分類: 综合

The Toronto Raptors have fallen in the Eastern Conference standings, as they have failed to keep up with the top four teams in the conference. A loss like the 120-98 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night won’t do much to further their cause. In fact, it’s a big concern for the Raptors that they failed to perform against a team that was dominant for the second night in a row, never mind that the game was held at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

The entire team wasn’t very good on Sunday, the main culprit being Brandon Ingram. Ingram scored only six points on 3-10 shooting from the field, while Immanuel Quickley (11 points on 4-9 shooting) and RJ Barrett (13 points on 5-8 shooting) weren’t very good either. But for backup point guard Jamal Sheed, another bad game is a continuation of what is already becoming a worrisome trend.

Sheed has struggled throughout the calendar month of March; The Raptors guard is averaging just 3.3 points on 27.3 percent shooting from the field. Anyway, Scotty Barnes has the support of his peers completely.

“[I would tell him to] Just stay aggressive. Our team, we believe in him. He comes down the slope and creates a lot for us. We know he’ll be able to do that every night. He’s going to come in to play defense. I think that’s what we’re focused on,” Barnes said in his postgame presser, via Omar Osman of Raptors Updates.

“He’ll find it. Gotta trust him.”

Scotty Barnes on Jamal Sheed’s recent offensive struggles, and what he would tell Jamal:

“Just stay aggressive. Our team, we believe in that.”

“He’ll find it. Gotta trust him.” pic.twitter.com/Ak5c2ujb1a

– Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) 23 March 2026

Sheed has been a huge part of what the Raptors are doing this season, and it would be foolish to suddenly lose confidence in him during a difficult stretch. But with Toronto dangerously close to falling into the play-in tournament picture, Shead and the rest of the team will have to figure it out quickly.

The Minnesota Timberwolves finally ended an unwanted streak against the Boston Celtics after earning a 102-92 win at TD Garden on Sunday.

Thankfully, the Timberwolves had lost 18 consecutive games in Boston before breaking the decade-long skid.

Bones Hyland had a stellar performance for Minnesota, scoring 23 points on 8-14 shooting off the bench. He also had three rebounds and three assists, improving to 44-28, including 20-15 on the road.

The last time the Timberwolves beat the Celtics at home was in 2005. According to Statmuse, the team’s starting five That included Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, Troy Hudson, Trenton Hassell and John Thomas.

Wolves starters last time they won in Boston:

– Latrell Sprewell
-Kevin Garnett
– John Thomas
– Trenton Hassell
– Troy Hudson

Tonight they broke an 18 game losing streak. pic.twitter.com/dbzxbIsZeB

– Statmuse (@statmuse) 23 March 2026

Minnesota won 99–97 after Sprewell scored with 0.9 seconds remaining. Garnett, who was coming off an MVP season, had 21 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two steals. Wally Szczerbiak added 20 points, four rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Garnett and Szczerbiak eventually played for the Celtics.

When the 25-year-old Hyland was told about Minnesota winning in Boston last fall, he was surprised, the Associated Press reports.

“Dang, that doesn’t even feel right. I was five years old. This is crazy,” Hyland said.

He stepped up for the Timberwolves, with Julius Randle struggling for only nine points on 3 of 14 shooting.

Hyland has been playing well in the absence of Anthony Edwards, who is out for two weeks with a knee injury.

Jaden McDaniels had 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Ayo Dosunmu added 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

The Timberwolves, who are 3-3 in their last six games, host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The Memphis Grizzlies enter the 2026 NBA Draft with two first-round picks and the first selection of the second round. It all depends on the Indiana Pacers maintaining their tank lead over the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. However, as the standings settle over the last few weeks of the regular season, every front office executive expecting a lottery selection will participate in at least one NCAA Sweet Sixteen square-off.

Franchise-changing talent fills the bracket, and for an organization with great drafting depth, even first-round prospects deserve a hard look. EVP Zach Kleiman’s scouting department should prioritize these three matchups to understand how the Grizzlies should utilize their top-5, top-20 and top-33 selections this summer.

Duke, St. John seems one-sided

This matchup provides one of the widest scouting ranges in the area. All eyes will be on Duke freshman Cam Boozer, a unanimous top-five pick whose evaluation is more about confirmation than discovery. Boozer’s mix of size, experience and offensive polish makes him the safest bet among this group, and a deep tournament run will only strengthen that position.

However, what the Grizzlies need to take away from this matchup goes far beyond Duke’s star. Evans, Ngongba and Sarr all enter the Sweet Sixteen with something to prove. Each is in danger of falling out of the lottery without a strong showing in March, which creates urgency and opportunity for a team pick at the end of the first round.

On the St. John’s side, Zubie Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell represent the kind of motivated prospects that scouts love to track in high-risk environments. Playing as underdogs against a Duke roster loaded with lottery talent, both players have the platform to make a financial leap if they can take advantage of the moment. The Grizzlies would be well served to evaluate how each performs under pressure and against specific competition.

About Arkansas vs Arizona All Stars

This matchup is less about star power and more about volume scouting. The Razorbacks and Wildcats offer a mix of high-end guard play and international size, filling two clear needs for the Grizzlies’ future roster. Basically, the convergence of Darius Acuff Jr. and Melek Thomas against Koa Peat, Braden Burries and Motijes Krivas offers an extended look at players who could fit into Tuomas Isalo’s rotation at multiple positions.

Acuff Jr. and Thomas are certainly explosive scorers. His matchup against Arizona’s perimeter defense will serve as an important assessment of how his play translates against a high-level structure. Pete, in particular, is the type of versatile frontcourt player the Grizzlies could attract if they opt to insure Zack Eddy. On the other hand, can Arkansas stop anyone without a foul?

This is the type of game where front offices can identify fit-based targets rather than pure upside. Memphis should pay particular attention to players who can contribute within a defined role. Trayvon Brazil and Jaden Bradley, both second-round projections, could move into the late first-round conversation with strong performances in a game of this magnitude.

Houston, Illinois is in depth

If the goal is to evaluate competitive translatability, this is the key match. Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac taking on Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Tomislav Ivicic presents a series of straightforward, NBA-caliber positional battles. These are the types of face-to-face assessments that often hold more importance than raw statistical outputs.

But this game may ultimately be decided by the level of the second round. Joseph Tugler vs. Kylen Boswell and Milos Uzan vs. Andrej Stojakovic represent four players who could swing a deep, high-stakes NCAA Tournament game and, in doing so, dramatically change their draft trajectory.

Zvonimir Ivicic is the real wild card of the game. When locked down, Illinois’ great power becomes a force that security struggles to contain. When isolated, he may remain missing for long periods of time without registering any meaningful impact. This inconsistency is a red flag for any team investing in a guaranteed contract, and it’s likely worth valuing him as a late second-round selection or undrafted free agent option. Well, until the Sweet Sixteen slugfest against Cenac changes that narrative.

The tank-season situation of the NBA Draft will take care of itself in the final weeks of the regular season. What requires active management right now is an intelligence gathering operation ahead of one of the team’s most consequential draft nights in recent memory. The Grizzlies aren’t just looking for talent; They are assessing the risk across multiple choices.

Two first-rounders and the 31st pick give Memphis flexibility. The Sweet Sixteen gives the front office a clear view of who deserves them.

If there’s any guarantee that someone is going to get from Bones Highland, it’s that he or she will always carry themselves with great confidence and swag. Hyland, of course, has been humbled in recent years, having to settle for a minimum deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in last year’s free agency after a brief cameo with the team. But he’s finding his groove again, and at exactly the right time, given that Anthony Edwards is recovering from a right knee injury.

On Sunday night, in a heated contest against the Boston Celtics, Hyland provided the spark the Timberwolves needed for a 102-92 victory. He played 29 minutes off the bench and made 14 shot attempts en route to scoring a team-high 23 points on the night, in the greenest of green lights. It’s not that it was bad shot-chucking; He was plus-26 that night, as Minnesota played with a lot of energy whenever he was on the court.

After the game, Highland found Maria Taylor hosted the NBC NBA Showtime crew with all-time NBA greats Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady and they laughed at the Timberwolves guard’s reaction to being handed the reins.

“He definitely gave me the green light,” Hyland said, responding to Carter’s laughter.

“So what was your reaction? ‘Say less,'” Carter said with a big laugh, to which Hyland agreed.

“Don’t worry about it, yo. You told me to be aggressive, I need you to listen right here,” Hyland said.

“What was your reaction… say less?” ???

Bones Hyland talks with the NBA Showtime crew about the Wolves coach giving him the green light. pic.twitter.com/I2ydZQnG9K

– NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) 23 March 2026

The Timberwolves certainly needed a spark with Edwards out, Donte DiVincenzo struggling and Julius Randle getting bricked on Sunday (3-14 from the field). And Highland has answered the call. He seems to be maturing and playing more within the system, and he’s thriving. Talent has never been an issue for Hyland anyway, and he’s making that very clear.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have become the envy of the league. They have such a deep core, led by arguably the best player in the NBA in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and their core trio of Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are at their peak. In fact, Holmgren and Williams, aged 23 and 24 respectively, have not even entered yet and yet have already won a title – which is more than many of the young and promising teams they have achieved.

When a young team becomes so elite so quickly, it’s hard to avoid the topic of whether or not they can develop into a dynasty – a team that runs the NBA for years. But Holmgren can’t get ahead of himself, because he knows the realities of the NBA make it hard to imagine anything happening.

“I think it’s a dangerous thing to try to think about because of how delicate things are in the NBA. We see it all the time. How quickly things can change, and nothing is guaranteed. So you really have to focus on each individual day,” Holmgren said in an appearance at The Arena.

“It’s one thing to bring things into existence, it’s another to distract yourself. So I think I’ll avoid distracting myself.”

That’s the healthiest mindset of any NBA champion, and it’s one of the many reasons the Thunder are favored to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again in June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1qTVnnkkhI

Salary cap bill coming soon for Thunder

The reality of the new CBA is that teams cannot retain their talented core for long, as winning teams become expensive very quickly. Next season, Holmgren and Williams are going to be on max contracts, pushing the Thunder so deep into the waters of the second apron.

Be that as it may, OKC has plenty of first-round picks to replenish the roster once they need to cut down their payroll, and they’re primed to win for the next few years.

The fact that Jayson Tatum returned to the hardwood for the Boston Celtics even a year after rupturing his Achilles in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs is such a huge win not only for the Celtics, but for the entire game. Tatum obviously isn’t fully back yet, but his mere presence makes the Celtics a more dangerous team than ever during the 2025-26 season.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Tatum’s return, as it had been rumored for almost the entire season that he might make his highly anticipated return sooner than many expected. But in his absence, Jaylen Brown has stepped up to become the team’s undisputed alpha, and he has more than risen to the occasion – averaging 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 55 games before Tatum’s return.

With Tatum out for so long, he needed to get back on the same page to help propel the Celtics to bigger and better things. That’s exactly what they did with Brown and Tatum close together He has his eyes on the same prize.

“It was great. The initial conversation, having that communication. … It’s important to be able to get back on the same page, but it’s going to take more communication as the year goes on. Things change, we got adversity, ups and downs. We just let it be me and you,” Brown told Vince Carter and the rest of the NBC crew.

Both of them have the responsibility of leading the team as co-stars and they have done it in the past. But the Celtics star refused to be satisfied just because they won a title just two years ago.

“Our communication sets the tone for the rest of the team. We both have to step up if we want this to work,” Brown said.

“We just said it would be me and you.”

Jaylen Brown talked about a meeting he had with Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics team before Tatum returned to action. pic.twitter.com/tJvVgwoP9V

– NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) 22 March 2026

The Sacramento Kings put up a bit of a fight against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night and came out on top 126-122 thanks to an explosive 32-point scoring night from Malik Monk, who had to play a big role for the team after Nick Clifford left early.

While Monk’s huge play will draw most of the headlines on the night for the Kings, the consistently solid play of their starting center, Maxime Renaud, should not go unnoticed among fans. Renaud, who is in the midst of an incredible rookie campaign, had another stellar performance himself, recording 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while missing only three of his 13 shot attempts.

Renaud has gone under the radar for most of the season, and his disappearance from rookie festivities during All-Star weekend is puzzling for Kings veteran DeMar DeRozan. In fact, according to Frankie Cartocelli of Sacktown Sports, DeRozan is “pissed off” that he did not receive an invitation to the Rising Stars Game.

Now, DeRozan is urging Renaud to continue working hard so he can make the All-Rookie team.

“Don’t tell him, but from my perspective, I want him to make the All-Rookie team,” DeRozan said, per Brandon Nunes of Sacktown Sports.

Maxime Renaud making the most of his opportunity with the Shorthanded Kings

Renaud is showing himself as a keeper for this poor Kings team as he has made the most of his opportunity amid Domanotas Sabonis’ injury-plagued season. On the season, the rookie from France is averaging 13.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a starter, which is quite a steal to get the 42nd overall selection of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Should the Kings decide to completely rebuild and sell off their veterans, especially Sabonis, Renaud should get even more consistent opportunities to achieve double-doubles like he has been doing.

Tracy McGrady is one of the best scorers in NBA history and obviously one of the best players in Orlando Magic franchise history.

It was with the Magic that McGrady became one of the best players in the NBA, leading the league in scoring twice (2003, 2004), while leading Orlando to three consecutive playoff appearances.

Fast forward to the present day, the Magic have a new franchise face in Paolo Banchero. The 23-year-old hasn’t even reached the prime of his career yet, but he’s already shown his potential by earning an All-Star bid during the 2023-24 season, a year after winning Rookie of the Year.

The Magic have been an annual playoff team in the Banchero era, advancing to the playoffs each of the last two years. However, this year’s team – especially after the addition of Desmond Benn – was expected to make the jump from a marginal playoff team to one of the very elite teams of the East.

Despite serious injuries to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum – he recently made his season debut – and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, the Magic are still sixth in the Eastern Conference and trying to avoid the play-in tournament. Entering Saturday’s game, Orlando is 38-31 and just a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers.

McGrady believes Banchero has ‘superstar’ potential

Banchero is having a good season, but hasn’t really taken the next step up to the elite level. McGrady said “it will come” for the young star.

“It will come,” McGrady said in Banchero’s one-on-one interview. “He’s young, he’s trying to figure it out. There’s a lot of pressure on a young player, and he’s learning. Not having a real, true vet to really teach him and help him understand and guide him on how this thing works, I’m sure it’s very hard for him.

McGrady – who was a superstar himself and is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame – said Banchero has the “tools” to become a superstar player.

“But in terms of tools, size, I think he has what it takes to be a superstar — not All-Star — superstar player,” McGrady said. “I think it’s up to him how he approaches the game and the information he’s consuming, and how you apply it when you’re on the basketball court? Are you reaching out to vets, people who have been in that situation? Are you getting that advice? How are you taking that advice? Or are you pushing it? Are you implementing it? I think there’s a lot of things he can do to help him get to that level. But his Has the size, has the tools, I think he can definitely get there.”

McGrady – who has played against LeBron James several times in his career – said Banchero should be at “LeBron status” in terms of what his stat line should look like. For perspective, James is one of the greatest players of all-time and has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game during his career.

Banchero is currently averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

“That stat line should be on LeBron’s situation in terms of what he should look like every night,” Banchero’s McGrady said.

When McGrady was asked to make a comparison to the fourth-year player, he said he didn’t, because no one reminds him of the 6-foot-10 Banchero and what he is capable of doing on the court.

“No, he doesn’t really remind me of anyone,” McGrady said. “He’s 6 foot 10 inches, brother. He’s a big man. When I talk to him when I’m down there, if I go watch a game or something, and I’m around those guys, I have a conversation with him. But other than that, I don’t have any kind of relationship with him. But he’s a big man. Man, he’s a big man. Man, 6-10, heavy and just talk about mass. If he wants to, he should be Average of 30 points in this league.”

As the Miami Heat prepare to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, the team is trying to bounce back from a heartbreaking 123-122 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. As the Heat go through a tough four-game stretch, head coach Erik Spoelstra explains what the team is going through.

Miami’s loss to Houston saw the team blow a 12-point lead, but then surrendered what turned out to be a close game throughout the season, led by an impeccable night from Bam Adebayo, who recorded 32 points and 21 rebounds. Still, it came down to the final possession, in which Amen Thompson’s put-back basket won the game, adding to the “pain” the Heat were going through, as Spoelstra said.

“When you say you have to develop some patience, you have to go through it,” said Spoelstra, formerly of Axe, via Heat Central on Twitter. “When you feel like every possession matters, and part of the grit is that you have to go through some pain. So we’re going to go through some pain right now, and it’s going to steal us. It’s going to make us better, and we’ll focus on getting ready for a tough opponent on Monday.”

Coach Spo with more about finding his ‘grit’

“When you say you have to develop some patience you have to go through it. There are consequences. When you feel these types of emotions and realize that every asset matters. Part of the patience is that you have to go through some pain.… https://t.co/6EZBv3SFWq pic.twitter.com/pdsRdiGf4y

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 22 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on recovering from recent tough loss

As the Heat prepare for the playoffs, with the team struggling to get out of the play-in tournament, the goal now is to not let these tough losses get the roster down. However, a final game like the one against the Rockets would be a pity, as Adebayo made a great save on Kevin Durant, with Thompson running after the team for the put-back.

“Just stick with it,” Spoelstra said. “We’re talking about having collective composure, and we thought we showed that composure during the game… You just think about the karma of the game, we’ll find a way to get out of here with a win. Missed a block-out at the end. And Thompson had a great game.”

Who was at fault in the last match for Heat Nation to win??? pic.twitter.com/hawFEmz0wl

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 22 March 2026

At any rate, Miami will be trying to snap its losing streak against a strong opponent on Monday in the Spurs.

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant was insightful about his thoughts as he nears retirement from his playing career in the NBA.

Durant has been in the NBA since 2007 and has shined as one of the greatest scorers the league has ever seen. Fast forward to the present time, he is succeeding as one of the top experienced scorers.

However, he also knows it won’t last forever. He made an appearance on The Boardroom Podcast, realizing that his time in the league was closer to ending than he thought.

“There’s going to come a time when it’s not going to be my place. And we’re getting close to it. And it’s crazy to think like the season is ending, like right now it’s March. April, the season is almost over in April. It’s just like where I spent my whole life doing this every day. It’s a part of my routine. I center my life around this, this is the game. So to know that hopefully I have a few years left to do this We have to start preparing for the next step,” Durant said at 21:04.

“For me, I’ve accepted that I’ll never be able to fill that spot, and I wouldn’t even call it the spot that was there. The thing that’s satisfied me is the little things that come with it. Like just the camaraderie, the camaraderie, the people I’ve met. Just interacting with basketball fans from all over the world. That’s the best part. I can still hang out. I can still go to the gym and shoot and have that routine when I’m done playing.” Will be focused on basketball.”

What Kevin Durant is forward for the Rockets

Kevin Durant is certainly grateful for the accolades and records he has earned throughout his career. As he moves through the final years of his career with the Rockets, he will look to finish out those remaining seasons strong.

Houston has a 43–27 record on the season and is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

The Rockets look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Chicago Bulls as tip-off takes place on March 23 at 8 PM ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a big test coming up against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Monday, and they’ll have Luka Doncic in the lineup after his 16th technical was voided by the NBA. But the Lakers may have shortcomings elsewhere as injury reports surfaced on Sunday from key players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura.

Both Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura were listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report ahead of their upcoming game against the Pistons. Smart is dealing with right ankle soreness while Hachimura has right calf soreness. In addition to Hachimura and Smart, veteran big man Maxi Kleber is also questionable against the Pistons.

Smart missed the Lakers’ win against the Chicago Bulls on March 12 due to a hip problem, and he has been dealing with minor ailments throughout the season. But Smart has been one of the team’s most important players this season, along with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

Smart has appeared in 60 games, including 53 starts, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from the 3-point line and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line. Smart’s impact goes far beyond his shooting percentage, and he has been one of the league leaders in deflections.

Coincidentally, Hachimura was taken out of the starting lineup by Smart. He has been in a reserve role since returning from a calf injury in December.

He has appeared in 59 games, including 35 starts, at a pace of just over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds with splits of 50.5 percent shooting from the field, 43.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 75.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers have won nine consecutive games against the top team in the Eastern Conference. They are currently the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings, and a full three games ahead of the No. 4 Houston Rockets.

On Saturday evening, the Houston Rockets picked up a big home win over the Miami Heat thanks to Amen Thompson’s last-second tip shot. Its big story happened late in the fourth quarter, when Rockets star Kevin Durant hit a three-pointer from the corner to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list.

Recently, Durant stopped by the boardroom and discussed Jordan’s impact on the game after he was added to the list.

“MJ is bigger than the game. I mean, it doesn’t matter who surpasses him in stats or who wins more, it’s going to be tough to win. Go 6-0. Even if you surpass him in anything, his impact on the game and the culture in general is huge,” said Durant, via X, formerly of NBA Courtside, on Twitter.

In fact, Jordan was a larger-than-life figure in the game of basketball, winning at the highest level on numerous occasions and in many ways leading the popularity of the game around the world.

Durant, meanwhile, has been regarded as one of the game’s all-time greatest scorers during his future Hall of Fame career, and he continues to put up elite numbers with the Rockets, a team looking to maintain their finish in the Western Conference’s top six.

Houston was in danger of losing earlier this week with two consecutive home losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, but they have bounced back with wins over the Atlanta Hawks and now the Heat on Saturday.

The Rockets will look to make it three consecutive wins when they take the court for a road game against the Chicago Bulls on Monday evening.

BOSTON — Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce grew up in downtown Los Angeles and was even a Lakers fan as a kid, but he didn’t hesitate to call Beantown home on Sunday afternoons.

“It’s always good to be back here,” he said, standing at the TD Garden after the Causeway Classic, a fan event presented by Ticketmaster. “This is home, so to be able to give back to the fans every time I come out, for what they’ve been able to do to support me in my career, it means a lot. At times like these you remember what you left for this building, for the city. And so I enjoy it every time.”

Back at the TD Garden I asked Paul Pierce:

“It’s home so to be able to give back to the fans every time I come out, for what they’ve been able to do to support me in my career, it means a lot. In times like these, you’re reminded of what you left in this building, for the city.” pic.twitter.com/T1LcMXGKIr

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 March 2026

Like Pierce, Boston wasn’t always home to Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

They were born elsewhere, yet unfamiliarity was not the only reason they were initially hesitant to embrace the city. Tatum, like Pierce, grew up a Lakers fan and dreamed that the Celtics’ hated rival would select him in the draft. Brown, meanwhile, was booed by Celtics fans on his draft night nearly 10 years ago for reasons beyond his control.

Despite these difficult introductions to Boston, Pierce has helped bridge the gap. As Tatum and Brown became superstars, the 2008 NBA Finals MVP supported them from afar and got to know them up close whenever he visited New England or when the Celtics traveled to LA.

“I’ve been happy for him since day one,” Pearce told ClutchPoints. “I’m always coming over and whenever they’re in Los Angeles, I try to watch their workouts… It’s just a brotherhood, no matter what the age difference is.”

The TD Garden crowd goes crazy for Paul Pierce (who is wearing gear from Jaylen Brown’s clothing line). pic.twitter.com/btTiFmEwAI

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 23 October 2025

Pierce is not the first Celtic to link up with the next generation of Green Teamers. He recalled that when he was playing more than a decade ago, Celtics legends like Bob Cousy and Jo Jo White would come to team practices. Those gestures did not go unnoticed, as Pierce said they were important to keeping the Celtics’ historic, winning culture alive.

“A lot of the former players were much older than me, but they always found a way to move forward and I try to do the same,” he said. “I try to maintain the heritage of Celtic culture by getting back into sports whenever I can.”

In addition to appearing in support of Tatum and Brown, Pierce has also spoken out. Whenever Boston’s dynamic duo draws the ire of the media — whether it’s in the form of arguments over fantasy chemistry issues or the constant comparison of the two stars — Pierce supports his guys.

“When I see things that I don’t think are right, I always call them out in the media because I feel like Boston players don’t get their due for the most part,” he revealed. “Brown not being in the Olympics, Tatum not getting minutes – I’m always advocating for them and rooting for them and fighting for them.”

It’s safe to say that Paul Pierce is excited to see Jayson Tatum play again:

“That’s bullshit. The ex is in trouble, you better be careful because here we come. Let’s figure it out.”

(via @paulpierce34 on IG) pic.twitter.com/Fzp1s576Wx

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 7 March 2026

Following their victory in a friendly 3-point contest on Garden Parquette as part of the Causeway Classic, Pierce will probably stick around to watch his pupils take the same floor in a few hours when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. And it doesn’t matter if Pierce is sitting in a luxury suite or courtside, don’t be surprised if he gets to his feet to cheer on Tatum and Brown.

“I love seeing these guys succeed,” he said.

The Miami Heat suffered a tough 123-122 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, as the team looks to end its four-game losing streak against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. As fans wait for some injury updates for the Heat ahead of their clash against the Spurs, stars like Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have received big news.

Starting with Wiggins, he has been upgraded to “probable” for Monday night’s game against the Spurs with a “left big toe”;
Sesamoiditis,” as he missed the last eight games.

Wiggins has been a mainstay in the starting lineup, serving as an impressive two-way player, as he is currently averaging 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from beyond the arc. The veteran forward has been productive since being traded to the Golden State Warriors in the Jimmy Butler deal and is working well with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

Summer injury update on Jaime Jacquez Jr., Norman Powell

While Wiggins is likely to return Monday, the same can be said for Jaquez, who has missed the last two games due to “left hip tightness” and is “probable” for Monday vs. the Spurs. Jacquez’s presence as the Heat’s first player off the bench has been overlooked because of how well he has come back from his sophomore slump, putting his name in Sixth Man of the Year talks.

So far this season, Jacquez has averaged 15 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field. Wiggins and Jacquez are most likely to return, with Norman Powell’s status up in the air after missing from the Rockets due to “left calf tightness.”

Powell came off the bench in last Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, potentially showcasing a new direction for the first-time All-Star. The Heat are looking to bounce back from the loss to Houston thanks to the return of Amen Thompson, though it won’t be easy with Wembanyama and San Antonio in town on Monday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have managed to stay on top of the Western Conference all season, and they have done so without one of their star players for most of the season. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jalen Williams has been sidelined for the past few weeks with a hamstring injury, and with a few games left in the season, he is ready to make his return.

Multiple sources told ESPN, “Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams is off the injury report and will return to action on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Williams has missed the past 5-plus weeks due to a hamstring strain, and now has 11 regular season games left,” Sharanya, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

More details to come on this story.

The New York Knicks are currently on a five-game winning streak and will next host the Washington Wizards, who have lost 15 consecutive games. The Knicks lead the season series 2-0 and come into this game with a 93-92 win against the Brooklyn Nets.

New York is currently 46-25, in third place in the Eastern Conference, while Washington is 16-54, having last won on Feb. 20. The Knicks are allowing just 110.3 points per game (5th in the NBA), while Washington is allowing 123.8 points per game (29th).

In terms of injuries, the Knicks will be without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, while Josh Hart is listed on the official injury report with a knee issue along with Tyler Kolek and Ariel Huckporty, according to a post on X by Steve Popper. For Washington, Leaky Black is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, while Justin Champagnie is unavailable as he serves a league suspension. The injury list also includes Anthony Davis (left finger sprain), Keyshawn George (left elbow sprain), Trey Johnson (right foot sprain), and Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis).

Cam Whitmore is also out with a serious right shoulder condition related to deep vein thrombosis, while Trae Young is out with lower back soreness and a right quad injury. After all, D’Angelo Russell is no longer with the team.

Josh Hart’s injury status vs. Wizards

Josh Hart is listed as questionable, leaving some uncertainty regarding his availability. He is averaging 12.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. New York enters this game as the clear favorite, finishing in the top five in both offensive rating (3rd) and defensive rating (5th). The Knicks are averaging 116.8 points per game, good for 10th in the NBA, while only allowing 110.3 points per game, fifth-fewest in the league.

They have already defeated the Wizards twice this season by margins of 17 and 31 points, and will once again be the favorites at home. Even if Hart doesn’t play, he has enough firepower to dominate the injury-plagued Wizards at home.

Washington’s struggles are reflected on both ends of the floor. The team is 25th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 112.5 points per game, and 27th in offensive rating. Defensively, the Wizards allow 123.8 points per game, which ranks 29th in the league, and they have the worst defensive rating overall.

The Wizards are also coming off a 132-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second straight night, a situation they have struggled with all season with a 1-11 record and losing 16 of their last 17 games.

knicks injury report

Josh Hart – Questionable (right knee; patella femoral syndrome).

Miles McBride – out (pelvic; core muscle surgery)

Landry Chamet – out (right knee; soreness)

Tyler Kolek – Questionable (G League – On Assignment)

Ariel Hookporty – Questionable (G League – On Assignment)

Kevin McCullers Jr. – Questionable (G League – Two-Way)

Trey Jameson III – Questionable (G League – Two-Way)

Dillon Jones – Questionable (G League – Two-Way)

magicians injury report

Trae Young – out (quad)

Anthony Davis – out (finger)

D’Angelo Russell – Out (not injury related)

Cam Whitmore – out (shoulder)

Kishawn George – out (elbow)

Trey Johnson – Day To Day (ft.)

Leaky Black – Day to Day (Ankle)

Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks narrowly avoided embarrassment during a 93-92 win over the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Despite playing against a rotation consisting primarily of rookies, two-way players and two-day signees, Mike Brown’s team struggled against Brooklyn’s aggressive defense for most of the game.

Towns and Jalen Brunson recovered from a slow start to hold off a Brooklyn comeback in the final minutes. After the matchup, the Nets extended forward Josh Minot said brooklyn tried to make Towns are becoming uncomfortable with their increasing physicality.

“I played with Kat for two and a half years [in Minnesota]. this is how i know her [the back of my hand]And she doesn’t like physicality,” Minot said. “I like Kat, but she doesn’t like physicality. He is also my boy. I hope this makes him angry. But we were really involved in bringing that physicality to it. He started flamboyantly in the second half. He is a really talented player. But we were going to do everything in our power to stop him.”

When Josh Minott was asked about defending him tonight he said that Karl-Anthony Towns “doesn’t like physicality”:

“I played with Kat for 2.5 years. I know him that way, and he doesn’t like physicality. I like Kat, but he doesn’t like physicality. He’s my guy too. I hope this angers him.” pic.twitter.com/tNKGojrHpY

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 21 March 2026

After a scoreless first quarter, in which the Knicks scored only 14 points, Towns found his rhythm late and led New York to a narrow victory.

Karl-Anthony Towns bounces back from rough start during Knicks’ close win over Nets

He finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds on 7-16 shooting from the field and 11-13 shooting from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Minot led Brooklyn with a team-high 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field and 6 of 9 from three.

Towns has struggled to replicate his production from last season during the Knicks’ irregular 2025-26 campaign. He is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds on .491/.365/.851 shooting splits in 66 appearances.

The All-Star big man is adept at drawing fouls on drives, attempting a career-high 9.0 free throws per 100 possessions. However, he has struggled to transition around the rim. According to CleaningTheGlass, Towns shot a career-low 60 percent from within four feet, which is the NBA’s worst percentage among Big 20 players who have played more than 1,700 minutes this season.

As the regular season winds down, the Knicks are attempting to catch the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference second seed. The five-game winning streak has pulled New York to within two games of Boston with 12 games remaining.

The Denver Nuggets have lost twice in their last four games and will look to regain momentum when they take on the 35-36 Portland Trail Blazers at home. Portland is on a three-game winning streak that has pushed them into play-in territory.

They are currently in 9th place in the East and are tied 1-1 with Denver in the season series. However, the Nuggets defeated them 157-103 in their last meeting and are the clear favorites to pick up another win on paper.

They are trailing several teams and are currently in 5th place in the Western Conference with a 43-28 record. The following predictions are based on odds by DraftKings.

Blazers vs. Nuggets Odds

Trail Blazers: +8.5 (-110)

Nuggets: -8.5 (-110)

Over: 241.5 (-110)

Under: 241.5 (-110)

Blazers vs. Nuggets Major Injuries

Portland remains shorthanded in key areas. Damian Lillard is out for the season, while Shaddon Sharp is also sidelined. Jerami Grant and Witt Krejci are both listed as day-to-day and their availability will be a gametime decision.

In comparison, Denver is almost completely healthy. With only Peyton Watson listed as questionable, their entire list of stars are fit and active for it.

Blazers vs. Nuggets Betting Trends

Denver is not having his most impressive season yet. However, they have been strong at home and fans can expect another win based on the following trends:

• The Nuggets are 4-1 in their last five home games.
• Denver averages 120.7 points per game (No. 1 in the NBA).
• The Nuggets lead the league in three-point percentage (39.2%).

The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, have their work cut out for them, and may face a mountain to climb in Denver.

• The Trail Blazers are 9-11 ATS as road underdogs.
• Portland’s average scoring margin in those games is -11.3.
• The Blazers rank 23rd in offensive rating this season.

Their most recent match ended in a massive 54-point victory for the Nuggets. However, with the series tied at 1-1 and recent momentum, the Trail Blazers will be hoping to pull off an upset, although their injury outlook is also worrisome.

Keys to the Blazers vs. Nuggets matchup

The Nuggets have one of the most efficient offenses in the league. Led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver has the highest-scoring offense in the NBA (120.7 ppg).

Jokic averaged 28.1 points on 57.4% shooting and scored 32 points in less than 30 minutes during the blowout win. The Blazers rank 17th in opponent points in the paint, which plays directly into Jokic’s strengths as both a scorer and facilitator.

On the periphery, the difference is even more pronounced. Denver is leading at 39.2% from three (No. 1 in the NBA), while Portland is 29th at 33.8%. So, Denver not only has in-form stars, but they also have a more productive system. Despite the recent momentum, especially in the absence of Lillard and Sharp, the Trail Blazers have struggled to generate points.

Blazers vs. Nuggets Predictions and Picks

The Nuggets will try to dictate proceedings from the beginning. Jok can be expected to take charge once again. However, even if Portland manages to knock him out, Denver’s shooting talent and ability to slow down turnovers is bound to cause problems.

Murray scored 31 points in the last game and the Nuggets have more than enough shooters to cause problems all night long. However, the Trail Blazers will try to cause problems of their own.

Denny Advija, Donovan Clingan and Jerami Grant have all scored while Scooter Henderson and Jrue Holiday will also contribute. The Trail Blazers may need to shoot better than in recent games, leaving Jokic and company to go the distance.

Final Blazers-Nuggets predictions and picks: Denver Nuggets -8.5 (-110); Under 241.5 (-110)

Fireworks erupted during Saturday’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards as tensions rose and a fight broke out between the two teams that eventually involved Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell and Wizards wing Justin Champagnie. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, both players were ultimately ejected from the game, and on Sunday, the NBA handed down one-game suspensions to both Ajay Mitchell and Justin Champagnie for their roles in the fight.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did not agree with the ejection of his players following a brawl in the first half of their 132–111 win against the Washington Wizards. Three Thunder players were ejected from the game, including Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace.

Daigneault addressed the ejection during his postgame media availability.

“After talking to him and seeing it at halftime, I disagreed with his decision,” Daigneault said. “But, I’ve worked with John Goble for a long time, and he’s worked with me on this. And we agreed to disagree, and both moved on. So, that’s all I can say about it.”

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40 points on 17-of-27 shooting and seven assists led the defending champions as they extended their win streak to 11. All-Star Chet Holmgren finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, and Jared McCain led the bench with 18 points, including four threes.

Thunder did not visit the White House due to ‘timing issues’

The defending champion Thunder did not go to meet President Donald Trump at the White House, a traditional meeting for NBA champions. According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, the Thunder explained why it would not be visiting in the following statement before the match against the Wizards.

“We have been in contact with the White House, and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication they have had, but the timing was not right,” the Oklahoma City Thunder said in a statement.

Marc Daigneault and the Thunder will continue their five-game road trip when they face the 76ers on Monday.

The Detroit Pistons have held down the fort well so far in the absence of star point guard Cade Cunningham due to a horrific lung condition. Although they haven’t exactly faced a killer line of opponents, the Pistons are now 3-0 after Cunningham left the lineup, and are firmly in first place in the Eastern Conference.

The biggest reason for this is the play of Aussie Thompson, who has been a terror for opponents on the defensive side of the ball.

In fact, he recently became the first player to achieve a major defensive milestone this season.

“Oser Thompson has been in his own lane this season, becoming the only forward in the NBA to rack up 100+ steals and 50+ blocks. It’s not just versatility, it’s straight-up defensive dominance from every angle of the floor,” X, formerly of ClutchPoints, reported on Twitter.

In fact, the statistical feat speaks volumes about Thompson’s switchability and skills on that end of the floor, and he has become an integral part of what makes Detroit such a strong unit on defense this season.

Similar to his twin brother Amen Thompson with the Houston Rockets, if Ourser ever finds a way to expand his offensive skills, he could immediately become one of the most impactful players in the league.

Meanwhile, as the season enters its home stretch, the Pistons look to lock up the number one seed in the East, and they’ve done a good job of showing off their versatility and depth over the past week in Cunningham’s absence, though they’ll certainly hope to get their star point guard back by the time the playoffs arrive.

The Pistons will take on the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers for their next home game on Monday night.

Washington DC. – There’s an old sports adage that the final score is deceiving, and that’s what happened in the Washington Wizards’ 132-111 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. The Thunder led 103–96 after three quarters before pulling away in the final period, but the Wizards held on, earning the respect of reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The three-time All-NBA First Teamer was asked what is his advice For Washington’s youth core postgame, via Double Take Sports’ Carita Park.

Great answer from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander! Talked to him again: his advice for a young man #Magician The team is going through a rebuild like OKC. He gave several reasons why they are on the right track and ended with:

“Eventually they’ll get where they want to go…unless they come to us.”… pic.twitter.com/7zoq4VwWjb

– Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) 22 March 2026

He said, “I honestly think they’re on the right path. As we saw tonight, they have guys who compete, and I think that’s the first thing.” “You want guys who play with edge, who aren’t afraid, who just want to go out and fight. Not physically, but in terms of basketball.”

Everyone in the room laughed, as the last comment referred to the viral clash between the two teams just before halftime. After Wizards forward Anthony Gill hit a five-foot shot, Thunder forward Jaylin Williams began scuffling with Wizards forward Justin Champagne as he was about to kick the ball out. Oklahoma City guard Ajay Mitchell then charged forward and jabbed Champagnie, who hit him in the face with an open hand. Michelle charged Champagne, start an all-out brawl Which spread in the fan section of Baseline.

Huge controversy in Wizards-Thunder: pic.twitter.com/tCcxsNv6en

– Greg Feinberg (@GregFinberg) 21 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander pulled Mitchell to the bench, and the fight ended before Champagne, Williams, Mitchell and Thunder guard Cason Wallace exited. Champagnie and Williams received double technical fouls, while Mitchell and Wallace also received technical fouls to add to the conflict.

Gilgeous-Alexander continued after the game, “That’s half the battle in the NBA. Every night, suit up and go to work.” “I think they have that. And then they have some vets, obviously, made some trades with AD [Anthony Davis] and try [Young]. There are two very proven guys in the NBA, so they will help once they get on the floor. well trained, i know bk [head coach Brian Keefe] very well. He was here my freshman year in OKC, so I know what he’s about. [General manager] Desire [Dawkins] Plus, they know what they’re doing. I think they’re on the right track, they check all the boxes. Have to focus on getting better every day, and they will eventually get where they want to go, as long as they come to us.

Thunder provides model for Wizards’ rebuild

Oklahoma City represents the ultimate goal for Washington, as it wins the 2025 NBA Finals and currently leads the league with a 56-16 record. General manager Sam Presti made the move through a number of smart moves like landing Gilgeous-Alexander from the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul George in 2019, drafting All-Stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren in the 2022 lottery, acquiring All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddy in 2024, and drafting Mitchell in the second round in 2024. Has built the NBA’s deepest roster since. The latter player is averaging 14.2 points on 48.9% shooting (34.8% 3-point), along with 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 26.2 minutes.

Dawkins, who held the ranks on Presti’s staff from 2008 to 2023, is leading his own version of the Thunder’s journey. The Gilgeous-Alexander trade marked the beginning of Oklahoma City’s rebuild, as the team lost in the first round of the 2020 playoffs before going on three consecutive losing seasons. Head coach Mark Daigneault won Coach of the Year honors after the team went 57–25 in 2023–24. It was bounced in the second round of the 2024 postseason, but defeated the Indiana Pacers in last year’s Finals.

Dawkins began the Wizards’ rebuild by trading Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul in the summer of 2023, a move that ultimately led to Young’s deal in January. Along the way, they traded for guard Bilal Coulibaly on draft night, selected big man Alex Sarr, guard Bub Carrington and guard Trey Johnson in the lottery, selected forwards Keyshawn George and Will Riley outside of the lottery, and selected guard Jameer Watkins in the second round last summer. Additionally, they gave Champagny a standard contract last season after emerging from the G League into an NBA rotational piece, and they acquired Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in February without giving up necessary assets.

Now, Washington is finishing its third and final tanking season before landing another top-eight selection in the draft with superstar prospects like BYU’s AJ DiBuntsa, Kansas’ Darrin Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. While the Thunder never traded for stars as Gilgeous-Alexander was entering his second season in 2019, both organizations dealt away expensive veterans in Beal and George and temporarily sacrificed wins to develop young talent.

Coulibaly, Sarr, Carrington, George and Johnson have all earned Rising Stars honors, while Riley is averaging 14.5 points on 44.2% shooting (37% 3-point) in 33 minutes in March. Watkins, who averaged 8.6 points on 53.7% shooting (40% 3-point) with two steals in March, signed a standard deal in February.

The next step for the Wizards is to learn winning habits as they aim to break into the Eastern Conference playoff picture next season. When Daigneault was asked what habits his team has adopted over the years to get to this level, aside from the classic answers like “hard work” and “talent,” he opened up about ClutchPoints pregame.

I asked Thunder coach Mark Daigneault what habits his team has adopted over the years to get to this level, besides the classic answers of working hard and being talented:

“It’s mostly the classic answers. I think if you bring in players who are successful, like Shai is great… pic.twitter.com/3DzrYXWhBd

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 21 March 2026

“It’s mostly classic answers,” he admitted. “I think if you bring up successful players, like Shai is a great example… there’s no mystery to what he’s doing. He’s doing the very fundamental things you need to do to be great. He’s doing them all the time, consistently, in all situations. But I think it’s pretty fundamental to him and the team. At least we emphasize that. We have talented guys… but it’s nothing good. Individual defense, transition defense, floor spacing, when two If there are people passing to you, can you do it consistently and be disciplined, committed in all situations with all players.

Washington must learn to defend, as they rank last in the NBA with a 120.7 defensive rating. There are plenty of silver linings, however, including Coulibaly getting his shot. The 21-year-old averaged 16 points on 44.2% shooting (41.7% 3-point) in 30.1 minutes in March, which is better than his career average of 10.6 points on 42.5% shooting (31.3% 3-point) in 29.1 minutes. He led the Wizards with 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-5 3-point) in 34 minutes on Saturday.

Keefe, who was an assistant with the Thunder from 2007 to 2015 and 2019–20, spoke about Koulibaly’s performance after the game.

He said, “I think he’s just growing… you know, he’s had some beginnings and endings with some injuries, and I think he’s just finding his rhythm.” “I think he’s taken advantage of his opportunity. We’ll obviously put the ball in his hands. He’s been playing downhill, but he’s playing pretty good basketball here.”

Whether Washington’s young core develops enough to reach Oklahoma City’s level one day remains to be seen, but the team is being rebuilt by two guys who helped develop one of the league’s best teams.

Next up for the Wizards is a road game against the New York Knicks on Sunday at 7:30 PM ET.

It’s hard to get excited about anything related to Jonathan Kuminga’s reunion with the Golden State Warriors.

Instead of a passionate revenge game full of bad blood and blood, all we got from both sides were hugs and uninspired performances. On one end, we got to see a poor performance from the Warriors as they lost to the Atlanta Hawks 126-110. And Kuminga, on the other hand, went 1 of 9 for two points, four rebounds, two turnovers and a -6 plus/minus in 22 minutes.

Unless you enjoyed Dyson Daniels’ 28 points and the Hawks’ 48-16 run between the second and third quarters, the Kuminga-Warriors reunion was mostly chalk and cheese.

“It felt like a normal game,” Kuminga said at his locker after the game. “I’m excited to see my old teammates and some of my guys there. It was great, and I was happy to see them.”

That happiness was visible when Kuminga spent a lot of time after the game congratulating his former teammates, hugging his old coaches and talking to his past veteran teammates. He talked to Stephen Curry for the longest time, the two had a conversation at halfcourt after the game. And in the locker room, Kuminga gave a shout-out to Draymond Green about a good moment they shared when he first entered the game.

“He’s my vet, he’s my OG,” Kuminga said. “You know me and Draymond have always had a great relationship, a brotherly relationship. We were just hanging out.”

Jonathan Kuminga’s relationship with Steve Kerr

Kuminga even leaned over and hugged Steve Kerr, despite the two having disagreements over his role and fit with Golden State. Kerr has always said that the difficulties in their relationship have always been purely basketball and nothing personal, which he reiterated before the game.

Kerr said, “I like Jonathan. We always got along well.” “The basketball part was the hard part. We couldn’t provide him what he needed, and vice versa. We were a championship team – he really needed a lot of freedom and 35 minutes to make mistakes and grow and learn because he came in with so little experience, and we couldn’t offer him that – the basics.”

How Kuminga feels about their relationship is a little more ambiguous. When presented with a condensed version of Kerr’s comments from above, Kuminga shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands.

Kuminga said, “Hey man, listen – whatever they say, you can take it any way you want.” “I’m not worried about the past. I’m here, I’m very happy where I am. I’m doing great. Our goal is to get to where we want to get, and it comes down to us as a team. And I think that’s my main focus moving forward. Whatever is being said or whatever is going on, it’s not my problem anymore. I’m in the next chapter with my teammates, and we’re trying to build something here.”

“I’m here, very happy, doing very well.”

Jonathan Kuminga talks his relationship with the Warriors, thoughts on Kerr’s statements, role with the Hawks and more. pic.twitter.com/HQECqztNl2

-Joseph Dycus (@joseph_dycus) 22 March 2026

Looks like the next chapter is going well so far. Hawks coach Quin Snyder said pregame that Kuminga has tried to fit into what Atlanta wants to do. And what they’ve asked of him is simple, “Defend and run,” Snyder told reporters, adding that Kerr and the Warriors said the same thing to Kuminga during his Golden State tenure.

everyone falls in love in the end

Regardless, while Kuminga and Kerr’s basketball disagreements pushed their relationship to the breaking point, he is still wishing the best for the young forward. As Kerr said, it was never personal between the two. Just an unfortunate situation in which neither side got what they needed.

“We offered him what we could,” Kerr said. “Which was 25 minutes and was a role he didn’t like. And it was never comfortable for either party on the basketball floor… We had our differences in our conversations about basketball, but on a personal level, we’re all here for him. Well-liked in our locker room. And I’m sure people are looking forward to seeing him.”

And based on Kuminga’s warm reception after the game, it looks like the bonds he’s made with Curry, Green and the rest of the Warriors will last even if they go their separate ways.

“I talk to most of them,” Kuminga said. “I try as hard as I can. But we still have great friendships and relationships like they’re my brothers. If they need something I can call them anytime, and if they need something they can call me anytime, so I think that shows a lot. Our relationship is very strong, and at the end of the day we’re brothers.”

PHOENIX – Jalen Green wondered why he couldn’t take advantage in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee consistently doubled Devin Booker throughout the game, and clear advantages did not emerge.

Normally, the ball will continue to swing and into the hands of the open shooter. However, it felt like the offense was a step slower than normal.

The Suns scored 23 points in the quarter and hit only three of their ten triples. In the process, Booker doubled up and didn’t have much of a chance to score, which left Green wondering why he didn’t take advantage of it.

“I just think (when) our main guy is doubling, I think we should be able to hit them,” Green said in the locker room postgame after the 108–105 loss. “Whenever a double (team) gets sent in, we have to be able to beat them and get what we want.”

Jalen Green told @DuaneRankin His ideas about the fourth quarter of the Sun.

“I just think (when) our main player is getting doubled, I think we should be able to hit them. Anytime a double (team) is sent in, we should be able to hit them and get whatever we want.” pic.twitter.com/i59xZOlM17

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 22 March 2026

Jalen Green wants Suns to take advantage of mismatches

In his response, Green referenced what the team has done all season: take advantage of mismatches. This has happened countless times where Booker will be doubled, or someone like Dillon Brooks, and the ball will continue to turn over.

This happened quickly during Saturday’s loss but was not as sustained as in previous games.

When asked what specifically the problem was, Green was unsure.

“I need to watch film, but I think whenever I see a double take with our team, the guys out there, we should be able to hit them,” Green explained. “We got shooters spaced out on the floor. I don’t really know specifically what it was. They’re trying to take our best player out in the fourth and the other 4 players on the court won’t allow it, won’t allow it, so we have to help.”

During the team’s dry spell, the Suns have suffered a string of injuries, with six players reporting before Saturday’s game. Green doesn’t see this as an excuse in any way.

He understands what his team needs to do, and he needs to make a small change to ‘beat’ more teams if they want to do what Milwaukee tried to do.

PHOENIX – Jordan Ott isn’t one to make excuses, but the Phoenix Suns’ plethora of injuries makes it easy to blame him. Although this is a valid and legitimate reason for the team’s struggles, the first-year head coach doesn’t want any sympathy.

However, he knows what his team needs.

“We just want everyone back,” Ott explained after the game following a 108–105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. “In one rhythm, there will be a blessing. We just want everyone back.”

Jordan Ott pushes @YoungNBA How he hopes the Suns can find a rhythm to finish the season.

“We just want everyone back. It would be a blessing to be in a rhythm. We just want everyone back.” pic.twitter.com/GV8zaTJ73f

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 22 March 2026

Phoenix had six players on the injury report ahead of Saturday’s contest. Haywood Highsmith, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neill were suddenly included in the last two games.

Some of it has to do with injury management, but most of it has to do with where the team is in the season. They are just a few weeks away from clinching a legitimate playoff berth.

Needless to mention, Devin Booker is playing through an ankle injury after what happened at the end of Thursday’s game. Ott’s summary was essentially a microcosm of where the group is in the season.

(He) knows what time of year it is, how important these games are, so he goes there. How can we help her more in the fourth trimester? So we’ll take a look. But it’s that time of year again. Sure, everyone is definitely feeling pain, tired and a little sore, but no one is going to save us,” Ott said.

Injuries have affected Suns’ success, according to Jordan Ott

Again, Ott doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him or the group. Injuries happen in the NBA, but they hurt whenever there’s a slight uptick in momentum.

The chemistry is slightly changed; People’s roles have expanded and they have adapted well. However, at some point, frustration continues to build as one thing takes over another.

Needless to mention, Phoenix had a chance to pull away after the first quarter, but Milwaukee scored 42 points over the next 12 minutes of action.

This set the stage for the final section to be an unpredictable contest. At that point, the Suns’ fatigue appeared, which is a bit concerning considering they are in the first leg of back-to-back sets.

There’s plenty of time to avenge the loss with a win on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. But the five-game skid is their longest of the season, and they will need to right the ship if they want to stay on pace for a playoff or play-in spot.

Sunday’s Brooklyn Nets-Sacrmato Kings matchup will have a significant impact on the NBA’s draft lottery race. The Kings will be without Russell Westbrook, one of their top contributors, during the game. Westbrook was forced out of the game due to right leg pain.

The Kings are already without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, De’Andre Hunter and Drew Eubanks.

Westbrook played 28 minutes during the Kings’ 139-118 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. He posted 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, three rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and one steal. The veteran guard has appeared in 64 games with 58 starts this season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists on .427/.338/.694 shooting splits.

Russell Westbrook out of Kings-Nets matchup due to foot illness

Sacramento entered Sunday’s game one spot behind Brooklyn in the draft lottery standings. The Kings have lost their last two games 4-1, slipping from first place to fourth. They have one more win than the Nets in third.

The Nets have lost six games after consecutive wins over the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies earlier this month. They recently ruled out Igor Demin and Deron Sharp for the season, while Michael Porter Jr. is out for 2-3 weeks with a hamstring strain. Brooklyn also will be without Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain) and Nic Claxton (rest) on Sunday. Terrence Mann (illness) is probable for the matchup.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Kings enter Sunday’s game as 5.5-point favorites. They have another meeting with the Nets in Brooklyn a week from Sunday.

The Houston Rockets witnessed history when Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and head coach Ime Udoka made sure the moment was one to remember. For the Rockets, it was bigger than the numbers. This was legacy. This was greatness unfolding in real time. Under the lights, milestones like this reshape the way fans view the game.

Ime Udoka on Kevin Durant surpassing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list:

“It’s an honor for everybody to be involved in that…Being in the top 5 all-time in scoring doesn’t have to be an afterthought. The efficiency, the professionalism with which he plays with you, he takes it for you… pic.twitter.com/lnz9LOHQ6w

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 22 March 2026

“It’s an honor for everybody to be apart of him… being in the top 5 all time in scoring doesn’t want to be an afterthought. The efficiency, the professionalism with which he plays with you takes it for granted. To pass a name like MJ is a huge accomplishment. I’m sure he’ll have a few more names to bite into going forward.”

Durant’s ascent reflects more than longevity. This shows precision. This shows discipline. Night after night, he delivers. That consistency matters, especially in a league that moves so fast.

A milestone that demands attention for the Rockets

At the same time, surpassing Michael Jordan on the NBA scoring list forces a pause. It demands recognition. Very few players are able to reach that level. Still very few people have progressed beyond this. For the Rockettes, having a front row seat adds meaning. Ime Udoka understands this.

Meanwhile, the next name on the NBA scoring list is Kobe Bryant. The difference is within reach. As a result, each point brings Kevin Durant closer to another great mark.

Still, Durant isn’t slowing down. Instead, the climb continues. The numbers keep rising up the NBA scoring list.

And as the list continues to change, one question is now echoing louder than ever: How many more giants will Kevin Durant pass before his job is done?

The Los Angeles Lakers have appealed Luka Doncic’s 16th technical foul following an exchange with the Orlando Magic’s Gogo Bitadze during their 105-104 win, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Luca’s technical foul occurred when he was assessed a double technical for continuously taunting both players.

If the call is upheld, Doncic will face a one-game suspension against the Detroit Pistons. This could interrupt the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak at a critical moment.

Luka Doncic admitted disappointment but said Gogo Bitadze had crossed a line. Meanwhile, the Lakers argue that a warning should have come earlier, although officials say a warning had already been issued.

Despite all this, Doncic finished with 33 points and eight assists against the Magic.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks had their 11-game winning streak snapped last night against the Houston Rockets in a way they probably didn’t want to. The good news was that he got a chance to get the best taste out of his mouth the next night against the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, they had to do it without Jalen Johnson, who was out just hours before the game due to left shoulder inflammation.

In the first half of the game, the Hawks looked like they were missing their best player; Meanwhile, the Warriors were missing two of their best players and that made it interesting. It was the second half where things turned around and the Hawks put on a tremendous performance early in the third quarter, which ultimately helped them win the game by defeating the Warriors 126–110.

Although they were without Johnson, the Hawks got major contributions from several players, and it is something that has helped the team be successful this season.

“I think we’re a team, no matter who’s on the field, and different guys will do different things every night,” Quin Snyder said. “I think our group right now isn’t worried about who’s actually getting credit for the basket. They’re worried about our scoring, and when that happens, your team is better. We want to be greater than the sum of the parts, and when we’re missing a guy like Jalen, who is obviously important to our team, other guys have to pick it up, and it’ll be his turn when he comes back.”

Dyson Daniels did everything for the Hawks in this one, finishing the game with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

“I do a little bit of everything and try to build momentum,” Daniels said. “Defense is where I’ve found my niche in this league, so that’s always going to be my number one, and then being able to push the pace, try and get my feet in the paint, find my teammates, and be able to hit some shots tonight.”

Mohamed Gueye started in Johnson’s place, and like most times this season, when it’s his turn to play a bigger role, he performs well. He couldn’t miss, as he made 6 of 6 shots from the field and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“Every night is the same for me,” Guay said. “I’m just trying to come in and do my thing. Tonight I was fully prepared with the threes, and I made them, so hopefully next time I’ll be fully prepared as well.”

The third quarter changed the situation for the Hawks and a 25-5 run gave them a 24-point lead. CJ McCollum led the way in the bucket-getting category and scored 13 points in that quarter alone.

“The whole team stepped up defensively and got some stops, and were able to get out and get some easier, better looks,” Snyder said. “Obviously, CJ’s shot-making was really big during that time, too.”

The Hawks went ahead by a lot in the fourth quarter as the Warriors didn’t have enough juice to score in the fourth. With the win, the Hawks are still in the driver’s seat, and with the losses to Miami and Orlando, they still sit at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference standings.

“It was one of those things that we needed and it was a critical time for us,” Daniels said. “We needed a win, so I’m glad we got this win.”

Kevin Durant was practical with his thoughts about surpassing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in the Houston Rockets’ win over the Miami Heat on Saturday night.

Durant is going through the 19th season of his legendary NBA career, his first with the Rockets. Throughout his time in the league, he has scored 32,267 points in the regular season prior to Houston’s duel with Miami.

This statistic placed him in the top 10 of the all-time scoring list, placing him in sixth place. He trailed Jordan by 32,292 points for fifth place, needing 25 points to tie him and 26 points to overtake him.

Durant accomplished the incredible feat in 37 minutes of action. He finished with a stat line of 27 points, three rebounds and three assists. He made 9 of 17 shots from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. durant reflect on her milestones After the game, he expressed his thoughts on the legend he admired growing up.

“I have a lot more work to do, but it’s great to be in the same league with great players. A lot of these guys inspire me to work on my game as much as I can…I’m inspired by all the players I’ve either passed or are getting close to. MJ is in a world of his own. He’s a planet/galaxy of his own. Someone I look up to and respect as well. Who basically shaped the game for me,” Durant said. Said.

“MJ is in a world of his own.”

Kevin Durant speaks on passing Michael Jordan on all-time scoring list 🙌

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/83n7BaizfY https://t.co/fmdRIQIylz

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

Kevin Durant, how the Rockets played against the Heat

Kevin Durant is proud to be in the top five of the all-time scoring list as one of the best in NBA history. Beating Michael Jordan in the Rockets’ win over the Heat was the best.

Five players, including Durant, scored in double figures for Houston in the win. Amen Thompson came up with a solid performance of 24 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and one block. He made 10 of 17 shots overall, including 1 of 1 from downtown and 3 of 3 from the charity stripe. Reed Shepard was next with 23 points and 14 assists, Alpern Sengun had 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. provided 13 points and four rebounds.

Houston improved to a 43–27 record on the season and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

The Rockets look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Chicago Bulls as tip-off takes place on March 23 at 8 PM ET.

Neither Jonathan Kuminga nor his former team, the Golden State Warriors, looked that good in their highly anticipated reunion performance.

The Warriors were defeated by the Atlanta Hawks 126–110, their eighth loss in nine games, while Kuminga went 1 of 9 from the field for just two points, four rebounds, two turnovers and a -6 plus/minus in 22 minutes of action.

Instead, the highlights of the game were Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum as the duo scored 28 and 23 points to lead Golden State in the backcourt. While the Warriors outscored the Hawks for most of the first half, Atlanta outscored Golden State with a 48–16 run from 6:16 in the second quarter to 6:16 in the third quarter. From there, the Dubs were helpless, lacking enough firepower to get back into the game.

The loss dropped Golden State to 33–38 on the season, its lowest mark under .500 all season. After the game, Steve Kerr acknowledged where the Warriors are at the moment.

“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.”

With a storm of injuries sidelining not only their stars, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, but also key role players like Moses Moody and Al Horford, the Warriors have completely collapsed after the All-Star break. After taking a strong hold on the eighth seed in the West, they now find themselves in 10th place, a game and a half behind the Clippers.

Are reinforcements on the way for the Warriors?

The good news for the Warriors is that they should get some firepower soon in the coming days. Curry’s re-evaluation on Saturday gave him the all-clear to resume live-action work in team practice in the coming days.

It’s another step in the right direction after Curry resumed working non-contact shooting drills with the team on the road this week. Before traveling with the team to Dallas, Curry will participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages with available coaches and players in Atlanta on Sunday morning.

Kerr called this specific checkpoint a “big day” because the team will have a better understanding of when he can return after Rick Celebrini evaluates him. Curry has missed 21 consecutive games due to patellofemoral pain syndrome and a right kneecap injury. Golden State is 6-15 since Curry was sidelined.

As far as Moody’s is concerned, their recent reassessment has also brought positive results. According to the team he is making “good progress”, and they have stepped up his work on the court with shooting drills after not being able to shoot due to his sprained right wrist. He will also be cast in live-action work in the coming days.

Moody missed the last 10 games due to a wrist injury, derailing his productive season. He is averaging 11.9 points on 40.2 percent 3-point shooting in 59 games this year.

Can Golden State rally?

At the end of the day, it seems like it’s a season from hell for Golden State. A team can only do so much when it loses its best performance due to an ACL tear.

But it is not that they have lagged behind like other teams this season. To his credit, he has battled and competed in every game since Curry went out. Two-way players have given him as much as two players can give. Youngsters like Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski have shown how good they would look if they were next to the stars. It’s just that their efforts and patience have not been rewarded.

“I’m just trying to encourage guys to keep competing,” Kerr said after the game. “But to try to bring energy and stay positive because reinforcements will come, and we have to be ready for that. But in the meantime, I’m proud of the way they’re playing. They’re working hard, but they’re in a tough situation. We’re all in a tough situation.”

The Warriors will look to complete their 1-4 road trip with a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Kennard expressed excitement after making the game-winning 3-pointer in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Kennard is in the ninth season of his NBA career, his first with the Lakers. He has proven useful as a sharpshooter, being a valuable spark plug on the second unit.

His shooting abilities came to the fore in Los Angeles’ battle with Orlando. He got a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, keeping the team’s winning streak intact for another game. Kennard reflected on the clutch highlights after the game and explained what happened on the biggest play of the night.

“First of all, great performance by us. Executed the play before we even thought we got fouled, everything that came back here, we executed a play, tried to get LeBron to the rim. Two guys went. Smart made a good play, and I was able to knock it down,” Kennard said.

Luke Kennard be ready. 🎯
Big time shot when it mattered most.

Mike Trudell holds up Luke Kennard after winning the game against the Magic pic.twitter.com/ZaZBOIkwQl

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 22 March 2026

Luke Kennard, how the Lakers played against the Magic

Luke Kennard proved himself to be a team player who will perform well in the biggest moments, helping the Lakers get a win over the Magic.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Kennard. He finished with a stat line of 13 points and three rebounds on 5-7 shooting from the field. Luka Doncic led the team with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves came in next with 26 points and seven rebounds, while LeBron James provided 12 points and six rebounds.

Los Angeles improved to a 46–25 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are ranked above the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

Riding a nine-consecutive win streak, the Lakers will be looking forward to their next contest. They remain on the road when they take on the Detroit Pistons on March 23 at 7pm ET.

Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze landed on Luka Doncic’s bad side. He and the Los Angeles Lakers star got into a heated moment that led to Doncic’s suspension. But an explanation also came from the big man of magic.

Doncic claimed that Bitadze told him he would “abandon my family” for which he had called him out.

“He (Goga) said he would kill my entire family. And at some point, I can’t bear it. I have to stand up for myself.”

Luka Doncic speaks on what was said about his technical foul 😳

pic.twitter.com/9j8nhnZdjM https://t.co/XQM5QY8BbS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

However, Bitadze cleared up the situation after Doncic told his side of the story, which the Magic star shared via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Bitadze said, “He said some inappropriate things in Serbian. I have played in Serbia and I understand.” “I don’t know if he knew I understood what he said, so I said it back. It was nothing towards his family or anyone else. His family, I really, really respect them.”

Magic’s Goga Bitadze continues his reaction to Luka Doncic

Bitadze continued to explain why he reacted the way he did in that moment.

Bitadze said, “He said something about my mother that was really inappropriate. We don’t say those things. … So whatever he said to me about my mother, I said the same thing and said it back. That was it.”

But he also said he has no animosity toward Doncic.

“I have total respect for Luca and what he’s done. I really respect everybody’s family. Where I come from, it’s really pure and we really respect each other’s families. I would never say that outright.”

Bitadze scored nine points in 18 minutes, while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists.

The Los Angeles Lakers escaped with a 105-104 win against the Orlando Magic, courtesy of Luke Kennard’s game-winning 3-point shot. But the game could cost them as they travel to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Luka Doncic committed his 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic suspension unless it is overturned, something Lakers head coach JJ Redick is hoping will happen.

After the Lakers’ win against the Magic, Redick revealed what caused Doncic’s technical foul and why the team plans to appeal it with the league.

“We’ll obviously try to cancel it out,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “There were some things that were said in reference to Luca’s mother in a language that the referee could not understand.”

Doncic also explained the situation, noting that Goga Bitadze crossed a line when he said he should have done better for his teammates.

“You know, I let my team down by getting that last one. But honestly, I wasn’t trying to do that,” Doncic said. “He said if we don’t do it, he’ll kill my whole family. And at some point, you know, it’s a basketball court. At some point, I can’t stand it anymore [by]I have to stand up for myself. But I know I have to do better. My teammates, I know they support me. So I disappointed them today.”

“He (Goga) said he would kill my entire family. And at some point, I can’t bear it. I have to stand up for myself.”

Luka Doncic speaks on what was said about his technical foul 😳

pic.twitter.com/9j8nhnZdjM https://t.co/XQM5QY8BbS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

If the technical foul is not cleared, the Lakers will be without their star as they take on the Eastern Conference leading team. Doncic’s interactions with referees have been a topic of discussion throughout the season. According to the NBA rulebook, Doncic will be suspended for every two technicals picked up after 16. The Lakers have 12 regular season games remaining.

Once the playoffs begin, the technical foul count is reset, but the suspension trigger is set to seven.

Doncic’s condition has deteriorated amid technical problems. He has propelled himself right into the middle of the MVP race with the Lakers holding the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Their win against the Magic was their ninth consecutive, and they extended their lead over the No. 4 seed Houston Rockets to three games.

Doncic finished with 33 points, giving him the NBA’s longest active streak of scoring 30 or more points in consecutive games.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Doncic had appeared in 58 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals with splits of 47.7 percent shooting from the field, 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

He also led the NBA in shot attempts at 22.5, 3-point shots at 4.0, 3-point shots at 10.8 and free throw attempts at 10.4.

As the Lakers now head to Detroit, they will wait to see if the NBA will take action after what was revealed about how the entire situation erupted.

Amen Thompson put the cherry on top of a historic night with a wild game-winner. The Houston Rockets guard wasn’t the story for most of the game, but he became the hero of the night by shutting out the Miami Heat with a tip-in in the last seconds at the buzzer.

Trailing by one on the final possession of the game, the Rockets turned the ball into the hands of Kevin Durant, who had passed Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list before the game. Durant missed a wild floater and was buried by Bam Adebayo, but Thompson flew in to clear the glass and signal the game-winner.

Amen Thompson suggests this for the win 🔥pic.twitter.com/XYhAMbwjYC

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

A game-winner could have capped off a perfect game for Durant, but it was Thompson’s night. The last-second tip also had Thompson’s career-high 18th rebound of the night, including seven on the offensive glass.

This is a developing story.

Brook Lopez made history during the Clippers’ Saturday matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. López set a career milestone, becoming the tenth player to score 18,000 points and 2,000 blocks. But what’s even more impressive is that he is the only player in NBA history to score 18,000 points, 2,000 blocks and 1,000 three-pointers.

The feat is notable for López, who is in his eighteenth season in the league. Recently Lopez did an interview of endscape Mark talked about doing whatever he can to help Spears and the Clippers win.

“I’m ready for whatever my team needs from me,” Lopez said. “That’s always been my approach throughout my career. And obviously, the same applies here. I’ve been doing the same thing regardless of my role. So, I knew I would definitely be ready. I knew whenever the time came I would be ready, ready.”

Brook Lopez is known for revamping her game by adding the three-point shot. Midway through his career, López attempted only 31 three-pointers during his first eight seasons in the NBA, but he quickly transformed himself into one of the better three-point shooting big men in the association.

In an interview with The Athletic in 2022, he explained why he added three-point shooting to his game as he talked about his summer routine that ultimately supercharged his three-point shooting mechanics.

“We just realized we wanted to get better,” Lopez said in the article. “Finally we took the time. ‘Okay, we’re trying to get better? How do we do that?’ We’re playing a lot on the perimeter, that’s where we can help the team improve.

Lopez’s shooting ability and his defensive ability are important elements in the Clippers’ winning puzzle.

The team has undergone a massive turnaround after a 6-21 start. They are now 34-36, ahead of the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament as the ninth seed.

Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume late in his career, and what he accomplished on Saturday night against the Miami Heat may be his greatest accomplishment yet. By scoring his 27th point against the Heat, Durant passed Michael Jordan’s 32,292 career points to move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

With this corner triple, Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan to reach No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.pic.twitter.com/ItsOYrwo8e https://t.co/pY739bp1da

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

Very few players can match the accomplishments that Jordan accomplished during his illustrious career, which is why this is such a great accomplishment for Durant. Already known as one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history, Durant now has a top-five scoring rating to back up that claim.

After passing Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list, Durant will now look to pass Kobe Bryant’s 33,643 career points, potentially moving him into fourth place sometime during the 2026-27 season. Karl Malone (36,928), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), and LeBron James (43,241 and counting) are likely out of Durant’s reach at this point in his career.

Jordan was considered by many players during the Durant era to be the greatest player in league history, including the 16-time All-Star. That’s why Durant is still surprised to see his name next to all the greats of the game, including Jordan.

“It’s great to be in the same category as some of the greatest players to ever play this game,” Durant said recently, via NBA.com. “He has added so much to the game that has inspired me to stay for so long.”

When he passed Dirk Nowitzki for sixth on the all-time scoring list against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 18, Durant said it was “crazy” to be on the list with a “legend” like Nowitzki.

Durant said, “I want to continue to make a lot of appearances, climb up the charts, just see how I finish. It’s been amazing so far.”

What makes all these late-career accomplishments even more amazing is the fact that Durant has continued to play like one of the best players in the NBA even after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals and missing all of the 2019-20 season.

Very few athletes are able to return to the sport they love after an Achilles injury and still remain effective. Not only has Durant done this, but his overall production and value have remained unchanged before and after the injury.

Durant has had one of the most decorated careers in basketball history, especially when you include his Team USA accomplishments at the Olympics, and surpassing Jordan on the all-time scoring list is another reminder of how great KD is.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is fully aware of his growing niche in the NBA. He expects his team to finish near the top of the league standings. And after essentially serving as the buzzer-beater against the Phoenix Suns, he made it clear he thinks nothing is possible without his Spurs teammates.

“We’ve got former Clutch Player of the Year De’Aaron Fox, so that’s a big component of it,” Wembey said of his young team’s success in close games. “We have talented guys all around. We can put five offensively talented guys on the court at any time in the game, so that makes a lot of sense. The fact that we don’t have experience can work in our favor.”

From 22 wins two years ago to 34 wins last season, San Antonio has not only clinched a playoff berth, but is already one of the best teams in the league despite its youth.

“It’s not a meaningless game. I should say it’s a meaningful game, close to the playoffs, so it’s a good test right now,” Wembanyama said of the 101-100 win against Phoenix.

“The good thing is I can feel like we’ve formed habits and that’s on both sides of the field, especially defense. Now we just have to work without even thinking about it too much, and we know each other, and we can anticipate. And it looks the same on film. That doesn’t mean our play was perfect. Far from it, I think it was actually below average, but it’s a good test, especially this time of year.”

Victor Wembanyama details his buzzer-beater vs the Suns

Vembanyama’s jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining proved as subtle as it was effective.

“It was hard to keep up with all the excitement around me,” Vembanyama admitted. “The fans were looking at me. This guy spilled wine on me, and this, by the way, was before the game was over. I made the shot, I came back to defend and hit a guy, and now I have wine on my shorts. There was a lot going on. I didn’t see all my teammates come forward in a second. It felt like I was stuck in the crowd.”

However, Short himself could not trick Wembley.

Vembanyama said, “This is a shot I worked on. It’s everything.” “Our game plan is not inventing things, so it’s all things we’ve been working on. This shot, in particular, is a shot I’ve been working on with (assistant coach) Tim Martin, so it’s nothing new.”

The Spurs trailed most of the time against Phoenix. Vembanyama did his best to ensure they did not fall behind again after their last-second effort.

“In this situation, you want to wait,” the two-time All-Star said about his approach on that final Spurs offensive possession. “If you take the shot too early, whether you make it or miss, you’re shooting yourself in the foot because the defense will probably get the rebound and have some time or inbound and have some time. So, you want to shoot it as close as a second or two. That way if we miss we have a chance to get an offensive rebound, and if we make it, they don’t have time.”

Devin Booker’s half-court heave missed at the buzzer, giving the Spurs their 52nd win in 70 games.

Lakers star Luka Doncic will be out for the team’s next game against the East-leading Detroit Pistons. Doncic received his 16th technical foul of the year, meaning he faces a mandatory one-game suspension.

It looked like Luka Doncic and Goga Bitadze were exchanging words while Luka was shooting FT at the end of 3Q.

Another back-and-forth followed before both of them got up. https://t.co/gNBAwHYAAh pic.twitter.com/wAuNxxtzwl

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 22 March 2026

A technical foul occurred after an exchange of words between Doncic and Magic big man Goga Bitadze in the third quarter. Technical fouls were assessed on both players, placing Doncic on the number requiring suspension.

Although the technicality may have been overturned by the NBA, the moment draws attention to the conversation that has taken place between the six-time All-Stars throughout the season. Doncic has committed several technical fouls for arguing with officials, including in the Lakers’ 120–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 5.

In post-game comments obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Doncic was clear about how he felt about the technical and advocated for a level of fairness in the officiating of the game.

“Just because I yelled at him, I guess. That’s what he said,” Doncic said of his moment with referee Ed Malloy on March 5. “But I heard three other players say the exact same sentence and I didn’t get a technical. And that’s my problem, you know, I was trying not to talk at all. That’s the first thing I said – no warning or anything.”

Doncic’s suspension is significant as the Lakers look to test their status as contenders against the red-hot Detroit Pistons, who recently made the NBA playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James added another major milestone to his already illustrious career when he passed former Boston Celtics star Robert Parish in terms of playing most regular season games. The historic feat came during the Lakers’ game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, the fourth of the team’s six-game road trip.

James is going through an unprecedented 23rd season in the NBA, and he has already set several records in terms of being the oldest player to reach various statistics.

LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leader in most games played with 1,612. This number will only increase as James shows no signs of his career slowing down or ending in the near future. Just one game earlier, in a win against the Miami Heat, James dropped a triple-double on the second night of a back-to-back, a game for which he was originally listed as questionable.

And then in the game before that, in the Lakers’ win against the Houston Rockets, James scored 30 points while missing only one shot (13 of 14). Amid James’ strong performance, the Lakers are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak and have moved into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings.

James recovered from an early nerve injury that kept him out of the first 14 games of the season. He has appeared in 49 games at a rate of just over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals on 51.6 percent shooting from the field, 31.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 73.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

After the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder were unable to visit the White House due to a “timing issue”, a fight broke out between Ajay Mitchell and Justin Champagne in the first half of the match against the Washington Wizards. Words were exchanged between the Thunder’s Jaylin Williams and Champagnie before Mitchell advanced and the two began brawling on the baseline and in the stands.

Teammates from both the Thunder and Wizards rush to separate your peopleAt the center of it all are Champagne and Michel. The Thunder’s Cason Wallace was also included.

Justin Champagnie and Ajay Mitchell join in 😳pic.twitter.com/ecjEvMay2R

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026

Wallace, earning a double-technical foul, as Williams, Mitchell and Champagnie, joined the trio as all four were ejected from the game.

The Golden State Warriors are without Stephen Curry since he last played on Jan. 30 in the team’s 131-124 loss against the Detroit Pistons. With the playoffs around the corner and Golden State fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament, the club receives an important update on his potential return.

According to CluthPoints insider Brett Siegel, reports indicate that the 38-year-old point guard will be ramping up his practices in the coming days after making progress on his injury. Curry will be reevaluated after the club’s six-game road trip.

“Stephen Curry is making good progress and will ramp up his practice in the coming days. He will be re-evaluated after returning home from the team’s six-game road trip and is expected to be ready to play.”

Two more games remain on the Warriors’ six-game road trip. Therefore, the probable date for Stephen Curry’s re-evaluation would be March 24. If he is healthy to return, we could see Curry in action as soon as March 25 when Golden State takes on the Brooklyn Nets at home. This means he can help the team in the last 10 games of the regular season.

Stephen Curry, a 12-time All-Star, was playing with the lights out for the Warriors before suffering a knee injury. In 39 games played this season, Curry averaged 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per contest, while shooting 46.8% from the floor and 39.1% from beyond the three-point line.

While the Warriors await the official status of the four-time champions in the coming days, the club will focus on their next two matches. The Warriors face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, then the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

The NBA fined Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs $25,000 after the team’s 130-111 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night, citing an in-game incident involving his mouthpiece.

The league announced the discipline Saturday in a statement shared by Jason Beed of the Orlando Sentinel on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the release, Suggs was penalized for throwing his mouthpiece in the direction of the spectator stands during the first quarter of the contest at the Spectrum Center.

“Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has been fined $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece in the direction of the stands, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations James Jones.

The incident, for which Suggs was assessed a technical foul, occurred with 5:35 remaining in the first quarter of the Magic’s 130–111 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 19 at the Spectrum Center.

Jalen Suggs fined after incident in Magic’s loss to Hornets

Suggs received a technical foul at the time of the incident, which occurred early in the game. The fine reflects the league’s policy regarding actions that pose a risk to spectators or violate standards of conduct.

In the loss, Suggs finished with nine points, two steals, one assist and one block in 22 minutes. He shot 4 of 12 from the field and 1 of 5 from 3-point range, as Orlando struggled to contain Charlotte throughout the contest.

The loss dropped the Magic to 38–31 on the season and extended their losing streak to three games. Orlando now faces a quick turnaround as it prepares to host the Los Angeles Lakers (45-25) on Saturday night at 7:00 pm ET on NBA TV.

With the regular season entering its final stretch, the Magic will look to regain momentum against a Lakers team that is entering the matchup with an eight-game winning streak.

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 108-104 on Friday night. After the loss, head coach Chris Finch criticized Julius Randle for his effort, or lack thereof, on the glass.

According to Timberwolves reporter Dan Moore, speaking to media members on Saturday morning, Finch name-dropped Randle when he criticized his team for struggling to rebound the ball in recent games. Finch is clearly not impressed with the 31-year-old’s stellar efforts.

“We just have to get the rebound, and we can’t,” Finch said. “From the time the shot goes up, it takes a while… It’s been like that for a while. It’s not good enough… Julius has three defensive rebounds, which is not good enough. Just not good enough.”

Chris Finch on the Wolves’ recent rebounding issues and Julius Randle’s efforts on the glass being “not good enough.”

“We just have to get a rebound, and we can’t. There’s like a lag from the time the shot goes up… It’s been like that for a while. It’s not like that at all… pic.twitter.com/6CiWWjZjCM

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 21 March 2026

Julius Randle finished Friday’s contest with 19 points (team high), five rebounds, four assists and one steal. He shot only 37.5% from the floor and failed to record a single three-point shot. Rudy Gobert (15 boards) and Ayo Dosunmu (10 boards) led the Timberwolves in rebounding against the Blazers.

Chris Finch, who is 56, might be right to call out the 12-year veteran for his bruising struggles. Randle is averaging a career-low 6.8 rebounds per contest this season. In fact, his rebounding numbers have decreased in every season since the 2022-23 campaign.

In 71 games played this year, Julius Randle is averaging 21.2 points, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is shooting 48.4% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the three-point line. Randle will have another chance to return as a rebounder on Sunday when the Timberwolves take on the Boston Celtics.

After the Indiana Pacers lost Ivica Zubac for the season due to a rib fracture, there is an extended injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. The Pacers are listed with 11 players, including Tyrese Haliburton, who is out the entire season, Johnny Furphy, who tore his right ACL, and Zubac. The rest of the Pacers players mentioned on the extended injury list are listed as questionable.

Aaron Nesmith, who finished with 15 points in a 127-119 loss to the Portland Blazers, is dealing with a right ankle injury that could force him to sit. Ben Shepard, who is dealing with a left ankle sprain, is also questionable to face the Blazers. Shepard and Quenten Jackson, both dealing with right calf strains that faced the Blazers on Wednesday, also could miss Saturday’s game against the Spurs.

Zubac broke out with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block in 23 minutes in Wednesday’s matchup against the Blazers. The Pacers announced Zubac’s diagnosis the next day. He averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in his five games with Indiana since his trade from the LA Clippers.

pacers injury report

Jonny Furphy – Out – Right ACL; tears

Tyrese Haliburton – Outside – Right Achilles tendon; tears

Quenton Jackson – Questionable – Right calf; strain

TJ McConnell – Questionable – Right hamstring; agony

Andrew Nembhard – Questionable – Right calf; Indigo

Aaron Nesmith – Questionable – Right ankle; injury management

Micah Potter – Questionable – Right triceps; strain

Ben Shepard – Questionable – left ankle; Sprain

Pascal Siakam – Questionable – Right knee; Sprain

Obi Toppin – Questionable – Right leg; injury management

Ivica Zubac – out – fish; fracture

LaMelo Ball says chemistry has been at the heart of the Charlotte Hornets’ recent surge, as the team continues one of the most remarkable postseason turnarounds in the league.

Ball discussed the Hornets’ success in an interview shared by the NBA on X, formerly known as Twitter, emphasizing the group’s connections on and off the court.

“Guys, you know everybody’s cool, takes care of each other, so it’s all real love. And you feel like a real family, and if someone’s down we’ll pick them up. And that’s how we go.”

Charlotte’s play has improved after a difficult start to the season. The Hornets dropped to 16-28 after a 94-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 21, but improved to 36-34 after a 130-111 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The surge has lifted Charlotte to the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Over the past 15 games, the Hornets have been one of the NBA’s most efficient teams on both ends of the floor. Charlotte ranked eighth in scoring with 117.2 points per game during that span, while leading the league in three-point shooting, making threes an average of 19 times at 40.4% accuracy.

Defensively, the Hornets have also made significant progress. The team has allowed just 106.4 points per game over that span, the fourth-best mark in the league, trailing only the Boston Celtics (102.1), New York Knicks (103.7) and Oklahoma City Thunder (105.6). Charlotte’s 10.8 net rating during that span ranks first in the NBA.

Buzzing energy at Hornets practice 🐝

Go behind the scenes with Coach Charles Lee and Kon Knueppel before Charlotte hosts Memphis tonight at 7:00 PM on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/E4Mp7rZ2if

– NBA (@NBA) 21 March 2026

LaMelo Ball’s production fuels Hornets’ playoff boost

Ball has played a central role in the turnaround. The 24-year-old guard has averaged 19.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season, while shooting 40.4% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range and a career-high 89.7% from the free-throw line. Appeared in 60 games, including 57 starts. He averages 27.6 minutes per contest.

With momentum building, Charlotte remains a long way from high playoff position. The Hornets are 2.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Orlando Magic (38-31) in the Eastern Conference standings.

Charlotte will look to extend its current two-game winning streak on Saturday night when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies (24-45) at 7:00 pm ET as part of a seven-game homestand.

As the regular season enters its final stretch, Ball’s emphasis on chemistry continues to define a Hornets team that has rapidly re-established itself as a competitive force in the Eastern Conference.

The Denver Nuggets are expected to get a key reinforcement ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, with guard Peyton Watson on track to return to the lineup after a lengthy absence.

Denver (43-28) hosts Portland (35-36) at 2:00 pm PT on NBA TV as the regular season enters a critical phase. The Nuggets currently hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings and are tied with the Houston Rockets (42-27) for fourth place, making each remaining game increasingly important for postseason positioning.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Watson is expected to return after missing more than six weeks with a hamstring injury.

“Denver’s Peyton Watson is expected to return Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing more than 6 weeks due to a hamstring strain. Watson has had a breakout year for the Nuggets, averaging career-highs 14.9 points, 30.7 minutes and 4.9 rebounds, along with 2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1 steal per game,” sources told ESPN.

Watson, 23, has emerged as a major contributor during the 2025-26 season, producing career-bests across the board. Through 49 games, including 39 starts, he has averaged 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 blocks and one steal per game, while shooting an efficient 49.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range in 30.7 minutes per contest.

Peyton Watson’s return will boost Nuggets vs. Blazers at crucial juncture

His last appearance came on February 4 in a 134–127 double-overtime loss to the New York Knicks. In that game, Watson recorded 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block while shooting 4 of 13 from the field and 1 of 6 from beyond the arc during 33 minutes.

Watson’s return provides a timely boost for a Denver team that is trying to solidify its position in the tightly contested Western Conference. His two-way versatility, perimeter defense and improved scoring efficiency have played a key role in the Nuggets’ success this season.

As Denver prepares to face a competitive Portland team that is still within reach of a postseason picture, Watson’s availability could prove vital in maintaining momentum and strengthening the team’s rotation heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

As the Los Angeles Lakers continue their lead late in the season, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has outlined a compelling case for Luka Doncic as a legitimate MVP contender.

The Stephen A. Speaking on The Smith Show, Smith pointed to Doncic’s historic production during the Lakers’ current eight-game winning streak, highlighting both his scoring consistency and overall impact.

“Do you know that Luka Doncic is averaging 40.9 points and 7.4 assists? Do you know what he has done in this eight-game span, which no Lakers player in history has ever done? Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one… Luka has 100 points in his last two games. In each game of this eight-game winning streak, he has scored at least 30. Not so Whether he scores 50 one day and 20 the next day, no, he is consistently scoring 30-plus in every single game.”

Doncic’s recent performances include one of his most impressive performances of the season. In the win over the Miami Heat, he scored 60 points while adding seven rebounds, five steals and three assists while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. The outing underlined his ability to take over games while maintaining efficiency.

On the Lakers’ eight-game winning streak, Doncic is averaging 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three-point range and 78 percent from the free-throw line in 37.5 minutes per contest.

Smith also emphasized Doncic’s season-long production and where he ranks among the league’s top performers.

“Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are hitting 38.5% of their three-pointers since the trade deadline. Luka leads the league in scoring with 33.4, he’s third in assists. Ladies and gentlemen, he’s a league MVP candidate. I’ll say it again, Luka Doncic is a league MVP candidate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembayama and Luka “Doncic tops four candidates for league MVP.”

“Luka Doncic averaged 40.9 points and 7.4 assists… What he’s done in this 8-game span is something no Laker in history has ever done. Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one… He’s a league MVP candidate.”

-Stephen A. Smith 🙌pic.twitter.com/CH6gldgfBJ

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026

Stephen A. Smith pushes Luka Doncic’s MVP case despite Lakers’ early inconsistency

Through 58 games this season, the 27-year-old has averaged 33.4 points, 8.4 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Smith acknowledged that Doncic’s MVP chances may be affected by the Lakers’ past inconsistency, but said his current level of play is difficult to ignore.

“The possibility that he won’t win it because the Lakers have played .500 basketball for 40 games this year, I get that. But what we’re seeing from them is unheard of. And the guy looks slow as a snail out there. That’s the thing that bothers me. Nikola Jokic can’t jump over a curb for Denver and no one can stop him. Luka Doncic looks like he’s moving in slow motion most of the time and No one can stop him. And when all three of them were clicking… he was insecure in front of all three of them, what are all three of them making of him?

He concluded by outlining the widespread impact of Doncic’s play on the Western Conference’s outlook.

“It’s some special things we’re looking at. And as a result, we have to look at the Western Conference a little differently and ask ourselves, can the Lakers be written off as a real threat in the Western Conference? Oklahoma City would probably say yes. San Antonio with Victor Vembanayama would probably say yes. I don’t know if we can do that … not with Luka on a roll like this.”

The Lakers (45-25) will try to extend their winning streak to nine games when they visit the Orlando Magic (38-31) on Saturday at 4:00 pm PT on NBA TV.

The San Antonio Spurs take on the Indiana Pacers at home on Saturday night. Victor Wembanyama is on the injury report along with Stephen Castle. Vembanyama is struggling with pain in his right ankle, while Castle is already out with right hip tightness. Here’s everything we know about Victor Wembanyama’s injury and his status in the game against the Pacers.

Victor Wembanyama’s injury status vs Pacers

While Castle has already been ruled out, Wembanyama is considered doubtful for Saturday’s contest between the Spurs and Pacers. His status will remain unclear until San Antonio announces his potential availability prior to tip-off. Victor Wembanyama has said he wants to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year so he can push to play on Saturday night.

The Spurs are currently firmly in second place in the Western Conference, as they are just three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Given that the Pacers have the worst record in the NBA (15–55), this game is not considered a marquee matchup.

Victor Wembanyama has been a monster for Spurs all season. The three-time All-Star is averaging 24.3 points (career-best), 11.1 rebounds (career-best), 2.9 assists and 3.0 blocks (league leader) per game. He also has an impressive 50.6% field goal percentage while shooting 35.7% from beyond the three-point line (career-best).

Wembanyama played in the Spurs’ last game which ended in a 101–100 victory over the Phoenix Suns. The third-year veteran finished that contest with 34 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and three steals. That win clinched a playoff spot for San Antonio.

So, when the question comes whether Victor Wembanyama is playing against the Pacers tonight, the answer remains up in the air.

spurs injury report

Stephen Cassel – Outside: Right hip; tightness
Harrison Ingram – Out: G League; two ways
David Jones Garcia – Out: G League; two ways
Emmanuel Miller – Out: G League; two ways
Victor Vembanyama – Questionable: right ankle; agony

pacers injury report

Jonny Furphy – Out: Right ACL; tears
Tyrese Haliburton – Out: right Achilles tendon; tears
Quentin Jackson – Questionable: Right calf; strain
TJ McConnell – Questionable: right hamstring; agony
Andrew Nembhard – Questionable: Right calf; Indigo
Aaron Nesmith – Questionable: right ankle; injury management
Talon Peter – Questionable: G League; two ways
Micah Potter – Questionable: Right triceps; strain
Ben Sheppard – Questionable: left ankle; Sprain
Pascal Siakam – Questionable: Right knee; Sprain
Jalen Slauson – Questionable: G League; two ways
Ethan Thompson – Questionable: G League; two ways
Obi Toppin – Questionable: right leg; injury management
Ivica Zubac – Outside: Fish; fracture

The biggest advantage of being the son of an NBA legend is that you already know how to build a career. Duke star Cameron Boozer is keeping that in mind as he prepares for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Unlike most top prospects, Boozer claims he doesn’t care when he hears his name called in the draft. The 18-year-old said he only cares about fitting in with the right team to give himself the best chance of building a meaningful career.

“For me, whether I move up one spot or move up to 15th, it’s more about getting fit,” Boozer said, via ‘The Athletic.’ “I just want a long career. Where I start doesn’t really determine where I end up or where I end up. So obviously, I look at what people say, I look at anything, but 10 years from now it won’t matter. For me it’s just about stacking up the days. Being the best version of me. And yes, everything will be okay.”

Boozer’s father, Carlos Boozer, enjoyed a 13-year NBA career after spending three years at Duke. Carlos Boozer began his career as a second-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers before spending most of his time with the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls.

Although he hasn’t made it official yet, Cameron Boozer is apparently preparing to enter the 2026 NBA Draft. In addition to a national championship, Boozer will accomplish almost everything possible in one season at Duke after officially receiving the 2026 Wooden Award.

Boozer, a consensus top-three recruit in the class of 2025, held a similar stance ahead of the draft. Some projections have him as high as third overall, with everyone expecting his name to be among the first five announced in June.

The NBA has fined Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond $25,000 following an incident during Thursday night’s 139-118 win over the Sacramento Kings, according to a report.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel shared the update Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“76ers center Andre Drummond has been fined $25,000 for making an offensive gesture on the field of play against the Kings.”

The league has not publicly disclosed additional details regarding the specific gesture, but the penalty has been added to the disciplinary actions given for conduct on the court this season.

Drummond contributed significantly to the win with 13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes off the bench. He made 5 of 11 shots from the field and connected on all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, continuing efficient play in a reserve role.

Andre Drummond fined after Kings game as 76ers push up standings

The 32-year-old has appeared in 52 games this season, including 24 starts, and is averaging 6.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He is shooting 47.6% from the field and a career-high 34.7% from three-point range, while logging 20 minutes per contest.

Philadelphia moved to 38-32 with the win and remains in a tight race in the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers are currently in ninth place, 0.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Orlando Magic (38-31) and 1.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors (39-30).

The team will look to keep the momentum going as they conclude their three-game road trip against the Utah Jazz (21-49) on Saturday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 pm ET as Philadelphia continues its effort to climb the standings at the end of the regular season.

The Houston Rockets are watching closely as Terry Eason battles through a brutal stretch, and the shooting slump has now reached the point where even the family is stepping in. Eason had missed 23 consecutive threes in his last seven games. That number was huge. And now, his mother has made headlines by reaching out to famous shooting coach “Lethal Shooter” for help fixing this issue. that’s personal. it’s urgent. And it shows how surreal this moment is for a young player finding his rhythm.

Terry Eason’s mom reached out to famous NBA shooting coach “Lethal Shooter” to fix her son’s shooting difficulties 😅

His son has missed 21 consecutive threes in his last 7 games for the Rockets. pic.twitter.com/mJLi63i5cH

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 20 March 2026

Then, finally, a small success. Eason ended the drought in the Rockets’ 117–95 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, going 1-for-3 from deep. Make one. A release. Take a brief exhale under the lights. Still, context matters. In March, he took only 2-31 from three. The recession is not over yet. Earlier this season, he shot over 37 percent from beyond the arc. That version of Eason still exists. This seems a distant thing right now.

Looking for sparks under rocket lights

Meanwhile, the Rockets are remaining patient. Development is rarely linear. There is a recession. Even accomplished shooters get caught out cold. However, this strain stands out because of how extreme it is. The pressure increased with every mistake. There was weight in every effort. As a result, Eason was replaced in the lineup by Reed Shepard, a move that reflected both urgency and opportunity. Still, work continues despite the drought.

Additionally, his mother’s involvement adds a human layer to the Rockets’ situation. This shows confidence and urgency. Behind every stat line is someone struggling to get back on track. Bringing in the “Lethal Shooter” can reset his shot or restore confidence, and sometimes, that’s enough to change everything.

So now the focus moves forward. The Rockets still need to fill space for Terry Eason as he works through a shooting slump. And after the first three finally fall, one question still remains, was this just a moment, or the beginning of something bigger?

The Cleveland Cavs will visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Donovan Mitchell is on the injury report along with Jarrett Allen, with one player listed as questionable and the other ruled out. Mitchell is nursing a left eye injury, while Allen is suffering from right knee tendinitis. Here’s everything we know about Donovan Mitchell’s injury and his playing status against the Pelicans.

Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Given that Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable on the Cavaliers’ injury report, it is difficult to predict whether he will play in Saturday’s contest against the Pelicans. Mitchell made NBA history with a hat-trick of career accomplishments in a single game. With the 20+ point performance he reached 15,000 career points, surpassing Mark Price for sixth most in franchise history, and scored his 200th 3-pointer of the regular season.

Still, Mitchell’s eye injury forced him to sit out Thursday’s 115-110 win against the Bulls. While the Cavs have won their last two games, they are 6-4 in their last 10 contests. With only 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Cavs (43-27) are one of the few teams that can overtake the Knicks for third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks (46-25) hold a 2.5-game lead. The Cavs have distanced themselves from the fifth-seeded Raptors (39-30) in recent weeks, powering the Eastern Conference’s top-4 squads during the fourth quarter of the regular season.

Mitchell finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in his last outing against the Bucks. As for whether Donovan Mitchell is playing tonight against the Pelicans, the answer is probably.

Cavs injury report

Jarrett Allen – Out – Right knee; tendinitis

Donovan Mitchell – questionable – left eye; Indigo

Craig Porter Jr. – Outside – left groin; strain

Tyrese Proctor – Out – Right Quadricep

Jaylon Tyson – Questionable – Left toe; Sprain

pelicans injury report

Bryce McGowens – Outside – Right little toe; fracture

The San Antonio Spurs face the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night and Stephen Cassel is at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable due to right hip tightness, putting the Spurs guard in focus as the team looks to extend its four-game winning streak.

The Spurs entered the matchup at 52–18, No. 2 in the Western Conference, its playoff position already secured. Meanwhile, the Pacers come in at 15-55, No. 15 in the East, trying to break a brutal losing streak as its season continues to slip. Here’s everything we know from the injury report about Stephen Cassel and his playing status against the Pacers.

Stephen Castle has been a consistent presence this season. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 59 games. He is shooting 46.5 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from three and 73.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Furthermore, Castle continues to control the tempo and create chances. He handles playmaking duties and keeps the offense organized. His presence provides balance and stability to the Spurs, especially as they push deeper into the postseason picture.

Stephen Cassel Injury Status vs Pacers

Spurs’ injury report makes Castle’s availability particularly important. Harrison Ingram, David Jones Garcia and Emmanuel Miller are out due to G League assignments. San Antonio still has depth, but Cassel’s play is key to keeping the momentum going.

On the other hand, the Pacers are struggling with heavy injury reports. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) and Jonny Furphy (ACL) are out with Ivica Zubac (rib). Several players are listed as questionable, including Quenton Jackson, TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam.

The Spurs are looking to stay sharp. Pacers are looking for any pace. So when it comes to whether Stephen Cassel is playing tonight against the Pacers, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.

The Washington Wizards have the NBA’s second-worst record at 16-53 entering Saturday’s home date with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they are on pace to make the top six in this summer’s draft. They have no incentive to bring players back from injury before their last game on April 12, especially four-time All-Star guard Trae Young.

The Wizards announced an update on the injury to the 27-year-old, who missed Monday’s 125-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors due to quad contusion.

“Young re-injured his right quadriceps during the third quarter of the game against Golden State on March 16. Related imaging due to back pain confirmed lower back irritation,” the organization said. “Both injuries are being treated conservatively and will not require surgery at this time. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”

Washington officially acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks on January 9, but he did not play until the team’s 122–112 home loss to the Utah Jazz on March 5 due to quad and knee injuries. The former All-NBA honoree has played just five games since the trade after leading the league with 11.6 assists per game in 76 contests last year and 15 games overall this season.

The Wizards placed a minutes restriction on Young, as he averaged only 20.8 minutes in those five games. The 6-foot-2, 164-pounder is averaging 34.1 minutes in his career.

However, Young still put on a show, Producing highlights such as fake behind-the-back passes, deep threes, and his patented “ice tray” celebration.

Trae Young (19 PTS) was a handful on defense in the first half pic.twitter.com/bWmMJsXiYV

– NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) 17 March 2026

The Oklahoma native averaged 15.2 points on 59.5% shooting (42.9% 3-point) with 6.3 assists, three rebounds and 2.6 turnovers in those 20.8 minutes. He scored 21 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3-point) with five assists, two rebounds, one block and one steal in 21 minutes against the Warriors on Monday.

Young has a $49 million player option this summer. Assuming the former Oklahoma Sooner opts to extend and/or sign with Washington, he will likely be its point guard next season with star big man Anthony Davis and a young core including big man Alex Saar, sharpshooting guard Trey Johnson, wing Keyshawn George, wing Will Riley, guard Bilal Coulibaly and guard Bub Carrington. Additionally, whoever the team drafts this summer could be a superstar prospect like BYU’s AJ DiBuntsa, Kansas’ Darrin Peterson, or Duke’s Cameron Boozer, depending on which selection they get in May’s NBA Draft Lottery.

Trae Young showed how he can change the Wizards

If Young doesn’t return this season, the silver lining is that he showed why Washington chose him. The seriousness of the 2018 NCAA champion and assists leader on offense generated more open looks for its young core, making it easier for players like Johnson, Riley and Coulibaly to score. For example, Coulibaly is averaging 16.8 points on 45% shooting (41% 3-point) with Young, and he is averaging 11 points on 41.5% shooting (31% 3-point) in 47 games this season.

This story is being updated