From The Sports Desk: Nba Playoff Push

We’ve sewage 2 cardinal NBA games coming connected NBC and Peacock pinch playoff implications and teams hoping to get correct earlier nan postseason originates adjacent month. Plus, 2 of our reporters springiness an early look astatine nan Sweet 16.

Roundball Rock

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic look disconnected coming (8 p.m. ET connected NBC and Peacock) in a conflict of teams pinch seasons that person truthful acold been varying levels of disappointing.

The Cavaliers were a juggernaut past year, only to go a unfortunate of nan Indiana Pacers’ magical playoff run. Cleveland has been beautiful coagulated aft a slow start, but nan truth that nan squad traded All-Star defender Darius Garland for James Harden is simply a clear parameter that nan squad knew nan position quo would not beryllium enough. Will Harden, who has a checkered postseason history, beryllium capable to get nan Cavs complete nan top?

The Magic, meanwhile, were expected to beryllium 1 of nan teams that could participate nan Boston Celtics-shaped vacuum astatine nan apical of nan East. Instead, nan Celtics are successful 2nd pinch Jayson Tatum having missed astir of nan season, while Orlando is fighting for its life successful play-in territory. The Magic besides took a large plaything for their title hopes, trading for defender Desmond Bane earlier nan season. The results person been mixed.

Ultimately, some Cleveland and Orlando entered this twelvemonth pinch precocious expectations, and nan gambles they’ve taken connected their rosters bespeak neither will beryllium satisfied pinch different short playoff appearance.

Cleveland Cavaliers defender James Harden is fouled by Orlando Magic halfway Wendell Carter Jr. arsenic he drives to nan handbasket during nan 2nd half of an NBA crippled connected March 11 successful Orlando, Fla.John Raoux / AP

Meanwhile, nan Denver Nuggets are what I see nan astir fascinating squad entering nan playoffs. With Nikola Jokić successful nan lineup, they are morganatic title contenders erstwhile patient — and that’s a cardinal caveat, because it’s happened truthful rarely. That’s changing, though, aft cardinal domiciled players Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson returned Sunday.

In nan season’s last 3 weeks, I’m watching to spot whether nan Nuggets tin stay patient and play amended defense, for prolonged stretches. If they can, Denver tin compete pinch nan likes of Oklahoma City and San Antonio successful nan West.

Sweet 16

We’ve sewage a mates of days earlier nan men’s tourney resumes. To get you fresh for nan Sweet 16, our reporters did this matter speech (actually, it was connected Slack) astir what stands retired to them.

Andrew Greif: Rohan, we’re down to nan Sweet 16 successful nan men’s and women’s tournaments. Is location 1 crippled you’re circling to watch, successful particular?

Rohan Nadkarni: Andrew, I find myself endlessly fascinated by Rick Pitino and St. John’s, who are successful a monster matchup pinch Duke. The opposition of nan old-school Pitino trying to return down a bluish humor successful Duke, which is trying to re-create immoderate Coach K magic pinch Jon Scheyer, should beryllium nosy to watch.

St. John's caput coach Rick Pitino reacts during nan 2nd half of a crippled against Kansas successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Tournament connected Sunday successful San Diego.Mark J. Terrill / AP

What’s a storyline that has you excited for nan weekend?

Greif: It feels fitting for this infinitesimal successful assemblage sports that nan past “Cinderella,” by seed, near is Texas, 1 of nan wealthiest diversion departments successful nan full country. The No. 11 Longhorns are only nan sixth squad to make nan Sweet 16 aft playing their measurement into nan 64-team section via nan “First Four” round. Big budgets for unit and NIL person proven to beryllium nary guarantee of March Madness occurrence but it seems telling that each squad near comes from a awesome conference.

Lastly Rohan, if you could show personification conscionable 1 item from nan first weekend, what would it be? I’ll spell first: Vanderbilt’s in-and-out buzzer-beater-that-wasn’t that astir knocked disconnected Nebraska.

Nadkarni: I would show everyone nan unspeakable defense by nan Florida Gators that led to a game-winning 3 by nan Iowa Hawkeyes. How are you trailing personification successful nan backcourt successful that situation? This would successful nary measurement beryllium to troll my brother, a Florida grad who was decidedly watching.

What We're Watching

The 2 games connected NBA connected NBC’s “Coast 2 Coast” item what to watch tonight.

All times are Eastern:

• 8 p.m.: Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, connected NBC and Peacock
• 11 p.m.: Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns, connected NBC and Peacock

What We're Reading

The Lakers are heating up and LeBron James’ accommodation from being nan prima to ceding power to teammates is simply a large logic why. Louisa Thomas in The New Yorker examines James’ changing game.

Sweet infinitesimal erstwhile Texas Rangers pitcher Carter Baumler found retired he made nan opening time roster during a astonishment mound visit.

It’s ne'er excessively soon for LA28 news: Organizers for nan Games unveiled nan event’s ocular personality yesterday.

The Warriors’ Moses Moody needed to beryllium stretchered disconnected aft suffering a gruesome knee injury.

Details connected Travis Kelce’s contract to return to nan Chiefs were revealed yesterday.