Jaylen Brown scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics rallied to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-109 on Wednesday, ending the visitors’ 12-game winning streak.
The Celtics overturned an early 11-point deficit to secure a crucial victory in a clash between two of the NBA’s elite franchises.
Jayson Tatum overcame recent struggles to register a vital double-double, contributing 19 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists for the hosts.
The result means the two championship contenders split their regular-season series, following a narrow victory for the Thunder two weeks ago.
Brown dominates decisive third quarter
The turning point arrived after half-time when the dynamic Celtics forward exploded for 14 points in a transformative third period.
His impressive scoring burst propelled the home side into an 88-83 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes of action.
The Eastern Conference heavyweights stretched their lead to as much as 14 points down the stretch to pull away from their title rivals.
A late layup from Brown, combined with clutch free throws by Derrick White, successfully fended off a brief fightback from the Western Conference leaders.
Gilgeous-Alexander shines in defeat
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a standout individual display for the defeated visitors, recording a game-high 33 points alongside eight assists.
The Canadian guard has now scored 30 or more points in seven consecutive meetings against Boston, matching a remarkable streak last achieved by LeBron James between 2004 and 2008.
However, the visitors were severely punished on the glass, surrendering a staggering 19-2 deficit in second-chance points.
Poor perimeter shooting also hampered the table-topping Thunder, who managed to convert just 12 of their 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
Injured stars return for playoff push
The highly anticipated rematch featured much stronger lineups than their previous encounter, which was marred by the absence of several high-profile figures.
Jalen Williams made a quiet return for the Thunder, managing seven points after missing 16 matches with a hamstring injury.
Boston also welcomed back key personnel, with Tatum and White returning to the court after recent spells on the sidelines.
The impressive triumph marks Boston’s first victory against an opponent sitting 40 or more games over a .500 win percentage since defeating the Golden State Warriors in March 2017.
The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved a vote to officially explore expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, targeting the 2028-29 season.
A formal bidding process will now commence to assess potential ownership applicants.
Offers for each new team are expected to reach unprecedented figures in the $7bn to $10bn (£5.5bn to £7.8bn) range.
This significant move marks the beginning of the league’s widely anticipated expansion to 32 teams.
Multiple high-ranking officials have previously termed the expansion process as “when, not if.”
Billion-dollar valuations expected
North America’s premier basketball competition will examine prospective bids over the coming months.
A final vote to formally establish the new sporting franchises could take place later this year.
For the historic additions to be ratified, 23 of the 30 current governors must vote in favour of the proposals.
Franchise values have surged recently, highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers selling for a record $10bn in 2025.
A highly anticipated return to Seattle
The addition of a Seattle franchise would see top-tier basketball return to the city for the first time since 2008.
The much-loved SuperSonics departed for Oklahoma City over a stadium lease dispute 16 years ago.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas has rapidly established itself as a premier destination for major professional sports.
The Nevada city already successfully hosts the WNBA’s Aces, alongside the NFL’s Raiders and NHL’s Golden Knights.
Conference realignment on the horizon
Adding two new Western Conference teams will necessitate a structural reshuffle to maintain regional balance.
League executives expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to switch to the Eastern Conference.
This adjustment would ensure a perfectly even split of 16 teams across both geographical divisions.
The competition has remained at 30 teams since its last expansion in 2004, when Charlotte joined the ranks.
College basketball heavyweights Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina are facing an unprecedented decline as the sport’s changing financial landscape threatens their historic dominance.
The three storied programmes boast a combined 54 Final Four appearances and 18 national titles.
However, none of the legendary trio will reach the Final Four for a fourth consecutive year.
For the third time in six seasons, the Sweet 16 will also take place without any of them.
Coaching upheaval and shifting power
This collective failure points to a wider structural shift rather than a temporary anomaly.
The introduction of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, revenue sharing and the transfer portal has significantly altered the collegiate landscape.
These rapid changes have led to profound consequences for the traditional blue-blood institutions.
At North Carolina, head coach Hubert Davis was recently dismissed after five seasons in charge.
Meanwhile, Kansas veteran Bill Self has openly discussed potential retirement due to health concerns.
Financial muscle dictates success
Kentucky boss Mark Pope remains in his position despite enormous NIL expenditure yielding modest results.
Historically, taking charge of the Wildcats, Tar Heels or Jayhawks was considered the pinnacle of the sport.
The historic pedigree of these institutions once guaranteed a consistent baseline of excellence.
However, massive football-generated revenues in the Big Ten and SEC have decisively shifted the balance of power.
New factors diminish traditional appeal
Those two financially dominant conferences account for 10 of the teams in this season’s Sweet 16.
A growing influx of international prospects has further diluted the recruiting power of past collegiate triumphs.
Many overseas players arrive with less attachment to the historical branding of legacy programmes.
Furthermore, the traditional influence of major sportswear brands in securing top high school talent has been severely reduced.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is navigating a challenging return from a torn Achilles as the franchise attempts to integrate their superstar ahead of the upcoming NBA play-offs.
The 28-year-old wing recently completed a gruelling 300-day rehabilitation journey following a devastating injury sustained last season.
He made his highly anticipated season debut on 6 March against the Dallas Mavericks, having missed the opening 62 games of the campaign.
During that initial appearance, the American instantly showcased his elite pedigree by registering 15 points and 12 rebounds in just 27 minutes on court.
Growing pains in Boston
Despite posting double-digit points in all eight appearances since his return, the transition has not been entirely seamless.
The franchise is carefully managing his minutes during a crucial period of the regular season.
“I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously going to take some time.”
The returning forward admitted that the mental toll of the recovery process has been significant.
“It’s tough. In the moment, you try not to think about it. You just want to feel like yourself again.”
Surprise Eastern Conference contenders
Boston entered the current campaign with lowered expectations following the off-season departures of key championship core members, including Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
However, head coach Joe Mazzulla has overseen a remarkable season that currently has his side sitting second in the Eastern Conference.
They are now considered the betting favourites to reach the NBA Finals from the East.
Only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder possess better title odds across the entire league.
A race against time
The team now faces an unprecedented balancing act with only 11 regular-season games remaining on their schedule.
Integrating a focal point back into a winning system represents a significant challenge for Mazzulla and his coaching staff.
An anonymous Western Conference scout expressed doubts over whether the Eastern Conference heavyweights have sufficient time to perfect their rotations.
Mazzulla, however, never doubted the commitment of his primary scorer.
“The seriousness in which you start attacking the rehab process, not just from a physical, but a mental and emotional standpoint… I knew he was going to do everything he could.”
Reaching the pinnacle of the sport once again will likely require their franchise cornerstone to rediscover his pre-injury form before the postseason commences.
The WNBA and its players have unanimously agreed to a historic seven-year collective bargaining agreement that will see the team salary cap surge to $7m (£5.5m) in 2026.
The league’s board of governors ratified the deal on Tuesday, following unanimous approval from the players a day earlier.
It guarantees unprecedented financial growth across the division, transforming the earning potential of both established stars and incoming rookies.
The team salary cap will undergo a massive jump from $1.5m last year to $7m next season.
Supermax deals for elite stars
The drastic cap increase paves the way for the sport’s top talent to earn seven-figure salaries for the first time.
Las Vegas Aces centre A’ja Wilson is projected to command a $1.4m supermax contract in 2026.
The 29-year-old took a pay cut to earn $200,000 last season, allowing her franchise to build a championship-winning roster around her.
After claiming an unprecedented fourth Most Valuable Player award in 2025, the three-time WNBA champion is now expected to secure the maximum allowed under the new rules.
Other elite players across the division will be eligible for standard maximum salaries capped at $1.19m.
Rookie earnings and rising averages
The financial benefits of the new agreement extend far beyond the league’s veteran superstars.
The WNBA estimates the average player salary will reach approximately $583,800 next year.
Dependable mid-tier veterans, such as Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith, are expected to see their earnings quadruple to around $600,000.
Meanwhile, standout young talents like Caitlin Clark are projected to earn upwards of $500,000 on their entry-level rookie contracts.
Individual performance bonuses have also been significantly boosted.
The cash prize for the MVP award will rise from $15,450 to $60,000 this season.
A frantic off-season schedule
With the financial framework now finalised, general managers face a highly compressed timeline to build their rosters.
An expansion draft for new franchises in Toronto and Portland is scheduled for 6 April.
That precedes a massive free agency period opening on 7 April, followed swiftly by the collegiate draft on 13 April.
Nebraska have secured their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, advancing alongside traditional college basketball heavyweights during a highly competitive opening weekend.
The Cornhuskers defeated Vanderbilt in a thrilling encounter to make programme history.
Their unprecedented run comes amid wider criticism that the modern era of player compensation has killed the tournament’s famous underdog stories.
However, the opening rounds of the 2026 tournament have still delivered remarkable drama across the country.
Dramatic upsets and near misses
VCU produced a stunning comeback to eliminate North Carolina after trailing by 19 points.
High Point shocked Wisconsin before taking Arkansas to the absolute limit in a tense second-round tie.
Elsewhere, Kentucky required a miraculous 45-foot bank shot just to force overtime against Santa Clara.
Siena also pushed Duke to the final few possessions, narrowly failing to become only the third 16-seed in history to win a tournament matchup.
Major programmes assert dominance
Despite the early scares, the Sweet 16 predominantly features established collegiate powerhouses.
Tom Izzo has guided Michigan State to the second weekend of the tournament for an impressive 17th time.
John Calipari has matched the elite standard set by his predecessors, successfully leading the Razorbacks deep into March during his tenure at Fayetteville.
Yet, the current line-up still features fresh faces breaking into the latter stages.
Iowa stun top seeds
Iowa eliminated number one seed Florida in the second round to reach their first Sweet 16 since 1999.
Houston have also continued their remarkable ascent, proving they belong among the elite just three years after leaving the American Athletic Conference.
While financial interests now dominate the sporting landscape, the fundamental spirit of the competition remains intact.
Players like Louisville’s Ryan Conwell still embody the traditional team ethos, carrying the medical supplies on every road trip regardless of the new financial era.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his left elbow.
The franchise announced on Tuesday night that the two-time All-Star requires a platelet-rich plasma injection to optimise ligament healing.
Medical staff expect him to be fully ready for the start of the 2026-27 NBA campaign.
Setbacks disrupt promising career
The explosive playmaker originally sustained the elbow issue on 21 January.
He suffered the sprain during his second appearance following a two-week absence caused by calf soreness.
A recent medical consultation regarding his lingering discomfort ultimately led to the season-ending decision.
Trade rumours and limited appearances
This latest physical setback compounds a heavily disrupted period for the American, who managed just 20 games this campaign.
He has featured in a total of only 79 matches over the past three seasons due to a combination of multiple suspensions and various injuries.
Memphis reportedly explored the trade market for their marquee player ahead of the February deadline, but encountered little interest from rival organisations.
He currently has two seasons and $87m remaining on his existing contract with the team.
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis will leave his position following the team’s stunning first-round exit from the NCAA tournament against VCU.
Davis informed his players of his departure on Tuesday night, opening up one of the most prestigious jobs in college basketball.
The 54-year-old’s exit concludes a tumultuous week for the Tar Heels following their dramatic 82-78 overtime defeat by the 11th-seeded Rams.
Historic collapse seals fate
The historic programme faced severe backlash from donors and fans after blowing a 19-point second-half lead on Thursday.
It marked the largest comeback in the NCAA tournament since 2018 and confirmed a second consecutive first-round elimination for the Chapel Hill outfit.
The former NBA shooting guard appeared visibly agitated during his post-match press conference.
When questioned about his in-game rotations, he offered a blunt response.
“Because that was my decision.”
Highs and lows of a Tar Heel legend
The departure ends a deeply personal tenure for the coach, who previously played under legendary mentor Dean Smith before spending nine years as an assistant to Roy Williams.
Promoted to the top job in 2021, his reign delivered wildly fluctuating fortunes despite an impressive overall record of 125 victories and 54 defeats.
His crowning achievement came during his debut season, guiding an eighth-seeded Carolina side to the 2022 national championship game.
That run famously included ending Mike Krzyzewski’s career with a Final Four victory over bitter rivals Duke, though they ultimately surrendered a 15-point halftime advantage to Kansas in the final.
Recent struggles overshadow accolades
Despite earning Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year honours this season after reaching the Sweet 16, consistency remained an issue throughout his tenure.
His second campaign saw the team become the first preseason number one to completely miss out on the NCAA tournament.
This season, injuries to projected top NBA draft pick Caleb Wilson derailed a promising start, with the team winning just five of their final ten matches.
The university must now begin the search for a new leader to restore stability and handle the nearly $5.3m guaranteed money remaining on his contract.