PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel and Justin Brazeau each had a goal and an assist, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-0 on Sunday.
Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov also scored as Pittsburgh improved to 10-1-3 in its last 14 games. Erik Karlsson had two assists, and Arturs Silovs made 22 saves in his first shutout since opening night on Oct. 7 at the New York Rangers.
Vegas goaltender Adin Hill stopped 17 shots. The Golden Knights dropped to 4-7-2 in their last 13 games.
Vegas captain Mark Stone left late in the first period with an undisclosed injury. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang gave Stone a seemingly harmless shove to the left arm with his stick in the neutral zone, though it may have caught him in the gap between his elbow and shoulder pads. Stone grimaced in pain, went down to one knee and skated off.
Kindel, a first-round pick in the 2025 draft who turns 19 on April 19, scored his 15th goal with 5:04 left in the first.
The Penguins grabbed control with three more goals in the second. Rust and Rakell each scored on the power play.
Brazeau made it 5-0 with 5:01 left in the third. It was Brazeau's 16th on the season, extending his career high.
Up next
Both teams play again on Tuesday night. The Golden Knights visit Buffalo, and the Penguins are at Boston.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Tariq Francis scored 19 points and Rutgers, which once led by 20 points in the first half, defeated Maryland 69-65 on Sunday to sweep the season series between the teams.
Rutgers won 68-57 at home against Maryland in the other meeting this season.
Trailing by 19 at halftime, Maryland stormed back early in the second half. Elijah Saunders and Andre Mills hit 3-pointers and the Terrapins added five three throws in a 13-0 run that got them within 45-41 six minutes into the second half.
Maryland took the lead once at 48-47 and the score was tied at 54 with a little under five minutes remaining. Rutgers quickly went back ahead 60-54 and led the rest of the way. The Terrapins were within two points twice in the final half-minute but both times Rutgers delivered at the free-throw line to preserve the win.
Darren Buchanan Jr. scored 14 points and Jamichael Davis had 12 for Rutgers (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten).
Mills had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Saunders had 11 and 14 for Maryland, which had a 50-26 advantage on the boards but had 19 turnovers to six for Rutgers. Solomon Washington had 15 points and four blocks and David Coit scored 10 for the Terps (11-18, 4-14).
Maryland made only 1 of 14 3-pointers and had 14 turnovers in the first half. Rutgers had a 14-0 advantage in points after turnovers, helping the Scarlet Knights take a 39-20 halftime lead. In one eight-minute stretch the Scarlet Knights outscored the Terrapins 18-4.
The Scarlet Knights gained their second road win of the conference season.
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 24: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 24, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll be in the comments throughout the game sharing my thoughts. Feel free to join in on the conversation and let your voice be heard in the comments below.
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have signed point guard Ryan Nembhard to a standard NBA contract after he thrived as an undrafted rookie free agent on a two-way deal.
The multiyear agreement announced Sunday fills the roster spot created when the Mavericks waived point guard Tyus Jones, an 11-year veteran who was part of the three-team, nine-player trade that sent 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis from Dallas to Washington.
The Mavericks also filled two openings for two-way contracts by signing guard John Poulakidas and forward Tyler Smith. Dallas waived two-way guard Miles Kelly to make room for both signings.
Nembhard was closing in on the maximum number of games allowed under two-way contracts when the Mavericks turned Jones loose to give him a chance to sign with a contender. Dallas has lost 12 of its past 14 games and is on the way to missing the postseason for the second year in a row.
Nembhard has made 17 starts in 38 appearances for the Mavericks, averaging 6.7 points while leading all rookies at 4.9 assists per game. He became the first undrafted rookie with at least 25 points and 10 assists without committing a turnover, scoring 28 points with 10 assists in a 131-121 victory over Denver on Dec. 1.
Poulakidas started the season with the G League's San Diego Clippers after going undrafted out of Yale.
Smith started this season with Rio Grande Valley in the G League. He previously played one season for the G League Ignite before getting drafted by Milwaukee in 2024. Smith played 23 games as a rookie for the Bucks.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jaloni Cambridge scored 33 points, Chance Gray added 21 and No. 13 Ohio State hit a program record 18 3-pointers in a 87-68 win over No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday afternoon in the regular season finale for both teams.
Cambridge shot 12 of 24 from the field and 7 of 12 from beyond the arc, the most she has made from deep all season. Gray shot 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
Elsa Lemilla recorded a double-double for the Buckeyes (24-6, 13-5 Big Ten) with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kennedy Cambridge put up 10 points.
The Buckeyes had a 15-0 run in the second quarter, putting them up 38-11, and they went into halftime leading 49-26.
The Spartans (22-7, 11-7) were led in scoring by Grace VanSlooten, with 17. Rashunda Jones scored 16 and Ines Sotelo added 11.
Up next
Michigan State: Will be the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. The Spartans play on Thursday.
Ohio State: Can be the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament with a Minnesota loss against Illinois, or the No. 5 seed if Minnesota wins.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone left his team’s game at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday because of an undisclosed injury.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang gave Stone a seemingly harmless shove to the left arm with his stick in the neutral zone late in the first period, though it may have caught him in the gap between his elbow and shoulder pads. Stone grimaced in pain, went down to one knee and skated off.
The 33-year-old winger has a history of injuries sidelining him throughout his NHL career over the past decade-plus, including a wrist injury in the fall. He has never played all 82 games in a season since becoming a full-time player in the league with Ottawa in 2014-15.
Stone is the Golden Knights’ second-leading scorer with 60 points in 43 games. He just helped Canada reach the final at the Olympics before losing to the U.S. in overtime.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Elina Aarnisalo scored a career-high 22 points while Nyla Harris had 10 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 21 North Carolina beat No. 12 Duke 74-69 on Sunday.
The Tar Heels (25-6, 14-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) denied the Blue Devils (21-8, 16-2) a chance to secure their first outright league regular-season title since 2013. While Duke had already clinched the No. 1 seed for next week’s ACC Tournament, 10th-ranked Louisville can clinch a share of the regular-season crown with a win later Sunday against Notre Dame.
UNC had won 11 of 12 coming in, with the lone loss coming at Duke two weeks ago — a game in which the Blue Devils notably had a 21-0 advantage in free-throw attempts. The Tar Heels repeatedly got to the line in the rematch, going 15 for 18 at the line in the fourth quarter alone and 20 of 27 for the game.
Harris led that effort, hitting all six of her free throws in the fourth quarter while repeatedly drawing whistles in the paint. Aarnisalo hit two free throws at the 3:51 mark for a 61-60 lead that put the Tar Heels ahead for good.
The president of Iran’s soccer federation says he does not know if the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of his country.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional instability.
Iran has been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and is scheduled to play in Los Angeles – where it faces New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively – before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The United States is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.
Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the U.S. in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
FIFA did not immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press over the current situation regarding Iran’s participation in the World Cup.
The Sacramento Kings have been better but not good enough lately as they visit the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sacramento is just 2-8 in its last 10, but has won two of three and covered three of four. The Lakers, meanwhile, have covered just one of their last five, going 2-3 straight up over that span.
Those strings both end today. My Kings vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 1, look for the Lakers to cover the double-digit spread at home.
Kings vs Lakers prediction
Kings vs Lakers best bet: Lakers -12.5 (-110)
The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t used to being a heavy favorite this season.
This is just their fifth double-digit line as a favorite after going 3-1 against the spread in the previous four. The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, have covered just two of their last six as a double-digit underdog.
The Kings’ recent hot streak has been built on a soft spot in the schedule.
The two wins have come against sub-.400 teams, Memphis and Dallas. Sacramento’s last win over a team with a winning record was Jan. 14, 20 games ago.
The Lakers, meanwhile, will be playing their first losing team in the last five.
Kings vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Lakers and Kings both play in the bottom half of the league in tempo. Los Angeles has gone Under in three of its last four. Sacramento has been going Over lately, but it's been playing fast-paced Dallas and Memphis. Even San Antonio, another recent Over, plays at a faster pace.
Luka Doncic has had games of 38 and 41 points in his five contests since returning from injury. He’s made 10 of his last 20 from three and is facing the NBA’s No. 22 perimeter defense.
Kings vs Lakers SGP
Lakers -12.5
Under 233
Luka Doncic Over 32.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Deep Trouble
LeBron James has topped 20 in three of the last four and will be ready to put on a show in prime time.
Doncic is 24-for-51 from three in the five games since returning. He’s topped four made threes in four of the five.
Kennard had seven 3-point attempts in his last game, his high since joining the Lakers. He’s also topped 20 minutes of playing time in his last two, as the team incorporates him more into the offense.
Kings vs Lakers SGP
Lakers -12.5
LeBron James Over 20.5 points
Luka Doncic Over 3.5 made threes
Luke Kennard Over 1.5 made threes
Kings vs Lakers odds
Spread: Kings +12.5 (-110) | Lakers -12.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Kings +525 | Lakers -750
Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)
Kings vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Sacramento Kings have hit the Team Total Under in 31 of their last 50 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Lakers.
How to watch Kings vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports California, Spectrum SportsNet
Kings vs Lakers latest injuries
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PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 26: Royce O'Neale #00 and Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns high five after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 26, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Week 19 for the Phoenix Suns is a reminder of the exercise of restraint. Because at times, it’s hard to restrain from the frustration that you feel when you watch a basketball team become inert on offense. Watching the Suns operate and stall without Devin Booker can be frustrating. A team without the edge that Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin inject into every passing lane and loose ball feels like watching The NeverEnding Story. Because it can feel like the Nothing is destroying our world.
There are possessions when the offense is competent. The ball finds a side, swings to the corner, touches the paint, and kicks back out. For a moment, you see Fantasia in full color. We witnessed this on the possession that sunk the Lakers, where Grayson Allen penetrated, kicked it to Collin Gillespie, who found Royce O’Neale for the game-winner.
ROYCE O'NEALE HITS THE GO-AHEAD 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
It’s artistic when the rhythm breathes and the spacing makes sense. You can almost hear Falkor circling overhead, our very own luck dragon energy filling the building.
Then the Nothing creeps in.
You see it in the pump fakes. You see it in the extra dribble that leads nowhere. You see it when a player catches, pauses, scans, and finds no doorway. There is no Childlike Empress whispering a path forward. The shot clock ticks with the same dread as Artax sinking into the Swamp of Sadness. You scream at the screen to keep moving, to keep believing, to refuse to let the mud take another trip.
These are stretches where the offense dissolves into fog. Three, four, five trips in a row where the Suns cannot score, where imagination evaporates, and the floor shrinks. We experienced this plenty this past week.
The Suns were up 41-30 against Boston with 6:41 left in the second quarter. They did not score again until the 2:36 mark, and that was on a trio of free throws by Grayson Allen after being fouled. It wasn’t until 1:06 left in the quarter that they scored another field goal. 5:35 of Nothing. In the same game, they made their 7th three-pointer at that same mark, the 6:41 mark in the second. Their next three-point make came with 1:24 left in the third quarter. In between? Nothing…
Shift the Laker game. Phoenix came out hot, going up 17-9 with 6:50 left in the first. Before you could tweet out your favorite Ayton/Capela joke, the offense stalled, and by the 4:22 mark they were down 21-17. Closing out the third was similar, as Phoenix held a 10-point lead with 4:56 left, up 45-35. They would be outscored 14-4 to end the quarter. A whole lotta Nothing.
It’s like Gmork informing Atreyu, “It’s the emptiness that’s left. It’s like a despair, destroying this world”.
The Rock Biter stands there in your mind, looking down at his massive hands and wondering why they could not hold onto what mattered. The Suns find themselves staring at empty trips that feel heavier than they should, because you know a functional offense – even an average one- swings the outcome.
Thankfully, this is not a never ending story. Reinforcements are coming. Booker will walk back into the lineup with that calm command, bending coverages and restoring order. Goodwin will bring the pressure and the pace. Brooks will eventually return with that restless edge that refuses to let a game drift into apathy.
Fantasia is bruised right now, not gone. The Nothing feels large in the moment, suffocating and relentless, yet it feeds on doubt. When the creators return, when belief returns, the ball will move with purpose again. And these stagnant stretches will shrink back into the shadows where they belong.
And therein lies the paradox of Week 19. Doubt starts creeping in, and like Atreyu at the edge of the Nothing, you have to fight it. You know the circumstances that led to those empty stretches where the offense disappears. You hoped the foundation of the talent would be strong enough to carry it through, but reality keeps tapping you on the shoulder.
The frustration is valid. So is the understanding that this team is nowhere near whole.
That is what you walk away with from Week 19. An understanding that the talent, the rotations, and whatever conclusions you want to draw are largely moot right now. This is a week you log, label, and file away. This is what happens when injuries pile up. You do not extract lessons from it. You put it in the cabinet and move on. And hey, we beat the Lakers. And that is something.
Week 19 Record: 1-1
vs. Boston Celtics, L, 97-81
Possession Differential: +3.8
Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +8
This is the game where I began writing about the similarities between the Suns and The Nothing. Because being in the building, which sounded like TD Garden, there were prolonged stretches of Nothing.
vs. Los Angeles Lakers, W, 113-110
Possession Differential: -1.2
Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -13
…and the Suns totally redeem themselves. Any day you beat LA is a good one. And given the recent struggles of the team, this made for a great one.
Inside the Possession Game
Weekly Possession Differential: +0.5
Weekly Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -8
Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +8
You want a graph? You got it!
As I stated above, there is no deep-seated analysis required for Week 19. When you understand how banged up this team has been, there is only so much you can reasonably extract from it.
You can scan the numbers and walk away recognizing that, even during those inert offensive stretches, some foundational elements held. Because if Week 19 is about anything, it is about foundation. It is about Jordan Ott being tested. It is about seeing how transferable his schemes are when key pieces are missing.
There were positives.
An 11.6 turnover percentage, second best in the league this week. Despite that prolonged stretch in Boston when the rim felt sealed shut, they still shot 39.5% from three on the week, seventh best in the NBA. The process did not completely erode.
Then there is the other side, and it is not pretty.
28th in rebounding. Last in the NBA at 13.5 free throw attempts per game. Last with a 41.1% rebounding percentage. 25th with a 58% assist percentage. 26th in steals at 6.5 per game. Those numbers paint a different picture. One where physicality dips. One where pressure wanes. If there is a concern to file away, it is this. How much of Jordan Ott’s system holds when primary players are unavailable? How much is plug and play, and how much is talent-dependent?
Although even that has to be weighed properly. How realistic is it to expect seamless execution when your core pieces are out? There is only so much a scheme can do when the bodies running it change nightly.
Week 20 Preview
Week 19 gave you two games. That was it. Now the calendar flips to March and the sprint begins. Week 20 brings four games in six nights.
It starts in Sacramento. Tuesday night. 9:00pm on NBC. Nine. PM. Who signed off on that? I am not sure that game needs the national spotlight. Then again, listen to me sounding high and mighty. How did the Kings land an NBC slot? Sacramento enters Sunday at 14-47. They have won two of their last 19. They score the second fewest points in the NBA and allow the third most. It is the definition of a game you have to win. And yes, I am staying true to character by complaining about a 9:00pm tip. Damn you, 9:00pm start!!!
Phoenix comes home Thursday to face the Chicago Bulls. Chicago reshuffled at the deadline and did not win a single game in February. They were 24-25 after beating Miami on January 31. They are now 24-36. This is also the return of Nick Richards. In eight games off the bench, he is averaging 9 points and 6.9 rebounds.
Friday night brings New Orleans to town. The Suns beat them on back-to-back nights earlier this season in New Orleans. They also handled them by 23 in early November, so Phoenix holds a 3-0 edge in the season series. The Pelicans sit at 19-42 entering Sunday. They are not tanking, however. Atlanta owns their first round pick, and it is unprotected. There is no incentive to fade. Expect effort.
The week closes against Charlotte. They are quietly one of the more entertaining League Pass teams out there. LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller. That trio can stress any defense. This is the kind of matchup where you wish Dillon Brooks were available to gum it up. Charlotte enters Sunday at 30-31, riding a four-game winning streak, even if the competition has not been elite. They have the fifth-best offense in the league. They can score in waves.
Four games. Six nights. A mix of must-win, revenge, and trap potential. The sprint has officially begun.
Neither team has been great defensively: the Grizzlies are allowing 117.9 points per game, while the Pacers are giving up 119.5.
Indiana has allowed 130+ points in each of its last four games, and Memphis has done so in two of four. The Pacers have hit the Over in four straight, while the Grizzlies have done the same in four of five.
Grizzlies vs Pacers same-game parlay
While both teams are struggling mightily, I’ve seen a little more fight out of the Grizzlies, who should snag a road win against a Pacers team that has lost five straight. GG Jackson II will lead the charge, as he’s taken advantage of his increased playing time to score 17+ points and hit at least two shots from deep in four of his last six games.
Grizzlies vs Pacers SGP
Grizzlies moneyline
GG Jackson II Over 15.5 points
GG Jackson II Over 1.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Good Game, Jackson
For my longshot SGP, I’ll start with my total and moneyline picks as a strong base. Let’s then back Jackson to clear his PRA total, which he’s gone Over in four of his last six games. I also love Taylor Hendricks to pick up at least one block, as he’s done this in each of his last four contests.
Grizzlies vs Pacers SGP
Over 238
Grizzlies moneyline
GG Jackson II Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
Taylor Hendricks Over 0.5 blocks
Grizzlies vs Pacers odds
Spread: Grizzlies +1 (-110) | Pacers -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Grizzlies -105 | Pacers -115
Over/Under: Over 238 (-110) | Under 238 (-110)
Grizzlies vs Pacers betting trend to know
The Over is 10-2 in Memphis’ last 12 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Pacers.
How to watch Grizzlies vs Pacers
Location
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE Memphis, FDSN Indiana
Grizzlies vs Pacers latest injuries
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The New Orleans Pelicans will look to extend their win streak to five games tonight when they head to the Intuit Dome to take on the LA Clippers.
Saddiq Bey has been a jack of all trades for New Orleans of late, and I predict that he’ll fill the box score again in my Pelicans vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 1.
Pelicans vs Clippers prediction
Pelicans vs Clippers best bet: Saddiq Bey Over 8.5 rebounds + assists (+110)
The New Orleans Pelicans are dealing with several injuries to key players, with Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Dejounte Murray likely out tonight.
That leaves the ball in the hands of Saddiq Bey, who’s stepped up admirably over the past couple of months.
Bey averaged a combined 10 assists and rebounds per game in February, notching Over 8.5 in four of his last six outings.
While the Los Angeles Clippers will likely clamp down Bey to try and limit his own scoring, the Pelicans guard will be able to dish off and create offense through his teammates.
Pelicans vs Clippers same-game parlay
If Bey is the guy for the Pelicans, then Kawhi Leonard is definitely the guy for the Clippers.
Leonard has recorded two straight games with 30+ points and should have no problem running it up again vs. the fifth-worst defense in the NBA.
Pelicans vs Clippers SGP
Saddiq Bey Over 8.5 assists and rebounds
Kawhi Leonard Over 28.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Eclipsing their total
The Clippers are in the middle of a three-game skid, but should be able to turn it around and run up the score tonight vs. a banged-up Pelicans squad.
Bennedict Mathurin has looked good since joining LA last month, with 21.3 ppg over his first five contests.
Brook Lopez has also recorded Over 9.5 points in three of his last five games.
Pelicans vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -9
Kawhi Leonard Over 28.5 points
Bennedict Mathurin Over 19.5 points
Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
Pelicans vs Clippers odds
Spread: Pelicans +9 | Clippers -9
Moneyline: Pelicans +280 | Clippers -361
Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5
Pelicans vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Clippers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Clippers.
How to watch Pelicans vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Pelicans+, FDSN SoCal
Pelicans vs Clippers latest injuries
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SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 12: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 12, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers (35-24) will face another opponent in their division on Sunday when they take on the Sacramento Kings (14-47) at home. This is the last time these two teams will square off this season.
The Lakers snapped what felt like their worst losing streak of the season on Saturday in the best way possible by putting together a dominant performance against Golden State. Sure, the Warriors were down two of their best players, but this win felt like a much-needed morale boost. It was also a reminder of what this Lakers team looks like when it’s playing like its best self.
Now, the question is: was the victory simply an anomaly or are the Lakers back to their winning ways? Because the team that we saw prior to this victory over the Warriors was the worst version we’ve seen all season and it’s important that they don’t appear again, especially at this time of the year. We could get our answer as early as Sunday’s game against the Kings, who will enter this contest with the rest advantage.
The Kings are currently the worst team in the league. Not only have they lost eight out of their last 10 games, but they recently snapped a 16-game losing streak, the worst in franchise history. They’re so down bad that they currently rank 28th in the league on both offense and defense.
Frankly speaking, losing to the Kings would be such a shame simply because they’ve only won 14 games this season and have already defeated the Lakers once. Yes, Los Angeles will be on the second night of a back-to-back, but this is a game they must get, especially since they dropped multiple winnable games over the last week.
For that to happen, it would be nice to see another team-effort performance from the purple and gold. There’s no need for Luka Dončić and LeBron James to go above and beyond for this one considering the Kings’ putrid defense. It would be ideal to see everyone contribute in the scoring department. The Lakers should feast inside the paint, which the Kings don’t really defend well.
Speaking of defense, the L.A. will not have to worry about containing Sacramento’s best scorer in Zach LaVine since he won’t be playing in this one due to injury. The same goes with Domantas Sabonis. So it’s really about making sure DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook don’t play extraordinarily well.
After a horrible week that saw them lose three straight games, the Lakers have the chance to bounce back by winning two in a row. A win on Sunday will also improve their record against a Pacific Division opponent, which could come in handy when playoff seedings get sorted a month from now. Let’s see if the Lakers can capitalize against the Kings on Sunday.
Notes and Updates
Since the Lakers are on a back-to-back, the injury report for this game has yet to be released.
For the Kings, expect Zach LaVine (finger surgery), Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair), Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain), De’Andre Hunter (left eye repair), Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain) to be out.
The Lakers are currently 7-7 against Pacific Division teams this season.
Dec 31, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) keeps the ball from New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs have already faced the Knicks twice this season, although the first meeting was an “off the books” affair in the finals of the NBA Cup. All of the games in the Cup t0urnament exist as regular season games except the finals, which exist in a weird limbo where the game doesn’t count as part of the record and the player stats aren’t counted. So, if you go to ESPN, you can find the box score for the December 16 game, which the Knicks won 124-113, but that game isn’t listed anywhere on basketball-reference.com, which is my go-to site for basketball-related facts. I think I will go with the basketball-reference version of history, where the Spurs are 1-0 against the Knicks, beating them 134-132 in the Frost Bank Center on New Year’s Eve where the Spurs held on by hitting their free throws in the final minute of play.
Tonight, they’re in Madison Square Garden, where the third place Knicks are 22-8. They have a potent offense led by Jalen Brunson, who is a master at creating just enough space to get off a shot and score from anywhere on the court. Karl-Anthony Towns is a skilled big man with range who will be a hard cover for Victor Wembanyama who can’t sag off of him to protect the rim.
The Spurs are on an 11 game wining streak, and are two games behind OKC in the loss column in the race for first in the West. They have two games in the Rodeo Road Trip, tonight in New York, and Tuesday in Philly against the Sixers, and if they win both, they will have an undefeated RRT, which has never happened before in Spurs history. They have a six-game lead over the Rockets for third, and with 23 games left in the regular season, they seemed primed to head into the postseason with home court advantage for at least a couple of rounds, assuming they win in the first round. Let’s make this win steak an even dozen, and GOOO Spurs GOO!!
Game Prediction:
Jeremy Sochan eats a radioactive hot dog from a shady vendor outside the Garden, and gains the super power of infinite shelf life, so he can always be ready to play no matter how long he sits on the bench. However, his superhero name of Hot Dog Man does not ever become popular.
San Antonio Spurs at New York Knickerbockers March 1, 2026 | 12:00 PM CT Streaming: NBA League Pass TV: ABC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Fresh off a rout of Milwaukee, the Knicks (38*-22) host the Spurs (43-16), team riding an 11-game win streak. The teams split their recent meetings: the Knicks fell 134–132 in Texas on New Year’s Eve after beating the Spurs 124–113 in the NBA Cup Final.
Tip-off is 1 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, fools! And go Knicks!
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
