The Brooklyn Nets returned to action last night and faced off against a potential NBA title contender in the Cleveland Cavaliers. As you’d expect, the Cavs showed why they’re contenders and the Nets are not as they cut the Nets up by 28 points.

From facing title contenders to facing the reigning, defending NBA Champions. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going to set the single season wins record, but they are on top of a tough Western Conference. They went into the All Star break with a 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 8 PM.

🤕 Injuries

No Nic Claxton. Night two of a back-to-back so don’t be surprised if there are more absences.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, and Ajay Mitchell are out.

🏀 The game

In a fun twist, the Cavs and Thunder will play each other Sunday afternoon on ABC.

We mentioned that the Thunder aren’t going to set the win record since that was the early discussion when they got off to their hot start. However, they’re still one of the major favorites to win the NBA championship. From Ricky O’Donnell at the mothership:

When they’re healthy, we’ll see if they can get back to their top form.

The Thunder started this season at 24-1 and looked like they would be a heavy favorite to win the championship. Since then, OKC went 18-13 into the All-Star break, and looked a lot more beatable. Likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently sidelined with an abdominal injury, Jalen Williams is battling a hamstring strain after being kept out with a wrist injury to start the year, and breakout sophomore Ajay Mitchell has also been in and out of the lineup lately.

OKC needs to know if Williams can get back to the All-NBA level he played at this year, because he just hasn’t been the same player this season. SGA can still take this team over the finish line, but his teammates need to hit some shots. The Thunder are still a pretty average shooting team from deep, and that can catch up to them in the playoffs. The defense will still be elite if Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso can all stay healthy for the playoffs, and that alone should make them the favorites before it starts. I really think SGA is a special player, and one of the three or four best guards the league has seen since Michael Jordan retired. He can carry the Thunder across the finish line to become the league’s first back-to-back champ since Kevin Durant was on the Golden State Warriors. It just doesn’t feel like this is an undeniable dynasty at this point.

We’ll see what they look like once they’re back at full strength.

We’ll see more of the kids tonight. Danny Wolf filled up the stat sheet in his 28 minutes last night, and in the event Porter Jr is out tonight, he’ll get more time on the court. Like the other rookies, Wolf needs as many minutes as possible so he can continue to grow.

Speaking of young players, Jared McCain is looking to find his way on his new team. He came over from the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the deadline, and he’s slotting in to a nice role where he gets 20 minutes a night while the big dogs heal up. If he makes the most of this opportunity, Mark Daigneault could turn to him to provide some shooting in the playoffs.

For the Nets, they’ve had to consistently find ways to pick themselves up from blowout losses. Four out of their last five losses have been by at least 16 points. You learn a lot during the course of a long season, and for this young Nets team, they hope the lessons (and losses) from this year will carry them into 2027 and beyond.

👀 Player to watch: Chet Holmgren

The Thunder’s core is still incredibly young, and Holmgren’s continued growth plays a big part in OKC’s present and future success. Holmgren’s at a career high 56 percent from the field, thanks in part to the team finding more shots for him on the inside. He’s taking more shots inside of three feet, and he’s shooting a blistering 81.5 percent on the inside. Getting easy buckets always makes life easier and while Gilgeous-Alexander heals up, OKC can lean on Holmgren a bit more and trust him to make something good happen every team he has the ball on the inside.

Day’ron Sharpe will have his hands full tonight. Brooklyn got outrebounded by 20 last night and if they want to be competitive tonight, that’s going to have to change. Sharpe has done well on the boards and has a soft touch at the rim so he’s always down to give Jordi Fernandez some good minutes.

📺 From the Vault

Ones in the air for Eric Dane

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

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Oklahoma City Thunder Game Notes – Oklahoma City Thunder
• Brooklyn visits Oklahoma City on 3-game road skid – AP
• The road is only going to get tougher for Nets as new tanking questions loom ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Jordi Fernandez has blunt reaction to blowout loss to Cavs after All-Star break – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

The Knicks aren’t winning it all this season.

Assuming they finish the regular season with a top-three seed, they’ll only meet the Pistons in the ECF.

That’s it, that’s where everything will end. The season won’t last past that.

Mike Brown said he liked the 3s his team generated in the first half but “they just didn’t go in.”

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) February 20, 2026

Mike Brown

On Towns’ comfort in offense:

“He’s comfortable. We’re continuing to try to do different things to help free him up. And we’ll continue to search to try to do different things to free him up throughout the course of the year.”

On choosing Shamet over Bridges to close the game:

“Landry had hit a couple shots. We needed to score. They’re both really good defenders. And so I just stayed with Landry. But it wasn’t anything where, ‘Oh, I’m going to sit Mikal because he’s not doing this, or he’s not doing that.’ We were looking to score points and Landry was the only one to make a shot from behind the arc.”

On the Pistons’ defensive adjustments:

“In the first half, too, [the Pistons] switch a lot. So, with [Mitchell Robinson], they’re going to blitz or double-team the ball. With KAT, they’re going to switch, especially if they create separation. And so we tried running some of the same actions they switched, and he didn’t get as many good looks as he did in the second half. We opened it up and tried to set the screen a little bit higher and a little bit quicker in that second half, so we can get right to it, which freed him up at times.”

On defending Cade Cunningham’s size:

“He can do a lot for a guy his size and puts teams in predicaments with the stuff that he’s doing because really your guy is [6-foot-2], 6-1 and is on a guy who is 6-7 doing it. And you’re putting a small forward on him. Most of the time the small forward isn’t used to navigating the stuff that he does on the floor.”

On failing to keep ball out of the middle:

“We want to try to keep the ball off the middle of the floor. And we didn’t do a good job of it. We allowed him to get to the middle of the floor often. And when he got to the middle of the floor he hurt us. So we have to do a better job of trying to keep the ball on the sidelines and not allowing it to get to the middle of the floor.”

On the three-point shooting struggles on Thursday:

“We did a great job of generating some wide-open looks, especially from the 3-point line. They just didn’t go in tonight.”

On Sochan’s debut minutes:

“I thought his minutes were pretty good. It gives us the ability to give a guy like Cade [Cunningham] a different look. You know with his length and his strength and his athleticism, and we want to be physical.”

On Sochan’s physical defense:

“He hadn’t played in a while, but most of the time that he was on the floor and guarding Cade, there was a physicality to it, and we liked that. We need it.”

On overall debut evaluation:

“I thought for him, not having played in a while and him only being here for a couple of days, I thought he did a pretty good job.”

On the locker room disappointment following another lose:

“Nobody wants to lose. And everybody is disappointed. And I’m sure everybody is trying to figure out how they could’ve played better to help the team win. So it’s not a fun feeling. It shouldn’t be a fun feeling for me or anybody else in that locker room. But for sure it’s not the end of the world. We got to regroup, watch the film to see how to get better and get the next one.”

On Adam Silver’s tanking fixes:

“Definitely trying to make somebody fight for it at the end of the season. Whether you have a small tournament before the playoffs start or something like that to where it’s not just guaranteed that the team with the worst record gets the best odds. That may change it a little bit.

“Adam’s a smart guy and he’s figured out a lot of really good things for this league, so I have a ton of faith in him that he will figure it out.”

Jose Alvarado: "Playoffs is a whole different ballgame. We're not going to sit here and say, 'oh, they beat us in the regular season…' We're not thinking like that." pic.twitter.com/Dm1QB2oxbZ

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 20, 2026

Jose Alvarado

On the Pistons’ regular season sweep:

“Playoffs is a whole different ballgame. We’re not going to sit here and say, ‘Oh, they beat us in the regular season.’ We’re not thinking like that.”

"Just not up to our standards"

Jalen Brunson after the Knicks' 126-111 loss to the Pistons, their third loss in three tries against Detroit this season: pic.twitter.com/FFIlkxu7pn

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 20, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On Pistons’ regular-season dominance:

“It’s a new year.”

On another loss to the Pistons:

“They play great against us. I think today was not as bad as the first two losses. But it’s just not up to our standards.”

On failing to slow Cunningham:

“We just didn’t slow him down fast enough, or even at all.”

Karl-Anthony Towns believes regular season games against an opponent "mean a lot" should you face off against that team in the playoffs:

"It builds a confidence going into a series…you also have great film to see what did work" pic.twitter.com/NFus2rZ1v0

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 20, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On yet another loss to Detroit:

“It builds a confidence going into a series. You also have great film to see what did work.”

On his role on the Brown’s offense:

“I mean, our offense is our offense. It’s been that way all year. So we have our system and we’re gonna — regardless of who’s in the game or not in the game — we run the system that we have implemented for our team to the best of our abilities.”

On his third-quarter aggressiveness:

“Just trying to make a play, be aggressive with play-making. Got a chance to get a shot up and wanted to capitalize on those opportunities. And hopefully get us a spark, start the third quarter on a strong note. What I definitely wanted to, if I could control anything in the third, was get us off to a quick start. I’m happy I was able to do that and find chances to impose my will in the game.”

On no moral victories in losing to Detroit by fewer than 90 points:

“There’s no moral victories or one New York wants to see. But we got a lot of film and we’ll see each other in the playoffs, and we got to be ready.”

pic.twitter.com/2b4WehIFaq

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 20, 2026

Mohamed Diawara

On his role uncertainty after Sochan’s addition:

“I’m just gonna continue what I was doing. Keep working and being ready for each opportunity that I’m gonna get. I’m not worried about that. I know the coaching staff and the team is gonna do whatever is good for the team, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

On his mindset amid his rookie season:

“I’m a rookie, rookie year, first year in the league. The league, anything can happen, so I’m just gonna take what I have to take and not take anything for granted and just keep working until I’m gonna be that player [I want to be].”

On where he’s improved the most in the NBA:

“I think my 3-point shot. I think my 3-point shot became a little bit more consistent. I think that’s the biggest thing, and maybe my defense too, a little bit.”

“It means a lot to sweep a team as good as them.”

Cade Cunningham speaks on the #Pistons sweeping the Knicks during their three-game regular-season series. pic.twitter.com/gSgLcY7hOW

— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) February 20, 2026

Cade Cunningham

On his MVP candidacy:

“It comes from doing the things I said, what I needed to do to be in that conversation. Now that we’re getting closer, there’s more [talk] like ‘What is your case? You should speak on it.’ I don’t really care to speak on it. I want the people that vote on it to be smart enough to look at the game for themselves.”

On sweeping the Knicks:

“To sweep a team as good as them, they play high-level basketball. To beat them, we’re trying to win tiebreaker and stuff, that means something. Just competing against the Eastern teams, beating a good team, means a lot.”

On making a statement on Thursday:

“What is it? I mean we’re the best team in the East, I don’t know what statement. The statement is coming to play every night, and we’re going to compete until you lay down for us.”

#BREAKING Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was in a wreck Wednesday afternoon in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/r5sJsDDeXS

— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) February 18, 2026

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — American freeskier Hunter Hess and three of his teammates have qualified for Friday’s 12-man halfpipe Olympic final, when they will have a shot at delivering the first gold medal in nearly two weeks of freeskiing or snowboarding at the Livigno snow park.

Hess was thrust into the spotlight at the Milan Cortina Games when U.S. President Donald Trump called him a “loser” after the athlete had said that "just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

Hess made a “L” sign with his hand, with L meaning “loser,” against his helmet after his first qualifying run on Friday. He then told reporters that he stands by the statement that had drawn Trump's ire, while also reiterating that he loves his country.

Hess will be joined by fellow Americans Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper and Birk Irving in the final.

Brendan MacKay of Canada topped qualifying, when skiers got two runs down the halfpipe, with their best score counting. Two other Canadians also advanced.

Reigning world champion Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand missed the cut after crashing on both of his qualifying runs.

Elizabeth Lemley won gold in women’s moguls freeskiing at the Winter Games, but the moguls events are held at a separate venue in Livigno. The Livigno snow park hosts the halfpipe, slopestyle and big air events for freeski and snowboarding.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have some big decisions to make this summer, but until then, the show must go on as they visit the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

I’m not reading too much into Milwaukee’s 5-1 spurt before the All-Star break, especially with Myles Turner now also sidelined, but my Bucks vs. Pelicans predictions expect Ryan Rollins to feast against a shaky New Orleans defense.

Check out my NBA picks for this February 20 matchup.

Bucks vs Pelicans prediction

Bucks vs Pelicans best bet: Ryan Rollins Over 18.5 points (-115)

There’s a Giannis-sized hole in the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting lineup, and Ryan Rollins has a clear path to bumper stats after resting a foot issue over the break.

Rollins has nailed this Over in six of his last eight games, and he’s averaging 21.8 ppg so far in February.

I’ll gladly pick against a New Orleans Pelicans team that’s allowing 120.4 ppg, tied for fourth-most in the NBA. Rollins gave the Pels fits earlier this month on the way to 27 points. 

One glance at the Milwaukee rotation tonight confirms Rollins will be doing the heavy lifting.

Bucks vs Pelicans same-game parlay

It’s been a road-heavy schedule lately for the Pelicans, but they’re 17-11-1 ATS at home this year. The hosts should escape with a win, especially if they profit in the paint against a Milwaukee squad missing Giannis and Turner.

I’ll double down on that with a pair of Derik Queen wagers. He and Zion Williamson can both put up impressive numbers tonight, but I’m targeting Queen, who will get even more touches if Trey Murphy III (doubtful) is ruled out.

Bucks vs Pelicans SGP

• Pelicans moneyline
• Derik Queen Over 12.5 points
• Derik Queen Over 0.5 3-pointers

Our "from downtown" SGP: Point guards rollin’

It’s an all-point guard SGP here, with Rollins and Jeremiah Fears both set for big minutes down the stretch this season. Rollins gets the keys to the Giannis-less Milwaukee offense, while Fears will benefit from New Orleans’ thin backcourt depth.

Fears was within touching distance of a triple-double in his last outing before All-Star weekend.

Bucks vs Pelicans SGP

• Ryan Rollins Over 18.5 points
• Ryan Rollins Over 4.5 assists
• Jeremiah Fears Over 14.5 points
• Jeremiah Fears Over 3.5 assists

Bucks vs Pelicans odds

• Spread: Bucks +4 | Pelicans -4
• Moneyline: Bucks +145 | Pelicans -170
• Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5

Bucks vs Pelicans betting trend to know

The Bucks are 11-18 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Pelicans.

How to watch Bucks vs Pelicans

Bucks vs Pelicans latest injuries

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PHOENIX (AP) — Pat Murphy says he knows he belongs with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now the two-time NL manager of the year has agreed to a new contract that assures he will remain in Milwaukee for some time to come.

Murphy has led the Brewers to division titles and has been selected as NL manager of the year each of his first two seasons on the job. He had been Milwaukee’s bench coach on Craig Counsell's staff for eight seasons before taking over as manager.

“I don’t want to be with any other organization,” Murphy told reporters Friday from the Brewers' spring training complex after the deal was announced. “I feel really connected. This is going on my 11th season. I feel really part of it. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Murphy’s contract had been set to expire at the end of the season before he and the Brewers agreed to terms on this new deal. He had taken over as Milwaukee’s manager after Counsell let his contract run out following the 2023 season and then signed a lucrative deal with the rival Chicago Cubs.

Counsell said he talked to Murphy on Thursday night.

“Thrilled for him,” Counsell said before the Cubs' Cactus League opener in Mesa. “Absolutely thrilled for him.”

The Brewers didn’t release terms of Murphy's contract. The Athletic, which first reported Murphy’s new deal, said he now has a three-year contract with a club option for 2029.

“I really didn’t have any doubt that this was going to work out,” Murphy told reporters. “I’m really grateful, really thankful.”

Murphy, 67, owns a 190-134 record as Milwaukee’s manager and has helped the Brewers wildly outperform preseason forecasts each of the last two years. The Brewers earned a franchise-record 97 wins last season, won a third straight NL Central title and beat Counsell’s Cubs in the NL Division Series before getting swept in the NL Championship Series by the eventual World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Brewers went 93-69 and won the NL Central championship in 2024 before losing an NL Wild Card Series to the New York Mets.

Along the way, he has delighted Brewers fans and gained attention for his unique style, which has included pulling out pancakes from his pocket during a televised dugout interview and having his sons frequently sitting alongside him at postgame news conferences.

“He fits a young team really well, getting guys to believe in themselves — the kind of players who have made up our team over the years, where guys maybe hadn’t had success in other places and kind of come here and find their footing, find success and find themselves,” Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich told reporters.

Murphy is the first Brewers skipper ever to get named manager of the year. The only other people ever to get selected as manager of the year in consecutive seasons are Atlanta’s Bobby Cox (2004-05), Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash (2020-21) and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt (2024-25).

“He’s special,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold told reporters. “I love the fact he wants to continue to challenge everyone in the room and try to make everyone better. I think he’s not afraid. He’s competitive. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail for a win and to make you better off the field. He cares about people. I love that about him.”

Murphy's only previous major league managerial experience came when he went 42-54 on an interim basis with San Diego in 2015 after the firing of Bud Black. He was a minor league manager in the Padres organization from 2011-2015.

Before that, Murphy posted a combined 947-400-2 coaching record at Notre Dame (1988-94) and Arizona State (1995-2009). He coached Counsell at Notre Dame and helped Arizona State reach the College World Series championship game in 1998.

He had a total of 1,000 college wins in a career that also included stints at Division-III Maryville (1983) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (1986-87).

“I really feel lucky driving to work every day,” Murphy told reporters. “I feel lucky this is what I do for a living. I feel lucky that someone says, 'Yes, yeah, we want you to be in this position for our organization. I feel lucky and I feel fortunate. I know how tough it is to get there.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

With the NBA trade deadline long gone and All-Star weekend now over with, it’s officially the tail end of the season and the Milwaukee Bucks ramp it back up tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center—God bless America! Last time these teams played, the Bucks were in the quandary of needing to win to protect their pick while teetering on tanking. After winning that one 141-137 in overtime, and unexpectedly winning three of the next four—including road wins against the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder—the Bucks are embracing winning again. Even better, new recruits Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng have been at the centre of the resurgence and look like potential long-term fits. So, with stakes now again on the line, can the Bucks live up to expectations?

Where We’re At

As noted, Milwaukee is on a tear, bringing much needed joy back to Bucks fans’ hearts. Thomas gives the team a bravado it’s needed—an unwavering confidence that it (he) can get a bucket when the opposition clamps down. In turn, Dieng fills a positional need and seems to be tapping into all that potential that made him the 11th overall pick in 2022. Of course, both bring youth too. So, giving up Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, the Bucks got younger, filled a position of need, have upside, and are fun again. Kudos to you, Trader Jon.

Since losing to the Bucks, New Orleans has won two out of three, knocking off the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis and the Sacramento Kings at home before losing to the Miami Heat. It’s been the usual suspects for the Pelicans, with Zion Williamson (24.0 PPG, 70% shooting), Trey Murphy III (22.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.3 3PM), and Saddiq Bey (18.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG) leading the way in this stretch. The Pelicans have stuck with their unconventional lineup too, Herb Jones and Derik Queen joining the aforementioned three in a starting group where under 6’6”s need not apply—though bizarrely they don’t start anyone over 6’9” either. Roster-wise, New Orleans made just one move at the deadline—much to the frustrations of their fans—trading Jose Alvarado, the team’s “heart and soul,” to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry and two future second-round picks. So, at least for the rest of the season, they’ll ride it out with the group the front office still believes is a playoff roster. You know, the one that’s got them to a 15-41 record. Without the fallback of a pick in the coming draft. Yikes.

Injury Report

For the Bucks, Giannis (calf), Taurean Prince (neck), and Myles Turner (calf) remain out.

For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray (Achilles), Yves Missi (calf), and Micah Peavy (toe) are out, while Trey Murphy III (shoulder) is doubtful.

Player To Watch

On a new team, one good game is expected. Two in a row raises eyebrows, but players are always juiced going up against the team that just traded them. Three in a row? Now that would smell like consistency. Does Dieng have it in him? While only he knows, what we do know is that he fits the desired archetype: size and length at the three, able to space the floor, some secondary ball handling, and activity on defence. That is, a multidimensional player. If you think it’s too good to be true, it just might be. Or, it might be transformational—for Dieng and the Bucks. Facing a Pelicans team that is loaded on the wing—including none other than long-time Bucks target Murphy—Dieng has a very real shot at placing a stake in the ground and claiming the starting small forward position as his own. However, with Ryan Rollins returning and stalwart starters Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green available, Dieng might have to do so from the bench. Doc Rivers’ rotation will be telling.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.

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You know how Batman has the Bat Signal to project a big light in the sky for when people need him the most? I have my own Bat Signal, except it’s exclusively for Boston Celtics content emergencies. I call it the “why is everyone in my day-to-day life asking me this question?” Signal. We’re working on the name.

Right now, the signal is going crazy with a simple message: will Jayson Tatum return to play for the Celtics this season? Contained in that question are easy follow-ups: should he return? Is he rushing back? Will it be bad for team chemistry? Is there going to be a conflict with Jaylen Brown, who’s been a low-key MVP candidate this year? 

When the Signal is shining this bright, you know I have the answers. And the answers are … I don’t care. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I recuse myself. I pardon you all from the suffering of trying to answer these questions. I release you, because the answers are “unknowable and irrelevant,” two words to live by and also my nickname in college. 

So to keep things knowable and relevant, here’s the distillation: Jayson Tatum returning to play this season is simply a non-issue for Celtics fans, for Boston sports media or for anyone else with their emotional or professional wellbeing wrapped up in the Boston basketball industrial complex. Whatever ends up being Tatum and the team’s decision will be the right decision, and there is no reason to worry about this.

There are two basic questions people are trying to answer: will Jayson Tatum come back this season, and should he come back. Both are not rational discussions and thus we should not have them. Here’s why.

First, I am not some kind of debate detractor. Generally, I think it’s fine to discuss anything in potent or polemical public pieces in parallel publications, such as whether the New England Patriots were frauds, if Olympic Curling is the best competitive entertainment product since Season 1 of Survivor or the necessity of aggressive alliteration with the letter P in the fifth paragraph of an article about Jayson Tatum. All of that is fair game, because the parameters of those discussions are reasonably equal.

The problem with the “will Jayson Tatum come back?” question is that any rational argument about that would require a baseline of medical information that we simply do not have. Reading tea leaves about the five-part docuseries about his road to recovery or that the NBA flexed a March 1 game to primetime on NBC suggests a fairly commercial motivation for returning to play, something I do not believe Tatum or the Celtics would ever risk.

Even more insane is trying to determine if he is rushing back from his injury or is putting himself at additional risk by not sitting out the whole season—as if any of us have literally any idea what we’re talking about in the field of a specific individual’s recovery from Achilles surgery. If you want to speculate on that, I have a quick questionnaire for you to fill out: 1. Are you an Achilles surgeon/specialist or do you have intimate access to one? 2. If yes, is said specialist Jayson Tatum’s doctor themselves? 3. If yes, you may now speculate. 

Basically, it doesn’t matter if Tatum is rushing back from his injury; if he comes back, I am forced to assume it was the right decision because there is no planet where I could possibly dispute it. It’s a hard thing to do for someone who thinks they have a right to comment on everything that happens with this team, but I am hereby recusing myself entirely.

We move now to the basketball consequences of Tatum’s return, namely the glorious question of “should he return, even if healthy?” The Celtics are playing great, Jaylen Brown has been a revelation and it would be risky to disrupt such great chemistry, right? Maybe just see how this thing goes and bring Tatum back for next season, right? Right? RIGHT!?

If you are worried about that, I have yet another question for you: are you kidding me? 

The Celtics not bringing back Jayson Tatum because they are worried he will make the team worse is like not cashing your monthly paycheck because you’re worried it will make your wallet a little heavier in your left pocket. It’s like not listening to the new Kendrick album because you’re worried you’ll like some songs and it will disrupt your carefully curated Spotify playlists by adding them. It’s like—are we being serious about asking if adding 27-year-old, four-time All-NBA First Team Jayson Tatum to the basketball team is going to make the team worse at basketball?!?

Basketball teams are not porcelain figurines that may break at the first stiff breeze they encounter. They are built through blood, sweat and work over months; they need every single piece they can get. If that piece is Tatum, it would be an excellent one to add. There is nothing more to litigate.

The reason people still want to litigate it is, probably, because there is real money riding on the Celtics in the form of win-total or Championship futures, Jaylen Brown MVP odds and an untold number of gambling stakes in whether Jayson Tatum returns or not. But even gambling discussions must base themselves on logical parameters, and as we have functionally proven, such parameters do not exist in this dojo. 

If Tatum returns, it will be good for the Celtics. If something goes wrong afterward, it will be bad for the Celtics, but we have no reason to predict that given the presently available information. Hypothetical future narratives about re-injury or Tatum-Brown beef are pure speculation, something that also does not exist in this dojo. This dojo is rational, and thus, for now, closed.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers look for their seventh straight win when they visit the Charlotte Hornets tonight.

Both teams will be playing the latter half of a back-to-back, with the books setting the visitors as 6-point favorites in the NBA odds.

Even with James Harden’s successful integration onto the Cleveland roster, my Cavaliers vs. Hornets predictions and free NBA picks like the home team to cover on Friday, February 20.

Cavaliers vs Hornets prediction

Cavaliers vs Hornets best bet: Hornets +6 (-110)

The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed Brooklyn 112-84 on Thursday, moving to 3-0 since acquiring James Harden while averaging 123 points a game.

But Cleveland has had its problems against the Charlotte Hornets. While they’ve won six of the last seven straight-up, they're just 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings.

The Hornets lost a close 105-101 decision to Houston yesterday, but they’re built to bounce back. They're 9-2 ATS on the second night of a back-to-back, the second-best mark in the NBA.

They’re also allowing just 105.2 ppg over their last 10, third-best in basketball.

Cavaliers vs Hornets same-game parlay

The point guards are front-and-center for this SGP. Harden has topped his 8.5-assist line in each of the last two games, missing the Over in his debut by two dimes.

LaMelo Ball, meanwhile, racked up seven assists in the loss to Houston, and he’s averaging 7.4 dimes per game on the season.

Cavaliers vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets +6
• James Harden Over 8.5 assists
• LaMelo Ball Over 6.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Arc asylum

Harden has hit at least three 3-balls in six of his last nine, shooting it much better than backcourt mate Donovan Mitchell, who has hit three triples in a game one time in his last seven.

Brandon Miller has hit 3+ 3-pointers in three of his last four, while rookie phenom Kon Knueppel has drilled 4+ in five of his last eight outings.

Ball has struggled shooting deep against Cleveland, hitting four 3-pointers or more in a game just three times in 10 career starts.

Cavaliers vs Hornets SGP

• James Harden Over 2.5 3-pointers
• Donovan Mitchell Under 2.5 3-pointers
• Brandon Miller Over 2.5 3-pointers 
• Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 3-pointers
• LaMelo Ball Under 3.5 3-poiners

Cavaliers vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -6 | Hornets +6
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -225 | Hornets +185
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 | Under 231.5

Cavaliers vs Hornets betting trend to know

The  Hornets have hit the moneyline in 20 of their last 35 games (+18.20 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Hornets.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Hornets

Cavaliers vs Hornets latest injuries

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The San Antonio Spurs “home stretch” of the Rodeo Road Trip in Austin kicked off with a bang. The Spurs secured a 121-94 victory over the Phoenix Suns. The Spurs were locked in defensively while playing an even offensive game. Six members of the Silver and Black scored in double digits, and 30 of San Antonio’s baskets came off assists.

.@StephonCastle going off tonight 🏰

📊: 20 PTS, 4 AST, 3 STL, 2 REB pic.twitter.com/HCr2cbTi40

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

Stephon Castle led the team in scoring with 20 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Castle shot an efficient 8-11 from the field and 2-4 from deep. He scored at all-three levels, getting shots to go around the rim, in the mid-range, and hitting some big threes. Castle has turned it on over the last month, heating up as the Spurs head into the stretch run of the season.

AREA 51 HAS ARRIVED ⚠️

📺 @KENS5pic.twitter.com/c4SLIrC6bN

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

The Area 51 duo was in action on Thursday night. Castle does a great job probing the defense until the defense ignores Victor Wembanyama (a mistake) and then finds him on the lob. Castle is probably the best on the team in finding the big man for lobs, which makes sense given the nickname.

Denied…and DENIED 🚫

📺 @KENS5pic.twitter.com/F4gU9NYt98

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

Wembanyama showed why he is considered the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. Wemby was dominant defensively, altering shot after shot in the paint. He finished the game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

OHHHHH. MAMAAAAA. 😳🤯

📺 @KENS5pic.twitter.com/Visftk0l8j

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

Wembanyama’s best play of the night came in the pick-and-roll when he slammed the ball over Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin. Williams had been playing physically and trying to dunk on him all night, and Wembanyama punished him on the other end with a towering slam.

WE SEE YOU LUKE 🤩

📺 @KENS5pic.twitter.com/Un1cGH0nXO

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

He wasn’t the only Spurs center with highlight reel dunks, though. Luke Kornet was all over the rim against the Suns. He had 10 points and 9 rebounds on a perfect 5-5 shooting from the field. He was a beast on the boards, grabbing three offensive rebounds. He’s been a much better lob threat than expected this season, thanks to his great hands and elite positioning in the paint.

ANOTHA ONE 😤

📺 @KENS5pic.twitter.com/o0dkKGfnIz

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

Kornet had the play of the game with this monster slam off the offensive board. There is nothing more satisfying than a one-handed put-back dunk.

okay @dy1anharper 😮‍💨

📺 @KENS5pic.twitter.com/wEPS2fZKwI

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2026

The rookies had their moments, too. Dylan Harper had 17 points off the bench, hitting 2 three-pointers. He, like Castle, scored at all three levels, which has been rare for him early in his career. Carter Bryant also hit two three-pointers, including a smooth-looking side-step jumper late in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio will play the Sacramento Kings in the last game of their Austin home-stand on Saturday night as they look to secure their 40th victory. Check out the video below for full game highlights.

Last offseason’s trade between the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, that saw Kevin Durant get dealt to Houston, in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, five second-round draft picks and the 10th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft has been a franchise saver, of sorts, for the Rockets. 

Especially when considering the mountain of injuries Houston has seen. Fred VanVleet was out before the season even started.

Steven Adams is out for the season.

(And hasn’t suited up in a month).

Tari Eason has missed over 20 games (well, 22, to be exact).

And Houston’s prized free agent signing, Dorian Finney-Smith, has missed 33 games (and hasn’t looked good, although we’ve seen positive signs, of late ).

Yet and still, the Rockets have their same record at this point in the season as last year. Despite being without three of last year’s starters.

According to Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, the Rockets’ brass tried making the deal for Durant at last year’s deadline, albeit with the inclusion of Jabari Smith Jr. instead of Dillon Brooks. 

“The deal was never gonna get done without Jalen and Dillon in the deal.”

Bartelstein claims the Suns wanted Brooks, to help set their culture.

Houston’s brass has denied being willing to part with Smith.

But make no mistake. They surely would’ve included him, if it came down to it.

Not many players on last year’s roster should’ve been deemed untouchable, especially with Kevin Durant on the table as an acquireable piece.

Even an older version.

We should expect the Rockets to deny their willingness to move Smith.

In the same way that it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Suns are now hyping up their guy in Brooks.

It’s a bit less believable that Brooks was a sticking point for the Suns.

It’s not like it could’ve been predicted that he was going to average a career-best 21 points (albeit on 18 shots).

It should also be noted that Phoenix couldn’t have moved Durant for Green and Smith at the deadline, from a salary standpoint, as Smith was still on his rookie salary.

But again, this shouldn’t be surprising. 

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The Miami Heat begin their second half on the road this evening against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Tip-off for this contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Jalen Johnson has been a beast this season, and I’m targeting him to ball out in my Heat vs. Hawks predictions. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, February 20.

Heat vs Hawks prediction

Heat vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points (-120)

Jalen Johnson has burst onto the scene this season, averaging 23.5 ppg. Before he partook in the All-Star festivities in Los Angeles, the Duke product cashed the Over in points in two of his final four games in the first half. 

He also returned with a bang on Thursday, as the Atlanta Hawks hammered the 76ers. Johnson showed out for 32 points. 

Johnson is averaging 26.5 ppg across two meetings with the Miami Heat in 2025-26, so he knows how to beat this team.

Heat vs Hawks same-game parlay

Tyler Herro is having a nice campaign, averaging 21.9 ppg. He’s hit the Over in points in four straight games. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging a respectable 3.7 assists per game. He’ll be important in getting Johnson more scoring opportunities tonight. 

The Canadian guard has cashed the Over in dimes in seven straight. 

Heat vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points
• Tyler Herro Over 17.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Home cooking for Hawks 

Atlanta is coming off a big win over the Sixers, and this new-look roster is promising. They also beat the Heat on February 3. 

Heat vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 points
• Tyler Herro Over 17.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 assists
• Hawks moneyline

Heat vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Heat -3.5 | Hawks +3.5
• Moneyline: Heat -155 | Hawks +130
• Over/Under: Over 244.5 | Under 244.5

Heat vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Hawks have hit the 1H Moneyline in 13 of their last 24 games (+7.05 Units / 23% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hawks.

How to watch Heat vs Hawks

Heat vs Hawks latest injuries

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#1 – Jaylen Brown driving the Celtics offense

With almost 19 drives per game, Brown is the second most prolific driver in the NBA this season – and last night might have been one of his most impressive games in the paint.

As the mid-ranges and 3-pointers wouldn’t fall, JB shifted his approach toward the rim and kept attacking it, with 10 field goals made in the paint. His craftiness was on full display, like here, where he crossed and attacked the space with just the right timing.

The Warriors tried to force him left and put bodies in the paint to slow down the five-time All-Star, but it didn’t work. The game felt easy for Brown, with very efficient footwork like here. He gathered the ball right before Draymond Green’s stunt, put his foot right between the two defenders while carrying the ball high to avoid their arms, and finished it with a nice touch.

With Nikola Vucevic on the court, the space to attack was even bigger, and Brown made the most of it to punish the Warriors’ aggressive defense.

Overall, 9 of his 10 field goals made came after a drive, showing how aggressive Jaylen Brown was after the All-Star break.

#2 – Celtics flare for space

The Warriors’ defensive coverage didn’t work against Brown’s drives but also collapsed due to the Celtics’ shooting ability and screening strategy. Green was asked to remain in the driving lane and leave Neemias Queta alone because the Portuguese big man is not a shooting threat – however, Queta can screen, and he screens pretty well.

In this play below, the Celtics had just crossed half court and already created an open shot for Sam Hauser thanks to a screen that punished Green’s positioning. The former DPOY wanted to block the drive and leave Queta open. The Celtics big man therefore set a flare screen and created space for Hauser to shoot. As Green was too far to help his teammate who was stuck in the screen, that was money for Sammy!

The Warriors still kept the same approach with Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis, keeping them near the paint as much as possible, so the Celtics kept attacking that coverage. Even with Vucevic on the court, the Warriors’ big men remained low, and it opened things up for Boston.

Yet, while Vucevic and Queta set the same off-ball screens, they are quite different players. Boston’s pick-and-roll offense changed depending on who was on the court and showed real versatility.

#3 – Pick-and-roll with Queta

As Neemias Queta was starting the game, Boston made sure to use his screening skills to create space on the first possession. The big man set a screen on the ball for Derrick White, which triggered Draymond Green’s rotation toward him to prevent the pull-up. This forced the rest of the Warriors to compensate in the paint to protect the rim, but it was already too late, and Queta earned free throws.

The Warriors kept sending two players to the ball, hoping White would struggle under the pressure, but the Celtics guard didn’t. And as the Celtics’ spacing made the rotations more difficult, it left the paint open for Queta.

The Celtics even added a little twist to the pick-and-roll, with White acting as a second screener who slipped the action and cut to the rim behind the defense that wanted to pressure the ball. Safe to say the Celtics came prepared to punish the Warriors’ defensive coverage.

And while this worked well with Queta, the Celtics were also very efficient with Vucevic on the court.

#4 – Pick-and-roll with Vucevic

The former Bull is a different pick-and-roll player than Queta, offering a new variety of movement and spacing. After a screen, he rolls a little less deep than the Portuguese big man and has more passing flair. This one ended up as a turnover, but you can clearly see the great read from Vuc.

The difference with Queta in how he moves after the screen can also create pick-and-pop situations that put pressure on the defense in drop coverage. This play was really impressive to me, as he caught the ball beyond the three-point line and immediately drove to put even more pressure on the defense. The big standout of this action is the skip pass that created an even better situation. A great flash from the big man.

The Celtics’ ability to play a very different style depending on their centers is a great addition and could go a long way in a playoff run. And speaking of centers…

#5 – Porzingis’ trap

What is super insightful about a player facing his former team is that it gives us insight into what the former coaching staff really thought of him. And apparently, the Celtics didn’t have a lot of belief in Porzingis’ passing under pressure.

It also shows that the Celtics were wary of Porzingis’ post-up scoring and were willing to take that risk rather than let him attack one-on-one. The Celtics rarely put this much pressure on the ball against a single player and usually prefer to defend the matchup despite some occasional mismatches.

#6 – Boston cutting hedge

Back to the Celtics’ offense, which was really impressive last night. As far as I can remember, I can’t find another game this season where the players had this willingness to cut again and again. Here, for example, the defense focused on the ball with the Pritchard screen, but the important move came from Hauser, who cut from one corner to the other, catching the defense’s attention and creating space for Vucevic to shoot in the corner.

Why did they cut more than usual, you might think? This is related to the Warriors’ aggressive coverage on the ball. With this approach, defenders need to be ready to help, especially on the strong side. Therefore, a cut, like this one from Hugo Gonzalez, is perfect to punish that coverage.

This next play might be one of my favorites. A zoom action with not one but two screens prior to the handoff. As Jaylen Brown ran, Hauser popped beyond the line and White slipped the screen while the defense focused on the handoff with Queta… and that was a trap!

It was all very fun… until the Warriors suffocated the Celtics.

#7 – Warriors pressure

Despite losing by 30 points, the Warriors didn’t give up and kept fighting. They took advantage of the Celtics’ laid-back approach in the fourth quarter to steal the ball over and over and get back into the game.

The Celtics tried to play slowly at first. They ran the clock down to save time, but the Warriors were happy with these bad shots. And every time they were able to score in transition, they put a lot of pressure on the ball and the passing lanes. The defense was so good they even forced a very rare travel from Payton Pritchard.

Yet, it was Pritchard who put the game away a few minutes later.

#8 – Pritchard broke the shell

To break a shell, you need a tool adapted to create a breach. The Warriors’ shell, which was suffocating the Celtics by putting heavy pressure on the ball, had a kryptonite: Payton Pritchard’s deep shooting ability.

The Celtics put Jaylen Brown back into the game so he could hold the ball while attracting two defenders. Then, they made sure Pritchard was one pass away so, as soon as the Warriors trapped Brown, the Celtics could punish them from 35 feet.

Not once but twice, the Celtics used that trick and put the game away.

#9 – Jaylen Brown sixth triple double in career

The beautiful collective performance could make us forget that Jaylen Brown recorded his third triple-double of the season, and the sixth of his career. He is now tied with Dave Cowens, who recorded six triple-doubles in 726 games. The next player on the list is Paul Pierce with nine – could JB catch up with PP before the end of the season?

#10 – Healthy KP and mysterious Horford

The vibes were good with Kristaps Porzingis and the Celtics.

Payton Pritchard and Kristaps Porzingis fighting like brothers 🥹 pic.twitter.com/tkJzcm73wY

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 20, 2026

It was nice to see him healthy and on the court after months of ups and downs for the Latvian big man. On the other hand, Al Horford’s words after the game raised more questions about his departure, and I’m looking forward to finding out what really happened.

Al Horford said his decision to leave the Celtics for Golden State was "something that's deeper than just the basketball stuff of it."

"And it's something that at some point I'll share with people," Horford said, "but for me it felt like it was the time for me to go elsewhere."

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 20, 2026

Nonetheless, this video from Noa at the end of the game showed that, mostly, it’s all love.

Very wholesome postgame scene as Al Horford and his son Ean made their way to say hi to almost everyone on the Celtics — almost like they both were former Celtics pic.twitter.com/iWUdN2or5H

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 20, 2026

It had been 279 days since Kristaps Porziņģis last shared the floor with the Celtics, as either a teammate or an opponent. The final farewell was bitter.

Porziņģis last suited up alongside his former Boston teammates in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. A lingering illness that followed him out of the regular season stretched on for more than three months, reducing him to a limited version of himself. Fast forward 40 weeks and two trades later, and Porziņģis finally shared the floor with Boston again — this time as a member of the Warriors — facing the team he helped raise a banner with two years ago.

“It was definitely fun,” Payton Pritchard told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I was looking forward to it. It’s always fun playing against ex-teammates and going to battle with them.”

Golden State acquired Porziņģis before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks in exchange. Like his time in Boston, injuries limited Porziņģis’ impact in Atlanta. He played just 17 games due to left Achilles tendinitis, which also kept him out of a potential return to TD Garden on Jan. 28 against the Celtics. So instead, the reunion came in Porziņģis’ Golden State debut on Thursday night, with Boston coming away with a 121-110 win.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr played Porziņģis on limited minutes, giving him 17 off the bench.

In the second quarter, Porziņģis recorded his first basket in a Warriors uniform by flushing a two-handed dunk during a mismatch with Derrick White, which helped get him going. Nearly 12 minutes later, he attacked another mismatch, going after a rebound against Pritchard, who he towers over by more than a foot. The two wrestled back and forth for possession like brothers before smiling and setting up a lopsided jump ball between 6-foot-1 Pritchard and 7-foot-2 Porziņģis.

Porziņģis, unsurprisingly, came away with the win.

“I’m disappointed in myself for letting that go,” Pritchard told reporters. “Next time, I’m not doing that.”

Both Payton Pritchard and Kristaps Porziņģis refused to let the ball go 🤣

A HILARIOUS moment between the former teammates. pic.twitter.com/zG3Bwn8Xp1

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2026

It didn’t take much for Porziņģis to outmatch Pritchard, but trailing his old team by 33 points put a little extra pep in his step in that moment. Ripping the ball away from Pritchard quickly became the only thing that mattered, Porziņģis recalled.

“I was not going to let go of that ball,” he told reporters, per team-provided video. “We were down big, so I was already not in the best mood. But it was a cool moment with my old teammate, and that’s it. Just playful.”

The motivation of facing his former teammates paid off for Porziņģis. Slowly throughout the night, the same player who thrived in a Celtics uniform began doing everything that made him a fan favorite in Boston — now in Golden State: attacking mismatches, draining 3-pointers, including one from 30 feet, and remaining competitive during each play. It also helped that Porziņģis reunited with fellow 2024 Celtics champion Al Horford, who assisted him in his first Warriors basket.

Horford spent seven seasons with the Celtics across two stints, while Porziņģis lasted two years. Both veteran centers remain beloved in Boston, by fans and by those of the current Celtics alike.

“I played with those guys, against those guys, and I practiced with those guys for a long time,” Jaylen Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I always wish them well. I hope their families are doing good.”

Porziņģis scored 12 points in his first game since Jan. 7, part of an ongoing acclimation with a Warriors team in need of frontcourt assistance.

“I think this is a first step to keep building,” Porziņģis told reporters.

From afar, Porziņģis had been keeping tabs on the Celtics. Boston’s annual trip to Golden State gave him a first-hand look at the team’s retooled roster that lost much of its championship talent — including himself — yet has managed to excel as the No. 2 seed in the East, even without Jayson Tatum.

“You have to give credit to Joe and the coaching staff,” he told reporters. “Joe’s a great coach and a great leader. For this team to maintain the same culture — and probably be even hungrier with less talent — you have to give credit to that. And JB is playing at a super-high level, leading them. They’re a good team, even without JT and some of us who were there.”

Losing Porziņģis and Horford — their most-rotated centers last season — was just the start. Tatum’s Achilles injury in Game 4 against New York, combined with the need to rely on a mix of inexperienced and new players, put the Celtics in a tough spot from the jump. Yet judging by their 55-game sample size that has made Brown an MVP candidate, Mazzulla a frontrunner for Coach of the Year, and Boston a legitimate contender for the No. 1 seed, it’s likely Porziņģis shares a sentiment similar to most across the league.

“I knew they were going to be good, and this is probably a little bit better than I expected,” Porziņģis told reporters. “So hats off to them.”