分類: 综合

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Orlando Magic on Saturday night and Austin Reaves is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable because of left hip soreness, making the Lakers guard the focus of attention as the team tries to extend its eight-game winning streak and solidify its playoff position.

The Lakers entered the matchup at 45–25, No. 3 in the Western Conference, and continued their strong push toward the postseason. Meanwhile, the Magic dropped to 38-31, No. 6 in the East, looking to snap a three-game losing streak and make the playoffs. Here’s everything we know from the injury report regarding Austin Reaves and his game status vs. the Magic.

Reeves has played a major role this season. In 44 games, he averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He is shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three and 86.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, Reeves continues to produce offense at a high level. He handles playmaking duties and consistently generates scoring opportunities. His presence gives the Lakers balance and rhythm, especially with their stars.

austin reeves injury status vs magic

The Lakers’ injury report notes Reeves’ availability as particularly important. Maxi Kleber (back) is out, putting pressure on the rotation. Los Angeles needs Reaves’ scoring and playmaking to maintain their current pace.

On the other hand, Magic is struggling with several injuries. Anthony Black (abdomen) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are out. Franz Wagner (ankle) is also sidelined, while Wendell Carter Jr. (rib) is questionable.

The Lakers are looking to continue moving forward. Trying to stop the magic slide. So when it comes to whether Austin Reeves is playing vs. the Magic tonight, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.

The Los Angeles Clippers face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night and Kawhi Leonard is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, putting the Clippers’ star in focus as the team tries to end a four-game losing streak and stay in the play-in race.

The Clippers entered the matchup at 34–36, No. 9 in the Western Conference, looking to regain momentum. Dallas, meanwhile, comes in at 23-47, No. 13 in the West, trying to snap a two-game losing streak. Here’s everything we know from the injury report about Kawhi Leonard and his game status vs. the Mavericks.

Kawhi Leonard has continued to be elite this season. He averaged 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 54 games. He is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three, as well as 89.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, Leonard continues to dictate the game on both ends. He makes his shots with ease and holds the Clippers defensively. His presence sets the tone and provides structure to Los Angeles in high-pressure moments.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Mavericks

The Clippers’ injury report makes Leonard’s situation particularly important. Bradley Beal (hip) is out with injuries, while Benedict Mathurin (toe) and Yannick Konan Niederhauser (foot) remain sidelined. Los Angeles can’t afford to lose another key piece as it struggles to stay in the play-in picture.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, are dealing with key absences. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Derek Lively II (foot) are out along with Brandon Williams (concussion). Several players are listed as questionable, including Caleb Martin (heel), Moussa Cisse, John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith.

The Clippers are looking for stability. The Mavericks are trying to stop the decline. So when it comes to whether Kawhi Leonard is playing tonight against the Mavericks, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.

March Madness is probably the highlight of every college basketball player’s career. Where else can you experience the atmosphere that the tournament brings? Very few sporting events match the intensity of March Madness. Unfortunately, there are a whole group of players who were not able to play in the tournament, like Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey.

With March Madness in full swing once again, Maxi took to X to express his thoughts about the tournament. The 76ers star lamented the fact that he was not able to play in the NCAA Tournament.

“Every year during March Madness I get sad that I don’t get a chance to play in the tournament…” Maxi wrote.

Maxey then went on to say that things worked out great anyway, as he was drafted by the 76ers in part because he missed the March Madness tournament.

“Then I remembered… I probably wouldn’t be a Sixer… so it worked out perfectly!” He said.

Maxi was drafted by the 76ers with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The Kentucky product fell down the draft board largely due to a lack of game film. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 March Madness was canceled entirely. Not wanting to stay in college another year, Maxi decided to declare for the draft and take his chance there.

This decision was very good for Maxi. Although it took some time for him to find his feet, the 76ers guard eventually became one of the best guards in the league. He was named to his second All-Star Game this season and has been a key player for the 76ers alongside Joel Embiid. This season, Maxi is averaging 29 points per game while making 37.1% of his three-point attempts, as well as 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.

Maxi, unfortunately, will be out for the next two weeks after suffering a finger injury last week. The Sixers currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference, are still in the play-in tournament, but have a long shot at making the playoffs outright.

James Borrego has no interest in spinning a story about what the New Orleans Pelicans have done after the NBA All-Star break. The math of the playoff picture is the same, but the coach says what’s going on inside the Big Easy’s locker room is very real. Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray may be playing their best basketball ever, but this turnaround has nothing to do with clipboard-based schemes.

The turnaround has been largely driven by a starting unit that has quickly found its rhythm with an All-Star point guard in the mix. This is obvious and cannot be overstated. How well they fit together is being overlooked at a time when most teams would be planning for the summer holidays.

“Yeah, you know, that group has played well together,” Borrego began. “That settles us with the herb handling, you got Murph out there, Saddiq and Z have a two-man game going on.”

Murray sets up buckets for Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey while Herb Jones does a little bit of everything. It certainly seems like a recipe for success, although it will have to wait until next year. Unfortunately, it’s too late for the Pelicans to make postseason noise. Still, despite having very slim chances of catching the Golden State Warriors for the final NBA Play-in Tournament spot, the Pelicans continue to play with pride.

Borrego stressed, “I would say more than anything, there’s just a caring factor, an urgency and a belief.” “There’s a ‘this is all that matters’ mentality right now. Like we want to do something. We want to be competitive. We want to grow. We want to get better. We’re taking pride every day in our film sessions, practices, shootarounds, games and our overall mentality of finishing strong and being a team moving in the right direction. And more than anything, it’s a group effort. Everyone bought in, in the same direction.”

The lineup has appeared in balanced production. Over the past 15 games, the Pelicans have ranked among the more efficient offensive teams in the league, relying on Williamson’s interior scoring, Murphy’s perimeter gravitas and Murray’s shot creation to produce consistent looks. Bey’s versatility and Not on Herb’s defensive factors complete a unit that now plays with clear distinction and purpose.

the pelicans are playing to win

Borrego, for his part, doesn’t think much about where the race began.

“Obviously, staying healthy helps,” the interim head coach acknowledged. “I’m not going to get caught up in that. By getting Dejounte back, we now have depth, size and physicality on our defense.”

Murray’s return has reestablished the structure at both ends. Offensively, the 29-year-old has given the Pelicans another primary initiator, reducing the burden on Williamson while improving late-game execution. Defensively, his length along with Jones has helped the Pelicans gain a disruptive edge that was inconsistent under Willie Green. Still, Borrego was quick to dismiss the idea that the team’s recent form is entirely linked to health.

“Overall, it’s been a mentality of taking care of each other and playing,” Borrego explained. “I think we’ve had that going for us for quite some time now. It didn’t happen overnight or in the last six to ten games. I guess we’ve been top five in clutch games all year. I think we’ve probably been top five in clutch games all year. We’ve been putting ourselves back, even when we were losing games, we said put ourselves in these situations to win games. Keep fighting. Keep hitting the rock.”

Over the last 15 games, the Pelicans are in the top 10 in scoring (119.4), field goal percentage (48.3%), turnovers (15.5), and free-throw attempts (28.8). It took a few months, but the nuances of Borrego’s game plan are starting to become second nature.

How does he feel about working for months to keep this season from being ruined?

Borrego insisted, “This is what has led us to this moment. We didn’t flip a switch and turn it on.” “We’ve been working on it for months, and it’s finally starting to turn around. But it’s been an overall commitment to working every day, getting better and playing for each other. I think that’s been the biggest factor there.”

This is going to be a big factor in the front office’s head coach decision coming soon. It must be said how much Williamson and Murray are investing in the ideas.

The Houston Rockets had every reason to feel down on themselves on Friday night. Not only did they dismantle one of the league’s hottest teams, but they did so with a swagger that showed they knew exactly what was going to happen. After the Rockets ended the Atlanta Hawks’ impressive 11-game winning streak with a decisive 117-95 win, Kevin Durant decided to have a little fun with the media during his postgame availability.

Durant, who has faced considerable scrutiny recently regarding his body language and engagement, walked into the press conference room with a bright smile. Before taking the first question, he looked at the assembled reporters and asked, “How was the body language tonight, was it good? What were the vibes like?” The room immediately erupted with laughter, a clear indication of the various narratives that often follow famous scorers.

Kevin Durant after the Rockets blew out the Hawks and ended their 11-game winning streak.

“What was the body language like tonight, was it nice? What were the vibes like?”

(h/t @AdamJWexler)pic.twitter.com/aEnXi8Mv0I

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 21 March 2026

The atmosphere on the court at Toyota Center was certainly impeccable. Durant led the way with 25 points, but the real story of the night was his ascent into basketball immortality. During the second quarter, Durant officially passed Wilt Chamberlain to move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

It was a historic moment that served as the perfect backdrop for an impressive team performance. Jabari Smith Jr. was a force of nature all evening, scoring 23 points and nine rebounds, while Alpern Sengun carried the offense with 15 points and 10 assists.

The Atlanta Hawks had no answer to Houston’s defensive intensity. Nickell Alexander-Walker managed to score 21 points, but the Hawks struggled to find rhythm against a Rockets team that forced them to make difficult shots all night. As the Rockets controlled the glass and the pace, Atlanta’s 11-game run came to a screeching halt. With this win, the Houston Rockets proved that they can compete with anyone when their stars align.

Kristaps Porzingis appears to have escaped any major injury after leaving with “lower back soreness” in the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ 115-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

In the locker room after the game, Porzingis described how the spasms in his lower back worsened as the game progressed in the first half.

“I started feeling it right in the first quarter,” Porzingis said. “I started having a little cramp, [so] I tried to move. As long as I was warm, I was fine, but in that one game, I felt a little cramp down there.

Porzingis was referring to the play when he had a cramp in transition, when he jumped and reached his arm up to intercept Pistons center Paul Reed’s pass. Porzingis noted that he could feel tightness in his back on the plays leading up to that moment, but that specific action was the main trigger. Porzingis would immediately leave the game and not return.

Back injuries are somewhat familiar territory for Porzingis, but he hasn’t dealt with one in some time. Porzingis told reporters that this was something he had experienced earlier in his career, but that it was no longer a major problem after learning how to manage them.

“Honestly, I’m pretty good at managing and keeping my back strong so I’m sure it will heal quickly,” Porzingis told reporters. “It’s a little tight right now. Once I cooled down, it got even tighter. But I’m sure I’ll get it going soon.”

What does Kristaps Porzingis mean moving forward?

Based on Porzingis’ explanation of his back spasms, it doesn’t seem to be of much concern. But considering how much time Porzingis has missed due to various health issues, this is a bad stroke of luck for him and the Warriors. Just as he was starting to piece things together.

Earlier this week, Porzingis scored his season high of 30 points against the Washington Wizards, helping Golden State pick up a much-needed win. And before the Pistons game, he was able to play four of the Warriors’ last five games, logging 20, 22, 26 and 23 minutes in each of those games. The plan was really to start increasing Porzingis’ minutes as his stamina and wind were progressing well.

Porzingis said it’s “probably” unlikely he’ll play in the Warriors’ back-to-back against the Atlanta Hawks, which was already up in the air, given how much the team has erred on the side of caution in those schedule situations.

Thus, the Warriors will have to make do without their notable big man in their reunion with Jonathan Kuminga, who they dealt to the Hawks at the trade deadline. And they’ll try to salvage a road trip that saw them go 1-3 and drop to 33-37 on the season.

The Detroit Pistons are officially headed back to the postseason. Detroit became the first team from the Eastern Conference to clinch a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs after an impressive 115-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. This is the second consecutive year the Motor City will see playoff basketball, a feat that seemed nearly impossible just two seasons ago when the franchise finished with a league-worst 14–68 record.

Even without star guard Cade Cunningham, who is out with a chest injury, the Detroit Pistons did not lose a win at Little Caesars Arena. Jalen Duren led the offense with 23 points in just 21 minutes of action.

With Cunningham out, Dennis Jenkins stepped into the starting lineup and looked like a seasoned veteran, having a near triple-double with 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Pistons relied on their inner strength and tirelessness to overcome an uncharacteristically cold shooting night, where they converted only five of their 21 attempts from beyond the arc.

Defensively, Detroit acted as a nightmare for a shorthanded Golden State Warriors team that already lacked the legendary Stephen Curry. Aussie Thompson put on a defensive masterclass, recording a career-high seven steals and disrupting passing lanes all evening.

His activity helped the Warriors force an astonishing 26 turnovers, which the Pistons efficiently converted into 32 easy points. Brandin Podziemski led the visitors with 15 points, but Golden State struggled to find a rhythm after Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the first half due to lower back pain.

The win moved the Detroit Pistons to a perfect 51–19 record, maintaining a comfortable 4.5-game lead over the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the East. While the ultimate goal is a deep run in April and May, achieving it early proves how far this young core has come.

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets NBA rivalry doesn’t need much help to feel intense, but things got especially spicy during their latest clash on Friday night. In a game defined by high stakes and physical play, New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby and Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton found themselves at the center of the drama after a heated third-quarter exchange resulted in double technical fouls.

The sequence began when Anunoby was handling the rock at the top of the key. Claxton, known for his defensive versatility, locked in and managed to get his hands on the ball, knocking it out of bounds. Anunoby immediately appealed to the officials and insisted that the ball had touched Claxton for the last time.

Anunoby’s frustration boiled over when NBA referees ignored his calls and awarded possession to Brooklyn. He confronted Claxton and gave an apparent shove, prompting officers to immediately intervene. Both players received technical fouls, which served as a reminder that the Battle of the Borough still holds great significance.

OG Anunoby and Nic Claxton suffered a double technicality after this exchange in Knicks-Nets.pic.twitter.com/dyGbFpcPEH

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026

Despite momentarily losing cool, the Knicks turned that energy into a narrow 93-92 victory at Barclays Center. Karl-Anthony Towns once again proved why he was missing for this roster, finishing the night with a dominant double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds. Towns took control of the glass and scored timely buckets whenever Brooklyn threatened to pull away. Jalen Brunson added 17 points and eight assists, navigating a dangerous Nets defense to keep the game within a single possession until the final minute.

For the Nets, Josh Minot led the team with 22 points, showing his elite shot-making ability, while Claxton finished with eight points and seven rebounds before late-game drama. Ultimately, New York’s veteran patience allowed them to escape with the victory. The win moves the Knicks ahead in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Nets continue to show they can hang with the heavyweights even in a losing effort.

The Memphis Grizzlies needed a spark to stop an eight-game slump. He found it in the long-term defensive versatility of Taylor Hendricks. In a crucial home win over Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets, the 22-year-old shotstower showed why the Grizzlies are betting on his former first-round pedigree.

Hendricks changed the stat line that defines “disruptive,” racking up 13 points, six steals and three blocks in a matchup against the three-time NBA MVP. This performance was evidence of the Grizzlies and Isalo’s growing comfort level with the coaching staff. Judging by the early contests, the last few weeks have been sensational. Since February 23, he is averaging 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks.

Credit goes to something that can’t be measured as easily as shooting 35.8% from beyond the arc.

“That’s our communication from the bench,” Hendricks said. “It’s telling each other that the only way to get better is to finish games.”

That trust and respect for all voices represents a change for the 6-foot-9 forward, whose path has been slowed by injuries since entering the league. Amidst a chaotic season with two different teams, Hendricks is finally being given the freedom to play through the mistakes. This is benefiting the Grizzlies in a big way, who now know they have a fundamental frontcourt piece.

“Taylor has been great. That’s one of the things that hasn’t really surprised us, but just his ability with his wings. He’s really disruptive,” Isalo stressed, “(Hendrix) is able to put pressure on smaller guards and bigger guys while handling himself physically, and being able to regain his position.”

Whether defending on the perimeter or battling inside, Hendricks’ ability to toggle between positions has given the Grizzlies a flexible piece during a period defined by roster instability. But this opportunity did not materialize just like that and the path to reach this point was not easy.

Grizzlies come to the scene in spring

Isalo believes a change of scenery was just what was needed to provide the mental reset needed to move on from those setbacks.

“I think it’s really just a fresh start, and if you look at Taylor’s short professional career so far, it seems like he’s had some injuries. He obviously had a big injury last season, and it’s not always easy to come back from that,” Isalo said. “And from what I see and know in discussions with him, you see he’s really enjoying playing. He feels very grateful for the opportunity. He enjoys it. He says you know every day I learn something new and play through the mistakes, which is really not the case.”

Hendricks’ willingness to “play despite mistakes” has allowed the young forward to have an impact on wins even when his jumper isn’t falling. Jokic struggled against the Nuggets from deep, shooting only 1 of 10 from three-point range. In many systems, such a cold night can result in benching; Under Isalo, it was a footnote to a dominant defensive night.

“It’s something that I think is a really good fit for him, and he’s found a really good spot on our roster where he complements a lot of other guys,” Isalo explained. “He’s able to play the big spot, rebound there, but also at the four. And he’s hitting shots. Even (against Jokic), he was 10 of 10 from three, he still impacts the game in a very positive way. So, it’s not like he needs to just make shots to impact the game, and those players are very valuable.”

Looking for a late-season highlight, Isalo’s preference is to lean toward opportunity. Few players embrace it more than Taylor Hendricks. A more aggressive and smooth version of the first-rounder is probably the best Zach Eddy insurance for the Grizzlies. If these disruptions hold true to his on-court character, his upside could fill much of the void left by Jaren Jackson Jr.

This weekend we found NBA 2K26 2KTV Episode 24 Answers to help players earn some free VC. For those new to the series, NBA 2KTV is a weekly in-game program hosted by Alexis Morgan and Chris Manning. Overall, the show features a wide variety of content ranging from interviews with actual players and developers, fan highlights, and more. However, we also understand that everyone watches 2KTV to get VCs by answering questions in each episode. So, we have listed all NBA 2K26 2KTV Episode 24 Answers for your convenience.

NBA 2K26 2KTV Episode 24 Answers

1. Legend Sports
2. 2025
3. Any
4. Grizzlies
5. 5v5
6. fast shuffle
7. 5
8. thunder
9. Any
10. Any
11. 3

Overall, this includes all the answers for NBA 2K26 2KTV Episode 24. To answer a question, you simply press the button that matches the answer you want to choose. The questions appear randomly in each episode, so you’ll have to watch the entire episode to find them all. Answering questions correctly in 2KTV usually rewards the player with VC, although sometimes you can earn something more.

New episodes of 2KTV are typically released on Fridays, although there have been exceptions in the past. Additionally, episode lengths vary, depending on the amount of content within the episode.

Luckily, the developers like to give away a few freebies (sometimes more) in each episode. So even if you don’t use any guides, you’ll still earn at least one or more free rewards. So, tune in to 2KTV, because there’s no reason not to earn some free VC.

Finally, for more gaming and NBA news, visit ClutchPoints. Also, subscribe to our gaming newsletter for more weekly updates.

The Brooklyn Nets have Noah Clowney on the injured list. The third-year forward missed Wednesday’s 121-92 loss to Oklahoma City with a sprained wrist. He was ruled out of Friday’s game with the New York Knicks.

Jordi Fernandez said Clowney likely will miss Sunday’s game with the Sacramento Kings. The Nets are already without Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring strain), Igor Demin (plantar fasciitis) and Deron Sharp (thumb surgery).

“I had to take him out because he was in so much pain. Sometimes, as I remember with De’Ron, I’d say, ‘Are you OK?’ And he wanted to play through it, and then I had to take him outside and look, and then he went back in, and all of a sudden, he needed surgery. And Noah, immediately when I saw he was in pain, I said, ‘Do you need a sub?’ And I’m asking guys to pick fouls to be able to get him out, and I ended up calling a timeout. That’s why he was very sad. He has sprained his wrist. He’ll be out tonight, most likely he’ll be out the next game, and then we’ll go from there.”

Clowney has appeared in 62 games with 56 starts this season, averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists on .396/.333/.804 shooting splits.

Noah Clowney likely to join several key Nets sidelined for Kings matchup

Sunday’s Kings matchup will have a significant impact on the NBA’s draft lottery race. The Nets are in third place in the lottery standings entering the game. Sacramento is fourth with one more win than Brooklyn.

The Nets are coming off a five-game losing streak entering Friday’s matchup with the New York Knicks. They have posted the NBA’s worst offense during that span, sidelining Porter, Demin and Sharp, averaging 96.2 points on 39.7 percent shooting.

Meanwhile, the Kings have lost their last two games 4-1, dropping them from first to fourth in the lottery standings. After Thursday’s 139-118 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento will have two days off before the Brooklyn matchup.

The Detroit Pistons will have to live without Cade Cunningham for the foreseeable future as the star is suffering from a collapsed lung.

The Pistons announced in a statement Thursday that Cunningham will be out for at least two weeks due to the injury.

“After further testing, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with pneumothorax of the left lung. Cunningham exited in the first quarter of Tuesday’s game vs. the Wizards. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.”

@DetroitPistons Today announced the following medical update on guard Cade Cunningham: pic.twitter.com/BNUh9hlgT7

– Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) 19 March 2026

Following the injury announcement, the NBA world expressed its concern and sent its prayers to Cunningham, who earned a second All-Star award amid a stellar season for the Pistons.

On Friday morning, Cade Cunningham took to Instagram, where he sent out a message to everyone.

“Appreciate everyone who reached out” Cunningham saidAdding a prayer emoji. “Everything happens for a reason. God’s timing never misses. Living in the present and taking it day by day. The later becomes even greater.”

cad on ig 🙏 pic.twitter.com/qC6t8CQaKZ

– Pistons Jack (@pistons_jack) 20 March 2026

Many have criticized the NBA’s 65-game rule for end-of-season NBA awards eligibility, including MVP and All-NBA team selections.

Cunningham has played 61 games so far, and if he misses the remainder of the regular season, he will fall four games short of qualifying for the season-ending NBA awards.

In 61 appearances this season, Cade Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Pistons, while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three.

Entering March 20, the Detroit Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 50–19. They are just five games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best overall record in the NBA, and Cade Cunningham was receiving serious MVP consideration with his team’s play.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith offered to gift Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic a mile after noting the veteran guard as one of the few NBA players worthy of winning this year’s MVP award. The Lakers extended their winning streak to eight with a 134-126 win against the Miami Heat. Doncic scored a season-high 60 points on Thursday, which could be the deciding factor for the veteran media personality’s list of Most Valuable Players this year.

Still, Smith was embarrassed to admit that Doncic was not among his favorites to win MVP, but that changed after Luka’s 60-point game, according to ESPN’s First Take.

“I’m ashamed that I didn’t bring Luka up for MVP consideration before this morning. That ends now,” Smith said. “It’s been fixed right now. Luka Doncic has been sensational. The Los Angeles Lakers have been incredibly impressive on an eight-game winning streak. He’s scored over 30 in each of those games. He’s scored 100 in the last two games.”

Given Doncic’s recent offensive performance, combining for 100 points in his last two contests, he is strengthening his case for MVP in the final hour of the regular season, as reported by Stephen A. Smith.

“Who deserves it more than Luka, given what he’s doing? He’s leading the league in scoring. The Los Angeles Lakers are winning as a top 3 seed in the Western Conference,” Smith said. They’re winning basketball games. He’s leading, and he has a guy in LeBron James, who is on the Mount Rushmore of basketball — still playing like an All-Star caliber player.

“And that has to be different because Luka is so great — he’s so unstoppable. At some point, you just have to announce it, and right now, we have to announce it right here on First Take that Luka Doncic — the guy that the Dallas Mavericks traded away for Anthony Davis, another player, Christie and a pick. The same Luka Doncic in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform is a top candidate for league MVP honors,” Smith concluded.

The Lakers have won 12 of their last 13 games.

Draymond Green’s opinion on Luka Doncic, LeBron James pairing

Warriors veteran Draymond Green weighed in on Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Lakers’ chances of winning a championship this season. Given the Lakers’ recent surge, which has led them to the third-best record in the Western Conference (45-25), momentum is undoubtedly on their side heading into the playoffs.

For Green, the Lakers are led by Doncic and James good handsAs he mentioned on The Draymond Green Show.

“Luka is playing absolutely incredible,” Green said. “The irony is that the Lakers are playing absolutely incredible. The irony is that DeAndre Ayton is playing better; the irony is that Marcus Smart is playing better. Because that’s the magic of Luka Doncic. Luka makes everybody around him better at the top of their game. So, you ask yourself, how dangerous can they be in the playoffs?

“And part of me wants to say that’s not dangerous at all, but the other side of me knows better. You’ve got Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time. You always have a chance against anybody.”

Draymond Green likely to be a real contender on the Lakers:

“You ask yourself how dangerous they can be during the playoffs, besides me I want to say not dangerous at all but the other side of me knows better. You put Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time… pic.twitter.com/kYEsPPMj43

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 20 March 2026

Amidst the competitive Western Conference led by the defending champion Thunder, the Lakers are slowly joining the picture of championship contenders.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (43-27) are struggling with only three weeks remaining in the regular season, two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for third place in the West and one game behind the Denver Nuggets for sixth place. This group has advanced to the conference finals from both those positions, so seeding may not be necessary. Still, home-court advantage in the first round could be a welcome boost. But will the squad be healthy enough to accomplish this?

Anthony Edwards is dealing with knee inflammation and could miss a few weeks, leaving a larger offensive burden on the shoulders of Julius Randle. Minnesota is deep enough to handle the absence of its franchise cornerstone for a limited amount of time, but another key player is also dealing with injury. Nazi Reed missed Wednesday’s 147-111 win over the Utah Jazz with a right ankle sprain and could be out again in Friday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers (34-36).

The former Sixth Man of the Year (could also win the award this season) is averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest, while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point land. Already without Edwards, the Timberwolves’ offense will be stretched thin if Reed is stuck on the bench. Ergo, the 26-year-old forward’s status for the Blazers clash is of great interest to the fan base.

Naz Reid’s status for the Timberwolves-Blazers game

According to the NBA’s latest injury report, Reed is listed as questionable. If he is sidelined, Minnesota will likely rely on Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo to provide adequate offense. Portland has certainly been able to take advantage of Wolves’ misfortune.

The Blazers are battling the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors for the eighth spot. Earning extra lives is obviously important in the NBA Play-In Tournament, so fans should expect this team to enter Goal Center with obvious intensity. However, Portland itself is shorthanded.

Shadon Sharp has been out since the beginning of February after suffering a stress reaction in his left fibula. The Trail Blazers can hold their own without an explosive guard, and the Timberwolves believe they can do the same without Anthony Edwards, at least in this game. However, an inactive Naz Reed could stand in the way of their victory.

Timberwolves fans are hoping they get some good news before the action tips off at 8 pm ET.

The LA Clippers were the hottest team in the NBA entering Saturday night’s contest against the worst team in the NBA. The Sacramento Kings entered the contest with a league-worst record of 16–51, while the Clippers had won 28 of their previous 39 games, coming back from 15 games under .500 in a single season to climb above .500 for the first time.

What followed was a potentially season-changing play.

The Clippers lost the game against the shorthanded Kings, 118–109, but it was a contest in which they fell behind by 20 points and never got involved. There was a stretch in the fourth quarter where the Clippers got within three, but it coincided with Kawhi Leonard, who suffered an injury in the first half that required stitches, exited the game with 9:27 remaining in the fourth quarter and did not return due to a sprained left ankle.

Leonard was out of favor in the next game against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to another loss against the second-best team in the NBA despite holding an 18-point lead in the first half. Benedict Mathurin suffered a toe injury in that loss that has kept him out of the Clippers’ three-game road trip, and depending on how his toe responds to rehab and treatment, it could keep him out even longer.

On Wednesday and Thursday the Clippers head to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans, a venue that has famously suited the franchise over the past half-decade. And if you’re a fan of the team, it was no surprise that the Clippers lost both games that Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland played in, with both having to sit out.

This was seen as a huge opportunity for the Clippers to make a run at the Western Conference standings and potentially clinch a play-in berth. It was a long shot, but entering the Kings game on March 14, the Clippers climbed to a 34–32 record, trailing the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns by just four games in the loss column and the Denver Nuggets by six games in the loss column.

The Clippers are now in a three-way tie for the 8th seed. The injuries came at the worst possible time, as they have now lost 4 games in a row (including the 3rd worst teams in the league).

LA has lost all its momentum and is unable to make any headway on the Suns, who have also lost 4 games… pic.twitter.com/qjZXrDvSCk

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 March 2026

LA had a very favorable schedule based on strength of schedule and remaining advantage games compared to their opponents, while the Suns were facing a road trip that included the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and San Antonio Spurs.

Now the Clippers are riding a four-game losing streak, holding no lead on Phoenix despite their four-game losing streak, while the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers come right behind them to try to avoid the dreaded 9-10 play-in game.

The Clippers are considered one of the easiest remaining schedule powers, with several games against the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks still on tap. However, it appears this season will be reduced to three games:

March 31 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
April 10 @Portland Trail Blazers
April 12 vs. Golden State Warriors

Entering Friday, the Clippers, Blazers and Warriors are all tied in the loss column with 36 losses. The Clippers are dealing with injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Benedict Mathurin, the Blazers are still without Shaddon Sharp, and the Warriors are without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.

LA currently holds a 2-1 series lead over the Warriors with one game remaining on the final day of the season. Last season, the Clippers and Warriors played a game on the final day of the NBA regular season to decide who would receive a top-six seed and who would advance to the play-in tournament.

The Clippers currently lead 2–0 in their season series against the Trail Blazers, with two more games in the final two weeks of the season.

It remains to be seen how troublesome Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury is and how serious Benedict Mathurin’s toe injury is, but with the Blazers having won four of their last six games and the Warriors expected to get Stephen Curry back by the end of the month, we could be in for an epic battle for play-in positioning.

Momentum continues around potential NBA expansion and Nevada lawmakers have made their stance clear in support of bringing a franchise to Las Vegas.

According to a report from FOX5 Vegas’ Rachel Zalucki, Nevada’s congressional delegation sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver urging the league to choose Las Vegas as an expansion destination. The letter, dated March 19, 2026, was signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, as well as Representatives Dina Titus, Mark Amodei, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford.

“The March 19, 2026 letter was signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, as well as Representatives Dina Titus, Mark Amodei, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford. The lawmakers urged Silver to consider Las Vegas’ 20-year partnership with the NBA through hosting Summer League and NBA Cup championships.”

The letter reads in part, “As you consider the future of the NBA, we urge you to build on the league’s local momentum by selecting Las Vegas as a site for a future league franchise.”

Las Vegas has emerged along with Seattle as one of the leading candidates for expansion as the NBA prepares for next week’s Board of Governors meeting, where an initial vote on expansion is expected.

Las Vegas’ sports success and NBA ties strengthen the case for expansion

In their letter, the lawmakers also pointed to the city’s success with other professional sports franchises as evidence of its readiness for an NBA team. He highlighted the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, a three-time championship-winning franchise, and the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, which won the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Las Vegas has also maintained a long-standing relationship with the NBA, hosting the Summer League each year and serving as a site for recent NBA Cup championship events.

As expansion discussions continue, the league is considering both market feasibility and long-term growth opportunities. The unified effort by Nevada lawmakers underscores growing support for Las Vegas as the NBA evaluates its next step.

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Denver Nuggets 125-118 on Wednesday, then will once again face a challenging opponent in the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Grizzlies have a detailed injury report ahead of the matchup. GG Jackson, who is dealing with a right knee injury, is listed as questionable. Taj Gibson, who played in Wednesday’s 125-118 win, is also questionable due to soreness in his right foot.

Upon his return to the NBA, the 40-year-old Gibson, who last played for the Charlotte Hornets in 2024-25, joined the Grizzlies midseason. On Monday, Gibson made his Grizzlies’ season opener against the Chicago Bulls, his former team who drafted him in 2009. He spent the first seven years of his NBA career with the Bulls. The fans at the United Center gave him a standing ovation.

Grizzlies’ Jackson finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the Grizzlies’ upset win against the Nuggets. Ty Jerome’s 21 points led the Grizzlies to the win. Oliver-McSevens Prosper finished with 19 points, including three triples and two blocks, and GG Jackson II added 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

As far as whether GG Jackson or Taj Gibson will play in the Grizzlies’ matchup against the Celtics, the answer is probably no.

grizzlies injury report

Santi Aldama – Outside – right knee; surgery recovery

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Outside – right 5th finger; surgery recovery

Brandon Clarke – Out – Right calf; strain

Zach Eddy – Out – Left Ankle; surgery recovery

Taj Gibson – Questionable – Right leg; agony

GG Jackson – Questionable – Left knee; agony

Jahmai Mashaq – outside – left ankle; Sprain

celtics injury report

Nikola Vucevic – outside – right ring finger; fracture

Luka Doncic lit up the scoreboard with 60 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday. The win was LA’s eighth in a row, and Doncic looks incredibly pleased with the way things are going in his latest post on Instagram.

The 27-year-old guard shared a post that included eight images and a short video showcasing the before, during and after of his 60-point performance. He also shared a 10-word caption that emphasized his excitement about the Lakers’ eight-game winning streak.

“Win 8 in a row,” Doncic said. “Takes a team. Let’s go!”

Thursday’s win over the Heat was the third time in Luka Doncic’s career that he scored 60 or more points in a single contest. He scored a career-high 73 points in January 2024, and he also scored 60 points in December 2022. Doncic is also the first Lakers player to score at least 60 points since Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Out” farewell game in 2016.

The eight-year veteran was a man of passion against Miami. In addition to his 60 points, Doncic also recorded seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. He also hit 60.0% of his field goal attempts while going 9 for 17 from beyond the three-point line. Luka Doncic has scored 100 points in his last two appearances.

We’ll see Doncic and the Lakers take the court again on Saturday when they take on the Orlando Magic. Los Angeles will attempt to win its ninth consecutive game. If the club can stay hot in the final stretch of the regular season, LA could enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

The Detroit Pistons host the Golden State Warriors on Friday, and All-Star big man Jalen Duren is listed as questionable on the injury report. Duren has been dealing with right ankle pain, although he has not missed any games recently. LJ Cryer is likely on the injury report for the Warriors as he deals with a hamstring injury. Here’s everything we know about Jalen Duren’s injury and his playing status against the Warriors.

Jalen Duren’s injury status vs. Warriors

Given that Jalen Duren is questionable on the Pistons’ injury report against the Warriors, he’s likely to be a game-time decision. The last time Duren missed a game due to injury was on February 6. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Duren is in the midst of his career season. He was selected for his first All-Star appearance.

Duran has appeared in 59 games this season, averaging a little over 27 minutes per game. He averaged career highs of 19.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists while splitting 64.1 percent shooting from the field and 72.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

So when it comes to the question of whether or not Jalen Duren is playing against the Warriors tonight, the answer is to wait and see as it gets closer to tip-off.

piston injury report

-Cade Cunningham out (pneumothorax of left lung)
-Jalen Duren questionable (right ankle soreness).
-Kevin Huerter doubtful (right shoulder injury)
-Isaac Jones out (G League two-way)
-Bobby Clintman out (G League assignment)
-Wendell Moore Jr. out (G League two-way)
-Marcus Sasser out (right hip soreness)
-Isiah Stewart out (right calf strain)

warriors injury report

-Jimmy Butler out (right ACL surgery)
-LJ Cryer probable (left hamstring injury management)
-Seth Curry out (left adductor strain)
-Stephen Curry out (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
-Al Horford out (right soleus strain)
-Moses Moody out (right wrist sprain)
-Quinton Post out (right foot injury)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not lacking in depth as they defend their title this season. Nevertheless, general manager Sam Presti managed to add another impact bench piece in Jared McCann at the trade deadline.

Stepping into a reserve role following his trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, McCann has made an immediate impact. The 22-year-old had his best performance of the season during Wednesday’s 121-92 win over the Brooklyn Nets, scoring a game-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from three.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said, “He’s definitely integrated well. He’s learning his teammates. He’s learning our system and the fundamentals that we emphasize.” “I thought in the first half, especially, he had some really good defensive possessions, which has been really encouraging. He’s done a really good job of committing to our fundamentals and the things we need to do on the defensive end of the field. Obviously, he’s a very powerful offensive player, but he gives up some size and needs to be really fundamental and powerful, and he’s done that, especially lately. So we’re happy with the progress he’s made there.” And he continues to be a fan favorite in the locker room just the way he approaches things since he was traded here.”

After a stellar rookie campaign, McCann struggled early this season with the 76ers while returning from a thumb injury to his shooting hand. Philadelphia sent him to the G League in January before dealing him to the Houston Rockets for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks at the deadline.

Jared McCann is making an immediate impact in the Thunder’s rotation after trade

McCann has quickly found his groove in the Thunder’s battle-tested rotation. The former Duke star is averaging 11.9 points on .475/.444/.885 shooting splits in 18.8 minutes per game in 18 appearances with the team. Oklahoma City posted a 109.3 defensive rating during his minutes, which would rank second in the league for the entire season.

McCann credited the Thunder’s coaching staff for easing his transition after the surprise deadline deal.

McCann said, “When you first get traded, you don’t know anything about what’s going to happen, especially when you find out you’re being traded to a championship team. So I didn’t have high expectations for myself.” “Just coming in and trying to learn as much as possible, which is hard because you don’t know what’s going on. But once you go out there with these guys, they give me confidence. It’s really simple. The coaching staff helped me right away. Not giving me too much information, just letting me play, letting me play my game.

“They’re champions already, so it’s just being able to fit in somehow. I think Sam Presti did a great job knowing how I would fit in. But this offense is amazing. Being able to move the ball and play with shooters, playing with guys that are specialized in the pick and roll is huge. It makes it a lot easier to come in and fit in, especially with the way I play.”

The Thunder hold a three-game lead over the NBA’s top-seeded San Antonio Spurs with 12 games remaining. McCain will compete for playoff minutes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell in the backcourt rotation.

McCain said, “It’s great to be on a team that is the number one seed. It’s one thing to just have playoff hopes, and then it’s really cool to be the number one seed and try to defend it.” “Especially with them [defending] Champion. I’m just trying to come in and play every role I can to help make this team a champion again. “I’m really confident going to any game with these guys.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks has entered a critical phase as team owner Wes Edens has outlined a clear path forward: a contract extension or a potential trade. The stance, detailed in a report by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Friday, signals a crucial moment for the franchise as it evaluates the long-term outlook for its two-time MVP.

Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension starting on October 1. According to Shelburne, Edens and co-owner Jimmy Haslam emphasized that the organization would make its decision based on whether the star forward committed to that deal.

“Milwaukee Bucks co-owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam told ESPN in a joint 90-minute interview that they will decide on a path forward with their two-time MVP, and the most important factor will be whether Antetokounmpo signs the four-year, $275 million extension he is eligible to receive on Oct. 1.

‘Giannis is going into his final year [of his contract],’ said Edens, the team’s controlling owner until April 2028. ‘So one of two things will happen: either he’ll be extended or he’ll be traded.

‘The possibility that you’ll let him play last year is something we can’t afford. This is not consistent with what is good for the organization. This is not a Giannis issue. “That is any player who is in his final year.”

Bucks’ decision-making remains uncertain amid Giannis Antetokounmpo situation

While ownership’s message appears to be direct, Shelburne reported that league executives and insiders view the situation as more complex. Questions remain about the internal decision-making structure within the organization, creating uncertainty about how quickly or decisively the Bucks can act.

“Yet team sources, rival executives and league insiders question whether the situation is that simple. Interviews with more than a dozen people with knowledge of the situation said what is happening in Milwaukee goes beyond a typical NBA franchise’s struggle to maintain a winning roster: A unique ownership structure has made it difficult for opposing franchises to identify who is really running the team.

“This has nothing to do with Giannis and whether he asked to be let out,” a source with knowledge of team operations said. ‘It’s about who is making the decision to trade Giannis, and I don’t think anybody knows that. I deal with them all the time and honestly it depends on the day.

‘They are not even close to being ready to make this kind of decision.’

Injuries and trade speculation surrounded Giannis during Milwaukee’s decline

The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo was the subject of trade speculation leading up to last month’s deadline but ultimately stayed in Milwaukee. Despite battling injuries, including a recent hyperextension and bone bruise in his left kneecap, he has continued to produce at a high level. Through 36 games, he has averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists, while shooting 62.4 percent from the field and 33.4 percent from three-point range in 28.9 minutes per game.

A recent report from Eric Nehm of The Athletic also indicated a disagreement between Antetokounmpo and the organization regarding the possibility of shutting him down for the remainder of the season. The 10-time All-Star has shown no interest in sitting out as the Bucks continue their effort to remain competitive.

After a 128-96 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night, Milwaukee is currently 28-41 and the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks trail the Charlotte Hornets by 7.5 games for the final play-in spot as they continue a four-game road trip.

Milwaukee’s next game comes against the Phoenix Suns (39-31) on Saturday night at 10:00 PM ET on NBA TV. As the season winds down, the organization’s approach to Antetokounmpo’s contract situation will be one of the league’s most closely watched developments.

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are set to play on Friday night. Karl-Anthony Towns is listed on the injury report for the game. While Towns has faced injury concerns at times this season, he listed “personal reasons” on Friday’s injury report. So, is he playing tonight?

Everything we know about Karl-Anthony Towns’ situation ahead of the Knicks and Nets game on Friday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ status vs. Nets

According to the NBA injury report, Towns is currently listed as questionable to play against the Nets.

The Knicks will enter the game with a 45–25 record. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Nets are 17-52 and in 13th place in the East.

As far as the question of whether Karl-Anthony Towns is playing tonight against the Nets, the answer is probably.

knicks injury report

The Knicks have seven players listed on the injury report.

• Karl-Anthony Towns (personal reasons): Questionable
• Kevin McCullers Jr. (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Dillon Jones (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Trey Jamison III (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Pacom Dadiet (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Josh Hart (right knee patella femoral syndrome): out
• Miles McBride (pelvic core muscle surgery): out

net injury report

The Nets also have seven players listed on the injury report.

• Ziare Williams (left hand soreness): Available
• Ben Saraf (pain in left foot): Available
• Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain): Out
• Igor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management): out
• Terence Mann (illness): Out
• Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain): Out
• Deron Sharp (left thumb surgery): Out

After the Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to eight games with a 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green offered a measured assessment of their championship outlook.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, Green pointed to Luka Doncic’s influence on the Lakers’ recent surge, while also casting doubt on whether Los Angeles is strong enough defensively to make a deep title run.

“Luka is playing absolutely incredible. The irony is the Lakers are playing absolutely incredible, the irony is DeAndre Ayton is playing better, the irony is Marcus Smart is playing better. Because that’s the magic of Luka Doncic. Luka makes everybody around him better at the top of their game. So, you ask yourself how dangerous can they be in the playoffs? And other than me I’d say absolutely dangerous. No, but the other side of me knows better. You got Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time, you always have a chance against anybody.”

Green’s comments come as the Lakers continue to gain momentum heading into the season behind their star duo of Doncic and LeBron James. Los Angeles has looked increasingly dangerous offensively in its recent run, with Doncic producing at a high level and James providing consistent playmaking, rebounding and veteran leadership.

Draymond Green likely to be a real contender on the Lakers:

“You ask yourself how dangerous they can be during the playoffs, besides me I want to say not dangerous at all but the other side of me knows better. You put Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time… pic.twitter.com/kYEsPPMj43

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 20 March 2026

Draymond Green evaluates Lakers’ title chances with LeBron James, Luka Doncic

The Lakers’ recent performance has solidified their position atop the Western Conference standings and reinforced the ceiling many have created with a roster built around two of the league’s most efficient offensive players. Doncic’s ability to control the pace, set up for teammates and generate efficient offense has added a different dimension to a team that already relies heavily on James in key moments.

Still, Green made it clear his main concern with the Lakers focuses on the other end of the floor.

“The teams that will put pressure on them that will make it difficult for them in the playoffs are making them guard. They’re not a great defensive team at all, do some fake things like some fake zone turns that turn into a guy. And in a playoff series if you’re doing that for maybe a game, maybe two games they figure out some plays to dice up and then you have to play routine defense and then it takes us back to the core issues of the Lakers. It’s been like this since the beginning of the season. I don’t know if they’re good enough defensively to ultimately win it, but they’ll always be dangerous in the playoffs.

This assessment captures the central question surrounding Los Angeles as the postseason approaches. The Lakers have enough offensive star power to challenge any opponent in a playoff series, but concerns remain about whether they can hold off consistently against the conference’s top teams in seven-game matchups.

For now, the Lakers continue their upward trend at a key point on the schedule. With the leadership of James and Doncic, Los Angeles has built momentum and positioned itself to enter the postseason as one of the Western Conference’s most intriguing teams, even if questions about its defensive ceiling remain unresolved.

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their late-season surge on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to eight games with a 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat, while ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst offered a reassuring assessment of LeBron James’ mentality.

Speaking on Friday’s broadcast of First Take, Windhorst pointed to what he described as a key indicator behind the Lakers’ recent success.

“The best thing I can say about the Lakers right now is… LeBron believes. It’s a subtle thing but if you watch LeBron over the decades, there are times when you get to a point in the season where you know he doesn’t believe in his team. And you can’t see it in the stats, you know it when you see it. Well, I know it when I see it. LeBron believes in this team.”

The Lakers’ performance in Miami reflected that confidence, as they improved to 45–25 on the season – the first time they reached 20 games above .500 since the 2019–20 campaign, when they won the NBA championship.

James delivered a triple-double in the win with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in 38 minutes. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back after the team arrived in Miami around 5 p.m. ET, he shot 8-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from the free-throw line.

“I know it when I see it. LeBron believes in this team.” 👀👀👀

– @WindhorstESPN

(via @FirstTech /h/t @terrible announcement )

pic.twitter.com/wXIXLwaGVn

– NBCCentral (@TheDunkCentral) 20 March 2026

Brian Windhorst highlights LeBron James’ belief as Lakers’ surge continues

This outing follows another efficient performance from James last night, when he scored 30 points on 13-for-14 shooting in a win over the Houston Rockets.

While James planned the offense, Luka Doncic provided the scoring punch. The star guard recorded a career-high as a Laker with 60 points, adding seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. Doncic shot 18 of 30 from the field, 9 of 17 from three-point range and 15 of 17 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes, overwhelming Miami’s defense throughout the contest.

The Lakers’ recent expansion has been defined by offensive efficiency and balance, with several players contributing at a high level as the team climbs the Western Conference standings. The combination of James’ playmaking and Doncic’s scoring has put consistent pressure on opposing defenses during the winning streak.

Los Angeles will look to build on its momentum Saturday night when it travels to face the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. The Magic entered the matchup with a 38–31 record as both teams continued to vie for the postseason.

As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Lakers’ current form has strengthened Windhorst’s evaluation, as the team continues to build momentum and confidence behind its experienced leader.

The Indiana Pacers will be without Ivica Zubac for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after the veteran center suffered a rib fracture.

According to Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star, Zubac suffered a concussion during Wednesday’s game and will not return this season.

“Recently acquired Pacers center Ivica Zubac suffered a fractured rib in Wednesday’s game and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season,” Dopirak reports.

“Zubac left the game with a head injury after being hit by an elbow from Portland center Donovan Clingan, but he also had an ice pack with him while speaking to media members after the game.”

Zubac played through the injury in Indiana’s 127–119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block. He shot 7 of 18 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes.

Pacers’ frontcourt is vacant due to Ivica Zubac’s injury amid consecutive losses

The 29-year-old was in the early stages of his Pacers tenure after being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline. In five games with Indiana, Zubac averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field in 23.6 minutes per contest under a minutes restriction.

Prior to the trade, Zubac was enjoying a productive season with Los Angeles, averaging 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 43 games, including 42 starts, while shooting 61.3 percent from the field.

His absence leaves a significant void in Indiana’s frontcourt as the team is going through a difficult season. The Pacers enter the game at 15-55 and are in the midst of a franchise-record 15-game losing streak.

Indiana will try to regroup as it begins a two-game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs (52-18) on Saturday night at 8 pm ET.

With Zubac sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Pacers will likely turn to their remaining frontcourt options as they evaluate roster pieces heading into the offseason.

In only his third season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cason Wallace has never played for a team that has not won at least 57 regular season games. It is extremely rare for most NBA players to win a championship between sophomore seasons. This season has undoubtedly been his best. Wallace recorded a career-high 27 points in a 121–111 win against the Denver Nuggets in February.

However, Wallace’s contributions go far beyond his career-high seven threes made in that win against the Nuggets. Wallace has emerged as a triple threat for Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, giving him a unique on-ball defender who can stretch and stretch the floor with his outside touch.

Wallace’s career average is the best in several statistical categories, including points per game (8.6), assists (2.7), and steals (2.1), in which he leads the NBA. Still, returning as the defending champions and having faced every team’s best effort, Wallace doesn’t see any major changes in the Thunder’s approach this season.

Wallace said, “I don’t see any big difference between last season’s performance and this year’s. The goal will always be to win.” “As defending champions, we still look forward to working hard and competing every day.”

While some were expecting a championship hangover, which is the norm for most returning champions, the Thunder had the best start to the regular season – 24–1 – in NBA history. Without All-NBA forward Jalen Williams, who missed the first 19 games due to wrist surgery, the Thunder rose to the top of the Western Conference standings, where it remained stable through the 2025–26 season.

“I feel fortunate to be a part of such a great team and I’m excited to keep the energy flowing until the end of the season,” Wallace said.

Wallace will be a key part of the Thunder’s postseason campaign as the defending champions. With teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets threatening to dethrone OKC from its throne, Wallace is one of several interesting depth pieces that light up the Thunder’s backcourt.

Oklahoma City embraces Thunder’s Cason Wallace

As Wallace continues to grow as a player, his community of die-hard Thunder fans in Oklahoma City has embraced him. So much so that Wallace partnered with a local food chain in town, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, to create “Cason’s Queso”, his own cheese sauce inspired by his nickname “Queso”.

Wallace said, “We have great people on this team and we always have a lot of fun together. I’ve always had him at Fuzzy’s, and I told him my queso is a must-try because it’s loaded just the way I like it.” “Every bite is a little different depending on what toppings you bring out, so it’s perfect for sharing on game day.”

While Wallace hopes the fans enjoy the collaboration, he is eager to finish the regular season and enter the playoffs for another run at the championship.

Amid a 10-game winning streak, the Thunder earned their 55th win on Wednesday. With only 12 games remaining, Oklahoma City is in position to make another deep playoff run with hopes of winning back-to-back titles.

Mark Daigneault praises ‘committed’ Cason Wallace

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised Wallace’s adaptability to different lineups this season, which he has been successful in, as the third-year guard continues to improve. Although the Thunder traded for Wallace, who was selected 10th overall on draft night in 2023, it’s no coincidence that Casson has one of the highest winning percentages in NBA history.

Wallace’s career winning percentage is 75.6%. And while some fans will joke that he’s a lucky charm, given that the Thunder have finished with the best record in the Western Conference every season since Wallace joined, Daigneault looks at the work Cason has done behind the scenes.

“He’s one of many guys on our team who obviously plays his role well on a very good team,” Daigneault said. “When you look at Cason Wallace’s win percentage as a professional, his win percentage is insane. But one of the things that comes with playing on a team at this level as a young player is that your role can sometimes feel narrow compared to your teammates.

“If he wasn’t on such a good team, he’d probably be able to do a lot more, and his role would be a little broader. So, when you have a guy that’s committed to that kind of role, is committed to winning and the team’s success, having a night like tonight, everybody’s happy for him.”

While Wallace’s role has changed sporadically throughout the regular season due to the Thunder’s long list of injuries, he makes the most of his opportunities.

“He shows up – he takes whatever minutes he gets. Sometimes he starts, sometimes he doesn’t. Some nights he gets some shots, and he doesn’t get his breakthrough,” Daigneault said. “So, on a night when he does that, and he delivers, everyone is thrilled for him.”

For Wallace, it’s sometimes hard to believe how far he’s come. It all happened very quickly for the top-10 draft pick, who became an NBA champion, led the association in steals, and emerged as a key member for a team with the potential to win back-to-back titles.

If Wallace could talk to that younger version of himself, he would only give that kid one strong piece of advice for the future.

“I would tell the younger version of me to keep working hard,” Wallace said. “Results come from being disciplined, having confidence in yourself and your teammates, and being prepared for every opportunity.”

Wallace is living proof of what the other side of that hard work is.

With just a few weeks left for WWE WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada, WWE is also set to organize and host its annual traditional Hall of Fame ceremony. With several notable inductees already announced, the promotion has now introduced NBA legend Dennis Rodman as another Hall of Fame inductee.

ESPN’s Shams Charania previously confirmed on Friday, March 20, 2026, that Dennis Rodman, best known in the wrestling circuit for his numerous WCW matches as a member of the nWo in the 1990s, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 42 weekend. The 2026 Hall of Fame class now includes Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Demolition (Axe & Smash) and Rodman.

According to ESPN sources, “Crossover: Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April. Rodman debuted in WCW in 1997 and famously skipped practice for a wrestling match with Hulk Hogan during the 1998 NBA Finals. Two HOFs for Rodman,” Charania wrote.

Rodman was involved in the WCW Bash at the Beach in both 1997 and 1998. He teamed with Hulk Hogan, which included a match against fellow basketball legend Karl Malone and WCW’s Diamond Dallas Page in 1998.

Rodman is often considered one of the greatest NBA rebounders of all time. He is best known for his stints as part of the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. Rodman played an important role in the 1990s alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Rodman, 64, is also known for his appearances outside of WWE and WCW. In 2023, he made a few appearances in AEW and was even in The Acclaimed’s corner at the All Out PPV.

Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April, sources say @shamscharania.

Rodman is also in the Basketball Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/f8CvWDxMwj

– ESPN (@espn) 20 March 2026

The Washington Wizards have acquired two stars this season, but only one has played for them. Four-time All-Star guard Trae Young (quad) has played five games, while five-time All-NBA big man Anthony Davis (hand) has been out since the Wizards met the Dallas Mavericks in February.

Washington released an update on Davis via social media on Friday.

“Davis, who is out with ligament damage in his left hand, was re-evaluated on Thursday by Dr. Steven Shinn of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles,” the organization said. “It was determined that Davis’ recovery is progressing positively, but the volar plate tissue in his left hand has not completely healed. Davis will continue conservative treatment and will continue to pursue his basketball activity as tolerated, he will be reevaluated at the end of the month, and an update will be provided at that time.”

According to ESPN, Davis has not played since January 8, when he injured his hand guarding Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen in the Mavericks’ 116–114 loss. This occurred the day after the Wizards agreed to acquire Young from the Atlanta Hawks and they agreed to terms with Dallas for Davis on February 4.

Washington sent the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round pick, the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected 2030 first-rounder, and three second-rounders along with forward Khris Middleton, guard AJ Johnson, guard Malachi Branham and big man Marvin Bagley III. The Mavericks also traded guards Jaden Hardee, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum along with Davis. Via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Wizards waived Exum and Russell will not report to the team.

This story is being updated.

Los Angeles Lakers are doing great these days and they are led by Luka Doncic and his brilliant play. In their latest win against the Miami Heat, Doncic finished with 60 points, and it looked like he accomplished it with ease. His 60th point did not come until 14.8 seconds remained in the game when he was at the free-throw line.

The last time a Lakers player scored 60 points was Kobe Bryant in his last game, and funnily enough, he also scored his 60th point at the free-throw line with 14.8 seconds left.

Kobe and Luka both scored their 60th points with 14.8 points left in the fourth 🤯 https://t.co/EiUVwJuF2a pic.twitter.com/kP1lMmSfD7

– NBA (@NBA) 20 March 2026

It’s always nice when you’re in the same company with Bryant, and few players have had that honor over the past two weeks. As long as Doncic is on the Lakers, there’s a good chance for him to be in the same conversation as Bryant for some stats that no one except ESPN knows about.

Doncic has been in scoring position the last few games, and it has lifted the Lakers up and separated them from other teams in the Western Conference. Whether it’s a high-scoring game or a game-winner, Doncic has come through for the Lakers in what has possibly been their most important stretch of the season.

If he continues to play like this, it will help the team make more room among the others trying to reach the No. 3 seed. They are currently 45-25 and have a two-game lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are the No. 4 seed.

There’s no doubt that Doncic and the Lakers are moving at the right time, and they could be a team that many will want to avoid when the playoffs arrive. In the last two seasons they were eliminated in the first round, but things could be different this season.

The Charlotte Hornets honored Dell Curry with a powerful jersey retirement night, and the legend made sure the moment was for the fans as well as him. During the ceremony, the former Hornets standout stood under the lights and spoke from the heart and delivered a message that resonated throughout the arena.

Dell Curry gets emotional during his speech at his retirement jersey ceremony pic.twitter.com/GzpjVVVfjM

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 20 March 2026

“If you see me growing, if you see my family growing, it means so much that you’re still here and supporting me and my family,” he said. The words gained weight. They felt personal. They felt that they had earned.

Curry didn’t stop there. He focused on the current Hornets. “I want to challenge you to continue supporting this team,” he said. “The guys in the locker room … they’re working hard to make you proud.” The message contained both gratitude and faith.

That moment also brought history. Curry’s jersey became the second jersey to be retired in Hornets franchise history, joining Bobby Philps. The crowd felt it. A legacy sealed in the rooftops.

Dell Curry’s legacy will live on in the Hornets’ future

Curry’s voice rose again as he talked about what’s coming next. “This is going to be the premier franchise in the NBA, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. That confidence didn’t feel forced. It felt like a conviction built up over decades. He saw something in this Hornets team. He believed in it.

Then came the most emotional turn. “I’m a country boy from grottoes, man. I didn’t know this would happen.” Humility trumps everything else. For a moment, the banners, the lights, the noise, none of it matters. Just gratitude.

“I can’t explain how grateful, blessed and fortunate I am to be here at this moment.”

Dell expresses eternal gratitude on his special night 🥹 https://t.co/RO9pz4P3WF pic.twitter.com/xhuijQVmtc

– NBA (@NBA) 20 March 2026

Curry’s resume speaks for itself. Ten seasons with the Hornets. Sixth Person of the Year in 1994. Former all-time leader in points and threes. But this night felt different. It felt complete.

To conclude his jersey retirement speech, Dell Curry turned back to the Hornets and their fans. “So we’ve got to keep this party going… keep winning. We’ve got to support them. Thanks for having me.”

The question now is, can they rise to match the legacy that watches over them?

The Milwaukee Bucks are entering a pivotal period, and Brian Windhorst’s recent comments have added to the uncertainty. As trade discussions involving the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo begin to unfold, the timeline no longer feels secure. That tension has also opened the door to more questions about their future, even if nothing is official yet.

Concerns grew during Windhorst’s appearance on the Rich Eisen Show.

“The Bucks’ way to really retain Giannis is to sign him to a five-year, $270 million contract extension this fall,” he said. Then came the pause. “And I ask the question, and I don’t know the answer here. I’m not reporting anything, I’m just saying, are the Bucks willing to pay him $275 million at this point?”

This is not a report. This is a real question. The Bucks sit at 28-40 with only 14 games left. The play-in chase is slipping away. It looks like the season is about to end. In those circumstances, every decision has greater importance.

A decisive decision is looming for the Bucks

Brian Windhorst pioneered the idea on the Rich Eisen Show.

“Maybe the answer is still perfect and he signs it and he doesn’t get traded, but not only did you not trade him and you have a lost season here, how do you feel about his health now that he’s 30 years old?

That line comes down hard. It’s not just about money. It’s about timing, about risk and about what happens next.

He added, “For me, I’m not sure it was a completely thoughtless thing to do.”

With the Bucks franchise now standing at a crossroads, Giannis Antetokounmpo trade questions are quietly beginning to surface. Reports suggest that the team may lay him off to protect his health. This is a sign of a change. There is no focus on this season anymore. This is the future.

The crowd once believed that this path was simple. Expand Superstar. Chase another title. Now the noise has become louder. So what do the Bucks decide, and what does it mean for everything going forward?

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson has been on a roll, and his early impressions say a lot about the team and the atmosphere in Dallas. The relationship between Thompson and the Mavericks is already taking shape, driven by energy, momentum and fan support that never fades.

In an interview with AB Jones of DLLS Sports, Thompson gave candid and real feedback on what he has experienced so far. “Dallas is the best,” he said. “They’re very loyal. Not just to the Mavericks, but to every team.” That kind of praise carries weight. This coming from a player who has seen packed arenas and championship runs. Yet Dallas is still different.

Klay Thompson at fan support in Dallas, Texas.

“Dallas is the best. They’re very loyal. Not just to the Mavericks, but to every team.” pic.twitter.com/uaWLWmPrJ6

– Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) 19 March 2026

That loyalty shows up in real time. Mavericks fans are on everything. Noise is generated with every swing pass, every drive, every shot. When Thompson gets up for three runs, the field tilts. Then there is an explosion. This is the Mavericks’ best fan support, and it’s already becoming part of their rhythm.

The feeling of connectedness is also increasing. Not forcefully. There was no haste. Absolutely natural.

Mavericks find a perfect fit with Klay Thompson

It seems like this is more than a simple adjustment period. This feels like alignment. Thompson brings blankness, experience and the ability to make cool decisions. The Mavericks bring confidence, identity and a crowd that fuels the momentum.

The numbers support that role. In 60 games this season, Thompson is averaging 11.9 points in 21.9 minutes while shooting 38.0 percent from three. Efficiency still matters. Gravity still exists. Even when the box score looks paltry, the defense remains connected, allowing the Mavericks offense to continue to gain an advantage.

This is where its value is seen. Complex. steady. Game-shifting.

Undoubtedly, expectations will come. They always do this. But right now the foundation looks strong. The energy feels real. The Mavericks partnership is being formed with purpose, not coercion.

So as the season unfolds, a question arises. If this bond between Klay Thompson and Mavericks fans continues to grow, how much can Dallas hold on when it matters most?

The New York Knicks found themselves in an unexpected spotlight as Andre Iguodala called out Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges over their lack of NBPA participation. This moment raised deep questions about a player’s responsibility beyond the court.

Speaking on The Roommates Podcast, Iguodala didn’t hold back. Instead, he highlighted the difference between leadership and participation, engaging Nix directly in that conversation. As a result, the message was clear. Work outside the court also matters.

“I want to talk about C.J. McCollum,” Iguodala said. “They’re getting a lot of criticism for the second apron and I always ask people, what do you wish CJ did differently? Because we know what a lockout is like, and we don’t want people’s money to be wasted. We reach out to people all the time, and what do people say? I’m busy, I don’t want any extra work.”

This disappointment arose when Iguodala turned to younger voices. “When I talk to other people, like we need you in these meetings. ‘I want to play Call of Duty, I want to go out.’ Mikal…that’s my young boy. I say, ‘Mickle Dawg, if you’re one of the smart players in the league, so is he (Josh Hart), we need y’all.’

Knicks highlight a lack of leadership the league can’t ignore

The tone was not personal. Instead, it felt urgent. Andre Iguodala, now the executive director of the NBPA, called it a structural issue. Players profit from deals and criticism results. However, the fewer steps in the process. As a result, tensions arise and risks arise, with the Knicks now becoming part of that broader conversation.

Meanwhile, the respect for Hart and Mickle Bridge remains. Intelligent. Winning player. Proved under pressure. Yet, leadership at the grassroots demands more. meetings. For a long time. No headlines.

The crowd sees the final product. Contract. Rule. Wealth. What they don’t see is the work behind it.

So now the question remains. If the next generation doesn’t step up, who will carry the burden when it matters most for this Knicks group?

The Detroit Pistons are entering a crucial period without Cade Cunningham, and Kendrick Perkins believes his collapsed lung injury could reshape the team’s trajectory moving forward. Detroit earned its 50th win of the season, its first since 2007–08, but the sudden loss of its All-Star guard changed everything. With momentum building, the focus has now shifted from celebration to survival. How do the pistons react when the engine dies?

Kendrick Perkins gives a bold answer on Road Trippin’. He did not suggest any simple replacement. Instead, he pointed to a change in the system for the Pistons.

“JB, I’m talking to you, your guy. If I were you right now, I would go and study when Miami gets to the Finals and I would expand our offense even more through Duncan Robinson. It doesn’t mean he’s getting touches, but my offensive sets will be designed around him. Chaos, back picks and all that stuff will be created.”

It’s not about quantity. It’s about gravity. Agitation. Pressure.

A different type of center point for the piston

This idea may seem unusual, but it has weight. Duncan Robinson’s figures support this. This season, he is averaging 11.8 points while shooting 40 percent from three. In previous playoff runs, he hovered around similar production, but kept defense every possession. That constant motion created space. It unlocked everything else.

Detroit could follow that blueprint.

As Cade Cunningham continues to battle his injury, the Pistons’ offense is at risk of becoming stagnant. Very predictable. Very slow. But a motion-based system built around shooters and off-ball action could breathe life into the mix. This may force the defense to react rather than give instructions.

The Pistons have already proven they can win. Fifty wins say this clearly. Still this moment feels different. Big. Margins for error reduced.

So now the focus turns to Bickerstaff. Adjust or pause. Favor or fade.

Because if this team wants to move forward without its star, it will have to embrace chaos, and rely on an entirely new path forward. What happens next could define this entire season.

The Los Angeles Lakers had every reason to take it easy in Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat, especially coming off a tough game in Houston the night before. But Luka Doncic did not let the Lakers lose.

The Lakers arrived in Miami at 5 a.m. following a tough win against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reeves were questionable to play, but they ended up playing in the contest. It was the Slovenian guard who dominated the night en route to a big win for the Lakers.

Luka Doncic finished Thursday’s game with 60 points, seven rebounds, three assists and five steals, while shooting 18-of-30 from the field, 9-of-17 from three and 15-of-19 from the free throw line.

According to Stathead, this is the first time in NBA history that a player has recorded at least 60 points, at least nine three-pointers and at least five steals in a game.

Luka Doncic tonight vs. Heat:

60 points
9 3-pointers
5 theft

The first player in NBA history to record such a statline. pic.twitter.com/5GKEfV0Hbe

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 March 2026

Doncic recorded 12 points in the opening quarter, nine points in the second, 19 points in the third and 20 points in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers defeated the Heat 134-126, and Doncic’s Lakers teammates gave him some much-needed help. LeBron James recorded a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the win, while Austin Reaves added 18 points and Marcus Smart scored 13 points.

It marked Doncic’s third career game of at least 60 points and his first since scoring 73 points as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. This marked the ninth time in Doncic’s career that he has scored at least 50 points in a game.

First of all, things are looking absolutely bleak for the Chicago Bulls when they play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Even though Josh Giddy was tallying historic assist totals, the Bulls found themselves trailing by 29 points.

However, Chicago made a remarkable performance in the fourth quarter. At one point they went on a 20-4 run, bringing them within one point. But some critical mistakes by James Harden and Evan Mobley robbed Chicago of its chance for the greatest comeback in history.

The result was that they had to face defeat 105-100.

There’s no doubt that Billy Donovan is thinking about the future of the franchise. That sentiment was expressed in how he viewed the game afterward. Of all the measures, they need to work on their mindset to overcome the difficulty.

“My issue is with him for tonight,” Donovan said. “They really care; they really want to do well individually and collectively, but we get frustrated a lot, and we have to be more tough when things aren’t going our way.

Despite missed opportunities, a select few put in notable performances in Chicago. Josh Giddy surpassed his personal best in assists (17) with 19 assists and scored nine points. Meanwhile, Leonard Miller came off the bench and added 10 points in the fourth quarter, and shot 4 of 9 from the field.

Also, Guerschon Yabusele scored 10 points of his own in the fourth quarter, including hitting two 3-pointers to close the gap in the waning minutes. Additionally, Nick Richard finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Trey Jones led the way with 20 points with four rebounds. Rob Dillingham scored 17 points and grabbed four boards. Chicago is now 28-42 and has lost 7 of its last 10 games.

Luka Doncic continued his high-scoring onslaught over the past few days, exploding 60 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Doncic was coming off a breakout season of 40 points in their win over the Houston Rockets, 124-116, at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, but the busy schedule hasn’t stopped him from getting frantic again.

He was efficient against the Heat, shooting 18 of 30 from the field, including 9 of 17 shots from long range. He made 15 of 19 shots from the free-throw stripe.

After Doncic’s heroic performance, which was the second-highest output of his career, fans couldn’t help but bring up, or should we say, put down, Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game against the Washington Wizards.

“The Lakers’ Luka Doncic’s 60-point competitive game was far more impressive than the Heat’s Bam Adebayo’s 83 points in a meaningless game. Imagine if Luka had made 13 more field goals, five of them threes, and 24 more free throws? Come on,” @das_187 said.

@Gunsmoke__Q echoed, “Bam Adebayo scores 83 on Wizards, Luka scores 60 on Heat.”

@TomBrady80 said, “If Adebayo had shot as efficiently as Luka, he would have had 100+ points.”

“Luka just showed Adebayo what it was like,” @_SayParlay_ posted.

@BallinKP8 commented, “Luka Bam showing Adebayo how to properly put up a significant amount of points straight in his face. #thatsforkobe.”

The hate train continues for Adebayo to have a career night. Recall, he made 23 of 43 shots from the field, including 7 of 22 from long distance. He went 36-of-43 from the free-throw line. The Heat won 150–129.

Many, including Michael Jordan, congratulated Adebayo for his historic performance.

But on Thursday, he was on the receiving end of Doncic’s outstanding performance, and of course, Adebayo, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds, respected it.

Luka Doncic has been on a crazy spree the past two games. The Los Angeles Lakers star has outpaced his team this season, and it was evident in LA’s latest games. Doncic nearly had a triple-double with 40 points before scoring a season-high 60 points against the Miami Heat. With LA on the verge of clinching a playoff berth, Doncic is doing everything he can to get LA into the postseason.

After his outstanding 60 points against the Heat, Doncic was asked about his performance. The Lakers star credited his hot streak to his shooting and his slashing to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

“Yeah, I feel like my three-ballers are going good, and then I’m attacking the paint a lot,” Doncic said in response to a question, according to Spectrum Sportsnet. “So just trying to read the game.”

Doncic’s stellar performance isn’t limited to his last two games. Over the past two weeks, Doncic has averaged an incredible 40.9 points per game in eight games. In those eight games, the Lakers star is shooting 42.2% from three-point range. He’s also adding 8.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. Against the Heat, Doncic also showed his defensive improvement by making five steals, increasing his average to 2.4 steals per game in eight games.

With the win over the Heat, the Lakers continued to tighten their grip on the third seed in the Western Conference. Chasing giants like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is almost impossible now, but that’s OK. Now, the Lakers aim to retain home-court advantage at least in the first round. They have a two-game lead over the fourth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves and a three-game lead over the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.

As for Doncic, the Slovenian superstar is gunning for his first MVP award in his NBA career. He is averaging 33.4 points per game on 47.7% shooting from the field and 37% shooting from deep this season, while also adding 8.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds. The Lakers are just seven games away from meeting the required number of games played to qualify for the star awards.

The Detroit Pistons took on the Washington Wizards on Thursday night and were forced to do so without the services of Cade Cunningham after the two-time NBA All-Star was diagnosed with a collapsed lung. Although the Pistons liked having their star guard available, they didn’t need him to beat the Wizards.

Detroit defeated Washington on Thursday night by a score of 117-95. Jalen Duren led the way for the Pistons with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Durant was one of six Pistons who scored in double figures in the 22-point win.

Halfway through the game, longtime Detroit Pistons play-by-play commentator George Blaha objected to some Wizards players laughing during a timeout.

“It’s a big joke on the Wizards bench,” Blaha said As the camera panned to Wizards guard Bub Carrington and forward Anthony Gill. “I know I would be laughed at if I lost that many games.”

george blaha doesn’t give a fuck anymore 😭 pic.twitter.com/gZQxD9or1j

— nick (@nick__xo) March 20, 2026

Carrington finished Thursday night’s contest with just 10 points on 4-11 shooting, while Anthony Gill was held scoreless in 24 minutes of play. Still, it was a little strange to hear George Blaha – who majored in Botany in Detroit, Michigan and has been the voice of Pistons basketball since 1976 – approach some Wizards players who were resting during a timeout.

With the win, the Pistons improved to an Eastern Conference best 50–19 record. They currently have just four games left on the Boston Celtics for the second seed, but will play at least the next two weeks without Cade Cunningham.

Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards fell to 16–53 on the season, the second-worst record in the NBA behind only the 15–55 Indiana Pacers.

Luka Doncic has been in another world for some time now, but the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard is still human.

During a break in Thursday’s game and between his scoring explosion in South Beach against the Miami Heat, Doncic was seen on camera looking tired on the bench, and it seemed use foul language To explain how tired he was during that moment.

The way Doncic played against Miami, he had every right to feel and show that he was tired.

For one, it was the second night of a back-to-back set, and Doncic was also coming off a 40-point performance in Wednesday’s road win against the Houston Rockets. After a short turnaround and a trip to Miami on rest, the former NBA scoring champion somehow had enough energy to torch the Heat for 60 points.

Luka Doncic shot 18 for 30 from the field and hit nine of his 17 attempts from behind the arc, while recording seven rebounds, five steals and three assists in 38 minutes.

The 27-year-old Doncic is in some mysterious form right now, as he’s averaging 45.3 points on incredible efficiency over the last three Lakers games. Over that span, he shot 53.7 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from 3-point territory.

As for the Lakers, they extended their winning streak to eight games and are undefeated in three contests on their current road trip, which will take them to Orlando on Saturday when they face the Orlando Magic.

The Lakers are in third place in the Western Conference standings with a 45–25 record.

The NBA MVP conversation has primarily revolved around last season’s winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three-time recipient Nikola Jokic and Defensive Player of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama, but Luka Doncic is forcing voters to accept his candidacy. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection has been amazing as the Los Angeles Lakers continue their eight-game winning streak. Perhaps his latest masterpiece will make people reevaluate their awards chances.

A day after scoring 40 points against the Houston Rockets, Doncic paced the Miami Heat with 60 points on 18-of-30 shooting in a 134-126 road win on Thursday. Despite the team’s late arrival to South Beach (or early, depending on who you ask), the 27-year-old guard displayed the best offense he has to offer. He also totaled seven rebounds and five steals, showing his continued impact on the court.

Amid a spectacular March in which he scored 327 points over an eight-game span, Doncic is raising an important question. Why isn’t he getting more attention in the MVP race? Lakers head coach JJ Redick replied.

“Because he complains to the refs, I don’t know,” he said in the postgame press conference, according to the NBA Courtside X account. One might speculate that Redic might be being sarcastic, but it’s not so absurd to think that Doncic’s reactionary behavior earns him a certain level of support from fans and writers.

JJ Redick was asked why Luka isn't talked about more in MVP talks:

"Because he complains to the refs, Idk." pic.twitter.com/wY7Ep541zL

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 20, 2026

The 2023-24 scoring champion is one of the worst offenders when it comes to irritating the officials about no-calls. Instead of creating ruckus in the court, he will repeatedly argue his point heatedly. Doncic has improved in this area recently, but he remains under intense scrutiny due to his many blowups.

However, if he maintains his current level throughout the remainder of the campaign, even an ill-timed expression of emotion may not be enough to rule him out. Doncic was averaging an NBA-leading 33.0 points a game with 8.5 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals entering Thursday’s contest with the Heat. He’s shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range, burying opponents with a step-back jumper that seems unstoppable at times.

Most importantly, No. 77’s stellar numbers are carrying his team forward. The Lakers are currently in third place in the Western Conference with a 45–25 record. If they continue to win games, Luka Doncic may have a legitimate chance to snatch the MVP crown from Gilgeous-Alexander’s head.

It may be hard to remember now, but the Golden State Warriors once had high expectations for the 2025-26 season. Their 2025 NBA playoff run ended in the second round, but that was mostly due to Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury, which the Dubs did not force him to return prematurely.

However, the Warriors’ injury problems went from bad to worse this season. In fact, his injury situation has been straight up one of his nightmares. First, an errant pass from Brandin Podziemski caused Jimmy Butler to go down with a torn ACL. And now, Curry is dealing with persistent knee problems that are unlikely to go away, considering he is already 38 years old.

The Dubs then complicated matters by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, a man who is battling a chronic illness, and veteran big man Al Horford is also sidelined. Same goes for Moses Moody.

As a result, the Warriors have fallen off a cliff, and are now the 10th-place team in the Western Conference with a 33-36 record. This isn’t at all what the Dubs imagined their 2025-26 season would look like, and given the uncertainty surrounding Curry’s injury status, there doesn’t appear to be much hope available for the team as far as their competitive dreams this year go.

The Warriors will be hoping to make the most of Curry’s final comeback and at least qualify for the playoffs. However, things can always go from bad to worse in the NBA.

Warriors’ nightmare scenario: Finish 10th, lose 9/10 play-in games

If there’s a silver lining to the Warriors’ current situation, it’s that they’ll have to try and lose on purpose so they’re completely out of the play-in tournament picture. The Dubs are only 13 games into the season, and they are 8.5 games ahead of the 11th-place Memphis Grizzlies in the win-loss column.

Not only is this an insurmountable loss for the Grizzlies, but Memphis also has no incentive to do so given that they have embarked on a major rebuild.

However, it only provides cool comfort. They have gone just 2-8 in their last 10 games. They’re putting together a ragtag group on a nightly basis, and they’re playing in the background most nights. Curry is close to returning, but there is no specific timeline yet for when he will be back.

Another good news is that the rest of the Dubs’ schedule isn’t too difficult. According to Tankathon, they have the 22nd toughest schedule left, with only six of their last 13 games coming against teams above .500. However, the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, both the teams they are battling for in the battle for the eighth seed, somehow have easier schedules.

Combined with this and Curry’s absence, it is difficult to support the Warriors as a favorite for the eighth or ninth seed. The Clippers have faced another tough stretch (at least it feels like they have), and Benedict Mathurin will be sidelined indefinitely, but they have Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland healthy. Meanwhile, the Blazers have Deni Avdija leading the way, as he has played in all of their last six games.

Getting the 10th seed would be a nightmare for the Warriors. For starters, it will force them to play their 9/10 play-in games on the road. This season, the Warriors have a 14–21 record away from Chase Center (compared to 19–15 at home). Facing a must-win situation without the support of the home crowd doesn’t sound very attractive.

Of course, the Warriors have the advantage of experience compared to the Blazers, and once Curry returns, they can definitely go head-to-head with the Clippers. The Warriors have gone a combined 2-5 against those two teams this season.

So in short, they are facing the teams they have struggled against this year, in a do-or-die situation, with the potential to do so on the road. And if they ultimately win those 9/10 games, they will have to win one more game, once again on the road, to book a first-round matchup against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Still, it’s much more attractive than the nightmare scenario, which is that they’ll be eliminated from the postseason without a single win to their name. It’s just a sign that the end of an era for the Warriors is truly here, as if it hasn’t already arrived.

The Detroit Pistons are in serious trouble after Cade Cunningham suffered a lung injury. He will be reevaluated in two weeks and is expected to miss at least eight games.

The Pistons didn’t miss him much in Thursday’s 117-95 win over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. They improved to 50–19 and reached 50 wins for the first time in 18 years.

While fans are concerned about Cunningham missing for an extended period of time, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said there is no need to panic.

“The good news is they’ve got a four-game lead for a seed in the Eastern Conference standings. I think seeding is less important this year than health, obviously, but the Pistons played very hard. It would be great if they could get a seed so they have some cushion. They’ve played OK without Cade, they’re 5-2 without him,” Windhorst said.

“There are some tankers left on that schedule. There’s no doubt some tough games, but they should get some wins.”

Windhorst also raised the possibility of the 24-year-old guard returning sooner than later.

Windhorst said, “When the Pistons announced this injury, they didn’t announce the rib injury. Now, maybe they’re not giving it all out, but if he survived the big rib injury, it could potentially be more positive for him to come back in a shorter time frame.”

The team’s next five assignments aren’t exactly a walk in the park: the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Cunningham, who is in danger of being ineligible for individual awards, averaged career-highs of 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals.

Jalen Duren led Detroit with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two steals against the Wizards.

Not many people know that New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and former NBA star Andre Iguodala have known each other for years.

These days, Brunson is having a great season with the Knicks, while Iguodala is enjoying his retirement after a 19-year career.

Iguodala debuted with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004 when they selected him as the No. 9 pick. In 2006, the team added Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, to the preseason roster. That’s when the lives of the younger Brunson and Iguodala intertwined.

On the “Roommates Show,” Brunson, 29, recalled a story when he was rebounding for the 76ers during a shootaround, and he accidentally peed on Iguodala.

“I think of it like this: If the ball goes in the hoop and you see where that ball came from, you give it back to the guy who made that shot,” the lefty guard said.

“So I’m pretty sure you made a shot, and I’m thinking, ‘Right back at him.’ You looked away for a second, and swiftly, he got hit in the head, hit you in the head. I went, ‘Oh s***.’ You were hot. You didn’t look back at me. He was hot. I was very scared.”

Iguodala said he did not remember it happening, but he was intrigued by Brunson’s story.

The elder Brunson, an assistant coach with the Knicks, was omitted from the final roster that year. Meanwhile, Iguodala had a breakout campaign averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and five assists.

Twelve years later, in a full-circle moment, Iguodala, then with the Golden State Warriors, played against the young Brunson for the first time when he was a rookie on the Dallas Mavericks.

LeBron James has embarrassed Father Time time and again over the past several years, but the 41-year-old defied all logic in Thursday’s 134-126 win against the Miami Heat. After back-to-back wins against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center, the Los Angeles Lakers arrived in South Beach around 4 p.m. local time. Athletes need their sleep, especially when they have back-to-back games, and especially when they are in their 23rd NBA season.

However, the greatest player of all time showed no effect of the small change. He scored 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting with 15 rebounds and 10 assists, his 124th career triple-double. Luka Doncic was the best player on the night, leading the Heat with an impressive 60 points, but James’ huge contributions should also be highlighted. The Slovenian superstar made sure to do so while showing great appreciation to his teammate.

“Like I said yesterday, you know without him, we’re not going to win,” Doncic told Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell. “So the way he’s playing, he’s incredible to watch and incredible to watch.”

60 PIECE. 😴🔥

Mike Trudell caught up with Luka Dončić after his 60-point performance. pic.twitter.com/kgP3rWrbdM

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 20, 2026

When the Lakers struggled to maintain momentum from December to February, some people pointed fingers at James. Many NBA fans believe that the four-time Finals MVP’s defensive limitations will prevent the Lakers from advancing in the NBA Playoffs. The team is performing incredibly well right now, however, winning eight consecutive games and sitting in third place in the West.

Now that Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves are all healthy, LA looks like a real championship contender. The biggest member of that trio is actually a big reason why the Lakers have achieved such a position in the latter half of the regular season.

James will continue to let Doncic take the lead offensively, but when the opportunity arises, he will do his best to spark the offense as both a scorer and playmaker. The atmosphere in Los Angeles has surprisingly matched the team’s excellent form.

The Purple and Gold (45-25) continue their six-game road trip when they take on the Orlando Magic (38-31) this Saturday at the Kia Center.

The Detroit Pistons accomplished a historic feat by defeating the Washington Wizards 117–95. Thursday’s win was Detroit’s 50th of the regular season. This is the first time that the Pistons have achieved 50 wins since the 2007–08 season.

Detroit was able to accomplish this historic feat without All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham. He was unavailable after suffering a lung injury during the first five minutes against the Wizards last Tuesday.

The Pistons played their first matchup without Cunningham in another road matchup in Washington. They played with inspired energy from start to finish, leading them to another double-digit victory over the Wizards. Head coach JB Bickerstaff noted before the competition how difficult it would be to fill Cunningham’s absence.

Bickerstaff said, “Obviously, it’s tough. It’s tough with what Cade is going through. He’s a big part of what we do from a leadership standpoint. Obviously, the talent is there, but being around him every day makes guys’ days better.” “It’s our responsibility to keep moving forward. We know when he’s around he’ll support us. He’ll cheer us on, help us, coach us and lead us.”

The team came out with a spark that carried them to a 35-14 lead in the first quarter. Washington offered some pushback in the second quarter, but Detroit came back after halftime to impose its will. The Pistons outscored the Wizards 57–43 in the second half and put the game out of reach.

Bickerstaff has been a key part of the team’s development since arriving in Detroit in 2024. He offered his thoughts to the media after the game about reaching 50 wins for the Pistons this season.

Bickerstaff said, “This is progress, and that’s what we’re here for is to ultimately keep getting better. And I think we’ve done that. But there’s still a lot more to do and the most important thing is we’re focused on what we have left, how we prepare ourselves for tomorrow.”

Pistons advance amid Cunningham’s absence

Detroit has played seven games without him due to other miscellaneous injuries. Cunningham’s collapsed lung is the first long-term injury the team has been forced to play this regular season.

The Pistons weren’t shy about being motivated by Cunningham’s absence. Forward Auser Thompson explained what his absence on the court means for the team and what to expect when he returns.

“We play with him in our minds. How hard he works every day, his energy, we have to come together as a collective and bring him. … When he comes back, we’ll be very excited and ready for him to step up and do whatever he does,” Thompson explained.

Detroit managed to play a somewhat similar style without Cunningham as All-Star center Jalen Duren had an impressive night against the Wizards. Duren finished the night with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Six of those rebounds were pulled down on the offensive end, creating second chances for Detroit.

Backup center Paul Reed had an impressive performance, scoring 17 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Guards Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter and Caris LeVert scored 14 points each for the Pistons. Thompson contributed ten points and nine rebounds in his restricted minutes.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ winning streak reached eight games after a 134-126 win against the Miami Heat on Thursday. The Lakers also improved to 3-0 on their current road trip, and the win was capped off by a 60-point explosion from Luka Doncic. But amid Doncic’s big game, LeBron James left his mark on the Lakers’ win with a triple double, according to Melissa Rohlin of the California Post, prompting head coach JJ Redick to drop the mic with three words.

“He’s a psychopath,” Redick said after the Lakers’ win against the Heat.

LeBron James finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, giving him his second triple-double of the season. Also impressive was the fact that the Lakers were playing the second night of a back-to-back, a game that James was initially listed as questionable to play in.

He shot 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes of play. James had another incredible performance in the Lakers’ win against the Houston Rockets last night, when he dropped 30 points while missing only one shot (13 of 14).

Earlier this season, when James returned to the Lakers’ lineup after missing the first 14 games of the season due to a nerve injury, he was missing both games of a back-to-back set. But that’s where he’s been for most of the season since the New Year as the Lakers continue to battle for playoff position in the Western Conference.

James was selected for his 22nd consecutive All-Star appearance, however, his streak of 21 consecutive All-NBA team finishes ended as he did not reach the league’s 65-game mandate to be eligible for postseason honors.

After the win against the Heat, the Lakers improved to 45–25, two full games ahead of the No. 4 Minnesota Timberwolves. The team will visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday before concluding their road trip with games against the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

If you’re feeling very frustrated with your job, just be thankful you’re not coach Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Rivers may have lost his voice again after the Bucks suffered an embarrassing 128-96 loss to the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Thursday. At one point, Milwaukee was down by 37 points.

The Bucks got off to a sluggish start, with the Jazz outscoring them 30–19 in the first quarter. It was all downhill from there, as they fell to 28–41 in a deer in headlights season.

As Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported, Rivers was brutally honest about his performance after the game.

“We played very badly. Didn’t play with any competitive spirit tonight.”

The Bucks shot only 41% from the floor and were outrebounded 47-35. They reduced their turnovers by 28 points.

When you can’t beat a team that’s already staring at defeat, something is very wrong.

“I thought the first group set the tone. I thought the first group arrived, and everybody in that group was trying to score. It’s so fun, we had a great shootaround today where the ball was moving around. Everything was second act,” Rivers said.

“The first six times, the guy who was supposed to go (in the second act) kept it intact. But at the end of the day, the onus is on me to play them the right way.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the game due to injury management. It was recently reported that the Bucks wanted to lock up Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season, but the two-time MVP refused.

Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 15 points, three rebounds and five assists, while Cam Thomas had 14 points, two rebounds and four assists off the bench.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat make a playoff push, the team is headed in the wrong direction after losing its third straight game, this time a 134-126 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. With the Heat facing tough opponents in the home stretch of the season, the team is still trying to find a key area with 12 games left, as it features the duo of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro.

The explosive guard duo has been in just 14 games together this season, with each missing significant time due to injuries, especially Herro, who has missed a total of 47 contests with a myriad of issues. Powell has filled the void as the leading scoring guard in Herro’s absence, making the veteran a first-time All-Star and leading Miami with 22.4 points per game.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra brought Powell off the bench on Thursday night, which could be an untenable situation as the team figures out how to utilize both Powell and Herro. As for Spoelstra, he believes it will “work itself out”, admitting that it is “hard to assess”, and even going so far as to say that it is “at the back” on his list of priorities.

“The skill level of both of them will lend itself to them on the court,” Spoelstra said. “You know we need it. We need all the offensive firepower we have right now. It’s hard to assess, and I understand it because it’s a story, because they don’t have a full body of games and a season, it’s way behind the order of my priorities. Because if we’re defending the way we’ve been, and getting things done in the open court, and we’re getting in transition, in my view, it just works itself out.”

Heat’s Norman Powell gives honest opinion on coming off the bench

Although the Heat’s lineup may change due to injuries to Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jacquez Jr., Powell’s role on the team will remain until the end of the regular season. Still, it’s not like Spoelstra is keeping Powell and Herro away from each other, either, with them playing significant minutes together in the loss to the Lakers, even if Herro came off the bench.

Herro recorded 21 points on eight of 19 shooting from the field, four of 10 from deep, along with eight rebounds and five assists. Powell worked well with the second unit, and even played extended games with the starters near the end, recording 32 minutes and scoring 20 points on seven of 13 shooting from the field.

Still, the two of them on the floor together are a work in progress, and it’s noticeable when looking at the two guards’ spacing and defense. Powell will talk about coming off the bench and how much of an adjustment it is, something he underestimated because he’s had so many roles during his decade-plus long career.

“I’m just playing my game, those decisions and things are up to me,” Powell said. “I can’t control it. I focus on what I can control: being a good teammate, being professional, having confidence in myself, going out there and playing the way I want to play, and whatever minutes I get, figuring out how we can make it work.”

Heat’s Norman Powell sees himself as a starter

As the Heat were unable to stop Lakers star Luka Doncic, who contributed a massive 60 points, it started in the second half, where the star lit it up with 19 points in the third quarter, as he had 21 points at halftime. It was another disappointing loss for Miami, as they led by as many as 15 points in the first half, even scoring 42 points in the opening frame.

The three-game slump is a blow to the Heat, especially with a seven-game winning streak already underway, as the team still needs to figure out a significant role for Powell. Whether this is a permanent move or it will be on a game-by-game basis, Powell thinks it’s the latter.

Powell will be honest in saying he believes he is a starter, but he is accepting his role if Miami feels that is what it takes to win games.

“We talked, I don’t know, game by game. I don’t know, it’s a question [Spoelstra]But we talked about how it’s going to move forward, with everybody, you know, treating every game as a playoff game, because it’s so important,” Powell said. “And whatever role you’re given, the focus has to be on going out there and winning games, no matter what, and that’s my focus. I feel like I’m a starter; I’ve worked to be in that role. But if the team feels like me coming off the bench for a few games, or whatever depending on the matchup, will put us in a position to win games, then I’ll accept the role and go out there and play basketball.

Heat’s Bam Adebayo takes down Norman Powell coming off the bench

At the end of the day, it remains to be seen how Powell’s role changes with the Heat, but if one thing is for sure, the minutes he is playing are integral. Miami captain Bam Adebayo echoed the same sentiment with ClutchPoints, saying how he’s still playing minutes, comparing it to the way former star Lou Williams was brought off the bench.

“I mean, obviously, the guy was an All-Star, so we think he can carry it forward,” Adebayo said after leading the team with 28 points and 10 rebounds. “You know, for me, it’s always the other side. Always want my guys to be scoring. Some of us are just built to do that. You know, for me, it’s doing the little things on the other side, communicating, being in your right spots, and then on the other side, it’s sacrificing cuts every now and then, and that’s everybody.”

“It’s not just Norm, I mean, Norm’s sacrifice, he’s coming off the bench, and he’s figuring out his role, but he’s still playing 32, so it’s like, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter about coming off the bench, because you’re being like Lou Will in coming off the bench, but you’re still playing 30 plus.”

In addition to Doncic, it was an efficient game for former Heat star LeBron James, who recorded 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the field, along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists. At any rate, Miami is now back up to the eighth seed at 38-32, with its next game on Saturday against the Houston Rockets.

JJ Redick heaped praise on Luka Doncic after he stunned the Nets in the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Doncic is going through the eighth season of his NBA career, his second with the Lakers. He has made significant progress in his adaptation to Los Angeles, which has become a key factor in the team’s chances of success.

In 38 minutes of action, Doncic lit up the court from nowhere against Miami’s defense. He finished with a stat line of 60 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. He made 18 of 30 shots from the field, including 9 of 17 from beyond the arc and 15 of 19 from the free-throw line.

Redick reflected on Doncic’s hot stretch of scoring after the game. After Thursday night, the Lakers superstar has scored 51 points, 30 points, 36 points and 40 points in the team’s winning streak. This resulted in the head coach praising Doncic’s remarkable efforts.

Reddick said, “His teammates are enjoying it just as much as him right now… It’s a special race.”

Luka Doncic, how the Lakers played against the Heat

JJ Redick and the Lakers are happy to see Luka Doncic getting hot at a crucial time. Los Angeles is coming off a big win, moving it up in the conference standings and the playoff picture.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Doncic. LeBron James delivered a triple-double performance of 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on 8 of 12 shooting from the field. Austin Reeves was next with 18 points and five rebounds, while Marcus Smart added 13 points and four assists.

Los Angeles improved to a 45–25 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Coming off the back of eight consecutive wins, the Lakers will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Orlando Magic on March 21st at 7pm ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently on an eight-game winning streak, but apparently, some people still think the team would be better off without 41-year-old LeBron James. Following Thursday night’s blowout 134-126 win over the Miami Heat, James took some time to address critics who suggest his appearance could be holding the purple and gold back.

When LeBron James was asked about the narrative, he clearly stated that such takes are usually just for clicks. “It sells papers and clippings and podcasts a lot easier than if you say, ‘LeBron, the team is better off without him.’ Many people will try to like watching it. So, I understand. They are absolutely wrong.” Looking at the figures he just presented, it’s hard to argue with him. Over the past 24 hours, James has led the Lakers to a 2-0 record while scoring a total of 49 points on an absurd 21-26 shooting from the field.

The game in Miami was especially special as James had officially tied Robert Parish for the NBA record for most games played in a regular season with 1,611. He celebrated this milestone by recording a triple-double, finishing the night with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Head coach JJ Redick praised his star’s longevity, noting that James refused to cheat the game even in his 23rd season.

While James provided a steady hand, Luka Doncic provided the fireworks. The Slovenian superstar exploded with a season-high 60 points against the Heat, setting a new record for points by an opponent in Miami. Doncic also broke the Lakers’ single-season record for 3-pointers made during the win. With Austin Reaves scoring 18 points and holding the defense strong late, the Lakers proved they have a terrific balance of youth and veteran leadership.

The Lakers now sit at 45-25 and have moved up to third place in the Western Conference. If this is what a team looks like with a “declining” LeBron James, the rest of the league is in serious trouble.

The San Antonio Spurs are back in the playoffs after a six-season drought.

Of course, a big part of their comeback, literally and figuratively, is Victor Wembanyama. He drained the game-winning jumper against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday to beat the Spurs 101-100 at Frost Bank Center and secure their spot in the postseason.

With the shot clock expiring, Wembanyama took a few jab steps before pulling Oso Ighodaro up and burying the shot with 1.1 seconds remaining.

The Suns had a chance to steal the win, but Devin Booker’s half-court heave was too low.

As Spurs reporter Carolina Teague shared, the 22-year-old Wembanyama made no big deal of his clutch bucket when asked about it after the game.

“We ran the play, and De’Aaron had a good reaction, and said it was pretty straightforward,” the two-time All-Star shared.

Rasheer Fleming missed two free throws before Wembanyama’s game-winning shot.

The 7-foot-4 star finished with a game-high 34 points on 10-of-20 shooting, 12 rebounds and three steals.

De’Aaron Fox provided support with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The Spurs, who improved to 52-18, including 27-7 at home, played without Stephen Castle, who exited in the last minute with a hip injury.

Vembanyama has fully accepted his responsibility as the man in charge of Spurs. It felt like he still had a little reluctance to take over during his first two years, but now, he has become more aggressive in becoming a cornerstone of the team.

Vembanyama has even admitted that he is one of them, which should bode well for the Silver and Black as they look to return to the playoffs.

In just three seasons, Victor Wembanyama has led the San Antonio Spurs back into playoff position after his game-winning performance against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

Wembanyama has achieved superstar status as the face of the Spurs franchise. The team has not reached the postseason since 2019, a drought that the young star center looks to end this season.

Luckily, San Antonio is enjoying its best season so far in 2020. They have a distinguished campaign ahead as the team is in the top position of the Western Conference, needing one more win to seal their ticket.

Wembanyama answered the call during San Antonio’s clash with Phoenix. With 10 seconds left on the game clock, he took the ball inbounds and hit the game-winning shot from mid-range to seal his team’s spot in the playoffs.

Wembley calls game for the Spurs 👽

They sent San Antonio to the playoffs for the first time since 2019!pic.twitter.com/X5BeZmjcXE

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 20 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama, how Spurs played against the Suns

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will be looking forward to their playoff journey together. Beating the Suns in game-winning fashion was the cherry on top.

Four players scored in double figures for San Antonio in the win, including Wembanyama. He finished with a stat line of 34 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block. He made 10 of 20 shots from the field, including 2 of 7 from beyond the arc and 12 of 12 from the free-throw line. De’Aaron Fox came in next with 23 points and seven rebounds, Julian Champagne had 14 points and two blocks, while Devin Vassell added 12 points and two assists.

San Antonio improved to a 52–18 record on the season and finished second in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With four consecutive wins, Spurs will look forward to their next encounter at home. They will host the Indiana Pacers as tip-off takes place on March 21 at 8 PM ET.

The Miami Heat are finally ready to close the book on the Terry Rozier era. After a season defined more by legit headlines than highlights, Miami is expected to waive the veteran guard before the NBA playoffs begin. The move is intended to clear a roster spot for the postseason, allowing Pat Riley and the front office to add depth or convert a two-way contract once the regular season ends.

Terry Rozier has not played a single minute for the Heat this season. His absence began after October 1. 23 arrests related to federal investigation of illegal gambling. While he remained on the roster as a potential trade chip, his expiring $26.6 million contract found no taker before the February deadline. With the team now holding a 38–31 record and fighting for position in the crowded Eastern Conference, Miami has decided it is time to move on.

The veteran guard must clear waivers before the regular season ends on April 12, meaning the Heat will likely make the move official by April 9. Last season, Rozier averaged 10.6 points and 2.6 assists in 64 games for Miami, but his production dropped significantly after a trade to the Charlotte Hornets.

In his absence, players like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have carried the load. Herro is currently averaging 21.4 points per game, while Adebayo has been a force in the paint with 20.0 points and nearly 10 rebounds a night. The Heat recently lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a hard-fought game, highlighting the need for a final, cohesive roster to advance to the play-in or playoff rounds.

Waiver of Rozier potentially opens up a seat for contributors like Pelle Larsson or Keishad Johnson to join the standard roster. While the gambling case continues in court, the Heat have focused on the court, opting for playoff flexibility rather than a roster spot that has been unused for months.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Golden State Warriors 120-99 on Wednesday. Meaning, under normal circumstances, Jaylen Brown and Stephen Curry would be facing off. However, Curry is out with a knee injury.

Last December, Brown said Curry would have to work harder in head-to-head matchups.

Now in March, Brown made a pretty shocking statement about Curry’s safety, according to NBA TV. Basically, Brown says Curry is the hardest to control because, later on, he runs out of gas.

“The toughest player is probably Steph Curry because you just have to run a lot,” Brown said.

Jaylen Brown believes Steph Curry is the toughest player in the NBA

“The toughest player is probably Steph Curry because you just have to run a lot.”

(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/oBZAXbO827

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

On Wednesday, Brown led the way with 32 points, 11 of 20 from the field, 9 of 9 at the free throw line, with six rebounds and five assists. As a result, the Celtics are now 46–23, the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Additionally, Boston has won seven of its last 10 games and is on a three-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Warriors are 33-36, in 10th place in the Western Conference, and have lost 8 of their last 10 games.

Overall, Brown has played in 62 games and averaged 28.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Curry has played 39 games, averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists per game.

They have lost 19 consecutive games.

Both Brown and Curry competed against each other for the first time during the 2022 NBA Finals. Ultimately, the Warriors defeated the Celtics in six games. Curry was the Finals MVP, averaging 31.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

Brown averaged 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.