Sports
Jared McCain helping on both ends as rolling Thunder visit Wizards
Mar 18, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets forward Chaney Johnson (31) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images After his season-high 26-point performance, it’s easy to focus on the offensive side of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain.
Heading into Saturday’s road matchup with the Washington Wizards, however, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault is focusing more on the defensive side of McCain’s game since he was acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I don’t know how much he’s developed but he’s definitely integrated well. He’s learning his teammates, he’s learning our system, the fundamentals that we emphasize,” Daigneault said. “… He’s done a really good job of committing to our fundamentals and the things that we need to do on the defensive end of the floor.
“Obviously he’s a very potent offensive player, but he gives up some size and needs to be really fundamental and feisty (defensively) and he’s done that, especially lately.”
The Thunder are 15-3 since acquiring McCain after going 11-7 in their 18 games prior to the trade.
McCain has been particularly important to Oklahoma City during the absence of Jalen Williams, who along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the Thunder’s primary ballhandlers.
Williams hasn’t played since Feb. 11 as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
Oklahoma City (55-15) comes into the Saturday game on a 10-game winning streak and is working to hold off San Antonio for the top seed in the Western Conference.
The Thunder come into the contest with the Wizards three games ahead of the Spurs.
The Saturday game is the last of two between the Wizards and Thunder this season.
Oklahoma City won the first meeting by 19 on Oct. 30 in the third of what became a 14-game losing streak for the Wizards.
Washington is once again on a 14-game losing streak, with their last win coming Feb. 20. The Wizards have lost by an average of nearly 15 points per game during the streak.
The Thunder lead the NBA in net rating, outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions, while the Wizards are last at minus-11.1.
Oklahoma City is holding opponents to a league-low 43.4% from the field.
In the earlier meeting, the Thunder scored 26 points on Washington’s 23 turnovers while Oklahoma City turned the ball over just six times for five Wizards’ points.
In Thursday’s 117-95 loss to Detroit, the Pistons scored 23 points on Washington’s 19 turnovers for a plus-10 advantage off turnovers.
Much like Daigneault when talking about McCain, Wizards coach Brian Keefe has been pleased with the recent defensive growth from third-year reserve center Tristan Vukcevic, who has had the two best offensive games of his career over the past four games.
“He’s one of the better bigs in the league in terms of disruptions — disrupting the ball, getting his hands on things,” Keefe said.
The Wizards remain short-handed, with Anthony Davis still yet to make his D.C. debut after not playing since early January. Additionally, Trae Young has missed the last two games with a quadriceps contusion and has played in just five since being acquired from Atlanta in February.
In an update Friday, the Wizards announced Davis continues to progress, but that he would remain out at least until being evaluated later in the month. On Saturday, the team said Young has a right quadriceps contusion and lower back irritation and the “injuries are being treated conservatively.”
The Wizards said Young will not require surgery but gave no timeline for his return to the court.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hawks bury Warriors in 2nd half to move into playoff position
Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) shoots over Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (21) in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Dyson Daniels matched his career high with 28 points to help the Atlanta Hawks defeat the visiting Golden State Warriors 126-110 on Saturday and extend their homecourt winning streak to 10 games.
The victory, combined with Orlando’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, lifted the Hawks (39-32) into sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, the last guaranteed playoff spot.
Daniels was 12-for-17 from the field with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals to help the Hawks bounce back from their 11-game winning streak being snapped Friday vs. Houston.
CJ McCollum scored 15 of his 23 points in the third quarter to help Atlanta pull away in a game it led by two points at halftime.
The Hawks got 17 points each from Zaccharie Risacher and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks from Mouhamed Gueye, who started in place of leading scorer Jalen Johnson (left shoulder inflammation).
Golden State (33-38) was led by De’Anthony Melton with 20 points, Nate Williams with 19 points and Pat Spencer with 18. The Warriors are 1-4 on their six-game road trip which concludes on Monday at Dallas.
Atlanta, thanks to a 15-point first quarter by Daniels, led by as many as eight, but Golden State took a 36-35 lead into the second quarter. The Warriors built on that momentum and led by as many as eight points in the second, but the Hawks went on an 11-2 run to take a 55-54 lead. Atlanta led 63-61 at intermission.
Atlanta outscored the Warriors 39-20 in the third quarter. The Hawks led by as many as 24 points, 90-66, on an emphatic dunk by Gueye at the 6:16 mark of the third. Atlanta led 102-81 entering the final quarter.
The Hawks swept the two-game season series against Golden State and have won seven in a row against the Warriors in Atlanta.
Golden State played without Stephen Curry (right patellofemoral), Seth Curry (left adductor strain), Al Horford (right soleus strain), Moses Moody (right wrist sprain), Kristaps Porzingis (lower-back tightness) and Gary Payton II (right hip contusion).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Amen Thompson's tip-in at buzzer lifts Rockets over Heat
Mar 21, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) catches a pass against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Amen Thompson tipped in a Kevin Durant missed jumper at the buzzer, and the Houston Rockets escaped with a wild 123-122 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Durant had passed Michael Jordan’s career 32,292 points for fifth on the scoring list with a corner 3-pointer at the 3:35 mark of the fourth quarter. The Heat (38-33) moved ahead on a goaltending call against Jabari Smith Jr. when he attempted to block Simone Fontecchio’s layup after the Rockets committed a turnover on an inbounds pass by Tari Eason.
Thompson saved the Rockets (43-27) with his career-best 18th rebound, redirecting the Durant miss just before the buzzer sounded. Thompson finished with 24 points and was one of three Rockets to record double-doubles along with Reed Sheppard (23 points, 14 assists) and Alperen Sengun (19 points, 12 rebounds). Durant finished with 27 points to lead the Rockets and has 32,294 for his career.
Bam Adebayo paired 32 points with a career-high-tying 21 rebounds to pace the Heat. Tyler Herro scored 25 points but shot 0-for-5 in the fourth quarter. Fontecchio had 21 points and five 3-pointers. Pelle Larsson tallied 19 points, while Davion Mitchell had 15 points and nine assists.
Fontecchio drilled a 3 that gave the Heat an 83-80 lead at the 7:11 mark of the third quarter, the seventh lead change by that point in the period. Miami extended that margin, boosted by two Myron Gardner 3s late in the third, and the Heat extended to an 11-point cushion in the fourth.
But Smith nailed back-to-back 3s to spark the Houston comeback in the final period, and when Thompson scored on a transition dunk, the Rockets led 103-102. Sheppard made a floater with 12.7 seconds left for a 121-118 lead, only for Miami to reclaim the lead before Thompson won it.
The Heat answered the Rockets’ 8-0 start to the game with a 23-3 run that yielded a 12-point cushion. Houston responded quickly, boosted by three Sheppard 3-pointers, and when Smith made two free throws with 45 seconds left in the first quarter, Houston reclaimed a 30-29 lead.
The Rockets led 55-48 late in the second quarter before Mitchell nailed two 3s that helped Miami shave the deficit to 64-63 at the half.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bruins surge in third, down Red Wings in race for playoff berth
Mar 21, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) handles the puck against Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (20) during the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images The visiting Boston Bruins scored twice in a 3:20 span in the third period to turn around a one-goal deficit en route to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in a crucial matchup between Atlantic Division rivals on Saturday night.
Nikita Zadorov scored the eventual game-winner with 10:18 remaining to lift Boston (39-23-8, 86 points), which improved to 3-0-2 in its last five.
David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each registered a goal and an assist, Marat Khusnutdinov also scored, Morgan Geekie had three assists and Charlie McAvoy two.
Jeremy Swayman backstopped the victory, making 41 saves.
Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat lit the lamp and John Gibson made 23 saves for Detroit (38-24-8, 84 points), which had been on a 2-0-1 run.
The teams entered Saturday’s game in a tie for the two Eastern Conference wild-card playoff positions, while the Montreal Canadiens held the No. 3 slot in the division by virtue of a better points percentage.
Lindholm netted the game-tying goal for 2-2 at 6:22 of the third period. After Mason Lohrei kept the puck in at the blue line, Geekie fired a cross-ice pass to Lindholm to slot home five-hole on Gibson from the bottom of the left circle.
Aided by another Geekie pass, Zadorov’s winner followed on an off-angle wrister coming down the left wing.
Gibson kick-saved Lukas Reichel’s penalty shot with 6:08 left in regulation to give Detroit some life, but Swayman stood tall in the final minutes and Khusnutdinov scored an empty-netter with 1:52 to go to preserve the win.
Detroit was held without a shot for more than 12 minutes to begin the game, but finished at 10-10 advantage following a scoreless first period. J.T. Compher narrowly missed making it a 1-0 lead before intermission, as his rebound bid slid past Swayman just after the final tenth of a second expired off the clock before intermission.
The hosts officially drew first blood 3:35 into the middle frame. Raymond cashed in on another man-up sequence, burying a one-time goal from the bottom of the left circle off Andrew Copp’s cross-ice feed.
Pastrnak responded with a game-tying, power-play goal at 5:07. The star winger blasted a one-timer from the left side after receiving McAvoy’s feed from the top of the formation.
DeBrincat put the Wings back in front at 4:06 of the second, slipping down to the top of the left circle to slot a high wrister past Swayman.
–Field Level Media
Hawks bury Warriors in 2nd half to move into playoff position
Amen Thompson's tip-in at buzzer lifts Rockets over Heat
