WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Kristaps Porzingis #7 and De'anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Effective field goal percentage:Despite the loss, the Wizards still had a higher shooting percentage here thanks to a better three point shooting night.
Three Wizards players scored 21 points: Will Riley, Bilal Coulibaly and Trae Young scored this magic number each and at a good efficiency.
And the cons:
Kristaps Porzingis: There was no Stephen Curry or Jimmy Butler. Draymond Green was the assist and rebounding power. But Porzingis came off the bench and scored 30 points.
Turnovers: Washington gave up 21 turnovers last night compared to 17 for Golden State. Against a more established team, that’s how things work against the Wizards.
12 straight losses? I’d like to see a win every now and then.
No rest for the weary. The Detroit Pistons are in tonight so let’s hope the Wizards don’t lose 13 in a row.
After two weeks of incredible baseball, the World Baseball Classic comes down to one game, with the United States taking on Venezuela at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Tuesday, March 17.
Venezuela, which is making its first-ever appearance in the championship game, is led by Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. and three-time batting champion Luis Arraez.
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ty Johnson (#82) warms up in the bullpen. The Baltimore Orioles hosted the Tampa Bay Rays in a Grapefruit League spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. | Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rays fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 12: Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews (3) breaks his bat after hitting the ball during a MLB spring training game against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 12, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
One of the bigger storylines in the Nats fanbase is whether Dylan Crews should make the team. Even a month ago, that would have sounded a bit crazy, considering Crews seemed to have a starting job locked up. I still think he will make the team and play a lot, but his leash is getting tighter.
This spring has been a real struggle for Crews. He is 3/28 with 10 strikeouts so far. Frankly, this looks a lot like it did when he was struggling last year. The former number 2 pick looks like he is second guessing himself and caught in between at the plate. That has led to ugly results and even uglier at bats.
This begs the question, should Dylan Crews start the season at Triple-A? I do not think it will happen, but it is not an idea I would be opposed to. Crews never truly mastered the Triple-A or Double-A levels. After he got promoted from A ball in 2023, he hit a wall in Double-A, posting a .595 OPS in 20 games. Most attributed that to Crews being tired after a long college season and a pro debut.
In 2024, he got better in Double-A, but did not truly dominate the level. He hit .274 and posted a .789 OPS. Not bad, but you would like to see more from a guy who was one of the best college hitters of the 21st century. The Nats saw enough to promote him to AAA though. Like in Double-A, Crews was solid but not spectacular. He hit .265 and posted a .795 OPS. Crews did not exactly take the league by storm.
However, that was enough for him to get called up to the big leagues at the end of 2024. Crews showed flashes, but his .218 average and .641 OPS were not great. Despite that, he was given a spot in the starting lineup heading into 2025. Crews struggled mightily out of the gate and just as he was heating up, he got hurt. It was a disappointing year, but he showed some flashes and the hope was that the new regime could help him take the next step.
This spring, Crews has looked as lost as ever. It has led a lot of Nats fans to re-examine his path and wonder if some time in AAA might not be the worst thing. The fact he never truly dominated in the high minors should have been a bit more of a red flag to Nats fans. However, his college pedigree was so good that most of us chose to ignore his deficiencies.
Paul Toboni and Blake Butera have stressed that this is a fresh start for everyone. Most have assumed that would be a positive for Crews, but it is a double edged sword. If he is not performing, this new regime should be willing to send him down. They were not the ones who picked him second overall, so they do not have the same level of attachment to him. I think that should mean he is not a lock to make the team.
However, I would still be surprised if he is not on the Opening Day roster. The new regime seems to want to try to fix him at the MLB level. However, given the fact he did not dominate AAA when he was there, some time in the minors would not hurt.
Wanting Crews to start the season in the minors is not a Spring Training overreaction, it is a justified reading of the situation. I can see the case for keeping him in the big leagues too, but do not let anyone call you crazy for thinking Dylan Crews could use more time in AAA.
Since he reached the upper minors, Crews has not been the same guy that took college baseball by storm. I still do not really know what happened here. Crews was supposed to be one of the safest draft prospects in some time. Now, his career is at a serious crossroads.
Dylan Crews being a bust (which I’m by no means suggesting is what I think will happen) would absolutely blow my mind. How can a player as good as he was in college just never reach anything near those levels again, not even really in the minor leagues either. https://t.co/DUNryi9prt
It has been three years since his junior season at LSU now. We have seen his college teammate Paul Skenes take the league by storm, but Crews has not taken the next step. At the time of the draft, Crews and Skenes were seen as similar levels of prospect. It is crazy to see how both of their careers have gone so far.
In 2009, the Nats took a premier pitching prospect first, while the Mariners took a polished college bat second. Of course, the Nats got Stephen Strasburg and the Mariners got Dustin Ackley. Crews still has time to avoid being a Dustin Ackley style flop, but the trajectory is concerning for the 24 year old.
The fact he never dominated the minors might be even scarier than his big league struggles. You cannot fall back on Crews dominating AAA as a reason to keep him in the big leagues because he never did. At this point, we are really clinging on to his performances at LSU. Those were so dominant that you should keep some faith in him, but it is getting scary.
Of course, these Spring Training games do not count, but I do not love what I am seeing. Paul Toboni is going to have a real choice to make here. Is it better for Dylan Crews to stay in the big leagues and learn from a new big league staff, or should he get the opportunity to truly dominate AAA and gain some confidence.
I think they will choose the former option, but Crews will be on a tighter leash. If he looks like he does this spring once the real games start, a trip to Rochester will be imminent. The story of Crews’ career so far is one step forward, two steps back. Whenever it feels like he is getting momentum, he either gets hurt or starts struggling again. Dylan Crews’ pro career has not gone how just about anyone has expected. I am officially worried.
Darren Raddysh is an elite shot-generator from the back end, ranking ninth among defensemen in shots on goal.
My Lightning vs. Kraken predictions and NHL picks expect Raddysh to be front and center in an advantageous matchup against a team that gives up a ton of point shots.
Lightning vs Kraken prediction
Lightning vs Kraken best bet: Darren Raddysh Over 2.5 shots (+100)
The Seattle Kraken are a dream opponent for volume shooting blueliners. They’ve allowed the fifth-most shots to defensemen over the past 10 games and have played at a Top-10 pace at 5-on-5 during that span, creating high-event environments.
They also sit dead last in shots allowed to the right point this year, which is Darren Raddysh’s primary shooting zone.
Raddysh has seen massive upticks in shot volume against teams that bleed shots to defensemen. He's averaged 3.7 shots on 7.5 attempts, clearing 2.5 shots in 12 of his 16 games.
Lightning vs Kraken same-game parlay
Raddysh hasn’t scored in 10 games, his longest drought of the season. The Kraken not only rank near the basement in shots allowed to defensemen, but also in scoring chances allowed to the position. We should see plenty of volume from Raddysh, making him a strong candidate to find the net.
The Kraken have only won seven of 22 games against teams that rank Top 10 in preventing goals on a per-game basis. They lack the high-end talent to score consistently, and that should be problematic in this matchup.
The Lightning are tied for second in the NHL with 20 road wins. Find more NHL betting trends for Lightning vs. Kraken.
How to watch Lightning vs Kraken
Location
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, HBO Max
Lightning vs Kraken latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. 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.
Amid their win-streak, they’ve beaten multiple teams atop the NBA standings, including the Knicks, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Rockets.
It’s time to accept the reality you’ve been dreading: The Lakers are contenders.
On Saturday, Charles Barkley antagonized Lakers fans by saying he hoped they didn’t beat the Nuggets. He said that would be his “worst nightmare” because then he’d have to hear sports shows calling them contenders.
Getty Images NBAE via Getty Images
Not only did the Lakers beat the Nuggets in overtime, 127-125, but they then won their next game against the Rockets on Monday, 100-92, holding Kevin Durant to nearly as many field goals (eight) as turnovers (seven).
Over the past two weeks, the Lakers have piled on increasingly impressive wins. It’s time to accept the fact that a pattern has formed.
The Lakers win over the Knicks in which they never trailed wasn’t an anomaly. Their victory over the Timberwolves wasn’t because Anthony Edwards was having an off night, shooting 2-for-15 from the field. Their nail-biter over the Nuggets wasn’t luck. And their grind-it-out win over the Rockets wasn’t a one-off victory.
The Lakers are good. Perhaps they’re even really good.
Something has changed for the team.
Luka Doncic is playing MVP-caliber basketball for the second time this season after his sizzling performance amid the Lakers’ 15-4 start. Over the month of March, he’s averaging 34.3 points, 9 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
Deandre Ayton is playing with force. Marcus Smart is reminding everyone that he’s a former Defensive Player of the Year.
Lakers coach JJ Redick can finally exhale. His long nights in his dark basement poring over film have paid off. Everyone has bought in.
The Lakers are in third place in the Western Conference. They’ve hit their stride at just the right time. WIth only 14 games remaining, they’re one of the top teams in the NBA.
Those are whiplash-inducing sentences considering they were counted out mere weeks ago. After going 4-4 on their eight-game homestand, a purple and gold-stained natural disaster had officially struck Los Angeles.
You know, Doncic wasn’t a winner. James was a blight on the Lakers. Reaves was a disappearing act. And former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton didn’t even compare to Rockets’ center Clint Capela.
Oh, how things have changed.
Now, Doncic is a legitimate MVP-contender. James is a selfless winner for playing behind Doncic and Reaves. Reaves is a sensation. Ayton has looked like DominAyton recently. And Smart has become the hard-nosed defender the Lakers needed.
Of course, it remains questionable whether the Lakers could beat the crème de la crème of the West in a seven-game series. The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder made them look old and tired last time they met. And it’s uncertain whether the Lakers have answers for the 7-foot-4 alien that is Victor Wembanyama and his Spurs.
But the Lakers can no longer be counted out.
They’re tough. They’re able to adapt. They tallying wins against the best teams in the league.
It’s no longer hyperbolic to call them contenders. If everyone keeps starring in their roles, the Lakers could really make some noise in the playoffs.
The four-time NBA champion James obviously knows a thing or two about winning. Doncic carried Dallas to the Finals in 2024 and is desperate to make former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison regret the day he put his signature on the most shocking trade in NBA history.
Reaves is anxious to play well in the playoffs following his 2025 postseason struggles, especially with a potential max contract awaiting him. Ayton wants to prove he’s not a bust. And Smart is ready to show the world what he can do again.
The Lakers aren’t just a group of mismatched stars who can’t jell anymore. They’ve sacrificed to make The Big Three shine. They’ve filled their holes on the defensive end and from beyond the arc, masking their deficits with unyielding effort.
The Lakers have arrived.
Sorry, Sir Charles. We all know the narrative that the Lakers are good is as abhorrent to you as setting foot in San Antonio.
This postseason, looks like you’re going to be in for a lot of grief.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 25: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Dennis Schröder #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 25, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a back-to-back where the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the fiery-hot Hawks on the road and beat the Pacers at home, they’ll take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday. The last time these two Central Division teams met, KPJ iced the game with a clean fadeaway over Jarrett Allen in one of the more memorable plays of the season. Since then, Milwaukee’s momentum has been halted by a difficult stretch of games, while Cleveland continues to wrestle for playoff positioning. Tuesday will mark the last time Milwaukee plays Cleveland this season.
Where We’re At
After a difficult stretch of games where Milwaukee has won just two games (Utah, Indy) in their last ten, they seem primed to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Bucks are struggling with consistency in scoring and concede an uncomfortable amount of three-pointers. Milwaukee’s shootout against the 15-53 Pacers marked a burst of offensive firepower Milwaukee has missed for most of the season. After shooting north of 50% from three through the efforts of players like Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins, the Bucks will look to continue their solid shooting in their home matchup against Cleveland.
Cleveland, much like Milwaukee, is looking for some steadiness after a tumultuous stretch of games. The Cavaliers are mired in a difficult playoff race, and recent losses to the likes of Boston and Orlando have knocked them down to fourth place, 7.5 games behind first-place Detroit. They travel to Fiserv Forum coming off an “embarrassing” 130-120 loss to Dallas, where they’ll try to fix their defensive mishaps and careless turnovers.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis is questionable with a sprained ankle. His ankle has been bugging him recently, and a potential hyperextended knee that took him out of Sunday’s game against the Pacers hasn’t helped. Although Giannis downplayed the scary leg injury, his ankle troubles make playing him a risky bet against the Cavs, especially with low stakes in a relatively meaningless game. Ousmane Dieng (illness) and Myles Turner (calf strain) are also marked as questionable.
The Cavs will miss Jarrett Allen, who averages north of 15 points per game, with tendonitis in the knee. Allen has missed the last five games with the injury and will miss Cleveland’s three-game road trip to undergo treatment. Craig Porter Jr. (groin) and Tyrese Proctor (quad) are also out, while Sam Merrill (questionable, hamstring) and Jaylon Tyson (probable, ankle) round out their injury list.
Player to Watch
Cam Thomas has logged 19 minutes across the last three games, even sitting out the entirety of the Bucks’ Sunday win over Indiana. Thomas is a gifted scorer whose main strength comes from his ability to create separation off the dribble and convert tough jumpers. However, struggles with efficiency and an inability to mesh with the established Bucks rotation have left Thomas in the dust when it comes to playing time. Thomas is averaging 7.4 points in 13.4 minutes per game, posting shooting splits of .375/.278/.667 in March. Could Doc take another chance on such an unpredictable scorer, especially against a floundering Cavaliers defense?
How To Watch
Watch on NBC/Peacock or FanDuel Sports Network at 7 p.m. CDT.
The 76ers (37-31) travel to the Mile High City to take on the Nuggets (41-27) in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Peacock.
Philadelphia will be without multiple starters in the start of this three-game road trip. The 76ers have won back-to-back games and three of the past four with a lone loss to the Pistons. Philadelphia has climbed to 1.5 game back from the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and are tied with the Hawks for the 8th spot.
Denver is tied with Minnesota for the No. 5 spot and 0.5 game back from Houston for the No. 4 seed. The Nuggets are 5-5 in the last 10 games and are at home in six of the next eight games. The Nuggets won 126-125 in OT of the only meeting versus the 76ers this season.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: 76ers at Nuggets
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Time: 10 PM EST
Site: Ball Arena
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: Peacock/NBC Sports
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: 76ers at Nuggets
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Denver Nuggets (-1200), Philadelphia 76ers (+750)
Spread: Denver -15.5
Total: 235.5 points
This game opened Nuggets -12.5 with the Total set at 228.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: 76ers at Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
SF Cameron Johnson
PF Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokic
Philadelphia 76ers
PG VJ Edgecombe
SG Quentin Grimes
SF Justin Edwards
PF Dominick Barlow
C Adam Bona
Injury Report: 76ers at Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
Peyton Watson (hamstring) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey (tendon) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Kelly Oubre Jr (elbow) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Joel Embiid (oblique) is listed as OUT for tonight's game
Jabari Walker (illness) is listed as OUT for tonight's game
Important stats, trends and insights: 76ers at Nuggets
Denver is 38-30 ATS and 15-16 ATS at home
Denver is 11-12 ATS as a home favorite
Denver is an NBA-best 43-25 to the Over
Denver is 16-15 to the Over at home
Philadelphia is 36-32 ATS and 35-33 to the Over
The 76ers are 17-15 to the Over on the road
The 76ers are 10-9 ATS as the road underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s 76ers and Nuggets’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Nuggets’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Nuggets -15.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 235.5
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 07: Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs leans on the dugout wall prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on June 07, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Reds fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The 2025 season was something of a success for the Cincinnati Reds, at least by the modern standards set by the franchise and its current ownership group.
The club managed to coax future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona out of his temporary hiatus and into their dugout. The team on the field put together the most cromulent set of starting pitchers since their 2012 NL Central title. As the race for the final playoff spot in the National League intensified, they managed to get the job done, sneaking into the postseason with a final regular season record of 83-79.
Their faint championship hopes faded immediately at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, eventual World Series champs, but the reality is that 2025 featured more good news than bad. Still, they finished a distant 3rd in their own division.
The Milwaukee Brewers paced all of Major League Baseball with their 97 regular season victories, and the Chicago Cubs surged into the playoffs with 92. The Reds, who made the playoffs slightly ahead of the New York Mets, finished 14 games back of their division leaders, while the Mets finished only 13 games back in their own NL Central.
Cincinnati, to its credit, went out and signed slugger Eugenio Suárez over the winter to bolster their offense, and they are banking on improvements across the board from their emerging corps of position players. Hunter Greene is once again sidelined for quite awhile, though, and it’s not as if the Brewers and Cubs haven’t made their own moves to get better this winter, too. The Pittsburgh Pirates, too, are even looming after an offseason of spending that’s unprecedented for that club.
That begs the question – just how high in the NL Central standings can the Reds finish in 2026? Have they done enough to climb the ladder to the top, or is the ladder simply not tall enough?
Let us know where you think the Reds can finish this season!
The fantasy playoffs are here! An uncharacteristically subpar or a surprisingly exceptional game or two can make all the difference in the world during this time of the year. For fantasy managers, here’s a look at which players could fall into those categories.
Let's get started!
→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock: The Cavaliers and Bucks tip things off at 8 p.m. ET before the 76ers and Nuggets square off at 10 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.
The veteran mid-range technician has come alive just in time for the fantasy playoffs, even if it’s played a role in costing the Kings to lose some ground in top-3 NBA Draft pick projections this upcoming offseason. Sacramento has won four of its last five games, and although DeRozan missed one of those contests, he’s averaging 29.8 points and 6.3 assists per game in that stretch, which includes 41-point and 39-point outings. Fittingly, he’s made just one three-pointer during this run of high-scoring performances. Injuries to Keegan Murray (ankle) and Malik Monk (ankle) have eaten into the Kings’ depth and scoring, making DeRozan all the more likely to maintain his workload and production. Stock up!
A back injury kept Edgecombe on the sideline for three games early in March, but in the four games since his return, he’s played some very good basketball. Specifically, Edgecombe is averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 33.5 minutes per game since making his way back to the rotation. Arguably, the lone weakness over that stretch has been three-point shooting — he’s gone 2-of-18 from deep over his last four appearances. The rookie guard isn’t doing anything otherworldly from a numbers standpoint, but he’s trending in the right direction and helping the Sixers get back on track. He should continue to progress here in the fantasy playoffs.
Dejounte Murray — PG/SG, Pelicans
Speaking of returns from injury, Murray’s strong play has caught many by surprise. He returned from an Achilles injury and made his season debut in late February, immediately produced, and has only become more productive since. The veteran combo guard has scored 35 and 27 points in his past two appearances and is averaging 6.5 boards and 5.0 assists across six games in March. Murray’s nightly contributions across the stat sheet have quickly made him one of New Orleans’ most reliable and intriguing fantasy options. He’s been able to log close to 30 minutes per game consistently; if that number increases, so could the production, which would make him one of the better late-season roster additions across fantasy leagues.
A strong fantasy season has stalled at the completely wrong time, from a fantasy basketball perspective. The third-year guard has totaled seven points and eight assists over his past three games after averaging 16.0 points and 6.3 assists over the three games prior. The good news for fantasy managers is that the minutes and opportunities haven’t evaporated — the recent slowed production seems to boil down to inefficient shooting more than anything else, which seems like a simple fix. However, with the fantasy basketball playoffs already underway in most leagues, those fantasy managers with Gillespie rostered are hoping he can shake out of this funk quickly.
Rudy Gobert — C, Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are struggling, and not many of their players have consistently played well enough to get the team back on track. That includes Gobert, whose recent numbers haven’t led to much fantasy production either. The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has totaled one blocked shot and two steals over the past four games, and although his defensive impact stretches far beyond something as simple as blocked shots, in the fantasy world, his inability to erase shots at the rim lately has cost him some production. Additionally, Gobert has scored in single digits and brought down fewer than 10 rebounds in three of his last four appearances. Both the Timberwolves and fantasy managers alike will need Gobert to produce numbers that more closely resemble the 18/9/2/1/1 line against the Warriors than the 2/7/2/0/1 line in the Wolves’ most recent loss to the Thunder.
Nic Claxton — C, Nets
The month of March has not been one of Claxton's better months, if we’re strictly looking at statistics. Before Monday’s 12-point, 11-rebound double-double against the Trail Blazers, he had scored in single figures four games in a row, averaging 5.5 rebounds over that span. The lack of production came as a surprise, given that the seventh-year center had averaged 14.2 points in February, marking his most productive and efficient scoring month of the season. How and why did things suddenly take a turn? Hard to say. And maybe his double-double against Portland can serve as a turning point. But I, presumably like many, will need to see more production before becoming optimistic about Claxton for the rest of the season.
Cleveland (41-27) and Milwaukee (28-39) meet on Peacock in the first of a doubleheader. The Cavaliers are 2-1 versus the Bucks this season with Milwaukee taking the previous matchup, 118-116.
The Cavaliers lost its previous matchup with the Mavericks and are 4-3 since the start of March. Cleveland is sitting at 4th in the Eastern Conference and 2.5 games behind the Knicks. This is the first of a three-game road trip for Cleveland as they take on Milwaukee, Chicago, and New Orleans — a more than manageable three-game stretch.
Milwaukee beat the Pacers in their last outing to end their four-game losing streak. The Bucks are 2-8 over the last 10 games and close to being eliminated from playoff contention. Milwaukee is 5.5 games behind Charlotte for the final spot and begins a rough four-game road trip after this home outing at Utah, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Portland.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers at Bucks
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Time: 8 PM EST
Site: Fiserv Forum
City: Milwaukee, WI
Network/Streaming: Peacock/NBC
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Cavaliers at Bucks
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Cavaliers -9.5 with the Total set at 228.5
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers at Bucks
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Dean Wade
C Evan Mobley
Milwaukee Bucks
PG Kevin Porter Jr.
SG Ousmane Dieng (questionable)
SF Kyle Kuzma
PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (questionable)
C Myles Turner (questionable)
Injury Report: Cavaliers at Bucks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen (knee) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Sam Merrill (hamstring) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game
Jaylon Tyson (ankle) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game
Milwaukee Bucks
Myles Turner (calf) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game
Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game
Ousmane Dieng (illness) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game
Important stats, trends and insights: Cavaliers at Bucks
Cleveland is 28-40 ATS, ranking tied for worst
Cleveland is 15-18 ATS on the road
Cleveland is 20-13 to the Over on the road, ranking 3rd-best
Cleveland is 35-33 to the Under overall
Milwaukee is 29-38 ATS, ranking 6th-worst
Milwaukee is 19-15 to the Over at home, ranking 7th-best
Milwaukee is 38-29 to the Under, ranking 8th-worst
Milwaukee is 15-19 ATS at home
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Cavaliers and Bucks’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cavaliers’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cavaliers - 10.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 228.5
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The Winnipeg Jets enter Tuesday night in a do-or-die situation, sitting at 28-28-10 and clinging to fading playoff hopes as they prepare to face the Nashville Predators in a pivotal showdown.
Separated by just a single point in the standings, the stakes could not be higher. Nashville holds 67 points, narrowly ahead of Winnipeg’s 66, making this head-to-head clash a critical swing game in the wild-card race. For the Jets, even a single dropped point could prove costly with time running out.
The playoff picture remains tightly packed with the Seattle Kraken currently hold a slim edge with 71 points, tied with the Los Angeles Kings. Just behind them sit the San Jose Sharks at 70 points, while Nashville and Winnipeg round out the chase pack.
Winnipeg faces the steepest climb of the contenders, with the 12th-hardest remaining schedule in the league. Their path includes two daunting matchups against the Colorado Avalanche, along with games versus the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
By comparison, Seattle’s remaining slate ranks 18th in difficulty, featuring two contests against the Tampa Bay Lightning and additional tests against Colorado, the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Columbus.
The other contenders appear far better positioned as Nashville benefits from the 11th-easiest remaining schedule, while San Jose has the fourth-easiest. The Kings may hold the inside track, boasting the NHL’s easiest closing schedule with only a handful of challenging matchups remaining against Buffalo and Seattle before facing more manageable opponents like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues.
The Jets’ playoff push has long been considered a long shot and the margin for error continues to be razor thin. A winning streak is no longer a luxury but a necessity. And it must begin Tuesday night against a direct rival with identical aspirations. Puck drop could mark the turning point of their season or the beginning of the end.
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As the Mets shook up their roster over the course of the offseason, the biggest names added to the bullpen were Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. But in late January, the Mets inked 39-year-old right-handed reliever Luis García to a modest one-year deal, and he remains a very likely candidate to make the team’s Opening Day roster.
García’s big league career began in 2013 with the Phillies, and he remained in Philadelphia through the end of the 2018 season. Since then, he’s pitched for the Angles, Rangers, and Padres, had a second stint with the Angels, pitched for the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Nationals, and ended the 2025 season with a third stint with the Angels.
In total, García has a 4.07 ERA and a 3.92 FIP in 583.1 innings in his major league career. And over the past two seasons, during which he’s pitched for the final four aforementioned clubs, he has a 4.17 ERA and a 3.68 FIP. Perhaps the Mets were particularly high on his 2025 season, which saw him end the year with a 3.42 ERA and a 3.28 FIP, both of which were his best marks since his very good 2021 and 2022 seasons.
García is not a strikeout machine, having put up 20 percent strikeout rates in each of the past two seasons and peaked at just 26.3 percent in 2022. His walk rate was atypically high last year at 11.2 percent, at least compared to the standard he’d established over the four seasons that preceded that one with a 7.0 percent walk rate. He offset the potential damage that those walks could’ve done by limiting home runs to just 0.33 per nine innings pitched. He’s given up 0.82 per nine in his career and combined to give up 1.06 per nine in 2023 and 2024.
A three-pitch pitcher, García didn’t make any drastic alterations to his pitch usage last year. He threw his sinker a plurality of the time rather than the majority, continuing an overall trend that’s seen him throw the pitch slightly less often over the past few years. He upped his usage of his slider and splitter a bit, and the most notable distinction in that data is that he threw the splitter more often last year than he had in any other season, albeit by a relatively small margin.
Last year, García still threw pretty hard, averaging just shy of 97 miles per hour on his fastball, which put him in the 87th percentile according to Statcast. The rest of his metrics there aren’t super encouraging, but he did remain pretty good at inducing ground balls. Should he continue to do that, the Mets’ infield defense will go a long way in determining his effectiveness, especially if the K rate doesn’t improve from last year.
As for projections, there are no real surprises in the ones published at FanGraphs. Every system sees García finishing the 2026 season with a regular major league reliever workload, an ERA in the high threes or low fours, and a FIP that pretty much lines up with it. Given his long major league track record, options haven’t been on the table for years, which means the Mets will have to expose him to waivers if they want to choose to cut him at any point this season. Based on the events of the past couple of years, though, he’d almost certainly get claimed on waivers by another team. If he starts the season strong, expect him to stick around.
Surprise, AZ - February 21: Matt Waldron #61 of the San Diego Padres throws during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on February 21, 2026 in Surprise, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
With six games remaining in the San Diego Padres spring schedule, and a roster deadline coming quickly, tough decisions are around the corner.
The announcement by manager Craig Stammen that Joe Musgrove will start the season on the IL should have come as no surprise to anyone who has noticed his absence since his first start on March 4. His following bullpen resulted in being placed on a “hold” and he hasn’t pitched since.
Walker Buehler, in camp on a minor league deal, made a strong start on March 10 where he featured his off-speed pitches and only threw eight fastballs among his 68 pitches and 3.2 innings in a win versus the Los Angeles Angels.
Ya, it was Buehler's day ON today.
Seven punchies, five scoreless, mixed a ton of different pitches. Could he crack the Padres rotation?? pic.twitter.com/hfuzrP8PUp
Although results are not to be trusted in spring, his improvement over the past weeks shows that learning to pitch using all his pitches is progressing well. With the loss of Musgrove for the start of the season, Buehler should have a job. The deadline for adding him to the roster is March 21, his first opt-out opportunity.
The rest of the competitors
Germán Márquez has had very inconsistent results since he joined the Padres on a major league contract. If his struggles continue (12.15 ERA in 6.2 IP) there could be a different pitcher filling the fifth rotation spot. No matter how they start the season, the Padres will have to name a fifth starter within the first couple of weeks. Using an opener or a bullpen start is a short-term fix. They have two off-days within the first eight games so they can take a little time to figure out their approach, possibly using a four-man rotation and carrying nine pitchers in the bullpen.
It seems obvious that neither Tristan McKenzie nor Marco Gonzales have been effective enough to seriously contend for that spot. Lefty JP Sears has had moments during his appearances but has also shown command issues and has not been consistent. His velocity is up on his fastball, but he appears to need more time to master the strike zone.
Matt Waldron is ready to pitch again after recovering from his surgery but will need time to build up to a starter length and perform well. His velocity has also increased on his fastball in his limited look before his surgery, but he is out of options and will have to make the team or be put on waivers before he could be sent to the minors after the IL.
Handling the injured
Besides Musgrove and Waldron, several other Padres are dealing with injury issues, and their status complicates the final roster decisions.
Super-utility Sung-Mun Song has not appeared in a game since aggravating his oblique but has been hitting off a tee and is on a progression toward a slow return.
Yuki Matsui has also not appeared in a game and threw a bullpen on March 14. Jason Adam has had field drills and sim games, next is his Cactus League debut and there will be an assessment after that. He is still aiming for Opening Day.
Bryan Hoeing is having flexor tendon surgery and will be on the 60-day IL for the season. He will join Griffin Canning and Jhony Brito, who will miss at least a couple months.
Infielder Will Wagner has an oblique strain and catcher Blake Hunt is also sidelined with an oblique injury.
If Song isn’t available, both Ty France and Jose Miranda have had great spring performances and could be named to the roster. France has a March 21 opt-out as his first opportunity to have a job here or elsewhere.
Yu Darvish visit
Yu Darvish flew from Tokyo to Miami with a stop in Peoria, Ariz. to visit the Peoria Sports Complex last week. With the elimination of Japan from the WBC, Darvish should be back in Arizona with the Padres soon.
Bullpen decisions
At this point the performances of David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and Kyle Hart would dictate that they are all on the roster for the start of the season. Hart, Estrada and Morgan haven’t allowed a run and the others all have low ERAs. Adding Wandy Peralta, who should be back from the WBC in a day or so, allows for one or two more pitchers for the bullpen.
Assuming Matsui is not ready, the last spot(s) will belong to Mason Miller and maybe one other pitcher. If there are eight to start, then that is the bullpen and Logan Gillaspie does not make the roster despite an impressive performance and no minor league options.
Luis Campusano
The backup catcher, who has not had a good offensive spring showing, got a vote of confidence from manager Craig Stammen when asked about the catcher’s status.
“What we’re most concerned about with Campy is what he’s doing behind the plate, and he’s done really well behind the plate,” Stammen said. “… There’s always competition for everything. Every time you take an at-bat, every time you step behind the dish, anytime you’re on base, you’re competing. With Campy, we’re very satisfied with who he is and what he’s done this spring with our pitching staff, and he’s got a pretty strong hold on that second spot.”
Campusano will have more time to improve his offensive performance as he has been concentrating on his defense and working with the pitchers. His Triple-A performance from last season will buy him time with his manager.
Opening Day
It still looks like Nick Pivetta will be the starter on March 26 against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. Stammen is not willing to discuss it, but Pivetta should have another start on March 19 and then could throw limited innings, a sim game or live BP on the March 22 or March 23 to get ready for Opening Day.
Should they decide to go with Michael King instead, he is due to start March 18, and they could maneuver him in the same way to get ready for the big day. Either would be a good choice and one would likely follow the other with Randy Vasquez pitching the third game of the season.
Minor League camp in full swing
The Padres have reassigned many of their non-roster invitees and non-competitive roster players to the minor league training camp. Last week, outfielder Tirso Ornelas, catcher Blake Hunt (oblique injury), pitcher Garrett Hawkins and catcher Anthony Vilar were all sent down. There are 54 players in major league camp.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds the bases after his home run during the first inning against Team Japan during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday! The Mariners are back in action today against the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 PM, with the starting pitcher yet to be announced.
In some non-baseball news, it’s time for March Madness! One of my personal favorite times of the year. If you think you have what it takes to beat both staff writers and commenters, or if you’re just in it for the love of the game, sign up for our Lookout Landing March Madness bracket pool. Updates of bracket standings will be posted in the Moose Tracks as the tournament goes on, and who knows, there might even be some fun prizes involved for the winner. Brackets officially lock on Thursday morning, good luck to all!
Lookout Landing is collecting your preseason predictions to include in our annual predicitions article. Fill out the form here.
In the World Baseball Classic…
An electric seventh-inning rally from Venezuela started by Ronald Acuña Jr. propelled them to a 4-2 win over Italy in the WBC semifinals. They will matchup against Team USA in an exciting final tonight at 5 PM.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
Raphielle Johnson
