After four days of full-squad workouts at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees are set to begin their Grapefruit League schedule Friday against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla.
Elmer Rodriguez, one of the club’s top pitching prospects, will get the start while the Yankees are bringing infielders Jazz Chisholm Jr., José Caballero and Amed Rosario, plus catcher Austin Wells, all of whom will be leaving camp next weekend to play in the World Baseball Classic.
Aaron Judge, who is also leaving to captain Team USA, will make his spring debut Saturday at home against the Tigers, starting in right field, before likely serving as DH on Sunday against the Mets.
Elmer Rodriguez throws a pitch during a live batting practice for the Yankees on Feb. 15, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg
Aaron Boone has said he wants to get Judge into four or five of the Yankees’ first nine games before he heads to USA’s camp.
The 22-year-old Rodriguez, acquired from the Red Sox last offseason for catcher Carlos Narváez, will pitch for Puerto Rico in the WBC.
The right-hander broke out last season across three levels (High-A, Double-A and one start in Triple-A), posting a 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 150 innings.
“[Rodriguez has made] a big impression,” Boone said Thursday. “He’s one of those guys that I hadn’t seen really in person, but one of those few guys you get excited to come down here and see. I think he’s got a chance to be a starting pitcher in this league for a long time. That’s how he profiles to me and everything I hear about him. I’m excited to see him go [Friday]. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
Rafael Montero has a locker inside the clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field but has not yet reported to camp due to paperwork and visa issues, Boone said.
The reliever from the Dominican Republic signed a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp last week, but is delayed in getting to make his case to win a bullpen job.
Will Warren threw three innings of live batting practice Thursday while building his pitch count to 49.
With his fastball sitting at 93-96 mph — it averaged 93.3 mph last season — Warren at one point struck out Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Judge in succession.
Feb 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) advances the ball as Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards emerged victorious 112-105 over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in the battle of the East’s bottom feeders at Capital One Arena.
In a game with massive draft lottery implications, the Wizards took control for most of the contest. After a back-and-forth first quarter, Washington closed out the first half with a 17-6 run, taking a 59-47 advantage into the break. Tristan Vukcevic paced the Wiz with all 12 of his points coming before halftime.
Bilal Coulibaly came out motivated to start the second half, scoring or assisting on Washington’s first 11 points to help his team take a 17-point lead — the largest of the game. He also completed a pretty sweet pick-six for a slam.
The Pacers battled back with a 24-9 run to get within two points. A strong close to the quarter from the Wizards’ bench mob brought the lead back to 88-80 heading into the final period. Jaden Hardy, Alondis Williams, and Kadary Richmond all gave fans a glimpse of what they can do.
Washington nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, as Indiana retook the lead midway through the fourth quarter with a 17-6 wave. But the Wizards countered with a 14-0 stretch to seal the victory, buoyed by some big shots from Bub Carrington and Anthony Gill.
Seven different players scored in double figures in this one. Carrington, Gill, Kadary Richmond, and Jaden Hardy all tied for the team lead with 13 apiece.
The Wizards and Pacers do it all again Friday, with the loser leaving with the crown for the worst record in the East.
Feb 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after a dunk during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers obliterated the Brooklyn Nets 112-84 in their first game back from the All-Star break. Let’s see who won the night.
WINNER – James Harden’s Creation
Advantage creation is probably the single most important trait in basketball. Can you beat a defense and get them into rotation? For James Harden, that’s as intuitive as it gets.
Brooklyn looked hopeless trying to contain Harden tonight. He picked them apart on every possession, dishing in the pick-and-roll, throwing lobs to his teammates, scoring at the rim, and nailing step-back three-pointers. Harden finished the first half with 13 points (5-5 shooting), 6 assists, and only 1 turnover.
Harden dissects the defense as good as anyone. His control of the Cavaliers’ offense kept them three steps ahead of the Nets all night long. And while his playmaking makes everyone around him better (especially Jarrett Allen), it’s important not to forget that Harden can score in bunches himself. This dual threat makes Harden the perfect co-partner for Donovan Mitchell. More on that later.
We’ve all seen Cleveland’s offense at its best when the ball is flowing. But that cascading effect of drive, kick, and relocate can only begin if someone causes the defense to break down in the first place. Harden has gotten the Cavs offense out of the mud, back on the track, and speeding to the front of the league.
WINNER – Keon Ellis
The Cavs have always needed a player like Keon Ellis. A fearless and athletic role player who can make things happen on both ends of the floor.
Within seconds of entering the game, Ellis put the ball on the floor, attacked a closeout and threw down a two-hand poster dunk. Shortly after, he scrambled to the corner and blocked a Brooklyn three-point attempt at its release. Later in the same quarter, Ellis buried a catch-and-shoot three-pointer.
I don’t think you can ask for much more than that.
“I’m not sure I’ve seen that in the league,” said Kenny Aktinson after the game. “Getting into the passing lane, he had three blocks tonight, it’s like, I knew that was part of the statistical profile, but to see it live is impressive.“
Ellis is a chaotic defender who has already shown a knack for disrupting plays. Whether it’s swiping down on drives, darting into passing lanes, or blocking unsuspecting shooters. All the while, he’s making an impact as a floor spacer and attacking off the dribble when he gets an opportunity.
WINNER -That Harden to Mitchell Lob
Did we mention something about Harden and Mitchell co-existing?
Early in the first quarter, we got our first Harden to Mitchell alley-oop. And, well, it was better than anyone could have expected.
I wasn’t sure what Harden’s plan was when he stole the ball and accelerated into the open court. It looked like Brooklyn’s defense might stop him at half court or force him into a difficult shot at the rim. But then, Harden threw the ball up into the rafters, and somehow timed it perfectly with Mitchell’s jump to guide him right to the rim for an alley-oop finish.
I can’t say enough about how difficult this pass was. Throwing a lob this gentle after bursting around a defender is the type of thing that only players like Harden are capable of doing at this level.
WINNER — Jarrett Allen (and Evan Mobley)
The Fro has dominated February.
Now, I want to be clear that Allen was already starting to dominate teams before Harden joined the team. This isn’t all because of The Beard.
But, having an elite pick-and-roll partner has only magnified Allen’s increased aggression. He’s been a beast in the paint for a full month now. Tonight, the Nets simply had no solution for him. Allen scored 15 points and earned 10 free throws in the first half.
Harden’s vision in the pick-and-roll has simplified everything. He’s delivering the ball to Allen on time and in motion. Throwing the ball into open space has forced Allen to be aggressive in going after it. From there, all that JA’s had to do is catch and go up with a layup or dunk.
“It’s almost like a quarterback leading a receiver, you catch it in stride,” said Atkinson.
The PNR is great, but Allen has done even more than that. He’s lurked in the dunker’s spot and been rewarded with dump-off passes. He’s buried his defenders in the post with deep-seals to punish mismatches. And, of course, he’s still a defensive anchor on the other end. Whatever you ask of him, Allen is doing it.
Atkinson said before the game that Allen has “opened his eyes” to new possibilities — and he wants to keep him as a focal point of the offense. With the way he’s played, I’m inclined to agree. It would be a mistake to rein him in now.
I also want to shout out Evan Mobley, who returned from a calf strain tonight. He moved well and found an immediate connection with Harden in the PNR. Similar to Allen, Mobley will benefit from having the ball force-fed to him while running to the rim. There’s less to think about when you’re catching with an advantage. Harden’s passing ensures Mobley can avoid aimlessly probing and instead dominate with his athleticism.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 19, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were back from the All-Star break, and they had a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. So far this season, the Hawks have had the 76ers’ number, and they were looking to add on that success in this matchup. The Hawks were healthy coming into the game, except for Jonathan Kuminga, who will be re-evaluated in a week.
As for the 76ers, they were without Joel Embiid.
Onyeka Okongwu used his vision early to find Jalen Johnson on the other end of the floor.
The 76ers stayed around and made sure the Hawks didn’t pull away with their lead. Nickeil Alexander-Walker used his shiftiness to get this layup to go.
Of course, the 76ers tried to make their last effort to come back, but the Hawks were able to execute down the stretch on both sides of the floor to keep their lead, and ultimately win the game.
Johnson finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, McCollum finished with 23 points, Daniels finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points.
The Hawks will be back in action tomorrow against the Miami Heat.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 19, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
So, who forgot to tell the Sixers the All-Star break ended?
Philadelphia dropped their first game after the break 117-107 to the Atlanta Hawks Thursday night.
Tyrese Maxey had some flashy highlights amidst a sluggish shooting night, leading the Sixers with 28 shooting 8-of-23 from the floor. VJ Edgecombe, off of strong first and fourth quarters, finished with 20 points and nine rebounds going 7-of-15 from the field.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also struggled from the field but did what he could from the line putting up 17 points shooting 4-of-13 from the floor and 9-of-11 on free throws. Jalen Johnson led all scorers with 32.
Joel Embiid missed his third straight game, this time with right shin soreness while the Hawks were without Jonathan Kuminga with a bone bruise in his knee.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Maxey opened the game by darting to the rim, spinning around a defender to finish a layup, but cooled off missing his next four shots. Edgecombe made his first three shots of the night attacking off the dribble, but also had the ball ripped away from him on multiple drives as well.
Despite the aggression from the Sixers’ backcourt, it was not the prettiest start with a stoppage in the game seemingly happening every 10 seconds. Edgecombe was the only player on the floor who looked remotely comfortable offensively with both teams hovering below 40% from the field.
After going nearly five minutes without a field goal the Sixers’ offense was able to string a couple half decent possessions together. Trendon Watford was a big reason, getting himself on the board with a drive before collapsing the defense on another, leading to an open Maxey three. Giving up seven second-chance points had the Sixers in a hole, but Edgecombe closed the gap with a long buzzer beater that trimmed the Hawks lead to two.
VJ Edgecombe with 11 points in Q1 after sinking this ridiculous buzzer-beater three! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MU8k822v1u
Cam Payne checked in for his first Sixers minutes since the 2024 playoffs at the start of the quarter. He missed his first shot of the night but picked up three quick assists, all of which were setting up Quentin Grimes jumpers. He did a fine job of table setting while also avoiding being dunked through the rim by Corey Kispert on the other end.
Excellent awareness/hustle from Adem Bona giving the Sixers possession and Quentin Grimes sinks the triple off the Cam Payne inbound! pic.twitter.com/NKwYTf62R9
A big reason this game had an ugly feel to it was that the Sixers were not able to defend without fouling — they put the Hawks at the line 25 times in the half. Some of those were definitely “make him earn it” fouls by Sixers defenders who had gotten beat, which wasn’t the worst idea in the world given the Hawks missed five of their free-throw attempts.
It was from the line that Atlanta did most of their damage, but Johnson did get going as the half closed. His length gave him an advantage over basically any Sixer that wasn’t Dominick Barlow as he put up 17 in the half. The Sixers’ offense looked rudderless, struggling to create any space off the dribble. On top of cold shooting, Maxey was making some uncharacteristically poor decisions with the basketball, lucky to only have one turnover. They went into the break trailing by seven.
Third Quarter
Unfortunately for the Sixers, not much looked different to start the second half either. The Hawks continued to push their way to the basket while Maxey continued to throw the ball over the backboard. He did finish a potential momentum-swinging play when he got a give-and-go and slammed it hard over Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
He was able to momentarily capitalize on that, hitting a stepback three on the following possession. The offense would stall again, going another four minutes without a field goal, but with Oubre continually getting to the line the Sixers were able to slowly chip away at the lead.
Now on a standard contract, Jabari Walker was able to play in his first game since Feb. 3. He gave the Sixers a much needed shot in the arm when he picked off an errant pass right after burying a corner three, finishing the fast break by throwing a no-look pass to Adem Bona. They could just never string enough quality possessions together though. Maxey hit a quick three to give them a shot at a 2-for-1, but Grimes and Payne did their best to give the ball away on the following possession. That left the Sixers down by four heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
It makes sense why the Sixers struggled with Johnson from a physical standpoint, but their inability to stop CJ McCollum was much more concerning. They just bit on every single one of his fakes, helping the seasoned vet get to the line time after time while hardly breaking a sweat.
He had really gone passive for the middle stretch of the game, but the Sixers were again at a point where Edgecombe was the only one who could buy a jumper to fall. A big problem, especially when he picked up his fifth foul with over five minutes remaining in the game. So many Sixers drives were just dead on arrival, driving into too many defenders that were too set and too tall to get around.
Another thing the Sixers weren’t able to do all night was get out and run. They had just 13 fast break points on the Hawks’ first 12 turnovers. Two straight blocked shots allowed them to do so, the first by Andre Drummond and the second by Maxey. It wasn’t much, but with the Hawks not putting the game away those two fast break baskets got the Sixers and crowd right back into the game.
Sixers on an 8-0 run in the last 1:15 and they're within six points of the Hawks! pic.twitter.com/pi0Ewe5fqY
Up by four, McCollum seemed to get away with a travel, nailing a floater to get the lead back up to six. Grimes followed that up with a bad midrange jumper, one that was heavily contested. After Johnson split a pair at the line, Maxey also took an ill-advised pull-up, which essentially put the game away for the night. This game was there for them to grab all night, they just couldn’t take it .
Jonathan Quick is pictured during the Rangers' Jan. 29 game against the Islanders.
Jonathan Quick was dealt twice in as many days during the 2022-23 season, but the 19-year veteran goalie isn’t seeking another relocation amid the Rangers’ continued sell-off before the March 6 trade deadline.
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The pending unrestricted free agent controls a 20-team no-trade clause in his contract, but what if a contender looking for an experienced backup for its playoff push could attempt to rent the two-time Stanley Cup winner?
“I’m happy here. I want to be here,” Quick said after practice Thursday in Tarrytown. “It means a lot to me to wear this jersey.”
A Connecticut native, the 40-year-old Quick signed a one-year deal with the Rangers in free agency in the summer of ’23 after the longtime Kings stalwart had been traded on consecutive days earlier that year from Los Angeles to Columbus and then to Vegas.
Jonathan Quick is pictured during the Rangers’ Jan. 29 game against the Islanders. Charles Wenzelberg
He then inked two more one-year deals — including a $1.55 million one for this season — to serve as Igor Shesterkin’s backup.
“When I signed the contract, I planned on honoring the contract,” Quick said earlier in the week. “The focus is always where you’re at and what you’re doing currently.
“That’s where the focus has been and will continue to be.”
Quick had been playing more regularly ahead of the Olympic break with Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox sidelined since they both suffered lower-body injuries in the same game against the Mammoth on Jan. 5.
Quick ranks fourth on the league’s all-time wins list with 408, but he’s just 4-14-1 this season with a 3.10 goals-against average in 20 appearances (19 starts) for the Blueshirts, who own the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 22-29-6 ahead of Thursday’s restart game against the Flyers at MSG.
“It’s a result-based business, and you lose sight of it being in business at times, just because it turns into a family, right, with the guys you’re with every day,” Quick said. ‘You know their kids and wives and vice versa.
Jonathan Quick makes a save during the Rangers’ Jan. 12 game against the Kraken. Charles Wenzelberg
“It’s always difficult when, for any reason, that guys you’ve been with for a couple years move on. So it’s a reminder that it is a business, and I’m sure the guys will go to those new teams and make some great relationships and have some fun playing hockey. And our focus has to be fully on who’s here now, and what we could do as a group.”
One group that is enjoying success is Team USA — led by first-year Rangers coach Mike Sullivan and featuring captain J.T. Miller and forward Vincent Trocheck — at the Milan Cortina Games.
The Americans will face Slovakia on Friday in the semifinals, with a clash with rival Canada, who first must beat Finland, in the gold medal match potentially looming Sunday.
“I’d imagine both teams are very focused on their semifinal match,” said Quick, who represented the U.S. in Olympic play in 2010 (silver medal) and 2014 (no medal). “Both teams have a tough matchup … and their full focus is on respecting their opponents in the semifinal match, and I’m looking forward to watching. It’s been really good hockey for the past two weeks there. It’s been fun to watch, so I’m sure it will be a couple great games [Friday].
“Obviously, it’s always an honor to represent your country. And you’re very fortunate to be a part of that a few times. Obviously you want to see the group that’s over there do as well as they can.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 19: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets steps to the basket against Dean Wade #32 and Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on February 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets snuck into the All-Star break in an optimal lottery position and without a crowd of accusers behind them, alleging they’ve compromised the game’s integrity and warped its competitive nature. The latter without the former is a rare thing today, particularly this season.
Tonight, they reemerged from it in a far less enviable spot. They visited the revamped Cleveland Cavaliers, and while the uneven matchup reinforced their advantageous draft position, it was no easy watch.
The Cavs started the game with a 14-3 burst after the Nets opened shooting 1-7 from the floor. Cleveland’s initial offensive fluidity warranted an early timeout for Jorid Fernández, even by his standards. The second year coach called for one with the Cavs up just 4-0.
“Yeah, it was two mistakes that were completely controllable, and it just tells me about the readiness of our players,” Fernández said of the timeout. “It was the lack of effort and readiness, and you know, I’m not going to let it fly.”
However, premature didn’t equal productive. On Brooklyn’s next defensive possession, Evan Mobley got free for a wide open running dunk. That was the easiest of Cleveland’s first six shots of the game, all of which they made. Less than 10 minutes deep, the Cavs were already up 15.
One of the new Nets Ochai Agbaji again checked in toward the end of the first, followed by Drake Powell, Danny Wolf, Terance Mann, and Ziaire Williams. That group looked a tad less lost at the offensive end, but still wayward. The Nets shot just 2-13 on from deep in the first, and as a result, trailed 36-14 after it.
Nets second unit doing some good things on offense, taking the right shots, just can't finish off possessions… pic.twitter.com/XhxO0ww6EY
Less than three minutes into the second, the Cavalier lead had already boiled to 20. Whether rising up to defend the rim or chasing Dennis Schröder into the backcourt for loose balls, Day’Ron Sharpe and Agbaji did their best to will Brooklyn back into it, and while I can’t call being down 14 “in it,” the team did respond.
As the second frame progressed, MPJ had an easier time getting to his spots and leveraging around the pressure of a defense well aware of his shooting prowess. Brooklyn also pushed for more points in transition, at one point enjoying a 14-6 run…
Egor could've hit Clowney for an easy dunk here…His shooting confidence continues to pay off, gets the Nets an extra point. pic.twitter.com/fc2fHaovm6
But as the offense found it’s footing, the defense slipped. No Nic Claxton to defend the rim essentially made this a matchup nightmare for Brooklyn vs James Harden and Jarrett Allen as a pick-and-roll dance partners. The Cavs kept the music going for the entirety of the first half, going for 36 points the paint and outscoring the Nets there by 18 in the process. They posted .643/.571 splits, while Brooklyn shot .365/.269. That’s a -27.8 and -30.2 difference in percentage points.
“Their physicality and their intensity was as it should be for winning teams,” Fernández said. “So, we were not even close.”
So, Brooklyn started the second half down 70-48, once again in a battle against public embarrassment rather than the guys at the other end of the court.
No one told the Cavs that. They started the third on a 15-2 run after making their first four shots. Brooklyn didn’t hit a field goal until Danny Wolf splashed a corner three at the 6:43 mark of the third. Amid their cold streak, Donovan Mitchell canned a transition triple to put his team up 85-50. After that, when Spida pulled out his web-slinger celebration, it became even more clear who was having fun tonight and who wasn’t.
The Nets then bled out in the street like Uncle Ben, except this time there were no inspiring lessons to take away. Cleveland outscored Brooklyn 32-19 in this frame, inflating their lead to as many as 43 at one point.
However, there were a few silver, check that, bronze linings down the stretch. And honestly, that’s all we’re in business for at this point.
In the final minute of the third, Powell and Agbaji gave a look at at what can do together with their athleticism, chipping away six points to make it a 102-67 score entering the fourth…
Impressive job by Powell to gather this tipped board and then find Ochai in stride (pay no attention to the score, btw). pic.twitter.com/NobEDE2ojJ
Agbaji continued to play tough in the final quarter, adding another handful of transition points to help the Nets extend a 15-2 run between the periods. He finished the night with 13 points after shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep, trailing only MPJ in the scoring department. Porter Jr. tallied 14 points on your 5-13 shooting while grabbing five boards.
“Yeah, he did a great job,” Fernández said of Agbaji. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, some of the plays, and defensive concepts, but I think he did a great job. He was ready. He fought physically and mentally. He was ready to go, and it was good to see.”
“I’m excited about what we can do and the style we play is very unselfish,” Agbaji said. “That’s kind of the player that I am so I fit into that well.”
Said Agbaji post-game: “I’m excited about what we can do and the style we play is very unselfish. That’s kind of the player that I am so I fit into that well.”
ICYMI, Agbaji came to Brooklyn in deadline day deal with the Raptors. Suffice it to say that the Nets won that deal. The Nets get the 25-year-old from the Raptors along with Raps 2032 second and $3.5 million in cash in return for the draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic, a 29-year-old Serbian shooting guard who had blown out his achilles day before. Agbaji will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Brooklyn also rotated well to shut down Cleveland’s reserves, who went 0-12 from deep in the fourth. Nolan Traore also extended his streak to six consecutive games with at least four assists, tying Kerry Kittles for the fourth-longest streak by a rookie in franchise history.
It was all very “Chris Paul hit’s a huge three,” but I’ll say it again, there’s not much out there for these Nets other than little wins. In terms of a literal one, they weren’t even close. At least tomorrow’s another day, even if it is against the champs.
Final: Cleveland Cavaliers 112, Brooklyn Nets 84
Milestone Watch
Nolan Traore has extended his streak to six consecutive games with at least four assists, which is tied as the fourth-longest streak by a rookie in franchise history and the longest since Kerry Kittles’ six straight in 1996.
Injury Report
As mentioned, Nic Claxton missed tonight’s game. He suffered a right ankle sprain at practice yesterday. He had only missed four games this season before tonight. We’ll provide updates on him as they come in.
Next Up
Brooklyn’s rocky road out of the All-Star break takes its toughest turn tomorrow night as the Nets will travel to Oklahoma City for a date with the reigning champs. The Nets haven’t beat the Thunder in over two years now. If anything, the size of the game’s spread should be interesting. This one tips off at 8:00 p.m. ET.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 19: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena on February 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers thoroughly dominated the Brooklyn Nets. They controlled from the opening tip and never gave the Nets a chance to get off the mat. This led to a runaway 112-84 victory.
The Cavs asserted their control early on. They started the game on a 14-3 run that was capped off by a beautiful alley-oop from James Harden to Donovan Mitchell. That one play seemed to end any chance of this game being competitive.
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The biggest question heading into this game was how the Cavs would look with Evan Mobley and Dean Wade back in the starting lineup. If this game was any indication, the answer is they’ll look quite good.
The offense worked great with the two bigs. Harden and Mitchell found openings to get Mobley involved going to the basket, and they did so without forgetting about Jarrett Allen.
The boxscore won’t show it, but Allen was dominant inside. He finished with 15 points in 24 minutes and aggressively attacked any time he had an opening. This led to a game-high 10 free-throw attempts.
Mobley had a solid game in his return from a calf strain. He provided 10 points, nine rebounds, and two assists on 5-9 shooting in 18 and a half minutes of play.
Mitchell once again led the team in scoring with 17 points in 21 minutes. The Cavs played their best basketball with him on the court as he led the team by being a +37 in plus/minus.
Harden was in complete control offensively. He orchestrated the attack at an incredibly high level, which led to him scoring 16 points on 6-8 shooting while dishing out nine assists.
The Nets were led by 14 points from Michael Porter Jr.
The one-sided win allowed the Cavs to keep all of their starters under 30 minutes of play. This is much needed as they head on the road to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday evening. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
PHOENIX –– Freddie Freeman knows he won’t win the argument. But he at least wants to put up a stubborn, symbolic fight.
Already this spring, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has signaled his intention to give Freeman more off days this coming season, hopeful that increased rest will benefit the superstar first baseman in his age-36 season.
But on Thursday, while speaking to reporters for the first time in camp, Freeman flashed a sly grin when the subject was raised.
Freddie Freeman knows he won’t win the argument. But he at least wants to put up a stubborn, symbolic fight. Jason Szenes for CA PostBut on Thursday, while speaking to reporters for the first time in camp, Freeman flashed a sly grin when the subject was raised. Getty Images
“I’m going to prepare to play 162 games,” the nine-time All-Star and former MVP winner said with a laugh. “And then when that day comes or the night comes where they say, ‘We’re going to give you tomorrow off,’ I will fight that battle and most likely lose. But I want to play every game.”
This is nothing new for Freeman. Over his 16-year career, he has annually set a goal of playing all 162 games of the regular season (he has achieved that twice and logged 161 in another). As a future Hall of Famer who has been defined by his consistent production and presence on the field, he is still loath –– albeit, also slightly more accepting –– to even the occasional day stuck sitting on the bench.
“As I’ve gotten older, I try not to think about that,” he joked. “But they are looking out for the best interests of me. I do understand that. So if they want to give me (a day), I’ll just say yes.”
Not without at least a little lobbying first, of course.
“As I’ve gotten older, I try not to think about that,” he joked. “But they are looking out for the best interests of me.” Jason Szenes for CA Post
While playing every game might no longer be in the cards for Freeman, the fact it remains his aim is illustrative of how fresh he is feeling entering this new campaign.
The ankle injury he initially played through in the 2024 postseason, then tediously managed for most of 2025 after undergoing surgery last offseason, is finally behind him. He arrived at Camelback Ranch this month rejuvenated by a fully healthy winter training program.
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“I took four days off (after last season) and then started working out and went right back at it,” Freeman said. “I feel really good.”
So good, in fact, he has floated a new personal goal in the run-up to this year.
So good, in fact, he has floated a new personal goal in the run-up to this year. MLB Photos via Getty Images
At the Dodgers fanfest event last month, Freeman said he would ideally like to play another four seasons in the majors, which would push his career past the 20-year threshold. And while he clarified that on Thursday as more of a soft target for now –– “If it’s three, five, four, I guess we’ll find out” –– he reiterated his confidence in being able to remain productive through his 40th birthday.
“Father Time is going to catch up,” he said, “but we’re keeping it off a long time.”
Four more seasons would likely give Freeman enough time to check off yet another one of his long-term objectives: becoming the 34th member of MLB’s 3,000-hit club (he is the league’s current active leader with 2,431 career knocks, needing to average 143 over the next four years to get there).
It also means he will play past the end of his current six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers, which expires after next season.
It also means he will play past the end of his current six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers Jason Szenes for CA Post
Freeman said Thursday he would like to finish his career with the Dodgers but is “not worried about another contract” right now.
“I think Andrew (Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations) and everyone knows that I love being here,” he said. “So whatever happens, happens.”
In the meantime, Freeman’s only focus is on translating his return to full health into a renaissance 2026 campaign.
Despite the nuisance of his ankle injury last year –– which he revealed required daily treatment and tape jobs through August –– Freeman said he was still “irked” to bat below .300, finishing the year with a .295 mark that was dragged down by a poor stretch in June and July.
Already this spring, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has signaled his intention to give Freeman more off days. Jason Szenes for CA Post
He also noted that “I didn’t like the way I played defense last year,” bemoaning how his limited mobility led to more ground balls getting by him at first base.
“That’s a big, big goal of mine, is to play better at first this year, get more balls, be able to cover more things,” he said. “So that’s going to be a key for me.”
With another laugh, Freeman then referenced his long-term future again: “If I can do that really well and play defense like I think I can play, and match the production at the plate, then maybe Andrew and Mark (Walter, the team’s owner) and all them will want me around.”
And if a couple extra off days help along the way, he’ll begrudgingly allow it –– hopeful that, at the start of his 17th big-league season, the end of his playing days are still in the somewhat distant future.
“There comes a point where it’s time,” he said. “But obviously I’m not there yet. I love it. I’m still playing pretty good. So as long as I can keep playing pretty good, and they want me out there every day, I’ll keep going.”
MESA, Ariz. — Former big league manager Bob Melvin is returning to the Athletics as a special assistant in baseball operations.
The Athletics said Thursday that Melvin will advise the front office. The 64-year-old managed the A’s to three AL West titles from 2011-21, then left for San Diego and later San Francisco. The 64-year-old previously managed Seattle and Arizona.
Melvin was voted American League Manager of the Year in 2012 and 2018 with the A’s and led them to the playoffs six times while compiling an 853-764 record. The only manager in franchise history with more wins was Connie Mack with 3,582 for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-50.
In 22 seasons overall as a manager, Melvin has a 1,678-1,588 record, ranking 20th for wins. He was National League Manager of the Year with the Diamondbacks in 2007.
San Diego hired Melvin away from the A’s after the 2021 season, and he left the Padres after two seasons to go to San Francisco. The Giants fired Melvin after an 81-81 record last year, their fourth consecutive season missing the playoffs.
The former big league catcher played 692 games for seven different teams over 10 seasons from 1985-94. His most with any team were 265 games with his hometown Giants from from 1986-88.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was created using a halo filter) Stephen Curry #30 of Team USA Stripes poses for a portrait during the NBA All-Star Game Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per sources that told ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania, Steph Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days. Curry, who is suffering from “patellofemoral pain syndrome” (runner’s knee) on his right knee, has missed the Golden State Warriors’ last six games and is set to miss his seventh straight game against the Boston Celtics tonight.
Steph Curry will be re-evaluated again for his persistent right knee issue in 10 days, sources tell me and @ShamsCharania. That rules him out of the team's next five games. He missed the last five before the All-Star break. https://t.co/26E0i2PPZW
Including tonight’s game, Curry is set to miss the next five games, effectively disqualifying him from end-of-season honors such as inclusion in an All-NBA team.
Curry will almost certainly be ineligible for end-of-season honors like All-NBA.
Tomorrow will be his 17th missed game of the season. He'd have to play every game the rest of the way to hit the 65-game minimum for eligibility. https://t.co/oRNt6jUABM
It will be the first time Curry will not be in an All-NBA team since the 2019-20 season, during which he played only five games due to a hand injury. It will only be the sixth time in his career that Curry will not be an All-NBA member.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Steven Kwan will get some time in center field during spring training for the Cleveland Guardians as manager Stephen Vogt assesses the best possible outfield combination.
Kwan is a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field. That is tied with Kenny Lofton for the most Gold Gloves in franchise history by an outfielder.
Vogt told reporters on Thursday that Kwan has expressed an interest in playing center at times. Kwan was primarily a center field in Cleveland’s minor-league system but has seen action there in only eight games over his five seasons in the majors.
Rookie Chase DeLauter, who made his big-league debut in last season’s AL Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers, could see time in center and right. DeLauter dropped a high fly hit by Detroit’s Gleyber Torres during the first inning in his first game. Three innings later, he made a pinpoint throw to third base, where Zach McKinstry was tagged out by José Ramírez.
George Valera will likely play left field during Cactus League games.
Kwan, a two-time All-Star, and Ramírez were the lone consistent offensive threats on the Guardians last season as they repeated as AL Central Division champions.
“You’re going to see guys moving all over the field during spring, like we’ve done previous years,” Vogt said. “We’re trying to optimize for both our best defensive team, coupled with maximizing our potential for offense is what we’re looking for on any given day.”
Vogt added that it could be a couple weeks before he tries Kwan in center.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Ava Heiden scored 21 points and tallied a double-double to lead No. 13 Iowa 83-74 over Purdue on Thursday.
Heiden was a ruthlessly efficient 10-of-12 shooting for the Hawkeyes (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten). She added 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Taylor Stremlow had 19 points, going 7 of 10, and dishing eight assists. Journey Houston scored 16 to go with five rebounds.
The Hawkeyes shot 59 percent (32-of-54) and 47 percent from beyond the arc (9-of-19). The win was the 10th in a row for the Hawkeyes over the Boilermakers (12-14, 4-11). It broke a deadlock in the historical series, giving Iowa a 41-40 lead.
Nya Smith scored 19 and Kiki Smith had 17 for the Boilermakers, with Nya Smith adding five rebounds and five assists. Tara Daye had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Kendall Puryear scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Hawkeyes took a 51-32 lead into the halftime break after an early 11-2 run was followed by a 20-1 run later in the half. Stremlow scored all 19 of her points in the first half on 7 of 8 shooting and 5 of 5 from behind the arc. Heiden had 12 in the second half, and her pair of jumpers to open the second half built a game-high 23-point lead for the Hawkeyes.
A late 7-0 run from the Boilermakers inside the final two minutes made the final score a bit closer than the double-digit margin it was for the majority of the second half.
Up next
No. 13 Iowa will host No. 6 Michigan on Sunday.
Purdue will travel to face No. 14 Maryland on Sunday.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Aaliyah Chavez racked up 27 points, five assists, and four rebounds as No. 11 Oklahoma held off No. 24 Georgia, 71-67 on Thursday night.
Chavez was 9-for-17 from the floor and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe for the Sooners (20-6, 8-5 Southeastern Conference). Oklahoma improved to 14-0 when Chavez leads the team in assists.
Sahara Williams added 11 points, six rebounds, and a team-high three steals.
Oklahoma started the game with a 9-0 run, and built a double-digit lead before five minutes had passed in the game. They took a 37-27 lead into the locker room at halftime, and Chavez scored 13 in the first half.
The Bulldogs rallied back, cutting the deficit to as little as two points down the stretch, but the Sooners answered each time. Raegan Beers made two free throws with 23 seconds on the clock that put the game out of reach.
Georgia (20-7, 6-7) was led by Mia Woolfolk's 29 points and nine rebounds. Dani Carnegie added 14 points, and Trinity Turner had 10. Both had six rebounds.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State star Stephen Curry had a second MRI on his troublesome right knee that revealed no structural damage, although the two-time NBA MVP is expected to miss at least another five games before being re-evaluated.
The 37-year-old guard last played Jan. 30. He has been diagnosed with patella-femoral pain syndrome/bone bruising, otherwise referred to as runner’s knee.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days.
“It’s just lingering soreness,” Kerr said Thursday before a game against Boston. “We were hoping, obviously, that he’d be ready for tonight after getting the All-Star break but wasn’t the case. He just needs more time.”
