分類: 综合

The Washington Wizards face the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night and Trae Young is once again at the center of the injury report. He has been officially listed as out due to a right quad contusion, putting the Wizards’ key guard in focus as the team tries to break a brutal 13-game losing streak.

The Wizards enter the matchup at 16-52, No. 14 in the Eastern Conference, with their season essentially out of reach. Meanwhile, the Pistons are 49-19, ranked No. 3 in the West, looking to win consecutive games. Here’s everything we know from the injury report regarding Trae Young and his game status vs. the Pistons.

Even in limited action this season, Young has remained productive. In 15 games, he averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He’s also shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 82.5 percent from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Young has continued to run the offense and create opportunities for his teammates. However, Washington is still struggling to find stability on both ends.

Without him, the Wizards lose a primary playmaker. They face even less margin for error. That challenge only increases against a surging Detroit team.

Trae Young’s injury status vs. Pistons

What makes Young’s absence particularly glaring is the Wizards’ injury report. Bilal Koulibaly (foot) and Alex Sarr (toe) are both questionable, while Anthony Davis, Keyshawn George and Cam Whitmore are all out. D’Angelo Russell is not with the team and Leaky Black is also out of the team.

On the other hand, the Pistons are also struggling with injuries. Cade Cunningham (back) and Isaiah Stewart (calf) are out, while several players are unavailable due to G League assignments. Still, Detroit has maintained strong momentum behind its depth and execution.

Washington is simply trying to stop the decline. Detroit wants to stay sharp and stack wins. So when the question comes whether Trae Young is playing against the Pistons tonight, the answer is no. He has been officially dismissed. His absence adds another challenge for a Wizards team searching for answers. The season is also ending.

The Boston Celtics have been playing well all season, and they have gotten even better over the past few weeks with the return of Jayson Tatum to the lineup. They are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they have an opportunity to climb to No. 1 with the latest news of Cade Cunningham suffering from a bad lung.

The Detroit Pistons have been on top of the Eastern Conference all season, and Cunningham has been the engine of their success. It is uncertain how long he will be sidelined, but it could be three weeks or even six weeks. Any deadline would be after the regular season, meaning the Pistons may struggle without their star player.

The Celtics, on the other hand, have everything they need, and they are ready to make a run.

It won’t be all easy for the Celtics, as they have the league’s seventh-toughest schedule remaining. They still have matchups with the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks, and two matchups with the Atlanta Hawks, who are currently on an 11-game winning streak. The Celtics can beat these teams, but they’ll have to work for it.

Additionally, if the Celtics have the same record as the Pistons at the end of the season, they will still be the No. 2 seed because they do not have a tiebreaker. That means if the Celtics want to capture the No. 1 seed, they’ll have to stay ahead by a few games.

The Pistons are left with the 15th toughest schedule in the league, and that’s probably good news for them as they try to move forward without their star player.

It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can make a move with a few weeks left in the regular season, but there’s no doubt it can be done.

MIAMI – The Miami Heat are trying to make a playoff run with 12 games left in the season after Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the team still dealing with injuries to key players like Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Andrew Wiggins. As the Heat prepare for the matchup to end the season, head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke on the updates he has for both impact players as the team looks to solidify their spot in the Eastern Conference.

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra provides update on Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jacquez Jr.

Starting with Wiggins, facing the Lakers on Thursday marks the seventh consecutive contest the veteran forward has missed as he deals with an injury listed as “Left Big Toe; Sesamoiditis.” Wiggins is a mainstay in Miami’s starting lineup, providing the team with a consistent two-way effort that works well offensively with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and others.

This season, Wiggins is averaging 15.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. In his absence, Spoelstra would say the team is “encouraged” by Wiggins’ recovery process.

“He’s making progress, he’s not ready to go tonight. He’s still got a ways to go, but we’re encouraged by the progress he’s made over the last few days,” Spoelstra said before the Heat took on the Lakers.

As for Jaquez, he will be listed for Thursday’s game due to “left hip tightness,” a problem sustained during Tuesday’s 136-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in Miami. His importance cannot be underestimated as Jacquez has been one of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 15 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field.

Spoelstra would say he’ll be labeled “day-to-day.”

“It happened in the game, but he’s already had a lot of treatment. He’s starting to feel better. So take it day by day,” Spoelstra said.

Erik Spoelstra speaks on the injuries to Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Andrew Wiggins, who are both out.

Jaime’s hip problem remained in Tuesday’s game, “day-to-day.”

Spoe ‘encouraged’ by Wiggins’ recovery from toe injury. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/fatxq1ROvJ

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 March 2026

Erik Spoelstra on “big test” for the Heat

While the Heat absolutely want to see how well they can operate before the postseason, the team may not get enough time to see what a fully healthy Miami team looks like. Since there will be 12 games after the Lakers contest, it cannot be said for sure when Wiggins will return with Jacquez, making it difficult to evaluate the team.

Either way, Spoelstra told ClutchPoints that the “big test” is overcoming the home stretch of the season against other teams that have similar goals.

“I mean, the big test is, you know, how we raise our game and spirit and level of competition against teams that are playing for something, at least in our near future,” Spoelstra said. “And, you know, that’s when people say they’ve always wanted that, and now we have it. But we always say it’s just for the competitors, and other teams, you know, competing and bringing their best game. So it’s just a matter of facing that level of competition and finding a way to get to another level.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked if these final 13 games of the season will show how this team can really work or whether injuries are keeping it from getting a look: #HeatNation

“The big test is how we raise our game, spirit and level of competition…” pic.twitter.com/LRfHe3QmZh

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 March 2026

At any rate, Miami looks to take the remaining games remaining in the regular season and accomplish the goal they are striving for, which is to avoid the play-in tournament. After being in the tournament for the last three seasons and finishing as the eighth seed, the Heat are looking to move up to at least sixth place.

Entering Thursday against the Lakers, Miami is 38-31, in seventh place in the East, just a half-game behind the Orlando Magic, who hold the coveted sixth spot.

LeBron James’ longevity is extraordinary. The Los Angeles Lakers star is already 41 years old and in his 23rd year in the league, and yet he is still playing at a high level. On Thursday night, James tied Robert Parish’s record for most games played in a career.

After starting in the Lakers’ game against the Miami Heat, LeBron has played a total of 1,611 games, tying Parish’s record. James will certainly break some records this season and beyond, provided he plays the rest of the year.

Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, James has played 23 seasons in his NBA career. Although the Lakers star missed a few games here and there, the sheer amount of years he played meant that sooner or later he was bound to break this record. Games played by James spanned Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles.

His longevity is the biggest reason why many fans consider him the greatest player in NBA history. Even at the age of 41, the Lakers star is still averaging 21.4 points per game on efficient shooting (shooting 51.4% from the field). He’s also adding 6.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. Although he is not the focal point of the Lakers’ offense as before, he has still been an integral part for them this season.

Due to his age, there is talk in the league about James’ possible retirement after this season. Although the Lakers star has not clearly stated that he will retire after the 2025-26 season, this decision is still lingering in every fan’s mind as the season progresses. However, for now he and the Lakers are focused on winning another championship. Los Angeles enters its game against Miami as the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference, and is on track to make the postseason.

The Detroit Pistons have been one of the top teams in the league this season, but the next few weeks could be tough for them playing without their star player. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Cade Cunningham will be out for an extended period of time with a lung injury. He left their game against the Washington Wizards after playing only five minutes.

The Pistons released a statement regarding Cunningham’s injury.

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

It is uncertain how long Cunningham will be out, but there is a good chance he will miss the remainder of the regular season. There is some optimism that he will return for the start of the postseason, but it is still too early to tell.

Cunningham has been the engine for the Pistons this season, and without him, they will have to carry a lot of the load. He had an All-NBA season, and at this point, he may not be able to qualify for season awards given the amount of games he could potentially miss.

The Pistons are also in danger of losing the No. 1 seed, as the Boston Celtics are just 3.5 games behind them. Luckily, the Pistons have a tiebreaker between them, which could go a long way if they have the same record as them at the end of the season.

The Pistons have a fairly easy schedule, so they should be able to stick around if Cunningham is sidelined, but they’ll need him when the playoffs start. If they can bring him back before that then it would be a big thing for them.

With the 2025-26 season almost over, the Dallas Mavericks look forward to the 2026 NBA Draft. With the organization hoping to acquire young talent for the roster in the offseason, CEO Rick Welts explains why the upcoming draft is so important for the franchise.

Welts said the Mavericks are aiming to add more than one prospect in the draft who they plan on playing for the team for a long time. Dallas is projected to be a top 10 pick and could potentially add more draft capital before the draft begins.

“This is going to be a really important draft for us because we’ll be picking up at least a few players that will probably be a part of our roster for a long time,” Welts said.

Dallas is gearing up for a busy offseason. Ideally before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Mavericks need to find a new general manager to replace Nico Harrison. Depending on how the draft goes, it could determine other moves the club makes in free agency or trades.

With a 23-47 record and 12 games remaining on the schedule, the Mavericks are well back in the play-in tournament mix. They’re technically not out yet, but the trajectory for the team is to miss the playoffs altogether. If so, it would be the second consecutive campaign where Dallas fails to reach the postseason.

We’ll see how the postseason plays out for the Mavericks. Depending on the steps taken by the club, they could change things. Especially considering that Cooper Flagg will be going into his second year, and Kyrie Irving is expected to return from injury. Add in an exciting prospect, and you have an attractive roster for next season.

The Detroit Pistons suffered a major blow when Cade Cunningham suffered a lung injury and will be out indefinitely. Jalen Duren will have to take over with Cunningham out. He is currently the favorite on DraftKings for the Most Improved Player award. There is no timetable for Cunningham, and that means Duren will take on more responsibilities.

Duren has a chance to show what he can do with Cunningham out of the lineup. The Pistons have played seven games without Cunningham this season, and have had mostly positive results, going 5–2 in the seven games. Currently, they are 49–19, which is the best record in the Eastern Conference. But they are only 3.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics, and will have to hold on to maintain the top spot in the East.

Duren is averaging 19 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while shooting 64.2%. This is a huge jump from the 2024-25 season, when he averaged 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Duren does not mind putting pressure on the team. Most recently, he scored 36 points while shooting 13 of 17 from the field in a 130–117 win over the Washington Wizards. He also had 30 points while shooting 12 of 15 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

With no Cunningham in the lineup, Duren will likely be the first option for the Pistons as they attempt to finish with home-court advantage during the Eastern Conference playoffs. There are 14 games left on the schedule and Duran has ample opportunity to claim his prize and cement his legacy. A bigger stretch would give them home-court advantage and potentially make them stronger as a unit. This will prepare them for when Cunningham is ready to return.

There are still a few weeks left in the NBA regular season. But it’s safe to assume that the Chicago Bulls are still rebuilding. A series of trades that shook up the franchise during the trade deadline speaks to this.

As a result, the Bulls are stuck with a young roster and uncertainty about who will stay or go. This especially applies to Collin Sexton, Nick Richards, Anfernee Simmons, Jaden Ivey, Leonard Miller and Rob Dillingham.

Additionally, head coach Billy Donovan is as forthright as ever when talking about Chicago’s future. According to Sports Illustrated’s Elias Schuster, this also includes questions about his future with the franchise.

Before the Bulls took on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Donovan talked about the future.

“I think we’ll do what we’ve always done – sit out the end of the year,” he said. “We talk about the team every day and obviously the biggest challenge for us has been injuries and things we’ve gone through since the trade deadline. But just trying to get these new people together – playing together – [is] Where all our focus has been. The decisions you’re talking about are decisions that are probably going to be made during the draft, during free agency, those things. So, I think you should look at the team. Certainly, there are people whose contracts are expiring – there are people whose contracts are restricted – so there’s probably a lot of decisions that have to be made, but we haven’t really talked about those decisions at all at this point.

Currently, the Bulls are 28-41 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

MIAMI – The Miami Heat are attempting to reach the playoffs in a tight Eastern Conference standings, with the first game of the season’s final 13 at home against the Los Angeles Lakers and superstar LeBron James. With the Heat facing tough games ahead, head coach Erik Spoelstra explained how James is standing the test of time.

James is 41 years old, in his 23rd season in the NBA, and it’s barely noticeable that he’s lost a step, adding another level to his already legendary status as one of the top players in NBA history. In addition to demonstrating that James was a key part in bringing two championships to Miami along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh during the “Big 3” era.

Spoelstra was apparently the head coach of those teams, as he described how James was “giving Father Time hell.” In addition to watching closely from his time in Miami, Spoestra also watched as Team USA’s assistant coach as James and Co. earned a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“You just have to have total respect for his level of competitiveness,” Spoelstra said before the Heat played the Lakers on Thursday night. “You know, he’s not only competing against the entire league, but he’s competing against Father Time, and he’s giving Father Time hell, he really is. And you have to respect that.”

“This doesn’t happen by accident,” Spoelstra continued. “I obviously saw a lot of his habits 14 years ago, but then at the USA weeks, you could see how dedicated he was to all the different things, shooting, player development, but also lifting and mobility and everything to keep his body right. It was impressive. He’s doing a lot of impressive things.”

Erik Spoelstra on LeBron James: #HeatNation

“He’s competing against Father Time and he’s making Father Time hell…” pic.twitter.com/4zxIixr6PP

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 March 2026

LeBron James warming up before tonight’s game against the Heat: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/WN642MMDsd

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) March 19, 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra says LeBron James could play another decade

This is not the first time that the Heat’s head coach in Spoelstra has praised James, it is a common occurrence every time the star has returned to Miami to take on his former team. Even if the sports world wonders when James will retire, Spoelstra believes he can play basketball for the next “decade” if he wants to.

“Size, strength and IQ. What he can do with his body and the way he takes care of himself,” Spoelstra said on December 4, 2024. United, but at this size, and if he wants to slow the game down and just play, you know, away from his brain and IQ, he can do that for another decade, I doubt he’ll find the interest in it, but he can.

Talking more about Erik Spoelstra and more about LeBron James and how he still excels at this age. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/jJ1OUGRaas

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 4th December 2024

At any rate, who knows if Thursday night at the Cascade Center will be the last time James plays in Miami, but it can’t be denied that fans will remember the superstar who led the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2011-2014. Additionally, Spoelstra is trying to defeat James, the Lakers and any other team that stands in the way of the Heat as they sit 38-31, seventh in the East, entering Thursday’s game against Los Angeles.

The Dallas Mavericks fired Nico Harrison as general manager at the start of the 2025-26 season in November. Since then, the club has not found its official replacement. On Thursday, CEO Rick Welts provided an update on the organization’s search for a new general manager.

According to AB Jones of DLLS Sports, Welts claims the Mavericks are in no rush to find Harrison’s replacement. He also claimed that the franchise is excited to find a new general manager and that they ideally hire a new candidate before the 2026 NBA Draft.

“Not in a rush, we want to make the right decision,” Welts said. “We’re very excited about the potential candidates. I think ideally we’d like to have someone in place before the draft.”

After firing Nico Harrison, the Mavericks named Michael Finley and Matt Ricciardi co-interim general managers. This decision came shortly after Harrison traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and some replacements. Dallas lucked out in the 2025 NBA Draft by winning the draft lottery and selecting Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall.

This season, the Mavericks have not been as competitive. The team is 23-47 with only 12 games remaining on the schedule. Dallas is in line for a high-value first-round selection in the upcoming draft to find another exciting prospect to pair with Flagg.

Things could look very different for the Mavericks next season, especially with a new general manager. Flagg, Davis, Kyrie Irving’s return from injury and an exciting rookie could be a solid group for Dallas moving forward.

The Los Angeles Lakers extended their lead with a 124–116 win over the Houston Rockets, making their streak seven and improving to 9–1 in their last 10 games. Once again, LeBron James took charge on the night. At 41, he put in a performance that felt both skilled and inevitable. He finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, along with five rebounds and two assists. The matchup against the Rockets was high on energy, but LeBron controlled the Lakers’ rhythm from start to finish.

After the game, JJ Redick gave a response that immediately caught attention. “The one shot he missed, he was trying to make a foul shot. I mean, that’s the biggest thing,” Redick said. that was fast. it was funny. And it perfectly demonstrated how dominant LeBron was. A miss occurred only because everything else went in.

JJ: “One shot (LeBron) missed, he was trying to draw a foul. That’s the biggest thing” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wu2L2pxfoL

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

LeBron also missed both of his three-point attempts. Every touch seemed deliberate. Every move felt calculated. Under the lights, it didn’t look like this was a player in the prime of his career. It seemed like the perfect order.

Lakers finding form at the right time

The Lakers just aren’t winning. Instead, they are building something. The difference is clearly visible. Meanwhile, decision making feels rushed. And through it all, LeBron James has been the engine driving everything forward.

However, the rockets did not fold easily. They kept the pressure on the scoreboard and forced the Lakers to respond. Still, Los Angeles never lost control. Each of Houston’s runs received a steady answer. As a result, that balance continues to define this expansion.

More importantly, this moment feels bigger than a game. Almost a perfect shooting night. A viral quote from JJ Redick. Plus, as the season gets tougher, the team’s confidence is growing. The Lakers are on an upward trend, and the signs are becoming harder to ignore now.

So now, the question arises again: If LeBron James is playing at this level, how dangerous can this Lakers run be?

The LA Clippers are in the midst of a three-game road trip, currently the second night of a back-to-back set on Thursday night in New Orleans and the fifth game in a tough five-on-seven stretch for the team.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard returned Wednesday night after a one-game absence and played against the Pelicans. Leonard was previously unable to participate in Monday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs due to a left ankle sprain suffered in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

Leonard left the Kings’ game in the fourth quarter and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. Kawhi Leonard made a quick recovery in time to play on Wednesday night, but will the game be played again on Thursday night?

Here’s everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Pelicans.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard was listed as “doubtful” to play in the Clippers’ first contest against the Pelicans, and was eventually upgraded to available. The Clippers’ injury report for Thursday night has Leonard once again listed as “questionable” for the game with a left ankle sprain. This is the second night of back-to-back sets after recovering from injury, so Leonard will be in high gear.

Just before the game, the LA Clippers announced that Leonard had been ruled out of the game. The franchise has historically had a cautious history with the two-time NBA Finals MVP, but Leonard has placed an emphasis on playing as many games as possible, especially when the team is fighting for playoff position.

Worth watching is that guard Darius Garland has been ruled out of Thursday night’s game with a left big toe injury. He has not played a consistent match since his return and there is no reason to believe he will do so any time soon this season.

Kawhi Leonard has a bad reputation among NBA fans due to his unfortunate injuries, but he has played in both halves of nine back-to-back sets during the 2025-26 regular season with the Clippers, demonstrating his ability to stay healthy and produce at a high level. In previous years, the Clippers have kept him out of back-to-back sets due to serious injuries, such as a torn ACL that ended his 2021 and 2022 postseasons, a torn meniscus that cut his 2023 postseason short, and knee inflammation that caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season and has played in 54 of the Clippers’ 69 games so far. Leonard missed 10 of the 15 games due to a severe right ankle sprain he suffered in November. Despite suffering a left ankle injury against the Spurs, Leonard finished with his 45th straight game of 20+ points, surpassing Bob McAdoo and setting a new franchise record. Leonard scored 25 points with eight rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting from the field on Wednesday, extending his streak of 20+ point games to 46, the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen anybody do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-24 in the 53 games that Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-11 in the 15 games he has not played. They’re also 0-3 in the three games Leonard has missed due to injury in the fourth quarter – against the Heat, Lakers and Kings.

Leonard is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 89.8 percent from the free-throw line. 28.2 points are the highest in his career.

The Clippers posted a 34–35 record, turning their season around and going 28–14 since starting the season 6–21. However, they have lost three games in a row and could face a fourth straight loss when they take on the Pelicans without Leonard and Garland.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (left ankle sprain): Out
• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): out
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out

pelicans injury report

The Pelicans have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Trey Alexander (G League – Two Way): Out
• Hunter Dickerson (G League – Two Way): Out
• Bryce McGowens (fractured right little toe): out
• Dejounte Murray (right Achilles injury management): out
• Josh Oduro (G League – Two Way): Out

The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Clippers 124-109 in their last game on Wednesday night. Thursday’s game between the Clippers and Pelicans is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season.

Washington Wizards star guard Trae Young has been busy this past year. The four-time All-Star announced that he has taken on the role of assistant general manager for Oklahoma men’s basketball in March 2025, the program for which he played as a freshman in the 2017–18 season. He pledged to donate $1 million to the program and help with both high school and transfer portal prospect evaluations, fundraising and player contract negotiations.

Since then, Young has rehabilitated his quad and knee injuries, as well as uprooted his life. The Atlanta Hawks traded the 27-year-old to the Wizards in January, marking the first time he has changed teams since the Hawks drafted him at No. 5 overall in 2018. He has only played five games since then due to injury, but he is still effective for his new team.

Young is averaging 15.2 points on 59.5% shooting (42.9% 3-point) with 6.2 assists against 2.6 turnovers in 20.8 minutes. The former All-NBA honoree most recently sat out Monday’s 125-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors with a quad contusion and will not play Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.

Additionally, Young has signed a new partnership with Sling TV for March Madness once the 2026 NCAA Tournament begins. The promotion, titled “When Underdogs Win, You Win”, offers fans a 1-day Sling Pass for $1 if any player from the 12 to 16 seed advances to the Sweet Sixteen in the men’s or women’s tournament. To qualify, fans must purchase a 1, 3 or 7-day pass between Thursday and Sunday. No. 12 High Point’s 83-82 win over No. 5 Wisconsin in the first round is its first major upset of the year.

Young is a suitable promotional partner, as he played for No. 10 Oklahoma against No. 7 Rhode Island in the first round of the 2018 tournament. The Sooners lost 83–78 despite the 2018 NCAA scoring champion and assist leader having 28 points (9-18 FG, 3-9 3-point) and seven assists, ending his collegiate playing career.

Oklahoma was the first team eliminated from the tournament field this season, the first with Young as assistant general manager. The Sooners went 8–3 in their final 11 games in the SEC, which sent 10 teams to March Madness, but it was not enough. The program qualifies as an “underdog” as it has never won a national title and has won only two tournament games since 2018.

Young spoke with ClutchPoints about this, his advice for NCAA Tournament players, fellow Wizards and 2012 NCAA champion Anthony Davis, and more on Wednesday.

Trae Young Q&A

Joshua Valdez: So first of all, who have your eyes set on this year’s March Madness? Can a Dalit run?

Trae Young: Oh, I just don’t have a team. There are some guys and some teams that I look at. I mean, that’s a lot of underdogs. But a lot of the good teams are really good, and certainly even the weaker teams have to come along to pull off some upsets.

Comment: Young singled out High Point, No. 14 North Dakota State and No. 13 Miami (OH) women’s team as underdogs who could make the Sweet Sixteen on his Instagram.

Joshua Valdez: Speaking of underdogs, how did your partnership with Sling TV come about?

Trae Young: Yeah, I mean, I think that was a part of it. We talked, and I feel like growing up being an underdog and just partnering with Sling and doing this, and especially during March Madness, giving people a chance to get more involved, I think it was a no-brainer. So that’s really great.

Joshua Valdez: What do you think is special about the tournament?

Trae Young: I just think it feels like a one-game tournament. This is what makes the anticipation for each game so exciting, as the underdogs can win the game on any given night, so you always have to be prepared as you want to see upsets.

Joshua Valdez: Obviously, you played at OU for a year. How have you grown as a player and a person since being there?

Trae Young: Just understanding that you have to take every moment seriously and you never know when you will get that next moment again. Going into college, I thought I would get a few chances at tournaments, but unfortunately I only had one. Being able to only play one game in the tournament sucked, but experiencing the spirit of March Madness was crazy.

Joshua Valdez: Based on your experience, what advice do you have for players heading into March Madness this year?

Trae Young: Never take the moment for granted, be as prepared as you can be, and just go out there and enjoy. Lead by doing your best, don’t look ahead and think about what’s going to happen in the future, but just be present in the present. ‘Cause you never know when your last game will be in the tournament.

Joshua Valdez: Going back to OU for a second, I know you’ve been helping them as an assistant GM. How’s it going so far?

Trae Young: Really good, really good. It is sad that we were the first team that could not make it to the tournament. And I really felt like we should have done that, especially the way we finished the season and the number of games we won on this tough schedule. But it was good. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to make it this year, but that’s okay. We will be back.

Joshua Valdez: Anything behind the scenes of college basketball or anything new you’ve learned about the game since you took on this role?

Trae Young: I mean, these players are getting paid. These players are getting paid these days. I think it’s a different thing and you have to find kids that are willing to work. I mean, you want to find kids who are here for the love of the game more than the money. This is one of my main things. That’s the difference between when I was in school and now.

Joshua Valdez: Finally, you’re now on the Wizards with Anthony Davis. Obviously, he was a collegiate star who went on to achieve great things in the NBA, just like you. He hasn’t played with you guys yet, but what’s it like being around him?

Trae Young: Yeah, I mean, obviously, he’s really good. Eddie has been great so far. He has a lot of knowledge of basketball and has seen a lot of the game, especially winning a championship as a freshman at the college level. [at Kentucky]And all the accolades she has earned over the years. It’s definitely nice to have a guy in the locker room that you can look at and understand what he brings every night, because you’ve seen what he’s done on TV and over the years.

The 65-game rule is once again under scrutiny as Zach Lowe criticized the concept following an injury to Detroit Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham has been playing at an incredible level this season, leading Detroit to serious playoff contention. However, his lung was damaged which would cause him to lose significant time.

NBA analyst Zach Lowe provided his thoughts on Cunningham’s injury during his March 19 show. Cunningham has played in 61 games so far this season and the team has 14 games remaining. It’s very possible he doesn’t play another regular season game this year. Lowe wants an exception where a minimum number of players can be named to third-team All-NBA.

“I get it. I get the reason why they’re doing it. They have to try to encourage the best players to play. Spoiler alert, it hasn’t worked. And I also remember saying, can you at least give me the flexibility to be like third-team All-NBA so I don’t have to follow this rule,” Lowe said at the 8:45 mark.

“Respect me as a voter, former voter now, maybe in the future, that I can actually analyze games played, impact, minutes played, team records, like I can put it all together and actually compare somebody who played 63 games versus somebody who played 72 games and maybe come to the conclusion that maybe the guy who played 63 games is better, or more valuable, or more deserving of All-NBA, but you Concluded I’m too stupid to do that.”

Cade Cunningham, what’s next for the Pistons

It’s brutal news for the Pistons to learn about Cade Cunningham. He hopes to make a full recovery while keeping his season as strong as possible without the services of the star guard.

Detroit boasts a 49–19 record on the season, finishing atop the Eastern Conference standings. They are 3.5 games up on the Boston Celtics and five games up on the New York Knicks.

Following Thursday night’s matchup against the Washington Wizards, the Pistons will be at home for their next contest. They host the Golden State Warriors as tip-off takes place on March 20 at 7:30 pm ET.

The Detroit Pistons are facing their toughest dose of adversity this regular season.

All-Star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung after being pulled in the first quarter of his last game against the Washington Wizards. Cunningham was struggling for a loose ball when Wizards guard Trey Johnson jumped and landed on Cunningham’s back, causing the incident.

Detroit is just 14 games away from the regular season finale, and they will have to do so without their most important player for most of the games. ESPN reports indicate he is suffering from a minor lung problem.

While this is less than ideal for the Pistons, all hope is not lost for the former No. 1 team in the East. There are still reasons to believe Detroit can finish top of their conference. They have a slight 3.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics and could finish the regular season on top if a few factors fall in their favor.

Possibly Cunningham’s brief absence.

Cunningham’s mild diagnosis could be seen as the best-case scenario of this bad news for Detroit. Several scenarios can occur in response to the recovery of a collapsed lung. Sometimes, they may require surgery followed by immediate review, and no need for this has been reported in the case of pistons.

Detroit is expected to re-evaluate its starting point guard after two weeks of rest and recovery. The Pistons have been forced to play with mixed lineups for much of this season due to injuries, including Cunningham’s absence. In a seven-game span without Cunningham, the Pistons have gone 5-2 without him and averaged just under 112 points.

secondary scoring ability

The Pistons aren’t a better team without their All-NBA guard, but they have shown the ability to succeed without him. Head coach JB Bickerstaff has done a good job of giving his entire roster minutes to shine and fill in when needed for the Pistons.

The offensive dominance of their All-Star center Jalen Duren has been a major factor for the Pistons this season. Detroit is 20-5 as a team when Duren scores 20 points or more this season. The 22-year-old big man also thrives as a playmaker and contributes heavily by creating second-chances as an offensive rebounder.

Duren is currently the leading candidate for NBA Most Improved Player of the Year. A productive extension without Cunningham could significantly boost their awards case.

The Pistons will have to rely on their secondary playmakers to make up for Cunningham’s loss. Backup point guards Dennis Jenkins and Marcus Sasser have demonstrated their ability to be explosive scoring guards from all three levels. They are both solid passers who will need to create looks for their secondary shooters like Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Kevin Huerter, Javonte Green and others.

The Pistons’ identity is largely based on their defense, which they typically rely on to create fast-break points. Detroit ranks third in fast-break points, averaging 18 per game this season. There are high expectations for their elite level defenders like Aussie Thompson and Ron Holland to help Detroit get the open floor.

Detroit has secondary scoring power off the bench. Their reserves rank ninth in bench scoring with an average of 41.1 points. The Pistons also play an unselfish style aggressively when sharing the ball, as they rank 12th with 27 assists per game.

strength of schedule

The final 14 games on Detroit’s schedule will be a significant test if they are forced to play a full game without Cunningham. Their strength of schedule currently ranks 15th in the entire NBA, middle of the pack.

The Pistons have done a great job of competing against the elite teams in the league. They have also made a conscious effort not to dilute their competitiveness when playing teams outside of playoff contention. Bickerstaff explained how important it is to disrespect the game by not disrespecting their competition, regardless of their record or available players.

The Celtics, ranked second in the Eastern Conference, have the seventh-highest strength of program. They currently face nine opponents who are currently in postseason contention in the East and West.

Bickerstaff is a leading candidate for the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year award. Similar to Duren’s Most Improved Player case, these circumstances could provide a big push for Bickerstaff to make his mark as the best coach in the league this season. The Pistons have had to deal with injuries to their roster throughout the season. If they can find a way to overcome the adversity of losing their best player, it will prove and cement just how much of a fight this franchise has under Bickerstaff.

Undoubtedly, Derrick Rose became a true hometown hero during his NBA career. He grew up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, attended Simeon Academy, and played for his hometown Chicago Bulls.

His accolades include winning 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2011 NBA MVP. Additionally, Rose helped reignite excitement over the Bulls in the post-Michael Jordan era. Those heroics, among others, were given due respect during their jersey retirement ceremonies at the United Center on January 24.

One of the historians of his career was Chicago-based basketball journalist and cultural critic Robert “Scoop” Jackson. He has come out with a new book titled Derrick Rose: The Poohprint, According to Bruce Goodwin II of Cassius Life, published by Assoline.

In the book, Jackson works with Rose to share candid stories through text and photographs that document her life.

Scoop Jackson immediately saw something in Derrick Rose

In an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints, Jackson said he spoke at the Nike Basketball Camp in Chicago. He was there with the late Temple coach John Cheney. At the time, Rose was at Simeon Academy.

Jackson had no idea that his words would have such a deep impact on Rose.

“I saw him in seventh grade,” Jackson said. So then I came to know about him. I didn’t know Derrick probably until his junior year at Simeon, and I talk about it a little bit in the book, I think it was on the author’s page or something, where Nike had John Chaney and I come to Chicago to talk to three or four high school basketball teams, and Simeon was one of those teams.

“So we talked to them, and that’s when I met Derrick face to face, and the rest of the team, you know, Dap’s game, you know, and all that and all that, and that’s the thing, I’d say I knew him. Probably four years before that, but I knew him.”

The scoop and derrick come full circle.

Jackson, who co-founded SLAM Magazine, was working for ESPN during Rose’s rookie year with Chicago in 2009. They reconnected for the first time since that initial meeting and picked up where they left off.

Jackson said, “So it happened years later, because he’s a rookie with the Bulls, ESPN, you know, he was assigned to do a story on Derrick Rose because he had a rookie season, and it was going into the playoffs.”

“The first thing he says to me is man, I was looking forward to it because I remember every word you said when you came, when you spoke, when you and Coach Cheney talked to us, when I was like a junior, when I was a senior, and I remember every word you said.”

“I was like, wow. I’ve had a lot of things said to me, but not like this, you know, so it brings it into the realm of where he’s a very smart, very curious person, young person who gets immersed in things, and not that everything catches on, but things catch on, and some things stick with him. You might not know what it is, he might not know what it is, but for some reason, some things stick with him.”

Derrick Rose wanted to get something out of the game

Without argument, Chicago knows how to draft ballers. Maurice Cheeks, Ben Wilson, Nick Anderson, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, Candace Parker, you name it.

Rose is naturally suitable. Perhaps the literal “rose that grew from the concrete” about which Tupac Shakur later rhymed.

For Rose, coming out of Englewood amid hardship, he made basketball his ticket to explore the world.

“He’s a young man who has seen the world because of basketball,” Jackson said. “And not only has he seen it with his own eyes, but he’s also seen the world through other people who have seen the world.”

He explored various aspects of society through the lived experiences of the people he acted with. One of whom was Luol Deng, who is from Sudan in sub-Saharan Africa.

Although injuries later derailed him, it did not diminish Rose’s basketball pedigree. If anything, his success is moving forward on his own terms and excelling.

That wasn’t just a rose growing from concrete; It was a rose that was in full bloom.

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks, the team announced Thursday. Porter has missed Brooklyn’s last three games with an ankle sprain.

The 6-foot-10 forward felt discomfort in his hamstring during Wednesday’s workout. An MRI revealed a strain that would sideline him until the final weeks of the season.

Porter is having a career-best season as Brooklyn’s No. 1 option. The 27-year-old is averaging a career-high 24.2 points on .463/.363/.859 shooting splits in 52 appearances following his trade to the Denver Nuggets.

Michael Porter Jr. out for extended period as Nets season ends

The Nets are 3-14 in games Porter has missed. They have recorded the NBA’s worst offense over their last four games and have sidelined veteran forwards. Igor Demin and Deron Sharp have also been out during that period after opting out of the season.

Brooklyn is averaging 95.3 points on 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 32.0 percent from three over its last four games. Jordi Fernandez scored 24 points during the first half of his team’s 121-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

The Nets are in the midst of a heated draft lottery race. They are in third place in the lottery standings with 13 games remaining. Brooklyn has one win less than the fourth-place Sacramento Kings, one more than the third-place Washington Wizards and two more than the first-place Indiana Pacers.

With two matchups against the Kings before meetings with the Wizards and Pacers, the Nets have the easiest remaining strength in the NBA.

The Brooklyn Nets have been without Michael Porter Jr. for the last four games, and now they are going to be without him for a while longer as he deals with a hamstring injury.

Michael Porter Jr. will be sidelined for the next two to three weeks after an MRI confirmed a left hamstring strain, according to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein. Porter was in the midst of a breakout season following a trade from the Denver Nuggets, and he attracted considerable interest in the trade market at the deadline.

The No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Porter has played his entire career so far with the Nuggets. He was a key part of the team’s 2023 NBA Championship run. The Nuggets opted to trade Porter to the Nets in the offseason, giving Denver sharpshooting wing Cam Johnson.

With a larger role and more freedom offensively, Porter was among the breakout players this season. Before being sidelined, he had appeared in 52 games for the Nets, averaging a little over 32 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals while splitting 46.3 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 85.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

In addition to his points per game, Porter’s rebounding and assists are also career highs.

With the regular season coming to an end, the Nets are currently 17-52 and in 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are on pace to receive a lottery selection in a deep and talented draft.

On Thursday evening, the Houston Rockets lost their second consecutive game, once again, to the Los Angeles Lakers at home. It was another tough performance from the Rockets’ offense, which scored only 24 points in the final frame.

Tari Eason once again struggled beyond the arc In this game, the lead is 0-3. In fact, Eason is just 1-28 on three-pointers in the month of March, good for an astonishing 3.6 percent.

The pain of Terry Eason’s 3pt shot (2026) https://t.co/M9DTjJd2f3 pic.twitter.com/bqyUX2pq36

– Div B (@statcenter) 19 March 2026

Eason’s last lead from three-point range came on March 5 in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. Eason was once regarded as an elite spot-up shooter, and he’s still averaging over 37 percent from beyond the arc on the season, showing how well he was shooting the ball from that range before his current epic slump.

However, if he and the Rockets want to turn things around going into the playoffs, he will need to rediscover that shooting touch sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, it was a second disappointing home defeat for the Rockets against the Lakers, leaving them completely behind the eight ball in their quest to clinch the third seed in the Western Conference, which Los Angeles is currently chasing.

The Rockets are now 41-27 on the season, and their offensive troubles in the clutch are certainly not going to ease fans’ concerns about their chances of postseason success.

It was also another quiet game for Kevin Durant, scoring 18 points on only 11 shot attempts, with the Lakers’ suddenly superior defense once again stifling him.

Houston will look to bounce back their winning streak when they next face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday evening.

Jaylen Brown said his leadership approach with the Boston Celtics has taken an unconventional turn this season, incorporating astrology and numerology to better communicate with teammates.

Brown revealed the method after Boston’s 120-99 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, a performance in which he led the team with 32 points while adding six rebounds, five assists and two steals. He shot a perfect 11 of 20 from the field and 9 of 9 from the free-throw line, and finished 1 of 4 from three-point range in 35 minutes.

Speaking after the game with CelticsBlog’s Noah Dalzell, Brown detailed how studying the personalities of teammates through astrology and numerology has helped him hone his communication style.

“I learned a lot about each of our guys, even down to liking astrology – everything. I learned the communication styles that work best for each person, and started using those when I talk to each person… I didn’t know that would work before the season started but that thing definitely works.”

Brown said he has gone so far as to memorize specific traits associated with teammates’ zodiac signs and numerology profiles.

“I remember like Neemias, he’s the year of the rabbit so his communication is different from D-White. D-White is the year of the dog so his communication style is different. Hugo is also a dog, Peyton is a tiger, JT is a tiger, Ron is a dragon, who is a dragon. Nicola he’s new to our team, he’s the year of the horse right now. Each of them have different communication styles and you can go into that like numerology as well.”

Jaylen Brown explains how she memorized all of her peers’ astrology and numerology to learn a better way to communicate:

“I learned the communication styles that work best for each person, and started using them when I talk to each person.” pic.twitter.com/GkVfutJcMa

– Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) 19 March 2026

Jaylen Brown’s astrology, numerology outlook aligns with career year, Celtics’ success

He also explained how numerology influences his leadership approach.

“Sam is five, I’m five… so, different breakdowns and you can even go into star signs. Like JT, he’s Pisces, etc. I learned all different kinds of things, so I was able to communicate to people in different ways to help my leadership this year.”

This approach coincided with one of the most productive seasons of Brown’s career. Through 62 games, the 28-year-old has averaged 28.5 points, seven rebounds, 5.1 assists and one steal per contest, while shooting 48% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range in 34.1 minutes per game.

Brown’s performance has helped Boston achieve a 46–23 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics have maintained that position despite star forward Jayson Tatum recently returning from an Achilles injury and playing only six games since his return.

As the regular season progressed, Brown’s combination of on-court production and off-court leadership has played a central role in Boston’s success. His willingness to explore unconventional ways to connect with teammates has become a defining element of his approach during a season in which the Celtics have remained one of the conference’s top contenders.

As the Washington Wizards cruised through the final three weeks of the NBA regular season, college basketball began March Madness, also known as the NCAA Tournament. Like last year, there are several prospects heading into the tournament that the Wizards could take with their lottery picks in this summer’s draft.

In 2025, freshman guard Trey Johnson had a team-high 23 points (6-14 FG, 4-7 3-points), six rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes for Texas in an 86–80 First Four loss to Xavier. That game ended the collegiate career of the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, and Washington drafted him No. 6 overall in June. Now, his 36.7% three-point clip ranks fourth among NBA rookies with at least four attempts per game (minimum 40 games played). He also ranks fifth with an average of 5.3 attempts.

This year, the obvious draft targets for the Wizards are BYU forward AJ DiBuntsa, Kansas guard Darrin Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer. All three will be playing in the tournament, as No. 1 Duke plays No. 16 Siena in the East Region on Thursday, No. 6 BYU takes on No. 11 Texas in the West Region on Thursday, and No. 4 Kansas takes on No. 13 California Baptist in the East Region on Friday. If Duke and Kansas each win their first two games, they will play each other in the Sweet Sixteen.

Any one of those players could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. DiBuntsa leads the nation with 25.3 points per game on 51.3% shooting (34% 3-point) and can score any type of basket, Peterson ruins games for the opponent even in limited minutes (for example, he scored 23 points in 18 minutes in an 81–69 win over Oklahoma State on February 18), and Boozer is a double-double machine (22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds). Season) who also creates shots for his teammates. Most recently, the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder dished out eight assists in the Blue Devils’ 74-70 ACC Tournament final win over Virginia on Saturday.

If the Wizards get a top-three pick in May’s NBA Draft Lottery, they will likely get one of these three players. If they get the No. 4 pick, they could acquire North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, the only freshman in school history other than Tyler Hansbrough to earn All-American honors. The 6-foot-10, 215-pounder won’t play in the tournament as he recovers from thumb surgery (per ESPN), but he averaged a near double-double (19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds) on 57.8% shooting and can switch to any position defensively.

However, there is a possibility that Washington’s lottery selection could fall outside the top four again. Entering Thursday night’s home matchup with the Detroit Pistons, the team has the NBA’s second-worst record (16-52), having finished in the same place last season. The second-worst record guarantees a top-six selection, and the Wizards were unlucky to get the lowest selection they could get last year.

Washington fans should be familiar with the consensus prospects outside the top four if the team selects the No. 5 or No. 6 pick in May. Luckily for the Wizards, several potential stars will likely be available in that range as well.

Here are four of those players:

G Kingston Flemings, Houston

Flemings was named the Cougars’ “best freshman” by Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, and with good reason. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder blends efficient shooting with playmaking as a point guard while limiting turnovers. He is averaging 16.4 points per game with 5.3 assists on 47.5% shooting (39.2% 3-point shooting), while committing only 1.9 turnovers in 31.7 minutes. He also leads the team with 1.6 steals.

Additionally, the Flemings move on to bigger games. For example, the San Antonio native scored 21 points (6-14 FG, 3-4 3-point) with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 32 minutes in Houston’s 69-47 win over Peterson and Kansas in Friday’s Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

No. 2 Houston will face No. 15 Idaho in the South Region on Thursday night.

G Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Acuff may be the hottest player in college basketball, coming off a 30-point, 11-assist performance in the Razorbacks’ 85-76 win over Vanderbilt in Sunday’s SEC Tournament final. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has five 30-plus-point games this season, including a 49-point breakout in a 117-115 double overtime win over Alabama on Feb. 18.

Acuff is also more efficient than Flemings in high shooting volume, as he ranks seventh in the country with 22.9 points on 48.6% shooting (44.5% 3-point) while averaging 16.2 field goal attempts (5.8 3-point). Flemings is averaging 12.8 attempts (three 3-pointers).

Acuff is averaging 6.5 assists against 2.2 turnovers in 35.1 minutes. The 2026 SEC Player and Rookie of the Year could be the long-term version of Washington’s Trae Young, just an inch shorter. The latter has a $49 million player option this summer, so there’s no guarantee he’ll remain there after next season.

No. 4 Arkansas will play No. 13 Hawaii in the West Region on Thursday.

G Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Wagler is another freshman sniper, as he shoots 40.2% from long range on an average of 5.8 attempts. However, the Kansas native also has the size at 6 feet 6 inches and his scoring prowess is similar to what Flemings and Acuff have displayed in their careers. 46 point performance in 88-82 win over Purdue on Jan. 24.

PTS: 46
FG: 13-17
3pt: 9-11

Revitalize Every Basket @ilinimbb Star Keaton Wagler @bigten Freshman record 4️⃣6️⃣-point performance 👇 pic.twitter.com/dNcila5QJc

– Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) 24 January 2026

Wagler is the biggest surprise on this list, as he was a three-star recruit before winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors this season. Nonetheless, the combo guard is now unquestionably one of the best players in this class.

No. 3 Illinois will face No. 14 Pennsylvania in the South Region on Thursday.

Fort Ament, Tennessee

Ament is not as efficient as the above players, as he is averaging 17.5 points on 40.5% shooting (33.1% 3-point) in 30.2 minutes. However, the freshman at 6-foot-10, 207 pounds has great defensive tools and potential as a big man in the NBA. Some of his standout performances this season include 29-point performances against Oklahoma, Kentucky and Alabama on February 18, February 7 and January 24, respectively. The Volunteers also won 89–66, lost 74–71 and won 79–73, respectively.

No. 6 Tennessee will face No. 11 Miami (OH) in the Midwest Region on Friday.

The Orlando Magic have slipped a bit on their recent seven-game win streak, losing two consecutive games to the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Magic have been playing shorthanded recently, with forward Franz Wagner missing a game since February 11 due to an ankle injury.

Recently, Wagner got 100% honest about the frustrations of the rehab process as he wants to get back into the lineup before the end of the season.

According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, Wagner said, “Going into this, I expected to feel really good within 4–6 weeks of the injury.” “And obviously I didn’t feel that way. So, I think it’s always disappointing, not only for me (but) for everyone involved.”

Many Magic fans were also hoping that Wagner would be back by this time, but apparently, the recovery process has not proceeded as smoothly as expected.

The Magic have done a solid job of holding down the fort in Wagner’s absence, currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but they are in danger of slipping back into the play-in zone with a losing streak against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

When healthy, Wagner is a versatile forward who can do it on both ends of the floor, and early this season he showed signs of an improved outside jumper, an area long viewed as his main weakness.

If he can get back on the field before the playoffs arrive, the Magic won’t be a team anyone is looking forward to facing off against.

Orlando’s game against the Hornets on Thursday at Charlotte is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.

March Madness is here. The Iowa State Cyclones will battle Tennessee State in a 2/11 matchup in the Midwest Region. The contest begins on Friday at approximately 2:50 p.m. Eastern Time.

In a recent exclusive interview with DJ Siddiqui, Indiana Pacers star point guard and former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton delivered a long and heartfelt message to his former program as the team heads to the NCAA Tournament. He also talked about his appreciation for being able to stay on the court after being out for so long due to an Achilles injury.

“Every day I feel more appreciated,” Haliburton said. “A huge appreciation for every day. A huge appreciation for every game, for every moment that I get to play. I don’t want to take any time or anything for granted. There’s no question in my mind, I’m thinking about something all the time. As I said before, I talked to these college kids about it as they were getting into this tournament – don’t take this moment for granted. It’s a very special time to play basketball. I talk to guys about it. I talk nonsense.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in the second game of their road trip. Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable on the injury report with an eye injury. Jarrett Allen is out for the Cavs as he deals with right knee tendinitis.

Here’s everything we know about the game situation for Donovan Mitchell vs. the Bulls.

Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. Bulls

When it comes to the question of whether Donovan Mitchell is playing tonight against the Bulls, the answer is probably. Mitchell’s name was not included on the injury report until the afternoon due to a left eye injury. There was plenty of bloodshed in the Cavs’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

“I can’t really see out of my left eye tonight,” Mitchell said after a 19-point performance on 4-of-14 from the floor. Their focus was on making an impact with the ball and on the glass while Evan Mobley and James Harden continued to build their chemistry.

Cleveland will also be without Jarrett Allen for the seventh consecutive game, and based on the latest update we know he will be sidelined again on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Craig Porter Jr. is expected to be out at least a week with a left groin strain, while Tyrese Proctor has still not been cleared to play because of a right quadriceps strain.

No surprises on the Bulls’ injury sheet. Zach Collins, Jaden Ivey and Noah Esengue are out of action, while a pair of their two-way players are on assignment with the G League Windy City.

Cavs injury report

Donovan Mitchell: Suspect (injury in left eye)

Jarrett Allen: Out (tendinitis of the right knee)

Craig Porter Jr: out (stretching the left waist)

Tyrese Proctor: Out (right quad strain)

OLIVIER SARR: AUGUST (Two-Way G League Assignment)

oxen injury report

Jaden Ivy: Out (left patellofemoral syndrome)

Zach Collins: out (right big toe surgery)

Noah Asengue: Out (left shoulder surgery)

Yuki Kawamura: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Mac McClung: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

The Atlanta Hawks are on an 11-game winning streak, and that’s due to contributions from several players on the team. One of those players is Jonathan Kuminga, who was surprisingly traded to the Hawks at the deadline. Before Kuminga even took the field for the Hawks, many of his teammates were excited about what he could bring to the team, and once he went out and had a strong three-game stretch, those teammates were validated.

Jalen Johnson has spoken highly of Kuminga since joining the team and in an interview with NBA’s Jake Fisher he compared him to a dog ready to attack.

“His mentality…JK is like a puppy ready to be free,” Johnson said. “You can tell by how he’s working, how he’s going about his days. He’s ready to go. He’s ready to do whatever it takes to win. And show that to the rest of the world.”

When Kuminga was with the Golden State Warriors, it felt like he was on a leash and couldn’t do much, which is why many believe Steve Kerr barely played him.

With the Hawks, it feels like Kuminga has more latitude to make mistakes without getting stretched, and that’s only going to boost his confidence.

When he comes in he gives a boost to the second unit, moves the ball and creates contact in the paint for easy points. Quin Snyder has also given him minutes alongside Johnson, and it will be interesting to see how the pair continues to work as the season winds down.

If Kuminga proves to be an important part of the Hawks and fits in with the team for the remainder of the season, there is a chance they could decline his team option and sign him to a longer contract.

The Orlando Magic will be without center Wendell Carter Jr. on Thursday night after he was sidelined with a mild left rib injury ahead of their game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Orlando (38-30) announced an update on its latest injury report on Thursday afternoon, giving Carter Jr. a late opportunity as the team prepares for tipoff at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV. His absence adds to an already lengthy injury list as the Magic face major rotation losses heading into the season.

Carter Jr. last appeared in a 113-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, where he recorded 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 29 minutes. He made 3 of 9 shots from the field and converted 5 of 6 free throw attempts in the contest.

The 26-year-old has been a consistent presence for Orlando throughout the season. In 65 games, he has averaged 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting 50.6% from the field and 32.2% from three-point range in 29.6 minutes per contest. His interior presence and rebounding have played a vital role in the Magic’s frontcourt stability.

The absence of Carter Jr. further diminishes Orlando’s depth in the frontcourt. The team’s injury report also lists Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain/injury management) out. With several starters and rotation players sidelined, Orlando will be forced to rely on their remaining available personnel to fill key minutes.

Magical way to stabilize the standings without Wendell Carter Jr. vs. Hornets

The Magic entered Thursday’s contest looking to stop a two-game losing streak and reclaim a spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Orlando drops to the sixth seed and is one game behind the Toronto Raptors (39-29) for fifth place. The team is also 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers (42-27) in the race for the fourth seed.

Charlotte (35-34) presents a competitive challenge as it continues to dominate the Eastern Conference standings. With both teams fighting for a postseason berth, availability and depth could prove decisive.

Following the matchup against the Hornets, Orlando will return home to begin a two-game homestand. That streak begins Saturday night against the Los Angeles Lakers (44-25), who are on a seven-game winning streak.

As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Magic’s ability to manage injuries while maintaining consistency will continue to be important. Carter Jr.’s late start underscores the challenges facing Orlando as it looks to stabilize its rotation and stay within reach of a higher seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Miami Heat for the second consecutive night on Thursday, and LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are all listed as questionable on the injury report. James is dealing with a foot problem, while Doncic has hip pain and Reeves has an arm problem. Here’s everything we know about the injuries to LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and their playing status heading into the Lakers’ game against the Heat.

LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves status vs. Heat

Given that all three of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are questionable on the Lakers’ injury report against the Heat, a concrete update won’t happen until it gets closer to the start of game time.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if all three players were ruled out against the Heat. At this time of the season, everyone is dealing with some kind of illness, and the Lakers have played it safe by resting key players during back-to-back stretches.

It’s only the third game of a six-game road trip, in which the Lakers will visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday, then make stops against the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers before returning home to end the month.

So when the question comes up about whether LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing against the Heat tonight, the answer is probably no.

lakers injury report

-Luka Doncic questionable (right hip soreness).
-LeBron James questionable (arthritis in left foot)
-Maxi Glue Out (Lumbar Back Strain)
-Austin Reeves questionable (injured right arm)

heat injury report

-Bam Adebayo available (right calf tightness)
-Vladislav Goldin out (G League two-way)
-Jaime Jaquez Jr. out (left hip tightness)
-Nikola Jovic available (lower back injury management)
-Trevor Keels out (G League two-way)
-Pelle Larsson available (left elbow injury)
-Terry Rozier out (not with team)
-Kel’l ware available (right shoulder stretch)
-Andrew Wiggins out (sesamoiditis of left big toe).
-Jahmir Young out (G League two-way)

The Atlanta Hawks have won 11 consecutive games after Wednesday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was a strong game from newly acquired wing Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 16 points in the win, including an incredible shot from almost full court.

Kuminga has had a solid stint in Atlanta so far after being shipped there along with Buddy Hield from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for big man Kristaps Porzingis, and now, more details are emerging on what could happen in the future between Atlanta and Kuminga.

“There is mutual interest between the Hawks and Jonathan Kuminga in declining his 2026-27 team option worth $24.3 million and agreeing to a long-term contract,” former FullCourtPass report on Twitter, citing a report from NBA insider Jake Fisher.

It certainly makes sense why Atlanta would be interested in keeping the former 2021 lottery selection long-term given his youth, athleticism and potential to get even better. Kuminga is a perfect fit for Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh looking to build a team full of athletic wings who can play multiple positions and switch defensively, and the fact that former number one overall pick Zachary Rishachar is back in his second season could make Kuminga’s long-term contract a sensible option for Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the Hawks have risen up the Eastern Conference standings amid their winning streak, now sitting just 1.5 games out of the fifth seed, though some skeptics are pointing to the lack of quality teams Atlanta has played during their streak as a reason not to take it seriously.

The Hawks will get a chance to test their skills against a playoff-caliber opponent on Friday evening when they go on the road to take on the Houston Rockets.

BOSTON – The city of Boston was the key to basketball for Celtics star Jaylen Brown. Since arriving in Beantown in 2016, he has consistently exceeded expectations, becoming a five-time All-Star, earning the NBA Finals MVP trophy, and most recently, moving into 10th on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list during a 120-99 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. But just because Brown was introduced to Boston through basketball doesn’t mean he wants to be known for that alone.

The former UC Berkeley standout has used his platform to make a difference in New England’s largest city, hosting numerous community events giving his views on social issues, technology, the future and more. Brown’s life away from basketball has always been integral to him, so it makes sense that he might again emphasize non-basketball activities whenever he retires from the NBA.

“Part of me wants to say that when I’m done, you’ll never see me again,” Brown said with a slight smile in the locker room. “but who knows?”

Jaylen Brown was asked what the future will be like when he and Jayson Tatum are welcomed into the TDs a few years from now, like Robert Parish:

“To be honest, I can’t even think that far ahead. Part of me wants to say that when I’m done, you’ll never see me again.” pic.twitter.com/wfE6gRdHOP

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

What does retirement mean for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum?

As Celtics legend Robert Parish strolled through TD Garden on Wednesday cheering on fans — promoting his new book and looking at two franchises he played for decades ago — Brown was reminded of his limited basketball career.

When Brown was asked if he would return to Boston from time to time, like Parrish, he responded, “Honestly, I can’t even think that far ahead.” “Obviously, Parish is a legend, so it’s good to see him out there. He looked good. Looks to be in pretty good shape. So it’s great to have him around.”

Fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who tied a season-high with 24 points against the Warriors, was also looking to the future. And while he didn’t reveal anything definite in terms of post-playing plans, the six-time All-Star did mention how great it is to see the beloved Celtics come home to a standing ovation.

“It means everything,” he said. “It’s a really nice moment to see other people receive their flowers.”

Jayson Tatum on talking to Robert Parish pregame:

“It’s always an honor to look back at the legends of the game and the players who paved the way for us as NBA players.” pic.twitter.com/5V0erRfoZ6

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

When Tatum and Brown call it quits, there’s no doubt both stars’ jerseys will be retired and they’ll be placed among the stars in the rafters at TD Garden. However, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen anytime soon, as Boston’s dynamic duo is focused on chasing another title with the Celtics at 46-23 before the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Additionally, neither Celtics star is even 30 years old and both of them have signed long contracts for at least three more seasons.

No matter what happens for Tatum and Brown over the next several years, they’ve earned the right to handle retirement how they want, whether that looks like headlining home games in Boston or stepping out of the public eye forever.

When Brown was asked if he would ‘go black’ after retiring, he replied, “I mean, it depends on what God has planned.” “But if you ask me now, I think it’s much more likely, let’s say.”

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning ways with their second consecutive victory over the Houston Rockets. LeBron James had a stellar game, scoring 30 points on an incredible 13-14 from the field, helping guide his team to consecutive wins.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick made a humorous quip, joking that watching James do what he does at age 41 “makes me feel like a loser.”

After this James responded with a funny comment.

“If he’s a loser, we’re all in deep shit,” James said, according to X, formerly of Oh No He Didn’t, on Twitter.

Redick has earned the respect of both the Lakers players and fanbase over the past few seasons in Los Angeles, guiding the team to the number three seed in the Western Conference a season ago, a spot they currently hold in the standings as the 2025-26 season enters its home stretch.

This time, the Lakers will hope for a better playoff result than the five-game shellacking they received from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the postseason last year, and if their recent play is any indication, Los Angeles could be a very scary opponent in the playoffs this year.

Right now, the Lakers are playing their best defense of the season, featuring James off the ball more to conserve energy, and Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves showing better effort on that end of the floor.

It also helps that the Lakers are on offense right now, but when that finally settles down, they’ll still have all the tools they need to scare Western Conference contenders in the coming months.

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their momentum and defeated the Houston Rockets 124-116, as Luka Doncic once again took control of the night. In the process, he delivered a near triple-double with 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. This wasn’t just another strong night. Instead, it felt as if something rare was unfolding in real time.

Doncic controlled the pace from the beginning. He attacked mismatches, created space and punished every defensive lapse that Houston showed. At times the Rockets remained within reach and continued to apply pressure. He increased the speed and tested Los Angeles. However, the Lakers responded every time. Calm. accurate. Under control. As a result, Doncic made sure the momentum never slipped.

According to OptaSTATS, the race has now reached historic territory. Notably, Doncic is the first player in NBA history to record at least 250 points, 50 rebounds, 50 assists and 25 threes in a seven-game span while going undefeated. The numbers are clear. However, sustainability stands out even more. Night after night, the production continues. In turn, the impact never diminishes.

Lakers looking for identity behind Luka Doncic

This latest Lakers-Rockets clash showed the full picture. From the start, Doncic shot 12 of 25 from the field and 7 of 17 from deep. As a result, he remained efficient when needed and explosive when needed. Furthermore, he read and adjusted every coverage without hesitation. Houston tried several looks. However, none lasted long.

More importantly, the Lakers are evolving. For one, the vacancy is more intense. Besides, the ball moves faster. As a result, confidence appears on every asset. It is no longer just about speed. Instead, this structure is taking shape.

And now, the big question arises. If Luka Doncic is already making history on this field, what happens when the stakes rise and the lights get even brighter?

The New York Knicks have not been lucky in the playoffs in recent years. He missed the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to injuries. And bad luck struck again in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, starting in Game 1 when they blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter in a 128-135 overtime loss to Indiana. The Knicks ultimately lost that series in six games.

However, the Knicks’ fortunes may have changed. And while there is an injury Never To celebrate, it was recently announced that Cade Cunningham has a partially collapsed lung, which could impact the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.

And considering how bad Detroit’s matchup has been for New York, this is a situation that could benefit the Knicks.

How Cade Cunningham’s injury changes the power dynamics in the East

Cunningham is the offensive engine of the Pistons. He is their leading scorer (24.5 points per game). And he also leads them in assists (9.9 assists per game). Cunningham also sets the tone for the Pistons’ success overall, as his outlook and approach are adopted by the broader team. Losing Cunningham to a partially collapsed lung is a huge loss for Detroit. Damaged lungs usually take three to eight weeks to heal. With the 2026 NBA Playoffs starting in about a month, timing may not be on Detroit’s favor.

What happens will depend on the severity of Cunningham’s injury and how long he will be out. The Knicks have a slight advantage if he returns before or during the first round — although that’s assuming he returns close to 100%. Thankfully, Cunningham’s injury was not considered serious. In other words, surgery is unlikely. More likely, Cunningham has returned rusty.

Assuming a return occurs, Cunningham will likely be out of shape. He will be unable to maintain cardiovascular fitness during his recovery. This means fewer minutes on the rebound and/or less impactful clutch minutes. Therefore, if Cunningham returns in the first round, the Pistons are likely in a good position to advance given their overall superiority, especially against the bottom tier of the Eastern Conference. And that will give the All-NBA guard time to get himself in shape.

However, it is more likely that he will not be back so soon. There is more possibility of a comeback in the second round. That means the Pistons will need Cunningham to step up quickly against a well-prepared Cleveland Cavaliers team – possibly the Knicks. And this is where things get tricky for Detroit.

How the Knicks could benefit from a Cunningham-less Eastern Conference

Without speculating too much about Cunningham’s return date, the benefit to New York is fairly obvious. The Pistons will either be without their best player or a younger version of themselves for part of the playoffs. Considering how Detroit has handled the Knicks this season, this isn’t bad news for New York. Although given the glory involved in winning your conference – and ultimately a championship – avoiding top-flight competition is clearly lacking – winning is the ultimate goal.

Considering the risks involved in recalling Cunningham, as well as the potential limitations he will face upon returning, it is unlikely we will see him at full strength for the rest of this season or the playoffs. This means a more open Eastern Conference. And that should benefit the Knicks as they attempt to make their first NBA Finals since 1999.

On Thursday, it was reported by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania that Detroit Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham will miss an extended period of time due to a damaged lung. The scary situation comes as the Pistons prepare for a playoff run, in which they will likely be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

Depending on how much time Cunningham misses, it is possible he could miss eligibility for end-of-season NBA awards, including First Team All-NBA and others that require a player to appear in a minimum of 65 games.

If Cunningham does indeed miss the cut, it would spark further backlash over award eligibility rules. The league first implemented the 65-game minimum in an effort to reduce load management, which, in fairness, was a very real concern at the time, and still is to some extent. It’s also true that the best ability is availability, and there’s certainly a limit to how much value a player can provide to his team if he’s consistently out of the lineup for any reason.

However, if Cunningham does indeed miss out on eligibility, All-NBA teams could feature some faces that many fans may not have seen play at that level on the court. Players like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are already teetering on the edge of eligibility due to previous injury absences, as is San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Cunningham not getting recognition at the end of the season could potentially be the last nail in the coffin that forces the NBA to make changes this offseason.

For now, Cunningham is being considered a possible candidate for First Team All-NBA and the league MVP award.

Undoubtedly, Derrick Rose became a true hometown hero during his NBA career. He grew up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, attended Simeon Academy, and played for his hometown Chicago Bulls.

His accolades include winning 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2011 NBA MVP. Additionally, Rose helped reignite excitement over the Bulls in the post-Michael Jordan era. Those heroics, among others, were given due respect during their jersey retirement ceremonies at the United Center on January 24.

One of the historians of his career was Chicago-based basketball journalist and cultural critic Robert “Scoop” Jackson. He has come out with a new book titled Derrick Rose: The Poohprint, According to Bruce Goodwin II of Cassius Life, published by Assoline.

In the book, Jackson works with Rose to share candid stories through text and photographs that document her life.

Scoop Jackson immediately saw something in Derrick Rose

In an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints, Jackson said he spoke at the Nike Basketball Camp in Chicago. He was there with the late Temple coach John Cheney. At the time, Rose was at Simeon Academy.

Jackson had no idea that his words would have such a deep impact on Rose.

“I saw him in seventh grade,” Jackson said. So then I came to know about him. I didn’t know Derrick probably until his junior year at Simeon, and I talk about it a little bit in the book, I think it was on the author’s page or something, where Nike had John Chaney and I come to Chicago to talk to three or four high school basketball teams, and Simeon was one of those teams.

“So we talked to them, and that’s when I met Derrick face to face, and the rest of the team, you know, Dap’s game, you know, and all that and all that, and that’s the thing, I’d say I knew him. Probably four years before that, but I knew him.”

The scoop and derrick come full circle.

Jackson, who co-founded SLAM Magazine, was working for ESPN during Rose’s rookie year with Chicago in 2009. They reconnected for the first time since that initial meeting and picked up where they left off.

Jackson said, “So it happened years later, because he’s a rookie with the Bulls, ESPN, you know, he was assigned to do a story on Derrick Rose because he had a rookie season, and it was going into the playoffs.”

“The first thing he says to me is man, I was looking forward to it because I remember every word you said when you came, when you spoke, when you and Coach Cheney talked to us, when I was like a junior, when I was a senior, and I remember every word you said.”

“I was like, wow. I’ve had a lot of things said to me, but not like this, you know, so it brings it into the realm of where he’s a very smart, very curious person, young person who gets immersed in things, and not that everything catches on, but things catch on, and some things stick with him. You might not know what it is, he might not know what it is, but for some reason, some things stick with him.”

Derrick Rose wanted to get something out of the game

Without argument, Chicago knows how to draft ballers. Maurice Cheeks, Ben Wilson, Nick Anderson, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, Candace Parker, you name it.

Rose is naturally suitable. Perhaps the literal “rose that grew from the concrete” about which Tupac Shakur later rhymed.

For Rose, coming out of Englewood amid hardship, he made basketball his ticket to explore the world.

“He’s a young man who has seen the world because of basketball,” Jackson said. “And not only has he seen it with his own eyes, but he’s also seen the world through other people who have seen the world.”

He explored various aspects of society through the lived experiences of the people he acted with. One of whom was Luol Deng, who is from Sudan in sub-Saharan Africa.

Although injuries later derailed him, it did not diminish Rose’s basketball pedigree. If anything, his success is moving forward on his own terms and excelling.

That wasn’t just a rose growing from concrete; It was a rose that was in full bloom.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning streak with their second consecutive win over the Houston Rockets. It was an epic game for LeBron James, who scored 30 points on a hyper-efficient 13-of-14 from the field in the win.

After the game, fellow icon Kevin Durant told reporters that he believes James can play in the NBA until he is 45, according to Law Murray, formerly of Twitter, of The Athletic on X.

Durant said, “I don’t know if he wants to stay that long. But I think honestly, he can play another 4-5 years… It’s no surprise now.”

In fact, the NBA has never seen anything like what James has been able to accomplish at age 41. While he’s not the same athlete he was during his Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers days, James remains a nightmare for opposing defenses in the open court, able to force his way to the basket, as he did with several impressive dunks on Wednesday night.

As his NBA career has progressed, he has also improved his perimeter jumper, and of course, his basketball IQ is as strong as it has ever been.

In recent weeks, James has begun to take on more of a backseat role for the Lakers, allowing teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to do the heavy lifting on offense. While Doncic scored 40 points in Wednesday’s win over Houston, James was clearly the second option in this affair, dismantling Houston’s defense and draining difficult jumpers.

With this win, the Lakers have increased their lead on the field for third place in the Western Conference, and will take the field again for a game against the Miami Heat on Thursday evening.

On Thursday, the Charlotte Hornets will pay tribute to Dell Curry by retiring his jersey. The game against the Orlando Magic will be a celebration of his excellence on the field.

Additionally, Curry will get a chance to share the moment with his family, including his son Stephen Curry. Ahead of the celebration, the family openly shared the various nicknames they called him, but according to Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer, one stood out the most.

Fowler said that Steph and his brother Seth call Dale “Pops”. Additionally, his daughter, Sydelle Curry-Lee, calls him “Dad”. Then, Curry’s 10 grandchildren call him “Gee Daddy.”

However, for the first time, Steph shared with Fowler the nickname they use to call Dale in private.

“We call him ‘The Originator,'” Steph said of Dale. “Because all of this — all of us and our basketball family tree? It originated with him. A friend of ours gave him that nickname on a golf trip about a decade ago. And so now we run with it.”

Overall, Curry played 16 seasons in the NBA. Ten of those years were with the Hornets. Additionally, Curry became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader with 9,839 points. Additionally, he leads the league in total regular season games played with 701. In 1994, he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Ultimately, Curry finished his career with 12,670 points, 2,617 rebounds and 1,909 assists. Additionally, Curry finished his career with 1,245 3-pointers, 929 of which came with the Hornets.

Also during his tenure in Charlotte, Curry led them to four playoff appearances in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1998.

The Detroit Pistons have already shown they can win without Cade Cunningham, and that context now shapes this stage of the regular season after their latest injury update. The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference standings at 49-19, but are just 5-5 in their last 10 games. Earlier this year, Detroit went 5-2 without its star guard, averaging 111.7 points per game in that span. That pattern holds even more importance now as the team prepares to deal with another absence of its franchise leader.

Before this setback, Cunningham was having one of the best seasons of his career. He averaged 24.5 points and 9.9 assists while controlling the pace and providing consistent offense. Its effect is also visible in advanced numbers. The Pistons outscored opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. Without him, the figure drops to +2.7. The system still works, but it’s obviously changed.

The first 5-2 run revealed something important. Detroit can adapt. The ball moves fast. Scoring becomes more balanced. The speed remains stable. It’s not the same structure, but still effective enough to win games.

Pistons will face a big test after Cade Cunningham’s injury.

Now, the challenge is much more serious. Reports have confirmed that Cade Cunningham has suffered a damaged lung, an injury that will keep him sidelined for an extended period of time with no clear timeline for his return.

Time makes it even more difficult. The regular season is coming to a close. Detroit still leads the East, but recent inconsistency adds pressure. Every possession matters more. The margin for error decreases under the intensity of the playoffs.

Still, the Pistons have already built up confidence without their star. Role players have already moved on. The offense has proven it can maintain production. That belief matters now.

However, the roof is tied to Cunningham. His control, vision and late-game presence cannot be replaced. Detroit can remain competitive. True controversy is another level.

So now the question sharpens: If the Pistons have already proven they can win without Cade Cunningham this season, can they keep it up when it matters most?

The Denver Nuggets lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 125-118 in a shocking upset on Wednesday. According to insider Adam Mars, after the Nuggets’ terrible loss to the Grizzlies, there was a feeling that the Nuggets were not an NBA title contender.

“This is the game that impressed me. I don’t think this Nuggets team is going to be what I thought they would be. Bad discipline, leadership, toughness. Has every potential to be special, but when your season is on the line if you can’t win against a team that’s trying to lose, there’s something wrong,” Mares wrote on X.

Mars indicated that the team did not have it, because they could not handle a bad team that was not trying to win. Things started out well enough, as the Nuggets were tied 60-60 with the Grizzlies at halftime. But a bad third quarter put them in a hole and they could not recover from it. The Grizzlies took advantage of Denver’s mistakes and secured the upset.

Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds on 11 of 19 shooting. Similarly, Christian Braun added 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Turnovers were to blame for this, as the Nuggets turned the rock over 19 times. A few weeks ago, the Nuggets were in third place in the Western Conference. Currently, they are in sixth place with a 42–28 record.

The Nuggets have a chance to win some of the games they have lost over the past few weeks. But a three-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and a two-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers displayed some hidden issues within the team. The Nuggets will have a chance to redeem themselves on Friday when they host the Toronto Raptors.

The Philadelphia 76ers face the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night and Joel Embiid is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable due to a right oblique strain, putting the focus on the 76ers’ franchise star as the team looks to bounce back from the loss.

The 76ers enter the matchup at 37-32. They are ranked 9th in the Eastern Conference and are trying to stabilize their position in the playoff race. Meanwhile, Sacramento falls to 18-52. The Kings are ranked 15th in the West and continue to search for answers amid a poor season. Here’s everything we know from the injury report about Joel Embiid and his playing status against the Kings.

Embiid remains the anchor of the 76ers whenever he is on the field. He averaged 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 33 games. He is also shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 85.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, he continues to dictate matchups in the paint. He consistently attracts defensive attention and creates space for teammates. His scoring presence sets the tone for Philadelphia’s offense. It gives the team more structure and confidence when he plays.

joel embiid injury status vs kings

The 76ers’ injury report notes Embiid’s availability as particularly important. The league has suspended Paul George, while Tyrese Maxey (finger) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow) are sidelined. Johnny Broom is also out. Philadelphia’s error chances are reduced if Embiid can’t play.

The Kings, on the other hand, have a lengthy injury report. Domantas Sabonis (knee), Zach LaVine (finger), and De’Andre Hunter (eye) are out. Keegan Murray (ankle) and Devin Carter (calf) also will miss the game, while Malik Monk (ankle) and Nick Clifford (hamstring) are questionable.

Embiid’s situation also tells a bigger story. He hasn’t been on the questionable list in quite some time, which is a sign of progress. Although he is unlikely to play, the update suggests that he will return soon.

So when it comes to whether Joel Embiid is playing tonight vs. the Kings, the answer leans towards ‘no’. His condition remains questionable, but signs point towards a return sooner rather than later.

The Los Angeles Lakers got a big win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at the Toyota Center. LeBron James played exceptionally well and scored 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting. According to the X reporter, he spoke after the game and showed how he felt, oh no, he didn’t.

“LeBron: Look at me right now… I feel like I’m bullshitting, but in the game I felt great, before the game, I wasn’t feeling that good. I was yawning and tired. I was literally just talking to myself, “Oh no, not on X,” he wrote.

James continued to fire all night, missing only one shot. It was his best shooting night of the season, as he found ways to put the ball in the hoop at almost every opportunity. There were times when he felt every bit his age, including a massive collapse in the fourth quarter. But James came back and finished the game strongly.

When James dived in for a basketball in Denver earlier this week, it took him a little longer to get up. When he fell in Houston, he held his ailing wrist and sat on the hardwood for a few minutes. Despite being 41 years old, James is playing at a high level, which is perfect timing as we get closer to the playoffs.

There are still questions about James’ future; He continues to perform as the second-best player on the Lakers behind Luka Doncic. As the Lakers sit in third place in the Western Conference, the team will continue to try to secure the No. 3 seed and make a deep run as James strives to stay healthy and be there for the team when needed.

The Detroit Pistons have been the top team in the Eastern Conference for the entire season, and one of the reasons for that was because they are very healthy. Over the past week or so, he has suffered a few injuries, and the latest may be the biggest blow of them all. Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with lung damage, and is expected to be absent for an extended period of time.

This isn’t the best news for the Pistons right now, especially with the regular season ending in about three weeks. There is no specific timetable for return, but there have been a number of athletes over the years who have had to deal with lung failure.

.@shamscharania It has been reported that Cade Cunningham will have to miss a long time due to lung failure. pic.twitter.com/8XG3uiglwp

– Get Up (@GetUpESPN) 19 March 2026

The most recent athlete was TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he missed two games due to a collapsed lung following a dry needling procedure.

The latest basketball player to suffer from lung problems was CJ McCollum, and it happened twice in his career. In 2021, he missed six weeks, and in 2023, he missed three weeks. Injury analyst Jeff Stotts reports that the average basketball player with a collapsed lung is 26 days missed, which equates to about 10 games.

It is uncertain how serious the injury is to Cunningham, and the severity may depend on how much time he misses on the court.

Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game, and he has been the engine of the team’s success this season. For the Pistons, it will now be the next man up, and the guard will have to carry much of the load for now. This also means that the focus will be on Jalen Duren to carry the team forward for now.

It will also be interesting to see if the Pistons drop in the standings with about 15 games remaining in the season. The Boston Celtics are just 3.5 games back of the No. 1 seed, and they’ve been running back Jayson Tatum in the lineup for the past two weeks.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 124–116 for their seventh consecutive win. It was also the Lakers’ second win against the Rockets in three days, giving them a tiebreaker in the battle for the No. 3 seed. According to LA sports reporter Law Murray, after the win over the Rockets, the Lakers have now won the tiebreaker against all of their closest Western Conference opponents.

“The Lakers should be the 3rd seed in the West and a trip to the semifinals. This season they have all the relevant tiebreakers – 2-1 vs. Rockets (can only play three quarters) – 2-1 vs. Nuggets (lost in Memphis) – 3-0 vs. Timberwolves (ant knee),” Law posted on X.

The Lakers swept a two-game set in Houston this week. Remarkably, this was a huge turnaround after their poor performance against the Rockets on Christmas Day. The win gave Los Angeles a 1.5-game lead over the Timberwolves with a 44–25 record. They also hold a 2.5 game lead over the Rockets.

As the final stretch of the regular season approaches, the Lakers are hitting their stride. Currently, the No. 3 seed appears to be the goal as they trail the San Antonio Spurs by seven games with 13 games remaining. Because of this, if the Lakers continue to win they will likely start the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.

These two wins were a major achievement in the playoff preview between the Lakers and the Rockets. If the teams meet again, it could turn out to be one of the best series of the playoffs.

It doesn’t take much to get Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic excited. Even the smallest pinch can increase his competitiveness. Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzzelis will testify to this.

With no prompt or not, Doncic went off again on Wednesday. He dropped 40 points on 12 of 25 shooting, including seven three-pointers, to lead the Lakers past the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The six-time All-Star cheered the crowd throughout the game, especially after one long bomb after another In the fourth quarter, that killed the Rockets.

Luca is unreal!

Luka Doncic dances with his defender and practices a crazy step three 🎯

pic.twitter.com/jiWPexAKs3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

He continued interacting with fans after the final buzzer. In the post-game conference, Doncic revealed what was said to him-Like.

“Some guy was talking crazy. Showing me his, uh, no problem,” said Doncic, who also had nine rebounds and 10 assists.

“(My answer) was in English. I made sure he understood it.”

At the end of the game Luka was talking trash with the fans:

“Some guy was talking crazy. Was showing me his thing…uh, never mind. It was in English, I made sure he understood” ??? pic.twitter.com/sZ2Isx5Lmr

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

Doncic, 27, is known for running his mouth on the hardwood, so it wasn’t a surprise that he exchanged sweet nothings with fans.

The Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win, with Doncic averaging close to 39.0 points.

Los Angeles shot 61% from the field, including 47% from long range. The team also held Rockets forward Kevin Durant to just 18 points on 11 attempts.

Doncic received plenty of support from running mate LeBron James, who finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile, DeAndre Ayton and Austin Reeves combined for 30 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks.

Doncic will look to continue his hot streak when they visit the Miami Heat on Thursday. Fans can only hope that the Purple and Gold will not suffer fatigue amid their heavy schedule.

The Houston Rockets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in back-to-back meetings, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. Kevin Durant and company will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid missing the playoffs.

The Rockets had no answer for the duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James on Wednesday as they held off the Lakers for a 124-116 win at Toyota Center.

Los Angeles outscored Houston 35–24 in the fourth quarter, earning its seventh consecutive win and making the score 44–25.

Kevin Durant was held to just 18 points on 11 shots. He had six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Athletic’s Law Murray pointed to a rare example involving Durant.

“Four Rockets attempted more field goals than Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter tonight vs. the Lakers,” Murray wrote on X.

“They’re a tribute to the 2024 (Phoenix) Suns.”

Durant had only two shots in the final period, with Alpern Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason all having more attempts.

During his tenure with the Suns, Durant often shared contact with Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, and Eric Gordon. The two-time Finals MVP averaged 18.5 attempts in Phoenix.

However, as The Athletic’s Will Guillory reports, Durant didn’t make a big issue of his lack of shots in the final quarter against the Lakers.

“It’s a team game. I’m getting two shots, it doesn’t matter. We’ve had six guys with double-digit shot attempts, and guys were pretty efficient tonight as well. I don’t think it’s a talking point,” the veteran forward said.

He averages 17.7 attempts with the Rockets.

They’ll look to bounce back on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Los Angeles Lakers have formally opened the bidding process for a new jersey patch sponsor for the 2026-27 NBA season and beyond. This marks the end of their existing five-year agreement with Bibigo, which began in 2021 and was valued at more than $100 million.

According to a post on X by Arash Markazi of The Sporting Tribune, the franchise issued a press release announcing what was described as a category-defining sponsorship.

“The Lakers are one of the most recognizable brands in the world, synonymous with greatness, championships, style and legacy. There is no doubt that the Lakers’ value starts on the court in the heart of Los Angeles and extends across culture and entertainment to reach people everywhere. The Purple and Gold’s distinctive identity combines legendary history with dynamic innovation, creating moments and experiences that are forever remembered,” Jim Snodgrass, Lakers’ vice president of corporate partnerships, said in a release. Said through.

The Lakers have only had two jersey patch sponsors since the program’s inception. His first deal with Wish (2017-2021) was worth around $12-14 million annually. However, the Bibigo partnership extended beyond the NBA and included branding across the South Bay Lakers (G League) and the franchise’s eSports division, unlike the agreement with Wish. The upcoming bidding process is also expected to include the South Bay Lakers and other LA affiliates.

The release explicitly states that the move represents the “next chapter” of the franchise’s evolution, citing its broadcast presence in more than 230 markets, hundreds of millions of global fans, and approximately 89 million social media followers. It cited legendary players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, as well as current stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

The outgoing Bibigo deal was also historically significant. It was the first South Korean company to secure an NBA jersey patch and was intended to expand the Lakers’ footprint in Asian markets.

Washington, DC – Washington Wizards/Monumental basketball president Michael Winger said on Jan. 22 that the organization will evaluate which young players will stick around long-term in the coming months, and second-year guard Bub Carrington showed why he should stick around on Tuesday. The 20-year-old scored a season-high 30 points (12-16 FG, 6-8 3-point) with four rebounds, two assists and no turnovers over 37 minutes in Washington’s 130-117 home loss against the Detroit Pistons.

Veteran forward Justin Champagnie told ClutchPoints after the game how Carrington has grown as a player since last season.

I asked Justin Champagnie last night how Bub Carrington has grown as a player since he was first discovered (thread):

“I think Bub is trying to learn his spots more. Starting to figure out when to shoot, when not to. When to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive. When… pic.twitter.com/KYEdtYxlmD

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 18 March 2026

“I think Bub is trying to learn his spots more. Starting to figure out when to shoot, when not to shoot,” the 24-year-old said. “When to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive. When to turn the ball over, make the plays that have to be made. He’s diligent in his film work. I watch him do film before every game. I think he’s growing in those aspects. Gotta remember Bub is still young, like, 21 years old…I’m very proud of the growth he’s made this year.”

Carrington won’t turn 21 until July, but the rest of Champaign’s commentary track. The former Pittsburgh Panther is shooting 56.7% from the field (51.7% 3-point) with a 2.56 assist-to-turnover ratio in 25.9 minutes per game in March, which is a night-and-day difference from the rest of his season. For example, he shot only 36.4% (28.3% 3-pointers) with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio in February and 38.7% (34.6% 3-pointers) with a 1.76 ratio in January.

Carrington’s season-long numbers aren’t that different from his depth other than a 39.4% clip, which leads 2024 draftees with at least that many average attempts (4.9). The Baltimore native’s average three-point attempts also rank fifth in the class.

On the other hand, according to NBA Advanced stats, Carrington’s 14.1 turnover ratio is the third highest (minimum 20 minutes per game) and his -14.2 net rating ranks last. Luckily, Champagne gave him advice on how to deal with adversity.

“Stay the same… A lot of guys go through sophomore slumps… When shots aren’t falling and things aren’t going your way, what else can you do to make an impact and be the player we need?” When asked what advice he would give Carrington, he said. “I think he’s done a great job so far this year, I’m looking forward to seeing him continue.”

Spreading the ball around while limiting turnovers is one way Carrington can help the team when he’s not scoring. For example, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder had eight possessions against just one turnover in Saturday’s 111-100 loss to the Boston Celtics. He only scored two points (1-2 FG) in 22 minutes, but still provided value.

It was a different story on Tuesday. Carrington looked as confident as ever, hitting a fadeaway midrange as well as a catch-and-shoot three Competitive layouts like The one below.

It’s hard bub 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/LWs05M0EGh

– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) 17 March 2026

Carrington could stand to hit more contested layups, as he ranks 162nd among NBA guards with 0.5 paint touches per game as of Wednesday. If he gets to the rim more, he will draw more attention from the defense and open up space for his teammates, similar to fellow Wizard Trae Young.

It’s not realistic to reach Young’s level too soon, but it is realistic to build on Tuesday’s outing and show potential in that regard over the rest of the season.

Bub Carrington needs to prove valuable as a role player

It’s no secret that Washington’s youth center will be in a different situation next year and beyond. The acquisition of youth and star big man Anthony Davis this offseason signals an intent to get into the Eastern Conference playoff picture for the 2026-27 campaign, which is a far cry from the way things have been recently.

The organization has declined every year since winger and general manager Will Dawkins took over in 2023, which helped him land second-year big man Alex Saar and rookie guard Trey Johnson with the top six selections in the draft. If the season ends on Wednesday, it will gain another top-six selection in the draft with superstar prospects AJ DiBuntsa (BYU), Cameron Boozer (Duke), and Darin Peterson (Kansas).

This strategy puts player development above winning, allowing the young core to play through mistakes without the pressure of immediate results. But next year it will be difficult to get minutes for those players who will not help the team win.

There are no guarantees what the roster will look like next year, but Carrington can stake his claim as a long-term role player if he puts together a mix of performances like the Pistons and Celtics games the rest of this season. Whether the team needs him as a scorer or facilitator on some nights, if he consistently shows he can execute any job, it will be hard to sit him down.

Head coach Brian Keefe reported Tuesday that Carrington is learning “what he needs to do” each game.

“I think Bub had a good year. He really took over our second unit for a lot of the year, while our second unit was very positive for a long time,” he said. “He’s learned to control the game offensively. I like his physicality defensively, he’s gotten more interceptions as the season has gone on. And the shooting is right there as well.”

“Keep growing, and we will put our people in positions to learn and grow,” he added. “Tonight was great, he played a little off the ball. Sometimes he has the ball more, tonight he was a little behind. He was aggressive looking for his shot, and that’s what we needed him to do tonight. He’s learning what the game needs him to do. Some nights are different. Tonight, he was aggressive with his shot, and that was helpful for us.”

Washington has another home date with Detroit on Thursday before hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.

Ivica Zubac has performed well in all the last five games for the Indiana Pacers and has made a good start to his life as a member of his new team. Zubac was dealing with some ankle problems, and the Pacers were well aware of this when they brought him in via a blockbuster trade. Thus, it’s a pleasant surprise that he’s already back-to-back suits up for Indiana.

However, given that the Pacers have all the incentive in the world to not win a lot of games, given that they will give their 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls within the fifth to tenth selection, they are undoubtedly going to manage Zubac’s workload.

To that end, Zubac played only 23 minutes of their 117–109 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, exiting the contest with 10:44 remaining in the fourth quarter due to a head injury. He did not return to the game, finishing with 18 points and eight rebounds during his time on the court.

The Pacers will have two full days of rest before taking the court on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs and for now, Zubac should be considered questionable for that game.

Ivica Zubac getting familiar with the Pacers’ system

Zubac is going to learn how to play faster and expand his offensive game beyond the paint now that he is a member of the dangerous Pacers. This is invaluable time for Zubac and the Pacers, as he can become familiar with the system in a more low-pressure environment amid Indiana’s gap year.

Indiana invested a ton of assets in Zubac, and only time will tell how successful their move will be. Nonetheless, it’s easy to see why the Pacers brought him in, as he’ll play such sweet string music with Tyrese Haliburton when the floor general returns.

BOSTON — Steve Kerr finally said his quiet voice out loud after the Golden State Warriors’ 120-99 loss to the Boston Celtics, their sixth loss in seven games.

“We’ll be in the play-in,” Kerr said. “We know this, one way or another.”

It’s a reality the Warriors have understood for some time, Kerr said, but the fact he vocalized it to the press is significant. As Golden State drops to 10th in the West after a 120-99 loss to the Boston Celtics, its play-in destiny is a stark observation.

But also important is how he cited his “game plan mistakes”, i.e., allowing the Celtics to back cut and box out, things the team overcame in their morning shootaround. It is significant how the words Kerr used repeatedly during his disappointing press conference were “process,” “habits” and “emotion” to emphasize his lack of success.

“Going through the same actions this morning, we gave up early, like three back cuts,” Kerr said. “And we totally messed up [those] Coverage three times in the first quarter. Can’t do this. Cannot be done. Do you want to win playoff games? You better lock in. So get locked in.”

What does closure look like in Steve Kerr’s eyes?

For Kerr, being locked up means many things. It starts with eliminating mental mistakes and implementing your preparation. It also means being ready for Stephen Curry and the rest of the crew to return from injury. But it’s also about what Kerr describes as “the spiritual part.”

“The lock-in part of it is not just the mental part of it, but it’s the spiritual part. It’s the emotion. How prepared are you, how confident are you? How united are you? And like I said, it’s easy when you’re beaten down. It’s easy to hang your head. We can’t hang our heads. We’ve got to keep that at bay.”

Keep is the keyword because they are plug-in. Warriors are not losing for lack of effort. They have worked hard, they have struggled and struggled. Even brought down many players. Even with two-way players and guys on 10-day contracts. And they’re certainly not tanking, Kerr has made that clear on several occasions.

But Kerr reaching his boiling point after defeat signals a very specific kind of smoke. A very specific type of messaging may take effort, but it’s nothing without the process. Without habits it is nothing. And that’s what the Warriors are trying to establish so they can take the field when the big guns arrive.

“I’m telling people, we have to build our habits and be prepared for when we get people healthy again,” Kerr said. “Because then we can have that firepower that can be complemented by a foundation of good habits, good fundamentals. As I said, I think there are a lot of things we can improve on. But at the base of all of that is your spirit, energy, confidence. We have to work on that as well.”

reality of warriors now

Gui Santos summed up the Warriors situation as it stands right now.

“We know it doesn’t matter whether we win 13 games or lose 13 games, we’re going to keep playing [in the play-in]Santos said.

Therefore, as attested, the players understand the realities of the situation. They know they have to be in good shape when Curry eventually returns. Based on the latest updates, with Curry ramping up his individual work this week, he’s getting closer. And in the words of Pat Spencer, the Warriors need an identity to be proud of, given how different the team is now with Jimmy Butler out and Kristaps Porzingis out.

“It’s about creating an identity,” Spencer said. “When we get number 30 and a few other guys back we’ll really have something solid and something we can rely on.”

Kerr’s belief in this team is as strong as ever. Hence his vocal frustration.

“If we’re ready when they come back, we can do some damage,” Kerr said. “We can go rushing. But we can’t make mistakes in the game plan. We’ve got to develop better habits. Like boxing out, taking care of the ball in transition, being more efficient in transition, things like that.”

This is a handicap for 33-36 warriors. With injuries and limited time in the season, whether they can clean it up remains a challenge.

LeBron James played one of his best games this season, scoring 30 points on 13-14 shooting from the field in a 124-116 win for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Houston Rockets. James has really shifted to an off-ball role, and he is thriving as a result. In fact, a lot of the little things James is doing that contribute to winning are just putting even more wear and tear on a body that’s already gotten a ton of mileage.

Notably, James suffered an elbow injury late in the Lakers’ victory when he faced a hard foul from Jabari Smith Jr. He was supposed to go straight to the locker room after the final buzzer, but he noticed that Lisa Salters was the sideline reporter for ESPN the night before and she was staying briefly to give an interview. out of love And he has admiration for one of the sport’s most experienced journalists.

“As soon as I get to the locker room, Imma throw some ice on it. That’s why I ran away. But, you know, I love you, you’re amazing, so I had to come back and do this interview for you. We got back-to-backs. I’m 41. I need to prepare but I take care of myself and hopefully I’ll be ready for tomorrow night,” James told Salters.

“I love you, you’re amazing, so I had to come back and do this interview for you.”

LeBron was going back to the locker room, but came back to do an interview with Lisa Salters 🙌

(via @ESPN)
pic.twitter.com/hTx8VwSisV

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

Lakers’ LeBron James shows love for fellow sports legend

Salters has been working on the sidelines for nearly 20 years, joining NBA on ABC coverage in 2006 as the lead sideline reporter. She has been a part of ESPN since 2000. James has watched Salters on the sidelines throughout his career, and it seems as if the Lakers star has formed a relationship with one of the game’s most respected reporters.

In fact, the Lakers have to play a game tomorrow night as they face the Miami Heat.

The Memphis Grizzlies delivered one of their most remarkable performances of the season on Wednesday night, defeating the Denver Nuggets by a score of 125-118 at FedExForum. The win broke an eight-match losing streak and offered a glimpse of the team’s long-term potential.

The Grizzlies entered the matchup as the Western Conference’s 11th seed and clear underdogs at 23–44, while the Nuggets came in as the sixth seed at 42–27, and held a three-game lead over the seventh-place Phoenix Suns. However, Memphis turned the result around with its energy, timely shot-making and better execution in the final minutes. The result stood as one of the team’s most important wins of the season.

Cedric Coward played an important role in the performance. The rookie contributed to the stat sheet while continuing to develop within Memphis’ young core. His versatility helped the Grizzlies compete defensively while maintaining offensive differentials, allowing his impact to extend beyond traditional numbers.

Grind City Media shared the clip to X, formerly of Twitter, crediting Michael Wallace with capturing Coward’s postgame reaction, as the guard reflected on the importance of the win after a tough stretch.

“It’s really good to get back in the win column, especially against a playoff team.”

“It’s really good to get back in the win column, especially against a playoff team.”

Cowardly on what lessons a young and developing team can learn from a win over a proven team like the Nuggets.

🎥: @mymikecheck pic.twitter.com/NKDPuQGdFE

– Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) 19 March 2026

The post emphasized that the moment represented more than one outcome. Instead, it reflects the continued progress of a developing roster that is still learning to consistently compete at the NBA level.

Coward expanded on that theme when discussing the team’s development after the win.

“It also proves that we are growing and moving upward, understanding what we need to do on both ends of the floor, especially with so many young guys still adjusting to the league.”

Those comments reinforce the direction of the Memphis Youth Center. Even during difficult seasons, the Grizzlies continue to build identity through experiences such as these.

Ultimately, the result may not dramatically affect the situation. However, it does provide a meaningful benchmark for a young roster seeking consistency and confidence moving forward.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are finding their rhythm as a collective; On Wednesday night, they won against the Houston Rockets 124–116 for their seventh consecutive win and second in three nights. Doncic was dominant on Wednesday, recording his 12th 40-point game of the season after recording 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Never mind that the Rockets have some elite perimeter defenders, when Doncic finds his rhythm, the defense’s only prayer is that he misses.

But the Lakers know that achieving their progress in the regular season is not the ultimate goal. While this may help them prepare for what lies ahead, especially a potentially deep playoff run, they have their eyes on the prize. Doncic said as much in his postgame interview with Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell.

Doncic told Trudel, “It’s an amazing feeling. I love winning. Everything is better when you’re winning. We have great chemistry. We’re a great team. This is the beginning of something beautiful.”

“We have great chemistry…this is just the beginning of something beautiful.”

with luka doncic @lakersreporter In the team after tonight’s win. pic.twitter.com/MHBS9q2d6V

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 19 March 2026

The Lakers are finding out, and considering how elite Doncic and James can be when the stakes are at their highest, there isn’t a single team in the West that would like to see them in a seven-game series.

The entire Lakers roster has adopted JJ Redick’s system

The Lakers have suffered a lot this season, but it’s telling that DeAndre Ayton, of all people, would go to the media and say he took a long, hard look at the mirror and realized the defensive effort and energy the team needed from him.

The entire team has bought into what Redick is selling and as a result, the Lakers are winning. But they have another tough test ahead of them, as they look to extend their win streak to eight tomorrow night when they travel to Miami and visit the Heat at 8:00 pm ET.

BOSTON – When Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown placed the Bill Russell Trophy above his head after being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, his place in franchise history was cemented. However, the all-time leading Celtic moved up to 10th on the Green team’s all-time scoring list during Wednesday night’s 120-99 win over the Golden State Warriors.

In the second quarter, Brown sank two free throws to surpass Celtics great and 1973 MVP Dave Cowens on the Giants leaderboard. The five-time All-Star now has 13,202 points in 10 seasons, trailing his fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum by 705 points. The player right in front of the Celtics’ spectacular tandem is an almost legendary player: 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell.

“I’m very grateful,” Brown said in the locker room after his impressive milestone. “There are a lot of greats on that list that have made huge contributions to the Celtics as well as the game of basketball. So I’m very humbled and very grateful to be in the position I’m in.”

Jaylen Brown on entering the top-10 scoring list for the Celtics:

“I’m very grateful. Many of the legends on that list have made great contributions to the Celtics as well as the game of basketball.” pic.twitter.com/f49h93xmHL

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

Brown didn’t miss a beat to start the game, hitting back-to-back jumpers against a woefully understaffed Warriors team at TD Garden. Although the Dubs – who were without four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry due to a knee injury – tried to make it a contest, Brown and Tatum always had offensive answers. They scored a combined 56 points in the blowout (game-high 32 points from Brown and 24 points from Tatum), while no Warrior scored more than 14 points.

Tatum said of Brown’s historic run, “It just shows the dedication and commitment he has to his craft and getting better every year.” “I’ve watched him grow and get better every year over the last nine years and become the player he is today. It’s great when you get rewarded for the work you’ve done.”

During Tatum’s 62-game absence this regular season, which was the result of a diligent rehab process from an Achilles rupture, Brown paved the way for the shorthanded C. He averaged career highs practically across the board and has continued to do so since Tatum’s return on March 6.

With both Tatum and Brown starting this season, the Celtics are 5-1 and have won three in a row. And it’s no surprise that the same dynamic duo that led Boston to a championship in 2024 is aiming to do so again in 2026.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said about working with Tatum and Brown, “You’re not only able to coach some of the best players in the game today, but you’re able to coach some of the best players of all time.” “so [there’s] “Just my gratitude for being able to see him.”

To put it in perspective, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will already be the all-time leading scorers for the Magic, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Clippers, Hornets and Nets. https://t.co/FfBXc5rb5l

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

We need to remember what Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum accomplished

Even though the 46-23 Celtics are generally accustomed to winning, what Tatum and Brown have accomplished together is special. They would be the all-time scoring leaders of six other NBA franchises at this time and have more playoff wins than many teams.

Furthermore, they represent the Celtics well and are dedicated to Boston.

Tatum showed his commitment by attacking his difficult rehabilitation every day off the court this season, ultimately culminating in a victorious return that was well ahead of schedule. Brown, meanwhile, has further demonstrated his dedication on the court recently by having an MVP-caliber campaign when many pundits expected him to flop as part of a flawed roster.

“For Jaylen, I think the responsibility and ownership of being a Celtic and going after greatness is extremely important, it’s something he takes very seriously,” Mazzulla responded when asked about Brown entering the upper echelon of Celtics scorers. “The ability to make and participate in history is the stepping stone to [the franchise] Better than what you found.”

There’s no doubt that Tatum and Brown have changed the Celtics organization for the better, but that doesn’t mean they’re satisfied. They want more, and “more” will come in the form of a second championship ring this June.

“I felt like I could always be one of the top players in the world if given the opportunity, and I think I’ve got to show that this season,” Brown said after Monday night’s 41-point loss to the Phoenix Suns. “The focus now is on getting ready for the playoffs.”

The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is not part of any group bidding for an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas. The rumors arose when James’s Fenway Sports Group was initially reported to be considering a bid for a Las Vegas expansion team. The city, along with Seattle, has emerged as a leading candidate for one of two new NBA franchises.

Although FSG has rejected an extension that is reportedly set to cost up to $8 billion per team, James has publicly stated that he is not part of any group bidding for a Las Vegas team, according to a post on X by ESPN’s Tim McMahon.

“No, I’m not. Not at all,” James said.

LeBron, who has a net worth of more than $1.4 billion, will undoubtedly need a team of investors to take charge of an NBA franchise. However, with FSG reportedly backing out, it is now considered “less likely” that LeBron will pursue franchise ownership.

Regardless, as things stand, the NBA Board of Governors is continuing discussions, with a formal decision expected in 2026 and a potential launch timeline of the 2028-29 season. Las Vegas has emerged as a primary expansion market due to its established presence in major professional sports.

The city currently hosts teams in the NFL, NHL and WNBA, with an MLB franchise set to relocate there. The NBA has also had a consistent presence in Las Vegas through its Summer League, which has drawn more than 136,000 fans over 11 days.

Of course, LeBron James and FSG are no strangers to owning major sports teams. James’s association with the group has given him partial ownership in several franchises such as the Boston Red Sox (MLB), Liverpool FC (Premier League), RFK Racing (NASCAR), and the New England Sports Network (NESN).

The Lakers superstar and his partner Maverick Carter previously became partners in the group in 2021. However, James’ ambitions of owning an NBA franchise currently appear to be on hold, due to FSG reportedly refusing to meet the asking price.

JJ Redick isn’t afraid to take a hit on the bear, even if that bear is his own superstar. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, Redick couldn’t resist making a joke at LeBron James’ expense despite a near-perfect performance from “The King.”

James was absolutely surgical at Toyota Center, scoring 30 points on a staggering 13-of-14 shooting from the floor. He missed exactly once all night. When reporters asked Redick about the lone flaw in that historic shooting performance, the first-year head coach didn’t mince words.

“The one shot he missed, he was trying to get a foul shot,” Redick said with a laugh in the media room.

It was a classic Reddick moment, blunt, high-witted and with just the right amount of sarcasm. While the coach was clearly joking, his comments highlight the loose, confident atmosphere around this Lakers team. Los Angeles has now won seven straight games and 10 of their last 11, improving their record to 44-25 and solidifying their place near the top of the Western Conference.

James wasn’t the only person cooking in Houston. Luka Doncic continued his MVP-caliber campaign with a 40-point masterpiece that included 10 assists and nine rebounds to carry the load at the end of the fourth quarter. The Lakers shot 61% as a team, making life miserable for the Rockets defense, which welcomed Alpern Sengun. Sengun finished with 27 points and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough to stop the purple and gold juggernaut.

The win completes a two-game sweep of the Rockets and serves as another reminder that the James-Doncic partnership is officially on the way. With Redick steering the ship and the stars playing it efficiently, the Lakers are looking like the most dangerous team in the West in April.