Category: NBA

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The Philadelphia 76ers are going through their roughest stretch of the season, losing four straight games, all by double digits. Minnesota, meanwhile, has won three straight and seven of the last 10. 

With key players missing for both sides, my 76ers vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks look for Minnesota to get a home cover on Sunday, February 22.

76ers vs Timberwolves prediction

76ers vs Timberwolves best bet: Timberwolves -8.5 (-115)

Not only have the Philadelphia 76ers lost four straight by an average of 22.8 points, but three of them have also come against teams with a losing record. Coach Nick Nurse admitted the team has hit its toughest point this season. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves should have their full attention on the Sixers. After winning two straight by more than 20, the T-Wolves jumped out to an 18-point lead against Dallas on Friday, only to play with their food a bit and allow the Mavericks to tie it late. All-Star MVP Anthony Edwards had 40 against Dallas and will continue his hot play in Philly. 

76ers vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Edwards had 40 against Dallas and will be the focus of the Minnesota offense again today. He’s made more than half his shots and more than a third of his three-point attempts each of the last three games, with an All-Star MVP performance sandwiched in the middle. 

With Gobert out, Julius Randle will need to help pick up the slack on the boards. Even with Gobert next to him, he’s had seven or more rebounds in four of the last five contests. 

76ers vs Timberwolves SGP

• Timberwolves -8.5
• Edwards Over 29.5 points
• Julius Randle Over 7.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Edwards dials it up

The odds seem unusually long for Edwards’ three-pointers. He’s made four or more in four of the last five and hit five treys twice over that span. He’s 13 for his last 30 from three. 

Like Randle, Naz Reid will need to pitch in more than usual to help with rebounding with Gobert out. 

76ers vs Timberwolves SGP

• Edwards Over 29.5 points
• Julius Randle Over 7.5 rebounds
• Reid Over 8.5 rebounds
• Edwards Over 3.5 threes

76ers vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: 76ers +8.5 | Timberwolves -8.5
• Moneyline: 76ers +290 | Timberwolves -370
• Over/Under: Over 238.5 | Under 238.5

76ers vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Minnesota Timberwolves have hit the Game Total Under in 18 of their last 25 games at home. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch 76ers vs Timberwolves

76ers vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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The NBA is set up to own Sundays for the next few months, with football in the rearview mirror and marquee weekend matchups on the schedule — and that starts today with wall-to-wall hoops and a stack of NBA player props to choose from.

Here are my Top 3 NBA picks for a February 22 slate that promises fireworks.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Ryan Rollins	Over 17.5 points	-115
Luka Doncic	Double-Double	+115
Derrick Jones Jr.	Over 16.5 points + rebounds	-115

Prop #1: Ryan Rollins Over 17.5 points

-115 at bet365

Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks are leaning on Ryan Rollins in a big way, and he’s fresh off dropping 27 points on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday with a 10-for-15 line.

He’s gone past this number in seven of his last nine games, and he’s shooting 52% from 3-point range in February. 

Even if Myles Turner returns today, Rollins is the go-to guy for the Bucks as they try to hang in the play-in race, and I’m banking on another outing with 20+ points for the breakout guard here against a Scottie Barnes-less Toronto Raptors team.

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: TSN, FDSN WI

Prop #2: Luka Doncic double-double

+115 at bet365

Luka Doncic may be heading for the NBA scoring title, but he’s also a walking triple-double threat — and I love these plus odds for 10+ assists or rebounds alongside a big points haul tonight against the Celtics.

Doncic will have a size edge over the Boston backcourt, and he’s logged a double-double in seven of the last eight contests where he’s played 30+ minutes.

Boosted by Austin Reaves’ return as another proven bucket-getter, Luka dished 11 dimes in the Lakers’ win over the Clippers on Friday, and he could also be busy on the boards here with the Celtics’ 3-point barrage.

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC

Prop #3: Derrick Jones Jr. Over 16.5 points + rebounds

-115 at bet365

It’s all change in Clipperland after the James Harden and Ivica Zubac trades, and Derrick Jones Jr. is one of the short-term beneficiaries. He logged 39 minutes on Friday against the Lakers, and that kind of workload can power this combo Over. 

Without Darius Garland and John Collins, L.A. is shorthanded as it takes on the Magic tonight, and Jones Jr. has blown past this combo O/U line in his past two outings, including a 13-point, eight-rebound effort last time out.

He’s also shooting 50% from the field in February, with 2+ triples in three of his prior four contests.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBA TV

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

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PARIS (AP) — Franck Haise's first game in charge of Rennes started with a clinical 3-0 win at Auxerre in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Midfieler Mahdi Camara scored two first-half goals either side of an effort from striker Esteban Lepaul to put Rennes 3-0 up at halftime. Haise replaced Habib Beye, who split with Rennes and is now with Marseille.

Rennes was hardly troubled in the second half and moved provisionally up to fifth place, three points behind fourth-placed Marseille in the race for a Champions League place.

Lille need to win at Angers later Sunday to reclaim fifth spot on goal difference. Struggling Auxerre is in 16th.

Later Sunday, Lyon went to Strasbourg looking for its 14th straight win in all competitions. Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain share the French record with 16 straight wins overall.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for coach Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon side, which avoided relegation to the second tier for financial irregularities after winning an appeal in July.

In Sunday's other matches, Nice hosted Lorient and struggling Nantes faced Le Havre.

PSG went back to the top on Saturday after title rival Lens lost at home to Monaco. ___

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

While many Cleveland Cavaliers fans were blindsided by the Darius Garland trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, the one person who was not was Garland himself.

“It was going to happen regardless, either at the [trade] deadline or this summer,” Garland told Marc J. Spears at Andscape. “[My agent] Rich [Paul] had that conversation with me last summer.”

The Cavs clearly had made a decision internally about how they wanted to approach the inevitable shakeup required to not only make the team fit, but also be financially feasible. Trading Garland, who was an All-Star last season, has failed to live up to that stature this year. The 26-year-old suffered a mysterious toe injury in the playoffs last season, requiring offseason surgery and a delayed start to the season. But even after returning, Garland did not look like himself.

“The toe definitely had a factor in it (the trade),” Garland continued. “They didn’t know if I was going to be healthy for this season, which I will be.”

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The consistent injury issues, coupled with the reality that the Cavs’ window of opportunity is now, made the trade all that much more necessary. And the player Cleveland got in return is awfully good, fitting into that “win-now” mode.

“They thought that James (Harden) had something that I didn’t, I believe,” Garland said. “He has experience in playoffs and All-Star numbers still to this day, even though he wasn’t an All-Star this year. But yeah, they want to win right now. They have a group, too. And I guess I really wasn’t part of the plan.

“But now, I’m over here in a really good situation.”

Garland has yet to appear in a game for the Clippers this season, though both he and the team remain adamant that his debut is coming soon. The Cavs may have made the right decision on their former franchise point guard, with his inconsistent health becoming an excuse too often. While his departure from Cleveland came under unfortunate circumstances, it seems both sides are happy with the deal.

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One of the most iconic rivalries in NBA history gets renewed tonight when the Boston Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers.

Celtics vs Lakers prediction

Celtics vs Lakers best bet: Jaylen Brown Over 28.5 points (-120)

Jaylen Brown's career-best campaign is the driving force for the Boston Celtics' success, and his scoring prowess will be on full display against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Los Angeles is a below-average defense, and Brown torched the Lakers for 30 points in his first matchup.

Celtics vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Celtics rank second in offensive rating, and despite recurring injuries, the Lakers rank 11th. Both rosters will be at full strength tonight, which should lead to plenty of scoring.

Celtics vs Lakers SGP

• Jaylen Brown Over 28.5 points
• Over 228
• Lakers moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: LeBron shares the love

James is averaging 7.2 assists per game this season. He's recorded double-digit dimes in five straight and at 7+ in six straight.

With Doncic and Reaves available, James' elite playmaking abilities will shine as he gets his high-scoring teammates involved.

Celtics vs Lakers SGP

• Jaylen Brown Over 28.5 points
• Over 228
• Lakers moneyline
• LeBron James Over 6.5 assists

Celtics vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Boston -2 (-110) | Los Angeles +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Boston -130 | Los Angeles +110
• Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)

Celtics vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Lakers have hit the 2Q Over in 25 of their last 35 games at home (+13.65 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Lakers.

How to watch Celtics vs Lakers

Celtics vs Lakers latest injuries

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BYU basketball star freshman AJ Dybantsa wants you to know he's got no issues staying on the court.

There's been a lot of discussion about playing time and availability when it comes to Darryn Peterson, the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

The Kansas freshman has missed 11 games and has pulled himself out of games in the second half on occasion, causing many to question his perch as college basketball's top prospect.

NCAA tournament top 16 seeds: A rough day just hours after reveal

March Madness power rankings: Ranking top 16 teams based on odds

Dybantsa, a rival for that No. 1 spot in the draft, offers no such concerns.

The Cougars star led No. 22 BYU to a 79-69 upset win over No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 21, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists — and maybe more importantly, 40 minutes.

"If they need me to play 40 minutes, I’ll play 40 minutes," Dybantsa said postgame Saturday.

Dybantsa has averaged 40.5 minutes over his past four games (includes an overtime win over Colorado).

Peterson is averaging 27.2 minutes per game.

Dybantsa is averaging 24.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for the Cougars (20-7, 8-6), while Peterson leads the Jayhawks with 19.8 ppg.

They are the headliners of a super-talented freshman class that should dominate the summer's draft. It will be interesting to see how much NBA scouts value availability and whether Peterson can calm any fears teams may have.

AJ Dybantsa highlights vs Iowa State

AJ Dybantsa's last 6 games

The potential No. 1 pick just went off against No. 6 Iowa State

29 PTS | 10 REB | 9 AST
35 PTS | 13-28 FG | 7 REB
20 PTS | 13 REB | 8 AST
36 PTS | 14-20 FG | 7 AST | 5 REB
28 PTS | 9-14 FG | 5 REB | 4 AST
36 PTS | 13-20 FG | 7 REB | 4 AST pic.twitter.com/9u7u9vVyVz

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) February 22, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darryn Peterson may worry about his minutes. AJ Dybantsa will play 40.

Houston’s effective offense and solid board play allowed them to take a commanding early lead, going up to 18 points in the first three quarters.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Knicks were behind 91-75, but they totally turned the tide thanks to defense and clutch shots, pulling off one of their largest comebacks of the year. After Houston had a sizeable lead going into the fourth quarter, the Knicks began to run away with the game as Houston began to turn the ball over.

After being smothered for the first three quarters, Jalen Brunson made a midrange jump shot over Tari Eason to take the lead with 29 seconds remaining, tying the score at 103. In all honesty, Brunson really came alive in the fourth and had a tremendous final quarter. A jump shot that would have knotted the game was missed by Kevin Durant. Jabari Smith Jr. missed a contested 3-pointer after Houston grabbed the offensive rebound, causing the Rockets to intentionally foul.

Before Durant’s 3-pointer, Houston was behind by four points. Durant had another chance, a near half-court heave that missed, but the Knicks made one of their two free throws, sealing a heartbreaking 108-106 defeat.

Despite leading Houston with 30 points, Durant had a terrible fourth quarter, shooting only 2-for-7 and causing three of Houston’s nine turnovers.In the fourth quarter, the Rockets’ field goal percentage was 27.8%. After three quarters with 12 points on 2-for-8 shooting, Brunson finished with 20 points after making all four of his baskets in the last quarter. New York was led by Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 25 points. Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. made significant contributions that helped Houston manage rebounds and transition offense.

Rockets will look to get back on track Monday as they return to Toyota Center to take on the Utah Jazz at 8:30. As always, make sure to check back here at the Dreamshake for pre- and postgame coverage.

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The Denver Nuggets travel to the Bay as they face the Golden State Warriors for the third time this season.

Nikola Jokic is generous to teammates in San Francisco, and my Nuggets vs. Warriors predictions expect him to rack up double-digit assists.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Sunday, February 22.

Nuggets vs Warriors prediction

Nuggets vs Warriors best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists (-135)

Nikola Jokic has had great success as a facilitator in the Bay, and he should easily clear his assists line tonight. Across his last five games at Golden State, Jokic averaged 11 assists and finished with 10 or more four times.

With 10.5 helpers per game, Jokic leads the NBA in assists this season. He's dished 10+ dimes in 26 of 41 games overall, and he's averaged 9.9 on the road. Jamal Murray is banged up, which could mean additional playmaking responsibilities for the Joker.

Nuggets vs Warriors same-game parlay

The Denver Nuggets sport the second-best ATS record on the road this season at 20-1, and the Nuggets are 12-9 ATS as the road favorite. The Golden State Warriors are just 14-15 ATS at home, and the Dubs have covered in just one of five games as the home dog.

The Nuggets' offense is the highest-scoring in the Association, and the team set a franchise record for points on the road with 157 in Friday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Denver has hit the Over in eight of its last 10 games, and Golden State has done so in three straight.

Nuggets vs Warriors SGP

• Jokic Over 9.5 assists
• Nuggets -6.5
• Over 229.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: A Nugget party

Kristaps Porzingis finished with 12 points across 17 minutes in his Warriors debut, and he's expected to see his minutes tick up on Sunday. He can get one more bucket and clear this scoring line, especially in a high-scoring matchup with the Nuggets.

Nuggets vs Warriors SGP

• Jokic Over 9.5 assists
• Nuggets -6.5
• Over 229.5
• Porzingis Over 13.5 points

Nuggets vs Warriors odds

• Spread: Nuggets -6.5| Warriors +6.5
• Moneyline: Nuggets -240 | Warriors +195
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5

Nuggets vs Warriors betting trend to know

The Golden State Warriors have hit the Team Total Over in 15 of their last 20 games at home (+9.20 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Warriors.

How to watch Nuggets vs Warriors

Nuggets vs Warriors latest injuries

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Sunday night in L.A. brings one of the NBA’s marquee matchups, and we’ve run the numbers to find the edges.

These NBA player prop projections break down where our model sees separation between posted lines and expected output.

In our Celtics vs. Lakers predictions, we’re focused strictly on the props with real value — the ones that make sense if you’re building sharper NBA picks for February 22.

Celtics vs Lakers computer picks for February 22

Celtics	Lakers
Brown o28.5 points  -120	Smart o7.5 points -110
Pritchard o2.5 threes  -112	Reaves o4.5 assists  +125
White Over 3.5 rebounds  -120	Doncic Under 30.5 points  -120

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Celtics computer picks

Jaylen Brown Over 28.5 points

Projection: 30.5 points

This isn’t a thin edge — the model has Jaylen Brown clearing 30. When you’re getting a two-point cushion on a high-usage scorer, that’s meaningful. He’s carrying a consistent offensive load and doesn’t rely on one scoring lane to get there. If the minutes are secure, 29+ is the expectation, not the ceiling.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Brown Now at bet365!/span

Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 threes (-112)

Projection: 3.2 threes

Payton Pritchard doesn’t hesitate — if he’s open, it’s going up. He’s clearing this in most normal shooting nights, and volume isn’t the issue. With the projection comfortably above three, this is a rhythm-and-minutes bet more than anything else.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Pritchard Now at bet365!/span

Derrick White Over 3.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 4.1 rebounds

Derrick White plays bigger than his position when it comes to rebounding. He crashes from the perimeter and benefits from long misses in guard-heavy matchups. The model has him clearing four boards, which gives this a bit of cushion.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet white Now at bet365!/span

---

Lakers computer picks

Marcus Smart Over 7.5 points (-110)

Projection: 9.0 points

Marcus Smart isn’t out there to score 20, but eight points is well within his normal workload. A couple of drives, a corner three, maybe a transition bucket — it adds up fast. The projection puts him comfortably above this number.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Smart Now at bet365!/span

Austin Reaves Over 4.5 assists (+125)

Projection: 4.9 assists

Even with Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the lineup, Austin Reaves handles enough of the offense to flirt with five assists on most nights. At plus money, you’re getting paid for a line that sits just below his expected output. If teammates knock down open looks, this clears.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet reaves Now at bet365!/span

Luka Doncic Under 30.5 points (-120)

Projection: 28.6 points

Thirty-one is considered a light night for Luka Doncic, but tonight will be tricky. He can get there, but the projection leans toward a high-20s night rather than an explosion. If the defense shows extra bodies and forces the ball out of his hands, this Under has a path.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet doncic Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Celtics vs Lakers tonight

Location	Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date	Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off	6:30 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — South African golfer Casey Jarvis won the Kenya Open by three shots on Sunday to clinch his first title on the European tour.

The No. 195-ranked Jarvis rolled in an eagle putt on his 72nd hole to post 8-under 62 for the final round and finish on 25-under par for the tournament at Karen Country Club in Nairobi.

Jarvis also eagled the short par-4 12th hole Sunday, making a winding right-to-left putt over a ridge, on the way to shooting 30 in his back nine.

Jarvis shared the lead in each of the first three rounds — and each time with a different player — before finally pulling away.

American Davis Bryant (64) was alone in second place and Hennie Du Plessis (65) of South Africa was third.

___

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

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Less than 24 hours after a tough 2OT loss, the Orlando Magic are back at it again as they visit the Los Angeles Clippers, where they’re pegged as 4-point underdogs in the NBA odds.

Based on the schedule and injury situations for both sides, my Magic vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks are targeting the Under on Sunday, February 22.

Magic vs Clippers prediction

Magic vs Clippers best bet: Under 215.5 (-110)

It was a taxing night for the Orlando Magic in a 113-110 2OT loss in Phoenix. Six players logged at least 33 minutes, with Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, and Paolo Banchero playing 40+.

The Los Angeles Clippers just lost to the Lakers, where Kawhi Leonard (ankle) couldn’t finish the game. He is questionable tonight. John Collins and Darius Garland are also out for the fourth-lowest scoring team in the league.

Orlando has hit the Under in five of its last seven games, and the Under is 4-1-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings.

Magic vs Clippers same-game parlay

Bane is coming off a team-high 34 points against Phoenix, and he’s got a generous scoring line of 18.5 against the Clippers, considering he’s gone for 19 or more in 11 of his last 13.

It’s been good vibes for Bennedict Mathurin since being traded by Indiana. He’s topped his 22.5-point line in two of three games with L.A. With Kawhi questionable, he’s one legit offensive source for the points-hungry Clips.

Magic vs Clippers SGP

• Under 215.5
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
• Bennedict Mathurin Over 22.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bank on Banchero

Banchero dished out eight assists vs. Phoenix, and has had 5+ assists in back-to-back games.

Brook Lopez is coming off his best rebounding game of the year with 10 boards against the Lakers. He’ll have more resistance against Orlando, but getting six boards shouldn’t be a struggle for him as the main big in the Clippers’ rotation.

Magic vs Clippers SGP

• Under 215.5
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
• Bennedict Mathurin Over 22.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 4.5 assists
• Brook Lopez Over 5.5 rebounds

Magic vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Magic -3 | Clippers +3
• Moneyline: Magic +122 | Clippers -144
• Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215

Magic vs Clippers betting trend to know

Orlando has win five straight games when playing with a rest disadvantage. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Clippers.

How to watch Magic vs Clippers

Magic vs Clippers latest injuries

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The NCAA Tournament selection committee offered a first glimpse into what this season's March Madness bracket could look like.

After one day, they'll need to go back to the drawing board.

The selection committee unveiled the first in-season top 16 seeds on Saturday, Feb. 21, and of those 16, six lost on Saturday.

March Madness bracket tracker: Who's in, out and on NCAA bubble

March Madness power rankings: Ranking top 16 teams based on odds

The official NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15.

Here's a look at how the top-16 seeds fared this weekend.

NCAA Tournament selection committee's top 16 seeds

1. Michigan: lost to Duke, 68-63
2. Duke: beat Michigan, 68-63
3. Arizona: beat Houston, 73-66
4. Iowa State: lost to BYU, 79-69
5. UConn: beat Villanova, 73-63
6. Houston: lost to Arizona, 73-66
7. Illinois: lost to UCLA, 95-94
8. Purdue
9. Florida: beat Ole Miss, 94-75
10. Kansas: lost to Cincinnati, 84-68
11. Nebraska: beat Penn State, 87-64
12. Gonzaga: beat Pacific, 71-62
13. Texas Tech: beat Kansas State, 100-72
14. Michigan State
15. Vanderbilt: lost to Tennessee, 69-65
16. Virginia: beat Miami, 86-83

When is Selection Sunday 2026?

The 68-team bracket for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be unveiled on 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15.

When does March Madness start? 

The first men’s game of the 2026 NCAA tournament will be on March 17 with the start of the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness top 16 seeds struggle after selection committee reveal

Fresh off a fourth-quarter heist at the Garden, the Knicks (36*-21) head to the United Center to face the Chicago Bulls (24–33). The matchup gives New York a chance to firm up its hold on third place against a Bulls team that has lost as many consecutive games as an octopus has arms. (That’s eight, buddy.)

The season series sits tied at one apiece. When they last met, the Knicks beat the Bulls 128-116 on November 2, 2025. Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points. Josh Giddey paced Chicago with 23.

The Bulls are planning a massive offseason bender to forget this campaign. They rank 23rd in offensive rating at 114 and 26th in defensive rating at 118.1. They can score a bit, averaging 116.4 points per game, which puts them 11th in the league, but no team sees them on the schedule and says, Uh-oh, better double-knot my Nikes.

Aussie hair model Josh Giddey leads the brigade, averaging 18.4 points per game and spreading 8.5 assists. Matas “Line Drawing Face” Buzelis averages 15 points per game and shoots 36% from three. Their starting five will likely be Giddey, Anfernee Simons (20.1 PPG), Isaac Okoro (9.1 PPG), Buzelis, and Jalen Smith (10.2 RPG). Last night, with Simons out, our old pal Guerschon Yabusele was in the starting lineup. As I said, good times in Chicago!

On Chi-Town’s injury report, Simons is day-to-day with a wrist injury. Zach Collins is out for the season for the Bulls with a toe problem, as is Noa Essengue with a shoulder injury.

Prediction

ESPN gives the Knicks an 82% chance to win. Oh, they’d better. Last night, the Knicks opened the game strong, then looked dead in the water for two quarters until Jose Alvarado injected life into them. Is Jose your new favorite Knick, yet? Or do you still cling to Bridges like a weird old Teddy? (Bear, Ruxpin, Pendergrass—whatever you’re into.)

Chicago also played at home last night, in a 16-point loss to Detroit that would have been uglier if not for a 34-point fourth quarter. We doubt the Bulls are even playing for pride at this point, so the Knicks’ bench should take care of business and let the starters cool their heels. Knicks by a dozen.

Game Details

Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Time: 8 PM ET
Place: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the Cup final was just an acid flashback.