BOSTON — Anfernee Simons wasn’t shocked to learn he’d been traded from the Celtics. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers guard was embroiled in trade rumors almost immediately upon arriving in Boston in July, and understood that the Celtics could look to move him ahead of the deadline.

Still, the news stung. Simons had just woken up from a pregame nap in Dallas last Tuesday when he got the call from Brad Stevens that he had been traded to the Chicago Bulls.

“Brad is a good guy, and he’s always been open and honest about everything,” Simons said at Bulls shootaround on Wednesday morning at TD Garden. “Obviously, it was a tough conversation for him, for me to accept, but I understood.”

Anfernee Simons said he had just woken up from a pregame nap in Dallas when he learned he was traded to the Bulls:

“Brad is a good guy, and he's always been open and honest about everything. Obviously, it was a tough conversation for him, for me to accept, but I understood.” pic.twitter.com/MDcKSThEPp

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 11, 2026

The 26-year-old guard loved his time his Boston, and spoke about his tenure glowingly.

“You build a connection with the city and team — you won together, lost together,” Simons said. “So that’s the toughest part, getting some relationships and relationships, and being able to go out there and compete with each other, and that kind of stops, and then you kind of feel you kind of feel sad about it. But the NBA moves fast, not even 48 hours later I’m on the court with a new team.”

For Simons, the on-court transition to Chicago has been relatively seamless. In three games with the Bulls since the trade, he has averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists, shooting 48.9% from the field and 34.4% from three. (The Bulls as a team, however, have not had as much success; they’re 0-3 since the trade deadline).

Still, as he stood on the TD Garden parquet for the first time in 10 days, it felt weird to be donning a red Bulls jersey; last time he was at the Garden, Simons dropped 27 points in a Celtics blowout victory over the Bucks.

“You start to see a future for yourself in Boston, for sure,” Simons said. “[You’re] winning, everything’s going great. You’re getting comfortable. Try their best to make you feel comfortable. And so you wanted to see, obviously, the light at the end of the tunnel, and be able to compete with the team the whole season, but obviously the NBA is a business.”

Simons said knowing he was traded for a great player in Nikola Vucevic made the trade easier to digest. He thinks Vucevic can change the Celtics dynamic as a big who can also stretch the floor, and understands that Vucevic aids the Celtics’ championship pursuits.

“You understand that part,” he said. “So you can get a little bit emotional behind it, but at the same time, you understand it. And, you kind of just move on. I understand that it was for a great player as well, somebody that’s been an All-Star. So you come here and just accept that with his new team, dive straight in and compete.”

Ahead of the trade deadline, Simons had previously expressed a level of nonchalance when it came to being in volved in trade rumors.

“It’s the NBA,” he said last month. “I’ve been in trade rumors since my third year. Every other week, it’s something new. It’s just a part of the NBA, and you just gotta be where your feet are.”

And, since his departure, Celtics teammates have gushed about the impact Simons had in Boston throughout his 49-game tenure.

“He’s just a great, great person, great kid on and off the floor, just humble — I hope he gets everything that he’s looking for just because he just fit right in with his group of guys in our locker room,” Jaylen Brown said. “He could have had different thoughts, and thought differently, and his energy could have been different. He was a great teammate and did everything he needed to do that we asked him and more, and contributed to winning. Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me, and I hope he gets everything he deserves.”

Jaylen Brown really gushed when asked by @ByJayKing about Anfernee Simons being traded:

“Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me — it's a business, but there's a human aspect to it. And since he's been here, he's contributed to winning. He's won us some games. He's… pic.twitter.com/YX6wAB48HM

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 4, 2026

Joe Mazzulla similarly praised Simons for how he handled this relatively brief stint.

“I thought he handled the role and the preparation and the situation about as best as he could — and we’re a better team for that,” said the Celtics head coach. “It came from his humility, his work ethic, and his dedication.”

And, at a community event on Tuesday, Jordan Walsh said that he looked forward to reuniting with Simons in Wednesday’s matchup between the Celtics and the Bulls.

“Fortunately, I’ll see Ant [tomorrow],” Walsh said with a grin. “We’ll have to destroy him, though. But, it’ll be good to see him again, have him back in the Garden. But missing those guys, having them gone, it definitely leaves a void in the arena.”

Could Anfernee Simons eventually return to the Celtics?

Simons’ on-court role may have diminished in Boston — he averaged just 24.5 minutes per game, his lowest in five years — but he felt that the experience greatly benefited him.

“Just the opportunity to go out there and contribute to winning,” Simons said. “And obviously, [it’s] a historic franchise, they have a lot of aspirations to win a championship, and you can see that each and every day — in the way they practice, by their habits, the way they speak to each other, it’s one common goal. So, I learned a lot from just being around and being able to experience it here.”

Simons will finish out the season in Chicago, and become an unrestricted free agent over the summer.

Asked whether he could see himself one day returning to Boston, he smiled.

“Potentially, for sure,” Simons said. “Obviously, got to finish our season here first and see what happens there. But, for sure down the line. Like I said, [I] enjoyed my time here, built great relationships here, so I see it for sure.”

Would you believe the Pacers beat the Knicks?

It took overtime, but you better do. Thankfully, the break is right around the corner, but not before New York dumps the Sixers in a grand pre-ASW finale.

Here’s a bunch of what was said before and after yesterday’s affair.

"We just have to get better with our physicality first, and our communication second"

Mike Brown on the Knicks performance tonight in their loss to the Pacers: pic.twitter.com/dVvE030lk7

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 11, 2026

Mike Brown

On defensive execution vs Indiana:

“We didn’t do a great job of getting into their airspace. We did a little better job in the second half, but by then, they were feeling pretty good about where they were in the game. The past 12, 15 games, we’ve been pretty good about getting to 3-point shooters. We’ve been pretty good about putting physicality on the ball and a lot of other areas defensively. Tonight, it wasn’t there — at least at the level that it has been, along with our communication. Got to give Indiana a lot of credit.”

On late-game execution:

“The Pacers did a great job offensively. We tried to, you know, tighten up as the game went along, which we did, but it just wasn’t quite enough to get it done. We had plenty of opportunity down the stretch to get it done, but when you give a team life from the beginning like we did, it’s gonna be hard.”

On missed opportunities late in the game:

“I thought Jalen down the stretch had some pretty good looks and got to the spots he normally gets to but he just came up short. We got the ball where we needed to get the ball. We got the looks that we wanted to look for during that time. Sometimes they just don’t go in and tonight was one of those nights.”

On the overtime collapse:

“They did a great job offensively. We tried to tighten up the game as we went along. We had plenty of opportunity to get it done. But when you give a team life like we did from the beginning like we did, it’s going to be hard.”

On dealing with prior adversity:

“Obviously we went through some adversity. We went 2-9 or something like that. You hate to lose games and I’m not signing up to lose games, but we have to struggle. I’m a believer that we have to struggle a couple of times this year. Whatever that means. And, it’s going to test our resolve as a group. You have to be connected if you want to give yourself a chance.”

On these losses helping the Knicks prepare for the upcoming playoffs:

“Playoff runs: there is nothing more stressful on an NBA level. Seven-game series, win four of them. That really tests your resolve. Because, man, a lot of things can happen. So be able to hit some adversity. Go through and stay connected and come out of it a little stronger than what you were going into it. It’s something I look forward to.”

On trusting Josh Hart’s scoring instincts:

“I don’t ever call a play for Josh and he finds his way. Teams keep putting their five on him and we tell him to let it fly. He’s really good because he knows when to let it fly.”

On Hart’s offensive impact:

“He makes a big difference offensively. It’s him because he knows how and when to pick his spots with it. Also when he was out and he came back, that first game in Portland, you felt his presence in transition. Whether he was bringing it or just filling that wing, you felt his presence and it’s much needed especially against the better teams.”

"Offensively wasn't the problem tonight"

–– Jalen Brunson to @alanhahn as Knicks lose to Pacers in OT 137-134 pic.twitter.com/8jDLUSw4Yn

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 11, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On Indiana’s competitiveness amid a lost season:

“Regardless of what their record is, they’re great. Great coach, they do everything well, they play hard, they play to the last second. Those qualities that they have, they’re gonna play every single night, regardless of what the record is.”

On the Knicks’ struggles vs. Indiana:

“Defensively, they had a rhythm early and they kept their confidence. Kept the rhythm throughout the entire game.”

On the lack of physicality on Tuesday:

“Just be a little bit more physical. They were in the rhythm. Pick up our intensity on the ball with our physicality and stuff like that, and off-ball, they’re moving really freely tonight, and they were in the rhythm all night.”

On offensive vs. defensive balance:

“Offensively wasn’t the problem tonight. Obviously, defensively, they had a rhythm early, and they kept their confidence and rhythm throughout the entire game.”

"We let them get a little comfortable, and then down the stretch, lack of execution"

Josh Hart was asked what went wrong for the Knicks in tonight's loss: pic.twitter.com/aw1Gn2EEX8

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 11, 2026

Josh Hart

On defensive lapses early:

“We started off the first couple of minutes, we started playing well, but then we let them get a little comfortable.”

On late-game execution:

“Down the stretch, lack of execution. We gotta make sure at the end of the game, fourth quarter overtime is a little bit different. You can’t just run fast, but you got to be able to slow it down and execute, and call plays and get guys in good situations, and areas to be successful. I feel like that’s what we’re kind of lacking.”

On preferring passing over scoring these days:

“I turn down shots, I don’t know how many times. I love getting assists. I used to love scoring. Now, I love getting guys shots, getting guys involved. Sometimes, it’s the bad read because I should shoot it when I’m open, but I love getting guys shots.”

On the need to stay aggressive on the scoring at times:

“Games like Sunday are where that sacrifice is me having to go out there and be super aggressive and keep them honest.”

On adapting his role during his stint in Portland:

“I think I acquired it in Portland. Mark Tyndale, who’s here right now, I think one day I was venting to him. I was saying ‘bro I’m not getting the ball. I’m not getting any touches.’ He’s like ‘we’ve got Dame, we’ve got all these guys. We’re not saying you can’t score. We’re saying we’ve got guys that are better and that’s what they’re here to do.’ And from then on, I said ‘let me work out how I can help these guys and find them in good positions.’ It took a little bit of getting used to, but I think right now I’m in a good head space with it.”

KAT says no we play 5 more pic.twitter.com/8RtcdTgFET

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 11, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On failing defensively against Indiana:

“They had tough shots and they made threes and on the other side, we didn’t make enough threes to combat the amount of shots they were hitting from the three. We didn’t reach that standard of defense that we have shown in recent and it came back to bite us today.”

Jose Alvarado's first Knicks bucket at the Garden pic.twitter.com/DxkeX2p6V6

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 11, 2026

Jose Alvarado

On his MSG debut:

“It’s different. Playing for the Knicks is a huge thing, but I’m literally a kid from the same streets the fans are, and to be part of everything here, it’s a blessing. It’s something I had to get used to and to get it out of the way, let’s get the ball rolling.”

On crowd ovations at the Garden:

“It was amazing. Being a kid from the city, for the city to show me love back, it’s one for the books. I really can’t explain it.”

On the loss in his debut:

“It’s not the outcome we wanted, but I’ll tell you this, it was a blessing to be out there. I can’t wait to continue growing and getting better.”

On pregame nerves:

“I was nervous today, for sure. There was a lot going on. I was glad I got it out the way. I can’t wait to come back and get better and win some games here.”

Yabusele with the fearless dunk over LeBron during the France Olympic stage 2024 https://t.co/8v1JkliMyupic.twitter.com/xRhQPHp4oY

— Rewind Basketball (@rewindbball) February 10, 2026

Guerschon Yabusele

On the decision to remove the player option from his contract to facilitate a trade:

“We can always see the side of the money and talk about it, but at the end of the day the passion is more than just the money. It’s being out there, missing the feeling of being out there, offense, defense. Just competing at a high level because I’m a competitor first. The situation with New York was a little bit different for me because I wasn’t really playing, so being able to be on another team and try to bring value on the court was really important. I was just missing being out there on the court, making mistakes, learning from it and trying to get better.”

On adjusting his contract to chase better opportunities:

“I love it out there with the team, the guys. The coaches, they did a great job of welcoming me the best way they can. Everybody’s telling me how happy they are for me to be out there on the team with them. It just makes it easy for me to have confidence and just feel good on the court.”

On the reason behind his decision:

“I mean the decision was, I wanna say pretty quick and easy. For me to be able to have that second chance at the NBA and come back here, I had to take a risk. So I would say it was nothing new to me. I was thinking about amending my contract and I thought that this was the best thing to do.”

Let’s be real—Jalen Duren didn’t start that Pistons/Hornets mess.

A grown man fouls you and puts his forehead in your face… who isn’t pushing back? pic.twitter.com/Poiz3gSJgp

— 🅧 TYLΞR 🇺🇸 (@itistyler) February 10, 2026

The Utah Jazz look to pick up their second straight win when they host the Sacramento Kings, who are in the midst of a 13-game slide.

The Kings are without their top rebounder, Domantas Sabonis, which should open the door for Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic to have a big night on the glass.

I’ll explain why Nurkic will pick up plenty of rebounds in my Kings vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.

Kings vs Jazz prediction

Kings vs Jazz best bet: Jusuf Nurkic Over 9.5 rebounds (-112)

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis ranks tied for third in the NBA with 11.4 rebounds per game this season, but he’ll be sidelined tonight with a back injury. That opens the door for Utah Jazz big man Jusuf Nurkic to have his own field day on the glass.

Nurkic is no slouch himself, logging 10.4 rpg this season. The Jazz center has snagged Over 9.5 boards in nine of his last 11 contests.

The Kings were already a mediocre rebounding team, allowing 44.7 opponent rebounds per game (19th), and they’ll be significantly more vulnerable on the glass without Sabonis.

Kings vs Jazz same-game parlay

Lauri Markkanen is averaging nearly 27 ppg this season and has dropped Over 20.5 points in 14 of his last 18 outings. With Keyonte George out tonight, Markkanen will be leaned on to carry the Jazz offense.

Utah is not a great team, but Sacramento is even worse. The Kings have not won a game in nearly a month, and they’re missing three of their top players tonight with Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Russell Westbrook all sidelined.

Kings vs Jazz SGP

• Jusuf Nurkic Over 9.5 rebounds
• Lauri Markkanen Over 20.5 points
• Jazz moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Double-doubles galore

Nurkic has eight double-doubles in his last 10 games, Isaiah Collier has three in his last four, and Dylan Cardwell has two in his last three.

Kings vs Jazz SGP

• Jusuf Nurkic to record double-double
• Isaiah Collier to record double-double
• Dylan Cardwell to record double-double

Kings vs Jazz odds

• Spread: Sacramento +6 (-110) | Utah -6 (-110)
• Moneyline: Sacramento +180 | Utah -220
• Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)

Kings vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Jazz have hit the Over in 32 of their last 45 games at home (+17.70 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Jazz.

How to watch Kings vs Jazz

Kings vs Jazz latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Orlando Magic will try to complete a two-game series sweep when they host the Milwaukee Bucks for the second time this week.

Orlando beat up on Milwaukee on Monday, and my Bucks vs. Magic predictions expect more of the same tonight.

Find out more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.

Bucks vs Magic prediction

Bucks vs Magic best bet: Magic -10.5 (-110)

The Orlando Magic took it to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, winning 118-99. 

There’s no reason to expect anything different tonight, withthe Magic continuing to get healthier and Milwaukee still without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup.

In his return from a left ankle sprain, Franz Wagner made an immediate impact, scoring 14 points with five assists in less than 17 minutes.

He should play even more tonight, helping Orlando get back to its optimal lineup. Meanwhile, theBucks are just 6-15 this year without Giannis.

Bucks vs Magic same-game parlay

The Magic have been getting big performances out of their secondary options lately. Desmond Bane has gone Over 26.5 PRA in six out of his last seven games, while Anthony Black has scored 18+ points in three straight contests.

Bucks vs Magic SGP

• Magic -10.5
• Desmond Bane Over 26.5 points+rebounds+assists
• Anthony Black Over 15.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Magic in the air

I’m expecting the Orlando stars to shine tonight. Franz Wagner will see his numbers improve as he plays his way back into the lineup and serves as the perfect complementary piece for Paolo Banchero.

Bucks vs Magic SGP

• Franz Wagner Over 1.5 threes
• Franz Wagner Over 14.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 1.5 threes
• Paolo Banchero Over 0.5 blocks

Bucks vs Magic odds

• Spread: Bucks +10.5 | Magic -10.5
• Moneyline: Bucks +375 | Magic -500
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5

Bucks vs Magic betting trend to know

Orlando is 5-1 ATS in its last six games against the Bucks. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Magic.

How to watch Bucks vs Magic

Bucks vs Magic latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Last one before the break. The Brooklyn Nets played the middle game of their three game homestand and welcomed the Chicago Bulls to Barclays Center. Brooklyn picked up another win and have won back to back games.

The opponent tonight is in their gap year. The Indiana Pacers aren’t heading to the postseason, but they’ve got plenty to focus on. They’ve been in town the past few days and took on their long time rivals, the New York Knicks, last night at MSG. The game went into overtime and the Pacers ruined the Knicks’ plans once again.

Where to follow the game

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

🤕 Injuries

No Michael Porter Jr. Noah Clowney is probable while Nic Claxton has moved from questionable to doubtful. The two newest Nets, Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott have yet to play and a roster spot remains open. All three two-ways remain with Long Island.

The following are out for Indiana:

• Tyrese Haliburton
• Ivica Zubac
• Johnny Furphy
• Obi Toppin
• Jarace Walker

And with this being night two of a back-to-back, we’ll see if anyone else sits.

🏀 The game

Brooklyn won the first meeting in November.

Last game before the break, so we’ll see how these teams manage their rotations. Indiana played a stressful game last night, so don’t be surprised if their regulars have a reduced workload tonight. With Clowney and Claxton showing up on the injury report, they may have relatively short outings as well.

Tonight is another opportunity for Brooklyn’s guards of the future to put a good outing together. Nolan Traore and Egor Dёmin have been solid and making the most out of their minutes. Jordi Fernandez sees a lot in this duo and is excited for what they can do:

“I don’t see it as one guy covering for the other: I like the shooting from both of them. Nolan’s not shy when he’s open. We’ve seen Egor shoot at a very high level. Nolan’s speed, his paint touches and pick-and-roll playmaking, same with Egor. … They have clear goals, short-term things they need to do on both ends. As long as they keep taking those steps they’re doing a great job and that’s what matters.”

The more minutes they get, the better they’ll be down the line.

When a team is on night two of a b2b and played overtime the night before, you should look to speed them up. The opponent is on tired legs and is just trying to make it through the night in one piece. For the Nets, they should look to get out and run as much as possible. Jumping out to a sizable lead early could make the difference and push the Pacers into making their All-Star plans early.

👀 Player to watch: Pascal Siakam

It takes a special player to be named an All-Star when your team is one of the worst in the league. Siakam has fought through everything this season and has continued to play at a high level for Indiana. His usage is way up, but he’s maintained his efficiency at a reasonable level. When the game is close late, Rick Carlisle can trust him to make something happen. Everyone knew that this was going to be a lost season for the Pacers. However, Siakam’s play has made things a bit more palatable to watch for Pacers fans. When Indiana returns to playoff contention next season, Siakam’s success in a scaled up role will prove to be valuable.

We’ll see how much Noah Clowney plays tonight. As we mentioned earlier, he’s on the injury report but is listed as probable. Since he’s not at full strength, does this mean we’ll see Josh Minott make his Nets debut? Tonight would be the perfect time. In the meantime, matching up against Siakam will do wonders for Clowney’s confidence if he puts a good outing together. Brooklyn’s youth movement will be something that keeps fans tuned in after the All-Star break as everyone starts gearing up for the Draft Lottery this spring.

📺 From the Vault

Tonight the Nets will be hosting their annual Chinese New Year’s celebration game. Let’s learn more about the Lunar New Year!

Here’s the full range of what the Nets are doing to celebrate.

More reading: 8 Points, 9 Seconds, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Indiana Pacers Game Notes – Indiana Pacers
• Indiana visits Brooklyn following overtime win against New York – AP
• What makes the Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe different: ‘Can affect the whole group’ ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nolan Traoré’s evolution is giving the Nets a real floor general ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Coming to this weekend's NBA All-Star Game: John Tesh and “Roundball Rock,” being performed live.

Tesh will play the song to introduce Sunday's All-Star Game, which will be aired on NBC and Peacock, the NBA said Wednesday while unveiling the musical performances for the weekend.

Ludacris, the three-time Grammy winner, will be the headliner and perform on Saturday before the All-Star dunk contest. A pair of Grammy winners — Brandy and Sarah McLachlan — will perform the U.S. and Canadian national anthems before Sunday's All-Star Game.

Tesh will perform for the first time live inside a sports arena, the NBA said. “Roundball Rock," the league said, “celebrates the NBA All-Star Game’s return to NBC after 24 years.”

The song was the longtime anthem for NBC's coverage of the NBA from 1990 through 2002. NBC returned to the NBA broadcast lineup this season, the start of a new 11-year broadcast agreement for the league.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The Pistons may be a little short-handed tonight as they play their final game before the All Star Break and weirdly their first game against the Toronto Raptors this season. If you missed Monday’s game and the hoopla that happened after it, both Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart were ejected for fighting along with Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges from the Hornets. At the time of writing, the NBA is yet to announce suspensions for the players involved, but I am going to assume we know before tonight’s game.

The timing of potential suspensions for Duren and Stewart could not come at a worse time, as the Pistons enter arguably their toughest stretch of the season starting tonight against the Raptors and continuing after the All Star Break.

If you have not been paying much attention to the Raptors since this is the first time the Pistons have played them, they enter this game 5th in the Eastern Conference, but only 2 games back from the Knicks in 3rd. So, this game could have some bearing on the standings at the end of the season depending on how things go for each team after the All Star Break.

Game Vitals

Where: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON
When: Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30 pm EST
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-1.5)

Analysis

It is very strange that the Pistons are playing the Raptors for the first time this season and we are almost halfway through February. They are the only Eastern Conference team the Pistons have not played yet.

As of now, the only player officially out for the Pistons is Ron Holland, who is once again out for Personal Reasons. I am going to assume that Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren do not play in this game as I would suspect the NBA announces suspensions for them at some point today. The NBA very well could wait until after the All Star festivities to announce suspensions, but given the optics of the fight that just happened on Monday, it would be weird to have both playing.

I feel like the reason the Pistons are still favored in this game is because the NBA has not technically announced the aforementioned suspensions.

If there is one positive for the Pistons, the Raptors don’t really overwhelm you with size in the frontcourt, so the potential loss of Duren and Stewart is manageable. Paul Reed is more than capable of filling in, as he showed on Monday, and newly signed 2-way player Isaac Jones could possibly get some playing time backing him up.

The more likely scenario is that the Pistons just play small and have Tobias Harris play some minutes at the 5 since Jakob Poeltl could be out with a back injury. He is currently a game-time decision.

The Raptors play a very similar brand of ball as the Detroit Pistons do. They are not quite as good defensively, but they try to turn defense into offense and do not shoot a ton of shots behind the arc. The Raptors have more players capable of hitting an outside shot, but a lot of their offense comes from the midrange and inside.

There are not a ton of teams in the league that play like the Raptors and Pistons, so it will be interesting to see how the Pistons handle a team that plays a very similar style as them.

Like the Pistons, the Raptors have two All Stars, but unlike the Pistons, they will both be available tonight. Scottie Barnes has become one of the better two-way players in the NBA. His offensive numbers won’t blow you away, but he does a little bit of everything while being able to guard the best wing or frontcourt player of the opposing team every night.

When the Raptors acquired Brandon Ingram at the trade deadline last year, there were concerns about his fit with their core but also just his ability to stay healthy. So far, he has eased both concerns as him and Barnes are a dynamic wing pairing and he has played 52 games this season. The question with Ingram was never his talent, it was always his health, so it is great to see him playing well and staying healthy.

With Ron Holland out, the Pistons could have some issues slowing down both of them, but it’s not like the Pistons don’t have other wing defenders they can throw at them. But, without two of their better rim defenders in Duren and Stewart, the Raptors might have an easier time scoring inside, although Paul Reed is no slouch on defense.

It isn’t just the Barnes and Ingram show for the Raptors, as they also have RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, who are both more than capable of getting hot offensively. If any player from the Raptors is going to get hot from beyond the arc and ruin your night it is Quickley.

This game was already going to be a challenge for the Pistons, as it is a road game against one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Now that they Pistons are likely going to be down 3 rotation players, the task is even more difficult. But, the Pistons have defied all odds this season and have been able to win games while missing multiple rotation players countless times, so I wouldn’t put it past them to win this game.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons: (39-13): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed

Toronto Raptors (32-22): Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl

Question of the Day

How long do you think Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart get suspended?

The NBA All-Star break is only a day away. It is human nature to start looking ahead and thinking about time off. Heck, I have a three-day weekend coming up, and I have been thinking about it since Monday. I can only imagine what physically and mentally fatigued players across the league are feeling as the opportunity to rest is within reach. For eight days, they finally get to stop traveling and living from city to city during the grind of the season.

On a side note, I want to congratulate myself for not breaking into Michael Jackson lyrics after I wrote the words “human nature”. Why, why?

The Phoenix Suns are a team that thrives on disruption, hustle, energy, and focus. Since the beginning of February, it feels as if their edge has dulled a little bit. There are multiple reasons for this, with injuries being the primary culprit. It is also understandable to assume that human nature is taking a little bit of that edge off, as a team with bumps and bruises earned in the heat of battle is aching for rest.

When you look at the stats from before February and compare them to this month’s, you can see the blade is not as sharp as it was.

Pre-February, the Suns carried a +2.9 net rating (10th) and 111.8 defensive rating (5th). In Febraruy? Phoenix has a -3.0 net rating (19th) and 116.3 defensive rating (18th). Their rebounding percentage was 50.3% (11th), but since the dawn of February, it’s 44.2% (28th). Can we say, “tired legs”?

Have the Suns hit the pre-All Star game wall?

Record:
🔥 Pre-Feb: 30-19 (10th)
❄️ Feb: 2-3 (19th)

NET RTG:
🔥 Pre-Feb: +2.9 (10th)
❄️ Feb: -3.0 (19th)

DEFRTG:
🔥 Pre-Feb: 111.8 (5th)
❄️ Feb: 116.3 (18th)

REB%:
🔥 Pre-Feb: 50.3% (11th)
❄️ Feb: 44.2% (28th)

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) February 11, 2026

What makes the Suns different from many teams across the Association is that they need to keep their blade sharp at all times to be successful. This team is outperforming expectations thanks to their continued focus and energy each night. If that focus or energy is slightly off, their superpower is compromised. Because that is the NBA, where winning is hard. That is the level of competition you face every night. It happens even if it is the depleted Warriors on trade deadline day. It happens even if it is the Dallas Mavericks, a team that is clearly aiming to tank.

That will be the challenge as the second half of the season begins after the All-Star break. The Suns need to do all they can to stay as sharp as possible. The energy from opposing teams will rise as they lock in for the final stretch of the season, and playoff seeding is on the line.

When you look at the teams actively tanking, like the Wizards or the Jazz, the Suns don’t play many games against them. They play Jazz again and face the Kings, Pacers, and Mavs. No, for Phoenix, it’s the 4th-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, per Tankathon. They will be playing against teams who will use the final third of the season as an opportunity to sharpen their knives and prepare for a deep postseason run.

Fatigue has set in, and there is no doubt about that. Whether it is physical or mental, the Suns need a break. This time off could not have come at a better time, as the arrow is starting to trend downward. Is that trend caused by fatigue or human nature? It is a possibility. The break needs to happen.

The Suns have one final test tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After that, the rest can occur. The hope is that they maintain focus for tonight and moving forward. The schedule is going to get tough. The Suns will have to be tougher.

Detroit Pistons centers Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren have been suspended for their roles in a brawl during a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Feb. 9.

Stewart's suspension is for seven games, while Duren gets two games, the league announced Wednesday.

Hornets suspensions include Moussa Diabate (four games) and Miles Bridges (four games).

This marks the fifth time Stewart has been suspended during his six-year career.

The brawl began after Diabate was fouled by Duren with more than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. The players exchanged words and then Duren shoved Diabate in the face. Bridges stepped in and shoved Duren before Diabate threw a punch at Duren and had to be held back by coaches and teammates, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pistons-Hornets brawl suspensions announced by NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves are ready for the All-Star Break, looking to put a rough few weeks behind them.

A win against the Portland Trail Blazers would help that cause.

My Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves predictions focus on Minnesota’s newest piece, perhaps buoyed by Anthony Edwards’s possible absence, an odd twist in my NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves prediction

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves best bet: Ayo Dosunmu Over 13.5 points (-115)

Ayo Dosunmu scored 21 points on Monday night, his second game with his new team. His 11 points in his Minnesota Timberwolves debut also encourage this prop, even if falling short in that moment.

Minnesota was blown out, and the Timberwolves' trade deadline acquisition played only 25 minutes. As Dosunmo's workload increases, so should his scoring.

While the Portland Trail Blazers have been an enjoyable story this season, their defensive rating ranks No. 20 over the last 10 games. This is a defense ripe for Dosunmu's aggressive offense.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

With Anthony Edwards considered questionable due to an illness, there is immediate value in Jaden McDaniels scoring more.

That has been a consistent bet all season, as the T-Wolves continue to prove they’re much more than just their dynamic superstar shooting guard.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves SGP

• Ayo Dosunmu Over 13.5 points
• Jaden McDaniels Over 14.5 points
• Timberwolves moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Less Ant, No Problem

If Anthony Edwards does play, sharing the ball with Dosunmu before the All-Star Break may be a priority.

Edwards has also expressed some skepticism about whether he’ll even play in Sunday’s All-Star Game, as he’s seeking some rest.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves SGP

• Ayo Dosunmu Over 13.5 points
• Jaden McDaniels Over 14.5 points
• Anthony Edwards Under 28.5 points
• Timberwolves -5.5

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Trail Blazers +5.5 (-110) | Timberwolves -5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Trail Blazers +190 | Timberwolves -230
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The last five Blazers’ games have all cashed their Overs, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 18.7 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Washington Wizards have signed Kadary Richmond to a 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Official: The Washington Wizards have signed Kadary Richmond to a 10-Day Contract. 🤝

📰 Read more: https://t.co/PRFgNHRXFT
🤝 Pres. by @RobinhoodApppic.twitter.com/kLYqIR3O7U

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 11, 2026

Richmond, 24, played Summer League with the Wizards before he later signed with the Capital City Go-Go, the organization’s G League affiliate.

In 23 games appearances with the Go-Go this season, the 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 45.7% FG. Richmond played five collegiate seasons with three programs: Syracuse, Seton Hall and St. John’s.

The Wizards’ roster sits at 13 standard NBA contracts and three two-way deals. Keshon Gilbert and Richmond now occupy the final two roster spots, with both on 10-day contracts.

Playing the same opponent on back-to-back days creates a unique dynamic with one side leaning on familiarity, while the other looks for redemption after falling short.

That’s exactly the situation for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, and after Tuesday’s matchup stayed Under the total, Wednesday’s meeting shapes up similarly as I break down in my Clippers vs. Rockets predictions.

With that, let’s get into my NBA picks for February 11.

Clippers vs Rockets prediction

Clippers vs Rockets best bet: Under 208.5 (-110)

These teams fared off Tuesday and essentially shared the blueprint for what to expect in the rematch Wednesday.

After the Houston Rockets picked up a 102-95 win, my pick undoubtedly takes the Under.

These are two of the Top 9 teams in the NBA in scoring defense, and both have winning Under records when playing the second night of a back-to-back.

Houston is no stranger to going low, having cashed the Under in eight of its last 10, while the Los Angeles Clippers – still awaiting the debut of Darius Garland – have worked their way Under in three of their last four.

Clippers vs Rockets same-game parlay

With Garland (toe) still sidelined, John Collins has been the second-leading scorer in all three games since trading away James Harden, while topping his 13.5 scoring line set for Wednesday each time.

Kevin Durant went 3-for-7 from distance in the win over LA, the sixth time in his last he’s banged in at least three. Against the Clips? That’s now at least three 3-point makes in four of the last five.

Clippers vs Rockets SGP

• Under 208.5 points
• John Collins Over 14.5 points
• Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-point makes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Raining from three

It’s all about the moneyball in this lotto SGP. Reed Sheppard went 4-for-6 from distance last game, and is 13-for-26 (50%) from three-point range in his last four against LA.

Jabari Smith Jr. has been potent from long range too. His 2-for-3 effort Tuesday makes it eight times in the last nine games he’s hit at least two triples in a game.

Brook Lopez has hit a three-pointer in all six games in February, but the big man has only topped 1.5 makes in a game twice in that span.

Clippers vs Rockets SGP

• Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-point makes
• Reed Sheppard Over 2.5 three-point makes
• Jabari Smith Jr. Over 1.5 three-point makes
• Brook Lopez Under 1.5 three-point makes

Clippers vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Los Angeles +9 (-110) | Houston -9 (-110)
• Moneyline: Los Angeles +290 | Houston -370
• Over/Under: Over 208.5 (-110) | Under 208.5 (-110)

Clippers vs Rockets betting trend to know

Los Angeles has covered four straight games vs Houston. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Rockets.

How to watch Clippers vs Rockets

Clippers vs Rockets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

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The NBA is annoying right now. The Spurs are my perfect, beautiful angels who can absolutely do no wrong and I love them deeply and irrationally, but the NBA as a whole? Annoying. The league. The season. The vibes. It’s hard to get excited for these games right now. I feel unenthused. Unaffected. Uninspired. I’m trying to feel something, you know? It turns out that watching Victor Wembanyama stomp around on Jaxson Hayes’s sandcastle didn’t exactly do the trick.

I realize the Spurs are not blameless in the grand phenomenon of Load Management and DNP Old. If anything, they wrote the playbook for it. Tim Duncan and co.’s minutes quietly shrinking. That Miami game. The fine. Look, Pop wasn’t apologizing for it then, and most of us weren’t either. It felt rebellious. It felt punk rock. It felt smart.

And maybe it still was. At least, maybe that version of it was. Maybe I’m just a hypocrite! Fine. But whatever the league has turned into now is leaving me cold. The strategy around when and how teams are sitting people, the current iteration of the Spurs included, no longer feels like a cheeky shenanigan. It feels corporate and methodical. It’s like spending my entire day trapped in an Excel doc, only to come home and discover that my cool, fun hobby has also been corrupted by the unholy spreadsheet.

I don’t know what the fix is. I’m not even talking about tanking. The Spurs’ hands are just as unclean on that front, so it’s probably more polite to stay on the sidelines for that particular conversation. All I’m asking for is that these games matter. Just a little. I want them to have some stakes. I want it to feel important every time we line our guys up against theirs. I want it to hurt to miss a game. I want this stuff to mean something!

Because the scary little secret lurking under the surface, the one no one is really allowed to say out loud, is that it doesn’t. None of it does. The games. The league. Everything. The Thunder won the title last year? Doesn’t matter. The Spurs have won five banners? Doesn’t matter. In a real world sense, this is all pointless. It’s a game, and a silly one at that! One that’s been inflated into a giant industrial complex designed to separate us from our money as efficiently as possible and keep us coming back.

And yet.

The players keep me coming back. Their stories. Their lives. Their games. I want to watch them grow and excel and do things that make me sit back in awe of what the human body is capable of.

The fans keep me coming back. The community. The family. I want to be part of something bigger than myself. I want to feel alive when the crowd erupts after a big play. I want to hug strangers because they’re wearing the same colors as me. I want to feel joy and pain in equal measure with the people around me. I want to beam with pride every time I see San Antonio represented on the world stage.

It only matters because we care about it. Because we ascribe meaning to it. We have to figure out how to hold on to that. To blow on whatever embers of passion are still glowing in there, because the slog the regular season keeps turning into is going to extinguish it for good if we’re not careful.

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Takeaways

• Ok. It was pretty cool to watch Victor for a bit there. It wasn’t a fair fight and it definitely had that tang of watching a 14-year-old dunk on an 8-foot rim. Like, yes, buddy. We see you. Maybe set your sights a little higher. But you can only play the opponent in front of you, and Victor absolutely did that. Seventeen in four minutes. Thirty-seven at halftime. Forty in twenty-six minutes. If you’re going to participate in a scrimmage disguised as a nationally televised game, at least make it art. Congrats to him on that.
• The Spurs are getting a touch better at not turning these schedule wins into full-blown emotional stress tests designed to shave years off my life. There was a time (recently!) when “undermanned opponent on the second night of a back-to-back” meant we’d flirt with disaster for three quarters before escaping with a six-point win and mild cardiac damage. This one was different. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t transcendent. But it was competent. Mature. A touch better. Just a touch!
• I would prefer, specifically, if none of our players ever got hurt. Ever. I recognize that this is not how sports works, but you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, yeah? Steph, we simply must protect our pelvises. I love the reckless abandon. I love the full-court sprint into a chase-down block attempt when the game is already in hand. I love it! But also, please. The Pelvi. We need them intact. Protect the pelvi.
• This was rude:

SWIPA OFF THE BACKBOARD TO VIC ‼️

📺 FanDuelSN SW, NBA TV pic.twitter.com/jyx8oxdRW5

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 11, 2026

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WWL Post Game Press Conference

– Speaking of things mattering, you excited for the All-Star game?

– I should revoke your press pass for a question like that.

– You’d infringe on my freedom of speech for asking a simple question?

– Brother, I’d fight you in the street for asking me to care about the All-Star game.