Less than two years after a historically awful 14-68 season, the Pistons are now the #1 team in the league.

It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest turnarounds in league history, but many are still questioning their place among basketball’s elite. Now that we have 60 games worth of sample, there should be more than enough data to see just how good Detroit is, and where they place in the East’s hierarchy.

Let’s start with their fundamentals.

The Pistons’ style has remained the same

Detroit hasn’t changed their style: they’ve simply improved on their strengths and limited their weaknesses. The Pistons are attempting 36.6% of their shots around the rim this season (3rd league-wide) compared to 33.2% last year, and have improved their efficiency from 65.9% to 66.7% while doing so. On top of that, Detroit has decreased the number of threes they take. The Pistons’ poor spacing has resulted in opponents benefiting when they bomb from deep, so they’ve cut down their 3-point frequency from 36.1% to 31.9%. Given that Detroit’s making just 34.9% of their attempts (22nd league-wide), I’d consider that a win.

With the Pistons being a medi0cre halfcourt offense, they’ve also prioritized running more, as their transition frequency has increased from 17% to 18% (3rd league-wide). That may not sound like a big change, but it directly impacts the number of half-court possessions they have too, which has decreased from 76.9% to just 75.5% this year (lowest league-wide). These subtle but important changes add up quickly, and it’s helped Detroit sport a top-10 offensive rating (117.6) when it was just 16th last season (115.1).

Duren’s leap has been Detroit’s most important development

Of course, the biggest improvements have come from their stars. Jalen Duren, specifically, has taken an All-Star leap that has given Detroit a second cornerstone piece to build around. Duren has increased his scoring from 11.8 to 18.5 points per game while maintaining good efficiency, although his true shooting has dropped from 70.3% to 66.9%. Still, that’s a worthwhile tradeoff given his usage has gone from 16.1% to 20.8%, which is in the 84th percentile amongst all big men. Importantly, Duren’s isolations have more than doubled from last season and he’s averaging 1.08 points on such plays, which is also in the 84th percentile in the entire league. These plays only occur on 9% of possessions (outside the top 80 league-wide), but it does give Detroit a last-ditch option if needed, while also taking some offensive burden off Cade.

Duren’s self-created shots mostly come in the mid-range, an area where he is shooting a respectable 49%. He’s also taking 31% of his shots from that area, which is a 13% increase from last season.

Defensively, Duren’s rim protection has improved drastically. Opponents have gone from shooting 62.9% within 6 feet of the basket last season to just 58.8% this year, with the latter number being 5.3% lower than the opponents’ expected field goal percentage. It’s not elite by any means, but Duren has now turned himself into a good defensive centre when he was a liability in previous seasons.

The biggest defensive improvement Duren’s made is his positioning and decision-making. He’s averaging the lowest foul rate of his career and now puts himself in the right spots to contest shots. In the first clip below, Duren goes straight up to avoid contact and reacts mid-air to switch arms and block the layup attempt. Then, in the second clip, he helps cover for the driver at the last second, so that McCain can’t easily dump it down to Drummond.

Defense has been Detroit’s calling card

The Pistons are currently the #2 ranked defense with a 109.1 DRTG that’s “only” 1.7 points behind OKC. Considering how far ahead the Thunder’s defense was to start the season, it’s impressive that Detroit is within striking distance, and the difference between the Pistons’ 109.1 DRTG and the third-ranked Spurs at 111.4 is the difference between San Antonio and 9th-ranked Phoenix (113.7).

In fact, Detroit has had the best defense league-wide since late November, with rim protection being their biggest strength. Opponents are only shooting 62.9% overall within 4 feet of the basket, which is the fourth-lowest mark in the league. More importantly, the Pistons are also allowing just 27.7% of opponent shots to come in that area, which is the third-fewest mark league-wide too. The combination of both limiting the quantity and quality of attempts in the most dangerous offensive area gives Detroit an extremely high defensive floor, but they’ve also been somewhat lucky as well.

Due to their emphasis on rim protection, the Pistons are conceding 39.1% of all opponent shots to come from three — the 11th highest mark in the league. Fortunately, teams have made just 34.8% of those attempts, which is the fourth-lowest mark this season. Given that the league average three-point percent is 36.1%, Detroit might be due for some regression, but their fundamentals are so sound that their floor is still a top 3 defense, with OKC being the only team that’s definitively better.

The same can’t be said about their offense…

It’s a different story on offense. The Pistons have a 120.1 ORTG with Cade playing — equivalent to Boston’s 3rd ranked offense — but that drops to an abysmal 112.1 when he’s off, which would rank 26th league-wide. Even with Duren’s improvements, Detroit lacks a reliable second creator behind Cade, although they’re still a +3.0 in those minutes due to their elite defense.

Nothing about their playstyle changes when Cade sits. Detroit has just become so reliant on him that they can’t generate efficient shots when he’s not at the helm, and it also takes away one of their most reliable offensive sets: the pick and roll between Cade and Duren. Cade is second only to Luka in the entire league in P&Rs run per game, scoring a robust 0.95 points on such possessions (73rd percentile). Duren benefits even more, as he also ranks in the top 20 in rolls per game while scoring an absurd 1.38 points on those plays (86th percentile). Without their offensive fulcrum, the Pistons are simply lost on offense. They don’t have a secondary ballhandler good enough to be a caricature of Cade, and they also lack a deadeye shooter to run motion sets for.

Still, I would consider Detroit to be the clear favorite to come out of a flawed East, mainly due to how they match up with the other contenders. The Pistons have beaten the Knicks by 84 points in three games this season and also possess the Cavs’ achilles heal: size and physicality in the frontcourt. Boston is the real wildcard amongst the East’s elite given Tatum’s potential return, but until that happens, Detroit is the safest bet.

If the Pistons do make it to the finals, though, I can’t see them beating whichever juggernaut comes out of the West. I believe that all three of OKC, Denver, and San Antonio are better than Detroit, and the West team should be clear favorites in the finals regardless of the matchup. Even so, this season will go down as a resounding success for the Pistons, and they have enough assets to acquire help in the offseason to come back even better next year.

This week, please check out Marilyn’srecap of the Spurs’ past week! San Antonio could legitimately win the title this year, and the league is coming to grips with that.

Thanks for reading!

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass and NBA Stats.

Even with Giannis returning and the Boston Celtics being without Jaylen Brown, the Milwaukee Bucks dropped their third straight game, losing in ugly fashion, 108-81. It’s the second straight game that the Celtics have held the Bucks to 81 or fewer points, after Milwaukee scored 79 on February 1 in Boston. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Giannis Antetokounmpo

25 minutes, 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 block, 7/18 FG, 2/5 FT, -8

Despite some rust, there were some vintage Giannis moments, displaying his usual aggressiveness in the paint. Maybe just leave the mid-range jumpers off the shot diet moving forward. 

Grade: B-

Kevin Porter Jr.

31 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 3/6 FG, -8

The Celtics did a great job of forcing KPJ into contested looks. After starting the game 3/4 from the field, with a layup and dunk in there, Boston made him take just two shots for the rest of the game.  

Grade: C-

AJ Green

18 minutes, 0 points, 4 rebounds, 0/3 3P, -4

The seven games since the All-Star break haven’t been very good for Green. He’s averaging a paltry 6.6 PPG (well below his season average of 10.3) and is shooting 31.8% from three-point territory. Tonight was another example of the opposition going out of its way to prevent Green from shooting, with Sam Hauser even swatting one away. 

Grade: F

Ousmane Dieng

30 minutes, 13 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 5/10 FG, 3/7 3P, -8

Dieng’s second start in a Bucks uniform was a bit of a shock, but there were things to like. He displayed an ability to play off of Giannis and convert from deep, while also not letting up on defence; that’s the 3-and-D archetype he has to fit into moving forward. That said, Dieng had a few ill-timed shots and didn’t break the paint all that often. 

Grade: B-

Myles Turner

18 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1/6 3P, -6

It was another rough outing for Turner. He couldn’t buy a three in the first quarter, and just looked overmatched when the Celtics went small. Many of the Bucks’ best runs came when he was off. 

Grade: D-

Ryan Rollins

24 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2/11 FG, 1/5 3P, -23

There might have been a reason why Doc chose Rollins as the one who got benched in favor of Dieng. He looked dreadful on both ends, and Doc was visibly upset with some of the shots he was taking. After averaging 20+ PPG in February, he’s off to a bad start in March.

Grade: F

Bobby Portis

23 minutes, 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 4/7 FG, 3/4 3P, -21

Bobby’s defensive issues reared their ugly head, and he couldn’t out-rebound some of the smaller Boston players. Portis continued to space the floor, but man, the other side of the ball was a train wreck.

Grade: C-

Cam Thomas

11 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 0/3 FG, 2/2 FT, -18

The Bucks opted not to convert Pete Nance for this? Doc admitted that if Thomas is not scoring, he’s not really going to be out there—last night was proof of that. 

Grade: F

Jericho Sims

22 minutes, 3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1/1 FG, 1/2 FT, -13

The only Buck besides Giannis who seemed to have a pulse on the glass. Sims looked solid on both ends of the floor and has really played well these last few weeks after a poor stretch before that. 

Grade: C+

Pete Nance

15 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2/2 3P, -4

Welcome back to the rotation, Pete! He was a good floor spacer and showed why he should be in the mix moving forward. The Bucks need all the shooting and length they can get. 

Grade: B

Gary Harris

13 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 2/4 3P, -15

With Kyle Kuzma inexplicably out of the rotation, Doc opened the door to Harris. That door should be shut moving forward. Before garbage time, Harris played 7:52 and was a -18. Need I say more?

Grade: F

Doc Rivers

Doc had a rough night. I thought the idea to start Dieng was solid, but the rest of the rotations just made no sense (Kuzma’s DNP-CD being the best example of that). Doc also brought up the offense getting stagnant again. Listen, I know it’s up to the players to execute the plays, but the coach is responsible for creating them. Van talked about Doc’s glaring flaws in his article, and everything he wrote rang true last night.

Grade: D

Garbage Time: Andre Jackson Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo

DNP-CD: Kyle Kuzma

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan

Bonus Bucks Bits

• After his first game back, Giannis talked at length about how this rehab stint was different for him and how he had to approach mentally as well as physically. He also said he doesn’t feel like he’s playing at a deficit anymore:

“I have a lot of smart people around me who tell me the truth, tell me what to do. At the end of the day, I’ve been in this position in life by fighting through things, and I just listen to my gut, and I fight through adversity. Sometimes that’s smart, sometimes that’s not smart. Things I was able to do in the past, maybe I can’t do no more. I just got to be smarter, I’m not old, I’m older for sure. I’m not 24 years old no more. I’ve been dealing with a lot of soft tissue injuries, and if you’re not able to take care of them, they can linger, and I think that’s what happened this year. I feel like I’ve been playing the whole year at a deficit, but now this is the first time where I have a little bit in my tank, that I’m not risking anything, so I’m happy that I’m here.”

• Doc had mentioned pre-game that now that Giannis is back, they have to figure out what pieces to put out there when he’s not on the floor. It’s safe to say that wasn’t achieved; after Giannis subbed out with 6:13 left in the first quarter, the Bucks went from down two to down 17 by the time he checked back in. They did get better in the non-Giannis stretches throughout the rest of the game, but were starting so far behind the eight ball that it didn’t even matter. 
• Once again, the Bucks lost the numbers battle. They were outshot by 21 (95-74), lost the turnover battle (16-10), and were out-rebounded 63-47. On the offensive glass alone, it was a 19-9 Celtics advantage. 
• Bobby Portis was asked about why the Bucks have turned so sharply from a team that won eight out of 10 to a team that’s lost the last three games by a combined 79 points: 

“We’re just playing better teams, kind of fool’s gold, for real. We won eight out of 10, playing against teams that are trying to lose. (Now we’re) playing for teams that are jockeying for position (in the playoffs). We used to be in that position too, jockeying for position, you got games on your schedule you can’t lose. Guys are circling us as the can’t lose team, so they’re coming in trying to win that game. Credit the other team for locking in and getting a dub.” 

• Doc said the decision not to play Kuzma was a coach’s decision. Per Keith Smith, this is the first DNP-CD of Kuzma’s nine-year career.

Up Next

The Bucks will get their first look at Jonathan Kuminga in his new threads, as the Atlanta Hawks make their way to Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night for an 8:30 p.m. Central tip-off. Catch the game on ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin. 

The Detroit Pistons are entering the final stretch of their schedule, and while their position as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference has never been more secure, the doubts about the playoff viability of this team only seem to be growing. It is rare that you see any article about the Pistons, about contenders, or about threats, and you don’t see folks handwaving Detroit’s chances in the playoffs. Whether that is a first-round upset at the hands of a new NBA darling (and legitimately dangerous team), the Hornets, a second-round upset via the new-look Cavs, or an Eastern Conference Finals loss at the hands of the big-market Celtics or Knicks. Let’s sort through the noise and dive into the latest trends.

1. Shooting

How many teams in today’s NBA could start a game 0-for-15 from three and still win comfortably? Maybe one or two, and it includes Detroit.

The Pistons are succeeding in a way many believed was extinct. While the league loads up on shooting and spacing, Detroit continues to score in gritty, physical ways — and more importantly, prevent points on the other end.

The tradeoff, of course, is perimeter shooting. Detroit’s identity is built around the rim, and that comes at a cost. After hovering around league average for much of the season, the Pistons now rank 26th in three-point percentage. Over their last four games, they’ve gone 32-for-126 (25.4%) from deep — and still won three of four.

That’s impressive. It’s also not sustainable through multiple playoff series.

As postseason defenses tighten and points at the rim become harder to manufacture, the question becomes unavoidable: Does Detroit have enough shot-making to survive when it matters most?

2. Is Duren a true No. 2?

Championship teams almost always share one trait: at least two All-Star–level players. Detroit has dominated the Eastern Conference largely with a collective approach behind Cunningham, but Jalen Duren is beginning to test whether that hierarchy needs redefining.

Over the past stretch, Duren has shown real flashes of being a legitimate second option. Before last night’s win in Orlando, he led the Pistons in scoring for four straight games, averaging 28.3 points, all alongside Cunningham. That’s not empty production — that’s shared offensive responsibility.

We saw how defenses sold out to stop Cunningham in last year’s playoffs, and he’ll be an even bigger focal point this time around. If Duren can consistently punish that attention — not just as a finisher, but as someone who can initiate offense — it changes Detroit’s ceiling.

The challenge? There aren’t many bigs who can truly function as a No. 2 without any perimeter game. Whether Duren can bend that rule may end up being one of the defining questions of Detroit’s postseason run.

3. Are the Spurs Detroit’s ultimate kryptonite?

This version of the East’s No. 1 seed is dominant — but not matchup-proof. And no team has exposed Detroit’s weaknesses quite like the San Antonio Spurs.

In last Monday’s 114–103 loss at Little Caesars Arena, San Antonio highlighted everything Detroit struggles with. The Pistons controlled the first half by hitting outside shots and capitalizing when Victor Wembanyama was off the floor. The second half told a different story.

Detroit’s offense stalled, rhythm disappeared, and Cade Cunningham was pushed into becoming a perimeter shooter — not where he’s most comfortable or effective. The Pistons went 7-for-36 from three, while San Antonio knocked down 18-of-40, a gap that decided the game.

Wembanyama disrupts Detroit’s rim-based identity in a way few players can. In a hypothetical Finals matchup, his presence alone would fundamentally alter how the Pistons play. It would be electric for the league — but from Detroit’s perspective, it’s probably a matchup they’d rather avoid.

We won’t have to wait long to see a rematch as Detroit travels to San Antonio on Thursday – this time they’ll have reinforcements in Isaiah Stewart.

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a tough loss to the Boston Celtics. Now, they’ll turn their attention to a back-to-back in Philly, starting with the San Antonio Spurs and ending with the Utah Jazz.

But first, let’s focus on the Spurs, who have put together a strong season so far. When breaking down San Antonio, you have to start with the 7-foot-5 elephant in the room: Victor Wembanyama. The 2023 first overall pick has lived up to the hype as a generational talent. This season, he’s averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1 steal and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from three. Even with missed time, Wemby has been a game-changer on both ends and will give the Sixers plenty of headaches as they prepare for this matchup.

Beyond their franchise star, the Spurs have a lot of depth. Their backcourt features All-Star De’Aaron Fox, rising star Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper, who was selected just ahead of VJ Edgecombe in last year’s draft. Fox is already a well-established, strong starting-caliber player. Castle, meanwhile, has developed into a legitimate two-way guard, averaging 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists this season. Harper has seen limited opportunities behind the talented backcourt, but he’s put up 11 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists over 49 games while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from three.

It remains to be seen how that backcourt will shake out long-term, but for now, the trio offers a solid mix of playmaking, length and two-way ability. Beyond Wemby and the guard group, the Spurs have other intriguing pieces. Former Sixer Julian Champagnie has emerged as a quality rotation player and floor spacer, Devin Vassell has quietly had another solid season, and several veterans have contributed in meaningful ways, including Luke Kornet, Keldon Johnson — who is quietly making a push for Sixth Man of the Year — and Harrison Barnes.

Many around the league consider the Spurs a serious threat, capable of challenging heavy favorites like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets. And for good reason. They have a generational two-way player, an abundance of playmaking options, and legitimate depth to complement their stars. San Antonio ranks seventh in offense and third in defense, which is a strong indicator that this team has genuine contending potential.

Similar to the Celtics game, this one will likely come down to Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe, fair or not. The Sixers will again be without Joel Embiid and Paul George, putting even more pressure on the backcourt to carry the offense. In normal circumstances, the VJ Maxx duo has done enough to win most games over the past few games, but nothing about this matchup is normal. They will need support from players such as Kelly Oubre Jr. to generate enough offense to keep pace with the Spurs.

That will be far from easy. Wemby will be patrolling the rim as usual. Maxey did have one of his best games last season against Wemby and the Spurs, so it is possible he could replicate that success. Still, this will be a grueling matchup, as the Spurs have the length and athleticism to disrupt the Sixers’ backcourt and clog passing lanes. For Philadelphia to have a chance, Maxey and Edgecombe will need not just to be good, but truly great.

Outside of offensive production, a key area to watch in this matchup will be shooting and the big-man battle. With Embiid and George out, the roster simply lacks high-volume, consistent perimeter shooting. The Spurs will likely challenge players outside of the backcourt to take and make perimeter shots while packing the paint.

Surprisingly, this is the first matchup of the season between the Sixers and Spurs. It’ll also mark the first meeting between Edgecombe and Harper, two of the top three picks in this draft. Edgecombe has been playing strong basketball lately, averaging 20.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from three since the All-Star break.

Oh, and this game comes with some extra flair beyond the usual matchup. NBC is re-creating a 1995–96-style broadcast as part of a “Throwback Tuesday” telecast, complete with retro announcers, old-school graphics, classic replays, a traditional score bug, a full pregame show, and even grainy flashbacks to capture the era’s feel. The coverage begins at 7 p.m. EST, an hour before tip-off, and will be hosted by Hannah Storm alongside Isiah Thomas and P. J. Carlesimo.

At tip-off, the broadcast team will feature Bob Costas on the call with Mike Fratello and, to the chagrin of OG Sixers fans, Doug Collins, while Jim Gray handles sideline reports. For anyone who appreciates a little nostalgia, this should be a fun one to tune into.

Key names on the injury report include Embiid, George and Johni Broome, all listed as out. For San Antonio, the key name is Mason Plumlee, who is out for conditioning reasons.

This won’t be an easy game by any means, but a win here would effectively split two tough back-to-back matchups and keep the Sixers out of play-in territory. Let’s see if the shorthanded Sixers can do the improbable and steal a victory from one of the league’s best teams.

Game Details

When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports, Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Four wild stats highlighting Hugo Gonzalez's early success with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Rookie Hugo Gonzalez produced the loudest night of his first NBA season Monday while stacking up 18 points, 16 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist over 35 minutes, 20 seconds of floor time for the shorthanded Celtics in their 108-81 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Gonzalez has only scratched the surface on his offensive potential, generating most of his offense off cuts and putbacks. But the numbers don’t lie: He’s impacting winning in his age-19 season and hardly looks like a first-year player on the defensive side of the ball. 

Let’s crunch some of our favorite Hugo numbers from this season: 

Net rating MVP

The Celtics are outscoring opponents by 17.1 points per 100 possessions with Gonzalez on the floor this season. That isn’t just the best mark on the team, it’s the best of any player in the entire NBA with at least 45 games played.

Check Boston’s on/off splits, and Gonzalez’s impact is even crazier.

The Celtics post a team-best offensive rating of 120.3 with Gonzalez on the floor, and it drops to 118 without him. Boston has a defensive rating of 103.1 with Gonzalez — also best among its regulars — and that mark spikes 10.2 points to 113.3 without him.

The Celtics are 12.3 points per 100 possessions better with Gonzalez on the floor, second-best on the team behind only Derrick White (+12.9).

Rookie leader

Gonzalez owns the best raw plus/minus among all rookies, with the Celtics outscoring opponents by 283 total points in his 864.2 minutes of floor time. That’s 80 points better than the next-closest rookie (San Antonio’s Dylan Harper, +203). Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel (+188) is the only other rookie in the neighborhood. Fourth place is Miami’s Myron Gardner at +55. 

After finishing +27 against the Bucks, Gonzalez is lingering near the top of the all-time rookie leaderboard of best plus/minus per game in a season.

Here’s the top of that chart, from our stats guru Dick Lipe: 

A fun exercise: If there was a 2025 re-draft today, how much higher than 28 would Gonzalez be selected?

He may not come off the board before Cooper Flagg, Harper, Knueppel, and Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe. But we could make a strong case that he might get snagged anywhere from spots 5-10.

And if Gonzalez wasn’t playing for a contender overflowing with young wing depth, he’d be steamrolling toward an All-Rookie slot with an inflated stat line in bigger minutes.

The Hugo Effect

Seven of Boston’s top eight two-man lineups with at least 200 minutes of floor time feature Gonzalez.

It doesn’t seem to matter who he’s paired with — the Celtics dominate those minutes.

Relentless defensive energy

Gonzalez’s biggest impact, maybe even beyond his tenacious defense, might be his rebounding ability on both ends of the floor.

For the season, Gonzalez is grabbing 15.3 percent of available defensive rebounds when he’s on the court, which ranks in the 94th percentile among all NBA wings. He collects 6.8 percent of his own team’s missed shots, which ranks in the 92nd percentile among wings.

Opponents are shooting 5.3 percent below expected output when Gonzalez is the primary defender. That ranks in the 97th percentile for his position. Gonzalez is elite at drawing offensive fouls, as Giannis Antetokounmpo learned on Monday night, and Gonzalez’s 0.9 offensive fouls drawn per 100 plays ranks in the 92nd percentile. 

Somehow Gonzalez gets even better closer to the basket. Opponents are shooting 10.7 percent below expected against him at the rim (98th percentile among wings).

Even as he gets a rookie whistle, Gonzalez is putting up absurd defensive numbers for his 19-year-old season.

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The San Antonio Spurs’ 11-game win streak was snapped on Sunday, and the Western Conference heavyweights will look to start a new one when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philly’s frontcourt is vulnerable, and my Spurs vs. 76ers predictions expect the big man duo of Luke Kornet and Victor Wembanyama to lead San Antonio to a comfortable win behind big performances.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown on Tuesday, March 3.

Spurs vs 76ers prediction

Spurs vs 76ers best bet: Luke Kornet Over 11.5 points + rebounds + assists (-120)

The Philadelphia 76ers’ interior defense will be exposed again with Joel Embiid on the sidelines.

The team’s defensive rating without Embiid is a dreadful 117.1 this season. Philly surrendered 114 points, 59 total rebounds, and a whopping 19 offensive boards in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Celtics.

Luke Kornet is averaging a career-best 15.5 points + rebounds + assists, going for 12+ in 38 of 50 games, including six of his last nine. This line is wildly mispriced, and Kornet could see additional run if the San Antonio Spurs run away with the game in this favorable matchup.

Spurs vs 76ers same-game parlay

The 76ers are just 14-17 against the spread at home, while the Spurs are 17-14-1 ATS on the road. The Spurs' 11-game win streak was snapped in a rare blowout loss on Sunday, and I expect San Antonio to come out with a vengeance and win comfortably.

Philadelphia's offense may struggle to score against San Antonio's stingy defense, especially with Embiid and Paul George sidelined.

Spurs vs 76ers SGP

• Luke Kornet Over 11.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Spurs -8
• Under 231.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby's Super-Sized Combo

Wembanyama's combo line would have been the best bet had it not been for the advantageous pricing on Kornet's line. Wemby will benefit from Embiid's absence, and he's already gone for 40+ PRA in two of his last four games overall and in each of his last two in Philadelphia.

Spurs vs 76ers SGP

• Luke Kornet Over 11.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Spurs -8
• Under 231.5
• Victor Wembanyama Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists

Spurs vs 76ers odds

• Spread: Spurs -8 (-110) | 76ers +8 (-110)
• Moneyline: Spurs -315 | 76ers +255
• Over/Under: Over 232 (-110) | Under 232 (-110)

Spurs vs 76ers betting trend to know

The San Antonio Spurs have hit the Game Total Under in 25 of their last 35 games (+14.00 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. 76ers.

How to watch Spurs vs 76ers

Spurs vs 76ers latest injuries

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Nike quietly filed a trademark for a logo on Monday for a Los Angeles Lakers player with the last name of James. 

Not LeBron. Not this time.

Bronny. 

Apparently, Bronny James, the 21-year-old two-way guard with the Lakers, has his own personal logo — an Old English-style lower-case “b,” stitched together with a white-on-black No. 9. 

The 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is currently averaging 9.5 points in 30.9 minutes with the South Bay Lakers in the G-League. His NBA stat line is thinner, but that’s because he mostly appears in garbage time for the Lakers as he continues to develop as a player. 

But according to a report by trademark attorney Josh Gerben, Bronny’s brand is growing faster than his NBA career is.

Nike has filed a design trademark request for Bronny James' signature logo.

What do you think of his logo?

(Via @JoshGerben) pic.twitter.com/XkK4HfZa5b

— cllct (@cllctMedia) March 2, 2026

On the surface, this is not a big deal. People apply for trademarks all the time. In fact, this isn’t even the first time Bronny James has applied for his own trademark. 

Back in 2022, Gerben reported that Bronny James applied for trademarks for the name “Bronny,” a logo based off his signature, and the name “Bronald.” Because, why not?

Unfortunately, people on social media wasted no time firing off jokes to Nike’s trademark of Bronny James’ logo. 

Has anyone else that has averaged 1.9 points a game, gotten their own logo?

— Vinny (@IamVinnyG) March 2, 2026

“Has anyone else that has averaged 1.9 points a game, gotten their own logo?,” asked X account @IamVinnyG.

They making the Bench James 1’s

— LA_ALL_DAY (@LA_ALL_DAY100) March 2, 2026

“They making the Bench James 1’s,” wrote another X poster, @L_ALL_DAY100.

pic.twitter.com/JnOe3B76Jr

— Balboa (@arm7219) March 2, 2026

Better logo “1 ppg”

— AK (@Thegift510) March 2, 2026

One user wrote that Bronny James himself should have filed the trademark for the logo, and then leased it out to Nike. 

The smart move would been for him to trademark all of his branding himself and then license it to Nike. Not sure why he's letting them 'own it' from the start.

— OnlyCharizard (@OnlyCharizard) March 2, 2026

Inside basketball arenas across the country, fans erupt in applause every time Bronny James checks into the game. During Sunday’s 128–104 blowout victory over the Sacramento Kings, Bronny drilled a three in the final minutes, much to the delight of the crowd and LeBron James. 

LeBron was LOVING this Bronny three pic.twitter.com/v9SW4LZufe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 2, 2026

Sure, Bronny isn’t an NBA star yet, and all jokes aside is not in need of his own signature mark at this time. But Nike isn’t betting on Bronny’s box score. It’s betting on legacy, lineage and the gravitational pull of LeBron James. 

Maybe one day Bronny James will cash in on that trademark. Maybe he won’t. Either way, Nike is ready.

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Washington Wizards fans adore Justin Champagnie for his gritty effort and impressive rebounding. They’ve also gotten to know Alondes Williams, Kadary Richmond and Skal Labissiere — three players who grinded their way to the NBA and signed with Washington this season.

The one thing all four of those players have in common: They’re represented by Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management. And like his clients, Hazan understands the grind it takes to find success at the NBA level.

Hazan didn’t start with eight NBA players on his client list. Just like he didn’t stumble upon a successful sports agency.

He built his brand through hard work and a New York grit that helped create meaningful relationships with players and general managers alike. That grind made him the youngest agent to sign an NBA player, which was a defining moment in his young career.

“I signed my first NBA player [Elijah Millsap] when I was 20. I’ve built a name for myself by being able to get the borderline guys in the NBA — the two-ways and the 10 days and the G League guys,” Hazan said. “Being able to get those guys to the next level, that’s kind of been my reputation as an agency. Every time players are trying to get back in the NBA, they know they can talk to me and I’ll get it done.”

That persistence led him to Champagnie, another New York native who at the time had played just 41 NBA games — 39 with the Toronto Raptors and two with the Boston Celtics.

Hazan knew Champagnie was an impressive player. He knew the Pitt product had the intangibles of a winning NBA player.

So he got to work. And just three days after the partnership formed, Champagnie signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards, which sparked a year-long surge that led to the 6-foot-6 forward signing a four-year, $9.8 million contract extension in March 2025.

It was a defining moment for Hazan, who had just gotten his client paid major money, and for Champagnie, an undrafted free agent who had grinded his way into an NBA rotation and eventually into a multi-million-dollar contract.

“I just felt a sense of relief,” Champagnie said. “It brought tears to my eyes because I’ve worked hard for the past four years to solidify myself in this league, and having that moment come true was a big sigh of relief. [It] just felt amazing.”

Champagnie has only ascended since signing his contract extension. The 24-year-old has been one of Washington’s most consistent contributors, averaging 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in just 19 minutes per game this season.

Hazan said “four or five teams” contacted the Wizards at February’s trade deadline with interest in Champagnie, but Washington wasn’t willing to let him go. And it’s easy to understand why.

Champagnie’s archetype is one contending teams covet. He fights for loose balls like Marcus Smart. He rebounds on both ends like a 6-foot-6 Andre Drummond. And he plays both ways, defending one through four while scoring nearly eight points per game on 49.8% FG.

His path to the league wasn’t the most linear, but he had earned a standard NBA contract. And Hazan couldn’t have been prouder.

“It was a great moment. [Justin] is such a great guy. He’s such a hard worker. I was happy to be a part of that with him,” Hazan said. “He’s put in the hard work, and he earned every bit of that. And he’s still young. We got time for a couple more contracts, bigger ones, God willing.”

Champagnie’s New York ties aligned him with Hazan, but he isn’t the only native New Yorker signed to Hazan Sports Management. Kadary Richmond, a Brooklyn native, is also represented by Hazan.

Champagnie and Richmond grew up together in Brooklyn. They’ve been friends since middle school and even played against each other in high school — Chamagnie at Bishop Loughlin and Richmond at South Shore.

After a five-year collegiate career at Syracuse, Seton Hall and St. John’s, Richmond went undrafted. The 6-foot-5 guard had “several suitors,” but after phone calls with Wizards general manager Will Dawkins and Champagnie, Richmond set his sights on Washington.

“Will got on the phone and said, ‘You see what I did with Justin. We’re gonna do the same thing with Kadary.’ And I went with him, and I think it’s paid off,” Hazan said.

Champagnie attended Richmond’s pre-draft workout with the Wizards and advocated for him to join the organization. The veteran forward told Richmond that Washington was the best spot for his development, and the rookie guard used that advice when he signed a G League deal with the Wizards before later inking a 10-day contract in February.

“I just told [Richmond] to take advantage and keep your foot on the gas,” Champagnie said. “No matter how it looks around you, make sure you take advantage of your opportunity, because coming from where we come from, people don’t get to decide how much this means.”

Champagnie and Richmond’s relationship transcends basketball, but they’re not the only close friends represented by Hazan. That title also belongs to Williams and Labissiere, who spent July on the Orlando Magic’s Summer League squad.

Labissiere, 29, was selected No. 28 in the 2016 NBA Draft. After four NBA seasons, the 6-foot-10 forward was out of the league.

But Labissiere kept working. And after signing with Hazan, he earned his way back into the NBA, ending his four-year hiatus when he signed with the Sacramento Kings. 

Labissiere joined the Go-Go before the 2025-26 campaign and earned a 10-day contract, his best game a 13-point showing in Washington’s 116-112 victory over the Kings. His friend and offseason workout partner, Williams, later joined him on a 10-day deal with Washington.

Weeks after Labissiere’s breakout performance, Williams scored 25 points on 9-for-11 FG in the Wizards’ 131-118 win over the Indiana Pacers. Both players had grinded their way to the NBA, so it was only right that they shared breakout performances on the same roster in the same season.

“It felt amazing to finally be back on an NBA court and show everyone what I’ve been working on all summer,” Williams said. “[Skal and I] built chemistry by being with each other all summer. Playing with each other and playing against each other built chemistry, and I value that knowing the player Skal is. It boosted my skills as a point guard.”

Hazan’s reaction to those scoring outputs was that of an unsurprised agent who had seen firsthand the grind and sacrifice his clients made to reach the highest level of professional basketball. And with four clients succeeding in Washington, those close relationships, combined with an unrelenting drive to be great, have paid dividends.

“They’re working on their own things, but they’re all working together,” Hazan said. “It’s galvanized everyone. And now you see them all together [in Washington]. It’s really an amazing thing.”