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February 26, 2026

Heat vs. 76ers: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for February 26

The Philadelphia 76ers (32-26) host the Miami Heat (31-28) tonight in a critical Eastern Conference matchup with significant playoff seeding implications. In the Eastern Conference, Philly sits in the No. 6 position and the Heat are just 1.5 games behind in eighth. Philadelphia enters as a slight 2.5-point favorite and looks to build on a two-game winning streak, while Miami aims to bounce back from a loss Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

Statistically, the game features a clash of styles. All-Star Tyrese Maxey leads the 76ers' attack, averaging 29.1 points per game, and will be tasked with navigating a Miami defense anchored by Bam Adebayo, who is averaging nearly a double-double with 18.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.

That said, whenever Philly is involved, the availability of star power and specifically Joel Embiid is a defining factor in the game. Embiid is listed as probable despite managing right knee and shin soreness. The former MVP returned from a five-game absence on Tuesday to drop 27 points against Indiana. However, Philadelphia will remain without Paul George, who is currently serving 25-game suspension for the use of prohibited substances. The Heat have their own health concerns heading into this one. Key contributor Nikola Jovic is out with a back injury and point guard Davion Mitchell is questionable due to illness.

The Heat have historically performed well in this matchup, winning five straight head-to-head games since the start of the 2024-25 season.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Heat at 76ers

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Sun, NBC Sports Philadelphia

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Game Odds: Heat at 76ers

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Miami Heat (+130), Philadelphia 76ers (-155)
Spread: 76ers -2.5
Total: 239.5 points

This game opened Philly -2.5 with the Total set at 237.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

PG Davion Mitchell
SG Pelle Larsson
SF Norman Powell
PF Andrew Wiggins
C Bam Adebayo

Philadelphia 76ers

PG Tyrese Maxey
SG VJ Edgecombe
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF Dominick Barlow
C Joel Embiid

Injury Report: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

Nikola Jovic (back) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as probable for tonight’s game
Johni Broome (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Heat at 76ers

The Heat are 14-17 on the road this season
The 76ers are 15-15 at home this season
The 76ers are 31-25-2 ATS this season
The Heat are 34-24-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 31 of the Heat’s 59 games this season (31-28)
The OVER has cashed in 30 of Philadelphia’s 58 games this season (30-28)
Quentin Grimes has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 4 games and in 6 of his last 8
VJ Edgecombe has scored 24 and 23 points in his last 2 games
Kel‘el Ware has pulled down at least 12 rebounds in 4 of his last 6 games
Pelle Larsson has collected 5 assists in each of his last 2 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Heat and 76ers’ game:

Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the 76ers on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on Philadelphia -2.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 239.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

February 26, 2026

Heat vs. 76ers: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for February 26

The Heat have historically performed well in this matchup, winning five straight head-to-head games since the start of the 2024-25 season.

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Heat at 76ers

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Sun, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Game Odds: Heat at 76ers

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Miami Heat (+130), Philadelphia 76ers (-155)
Spread: 76ers -2.5
Total: 239.5 points

This game opened Philly -2.5 with the Total set at 237.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

PG Davion Mitchell
SG Pelle Larsson
SF Norman Powell
PF Andrew Wiggins
C Bam Adebayo

Philadelphia 76ers

PG Tyrese Maxey
SG VJ Edgecombe
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF Dominick Barlow
C Joel Embiid

Injury Report: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

Nikola Jovic (back) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as probable for tonight’s game
Johni Broome (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Heat at 76ers

The Heat are 14-17 on the road this season
The 76ers are 15-15 at home this season
The 76ers are 31-25-2 ATS this season
The Heat are 34-24-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 31 of the Heat’s 59 games this season (31-28)
The OVER has cashed in 30 of Philadelphia’s 58 games this season (30-28)
Quentin Grimes has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 4 games and in 6 of his last 8
VJ Edgecombe has scored 24 and 23 points in his last 2 games
Kel‘el Ware has pulled down at least 12 rebounds in 4 of his last 6 games
Pelle Larsson has collected 5 assists in each of his last 2 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Heat and 76ers’ game:

Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the 76ers on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on Philadelphia -2.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 239.5

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on Socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

February 26, 2026

Hornets vs Pacers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Charlotte Hornets will try to run their road trip winning streak to three games as they visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.

Indiana hasn’t come close to covering in any of its last four games, so I’m taking a surging Charlotte squad to win big in my Hornets vs. Pacers predictions for tonight.

Let’s take a deeper look at this Eastern Conference matchup in my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 26.

Hornets vs Pacers prediction

Hornets vs Pacers best bet: Hornets -13 (-110)

The Indiana Pacers have lost four straight games and have failed to cover in any of them, losing by 21 as an 11.5-point underdog to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Indiana is allowing 119.2 ppg on the year and has allowed more than 130 points to each of its last three opponents.

The Charlotte Hornets have covered in nine of their last 10 games, including its last five games as a favorite. The Hornets are averaging 130.0 ppg on their current road trip and have too many weapons for the Pacers to handle. I’m taking Charlotte to cover as a big favorite tonight.

Hornets vs Pacers same-game parlay

Both teams have played to totals of 230+ points in each of their last three games, and they’re averaging a total of 235.5 in their first two meetings this year, so I’m confident in including the Over in my SGP.

I’ll also take Hornets rookie Kon Kuneppel to score Over 17.5 points, something he’s done in each of his last three games.

Hornets vs Pacers SGP

Hornets -13
Over 229.5
Knueppel Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: A deep sting

Charlotte has no shortage of players who can fire away from deep, and I’m going to bet on three of them to hit their targets for my longshot parlay tonight. LaMelo Ball, Knueppel, and Brandon Miller have all hit this target in at least two of their last three games, and they’ve had plenty of nights where all three have done so at the same time, making this a realistic scenario in a high-scoring Hornets win.

Hornets vs Pacers SGP

Hornets -13
Ball Over 3.5 threes
Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
Miller Over 2.5 threes

Hornets vs Pacers odds

Spread: Hornets -13 | Pacers -13
Moneyline: Hornets -850 | Pacers +575
Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5

Hornets vs Pacers betting trend to know

The Hornets are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Pacers.

How to watch Hornets vs Pacers

Location	Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Date	Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN SE Charlotte, FDSN Indiana

Hornets vs Pacers latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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February 26, 2026

The only way to fix the NBA Draft lottery: Eliminate it

Adam Silver's latest crusade against tanking has him looking like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.

Unquestionably, tanking has become part of the NBA landscape and annual discussion — and it is worse this year because of a particularly deep draft followed by what are projected to be down years. Silver argues that it is bad for the league's image and for its fans, though if you ask fans in Utah or Washington right now, they'd overwhelmingly be in favor of it this year. Ask Pistons fans now about tanking in 2020-21 and getting Cade Cunningham.

Silver and the league's owners are poised to act this summer to reduce the tanking "scourge." Except it's not a monster, it's another windmill — what Silver has done before and appears poised to do again this summer is treating the symptoms, not the disease. Teams turn to multi-year tanking because other paths to team building have been cut off or narrowed. The draft has always been the best way to land young talent, but now, for many small and mid-market teams, it's also the only reliable, viable option. Making it harder for those teams to get top players just extends how long they tank, it doesn't eliminate the need for it.

If Silver wants to change the NBA Draft Lottery to reduce tanking and help usher in more of the parity he craves, there is one clear way to do it that is fair:

Eliminate the Draft Lottery. Altogether.

Don't eliminate the draft, just revert to the pre-1985 system (or the NFL model): the worst team drafts first. It's not perfect, but it's much better than what the NBA is about to do.

NBA anti-tanking options

What Silver and the NBA really want to stop is what the Jazz and Wizards are doing this year, what Philadelphia most famously did with "The Process": multi-year tanking.

The problem is, the league's list of "solutions" only means teams will have to tank longer.

When Silver spoke to NBA GMs last week, a few ideas were floated as potential lottery changes for next season. Among them:

• Limiting traded draft pick protections to either 1-4 or the lottery. This one seems destined to pass, according to league sources, and deals with situations such as the Jazz's and the Wizards' this season, tanking to hold on to their top-eight-protected picks.

• Flattening the lottery odds. Again. Currently, teams with the three worst records have the same chance of landing the No. 1 pick (14%), and the odds slowly drop from there. The new plan will likely have the six, eight, or 10 worst teams have the same odds. Some have called for the older lottery system, the envelope era, where every team that misses the playoffs has the same odds. In whatever form it takes, it seems highly likely the odds will get flattened again.

• Teams cannot pick in the top 4 in consecutive years. We would not have this year's San Antonio Spurs with this rule, and small markets may well push back on it. (A modified version of this rule would be part of my plan to eliminate the lottery, laid out below.)

• Freeze the lottery draft positions at the All-Star break (or some other date). Sure, let's get teams tanking earlier, in the heart of the season. This is the worst idea on the table.

• Teams that make the conference Finals cannot draft in the top four. This seems oddly, specifically aimed at the circumstances that befell the Indiana Pacers this year. Which is not a real issue, this rarely comes up and when it does it's because a star player was injured or left the team (the Cavaliers got No. 1 after LeBron left, but was that wrong?). This rule seems pointless.

Why those solutions make the problem worse

Teams are tanking for multiple years because other paths to team building are closed off or narrowed, leaving only the draft as an option.

Free agency is largely dead for All-Star-level players. They don't get traded against their will (except for Luka Doncic, and we see how well that went in Dallas). They get a max contract from the team they are on then force their way out, or organize a sign-and-trade to where they want to go. Players have a lot of control over the process, which often leaves small- to mid-market teams out of the mix.

Trading for stars is also very difficult now. It took four unprotected first-rounders for Orlando to secure Desmond Bane last summer; it took five first-round picks for the Knicks to get Mikal Bridges — and neither one of them is an All-Star. That's not to say star players are not traded, they are — James Harden was traded earlier this month — but he had a lot of say in that (and it was about money in future contracts). It's a difficult spot for a small market team.

Which means teams need to focus on the NBA draft to improve (and for any successful franchise, scouting and player development are now more crucial than ever; for example, turning a No. 12 pick into an All-NBA player like Jalen Williams, as Oklahoma City did).

The problem with flattening the lottery odds is that it just makes the issue worse — teams have to be bad longer to get a top pick. It's random chance, not giving the worst teams hope.

For the past three drafts, the team with the worst record in the NBA drafted fifth. Not terrible, but look at Utah as an example: It had the worst record last season, drafted Ace Bailey fifth, but if it had drafted Cooper Flagg No. 1 it would be a very different situation in Utah, one where we were talking about making the play-in not tanking (for the record, their Jaren Jackson Jr. trade at the deadline was brilliant).

End the draft lottery (with a caveat)

The best solution is this: End the NBA Draft Lottery.

Not the draft. In a league where teams need to sell playoff glory or hope, the draft offers hope to struggling fan bases.

Just let the team with the worst record draft first. No lottery, no ping-pong balls or fancy math. This is how it was done until 1985, and it's still how the NFL and other sports do it. If Sacramento has the worst record this season, it gets the No. 1 pick. End of story.

Well, not quite the end because there needs to be one rule: The team with the No. 1 pick cannot pick in the top four (or five) in consecutive years. Or, maybe make that ban two years. To stick with the Utah example from earlier, if it drafted No. 1 a year ago and got Flagg, it couldn't draft higher than fifth this season.

Would this end tanking? No. But in a sport where drafting one elite player — Flagg, Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, just to name a few recent ones — changes a franchise, there is no way to eliminate it completely.

What eliminating the lottery would do is eliminate long-term tanking projects — teams would get their top pick, then could not be in the top five for another year or two.

Also, eliminating the lottery would limit tanking in any given year. Every year, a couple of teams are going to be bad from the start, but the mid-season pivot to a tank in hopes of improving lottery odds goes away. Two or three teams a year may tank, but not 10 like this year.

(It has to be noted that this year's especially deep draft would have led to more tanking than usual regardless of the system in place. This is just a perfect storm of a season for tanking.)

In the modern world of analytics, there is no way to completely eliminate tanking and still give the fan bases of the worst teams real hope for the future. The league has to sell hope.

Which is why it should ditch the lottery.

February 26, 2026

AL West Preview – Angels Prognosis, Perpetually Rebuilding

Tempe, AZ - February 18: Outfielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Diablo Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Tempe, AZ. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Angels are stuck. Stuck with an aging Mike Trout, signed through 2030 with nearly $200 million left on his 12-year contract he signed in 2019. Stuck with paying out nearly $40 million on Anthony Rendon’s disaster of a free agent contract signed in 2020. Stuck with an owner who doesn’t even recognize that winning should be a priority for the franchise. Stuck with the consequences of short-sighted, win-now decisions over the last decade when the need for a complete tear down and rebuild was so obvious from the outside.

Los Angeles is essentially running things back this year, though at least the moves they made have the potential for some higher rewards if things break their way. Gambling on guys like Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah could have some solid payoffs if they’re healthy, though bringing in four high-leverage relievers with an average age of 36 is a lot less defensible. There are a handful of bright spots to cling to: Zach Neto is one of the best young shortstops in baseball and Jo Adell finally broke out in his sixth big league season. Still, just look at the table below and you’ll get a sense for how bleak things are for the Angels.

Position	Angels Projected WAR	Mariners Projected WAR	Edge
Catcher	1.5	6.1	Mariners
First Base	1.7	2.9	Mariners
Second Base	1.5	2.7	Mariners
Shortstop	4.4	2.8	Angels
Third Base	1.9	3.0	Mariners
Left Field	1.0	2.2	Mariners
Center Field	1.9	6.0	Mariners
Right Field	1.4	2.0	Mariners
Designated Hitter	1.3	1.6	Mariners
Starting Pitching	11.0	14.2	Mariners
Relief Pitching	1.9	3.4	Mariners
Total	29.7	46.8	Mariners

The only position the Angels have an advantage over the Mariners is at shortstop, where Neto projects to be third best in the American League at that position. Everywhere else is below league average and not in a “the sum is greater than it’s parts” kind of way. Nearly every part of this roster needs an overhaul, and if you read John’s summary of Los Angeles’ farm system, it’s pretty clear that future improvement isn’t present in the organization yet. It feels like you can boil down the Angels approach to roster building to “make it 2019 by science or magic,” which wouldn’t be so sad if you didn’t know that the last time they made a playoff appearance was 2015.

So here they are, caught in no man’s land, neither competing for even a Wild Card spot nor tearing things down to build for the future. Just existing in the cellar of the AL West. Stuck.

2026 FanGraphs Depth Charts projections: 72.5-89.5, 5th in AL West, 5.4% playoff odds

2026 PECOTA projections: 66.4-95.6, 5th in AL West, 0.5% playoff odds

If it all goes right

As he stepped into the Rate Field batter’s box on March 27, 2025, Mike Trout took a deep breath and said to himself, “Fuck it. This one’s for me.” Knowing that his (still mystifyingly) beloved Angels were going nowhere, he spent the year chasing his lost ceiling, but it cost him something. To stay healthy, he spent 106 games at DH and the mere 22 games he played in the field came in right. To chase his old batting line, he sold out for power, whiffing and striking out at unprecedented rates.

So when he picked up a baseball for the first time over the offseason, he looked at it, tossed it in the air, caught it, and said to himself, “This time, for the real me.”

And that’s what we saw from wire to wire over 2026. Gone was the 2016-2023 version of himself that was trying to drag his team to the promised land. And gone was the 2024-2025 version of himself that was trying to etch his name more firmly into the record books. Returned again was the 2014-2015 version of Mike Trout who played simply for the love of the game. No longer playing like he was trying to prevent an injury, he just let himself go, leaving his status up to the baseball gods that once shined on him so brightly. And that turned out to be exactly the sacrifice they’d asked for.

Trout once again played with a preternatural ease and a too-simple-to-have-other-interests joie de vivre. At the plate, he hadn’t lost a step with his skills last year—the bat speed, the eye, the swing path, they were all still clearly there in the peripherals. He’d just made a bad change in approach. No longer selling out for power, he was able, ironically, to access more of it. And a vintage Mike Trout in the 2026 Angels lineup resulted in opponents intentionally walking him at a rate not seen in MLB since Barry Bonds. So he ended up hitting .288/.430/.575, the best hitter in baseball for the first time since 2019.

His speed was never coming back, but he’d clearly learned a thing or two about baserunning and pitcher tells across his 2,900 times on base, so he still stole 29 bases, just shy of a second 30-30 season.

He asked to get put back in centerfield, where he always belonged. He’d lost his range to the ravages of time, but no longer caring about whether he was going to be sore tomorrow, he made a few high-effort web-gem plays that made his youth, and our youth, flash before our eyes. When he robbed Julio of a home run at T-Mobile Park on September 25th, even the Mariners fans—in a forgiving mood after clinching a playoff spot the night before—gave him a standing ovation in tribute.

All told, his 9.1 fWAR took him past Wade Boggs, Al Kaline, Albert Pujols, Cap Anson, Cal Ripken Jr., Carl Yastrzemski, and Eddie Matthews to get to 22nd all-time.

The Angels finished 80-82. —ZAM

If it all goes wrong

The real battle over the past six years hasn’t been him vs. Verlander, or Price, or Iwakuma, even. Not even the WBC matchup with Ohtani that’s been analyzed from every angle, replayed in YouTube videos and TikToks through tiny, tinny speakers. No, the battle he fights every day is older, Biblical: spirit vs. flesh. The sense memory of gliding across outfield grass, thick and springy beneath his feet as he chases after a ball, easily picking out the small white orb from the California sky. The reality of how his knee protests every sharp turn and slide, the fifteen minutes he puts in every morning rolling his back out, the lingering ache in his thumb that worsens in the rain. He always knows when it’s going to rain.

For so long, he’s kept watch in the garden. He’s been the steady heartbeat at the center of this lineup, attempted to keep his teammates alert, drag them kicking and screaming over the precipice of the playoffs. He’s been a faithful servant to this team, this fanbase, this city. It’s all he knows: faith and family, showing up for people, doing the right thing.

And in exchange, management brought in…some players who should have worked, actually. Talented guys who maybe just needed some new scenery, a little sunshine. Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, Vaughn Grissom, Matthew Lugo, Oswald Peraza – all promising players who went by the wayside somehow. Diamonds in the rough, some rougher than others. As a plan, it left a lot to be desired. But he’s learned how to live with not getting what he wants.

Initially, it’s great. Manoah, a burly bear of a man he likes quite a bit, declares the squad Misfit Island, a reference that he’s not sure most of the clubhouse understands but makes a good t-shirt anyway. He’s not sure when Mike Trout, the Mike Trout, became a misfit, an underdog, an afterthought, but he puts those thoughts out of his mind. Maybe, just this once, someone else can take over the watch.

It starts small — a delayed start to the season for Grayson, which stretches into a missed month, then two. Then the injuries come for the pitchers in the bullpen whose birthdates have an 8 as the third digit. Offensively, the health is better, but the strikeouts gradually stack up, alongside the losses. You don’t get the reward without the risk, but sometimes buying low just means you paid less, got less.

It happens at the end of April, towards the end of a Midwest road swing. Chicago is cold and miserable that spring, the streets still pockmarked by mounds of fossilized snow, the field soggy after weeks of heavy rain-snow mix. They’re on a good run early in the season, even not at full strength due to some injuries, and he’s getting to play right field – a compromise between himself and his new skipper, who still remembers him in his golden era, a not-misfit.

The ball jumps off Mongtomery’s bat with a crack but hangs up in the wind, suspended, before plummeting downwards like someone shot it out of the air. There’s no way he’ll get there in time. In his prime, he probably couldn’t have gotten there in time. But he has to try. He’s wired for loyalty, the flesh mortal but the spirit indomitable, ever-vigilant.

He feels it in his plant leg immediately, his foot sinking too deep in the spongy grass, the knee joint catching like an old lock; can picture the cartilage shearing back, but it’s too late, he’s already in motion, chasing, one last time, a quickly disappearing dream, an angel falling out of the sky. —KP

February 26, 2026

Mets vs. Astros (SS) 2/26/2026 Spring Training Game Thread

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros pitches during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Astros (1-2-1) host the New York Mets (2-2-1) in a split squad game today in Palm Beach, FL.

Tatsuya Imai makes his first appearance of the spring in this game. Imai was the Astros top free agent signing of the offseason and currently projects as their third starter while offering number 2 starter upside.

3B Carlos Correa and 1B Christian Walker will also make their spring debuts in this game.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Thursday, February 26, 12:10 p.m. CST

Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach, FL

TV: No Local Broadcast

Streaming: MLB.tv (audio only)

Radio: KBME 790 AM / 94.5 FM HD-2

(image courtesy of Brian McTaggart on X)

Today’s starters! 🌴 #LGM pic.twitter.com/bH4Nq76VC6
— New York Mets (@Mets) February 26, 2026

February 26, 2026

Pelicans vs Jazz Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Utah Jazz are openly trying to lose as many games as possible, while the New Orleans Pelicans are trying to finish the season on a high note.

New Orleans is trending in the right direction, with wins in four of its last six games, and my Pelicans vs. Jazz predictions call for the visiting team to cover the spread as road favorites.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference matchup on Thursday, February 26.

Pelicans vs Jazz prediction

Pelicans vs Jazz best bet: Pelicans -4.5 (-115)

The Utah Jazz’s open tanking has gotten so brazen that the NBA is reportedly sending its own doctors to verify the results of Lauri Markkanen’s recent MRI.

Utah has already shut down Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic, and the missed-game counter for Markkanen and Keyonte George continues to climb.

Conversely, the New Orleans Pelicans traded their first-round pick to the Hawks for Derik Queen and have no incentive to tank. Dejounte Murray is back, and DeAndre Jordan still has some gas left in the tank. I’ll take the more motivated and healthier visitors to cover the spread.

Pelicans vs Jazz same-game parlay

The Jazz sport the NBA's worst defensive rating, and the Pelicans aren't much better with the fourth-worst mark. The Jazz have hit the Over in three straight, and the Pels have done so in three of four. Don't expect much defense in this one.

Murray made his season debut on Tuesday and posted a 13/2/3 line in just 25 minutes against the Warriors. His availability for a second straight game is encouraging for his health, and he could see additional playing time. Murray is in a favorable spot against a generous Jazz defense.

Pelicans vs Jazz SGP

Pelicans -4.5
Over 242.5
Dejounte Murray Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Queen, the King

Queen is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game this season, and he's grabbed 7+ in 36 of 58 appearances. He's reached that mark in three straight, despite the return of Jordan and Murray.

Pelicans vs Jazz SGP

Pelicans -4.5
Over 242.5
Dejounte Murray Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
Derik Queen Over 6.5 rebounds

Pelicans vs Jazz odds

Spread: Pelicans -4.5 (-115) | Jazz +4.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Pelicans -190 | Jazz +160
Over/Under: Over 242.5 (-110) | Under 242.5 (-110)

Pelicans vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Utah Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 28 of their last 40 games at home (+14.80 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Jazz.

How to watch Pelicans vs Jazz

Location	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date	Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off	9:00 p.m. ET
TV	Pelicans+, KJZZ 14

Pelicans vs Jazz latest injuries

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February 26, 2026

Pelicans vs Jazz Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Utah Jazz are openly trying to lose as many games as possible, while the New Orleans Pelicans are trying to finish the season on a high note.

New Orleans is trending in the right direction, with wins in four of its last six games, and my Pelicans vs. Jazz predictions call for the visiting team to cover the spread as road favorites.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference matchup on Thursday, February 26.

Pelicans vs Jazz prediction

Pelicans vs Jazz best bet: Pelicans -4.5 (-115)

The Utah Jazz’s open tanking has gotten so brazen that the NBA is reportedly sending its own doctors to verify the results of Lauri Markkanen’s recent MRI.

Utah has already shut down Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic, and the missed-game counter for Markkanen and Keyonte George continues to climb.

Pelicans vs Jazz same-game parlay

Pelicans vs Jazz SGP

Pelicans -4.5
Over 242.5
Dejounte Murray Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Queen, the King

Queen is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game this season, and he's grabbed 7+ in 36 of 58 appearances. He's reached that mark in three straight, despite the return of Jordan and Murray.

Pelicans vs Jazz SGP

Pelicans -4.5
Over 242.5
Dejounte Murray Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
Derik Queen Over 6.5 rebounds

Pelicans vs Jazz odds

Spread: Pelicans -4.5 (-115) | Jazz +4.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Pelicans -190 | Jazz +160
Over/Under: Over 242.5 (-110) | Under 242.5 (-110)

Pelicans vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Utah Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 28 of their last 40 games at home (+14.80 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Jazz.

How to watch Pelicans vs Jazz

Location	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date	Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off	9:00 p.m. ET
TV	Pelicans+, KJZZ 14

Pelicans vs Jazz latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

February 26, 2026

Heat vs 76ers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Eastern Conference battle to avoid the play-in looks set to go right to the wire, and that ups the stakes for tonight’s clash between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat, with both teams at the heart of that race.

Philly is just 5-5 in its last 10 games and still without the suspended Paul George, but Joel Embiid is expected to play here and my Heat vs. 76ers predictions side with the hosts against a Miami squad that’s struggled on the road.

Check out my NBA picks for this February 26 matchup.

Heat vs 76ers prediction

Heat vs 76ers best bet: 76ers -2 (-110)

He’s not moving like peak Joel Embiid, but the former MVP can still get the job done.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games with Embiid on the court, and I’ll lay the points tonight as long as the big fella (probable) is suiting up.

Philly has put together back-to-back wins after a mini skid, while the Miami Heat are 14-17 SU on their travels and had some alarming defensive lapses in a loss in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

In what could be a shootout, I’m trusting Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to give the 76ers an edge.

Heat vs 76ers same-game parlay

Embiid and Maxey are going to get their buckets, so Edgecombe’s scoring feels like the X-factor here. He’s poured in 20+ points in three of his last four outings, and he’s averaging 16 PPG in February.

The Philly rookie has had a good week from beyond the arc, too. Edgecombe went 8-for-11 on 3-pointers in wins over the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and he’s a lock for open looks as the 76ers’ third option.

Heat vs 76ers SGP

76ers -2
VJ Edgecombe Over 14.5 points
VJ Edgecombe Over 1.5 3-pointers

Our "from downtown" SGP: It's Raining 3's

The Heat lead the NBA in field goal attempts and allow the third-most 3-pointers per game, so that feels like a recipe for major action from downtown.

Andrew Wiggins has nailed this Over in five straight contests, Norman Powell is a rock-solid 40% career sniper from beyond the arc, and Maxey is jacking up almost nine 3-pointers a night this season.

Heat vs 76ers SGP

VJ Edgecombe Over 1.5 3-pointers
Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 3-pointers
Norman Powell Over 2.5 3-pointers
Andrew Wiggins Over 1.5 3-pointers

Heat vs 76ers odds

Spread: Miami +2 (-110) | Philadelphia -2 (-110)
Moneyline: Miami +115 | Philadelphia -135
Over/Under: Over 240.5 (-110) | Under 240.5 (-110)

Heat vs 76ers betting trend to know

The 76ers are 23-16 ATS against Eastern Conference opponents. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. 76ers.

How to watch Heat vs 76ers

Location	Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date	Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN Sun, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Heat vs 76ers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

February 26, 2026

Today in White Sox History: February 26

Jack Brohamer, the only player ever to hit a home run wearing shorts, was born on this day, 76 years ago.

1914
In the final game of their World Tour, the White Sox beat the New York Giants, 5-4, in 11 innings. The win came in front of the biggest crowd of the entire tour, between 20,000 and 35,000 spectators, at Stamford Bridge in London. Contrary to the headline above, Tommy Daly secured the win with a walk-off solo shot leading off the bottom of the 11th, ending the 46-game series at White Sox 24, Giants 20, with two ties.

1950
Short-time second-sacker for the White Sox Jack Brohamer was born, in Maywood, Calif.

Brohamer came to the White Sox during a flurry of Roland Hemond–Bill Veeck trades during the 1975 Winter Meetings. He had a relatively outstanding 1976 debut with the club, leading all position players and finishing third on the team with 2.6 WAR. He also became the only player in MLB history to homer in shorts, going deep against the Orioles on August 21.

Brohamer played a lesser role with the 1977 South Side Hit Men, but managed an amazing wind-down to his White Sox career, hitting for the cycle on September 24 — the third-to-last game he played in Chicago.

1991
Five years after his death, Bill Veeck was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

The two-time owner of the White Sox (also with ownership of St. Louis Browns, Cleveland and the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers) was the last of the “small-time” or “common-touch” owners now made obsolete by free agency.

He found quick success in both of his stints as White Sox owner. In 1959, he was finally handed the keys — the first non-Comiskey owner ever — just before Spring Training, and the White Sox went on to win the pennant. In 1977, just his second full season of his 1970s ownership of the club, Veeck’s novel “Rent-a-Player” scheme of picking up players on free agency salary drives paid off to the tune of 90 wins — considerably more than anyone anticipated for his rag-tag band.

Veeck was also, hands-down, the most novel, innovative and fun owner in baseball history. His promotions remain legend (fan managing, Martians landing, exploding scoreboards, a dozen or more ethnic nights, Eddie Gaedel activated for a game), likely never to be repeated in the game.

2018
In an early spring training game vs. Oakland at Camelback Ranch, promising third baseman Jake Burger ruptured his left Achilles tendon running out a ground ball in the third inning. The 2017 first round pick, only in camp early playing in Cactus League A-games as a courtesy often extended to top picks soon after their drafting, would miss the season.

Subsequent injuries to his Achilles (another tear) and foot (plantar fascitis), plus the 2020 pandemic that cancelled the minor league season, saw Burger sit on the sidelines for three years. He returned in 2021 and jump right to Triple-A after never having played higher than Low-A professionally — and Burger mashed.

Before a trade deadline deal to Miami in 2023, Burger was shaping up as an average MLB starter, with 1.7 WAR over 154 career White Sox games, buffeted by a .230/.291/.500 slash, 34 homers, and 81 RBIs.

February 26, 2026

2026 Chicago Cubs player profiles: Luke Little

Today we look at the Cubs’ left-handed flamethrower.

Luke Little, all 6’8”, 220 pounds of him, just needs to throw strikes. In three seasons as a part-time Chicago Cub, he’s thrown 35.1 innings. In those innings, he has struck out 44 batters. That’s really good. But he has walked 28. That’s really bad.

He’s 3-1 with a 2.80 ERA in 39 games. Most of those games were in his pretty good 2024 season. He was hurt some of 2025 and spent almost the entire remainder of the season in Iowa. In his 43 games there, he was 2-1 in 59.2 innings, earned two saves, was the opener twice, had a 2.87 ERA, struck out 75 and walked 34.

Lifetime, he has amassed 0.6 bWAR (0.2 fWAR). The 25-year-old still has a little time before he’s considered a suspect but he’s on that track unless he makes a great showing in the spring. Projections do have him making the roster and throwing 30-ish innings, with his BB/p shrinking to 3.9 in Baseball Reference’s book. Zips has him garnering positive WAR and throwing 57 innings.

That would be okay. He could join the short/setup group with those kind of walk numbers. Little throws HARD — he’s reached triple digits more than once and sits 96+. He doesn’t give up many long balls. The free passes will determine his financial future.

He could be a star in the league. The odds are against it at this late date, but we will await developments.

February 26, 2026

Dodgers on Deck: Friday, February 27 at Giants

TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers before the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers take a trip east across the desert to face the San Francisco Giants on Friday in Scottsdale, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto making his final start before heading to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Yamamoto threw 30 pitches in his 1 2/3 innings last Saturday against the Angels in the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener. After a scoreless first inning, Yamamoto allowed three hits and two runs, one of them earned in the second inning.

This is the first of two meetings between the longtime rivals this spring. The Dodgers and Giants meet again on Wednesday, March 18 at Camelback Ranch.

Friday game info

Teams: Dodgers at Giants
Ballpark: Scottsdale Stadium
Time: 12:05 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
Radio: AM 570

February 26, 2026

Dodgers vs. White Sox spring training game roster

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a bullpen session during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers are back at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday, playing the White Sox in a battle of co-tenants. The Dodgers are the home team in this one, where Max Muncy and Alex Call will see their first game action of 2026.

Lineup

Miguel Rojas SS
Kyle Tucker DH
Will Smith C
Freddie Freeman 1B
Teoscar Hernández LF
Max Muncy 3B
Andy Pages CF
Alex Call RF
Hyeseong Kim 2B

Tyler Glasnow starts on the mound, his first game this spring.

Other pitchers

Blake Treinen is set to make his 2026 Cactus League debut, pitching along with Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, and Kyle Hurt, plus non-roster invitees Carson Hobbs and Jordan Weems.

Pitchers active from minor league camp are Cam Day (wearing number 90), Myles Caba (91), Kelvin Ramirez (93), and Nick Robertson (97).

Other position players

Michael Siani and Ryan Ward are active on Thursday, as are non-roster invitees Ryan Fitzgerald, Keston Hiura, Zach Ehrhard, Josue De Paula, Kendall George, Zyhir Hope, Chris Newell, Noah Miller, and catchers Eliézer Alfonzo and Griffin Lockwood-Powell.

Also active from the minor league side are Elijah Hainline (05) and Yeiner Fernandez (89).

February 26, 2026

MLB Spring Training Picks and Predictions for February 26

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Spring training baseball isn't always a recipe for high-scoring games, but when the floodgates open, they are thoroughly blasted.

So, with my MLB picks, I'm eyeing a trio of game total Overs where there should be more offense, including a showdown between the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants on Thursday, February 26.

Spring Training predictions for February 26

Picks	Odds
/ Over 11	-115
/ Over 8	-115
/ Over 11	-115

Pick #1: Rockies vs. Giants Over 11

The Colorado Rockies are showcasing their young bats (Charlie Condon and Kyle Karros, in particular) while the San Francisco Giants are trotting out what may be their Opening Day lineup.

With the starting pitching matchup between Valente Bellozo and Blade Tidwell, we could see half this total on the board by the time we go to the bullpen.

Pick #2: Marlins vs. Blue Jays Over 8

I assume we're getting a relatively low total because Kevin Gausman is on the bump for the Toronto Blue Jays. But it's still pretty early in spring training, so even if he pitches well, it will be brief.

Toronto hit lefties better than almost everyone last season, and it could ambush Miami Marlins starter Braxton Garrett this afternoon.

Pick #3: White Sox vs. Dodgers Over 11

The Los Angeles Dodgers are unbeaten this spring, and scored 10 runs yesterday against the D-Backs and 11 the day before against the Guardians.

The Dodgers were also one of the few teams that did more damage vs. lefties than the Jays, and the Chicago White Sox will send Sean Newcomb to kick things off here.

The same principle applies here with Tyler Glasnow starting as it does with Gausman. Even if he is sharp — which he may not be, as he is coming off a side injury — he won't pitch deep enough to impact the final total too much.

MORE FREE MLB PICKS

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February 26, 2026

Report: Veteran Max Scherzer, Toronto Blue Jays agree to one-year, $3 million deal

NEW YORK — Max Scherzer is returning to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Two weeks into spring training, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed with the reigning American League champions on a one-year, $3 million contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.

The 41-year-old Scherzer can earn another $10 million in performance bonuses, starting with 65 innings pitched.

Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts and 85 innings for the Blue Jays last season, his 18th in the major leagues. Then he made three starts in the postseason, beating Seattle 8-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series before getting the ball twice in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The right-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 7 and left to a rousing ovation from fans in Toronto, but the Blue Jays lost 5-4 in 11 innings.

Scherzer signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract with Toronto in February 2025. A free agent again this winter, he’s set to rejoin the Blue Jays and provide even more depth for a strong rotation expected to feature some combination of Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, José Berríos and Eric Lauer.

“He’s not afraid to question baserunning, question defense, question offense. He still thinks he’s our best baserunner on the team from his days with the Nationals,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said about Scherzer last fall. “He’s not afraid to push the envelope. He’s not afraid to be curious. He’s not afraid to share things that he’s been through that maybe I haven’t been through.”

Scherzer has won two World Series titles, with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. The eight-time All-Star is 221-117 with a 3.22 ERA for the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Rangers and Blue Jays.

He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts — 20 behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.