Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

By now, we’re all begrudgingly used to Topps’ takeover of the NBA license. The flagship series wasn’t priced terribly, and Chrome made its triumphant return—at $50/blaster. What a country.

But for all the skepticism behind our new sports card overlords, there’s one major benefit fans can’t ignore: the Topps buyback program.

Whether you’re new to the hobby or a hardwood veteran, here’s the deal: Topps offers cold hard cash (in the form of store credit) for 2025-26 Topps Chrome cards of the player who wins the MVP. The payout rates are locked in:

• Base Cards: $20
• Refractors: $40
• Numbered >/100: $100
• Numbered </100: $200

Not bad, right? The only question left is: Who is actually winning the Michael Jordan Trophy?

The Usual Suspects

The international big three—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama—are the obvious heavy hitters.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): The reigning MVP has the Thunder sitting pretty at first in the West with a 47-15 record. He’s averaging a cool 31.8 points per game and remains the safe money favorite at -275.
• Nikola Jokić (DEN): The three-time MVP is currently averaging a triple-double (28.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 10.5 APG), but the Nuggets have slid to fifth in the West.
• Victor Wembanyama (SAS): The alien has landed. At just 22, he leads the league with nearly 4 blocks per game and has dragged the Spurs to the second seed in the West.

Think one of these three will win the Michael Jordan MVP Trophy this spring? Here’s the profit you stand to make if you head to eBay to buy up singles today:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:

• Base: $10 → +$10 after buyback
• Refractor: $21 → +$19 after buyback
• >/100: $54 → +$46 after buyback
• <100: $175 → +$25 after buyback

Nikola Jokic:

• Base: $5 → +$15 after buyback
• Refractor: $10 → +$30 after buyback
• >/100: $55 → +$45 after buyback
• <100: $65 → $135 after buyback

Victor Wembanyama:

• Base: $1 → +$19 after buyback
• Refractor: $7 → +$33 after buyback
• >/100: $80 → +$20 after buyback
• <100: $150 → +$50 after buyback

The American Longshot

Enough about the favorites. We’re here to talk about the guard who could become the first American-born player to win the award since James Harden in 2018: Cade Cunningham.

Context is king. Two seasons ago, the Pistons won just 14 games. Before Cade was drafted in 2021, Detroit hadn’t cracked 40 wins since the Obama administration. Today? The Motor City sits atop the Eastern Conference at 45-14, easily qualifying for Phil Jackson’s famous “40-20 rule” (winning 40 games before losing 20), a hallmark of true title contenders.

Cade is the engine behind that turnaround, averaging 25.5 points, 9.8 assists (2nd in the NBA), and 5.8 rebounds. While he is currently sitting at +800 odds, he has one massive advantage over the field: The 65-Game Rule.

Introduced recently, players must appear in at least 65 games (playing 20+ minutes) to be eligible for MVP.

• Nikola Jokić is currently just 2 missed games away from disqualification.
• Victor Wembanyama is only 4 missed games away.
• Shai Gilgeous Alexander is only 7 missed games away. 
• Cade Cunningham, meanwhile, has been an ironman, missing just six games all season.

That doesn’t make Cade’s MVP chances a safe bet by any means, but it’s certainly a kicker fans—and collectors—should be aware of when making Topps Chrome buyback decisions. If Shai, Jokić or Wemby tweak an ankle down the stretch, the MVP race is blown wide open.

For those that love an underdog, the chance to scoop up Cade’s Chrome cards for less than if/when he keeps the MotorCade humming to his first-ever MVP win is certainly appealing. For example, right now Cade’s Topps Chrome cards are sitting at the following prices:

• Base: $5 → +$15 after buyback
• Refractor: $7 → $33 after buyback
• >/100: $35 → +$65 after buyback
• <100: $75 → +$125 after buyback

The regular season isn’t over yet, and it’s going to be a race to the finish in what is shaping up to be the most unpredictable playoff stretch in years. While the NBA’s stars duke it out on the court, it’s time for you to begin collecting the league’s next MVP. 

Want more tips and tricks on how to scoop up NBA cards? Head over to Mantel to learn how to start buying rookies, strategically round up key cards, and create a collection your friends—and the Internet—will be jealous of.

Victor Wembanyama has been named Western Conference Player of the Month and Defensive Player of the Month for February, the league announced. It’s Wembanyama’s first time getting Player of the Month honors in his career. It’s the second time in a row he’s gotten the Defensive Player of the Month, and he’s the only player to repeat this season.

The Spurs had a perfect February, winning all 11 games they played, and Wembanyama’s performance played a major part in their success. The big man averaged 22.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and a league-leading 3.5 blocks during the stretch. San Antonio, which had the best net rating for the month, was almost 27 points better with him on the floor than off. He had some ups and downs on offense despite posting good numbers during the month, but his defense remained game-changing.

It’s Wembanyama’s first time winning Western Conference Player of the Month in his career. The selection shows he’s in the MVP conversation, as he’s now received the same distinction as past 2025/26 winners Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic. He’s the first Spur to get the honor since Tony Parker in January of 2013.

It’s the second time in a row Wembanyama has been named Western Conference Player of the Month after getting the distinction in January. He’s the only player to get the nod twice this year in either conference, which cements his status as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, provided he can play the minimum 65 games to be eligible. He can only miss three games the rest of the way before he is disqualified from awards.

Cade Cunningham was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in February, as he led his Pistons to a 9-2 record and the second-best net rating in the league.

Former Spur Derrick White won Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month in February, with his Celtics posting the best defensive rating in the league for the month.

Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, a steal, and a league-leading 2.9 blocks per game this season.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Last season, the third, fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference all had the same record, and the difference between second and seventh was just four games.

This year, things appear just as tight in the West, and the Lakers are once again part of the logjam.

Currently, LA is the six seed and two games behind the No. 3 seed Rockets. But they are also just two games away from falling into the play-in.

With 22 games left this season, things can go either way. For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we are asking, where do you think the Lakers finish in the West?

The upcoming matchups will certainly challenge the Lakers. They have games coming up against the Nuggets, Rockets, and Timberwolves, all teams ahead of them in the standings.

If they win these head-to-head games, they’ll earn the tiebreakers over Houston and Denver. They have already won the season series over Minnesota. Considering how close things are, that could be the difference in having homecourt advantage or even potentially being in the play-in.

Besides the matchups against the Rockets, Nuggets and Wolves, LA still has two games against the Thunder and faces some tough upcoming contests against Eastern Conference opponents, including the Pistons, Cavs, Magic and Knicks.

So, which team are the Lakers? Are they the ones that are finally healthy, figuring out their lineups and ready to go on a run? Or are they a team that’s not great on offense, bad at defense and will still lose to the NBA’s best when push comes to shove?

Share your opinion by voting and letting us know down below!

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

For the first time in his career, Derrick White has been awarded Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month. The NBA announced that White was selected as the East’s best defensive player for February, while San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembenyama was selected in the West.

White’s case for the selection was rock solid; the Celtics had the NBA’s best defensive rating in February at 105.5, and White led all NBA guards in 75 total contested shots. He also averaged 1.7 blocks per game, good for the third-most among any Eastern Conference player.

And the Celtics’ defense was elite; Boston limited its opponents to a league-low 36.7 field goals per game on a league-low 42.4 percent shooting from the field in February while also ranking second in the NBA in rebounds per game (50.0), second in opponent fast-break points per game (10.9), and third in opponent second-chance points per game (12.5).

White’s defense has increasingly been recognized in recent years; he was named to the All-Defense Second Team each of the past two seasons, and appears to be well on his way to another selection as the Celtics’ defense continues to dramatically improve.

On the season, the Celtics now have the fourth-best defense in the league (111.6 defensive rating), trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, and San Antonio Spurs. (That’s particularly remarkable when you realize that the Celtics had the 19th-best defense back in November).

And, White has largely anchored that defense, averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, both career-highs.

Everyone has taken notice of Derrick White’s defensive impact

Coaches around the NBA have long been gushing about White’s defensive abilities. Last year, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who was also a member of the USA Olympic basketball staff, described White’s shot-blocking as one-of-a-kind.

“Derrick is uncanny. He did it all summer long [in the Olympics],” Spoelstra said, hailing White as the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA. “He just has a knack for the timely blocks.”

Last month, Jaylen Brown praised White for his defensive performance this season, noting he believed White should have been named an All-Star (he’s also averaging 17.1 points and 5.8 assists per game).

“I think Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level l, because he plays both sides of the ball,” Brown said. “And that’s no disrespect to some of those other guys that are maybe in All-Star contention — but it’s a clear difference.”

Neemias Queta — also one of the Celtics’ most important defenders — praised White’s versatility.

“I feel like it’s his savviness, just the ability to go out there and just figure out how to make plays no matter what positioning or whoever he’s guarding,” said Queta. “I feel like he’s always got a good chance of getting a stop no matter who he’s guarding, or even off the ball too… he’s a Swiss army knife, and [he] can do a little bit of everything on both sides of the floor.”

Brown also brought up another award he felt White should be eligible for: Defensive Player of the Year.

“I think Derrick is a First Team All-Defense type of ballot, or maybe even Defensive Player of the Year,” he said.

As the Celtics’ team defensive numbers continue to improve, White’s potential candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year has grown stronger, though it’s very unusual for a guard to win the award.

According to Cleaning The Glass, the Celtics’ defense is nearly 12 points better with White on the floor; only four-time DPOY Rudy Gobert is more impactful than White in that regard.

For now, though, he’ll have to settle for a Defensive Player of the Month award — the Celtics’ first such selection since the award was created last year.

Every NBA player has a role. That’s not to say that every NBA player has the right role.

I worked at a law firm for five years. For the first year, I worked in the file room. I did well there because it would definitely be possible to train a primate to do the job.

Eventually, I was promoted to a desk job. I struggled mightily. It was far more complex. My manager hated me.

In time, it became clear that my biggest strength was talking to the clients. I became, in a sense, the face of the company. I was responsible for client intake – I was the first person you met. Perhaps the least competent, but people seem to trust me. I was also responsible for calling clients to give them bad news.

The point? I found my role. I went from a simple role to a role I couldn’t handle, into an ideal role.

Amen Thompson needs the same transformation with the Houston Rockets.

Rockets overburden young wing

In 2024-25, Thompson had a 17.5% Usage Rate. This year, he’s up to 20.2%.

He has a 22.0% frequency as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, up from 15.8%. If you follow this team, you know what’s going on. Thompson was a wing last year, and this year, he’s the starting point guard.

That’s not all. It’s more difficult to quantify a defensive role change, but Thompson’s responsibilities have been qualitatively different in 2025-26. He is frequently tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best offensive player. Last season, that was typically Dillon Brooks’ job.

It’s all resulted in a puzzling season for Thompson. His basic counting stats are up across the board, but his Box Plus/Minus (BPM) has slipped from 4.1 to 1.8. For reference, that’s the difference between ranking between (coincidentally) Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant this year, compared to his real place tied with Santi Almada and Nic Claxton.

Now, it has potentially resulted in an injury.

Rockets may be without Thompson for a spell

Granted, the severity of his injury as of this writing is unknown.

More broadly, this could be a false correlation. Players get injured regardless of their workload. Yet, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Thompson is biting off more than he can chew.

His 36.9 minutes per game rank second in the league behind Tyrese Maxey. Thompson is being asked to do more than he’s ever done and play more in the process.

Last year, he earned his first (of many) All-Defense selections. He joined Dyson Daniels, Luguentz Dort, Draymond Green, and Evan Mobley. Where do Thompson’s All-Defense peers land in usage this year?

2024-25 All-Defensive Usage Rates in 2025-26

Evan Mobley (22.1%)

Amen Thompson (20.2%)

Draymond Green (16.9%)

Dyson Daniels (16.0%)

Luguentz Dort (14.1%(

So, Thompson is behind Mobley. Yet, in all likelihood, he isn’t really behind Mobley.

Thompson gets 73.4 touches per game to Mobley’s 66.5. Mobley does sometimes create for Cleveland, but he’s more of a play finisher, which factors into Basketball Reference’s measure of Usage. Simply put, Thompson is the only All-Defensive selection from 2024-25 operating as a primary ball-handler in 2025-26.

Given that the second All-Defensive squad was comprised of Toumani Camara, Rudy Gobert, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Williams, and Ivica Zubac, Thompson likely is the most or second-most (Williams) used offensive player between each squad. If Ime Udoka wants Thompson to continue making All-Defensive First Team appearances, he may need to lighten Thompson’s offensive load.

There seems to be a false dichotomy when we talk about “on” vs. “off” ball NBA players. To suggest that Houston should move Thompson to an “off-ball role” is an oversimplification. It would be more accurate to say that the Rockets should simply reduce his time on-ball:

That could help them find his perfect role.

A sneaky part of the Bucks’ now-dead hot streak that Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins seemingly clicked better together than earlier in the season. During Giannis’ last injury layoff in December, Doc Rivers talked about how he preferred to split the two up: “I like [Rollins] and Scoot together when Giannis plays. But when Giannis doesn’t play, I don’t like him and Scoot together. We need that separation.” During Milwaukee’s eight-wins-in-10-game stretch, they were +4.8 in net with that duo on the floor. Prior to then, they were +3.3. Here’s what Doc said about them on Sunday:

“In the games we play well, that means they play well together, that the ball was moving, they were getting downhill, making plays. In the games we struggle, that means the ball was usually stuck in those two guys’ hands. You don’t have that problem as much with Giannis, obviously.“

Doc also thought that Rollins’ improvement as a facilitator and a playmaker over the last month was a big reason for the combo’s newfound success. Well, sure enough, Rollins was the one benched last night as the Bucks moved away from the three-guard starting lineup. To be fair, Rollins has had a rough go of it over the last few games, particularly with regard to turnovers, averaging 4.0 per game since February 1st.

In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, we want your opinion on the starting backcourt and small forward spot now that Giannis is back. Let’s also see how much your projected playoff seeding for Milwaukee has changed over the past couple weeks.

As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!

The NBA has named Spurs guard Dylan Harper the Western Conference Rookie of Month for the month of February. The Spurs went undefeated with an 11-0 record for the month, with Harper appearing in 10 of those games (he missed their win against the Thunder) while averaging 12.5 points , 4.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 25.1 MPG while shooting 55.4% from the field.

He is joined by the Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel in the East, who has won the honor each month so far. This is the first time Harper has won the award. It has usually been Cooper Flagg in the West, who still received votes, but he only appeared in four games for the Mavericks in February due to an ongoing foot injury. Others who received votes in the West include the Jazz’s Ace Bailey, Grizzlies’ Javon Small and the Kings’ Maxime Raynaud.

As the second overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft, Harper has fit right in as the Spurs’ backup point guard despite concerns about his fit with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. He’s a feisty defender and quick and smooth operator with the ball, often finding driving lanes and converting some amazing finishes around the rim.

Congrats, Dylan!

With Houston playing good ball out of the All-Star break this a reminder that yes, you are still allowed to be mad at the Jared McCain trade.

The Rockets seem to have gotten their act together since this blog started tracking their progress and the 2026 first-round pick they owe to the Sixers. They went 3-1 over their last week of action, dropping only a matinee game in Miami to the Heat.

That’s kept their pick at 25th overall, just where it was a week ago. Houston’s schedule remains fairly easy, at least in the short term. They’ll host a banged up Golden State Warriors team this week as well as the Portland Trail Blazers before heading to San Antonio to take on the Spurs.

Anyone rooting for losses can at least take solace in the fact that those two home games are a back-to-back, and that Spurs matchup projects to be quite a battle.

Last week the tracker briefly touched on some of the draft prospects that have been mocked in that range, and this week’s will serve as somewhat as a channel guide to watch some of these guys with the college regular season winding down.

Amari Allen from Alabama remains Tankathon’s mock pick for the Sixers here. The Crimson Tide’s last two regular season games are March 3 against Georgia at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPNNEWS and Auburn at 8:30 on March 7 on ESPN.

Joshua Jefferson and Iowa State have only one remaining regular season game, that will also be March 7 at 2 p.m. ET against Arizona State.

It doesn’t feel likely that Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg would fall to them in this range, but their center Aday Mara has been mocked closer to where the Sixers might be picking. The Wolverines last two games are on March 5 at 8 p.m. ET against Iowa and on March 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch that one on CBS.

Pick status this week: 25

Pick status last week: 25

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Nate Williams says he ‘fears no challenge” after breaking out for 18 points in Warriors 114-101 loss against the Clippers. 
• Steve Kerr uncertain about Kristaps Porzingis’ availability for Warriors’ upcoming three-game road trip.
• Trae Young will make his Wizards debut on Thursday vs. Jazz, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

It hasn’t been an easy stretch for the Golden State Warriors. With injuries piling up to their biggest names, wins have been hard to come by. But if there’s been one clear positive, it’s been watching the rest of the roster embrace the opportunity in front of them.

With Jimmy Butler out for the season and both Steph Curry and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined in recent games, Golden State has had no choice but to lean on its depth. Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, and even rookie Will Richard have gone from rotation pieces to key contributors during this stretch.

On Monday night, in the Warriors’ 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, another name stepped into that spotlight. Two-way wing Nate Williams delivered a strong all-around performance, finishing with 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting, along with two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 22 minutes on the floor.

Williams didn’t just produce offensively — he also embraced one of the toughest defensive assignments in the league, spending key possessions guarding Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard. After the game, Williams made it clear he wasn’t intimidated by the matchup.

“[Kawhi Leonard] is a great player, but he bleeds just like I bleed,” Williams said. “I don’t fear no challenge.”

That mindset translated. He held his ground against a former two-time Finals MVP, and for a 27-year-old undrafted wing still trying to carve out a consistent role in the NBA, those are the kinds of minutes that matter.

Head coach Steve Kerr praised Williams’ energy and competitiveness afterward, reinforcing that that’s what it will take for the Warriors to survive this difficult stretch of games.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, March 3rd:

Warriors News:

Unheralded Nate Williams ready to contribute for Warriors: ‘I don’t fear no challenge’ | The Mercury News

It capped what had been a hectic last four days for Williams, who, according to Kerr, also recently became a father. 

He played 36 minutes Friday in Santa Cruz and scored 26 points for the Warriors’ G League team against San Diego. 

Then he made the commute up the coast and the most of his 15 minutes against the Lakers on Saturday, scoring seven points and dishing out two assists. 

Williams turned around just 18 hours later and put in 10 points in 10 minutes on Sunday afternoon, facing the G League Clippers again at Chase Center as part of the SeaDubs’ yearly showcase in San Francisco. 

Finally, he played 18 more minutes in Monday’s loss as one of the few bright spots for Golden State. 

Warriors stumble in non-Draymond Green minutes during loss to Clippers | NBC Sports Bay Area

“He’s still one of the great defenders in the league,” Kerr said of Green. “And he set the tone in that first half, and we were able to sustain the lead for much of the third. But they went on a run late in the third quarter, and cut it to two going into the fourth. They had a lot of momentum.

“But we had to get him out. He can’t play the whole game. And he played 31 minutes, which is a lot for him at this stage. But that was the key stretch.”

Green, who turns 36 on Wednesday, averages 26.6 minutes per game and has topped 31 in only 11 of the 50 games in which he has played this season. No doubt he was stretched.

Steve Kerr uncertain if Kristaps Porzingis will be available for Warriors’ upcoming road trip

NBA News:

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo rusty in return but happy to be back | ESPN

Antetokounmpo racked up 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists in the defeat.

“I’m just happy that I’m on the court,” he said after Monday’s game. “It doesn’t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I’m just happy that I’m out there. Obviously did not play well tonight, but at the end of the day, I’m just happy that I’m out there being able to help my teammates in any way that I can and just do what I love, which is play basketball.”

Trae Young to make his Wizards debut on Thursday vs. Jazz

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors vs. Clippers player grades: Nate Williams shows out

Nate Williams

22 minutes, 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-for-8 shooting, 3-for-4 threes, 5-for-6 free throws, 84.6% TS, +1

Well hello there, Nate Williams! After making his Warriors debut on Saturday, Williams played a critical role on Monday, and was one of the team’s best players, despite it being just the 49th game of his career. He was Golden State’s best shooter, and most aggressive offensive option. I certainly did not see that coming, but it was awesome.

Grade: A+

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are using a softer stretch of schedule to build momentum in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles has won two in a row and hosts the New Orleans Pelicans for an extended stay in La-La Land on Tuesday.

James’ offensive outputs have been tempered since the All-Star break, with Los Angeles running into some stronger defensive foes before two blowout wins. 

New Orleans is way down the NBA’s defensive metrics, so my Pelicans vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks call for a return to form for “King James”, most notably when it comes to his playmaking.

Pelicans vs Lakers prediction

Pelicans vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 5.5 assists (-150)

This prop bounces between 5.5 and 6.5 assists from LeBron James. And while the lower end of that number carries a hefty -150 ask, projections for the Los Angeles Lakers’ veteran are too good to ignore.

James has dished out six or more dimes just twice in the six post-break outings, with his potential assists slipping from 12.0 pre-break to 8.7 in this current span. That said, the New Orleans Pelicans' defense is dreadful and allows an average of 28 assists.

LeBron’s forecasts range from 6.2 to 7.5 assists, and he handed out eight the last time he faced NOLA.

Pelicans vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Lakers are actually healthy for once and have a chance to build momentum with a third straight victory. The Pelicans are playing their fourth straight road game and third game in four days.

James’ potential assists took a hit against some tougher defenses post-break (Boston, Orlando, Phoenix), but NOLA is among the worst defensive clubs, and LeBron is pegged for more than seven dimes tonight.

Rui Hachimura is at his best when the L.A. stars are on the floor and drawing extra attention from the defense. He’s forecast for as many as 12 points tonight.

Pelicans vs Lakers SGP

• Lakers moneyline
• James Over 5.5 assists
• Hachimura Over 8.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: The James gang

LeBron went for eight rebounds and eight assists in his last run-in with the Pelicans, and game projections call for “King James” to top those props while powering L.A. to a win and cover in a low-scoring finish (237 points).

Pelicans vs Lakers SGP

• Lakers -8.5
• Under 242.5
• James Over 5.5 assists
• James Over 5.5 rebounds

Pelicans vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Pelicans +8.5 | Lakers -8.5
• Moneyline: Pelicans +280 | Lakers -360
• Over/Under: Over 242.5 | Under 242.5

Pelicans vs Lakers betting trend to know

The L.A. Lakers are 10-1 SU and 8-3 ATS versus the New Orleans Pelicans over the last three seasons. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Lakers.

How to watch Pelicans vs Lakers

Pelicans vs Lakers 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.

A brief stop at home before getting back on the road. The Brooklyn Nets came home for an afternoon matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. The Nets put up a heck of a fight, but ultimately fell short. The losing streak is at eight.

The opponent tonight is in the all too comfortable position of the play-in tournament. The Miami Heat are firmly in the middle of the pack and hope that they do enough to get back to the postseason and go on a miracle run. They helped their cause with an impressive home win against the Houston Rockets on Saturday afternoon.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.

🤕 Injuries

Egor Demin is out. The three two-ways are still with Long Island and both Ben Saraf and Grant Nelson remain with the big club.

Norm Powell is out. Andrew Wiggins is probable. Terry Rozier… yeah he’s got a whole bigger problem to worry about.

🏀 The game

Miami won the first meeting in December.

These teams do it again on Thursday to wrap up the season. Bam does a touch of everything well on the court and that versatility allows him to fill a variety of roles for Erik Spoelstra’s club. With Nic Claxton back in action, the Nets frontcourt will get some reinforcements to contest the former All Star and Gold Medalist.

This sentiment from Bam after a Heat loss to the Utah Jazz certainly applies to the next two games:

“We’ve got to find a way to win even against teams trying to lose.”

Not that Jordi Fernandez is trying lose, but… you know.

With Demin out for the time being, Nolan Traore gets even more minutes to get comfortable. He’ll get the lion’s share of the minutes at point with Ben Saraf serving as the backup. Nolan has done well in his time as a starter while Ben is struggling off the bench.

The key to any great defense is to defend without fouling, and the Heat are one of the best in the league at it. Miami has the third lowest opponent’s free throw rate and is fourth in defensive efficiency. You can always survive with a good defense, so that gives the Heat a leg up as they try to escape the play-in vortex.

👀 Player to watch: Tyler Herro

The Heat must see something in Herro that I don’t. This is year seven for the Heat two guard and he’s… ok? Like he’s not actively bad or anything like that, but I doubt he can be the lead perimeter scorer on a team that has serious playoff aspirations. Either way, he’ll be out there tonight and looking to poke holes in the Nets defense. Brooklyn has the worst 3-point defense in the league while Herro has been a good three point shooter throughout his career. It’s a recipe for a big night if things break in Herro’s favor.

Terrance Mann figures to start once again as Demin is out with injury. Brooklyn will count on him for some playmaking, but mostly, his job will be to chase Herro around the court and limit any easy opportunities for him. A two game set is a great chance for Mann and the Nets to see what’s working against the Heat offense and adjust for the rematch on Thursday.

📺 From the Vault

My mic is sounding bugged, Bob Power you there ☝️

More reading: Hot, Hot Hoops, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Miami Heat Game Notes – Miami Heat
• Brooklyn faces Miami, looks to break road skid – AP
• Nolan Traore’s growth as Nets point guard has the NBA taking notice ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Nolan Traoré’s February by the numbers: 67 assists and a new role ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Victor Wembanyama praises potential Olympic teammate Nolan Traore amid encouraging start with Nets – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

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Get set for a key Atlantic Division showdown with our Knicks vs. Raptors computer picks!

Our data-driven system has crunched the numbers so you don't have to, delivering six NBA picks — three NBA player prop projections for each side — for Tuesday, March 3.

If you still desire the human touch, check out Andrew Caley's Knicks vs. Raptors predictions.

Knicks vs Raptors computer picks for March 3

Knicks	Raptors
Towns o17.5 points  -115	Ingram o1.5 threes  -105
Hart u5.5 assists  -155	Quickley o5.5 assists  +115
Anunoby o4.5 rebounds  -115	Barrett o1.5 threes -112

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Knicks computer picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (-115)

Projection: 19.3

Our projections are calling for Karl-Anthony Towns to beat this line by nearly two full points for a +17.49% EV edge. Our computer believes rebounding ability will give Towns the help he needs.

"Offensive rebounds continue possession and produce more chances for scoring and assists, and the New York Knicks rank 4th-best in in the league with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game this year."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Towns Now at bet365!/span

Josh Hart Under 5.5 assists (-155)

Projection: 4.5

Our system's second four-star play for the New York Knicks has Josh Hart finishing one full assist Under his current betting line. Tempo, or a lack thereof, will tell the story of this wager.

"The Knicks have played at the 6th-slowest pace-of-play in the NBA over the last 25 games. The Toronto Raptors have played at the 9th-most lethargic tempo in the league over the last 5 games in their home city, which ought to decrease possessions for the Knicks."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hart Now at bet365!/span

OG Anunoby Over 4.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 5.2

As alluded to in the Towns bet, the Knicks are a terrific rebounding team. OG Anunoby has been helpful in that area all year long, pulling down 5.3 boards per game.

The Toronto Raptors are 12th-worst in the NBA in defensive rebound percentage.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Anunoby Now at bet365!/span

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Raptors computer picks

Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 threes (-105)

Projection: 1.9

This is a four-star play carrying a +13.66 EV edge. Here's why our computer is calling for Brandon Ingram to hit two or more triples tonight:

"The matchup against New York is a favorable one for three-pointers; when the New York Knicks are the visiting squad, opposing starting SFs have posted the highest three percentage in the NBA this year (48.0%)."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Ingram Now at bet365!/span

Immanuel Quickley Over 5.5 assists (+115)

Projection: 5.8

Not only is Immanuel Quickley averaging 6.0 assists per game this season, but you're getting plus-money for him to match or better his season average tonight.

Our system calculates a 10.09% EV edge. 

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Quickley Now at bet365!/span

RJ Barrett Over 1.5 threes (-112)

Projection: 1.8

Our computer is targeting another Raptors 3-pointer prop, this time with former Knick RJ Barrett. New York's defense has been vulnerable to the deep shot, surrendering an 11th-worst 13.7 per game, with shooting guards making hay, in particular.

"This year, the other team's starting SGs have shot 44.7% on threes (best in the league) vs. the New York Knicks."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Barrett Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Knicks vs Raptors tonight

Location	Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date	Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off	7:30 p.m. ET
TV	MSG, Sportsnet

Not intended for use in MA.
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TORONTO — Mitchell Robinson isn’t going to shoot his free throws underhand. In his view, form isn’t the problem and granny style “is silly as hell.”

The issue, as Robinson laid out Tuesday, is the lack of outside shooting opportunities in practice, which negatively impacts his foul-shooting rhythm.

“I don’t get shots up like that [in practice]. I just do a lot of layups, hook shots, stuff like that,” Robinson, who is down to 39 percent from the charity stripe this season, said. “If you don’t get shots, you don’t know how it is. You’re not comfortable with it. So it’s just like — you’ve got to get some shots up. I do it in the summertime, and I’m straight. And I just get away from it.”

Robinson pointed at the proof of his rookie season, when he shot a career-best 60 percent and apparently there was more of an emphasis on his outside shot. His free-throw efficiency has been declining ever since.

“Like I said before, when I was getting up shots, rookie year, I was 60 percent,” Robinson said. “So if I get shots up, everything will be all right. Until then, it is what it is.”

To be clear, Robinson isn’t talking about practicing free throws. He does that plenty. He also slightly altered his shooting form before this season, believing that dribbling once before the shot instead of three would help with the mental aspect.

But the foul shots still aren’t falling — and Robinson believes it’s related to his offensive responsibilities being limited to rebounding, setting screens or putbacks.

The 27-year-old hasn’t attempted a field goal outside of the paint since the 2022-23 season. Almost all of his attempts are inside the restricted area. His workouts with the Knicks are geared toward that style, which isn’t the case when Robinson is training in the summer.

“If you’re not shooting shots — even if you’re not going to shoot them in the game, it’s still good to have that muscle memory like that,” Robinson said. “And also confidence [comes] with it, too. It goes hand in hand.”

Heading into Tuesday’s game against the Raptors, Robinson owned the lowest free-throw percentage, by far, among players with at least 80 attempts. Rudy Gobert was next at 50.2 percent. Robinson also spoke out in a recent Facebook post.

“If you ain’t comfortable with your shot you know what the result is gonna be,” Robinson posted recently. “When I’m not in New York in my offseason I get up shots not just layups all day. I make 10 in a row sometimes even 20 in a row but that’s after I get done running and shooting. It’s a big difference from just doing layups and also let’s face the fact usually it takes maybe 11-16 [times up and down the court] before I touch the ball. I’m not complaining about it. I expected it for what it is.”

The foul shooting became a hot-button topic in last year’s playoffs, when the Celtics and Pistons began intentionally hacking Robinson with regularity. Robinson becomes a liability if he’s not hitting his foul shots, especially in a playoff setting, so it could also limit his minutes.

Last year, as Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was deploying Hack-a-Mitch in the conference semis, Rick Barry, the Godfather of granny free throws, offered to teach Robinson his forgotten technique.

It’s not going to happen.

“Nah,” Robinson said when asked if he’s ever tried underhand free throws. “I feel like that’s silly as hell.”

Other than his foul-shooting woes, Robinson has been a success story this season. He’s again leading the East in offensive rebounds per game despite averaging just 19.4 minutes. That presence under the glass has changed results into victories for the Knicks, like Robinson’s strong performance Sunday over the Spurs.

“That’s like my job. That’s my job on this team. Bring energy off the bench,” Robinson said. “That’s what I try to do every night when I play. So continue to do that.”

He’s also remained healthy for the first time in three years while adhering to a load management program. Robinson doesn’t play back-to-backs, which is why the center isn’t expected to play Wednesday’s home game against the mighty Thunder after Tuesday’s contest in Toronto.

Coach Mike Brown determines which of the two back-to-back games Robinson will play.

“It wasn’t my choice,” Robinson said. “I let coaches decide which game they want me to play.”

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The Toronto Raptors have taken care of business this season, winning the games they’re supposed to, positioning themselves well in the East.

However, things have been a little less smooth against tougher competition. On top of that, tonight’s opponent, the New York Knicks, has owned them.

My Knicks vs. Raptors predictions break down why it could be a tough night in The Six for the home team.

That and more NBA picks for this Eastern Conference clash, which is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Tuesday, March 3.

Knicks vs Raptors prediction

Knicks vs Raptors best bet: Knicks -2.5 (-112)

The Toronto Raptors sit in fifth place in the East, but are just 15-18 when facing teams above .500 this season. 

They’ve also made a habit of going up by double-digits against good teams before blowing the lead late in games.

The New York Knicks are a good team. Not only that, but the Knicks have owned the Raptors. New York has beaten Toronto in 11 consecutive meetings dating back to 2023, covering the spread all but once.

Both teams are Top 10 defensively, but the Raps can’t match the Knicks offensively. New York’s dominance over Toronto continues.

Knicks vs Raptors same-game parlay

The Knicks blew out the Raptors when they last met back on January 28, 119-92. 

Former Raptor OG Anunoby put up 26 points in that game, and has found his shooting rhythm again in the last two games. Take OG to burn his old team once again.

Another place the Knicks have an edge over the Raptors is on the glass. New York ranks fifth in rebounding rate, Toronto is 15th.

Take Mikal Bridges to go Over his rebounding prop of 3.5. It's a number he’s topped in eight of his last 12 games.

Knicks vs Raptors SGP

• Knicks -2.5
• OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
• Mikal Brides Over 3.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Familiar faces

RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley need to have a good game against their old team at some point, right?

Jalen Brunson, averaging 26.7 ppg, is capable of going off at any time, like he did with 35 points vs. Toronto on Dec. 9 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Knicks vs Raptors SGP

• RJ Barrett Over 17.5 points
• Immanuel Quickley Over 17.5 points
• OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
• Jalen Brunson Over 25.5 points

Knicks vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Knicks -2.5 | Raptors +2.5
• Moneyline: Knicks -120 | Raptors +140
• Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222

Knicks vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Knicks are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 meetings against the Raptors. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Raptors.

How to watch Knicks vs Raptors

Knicks vs Raptors latest injuries

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The careers of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel will be inexorably linked throughout their time in the NBA. That’s bound to happen when you have two teammates who are close friends, college roommates, Top 5 picks, and both on the precipice of revolutionizing the NBA. Perception of these two players couldn’t have been more different when they were selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, but as we sit here in March it’s shaping up to be one of the the tightest NBA Rookie of the Year races in history.

Anointed for brilliance from the jump, Flagg was the most highly-touted U.S.-born prospect since LeBron James. A can’t-miss, generational talent, poised to transform a franchise, and there’s very little argument that he hasn’t lived up to the billing. The Mavericks are a mediocre team, still reeling from their disastrous Luka Doncic trade —but Flagg has been a bright spot. Dallas’ goal this season isn’t the playoffs, but rather having coach Jason Kidd throw so much usage at Flagg to get him the reps to be an even more complete player in the future.

Flagg would run away with the Rookie of the Year award without much resistance if this were any normal season, but the call is coming from inside the house. Kon Knueppel has been the NBA’s most surprising player, on the league’s most surprising team, changing the face of the Charlotte Hornets franchise in a way nobody expected. Instead of being the sidekick, a glue guy, or a plug-and-play shooter who would be additive, but not transformative, Knueppel has instead become a tone setter and culture changer for a Hornets team surging in the standings to find themselves in a play-in sport, with aspirations they could finish even higher and land a legitimate playoff series.

Kon Knueppel should be the NBA’s rookie of the year by every tangible metric. The only thing standing in his way is the weight of expectation placed on Flagg, and an unwavering belief that Flagg has to win the award as a building block of his eventual legacy. The reality is that while Flagg has been great, Kon has been better.

The raw numbers

If we remove all context from both players’ performances, it would be easy for a casual box score watcher to assume that Flagg has been ahead of Knueppel this season.

Cooper Flagg: 20.4 pts, 6.6 reb, 4.1 ast
Kon Knueppel: 19.3 pts, 5.5 reb, 3.5 ast

Its close, but Flagg’s numbers are higher, there’s no arguing that. There is a chance that Knueppel sees his overall totals rise further, but an even greater chance that Flagg pulls ahead even more — unless he’s sidelined due to injury, which is a real concern. The difference between these two players really shines when we get inside these basic numbers to contextualize each player’s performance.

What advanced stats say

It’s here that Knueppel blows Flagg out of the water, and they’re barely comparable as a result. Knueppel is shooting better in every area, with a 48.9 FG%, 44.0 3P%, and 87.8 FT% to Flagg’s 48.2/30.2/80.4 — but even more pronounced are the advanced metrics.

When it comes to true shooting percentage (TS%), which weighs threes, twos, and three throws to give an overall picture of shooting efficiency, there’s nobody like Kon Knueppel in the NBA this season. He is 14th in the NBA in TS% at 65.1. Cooper Flagg, for comparison, sits at 140th in the league at 51.5%.

In addition, Knueppel leads the NBA in 3P% among the 23 players who have attempted over 400 shots from beyond the arc this season. Only two other players in the league have shot over 40% on 400+ attempts: Collin Gillespie of the Suns (42.3%) and Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Pistons (40.3%). To put this in context Stephen Curry, the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history, has only shot above 44% from three on over 400 attempts four times in his career — Knueppel is doing it as a rookie.

The three-point shooting is a mammoth part of Knueppel’s resume, because he broke the single-season record for threes made by a rookie and did in 59 games. At this point it’s his record to stretch until the end. The trap is to assume that the shooting is all there is to Knueppel’s game, which is painfully far from the truth. Not only is he putting up elite numbers, but he’s dramatically helping the Hornets win games.

Knueppel ranks 21st in the NBA in win share with a +6.1, having a profound impact that’s almost equal to Victor Wembanyama with the Spurs (+6.2), and above Anthony Edwards (+5.8). While Flagg is still having an impactful year, his +3.2 win share ranks 111th.

You can go down the list of advanced metrics and Knueppel is lapping Flagg this season. Flagg is getting far more touches per game as the Mavericks make him the focal point of their entire offense, but Knueppel is having much more of an impact on the game with the opportunities he’s given.

What’s the argument against Knueppel?

The core argument on putting Flagg as Rookie of the Year over Knueppel circles back to the expectations entering this season. The Mavericks are routing their entire offense through Flagg, and while that’s giving him a lot of experience being “the guy” in the NBA, it’s also hurting his efficiency. Meanwhile, Knueppel is a piece is a larger puzzle in Charlotte. On any given night he’s the second or third scoring option behind Brandon Miller, and sometimes LaMelo Ball. It’s certainly true that the biggest difference between Hornets wins and losses is having Knueppel as that ancillary offensive option, but he’s still not being asked to carry the load.

That has an impact on perception, which is impossible to ignore. It’s part of the eye test when it comes to watching both players on the court without digging into the stats. Every advanced metric might prove that Knueppel has been the better player, but turn on a game and Flagg looks like the centerpiece of a team, while Kon appears to be a piece in the puzzle.

The race for the NBA rookie of the year is coming down to the wire. A midfoot injury has sidelined Flagg and could be the difference maker in the race, but when the dust settles the arguments for rookie of the year are tantamount to bragging rights for fans, and little more. The holistic view is that both former Duke teammates could be taking over the NBA in different ways very, very soon — one as the all-encompassing, do-everything superstar, while the other is laying the groundwork for a potential run at Steph Curry’s three-point record. We can appreciate the individual brilliance of both, and just be happy we get to see two young stard shine, without trying to pit them against each other or diminish either’s accomplishments.