India clung on to beat England by seven runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai on Friday morning AEDT, despite Jacob Bethell’s superb 105 that put Harry Brook’s side within a whisker of pulling off a record chase.
Ladine, Howell lead Washington women to 76-64 win over USC in Big Ten Tournament's second round
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Elle Ladine scored a season-high 25 points, Avery Howell added 18 points and nine rebounds and Washington defeated USC 76-64 in the second round of Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.
The eighth-seeded Huskies (22-9) will take on top seed and second-ranked UCLA in a Friday quarterfinal.
Hannah Stines scored 12 points, Brynn McGaughy added 10 and Yulia Grabovskaia collected 10 rebounds for Washington. Leading scorer Sayvia Sellers (19.2) dealt with four fouls and had just four points on free throws in 28 minutes. Other Huskies filled the scoring gap with Washington shooting 50% and dominating the boards 44-27 in outscoring the Trojans 40-14 in the paint.
Londynn Jones scored 19 points, Kennedy Smith added 14 and Laura Williams had 13 rebounds to go with nine points for the Trojans (17-13).
Big Ten freshman of the year Jazzy Davidson, who leads the Trojans in scoring, rebounding and assists, scored eight points on 2-of-13 shooting over 29 minutes. Davidson, who appeared to hurt her shoulder early on, sat out the final seven minutes.
The Huskies led by double figures throughout the second half and by as many as 23. They shot 67% in the third quarter with Ladine scoring eight points to lead 56-36. USC got as close as 10 with two minutes left in the game.
After a first quarter when the teams combined for just 14 points, Ladine scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the second including the last six points for a 32-20 halftime edge.
USC won a home meeting with Washington 59-50 in the regular season.
Up next
Washington lost at UCLA 82-67 on Feb. 19.
USC waits to see where it will land in the NCAA Tournament field.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Josue Briceño undergoes surgery on his right wrist
The Detroit Tigers’ fourth ranked prospect, slugging catcher and first baseman Josue Briceño was reported to be dealing with right wrist inflammation on Monday, March 2. Unfortunately, testing revealed an underlying issue that required surgery on a tendon. The 21-year-old, currently ranked the 63rd best prospect in baseball per FanGraphs, could miss from months to the whole season, though the timetable for a return is unclear at this point.
This is the second major injury for the Venezuelan born slugger. Back in 2024, Briceño suffered a PCL tear in his right knee in May, and missed the rest of the regular season. He took advantage of the bad break and the rehab process by getting leaner and stronger. He re-worked his swing to get his legs more involved to add loft, and he then proceeded to destroy the Arizona Fall League, winning 2024 MVP against much older competition by launching 10 homers and posted a 1.376 OPS.
That got him into top 100 lists everywhere, and he backed it up with a huge campaign at High-A West Michigan in 2025, earning a promotion to Double-A Erie in July. He cooled off a little there as the toll of his first full season catching and better pitching limited his power numbers there. Still, it was a heck of a season for a 20-year-old and there was growing optimism that he might be able to reach the major leagues sometime in 2026.
Briceño has the arm strength to catch, but his progress in blocking and framing has been much slower, even after getting in outstanding condition during the PCL rehab. There’s been a growing sense that his bat would out pace the defense enough to convince the Tigers he should just move to first base full-time. Not only does Briceño show easy plus power to all fields, he walks a ton and has enough contact ability to cover all parts of the zone while keeping the strikeouts in check.
Rumors were rampant all week that the injury was serious enough to require surgery, and unfortunately that’s how it played out. Briceño had been scheduled to make the Dominican trip, but instead he stayed behind and had the surgery on Wednesday, March 4, as first reported by Evan Petzold of the Freep.
Unfortunately, he’ll be on the shelf awhile, and we’ll just have to wait and hope he comes back good as new. He’s young enough, and has played so little due to the injuries, that there’s probably more upside in him as a catcher than some think. However, losing more development time with a bat so advanced is tough on his defensive profile. Still, he won’t even turn 22 until later this summer so there’s no real need for haste either. Most important is obviously getting that wrist back to 100 percent. Hopefully he’ll be able to return sometime this summer, but depending on the specifics it’s possible he could miss the regular season.
297 days: Tatum's return a reminder of Celtics' improbable journey
297 days: Tatum's return a reminder of Celtics' improbable journey originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
What a difference 297 days makes.
It’s easy to forget now, both with Jayson Tatum’s impending return sending a jolt of energy through New England, and the way the Boston Celtics have so greatly outkicked outsider expectations throughout his nine-month absence. But it didn’t feel like things could get much worse for Celtics fans back on May 12.
Tatum was in the midst of one of his finest postseason performances before the Achilles rupture that shrouded his future in uncertainty. The Celtics were headed for a 3-1 series deficit against the Knicks, and the reality quickly sunk in that their hopes of repeating as NBA champions had been effectively dashed.
Worse yet, a very uncertain summer awaited knowing the second apron was about to tear apart the beloved core of the 2024 title team.
So it almost feels like a miracle that, 297 days later, Tatum is about to be back on the floor for a new-look Celtics team with legitimate title potential. Even as Tatum navigated the final stages of his rehab and put himself in position to rejoin the team, the reality didn’t hit us until the Celtics shipped out the injury report heard ‘round the world on Thursday that upgraded Tatum to questionable for Friday’s game against the Mavericks.
How utterly improbable that these Celtics have already vaulted from the depths of May despair to a ceiling-less future in such a short period of time.
We don’t suspect Brad Stevens or Joe Mazzulla ever sat around feeling sorry for themselves back in May. Stevens dove headfirst into a roster overhaul that culminated with the Celtics shedding $350+ million in roster costs that delivered Boston below the luxury tax at February’s trade deadline.
Still, the Celtics thrived. Mazzulla famously phoned Derrick White on his birthday during the offseason and declared, “Everybody thinks we’re going to suck. I love it,” then hung up. Mazzulla has pushed every right button and accelerated the development of the team’s youngest players while entrenching the Celtics as the No. 2 seed in the East.
All the questions that surrounded this team — even beyond Tatum’s health status — have been answered this season.
Jaylen Brown became the 1A focal point and thrust himself into MVP conversation, carrying the Celtics at times with his two-way prowess. Neemias Queta deserves consideration as the NBA’s Most Improved Player while elevating from fourth-string center to starting big man with one of the league’s best net ratings this season.
Boston’s entire gaggle of young wings has thrived in various spots with Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and rookie Hugo Gonzalez all proving capable of being rotation presences on Boston’s next title-contending team.
Which, as Tatum returns to the floor, might just be this squad.
The Celtics are now the favorites to win an Eastern Conference that already felt wide open without him. Detroit, Cleveland, and New York all present unique challenges, but Boston is the least flawed and most playoff-experienced group of the bunch, especially if Tatum gets back closer to the All-NBA presence he was before his injury.
Even if it’s not this year, the Celtics are set up incredibly well for the future. Nearly the entire core will return next season, and staying below the tax for one more year might allow the team to splurge big in the summer of 2027, all while still being a contender before that point.
In the infancy of Tatum’s return, expectations should be tempered. There will be rust. And even with his familiarity with much of this core, Tatum must develop chemistry with a new-look roster. Those who fret about the reintegration process are not without merit, based on the somewhat unprecedented nature of adding a previously top-five player to a title-chasing team in March.
But they do seem to ignore the fact that Brown and Tatum have always figured out how to bring the best out of each other. And they have stacked up plenty of playoff success because of it. Why would this foray be any different if Tatum can get back to his old ways?
Still, nine months ago, pundits were suggesting a “gap year.” Everyone was wondering if Tatum might not return to the TD Garden floor until October 2026. The idea that Boston would be where they are at this very moment seemed pure fantasy.
Instead, it’s reality.
Mariners Prospect Rankings #13, RHP Teddy McGraw
There is a very good chance that Teddy McGraw debuts as a Mariner before anyone else on this list. There is also a very good chance he never debuts at all.
The question isn’t one of talent – McGraw has two ultra-elite curveballs (they call him Curveball Jesus, per Ryan Divish) that could play in the majors tomorrow.
In addition to the strikeout stuff, McGraw can also induce grounders with his heavy sinker, which also features plus movement.
Yeah, the stuff isn’t the question.
The question is one of health. A two-time veteran of Tommy John before even finishing his college career, McGraw continued to struggle with injuries as a pro. The Mariners took the Wake Forest product in the third round of the 2023 draft, but a flexor tendon injury kept him from making his professional debut until the very end of 2024. McGraw finally began pitching regularly in 2025, working his way from the ACL up to Everett as a starter but working brief starts of no more than three innings at a time and missing about a month in July with another injury. However, he was able to finish the season strong and earned himself an invite to the Mariners big-league camp. It looked like it would finally be Teddy’s turn.
But once again, injuries have gotten in the way. McGraw is currently down with biceps tendinitis and is yet to make his spring debut. A full time reliever now, the Mariners are managing McGraw’s outings carefully and under controlled conditions, still optimistic he’ll one day be able to contribute to the big-league bullpen.
McGraw, for his part, is also optimistic. He’s come this far, fought through so much, and made difficult choices about his health journey that would challenge someone twice his age. In talking to him, you get the feeling that McGraw won’t let this story end until he’s standing on a big-league mound.
For now, though, he’s being forced to bide his time, once again. But “Curveball Jesus” knows that patience is a virtue. And so we all wait together.
Anthony Davis cleared for individual on-court activities
Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis has been cleared for limited individual on-court activities and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team announced Thursday.
Davis has been sidelined since early January due to ligament damage in his left hand. The 32-year-old elected against surgery while with the Dallas Mavericks before he was traded to the Wizards at February’s trade deadline.
While one of the All-Stars the Wizards acquired at the deadline, Trae Young, will make his team debut tonight, it appears Davis is much farther away from making his. When Davis is re-evaluated in two weeks, Washington will have just 13 games remaining in its final rebuilding season.
It’s possible Davis takes the additional time to fully recover before making his Wizards debut next season.
Lakers vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
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LeBron James may not be putting up 30 points a night anymore, but the veteran forward continues to do the little things.
The Los Angeles Lakers bring a three-game winning streak up the mountain to face the Denver Nuggets tonight, needing James to continue to pack the box score.
Facing a depleted Denver frontcourt, LeBron is set for a big night on the boards in my Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, March 5.
Lakers vs Nuggets prediction
Lakers vs Nuggets best bet: LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds (+122)
LeBron James has upped his efforts in the rebounding department in recent outings, bringing down six or more boards in four of his last five games.
This tracks with LeBron’s work before the All-Star break, when he averaged 6.5 rebounds over a 21-game stretch — including nine boards in the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the Denver Nuggets in January.
Denver enters Thursday with holes in the front court. Aaron Gordon and Spencer Jones are still out, and Cameron Johnson is questionable.
James has seen 9.2 rebounding chances over those past five contests, and projections range from 5.9 to 7.4 rebounds tonight.
Lakers vs Nuggets same-game parlay
The Lakers have momentum and the No. 5 seed in the West in their sights. The team may be 0-11 ATS in their last 11 games as underdogs, but this is also the first time in a long time the roster has been healthy. Game models call for a Denver win but L.A. sticking within the spread.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets run one of the slower tempos in the NBA, and the Lakers have tightened the screws on defense in recent outings. Game projections call for a sub-240 finish on the scoreboard in Denver.
LeBron has grabbed six or more boards in four of his past five games, with models projecting 7+ rebounds tonight. He’s also collected nine rebounds in three of his last four matchups against the Nuggets.
Lakers vs Nuggets SGP
- Lakers +5
- Under 241.5
- LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: King Me
Denver isn’t playing its best basketball at the moment, and the Lakers are getting hot (and healthy) at the right time.
Not only does LeBron bang the boards, but his scoring projections sit as high as 22 points.
Lakers vs Nuggets SGP
- Lakers moneyline
- LeBron James Over 20.5 points
- LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds
Lakers vs Nuggets odds
- Spread: Lakers +5 (-110) | Nuggets -5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Nuggets -190
- Over/Under: Over 241.5 (-110) | Under 241.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Lakers don’t struggle in the thin air of Denver — at least when it comes to covering the spread. Los Angeles is 8-4-1 ATS at the Pepsi Center since 2021-22 (3-10 SU). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Lakers vs Nuggets
| Location | Ball Arena, Denver, CO |
| Date | Thursday, March 5, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
Lakers vs Nuggets latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
2026 NBA playoff picture: Who would be in bracket if season ended today?
There's movement afoot in the NBA standings, and that's notable with just over five weeks remaining in the 2025-26 regular season and so many teams already in tank mode.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons remain entrenched atop their respective conferences, but the teams jockeying for playoff seeding beneath them have turned into this into a race worth monitoring with so little time left before the postseason starts.
Over the past week, the Minnesota Timberwolves have surged past the Denver Nuggets into the top four of the Western Conference and could soon pass the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 seed. Including the Los Angeles Lakers, there are four teams out west duking it out for the chance to have home-court advantage in a first-round playoff series. The top four in the Eastern Conference is more entrenched, with the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers likely to join the Pistons barring a poor close to the regular season.
But how those teams shake out in terms of seeding could have a profound effect on later rounds in the playoffs and matchups. The seeding for the play-in tournament is also a dynamic situation, although there isn't currently much drama regarding the four play-in teams in the Eastern or Western Conferences due to the tanking dynamics at play.
Here's a breakdown of the current NBA playoff picture, including what teams would make the postseason if the regular season ended today:
NBA playoff bracket
Records and standings through games played on Wednesday, March 4:
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons (45-15)
- Boston Celtics (41-21)
- New York Knicks (40-23)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (39-24)
- Toronto Raptors (35-26)
- Philadelphia 76ers (34-28)
- Orlando Magic (32-28)
- Miami Heat (33-29)
- Charlotte Hornets (32-31)
- Atlanta Hawks (32-31)
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (49-15)
- San Antonio Spurs (44-17)
- Houston Rockets (38-22)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (39-23)
- Denver Nuggets (38-24)
- Los Angeles Lakers (37-24)
- Phoenix Suns (35-26)
- Golden State Warriors (31-30)
- Los Angeles Clippers (30-31)
- Portland Trail Blazers (30-33)
When does NBA regular season end?
The final day of the regular season is Sunday, April 12.
When is NBA play-in tournament?
The NBA play-in tournament will begin Tuesday, April 14 and conclude Friday, April 17.
How does NBA play-in tournament work?
The tournament is divided into two rounds for each conference:
Round 1
- Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed
- Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed
The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference playoff bracket. The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.
Round 2
- Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner
The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA playoffs bracket if regular season ended today
ST Game 14: San Diego Padres at Seattle Mariners
San Diego Padres at Seattle Mariners, March 5, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Peoria Sports Complex – Peoria, AZ
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
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GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!
Nets vs Heat Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
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The Heat will try to complete a two-game home-and-more sweep when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
Miami easily covered on Tuesday and should have an even easier time at home tonight, which is why I’m taking it to cover in my Nets vs. Heat predictions.
Let’s take a closer look at how bettors can approach tonight’s matchup in my free NBA picks for Thursday, March 5.
Nets vs Heat prediction
Nets vs Heat best bet: Heat -13 (-115)
The Brooklyn Nets came into Tuesday’s matchup with the Miami Heat off one of their best recent performances, having covered in a 106-102 loss to the Cavaliers. But Brooklyn laid another egg at home against Miami, losing by 26.
There’s no reason to expect anything different in Miami tonight. The Heat have covered in five of their last seven games, including twice as a double-digit favorite.
Brooklyn rank as the league’s worst offensive team, averaging just 106.8 points per game, and those struggles are likely to continue tonight against a high-powered Miami offense putting up 119.9 points per game.
Nets vs Heat same-game parlay
Along with taking the Heat to win big again – a leg I’m taking in all my parlays tonight – I’ll also pick Bam Adebayo to get Over 20.5 points, a target he’s hit in each of his last three games.
Let’s round out the SGP with a bet on Andrew Wiggins to get Over 2.5 assists, a target he’s surpassed in four of his last five contests.
Nets vs Heat SGP
- Heat -13
- Bam Adebayo Over 20.5 points
- Andrew Wiggins Over 2.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Buckets & Bam Bam
The Under has hit easily in each of the first two meetings between these teams this season, and I like it again for tonight’s matchup.
I’m also banking on Adebayo to fill up the box score: he’s hit this PRA total in each of his last three games, and is coming off a six-steal performance against the Nets on Tuesday.
Nets vs Heat SGP
- Heat -13
- Under 227
- Bam Adebayo Over 33.5 points + assists + rebounds
- Bam Adebayo Over 1.5 steals + blocks
Nets vs Heat odds
- Spread: Brooklyn +13 (-105) | Miami -13 (-115)
- Moneyline: Brooklyn +550 | Miami -800
- Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)
Nets vs Heat betting trend to know
The Nets are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Heat.
How to watch Nets vs Heat
| Location | Kaseya Center, Miami, FL |
| Date | Thursday, March 5, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | YES, FDSN Sun |
Nets vs Heat latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
NBA Mock Draft: 3 Arizona Wildcats projected to go in first round
NBA front offices have long pegged Arizona freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat as first round picks in this year’s NBA Draft. It now appears that a third Wildcat could join them in being selected in the first round.
NBA Mock Drafts published this week by The Athletic and Bleacher Report have Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas being picked as a late first-rounder, giving Arizona three first round picks.
In the latest mock from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, Burries is projected to go No. 10 to the Chicago Bulls, followed by Peat at No. 11 to the San Antonio Spurs. Vecenie has Krivas being picked at No. 28 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Further down, Vecenie projects point guard Jaden Bradley to be taken at No. 51 by the Washington Wizards, while former Wildcat turned North Carolina Tarheel Henri Veesaar is slated to go No. 32 to the New York Knicks.
Arizona’s four projected draft picks are the most of any program.
Jonathan Wasserman’s mock for Bleacher Report has Burries going No. 8 to the Memphis Grizzlies, Peat at No. 16 to the Miami Heat and Krivas at No. 29 to the Dallas Mavericks.
Losing Burries and Peat to the NBA was the expectation all along, but Krivas leaving would be a jolt to Arizona’s rebuilding efforts for next season. That’s not to say Krivas leaving would be a total surprise.
The Lithuanian caught the attention of NBA scouts well before his breakout junior season. ESPN projected the 7-foot-2 Krivas as a first round pick last season before he missed most of the year with a foot injury.
Krivas has bolstered his draft stock as one of the top defenders in the Big 12. Krivas is a consistent double-double threat and shoots free throws at an impressive 80% clip.
ESPN Big 12 commentator Fran Fraschilla weighed in this week on Krivas’ looming NBA Draft decision, saying that Krivas would benefit from another season in college. Fraschilla laid out several reasons why Krivas should return to Arizona.
“From talking with Wildcat folks, he loves his situation in Tucson,” Fraschilla wrote.
Fraschilla added a caveat: If Krivas leads Arizona to a national title and plays great in March, “Tommy Lloyd will push him out the door.”
That’s a deal most Arizona fans would take in a heartbeat, even if it means missing out on one Mo year.
Former Oilers Coach Woodcroft May Be Next In Line As Kings Coach, Per Insider
The Los Angeles Kings made a coaching change on Sunday, firing Jim Hiller and replacing him with D.J. Smith on an interim basis.
While Smith was promoted from associate coach to head coach, it isn't a permanent hire by the Kings and GM Ken Holland. However, Smith does have the advantage of being the next official head coach of the Kings, or "pole position" as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman put it in the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast.
Regardless of Smith having the lead in the coaching carousel for the role of the Kings' bench boss, Friedman name-dropped former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft as someone who could be next in line.
"There's going to be talk about Woodcroft if Smith doesn't grab hold of the job," Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts episode.
Woodcroft is currently the assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks, who looks after the team's offense and power play specifically, alongside head coach Joel Quenneville.
Los Angeles Kings' List Of Rumored Trade Targets Ahead Of NHL Trade DeadlineWith the NHL trade deadline just days away, it's unknown how aggressive Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland will be on the trade front. Nonetheless, here is a list of players that have been linked to the Kings in trade rumors this season.With the help of Woodcroft's offense-minded guidance, the young Ducks have looked like one of the fastest and most threatening teams up the ice.
Furthermore, Anaheim's style has helped its young forwards progress and grow into real difference makers in the NHL. Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson are all 22 or younger, yet they are the three scoring leaders for the Ducks. In fact, Sennecke leads all NHL rookies in scoring with 51 points in 61 games.
Before becoming a member of the Ducks' coaching staff, Woodcroft was the Oilers' head coach for parts of three seasons.
He spent 133 games behind Edmonton's bench, with just one full season with the team. That full campaign was in 2022-23 when he led his team to a 50-23-9 record. The Oilers went on to accumulate 109 points that year, the team's most in a regular season since 1985-86.
Report: Kings Veteran Eyeing Contract Extension, Doesn't Want To Be TradedLos Angeles Kings right winger and 40-year-old veteran Corey Perry has shown interest in signing a contract extension. With that, it's been reported that he isn't interested in being moved at this NHL trade deadlineWoodcroft had two playoff campaigns in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs were his first as a head coach, and he was able to help the Oilers get to the Western Conference final for the first time since they advanced to the Stanley Cup final in 2006.
Along the way, Woodcroft's Oilers knocked out the Kings in the first round of the playoffs twice over the last four seasons.
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Jayson Tatum listed as 'questionable' for Friday vs. Dallas, reports continue he will make season debut
Jayson Tatum is officially listed as "questionable" on the Boston Celtics' injury report for when they host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night.
For players who have been out for an extended time due to an injury — Tatum has yet to play this season after tearing his Achilles in last season's playoff series against the Knicks — a move from "out" to "questionable" is usually a sign they will return in the next game. There have been reports that Tatum was nearing his return to the Celtics lineup, and we know he has gone through multiple 5-on-5 scrimmages (including with the G League Maine Celtics). However, a move to questionable on the injury report is a clear sign he is coming back and soon.
While Tatum and the Celtics have refused to put a timeline on a return — or even confirm it would happen — both his and the team's actions have been those of someone making a comeback this season. Players don't get sent down to the G League for a practice and workout unless they are coming back. Boston doesn't trade wing Anfernee Simons for needed big man depth in Nikola Vucevic unless they are getting another wing back and thinking ahead to a playoff run. Also, Tatum has an ongoing docuseries on his return — "The Quiet Work," available on Peacock — which only happens if a return is expected.
The question was the return date, and the only thing that had been said officially was that any return would happen at home. That left Friday against Dallas, or waiting until March 14, when the Washington Wizards come to town. It looks as if Boston and Tatum are going sooner rather than later.
A Tatum return now gives the Celtics about six weeks before the start of the playoffs to get him back into game shape and work out any kinks.
Tatum is welcomed back with open arms, but it's also a bit of a delicate fit.
Tatum is one of the game's elite players, he has finished in the top six in MVP voting each of the past four seasons, and last season averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and six assists per game. He's a career 37% shooter from 3-point range who has to be respected anywhere on the court, and he is also a plus defender.
The challenge is Boston — and Jaylen Brown in particular — are thriving without him. Boston has been one of the great stories of the season, surprising everyone outside of their locker room with a 41-21 record so far, sitting second in the East, and in the top six in the league in offense and defense. Jaylen Brown is being mentioned in the MVP conversation for leading this surprise team, averaging 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and five assists per game.
Tatum needs to come back and fit into what is working, not try to take over his old role (he likely will be less than 100% of himself). Tatum has to be the mature player and take on a secondary role this season, something he has hinted at doing in speaking with the media, but saying it and doing it can be different things.
If Tatum returns and fills that role, Boston may well be the favorite now to come out of a wide-open East.
That journey looks like it will start on Friday.
Is Jayson Tatum nearing return? Boston Celtics get massive update on star
After nearly 10 months rehabbing a ruptured Achilles tendon, Jayson Tatum will reportedly play basketball for the Boston Celtics this season.
According to ESPN, Tatum may make his much-anticipated return as soon as Friday, March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. Per ESPN, Tatum will inform the team over the next day about his availability against Dallas.
In the first injury report for the game, the Celtics officially listed Tatum as questionable. Presumably, Tatum will undergo final preparations to ensure he's ready to go, but, either way, Tatum had been ramping up his rehab.
Last month, the Celtics announced that Tatum participated in portions of a G League practice.
The news comes as a boost for a Celtics team that has outperformed external expectations, compiling a 41-21 record without its six-time All-Star. Boston is currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and is just 5 games back of the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Tatum, 27, had suffered the injury May 12, 2025, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. He has remained a steady presence around the team through its first 53 games of the season.
Achilles tendon ruptures are complicated injuries that require calculated and arduous rehabs.
In September, Tatum told USA TODAY Sports that he hadn’t fully ruled out a return to the court for the 2025-26 season, so this aggressive timeline indicates that he and the Celtics likely feel they can contend for an Eastern Conference championship this season.
Last season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayson Tatum injury update: Boston Celtics star could return vs Mavs
Nets vs. Heat preview: One more in Miami
The streak rolls on. The Brooklyn Nets began a three game road trip on Tuesday night against the Miami Heat. The Heat were too hot to handle and handed the Nets their ninth straight defeat, 124-98. Fortunately for the Nets, they didn’t have to travel between games. Unfortunately for the Nets, they have to play the Heat one more time.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.
🤕 Injuries
No Egor Demin. Drake Powell and the three two-ways are with Long Island. Grant Nelson remains with Brooklyn on a 10-day.
Norman Powell is out.
🏀 The game
Miami won the first two meetings. This is the last meeting between the teams this season.
Michael Porter Jr is looking to bounce back tonight. He tied a season low with nine points and Tuesday was only the third time this season he’s been held below ten points. When he doesn’t play well, Brooklyn’s slim chances of victory drop all the way to zero.
Every game is a lesson for the Nets, and without Demin for the foreseeable future, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf will have plenty of chances to learn on the job. They had respectively terrible games against the Heat defense, and Jordi Fernandez wants them to be a lot better this time around:
“I know they’re better. There’s not an excuse if their young, I’ve watched them play, and they’re way, way better than 12 turnovers to zero assists. The assists — sometimes if the shots don’t go in, it’s hard to get assists. I don’t know about the potential assist. I have to look at it, but the turnovers for sure, like how they organize the team, how vocal they are, all that it’s important.”
No time better than the present to learn and grow.
👀 Player to watch: Bam Adebayo
Adebayo has been one of the better, more versatile defenders in the league throughout the 2020s. However, he doesn’t have as much hardware as you’d think. He’s never finished higher than third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and has only made 1st Team All Defense once. Although he hasn’t gotten love from the voters, Bam knows that everyone sees his value:
“From my peers and the people who play against me and understand that you’ve got to put me in the corner, so I don’t mess up your offensive schemes, that’s what matters more… that’s real in basketball. A lot of people who are doing surveys wouldn’t know that. They just think because, ‘Oh, he’s a DPOY because he has five blocks a game.’”
An inspired closing run by the Heat could cause voters to change their mind. As it stands, he’s leading one of the best defensive units in the NBA this year.
Nic Claxton and Day’ron Sharpe have the assignment of slowing down not just Adebayo, but Kel’el Ware off the bench as well. It seems like the Heat still have reservations about Ware, but he fills up the box sheet every night he gets real minutes. And for a team that’s older than you think, they need some youth somewhere.
📺 From the Vault
30 years ago, we received a blessing
More reading: Hot, Hot Hoops, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Miami Heat Game Notes – Miami Heat
- Miami puts home win streak on the line against Brooklyn – AP
- Jordi Fernandez calls out Nets starters following humiliating Heat defeat – Bridget Reilly – New York Post
- Egor Dëmin to miss third straight game vs. Heat as Nets seek cleaner rematch in Miami ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
- Possession game swings hard as Nets’ rookies struggle with Heat pressure ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
- Jordi Fernandez’s Michael Porter Jr. benching comes with direct ‘challenge’ – Erik Slater – Clutch Points