NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: March 26, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Western Conference Showdowns & MVP Chatter

The Denver Nuggets narrowly prevailed over the Mavericks Wednesday night, fueled by a spectacular 53-point outing from Jamal Murray and a near-historic performance by Nikola Jokic, who posted 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists. This high-octane victory came as league observers debate the MVP narrative, with Golden State's Draymond Green admitting he simultaneously "hated" and "absolutely loved" Victor Wembanyama’s aggressive self-promotion regarding his own MVP candidacy this season. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder saw their winning streak snapped at home by the Celtics, 119-109, despite the team cautiously managing Jalen Williams' return from a two-month hamstring absence; Williams cleared another hurdle in his second game back as the Thunder work him back toward full capacity.

Injury Updates & Rookie Race Clarity

In Chicago, the rebuilding Bulls organization officially ruled out guard Jaden Ivey and forward Jalen Smith for the remainder of the season due to ongoing injury issues, signaling a full commitment to the draft lottery. This late-season clarity in team health contrasts with the near-certainty developing in the individual awards race, as updated rookie rankings suggest the Rookie of the Year contest is effectively decided with only a few weeks remaining in the regular schedule.