分類: 综合

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain got a standing ovation when he debuted in Monday’s 123-103 win against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. McCann returned to Philadelphia for the first time since his trade to the Thunder. He finished with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including three triples and two assists.

After the game, McCain addressed how he navigated through emotions He said, he felt that way in his first game, according to Justin Martínez of The Oklahoman.

“A little bit. I think it will always feel weird because it happened so quickly, and it’s been almost a month. It was good to be back, but being back here will definitely always feel weird. Coming back and not being here is like a nostalgic feeling. Hopefully it will stop soon, but I still don’t feel like I have closure yet.”

Jared McCain was asked if he thinks he’s able to close a chapter by returning to Philadelphia tonight:

“A little bit. I think it will always feel weird because it happened so quickly and it’s been almost a month. It’s nice to be back, but it will definitely be… pic.twitter.com/sFYHtDSfKb

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 24 March 2026

All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points on 9 of 13 attempts as the Thunder had six players reach double figures, including Jalen Williams (18 points), who returned from a hamstring injury in Monday’s 20-point win.

Jared McCain expressed his appreciation to former teammates

Thunder guard Jared McCann opened up about his return to Philadelphia, facing his former team as a member of the visiting team for the first time since their trade at the deadline. McCain will never forget the relationships he made During his time with the 76ers.

McCain said, “There are so many people in this organization that have touched me, and have been able to put a smile on my face some days. I’m very grateful for that.” “To be able to see everybody back there.” [are] I still have to meet some people. But seeing a group of guys who helped me throughout my rookie season, through my injury; It’s really great to see.”

“There are so many people in this organization who have touched me, who have brought a smile to my face… I’m very grateful for that.”

Jared McCain had a lot of positive things to say about the 76ers in their game

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/ByDPnK0hNx

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

McCann and the Thunder are on a 12-game winning streak.

For only the third time in his illustrious NBA career, LeBron James was held scoreless in the first half of a basketball game. The Los Angeles Lakers star missed all five of his attempts from the field and struggled overall, with the Detroit Pistons outscoring his team by 14 points during his 18 minutes of playing time.

Considering how high a scorer James is (he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, after all), seeing him go scoreless can be a disturbing sight. But the Lakers star has saw his role changing Largely relative to his heyday, as Luka Doncic is now the undisputed number one scoring option for the purple and gold.

“This is the role I’m playing for the ball club. To win ball games, this is the role I’m playing. And that’s the way the game was going,” James told reporters after the Lakers’ 113–110 loss to the Pistons, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“This is the role I’m playing for the ball club. To win ball games, this is the role I’m playing. And that’s the way the game was going” – LeBron James on going scoreless in the first half for only the third time in his career and the first time since 2010 pic.twitter.com/W5HK2ThdPH

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 24 March 2026

James is actually playing more of a supporting role, which suits him better than ever, considering he’s already 41 years old. And it’s safe to say that this change is working for the Lakers, as they entered the night having won nine consecutive games. What this simply means is that James is fully on board with what the team is doing, although he needs to be better than he was on Monday to recover from this situation.

The Lakers have hit their stride

The Lakers have now managed to get the most out of Doncic after he faced some difficulties sharing ballhandling and playmaking duties to start his life in LA after the blowout trade last year.

Doncic being so impressive (he shot 32-6-7 in the loss to the Pistons) bodes well for their chances of making some noise in the playoffs, but James getting up and running will be key to their title hopes.

There are no guarantees on the NBA calendar, and that was made abundantly clear on Monday night, the way the Houston Rockets slipped on a banana peel and lost to the Chicago Bulls, 132-124, despite a 40-point night from Kevin Durant. The Rockets were playing from behind all night, and while they made a strong comeback to close the game, even taking the lead at one point late in the fourth, they ultimately lost and fell to 43–28 on the year.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka lost his temper at the end of the game, as he ejected himself after an offensive foul by Durant sealed the game in the Bulls’ favor and the game was out of his team’s reach. And his bad mood continued after the final buzzer, as he lamented the poor effort his team showed against a lottery-bound Bulls team.

“Bad start, disrespect to the game, not ready from the start. Just non-aggressive, chasing them, watching them shoot. They had nothing to lose, they were gonna fire. Obviously, giving up 41 points in that first quarter is disappointing. It was a quarter that killed us. Not ready to play at all,” Udoka said in his postgame presser, via FullCourtPass on X (formerly Twitter).

Rockets fans have had enough of Ime Udoka

Rockets fans made it clear that it is Udoka’s responsibility to lead their team against a lousy team (on paper).

“Okay, if you were a good coach, maybe you would have groomed them in advance so they don’t look bad. Your coaching disrespects the game,” wrote X user @shaef__.

@defnotsmoj_ said, “You’ve been saying this all season. If the players aren’t listening to you then maybe you’re the problem.”

“This is the crap that bothers me. You’re the coach. You have to prepare your team to play on any given day. The constant lack of accountability while trying to wear down the opponent is bothering Im,” @_MaxClark continued.

The Milwaukee Bucks decided to waive Cam Thomas on Monday afternoon, just hours before the Bucks were scheduled to take on the LA Clippers in Los Angeles.

The decision comes just weeks after the franchise signed the guard to help its shorthanded roster in an effort to advance in the playoffs.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was asked about the move to waive Thomas before the game on Monday.

“Yeah, it was pretty tough, to be honest,” Doc Rivers told members of the media before the Clippers-Bucs game. “We’ve run out of resources and at the end of the day, there are guys you have to make decisions on. I thought Cam was really good overall, and he might be a guy we could look at again. Where we’re at right now, not really looking because when we signed him, we thought it was the right thing to do for the rest of the guys right now.”

Thomas was released by the Brooklyn Nets on February 5 after a suitable trade partner could not be found for the guard. On February 8, the Bucks and Cam Thomas agreed to a deal for the remainder of the season.

Since the contract he played 18 games for the Bucks, averaging 10.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three.

“There are things we don’t need to talk about,” Rivers said. “It’s nobody’s job, like I said before. As a coach you have to decide what’s best for the team at that time. People don’t understand that, they talk about other things, and it’s not for anybody to know.”

From 2023 to 2025, Cam Thomas played 91 games for the Bucks, averaging 22.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from three.

During the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Dallas Mavericks, one of their key players suffered a serious knee injury. As Warriors forward Moses Moody was going up for a breakaway dunk, the forward clutched his leg in pain. Moody was taken care of on the next dead ball and taken off the court on a stretcher.

moody Has been out of the game due to leg injury. A photo of Warriors forward Draymond Green shows a cast on his knee as he was taken off the court on a stretcher after his injury.

It’s a heartbreaking injury for Moody, who has missed the Warriors’ last 10 games with a wrist injury. Moody started this game against the Mavericks and was playing well. He led the shorthanded Warriors with 23 points and filled the stat sheet with three rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

Moody’s injury occurred in overtime at the end of the game against the Mavericks. The Warriors held a strong 136–131 lead over Dallas, and Moody’s steal would have given the lead a solid seven points as the game was winding down. The injury appeared to be serious, as it appeared the forward’s lower leg was hanging off at one point.

Warriors fans will now await the results of further testing on Moody. The Warriors improved to 33-38 and are in last place in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament. This is another brutal injury for Golden State, who are already without Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry for the remainder of the regular season.

At this point, it appears the MVP race is limited to just four players: Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wambayama.

This is certainly one of the closest contests in NBA history, and it could go down to the last game of the regular season.

Of these four, Vembanyama may be the underdog – as crazy as it sounds. He acknowledged that at the moment, “it’s still fair to have debate” over who should be named MVP. However, he is eager to change it.

“My goal is to make sure there’s no debate at the end of the season,” the two-time All-Star said.

When 22-year-old Vembanyama was asked to give three arguments for winning the trophy, he gave a thoughtful answer that should get him more votes.

“My first suggestion would be that defense is 50% of the game, and it’s been underrated so far in your race. I believe I’m the most dominant player defensively in the league,” Vembanyama said in a video posted by Jared Weiss of The Athletic.

“My second argument would be that we have almost swept OKC on the season. We have dominated them three times with their actual team and four times with their rotation players. My third argument would be that the impact of the offense is not just points.”

Asked Wembley to provide his 3 campaign bullet points on why he should be MVP https://t.co/HjRppaPLfY pic.twitter.com/FHXrFMjAi3

– Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) 24 March 2026

Vembanyama practically dropped the mic with his sharp response.

With him remaining relatively healthy, the Spurs ended their six-year playoff drought. As he noted, his overall impact on both ends of the floor is hard to overstate.

Wembanyama admits he is one of them, and he has a good chance to surpass former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose and become the youngest MVP in league history.

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was scratched in the final minutes of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday due to heel swelling. But even without him, the Raptors claimed an easy 143-127 victory at the Delta Center.

Ingram was originally part of the starting lineup against the Jazz, but moments before tip-off, he was replaced by Jacoby Walter. The Raptors later announced that Ingram would miss the game.

Following their win, their fourth in six games, Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic was optimistic Ingram’s condition, as shown in video posted by Raptors reporter Omar Osman.

“It’s not really a big concern here. It’s just flared up. It’s something we’ll look at and see how he feels tomorrow. But I don’t think it’s going to be anything (serious),” Rajakovic said.

Darko isn’t too concerned about Brandon Ingram’s heel pain. https://t.co/PdsDilNS8M pic.twitter.com/gfD0a8GQX4

– Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) 24 March 2026

The Raptors are struggling to cement their place in the playoffs, and they cannot afford to lose the 28-year-old Ingram, who has a long injury history.

With the win over Utah, they improved to 40–31, good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has missed the playoffs for three consecutive years.

RJ Barrett stepped up in Ingram’s absence and scored a team-best 27 points on 10 of 15 shooting, including 4 of 5 from long range.

Sandro Mamukelashvili also had a solid performance with 23 points, four rebounds and five steals, while Walter and Scotty Barnes also reached the 20-point mark.

The Raptors were impressive with their accuracy, shooting 61% from the field, including 20 of 37 from Rainbow Country. They are ahead by 35 points.

He returns to action on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Orlando Magic lost 128-126 against the Indiana Pacers at the Kia Center on Monday when Paolo Banchero’s game-winning attempt was blocked as time expired.

The Pacers finally ended their franchise-record 16-game losing streak, while the Magic suffered their fifth consecutive loss.

Orlando won on a jump ball with just 6.4 seconds left in the game. Banchero attacked the rim, but was faced by Pascal Siakam and Jay Huff, who held down the fort.

After the game, the 23-year-old Banchero said may have been fouled On the last play, as reported by Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

“We took an aggressive step to the hoop. I thought they both jumped on me with their bodies, but they were both straight up, you know? So it could have been a foul, but it wasn’t. It was a tough one,” Banchero said.

I asked #magical Forward Paolo Banchero on the last game and whether he felt he was fouled by Indiana:

“I thought they both jumped into me with their bodies, but they were both straight up, you know? So, it could have been a foul, but it wasn’t. And yes, it was a hard one.” https://t.co/IugjbiTXq0 pic.twitter.com/4QsqqlTRLi

-Jason Beede (@therealBeede) 24 March 2026

The fourth-year forward had a heroic performance, finishing with a game-high 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting. He added four rebounds and six assists.

Banchero has found his rhythm after struggling with his efficiency in the first half of the campaign.

The Magic played without Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Anthony Black due to various illnesses.

While they admitted a painful loss at the hands of the Pacers, Banchero stressed they need to move on quickly as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at Rocket Arena.

“We don’t really have time to get our heads down. We’ve got to come back to Cleveland tomorrow and try to get a win there,” Banchero said, quoting Beede.

The Magic are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 38–33 record.

On Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly waived Cam Thomas after Thomas had a falling out with the Brooklyn Nets following the trade deadline. The Bucks waived Thomas on March 23, meaning he is ineligible to play in the postseason because he was waived after the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline.

Nonetheless, Thomas is free to sign with any NBA team, provided those teams register interest in him. At this point, Thomas’ stock is at its lowest, and it would be worrisome to other teams that the Bucks, a team that is hungry for talent, gave up on a player who at one time averaged 24 points per game.

But of course, just because Thomas didn’t live up to expectations in Milwaukee doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a future in the NBA now. All he has to do is land in a team with a solid infrastructure and some patient teaching that can allow him to become the best version of himself.

Thomas’ ability to score the basketball is evident, as his 3,822 career points in 257 games (88 starts) are nothing like trying to luck out. But he’s facing a crossroads in his career, and choosing his next team, if he even gets a choice, will be key in determining whether he can serve as a microwave scoring piece in the NBA and pick up where he left off during the 2023-24 season or whether he’s bound to spend a few years overseas.

Here are some teams that make some sense as potential destinations for Thomas.

4. Sacramento Kings

In terms of strict fit on the court, this is not a good destination for Thomas at all. The Kings still have a glut of guards, and the last thing they need is to further clog the roster and make their logjam at those positions worse. Furthermore, the Kings are already closely monitored, and integrating Thomas’ brand of basketball into a team that is already in disarray won’t be the easiest.

The Kings also have Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan still active, and Thomas won’t be good enough to be guaranteed touches from those players.

But the Kings haven’t exactly focused on building a team that fits together, and perhaps they’ve become the latest team to look to Thomas to try to get his career back on track.

Sacramento can give him all the chances to score. Will this result in beautiful basketball? not even close. Would it be hilarious to see the Kings try this? Absolutely.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers have been devastated by injuries at the end of the 2025-26 season and have led to their decline in the NBA standings. Somehow, they’re still in seventh place in the East, meaning they’re still a long way from making the playoffs even with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid improving.

The good news is that Paul George is likely to return in the 76ers’ next game. The bad news is that it’s not clear exactly when Maxi will return. Another bad news is that Philly is missing a lot of Jared McCain, as their guard depth has been so depleted amid injuries that they’ve had to bring in Cameron Payne and play him heavy minutes.

Although Thomas can’t help the 76ers make one last attempt at the postseason, he can at least help them clinch the sixth seed in the conference. Philly is simply hungry for a shot-maker of Thomas’ level, and he would make VJ Edgecombe’s life a lot easier amid the team’s lack of offense.

2. Miami Heat

The Heat are in the midst of a tough five-game losing streak, and the last thing the team needs is to undergo a major change and bring in Thomas – another high-usage player. They are struggling to find balance at the moment, as they have had to bring 2026 NBA All-Star Norman Powell off the bench.

But the Heat culture is famous for developing untested players and turning them into winning contributors. He helped Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin, all of whom were part of their 2023 NBA Finals team, earn millions and millions of dollars when every other team in the NBA wasn’t sold on his ability to contribute.

What Thomas needs most is structure, and the Heat organization should help provide him with that.

Signing Thomas doesn’t mean he has to play anyway; Miami could simply bring him in, have him train with the team and acclimate to the team’s system, and get him ready for next season if they like what they see from the 24-year-old guard.

1. Indiana Pacers

With the departure of Benedict Mathurin via the Ivica Zubac trade, there could be an opportunity on the Pacers bench for a microwave scorer like Thomas. The problem is that Thomas is two inches shorter than Mathurin, and he is not even on the same level as the Los Angeles Clippers guard as a rebounder and defender.

But Thomas is a proven bucket-getter, and head coach Rick Carlisle has had success in the past with smaller guards who can score points in groups. Monta Ellis flourished under Carlisle. Trey Burke and Yogi Ferrell played some of their best basketball under Carlisle.

Thomas has not found any legitimate mentor for his career. The Nets quickly released him, as they did not want to give him a big contract last offseason. The Bucks gave their roster spot to Pete Nance, a wing who fits in with the team more easily.

Carlisle knows his way around Thomas’ playing style at guard, and Indiana, at least through the 2025-26 season, could give him a chance to prove if he can fit into what the team is building. The Pacers are under no pressure to win this season anyway, so they may simply hand the keys to Thomas as an audition to see if he’ll have a role on the team next season.

The Detroit Pistons continued to thrive without Cade Cunningham as they snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak on Monday.

The Pistons escaped the Lakers 113–110 at Little Caesars Arena, with Dennis Jenkins leading the way in the fourth quarter with a career-best 30 points, including a clutch basket.

Detroit led by as many as 16 points as Los Angeles rallied to keep the game close. However, the Pistons stayed the course and defended the Purple and Gold.

Lebron James much appreciated At the Pistons’ restraints, as shown in video posted by Spectrum Sportsnet.

“You give credit where credit’s due. They’re the No. 1 team in the East. They’ve still got a really good team even with their All-NBA player out. I give them a lot of credit. We gave ourselves a chance. That’s all you can ask for,” said James, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

LeBron on tonight’s loss: “Definitely you give credit where credit is due. They’re the #1 team in the East… I give them a lot of credit. We gave ourselves a chance. That’s all you can ask for.” pic.twitter.com/hjlYqDerHe

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 24 March 2026

The Pistons have now won four consecutive games and lost only once in their last eight contests. They solidified their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 52–19 record. They have already secured the playoff ticket.

They have a relatively tough schedule ahead of them as they will face the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors.

But as James noted, Detroit has also played well without Cunningham, who will miss an extended period of time due to a collapsed lung, and the players will be ready for the challenge.

Jalen Duren added 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists against the Lakers. Seven other players scored at least six points, highlighting the team’s depth.

ATLANTA – At this point in the season, every win matters for the Atlanta Hawks. It doesn’t matter who has been in front of them in the month of March, but for the most part, they have been able to take care of business and try to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.

This time, the schedule featured the Memphis Grizzlies, whom they defeated 146–107. The Grizzlies have suffered a lot of injuries and roster turnover during the season, and despite coming into the game with a 24–46 record, they are still competing.

For Hawks, the task was simple, and to take care of business as usual.

“As a group, we’ve been professional,” Nichelle Alexander-Walker said. “That’s what it’s all about, doing your job. It doesn’t matter who they put against you. We were very conscious of who we were playing against tonight.”

“At the end of the day, these are the 450 best players in the world and the Grizzlies are dealing with a lot of injuries,” Onyeka Okongwu said. “There’s a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, so those guys are getting opportunities. They’re all working hard, and you’ve got to respect that. We’ve still got to do what we do and take care of business at the end of the day.”

The Hawks struck first to start the game and they continued to punch until the clock struck zero. Whether it was Alexander-Walker’s 26 points, Zachary Rishachar’s team-high eight rebounds, or CJ McCollum’s nine assists, they did everything they could to get the win and the Hawks treated this game like any other.

“One thing I learned is that if you lose to a team like that, it’s bad. If you beat a team like that, it’s like, ‘You should do this,'” Alexander-Walker said. “You don’t really win in that situation. You have to kind of break out of the noise, and you have to be professional.

“It’s my job to play the game, it’s my job to work hard, and it’s my job to try to win and do what I need to do for the team. Everybody came out to do that tonight, and I think that’s been a consistent thing that’s shown over time.”

There has been a lot of talk lately about the maturity of this team, and it has shown over the past month or so. They’re sticking to the game plan and coming in with the same mentality every night.

“I think it’s a collective thing where guys are putting the team first,” Quin Snyder said. “That’s where we have to be focused, and when that happens, we’re crashing the offensive glass, we’re sharing the ball, getting into the lane, breaking into the paint. Focusing on defense, I think, is the most important thing. When you see everybody bought into that, it says a lot about the guys in our locker room.”

Things will not be easy for the Hawks in the next few games, as they will face the top two teams of the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. They know the importance of those games, but as long as they keep doing what they’ve been doing throughout the month, they’ll give themselves a chance to win.

The Dallas Mavericks are unable to catch any breaks this season as their troubles continue. On Monday, Daniel Gafford was forced to miss their game against the Golden State Warriors with a shoulder injury.

Gafford was playing great before being sent off late in the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks announced that he would not return for the remainder of the game.

He finished with 20 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting. He also had seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block.

The Mavericks ultimately lost to the Warriors 137–131 in overtime.

Gafford has already missed more than 20 games this season due to various injuries. Entering the game against Golden State, he was averaging 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

Dallas is already in fifth place, with Derek Lively II out for the season with a foot injury. The team acquired Marvin Bagley III at the trade deadline, but he is not a natural center. If Gafford sits out for an extended period of time, Dwight Powell could get extended minutes.

Cooper Flagg had a game-high 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting in the losing effort. He had four rebounds, nine assists and two steals, although he also had seven turnovers.

Bagley and PJ Washington combined for 18 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Mavericks dropped their fourth consecutive assignment and lost 23–49. Meanwhile, the Warriors snapped their three-game losing streak and improved to 34–38.

Things won’t get easier for Dallas as they face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

The 2025-26 season has been a great one for the San Antonio Spurs, as they have risen to the top of the NBA totem pole and become one of the best teams in the association. And it’s not just that Spurs are the Victor Wembanyama show; They have such a young and deep team that it can hit on all cylinders even if Vembanyama withdraws, and their 54-18 record on the season is the furthest thing from a fluke situation as it could be.

But make no mistake, Spurs’ title hopes will hinge on Wembanyama and how far he can take this team, as franchise greats Tim Duncan and David Robinson did before him.

And prominent media member Bill Simmons, who has been a renowned student of the game for decades, believes Wembanyama is already keeping pace with some of the all-time greats compared to a similar point in his career.

“There’s only been three years two guys have won titles that were first-team All-NBA, which was ’99 (Tim) Duncan, ’81 (Larry) Bird, and ’71 Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). I’m only mentioning it because I think he’s in that league,” Simmons said of Wambanyama on the latest episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast.

“And it feels weird to have all these names from the first 80 years in the league and be like holy man, these are the best names we have but I think that’s what we’re seeing.”

Only time will tell whether Vembanyama will be able to overcome this problem like those players did early in his career. After all, standing in his way is the Oklahoma City Thunder. But if there is anyone who has shown enough individual excellence to deserve consideration, it is the Spurs star.

The good thing is that the Spurs had a poor performance in the first two seasons of Wembanyama’s career, giving them an opportunity to fill the roster with quality players. This makes him one of the best contenders in the association, and could make Simmons look like a visionary once again.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ winning streak ended at nine games after losing 113-110 to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Monday.

The Lakers rallied from a 16-point deficit to take a 110–109 lead after Austin Reaves’ jumper with 30 seconds remaining. However, Dennis Jenkins immediately responded with a bucket and two free throws.

Los Angeles still had a chance to win, but Luka Doncic missed a three-pointer.

The Lakers fell to 46–26, while the Pistons won their fourth straight game and seventh game in eight assignments to improve to 52–19. They still suffered a loss as Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with a damaged lung, keeping him out for a long period of time.

LeBron James admits the Pistons have didn’t miss a beat Despite Cunningham’s absence, as Coty Davis of The Detroit News reports.

“They’re super physical, super fast, they play well, they execute well, and they’re well-coached. No difference. I mean, obviously, the only difference is that you have an MVP-type caliber player out there,” James said.

“But when you have a really good team, guys step up. They can’t compensate for what Cade brings to the table because Cade is that guy, but other guys are stepping up.”

“Nobody…when you have a really good team, people step up.”

LeBron James speaks on whether it makes a difference playing against #piston With and without Cade Cunningham.

The Pistons are now 8-2 without Cunningham after their win against the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/OCpkZgvaLe

– Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) 24 March 2026

James did not score in the first half before finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

Jenkins, who has played admirably for Cunningham, scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep. He added four rebounds and eight assists.

The Pistons, who have already clinched a playoff spot, have others who could step up without Cunningham, including Marcus Sasser, Caris LeVert, Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green.

The Detroit Pistons continued their strong performance with another impressive win, as Dennis Jenkins had a standout performance against the Los Angeles Lakers. A clutch, game-winning shot clinched the victory, showcasing Jenkins’ confidence in a key moment.

Jenkins turned in a career night, finishing with a career-high 30 points, eight assists and four rebounds. The Pistons relied on him late in the game and his performance was crucial as they defeated a revived Los Angeles team 113–110.

With the win, the Pistons remain firmly on top of the Eastern Conference standings at 52–19, five games ahead of the second-place Boston Celtics. It was their fourth consecutive win and seventh in the last eight games, while the Lakers’ nine-match winning streak ended.

Jenkins took control late and scored key points. He sized up Austin Reeves on the right wing, delivered a powerful jab step, and created space with an effortless step-back before knocking down a confident mid-range jumper to put Detroit in front. After this, he converted the important free throw to ensure the victory and maintained his composure in a tough match.

NBA star Axe, formerly of the NBA, shared Jenkins’ postgame reaction on Twitter, in which he discussed his fearless mentality after burying the decisive shot.

“I’m in that position for a reason. I just have to go out and be me.”

“I’m in that position for a reason, I just have to go out and be me.”

Dennis Jenkins (career-high 30p) on his game-winner! pic.twitter.com/pWd6QSWO8u

– NBA (@NBA) 24 March 2026

The league’s post highlighted the second-year guard’s confidence after a career-best performance. His response reflects the growing confidence Detroit has placed in him during high-pressure situations.

The result further solidifies the Pistons’ position as a legitimate contender. Jenkins is emerging as a reliable late-game option, adding another dimension to the team’s success.

Ultimately, Detroit is building momentum at the right time. With Jenkins’ production increasing and the team’s winning streak continuing, the Pistons are becoming increasingly dangerous as the postseason approaches, with contributions coming from the entire roster. The team is also expected to welcome back superstar point guard Cade Cunningham around the start of the playoffs after a lung injury, which will provide a big boost.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat make a push for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the team is currently trending in a negative direction, tied with five consecutive losses following Monday’s 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. As the Heat and Bam Adebayo are unable to overcome Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the team captain will keep it real even after the loss.

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, leading San Antonio to an impressive win on both sides of the ball, outclassing Miami from the start. There came a time when frustration grew for the Heat as Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra were teasing each other after the star was out.

As Adebayo’s minutes seemed to mirror Wembanyama’s, as Spoelstra inserted Kel’El Ware into relief as the Spurs star was relieved, the Miami big man’s competitive edge came to the fore. Now in the midst of a five-game losing streak, Adebayo would chime in on the heated exchange with Spoelstra, including his NSFW reaction to not wanting to attend the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

“I mean, he’s been watching what I’ve been doing the last number of games,” Adebayo said while recording 18 points (5-17 FG, 2-10 from deep) with four assists and three rebounds. “I don’t want to be in the play-in. So some of it is, yes, he has to save me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the play-in. So every game, I’m going to try to go out there and do my best to push this team and force us out of this.”

Bam Adebayo barked back and forth with Erik Spoelstra from the beginning:

“Some of it is that he has to protect me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the f**king play-in…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/gxHj4gxPVh

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra ‘barking’ at him and Bam Adebayo at each other

While the Heat weren’t able to maintain their identity in the loss to the Spurs, it started with the defense, as the team struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 62-38 in addition to giving up 136 points. San Antonio also won the second-chance points battle 25–6, and excelled in the paint, scoring 60 in that area compared to Miami’s 40.

Adebayo played a stellar 45 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, but that was unlikely to be the case on Monday, as Spoelstra said he liked Adebayo’s competitive nature.

“He and I were barking at each other. That’s why I love him. I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t, I’ve still got to do what’s best for the team. You know, I don’t want to play him 24 minutes in a row every half. If I’m forced to do it like Houston did, I’ll do it. But it’s the first half. I didn’t think it was necessary, you know. So some minutes, yes, most of the minutes are matchup ones. But it shouldn’t be all the minutes for us.”

Erik Spoelstra talks about him and Bam Adebayo “barking” at each other.

“That’s why I love him, I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t do that, I have to do what’s best for the team, I don’t want to play with him for 24 minutes straight…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/ZKS2cX4I2C

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

One of the words spoken in Spoelstra’s postgame press conference after the loss in Houston was that the Heat are going through “pain,” a feeling that continues to be “uncomfortable” during this skid.

“We’re being tested right now, we’re not the only team that’s being tested,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “It feels uncomfortable, no doubt about that. We definitely got outplayed tonight, in basically every aspect of the game. It’s a game, I understand the other four, but there are some really good things in other games, even more so, and we just have to stay the course.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the “pain” the Heat are going through after their loss to the Rockets and speaking about his situation after the Spurs:

“We’re being tested right now… It feels uncomfortable, there’s no doubt about it…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/rXxRb08Dtj

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

What the Heat lacked in the Spurs defeat, and what a ‘good problem’ they have

As the Heat disappointed against the Spurs in almost every category, one area that can’t be seen in the statsheet is the “competitive spirit” that the team lacked, as Adebayo reiterated, shouting out Myron Gardner’s energy despite the result.

“We didn’t bring competitive spirit. That’s really what it was. Shout out to Myron Garner, man, I looked up to Myron because he plays so hard,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints after Gardner played 18 minutes and scored nine points. “We honestly need to match his energy, all of us, because we play like this, we’ll be a completely different team, but our energy has to transfer, and then basketball is going to be basketball. We missed shots, whatever, but you have to continue to play through the missed shots. I felt like we let those shots get to our heads, and it affected us on the other end.”

Asked Bam Adebayo what was the catalyst for Spurs’ disappointing defeat:

“We didn’t bring the competitive spirit, that’s really it, shout out to Myron Gardner… We just needed to match his energy honestly…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9FoUc3vONX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Another challenge for Miami in the game was having the healthiest roster in a long time, with the return of Andrew Wiggins (toe), Jaime Jacquez Jr. (hip), and Norman Powell (calf) from injury. While Spoelstra is still looking for the right rotation to use with 10 games left, Herro would say it’s a “good problem to have.”

“I’m not sure, but we’ve got to figure it out. I’d rather be completely healthy than not go out there, so we have a good problem to have. It’s a good problem to have, and we’ve just got to get back on track,” Herro said after scoring 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field with five rebounds.

Tyler Herro speaks after the Heat’s fifth consecutive L, this time for the Spurs.

We talk about what needs to be fixed, including me asking him if being the healthiest he has been in a long time is part of the problems.

Says it’s a “good problem” for every healthy person. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/lYMQOZJRC0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Summer ‘keeps releasing the rope’

The Heat are trying to recover from the pain Spoelstra talks about, playing time is limited after the loss to the Spurs, making it a tough adjustment to have a fully healthy roster for the first time. Despite being an All-Star this season, mostly as a starter, Powell’s coming off the bench has been a step up.

After scoring 21 points on seven of 18 shooting from the field and four of 11 from deep, Powell talked about how the team continues to “let go of the rope” even in adversity.

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope,” Powell told ClutchPoints. “I think that’s what happens when we lose like this. We get hit, have some adversity, miss some shots and then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense, and teams take advantage of that and keep punishing us. When we get hit, we keep going.”

Asked Norman Powell about the five consecutive defeats and what he saw in the defeat:

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope… have some adversity, miss some shots, then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense and teams take advantage…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/V1KJahjCy2

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

As previously stated, there are now 10 games left in the regular season as the Heat are now 38-34, leaving them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference heading into a two-game road trip on Wednesday and Friday, both of which they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Chicago Bulls have fallen short in the postseason picture, and they are set to miss the play-in tournament for the first time in the last four seasons. It’s clear that Chicago is paying more attention to its youth, and in return, Matas Bouzelis is getting the opportunity of a lifetime. On Monday night, Bouzelis played a key role in the Bulls’ 132–124 upset win over the Rockets, scoring 23 points on an efficient 8-16 shooting night.

Considering how much the Bulls have struggled since the trade deadline, they need every ray of hope that there is indeed some light at the end of the tunnel as far as their rebuild is concerned. And games like this one from Buzzellis that’s all it givesEspecially when he made some clutch plays in their most recent win.

Bouzelis told CHSN’s Casey Johnson, “I’m trying to be aggressive all the time. I don’t care who’s in front of me. I’ll take the challenge.”

It must have been very inspiring for Bouzelis to do well for himself, given that he himself admitted that Rockets star Kevin Durant, who had 40 points on the night, was “eating” him.

“He was kicking my butt, man. It was tough. Obviously, he’s an amazing player. I’m really happy we came out with the win. He was cooking me,” Bouzelis admitted.

“I’m trying to be aggressive all the time. I don’t care who’s in front of me.”

with Matas Buzzelis @KCJHope After a 23-point performance in the win over Houston. pic.twitter.com/7TnwhU39k4

– Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) 24 March 2026

The Bulls still have a long way to go in their rebuild, but to say they don’t have some promising pieces would be disingenuous. Bouzelis has the size to be a prototypically dominant two-way wing, and Josh Giddy is a stat-sheet stuffer extraordinaire.

Bouzelis is also only 21 years old, so the sky is the limit for a second year ahead. Watching Durant up close and personal has certainly taught the young Bulls player some tricks that he can incorporate into his game moving forward.

JJ Redick saw a ray of hope in LeBron James’ performance despite him not scoring in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

James is playing the 23rd season of his famous NBA career, his eighth with the Lakers. Even at the age of 41, he remains one of the best veteran stars in the league.

However, he is also prone to cooldown strains during play. It was the same against Detroit as he posted six assists and four rebounds while going scoreless in the first half.

Redick reflected on James’ first half performance after the game. He described the outing as a selfless outing, trying to make the right play rather than forcing shots.

Redick said, “I thought he played a really unselfish game… I thought he not only tried to score, but did a good job making the right plays as usual and he got 10 assists.”

“I thought he played a really unselfish game … I thought he not only tried to score, but did a good job of making the right play as usual and he got 10 assists.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick on LeBron James’ 0-point lead in the first half.

(via @nba)pic.twitter.com/pcOa7SsB5o https://t.co/kst5aliqve

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

LeBron James, how the Lakers played against the Pistons

It was a quiet scoring night for LeBron James despite his stellar efforts. The Lakers still competed with the Pistons, even though they lost a close game 113–110.

Five players, including James, scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the loss. He finished the night with 12 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and one block. Luka Doncic led the team with 32 points and seven rebounds, Austin Reeves came next with 24 points and five assists, Deandre Ayton had 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaxson Hayes provided 11 points and four blocks.

Los Angeles fell to a 46–26 record on the season, maintaining third place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers will look to bounce back by remaining on the road in their next match. They will take on the Indiana Pacers as the tip-off takes place on March 25 at 7 PM ET.

On Saturday, Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan and is now fifth on the all-time scoring list – a huge accomplishment for the future Hall of Famer and arguably the best pure scorer in NBA history. But the Houston Rockets star is still lagging in scoring points, especially if Monday night is any indication. Despite the Houston Rockets’ 132–124 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Durant once again dominated and recorded 40 points in his team’s failed comeback bid.

Before everything is said and done in Durant’s career, it is very likely that he will also surpass Kobe Bryant’s all-time scoring tally, which would put him in fourth place on the all-time scoring list. If he continues to play at a high level for three more seasons, he could even surpass Karl Malone.

But the Rockets star knows his spot on the all-time scoring list is not secure. In fact, he’s celebrating players like Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards and believes they are on their way to eventually catching him.

“Sooner than that. There’s a lot of people in the way,” Durant said in an appearance on Boardroom Talks. “They hit the same marks I hit that time.”

Indeed, Doncic and Edwards have been scoring machines early in their careers, and they show no signs of slowing down. The former, in particular, has been on a heater lately, even dropping 60 points in a recent win over the Miami Heat.

Now the goal of the next generation is to stay healthy. Soft tissue injuries are more serious than ever. Actually, Edwards is currently suffering from knee problems.

But Durant has missed significant time in his career; He suffered a foot injury during his OKC days, in 2019 he missed the entire 2019-20 season, and he has also faced some injury problems over the past few seasons. But he’s still racking up points – leaving a legacy he hopes will do just that.

“I hope I made the same impact on the game,” Durant said.

Cam Thomas’ stock has fallen off a cliff, and the Milwaukee Bucks decided to remove the 24-year-old guard from the roster, ahead of Monday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. After waiving Thomas, the Bucks converted Pete Nance’s contract to a standard contract.

There’s no doubt that Thomas, who averaged 24 points per game two seasons ago, is a fantastic one-on-one scorer. But a lot of doubts have arisen over the years regarding their ability to function within a winning ecosystem. And the Bucks’ decision to cut him when they weren’t in a competitive position is telling of how Thomas is currently viewed.

According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, considering the timing of Thomas’ waiver, he will no longer be eligible to play in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. That’s because the Bucks waived the explosive scoring guard after the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline. If an NBA team registers interest in him he is eligible to sign with an NBA team.

One would think that a team with nothing to lose could turn the odds in their favor. But both the teams with losing records, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, left him, due to which a big crisis loomed in his career path.

Where does Cam Thomas go from here after being waived by the Bucks?

Thomas may function best in a system where his worst habits are reined in and his strengths are maximized. He’s a great shot-maker, and he can set up balls in a pinch. If there’s any team that can get the best out of Cam Thomas, it’s the Miami Heat.

The Heat rarely play on-ball screens, so they rely on creating space through quick movements and one-on-one play. And in Miami, Thomas will be forced to learn how to play defense and team basketball. Perhaps going there will revive his career.

It appeared as if the Indiana Pacers would suffer their 17th consecutive loss of the season on Monday night when they visited the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. The Magic may not be the toughest competitive team out there, but they have a winning record and are in the running for a spot in the Eastern Conference standings – pushing hard for the sixth seed and a direct playoff berth.

But the Pacers were bound to win one of these days; They had so much talent on the roster that they couldn’t have gotten a win with at least a little luck. On Monday night, they finally broke their cold spell, pulling off a 128-126 upset win over the Magic thanks to a 37-point performance from Pascal Siakam.

While Indiana has all the incentive in the world to lose the game, as finishing with the worst record in the NBA increases their chances of being a top-four pick in the first round this year, it would be very disappointing for a locker room full of winners to suffer consecutive losses.

At least, Pacers fans on social media were excited to end their bleeding.

Pacers fans in party mode on X

This season has been a complete nightmare for the Pacers. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and fans are at least happy to see a glimmer of hope on Monday night. However, as happy as fans are after this win, they want their team to lose here so that they can keep their 2026 first-round pick.

“We may lose again but I needed a man, thank you all so much,” wrote ex user @leviteight.

“Monthly win quota. Get ready to lose your last 10 games 😈,” @PacersID added.

“Great W lose now, please,” @ddter23 added.

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is a man of many interests. His interviews have been a treasure trove of interesting quotes due to his wide-ranging curiosity.

Apparently Mazzulla is also a fan of WWE. Or at least tickled about it.

He and Derrick White joined the latest WWE RAW card at the TD Garden on Monday. When he was introduced during the break, the crowd greeted him enthusiastically.

Majulla felt it was best to turn heel hilarious attack White, as shown in video posted by Celtics reporter Ian Ianangelo.

Joe Mazzulla is fighting Derrick White on Monday Night Rawpic.twitter.com/Ujs1Sja1Bz

– Ian Angelo (@iinangelo) 24 March 2026

Who said wrestling is fake?

Mazzulla’s experience became even more memorable when Triple H handed him a customized championship belt with the Celtics logo.

“Great to see @Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla @TDGarden. Now you’re ready for #WWERaw,” Triple H wrote on Twitter.

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

This drew various reactions from fans, including some who couldn’t help but make fun of it.

@HunchoGambles said, “If even Joe Mazzulla knows who you are, recognize that.”

@MoonshotMagic said, “Everyone I know would love to stay home and watch ‘The Town’ for the 88th time this week.”

@sirkennix posted, “Yo, Mazzulla with the custom belt. This is seriously dope. Boston is really eating it tonight.”

“Joe has post-game energy for Raw tonight?” asked @vexlyz.

@BigSteelerMood wrote, “The funny thing is that Joe is smiling.”

The Celtics lost 102-92 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, ending their four-game winning streak. Perhaps this was the reason Majulla didn’t seem too thrilled with Triple H’s gift.

However, Mazzulla also often looks the same – win or lose – so for all we know, he enjoyed it. Or maybe he’s just playing his heel role.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse had a positive update to share about Paul George as the veteran star returns from suspension this season.

George has been on the sidelines for the second half of the season due to a 25-game suspension. The NBA suspended the star forward for failing a drug test, forcing Philadelphia to play without one of its key players.

George has not played a game since January 29, which suggests he has been out for almost two months. Nurse provided an update on George’s activity, revealing when fans can expect his eventual return this season.

“He’s worked hard… that’s what I’ll say. He’s prepared hard… I don’t expect any ramp-up problems at all,” Nurse said.

“He’s worked hard… that’s what I’ll say. He’s prepared hard… I don’t expect any kind of rush.”

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse on Paul George’s return to action on Wednesday following his 25-match suspension.

(via @NBCPhilly)pic.twitter.com/9TvqD0l70c

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 March 2026

What’s next for 76-year-old Nick Nurse?

Nick Nurse and the 76ers will look to the return of Paul George this week, especially on Wednesday. The team is 16-11 with him and 23-22 without him. In the 25 games he missed due to suspension, Philadelphia went 13–12.

George remains strong as a veteran star as he goes through the 16th season of his career, his second with the 76ers. In the 27 games he is playing, he is averaging 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He is shooting 42.4% from the field, including 38.2% from beyond the arc, and 85.5% from the free-throw line.

Philadelphia fell to a 39–33 record on the season, and finished seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, while trailing the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors.

After their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the 76ers will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Chicago Bulls as tip-off takes place on March 25 at 7 PM ET.

Victor Wembanyama achieved an incredible feat with his performance in the San Antonio Spurs’ clash against the Miami Heat on Monday night.

Vembanyama is going through the third season of his NBA career with the Spurs. He has made serious strides as one of the top players in the league, leading the team back into playoff contention.

In 26 minutes of action, Vembanyama filled the stat sheet. He finished with a stat line of 26 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. He made 11 of 22 shots from the field, including 1 of 7 from beyond the arc and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.

This performance allowed him to make NBA history. Before turning 23, he scored a record 4,000 points and 600 blocks, the first player to do so in the last 40 seasons.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is the first player in the last 40 NBA seasons to:

4,000+ points.
600+ blocks.

Before turning 23 🤯 pic.twitter.com/sMR0KIMy7Z

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama, how the Spurs played against the Heat

Victor Wembanyama continues to make serious noise as a young superstar, leading the Spurs to an emphatic 136-111 win over the Heat.

Rebounding and inside scoring made the difference in this matchup. The Spurs won both categories after grabbing 62 rebounds and scoring 60 points inside the paint. It wasn’t the same for the Heat as they only grabbed 38 rebounds and scored 40 points inside the paint.

Six players scored in double figures for San Antonio in the win, including Wembanyama. Dylan Harper delivered a strong performance with 21 points, six assists, four rebounds and two blocks. He made 9 of 14 shots overall, including 3 of 5 from downtown. Keldon Johnson finished second with 21 points and six rebounds, Stephon Cassel had 19 points and seven rebounds, De’Aaron Fox added 14 points and six assists, while Harrison Barnes provided 13 points and three rebounds.

San Antonio improved to a 54–18 record on the season and second place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, while trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Riding a six-consecutive win streak, the Spurs will be looking forward to their next matchup. They remain on the road when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on March 25th at 8PM ET.

LeBron James is actually the best scorer in NBA history, as he is the league’s all-time leading scorer in the regular season and playoffs. But there are no such things as certainties in the game of basketball. Even the Los Angeles Lakers star has a vacation from time to time, especially now that he’s 41 years old. And Monday night was looking like one such night.

On Monday, the Lakers faced a ferocious Detroit Pistons team and kept going at each other all night long. But James was obviously calm during the first half of the game. According to ESPN Insights on

Now, the good news is that James is no longer the alpha of the Lakers, he has handed over the offensive reins to the superstar that is Luka Doncic. But if the Lakers want to beat a tough Pistons team on the road, they will need to unlock more of James’ scoring.

James scored five points in the third quarter and now has seven at the time of writing with about eight minutes left in the final frame.

Lakers want to extend the winning streak to double digits

The Lakers have had tremendous performances over the past few weeks, as a result of which Doncic has raised his game and his team is following suit. They have won nine in a row heading into their game against the Pistons on Monday, and they have a golden opportunity to take that streak even further, given that Cade Cunningham is recovering from a lung injury.

The Lakers have to play one more game on their current road trip before returning home on Friday.

Josh Hart came to Mikal Bridges’ defense as Mikal Bridges struggled with shooting issues during the New York Knicks’ 2025-26 campaign.

Bridges is going through the eighth season of his NBA career, his second with the Knicks. This campaign has been different for the star wing as he is taking fewer shots per game. Since the All-Star break, entering Sunday’s win over the Washington Wizards, he was averaging just 10.4 points on 40.6 percent shooting and 31.3 percent from downtown.

Hart spoke to the New York Post about Bridges’ effectiveness on the court this season. He supports his star teammate, believing in his ability to persevere and continue to make big plays in big games.

“He’s doing what he’s asked. And I’ve said this before – when you’re a guy who’s been [with the Brooklyn Nets] When you’re the No. 1 guy and he’s calling those plays for you,” Hart said.

“Last year, there weren’t many plays called for him. This year, there’s probably even less plays called for him. So obviously there’s a mental hurdle that he has to overcome and that’s something where some of us can help him. I think he gets some unfair criticism because he’s doing what he’s asked. And if we sit there and say, shoot 15 shots a game, he’ll be efficient and he can do that. But that’s not the case. Asked him.”

Josh Hart, what’s next for the Knicks

Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges know it will take a lot to lead the Knicks to success, especially when they are competing for a title.

New York has a 47–25 record on the season and is in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, while trailing the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

With six consecutive wins, the Knicks will continue to prepare for their next match at home. They will host the New Orleans Pelicans as tip-off takes place on March 24 at 7:30 pm ET.

During the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak, LeBron has been one of the biggest contributors. After facing questions about his fit with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, James has emerged as the perfect power forward for the Lakers who can hit shots with efficiency and also make moves on the defensive end.

Ramona:

“I think the idea of ​​playing anywhere near $50 million is probably over, but if (LeBron) is willing to play for less than that, if it fits with what (the Lakers) are trying to do, then I think the door is open.” pic.twitter.com/ePVU76wKQo

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 23 March 2026

The change in the Lakers’ play has sparked various discussions about the team and LeBron’s possible return. While many believe LeBron will leave the Lakers in the summer, Ramona Shelburne raised the possibility that James will remain with the Lakers if he takes a significant pay cut.

“I think the idea of ​​playing anywhere for $50 million is probably dead on now. But, if he’s willing to play at a lower price, if it fits with what they’re trying to do, I think that door is open,” Shelburne said on NBA Today.

NBA Today guest host Jorge Sedano said, “Yeah. ‘Cause they have to balance the Austin situation as well. And still be able to fill out the rest of the roster.”

Shelburne said, “Yeah. As it stands right now, it’s almost like he’ll reverse roles with Austin in terms of salary.”

James is averaging 21.1 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game and 6.8 assists per game on a 51.4% field goal percentage. His all-round play and playmaking ability has been crucial for the Lakers during this win streak and could be vital if the Lakers want to make a deep playoff run.

The Lakers will visit the East-leading Detroit Pistons tonight at 7pm EST.

While fans have seen Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann play some great basketball in his second season, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse isn’t surprised by it. To most NBA fans, the somewhat crowded backcourt resulted in McCann’s departure, leading 76ers fans to question Nurse’s approach amid a difficult season.

McCain working his way back from two injuries slowly gaining momentum With the 76ers before his trade to the Thunder, Nurse explained, according to PHLY Sixers.

The nurse said, “Coming up on 7-for-11 night. He was still dragging the knee brace around for a long time and recovering from an arm injury. I think he was affected by it physically for a long time, but I thought he was coming out of it.” “I was hoping he would start getting back to his big, crazy nights where he can really step up and score a lot.”

With a season-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep, McCann helped lead the Thunder to a 121–92 victory against the Brooklyn Nets before the defending champions extended their winning streak to 11. The Thunder defeated the Washington Wizards 132-111 on Saturday.

McCann has shot a combined 14-30 from beyond the 3-point arc in his last four contests, hitting four threes en route to 18 points in the Thunder’s win against the Wizards.

Jared McCann on the 76ers’ approach versus the Thunder

Following the recent second-year guard’s election offense, fans questioned 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey over Jared McCann’s trade to the Thunder. One of the few similarities McCann mentioned about the Thunder is how 76ers head coach Nick Nurse uses Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to guide his offense.

For McCain, he sees equal two-man game According to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman, he said, between himself and Thunder All-Stars Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, Joel used to do this with Tyrese, and I was like, ‘Dang, it’s really cool out there,'” McCain said. “So it’s really fun to be able to be a part of it. Playing with Hart, J-Will and Chet, they’re all elite legends. I’m excited to play with them.”

Jared McCain asked if he had played with a big man who could make the screening a major play, like Isaiah Hartenstein:

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, I used to do this with Joel Tyrese and I was like ‘Dang, it’s really cool there.’ So to be able to be a part of it… pic.twitter.com/vTsyiC1P4u

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 17 March 2026

The 76ers will try to snap the Thunder’s 11-game winning streak on Monday.

Phoenix Suns’ all-time franchise-leading scorer Devin Booker always has something new to wear by wearing a new PE (Player Exclusive) almost every night in the NBA with the promotion of his second signature Nike Buc 2 sneakers. During the month of March, Booker is observing one school in particular more often than others, and it’s not his Kentucky Wildcats.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

Devin Booker has always been generous in providing Kentucky basketball fans with a first glimpse of his school’s colors on his signature sneakers, but Booker also has special colorways for schools like Michigan State, BYU, Texas, and most notably the Oregon Ducks. The Nike Book 1 featured several notable school colorways, but we saw a real effort to expand on the Nike Book 2 during this latest March Madness tournament.

The Oregon Ducks easily have the most color combinations and special editions of Nike sneakers and Booker is taking full advantage of it, offering three different colorways throughout the month of March.

Nike Book 2 “Oregon Ducks” PE Sneakers

Another: Devin Booker debuts the Nike Book 2 “Oregon Ducks” PE 🦆 @devinbook

📷 @sons pic.twitter.com/rL8d4n8RHH

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 9 March 2026

Devin Booker first introduced the Oregon Ducks Nike Book 2 in a neutral black/white colorway featuring a metallic gold Swoosh and a green “UO” logo on the rear heel. The Book 2 is largely inspired by the Nike Air Zoom Spiridon in its construction, fitted with a performance outsole for maximum comfort and stability.

Devin Booker in another Oregon Ducks PE colorway of the Nike Book 2 🦆📚 pic.twitter.com/l5aUpzecFe

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 17 March 2026

Devin Booker debuts another Oregon Ducks x Nike Book 2 PE 🦆📚 @devinbook

📷 @sons pic.twitter.com/x3aCze9d4B

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 23 March 2026

The next colorway arrived as a “home” look with a white base and vintage green mudguard. The pair was this time complemented by the same metallic gold Swoosh and a gold UO logo. The final and most loud “alternative” pair was worn by Booker against the Toronto Raptors, featuring a bright yellow upper and green mudguard atop a white midsole. The Nike Swoosh was metallic silver with a green UO logo, arguably offering the cleanest look of the Nike Book 2.

For the rest of March, we’ll try to keep up with whatever Devin Booker has planned for the Nike Book 2 and what new schools we might see in the rotation. No word on an official release and it wouldn’t be surprising if these remain exclusive to Booker’s endless Nike sneaker collection.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat look to bounce back from the pain of a heartbreaking loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday, the team looks to end its four-game losing streak against the San Antonio Spurs. As the Heat’s Bam Adebayo faces off against sensation Victor Wembanyama, head coach Erik Spoelstra will talk about how they are similar in one area.

There’s no denying that Adebayo and Wembanyama are completely different players, as Spoelstra mentioned, but in the context of how other teams prepare for each player, both of their strengths offensively come from across the court. It could also be argued that both Adebayo and Wembanyama are anchors for their respective teams on both sides of the ball.

“[Wembanyama] He’s their leading scorer, and so he’s doing it all over the field. Obviously a completely different player than Bam [Adebayo]But it’s probably just like when you’re preparing for Bam offensively, all over the floor, handling, screening, playing at the three-point line, playing in the post, playing off the drive, they screen for him,” Spoelstra said before Monday night’s game against Wambayama and San Antonio.

“So you have to be prepared for all those things. And our defense has been prepared for those types of situations all season long,” Spoelstra continued. “And then if you don’t prepare for him to be at the rim, you know, that’s irresponsible. He’s going to be there. They have great defense, and he changes a lot of things at the rim, and we don’t want to take off the breaks or show so much respect, but you’ve got to know where your outlets are, and all that kind of stuff fits into how we want to play.”

Erik Spoelstra speaks about the challenge of facing a player like Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/vwOH22JRtc

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 23 March 2026

DPOY race between Heat’s Bam Adebayo, Victor Wembanyama

The Heat’s captain could also be added in another way in Adebayo and Wembanyama, both of whom are potential contenders for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). Adebayo has not received this award his entire career, with many believing he deserves at least one award up to this point due to his elite ability to cover every position, while Wembanyama may be on his way after being the block leader for the past two years.

A few weeks earlier, on March 10, Spoelstra told ClutchPoints that it could be a “two-man race” between Adebayo and Wembanyama for DPOY.

“These next six weeks, if we can really defend the same way we’ve been defending the last month, I think it’s a two-man race for Defensive Player of the Year. I think that’s the flavor you have,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints.

Spoelstra continued, “They’ve won at an extremely high level, San Antonio, and their defense has consistently been a notch above our defense, but we’re starting to catch them in that.” “But it just depends on what flavor you like, a unicorn shot blocker that completely changes everything in the paint, or a unicorn one-through-five that nobody can scheme in this league. And that performance, you know, has a real unique ability to impact the game defensively.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about Jaime Jacquez Jr.’s 6MOY chances and if winning has an impact, he would say he should be a winner and the conversation turns to the W.

I’ll mention the same about Bam Adebayo and how it could be a two-man race for DPOY with Wembley. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8ORCzHkhZu

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 10 March 2026

At any rate, the main focus for Adebayo and Spoelstra is to finish the season on a positive note and avoid the play-in tournament, as entering Monday’s game against the Spurs and Wambayama, Miami is 38-33, leaving them in ninth place in the East.

There are plenty of stories heading into the final few weeks of the 2025-26 NBA season, but none bigger than the Los Angeles Lakers’ lead in the Western Conference. More importantly, all the talk in Hollywood has focused on Luka Doncic and his MVP campaign that has skyrocketed over the past few weeks.

Can Luka really overtake Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the favorite for MVP heading into the final three weeks of the season?

It seems like the Oklahoma City Thunder star has already been labeled as the MVP favorite since before the All-Star break, and Nikola Jokic was the obvious second choice. But then Jokic suffered a knee injury and the Denver Nuggets took a step back.

Sure, Victor Wembanyama and his success with the San Antonio Spurs have solidified his place in the MVP rankings, but no other player is doing what Doncic is doing right now.

Since the beginning of March, Doncic has averaged 36.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 12 games, while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Over that span, Luka ranks first in points (442), shots made (150), shots attempted (350), 3-pointers attempted (62), 3-pointers attempted (157), and 30-point games (9).

In addition to all of these individual stats, Luka’s video-game-like numbers have directly led to success for the Lakers, who are 11-1 since the beginning of March and have won nine straight games. The last time the Lakers went on a nine-game winning streak, they captured their 17th championship.

Could history repeat itself with Doncic leading this version of the franchise?

Only time will tell on the championship front, but as far as MVP is concerned, Doncic has put himself firmly back in the mix. The only question is whether it’s too late in the season for the Lakers’ superstar to sway voters.

Well, I’m not voting for MVP this year, but as we approach the final week of ClutchPoints’ MVP rankings, Doncic has firmly put himself back in the top 3 and is being talked about in this year’s race.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 21 | Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 50 games, 31.6 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.3 FG%, 39.0 3P%

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

Since breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games with 20-plus points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has twice had a scare of scoring exactly 20 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets. In between those games are two 40-point games.

The Thunder have won 11 consecutive games, the longest active winning streak in the league, and they now lead the Spurs by three games for the top spot in the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander has left his mark on the Thunder’s success this season, especially given all of his injury concerns.

Despite missing some time before and after the All-Star break, Shai led the Thunder to another remarkable season in the absence of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren on the court consistently. This is another major reason why he will win MVP awards consecutively.

2. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 blocks, 50.4 FG%, 35.6 3P%

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

Victor Vembanyama is on a mission right now. If you don’t believe me, just listen to the guy:

“Right now, I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well,” Wembley recently said about the remainder of the season. “So, I’m just trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and perform for my team.”

Well, there you have it. Vembanayama wants to win the MVP award, and he’s putting together a compelling case right now, just like Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.

In addition to recording at least 20 points and eight rebounds in four of his last five games, Wembanyama has also recorded at least four blocks in three of his last five games. The Spurs star looks like the best two-way player in the league right now, and San Antonio is still just behind Oklahoma City in the West standings, which is enough for Wembley to be No. 2 in the MVP rankings.

3. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

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

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

There are no other words to describe what Luka Doncic is doing right now sensory.

He hasn’t scored below 30 points in nine straight games, and over that span, Doncic has four games with at least 40 points, two games with at least 50 points, and one 60-point performance.

At this point, we can see Doncic getting closer to Bam Adebayo when he scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Funnily enough, Luka and the Lakers will see the Wizards on March 30, so who knows?

The Lakers are winning games, Doncic is putting up Wilt-like scoring numbers, and perhaps the most unrecognized area of ​​development for him over the past few weeks what the stats won’t tell you is that Luka has really increased his intensity and physicality on defense.

Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for several consecutive weeks, and he leads the league with four Player of the Week awards this year. It wouldn’t take long for Luka to win the Western Conference Player of the Month award once March ended.

4. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 57.3 FG%, 38.5 3P%

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

Nikola Jokic has put together a great season. No matter which statistic you look at, he’s tops in the league, and averaging a triple-double for the year is no small feat.

Unfortunately, amid the Denver Nuggets’ struggles as a result of his untimely knee injury and injuries across the board, his MVP stock took a big hit entering the All-Star break and coming out of it for the final stretch run of the season.

While MVP is an individual award and we’ve seen Jokic be a one-man team player at certain times during his career, his turnover rate and overall efficiency have declined over the past month compared to SGA, Wembley and Doncic. Jokic committed 10 turnovers on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, and he is averaging 4.8 turnovers per game in March.

This is not the perfect recipe for winning MVP, and neither is your team significantly below the teams of all three players above you in the MVP rankings.

Previous ranking: #6

2025-26 season stats: 64 games, 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 47.7 FG%, 34.3 3P%

Jayson Tatum may be getting all the attention now that he’s back on the court for the Boston Celtics, but Jaylen Brown is having his best season in the NBA. In all honesty, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the best two-way wing in basketball right now.

Brown has led the Celtics to a top team in the Eastern Conference in what many thought would be a gap year, and he has averaged career highs in nearly every major statistical category. Lately, Brown has been the main reason for Boston’s success.

Over his last four games, where the Celtics have gone 3-1, Brown has averaged 33.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent from 3-point range. He scored 41 points on March 16 against the Phoenix Suns, his sixth 40-point game of the season.

Brown has moved ahead of Cade Cunningham in the MVP rankings after finishing sixth last week as the Detroit Pistons star suffered a collapsed lung and is expected to miss a significant amount of time, making him ineligible for the award.

just missing the cut

6. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons [Ranked No. 4 last week]*

7. Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks [Ranked No. 10 last week]

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

9. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers [Ranked No. 9 last week]

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

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

No San Antonio Spurs player is more qualified than De’Aaron Fox to speak out on the moment that went viral because it offended Hispanic fans.

After a woman messaged him during a game at Frost Bank Center about “crazy Hispanic fans” asking how they could afford to attend home games, Fox commented on the incident following a 134–119 win against the Indiana Pacers.

When asked about the incident, Fox responded, “My high school was 60 percent Hispanic. I’m from Texas.”

Although Fox was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he grew up near San Antonio.

“I’m from Houston, man. I think it’s the most diverse city in the country,” the two-time NBA All-Star said. “What do you expect? It’s like going to Boston and complaining that there are a bunch of white people there. What kind of sense is that [make,] Like, it doesn’t make any sense.”

This made me really angry…😡 pic.twitter.com/dU5FLo8PjN

– 5⭐️ The Birdhouse Tailgate (@TheBirdHouseTG) 20 March 2026

De’Aaron Fox calls on family to speak out about a fan’s message

Responding further on the video above, Fox talked about her family dynamics.

The former Sacramento King added, “My kids are one-quarter Mexican, so they’ll have to get used to it.” “My wife’s father’s side of the family is all black. My wife’s mother’s side is all Mexican. My mother-in-law was born in Mexico, so my kids are used to seeing that. All of her uncles are black, all of her uncles are Mexican.”

The video at the center of the controversy appears to be from during the Spurs game versus the Phoenix Suns. After two nights against the Pacers, many San Antonio had already turned the message into a rallying cry. Fans in the stands wore shirts that read, “Crazy Hispanic Fans.” Others in the crowd were waving Mexican flags to show their pride.

An inspiration through a huge business since February 2025, Fox has already integrated himself into the local community. On several occasions, he has organized programs for needy people in his new home. Asked about the importance of diversity to the city, team and community, Fox didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts about an area where people of Hispanic origin make up about 64% of the population.

Fox said, “For someone to complain about it, especially being in San Antonio, I don’t know why you would do that, why it would make any sense. It should be normalized.” “You’re going to see people who aren’t like you, who don’t look like you, who maybe have a different accent than you. And it’s not just a different accent as far as ethnicity is concerned. You go to California, you’re going to hear a different [accent,] Or you go to L.A., you’re going to hear a different accent than somebody from Dallas, or somebody from Boston, or somebody from Miami, somebody from Chicago. You’ll hear different accents. So at this point, you would think it would be normal, but it’s everyone’s own thing.”

The LA Clippers have been playing shorthanded for several weeks as one key player has been injured. However, the Clippers are likely to be very shorthanded on Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

John Collins, who was initially listed as ‘probable’ to play with a left ankle sprain on Sunday evening against the Bucks, was downgraded to ‘doubtful’ on Monday afternoon after being evaluated by the team in the morning.

Collins’ appearance on the injury report comes after the Clippers forward injured his ankle with 1:11 remaining in the team’s fourth game of the quarterfinal against the Dallas Mavericks. John Collins, attempting to stop the Mavs from advancing on Nazi Marshall, takes a step and appears to twist his ankle, immediately falling to the ground and fouling Marshall in the process.

Collins left the game after picking up his sixth personal foul, finishing with eight points, three rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots in 29 minutes of play.

This is the play where John Collins turned his ankle and fouled out in Dallas.

He has been downgraded to questionable tonight with Kawhi Leonard. pic.twitter.com/DtQGkqfdhy

– Grant “Money” Mona (@Gmona48) 23 March 2026

Collins is now joined by Kawhi Leonard, who is also listed as ‘doubtful’ to play on Monday due to a left ankle sprain.

Leonard was able to finish Saturday night’s game against the Mavs, scoring 34 points on 12-of-22 shooting with three rebounds, five assists and two steals in 36 minutes of action.

The Milwaukee Bucks will also be significantly shorthanded on Monday night, playing the game without star Giannis Antetokounmpo as he deals with a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee. Kevin Porter Jr. is also out for the Bucks, while Kyle Kuzma and Gary Harris are both considered ‘questionable’.

Monday night’s game will start at 7:30 pm PST.

The Miami Heat have cooled off the past few games as the basketball world is still trying to process Bam Adebayo’s recent 83-point game, the second-most in NBA history. While some have celebrated the feat, which puts him ahead of Kobe Bryant and behind only Wilt Chamberlain in the record books, others have tried to downplay Adebayo’s accomplishment by pointing out some of the bizarre tactics Miami used to help him get to this point.

One guy who falls into the latter camp is former NBA guard Austin Rivers, who recently went on The Ryan Russillo Show to challenge Adebayo.

“If you score more than 30 against [Victor Wembanyama]. It will be as impressive to me as you are getting [83] Points… I’ll tip more than you get [83] Against the f*****g Wizards,” Rivers said, according to X, formerly of The Ryan Russillo Show on Twitter.

Adebayo will have a chance to do that on Monday night when the Heat host Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat have a very difficult schedule at the moment, having lost four games in a row and falling into the play-in field in the Eastern Conference as a result. Adebayo had a stellar game of 32 points and 21 rebounds over the weekend against the Houston Rockets, but Miami lost in the final seconds when Amen Thompson missed Kevin Durant at the buzzer.

Adebayo had a big game against the Spurs earlier this year, and he’ll need a similar output this time around to get Miami back in the win column against a San Antonio team that has been impressive in recent weeks.

Tipoff between the Heat and Spurs is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET.

As the NBA season approaches, there is intense discussion about who will take home the 2025-2026 MVP trophy. Lakers star Luka Doncic has emerged as a leading contender as the Lakers begin a nine-game winning streak. Jaylen Brown has also received praise for how he has led the Celtics’ success prior to Jayson Tatum’s return from an Achilles injury.

Carmelo Anthony says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ‘clear cut’ MVP 👀

“The players know who the real MVP is… To me, it’s obvious. I think it’s Shai… When you see the MVP, you know.”

Idea? 🤔

(via @7PMinBrooklyn) pic.twitter.com/2MdEI7OCYK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 March 2026

But Hall of Famer and NBC Sports analyst Carmelo Anthony believes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the “clear-cut” favorite for MVP this season.

“The players know who the real MVP is… To me, it’s obvious. I think it’s Shai… This is the best team in the NBA, best player on the team. It’s hard to argue. The guy is averaging 30 and 9. You know what I mean? When you see an MVP, you know.”

gilgeous-alexander the engine is For the Thunder as they have faced some injury challenges this year. He averaged 31.6 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 6.6 assists per game on 55.3% shooting. He is also displaying exceptional defense, averaging 1.4 steals per game. Oklahoma City is still on top of the Western Conference and NBA landscape at 56–15. Alexander too

But winning the MVP trophy is all about moments, and for top MVP contenders Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they can create a moment by playing against each other in April. The Thunder and Lakers will play on April 2 and April 7, which could make for an interesting look at who will ultimately take home one of the NBA’s greatest accolades.

As Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann prepares to face the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time since their trade at the deadline, the second-year guard reflected on the change he’s made and the kind of reception he’s expecting. McCann returns to Philadelphia with the Thunder in search of their 12th consecutive win, as the defending champions are once again the hottest team in the NBA.

As far as McCann’s reception from 76ers fans at their games in Philadelphia as a member of the visiting Thunder, he is expecting a friendly reaction from the fans.

“I’m hoping for the positive,” McCain said. “My friends and family — they ask me what’s going on and what’s going on. So, I know they’re excited to be back. Hopefully it’ll be fun.”

Since his trade to the Thunder, McCann says he has felt the embrace of Sixers fans, despite the fact that he is playing for the defending champions.

“It means a lot. I’ve always loved the Philly fans. They were always very nice whenever I went out, when I got hurt, they were always very positive and very helpful in my opinion,” McCann said. “So, I guess, thank you to him for supporting me through this process and always being there for me.

“The DMs I’ve gotten have been great, and they’re just saying they miss me and my stuff. So, yeah, definitely love the Philly fans.”

Amid the Thunder’s five-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams, McCann scored a season-high 26 points in a 121–92 win against the Brooklyn Nets last week.

Jared McCain questions Thunder’s intentions after 76ers trade

Second-year guard Jared McCann admitted he had to ask the 76ers about his trade a second time. He was so devastated by the news of the trade that he did not go where he was going. Then, once he realized he was headed to the Thunder, he wondered why the defending champions would want him.

McCain said, “They won the championship. Why do you want me? It’s almost a scary feeling about what’s going to happen next.” “You have no clue. It’s just the unknown. But they’ve been nothing but welcoming to me, and it’s been so amazing to be with this team. The vibes are amazing. Just the culture of the organization. This process has been very seamless for me, and I finally landed in a place. So, I’m happy with it.”

McCain joining the Thunder has undoubtedly been a smooth process.

Even though the front office has already used their 2026 NBA Draft pick on Derrick Queen, the New Orleans Pelicans will be scouring NCAA March Madness for some late second-round pick intel, especially during Sweet Sixteen action. Arkansas, UConn, Illinois and Houston are filled with former McDonald’s All-Americans thriving in supporting cast roles. St. John’s is obviously a sleeper, but they also have a great heritage connection that’s worth noting.

Fortunately, the current roster construction makes NBA Draft scouting priorities clear. Dejounte Murray is the current at point guard, while Jeremiah Fears represents the future. Trey Murphy III has a wing spot secured, and Zion Williamson anchors the frontcourt when healthy. This leaves two glaring needs for the Pelicans: another wing/off-ball guard to act as Herb Jones insurance and a reliable big to step up Yves Missy and Derrick Queen for minutes.

The Sweet Sixteen provides a timely scouting window for five under-the-radar names who fit those ideals.

Pelicans look for shooters

Andrej Stojakovic (SG/SF, Illinois) Averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, but production fluctuated wildly. A 30-point game is sandwiched between a week’s single-point duels. He completely disappeared against Michigan (0 points, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 1 turnover) and dropped 21 points and 12 rebounds on Oregon in the next game. Finding a way to stoke that fire for an 82-game season is perhaps the most challenging step in developing a player.

Shooting (24.1%3PA) is also an issue. He has made only three three-pointers since Valentine’s Day; However, shooting 62% from inside the arc and his rim-attacking mentality give him a realistic NBA offensive floor. Stojakovic’s size, coupled with his pedigree and versatility at the shooting guard/small forward position, should draw real front-office attention when Illinois takes on Houston.

There is never a dull moment together Emmanuel Sharp (SG, Houston)A senior sharpshooter who has quietly spent four years becoming one of the best two-way guards in college basketball. The 6-foot-3 combo guard is averaging 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season, while shooting 40.7% from the field and a career-high 37.5% from three-point range. He was named to the All-Big 12 Team, the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, and earned Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and three 3-pointers per game in three tournament games.

Houston’s run to its sixth consecutive Sweet Sixteen is based, in part, on Sharp’s reliability. He scored 18 points in the second-round win over Texas A&M and is averaging 17.0 points through two tournament games. He is now Houston’s career 3-point field goal leader with 277 triples. For the Pelicans, Sharp represents the off-ball shooting guard and glue-guy ideal they often lack. Consider a high-upside Jose Alvardao replacement. Sharp is a player who is capable of guarding multiple positions, spacing the floor, and competing in high-leverage possession with or without the ball.

If the Pelicans prioritize toughness and defensive tenacity, Sharp is a logical target. A key part of Kelvin Sampson’s suffocating system, the scrappy fighter brings an edge that translates to winning basketball.

Sweet Sixteen’s Slugfest

With apologies to Coach Cal, Trayvon Brazile (PF/C, Arkansas) Perhaps the most astute individual in the Sweet Sixteen. Public draft boards took him anywhere from his late 20s and never heard his name called, even though the 6-foot-10, 230-pound Arkansas forward averaged 13.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 53% from the field. He has posted multiple double-doubles during SEC play, including a career-high 28-point outburst against Texas.

What makes the Brazilian particularly attractive to a Pelicans team in roster flux is his combination of length and touch. He has a wingspan of 7 feet 3.75 inches and a maximum height of 41 inches, giving him the physical profile of a legitimate NBA rim protector and rebounder. He also demonstrated range this season and shot 36% from beyond the arc, a skill that matches up well with Williamson in modern frontcourt alignments.

If there is any doubt Tyrese Reed Jr. (PF/C, UConn) were in the NBA conversation, his first-round performance against Furman erased it. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center scored 31 points and grabbed 27 rebounds in the Huskies’ 82–71 opening round victory, a stat line that had not been posted in an NCAA Tournament game since Bill Walton in 1972. Reed made 15 of 15 shots from the field in that performance and became the first player in 54 years to have 30 points, 20 rebounds and shoot 80% from the field. In a tournament game.

Reed’s regular season statistics are equally impressive. He averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds with a 62.5% field goal percentage and earned first-team All-Big East honors after being named the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year last season. He transferred to UConn after two seasons at Michigan, and the adjustment to Dan Hurley’s program has been seamless. The knock on Reed remains his free-throw shooting (54.6%), a flaw that may limit his NBA range but shouldn’t disqualify him from being a late second-round flyer.

Finally, looking at the biggest underdog, Dillon Mitchell (PF, St. John’s) This is probably the most interesting name on this list, as he doesn’t appear in the box score like a traditional prospect. The 6-foot-8-inch, 205-pound forward from Tampa is averaging 8.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and a remarkable 3.1 assists per game this season, while shooting 55.2%. Those assist numbers from a power forward are essentially unheard of, and they reflect a skill set that clearly translates to the modern NBA.

A long, switchable, pass-first frontcourt piece who can run the offense on multiple levels, Mitchell may be the best low-risk, high-reward prospect to put next to Derrick Queen. Maybe not long term, but it would make for some fun NBA Summer League hoops this summer. St. John’s has gone 19-1 at one point since Mitchell was reinserted into the starting lineup this season, and that’s no coincidence.

Mitchell is a McDonald’s All-American who has played at three programs (Texas, Cincinnati) after becoming one of the most highly traveled portal prospects in recent memory, and his basketball IQ has only sharpened under Rick Pitino.

As the Sweet Sixteen unfolds, the focus will naturally fall on the star players and Cinderella stories. However, for the Pelicans’ scouting department, the real task is to evaluate how these five potential second-round targets handle the pressure of high-stakes tournament basketball. In the margins of the NBA Draft, intel is the currency, and New Orleans would be wise to collect as much as possible on this quintet of underdogs.

Amid All-Star Stephen Curry’s recovery from a right knee injury, Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski has taken on an increased role. As head coach Steve Kerr said after the three-game losing streak, the newfound opportunity has given Podziemski a boost in confidence. While Kerr’s reality check regarding the Warriors’ playoff approach was considered challenging, Kerr cannot ignore how beneficial it has been to Brandin.

Without Curry, Podziemski, in only his third season, will be one of the Warriors players Kerr will rely on, as these regular season reps will only make him better, Kerr said, according to Danny Ammerman of the San Francisco Standard.

“It’s a great experience for Brandin,” Kerr said Saturday in Atlanta. “I mean, 20 games without Steph.”

As for Podziemski, he’s learned a very important lesson amid Curry’s absence.

“[That] I can do it,” Podziemski said.

Brandin Podziemski struggled in the Warriors’ 126-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He finished with five points and one assist on 2-for-6 shooting. However, he has been playing consistently well throughout March for the Warriors, averaging 16.2 points on 42.8% shooting, including 37.% from deep, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals over the last 11 games.

Steve Kerr’s blunt opinion on Warriors’ ‘tough times’

Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t hold back about the Warriors struggling toward the finish line of the 2025-26 regular season without Stephen Curry. Kerr says Warriors have suffered eight defeats in nine tries this is the hardest part According to Warriors reporter Joseph Dykes, he talked about being an NBA coach for a team struggling with injuries.

“This is the hardest thing to go through,” Kerr said. “Losing and getting destroyed by injuries. And feeling like you’re pushing, you’re trying, you’re competing, but things aren’t going your way. It’s definitely a tough, tough time for everybody. It’s human nature to get down, hang your head.”

“Certainly, it’s a tough, tough time, for everybody, it’s human nature to, you know, kind of keep your head down.”

Steve Kerr after the Warriors’ loss to the Hawks. pic.twitter.com/nqpCMusnkI

-Joseph Dycus (@joseph_dycus) 22 March 2026

The Warriors, 33-38, have dropped to 10th, 1.5 games behind the Blazers for ninth in the Western Conference standings.

The 2026 NBA Draft is still a few months away, but there is already a general sense of what the first round of the draft might look like. Mexico’s Kareem Lopez, a projected first-round pick, who is currently playing in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia, recently announced his intention to enter the upcoming NBA draft, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“Playing in the NBA has been my dream and my goal my entire life,” Lopez said. “Honestly, I remember. I was probably 5 years old, drawing pictures of myself playing in the NBA… You know, it’s pretty special to be in this position right now.”

While Kareem Lopez is expected to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft, what is even more important for the NBL forward is that he is on track to become the first Mexico-born player to be selected in the first round of the draft.

The first round has included players of Mexican descent before, such as Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., none of whom were born in Mexico. Lopez is on track to become the first Mexican-born player since Eduardo Nájera.

Nájera was selected 38th overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He played 12 years in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Bobcats.

Lopez has played the past two seasons in the NBL, opting to take the professional route instead of playing college basketball. In recent years, players such as LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddy, AJ Johnson, Alex Sarr, Ousmane Dieng and Ryan Rupert have used the NBL’s Next Stars program as a starting point before entering the NBA Draft.

The top five picks in the 2026 NBA Draft will be all rookies, but Darius Acuff Jr. is not projected to be one of them. A potentially historic crop of talent, coupled with serious defensive concerns, is causing the Arkansas star to land a little further down the board in most mocks. However, one of the all-time great college basketball head coaches has no concerns about Acuff transitioning to the next step.

“Acuff is one of the top two or three players in the country,” Duke icon and five-time national champion Mike Krzyzewski told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. “He’s got a man’s body. He’s ready for the NBA. And he loves pressure.”

“Darius Acuff is one of the top two or three players in the country..

He’s ready for the NBA and he loves the pressure.”

coach’s #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/YZUbTBSRk1

– Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) 23 March 2026

The 19-year-old guard has been electric during the season and is captivating fans through the Razorbacks’ first two games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. He scored a combined 60 points on 20 of 41 shooting and also dished out 13 assists versus Hawaii and High Point. Acuff is a tremendous offensive talent who has been compared to Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

He can punish opponents at the rim or behind the 3-point line (44.6 percent from downtown), solidifying Coach K’s declaration that he is well-prepared for the Association. Considering the ease with which he gets buckets, not to mention his aforementioned strong physique, Darius Acuff Jr. should be able to perform against NBA competition. Still, teams that are selecting early in the draft may be hesitant to rely on his defense.

The unanimous All-American and SEC Player of the Year made a splash at High Point on Saturday, but he faced little resistance against the Panthers on the other end of the field. Mediocre or even subpar defenders can thrive if they are potent enough offensively, but no one can be a complete liability in that department. Acuff probably has the strength and athleticism to reach an acceptable standard. Can he prove that much before June?

The Sweet Sixteen showdown with Arizona provides the perfect opportunity. However, honestly, if he can lead Arkansas to victory over the No. 1 seed in the West Region, the defensive issues won’t matter to officials. Acuff will attempt to extend his landmark campaign on March 26 inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

The Los Angeles Lakers come into their matchup with the Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons with a lot of positives. They are currently on an eight-game winning streak and have enjoyed some great basketball from their offensive unit led by Luka Doncic.

However, his performance continued despite minor injury issues and the same appears to be true for the Detroit game. According to Benjamin Royer of the OC Register, both Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura are now scheduled to miss this contest, with Smart dealing with right ankle soreness and Hachimura dealing with right calf soreness. This comes on the heels of Luka Doncic’s one-game suspension that came as a result of his 16th technical foul in their recent win over the Orlando Magic.

However, it’s not only negative news for the Lakers, Maxi Kleber has been upgraded to available despite his back strain. Of course, the Pistons have their own injury concerns despite the current three-game winning streak.

Cade Cunningham suffered a ‘constricted lung’ during the Pistons’ win over the Washington Wizards and will be reevaluated in about two weeks. Marcus Sasser is out with a hip injury, while Isaiah Stewart is also recovering from a calf strain and will be out for the time being.

Nonetheless, even in Cunningham’s absence, Detroit looked comfortable in their win against the Golden State Warriors. Jalen Duren and Dennis Jenkins combined for 45 points against Golden State and will once again be expected to handle the offensive responsibilities.

The Lakers are in the middle of a six-game road trip and have won four games in a row. They have undoubtedly found their offensive rhythm with Deandre Ayton, showing a greater willingness to anchor the paint and run the floor for LA. Luka Doncic is in absolute form and is getting points with ease even on his off days.

He returned with 33 points in a win against the Orlando Magic despite going 12-30 from the field and 3-13 from the three-point zone. The Lakers’ attack will undoubtedly be tested in his absence, although they will be confident about their firepower even in the absence of the Slovenian international.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has not played since Jan. 30 and has missed each of the team’s last 21 games due to what the team is repeatedly labeling as patella-femoral pain syndrome and a bone bruise in his right kneecap.

This injury has been causing persistent discomfort and swelling since before the All-Star break, causing Curry to be absent for an extended period of time.

Before Saturday’s 126-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Warriors announced that Curry continued to make “good progress” in his return and has stepped up his individual workouts. The next step, as outlined in the team’s injury update, will be to integrate him into live action and team practices in the coming days.

Head coach Steve Kerr said over the weekend that he expected Steph to participate in 5-on-5 drills on Sunday.

Unfortunately for Curry and the Warriors, he did not participate in Sunday’s 5-on-5 drills, league sources tell ClutchPoints. However, team sources are adamant that it is not being viewed as a setback and that Curry is on the same recovery timeline that was provided on Saturday.

He is expected to continue his on-court activities and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to San Francisco after Monday night’s game in Dallas.

The Warriors have been out of an abundance of caution regarding Curry’s right knee issue, which is why he was given an extra day of practice before returning to 5-on-5 play.

As reported by ClutchPoints ahead of the team’s update on Steph’s status on Saturday, the Warriors were optimistic about Curry’s return at some point following their six-game road trip. Upon returning home, seven of the team’s final 10 games of the season will be played at Chase Center, allowing Curry to receive maximum treatment for his right knee and not require him to travel as much.

For several weeks, the Warriors have been hopeful that Steph will be able to return for at least one of their two home games against the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards on March 25 and March 27, respectively.

Sources said that mentality hasn’t changed, yet everything will depend on how he feels in practice Tuesday and what is said upon re-evaluation in San Francisco.

Overall, Curry and the Warriors have insisted that he not be locked up for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Steph wants to play again before the end of the regular season, and the team remains optimistic about its chances of being competitive in the play-in tournament with Curry, despite falling in the standings without him.

In their last 21 games without Steph, Golden State has gone 6-15, 1.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns for the 7-seed and now 1.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the 9-seed in the Western Conference.

A loss to the Mavericks on Monday night would put the Warriors in an even deeper hole as the 10-seed in the West.

During his recovery process, the Warriors remained adamant that Curry had not suffered a concussion and that his injury, described as “runner’s knee”, had resulted in prolonged pain and swelling that persisted longer than originally expected.

Multiple tests and imaging confirmed that there was no further structural damage to his right knee.

As for the team’s other injury concerns, running back Moses Moody, who hasn’t played since March 2 because of a right wrist sprain, is considered questionable to play Monday night at Dallas. Veteran big man Al Horford is out with a right calf strain, but the Warriors remain optimistic he will return before the end of the regular season.

The Warriors are currently 33-38 and have lost eight of their last nine games as of Monday night.

The Brooklyn Nets rookie is getting extended minutes during the final stretch of the season after the team was eliminated from postseason contention. Ben Saraf has seen the biggest increase in workload during recent games.

Saraf has struggled for most of the season. However, he has started to show his skills which led the Nets to select him with the No. 26 pick in the June draft. The 6-foot-6 point guard continued his encouraging performance during Sunday’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings, scoring a season-high 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting with five assists and two turnovers.

“I think I played pretty well. I got to the rim and made two [feet] “I felt like I was able to finish at the rim, just like the coaches wanted,” Saraf said. I mean, they didn’t have any crazy shot-blockers, so I was able to go all the way. [to the basket]”

Saraf was the only Nets player to score 20 points during the defeat. The 19-year-old has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.

Ben Saraf continues his encouraging performance with a career best performance

Saraf has averaged 12.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game during that span. Jordi Fernandez praised the rookie’s finishing and ability to limit turnovers as Brooklyn’s leading ball-handler in Sacramento.

Fernandez said of Saraf’s performance, “It was great.” Possibly one of his best games finishing at the rim. You can see it right there, I love how aggressive he was. Five assists to two turnovers. Our 30 assists resulted in only seven turnovers [as a team] Very impressive. So this is definitely a step forward for us.”

While Saraf was effective as a driver and facilitator on Sunday, he missed all five of his three-point attempts. The Israeli floor general is shooting 36 percent on just 3.6 three-point attempts per 20 minutes this season.

Sunday’s loss moved Brooklyn into a tie with Sacramento for third place in the draft lottery standings. The Nets now have two fewer wins than the Kings with 11 games remaining. They have one more win than the Washington Wizards in second and two more than the Indiana Pacers in first.

Brooklyn has matchups with Sacramento, Washington and Indiana on its remaining schedule.

Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their ninth consecutive win with a narrow road win over the Orlando Magic. Its hero was Luke Kennard, who inexplicably got wide open on the final play of the game and buried a three-pointer to give Los Angeles a one-point victory.

In this game, Lakers star LeBron James passed Boston Celtics legend Robert Parish for the record for most regular season games played in NBA history and now, Parish himself has taken to social media to congratulate James on the feat.

“Congratulations on passing the most games played 1611!! It’s a great moment for me as you continue to strive for greatness/excellence with grace and respect for the game!!” Parrish wrote on X, formerly on Twitter.

James has indeed accrued 23 years of NBA advantage on his body, but has still continued to produce at a high level, recently having a stretch of several games where he made 20 of his last 21 shots.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are playing their best basketball at the right time this season, separating themselves from the pack in the race for the third seed in the Western Conference, and are currently on a nine-game winning streak, with many of those wins coming against playoff competition.

During the hot stretch, James has been more willing to outplay both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the Lakers’ offense, but more importantly, Los Angeles is playing much better defense with quicker rotations, better on-ball defense and communication than at any other point in the Doncic era.

Los Angeles will look to make it ten consecutive wins when it takes the field for a road game against the Detroit Pistons on Monday evening.

Many different players from different backgrounds have reached NBA stardom over the years, but historically, the best of the best players played in the McDonald’s All-American Game at the end of their high school careers before reaching the top level of basketball. However, the NBA has never before had so much foreign talent dominate the league.

Five of the consensus top six players currently in the NBA came from abroad or were not born in the United States. Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Victor Vembanyama are all European, and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is Canadian. In fact some of the greatest American NBA players were not recruited well enough to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game, including Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Curry and Donovan Mitchell. Even Cade Cunningham, an All-American selection, didn’t get a chance to play in the game when it was canceled due to COVID-19.

That means there isn’t the usual All-American turned All-NBA talent at the top of the league, but some of the NBA’s best players have their basketball roots tied to the McDonald’s All-American Game. So, how did the best NBA players who played in the McDonald’s All-American Game actually fare against the best high school basketball players in the country?

Note: All US statistics for McDonald’s found here.

The best American hooper in the world currently is Anthony Edwards. His basketball talent had been evident since his high school days, but he was not his usual dominant self in the McDonald’s All-American Game. That doesn’t mean he was bad. He was actually highly efficient (62.% from the field) on his way to scoring 12 points.

Fans have become used to the Minnesota Timberwolves star lighting up the scoreboard nightly. The 12 points he scored were tied for the eighth most in the 2019 game, and this was despite playing the most minutes (21) of all the participants. A poor performance by his standards did not prevent Edwards from becoming the number one overall pick. He put up big numbers at Georgia and is still getting better year after year.

LeBron James was the most hyped prospect in NBA history. He went straight into the league as the number one player after his high school career at St. Vincent-St. Mary. So, it should be no surprise that the kid from Akron made it to the McDonald’s All-American Game. In fact, his performance at the 2003 event was rated the best performance in the history of the sport.

Already labeled the pick, James filled up the stat sheet with 27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals. That point total is tied for the seventh-best mark in the history of the game, and the six steals are tied for third-most all-time. James has long been an extremely versatile player who can do everything on the basketball court, which is why he is one of two McDonald’s All-American Game MVPs on this list.

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

With his running mate Jayson Tatum sidelined for almost all of this season, Jaylen Brown has a chance to remind fans what he can do as the top option. He was one of the top players in high school and was arguably the top scoring threat in the country during his high school days. Brown was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Georgia.

However, Brown did not necessarily perform well in the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Game. He had only nine points in that contest. However, he added six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals, proving that he is a versatile player. The Browns’ defense really got Cal fans excited in this game. Brown thrives at the point of attack and can help on defense, and his steal/block totals showed that.

Another 2025 McDonald’s All-American named Jalen Brunson performed even better than Brown in the All-Star Showcase, at least in the scoring department. The Villanova-bound guard had only six points. He proved he can impact the game in other areas, even in sports where basketball isn’t a downer.

Brunson, just 6 feet 2 inches tall, had seven rebounds. He also added four assists. Brunson is a courageous player who dominates the field and plays bigger than himself. This became clear in 2015 itself.

Kevin Durant is also responsible for one of McDonald’s greatest All-American performances ever. Playing in the game in 2006, Durant had 25 points, five rebounds and four assists, resulting in co-MVP honors with Chase Budinger. Budinger only had 11 points, so it was controversial whether the MVP was split.

Still, this was just an example of Durant beating out the only recruit ranked higher than him, Greg Oden. Oden also went on to become the number one ranked player, although Durant was the first freshman to win Naismith Player of the Year honors. Oden became one of the greatest NBA draft picks of all time, while Durant still stands as one of the best players in NBA history.

Devin Booker was excelling on the basketball court at a young age. This was perhaps most evident when he became the youngest player to score more than 60 points in an NBA game. He scored 70 runs for Phoenix Suns at the age of just 20. Even before this, Booker had played in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

However, his scoring in that game was a far cry from what fans saw in his iconic 70-point performance. In the 2014 All-American Game, Booker had only eight points. He couldn’t find his stroke, as he only made 37.5% of his shots. Unfortunately, Booker didn’t do anything else. The only other statistic he recorded was a single assist.

James Harden has become one of the greatest scorers and greatest facilitators in NBA history. The guard who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers is ninth on the all-time scoring list with 29,160 points. The 36.1 points per game he scored in 2018–19 are the most in a season for any player not named Wilt Chamberlain or Michael Jordan. In recent years, Harden has also developed his game to become a multi-time assist leader.

He did not necessarily showcase his offensive talents in the 2007 McDonald’s All-American Game. With only eight points, 19 players scored as many or more points than him. He made only one assist in total.

Bam Adebayo just scored 83 points, the second most ever in a single game. The Miami Heat center was far from the first player fans would have anticipated such a scoring explosion, but his ability to put the ball in the basket has long been underestimated. Adebayo can put the ball on the floor and create rebounds. He also has an ever-improving jump shot.

Adebayo’s scoring was underestimated since the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game. He scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Josh and Frank Jackson took co-MVP honors, but Adebayo’s performance was commendable.

Tyrese Maxey had a solid game in the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game. He made half of his field goal attempts for a total of 13 points in just 19 minutes. This was better than his draft classmate Anthony Edwards, who ultimately went first overall in the NBA Draft.

The success of the Maxi comes as little surprise. After all, he was a Kentucky recruit, and John Calipari did nothing but get the best at the guard position at the time. Now, Maxi has become one of the best scorers in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Karl-Anthony-Towns, New York Knicks

The 2014 NCAA recruiting class was loaded with centers. Jahlil Okafor and Myles Turner were the top two big men in the class. Ultimately, Karl-Anthony Towns would prove to be the best pivot man from his class, as he became the number one pick and established himself as the best 3-point shooting center in NBA history.

Although he was highly recruited, he was not the top big man upon high school graduation, and his McDonald’s All-American performance did not do him much good. Towns had just six points in 19 minutes in that game.

On Monday evening, the San Antonio Spurs will hit the road to take on the Miami Heat. Stephen Cassel and Devin Vassell are on the injury report for this game, both of whom were originally listed as questionable. Here’s everything we know about Cassel and Vassell’s injury status and their game status vs. the Heat.

Devin Vassell, Stephen Cassel playing situation vs. Heat

After being listed on the injury report due to hip tightness, Stephen Cassel is officially ready for the game against Miami. Meanwhile, Vassell is also a doubt with a right hamstring strain. Both players have missed time periodically over the past few weeks, with both sitting out San Antonio’s last game, which was a comfortable home win over the Indiana Pacers.

For the Heat, Jaime Jacquez Jr. is probable for this game because of left hip tightness, while All-Star Norman Powell is questionable because of right calf tightness. Andrew Wiggins likely has sesamoiditis in his left big toe.

The Spurs will face a Heat team that will likely come into this matchup with some frustration, having lost four straight games, including a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets over the weekend.

San Antonio, meanwhile, sits at 53-18 on the most recent season, winners of five straight games and tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings.

Erik Spoelstra and company will likely look to deploy a physical defensive approach against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, meaning the onus will be on the star’s teammates to thwart his open shots and attack the open lanes that will inevitably present themselves.

Tipoff between San Antonio and Miami is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET from South Beach.

Recently, the NBA announced it would void a technical foul on Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic during the team’s win over the Orlando Magic over the weekend. The technical foul would have been Doncic’s 16th incident of the year, which would have required an automatic suspension, but Doncic’s post-game clarification about the technical foul may have played a role in the league’s decision to void it.

One person who doesn’t agree with the league’s decision is former NBA great DeMarcus Cousins, who recently went on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show to express his thoughts.

“My issue is not with Luka Doncic. … If it’s Draymond Green, he’s not getting canceled,” Cousins, formerly of Run It Back on X, claimed on Twitter.

Indeed, Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green has gained quite a reputation as an argumentative player with referees, the other team, and sometimes with his Warriors teammates. This certainly plays a role in his perception, although some have argued that it actually works in the opposite way and gives the star long leeway when it comes to arguing with officials during games.

Doncic, meanwhile, is known to be a frequent complainer in his own right, facing heavy criticism from fans and pundits for his frequent scathing criticisms of referees, which often comes at the expense of playing defense or getting back in transition. However, Saturday’s case was a little different, as the technical foul originated from an interaction between Doncic and Magic big man Goga Bidaatje, with Doncic later claiming that Bidaatje booed his family, which led to the altercation.

In any case, Lakers fans are certainly happy that the technical foul was canceled and Doncic will be able to prepare for Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons, in which Los Angeles will try for its tenth consecutive win.

The Atlanta Hawks are set to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. Jalen Johnson is among the players listed on the game’s injury report, so is he playing tonight?

Johnson is struggling with a shoulder problem. The Hawks are hoping to have him on the field against the Grizzlies. Johnson has been one of the Hawks’ most important players this season.

Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Grizzlies.

Jalen Johnson’s injury status vs. Grizzlies

According to the NBA injury report, Johnson is questionable to play on Monday night.

Atlanta is looking to clinch a playoff berth rather than a play-in position. The Hawks have played well in recent weeks and sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 39-32 record.

As for the Grizzlies, Memphis is 21-50 and in 14th place in the Western Conference.

The Hawks are in good position to win on Monday, but they would still love to see Johnson on the field. When it comes to the question of whether Jalen Johnson is playing tonight against the Grizzlies, the answer is probably.

hawks injury report

The Hawks have four players listed on the injury report.

• Jalen Johnson (left shoulder inflammation): Questionable
• Raze Dennis (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Keyshawn Gilbert (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Asa Newell (G League on assignment): Questionable

grizzlies injury report

The Grizzlies have 10 players listed on the injury report.

• Taj Gibson (right foot soreness): questionable
• Cam Spencer (lower back pain): Questionable
• Santi Aldama (recovering from right knee surgery): Out
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (recovering from surgery on right 5th finger): OUT
• Brandon Clarke (right calf strain): Out
• Cedric Coward (personal reasons): out
• Zach Eddy (recovery from left ankle surgery): out
• Jahmai Mashak (left ankle sprain): Out
• Ja Morant (left elbow UCL sprain): out
• Scottie Pippen Jr. (recovering from right toe surgery): Out

With their latest win over the Washington Wizards, Ben Stiller’s favorite team, the New York Knicks, have made it six wins in a row, and as the last nine of the regular season approach, they are on fire.

After losing to the Brooklyn Nets by nearly a single point, the Knicks came back strongly and defeated the Wizards by 32 points on Sunday, March 22.

Stiller was in high spirits after the game. He responded to the Knicks Beast’s post about the latest win over the X’s Earlier on Twitter, the New York bench posted six fire emojis celebrating.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/o7Wb2eijna

– Ben Stiller (@benstiller) 23 March 2026

As usual, Stiller was live-posting throughout the game. He was very high on Karl-Anthony Towns throughout the game, leading the team with 26 points and 16 rebounds.

Knicks are flying high after crushing Wizards

On Sunday, March 22, the Knicks defeated the Wizards 145–113. Granted, the Wizards have the second-worst record in the NBA. They are 16-55 with losses and the Indiana Pacers are the only team with a worse record (15-56).

Meanwhile, the Knicks are 47-25 and still competing for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics are 47-24, and New York can still catch them. They are still five games behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (51-19) in the conference.

Towns was the game’s leading scorer against the Wizards. He made nine of his 13 shots in the game, and he made all seven free throws.

Jalen Brunson was also not far behind, scoring 23 points in the win. He also had four assists and one steal. Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges scored 16 and 14 points, respectively.

There are 10 games left in the 2025-26 NBA season. The Knicks will host the New Orleans Pelicans before a four-game road trip. They will play the Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Texans and Memphis Grizzlies before returning home to host the Chicago Bulls on April 3.

Fans will know the results of the NBA vote in the coming days employed Forming teams in Las Vegas and Seattle by the 2028–2029 season.

Expansion has always been on the NBA’s agenda, especially with its continued success and expanding reach. It has been at the forefront of globalization in sports, possibly including the introduction of NBA Europe.

It was recently reported that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver would be working with FIBA ​​to launch a league similar to soccer in Europe, specifically in major cities.

NBA insider Mark Stein, however, does not agree with the idea, expressing concern on the “All-NBA Podcast” that the league may be biting off more than it can chew.

“I’ve spent a lot of time watching soccer in England, and I’m just trying to imagine NBA Europe franchises in London and Manchester that would essentially be expansion teams. You know, start-up teams. It’s different when you’re talking about Real Madrid and Barcelona going from the EuroLeague to NBA Europe,” Steen said.

“Those teams have a history. Those teams already have a fan base. They’ll obviously bring immediate credibility to NBA Europe. But a large portion of NBA Europe is in cities that don’t currently have basketball. And how is that going to work if the talent level isn’t good?”

Some are already concerned that competition will weaken if the NBA expands to Las Vegas and Seattle. So what’s more if NBA Europe moves forward? Silver and FIBA ​​are reportedly planning to start with a 12-team or 16-team league.

Europe’s talented players may spurn the NBA to stay closer to home. At the start of the current season, 71 Europeans were part of the opening-night roster, the most in league history.

In January, the NBA held two games featuring the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic in Berlin and London. Meanwhile, Paris has hosted five Games since 2020.

Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks will face each other on Monday night. However, Kawhi Leonard is dealing with an ankle injury and is among the players listed on the injury report.

The Clippers are monitoring Leonard’s injury closely. Here’s everything we know about his status for tonight’s game vs. the Bucks.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Bucks

According to the NBA injury report, Leonard is questionable to play Monday night due to a sprained left ankle.

The Clippers are 35-36 overall and in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the 29-41 Bucks are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Monday’s game is expected to be competitive. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for the Bucks due to injury. Leonard’s final injury status will certainly go a long way in determining the outcome of Monday’s game.

As far as the question of whether Kawhi Leonard is playing against the Bucks tonight, the answer is probably.

shear injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on Monday’s injury report.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable
• John Collins (left ankle sprain): Probable
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

bucks injury report

The Bucks also have five players on the injury report for the game.

• Gary Harris (left groin injury): probable
• Kyle Kuzma (right Achilles soreness): Questionable
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee hyperextension bone injury): Out
• Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee synovitis): out
• Alex Antetokounmpo (G League Two-Way): Out

Sunday is usually a day of rest. But not for New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek.

Kolek helped the Knicks defeat the Washington Wizards 145–113 at Madison Square Garden, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range in just five minutes off the bench.

New York won its sixth consecutive game and went ahead 47–25.

Kolek, 24, was a very busy man on Sunday. Before being called up by the Knicks, he starred for the Westchester Knicks in the G League earlier in the day and dropped 42 points and 11 assists in a 141-131 win over the Greensboro Swarm at the Westchester County Center.

The second-year guard went 15 of 22 from the field, including 9 of 14 from three-point territory.

From Westchester to MSG in one day 👏

Earlier today, Tyler Kolek scored 42 PTS and 11 AST for the Westchester Knicks in an NBA G League game…

He then headed to MSG and scored 11 PTS in the fourth quarter for the New York Knicks. pic.twitter.com/6WeCwZn8GR

– NBA (@NBA) 23 March 2026

Kolek, who is on a two-way contract, has quickly become a fan favorite in the Big Apple due to his passionate approach to the game. He always gives his all, whether he gets five minutes or 25 minutes.

He has received even less playing time with the arrival of Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline, but Kolek remains a consummate professional, supporting his teammates as one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders on the bench.

He is averaging 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 11.9 minutes per outing. There was a six-game stretch in December when he averaged 14.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists, proving that he can perform well if given enough playing time.

Karl-Anthony led the Knicks over the Wizards with a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds.

They return to action on Tuesday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns have been in prime position for a playoff spot for most of the season. However, according to Devin Booker, during the five-game losing streak, it made that quest more difficult.

Before the Suns’ 5-game skid, the team was close to potentially missing the play-in game and clinching the No. 6 seed. Since that stretch, they have fallen back to seventh place, which would have put them in that game if the playoffs were to begin as of this writing.

“To be completely honest, we’ve put ourselves in a tough position now to make that six… focusing on playing the right brand of basketball… learning from the last five games,” Booker said via PHNX Suns postgame in the locker room on Twitter (formerly Twitter).

Although Booker’s comments may sound discouraging, it may be quite the opposite. Recognizing where they are and being honest is a key component to what Phoenix is ​​building.

Needless to mention, the influx of injuries came at a terrible time. This is not an excuse, but it plays a significant role in the recent shortcomings.

Jordan Ott agrees with Devin Booker’s sentiment

Although head coach Jordan Ott had spoken to Booker before, the two appeared to be in sync. Their chemistry and connection has been a constant progression ever since they were hired.

As mentioned earlier, accountability has been the Suns’ bread and butter, and he didn’t shy away from it when asked where the Suns’ mindset is regarding the play-in race.

Ott said after the game, “I think everybody understands. We try to keep it as basic as possible today to take care of your business.” “We want to be healthy, we want to play the right way. Again, feel like, we’ve been playing better lately. As we add body, we’ve got to continue that.

“We have to incorporate and improve, so everyone is fully aware. You get to this point of the year, you are not hiding. Everyone checks the standings equally. We don’t talk about it much.”

Jordan Ott didn’t shy away from where the Suns stand in the potential play-in race.

If it started today, they would be the No. 7 seed.

“I think everyone understands. We try to keep it as basic as possible to take care of your business today… You’ve gotten to this point… pic.twitter.com/N043G46rQT

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 23 March 2026

Phoenix will take on the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, before finishing a home stand at the Utah Jazz. Getting two wins can take them closer to the sixth seed than before.

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns’ dominant 120-98 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday showed the foundation the franchise has for the future with a group of young players.

People like Khaman Malooch, Rasheer Fleming and Ryan Dunn have been at the forefront. While Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green got the spotlight, the last three left their mark.

Whether it’s Dunn’s growing confidence for the Suns, or Fleming gaining respect in the locker room, or Maluach’s emerging potential, the options seem endless.

During Sunday’s win, Dunn had 12 points and three steals while connecting on five of his eight shots. Meanwhile, Maluach had seven points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes, with a box score of +19.

Considering the numerous injuries and the disappointing performance 24 hours earlier, the youth movement again showed itself. Dunn hopes that’s something that continues beyond the season.

“I love it. Playing with both of them, they give a lot of life and young life,” Dunn said, when asked about the Suns’ rookie season postgame. He’s made a lot of progress since the beginning of the season… Man man, he’s coming in here, full of confidence, talking a lot, shooting, you’ve got size and athleticism.

“I think it’s a little scary, me and him being on the field together, defensively… I hope we can grow through our careers here and get better.”

Ryan Dunn enjoys playing next to rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.

“I love it. Playing with both of them, they give a lot of life and young life. They’ve progressed a lot since the beginning of the season. … Man man, he’s coming here, full of confidence, talking a lot, … pic.twitter.com/qKta7n6ucA

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 23 March 2026

Khaman Malooch, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming are cornerstones of the Suns’ future

Maluach’s playing time has gradually increased since the trade deadline. Phoenix dealt Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davies, opening up more space in the front court.

The combination with a sudden injury to Mark Williams provided the final mix for the former Duke center to make an impact. There was no choice whether or not the Suns wanted to play Maluach so soon.

Despite this, despite some growing pains, he stopped short of believing in the ability.

Sunday’s game was a small sample of what a potential front court could look like with Dunn, Fleming and Maluach, which makes the latter intriguing.

When asked about playing with Dunn and Fleming, Maluch explained, “It’s really fun because I see the work they do.” I see how many hours they spend in the gym.

“I’ve seen how much they’ve improved since I first saw them in Summer League. It’s a process for all of us, and we’re really trusting the process and getting better every day.”