Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled away in the second half to secure a 120-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

As a result, the Lakers and Timberwolves both have a 40-25 overall record this season. The Lakers move ahead of Minnesota for fourth in the Western Conference standings due to a tiebreaker. Los Angeles won all three games in the series this season.

The Lakers have also won six of their last seven games, while the Timberwolves have lost back-to-back games.

The Lakers led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth quarter after the game was initially tied at 45 between the two teams at halftime.

Doncic produced a triple-double with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles. He scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half, while teammate Austin Reaves also added 31.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights for the Lakers-Timberwolves game:

Final: Lakers 120, Timberwolves 106

The Lakers beat the Timberwolves after running away with the game in the second half. The game entered the locker room at halftime tied at 45.

3Q: Lakers 84, Timberwolves 68

The Lakers pulled away from the Timberwolves in the period with 14 points from Luka Doncic.

Doncic nearly produced a triple-double through the first three quarters ofplay with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Anthony Edwards scored 11 points in the third quarter after scoring just three in the first half.

Lakers lead Timberwolves by 13

The Lakers built up a 13-point lead against the Timberwolves with 5:29 left in the third quarter. Austin Reaves scored on a driving layup while he was being fouled by Jaden McDaniels. Reaves made the free throw attempt. Los Angeles leads Minnesota 67-54.

Halftime: Lakers 45, Timberwolves 45

Rui Hachimura scored a 3-pointer with five seconds left in the first half to tie the game. Austin Reeves was credited with the assist. Deandre Ayton has led the way for the Lakers with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Luka Doncic scored eight of his 12 points in the second quarter. He also has six assists and five rebounds.

Julius Randle was the only double-digit scorer for the Timberwolves in the first half. He had 12 points and five rebounds. Anthony Edwards was held to three points and two assists in the first half.

The Lakers have outscored the Timberwolves 28-20 in paint.

Timberwolves lead Lakers late in second quarter

Julius Randle scored on a driving layup to give the Lakers a 39-37 lead with 2:42 left in the first half. Randle has a team-high 10 points for the Timberwolves. Deandre Ayton scored under the basket on the previous play to tie the game at 37 for the Lakers. Ayton leads the Lakers with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

1Q: Timberwolves 21, Lakers 16

Marcus Smart had a team-high 5 points in the first quarter for the Lakers. Luka Doncic had 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Doncic was 2-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from 3.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 6 points in the first quarter. Anthony Edwards had 3 points. He went 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3.

Luka Doncic provides Lakers with first lead of game

Luka Doncic provided the Lakers with their first lead of the game with a driving layup. Lakers lead Timberwolves 7-6 with 5:53 left in the first quarter. The Lakers had a chance to extend that lead moments later, but Deandre Ayton missed a pair of free throws.

Marcus Smart adds Lakers’ first points

Guard Marcus Smart scored the Lakers’ first points of the game with a cutting layup off an assist from Luka Doncic with 7:25 left in the first quarter. The Lakers started the game 0-for-8 before Smart scored. Bothteams were a combined 3-for-21 to start the game.

Timberwolves take early lead vs. Lakers

How to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves: TV channel, live stream

Start time: 11 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV Channel: NBC, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
Live stream: Fubo; Peacock; NBA League Pass (subscription required); Spectrum SportsNet+ (subscription required)

Watch NBA games on Fubo

Lakers without Kleber and Hayes

The Lakers will out both backup centers tonight. Maxi Kleber has been ruled out with a lumbar back strain. Jaxson Hayes was also ruled out with back soreness.

Drew Timme will serve as the backup center for the Lakers tonight.

Bam Adebayo moves ahead of Kobe Bryant

Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced at Crypto.com Arena that Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat moved ahead of Kobe Bryant for the second-highest single-game scoring performance tonight.

Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.

The announcement was met with boos from the home crowd.

Timberwolves starting lineup vs. Lakers

Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo will make up the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting lineup tonight against the Lakers.

Lakers starting lineup vs. Timberwolves

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic will make up the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup tonight against the Timberwolves.

Luka Doncic arrives for warmups

Doncic is expected to play tonight for the Lakers. He was on the court for warmups just hours after the report regarding his breakupfromhis fiancée and the potential custody battle that will follow. The couple has two children together.

LeBron James ruled out vs. Timberwolves

LeBron James has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves. James has a right hip and left foot injury. It will be his third straight missed game.

James did participate in a shoot-around at the team’s facility on Tuesday.

‘He still just needs a couple more days,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick said during his pregame media availability. ‘He’s still day-to-day. …’

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch believes the Lakers will start Rui Hachimura, citing that he’s having a career year with his 3-point shot.Finch also stated during his pregame media availability that he expects Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves to continue to make up a bulk of the offense for Los Angeles with James out.

Lakers vs. Timberwolves injury report

(Updated 10:30 p.m. ET on March 9)

Lakers: LeBron James (right hip contusion, left foot arthritis; out)

Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson (right knee soreness; questionable)

Lakers next five games

March 12 vs. Chicago Bulls
March 14 vs. Denver Nuggets
March 16 @ Houston Rockets
March 18 @ Houston Rockets
March 19 @ Miami Heat

Lakers vs Timberwolves odds

(Odds according to BetMGM)

Spread: Timberwolves (-2.5)
Moneyline: Timberwolves (-125), Lakers (+105)
Over/under: 233.5

Bam Adebayo scored a career-high and toppled some Miami Heat and NBA records along the way Tuesday night.

Adebayo shot 20-of-43 from the field, including 7-of-22 from 3-point distance. He went to the free throw line a lot, shooting 36-of-43, both NBA records for free throws made and attempted by a single player in a game.

He played 42 minutes as the Heat blew out the Wizards 150-129. He more than doubled his previous career-high of 41 points.

Wilt Chamberlain has the highest single game total with his 100-point game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.

Here’s are the best scoring nights in NBA history:

1. Wilt Chamberlain, 100, March 2, 1962

Chamberlain played all 48 minutes against the Knicks in a 169-147 win, hitting 36 of his 63 field goal attempts. The usually shaking free throw shooter (51.1% for his career) hit 28 of his 32 free throw attempts in this one, a record for makes that Adrian Dantley tied in 1984 but had not been surpassed until Adebayo knocked down 36 from the line on Tuesday night.

2. Bam Adebayo, 83, March 10, 2026

Adebayo hit 20 of his 43 field goal attempts, including going 7-for-22 from 3. He made a record 36 free throws on 43 attempts.

3. Kobe Bryant, 81, Jan. 22, 2006

Bryant’s best game stood No. 2 in NBA history for 20 years. He hit 28 of his 46 field goals in a 122-104 win against the Raptors, including a 7-for-13 mark from 3-point range.

4. Wilt Chamberlain, 78, Dec. 8, 1961

Chamberlain scored 70 points or more six times in his career. As a member of the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain had this 78-point game in a 151-147 loss to the Lakers.

T-5. Luka Doncic, 73, Jan. 26, 2024

Doncic scored 73 a couple seasons ago as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. He notched the scoring feat, a career-high for him, against the Atlanta Hawks. Revenge game? Maybe. Doncic was originally drafted by the Hawks with the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but was traded on Draft Day to Dallas.

Doncic and the Mavericks won that game 148-143. Doncic wasn’t the only player in NBA history to finish a game with 73 points.

T-5. David Thompson, 73, April 9, 1978

David ‘Skywalker’ Thompson was known for dunking on heads in highlights, but he was also one of the best scorers of his era. Do you homework, Gen-Z. On one particular night in April 1978, Thompson put up 73 points for the Denver Nuggets in a 139-137 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

T-5. Wilt Chamberlain, 73, twice

Chamberlain’s basketball prowess was mythological. He had 73-point games in back-to-back seasons.

On Jan. 13, 1962, Chamberlain had 73 for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 135-117 win against the Chicago Packers. Same year, but the next season after the team relocated to San Francisco, Chamberlain did it again, scoring 73 on Nov. 16 against the Knicks in a 127-111, win.

9. Wilt Chamberlain, 72, Nov. 3, 1962

You get the picture about Chamberlain, but he’s going to appear again in this list. On this particular date, he went for 72 in a 127-115 loss to the Lakers. Chamberlain shot 29-of-48 and went 14-of-18 at the free throw line. No 3s, of course.

T-10. Damian Lillard, 71, Feb. 26, 2023

Lillard showed the Houston Rockets what ‘Dame Time’ meant, again. He’s broken the hearts of Houstonians, whether in the regular season or postseason. This time it was a 71-point game that did it. Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers won 131-114.

Lillard made as many 3-point field goals, as 2s, with nine each. He added 14 free throws.

T-10. Donovan Mitchell, 71, Jan. 2, 2023

Mitchell scored 71 with the Cleveland Cavaliers a month and some change before Lillard’s output. It also came with a win, as the Cavs downed the Chicago Bulls, 145-134. Mitchell shot 22-of-34, including 7-of-15 from distance. He shot 20-of-25 from free throw line, but the most surprising stat is that he still dished 11 assists.

Other 70-point scorers in NBA history

Although a rare feat, a few other players have hit the 70-point threshold in their careers … and others were extremely close.

San Antonio Spurs big man David Robinson scored 71 points in the final regular season game to take the NBA scoring title on April 24, 1994 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Another 71-point game in NBA history came from Lakers all-time great Elgin Baylor on Nov. 15, 1960 in a 123-108 win against the Knicks.

Joel Embiid scored 70 points during the 2024 season against the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. He hit his career-high a few days before Doncic scored his 73. Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers won 133-123 on Jan. 22. It was the 18-year anniversary of Bryant’s 81-point game.

Devin Booker also scored 70 points in a game against the Boston Celtics, in a 130-120 loss on March 24, 2017. Chamberlain hit 70, again, on March 10, 1963 in a 163-148 loss to the Syracuse Nationals.

For what it’s worth, Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan has a career-high of 69 points.

For all the scrutiny the Los Angeles Lakers have been under lately, they’ve found themselves on a hot streak as winners of five of their last six games, capped off by an impressive 110-97 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday without LeBron James, who missed his second consecutive game due to injury.

LA (39-25) continues its long homestand on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24), who the Lakers trail by one game for third place in the Western Conference.

The Timberwolves are coming off a blowout 119-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday in what was a bad all-around shooting performance, converting just 35.7% of their attempts for their second-fewest points scored in a game all season. They start off a four-game road trip in LA on Tuesday.

The Lakers have won both of the previous meetings with Minnesota, but both of those games happened during the first week of the season.

Follow along for updates as the Lakers take on the Timberwolves on Tuesday night:

1Q: Timberwolves 21, Lakers 16

Marcus Smart had a team-high 5 points in the first quarter for the Lakers. Luka Doncic had 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Doncic was 2-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from 3.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 6 points in the first quarter. Anthony Edwards had 3 points. He went 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3.

Luka Doncic provides Lakers with first lead of game

Luka Doncic provided the Lakers with their first lead of the game with a driving layup. Lakers lead Timberwolves 7-6 with 5:53 left in the first quarter. The Lakers had a chance to extend that lead moments later, but Deandre Ayton missed a pair of free throws.

Marcus Smart adds Lakers’ first points

Guard Marcus Smart scored the Lakers’ first points of the game with a cutting layup off an assist from Luka Doncic with 7:25 left in the first quarter. The Lakers started the game 0-for-8 before Smart scored. Bothteams were a combined 3-for-21 to start the game.

Timberwolves take early lead vs. Lakers

How to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves: TV channel, live stream

Start time: 11 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV Channel: NBC, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
Live stream: Fubo; Peacock; NBA League Pass (subscription required); Spectrum SportsNet+ (subscription required)

Watch NBA games on Fubo

Lakers without Kleber and Hayes

The Lakers will out both backup centers tonight. Maxi Kleber has been ruled out with a lumbar back strain. Jaxson Hayes was also ruled out with back soreness.

Drew Timme will serve as the backup center for the Lakers tonight.

Bam Adebayo moves ahead of Kobe Bryant

Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced at Crypto.com Arena that Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat moved ahead of Kobe Bryant for the second-highest single-game scoring performance tonight.

Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.

The announcement was met with boos from the home crowd.

Timberwolves starting lineup vs. Lakers

Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo will make up the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting lineup tonight against the Lakers.

Lakers starting lineup vs. Timberwolves

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic will make up the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup tonight against the Timberwolves.

Luka Doncic arrives for warmups

Doncic is expected to play tonight for the Lakers. He was on the court for warmups just hours after the report regarding his breakupfromhis fiancée and the potential custody battle that will follow. The couple has two children together.

LeBron James ruled out vs. Timberwolves

LeBron James has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves. James has a right hip and left foot injury. It will be his third straight missed game.

James did participate in a shoot-around at the team’s facility on Tuesday.

‘He still just needs a couple more days,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick said during his pregame media availability. ‘He’s still day-to-day. …’

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch believes the Lakers will start Rui Hachimura, citing that he’s having a career year with his 3-point shot.Finch also stated during his pregame media availability that he expects Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves to continue to make up a bulk of the offense for Los Angeles with James out.

Lakers vs. Timberwolves injury report

(Updated 10:30 p.m. ET on March 9)

Lakers: LeBron James (right hip contusion, left foot arthritis; out)

Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson (right knee soreness; questionable)

Lakers next five games

March 12 vs. Chicago Bulls
March 14 vs. Denver Nuggets
March 16 @ Houston Rockets
March 18 @ Houston Rockets
March 19 @ Miami Heat

Lakers vs Timberwolves odds

(Odds according to BetMGM)

Spread: Timberwolves (-2.5)
Moneyline: Timberwolves (-125), Lakers (+105)
Over/under: 233.5

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is separating from his fiancée and is in a custody battle for their two daughters, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported Tuesday afternoon.

Doncic had been engaged to Anamaria Goltes, a fashion and fitness model, since 2023. The two had known each other since childhood and started dating in 2016. Their first daughter, Gabriela, was born in 2023 in the United States while Doncic was a member of the Dallas Mavericks and their second child, Olivia, was born this past December.

‘I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,’ Doncic told McMenamin in a statement provided to ESPN on Tuesday. ‘Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.’

Doncic traveled to Slovenia for the birth of Olivia, missing two games before returning to play against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 7. According to the ESPN report, it was here where things took a sour turn.

Doncic reportedly expressed a desire to bring Gabriela back to Los Angeles with him, and a disagreement between he and Goltes escalated to the point where police were called. Doncic ‘left peacefully’ according to ESPN, and flew back to the United States later that day. Doncic has reportedly not seen Goltes or his daughters since.

Earlier Tuesday, TMZ reported that Goltes had filed a petition for child support. The petition, filed in California according to ESPN, seeks only child support and attorney fees but not custody orders. Doncic reportedly ‘had no idea’ about the petition.

The time is now to prove you belong in the NCAA Tournament.

Conference championship week is the last opportunity teams on the fringe of making March Madness to show they should be in the bracket, resulting in a very tense final few days before Selection Sunday. Every team on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament will play this week.

The tournament picture is already shifting as some teams began action Tuesday, March 10, including a candidate that played for a chance to earn the automatic bid and send ripple effects to the rest of the field. Here are the teams on the bubble in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology as the clock inches closer to midnight.

Missouri

Record: 20-11 (10-8)
NET Ranking: 60
Quad 1 record: 5-6
Projected seed: No. 11
Quality wins: vs. Florida, at Kentucky, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Tennessee
Bad losses: at Notre Dame, at Mississippi, at LSU

Next game: vs. Kentucky/LSU winner (Thursday, SEC tournament second round)

Missouri has slipped, not feeling as secure as it was a few weeks ago thanks to two straight losses to end the regular season. The Tigers are more safe than others, but they do have to worry about that high NET ranking when it comes to comparing with other resumes. At least a win in the SEC tournament should be enough to secure a spot.

Miami Ohio

Record: 31-0 (18-0)
NET Ranking: 55
Quad 1 record: 0-0
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. Akron
Bad losses: none

The still undefeated RedHawks remain one of the most polarizing teams in the country, as there’s much debate on whether they still need the automatic berth. Regardless, Miami can put all of it to bed by winning three more games and claim the MAC title.

Next game: vs. UMass (Thursday, MAC tournament quarterfinals)

SMU

Record: 20-12 (8-10)
NET Ranking: 39
Quad 1 record: 4-8
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. North Carolina, vs. Louisville
Bad losses: vs. LSU (neutral), at Syracuse

The Mustangs are no longer safe for the NCAA Tournament with a four-game losing streak to end the regular season. While three were Quad 1 losses, they were must wins and really hurt a resume that has a measly 4-4 Quad 2 mark. The skid was finally ended with a win over Syracuse to open the ACC tournament, allowing SMU to breathe. Another win against Louisville would help them breathe much more comfortably.

Next game: vs. Louisville (Wednesday, ACC tournament second round)

Santa Clara

Record: 26-8 (15-3)
NET Ranking: 38
Quad 1 record: 2-6
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. Saint Mary’s (twice)
Bad losses: vs. Loyola Chicago (neutral), vs. Arizona State (neutral)

Santa Clara had a chance to dramatically shift the bracket with an upset win over Gonzaga and take the WCC title for the first time since 1993. However, the Broncos couldn’t hold on to knock down the heavyweight to secure the automatic bid. While it will have to wait, the semifinal win over Saint Mary’s was a major boost and could have been enough to secure their berth.

Indiana

Record: 18-13 (9-11)
NET Ranking: 37
Quad 1 record: 3-11
Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
Quality wins: vs. Purdue, at UCLA
Bad losses: at Minnesota, at USC, vs. Northwestern

The Hoosiers were unable to get another Quad 1 victory, something they desperately needed with how many losses it has in the category. A 1-5 finish to the regular season is uninspiring and Indiana needs to win its second round game in the Big Ten tournament or it can kiss its March Madness hopes goodbye.

Next game: vs. Northwestern (Wednesday, Big Ten tournament second round)

Virginia Commonwealth

Record: 24-7 (15-3)
NET Ranking: 44
Quad 1 record: 1-5
Projected seed: No. 11 (First Four)
Quality wins: vs. South Florida (neutral)
Bad losses: at George Mason

It’s unfortunate a shift in the NET rankings resulted in the win at Dayton becoming a Quad 2 result instead of Quad 1 because the Rams needed another mark. The last team in the field, VCU has the most work to do of the teams projected to play in Dayton. It needs to at least make the Atlantic 10 championship game, as a loss any earlier will make it vulnerable to get leaped over by another contender.

Next game: vs. Duquesne/Rhode Island winner (Friday, Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinals)

Cincinnati

Record: 18-14 (9-9)
NET Ranking: 46
Quad 1 record: 3-11
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: vs. Iowa State, at Kansas, vs. BYU
Bad losses: vs. Eastern Michigan, at Xavier

A team surging into the picture is a Cincinnati team that finished with six wins in the last eight regular-season games, with some notable victories in that span. The Bearcats have some of the best wins and worst losses, so it still has work to do. They were able to handle Utah to open the Big 12 tournament, and now must beat UCF in the next round to stay in the fight.

Next game: vs. UCF (Wednesday, Big 12 tournament second round)

West Virginia

Record: 18-13 (9-9)
NET Ranking: 58
Quad 1 record: 5-7
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: vs. Kansas, vs. BYU
Bad losses: vs. Xavier (neutral), at Kansas State, vs. Utah

Ross Hodge’s first season in Morgantown has largely gone unnoticed, but the Mountaineers have a chance to make the tournament thanks to some other contenders faltering. Still, it’s a long road ahead considering how high the NET ranking is and some questionable losses. The only way to the tournament is beating Houston in the Big 12 quarterfinals.

Next game: vs. BYU (Wednesday, Big 12 tournament second round)

Auburn

Record: 16-15 (7-11)
NET Ranking: 40
Quad 1 record: 4-12
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: vs. St John’s (neutral), vs. Arkansas, at Florida
Bad losses: vs. Mississippi, at Mississippi State

Another team in plenty of debate, the Tigers have fallen out of the projected field after failing to beat Alabama in the regular-season finale. Auburn has some incredible wins but so many losses, it’s going to have to make a real strong case for the selection committee to ignore it’s ugly record. At least two wins are needed.

Next game: vs. Mississippi State (Wednesday, SEC tournament first round)

Stanford

Record: 20-12 (9-9)
NET Ranking: 59
Quad 1 record: 5-6
Projected seed: First four out
Quality wins: vs. Saint Louis (neutral), vs. Louisville, vs. North Carolina
Bad losses: vs. Seattle, vs. UNLV, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Pittsburgh (neutral)

Hello and goodbye Stanford. Just as the Cardinal were entering the NCAA Tournament conversation, they immediately get taken out thanks to a last-second loss to Pittsburgh in the ACC tournament opening round. Stanford needed to win, and as a result, sees itself taken out of the March Madness picture.

Oklahoma

Record: 17-14 (7-11)
NET Ranking: 54
Quad 1 record: 3-9
Projected seed: Next out
Quality wins: at Vanderbilt
Bad losses: vs. Arizona State (neutral), at Mississippi State, at South Carolina

Stanford’s loss opens the door for another team to join the first four out, and that honor goes to Oklahoma. While the Sooners don’t have a great resume, they’ve been winning, and that’s something not many bubble teams can say. With four straight wins, Oklahoma has to extend it to at least six to move up the conversation.

Next game: vs. South Carolina (Wednesday, SEC tournament first round)

The emotions of winning in March were on full display in the Coastal Athletic Association on Monday.

As time wound down inside Washington D.C.’s CareFirstArena, the CBS Sports Network broadcast caught Hofstra men’s basketball coach Speedy Claxton crying into the shoulders of one of his assistant coaches, as the three-seeded Pride defeated No. 4 Monmouth in the CAA Tournament Championship Game to punch their ticket to March Madness.

It marked the NCAA Tournament appearance over two decades for Claxton’s alma mater, and the first he’s led them to in his five years at the helm of the program.

The first time Hofstra was included in the 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket came in 2000, when Claxton was a player for the Pride, and Jay Wright was in his sixth season as a college basketball coach, before he became a two-time national championship coach at Villanova. That was also the first of back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the Pride.

Claxton played for Hofstra from 1996 to 2000 under Wright, and remains the program’s all-time leader in assists and steals. He now has them in the Big Dance. Talk about an awesome full circle moment in March.

‘I’m excited they get to share this moment with each other because this is going to last a lifetime. I won championships on a high school level, college level, and professional level, and my collegiate championship meant the most to me,’ Claxton said on CBS Sports Network on the significance of the Pride’s win.

The Pride looked to be on their way to a potential NCAA Tournament berth in 2020 after they won the CAA regular season and tournament crowns, but the COVID-19 pandemic took that opportunity away as the NCAA Tournament was canceled that season.

To win the 2026 CAA Championship, Hofstra also defeated William & Mary 91-62 in the quarterfinals and Towson 68-65 in the semifinals.

The Pride will now have to wait a few more days until Selection Sunday to learn who they will open their March Madness run against, and where. The NCAA Tournament bracket will be released at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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The U.S. men will make their home in Irvine, California, during the World Cup.

The USMNT will be based at Great Park during the tournament, which begins June 11 and will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Orange County complex has a soccer stadium with locker rooms and a training facility, as well as six lighted grass fields and a natural grass flex field that can hold another four full-size grass fields.

The facility also is less than 15 miles from John Wayne Airport and about an hour bus ride from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where the U.S. men will play two of their group-stage games.

The U.S. men will play all of their group-stage games on the West Coast. The Americans, who were drawn into Group D, open against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium. They play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and wrap up the group stage June 25 against a still-to-be-determined European team at SoFi.

“The (Great Park) facilities are simply outstanding and will provide the perfect training environment for our team to prepare to be successful at the World Cup,’ U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in announcing the training site.

The USMNT will announce its 26-man roster on May 26 in New York City.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

Maxx Crosby was the newest member of the Baltimore Ravens. Until he wasn’t.

Four days after reports that the Las Vegas Raiders had agreed to terms to trade the pass rusher to the Ravens, the team announced on social media that Baltimore had backed out of the trade.

The full reasoning for the trade cancellation is only partially clear as of the night of March 10. NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported shortly after the Raiders’ bombshell revelation on social media that the Ravens nixed the transaction for a medical reason.

‘Trades are contingent upon a physical,’ NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Crosby failed his physical when he met with the Ravens on March 10.

Crosby missed the final two weeks of the 2025 NFL season when the Raiders placed him on injured reserve with a knee injury. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in late December that the Las Vegas pass rusher suffered his injury during an Oct. 19 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Crosby reportedly played through the injury for two months before the Raiders decided to shut him down after Week 15, allowing him to recover by the start of the 2026 season.

‘Maxx Crosby had surgery to repair his meniscus right around the end of the season,’ Rapoport said on March 10. ‘Meniscus repairs can take three to four months. He was doing well, it was not as major as it could have been.

‘If you trade for Maxx Crosby, you have a belief that he is not going to be fully healthy, but that he’s going to be far enough along where you feel confident that his knee is going to be fine. This decision … is an indication that [the Ravens] do not believe it is going to be fine.’

The Ravens had initially agreed to trade two first-round picks for Crosby – one in 2026 and one in 2027. Had the trade been finalized at the start of the new league year as expected, it would have been the first time the Ravens traded a first-round pick for a player, according to Rapoport.

With the trade canceled, the Ravens will receive their picks back.

Maxx Crosby injury history

Crosby has missed as many games with injuries in his NFL career as the number of years he has played in the league: seven. All seven games he’s missed have been in the last two years alone.

In 2024, the Raiders’ pass rusher missed five games with a high ankle sprain he sustained early in the season, then re-aggravated weeks later. Crosby initially suffered the injury in a Week 2 game against the Ravens, tried to play through it in Week 3, then missed a Week 4 contest against the Cleveland Browns.

Ten weeks later, Crosby re-aggravated the injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. He finished out the game but sat out the final four games of the season to get a head start on rehabbing from the injury.

In 2025, Crosby started all 15 games he played in to begin the year. He suffered a knee injury against the Chiefs in Week 7. While he missed the rest of that game, he returned in for the Raiders’ next game in Week 9 after their Week 8 bye.

Ahead of Week 17, the Raiders decided to shut down Crosby for the final two games of the year to repair his meniscus and begin his recovery process.

Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer reported at the time that Crosby ‘vehemently disagreed’ with the decision and ‘left the building.’ Crosby posted a video of himself playing basketball and jumping on a trampoline shortly after the Raiders placed him on injured reserve.

Maxx Crosby stats

Crosby is in third place on the Raiders’ list of career sack leaders through seven seasons. Here’s a look at his career stats:

Tackles (for a loss): 439 (133)
Quarterback hits: 164
Sacks: 69.5
Forced fumbles: 11
Passes defensed: 29
Interceptions: 1

Crosby has been a Pro Bowl edge defender in each of his last five seasons. In 2023, he finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting in addition to earning his second All-Pro second team nod of his career.

Raider for life (at least for now).

One of the biggest non-trades in recent NFL history has rocked the NFL landscape.

The Baltimore Ravens ‘have backed out’ of the trade involving star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, which was agreed to on March 6, according to the Las Vegas Raiders.

On March 10, the trade fell apart, leaving the previously agreed-upon 2026 and 2027 first-round picks in Baltimore’s possession, and Crosby left in an awkward spot.

Reactions have been pouring in, with many flabbergasted by the trade falling through.

Here’s a look at how the NFL world and social media are taking the news: