Category: Sports News

When Rasheer Fleming missed his second free throw in the final seconds against the San Antonio Spurs, you could not help but feel for him. Those are the moments that stick with you, especially early in a career. Those are pressure free throws, the kind you do not fully understand until you are standing there with everything on the line. At the same time, he earned that moment.

San Antonio knew what they were doing. They forced the ball into his hands and put him in that situation on purpose. They understood he is a 54% free throw shooter and played the percentages. This time, the odds went their way.

The hope is that it does not linger. Confidence is fragile for young players, and moments like that can either build you or shake you. Based on what he said after the game, it does not feel like it rattled him too much, which is a good sign.

“They both felt good. I was calm,” Fleming told Suns beat reporter Duane Ranken after the game on Friday. “The noise wasn’t affecting me. I think they were good shots. Just rolled in and out. I’ve been in that situation in college. I wasn’t feeling pressure to shoot them. I just couldn’t hit them. It’s definitely a learning experience because this is my first time it’s happened to me in the league. Just keep working on my shooting.”

“It felt good,” he added when asked about being in the game late. “I didn’t feel the need to shy away from the ball. If I’m in that situation again, I’ll be ready to shoot them again. I’m not shying away from the ball.”

That being said, it is interesting to think about what he could look like as a starting power forward. The best-case scenario coming out of Friday night is that he takes that moment, absorbs it, and builds on it. Because up until that free throw, he was having a stellar game. A highlight dunk over fellow rookie Carter Bryant, a strong defensive stand against Victor Wembanyama; it all felt like another step forward in his development.

And that is what makes this conversation so compelling right now.

We are late in the season. The runway is short. The postseason is approaching. So the question becomes, is this the time to adjust the lineup? Is this the time to shift roles? Is this the moment to give Rasheer Fleming the starting spot at power forward and move Royce O’Neale to the bench unit? It is not an easy call, but it is one worth asking.

The community has already weighed in and the response was clear. 61% voted in favor of Fleming stepping into the starting lineup for Phoenix.

And how can you blame people for voting that way? Rasheer Fleming has looked good. More than good. It feels safe to say he has exceeded expectations at this point in the season. He looks the part too, standing 6’9” with a 7’5” wingspan, which immediately gives you something this roster has been searching for. Size, length, and the ability to play that role naturally.

He brings more than that. He can space the floor, which matters in this offense, and he has the defensive tools to impact plays in a way that fits what Phoenix is trying to build. He is not trying to survive at the position; he is playing it. Jordan Ott has trusted him with real minutes, and over the last 13 games, he is averaging 18.5 minutes, 6.3 points, and 3.7 rebounds on 48/50/33 shooting splits. That free-throw number stands out, 4-of-12 since earning a consistent run, and that is an area that needs to improve.

At the same time, the shooting touch is real. When you look at his performance in March compared to the rest of his rookie class, he ranks as the second-best three-point shooter among them. That is not nothing. That is a skill that translates.

And the free-throw shooting should come around. He was a 74.3% free throw shooter in his junior year at Saint Joseph’s, which tells you the foundation is there. He needs reps, he needs rhythm, and he needs opportunity. These are all things he is starting to get now.

And this is where I differ a bit. I understand why people want Rasheer Fleming in the starting lineup, I really do, but I am not there yet. I am part of that 37% that believes Royce O’Neale should continue to hold that spot. It comes down to experience, and it comes down to timing.

What the Suns are doing with Fleming right now is the right approach. They are bringing him along, giving him real minutes, putting him in meaningful situations, and allowing him to grow without overloading him. There will be a time when he is the starting power forward. I believe that. It could be as soon as next season, and it could last for a while. I am a fan of his game and what he can become.

But right now, this moment, this stretch run, it calls for experience. Per FanDuel, this team is trending toward the seventh seed. That means Play In basketball. That means postseason intensity. That means possessions that matter more. In those moments, experience has value. Royce provides that. He spaces the floor, he understands where to be, and he is someone you can trust late in games.

He is also the trigger man. The guy inbounding the ball, organizing the action, making sure things get started clean. It might sound small, but it is not. You felt that absence in moments against San Antonio. Fleming needs reps, no question. He needs to feel pressure, like he did in that Spurs game. That is where growth happens. Keep giving him those opportunities, keep building him up. But starting is different.

He has played above expectations, and that is a great sign, but he has not taken that starting role yet. It still belongs to Royce. And while you can make the case that Fleming brings more defensively, I am not going to argue that, it is encouraging that we are even having that conversation this early in his career. His time is coming. It is simply not right now.

Stay the course. Keep developing him. Use him when needed. But lean on experience when it matters most.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

An injury-riddled Golden State Warriors squad limps into United Center to tip off against the Atlanta Hawks.

Jalen Johnson is having a monster season for Atlanta and I’ll explain why he’ll continue his tear tonight in my Warriors vs. Hawks predictions & NBA picks for Saturday, March 21.

Warriors vs Hawks prediction

Warriors vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 18.5 rebounds and assists (+100)

Nothing is going right with the Golden State Warriors this season, and with Steph Curry still sidelined, it’s looking like a write-off.

The exact opposite can be said of Jalen Johnson, who’s averaging season highs in points (22.9), rebounds (10.5), and assists (8.1) for the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks forward has recorded Over 18.5 assists and rebounds in three of his last four contests, with triple-doubles in two of those games.

Golden State ranks near the bottom of the league in rebounding (22nd) while Atlanta is averaging 91.9 field goal attempts per game (2nd), leaving plenty of boards for Johnson.

Warriors vs Hawks same-game parlay

The Warriors are bad and injured, losing nine of their last 11 games. Morale will be low, and points will be easy to come by for the Hawks stars.

Johnson has struggled offensively in his last two games but is due for a bounce back. He’s scored Over 22.5 points in four of his last seven.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been hot for the Hawks with Over 18.5 points in four straight and seven of eight.

Warriors vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dyson gets in on the fun

Dyson Daniels can surpass 10.5 points tonight as the Warriors’ defense has struggled to contain athletic wings in transition. His ability to attack off the dribble and capitalize on fast-break opportunities sets him up for a productive scoring night.

The Hawks are big favorites for a reason, but they’ll need all hands on deck in order to run up the score against the Warriors.

Atlanta has covered the spread in 10 of its last 12 games, while Golden State is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven.

Warriors vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 points
• Dyson Daniels Over 10.5 points
• Hawks -10

Warriors vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Golden State +10.5 (-110) | Atlanta -10.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Golden State +350 | Atlanta -450
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Hawks betting trend to know

Atlanta is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Hawks. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Hawks.

How to watch Warriors vs Hawks

Warriors vs Hawks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

If the biggest talking point from the Lakers current 8-game winning streak is the unrelenting brilliance of Luka Dončić as he scorches every defense in his path, the second most discussed topic is LeBron James and his buying into a “smaller role” for the benefit of the Lakers.

Listen tomost any talking headspeak about the team, and there it is: LeBron as the third option is the sort of insert-your-superaltive-here fodder that everyone is feasting on.

It’s not just coming from folks outside of the Lakers, either. Prior to the Lakers’ first game against the Rockets this week, head coach JJ Redick spoke about where LeBron’s role is now, particularly in relation to Dončić and Austin Reaves (emphasis added).

“(LeBron’s) still going to be, and still has been, a high-usage player relative to your average player,” Redick said. “The best thing for our team is him being the third-highest-used player. Obviously, there’s been stretches of the year where he’s had to do more, with injuries or guys being out of lineup. And I think finding a rhythm and a groove within the rotations and lineups when those three guys play, I think that’s been the challenge for all of them, not just LeBron, all season.”

After the Lakers’ win over the Heat, LeBron himself built on Redick’s last point about finding that elusive cohesion, noting a key reason things are where they are now is that this group is finally getting more on-court time together and the reps that come with it.

“I think for us, it’s always been about time,” LeBron said. “We haven’t really had a lot of time to actually put in the work on the floor with one another. Obviously, we had a little bit of last year but Luka was just getting to the team and trying to get comfortable with what he wanted to do. We’re all trying to get comfortable with what all three of us wanted to do.

“I start the year not in the lineup. [Reaves] had a moment where he was out. It was just trying to figure it out. Then I was out a couple weeks ago and was able to come back and see how I could best fit [with] those guys because they were playing so dynamic off one another.”

All of these comments ring true to me. But they also obscure something that is hiding right under the surface, and are sort of the unsaid and implied idea that actually make all of this possible.

Namely, that this only works this way because LeBron is a gifted and versatile enough basketball player to lean into the parts of his game that fit the style his head coach wants to play and what best works around a superstar offensive monster like Dončić and a second option like Reaves.

It’s not just that LeBron is being asked to play less of an on-ball role. It’s that he’s also supposed to be someone who can be a screener and finisher out of the pick-and-roll, be a connective passer, a shooter in spot up situations, a cutter who slides into the gaps of the defense as his teammates draw attention, a post up threat who can score in single coverage and pass when the double comes and an elite transition player.

And then on the other side of the ball, he needs to be a defender who can help all over the floor, hold up in isolation and matchup with multiple positions, be a good enough rebounder to play in center-less groups, rotate from the paint to the rim and back to the paint again, force turnovers in passing lanes and as a back-line disruptor and be an expert communicator whose voice helps organize the entire unit he’s on the floor with.

Few players can check all of those boxes at all, but even fewer can do it while also being, historically, one of the best on-ball shot creators the league has ever seen, who just so happens to be playing in his 23rd campaign in his age-41 season. It’s just not supposed to work that way.

But, here is LeBron doing exactly all that.

For example, here are the highlights from LeBron’s triple-double vs. the Heat:

Look at all the different ways he’s scoring and impacting the game. Flashing into the middle of the Heat’s zone to serve as a scorer and a passer, attacking closeouts from the corner to set up teammates for shots, serving as the hub of the offense out of the team’s Horns sets to get Luka and Reaves the ball in scoring position, running the break as a finisher and a creator.

Just an unreal level of versatility that shows an expertise in multiple parts of the game.

Of course, at this late stage of his career, LeBron isn’t perfect. His effort from play to play is not what it once was and earlier in the season, it would not be difficult to find a string of possessions on either side of the ball where he stood and watched too much and simply did not show the type of activity needed to be a positive contributor in those moments.

Those were the stretches that had analysts and fans alike wondering whether the Lakers were better without LeBron and if this should be his last season…and not just with the Lakers.

With how he’s playing now, though, those sorts of thoughts look totally misguided. Because LeBron isn’t just showing that he still has enough juice to play well and put up counting stats, but that he has the intellect and versatility to impact winning.

I struggle to think of any other player in league history who could claim to make this sort of transition, much less tap into these different aspects of their game on any given possession to give the team exactly what it needs at that time.

Which, I think, is actually the bigger and more impressive point to be made.

We have all seen the evolution of players who could play for extended periods. I think of players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant who added to their respective games year after year, turning weaknesses into reliable weapons and showing an ability to adapt with age to whatever new circumstances were presented to them.

LeBron fits into this mold too, incorporating post-ups and 3-point shooting into his arsenal over the years to combat any and all defensive coverages.

But LeBron hasn’t just evolved with time. He’s shown an incredible ability to shape-shift and be whatever his team needs him to be. And not just game to game, but from shift to shift and possession to possession.

In the Lakers second win against the Rockets, LeBron began the game knocking down a spot up three on a play designed specifically to get him that shot, in the same game he had six dunks while dominating in transition and working out of the post. At the same time, he had multiple defensive possessions switching between Amen Thompson, Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant — and getting stops on all of them. He flashed similar versatility against the Nuggets recently, defending Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, all while working offensively from a multitude of spots on the court.

And he’s done stuff like this his entire career. Back in 2011 when he was with the Heat, LeBron famously switched onto Derrick Rose defensively in a matchup with the Bulls in the playoffs to help Miami swing the series in their favor. Less than a year later, I remember LeBron expertly fronting Pau Gasol to deny him the ball in a regular season game to shut down a player who was, at the time, one of the best post-up bigs in the entire league.

Over a decade later, LeBron is still flexing all the different parts of his game to help his team win. And, no, he might not be the main guy he was back then with the Heat. Just like he’s not the same main guy he was with the Lakers just a couple of seasons ago.

But I’d argue that makes what he’s doing now even more impressive. It’s not just that he’s passed the reins to someone else or taken on a lower usage role. It’s that he’s done so while also turning up other aspects of his game that allow him to maintain a baseline level of production while also clearly contributing to winning.

This just isn’t something that we’ve seen in the history of the NBA, and, honestly, I wonder if we’ll ever see it in this exact way ever again.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

SAN REMO, Italy (AP) — Bloodied, bruised and battered Tadej Pogacar finally won the Milan-San Remo race.

Pogacar recovered from a crash about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the finish to edge out Tom Pidcock on the line and win the race known as La Classicissima for the first time on Sarurday.

“When I crashed, for a second I thought it’s all over because to crash in Imperia just before the most important part of the race is not ideal,” said Pogacar, who rides for UAE Team Emirates. "But luckily I was quickly back on the bike and not too much damage to me or to the bike.

“Then I saw my team ... they left out everything to come back to the front and they gave me back hope and the legs were still okay ... today if there is no team probably I would just go straight to the finish line.”

Milan-San Remo is one of the longest one-day classics in Europe at almost 300 kilometers (186 miles), and the first of the season.

It was one of the few titles that still eluded Pogacar, the five-time Grand Tour winner, and the Slovenian admitted several times to being desperate to change that.

Pogacar’s chances appeared to diminish when he was caught up in the crash that shredded the left side of his shorts and left him with scrapes and cuts on his leg.

Last year’s winner Mathieu van der Poel also went down but the duo managed to get back onto the back of the peloton at the start of the penultimate Cipressa climb.

Pogacar worked his way to the front, stuck with an initial attack and then attacked himself towards the top, with only Pidcock and van der Poel able to follow.

The trio had a gap of 25 seconds at the top although that was down to 11 seconds as they began the Poggio climb shortly before the finish.

Pogacar attacked halfway up and managed to drop van der Poel. He tried several times to shake Pidcock but couldn’t distance him and they were locked together as they crested the summit.

Little could separate the duo on the descent. Pogacar opened up the sprint 200 meters from the line and beat Pidcock by half a wheel.

“Honestly, I need time to reflect because right now I’m pretty disappointed because it hurts to be so close,” Pidcock said. "I was told it’s four centimeters.

"Tadej, he’s the best cyclist ever, so I can’t be disappointed but I can’t help it ... It was so close to a monument win. But I need to look at it from a wider perspective. Because I think what I did was quite amazing, I’m quite proud."

Wout Van Aert, who was also caught up in the crash, won a bunch sprint for third.

“I have to say I saw him (Pogacar) next to me on the ground when we crashed and then the next moment I saw him again was after the finish, so I have no clue what he has been doing, but it must have been impressive because it was quite a hard crash and he still managed to get in the front like that,” Van Aert said.

Five-way sprint in women's race

Lotte Kopecky edged Noemi Rüegg and Eleonora Gasparrini in a sprint of five to win the women’s race.

The race was marked by a horrific-looking crash on the descent of the Cipressa.

Several riders were caught up in the incident; Italian Debora Silvestri flew over a guardrail as she tried to avoid the pileup.

Silvestri’s team, Laboral Kutxa, said she was conscious as she was taken to hospital.

The women’s race followed a 156-kilometer (97-mile) route from Genoa to San Remo.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Two teams on different trajectories intersect Saturday, when the Indiana Pacers visit the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs are on a 4-game win streak and trying to chase down the top seed in the West, while Indy has dropped 15 straight and is firmly entrenched in the battle for the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

While Miami has dominated this head-to-head series, my Pacers vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks have this one in a more defensive battle, where I will target the total.

Pacers vs Spurs prediction

Pacers vs Spurs best bet: Under 233 points (-110)

The Indiana Pacers are 18.5-point underdogs, but weirdly enough, they still compete. Of their 15 straight losses, just five have been by 20+ points.

Their injury list is long, with Ivica Zubac (rib) and Micah Potter (triceps) out and Pascal Siakam (knee) and Andrew Nembhard (knee) headlining a list of seven players listed as questionable.

The San Antonio Spurs have allowed just 105.3 points over their 4-game win streak, with opponents shooting just 42.9% from the field.

Indy will struggle against one of the NBA's premier defenses, who have cashed the Under in three of its last four.

Pacers vs Spurs same-game parlay

Victor Wembanyama has just a single block in each of the last two games, but he's yet to go three straight without picking up at least two. He's swatted at least three shots in 11 of his last 15 games and has also grabbed 12 boards or more in three of his last four games.

Pacers vs Spurs SGP

• Under 233 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 blocks
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby!

Wemby is coming off a 34-point game against the Suns, and he's gone for 26+ in six of the last eight; those two Unders came during this current 4-game win streak.

I've targeted his 3-point prop because he's been around this number for a while. Wembanyama has hit the Over four times in his last eight, but he's missed the Over by a single triple in each of the other four games.

Pacers vs Spurs SGP

• Under 233 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 blocks
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Under 25.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 made threes

Pacers vs Spurs odds

• Spread: Pacers +17.5 (-110) | Spurs -17.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pacers +1000 | Spurs -2000
• Over/Under: Over 233.5 (-110) | Under 233.5 (-110)

Pacers vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Pacers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Spurs.

How to watch Pacers vs Spurs

Pacers vs Spurs latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ four-game losing streak has deflated some of their postseason optimism, and that raises the stakes ahead of tonight’s visit to the Dallas Mavericks.

While this looks like a decent bounce-back spot for L.A., my Clippers vs. Mavericks predictions aren't sleeping on Cooper Flagg, who’s getting quality reps as a No. 1 option.

Get the lowdown on this battle with my free NBA picks for Saturday, March 21.

Clippers vs Mavericks prediction

Clippers vs Mavericks best bet: Cooper Flagg Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)

Cooper Flagg has fallen behind Kon Knueppel in the Rookie of the Year race, but he’s poised to finish strong for the Dallas Mavericks.

With the keys to the offense and great size on the boards, Flagg has eclipsed this combo O/U number in three of his last four games.

His scoring will be the driver for this Over, and that’s a nice volume play. Flagg has taken 17+ shots in 12 of his last 17 games, and he’s averaging 22.5 points per game in his past four outings.

Even if Kawhi Leonard returns for the Los Angeles Clippers, Flagg can still stuff the stat sheet.

Clippers vs Mavericks same-game parlay

With the Clippers trying to improve their play-in seeding and the Mavs seemingly content to pile up losses, I’m taking the visitors’ moneyline here — and wagering on their role players to show up.

Kris Dunn has strung together four straight contests with at least one 3-pointer, while John Collins has cashed this rebounding Over in four of his past five games.

Clippers vs Mavericks SGP

• Clippers moneyline
• Kris Dunn Over 0.5 threes
• John Collins Over 6.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: P.J. Max

This SGP turns to two of Dallas’ steadiest role players, with a focus on P.J. Washington, who’s averaging 18.3 ppg and 9.3 rebounds per game in his last four starts.

Meanwhile, Max Christie has hit the Over on this points prop in four of his past five contests.

Clippers vs Mavericks SGP

• P.J. Washington Over 13.5 points
• P.J. Washington Over 6.5 rebounds
• P.J. Washington Over 1.5 assists
• Max Christie Over 11.5 points

Clippers vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Clippers -7 (-110) | Mavericks +7 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clippers -280 | Mavericks +230
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Clippers vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Over has been a winning ticket in six of the last nine meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Clippers vs Mavericks

Clippers vs Mavericks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.