Stephen Curry is already the NBA’s 3-point king. He broke Ray Allen’s all-time 3-point record in 2021, and has since been putting more distance between him and anyone else trying to chase him. On Thursday night, he reached a milestone no one has ever accomplished in NBA history when he made his 4,000th career 3-pointer on a side-step jumper from the right wing in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 130-104 win against the Sacramento Kings.
Curry entered the night two 3s away from crossing the 4,000 threshold, and took a little longer than expected to hit the milestone. Only two players — Curry and James Harden — had even reached 3,000 career triples. Now Curry stands on his own with 4,000 and counting.
Player Career 3FG Stephen Curry 4,000 James Harden 3,127 Ray Allen 2,973 Damian Lillard 2,794 Klay Thompson 2,667 “It was a special moment, obviously, to do it at home,” Curry said after the game. “The 2,974 record in New York was great because it was an unbelievable environment in Madison Square, but to do it in front of my home fans — it was a weird game because I didn’t get many attempts up. I finally did it in the third. I felt the energy. It was special.”
Curry finished with just 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range. At this point he remains at exactly 4,000 career 3-pointers, though that likely won’t last long.
This latest accomplishment by Curry comes on the heels of him surpassing 25,000 points on March 9, making him the 26th player to join the 25K club, and just the 10th player to do it with a single team over their career. At the rate at which Curry puts up points, he’ll surely be knocking on the door of finishing his career in the top 10 in scoring, and he could also reach 5,000 3-pointers when it’s all over, too.
Warriors’ Stephen Curry, on the verge of his 4,000th 3-pointer, says he wants to play beyond current contract James Herbert Warriors’ Stephen Curry, on the verge of his 4,000th 3-pointer, says he wants to play beyond current contract Curry, who will turn 37 on Friday, has two years left on his contract which ends in the summer of 2027, and has expressed interest in playing past his current deal. So let’s say he signs to play another two years, taking him through the 2028-29 season, by which time he’ll be 40 years old. That would give Curry four years to reach 5,000 career 3-pointers made. Natural regression will surely happen, and injuries have popped up for Curry in recent years, but he’s also one of the most well-conditioned athletes in the league. He has to be with all the running around the floor he does to get open from 3-point land.
Given that Curry is getting up there in age, let’s say he averages 60 games over the next four years (he’s averaged roughly 63 games a season over his entire career). Using that framework, and assuming he plays another four years, he would need to make at least 4.2 3-pointers a game over those 60 games in four years to cross 5,000.
This is all guesswork obviously, and it will greatly depend on how healthy Curry will be in the next few years, but it’s certainly feasible. And if there is anyone who could reach that uncharted territory, it would certainly be Curry.
“8,000?” Warriors coach Steve Kerr replied when asked how many 3-pointers Curry could end up with. “It just seems like it was not too long ago that he broke the record. He just keeps going. The way he keeps himself in shape, in condition, in rhythm. He’ll make another 1,000 for sure. That’s what I would guess.”
Happy Friday, everyone! By the time you read the next edition of this newsletter, we will have both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament fields, a whole bunch of conference tournament champions, a Players Championship winner and plenty more headlines. Who knows? Maybe even Aaron Rodgers will sign somewhere!
It’s going to be a great weekend. Let’s get right to it.
🏀 Good morning to all, but especially to … STEPHEN CURRY AND THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Everyone loves round numbers. Stephen Curry just made a club of his own with one. The Warriors superstar hit his 4,000th career 3-pointer Thursday, making him the only player in NBA history to reach the 4K mark. Here’s the moment.
Let’s put this in context: Only one other player (James Harden) has even made 3,000 career 3-pointers. Jasmyn Wimbish explains that 5,000 career 3s is within the realm of possibility for Curry, too. That’s especially true if he follows through on his comment that he wants to play beyond his current contract, which expires after the 2026-27 season. It’s been a month of milestones for Curry, who became the 26th player to reach 25,000 career points back on March 9. In some fun news, Curry, 37, also said he thinks the 3-point contest with Sabrina Ionescu will eventually make a return. Making matters even better, the Warriors beat the Kings, 130-104, their sixth straight win and their 11th win in their last 12 games.
👍 Honorable mentions Texas kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a 94-89 double-overtime upset victory over Texas A&M. The Longhorns are on the wrong side of the bubble for now, but an opportunity for another impressive win awaits today against Tennessee. Can VCU be Cinderella again? Rory McIlroy’s back-nine surge got him near the top of the leaderboard at Sawgrass. We’re tracking every men’s conference tournament, and we have a list of the auto bids on the women’s side. Princeton’s Ashley Chea shines on the court and on the screen. Rafael Devers changed his tune and is open to designated hitting for the Red Sox. The Cardinals finally handed out an MLB contract! Where does Alex Ovechkin rank among greatest NHL players of all time? Marvin Harrison Jr. jerseys are finally available. The Mercury will retire Diana Taurasi’s No. 3 jersey and induct her into the Ring of Honor. The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are set. We ranked all of the matchups. The EA Sports “College Football 26” cover leaked. Eminem joined Detroit’s bid for a WNBA expansion franchise. Kylian Mbappé and DJ Khaled are coming to the Rolex SailGP Championship. 🏀 And not such a good morning for … untitled-design-2025-03-13t222416-572.png Getty Images COOPER FLAGG AND THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Duke superstar freshman Cooper Flagg left Thursday’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative, but coach Jon Scheyer said it’s “a real long shot” Flagg will be able to play in the Blue Devils’ semifinal matchup tonight against North Carolina.
Flagg twisted his ankle significantly after a rebound late in the first half with Duke trailing 26-17. Duke was able to rally behind Flagg’s fellow freshman Kon Knueppel (28 points, eight assists) for the 78-70 win. Here’s how Flagg’s teammates reacted to the injury and his potential absence moving forward. Here’s more from Scheyer, which I thought was absolutely on point: “It’s not about being ready to go tomorrow. That’s not the most important thing for us. We’ve got to see if we can get him right for this run that we can make in the [NCAA] Tournament.” The Blue Devils, the top team in the AP Top 25 and a projected No. 1 seed, are among the favorites to win it all with a healthy Flagg, and they’re likely not falling to the 2-seed line even with an ACC Tournament loss.
Flagg leads Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, the first major-conference freshman to do so for a team since Ben Simmons in 2015-16. Not only is Flagg a terrific, versatile offensive player, but he is an outstanding defender. There are many reasons he’s the favorite for player of the year.
Flagg is the headliner, of course, but Duke also lost Maliq Brown to a dislocated shoulder — a re-aggravation of an injury he’s been dealing with for a bit. Brown is also a terrific, tough defender and an irreplaceable piece of the Blue Devils’ frontcourt.
👎 Not so honorable mentions Kansas lost to Arizona in the Big 12 quarterfinals, another disappointment for the preseason No. 1. DeMarcus Lawrence threw shade at the Cowboys, and Micah Parsons fired right back. The Patriots released longtime stalwart center David Andrews. Paul George is consulting doctors about knee and groin injuries and could undergo surgery. With the Spurs struggling, De’Aaron Fox will undergo finger surgery for an issue he’s been dealing with since training camp and miss the rest of the season. The Spurs pulled quite the rookie prank on Stephon Castle. The Rays are not moving forward with their new stadium. Here’s what could come next. Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Jeff McNeil (oblique) will begin the season on the IL. These managers are on the hot seat. Ballyhooed freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will get most of the blame, but Rutgers’ disappointing transfer class was a huge reason behind the team’s struggles, Isaac Trotter writes. Fran McCaffrey got ejected for arguing with officials in Iowa’s loss to Illinois. Minnesota fired Ben Johnson. Texas self-reported five NCAA violations related to sports gambling. The list of submissions includes two football players. UNLV says it can only afford the first two years of Dan Mullen’s new contract. Breanna Stewart had meniscus surgery. A Virginia high school athlete was charged with assault and battery after an incident involving a baton during a track meet. 🏈 NFL free agency Day 4 winners, losers, grades untitled-design-2025-03-13t224501-772.png Getty Images No, we still don’t have destinations for Rodgers or Russell Wilson, who remain among our top free agents still available, but we did get some quarterback news Thursday.
Patrick Mahomes has a new backup: The Chiefs signed Gardner Minshew. Kenny Pickett believes he’ll have a chance to win the Browns’ starting job The Falcons seem intent on keeping Kirk Cousins as Michael Penix Jr.’s pricy backup. The Seahawks officially introduced Sam Darnold. The Steelers reunited with Mason Rudolph. Bryan DeArdo handed out Day 4 winners and losers, and Cody Benjamin graded some of the day’s key moves.
Things have certainly quieted down, so I enjoyed Jared Dubin looking back at the 10 best value signings of free agency, including …
Dubin: “DT Poona Ford, Rams — Ford is coming off a really solid year with the Chargers during which he picked up 21 run stops and 23 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a really good run stopper and he’s flashed some more pass-rush usefulness in recent seasons. The Rams kept him in L.A. and did so for three years and $27.6 million.” I’m liking the Rams’ offseason, and they have a solid mark in our team-by-team grades, too.
🐐 Dennis Dodd reflects on legendary career dennis-dodd-retirement.png CBS Sports design Whenever I’ve seen a Dennis Dodd byline, I’ve tried to get it in this newsletter. Breaking news? Dennis has it. Inside scoops thanks to unparalleled access built on years of trust? Dennis has them. A great story, a well-researched report or a projection for the future? Dennis has it all.
Well … has had it all. Following the NCAA Tournament, he’s retiring after 27 years at CBS Sports and 45 years in sports journalism. And, my goodness, does he have stories to share, one last time for good measure. Dennis’ retirement column is an all-timer, a wonderful look behind the curtain at the guy who brought fans … well … behind the curtain.
Walking tours and (several) adult beverages with Mike Leach? Check. Locked inside stadiums? Check. Worldly travels? Check. Again: You name it, Dennis has done it.
This article is well worth your time. Here’s my favorite part:
Dodd: “The foundation still endures: The players and their stories are what make college sports great. Heck, it’s what makes all sports great.” Dennis — and all of us — are going to see some great players make great stories in the coming weeks. Let’s cherish it.
📺 What we’re watching this weekend ⛳ We’re watching The Players Championship. Here’s how. 🏀 We’re watching the men’s basketball conference tournaments: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | SEC
Friday 🏀 Celtics at Heat, 7 p.m. on NBA TV 🏀 Lakers at Nuggets, 9:30 p.m. on NBA TV
Saturday 🏀 America East final: Maine at Bryant (M), 11 a.m. on ESPN2 🏀 MEAC Tournament final (M), 1 p.m. on ESPN2 🏒 Devils at Penguins, 3 p.m. on ABC 🏀 Mountain West Tournament final (M), 6 p.m. on CBS 🏀 MAC championship (M), 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 🏀 MAAC championship (M), 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 🏀 Knicks at Warriors, 8:30 p.m. on ABC 🏀 CUSA championship (M), 8:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network 🏀 SWAC Tournament final (M), 9:30 p.m. on ESPNU 🏀 Big West championship (M), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2 ⛵ Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, 11 p.m. on CBS Sports Network 🏀 WAC Tournament Final (M), 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Sunday 🏀 Ivy League Tournament final (M), noon on ESPN2 🏀 Magic at Cavaliers, 1 p.m. on ABC 🏀 Atlantic 10 championship (M), 1 p.m. on CBS 🏒 Golden Knights at Red Wings, 1 p.m. on TNT/truTV 🏀 AAC championship (M), 3 p.m. on ESPN 🏀 Suns at Lakers, 3:30 p.m. on ABC 🏒 Stars at Avalanche, 3:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV ⛵ Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network 🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show, 6 p.m. on CBS 🏀 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Selection Show, 8 p.m. on ESPN 🏀 Thunder at Bucks, 9 p.m. on ESPN
Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr., who sprained his left ankle in the opening minutes of their 132-130 loss against the Atlanta Hawks on March 3, is nearing a return. Leading up to their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, the Grizzlies upgraded Jackson’s status to questionable.
Jackson, 25, is having the best season of his career. Assuming he meets the NBA’s 65-game threshold for end-of-season awards, he will be a strong All-NBA, All-Defense and Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Entering their game against the Cavaliers, who have the league’s best record (55-10), the Grizzlies are on a four-game winning streak. At 42-24, they are second in the Western Conference with less than a month remaining in the regular season.
The Grizzlies’ magic trick: How an offense borrowed from a DIII school in Maine has Memphis moving differently James Herbert The Grizzlies’ magic trick: How an offense borrowed from a DIII school in Maine has Memphis moving differently Only one game, however, separates Memphis from the fifth-place Houston Rockets in the standings. While the Grizzlies’ No. 6-ranked offense has been a success story, they’ve fallen to 11th in defense (and 22nd from Jan. 27 onward, a 20-game stretch). They have fared just fine defensively without Jackson in recent wins against the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks and lottery-bound New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz, but if they’re going to reestablish themselves on that end ahead of the playoffs, they need Jackson on the floor, being an all-around menace.
Jackson has also been the team’s most prolific scorer this season, averaging a career-high 22.7 points (on 59.8% true shooting) in 29.4 minutes per game. With Jackson sidelined, Desmond Bane recorded a 35-point triple-double against Atlanta, then put up 27 points, 16 rebounds and six assists against Dallas and 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against New Orleans. In Memphis’ last four games, Ja Morant has shaken off a slump (that may have been related to a shoulder injury), averaging 30 points (on 61.1% true shooting) and 8.3 assists. In Tuesday’s 122-115 win against Utah, Luke Kennard came off the bench to score 30 points, tying his career high, on 11-for-14 shooting, including 7-for-9 from deep.
Asked after the Jazz game if he’d have to change the way he plays when Jackson is back on the court, Morant didn’t even let the reporter finish the question, expressing only excitement about the big man’s imminent return.
“Can’t wait,” Morant said, via the Memphis Flyer’s Sharon Brown. “I can’t wait. That’s all you need to know. I can’t wait.”
Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, who has missed five of their last six games, remains out on Friday with a right calf strain. The Cavaliers, who have won 15 straight games and 19 of their last 20, will be without star guard Donovan Mitchell due to left groin soreness.
The Celtics dominated the Heat in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. At no point in that game did the Heat lead, as Boston flexed its depth after falling in Game 2 on its home floor. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 22 points each last time out, while Kristaps Porzingis bounced back from his Game 2 dud with 18 points and five rebounds. It was a familiar performance we’ve seen from the Celtics all season, showing exactly why they finished with the best record in the league.
Miami never really stood a chance, even with solid performances from Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro. But after falling behind by 29 points, it was clear that Boston would have no issue winning the game.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Game 4.
Celtics vs. Heat Game 4 Date: Monday, April 29 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Location: Kaseya Center — Miami TV channel: TNT | Live stream: TNT app Odds: Celtics -10.5; O/U 203.5 Storylines Celtics: Boston bounced back in a big way in Game 3, and there’s really no reason to think they won’t dominate in Game 4 again. That is unless the Heat catch fire from deep like they did in Game 2, shooting over 50% from 3-point range. That aside, the Celtics have played solid basketball, and Game 2’s loss wasn’t really about Miami stopping the Celtics but more about them just getting hot from deep to shoot their way to a win.
Heat: Miami came out flat against the Celtics in Game 3, which it can’t afford if it has any chance of evening this series up before it heads back to Boston. After making nearly everything in their Game 2 win, the Heat shot just 32.1% from deep. Given that their best shot at beating this Celtics team without Jimmy Butler relies upon their 3-point shooting, the Heat will have to hope for a performance similar to Game 2 than what they did in Game 3.
Prediction The Celtics have just been a better team, and without Butler as well as Terry Rozier, the Heat don’t really have anyone to help them keep pace in this matchup. The Pick: Celtics -10.5
The Thunder have dominated every game this series and Game 3 was no different. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams all eclipsed the 20-point mark, and for the third straight time, the Thunder held the Pelicans to under 100 points. They shot the ball incredibly well from pretty much everywhere, making it difficult for New Orleans to gain any footing in the game.
“We were ready to play,” Thunder coach — and recently named Coach of the Year — Mark Daigneault said. “Our physicality again, our defense and focus on that end of the floor was really, really good, made them earn everything. And I thought that set the tone.”
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Game 4.
Thunder vs. Pelicans Game 4 Date: Monday, April 29 | Time: 8:30 p.m. ET Location: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City TV channel: NBATV Odds: Thunder -4.5; O/U 206.5 Storylines Thunder: OKC has gotten some surprise production from Giddey, who is routinely left open from 3-point range due to his poor shooting from there. But in the postseason, he’s shooting 41.7% from deep, an important development for the Thunder as they try to make a deep run. If Giddey manages to keep that up, OKC will be even more difficult to defend. Giddey’s 3-point shooting opens things up for him to attack the rim and find an open teammate on the perimeter. He likely won’t score 21 points regularly, but perhaps his performance from downtown can carry over going forward.
Pelicans: The Pelicans struggled to connect on 3s, and when the opponent is shooting 47.2% from deep, it’s pretty hard to keep up. CJ McCollum went just 2 for 8, and while New Orleans got good production from their starters as four of them reached double figures, it wasn’t enough to match the high-powered offense of the Thunder. It also doesn’t help when you rack up 21 turnovers, limiting your ability to cut into OKC’s lead. The Pelicans will need to take better care of the ball and be more efficient from deep if they want to avoid a sweep.
Prediction Aside from Game 1, the Pelicans haven’t really bothered the Thunder, and I don’t see that changing in Game 4. Without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans have really struggled on offense, and seeing as he won’t be walking through the door Monday night to suit up, I’m going with OKC to get the sweep. The Pick: Thunder -4.5
The Lakers showed some life in Game 4, avoiding the sweep and extending the series for a little while longer. After a pitiful Game 3 showing, D’Angelo Russell dropped 21 points, and four Lakers starters scored in double figures in the win. The Lakers built up a 19-point lead against Denver, and after watching big leads vanish in the previous three games, they managed to hold onto this one. The Nuggets didn’t play particularly bad. L.A. just played better, and now it sets up a Game 5 in Denver on Monday night.
Ahead of Game 5, here’s everything you need to know:
Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 5 Date: Monday, April 29 | Time: 10 p.m. ET Location: Ball Arena — Denver TV channel: TNT | Live stream: TNT app Odds: Nuggets -7 | O/U 216.5 Storylines Nuggets: The Nuggets allowed the Lakers to gain a +20 advantage in points in the paint, a staggering number that was a key to L.A.’s win. They allowed Anthony Davis and LeBron James to get whatever they wanted in the paint, and that can’t happen again if Denver wants to end this series Monday night and start focusing on a second-round matchup against the Timberwolves.
Lakers: The Game 3 win was a nice proof of life for the Lakers, who watched so many leads evaporate in this series. But Denver will surely come out in Game 4 with their minds on ending this as soon as possible. The Lakers need to replicate their performance from Game 3: dominating the paint points, defending out on the perimeter and hoping Russell’s production wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Prediction The Nuggets are likely still thinking about how they should’ve swept the Lakers, and now that the Timberwolves are waiting for them in the second round, they’ll probably want to be extra motivated to end this as quickly as possible. Pick: Nuggets -7
It is time once again to overthink your picks and dive into the minutiae on your way to the bracket that best fulfills your soul. I understand it. I get it. I’m with you.
And that’s why I write this story every year.
The best time of the year on the sports calendar is here because the best sporting event in the history of mankind (yes, I’m going there) is about to begin in earnest on Thursday. This is a DEEP goodie bag of stats, nuggets, trends, data, all the numbers to consider before you finalize those picks.
Time is running out for Brackets! Enter your brackets in your pools and play for a Nissan Rogue and Final Four® trips by joining our Men’s and Women’s Challenges.
As always, in addition to my own research, all additional info is provided by CBS Sports’ research team, the NCAA, KenPom.com, ESPN Stats & Info, Elias Sports, Sports Reference and BartTorvik.com. My thanks to all for helping me build this out and get it under one roof. Let’s get right to it. Here are the statistics, facts and history to know about the 2024 men’s NCAA Tournament.
Highest-scoring team: Alabama (90.8 points per game) Lowest-scoring team: Virginia (62.9 points per game) Fastest team: Western Kentucky (75.4 possessions per game) Slowest team: Wagner (62.6 possessions per game) Best free-throw shooting team: Clemson (79.0%) Worst free-throw shooting team: Mississippi State (67.2%) Best 3-point shooting team: Kentucky (41.2%) Worst 3-point shooting team: Texas A&M (28.4%) Most experienced team(s): TCU (3.39 average seasons) Least experienced team: Wagner (1.00 average seasons) Tallest team: Washington State (average height 79.3 inches) Smallest team: Samford (75.7 inches) Deepest bench: Samford (44.8% of minutes played) Thinnest bench: Creighton (19.6%) Most efficient offenses, adjusted points scored per 100 possessions:
Connecticut (126.5) Illinois (125.5) Alabama (125.5) Purdue (125.0) getty-dan-hurley-tristen-newton-uconn.jpg Dan Hurley’s Huskies are an absolute wagon. Getty Images Most efficient defenses, adjusted points allowed per 100 possessions:
Iowa State (87.2) Houston (87.2) Tennessee (91.1) Auburn (91.7) Over the years, teams that have won it all have checked a lot of boxes. You can make the stats tell you a lot of things you want to hear. But if you’ve got a pre-tournament top-30 per-possession D and a guard/wing that’s safely projected to be drafted, you’ve got a solid shot. Only a handful of teams meet this criteria each year. Last year, UConn applied (Jordan Hawkins was the draftee-in-waiting) and won it all. Here are the teams and their defensive rankings at KenPom.
Tennessee: 3rd (Dalton Knecht) Kansas: 10th (Johnny Furphy) Connecticut: 12th (Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer) Marquette: 20th (Tyler Kolek) Creighton: 24th (Trey Alexander) Duke: 26th (Jared McCain) Best scorer: Purdue’s Zach Edey (24.4 points per game) Best rebounder: Akron’s Enrique Freeman (12.9 boards per game) Best assist man: Marquette’s Tyler Kolek (7.6 dimes per game) Best 2-point shooter: Stetson’s Aubin Gateretse (73.8%) Best 3-point shooter: Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard (52.5%) Best foul shooter: Clemson’s Joe Girard III (95.6%) Best thief: McNeese’s Shahada Wells (3.0 steals per game) Best shot-blocker: Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (3.0 per game) NCAA Basketball: Xavier at Marquette Marquette’s Tyler Kolek is coming off an oblique injury — and is among the best PGs in the sport. USATSI 85: This is the 85th NCAA Tournament. Thirty-seven programs have won a national title dating to 1939, when Oregon won its only championship. Oregon is the only team from that first Final Four in this year’s field; Ohio State, Oklahoma and Villanova all missed out for a second straight season.
3,636: There have been 3,636 NCAAT games held, dating back to ’39.
0: The Houston Cougars, Purdue Boilermakers, Iowa State Cyclones and Tennessee Volunteers, are the best-seeded teams in the field with zero national titles.
18: This is UNC’s 18th No. 1 seed, most in history.
62: This is Kentucky’s 62nd tournament, most in history.
32.4%: The percentage of brackets at CBS Sports that have Connecticut winning it all. That’s a LOT. Second is Purdue at 12.3%, Houston is third at 11.9%.
27.9: Houston’s percentage to win the title, according to BartTorvik.com. Yes, ahead of UConn (which is in the toughest region). Houston was also the highest last year — at 17.6% pre-tournament. The top five for this year: UConn (15.9%), Purdue (12.4%), Iowa State (7.9%), Arizona (7.3%).
1: Only three times has the No. 1 overall seed won the NCAA Tournament since the selection committee began ranking the No. 1 in 2004: Florida (2007), Kentucky (2012) and Louisville (2013). The No. 1 overall seed has also lost in the second round thrice — and the first round once. (UMBC forever.) Connecticut is this year’s No. 1 overall seed, its first in school history.
14: Purdue has 14 wins against teams in the field, the most of all dancers. Tennessee and Alabama lead the field with 18 games played vs. tournament teams. Twelve schools with no wins against 2024 tournament teams: Charleston, Grambling State, Howard, Longwood, Montana State, Morehead State, Oakland, Saint Peter’s, Samford, Stetson, Wagner, Western Kentucky.
15: Houston leads the field with 15 victories against top-50 KenPom teams. Connecticut and Purdue have 12 apiece.
6: Every champion since 2004 has been ranked in the top 12 of the Week 6 AP Top 25. Those 12 teams (seeds included) from this season, ranked in order back in Week 6, are: Arizona (2), Kansas (4), Purdue (1), Houston (1), UConn (1), Baylor (1), Marquette (2), Creighton (3), North Carolina (1), Gonzaga (5), Oklahoma (out), Tennessee (2).
0: Infamously, no team has lost its first conference tournament game and then won a national title. This year, you should be suspicious of Alabama, Creighton, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Duke. They are the teams seeded fourth or better that were one-and-done in their league tourneys. (Additionally, every national champion since 1985 has made it minimally to the semifinals of their league tournament, if their league staged a tournament the year they won it all.)
13 of 25: In the past 25 tournaments, 13 national champions won their conference tournament. Since 1985, 16 national champions have won their league tournaments. There is no pattern at play here.
31 and 3: UConn has the most wins (31) vs. Division I competition. UConn, James Madison and McNeese have the fewest losses (3).
17: Montana State’s 17 losses are the most in the field.
47: It’s been 47 years since Duquesne last made the NCAAs, which ends the longest drought among teams in this year’s Dance. Among Big Six teams in the field, the school with the longest drought since its last NCAA Tournament is Washington State (2008). Additionally, Boise State has been D-I since ’70 and never won a tournament game. This is its 10th tournament.
8-0: It’s New Mexico that owns the best neutral-court record entering this tournament at 8-0. To think, the committee would’ve left the Lobos out if they finished 7-1. Nuts. UConn is right behind UNM at 7-0.
2/20: Arizona faced the fewest Quad 4 teams of all (2). Houston played 20 Quad 1 foes and went 16-4 in those games.
-26.5: UConn’s line vs. Stetson is the biggest of the first round. Here’s the line for every Thursday/Friday game.
Tommy Lloyd has two NCAA wins in two seasons with the Wildcats. USATSI
7: Coaches with top-four seeds to never have made a Final Four as a coach. Last year I said one guy in that spot would get there and he did (Dan Hurley). I think it happens again in 2024.
9 for 13: In nine of the past 13 NCAA Tournaments, at least one 13-seed has defeated a No. 4. The most popular 13-over-4 pick at CBS Sports’ Bracket Games: Samford over Kansas (16.1%).
143-1: No. 1 seeds are 150-2 all time vs. 16s. The No. 2s are 142-10 against 15s.
6 or fewer: It took UMBC 33 years to become the first No. 16 seed to win, then only five years for Fairleigh Dickinson to etch its name in history. Seven other times a No. 16 seed has finished a game within six points or fewer but lost. Those results were: 2013 Southern vs. Gonzaga (64-58); 1996 Western Carolina vs. Purdue (73-71); 1990 Murray State vs. Michigan State (75-71 in OT); 1989 McNeese State vs. Illinois (77-71); 1989 East Tennessee State vs. Oklahoma (72-71); 1989 Princeton vs. Georgetown (50-49); and 1985 Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Michigan (59-55).
5 or lower: This is a 🚨🚨🚨 for your bracket picks: Every NCAA Tournament since 2013 has had a No. 5 seed or lower reach the Final Four. I took Saint Mary’s to get to Phoenix.
2016: The last time all four 1-seeds reached the Elite Eight. Before that, it was 2009.
2009/2019: The most recent times a conference had as many as three No. 1 seeds. It was the Big East; Pitt, UConn and Louisville all did in ’09. The ACC (Virginia, Duke, UNC) in2 019. This year, top seeds hail from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten and Big 12.
2008: Famously, the only time all four No. 1s reached the Final Four. But since 2010, only 16 of the 48 Final Four appearances have come from No. 1 seeds. Zero made it in 2023, joining 2006 and 2011 as the only three Final Fours without any 1s.
1-4 is a no-no: You almost never wanna go all chalk at the top in the first round. In 2017, all No. 1s 2s, 3s and 4s won their first-round game. Prior to that, the last time that happened was 2007. It’s happened just six times since 1985.
60 vs. 57: No. 1 seeds have made the Final Four 60 times. That’s narrowly more than the combined Final Four showings of Nos. 4-16 since seeding began (57).
4 or more since ’91: Every NCAA champion since 1991 has come from a league with at least four NCAA bids in the field. Conspicuously, the Big East only sent three teams this season.
No. 2: Only two times in the past 26 NCAA Tournaments have all four 2-seeds made the Sweet 16. It’s happened just five times since 1985: ’89, ’95, ’96, ’09, ’19. Pick at least one No. 2 to lose early. It’s probably going to happen. Marquette and Arizona got got in 2023.
12: Every seed, from No. 1 to No. 11, has made a Final Four. When does someone from the 12-line do it? This year the options are, again, exclusively mid-major: Grand Canyon, James Madison, McNeese, UAB.
James Madison coach Mark Byington has guided his team to 31 wins. The Dukes are a very trendy upset pick. Getty Images 7: Though No. 7/10 games feel a bit like No. 8/9 games, they’re not. The 10s have never swept the 7s, with the exception of one year (1999). No. 8 seeds are 74-78 vs. No. 9 seeds all time. Here is every first round head-to-head since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985:
*2021 matchup between Oregon (7) and VCU (10) was a no contest due to COVID
27-25: No. 11s are 27-25 in the first round since 2010.
3 > 6: No. 3s have been unusually good against 6-seeds going back to 2005, owning a 22-5 record in those second round games. (H/T ESPN)
10 > 8+9: You’re more likely to make the Sweet 16 as a 10-seed than as either an 8 or 9. No. 10s are 19-35 vs. No. 2 seeds, while 8-seeds are 16-59 and 9s are 6-69 vs. top seeds. Breaking down the math further: No. 10 seeds historically have a 15.8% chance of making the Sweet 16, while the combined chances for No. 8s and No. 9s is identical: 15.8%. Seeding matters. A No. 7 seed has made it to the Sweet 16 29 times since 1985. Contrast that to a No. 8, which has only gotten there 15 times.
10-12: In the past 12 NCAA Tournaments, teams seeded No. 5 or No. 6 that enter the tourney being ranked outside the top 30 at KenPom have a 10-12 record. Clemson and South Carolina fall into this category this year.
67.1-to-1: Per bracketodds.com’s calculator, those are the chances we’ll have four No. 1 seeds reach the 2024 Final Four. If you go to all No. 2s, it’s 375.1-to-1. Two 1s and two 2s is 25.7-to-1.
9,223,372,036,854,775,808: The number of different possible bracket outcomes. Wondering how to pronounce that number? I got you. That would be nine quintillion, two hundred twenty-three quadrillion, three hundred seventy-two trillion, thirty-six billion, eight hundred fifty-four million, seven hundred seventy-five thousand, eight hundred eight. It’s much larger than the number of possible outcomes seen by Doctor Strange in Avengers: Infinity War.
8: The Big 12 and SEC’s eight bids lead all conferences. The SEC has eight bids for a second straight year.
37: St. John’s, 26th at KenPom, is the highest team in that metric to not make the tournament.
28/54: Indiana State’s No. 28 NET ranking makes it the highest-rated team to not make the field — and the highest-rated in the six-year history of the NET. Virginia’s 54 ranking was the lowest of any at-large in this year’s field. Rutgers’ 77 ranking is 2022 is the record holder.
22 of 24: A top-three seed has won the national title 22 of the past 24 tournaments. The exceptions: 2014 UConn (7) and 2023 UConn (4).
7: In 11 of the past 12 tournaments, a 7-seed or worse has cracked the Elite Eight. Who’s doing it this year?
1-34: The Big South has existed since 1986. It’s 1-36 all time in the NCAA Tournament. The only win? Winthrop back in 2007. This year’s candidate is 16th-seeded Longwood, which has the joy of facing No. 1 Houston in the South.
8 for 16: Gonzaga’s made the Sweet 16 in eight straight tournaments. No other team has a streak longer than four. The all-time record is 14 (UCLA 1967-80).
10: The number of coaches who are making their NCAA Tournament debuts. The youngest is … a tie! Wagner’s Donald Copeland and Saint Peter’s Bashir Mason are both 40 and were born on Feb. 11, 1984. What are the chances?! The oldest: Washington State’s Kyle Smith (54).
Kyle Smith has Wazzu in the NCAAs for the first time in 16 years. Getty Images 29: It has been 29 years since a No. 6 seed made the Final Four. Who was it? Chris Webber and the Fab Five at Michigan. The highest-rated No. 6 seed per KenPom is BYU (16th).
14: Of 68 schools dancing, 14 have won a national title: North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke, UConn, Kansas, Michigan State, Arizona, Baylor, Marquette, Virginia, NC State. Florida, Oregon and Wisconsin.
5: The only top-eight seed yet to win a national title is a No. 5 seed. Go ahead, end the streak, Wisconsin, Saint Mary’s, San Diego State or Gonzaga.
38 for 38 in 16: The ACC, which got five teams in, is hoping to continue a proud trend. The conference has never failed to get at least one team into the Sweet 16 since the field expanded in 1985.
+.152: South Carolina rates as the “luckiest” team in the field, per KenPom. In the past 20 NCAA Tournaments, the luckiest team in the field lost its first game 17 times. The unluckiest team this year: Michigan State.
1 or 2 to the Four? Not if unranked: There has never been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed that started the season unranked to go on and make the Final Four. Top-two seed in this year’s bracket that was unranked at the start: Iowa State.
20+: There have been four 20-point upsets against the spread in the NCAA Tournament since 1985: No. 15 Santa Clara (+20) over No. 2 Arizona in 1993; No. 15 Norfolk State (+21.5) over No. 2 Missouri in 2012; No. 16 UMBC (+20.5) over No. 1 Virginia in 2018; and No. 16 FDU (+23) over No. 1 Purdue. Long Beach State, Wagner, Saint Peter’s, Stetson and Longwood are all +20 or more.
28/25: Tennessee coach Rick Barnes will be making his 28th appearance in the NCAAs. He’s 27-27 all time. Tennessee as a program has been here two fewer times: 26.
11?: Marquette and Kentucky have met 10 times in the NCAAs, the most common clash in tournament history. If they make it out of the first weekend, matchup No. 11 will happen in the Sweet 16 — just as it would have happened last year if Marquette hadn’t lost in the second round. Why does this keep happening!
2,205: The distance as the crow flies from Yale’s campus to Spokane Arena, giving the Bulldogs, the longest trip by that measure — but only five miles longer than Charleston’s 2,200-mile trip to the same destination. A lot of teams have long trips, though, including all three from Alabama (Alabama, Auburn, UAB) traveling to Spokane, Washington.
69.7%: South Carolina and Iowa State have the best cover percentage of all NCAA Tournament teams at 69.7%. New Mexico and Nevada are right behind this season, followed by UConn and Saint Peter’s. Virginia’s 37.5% ATS number is the worst in the field.
14: A No. 14 has beaten a No. 3 in five of the past 10 tournaments. Kennesaw State almost did it last year. This doesn’t feel like a year where it’s going to happen … which means …
13: James Madison’s 13-game winning streak is longest heading into the Dance.
40-13/.755: Kansas has the best NCAA Tournament record/win percentage since 2008 (minimum of six games played) in the field. That will be tested this year due to not having Kevin McCullar Jr. available.
2: The number of teams making an NCAA tourney debut. Welcome to the club, Stetson and Grambling State!
1 for 41: The Northeast Conference UNTIL LAST SEASON was the only league that had never won a first round NCAA Tournament game. Look at what my dumb butt wrote a year ago: “Fairleigh Dickinson has to beat Texas Southern and THEN Purdue to end the drought. Yeah … that’s not happening.” STUPID. Wagner just won on Tuesday … you don’t think …
34: Most consecutive NCAA tourneys: Kansas (34), Michigan State (26), Gonzaga (25). No one else is in double digits. Kansas’ Bill Self, absurdly, is coaching his 23rd straight NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed or better.
18: Combined national championships for programs in the South Region, the most of the four regions. The schools: Kentucky (8), Duke (5), Florida (2), Marquette (1), NC State (2).
Jaedon LeDee has turned into a top-10 player for SDSU after being a role guy last season. USATSI 20 or better: Six of the top 20 teams in the East Region are ranked 16th or better at KenPom. UConn (1), Auburn (4), Iowa State (6), Illinois (10), BYU (16), San Diego State (20).
10: School in this NCAA Tournament with the most appearances to never win a game: Boise State (10).
14-over-3 = bad for Big 12: The past four times a No. 3 seed has been upset by a No. 14 seed, all those games had Big 12 teams on the losing end. This year, Baylor is on the 3-line. (H/T ESPN)
51: A No. 12 seed has won 51 first-round games since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The ’88, ’00, ’07, ’15, ’18 and ’23 tournaments are the only ones since the field expanded to not have a No. 12 seed win. In the past 14 tournaments they are 22-34 vs. No. 5s. Don’t overlook No. 11s, though. That’s still a real upset, and in the last seven tournaments, No. 11s are 15-13 vs. the No. 6s. The most popular No. 12-over-5 pick at CBSSports.com/on the CBS Sports app: James Madison over Wisconsin (31.3%).
.774: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s winning percentage in the second round and Elite Eight. He is 24-7 in those games (i.e., on a two-day turnaround). Should Michigan State get past Mississippi State, it would potentially face No. 1 North Carolina. Izzo is 3-5 vs. UNC.
25-18: Since seeding the field began, No. 1 seeds have more national titles (25) than the rest of the seeds combined (18).
10-15: Pick at least one double-digit seed to reach the Sweet 16, because it has happened all but two years since ’85 (1995, 2007). And 16 times there have been at least three double-digit seeds that made it to the regional semifinals. In 2021 and 2022, we had four: Oral Roberts, Oregon State, Syracuse and UCLA; Saint Peter’s, Iowa State, Miami and Michigan. Last year, No. 15 seed Princeton. Challenge yourself in your bracket picks. It’s going to happen again.
7: Since 1980, there have been seven reigning champions that have made the Final Four the next tournament. It hasn’t happened since Florida in 2007, which went a step further and repeated as champs. With UConn as a No. 1 overall, it’s got a fair shot to end the drought … but it is in the toughest region.
11 for 12: There have been 11 NCAA Tournaments since the First Four’s format was introduced. In 11 of those 12 tournaments, a First Four team has won at least two games. VCU (2011) and UCLA (2021) went to the Final Four. Last year it was Pitt. Who’s pushing through in ’23?
+400: UConn’s odds to win the whole thing. The Huskies are a wagon. Can they make history and go back-to-back? Happy bracketing!
It’s been 48 years since Indiana completed the last perfect season in college basketball in 1975-76. The Hoosiers, led by Bob Knight, were about as good as it gets. Of their 32 wins, 21 came by double digits. They beat the reigning FIBA World Championship-winning Soviet Union team by 16 in a preseason exhibition and followed that up by pounding reigning NCAA Tournament champion UCLA by 20 in the season opener. They won the NCAA title game vs. Michigan by 18.
The record may have been perfect, but the team wasn’t. Just like every team, it had flaws. Unlike any other team since, though, those flaws never cost them a game.
Fast-forward to this year, and even though a top three of UConn, Houston and Purdue seems to have emerged, all three have their warts — the things that can be exposed in any given game and send them home. It’s the nature of the beast. Championships come down to which teams can hide or overcome their flaws best.
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So, what fatal flaw could cost the top contenders for this year’s title? And which teams, exactly, could take advantage of those weaknesses? Here’s where you’ll want to be extra mindful when picking those top seeds.
Note: All specific play type and per-possession numbers via Synergy Sports
UConn: No. 1 seed in East Potential fatal flaw: 3-point defense
When a team goes 31-3, has the nation’s best offense and top-dozen defense, terrific shooting, ample depth and championship experience up and down the roster and at head coach, it’s hard to find a real “fatal flaw.” I searched hard.
The Huskies, of course, aren’t perfect. One thing that could be worrisome is 3-point defense. The Huskies allow 32% shooting from deep, 82nd in the country. That’s still a really good number! But it’s basically the only major category where they’re not in the top 50. When looking at UConn’s losses, Creighton hit 14 of 28 from deep, Seton Hall three of eight, and Kansas — an awful shooting team — nine of 14. Furthermore, UConn ranks in the fifth percentile defending spot-up possessions, but they are terrific at not allowing many of those opportunities
Every once in a while, you run into a hot team. In a single-elimination tournament, that’s scary. But that’s the beauty of the tournament.
Teams that could take advantage:
Second round: (9) Florida Atlantic produced the 12th-best offensive shot quality in D-I, per shotquality.com, and shot 36% on 3-pointers. Beyond: (3) Illinois has scored 704 points on spot-up possessions, 51st in Division I, and has an outstanding offense overall. Get every pick, every play, every upset and fill out your bracket with our help! Visit SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket, and see who will cut down the nets, all from the model that beat over 92% of CBS Sports brackets players three of the last five years.
Houston: No. 1 seed in South Potential fatal flaw: Shooting
Houston is exactly who it is seemingly every year. The Cougars have a great, experienced guard (or two, or three), play hellacious defense and crash the glass like their lives depend on it. Which, in the NCAA Tournament, it does.
This Houston team, though, can’t shoot. Like really can’t shoot. The Cougars’ effective field goal percentage, which adjusts for 3-pointers being worth more than 2-pointers, is 49.7%. That’s 229th in the nation. Houston still managed a top-20 offensive efficiency because they get so many extra opportunities, but even those putbacks haven’t been as productive as they once were. At 1.114 points per putback possession, the Cougars ranked 174th in the nation.
No one will keep Kelvin Sampson’s team off the offensive boards entirely. When there are so many misses, there are offensive rebounding opportunities. What teams need to do, rather, is limit second chances as well as possible and stand firm when the Cougars do get them.
Teams that could take advantage:
Second round: (9) Texas A&M had the top rebounding rate both offensively (39.1%) and defensively (72.2%) in SEC play. Beyond: (12) James Madison had the top rebounding rate in Sun Belt play (75.5%) and is excellent defending the pick and roll (eighth in the country in points per possession allowed), the Cougars’ most oft-used play. Purdue: No. 1 seed in Midwest Potential fatal flaw: Off-ball defending
In 2019, one year after losing to a No. 16 seed, Virginia lost in the semifinals of its conference tournament, raising doubts about its March abilities. The Cavaliers then won it all.
In 2024, one year after losing to a No. 16 seed, Purdue lost in the semifinals of its conference tournament, raising doubts about its March abilities. Will the Boilermakers complete the redemption arc?
Purdue’s offense is awesome: fourth in the country in efficiency. Throwing it into the post and letting Zach Edey work may be an anomaly among more modern-day attacks, but Edey is so efficient that he makes up for it and then some. Purdue also shoots 41% from 3-point range, second-best in the country. It’s a ruthless inside-out attack.
But while the defense is very good, it isn’t great. The Boilermakers force very few turnovers, and perimeter defense is a major worry, as they tend to lose cutters. They allowed 1.247 points per possession on these plays, tied for 288th nationally. Ohio State took full advantage when it upset the Boilermakers in late February.
Teams that could take advantage:
Second round: (8) Utah State scores 9.5 points per game on cuts, 42nd in Division I, and its turnover woes would be minimized against a team that doesn’t press the issue. Beyond: (5) Gonzaga scores 1.342 point per possession on cuts, 22nd in Division I, and in Graham Ike, the Bulldogs have a strong, experienced interior presence who can at least try to disrupt Edey. West: North Carolina Potential fatal flaw: Shooting and efficient shot selection
It may seem strange to give North Carolina a similar potential fatal flaw to Houston. The Tar Heels aren’t nearly as bad shooting as the Cougars, but they’re still not great: 145th nationally in effective field goal percentage. They’re fine outside the arc — 35% is solid if not spectacular — but not great inside the arc at just 50% (174th in D-I). Furthermore, the Tar Heels take a lot of inefficient shots: they were 242nd in shotquality.com’s rim & 3 rate.
So how does that translate to a potential fatal flaw? First, the Tar Heels want to be able to run and create easy and efficient looks, something RJ Davis has done very well this season. Second, they want to avoid good rebounding teams who can neutralize the Tar Heels’ strength on the offensive glass (33% offensive rebounding rate in ACC play, best in the conference).
Teams that could take advantage:
Second round: (9) Michigan State allowed the fewest transition points in the country (220) and owns a top-10 defensive efficiency. Beyond: (5) Saint Mary’s allowed the third-fewest transition points in the country (241), plays at the nation’s fifth-slowest pace and is an elite rebounding team (third in offensive rebounding rate, second in defensive rebounding rate).
The chance to play Midwest No. 1 seed Purdue and big man Zach Edey will be on the line when the Montana State Bobcats and Grambling State Tigers collide in a 2024 First Four game on Wednesday at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Both the Bobcats and Tigers are looking to earn the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. Montana State (23-11) earned the Big Sky’s automatic berth after sweeping through the conference tournament as the No. 5 seed. Meanwhile Grambling (20-14) won both the regular season and tournament titles in the SWAC.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. The Bobcats are favored by 4.5 points in the latest Montana State vs. Grambling State odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 134.5. Before making any Grambling State vs. Montana State picks or First Four predictions, you need to check out the college basketball analysis from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Div. I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Montana State vs. Grambling State. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for Grambling State vs. Montana State:
Montana State vs. Grambling State spread: Bobcats -4.5 Montana State vs. Grambling State over/under: 134.5 points Montana State vs. Grambling State money line: Bobcats -218, Tigers +178 MT ST: Bobcats rank 32nd in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7) GRAMB: Tigers rank second in the SWAC in scoring defense (69.0 points per game) Montana State vs. Grambling State picks: See picks at SportsLine Why Montana State can cover Montana State has been excellent at forcing turnovers all season. Led by Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Robert Ford III, the Bobcats have 280 steals this season — the third most in a season in program history. They also led the conference in both steals per game (8.2) and turnovers forced per game (13.6).
In addition, Tyler Patterson enters Wednesday’s game hot from behind the 3-point arc. The 6-foot-8 junior guard from Snoqualmie, Wash., is 13-for-30 (43.3%) on 3-pointers over his last five games. He is just the fourth player in program history to reach 200 3-pointers in his career. See whom to back at SportsLine.
Why Grambling State can cover Grambling is a balanced-scoring team offensively. The Tigers have six players averaging at least 7.6 points a game, led by all-SWAC first team guard Kintavious Dozier, who scores 13.1 points per game. Dozier, a junior college transfer, gets almost half of his shots around the rim and averages 1.05 points per shot around the rim.
In addition, Tra’Michael Moton is playing the best basketball of his career. The fifth-year guard from Shreveport, La., is averaging a career-high 11.8 points a game thanks to a career-best 37.1% shooting on 3-pointers. Two games ago, in the SWAC Tournament semifinal win over Bethune-Cookman, Moton scored a career-high-tying 26 points on 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. See whom to back at SportsLine.
How to make Montana State vs. Grambling State picks SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 141 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.
The Miami Heat’s physical 106-95 win over New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night spilled out of control early in the fourth quarter after a hard foul on Zion Williamson. The ensuing scrap between the two teams saw four different players ejected: Jimmy Butler and Thomas Bryant for the Heat, and Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado for the Pelicans.
“I just know dudes started scrapping and I had to protect my teammates,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “That’s what it boiled down to. Obviously, you get ejected if you leave the bench, so I tried to stay on the sideline and run from sideline to sideline to see if I could help my teammates. But those scuffles happen, it’s part of basketball. We compete, we gonna have blow-ups like that.”
Less than a minute into the fourth, Williamson thought he was fouled on a drive to the basket and got up frustrated. He channelled those emotions into immediately stealing the ball back from Butler. As he went to the rim again, he was wrapped up by Kevin Love and was sent to the deck. The hard foul enraged Williamson’s teammates, who came rushing in to defend him.
Getting chippy in NOLA 👀@PelicansNBA | #Pelicans | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/vdc4Cvymz6
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) February 24, 2024 Marshall was the first on the scene and gave Love a little bump before engaging with Butler. As Butler tried to push Marshall away, the Pelicans forward reacted strongly and grabbed Butler by the neck with a chokehold. That set off Butler, who tried to chase Marshall down as players, coaches and security staff separated the pair.
Here’s an alternate view:
Naji Marshall was choking Jimmy Butler 😳 pic.twitter.com/GinMjlSZ29
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) February 24, 2024 Just when it seemed like things were settling down, Bryant went after Alvarado by the scorer’s table. Bryant appeared to throw multiple punches, which set off another scrum as personnel from both teams arrived on the scene. It’s unclear why those two got into it.
Here’s another angle:
Jose and Thomas Bryant get into it. Jose even tried to climb the scorers table pic.twitter.com/blMgQGR2lT
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) February 24, 2024 Once everyone calmed down and returned to their respective benches, the referees initiated a lengthy review at the monitor. They decided that the foul on Love would remain a common foul, while all four of Butler, Bryant, Marshall and Alvarado were given double technicals and kicked out of the game.
“Butler and Marshall engaged in physical contact which escalates the altercation,” crew chief Curtis Blair said in the pool report after the game. “Alvarado and Bryant engaged in a physical altercation that continued the altercation. We did not see them leave [their benches], but it is not our decision. It is up to the league office to determine if they left their respective benches.”
Off the court, the fans were getting involved as well. A video from the stands showed a fan in a CJ McCollum jersey throwing objects at players during the Bryant-Alvarado action. Meanwhile, on the Pelicans’ broadcast, a Heat fan in a Dwyane Wade shirt was escorted from his seat.
“I thought it was two competitive teams that want to win, and sometimes you’re gonna have things like that happen,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. “No big deal.”
