The slate has been wiped clean ahead of Wednesday’s meeting in Indianapolis, where the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers collide after both saw their recent streaks come to an end.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle implored his players to “make a stand” after crashing to a 16th consecutive loss — a franchise record — and the Pacers did just that with a drought-breaking 128-126 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Monday.

Pascal Siakam scored 37 points before producing the clutch defensive play of the game when he blocked Paolo Banchero’s drive at the buzzer, which would have sent the game into overtime.

“We had not been playing well,” Carlisle said. “The game (Saturday) in San Antonio was very disappointing for all of us. We talked about it (Monday) morning that we needed to make a stand and raise our level of collective will of how we’re competing. Guys did it, led by the veterans — Pascal, Andrew (Nesmith) and Aaron (Nembhard). It was a great game. It felt like a playoff-type game.”

Indiana (16-56) had led by 12 deep in the fourth period before narrowly surviving a late Orlando rally.

It was the Pacers’ first win since Feb. 11, before the All-Star Game that featured Siakam, who is averaging a team-best 24.0 points.

“In the position we’re in, we need to play as much meaningful basketball as we can, because we know we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Carlisle said. “This was an important game at an important time … We hadn’t won a game in a while. We needed this.”

The Lakers (46-26) had won nine straight — their best run since 2020 — before being edged 113-110 in Detroit on Monday.

Luka Doncic — the league’s leading scorer, averaging 33.4 points — posted 32 against the Pistons, but missed two key shots down the stretch.

The Slovenian superstar was unsuccessful with a go-ahead pullup from 13 feet, before Daniss Jenkins’ two free throws at the other end put Detroit up by three.

Los Angeles called for time and LeBron James’ long inbound caught a deflection before ending with Doncic, who missed a tough 3-pointer over Jalen Duren to level it at the buzzer.

Despite the setback, Lakers coach JJ Redick liked how his team rallied after the Pistons had stormed ahead by 16 in the third period.

“I didn’t feel like we were going to break,” Redick said. “We made the adjustment at halftime to switch one through five. That was helpful in slowing them down.”

The Lakers’ cause wasn’t helped by the absence of regular starters Marcus Smart (ankle) and Rui Hachimura (calf). Smart is doubtful to play Wednesday and Hachimura is questionable.

“Our winning streak also coincided with us being healthy,” Redick said. “(Monday), Smart and Rui were out. Not having Smart killed us. It’s important for us that we can get healthy and play our rotation. Post-Luke (Kennard) trade, when all nine guys have played, we’ve been a good basketball team. We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy.”

LeBron James endured a rare scoreless first half but still impacted the game, finishing just shy of a triple double — 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

“They play extremely hard, extremely fast and they’re super well-coached,” James said of the Pacers. “We’ve got to be ready for that. It’s our last game of the road trip. I know everybody’s trying to get home, but we’ve got business to take care of. We’ll be ready.”

–Field Level Media

Following a lengthy suspension, Paul George returns to the court Wednesday when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls.

Philadelphia (39-33) is looking to avoid the play-in tournament, but it has been a challenge playing without many of its key weapons in recent weeks. In addition to injuries to Joel Embiid (oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger), among others, the team has played its last 25 games without George.

The veteran forward was suspended Jan. 31 for taking “improper medication,” but that ban ended with Monday’s 123-103 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. George is expected to be in the starting lineup Wednesday, with no minutes restriction, for an important contest against Chicago.

The Sixers entered Tuesday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the first spot in the play-in tournament.

“I think they’ve done a decent job of hanging in there,” said Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse, whose team went 13-12 without George. “I think it just shows you how fast 25 games goes in this league sometimes. It’s hard to believe it’s over with already.”

The players certainly are excited to welcome back George, who averages 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 27 games (all starts) in 2025-26.

“It’s Paul George, man,” said rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. “He’s elite. He’s one of the smoothest players to ever touch a basketball. He’s a two-way player at that, so for him to get back on the floor means a lot.”

Edgecombe has been tasked with holding down the fort while George, Maxey and Embiid have been sidelined simultaneously. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points in the loss to the Thunder and has averaged 31.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists over the last three games.

“He’s got a pretty good command of the team right now,” Nurse said. “As far as getting us organized, and as far as playing with great leadership, he’s leading by example a lot.”

Meanwhile, Collin Sexton has emerged as a leader for a Bulls team likely headed for the draft lottery. The veteran point guard supplied 25 points in Monday’s 132-124 triumph over the Houston Rockets — just Chicago’s second win in the last six games.

“I wanted to bring the juice and the energy — that’s all I was thinking about these last couple (of games),” Sexton said.

Matas Buzelis chipped in with 23 points against Houston. He shot 5 of 9 from 3-point range, leading a crisp long-range performance by the Bulls, who made half of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc.

Chicago (29-42) likely faces an insurmountable climb to the play-in tournament with only 11 games remaining, but Buzelis continues to prove he’s a key piece of its future.

“Win every game. Play-in or not. Playoffs or not,” said Buzelis, who is averaging 21.6 points and 6.6 rebounds this month. “(We’re) trying to win every game.”

That mindset certainly jives with the ultra-competitive Sexton, who has contributed 16.1 points in 15 games since joining Chicago in a midseason trade with the Utah Jazz.

“Stay hungry. Stay hungry,” Sexton said. “Don’t worry about the summer. Continue to (take things) one game at a time, one day at a time.”

This is the teams’ third and final meeting this season. The Bulls have captured the first two matchups, both in Chicago.

Embiid is listed as questionable for the contest.

–Field Level Media

After 13 seasons in charge at Alabama, women’s basketball head coach Kristy Curry is leaving for the same job at South Florida.

Both schools announced the move Tuesday, with South Florida CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins calling Curry “a proven winner at the highest levels.”

“She has guided her teams to the NCAA championship game and built an exceptional resume that includes 16 20-win seasons and 21 postseason appearances over 27 years as a head coach,” Higgins said in a statement. “I’m incredibly excited about the future of South Florida women’s basketball under her leadership.”

Curry, 59, has spent her entire head-coaching career at high-major schools — Purdue (1999-2006), Texas Tech (2006-13) and Alabama — so the choice to move to the American Conference program is surprising.

However, Jose Fernandez built the Bulls into a frequent NCAA Tournament team in his 25-year career there before he took over the WNBA’s Dallas Wings in 2025. Michele Woods-Baxter served as the temporary head coach in 2025-26; the Bulls went 20-12 (13-5 American) but missed the tournament.

“I would like to thank Rob Higgins for the tremendous opportunity to lead a proud South Florida women’s basketball program,” Curry said in a statement. “A strong foundation is in place, and I look forward to building on it as we pursue conference championships and NCAA Tournament success. Rob and the University’s commitment to competing at the highest level–along with the clear vision and alignment at USF–are truly exceptional. I can’t wait to meet Bulls Nation and experience a rocking Yuengling Center.”

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne thanked Curry for doing “a commendable job” in a statement Tuesday.

“We appreciated her contributions and wish her and her family well moving forward,” Byrne said. “As we begin a national search for our next head coach, Alabama athletics remains committed to the continued growth and investment in women’s basketball.”

The Crimson Tide qualified for each of the last four NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the second round in three straight years. As a sixth seed, the team’s season ended Monday with a narrow 69-68 loss to third-seeded Louisville in the Round of 32.

Alabama (24-11, 7-9 SEC) also received a ranking in the AP Top 25 poll for the second straight year, coming in as high as No. 21. Before Curry, the program had not done so since 1998-99.

Curry is 554-322 as a head coach all-time. She took Purdue to the Final Four in 2001 and beat Missouri State before falling 68-66 to Notre Dame in the title game.

–Field Level Media