分類: 综合

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.

This season has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise for the Boston Celtics, but as fans and pundits gear up for the NBA Playoffs in the final stretch of the regular season, it’s fair to wonder if their luck could worsen due to seeding effects.

Currently, Boston’s 47–24 record would keep them as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, they would have faced a play-in team in the first round of the tournament. While there is no doubt that they will be able to overtake their opening opponent, the Celtics’ real nightmare could come in the second round if they fall in the standings.

As good as the New York Knicks are, the team that resides in Massachusetts should fear the most from the Detroit Pistons.

With the return of Jayson Tatum, the team is still learning how to play with each other and finding ways to integrate the veteran back into the fold. As a result, it would be less advantageous for them to fall to the No. 4 seed and face a team that boasts one of the league’s best defenses and thrives on a physical offensive style that likes to generate contact.

The Celtics’ recent 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves featured a similar dynamic. Despite being without Anthony Edwards, the T-Wolves outscored the opponent 26–15 in the final quarter and earned an effort-driven victory, limiting Setlex’s 3-point shooting in the process.

“So tonight was not an example of what we’ve been doing all season,” Jaylen Brown told Jay King of The Athletic. “We’ve been a hard-playing team, we’ve rebounded aggressively, and we’ve matched the level of physicality. I think Minnesota overcame that tonight. But it’s a good wake-up call. We get back into it, we look at it, learn from it and move forward.”

The Celtics should avoid a second-round showdown with the Pistons.

Detroit is without point guard Cade Cunningham due to a collapsed lung, but they hope to have him back once the playoffs begin. Through the first 71 games of their season, the Pistons have posted the association’s second-best defensive rating, while also attempting the second-most free throws per game.

Players like Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren are willing to play at a high level of physicality. It is not known how comfortable Tatum will be in such a matchup, or whether the Celtics have created enough consistency with him to compete against the team with the East’s best record.

If the Cleveland Cavaliers were to leapfrog Boston and claim the second or third seed, the second-round pick could theoretically force a meeting between the Celtics and Pistons. It may not be likely, but it could cut his season short.

The Knicks are a better matchup, regardless of home-court advantage

New York is clearly a contender and could be a threat to defeat Boston in the series for the second year in a row. But it can be argued that this year’s Celtics group is more balanced, assuming Tatum remains available. Even if the Knicks end up with home-court advantage in a potential second-round showdown, their style of play may be more manageable for Boston to deal with.

Like the Celtics, New York attempts 3-pointers at a high clip and boasts defensive strengths that primarily concern the opposing wing rather than centers. Both teams will likely play a close series, but Boston may have a solid chance to advance.

The Celtics have already dashed many expectations, but the wrong draw could end the franchise’s quest for a 19th championship.

Creighton recently announced that coach Greg McDermott will retire at the end of the season, ending his illustrious 16-year career with the program.

McDermott led the Bluejays to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a memorable run to the Elite Eight in 2023. He was hired by Creighton in 2010 and compiled a record of 365–188.

He produced countless players during his long tenure, some of whom made it to the NBA. On Tuesday, he reunited with two of them: his son, Sacramento Kings forward Doug McDermott, and Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner.

The elder McDermott posed for a photo with him at the Spectrum Center Posted with pride It’s on X.

“These two made me a great coach! It was so fun to see them share the court at an NBA game!” McDermott wrote.

Both of them made me a great coach! It’s so fun to see them share the court in an NBA game!! #RDJ pic.twitter.com/eRbVhYzUZy

– Coach McDermott (@cucoachmac) 25 March 2026

The Hornets defeated the Kings 134–90. Kalkbrenner had six points, four rebounds and two blocks, while the younger McDermott had nine points and two assists.

The Bluejays missed the NCAA Tournament this year after a 15–17 record, including 9–11 in the Big East.

Other Creighton alumni who played for the elder McDermott and went on to make it to the NBA are Dallas Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard, Boston Celtics guard Baylor Shearman, New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Alexander, and former NBA players Justin Patton, Khary Thomas, and Ty-Shawn Alexander.

“I am extremely proud of the young men who have proudly worn the Bluejays’ uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. It was especially gratifying to watch their growth on and off the playing field,” McDermott, 61, said in his statement about his retirement.

He also had stops at Wayne State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Iowa State.

Alan Huss, who had two stints as an assistant coach at Creighton, will take over the program.

Jose Alvarado faced his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, for the first time on Tuesday night since being traded to the New York Knicks at the deadline nearly two months ago. Alvarado was a beloved member of the locker room and was a bundle of energy whenever he was on the court, and when the two teams met on Tuesday it was clear that he remains great friends with several people in the opposing locker room.

Before the Knicks’ 121-116 win, Alvarado go and meet People he became friends with during his time with Pelican. The Knicks guard hugged the Pelicans’ commentary duo of Joel Meyers and Antonio Daniels, exchanged some encouraging words with Dejounte Murray, and flirted with Trey Murphy III, as caught on camera via the Pelicans Film Room on X (formerly Twitter).

Jose Alvarado hugging his former teammates this morning pic.twitter.com/PMd9kTjviy

– Pelican Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) 24 March 2026

The Pelicans may ultimately not want to lose Alvarado, but given his plight during the 2025-26 season, they had to get whatever assets they could for someone who could leave in free agency at the end of the season.

With the Knicks, Alvarado once again gets a chance to compete in the playoffs, although Pelicans fans feel a strange tug in their hearts every time they see him traded to another team.

Jose Alvarado will play big playoff minutes for the Knicks

The Knicks have been interested in bringing in Alvarado for some time, and Miles McBride’s injury has further encouraged them to acquire the beloved Pelicans guard via trade.

Alvarado has his place in the playoff rotation for being a defensive pest, and he doesn’t shy away from the moment. They also have a tendency to be forceful to some extent. The Knicks will need to make open shots in the playoffs to justify giving him minutes.

Mac McClung has earned his living by becoming one of the best performers of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest of all time. He has won the championship three times in his career, even though he is only a part-time player in the NBA, he has played a total of 10 NBA games in his career.

But McClung has his spot in an NBA organization for a reason, as he’s been tearing it up in the G-League for his entire career, and this season, while he’s with the Chicago Bulls’ affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, he’s become the NBA’s minor league scoring GOAT.

According to the official G-League account on X, on Tuesday night, in a contest between the Windy City and the Birmingham Squadron, McClung passed Renaldo Major (who had 5,299 career points) to become the NBA G-League’s all-time leading scorer. McClung did it in spectacular fashion as well, as he finished the night with 59 points on 19-34 shooting from the field (8-17 from deep). And 8-10 from the foul line.

McClung has had no trouble dominating opponents in the G-League, and he is currently averaging over 31 points per game in the regular season for the Windy City. And fans are now calling for him to get a call up to the NBA after working the backside in the G-League.

Fans praise Bulls’ Mac McClung

The NBA is a completely different animal than the G-League, which is why McClung has struggled to earn minutes in the big leagues. Still, a 59-point night never goes unnoticed.

“Mac McClung can score better than many NBA players,” wrote X user @SkilledByChoice.

“Mac McClung dropped 59 PTS, 10 AST, 8 threes in the G League… and y’all still put him on a two-way while the Bulls bench is ready? The G-League GOAT deserves real NBA minutes now,” @mrpurpose0 added.

The Denver Nuggets have been a Western Conference powerhouse for years. They have made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons, and they won the NBA championship in 2023. They have also made the Conference Finals and are one of the most consistent teams in the league in head coach David Adelman’s first full season as the team’s bench boss.
He has a cast of stars capable of stepping up and dominating the playoffs, but the Nuggets haven’t played at that level during the regular season.

Denver has 10 games remaining in the season and are tied for fourth place with the Minnesota Timberwolves. While there was no reason to think Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon would lead the Nuggets past the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular season and clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they certainly have the talent and all-around game to take the No. 2 seed. However, he has been ignored by the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. As a result, they are left fighting for homecourt advantage against the Timberwolves.

It’s important for the Nuggets to earn home-court advantage

If there is no change in the standings, the Nuggets and Timberwolves will meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Based on their records and the way each team has played this season, the Denver-Minnesota series has all the makings of a seven-game battle.

This may be the best thing for the Nuggets, as Jokic will be forced to focus on the business at hand. He is a dynamic leader and has been with the Nuggets throughout his illustrious 11-year career. Joker is a fantastic all-around center, but he is also an avid race horse owner and may be distracted by the biggest races because he loves that sport so much.

The battle between the Nuggets and Timberwolves will feature Jokic battling against Julius Randle, and there will almost certainly be a battle of attrition between those two big men as they fight for key rebounds and position below the boards. Jokic is the better player and will likely get the edge, but he will need Murray to get the job done against Anthony Edwards. Murray is certainly a dynamic player and the challenge of facing Edwards will probably be his best effort, but in the end Edwards will have the upper hand.

Jokic and Murray have impressive numbers

Jokic is averaging 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. With 25.1 points and 7.1 assists per game, Murray is clearly a sensational partner on offense. Edwards is averaging 29.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves, while Randle is scoring 21.0 points and bringing in 6.8 rebounds per game.

That’s why finishing fourth and gaining home-court advantage is important for the Nuggets. If they slip ahead and Minnesota gets the lead, it will be a nightmare for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets may also fall behind the Rockets and slip to sixth place

The Nuggets had just a half-game lead over the sixth-place Houston Rockets heading into Wednesday’s schedule. If the Rockets surpass the Nuggets and Denver moves up to sixth, a showdown with the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers will follow. The Lakers have won nine of their last 10 games and slowing down Luka Doncic will clearly be a top priority for the Nuggets defense. Doncic is averaging 33.4 points per game and is connecting on 47.4 percent of his shots.

Austin Reaves and LeBron James are key cogs in the Lakers’ offense as they average 23.5 and 21.0 points per game, respectively. The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season and will be a tough matchup for the Nuggets. It won’t just be about Jokic and Murray if the Nuggets make it past the first round.

They will need a lot of production from Gordon, Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. if they want to overtake the Lakers. Gordon is contributing 16.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while Watson and Hardaway are averaging 14.9 and 13.8 points, respectively.

Falling to sixth place and meeting the Lakers may be another nightmare for the Nuggets.

It almost certainly can’t get any worse for the Nuggets. They have a four-game lead over the seventh-place Phoenix Suns, and that’s something Jokic and company want to avoid. Finishing seventh means participation in the Western Conference Play-in Tournament, and if they win the first play-in game it would almost mean a loss for the Spurs.

The rested No. 7 seed would have to meet the rested No. 2 seed in the first round, and that would be a nightmare for the Nuggets. It is very unlikely that luck will favor the team, but it is within the realm of possibility.

The Memphis Grizzlies will be without their top player for the remainder of the campaign as it was announced on Tuesday that Ja Morant will undergo a procedure for his elbow injury.

Morant was limited to only 20 games this season due to his elbow injury and other ailments. The Grizzlies said that while the athletic guard was making good progressThey have decided to err on the side of caution.

“After a recent consultation to advise on prolonged discomfort, it was recommended that Morant receive PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections to further optimize ligament healing. Morant will begin to wear the elbow following the injection and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season, but is expected to make a full recovery before the 2026-27 season,” the team statement said.

@memgrizz The following medical updates were announced today for Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke and Zach Eddy: pic.twitter.com/gV8rLPlwbs

– Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) 25 March 2026

The Grizzlies are likely to miss the playoffs with a 24-47 record, and they probably don’t see any benefit in playing the 26-year-old Morant at this point. They are 1-11 in their last 12 assignments.

Many thought Memphis would part ways with Morant at the trade deadline. However, despite numerous controversies, no deal was made, keeping him with the Grizzlies.

He averaged 19.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists this season.

Over the past three campaigns, Morant has played in just 79 games combined.

Even without him, the Grizzlies are currently stacked in the backcourt, with Ty Jerome, Jaylen Wells, Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, Javon Small and Jahmai Mashek splitting minutes.

Memphis was defeated by the Atlanta Hawks 146-107 on Monday and will return to action on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Charlotte Hornets are comfortably in a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference this season, but given the home-court advantage they’ve been getting from the Spectrum Center recently, the seventh seed could be advantageous to get a decisive game on their court. x According to a release from the team, previously released via Twitter, Charlotte is just 18-17 at home this season, but the recent increased interest from fans has been notable.

Hornets PR posted, “With a sellout crowd of 19,450 tonight, the Hornets have now sold out nine-straight games at the Spectrum Center and have a total of 19 sellouts on the season.”

The hornets sit in the middle of the pack this season, which is a far cry from two years ago, when they were last dead. This reflects the impact of an exciting young team, led by LaMelo Ball, who is breaking records and playing a fun brand of basketball for Charlotte.

Charlotte defeated the struggling Sacramento Kings by 44 points on Tuesday night, but it’s not like they’re only having success against lower-tier players. The Hornets also have impressive wins against the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat on this homestand. Specifically, the Magic and Heat are two potential opponents for the Hornets in the play-in tournament.

The Hornets conclude their seven-game homestand with games against the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. If they can continue their winning ways against some of those teams, it may be time to start a more serious conversation about their prospects in the Eastern Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets finally seem to be turning a turn this season as they try to secure a playoff spot heading into the final few weeks of the regular season. The teams recent success can be attributed to All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball is by no means career high, but he has adopted a more team-oriented style of basketball under head coach Charles Lee. However, that’s not the only reason, as players across the board have bought in on both ends of the floor, leading to positive results across the board.

During Tuesday night’s contest against the Sacramento Kings, LaMelo Ball made Charlotte Hornets history in one of the biggest wins of the season for the franchise. Ball only made four three-pointers on the night, falling behind Hornets legend Dell Curry for second place on the Hornets’ all-time three-pointers list.

Ball finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while shooting 7 of 16 from the field and 6 of 13 from three. His sixth three-pointer gave him 931 threes for his career – all with the Hornets – surpassing Dell Curry, who recently held his jersey retirement ceremony with the franchise, with his sons Stephen Curry and Seth Curry in attendance.

The Hornets’ franchise leader in three-pointers is Kemba Walker, who has made 1,283 three-pointers in his Charlotte career. Should he remain with the franchise, Ball has a very legitimate chance to finish as the Hornets’ leader in three-pointers. LaMelo Ball’s personal record for three-pointers in a season is 318, which he accomplished in his second season in the league as an All-Star.

With a 38-34 record, the Hornets are now just 2.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference.

In 61 appearances so far this season, LaMelo Ball has averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson provided an update on Jarrett Allen’s status on Tuesday, indicating significant progress ahead of the Wine and Gold’s meeting with the Orlando Magic for a three-game homestand.

“They’ve ramped it up over the last few days, so there’s a positive trend,” Atkinson said. “I saw him on the court yesterday, contact. I think we’re in the last stages of preparing him, so I can guess [he’ll return within] The next few games, that window.”

Allen returning to the fold would be a welcome sight for the Cavs, who have missed James Harden with his rim protection and pick-and-roll skills. He missed the last game and will not be in action against the Magic due to right knee tendinitis. Cleveland’s veteran big man suffered the injury early in the second half of the Detroit Pistons game on March 3 and has not played since.

If Atkinson’s optimism proves justified, we’ll see Allen this week.

Cavs receive another important injury update

Elsewhere on the injury front, Atkinson shared the latest news on Jaylon Tyson, who hasn’t played since the fourth quarter of the Cavs’ win over the Chicago Bulls last Thursday. The second-year swingman suffered a sprained left toe and what is now being treated as a bone bruise.

“Not long-term,” Atkinson said of the label change. “He practiced yesterday, and it was bothering him, quite honestly, so we took him out of practice. It’s an injury; definitely not long-term. I can see it being very short-term. It’s going to be a pain to bear. I hope he recovers very quickly.”

Tyson has been a big part of the Cavs’ rotation recently despite his minutes being cut back, so this is solid news regarding his troublesome toe. However, it doesn’t help their case in the current battle for more minutes, as Cleveland tries to figure out who will play the most minutes and who will be in the starting five.

Mike Conley’s playing time has declined significantly this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team aims to introduce younger players into the lineup. Although this is the case, head coach Chris Finch admits it is difficult not to play the 19-year-old veteran.

Speaking to media members on Tuesday, Finch admitted that removing the 38-year-old point guard from the rotation is one of the toughest decisions he has made in his coaching career, according to Timberwolves reporter Dan Moore. Finch compared not playing with Conley to being on offense.

“Honestly, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in coaching,” Finch said of benching Conley. “Especially with who he is as a person and professional, and everything he’s done for us. Feels like a crime against humanity.”

Chris Finch was asked what it was like to have Mike Connelly removed from the rotation.

“To be honest with you, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in coaching… especially with who he is as a person and a professional, and everything he’s done for us. It feels… pic.twitter.com/jSeYDaP3BD

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 24 March 2026

Mike Conley has played in 47 games for the Timberwolves this season, starting nine of those contests. His playing time decreased shortly after as he was traded twice this season (first to the Chicago Bulls, then to the Charlotte Hornets) before being released by Charlotte, only to re-sign with Minnesota.

In the games he played, Conley averaged career lows in minutes (17.8), points (4.1), rebounds (1.7), assists (2.9), and steals (0.6). His field goal percentage (31.5%) and three-point percentage (31.1%) are also career lows.

Conley is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 campaign. The one-time All-Star will get an opportunity to sign with a new team in the offseason. However, due to lack of playing time and his age, it is likely that Mike Conley will retire after this season.

The LA Clippers have developed an interesting partnership over the last month of the season. Kawhi Leonard, currently the longest-tenured Clipper, joined forces with Darius Garland when the franchise traded for the two-time NBA All-Star.

Now, the pair are learning how to play with others as they fast forward to a do-or-die play-in tournament and potentially a postseason.

In just eight games played together so far, the Clippers are 6-2 – including a loss against the Sacramento Kings, where Leonard left the game early due to an ankle sprain. In the frankly incredibly small sample size of 120 minutes so far, the Clippers are outscoring opponents by 18.75 points per 100 possessions.

“It’s always good to have help,” Leonard said. “Darius is getting back in the lineup and being the star he has been in years past and coming in and still great for us, with 40 the other night, he’s getting the crowd going with his threes and passing and just his overall energy and, yes, looking forward to Ben coming back. But I think it’s a new challenge for everybody. Every year is different. And, yes, just try to come in and be competitive and just positive energy for everybody. Release.”

Kawhi Leonard hasn’t played before with a fast, agile guard like Darius Garland who can also shoot the three-ball at an elite level, so while the Clippers have been winning games with those two, it’s also been a learning experience for everyone involved.

“It’s amazing,” Leonard said of his experience with Garland so far. “He got going at that time, especially in Dallas, he was hitting those threes and, like I said, with his passing and his ability to just get down and see the floor, it makes the game easier for me. I got a lot of catch and shoot threes in Dallas and I probably haven’t had that many for the last month or so. Once he got back in the lineup, he was able to create, draw two or three guys, get kicks to me and some Got open eyes. And like me, it’s a different game and challenge, so just try to get better at it.

In his first 10 games with the Clippers, Darius Garland has averaged 20.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 50.7 percent from three. Kawhi Leonard has averaged 30.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game so far with Garland.

“It’s simple,” Leonard explained. “We’re still working through it, obviously. I don’t know what game it is for him, but it’s a steady progression, especially without someone who went through the first part of the season and training camp. But it’s been great to have all the positivity. I want him to do his best on the field. If he’s going, I’m going to stay out of his way. If I’m going, he’s going to stay out of my way or just try to find each other. So. Just keep working and we’ll see what each other likes. It’s been positive.”

The LA Clippers only have 10 games left this season, and they are currently 36-36 on the season. They will be trying to win their 15th consecutive winning season, the longest active streak in the NBA. To do that, LA would have to go 6-4 over its last 10.

Luke Doncic is arguably the best offensive player in the NBA today. Despite his undeniable skills, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar still receives some criticism from basketball analysts from time to time. However, the criticism Doncic received from Chris Broussard on Tuesday is exactly the same as it was almost a year ago.

During a segment on “First Things First” on Fox Sports 1, Broussard called the 27-year-old guard a ball hog. Popular sports analysts agree that Doncic is one of the league’s greatest players of all-time, but he clarified that he believes the eight-year veteran doesn’t pass the ball well enough.

“[Doncic is] “Hall of Fame ball hog,” Broussard said. “He’s an all-time great ball hog, but he’s a ball hog!”

“He’s a Hall of Fame ball hog. He’s the greatest ball hog of all time, but he’s a ball hog!”

– Chris Broussard on Luka Doncic 🗣️

(via @FTFonFS1)pic.twitter.com/hkHF9bgCRn

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

Broussard said the exact same words on March 25, 2025, almost a year before his statement on Tuesday. Although it’s a new year, the 57-year-old analyst still feels the same way about Doncic.

“Luka Doncic is a ball hog,” Broussard said in March 2025.

“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog – a future Hall of Famer. An all-time elite ball hog. He’s a ball hog.”

Chris Broussard doesn’t hold back after Lakers’ loss to Magic

(via @FTFonFS1)
pic.twitter.com/ypd91M0I4D

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 March 2025

Although Broussard thinks Doncic is a ball hog, the stats tell a different story. In 60 games played so far this season, the six-time All-Star is averaging 8.4 assists per contest. That’s good for third-best in the league behind Nikola Jokic (10.6) and Cade Cunningham (9.9).

Luka Doncic, who tops the league in average assists per game, is also averaging 33.4 points (league leader), 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. His field goal percentage is 47.4% while shooting 36.4% from beyond the three-point line.

The LA Clippers have been climbing up the Western Conference standings throughout the season after starting the year with a 6-21 record. Under the leadership of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have been able to reach .500 once again at 36–36 entering their final 10 games of the season.

The 2025–26 season has perhaps been the most impressive of Leonard’s career when taking into account the highest scoring of his career in addition to injuries and franchise-altering moves made by the team at the NBA trade deadline. Leonard has already been a leader for the Clippers due to his work ethic and incredible in-game performances, but everything that has happened so far has only heightened that.

“This group loves to play basketball,” Kawhi Leonard said when asked about his leadership style with this new-look Clippers team. “They love to be out there having fun and competing. And we’re not afraid of anybody. Even if they’re more talented or have a better record, we still want to go out and compete and try to take pride in being out there playing and being competitive.”

This season of the Clippers has seen allegations of salary cap manipulation, a season-ending injury to Bradley Beal, Chris Paul being sent home at midnight during a road trip, the trade of the Clippers’ longest-tenured teammates in James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the arrivals of Darius Garland, Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, as well as a season-ending injury to Yannick Konan Niederhauser.

Through it all, the Clippers have been a bright spot, especially in their young players like Niederhauser, Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.

“There’s a lot of young guys or guys that are getting a lot of minutes in different roles this year that are moving forward. So we just have to tell them to enjoy the moment, but a lot of times when we’re frustrated or if the call isn’t going our way, at the end of the day it’s just basketball and it never goes your way. So just put one foot in front of the other and just play and enjoy.”

After some initial doubts about the Clippers’ ability to compete following the Harden and Zubac trades, Darius Garland quickly shut it down with his stellar play.

“It’s always good to have help,” Leonard said. “Darius is getting back in the lineup and being the star he has been in years past and coming in and still great for us, with 40 the other night, he’s getting the crowd going with his threes and passing and just his overall energy and, yes, looking forward to Ben coming back. But I think it’s a new challenge for everybody. Every year is different. And, yes, just try to come in and be competitive and just positive energy for everybody. Release.”

In 56 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three and 90.1 percent from the free throw line.

Leonard has missed 16 of the Clippers’ 72 games this season, so he is only allowed to miss one more game before he will be ineligible for season-end NBA awards such as All-NBA teams and All-Defense teams.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season begins to wind down, there are questions as to who will join James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the Cavs’ starting lineup when the playoffs arrive. Due to injuries and sporadic player availability, it has been difficult to establish consistency in the five matches before the start of the month, making decisions not easy.

However, as Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson has mentioned in the past, that’s why he has the job he does. Ultimately it is up to him and his staff to make the difficult decisions, such as who starts, who ends, and how many people play.

“We probably have to get to nine,” Atkinson said last week in Milwaukee. “I’m still evaluating who fits in and who will lead the way in terms of coming into the rotation. I still think we haven’t made a clear decision on who that nine is.

“But it’s hard to play 10. You might be able to do it early in the first round; you might be able to do it in the early games. But eventually, you get to nine or eight. We know that, but I still think we have to evaluate, especially our wings. We have a lot of wings right now.”

Realistically, the Cavs can pick whoever they want since they have a number of similar swingmen.

Here are the most likely candidates for that final starting spot.

dean wade

Atkinson likes the defensive versatility that Dean Wade brings to the table and, in turn, has rewarded him with the job when healthy. It makes sense because he’s a 6-foot-9, 230-pound underutilized player who can knock down open threes and rebound. People get frustrated when he doesn’t make shots and even more excited when he turns down shots, but the reality is that the veteran forward simply needs to be a threat on the perimeter of space and get closeouts.

The Cavs don’t need to be a big scorer; Just look at who she’s on the floor with. Don’t let the box score determine your opinion of Wade. As long as he’s doing his job – defending, breaking the glass, and making the perfect next play, which involves shooting the ball – then he’s the man for the job. He, Mobley and Allen form a trio that makes it difficult for any opponent to consistently counter, which makes sense considering they have been playing together for five seasons.

Furthermore, if the decision is made to send him to the bench, Wade isn’t exactly a prolific scorer to promote him in the way most sixth men typically do.

From the beginning, Atkinson has made it clear that Max Strus’ postseason berth is a lock. In four games, despite the ban, he has averaged 23.5 minutes per contest. While Strus’ season debut is doing the heavy lifting, he is averaging 8.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on .440/.409/1.000 shooting splits. Similar to Wade, the 29-year-old doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective on a nightly basis for Cleveland.

However, Strus can handle the rock, and he has proven capable in the past with the Cavs’ rolling bigs in half-court scenarios. He’s a pocket passer with Allen in the two-man game, and Atkinson thinks there’s still potential with Mobley in dribble handoffs, as he did with Bam Adebayo in Miami. Strus has an uncanny knack for hitting contested threes, being in the right place at the right time for a backtap, and saving possessions with a quick game.

He gives Cleveland solid strength at third, and he has been a (healthy) everyday starter for Cleveland since signing as a free agent in the summer of 2023. If he is physically prepared and ready for the tough conditions of the postseason after this disappointing injury, he will be a big factor.

jaylon tyson

Switching roles isn’t as easy as Jaylon Tyson has had to do this season, but he’s handled it with ease. The burden from being one of the most important players on your team to playing less than 20 minutes in three consecutive games takes a toll on the mind. And yet, the second-year rising star is doing exactly what he’s asked in a specific role. Tyson was rewarded for that on Thursday night in Chicago, as he had an 18-point, 11-rebound performance before suffering a toe injury.

Injury aside, is it fair to ask Tyson, who emerged as a secondary playmaker in short roles next to Mitchell and Co. in the first half of the season, to do a similar job to Wade or Strus? It feels like it puts him in a kind of box, unlike what we saw in the first months. If he’s in the starting five, will he be limited to a low-usage role player, or will Cleveland free him up to the max be that? There can be no questioning his commitment as an individual defender or the attitude he brings to the field, although he has been self-critical about losing the ball to opponents on backdoor cuts.

Understanding that people have to pay their dues, it looks like Tyson has earned his money and shouldn’t be going back. If coming off the bench allows him to thrive in a looser unit as a facilitator and scorer, so be it. It’s admirable that he’s willing to be what the team wants him to be, but perhaps coaches should think twice about what they’re asking of him.

keon ellis

Keon Ellis made his first two starts for the Cavs in mid-March against the Dallas Mavericks. As a player he’s “still discovering,” Atkinson has a real passion for how he works in the pocket with his float game. Additionally, Ellis has shown a burst of driving from close to the perimeter, and Cleveland has been pleased with the increase in his offensive rebounding rate since his arrival.

It’s hard to argue against Ellis in terms of his defensive ability. He sees the dramas before they happen, acts on them, and resorts to alcohol and sleep on a nightly basis. Atkinson doesn’t mind playing him, and he also won’t hesitate to toss him to the 4 in small-ball sets. Ellis makes a lot of logical sense as a starter due to his low usage and patience.

Sam Merrill

It’s been a career season for Sam Merrill, who is averaging 12.8 points on a career-high 66.2% true shooting. He has started in 33 of his 45 appearances this season, and has had an almost even split between playing at 2 and 3. Merrill is an off-ball threat with consistent movement. His processing speed has improved tremendously with more reps, allowing him to establish chemistry with Harden and consistently thrive next to Mitchell.

Always on the floor, Merrill will leave his body to screen and defend despite being hunted. He will take the charge and ensure that he is present to contest the elections. It appears he is better suited at shooting guard because he is not forced to guard long, tall wings, but he is a starting-caliber player in this league. You can’t just look at Meryl one-dimensionally anymore. He will force you to pay off the dribble, get to the basket with cuts and take advantage of any piece of space.

However, who is the right Cavs fit?

The Cavs have an abundance of talent in the wing room for the modern league. Due to the length and strength of his potential opponents at 3, Wade makes the most logical sense. Last year was the only time Cleveland was able to field a healthy version of him in the postseason, and he was 10th in the rotation in the first round. Due to untimely injuries, the team had to throw him into the fire when the Indiana Pacers series was coming to an end.

Wade played only one postseason game with Mobley and Allen, lasting four minutes. One of the team’s most effective trio over the past few years has barely made an appearance due to bad luck and lack of opportunity. For example, Wade, Mobley and Allen shared the floor for 249 minutes last season.

This year, in 163 minutes, the combination has a net rating of plus-17.2, with tremendous balance on both ends of the floor. Ultimately seeing this happen with talents like Harden and Mitchell in the starting five last April could be the key to getting off to a good start defensively and setting the tone on the board.

Good defense leads to good offense. Its as simple as that.

Who gets to close out Cavs games is a different story.

The Milwaukee Bucks recently caused a stir when it was revealed that they were not on the same page with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding a possible return to the lineup this season. The Bucks prefer to shut down the superstar for the year, while Antetokounmpo himself is eager to get back on the court.

Recently, NBA insider ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculated on what this could mean for the team moving forward.

“It’s a failure to communicate between Giannis and the Bucks,” said Windhorst, formerly of NBA on ESPN on Twitter. “It’s a failure to get on the same page as what happened during the trade season… At the risk of making a copy of ourselves, why wouldn’t the Bucks want to play Giannis? They don’t want to play him because they don’t want him to get hurt.”

This was definitely a callback to a viral meme from a few years ago, in which a clip of Windhorst pointing to the ceiling while speculating on what was going on with the Utah Jazz at the time went viral on social media.

Windhorst expressed his belief that the Bucks currently want to keep Antetokounmpo out of the lineup so that his potential value on the trade market does not diminish this offseason. Milwaukee surprised many by opting to retain the star during the recent NBA trade deadline, though some have speculated that this was simply a move to wait out the summer, in which teams would be in a better position to make a more attractive offer.

In any case, the Bucks are next scheduled to take the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday evening as they continue their West Coast trip.

With only 10 games remaining before the playoffs, the New York Knicks look ready to take on the challenge of advancing to the NBA Finals. New York has won six consecutive games. And their top-five offensive and defensive ratings are a testament to their success, with both trending in recent times. Additionally, many of the Knicks’ critics, who as recently as last week were warning about their poor road trip to the NBA Finals, were silenced when Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons suffered an untimely concussion.

While the Knicks themselves are unlikely to be focused on other teams’ roster developments, those around the team have likely turned their attention to advantageous matchups in the playoffs.

How the Knicks should approach the Eastern Conference playoff brackets

Ultimately, no Eastern Conference foe is that scary for New York at the moment. The Knicks have played well against most of the top teams except the Pistons. But if they had to choose, it’s probably the Boston Celtics at least Desirable match. Granted, New York is 2-1 against Boston this season (without Jayson Tatum). And the Celtics are still figuring out how to play with Tatum in their lineup. But Tatum is unlikely to continue shooting so poorly (38.5% from the floor and 29.3% on 3-pointers, both career lows). And Boston probably has the biggest lead of any other Eastern Conference contender.

However, the Knicks’ path to the NBA Finals appears to be easier now than it was a week ago. And the Knicks’ previous nightmare matchup has likely shifted into their dream scenario. Detroit suddenly looks a lot more attractive without Cunningham. Still, the Pistons are a hard-nosed, gritty team. They still have several talented and athletic defenders. And if Cunningham is out they’ll probably want to make the game even more physical.

It’s important to note that there is no guarantee that Cunningham will miss any games in the second round. And the second round is the earliest the Knicks could possibly face the Pistons. But given Cunningham’s potential limitations due to a lack of conditioning, as well as the options in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pistons suddenly look like their best second-round matchup.

And while it’s a long shot that New York will face Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it is possible. The Pistons are five games ahead of the Celtics with 11 games remaining.

Which Eastern Conference rival offers a dream first-round matchup?

Before turning their attention to the second round, the Knicks must deal with a first-round opponent. Considering the odds, New York should probably prefer to face the Atlanta Hawks. Agreed, this is probably the best team of the group. But many other teams are performing poorly for various other reasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers have the highest ceiling—and the lowest floor. They can and probably will be a mediocre team at best. But the chances of Paul George returning to his old form are slim, however slim, as is the possibility of Joel Embiid returning from injury. And if it works, the 76ers might be a little too dangerous for comfort.

The Orlando Magic offer the same ruthless toughness that makes Detroit an ineffective matchup, albeit with much less cohesion. The Miami Heat and head coach Erik Spoelstra have historically been very good at playing in the postseason. And the Charlotte Hornets are just too young, talented and free for any team want Even to face.

So, in an ideal world, the Knicks would remain in the third seed, Atlanta would remain in the sixth seed, and Detroit would drop to the second seed. And while that path may be incredibly unlikely, the silver lining is that a healthy Pistons team is the only Eastern Conference foe the Knicks have to handle this year. And it appears Detroit is unlikely to return to full strength.

So, minus the Pistons from the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have a very clear path through the East. And while it’s incredibly important that the Knicks avoid losing anyone, it’s also possible to think that if they stay locked in that no one can beat them in the East. Still, New York should expect its dream matchups to make life easier.

With Kansas being eliminated in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament over the weekend, the focus has now turned to the NBA Draft for star freshman Darrin Peterson. Peterson is not expected to be a top-two pick in the upcoming draft, but former NBA player Jeff Teague believes Peterson’s hype is not what it seems.

During a recent episode of the ‘Club 52 Podcast,’ Jeff Teague voiced his opinion that Darrin Peterson is no better than Portland Trail Blazers rookie Caleb Love, an opinion that will definitely turn many heads.

“It’s no disrespect, and I think Darrin Peterson is a great player. I think he’s cool. But I think I could get another two-guard, it’s no disrespect, but Caleb Love can give me the same as Darrin Peterson,” Teague said. “That’s not the point, Darrin Peterson can get you 25 per game, but Caleb Love can give me 15-16.”

Teague further stated that he was not convinced there was a better NBA draft prospect than someone like Darrin Peterson, Benedict Mathurin. And before that, Teague also suggested he would draft Duke’s Cameron Boozer in place of Peterson.

Teague is right to say that Caleb Love has had an incredible rookie season with the Blazers after going undrafted and signing a two-way contract. Love has appeared in 45 games as a rookie, including one start, averaging a little over 22 minutes per game. He averaged 11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists with splits of 39 percent shooting from the field, 32.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 73.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Love projects to reach his NBA ceiling as a strong scoring guard off a team’s bench, while draft experts view Peterson as a franchise cornerstone type of player. Only time will tell how Peterson performs in the NBA, though.

Golden State Warriors wing Moses Moody has suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Moody will not only miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season due to this serious injury, but he will now face a lengthy rehabilitation process to resume his career. The Warriors have not yet provided an official diagnosis for Moody’s injury or a timeline for when he will ultimately undergo surgery.

The injury occurred while attempting a wide-open dunk off a steal in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 137-131 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks late Monday night. While planting and preparing to jump, Moody’s left leg gave out, resulting in his body being thrown into the air and landing hard on the ground.

He immediately grabbed his left knee with a jerk as play continued for several seconds on the opposite side of the court. Medical personnel immediately came out of the court with a stretcher before helping Moody off the floor a few minutes later.

Moody is in the first year of a three-year, $37.5 million extension with the Warriors and was averaging career-highs in points (12.1), rebounds (3.3) and assists (1.6) while shooting a career-best 40.1 percent from 3-point range this season.

This is a developing story that will be updated soon.

On Monday evening, the San Antonio Spurs continued their winning ways with a blowout win over the Miami Heat. It was another strong game for superstar Victor Vembanyama, who scored 26 points with 15 rebounds and five blocks on an efficient shooting night from the field.

Many have predicted that Wembanyama will be the front-runner to win this year’s NBA MVP award, and most recently, ESPN NBA insider Stephen A. Smith explains why he now sees the Spurs star as the favourite.

“He changed my mind. I’d put him in the lead… He’s right when he says (defense) doesn’t get mentioned enough when we talk about league MVPs. It’s a very smart thing on his part. But it doesn’t do it for me either… The second-place team, which hasn’t been relegated in years, has a star in Victor Wambayama before the playoffs even started… And he looked into the microphone and said, ‘We dominate. They’ve been defending champions since we’ve seen them this year,” Smith said, according to First Take on X, formerly Twitter.

In fact, the Spurs have dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder in their encounters this season, winning four out of the five matches played between the two teams. Many speculate that this could be the Western Conference Finals matchup in a few months, as the two teams are one and two in the conference, and it is highly likely to end as the season ends.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama remains the best defensive player in the NBA by a wide margin while continuing to expand his offensive game, which could earn him some votes in the MVP discussion.

The Spurs next take the field on Wednesday evening for a road game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Recently, the San Antonio Spurs made headlines when big man Luke Cornette spoke out against the Atlanta Hawks’ planned Magic City Night to pay homage to a local iconic strip club. The NBA eventually intervened and canceled the promotion, with many fans speculating that Cornette’s objections may have had something to do with it.

During a recent episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash and guest Austin Reeves, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James referenced the controversy.

“We’ve got to get Luke Cornett to talk about Magic City,” James said.

Now this is how you end an episode pic.twitter.com/ESeikM1ySQ

– Jimmy Changa ✌️ (@sultanwaystar) 24 March 2026

“We’re going to slam the laptop,” Nash joked.

The Hawks still sold Magic City Wings at the arena and sweatshirts online for the event, but some game-related promotional events were canceled as a result of the NBA’s decision. Kornet was not the only NBA player to speak out against the incident, as former Hawks big man and Kornet’s former Boston Celtics teammate, Al Horford, also took to social media to sign off on Kornet’s complaints.

Based on his tone, it doesn’t seem like James was serious about inviting Kornet on the podcast to discuss this topic, which has largely been put on the back burner as the NBA season approaches its home stretch. However, for a week or so, it sparked discussion about the intersection of the NBA’s reputation as a family-friendly brand with its continued allegiance to gambling companies and other less palatable aspects of society, with some accusing the league of hypocrisy in the decision to cancel the event.

Meanwhile, the Spurs have continued to blow away opponents over the past few weeks, and appear to have locked up the number two seed in the Western Conference when all is said and done.

The Philadelphia 76ers are set to welcome Paul George back from his 25-game suspension to the lineup this week as they continue to battle for a playoff position in the Eastern Conference standings.

Paul George spoke to the media for the first time since his suspension, and according to Kyle Neubach of PHLY Sports, the 76ers star did not provide specifics about the reason for the suspension. But he revealed that he had been struggling with a knee problem which made the suspension almost a blessing in disguise.

George is set to return to the 76ers lineup when they host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. They are currently 39-33 and looking to get back in the win column after losing their last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 76ers are currently in the play-in position, but they are just one game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 6 seed and a direct berth in the playoffs.

Before the suspension, George had appeared in 27 games for the 76ers, playing just over 30 minutes per game. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals with splits of 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 38.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 85.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

This is George’s second full season with the 76ers after signing as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. He appeared in only 41 games in his Philadelphia debut last year after his season was cut short due to knee and adductor injuries. Getting him back in the lineup would be a big help as the 76ers are dealing with multiple injuries.

With the NBA regular season coming to an end, the race for the MVP award has become even more intense. MVP favorites include Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has also returned to the race.

But according to NBA media personality Zach Lowe, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still in the race for the MVP award. During a recent segment on The Ringer, Lowe explained why he thinks the reigning MVP is the favorite to win back-to-back.

“I think Shai, from start to finish, that’s his MVP. He also has a 400-minute advantage on Wembanyama, which matters. … That’s a lot. When Shai is putting that kind of value on both ends of the floor, it’s not like he’s weak defensively. … And the way he’s shooting, in minutes, if they get the No. 1 seed, I think that’s his MVP,” Lowe. Said. “I think Wembley has a real case. I think he’s got the second spot on my ballot over Jokic…”

Should Gilgeous-Alexander win the 2026 MVP award, he would be the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since Jokic in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Last year, he became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.

He has played just over 33 minutes per game in 60 games. He averaged 31.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 55.5 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from the 3-point line and 88.8 percent from the free-throw line.

The Thunder are currently 57-15 and, as Lowe mentioned, hold a three-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings.

With the NBA 2K26 Season 6 release date coming soon, new patch notes are likely to arrive before the Season 6 update. Overall, this brand new season brings new content in various modes like MyCAREER and MyTEAM. Additionally, it brings new content for other modes like The W. Without any further delay, let’s take a look at the NBA 2K26 Season 6 release date and patch notes.

NBA 2K26 Season 6 Release Date

Don’t miss the exclusive NBA 2K26 content pack available to GTA+ members!

Join GTA+ now to gain access to playing NBA 2K26 + bonus content! 👇https://t.co/o4RGTrRnNu pic.twitter.com/GwdGZ6RNhG

– NBA 2K (@NBA2K) 20 March 2026

NBA 2K26 Season 6 release date is Friday, April 3, 2026 8am PT/11am ET.

Like a normal NBA 2K season, players can expect to see new content in MyCAREER and MyTEAM. Additionally, there will be a brand new Season Pass, filled with 80 free rewards that you can earn over time. Check back with us when Season 6 launches to see all the rewards.

NBA 2K26 Season 6 Patch Notes

At the time of writing, the developers have not yet revealed any updates or patch notes for Season 6. Earlier this month, the developers released a new patch to combat cheaters. But I think we can expect to see things that revolve around gameplay and different modes.

What to expect in season 6?

As previously mentioned, Season 6 will come with a new Season Pass that includes rewards for MyTEAM and MyCAREER. Luckily, you don’t have to play both modes to earn XP. If you like MyCAREER, all you have to do to earn MyTEAM rewards is play MyCAREER. Additionally, we can expect another Pro Pass, which will bring even more rewards when purchased.

Additionally, the new season will likely include new content for W Mode, including seasonal and weekly challenges. We may also see more community builds, as well as an update to MyTEAM Mobile.

Courtside report for Season 6 should be coming soon. We can expect to hear more details about the season’s cover athlete as well. Stay tuned for the latest report, which should come before the season ends.

Overall, that covers everything you need to know about the NBA 2K26 Season 6 release date and patch notes. We are looking forward to a brand new season full of rewards for players. If you’re looking for more NBA 2K content, try redeeming the latest locker code. Also, watch last week’s episode of NBA 2KTV to earn some VC.

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

In the wake of Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham’s recent lung injury, he is now in danger of not qualifying for the NBA’s 65-game rule to be eligible for postseason award honors. As a result, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the National Basketball Players Association, or NBPA, came out with a prepared statement in support of Cade Cunningham and called on the NBA to get rid of the 65-game rule for postseason honors.

The NBPA wrote, “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, too many eligible players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by the arbitrary and overly stringent quota.”

Cade Cunningham has been a potential MVP candidate, and is almost certain to make the All-NBA team. But he’s only played 61 games so far, and with the Pistons only having 11 games remaining in the regular season, it appears to be an uphill battle in terms of qualifying for the NBA’s 65-game rule.

Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung during the Pistons’ win against the Washington Wizards on March 19. He was expected to be reevaluated in two weeks due to the injury, leaving him with six games remaining and about a week and a half before the end of the season.

The Pistons have been the top team in the Eastern Conference this season due to Cunningham’s MVP level play. He has appeared in 61 games at a rate of just over 34 minutes per game. He averaged 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals, including 46.1 percent shooting from the field, 34.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Brooklyn Nets have their sights set on the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. With 10 games left in the regular season, the rebuilding squad is ranked No. 3 in the draft lottery standings. If the season ended today, the Nets would have a 52.1 percent chance of being picked in the top four and could fall no lower than seventh.

Many of the draft’s top prospects will square off on Wednesday and Thursday during the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. With that, here are the top four players Nets fans should keep an eye on.

4. Keaton Wagler – PG/SG, Illinois

Wagler has been the biggest surprise of this year’s draft cycle. A three-star recruit and the No. 261 player in the Class of 2025, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings, he wasn’t on the radar of most draft analysts this summer. Fast forward six months, and he’s made his way into the top-10 of mock drafts.

Wagler’s excellent shooting, ball-handling and high-level playmaking cannot be denied. While the freshman is a limited athlete, his speed, finesse and high-IQ have allowed him to flourish as a dominant creator. The 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 40.8 percent on 10.1 three-point attempts per 100 possessions. He has been one of the most efficient facilitators in the class, averaging 4.4 assists per game with a 2.48 assist/to ratio.

Despite concerns about his limited versatility and ground athleticism, Wagler is able to get to the rim using ball screens, shot fakes and change-of-pace moves. His rim frequency and efficiency have been in line with other top guard prospects, as he has attempted 4.1 close-tos per 36 minutes and converted at a 58.5 percent clip.

The Nets may be hesitant in taking another lead ball-handler with a limited athletic profile after selecting Igor Demin eighth overall last June. However, if they fall at the low end of their lottery range, Wagler should be included in the conversation.

Wagler’s limited athleticism has led to some struggles against more athletic, physical safeties. After Illinois’ impressive first and second round wins over Penn and VCU, it will face a tough test against Houston’s top-ranked defense on Thursday at 10:05 pm EST.

3. Darius Acuff Jr. – PG, Arkansas

Acuff may be the biggest player in this year’s class since the beginning of tournament play. The freshman led Arkansas to the SEC Championship and became the first player to lead the conference in points and assists per game since Pete Maravich in 1969–70. He is averaging 30.2 points and 7.2 assists while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 48.6 percent in three SEC Tournament appearances and two NCAA Tournament games.

It’s no exaggeration to call Acuff the most talented offensive player in this year’s class. He’s an elite shooter, converting at a 44.6 percent clip on 9.1 three-point attempts per 100 possessions with a mix of catch-and-shoot and pull-up looks. The 6-foot-3 guard is also a talented court-mapper and decision-maker, averaging 6.5 assists and committing only 2.2 turnovers per game (3.01 est/to).

But as good as Acuff’s offense has been, its defensive shortcomings are hard to ignore. He struggles to defend at the point of attack or navigate off-ball actions. Many have questioned whether Acuff’s size would fit at the combine at 6 feet 3 inches, and the NBA has moved away from undersized guards who need to hide on defense. The front office will have to decide whether Acuff’s ridiculous shooting season is an outlier or his bottom line, and whether it outweighs his shortcomings on the other end.

Brooklyn has strayed away from drafting smaller guards during Shawn Marks’ tenure. The Nets GM pointed to positional size as the main selling point of the team’s 2025 class. Still, Acuff’s aggressive production and ability to thrive on the biggest stage is attractive. After scoring 36 points on 11 of 22 shooting during a second-round win over High Point, Acuff and Arkansas will face No. 1-seed Arizona on Thursday at 9:45 p.m. EST.

2. Kingston Flemings – PG, Houston

Flemings headlined the second tier of guard prospects behind Kansas star Darrin Peterson for most of the season. The Houston star’s 6-foot-4 frame, elite athleticism and two-way versatility will give him a strong claim for the No. 5 spot on the draft board.

Flemings is the most explosive guard in this year’s class. He creates advantages with ease and consistently takes advantage of his paint touch. The freshman has been an adequate finisher (57.3 percent on close twos) while posting elite numbers as a mid-range shooter (44.4 percent on far twos) and playmaker (5.2 assists per game, 2.85 ast/to ratio). Considering his defensive value, NBA front offices should jump on the idea of ​​bringing him into their building.

Fleming’s low three-point volume will give some scouts pause. He has attempted just 5.6 threes per 100 possessions. However, he has converted at a 38.8 percent clip. His efficiency from the mid-range and free-throw line (84.3 percent) may ease any concerns.

Houston defeated Idaho and Texas A&M in the first two rounds of the tournament. Fleming faces a much tougher challenge Thursday against Wagler and third-seeded Illinois.

1. Cam Boozer – PF/C, Duke

According to many metrics, Boozer has been the best player in college basketball this season. The 6-foot-9 standout has made his historic mark from high school and the AAU circuit to Duke. He averaged 22.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists on .563/.398/.787 shooting splits while leading the Blue Devils to a 34–2 record.

Boozer has posted a +19.45 box plus/minus, the second-highest of any college player in the last 16 years, trailing only former Duke star Zion Williamson (+20.1, 2018-2019).

The star freshman is widely considered a safe bet in the top three of the draft. Boozer has led Duke’s offense with his steady ball-handling, passing and shooting. He consistently makes the right reads with the ball in his hands while dominating as an interior scorer and showing promise as an outside shooter. Although he has been an elite defensive rebounder, his ground athleticism and above average lateral speed have raised questions about his NBA outlook.

Boozer was shaky during Duke’s narrow first-round win over Siena. However, he bounced back with a stellar performance in the second half during a decisive second-round win over TCU. They face a tough test against St. John’s and reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Year Zubie Ejiofor on Friday at 10 PM EST.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has not played since the Milwaukee Bucks’ 134-123 win over the Indiana Pacers on March 15. The 13-year veteran suffered a chronic knee injury and bone bruise in that competition and has since been sidelined. On Tuesday, the NBPA released a statement criticizing Milwaukee for wanting to lock Antetokounmpo despite his desire to play.

The NBPA called out the Bucks for allegedly tanking, despite the fact that Milwaukee does not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Despite this, the union claims they are doing their part to hold franchises accountable, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“The player participation policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he can be on the court,” the NBPA said. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; as long as ownership remains unchecked, fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game will continue to be harmed. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”

Maybe the NBPA’s statement will force the Bucks to change their mind about playing Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, considering the ranking in the Eastern Conference, it might actually be better to keep the 31-year-old forward out of the lineup to prevent further injury.

With 11 games remaining on the schedule, the Bucks are eight games behind the No. 10-ranked Charlotte Hornets. Milwaukee will need to go on a serious win streak, while Charlotte essentially loses in the final stretch of the regular season to make the play-in tournament.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the winning streak of 12 straight games after Monday night’s comfortable road win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City officials are preparing for when the Thunder move to a new arena a few seasons from now.

On Tuesday, the Thunder released a video of what the new arena, to be called the Continental Coliseum, will look like.

The OKC Thunder’s new arena, ‘Continental Coliseum’ looks amazing 🔥

The arena will open in the 2028–29 season.

(via @OKSeaThunder)pic.twitter.com/ENS0Aa90gT

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

The Thunder have been playing at the Paycom Center since its inception nearly two decades ago, through its various name changes, and it was the site of their first NBA championship, capping their historic 2025–26 season.

Thankfully for Thunder fans, the team will have two more years to make more memories at that historic venue before the new arena opens for the 2028-29 campaign. It remains to be seen what the inside of the Continental Coliseum will look like, and how it compares to its current home in Oklahoma City.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are giving fans plenty to cheer on the court this season, as the team is still firmly holding on to the number one seed in the Western Conference despite dreadful play from the San Antonio Spurs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks set to take home his second consecutive league MVP award, and Oklahoma City is viewed by most pundits as the favorite to win another NBA championship this season, although they will have some stiff competition in the form of San Antonio.

As mentioned earlier, the Thunder are currently on a 12-game winning streak, four wins away from a 16-game winning streak they had earlier this season.

Oklahoma City will look to make it 13 consecutive wins when they take the field for a tough road game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening.

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith never shies away from expressing his opinion. Smith is sharing that opinion about Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Smith said on ESPN’s First Take Tuesday that James make the case He could become the greatest NBA player of all-time this season.

Smith said, “The biggest case for LeBron James being the GOAT, in my opinion, is what he’s been doing this year. … The Lakers are in better shape than most people expect.”

“The biggest case for LeBron James being the GOAT, in my opinion, is being made by him this year. … The Lakers are in better shape than most people expect.”

—@stephensmith On LeBron’s impact this season🌟 pic.twitter.com/kneqHt3liY

– First Tech (@FirstTech) 24 March 2026

Smith made the comments following the Lakers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. James finished the game with 12 points in 39 minutes on the floor. He posted a double-double, as well as 10 assists.

Smith prepared his argument by first saying that he believes Michael Jordan is the GOAT. The commentator then made his case that James is at least worthy of consideration for GOAT status.

Smith said, “He gets to the basket. He leads the NBA in fast break points. … He’s doing whatever he can to win basketball games for the Lakers.”

James continues to set NBA records this season. In recent times, he passed Robert Parish for most regular season games played in the league.

“It’s not like I’m writing things down and looking at the record book and saying: ‘I’m gonna get that, I’m gonna get that, I’m gonna get that.’ That’s exactly what happened,” James said, according to the Associated Press. “It wasn’t on the list of things I wanted to accomplish.”

After the Pistons’ loss, the Lakers fell to 46–26 on the season. Los Angeles’ nine-game winning streak was broken.

“I think the Lakers are in better shape than most people expect, and it has everything to do with LeBron James,” Smith said on First Take.

The Lakers will next face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

The Phoenix Suns host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, and Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal are both among the players on the team’s injury report. Allen is dealing with a knee injury and is listed as questionable, while O’Neal also has a knee injury but is listed as probable. Here’s everything we know about Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale’s injuries and their playing statuses heading into the Suns’ game against the Nuggets.

Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal’s injury status vs. Nuggets

Given that Royce O’Neale is on the Suns’ injury report as probable, this generally indicates that he will be able to play. It’s just a waiting game until Sans makes the upgrade available to him. O’Neale has been sidelined for the last three games and has been a productive player for the Suns.

He has appeared in 69 games this season, including 64 starts, averaging just over 29 minutes per game. He averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals on 41.6 percent shooting from the field, 40.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 70 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

With Grayson Allen listed as questionable, his status is more unclear. He has been out for the last four games and likely won’t have any concrete updates until closer to tip-off.

He has appeared in 44 games, including 26 starts, at a pace of just over 29 minutes per game. He averaged a career-high 17.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 40.7 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from the 3-point line and 85.9 percent from the free-throw line.

sans injury report

-Grayson Allen questionable (left knee injury management).
-Dillon Brooks out (fractured left hand)
-Amir Coffey out (left ankle sprain)
-Haywood Highsmith out (right knee injury management)
-Royce O’Neale probable (left knee soreness)
-Mark Williams out (third metatarsal stress reaction of left foot)

nuggets injury report

-Peyton Watson out (right hamstring injury management)

BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was flying high and feeling heroic in June 2024 as he helped the Green team end a 16-year title drought and celebrated with a championship parade that he described as one of the greatest experiences of his life. After about a year, it was all over. The six-time All-Star suffered an Achilles injury during the 2025 NBA Playoffs in May and was robbed of his super power: excelling in the game he loves.

An advertisement from director James Gunn superman The film depicts this tragic decline brilliantly. Tatum starred in a promotional piece that aired during the 2025 postseason and wore the iconic “S” on his chest, tying to the feelings of hope and invincibility that Superman is famous for. In fact, the lead excerpt of the ad asked if Tatum could eventually fill in and become Superman:

Jayson Tatum to star in new James Gunn commercial #superman pic.twitter.com/Q4z4OqITDl

– Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) 8 May 2025

Unfortunately, Tatum’s untimely injury showed that he was not super-human after all, and Warner Bros. pulled the ad after his Achilles tear.

Jayson Tatum’s journey from hero to human and back again

Unlike the caped hero above, Tatum doesn’t have the luxury of being invincible. Given the fact that he had never missed more than 18 games in a single season until this year, he may have deceived the fans to some extent, however, his injury and the grueling rehab process that came with it reminded them that he is vulnerable.

“I didn’t know what it was going to be like,” Tatum said Sunday night after his recent return to the game. “You just want to be Jason Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so obviously it’s going to take some time.”

Since walking out of the tunnel at TD Garden on March 6 to confirm his return from injury, Tatum has played brilliantly. He has scored in double figures in all eight of his contests this season and the Celtics have gone 6-2 when he has been in the starting lineup.

Jayson Tatum ran out of the TD Garden tunnel with the Jays thundering: pic.twitter.com/TJt8pnpOym

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

However, that doesn’t mean his comeback has been seamless. The 2024 NBA champions shot less than 40% from the field during Sunday’s 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and struggled in the first half before looking like themselves in the final 24 minutes of action.

“This is the first time I’ve been through something like this,” he said in the locker room. “I mean, it’s been a long time. It’s been a long time since I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk. So, just game by game, trying to knock the rust off. I’m getting great spurts and moments game by game and I’m trying to put more of them together.”

When he’s in true “Superman” form, Tatum is tearing up defenses with his passing, leaping for rebounds, and blasting past opponents like a speeding bullet. He had moments in March — including his 24-point performance against the Golden State Warriors or his clutch bucket in transition against the Phoenix Suns — when it seemed as if he had never been injured.

Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum’s progress and the Celtics’ overall play tonight:

“He’s rebounding at a high level on both ends of the floor, playing at a fast pace, screening, making two-on-one reads.”

“He’s playing with a smile on his face.” pic.twitter.com/OnxFnFYM9X

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

But, despite his gifts, Tatum has still experienced some parts where he looks a lot like Clark Kent, Superman’s human alter ego who can’t fly in the public eye. He missed 12 of his 15 shots in a tough win over the Memphis Grizzlies and, most recently, failed to find the bottom of the net in the first two quarters against the T-Wolves.

“It’s only my eighth game, so still trying to get a feel for it,” Tatum said.

Why does Jayson Tatum deserve patience?

While Tatum’s occasional struggles may be frustrating for Celtics fans, one detail of Superman lore is worth remembering: Clark Kent is still Superman. Superman’s suave, bespectacled face isn’t as much fun as him wearing a blue, red and yellow suit and flying through the sky, but he’s still the same person – and he’s still heroic.

This applies to Tatum because although the 4-time All-NBA First Teamer hasn’t always been at his best since suiting up again, it takes an almost super-human amount of strength to see the floor once again in less than 300 days from a painful injury.

“I had the worst injury I possibly could and I came back 10 months later [I’m] “Every game is getting a better experience,” he revealed.

So, even though Tatum may look more akin to Kent than Kal-El, remember what he had to go through to get to this point and that playing like a superstar after an Achilles rupture isn’t as easy as turning into a phone booth.

“I wanted to be perfect and like first-team All-NBA Jayson Tatum,” Tatum said, snapping his fingers. “But it will take time. I didn’t rush the rehab process, so I can’t rush it.”

Tatum could soon don his cape when the Celtics host the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who have won 12 consecutive games, on Wednesday night. But even if the 28-year-old has trouble against the league’s best team, it’s worth noting that progress in the NBA is rarely linear. There are often a lot of ups and downs involved, and Tatum may have to stumble again before he can really take off.

“It’s all going to work out,” he said.

The Boston Celtics have been up and down lately, losing at home to the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening. It’s been some tough games for star Jayson Tatum, who recently suffered a brutal shooting night during a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and was ineffective once again in the loss to Minnesota.

However, one person who isn’t concerned with Tatum’s declining shooting numbers is former NBA wing Iman Shumpert, who took to ESPN to urge calm.

“I don’t think the Celtics should resort to feeling like this is a ‘make sure he fits in’ type of situation. … When May 1 comes, he’ll be ready,” Shumpert said, according to First Take on X, formerly of Twitter.

To reach May 1, the Celtics will have to get through the first round of the playoffs, which may not be an easy task considering the way some of the teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings are playing at the moment.

However, it is certainly unreasonable for fans to assume that Tatum will be able to regain his prime form immediately upon stepping onto the court following ten months of rehabilitation from his Achilles injury. Most importantly, Tatum has shown the ability to move relatively well laterally, and although he is still scratching the rust off his outside jumper, he seems to be fitting in well with his Celtics teammates so far.

Boston is currently the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will have some work to do to stop the New York Knicks, who are playing their best basketball at the right time.

The Celtics take the field for a tough home game next Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On Monday evening, the Chicago Bulls picked up one of their most impressive wins of the season by defeating the Houston Rockets at home. The Bulls hit a steady stream of clutch shots in this one, which was enough to offset a big scoring night from Rockets star Kevin Durant.

Still, the Bulls are increasingly likely to miss the playoffs after a disappointing 2025-26 season, and according to a recent report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, a divorce between Chicago and head coach Billy Donovan could happen this summer.

Cowley reported, “There is growing momentum around the building that Donovan can step away from the mess and take a season to reevaluate what he wants out of the profession.”

Many have thought Donovan has been on the hot seat for quite some time, with the Bulls having been eliminated in the play-in tournament each of the last three seasons by the Miami Heat, no less.

However, Cowley pointed out that, “While Donovan is the ultimate optimist and is no closer to coaching, six seasons in now with no proven elite talent, he is instead being asked to build a brick house out of straw and clay.”

In fact, the Bulls didn’t have any true star-caliber players on their roster during Donovan’s stay, and though the team now has a glimpse of a direction with Josh Giddy, Matas Buzelis, and potentially another young talent depending on how the draft lottery works out in May, it’s still been a tough effort for Donovan to turn this roster into a competent team.

In any case, the Bulls will next take the field on Wednesday evening against the Philadelphia 76ers.

On Tuesday evening, the Charlotte Hornets will host the Sacramento Kings as they look to continue their home winning streak. Kon Knueppel is on the injury report for the Hornets, currently listed as probable for the game due to lower back soreness. Here’s everything we know about Knueppel’s injury and his playing status against the Kings.

Kon Knueppel’s playing status against the Kings on Tuesday

Given his probable designation on the injury report, it seems more likely that Kon Nueppel will be able to suit up for the Hornets on Tuesday against the Kings. Knueppel played in Charlotte’s last game, a home blowout over the Memphis Grizzlies, and is putting together an excellent first season in the NBA, being viewed by many as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award over former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg.

The Kings have a crowded injury report for this game, as Nick Clifford, Drew Eubanks, De’Andre Hunter, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis and Russell Westbrook are already out with various injuries. Meanwhile, Precious Achiuwa and Killian Hayes are listed as questionable, while Dequan Plowden is likely with a sore right foot.

Overall, the Hornets are starting to move closer to the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference due to their current five-game losing streak to the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, although their chances of finishing in the top six of the Eastern Conference are beginning to diminish as the season reaches its home stretch.

It is extremely important that Service takes care of business against tank teams like the Charlotte Kings to maintain his standing in the standings.

Tipoff for the Hornets vs. Kings matchup is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.

Recently, the Denver Nuggets got a boost when wing Peyton Watson returned to the lineup for their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at home. Denver won that game in spectacular fashion, with Watson finishing the night with 14 points in limited action off the bench.

The Nuggets will next take the field on Tuesday night for a road game against the Phoenix Suns, but unfortunately, Watson will be held out of this matchup due to hamstring injury management, as indicated by the latest official NBA injury report.

It’s certainly understandable that the Nuggets would want to be cautious in getting Watson back into the lineup amid an injury that kept him out of the lineup for nearly a month. For a time, both Watson and fellow Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon were sidelined with hamstring injuries, Gordon’s second such ailment of the season, and third in the past year, tied to the 2025 playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When healthy this season, Watson has established himself as a key part of the Nuggets rotation, showing an improved offensive game and helping Denver hold down the fort in the absence of Nikola Jokic due to a knee injury.

He has the potential to significantly increase his value in the restricted free agent market this upcoming offseason, with some fans expecting him to take over Cameron Johnson’s starting job amid his struggles.

The Nuggets are currently tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place in the Western Conference, and two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the third seed.

Denver’s game against the Suns on Tuesday night kicks off at 11:00 PM ET from Phoenix.

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and guard Derrick White were on hand on the March 23, 2026 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw in Boston, just hours after suffering a loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Celtics were represented by head coach Joe Mazzulla and guard Derrick White at TD Garden on Monday night. His appearance at ringside quickly became one of the most talked about segments of the night.

When the cameras panned to White and Mazzulla on the field, both men had a unique presentation ready for the fans. While White flashed a wide smile and smiled at the camera, Coach Majulla sat for a moment before throwing his arms around White. Mazzulla continued to attack White as the Boston crowd cheered and roared.

Soon after, pictures from the event also started going viral on the internet. WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H uploaded a photo on social media, where he was seen standing with Mazzulla in his iconic pointing pose. “It was great to see.” [Celtics] Coach Joe Mazzulla [at TD Garden] …Now you’re ready for it [WWE RAW!]In another video uploaded, Triple H also gifted the Celtics head coach a custom Boston Celtics WWE Championship belt.

nice to see @Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla @tdgarden …Now you’re ready for it #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/AFl5XEvzPW

– Triple H (@TripleH) 24 March 2026

A few hours ago, at the Boston Celtics vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game, WWE superstars Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, both wearing Celtics jerseys, were seen attending the game and shown on the big screen.

In a moment now going viral on the Internet, Morgan was caught swallowing an entire pint of beer. While Rodriguez struggled with it, Morgan finished the glass and happily posed for the camera.

As the NBA season comes to a close, the Dallas Mavericks are looking for a win. Mavericks rookie phenom Cooper Flagg gives flowers to a teammate. Flag forward Khris Middleton says have made their mark On the Dallas squad.

“He’s great. I’ve learned a lot from Khris. He’s a professional scorer. He’s been in this league a long time, and like I said, just a professional scorer, so I’m trying to pick up some parts of that side of the game from him and what I can learn in those aspects of the game, and he has a lot to teach me. So, I’m excited to be able to learn from him,” Flagg said, according to FanSided.

Cooper Flagg on considering Khris Middleton as one of his legends:

“He’s great. I’ve learned a lot from Khris. He’s a professional scorer. He’s been in this league a long time, and like I said, just a professional scorer, so just trying to pick up some of that side of the game… pic.twitter.com/GmCcbcg29D

– Noah Weber (@noahweber00) 24 March 2026

This season, Middleton is averaging just over 11 points per game for Dallas. After coming over in a trade from the Washington Wizards, he appeared in 20 games for the Mavericks.

On March 12, Middleton played one of the best games of his career. He scored 35 points for Dallas in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Mavericks fans hope he can continue that production.

Meanwhile, Flagg is averaging 20 points per game as a rookie for the Mavericks. He was number one. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite battling injuries, the rookie has quickly become the face of the Mavericks.

Dallas is 23-49 this season. Overall it has been a tough campaign for this rebuilding Mavericks team, which is still getting acclimated to life without Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks have lost four consecutive games. They hope to snap their losing streak when they next face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was the closest player to Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody when he suffered a horrific injury Monday at American Airlines Center.

In overtime, Moody was going up for a dunk alone when his knee twisted. The bullet missed him and he fell on the floor. Flagg was running closest to him when this horrific incident happened.

The fans applauded warmly as Moody was pulled from the floor. It was his first game back after missing 10 games with a wrist injury.

The Mavericks lost to the Warriors 137–131.

In the post-game conference, Flagg shared his initial perspective on Moody’s knee injury, while also expressing his support.

“I can’t really tell. His leg has kind of given out. But it’s hard, and I’m praying for him and everything he’s going through. It’s horrible. But yeah, just praying for him,” Flagg said in a video posted by AB Jones of DLLS Sports.

The 19-year-old Flagg finished with 32 points, four rebounds, nine assists and two steals. Meanwhile, Moody, 23, had 23 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

The Mavericks also lost a key player after Daniel Gafford left with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter. He could be considered questionable for their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

The flag went viral after the loss to the Warriors as fans reacted to video of the rookie sensation showing extreme confidence in Nazi Marshall’s game-winning effort.

The Mavericks suffered their fourth consecutive loss and fell to 23–49, while the Warriors improved to 34–38.

The Dallas Mavericks lost 137-131 in overtime to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, handing them their fourth consecutive loss on the stretch campaign.

The Mavericks, who lost Daniel Gafford to a shoulder injury, suffered their 12th consecutive loss at the American Airlines Center, the team’s longest winning streak at the said venue.

Dallas had a chance to win in regulation, but Najee Marshall missed an open three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining. The game reached 126-126.

Marshall received a perfect pass from Cooper Flagg, drawing multiple defenders on his way to the paint. Flagg was seen yelling, “Take me home!” Like Marshall let it fly. Unfortunately, this closed down Nami.

Cooper Flagg gave the game winning shot to Nazi Marshall and he was confident that he would make the shot

“Take me home”

(h/t @MavsMuse) pic.twitter.com/B1JwYJFV6f

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 24 March 2026

The moment quickly went viral, drawing various reactions from fans on X.

@king1sed said, “He went up for the high five even after the (flag) miss. Great leadership.”

@Raise_The_Flagg said, “He read the Nazi correctly.”

@jjfr0mgoodtimes posted, “LMFAO, he must have thought he was Clay (Thompson) because there’s no way you can trust a Nazi marshal that much going in.”

“Nazi said, ‘But not going home yet,'” joked @Oz_Chima.

@heyitsrosexx wrote, “Imagine being a veteran and having a 19-year-old ask you to take the winning shot. The leadership Flagg is showing makes me think he’s the real missing piece for this roster.”

@ainternetfrog said, “I don’t know why he didn’t take a (flag) shot. He had clean mid-range off the dribble.”

Flagg led the Mavericks with 32 points, four rebounds, nine assists and two steals, while Marshall had 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists. However, they combined for 15 of the team’s 21 turnovers.

Marshall is averaging a career-high 51.9% from the field this season, but only 30.2% from long range.

Still, the confidence that Flagg has shown in Marshall is a step in the right direction. Confidence-building always pays off.

The Golden State Warriors suffered another painful blow when running back Moses Moody suffered a non-contact knee injury on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Everyone at American Airlines Center immediately became concerned about overtime when Moody fell to the floor and caught his knee shortly after going up for an uncontested bucket. Eventually he was taken out of the court on a stretcher.

Warriors survive Mavericks, 137-131. Moody finished with 23 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

Draymond Green hugged him before Moody taken out of the venueAs shown in a video posted by Bleacher Report.

When Drummond was brought off the court after the injury, he hugged Moses Moody.

I wish him a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/3QP9o1AmXQ

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) 24 March 2026

X fans appreciated Green’s heartfelt gesture.

“The mainstream sports media has spent years trying to portray Drummond as the NBA’s most toxic villain. If he really is as bad as analysts claim, why is he always the first one to step in and defend his teammates when things go wrong?” @EscrivaU21 asked.

“Moments like this remind you how fragile everything is. Showing up for your teammate in his or her worst moment is what real support looks like,” @dcique_12 said.

@BeaTrice6699 said, “Sometimes, a good hug is like an instant health potion, but with feeling.”

@Defi_ezra posted, “Tough moment. Draymond Green showing love for Moses Moody says a lot. But yeah, that injury still looked scary.”

@Rose8yd commented, “Class act on behalf of Draymond. Wishing Moody a speedy recovery.”

It’s no secret that the 36-year-old Green has had conflicts with his teammates due to his fiery personality. But many have also said that the former Defensive Player of the Year is a great guy to have on your team.

Moody just returned from a 10-game absence due to a wrist injury. Now, he’ll likely have to sit out the rest of the season with Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry on the sidelines.

The Warriors are in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 34-38 record.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara remained one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets.

Camara led the Trail Blazers to a lopsided 134–99 win over the Nets, scoring a career-high 35 points and nine three-pointers. He made 10 of 12 shots from the field, including 9 of 11 from beyond the arc. He also had three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Portland won four of its last five assignments to improve to 36–37. They are just one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Camara, who is in his third season in Rip City, set a new team record with his career night.

“Camara’s 35 points are the most on 12 or fewer field goal attempts in Trail Blazers history,” the team’s official account on the

He also set two milestones after getting hot from three-point range.

“Camara’s 9-for-11 (.818) three-point shooting performance marks the most made three-pointers by a @trailblazers player since February 26, 2023 (Damian Lillard) and the best three-point percentage with at least 10 three-point attempts since April 27, 2021 (Anfernee Simmons),” the Trail Blazers said.

The 25-year-old is having a breakout campaign, averaging career-best 13.0 points and 2.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals. He could make a case for a nod to the All-Defensive Team or get some votes for Most Improved Player.

Camara, who hails from Belgium, was drafted by the Phoenix Suns as the 52nd overall pick in 2023. However, he was shipped to the Trail Blazers as part of the three-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

He has slowly carved out a role in Portland, building an upstart core with Denny Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Shadden Sharp and Scooter Henderson.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker continued his breakout on Monday as the Atlanta Hawks took a 71-46 lead at halftime against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 27-year-old guard led the offense for the Hawks with 22 points in the first half and shot 7 of 10 from the field before the break. The highlight captured his emphatic one-handed poster dunk and the stunned reaction that followed, reinforcing his growing influence at the end of Atlanta’s season. The Hawks have now gone 13-2 in their last 15 games this season.

“Nicali Alexander-Walker’s reaction to his powerful poster dunk”

Nichelle Alexander-Walker reacts to her powerful poster dunk 🔥 https://t.co/RtalfOafIj pic.twitter.com/pKBaY8wcJs

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

The clip shows Alexander-Walker under the basket moments after the finish, looking upward in visible disbelief after a violent slam on a defender. The reaction isn’t just a highlight – it’s a real-time emotional reaction that underlines the impact of the play and aligns directly with the “even that was shaken” moment.

The sequence occurred during Atlanta’s impressive home performance, in which the team led Memphis by nearly 30 points. While the sting looks different visually, there is significance in the broader context. Alexander-Walker has emerged as a major contributor, averaging over 20+ points per game since signing with the team in the NBA offseason, while also taking on increased offensive responsibility, including a 40-point outing in a win over the Orlando Magic earlier this month.

This highlight serves as both a viral moment and a continuation of that upward trajectory. It shows confidence, usage growth and momentum as Atlanta sits sixth in the Eastern Conference with 39 wins, tied with the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, while pushing to climb up to fifth and try to make it 40 wins tonight.

Alexander-Walker continued that pace in the second half and scored 26 points with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter as Atlanta increased its lead over Memphis to 84–61.

The Milwaukee Bucks wasted no time in making a decision on the future of Cam Thomas, placing him on waivers after only 18 games with the team. The guard averaged only 10.7 points per game and 16.6 minutes, never fully fitting within the rotation. X, according to Shams Charania in the past via Twitter, was a surprise given the load he placed on Thomas’ shoulders.

Charania posted, “Bucs GM Jon Horst sold Thomas as a vital part of the team’s contention potential this season and in the future when the team signed him after the trade deadline.” “Whereas Doc Rivers compared Thomas to Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford after only two games. Now he’s been forgiven.”

The Brooklyn Nets waived Thomas early this season after a poor start to the year. He averaged only 15.6 points per game in 24 games, a significant decline compared to his previous two seasons with the Nets. He started the year hot for Brooklyn, but a hamstring injury completely derailed his season.

Hamstring problems were a recurring problem in the 2024–25 season, when he played only 25 games. In the limited sample size, the guard averaged 24 points per game, giving some hope that he could bounce back this season. It looked like it might become a reality until injury problems occurred.

The Bucks made a similar move in the wake of the Cam Thomas news, converting Pete Nance to a multi-year standard NBA contract. Nance averaged 12.1 minutes and 4.5 points per game in 37 games, which is more games than he has played in the last three seasons.

As the New Orleans Pelicans head into a crucial period of the season, a refreshed Zion Williamson didn’t need a long scouting report to explain the impact of Dejounte Murray’s return to the lineup. The All-Star and longest-tenured player in the locker room needed only one word.

Smoothie King fans can feel it, too.

“Intensity,” Williamson emphasized. “The intensity that he’s bringing to the game, and not just in the game but in practice, is off the charts. It’s been great for this team. So, you know, to make a long story short, his intensity has produced stats for us.”

The numbers support Williamson. In his first 10 games, Murray averaged 18.7 points, 6.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.7% from the field and 34% from 3-point range.
New Orleans is 5-5 with Murray in the starting lineup, but 9-5 overall since his return, a stretch that has revived optimism around a franchise that spent most of the season searching for stability.

James Borrego has credited Murray’s presence with changing the team’s defensive identity.

“So we’re competing for more shots, there’s more physicality, and we have more size on the floor. We’ve put bigger, more athletic size on the floor,” Borrego explained. “We’re more switchable, and taking away the easy things.”

Borrego pointed to some of the league’s recent success stories as a blueprint, noting that lasting improvement starts with the defense.

“That’s one thing we said during the All-Star break and we discussed it with our team,” Borrego shared. “When you look at the teams that have really made significant leaps within a year or two, Detroit, Phoenix, you can go down the line, Houston, Boston, they’ve done it through their defense. Those top 10 teams that are moving the needle in the Western Conference, they’ve done it through their defense.”

With Murray back on offense, the Pelicans have leaned into that formula. His pace control and pressure on the ball has translated into more contested possession and fewer easy scoring opportunities for opponents. And if Williamson’s assessment is correct, the foundation is less about plan and more about tone.

Intensity, as it turns out, is contagious.

Monday night was a bit of a homecoming for some players on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their game against the Philadelphia 76ers marked second-year guard Jared McCann’s first game in Philly, returning after being involved in a trade prior to the trade deadline. The game was also important for Isaiah Joe, who spent time with the 76ers prior to his stint in Oklahoma City.

McCann and Joe both played brilliantly off the bench for the Thunder. McCann scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting from the field (with three triples) and two assists, while Joe had nine points on 3-7 shooting from deep, with two assists and two steals. The performances of both players caught the attention of head coach Mark Dagenault, who praised the two 76ers alumni for “staying in character” against his former team.

“It was impressive,” Dagenault said, according to Justin Martinez at X.

The Thunder won easily against the 76ers, 123–103. It was a balanced effort from Oklahoma City: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points to lead her team and added five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks. Seven players scored in double figures for the Thunder, including McCann and Jalen Williams. Williams, who returned to the lineup after a long absence, had four rebounds and six assists among his 18 points.

For McCann, this game marks facing his former team for the first time since the trade deadline. McCann was drafted by the 76ers in 2024 and had a great start to his rookie season. However, he suffered a torn meniscus early in his rookie season, causing him to miss the majority of his rookie year. After missing the start of the season with a torn UCL, the 76ers traded him to the Thunder at the deadline.

In 19 games for the Thunder this season, McCann is averaging 12.3 points per game on 46.9% shooting from the field and 44% shooting from deep. He is looking to win his first NBA title with the defending champions.

Kansas was eliminated from the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a two-point loss to St. John’s, 67-65, at Viejo Arena on Sunday.

Dylan Darling made the biggest shot of his career, sinking the game-winning layup as time expired to save the No. 5 Red Storm against the No. 4 Jayhawks.

One man who knows all about making an iconic shot in March Madness is former Kansas star Mario Chalmers. He made his name known in the college world in 2008 by missing a three-pointer against Memphis to send the title game into overtime. The Jayhawks ultimately won 75–68, earning their third national trophy.

Chalmers carried his championship pedigree to the NBA by winning back-to-back rings with the Miami Heat.

When asked by Bleacher Report what is more difficult to win between the NCAA Tournament and the NBA Finals, Chalmers had an easy answer.

Chalmers said, “I would have to say college just because it’s one-and-done. That one-and-done game you get every time. It took us three years to get to that (championship).”

“In the NBA, it’s a seven-game series. Getting there is definitely the hard part, but once you get there, you have to win four times, so you have more opportunities.”

Mario Chalmers says winning the NBA Finals was easier than winning the NCAA Tournament

Chalmers is a 2-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat and won the 2008 national championship with the Kansas Jayhawks. pic.twitter.com/zO9y4mtw5N

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) 23 March 2026

Kansas was on the verge of losing to the Tigers, who were led by Derrick Rose. But Kansas backed Chalmers and Darrell Arthur. Rose split his free throws with 10.8 seconds left in regulation, leading to Chalmers’ game-tying three-pointer.

Chalmers finished with 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.

His clutch bucket will always be remembered as one of the greatest shots of the NCAA Tournament. There is no debate on that.

The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a lopsided 123-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers suffered their second loss in four games as they battled their weak lineup.

This was Jared McCann’s first game in Philadelphia since he was shipped to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline. He had another strong performance off the bench, scoring 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including three three-pointers.

After the game, he and Edgecombe had a brief chat on the court and were all smiles.

Edgecombe, 20, had nothing on during the media conference good words To say about your ex-partner.

“I’m happy for him. We still talk here and there. I’m happy to see him having fun and socializing with his teammates and things like that. If you don’t connect with Jared, there might be something wrong with you,” Edgecombe said in a video posted by Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.

“I’m really excited for him. He made some shots tonight. He warmed up quickly. It’s good to see him out there having fun.”

#sixers Newbie VJ Edgecombe is giving his love and respect to Jared McCain: pic.twitter.com/RHndmnbEW4

– Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) 24 March 2026

Edgecombe led the 76ers with a game-high 35 points on 14 of 28 shooting, including 7 of 15 from long range. He added six rebounds and four assists.

The Sixers played without four of their five starters due to injuries: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George.

Fans envisioned a speedy trio of Maxey, Edgecombe and McCann for the 76ers. However, general manager Daryl Morey did not see it that way and traded McCann to the Thunder for four draft picks.

Since the surprise move has upset the 76ers, McCain is enjoying a resurgence with the defending champions.

As even the most optimistic and happy people in the world can attest, all good things come to an end. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak came to an end as they couldn’t overcome the dangerous Detroit Pistons 113-110 on the road despite the absence of Cade Cunningham. It was Dennis Jenkins who delivered the decisive blow, drilling a go-ahead liner from midrange to give Detroit a lead they would not relinquish.

Although the Lakers won’t be resting on their heels, this loss will at least give them time to think about what went wrong for them on the night and what they can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again. But for head coach JJ Redick, it was clear What LA lost on the night was that they were without two key players, Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura, to compete against the Eastern Conference leader.

“We’re a good basketball team. I believe we’re a good basketball team. Not being smart killed us tonight. It’s important for us to be healthy,” Redick said in his postgame presser, via LakersMuse on Ax (formerly Twitter).

JJ Redick says one bad game can’t undo what the Lakers have done recently:

“We’re a good basketball team. I believe we’re a good basketball team. Not being smart killed us tonight. It’s important for us to be able to get healthy.”

pic.twitter.com/ioAiMEDhEw

– LakersMuse (@LALMuse) 24 March 2026

That will be the number one goal for the Lakers moving forward: going into the playoffs with a full strength. Smart’s absence on Monday doesn’t appear to be a long-term thing, so at least this is a win for LA despite their losing streak on Monday.

Lakers outclassed by Pistons in clutch

The Lakers and Pistons both entered the night with 24 wins each by single digits, as they are two of the best clutch teams in the NBA. But even without Cunningham, the Pistons had plenty of time in crunch time, with Jenkins making it happen.

The Lakers have one more game left on their current road trip, which is a game against the weak Indiana Pacers, so this is at least a golden opportunity for them to start another winning streak.