Golden State Warriors (32-30, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (49-15, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City will try to earn its 50th win of the season when the Thunder play the Golden State Warriors.
The Thunder are 34-9 in conference matchups. Oklahoma City has a 3-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Warriors are 22-19 in conference matchups. Golden State is third in the league with 29.2 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.2.
The Thunder average 118.9 points per game, 4.8 more points than the 114.1 the Warriors allow. The Warriors are shooting 46.1% from the field, 2.5% higher than the 43.6% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 131-94 on Jan. 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to help lead the Thunder to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cason Wallace is scoring 8.9 points per game and averaging 3.2 rebounds for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 14.2 points and 3.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Green is averaging 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 113.3 points, 45.2 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.5 points per game.
Warriors: 4-6, averaging 112.3 points, 43.5 rebounds, 31.5 assists, 9.9 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Alex Caruso: day to day (hip), Ajay Mitchell: day to day (abdomen), Branden Carlson: day to day (back), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (calf).
Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (illness), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Gary Payton II: day to day (ankle), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: day to day (wrist), Seth Curry: day to day (back), Will Richard: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas comes into the matchup with Boston as losers of five games in a row.
The Celtics are 20-10 in home games. Boston is fifth in the NBA with 12.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Neemias Queta averaging 3.0 offensive boards.
The Mavericks are 7-22 on the road. Dallas is 5-7 in one-possession games.
The Celtics average 114.5 points per game, 3.1 fewer points than the 117.6 the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks are shooting 47.0% from the field, 2.9% higher than the 44.1% the Celtics' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics won 110-100 in the last matchup on Feb. 4. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points, and Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 36 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is shooting 39.2% and averaging 17.3 points for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games.
Flagg is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 14.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 108.5 points, 50.2 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 5.5 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.7 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 110.0 points, 42.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.6 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: day to day (achilles).
Mavericks: Brandon Williams: day to day (quadriceps), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Marvin Bagley III: day to day (neck).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (34-28, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (32-31, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Saturday, 6 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta hosts Philadelphia aiming to extend its four-game home winning streak.
The Hawks have gone 18-21 against Eastern Conference teams. Atlanta ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 51.8 points per game in the paint led by Jalen Johnson averaging 12.3.
The 76ers are 21-20 against conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.5 fast break points per game led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 5.6.
The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 13.2 per game the 76ers give up. The 76ers average 115.8 points per game, 1.5 fewer than the 117.3 the Hawks allow to opponents.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Hawks won 117-107 in the last matchup on Feb. 20.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is shooting 49.1% and averaging 22.7 points for the Hawks. Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Maxey is averaging 28.9 points, 6.7 assists and two steals for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 6-4, averaging 118.2 points, 47.8 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
76ers: 4-6, averaging 111.4 points, 41.6 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 10.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee).
76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), VJ Edgecombe: day to day (back), Kelly Oubre Jr.: day to day (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Los Angeles as losers of seven games in a row.
The Lakers are 18-12 on their home court. Los Angeles is fifth in the Western Conference with 51.5 points per game in the paint led by LeBron James averaging 11.2.
The Pacers are 5-25 on the road. Indiana is 6-5 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Lakers are shooting 49.9% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point higher than the 48.9% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers' 45.0% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.5 percentage points lower than the Lakers have given up to their opponents (48.5%).
TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Doncic is averaging 32.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists for the Lakers. James is averaging 18.0 points over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Micah Potter is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 5-5, averaging 114.5 points, 39.1 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.
Pacers: 2-8, averaging 114.5 points, 40.1 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.6 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: LeBron James: day to day (elbow), Maxi Kleber: day to day (back), Deandre Ayton: day to day (knee).
Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (wrist), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Orlando Magic (33-28, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-23, third in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota is looking to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Timberwolves take on Orlando.
The Timberwolves are 22-11 on their home court. Minnesota is seventh in the Western Conference with 50.2 points per game in the paint led by Julius Randle averaging 10.3.
The Magic are 13-16 in road games. Orlando is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 114.8 points per game and is shooting 46.2%.
The Timberwolves average 14.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Magic give up. The Magic are shooting 46.2% from the field, 0.1% lower than the 46.3% the Timberwolves' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Randle is averaging 21.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 3.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Paolo Banchero is scoring 22.0 points per game with 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 25.1 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 59.1% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 116.4 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points per game.
Magic: 6-4, averaging 112.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Joe Ingles: day to day (personal).
Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will try to keep its six-game home win streak intact when the Spurs play Los Angeles.
The Spurs are 26-13 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.5 fast break points per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 2.9.
The Clippers are 19-18 in Western Conference play. Los Angeles ranks fourth in the Western Conference shooting 36.1% from 3-point range.
The 118.2 points per game the Spurs average are 6.2 more points than the Clippers give up (112.0). The Clippers are shooting 48.1% from the field, 3.1% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and three blocks for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is averaging eight points, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 25.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 49.7% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 121.3 points, 45.9 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 7.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.8 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 113.0 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Harrison Barnes: day to day (ankle), Mason Plumlee: day to day (reconditioning).
Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm), Darius Garland: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026, was a big day for the Anaheim Ducks. First, they locked down speedy forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year contract extension. But their biggest move of the day would come several hours later, when they acquired longtime Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson.
Carlson, 36, is in the final year of an eight-year deal that has an AAV of $8 million. The Capitals are receiving a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for Carlson. There is no salary retention involved in the deal and a contract extension has yet to be discussed. Anaheim was also not on Carlson's 10-team no-trade list.
The conditions on the first-round pick are as follows:
The conditional first-round pick shall be Anaheim’s 2026 first-round pick. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim will retain its 2026 first-round pick and shall instead transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington (subject to the Option below).
If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim shall have the option to transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington instead of Anaheim’s 2027 first-round pick. To exercise this option, Anaheim shall notify Washington of the option exercise no later than immediately after the selection of the draft pick preceding Anaheim’s first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Jan 5, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) celebrates with teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Carlson's acquisition solidifies the right side of Anaheim's blue line, giving them three veterans with substantial playoff experience in Carlson, Jacob Trouba and captain Radko Gudas. Combined, the trio has amassed 267 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Trouba has been to three Conference Finals, while Gudas was part of the Florida Panthers team that lost in the Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. Carlson, of course, won a Cup in 2018 against those Golden Knights during their inaugural season.
"John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a press release. "We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch."
Carlson immediately slides in as the Ducks' No. 1 right-handed defenseman and will help stabilize both the power play and penalty kill. At 5v5, his ability to find teammates with outlet passes will be extremely beneficial for head coach Joel Quenneville's squad, who is at their best when they can get into open ice and create off the rush.
One of the league's top defensemen from the past decade, Carlson concludes his Capitals career as their leader in games played, goals and points among defensemen in franchise history.
Carlson's availability for Anaheim's game against the Montréal Canadiens on Friday is unclear. More will be known following their morning skate.
In exchange for Carlson, the Ducks will send a conditional first-round pick (2026 or 2027 draft) and a third-round pick (2027) to Washington.
Carlson, who played an integral part of the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup win and is a former Norris Trophy runner-up for the NHL's top defenseman, should bring a veteran presence to a young Ducks team that is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”
Set to become a free agent this offseason, Carlson had 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games with the Capitals this season. He led all Washington skaters in ice time, averaging more than 23 minutes per game.
Carlson, however, has not played since Feb. 5 because of a lower-body injury. It's unclear when he might make his Ducks debut, but was practicing with the Capitals before the trade. When he does get into the lineup, he'll join Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas as part of a formidable right-side defensive trio for the Ducks.
In 1,143 career games over 17 seasons entirely with Washington, Carlson recorded 771 points (166 goals, 605 assists) — ranking him 24th all-time among NHL defensemen. He also had 78 points in 137 playoff games. A two-time All-Star, Carlson played for the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also scored the winning goal for the U.S. in the 2010 World Junior Championship.
The Ducks are second in the Pacific Division and have won 13 of their last 16 games. They face the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and the St. Louis Blues on Sunday before embarking on a four-game Canadian road trip.
The Carlson deal was finalized roughly 14 hours before Friday's NHL trade deadline at noon PST.
The Los Angeles Kings (25-22-14) controlled the ice from the opening faceoff Thursday night, outshooting the New York Islanders (35-23-5) 19-5 in the first period and getting Artemi Panarin’s first goal with the franchise in a 1-0 start, prevailing to a 5-3 victory.
Los Angeles led the game for the entire time tonight, forcing 14 Islanders giveaways and sparking an impressive defensive effort to never give the Islanders a chance to make a run.
Los Angeles, from the opening tip, was very physical and played with tempo, outscoring the Islanders 19-5 in the first period, and defensively were forechecking the puck. It was a quality win by the Kings against an Islanders team that is a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division.
The start came at 16:43 in the first period when Artemi Panarin scored his first goal as a member of the Kings after finding himself completely unmarked from roughly ten feet from the net.
Panarin was very patient when he got the puck and shot the puck when there was an open look at the net past Ilya Sorokin to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
A big milestone was recorded tonight by Anze Kopitar, who was honored midway through the first period for playing in his 1,500th NHL game. The milestone makes Kopitar just the 25th player in league history to reach 1,500 games and only the eighth to do so with a single franchise.
The LA Kings honor captain Anze Kopitar for playing his 1,500th game tonight. He’s the 25th player in NHL history to hit the milestone, and only the 8th to do it all with one team. pic.twitter.com/js7EZpLTBz
Panarin's goal continued a long history of success against the Islanders, as he picked up his 19th career goal in 41 games against New York, along with 29 assists.
Los Angeles kept the pressure throughout the remainder of the period, holding a 1-0 lead to end the first. It should've been a much bigger lead because the Kings were generating a lot of good looks, but the Islanders' goaltender Sorokin was sharp, allowing no stick-on goal in the period.
In the second period, New York had plenty of power play opportunities to tie the game and even extend a lead, but it was very bad tonight, finishing 0/3, which even gave the Kings a chance to score twice on their power play.
Midway through the second period, the Kings extended their lead.
At 5:40 of the second, Samuel Helenius scored his fourth goal of the season, finishing the nice play off the assist from Jeff Malott and Taylor Ward, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead.
The Kings' fourth line was very impressive, giving good offense and energy from their young guys. Defensively, the team was strong tonight as well, led by Brandt Clarke. The Kings' energy was great, with forechecking pressure that made it tough for the Islanders to score.
Just over a minute after Helenius scored, defender Mikey Anderson got on the board, scoring his third goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-0. Drew Doughty and Adrian Kempe picked up assists on the goal as Anderson’s shot found its way past Sorokin with Kopitar providing a strong screen in front.
The Islanders, though, finally scored a miraculous goal with under one second remaining in the period, after winning a faceoff, Bo Horvat quickly snapped the shot to score his 26th goal of the season, a defensive breakdown from the Kings, clearly thinking it was off.
Still, the Kings didn't look fazed at all, and quickly built their lead in the third period after playing a near-perfect second period before giving up that late goal.
Two minutes into the final frame, Alex Laferriere scored a power-play goal to restore the three-goal lead, going coast-to-coast, snapping his shot inside the post on the blocker side, giving Los Angeles a commanding 4-1 lead.
LAK Goal - It's a........power-play goal!
Laferriere goes coast-to-coast, snaps his shot inside the post on the blocker side. 4-1 Kings.
The Islanders still kept fighting, answering two minutes later with a shorthanded goal, after a two-on-one rush by Adam Pelech, finishing the play to once again trim the lead down to two.
It didn't matter because every time the Islanders looked to have gained momentum and trimmed the lead, the Kings would quickly answer back with a big play on the ice.
At the 8:30 mark of the period, Adrian Kempe tipped a shot in front of the net to make it 5-2 Kings off the nice rush and feed from Clarke and Panarin. Clarke picked up his second assist of the night on the play, while Panarin recorded his second point of the game.
LAK Goal - Juicy!
Panarin hits Clarke, who goes back post to Kempe for the goal! One of the prettier goals they've scored this season. 5-2 Kings.
The Islanders would convert on a late goal after Emil Heineman scored off the deflection by Matthew Schaefer, with just two minutes remaining in regulation. But, the comeback would fall short, as the Kings would hold on down the stretch and secure the 5-3 victory at home.
Key Stats
Darcy Kuemper finished with 31 saves on 34 shots, finally playing a very good game coming off the Olympic break and injury. Meanwhile, Los Angeles finished with 35 shots to the Islanders' 34 and finished 1/3 on the power play, holding New York to 0/3.
Panarin and Kempe were both great for the Kings tonight, with each leading the team with two points, one goal, and one assist. Kopitar's milestone was also a great watch for the fans sitting in attendance at Crypto.com Arena, celebrating the historic King for all the great moments he's given to us over the years.
For Los Angeles, this is a great win because, coming off the Olympic break, they were 1-3 and looking like a team on the verge of giving up on the season, but a win like tonight could spark some momentum for them.
Final: 5-3 LAK
Good overall team win for the Kings putting them three points back of playoff spot with the trade deadline tomorrow.
The Kings' next matchup will be against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM EST.
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DENVER, CO – MARCH 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, 2026 at Ball...
DENVER — Even with both teams eventually down multiple key players, Thursday night at Ball Arena was the Lakers’ biggest test against a potential Western Conference playoff team in nearly a month.
And they learned more about what it’ll take to compete with the other top teams in the West, falling to the Nuggets 120-113 to kick off a stretch in which the quality of competition to picking up.
The Lakers never led on Thursday, with the Nuggets pulling off the wire-to-wire win in a game they led by 15 points.
Nikola Jokić and Austin Reaves watching Luka Dončić after he was hit in the face by the ball. AP
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, making multiple shots to keep his team in the game.
But the Lakers were outscored 8-2 in the final two minutes to leave Denver with the loss.
Austin Reaves finished with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Jaxson Hayes stepped up after starting center Deandre Ayton left the game with left knee soreness, with Hayes finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Nuggets jumped out to a 15-2 lead with the Lakers lacking energy early.
They outscored the Nuggets 110-106 over the final 43 ½ minutes after Ayton subbed out with the knee injury.
“We talked about the sense of urgency, the importance of this game pregame, we talked about our physicality, took us a little bit of time to do that,” coach JJ Redick said. “It’s difficult against good teams to spot them…13 points. Our group showed a lot of resiliency, did some really good things.”
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists.
LeBron James goes up for a layup against the Nuggets. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers will stay at the No. 6 spot in the West, moving further behind the No. 5 Nuggets (39-24).
They dropped to 37-25 on the season.
Turning point
When Reaves split a pair of free throws with 2:05 remaining.
The Lakers would’ve tied the game at 112 apiece if Reaves made both, but they trailed 112-111 after he missed the second attempt, with Jokic making a driving hook shot on the Nuggets’ ensuing possession to start a 6-0 run.
Nikola Jokic drives to the basket against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
MVP: Nikola Jokic
Even on a night he didn’t play the best, Jokic still had a triple-double and shot 10 of 15 from the field.
Stat of the game: 15
That’s how many technical fouls Doncic has been assessed this season after picking up another technical in the second quarter on Thursday.
After going almost 1 ½ months across 14 games without a technical foul, Doncic picked up his 14th during Tuesday’s home win over the Pelicans.
Luka Doncic received another technical foul, raising his season total to 15. AP
“He’s aware that he’s close,” coach JJ Redick said ahead of Thursday’s game. “And I think he’s… He’s trying.”
If Doncic is assessed another technical for his 16th of the season, he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension by league rule.
Up next
The Lakers will close out the back-to-back set when they return to Southern California on Friday.
They’ll host the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena to kick off a five-game homestand.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and the New Orelans Pelicans beat the NBA-worst Sacramento Kings 133-123 on Thursday night.
Saddiq Bey shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for 20 points for the Pelicans, who had lost two in a row after a four-game win streak.
Williamson added nine rebounds and five assists.
Precious Achiuwa had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who fell to 14-50 overall and lost their ninth in a row at home. They have lost three in a row and are 2-4 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
The Pelicans entered halftime up 67-61. The Pelicans took a 14-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 15-0 scoring run.
The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers compared to the Kings eight.
All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray (return to competition reconditioning) did not play for the first game of a back-to-back (New Orleans plays at Phoenix on Friday).
Kings forward Keegan Murray missed his fourth straight game because of ankle injury.
DeMar DeRozan kad 15 points to move into 19th place on the NBA’s career scoring leaders list.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 5: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 5, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs returned home and set the tone early, never letting it slip away. From the opening minutes Thursday night, San Antonio played like a team determined to stay one step ahead of the Detroit Pistons and that’s exactly where the Spurs remained for all 48 minutes in a confident 121-106 victory.
The game never had the feel of a dramatic comeback or a frantic finish. Instead, it was a steady, methodical performance from a Spurs team that controlled the rhythm from the start and leaned on its brightest star when it mattered most. That star, of course, was Victor Wembanyama.
The 7-foot-4 phenom turned in another dominant night, piling up 38 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks while anchoring San Antonio on both ends of the floor. Whether it was altering shots in the paint, grabbing rebounds over multiple defenders, or finishing highlight plays in transition, Wembanyama once again looked like the most impactful player on the court. And the rest of the team followed his lead.
“Very pleased with the level of contact we played with,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “To be able to match Detroit’s physically while trying to impose your will and playing your brand of basketball, I thought we did that.”
San Antonio came out firing in the first quarter, quickly establishing the pace of the game. Crisp ball movement and aggressive defense helped them build an early cushion, forcing Detroit to spend the rest of the night chasing the scoreboard. While Wembanyama was the centerpiece, the Spurs’ supporting cast ensured the offense never stalled. De’Aaron Fox sliced through the Pistons’ defense repeatedly, finishing with 29 points (scoring 22 in the first half) and bringing a constant burst of speed to the backcourt. Stephon Castle quietly orchestrated the offense with 11 points and 12 assists, consistently finding teammates in scoring positions.
“We have a team full of guys that create their own shot,” Fox said. “I just see how the game goes, and tonight I came out aggressive. Vic was great for us. Dev didn’t shoot the ball a lot, Steph didn’t shoot the ball a lot. That’s a quality team win for us from start to finish.”
Detroit had moments when it looked ready to make things interesting.
Behind the playmaking of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons briefly trimmed what had been a 20-plus point deficit late in the third quarter. With Wembanyama resting, Detroit managed to push the margin into single digits, giving the game its only hint of suspense. But the Spurs never lost their composure.
“They [Detroit] get a lot of credit for that [3rd quarter]. I thought we missed some shots… The NBA game is a long game. But I’m very happy with everyone who played a part tonight. I thought we did a really good job of staying with it and getting to our spots.”
When Wembanyama returned, San Antonio immediately regained their footing and took full control. One sequence in the fourth quarter summed up the night: Wembanyama rejected a Pistons shot at the rim, sprinted the floor, and finished an alley-oop moments later to ignite the crowd and push the lead comfortably back into double digits.
From there, the Spurs simply closed the door.
Detroit continued to fight, but San Antonio’s balanced scoring and interior defense kept the Pistons from mounting any real comeback. By the final buzzer, the Spurs had secured another convincing win, one that reflected a team growing more into a dangerous contender as the season moves forward.
For San Antonio, the formula looked familiar: control the pace, move the ball, defend the paint, and let Wembanyama take over when needed.
“Any game between top seeds should be impressive,” Wembanayama said. “For us it was super fun and it wouldn’t have been fun if we didn’t set the tone for the game. I think we led for 48 [minutes]. I don’t know if it was impressive, but it was fun.”
Thursday night, that combination proved more than enough.
Game Notes
San Antonio scored 19 bench points but on this night, the second unit didn’t need to carry the scoring load. It is nice to have such a deep bench that can turn it on at any moment.
If this is the version of De’Aaron Fox the Spurs will get in the playoffs, they will be the favorites to reach the Western Conference Finals or even the NBA Finals.
LOS ANGELES — The Islanders may have just had the worst run in Southern California since Magic Johnson tried hosting late-night television.
After 5-1 in Anaheim came 5-3 in Los Angeles on Trade Deadline Eve, as the Islanders fell to the Kings on Thursday in a game where they were completely overmatched from the jump. As messages to management go, this was one Mathieu Darche would probably like to erase.
One bad game was something the Islanders could wave away off the heels of a five-game winning streak. Two is a harder sell.
“It’s a wake-up call for us that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Bo Horvat, whose line has been a shell of its usual shelf so far on this trip. “We still have to play confident, good hockey in order to make the playoffs.”
It is easier to list the couple positives for the Islanders on Thursday than the many, many things that went wrong.
Ryan Pulock was back from injury, and going 8:35 without allowing an empty-net goal was fairly impressive. That is, pretty much, it.
The Islanders turned pucks over, they had no net presence on either side of the ice, they were anemic on the power play.
They have yet to come out of a first period without trailing since the Olympic break, and Thursday was their worst start yet, as the Isles were outshot 19-5 and barely touched the puck.
“I wasn’t surprised the way they came out,” Roy said. “We talked about it. We knew it was the second game for their new coach, and they lost against Colorado.”
Ilya Sorokin defends the net during the Islanders’ 5-3 loss to the Kings on March 5, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
Of course, Roy’s team also lost on Wednesday and should have had plenty of motivation.
Somehow, they were still within arm’s length going into the third period thanks to Horvat scoring in, literally, the final second of the second period. After one second was put back onto the clock, Horvat whipped one in from above the left circle off a faceoff to bring the Islanders within 3-1.
The momentum proved fleeting.
The Kings celebrate a goal during their March 5 win over the Islanders. NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders and Kings ended up trading goals throughout the third, with the deficit never getting below two as Alex Laferriere, Adam Pelech, Adrian Kempe and Emil Heineman all added to the scoresheet.
There is just no way to come back down three goals without being much, much better around the crease and below the hash marks than the Islanders were on Thursday. Let alone when giving the opponent free access through the neutral zone.
Come to think of it, forget coming back, it’s hard to win a game at all under those conditions.
“In the games where we came back, the previous five games, we were getting to the [dirty] areas, creating more havoc our front,” Horvat told The Post. “These last two games, we’re trying to be too pretty. It’s kind of backfired on us. We got to get back to being more simple.”
Horvat’s commentary on his own line, which was on for two goals against and made little positive impact for the second straight night, was just as scathing.
“Right now we’re trying to make something out of nothing,” he said. “We got to be a heck of a lot better in order for our team to win here. My line has to step up in bigger ways and create offense. And be reliable in our own end too. We have to be a lot better than we have been the last two games.”
The Islanders react after allowing a goal during their March 5 loss to the Kings. AP
Making matters worse was that, aside from JG Pageau’s line, pretty much the entire lineup has had a brutal two nights.
The fourth line, which can usually generate some kind of a forecheck, didn’t have much in the tank and Kyle MacLean committed a brutal turnover leading to the Kings’ second goal, via Samuel Helenius.
The second line has been a total nonfactor two straight nights and looks an obvious candidate to be broken up.
Pelech turned it over leading to Mikey Anderson’s third goal just 1:31 later.
Scott Mayfield has had a tough two games and though Matthew Schaefer is beyond any serious criticism, the superstar rookie hasn’t looked like his usual self in either game out West.
Maybe there is something in the air in this building, where the Islanders haven’t won since 2018. Or maybe it is Southern California in general, even though the smog is largely a thing of the past.
Either way, the Islanders will be glad to get out of here.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 5: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 5, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Morgan Engel/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A game of runs came down to the final minute between the Lakers and Nuggets with Denver edging out a 120-113win.
Trailing by three in the final 90 seconds of the game, Marcus Smart missed a pair of open threes. Nikola Jokić scored at the rim with 22 seconds left to make it a five-point game and effectively seal the win.
The Lakers got 45 points off the bench and turned 18 Denver turnovers into 26 points. An improved defensive effort in the second half allowed them to make multiple runs, but they could never take the lead.
The game began with Jamal Murray being fouled from behind the arc and converting on all three free throws. He then proceeded to drain two more 3-pointers while the Lakers struggled to generate any offense, allowing Denver’s lead to explode to 11 and forcing LA to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Luka Dončić was fouled and made only one free throw. LeBron James converted on an extremely much-needed layup for LA’s first field goal nearly four minutes into the game.
Other than that, the Lakers continued struggling offensively. LeBron was the highest scorer for LA with four points, followed by Luka with three.
At the 4:57 mark, Los Angeles was down by nine.
Denver was shooting 66% from behind the arc, a massive reason why they were red hot. Tim Hardaway Jr.scored seven points off the bench for Denver.
Late in the period, LeBron made history by passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA history.
Luke Kennard drained a triple to start the second period for the Lakers. The Nuggets then scored five in a row. LA was now down by 15 and still looked as if they didn’t know they were playing a game.
Murray added five more points to his stellar first-half play for a total of 14.
A nice 6-0 scoring surge from Los Angeles, thanks to LeBron, helped cut the deficit to single digits. He was the first Laker in double figures with 10 points.
The scoring run extended to 12-0 to get the visitors all the way back into the game.
Much needed LeBron James takeover. Sensed it was getting away.
Bruce Brown drained a triple to stop the run. The rest of the half was a game of runs back and forth.
LA cut the deficit to three, but the Nuggets responded with a 12-2 run, going back up by double figures. Los Angeles then scored eight straight, but the Nuggets responded and made it a 10-point lead into halftime.
The Lakers trail 64-54 at the half. Luka 15 pts on 6-for-12 shooting; LeBron 12 pts on 5-for-6. DEN: Murray 20 pts 5 ast; Jokic 10 pts 6 reb 6 ast.
The third period started with Jaxson Hayes, starting in place of Ayton who left the game with a knee injury and did not return, dunking off an assist from Luka. Murray then responded with a triple on the other end.
Austin Reaves began to heat up for LA, scoring five in the quarter.
Nikola Jokić was on triple-double watch with 16 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Jokić also picked up his fourth foul.
Marcus Smart knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game, which Los Angeles desperately needed. After falling behind by as much as 15 again, LA picked up its offense once more, with Rui Hachimura and Smart draining triples and Reaves adding to his now 13 points.
The deficit was now four with 4:06 left in the quarter.
The Lakers fell behind by 15 early in the 3rd Q, but have rallied back into the ballgame once again, cutting the margin to 4 at 82-78 as Reaves blew past Jokic for a layup to cap a run that forced Denver's TO.
Unfortunately, the game of runs continued as Denver scored seven straight to push it back to a double-digit lead. Luka surged towards the end of the quarter, scoring on two triples that made it a seven-point game.
The final frame began with Hardaway Jr. draining a 3-pointer for the Nuggets. He was also fouled from behind the arc and converted on two of the three free throws. Jaxson Hayes was now at 15 points, after what felt like his 83rd dunk of the night.
LA found themselves on a 9-0 run, making it a five-point game with 7:30 left.
After the run extended to 11 straight points for Los Angeles, Jokić converted on a layup. That stopped a three-minute scoring drought for Denver. Now at the 5:06 mark, the Nuggets were up by seven after a free throw from Christian Braun.
Strawther added to his nice night with four more points. LA started to surge again, scoring nine points.
The Lakers made it a one-point game with a free throw from Austin at the 2:05 mark. The combination of Hachimura, LeBron and Hayes helped jumpstart this surge. LA had two opportunities to tie it, but Smart missed both threes.
With 28 seconds left, it was still a three-point game, and Jokić converted on a layup that made it a five-point game, sealing the win.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. LeBron ended with 16 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Reaves had 16 points with seven assists and five steals.
Kennard pitched in with eight points off the bench. Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points and five rebounds. Hachimura notched 16 points. Smart ended with nine points.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Indiana Pacers on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.
It’s a good thing the Islanders managed three dramatic comeback wins coming out of the Olympic break, because then they headed to southern California and played like doodoo. Actually, their starts and play in SoCal wasn’t that much different from the prior three games, just the bounces and outcomes were a little different.
They followed up a 5-1 loss in Anaheim with a 5-3 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday. For moments, I had Scott Gordon Era flashbacks, staying up late to watch depressing performances on the West Coast and questioning life choices.
However, this one also had a distinctly Patrick Roy flavor, with a very early goalie pull that provided some surrealist entertainment for the final 8:30 of the game.
Things got off to a weird start when Ilya Sorokin lost his stick in an encounter with Anze Kopitar, and no Islander bothered to sweep it back to him. Even after the Islanders cleared the zone once and the Kings had the puck at their own blueline with all five Isles skaters between them and Sorokin, no one bothered to retrieve the goal stick from the corner.
Sorokin made a couple of sterling, groin-defying saves without his stick, but then they left Artemi Panarin all alone in front, and the Russian was patient in beating his countryman (no)stick side.
This is just frustrating to see. What the hell were they doing and thinking?
In DJ Smith’s second game as interim head coach, the Kings committed two too many men penalties in the second period, one with six skaters and one with seven(!). During an in-game interview, Smith took the heat for it while noting “one by the D, one by the forwards” as too eager to get on.
But what’s the risk? The Islanders power play, rarely inspiring, was downright abysmal. The Kings had the best scoring chances on both advantages.
Meanwhile, the defense continues to be mind-boggling, too:
Speaking of which, the Kings made it 2-0 late in the second period with the Islanders coverage scrambling all over the place. Carson Soucy was bodied off the puck, did well enough (maybe?) to reach and poke the puck around the boards, but it was intercepted, and Soucy spent the intervening time complaining to the ref while covering no one.
Within a couple minutes, it was 3-0.
The Islanders would get one more power play to try to get back into the game, and while they at least gained the zone a few times — progress! — they still posed no threats.
HOWEVER…a J-G Pageau faceoff win and a Bo Horvat bullet led to the all-too-rare faceoff goal with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. Horvat put everything into the shot and whipped it in off the far post. Impressive.
The Islanders followed that up by coming out in the third with a little more pep, but Veteran Experienced Ondrej Palat took an offensive zone slashing penalty, and the Kings cashed in on the ensuing power play to make it 4-1 just 2:30 into the period.
Then Ilya Sorokin sailed a puck over the glass to put the Kings on the power play again, and it looked like we were in for more pain. But that was a failure of the imagination, because I neglected to envision the classic Pageau-Adam Pelech shorthanded 2-on-1, which Pelech finished like an opportunistic sniper to cut the lead to 4-2.
Did that make it a game again? It did not. A 3-on-2-ish from the Kings four minutes later restored the three-goal lead.
Patrick Roy pulled Sorokin for a sixth attacker with over eight minutes left, which provided some late-night entertainment at least. The Islanders mostly controlled the puck and were able to make some goal-saving blocks on Kings empty-net tries.
With 1:59 left and after a few more blocked empty-net tries, the Isles finally got one through. Matthew Schaefer’s point shot was deflected by Emil Heineman past Darcy Kuemper to make it 5-3.
That’s where things would finish, after one final empty-net block by Schaefer. Sorokin got himself a nice long rest. The Isles got zero points from their southern tour.
Up Next
The trade deadline, and then a visit to San Jose Saturday to complete the California swing.
