NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Mar 8, 2026
Doncic and Reaves Carry Lakers Past Knicks Without LeBron
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves combined for 60 points to carry the Lakers past the Knicks on Sunday while LeBron James sat out with an injury. Doncic poured in 32 points, hitting four threes and grabbing eight rebounds with four assists, 28 of those points coming in the first three quarters. Reaves added 25 with five assists and four rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 24 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 in defeat. The win was Los Angeles' 39th and keeps them a game behind Houston and Minnesota for the West’s No. 3 seed. Merlin sees a team finding answers without its king. The backcourt punch provides hope, but the true test arrives in a brutal stretch against Minnesota, Denver and two meetings with Houston. If Doncic keeps creating and Reaves remains a spark, the Lakers can seize momentum, yet health and depth will shape the final outcome. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers finishing in the West top-three: 40%.
Jayson Tatum Dagger Sends Celtics Past Cavaliers
Jayson Tatum buried a dagger three in his second game back, lifting Boston to a 109-98 win over Cleveland. He’s hit the ground running after his Achilles tear, totaling 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his first game and 20 points on Sunday. The Celtics missed him, and clearly, Tatum "missed his own jump shot" until now. Merlin sees more than a single shot. That three is a proof of concept: spacing, rhythm and leadership returning to a title-caliber team. The real question is endurance. Tatum’s flashes calm the room now, but the long season and playoff grind will reveal whether this return is durable or merely an enchanting preview. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Celtics reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this season: 65%.
Mar 8
LeBron James Passes Kareem Abdul Jabbar Field Goal Record
The Lakers celebrated LeBron James with a highlight video after he broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most field goals made, hitting his 15,838th field goal in Thursday’s win over the Nuggets. That milestone comes a little over three years after LeBron became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. At 41 and in his 23rd season, he is still productive, averaging 21.4 points, 7.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds, while Los Angeles sits sixth in the West at 38-25. Merlin sees durability turned to legend. Few players will compile such layered records, and LeBron’s continued output steadies a Lakers team chasing better playoff positioning. Expect more milestones and emotional moments as he carries history on his back, even if a title run will demand more from the supporting cast. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: (Odds of LeBron leading the Lakers to an NBA title this season: 18%.)
Mar 8
Charlotte Hornets Surge, Kawhi Leonard Revives Clippers
The NBA stretch run is a chaotic, compelling ride. Charlotte’s midseason surge has been, as Bill Simmons put it, "the most dramatic turnaround in-season of anyone that I can remember," and the Hornets lead the league in net rating and offense since Jan. Kawhi Leonard has revived the Clippers, Jayson Tatum races back from an Achilles tear, LeBron keeps producing, and Golden State lives or dies with Stephen Curry's health. Merlin sees momentum as a spell that can hold or vanish. For a high school fan expect big swings. Charlotte may not sustain 16-3 magic, but belief, hot shooting and balance can carry them past skeptics. Kawhi is a cheat code for L.A. Tatum might become a more selective scorer. Golden State’s fate turns on Curry. Watch injuries, roles and chemistry; they will write the season's end. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Charlotte Hornets making the playoffs this season: 45%.
Mar 8
Adam Silver Confronts Tanking as Pistons Thunder Rise
Merlin sees Adam Silver vowing to tackle the NBA’s tanking problem, but the consensus in the piece is summed up in two words: Good luck. The argument notes tanking persists because it works, with modern powerhouses born from losing seasons — Detroit, Oklahoma City, the Spurs, Rockets and others — and even Silver admitting that "The fundamental theory behind the draft is to help your worst-performing teams restock and be able to compete." Stripping away the ugliness will not erase the draft’s reward structure. Merlin whispers that tanking is like sowing seeds in winter. Change will need more than speeches; it will demand rewiring incentives and luck. The league can curtail visible tactics, yet many contenders prove that strategic losing seeds future champions. The story is far from finished. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Adam Silver eliminating tanking this season: 15%.
Mar 8
Kristaps Porzingis Returns With Encouraging POTS Update
Kristaps Porziņģis returned for 23 minutes in Golden State’s 104-87 loss, offering an on-court health update after being limited to two games since his Feb. 5 trade. Diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, he said "Today was okay. I still a little heavy" and finished with nine points, five rebounds and five assists. Porziņģis told reporters, "I believe I will be healthy now." Merlin senses cautious optimism. POTS helps explain the chronic exhaustion that cost him availability in Boston and Atlanta, so the Warriors will need to manage his minutes while he rebuilds conditioning and rhythm. If he steadies his body and shot, Golden State gains rare size and spacing; if not, the club’s late-season climb could stall. Next test is Monday in Utah. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Porziņģis becomes a reliable rotation piece for Golden State down the stretch: 45%.
Mar 8
Tyrese Maxey Undergoes Hand X Rays After 76ers Collision
Tyrese Maxey left Saturday’s 125-116 loss after a collision with teammate Adem Bona and, as Coach Nick Nurse said, "was undergoing X-rays on his hand." He will have further testing on his right finger Sunday. Maxey still finished with "31 points" and leads the NBA in minutes, so any absence would be a real blow to a 76ers club jockeying for playoff positioning. Merlin sees the fragility. A finger or hand issue can be day-to-day or stubborn, and Philadelphia has limited room for error with Joel Embiid and Paul George often sidelined and rookie VJ Edgecombe also injured. Cameron Payne could start, but the Sixers will likely lean conservative and protect their workhorse while the tests decide the next move. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Maxey misses at least one game this week: 40%.
Mar 7
Jaylen Brown: Wembanyama Is a Two Way Problem
Jaylen Brown lauded Victor Wembanyama on a recent Twitch stream, calling him "a problem, a big problem" and saying "When I say I'm the best two-way player in the league, it's not counting Wemby... He's not even human. I'm the best human player." Brown, who averages a career-high 28.8 points and shoots 48.1 percent for a 42-21 Celtics team, seemed to concede the two-way crown to Wembanyama. Wembanyama averages 23.8 points with 3.0 blocks and has a huge defensive swing for the Spurs, who are 103.4 defensively with him and 113.0 without. Merlin senses respect more than rivalry. Brown remains a top-tier defender and elite scorer, but Wembanyama’s size and rim protection redefine "two-way." Their matchups will be a perfect measuring stick for whether Boston’s schemes can contain a player who changes shot selection around the league. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Victor Wembanyama finishing the season as the NBA’s top two-way player: 65%.
Mar 7
Rookie Cooper Flagg Meets Idol Jayson Tatum in Celtics Return
Cooper Flagg spoke about the moment he faced Jayson Tatum after the Mavericks’ 120-100 loss, calling it “It's incredible” and saying Tatum was “someone I idolized growing up.” Flagg, the No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year frontrunner (20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists), has returned from a foot injury and put up 16-8-6 Friday. Tatum made his first game back from an Achilles tear and finished 15-12-7, a reminder he can still tilt a game. Merlin sees a neat echo: both came from Duke and both show how quickly a young star can shape a franchise. Tatum’s return lifts Boston now, while Flagg’s growth will determine if Dallas moves from hopeful to dangerous. Health and poise will write the next chapter. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cooper Flagg winning Rookie of the Year this season: 75%.
Mar 7
Victor Wembanyama Emotional After 25 Point Spurs Comeback
Merlin sees Victor Wembanyama turn exhaustion into triumph in San Antonio’s 116-112 comeback over the Clippers. Down 25 in the third, the Spurs poured in 35 in both the third and fourth quarters to notch the franchise’s second-biggest rally since 1997. Wembanyama led with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and said he felt "about to pass out" and that it was "close to being the hardest game of my life." The win pushed San Antonio to 14 wins in 15 games. Merlin notes the magic is not just one night. This is their best 15-game stretch since 2015-16, proof of rising chemistry and Wembanyama’s growing authority. The cost is wear and tear. With only one day off before a big home showdown vs Houston, the Spurs’ depth and minute management will decide if the streak continues. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: 1-sentence forecast (“Odds of the Spurs beating the Rockets on Sunday: 60%.”)
Mar 7
Trail Blazers Win Mock Draft, Take Isaiah Dybantsa
Merlin sees the NBA taking a long view on tanking. A top-tier 2026 class has pushed several teams to lose now, but scouts expect weaker 2027 and 2028 groups and flattened lottery odds to cool the races. A Tankathon simulation made the point with a surprise jackpot to Portland and other teams left empty handed while prospects like Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer dominated the mock order. Merlin whispers that luck and fit will decide more than intent. Front offices must choose between swinging for a franchise star or trading picks for proven help, and mock drafts remind them how fast fortunes flip. As Illinois coach Brad Underwood said of one riser, "He is one of the greatest stories in a long, long time." Expect more calculated risk and fewer willful losing seasons. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of fewer teams actively tanking over the next two drafts: 70%.
Mar 7
Grant Williams: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Still Magic
Grant Williams pushed back on the tired narrative that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown do not fit together, calling it "the same dumb s--t they've been talking about since I was here." Merlin sees the point: the Celtics are 41-21, Brown is averaging a career-high 28.9 points, and the pair have already won at the highest level, including the 2024 title. Tatum returns Friday from a ruptured Achilles, and that debut will be the real test of talk versus truth. Merlin senses two truths at once. Chemistry has a memory, and this duo has history. There will be rust and adjustments after an Achilles layoff, but Boston’s depth and winning culture bend toward quick repair. Expect an uneven first few games, then the familiar rhythm to reappear. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds they look seamless in the first month of Tatum’s return: 40%.
Mar 7
Warriors Chased Giannis Kawhi Jaren Jackson Jr, Landed Porzingis
Golden State quietly checked in on Jaren Jackson Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and even made a call about Kawhi Leonard before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, then "pivoted to their backup option" after missing out and sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Kristaps Porziņģis. The move aimed to bolster a thin frontcourt exposed after Jimmy Butler’s season ending torn ACL, but Porziņģis has played just one game for the Warriors due to illness while Kuminga has exploded with Atlanta. Golden State sits 32-30 and trails for position in the West. Merlin sees a team balancing urgency and risk. The Porziņģis gamble can change the floor plan if he stays healthy, yet the sudden rise of Kuminga leaves questions about what was traded away. Expect the roster to keep shifting as the Warriors hunt reliable size and scoring. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Golden State making the playoffs this season: 60%.
Mar 7
Nikola Vucevic Out One Month For Celtics
Merlin sees Nikola Vučević exiting Friday’s game with a fractured right ring finger and set for a procedure Saturday, expected to miss about one month, per Shams Charania. He played just under two minutes before staff examined his hand and was "ruled out for the remainder of the game." Vučević had averaged 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes since the Feb. 3 trade that brought him to Boston. Merlin notes the timing is harsh with Jayson Tatum just returning from a ruptured Achilles. Boston loses Vučević’s spacing, rebounding, and the plus-13.4 net rating he brings on the floor. Expect coach adjustments, more minutes for Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, and a cautious recovery plan as the Celtics test their depth over the next month. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Vučević returns on schedule and is ready to play within six weeks: 60%.
Mar 6
Jayson Tatum Returns, Celtics Roll Past Mavericks
Merlin sees Jayson Tatum return to action Friday after a torn right Achilles, posting 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes. He jump-started the Celtics with a pick-and-roll to Neemias Queta, hit corner threes and helped fuel a 22-5 fourth-quarter surge. After a 298-day absence there was some rust, but the night felt more like promise than proof. Merlin notes Boston is 42-21 and four games back of Detroit, so every healthy minute from Tatum changes the map. LeBron and others celebrated the milestone, and a three-game road trip starting in Cleveland will be the first real test of his stamina. If his body holds up, the Celtics’ ceiling rises; if not, careful minutes will shape the next chapter. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Tatum plays 25+ minutes Sunday in Cleveland: 55%.
Mar 6
Emotional Jayson Tatum Returns to Celtics After Torn Achilles
Jayson Tatum returns to TD Garden Friday for his first NBA action since last May’s torn Achilles. He told reporters, "I'm excited," and admitted, "I might be emotional...I'll just be proud of myself that I made it to that point." Coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum will start but had "no idea" about a minutes limit, while reports conflict on whether he will be capped in his initial games. Merlin sees Boston sitting 41-21 with about 19 games to get Tatum toward "peak Jayson Tatum" before the playoffs. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists this season, so even a 20-minute window will change matchups and rotations. The Celtics must balance getting their star ready and keeping him healthy for the postseason. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Boston gets past the second round this season with Tatum returning now: 45%.
Mar 6
LeBron James Teases Emotional Lakers Retirement
Merlin sees LeBron James quietly sizing up the endgame. At 41 he told Melissa Rohlin, "when I'm done with this game, it'll be a celebration of life and not of loss." He is averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists through 44 games, has not committed to playing past this summer, and faces talk of a possible Cleveland farewell while teammates and coaches remain unsure of his plans. Merlin senses the decision will bend to the body and the moment. Sources say LeBron was sincere when he admitted he does not know his future and that declaring anything in the fog of an 82-game season would be unwise. For now the focus is a playoff push with the Lakers, and any goodbye will be staged with care if it comes. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds LeBron retires after this season: 45%.
Mar 6
Adam Silver Promises NBA Tanking Fix After Jazz Pacers Fines
Merlin sees NBA commissioner Adam Silver promising “substantial” rule changes to curb tanking, and says they will be in place for next season. He rejected separating a team’s record from draft position and warned that “the incentives are misaligned” after six-figure fines to the Jazz and Pacers. The league acted in part because, as Brian Windhorst said, “the No. 1 pick this year is worth $100 million.” Merlin thinks the likeliest fix will tie late season wins to lottery odds, a move meant to make losing less appealing and to protect stars returning from injury. Any tweak will need sharp enforcement because teams will hunt for loopholes. Expect change next season, but the tug of war between rulemakers and front offices will continue. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA ties late-season wins to draft lottery odds by next season: 60%.
Mar 6
UNC's Caleb Wilson Out For Season After Thumb Surgery
Caleb Wilson will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right thumb in a non-contact drill, Shams Charania reports. He underwent surgery and is "expected to be cleared during the NBA predraft process." Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 24 games, so his absence comes with the ACC tournament and March Madness approaching. Merlin sees a Tar Heels squad tested but not finished. Hubert Davis called Wilson "progressing" from a prior left-hand fracture, yet losing a near 20-point, two-way presence forces lineup changes and shifts scouting focus. North Carolina's 5-1 stretch without him shows resilience, but the road through Duke and the ACC bracket will be steeper now. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of North Carolina reaching the Final Four this season: 30%.
Mar 6
Phoenix Suns' Dillon Brooks Arrested on DUI Suspicion
Merlin sees Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was arrested early Friday in Scottsdale on suspicion of driving under the influence after a traffic stop around 1 a.m.; he was booked and released about 3:30 a.m. The Suns said, "We are aware of the situation involving Dillon Brooks and are gathering more information." Brooks has not played since Feb. 21 with a fractured left hand and is expected to be out until late March after surgery. Before the injury he was averaging a career-high 20.9 points and arrived in Phoenix in the trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston. Merlin senses the timing dulls the immediate on-court sting but sharpens off-court risk. With legal details pending, the league and team will decide if discipline follows. Brooks’ strong season makes any suspension or distraction more consequential for Phoenix’ chemistry and playoff hopes. The next move will come from reports and the NBA office. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dillon Brooks receiving an NBA suspension this season: 25%.
Mar 6
LeBron Lakers Outraged After Jokic No Call
Merlin sees the Lakers’ frustration boiling after a 120-113 loss to Denver, their sixth in 11 games. LeBron James blasted the referees, saying he was "so f--king tired" of them calling a Jokić collision "marginal" after he fell and hit his elbow late in the fourth. He is questionable for Friday’s game as L.A. slips 1.5 games behind Denver for the No. 5 seed and prepares a five-game homestand. Merlin notes LeBron has been efficient, shooting over 50 percent in four straight games and posting 16 points and eight assists in the loss, but the timing of an injury scare and mounting losses makes every matchup feel urgent. The homestand will reveal whether the Lakers can steady the ship or slide toward the play-in. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds LeBron plays Friday vs Pacers: 65%.
Mar 6
Russell Westbrook Slams Media Over Kings Coverage
After a 133-123 loss to the Pelicans, Russell Westbrook used his postgame press conference to call out the media for what he called "false comments" and said it was important to "speak up for the guys in the locker room." He singled out reporters including Matt George, who labeled this roster "the worst in franchise history" and criticized Westbrook’s heavy usage as Sacramento slides toward its worst record since 2008-09. Merlin sees an aging core, key surgeries, and injuries forcing coach Doug Christie to lean on veterans more than development. Young pieces like rookie Maxime Raynaud deserve more chances, but the Kings have leaned on Westbrook’s nightly availability. The true test will be whether the club shifts minutes and vision before the offseason or lets the pattern continue. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Sacramento making the playoffs this season: 3%.
Mar 6
Victor Wembanyama Ignites Spurs Run for MVP
Merlin sees the NBA boiling down to two races: the hopeful tankers hunting top draft lottery odds and the contenders guarding health and momentum. The power rankings show Oklahoma City as the safest title bet when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays, San Antonio roaring behind Victor Wembanyama, Detroit cooling but still elite, Charlotte red hot, and a list of struggling teams deep in the tank like Sacramento, Indiana and Brooklyn. Injuries to stars and late trades are reshaping seeding and draft maps. Merlin whispers that the next few weeks will be fate for fringe teams. A hot streak or a key return could flip playoff paths, while relentless losing will secure ping pong balls. Watch Spurs streaks and OKC’s balance. The playoffs will reward health and rhythm more than pure talent. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Oklahoma City Thunder win the title: 30%.
Mar 6
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Trae Young Debut Sparks Wizards Hope
Trae Young debuted for the Wizards in a 122-112 loss to Utah, scoring 12 points and six assists in 19 minutes. He warned of growing pains, saying, "I'm learning these guys and they're getting to learn me too," and promised some "oh s--t moments" as the roster adjusts. His arrival hands Washington a clear playmaker around which a rebuild can be structured and gives fans renewed energy. Merlin sees the coming weeks as a classroom. With young pieces like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George and a high-profile co-star, Young’s vision will speed development even if the scoreboard lags. He called the group "special," and that belief may be the spark the club needs while chemistry is forged through early bumps. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Wizards making the playoffs this season: 20%.
Mar 6
LeBron James Breaks NBA Field Goals Record for Lakers
Merlin sees LeBron James eclipse Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leader in made field goals, nailing the record with his third bucket in Denver. At 41 and in his 23rd season, James has roughly 15,838 field goals, sitting more than 2,300 ahead of third-place Karl Malone while still averaging 21.6 points on 50.2 percent shooting, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 33.1 minutes. The milestone is another proof of his rare durability. Merlin knows longevity is a kind of sorcery. With 22 All-NBA selections, four titles, the scoring and minutes crowns already in his chest, LeBron is quietly collecting more firsts. The next small mountain to climb is most games played, just six contests away, and his steady play keeps the Lakers in the mix. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds LeBron sets the most-games-played record this season: 90%.
Mar 6