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Lakers computer picks
Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points (-105)
Projection: 11.1 points
Deandre Ayton is a feast-or-famine player on offense these days, but he's cleared this number in two of his last three games, narrowly missing last time out with nine points even.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the second-highest scoring offense in the league over the last 10 games. As long as Ayton gets his minutes, he should comfortably clear 10 points, as the computer has him projected for 11.1.
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LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds (+120)
Projection: 5.7 rebounds
LeBron James may be a bit long in the tooth, but he still brings down boards at a solid clip, hauling in five-plus rebounds in four straight games.
The Over 5.5 has hit in six of his last 10 games, and he's projected for 5.7, giving us clear value at plus money.
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Rui Hachimura Under 1.5 made threes (-160)
Projection: 1.1 made threes
For the season, Rui Hachimura is hitting 1.8 threes per game on 44% shooting from deep.
The Lakers have played at the fifth-slowest pace in the NBA over the last five games on the road, while the Houston Rockets boast the second-most lethargic pace all season.
Plus, the Lakers have been the worst offensive rebounding offense in the league over the last 25 games. Offensive rebounds maintain possession, and a lack of them can therefore reduce additional opportunities for scoring, which works against Hachimura getting his long-range shot off.
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Rockets computer picks
Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points (-110)
Projection: 26.8 points
Kevin Durant has averaged a flat 26 points during his first season in Houston and has eclipsed that number in two of his last three games.
In contrast to the Lakers, the Rockets grade out best in the NBA with 15.2 offensive rebounds per game this year, which will help KD get those extra points down low.
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Amen Thompson Under 19.5 points (-120)
Projection: 17.7 points
Trends may suggest Amen Thompson is good to clear 20 points, something he's done in four of his last five games, but the computer projects 17.7, which is right around his season-long average.
This has more to do with Houston serving as the second-lowest scoring offense in the NBA over the last 20 games at home. Both teams play at a Bottom-5 tempo, which may limit Thompson's opportunities to thrive, especially if Durant is guiding the ship.
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Jabari Smith Jr. Under 14.5 points (+100)
Projection: 14.4 points
The computer isn't bullish on many Rockets scorers tonight, and that includes Jabari Smith Jr., who is projected to come in just below his scoring prop.
Like with Thompson, Smith is expected to come up short due to the slowed pace, but also because the Lakers haven't been sending power forwards to the line.
Over the last 15 games, the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted 2.2 free throws per game (fewest in the NBA). This could result in a dud from Smith, who has cleared this prop in just five of his last 10 games.
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How to watch Lakers vs Rockets tonight
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Monday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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.
Like the rest of the NBA knows, the perfect solution to snapping a losing streak is playing the Washington Wizards.
The Warriors ended their season-high five-game losing streak by extending the Wizards’ losing streak to 12 straight in a 125-117 win on Monday night at Capital One Arena.
In his fifth game as a Warrior, Kristaps Porziņģis scored 30 points off the bench. He went 8 of 13 from the field and drew seven fouls. The more the Warriors are seeing from Porziņģis, the better he has looked in his second straight game scoring at least 20 points.
Behind Porziņģis was De’Anthony Melton, who scored 27 points in a game where he took two 3-pointers and missed both. Gui Santos efficiently scored 18 points as a game-high plus-20, and Gary Payton II again was a spark off the bench with 15 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Here are three takeaways from a Warriors win that improved their record to 33-35.
Look At KP Go
Staring at a box score is a pointless exercise when evaluating Porziņģis. It’s all about the eye test. How is he moving? What’s his stamina? Does he fit the Warriors?
Those first two questions are even more important than the third. The Warriors always have known Porziņģis’ talent, size and skill set would be great in their system. How he was moving in his fifth game as a Warrior after sitting the previous night was a major positive.
Porziņģis in the first quarter played seven minutes and stuffed the stat sheet while moving with ease. In just seven minutes, he scored eight points and was a plus-10 with two rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal. By halftime, Porziņģis was the Warriors’ leading scorer with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 13 minutes.
The second half was equally impressive for Porziņģis in the box score, and in the way he was moving. Porziņģis scored 15 of his 30 points in the second half. He played nearly 26 minutes and attempted half of the Warriors’ 28 free throws, going 13 of 14 at the line.
His 26 minutes played were Porziņģis’ most since Nov. 22 when he scored 30 points against the New Orleans Pelicans as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.
Follow Melton, GP2’s Lead
Settling for 3-pointers, even without the game’s greatest shooter, has been a problem for the Warriors. Melton and Payton were the perfect examples of the solution.
“Yeah, they got no rim protectors, so as long as we can keep diving and getting buckets at the rim – if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” Payton said during his halftime interview.
Each had 13 points in the first half, going a combined 12 of 16 from the field. The Warriors as a team were a lowly 5 of 17 behind the 3-point line (29.4 percent), but not because of Melton and Payton. Melton took one three and missed, and Payton stayed completely away from the 3-point line one night after making three treys.
Look at the shot chart of De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II in the first half
Melton: 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting Payton: 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting
That should have been how the Warriors as a team were playing. They outscored the Wizards 36-24 in the paint through the first two quarters. Melton then scored another 10 points in the third quarter as he continued to find his way to the paint, and even threw down a crazy poster dunk.
How Melton and Payton played is what the Warriors did best. They scored a season-high 68 points in the paint on a night where the Warriors went 9 of 32 from deep (28.1 percent). Take note.
Gui Gets It Done Again
During the Warriors’ five-game losing streak, the finger couldn’t be pointed at the best story of the season. Plenty of blame could be had but not at Santos, who averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game. That same kind of production followed Santos in getting Golden State back in the win column.
The Wizards cut their deficit to just seven points with nine minutes remaining, so Kerr called Santos’ number, who was a plus-23, to get off the bench and into the game to stop the bleeding.
Santos wound up playing nine minutes and 20 seconds in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors needed him the whole way down the stretch. The losing streak was full of heartbreak. Not this time, though.
Here’s how valuable Santos was: Melton had the second-highest plus/minus on the team at plus-10. Whenever Santos was on the court, the Warriors simply put were a much better team.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 12: Rafael Marchán #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a sacrifice fly in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during the Grapefruit League spring training game at BayCare Ballpark on March 12, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the players behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.
Rafael Marchan – can he hit enough to take actual playing time away from J.T. Realmuto?
One of the issues that has caused a lot of conversation with this team over the past few years is the amount of playing time J.T. Realmuto receives. Usually, his goal is the catch in 130+ games in a season. Outside of his injury marred 2024 season, he has done so each year since his arrival (if we exclude the shortened 2020 season). Being an ironman behind the plate is an attribute that Realmuto wears with honor, but is it always the best for the team?
There are three ways of looking at it: Realmuto’s offense, defense and those who are behind him. Judging by his offense, his 2025 season looked like the year where everything caught up to him. All of the stuff that we look at for hitting was down, even if just a bit. His 94 wRC+ was his lowest since his rookie season, the under the hood stuff was all bluer than the 1936 electoral college map and it all just seemed to go backwards for him.
Yet check the lineup card most nights and you’d find Realmuto’s name on it more often than not. The manager just kept playing him and playing him and playing him. The pitchers love throwing to him, probably the biggest reason why he plays so much. We talked in the other preview about the still rudimentary ways of quantifying that outside of “feel”, but that’s usually why we always saw Realmuto starting games.
However, over the years, the two catchers that the team has employed as the backups – Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchan – are also playing a part. They simply are not a threat at the plate enough to demand that more playing time be given to them. While the offense did score runs last year (eighth most in the league), this year, they project to take a step back from that number, meaning they’ll have to find runs somewhere. If Realmuto is continuing that downward march, it would be nice if his bat were taken out of the lineup a little more often.
That means Marchan, the likely choice to be his main backup, is going to have to hit.
Now, based on his past numbers in the minors, that is probably not in the cards too much. He has never been known as a bat first prospect, relying on sparkline defense to carry him to the major league and that was pretty much the case. He’s an excellent defender behind the plate, but anemic when hitting. His Statcast data is, frankly, scary to behold.
Granted, we’re talking about only 119 plate appearances to gather this data from, so the sample size is still small, but it tracks with scouting reports he had attached to him growing up.
Can he actually hit enough to warrant Realmuto getting more games off his feet?
That’s something to watch as the season unfolds. Maybe Realmuto does experience a bit of a rebound this year, making a lot of the talk surrounding his decline moot. However, it would be helpful if Marchan at least presses him a bit more with some offensive improvement of his own. His glove is certainly good enough to play more often.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick (39) drops the ball in fielding drills during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s been a tough road for the Brewers in spring training lately. They have dropped five of their last six games and were almost on the wrong end of a perfect game yesterday. It’s also been a streaky spring, with three four-game losing streaks (one of those including the exhibition loss to Great Britain) and two four-game winning streaks. They will have another chance to get back on the winning side this afternoon as they face the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch in Glendale.
Chad Patrick will make his third start of the spring this afternoon. In his previous two starts, he’s pitched five innings and allowed three runs, seven hits, and two walks, striking out seven. Also scheduled to pitch today are Trevor Megill, Jared Koenig, and Grant Anderson. For the Dodgers, Tyler Glasnow will get the start.
For the road game, Luis Rengifo will lead off with Andrew Vaughn behind him. Tyler Black is batting third and Gary Sánchez bats fourth, with Joey Ortiz fifth in the lineup. Brandon Lockridge is getting the start in right field and batting sixth, and Jett Williams is batting seventh at second base. Brock Wilken and Luis Lara round out the order.
First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on MLB Network and will also be on the Brewers Radio Network.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 04: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on November 04, 2024 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards on Monday night. The game will be played at 4:00 PM PT in Washington, D.C. and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Sunday’s 110–107 loss to the New York Knicks followed a familiar script for the Warriors during this stretch. Golden State competed hard throughout the night and even built a lead as large as 21 points. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s lack of available talent, as they played without eight players due to injury.
Brandin Podziemski, Quinten Post, and Gui Santos each scored more than 20 points, while Gary Payton II added 19. The game was close in the second half, but turnovers opened the door for the Knicks to rally. All-Star guard Jalen Brunson took full advantage, finishing with a game-high 30 points.
Afterwards, head coach Steve Kerr emphasized that regardless of the outcome, he continues to be proud of the effort his team has shown during this difficult stretch.
Despite the loss, Steve Kerr was proud of the undermanned Warriors’ fight and effort tonight:
“Could not ask for anything more. These guys are so fun to coach. They're playing so hard together. I just want them to be rewarded for their efforts.” pic.twitter.com/MFdLUKN09g
The Warriors could be getting some much-needed reinforcements on this second night of a back-to-back. After missing the last two games, Draymond Green is listed as probable, while De’Anthony Melton and Kristaps Porzingis have both been cleared to return.
Draymond Green is probable tonight in DC. De’Anthony Melton and Kristaps Porzingis have been cleared to return at Wizards.
The timing of the matchup couldn’t be better for Golden State. The Wizards enter the night with a 16–50 record on the season and have lost 11 straight games. If Green, Melton, and Porzingis are able to return to the lineup, the added depth should give Golden State the boost it needs against a struggling Washington team and provide a strong opportunity for them to snap their five-game losing streak.
“We got to keep, like, trying to win games when we don't have other guys, because we know when they get back, we're going to be good.”
Gui Santos on how the Warriors are remaining optimistic despite the 5 game losing streak. pic.twitter.com/f4w3na44nZ
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!
The Spurs lead the NBA in net rating over that stretch, which has made them an excellent bet, going 13-5-1 ATS.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been playing better basketball, but Kawhi Leonard is listed as doubtful, and one of their biggest weaknesses is their depth, already ranking 21st in bench points per game.
The Spurs' talent and depth will become apparent over the course of the game, so lay points as they pull away late.
Spurs vs Clippers same-game parlay
Wemby has been having his own block party lately, averaging 4.3 blocks per game over 12 games since the All-Star break, blocking 4+ shots 10 times over that stretch.
And with Kawhi out, someone’s going to have to score for L.A., so give me Darius Garland Over 20.5 points. The newest Clipper has topped this number in each of his last four games.
Spurs vs Clippers SGP
Spurs -8.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
Darius Garland Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Board crashers!
With no Kawhi, the Clippers could be putting up a lot of bricks tonight, in turn creating a lot of rebounding opportunities for the Spurs.
Spurs vs Clippers SGP
Victor Wembanyama Over 10.5 rebounds
Stephon Castle Over 5.5 rebounds
Julian Champagnie Over 5.5 rebounds
Keldon Johnson Over 5.5 rebounds
Spurs vs Clippers odds
Spread: Spurs -8.5 | Clippers +8.5
Moneyline: Spurs -350 | Clippers +275
Over/Under: Over 233.5 | Under 233.5
Spurs vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Spurs have covered the first-half spread in 33 of their last 50 games for +13.35 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Clippers.
How to watch Spurs vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Monday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Spurs vs Clippers 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.
Even with Jayson Tatum still easing his way back from injury, the Boston Celtics are starting to look like the team to beat in the East, but they’ll be tested tonight as they welcome the Phoenix Suns to TD Garden.
Boston moved to 22-10 at home this season with Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards, and my Suns vs. Celtics predictions signal another smooth playmaking effort from Derrick White here.
Read on for my free NBA picks ahead of this March 16 battle.
Suns vs Celtics prediction
Suns vs Celtics best bet: Derrick White Over 4.5 assists (-120)
Derrick White fits with just about any lineup that Joe Mazzulla could conjure up, so it’s no surprise to see him adjust easily to Jayson Tatum’s return. I like the Over on White’s assists tally tonight, and he’s cleared this O/U number in his last three outings.
In fact, White is averaging 5.9 APG in March, on the heels of a stellar 6.9 APG last month, so the Boston Celtics are clearly comfortable with him at the controls.
He dished eight dimes in his last outing against the Phoenix Suns, who are a little vulnerable defensively without Dillon Brooks.
Suns vs Celtics same-game parlay
I still like Boston to pick up the W here, but this spread is too big.
The Suns are 20-12 ATS on the road this year, and you have to go back to December 31 for the last time the visitors lost by this many points when Devin Booker has played 25+ minutes.
Speaking of Booker, he’s averaging 29.6 PPG in March and feels primed for another big game tonight. He’s knocked down 3+ triples four times this month.
Suns vs Celtics SGP
Suns +9
Devin Booker Over 24.5 points
Devin Booker Over 2.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Colorful combo
We’ve got all the colors in this SGP. Jaylen Brown is still the Celtics’ go-to scorer, but I’m most excited about Jalen Green, who’s averaging 25.1 PPG and 3.1 APG in March and has scored 70 points across his last two outings.
Suns vs Celtics SGP
Derrick White Over 4.5 assists
Jaylen Brown Over 23.5 points
Jalen Green Over 19.5 points
Jalen Green Over 2.5 assists
Suns vs Celtics odds
Spread: Suns +9 | Celtics -9
Moneyline: Suns +310 | Celtics -400
Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5
Suns vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Suns, who fell 122-115 in Toronto on Friday, are 16-11 ATS this season after a loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Celtics.
How to watch Suns vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Monday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
KTVK, NBC Sports Boston
Suns vs Celtics 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.
GOODYEAR, AZ - MARCH 11: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Zach Gardner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Through 11.0 IP across four starts so far in Cactus League play this spring, Andrew Abbott hasn’t exactly flashed his best stuff. He’s yielded 12 earned runs on 16 hits in that span, with four of those hits leaving the yard altogether. He has struck out 14 batters in that time, which is great, and that’s come against only 4 walks, but it would be a very nice confidence boost for all parties involved if he can put up a slightly more successful line at least once before getting the ball on Opening Day.
On Monday afternoon, he’ll get yet another chance. Abbott will start for the Reds as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Abbott will be backed by a strong lineup, one that will feature a trio of left-handed hitters who are, in all reality, fighting with each other for the final spots on the bench for Opening Day – JJ Bleday, Will Benson, and Nate Lowe.
First pitch in this one is slated for 4:10 PM ET, though sadly there will once again be no televised coverage. For the action on the radio, you can tune in to 1360 WSAI.
Here’s Redleg Nation’s Doug Gray with the full travel roster for the day, one that includes top prospects Tyson Lewis and Carlos Jorge, former 1st round pick Austin Hendrick, and Rece Hinds – who is also firmly in the mix for one of the final bench spots on the Opening Day roster, too.
They played a horrendous first 30 minutes and were down 2-0 late in the second period before rallying to win 4-3. The win snapped the Penguins' two-game losing streak and kept them in second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Penguins will try to make it two wins in a row on Monday night when they play the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche are in first place in the Central Division with a 44-12-9 record, good for 97 points. They have won seven of their last 10 games and have only lost in regulation five times at home this year.
Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best players on the planet and is having another outstanding season, compiling 44 goals and 109 points in 64 games. He does it all, and once he gets a burst of speed, it's usually game over.
Martin Necas is second on the team in goals (31) and points (80). He has been a perfect fit for the Avalanche since they acquired him last season.
Cale Makar is elite on the backend for the Avalanche, racking up 19 goals and 67 points in 65 games this year. He's hit the 90-point mark for two seasons in a row and is trying to make it three this year.
This is also an Avalanche team that is very deep at center. They can run MacKinnon-Nelson-Kadri down the middle for their first three lines.
Scott Wedgewood will start in goal for the Avalanche. He has a 25-4-5 record to go along with a .918 save percentage.
The Penguins will get Evgeni Malkin back from his five-game suspension and Justin Brazeau back from injury. They both took line rushes during the morning skate.
Sidney Crosby participated in the skate, but didn't take line rushes, meaning he will likely still be out for this game. Blake Lizotte will also be out with an upper-body injury.
Here's the projected lineup:
Forwards
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Mantha-Rakell-Rust
Koivunen-Kindel-Brazeau
Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
Solovyov-Clifton
Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after Stuart Skinner started against the Mammoth.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
‘No one cares about you,’ says Lancashire all-rounder
The 32-year-old alleges England group is too cliquey
Liam Livingstone has given a scathing account of his handling by the current England regime, claiming “no one cares about you”. The Lancashire all-rounder has exactly 100 caps for his country across all three formats but has not featured in more than a year and seems resigned to things staying that way.
In an interview with Cricinfo, the 32-year-old was highly critical of interactions with the director of cricket, Rob Key, and described his time at the Champions Trophy last year as “the worst experience I’ve had playing cricket” and said he did not miss being part of the recent T20 World Cup.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 15, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For some reason, the Knicks have decided to play down to the level of their opponents.
Nearly lost in Indianapolis. Damningly close to dropping one to a G League-like Warriors. Will it finally happen when the Pacers visit MSG on Tuesday?
Here’s what the protagonists had to say, including Steve Kerr.
"I was not happy with the way that we started the game and the way we played most of the game…we have to figure out how to start games better"
Mike Brown's thoughts following the Knicks' 110-107 win last night over the Warriors: pic.twitter.com/CVkQj6fWy5
On whether he will change the starting lineup before or for the playoffs:
“Right now I don’t feel the need to. But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don’t feel the need to right now.
“It’s not too late to do anything. And if I feel the need, I will. I’m not thinking that right now. I’m not concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times.”
On demanding better starts despite the recent wins:
“We have to figure out individually, collectively, how we can start games better…. I’m not talking about the outcome, win or loss, I’m talking about the start of the game. (We need to start games) with a level of focus, a level of physicality, so that they’re feeling us to start the game. This group knows it. They understand it. Now we’ve just gotta go do it.”
On Mikal Bridges’ overall impact on the game:
“It’s no secret Mikal has not shot the ball well. But he’s given us life at times, and he’s given us life at the right time at times. I thought he was fantastic in Indiana. On both ends of the floor. So it’s not just Mikal. It’s us collectively as a group.”
On expecting more from the team despite the strong defensive numbers:
“I’m sitting here bitching about this and somebody told me from the first of January on, we had the No. 1 defense in the league. Something like that. We can play better. I know for myself and every man in that locker room, every person in that locker room, expects more. And somehow, someway, we got to figure it out.”
On Steve Kerr’s pregame warning text:
“Steve texted me and he said he came up with some killer plays that were going to make us spin backwards and forward. I believe him. Situations like this, we faced it in Utah. We faced it to a certain degree in Indiana. They’re tough. But if you expect to be who you think you are at the end of the day, you will approach this in a business-like manner.”
On not skipping details against undermanned teams:
“The biggest thing is making sure you don’t skip any details. I think in games like this, the details or the small things are huge. And playing with a sense of urgency while making them feel you on both ends of the floor — that doesn’t mean going out and blowing them out, but if you’re lackadaisical at any point in the game for any stretch, they’re NBA players. A lot of these guys are hungry and some of them have proven that they belong on this level and in a pretty good spot in terms of a rotation. If you relax at any moment in time and they see one, two, three go in, like the guys did in Utah, it can be a climb back up the hill to get back in the game.”
On road trip fatigue not being an excuse:
“I think every game can be challenging for a lot of different reasons. Mainly, all teams are in the NBA, and they’re here for a reason. That stuff’s above my head. A lot of times they say, ‘it’s because of your clock’ or whatever. You win some, you lose some, and I don’t see rhyme or reason for it.”
On prioritizing playing the right way over seeding:
“It’s tricky because let’s say we were in second, and we were a game in front of somebody. Are we just gonna play better because of that? I hope at this point of the season we’re playing the right way regardless of seeding, and sometimes, you’ll lose while playing the right way, but you’re playing the right way all the time—not just to try to catch Boston. That’s part of the equation, but that’s not the end-all, be-all.
“I want us to play the right way because it’s time to do that. We’re going into the playoffs. Play the right way. Again, you’ll lose sometimes playing the right way, but you want to go into the playoffs doing this, not just with your play but with your confidence or your belief, and so I think that’s just as much of it as opposed to — hey let’s find a way to win just to catch these guys. No, no: handle all the small details, embrace the details, embrace the journey. All that stuff and go get a win. So there are a lot of factors, not just those guys are ahead of us by a game-and-a-half and the guys are behind us by two games.”
Josh Hart stops by the NBA Showtime desk before Sunday Night Basketball tips off!
On the possibility of the NBA reducing the 82-game schedule:
“I probably be retired before that happens. So I don’t care. Nah, do I think it will be probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven. I think everybody puts that above everything else.”
On the need for respecting undermanned opponents:
“At the end of the day, you got to respect everybody. And if you’re in a situation like this against a team without its starters, you never want to play with a game or anything like that because you’ll never what’ll happen at the end of a game. You don’t want to put yourself in that position for someone to make a shot, someone to miss a shot or a ref to call a call you don’t agree with. So we got to approach this like any other game. And if that’s the case, then we should handle business early and it should be a game where everybody gets to play. But these guys are good. They’re in the NBA for a reason.”
On his knee soreness leaving him out of two games of late:
“It was just a play in the Laker game where I did my normal fastbreak finish, but just the landing on it kind of irritated it. So I think that kind of flared it up.”
On whether the knee will linger:
“I hope not. We’ll see. Time will tell.”
On not making excuses based on the injury:
“Ehh. I was out there. If I’m out there and able to play, there’s no excuses.”
Karl-Anthony Towns says the final call in tonight's WBC game against his Dominican Republic team was "some bulls–t" pic.twitter.com/iuDTV9ypP5
“Don’t play like that. I think it’s pretty simple.”
On Brown’s frustration even after the win:
“Yeah, he was frustrated. Obviously, the win’s everything, but we don’t want to win games like that, especially this late in the year when we should have better standards and a better execution in playing. I understand it.”
On Jordan Clarkson’s impact off the bench:
“Special. The stats don’t lie. One of the best players coming off the bench in NBA history. He does one thing better than almost anybody in the league, and that’s put the ball in the basket. When he’s doing that, he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has; there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.”
On the Dominican Republic’s elimination from the WBC at the hands of the USA:
“Hell yeah, that was a ball, man! That was some bulls**t. They should have had a chance. They had Tatis Jr. coming up. Come on, man.”
"A win is a win, definitely not the prettiest."
Jalen Brunson talks with Zora Stephenson after the Knicks' win over an undermanned Warriors team. pic.twitter.com/P5nrc60ufR
On the need to avoid playing catch-up every damn game:
“If we play better from the start, we don’t have to play catch-up. It’s definitely something that we need to get better at and it has to be our focus.”
Steve Kerr wants the NBA to shorten the 82-game regular season by 10 games to prevent injuries:
“I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue which means everybody takes a pay cut and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of… pic.twitter.com/rfY2KhRuOE
“I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing.”
On managing player workloads:
“In talking to performance people, looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph or Al or Jimmy – we have to manage them through 82 games. So there are nights where you just have to say, can’t play this guy. I get emails all the time from fans saying ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ And it wasn’t an injury designation and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow? Maybe it’s stretching the season out a little bit. If you can’t give up 10 games, can you extend the season by two weeks and give players more time in between games? I don’t know. I know there’s no guarantee that players are going to be out there every night, but I know that we have enough issues all clumped together that if we put our heads together – we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this league. I think we can address a lot of them and satisfy the fans, the owners, the TV partners. I believe that’s possible. Maybe I’m naïve. But I think it’s important to put it out there just for discussion and see where it goes.”
On advocating for a shorter season:
“I’m just saying what I see with all the injuries. The soft tissue injuries. I see all the data about how fast the guys are running, how much distance guys are covering now compared to 20-30 years ago. I see all the injuries, the tanking. I see everything. I’ve been in the league a long time. I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue, which means everybody takes a pay cut, and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing. So I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them. I think there’s a meaningful discussion to be had, and I love the league, I’ve loved the NBA my whole life. My whole adult life has been spent in the NBA in some form and it’s an amazing league. We have incredible people in this league and great fans. I just want to make sure we give our fans the very, very best product we can and try to satisfy all of our corporate partners, and I just think there’s probably a way to do that without just completely ignoring some of the obvious issues we’ve established.”
USA beats the Dominican Republic on a really really bad call and the stream is dead quiet pic.twitter.com/sCBRTm322M
We are down to the final month of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
No NBA team has more than 16 games remaining, as the races for seeding tighten up. And there’s still a possibility for some upheaval at the top of both the Eastern and Western Conferences; the Boston Celtics are only 4 games back of the Detroit Pistons in the East, while the San Antonio Spurs trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by just 3 ½ games.
And, as has been the case for a couple of months now, there’s also a race to the bottom, with tanking teams in the bottom third of this list looking to improve their draft positioning.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 19 of the 2025-26 regular season:
USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings
Note: Records and stats through March 9. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.
The very top of this list remains intact, and the Thunder, with the Western Conference’s longest active winning streak of eight games, are peaking at the right time; OKC continues to lead the NBA in net rating (10.7), by a healthy margin. The Knicks have course corrected and have won three consecutive, even though the quality of opponent has been below average.
The Lakers are also rolling, having won five consecutive, and their defense has improved markedly over this recent stretch. In recent games against the Nuggets, Timberwolves and Knicks, Los Angeles has allowed just 109.3 points per game.
The Magic simply have the upper hand on the Heat, and it will almost certainly cost Miami come playoff time: Orlando has defeated the Heat all five times that the Southeast Division rivals have played. The Magic have won seven consecutive games and their offense has finally started firing with efficiency, scoring 122.4 points per 100 possessions during their winning streak.
The Hawks have been stellar, winning nine consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA. Yet, Atlanta’s recent success should be tempered somewhat. While the Hawks are mauling opponents, leading the league in defensive rating (102.7) over the last nine games, the combined winning percentage of its opponents during its winning streak is just .354.
And now that Stephen Curry will continue to miss time with a right knee injury, the Warriors, losers of five consecutive, are in big trouble.
The big move here is the Sacramento Kings climbing out of the cellar with four victories out of their last five games. But this final third continues to be a race to the bottom, with the Pacers (13 games), Wizards (11), Grizzlies (seven), Jazz (three) and Nets (three) are in the middle of lengthy losing streaks.
One thing to watch with the Bucks, who had been trying to make a late push into the play-in picture — a push that is seemingly unlikely now that Milwaukee is 5 ½ games back of the No. 10 seed — is that Giannis Antetokounmpo left the team’s victory Sunday, March 15 over the Pacers when he tweaked his knee landing after a dunk.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 14, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dives for a loose ball between Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in overtime at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Given that LeBron James has played more basketball season that any other player you’d think he was done with firsts in his career.
However, he gave us all a new one in LA’s matchup against the Nuggets.
In the fourth quarter, LeBron dove on the floor, fully extending his body and going airborne to try and gain possession for his team. The play didn’t ultimately lead to the Lakers having the possession as they lost the jump ball, but it did make it clear that this level of hustle was the standard for everyone donning a purple and gold uniform.
The Lakers were pushed to the brink by the Nuggets but they came out on top winning 127-125 in overtime. The victory not only gave them their first season series win over Denver since 2021, but it also meant that they’ll have the tiebreaker over them in playoff seeding.
Considering how tight the Western Conference race is, that’s a big deal and a huge advantage the Lakers now have.
After the win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about his oldest player making such a shocking dive during clutch time.
“I told him after the game, I said, ‘In 23 years of watching you play in the NBA and the three years I watched him play in high school, I never saw him make a full-out extension dive like that,’ Redick said. “He said, ‘You’re right. I’ve never done that.’ It’s awesome. I know he’ll feel that tomorrow, but that’s a winning play.”
Seeing LeBron sacrificing his body like that made it clear that he was going to do anything to tip things in LA’s favor.
Teams take the identity of their leaders. For the Lakers Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron are the players who establish what the Lakers are. If LeBron, the oldest player in the league is out there diving on the floor, then no one has excuses for not bringing their best.
After the game, LeBron discussed why this was the contest to be out there diving for loose balls.
“Just living in the moment and understanding the impact of the game, implications of the game and our opponent and what we’re trying to build,” James said. So, every possession matters.”
This is just another example that for LeBron it’s all about sacrificing in any way possible to earn wins and go after the main goal, which is a title.
Hopefully, there aren’t any more dives on the floor for James this season. Because while it was amazing to see him do it, the Lakers will need him healthy if they are going to maximize their potential this postseason.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a three-year contract with Sacha Boisvert, one of the team's top prospects.
The Blackhawks announced the entry-level deal with the Canadian forward on Monday. The contract carries a $974,167 salary-cap hit and runs through the 2027-28 season.
Boisvert, who turns 20 on Tuesday, could make his NHL debut this week. He won't play Tuesday against Minnesota while he waits for immigration clearance, but the Blackhawks visit the Wild on Thursday and host the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Coach Jeff Blashill said he plans to go slowly with Boisvert in terms of playing time.
“I think he's going to need to have a physical impact on the game on a night-to-night basis, and if he can do that, he becomes a real commodity,” Blashill said.
“He can add something to our team I don't know that we have enough of, and that's that kind of hard skill. And if he can do that, it'll be a real positive for us.”
Boisvert, a Quebec native, was selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 18 pick in the 2024 draft. He had three goals and 14 assists in 26 games with Boston University this year.
Boisvert was scratched from BU's 4-1 victory over Vermont in the opening round of the Hockey East Tournament for an undisclosed reason. He returned to the lineup for Saturday's season-ending loss to UConn.
He was suspended for two games in January after getting into a fight during a 4-3 loss to UMass Lowell.
The 6-foot-3 Boisvert played for North Dakota for one season before transferring to Boston. He had 18 goals and 14 assists in 37 games for the Fighting Hawks.
Let’s tip off the new week of NBA action with some slam dunk winners in the player prop markets.
My best NBA player props include Zion Williamson dominating the paint against the Mavericks, and Victor Wembanyama continuing his block party when he travels to L.A. to take on the Clippers.
Those and more NBA picks for Monday, March 16, below.
The tank is real for the Memphis Grizzlies. Ty Jerome has been the team’s last reliable scorer. But he hasn’t played back-to-back games since coming out of the All-Star break. And he played last time out.
So, who’s left? Give me Cam Spencer in this matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Spencer is averaging 13.3 points and shooting 47.3% from three.
The Bulls don’t play much defense, ranking 23rd in defensive rating and 21st in opponent effective field goal percentage.
Spencer has a point total of 11.5. A number he’s topped in four of his last five games.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Memphis, CHSN
Prop #2: Zion Williamson Over 21.5 Points
-120 at bet365
You’d think a team like the New Orleans Pelicans would be in full tank mode. But Dejounte Murray is back, and Zion Williamson is consistently playing.
So, the Pels don’t look like the teams at the bottom of the West, like tonight’s opponent, the Dallas Mavericks.
Injuries have hampered the Mavs, but it's their interior presence that has really been hurt, ranking last in opponent points in the paint per game.
Williamson has a point total of 21.5 and is averaging 22.7 points over his last 11 full games and has topped this number in both of his games against the Mavs.
The San Antonio Spurs star has been having his own block party, averaging 4.3 blocks per game over 12 games since coming out of the All-Star break, blocking four or more shots 10 times over that stretch.
His block prop for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers is sitting at 3.5 with the Over at a tantalizing plus-money price.
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Lakers
Rockets
Cam Spencer
Zion Williamson
Victor Wembanyama