分類: 综合

Anything is gravy for the Los Angeles Clippers at this point in the season; Whatever they accomplish from here will already be such a huge win when taking into account where they have to start the 2025-26 NBA season. This Clippers team started the season losing 21 of their first 27 games, and looked like a complete bust. But then Kawhi Leonard turned in arguably his most impressive self to date and saved the Clippers from deep.

At the time of writing, the Clippers’ record is 36-36, meaning they have won 30 of their last 45 games. This is a team that cannot be underestimated, as LA has been stopped in its tracks by not making the slightest of roster changes before the trade deadline.

Now, the Clippers have faced a difficult situation recently. But they still went 9-5 in the month of March and managed to reach the eighth seed in the Western Conference – a scenario that would seem absurd to any fan of the team if this news had been delivered in mid-December.

But with everything going well for the Clippers, especially considering where they are coming from, some fans will be anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, this is the Clippers franchise; There may have been some good moments in the team’s history, but bad luck somehow gets in the way of the franchise.

Ultimately, this is the scenario that any Clippers fan would dread as the start of the postseason and play-in tournament approaches.

Clippers’ nightmare scenario: Kawhi Leonard gets hurt before play-ins

As mentioned earlier, the fact that the Clippers have managed to rise from the dead in this way is already a huge win for the franchise. Never mind that the Clippers would blow up another first-round pick in the middle of the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The fact that they have a chance to not accept a lottery pick is already a big win.

The Paul George business already has sunk costs. He invested a lot of resources on a team that had two to three years of competition experience and in the end, injury problems became too much for the team to overcome.

It would be a cruel twist of the knife if somehow, injury problems become the thing that prevents the Clippers from exceeding their lofty expectations once again.

Leonard, in particular, is the healthiest he has been in years. Last season there were signs that the 34-year-old star was in decline and that his career was on the decline. He had some memorable outbursts in the playoffs, but no longer appears to have the superstar ability to carry teams.

But Leonard’s knees look healthier than ever; In fact, it has been his ankles that have been giving him the most problems all season. For someone who has struggled with chronic knee problems, Leonard’s health has been quite a gift. It would be a shame if Leonard, knock on wood, somehow re-aggravates his knee problems that will keep him out of playing a tournament game or two for the Clippers.

Leonard’s injury problems in the playoffs are well documented. He tore his ACL in 2021, when it looked like the Clippers had the best chance to win the title. In 2023, George tore his meniscus after battling tooth and nail against the Phoenix Suns in the first round amid injury. And then in 2024, when the Clippers got a new lease of life with James Harden, Leonard was a strong player in his own right and was a non-factor in a six-game series loss against the Dallas Mavericks.

If Leonard suffers a serious injury, nothing could go wrong for the Clippers. This is the scenario that would cause the sky to fall outside the Intuit Dome and would put quite a spin on what has been a fun rollercoaster of a season for LA.

Clippers’ nightmare matchup scenario: LA slips to 10th, faces Stephen Curry-led Warriors

As far as matchups go, the Clippers should remain firmly entrenched within the seven to 10 range in the Western Conference postseason picture. They are 7.5 games behind the sixth-place Houston Rockets in the win-loss column at the time of writing, which is impossible to accomplish with 12 games remaining in the season.

The Clippers can still reach the seventh spot, giving them homecourt advantage in 7/8 play-in games. It’s suited for LA; They are 20-15 at home, and if they lose, they have another chance to make the playoffs in another home game against the winner of the 9/10 matchup.

However, the Clippers are closer to falling to 10th place than reaching seventh place. They are 3.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns, while they are just two games ahead of the struggling Golden State Warriors. There’s a chance the Clippers still move up to the 10th seed, especially as they have three games remaining against the Dubs (one) and ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers (two).

LA will want to avoid slipping to tenth place, as they will be forced to fight for their postseason lives on the road against one of two teams with a winning record at home. The Clippers are just 16-21 away from the Intuit Dome, which is far from the worst, but it’s not the most promising either.

What will be even more disappointing will be that the Clippers will be playing against a Warriors team in the 9/10 play-in game as Stephen Curry returns from injury. Now, there is nothing concrete yet about when Curry will be able to return.

But the Dubs are hopeful he can play before the season ends. And Curry, given how battle-tested he is, is not someone the Clippers want to face in a do-or-die situation on the road.

The 2025-26 season isn’t even remotely going as planned for the Golden State Warriors. After the 2025 NBA Playoffs gave the franchise hope that if they could get everyone healthy in time for the playoffs, they could compete with the best, the Warriors’ injury problems have worsened this season.

Jimmy Butler tore his ACL, sending Stephen Curry’s co-star to recover – largely destroying the Warriors’ title hopes. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis, who has been missing regular time due to illness. Moses Moody has suffered a nasty knee injury which is sure to keep him out for a while. And now, even Curry is battling persistent knee troubles, which has cast such a huge cloud of uncertainty over the team.

Still, as the old saying goes, it’s not over until it’s over. The Warriors are still in the postseason picture, and unless they are eliminated, there is a chance they can make things difficult for at least the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

At this point, qualifying for the playoffs in any capacity is already a huge win. This season is long lost for the Dubs, and there is no way they can force Curry to return before his body is ready.

That said, this is the Warriors’ dream seeding and matchup scenario heading into the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Warriors dream scenario: Earn the eighth seed, Stephen Curry gets healthy

At the time of writing, the Warriors have a record of 34–38, as their difficult month of March (they went 3–9 in the calendar month) has caused their decline in the Western Conference standings. They find life extremely difficult without Curry, as they don’t have enough fire and star power to survive in a loaded conference without their best player, making life easier for the rest of the roster.

Now, discussing the shortcomings of the roster is not the subject of this article. But to summarize, the Warriors have a roster full of role players and support players that can’t increase their production as much when their best player is gone, leading to a lot of inconsistencies from game to game.

And Curry’s return doesn’t seem imminent; While the Warriors are insisting he is on track with his recovery, he was not able to participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages over the weekend, while the team initially hoped he would. This knee injury may be more serious than the Dubs have indicated, although that shouldn’t be a surprise considering Curry is 38 years old.

But unless Curry is sidelined for the rest of the season, the Warriors hope they can keep things competitive in the play-in tournament picture. If Curry is ultimately ruled out of the play-in tournament game, it is safe to say that the Dubs will not be favored in any way in any games against other potential play-in teams in the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.

However, if Curry returns, it changes the equation drastically in the Warriors’ favor. Curry is a big-game player who has gone through every battle imaginable during his NBA career, and there is no way he should be fazed in a game. There will be concerns about his form when he returns from injury, but he has performed brilliantly in the past after returning from a long absence.

Curry will get the Warriors offense humming once again; Without running around the court to create space, the Dubs’ offense becomes stagnant and inefficient and overly reliant on making difficult shots. With Curry’s return, his teammates have reduced responsibilities, and they can move back into more comfortable supporting roles, restoring balance to the team.

If Curry comes back for the Warriors in the next week or so, it’s even better for the Warriors. This gives them a better chance of avoiding the dreaded 9/10 play-in tournament games. The Dubs’ play-in history isn’t very encouraging, so it’s important to give themselves a better chance of reaching the playoffs by giving them two chances to qualify instead of just one.

The Dubs are just two games behind the Clippers for eighth place in the conference, and that’s a deficit they can make up with 10 games remaining in the season.

The game against the Suns is very winnable at the moment; Injury problems have also hit the Suns badly, with Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams, who were key players for the team, currently on the mend. The Suns have been playing below .500 basketball in the month of March, and the Warriors can certainly give them a run for their money – especially with Curry back.

The blueprint for the Warriors to make the playoffs in this dream scenario is clear: They must earn the eighth seed (very possible with four games remaining against the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, and a key matchup against the Clippers), defeat the Suns, and have a tough contest against the inexperienced San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Now, the Warriors will be heavy underdogs in the playoff series against the Spurs. But Golden State is currently winning the season series against San Antonio (2-1). The caveat is that the Dubs had won these two wins before Butler’s season-ending injury. Still, this suggests he may remain with the Spurs in some capacity.

The potential playoff series against the Spurs also feels like a passing of the torch moment. As anyone may remember, a young, improved Warriors team led by Curry faced the Spurs in the 2013 NBA Playoffs and were defeated in a six-game first round playoff series.

Now, it’s the turn of the young, rising Spurs to face a more experienced team that is at the end of its competitive phase – which could be a fitting bookend to the true end of this Warriors dynasty.

The Washington Wizards were victorious 133-110 against the Utah Jazz in the meeting between the two teams in the Cellar at the Delta Center on Wednesday.

The Jazz suffered their seventh loss in eight games, while the Wizards lost 16 games. Washington took a huge lead of 72–45 at halftime and never looked back.

If there was a ray of hope for the Jazz, Ace Bailey delivered another all-around performance with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. However, he struggled from the field, going 7 of 19, including 1 of 6 shots from long range.

Still, Utah coach Will Hardy decided to focus on the positives, and praised the 19-year-old rookie for accepting the pressure. top choice Amid their depleting roster.

“Ace is taking on more responsibility for a longer period of time in the game. I think it’s really good for him to take so much time off. I don’t want him to feel like he has to go the whole game and be like that,” Hardy said in a video posted by Sports Illustrated.

“But matchup recognition is a big part of not only the ace’s life, but also the development of our young players. When the ace has a favorable matchup, we want him to take advantage of it without turning our team into a one-on-one team.”

Will Hardy breaks down how Ace Bailey has handled the scoring options while the Jazz have dealt with injuries:

🗣️”Ace is taking on more responsibility longer in the game. I think it’s really good for him to get so much time…” pic.twitter.com/L7zbVaSScL

– Utah Jazz On SI (@JazzOnSI) 26 March 2026

Bailey, who had consistency problems at the beginning of the season, has been putting up solid numbers in recent weeks. Hardy also credited his other players for helping the fifth overall pick and putting him in favorable situations.

“It takes all five players thinking together to really make it work, but the ace recognition has definitely improved,” Hardy said.

The Jazz were severely weakened against the Wizards, as Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier and Bryce Sensabaugh were sidelined.

Utah fell to 21–52.

The Houston Rockets set a new record against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Wednesday. However, they would like it to be erased as soon as possible.

The Rockets lost to the Timberwolves 110–108 in overtime, blowing a 13-point lead in extensions. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, citing ESPN, this was the largest lead in overtime in NBA history.

Siegel at the

Julius Randle was the hero for Minnesota, sinking the game-winning jumper with 8.8 seconds remaining. Due to frustration with the officiating, particularly regarding Naz Reed’s ejection in overtime, Randle made an offhand comment following their win.

The Timberwolves improved to 45-28, while the Rockets, who are 2-4 in their last six games, fell to 43-29.

Kevin Durant led Houston with 30 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He had a chance to steal the win for the Rockets when Randle was fouled on a shot attempt with 3.3 seconds remaining. However, Durant missed the first freebie. He was 23 of 23 from the line before him.

He intentionally missed the second, but Houston never got the chance, allowing the Timberwolves to escape with an improbable victory.

Siegel said, “This is going to be the nail in the coffin for the Rockets this season. What a disaster.”

This is no time for a recession for the Rockets, as they chase homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

They will visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Joel Embiid has earned an unfortunate reputation throughout his career. Although he is one of the best centers of his generation, the Philadelphia 76ers star often finds himself on the sidelines. Injuries have been a sadly common theme for the star centre, as his body has suffered a number of injuries throughout his career.

The same can be said this season also. Embiid has already missed more than half the season after undergoing knee surgery earlier this season. The 76ers center played his first game since suffering an oblique strain this past Wednesday. After the win over the Chicago Bulls, Embiid talked about his injury and why his oblique injury is “harder” to recover from than a knee injury.

“My knees haven’t been a problem for a long time,” Embiid explained. “That’s a thing of the past for me. The slant was very tricky, and it’s still tricky. You can’t really do anything about it, you have to let it play out and hope it doesn’t get worse.”

Before the game against the Bulls, Embiid had missed the previous 13 games due to an oblique strain. However, before that injury, the 76ers star missed a large portion of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The surgery was performed after the 2024-25 season and was intended to alleviate the problems Embiid has suffered over the past few years.

Embiid’s return comes at the right time for the 76ers. Star point guard Tyrese Maxey is still out with a finger injury and could be out for a few more games. With Philadelphia firmly in the playoff race, the team needs every player on its roster to make one last effort.

The 76ers will get another big boost for home expansion. Paul George, who was suspended for 25 games earlier this season for violating the NBA’s drug use policy, returned against the Bulls. George finished the game with 28 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Embiid was dominant with 35 points, six rebounds, seven assists and one block.

The 76ers are in seventh place with a 40-33 record, just a half-game behind the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors and the final guaranteed playoff spot.

Julius Randle sank the game-winning bucket with 8.8 seconds remaining to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Houston Rockets 110-108 in overtime on Wednesday at Target Center.

The Timberwolves had to come back In an expansion to dispose of the Rockets and improve to 45-28.

Julius Randle’s game-winner lifts Wolves over Rockets

15-0 run in overtime hits stand-alone.pic.twitter.com/1rFEy7qjL5

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 March 2026

They also had to endure the loss of Naz Reed in overtime after he was ejected by referee Scott Foster after a critical call.

Randle’s courageous basket felt like poetic justice for the Timberwolves, and the veteran forward made his true feelings known after the game, as SB Nation’s Ryan Eichten reported.

“Julius Randle is walking down the hallway to the locker room right now: ‘Scott Foster didn’t do this,'” Eichten wrote on X.

The Timberwolves were trailing by five points when Reid scored with 4:13 left in overtime.

Randle finished with 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals, while Reed had 14 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

In a postgame interview with ESPN, the 31-year-old Randle Gave credit for this to my colleaguesAlso admitted that they now have the tie-breaker against the Rockets.

“We’re ready for now. It’s as simple as that,” Randall said.

“It feels good. We took care of business, especially at home. We’ve got another game against this team, so it’s important for us to get it done. I’m very proud of our team, for the resiliency we showed. Everyone stepped up and made big plays at different points in the game.”

“We are ready for now.” 😤

-Julius Randle after Minnesota’s OT win over the Rockets pic.twitter.com/0v7hv9JAgK

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 26 March 2026

Jaden McDaniels added 25 points, two steals and two blocks, while Rudy Gobert added 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

The Timberwolves are still without Anthony Edwards due to a knee injury.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray got bored on Thursday and decided to mess around against the Dallas Mavericks.

Murray led the Nuggets past the Mavericks 142–135 at Ball Arena, dropping a season-high 53 points. He made 19 of 28 shots from the field, including 9 of 14 from long range. He also had six rebounds and four assists.

Fatigue wasn’t a problem for the prolific playmaker, even with a gutsy win over the Phoenix Suns, 125-123, at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday.

Fans are furious after Murray’s latest outburst.

“Jamal Murray is different in scorer mode,” @rickky01 said.

@firetimbanks said, “Bro, I thought Jamal Murray destroyed his ankle a few weeks ago and he’s 53.”

“Jamal Murray has been very impressive for the Nuggets this season,” @odinakach22 said.

@TheZReport_ said, “When Jamal Murray is drilling right elbows consistently, you know he’s totally dialed-in.”

@NAJJEEBB posted, “Jamal shows no signs of slowing down. This is an amazing talent.”

It seemed as if the 29-year-old Murray was in constant heat-check mode, as he scored from almost everywhere on the floor. Even against good defenders like Max Christie, Najee Marshall and Brandon Williams, he was able to get his shot in with ease.

He reached 50 points for the sixth time in his career, including playoffs.

The Nuggets extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 46–28. The Mavericks, on the other hand, fell to 23–50.

Oh, by the way, Nikola Jokic added a triple-double of 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists.

Denver faces the Utah Jazz on Friday.

The San Antonio Spurs barely broke a sweat in their game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at the FedExForum as they ran away with a lopsided 123-98 victory.

The Spurs demonstrated their strength from the beginning, defeating the Grizzlies 38-19. From there it was just a formality. San Antonio won its seventh consecutive game and improved to 55–18.

The Spurs also secured homecourt advantage in the first round, returning to the playoffs after a six-year absence.

San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged this significant gainBut as Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News reported, he also remained quiet about it.

Johnson said, “I would expect it to be loud with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. But it’s still a little bit away, so hopefully we can keep getting better and make some improvements in a lot of areas.”

mitch johnson on #spurs Gaining home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs:

“I would expect it to be louder, with a lot more excitement, enthusiasm. But it’s still a little bit away, so hopefully we can keep getting better and make some improvements in a lot of areas.”

– Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) 26 March 2026

The 39-year-old Johnson is in his first full season with the Spurs after taking over from Gregg Popovich. He has big shoes to fill, but clearly, he’s up for the challenge.

He has molded the team into a two-way force. They have guys like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Cassel, De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell playing comfortably, while finding the right role for Keldon Johnson and utilizing Dylan Harper off the bench.

The last time the Spurs were in the playoffs in 2020, Johnson was still an unknown deputy to Popovich. But the seeds were being sown, and because of his deep knowledge of the game and inherent leadership, it was only a matter of time until he was tapped to have a shot.

Now, Johnson and the Spurs are on their way to success.

The resentment toward Bronny James appears to be subsiding in his second year with the Los Angeles Lakers. But that doesn’t mean he won’t continue to prove himself.

Many felt that James did not deserve to be in the NBA when the Lakers drafted him in the second round in 2024, saying that he was given the position due to being the son of LeBron James.

The criticism was wrong. The noise became louder. But little James put his head down and got to work. He has shown improvement in his second year, especially in his confidence, and he has not gone unnoticed by the Lakers.

Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell reports that Los Angeles coach JJ Redick praised the 21-year-old guard after Wednesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.

Redick said, “He’s gotten a lot better. Our staff has a lot of confidence in him. It felt like this was a game where we really needed him.”

Trudell said Redick cited James’ “defense, athleticism and increased confidence in his shot.”

The Lakers improved to 47–26 by defeating the Pacers 137–130 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games.

The young James contributed four points, including a thunderous dunk, one rebound, one assist, two steals and a block in 13 minutes off the bench.

Although he has yet to earn consistent playing time, the former McDonald’s All-American has shown that he can perform, especially on the defensive end, when given adequate opportunities.

It will be difficult for him to step away from his great father’s shadow, but as long as the Lakers continue to be successful, he will happily play his part and leave the haters crying.

The Boston Celtics played well and snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 12-game winning streak 119-109 to the applause of the crowd at TD Garden on Wednesday.

The Celtics won their fifth game in six contests and improved to 48–24, maintaining a chance to seize the top seed in the Eastern Conference from the Detroit Pistons.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with a team-high 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He also had eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Jayson Tatum also had an all-round performance of 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum’s effort and what he has brought to the table Since returning from his Achilles injury.

“He’s given us what the game needs. He’s helping us win. That’s the only thing that matters,” Majulla said in the post-game conference.

“His rebounding has been top-notch, his ball handling, the way he started the fourth quarter, scoring, managing the game, getting better shots, he’s playing the pick and roll. He’s giving the game what it needs, and that’s the most important thing.”

“He has given us what the game needs.”

Joe Majulla on the return of Jayson Tatum’s influence 👏

(via @danield1214) pic.twitter.com/UpsRyRqTEb

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 March 2026

When Mazzulla isn’t busy battling Derrick White in WWE, he’s focused on praising his players and putting them in position to succeed.

The 28-year-old Tatum has been nothing but impressive in his return to action. He returned well ahead of schedule, giving the Celtics an extra boost heading into the playoffs.

Most importantly, Tatum has willingly taken a back seat to Brown, who is having an MVP-type season.

In nine games, Tatum is averaging 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 30.1 minutes. Mazulla didn’t even need to put it in slowly.

The Celtics will face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

Veteran Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry may rarely see action in the 2025-26 NBA season, but on a special night on Wednesday, he was allowed to take the field against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

After all, Wednesday is his day, as he celebrates his 40th birthday.

With the 76ers victory literally in the bag, Lowry entered the contest, sending fans into a frenzy inside the building and online.

It got even worse when the six-time NBA All-Star drained a 3-pointer to tie the game with just 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

happy birthday kyle lowry pic.twitter.com/qMvzPeD90c

– J🐐 (@sixersjustin) 26 March 2026

And here are some of the reactions from fans on social media to Lowry’s appearance at the game — and his 3-pointer during the Sixers’ 157-137 win.

“Kyle Lowry three pointer on his 40th birthday 🔥 Good night!” one fan said.

Another social media user commented, “Kyle Lowry buried three on his 40th birthday and everyone went crazy. Forgot how much fun nights out are in this area.”

A separate comment said, “I can’t help but get excited when Kyle Lowry checks in to the game.”

Via another commentator: “Okay, seeing the bench celebrating with Kyle Lowry after the 3 warmed my heart.”

Lowry is on a one-year, $3.63 million contract with the 76ers.

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid and Paul George lead the way for Philadelphia. Returning from an injury absence, Embiid dropped 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting with seven assists and six rebounds, while George, returning from a 25-game suspension, scored 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting with six 3-pointers, six rebounds and four assists.

The Detroit Pistons fell short against the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, suffering a painful 130-129 defeat in overtime.

The Pistons failed to carry the momentum they gained with a 113-110 win at home over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, ending their nine-game winning streak.

The Hawks, on the other hand, won their third straight and moved to 41-32. The Pistons fell 52–20.

Detroit had two chances to steal the game, but Tobias Harris overshot his fallaway jumper from the baseline, while Jalen Duren, who grabbed the offensive rebound, fell short on his quick putback. Duran was in disbelief over the disappearance attempt to close.

Missed Game Winner: #piston Star Jalen Darren missed this wide open shot.

#hawks Came to play tonight and continued the win 15-1#nba pic.twitter.com/egSeReX3Xw

– FirstDownMedia (@FirstDownMediaa) 26 March 2026

Detroit cut the lead to 130–129 with 41.2 seconds left in overtime after Dennis Jenkins’ pull-up jumper. CJ McCollum missed his three-point attempt on the ensuing possession, opening the door for the Pistons. But alas, they couldn’t turn it off.

After finishing a clutch bucket with 9.5 ticks remaining in regulation, Harris sent the game into overtime at 121-121.

Duren had a commendable effort with 26 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Harris contributed 22 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Jenkins continued his strong scoring with 19 points, three rebounds and 10 assists.

The Pistons suffered their first loss since Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung. They were on a four-game winning streak before facing the Hawks.

Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 27 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists, while McCollum had 27 points and five assists.

Detroit returns to action on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Los Angeles Lakers look to get back to their winning ways in Wednesday night’s game with the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers had their nine-game winning streak snapped by the East-leading Detroit Pistons, 113-110, on Monday night.

Sitting at 16-56, the Pacers gave a great opportunity to make a comeback. Los Angeles took advantage of that opportunity and took a 29-point lead in the third quarter. Despite a late rally, Los Angeles prevailed 137–130.

In the win, several bench players received considerable time on the field. This includes LeBron James, son, Bronny James.

In 13 minutes of action, the young James scored four points. One of his two baskets was a rim-rattling dunk. James cut down the baseline and caught a no-look bounce pass from Luke Kennard and went up for a one-handed layup.

Later, James wagging his tongue Towards the Indiana crowd.

Bronny is trolling the Pacers after the dunk 😭 pic.twitter.com/u0aNHYx5yH

– BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) 26 March 2026

It was far from the only highlight of the night from the Lakers.

Luka Doncic led all scorers with 43 points on 15-30 shooting. He added seven assists and six rebounds in the win.

Bronny’s father LeBron also had a good all-round game. He fell just short of another triple-double, scoring 23 points with nine rebounds and nine assists.

Los Angeles improved to 47–26 on the season. They are two games ahead of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed in the abbreviated Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets are close behind, but the Lakers hold the tie-breaker over all three teams.

Victor Wembanyama’s parents should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or something for introducing the San Antonio Spurs star to the world.

It feels like everyone has come together to cheer for Vembanyama. How can you not support a 7 foot 4 inch tall man who does something every night that defies logic?

On Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wembanyama had another stellar performance. After faking a three-pointer in the third quarter, he attacked the lane before nailing GG Jackson with a vicious dunk.

When Jackson saw Wembanyama go up he probably saw his life flashing before him.

The players on the Spurs bench were unsure how to react, leading to a farcical scene.

Wemby caught a dead body 💯pic.twitter.com/JffoFIeMOr

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 March 2026

Fans were ecstatic after Vembanyama’s latest soul-snatcher.

“Victor Vembanyama, oh Lord, have mercy,” said @AGLR_23.

“How will you stop it?” @jebediah010 asked.

@PoobFC said, “This is better than this year’s dunk contest, oh my god.”

@ReichelRadio said, “GG Jackson really thought he could block Victor Wembanyama.”

“Oh my god. The fact he paid her back so soon after getting semi-dunked is ridiculous. Wembies are a different breed,” @jackholland22 commented.

As mentioned, Jackson had attacked Vembanyama in the previous occupation. Of course, the two-time All-Star had to bring him back. Revenge was as sweet as creme brulee.

The 22-year-old Wembanyama recently said that he deserves to win as MVP for his overall impact. His nasty dunk alone over Jackson should earn him an award.

At the time of writing, the Spurs are leading the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter. Vembanyama had 19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three steals and seven blocks.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been without Anthony Edwards for the last four games due to a knee injury. While he will miss his fifth straight contest on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, Edwards has received some good news regarding his progress.

During an appearance on “NBA Countdown” on ESPN, Shams Charania claimed that the Timberwolves are evaluating the 24-year-old guard on a day-to-day basis. The earliest Edwards could return is Saturday, when Minnesota faces the Detroit Pistons, or Monday against the Dallas Mavericks.

“I’m told the Timberwolves will evaluate Anthony Edwards day-to-day moving forward,” Charania said. “So, he could return as soon as Saturday’s game against the Pistons at home or Monday at Dallas.”

Joining ESPN’s NBA Countdown for All-Star injury updates on Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards. pic.twitter.com/BxMCNtRbk5

– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 25 March 2026

If the four-time All-Star can return by Saturday or Monday, that would give Edwards eight to nine games for the playoffs. The Timberwolves are fifth in the Western Conference and are guaranteed to at least make the play-in tournament.

If Anthony Edwards returns, he could seriously help his team clinch a top-three seed. But only time will tell how the playoff race will play out in the final stretch of the regular season.

The six-year veteran has played in 58 games for the Timberwolves this season. In those contests, Edwards is averaging 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He’s hitting those averages while shooting 49.2% from the field and 40.2% from beyond the three-point line.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will take on the Rockets on Wednesday evening and the game will tip off at 9:30 pm EST. The club will also continue to monitor Edwards’ knee before determining his eventual return.

On Wednesday evening, the Chicago Bulls will hit the road to take on the Philadelphia 76ers as the 2025-26 season concludes. The Bulls are coming off one of their most impressive wins of the season by defeating the Houston Rockets despite a big win from Kevin Durant on Monday evening.

Heading into the matchup against the 76ers, the Bulls have a busy injury report. Zach Collins (toe surgery), Noah Esengue (left shoulder surgery), and Jaden Ivey (left patellofemoral pain syndrome) have already been ruled out of the contest.

Meanwhile, Effernie Simmons is suspected with a left ulnar styloid fracture, as is Isaac Okoro, with right patellofemoral pain syndrome. Guershon Yabusele is also questionable with a left ankle sprain.

For the 76ers, Joel Embiid is questionable with a right oblique strain, while Quentin Grimes is also questionable with an illness. Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. will be out with various injuries, while Paul George is back in the lineup after serving a league-imposed 25-game suspension.

Overall, the Bulls don’t have much to play for as the 2025-26 season reaches its home stretch outside the lottery odds, but the team is still hoping to finish strong, and they got off to a good start in that department with their win over the Rockets on Monday.

In that game, Chicago showed impressive poise in knocking down several tough shots in a row, including a dagger three from Matas Bouzelis, followed by another from Jalen Smith, that essentially put the game on ice.

They need to continue to move the ball and create good offense against a 76ers team that is desperate to maintain their playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Tipoff between Chicago and Philadelphia is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET.

On Wednesday evening, the Atlanta Hawks will take to the road for a big game against the Detroit Pistons. This injury report includes Jalen Johnson, who is currently listed as questionable due to left shoulder inflammation. Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury and his playing status against the Pistons on Wednesday.

Jalen Johnson’s game status against the Pistons

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is currently some doubt as to whether Jalen Johnson will be able to appear in Detroit on Wednesday night. Johnson has missed the last two games for the Hawks due to illness and was seen wearing a sleeve over his left shoulder when he was on the court against the Houston Rockets last week.

Meanwhile, the Pistons have an injury report ahead of this matchup, with Cade Cunningham sidelined due to his collapsed lung, while Isaiah Stewart is also out with a calf strain. Marcus Sasser is questionable with a right hip strain, while Javonte Green is questionable with an ankle sprain.

Overall, the Hawks have been playing some better basketball over the past month, recently going on an 11-game winning streak, and then winning two in a row since that streak was snapped. Many of the wins have come against lesser competition, and even without Cunningham, the Pistons will present a very strong opponent for Atlanta, so they would certainly love to have Johnson back on the field and ready to go.

The Hawks are 0-3 against the Pistons so far this year.

In any case, tipoff between Atlanta and Detroit is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET from the Motor City. This game will be broadcast by ESPN.

On Tuesday evening, the Denver Nuggets continued their winning ways with a narrow road win over the Phoenix Suns. This game probably came a little closer than fans wanted, but ultimately, Denver was able to muster enough to secure the victory.

Nikola Jokic filled the stat sheet in this one, scoring 23 points with 17 rebounds and 17 assists as well as the game-winning bucket, and also made history, recording the fifth-fastest triple double on record.

After the game, Jokic had a strong reaction to the accomplishment.

“It just happens,” Jokic said, according to the former NBA on Twitter.

NBC Sports sideline reporter Grant Liffman quipped, “It happens often.”

Making NBA history has become routine for Jokic during his future Hall of Fame career, as he has set countless records for both the Nuggets franchise and the league as a whole.

Currently, the Nuggets are trying to add a second ring to their trophy case, having failed to make it past the second round of the NBA Championship since the 2022–23 season. Jokic hasn’t looked like himself since returning from a knee injury earlier this season, leading some to wonder if the team has him back too soon, but over the past few games he’s started to look closer to the MVP version of himself, continuing his impressive performance against the Suns on Tuesday.

The Nuggets are now 45-28 on the season, good for fourth place in the coveted Western Conference playoff picture, a half game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In any case, Denver will next take the field on Wednesday evening for a home game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Bam Adebayo hails Las Vegas as “second home” As NBA expansion discussions heated up this week, the NBA is moving forward with plans to add franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle.

According to ESPN, the NBA Board of Governors has approved a vote to formally begin exploring expansion in the two markets, an important step toward potential league growth. Shortly after the news, Adebayo spoke with reporters about the possibility of playing in Las Vegas.

“If I get a chance to play in Vegas, I get to go to my second home a little bit, so that will be nice.”

Adebayo’s ties to Las Vegas extend beyond basketball. He has been in a relationship with A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces for over a year, which has linked him to the city that has become a growing hub for professional sports.

When asked if Las Vegas could support an NBA team the same way fans support the Aces, Adebayo pointed to the unparalleled loyalty already established within the WNBA fanbase.

“I can see them supporting me like that. I don’t know about any other team. It’s a good thing because the Aces fans are really true to the Aces, so I don’t know how it’s going to happen. If they start winning like the Aces, maybe.”

Bam Adebayo on the opportunity to play in Las Vegas and whether Aces fans will support the NBA team 👀

“If I get a chance to play in Vegas and get a chance to visit my other home a little bit, that would be cool. I can see them supporting me like that. I don’t know about any other team. It’s a fine line… https://t.co/0ada2DmLdX pic.twitter.com/IheTXV2g0Q

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 25 March 2026

Bam Adebayo’s arrival in Las Vegas leads to Heat’s climb up the East standings

Buoyed by the success of hosting the NBA Summer League and recent NBA Cup championship events, Las Vegas has emerged as a leading candidate for expansion along with Seattle. The city has also demonstrated strong support for other major franchises in the NFL, NHL and WNBA.

For now, Adebayo’s focus remains on the Miami Heat and their effort to build momentum heading into the season. Miami currently sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings at 38-34 after a five-game losing streak, including a 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

The 28-year-old continues to power the Heat on both ends of the floor as the team tries to climb the Eastern Conference standings. Miami is 2.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors (40-31).

Miami begins a two-game road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers (45-27) on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET and then face them on Friday night at 7:30 PM ET on NBA TV.

With 21 points in a 136-11 loss to the Miami Heat, the San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper accomplished a feat in his basketball career, though it was not common during his NBA rookie season: back-to-back 20-point games.

“This is my…this is my first 20-point back-to-back games?” Harper asked in response to a question about scoring more than 20 in consecutive games.

When told he scored 20 or more points in a game eight times, the 20-year-old guard didn’t say much more.

“Oh, wow,” Harper said. “Oh wow.”

The second overall pick of this summer’s draft averaged 19.4 points per game in his only season with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. While other players in the draft class, like former Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, are hitting those numbers as pros, Harper is averaging just 11.5 points per game this season on a team that holds the second-best record in the West and is equipped with quality depth on the wings.

“We are winning,” Harper said. “The best thing about this league, for me, coming to a team where even though I’m not scoring 20 every night, I get to learn from a great vet, [De’Aaron] Fox, who obviously has been in the league, two-time All-Star, and all that. So, I get to learn from someone like him and be aggressive as well as take a back seat.”

Along with Fox, the Spurs rotation includes Rookie of the Year Stephen Cassel as well as Devin Vassell, who has averaged nearly 19 points per game in two different seasons.

“Yeah, I’m finding my stride, but I think having Steph back and Dev coming back has made the game a lot easier for me,” Harper said. “So much space on the floor. We have a lot of threats, so it really picks my poison. They do a great job of encouraging me to just be me and get off the ball, find open shooters. But if it’s one-on-one, attack.

“So, to be honest, scoring 20 is not the main thing. The main thing for me is just to win. And, as long as we win, I am fine.”

Dylan Harper is happy to be a member of the San Antonio Spurs

Although his stats are lower than he’s used to, the son of former NBA great Ron Harper has a definite opinion on his current role.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Harper said. “I’ve been hired into a great organization that teaches you the game at a high level, and I think even in a game like this where the numbers may look good, I’m still watching film, still getting yelled at like any other game. It’s a testament to the kind of standard we’re all held to, but I love it. I feel like I’m getting better day by day, whether it’s watching film or on the court.”

Not only does San Antonio see Harper as a big part of their success this season, but the Spurs also see him as a big part of the future centered around MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.

“I think one thing about us is that we’re all competitive, and we’re relentless. No matter what the score is, I think we have a great group of guys that compete at a high level all the time,” Harper continued. “This team can do miracles; there’s a lot of potential, but we’re trying to take it day by day, step by step, not skipping any steps. The sky’s the limit.”

The NBA Board of Governors approved a vote Wednesday to explore the possibility of adding two new expansion franchises specifically in the Las Vegas and Seattle markets, the league announced.

As part of the standard process for exploring expansion, the NBA will evaluate all aspects of each potential market, including hearing proposals from potential ownership groups that want to start an expansion franchise.

As the vote was finalized with NBA governors and stakeholders in New York on Wednesday, Silver addressed the ongoing speculation about what the expansion means for the league as a whole. While Silver was clearly very optimistic about the expansion aspect in his press conference, he also made it clear that nothing is a given when it comes to this topic.

“There’s absolutely a possibility that we may not be able to expand. That’s why we were careful to say ‘explore the process.’ It’s also possible that we may expand into one market and not two. For two, or zero markets,” Silver said.

There is much more to a potential expansion than just the formation of a new franchise, and Silver acknowledged as much in his press conference in New York City on Wednesday afternoon.

In terms of why a level of skepticism still exists for the possibility of a Las Vegas and Seattle expansion, the NBA Commissioner explained that owners would still need to approve the final transaction, and real-world issues that arise could potentially push back the timing of the final expansion.

Silver said, “Why that might not happen, at least standing here today, I don’t see anything in the relatively short-term future of this league that would indicate that there wouldn’t be a lot of interest in those markets and the board would continue to be supportive going forward. I should say, at the right time, it would require three-quarters of the owners supporting it.” “But we will not be moving forward at this step, and in fairness to interested parties, that was one of the reasons we wanted to make this formal announcement, because wherever those prices land, it is a huge undertaking.

“Normally, it’s not just a single owner. It’s a group that requires financing, arena planning, etc. So, where the uncertainty for me lies in the issues outside the league. There is huge instability in the world at the moment, and we may ultimately conclude for reasons completely out of our control that it is not the right time to expand. That is something we should postpone and revisit at a later time.

“That’s really our warning.”

A potential final vote for expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle will be held later this year, which would officially take the league from 30 to 32 teams. In doing so, a team from the Western Conference would move into the Eastern Conference to balance the league at 16 teams on the opposite end.

It is expected that either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies will move east, with the Timberwolves seen as the likely favorite in this scenario.

As the formal expansion process officially begins, further updates on NBA expansion will be provided by Silver and the league office at a later date.

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed Malachi Smith to a second 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday. Smith appeared in six games during his first 10-day contract after spending most of the season with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

The former Gonzaga guard averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 19.5 minutes per game during the stretch. He shot 15 of 30 from the field and 5 of 10 from three.

Smith scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field with four assists and 3-of-3 from three during Brooklyn’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Malachi Smith returns to Nets on second 10-day contract after breakout performance

Smith spent the last two seasons with the G League affiliates of the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists on .510/.416/.772 shooting splits in 29 appearances with the Long Island Nets this year before an NBA call-up.

Smith’s new 10-day contract will last through the Nets’ next five games, at which point the rebuilding team will have five games remaining on its schedule. The 26-year-old should get ample opportunities to prove his worth during his new deal.

Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Deron Sharp are out with injuries. Brooklyn has been offering Smith and its two-way players extended minutes in recent games as the team vie for the top draft selection.

The Nets will conclude a four-game road trip with games against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Tanking has become a hot issue in the NBA, as it has been a controversial discussion for many years. Teams that are not in the mix for the playoffs keep their star players on the bench in hopes of losing and improving their chances of obtaining a high-value draft pick. On Wednesday, Commissioner Adam Silver claimed that the league is going to resolve the issue soon.

According to ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel, during the NBA Board of Governors press conference, Silver claimed the league is going to hold a meeting to potentially make changes to the tanking rule in May. If passed, the rules will be in effect for the 2026–27 season.

“NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said at his NBA Board of Governors press conference that there will be a ‘special meeting’ in May to address and discuss the issue of tanking and potential rule changes for the 2026-27 season,” Siegel said.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, reports indicate that the meetings will discuss potential lottery reforms that could impact the upcoming offseason. It seems the 64-year-old soon-to-be commissioner wants the change to be made as soon as possible.

Stein reported, “Adam Silver says a special meeting of the Board of Governors will be called in May to vote on lottery reforms to take effect for the 2026-27 season, and ahead of this summer’s upcoming draft and free agency.” “‘We’re going to fix it … full stop,’ Silver says about addressing tanking.”

While there are questions being raised about competitiveness right now, according to Siegel, Silver thinks adding two new franchises could help. The NBA is looking to address the tanking issue, and Adam Silver sees no problem with increasing the size of the league from 30 teams to 32.

“We have enough talent to field 32 teams,” Silver said. “When we just did the 2-team expansion, 6% of the players were international. That’s 30% now… Tanking is a confusing thing and we study it… I’m not worried about the caliber of 32 competing teams.”

The NBA will likely announce the outcome of the meetings in late May. If changes are made, we could see them impact the 2026 NBA Draft.

NEW YORK – Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Brown have not seen each other in the entire 2025-26 season. It’s natural for a star player and a new head coach to need time to improve their working relationship. It is natural for there to be bumpy places on that road. But the discord between the six-time All-Star and his head coach seemed, at times, inseparable from the New York Knicks’ struggle to implement their new system.

The latest information regarding Brown and Towns came after New York’s Tuesday night win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Following the 121–116 win, the Knicks’ seventh consecutive win, reporters asked the coach about the center’s recent play.

Brown explained, “I’ve had to adjust to him, too. That’s what a season is about. We’re not playing the same offense as we did at the beginning of the year. So I’ve had to make some adjustments to figure out how to get him involved a little better… When he’s on fourth down, we’ve really simplified it so he doesn’t have to think as much. When he doesn’t have to think so much, he can just react.”

The coach previously told the media after a two-point first half loss against the Detroit Pistons in February that Towns needed to make better decisions on the court, saying “the Cats have to read those moments”. Brown’s comments Tuesday told the rest of the story.

“We try to make him more comfortable by keeping him in his spot. He likes to be on top. He doesn’t always stay there, but we’ve added some more things that keep him in there with proper space. And then we found a post-up and ISO position for him that is great from a spacing standpoint, and how he likes to work. Those things, we didn’t have for him at the beginning of the year,” Brown said.

The coach has been happy to blame himself for his group’s various struggles throughout the season until he finally finds a solution. Towns, who averaged 21.7 points per game on 57% shooting in the month of March, should qualify.

Knicks get important injury update as playoffs are just weeks away

The Knicks shared other types of good news on Tuesday, with Brown and the team announcing that Miles McBride has made progress in his recovery. The 25-year-old guard is now back up and participating in scrimmages following surgery in early February to repair a sports hernia. That recovery process has sidelined him for more than a quarter of the regular season so far.

Both he and veteran sharpshooter Landry Shamet are expected to return before the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The Knicks, including center Mitchell Robinson, are projected to be fully healthy for the upcoming postseason. If New York is to meet its expectations, it will need the best from everyone from Brown and Towns to the end of their rotation.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the growing criticism of the league’s 65-game rule following Cade Cunningham’s recent injury, as the debate rages about postseason award eligibility.

Speaking Wednesday, Silver responded to concerns raised by the National Basketball Players Association after Cunningham’s situation sparked a renewed investigation into the policy. This rule, implemented to ensure that players meet minimum participation thresholds for major awards, has faced backlash for potentially disqualifying standout seasons marred by injury.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel shared Silver’s comments on X, formerly known as Twitter:

“I’m not willing to say it’s not working. It’s working… I’m not willing to say because there’s a sense of injustice to a player, that the rule doesn’t work.”

The NBPA issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the rule in light of Cunningham’s case:

“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and is another example of why it should be eliminated or reformed to make exceptions for significant injuries. Since its implementation, many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from season-ending honors by this arbitrary and overly harsh quota.”

Cade Cunningham’s award eligibility in jeopardy after injury

Cunningham, 24, has been in the midst of a breakout fifth season with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 24.5 points, a career-high 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 46.1% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range in 61 games, logging 34.4 minutes per contest.

His production has played a central role in leading Detroit to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons have a record of 52–19 and currently sit as the No. 1 seed as the regular season enters its final stretch.

However, Cunningham’s award eligibility is now in question after he suffered a collapsed lung last Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he is expected to miss an “extended amount of time”, leaving it uncertain whether he will reach the 65-game limit.

The situation has intensified league-wide discussion about balancing player health with awards criteria, as the NBA and NBPA continue to evaluate the long-term effects of the rule.

The San Antonio Spurs are on a roll over the past month, thanks in large part to the play of Victor Wembanyama, who has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate over the course of the season. While the Spurs haven’t made much headway over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are also enduring a scorching heat, they will likely finish in second place in the Western Conference.

Vembanyama has long been known as a terror on the defensive end of the floor, and recently, a new stat was revealed that shows just how impressive the former number one overall draft pick has been on both ends of the floor this season.

“Most 25-point, 15-rebound and 5-block games in the NBA this season: 4 – Victor Wembanyama. 1 – Zack Eddy,”

Wembanyama is expected to lead the Spurs into their first true era of prosperity in the post-Duncan era, and in many ways, he profiles as an ultra-modern version of Big Fundamental, able to do it on both offense and defense, and bringing consistency and intensity every time he steps on the court.

Meanwhile, San Antonio has emerged as a legitimate championship threat in the West, with its three-guard trio of Stephon Cassel, De’Aaron Fox and rookie Dylan Harper fitting together, and Wembanyama continuing to dominate on both sides of the ball.

While it’s rare for a team to make a deep playoff run in its first attempt in the postseason as a group, and winning a championship is almost unprecedented, the Spurs have a real chance to break that trend this year.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. recently shared why he thinks he needs to surpass Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance, pointing to Kobe Bryant’s legacy as a major inspiration.

Porter Jr. made the comments while reacting to Adebayo’s historic run during a recent livestream.

“I’m trying to drop 80 [points]. shout out kobe [Bryant]Shout out to Bam because I’m definitely beating him one day. Now that Kobe has lost, I have to defeat Bam to honor Kobe.”

Adebayo’s 83-point game is now the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game and surpassing Bryant’s iconic 81-point performance with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006.

The 25-year-old Porter Jr. is currently in his sixth NBA season and his first full campaign with Milwaukee, where he has taken on an expanded role in the backcourt. Through 38 games, including 36 starts, he has averaged 17.4 points, a career-high 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and a career-high 2.2 steals per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field, 32.2% from three-point range and a career-high 87.8% from the free-throw line in 33.2 minutes per contest.

Kevin Porter Jr. tells Desha Frost in a chat that he’s trying to beat Bam Adebayo’s 83 points out of respect for Kobe Bryant.

“Now that Kobe has lost, I have to defeat Bam to honor Kobe” pic.twitter.com/at8sib0l11

– FearedBuck (@FearedBuck) 25 March 2026

Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. eyes points from Bam Adebayo, Kobe Bryant

The surge in Porter Jr.’s scoring has already been evident in his career. The highest performance of his career came during the 2020–21 season with the Houston Rockets, when he recorded 50 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in a matchup against the Bucks in late April. In that game, he shot 16 of 26 from the field, 9 of 15 from three-point range, and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line in 41 minutes.

Adebayo’s performance has sparked league-wide discussion regarding milestones achieved and the pursuit of records, with players and analysts reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the historic night. However, Porter Jr. remains focused on competing and respecting the standard set by Bryant.

Milwaukee is coming off a challenging season, entering the finals with a 29–42 record and 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite the team’s struggles, Porter Jr.’s individual production has been a bright spot as the Bucks look toward the future.

The Bucks are set to conclude their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers (36-37) on Wednesday night at 10:00 PM ET. Milwaukee is entering the contest coming off a 129-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.

As the season ends, Porter Jr.’s comments reflect his confidence and the broader impact of Adebayo’s historic performance, which continues to resonate throughout the league.

The Detroit Pistons have weathered the storm well so far with Cade Cunningham out of the lineup due to a serious lung condition. The Pistons recently picked up a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday evening, but they are still hoping for good news about their best player moving forward.

On Wednesday, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic posted a video on xTwitter previously showed Cunningham working out with the Pistons’ training staff during the team’s shootaround.

Here’s Cade Cunningham working with the trainers at the Pistons Shootaround: pic.twitter.com/PypkIEG5S7

– Hunter Patterson (@HunterPatterson) 25 March 2026

It’s unclear how intense the workouts became, but it’s still great to see the All-Star back in practice and participating in some capacity, even if it may take him a while to get back on the floor.

At this point, there is no firm timetable for Cunningham’s return to action, and his absence has sparked debate over whether or not the NBA should rescind its 65-game minimum rule for award eligibility, as Cunningham would need to play five more games this season to meet the limit, but is clearly eligible for things like All-NBA and even MVP consideration.

The Pistons have just a few weeks left in the regular season before the playoffs begin, where they are on track to become the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Detroit has done a solid job of showcasing its depth over the past few games in Cunningham’s absence.

In any case, the Pistons will take the field on Wednesday evening for a home game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Boston Celtics were expected to have a turnaround season, with Jayson Tatum out due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in May 2025. However, the script has been flipped in more ways than one, with the Celtics currently sitting in second place in the East with a 47-24 record and Jayson Tatum slowly getting back to his best once again.

So much so that Tracy McGrady branded Boston as the only team in the East he believes can win a championship during his appearance on the Cousins ​​Podcast.

“Do we really think about Cleveland and New York? I think Boston is coming out of the East. I think they can win the championship. I don’t think there’s any other team out of the East, no matter who they play coming out of the East, I think the West is going to win. The only team I have confidence in to win is the Boston Celtics,” he said.

“The only team I have confidence in winning a championship in the East is the Boston Celtics.”

“I don’t think any other team, no matter who they play, if they come from the East, I think the West will win.”

👀🍀 @Tmac_213 pic.twitter.com/pVWzFifBCR

– Cousin of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady (@VinceAndTmac) 25 March 2026

Of course, in addition to the talent they have despite the fire sale before the campaign, the Celtics also benefit from Joe Mazzulla’s system.

“Being proven, you have not one but two guys that can lead the team. MVP candidates, up front, and you have a system that understands who they are, whether it’s the regular season, preseason, or postseason. So they don’t have to change, how they’re playing now is the way they’re going to play, nothing is going to change,” McGrady concluded.

Tracy McGrady praises the Celtics

He talked about Derrick White and praised the 31-year-old player’s versatility. McGrady claimed that White was able to defend the opponent’s best player, rebound at a high level, and score 20 points and assists to win any game for Boston.

“He can give you exactly what you need to win,” McGrady said.

In the eight games since his return, Tatum has averaged 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting nearly 47% from the field. And while there is room for improvement, McGrady believes there won’t be room for improvement until the playoffs arrive.

“Tatum is coming back, looks really good. He’s playing aggressive basketball. By the time he gets to the playoffs, I think we’ll be (saying)…Boy, he looks like his old self,” he concluded.

While Boston has the experience, personnel and system, McGrady may have gone too far in giving the other top teams in the East a discount. For example, the Detroit Pistons have a 52-19 record this season, while the Cavaliers add James Harden to a team that finished last campaign 64-18. Additionally, the Knicks also have a lot of talent, allowing many teams to emerge from the East, at least on paper.

According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, the Boston Celtics are signing center Charles Bassey to a second 10-day contract as the team moves to meet the NBA’s minimum roster requirement.

Himmelsbach reported the move on Wednesday at X, formerly known as Twitter.

“The Celtics are signing forward Charles Bassey to a second 10-day contract today, according to a league source.”

Bassey’s initial 10-day contract expired overnight, leaving Boston with 13 players on standard deals. The Celtics had already reached the league’s 28-day limit on carrying fewer than 14 players, making an immediate roster transfer necessary to comply with NBA rules before Thursday.

The 25-year-old center has seen limited action during his tenure with Boston. He has appeared in two games, most recently in a 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. In that contest, Bassey recorded two points, one rebound and one steal in two minutes.

Celtics sign Charles Bassey to second 10-day contract to meet roster minimum

Originally selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Bassey has spent time with several teams during his career. He played his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers and also had a stint with the San Antonio Spurs before joining Boston.

During the 2025–26 season, Basi has averaged 2.6 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field in five appearances. He has logged 7.8 minutes per game in a limited role.

The Celtics enter Wednesday night with a 47-24 record and are set to host the Oklahoma City Thunder (57-15) at 7:30 pm ET. Boston is currently tied with the New York Knicks (48-25) in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, who are on a seven-game winning streak.

The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Portland Blazers on Wednesday night. Kyle Kuzma is on the injury report along with Bobby Portis, with both players listed as questionable. Kumza is dealing with a right Achilles injury, while Portis is dealing with a right wrist sprain after scoring 11 points and six rebounds in a 129-96 loss to the LA Clippers. With the Bucks shutting down Giannis Antetokounmpo for the season, here’s everything we know about Kyle Kuzma’s injury and his game status against the Blazers.

Injury status of Kyle Kumza, Bobby Portis

Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma has scored 10,000 career points, a milestone in his career, after last week’s 129-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Kuzma also finished with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including three triples and two rebounds, in the Bucks’ 108–105 win against the Suns. However, the answer to whether or not Kyle Kuzma is playing tonight is probably yes.

Averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds on the season, Portis has stepped up amid the absence of Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. He averaged 16.0 points on 50% shooting, including 46.7% from deep, and 6.0 rebounds throughout March.

Still, when the question comes up is Bobby Portis playing tonight against the Blazers, the answer is probably.

bucks injury report

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Out – Left knee; overextension; bone injury

Gary Harris – outside – left groin; Indigo

Kyle Kuzma – Questionable – Right Achilles; agony

Kevin Porter Jr. – Out – Right knee; synovitis

Bobby Portis Jr. – Questionable – Right wrist; Sprain

blazers injury report

Jeremy Grant – doubtful – left leg; agony

Wit Crazy – Suspicious – Left Calf; Indigo

Damian Lillard – Out – Left Achilles tendon; injury management

Shaddon Sharp – Outside – Left Fibula; stress response

Robert Williams III – Questionable – Left knee; injury management

The Toronto Raptors play the final game of their five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. They have gone 2-2 during that span and come into the game coming off a 143-127 win over the Utah Jazz.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are looking to improve from the .500 mark (36-36) and come into this game looking to complete a hat trick of wins. Last time out they emerged 129-96 winners, with Kawhi Leonard returning with 28 points and five rebounds. However, he is a suspect in this matter.

On the other hand, Raptors are also shorthanded and have many potential absences. Among them is none other than Brandon Ingram, who is listed as questionable on the official injury report due to inflammation in the heel of his right foot, a problem that kept him out of the win against the Jazz.

Brandon Ingram’s injury status vs. Clippers

Given that Brandon Ingram’s injury report is questionable, his availability for this late-night contest in Los Angeles remains uncertain. Ingram played against the Phoenix Suns, but had a bad night, scoring only six points in 27 minutes, while getting four rebounds and three blocks on 3-10 shooting. Toronto lost that game 120–98.

They enter this matchup at 40-31, which is good for 5th place in the East. The Raptors scored 143 points in their last game, while also recording a franchise-record 49 assists, showing they are capable of hurting defenses even without Ingram.

However, four of their starters finished with over 20 points, led by RJ Barrett, who returned with 27, while Scotty Barnes had a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists. Additionally, Ingram is averaging 21.6 points per game and if he misses his second consecutive game, Toronto will need players like Barrett and Barnes to take over offensive responsibilities.

Barrett has scored more than 20 points in 10 of his last 15 games, while Barnes is averaging 18.6 points per game for the season. This matchup presents a contrast in styles, with Toronto relying heavily on ball movement and assist-driven offense (third in the NBA at 29.1 assists per game), while Los Angeles relies on shot efficiency and halfcourt scoring.

Regardless, the Clippers have won six of their last eight games in the Intuit Dome, while averaging 127.3 points over that span. They also remain an efficient offensive unit, ranking among the league leaders in both field goal percentage (48.5%) and three-point shooting (36.5%), while also leading the NBA in free-throw percentage (82.6%).

LA also won the first meeting between the two sides this season, 121–117 in overtime. Still, Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists this campaign and L.A.’s ability to make that run may also depend on whether their best player plays.

Raptors injury report

Brandon Ingram – Questionable (right foot, heel swelling).

Emmanuel Quickley – doubtful (right foot; plantar fasciitis)

Jakob Poeltl – doubtful (back; injury management)

Chucky Hepburn – Out (G League Two-Way)

AJ Lawson – Out (G League Two-Way)

Elijah Martin – Out (G League Two-Way)

shear injury report

Kawhi Leonard – Questionable (left ankle; sprain)

Jordan Miller – questionable (back; soreness)

Bradley Beal – out (left hip; fracture)

Yannick Konan Niederhauser – out (rupture of right Lisfranc ligament)

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is considered one of the leading candidates to take over as head coach of the North Carolina basketball program, league sources tell ClutchPoints. Hubert Davis was fired by the UNC Tar Heels after five seasons, and the school is moving quickly to add a high-profile coach to lead its historic program for the foreseeable future.

Whether or not Donovan will actually leave the NBA to become UNC’s next head coach after spending the last decade coaching professionally is the major question being asked in both the NBA and collegiate ranks.

North Carolina is expected to contact Donovan soon and have talks about his vacant head coaching role, with sources telling ClutchPoints that the Bulls coach would “seriously consider” the idea of ​​taking over the historic program if offered the job.

Donovan has never ruled out a possible return to coaching again at the collegiate level, and that opportunities like the one at UNC will likely arise again.

Donovan, a two-time NCAA championship coach with the Florida Gators, has spent the last 11 seasons in the NBA. He was originally hired by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015 before signing a lucrative four-year contract worth approximately $25 million to become the head coach of the Bulls in 2020.

Less than a year earlier, in July, Donovan signed a new multi-year contract extension making him one of the league’s highest-paid coaches. Sources say Donovan is being paid $10 million per year on this new extension with the Bulls.

Although it is not certain whether he will leave the Bulls and the NBA to take over the UNC basketball program, Donovan’s future in Chicago has become a significant discussion topic among league personnel over the past month.

Billy Donovan’s future in Chicago is uncertain

While the Bulls have no intention of moving on from Donovan even though the 2025-26 season marks the franchise’s fourth consecutive season that has missed the playoffs, the latest rumors point to the 60-year-old head coach being unsure about his commitment to the organization.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls’ lack of direction has led Donovan to think about his future. As a result, there is growing speculation that Donovan is possibly stepping down to get his coaching career back on a successful path.

Donovan has never been one to bounce from one job to the next, given his time as a collegiate coach, which is why his perceived sense of skepticism in the overall direction of the Bulls will be a selling point in a potential new deal to become UNC’s next head coach.

In addition to keeping Donovan at the top of the list of potential candidates, the UNC Tar Heels selected Boston Celtics executive and former head coach Brad Stevens as the university’s top choice for their coaching vacancy. However, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Stevens has already removed his name from the university’s list of prospects.

When contacted for confirmation on the matter, league sources told ClutchPoints that Stevens has no desire to leave the Celtics and is fully committed to competing for and winning more championships in Boston.

In addition to Donovan, high-level coaches such as Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty Mays and Alabama’s Nate Oats have come up as rumored targets for UNC.

Since taking over the role of Bulls head coach in 2020, Donovan has compiled a record of 224–247, including 71 games this season, with only one postseason appearance in 2022. After winning 39 games each of the last two years, Donovan and the Bulls took a step back this year and will enter the offseason with a ton of questions revolving around roster construction.

This has led to many questions being asked among NBA personnel about Donovan’s long-term future with the Bulls, one of which revolves around whether he would really consider going back to college to a prolific program like North Carolina if offered the job.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers will take the field for a home game against the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Here’s everything we know about Leonard’s injury and his playing status on Wednesday against the Raptors.

Kawhi Leonard’s playing situation against the Raptors

There is some doubt at the moment as to whether Kawhi Leonard will be able to compete against his former team on Wednesday, given his questionable designation on the injury report. Leonard played in the Clippers’ last game, a home win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and played well for the most part, but he has been on the injury report repeatedly over the past week due to an ankle ailment.

The injury report also includes Jordan Miller, who is questionable due to back pain.

For the Raptors, Brandon Ingram is questionable for this game due to heel inflammation, while Jakob Poeltl is also questionable due to management of a lower back strain injury. Immanuel Quickley is listed as questionable due to a planter.
He has fasciitis in his right foot.

Overall, the Clippers are looking to pick up as many wins as possible to improve their playoff position as the 2025-26 season enters its home leg.

The Clippers are currently in eighth place in the conference, and although it is unlikely they can move further than that, they are only half a game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers. Slipping up in that position would mean winning two play-in games to reach the playoffs, not just one.

In any case, the Clippers and Raptors are scheduled to tip off from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10:30 pm ET.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will take the field to conclude their East Coast trip with a game against the Indiana Pacers. Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura’s injury reports for this contest list Hachimura as questionable and Smart as questionable. Here’s everything we know about Smart and Hachimura’s injuries and their game status on Wednesday against the Pacers.

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura playing against Pacers

For the game against the Pacers, Marcus Smart is listed as questionable due to a right ankle injury. Hachimura has been named questionable with right calf soreness. Both Smart and Hachimura missed the Lakers’ last game, a loss against the Detroit Pistons that snapped the team’s nine-game winning streak. The Lakers also include Edou Thirou on the injury report, who is questionable due to knee soreness.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have several players listed on the injury report, with Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith all listed as probable with various ailments. Meanwhile, Ivica Zubac will be out of the lineup with a rib fracture.

In theory, a game against the league’s worst Pacers should give Los Angeles a good chance at a comeback, although if all of Indiana’s prospects end up playing, it’s the same core that made it to the NBA Finals last year, except, of course, the injured Tyrese Haliburton.

The Pacers recently suffered an upset on the road against the Orlando Magic, so this is definitely not a game the Lakers will want to take lightly.

Los Angeles currently sits comfortably in third place in the Western Conference and will look to end their current road trip on a high note before returning to the Crypto.com Arena this weekend.

The Philadelphia 76ers will take the field for a home game against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday evening. Joel Embiid is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to a right oblique strain. Everything we know about Embiid’s injury and his playing status on Wednesday against the Bulls.

Joel Embiid’s playing situation against the Bulls

Joel Embiid hasn’t appeared in a game for the 76ers since late February as he’s been dealing with an oblique strain, so his upgrade to questionable on the injury report before the Bulls game is certainly an encouraging sign, even if he doesn’t ultimately suit up for it.

Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. will be out for the 76ers in this one, while Paul George is back in the lineup after serving a league-mandated suspension of 25 games. Quentin Grimes is questionable due to an illness.

Meanwhile, the Bulls have listed forward Anfernee Simmons as questionable due to a left ulnar styloid fracture, while Isaac Okoro is also questionable due to right patellofemoral pain syndrome. Guershon Yabusele is questionable with a left ankle sprain.

The 76ers are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference due to consecutive losses to both the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, and they are looking to bounce back after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home earlier this week.

Philadelphia is a game back from the Atlanta Hawks, who occupy the coveted number six seed in the conference, which represents an opportunity to avoid the play-in round altogether.

In any case, the 76ers and Bulls are scheduled to tip off from Philadelphia on Wednesday at 7:00 PM ET.

There has recently been discussion in the NBA of a 65-game rule that does not allow players to receive any awards at the end of the season if they do not meet the criteria. Cade Cunningham is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to a bad lung, keeping him from making the All-NBA team despite the season he spent for the Detroit Pistons.

There are some who are in favor of the 65-game rule, while others believe the rule should be stricter. Jaylen Brown believes in the latter, but he also doesn’t believe people should back down from the former stance after Cunningham’s injury.

“When it first became the 65-game rule, everyone was in support of it,” Brown said on his Twitch stream. “At the time, people were talking about people who were load managing, and there were a lot of complaints about load management. There were a lot of complaints about superstars not playing. Now they move the norm to 65, and now it seems like the popular opinion is that it’s time to get rid of 65.”

Jaylen Brown talks about the 65 Game criteria on his live stream and asks fans to change their opinion on it 👀

“Everyone was supporting it, because people were doing load management, now suddenly people don’t want it.” pic.twitter.com/98ntmaR023

– 𝓖𝓪𝓮𝓮 🍀 (@gabe_blessed) 25 March 2026

Brown said he wished it were 62 games instead of 65, but he had no problem with the norm.

“It was the opposite of what I thought at first, that guys would play 40 or 50 games and then be drafted to All-NBA teams,” Brown said. They’ll play half the season, and their numbers will be better because they’ve only played half the games compared to someone who played 70, 68, or 72 games. That’s a big difference.”

The rules allow for awards to players who have played most of the season, but it is unfortunate when someone like Cunningham is lost late in the season and does not win the award he deserves. It’s uncertain whether the league will make any rule changes, but it wouldn’t be a surprise.

The NBA Board of Governors has approved a vote to explore the possibility of adding two new expansion franchises specifically in the Las Vegas and Seattle markets, as first reported by ESPN.

As a result of approving this vote, the bidding process to launch expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle will officially begin, and is expected to generate offers in the $7 billion to $10 billion range for each new franchise.

The process will involve the NBA along with investment bank PJT Partners as a strategic advisor to evaluate potential markets, ownership groups, sector infrastructure and the macroeconomic implications of the expansion.

“Today’s vote reflects our board’s interest in exploring potential expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle – two markets with long histories of supporting NBA basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the league’s press release. “We look forward to taking the next steps and engaging with interested parties.”

The idea of ​​NBA expansion is no longer a consideration, as the board has officially begun the process of a 32-team league, with high-ranking executives telling ESPN that it’s a matter of “when, not if.”

At this time, there is no timeline for potential expansion bids to be evaluated or accepted, but given the amount of interest there is in these markets for NBA expansion, the process is expected to move quickly.

There was growing momentum among NBA board members, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and members of the league office to approve this notion of expansion, especially with the revenue generated by new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.

A potential final vote for expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle will be held later this year, which would officially take the league from 30 to 32 teams.

If Seattle makes a bid and is accepted, the NBA would welcome the return of the Seattle SuperSonics, who were disbanded when the franchise moved to Oklahoma and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.

If the SuperSonics were to return, all of their records and team history would be handed over to them by the Thunder, who do not already recognize the previous team’s success as their own.

Along with Seattle, Las Vegas has long been viewed as the next stomping ground for a new NBA franchise, especially considering how long the league has been doing business with the city.

Not only has the NBA Summer League been held in Las Vegas during the offseason since 2004, but the NBA Cup has also held its semifinal and final rounds in Las Vegas since beginning in 2023.

The WNBA moved its San Antonio franchise to Las Vegas in 2018, becoming the Las Vegas Aces, and the NHL established the Las Vegas Knights as an expansion team in 2016.

MLB also officially announced the relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas in 2023, and they are building a new $2 billion stadium that is expected to be ready for the 2028 season.

With the NBA officially taking the next step to add two new franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, the conversation has now turned to which current Western Conference franchises will move to the Eastern Conference to balance the league at 16 teams per conference.

It is expected that either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies will move east, with the Timberwolves seen as the likely favorite in this scenario.

The New Orleans Pelicans are running out of ways to mitigate Dejounte Murray’s impact. Since returning from injury, the former All-Star has not only stabilized the backcourt but reshaped the team’s defensive identity. This is a change that James Borrego has made clear is no coincidence. It’s this reality that makes a potential contract decision this offseason much more complicated than a simple market-value debate, especially since Zion Williamson is in a similar situation.

In his first 10 games, Murray has averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 27.6 minutes per game. His field goal percentage since his return is 54.7%, a level of shooting efficiency that exceeds any performance he had in 31 games before the injury. The Pelicans are seventh in points per game and 10th in steals since Murray returned.

However, this contract extension decision goes beyond counting statistics. Borrego emphasized that Murray’s presence has fundamentally changed the team’s identity, changing the mentality from passive to assertive.

“The physicality has improved with our intention to be a more physical, aggressive team with our hands on the ball,” Borrego explained. “We’ve set the tone on the ball. He’s Dejounte, he’s Fear, he’s Herb Jones setting the tone on the ball, contesting every shot. Our field goal percentage defense has really increased. We’re contesting every shot. Our three-point percentage has really gone down against our opponents.”

“You can’t be the bottom team in this league and think you’re going to win,” Borrego said. “And that has to be a mentality. Every day we’re working defensively. It’s about pride. It’s about size. It’s about physicality. And I think we’ve simplified our defense as well. We’re not changing coverages too much. At most, what we’re doing within a play is maybe trying to take out one or two players.”

As Borrego noted, the team’s statistical turnaround has been anchored by Murray’s point of attack defense. Since the NBA All-Star break, the Pelicans have dropped from 27th to 18th in defensive rating. Countering the shots is yielding huge benefits. He has shown significant improvement in opponent’s effective field goal percentage, especially from beyond the arc, moving from 26th (55.8%) to eighth (53.2%).

With Murray’s projected contributions expected to remain close to All-Star levels over the next three to four years, the Pelicans will have to decide if the veteran guard represents the necessary cornerstone to translate this late regular season momentum into future postseason success. The franchise has long valued fiscal discipline to avoid the luxury tax, but there is a compelling case for making an investment that could cement the team’s identity for years to come.

As the Pelicans regroup for a crucial offseason, the front office faces a high-stakes math problem. How much will Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver really value a player who has fundamentally changed the team’s defensive DNA?

The answer probably sits in the $100 million range.

Dejounte Murray paces Pelicans

Murray’s $32 million salary cap hit next season is just fine. There is no way to pick up the $30 million player option for the 2027-28 fiscal year. Getting close to $38 million annually over the next three years shows what he has shown and what he can provide. This will be expensive. This will require financial discipline elsewhere on the roster.

However, the option of seeing a former All-Star, an elite defender and a natural leader walk out the door because the front office was unwilling to shed a $40 million AAV would be a mistake this franchise cannot afford, given how other star eras have ended. Zion Williamson can afford to wait in line behind Murray for this order of business.

Fortunately, the contracts of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Zach LaVine, Kyrie Irving and Derrick White provide a reference point below that range. Jrue Holiday and Fred Van Vleet’s deals provide a floor for Murray’s agents if the market wants to play hardball.

The potential three-year, $114 million extension may not be in line with internal accounting plans. Still, it’s hard to ignore the courtroom evidence, which is forcing the franchise to reconsider how hard that line should be with this origin. Murray is entering what should be the high point of his career. His Achilles injury was serious, but his comeback in terms of production, efficiency and impact on wins has eliminated most of the durability concerns that might otherwise reduce his market value.

There are probably 15 players in the world who are capable of being a triple-double threat every night while still being legitimate NBA Defensive Player of the Year contenders. Most are on All-NBA teams at the end of the season. There’s no obvious price tag on that combination of skills, but the floor is very high, especially after Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Derrick Queen and Herb Jones. Just look at how much the Pelicans have been winning lately.

Given how the last few weeks have gone, the connective tissue of that core is unquestionably Dejounte Murray. Letting him go, or letting negotiations stall long enough to damage the relationship, would cost New Orleans far more than the contract dollars in question. That’s why the Pelicans should consider starting talks with a placeholder $80 million over two years versus a long-term three- or four-year investment that leads to the trade market.

In just his 27th game of the regular season, Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder returned from a hamstring injury in a 123-103 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. After missing the first 19 games of the regular season, Williams suffered two right hamstring injuries that kept him out of action since February 11.

With only 10 games left in the Thunder’s regular season schedule, Williams expressed a mild level of frustration, which, considering his 45-game absence, comes as a surprise.

Williams said, “I think if I was on a different team, I would have been more disappointed. But as you guys can see, I have good energy.” “So, I think that’s one of the things that has kept me going. I’m trying to use it as a positive as well. My wrist is feeling better than ever. So, I think that was a big hurdle during the season that I’ve been able to overcome. Now it’s back to normal.”

The positive emotions of her teammates have played a significant role in Williams’ road to recovery.

Williams continued, “You work out all season, and then you get the same injury twice in a row, and I was dealing with my arm at the time. So, that part was a little disappointing.” “But I’ve been around good energy. I’ve been around a good organization so that’s made it a lot easier for me to come back. I’m feeling pretty good.”

Williams finished with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in 20 minutes in the Thunder’s 20-point win against the 76ers.

How Thunder teammates eased Jalen Williams’ frustration

The return of Thunder forward Jalen Williams to coach Mark Daigneault’s lineup is ideal amid the final stretch of the defending champions’ regular season. Williams revealed how being around the team helped ease his rehab process this season.

“The biggest thing that helped me feel connected was the team allowing me to travel with the team,” Williams said. “I think when you get hurt, and you have to stop on some road trips, it’s really tough because you’re not around the team. So, you feel like an outsider a little bit. So, the fact that I was able to do my rehab on the road at times, and still be with the team, was super dope.

“It’s fun to see people have to do things they wouldn’t normally do, and be successful in that situation. It was really cool.”

Williams enjoyed watching Ajay Mitchell have a breakout season, while veterans like Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace have also stood out amid injuries to the Thunder’s starting lineup.

The Golden State Warriors will be shorthanded against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday as they try to post their first win in two months. With Jimmy Butler out for the season, Stephen Curry will miss his 23rd consecutive game with a right knee injury. Meanwhile, Moses Moody (left patellar tendon rupture), Quentin Post (right foot injury management), Al Horford (right soleus strain) and Seth Curry (left adductor strain) are also sidelined.

Steve Kerr clarified the Warriors’ stance on a potential Curry return during an interview on Wednesday.

“If we don’t feel good about (his knee), he’s not going to play. We’re not going to push him into anything if things aren’t really clear,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game.

The Warriors have suffered injuries to several other rotation pieces amid the absences of Curry and Butler.

Warriors try to maintain momentum in play-in race amid injuries

Horford has missed the team’s last six games due to a calf strain. Meanwhile, Moody ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee during Monday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. The post mentioned a problem with his right foot. Wednesday will be his fifth absence since March 7.

The Warriors are 7-15 during Curry’s absence. They rank 25th in offense, 23rd in defense and 22nd in net rating (-5.4) during that span.

Golden State continues to hold on to 10th place in the Western Conference standings. Kerr’s team is 1.5 games behind the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers and two games behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers with 10 games remaining.

Luckily for them, the Nets will also be severely shorthanded on Wednesday. Michael Porter Jr. is out with a hamstring strain, while Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain), Nolan Traore (rest), Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain), De’Ron Sharp (left thumb surgery) and Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) are also out.

Brooklyn has lost its last eight games.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on a four-game winning streak, and Donovan Mitchell and James Harden each scored 66 points in their latest win, but Kenny Atkinson made a point of pointing out team-wide defensive shortcomings after the Cavs’ 136-131 win over the Orlando Magic. This is the fourth instance in the last two weeks in which the Wine and Gold gave up at least 128 points to an opponent.

Atkinson said after the game, “I just told the team in the locker room, if we play defense like this, we’re going to have a short playoff stint.” “Right now, our mentality is we’re just going to outwork people. We all know when it comes playoff time, offensively it’s not going to be that easy. You’re not always going to shoot like we’re scoring right now. So if we’re giving up 132 points, 128, I don’t know, it feels like every game, we’re going nowhere.”

“I mean, we all know,” Evan Mobley said. “The good thing is we have games to get better,” Mobley said. “And we all know what we’re capable of doing at the end of the day, so that’s the main thing. I think everyone has taken it pretty positively and knows we’ve got to get better at it. Guys have to keep stepping up and getting better defensively.”

Max Strus agreed with Atkinson on the matter because “it’s true,” noting that despite finding offensive flow, 131 is “too many points” and that defensive improvements are needed “all over.”

“This is not something you want to live with,” Strus said. “We’ve got to figure it out defensively. That’s got to be our MO. We’ve got to find a way to create our identity, and that can help us win a lot of games. Everybody can make the excuse that we don’t have a rim protector in Jarrett Allen, but it starts on the ball. It starts with our communication, physicality. We just let them be aggressive, and we need to come out with physicality and make a statement on that end.”

“I think we just have to keep our energy higher and try to disrupt the ball a little bit more,” Evan Mobley said. “I think guys are getting to their spots easier, but we definitely have the pace where we do that. We just have to be able to keep it up and slow guys down a little bit because sometimes it’s too much scoring back-and-forth. Just try to be as disruptive as possible. I think that’s the key right now. On the ball, off the ball, being physical, trying to dictate the game a little bit. I feel like sometimes we let them dictate what we do.” They want to, and it’s very easy for them.”

Atkinson was disappointed with Cleveland’s competitive level and IQ level, making it clear that communication had also been poor.

“We’ve got to make a decision, Atkinson said. We’ve got two weeks to figure it out, and that’s the challenge for this group. But right now, we just think we can beat people.”

“He’s not wrong,” Mitchell said. “You love when a coach is honest with you. As we all know, we all have goals and targets on bigger things, and it’s on us to go out there and get it right. The intensity is there, but now it’s mental, thinking about different things; that’s the gameplan, that’s the execution. It’s the little things; [offensive] The boards are also huge. It’s hard to protect 24 [seconds] And then the other 14 have to be protected. Just the teams will have to be given a second chance.

The Cavs have been extremely intentional about fixing a problem that has plagued them for nearly a month.

“I think we’ve been talking about it for a minute already,” Mobley said. “So we’re all on the same page, we’re all talking about it, we’re all working on it, and we’re going to get better at it. We’ve seen it before, we’ve done it before. We’re not playing the best right now, but we have the right mindset behind it. That’s the main thing. If we weren’t, I think it’s a little more scary.”

“Very [confident],” Mitchell said. “I’m not trying to put it in a way where it sounds like we’re just going to stay there. We have to implement it.”

Atkinson doesn’t like using Jarrett Allen’s absence as a crutch, and neither do his teammates. He has missed the last nine games with right knee tendinitis and although he is close to returning, the Cavs will have to find ways to deal with the veteran center not being on the floor.

“I think a lot of times in the defensive lineup we’re used to having two big guys on the field, where we have two guys that can rotate and get there, and right now, we only have one, so it’s a little different with that aspect,” Mobley said. “Also, we can’t depend on him. He’s not playing right now, so the next guy has to step up and it’s on me to protect the rim better and everyone else to stay in their spots and not let them get to the rim that easily.”

Mitchell said, “Obviously JA isn’t playing. Our defense is definitely based around that. But we can get better, and we will.” “There are 10 sports [left]. We have to reach there now. I have no doubt that we will do that, and it’s up to the 17 of us in the locker room.”

Atkinson has a huge belief in what the Cavs have and he’s seen it firsthand, which is why he’s being so hard on them.

“We’re very capable. I think that’s where the frustration lies,” Atkinson said. “And our leaders [have] Gotta take ownership of getting that locker room to a better defense. It really starts there.

“So we’ll get another chance tomorrow night. This is a really good offensive team [in the Miami Heat]. We have to turn it on, we have to change it. “We just have to change our mentality, which is too much inclined towards the offensive end.”

After defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, the New York Knicks have won seven games in a row, and superfan and actor Ben Stiller was excited.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Stiller was once again live-posting during the Knicks-Pelicans game. After the final buzzer, he wrote on Twitter, “7 in a row”.

This should come as no surprise to fans. Stiller watches almost every game, and is one of the team’s most devoted fans. They will play the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, March 26 to potentially win their eighth consecutive game.

Ben Stiller’s Knicks move on after defeating Pelicans

On Tuesday, March 24, the Knicks defeated the Pelicans by five points to win their seventh consecutive game. It was New York’s 48th win of the year.

The win also means the Knicks have defeated the Pelicans in their two games this season. Like their most recent game, New York defeated New Orleans by five points in their last game on December 29, 2025.

Jalen Brunson once again led the Knicks in scoring, scoring 32 points in the win. He was highly efficient, making 11 of his 19 shots and eight of nine free throws. He also had a team-leading eight assists.

Brunson wasn’t the only player to score more than 20 points. OG Anunoby scored 21 points in his 40 minutes of playing time. Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 21 points and had 14 rebounds, the most by any player on either team.

There are only nine games left in the regular season before the playoffs begin. Currently, the Knicks are competing with the Boston Celtics for the second seed. The Celtics are 47-24, trailing both the Detroit Pistons, who have a record of 52-19.

More likely is that all three teams will reach the playoffs. The Knicks are hoping for a better end to their season than last year. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before being eliminated in six games by the Indiana Pacers.

Rising WWE superstar Oba Femi was among the thousands in attendance for the New York Knicks’ seventh consecutive win, who visited Madison Square Garden ahead of Monday Night Raw on March 30.

Femi attended the Knicks’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans in style by wearing a blue shirt that matched New York’s uniform. Photos of Femi were shared on Madison Square Garden’s social media accounts, in which he is holding the Knicks’ WWE-style championship belt and a custom jersey with his name on it.

ruler x garden 🧡💙

Catch @WWE On March 30, Monday Night Raw! pic.twitter.com/9dbJUCAayt

– MSG (@TheGarden) 25 March 2026

This is a big step for Femi. Obviously, WWE sees a lot of potential in him and him promoting the company like this shows their confidence in him.

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar are likely to face off when WWE RAW Knicks visits Madison Square Garden.

Currently, Femi is locked in a high-profile feud with Brock Lesnar leading up to WrestleMania 42. More likely, they will both be on the upcoming episode of Raw at the Garden on March 30.

Although it is unlikely that they will have a match, it is expected that they will have a physical relationship once again. Femi has performed better than Lesnar in his last two matches. Therefore, the “Beast Incarnate” is likely to return to Fami at least once before WrestleMania 42 begins on Saturday, April 18.

Femi was a major force in WWE’s developmental brand NXT. He won the NXT North American Championship once and the NXT Championship twice.

He was such a dominant champion that he left the NXT Championship after winning it for the second time. Femi never lost it, but rather gave it up.

Shortly after, he joined the WWE main roster before competing in the 2026 Royal Rumble. Lesnar eliminated him, which started their feud. Now, his first big fight on the main roster is against Lesnar, which is a big achievement for him.

Moses Moody suffered a really serious injury last night against the Dallas Mavericks. The Golden State Warriors fell to the ground in pain after trying to go up for a routine dunk attempt late in overtime. MRI tests revealed that Moody had a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, ending his 2025-2026 season and potentially ruling him out parts of next season.

It’s a devastating blow for the Warriors forward, who was looking to get back into form against the Mavericks. That being said, head coach Steve Kerr did offer some good news about Moody. While his patellar tendon needs work, an MRI showed that his bones and cartilage were clean, according to 95.7 The Game.

“The MRI was clean,” Kerr said in a radio interview. “it is [patellar] Tendon. There was no damage to the cartilage or bone, so that’s good news. “That makes it a very basic surgery.”

Other notable NBA players who have suffered patellar tendon tears include Jeremy Lin, Victor Oladipo, and Caron Butler. Typically, these types of injuries take a long time to heal, taking up to a year for complete recovery. However, perhaps even more concerning for the Warriors is the decline in production players have experienced following this injury. Butler is the only exception, but most players who suffer from a torn patellar tendon never reach the level they did in previous years.

That being said, there is still plenty of optimism that Moody can return to the level he performed at. This season was his best year in five years playing with the Warriors. He averaged double figures in points while shooting 40% from three-point range for the first time in his career and has been an effective defender for the team. Moody had 23 points in that Mavericks game, filling up the stat sheet in many ways.

The Warriors play the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow. They are preparing for the postseason play-in tournament.

The Sacramento Kings fielded such a depleted roster on Tuesday night, and against an up-and-coming Charlotte Hornets team that is exceptionally impressive in wins, it was simply a one-way ticket to demolition. Although they kept it a little closer in the first quarter of the game, the Kings lost the final 36 minutes of play as they fell behind by 25 points en route to a 134–90 loss to the Hornets.

While the Kings have no incentive to win these days considering they’re prioritizing getting better lottery odds, a 44-point loss in the NBA is never something to swallow easily. And it appears the team’s social media manager is almost completely satisfied with the Kings’ loss.

It got to the point where he didn’t even bother to include the final score on his tweet signaling the end of their Tuesday night contest against the Hornets, instead urging fans to check the box score on the NBA’s official website.

“FINAL: Check out NBA.com,” the Kings’ tweet read.

Tanking kings get devastated by injuries

At this point, the Kings aren’t even tanking intentionally. For starters, the injury bug hasn’t been kind to him at all. They are missing key players like Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine, while players like Russell Westbrook and Nick Clifford were also out on Tuesday. Even Killian Hayes, who had been a recent starter, was absent against the Hornets.

The Kings certainly lucked out in a promising lottery position, as they had no intention of tanking before the start of the season. But the chips have fallen into place for them this way, and they’re making the most of it. Only time will tell if this painful loss will be worthwhile for the Kings.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey has quickly become one of the NBA’s elite players. The potential was obvious when he entered the league in 2020, but many probably did not anticipate that he would be in the position he is in today.

Maxey is widely considered a top-tier playmaker, commonly mentioned alongside Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham.

Maxi, 25, has always bet on himself, even during his college days at Kentucky. He has carried that confidence to the NBA.

On “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” he was asked if he felt intimidated playing against players he grew up watching. Maxi’s answer it was perfect.

“When I’m in the game, I’ve got to cook for these guys. That’s my job,” the two-time All-Star said with a smile.

“Yeah, I have to cook these guys when I’m at the game. It’s my job.”

What if Tyrese Maxey goes crazy playing against the greatest players of all time?
pic.twitter.com/ZmQhM1Whhu

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 March 2026

He admitted that he sometimes faints after games, which is quite normal for a young player like him.

He had to move quickly with the 76ers amid center Joel Embiid’s continued injury struggles. After a quiet rookie season, he has improved his game every year, including being named Most Improved Player in 2024.

This season, he has career averages of 29.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals. He has a chance to earn his first nomination to the All-NBA team, although a finger injury may hamper his eligibility, as he has only played 61 games.

Regardless, Maxi will be a regular feature for the 76ers as he tries to lead the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2001.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning NBA Finals and regular season MVP, Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring and Victor Wembanyama is the face of a dramatic franchise revival. But make no mistake, Nikola Jokic still has a strong case for being the best player in the NBA today. He reinforced that on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

The Denver Nuggets superstar hit a bucket near the lower half of the free-throw circle with 11.5 seconds remaining, giving his team a 125-123 win at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Jokic didn’t have his greatest scoring night – finishing with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting – but he stepped up in the game’s most important moment. The future Hall of Fame center also posted 17 rebounds and 17 assists to record his 29th triple-double of the season. Despite facing more tough defenses recently, he has continued to make a terrifying impact on the court.

Clutch!

Nikola Jokic with a clutch bucket inside to win the game for Denver

pic.twitter.com/Y7sjzdM6Mt

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 March 2026

The 2023 Finals MVP and three-time regular season MVP knows what his role is on this team. He’s a brilliant playmaker, but the Nuggets are also relying on him to score at will. Jokic himself will admit that Denver did not have a chance to eliminate last year’s NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder due to poor shooting performance in the middle part of the Western Conference semi-finals. He intends to maintain his excellent form and strong health after this season.

The Nuggets are deeper than they have been since winning the title – Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 off the bench against the Suns – but the offense runs through Nikola Jokic. How he handles pressure will determine how dangerous this team is in 2026.

He certainly performed in The Desert. Ideally, No. 15 won’t have to play hero when Denver (45-28) hosts the lackluster Dallas Mavericks (23-49) on Wednesday.

The Charlotte Hornets had a strong performance from three-point territory to pick up an easy 134-90 win over the Sacramento Kings at the Spectrum Center on Tuesday.

The Hornets should have provided umbrellas before the game because they rained three-pointers on the Kings. Charlotte tied the franchise record with 26 long bombs.

Coby White and LaMelo Ball each had six three-pointers to lead the offense. Coby White scored 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting and five rebounds off the bench, while Ball had 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

Ball accomplished another impressive feat after passing Dell Curry to move into second place in most three-pointers in team history. Ball is now behind only Kemba Walker.

LaMelo Ball is making history in Charlotte

Ball moved into second place all-time in three pointers made for the Hornets pic.twitter.com/Fs3xt0ffpf

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 25 March 2026

The Hornets improved to 38-34 and are on pace to end their nine-year playoff drought, the league’s longest active skid.

Fans praised the 24-year-old Ball for his hot shooting against the Kings.

@TheFLReaper said, “No matter how high you rate LaMelo, he’s still underrated.”

“No one in the league makes it look that effortless, and LaMelo Ball knows it. The step-back three with those moves is insulting to every defender alive at the moment,” @littledijah said.

“He’s great. We need the Hornets in the playoffs,” @TopShelfJam wrote.

@RenzWinford posted, “Deeply Melo. A boy.”

“LaMelo is making Hornets history with depth,” @braxson_grey commented.

After consecutive years on the sidelines, Ball has finally been healthy this season, and it’s no coincidence that the Hornets are playing their best ball in years.

With Ball, White, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, Charlotte could make quite a stir in the playoffs.

Miles McBride has missed the last 27 games for the New York Knicks, including Tuesday night’s 121-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, as he recovers from sports hernia surgery. McBride was instrumental in establishing a defensive identity for the Knicks early in the season, and his absence since late January has necessitated the arrival of Jose Alvarado via trade for more guard depth.

But McBride doesn’t seem too far away from returning to action. According to head coach Mike Brown, via SNY’s Ian Begley, McBride has made progress from scrimmaging as he recovers from injury. With only a few weeks left before the playoffs begin, it will be important for McBride to get some live reps as he plays into a rotation role for the team in the postseason.

McBride is a fearless competitor who defends well and changes the tempo of the game for the Knicks with his energy, hustle and shot-making. On the season, he is averaging a career-best 12.9 points per game on 42 percent shooting from beyond the arc, and under Brown’s tutelage he has become more important to the team than ever.

The earliest date for McBride’s return is the 26th, when the Knicks take on the Charlotte Hornets on the road.

Miles McBride has become invaluable to the Knicks

McBride’s progression from spark plug off the bench to an invaluable rotation piece for the Knicks has been nothing short of incredible. New York’s play reaches a higher level whenever McBride is on the field; According to PBP stats, whenever McBride is on the court, the Knicks are more than five points better per 100 possessions than when he is not on the court.

Keeping McBride healthy and active once the playoffs begin is vital for the Knicks if they are to ultimately take over the Eastern Conference.

The Orlando Magic are in a free fall right now, as their losing streak is now six games after a 136-131 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. From being in contention for the fifth or sixth seed, they have now dropped to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, as they could not find a way to end their bleeding against the Cavs.

It’s not that the Magic are playing terribly. Sure, two of their last six losses came by double digits, 12 losses to the Atlanta Hawks and 19 losses to the Charlotte Hornets. But his other losses have been close; They lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder by just five after their bench struggled, they lost a Luke Kennard game-winner, and they suffered consecutive losses to the Indiana Pacers and Cavs by a total of seven points.

Still, the Magic are showing worrisome signs on the hardwood, and fans, as a result, are not very confident about head coach Jamahl Mosley and his ability to lead the team to where they want to be at the end of the season.

Magic fans vote of no confidence in head coach Jamahl Mosley

The loss to the Pacers has already left many Magic fans mentally disturbed, and another loss doesn’t help matters, causing more panic on social media.

“Why is Mosley still employed?” X user @Lblax31 wrote.

@MoGMD01 said, “Mosley is arguably the worst coach in the NBA.”

@finnfromny added, “Loved it, but Mosley should be on a commercial flight out of Cleveland.”

@TheChadIsGreat3 wrote, “Please fire Moseley! We know DeVos lives by the Bible; tell him firing a terrible head coach is the 11th commandment.”

“F**k you Jamal Mosley,” @LosMagicARG emphatically expressed.

Tyrese Maxey is currently out of commission for the Philadelphia 76ers due to a finger injury that will keep him out for at least three weeks.

The timing has been rough, as 76 players are risking their lives to avoid the play-in tournament. Apart from Maxi, Joel Embiid, Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. are also out.

While he is recovering from his finger injury, Maxi took time as a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, where he talked about playing in the NBA and not being afraid to go up against superstars like LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Maxi and James, who are both managed by Klutch Sports, have developed a close relationship after working out together in the offseason. Maxi, 25, shared funny story The least that can be said about this is that Fallon was very happy with it.

Maxi said, “He (James) is really someone who became close to me. In the summer, we have this little thing where we work out at six in the morning.”

“So the first time it happened, I got there at 5:45, 5:40. I was there before him. Then he gets there at 5:30, and I tried to get there at 5:15. Last time, he got there at five. When I got there, he was all in sweat. I said, ‘You know what, you won.’

.@TyreseMaxey And @KingJames Try to outdo each other to see who gets to the workout first🤣 #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/HXtJoQhvWg

– The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) 25 March 2026

James, 41, has a renowned work ethic. The proof is clear: their longevity. There are many stories about how the four-time MVP takes care of his body.

Working with young guys like Maxey and Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks probably gives James extra motivation moving forward.

It has also benefited Maxi, who is enjoying another stellar campaign and has received his second nod to the All-Star Game. He is also on track to be named to the All-NBA team for the first time.

The Charlotte Hornets won their fourth consecutive game after defeating the Sacramento Kings 134-90 at the Spectrum Center on Tuesday. The Hornets improved to 38-34 and are in a three-way tie with the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte drained 26 three-pointers against Sacramento to tie the franchise record. Coby White and LaMelo Ball each had six three-pointers.

White finished with a team-high 27 points on 9 of 12 shooting, including 6 of 12 from three-point range, and five rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench.

The Hornets have continued to perform well since the All-Star break. They are 12-3 in their last 15 games. After defeating the kings, White issued a subtle warning For the rest of the NBA.

“I’ve never been on a dangerous team,” White said.

“It can be a back-and-forth game, and then you hit a run, and then you look up, and you’re up by 20, and then you’re up by 30. The main thing for me is that we’re explosive, but we’re starting to maintain those leads when we get them and continue to build on them. That’s the impressive thing to me, too.”

🎙️ Coby White: “I’ve never been on a dangerous team.”

“It can be a back-and-forth game and then you hit a run, and then you look up and you’re up by 20, and then you’re up by 30. The main thing for me is that we’re explosive, but when we get leads we start maintaining those leads… pic.twitter.com/vYT553cRAd

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 25 March 2026

The Hornets led by 46 points against the Kings.

Charlotte acquired the 26-year-old White via trade with the Chicago Bulls in February. He has provided immediate offense to the second unit and stayed on the floor in closing situations.

In 12 games with the Hornets, the former North Carolina standout is averaging 15.9 points on a career-best 40.3% shooting from beyond the arc, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in less than 20 minutes.

Charlotte has a strong chance to finally return to the playoffs after a nine-year absence.

The Charlotte Hornets may not be quite there, but they have arrived as a winless team in the Eastern Conference. Since the beginning of the 2026 calendar year, the Hornets have posted the fifth-best record in the NBA at 27–12. Their strong performance this year continued on Tuesday, as they swept the Sacramento Kings and demolished them with a 134-90 victory.

Making the jump from bad to good isn’t as easy as the Hornets are making it out to be. But under the tutelage of head coach Charles Lee, they are doing just that. They have made a habit of winning and never let their foot off the gas pedal – which explains their historic average margin of victory this season.

After the game, Lee explained what makes Why the Hornets are so good and why they are so dominant whenever they are on victory lane.

“Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful,” Lee said via HornetsReddit.

🎙️ Charles Lee: “Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful.”

“To see that group compete at the end of the game and see the way they communicated… it shows, from up and down the roster, the level of commitment, everybody’s ‘care factor’ is really high.” pic.twitter.com/Dy8yijDNQE

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 25 March 2026

The Hornets enjoy embarrassing other teams, and this killer mentality of theirs bodes well for their chances of making the jump from good to great in the coming years.

The entire Hornets roster has been purchased

The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the past few months, and it’s no coincidence. Lee’s team is playing for each other every single game, and the team is humming as a result.

Charlotte has one of the best starting five players in the association (LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate), and their bench team consists of Ryan Kalkbrenner, Coby White, Zion James, Josh Green and Grant Williams, who are playing their roles in the team.

When the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, it changed their franchise forever.

Widely considered the best prospect since LeBron James 20 years ago, Wembley has somehow been better than advertised for the Spurs, racking up a list of accolades that could include Defensive Player of the Year and even MVP at season’s end if he’s able to meet the minimum game threshold.

But how valuable is Vembanayama in the eyes of the Spurs and talent evaluators around the NBA? Well, according to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons’ opinion on his eponymous podcast, he would prefer Wembey over all four top picks in this year’s class.

“Hypothetically, would you prefer Wemby or the top two picks in this draft? By far Wemby,” Simmons said. “Here’s a better question: Wembey or the top three picks in this draft? I’d still take Wembey. Wembey or the top four picks in the draft. I get them all. I might even take Caleb Wilson. I’d still take Wembey.”

So what would it take to pry Wembanyama away from the Spurs in terms of 2026 NBA Draft capital? Well, Simmons gave his number, keeping in mind that if he was to take home the “Alien” phone, he’d need an entire starting lineup’s worth of rookie stars.

“The answer to that is the top five picks in this draft,” Simmons said. “Now I have your attention. Now I can have Peterson and Acuff. I can have Caleb Wilson, DiBuntsa and Boozer. I have the entire starting five for Wembley. Now I’m thinking about it.”

Unfortunately for Simmons, there is no Voltron-style trade that could secure San Antonio Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, DiBantsa and Boozer, so the Spurs will have to stick with Wembanyama as their franchise cornerstone for now. Luckily, few fans in San Antonio will be bothered by that fact, because when you have a player who can become the best player to ever play the game, your future looks pretty bright.