For the first time since 1987, a team has won its first eight postseason games. At the time, it was the Edmonton Oilers led by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. But on Saturday night, it was the young and hungry Carolina Hurricanes as they swept the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round with a 3-2 overtime win.

The game started quietly for the Hurricanes. This was the first game of the series where they failed to score in the first period. However, for the Flyers, they took the lead in the first 20 minutes, as Tyson Foster scored his first career postseason goal, with assists from both Trevor Zegras and rookie Porter Martone.

However, at halftime of the second period, Jackson Blake tied the score with assists from K’Andre Miller and Taylor Hall, and the Hurricanes responded. Then, 28 seconds later, Mark Jankowski put a goal on the board…but it didn’t stay on the board.

After the coach’s challenge to Flyers bench boss Rick Tocchet for goaltender interference. William Carrier and Oliver Bonk were battling in the crease when Jankowski’s shot hit the twine and thus, the goal was ruled out due to Carrier’s presence.

Still, a goal went ahead for Carolina four minutes into the third frame – a goal that this time was as perfect as rain and as fine as wine. Logan Stankoven got past goaltender Dan Vlader with a clean short wrister on a great pass by Hall. The entire second line had their shots, with Blake passing the puck to Hall for his second point of the night.

And it certainly wasn’t the last point of the game for the Hurricanes’ creative young winger.

But first, the Flyers forced overtime with a goal by Alex Bump, after which Travis Konecny ​​and Christian Dvorak managed to harass Miller enough to break the puck and send it his way.

When the extra frame arrived, the Hurricanes maintained the lead over the Flyers, spending time in their own zone and doubling them up in shots. However, the game-winner did not come as predicted. As new legs hit the ice for both teams, Jakob Slavin interrupted a chance for the Flyers to advance into the Hurricanes’ own zone as Hall gained control of the puck. Stankoven led the attack as Hall and Blake raced the net, and Hall got tape of Blake, who shot it – the rubber flapped before hitting Vladar.

Soon after, the line to shake hands started. It was the first time Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour had experienced this in Philadelphia since May 2, 1999 – it was his last postseason experience playing with them.

storm notes

The Hurricanes are the first team in NHL history to win two best-of-seven series in the four-round playoff format.

Shawn Walker left Philadelphia at 6 a.m. Saturday to return home for the birth of his first child. He arrived back in town to join the team in the afternoon, just four hours before Game 4 started.

The second line has been involved in a goal in seven of eight games this postseason. Stankoven, Blake and Hall are the top three players individually in both goals and points, and total 31 points with 22 assists and 14 goals.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Well friends, it’s official: the Ottawa Senators are headed to the playoffs! On January 24, they finished in last place in the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference. At the time, the Detroit Red Wings led the Atlantic and were tied for most points in the East. There was a difference of 16 points between the two teams.

Now, with the Sens up by five points on the Wings, Detroit is officially out of the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. As much as this story is about the Senators’ dominance over the last two and a half months, the Red Wings’ downfall deserves to be discussed as much. Let’s get into the details.

Read more: It’s time for Jordan Spence to extend

Ottawa Senators by the numbers

The Senators’ 4–1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 24 left them in sole possession of 15th place in the Eastern Conference. That’s when his season changed. have a look:

• first 51 games: 23-21-7, 3.22 goals/game, 3.39 goals against/game, 22.9 PP%, 71.8 PK%
• last 29 games: 20-6-3, 3.62 goals/game, 2.31 goals against/game, 24.4 PP%, 83.6 PK%

Let’s break down these numbers among all the NHL teams:

• first 51 games: 25th in points %, 12th in goals/game, 28th in goals against/game, 10th in PP%, 31st in PK%.
• last 29 games:T-1st in points %, 4th in goals/game, 1st in goals against/game, 10th in PP%, 5th in PK%.

Obviously, it was a change of the entire team. Sure, his goalscoring and power play were solid in the first 51 games, but those numbers have reached even greater heights since then. Goal prevention is where the Senators have improved even more dramatically. A lot of it has to do with their goal setting. To keep an eye:

• first 51 games: .865 Team SV% (32nd in the NHL)
• last 29 games: .900 Team SV% (7th in the NHL)

The .865 SV% paced the Senators for the lowest team SV% in the NHL since the 1993–94 Ottawa Senators. Keep in mind, that was the Senators’ second year of existence. Individually, Linus Ullmark went from .881 SV% to .904 SV%. They have 14 wins since returning from their leave of absence on January 31 for the league lead.

Detroit Red Wings by the numbers

Now for the fall part of the equation. The Red Wings defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5–1 on January 24 to tie the Carolina Hurricanes for most points in the East. Sure, the Red Wings played an extra game, but they were undoubtedly in a great spot to end their long playoff drought. Well, so much for that! Let’s take a look at the figures:

• first 53 games: 32-16-5, 3.11 goals/game, 2.96 goals against/game, 24.7 PP%, 79.3 PK%
• last 27 games: 9-14-4, 2.59 goals/game, 3.15 goals against/game, 19.7 PP%, 73.5 PK%

And now for a league-wide comparison of those numbers:

• first 53 games: 4th in points %, 17th in goals/game, 13th in goals against/game, 6th in PP%, 18th in PK%.
• last 27 games: 28th in points %, 30th in goals/game, 22nd in goals against/game, 22nd in PP%, 27th in PK%.

This is the exact opposite of the senators. They lagged behind in virtually every category. Clearly they relied too heavily on their power play, which held back just like every other part of their game. The Red Wings didn’t just become a mediocre team, they became one of the worst teams in the NHL. Keep in mind, they were buyers on deadline. Here’s what their deadline acquisition did for them:

• Justin Faulk: 15 games, 4 goals, 6 points, -3, 20:16 time on ice/game
• david perron: 14 games, 2 goals, 2 points, -9, 13:42 ice time/game

The Senators were the ones who traded Perón to the Red Wings. He was replaced by Warren Foegele, who scored 5 goals and 7 points in 19 games with Ottawa. It certainly wasn’t just Faulk and Perron who caused Detroit’s decline. For example, Lucas Raymond had a dramatic fall. He scored 58 points in his first 51 games, but has scored only 18 points in his last 27 games.

defining game

Let’s go back to March 24. The Senators were in Detroit to face a Red Wings team that was one point ahead of them. These were the problems:

• They were playing for the second straight night, having played against the Rangers in New York the night before.
• They were without Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and Nick Jensen on defense.
• The Red Wings had won all three meetings up to that point in the season.

Any back-to-back is tough, but playing both games on the road in two different cities, as well as missing both Chabot and Sanderson, made this feel like a scheduled defeat for the Senators. Additionally, depth D-men Dennis Gilbert and Lassie Thomson were out, forcing the Sens to call up forwards Jorian Donovan and Carter Yakemchuk to play their first career games.

outcome? The Senators’ incredible 3–2 win moved them ahead of the Red Wings in the standings for the first time since December 5. The Senators never let the Red Wings pass after that. The Red Wings suffered several tough losses in a row to keep them out of the playoffs, but considering the circumstances, this was the worst.

final thoughts

There came a time when it felt like none of the teams fighting for the last few playoff spots in the East were going to lose completely. Of course, the Red Wings were the exception. They lost 8 of their last 11 and 18 of their last 27 and found themselves out of the playoff picture.

Meanwhile, the senators never gave up. They played 20 games without Brady Tkachuk early in the season. He endured nearly 50 games of terrible goaltending. Linus Ullmark took a partial leave of absence during the year. Jake Sanderson missed 13 games. After the Olympic break, they used 12 defensemen. In the end, their resilience has been rewarded with a second consecutive trip to the playoffs.

These two teams have shown a lot of disdain for each other over the past few years as they have tried to work their way back to contender status. Obviously, senators have the upper hand. Meanwhile, the Red Wings must figure out what to do next after a terrible collapse that saw them miss the playoffs once again.

Danny was born and raised in Ottawa and still lives in that city. He has followed… more about Danny McCloskey

It’s hard to find many supporters for Arne Slott liverpool In this moment of time. The Dutchman is firmly under the microscope, with the Anfield crowd going wild.

But there is one man who believes the Liverpool manager is not getting the respect he deserves. He is his former assistant, Marino Pusic.

He is speaking to Voetbal International This week, admitting that he turned it down Chance to rejoin Liverpool with slot in 2024. Now he wants to defend his friend amid a rising tide of criticism.

A bond made at Feyenoord

Marino Pucic’s admiration for the Liverpool manager is unequivocal. They worked together at Feyenoord, and their time as a pair left a deep impression professionally and personally.

He said, “Working with Arne was a real pleasure.”

“There is a special bond between us. Since then it has become a form of friendship. As far as I am concerned, he is one of the best coaches in the world.”

“I’m talking about his demeanor, his football philosophy, how he expresses it and his manners. I can only speak lyrically about him.”

Liverpool deserve more credit

Despite leading Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season, Arne Slot has faced criticism from the Liverpool fan base this season.

The Reds’ title defense has been nothing short of a disaster, with Liverpool currently 21 points behind Arsenal. They are currently in the battle to qualify for the Champions League, with five points separating them from fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Fifth would secure Champions League football next season. But there is a battle for that place too, with Chelsea one point behind in sixth and Brentford and Everton three points behind in seventh and eighth.

However, Pusic believes the reaction to Liverpool’s form this season has been unfair and historically blind.

“I think Arne deserves a lot more credit than he is getting at Liverpool right now,” he said.

“Many people forget how many times Liverpool have been champions of England in recent decades. Arne did it immediately in his first season, but Jurgen Klopp has also won the Premier League title only once.

“Before this, Liverpool last won the league title in 1990. And now the expectation is that Arne will win the title twice in a row. Especially because a lot of money has been spent. It doesn’t always work out.”

keep calm and carry on

Marino Pusic instead believes Liverpool need stability. This summer is already going to be a big one, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson already departing.

Reports have also linked Ellison to a departure. That would leave only Virgil van Dijk from the team that was so successful under Klopp.

Changing the manager will also create more instability. And Pusik doesn’t think that would be a wise move.

He concluded, “It will be good to remain calm at Liverpool and give confidence to Arne and his staff, Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.”

LOS ANGELES — For their debut, LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together on the same NBA team.

For their second act, LeBron and Bronny James recorded the first father-son assist.

“Definitely a good moment for us and most importantly our family,” LeBron James said.

Just before the Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday became official, LeBron passed to Bronny for an open 3 with 7:52 left in the second quarter. This sequence continued like this. When Brown ran the offense, LeBron set a screen and received an entry pass near the top of the key. Immediately after drawing a double team, LeBron passed the ball to an open Bronny behind the arc. Bronny made a small pump fake before pulling the tray and hammering a nail into it.

LeBron and Bronny first shared the court together during the Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota in the 2024–25 season. But both LeBron and Bronny viewed their latest moment as just as important after suffering a cardiac arrest scare ahead of his junior season at USC (summer 2023) and spending most of his rookie and sophomore seasons in the G League. Bronny had only three points on 1-for-2 shooting in four minutes off the bench, but he played with his father the entire time. It came two days after Bronny scored four points on 2-for-4 shooting in 13 minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s win at Indiana.

LeBron said of Bronny, “Just getting back to where it was before the incident. He’s always been able to shoot the ball.” “He shot the ball at a pretty high level throughout his years playing. But just now getting the confidence back in his strength and his air and everything. Everything is coming back to where it was before the event. I’m not surprised to see him shoot the ball at a high clip.”

Neither did the Lakers nor Brown, who has received strong praise for his strong work ethic, affable personality and coachability. Bronny, who was drafted by the Lakers at No. 55 overall in 2024, said he “has become more comfortable shooting it without thinking.”

“I’ve wanted to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny said. “At one point I knew this would be my job. It’s a dream come true. It’s a privilege to be able to play basketball for a job. I love every single second of it. My teammates embrace me. I’m best friends with all my teammates and coaches. I’m happy to be here with them.”

Bronny was also happy to make history with LeBron nearly 12 years after playing face-to-face in his former home in Miami. Then, Bronny said LeBron broke a backboard.

Bronny said, “Special moment with both of us.” “There’s a lot of work going on.”

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

LOS ANGELES — For their debut, LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together on the same NBA team.

For their second act, LeBron and Bronny James recorded the first father-son assist.

“Definitely a good moment for us and most importantly our family,” LeBron James said.

Just before the Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday became official, LeBron passed to Bronny for an open 3 with 7:52 left in the second quarter. This sequence continued like this. When Brown ran the offense, LeBron set a screen and received an entry pass near the top of the key. Immediately after drawing a double team, LeBron passed the ball to an open Bronny behind the arc. Bronny made a small pump fake before pulling the tray and hammering a nail into it.

LeBron and Bronny first shared the court together during the Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota in the 2024–25 season. But both LeBron and Bronny viewed their latest moment as just as important after suffering a cardiac arrest scare ahead of his junior season at USC (summer 2023) and spending most of his rookie and sophomore seasons in the G League. Bronny had only three points on 1-for-2 shooting in four minutes off the bench, but he played with his father the entire time. It came two days after Bronny scored four points on 2-for-4 shooting in 13 minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s win at Indiana.

LeBron said of Bronny, “Just getting back to where it was before the incident. He’s always been able to shoot the ball.” “He shot the ball at a pretty high level throughout his years playing. But just now getting the confidence back in his strength and his air and everything. Everything is coming back to where it was before the event. I’m not surprised to see him shoot the ball at a high clip.”

Neither did the Lakers nor Brown, who has received strong praise for his strong work ethic, affable personality and coachability. Bronny, who was drafted by the Lakers at No. 55 overall in 2024, said he “has become more comfortable shooting it without thinking.”

“I’ve wanted to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny said. “At one point I knew this would be my job. It’s a dream come true. It’s a privilege to be able to play basketball for a job. I love every single second of it. My teammates embrace me. I’m best friends with all my teammates and coaches. I’m happy to be here with them.”

Bronny was also happy to make history with LeBron nearly 12 years after playing face-to-face in his former home in Miami. Then, Bronny said LeBron broke a backboard.

Bronny said, “Special moment with both of us.” “There’s a lot of work going on.”

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

The Los Angeles Lakers had every reason to take it easy in Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat, especially coming off a tough game in Houston the night before. But Luka Doncic did not let the Lakers lose.

The Lakers arrived in Miami at 5 a.m. following a tough win against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reeves were questionable to play, but they ended up playing in the contest. It was the Slovenian guard who dominated the night en route to a big win for the Lakers.

Luka Doncic finished Thursday’s game with 60 points, seven rebounds, three assists and five steals, while shooting 18-of-30 from the field, 9-of-17 from three and 15-of-19 from the free throw line.

According to Stathead, this is the first time in NBA history that a player has recorded at least 60 points, at least nine three-pointers and at least five steals in a game.

Luka Doncic tonight vs. Heat:

60 points
9 3-pointers
5 theft

The first player in NBA history to record such a statline. pic.twitter.com/5GKEfV0Hbe

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 March 2026

Doncic recorded 12 points in the opening quarter, nine points in the second, 19 points in the third and 20 points in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers defeated the Heat 134-126, and Doncic’s Lakers teammates gave him some much-needed help. LeBron James recorded a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the win, while Austin Reaves added 18 points and Marcus Smart scored 13 points.

It marked Doncic’s third career game of at least 60 points and his first since scoring 73 points as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. This marked the ninth time in Doncic’s career that he has scored at least 50 points in a game.

LeBron James’ longevity is extraordinary. The Los Angeles Lakers star is already 41 years old and in his 23rd year in the league, and yet he is still playing at a high level. On Thursday night, James tied Robert Parish’s record for most games played in a career.

After starting in the Lakers’ game against the Miami Heat, LeBron has played a total of 1,611 games, tying Parish’s record. James will certainly break some records this season and beyond, provided he plays the rest of the year.

Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, James has played 23 seasons in his NBA career. Although the Lakers star missed a few games here and there, the sheer amount of years he played meant that sooner or later he was bound to break this record. Games played by James spanned Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles.

His longevity is the biggest reason why many fans consider him the greatest player in NBA history. Even at the age of 41, the Lakers star is still averaging 21.4 points per game on efficient shooting (shooting 51.4% from the field). He’s also adding 6.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. Although he is not the focal point of the Lakers’ offense as before, he has still been an integral part for them this season.

Due to his age, there is talk in the league about James’ possible retirement after this season. Although the Lakers star has not clearly stated that he will retire after the 2025-26 season, this decision is still lingering in every fan’s mind as the season progresses. However, for now he and the Lakers are focused on winning another championship. Los Angeles enters its game against Miami as the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference, and is on track to make the postseason.

BOSTON – When Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown placed the Bill Russell Trophy above his head after being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, his place in franchise history was cemented. However, the all-time leading Celtic moved up to 10th on the Green team’s all-time scoring list during Wednesday night’s 120-99 win over the Golden State Warriors.

In the second quarter, Brown sank two free throws to surpass Celtics great and 1973 MVP Dave Cowens on the Giants leaderboard. The five-time All-Star now has 13,202 points in 10 seasons, trailing his fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum by 705 points. The player right in front of the Celtics’ spectacular tandem is an almost legendary player: 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell.

“I’m very grateful,” Brown said in the locker room after his impressive milestone. “There are a lot of greats on that list that have made huge contributions to the Celtics as well as the game of basketball. So I’m very humbled and very grateful to be in the position I’m in.”

Jaylen Brown on entering the top-10 scoring list for the Celtics:

“I’m very grateful. Many of the legends on that list have made great contributions to the Celtics as well as the game of basketball.” pic.twitter.com/f49h93xmHL

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

Brown didn’t miss a beat to start the game, hitting back-to-back jumpers against a woefully understaffed Warriors team at TD Garden. Although the Dubs – who were without four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry due to a knee injury – tried to make it a contest, Brown and Tatum always had offensive answers. They scored a combined 56 points in the blowout (game-high 32 points from Brown and 24 points from Tatum), while no Warrior scored more than 14 points.

Tatum said of Brown’s historic run, “It just shows the dedication and commitment he has to his craft and getting better every year.” “I’ve watched him grow and get better every year over the last nine years and become the player he is today. It’s great when you get rewarded for the work you’ve done.”

During Tatum’s 62-game absence this regular season, which was the result of a diligent rehab process from an Achilles rupture, Brown paved the way for the shorthanded C. He averaged career highs practically across the board and has continued to do so since Tatum’s return on March 6.

With both Tatum and Brown starting this season, the Celtics are 5-1 and have won three in a row. And it’s no surprise that the same dynamic duo that led Boston to a championship in 2024 is aiming to do so again in 2026.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said about working with Tatum and Brown, “You’re not only able to coach some of the best players in the game today, but you’re able to coach some of the best players of all time.” “so [there’s] “Just my gratitude for being able to see him.”

To put it in perspective, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will already be the all-time leading scorers for the Magic, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Clippers, Hornets and Nets. https://t.co/FfBXc5rb5l

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

We need to remember what Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum accomplished

Even though the 46-23 Celtics are generally accustomed to winning, what Tatum and Brown have accomplished together is special. They would be the all-time scoring leaders of six other NBA franchises at this time and have more playoff wins than many teams.

Furthermore, they represent the Celtics well and are dedicated to Boston.

Tatum showed his commitment by attacking his difficult rehabilitation every day off the court this season, ultimately culminating in a victorious return that was well ahead of schedule. Brown, meanwhile, has further demonstrated his dedication on the court recently by having an MVP-caliber campaign when many pundits expected him to flop as part of a flawed roster.

“For Jaylen, I think the responsibility and ownership of being a Celtic and going after greatness is extremely important, it’s something he takes very seriously,” Mazzulla responded when asked about Brown entering the upper echelon of Celtics scorers. “The ability to make and participate in history is the stepping stone to [the franchise] Better than what you found.”

There’s no doubt that Tatum and Brown have changed the Celtics organization for the better, but that doesn’t mean they’re satisfied. They want more, and “more” will come in the form of a second championship ring this June.

“I felt like I could always be one of the top players in the world if given the opportunity, and I think I’ve got to show that this season,” Brown said after Monday night’s 41-point loss to the Phoenix Suns. “The focus now is on getting ready for the playoffs.”

The New York Knicks faced a tough challenge on Tuesday night when they took on the Indiana Pacers without star guard Jalen Brunson. That’s where his podcast co-host and Knicks teammate Josh Hart decided to step in.

Brunson was ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Pacers due to a right ankle injury and a cervical strain, having been marked as ‘questionable’ in the morning and ‘out’ before the contest.

Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart, who has worn multiple hats for the organization since arriving in 2022, stepped up in a big way with 30 points, 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals, while shooting 12 of 13 from the field and 5 of 5 from beyond the arc.

According to Stathead, Hart became the first player Had 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five made three-pointers while shooting 80 percent or better from the floor, the first in NBA history.

Josh Hart is the first player in NBA history

30+ pts
5+ REB
5+ AST
5+ 3p
90+ FG%

In a game. pic.twitter.com/IjrSOmLFOj

– Statmuse (@statmuse) 18 March 2026

The only players who have come very close to recording that kind of statline and efficiency are Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul. Leonard recorded 45 points, five rebounds, five assists and six three-pointers while shooting 75 percent from the field in the Clippers’ home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves last week. Paul recorded a line of 32 points, five rebounds, nine assists and five three-pointers while shooting 76.9 percent from the field in 2014.

It was the highest scoring effort of the season for Hart, whose career high of 44 points was recorded in 2022.

Hart was one of six Knicks players to score in double figures in Tuesday’s 136-110 win over the Pacers. OG Anunoby scored 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field with eight rebounds and four assists in the win.

The Pacers also had six players in double figures, but their high-scoring player was Jairus Walker with 16 points.

On the season, Josh Hart is averaging 11.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.

It was the fourth straight win for the Knicks, who are trying to keep up with the rest of the Eastern Conference in their quest for a top-six seed. New York currently boasts a 45–25 record, which trails the Boston Celtics’ 45–23 record for the two-seed in the East. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27) and Toronto Raptors (38-29) are the closest teams below the Knicks in the standings.

The Knicks will now have two days off before taking on the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, March 20 inside Barclays Center.

The Indiana Pacers may have just etched their name in the franchise record books, but it’s certainly not a reason anyone in Indianapolis wants to celebrate. On Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks handed the Pacers a 136–110 loss, Indiana’s 14th consecutive loss. This disappointing stretch officially sets a new franchise record for the longest losing streak in Pacers history, surpassing the mark held since the late 1980s.

It has been a tough journey for head coach Rick Carlisle and his team, who remain the only team in the NBA without a win since the All-Star break. The absence of superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles, has left a huge void that the roster can’t easily fill. Without their primary playmaker, the Pacers’ offense looked disjointed and tired, a trend that continued against a surging Knicks team.

Even with the Knicks missing star point guard Jalen Brunson due to an ankle injury, the home team’s depth was too much to handle. Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the interior, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby provided consistent pressure on the wings. New York jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking advantage of an Indiana defense that has struggled to make stops during this historic slide.

Jarace Walker tried to keep things competitive for the Pacers, but the lack of veteran support, coupled with Pascal Siakam’s knee problem, made it an uphill battle from the starting point. As the final buzzer sounded in New York, the reality of the 15-54 record began to set in. While the team is clearly in evaluation mode, falling into such a historic rut is a tough pill to swallow for fans. Indiana will head home the next day, looking for any way to stop the bleeding before this record grows even longer.

The Brooklyn Nets-Portland Trail Blazers matchup at Barclays Center on Monday was a forgettable late-season game for many. However, for the Israeli basketball community, it was a night they will never forget. Trail Blazers All-Star Danny Avdija faced off against Nets rookies Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, marking the first time that three Israelis shared the court during an NBA game.

Avadiya got a strong reaction The 17,030 fans in attendance said they “felt like they were back in Tel Aviv” after the 114–95 Portland victory. The 25-year-old player said that there was a lot of tuning at home.

Avdija said, “I know there were a lot of people at home watching the game tonight. It’s amazing.” “It’s a big deal to me especially [since Ben and I] Grew up next to each other. Like 20 minutes away from each other. It’s amazing to watch him score and thrive in the league. Danny too… I was definitely surprised to see Barclays Center packed. It means a lot to me. I don’t have words to explain how much support he gave me and my teammates. I’m very happy to have this crowd behind me. I’m glad they saw us play tonight.”

Denny Avdija on the support he got from the Brooklyn crowd last night:

“I was definitely surprised to see a packed Barclays Center. It means a lot to me. I don’t have words to explain how much they supported me. I’m so happy to have this crowd behind me.” pic.twitter.com/tPyLgMwM71

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 17 March 2026

Denny! Denny! Denny! 🥹🗣️ pic.twitter.com/nOykrVQv2V

-Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) 16 March 2026

Avdija has had a breakout season, leading the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference play-ins. The All-Star forward has averaged 24.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 53 appearances.

Deni Avdija shares court with Nets rookies Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf in Brooklyn

Meanwhile, Saraf and Wolf are attempting to carve out roles with the rebuilding Nets after being selected No. 26 and No. 27 in June’s draft. Saraf said his relationship with Avdija began last year when his Ratiopharm Ulm team faced the Trail Blazers during the NBA preseason.

“Since then, we have been in touch all the time… it was great [facing Deni tonight]. “I was waiting for this game for a long time,” Saraf told reporters. “He is a great person, a very good friend of mine. especially with danny wolf [playing]Very. Three Israelis on the court at the same time. This was something very special… [Deni’s] had a huge impact [on basketball in Israel]. Everyone in Israel followed him throughout the year. Everyone was supporting. Israelis know how big a deal it was to have the first Israeli All-Star. it was very big. So, we are all very happy for him.”

Saraf struggled in his rookie season bouncing between the NBA and G League. However, the 6-foot-6 guard has played his best basketball recently, averaging 11.8 points and 4.8 assists on 53.1 percent shooting in his last four appearances. He scored a season-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting while dishing out four assists on Monday.

“[Ben’s] “Maybe this newbie is going through things like I did,” Avdija said. It’s probably fatigue, and it’s probably not knowing how to take care of the body, but it looks like he’s doing a good job. It seems like he is very tough and hard nosed. He knows how to play basketball. I’m always here for him, but I think he’s doing really good.

Wolf, who grew up in Illinois, became a naturalized Israeli citizen and played for the national team at the 2023 FIBA ​​U20 European Championship. After a breakout season at Michigan, he showed encouraging flashes as a rookie with Brooklyn.

Wolf averaged 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 54 appearances. The 21-year-old said he could “100 percent” imagine himself playing alongside Avdija and Saraf on the Israeli national team “if the opportunity arises.”

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, who rose through the NBA ranks after coming to the United States from Spain, talked about the importance of Monday’s game.

“Yeah, it’s special,” Fernandez said. “When the U.S. and other countries outside of Europe can be represented here with three players, it means the world, and it’s a special day that everyone has to enjoy. And I think they already are… I don’t know Danny, but I’m sure he’s excited to play. I know Ben and Danny are. And it’s cool. This is one of the two times we’ll see it, and hopefully for many years to see how these guys move forward.” “Obviously Denny’s having a career year and getting better and better over the years. And it’s so interesting to see them play against each other.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been in a state of struggle lately, having lost four of their last five games following Sunday’s big loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was a particularly bad game for big man Rudy Gobert, who was .23 and scored only two points in the loss.

However, despite that setback, Gobert remains arguably the second most important player on Minnesota’s roster behind Anthony Edwards due to his continued defensive excellence.

Recently, the Frenchman got 100% real on whether he envisions retirement in the near future, and what he hopes to accomplish before it’s all said and done.

“I think it’s still a long way off. Yeah, I think it’s still a long way away,” Gobert said, according to Prime Video Sports France on YouTube. “…For now, I’m really focused on the present moment. To be an NBA champion, that’s a goal – yes, champion. Best defender in history, four times.”

Gobert is actually already one of the best defenders in league history, having played a host of elite saves during his tenure with both the Minnesota and Utah Jazz. His offensive skills, or lack thereof, have caused headaches for both fans throughout his career, but that still doesn’t diminish how incredibly important a player he has been to many successful teams.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will have to do some soul-searching if they want to realize Gobert’s championship dreams, as the team has now lost four of its last five games, and all four losses have come in unexpected ways.

Minnesota’s offense has been sporadic during the skid, and it’s safe to say that Gobert likely isn’t the solution to that problem.

The Timberwolves next face off against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday evening.

Since its inception in 1946, the NBA has a rich and storied history in which countless stars have left their mark. LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is on his way to making history as he tries to lead his team out of the depths of the Western Conference standings and into the NBA Playoffs.

Behind the herculean efforts of Leonard, the Clippers are back in the playoff race this season, and now sit at 34-33 on the season. But it wasn’t long before things were looking grim, with just a 6-21 record, no draft selection to look forward to, and an aging roster that seemed to get even older before their eyes.

now in His 14th season in the NBAKawhi Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 53 games this season. This is the first time in NBA history that a player has averaged a career-high in points per game at the end of his NBA career.

Former LA Clippers guard Lou Williams became the first player in NBA history to average 20_ points in his 13th season or later. Williams became the second player in NBA history to have the highest career scoring average in his 13th season, joining Chauncey Billups.

Leonard has now passed both, and has done so while shooting 50.1 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 89.7 percent from the free throw line.

What has been the key to his success so far in his NBA career?

“The guy up there and I are just able to play the game,” Kawhi Leonard told ClutchPoints. “The offseason was good for me, I was able to just work. Just praising him, work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better at the game. Not worrying about the outcome. Whether it’s working on my shot, handle or passing, just being aggressive and making mistakes.”

On Saturday night, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in the Clippers’ home loss to the Sacramento Kings. This marked the 45th consecutive game that Leonard scored at least 20 points in a game, surpassing Bob McAdoo for most consecutive 20-point games in Clippers franchise history.

The 20-point streak now ranks 24th, equaling Tracy McGrady and Karl Malone’s streak of 45 consecutive games of 20+ points. Leonard’s streak at 128 is the second-longest active streak in the NBA behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recently surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of 126 consecutive games.

“It’s amazing,” Leonard said of making Clippers history. “Thank God I was able to play consistently this year and interact with the great players of the game.

“Just being on the floor and being able to play basketball is always great. In the NBA you go through a lot of ups and downs, either it’s a bad game, missing a shot, getting sick, or the team failing, and then the peak. It’s great to be able to interact with great guys like him.”

Leonard sprained his left ankle in Saturday night’s loss to the Kings, causing him to leave the game in the fourth quarter and exit early. He is listed as “doubtful” to play in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, but he is likely to receive round-the-clock treatment and try to warm up before his status for the game is determined.

If he misses the game, it would be the 15th game missed by Kawhi Leonard this season, putting him close to the 17-game mark, which would eliminate him from eligibility for season-end NBA awards such as All-NBA Teams, All-Defensive Teams and MVP consideration.

Cooper Flagg broke Kobe Bryant’s NBA record after his performance in the Dallas Mavericks’ 138-105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Flagg is spending the first season of his career with the Mavericks. After a slow start, he has made serious progress as he continues to live up to expectations as one of the best rookies in the draft.

In the running for the Rookie of the Year award this season, Flagg has continued to put in incredible performances that promise Dallas’ long-term potential. After the team’s latest game against Cleveland, the young forward achieved another record in NBA history.

In 29 minutes of action, Flagg finished with a stat line of 25 points, five assists and four rebounds. He made 8 of 16 shots from the field, including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.

Flagg recorded a 20-point game for the 25th time this season, having already achieved the record at the age of 19. He surpassed Bryant for most 20-point games by a teenager in NBA history.

Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg has passed Kobe Bryant for most 20+ point games by a teenager in NBA history.

🔸Cooper Flag: 25 20+ point games
🔸Kobe Bryant: 24 20+ point games

Every night he takes the court, he shows why he is one of the brightest young stars in the world… pic.twitter.com/tqkwYovZCt

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 March 2026

Cooper Flagg, how the Mavericks played against the Cavaliers

Cooper Flagg’s historic efforts were not enough as the Cavaliers’ offense was too much for the Mavericks in a blowout loss at home.

Five players, including Flagg, scored in double figures for Dallas in the loss. Najee Marshall came in next with a solid performance of 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. He made 7 of 12 shots overall, including 2 of 4 from downtown and 1 of 4 from the charity stripe. Max Christie had 12 points, Brandon Williams added 12 points and three assists, while Dwight Powell provided 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Dallas fell to a 22–45 record on the season and finished 12th in the Western Conference standings. They are above the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz while trailing the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers.

The Mavericks will look to bounce back in their next match at home. They will host the Cavaliers in a rematch as tip-off will take place on March 15 at 3:30 PM ET.

When Shayne Gostisbeer got injured against the Edmonton Oilers, a different issue arose besides the fact of losing their most aggressive defenceman.

Once again, they had lost a key contributor to their power play in a top unit quarterback.

However, it appeared that this time, the Carolina Hurricanes coaching staff tried something new, as they added Gostisbehere’s linemate, Alexander Nikishin, to the top power play unit as a quarterback.

The change comes as Nikishin’s defensive play has stepped up significantly in recent games, and it was nice to see the 24-year-old rookie given an extra level of responsibility – even if experimental.

Nikishin achieved a lot in the top unit

In Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he handled things decently. Of course, there were some issues here and there that he wants to improve on, but this was a welcome contribution overall, if only to give him additional experience on the defensive, play-making side of power play forechecking.

And it worked in the Hurricanes’ favor on the scoresheet. With the top unit on the two-man advantage, Nikishin blasted a spectacular snap shot on a brilliant play – a goal that gave the Hurricanes a chance to breathe, and ultimately the all-important goal to pull them through sixty minutes as the Penguins pushed back and sent them to overtime.

Additionally, the goal also put him in the Hurricanes history books, as with his ninth goal of the season, he passed Justin Faulk for most goals by a rookie defenseman. The franchise record had remained untouched since it was set in the 2011–12 season.

In their words (with some help)

After the game, Nikishin talked about his experience on the top power play unit with the help of fellow-Russian Andrei Svechnikov, who served as a translator.

“He said we put all the power play mistakes on him,” Svechnikov said after the game, helping his Russian teammate.

“So, he’s a little bit crazy.”

They discussed things a bit more, as Nikishin provided a detailed answer to the question.

“He said, obviously, it’s a joke,” he clarified through Svechnikov. “But it feels good, you know, playing on the power play first, and you have to expect everything, because all the passes can come from anywhere and you just have to anticipate and focus there.”

Nikishin also talked about the record broken with a power play goal.

“Apparently, it pleases him,” Svechnikov said. “Just making history, it’s special, and he’ll never forget it.”

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

MIAMI – Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo was in the midst of a tremendous ups and downs Tuesday night, with many not expecting the 28-year-old’s performance against the Washington Wizards. Heat star Bam Adebayo scored an incredible 83 points, now the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, a feat he talked about after their 150-129 win over the Wizards.

Where does Adebayo’s special night begin? Adebayo hit several marks and milestones with an 83-point night, as it passed LeBron James’ 61 points as the most in Miami history, but it had to start somewhere.

Adebayo started off with a burst of 31 points in the first quarter, then finished the first half with 43 points, both franchise records for their respective ranges. It wasn’t until then that Adebayo realized something historic could happen, making record-setting free throws.

“Probably when I had 45 at halftime, my guys were pretty excited at halftime,” Adebayo said. “It was just being quiet and being within myself and realizing, like, ‘I can go do something special.’ I didn’t think it would be 83 years, but to have this moment is surreal… It’s a mark in history that will be remembered forever.”

When did Bam Adebayo think he could make history?

“Probably when I had 45 at halftime, my guys were very nervous at halftime. So for me, it was just staying calm and keeping myself locked in and understanding, like, ‘I can go do something special.'” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/RB6vZnaObl

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 11 March 2026

Bam Adebayo, now 83, has passed Kobe Bryant’s mark of 81 in 2006.

Bam Adebayo now has the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 runs in 1962. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/1R4njd9v1C

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 11 March 2026

His final statline is bonkers, as Adebayo recorded 83 points on 20 of 43 shooting from the field, seven of 22 from three-point range, 36 of 43 from the free-throw line, along with nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

However, it wasn’t until the second half that the team and Adebayo were looking for records, as the star was efficient in the first half, making 13 of 24 shots from the field, five of 11 from deep and 12 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra scores 83 points on Bam Adebayo

As with the sports world’s reaction to the Heat’s captain scoring 83 points, it can’t be denied how important this moment was for the organization, especially with the team seeing Adebayo as the franchise’s flag bearer. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra shared many thoughts after the historic night, saying he finally felt like a “fan” when Adebayo’s scoring total kept going up.

Spoelstra would go on to talk about what a “special moment” Tuesday night was for Adebayo.

“When LeBron scored 61, it was an incredible moment,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “But you expect that, he’s one of the greatest scorers of all time, like Bam has prepared himself for it. And the thing you love about it, and why everybody roots for Bam, is that he does all the winning things. He does all the things that don’t get recognized. He puts his body out there, he’s available, he’s a strong competitor, and he’s gone through a stretch already in the season because “We’re running a different type of offense, and it took him a while to adjust to it, and he’s being criticized for it.”

“And then once he started getting comfortable, he’s one of the top offensive players in this league, and I think he’s legitimate, one of the top three, two-way players in this league,” Spoelstra continued. “But it was a special moment. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, and it’s just the reaction of his teammates and the coaching staff for him, because you love him, and you want great things for people you really love. And what a night it was, what a night it was for him, his family and the Heat Nation fan base.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked if the moment couldn’t have happened with anyone better than Bam Adebayo is considered the Heat’s flag bearer.

I’ll talk more about that moment and the history Adebayo made, as well as other Heat history like LeBron James scoring 61. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/u009DutHGH

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 11 March 2026

Heat’s Bam Adebayo reveals he made history when it hit him

While Adebayo finished the 83-point Heat masterpiece, it didn’t really matter to her until after the contest, when she chatted with her friends and loved ones, especially her significant other, WNBA superstar A’Ja Wilson and her mother, Marilyn Blount. With tears streaming down his face, there was no denying how impressive it was to celebrate such an accomplishment with people who have seen him at his lowest ebb.

An emotional Bam Adebayo hugged his mother after scoring 83 points, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 points. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/18mUatdFYX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 11 March 2026

He will repeat the same sentiments at clutchpoints and feel that his name has now been immortalized with two in particular. As he finished with 83 points, which was more than Kobe Bryant’s 81 points in 2006, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain, who recorded 100 points in 1962.

“Coming into this league as a defender and a lob threat. I got really emotional,” Adebayo said with A’ja Wilson right next to him. “It had no effect on me until I hugged her [Wilson] And then I hugged my mom, because both of them and obviously my coaches, Ronnie Taylor, Kevin Graves, even Karen Butler, you know, those are emotional moments, because they see me at my lowest behind the scenes, they’ve seen me at my lowest, at my lowest, trying to figure out how to really pick myself up. And to have this moment and share it with all of them, it’s a very emotional moment, like I said, I wish I could relive it twice. So this is a special moment. Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy.”

Asked Bam Adebayo how he took the moment. Finally, being with Wilt and Kobe was mentioned.

“Coming into this league as a defender and a lob threat. I got really emotional, it had no impact on me until I hugged him [A’Ja Wilson] And I hugged my mother…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3BSAhavxd0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 11 March 2026

Adebayo has firmly cemented his place in the history books with a historic game Since transferring to Miami, the team is now on a six-game winning streak, looking to continue that on Thursday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night is making all the headlines in the sports world right now, but the Atlanta Hawks have been quietly taking care of business on their own. On Tuesday night, the Hawks picked up their seventh consecutive win, stopping the Dallas Mavericks on their way to a 124-112 victory.

The Hawks are turning a corner, and they remain within striking distance of a full playoff spot in the East. One of the factors that has been energizing the Hawks lately has been the excellent play of Dyson Daniels. Daniels once again filled the stat sheet, recording 14 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in the win against the Mavericks.

In doing so, Daniels became the first player in NBA history to record at least 80 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists while recording five or fewer turnovers in a seven-game span, according to Hawks PR on

While most of the fanfare for the Hawks has fallen on Jalen Johnson and Nickell Alexander-Walker following Trae Young’s departure, Daniels has also expanded his offensive game, taking on more responsibilities and thriving as a result.

His three-point shooting may be off, but the rest of his game has improved by leaps and bounds.

Hawks still contending for sixth seed in East

At 34-31, the Hawks are just 2.5 games behind sixth place in the East, which is currently owned by the Miami Heat. The Hawks have a chance to extend their winning streak over the next few games as they face the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks in back-to-back games.

After that, they will face the Orlando Magic in a game that could have direct implications. For now, Atlanta will take one game at a time.

In addition to breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most consecutive 20+ point games in NBA history, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accomplished another feat that only one player has accomplished. After joining Chamberlain in a special group, Gilgeous-Alexander joined Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James during the same game – a 129-126 win against MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored back-to-back threes between the Thunder’s final two possessions, including a game-winner, finished with 35 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers in Monday’s win against the Nuggets. Gilgeous-Alexander joins James as the only two players in NBA history to finish a game with 35+ points, 15+ assists and zero turnovers.

James finished 2018 with 35 points, 17 assists and zero turnovers in a 132–129 win against the Toronto Raptors. He became the first NBA player to do so at the time, and now, he has company.

Gilgeous-Alexander equaled Chamberlain’s 63-year-old record, leading the Thunder to a three-point win against their rivals in the Nuggets, whom the defending champions defeated 4-3 in the Western Conference semi-finals last season. The Thunder also handed the Nuggets their second loss in 10 days, following a classic 127-121 overtime thriller.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts to Wilt Chamberlain tying down

For Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s important to focus on winning rather than focusing on breaking a 63-year-old record to accomplish such a rare feat in NBA history. Then, if that wasn’t enough for Thunder fans, Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-winning three on the Nuggets sealed an unforgettable night at Paycom Center.

gilgeous-alexander explain why Not paying attention to Chamberlain’s phenomenal record helped him get there.

Gilgeous-Alexander said after the win, “It still lingers in my mind. To be honest, I try not to think about it, especially during the season. There’s a lot going on. A lot of things have to go right to get what you want ultimately.” “That’s my 100 percent focus, especially in a basketball context. It’s special to interact with a guy like that (Wilt Chamberlain).

“It’s crazy to think that where I was 10 years ago, I would be here today. You work hard. You trust the process. You look up, and great things can happen to you, and I’m proof of that.”

SGA on equaling Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most consecutive 20+ point games (126): “Honestly, I try not to think about it, especially during the season. There’s a lot going on…

But to interact with a guy like that (Wilt Chamberlain) is special. It’s crazy to think… pic.twitter.com/Mdfj7jVSDp

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 10 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander will try to set the NBA record for most consecutive 20+ point games when the Thunder host the Celtics on Thursday, making it 127.

The LA Clippers have been one of the league’s best teams since Dec. 20, but Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland are still content with one month remaining in the NBA’s 2025-26 regular season.

After starting the season 6–21, the Clippers have bounced back and are 26–11, reaching .500 for the first time since the early parts of the season. The Clippers moved to a 32-32 record with a win over the New York Knicks on Monday night to move past the Golden State Warriors for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

But Kawhi Leonard wasn’t ready to celebrate anything just yet.

“It’s nice, you know, but the job’s not done,” Kawhi Leonard admitted after the game. “The season isn’t over. That’s to be expected. Like I tell the guys, you don’t train to lose, you train to win, so yeah, it’s OK.”

Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, including seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals, in the Clippers’ win over the Knicks, while making 10 of 19 shots from the field in 35 minutes of play.

After the game Leonard spoke with several Clippers players about the importance of maintaining their focus throughout the remainder of this regular season.

“We just talked to some players about it,” Leonard said. “Today, when I heard we were .500. Like I said, the job’s not done, we’ve still got games to play, so there’s nothing to be happy about.”

In his fourth game with the Clippers since returning from a foot injury, Darius Garland played a strong game as he worked his way through the minutes restriction. Garland scored 23 points with seven assists and two steals in 30 minutes of play, knocking down five three-pointers in the process.

He echoed Kawhi Leonard’s sentiments after the game, saying there is still more work to be done.

“I’m just here to win games,” Darius Garland said after the win over the Knicks. “That’s what we do, work in the offseason to win games so it’s exciting to get back to .500, but we still have a lot more work to do. We’re not done yet.

“[Being .500] Just a number. As I said before, we’re not done yet. There are still a lot of games left, and hopefully we’ll win some of them so keep trying, keep working on yourself, don’t worry about anyone else. We have to get better as a team, especially with our new guys getting acclimated and everything like that, so yeah, we’re just worried about the Clippers here.

Head coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged that reaching .500 after being 15 games behind and deep in trouble is an accomplishment in itself.

“It means a lot,” head coach Tyronn Lue explained. “Our guys in the locker room stuck with it, kept fighting, kept competing. We thought we should have been better and could have been better. Injuries hurt us, but this team, since I’ve been here six years, our guys always keep fighting when our backs are against the wall.”

“I give credit to our coaching staff they did a great job sticking with it, staying positive, continuing to help these guys get better. Starting 6-21 and getting to .500 right now is huge for us.”

The Clippers still face an uphill battle as they try to continue their lead in the Western Conference standings. As of Tuesday night, the Clippers are the eighth seed despite having the same 32-32 record as the Golden State Warriors as they currently lead the season series 2-1 with one game remaining on the final night of the regular season.

The Phoenix Suns have played five games on the Clippers, and have continued to play well despite missing players like Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, and Mark Williams all year.

The LA Clippers have maintained throughout the season that they are a better team than their record suggests, even when they started the season at a modest 6–21. But after months of work and impressive play on both ends of the court, the Clippers did something no other team has ever done.

The Clippers lost 21 of their first 27 games to start the 2025-26 regular season, which is far from what they expected given the offseason additions they made. But between Bradley Beal’s season-ending injury, Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury and Chris Paul’s failure, the Clippers were having a lot of work to do to start the season.

All of which made what the Clippers were able to accomplish on Monday night all the more incredible.

LA won 126–118 at home against the New York Knicks, led by Kawhi Leonard’s 29 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in 35 minutes of play. The win improved the Clippers’ record to 32–32 on the season, bringing their record to .500.

No team in NBA history that started with six or fewer wins in the first 27 games has ever come back to finish the season with a .500 record or reach a .500 record at any time thereafter.

The Clippers are the second team in NBA history to reach .500 after playing 15 or more games under .500 in the same season, joining the 2016–17 Miami Heat. That Heat team started the season 19 games under .500 at 11–30 and finished the season at 41–41.

The only difference is that no team has ever finished over .500 in a single season, which the Clippers can now do on Wednesday night when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Intuit Dome for the second time in three weeks.

“It means a lot,” head coach Tyronn Lue said after the Clippers’ win over the New York Knicks on Monday night. “Our guys in the locker room stuck with it, kept fighting, kept competing. We thought we should have been better and could have been better. Injuries hurt us, but this team, since I’ve been here six years, our guys always keep fighting when our backs are against the wall.

“I give credit to our coaching staff they did a great job sticking with it, staying positive, continuing to help these guys get better. Starting 6-21 and getting to .500 right now is huge for us.”

The Clippers and Wolves kick off Wednesday night’s game at 7:30 PM PST.

The LA Clippers came into Friday night’s clash against the San Antonio Spurs having won three games in a row and were looking for a big win against the second seed in the Western Conference. With another game on Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Clippers needed a big win.

Unfortunately, just the opposite happened.

The Clippers dominated the Spurs in the first half and led 69–49 at halftime. They took their largest lead, 75–50, with a little over nine minutes left in the game and LA looked to be headed for an easy second half.

But San Antonio came roaring back behind Julian Champagnie, Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. Champagnie recorded 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor in the third quarter, cutting the Clippers’ 25-point lead to 11 entering the fourth quarter.

The Spurs then started the fourth quarter with an 18-5 run and took a 99-97 lead over the Clippers. Both teams exchanged buckets until the final seconds, when the Clippers had a costly turnover inbounding the ball with 14.9 seconds remaining.

Nevertheless, Julien Champaign missed two free throws for a three-point lead, giving the Clippers a chance to win, only for San Antonio to secure an offensive rebound and send Stephen Cassel to the free throw line to put the Clippers up by three points.

Cassel made the first free throw to put the Spurs up by two, but missed the second free throw, giving the Clippers their last chance to go the length of the court to tie at the buzzer or win. Well, that’s what would have happened had they been able to grab a defensive rebound. Cassel came up with the loose ball rebound and scored at the rim to give the Spurs a four-point lead with 1.4 seconds remaining.

The Clippers lost to the Spurs 116–112, a game in which their key players played heavy minutes – Kawhi Leonard at 37, Brook Lopez at 34, Derrick Jones Jr. at 34 – in the first night of a back-to-back set with the visiting Giants.

Clippers in Friday’s game Perfect 108-0 record Leading by 20 or more points at halftime. In doing so, L.A. lost its first game in franchise history, according to Clippers radio host Adam Osland.

The Clippers were 108–0 when up by 20 at halftime.

Were

– Adam Oslund (@followAdamA) 7 March 2026

Additionally, ESPN’s Michael Wright reported that the Clippers’ 25-point lead was the largest increased lead in franchise history in the play-by-play era.

Return of 25 points. This was the Clippers’ largest lead in the play-by-play era.

– Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) 7 March 2026

The 25-point lead is tied for the largest lead of the season with the Rockets blowing a 25-point lead against the Pelicans on December 18, 2025. Strangely, the largest blown lead was last season, 26 points, when the Clippers came back from being down 26 points to defeat the San Antonio Spurs.

In fact, the top two biggest comeback/burst leads each year since the 2020-21 season have involved either the LA Clippers or San Antonio Spurs.

Been digging around and found some interesting stats…

The Clippers took a 25-point lead against the Spurs last night, which is equivalent to the largest lead of this 2025-26 regular season.

Last season, the Spurs blew a 26-point lead against the Clippers, which was tied…

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 7 March 2026

The Clippers will have a chance to erase the sour taste left from this game in less than 24 hours when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies at 5pm PST. Meanwhile, the Spurs will take Saturday off before returning to action against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night at 5 p.m. PST.

DeMar DeRozan may be in the final stages of his career and he’s playing hard for a bad Sacramento Kings team, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s been playing at a high level for a very long time.

He has been one of the most consistent scorers in NBA history, and on Thursday night, in a battle against the New Orleans Pelicans between the two worst teams in the West, DeRozan passed Stephen Curry for 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.

DeRozan entered the night with 26,439 points, and in the opening round of the Kings’ clash against the Pelicans, he scored his ninth and 10th points of the night. He needed just eight to tie Curry, but he wasted no time in passing his fellow 2009 draftee on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

This may be on hold for a while, as Curry is currently dealing with a knee injury and there is no specific timeline yet for when he will return.

Meanwhile, DeRozan is as healthy as ever, and even though the Kings are prioritizing the development of their youth for a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he will still have plenty of opportunities to put up points in the final month of the 2025-26 season.

Will DeMar DeRozan have to fight for his future after his tenure with the Kings ends?

DeRozan is already 36 years old, and by the time the 2026-27 season starts, he will be 37 years old. He still has a year left on his Kings contract, meaning he could still be stuck in Sacramento next season.

The future Hall of Famer’s career is winding down, and he hasn’t had a chance to compete for a title since his days with the Toronto Raptors. He has to accept that, to have a chance at the Larry O’Brien Trophy, he will have to play the sixth man role (at best) on a winning team. Would he be willing to do so?

The Charlotte Hornets are winners of six straight games after recently defeating the Boston Celtics 118-89. According to the NBA on ESPN, this was another big win for the Hornets, and they made history with this win and put themselves in the same conversation as the 2017 Golden State Warriors.

“Charlotte Hornets are on a roll: six straight wins by 15+ points. “Tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history, longest since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors,” the NBA wrote on Twitter.

Everyone knows what a special Warriors team they were and Kevin Durant changed everything for them. The Hornets haven’t added a player like Durant, but it seems like they’ve figured something out over the past few months and are finally reaping the benefits.

The Hornets are now over .500, and have a chance to keep climbing the Eastern Conference standings. At this point, they will be in the play-ins, but if some of the teams above them start to falter, they could finish in the top six.

Not only are the starting five playing well, but the bench comes in and keeps the team afloat. Coby White has been a huge contributor for the Hornets since he started playing, and he was a great addition at the trade deadline to give them someone who can come in and score at will.

“Just a dynamic veteran guard off the bench. He’s doing a great job. He can score 20-30. [points] Every night if he wanted to, but just having him as the sixth man, it’s great for us,” Miles Bridges said. “He’s playing in his hometown. Therefore, it should feel extra good for him and be comfortable. We’re trying to make him comfortable with our team and we’re happy to have him.”

It’s been a great time for the Hornets to play like this, and they’ll look to continue that.

The Charlotte Hornets demolished the Boston Celtics 118-89 on Wednesday at TD Garden. In the process, the Hornets continued to rise and according to Basket News, Kon Knueppel has officially made NBA history by joining Michael Jordan in an elite club after scoring 20 points.

“Such a performance allowed Knueppel to tie Michael Jordan for the most games in NBA history with at least 20 points and at least 65% true shooting,” Basket News wrote on its website.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the Hornets, who are now 32–31, and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Knueppel has been the star of the show, averaging 19.2 points per game while shooting 48.8% from the field, including 43.6% from the triple. On Wednesday, he had 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Knueppel recently made history with three-point transformations and Charlotte is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Along with Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, these three have given the Hornets momentum and helped improve the team’s standing after the Hornets went just 19-63 last season. Knueppel has achieved a shooting mark that only Jordan has achieved in his rookie season.

The Hornets took Knueppel with the fourth overall pick before the start of the 2025–26 season. Since then, he has battled his former college roommate Cooper Flagg in the battle for the Rookie of the Year award. Although that race isn’t scheduled, there’s something else Knueppel can accomplish that Flagg can’t.

Currently, the Hornets are striving for a playoff spot. If they finish in the top six, they will automatically get a berth. If they finish anywhere between seventh and 10th, they will qualify for the play-in place. The Hornets have not made the playoffs since the 2015–16 season. Their next game will be on Friday against the Miami Heat, the team directly ahead of them in the standings.

New York Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson made franchise history by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 127-98 on Friday. The 29-year-old surpassed 7,000 points in the first quarter of his 265th game with New York, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone in team history.

Brunson finished with a game-high 27 points in 31 minutes, shooting 11 of 17 from the field (64.7%), 4 of 6 from three-point range and 1-of-2 at the line. He also contributed seven rebounds and three assists. He exploded for 22 points in the opening quarter, including 9 of 10 shots and all three of his three-point attempts. The 22-point burst was the second-most points in a first quarter in franchise history, one short of his own record set against Milwaukee on January 12, 2025. It was the 10th 20-point quarter of his career, recorded as a Knicks, and the highest-scoring quarter by a New York player in any span this season.

In 55 games this season, Brunson has averaged 26.7 points, 6.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game, while shooting 47.1% from the floor and 37.6% from three-point range. He finished February averaging 23.8 points, 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 made threes and 0.8 steals in 35.6 minutes per game. Since signing with the Knicks as a free agent in 2022 after four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson has earned three consecutive All-Star selections, two All-NBA Second Team honors, and led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years last season.

New York shot 21 of 42 (50%) from three-point range and 60% overall in the first half, while leading 77–57 at halftime. The Knicks committed 16 turnovers resulting in 19 points and all five starters scored in double figures for the 15th time this season. OG Anunoby scored 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting, Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Landry Shamet hit five threes for 15 points.

The Bucks, who had won eight of their last 10 games and were playing their fifth game in eight days, played without Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain), who missed his 14th consecutive game.

New York picked up an important win over a sub-.500 Milwaukee team. Next, the Knicks will host the Western Conference’s No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The Charlotte Hornets have made great strides towards becoming a playoff team, and a big reason for that is Hornets rookie Kon Nueppel. Under the leadership of their Rookie of the Year candidate, the Hornets have climbed up the Eastern Conference standings.

Knuppel was one of the league’s best rookies this season, and came into Thursday night’s game with a chance to make NBA history. Knueppel entered the game against the Indiana Pacers with 201 three-pointers in his rookie season, just five three-pointers away from tying Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray for most three-pointers in a rookie season.

In the 2022–23 regular season, Murray recorded 206 three-pointers in 80 games as a rookie for the Kings. This season, Kon Knueppel made a total of 201 three-pointers in only 58 regular season games with the Hornets.

With his fifth three-pointer of the game, all of which came in the first half, Knueppel tied Keegan Murray’s rookie record for three-pointers in a season.

Con Knueppel made his sixth three-pointer of the night with 1:05 remaining in the third quarter, giving him 207 three-pointers on the season.

Charlotte led Indiana 107–82 after three quarters of play. Knuppel had 20 points and three rebounds in three quarters of play. Brandon Miller led all scorers with 33 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Most 3-pointers made by a rookie in a single season in NBA history:

🔹207 — Kon Knueppel (59 GP)
🔸206 – Keegan Murray (80 GP)

Congratulations to the Hornets newbie 👏pic.twitter.com/7DaOXTapaP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

Hornets guard Kon Knueppel has passed Keegan Murray for most 3-pointers in a rookie season.

1. Kon Knuppel – 207 (59 games)
2. Keegan Murray – 206 (80 games)
3. Donovan Mitchell 187 (79 games) pic.twitter.com/lg7AeKs66A

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 27 February 2026

In his first season in the NBA, Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three and 89.3 percent from the free throw line. This is the most efficient season by any player scoring more than 15 points per night in NBA history.

The Hornets were 12 games under .500 at 11–23 on January 2, 2026. Since that loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte has gone 17-8, one of the better records in the league. Now sitting at 28-31 after winning seven of their last 10 games, the Hornets have a very good chance to be one of the four play-in teams and an outside chance to climb into the top six in the Eastern Conference.

The Hornets are currently just one game ahead of the 10th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the West and just 4.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Miami Heat on Thursday. During the contest, star guard Tyrese Maxey made franchise history by surpassing one of Allen Iverson’s team records.

After scoring a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter, Maxey surpassed Iverson’s three-pointer record for the 76ers. Iverson initially set the record with 885 three-pointers during his time in Philadelphia.

“Tyreese Maxey passes Allen Iverson for most 3-point field goals in 76ers history.”

Tyrese Maxey has passed Allen Iverson for most 3-point field goals in 76ers history.

🥇Maxi – 886 3-pointers made
🥈Iverson – 885 3-pointers madepic.twitter.com/9dYoH98Q74

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

Maxi will have the opportunity to continue adding to his franchise record. Especially considering that the six-year veteran signed a five-year, $204 million contract through the summer of 2024. That deal locks him in Philadelphia through the 2028-29 campaign.

The 25-year-old guard has emerged as a superstar in Philadelphia since joining the club in 2020. He ultimately had a breakout year in the 2023–24 campaign, earning the Most Improved Player of the Year award for his efforts.

Tyrese Maxey continues to play at a high level, as he entered Thursday’s game averaging 29.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 46.7% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the three-point line. His performances this season earned him the second All-Star award of his career.

Maxi broke Iverson’s record which was set in the 2009–10 season. It took almost 16 years to break that franchise record. Tyrese Maxey was able to surpass Allen Iverson’s three-point record in just six seasons, while it took the 76ers legend just over 10 seasons to reach 885 three-pointers. However, the game has changed significantly since then, as players shoot more threes than ever before.

The Houston Rockets took on the hapless Sacramento Kings in quick action on Wednesday night. They already had a 27-point lead at halftime, and as a result, some of their best players, including Alpern Sengun and Kevin Durant, did not have much need to play extended minutes. But compared to the Kings, the Rockets stars didn’t need to play much time to do their damage.

In fact, in their win over the Kings, Sengun recorded his third triple-double of the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in annihilation of the shorthanded Sacramento frontline. In doing so, the Rockets star made a little history.

Despite only being 23 years old, Seungun now has the 10th-most 25/10/10 games by a center in NBA history, as reported by the Real App account on X (formerly Twitter).

Sengun remains the Rockets’ primary offensive center, and has served as the team’s de facto point guard this season amid an injury to Fred VanVleet. There have been tough moments for Sengun and the Rockets this season, but the Turkish star is at his best – a wrecking ball of a scorer in the paint who can make his teammates better by using his focus to create incredible looks.

All’s reportedly good for the struggling Rockets

Even though a lot of trouble is brewing for the Rockets this season, they somehow sit in third place in the Western Conference. It’s a testament to their high performance levels on a game-to-game basis that they remain one of the best teams in a stacked conference, even amid the team’s ridiculous inconsistencies.

It was the kind of win the Rockets needed – a solid win that allowed their best players to play fewer minutes than usual, especially as they faced a tough game against the Orlando Magic for the second straight match.

The Charlotte Hornets struck gold with the selection of sharpshooting wing Kon Nueppel with the fourth overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Knueppel has made an immediate impact for the Hornets thanks to his consistently excellent play, leading them to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Many believed that his skills would easily translate to the NBA game, but even Knueppel’s most optimistic supporters would not have guessed that he would play so well so early in his professional career.

On Tuesday night, in a comfortable win over the faltering Chicago Bulls, Knueppel had another solid regular season, scoring 21 points on an efficient 7-12 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc as the Hornets blew a lead of over 30 points.

Knueppel entered the night just two three-pointers short of his career-high 200 points; In surpassing the triple, he needed only 58 games to surpass that figure, which is the fastest ever performance in NBA history, as reported by the official ClutchPoints account on X (formerly Twitter).

The Hornets sharpshooter is quickly on his way to becoming one of the most prolific outside shooters in league history, and considering how important shooting skills are, especially in today’s NBA, Knueppel is well on his way to becoming one of the league’s best players.

Kon Nueppel is the jewel of the Hornets’ rebuild

It’s not at all clear that Knuppel is truly the crown jewel of the Hornets’ rebuild. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are incredible players in their own right, but Knueppel’s unstoppable scoring ability and efficient volume production from beyond the arc have made him one of the most valuable players in the association, especially considering he is only 20 years old.

On the season, Knueppel averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 49/44/89 shooting splits.

The New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night and it will mark many special occasions for the franchise’s players.

First and foremost, guard Dejounte Murray will make his long-awaited return to the basketball court in January 2025 after missing a total of 13 months due to a torn right Achilles tendon.

Head coach James Borrego said before the game, Murray would play and be on a one-minute limit in the game.

But Tuesday night will also mark a milestone for forward Zion Williamson. Duke’s former number one player has suffered a number of injuries since entering the league in 2019, and everyone is hoping he will finally turn a corner this season.

Tuesday night will mark Williamson’s 26th consecutive start, a new career high for the Pelicans forward.

Zion Williamson is set to make his 26th consecutive start tonight, which would be the longest of his career.

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 24 February 2026

So far, Zion Williamson has played in 42 of the Pelicans’ 58 games this season, averaging 21.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting 58.7 percent from the field.

According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Friday’s game against the Bucks was the 41st game of the season for Zion Williamson, who triggered a $16.8 million contract guaranteed for the 2026-27 season.

If Williamson is able to play eight more games to reach 51 after tonight, his contract guarantees will increase to $25.3 million. If he plays 61 games it will jump to $33.7 million.

If Williamson plays 61 games and meets certain weight criteria, he can fully guarantee the $42.2 million he is owed for the 2026–27 season.

The Pelicans have 24 games remaining on Tuesday, meaning Williamson will have to play in 19 of the final 24 games to have a chance to fully guarantee a deal next season.

In his seven seasons in the NBA, Zion Williamson has played 24 games in his rookie season, 61 in his second season, did not play at all in the 2021-22 season, 29 games in his third season, 70 games in his fourth season, and 30 games in his fifth season.

Good morning. No, it was not a dream. This really happened. What a win for Team USA, Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils.

Of course, Jack leading the United States over Canada is historic for hockey in the United States. However, the devils also needed it. There is now a ray of hope in a disappointing 2025-26. Their superstar created history by winning an Olympic gold medal on this side of the border for the first time since 1980.

It was an incredible moment for the player who probably needed it most.

The link explains how he scored the golden goal and why Jack Hughes silenced his critics.

Elsewhere, Canada is making some excuses after silver medal, Vincent Trocheck’s trade value and more.

Let’s do that hockey.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Jack Hughes scores the golden goal to lead Team USA past Canada in overtime, eliminating men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

After carving his name into history, Jack Hughes silenced his critics, and showed everyone why he is one of the best hockey players in the world.

📺 Devils Rink Report: And after all that, Jack Hahn explains on the latest Devils Rink Report why it was so important for Hughes to go to the Olympics, despite the optics, and why it’s a plus for New Jersey.

Full episode here, like and subscribe 👇🏼

Please be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on those notifications for when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

How good was this moment? Throughout the USA gold medal celebration, the team made sure the late Johnny Gaudreau was not forgotten. Not much else to say about it, just enjoy:

Jack Hughes celebrating with FBI Director Kash Patel in the locker room and Donald Trump immediately got on the horn to talk to Team USA and extend an invitation to the White House for Tuesday. Here is the call:

The Athletic ($): While it’s not the Miracle on Ice of the 1980s, Team USA’s win over Canada shows times have changed. Still, hockey is not in crisis in Canada. More about why.

Canada is heartbroken. You can see it on their faces as they accept their silver medal and a plush doll. However, some comments from leaf wearers definitely appear to be coping mechanisms.

Nathan MacKinnon on Canada’s Olympic final defeat:

“You be the judge of who was the better team today.”

MacKinnon’s open-net miss was one of several opportunities the Canadians failed to capitalize on. pic.twitter.com/iyiBDdrjIS

– The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) 22 February 2026

Forever Blueshirts: Team USA Bill Guerin faced a lot of criticism for his roster decisions. Now no one can question him. One of those decisions was to bring in forward Vincent Trocheck to the New York Rangers, who played a key role in earning the gold. Pat Pickens explains how the Olympics increased Trocheck’s trade value.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: This is how the Pittsburgh Penguins reacted to Sidney Crosby’s absence, USA’s win and Canada’s loss on Sunday.

San Jose Hockey Now: Why San Jose Sharks star Maclin Celebrini had no Olympic memorabilia, despite silver.

Detroit Hockey Now: Dylan Larkin leaves his mark on Team USA’s success. Here’s how important the Detroit Red Wings captain was on their way to the gold medal.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

As Los Angeles Clippers newcomer Darius Garland struggled with a toe injury, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline in a deal that also included star James Harden. While fans wait for Garland’s debut in a Clippers uniform, he’ll talk about why this happened to him and what his injuries probably had to do with it.

Garland’s name was in the flood of rumors for a trade to the Cavaliers at the deadline, including the winner of the Los Angeles sweepstakes. Speaking with Endscape, Garland would speak on how a trade away from Cleveland was inevitable and that the current toe injury “was a factor in it.”

“It was going to happen at any time, in any situation [trade] deadline or this summer. [My agent] Rich [Paul] I had that conversation with him last summer,” Garland said. “They didn’t know if I was going to be healthy for this season, which I will be. But he thought James had something I didn’t, I believe. He still has playoff experience and All-Star numbers today, even though he wasn’t an All-Star this year. But yes, they want to win right now. He also has a group. And I guess I wasn’t really part of the plan.

Darius Garland calls the Clippers a “really good situation”

With Garland expected to better compete for the Clippers this season and beyond, there is no denying his talent as a star point guard in the NBA. Garland has not played a game with the Cavaliers since January 14, as he explains how excited he is to be with Los Angeles, calling it a “really good situation.”

“But now, I’m in a really good position here. I have the ball in my hands, where I can do a little more. I have another superstar. [Leonard] Next to me. I might as well go get it,” Garland said.

Garland wants to return soon and help the Clippers improve as the team’s record is 27-28, which is ninth in the West.

Cade Cunningham’s historic performance led the Detroit Pistons to solidify their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 126-111 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Cunningham produced 42 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in 38 minutes, shooting 17-for-34 (50 percent) from the field, 5-for-11 from three-point range and 3-for-3 at the foul line. He finished with one steal, two blocks, five turnovers and zero fouls. The 24-year-old scored 24 of Detroit’s 58 points in the first half and 14 points in the opening quarter, hitting three 3-pointers, as the Pistons erased a 9-2 deficit with a 21-8 run. He finished the first half with eight points and assists on a 7-0 run, leading Detroit 58–48 at halftime.

Cunningham’s stat line made franchise history. He became the first Pistons player to post at least 40 points, five rebounds, 10 assists and five 3-pointers in a single game. It was his third 40-point game of the season, his 28th double-double, and fell four points shy of his career high. He is now third in MVP odds at +700 at BetMGM, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-150) and Nikola Jokic (+275).

Meanwhile, Detroit improved to 41–13, the best record in the NBA, six games ahead of the Boston Celtics in the East and seven games ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division. The Pistons have won nine of their last 11 games and completed a three-game season sweep of New York by a combined 84 points, extending their regular season winning streak over the Knicks to six games after losing 16 straight in the earlier matchup.

Playing without suspended centers Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, Detroit still won the rebounding battle 44–38 and outscored New York 58–56 in the paint. Paul Reed started at center and recorded 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while Tobias Harris contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ausner Thompson scored 10 points.

New York shot 47.1 percent overall but just 8-for-35 (22.9 percent) from three. Jalen Brunson scored 33 points with eight assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Knicks host the Houston Rockets next Saturday, while the Pistons travel to Chicago to face the Bulls.

When the Los Angeles Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac, they made it clear that they were rebuilding rather than completely rebuilding. Steve Ballmer invested nearly $2 billion in Intuit Dome, so he might not want to hit the reset button. Instead, the organization has added youth to the NBA’s oldest team. Newcomer Benedict Mathurin thrilled the crowd in LA’s first home game since the aforementioned trades, making history in a 115–114 win against the Denver Nuggets.

The former Indiana Pacers wing, who was included in the Zubac deal, scored a game-high 38 points in 34 minutes off the bench, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and recording five rebounds, four assists and three steals. According to ClutchPoints reporter Tomer Azarli, he set a new scoring record for a Clippers player debuting on his home field and also matched a career high. That was not all.

Appropriately, Mathurin passed Jamal Crawford for most points by a reserve in his LA debut. This squad has a new offensive spark plug, and he is only 23 years old. After making an impressive debut against the Houston Rockets last Wednesday, the young Canadian won over Clippers fans by outclassing several competitors, including Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray.

Benedict Mathurin will be a restricted free agent this summer, but it stands to reason Los Angeles will want to lock him up for the foreseeable future. Tyronn Lue’s team is now just one game below .500, and Darius Garland still isn’t in tune. Although it’s not what City had envisioned, there is certainly excitement in the air after this hard-fought victory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who is the most entertaining tennis player of all time?
A: While subjective, Mansour Bahrami is widely considered the most entertaining exhibition player, while Gaël Monfils and Nick Kyrgios are current favorites for their flair and antics.

Q2: What is the most watched tennis match in India?
A: Historically, the Wimbledon finals featuring Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal garner the highest viewership in India, followed closely by matches involving Indian stars like Sania Mirza or Rohan Bopanna.

Q3: Why do players like Djokovic do impressions?
A: Tennis is a high-stress individual sport. Personalities like Djokovic use humor to connect with fans and lighten the atmosphere on the tour.

Q4: Where can I watch live tennis in India?
A: In India, major tournaments are usually broadcasted on the Sony Sports Network or Star Sports, with digital streaming available on platforms like SonyLIV and Disney+ Hotstar.