分類: 综合

Kevin Durant has a ton of one-on-one counters, making him one of the greatest one-on-one scorers of all time. But things are different in a team setting. Durant faced an offensive scheme in the second half of the Houston Rockets’ Monday night contest against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the Lakers threw multiple defenders at the Rockets star at every turn to get the ball out of his hands.

This ploy of the Lakers worked; Durant remained quiet throughout the second half of the Rockets’ 100–92 loss, scoring just two points in the second half and finishing with 18 on the night. This was not at all the kind of performance that Houston needed from their best scorer in a game where they were missing Alperen Sengun.

After the game, Durant reflected on what he and the Rockets were doing should have done instead To try and counter the Lakers’ double-teaming.

“I think we just have to convert. Maybe I just have to move out of the way, go to the corner, make space for other guys. When I get the ball against some teams, they’re just going to sell out,” Durant said in his postgame presser, via WorldwideWeb on X (formerly Twitter).

“I’m starting to understand that I feel like I need to get out of the way and let other people dribble the ball.”

pic.twitter.com/AlDq9enBSe

– Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) 17 March 2026

The Rockets’ youth will have to step up to help Kevin Durant.

Durant is not innocent at all; He attempted to become a game starter for the Rockets, which went straight into the Lakers’ hands.

However, the Rockets’ youngsters, namely Reed Shepard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson, will have to be more active in receiving the rock and making plays. This is going to be a learning moment for Houston, especially with less than a month until the playoffs begin.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is making impossible looks a regular thing. Since arriving in Southern California, the Slovenian maestro has been in a statistical crisis that is leaving franchise icons in a state of disbelief.

After his latest masterclass, Doncic has officially tied Hall of Famer James Worthy for most 30-point games in a Lakers uniform with 52. While reaching that mark is an accomplishment for anyone, the speed at which Doncic did so stunned “Big Game James.” During a postgame segment on Spectrum SportsNet, Worthy couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the motion.

“It took me 14 years!” Worthy joked, apparently surprised by how quickly the 27-year-old erased the mark that took the veteran more than a decade to establish.

This milestone comes after one of the most impressive weeks in recent memory for the Purple and Gold. On March 12, Doncic led the Chicago Bulls to a season-high 51 points in a 142–130 win. He shot an impressive 17 of 31 from the field and added 10 rebounds and nine assists, falling just one assist short of a triple-double. He then dropped 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 127–125 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, even hitting the go-ahead jumper in the closing seconds.

Currently leading the NBA in scoring with 32.8 points per game, Doncic has completely transformed the Lakers’ offense since the blockbuster trade that brought him from the Dallas Mavericks. While legends like Worthy and LeBron James have seen it all, Doncic continues to find new ways to surprise the veterans. For Worth, seeing his own record fall so quickly is part of the “Luka Magic” experience. As the Lakers push for the top seed in the Western Conference, Doncic is rewriting the history books in real time.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their sixth consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 100-92 at Toyota Center on Monday. The Lakers finished third in the Western Conference, surpassing the Rockets.

Luka Doncic once again led the attack with a game-high 36 points on 14 of 27 shooting, while adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Purple and Gold improved to 43-25.

During a postgame interview with NBC, Doncic praised his response and his defensive effort in the final period, holding the Rockets under 100 points and handing them only their ninth loss at home.

“It was great. I thought we shared the ball well, especially in the last quarter,” said the NBA’s leading scorer.

“To hold them (the Rockets) to 92 points is awesome. We did a great job defensively.”

Houston is averaging 114.1 points per game.

Doncic, 27, also acknowledged the physicality of the game, which he said has been a clear theme amid his winning streak.

“We could have done a lot better, but what matters is that we won, we have to keep it going,” Doncic said.

“The last few games have been very physical, very playoff-like.”

Luka said tonight felt like a playoff game pic.twitter.com/fpCT49LtX6

– Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) 17 March 2026

The Lakers have been on a tough schedule, surviving the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. They will face the Rockets again on Wednesday.

LeBron James had 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals against Houston, while also had a spectacular dunk on Jabari Smith Jr.

Austin Reeves had 15 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.

The Los Angeles Lakers have an NBA playoff berth to chase at the end of the season. Perennial wonder LeBron James ignited postseason expectations in a big way on Monday. This all happened after the Houston Rockets put up a poster of Jabari Smith Jr.

Smith attempted to time his jump and execute a block near the rim. Except James blew this jam early in the first quarter.

41-year-old LeBron James played Jabari Smith Jr. 🤯pic.twitter.com/5hu3t1Ovaf

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 March 2026

Los Angeles took a 13-11 lead during that transition sequence. Then there was a back-and-forth with other aspiring Western Conference playoff contenders.

LA went ahead 41–38 after a James Poster dunk about seven minutes into the second quarter. But Kevin Durant was able to make two free throws with less than four minutes remaining to give Houston a 46–45 lead.

How LeBron James, Lakers performed in the first half

Monday’s matchup inside Toyota Center offered a potential playoff preview.

Los Angeles is the third-best team in the West behind the San Antonio Spurs (49-18) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (53-15). But the Lakers entered the week of St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness on a five-game winning streak.

Houston and Durant, meanwhile, are the fourth-place team in the Western Conference, trailing the Lakers. The Rockets enter with an overall record of 41-25 and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 on Friday.

However, despite the strong dunks, James was limited in scoring. He scored only four points in 13 minutes. The four-time NBA champion dished out two assists and grabbed one rebound.

Luka Doncic handled the scoring load for the Lakers and scored 23 points in the first half with less than 2:40 remaining in the second half. Houston took a 57–51 lead at halftime.

Momentum continues to build for the Atlanta Hawks as their winning streak reaches a milestone not seen in over a decade. This surge has quickly become one of the most compelling stories shaping the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Atlanta extended its streak to 10 straight wins with a 124-112 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The result improved the Hawks to 38–31 and moved them up to eighth in the standings, solidifying their push for the postseason.

The run is the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2014–15 season, when the Hawks won a franchise-record 60 games and had a historic 19-game streak. The comparison puts this current group in rare company in team history.

This streak developed during a dominant homestand at State Farm Arena, where the Hawks controlled the tempo and generated consistent offensive production. Wins over the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando show the team’s ability to close out games and maintain momentum.

CA-CAW!

Hawks have won 10 consecutive games

This is Atlanta’s longest winning streak since the 2014–15 season. pic.twitter.com/JPg2RZ1ZqM

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 17 March 2026

Several players have fueled the uptrend. Jalen Johnson has been particularly impressive, averaging 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists over the last 10 games, and recording three triple-doubles during that span. CJ McCollum has averaged 16.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the last 10 games, providing consistent scoring and playmaking. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also contributed significantly, averaging 22.3 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds over that span.

Defensively, the Hawks have also improved. Dyson Daniels has recorded 24 steals over his last 10 games for an average of 2.4 per game, while Onyeka Okongwu has pulled down 8.5 rebounds per game during that span, giving the team a strong interior presence.

If this trend continues, the Hawks’ first season struggles will feel like a distant memory as their push for the Eastern Conference standings begins to gain real momentum.

There has been significant improvement from the Portland Trail Blazers. After missing the playoffs in each of the last four seasons with a number of brutal results – including a 21-61 mark in 2023-24 – the Blazers have played quite well this season. They are on track to return to the playoffs, even if they currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.

That’s good enough to put them in the play-in portion of the NBA Playoffs. After defeating the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, their record is 33-36 and that is enough to give them a 9 game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies. It seems pretty safe that their position inside the playoff structure is secure.

The question is whether the Blazers can improve their position, because their chances of finishing in the top eight once the Western Conference playoffs start are quite good.

The play-in portion of the tournament begins with the No. 7 seed hosting the No. 8 seed. The winner of that game is in the playoff structure as the seventh seed. That would mean a potential showdown with the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs.

The No. 9 and 10 teams will play on the home court of the No. 9 seed and the team that loses that game will be eliminated. The winner goes on the road to face the loser of 7-8 games. The winner of that game earns the No. 8 spot. That team will play against the top-seeded and defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although this seems like an impossible matchup, it’s certainly better than missing the playoffs or getting swept in the play-in games.

The No. 8 spot would be an ideal spot for the Blazers

The Blazers are a half-game behind the No. 9 seed Golden State Warriors and 2.0 games behind the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. He can improve his position to reach number 8 and this seems to be the best position for him. The Phoenix Suns are in 7th place with a 39-29 record, and they appear to be out of reach.

The Blazers have played the first two games of a five-game road trip. Before beating the Nets, they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers and will play at Indiana on Wednesday night. This should be a winnable game as the Pacers are in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 15-53 record.

However, the final two games of the trip are against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. Both of those experienced teams are tied for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference with 41-27 records. The Trail Blazers are 1-1 against the Nuggets and 0-2 against the Timberwolves.

If they can survive the end of the road trip, the Blazers will return home for four games against the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks and Washington Wizards. All of those games are winnable, but a 3-1 homestand could be enough to help head coach Tiago Splitter’s team climb into the playoff structure.

Tiago Splitter has kept the team together as interim coach

Splitter has been the interim coach of the Blazers since the early part of the season, when Chauncey Billups was relieved of his duties after federal charges related to the illegal gambling investigation were filed against him.

The team could have fallen apart when their head coach left the team in such an unceremonious manner, but the splitter has kept the Trail Blazers together.

The Blazers have relied on forward Denny Avdija, guard Shaddon Sharp, forward Jerami Grant and veteran guard Jrue Holiday.

Avdija is their best scorer, averaging 24.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The native of Tel Aviv, Israel clearly has good offensive skills and plays consistently hard on defense. Sharp is averaging 21.4 points per game, but he is out with a calf strain and the Blazers will have to compete without him for the foreseeable future.

Grant is averaging 18.8 points per game and is connecting on 50.9 percent of his shots from the field. Holiday is averaging 16.4 points and 6.2 assists per game, but it is his leadership and ability to stay calm in key moments that has helped the Blazers improve this season.

Holiday is a true professional who is one of the most underrated players in the league. He is a two-time All-Star and a six-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive Team. He was a key member of the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the NBA Championship in 2021 and he reprized his role when he helped the Boston Celtics win their 19th title in 2024.

His ability to play his best game in the most important situations can help the Blazers rise in the standings and then compete effectively in the postseason.

The Boston Celtics, even before Jayson Tatum’s long absence due to an Achilles rupture, were already a formidable team to contend with, thanks to the consistent two-way excellence of both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. White’s talent may not match the box score, but he is the quintessential winning player. He does everything the Celtics need to play winning basketball, and his impact was evident once again on Monday night.

It may have been Brown who scored 41 points on 10-20 shooting from the field and 19-21 from the charity stripe against the Phoenix Suns, but it was White who held the team together on the defensive end. He helped slow down Jalen Green by holding him to 21 points on 8-20 shooting from the field, and he was the defensive star of their 120-112 win over the Suns.

White refilled the stat sheet, tallying one steal and one block each. In doing so, the Celtics guard now has 75 steals along with 93 blocks on the season – becoming the first player in franchise history to record such defensive numbers during a season since Kevin Garnett accomplished the feat during the championship-winning 2007-08 campaign, according to ESPN Insights on X (formerly Twitter).

Celtics star Derrick White is a coach’s dream

White is respected among coaches and analytics fans, as he does everything a team wants from a guard who plays heavy minutes. He can defend big players, he can attack them from beyond the arc, and he’s unselfish at both ends of the court, willing to sacrifice his body for the right play.

The Celtics star also received major praise from Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, who said he is a top-five player in the NBA. And considering how impactful that can be, there really is an argument to be made for it.

Rich Paul isn’t happy with talk of the Los Angeles Lakers playing better without his superstar client LeBron James.

James is going through the 23rd year of his illustrious NBA career. He has developed chemistry with co-stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, forming a powerful trio on the Lakers team.

However, there have been concerns about the team’s level of play should James play or be absent. The latter has been more active as Los Angeles seems to be winning more with James on the sidelines.

Paul shut down all the hot takes that the Lakers are better off without James. He says that James is a person who can play in any position, he has never had any problem fitting into any team and he always plays basketball the right way. In other words, he believes none of James’s teams will be better off without him.

“Do you know how hard it is to not start training camp and not be in a rhythm. Well, it’s not like he’s ever had a problem fitting in versus fitting out, or playing the right way. He’s always just played the right way. He’s a guy that can play, really play, and knows how to play, in every position on the floor. Think about it, if he was your five man, he’d be playing some small ball five,” Paul said in Game Over. Said at the 33:05 mark. podcast.

What’s next for LeBron James, Lakers

The Lakers benefit when their star trio is active and healthy. As for LeBron James, he will have to take care of his health as the quest for a fifth title continues.

Los Angeles has a record of 42–25 on the season, placing third in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Following their matchup against the Rockets on Monday, the Lakers will prepare for their next contest. They are scheduled to play a rematch against Houston as tip-off begins on March 18 at 9:30 pm ET.

LeBron James is a veteran of the NBA. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, but the Los Angeles Lakers are already on the wrong side of 40 this season. Even though he’s already older than everyone in the league, LA still relies on LeBron more than fans would like to see him power through the season.

It’s clearly working: The Lakers are in third place in the crowded Western Conference with a 42-25 record and trail the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. However, everyone knows that Los Angeles needs to find a way to involve James less in order to preserve him for the remainder of the season. Lakers head coach JJ Redick echoed this sentiment before their game against the Houston Rockets, but also highlighted that LeBron was at his best when he was used as more than a regular player.

According to Benjamin Royer, Redick said, “He was and still is a high-usage player compared to your average player.” The best thing for our team is he’s the third most used player, you know, and obviously he had to work more during parts of the year because of injuries or guys being out of the lineup.

Although James is no longer the solo world-beater he once was, the Lakers star still has great confidence in him. In terms of scoring, James is the third leading scorer after the All-Star break with 18.7 points per game in 10 games. He trails Luka Doncic (32.7) and Austin Reaves on the Lakers’ scoring list. James is also adding 5.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, as he has handed control of the offense to both Doncic and Reaves.

James and the Lakers are looking for their first championship since arriving in the bubble in 2020. Los Angeles had come close in previous years, but they never got back to the Finals. Will this be the year James wins his sixth championship and matches Michael Jordan’s six rings?

Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu didn’t miss a chance to get back at Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane on Monday.

The Hawks hosted the Magic at State Farm Arena, and the contest heated up in the third quarter, as Okongwu and Benn caught the ball under the basket.

As he fell to the floor, Okongwu threw the ball towards Bain, causing a technical glitch.

To recall, Bane was ejected against the Hawks in November for pulling down Okongwu while attempting to lift the ball.

Onyeka Okongwu received a technical blow for throwing the ball at Desmond Benn in Hawks-Magic.

Earlier this season, Ben had this Okongwu:pic.twitter.com/hrBcbv5n8X https://t.co/c1sUUpSmnr

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 17 March 2026

Obviously, there is no love between them.

Fortunately, Ben did not retaliate, as he and Okongwu were quickly separated.

Following their incident in November, Okongwu, 25, reported that the rivalry between Atlanta and Orlando is growing, while also taking aim at the 27-year-old Bane.

“We don’t really like the Magic. To be honest, they don’t really like us,” Okongwu said.

“I can already tell he’s (Bain) frustrated out there. He’s not having the best year. You know if I was in the same position he was in there.”

Okongwu is having his best campaign so far and is shaping up to be one of the league’s most underrated big men. Entering his game against the Magic he was averaging career-highs of 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals, to go with 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

At the time of writing, Atlanta leads Orlando comfortably in the fourth quarter. Okongwu had 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one block.

The Chicago Bulls host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. It also marked the return of one of Chicago’s favorite players, Taj Gibson.

When Gibson entered the game, he was warmly welcomed by the fans at the United Center, according to RealMyKibets on Twitter (formerly Twitter). Additionally, according to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, the 40-year-old Gibson said he was not sure he would be able to return to play.

Gibson was last in town on January 24 against the Boston Celtics to witness his former teammate Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement ceremony.

Standing ovation for Taj Gibson in 2026. pic.twitter.com/SsLoUKSeFS

– MikeyBets (@RealMikeyBets) 17 March 2026

In February, Gibson signed a two-year contract with the Grizzlies after they acquired Kyle Anderson. On March 13, he made his debut, playing 13 minutes and scoring 3 points as the Grizzlies lost to the Detroit Pistons 126–110. Last year, Gibson played for the Charlotte Hornets and before that for the Pistons.

However, Gibson made his mark with the Bulls. He played in Chicago from 2009 to 2017 after coming out of USC. In 2010, Gibson made the NBA All-Rookie team and in 2014, he was the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year.

Additionally, Gibson became known as an effective defensive presence, especially in blocking. Additionally, the Bulls made two playoff appearances during his tenure in 2011 and 2015. In 2011, they finished with a 62–20 record and reached the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat in five games.

Four years later, the Bulls finished with a 50–32 record. Ultimately, they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Washington DC – Steve Kerr wants to clarify that he is listed as executive producer for the Oscar-winning mini-documentary. all empty roomsHe had little to do with the actual production of the film.

“I want to make it clear that executive producer is a great way of saying I have nothing to do with it. Just to be very, very clear,” Kerr joked pregame before the Golden State Warriors’ Monday matchup with the Washington Wizards. “But I feel incredibly honored to be associated with it.”

all the empty rooms, Winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Short, the film is a film that covers issues close to Kerr’s heart. The 35-minute mini-doc follows broadcast journalist Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they travel across the United States, capturing the untouched, empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings.

As an outspoken advocate against gun violence and supporter of gun safety laws, Kerr was very happy to have his name attached to the film.

“About a year ago they asked me if I wanted to be an executive producer, and when I read about this project I was immediately ready, because it’s such an important film. Once I saw it, I was overwhelmed by the beauty, the sadness, the humanity, done so poignantly.”

Steve Kerr’s role in the film

For Kerr, the artistry of the film is an important catalyst in tackling this issue.

“I think that’s important, especially, you know, given my advocacy for gun violence prevention. It’s – you look for ways to touch everybody and avoid political discourse that boils the issue down. And I thought the film threaded that needle perfectly.”

While Kerr was not involved in the production of the film, he played a major role in its public relations campaign in the lead-up to the Oscars.

This included writing an opinion article in the Los Angeles Times in which he highlighted the gun-violence epidemic in America and how the issue has had a personal impact on his life. Kerr’s father Malcolm was shot dead in Lebanon in 1984. Kerr also hosted some screenings in San Francisco and Los Angeles, conducting a Q&A with director Joshua Seftel.

“My involvement was really putting my name on it and trying to help promote it,” Kerr explained. “But it was so beautifully done. “It was so touching. And how sympathetic and kind Steve and Lou were in the movie when they were visiting houses. It was very powerful.”

Steve Kerr wants people to skip the movie

Kerr said he hasn’t had the chance to add an Oscar trophy to his NBA championship cabinet. But in Kerr’s eyes the achievement is the least important part of the film. Kerr thinks this film can help start a change in the movement. Not only at the political, legislative level, but also at the grassroots level, from power to people.

“I’m trying to recommend everyone to see it,” Kerr said. “It’s 35 minutes, but you should watch it. It’s hard to watch, but it’s also unforgettable. And I think this issue…it’s the kind of movement that we need to move. Our country, our citizenry, we need to move this issue forward, because it’s obviously not happening at a political level. But we know the power of protests and movements, and I’m very hopeful that this film will help that cause.”

Kerr said, “This is not a political issue. This is a public health crisis. When you watch the movie, and you see the damage, and you see these innocent people’s lives being taken. And then [when] You start to focus on the issue, you realize there are a lot of things we can do to save lives.”

“And that can be challenging. A lot of people say to me, it’s frustrating. It’s not frustrating. We have legislation that has been passed over and over again that is already saving lives. We know that statistically, but it’s really the movement that’s most important to me. The consensus: We have to do something.”

all empty rooms Currently available to stream on Netflix.

As the Miami Heat look to bounce back from a 121-117 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, the team still has a lot to figure out about its lineup and rotation with 14 games left in the regular season. As the Heat prepare to face tough teams over the next few weeks, a major decision has still to be made regarding star Norman Powell.

It can’t be denied what a positive impact Powell has had this season in his first year with Miami, leading the team with 22.5 points per game, resulting in his first-ever All-Star award. The main starter for the Heat, it was a different story on Saturday as he came off the bench after missing the last seven games with a groin strain.

While fellow star guard Tyler Herro did the same after his latest rib injury, there are a few reasons why both Powell and Herro came off the bench in their injury returns after missing significant time. What is clear is that after a difficult and complicated injury recovery, coming off the bench is a way to help Powell get his feet under him again.

The second is not to mess with Miami’s flow, as Herro has had success since his debut, as he averaged 25.6 points per game in five of the seven games with Powell out. The other two were due to Herro missing time due to quadriceps pain.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra would tell ClutchPoints after the loss to Orlando that, in addition to ‘managing’ Powell’s injury recovery, he talked about the “level of sacrifice” that will come when dealing with lineup decisions.

“As long as we’re responsible for it, he’ll be OK,” Spoelstra said. “Look, these are not easy decisions right now. He’s going to play a lot of minutes. Tyler is going to play a lot of minutes. Right now, we just need to focus on winning games and getting on the team. We want to stay healthy, we want our guys out, we want our hitting power, we want our options. There comes some level of sacrifice with that, and what we’ll do each game, I don’t know at this point. We’re doing what we feel is necessary to prepare ourselves. It is necessary to have a winning situation.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about Norman Powell’s return from the bench and whether the decision to do so was to get his feet under him:

“Yeah, even to try to manage it. We want our options. With that, you know, comes some level of sacrifice…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/apckf4WznX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Could the Heat bench Norman Powell in favor of Tyler Herro?

With the return of Powell and Herro to the Heat, Saturday was only the 12th game where they were both active in the game together, and the results have been mediocre. There were interesting rotational patterns where Herro and Powell played in different lineups rather than playing on the court together. When they were on the floor at the same time, it felt like action.

However, the two got extended minutes with each other on Saturday as they played 14 minutes, and defensively it wasn’t the best, with Miami outscoring the Magic by three points in that time. There could be a discussion about one starting and the other coming off the bench, Powell, who has recently come off the bench, scored 20 points on Saturday.

When asked how the team explained the reason for Powell coming off the bench, he said, “They didn’t want to mess up the flow of the way the team is playing.” “And I just want to be myself and be aggressive.”

Norman Powell on his explanation for coming off the bench:

“Just they didn’t want to mess up the flow…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/Yqi9QQdTOm

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

One can easily see how strange it would be for Powell to have an All-Star season early on and then become a reserve later on. However, there have been plenty of wins with either Powell or Herro out, creating a potentially uncomfortable situation for Spoelstra and one of the players to concede.

There’s still time for the Tyler Herro-Norman Powell tandem to work

However, the hope is that in these final 14 games, the Heat can make the Powell-Herro tandem work and solidify their spot in the Eastern Conference. There’s no denying that both have great offensive abilities on the field, but concerns on defense are legitimate.

Still, time has not been on their side, with Bam Adebayo even mentioning how “shaky” it will be in the beginning with moving pieces.

“I mean, it’s going to be volatile because everyone is trying to play the right way,” Adebayo said. “Nobody wants to feel like they’re messing up the pace or the style of play or how we’re playing. So everyone’s trying to get the right amount of shots or get the right rhythm without impacting everyone else.”

Bam Adebayo on the returns of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell and still figuring out how the rotation plays out:

“It’s going to be volatile, because everyone is trying to play the right way. No one wants to feel like they’re messing up the pace or style of play…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/jUh7VopUAS

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

At the end of the day, whether Miami starts both or does one and the other comes off the bench, the goal is a common thread that everyone shares.

“It’s a common goal. At the end of the day we’re all trying to win,” Herro said. “Anything you have to do to win.”

Tyler Herro’s full comments after the loss where he talks about five-second violations being quick, the message about Norman Powell’s role with the return and the Heat not having the defensive flair to start: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/45tkLUA0W6

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

At any rate, both look to stay healthy and work with each other as Miami plays the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, with the Heat 38-30, which puts them in seventh place in the East.

Trae Young has been a pleasant addition to the Washington Wizards. The former fifth overall pick was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to DC during the trade deadline this season. Unfortunately, Young suffered an injury during the Wizards’ game against the Golden State Warriors. After suffering an injury to his lower body, the point guard has been ruled out of the game due to a quad contusion.

More coming soon.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers have players like Max Strus returning from injury, the latest news from the team has revealed a key star who will miss time. While Cavs star Jarrett Allen is absent due to a knee injury, the team has sketched out a tentative timetable for his return.

Continuing on his ex’s, formerly Twitter, page, Cleveland would say Allen would miss the next three games due to “right knee tendonitis.”

“Allen will be listed out for the Cavaliers’ upcoming three-game road trip due to right knee tendonitis,” the team said. “He suffered the injury during the second half of Cleveland’s March 3 game versus Detroit and has missed the last five games. He will continue treatment and rehabilitation, and will be updated on his return to play as appropriate.”

pic.twitter.com/LmxAtuTrLB

-Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) 16 March 2026

With Allen already missing time due to a knee injury, his last game was played on March 3, where Cleveland won 113–109 over the Detroit Pistons. The veteran center played 21 minutes in that game, recording eight points on four-of-seven shooting from the field with three rebounds.

With the news of missing the upcoming three-game road trip, Allen will miss his eighth consecutive game. So far this season, Allen is averaging 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 63.6 shooting from the field in his ninth year in the association.

At any rate, it remains to be seen when Allen is ready to return as the upcoming road trip begins on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, with a hoped-for return when the Cavs return home to take on the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, March 24. Cleveland currently holds a record of 41–27, placing them in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Washington D.C. – While his season is over, and his return to the basketball court is still a long way off, Jimmy Butler remains in good spirits as he begins the road to recovery. The Golden State Warriors star spoke to the media for the first time since suffering a season-ending ACL injury in his right knee in late January.

“It feels like I had ACL surgery five weeks ago,” Butler said while sitting at his locker. “Overall, I’m good. Happy.”

Butler’s words matched the condition of his knee.

With his legs spread, you can see the long scar on his swollen, surgically repaired right knee, which he recently had surgery on on February 9 – a visual indication that Butler is in the early stages of a long recovery process rehabilitating a torn ACL. And those first steps of rehabilitation have not been easy.

“[It’s been] “It’s hard not being with my guys. It’s hard not being able to play the game I love,” Butler said of his last five weeks. And are not able to travel. It is difficult, but rehabilitation is going on. “We’re doing what we need to do to get back on the timeline.”

But like Butler, the always positive and introspective man he was, he maintained perspective on his situation.

“It’s not all bad, I still tell people I’m an NBA player. So I’m happy with that,” Butler said before pointing to two-way players Nate Williams and Malevi Lyons, two lockers.

“There are still some amazing guys taking advantage of their opportunity, some guys are down. That was a time in my Chicago days. So I get very happy, and smile when I see guys playing well. And then, you know, I got my family, the kids were around. And then I knew I was working my way back toward something. So it all puts you in perspective.”

Warriors’ season after Jimmy Butler’s injury

Buttler had only recently been given permission to fly due to his knee condition deteriorating following surgery, so he made it a priority to rejoin the team amid a tough six-game trip, which was a much-needed morale boost for a team struggling to stay afloat.

Golden State has gone 7-16 since Butler tore his ACL on Jan. 19 against the Miami Heat. Shortly after Butler went down, Stephen Curry did the same, suffering patellofemoral pain syndrome and a knee injury. Without their two stars, the Warriors have dropped to ninth place in the West.

And with injuries to other players on their roster, the Portland Trail Blazers are in danger of falling even lower to 10th place as they fall behind. In New York, the Warriors were facing no more than $190 million in payroll, fielding a rotation that included three two-way players and one on 10-day contracts.

After the loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kerr said, “I remember we lost as well as any team.”

Butler’s recovery timeline

So, it is safe to say that the Warriors missed Butler a lot. But the timeline for when they’ll bring him back after he recovers from this latest injury remains to be seen.

When Butler was asked if he knew when he would be able to return, he said, “I want to come back.”

“We all know that. Obviously I can’t say when. [But] I can help my guys win some games as quickly as possible. But as you’ve probably heard me say a lot, whenever my body is ready, like this injury, for all other injuries, big, small, whenever my body is ready, I promise I’m going to try to get back out.

To get his knee back where it wants to be, Butler is attacking his rehab with a competitive edge, which is a very similar approach to Jimmy Butler’s approach to his recovery. Butler and his rehab team have a chart hanging on the wall with week-by-week goals. The goals are to bend the knee and bend it a certain number of degrees. His next goal at six weeks of rehab is to get rid of his crutches.

“So in a week, you can buy [my] Crutches,” Butler joked, pointing to one of the reporters sitting near his locker.

Charts have become Butler’s obsession in the best possible way. His livelihood was taken away in an instant. A livelihood in which competition was at the center of everything. So being able to frame his rehab like a competition allows Butler to maintain that aspect of his life.

“I see it all the time,” Butler said. “But at the same time, everything we do in rehab is about competition. You know, whether it’s today versus tomorrow. What are my numbers compared to other guys in the past. Don’t say any names, but it’s competition to see if you can be better than them. You can be better than you were yesterday. So it locks me in. Because I at least get a chance to compete that way.”

So while the scars on Butler’s knee are taking a toll on his body, his spirits remain intact. Whatever happens, as strong as ever.

“I’m just going to focus on myself and get back to being the best version of myself.”

The Miami Heat are preparing for the playoffs with 14 games remaining in the regular season, the two main goals being to avoid the play-in tournament and staying healthy. Following the Heat’s loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night with the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo has found himself on the injury report for the team’s upcoming game.

Tuesday’s road contest against the Charlotte Hornets (34-34) is undoubtedly big for Miami, as are the team’s next five games against teams with winning records. Those teams are the Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) on Thursday, the Houston Rockets (41-25) on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs (49-18) next Monday, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27, will face them twice next Wednesday and Friday).

However, Miami’s captain, Adebayo, has been added to the team’s injury report ahead of the clash against the Hornets, listed as “questionable” with right calf tightness.

The star is coming off possibly the best week of his career, which included a win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, which included Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, which became the second-highest scoring game ever in the NBA, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81.

Although there has been a polarizing reaction to the performance, no one can take away the history the 28-year-old has made, with the NBA obviously awarding him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. However, he is in danger of missing Tuesday’s game against the Hornets, a team that has a .500 record; They are 18-7 in their last 25 games.

Additionally, the competition has an impact on the former standings, as each game remaining in the regular season is against the Heat at 38–30, leaving them in seventh place in the conference. They’re a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors, who hold the sixth seed, with Miami in contention for at least that spot should they avoid the play-in tournament.

As Jayson Tatum recovered from his Achilles injury, every NBA superstar praised him. For Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, his reaction was no different.

That is his makeup. This is his DNA. That’s his perspective,” Booker said via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on X (formerly Twitter). “Someone I’ve looked up to for a really long time since he was in 6th and 7th grade.

“I’m watching him grow into a champion. What he’s accomplished at such a young age is inspiring, even if it’s small. I’m happy to see him back out there.”

When Tatum first came out with an injury, many thought he would not return for the season. But as time progressed, it began to look more likely that the Boston Celtics forward would make his season debut in 2025-26.

But a few weeks ago, he was watching the Celtics beat the Suns 97-81 on Feb. 24. Now, Tatum will face off against Phoenix for the first time all year.

Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum share mutual respect

Both players were part of the 2024 USA Basketball men’s national team that captured the gold medal. Although Tatum didn’t get a lot of playing time, being a part of a roster like this is quite an accomplishment.

Booker, meanwhile, was the unsung MVP for that team, and something that the Boston star could have been for an Olympic team one day.

Either way, the focus remains on the 2025-26 season, and where the Celtics have a legitimate chance to win the Eastern Conference and make a run for an NBA championship.

While Devin Booker sang his praises for Jayson Tatum’s Achilles recovery, Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott made jokes for the Boston Celtics forward.

“I wish he wasn’t playing,” Ott joked on Twitter (formerly Twitter), via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin.

Even with the jokes, Tatum’s recovery was almost unprecedented, as most people thought he would not play in the 2025–26 season. Nevertheless, he came back at a very promising time.

The Boston Celtics are in second place in the Eastern Conference and have done a great job without Tatum. Guys like Jaylen Brown have been in MVP conversations, as well as potential Sixth Man of the Year, Peyton Pritchard’s play has improved.

Those two, the rest of the team and head coach Joe Mazzulla have held down the fort since Tatum was out. Now, the latter is finding its groove on the floor.

Still, keeping the six-time All-Star on the field as a threat is an entirely different game plan. Obviously, the numbers aren’t there, as he continues to recover and get back to real game-speed. The efficiency is not there, but it is something that will come at the appropriate time.

For Ott, the game planning looks much different than it did for the first time when the Suns and Celtics faced off. The Duke basketball standout is a nightmare for both sides.

Very big for a guard, very fast for a forward, seems like a good fit. As Phoenix tries to even up the season series, Monday’s game could be history repeating itself or a potential upset.

While the outcome of playoff basketball will be determined by skill, depth and experience, the right seeding can work wonders, especially for a team that may need to take some breaks to reach the NBA Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off one of their most impressive wins of the season. All-Star Luka Doncic drained a game-winner with just 0.5 seconds on the clock in a 127-125 overtime win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, giving the Lakers a win over a group that many view as a true contender.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s current chemistry, but kept his focus on the bigger picture.

“Is ‘coalesces’ a word? Is it the right word? To come together? To gel together?”. Redick asked the media after the win. “I think it feels like we’re coming together pretty well right now. Still a long way to go, still a long way to go, but definitely optimistic.”

Regardless of where the team starts netting, the Lakers would love to secure the No. 3 seed ahead of the NBA Playoffs. This result could provide them with a manageable early matchup and delay a meeting with arguably the league’s most dangerous juggernaut.

Lakers should shoot for Timberwolves in first-round matchup

If the regular season ended today, the Lakers would face the Timberwolves in the first round of the postseason. While it’s possible the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, or even the Phoenix Suns could finish sixth in the Western Conference, seeing the Timberwolves finish in that spot would be Los Angeles’ dream scenario.

The Lakers went 3-0 against Minnesota this season and won two of those games with the team from La La Land winning by more than 10 points. From a statistical standpoint, there is reason to believe that their offense will pose a real challenge for the Timberwolves.

While the T-Wolves are a more effective team from behind the arc, Los Angeles boasts a better offensive rating as well as the NBA’s best free throw attempt rate. Even if shots aren’t falling, the Lakers will find their way to the charity stripe and add points.

Despite elite talent like Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Nazi Reed and Donte DiVincenzo, LeBron James, Austin Reeves and Doncic should be able to dominate the Timberwolves in the seven-game series, even if their weak 3-point shooting remains an issue.

Third seed will delay playoff date with Thunder

Redick and the Lakers might not want to get too ahead of themselves, but if they were to win a first-round matchup as the third seed in the West, they would not have to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Los Angeles has lost two games against the Thunder so far this season, and while the teams are set to play twice more before the tournament begins, the reality remains the same. If any team has to play the Thunder this postseason, they would likely prefer to do so in the later stages of the bracket. With the Western Conference Finals approaching, attrition could be a real factor for a team that also played late last season.

As the third seed, the Lakers’ likely second-round opponent will be the San Antonio Spurs, whom they have also struggled against this year. But the matchup with Victor Wembanyama is also more enjoyable than the matchup against Oklahoma City.

With 15 games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers appear to be finding their way. They have won eight of their last nine games, and after their thrilling win on Saturday, they are well aware of how important it will be to finish the season playing their best basketball.

“Obviously it’s a good win for us,” James told Khobi Price of the California Post. “but after [Saturday]We proceeded to a six-game roadie. We have to be prepared for this and it starts with Houston. In this league, it’s great to enjoy that moment, but when the next moment comes you have to move on.”

The Dallas Mavericks are currently looking towards their second consecutive season in the NBA lottery after their 2024 NBA Finals appearance. Things went pretty well for Dallas the last time he was there, as the team landed the number one overall pick Cooper Flagg, who is currently in the running with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Another former Duke player on the Dallas roster is point guard Kyrie Irving, who will miss this season recovering from ACL surgery.

In his absence, the Mavericks have predictably lost some games, but recently, Flagg revealed how Irving has taken on a leadership role despite being on the sidelines.

“He stepped in like a great vet for me and gave me guidance there because there were definitely times when I was shaken up,” Flagg said via Ron Harrod Jr. of the Dallas Mavs on Twitter, according to ESPN’s NBA Today. “I had never lost so much in my life. But to hear him say that and tell me that I’m doing everything I need to do and to just stick with it and stay positive, it definitely helped me a lot.”

Flagg became accustomed to winning during his time as a high school standout and college freshman star, but that has stopped in the NBA, as Dallas opted to blow things up at the trade deadline by trading Anthony Davis.

The expectation is that the Mavericks will be able to add a flag in this year’s lottery and another high-level talent to pair with a healthy Irving next year, creating a potential contender in the West.

Clearly, Irving is still finding ways to stay busy despite his struggles this season.

We’re officially less than a month away from the end of the 2025-26 regular season, and the door on the MVP race appears to be closing. While Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and others are trying to improve their resumes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on a collision course for his second consecutive MVP award.

Should the Oklahoma City Thunder star accomplish this feat and be named NBA MVP once again, he will join the list of greats to claim this award in back-to-back seasons (not including the ABA): Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

Will SGA become the 14th player to win consecutive MVP awards? After breaking Wilt’s record on Thursday, he’s on track to do so.

After recording 35 points in a 104–102 win over the Boston Celtics, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 127th consecutive game with 20-plus points, surpassing Chamberlain’s record of 126 games for most consecutive 20-plus point games in NBA history.

This is a historic accomplishment for the SGA, and it’s one of those records that you look at and wonder if anyone will ever surpass this mark again.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of SGA’s historic success, “Number one, he’s skilled at his craft. There’s no one more precise than him at his craft.” “Number two, the entire life of the streak hasn’t stopped us from having a lot of success on the team and hasn’t stopped his teammates from being successful. An individual streak about scoring hasn’t come at the expense of the team or his teammates.

“He treats everyone in the building with respect from top to bottom. So, he’s obviously a great basketball player, but he’s such a guy that you couldn’t be happier when he accomplishes something like this. So, huge congratulations to him.”

The Thunder have looked like the team to beat over the final few weeks of the regular season, and Gilgeous-Alexander continues to take his game to new heights. Whenever you’re mentioned alongside Wilt, you’re doing something right, and in Gilgeous-Alexander’s case, it could be enough for him to claim the MVP award once again.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 31.6 points, 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 54.9 FG%, 38.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to perform well since missing his 12th game of the season on March 3. Over his last three games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 28.6 points, 9.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Thunder currently find themselves on an eight-game win streak, and despite Jalen Williams still being out and others missing games due to various injuries, Gilgeous-Alexander is finding ways to get everyone involved.

He has recorded at least eight assists in four of his last five games, including a season-high 15 assists in a 129–126 win over the Denver Nuggets, a game in which Shai hit two big shots late in the game, including the game-winning three with 3.3 seconds remaining.

Shai is playing like the best player in the league right now, and barring some major incidents, he will win the 2025-26 MVP award.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 52 games, 28.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 57.3 FG%, 38.8 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

Although the Denver Nuggets have been inconsistent recently, Nikola Jokic has been on the heater. Last week, he averaged 25.8 points, 15.5 rebounds, 13.0 assists and 3.3 steals per game, while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor.

Not to mention, Jokic recorded four consecutive triple-doubles, marking the third time this season that he has had four consecutive games with a triple-double. This season, Jokic has 27 triple-doubles in 52 games, which is 15 more such games than Jalen Johnson (12).

While it has been an MVP-like season for Jokic, his 16 missed games due to a knee injury and the Nuggets’ inconsistent play in the stretch run of the season have surrendered the MVP race to Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Jokic can pass Thunder guards at this speed without suffering any injury.

3. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 52 games, 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 50.7 FG%, 36.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 3 more games to remain eligible.

Of all the MVP candidates this year, Victor Vembanyama may have an outside chance of reaching SGA and possibly impacting some first-place votes. That’s because the San Antonio Spurs are 3.5 games behind the Thunder for the top spot in the Western Conference, and they hold the season tiebreaker over Gilgeous-Alexander’s team.

As far as Wemby’s numbers are concerned, he has increased his efficiency and accepted the challenge of competing for the MVP award.

“Right now, I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well,” Wembanyama told Amazon Prime Crew after Saturday’s 115-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets. “So, I’m just trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and perform for my team.”

You have to admire the passion and struggle of the 22-year-old superstar. This season isn’t over yet, and with the Spurs having an outside chance to claim the 1-seed over Oklahoma City, Wembey’s MVP dreams are still alive.

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 60 games, 24.9 points, 10.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.1 FG%, 34.7 3P%

Can Cade Cunningham surpass Nikola Jokic in assists this year and win his first assist title? Currently, Cunningham leads the league in total assists (603) by a wide margin, but his 10.1 assists per game average still trails Jokic’s 10.5 assists per game.

However, Cunningham has shown some strides recently, averaging 11.9 assists over his last eight contests. Over this span, the Detroit Pistons guard has tallied six double-doubles, bringing his total double-doubles on the season to 37, which is the fourth most double-doubles in the league.

The Pistons remain the top team in the Eastern Conference standings, and Cunningham is the driving force behind their success. Don’t be surprised if he gets some first- and second-place votes for MVP this year. Still, he won’t get enough money to overtake Gilgeous-Alexander.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #6

2025-26 season stats: 55 games, 32.8 points, 8.5 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

Luka Doncic is back in the top five of the NBA MVP rankings after briefly falling behind Jaylen Brown. The main reason they’ve taken over the No. 5 spot and could potentially jump higher between now and the end of the year is the Los Angeles Lakers’ surge in the standings at season’s end.

Los Angeles has won five straight games and eight of the last nine games overall to momentarily take over the sole possession of the third seed in the Western Conference. As far as Doncic’s MVP campaign goes, he has had his fingerprints on the Lakers’ success, averaging 33.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game during a nine-game span for the Lakers.

Doncic has had incredible performances recently, scoring at least 30 points in five straight games, and that includes two noteworthy performances. The first was a 51-point game with nine triples made against the Bulls on Thursday, and he followed that with a 30-11-13 game with game-winning shots in overtime against Jokic and the Nuggets.

There’s no denying Luka’s dominance at the moment, which is why he’s back in the top five of the NBA MVP rankings. If his and the Lakers’ success continues into the final weeks of the regular season, there’s a chance they can continue to make a run in this race.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 5 last week]

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 7 last week]

8. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 10 last week]

9. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers [Unranked last week]

10. Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks [Unranked last week]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

Recently, the Miami Heat were the center of the basketball world when center Bam Adebayo had an incredible 83-point game against the Washington Wizards, giving them the second highest scoring game in league history. The game predictably sparked discussion about how “ethical” Adebayo and the Heat’s methods were, but it was still a historic accomplishment for Miami’s longtime defensive anchor.

On Monday, the NBA announced its players of the week for the past seven days, and to no one’s surprise, Adebayo took home the honor for the Eastern Conference, as league insider Mark Stein, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic won the award for the Western Conference.

While Adebayo is a multi-time All-Star and has had good scoring nights, few could have predicted that he would be the player to challenge, let alone break, Kobe Bryant’s mark of 81 points for the second-highest scoring game in league history. Adebayo now trails only Wilt Chamberlain in scoring 100 points in a game.

Meanwhile, the Heat are looking to bounce back after their seven-game winning streak was recently snapped by the Orlando Magic. The Heat and Magic are in a race to see who can clinch the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, with Orlando currently having a slight edge in that department, and a winning streak of their own.

While Miami certainly isn’t counting on Adebayo to break records on a nightly basis, the game against Washington was a great showcase of what an elite scorer he can be when he puts his mind to it, especially when a common criticism of the star has been his lack of aggression at times throughout his career.

The Heat next take the field on Tuesday evening for an important game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Kawhi Leonard has been the best version of himself this season, scoring career-highs while being his usual, efficient self all over the court. But the LA Clippers star may miss out on NBA awards this season.

Named an NBA All-Star for the seventh time in his NBA career, Leonard has averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 53 games this season. He missed only 14 games this season, 10 of which came in November due to a sprained right ankle.

Leonard has unfortunately been ruled out of Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, which will be his 15th game this season. This means Leonard can only miss two more games before becoming ineligible for season-ending NBA awards.

As things stand, Kawhi Leonard is set to make an All-NBA team as well as an All-Defensive team, but missing two more games would put him on the list of stars who are already ineligible to join those teams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Stephen Curry are all among the players who are not eligible to win awards at season’s end, and several others are not far behind them.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic cannot miss any more games or he will be ineligible to win. Both Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic can miss only five more games before they are no longer eligible. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has played in 52 of the Spurs’ 67 games so far, leaving them with only two games of qualification left.

Last week, Kawhi Leonard reported what would allow him to have a career-year in his 14th season.

“The guy up there and I are just able to play the game,” the Clippers star explained to ClutchPoints. “The offseason was good for me, I was able to just work. Just praising him, work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better at the game. Not worrying about the outcome. Whether it’s working on my shot, handle or passing, just being aggressive and making mistakes.”

The Clippers only have 15 games remaining this season, including two back-to-back sets. Leonard has played nine back-to-back sets already this season, displaying a level of confidence in his health that the Clippers medical staff may not have seen in years past.

Monday night’s game between the LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PST on NBC.

The Chicago Bulls’ two big trade deadline acquisitions in Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simmons have been hampered by injury issues. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, both players are currently sidelined, and recently received updates regarding their recovery timelines.

Afnery Simmons is dealing with a left wrist injury and will be reevaluated in 10 days. Jaden Ivey has a left knee injury and is expected to be reevaluated in a week. Since the trade, Simmons has been limited to only six games and Ivey has appeared in only four games.

Both players are in the final year of their current contracts, with Simmons headed to unrestricted free agency and Ivy headed to restricted free agency.

Simmons has appeared in six games with the Bulls, including four starts, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists with splits of 43.8 percent shooting from the field, 32 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 100 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Ivey appeared in four games with the Bulls, including three starts, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals with splits of 41.7 percent shooting from the field, 38.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 88.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Bulls are currently 27-40 and are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They have lost two consecutive games heading into Monday’s match against the Toronto Raptors. They are six and a half games behind the No. 10 Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in spot, which is an unexpected reality.

Since its inception in 1946, the NBA has a rich and storied history in which countless stars have left their mark. LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is on his way to making history as he tries to lead his team out of the depths of the Western Conference standings and into the NBA Playoffs.

Behind the herculean efforts of Leonard, the Clippers are back in the playoff race this season, and now sit at 34-33 on the season. But it wasn’t long before things were looking grim, with just a 6-21 record, no draft selection to look forward to, and an aging roster that seemed to get even older before their eyes.

now in His 14th season in the NBAKawhi Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 53 games this season. This is the first time in NBA history that a player has averaged a career-high in points per game at the end of his NBA career.

Former LA Clippers guard Lou Williams became the first player in NBA history to average 20_ points in his 13th season or later. Williams became the second player in NBA history to have the highest career scoring average in his 13th season, joining Chauncey Billups.

Leonard has now passed both, and has done so while shooting 50.1 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 89.7 percent from the free throw line.

What has been the key to his success so far in his NBA career?

“The guy up there and I are just able to play the game,” Kawhi Leonard told ClutchPoints. “The offseason was good for me, I was able to just work. Just praising him, work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better at the game. Not worrying about the outcome. Whether it’s working on my shot, handle or passing, just being aggressive and making mistakes.”

On Saturday night, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in the Clippers’ home loss to the Sacramento Kings. This marked the 45th consecutive game that Leonard scored at least 20 points in a game, surpassing Bob McAdoo for most consecutive 20-point games in Clippers franchise history.

The 20-point streak now ranks 24th, equaling Tracy McGrady and Karl Malone’s streak of 45 consecutive games of 20+ points. Leonard’s streak at 128 is the second-longest active streak in the NBA behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recently surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of 126 consecutive games.

“It’s amazing,” Leonard said of making Clippers history. “Thank God I was able to play consistently this year and interact with the great players of the game.

“Just being on the floor and being able to play basketball is always great. In the NBA you go through a lot of ups and downs, either it’s a bad game, missing a shot, getting sick, or the team failing, and then the peak. It’s great to be able to interact with great guys like him.”

Leonard sprained his left ankle in Saturday night’s loss to the Kings, causing him to leave the game in the fourth quarter and exit early. He is listed as “doubtful” to play in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, but he is likely to receive round-the-clock treatment and try to warm up before his status for the game is determined.

If he misses the game, it would be the 15th game missed by Kawhi Leonard this season, putting him close to the 17-game mark, which would eliminate him from eligibility for season-end NBA awards such as All-NBA Teams, All-Defensive Teams and MVP consideration.

BOSTON – After the Boston Celtics won Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, it seemed as if they were on the verge of basketball immortality. But, according to ex-Celtic and current San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla did not behave as if this was the case.

Instead, he played down the big win in the locker room and told his players via “The White Noise Podcast” that they weren’t done.

“We won that game in Dallas and went 3-0, which is a really big moment,” Kornett recalled on a podcast run by former teammate and Celtics guard Derrick White. “So, we’re back in the locker room and everybody’s so excited and excited, and Joe came in and said something like, ‘Why are we celebrating? We haven’t really accomplished anything.'”

Kornet, White and the rest of the Celtics were soon reminded of this fact, as the Mavericks beat them in Game 4 during a 122–94 loss in Dallas.

After this disappointing defeat, which Kornet described as the Celtics’ “defeat by a billion”, Mazzulla approached his players with humility.

“At some point after that game, he apologized, acknowledging that he completely dampened the emotion in the room after Game 3 and that going up 3-0 is a very important part of trying to accomplish what we wanted to accomplish,” Cornette said.

The Celtics were excited after going 3–0 in the Finals, but Joe Mazzulla said they had accomplished nothing.

When Boston lost Game 4, he apologized to the team:

“It means a lot to me in terms of being able to recognize that you made a mistake,” Luke Cornett said. pic.twitter.com/ZaT2cXnK20

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 16 March 2026

While Cornette could regale White with many funny, larger-than-life stories about Mazzulla, he said this memory with his former captain was one of his favorite memories.

Cornette said of Mazzulla’s apology, “I think it means a lot to me, in terms of being able to recognize that you made a mistake.” “I think what’s great about Joe is he’s willing to trust the process and the timing of things and the players.”

Mazzulla’s words likely resonated with the rest of the Celtics, too, as they suppressed the Mavericks in Game 5 at TD Garden en route to their first championship in 15 years.

That title established Cornette and White as true winners, and it certainly helped the former ink a four-year, $40.7 million contract with the Spurs last summer.

When asked what he missed most about his reliable, 7-foot center in January, Mazzulla didn’t mention anything basketball-related.

“The biggest thing that stands out about Luke is that I miss going to Mass with him,” Mazzulla said before the Celtics’ 100-95 loss at home to the Spurs. “We used to go to church across the street.”

Joe Mazzulla on Luke Cornette and what he brings to Boston:

“I miss going to prayer meetings with him.” pic.twitter.com/nolWkFsHqx

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 10 January 2026

Although Mazzulla’s bizarre (and often hilarious) quotes make headlines, it is his strong relationships with his players that truly define him. He also explains why he’s in the running for Coach of the Year and explains how the 2025-26 Celtics, who were expected to stumble, are 44-23 heading into Tuesday night’s showdown with the Phoenix Suns.

“It’s funny when people say [Mazzulla’s] “Crazy, and I think he’s the smartest guy I’ve ever met,” Cornette said, laughing.

San Antonio Spurs fans have become accustomed to seeing Victor Wembanyama lay down some of the toughest hits on defenders in the NBA. However, the same seems to be true for his teammates, with Luke Kornet revealing a hilarious story about a specific practice dunk that caused him to struggle.

According to a post on X by ClutchPoints, the 30-year-old revealed that in September, he was making a lot of ‘handoffs’ to shooters during practice, which led to a block he was particularly proud of.

Luke Cornette going up against Wembley in practice 🤣👽

“September was a tough month… There was a transition period, Steph Castle was driving, it was him and Vic… Steph just threw it off the backboard… I was told he made it.”

(via @whitenoisepod_)pic.twitter.com/S1u61B0OrY

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 16 March 2026

He revealed, “We were playing pickup games in the gym four days a week. I was making a lot of handoffs to shooters throughout the month of September because I felt like that was the only way I could get something done. I made a block that was unbelievable, coming from the three-point line, coming forward and I think was closing something down.”

However, the second time, Wembley simply looked down as Stephen Cassel towered over him to throw down a dunk.

“There was a time in transition, Steph Castle was driving, it was him and Vic, two-on-one against me, already no good places to be. Steph just threw it off the backboard, and then it was just like I was told he made it,” Cornette said.

Of course, fans wouldn’t be surprised to see Wembanyama create similar moments during games. After a difficult previous campaign that was interrupted by injuries, Vembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and three blocks per game while shooting over 50% overall and 36% from beyond the arc.

He has already surpassed last year’s total of 46 games, playing in 52 games this season, including 43 starts. Wembanyama’s form has helped San Antonio improve from their 34-48 record last season (13th in the West) to finish second in the conference this year, having already achieved 49 wins on the season.

Therefore, there is no doubt that fans and Cornet himself will hope that Vembanyama continues in the same vein.

Donovan Mitchell scored a hat trick Sunday, achieving career, season and Cleveland Cavaliers team milestones in a single game.

Just three minutes into the first quarter, facing the Dallas Mavericks, he drained his 200th three-pointer of the season. The 2025–26 campaign marks the fourth time Mitchell has beaten at least that many in a season.

At the 8:45 mark of the third, on a pass from backcourt partner James Harden, Mitchell drilled another trey from 25 feet on the left wing to surpass the 15,000 mark.

Mitchell is the fifth NBA player to reach 15K since entering the league in 2017. Since that time, only Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have accomplished the feat. According to Stathead, he is also the 35th player in NBA history to record 15,000 points in his first nine seasons.

Then, in the final frame, Mitchell recorded a 20-point game for the 193rd time, and in the process passed franchise legend Mark Price for sixth-most all-time in Cavs history. He needs only four more to make the jump to World B. Free to make the top five (196).

It has been a remarkable year for Mitchell in many ways, which deserves much praise.

New-look Cavs going through tough first stretch together

The Cavs are 4-5 in their last nine games, having been swept by the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

It is the first time that this version of the team has run into issues, after Mitchell, the returning Max Strus and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson described the Mavs as a “bad loss.”

“I’m not going to use the word concern,” Mitchell said. “I think it’s something that we have 12 games to fix and move on from there. With the current structure of the group we haven’t had this, really any, adversity. So how do we handle it, right? Like, two tough losses defensively, that really hurt us. We go back and watch film. We’re going to have an important trip, and then when we come back. We’ll have some home games, right?

“That’s going to be the biggest thing. It’s not always going to happen… We would love to go out there and win these games, but you learn more through these losses, and use it to improve and get better.”

On Sunday evening, the Golden State Warriors’ losing streak continued with a narrow road loss at the hands of the New York Knicks. The Warriors put in an admirable effort in this game, sidelining Stephen Curry and several other key players, but ultimately, they gave up a 21-point lead and suffered a tough loss.

At one point in the second quarter, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr yelled at rookie Will Richard after he was unable to block an overthrow pass from Brandin Podzimski on a fast break, leading to a turnover.

After the game, Kerr explained what he was thinking during that moment, and also expressed regret for his anger.

“It was a bad pass from BP. BP should have made a nice pass and Will should have dunked. Turned into a 5-point swing. I was angry at Will because I thought he could have turned the ball over and not made the throw. I thought he was trying to make a round-the-back pass for a score. I’m not sure, I could be wrong,” Kerr said, according to @jinttherty on Twitter. Said.

He said, “…I regret losing my composure there a bit because it’s my job to keep players forward, especially without so many players. That’s a big part of winning games like this. Making good decisions, understanding how valuable the ball is.”

It was indeed a bizarre scene, considering that the turnover originated from Podziemski’s pass, and there was nothing wrong done on Richard’s part.

Overall, the Warriors are currently 32-35 on the season, and have moved into a situation where they must win two elimination games to make the playoffs when the postseason begins today.

The Warriors next play against the Washington Wizards on Monday evening.

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant are two of the greatest players of all time. Although both players are nearing the end of their careers, both are still playing at a high level. And when it comes to the debate over which player had the better career peak, NBA media personality Bill Simmons leans 55-45 toward Leonard.

During a recent episode of ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ as a guest of former NBA player and current analyst Tim Legler, Simmons explained why he’s leaning toward picking Kawhi Leonard over Kevin Durant as far as extremes go.

“If you’re talking about pure talented forwards in this century, LeBron is in first place. It’s probably him [Kawhi] For that second forward spot versus KD,” Simmons said. “In terms of pure talent, if I had an extreme version of either of these guys for a season, which one would you want, there’s a pretty good argument. . .It could be 55-45 towards Kawhi, that I would lean.

Durant is in his 18th season in the NBA while Leonard is in his 14th season. When it comes to accolades, Leonard has made six All-NBA teams, while Durant has made 11 All-NBA teams. Durant has one MVP award while Leonard has two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Leonard has seven All-Star appearances and Durant has 16 All-Star nominations.

Both players have two championships each along with two Finals MVP awards. It’s an interesting debate, but it’s certain that both are future Hall of Famers.

Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals this season, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from the 3-point line and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Durant is averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from the 3-point line and 88.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Despite the New York Knicks defeating the underdog Golden State Warriors 110-107 on Sunday, there are some who are concerned about the close result due to the opponent missing key players like Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and others. As serendipitous as some may find the Knicks’ win over the Warriors to be, some are disappointed, such as Stephen A. Smith, who explained how the recent struggles are Jalen Brunson’s fault.

While some may hear this and react angrily, it’s not because it involves his impact on the court, which can’t be denied as he scored 30 points on Sunday, but it has to do with Mikal Bridges. There’s no denying how disappointing Bridges has been, especially in the last six games, with scores in single digits in five of them.

Smith would say Brunson was the reason New York made the trade for Bridges in the first place, which led to a massive return, including the team giving up four first-round selections, which did not pan out.

“Why did they do that? They did that because, instead of waiting a year and signing a five-year, max $270 million extension, Jalen Brunson signed a four-year, $156 million extension a year ago, giving the New York Knicks $113 million in free space around that cap. So what do the New York Knicks do? Obviously, he saves them that kind of money. He did it so they could take his guy,” Smith continued.

“The person I’m blaming most for all of this is Jalen Brunson… I had the Knicks going to the Finals… and the reason for that is if Mikal Bridges continues to look like he’s looking, this is going to turn out to be a terrible trade.”

-Stephen A. smithpic.twitter.com/6Jmuzb1985

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 16 March 2026

While Smith further states that Bridges is no “scrub”, he believes that the move to acquire Bridges and what New York gave up has put a “handicap” on the Knicks.

Smith said, “You can’t let your organization sacrifice so much to get a guy that will ultimately keep you from building a roster that can compete for championships.”

At any rate, New York is 44-25, leaving them in third place in the Eastern Conference with their next game against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

MIAMI – The Miami Heat lost 121-117 to the Orlando Magic for the fifth time this season on Saturday night, pushing them back in the Eastern Conference standings, with the team looking to avoid the play-in tournament. Since this is the right time for the Heat with the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro from injury, Adebayo will talk about the upcoming program.

Miami has finished in the play-in tournament the past three seasons, meaning they have finished anywhere between the seventh and 10th seeds, competing with other teams for the final two playoff spots in the East. The team has four weeks left in the regular season to solidify a spot in the postseason, but these next six games will undoubtedly be a “gauntlet,” as Adebayo said.

Bam Adebayo is taking advantage of two off days as he and the Heat have had a grueling schedule recently: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/nReVZySlR0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Looking at the next six games, it includes four teams with winning records, except for the Charlotte Hornets, who they will face on Tuesday, who are 34-34 but have been one of the hottest teams in the league recently, going 18-6 in their last 25 games.

After hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) on Thursday, Miami will travel to face the Houston Rockets (41-25) on Saturday to close out the week. The following week, the San Antonio Spurs (49–18) came to Miami, the team concluded the week with two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers (41–27).

Where the heat had to be endured on Saturday, it will have to be changed

While the Heat are focused on Adebayo scoring a historic 83 points, as well as continuing a seven-game winning streak prior to the Magic’s loss, the team is now focused on impressing in the toughest stretch of the season. Apart from the offensive side of the ball, it all starts with the defense for the team, which was a disappointing aspect on Saturday.

Orlando came out and scored 41 points in the first quarter, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field, and while Miami got close at the end after being down by 22 points, it was too late. At any rate, Miami looks to bounce back against the Hornets on Tuesday as they are 38-30, leaving them in seventh place in the East.

The Atlanta Hawks are arguably one of the hottest teams in the league as they are on a nine-game winning streak, and they are trying to make it 10 games against the Orlando Magic. This trend began when C.J. McCollum was inserted into the starting lineup for Zachary Rishachar, as statistics showed that the Hawks were a better team when he played with the other four starters of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.

Those stats are still proving true, and it doesn’t look like McCollum will be going back to the bench any time soon. After his win against the Milwaukee Bucks, McCollum was asked if he would like to be the starter.

“For me, this is what the team needs,” McCullum told reporters. “I think the money comes on time every two weeks, regardless. That’s always helpful, but historically, I’ve been a starter, but I’m comfortable filling whatever role is necessary for us as long as we’re competing for something. That’s what’s really important to me: winning basketball and competing for something right now. That’s what they want me to do, and when your boss tells you something, you’ve got to do that.”

McCallum’s move into the starting lineup hasn’t affected the way the Hawks play, and if anything, it’s made them better. Jalen Johnson has been able to continue producing at a high level with McCollum in the lineup.

“Some of the lineups may look different, but CJ has been a great vet and he understands the game at a high level,” Johnson said. “So having him on the court with us, he just shows us little signs and things where we can be effective, and I think he’s done a great job leading our group.”

The Hawks needed a vet like McCallum on their team, as they were one of the younger teams in the league when the season began. McCollum has made big shots in postseason basketball and played with some of the game’s stars. His presence will only make the Hawks better, especially at this point in the season.

The Hawks are currently trying to climb the Eastern Conference standings, but despite their winning streak they haven’t made much of a splash. At this point, all they can do is control what they can and hope that the teams above them start falling away.

The Dallas Mavericks had a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first game in a row, and it’s almost like they controlled the game from start to finish. They will now face off against the New Orleans Pelicans, who have found new life following the return of Dejounte Murray, but like the Mavericks, are still near the bottom of the Western Conference.

Before the game, there were reports of some Mavericks players being injured. Klay Thompson is listed as questionable due to rest, and Daniel Gafford is doubtful with an illness.

Thompson missed two games last week due to rest, and it’s clear they want to give him as much time as possible to feel right to come back. In the same breath, the Mavericks will be playing tanking games, giving youngsters a chance to take some of those minutes.

As for Gafford, he has missed the last two games for the Mavericks and looks like he is on the verge of missing his third game in a row. With Gafford out, PJ Washington has taken over the center role, and he has done a good job in the role. Against the Cavs, he finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

It doesn’t seem like the Mavericks are trying to make this season completely pointless, and the goal seems to be to build good habits. They’re doing so while also being able to watch the development of young players like Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks were able to hold down the No. 1 spot last season, and depending on where they finish at the end of the season, they have a good chance to do so again.

The matchup against the Pelicans will mean a lot to both teams, as they are right next to each other in the West standings.

The Portland Trail Blazers will look to bounce back against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday after Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They may be without backup center Robert Williams during the second night of a back-to-back.

Williams is questionable for the game with Brooklyn because of a left knee injury. The veteran center has been nursing his left knee since undergoing surgery last March and has missed the start of this season.

However, Williams has played his best basketball of the season recently. The 28-year-old has averaged 10.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks on 66.7 percent shooting in 21.1 minutes per game over his last seven appearances.

He posted six points, 12 rebounds and three blocks on 3-of-5 shooting in 20 minutes during Sunday’s 109-103 loss to the 76ers.

Robert Williams questionable for Nets matchup as Trail Blazers fight for play-in position

Williams’ presence on Monday will give the Trail Blazers a significant advantage against a Nets team with only one available center. Nick Claxton is available for Brooklyn after missing Saturday’s loss at Philadelphia due to rest. However, Deron Sharp has been ruled out for the season, leaving the team without a traditional center on the second unit.

The Trail Blazers are fighting for a spot in the Western Conference play-in race. They are 10th at 3-5, half a game behind the ninth-place Golden State Warriors.

Meanwhile, the Nets have lost three in a row while moving to a more aggressive tank after back-to-back wins over the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies. Brooklyn will be without Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Noah Clowney (rest), Terrence Mann (left Achilles soreness), Igor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) and Sharp (left thumb UCL tear) on Monday.

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA in recent months, suddenly turning themselves into a capable basketball team that is consistently winning. While the Hornets are still in tenth place in the East, due to some better basketball from the teams ahead of them, it is still an encouraging sign for the organization.

Hornets fans have become accustomed to the high-energy announcing style of play-by-play commentator Eric Collins, whose playcalling is more akin to a WWE event than a typical NBA game, and most recently, the viral sensation stopped by FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show and broke down where he gets his energy.

“I’m not a caffeine person… it all comes out naturally. … I’ll go see a scary movie and I’ll jump because that’s where my body is… I’m a jumpy person right from the start,” Collins, formerly of Run It Back on X, said on Twitter.

Collins’ high-octane announcing style may be an acquired taste, but in an NBA media landscape that increasingly wants to criticize the product it’s supposed to be promoting, his enthusiasm has certainly been a breath of fresh air for some. He has also started calling some national games for Prime this year in addition to his local Hornets duties.

The Hornets are hoping to reach the playoffs this year for the first time in a decade, and LaMelo Ball’s resurgence, coupled with Kon Nueppel’s Rookie of the Year-caliber season, has been a big reason. Head coach Charles Lee also deserves credit for turning a team that was once a laughing stock into a competitive team.

The Hornets next play on Tuesday at home against the Miami Heat.

On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their fourth consecutive loss with a road loss against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although it did not immediately derail, the Timberwolves ultimately could not keep up with their 2025 Western Conference Finals opponents, and their freefall in the playoff standings continued.

One positive side of this game was that power forward Julius Randle was able to bounce back from a recent poor shooting slump, shooting an impressive 11-18 from the field after a recent game against the Golden State Warriors in which he had to sit on the bench.

Before the game on Sunday, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch explained how he planned to help Randle get back on track.

According to John Krawzinski of The Athletic, Finch said, “I’ve got to direct the ball more to the spots where he’s really good.” “I think we’ve gone away from that at times. I think that will definitely help him. Also, we’ll have to be a little more open-minded to each other. I think that will help, too.”

After the game, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who spent a relatively quiet afternoon in Oklahoma City, talked about the silver lining of Randle’s bounce-back effort.

“It was a lot of fun to watch,” Edwards said. “We were just trying to get it to him as much as possible. He found his rhythm tonight, and hopefully that continues.”

Randall himself also talked about the relief he felt at being out of the recession.

“It definitely felt good to see the ball go in a little bit more today,” Randle said. “Just stay focused and consistent.”

If the Timberwolves want to continue their streak of deep playoff runs, and maybe even make it this far, Randle will have to step up his game.

The Timberwolves next play on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

On Sunday evening, the New York Knicks picked up a narrow home win over the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden. It was the first game at home for the Knicks after a recent long trip to the West Coast, and at one point the team found itself trailing by 21 points against a Warriors team playing without Stephen Curry and several others, before eventually rallying to win.

Still, it wasn’t exactly an encouraging performance for a Knicks team that has been slipping as of late, and recently, ESPN sports media personality and renowned New York fan Stephen A. Smith expressed his concern with the team.

“I’m sick. … I had the New York Knicks to go to the Finals. I sure don’t have that now,” Smith said, according to First Take on X, formerly Twitter.

In fact, many analysts projected the Knicks to be a Finals-level team this season. However, the emergence of the Detroit Pistons, who have swept New York in their contests so far this year, as well as the surprising play of the Boston Celtics, who are second in the East and recently brought Jayson Tatum back from his Achilles injury, have undermined those plans, and now, the Knicks are as low as fourth in the East in terms of chances to make the Finals.

New York struggled during their recent road trip, losing badly to both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, and had to struggle mightily to defeat the weak Utah Jazz.

The Knicks will be looking to turn things around in the final month of the regular season to reach the playoffs while playing their best basketball and not the slump they are currently facing.

The Golden State Warriors have gone through a tough stretch during this part of the season as injuries have plagued them. One significant injury is Stephen Curry, who has missed time since the All-Star break due to a knee problem.

Curry has suffered a few more injuries than usual recently, and some will think that is a sign that someone is close to retiring from the game. As far as the Warriors star is concerned, he isn’t even thinking about leaving anytime soon. He was recently asked when he’d know it was time to hang up the jersey.

“I think your body comes first,” Curry said, via The Athletic. “What it takes to prepare for a game is very different now than it was a decade ago… All the work is worth it because I get to go out there and jump at the highest level. The competition, the camaraderie, chasing something that matters – that’s still what drives me to keep going. And I don’t think it’s going to stop anytime soon.”

Steph Curry says he’s not planning to retire anytime soon, though his body will ultimately decide

“I think your body comes first. What it takes to get ready for a game is very different now than it was a decade ago… All the work is worth it because I get to go out… pic.twitter.com/T9EUYiMp5i

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 16 March 2026

There’s no doubt that Curry still loves the game of basketball, and he’s still giving it his all. Plus, the way he was playing before the injury should tell the whole story: Curry has a lot left in the tank.

Warriors fans should be excited that Curry doesn’t have retirement in mind, and basketball fans should feel the same. One of the best point guards to play the game, it will be a sad day when he decides to call it quits.

The only thing is that the Warriors need to get him back on the court as soon as possible to have a chance to make the playoffs. The Warriors are believed to be evaluated over the weekend, and he could make a return sometime next week.

The NBA is set to vote during its Board of Governors meeting later this month to consider adding two expansion teams to the league in Las Vegas and Seattle. Both teams will begin play during the 2028–2029 season.

There’s a good chance the proposal is agreed to, meaning there will be a conference realignment when it comes to other teams. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, there are already two teams being mentioned as possible options to move to the Eastern Conference.

Charania wrote, “NBA officials expect that either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies will move East and realign the conferences with a 16-16 conference, when Seattle and Las Vegas become Western teams.”

It makes perfect sense to move the Grizzlies to the Eastern Conference, simply because they are already on this side of the field. They’re a team that belongs in the Western Conference, but is nowhere near the West. This would be a good sign for them to relocate to the East, as they would not have to travel far all the time, as they always have to do.

As far as the Timberwolves are concerned, this seems like another good option to head east, as they are more in the northeastern region of the US.

It will be interesting to see what the league agrees to, but first, the vote must be in favor of adding expansion teams. This could be a major win for the league, as industry executives have presented offers in the range of $7–10 billion for each team, and it is estimated that the Las Vegas and Seattle markets will be part of the NBA’s top eight revenue generators.

Following the first vote, there will be a possible final vote at the end of the year to finalize the transaction for the 32 teams. 23 out of 30 governors will have to vote in favor in both voting rounds.

The Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night and Alpern Sengun is once again at the center of the injury report. The Rockets have listed Sengun as questionable due to lower back soreness, putting Houston’s All-Star center in focus as the team looks to win back-to-back games.

The Rockets enter the matchup at 41-25, which is good for No. 4 in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers sit at 42-25, ranked No. 3 in the West, and are aiming to extend a five-game winning streak. With both teams firmly in the playoff race, Seungun’s availability could play a major role in shaping the outcome of the matchup.

Sengun has been a cornerstone of Houston’s offense this season. Through 58 games, he is averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. He also contributed 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, highlighting his impact on both ends of the floor. His ability to facilitate attacks from the post while scoring efficiently has made him one of the most versatile center backs in the league.

When the Sengun is available, the Rockets operate aggressively with more rhythm. His game internally allows Houston to run through multiple options on offense while keeping the defense guessing.

alperen sengun injury status vs lakers

Several other names are included on the Rockets’ injury report. Steven Adams is out after surgery on his left ankle. Fred VanVleet is also out after a right knee ACL repair. Ja’Sean Tate is out with a right knee sprain, while JD Davison is out on two-way assignment.

For the Lakers, the injury report lists Maxi Kleber out with a back strain.

Still, Seungun’s status remains the biggest story in this matchup. Houston hopes to maintain its momentum near the top of the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Lakers will look to extend their winning streak and strengthen their playoff position.

So when the question comes whether Alperen Sengun is playing against the Lakers tonight, the answer is uncertain. His final status will depend on pregame evaluation as Houston looks for another win.

Just before the 2026 Oscars ceremony, the New York Knicks greeted superfan Timothée Chalamet by honoring his new film, Marty Supreme.

The Knicks took to social media to post a photo of Karl-Anthony Towns in a Marty Supreme jacket ahead of the 2026 Oscars, and captioned it, “Sunday reminder to believe in yourself.” [Oscars]”

sunday reminds to believe in yourself #Oscar pic.twitter.com/9H8XmwxQMJ

– New York Knicks (@nyknicks) 15 March 2026

While self-confidence is important, it didn’t work for Chalamet and the Marty Supreme crew at the Oscars. Meanwhile, on Sunday, March 15, the Knicks defeated the Golden State Warriors.

While Nicks was the winner, Timothée Chalamet and the Marty Supreme Crew lost at the Oscars

At the same time at the 2026 Oscars, the Knicks were coming off a comeback against the Warriors. They finished the first quarter down by 15 points, and were down nine points at halftime.

Despite this adversity, the Knicks were able to move forward. They defeated the Warriors by three points for their third straight win before hosting the Indiana Pacers in New York.

Perhaps Chalamet’s night would have been better if he had been involved in the game. Marty Supreme received nine nominations at the 2026 Oscars, but did not win anything.

Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor for the third time in his career. He is still deprived of victory. A year earlier, he had lost to Adrien Brody despite his performance as Bob Dylan in the biopic, A Complete Unknown.

There was some controversy surrounding Chalamet’s nomination. He recently commented about the dying art forms of opera and ballet, and it rubbed many people the wrong way.

After all, Chalamet would have to wait at least another year to win an Oscar. He is scheduled to appear in only one film in 2026, and that is Dune: Part Three. Chalamet did not receive an Oscar nomination for his performance in any of the previous Dune films. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

After operating as a 30-team league for decades, the NBA is betting on adding two franchises by the 2028-2029 season, with Las Vegas and Seattle the clear leaders.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, a vote will be held next week on the possibility of expanding the league to 32 teams.

“The pace for stakeholders to approve the survey is based on what industry executives will bid in the range of $7 to $10 billion for each team,” Charania said.

“If the bids reach the required threshold the 32 teams will have a potential final vote at the end of the year to finalize the transaction. In both voting rounds, 23 of the 30 governors would have to vote in favor.”

There have been long-running discussions about starting a team in Las Vegas, with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James even rumored to be one of the owners, as it has rapidly emerged as one of the biggest sports cities in the country.

A return to Seattle, meanwhile, would restore the NBA to one of its hottest markets. The Seattle SuperSonics played in the league from 1967 to 2008 and won the title in 1979, before the franchise became the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Of course, there are logistical issues to discuss, including accommodating conferences and schedules. Some, including Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, have argued that the NBA needs to reduce its games, and adding two more teams could do the opposite.

As the league continues to grow in popularity and globalization, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has often stressed the need to innovate and adopt reforms, emphasizing that expansion has always been a consideration.

The next few days will be important for the future of the NBA.

The San Antonio Spurs followed up with a rodeo road trip that matched the best edition of their annual jaunt since their inception in 2003, with a home stand that was almost as impressive. Clutchpoints were discussed in detail with head coach Mitch Johnson.

“You feel the intensity and the competitiveness. The teams that you’re talking about and the urgency that a lot of them have, I think it’s been really good for us to go through these games and find out about other teams and find out about ourselves.”

Whichever team Johnson’s group plays during its six games at the Frost Bank Center is a postseason contender that will likely at least make the play-ins. Three of those teams are widely considered to be among the best in the NBA.

Spurs role as postseason contender

San Antonio began their home games with a win against the Detroit Pistons, entering the night tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the fewest losses in the league. The very next night, the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat a Portland Trail Blazers unit that is in eighth place in the Western Conference.

The Silver and Black then defeated the Houston Rockets by 25 points, who were in third place in the West at the time. Next came the Boston Celtics. Like Houston, Boston is in third place in its conference, and like the Celtics, the Rockets fell. Two nights later, without Victor Wembanyama, the Alamo City welcomed a Denver Nuggets team that was in fourth place in the West. This would prove to be the only game of six that the Spurs would lose as after Wembley recovered from an ankle injury, they defeated a Charlotte Hornets team that is in 10th place in the East. Loss-wise, Charlotte is five losses ahead of that last spot in the conference play-in spot.

“We’ve had to participate in a lot of different types of games, whether it’s getting a little open and covering a lot of distance defensively, matching some physicality in a lot of different ways, execution late in the game, seeing different ways for guys to defend us,” Johnson said of ClutchPoints’ tenure.

“You feel the intensity, competitiveness and urgency of (opponents on the home stand)… hopefully those lessons will translate into wisdom and knowledge as we move forward.”
-Mitch Johnson

“I’m obviously ready for it”
Luke Cornet on playing with Wembley

⬇️https://t.co/bl5F6Ru2mO Report#spurs pic.twitter.com/kiuJASMp5n

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 15 March 2026

San Antonio held Charlotte without a field goal for more than five minutes in the fourth quarter, defeating the Hornets 115–102 to close the home stand.

“I thought we settled in. Had a little ups and downs in the third quarter, got open a little bit, and it’s hard to save them when the game is like that.” Johnson said.

The Spurs’ first-year head coach added, “I thought we did a really good job of fixing our defense, even if it wasn’t weak.” “It’s always easy to get organized by moving away from artificial things, but I thought we did a good job of getting set up, staying connected and getting them ready to play through their counters; or just the beginning shooters trying to get a look because they’re very good at seeing those guys and progressing from that to the next guys.”

Going 5-1 after an 8-1 record during the Rodeo Road Trip to include two ‘home’ games in Austin gives the Spurs a 49-18 mark for the season. Johnson hopes it will serve his championship contender well.

“Hopefully all of these experiences are lessons that we will turn into knowledge and wisdom as we move forward.”

The LA Clippers are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, the third game of a tough five-on-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard played in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, but left the game in the fourth quarter due to a left ankle injury. After the game, the Clippers announced that Leonard was suffering from a left ankle sprain, and would be reevaluated.

Everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Spurs.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Spurs

Kawhi Leonard was unlisted on the Clippers’ injury report for Saturday night’s game against the Kings, the second game of a back-to-back set. Leonard had been playing in consistent sets this season when healthy, but sprained his left ankle for the second time after the NBA All-Star break.

Leonard is listed as “questionable” to play in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, and it appears he will be held out of the game. The LA Clippers are expected to make it official around 6pm PST, after Leonard has finished his usual pre-game workout routine and is evaluated by the medical staff.

Kawhi Leonard has played nine consecutive sets with the Clippers this season, indicating that he is healthy enough to play. In years past, the Clippers have kept him out of most back-to-back sets, but that was largely due to his injuries, such as a torn ACL, torn meniscus and knee inflammation, which caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season, playing 53 of the Clippers’ 67 games so far, 10 of which were missed due to a severe right ankle sprain. Despite the injury on Saturday, Leonard surpassed Bob McAdoo with his 45th-straight games of 20+ points, setting a new franchise record. Leonard’s current streak is 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 someone 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 30-23 in the 53 games Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-10 in the 14 games he has not played. Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free throw line.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–33 record, turning their season around to 28–12 since starting the season 6–21.

When it comes to the question of whether Kawhi Leonard is playing tonight against the Kings, the answer is probably no.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have three players listed on the injury report for Monday night’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable.
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

Spurs injury report

Spurs have five players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Dylan Harper (right calf injury): out
• Harrison Ingram (G League – Two Way): Out
• David Jones Garcia (G League – Two Way): Out
• Luke Cornet (right knee soreness): out
• Emmanuel Miller (G League – Two Way): Out

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-102 on Saturday night before beginning their flight to Los Angeles. Monday night’s game represents the second of three matchups between the LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.

The Sinners star Michael B. In the wake of Jordan’s first Oscar win, he was celebrated with a meme referencing Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ 1991 NBA Finals victory.

Sports Center congratulated Jordan on his Best Actor win at the 2026 Oscars. He painted the Michael B. Posted a photoshopped image of Jordan’s face where he is holding the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Michael B. Jordan won his first Oscar@michaelb4jordan Name of Best Actor in Leading Role in 2026 #Oscar 👏 pic.twitter.com/b0ae28TGIj

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 16 March 2026

The photo of Jordan embracing the trophy is an iconic piece of NBA history. In the photoshopped photo, Jordan, who shares the NBA icon’s first and last name, is wearing a white cap like the Bulls legend. However, it reads, “Sinners, 2026 Oscar Winners,” and features an image of the Academy Award of Merit trophy.

The Sinners star Michael B. Jordan wins his first Oscar in 2026

In 2026, Jordan received his first Oscar nomination. He was nominated for Best Actor for his dual role in Sinners. Although he has previously won an Actor’s Choice Award and a Critics’ Choice Award, he has never been nominated by the Academy.

He won in 2026 in a stacked field. Jordan was up against previous winners such as Leonardo DiCaprio (One on One) and first-time nominee Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent). Additionally, Timothée Chalamet and Ethan Hawke, who worked hard for their first wins, were nominated.

But it was Jordan who came out on top. They played twins, Smoke and Stack Moore, in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. Jordan has collaborated with Coogler five times since Fruitvale Station in 2013. He has also appeared in Coogler’s films Creed, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and now Sinners.

The Sinners follows twins who return to their hometown in the Jim Crow South. They’re trying to open their own juke joint. However, they face resistance from a supernatural force. Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton and Delroy Lindo also star.

New York – It’s been one battle after another for the Golden State Warriors right now.

The understaffed Warriors, missing more than $190 million in salary due to eight players out due to injury, lost 110-107 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The loss marked their fifth consecutive loss, their longest of the season, dropping them to 32–35 on the season.

But despite the loss, coach Steve Kerr was proud of his players for the way they defeated players including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis.

“Couldn’t ask for anything more,” Kerr said. “It’s so much fun to coach these guys. They’re playing so hard together. I just want them to be rewarded for their efforts. And we’ve lost some of them, but we’ll keep fighting [and] Keep
To get better.”

Leading by 21 points at one point, the Warriors took the lead against the Knicks early in the game with Brandin Podziemski and Quinton Post leading the way. Podziemski finished with a team-high 25 points with six assists, while Post collected 22 points on 9 of 16 from the field.

But once New York gave up its complacency, it began imposing its will on the Warriors. They forced the Warriors into nine turnovers in the second quarter, reducing the lead to nine at halftime. And in the third quarter, they bullied the Dubs on the boards, outscoring them 15-to-1 in that period.

Still, Golden State held on until the final minutes, thanks to Gui Santos scoring 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. But with a chance to take the lead with 23.7 seconds remaining, Podziemski hit a 26-foot triple over Jalen Brunson that went in and the Warriors could not recover from there.

Steve Kerr supports Brandin Podziemski’s shot

Podziemski’s missed 3-pointer in transition will be remembered as a big ‘what if’ turning point for the Warriors in crunch time. But whether it was an ill-advised shot or not, in Kerr’s mind, he thought it was a good one to take.

“Felt great,” Kerr said after the game. “I didn’t want to call timeout. I wanted to play in the flow. He had Brunson. He looked like he was going to attack. Brunson backed off. I like that. Take the three, go for the throat.”

Despite this, the Warriors find themselves at their lowest point of the season. Five consecutive losses, barely hanging on to the ninth seed, slipping even further behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers, Curry still a long way from a comeback – it feels like it’s do-or-die time for Golden State right now.

But Kerr said that although he is being “beaten” right now, he could not be more proud of the effort he has shown recently.

“I’m just overwhelmed by these people,” Kerr said. “Just their effort, their intensity, their engagement. It’s really beautiful to see. And like I said, we’ll be rewarded for it. We’ll stick with it and keep getting better, and we’ll start winning some of these and getting some guys healthy.”

If the warriors have made any contribution in these defeats, it is their efforts. Effort, hustle, patience and fight. There’s a level of buy-in to this team that you don’t see on most losing teams. So the schedule remains the same for Golden State.

“We have to keep batting,” Santos said after the game. “We just have to keep trying to win games when we don’t have other players, because we know when they come back, we’ll be good.”

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan couldn’t believe it when he recently learned he had passed NBA legend Tim Duncan on the all-time scoring list.

Just a few days later, he achieved another impressive feat.

DeRozan finished with a season-high 41 points, including a three-pointer, 11 assists and three steals, to lead the Kings to a 116-111 victory over the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on Sunday. They improved to 18-51.

According to StatMuse, the 36-year-old guard is the oldest player in NBA history to reach that number in a game.

DeRozan has been a bright spot amid another disappointing campaign in Sacramento. He has been a consistent weapon since signing with the team on a three-year, $74 million contract through 2024.

He is averaging 18.8 points – his lowest since the 2012–2013 season – 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists this season. Although his numbers have dropped, he still remains a lethal threat on offense, especially during clutch situations.

The Kings have now won three consecutive games and are 4-1 in their last five meetings.

When DeRozan entered the league as the ninth overall pick out of USC in 2009, not many expected him to be among the top 20 scorers. But through his consistency, work ethic and desire, he has maintained his legacy.

If he improves his scoring in the final stages, he will average at least 20 points for the 13th consecutive year.

DeRozan also has a strong chance to surpass NBA icons Dominique Wilkins and Oscar Robertson for 16th place on the all-time scoring list by the end of the season.

The Kings host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

The Utah Jazz suffered their third consecutive loss after falling to the Sacramento Kings 116-111 at Golden 1 Center on Sunday. The Jazz have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.

A loss to the Kings could be extra costly, as Isaiah Collier could miss some time. He suffered a knee injury midway through the fourth quarter and was ruled out of the remainder of the competition, as announced by the team on X.

Collier finished with 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting, five rebounds and three assists.

The 21-year-old guard has already missed 11 games this season due to a hamstring strain and a recent illness.

The Jazz have been criticized for suddenly benching players in the fourth quarter, including Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Bryce Sensabaugh, who were reportedly tanking in games to improve their chances of getting the top overall selection in the draft lottery.

The NBA has already fined Utah $500,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league.”

The severity of Collier’s knee injury is unclear, but fans are already skeptical.

@jhtem said, “45th fake injury in the last week.”

“Do you think anyone will believe this? Have some shame, you failure,” @hogsmeadd said.

@BubbaHubbaWubba said, “And you all are some people who lose games on purpose.”

@PatsFlamini wrote, “LMAO, get the fuck out of here.”

@Yooshiiiiiii_ commented, “F*** Isaiah Collier, destroy this player like the entire Jazz team.”

The Jazz fell to 20–48, trailing only the Kings, who improved to 18–51 for the worst record in the Western Conference.

Utah has never had the No. 1 overall pick since the draft lottery began in 1985.

The punchless Memphis Grizzlies have gotten to the point in one losing season where NBA Draft prospects matter more than pride. With a 23-43 record and no realistic path to the postseason, the focus has shifted entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. Fortunately for the front office, the remainder of the schedule assures about a dozen other odds-boosting losses, according to bookmakers. However, it is the battles against the Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, and Milwaukee Bucks that matter most.

Tuomas Isalo may be looking to pick up some positive culture-building wins over the next few weeks, but the stakes are huge in those games against other lottery-bound Even-Rans. Sitting eighth-worst in the league, Memphis currently has a 6% chance at the top spot and a 7.2% chance at a top-four spot. As things stand, falling to the 10th pick is a realistic possibility.

The Grizzlies have a path to reach the fifth-worst record, which would increase those odds significantly. EVP Zach Kleiman will go to the ping-pong party with a 10.5% shot at one of the top four spots. Finishing below the Jazz in the standings will ensure a top-8 selection. Sweeping the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, two teams that are consistently trying to win games, gives Memphis a 9% chance of landing Cam Boozer, Darius Acuff, AJ DiBantsa, or Kingston Flemings.

Dealing for Caleb Wilson or Nate Ament is a far better outcome than giving up either Mikel Brown Jr. or Brayden Burries. Nothing against Brown Jr. or Burroughs, it’s just that the Grizzlies are hoping to acquire a franchise cornerstone in a one-year reset, not take a chance on another late-lottery role player.

Grizzlies are sour on jazz notes

Chicago is still looking for respect and has enough talent to consistently win competitive games. That trip to the Windy City on March 16 marks the beginning of the injury-plagued team’s last stretch. Isalo’s shorthanded team will take on the Bulls again on March 28 at FedEx Forum. This game will also be the sixth game in nine days for Memphis. Tired legs led to the defeat at the end of the season, so fans should not be too disappointed about the results.

Memphis will also have to spend Easter Sunday away from family. The Grizzlies will take on the Bucks on April 5 while everyone else will be talking about the Final Four. There will be some hiatus before flying back to Beale Street for one last home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (April 6). Those last three games, starting on a high in Denver before facing the Jazz and Houston Rockets, will likely sap the last bit of energy from all the players still standing.

There is very little margin for error on the downs, and these four games will ultimately decide how high the Grizzlies can climb when lottery balls come out. In a season defined by heartbreaking defeats, the most important is still to come.

Suffice it to say, New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns is not a fan of the way the Dominican Republic bowed out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

It appeared that the Dominican Republic had been betrayed by the home plate umpire, who proceeded to call two questionable third strikes on Juan Soto and Geraldo Perdomo – with Perdomo’s last at-bat of the game – giving Team USA a 2–1 victory, who are now advancing to the WBC Finals.

After the game, the Knicks star, who has represented the Dominican Republic in FIBA ​​competition, expressed his disagreement with the way his home country was eliminated from the WBC in animated fashion.

“Oh yeah, that was a ball, man! That was some bullshit. They should have got a chance. They had Tatis Jr. coming in. Come on, man,” Towns told reporters via Knicks video on SNY on X (formerly Twitter).

Pitch data on MLB GameDay says it all. ClutchPoints lead MLB reporter Joey Mistretta took note of this by showing how far below the strike zone the strike three call against Perdomo was.

I’m glad Team USA got the win, but this is a terrible way to end the game pic.twitter.com/YNDI8ITHCc

– Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) 16 March 2026

It’s hard for a neutral observer to say that the Knicks star’s thoughts about what happened to the Dominican Republic in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic aren’t justified.

Dominican Republic’s stacked lineup shut out by Team USA

While the questionable strike three call will be the lasting legacy of this semifinal encounter, the Dominican Republic had a few other opportunities to put runs on the board against Team USA, but were not able to do so. Team USA deserves credit for shutting down a stacked DR lineup and holding them to just one run.

However, it certainly would have been exciting if Perdomo had reached base and Tatis had a chance to tie or win the game. The top of the DR lineup was coming up, and the home plate umpire took that opportunity away from them.

Have the Denver Nuggets been disappointing so far in the 2025-26 season? It’s a question many are raising now and then as they battle for a spot in the Western Conference. A large portion of NBA fans believed that they were the second-best team in the NBA after their offseason maneuvers, but they have yet to find the level of consistency that makes them worthy of such praise.

Whatever the case, the Nuggets stand as one of the most dangerous teams heading into the postseason for a simple reason: They have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray running the show. If they get a clean bill of health in the playoffs, the Nuggets are going to be one of the toughest matchups, as they are a legitimately competitive team that could make it at any time.

But in the playoffs, luck may play a role. The matchup also matters, and the same applies for the Nuggets – a team that currently sits in fifth place in the West standings with a 41-27 record.

That said, in a month’s time, when the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin, this is what the Nuggets should expect in terms of seeding.

Nuggets avoid 4th/5th seed, postpone potential Thunder matchup until WCF

Some people think that the regular season doesn’t matter much and the real games start during the playoffs. This is not the case; Homecourt advantage can play a big role in the postseason, and taking care of business in the regular season can yield favorable matchups.

But if the Nuggets have learned anything from last year’s playoffs, it’s that the matchup against the Thunder may be the best one for the Conference Finals.

OKC remains the best team in the NBA, and they now have championship pedigree. There were questions last season whether he had what it takes to make it on the grand stage, but he has answered all those questions correctly and passed the test with flying colors.

While the Thunder dodging all the way to the Conference Finals guarantees nothing, the Nuggets can at least have more variables working in their favor the deeper they go into the postseason. Injury may occur. Fatigue may occur. And perhaps by the time the WCF moves on, if Denver makes it that far, they could be sure to have a more favorable matchup.

Last season, the Thunder were overwhelming the Grizzlies, making them a far more fresh team than the Nuggets, who were coming off a seven-game bloodbath against the Los Angeles Clippers. This year, taking care of business early and quickly could help protect the Nuggets deeper into the postseason, especially given the injury problems they have endured throughout the season.

At this point, the two-seed appears to be well out of reach for the Nuggets. So if anything, Denver would like to move up to third in the West, or if they fall, get the sixth seed instead.

It’s hard to tell what the most favorable 3-6 matchup will be for the Nuggets. If there’s one matchup to avoid it’s the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves eliminated the Nuggets in 2024, and they have the size and length to make life difficult for Denver. Considering the Nuggets’ poor defense (they have the 21st-ranked defense in the league), an early playoff matchup against Anthony Edwards may not be ideal.

The matchup against Houston Rockets seems to be the most favourable. Houston will have trouble creating offense in the postseason when halfcourt offenses become more prominent. Amen Thompson is a non-shooter. Reed Shepard is a shooter, but has significant defensive shortcomings.

The Rockets will also be missing Steven Adams for the rest of the season, so it’s not like Houston will be able to throttle Denver on the offensive glass.

Kevin Durant will have their work cut out for them. Alpern Sengun will be tested on defense, especially when he has to cover the Jokic-Murray two-man game. The Rockets’ role players (Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith) are hit or miss from beyond the arc.

There are no easy matchups in the playoffs, but the matchup against the Rockets looks very winnable, at least on paper.

If the Nuggets get there, they will likely face a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. Facing Victor Wembanyama in a playoff series doesn’t sound very appealing.

But in a conference where you have to go through a blender to survive, the matchup against the non-battle-tested Spurs at least seems more manageable than the second-round matchup against the defending champion Thunder.

There have been many stories told about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ unforgettable title run in 2016. But Iman Shumpert’s revelation about Tony Allen’s role in helping them shut down the Golden State Warriors is a new one.

The Warriors were juggernauts that year, winning a record 73 games. They took a 3–1 lead against the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals and appeared poised to capture their second consecutive title. However, Cleveland came back strongly and pulled off a most improbable comeback for the team’s first title.

On “Out in the Mud”, Shumpert admitted that he and JR Smith were having “a nice little battle” with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson defensively in the series. Shumpert said Allen called him to give him some suggestions.

“M********* called me right away. ‘Hey, brother, you got Klay right? Who do you have, Klay or Steph? I know you got one of them.'” Shumpert recalled.

“I said, ‘Don’t help. Wherever you are, I don’t care, going to help, there’s no help,'” said Allen, who was with the Memphis Grizzlies at the time.

When a three-time All-NBA Defensive First Team member tells you how to play defense, you listen. So that’s exactly what Shumpert and Smith did. Ultimately, they survived the Warriors, winning a classic battle in Game 7.

“He (Allen) said, ‘There’s no help, and get used to it, you’re going to have about three rebounds.’ He said, ‘Why?’ Who do you want to get a rebound for? If they get a rebound, where is it going? And what if you’re not there?’ But it seemed to make sense,” Shumpert said.

While Curry and Thompson still got their numbers, Shumpert said he and Smith performed poorly against them even on Allen’s advice. Matthew Dellavedova also played a huge role in protecting the Splash Brothers.

Allen had his fair share of intense feuds with Curry and Thompson, with the Grizzlies and Warriors meeting several times in the regular season. Golden State defeated Memphis 4–2 in the conference semifinals en route to the title in 2015.

NEW YORK – Golden State Warriors veterans Al Horford and Seth Curry underwent MRIs after exiting the Dubs’ 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at halftime. Testing revealed a left mild shin strain for Horford and a left abductor strain for Curry. Both players will be reevaluated in a week, ruling them out of at least the Warriors’ next five games.

It has been a tough season for both veterans in terms of availability.

Horford missed seven consecutive games earlier this season due to a sciatic nerve problem. And due to his load management policy of not playing both ends of back-to-backs, he has missed 23 games so far, a number that is set to increase as he deals with this calf strain. Kerr said that because it is a calf injury, they will be cautious about his recovery, indicating a longer recovery period than a one-week re-evaluation.

As for Curry, he has barely been able to get going this season, as he has missed 40 consecutive games due to his sciatic nerve problem. He had just returned from an extended recovery procedure when he strained his abductor, a bad stroke of luck for a player who has only played four games this season.

Encourage injury updates

But the Warriors received some encouraging health updates as they prepare to face the New York Knicks without eight of their players.

Draymond Green is expected to play against the Washington Wizards after missing two games due to lower back pain. Along with Green, Kristaps Porzingis and D’Anthony are also set to play in DC as the Warriors sideline them to manage their respective health issues.

Meanwhile, Kerr said he is hopeful that Moses Moody will return after recovering from the sprain he suffered in his right wrist during this road trip. And in some positive news, Stephen Curry traveled with the Warriors on this six-game road trip, joining the team on the road for the first time since being sidelined due to a knee issue with their runner.

Otherwise, the Warriors will have to weather this latest injury storm as teams pass them by for play-in tournament positioning. At 32–34, they have lost to the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth seed and are in danger of being passed by the Portland Trail Blazers for the ninth seed.

This latest six-game road trip will determine their chances of securing a playoff spot.