NBA Basketball 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 6:42 PM ET
NBA Trade Deadline Moves
The Dallas Mavericks espn.com acquired veteran guard Marcus Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, bolstering their perimeter defense for a playoff push. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets parted ways with longtime center Mason Plumlee, sending him to the Los Angeles Clippers along with a future second-rounder for forward P.J. Washington.
Injury Updates
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is expected to miss two to three weeks after suffering a left knee sprain in Wednesday's win over the Miami Heat. The Denver Nuggets announced that Nikola Jokic will sit out Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors for rest purposes, with backup center Zeke Nnaji likely to see extended minutes.
Standings Shakeup
The Boston Celtics extended their lead in the Eastern Conference to 3.5 games after routing the Brooklyn Nets 118-95, with Jaylen Brown scoring 31 points. In the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves moved within half a game of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed after a 112-105 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, led by Anthony Edwards's 28-point performance.