Category: NBA

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The New Orleans Pelicans will look to extend their win streak to five games tonight when they head to the Intuit Dome to take on the LA Clippers.

Saddiq Bey has been a jack of all trades for New Orleans of late, and I predict that he’ll fill the box score again in my Pelicans vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 1.

Pelicans vs Clippers prediction

Pelicans vs Clippers best bet: Saddiq Bey Over 8.5 rebounds + assists (+110)

The New Orleans Pelicans are dealing with several injuries to key players, with Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Dejounte Murray likely out tonight.

That leaves the ball in the hands of Saddiq Bey, who’s stepped up admirably over the past couple of months.

Bey averaged a combined 10 assists and rebounds per game in February, notching Over 8.5 in four of his last six outings.

While the Los Angeles Clippers will likely clamp down Bey to try and limit his own scoring, the Pelicans guard will be able to dish off and create offense through his teammates.

Pelicans vs Clippers same-game parlay

If Bey is the guy for the Pelicans, then Kawhi Leonard is definitely the guy for the Clippers. 

Leonard has recorded two straight games with 30+ points and should have no problem running it up again vs. the fifth-worst defense in the NBA.

Pelicans vs Clippers SGP

• Saddiq Bey Over 8.5 assists and rebounds
• Kawhi Leonard Over 28.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Eclipsing their total

The Clippers are in the middle of a three-game skid, but should be able to turn it around and run up the score tonight vs. a banged-up Pelicans squad. 

Bennedict Mathurin has looked good since joining LA last month, with 21.3 ppg over his first five contests.

Brook Lopez has also recorded Over 9.5 points in three of his last five games.

Pelicans vs Clippers SGP

• Clippers -9
• Kawhi Leonard Over 28.5 points
• Bennedict Mathurin Over 19.5 points
• Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points

Pelicans vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Pelicans +9 | Clippers -9
• Moneyline: Pelicans +280 | Clippers -361
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5

Pelicans vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Clippers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Clippers.

How to watch Pelicans vs Clippers

Pelicans vs Clippers latest injuries

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The Lakers (35-24) will face another opponent in their division on Sunday when they take on the Sacramento Kings (14-47) at home. This is the last time these two teams will square off this season.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

When: 6:30 p.m. PT, Mar 1

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

The Lakers snapped what felt like their worst losing streak of the season on Saturday in the best way possible by putting together a dominant performance against Golden State. Sure, the Warriors were down two of their best players, but this win felt like a much-needed morale boost. It was also a reminder of what this Lakers team looks like when it’s playing like its best self.

Now, the question is: was the victory simply an anomaly or are the Lakers back to their winning ways? Because the team that we saw prior to this victory over the Warriors was the worst version we’ve seen all season and it’s important that they don’t appear again, especially at this time of the year. We could get our answer as early as Sunday’s game against the Kings, who will enter this contest with the rest advantage.

The Kings are currently the worst team in the league. Not only have they lost eight out of their last 10 games, but they recently snapped a 16-game losing streak, the worst in franchise history. They’re so down bad that they currently rank 28th in the league on both offense and defense.

Frankly speaking, losing to the Kings would be such a shame simply because they’ve only won 14 games this season and have already defeated the Lakers once. Yes, Los Angeles will be on the second night of a back-to-back, but this is a game they must get, especially since they dropped multiple winnable games over the last week.

For that to happen, it would be nice to see another team-effort performance from the purple and gold. There’s no need for Luka Dončić and LeBron James to go above and beyond for this one considering the Kings’ putrid defense. It would be ideal to see everyone contribute in the scoring department. The Lakers should feast inside the paint, which the Kings don’t really defend well.

Speaking of defense, the L.A. will not have to worry about containing Sacramento’s best scorer in Zach LaVine since he won’t be playing in this one due to injury. The same goes with Domantas Sabonis. So it’s really about making sure DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook don’t play extraordinarily well.

After a horrible week that saw them lose three straight games, the Lakers have the chance to bounce back by winning two in a row. A win on Sunday will also improve their record against a Pacific Division opponent, which could come in handy when playoff seedings get sorted a month from now. Let’s see if the Lakers can capitalize against the Kings on Sunday.

Notes and Updates

• Since the Lakers are on a back-to-back, the injury report for this game has yet to be released.
• For the Kings, expect Zach LaVine (finger surgery), Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair), Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain), De’Andre Hunter (left eye repair), Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain) to be out.
• The Lakers are currently 7-7 against Pacific Division teams this season.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

The Spurs have already faced the Knicks twice this season, although the first meeting was an “off the books” affair in the finals of the NBA Cup. All of the games in the Cup t0urnament exist as regular season games except the finals, which exist in a weird limbo where the game doesn’t count as part of the record and the player stats aren’t counted. So, if you go to ESPN, you can find the box score for the December 16 game, which the Knicks won 124-113, but that game isn’t listed anywhere on basketball-reference.com, which is my go-to site for basketball-related facts. I think I will go with the basketball-reference version of history, where the Spurs are 1-0 against the Knicks, beating them 134-132 in the Frost Bank Center on New Year’s Eve where the Spurs held on by hitting their free throws in the final minute of play.

Tonight, they’re in Madison Square Garden, where the third place Knicks are 22-8. They have a potent offense led by Jalen Brunson, who is a master at creating just enough space to get off a shot and score from anywhere on the court. Karl-Anthony Towns is a skilled big man with range who will be a hard cover for Victor Wembanyama who can’t sag off of him to protect the rim.

The Spurs are on an 11 game wining streak, and are two games behind OKC in the loss column in the race for first in the West. They have two games in the Rodeo Road Trip, tonight in New York, and Tuesday in Philly against the Sixers, and if they win both, they will have an undefeated RRT, which has never happened before in Spurs history. They have a six-game lead over the Rockets for third, and with 23 games left in the regular season, they seemed primed to head into the postseason with home court advantage for at least a couple of rounds, assuming they win in the first round. Let’s make this win steak an even dozen, and GOOO Spurs GOO!!

Game Prediction:

Jeremy Sochan eats a radioactive hot dog from a shady vendor outside the Garden, and gains the super power of infinite shelf life, so he can always be ready to play no matter how long he sits on the bench. However, his superhero name of Hot Dog Man does not ever become popular.

San Antonio Spurs at New York Knickerbockers
March 1, 2026 | 12:00 PM CT
Streaming: NBA League Pass
TV: ABC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Fresh off a rout of Milwaukee, the Knicks (38*-22) host the Spurs (43-16), team riding an 11-game win streak. The teams split their recent meetings: the Knicks fell 134–132 in Texas on New Year’s Eve after beating the Spurs 124–113 in the NBA Cup Final.

Tip-off is 1 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, fools! And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

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The Brooklyn Nets will look to end a seven-game losing streak as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.

Cleveland blew out Brooklyn the last time these teams played, and I’m taking the visitors to cover again in my Cavaliers vs. Nets predictions.

Let’s break down what bettors can expect from this matchup in my free NBA picks for Sunday, March 1.

Cavaliers vs Nets prediction

Cavaliers vs Nets best bet: Cavaliers -12 (-110)

While the Brooklyn Nets have struggled all season long, their current seven-game losing streak is among their lowest points of the year. They’ve also lost every game against the spread in that span, even failing to cover four times as a 10+ point underdog.

That includes a 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 19. Cleveland will have to play tonight’s game without Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden remains questionable with a thumb injury, but the Cavs should win this one in a blowout regardless. Cleveland has won six straight against Brooklyn, and I’m taking the Cavaliers to cover again tonight.

Cavaliers vs Nets same-game parlay

With Mitchell out and Harden questionable, I’m banking on more production out of Cleveland’s other players today. I’ll take Jarrett Allen to score Over 17.5 points, which he’s done in four of his last five games, while Sam Merrill’s increased playing time will help him get Over 1.5 assists.

Cavaliers vs Nets SGP

• Cavaliers -12
• Allen Over 17.5 points
• Merrill Over 1.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bigs deliver the goods

I’m looking for Jarrett Allen to add to his growing number of double-doubles after he’s recorded nine in his last 11 games. I’m also banking on both Merrill and Evan Mobley to hit their PRA totals without Cleveland’s top options at full strength. Finally, let’s throw in a bet on the Over, which has hit in Brooklyn’s last three games and four of Cleveland’s last five.

Cavaliers vs Nets SGP

• Jarrett Allen double-double
• Evan Mobley Over 26.5 P/R/A
• Sam Merrill Over 17.5 P/R/A
• Over 222.5 

Cavaliers vs Nets odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -12 | Nets +12
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -600 | Nets +450
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 225.5

Cavaliers vs Nets betting trend to know

Brooklyn is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Nets.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Nets

Cavaliers vs Nets latest injuries

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The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, but the Dallas Mavericks continue to make roster tweaks. Veteran point guard Tyus Jones was waived in a (potentially) mutually beneficial move. Jones is now free to hook up with a playoff team before Sunday’s deadline to do so while remaining playoff eligible. On the other hand, Dallas was able to convert Ryan Nembhard from his two-way deal to a standard contract, due to the roster spot Jones’ departure created.

All the while, Khris Middleton was rumored to be weighing his options as well. Earlier in the week, the Mavericks openly left it to Middleton as to whether he would remain in Dallas or seek employment on a playoff team. Now Marc Stein is reporting that Middleton has made his decision to stay in Dallas for the remainder of the season.

It is unclear if Middleton was unable to find a suitor to his liking, or any suitor at all. It remains entirely plausible that he simply wants to stick around in Dallas as a veteran presence in the rebuild. The Mavericks have indicated they may very well have a space for him on the roster next season, should both sides find common ground in his soon-to-be free agency this summer.

Keith Smith offers up another wrinkle that could be in play. Pointing out that a relative few teams are set to have cap space this summer (as things currently stand), Middleton’s Bird Rights could play a factor.

There are certainly a number of nuances to the collective bargaining agreement, but what Smith is presumably hinting at is that Middleton’s Bird Rights may allow him to get paid well, while allowing Dallas to recoup assets for him in an offseason trade as opposed to losing him for nothing in a buyout now.

Whatever comes in the offseason, we now know Middleton intends to hang around at least until Dallas wraps up the 2025-2026 season in April. Having his veteran leadership around Cooper Flagg and the team at large, even if only for a few months, will most certainly provide benefits for the young face of the franchise once he returns from a foot sprain.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Warriors traded someone who didn’t work for someone who can’t work.

They wouldn’t play Jonathan Kuminga. They aren’t able to play Kristaps Porzingis. 

If the Kuminga experiment was a blight, the Porzingis tenure has been a black hole, punctuated by him missing his fourth straight game Saturday because of an illness as the Warriors fell to the Lakers,129-101.

They sure could’ve used the 7-foot-2 big man, who draws fouls and is a silky 3-point shooter on a night when they had only nine free-throw attempts (less than half as many as the Lakers) and were outshot from beyond the arc, 46.3 percent to 27.3 percent. 

Porzingis’ current illness is apparently contagious and has caused him to lose fluids. It supposedly has nothing to do with the extended illness he battled during his final season in Boston and limited him to just 17 games with Atlanta this season. 

That longterm illness was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) — or so we thought.

That’s where things get even more murky. 

Kerr went on local Bay Area radio Friday and revealed that Porzingis doesn’t have POTS.

“I read about the POTS diagnosis and called the Hawks [general manager] Onsi Saleh,” Kerr said. “He’s a good friend of mine and I said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ He said it’s actually not POTS. That was some misinformation out there.”

When asked for clarification Saturday, Kerr essentially issued a retraction. 

“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something that I’m not qualified to talk about,” he said. “I regretted even trying to discuss the diagnosis. That was my mistake and I need to leave that to the professionals.”

It’s hard to makes heads and tails of what’s going on, 

But it has been that kind of a season for the Warriors, who lost Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL last month and have been without Steph Curry (runner’s knee) for 10 straight games. Now, the Warriors are just trying to keep their heads above water long enough to make the play-in tournament. 

For that to happen, they need Porzingis. 

When the Warriors pulled the trigger on Porzingis, it was a smart move. Things had become untenable with Kuminga, who viewed himself as a star while the team just wanted him to star in his role. 

Kuminga’s relationship with Kerr degenerated. His play was inconsistent. Eventually, things became so unworkable that he played in only three games from Dec. 6 until he was traded just under two months later. 

The Warriors tried to take a big swing at the trade deadline for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Milwaukee Bucks decided to hold onto their superstar. So, the Warriors pivoted to Porzingis. 

Porzingis seemed like a great get. 

He fills a lot of the Warriors’ holes. He mixes things up down low and has a shot that needs to be respected, which opens up the court for everyone around him. If Butler weren’t injured and Porzingis wasn’t a giant question mark, the Warriors could be really good.  

But the problem is that’s a lot of hypotheticals. 

Porzingis has only played in one game for the Warriors so far against Boston on Feb. 19. He finished with 12 points in 17 minutes, including making two 3-pointers.

There’s a lot of upside there. But if he can’t stay on the court, it’s all for naught. 

So far, the Warriors have traded a guy who was ill-fitted for a guy who can’t stay in uniform.

What’s going on? Is Porzingis actually really going to be able to play? What even is his illness?

When the Warriors acquired Porzingis, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he believed he’d be able to make an impact. “We feel good about it,” he said. Porzingis added that he was “confident” he’d be on the court. 

But so far, there are more questions than answers around Porzingis. 

So, without Butler, Curry and Porzingis, the Warriors allowed a Lakers team that had lost three games in a row to stop the bleeding with a blowout win. 

The Warriors still believe anything could happen if they make the play-in tournament. And they’re not wrong. With Curry, anything is possible. 

But without Porzingis, nothing is possible. Not without Butler, too. Curry and Draymond Green just wouldn’t have enough help.

So, while the Kuminga experiment was a failure, the Porzingis experiment so far is an enigma. 

All we really know is he has missed seven of the team’s eight games since becoming a Warrior, leaving Green to try and lead a developing team as Curry rehabs his knee. 

Looking forward, Kerr is unsure whether Porzingis will play against the Clippers on Monday. 

There’s so much uncertainty around the big man. 

For the Warriors, it means they went from having a Kuminga issue to a Porzingis disappearing act.

Or, in other words, they traded a headache for knots in their stomach. 

Villanova men's basketball's 89-57 loss on Saturday, February 28 at No. 15 St. John’s brought back memories for Wildcats coach Kevin Willard, who previously worked under Red Storm coach Rick Pitino as an assistant.

They weren’t fond ones, either.

Following Villanova’s 32-point loss at Madison Square Garden in New York, Willard was asked what Pitino was like at practice immediately following a lopsided defeat. He didn’t hold back with his answer.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness power rankings: Ranking top 20 teams based on odds

“I’m not [expletive] you — I don’t have hair because of this guy,” said Willard, who is bald. “I had a full set of hair when I started working for him. It’s the most miserable experience in life. You fear for your life every day. Everyone laughs when I say that, but you think you’re going to get fired. It’s miserable.”

Willard started his coaching career by working under Pitino as an assistant with the Boston Celtics from 1997-2001 and then at Louisville from 2001-07. Willard’s father, Ralph, was also an assistant for Pitino, with the New York Knicks from 1987-89, at Kentucky from 1989-90 and at Louisville from 2009-11.

Though the younger Willard hasn’t worked for Pitino since leaving Louisville to become the head coach at Iona in 2007, he imagines his old boss has only changed so much.

“As he’s gotten older, he’s probably become more of a cranky old [expletive] than he was when I worked for him, but you literally fear for your life,” Willard said. “He walks into the facility at 6:30 and you’ve been there since 5:30 thinking you have everything right and he comes in and asks you the one question you don’t know. He’s that intense. He always has been. He’s got the most energy of any coach I’ve ever been around. I think that’s why he’s got 900 wins and national championships because he does it better and more intense than anybody.”

Willard is in his first season at Villanova, where he has the Wildcats at 22-7 and in position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.

The 50-year-old Willard was previously the head coach at Maryland, Seton Hall and Iona. He has a career head coaching record of 357-256 and has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament in seven of the previous nine seasons in which the event was held.

So, for all the misery he endured working for Pitino, at least some of the lessons from the legendary coach apparently stayed with him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Willard says working for Pitino was 'the most miserable experience'

It was close, until it wasn’t. The Brooklyn Nets hung around for about a half, but the Boston Celtics separated themselves from the Nets and cruised to a 37 point win. The streak is now at seven losses in a row.

The opponent tonight is climbing the charts in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking a bit different these days, but they keep on keeping on. The team was up three in the final seconds of regulation against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, but they fouled up three… while the Pistons threw up a heave from halfcourt. Detroit made all three free throws and he Cavs wound up losing in overtime. THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T FOUL UP THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 3:30 p.m. ET.

🤕 Injuries

Nic Claxton is questionable with a right thumb sprain. Egor Demin is out. The three two-ways remain with Long Island who plays the Westchester Knicks at 3:00 p.m. ET. (If you like, you can watch the first quarter of that game here)

The following are out:

• Donovan Mitchell
• Dean Wade
• Max Strus
• Keon Ellis

James Harden is questionable with a right thumb fracture.

🏀 The game

Cleveland won the first two meetings. This is the last meeting between the teams this season.

A lot of former Nets in the house today. Dennis Schroeder is starting for former Net Harden and the former Nets coach, Kenny Atkinson, is in the house! Scoop B caught up with Kenny a few weeks back and got to reminiscing

Sometimes you reminisce on bad memories!

The Nets have to avoid the one big run. When you’re at a talent deficit in the ways Brooklyn are, you can’t afford to let a team go on a big run and put you deep in a hole. Being at home should help that out, but it’s the team’s third game in four nights so who knows.

Nolan Traore will look to put another good outing together. He tied a career high with three steals on Friday night and the next two months should help his growth. He’s done a good job of finding his way throughout the year and good games like build confidence that will carry him in to next season.

Without Mitchell and Harden at less than full strength, Michael Porter Jr is the player most likely to hit for 30+ points tonight. He’s started to find his shot in recent games after a slump, and now that we are officially entering the time of year when people start to focus more on the playoff contenders, he’ll be a bit more under the radar than usual. Either way, seeing him start to figure things out again is helpful and will make the last two months of the season entertaining enough.

👀 Player to watch: Jarrett Allen

It’s always fun to watch a player to go on the run of a lifetime. Allen had the best month of his career in February as he averaged around 22 points and 11 rebounds a night on 74 percent shooting from the field. Allen has leveled up in a special way and has the coaches thinking of ways to build on his momentum.

“We just got to keep him there,“ Kenny Atkinson said after the game on Friday. ”You know, it’s our job as coaches to keep him in this great, great space. But I loved his energy tonight.”

If Allen can play anything close to this level in April and May, then the Cavs have a chance to do something really special.

Nic Claxton will look to slow JA down on the inside. A matchup against a resurgent Allen should be a great warmup for the back-to-back he’ll have against Bam Adebayo next week in Miami.

📺 From the Vault

We are officially on the Road to WrestleMania!

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

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Cleveland Cavaliers Game Notes – Cleveland Cavaliers
• Brooklyn takes on Cleveland, seeks to stop 7-game slide – AP
• Is James Harden playing today? Cavs vs. Nets injury report – Malik Brown – Clutch Points

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol signed a two-year contract extension through at least the 2028 season, the Cardinals announced Sunday.

The deal includes a club option for 2029, the club said.

“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time, and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” Cardinals president Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow."

The 39-year-old Marmol has led the Cardinals for the past four seasons, taking them to the National League wild-card round in his first season as manager. But he has failed to return to the playoffs the last three years, and St. Louis was just 78-84 last season.

Yet the Cardinals have long considered the past couple of seasons as an opportunity to reset with Bloom taking over for longtime executive John Mozeliak and a roster in need of a refresh. So it makes sense to provide some stability with Marmol, the third-longest tenured manager in the NL behind the Dodgers' Dave Roberts and the Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo.

Marmol has been with the Cardinals since 2007, when he was still in his playing days. He spent five seasons as a manager in the minors before joining the coaching staff in 2017, and he was elevated to the St. Louis manager on October 25, 2021.

Marmol is 324-323 in four seasons with the Cardinals.

___

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

The Philadelphia 76ers are headed to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics for the fourth and final time this regular season.

Joel Embiid will not be shipping up to Boston, however, after an MRI on Saturday confirmed that Embiid suffered a strained right oblique in the team’s win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night. He will miss the Sixers’ next three games (including Sunday’s) before being re-evaluated. Other than Embiid, Philadelphia will also continue to be without Paul George on Sunday as he sits out his suspension.

After facing off three times in the first three weeks of the season, the Sixers and Celtics haven’t met since way back in November. Philadelphia actually leads the series against Boston so far with two wins and one loss, but all three games were extremely close — the largest margin being two points, the other games decided by a single point.

For this fourth and final meeting the Celtics will, despite rumors and rumblings as of late, still be without Jayson Tatum, who has not played this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in his right leg in the playoffs last season.

Baylor Scheierman also is questionable for Boston for Sunday due to a thumb fracture. Scheierman isn’t a name you might not recognize, but the sophomore guard has actually become a bigger piece of the Celtics rotation as of late. He played 24.3 minutes per game in February and started in the Celtics’ last six contests, averaging 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while playing some good defense in that span.

Even without Tatum this season, Boston has been looking pretty damn good, especially since the turn of the calendar year. The Celtics have won 10 of their last 12 games and are currently second in the Eastern Conference at 39-20, trailing only the 44-14 Detroit Pistons.

Jaylen Brown has been far and away the Celtics leader all season, averaging a career-high 29.1 points per game in 53 contests, but he has a supporting cast playing good basketball right now as well. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are chipping in career-highs of 17.3 points and 17.1 points per game, respectively.

There’s also Nikola Vucevic, who was moved to Boston from the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline. He has played just eight games with the Celtics but came alive for a big double-double in their most recent contest, putting up 28 points on 9-for-13 field goal shooting and 3-for-3 from long range with 11 rebounds. Sure, it was in a blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets, but still something to watch as Vucevic continues to acclimate to the Celtics squad.

The Sixers have been on a positive streak recently as well — a short one, but positive nonetheless — winning their last three games in a row and putting momentum back in their favor after losing four straight prior. The most recent two of those victories came with the help of Embiid, while the first (against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves) was without him. Philadelphia has been shooting the ball well (or at least better than their usual) in that three-game stint as well, hitting 51.7% from the floor and 42.3% from long range.

It’s a good thing that the Sixers have been hotter from beyond the arc, too, because they’re likely going to need those threes to keep up with Boston. As of Saturday evening, the Celtics are second in the NBA in offensive rating at 120.2. For reference, the Sixers are more of a middle-of-the-pack team at 15th (115.0) in the category.

This is going to be a tough one for the Sixers sans Embiid to kick off a busy March, with 16 games in the month. It is certainly possible, with Philadelphia having done it before without their star center back in that two-point victory way back in November, but that’s ancient history now. Based on how the Celtics have been playing recently, it’s likely going to be one of those games the Sixers need everyone at their absolute best: they’ll need Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to both score and facilitate well, Kelly Oubre Jr. to keep shooting as well as he has the past couple weeks, Quentin Grimes to chip in off the bench, everyone doing their jobs defensively, and someone… anyone… to be aggressive rebounding.

It’s going to take everyone.

The Sixers and Celtics tip off from TD Garden at 8 p.m. ET.

Game Details

When: Sunday, March 1, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Watch: NBC, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

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The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics square off tonight, and we’re leaning on the model to find the best NBA player prop projections value on the board.

For the full slate, check out our 76ers vs. Celtics predictions and daily NBA picks for more traditional sides and totals.

76ers vs Celtics computer picks for March 1

76ers	Celtics
Drummond u9.5 rebounds  -120	Hauser o3.5 rebounds  +102
Maxey o2.5 threes  -170	White o16.5 points  -115
Grimes o11.5 points  -105	Pritchard o17.5 points  -115

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76ers computer picks

Andre Drummond Under 9.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 8.7 rebounds

Andre Drummond is still an elite rebounder, but the matchup and projected minutes don’t scream double-digit boards. The model has him landing just under this number, and if the pace stays in check, there simply won’t be enough misses to clear 10. Under 9.5 is the value spot.

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Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 threes (-170)

Projection: 3.5 threes

Tyrese Maxey is letting it fly right now. The volume is there, the green light is there, and the projection has him comfortably above this line. If he gets his usual run and touches, three triples is a very realistic baseline. The juice isn’t pretty, but the number makes sense.

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Quentin Grimes Over 11.5 points (-105)

Projection: 12.1 points

Quentin Grimes doesn’t need a monster night to get there. He just needs steady usage and his normal shot diet. The model has him clearing this number, and at near even money, we’re basically asking for a modest scoring night. Over 11.5 is playable.

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Celtics computer picks

Sam Hauser Over 3.5 rebounds (+102)

Projection: 4.5 rebounds

Sam Hauser isn’t just a standstill shooter — he crashes the glass when he’s out there. With projected minutes holding steady, the model gives him a full rebound cushion over this line. At plus money, that’s a bet worth taking.

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Derrick White Over 16.5 points (-115)

Projection: 18.5 points

Derrick White’s role in this offense is secure. He gets clean looks, he attacks closeouts, and he can get there from three or at the rim. The projection clears this line by two points, which is enough margin to justify the Over at this price.

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Payton Pritchard Over 17.5 points (-115)

Projection: 19 points

Payton Pritchard has the green light with the second unit and isn’t shy about taking shots. When the minutes are there, the scoring follows. The model has him just under 20, which gives us enough cushion to ride the Over 17.5.

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How to watch 76ers vs Celtics tonight

Location	TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date	Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in a matchup of Atlantic Division rivals on Sunday night.

Tyrese Maxey is on a roll offensively, and my 76ers vs. Celtics predictions call for another big game from the All-Star guard.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Atlantic Division showdown on Sunday, March 1.

76ers vs Celtics prediction

76ers vs Celtics best bet: Tyrese Maxey Over 26.5 points (-120)

Tyrese Maxey has been on a heater, and I expect his elite scoring to continue on the road against a familiar opponent. Maxey has scored 27+ in eight straight games, including five straight on the road. He’s reached that mark in 39 of 57 games overall and 21 of 27 away from Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia 76ers' superstar guard has posted point totals of 40, 33, and 32 across his last three matchups at TD Garden. With Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined, he’ll need to shoulder the load on offense, and I expect him to comfortably clear this scoring line.

76ers vs Celtics same-game parlay

The 76ers and Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in two of their last three head-to-head matchups. Philly's offense has been tremendous across its last three games, but Boston's elite defense can limit the scoring at home.

Philly has won and covered in three straight games, and the Sixers sport the best road ATS record in the Association at 19-9. Boston is just 11-12 ATS as the home favorite.

76ers vs Celtics SGP

• Maxey Over 26.5 points
• Under 221.5
• 76ers +9.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Max production

Nikola Vucevic finished with a monster 28/11/4 line in his last game out, and I expect him to keep the momentum going tonight. He's in an advantageous position against a Sixers team missing Joel Embiid.

76ers vs Celtics SGP

• Maxey Over 26.5 points
• Under 221.5
• 76ers +9.5
• Vucevic Over 22.5 P/R/A

76ers vs Celtics odds

• Spread: 76ers +9.5 | Celtics -9.5
• Moneyline: 76ers +280 | Celtics -360
• Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5

76ers vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Philadelphia 76ers have covered the Spread in 21 of their last 30 away games (+12.20 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Celtics.

How to watch 76ers vs Celtics

76ers vs Celtics latest injuries

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