Tag: NBA

April is fast-approaching. The pressure is on. Stakes are high.

Only three weeks remain for fantasy general managers in NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition to try and climb the leaderboards of their respective leagues. But in that time, success can be had.

Here’s what you need to know entering Week 23:

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Last week’s story

With the postseason three weeks away, the Oklahoma City Thunder (56-15) are heating up once again. They’ve won 11 contests in a row and 16 of their last 18. That scintillating stretch has earned them a three-game lead for first place in the Western Conference.

Fantasy GMs with Thunder players on their rosters have enjoyed similar success. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on an exceptional run, averaging 61.8 fantasy points per game (FPPG) across his last six outings. He now ranks sixth with 3,299 total fantasy points (TFP).

Outside of the reigning MVP, Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell have poured in points. They’ve submitted 32.2 FPPG and 26.2 FPPG, respectively, in their last five games. Gilgeous-Alexander has a team-high $18.6M salary, while Holmgren is $13.5M and Mitchell is $4.6M.

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Peak performances

Luka Dončić put on the kind of performance Thursday the purple and gold faithful hadn’t seen in a decade. He racked up 88 fantasy points for the Los Angeles Lakers (46-25) in a 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat (38-33). Along with seven rebounds, three assists and five steals, the six-time All-Star scored 60 points — the most by a Laker since Kobe Bryant’s final game in 2016. Dončić improved to 64.5 FPPG this season, and last week, averaged 71.2.

Naturally, he was followed by an all-too familiar face. Nikola Jokić tallied 73 fantasy points twice — first in Wednesday’s 125-118 loss for the Denver Nuggets (44-28) to the Memphis Grizzlies (24-46), and again in Sunday’s 128-112 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers (35-37). Across those two efforts, the three-time MVP had 51 points scored, 28 rebounds, 23 assists, four blocks and three steals. He’s 156 fantasy points shy of 4,000 in 2025-26.

It’s been tough sledding for Darius Garland while battling injuries, but Saturday gave him something to celebrate. The seventh-year guard earned 72 fantasy points for the LA Clippers (35-36) in a 138-131 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks (23-48). He pitched in 41 points scored, three rebounds, 11 assists, one block and one steal for his highest fantasy score this season. Since his trade to LA, Garland has averaged 41.4 FPPG in nine games played.

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Global leaderboard

If you’re hoping to win your league, or get that extra edge for the final stretch of this season, look to the global leaders for guidance. Adam Boustani’s “Dima Maghreb” stands atop the worldwide podium with 28,647 TFP, followed by Jack Bones’ “Peace and Love” with 28,576 and Ezra Tsegaye’s “colesaidimdreamville” with 28,370. Interestingly, all three of those fantasy GMs hail from the United Kingdom.

There’s considerable overlap between their rosters. All three feature Jokić, Maxime Raynaud, Collin Gillespie, Isaiah Collier and Ryan Rollins. Jokić is no doubt the biggest name on that list, and a cornerstone for any successful fantasy team, with league-high marks of 3,844 TFP and 68.6 FPPG. He’s the only player in the game to cost upward of $20M with a current salary of $22.8M, but time and again, has proved to be worth every penny.

Gillespie and Rollins are the two highest-value players in 2025-26 with 31.4 FPPG on $5.6M and 38.4 FPPG on $6.7M, respectively. With proven production on a budget, they’re wise additions for anyone. Raynaud and Collier, meanwhile, are recent risers thanks to elevated roles on their respective teams. Now priced at $5.2M, Raynaud has averaged 37.7 FPPG across his last eight outings, while Collier — at $8.9M — is responsible for 38.3 FPPG through eight.

Play NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition!

Playoff ticket punched.

Jalen Duren and the Pistons are the East’s first team to clinch.

As far as tonight goes … two of the game’s greats are staring down history, with LeBron James & Kevin Durant both closing in on major milestones.

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5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

March 21, 2026

East Elites: Celtics, Knicks overcome tough road battles to keep up with Pistons’ winning ways

West Winners: Rockets end Hawks’ run, Nuggets rally, Blazers beat Wolves to jam up Playoff race

On NBA TV: What will Luka do next? LeBron eyes games-played record as Lakers go for 9th straight W

League Pass Spotlight: 25 points away from MJ, KD’s all-time scoring climb continues vs. Heat

J-Crossover’s Mailbag: Jamal Crawford answers NBA fan questions, including how to score on Wemby

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

A busy Saturday night of hoops…

Saturday’s 10-game slate features an NBA TV doubleheader, with Luka Dončić leading the Lakers into Orlando (7 ET | Tap To Watch), and the Suns hosting the Bucks (10 ET | Tap To Watch).

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1. EAST ELITES: PISTONS KEEP PEDAL DOWN, CELTICS & KNICKS SURVIVE

Two seasons ago, they finished last in the East.

This year, the Pistons are the first team in the Conference to make the Playoffs.

Pistons 115, Warriors 101: Jalen Duren (23 pts, 6 reb) led all scorers and Daniss Jenkins filled in with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists as Detroit pulled away from Brandin Podziemski (15 pts) and Golden State in the 2nd half to win its sixth of the last seven games. | Recap

• Strong 70: Detroit’s 51-19 mark is the franchise’s 4th-best 70-game start, behind two championship seasons (1988-89, 1989-90) and 2005-06’s East finalists
• Beyond Scoring: The Pistons lead the league in steals (10.5) and blocks (6.3) per game, racking up the most swipes (737) and swats (442) through 70 games by any team since 1982-83
• Answering Adversity: Detroit is now 2-0 in All-Star Cade Cunningham’s absence (lung), maintaining a 4-game lead over 2nd-place Boston

“We’re not done. But from where we started til now, I’m proud of everyone that’s been a part of it,” Duren said postgame.

• “The guys who were here my first two years (31-133), that went through what we went through, and to be here now… I’m just proud of how we keep fighting through adversity,” Duren said
• “The spirit that they play with every night is just different here,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I’ve got a ton of respect and admiration for the guys… They’ve been a joy to coach.”

To keep up with East-leading Detroit, the Celtics and Knicks had to survive late scares on the road.

Celtics 117, Grizzlies 112: Jaylen Brown’s 30-ball led the way, and Luka Garza netted 11 of his season-high 22 points in the 4th quarter, where Boston used a 21-5 run to rally from down-7 and win a fourth straight, despite Memphis’ seven double-digit scorers. | Recap

• Thirty 30s: This was Jaylen Brown’s 32nd 30+ point game of the season. He sits with Luka, Shai, Ant and Donovan Mitchell as this season’s only five players with 30 or more 30+ point games

Knicks 93, Nets 92: New York recovered from a season-low 14-point 1st quarter, and survived the rallying Nets at the buzzer for a fifth consecutive win and 14th straight over Brooklyn. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 26 points and 15 rebounds. | Recap

• Couple Of Closers: Towns and Jalen Brunson (17 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) recorded New York’s last 9 points in the final 3:13 to eek out the win

3rd-place New York keeps pace 1.5 games behind 2-seed Boston, with a 2.5-game cushion ahead of the Cavs in 4th.

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2. WEST WINNERS: ROCKETS HALT HAWKS, NUGGETS RALLY, BLAZERS EDGE WOLVES

After back-to-back home losses, and facing a Hawks team rolling with 11 straight wins, KD rallied the Rockets.

Rockets 117, Hawks 95: Durant (25 pts, 6 ast) and Jabari Smith Jr. (23 pts, 9 reb) led Houston’s offense, with Alperen Sengun (15 pts, 10 ast, 9 reb) adding a near triple-double to end Nickeil Alexander-Walker (21 pts) and Atlanta’s longest win streak since 2014-15. | Recap

• Closing In: With 25 on Friday, KD (25.7 ppg) is now 26 points away from passing Michael Jordan for 5th place on the all-time scoring list
• Quick Fix: Jalen Johnson (14 pts) scored 7 quick points in the first 6 minutes, but Houston locked in and never trailed after the 4:52 mark of the 1st quarter

Blazers 108, Wolves 104: Portland freed up Jerami Grant (26 pts) for the game-winning corner triple with 21.3 remaining to earn a third straight win despite seven Wolves scoring in double figures. | Recap

• 20+ Point Trio: Deni Avdija (25 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) and Donovan Clingan (21 pts, 12 reb) joined Grant, with Clingan logging a 17/11 1st-half double-double
• Portland jumps the LA Clippers by a half-game for 8th place in the West

Houston, Denver and Minnesota are all now 2.5 games behind the 3rd-place Lakers, with the Rockets taking 4th by .003 percentage points, and the Nuggets holding the tie-breaker over the Wolves.

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3. ON NBA TV: LUKA, LAKERS LOOK TO STAY HOT AS LEBRON EYES RECORD

Tonight in Orlando, it’s Luka Magic vs. the Magic.

And it’s King James facing down history — again.

LeBron James is set to become the all-time leader in regular season games played, while Luka Dončić takes his historic scoring sorcery to Orlando, with the Lakers looking to keep their hold on the 3-seed (7 ET, NBA TV).

Thursday in South Florida, when Bron tied Robert Parish in GP (1,611), Dončić also matched the 2nd-highest scoring output of his career: 60 points.

It’s the latest in an 8-win string of brilliance, for players and team, that’s rallying L.A. around their MVP candidate.

“You see everybody celebrating on the bench, it shows that we care a lot about each other,” Dončić said. “Just makes my heart happy… That is the best feeling.”

“I got little goosebumps, so it was pretty special,” Luka said. “Especially [an] away game in Miami, you hear the whole crowd chanting ‘M-V-P.’ It was what, I think, every player wants to hear.”

Dončić has numbers to back up the chants beyond his 60-piece. Having totaled 327 points, 71 rebounds and 59 assists over these 8 wins, he’s averaging 40.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 7.4 apg, and approaching stats of some of the game’s great performances.

• Elite Group: Luka is just the fifth player in NBA history to average 40+ over an 8-game win streak, joining James Harden (2019-20), Michael Jordan (2x), Elgin Baylor (1961-62) and Wilt Chamberlain (3x)
• His totals (327/71/59) place him with Elgin Baylor (367/181/62 – 1961) as the only two players in NBA history to reach such numbers in an 8-game span
• Only Steph Curry and James Harden – the top-2 3-point shooters in league history – have collected as many 3s during an 8-game win streak as Luka’s 49
• Scoring aside, his 71 rebounds and 59 assists make him the third Laker this century with such totals in an 8-win streak, joining LeBron James (2019) and Lamar Odom (2006)

From Luka’s 50 and 60-pieces, to LeBron’s strong play, and bench celebrations, the Lakers are clicking at the right time.

“I think there’s just a high level of belief right now and they all want to play,” L.A. coach JJ Redick said, addressing the challenge of the team’s Houston-to-Miami back-to-back this week.

“That’s just leadership right there,“ Redick said of L.A.’s minutes leaders, including 41-year-old James, playing Thursday after getting to their Miami hotel after 5 a.m.

• Unstoppable: LeBron tied Robert Parish’s all-time record for regular-season games played that night (1,611) with his 2nd triple-double of the season (19/15/10)
• “He’s a psycho,” Redick said of James. “In the same way Luka willed it for us [Thursday], LeBron willed it for us.”
• By comparison, Parish, at age 43, logged 2 points and 3 rebounds in 6 minutes in his 1,611th game when he set the record in 1997
• “He’s also competing against Father Time — and he’s giving Father Time hell,” James’ former coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday of The King’s season

L.A. enters with a 2.5-game cushion on Houston in the West, while 6th-place Orlando clings to the East’s final Playoff spot by a half-game amid a 3-loss slide.

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4. ON LEAGUE PASS: KD 26 AWAY FROM PASSING MJ AS ROCKETS HOST HEAT

With one current OG primed to break the all-time games played record today, another could make his own mark in the history books.

Kevin Durant needs 26 points Saturday to pass Michael Jordan for 5th place on the all-time scoring list, as the Rockets host the Heat (8 ET, League Pass).

NBA.com’s Shaun Powell has tracked KD’s career scoring ascent this season:

“How many players get the chance to top Michael Jordan in anything basketball-related, from championships to MVPs to even shoe sales?

… ‘It’s pretty cool to be in the same category as some of the greats that ever played the game,” Durant said. “They’ve added so much to the game that have inspired me to stick around this long.’

… It’s a perfect basketball storm that created Durant into a force; he’s among the handful of elites who can score a variety of ways — at the rim, mid-range, 3-pointers, off the dribble, catch and shoot…

This diversity gives him something in common with virtually everyone else among the top 10 scorers, some of whom are recognized as all-time greats. When the defense took something away from those players, they chose another method, which was either just as successful or close enough. 

That explains the Kevin Durant experience.” | Read More

Roundup: The Thunder tip off Saturday’s action, now working on the league’s longest-active win streak, visiting the Wizards in search of an 11th straight W (5 ET). The day ends in the desert, with Devin Booker and the Suns hosting the Bucks on NBA TV (10 ET).

• Grizzlies at Hornets (7 ET)
• Cavaliers at Pelicans (7 ET)
• Warriors at Hawks (8 ET)
• Pacers at Spurs (8 ET)
• Clippers at Mavericks (8:30 ET)
• Sixers at Jazz (9:30 ET)

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5. NBA MAILBAG: JAMAL CRAWFORD ANSWERS MORE FAN QUESTIONS

20-year NBA veteran and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford answered another batch of over 20 fan-submitted questions on LeBron, the Celtics, and how he’d score on Wemby…

I’m a big fan of LeBron James. Can you tell me what it was like playing against one of the GOATs in his prime? – from Hminga in Mizoram, India

“Man, it was unbelievable. I remember one time, I think it was his third year, he stole the ball from me at The Garden and I thought it was a guard with how fast he was. I looked up and it was him. I don’t think he dribbled more than once or twice, and he seemed to dunk it from the free throw line.

So it was incredible to witness his game, his smarts, and the greatness he was chasing from day one. Day 0, really. He was just different. But what was most impressive was his mind from the start. He thought like a Hall of Fame-level player, even as a rookie.”

What makes Derrick White so unique? Trying to understand after Kenny Atkinson called him a Top 5 player in the league. – from Dominic in Cleveland, OH

“Most players play their style and have a specialty. You know what they bring to the team, whether it be shooting or defending or whatever. Derrick White is almost like a transformer. He can adjust to any situation you put him in. That’s rare in basketball, and it’s what makes him special.”

If you had to score on Wemby, what’s your go-to move? – from Lachlan in Hamilton, Ontario

“If he switched onto me, I would back up first because I want to get as much space as possible. Then I’m going to do a couple of dribble moves to see which one he goes for.

But the unique thing about him is, even if he kind of goes for it and you lose him, he can recover really fast. And even if he doesn’t block your shot, he’ll make you adjust it.

So I would do some dribble moves, make him dance a little bit, and then pull from deep. Like really, really, really deep.” | Read More

Catch Crawford this weekend on NBC/Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball, as Celtics host the Wolves (8 ET).

 

Playoff ticket punched.

Jalen Duren and the Pistons are the East’s first team to clinch.

As far as tonight goes … two of the game’s greats are staring down history, with LeBron James & Kevin Durant both closing in on major milestones.

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5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

March 21, 2026

East Elites: Celtics, Knicks overcome tough road battles to keep up with Pistons’ winning ways

West Winners: Rockets end Hawks’ run, Nuggets rally, Blazers beat Wolves to jam up Playoff race

On NBA TV: What will Luka do next? LeBron eyes games-played record as Lakers go for 9th straight W

League Pass Spotlight: 25 points away from MJ, KD’s all-time scoring climb continues vs. Heat

J-Crossover’s Mailbag: Jamal Crawford answers NBA fan questions, including how to score on Wemby

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

A busy Saturday night of hoops…

Saturday’s 10-game slate features an NBA TV doubleheader, with Luka Dončić leading the Lakers into Orlando (7 ET | Tap To Watch), and the Suns hosting the Bucks (10 ET | Tap To Watch).

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1. EAST ELITES: PISTONS KEEP PEDAL DOWN, CELTICS & KNICKS SURVIVE

Two seasons ago, they finished last in the East.

This year, the Pistons are the first team in the Conference to make the Playoffs.

Pistons 115, Warriors 101: Jalen Duren (23 pts, 6 reb) led all scorers and Daniss Jenkins filled in with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists as Detroit pulled away from Brandin Podziemski (15 pts) and Golden State in the 2nd half to win its sixth of the last seven games. | Recap

• Strong 70: Detroit’s 51-19 mark is the franchise’s 4th-best 70-game start, behind two championship seasons (1988-89, 1989-90) and 2005-06’s East finalists
• Beyond Scoring: The Pistons lead the league in steals (10.5) and blocks (6.3) per game, racking up the most swipes (737) and swats (442) through 70 games by any team since 1982-83
• Answering Adversity: Detroit is now 2-0 in All-Star Cade Cunningham’s absence (lung), maintaining a 4-game lead over 2nd-place Boston

“We’re not done. But from where we started til now, I’m proud of everyone that’s been a part of it,” Duren said postgame.

• “The guys who were here my first two years (31-133), that went through what we went through, and to be here now… I’m just proud of how we keep fighting through adversity,” Duren said
• “The spirit that they play with every night is just different here,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I’ve got a ton of respect and admiration for the guys… They’ve been a joy to coach.”

To keep up with East-leading Detroit, the Celtics and Knicks had to survive late scares on the road.

Celtics 117, Grizzlies 112: Jaylen Brown’s 30-ball led the way, and Luka Garza netted 11 of his season-high 22 points in the 4th quarter, where Boston used a 21-5 run to rally from down-7 and win a fourth straight, despite Memphis’ seven double-digit scorers. | Recap

• Thirty 30s: This was Jaylen Brown’s 32nd 30+ point game of the season. He sits with Luka, Shai, Ant and Donovan Mitchell as this season’s only five players with 30 or more 30+ point games

Knicks 93, Nets 92: New York recovered from a season-low 14-point 1st quarter, and survived the rallying Nets at the buzzer for a fifth consecutive win and 14th straight over Brooklyn. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 26 points and 15 rebounds. | Recap

• Couple Of Closers: Towns and Jalen Brunson (17 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) recorded New York’s last 9 points in the final 3:13 to eek out the win

3rd-place New York keeps pace 1.5 games behind 2-seed Boston, with a 2.5-game cushion ahead of the Cavs in 4th.

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2. WEST WINNERS: ROCKETS HALT HAWKS, NUGGETS RALLY, BLAZERS EDGE WOLVES

After back-to-back home losses, and facing a Hawks team rolling with 11 straight wins, KD rallied the Rockets.

Rockets 117, Hawks 95: Durant (25 pts, 6 ast) and Jabari Smith Jr. (23 pts, 9 reb) led Houston’s offense, with Alperen Sengun (15 pts, 10 ast, 9 reb) adding a near triple-double to end Nickeil Alexander-Walker (21 pts) and Atlanta’s longest win streak since 2014-15. | Recap

• Closing In: With 25 on Friday, KD (25.7 ppg) is now 26 points away from passing Michael Jordan for 5th place on the all-time scoring list
• Quick Fix: Jalen Johnson (14 pts) scored 7 quick points in the first 6 minutes, but Houston locked in and never trailed after the 4:52 mark of the 1st quarter

Blazers 108, Wolves 104: Portland freed up Jerami Grant (26 pts) for the game-winning corner triple with 21.3 remaining to earn a third straight win despite seven Wolves scoring in double figures. | Recap

• 20+ Point Trio: Deni Avdija (25 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) and Donovan Clingan (21 pts, 12 reb) joined Grant, with Clingan logging a 17/11 1st-half double-double
• Portland jumps the LA Clippers by a half-game for 8th place in the West

Houston, Denver and Minnesota are all now 2.5 games behind the 3rd-place Lakers, with the Rockets taking 4th by .003 percentage points, and the Nuggets holding the tie-breaker over the Wolves.

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3. ON NBA TV: LUKA, LAKERS LOOK TO STAY HOT AS LEBRON EYES RECORD

Tonight in Orlando, it’s Luka Magic vs. the Magic.

And it’s King James facing down history — again.

LeBron James is set to become the all-time leader in regular season games played, while Luka Dončić takes his historic scoring sorcery to Orlando, with the Lakers looking to keep their hold on the 3-seed (7 ET, NBA TV).

Thursday in South Florida, when Bron tied Robert Parish in GP (1,611), Dončić also matched the 2nd-highest scoring output of his career: 60 points.

It’s the latest in an 8-win string of brilliance, for players and team, that’s rallying L.A. around their MVP candidate.

“You see everybody celebrating on the bench, it shows that we care a lot about each other,” Dončić said. “Just makes my heart happy… That is the best feeling.”

“I got little goosebumps, so it was pretty special,” Luka said. “Especially [an] away game in Miami, you hear the whole crowd chanting ‘M-V-P.’ It was what, I think, every player wants to hear.”

Dončić has numbers to back up the chants beyond his 60-piece. Having totaled 327 points, 71 rebounds and 59 assists over these 8 wins, he’s averaging 40.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 7.4 apg, and approaching stats of some of the game’s great performances.

• Elite Group: Luka is just the fifth player in NBA history to average 40+ over an 8-game win streak, joining James Harden (2019-20), Michael Jordan (2x), Elgin Baylor (1961-62) and Wilt Chamberlain (3x)
• His totals (327/71/59) place him with Elgin Baylor (367/181/62 – 1961) as the only two players in NBA history to reach such numbers in an 8-game span
• Only Steph Curry and James Harden – the top-2 3-point shooters in league history – have collected as many 3s during an 8-game win streak as Luka’s 49
• Scoring aside, his 71 rebounds and 59 assists make him the third Laker this century with such totals in an 8-win streak, joining LeBron James (2019) and Lamar Odom (2006)

From Luka’s 50 and 60-pieces, to LeBron’s strong play, and bench celebrations, the Lakers are clicking at the right time.

“I think there’s just a high level of belief right now and they all want to play,” L.A. coach JJ Redick said, addressing the challenge of the team’s Houston-to-Miami back-to-back this week.

“That’s just leadership right there,“ Redick said of L.A.’s minutes leaders, including 41-year-old James, playing Thursday after getting to their Miami hotel after 5 a.m.

• Unstoppable: LeBron tied Robert Parish’s all-time record for regular-season games played that night (1,611) with his 2nd triple-double of the season (19/15/10)
• “He’s a psycho,” Redick said of James. “In the same way Luka willed it for us [Thursday], LeBron willed it for us.”
• By comparison, Parish, at age 43, logged 2 points and 3 rebounds in 6 minutes in his 1,611th game when he set the record in 1997
• “He’s also competing against Father Time — and he’s giving Father Time hell,” James’ former coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday of The King’s season

L.A. enters with a 2.5-game cushion on Houston in the West, while 6th-place Orlando clings to the East’s final Playoff spot by a half-game amid a 3-loss slide.

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4. ON LEAGUE PASS: KD 26 AWAY FROM PASSING MJ AS ROCKETS HOST HEAT

With one current OG primed to break the all-time games played record today, another could make his own mark in the history books.

Kevin Durant needs 26 points Saturday to pass Michael Jordan for 5th place on the all-time scoring list, as the Rockets host the Heat (8 ET, League Pass).

NBA.com’s Shaun Powell has tracked KD’s career scoring ascent this season:

“How many players get the chance to top Michael Jordan in anything basketball-related, from championships to MVPs to even shoe sales?

… ‘It’s pretty cool to be in the same category as some of the greats that ever played the game,” Durant said. “They’ve added so much to the game that have inspired me to stick around this long.’

… It’s a perfect basketball storm that created Durant into a force; he’s among the handful of elites who can score a variety of ways — at the rim, mid-range, 3-pointers, off the dribble, catch and shoot…

This diversity gives him something in common with virtually everyone else among the top 10 scorers, some of whom are recognized as all-time greats. When the defense took something away from those players, they chose another method, which was either just as successful or close enough. 

That explains the Kevin Durant experience.” | Read More

Roundup: The Thunder tip off Saturday’s action, now working on the league’s longest-active win streak, visiting the Wizards in search of an 11th straight W (5 ET). The day ends in the desert, with Devin Booker and the Suns hosting the Bucks on NBA TV (10 ET).

• Grizzlies at Hornets (7 ET)
• Cavaliers at Pelicans (7 ET)
• Warriors at Hawks (8 ET)
• Pacers at Spurs (8 ET)
• Clippers at Mavericks (8:30 ET)
• Sixers at Jazz (9:30 ET)

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5. NBA MAILBAG: JAMAL CRAWFORD ANSWERS MORE FAN QUESTIONS

20-year NBA veteran and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford answered another batch of over 20 fan-submitted questions on LeBron, the Celtics, and how he’d score on Wemby…

I’m a big fan of LeBron James. Can you tell me what it was like playing against one of the GOATs in his prime? – from Hminga in Mizoram, India

“Man, it was unbelievable. I remember one time, I think it was his third year, he stole the ball from me at The Garden and I thought it was a guard with how fast he was. I looked up and it was him. I don’t think he dribbled more than once or twice, and he seemed to dunk it from the free throw line.

So it was incredible to witness his game, his smarts, and the greatness he was chasing from day one. Day 0, really. He was just different. But what was most impressive was his mind from the start. He thought like a Hall of Fame-level player, even as a rookie.”

What makes Derrick White so unique? Trying to understand after Kenny Atkinson called him a Top 5 player in the league. – from Dominic in Cleveland, OH

“Most players play their style and have a specialty. You know what they bring to the team, whether it be shooting or defending or whatever. Derrick White is almost like a transformer. He can adjust to any situation you put him in. That’s rare in basketball, and it’s what makes him special.”

If you had to score on Wemby, what’s your go-to move? – from Lachlan in Hamilton, Ontario

“If he switched onto me, I would back up first because I want to get as much space as possible. Then I’m going to do a couple of dribble moves to see which one he goes for.

But the unique thing about him is, even if he kind of goes for it and you lose him, he can recover really fast. And even if he doesn’t block your shot, he’ll make you adjust it.

So I would do some dribble moves, make him dance a little bit, and then pull from deep. Like really, really, really deep.” | Read More

Catch Crawford this weekend on NBC/Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball, as Celtics host the Wolves (8 ET).

 

What we know about Friday night’s games

• Kevin Durant (25 pts) is now just 26 points from passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list after leading the Rockets over the Hawks 117-95.
• The Knicks beat the Nets 93-92 in a Big Apple battle behind Karl-Anthony Towns (26 pts, 15 reb).
• The Nuggets defeated the Raptors 121-115 in a close contest behind Jamal Murray (36 pts) and Nikola Jokić (22 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk).

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 12:24 ET

Friday’s results

Donovan Clingan (21 pts, 15 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk) is your top performer of the night.

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 11:30 ET

Nuggets defeat Raptors

Jokić with the off-balance, go-ahead bucket 🃏

Nuggets win at home! pic.twitter.com/6UpSL66Dwe

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2026

121-115.

Jamal Murray (31 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast) was the star of the show for the Nuggets, along with Nikola Jokić (22 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk).

Jakob Poetl (23 pts, 11 reb, 2 stl) put up a strong night on 10-of-14 shooting for the Raptors.

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 11:12 ET

League Pass Alert: Raptors-Nuggets

107-103 Denver with 4:22 to go in the fourth quarter, as Jamal Murray (26 pts) goes off.

Catch the finish on League Pass!

Mal moves for three 👌 pic.twitter.com/8bswAGdo2V

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 11:01 ET

Durant on the chase

The Rockets defeated the Hawks 117-95, as their legendary forward continues his climb up the all-time scoring chart.

KD in tonight’s win:

25 PTS (9-15 FGM)
6 AST
2 STL
2 BLK
3 3PM

He’s now 26 points shy of passing Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list! https://t.co/yRfDXkuCyJ pic.twitter.com/nOTA6yaGpg

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 10:57 ET

Blazers take a clutch win on the road

As they defeat the Timberwolves 108-104 behind Jerami Grant (26 pts) and Deni Avdija (25 pts).

Minnesota, which was without Anthony Edwards, had six players score in double figures, led by Julius Randle (19 pts) and Rudy Gobert (18 pts, 15 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk).

JG 3 IN THE CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/npQlUApZun

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 10:45 ET

Celtics on a streak

White ➡️ Queta ➡️ Brown

JB finished with 30 PTS as the Celtics win their 4th straight game! pic.twitter.com/4XvzcXbffC

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 10:26 ET

Rising high for the A

Our top dunk of the evening so far — an 83.1 on the Dunk Score scale.

ONYEKA OKONGWU RISES UP AND THROWS IT DOWN! pic.twitter.com/wSK5bVRuxQ

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 10:11 ET

Brunson in Brooklyn

The Knicks’ captain (17 pts, 8 reb) came up clutch as New York took control of a game that featured nine lead changes in the fourth quarter to win 93-92.

JALEN BRUNSON IS CLUTCH.

WE HEAR YOU #6thBorough‼️ pic.twitter.com/L6RqaBO3zN

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 21, 2026

Josh Minott (22 pts, career-high six 3-pointers) was the top man for the Nets.

JOSH MINOTT IS ON FIRE FROM DEEP!

NEW CAREER-HIGH SIX THREES! pic.twitter.com/DHX9bPUzEn

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 9:46 ET

Piston powered

By defeating the Warriors 115-101, the Pistons clinched a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the second straight year.

NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt has more for you about Detroit’s postseason plans.

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 9:21 ET

A born scorer at work

Kevin Durant. A historic 3-level scorer.

With 18 PTS through Q2, KD is now 33 away from passing Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list! pic.twitter.com/of7WxmNeyP

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 8:50 ET

Jalen Johnson soars

The Duke product has 13 triple-doubles this season — nearly doubling the former Hawks’ franchise record of 7.

Jalen Johnson’s first 3 shots:

Jumper.
Three.
Layup.

The Hawks are hungry for their 12th win in a row! pic.twitter.com/KgAvH9l0qS

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 8:15 ET

Entering to chase His Airness

KD is in the building 🔥

He’s 51 points shy of passing Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list!

ATL/HOU tips off at 8pm/et on NBA TV 🍿 pic.twitter.com/JecyrPZfZa

— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 6:30 ET

KD chasing MJ

NBA.com’s Shaun Powell has a look at Kevin Durant’s pursuit of Michael Jordan’s No. 5 spot on the all-time scoring list.

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MARCH 20, 2026 // 6:00 ET

Welcome to a six-game night!

Our slate tonight is highlighted by a clash between Jalen Johnson’s Hawks and Kevin Durant’s Rockets on NBA TV (8 ET)

Here’s the complete slate:

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. 

***

Each autumn before the current season begins, the NBA publishes the “Official NBA Guide,” a reference book about all records, statistics and information about the Association.

The book (or now PDF) is a monstrous 977 pages. And if you do a Ctrl+F (or use the little magnifying glass), type in “Wilt Chamberlain” and see that his name appears 473 times for numerous reasons: 10 All-NBA teams, seven consecutive scoring titles, four MVPs, three retired jerseys (Warriors, Sixers and Lakers) and one award (Rookie of the Year) that bears his name.

Chamberlain, who played his last NBA season in 1972-73 and died in 1999, still holds 79 regular-season and playoff records. Some of them you may be familiar with — 100 points in a single game, 50.4 points per game in 1961-62 and most rebounds in a game, 55. Others — most seasons leading the league in minutes (eight), most consecutive 40-point games (14) and lowest percentage, games disqualified, minimum 400 games (0 percent; he never fouled out of a game) — may not be as familiar.

Yet, while the number of Wilt records may never be surpassed, another name appears a lot throughout the official guide: “LeBron James.”

When you search for that name, it appears 295 times. If Wilt is a colossus, what does that make LeBron? Once James officially retires, he will have provided countless stamps to the league’s record books, and they won’t be short on variety.

The youngest ever category? He owns that — just pick a milestone. Youngest ever with a 30-point game? Yep. Youngest player to pull off a 40-point triple-double? Of course. How about the youngest to achieve consecutive triple-doubles? Yep, yep.

Over James’ historic career, he’s aged well enough to become the oldest player to do several things, including recording a 30-point game, 30-point triple-double, 20-point, 20-rebound performance and 50-point double-double. His list of NBA records will be credibly longer than a CVS receipt, cementing his peak as the longest we’ve seen from any athlete in any sport ever.

Yes, Michael Jordan is one of the most dominant players in NBA annals and enjoyed possibly the best athletic peak in modern sports history, but 13 seasons will always be fewer than 23, which is to acknowledge the challenge of maintaining high-level feats for more than two decades.

Tom Brady indeed retired from the NFL as football’s all-time leader in Super Bowl wins, passing yards and touchdown tosses, but he attempted only three passes as a rookie and rode the pine until a Drew Bledsoe injury paved the way for opportunity.

If we do baseball comparisons, let’s input Cy Young, who retired with an MLB-record 749 complete games as a pitcher after the 1911 season. In the 115 years since then, no other pitcher has put together more than 405 such outings (Grover Alexander), and there’s very little chance of that record being broken.

Sports records are meant to be astonishing, whether they’re set by all-time greats or obscure names only a Google search could find. As time passes, once new marks are set, there can be an occasional debate over who could someday overtake it, let alone put their stamp on seemingly countless pages of new records.

At age 41, James’ per-game averages don’t resemble those that made him seem as if he were basketball’s ultimate created player until Victor Wembanyama came along, but his numbers remain plenty formidable for a player who stopped having much to prove in the last few seasons. That’s been the one special element of James’ career: how much he’s simply loved basketball for about his entire life. It’s only right for him to be basketball’s latest example of longevity.

At different points in his career, he’s been everything anyone could want in a hooper.

Among the NBA’s 42 players with at least 6,000 career assists, only James and Magic Johnson stand at least 6-feet-9 in height. Of the 45 players in league history to grab at least 10,000 rebounds, James is the only one to also amass five-figure dimes. He’s the youngest NBA player to reach the 10,000-, 20,000- and 30,000-point thresholds, all before he became the only one to score 40,000 points.

To frame James’ distinct two-way impact, he’s one of three players (Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone) to log at least 2,000 steals and 1,000 blocks, but he’s totaled more than 2,500 made 3-pointers than those Hall of Famers combined.

The fantasy playoffs are underway in most H2H leagues. That means the priority now is to add players who can help you advance in each individual round. The schedule will play a key role in which players top the waiver wire options for next week. With that in mind, here are six players to consider adding who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.

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Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz (44% rostered)

There are 20 teams that will play four games next week. The Jazz are one of them. They will be shorthanded with Lauri Markkanen (hip) and Keyonte George (hamstring) still out. That’s in addition to other key players being ruled out for the season, including Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Jusuf Nurkić (nose).

As the Jazz’s depth chart has thinned out, Collier has shined. Since Feb.1, he has averaged 17.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.9 steals over 18 games. Although he doesn’t provide much production from behind the arc, he also helps fantasy managers by shooting 49.5% from the field. He shouldn’t be available in this many leagues.

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Precious Achiuwa, Sacramento Kings (39% rostered)

Keegan Murray (ankle) has not played since Feb. 25 and will likely be out for at least all of next week. He has dealt with injuries for much of the season and the Kings have one of the worst records in the league, so there is no point in rushing him back. With him sidelined, there has been little competition for playing time for Achiuwa.

Over the last 14 games, Achiuwa has averaged 32 minutes. The additional playing time has turned him into a fantasy force with him averaging 16.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks during that span. The Kings play four games next week, including a couple of favorable matchups against the Hawks and Nets. There’s no reason to believe that Achiuwa is going to slow down anytime soon.

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Gui Santos, Golden State Warriors (37% rostered)

Despite all of their injuries, the Warriors are ticketed for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Currently the 10th seed, they could realistically move up to as high as eighth. They are 19-15 at home, but just 14-21 on the road. Moving up the standings and getting a game at home could be key for their chances of advancing.

As the Warriors make their playoff push and battle injuries along the way, Santos has become a key contributor for them. Over the last 18 games, he averaged 32 minutes. Don’t expect him to see a decline in playing time over the final month of the season, given that he provided 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 3-pointers a night over that span. Not only will the Warriors play four times next week, but three of their games are against bad teams in the Mavericks, Nets and Wizards. Santos could provide significant fantasy value.

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Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (31% rostered)

Pascal Siakam (knee) has missed each of the last six games for the Pacers. Going back even further, he has played in just four of their last 16 games. The Pacers play four times next week and none of the games are part of a back-to-back set. However, given their desire to improve their lottery odds, we still might not see much of Siakam, if he plays at all.

With Siakam not playing much, Walker averaged 31 minutes over those 16 games. That helped him average 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.9 3-pointers. Although he is only shooting 41.0% from the field for the season, he shot 43.5% across the 16 games. Plenty of minutes should be headed his way down the stretch, making Walker a priority add.

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Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls (28% rostered)

The Bulls have not been resting their starters down the stretch. Josh Giddey is actually playing more, averaging 35 minutes over their last eight games. He has been electric, providing five triple-doubles during that stretch. The Bulls likely can’t improve their lottery odds, so it’s possible they continue to give their starters ample playing time.

Jones is also playing more, averaging 29 minutes over the last nine games. The result was him averaging 16.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 0.9 3-pointers. He shot 56.0% from the field, which isn’t all that unsustainable, given that he shoots 54.5% for the season. The Bulls play at a fast pace and struggle defensively, which leads to a lot of high-scoring games. They have four games next week, so Jones makes for a great waiver wire option.

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Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic (23% rostered)

As the Magic have made a push for a top six seed in the Eastern Conference, they have done so without Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (abdomen). Those two have missed each of the last six games. Neither appears close to a return, and the Magic will play four games next week. Two of those four games are terrific matchups against the Pacers and Kings.

The main beneficiary of Wagner and Black being out is da Silva, who averaged 32 minutes over the last six games. During that span, he put up 14.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 3-pointers a night. Not only is adding da Silva a sound strategy for next week, but there’s a chance that he could remain in this expanded role even longer, given the lack of positive updates for Wagner and Black. The Magic also play four games in each of the following two weeks.