As the Big Ten Conference continues to evolve, one thing remains constant—every game is a battle. That’s the sentiment Iowa coach Fran McCaffery emphasized ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup between No. 10 Purdue (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten) and Iowa (13-8, 4-6 Big Ten) in Iowa City. The Boilermakers enter red-hot, having won nine of their last 10 games, while the Hawkeyes are looking to snap a two-game skid and earn their first win over a ranked opponent since last February. Purdue’s offensive firepower has been on full display this season, led by Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, and Fletcher Loyer. Smith, in particular, has been a standout, delivering clutch performances while facilitating the Boilermakers’ efficient offense. Purdue coach Matt Painter also

The Washington Wizards haven’t had much to celebrate this season, but they have a shot at something rare—back-to-back wins. Coming off a surprising 105-103 road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, Washington (7-41) looks to build on that success when they visit the Charlotte Hornets (10-39) on Monday night. The win in Minnesota snapped a brutal 16-game losing streak for Washington, and it was only their second road victory of the season. Kyle Kuzma led the way with a season-high 31 points, and the Wizards held the Timberwolves to their lowest point total of the season. Head coach Brian Keefe praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We have people who want to be competitive, who want to win. So they

Two teams coming off tough losses face a quick turnaround as Pittsburgh hosts Virginia on Monday in an important ACC matchup. Both teams suffered frustrating one-point defeats on Saturday, making this game a crucial opportunity to get back on track. The Panthers (14-7, 5-5 ACC) lost 76-74 at Wake Forest, while the Cavaliers (10-12, 3-8 ACC) fell 75-74 at home against Virginia Tech. Pittsburgh had won two straight before falling to Wake Forest in a close contest. The Panthers led by five early in the second half but could not hold on. Wake Forest sealed the game with six free throws in the final 22 seconds. Pitt was perfect from the free-throw line, going 20-for-20, but struggled from the field.

The Sacramento Kings have one last chance to salvage their six-game road trip as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night in Minneapolis. Sacramento (29-23) has struggled mightily during this stretch, losing four of five, including an ugly 144-110 blowout to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. That loss led to frustration within the team, with veteran forward DeMar DeRozan questioning their collective effort. “We didn’t play hard, didn’t compete, got embarrassed, got our (butt) kicked,” DeRozan said. “Whatever the reason, whatever we did or didn’t do, it’s about how we respond from here.” The Kings, sitting in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race, need to regroup fast. Monday’s game offers a chance to head home on