on a two-way deal, but earned his way into that spot thanks in large part to his improvement as an outside shooter. Last season, he was a 29.2% outside shooter. This season, he’s converted 37.2% of his outside looks. This has allowed him to average 20.3 points per game, which is nine more points than he averaged last year.
“This award is a huge testament to the daily work Tristan puts in, how intentional he’s been with his development, and the growing confidence he continues to play with,” head coach Eli Kell-Abrams said in a statement released by the team. “We could not be happier for T and we are excited for him to continue to grow during a long and successful career in this game.”
Fanan has done a great job of identifying talent. She’s overseen six callups this season, including three with the Cavs. Additionally, Fanan has put together a good team that competes every night, no matter who’s in and out of the lineup. That’s incredibly difficult to do given how fast things change in the G League.
“Liron’s leadership and tireless work ethic have been instrumental in building the Cleveland Charge roster and establishing a strong development culture across our basketball ecosystem,” Koby Altman, Cavs’ President of Basketball Operations, said in a statement released by the team. “This recognition is well deserved, and we’re incredibly proud of her — not only for this achievement, but also for becoming the first woman to be named NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year.”
The Charge start their playoff pursuit on Wednesday. They host the Capital City Go-Go in the first round of the G League playoffs at 7:30 PM. The first three rounds of the playoffs are single elimination, while the Finals are a best-of-three series.
The Flyers didn’t waste much time with re-signing David Jiricek.
They inked the 22-year-old defenseman Wednesday to a two-year, $3 million contract extension not even four weeks after acquiring him in the Bobby Brink trade.
Jiricek was a pending restricted free agent. He’ll remain an RFA when his new deal expires.
The righty shot has played at a point-per-game pace through 10 games with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. He has two goals, eight assists, 30 shots and a minus-6 rating for the Phantoms.
As the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft, Jiricek has a lot upside. His size and shot are big strengths, but he’ll have to improve his skating and reads. The Flyers are his third organization. He already has 84 career NHL games under his belt.
“We still see a high potential — 21-, 22-year-old, 6-foot-4 defensemen of his caliber are tough to find,” general manager Danny Briere said after the trade. “We know we have to work with him, we need to be patient, we need to give him a little bit of rope to develop him.”
LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Impact player substitute Sameer Rizvi struck a half-century as Delhi Capitals overcame a top-order order collapse and beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets in its opening game of the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
Rizvi anchored Delhi to 145-4 in 17.1 overs with an unbeaten 70 off 47 balls after coming in for Thangarasu Natarajan in the fourth over.
Lucknow had earlier collapsed to 141 all in 18.4 overs after Delhi skipper Axar Patel won the toss on a wicket where fast bowlers found plenty of swing with the new ball.
Delhi ran into early trouble in the chase when it collapsed to 26-4 in the fifth over before Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs (39 not out) of South Africa featured in a match-winning 119-run stand.
“Playing at home, you know the conditions and that helped as my state league takes place here,” Rizvi said. “Stubbs said ‘respect the conditions’ (and) once we were set, we knew we could play our natural game.”
Lokesh Rahul got dismissed on Mohammad Shami’s first ball when he holed out at deep point while going for an extravagant inside shot over the cover, and pace bowler Mohsin Khan found the outside edge of Nitish Rana’s bat.
Fast bowler Prince Yadav then picked up the wickets of Sri Lankan Pathum Nissanka, who skied a mistimed pull to diving wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and clean bowled Patel of the next ball before Rizvi and Stubbs revived the chase.
Rizvi was the aggressor of the two, hitting four sixes and five boundaries while Stubbs’ 32-ball knock featured three fours and a six.
Earlier, Lucknow struggled from the onset against the pace of Mukesh Kumar (0-17) in the power play while Lungi Ngidi (3-27) and Natarajan (3-29) intelligently varied their pace.
Pant promoted himself as an opener but was run-out in the third over when Kumar couldn’t hold onto a sharp return catch of Mitchell Marsh, but the ball deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Pant out of crease.
“Best way to recover from my dismissal is to ignore it as you can’t control it,” Pant said. "The way we batted, we couldn’t get a partnership for long ... there was enough help with the new ball, but you can’t put pressure on the opposition with 140."
Marsh made 35 off 28 before he holed out to mid-off against Kuldeep Yadav’s (2-31) googly in the 10th over. Ngidi, bowling round the wicket, baffled experienced Nicholas Pooran with a dipping slower ball as the West Indian left-hander tried to flick but missed the line completely and was clean bowled for run-a-ball 8.
Abdul Samad charged briefly and top-scored with 36 off 25 balls before falling to Natarajan in the 18th over as Ngidi polished off the tail quickly with two more slower balls to tailenders Anrich Nortje and Khan.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown #7 shake hands during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MIAMI — Jayson Tatum has no shortage of accolades.
He’s a six-time NBA All-Star. He’s been named to the All-NBA First Team four times in the last five years.
He’s won two Olympic gold medals and, famously, an NBA championship.
And, now, for the first time, he’s a finalist for an award that has nothing to do with how talented a basketball player he is: the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award.
It’s the first time in Tatum’s 9-year NBA career that he’s been nominated for the award, which recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to the team.
“It means a lot being recognized for something like that,” Tatum said at Celtics shootaround on Wednesday morning in Miami.
His nomination is a well-deserved one. For months, Tatum was a vital part of nearly every Celtics practice, film session, and game, staying as close to the team as possible during his Achilles tendon recovery.
“Not being able to be out there with the team is already tough enough,” he told CelticsBlog in October. “But still traveling and being with them during meetings and game[s] and practices and shootarounds, still trying to feel as much a part of the team as I can, I think it really helps my mental health a lot.”
Tatum watched the team exceed expectations from the sidelines, hoving near the top of the Eastern Conference all season while having one of the team’s best offenses and defenses. Realizing that the team had become a legitimate championship contender helped make the difficult decision of whether or not he should return this season a little bit easier.
“A lot of it had to do with where the team was at, and never wanting to take moments in a season for granted, just thinking like, ‘Oh, we’ll be good next year,’” Tatum said last week. “It’s like, I’ve been in the league [a long time], I’ve been fortunate to be on a lot of really good teams. And, you never want to take for granted the opportunity to be on the team that’s contending for a championship.”
As such, before he made his regualr season debut on March 6th, he addressed his teammates, thanking them for playing such inspiring basketball all season long.
“I told these guys before I came back that they were a part of this rehab and a motivating factor for me to get back, just being around the team all season and seeing the way that they competed and attacked the season, the togetherness that they played with — I just told them that I wanted to be a part of that,” Tatum said. “And, early on, when I obviously couldn’t practice and stuff like that, and I was rehabbing and working out, that was in the back of my mind — I wanted clearly, to get out of my situation, but just being around the guys this year really helped me. My mindset, my mental still made me feel I was a part of the team. So, that was big for me.”
Asked Jayson Tatum about being a finalist for Teammate of the Year and if his view of what it means to be a good teammate changed this year:
“It means a lot being recognized for something like that. As much as I've been recognized for other awards, I told these guys before I… pic.twitter.com/cf2ZDopq60
Joe Mazzulla, who is coaching Tatum for the fourth year, said he’s seen his star player play with a sense of gratitude since his return.
“He came on the other side of this a better person,” Mazzulla said.
Jayson Tatum also found his Player of the Week selection extra special
Tatum won’t know if he’s officially been selected as the NBA’s best teammate for a few more weeks; he’s one of 12 finalists, a list that also includes former Celtics Marcus Smart, Jeff Green, and Jrue Holiday.
But, he did already win a basketball-related award since coming back: Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
The recognition came after he averaged 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game last week, while leading the team to three straight victories.
And, while he’s won Player of the Week a whopping 13 times in his career, this one felt extra special.
“It’s probably the most meaningful one I’ve ever had,” Tatum said. “I remember not that long ago, I couldn’t run, I wasn’t able to play 5-on-5. It was a small stepping stone, but I think being injured has made me appreciate every little thing along the way. It was cool to receive that.”
Tatum credited the entire Celtics coaching staff for helping him get to where he is now. He’s been working especially close with longtime assistant coach Tony Dobbins, who spearheaded his on-court rehab, but is often seen on the floor with Da’Sean Butler, Matt Reynolds, and other members of the coaching staff.
Jayson Tatum getting in some work with assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and Da’Sean Butler
“The entire staff has been unbelievable,” Tatum said. “I haven’t been on any other teams, but I feel like we have, if not the best, one of the best staffs, just from an intentionality standpoint. I can honestly say everybody on our staff cares about their role and trying to give their all to make each of us better and better as a unit. So, the staff as a whole has been very helpful to me, kind of getting me back up to speed and helping me out, getting back on the court.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tuesday’s game was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first chance to showcase their probable playoff starting five this season. And if this game was any indication, that group has some work to do. The Los Angeles Lakers completely ran them out of the building, defeating them 127-113 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the 14-point margin would have you believe.
The starting five of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen looked rough.
The Cavs were outscored by nine points in the 13 minutes the starters played. They were awful defensively (135.7 defensive rating) and weren’t able to make up for those shortcomings on the other end.
The offense felt stagnant with the two bigs. The guards tried to force the ball inside. This worked as Allen had another impressive game, putting up 18 points on 9-11 shooting, but the shrunken floor also led to turnovers. Mitchell and Harden combined for five giveaways, and the Cavs weren’t able to generate clean outside looks.
It didn’t help that Mobley had no offensive impact. He provided just six points on 2-4 shooting.
This wasn’t a situation where the Cavs’ guards weren’t looking to get him involved. Mobley simply couldn’t take advantage of any of the mismatches he created, which was the exact opposite of his strong showing the night before against the Utah Jazz.
Mobley was able to force mismatches by getting either Austin Reaves or Luka Doncic switched on to him. Instead of punishing them right away, he waited for the help defense to rotate over, and often wasn’t able to find the open man on the perimeter. This stalled out the offense reminiscent of the beginning of the season.
The Cavs are a top-heavy team, especially when they’re down three rotation players in Sam Merrill (hamstring), Dean Wade (ankle), and Jaylon Tyson (toe). They can’t afford to have one of their top players be this invisible on offense if they want to match up against an elite opponent.
Along those same lines, the Cavs aren’t going anywhere if Mitchell isn’t aggressive offensively.
Mitchell’s downhill attacking is his best offensive trait. It’s rare to find a guard of his size who can completely change the game with their rim pressure. He forces defenses to overload to his side, which creates openings for his teammates.
However, when that forcefulness isn’t there, there aren’t many avenues for him to create good offense for himself or others. This came through as Mitchell finished the game with a dreadful 100 offensive rating, which tied Mobley for the worst on the team. He supplied just 10 points on 4-10 shooting with six assists.
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Mitchell did come out of the gates strong. He stole the opening tip from Los Angeles, but LeBron James swatted his layup attempt away. That seemed to take the wind out of his sails, as he tried just one more shot at the rim throughout the next three quarters (the starters didn’t play in the fourth) and had just two free-throw attempts.
It’s not worth making too much of a poor performance on the second night of a back-to-back. Mitchell didn’t have it on Tuesday. Games like this happen. However, it is worth underscoring that even after the Harden move, this offense will only be as good as Mitchell makes it. And when he doesn’t bring the energy, things will look stagnant rather quickly.
The Cavs need their starting offense to be great, considering how bad their defense is.
The perimeter defense was once again poor. There’s no physicality at the point of attack. Los Angeles’s guards were able to get downhill whenever they wanted, which allowed them to create open looks for themselves and their teammates.
The Lakers were efficient in the three best places to score: the rim, the free-throw line, and the three ball. Los Angeles completed 75% of their looks inside (72nd percentile), had a free-throw rate in the 82nd percentile, and knocked down 42.9% of their triples before garbage time (80th percentile).
The Cavs just aren’t making it difficult at any level of the defense. This has been seen in recent weeks against subpar offenses. Now, we saw just how easily an elite offense can carve up this bad Cleveland defense.
Without Dean Wade, the Cavs have no answer for opposing wings.
Doncic was able to put up one of the easiest 42-point, 12-assist games you’ll ever see. He benefited from the Cavs experimenting with playing more drop coverage with their bigs. Doncic used the space Ayton created off screens to step into easy pull-up threes. But he also did plenty of damage just by beating his man off-the-dribble and creating from there.
These are all Luka's buckets last night against the #Cavs.
Strus is a solid defender, but he isn’t someone who’s going to make a bigger and stronger player in Doncic work for his baskets. And for as helpful as Keon Ellis has been defensively, he also doesn’t have the size to really affect bigger wings too much. That leaves Wade as your only good wing defender, which is a red flag considering his injury history and offensive shortcomings.
This issue is exaggerated by the poor guard defense. It’s one thing to have to cover for a weak link on that end. Mobley and Allen are more than capable of doing that. It’s another when three players are overmatched on the perimeter.
This is a major concern for a team that will likely be matching up with either the Atlanta Hawks or the Toronto Raptors in the first round. Neither of those teams has a Luka-level scorer, but both have multiple wings that can hurt you offensively. The Cavs simply don’t have a good answer for guys like Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett.
It’s easy to look ahead to a possible second-round matchup. And while the Cavs should still be able to handle whoever they face in the first round, they won’t be able to do so if the defense is this bad. At least not easily.
The De’Andre Hunter trade looks worse by the day. The Cavs have had a massive hole at the wing since LeBron left for LA back in 2018. Trading for Hunter was supposed to solve that issue. And for a time, it did. Hunter was good last regular season and had some positive moments in the playoffs before things fell apart this season.
Moving on from Hunter at the deadline made sense. And there were reasons to like the move for Dennis Schroder and Ellis. The Cavs needed a backup point guard, Ellis was worth taking a flyer on, and the moves saved them money. However, considering how poorly Schroder has played for the last several weeks and the fact that Ellis hasn’t been able to plug any defensive holes on the wing, that trade isn’t exactly aging great either. And Schroder’s roughly $15 million per year contract for the next two seasons (only $4.35 million is guaranteed for 2027-28) is also looking much less appealing.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the Cavs shouldn’t have traded Hunter to the Sacramento Kings. Instead, I’ll just point out that the initial Hunter move was a dud. The ramifications of that deal are still being felt. And, this will likely be a bigger issue this summer when the Cavs presumably try to move on from Schroder’s contract to duck under the second apron.
No one has more NBA wins than LeBron. This was the 1,229th victory that James has been a part of in the regular season and playoffs, which breaks the record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It feels appropriate that James did so against his former team.
The longevity that LeBron has displayed is difficult to put into context, and I’m not going to try to do so here. He’s still playing at an incredibly high level, even if it’s in a secondary role (and sometimes tertiary role) for the first time in his career.
I’ll wrap this up on a positive: Allen was once again great. He was the Cavs’ best player and an absolute force offensively.
Allen had his way with Ayton inside. He did a great job of using his strength and footwork to create easy looks in the paint. The two-man game with him and Harden still looks crisp. And, he was able to score several times off feeds from Mobley, which is encouraging considering the concerns about how the Harden-led offense looks with both bigs on the court.
The Cavs are a better team when they’re getting Allen involved early and often. Even though they lost this game convincingly, it’s good to see that this is still a point of emphasis.
The Boston Celtics, who have already clinched a playoff berth, face the Miami Heat, who are aiming to move in the play-in tournament seeding. Boston is the favorite with a moneyline of -220.0.
This should not be a surprise. Since purchasing the Phoenix Suns, former Michigan State walk-on player Mat Ishbia has leaned hard into his contacts and experience from his Spartan days — and after a rough last season, he went even harder in that direction.
Which is why nobody should be shocked that Ishbia made a run at legendary Michigan State coach Tom Izzo during his coaching search last summer, something Izzo discussed on the Dan Patrick Show Wednesday. Izzo, 71, chose to stay in Lansing with the Spartans.
Michigan State HC Tom Izzo reveals he was in talks with the Phoenix #Suns:
"I've had more than a couple job offers in the NBA, looked at one last year with Phoenix – my former player Mat Ishbia. That was hard, that was a hard thing to turn down... we talked seriously about it." pic.twitter.com/kjSIJreIWz
"I've had more than a couple of job offers in the NBA, and looked at one last year with Phoenix. You know my former player, Mat Ishbia, and that was hard. That was a hard thing to turn down because No. 1, I kind of wanted to go with him..."
Patrick interrupted to ask if Izzo was offered the job, he said they "talked seriously" about it. Then coach returned to his rant.
"And then No. 2, I have been pretty vocal about it, I don't like what's going on in college athletics," Izzo continued with his original thought. "But by the way, neither do 99.98% of the football and basketball coaches in America. And I think the kids are going to still find out before it is done that it isn't best for them either."
Ishbia played for Izzo from 1999 to 2002.
Phoenix ended up making a great hire, a former Michigan State grad assistant and then Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott, who has helped turn the culture around for the Suns. Phoenix is 42-34 — much better than preseason projections and already six wins better than the Kevin Durant/Bradley Beal team of a season ago. Phoenix is headed to the postseason, and Ott is going to end up on some Coach of the Year ballots.
Izzo has flirted with the NBA in the past, most famously in 2010 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, Izzo could read the tea leaves like the rest of us, knew LeBron James was likely on his way out the door (as a free agent) and decided not to take the job.
