分類: 综合

The NBA Executive of the Year is typically awarded to the league’s best team, as evidenced by Sam Presti, general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024–25 season. But don’t tell that to Phoenix Suns GM Brian Gregory.

The latter has completely transformed Phoenix after a 2024-25 offseason where there were a lot of questions. What will happen with Kevin Durant? What about Bradley Beal’s impending contract? Will Devin Booker commit to Phoenix?

He answered all those questions, but appeared to rebuild the culture through alignment in just a few months. While alignment was the focus of every joke about Gregory, his eyes were set on a complete 180-degree change.

Thunder’s Sam Presti being compared to Suns’ Brian Gregory’s offseason

Presti made two of the most impactful moves that season with Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Those two alone showed how impressive and deep Oklahoma City was heading into the 2024-25 season, thanks to Presti’s knack for finding talent and fits. The 64-win season ended with an NBA Finals victory.

It highlighted that building through the draft, finding and developing the right players and coaches, and establishing culture in addition to finding fit, was the ultimate mix for sustained success.

As soon as they were in the Finals, Phoenix began preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft. He didn’t have the best draft capital after the Suns traded their only guaranteed draft pick in 2031 to the Utah Jazz for a three-first pick.

However, these three selections were the least favorable among the three teams (essentially, the team with the best record is the selection that Phoenix would get). Leading up to the draft, Gregory’s collegiate expertise stood out.

They had a few draft picks, but when the Suns traded for Kevin Durant, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and several second-round picks for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft, they acquired a big pick.

That first-round pick was used to draft Duke center Khaman Maluach. Then the first-year general manager put on his scouting cap and found two pieces of the future in Rasheer Fleming and Coby Brea.

Gregory called the latter “the best college shooter of the last three years.” And for Fleming, his defense, shooting and unreal athleticism were in line with his vision.

All the while, they traded for former Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams on draft day. The 23-year-old big man was made the team’s starting center, and it seemed like a low-risk, high-reward move.

But about two weeks ago, the Suns hired Jordan Ott, causing a lot of doubt because of the potential Michigan State tie between him, Gregory and owner Matt Ishbia.

Nonetheless, the GM mentioned that the organization conducted dozens of interviews to find the right person. He even called in outside sources to hear a different perspective.

Hiring the future coach, selecting future key players and establishing a long-term culture were all accomplished within a month.

How has the Suns regular season been vs. the Thunders regular season?

As for the Thunder, they have not surprised anyone with their dominance. At the beginning of the year, they were potentially trying to break the Golden State Warriors’ record for most wins in a season (73).

They came back down to earth, but Oklahoma City’s dominance shocked everyone. A dynasty seems to be emerging, but before we analyze it, let’s go back to January 4th.

A nearly healthy Suns team defeats the Thunder as game winners. The last two meetings did not go Phoenix’s way, but they were filled with stars returning from injury (Devin Booker) or being out due to injury.

A game is not equal why should Gregory win over Presti? If it were so, it would be inconsistent. That Sunday night was a microcosm of what the Suns GM has built: a gritty, physical, defensive-minded and connected team.

Someone in particular who has changed the culture is Brooks. He changed the culture wherever he went, even during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies.

After almost being traded to Phoenix in 2018, it was a full-circle moment when he was traded. Playing with Booker has enhanced both of their games, but Brooks has taken his game to another level.

There is more offensive responsibility and liability in this, which he has performed well. Averaging over 20 points per game and shooting nearly 70% at the rim is impressive.

His unorthodox attacking play has thrown defenders out of their rhythm. Even with Booker and Green out, Brooks has agreed to be the preferred option, which he cited following the 2024-25 first-round series with the Golden State Warriors.

Through the All-Star break, Oklahoma City had 42 wins compared to Phoenix’s 32. The Thunder’s dominance was expected, but the Suns’ surprise was something that took many by surprise.

What has Brian Gregory done for the Suns since the All-Star break?

The moves haven’t stopped since the backend of the season began. The team gave Green a long-term return, even as he worked extra hard for his hamstring recovery.

Additionally, the Suns signed running back Haywood Highsmith to a two-year waiver deal and gave two-way player Jamari Bouia a contract extension.

With Green out, Bouia, in particular, has been a nice contribution. Another guard above the rim who can create his own shot. Meanwhile, Highsmith brings the defensive intensity and versatility that Gregory has preached since taking over the job.

Injuries have kept the team from showing what they can look like when the trio of Booker, Brooks and Green remain healthy. However, Phoenix has maintained its hold on the court even without these three.

If the success continues, Gregory should hoist the Executive of the Year award based on the team’s turnaround, navigating the free agent market and making the most of the Durant trade and landing a player who aligns with the culture.

For the first time since Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James hosted “The Decision” to announce his contract with the Miami Heat, the future of the 22-time All-Star remains uncertain. Although his option to join the Heat was unclear at the time, staying with the Cleveland Cavs felt like a viable option, whereas this time it is different. Despite having the sixth-best record (37–24) in the Western Conference, the Lakers have not shown signs of a long-term commitment to James.

Given LeBron’s age, the second tax apron and the need to build a roster around Luka Doncic for the future, the Lakers will have to make some tough decisions in the summer. James, meanwhile, continues to play at a high level even at this stage of his career. LeBron, 41, played in his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game. Even at this old age his talent is not in question; However, which team will he play for in 2026-27.

Even if the Lakers can make an unexpected championship run this season, it’s hard to envision James’ NBA career heading into the sunset. There’s a lot left in the tank. A reunion with the Cleveland Cavs is a possibility, and would be a unique storybook for LeBron, who led the Cavs to their only championship in 2016.

With All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden, James and the Cavs will emerge as favorites to win the Eastern Conference and NBA titles in 2027.

Lakers reported ‘Plan A’ for LeBron James’ future

If the Lakers can add another All-Star talent during the offseason to complement Luka Doncic and LeBron James, they are all in on that plan. According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, Austin Reaves’ upcoming free agency will impact James’ future and whether the Lakers can find a team like the Bucks willing to agree to a package deal centered on their All-Star forward.

“The Lakers are one of the few teams this summer projected to have significant space under the cap to pursue top-tier free agents or pursue a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo via a lopsided trade,” Pincus wrote. “The $54-$80 million in cap room won’t be much if James returns to his $58 million max salary. Plan A for the Lakers appears to be to build around Luka Doncic, a young star, moving on from James, according to competition executives and player agents.

“Scouts across the league are skeptical that L.A. can defend well with a core of Austin Reeves, Doncic and James. Reeves is expected to opt out of his $14.9 million cap in his final year, so he may attempt to re-sign for closer to the maximum he can get (about a $41.5 million starting salary).”

James and the Lakers defeated the Pelicans 110-101 on Tuesday.

Lou Dort has made a name for himself by being the heart and soul of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is the one who sets the level of physicality on defense, and his strong play helped make the Thunder a championship organization.

However, his intensity and physical play sometimes cross the line, as he did on Friday against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Given the success of both organizations in the Western Conference, the Thunder and Nuggets have become intense rivals over the years, leading to some heated and emotional battles on the court. On Friday, tensions between these two teams reached a new level when he appeared to intentionally foul Jokic, sending the three-time MVP to the ground and leading to a scuffle between the two sides.

Nikola Jokic faces Lu Dort and Jaylin Williams

pic.twitter.com/GvHKxeJM28

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 28 February 2026

After a scuffle separated the two sides, the play was reviewed and Dort was ejected from the game after receiving two serious fouls. Dort has since been under heavy scrutiny from fans for his actions against the Nuggets, leading to him breaking his silence on the matter.

“It was a physical game the whole game,” Dort told Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic in Chicago on Tuesday night. “Obviously, there was unnecessary contact that I shouldn’t have made. Getting kicked out of the game hurt me the worst. But yes, it was a high-level game. I’m a competitor, so I compete.”

The 26-year-old wing claimed that the game against Denver was a physical battle with “his limits,” but he also said he “crossed the line” in regards to his play with Jokic.

Not only are NBA fans picking sides on what happened in last week’s game between the Thunder and Nuggets, but Denver head coach David Edelman also shared his thoughts on what happened, calling Dort’s actions “ridiculous.”

“For Dort to take that shot — and then I think from his perspective it was no big deal, how he saw it — is ridiculous,” Edelman said. “That was malicious. It was a cheap shot. Lou Dort is a great player, and I haven’t seen him do that before.”

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault responded to the criticism surrounding Dort’s ejection from Friday’s game, saying the incident was the result of a “chippy game” and “things escalate like that sometimes.” Daigneault did not comment on whether he felt Dort’s actions were unnecessary or excessive, leading officials to eject him from the game.

Speaking with Lorenzi in Chicago on Tuesday, Dort responded to the perception many people have of him calling him a dirty player.

“It’s a tough job for me to guard the best players every night,” Dort said. “I don’t think I’m dirty. I can’t control the media. The media always wants some kind of attention or something. They want that buzz. I can’t control it…

“I’m not dirty.”

No further action was taken by the NBA for what happened between the Thunder and Nuggets, as Dort played against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night, recording four points and five rebounds in a 116-108 Oklahoma City victory.

With EVP Zack Kleiman’s Memphis Grizzlies hoping to usher in a new era by trading Ja Morant this offseason, the direction of the franchise has never been more in doubt. Jaren Jackson Jr. has a new home, and Zack Eddy’s recurring surgeries have already created cracks in the new frontcourt foundation. It appears that at least the Desmond Bane deal was a smart move by the front office, which has been very good at finding value through the NBA Draft.

Both first-round picks will likely be spent on a long wing or some AD insurance. The Grizzlies have been lacking in the big department, so it’s no surprise that the rebounding stats are tied for a season record. As for that low-risk, high-reward 32nd pick? Well, the Grizzlies don’t need a direct Morant replica, but they do need a player who can generate offense and put pressure on defense.

Even if Morant remains in Memphis, the Grizzlies are in an ideal spot to add a scoring guard who can compete for minutes behind Ty Jerome and Cam Spencer while freeing up Jaylen Wells to drive the ball. Clemons shouldn’t feel any pressure to trade back into the first round.

Top 20 NBA Draft choices Brayden Burries (Arizona), Christian Anderson (Texas Tech), LaBron Philon Jr. (Arkansas), Cameron Carr (Baylor), and Bennett Sturtz (Iowa) lack Morant’s elite athleticism and some-or-nothing creativity. That’s why he’s not projected to be a lottery pick, but unlikely to fall out of the first round. The five flawed second-round picks are better comparisons and may provide better value given the salary cap situation.

Jaron Pierre adds true pop

Pierre is the most NBA-ready option of this group and the most likely to contribute immediately, even if the 23-year-old’s ceiling is more modest than the others. The 6-foot-5 ball-handling wing averaged 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 38.2% from 3-point range at Jacksonville State, earning Conference USA Player of the Year honors before reaching the portal. He attacks the rim with vertical pop, is capable of making powerful dunks from the free-throw line area, and creates his own shot off the dribble or catch.

The secondary is showing flashes of playmaking playmaking as SMU’s top transfer averages 1.9 assists per game, and Pierre rebounds very well (5.1) for a guard at the power conference level. Those assist numbers could be more in a table-setting role, which Pierre will likely have to prove during any Summer League action. However, this is not the case during March Madness.

The definition of a polished, ready-now bucket-getter, Pierre has consistently filled the stat sheet for the Mustangs (17.6 points, 37.3% 3PA). Their defensive attention to detail also needs some work, but the Grizzlies lack a point guard not named Jaylen Wells. For a Grizzlies team that needs cheap, reliable contributors following the Morant transition, big defensive players are a worse gamble than a microwave scorer.

Tyler Tanner is attracting attention

Tanner is the analytics darling of the class of 2026, a 6-foot, 175-pound point guard who has no business being that good statistically. He averaged 18.9 points, 5.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals/blocks per game, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc. The scouts in Vandy’s engine are reconsidering whether they have found any foreign objects.

Ringer’s draft board highlights his ability to get down and finish through contact, though the second-year student’s jumper is still a work in progress. For a Grizzlies team that will be rebuilding its offensive hierarchy, the Tennessee native represents a high-floor project that can develop into a reliable backup with starter equity when the shot comes.

A big attacker framed in an undersized frame, Tanner defies every historical precedent. He’s converting over 60% of his half-court rim attempts and is on pace for nearly 30 dunks this season, a number that no 6-footer has touched since 2008. The concern is obvious, but his elite explosiveness, change of pace, and defensive anticipation give him a Fred VanVleet-like trajectory.

melek thomas moving needles

Thomas is the youngest name on this list at 19, and one of the most attractive names. At 6 feet 5 inches tall, he is recognized as a creative center who can initiate offense and make plays with the ball, giving the Grizzlies flexibility with who they draft in the first round. The new players’ passion for the game under Coach Cal is evident, yet the flaws are equally apparent. Thomas entered the season as a potential lottery lock, but inconsistent shooting and struggles against elite competition have cooled his stock.

Forget the worries if Thomas sticks to his NBA Draft plans. Get a five-star All-American in the locker room and worry about the rest later. The Arkansas star shows impressive comfort working in pick-and-roll situations and manipulating the defense with changes of pace. His ability to score from multiple levels makes him a difficult cover, and his size allows him to see defenders when creating passing angles.

If the Grizzlies want a high-upside swing that can develop into a sixth-man spark or more, Thomas fits the bill. Averaging 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 40.3% from 3-point range over 29 games is enough of a sample size. He also posted 1.6 steals per game, offering the two-way dimension that scouts value in a backcourt prospect.

Thomas shows creative hub flashes off the dribble, attacking advantages, and creating looks for himself and teammates with a high motor on both ends. Early season buzz put him in the lottery conversation on some boards, and his sense of rhythm and flow keeps his impact steady even on off nights. Someone with a top 40 pick will snag this low-risk investment.

brandon smith quietly coming in

Braden Smith has been one of the most prolific pick-and-roll initiators in college basketball, and he rarely misses a perfect play while on offense. Averages of 15.5 points, 8.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds over the last 65 games show proven, consistent, reliability. His 44% assist rate over his last 50 games shows a rare ability to create for others that should translate to the NBA level.

In addition to his offensive skill set, Smith’s basketball IQ, competitiveness and defensive awareness align with the culture the Grizzlies have developed. Despite being undersized at 6-foot-6, Smith makes up for it with a 6-foot-5-inch wingspan, active stealing hands, and a high motor that allows him to compete on that end of the floor.

Tahad Pettiford under pressure

Size limitations and decision-making inconsistencies have pushed them toward the second round on many boards. Auburn’s main table-setter can force contested shots by over-dribbling and struggles to finish beyond length in a half-court setting. Improving his playmaking and efficiency will determine whether he becomes a dynamic spark-plug guard. For the Grizzlies, Pettiford’s burst and scoring mentality mirrors the characteristics that make Morant special, offering high-upside depth that could develop into a dominant creator in the right system.

The Grizzlies are entering a new chapter, and while trading Ja Morant creates an inevitable void, it also creates opportunity. None of these five guards will be able to replace Morant’s highlight-reel talent overnight. However, in a relatively tight draft class, Memphis Creations can swing on upside, athletic pop, and positional size. With two first-round picks already earmarked for the frontcourt, using the 32nd pick on a point guard project with first-round talent and second-round flaws is exactly how the new era should start.

Questions surrounding Ivica Zubac’s debut with the Indiana Pacers will remain unanswered for at least one more game.

Indiana listed Zubac out with a left ankle sprain on its injury report Wednesday morning ahead of the team’s game with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pacers begin a four-game West Coast road trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm ET.

The injury designation means Zubac will not face his former team as he continues to work towards his first appearance since being acquired at the February trade deadline.

Indiana acquired the 28-year-old center from the Clippers in a landmark deal that also included Pacers-bound forward Kobe Brown. Los Angeles received a package centered on Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, along with two first-round picks in 2026 and 2029 and a future second-round pick.

Zubac was enjoying one of the most productive periods of his career before the trade. In 43 games with the Clippers this season, he averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line. He started 42 of those contests and recorded 30.9 minutes per game, becoming a consistent interior presence.

Ivica Zubac Pacers debut delayed as Benedict Mathurin moves on with Clippers

His most recent appearance came on February 2 in the Clippers’ 128–113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Zubac recorded eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and one block while shooting 3-for-3 from the field in 33 minutes.

Indiana continues to wait for the veteran center to debut as it looks to stabilize a frontcourt that underwent major changes at the deadline. The Pacers enter Wednesday at 15-46 and are looking for consistency during the final stretch of the season.

Meanwhile, Mathurin has begun to carve out a role with the Clippers following the trade. The 23-year-old guard has averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in eight games with Los Angeles, shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free-throw line while playing 30.4 minutes per contest.

Mathurin recently contributed in the Clippers’ 114-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal while shooting 6 of 13 from the field and converting all five of his free-throw attempts in 31 minutes.

Although Zubac will not make his debut against his former team in Indiana, the Pacers expect him to eventually take on an interior role as the organization evaluates its new-shaped roster following the deadline trade.

The Miami Heat are attempting to avoid making the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Tyler Herro’s ability to return to form will be key in that effort.

After a long absence due to ankle surgery and a toe injury earlier this season, Herro recently returned from a month-long absence due to a rib ailment. He had another efficient performance during Tuesday’s 124-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets, posting 22 points on 8-15 shooting in 28 minutes.

“I’m just trying to find my rhythm,” Herro said after the game. “I’ve only played less than 20 games. And every other team and player has been in rhythm and playing since October. I haven’t really played a lot of five-on-five games since last season. So it’s just steps in the right direction, continuing to see where my shots are coming from. It’s not all about scoring. It’s about making the right plays.”

Herro has averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists on .484/.371/.941 shooting splits in six appearances since returning to Miami’s lineup.

Tyler Herro back in action as Heat battles to avoid play-in tournament

The Heat are 4-2 during that span, leaving them a half-game behind the Eastern Conference sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Erik Spoelstra said of Herro, “I think he’s making this all look easier than it really is.” “He hasn’t played in a long time. It’s been a really short time since he’s been back. But I think it’s going to get better each game. I trust Tyler and his work. He puts in so much time. But he adds a lot to our offense. Now we’ve got this element of creativity. Definitely making shots. You don’t know where it’s going to come from. And then once he gets you into his three-ball rhythm, I think it’s “Will really help impact our offense at another level.”

The Heat have faced problems taking care of business despite inferior competition this season. However, they dominated on Tuesday by tanking nets from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Spoelstra’s squad shot 45 of 91 (49.5 percent) from the field with 28 assists and 12 turnovers. Meanwhile, they held Brooklyn to 33 of 86 (38.4 percent) from the field and 6 of three (18.8 percent) from three, while forcing 18 turnovers.

Miami, Philadelphia and the Orlando Magic are separated by a half-game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

Bam Adebayo said, “It’s the second half of the season. We need these wins. We can’t afford to miss any more.” “We had enough during the first half of the season. You have to hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability, and it gets uncomfortable sometimes because you know you feel like you don’t want to go too far. Uh, but you know in that sense man we are us, we’re past that stage and you know we’re trying to do something special. Uh, and it’s going to take all of us and we have to hold each other accountable and Uh have to face some intense situations.”

The Denver Nuggets have had to deal with a lot of adversity in terms of injuries this season and Aaron Gordon has been no exception. Gordon has played only 23 games due to several injuries, and he has not played since January 23 due to a right hamstring injury that has troubled him throughout the season.

However, it ultimately looks like Gordon’s absence will end after just six weeks, as according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, he aims to return on Friday night when the Nuggets take on the New York Knicks.

Although this is Gordon’s target date, he will still need to be cleared by the Nuggets’ medical team, as they have taken a cautious approach with him and fourth-year forward Peyton Watson, who has been sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring strain. Given their championship hopes this season, the Nuggets are in no rush to add any players back into the mix.

This is especially true for Gordon, who returned in January from a hamstring injury suffered in November, only to play 10 games before restarting the process. His staying healthy is essential for the Nuggets in the postseason.

On Sunday, league sources told ClutchPoints that both Gordon and Watson are recovering from their respective injuries and will be re-evaluated by Denver sometime this week, with the expectation that they can return to the field along with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in 7-10 days.

If Gordon is cleared to play and return against the Knicks on Friday night, he would immediately provide a boost that the Nuggets are missing.

Over their last 16 games, the Nuggets have gone just 7-9, winning back-to-back games just once during that span. Without Gordon and Watson, as well as Cam Johnson at times, Denver has been left extremely weak at the forward position. More importantly, Gordon’s absence has left a void on defense that the Nuggets have shown no answer to addressing without him.

While Gordon may not be an All-Star level talent, the little things he does on both ends of the court have made his impact synonymous with the league’s stars.

In addition to being able to guard multiple positions and take a huge amount of pressure off everyone else in Denver, Gordon always plays an aggressive game in terms of making the extra pass or creating second chance scoring opportunities.

This season, he is averaging a career-high 17.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from 3-point range. The Nuggets ranked near the top in the league when it came to offensive efficiency before Gordon’s injury, and that’s no coincidence.

As good as Jokic and Murray have been, their presence is vital to Denver’s overall success, which is why the team has been patient on Gordon’s road to recovery. Whether Gordon will make his return on Friday, his target date, is still unknown.

The Nuggets are currently 38-24 this season and are a full game behind both the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, who are tied for the 3-seed in the Western Conference standings.

The Chicago Bulls fell to the defending champion OKC Thunder 116-108 on Tuesday. Josh Giddy, playing against his former teammate, got injured.

Giddy twisted his ankle in the third quarter and had to leave the game. However, he came back and finished with a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. He was one rebound shy of a triple-double.

Additionally, Giddy managed to pass Derrick Rose for 5th on the double-double list for the Chicago Guards with 51.

After Giddy was out for a while, Matas Buzelis stepped on a player’s foot and rolled his ankle. Ultimately, he was taken back to the locker room and did not play the rest of the game. Later, head coach Billy Donovan confirmed that both Giddy and Bouzelis had sprained ankles.

Also, both will be evaluated on Wednesday.

However, according to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Giddy offered a glimmer of hope that he will return.

“It doesn’t look too bad,” said Giddy.

As a result of the loss, the Bulls are 25–37 and have lost 15 of their last 17 games. The Bulls begin a five-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. After this they will play four matches in California.

They will play against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Then, Chicago plays the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. After that, they will play the LA Lakers on Thursday and the LA Clippers on Friday.

Giddy is averaging 17.7 points, 8.4 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game. Overall, he has played 41 games this year. Recently, Giddy was out due to a left hamstring injury.

The Lakers were able to pull off a thrilling win over the Pelicans as they set their sights on the Nuggets on Thursday to snap a three-game winning streak. After the game, Doncic got a question he’s answered many times before.

Since the All-Star break, there has been talk about whether the Lakers’ “Big Three” LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be fit. There has been increased conversation in the media, especially when statistics show that lineups with LeBron James and only Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves have a better Net Rating. Likewise, lineups with just LeBron on the floor and Doncic and Reeves on the bench have a better Nets rating.

As there is strong debate over whether the three Lakers stars are actually a fit, Luka signaled his disdain for the conversation in a post-game interview following the win over the Pelicans.

“Are you guys going to ask me this question every night?”

Although reluctant to continue speaking further on the topic, he responded.

“I think that’s what everybody sees. We’ve obviously won three in a row. We’ve been playing together since the All-Star break… Obviously we’re going to have chemistry every day, every game.”

The Lakers are currently 37-24, holding the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They are two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Suns in the play-in tournament. Their game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday is important, as Denver is just one game ahead of Los Angeles in wins.

After a season in which all three stars missed significant time, the Lakers finally feel like they have a relatively healthy roster as they head into a very important stretch of games that includes matchups against playoff teams like the Nuggets, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Rockets.

The Milwaukee Bucks face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night and Giannis Antetokounmpo is once again at the center of the injury report discussion. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is not listed on the Bucks’ injury report ahead of Milwaukee’s matchup with the Hawks at Fiserv Forum. It puts the Bucks’ franchise star firmly in focus as Milwaukee looks to end a three-game losing streak and regain momentum in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Bucks enter the matchup at 26-34, No. 11 in the East. Meanwhile, the Hawks are 31-31, 10th in the conference and looking to continue a four-game winning streak. Milwaukee is currently out of the play-in picture and faces a difficult path back to contention in the Eastern Conference. With both teams battling for spots at the end of the season, Antetokounmpo’s availability is big.

Giannis continues to be the Bucks’ offensive engine whenever he is on the floor. Through 31 games this season, he is averaging 27.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 63.6 percent from the field. He’s also converting 37.5 percent from three-point range and 65.9 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, the two-time MVP contributed 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, continuing to make an impact on both ends of the floor.

When Antetokounmpo plays, the Bucks operate with force and structure. His downhill pressure breaks down defenses and creates open looks for teammates across the perimeter.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury Status vs. Hawks

Several additional names are included on the Bucks’ injury report. Alex Antetokounmpo and Cormac Ryan are out on a two-way deal, while Taurean Prince is sidelined after neck surgery.

As for Atlanta, the Hawks injury report lists Raze Dennis and Asa Newell as questionable while on G League assignment.

Still, Antetokounmpo’s presence matters most. Atlanta will look to continue its winning streak and strengthen its position in the play-in race. Meanwhile, Milwaukee is hoping its superstar can help reverse a recent decline.

So when it comes to the question of whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing tonight against the Hawks, the answer currently leans towards yes, as he does not appear to be on the injury report.

MIAMI – The Miami Heat’s win over the Houston Rockets last Saturday demonstrated an area in which the team thrives. Because the Heat are determined to be tough and do the dirty work, their defensive gameplan includes an aspect the team leads the NBA in, although head coach Erik Spoelstra has a love-hate relationship with it.

It hasn’t been rare to see Miami run a zone defense on opponents this season. In fact, the Heat have been using it to the point where they have led the NBA in zone possession over the past three seasons. They are on pace to do so for the fourth time in a row as they recorded 575 zone possessions in Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, and made the most of it in Saturday’s big win over the Rockets.

Spoelstra explained how there are moments when he ‘hates’ zone defense due to the lack of individual accountability that goes away compared to man-on-man. The head coach would emphasize at clutchpoints that zone is an important part of the defense, adding that the “hate” comment was made “in jest” due to his mentor’s views, in reference to Pat Riley.

“It’s in our defensive system, year in and year out, no matter what we feel about it. I’m beyond that. I say it jokingly, just because of who I was mentored under. You know, I believe they said at some point, ‘We’ll never be a zone organization,’ but the league is a lot different than it was 20 years ago. We’re all trying to figure it out. Skill level, shooting, speed, location, you just try to make it. “We are being as tough on other teams as we can and the best version of us defensively is a really tough-minded group, we have to get that more consistently.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the pace of leading the NBA again in MIA territory and his love-hate relationship with it:

“It’s in our defensive system, no matter what we feel about it. I was saying it jokingly, just because of who I was trained under…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9vIJhzTlCQ

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 3 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on zone defense: ‘Sometimes I hate it’

Heat captain Bam Adebayo and young center Kel’El Ware played key roles in slowing down Houston and its size in the zone defense, which led to the defense’s success. It’s not just in one game that the defense has been impressive, Miami is fourth in the league in defensive rating (111.5).

Going back to Spoelstra’s original comments, he talked about zone defense after Monday’s practice, detailing a time when he ‘hated’ it.

Despite the success of zone defense, Spoelstra said after Monday’s practice, “Sometimes I hate it.” “Because sometimes there’s not sure accountability. And sometimes you have the mentality that the zone will save you, or you won’t have to work as hard. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We actually have to burn more calories than the man in the zone. And there are a lot of different activities going on. But that’s a part of our defensive system. It’s not the only part of it. Obviously, our fastball is our man-to-man defense when we do our best. Are.”

At any rate, the Heat will continue to use it throughout the remainder of the season, as the team’s record heading into Tuesday’s game against the Nets was 32–29, placing them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. After Tuesday, the team will face the Nets again on Thursday, and conclude the week with a home match against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

For most of his NBA career, Kyle Anderson has played as a contender.

Drafted 30th overall out of UCLA in 2014, celebrated for his throwback, borderline positionless “slow mo” style of play, Anderson has been to the postseason in eight of his first 11 seasons in the NBA, almost guaranteed a ninth run in Year 12 after signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves after being bought out of his contract by the Memphis Grizzlies.

And yet, for nearly half the season, Anderson played on a team that was decidedly not a contender. No, during his run with the Utah Jazz, the team actually went out of their way to make sure he didn’t get a W at the end of the contest, resulting in players like Anderson getting limited runs and DNPs to avoid any upset wins.

While discussing what it was like playing for the Jazz with reporters on Tuesday, Anderson said that although he likes everyone at Utah, he is not a big fan of their lose-first mentality, as he prefers to do everything possible in the pursuit of a win.

Anderson said, “Honestly, I didn’t want to join. I really enjoyed the organization and everyone in the organization was amazing.” “Obviously, you know, playing games without wins gets a little tougher and tougher. I personally didn’t enjoy it, but, you know, the staff, the players, I love the players. The staff is really good, the guys in the organization are amazing. Nothing bad to say about it.”

While the Jazz have been out of the playoff picture for several years now, ever since they traded Rudy Gobert and then Donovan Mitchell after deciding that the duo had reached their peak, Utah hasn’t really had dominant homegrown players to show for their efforts, with the team failing to crack the top-3 over the past decade.

Luckily, they hit a home run with the Lauri Markkanen trade and have pushed more chips into the center of the table by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. before the trade deadline, so who knows? Maybe they’ll be back to playing Anderson’s favorite brand of basketball next season.

Vince Carter understands the challenges that come with being the face of Canadian basketball. The Toronto Raptors will never leave hockey behind and are often out of the spotlight within the NBA landscape, so it takes a certain type of player to lead the franchise. The 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee believes Scotty Barnes is occupying that role brilliantly this season.

Although Brandon Ingram is the team’s top scorer, the No. 4 is still widely considered the cornerstone of the Raptors. Carter praised his ability to remain impressive while also adjusting to fellow game-changers.

“I want to give Scottie his flowers,” he told reporters in Toronto before Tuesday night’s showdown with the New York Knicks, according to TSN’s Josh Levenberg. “This was his team for a long time. He was willing to make sacrifices for the good of BI coming in and his own survival. And look what he did. He still became an All-Star. He also brought another All-Star with him… So, it’s just a sacrifice for the good of the team. Yes, the numbers went down, but the accolades are coming your way now.”

T-Mac thinks the Raptors can win a playoff series and shows some love for VC Barnes. “I want to give Scotty his flowers.” pic.twitter.com/n8Yw0kiue

-Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) 4 March 2026

Barnes has yet to ascend to true superstardom, with his 29.1 shooting percentage from 3-point range serving as a hindrance in such a situation, but he’s still an undeniable difference-maker on one of the breakout teams this season. The 24-year-old forward is averaging 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals while shooting a career-high 50.1 percent from the field. He’s also a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, having proven himself to be a two-way force in the Great White North.

Scottie Barnes now has to figure out how he can lead the Raptors (35-25) into the next stage of their development. The team is currently two games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Toronto will have a steep hill to climb if it draws the Cavs, Knicks or Boston Celtics in the early rounds of the playoffs (the latter is unlikely to face the first-place Detroit Pistons), but this group could still be dangerous.

The former No. 4 overall draft pick is filling the Raptors with needed intensity. If he can continue to step up and lead, Toronto will have a tough competition in the 2026 postseason. Vince Carter will be watching closely.

Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a legitimate superstar in the NBA, as the Philadelphia 76ers’ injury problems over the past few years have paved the way for him to take the reigns as the team’s best player. Maxey is trying his best to steady the boat for the 76ers, especially with Joel Embiid and Paul George currently out of action, and at this point, it’s not his fault Philly couldn’t compete on a few nights — including a blowout against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

Whatever the case, Maxi has earned himself millions of fans with the way he carries a heavy workload every night and remains as productive as ever despite facing all the defensive attention around the world. And it can’t happen a big fan star compared to former 76ers guard and head coach Doug Collins.

“Tyreese Maxey is my favorite player in the NBA. I hope these Philadelphia fans know they have a star of stars. His personality, his performance, his smile, the joy he plays the game with. I think it’s a huge thing for this city of Philadelphia and they’ve got a great sidekick now in VJ Edgecombe,” Collins said during Tuesday’s game against the Spurs, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. Said before the 76ers game.

“Tyrese Maxey is my favorite player in the NBA.”

Doug Collins has high praise for the Sixers’ point guard pic.twitter.com/WZoT8dASj2

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

76 people are stuck in two timelines

The 76ers worked hard to keep the selection that ultimately became VJ Edgecombe, and now, they have a skilled backcourt to build the team around. The problem, however, is that there remains a lot of uncertainty surrounding Embiid’s health, and George’s drug-related suspension has cast another cloud over the team.

Be that as it may, if Embiid and George are ultimately completely gone, the 76ers can at least have an easier time rebuilding around Maxey and Edgecombe.

The LA Clippers will be without John Collins on Wednesday night when they host the Indiana Pacers. This will be the second consecutive game Collins will be out with a neck sprain after injuring his neck Sunday night against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Collins initially suffered the injury in the Clippers’ second game during the All-Star break against the Los Angeles Lakers. At the end of the first half, John Collins went up sinking an alley-oop attemptBut was undercut by Jackson Hayes, resulting in a dangerous landing in which Collins hit his head on the hardwood and immediately began bleeding.

A dazed Collins ran back to the Clippers locker room with a towel pressed to his left eyebrow. A head injury and neck pain caused him to miss the remainder of that game and the Clippers’ next two games against the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves.

In total, Collins had eight days between games to recover from the injury and neck pain. The Clippers forward returned to the lineup Sunday against the Pelicans, playing 25 minutes early feeling another shock On the left side of his head/neck area, going down due to pain, and immediately grabbing his right arm.

John Collins finished that game with 15 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two steals before suffering a neck injury and returning to the Clippers locker room.

John Collins suffered these two neck injuries within a span of 10 days:

– 1/20/26 – Landed hard on left side of head, avoided injury, but had head injury + neck pain.
– 3/1/26 – In the first game, hits the head/neck on the same left side on a drive and immediately catches… https://t.co/3Aj6WFgQH5 pic.twitter.com/rwzmpnkP32

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 4 March 2026

The Clippers have now ruled Collins out for Wednesday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers with an updated injury description: Collins is dealing with a neck strain.

The fact that Collins has been ruled out a day early obviously doesn’t bode well for his availability in the near future, but that’s to be expected after the traits he displayed against the Pelicans.

Collins also grabbed his right arm and backed him all the way downcourt after striking the left side of his neck.

It remains to be seen how long John Collins will be out, as the Clippers are scheduled to play a home game on Wednesday before going on a two-game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies.

In 54 games for the Clippers this season, John Collins has averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three.

The Chicago Bulls got some bad news on Tuesday after losing 116-108 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the completion Removed in third quarter Matas Bouzelis received more bad news due to a foot injury.

After the game, head coach Billy Donovan officially confirmed According to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Bouzelis suffered a sprained ankle. It came on the Thunder’s end of the floor late in the third quarter. Buzzelis stepped on a player’s foot and fell down. Shortly thereafter, he was seen limping and was taken back to the locker room.

Eventually, Bouzelis returned to the bench, but quickly withdrew and did not play in the fourth quarter. A few minutes earlier, Josh Giddy had rolled his ankle and was seen limping. He was taken out of the game, but remained on the bench. Ultimately, Giddy went back on the floor and finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Additionally, he was one rebound shy of a triple-double with nine rebounds.

On the way, giddy officially tied Derrick Rose is fifth on the Bulls’ all-time list of double-doubles by guards with 51.

Donovan said Bouzelis is day-to-day. Additionally, Donovan said Giddy also has a sprained ankle. Both will be evaluated on Wednesday.

Overall, Bouzelis played 20 minutes and finished with 11 points and five rebounds. The Bulls are now 25-37 and have lost 15 of their last 17 games. Now, the Bulls are set to embark on a five-game road trip. already in chicago Many players in the injured list, Which includes Jalen Smith, Patrick Williams, Anfernee Simmons and Jaden Ivey.

Bouzelis has played 61 games this year and is averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

There is no such thing as a rivalry between the Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks, as the New York Knicks always beats the former. On Tuesday night, the Knicks used an excellent two-way effort late in the game to complete a season series sweep of the Raptors and win 111-95 on the road.

This is the Raptors’ fourth loss of the season to the Knicks, and none of those losses have been particularly close. New York has outscored Toronto by a total of 81 points in those games this season, and it’s become clear that the Raptors are not in the same league as the Knicks.

The Raptors’ latest loss is yet another loss against a team with a top-10 record, and it’s such a troubling sign and a foreboding sign that they won’t be able to do much in the postseason. Nonetheless, head coach Darko Rajakovic believes his team can get it right, although he admitted they could not do so on Tuesday.

“When the time is right, it wasn’t tonight,” Rajakovic said in response to a question from Sportsnet’s Michael Grange. When will they be able to get another win against a top-10 team?

Raptors are showing signs of being exhibitionists

The Raptors looked good early in the season, and it helped that they were dominant against the current number one team in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers. But their troubles against good teams remain and to become the best they have to beat the best. And Toronto has failed on this front.

The good news is that the Raptors are still fifth in the Eastern Conference and if the season ended today, they would face the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs – a team they have dispatched of three times already this season.

The Memphis Grizzlies organization is looking forward to the 2026-27 campaign, and so is Zack Eddy. According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the second-year center is officially out for the remainder of this season after undergoing ankle surgery on Tuesday. Hopefully he makes a full recovery, but the team clearly wanted to take a long-term look at him before heading into the offseason.

After an impressive rookie year in which he averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21.5 minutes per contest, Eddy only played in 11 games and did not take the court at all in 2026. However, the Purdue legend excelled when active. He recorded five double-doubles, scored 32 points on 16 of 20 shooting in a win against the Sacramento Kings on November 30, and posted 66 boards during a four-game road trip. So, fans have good reason to be excited about his development.

Still, there’s always some degree of concern when a 7-plus-foot player misses extended time early in his NBA career. Eddy played 138 games for the Boilermakers during his history-making collegiate tenure, but it only takes one major injury to start a cruel sequence of bad luck. Hopefully, this surgery will prevent further damage and bring the two-time Wooden Award winner back to life.

The silver lining to the Zach Eddy news is that the Grizzlies should increase their chances of getting a valuable pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. If everything goes in their favor, they may get an opportunity to bolster an exciting young core with top-five talent.

Ideally, both the 23-year-old big man and a new Memphis squad will be better positioned for continued success after an offseason of recovery and reflection.

Although there isn’t much to like about the Philadelphia 76ers’ overall loss to the San Antonio Spurs, one of the very minor bright spots was the play of former two-way contract forward Jabari Walker, who scored 20 points off the bench in just 19 minutes of action.

Picking up the slack for a team without Joel Embiid, Paul George and, for a portion of the game, VJ Edgecombe, who was ejected from the game after a hard foul from Carter Bryant in the second quarter, Walker did the job for a 76ers team that desperately needed it. Any To score a bucket or two, hitting two of his five shots from beyond the arc and seven of his ten total shots from the field, along with four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The only 76ers player to finish a game with a positive plus/minus, Walker was asked about his surprisingly huge game after the contest and explained that he would love to get back on the court and Build on the momentum they created.

Walker declared, “100% if it were up to me, I wouldn’t want to sleep and would be right back there right now.” “So I’m just separating the days with eight hours of rest and then think of it as a continuation. Obviously, it’s a different team, but the mentality doesn’t change. Just let the days blend together and make it to tomorrow.”

A proven striver who worked his way up to a standard NBA contract after starting the season on a two-way deal. Walker’s 20-point performance was by far a season-high, with his next best game coming against the Milwaukee Bucks in December.

Will Walker be able to step up this game and become the 76ers’ new sixth man as Quentin Grimes has gone down offensively? maybe notBut gosh, if he could do that, it would pay massive dividends for a team that is in desperate need of at least one bench player who can score regularly.

“Mentalities don’t change.”

Jabari Walker is ready to get back out there as he finished Tuesday night’s game with 20 points and 6 rebounds. | @fultonbank pic.twitter.com/bktERperoS

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with complications after a three-game losing streak a week ago left some fans nervous about the state of the team. However, since then the Lakers have won three straight games, including a 110-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.

It was a masterclass on the defensive end that paved the way for the Lakers to victory. They outscored the Pelicans 34–23 in the final frame, and had a stretch where they were getting their hands on the Pelicans’ ballhandler on every drive. This showed that a team can have an advantage on the defensive end when they have active hands and when they are locked in as a unit.

In fact, the win impressed Lakers head coach JJ Redick to such an extent that he compared to That’s the kind of wins they were getting earlier in the season as they started the 2025-26 campaign with a 15-4 record.

Redick said in his postgame presser, via Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register, “To be honest, this isn’t a win we’ve had since probably November, where we’re down. We had a lot of early wins when we started 15-4, we had a lot of double-digit deficits in the second half and we stuck with it and kept playing. It was a good win for us to be able to do that again.”

JJ Redick on the Lakers’ 110-101 win over the Pelicans, comparing it to the team’s 15-4 win earlier in the season:

“Frankly, this is not a win that we have probably had since November.” pic.twitter.com/PaH8UG6NHO

– Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) 4 March 2026

Lakers match Pelicans’ physicality

Redick also credited Marcus Smart and Jackson Hayes for stepping up and helping the Lakers assert themselves defensively in the second half, leading to a comfortable win in the end.

Redick said, “The big emphasis for us in the pregame and on film was just our physicality. You have to match Zion’s physicality. Match Saddiq Bey’s physicality. I thought Smart was unbelievable tonight. When we got back into the game defensively in the second half, he and Jackson helped us win the game. They changed the game.”

Anthony Edwards has become one of the NBA’s 10 best players, and that’s quite an accomplishment for someone who faced so much doubt as a prospect coming out of Georgia. Many thought he would be too distracted and not deeply in love with the game of basketball, but he proved that wrong almost immediately, and developed into a true superstar for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On Tuesday night, Edwards did superstar things for the Timberwolves; He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 straight at one point, to lead Minnesota to a 117–110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished the night with 41 points on 15-29 shooting, including 7-13 from beyond the arc, as he left the Grizzlies defense helpless.

In doing so, Edwards now there is more A 40-point game for a shooting guard before the age of 25 compared to Kobe Bryant, as noted by Real Apps on X. The Timberwolves star now has the second-most such games, and he is now behind Michael Jordan in that department.

This shows how explosive a scorer Edwards is and how he is the closest thing to Bryant or Jordan in today’s NBA. And the next task for him is to lead the Timberwolves to the promised land, just as Bryant and Jordan did for the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, respectively.

Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves are figuring it out

The Timberwolves know their intention this season is not to make it to the Western Conference Finals for the third consecutive year. They want to get over the hump, and if Edwards keeps up this level of play they have a good chance to do so.

Currently, the Timberwolves are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, although they are within striking distance of third place. This may be more favorable to them, considering how they took care of business against the Lakers in last year’s playoffs (LA is currently in sixth place).

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a particularly disappointing 131-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, in which Philly gave an embarrassing effort on national television in the NBC Throwback Game. And as is often the case after this type of loss, emotions can run high.

After the game, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey expressed how he feels Regarding his team’s decision to trade Jared McCann, which 76ers president Daryl Morey defended by saying they were selling high on their 2024 first-round pick.

“Jared was a close friend of ours. Great teammate. Great guy. I definitely think we miss him. Absolutely. I won’t lie and say I don’t miss Jared,” Maxey said via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “But I’m happy for him. I look up to him.” [in] Ok. Sure I expect him to perform well every night.

“I’m not going to lie and say I don’t miss Jared.” pic.twitter.com/qjHNT9hJpT

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

Still, Maxey said the 76ers aren’t focusing too much on what they can’t control, because that’s just the nature of the beast.

“I don’t think we’re considering it. … [But] It’s a business at the end of the day. I have seen a lot of people trading, but I don’t want to trade. You can’t pay attention to that,” Maxie said.

The 76ers could use Jared McCain right now

The reasoning behind the 76ers’ decision to trade McCain isn’t so hard to understand. They had a lot of guard depth, and with Maxey established as the main guard option for the team and VJ Edgecombe alongside him, McCain was going to perform best as the sixth man for the team.

Nonetheless, the 76ers have contending aspirations, and McCann, a guard who shoots well from beyond the arc, could help ease their depth concerns. Instead, they now have to look at McCann as another talented guard following in the footsteps of Isaiah Joe who they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder decided to trade some of their valuable future draft picks to bring in Jared McCann via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. McCann has yet to recapture the heights he hit during his incredible, yet short, rookie season in Philly, but it looks like he’s on the way back, if his recent contributions to his new team are any indication.

On Tuesday night, the Thunder’s first night of back-to-back sets without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, head coach Mark Daigneault had to rely on McCann for an extra offensive boost. That’s exactly what McCann provided, scoring 20 points off the bench to lead OKC in scoring. He shot 8-15 from the field (4-9 from deep) and did everything OKC expected of him and more.

After the game, Daigneault revealed how McCain become a valuable weapon For Thunder.

“I mean the word is ‘consistency’. I think he really has everything consistent. He’s a consistent guy day in and day out. He’s a great worker. He makes consistent plays, he never gets out of his game. He’s always ready to play,” Daigneault said in his postgame presser, via Adam M. Francisco of Suave Report.

Asked Mark Daigneault what he’s seen behind the scenes from Jared McCain that contributed to their integration in such a short time. pic.twitter.com/PnBuAOO0T6

– Adam M. Francisco (@SuaveCEO_) 4 March 2026

Every good Jared McCain Thunder game is like a stab in the heart for 76ers fans

With the way McCann stepped up during a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, he quickly became a fan favorite in Philly. He was cut short due to a torn meniscus, but he seemed to have a place in the team for the long term.

Instead, the 76ers traded him to the Houston Rockets for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round draft picks, so they could also avoid the luxury tax. At just 22 years old, McCann is looking like a savior for the Thunder – 76ers fans are seeing a repeat of the mistake the team made when they let Isaiah Joe go.

Lonzo Ball is currently unemployed in the NBA, as the Cleveland Cavaliers traded him in a salary dump to the Utah Jazz, who immediately waived him. There are no strong indicators at this time that Ball will sign with a team before the end of the 2025–26 regular season. Now, he’s at least as busy with his brother LiAngelo on the Ball in the Family podcast, and in the latest episode of the podcast, he was reminiscing about his days with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ball got the big break of his career when the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade. And he looks back fondly on his time with the team, especially as he considers Zion Williamson to be the best fit for him in the NBA.

“To surround with? I would probably say, bullshit, low key probably Zion. Just because I can throw him the lob anywhere and if I get him in the pocket, just match my assists. He’s lying that shit down every time,” Ball said.

But Ball says that, considering the off-court bonding, DeMar DeRozan might be his favorite partner to wear his shoes.

“Off the court, it’s tough. [But] I respect Dibo the most. If I had to choose to be like a big brother in the league, I would say him,” Ball added.

Injuries significantly slowed down Lonzo Ball’s career

Ball was emerging as a 3-and-D playmaking point guard whose only goal on the court is to play winning basketball and make his teammates better. Sadly, he was out of action for over two years due to persistent knee problems, and while he looked good for the Chicago Bulls during the ’24-’25 season, his performance so far this season has been poor – so the Cavs decided to trade him.

At only 28 years old, perhaps Ball will get another chance to prove he deserves to remain in the NBA.

The Cleveland Cavaliers got revenge on the Detroit Pistons 113-109 on Tuesday as Jaylon Tyson and James Harden combined to lead the way at Rocket Arena.

The Cavaliers improved to 39-24. They lost to the Pistons 122-119 in overtime on Friday.

Tyson scored 22 points on 8 of 15 shooting, including five three-pointers, in another solid performance. He also added three rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Meanwhile, Harden recorded 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

Tyson was invited to the post-game conference, and he made sure to have one of his biggest supporters with him. jordan tyson sat on the sidelines That’s when he watched his older brother answer questions from the media, as shown in a video posted by Leah Doherty of Cleveland 19 News.

#cavs Jaylon Tyson is a special guest at the post-game press conference, his brother Jordan is here tonight. pic.twitter.com/a1KpoVnQrN

– Leah Doherty (@LeahDohertyTV) 4 March 2026

The younger Tyson, who starred for Arizona State, is hoping to have his name called in next month’s NFL draft. He is one of the top prospects at wide receiver, with many critics tagging him as a mid-first round pick.

However, there are concerns over his injury history, as he has struggled to remain on the field due to problems with his knee, collarbone and hamstring.

Still, that could mirror the journey of the elder Tyson, whom the Cavaliers drafted as the 20th overall pick in 2024. Although he was an unlikely prospect out of California and barely played in his rookie year, he has played a major role this season.

He is averaging 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.6 minutes per game. He ranks third in the league in three-point accuracy with 46%, behind only Luke Kennard and his teammate Sam Merrill of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kon Nueppel isn’t looking like a rookie at all despite it being his first season in the NBA. What a ride the fourth overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft has been for the Charlotte Hornets. Still, there have been moments this season where Knueppel has really had a rude awakening that, in fact, he is in the premier league for basketball in the entire world – facing the best players in the world.

One such player who gave Knueppel a “Welcome to the NBA” moment was Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Hornets newbie revealed in an appearance on SportsCenter that defending the freight train that is Antetokounmpo in transition was like scary prospect It reminded him that he really belongs in the NBA.

“There’s something there. Just coming back in transition and Giannis is running at you, full throttle. I think he scored,” Knueppel told Scott Van Pelt in a very funny way.

Con Knueppel joins @notthefakesvp Joins fellow Duke teammate Cooper Flagg to talk about the Hornets’ potential for a playoff berth, Durham and missing out on the Rookie of the Year race 👀 pic.twitter.com/EE8yspLupO

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 4 March 2026

Knueppel also recalled defending Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic as particularly memorable moments.

“I think about Steph Curry closing in and thinking ‘There’s no chance this isn’t going in.’ Or like Luka getting a switch and an ISO on the wing, Knueppel said.

Hornets’ Kon Knueppel welcomes future players to the NBA

Knueppel is already so advanced in his development that it’s not hard to see him already being nominated for future All-Star Games and even future All-NBA teams. At just 20 years old, his shooting is already elite, and he’s going to be such a big problem for opposing defenses – as if he wasn’t already.

The Hornets are nearly above the .500 mark after a rough start to the 2025-26 season, as they now have a 31-31 record heading into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics.

Lonzo Ball finds himself in limbo as no team has selected him since He was waived by the Utah Jazz After acquiring him in a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in February.

The Cavaliers signed Ball in the offseason, but only he gone 35 games, play A limited role off the bench. He became even more expensive with the arrival of James Harden.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson was excited about the addition of the selfless guard, praising his vision and playmaking. However, Atkinson could not get enough minutes on the ball.

28 year old ball is under multiple Mentor in the NBA, but on “Ball in the Family” he claimed to have been coached by his father, LaVar Ball, and his former coach at UCLA, Steve Alford h himburn.

“I felt like I was trained to be a certain way for a long period of my life, so when I got to the league, it was weird for me. Like if I was playing bad, someone would say, ‘Oh, it’s OK.’ He wasn’t translating for me. I would love to hear like, ‘What’s wrong? Do your work.’ It was an adjustment. “I haven’t been around a lot of coaches that can rub off on you like that,” Ball said.

“I think Stan Van Gundy was a little strict. But other than him, there’s not really any hard coaching here. I got a lot of hard coaching in college and really by my pops.”

He and his younger brothers, LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball, often credit their father for inspiring them to become good players. The elder Ball was punished for his flamboyance, but it’s hard to discredit his work in turning his sons into professional hoopers.

In addition to Atkinson and Van Gundy, Ball has played for Luke Walton, Alvin Gentry and Billy Donovan in the NBA.

He enjoyed his best season under Van Gundy at the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 118 games.

Ball has struggled to regain his form in 2022 after suffering a knee injury that caused him to sit out consecutive seasons.

When Anthony Edwards gets going, the Minnesota Timberwolves are nearly impossible to stop. That’s exactly what happened in their 117-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Edwards scored 13 points in the final frame, including 10 straight in one stretch, creating a comfortable cushion for the Timberwolves en route to their 39th win of the season in 62 games.

The Timberwolves are playing at a very fast pace, and Edwards has no choice but to adapt. Even though he admits it is not his favorite style of play, he acknowledges how dangerous he can be when the team gets out and runs – a playing style that has become more common For the team ever since they acquired Ayo Dosunmu via trade.

“Yeah, we added Bones and Ayo. … I’m not a fan of playing fast. But when I’m with them, I don’t have a choice because I always want the ball, and they’re gone. The only way to get the ball is if I’m next to them. I enjoy playing with Bones and Ayo. They’re super fast. They’re super fast with the rock,” Edwards told reporters after the game, via Dan Moore of Blue Wire.

Wolves are clearly playing fast since acquiring Ayo Dosunmu.

Anthony Edwards was asked what impact Dosunmu has had on the pace at which Wolves have been playing recently.

“I’m not a fan of playing fast. But when I’m with them, I have no choice because I want the ball,… pic.twitter.com/C3Qn1PfzJs

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 4 March 2026

The Timberwolves become even more versatile with Ayo Dosunmu

All things considered, the Timberwolves’ pace numbers haven’t increased much since adding Dosunmu. Dosunmu has played faster since they were acquired, but compared to the rest of the NBA players, the change isn’t as noticeable.

Minnesota’s default is still to play a little slower, with Edwards and Julius Randle preferring to be more methodical with their approach. But with Dosunmu partnering with Bones Hyland off the bench, the Timberwolves’ second unit looks to outscore the opposition at track meets.

This at least gives the team another dimension they can rely on when things get tough.

Victor Wembanyama sent a clear message on the unique situation of the San Antonio Spurs after Tuesday night’s emphatic 131-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Vembanayama did not need much time to strengthen Philadelphia’s defense. In 24 minutes of action, he finished with a stat line of 10 points, eight rebounds, six blocks, four assists and three steals. He shot 3 of 5 from the field, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Vembanyama reflected on the victory after the game. Enjoying a strong campaign for San Antonio, the young superstar center sent a bold message about the team’s quality compared to the rest of the league.

“When we play like this as a team, I think we’re the best team in the world,” Wembanyama said.

“When we play like this as a team, I think we’re the best team in the world.”

Victor Wembanyama after Spurs’ 40-point win over the Sixers 🗣️

(via @NBAonNBC)

pic.twitter.com/JPtz4DzV37

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama, how the Spurs played against the 76ers

Victor Wembanyama continues to stake his claim as one of the best superstars in the league. Furthermore, the Spurs have made serious progress as playoff contenders, their blowout win over the 76ers being another example.

The game started out close as San Antonio led only 32–25 after the first quarter. Despite this, the Spurs took a dominant lead in the second and third periods with an 81–39 performance and never looked back.

Eight players scored in double figures for San Antonio in the win, including Wembanyama. Devin Vassell led the team with 22 points, five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block. He made 7 of 10 shots overall, including 6 of 8 from downtown. Dylan Harper came next with 22 points and two assists, Stephon Cassel had 15 points and 10 assists, Keldon Johnson added 12 points and nine rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox and Carter Bryant each provided 11 points apiece.

San Antonio improved to a 44–17 record on the season and finished second in the Western Conference standings. They are 5.5 games above the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves while three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs will remain at home awaiting their next matchup. They will host the Detroit Pistons as tip-off takes place on March 5 at 8 pm ET.

MIAMI – Miami Heat captain Bam Adebayo is chasing Udonis Haslem’s record for most rebounds in team history, reaching a milestone in that goal on Tuesday. The Heat’s star in Adebayo displayed his defensive ability in Tuesday night’s 124-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets as he sent Haslem a message about getting closer to his record.

While Haslem still holds the record for most rebounds with 5,791, his defensive rebound mark of 4,176 has been broken by Adebayo, who now totals 4,180 after grabbing eight of them on Tuesday. Adebayo and Haslem have a close relationship off the court, but there is also a friendly rivalry due to the star’s speed, which is likely to see the 28-year-old break the overall record soon with 235 boards adrift.

“I’m on the way. He knows it, that gap is getting closer and closer,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints after scoring a game-high 23 points with nine rebounds. “Being a part of this organization, the guys ahead of me, there are records to be broken, but they want you to earn them. And obviously, I’m earning it every game, and at some point, it’s going to happen.”

However, in search of the full record, asked Bam Adebayo about breaking Udonis Haslem’s defensive rebound record:

“I’m on my way man, he knows it, that gap is getting closer and closer…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/dXdee71zZg

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 4 March 2026

Bam continues to make franchise history 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Kd2g1FfMPv

– Miami Heat (@MiamiHEAT) 4 March 2026

In addition to breaking records, the Heat’s Bam Adebayo is also playing elite defense

Adebayo is also demonstrating that he is one of the league’s best defensive players, as he led the NBA in defensive rating (99.7) in February. After the rare occurrence of not making the NBA’s All-Defensive team last season, he believes people may be “tired of seeing consistency.”

“But as I’ve grown up in this league, the standards have changed,” Adebayo said after recording a career-high six steals and a team-high +22 on Tuesday. “You’ve got guys that aren’t making the playoffs, they’re at the bottom of the league record… I don’t know if it’s just voter fatigue, but I’m always going to be first-team on defense. That’ll never change, no matter what the voters say. My guys know that.”

Bam Adebayo made it a point to remind people that he’s one of the NBA’s best defenders, despite not being on the All-Defensive team last season.

“I think people get tired of seeing consistency… I’m always going to be first-team on defense… My teammates know that…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/zUpEVCcjo8

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 4 March 2026

This type of outing from Adebayo is especially needed at this point in the season, as the team is trying to climb out of the eighth seed and play-in tournament play like they have been in the past three seasons. After the win over the Nets, Adebayo would insist that “we can’t afford any more mistakes.”

“We have a lot going on in the first half of the season, and you have to hold each other to a higher standard and accountability,” Adebayo said. “And it gets uncomfortable sometimes, because you feel like you don’t want to go too far, but in that sense, man, we’ve passed that stage, and we’re trying to do something special, and it’s going to affect all of us, and we have to hold each other accountable in some serious situations.”

Bam Adebayo asked about taking care of business tonight:

“We can’t afford any more mistakes, we’ve done a lot in the first half of the season… We’re trying to do something special and that will impress us all…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/9spUJ021BC

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 4 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on Bam Adebayo chasing Udonis Haslem’s record

Teams facing the Heat could be accused of tanking, they took care of business on Tuesday night against the now 15-46 Nets, led by Adebayo’s anchoring performance. As longtime teammate Tyler Herro talked about one of Adebayo’s better defensive seasons, another who has watched the big man up close is head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Tyler Herro speaks after the win over the Nets where he scored 22 on 8/15 from the field, 1-4 from deep.

Talked about getting more comfortable, predicted his three-point shot will get better as he plays, and more below. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/NK0YUd3h37

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 4 March 2026

Beyond basketball, Spoelstra will talk about the “quality human being” that Adebayo is, earning a chance to break the record of Haslem, a former player who has been a flag bearer for the franchise.

“I know he’s chasing him, so I’m sure he’ll do some crazy things to him. He wants to get the full rebound record, but it’s a testament to his consistency, and we love to see that,” Spoelstra said. “You know, records are meant to be broken, especially when good guys are breaking records. And Bam is a quality guy. And you know UD will love it when Bam finally surpasses him.”

“But he sets the tone in that first quarter,” Spoelstra continued. “I think he had four steals; he had a couple blocks in the first half, which really helped our defense. And that’s two really good defensive games in a row. Our defense has been good all year, but we need to step up to a really high level to finish out this regular season.”

Erik Spoelstra speaks on Bam Adebayo laying out and passing to Udonis Haslem for the most defensive rebound in Heat history.

“I know he’s stalking her, so I’m sure he’s saying some weird things…but that’s a testament to his consistency…”

Full Comment; #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/gtkvjlz8Xr

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 4 March 2026

At any rate, Adebayo and Miami will be looking to keep that going as they face Brooklyn once again on Thursday, with the team’s record at 33-29, which puts them in eighth place in the East, although they are a half-game behind the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

To say that the Philadelphia 76ers’ NBC “Throwback Night” showdown against the San Antonio Spurs did not go as planned would be an understatement.

Taking the court to Joel Embiid, Paul George and eventually VJ Edgecombe, who exited at halftime after a hard fall from fellow rookie Carter Bryant, the 76ers trailed the Spurs by 38 seconds in the game and never recovered, losing 78–53 at halftime and finishing with a certified blowout 131–91.

What happened? How did the 76ers, even with a depleted personnel, allow a game against a potential NBA Finals opponent to get so far away from them? Well, Nick Nurse tried to break it up, even if he didn’t realize it.

“I thought we were doing a good job of finding shots. I thought it was taking some time, and I kept saying that in the timeouts. The open shots aren’t coming as fast as they did last night, but they’re still there, you just have to be a little more patient and keep kicking out,” Nurse explained.

“And I thought, for the most part, I mean, obviously, he blocked some guys inside from our bigs. But I thought, other than that, we were doing a good job out there for a while. And then we just couldn’t; they made a lot of turnovers. Really, defensively the second quarter was really bad. Obviously, they were really rolling, hitting a lot of threes, getting to the rim. There was no resistance defensively.”

On offense, the 76ers were borderline destructive, with Tyrese Maxey outscoring the rest of Philadelphia’s starters 21–10, while only two other players, Jabari Walker and Cam Payne, managed to reach double figures. Sure, Embiid, PG13, and, for half of the game, Edgecombe, weren’t available, but when rotation players like Quentin Grimes, Dominic Barlow, Trendon Watford, Adem Bona, and Justin Edwards combined for just 26 points, the 76ers aren’t going to win many, if any, games, even if they lock in and play elite defense.

Nick Nurse discusses the impact of Victor Wembanyama and what went wrong in Tuesday night’s defeat to Spurs. | @kia pic.twitter.com/6G1OqhprvL

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

The budding partnership between the Toronto Raptors and Buffalo Bills continues. During the 2025 season, the Raptors expressed their support for the Bills on social media. Now, both teams are taking the next step as Toronto hosts Bills Night 2 this Tuesday.

The architects behind this collaboration are two former Raptors players: Hall of Famer Vince Carter and his cousin Tracy McGrady. During the event, Carter and McGrady talked about the rationale behind the collaboration.

According to Josh Levenberg, he said, “Why not bring the two sports together to support each other rather than against each other?”

Carter says the Bills and Raptors fan bases are very similar in their passion for supporting their home teams. Both Toronto and Buffalo have some of the most passionate fan bases, even earning their own nicknames (Jurassic Park for Toronto, Bills Mafia for Buffalo).

“Seeing what Jurassic Park is like, especially when they’re on the road during the playoffs and things like that. Seeing what the Bills Mafia is, if you’ve never had that opportunity, I recommend it, if you’re not a part of it, just to see it. It’s just something special and (we want) both sides to collaborate and do it together.”

How are Carter and McGrady tied to the Bills? In 2024, the two Raptors alumni, along with Toronto FC forward Joey Altidore, were part of a private equity group that purchased a minority stake of the team. Both Carter and McGrady are now part-owners of the Bills, prompting this collaboration.

The relationship between Toronto and the Bills goes back even further. From 2008 to 2013, the Bills played home games in Toronto as part of a series. Discussions have resurfaced about the Bills playing home games in Toronto following the MLSE partnership between the Bills and Raptors, but Buffalo is focused on opening their new stadium first.

The Raptors lost to the New York Knicks 111-95 on Tuesday night. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 31 points, while Immanuel Quickley had a double-double of 13 points and 12 assists against his former team.

LOS ANGELES – During one of Marcus Smart’s first media sessions as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of the season, he revealed a saying he has for every game. That is, ‘the toughest team sets the rules.’ This essentially means that the more physical team dictates which way the game will go. The Lakers haven’t always done a good job of following that quote, but Rui Hachimura believes they have gotten better in recent games.

The Lakers dominated from start to finish in consecutive wins against the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings, respectively. A big part of those wins depended on the Lakers coming out on top early and asserting their will in terms of physicality. This includes playing tough defense, diving after loose balls, hitting hard on the glass and other little things that don’t always show up with statistics.

“I think when we did that in the game today [against the Kings]game [against the Warriors]I think we have created the atmosphere. That’s why we were able to control the whole game,” Hachimura said after the win against the Kings. “So I think things like that, we have to keep doing it. I think sometimes we do it and then we stop doing it. So we just have to keep doing it. We’ve got to make those plays and those little things. We have to keep building.”

Hachimura returned to the Lakers’ lineup against the Kings after a brief two-game absence due to illness. His game was somewhat solid, finishing with eight points while shooting 2-4 from the 3-point line in a little over 22 minutes.

He has been coming off the bench since returning from a calf injury in mid-January. Hachimura has appeared in 48 games, including 31 starts, averaging a little over 29 minutes per game. He averaged 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds with splits of 50.1 percent shooting from the field, 44.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 74.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

But the Lakers’ overall toughness and physicality starts with smarts. He often sets the tone on the defensive end of the court, and is a big reason why head coach JJ Redick has opted to stick with Smart in the starting lineup following Hachimura’s return.

After the win against the Kings, Redick made sure to single out Smart for his impact on the game.

“I told the team afterward, I thought Smart’s defense … completely blew us away at different points in the game,” Redick said. “He finished with five steals, but he’s diving down the floor for loose balls. He’s starting the transition game for us. He switches to the five, sets him up perfectly. … He was another igniter for us.”

The NBA decided to move back completely to Tuesday night’s broadcast of the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers clash. NBC decided to use the aesthetic and sound of their old NBA broadcasts, and they had veteran commentators on the call including former head coaches Doug Collins and Mike Fratello, as well as play-by-play maestro Bob Costas.

Although the game, in the end, was not very competitive anyway, it at least created a sense of novelty that millions of fans connected with. There is nothing more nostalgic than listening to the old NBA on NBC theme while watching the broadcast team use retro graphics, as this has made many fans feel as if they are more in touch with their inner child than ever before.

The NBA on NBC is airing a rerun of tonight’s game between the Spurs and Sixers in Philly.

Bob Costas, Doug Collins and Mike Fratello are on the call. pic.twitter.com/XwWtt9I979

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 4 March 2026

“Loved the old school NBA graphics on NBC tonight. Also, Mike Fratello may be the most underappreciated analyst of my time. Dude is always hilarious,” wrote X user @jimmytraina.

@21stCenturyTim said, “The throwback NBC score bug is beautiful. Memo to every network, every game: This is all we need.”

The throwback NBC score bug is pretty cute.
Memos for every network, every game: That’s all we need. pic.twitter.com/HjMFA9sdJ9

– Tim Roberts (@21stCenturyTim) 4 March 2026

@GershOnline added, “NBC has completely recreated the graphics package from the original NBA on NBC. It’s throwback telecast artistry.”

NBC has completely acquired the graphics package from the original NBA on NBC.

This is throwback telecast artistry. pic.twitter.com/Zy1fM2UFGR

– Gershon Rabinowitz (@GershOnline) 4 March 2026

Fans mock 76ers for blowout vs. Spurs on NBC Throwback Night

The 76ers were missing Joel Embiid and Paul George in Tuesday night’s contest against the Spurs, and they also lost VJ Edgecombe to an injury during the game. Still, they couldn’t hold a candle to the Spurs, as San Antonio, at the time of writing, led by nearly 50 points – much to the dismay of fans.

“The Sixers should never have been allowed on national TV,” @kukblue1 wrote.

@TommyUndersSGS said, “I’m so glad they decided to air the Sixers game tonight on NBC. Keeping it nice and close.. only under 40.”

“NBC launched some old school NBA on NBC talent like Bob Costas, Mike Fratello, Doug Collins and Jim Gray for a Throwback Tuesday experience for the Spurs and Sixers to totally suck the game out. Thanks for coming to work today Philly ???,” @kensgotbs continued.

On Tuesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Detroit Pistons in a good litmus test for the East. Throughout the season, the Cavs have played below expectations, although they are turning over a new leaf since James Harden arrived via trade. And the Cavs, despite being without Donovan Mitchell for the night, overcame the Pistons and won 113–109 at home.

Halfway through the game, Cade Cunningham and former teammate Dennis Schroder had an interesting conversation. This piston looks like a star haven’t kept in touch much That’s even with Schröder after the two battled together in the postseason last year, and the German floor general told Cunningham how he felt about it.

“Don’t talk to me anymore. I tried to call you and you’re not answering the phone,” Schroder said via the official ClutchPoints account on X (formerly Twitter). “You got MVP mantras and now you’re not answering the phone, huh? Still I got you.”

“You got MVP mantras and now you’re not answering the phone, huh? Still I got you.”

Dennis Schroder to Cade Cunningham 😅
pic.twitter.com/ZzoETrATEm

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 4 March 2026

This could just be a joke between two former teammates. Schroder changes teams so often that it becomes difficult to keep track of where he is and what he’s doing, and perhaps Cunningham is the kind of person who isn’t very active in keeping in touch via social media.

However, it was Schroder who got the last laugh that night.

Dennis Schroder, Cavs get last laugh on Cade Cunningham, Pistons

The Pistons decided not to bring Schroder back after he played a key role in their playoff run last year, which ended with a loss to the New York Knicks after six games. But now that Schroder is back with a competitive team in the Cavs, he has a chance to get revenge on the team that let him go last year.

And on the night, Schroder at least got a return to action on the Pistons, and it could be a preview of a potential second-round matchup in the East.

Steve Kerr had something to share about Draymond Green’s frustrations amid the Golden State Warriors’ injuries this season.

The 2025-26 NBA campaign has been a tough one for Golden State. Jimmy Butler III suffered a season-ending ACL injury, while Curry is dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out for the next few games. As a result, Green is having to take on more responsibilities than before.

Kerr is very pleased with Green and how he is filling his role as he ages, but also with Curry and Butler out. Green is asking for a different role without involving the team’s stars.

“You take away all the threats around him and it becomes really frustrating for him and our team. It makes things really difficult in terms of rhythm and flow. He’s done a great job of doing the things we’ve been asking him to do. Less handling the ball at the top of the key. More screening and diving into ball screens. Running the floor and getting to the corners instead of running the play back,” Kerr said on the Tom Tolbert Show. Said at the 28:34 mark.

“He’s doing all these things, everything we’re asking. He’s having a great attitude on the bench and in the locker room, but he’s frustrated. All the frustration that comes with getting older and not being able to do things you could do a few years ago. It’s all playing into it and he’s handling it really, really well.”

Steve Kerr, what’s next for the Warriors?

Steve Kerr and Draymond Green have a lot of work to do to keep the Warriors in the playoff picture. While Stephen Curry has fully recovered, Golden State needs to hold down the fort for its superstar guard.

Golden State has a 31–30 record on the season, tied for eighth in the Western Conference standings. They are 1.5 games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers and 2.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers while trailing the Phoenix Suns by 3.5 games and 5.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors will continue to prepare for their next game while on the road. They will face the Houston Rockets on March 5, tip-off at 7:30 pm ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers were dealt a major blow on Tuesday, as VJ Edgecombe was ruled out for the rest of the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Edgecombe was trying to beat the clock at the end of the first half when Carter Bryant hacked him from behind as he was attempting a three-pointer. The high flying novice screamed in pain as he fell hard on the floor.

The 76ers later announced that Edgecombe would not return. back pain.

Following this contest from Carter Bryant, VJ Edgecombe suffered a heavy collapse until the end of the first half.

The Sixers announced that he would not return to the game due to lower back pain.
pic.twitter.com/iW4cPCLjaK

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

He finished with six points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks in 20 minutes.

The 76ers are taking a cautious approach with the 20-year-old Edgecombe. They don’t want to risk sending him back, especially when they are already down by a huge margin.

Despite his gun-ho style, which is vulnerable to physical impact, Edgecombe has remained relatively healthy and has played in only four games so far.

The former Baylor standout has been a big contributor for the Sixers since being selected as the No. 3 overall pick. Given his lack of size, there were concerns about whether his game could translate to the NBA. Well, he has proven the critics wrong by using his speed, agility, and athleticism as a quality contributor.

He averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals, while also providing stunning highlights on both ends.

At the time of writing, the 76ers are being destroyed by the Spurs, 111-64, in the third quarter.

When it comes to VJ Edgecombe, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie is as good as they come.

One of the best young players in the NBA who still can’t legally take the bar, Edgecombe has quickly established himself as a long-term starter for the 76ers, to the extent that Daryl Morey was willing to trade another young guard, Jared McCain, to guarantee maximum runway for the No. 3 overall pick.

So naturally, when Edgecombe gets a chance to showcase his fast-growing game on national television, especially against a future face of the league like Victor Wembanyama, he’ll have extra motivation to show up and show it on the court, right?

Eh, not so much, as before the game, Edgecombe had a simple answer for reporter Ashlyn Sullivan when asked if he was excited to face off against “The Alien.”

“Eh, not really,” Edgecombe announced.

“Eh…not really.” ???

This was VJ Edgecombe’s reaction when I asked if he was excited to go up against Victor Wembanyama. The rookie told me he only gets excited about winning basketball. More on Edgecombe and why he FaceTimed a fan on Sunday. @NBCPhilly pic.twitter.com/mnsSVXFTyn

– Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) 4 March 2026

A true success story of perseverance, Edgecombe came from a home in the Bahamas that used a generator to produce electricity to being a consensus five-star recruit who played his college ball at Baylor, and ultimately being the third-overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, where he was selected by Morey over other options like Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey.

Widely known as more of an athlete than a finished product coming into the NBA, Edgecombe looks quite polished as he prepares for his first trip to the NBA postseason, averaging 15.5 points, 3.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds a night, while playing really good defense and hitting 36.3 percent of his 5.8 3-pointers per game. If Edgecombe keeps this up, he will not only finish his rookie season with a spot on the All-Rookie team, but will also look forward to facing a star player like Wembley in the future.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has opened up about the challenges of his career, specifically his numerous injuries and criticism regarding his weight.

While he is one of the best players in the NBA, Williamson has struggled to stay on the court due to health issues. In an interview with ESPN, he admitted that he was disappointed when he missed his third season due to a broken foot and that people blamed his weight.

Instead of expressing sympathy for the 25-year-old star who is struggling with an ankle injury, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called him a “food addict.” He also claimed that the Pelicans “encouraged” him to talk to Williamson about his weight.

In response, Pelican posted a video of Smith’s popular bloopers on X, adding the caption, “Stick to solitaire, Stephen.” Bonus points for effortless alliteration.

Of course, Smith did not hide his anger and threatened the Pelicans.

“Removing stuff from a decade, two decades, three decades ago? No problem. See you all tomorrow at @FirstTech. Remember one thing: you asked for it!” the 58-year-old analyst wrote.

Pulling out stuff from a decade, two decades, three decades ago, ???? No problem. see you all tomorrow @FirstTech. Remember one thing: YOU ASKED FOR THIS!!!!

-Stephen A. Smith (@stephenasmith) 3 March 2026

The moment Smith doesn’t return a blow is the moment the world’s most distinguished historians will write about.

However, Pelican’s work was not complete, Posting a GIF Of Smith’s former partner, Max Zellerman.

https://t.co/Rgq8Y1zJv5 pic.twitter.com/ShVwloRERf

– New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) 3 March 2026

Smith has repeatedly been involved in well-publicized controversies, including an altercation with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James last season. James also tackled Smith during a game, with Smith later describing the move as “weak”.

Smith has often defended his role as a member of the media, and it seems he will pull the same card with the Pelicans. No, he can’t use it on solitaire.

Things are looking relatively good for the Toronto Raptors in the 2025-26 NBA season.

After missing out on reaching the NBA playoffs in each of the last three seasons, the Raps appear bound for a return to the postseason, as they entered Tuesday with a 35-25 record, good for the No. 4 spot in the current Eastern Conference standings. Only the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have better slates than Toronto.

Although it is still too early to talk about whether the Raptors are ready to make the playoffs, former Toronto star and Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady believes the team has what it takes to win at least one series in the postseason, despite its struggles in the Atlantic Division.

“They haven’t played well against their own division. But if they had played well against their own division, they probably would have been the second-best team in the Eastern Conference,” McGrady said, via Josh Levenberg of TSN Sports.

“So with that being said, they still have a lot of improvement. They could be a scary team in the playoffs.”

McGrady added: “And if they’re healthy and building some momentum going into the playoffs, I think they can win a series. I also want to give Scotty his flowers because this was his team for a long time, he was willing to make sacrifices for the good of BI. [Brandon Ingram] Come in, be yourself.

The Raptors are just 4-9 against Atlantic Division rivals heading into Tuesday’s meeting with the New York Knicks, although they are 27-15 overall against Eastern Conference teams.

Richard Jefferson took a stance on San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet by criticizing the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City promotional night on March 16.

Cornette wrote a letter objecting to the Hawks hosting ‘Magic City’ Night. Jefferson agrees with Cornette, but for his own personal reasons, and mostly the way he wants to raise his children, he says, he wouldn’t want them to see them at NBA games.

“I’m going to take Luke Kornet’s side. Magic City, everyone has the ability to do whatever they choose. Spend their money how they want, but the NBA, the brand, the logo. Let’s just say, I think the NBA can partner with whoever they choose, but I understand what Luke Kornet is saying. Especially in a very delicate time. You talk about women’s rights, but also women’s rights to do that. Have potential,” Jefferson said at the 23:11 mark on the road. Trippin’ Podcast.

“To look at it and say, hey we want to do it, but there will be kids at the game. These are things that I love, I’m taking my kids, my nine and eleven-year-olds, this is not what I want to present to my kids, that’s just me.”

What’s next for the Hawks amid Luke Kornet’s comments?

Richard Jefferson and Luke Cornett Hawks may have their own reservations about the Magic City celebration. It’s time to realize what Atlanta can do for this event, but the recent attention will provide plenty of scrutiny before the competition takes place.

Atlanta has a 31–31 record on the season, tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 0.5 games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks while trailing the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic by 1.5 games.

Coming off four consecutive wins, the Hawks will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Bucks on March 4th at 9:30 PM ET.

Kenny Attkisson knows the challenges of rebuilding. The former Brooklyn Nets head coach, now leading the championship hopefuls Cleveland Cavaliers, also knows what it takes to succeed.

While Atkinson acknowledged the difficulties of the Nets’ situation, he is confident The team would eventually advance, as their group did when they made the playoffs in 2018–19.

“You will definitely go through them [hard] moment. You like to be process-oriented and stick to it, but you’re going home after the game and you’re taking that L. It’s tough, especially when they start piling up,” Atkinson said before Brooklyn’s 106-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. “Everyone says, ‘Okay, don’t worry.’ Of course, if you’re competitive you worry. But that’s part of it, part of going through a rebuild and part of being a young coach. You’re looking at Charlotte right now, well, they went through it. that third year [in Brooklyn] When we were successful and reached the playoffs, it was almost doubly rewarding, because you go through these real struggles and tough times.

“I’ll never forget when we won the playoffs; it was like winning the championship. It was crazy, because you look back at the first year, I think we lost 27 out of 29. It was crazy, like, ‘Will we ever win another game?’ [The turnaround] That will happen here because they have drafted really good talent. They have a good coaching staff and a good front office. It will break. You’re just waiting for it, like ‘When’s that going to happen?’ And you look at it like, ‘Is it ever going to happen?’… But they work so hard, it’s going to happen eventually with the talent they have.’

Kenny Atkinson explains whether it’s difficult to maintain a positive attitude during a rebuilding year like the Nets:

“It’s tough, especially when the losses start piling up… My first year here, I think we lost 27 out of 29. It was crazy, like, ‘Can we… pic.twitter.com/IOIruXRfkk

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 1 March 2026

The loss was the Nets’ eighth consecutive loss to Cleveland, their longest of the season. Still, a four-point loss against the fourth-seeded Cavaliers after Friday’s 148-111 loss to the Boston Celtics was a step in the right direction.

Nets searching for wins through challenges of rebuilding season

In another season of rebuilding, Brooklyn’s focus is not on wins or losses, but on development. While developmental wins are paramount, they don’t show up on the scoreboard.

Danny Wolf admitted accepting reality has been a challenge in the Nets locker room.

“Most people in the NBA come from winning teams, no matter what level,” Wolf said. “This is the first time I’ve been a part of it, I don’t say we’re a losing team, obviously our record is 15-45, but we are the youngest team in the NBA and there are a lot of valuable lessons. I don’t like to say you can learn from losing, because it hurts and it sucks, and losing as a contender is one of the worst feelings, but with such a young group, I think there’s resiliency and fight. [is important]. When you lose by four points to a team that you lost to by 30 points a week before, I think that points to improvement.”

The Nets are hoping this rebuild will produce similar results to Sean Marks’ first. However, the current team is a stark contrast to the groups Atkinson coached from 2016 to 2019.

Brooklyn was devoid of rookie talent during those years. The Nets now feature an NBA-record five rookie first-round picks. While this is a luxury compared to their previous rebuilds, it is also an unprecedented challenge for Jordi Fernandez and his staff.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said of the difficulties of the situation in Brooklyn, “It’s hard to ask one 19-year-old boy to help another 19-year-old boy. It’s like asking a group of kids who are just learning to swim to make sure the other one doesn’t drown.” “You have to, sometimes, take a step back and give grace and be patient. They’re learning what it takes to survive in this league, which is a lot. When you have a lot of young players trying to do that, it’s hard to have the connectivity or cohesion that it can take to make some tough performances in a given game or over time. But it’s also very rewarding when you have guys with character, good young players and hard workers. Jordi [Fernandez] You have done a great job. You see the competition every night. You just have to live with it.

Mitch Johnson when asked how challenging he thinks it will be to develop five rookies for the Nets:

“It’s hard to ask one 19-year-old boy to help another 19-year-old boy. It’s like asking a group of kids learning to swim to make sure the other one doesn’t drown.” pic.twitter.com/dOFqkdPDpf

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 26 February 2026

The Nets have done their best to control the development of their rookies – Igor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Wolf. Apart from Demin, all of them have spent a long time in the G League. Each has been an encouraging addition to Brooklyn’s rotation, providing encouragement to the team’s brass.

The Nets’ 15-45 record puts them in prime position to add a star-level draft pick to their young core this summer. While draft status would remain the main story in the team’s last 22 games, Fernandez was adamant that his team would compete until the final buzzer of the season.

“The record is what it is. It is a reality, and we are well aware of it,” Fernandez said. “And at the same time, we don’t like it. Hopefully, everybody feels the same way, and that’s what our players do: They show up every day and work. It’s not pulling teeth, it’s not uncomfortable, it’s not a bad feeling. So it’s all good. Coming here and feeling like we can go against anybody should be very important. If you’re up 10, you want to be up 20. If you’re down 20, you Wanting that to be down to 10. Those things have to matter. We don’t have to flip a switch and suddenly we’ll be there.

“I like where the group is. The group cares, the coaches care, the organization cares. Finding our wins, we did it last year, we’re going to do it differently this year because it’s a different context. We really like where we are. We have a process and a plan. You can’t control everything because there are things that are [out of your control]But it is very exciting. And everyone should feel the excitement of the next step. Obviously, I want to win every single game, but to compete in these 25 and then play this summer, it’s the greatest summer of our lives.

chicago bulls The monkey was finally taken off their back after defeating the milwaukee bucks Spending February without winning a single game. On Tuesday, the Bulls faced the defending champion OKC Thunder.

Still, Chicago was without Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simmons, Patrick Williams and Jalen Smith due to injury. Ivey suffers from left patellofemoral pain syndrome. Meanwhile, Simmons is dealing with a left ulnar styloid fracture. Additionally, Smith is nursing a right calf strain and Williams is out with a right calf strain.

Before the game, head coach Billy Donovan officially outlined Here’s what each of these players will do over the next five games, according to Chicago Sports Network’s Casey Johnson. Donovan said Ivey would stay behind, but Simmons would travel. However, it is not guaranteed that Simmons will play. Williams and Smith, meanwhile, will travel with hopes of playing.

Additionally, Donovan predicted what he thinks will happen to these players upon their return.

“I think ultimately that’s what’s going to happen is that whenever these guys can come back and be somewhat healthy and complete, regardless of the number of games left, we’re going to have to evaluate it,” Donovan said.

The Bulls are 25-36 and have lost 9 of their last 10 games. Their next five games are on the road, starting Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. After this they will play against Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Next Chicago will be in California to play the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the LA Lakers on Thursday and the LA Clippers on Friday.

When highly optimistic Zion Williamson limped off the court in Utah with another ankle injury, the familiar fear that had eclipsed his career resurfaced. Another blow that resulted in the game being lost. Another story about availability, another cause for concern for the New Orleans Pelicans. Luckily, Williamson’s personal trainer Chris Crisp quickly reassured fans that the All-Star forward’s latest injury is just a setback that doesn’t deserve much media scrutiny.

Crisp, who is pulling double duty as a PR champion as well as training the 25-year-old phenom, posted a quick cool message to fans shortly after Williamson’s passing.

“In the past, it became a two-week story,” he said. “This year, it’s just a game and then get back to work. That’s growth. Availability isn’t luck; it’s the result of deliberate preparation and the discipline to be consistent.”

As far as sitting against the Clippers?

“Precautionary decision. We’re not chasing streaks. We’re building longevity. That’s the standard. See you all soon.”

The importance of a good public relations response cannot be underestimated. Before he could counter the negative narratives with some direct answers, he had fans rooting for Williamson simply by going over social media posts. This is something that has been suggested by many people for many years.

Thankfully for fans, even after years in the dark, Williamson finally felt comfortable stepping into the spotlight to address the situation directly.

“I looked in the mirror,” Williamson told ESPN. “It was ‘Am I doing what I need to do to stay on the court?’ Even if I feel like I’m doing a lot, there’s still more I can do. My trainer Chris is always telling me about different things and recovery methods.

Even broadcaster Antonio Daniels had to appreciate the work of Williamson and Crisp while on the road.

Daniels explained, “There are a lot of people who deserve credit for…34 games. First of all, you give credit to the New Orleans Pelicans’ performance staff, but also Chris Crisp, who is Zion’s personal trainer.” “He’s doing a great job physically and mentally. You can see it playing between the four lines. (Williamson) being available, him being active, him being impactful, is a beautiful thing.”

For a player whose career has often been defined by injuries as well as highlights, missing even one game can raise anxiety levels. However, this time, those closest to Zion Williamson say the situation is under control and it is far from becoming another long saga for the Pelicans.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are making their playoff push coming out of the All-Star break, and are trying to do so with Donovan Mitchell in and out of the lineup, as well as James Harden. The player fans have been eagerly waiting for is shooting guard Max Strus.

Strus has been out of the Cavs’ lineup the entire season as he recovers from offseason surgery on his left foot to repair a Jones fracture. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Cavs guard had surgery in August 2025 and was expected to return after three or four months.

But seven months later, Strus has still not returned to court. On Tuesday, the Cavs provided an injury update on Strus:

Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus continues his recovery after offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. Recent imaging has shown progressive healing, and in consultation with Dr. David Porter and team physician Dr. James Rosneck, Strus has made progress in individual on-court workouts as part of a structured ramp-up program.

The program will include controlled team activities and practice sessions with both the Cavaliers and the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.

Strus will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning under the supervision of the Cavaliers’ medical and performance staff, with continued evaluation. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.

Strus, who will turn 30 on March 28, is in the third year of a four-year, $63 million deal that was signed July 6, 2023. If he is able to return at some point in the final few months of this season, the Cavs will have plenty of rotational pieces to figure out.

Max Strus started 70 games at 32 minutes a night for the Cavs in the 2023–24 season, averaging career highs of 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Entering Tuesday’s slate of games, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the second seed in the East, just 2.5 games behind the Eastern Conference’s fourth-seeded Boston Celtics.

The NBA’s 2025-26 season has been surrounded by controversy, from one hot-button topic to the next, including the latest in which San Antonio Spurs veteran Luke Kornet condemned the Atlanta Hawks’ upcoming “Magic City Night” promotion. Cornette doubled down on his criticism of the Hawks’ plans, leading to an open letter asking the NBA to intervene in Atlanta’s scheduled promotion for their upcoming home game on March 16 against the Orlando Magic.

Cornette says the Hawks honoring a strip club by calling it “the city’s iconic cultural institution” is inconsistent with the values ​​of all NBA players, and the association should not have approved it.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his personal blog. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.

“Allowing this night to proceed without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, especially given our society’s complicity with the potential objectification and abuse of women. Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in the field experience abuse, harassment and violence to which they should never have been subjected.”

For the NBA, a league already mired in ethics concerns tied to its enthusiastic support of sports gambling, Cornette’s points are valid, given the negative connotations associated with the adult entertainment business. While the association’s effort to embrace the culture of the area, the Magic City, has been considered one of the foundations of Atlanta’s hip-hop music scene for the past two decades, the Hawks may have gone too far with their latest promotion.

Kornet’s latest campaign adds up to a difficult season for the NBA, given that the league has bigger issues to deal with technically. After Jonte Porter was banned from the NBA for life in April 2024 for violating league gambling policies, Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was arrested in connection with an illegal gambling scheme.

Former Portland Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also named in the federal investigation, which involved sports betting and rigged, high-stakes poker games. Former Detroit Pistons forward Malik Beasley was at the center of a separate investigation for alleged improper gambling on games during the 2023-24 season.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has generally been open to thinking outside the box, which has inspired league front offices to do the same in order to rebuild their rosters and compete for championships. Teams deliberately sitting their best players to increase their chances of receiving a high selection in the upcoming draft has emerged as one of the most controversial topics in sports.

The NBA has considered taking intense measures in response to teams intentionally sitting their players to improve their chances of losing. Changes included expanding the lottery to include all play-in tournament teams, determining lottery odds based on team performance over two years, and freezing draft lottery odds at the time limit to discourage intentional losing at the end of the regular season.

Luke Cornet addresses open letter ahead of Spurs matchup

Spurs veteran center Luke Kornet knows it’s rare for an NBA player to speak out about the Hawks’ promotion. Nevertheless, Cornette feels passionately about the topic and has not backed down since his initial blog post.

Cornette was forced to do so after learning of the Hawks’ “Magic City Night” promotion a week earlier. To declarehe said, according to ABC 6’s Jason Dumas.

“I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of other N.B.A. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that part of the discussion is expressed. It comes with people like criticism and things like that – that’s part of the process as to why people are hesitant to do it, but I think really trying to start and enable conversation,” Cornet said during the Spurs shootaround on Tuesday.

“It’s important to help make sure that everyone in the league is willing to be represented, and there’s an environment that you want.”

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

The Cornets have reached the league, but no changes have been made regarding the upcoming event. When asked by a reporter if he had spoken to anyone from the Hawks organization, he said, no.

Still, it’s another bad look for the NBA amid a season filled with bad publicity, ranging from allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to sports gambling investigations to issues stemming from teams intentionally tanking; It feels like one issue after another is coming to the fore during the 2025-26 campaign.

Will the Phoenix Suns’ newest acquisition, Haywood Highsmith, make his season debut on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings? The 6-foot-5 forward is unsure himself.

He was given a timetable of two to three weeks to return from knee surgery in August 2025. From the moment he arrived at the Valley of the Sun, Highsmith was committed to being ready for the final stages of the season.

“Doing a lot of work. Making good progress. Making progress faster than they thought and getting more comfortable every time working with rehab and stuff. Just looking good and feeling good,” Highsmith said during Tuesday’s shootaround, via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on Ax (formerly Twitter).

The former Miami Heat forward has defensive ability, which Phoenix was very interested in acquiring. After the Suns executed at the NBA trade deadline, they vacated a roster spot.

The signing of Highsmith was a bit of a surprise, given how he fits into Miami’s culture. But he fits seamlessly into Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott’s defensive scheme of players who can switch and be versatile on that end.

What can Haywood Highsmith bring to the Suns?

Defense, defense, and more defense. Despite not being the best offensive player, this was his calling card. However, Highsmith developed into a good 3-point shooter, getting 42 starts last season.

The 3-and-D philosophy will never go away in the NBA, and as long as a player can be effective on both sides, it’s usually a recipe for success.

And with Jordan Goodwin scheduled to be evaluated in about a week or two, Highsmith’s appearance comes at a critical time. Like Goodwin, the newest addition to the team will bring his own calling card.

“Defensively, that’s what I do. Pressing. Picking up, being that dog defensively. Crashing the glass, being a good shooter, playing off guys like (Jalen Green and Devin Booker) as a spot up shooter and just bringing that energy,” Highsmith said via Rankin.

“Just being a tough, solid guy and doing the intangibles and doing whatever it takes to win.”

No-ego is an automatic green flag for Suns, and they may find themselves a perennial lockdown savior. Now it remains to be seen whether he is fit on Tuesday despite no injury report.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – From the league’s investigation into starting the 2025-26 regular season to the shocking trades of James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the NBA trade deadline, this LA Clippers season has felt like two or three entire seasons rolled into one.

Elsewhere, the Clippers parted ways with a future Hall-of-Famer and the best player in franchise history in Chris Paul. Paul’s departure was a surprise to everyone in the league, drawing an outcry in support of Paul and heavy criticism for the Clippers, especially given the fact that it was his final season in the NBA.

After missing the NBA trade deadline and not being able to find a new home to finish the season, Chris Paul officially retired from the NBA at All-Star Weekend. This ended an illustrious 21-year NBA career and left only one member of the “Lob City Clippers”: DeAndre Jordan.

The center, playing in his 18th season in the NBA, is still going strong and is currently a starter for the New Orleans Pelicans.

In an exclusive interview following Paul’s retirement, Jordan told ClutchPoints that he is loyal to his former All-Star teammate.

“Oh, that’s my boy, man,” DeAndre Jordan says in an exclusive interview. “Chris helped my career tremendously, so no one can tell me anything bad about CP. He’s a Hall-of-Famer. He’s done a lot for this game. He’s helped a lot of young players, big guys, helped with IQ, you know. And then things off the court. He does a lot for kids and HBCU schools and everything. So it’s great to see him continue to be the same personality and life he has for people.”

Of the 243 teammates DeAndre Jordan shared the floor with during his 18-year NBA career, only Blake Griffin (543 games played) has played more games with Jordan than second-place Chris Paul (459 games played). The Jordan and Paul duo played in 406 regular season games in addition to 53 playoff games in six regular season games. The two had a .658 winning percentage, going 302–157 together in those 459 games.

Jordan is the player with whom Paul has played more games than anyone else in his 20-year NBA career, totaling 249 teammates.

With Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan all playing 338 games together, the Clippers compiled a 232–106 record (.686 winning percentage) while notching five consecutive 50-win seasons after the franchise had not recorded a single 50-win campaign in the previous 42 years.

That’s why stepping inside the Intuit Dome holds a special meaning for Jordan, who recognizes the enormity of the foundation laid by Paul, Griffin and himself from 2011-2017, despite never winning an NBA championship for the franchise.

Jordan said, “I mean, yes, obviously the three of us, but Steve Ballmer has done an amazing job with the organization, and the Clippers finally have their own arena, it’s good to see.” “It’s something we talked about for so long during my tenure here, spending 10 years here. But, you know, it’s cool, man. I love seeing Clippers Nation continue to grow and expand. That fan base that was amazing for my time here, and they continue to be amazing.”

Chris Paul joined the Clippers for his final season in the summer of 2025 with the understanding that he probably wouldn’t play much, but also that his tough leadership style would have to be reignited. The team struggled to start the season and, as they fell down the standings, league sources told ClutchPoints that Paul’s aggressive methods persisted to the extent that he got into a heated argument with assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy over changing the defensive scheme mid-game. Paul was later seen looking visibly upset during the team’s flight to Miami a day before being sent home by the Clippers.

The way the Clippers moved on from Paul — their franchise legend, in the middle of a night, on a multi-game East Coast road trip — set off a lot of alarms for people around the league.

DeAndre Jordan believes that Chris Paul’s leadership style is very specific, and it is that style that he finds essential to his career.

“I think he’s amazing,” DeAndre Jordan told ClutchPoints. “Yeah, he’s gonna push you, he’s gonna challenge you to be the best player. He’s gonna bark at you. And you know, it’s his Napoleon complex. But I mean, sh*t, for me, I needed it. And some players need it. Some guys don’t want to be challenged, and that’s OK. But I think if you ask any player, they’d want CP on their team.”

With Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan developed into an NBA All-Star in the 2016–17 season, completing his six-year tenure with Paul earning two All-Defensive First Team selections, two All-NBA Third Team selections, an All-NBA First Team selection and a two-time rebounding champion, while being voted in the top four in Defensive Player of the Year voting three years in a row.

Chris Paul finished his NBA career playing 21 seasons and exactly 425 regular season games for both the Clippers and New Orleans Hornets franchises. Despite the rough ending to this season, the Clippers are hopeful that time will heal all wounds and they will one day be able to retire the jerseys of DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin inside the Intuit Dome.

“I’m happy with his career,” Jordan said. “I wish her ending would have been a little different, selfishly, obviously, but I’m sure she’s at peace with it.”

Washington, DC – One of the Washington Wizards’ most dramatic games of the season was a 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday, which included a Trae Young ejection. But third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly’s season-high 23 points (9-16, 5-7 3-point) were the most important aspect of the night for Washington’s development.

The 21-year-old player told ClutchPoints after the game What has helped him improve? Recently his shooting took place.

Bilal Coulibaly scored a season-high 23 points tonight and went 5 of 7 from deep. His shot has improved significantly recently, and he attributes it to getting more reps and finding his rhythm. The oft-injured guard has been in the lineup consistently since late January, having… pic.twitter.com/EbxySnQcwl

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 3 March 2026

“Just getting more reps, being out there more,” he said. “Finding my rhythm, and yeah, just my thing.”

Koulibaly’s recent increase in shooting efficiency has coincided with his healthiest stretch of the season. The 6-foot-7-inch, 195-pound player has appeared in 15 of the Wizards’ last 16 games after missing multiple contests in each month from October through January. He struggled offensively throughout the postseason, topping out with a 41.7% field goal clip in January and a 29.6% 3-point clip in November. However, he posted a 46% field goal clip (33.3% 3-point) in February.

Head coach Brian Keefe was asked if the improvement was due to more reps or any specific changes such as his shooting form.

He said, “I’m not going to go into that specifically, but you know, he’s diligent about his craft, he’s working on specific things.” “It’s really intentional, and you have to put time into it, and he’s doing it all.”

While Keefe kept the details to himself, Coulibaly’s look now looks more effortless than ever. For example, the shot of the original Frenchman in this practice clip from October 18 was disjointed, because he didn’t always release the ball At the top of his jump.

After practice, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly hit three shots. Coulibaly continued to work after suffering a thumb injury at the EuroBasket. pic.twitter.com/xVcoVyCm8d

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 18 October 2025

However, Monday’s game was a different story. The clip below shows Coulibaly shooting with fluid motion And without a hitch, when he hit an off-dribble three after letting the ball go at the top of his jump.

Four triples in the first half for Bilal

📊 14 PTS | 4 pm 3 pm pic.twitter.com/Q5d76aewLj

– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) 3 March 2026

The eye test shows that Coulibaly has made necessary changes to his mechanics, which could change the direction of his career. At this point, the two-time Rising Star has established himself as a defensive specialist with supreme athleticism, as he is known for explosive dunks. But his field goal clip has decreased each season, as he posted a 43.5% mark as a rookie before dropping to 42.1% last year and 41.9% this year. Additionally, his three-point percentage as a rookie dropped from 34.6 last season to 28.1, and this year he is at 30.4%. This has made him a liability offensively.

Injuries have played a role, as Koulibaly was shut down in March 2024 with a right wrist fracture and then again last March with a hamstring strain. Additionally, the 2023 No. 7 overall pick had thumb surgery in September after tearing a ligament while playing for France at EuroBasket, causing him to miss the first four games of the season. He also had other minor illnesses due to which he lost time.

It’s difficult for a player to settle into a rhythm and improve when he’s constantly injured, but if Koulibaly continues to stay healthy and efficient offensively, he’ll make a strong case as a long-term player ahead of his first extension-eligible offseason.

Young, who will make his Wizards debut on Thursday at home against the Utah Jazz, should get more open looks than Coulibaly because of his offensive intensity. If the latter player takes advantage of the opportunity, he could finish the season with a career-best shooting percentage.

Trae Young, Kevin Durant headline fun Wizards-Rockets contest

Young (knee/quad) didn’t play Monday, but he made his presence known when he was ejected for walking the floor in street clothes while Washington rookie Jameer Watkins and Houston forward Tari Eason got into an altercation. Youth was stuck For Watkins, as Eason had pushed him to the ground moments earlier.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Fans cheered Young as he entered the tunnel, and after the game he posted about the incident on social media.

He added, “Don’t expect me to be out in DC that many times.. but I’ll definitely bring that energy and competitiveness when I come back for my brothers.”

Although Young broke the rules by taking the court as a passive player, it showed that he cared about his teammates. Additionally, the former All-NBA honoree announced via social media on Tuesday that he will not be suspended before Thursday’s start.

Additionally, Rockets superstar and D.C.-area native Kevin Durant recorded 30 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3-point) with seven rebounds in 37 minutes on his homecoming night. The 37-year-old also became irritated with second-year Wizards guard Bub Carrington as the two talked trash before pushing Carrington back at the end of the game. The latter player then fell to the ground and Durant faced a technical foul.

However, the future Hall of Famer held no grudge against Washington. it was seemed to be giving signals Second-year Wizards wing Keyshawn George postgame via On SI’s Lachard Binkley.

KD loves basketball. Even after playing 37 minutes, he is still giving the other team’s youngsters pointers that they can use for the rest of their careers. pic.twitter.com/HvUUvyak7m

– Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) 3 March 2026

Durant also said he is “excited for the hometown team”, now that youth and star big man Anthony Davis is in the district via Carita Park of Double Take Sports. Wizards fans haven’t had much to get excited about in recent years, but the team’s young core combined with their new stars and whoever they draft in the lottery this summer gives them a chance to be competitive next season and beyond.

There is increasing buzz about the possibility of Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum returning from his Achilles injury before the end of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

There has been no official announcement regarding this yet, but many believe that the former Duke Blue Devils star will be on the floor sooner than expected for the start.

And if it’s going to happen, will it happen this Wednesday, when Boston takes on the visiting Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden in Beantown? Here’s everything we know about Jayson Tatum’s injury and his playing status against the Hornets.

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Jayson Tatum Injury Status vs. Hornets

Despite the discussion, Tatum will not debut against the Hornets in the 2025-26 season, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

“Jayson Tatum is out ahead of tomorrow night’s Hornets-Celtics clash. Amid speculation that he could return on Wednesday, that won’t be the case for the All-Star forward,” Seagal shared via a social media post on Tuesday.

Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon injury during Game 4 of the Celtics’ second-round NBA playoff series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2025. He went under the knife the next day to repair the injury and was subsequently declared out for the rest of the playoffs and expected to be unavailable for the entire 2025–26 campaign.

However, reports have revealed that Tatum has begun participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages, leading to speculation that he is getting ready to see action this season. Additionally, he also practiced with Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.

In any case, the Celtics are performing well even without Tatum. They enter the meeting with Charlotte with a 41-20 record, second in the Eastern Conference standings and a three-game winning streak following a 108-81 defeat of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The 28-year-old Tatum has played 585 games since being selected by the Celtics as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, averaging 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from behind the arc.

So, when the question comes whether Tatum is playing against the Hornets, the answer is no.

celtics injury report

Jayson Tatum (Achilles): out

hornet injury report

Coby White (calf): Out vs. Mavericks (Tuesday)

While Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen may not have won Cade Cunningham’s NBA Player of the Month award for the Eastern Conference in February, his incredible 11-game performance cannot be ignored. He averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks in less than 30 minutes per contest for the Cavs, with a 74.0% field goal percentage.

This led the entire NBA, and, as Eric Slater of ClutchPoints wrote, he was the only player in the league to average 20 and 10 on at least 50% shooting.

After the team’s last home game, a stunning 109–94 win over the New York Knicks a week earlier, Larry Nance Jr. drew attention to that dominance in Donovan Mitchell’s postgame interview. Before the real question came up, he asked the All-Star guard about the “God of Greats.”

“There’s Masked Kobe [Bryant]jersey-untucked bed [Irving],” Nance said. “Where does Black History Month Jarrett Allen come into play?”

“I mean, Black History Month JA is definitely a thing at this point,” Michelle responded, as Allen leaned in to listen. “Dr. [Anthony]. Let’s make it a thing.

As funny as that exchange was, the loud praise that Allen received in the locker-room was well-earned and appreciated.

Allen has been a strong player on the inside and his start to the month was described as a Hakeem Olajuwon-like performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. Allen scored a career-high 40 points with 17 boards, five assists and four blocks. It featured his face photoshopped onto the famous “100” photo of Wilt Chamberlain in celebration in the locker room.

This would ultimately be a precursor to what would come in February, which saw him record nine double-doubles in 11 opportunities. With Evan Mobley sidelined with a calf injury, Allen was playing well even before the Cavs rebuilt their roster with a franchise-altering trade for James Harden.

“He’s just caught this wave, this momentum. He’s playing out of his mind. I mean, both ends,” Atkinson said, noting his defensive rating of 84 against the Knicks. “He’s playing great basketball. Confidence. I think his usage increased a lot with Evan being out. I think it gave him confidence. He started taking some risks out there. And then, he always finishes in the paint, right? First in the league in field goal percentage last year. So he can do that.”

But since Harden adapted to alcohol and gold, the relationship has become just as natural. The 36-year-old’s pick and roll savvy, coupled with Allen’s timing and footwork, are a match made in heaven.

“Being out there, JA, I can say he’s a lot better than I thought he was in terms of being able to catch the ball, being able to finish around the rim with both hands,” Harden said. “He has a lot of touch around the rim, and I think that’s probably one of the most underrated parts of his game. So just trying to find ways to get him the ball and in positions where he can be successful, and the same thing with Eve and all of our big guys…

“… Just defensively, how active he is offensively, how he understands, when to roll to the basket, when to roll short, when to find the pocket, screening angles, different things like that. And he’s so athletic; he gets into a roll. It’s getting off screens or setting screens quicker, that’s something I’ve had to get used to. No disrespect to different players. [Ivica] Zubac is also really good in his own way, but Jarrett is like a speed roller, so I’m really going to have to get used to finding that speed.

Allen acknowledged that Harden’s arrival has only reinforced the positive play that has continued over the past month and a half.

“Just his patience,” Allen said. “He won’t force any shots. He won’t force any lobs all the time. He won’t try to force hero plays. He’ll try to pick apart the other team, just try to read their defense and try to make the right play.”

Mitchell said of Allen’s mentality with Harden, “Just aggressive, aggressive, vocal on both ends of the floor.” “He’s in the pick and roll. He’s on the boards. He’s getting the ball in the paint. Sometimes we feel like he’s surrounded by four guys and he’s still getting out there, finishing through contact. This is the most aggressive I’ve ever seen him. And that was before James. And now, you add James, and it’s like a whole ‘nother layer. He’s really being vocal, and we need that.”

It also helps his recovery from two separate, painful finger injuries suffered early in the season.

“I mean, he was really dealing with broken fingers,” Atkinson said. “He tried to play through it. And then, we made him sit out for a few weeks, right, and we paid for it [in the] Win-loss column, but we had to get it right. I think he is healthy, [it’s] That’s definitely a part of it.”

What Kenny Atkinson told Jarrett Allen to lock him in

And yet, none of these reasons are the primary reason he plays with an edge every night.

“Kenny challenged me,” Allen said. “Evan was out, Evan hurt his shin, he told me, came to me and said, ‘You’ve got to pick it up. You’ve got to make up for the loss of rim protection, the loss of offensive ability.’ And I took it to heart. I went out there and honestly just started having fun and not really caring about the mistakes I was going to make, and just started playing freely, and it’s working out for me.

“I always try to say I’m the perfect soldier. You tell me to do something, I’m blindly going to do it, whether I believe it or not. And it’s working.”

Mitchell raised his head and gazed at Allen with open ears in his last interview after the game.

“Hopefully, we’ll keep it going until March, right?”

Cunningham and the Pistons are in town for a rematch of a classic, wild overtime game between the two just four days ago.

Expectations are now set for Allen even with Mobley back, which means the Cavs will have to continue to find The Fro at lower levels.

As the playoff season approaches, the Timberwolves have added running back Kyle Anderson to the team. Anderson is no stranger to Minnesota fans, as he played with the Timberwolves from 2022 to 2024. After playing with the Warriors, Heat, Jazz and Grizzlies, he has now returned to the Timberwolves after being waived by Memphis.

Rudy Gobert, the starting center for the Timberwolves, jokingly teased Anderson upon his return to the team. In a clip posted by Underdog NBA, Gobert explained what the team missed without Kyle Anderson.

“I think just passing the ball…Yeah, somebody that wants to pass the ball to his teammates.”

But Gobert acknowledged after his joke that Anderson brings an important skill in playmaking to the team.

“But yes, he’s a coordinator. So, somebody who makes plays for his teammates.

Kyle Anderson began the season with the Utah Jazz, a team he landed in the 2025 offseason after being included in a three-team trade. With the Jazz, he averaged 7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was then part of the huge trade deadline move that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. He played four games with the Grizzlies before ultimately being released by the team.

The addition of Andersen to the Timberwolves’ rotation gives them more depth at forward. He can also serve as a veteran presence in the locker room. As a veteran vet over his 12-year career, he also saw the Timberwolves achieve contender status, as he was a member of the 2024 Minnesota team that reached the Western Conference Finals against the then-Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks.

Speculation over a possible rift between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick was put to rest Tuesday when ESPN insider Dave McMenamin publicly addressed the situation, saying there is no feud between the Los Angeles Lakers star and head coach.

Speaking on ESPN’s NBA Today, McMenamin spoke at length with league and team sources after video of Saturday’s 129-101 win over the Golden State Warriors circulated online.

“I checked with people around the league and within the team and I’ll let you know my report,” McMenamin said. “A source around the league said when they saw the video – L.A. is different, the smallest thing turns into the biggest thing. A source close to Luka told me that he and JJ have a strong, close relationship that goes back almost a decade and they are both extremely competitive and they push each other.”

The moment in question came when Doncic exited the game and headed to the bench. Redick grabbed Doncic’s wrist in an apparent attempt to talk him down. Doncic pulled out and remained in his seat, while Redick followed him. The two exchanged words before Reddick walked away. Doncic then stood as if continuing a conversation, while Jared Vanderbilt stood beside him to prevent him from moving forward.

“If you’ve been around an NBA basketball team full of guys who live to compete, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to move toward a common goal.”@mcten On the relationship between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/T9eK9L5Tsv

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 3 March 2026

Lakers insider shuts down speculation about Luka Doncic-JJ Redick feud

The altercation quickly spread on social media, leading to speculation that there was tension between the franchise’s key player and the first-year head coach.

McMenamin continued by emphasizing the competitive context behind the exchange.

“A team source said, “Find me a star in the NBA who isn’t down in the middle of a three-game losing streak, and so it’s much ado about nothing, but we know the Internet loves to entertain itself. In this case, if you’ve been around an NBA basketball team that lives to compete, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to move toward a common goal.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have faced intense scrutiny throughout the season, especially after the high-profile acquisition of Doncic and Redick’s transition from analyst to head coach. Competitive exchanges between players and coaches are common in NBA locker rooms, especially during offseasons.

Los Angeles entered Tuesday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans in sixth place in the Western Conference with a score of 36-24. The Lakers will look to extend their two-game winning streak as they continue their push toward the postseason.

The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night and Donovan Mitchell is once again at the center of the injury report. He has been officially listed with a right groin strain, putting the Cavaliers franchise star in focus as Cleveland looks to win back-to-back games and solidify its position in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers enter the matchup at 38-24, No. 4 in the East. Meanwhile, the Pistons are the No. 1 seed in the conference and are aiming to extend a three-game winning streak after defeating the Cavaliers 122-119 on Feb. 27. With both teams striving for speed late in the season, Mitchell’s availability is big.

Mitchell continues to be Cleveland’s offensive engine whenever he is on the field. Through 55 games, he has averaged 28.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three and 85.2 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributes 1.6 steals per game and puts consistent pressure on the opposing backcourt. His scoring gravity reshapes defensive coverages and opens up clean looks for teammates.

When Mitchell plays, the Cavaliers operate with pace and structure. Without him, shot creation becomes more committee-based, and late-game execution can tighten.

Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. Pistons

The Cavaliers’ injury report extends beyond Mitchell. Darius Brown and Riley Minix are out on G League two-way assignment. Max Strus is sidelined after having surgery on his left foot for a Jones fracture. Dean Wade is questionable with a right ankle sprain.

On the Pistons’ injury report, Isaac Jones and Wendell Moore Jr. are out on a two-way deal, while Bobby Klintman, Chaz Lanier and Tolu Smith are questionable while on G League assignment.

Still, Mitchell’s absence matters most. Detroit, sitting on top of the East, will see this as an opportunity to protect home court and continue building separation. Meanwhile, Cleveland will have to prove it can maintain its momentum without its leading scorer.

So when the question comes whether Donovan Mitchell is playing tonight against the Pistons, the answer is no. A right groin strain will keep him sidelined, forcing the Cavaliers to make adjustments as they pursue back-to-back wins against the East’s top team.

Although Trae Young has not played a game for the Wizards yet thrown out during Lost 123-118 to the Rockets last night. Late in the third quarter of the game, there was a brief skirmish between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason that led to the game being stopped. While Young did not involve himself on the field, he walked off the court as it was happening, causing him to be ejected.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Although ejections do occur from time to time and are used as both punishment and deterrent to prevent situations from escalating, it is not every night that a passive player is ejected. It is also rare for a player who is not a good fit for a team to be dropped. As a result, questions arose as to whether Young would be punished for the ejection. According to NBA insider Mark Spears, he’s in the clear.

“I’ve been told that no further discipline is expected from the league office for Washington’s Trae Young after he was ejected for ‘running on the court’ in Monday night’s game against Houston,” Stein said. He said Young’s highly anticipated debut as a member of the Wizards will come Thursday when the team faces the Utah Jazz.

Young has only played 10 games this season due to injury, but is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists as well as one steal per game.