Tag: NBA

It’s a sprint to the finish line. Two weeks remain in the 2025-26 fantasy season, and in that time, the moves made by fantasy general managers could make or break their teams.

The time is now for a final push in NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition if you want to sit atop your league when all is said and done.

Here’s what you need to know entering Week 24:

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Last week’s story

This was supposed to be a gap year for the Boston Celtics (50-24). With Jayson Tatum sidelined and the team’s core broken up, it seemed they would need time to get back to title contention. But they’ve had no problem piling up wins.

At second place in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics are four games back of the Detroit Pistons (54-20) with eight games remaining in the regular season. They’ve already clinched their 12th consecutive berth in the playoffs — the longest active streak in the league.

Jaylen Brown leads with 50.1 fantasy points per game (FPPG), while Tatum has found his fantasy form, averaging 53.6 FPPG in his last three games. Not to be underappreciated are Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who own 40.3 and 34.1 FPPG, respectively

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Peak performances

Who else but Nikola Jokić? He topped the podium once again as his phenomenal season rolled on. The three-time MVP tallied 85 fantasy points Wednesday, spearheading a 142-135 triumph for the Denver Nuggets (48-28) over the Dallas Mavericks (24-50). He racked up 23 points scored, 21 rebounds, 19 assists and one steal to earn his 30th triple-double of 2025-26. The seven-time All-NBA selection is on pace to finish first in both TFP and FPPG.

Alperen Sengun started and ended the week with a bang. He dropped 81 fantasy points Sunday for the Houston Rockets (45-29) and 78 Monday in a 134-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (25-51) and 132-124 loss to the Chicago Bulls (29-45), respectively. He combined for 69 points scored, 26 rebounds, 17 assists, five blocks and five steals in those outings. The two-time All-Star ranks 12th with 3,192 TFP and 13th with 49.1 FPPG.

“The Alien,” meanwhile, continues to be a one-of-a-kind force around the league. On Wednesday, Victor Wembanyama dropped 70 fantasy points, leading the way as he often does for the San Antonio Spurs (56-18) in a 123-98 win against the Memphis Grizzlies (25-49). The 22-year-old forward/center pitched in 19 points scored, 15 rebounds, three assists, seven blocks and three steals. His 53.9 FPPG qualifies as seventh-best in the Association.

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Transaction tips

A chest injury to Cade Cunningham opened the door for Daniss Jenkins, and the second-year guard walked right through it. He’s averaged 39.7 FPPG in his last seven games and scored 45 or more three times during that stretch. That’s well above his season-long average of 21.0 FPPG, and with Cunningham likely out until the playoffs, there will be even more opportunities to contribute in the coming two weeks. Jenkins is just $4.7M — an easy addition to any roster.

Also plenty active as of late has been Ace Bailey for the Utah Jazz (21-54). In light of the team’s lengthy injury report, the rookie has stepped into an expanded role offensively, accounting for 44.3 FPPG in his last six games. He had never scored more than 50 this season, but after doing so March 19, did it three times in a row. Bringing in Bailey does come at a cost of $8.4M, though he’s shown his value. He has 1,700 TFP this season.

It pays to feed the hot hand. Rostering players from the Spurs would be a wise move. They’ve won 24 of their last 26 games, and this week, will face the Bulls on Monday, Golden State Warriors (36-39) on Wednesday, LA Clippers (39-36) on Thursday and Nuggets on Saturday. Wembanyama (53.9 FPPG for $18.9M), Stephon Castle (40.4 FPPG for $10.3M) and De’Aaron Fox (39.3 FPPG for $13.9M) are all reliable options.

Play NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition!

Slamming down a statement win in Charlotte.

Suddenly whole again, the Sixers look ready for the final run.

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5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

March 29, 2026

Total Team Efforts: Winning moments for Maxey, PG & Embiid, Wemby & Castle cruise, Detroit’s depth shines

Roundup: Hot-shooting Hawks survive late, Booker & Green power Suns, Coward guides Grizz

Clutch Collision: SGA & Brunson set to bring late-game heroics to Sunday Night Basketball

Also On SNB: Denver’s duo of Joker & Murray is producing the best stretch run of their shared careers

On NBA TV: Kawhi’s matching increased scoring with elevated leadership in LA’s historic turnaround

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

Another all-day slate of hoops…

A 9-game Sunday starts on NBA TV with Clippers visiting the Bucks (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch), and concludes with a Sunday Night Basketball doubleheader: the Thunder host the Knicks (7:30 ET | Tap To Watch) followed by the Nuggets welcoming the Warriors (10 ET | Tap To Watch).

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1. TOTAL TEAM EFFORTS: SIXERS ASSEMBLE, SPURS CLINCH, PISTONS ROLL

Full-strength Philly and a hot Hornets squad gave us a possible Play-In preview Saturday – with all the energy of a seven-game series.

Sixers 118, Hornets 114: Playing together for the first time since Jan. 29, Joel Embiid (29 pts, 6 reb), Paul George (26 pts, 13 reb, 4 stl) and Tyrese Maxey (26 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) formed a 25+ point trio to rally Philly to a 15-point comeback W, its fourth in five games. | Recap

• 48-Min Process: Despite 21 points from Embiid and 17 from Maxey before halftime, Philly trailed until the 4th quarter, with Brandon Miller (29 pts, 8 reb, 5 3s) leading Charlotte
• “Southpaw Stuff”: Maxey (finger), playing in his first game since March 7, punctuated the Sixers comeback with a fastbreak poster, tying the game at 97-all with 10:03 left
• “I try to be a warrior for this team,” Maxey said. “Sitting out those weeks was tough for me, but my guys really hooped, they held it down… and now it’s time to go make this run.”
• Maxey’s slam triggered nine lead changes in the final 9 minutes, before a PG inbound triple put Philly ahead for good, thanks to Embiid’s game-saving block
• Points Parties: This was the first game Embiid, George and Maxey all scored 25+, totaling 81 points together.

7th-place Philly ends Charlotte’s five-game win streak, creating a two-game gap between the two and sending the Hornets back to 10th due to a tiebreaker with the Heat.

The Southwest belongs to the silver & black.

Spurs 127, Bucks 95: San Antonio broke away with a 37-point 1st quarter and never looked back for an eighth straight win, with a triple-double from Stephon Castle (22 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) and an Alien-sized double-double from Victor Wembanyama (23 pts, 15 reb, 6 ast). | Recap

• “It shows a lot of progress. I love it,” Wemby said of the Spurs’ 8-game win streak with a +17.9 point differential. “I’ve got 100% trust in my teammates.”
• This was Wemby’s 75th career 20+/10+ double-double, becoming the 4th-youngest player ever to reach that mark, behind Shaq, KAT and Dwight Howard
• Future Of Fiesta: Wemby racked up the highlights, like this behind-the-back dime for a Castle slam, who tied Vic for the franchise lead with his 4th triple-double before age 22

San Antonio clinched the Southwest Division with the win and is back within 2 games of 1st-place OKC.

Without All-Star guards Cade Cunningham (lung) and Anthony Edwards (knee), this showcase of depth went Detroit’s way.

Pistons 109, Wolves 87: Tobias Harris (18 pts) led seven Pistons in double figures, who took control from Donte DiVincenzo (22 pts, 5 3s) and the Wolves for good midway through the 1st quarter, holding Minnesota to a season-low 31.8 FG% (27-85). | Recap

• Paint Power: Outscoring all teams in paint points while surrendering the 3rd-fewest, Detroit took advantage of the Wolves for a 60-32 PITP edge
• Detroit adds a half-game to its 4.5-game lead over 2nd-place Boston, while Minnesota holds on to 5th in the West, a half-game ahead of Houston

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2. ROUNDUP: HAWKS CATCH FIRE, SUNS DUO SHINES, GRIZZ OUTLAST BULLS

Coming off just their second loss since Feb. 22, the hot-shooting Hawks got back in the win column.

Hawks 123, Kings 113: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (27 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl) helped Atlanta survive DeMar DeRozan (22 pts) and seven Kings in double figures, as the Hawks hit eight of their 16 triples in the 4th to shut down Sacramento’s 16-point 2nd-half comeback. | Recap

• Downtown ATL: Alexander-Walker reached 225 triples on the season, passing Kyle Korver and Mookie Blaylock (221) for 4th-most in a season in Hawks history
• Career-Year: NAW’s previous season-high for 3s made was 141 last season. His long-range explosion fits in with career-highs in points (20.5), boards, assists and steals
• Jalen Johnson (26 pts, 5 reb, 10 ast) and CJ McCollum (22 pts, 5 ast) joined Alexander-Walker as 20+ point scorers in Atlanta’s 15th win in 17 games

The 6th-place Hawks are now just .002 win percentage points behind the 5-seed Raptors, with the Sixers just a half-game behind them.

Suns 134, Jazz 109: 7-seed Phoenix’s 39-point 1st quarter powered a runaway win, as Jalen Green (31 pts, 6 reb, 5 3s) and Devin Booker (26 pts, 8 ast) outdueled 26 points apiece from Kyle Filipowski (9 reb) and Brice Sensabaugh. | Recap

Suns 134, Jazz 109: 7-seed Phoenix’s 39-point 1st quarter powered a runaway win, as Jalen Green (31 pts, 6 reb, 5 3s) and Devin Booker (26 pts, 8 ast) outdueled 26 points apiece from Kyle Filipowski (9 reb) and Brice Sensabaugh. | Recap

Grizzlies 125, Bulls 124: Cedric Coward (24 pts, 9 reb, 4 stl) guided the Grizz through a game of 18 ties and 13 lead changes, as seven double-digit Memphis scorers overpowered 29 points from Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey’s 13th triple-double (18 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast). | Recap

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3. CLUTCH KINGS: SHAI & BRUNSON MEET ON SNB

A crash course in clutch could be in session tonight from two of the game’s best.

Jalen “Captain Clutch” Brunson and the Knicks open Sunday Night Basketball’s doubleheader against the Thunder (7:30 ET, NBC & Peacock) and their reigning Kia NBA & Finals MVP-caliber closer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Here’s how Shai and Jalen’s late-game takeovers compare this year:

• He’s Got Hardware: The reigning Kia Clutch Player of the Year, Brunson ranks 11th in total clutch points this season, with 97
• Seizing Opportunity: Shai is tied for the most total clutch points with 156 despite only playing in 25 clutch games this season, having missed 12 contests for the team that leads the league in point differential (+11.1)
• Alone At The End: That’s good for a league-best 6.2 clutch ppg, as the only qualifying player averaging 6.0 or more
• New York (19-12) ranks 7th among this season’s best clutch marks, while only the Lakers have dropped fewer clutch games this season than OKC (22-10), which owns the 2nd-best clutch record

But there’s more than one way to close a clutch W, and SGA and Brunson do their winning work differently, as shown below:

Whose winning ways will take the clutch crown tonight? Top-seeded OKC looks to add to its 2-game advantage over the Spurs, while New York shoots to get back within a game of 2nd-place Boston.

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4. ALSO ON SNB: JOKER & MURRAY LEVELING UP FOR LATE-SEASON PUSH

April showers, taxes and Denver’s star duo leading a postseason push.

You can count on Spring for many things, including inspired play from Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray.

Denver’s duo is elevating their play in a fourth straight stretch run together, knowing exactly what it takes to bring home a championship.

• Playoffs Looming: Joker and Jamal are leveling up at the right time, amid a 5-game win streak that’s moved the Nuggets up to 4th place in the wild West
• Murray’s Flurry: Jamal is averaging 31.6 ppg during the streak, up 6.1 ppg from his career-best season average, along with 7.4
 apg and 4.6 3s on 47.9 3p%
• Not Joking Around: Jokić (24.6 ppg) has raised his rebounding (15.0 rpg) and assisting (14.2 apg) in the streak, two categories he already leads the league in
• Heater Within A Streak: Joker’s had a triple-double in each of the last 4 games, averaging an even greater 25.3 ppg, 16.8 rpg and 15.5
 apg
• Twin 30/10s: Friday’s win marked the 2nd time Murray and Jokić each recorded at least 30 pts and 10 ast in the same game, joining Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as the only duos with multiple such outings

This heightened play from the 2023 NBA Finals tandem has Denver off to its best final 15-game stretch run in Jokić and Murray’s 10 years on the court together.

• Closing Time: Eight games into the final 15, Denver is 6-2 (.750 win%) with seven games left. Joker and Jamal’s previous best was a 10-5 finish (.667 win%) in their title defense year of 2024
• Buckets Up: When Jokić and Murray share the floor, Denver is averaging 7.8 more ppg over its last eight games compared to its season average, which would be the team’s largest final 15-game scoring boost in the Jokić/Murray era
• “This is just like a reward this year,” Jokić said of Murray’s career-year lifting the team. “I think he’s playing [at a] really, really high level the last two or three years.”

Tonight (10 ET, NBC & Peacock), Jokić and Murray close Sunday Night Basketball’s doubleheader against a Western foe who also knows how to finish strong.

Fighting for Play-In positioning, 10th-place Golden State has won 3 straight games. Here’s how 4-time championship coach Steve Kerr’s Dubs squads have finished their last three regular-seasons:

• 2024-25: 7-3, won Play-In game and First Round Playoff series
• 2023-24: 8-2
• 2022-23: 8-2, won First Round Playoff series

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5. ON NBA TV: ‘QUIET’ KAWHI IS A VOCAL LEADER IN CLIPS’ HISTORIC TURNAROUND

Scoring: 28.3 ppg, career-high.

Usage rate: 33.0%, career-high.

A career year of buckets for Kawhi and the Clippers’ historic turnaround has come with Leonard’s increased involvement on offense.

And as The Athletic’s Law Murray writes, that’s not the only area where the Klaw’s been more involved:

“Toward the end of a game at Intuit Dome, with the visiting Orlando Magic leading by two points, the ball found its way into Kawhi Leonard’s hands.

The LA Clippers All-Star felt the defense doubling him with the clock winding down, and instead of forcing a shot, he found recent trade acquisition Bennedict Mathurin.

It was the right play, and Leonard raised his arm in pre-celebration, but Mathurin’s 3-point shot was too long. As Mathurin got to his feet, Leonard was there to greet him, smiling.

The gesture wasn’t lost on Leonard’s teammates…” | Read More

Kawhi’s 8th-place Clippers start Sunday’s action with the second Milwaukee matinée of the weekend, going for a 5th straight win against the Bucks at 3:30 ET.

Elsewhere in the East on Sunday, the Hornets look to bounce back, hosting the Celtics (6 ET), plus the Magic and Raptors clash with postseason standings on the line (6 ET).

• Heat at Pacers (5 ET)
• Kings at Nets (6 ET)
• Wizards at Blazers (6 ET)
• Rockets at Pelicans (7 ET)

Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. 

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As Lakers fans undoubtedly know, that scene has hardly been uncommon the past two years. While L.A.’s late-game mojo didn’t carry over into Detroit on Monday, the Lakers are an astounding 21-7 in games decided by five points or fewer this season and 22-7 in games NBA.com defines as “clutch” (games that were within five points in the last five minutes) after going 23-16 in similar games a year earlier.

The Lakers’ recent nine-game winning streak, in particular, got a big narrative boost thanks to a pair of unlikely clutch wins. Look, 7-2 in a tough stretch of schedule is nice, but nine straight is news. Fittingly, the Lakers won one game where they successfully intentionally missed a free throw at the end (Austin Reaves’s perfect plunk off the front rim against Denver that allowed him to make a game-tying shot) and another one where they unsuccessfully intentionally missed a free throw (Deandre Ayton’s line drive caromed straight into the floor and to Orlando seconds before Kennard’s heroics).

So yes, the Lakers are an odd team, much as they were a year ago. They have an A-list superstar in his prime and an all-time legend who still delivers, and surround it all with another 20-point scorer in Reaves and the pedigree of being one of the league’s marquee franchises.

On the other hand … they just haven’t been that good for most of the year. The Lakers are 46-26 entering Wednesday’s visit to Indiana, but have the point differential of a team that’s 39-33 — a record that would only be seventh in the West and tied for 14th in the entire NBA.

Injuries have been part of the story — somehow, some way, Jake LaRavia is second on this team in total minutes — but the Lakers aren’t the only team in the NBA to have a player miss a game. Their three difference makers have missed 69 games between them, but many of their rivals in the standings can tell similar sob stories.

Moreover, the recent run of success feels a lot less fluky than some of Los Angeles’ early-season escapes. The Lakers are only 25-19 in “non-crunch-time” games this year, which is usually a better indicator of a team’s quality and thus a not-great one for L.A.’s postseason viability, but nearly half the wins have been since the All-Star break.

In fact, the recent non-clutch games may be a much better reason to believe in Los Angeles’ legitimacy than the Houdini acts against Denver or Orlando. While the nine-game winning streak was greased by a couple of unlikely, fantastic finishes that may be hard to conjure up on demand, the Lakers are also 10-1 in their last 11 non-crunch time games. What that means, basically, is that they are winning games easily quite often, and rarely losing the same way — the polar opposite of where they were the first half of the season, and the biggest predictive “tell” of a team’s true quality.

Since getting pummeled by Boston 111-89 in their second game out of the All-Star break, the Lakers have not only won the non-crunch games, but won them against good teams. This is an important distinction, as we’ve seen the last-season schedule distort many other teams’ results (greetings, Hawks fans!), which are padded by routs of the league’s eight shameless tankers.

The Lakers, however, haven’t been fattening up on the underclass. The Sacramento Kings and the Chicago Bulls are the only two teams they’ve played in this stretch that have given up on the season. L.A.’s stretch of non-clutch wins includes a pair in Houston, one at Miami, and surprisingly easy home wins against the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since that game against Boston, they have yet to lose by more than seven points.

I’m dancing around the real topic here, so let’s take a more direct line: These results are pretty important as far as the “Are they a contender?” question that hangs over the Lakers, for this season and as they plan their future.

On multiple levels, their recent run of play has turned a hard “no” into a “maybe?”

Long-time readers are familiar with me saying this, but I’ll go ahead and say it again: If you aren’t one of the top-three seeds and haven’t won at least 52 games, your odds of winning a championship are infinitesimally small.

We’ve had only one of the last 48 champions meet that criteria (the 1996 Houston Rockets), and with at least 10 playoff teams in each of those seasons that were below my cut line, it means any individual team in this bucket is about a 1-in-400 proposition historically.

Thus, the goal for any wannabe contender is to finish the regular season outside that bucket. In fact, three weeks ago, I wrote dismissively of the Lakers’ chances for that very reason.

The win streak changed that trajectory. Historically, the part about “winning at least 52 games” is important — top-three seeds with fewer than 52 wins have a long, proud history of getting thrashed in the playoffs, including a preponderance of the first-round upsets involving second and third seeds. Astute readers will note that the list includes last year’s L.A. quad, a No. 3 seed but one with just 50 wins, and one that was excused in five games by Minnesota in the first round.

Welp … after winning nine straight in a tough stretch of schedule, the Lakers have suddenly banked 46 wins, which means six more gets them to the magical 52 threshold. From here, the road to 52 doesn’t seem difficult — the team has five games left against tankers (including the upcoming Murderer’s Row of Indiana-Brooklyn-Washington) and six at home. While it also plays the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder twice, L.A.’s path to 52 is achievable solely by winning the five gimmes and defeating a reeling Golden State team, even if the Lakers lose their other four games.

With a win total of 52 or above, the Lakers are almost assured of remaining in a top-three seed as well. ESPN BPI projects the Rockets and Wolves to reach 49 or 50 wins, with the Nuggets grabbing 51. Additionally, the Lakers won the tiebreak against all three teams and would win any multi-team tie; a team like Denver has to pass them, not just catch them. (That intentional miss by Reaves two weeks ago looms quite large here!)

As others have written, the Lakers’ improving chemistry among their three perimeter stars has played a big role in their surge, and the timing doesn’t seem accidental. As I noted a year ago, incorporating an extremely high-usage player such as Luka Dončić is difficult enough in the offseason, let alone mid-stream after the shocking trade from Dallas last February. It seemed like it took a full year before L.A. finally struck the right balance with LeBron James and Reaves. Between that, the Kennard trade and some improved health, their move up the West food chain seems entirely believable.

Of course, at this point, I should probably discuss the elephant in the room. If we’re going to talk euphorically about the Lakers returning to the NBA’s contender class, we also must include an orca-sized pillar of salt. The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season, by far, and yet even in that stretch, the two teams they must beat, the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, have still been better.

Oklahoma City has won 12 in a row and gone 15-1 since the break, with the only loss coming at Detroit in a game that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso all missed. San Antonio, meanwhile, is 22-2 in its last 24 games with 16 double-digit wins. Scary.

Historically, plenty of teams that technically had “contender” metrics were still obliterated in the playoffs because they ran into a buzzsaw like Oklahoma City or San Antonio. Of the six teams that seem likely to meet my contender criteria this season (three in the West, plus Detroit, Boston and New York), only one can win the title. Of those six, the Lakers unquestionably would have the worst odds in the group.

What this recent run of play does do, however, is at least put the Lakers in the Jim Carrey zone — yes, I’m saying there’s a chance. It didn’t seem that way a few weeks ago.

***

John Hollinger’s two decades of NBA experience include seven seasons as the Memphis Grizzlies’ Vice President of Basketball Operations and media stints at ESPN.com and SI.com. A pioneer in basketball analytics, he invented several advanced metrics — most notably, the PER standard. He also authored four editions of “Pro Basketball Forecast.” In 2018 he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Follow John on X @johnhollinger. 

What we know about Monday night’s games:

• Victor Wembanyama dominated (26 pts, 15 reb, 5 blk) as the Spurs cruised past the Heat 136-111.
• The Warriors defeated the Mavericks 137-131 in overtime behind Kristaps Porziņģis (22 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), overcoming a strong game from Cooper Flagg (32 pts, 9 ast).
• Jared McCain (13 pts) returned to Philadelphia to help the Thunder defeat the 76ers 123-103, earning their 12th straight victory.

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MARCH 22, 2026 // 12:54 ET

Monday’s results

• Pistons 113, Lakers 110
• Pacers 128, Magic 126
• Thunder 123, 76ers 103
• Spurs 136, Heat 111
• Hawks 146, Grizzlies 107
• Bulls 132, Rockets 124
• Raptors 143, Jazz 127
• Warriors 137, Mavericks 131
• Trail Blazers 134, Nets 99
• Clippers 129, Bucks 96

Alperen Sengun (33 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl) is your top performer of the night.

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MARCH 22, 2026 // 12:38 ET

Warriors win in overtime

137-131, with Kristaps Porziņģis (22 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast) leading the way on a night where they shot 50.5% from the field.

MARCH 22, 2026 // 12:10 ET

Overtime in Dallas!

126-all after Naji Marshall’s 3-pointer was off! We’ve got bonus basketball for you to end your night.

Cooper Flagg has 32 points; eight Warriors are in double figures. It’s a good one on NBC and Peacock.

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MARCH 22, 2026 // 12:02 ET

Mavericks and Warriors going down to the wire

125-123 Warriors with 1:43 to go on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. Catch the finish!

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 11:51 ET

One time for Wemby

Read more about Victor Wembanyama’s chase for the Kia MVP award here.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA TONIGHT:

🔥 26 points
🔥 15 boards
🔥 5 blocks
🔥 4 lob dunks
🔥 26 minutes

Just ridiculous stuff from @wemby as the Spurs improve to 22-2 in their last 24! pic.twitter.com/13STlBkMLT

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 11:36 ET

Warriors jump out in fourth quarter

Taking a 109-98 lead on NBC Sports Network and Peacock. Will the Mavericks respond?

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 11:06 ET

Ace high

Look at the young man soar.

ACE BAILEY is the 5th-youngest player in NBA history with 3-straight 25+ point games!

The only players younger:

LeBron James
Cooper Flagg
Carmelo Anthony
Devin Booker pic.twitter.com/lnmEWPzkzZ

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 10:52 ET

Bulls knock off Rockets

Kevin Durant had 40 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Alperen Sengun went off for 33 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

But the Bulls had seven scorers in double figures, getting 53 points from their bench and shooting 19-of-38 from 3-point range, en route to the 134-132 victory.

THE END OF ROCKETS-BULLS WAS HAYMAKER AFTER HAYMAKER 🍿

Chicago wins a THRILLER. pic.twitter.com/1CM3Oudmj0

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 10:26 ET

The Sengun surge

But the Bulls have taken control, 129-124, with just seconds to go.

AND NOW THE INSANE POSTER 🤯🤯🤯

33, 13 and 9… ALPY ARE YOU SERIOUS??? https://t.co/uo0qG2Wn9j pic.twitter.com/MbhOwk0qi7

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 10:04 ET

Pistons snap Lakers’ winning streak

113-110, as Jalen Duren (20 pts, 10 rebounds) led the effort that ended Los Angeles’ 12-game winning streak.

Pacers win a battle

128-126 over the Magic. Paolo Banchero (39 pts) and Pascal Siakam (37 pts) went at it in a classic star duel.

PAOLO: 39 points

PASCAL: 37 points, GAME-WINNING BLOCK

Siakam gets the last word in an epic forward duel, in which both stars dropped their season highs! pic.twitter.com/3LRZ2q5SHu

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 9:49 ET

Spurs cruise past Heat

136-111, as Victor Wembanyama (26 pts, 15 reb, 5 blk) starred on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Six Spurs scored in double figures during the contest, as San Antonio dominated the glass 71-44.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro (18 pts apiece) led the way for the Heat.

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 9:32 ET

A delivery from the King

A bit of Magic Johnson from the current legendary Lakers 6’9″ playmaker.

This LeBron pass 💯

Lakers seeking 10 straight wins… watch the finish in thread below! pic.twitter.com/UzH6157w5q

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 9:00 ET

What, Wemby?

How many centers in NBA history could make this play? Bill Walton? Arvydas Sabonis? Shaq?

The dexterity and grace are off-the-charts remarkable.

Castle to Wemby to Fox to Wemby.

The pass from Victor is nuts 🤯 https://t.co/WOnuAU0Ntq pic.twitter.com/d2fyTOJKj9

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

MARCH 21, 2026 // 8:28 ET

Paolo and Pascal dueling

Banchero (22 pts) and Siakam (20 pts) are our top two scorers on the night so far, as the Magic lead the Pacers 66-65 early in the third quarter.

Catch the contest on League Pass!

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 8:04 ET

Wemby is everywhere

The Spurs’ center (11 pts, 3 blk) is controlling affairs so far on Peacock, as San Antonio’s racked up a 26-16 advantage in points in the paint.

RECOVERS FOR THE BLOCK.

THROWS THE LOB.

FINISHES THE LOB.

SLAMS IT IN TRANSITION.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/io0S9ve0vN

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 7:47 ET

McCain hot early

Thunder are up 41-29 over the 76ers with 9:44 to go in the second quarter.

Jared McCain hits 2 quick threes in his return to Philly 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QKigRpLzOL

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 7:30 ET

Wemby takes flight

Victor Wembanyama is sixth in the NBA this season with 141 dunks — Rudy Gobert’s at the top of the list with 173.

Area 51 gettin us started 🔥

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SW pic.twitter.com/4fXbdNEGtk

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 23, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 6:30 ET

Jared McCain returns to Philadelphia

The No. 16 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, traded to Oklahoma City in exchange for a first-round pick and three second-round picks in February, is back in Philadelphia tonight.

McCain (15.3 ppg in his rookie season with Philadelphia, 12.7 ppg with OKC so far) is a skilled shooter on the move, with stable form and strong touch. He’s also able to get to the rim with smooth footwork and his sturdy frame.

The Duke product is a classic microwave scorer — fitting for someone with the emotional fortitude to go routinely viral on TikTok. What will he do tonight as he graces the court at Xfinity Mobile Arena again?

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 6:00 ET

A 10-game night in the Association!

Welcome to Monday night in the NBA!

Tonight’s schedule is headlined by Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs taking on Bam Adebayo’s Heat followed by Draymond Green’s Warriors hosting Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons, 7 ET
• Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic, 7 ET
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 ET
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat, 7 ET (NBC Sports Network / Peacock)
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 ET
• Houston Rockets vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 ET
• Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz, 9 ET
• Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 ET (NBC Sports Network / Peacock)
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 ET
• Milwaukee Bucks vs. LA Clippers, 10:30 ET

What we know about Monday night’s games:

• Victor Wembanyama dominated (26 pts, 15 reb, 5 blk) as the Spurs cruised past the Heat 136-111.
• Our national TV doubleheader continues on NBC Sports Network and Peacock with Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks taking on Draymond Green’s Warriors (9:30 ET).
• Jared McCain (13 pts) returned to Philadelphia to help the Thunder defeat the 76ers 123-103, earning their 12th straight victory.

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 10:04 ET

Pistons snap Lakers’ winning streak

113-110, as Jalen Duren (20 pts, 10 rebounds) led the effort that ended Los Angeles’ 12-game winning streak.

Pacers win a battle

128-126 over the Magic. Paolo Banchero (39 pts) and Pascal Siakam (37 pts) went at it in a classic star duel.

PAOLO: 39 points

PASCAL: 37 points, GAME-WINNING BLOCK

Siakam gets the last word in an epic forward duel, in which both stars dropped their season highs! pic.twitter.com/3LRZ2q5SHu

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 9:49 ET

Spurs cruise past Heat

136-111, as Victor Wembanyama (26 pts, 15 reb, 5 blk) starred on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Six Spurs scored in double figures during the contest, as San Antonio dominated the glass 71-44.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro (18 pts apiece) led the way for the Heat.

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 9:32 ET

A delivery from the King

A bit of Magic Johnson from the current legendary Lakers 6’9″ playmaker.

This LeBron pass 💯

Lakers seeking 10 straight wins… watch the finish in thread below! pic.twitter.com/UzH6157w5q

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 9:00 ET

What, Wemby?

How many centers in NBA history could make this play? Bill Walton? Arvydas Sabonis? Shaq?

The dexterity and grace are off-the-charts remarkable.

Castle to Wemby to Fox to Wemby.

The pass from Victor is nuts 🤯 https://t.co/WOnuAU0Ntq pic.twitter.com/d2fyTOJKj9

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2026

MARCH 21, 2026 // 8:28 ET

Paolo and Pascal dueling

Banchero (22 pts) and Siakam (20 pts) are our top two scorers on the night so far, as the Magic lead the Pacers 66-65 early in the third quarter.

Catch the contest on League Pass!

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 8:04 ET

Wemby is everywhere

The Spurs’ center (11 pts, 3 blk) is controlling affairs so far on Peacock, as San Antonio’s racked up a 26-16 advantage in points in the paint.

RECOVERS FOR THE BLOCK.

THROWS THE LOB.

FINISHES THE LOB.

SLAMS IT IN TRANSITION.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/io0S9ve0vN

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 7:47 ET

McCain hot early

Thunder are up 41-29 over the 76ers with 9:44 to go in the second quarter.

Jared McCain hits 2 quick threes in his return to Philly 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QKigRpLzOL

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 7:30 ET

Wemby takes flight

Victor Wembanyama is sixth in the NBA this season with 141 dunks — Rudy Gobert’s at the top of the list with 173.

Area 51 gettin us started 🔥

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SW pic.twitter.com/4fXbdNEGtk

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 23, 2026

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MARCH 21, 2026 // 6:30 ET

Jared McCain returns to Philadelphia

The No. 16 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, traded to Oklahoma City in exchange for a first-round pick and three second-round picks in February, is back in Philadelphia tonight.

McCain (15.3 ppg in his rookie season with Philadelphia, 12.7 ppg with OKC so far) is a skilled shooter on the move, with stable form and strong touch. He’s also able to get to the rim with smooth footwork and his sturdy frame.

The Duke product is a classic microwave scorer — fitting for someone with the emotional fortitude to go routinely viral on TikTok. What will he do tonight as he graces the court at Xfinity Mobile Arena again?

---

MARCH 21, 2026 // 6:00 ET

A 10-game night in the Association!

Welcome to Monday night in the NBA!

Tonight’s schedule is headlined by Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs taking on Bam Adebayo’s Heat followed by Draymond Green’s Warriors hosting Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons, 7 ET
• Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic, 7 ET
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 ET
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat, 7 ET (NBC Sports Network / Peacock)
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 ET
• Houston Rockets vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 ET
• Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz, 9 ET
• Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 ET (NBC Sports Network / Peacock)
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 ET
• Milwaukee Bucks vs. LA Clippers, 10:30 ET

What we know about Monday night’s games:

• Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs take on Bam Adebayo’s Heat in a matchup of top-notch centers on NBC Sports Network and Peacock (7 ET).
• Our national TV doubleheader also features Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks taking on Draymond Green’s Warriors (9:30 ET).
• Jared McCain returns to Philadelphia after being traded to Oklahoma City at the deadline (7 ET).

---

MARCH 21, 2026 // 8:04 ET

Wemby is everywhere

The Spurs’ center (11 pts, 3 blk) is controlling affairs so far on Peacock, as San Antonio’s racked up a 26-16 advantage in points in the paint.

RECOVERS FOR THE BLOCK.

THROWS THE LOB.

FINISHES THE LOB.

SLAMS IT IN TRANSITION.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/io0S9ve0vN

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2026

---

MARCH 21, 2026 // 7:47 ET

McCain hot early

Thunder are up 41-29 over the 76ers with 9:44 to go in the second quarter.

Jared McCain hits 2 quick threes in his return to Philly 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QKigRpLzOL

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2026

---

MARCH 21, 2026 // 7:30 ET

Wemby takes flight

Victor Wembanyama is sixth in the NBA this season with 141 dunks — Rudy Gobert’s at the top of the list with 173.

Area 51 gettin us started 🔥

📺 @NBAonNBC | @FanDuelSN_SW pic.twitter.com/4fXbdNEGtk

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 23, 2026

---

MARCH 21, 2026 // 6:30 ET

Jared McCain returns to Philadelphia

 

The No. 16 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, traded to Oklahoma City in exchange for a first-round pick and three second-round picks in February, is back in Philadelphia tonight.

McCain (15.3 ppg in his rookie season with Philadelphia, 12.7 ppg with OKC so far) is a skilled shooter on the move, with stable form and strong touch. He’s also able to get to the rim with smooth footwork and his sturdy frame.

The Duke product is a classic microwave scorer — fitting for someone with the emotional fortitude to go routinely viral on TikTok. What will he do tonight as he graces the court at Xfinity Mobile Arena again?

---

MARCH 21, 2026 // 6:00 ET

A 10-game night in the Association!

Welcome to Monday night in the NBA!

Tonight’s schedule is headlined by Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs taking on Bam Adebayo’s Heat followed by Draymond Green’s Warriors hosting Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons, 7 ET
• Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic, 7 ET
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 ET
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat, 7 ET (NBC Sports Network / Peacock)
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 ET
• Houston Rockets vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 ET
• Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz, 9 ET
• Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 ET (NBC Sports Network / Peacock)
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 ET
• Milwaukee Bucks vs. LA Clippers, 10:30 ET

We’ve wrapped up another late-season week, and the upper echelon of the fantasy rankings is once again populated by a pair of stars in Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić. The remainder of the top five is star-studded as well, as stars on contending teams continue to elevate their game at a critical time of the season.

The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (one-game minimum):

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#1. Luka Dončić, Lakers

Last Week: 71.6 FP/G Season Rank: 2 (64.7 FP/G)         

 

The Lakers put together a perfect 4-0 week, and Dončić was unsurprisingly a critical reason why. The centerpiece of the star Slovenian’s week was a memorable 60-point showing over 38 minutes against the Heat in Miami on Thursday, a game in which Luka went a blistering 18-for-30 from the floor and 15-for-19 from the line. Dončić’s one double-double of the week was a 40-point, 10-assist tally against the Rockets, and he took no less than 25 shots in any of his four contests, including at least 12 from 3-point range in each game.

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#2. Nikola Jokić, Nuggets

Last Week: 61.0 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (68.7 FP/G) 

 

Jokić was a runner-up to Dončić’ again this week, generating impressive numbers over the last three games of the Nuggets’ four-game week following a St. Patrick’s Day offensive dud where he scored only eight points against the Sixers. The versatile big man did hand out 14 assists in that game, however, and he went on to average 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals across 37 minutes per contest in the subsequent trio of games. Jokić shot 58.8% over the entirety of the four-game span, helping make up for some struggles from the free-throw line (61.5% on 4.3 free-throw attempts per contest).

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#3. James Harden, Cavaliers

Last Week: 57.5 FP/G Season Rank: 10 (49.6 FP/G) 

 

Harden was integral to a successful road trip for the Cavaliers this past week. The Beard helped make up for a one-game absence on the part of Donovan Mitchell due to an eye injury and pumped out some impressive numbers in all three games. Harden shot 50% from both in front of and behind the arc, and he averaged 27.7 points, 8.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest over 35.3 minutes per game. He also made good on 83.3% of his 8.0 free-throw attempts per contest as he looks increasingly comfortable ahead of a highly anticipated postseason for Cleveland.

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#4. Bam Adebayo, Heat

Last Week: 56.0 FP/G Season Rank: 39 (41.8 FP/G) 

 

Adebayo’s unforgettable 83-point performance was two scoring periods ago, but the star big man kept up the stellar production during his two times on the floor in Week 21. Bam missed Miami’s first game of the week Tuesday against the Hornets before returning with a 28-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Lakers in a 134-126 loss Thursday night. He was even better in another crushing interconference defeat Saturday, managing a massive 32-point, 21-rebound double-double that also included four assists and two steals across 45 minutes against the Rockets while navigating four fouls.

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#5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

Last Week: 55.1 FP/G Season Rank: 4 (55.8 FP/G)

 

It’s quite the prolific fantasy week when SGA MVP-level exploits are overshadowed, but the star guard still found his way into the top five with a pair of 40-point nights among his three games. Gilgeous-Alexander contributed the outstanding offensive efforts in wins against the Magic and Wizards, performances he sandwiched around a more subdued but nearly perfect shooting night (8-for-9) in an easy win over the Nets. To say Gilgeous-Alexander was locked in from the field throughout the three games would be an understatement – he drained 61.9% of his shots, including 57.1% from deep while averaging 21.0 attempts per contest.

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This week’s preview: 

The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least two games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:

Nikola Jokić, DEN (68.7 FP/G) – @PHO, DAL, UTA, GSW

Kawhi Leonard, LAC  (49.2 FP/G) – MIL, TOR, @IND, @MIL

Alperen Sengun, HOU (47.9 FP/G) – @CHI, @MIN, @MEM, @NOP

Jamal Murray, DEN (47.3 FP/G) – @PHO, DAL, UTA, GSW

Jalen Duren, DET (38.2 FP/G) – LAL, ATL, NOP, @MIN

The schedule-makers have blessed us in this critical week of the fantasy postseason, as we have a definite top-heavy feel to this week’s ledger. The majority of the league is on a four-game week, maximizing our options across the board as we continue to navigate the unpredictability of the stretch run.

Each week, we’ll aim to highlight a pair of Start candidates at each position for your fantasy rosters who may shape up as some tougher calls of the week to make, focusing on players with a start or roster rate of 50% or less in Yahoo leagues. 

Likewise, we’ll spotlight one Sit candidate at each position who would normally not be a consideration for a spot on your bench, often focusing on players with fewer game opportunities during the coming week.

TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz

TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards

TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns

Without further ado, let’s examine some tougher start/sit decisions for Week 23: 

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Guards

Start: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks   

48% start rate

It’s been a long-awaited breakout season for Alexander-Walker, who’s been a primary beneficiary of what was initially an extended injury absence for Trae Young before his trade to the Wizards. Alexander-Walker comes into the critical scoring period on a firm upward trajectory, having averaged 23.9 points (on 54.2% shooting, including 50.7% from behind the arc), 2.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest in the last nine games. The veteran guard has even drained 95% of his 4.4 free-throw attempts per game in that sample, and he’s now recorded double-digit points in 40 straight contests. With Atlanta pushing to remain above the Play-In level after now having reached the sixth seed, NAW should be in for another busy week as Atlanta navigates a four-game schedule.

Start: Reed Sheppard, Rockets

34% start rate

Sheppard is enjoying a breakout campaign in his third season, averaging new career highs across the board while knocking down an impressive 39.3% of his 3-point attempts. The 2024 first-round pick enters the scoring period fresh off a massive 23-point, 14-assist double-double that he posted in a wild win over the Heat on Saturday. Dating back to Feb. 25, Sheppard is averaging a well-rounded 17.0 points (40.3% 3-point shooting), 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks across 32.3 minutes per game. With Houston looking to hang on to its No. 4 seed, at minimum, and a four-game schedule on tap, Sheppard could pay big dividends this week.

ALSO CONSIDER: Daniss Jenkins, Pistons (24% roster rate); Tre Jones, Bulls (18% start rate)

Sit: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves

64% start rate

It’s crushing to have the Ant Man on one’s bench at this time of the fantasy season, but Edwards looks like a likely candidate to remain out during the upcoming scoring period due to his knee injury. The star guard was given a 1-to-2-week timeline for a reevaluation on March 17, and Minnesota has just two games coming up this week to boot. Given the conditions at play and the stakes involved in the fantasy postseason, Edwards is reluctantly a Sit recommendation this week.

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Forwards

Start: Saddiq Bey, Pelicans    

21% start rate

Bey has been one of the bright spots in a difficult season for the Pelicans, fully bouncing back from a missed 2024-25 season due to an ACL tear. The veteran wing checks in averaging a career-best 17.4 points while adding 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest across 31.1 minutes per game this season. Bey has been in even better form of late, contributing 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals per contest in the last 13 games. While New Orleans has nothing to play for in terms of the postseason, Bey’s minutes show no signs of waning – he’s played 34 or more in seven of the last 12 games alone – making him a very viable Start option.

Start: GG Jackson, Grizzlies

14% start rate

Another forward thriving on a non-contender is Jackson, who’s taken advantage of expanded opportunity in Memphis’ injury-ravaged frontcourt. The third-year pro has had some absences lately due to a knee issue, but he enters the Grizzlies’ four-game scoring period without an injury designation. Jackson is also averaging 17.7 points (on 50.8% shooting), 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks over a modest 25.9 minutes per game over his last 15 contests, dating back to the final game before the All-Star break. Jackson has proven capable of producing with minutes in the mid-to-high 20s, so he carries plenty of appeal on a full schedule.

ALSO CONSIDER: De’Anthony Melton, Warriors (16% roster rate); Cody Williams, Jazz (21% roster rate)

Sit: Jalen Green, Suns

87% roster rate

Green had a solid week last week as one of our Start candidates, but the pendulum swings the other way this week due to his schedule. The Suns will only take the floor on two occasions during the scoring period, and Green’s typical production, while solid, is exceedable by a similarly talented three- or four-game option.

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Centers

Start: Maxime Raynaud, Kings    

29% start rate 

Raynaud is the first of two Kings big men that are rosterable as centers and that we’re suggesting this week as Sacramento continues to put together some encouraging late-season play. Raynaud has gained plenty of valuable reps during his rookie campaign, and he’s particularly upped his offensive contributions of late while remaining productive in other categories. The 2025 second-round pick is delivering 19.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks over 33.1 minutes across his last 12 games, even taking the occasional attempt from deep during that span (38.5% 3-point shooting). Raynaud has also played between 36 and 42 minutes in his last three contests, and he should continue to enjoy plenty of run this coming week as Sacramento looks to continue building momentum for next season.

Start: Precious Achiuwa, Kings

25% start rate 

Achiuwa and Raynaud have worked very well together in the Kings frontcourt, and the former is enjoying a career-best campaign while finally making good on the potential the Heat saw in him when investing the 20th overall pick in him back in 2020. Achiuwa has flipped a switch since the All-Star break, supplying 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals over 31.8 minutes across 16 games. Achiuwa is shooting a crisp 57.2% in that sample as well, including 37% from downtown. As with Reynaud, Achiuwa should continue to see plenty of minutes and has a full schedule to work with, putting him firmly in consideration this week. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Grizzlies (10% roster rate); Kyle Filipowski, Jazz (35% start rate)

Sit: Joel Embiid, 76ers

51% start rate

Another week of uncertainty looms for Embiid due to his oblique injury, with the star big man already ruled out for Monday’s game against the Thunder and without a return timetable overall. Embiid will only have two other opportunities to take the floor this coming week, and there aren’t any indications he’ll be cleared to return anytime soon. Considering the significant uncertainty and bleak outlook, he should remain on your bench this week.