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It didn’t take as much effort as their last win over the Los Angeles Clippers, but the San Antonio Spurs’ Monday night victory in Southern California still went down to the wire. The Spurs nearly blew a 24-point lead in the 119-115 victory. Now the team will have a short rest before traveling north for the second game of a back-to-back against the Sacramento Kings.

The Spurs won both of their previous matchups with the Kings this season. Most recently, they defeated Sacramento 139-122 on February 21st, thanks to a dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama. Sacramento will be without key players like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray, and will rely on former Spur Demar DeRozan to generate offense.

On top of missing key players, the Kings are near the bottom of the NBA in offensive and defensive rating. If the Spurs can quickly recover from a tough game in Los Angeles the night before, they will have a favorable matchup awaiting them in Sacramento.

San Antonio Spurs (50-18) vs. Sacramento Kings (18-51)

March 17th, 2026 | 9 PM CT

Watch: KENS | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Injury report filed at 1 p.m. CT

Kings Injuries: Devin Carter – Out (calf), Drew Eubanks – Out (thumb), De’Andre Hunter – Out (eye), Zach LaVine – Out (finger), Malik Monk – Questionable (ankle), Keegan Murray – Out (ankle), Domantas Sabonis – Out (knee)

What to watch for:

Sustaining defensive effort for 48 minutes

San Antonio thrived in spurts against the Clippers. When their defensive intensity was high, the Spurs locked down Los Angeles. When they took their foot off the gas, even a little bit, the Clippers went on big runs in the first, third, and fourth quarters that forced the Spurs to turn up the pressure. On paper, the game shouldn’t be close, but with limited rest and several players nursing injuries, the Kings can make things interesting. A consistent defensive effort could lead to a blowout Spurs victory.

Points in the paint

The Kings are particularly weak inside. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud shows a lot of potential, but he is not a rim protector. San Antonio should dominate on the interior. Wembanyama torched Raynaud in their last matchup, and the Spurs’ guards should have no issues getting into the paint and scoring against Sacramento’s defense. Relentlessly attacking the paint will be San Antonio’s best offensive strategy on Tuesday night.

Bench productivity

San Antonio’s bench struggled against the Clippers on Monday. Most of the Clippers’ late-game run came against second-unit dominated lineups. San Antonio is really missing Luke Kornet and Dylan Harper, who are recovering from minor injuries. The Kings are struggling with depth as well, as they battle injuries. Tuesday’s game represents a chance for the Spurs’ bench players to bounce back against a depleted Sacramento squad. San Antonio could use good performances from Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes to sustain momentum when the starters go to the bench.

There is a version of basketball history where Steve Kerr is simply a footnote. The sharp-shooting role player who happened to be in the right place at the right time with different dynasties under two of the greatest coaches who ever lived.

That version of history is not just incomplete; it fundamentally misunderstands how basketball history actually gets made.

Tonight in Washington, Steve Kerr became the fourth-fastest coach in NBA history to reach 600 wins, doing it in his 943rd regular season game. Only Phil Jackson (805), Pat Riley (832), and Gregg Popovich (887) got there faster. Red Auerbach needed 953. That is neither coincidence nor circumstance. That is a man who has been in the room where championship basketball gets made for so long that he eventually became the architect.

You cannot write the story of this league without Mr. Kerr, because he is one of the rare figures who didn’t just witness multiple eras of greatness. This gritty hooper carried their principles forward and helped reshape them into the modern game.

As a player, he sat in Michael Jordan’s orbit and learned how to be lethal without needing the ball in his hands every possession. He shot 45.4% from three for his career, a number that still holds up against modern shooting standards. He won three consecutive titles with Chicago from 1996 to 1998, then left and won two more with the Spurs alongside Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Two different dynasties, two completely different systems, and two head coaches in Jackson and Popovich that Kerr soaked the game up from. Most players never figure out one championship culture. Kerr mastered both and contributed meaningfully to each.

That experience is exactly why his coaching career was never going to be ordinary. When he took over the Warriors before the 2014-15 season, Golden State was a team with talent, a developing identity, and a nagging feeling that they were underperforming their ceiling. Four years removed from their 2010 draft class, they had Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, but they needed someone who understood the difference between a good team and a great one from the inside out.

Kerr knew that difference personally because he had lived inside it long enough to recognize exactly what Golden State was missing and exactly how to unlock it.

What followed was one of the most sustained periods of excellence in modern NBA history. Four championships in eight seasons as head coach. The 2015 title ended a 40-year championship drought and the 73-win season in 2015-16 broke a record Kerr himself had helped set as a player with the 1995-96 Bulls. The 2022 title, won with an aging core navigating a different Western Conference landscape, may have been his best coaching performance of all. Then there’s his exploits coaching Team USA, including winning the last Olympic gold in Paris. The man simply does not stop collecting hardware.

And yet here we are watching a Warriors season that has been defined by injury and roster disruption, with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler III both sidelined. The team is grinding through a play-in race with whatever pieces remain functional on a given night. It would be easy to let the weight of what this season has not been overshadow what is still being built.

Win 600 says otherwise.

The Wizards, bless their hearts, have become the canvas upon which NBA history keeps getting painted this month. One week ago Bam Adebayo put up 83 points on Washington’s head, passing Kobe and trailing only Wilt for scoring in a single game. I haven’t seen that many Wizards get served since the Battle of Hogwarts. Tonight they provided the backdrop for Kerr’s milestone in a 125-117 final. At this point, Washington has become a kind of accidental stage for the league’s milestones; a quiet backdrop where other teams come to carve their names into history.

But here is what win 600 actually represents beyond the number. It is a reminder that sustained excellence is not about avoiding difficult stretches. It is about continuing to work with discipline and precision through them until you look up and realize you have quietly been building something historic the entire time. He reached 600 not in spite of the difficult seasons, but because he kept coaching through them by adjusting, refining, and trusting a process most people abandon too early.

Nobody is perfect. No season is clean. No roster stays whole. You keep handling your business anyway, keep trusting the work, and one night in Washington you look up and realize you just set a career milestone. Kerr’s spent his entire basketball life absorbing greatness, refining it, and passing it forward. At 60 years old and 600 wins, he is no longer just part of the story.

He is one of the authors of the game as we know it.

When the Lakers and Rockets last met on Christmas Day, it was a very revealing game for LA. The Lakers were run off the floor and forced to really begin searching for answers to questions that it took them some time to solve.

Quite a bit has changed for the Lakers since that blowout loss, particularly over recent weeks. And while the Lakers are peaking, the Rockets are crumbling. The result was, at least on Monday, a much different game than the first meeting with LA surviving a rock fight of a fourth quarter to come away with a win.

It wasn’t pretty, but it had the feeling of a playoff game, which the Lakers have had many of recently. Grinding out a win on the back of defense and on a night when the offense was struggling is a notch in the belt for the Lakers, who haven’t done that much this year.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

33 minutes, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 7-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-4 FT, +13

There were some highs and some lows in this game defensively for LeBron. Early in the third quarter, the Rockets scored multiple times off whoever LeBron was guarding just cutting to the rim. One quarter later, he was a big part of the team’s fourth quarter defense that suffocated the Rockets.

He also had a couple of highlights early and late offensively. It wasn’t a great game from him on either end, but he’s definitely had worse.

Grade: B–

Marcus Smart

36 minutes, 11 points, 1 assist, 5 fouls, 4-9 FG, 3-7 3PT, +6

An odd game where Smart didn’t do a bit of everything and his stat line is pretty empty. However, anyone who watched the game knew Smart made a positive impact, including flying across the court to dive for a loose ball late in the game, a true peak Marcus Smart play.

Grade: B+

Deandre Ayton

27 minutes, 7 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-6 FG, 1-2 FT, +11

For three-and-a-half quarters, this was going to be a below average grade at best as actual Clint Capela was outplaying Lakers Clint Capela. And then he entered the game late in the fourth, completely swung things and helped the Lakers go on a run that won the game.

Grade: B+

Austin Reaves

40 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-18 FG, 0-8 3PT, 5-5 FT, +11

This was a pretty brutal Reaves game. If you have concerns about how he’ll fair against athletic defenders in the playoffs, this wasn’t a great game to disprove those narratives. Even if he also came up with a couple of big fourth-quarter steals, the Lakers need much more of him offensively.

Grade: C-

Luka Dončić

40 minutes, 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, 14-27 FG, 4-12 3PT, 4-5 FT, +6

Luka absolutely carried the Lakers’ offense for big chunks of this game. He was back to his best with his shot-making and the Lakers needed every bit of it. If the Lakers had just a regular shooting night, those four assists are much higher, too.

Grade: A

Rui Hachimura

23 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, -3

A quiet game from Rui. If he doesn’t have it going offensively, he loses value on the floor and, like everyone not named Luka, he did not have it going offensively.

Grade: C

Luke Kennard

17 minutes, 2 assists, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, +3

This was pretty safely Luke’s worst game as a Laker, which is a fact that should be marveled at for how great he’s been.

Grade: D

Jaxson Hayes

12 minutes, 1 steal, 1 foul, 0-1 FG, -6

I had to double-check this to make sure he actually played 12 minutes and didn’t record a rebound.

Grade: F

Jake LaRavia

12 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 1-2 FG, 5-6 FT, -1

This was an active game for LaRavia, both complimentary and derogatory. There were more than a few times where he found himself in a bad situation that he made worse. But he also got to the line six times, which was some much-needed points on a night where they were a premium as the game progressed.

Grade: B

JJ Redick

JJ has been coaching his ass off on this win streak. His best decision on Monday was going to Ayton late. After trying a small ball lineup that hemorrhaged offensive rebounds, Redick gave Ayton another shot and it immediately paid off. Spending the fourth quarter blitzing Kevin Durant worked wonders as well with Houston having no idea what to do.

Grade: A

Tuesday’s DNPs: Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, Jarred Vanderbilt

Tuesday’s inactives: Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr., Chris Mañon

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — South Africa won the toss and elected to field Tuesday in the second Twenty20 cricket international against New Zealand at Seddon Park.

The Proteas lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning the first match by seven wickets on a low-scoring pitch at Mount Maunganui.

Allrounder Wiaan Mulder has replaced Jordan Hermann in the South Africa lineup.

New Zealand has made two changes, drafting in osh Clarkson and Lockie Ferguson in place of Bevon Jacobs and Zak Foulkes. Jacobs injured his knee while fielding in the first match.

This is New Zealand's first series since beating South Africa in the semifinals and then losing the T20 World Cup final in India earlier this month.

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Lineups:

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (captain), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson.

South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, Wiaan Mulder, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder (53-15, first in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (38-29, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -9.5; over/under is 221.5

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City is looking to extend its eight-game win streak with a victory against Orlando.

The Magic are 22-12 on their home court. Orlando ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference with 16.2 fast break points per game led by Franz Wagner averaging 3.8.

The Thunder are 24-8 on the road. Oklahoma City averages 118.5 points and has outscored opponents by 10.8 points per game.

The Magic average 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 fewer makes per game than the Thunder give up (14.2). The Thunder average 118.5 points per game, 4.3 more than the 114.2 the Magic allow.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 128-92 on Feb. 4, with Isaiah Joe scoring 22 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Bane is shooting 48.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 24.2 points over the last 10 games.

Chet Holmgren is averaging 17.3 points, nine rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51.8% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 118.7 points, 45.6 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points per game.

Thunder: 9-1, averaging 113.1 points, 43.9 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: out (back), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).

Thunder: Branden Carlson: out (back), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Clippers (34-34, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (23-46, 12th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans hosts Los Angeles looking to continue its five-game home winning streak.

The Pelicans are 14-30 in conference play. New Orleans is 7-34 against opponents over .500.

The Clippers are 21-21 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles ranks third in the Western Conference shooting 36.3% from 3-point range.

The Pelicans average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 fewer makes per game than the Clippers give up (13.3). The Pelicans average 113.5 points per game, 6.2 fewer points than the 119.7 the Pelicans give up.

The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last matchup on March 2 the Clippers won 137-117 led by 23 points from Kawhi Leonard, while Jeremiah Fears scored 28 points for the Pelicans.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 19.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Kris Dunn is scoring 7.7 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Clippers. Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 19.4 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 45.0% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 120.5 points, 47.2 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.8 points per game.

Clippers: 7-3, averaging 123.8 points, 40.5 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 11.0 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Dejounte Murray: out (illness), Bryce McGowens: out (toe).

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard: out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Phoenix Suns (39-29, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (41-27, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Timberwolves -4.5; over/under is 221.5

BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix visits the Minnesota Timberwolves after Devin Booker scored 40 points in the Suns' 120-112 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The Timberwolves are 25-20 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota has a 15-17 record against opponents over .500.

The Suns are 25-18 in conference games. Phoenix ranks last in the Western Conference scoring 42.7 points per game in the paint.

The Timberwolves average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.7 more made shots on average than the 12.2 per game the Suns give up. The Suns average 14.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Timberwolves give up.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Suns won the last matchup 108-105 on Dec. 9, with Mark Williams scoring 22 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels is averaging 12.2 points over the last 10 games.

Royce O'Neale is scoring 9.9 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Suns. Booker is averaging 24.7 points and 3.5 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 112.3 points, 41.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points per game.

Suns: 6-4, averaging 111.9 points, 40.5 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: out (knee), Naz Reid: day to day (shoulder).

Suns: Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Golden State Warriors (33-35, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (45-23, second in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Boston plays the Golden State Warriors after Jaylen Brown scored 41 points in the Boston Celtics' 120-112 win against the Phoenix Suns.

The Celtics have gone 23-10 at home. Boston is seventh in the NBA with 12.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Neemias Queta averaging 3.0 offensive boards.

The Warriors are 14-20 on the road. Golden State ranks seventh in the Western Conference shooting 35.7% from 3-point range.

The Celtics average 15.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Warriors allow. The Warriors are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.8% 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 the last meeting 121-110 on Feb. 20. Payton Pritchard scored 26 points to help lead the Celtics to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is scoring 28.4 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Derrick White is averaging 17.6 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 41.8% over the last 10 games.

Brandin Podziemski is averaging 13 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Warriors. Gui Santos is averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 113.7 points, 47.8 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.7 points per game.

Warriors: 3-7, averaging 113.6 points, 43.1 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Nikola Vucevic: out (finger).

Warriors: Quinten Post: day to day (foot), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Seth Curry: out (adductor), Al Horford: out (calf), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: day to day (wrist), LJ Cryer: out (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

San Antonio Spurs (50-18, second in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (18-51, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spurs -13.5; over/under is 233.5

BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento plays the San Antonio Spurs after DeMar DeRozan scored 41 points in the Sacramento Kings' 116-111 win over the Utah Jazz.

The Kings are 12-34 against conference opponents. Sacramento gives up 120.6 points and has been outscored by 9.8 points per game.

The Spurs are 29-14 in Western Conference play. San Antonio ranks second in the Western Conference with 46.6 rebounds per game led by Victor Wembanyama averaging 11.2.

The Kings average 10.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 fewer makes per game than the Spurs give up (12.9). The Spurs average 118.8 points per game, 1.8 fewer than the 120.6 the Kings give up.

The two teams play for the third time this season. The Spurs defeated the Kings 139-122 in their last matchup on Feb. 22. Wembanyama led the Spurs with 28 points, and DeRozan led the Kings with 20 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is shooting 49.8% and averaging 18.8 points for the Kings. Daeqwon Plowden is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

De'Aaron Fox is scoring 19.1 points per game and averaging 3.7 rebounds for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 5-5, averaging 114.0 points, 46.3 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.0 points per game.

Spurs: 8-2, averaging 121.8 points, 46.5 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 6.8 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Malik Monk: day to day (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Devin Carter: out (calf), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).

Spurs: Dylan Harper: out (calf), David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Luke Kornet: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Detroit Pistons (48-19, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (16-51, 14th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pistons -17.5; over/under is 234

BOTTOM LINE: Washington enters the matchup against Detroit as losers of 12 in a row.

The Wizards are 11-31 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington has a 2-2 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Pistons have gone 32-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit leads the Eastern Conference with 13.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 3.8.

The Wizards are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.8 percentage points higher than the 44.2% the Pistons allow to opponents. The Pistons are shooting 48.0% from the field, which equals what the Wizards' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Wizards won the last meeting 126-117 on Feb. 6. Will Riley scored 20 points to help lead the Wizards to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is averaging 9.7 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Bilal Coulibaly is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.

Cade Cunningham is averaging 24.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 0-10, averaging 115.5 points, 39.0 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.1 points per game.

Pistons: 5-5, averaging 116.1 points, 44.7 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 10.0 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Leaky Black: out (ankle), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: day to day (quad).

Pistons: Isaiah Stewart: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Lakers (43-25, third in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (41-26, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles looks to keep its six-game win streak alive when the Lakers take on Houston.

The Rockets are 23-20 against Western Conference opponents. Houston averages 14.7 turnovers per game and is 16-7 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents.

The Lakers have gone 29-16 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 7-2 record in one-possession games.

The Rockets are shooting 47.4% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 48.4% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers score 6.5 more points per game (116.3) than the Rockets allow their opponents to score (109.8).

The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on March 17 the Lakers won 100-92 led by 36 points from Luka Doncic, while Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points for the Rockets.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Durant is averaging 25.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LeBron James is averaging 21.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 33.5 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 49.4% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 5-5, averaging 108.5 points, 46.9 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.3 points per game.

Lakers: 9-1, averaging 120.7 points, 41.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Alperen Sengun: out (back), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).

Lakers: Maxi Kleber: out (back).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (38-29, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (28-40, 12th in the Eastern Conference)

Chicago; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Toronto will try to break its three-game road skid when the Raptors visit Chicago.

The Bulls are 17-26 in conference play. Chicago ranks sixth in the NBA averaging 14.6 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.3% from downtown. Anfernee Simons leads the team averaging 2.7 makes while shooting 38.5% from 3-point range.

The Raptors are 28-16 in conference games. Toronto is 7-4 in one-possession games.

The Bulls are shooting 46.9% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 46.5% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Bulls average 113.6 points per game, 6.4 fewer points than the 120.0 the Bulls give up to opponents.

The two teams play for the third time this season. The Raptors defeated the Bulls 110-101 in their last meeting on Feb. 20. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 31 points, and Simons led the Bulls with 20 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Giddey is averaging 17.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists for the Bulls. Matas Buzelis is averaging 21.3 points over the last 10 games.

Immanuel Quickley is shooting 44.4% and averaging 17.1 points for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 4-6, averaging 115.4 points, 47.2 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.6 points per game.

Raptors: 4-6, averaging 112.3 points, 39.4 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.

INJURIES: Bulls: Anfernee Simons: out (wrist), Isaac Okoro: out (knee), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out (knee), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Collin Sexton: out (leg).

Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.