As time wound down inside Washington, DC's CareFirstArena, the CBS Sports Network broadcast caught Hofstra men's basketball coach Speedy Claxton crying into the shoulders of one of his assistant coaches, as the three-seeded Pride defeated No. 4 Monmouth 75-69 in the CAA tournament championship game to punch their ticket to March Madness.
It marked the first NCAA Tournament appearance in over two decades for Claxton's alma mater and the first time he's led them to it in his five years at the helm of the program.
The first time Hofstra was included in the NCAA Tournament bracket came in the 1999-2000 season, when Claxton was a player for the Pride and Jay Wright was in his sixth season as a college basketball coach, before he became a two-time national championship coach at Villanova. That was also the first of back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the Pride.
Claxton played for Hofstra from 1996 to 2000 under Wright and remains the program's all-time leader in assists and steals. He now has them in the Big Dance. Talk about an awesome full-circle moment in March.
"I'm excited they get to share this moment with each other because this is going to last a lifetime. I won championships on a high school level, college level and professional level, and my collegiate championship meant the most to me," Claxton said on CBS Sports Network on the significance of the Pride's win.
Hofstra will play in the NCAA Tournament for the FIRST time since…
The guy on the right (Jay Wright) was head coach.
And the guy on the left (Speedy Claxton) is the current head coach taking the Pride back to the Big Dance for the 1st time since 2001.
The Pride looked to be on their way to a potential NCAA Tournament berth in 2020 after they won the CAA regular-season and tournament crowns, but the COVID-19 pandemic took that opportunity away as the NCAA Tournament was canceled that season.
To win the 2025-26 season CAA tournament championship, Hofstra also defeated William & Mary 91-62 in the quarterfinals and Towson 68-65 in the semifinals.
The Pride will now have to wait a few more days until Selection Sunday to learn who they will open their March Madness run against and where. The NCAA Tournament bracket will be released at 6 p.m. ET on March 15.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 10: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks sets up a shot during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another failed Dallas Mavericks (21-43) comeback attempt, another dollar. The Mavericks dropped their eighth straight game and their 18th in the team’s last 20, 124-112, against the Atlanta Hawks (33-31) at State Farm Arena on Tuesday.
Nickeal Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 29 points for the Hawks in the win, and Jalen Johnson added 25 more, including 10 points in the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson made five 3-pointers on his way to 21 points for the Mavs in the loss.
Here are five stats that tell the tale of Dallas’ latest comeback attempt that came up short in Atlanta.
40: First-quarter scoring by the Hawks
The Mavericks turned the ball over five times in the first quarter, with four of them coming in the game’s first 4:23. The Hawks sprinted out to an early 10-2 lead as a result and never looked back. They boat-raced the Mavericks throughout the rest of the first quarter, taking a 40-26 lead into the second. Atlanta shot 15-of-26 (57.7%) from the field in the first.
The Dallas defense was nonexistent on several Atlanta drives to the hoop, including one late in the first by Nickeal Alexander-Walker, who waltzed past all five Dallas defenders on his way to the hoop for an easy score that put the Hawks up 40-24 with 25 seconds left in the frame. Onyaka Okongwu led Atlanta with nine points on 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point range in the first quarter, while Brandon Williams matched him with nine off the bench for the Mavs on 3-of-3 shooting.
6-of-9: Dallas’ shooting start to second quarter
The Mavericks fought their way back to within four points of the lead in the first 5:30 of the second quarter. They shot 6-of-9 from the field to outscore Atlanta 13-5 to start the second. The Mavs extended that run to 17-5 before the Hawks responded.
The Hawks came into the game with the league’s No. 1 defensive rating (106.1) over the last month, but the Mavs bucked back to climb back in it after falling down by as many as 16 points in the first quarter. Max Christie finally nailed his first 3-pointer in five first-half attempts to cut the Hawks’ lead to four, 45-41, with 6:35 left in the second.
After Hawks head coach Quin Snyder called a timeout with 6:25 left in the second, Atlanta rattled off six straight quick points, including two transition baskets by Alexander-Walker, who seems to be a shoo-in for Most Improved Player this year. Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting as the Hawks took a 64-55 lead into the half.
1: Second-quarter shot attempt by Cooper Flagg
We thought we were done with this dilemma after Cooper Flagg’s explosive months of December and January, but the Mavs’ rookie star was nowhere to be found on the stat sheet in the second quarter. He got lost in an offense that more prominently featured the likes of Brandon Williams, Daniel Gafford and Marvin Bagley III.
Flagg grimaced a little on his way to the free-throw line after taking a foul from Jalen Johnson with 6:57 left in the second, but played through whatever ailed him after taking the contact. As noted above, the Hawks are a good defensive team, so maybe his second-quarter absence shouldn’t be that much of a concern, but Flagg needs to see the ball more in order to get out of the shooting funk he’s been in since returning to the lineup after missing eight games with a sprained left foot on Mar. 5 at the Orlando Magic. He came into the game shooting just 21-of-62 (33.9%) from the field in his three games back and shot 2-of-5 for six points in the first half on Tuesday.
Flagg’s funk continued in the second half as he missed his next five attempts, finishing with just 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds in the loss. Nine of those 14 points came too little, too late in the game’s waning minutes.
20-6: Mavs’ late third-quarter run
The Mavericks made several runs at the Atlanta lead, but none of them were potent enough to take hold of the lead. Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton keyed a 20-9 Mavs’ spurt late in the third quarter to get to within 93-89, after the Hawks’ lead had ballooned to 15 points midway through the frame.
Thompson scored 10 points in the third quarter, all of which came during that 20-9 run. Atlanta survived the run to take a 95-91 lead into the fourth. Dallas outscored the Hawks 38-31 in the third to close the gap.
18: Second-half scoring from Klay Thompson
Thompson scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, shooting the lights out from deep as the Mavs tried desperately to win just their third game in their last 20. But it just wasn’t enough as the Mavericks rack up their frequent flyer miles on their current road trip.
Thompson canned 4-of-7 from deep in the second half as Dallas clawed its way back, but Atlanta had an answer for every Mavericks run down the stretch. After a quiet start to the game, Jalen Johnson was the answer for the Hawks late in the game, as he scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to kill the Mavs’ momentum. Johnson finished with 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the win, while Thompson scored 21 for the Mavs in the loss.
Mar 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to shoot the ball against the Boston Celtics during the first hald at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
San Antonio closed out Boston with a late 19-10 surge (including a 12-0 run) to secure its 16th win in 17. The second seeds in each conference treated the viewing audience to a bombardment of three-point makes in a first half where no team led by more than seven. While it wasn’t quite Bird / Wilkins from 1988, Victor Wembanyama (14) and Derrick White (19) countered each other with buckets-a-plenty throughout the third quarter. Celtics star Jaylen Brown was whistled for two technicals and tossed late in the first half for arguing with the referees. With the win San Antonio stayed comfortably ahead of the 3-6 seeds – 7.5 ahead of Houston / Minnesota, 8.5 ahead of Los Angeles, and 9 ahead of Denver (with Wolves and Lakers as the nightcap).
Wembanyama (39 points and 11 rebounds – eight triples) continued to withstand the aggression other teams’ frontline players throw at him, while De’Aaron Fox (25 points and 9 assists) and Stephon Castle (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) matched the Celtics’ intensity to keep San Antonio toe-to-toe with the Celtics until that late flourish. Devin Vassell (14 points) came on late with timely shooting.
Despite pulling up gimpy at the end of the third, White (34 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds) carried Boston’s second half attack in this highly emotional contest. Jayson Tatum (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Ron Harper, Jr. – with a career high 22 – provided support in the glaring absence of Brown.
In a taut back-and-forth physical first 12 minutes, Boston and San Antonio treated this matchup with the requisite respect a late-season tilt deserved. Aside from a brief moment where the Spurs went up six, the teams were separated by fewer points for most of the period. Castle carried the Spurs early on, while Wembanyama was pelted in the face twice and smarting from the blows. Brown and White staked the Celtics to a lead with their 7-0 run. Castle and Brown were halted by their respective pair of fouls. Despite Boston’s barrage of threes they snuck out of the quarter only ahead two after Carter Bryant’s corner three.
As intense as the first quarter action, it was visibly heightened in the second. Ron Harper, Jr. had a succession of field goals spanning throughout the half and had a greater impact initially over his younger brother. Fox was able to find easy offense to keep the Spurs close. Late in the half, Brown (despite the consistent physicality throughout the half) meekly fell out of bounds and was tossed for arguing the phantom call with the crew chief and another referee. Julian Champagnie and Vassell were largely kept out of the scorebook; however San Antonio was able to get to halftime even with Boston 58-58.
San Antonio turned the 3-point shooting tables on Boston to start the third with a handful of makes from Fox, Wembanyama, and Castle. White tried to capably play the Brown role – putting up a 11 quick points. When the Spurs’ bench came in, Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson and helped get the Spurs back on top. Harper’s flurry of scores helped San Antonio nab its largest lead of the night late in the frame. Fittingly, Fox and Wembanyama’s scores completed the scoring for the Spurs and they went to the fourth up seven.
Observations
Crunchtime Sequence of the Game: Vassell, after swishing a jumper in the lane, shot the gap at the other end to steal an errant pass and soared in for a transition lay-up to make it 115-105.
I could not imagine what it’d be like to suffer an achilles tear and then have to come back because it’s related to my career (Tatum)… although I had hoped there’d be a longer pre-game recognition of what the Spurs had done (15-1 in the last month).
Bam Adebayo (83) nearly matched both teams’ outputs for three periods tonight.
Interesting to see Castle (Spurs’ future) and White (Spurs’ past) paired with each other from the tip.
My brother in law called during the first period just to say this: ”They (San Antonio) make basketball fun again to watch!”
Hugo Gonzalez is tailor-made to be a future Spur.
The Celtics lead the lague with the most impressive bald shaves / facial hair combos (White, Brown, and Jordan Walsh)
Castle Hills: Castle will need to limit the silly Karl-Anthony Towns-like reach-in fouls during the playoff rounds. His two early ones in the first forced him to the bench.
Sequence of the Game #1: In the opening moments, and after Wembanyama swatted away a Queta shot, Castle hit from the wing at the other end.
Sequence of the Game #2:. Early on in the second period, Fox hit a catch-and-shoot three, and then stripped White just across halfcourt and coasted in for a lay-up.
Sequence of the Game #3: In a early third quarter runout, Vassell splayed out to the right wing – and perhaps thought that his teammates wouldn’t find him, but after Castle fed it to a trailing Wembanyama, the center lasered it out to Vassell – who hit the three.
Game Rundown
Boston thought they had a sly give-and-go action to get Queta a lay-up, but Wembanyama sniffed it out and erased it. The referees missed an obvious foul to the center’s face by Sam Hauser on a dribble drive. Vassell also got hit in the face on a loose ball by Brown, and thankfully that one was called. Fox’s pair of paint buckets put San Antonio up six and he seemed to be the only Spur that found steady success. The Celtics’ output after four minutes was just triples from White and Luka Garza. Brown then spearheaded a 7-0 run to get Boston on top. Taylor Schiermann also made contact to Luke Kornet’s face with a minute to go. Tatum saw some shots go down later in the quarter and Boston headed to the second up a pair.
Bryant’s second threed brought San Antonio within two to start the second. Fox’s personal 5-0 run momentarily put the Spurs back up. Bryant’s fadeaway in the paint(?!) was matched by White’s second lay-up of the stanza. Brown and Wembanyama matched each other with consecutive pairs of field goals. Brown doinked a dunk attempt that caromed all the way out past the 3-point line. The teams stayed glued to 51-47 for some time as the feistiness ratcheted up several levels. After Brown tried to sell a fou call by falling out of bounds, he spent an embarrassing amount of time protesting it and was teed up twice. Though the Spurs squandered several chances to tie or lead, Castle’s degree-of-difficulty banker tied things at 58.
The baskets again came furiously after the break, and Fox’s stepback three put the Spurs up six. White screamed like (Keldon) Johnson on several pull-ups to draw fouls. Vassell’s first field goal came 27 minutes into game action. White and Tatum helped the Celtics leapfrog San Antonio back into the lead. Harper’s first field goal came against his brother nearly 2 1/2 quarters in and then proceeded to add to his tally prodigiously. White nearly matched San Antonio’s output for the quarter by himself. Wembanyama’s stepback triple helped get the Spurs went to the fourth up 97-90.
For the Celtics fan’s perspective, please visit Celtics Blog.
San Antonio’s continues its slate of games against Western Conference contenders Thursday night with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at 8:00 PM CDT.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 10: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 hugs Cameron Payne #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings: Tyrese Maxey – 22 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 9 Paul George – 6 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 Justin Edwards – 2 Jabari Walker – 1 MarJon Beauchamp – 1 Adem Bona – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
It’s hard to think of a team that needed a win for a morale boost quite like the Philadelphia 76ers.
Fortunately, they got it on Tuesday, coming from behind to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 139-129 in South Philadelphia.
Tipoff came less than a half hour after it was confirmed by the team that Tyrese Maxey has a tendon injury in his pinky and will be reevaluated in three weeks. Joel Embiid (oblique) and Paul George (suspension) are also still sidelined… so I’m sure the mental status of everyone on the roster was just stellar going into this one.
At least rookie VJ Edgecombe returned for the contest after a three-game hiatus due to a lumbar contusion from a hard fall taken in a game last week. He didn’t seem to be in any pain on Tuesday, getting back to work with physicality and even a nice soaring dunk at one point.
Though the Sixers were being a bit outmatched for some of this, it didn’t stop them from getting energetic for the second half comeback. After once trailing the Grizzlies by 14 points in the third, the shorthanded Philadelphia squad battled back, outscoring the visitors 41-25 in the final frame to grab the victory at home. And, it all included some excellent individual performances, which we will get to below!
The Sixers will now have a day off on Wednesday before hitting the road again — this time to visit the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It was good to see Kelly Oubre Jr. start this one off strong after a tough game for him on Monday that saw him pick up quick fouls and rendered him pretty much irrelevant for the rest of the contest (he only played 13 minutes). He looked much different on Tuesday. Oubre hit a triple on the first possession of the game and got more physically involved from there, starting to drive straight into the Grizzlies defense and finishing at the rim more often, helping him score 11 points in his first nine minutes.
It was far from his most efficient night shooting, especially the jumper, with Oubre going just 10-for-24 from the floor and 1-for-9 from long range. That being said, he kept doing what did work, which was using his speed and agility to go through traffic to the bucket whenever he could, scoring there and drawing more than a few fouls out of the Grizzlies in the process. He was making the right cuts off the ball and simply kept taking advantage of the right opportunities with his aggressive drives. Oubre even made some really good plays defensively, especially down the stretch.
He was also by far the best rebounder the Sixers had tonight, leading Philadelphia with 12 boards and trailing only Memphis’ Cedric Coward, who led the field with 16.
Oubre finished this one with a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double. He also had one assist, two steals and a block.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
After scoring just two points on free throws in a the last few minutes of the first quarter when he was subbed in, Cam Payne exploded in the second. The second-time Sixer scored 11 straight points (including three triples) for Philadelphia across two minutes early in the second and chipped in another three later in the frame as well to round out his perfect 5-for-5 field goal, 4-for-4 from long range period. And that’s not even mentioning the defensive plays made in-between all the scoring. He finished the first half with 16 points, one rebound, three assists, a steal and two blocks — all in 12 minutes off the bench.
He wasn’t done. Though he did miss one two-point field goal, Payne stayed red hot from long range. And by red hot, I mean perfect. Payne tied his career-high for triples (seven) on seven attempts with over six minutes left in the fourth. He sank one more to simultaneously set new career marks in both triples (eight now) and points (32). This was Payne’s first +30-point game in his career — and he’s in his 11th NBA season.
Couldn’t have come at a better time if you ask me!
Payne finished this one with 32 points on 9-for-10 field goal shooting, 8-for-8 shooting from long range, three rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in 30 minutes off the bench.
Cam Payne. The first +30-point game of his career (in his 11th season). A perfect 8-for-8 from long range, 9-for-10 from floor.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
After three games sidelined due to a lumbar contusion, VJ Edgecombe was back in the lineup on Tuesday night. His shot was a bit off at times, especially from long range — something one might expect after missing a week of game action — but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to find ways to chip in from the jump, even if it just meant getting himself to the free throw line early while he got into the groove of the game.
Edgecombe seemed to really settle in more and more as the contest went on — another thing one might expect after a week off. The rookie was absolutely hustling, using everything in his bag to help facilitate and contribute to the Sixers’ comeback in the second half of this one. Considering the lineup he was playing in and the leadership role he was tasked with tonight, I’m not sure you could have asked for a more encouraging injury return from the rookie.
Edgecombe finished Tuesday with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
DALLAS (AP) — Jamie Benn scored the go-ahead goal on a power play in the second period and Jake Oettinger stopped 25 of 26 shots as the Dallas Stars beat the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Oskar Back also scored for the Stars, who extended their points streak to 13 games (12-0-1).
Jack Eichel scored for the Golden Knights, who have lost three consecutive games and six of their last seven. Adin Hill made 14 saves.
Benn, the Stars’ 36-year-old captain, has goals in three of the last four games and 10 points in the last eight.
Oettinger, whose 26 wins are good for third in the league, is 9-0-1 in his last 10 starts.
Benn batted the puck in from the edge of the crease with 5:44 left in the second period to break a 1-1 tie and give Dallas’ second-ranked power play a goal in 10 consecutive games.
Back, a fourth-liner, tied the score midway through the second period, crashing the net to put in a rebound and end a 14-game goal drought.
Eichel beat Oettinger stick side 1:31 into the second period after a Stars turnover at the blue line for the game’s opening score.
Eichel has six goals in his last seven games against Dallas and a team-high 72 points this season.
The Stars are 27-0-3 this season when leading after two periods.
Dallas’ Matt Duchene assisted on Benn’s goal, giving him 19 points in the last 13 games.
Up next
Golden Knights: Begin a four-game homestand on Thursday against Pittsburgh.
Stars: Host Edmonton on Thursday in the fourth game of a season-long six-game homestand.
Mar 10, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) looks to drive past Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons still might have a ways to go to recapture the magic of the first half of their stunning season, but at least on Tuesday night, they exorcised some recent demons by throttling the Brooklyn Nets 138-100 just three days after blowing a 23-point lead and losing to the very same Nets team.
The Pistons took the game seriously; they were more talented at every position and made quick work of the Nets. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren combined to make their first 15 shots on the night and ended the game a combined 17-of-20 for 47 points.
Cunningham contributed 21 of those points and added 15 assists. Duren led all scorers with 26 points and added four rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists.
The Pistons led by 23 by the midpoint of the second quarter and never looked back. The Nets were led by Michael Porter Jr.’s 19 points.
With the outcome decided relatively early, it was an opportunity for some lesser sung players to show some stuff. Marcus Sasser started again in the place of the injured Ausar Thompson, and the guard finally got to see his shot start falling. He scored 14 points and hit four of his five 3-pointers. Kevin Heurter played 21 minutes and had a good all-around game, scoring seven points. You can tell he knows where to be and makes the right decisions, but he’s gotta start hitting his shots.
Daniss Jenkins had a tough game as a ball handler, but a great game as a ball hawk. He had 14 points, six assists, and five steals on the night.
Finally, there is Ron Holland, who did plenty of Ron Holland things, including getting under the skin of his opponent. Nets wing Nolan Treore got whistled for a flagrant foul for a hard shove on Holland in the second quarter. That was followed quickly by a Nic Claxton shove to Ron Holland that started at his collarbone and traveled up to his neck. Holland went flying, and they reviewed the play to see if it was a flagrant. Stunningly, they then decided to keep it a common foul but whistle Holland for flopping (aka exaggerating the contact).
It felt to me like the refs knew exactly where this game was going and simply wanted to concoct a solution to get the crowd and the Nets players to simmer down before an actual fight broke out. You gotta love Ron Holland.
The Pistons will get another test of whether their mojo is back on Thursday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have some talented players, but their injury report is pretty heinous. The bad news on that front got even worse with the announcment that star guard Tyrese Maxey is going to miss several weeks with a finger tendon injury.
ST. LOUIS — The Islanders’ best game of this four-game trip required the largest lift to turn into two points.
At the end of it, though, Mat Barzal’s game-winner had given Brayden Schenn and his new club a 4-3 overtime win over the Blues in his first game back at the Enterprise Center and secured a vital two points after roaring back from down 3-0 in an impressive show of resilience.
“It’s a team built on culture and character and you can definitely tell,” said Schenn, who reacted emotionally to a first-period tribute video from the Blues, whom he’d captained until just four days ago. “They have a no-quit attitude in this room.”
Mathew Barzal (right) celebrates with teammate Tony DeAngelo after scoring the game-winning goal in the Islanders’ 4-3 overtime win over the Blues in St. Louis on March 10, 2026. AP
While the Islanders had never looked out of this one — save perhaps for the brief minute where the score was 4-0 before Patrick Roy won a challenge for offside — it did very much appear that this would be a night that they’d end up on the wrong end, despite having controlled the game.
JG Pageau creaked the door open, though, by getting on Matthew Schaefer’s rebound late in the second to cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-1. Then, 5:03 into the third, Pavel Buchnevich’s high stick drew blood on Cal Ritchie to give the Islanders a chance they grabbed on to with both hands.
Poetically, Ritchie scored just 49 seconds into the four-minute double minor, the puck slowly trickling over the line off a scramble in the crease.
Fifty-nine seconds later, it was a tie game as Bo Horvat put one in from the slot.
“It’s big for the confidence,” Ritchie told The Post. “I think we kinda simplified some things, routes and stuff. I thought it went well. Had some traffic in front of the net on the one and then the other one is a good set play by Barzy and Bo.”
The Islanders have not had many games this year in which their power play could be leaned upon. But there is no time like the present.
Bo Horvat (left) celebrates with teammates after the Islanders’ overtime win over the Blues. AP
“We got it in a moment we needed it and it was a difference-maker,” Anders Lee told The Post. “All we can do as a power play is take it game by game. Can’t worry about where we are, how it doesn’t look good with the numbers, all that stuff. Tonight it won us the game.”
More precisely, it got the match into overtime, and there is no place where the Islanders are more comfortable than 3-on-3.
They’re now a ridiculous 10-0 in games that end in OT after Barzal took a feed from Schenn, split two defenders and ripped one in 2:11 into the extra period.
While the night had seemed to get away from the Islanders during a few minutes on either side of the game’s midpoint when Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud scored less than two minutes apart to extend a 1-0 Blues lead to 3-0, the visitors had largely dominated the puck and the shot count.
Ilya Sorokin makes a save on Jimmy Snuggerud during the Islanders’ overtime win over the Blues. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
They finished with 49 shots on net, their highest total of the season, and Lee said they felt like they were playing a great game the whole way.
“We made some mistakes, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “On the flip side of that, it felt like we were in complete control.”
It was, briefly, shaping into a familiar story, in which the Islanders failed to generate enough traffic around Joel Hofer’s net to capitalize on their chances.
What ended up mattering more were the same qualities the Isles have leaned on all season: their never-say-die resilience and ability to raise their game when it matters most.
And it may have helped a little that they started playing around the crease, too.
“It all started with a great call by our video guys,” coach Patrick Roy said, reminding of the offside challenge that prevented the game from reaching a 4-0 deficit that likely would have proven insurmountable. “That offside, it was nice for them to pick it up. I thought that was a key moment in the game.”
With the Blue Jackets winning and the Penguins picking up a point in a shootout loss to Carolina, the pressure would have been squarely on the Islanders had they returned home without two points in hand.
Instead, they’ll do so with the wind at their backs.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against Julian Champagnie #30 and Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On a night where the Celtics were without Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown was ejected, the Celtics were hunting for offense. They found it from a career high 22 points from Ron Harper Jr. However, it was not enough as Victor Wembanyama dominated and the Spurs made 20 three pointers to beat the Celtics, 125-116.
The Celtics were without two key bench pieces in Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic. They started their new regulars; Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. The Spurs were missing Harrison Barnes and Lindy Waters. They also started their regulars; De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama.
It was a cold start for the Celtics, who missed 6 of their first 7 shots. The Spurs jumped out to a 11-3 lead. However, the Celtics then settled into the game as Jaylen Brown took over. He had 4 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in the first 5 minutes of the game.
We had the Harper brothers going at it in the first quarter as Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper shared the floor as opponents for the first time in a regular season NBA game.
The Celtics led at the end of the first quarter, 31-29. Derrick White led the team with 7 points while Boston’s Harper (Ron Jr.) had 5 points of his own off of the bench.
I found it interesting that Joe Mazzulla matched Neemias Queta’s minutes with old friend Luke Kornet and Luka Garza’s minutes to Victor Wembanyama. It was likely in an effort to pull Wemby away from the basket with Garza’s shooting and open up more driving lanes.
Jaylen Brown got thrown out of the game with a double technical after he thought he was pushed out of bounds and did not get the call. He got some leeway at the beginning but get yelling until he got not only one technical foul but two and was ejected from the game.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is ejected after arguing a call against the San Antonio Spurs in the second period at Frost Bank Center on March 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Then again, Tyler Ford was officiating the game.
It was Ford's smug reaction that set Brown off. He's consistently that way and it's why players can't stand him.
The teams were tied at halftime, 58-58. Derrick White led the team with 13 points while Jaylen Brown had 8 points and 7 assists before he was ejected.
Jayson Tatum was 4/14 in the first half with 10 points but I thought he played well. The shot will come, it just isn’t falling yet, but he got good shots and continued to make all the right reads.
D-White had it going for the Celtics in the third quarter, he had 11 points in the first 5 minutes of the quarter. A Tatum layup put the Celtics up 76-75.
White just kept the Celtics within striking distance throughout the third quarter, he had 19 points in the quarter to keep the Celtics in the fight as the Spurs kept draining threes.
The Celtics trailed by 7 at the end of three quarters, 97-90. D-White led the team with 32 points while Jayson Tatum had 14 and Ron Harper Jr. had 11 of his own.
Tatum had the first 7 points of the quarter for the Celtics to make the game 100-97.
The Celtics were able to get the fame to a 1 point spits lead but a 12-0 Spurs run game them a 13-point lead with 3 minutes to go.
On an NBA night that belonged to Bam Adebayo and his 83 points, this game belonged to Victor Wembanyama. Wemby scored 39 points with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks while hitting 8 three pointers, tying a career high, in the game.
Derrick White gave 34 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, Jayson Tatum gave 24 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals and Ron Harper Jr. gave 22 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists but it was not enough as the Celtics fell to the Spurs. 125-116.
Boston shot 47% from the field and 37% from three while San Antonio shot 52% from the field and 43% from three. The Celtics next game is Thursday night in Oklahoma City against the Thunder at 9:30 EST.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 10: Marcus Sasser #25 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 10, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons got back in the win column after a dominant performance from their All-Stars. Cade Cunningham led the way with 21 points and 15 assists while Jalen Duren crushed bones on his way to 26 points in the 138-100 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pistons got right to it with a Duncan Robinson 3, and Marcus Sasser immediately followed suit. Detroit was 5/12 from 3 in the first period alone. The offense was flowing after a couple of rough games. Duren dominated the paint. With nifty fastbreak euro steps and thunderous off-hand jams, Duren’s fingerprints were already all over this one. He finished the game going 9/10 from the field. No one could contain the beast.
The defensive intensity rose a bit when Ron Holland checked in. He forced offensive fouls with constant pressure. Javonte Green had a teammate-of-the-year moment when he stopped Holland from going at Brooklyn’s Nolan Traoré after Traoré pushed Holland. Holland’s defensive pressure frustrates opponents like that.
The Holland, Green, Cade, Kevin Huerter, and Isaiah Stewart lineup held the Nets to two points in their five minutes together to start the second quarter. This group was flying around. Huerter was a part of the group’s success even with his jumper still lagging behind. He hit the offensive glass and did the little things.
Brooklyn only scored 13 points in the second period. Detroit needed a showing that reflected its defensive identity. The defense had not been dominant over the last few games. Detroit got back to what they do best.
It’s understandable when a top-flight defense like Detroit slows any team down. That said, no one in Brooklyn could get it going while the game was in reach. Michael Porter Jr. has played at an All-Star level but had nothing for Detroit. The Pistons bottled up the sharpshooter as he was 1-6 from deep. Brooklyn was only 13/38 with some 3s coming in garbage time.
The Pistons didn’t have those struggles from 3. Detroit shot 50 percent as a squad, and Cade led the charge. He was 4/5 from range. Over the last 11 games, he’s shooting 45 percent on seven 3-point attempts. Cade’s jumper could be one of the Pistons’ X-factor come playoff time. He’s trending in the right direction. If teams can’t go under because he’s nailing shots like this, then good luck.
Sasser stepped up in the starting lineup with Ausar Thompson out. He buried four triples. Detroit will need that type of microwave shooting. The same goes for the night Daniss Jenkins had. He won’t average four steals, but that level of ferocity can offset tough shooting nights.
The Nets aren’t world-beaters by any means, but Detroit got out of its defensive slump. Shots won’t always fall, but defense is a non-negotiable for this team. Turning defense into offense has been a staple all season. Detroit scored 29 points off turnovers. That hadn’t happened since before the losing streak. Detroit handled the tanking Nets behind their physical brand of basketball. Next up is the Philadelphia 76ers in Detroit.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mathew Barzal scored in overtime to cap the New York Islanders’ rally from a three-goal deficit for a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.
In addition to his goal at 2:11 of the extra period, Barzal had two assists. Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist and Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Bo Horvat also scored for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves.
Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and two assists as the Blues had their season-high four-game winning streak snapped.
It was the third-straight multipoint game for Snuggerud. The 21-year-old has 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in his last 13 games.
Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway also scored for the Blues. Joel Hofer made 45 saves.
Trailing 3-0, Pageau got the Islanders on the board with 2:10 left in the second.
The turning point came when Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich was called for a double-minor high-sticking penalty early in the third period. Ritchie scored on the power play at 5:52 of the third and Horvat scored a power-play goal a minute later to tie it at 3-all.
Broberg gave the Blues the lead at 4:06 of the first. Holloway made it 2-0 at 9:10 of the second period and Snuggerud added to the lead 87 seconds later.
Robert Thomas appeared to make it 4-0 with 5:32 left in the second, but the goal was waved off after the Islanders successfully challenged that St. Louis was offside on the play.
Brayden Schenn got a standing ovation during a video tribute in the first period. Schenn, who was dealt to the Islanders at the trade deadline on Friday, spent nine seasons with the Blues and was the team captain the last three years.
Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein had an assist in his NHL debut.
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Amen Thompson scored 23 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors 113-99 on Tuesday night.
Durant shot 12 of 16 from the field while adding seven rebounds. He scored 22 of his points in the first half.
Thompson eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fifth time in six games. He converted on 6 of his 10 field goal attempts while making 10 free throws.
Jabari Smith Jr. also added 23 points for the Rockets, who pulled into a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings. Alperen Sengun scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Houston shot 60% in the first quarter and outrebounded the Raptors 11-5, but with the help of six Rockets’ turnovers the game was tied at 29. The Rockets closed the first half on a 14-4 run to take a 58-49 halftime lead.
The Rockets shot 49% from the field for the game and outrebounded the Raptors 53-30, finishing with 22 second chance points to Toronto’s five.
RJ Barrett’s 25 points led the Raptors. Scottie Barnes scored 24 points, but Toronto made just 9 of 36 three-point attempts.
The Raptors’ lead over the Orlando Magic for fifth place in the Eastern Conference is down to ½ game.
Up next
Raptors: At the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In one of the more shocking performances in a long time, Bam Adebayo passed Kobe Bryant for the second-most points all-time in a single game, pouring in 83 points for the Heat in their win over the Wizards on Tuesday.
With the game well out of hand down the stretch, Bam took a number of trips to the free throw line down the stretch to move past Kobe.
THE MOMENT BAM FINISHED WITH 83 PTS TO BREAK KOBE’S SINGLE-GAME SCORING RECORD 🤯👏 pic.twitter.com/DSDfP7g2gv
Bam set a number of records in this game outside of the 83 points. He finished the night shooting 20-43 from the field, 7-22 from three and 36-43 from the free throw line. He added nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
But the record-breaking parts of that have to do with the shooting. The 36 made free throws are the most ever, the 43 attempted free throws is the most ever and the 22 attempted threes is the third-most ever.
Bam Adebayo tonight: – 83 points, 2nd-most in a game in NBA history – 36 made FT, most in NBA history – 43 FTA, most in NBA history – 22 3PA, tied for 3rd-most in a game in NBA history
There was certainly some gamesmanship down the stretch of this one to get Bam the record. The Heat were comfortably ahead in the fourth and began force-feeding the ball to Bam, as any team would do.
The Wizards, being the awful basketball team they are, kept fouling him and sending him to the line. Their attempts at double- and triple-teaming him did little to slow him down as they kept fouling him. Very late on in the game, the Heat began intentionally fouling to allow more chances for Bam to pass Kobe.
Hilariously, Washington answered by intentionally fouling other Heat players to send them to the line. Eventually, though, Bam did pass Kobe for the second-best scoring game in league history.
There will certainly be a lot of debate and consternation about this game compared to Kobe’s 81-point game. In his performance, Kobe went 18-20 at the line, attempting half as many free throws as Bam. He also made as many threes as Bam (7) in nearly half as many attempts (13).
But at the end of the day, records were made to be broken. None of it is all that serious. Kobe’s legacy is not changed by this game. In fact, it’s a good time to remember his final tweet and what he said of the future of the game.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Duren scored 26 points, Cade Cunningham had 21 points and 15 assists, and the Detroit Pistons snapped a season-worst four-game skid, beating the Brooklyn Nets 138-100 on Tuesday night.
Duren shot 9 of 10 from the field and Cunningham was 8 of 10, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. Duncan Robinson added 15 points and Marcus Sasser finished with 14 for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who never trailed.
Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points and Jalen Wilson added 14 for the Nets, who saw their two-game winning streak end.
Part of Detroit’s skid was an improbable loss to visiting Brooklyn on Saturday night in a game it led by 23 points midway through the third quarter. The Nets ended a 10-game skid with that victory.
Cunningham — who did not play in that game — and Duren combined for 21 first-quarter points as the Pistons shot 57 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc for a 38-27 advantage.
The Pistons then outscored the Nets 35-13 in the second quarter for a 73-40 halftime lead.
Detroit finished the game shooting 56 percent from the field and 50 percent (16 of 32) from three-point range.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 10: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks scores on a lay up during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on March 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks lost 129-114 to the Phoenix Suns to drop their fourth of the last five games, ending a disappointing home stand. The game saw the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo after a one-game absence and Taurean Prince after he had missed most of the season with a neck injury. Devin Booker led the Suns with 27 points, while Kyle Kuzma paced the Bucks with 33 points and a big milestone, passing 10,000 career points.
The Bucks limped out of the locker room once again, surrendering easy buckets amid a 9-2 start for the Suns. The home team quickly found its offense, though, climbing back to tie it up 9-9 as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ousmane Dieng found their scoring groove. It was largely back and forth for the rest of the frame, with a brief Bucks’ lead peaking at 19-14. The Suns decisively won the battle of the Greens: Jalen Green finished with 14 points, while AJ Green was scoreless and committed a foul on a made 3-pointer to close the first and help the visitors pad their lead. After one, it was Suns 36, Bucks 30.
Quarter two continued in an even-steven manner, with runs by both teams that largely canceled each other out. The Bucks went on a 9-0 mid-quarter run off three quick three-pointers, two by Myles Turner that bookended one by Ryan Rollins. The visitors were helped by a reawakened Devin Booker, who found his groove late in the quarter for 13 points to send him to the locker room with a game-high of 20. Kyle Kuzma also got cooking late in the quarter, pouring in nine points in the final two minutes, including a 28-footer at the buzzer to send the Bucks hootin’ and hollerin’ into the break. Halftime: Bucks 65, Suns 62.
The Bucks were the aggressors coming out of the half for a change, jumping to a 73-62 advantage. But prosperity just can’t last for this squad. The Suns roared back, with a 15-4 midquarter run clawing them back to even, 77 all, at the 7:38 mark. The remainder of the quarter was the battle between two unlikely gunslingers. Kyle Kuzma ended the frame with 16 points to push him to 31 for the game. Royce O’Neale managed to outduel him, finishing the frame with 18 points, including a buzzer-beating three-point make. Phoenix was ahead 100-97 entering the final period.
Phoenix came out feisty to start the fourth, starting with a 7-0 run to push their lead to 10. They held onto a double-digit lead throughout the final frame, as the Bucks seemed to run out of gas on what started as a promising night for the beleaguered squad.
Stat That Stood Out
17. That’s the Bucks’ turnover total. Those gifts resulted in 22 points for the visitors.
Jaylen Brown had an early exit Tuesday night — and he didn’t wait long to voice his frustration.
The Celtics star was ejected in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s 125-116 loss to the Spurs after he received a double technical seemingly for arguing over the lack of a call against San Antonio’s Stephon Castle.
Brown, dribbling near the sideline, lost the handle of the ball as Castle guarded him, and possession was given to the Spurs. Brown took exception to the decision, immediately holding out his arms in disbelief.
Jaylen Brown has been EJECTED after being assessed a double technical foul for his reaction to this no-call
Instead of really going back on defense, an incensed Brown yelled at referee Tyler Ford and the rest of the officiating crew, which eventually gave him a double technical and the early boot.
It marked just the second career ejection for Brown, according to ESPN.
Minutes after he was given the heave-ho, Brown took to X in what seemed like his way of voicing anger with what went down.
Jaylen Brown was frustrated with the officials on Tuesday night.Jaylen Brown was frustrated with the officials on Tuesday night.
“This the s–t I be talking about,” he wrote.
Brown had eight points, seven assists and two rebounds before exiting.
“I just give a ton of credit to my high school principal. He had the balls to throw a student out,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game, per ESPN. “He didn’t leave it to the hall monitor. … “I understand completely where Jaylen’s coming from. Absolutely. And I’ve got his back 100 percent, I think he was 100 percent right to be frustrated and do what he did.”
Largely without Jayson Tatum — who just returned from an Achilles tear on Friday — Brown has excelled this season at 28.7 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA.
