4th month of the year, 4 men’s teams left in March Madness, and a 40-bomb for LeBron. Someone call Jay-Z.

Today’s Lineup

Weekend Wrap-Up

• Jalen Brunson hit a potentially game-winning layup with just seconds to go against the Thunder last night, but OKC had some heroics of their own in the Big Apple. SGA called game on this wild baseline jumper, giving the Thunder the 113-112 win and first place in the West.

• As the Lakers gear up for another postseason run with LeBron at the helm, the King 👑 is already in playoff mode. LBJ dropped his 77th career 40-point game to help the Lakers top the Nets by 12 last night. Cam Thomas still had a cool 30, but it was no use against the surging LakeShow, who’ve won six of their last seven games.

• The Clippers’ win over the Hornets last night was definitely rated PG-13. Paul George nailed eight threes to lift his squad over Charlotte, reminding us all he’s one of the smoothest in the game.

• After Malik Monk sprained his MCL, the other Kings took the throne. Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes combined for 49 points to lead SacTown past the Jazz on Sunday night as the middle of the Western Conference playoff picture heats up.

• Kelly Oubre isn’t just a cutie—he’s a darn good basketball player too. Oubre dropped a season-high 32 PTS to lead Philly to a 135-120 win over Toronto, snapping the Sixers’ three-game skid and keeping Philly squarely in the play-in picture.

• On Friday, the Heat recorded their largest margin of victory in franchise history with a 60-point dub over the Blazers. Jimmy Butler only took four shots, but after Miami took a 34-point halftime lead, nothing else was needed from him. Just another chapter in a rough season for Portland…

• And even though Jalen Brunson didn’t quite reach Kobe’s legendary “60 points on 50 shots” milestone, he got close by dropping 61 points on 47 shots on Friday against San Antonio. It wasn’t enough to outduel Wemby, however, who came to play in the Spurs’ four-point OT win with 40 PTS, 20 REB, and 7 AST of his own. We love seeing great players do great things!

And Then There Were Four…

After two weekends of Madness, four teams remain in the race for the men’s NCAA national title. No team’s road to Glendale has been the same, so let’s meet the four teams still in the mix.

#1 UConn Huskies

Dread it or run from it, UConn basketball arrives all the same. Arguably the most successful program in the sport (5 titles in the last 25 years), the reigning national champs have stormed their way back to the Final Four and they look primed to repeat.

No men’s team has won back-to-back national titles since Florida in 2007 and 2008, but then again, few teams go on decimating runs like UConn’s 30-0 burial of Illinois in the Elite Eight. Are Dan Hurley and Co. on track to claim the Huskies’ sixth title?

#4 Alabama Crimson Tide

After winning a CFP-esque matchup in the Elite Eight, the Tide earned a spot in the Final Four for the first time in school history. Mark Sears is an offensive machine and Nate Oats definitely has a seat at the table after working his way up from selling Hot Cheetos to support his high school team. Can ‘Bama establish a reputation as an “everything” school with a natty… in hoops?

#1 Purdue Boilermakers

BOILER UP, HAMMER DOWN! After falling to 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in last year's tournament, Purdue is back with a sense of vengeance in this year’s tourney. Reigning POY Zach Edey just dropped 40 and 16 to down Tennessee, and the Boilers are… well… boiling from three (41% 3PT on the season). Can the nation’s best player snag a national title?

#11 North Carolina State Wolfpack

If the Huskies are the belle of the ball, the Wolfpack are Cinderella. After finishing the regular season with a 17-14 record, NC State has won nine straight games to dance all the way into the Final Four for the first time since 1983 (when Jim Valvano coached the team). DJ Burns has become a national celebrity overnight, and it seems like the Wolfpack can beat anybody. This team is impossible not to Enjoy!

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we’re out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. Take a second to appreciate the little things in life today, whether it’s the way the sun is shining or a stranger holding the door. And don’t forget to pass the love on! Talk to you on Wednesday.

-Walker Carnathan