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The Indiana Pacers aren’t playing for much in the final months of the NBA schedule. But tell that to Pascal Siakam. 

Indiana’s athletic forward has one gear: Go.

He returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sprained wrist, putting up 29 points and five rebounds in 30 minutes versus the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday. 

Tonight, he takes on the other L.A. team — the Los Angeles Lakers — who will be running short in the front court and playing the second of back-to-back outings. 

My Pacers vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks like Siakam to stack up the rebounds on Friday, March 6. 

Pacers vs Lakers prediction

Pacers vs Lakers best bet: Pascal Siakam Over 5.5 rebounds (-112)

Pascal Siakam grabbed five boards versus the Clippers, coming up just short of his 5.5 O/U rebounding prop. Tonight, he runs into a Los Angeles Lakers lineup missing key bodies on the boards. 

LeBron James and Deandre Ayton exited last night’s loss at Denver, and their status is in doubt. That’s almost 14 rebounds off the box score for L.A.

Siakam has snatched six or more rebounds in 15 of his last 20 games while positioned for an average of 10.9 rebounding chances in that span. 

Projections range from 5.8 to 6.6 boards for the Indiana Pacers’ forward.

Pacers vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Lakers are worse for wear after an in-and-out trip up the mountain, losing at Denver last night, then traveling back for this non-conference clash. LeBron and Ayton left that game with injuries and could leave L.A. short on size tonight.

Siakam averages almost 11 rebounding chances, and Los Angeles is instantly shorter with those injuries. His forecasts flirt with seven rebounds, and he should get 30+ minutes.

Austin Reaves’ projections barely top 20 points tonight. With James possibly sidelined, he has to step up his ball-handling and become more of a passer than a scorer.

Pacers vs Lakers SGP

• Pacers +9.5
• Pascal Siakam Over 5.5 rebounds
• Austin Reaves Under 24.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Pace Maker

The Pacers are a tough team to cap, with mixed motivations, but Siakam isn’t one to go easy.

Some models call for 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in La-La Land.

Pacers vs Lakers SGP

• Pacers +9.5
• Pascal Siakam Over 21.5 points
• Pascal Siakam Over 5.5 rebounds
• Pascal Siakam Over 2.5 assists

Pacers vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Pacers +9.5 (-110) | Lakers -9.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pacers +375 | Lakers -500
• Over/Under: Over 235.5 (-110) | Under 235.5 (-110)

Pacers vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Los Angeles Lakers are 13-22 Over/Under (63% Unders) in the second of back-to-back games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Lakers.

How to watch Pacers vs Lakers

Pacers 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.

Lace up your hiking boots! Tonight the Knicks (40*-23) scale the mountains of Denver to face the Nuggets (39-24) at Ball Arena. New York plans to leave with a season sweep in this cross-conference matchup. Our heroes have won six of their last ten games on the schedule, while Denver have split their last ten.

The teams last met on February 4, 2026, when the Knicks won 134-127 in double overtime slog at MSG. Jalen Brunson topped New York with 42 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while Jamal Murray scored 39 points and six assists for the visitors.

Denver has built one of the league’s top offenses this season, ranking first in offensive rating (121.7) and points per game (120.4). Shoot well? Why yes, they lead the NBA in three-point percentage (39%) and effective field goal percentage. Their downfall is their defense: they rank 22nd in defensive rating and last in steals and opponent turnovers.

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokić anchors the Nuggets with 28.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game, leading the league in PER and box plus-minus. He’s also the Nugget most likely to smell like a barn. Murray averages 25.7 points and 7.3 assists, and is capable of posting a lot of points (137 over his last four games), while Christian Braun (10.9 PPG) provides wing defense and energy.

Depending on who’s available, the home team will likely start Murray, Braun, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, and Jokić. On their injury report, Peyton Watson (hamstring) is OUT, while Aaron Gordon (hammy), Cameron Johnson (ankle), and Spencer Jones (shoulder) are all listed as game-time decisions. For the Knicks, Josh Hart is questionable (back), and Miles McBride is still healing from hernia surgery.

Prediction

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Knicks a 52% chance to win. Excellent. The Nuggets an elite offense, but the Knicks have muscled up their defensive pressure lately, making this a great test for our heroes. Injuries have depleted Denver, and three of their top six scoring options could be scratches tonight. Look for New York to take a while getting used to the altitude but to buckle down in the second half for a 10-point win.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (40*-23) at Denver Nuggets (39-24)
Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
Time: 9 PM ET
Place: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins are gaseous, not solids.

The first thing that popped into my mind when I heard the news about Jayson Tatum was, I suspect, the first thing that popped into the minds of many of you.

“Anticipation” by Carly Simon.

No? Well, bear with me anyway.

Anticipation for Tatum’s return has reached a fever pitch over the last month or so, and I’m here to break down Tatum’s return lyrically…

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway

Half of what we do as sports fans in general is speculate about what’s coming. We can revel in the past and enjoy the present moment, but part of the fun of being a fan is looking to the future. The next game, the next week, the next season. Right now, the next game is potentially Tatum’s first of the season, and it looks like he’s going to get a nice run-up to get back into game shape before the games start to really matter in May.

If he comes back tonight, he’s going to get a 20-game preseason before things get real.

But I, I rehearsed those words just late last night
When I was thinking about how right tonight might be

Yesterday, when I was cooking up the theme for this column, I couldn’t help but imagine what it will be like in Boston Garden tonight, if Tatum’s name is read out as the Celtics’ starting power forward. Again, these are moments you live for as a fan. Moments that are foundational, “I-was-there,” “I-remember-when…” moments. All of you, I’m sure, remember seeing Tatum hoist Deuce up to the rafters after the C’s clinched the title in 2024. The return will be a moment like that.

These are the good old days

This is the main thing that I want to talk about today…

Why are we so excited for Tatum to return?

Sure, a little bit of it is about Tatum, but most of it is because of everyone else.

Try to imagine what it would be like to welcome Tatum back to a 21-41 team instead of a 41-21 team.

I mean, there would be a vocal segment of the fanbase that would want Tatum to just shut it down for the whole year because, hey, lottery picks.

Instead, we’re excited because everyone else on the team refused to take a “gap year.” The C’s young guns refused to take the year off, and have all continued to work on their games. Joe Mazzulla didn’t change what his goals were for the season because of some little thing like the loss of a First Team All-NBA player, along with four other key contributors to past successes.

The story of this season has been one of ongoing improvement, especially on defense. Hugo Gonzalez was a cipher coming into the season, and he’s now a key contributor on the defensive side of the ball. Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman have continued to improve as well.

On offense, Jaylen Brown’s points per game scoring average has jumped from 22.2 to 28.9, and everyone in the C’s rotation has stepped up a little bit. No one’s seen a drop in points per game, from last season to this. Collectively, the C’s have filled in the gaps, and that’s down to each individual player accepting the challenge and refusing to back down.

On the brink of Tatum’s return, it’s good to reflect on how different this team is than the Celtics team assembled to win Banner 17.

When Boston traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, we were getting two superstars who were, respectively, dang near 33 years old and 32 years old at the time the C’s won their title in 2008. Pierce was the youngster, being only 30 at the time. They had a limited window to work with, and due to a variety of factors, they didn’t have a lot of support by the end of their time with Boston.

We’re not living in those times. While Tatum and Brown are getting older (as we all are), they’ve got a young core surrounding them. They’re not being asked to carry as much of a load as the C’s Big Three had to carry. This year’s team has the reigning 6th Man of the Year. The Big Three Celtics had good bench support in 2008, but it just got thinner and thinner as the years went by. In the final real game of the Big Three era, Game 7 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics lost by 13 points and got a grand total of two points off their bench.

You have to go to the early 80s to find a Celtics team that was as solid from top to bottom as this one is.

In a league where ‘per 36’ stats have become de rigueur, reflecting the average minute load for starters, Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens have focused on winning all 48 minutes of the game, and that’s shown up this season as the Celtics have barely dropped off their 2025 pace, despite losing Holiday, Horford, Kornet, Porzingis and Tatum.

As we look to welcome back Jayson, let’s revel in the fact that he’s coming back to a complete team; a team that is perfectly capable of thriving without him, and a team that could be something truly special with him.

Savor these moments, because these are the good old days.

For most of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have desperately searched for quality play from their bench. Aside from Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner Naz Reid, the Wolves had gotten incredibly little production from their reserves as they ranked 23rd in bench scoring per game from the start of the season through the trade deadline.

Coming into the year, the Wolves seemd well set up to deal with the offseason departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark all appeared to be ready to join the rotation, and Mike Conley, despite his age, still appeared to have enough left in the tank to still be a solid backup point guard.

None of that came to fruition. Just a few weeks into the season, it was clear the Wolves’ bench was going to be shorthanded for a while with all three of the Wolves’ young trio struggling to find consistency on the court, and as father time finally caught up to Conley. The Wolves had a massive gap in their rotation, making it clear that if they wanted to make another deep playoff run this spring, they were going to need to add bench production from outside of the organization.

In February, the Wolves front office did exactly that. Minnesota added a new face by trading for Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu at the trade deadline and then brought back a familiar one when they reunited with Kyle Anderson after he was bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies.

“We got options and depth and versatility,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said about the team’s new-look bench. “Super blessed right now. Again, you know, our front office did a great job of rounding out this roster with exactly what it needed.”

Thursday night’s 155-107 win over the Toronto Raptors showcased what the pair of Dosunmu and Anderson can bring to the Wolves the rest of the season. Ayo finished with 13 points including multiple baskets in transition as he has added a new level of pace to the Wolves’ offense.

“Speed, I think that’s the main thing,” Anthony Edwards said about Dosumnu after the game. “The speed that he brings when he checks into the game is the main thing.”

Ayo has also shown flashes on the defensive end of the floor. He finished Thursday’s game with three steals and provided physical defense while chasing around opposing players on the perimeter.

“I have a lot of trust,” Rudy Gobert stated about Dosumnu’s denfensive game. “I keep telling him and I keep telling everyone, when you guys are physical on the ball and disruptive, even if you get beat, I’m there. It’s much easier for them to get beat while being physical than letting guys get comfortable. I think tonight was a great example of that.”

Anderson put up four points, four rebounds, and three assists while filling in perfectly on the defensive end for Jaden McDaniels who had to go to the bench in the first half with foul trouble.

“He makes the game easy,” Finch said of Anderson’s performance against the Raptors. “You put the ball in his hands late in the shot clock you know you’re gonna find something. He kinda sees the floor and anticipates where the defense is going to be. It’s all the same things that we love about him when he was here before. You can put the ball in his hands and the game slows down so you know you’re going to get something good.”

The pairing of Dosumnu and Anderson have also found a quick chemistry together on the court. Late in the third quarter Anderson found Dosunumu on a back cut for an easy layup, a play the two had drawn up over text a few days prior.

Just two games into his now second Timberwolves tenure, Slo-Mo is doing again all the same things that made him such a valuable signing for the Wolves back in the summer of 2022. His combination of defense, playmaking, and on-court leadership and accountability have already begun to show dividends just two games back with the organization.

Dosunmu has also quickly taken to a leadership on the floor for the Wolves. Edwards pointed to Dosunmu along with Slo-Mo, Conley, and himself as to who have been the connectors for the team during games.

With Dosunmu and Anderson quickly hitting their stride with the team, the Timberwolves have completely transformed their bench in the blink of an eye and they did so at little to no cost.

Anderson was signed last week as a free agent, costing about half a million dollars the rest of the season and Dosumnu was acquired for second round draft capital, Leonard Miller, and Dillingham who, despite the large cost to acuire in the 2023 Draft, had largely fallen out of favor with the organization making a trade the best path forward for both parties.

While the starting lineup plus Naz Reid have been the workhorses so far this season for Minnesota, the bench is finally catching up as the Wolves look to close the regular season strong before the playoffs. With just 19 games remaining on the schedule and the Wolves now sitting as a top three seed for the first time in two seasons, the finish line is now finally in sight.

Karl-Anthony Towns is an enigma, a polarizing figure, and also happens to hold the keys to just how good the Knicks can be this season.

KAT possesses a rare combination of talent and size that is matched by only a handful of basketball players in the world, and on many a night, we see plenty of flashes of it, leading to a Knicks win. But on other nights, especially earlier this season, those flashes seemed harder to come by, leading to disappointed, confused, and frustrated fans, as well as some ugly Knicks losses.

And while a non-insignificant portion of New York’s fanbase continues to dislike Towns and find every reason to pit every loss on the big man, the truth is, Towns has actually been playing well. Very well. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that he’s overall been the best Knicks player for some time now, and he’s gotten there right ahead of the playoffs, at the exact best possible time.

Over their last 20 games, in which they are 15-5, Towns leads the team in plus-minus at a +202, while plus-minus darling, OG Anunoby, ranks second at just +176. And over his last 10 games, he’s turned it around offensively, averaging 19.8PPG, and 11.9RPG while shooting 46.4% from the field, and 34.8% from three. Those numbers still pale in comparison to the usual 23+PPG on 50%+ shooting from the field, and 40%+ shooting from three, but it’s still a trend in the right direction as it includes a five-game stretch of 20+ points, which is the longest of the season. And whether he’s had 17 shots as he had in Chicago, or eight shots like he had last night, there’s no questioning just how much more efficient Towns has been.

But why is this? What has suddenly changed for Towns? Some of it comes down to a very mundane answer of, “he’s just playing better”. He’s been more decisive, more aggressive, and he’s just been more efficient with the shots he’s gotten. Yet a lot of it goes beyond that.

It seems like the team as a whole, both Mike Brown and the players, have made a more concerted effort to play through the big man. While Brown hasn’t changed much in how he uses Towns, he understands more than anyone just how important Towns is to this team’s success. And while there are still multiple times every game where players, most notably Jalen Brunson, miss an open Towns, guys have looked to get the ball to the big guy.

And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Towns’ best stretch on the offensive end came just two games after Jose Alvarado joined the Knicks. It has been clear as day that the backup point guard has looked to feed Towns. And the numbers back it up. Evident by the graphic below, which shows Towns’ possessions with Alvarado entering last night’s game, Towns has a higher usage rate when playing with Alvarado, and his points per 76 possessions, as well as his overall efficiency, are significantly higher.

I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that his best stretch offensively coincides with maybe the best defense he’s played as a Knick. Now, Towns will never turn into a Mitchell Robinson or Rudy Gobert level of elite rim-protecting, shot-altering defender. But during this recent stretch, likely due to the increased offensive involvement, he’s been very solid, dare I say, even good. He looks more attentive, the energy and effort are there, and he’s had much fewer of the head-scratching mistakes we saw so much over the last season and a half. Brown, who has not been shy of calling Towns’ defensive efforts out this season, has been very complimentary of what Towns has done on that end of the floor, and for good reason.

Obviously, this isn’t the largest sample size. And there are still things he can do better. But given what this team is asking of him, his role in Brown’s system, and his early-season struggles, it’s been an awesome sight to see such a crucial part of this team finally finding his way.

The Dallas Mavericks (21-41) head to the Garden Friday evening to square off against the near-league-leading Boston Celtics (41-21). It’s a quick turnaround after Thursday night’s game in Orlando, in which the Mavericks literally fumbled the win off an ugly inbounds pass with 1.4 seconds to go. On this second night of a back-to-back, Dallas will have to push hard to have any shot at a victory against their former championship rivals.

Boston comes into this evening on a roll. They’ve won 3 of their last 4, 7 of their last 10, and currently hold the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference – and that’s without Jayson Tatum in the rotation. Once he’s back in rhythm, this team will have all the pieces it needs to dominate on both ends of the floor. A large amount of the credit goes to Brad Stevens and the front office – what was supposed to be a gap year for this team has turned into a legitimate shot for another chip. Once everything is back in gear, there’s really no telling how far this iteration of the Celtics can go.

Dallas, on the other hand, enters the Garden looking roughed up. They may appear to be treading water against the worst of the Western Conference, but don’t let the standings fool you – the Mavericks have lost 15 of their last 17. If you’re team tank, this isn’t necessarily the worst thing, as every loss is one step closer to an AJ Dybantsa or a Darryn Peterson (or, more realistically, a Mikel Brown Jr.). But there’s no denying this Mavericks team is a difficult watch right now, even if they do play hard night-in and night-out.

Here are three things to think about headed into Friday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics.

The turnover disparity

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Dallas Mavericks can’t take care of the ball. It’s been true since the beginning of the season (the Mavericks average nearly 15 turnovers a game), and it’s been even more true since the All-Star Break (they gave the ball up 20 times against the Grizzlies last week!). The biggest factor, of course, is that the team lacks an experienced point guard capable of facilitating at the highest level. But everyone plays a part in the problem – meaning that everyone can play a part in the solution, too.

This turnover disparity especially matters against the Celtics, who are really, really good at taking care of the ball. In fact, as of right now, they’re the best in the league, coughing it up only 12.2 times per game on average. Put simply, the possession math does not favor the Mavericks going into this matchup. If they want opportunities to score, they’ll have to play buttoned-up all night long – particularly as Boston’s defense is nothing to balk at, either. This is partially because…

Young talent means a lot

…the Celtics are getting the most out of their fresh blood. In a season marked by roster turnover and injured stars, Boston has found a way to fill the gaps, drawing on their rookies and their new acquisitions for genuine contributions across the floor. Seriously, take a look at these net rating stats from early March. 20-year-old Hugo González held the #1 spot at 17.1, and Derrick White and Neemias Queta weren’t far behind at #7 and #8, respectively. Besides the Oklahoma City Thunder (who hold five spots on this list, somehow), there isn’t a single team in the Association that’s better at extracting meaningful minutes from every player.

The Mavericks, of course, have also been propelled by their young guys this year, most notably Ryan Nembhard (who just got converted to a standard deal by the Mavericks) and Cooper Flagg. Nembhard has been perhaps the most successful at filling Dallas’ need for a traditional point guard, playing around 40 games this season and starting in around half. And Flagg has been successful at just about everything else – scoring, passing, defending, even handling the ball when the moment arises. Right now, he’s the unquestioned centerpiece of this team, contributing in pretty much every conceivable way.

Hey, speaking of Cooper Flagg…

The return of the stars

…he’s finally back! After missing 8 consecutive games with a left midfoot sprain, the star rookie has officially returned to the Mavericks’ lineup, playing 25 minutes against the Orlando Magic Thursday night and putting up 18/5/6. No question that this is a welcome reunion for Dallas – Flagg is averaging 20.4 points this season, and Dallas went 2-6 in his absence, including against some truly bad teams. While it’s currently unclear exactly how much Flagg will play against the Celtics – he may rest the back-to-back, or he may still be on a minutes restriction – it’s sure to be a morale boost knowing a future MVP is waiting in the wings.

The Celtics, of course, are eagerly awaiting the return of their own superstar. According to Shams Charania, Jayson Tatum is expected to make his return on Friday against the Mavericks, a shockingly quick recovery after missing only 10 months with a torn right Achilles. Even if he’s not 100 percent, Tatum’s return will no doubt create some problems for Dallas. The team largely lacks the defensive tools to handle Tatum and Brown and White and the others. Then again, so does most of the rest of the NBA, so maybe there’s no shame in that.

The road ahead

After their matchup against Boston, Dallas continues its brutal half-month road trip with games against the Toronto Raptors, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Memphis Grizzlies. Then, the Mavericks return home for a brief one-game stint against the Cleveland Cavaliers before heading back on the road.

How to watch

The Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, March 6 at 6:00 PM CT. The game will will be streamed live on MavsTV, and will also be broadcast on KFAA and ESPN. As usual, fans can also tune in at 97.1FM KEGL (English) or at 99.1FM KFZO (Español).

The Dallas Mavericks (21-41) head to the Garden Friday evening to square off against the near-league-leading Boston Celtics (41-21). It’s a quick turnaround after Thursday night’s game in Orlando, in which the Mavericks literally fumbled the win off an ugly inbounds pass with 1.4 seconds to go. On this second night of a back-to-back, Dallas will have to push hard to have any shot at a victory against their former championship rivals.

Boston comes into this evening on a roll. They’ve won 3 of their last 4, 7 of their last 10, and currently hold the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference – and that’s without Jayson Tatum in the rotation. Once he’s back in rhythm, this team will have all the pieces it needs to dominate on both ends of the floor. A large amount of the credit goes to Brad Stevens and the front office – what was supposed to be a gap year for this team has turned into a legitimate shot for another chip. Once everything is back in gear, there’s really no telling how far this iteration of the Celtics can go.

Dallas, on the other hand, enters the Garden looking roughed up. They may appear to be treading water against the worst of the Western Conference, but don’t let the standings fool you – the Mavericks have lost 15 of their last 17. If you’re team tank, this isn’t necessarily the worst thing, as every loss is one step closer to an AJ Dybantsa or a Darryn Peterson (or, more realistically, a Mikel Brown Jr.). But there’s no denying this Mavericks team is a difficult watch right now, even if they do play hard night-in and night-out.

Here are three things to think about headed into Friday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics.

The turnover disparity

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Dallas Mavericks can’t take care of the ball. It’s been true since the beginning of the season (the Mavericks average nearly 15 turnovers a game), and it’s been even more true since the All-Star Break (they gave the ball up 20 times against the Grizzlies last week!). The biggest factor, of course, is that the team lacks an experienced point guard capable of facilitating at the highest level. But everyone plays a part in the problem – meaning that everyone can play a part in the solution, too.

This turnover disparity especially matters against the Celtics, who are really, really good at taking care of the ball. In fact, as of right now, they’re the best in the league, coughing it up only 12.2 times per game on average. Put simply, the possession math does not favor the Mavericks going into this matchup. If they want opportunities to score, they’ll have to play buttoned-up all night long – particularly as Boston’s defense is nothing to balk at, either. This is partially because…

Young talent means a lot

…the Celtics are getting the most out of their fresh blood. In a season marked by roster turnover and injured stars, Boston has found a way to fill the gaps, drawing on their rookies and their new acquisitions for genuine contributions across the floor. Seriously, take a look at these net rating stats from early March. 20-year-old Hugo González held the #1 spot at 17.1, and Derrick White and Neemias Queta weren’t far behind at #7 and #8, respectively. Besides the Oklahoma City Thunder (who hold five spots on this list, somehow), there isn’t a single team in the Association that’s better at extracting meaningful minutes from every player.

The Mavericks, of course, have also been propelled by their young guys this year, most notably Ryan Nembhard (who just got converted to a standard deal by the Mavericks) and Cooper Flagg. Nembhard has been perhaps the most successful at filling Dallas’ need for a traditional point guard, playing around 40 games this season and starting in around half. And Flagg has been successful at just about everything else – scoring, passing, defending, even handling the ball when the moment arises. Right now, he’s the unquestioned centerpiece of this team, contributing in pretty much every conceivable way.

Hey, speaking of Cooper Flagg…

The return of the stars

…he’s finally back! After missing 8 consecutive games with a left midfoot sprain, the star rookie has officially returned to the Mavericks’ lineup, playing 25 minutes against the Orlando Magic Thursday night and putting up 18/5/6. No question that this is a welcome reunion for Dallas – Flagg is averaging 20.4 points this season, and Dallas went 2-6 in his absence, including against some truly bad teams. While it’s currently unclear exactly how much Flagg will play against the Celtics – he may rest the back-to-back, or he may still be on a minutes restriction – it’s sure to be a morale boost knowing a future MVP is waiting in the wings.

The Celtics, of course, are eagerly awaiting the return of their own superstar. According to Shams Charania, Jayson Tatum is expected to make his return on Friday against the Mavericks, a shockingly quick recovery after missing only 10 months with a torn right Achilles. Even if he’s not 100 percent, Tatum’s return will no doubt create some problems for Dallas. The team largely lacks the defensive tools to handle Tatum and Brown and White and the others. Then again, so does most of the rest of the NBA, so maybe there’s no shame in that.

The road ahead

After their matchup against Boston, Dallas continues its brutal half-month road trip with games against the Toronto Raptors, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Memphis Grizzlies. Then, the Mavericks return home for a brief one-game stint against the Cleveland Cavaliers before heading back on the road.

How to watch

The Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, March 6 at 6:00 PM CT. The game will will be streamed live on MavsTV, and will also be broadcast on KFAA and ESPN. As usual, fans can also tune in at 97.1FM KEGL (English) or at 99.1FM KFZO (Español).

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From Jayson Tatum’s long-awaited return to Cooper Flagg’s homecoming, there’s no shortage of big-time storylines as the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks collide tonight in Beantown.

A lottery-bound Dallas squad arrives on a five-game skid, and my Mavericks vs. Celtics predictions dial into Boston’s firepower here, with Tatum and Jaylen Brown reunited on the wing for the 2024 champs.

Read on for my free NBA picks ahead of Friday, March 6. 

Mavericks vs Celtics prediction

Mavericks vs Celtics best bet: Jaylen Brown Over 11.5 rebounds + assists (-125)

In Jayson Tatum’s absence, Jaylen Brown has taken his game to the next level, and I don’t see him taking a step back now. His scoring has been steady, but I’m taking the Over on his rebounds + assists combo prop, with the Boston Celticsstar breezing past this number in his last six games.

Brown has excelled on the boards lately, averaging 10.0 RPG across his past six outings, and he’s pulled his playmaking up to five dimes per night this year. He should dominate against the undermanned Dallas Mavericks, and it’s way too early to worry about Tatum eating into his stats.

Mavericks vs Celtics same-game parlay

TD Garden is sure to be rocking for Tatum’s return, and I’m targeting his assists tally as he eases his way back. Brown can do the heavier lifting, but there’s a clear path for Tatum to flash his playmaking skills.

I’ll also layer on the Boston moneyline, with the hosts eager to rebound from a thumping home loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Mavs are 7-21 SU on the road this season.

Mavericks vs Celtics SGP

• Jaylen Brown Over 11.5 rebounds + assists
• Jayson Tatum Over 2.5 assists
• Celtics moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Flagg Day!

With Cooper Flagg’s roots up the coast in Maine, he’s guaranteed a warm welcome tonight.

Flagg posted an 18-5-6 stat line last night in Orlando in his return from an eight-game absence, and he’s averaging 20.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 4.2 APG this season.

Mavericks vs Celtics SGP

• Cooper Flagg Over 17.5 points
• Cooper Flagg Over 3.5 assists
• Cooper Flagg Over 4.5 rebounds
• Cooper Flagg Over 0.5 steals

Mavericks vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Mavericks +15 (-110) | Celtics -15 (-110)
• Moneyline: Mavericks +661 | Celtics -1,000
• Over/Under: Over 224.5 (-110) | Under 224.5 (-110)

Mavericks vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Celtics are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Celtics.

How to watch Mavericks vs Celtics

Mavericks vs Celtics latest injuries

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The Sacramento Kings aren’t just the NBA’s worst team — they’re the worst team despite a veteran roster that has been trying to win every game. Lost in the rampant discussion about “tanking” this season is that several of the league’s bottom-feeders are just plain bad, and aren’t doing anything to manipulate their record for more ping-pong balls in the draft lottery. At 14-50 with 18 games left to play, Sacramento has been a disaster from the start because of poor roster construction and spotty coaching, but the real problems start at the top of the organization.

This Kings season has taken a toll on everyone involved, and it spilled over into Russell Westbrook’s press conference following a loss to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans (another NBA tanker that isn’t actually tanking without control of their draft pick) on Thursday night. Westbrook used his press conference to call out media for making assumptions about players’ motivations as the team plays out the string. The presser started off hostile but eventually turned into a good discussion with a few questions left unanswered. Watch the whole thing here:

Westbrook said he understands that media will analyze the games, but he doesn’t appreciate those covering the team trying to make assumptions about what’s going on in players’ heads. Westbrook raised some fair points, but he also refused to say exactly what was said that upset him, which made the whole thing more confusing.

It seems like Westbrook didn’t like certain comments made on Kings podcasts. One of the reporters he appeared to call out, Matt George, issued a response to Westbrook on YouTube after the game.

Several people that Westbrook gave the George the opportunity to respond during the press conference, and instead he did it on his podcast. As someone who has been in hostile press conferences before, I’ll say that sometimes you need a minute to gather your thoughts, especially when you’re not expecting to be pressed like that. I don’t mind George saving his response for his show, and I don’t mind Westbrook calling out any of the Sacramento media members, either. I just wish Westbrook wouldn’t have been so vague in his criticisms so that it was easier to understand his point.

Here’s a clip from George’s response:

The Kings’ problems aren’t because of Westbrook or the media. It all starts at the top with owner Vivek Ranadivé who seemingly means well but constantly shoots himself in the foot whenever he tries insert himself into the team’s decision-making. Trading Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis was a disaster (which we called at the time). Letting De’Aaron Fox’s relationship with the team fracture that led to trading him to San Antonio for pennies on the dollar was also a mistake. Reuniting DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine never made any sense.

The Kings are pretty much the worst run franchise in the NBA. Maybe lottery luck will save Sacramento for once, because just about nothing else can.

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It’s a great night of NBA action, and not only because there are seven games full of player props for us to bet on.

Jayson Tatum makes his return to the Boston Celtics following his Achilles injury, but it’s a Boston big man I’m targeting in their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, while Victor Wembanyama continues to cement his case for Defensive Player of the Year.

Find out more in my NBA picks for Friday, March 6.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
LaMelo Ball	Over 3.5 threes	+105
Neemias Queta	Over 8.5 points	+100
Victor Wembanyama	Over 4.5 steals & blocks	+120

Prop #1: LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 threes

+105 at bet365

The buzz around the Charlotte Hornets is for real. With Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and LaMelo Ball, they have become one of the deadliest 3-point shooting teams in the NBA.

While Miller and Knueppel are more natural shooters, Ball has always been a volume guy. Over his last 12 games, he’s shooting a modest 36.6% from deep, but when you’re taking 10.9 threes per game, that's four makes per contest.

That makes the Miami Heat a perfect matchup for LaMelo. The Heat don’t allow a high percentage, but because of their high pace of play, they allow the fourth-most 3-point attempts and rank 21st in makes per game.

Ball has hit four or more threes seven times during this 12-game stretch, and at plus money, I'll happily back him to do it again.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Charlotte

Prop #2: Neemias Queta Over 8.5 points

+100 at bet365

The Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks in a game that sees the return of Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg. But while those guys get the headlines, my favorite player prop in the matchup is backing a Boston big man.

Neemias Queta is having a breakout season for the Celtics, averaging 9.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He faces a Mavericks team that ranks dead last in the NBA in opponent points in the paint per game.

Yet we are still getting a modest 8.5-point total for him here, with the Over at even money. It’s a number he’s topped in five of his last seven games, so sign me up.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN

Prop #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals & blocks

+120 at bet365

Victor Wembanyama is the frontrunner when it comes to NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds, and his defensive talents will be on full display when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Los Angeles Clippers.

Wemby’s rare length allows him to protect the paint and block shots like no other. He is averaging 3.0 blocks per game this season, and he’s been an absolute block machine since coming out of the All-Star break, getting that number up to 4.6 over his last eight games.

Now, books have caught on, and Wemby’s blocks prop is at 3.5, with the Over nice and juiced. But his steals & blocks prop is just 4.5, a number he’s topped six times during that stretch, with the Over at plus money, and the Clippers own the NBA’s sixth-worst turnover rate.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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.

The Phoenix Suns' Dillon Brooks was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Scottsdale, Arizona, early Friday morning, according to TMZ.

According to the report, Brooks was taken into custody around 2 a.m. local time and released an hour later.

The 30-year-old Brooks has not played since Feb. 21, when he fractured his left hand in a win against the Orlando Magic. He was expected to miss four to six weeks after surgery as the Suns sit 35-27 and are the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, two games out of the sixth seed, currently occupied by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Brooks is averaging a career-high 20.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 50 games this season, and is in the third season of a four-year, $86 million contract he signed in 2023 with the Houston Rockets, when he was acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets botched what should have been an easy win in their most recent game.

Houston lost to Golden State as near 10-point chalk and now have another “should win” matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers tonight.

Sengun won’t let a victory and potentially the No. 3 seed in the West slip away. My Trail Blazers vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks call for a big night from Houston’s big man.

Trail Blazers vs Rockets prediction

Trail Blazers vs Rockets best bet: Alperen Sengun Over 17.5 points (-115)

Alperen Sengun’s recent offensive efforts have cut his prop total down as much as two points, with Over 17.5 presenting buyback value versus the Portland Trail Blazers.

He scored 17 points in the loss to the Warriors, coming in Under his scoring prop of 19.5 O/U, and is 3-7 O/U against his points props the past 10 outings.

Portland gets punished in the paint but also from deep, and Sengun dropped 25 points on the Blazers with an inside-out effort in November.

His projections are as high as 21+ points and some books are hanging this total as high as 19.5 O/U.

Trail Blazers vs Rockets same-game parlay

The Houston Rockets let one get away and that knocked them to No. 4 in the Western Conference. Portland is wrapping an extended road trip in Houston and projections give the home team the win and cover.

Sengun hurt Portland inside, outside and at the foul line in their first meeting. Player projections sit between 18.9 and 21.4 points against the Trail Blazers tonight. Prop totals range from 17.5 to 19.5 across the industry. We'll go Over the low side of this market.

Reed Sheppard has upped his production the past month and his points props are taking off, sitting at a high of 16.5 O/U after being as short as 10.5 O/U a few games ago. Projections aren’t as positive as the props, so I’m selling Sheppard’s scoring.

Trail Blazers vs Rockets SGP

• Houston Rockets -6.5
• Alperen Sengun Over 17.5 points
• Reed Sheppard Under 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: All eyes on Sengun

Houston is 10-17-1 Over/Under at home (63% Unders) and Sengun knocked down four 3-pointers in his last matchup with Portland.

Trail Blazers vs Rockets SGP

• Houston Rockets -6.5
• Under 220.5
• Alperen Sengun Over 17.5 points
• Alperen Sengun Over 0.5 3-pointers

Trail Blazers vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Portland +6.5 | Houston -6.5
• Moneyline: Portland +220 | Houston -270
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5

Trail Blazers vs Rockets betting trend to know

Houston has stayed Under the total in 32 of its last 50 games (+12.20 Units/22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Rockets.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Rockets

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Silver linings. You try to find them in every game, especially in a loss. When you look at what the Phoenix Suns put on the floor against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, those silver linings are difficult to locate.

It was ugly basketball. The ugliest game of the season? I am not ready to go that far. I do not even know if it cracks the top five. Although when the conversation turns to ugly nights, this one deserves a seat at the table.

The defense was pitiful. If I squinted hard enough, I felt like I was watching the Phoenix Suns from the previous two seasons. You know, the version that could not contain the perimeter and allowed opponents to make a living at the rim? For a second I thought I saw Bradley Beal jogging through the frame. Drive after drive found daylight. Chicago kept attacking the paint, and Phoenix had no answer.

And sometimes that happens. This is the NBA. Strange results live here. The Houston Rockets lost at home last night to the Warriors, a team missing Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Nights like that occur across the league.

So you take the game, write it on a piece of paper, crumple it up, and toss it toward the wastebasket. If you shot like the Suns did last night, however, that paper ball probably misses the rim too. Still, we are searching for silver linings. That means digging into the trash, unfolding that wrinkled piece of parchment, and studying what is written on it.

One of those silver linings might be something we did not expect. This game told us something about Jalen Green. More specifically, who he is not.

I know what some of you are thinking. “Good golly, Voita! Another Jalen Green piece?! What is this, the third one this week?!!!”

Yes. Absolutely.

Jalen Green sits at the center of one of the most fascinating storylines surrounding the Phoenix Suns this season. A large piece of the future depends on how the organization navigates his role and his development. He accounts for 21.7% of the salary cap. That is not a small detail.

So while I will continue preaching patience and measured judgment, ignoring what is happening would be irresponsible. The job here is to mark the mile markers along the road. To document the experience as it unfolds. When the season ends, the entire story should be sitting in front of us, not reconstructed from memory, but lived in real time.

As a player, Jalen Green checks plenty of boxes on paper, does he not. Athleticism? Check. Length? Check. Personality, likability, the right attitude? Check, check, chiggity-check. Those are the intangibles, the traits that make you lean forward a little and believe there is something there worth investing in.

Then you get to the deliverables.

Three-point shooting? Finishing at the rim? Rebounding? Defense? Efficiency? Those are the areas that define whether a player turns potential into production, and through much of this season, those areas have left plenty to be desired. Against Chicago, all of it sat under the spotlight.

Green finished the night 5-of-20 from the field and 1-of-8 from deep. Yes, he tied for the team lead in scoring during the late fourth-quarter push, although it took work to get there. He needed 11 shots to score his 9 points in the quarter. Amir Coffey also had 9 points in that stretch. He took 3 shots.

The moment that sticks with you arrived in the final seconds. One of Green’s seven misses in the fourth quarter came on a layup attempt at the rim, a shot that would have given Phoenix a 1-point lead — their first of the night — with 4.5 seconds remaining. Instead, the ball rolled away, and with it went the chance to flip the script.

I know the loss against Chicago does not land squarely on Jalen Green’s shoulders. He was one spoke in a wheel that had a flat tire all night long. Nobody truly played well on either end of the floor, outside of Oso Ighodaro showing flashes here and there. Even he struggled at times protecting the rim. The problem was the inefficiency that spread across the entire roster. Phoenix could not slow Chicago down on one end, and they could not buy a basket on the other. That combination sinks a team every time, and it cannot all fall on Green.

Still, the game offered another look at Jalen Green operating as the second option for the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker is back on the floor, and there will be adjustments. That process takes time. The team is learning it, the organization is learning it, the fan base is learning it. The early returns, though, have not been encouraging.

External factors exist, and they deserve acknowledgment. Injuries disrupt rhythm. Roles shift. Chemistry develops over time. At the same time, the production this season sits in a place that is difficult to ignore. It has been rough. Far rougher than anyone hoped when the season began.

I bring back a chart I initially posted back in November, fresh off the heels of a stellar 29-point Green performance against the Clippers. I charted Jalen Green’s 307 games with the Rockets and reminded the fanbase that, although his debut with Phoenix was electric, inconsistency is the name of his game.

With Houston, Green scored over 30 points 51 times. That was 16.6% of the time. But he also scored with 15 or fewer points in 107 games. 34.8% of the time. My observation then? “The highs are electric. The lows come more often than you’d expect.”

Now we look at the 14 games he’s played with Phoenix this season. Chart it and…

Inconsistent much?

Green is shooting 35.5% from the field this year. From three-point range, he sits at 26.3%. His effective field goal percentage is 41.8%. To put that into context, among players who have appeared in at least 14 games (which is where Green currently sits) he ranks 428 out of 448 in effective field goal percentage. That is the statistical neighborhood he occupies right now, and those numbers paint a clear picture of the struggle.

You can make the argument that he has not had enough time with this team in this role to truly settle into it. You can point to the fact that he missed 48 games this season and is still working to get his legs underneath him. I hear those arguments, and I acknowledge them. At the same time, I am watching what is happening on the court.

His legs did not look heavy late in the game when he took Isaac Okoro off the dribble and accelerated toward the rim. That moment had burst. That moment had lift. Fatigue was not the issue on that play. The problem was the finish.

That sequence tells a story we have seen repeatedly. Throughout this game, and honestly over the past nine games since returning from injury, Jalen Green has looked athletic. Springy. Explosive. A player who can turn the corner and get downhill. The challenge appears when the play reaches the rim.

Finishing has continued to be an issue for him, and that is not something unique to this season. It has followed him through his career. Green possesses elite athleticism, although his ability to convert around the basket has never matched the level of explosion he brings to the drive. During his four seasons with the Houston Rockets, Green took 57% of his shots at the rim and converted 53.8% of them. This season, the profile has shifted. Only 31.1% of his attempts come at the rim, and he is finishing those at 44.6%. The athleticism still shows up on the drive. The result at the end of that drive continues to be the hurdle.

Here is his career shooting chart.

That’s alotta blue…

When a player is integrating into a new system, the mistakes that show up are usually schematic. You see a missed offensive screen. A defensive rotation that arrives a step late. Those are the fingerprints of someone learning a structure, learning timing, learning where the next read lives.

What I have learned over time is that system integration rarely affects the shot itself.

The shot is the familiar part. It is the one thing that travels with a player from gym to gym, team to team, system to system. It is the comfort zone. The muscle memory. The skill that exists outside of the playbook. So yes, there will be a learning curve when it comes to role and responsibility within the offense. That part is expected. The shooting production, though, should be the steady ground underneath all of it. Throughout this season, that ground has not been steady.

Right now, it is a concern. In his 9 games since returning from injury, albeit some of those out of position and scheme, Green is shooting 20.3% from deep and 43.5% overall.

I assume some regression toward the mean will occur over time. Numbers tend to move in that direction if you give them enough attempts. The issue is that the mean itself still sits a distance away. When you look at Green’s career arc as a shooter, it becomes difficult to imagine a sudden leap arriving this late in the season.

He entered this year as a 34.2% three-point shooter during his time in Houston. With 19 games remaining, the math does not offer much room for a dramatic transformation. To get to 38% from three, which would be defined as “progression”, he would need to hit his next 18 attempts in a row. To reach his own career average, he would still need to knock down his next 12 consecutive threes.

That is the kind of arithmetic that tells you where things currently stand. And therein lies the concern.

For all the positive intangibles Jalen Green brings, the deliverables have lagged behind through this stretch of the season. In a strange way, that becomes the silver lining from nights like this. Not because he struggled, but because a longer timeline reveals something clearer. You start to see the contours of the player. You start to see where the limitations live. And those observations matter when you are talking about a player who will earn $72 million over the next two seasons.

Yes, the sample is small. Anyone can argue that there is not enough runway to identify a trend, and I would not push back too hard on that point. I tend to lean on the twenty-game rule when evaluating stretches like this. I need twenty games to truly understand who a player is within the context of a system. And if your push back is along the lines of, “Well, the situation hasn’t been ideal for Green”, I respond with “Welcome to life. It never is.” The cream rises to the top, regardless of the situation. Champions adjust.

This is not a new story emerging out of nowhere. It is more of a reinforcement of something we already understood. Jalen Green, for all of the upside that exists in his athleticism and scoring potential, has long carried the label of an inefficient player. What the Phoenix Suns are seeing right now is a closer look at that reality. They are gathering information in real time while asking a very important question.

Can he be the number two option next to Devin Booker as Booker moves deeper into the prime years of his career? Is that worth $36 million per season?

There are still 19 games left for Green to answer some of those questions. Nineteen games to settle into the offense, find rhythm, and alter the narrative. If he does not, the offseason conversation becomes far more complicated for the Phoenix Suns.

Then again, there is another layer to consider.

Injuries, recovery, and adjusting to a new system all create noise in the evaluation process. It is possible the organization decides this sample does not provide enough evidence to make a firm decision this summer. That possibility exists.

There is another uncomfortable reality attached to that scenario as well. If Green continues to shoot and perform at this level, his value on the open market shrinks quickly. The Suns could once again find themselves holding a large contract that does not align with the production on the floor. Phoenix fans have seen that movie before. Bradley Beal. Deandre Ayton. The hope inside the building is that Jalen Green does not become the next chapter in that story.

That is the silver lining from Thursday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. The game offered another opportunity to understand who and what Jalen Green is as a number two option. Evaluation is the name of the game this season. Whether the results are good or bad, the process has to occur. The organization needs clarity on who they are and what direction they should take moving forward.

Thankfully, this evaluation period is happening at a moment when the Suns are not hurting themselves too badly in the standings. Phoenix remains firmly planted in the seventh spot in the Western Conference. Even after the Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets last night, the Suns still sit three games ahead of Golden State in that position. That means, as things currently stand, Phoenix would host a Play-In game against them. Try not to look too closely at the fact that the Suns are 1-3 against the Warriors this season.

Sure, a win against Chicago would have been ideal. It would have helped Phoenix gain ground on both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. That opportunity slipped away. Instead, the focus shifts to what the game revealed. Several performances fell below the standard. One of them carried far more weight than the others. When a player commands that level of financial investment, the spotlight naturally follows.

Jayson Tatum last played for the Boston Celtics 298 days ago, when his 42-point playoff masterpiece against the New York Knicks preceded what would become a nine-plus-month rehabilitation from a torn right Achilles tendon. Since then, he has worked to recover from surgery, regain strength, and progress through multiple 5-on-5 workouts in preparation for his long-awaited return.

The expectation is that Tatum will play Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported that the six-time All-Star is “ready to go.”

Boston played its first 62 games without Tatum, while also adjusting to several key offseason departures, including Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. Despite that, Boston has held its own, going 41–21 to sit second in the Eastern Conference with the fourth-best record in the NBA. Their offensive rating ranks second at 119.9, trailing only the Denver Nuggets, they’ve had the stingiest defense over the last fifteen games with a 106.1 defensive rating, and their 12.2 turnovers per game are the fewest in the league.

No matter what hurdles the inevitability of an NBA season has thrown their way, the Celtics have not relinquished their standard.

Now, with Tatum presumably set to return at any moment for Boston, a recycled topic has resurfaced — one about as fresh as wearing a velour tracksuit in 2026: Tatum’s role. Where will he play? How will he contribute? Is there room for him on an ascending Celtics team led by co-star Jaylen Brown amid a career-best season?

None of these questions are new. Only the circumstances surrounding them are different. The conversation is still stale, and like cold movie-theater popcorn, it belongs on the floor — not to be picked up.

There’s no immediate rush to get Tatum back — that’s the first point worth acknowledging. He’s returning from a career-threatening injury that raises questions about whether most athletes can play again, much less perform at their previous standard. No matter what Tatum’s minutes look like in his first 5–10 appearances, the focus won’t be on fitting in or carving out a new role. It will be on getting up to speed and regaining confidence in his strength to compete against NBA-level competition.

Brown has been the No. 1 option, and it’s been working — that’s fine. Expecting Tatum to jump back into the offense’s driver’s seat after nearly a year without an NBA game is absurd. Common sense dictates treating his comeback with as much caution as necessary, which will likely mean minutes restrictions at first and limit what he can do early on. That’s not a problem. Boston’s success in his absence proves it.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has completely redesigned his team’s offense to fit its circumstances. With no Tatum, several offseason departures, and the promotion of inexperienced players into larger roles, Boston couldn’t run its 2025–26 system the same way. Instead, Mazzulla and his staff developed a fresh, new scheme that allowed the roster to flourish. Neemias Queta, a first-time starting center, Hugo González, an impactful rookie, and Luka Garza, a veteran still finding his footing, have all been able to ascend in ways that would have been unimaginable during a typical Tatum-Brown season.

Queta has developed into a reliable starting center, deserving of keeping that role even after the Celtics acquired 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star Nikola Vučević at the trade deadline. González has left executives across the league rethinking their draft evaluations, delivering a two-way impact few rookies can match in their first year. And Garza has taken a notable step in his growth, providing serviceable minutes off the bench that resonate both on the court and with Boston’s home crowd. He’s even set a new career high in 3-pointers made (35) with 20 games left to play, eclipsing his previous mark of 16 set four seasons ago.

Everything the Celtics have worked to accomplish — establishing their core values, mindset, and player development — has been to survive without Tatum. So far, they’ve done a sensational job, making Brown and Mazzulla legitimate MVP and Coach of the Year candidates, respectively. Teams across the league are clueless as to how Boston has made it work, avoiding the easy route of tanking for a lottery pick. But it’s because they’ve become such a well-oiled machine that Tatum’s role this season barely matters. To think that keeping him sidelined because of a role conflict somehow benefits the Celtics is senseless.

The point is simple: Tatum makes the Celtics — and every other team in the league — better. That has been true since he became a pro, leaving zero room for debate. Even if he can only give Boston 15 minutes against Dallas, it’s more than worth playing him for all 15, and not just as an experiment.

He played the role of a facilitator in the NBA Finals. He’s one of the most elite scorers in the league. Questioning Tatum’s ability to fit completely neglects his versatility.

Boston’s offense is already lethal as is. The team rarely makes mistakes, continues to knock down threes at an above-average rate, and finds ways to get everyone involved. It’s not always Brown, Payton Pritchard, or Derrick White doing the heavy lifting. Queta resembled a top-10 center against the Philadelphia 76ers, dropping 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 17 rebounds on Sunday. González scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while fearlessly guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. It’s March, and this is what has become normal for the Celtics and their unproven supporting cast.

They’ve reshaped their schemes and their expectations. The ceiling is no longer the Play-In Tournament or any specific win total. Now, it’s about competing with the East-leading Pistons and making a run at the No. 1 seed. It’s about coming out of the East and securing a second NBA Finals appearance in the last three years — and it’s not some Cinderella story. If the Celtics reach the Finals, it will be because they earned it the hard way.

Tatum has spent eight healthy seasons in Boston. He’s played alongside Brown since his rookie year, reaching five Eastern Conference Finals with his longtime partner. To suggest there’s any cause for concern about whether they can coexist for another title run — after winning a championship just two years ago — isn’t a valid debate; it’s simply lazy.