March 3,2024 at 7:00 PM
3/18/2024 7:00 PM
Cavaliers, Pacers Collide On Monday
The Indiana Pacers will host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday.

The Pacers (38-30) are sitting eight games above the .500 mark and shouldn’t have problems reaching the playoffs. On that note, it wouldn’t be shocking if these two teams ended up colliding in the postseason at some point. Indiana has had the upper hand against the Cavaliers so far, winning the two previous head-to-head meetings, though both games have been decided by five points or more. Indiana has also posted a decent record at home, going 21-14 when playing in front of their fans. The Pacers also enter this game having won three of their previous four contests, but they’ve gone 1-2 in their last three at home.

Doug McDermott (calf) is out to play Monday. Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season.

The Cavaliers (42-25) have been slumping in recent weeks and enter this game having dropped three of their last four contests. They’re coming off a 117-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday, and that loss was especially hard since it also proved that Donovan Mitchell is not ready to play in the near future. “I’m probably not playing next game to be honest with you... I thought I was ready. I’m not,” Mitchell said following the loss to Houston. The Cavaliers have gone 20-12 playing on the road this season, but their chances of winning away from home get more complicated if Mitchell is forced to miss time.

Dean Wade (knee) is a game-time call for Monday. Max Strus (knee), Donovan Mitchell (knee/nose), Ty Jerome (ankle) and Evan Mobley (ankle) are out.
March 3,2024 at 7:30 PM
3/18/2024 7:30 PM
Celtics, Wizards To Collide In Boston
The Boston Celtics will host the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden on Monday.

The Celtics (53-14) are coming off an easy 130-104 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Boston already locked a playoff berth, and the team can take an easy approach for the rest of the regular season, resting players if needed. The Celtics have been at their best at home, posting a 30-3 record in front of their fans at TD Garden. Plus, Boston is also entering an excellent run of form since the Celtics have won five contests in a row. The Celtics sit at the top of the Atlantic Division standings and hold a 13-game lead at the top of the division. As good as the Celtics have been in the regular season, their play screams “championship or bust” for Joe Mazzulla’s team.

Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring), Jaylen Brown (ankle) and Derrick White (hand) are all listed as game-time calls for Monday. Sam Hauser (ankle) is a game-time call as well after leaving Sunday’s game against Washington with an injury.

The Pistons (12-55) are coming off a 104-101 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday. Detroit has lost back-to-back games against the Heat, and Detroit has now dropped three of its last five contests. The Pistons sit dead last in the Central Division standings, and they’re set to finish the regular season near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. That’s probably what they were hoping for, as Detroit remains in a complicated stage of its rebuilding process, and the team could use another high pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Pistons will also aim to avenge what happened in the previous meeting against the Celtics, losing by a 128-122 overtime loss.

Quentin Grimes (knee) and Ausar Thompson (illness) are game-time calls for Monday. Both players have been missing multiple games in recent weeks.
March 3,2024 at 7:30 PM
3/18/2024 7:30 PM
Heat and 76ers Tangle in Philly
The Miami Heat takes on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on Monday night.

The Heat (37-30) are just a half-game back of the coveted No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference entering Monday's game, and they own a head-to-head tiebreaker over their No. 8-seeded opponent by having won the first two games over Philadelphia. Miami had recently been on a four-game skid, but they've snapped that with back-to-back wins over the Detroit Pistons. The more recent victory occurred Sunday afternoon in the form of a 104-101 win. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 30 points, adding five assists and four rebounds. Bam Adebayo generated a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double that included three assists and one steal. Terry Rozier furnished 17 points, nine assists, six rebounds and one steal. Jaime Jaquez delivered 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block. Caleb Martin finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block.

The Heat will likely list Jimmy Butler (foot), Nikola Jovic (hamstring) and Kevin Love (heel) as no better than questionable for Monday's game. Tyler Herro (foot) remains out.

The 76ers (37-30) haven't been in quite as good a form as their conference rival, as they've dropped five of their last seven contests. However, their most recent time on the floor resulted in one of those victories, as they topped the Charlotte Hornets by a 109-98 score Saturday night. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 30 points, supplementing them with four assists and three rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered 22 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Buddy Hield poured in 14 points. Paul Reed turned in 11 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block. Cameron Payne finished with 10 points, four assists and one steal.

The 76ers will list Tobias Harris (ankle) as questionable for Monday's contest. Joel Embiid (knee), Robert Covington (knee), De'Anthony Melton (back) and Kai Jones (hamstring) are expected to remain out.

Monday's game marks the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The Heat holds a 2-0 series lead.
March 3,2024 at 8:00 PM
3/18/2024 8:00 PM
Trail Blazers and Bulls Set for Windy City Battle
The Portland Trail Blazers take on the Chicago Bulls at United Center on Monday night.

The Trail Blazers (19-48) have endured plenty of losing stretches this season, and they'll enter Monday's contest with three defeats in the last four games, including back-to-back stumbles. Their most recent came Saturday night, when they fell to the New Orleans Pelicans by a 126-107 score. Dalano Banton led the Trail Blazers with 28 points, complementing them with six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Anfernee Simons furnished 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Deandre Ayton supplied 20 points, eight boards, two assists, one steal and one block. Toumani Camara turned in 11 points, six rebounds, one assist and two blocks. Scoot Henderson matched his teammate's scoring and also offered two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Jabari Walker went for 10 points and five rebounds.

The Trail Blazers will list Matisse Thybulle (ankle) and Jerami Grant (hamstring) as doubtful for Monday's game. Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) and Shaedon Sharpe (abdomen) are expected to remain out.

The Bulls (33-35) are in the midst of a fairly solid stretch of play, as they'll enter Monday having won five of their last eight games. Their most recent time on the floor resulted in one of those victories, as they throttled the Washington Wizards by a 127-98 score Saturday night. Ayo Dosunmu paced the Bulls with 34 points, complementing them with nine assists, three rebounds and one steal. Nikola Vucevic generated a 29-point, 13-rebound double-double that included two assists and one steal. Alex Caruso registered 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Andre Drummond and DeMar DeRozan finished with 13 points apiece while adding nine rebounds and six assists, respectively. DeRozan also contributed four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

The Bulls will list Coby White (hip) as doubtful and Alex Caruso (toe) as questionable for Monday's game. Julian Phillips (foot) will remain out.

Monday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Bulls hold a 1-0 series lead.
March 3,2024 at 9:00 PM
3/18/2024 9:00 PM
Jazz, Timberwolves Clash Again In Utah
The Utah Jazz play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Delta Center on Monday evening.

This marks the second of back-to-back meetings between the Jazz and the Timberwolves, after the Timberwolves walked away with a, 119-100, road win in their encounter on Saturday. The game got out to a slow start and was tied at 19, after one quarter. Both sides brought a similar effort in the second and the score remained tied at the break. The Timberwolves turned it up in the third and rallied to a 10-point lead heading into the final frame. The Jazz had no answers down the stretch, as the visitors held on for the win.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 31 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks, in the win. Mike Conley followed up with 25 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Naz Reid totaled 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. On the other side, Collin Sexton led the Jazz with 22 points, two rebounds, 10 assists and a steal. Keyonte George followed up with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Taylor Hendricks logged 15 points, 10 rebounds, a steal and a block.

The Jazz (29-38) will look to bounce back and improve on their, 20-14, home record. Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) has missed the last six games and is listed questionable for action, while Jordan Clarkson (groin) missed the last two games and will remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (46-21) are in search of a third straight win, as they have the opportunity to add to their, 23-13, road record. Kyle Anderson (shoulder) and Rudy Gobert (ribs) are listed as questionable for action, while Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) will remain out.
March 3,2024 at 10:00 PM
3/18/2024 10:00 PM
Warriors Host Streaking Knicks
The Golden State Warriors play host to the New York Knicks at Chase Center on Monday evening.

The Warriors (35-31) return home after a three-game road trip, where they went, 2-1. They are coming off a win in their last game and hope to stay on track for a chance to improve on their, 17-17, home. record. Stephen Curry made his return from a three-game absence and totaled 31 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in the last game. He leads the team, averaging 27.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists on the season. Klay Thompson averages 17.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists, while Jonathan Kuminga is averaging 16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The Warriors average 118.4 points per game, which is seventh most in the league, and they give up an average of 116.8 points per game.

Meanwhile, the Knicks (40-27) have won three in a row and look to keep rolling as they face the third game of a four-game road trip with the opportunity to add to their, 18-14, road record. Jalen Brunson is coming off back-to-back games with more than 40 points, and he is averaging 30.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals over the last five games. Donte DiVincenzo averages 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals, while Josh Hart is averaging 9.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.9 steals per game. OG Anunoby (elbow) started in the last three games after returning from a nearly six-week absence due to elbow surgery, but he is listed as questionable for action on Monday. Julius Randle (shoulder) will remain sidelined.
March 3,2024 at 10:00 PM
3/18/2024 10:00 PM
Kings Host Grizzlies on Monday
The Sacramento Kings play host to the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden One Center on Sunday.

The Grizzlies (23-45) were expected to compete this season, but injuries have ruined their year. That's why they entered this matchup losing 18 of their last 23 games. The good news is that they just got Desmond Bane back on Saturday, and many people didn't expect him to return at all. They're still missing their backcourt, though, because Ja Morant and Marcus Smart are expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. That's a ton to overcome, but many of these role players have done a wonderful job filling in. Vince Williams is the guy who's taken over the offense with all of these studs sitting, but he's injured right now too. It's simply a lost season for the Grizzlies, but they have hope for a rebound next year!

The Kings (38-28) have been spinning their wheels in the second half of the season, posting a 9-9 record across their last 18 games. This mediocre run couldn't have happened at a worse time either because Sacramento is trying to avoid the Play-In Tournament. The lengthy .500 stretch has the Kings sitting seventh in the Western Conference, just a 0.5 game behind the Phoenix Suns. They also have the Dallas Mavericks sitting just 0,5 games back in eighth, so Sacramento has an uphill battle to hold off those talented teams. It's hard to bet against the Kings as long as Domantas Sabonis is healthy, though, averaging 22 points, 13 rebounds and 9.1 assists over the last two months.

Sacramento has won both of their matchups over Memphis this year, winning five of their last seven games over them in total.
March 3,2024 at 10:30 PM
3/18/2024 10:30 PM
Lakers Host Hawks on Monday
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Atlanta Hawks at Crypto.com Arena on Monday.

The Hawks (30-37) come into this matchup losing three of their last four games. It's easy to understand why they've been losing so much, missing the majority of their starting lineup in that stretch. Jalen Johnson was able to return in the most recent defeat over the weekend, but they're still missing Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey. Missing an All-Star like Young is what's really killing this team because it's hard to make up for 25 points and 10 assists. Dejounte Murray is doing all he can to fill that void, averaging 30 points per game over the last two weeks. The recent losing streak has also hurt this team's playoff chances, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference. That's still a spot in the Play-In Tournament, but a 10-seed has to win two road games to face the top-seeded team in the real playoffs.

The Lakers (36-32) have been one of the best home teams in the NBA, posting a 24-12 record at Crypto.com Arena. They didn't show that on Saturday, though, narrowly losing to the Golden State Warriors in their most recent outing. What really horrifies fans is that Anthony Davis departed with an eye injury in the first quarter and was unable to return. The big man has missed a ton of time due to injury throughout his career, and this would be the worst time for him to get injured. LeBron James proved that he could still carry the load in that defeat, finishing with 40 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. It's hard to believe that a 21-year vet can post numbers like those, but everything this guy does is unbelievable.

These teams played on January 30, with Atlanta prevailing, 138-122. Los Angeles won 11 of their previous 14 games over Atlanta before that.