This isn’t new for Jaxson Hayes.

It was only last year when Hayes, now the Los Angeles Lakers’ backup center, was the team’s full-time starting big man after the franchise traded Anthony Davis to the Mavericks for current franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić. 

And with the trade for Mark Williams that was rescinded, Hayes received the most significant playing time for the best team he had been on up to that point of his career.

He delivered, for the most part. 

Which is why, along with his improvements from the end of last season through three-fourths of this season, the Lakers have confidence in him if they need to rely on him more in light of starting center Deandre Ayton being day to day with left knee soreness. 

“Jaxson’s had a really good season,” coach JJ Redick said. “And I know [this because] I played with him his first two years — he’s a better basketball player. He’s gotten better. He’s making touch shots around the rim. He’s making great pocket decisions. 

“He’s a good basketball player. He consistently injects energy into the group when he runs the floor, blocks a shot or he gets those dunks.”

Ayton’s status for Sunday’s home game against the Knicks wasn’t known as of Saturday afternoon.

The 7-foot Ayton, who has started in all 54 games he’s played this season, sat out of Friday’s home win over the Pacers after being limited to 4-and-a-half minutes in Thursday’s road loss to the Nuggets.

But if Hayes, 25, needs to play more against the Knicks, like he did against the Nuggets or Pacers, the Lakers know he’ll be up to the task.

“We have the utmost confidence in Jaxson,” LeBron James said. 

Hayes had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 27 minutes against the Nuggets. He finished with nine points and four rebounds in 25 minutes against the Pacers. 

When asked to play more minutes as a starter, he’s stepped up, with averages of 11.4 points (81.6% shooting), 4.5 rebounds and two assists in the eight games he’s started, with the Lakers going 6-2 in those games.

“That’s my job,” Hayes said. “That’s what they pay me to do is stay ready. Even if I wasn’t in the rotation, they pay me to stay ready. That’s all NBA players’ job is just stay ready and get better every day. I’m gonna just do whatever the team needs me to do.”

Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, is considered a more talented player than Hayes. And there are several areas — such as 1-on-1 scoring, midrange shooting and defensive rebounding — that Ayton is better at than Hayes.

But there are some areas in which Hayes excels, making him more equipped to help the Lakers against a Knicks team that’s won 16 of its last 21 games.

Hayes has been just as good, if not better, as an interior defender over the course of the season. 

He’s a more forceful roller out of the pick and roll, which will be especially important Sunday if the Knicks hedge and recover on pick and rolls with Doncic as the ball handler like they did significantly in the Feb. 1 matchup at Madison Square Garden, which the Knicks won 112–100.

Hard rolls from an athletic center who can provide vertical spacing opens up lob opportunities, which Doncic is one of the best at delivering.

“Him and Luka have a really good connection right now,” Luke Kennard said. “They’re playing really well and playing off each other.”

Factor in Hayes’ improved playmaking out of the short roll and the Knicks will have to ensure they don’t give Hayes too much of a runway while also trying to contain Dončić. 

“I love playing with Jaxson,” Dončić said. “This year, his improvement is unbelievable. He understands, I think this year even more, how to play with me. We’ve been working on that. So playing with him is very special for me.”

Hayes arguably had a career year last season.

And he’s following it up with another one. 

“Maturity, the way he approaches the game day to day,” Austin Reaves said in the ways Hayes has grown the most. “He does what he needs to do in his off time around the gym, gets his work in, takes care of his body and then just the preparation that he puts into it, you can tell he’s grown in those aspects, and that’s just made him a better player. 

“We can probably all agree that this is some of the best basketball he’s played in his career. I’m happy for him. We need him to continue to do that. He’s a big part of what we’re going to do.”

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Going into the week, there was some uncertainty revolving around the Phoenix Suns’ starting wings as Dillon Brooks remains out. With Devin Booker returning from injury, Jalen Green or Ryan Dunn was destined for the bench. Jordan Ott and his coaching staff decided with keeping Green in the starting lineup and bringing Dunn of the bench, but fans think Green should be starting games with the second unit.

Considering how inconsistent Green has been on offense and his lack of size, I’m not surprised that nearly two-thirds of fans want him to come off the bench. He’s had two of his strongest games this season this week, with his 20-point, 44% shooting game against the Kings, and 25-point, 47% shooting performance playing the Pelicans on Friday, but he had another inefficient game Thursday, when the got upset against the Bulls, and he shot 25% from the field on 20 shots.

The fifth-year guard has had a hard time adjusting to the Suns’ offense as he’s been working back from his hamstring injury. His inefficient three-point shooting (Green is shooting a career-low 27% of his threes) has hindered the team’s deep shooting. When Green is playing, the Suns are shooting 34.8% from three, when he’s not, they’re shooting 36.3% from behind the arc.

Yes, the Suns have still been winning games of late. While they dropped a game they were more than 10 point favorites in to the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix has won three of four, and are still firmly in the race to finish with a top-six seed.

According to FanDuel, the Suns’ Win/Loss total is set at 45.5, meaning their line is 9.5 games more than the amount they won a season ago.

While it may not be a longterm solution, Green coming off the bench could give him more of an opportunity to utilize his playmaking abilities. He’d assuredly be spending less time playing alongside Devin Booker, Phoenix’s lead playmaker, so Green would have more opportunity to do what he’s best at, alongside Grayson Allen, who is making the most threes per game of his career by more than half a triple per game. Green clearly needs more room to operate as he continues to work his way back from his long absence.

Additionally, with Mark Williams out for the next few weeks, adding Green to the bench would not be disrupting any bench chemistry, as Oso Ighodaro has moved to the team’s starting center with Williams sidelined. The second unit is already dealing with change.

Did the fans get this one right? You decide.

Before a single possession takes place on the court, the Toronto Raptors are already expected to beat the Dallas Mavericks at home on Sunday. 

At least that’s what the Raptors fan base believes, especially after being held hostage by exceeded expectations and a timeline that’s regrettably ahead of schedule. 

Simply put – the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise isn’t very good against competitive teams. 

Fine then. 

But that means the Raptors can’t drop games against the bottom dwellers of the league. Their fragile lead over the play-in team is in danger of slipping away. With the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets awaiting them later this month, the Raptors desperately need to take care of business against lower-ranked teams.

That begins with defending home court against the Mavericks, even if Cooper Flagg overcomes his questionable tag before the 6:00 p.m. EST tip-off on Sportsnet.

The last time the Raptors dropped a game to a team below .500 was in a 121-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 16. Former fun guy Kawhi Leonard sat the game out with a right ankle sprain, but James Harden bullied the Raptors defence and finished with 31 points and 10 assists. When adjusting the bar to a slightly lower level, the Raptors haven’t lost to an opponent currently in a playoff or play-in spot since falling 138-117 to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 26. 

Since their last meaningful victory over a playoff staple – a 103-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder back on Jan. 25 – the Raptors have struggled mightily in the second half. Toronto is 3-5 in the third and fourth quarters against playoff teams during this stretch. Often, it’s a disastrous third quarter that leads to a comfortable final frame for the opponent, or it’s a Raptors meltdown in back-end of the fourth quarter. 

For most supporters who have followed the team this season, it’s a script that’s repetitive in the worst possible way. It feels like the Raptors are destined to lose in the opening round of the post-season. It’s like Toronto is on a collision course that can be seen before the car leaves the driveway. 

But despite the doom and gloom, there’s still basketball to be played, and the Raptors aren’t necessarily firing on all cylinders (yet).

Centre Jakob Poeltl’s minutes are back to where they should be. The Austrian big man is averaging 27.4 minutes in his last five games. However, there’s still ample room for improvement. Poeltl is often good for a double-double in roughly half the games he appears in. Still, he only has one double-double in seven games since returning from injury on Feb. 11. With Collin Murray-Boyles already ruled out due to a thumb sprain, it’s imperative that Poeltl quickly works his way back to full strength. The rookie performed admirably in the veteran’s presence, and Poeltl returning the favour would go a long way in sustaining the Raptors’ lifeline. 

With Brandon Ingram listed as questionable, it’s important for Scottie Barnes to summon the aggression he showcased earlier in the 2025-26 campaign. Barnes’ February numbers (and his two-game sample size in March) are down across the board in comparison to his season averages. His three-point shooting is the most glaring downward spiral, but that’s been a concern since early January. The bigger red flag is the rebounding totals. Since the All-Star break, Barnes has averaged 3.3 rebounds against playoff teams. That’s a drastic dip from the eight boards he averages on the season. Understandably, it’s also affecting his assist numbers since he’s initiating fewer breakouts. 

Historically, Barnes is the type of player that goes as his team does. The best version of Barnes have arguably come during his rookie season, when he was surrounded by championship-level auxiliary players, and earlier this year when the Raptors were one of the hottest teams in the NBA. But when the Raptors struggle, Barnes does as well. If he can eventually tap into a state where he can consistently will Toronto to victories, it’ll help the team stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race. 

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Iran’s soccer team lost its last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.

The Iranian women’s squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the U.S. and Israel Feb. 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually depart within days.

Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0 loss to Australia last Thursday and a 2-0 loss to Philippines on Sunday.

Amid concerns for player welfare following reported criticism in the Iranian media, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in Australia.

It launched an online petition, which had more than 50,000 electronic signatures before kick-off Sunday, urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain” and also to provide independent legal advice, support and interpreters.

Iran team management and players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home during more than a week preparing for and playing games on Australia’s Gold Coast, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference last Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.

The online petition asked local authorities to ensure any player seeking protection “can do so safely, privately, and without interference” and to “make clear that Australia will uphold its … humanitarian protection obligations in relation to any player at risk of persecution or serious harm.

“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position," it said. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on whether the Australian government had made contact with individuals but told domestic media Australia stood in solidarity with the Iranian women's team.

“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia, and (Australia's women's team) swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. “We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women.”

Iranian Australian activist Tina Kordrostami, a local government member in Sydney’s Ryde Council, told The Australian newspaper the Iranian players “need an opportunity, a safe space, a chance to actually speak up about what their needs are and what their ­requirements are.”

“We can’t give them that space without the government helping us,” she said.

The Iranian women's team needed to beat Philippines on Sunday to maintain any chance of advancing to the Asian Cup quarterfinals, which would have extended its stay in Australia for more than another week, but conceded goals to Sara Eggesvik in the 29th minute and Chandler McDaniel in the 82nd in a tough loss in wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Per a Spurs press release:

The San Antonio Spurs announced plans for their Barbie game day, presented by Trü Frü, taking place on Sunday, March 8 as the Spurs host the Houston Rockets, tipping off at 7 p.m. This theme night is part of the Spurs month-long celebration of Women’s History Month with the organization’s 2026 theme being “Give and Gain,” and will feature a $40,000 donation and in-game “Leaders and Legacies” spotlight, special jersey ticket package and more. 

The Spurs Barbie Game Day jersey and fanny pack are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prio to the game, the Spurs will host a special meet and greet with Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle. The entirety of the game will feature an all-female cast with Ashley and Valerie leading the night in-arena, while music throughout the game will be curated by both DJ Sweetbeatz and DJ Catwalk.

In addition, the Spurs are distributing $40,000 in grants to five female operated local organizations whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact across the San Antonio community.

Fans can text HER to 210-444-5940 to learn more about the Barbie Game Day festivities and secure their exclusive jersey ticket package.

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Nearly all of men's college basketball is through with the regular season, and only conference tournaments await before March Madness is fully underway.

Thirty-one automatic bids will be awarded over the next week via conference tournament winners. Another 37 at-large bids are up for grabs, although numerous teams are virtual locks for the NCAA Tournament already.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bubble watch: Pressure builds in final week of regular season

Will there be any bid stealers in 2026? Conference tournaments provide bubble teams with one final chance to boost their resumes prior to sweating out Selection Sunday.

Here's a look at the latest NCAA Tournament projections heading into conference tournament week in men's college basketball:

March Madness bracket bubble watch tracker

Based on games through Saturday, March 7

NCAA Tournament locks

• ACC (6): Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Miami, Clemson
• Big 12 (6): Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech, Brigham Young
• Big Ten (8): Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, UCLA
• SEC (7): Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia
• Big East (3): UConn, St. John's, Villanova
• Other (3): Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, Saint Louis

Each team on the locks list has a 99.9% chance or better to reach the NCAA Tournament, per Torvik's "TourneyCast."

Wisconsin has risen into lock territory after a strong February saw the Badgers finish 4-3 with a pair of top-10 wins over Illinois and Michigan State. Although Kentucky has lost four of its last six games, its ranked wins over Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas and St. John's is enough for a bid.

Saint Mary's will compete with Gonzaga for the WCC title, but defeated the Bulldogs on Feb. 28 and has a 27-4 record this season. That resume alone is enough to be a lock for the tournament.

NCAA Tournament likely ins

• ACC (1): NC State
• Big 12 (2): TCU, UCF
• Big Ten(1): Ohio State
• SEC (3): Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri
• Big East: N/A
• Other (1): Utah State

This late in the season, most teams are either NCAA tournament locks or bubble teams — hence the short list of teams as "likely ins." It would take disaster for most, if not all, of these teams to not reach the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament. However, the chance is still there for a meltdown.

Each team listed as a likely-in program has a 70% chance or higher to earn an at-large bid, per "TourneyCast."

NCAA Tournament bubble teams

• ACC (4): Southern Methodist, Virginia Tech, California, Stanford, Southern California
• Big 12 (3): Cincinnati, Arizona State, West Virginia
• Big Ten (1): Indiana
• SEC (2): Auburn, Oklahoma
• Big East (1): Seton Hall
• Other (5): Miami (Ohio), San Diego State, Santa Clara, VCU, New Mexico

Miami (Ohio) still hasn't lost this season, but will only feel comfortable heading into Selection Sunday if it wins the MAC tournament. The RedHawks rank No. 53 in the NCAA's Net Rankings and haven't played any Quad 1 games, which will make it tough to earn an at-large bid should they lose the MAC tournament.

San Diego State, Santa Clara, VCU and New Mexico are in a similar boat as non-Power conference teams. Santa Clara likely has the best chance of earning an at-large bid, although its chances of winning the WCC are slim over Saint Mary's and Gonzaga.

Auburn has seen its chances plummet in recent weeks, losing eight of its last 10 games under first-year coach Steven Pearl. Oklahoma has since its chances go from zero to slim during Auburn's fall, with wins in five of its last seven games. The Sooners would need to make quite the run at the SEC tournament to have an at-large shot.

The ACC tournament will also be interesting, as five teams are fighting for their lives on the bubble. Perhaps whichever teams do the most at the conference tournament will earn the NCAA Tournament nods.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket tracker: Men's NCAA Tournament locks, bubble teams