Category: NBA

Franchise records, cardinal sins, basketball gods, and the unexpected. Volume 7 is nothing if not varied. And while the past fortnight might have seemed all doom and gloom to begin, a win streak and the quiet celebration of a post-trade deadline with Giannis still here have brought some much-needed positive mojo back to the Bucks. Rejoice!

@ Sixers

To begin, the land is flat, city streets gently rolling at worst. One street into another. Into another, into another. Eventually, there’s movement. Subtle. Tectonic. Paul George trails the play then steps into a 27-footer, putting the Sixers up eight. On their next trip down, he rises again—splash—and an incline becomes noticeable. Two minutes and forty-eight seconds of game time and a three-quarter time break later, George is back at it, hitting again from 27 feet. Then, just 37 seconds on from that, a painted landscape: George screens and then gets screened as he curls to the corner, dropping yet another—a franchise-record-tying ninth triple. By the time it falls through the hoop and the Bucks are back on offence, you’d swear they’re in San Francisco, or at Denali. A mountain looms. 

Win probability prior to George’s initial 27-footer: 23.3%

Win probability following his ninth three: 1.4%

@ Wizards

The Bucks don’t score for the first three minutes. Don’t get their second bucket for another two. Don’t reach 10 points until there’s only 4:50 left in the quarter. But somehow, with 45 seconds left on the clock, a Pete Nance tip-in gives them the lead. It caps a 10-2 run that should give the Bucks momentum going into the second. Instead, on the very next possession, Bobby Portis fouls Bub Carrington on a 32-footer. And one. Four-point play. Then, with just 2.2 seconds left in the quarter, Nance commits the same sin, sending Will Riley to the line to shoot three. He makes them all, and the Wizards take a two-point lead into the break that the Bucks can never get back. But considering where the season is right now, you don’t mind. Not. One. Bit. 

Win probability prior to Portis’ foul: 67.2%

Win probability following Riley’s free throws: 56.3%

@ Celtics

There’s hardware up for grabs and the Bucks start en fuego—middies to Rollins and Portis, threes to Rollins and Kuzma—and suddenly it’s a 12-0 lead. The crowd is stunned, silent. Kuzma keeps pressing, getting to the line, and then Myles Turner gets in on the action with a 27-footer that makes you think his recent hot form ain’t just a streak: up fake, 360 pivot, pull-back—phone booth stuff—nothing but the bottom. 16-6 Bucks. Showing out in the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic. They even get a miss on the other end, Payton Pritchard back-rimming his own 27-footer. But when Turner and then Rollins fail to control the rebound, it starts to smell like trouble. And when Turner compounds the error, watching frozen as Neemias Queta turns middle and two-dribbles into an uncontested left-hand dunk, it flat-out stinks. The TD Garden crowd finds its voice and the Celtics go on a 99-63 run the rest of the way. 

Win probability following Turner’s three: 44.9%

Win probability following Queta’s dunk: 42.6%

vs. Bulls

Okay, I confess: I didn’t watch this one. You get it, don’t you? They’d lost five on the trot. By an average of 15.4 points. Bobby Portis joined Giannis, Taurean Prince, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Harris on the inactive list. Amir Coffey started. Bucks trade rumours were running wild. Actual trades were going down. Podcasts and podcasts and podcasts and podcasts. But hey, Kuz turned into Giannis, Trent found his stroke, and I’m the loser. I can live with it. 

Win probability prior to the game: 51.8%

Win probability following my decision to forego it: 100% (apparently) 

vs. Pelicans

It’s trade deadline eve and a million unanswered questions flit in the air like leaves in a tornado. Will the Bucks trade Giannis? Will they make an offer for Michael Porter Jr.? Why are there rumours about Cam Thomas? But only one of them carries real weight. Do you believe in god?

Deep in the fourth quarter of the Bucks’ matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, long after you’ve forgotten they’re really only playing to protect their draft pick, it’s a ballgame. And you’re invested. Zion Williamson sinks a pair of free throws to put the Pels up two with just 58 seconds on the clock. Then Kevin Porter Jr., back from the indefinite, spins tornado-like into a dunk that ties it up. And after Zion gets called for an offensive foul, KPJ again touches paint and finds Myles Turner in the corner. He rises up for three—for the win—only for the refs to initiate a review and, somehow, waive it off. You’re enraged, fists clenched, yelling out His name in vain. Regardless, it’s overtime, and before you know it, it arrives—the moment. Up two after a Rollins layup, KPJ finds Turner again—this time on the wing, feet well inside the sidelines—and he lets it fly. The shot is clearly long, bypassing the rim entirely. But it does find glass. Then net. And the Bucks hold on from there. Protect the pick.

Later that night, as you lie awake in bed, the question rears itself again. Do you believe in god? No, you think. Then pause. But I sure as hell believe in the basketball gods. 

Win probability after Turner’s game-winner is waived off: 46.6%

Win probability after Turner’s bank shot three: 80.6% 

vs. Pacers

Sitting on his lounge room couch, scrolling on his phone, Jericho Sims’ heart skips a beat—the Bucks have just traded for centre Nick Richards. Sims discards his phone, heads straight to Fiserv. Gets to work. He stays there overnight, minutes turning into hours turning into tip-off against the Indiana Pacers. And he’s starting. His presence is felt early—five decisive caroms—but it’s a sequence in the second that tells the story. Sims finds his anti-gravity, comes out of nowhere to throw a Johnny Furphy attempt off the backboard that turns into a transition deep two for Bobby Portis. Back on the other end, Sims collects another rebound and turns point-forward, milks the hot hand so well Jason Kidd would be proud, and Portis pays it off for three. Timeout, Pacers. Four-point deficit to one-point lead. 26 seconds of utter dominance. By the half, he’s already got double-digit rebounds. By the end of the game, he’s arguably the most valuable player of the night. It’s not until he gets home and finds his phone that he sees Richards was traded before arrival for Ousmane Dieng. Good thing, he thinks. Wasn’t gonna take my spot anyway. And with that, Jericho Sims may have just saved his career.

Win probability prior to Sims’ block on Furphy: 33.9%

Win probability after Sims drops it off to Portis for three: 49.1% 

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New to Momentum Moments is a fan poll giving you the final say on what moment hit hardest. Cast your vote below and, as always, add your thoughts in the comments.

James Harden’s 15 fourth-quarter points were enough to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a narrow 132-126 victory over the Sacramento Kings in his debut with the team. Immediately after the game, while he was doing his first postgame interview with Cavs sideline reporter Serena Winters, Travis Scott decided to crash the party.

“We’re going to the yard,” Travis Scott yelled after he came running into the picture. “What are we doing? DM, JH, what the f***!”

Travis Scott crashed James Harden's interview after Harden's first W with the Cavs 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/kA8T9O7Gow

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 8, 2026

FanDuel Sports Network didn’t cut off the last part like they probably wish they did. At the same time, they couldn’t have expected Travis Scott to run in like that.

Winters handled this chaotic moment like a pro. She held the microphone in a death grip and, understandably, wasn’t going to give it up to someone who just ran in. And then when Travis Scott left, she resumed interviewing Harden and Donovan Mitchell as if nothing happened.

She’s good at her job.

You know it girl 😂😂😂 you know we were always taught to never give up our mic, just never knew I was going to have to implement it with such force 😂

— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 8, 2026

It’s also worth noting that Harden and Travis Scott are friends, as seen in their interactions after the game.

🔥 Had Travis in the building supporting on the debut! @JHarden13 & @trvisXX | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/wasyeGAllJ

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 8, 2026

The James Harden Era has gotten off to a good and entertaining start for Cleveland.

Harden and Mitchell started slow in the first half, but turned it on in the second. Harden poured in 20 points on 6-7 shooting with two assists over the final two quarters. Mitchell scored 29 on 11-16 shooting in that time as well. That was good enough to get past a rudderless Kings team.

How the Mitchell and Harden pairing works out on the court will determine whether this trade was a win. The duo performed well together on Saturday as they combined for 32 fourth-quarter points down the stretch and one crashed postgame interview with Travis Scott.

The Washington Wizards have requested waivers on Dante Exum, the team announced Sunday.

The Washington Wizards have requested waivers on guard Dante Exum.

— Wizards PR (@WizPRStats) February 8, 2026

Exum, 30, was acquired from Dallas in the Anthony Davis trade. The veteran guard was on an expiring $3.3 million contract.

After waiving Exum, Washington now has two open roster spots it can fill with standard NBA contracts. One of spots is currently being filled by the 10-day contract of Keshon Gilbert.

Washington could convert one of its two-way players — Tristan Vukcevic, Jamir Watkins, Sharife Cooper — to a standard NBA deal with one of those roster spots.

Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference face off on Sunday when the Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks.

Jalen Brunson had one of his worst offensive performances of the season on Friday, and my Knicks vs. Celtics predictions expect a bounce-back performance from the superstar guard.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this heavyweight matinee matchup on Sunday, February 8.

Knicks vs Celtics prediction

Knicks vs Celtics best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-105)

Jalen Brunson had arguably his worst offensive showing of the season on Friday as he finished with 12 points on 4 of 20 shooting. The 12 points tied his season low, not counting his five-minute game against the Sacramento Kings.

Brunson is averaging 27.1 points per game this season, and he’s scored at least 27 points in 14 of 22 road games. He also finished with 15 and 31 points in two tilts with the Boston Celtics.

This afternoon's matchup is nationally televised with one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams, and I expect Brunson to bounce back under the bright lights.

Knicks vs Celtics same-game parlay

Nikola Vucevic made his Boston debut on Friday with an 11/12/4 line across 28 minutes. He averaged 29.7 PRA over 30.8 minutes with the Bulls and averaged 35 against the New York Knicks in two matchups.

The Knicks have hit the Under in eight of their last 10, and the Celtics have hit the Under in nine of 10, including seven straight. In this clash between strong defenses, I'll take the Under on this low-scoring total.

Knicks vs Celtics SGP

• Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
• Nikola Vucevic Over 23.5 points+rebounds+assists
• Under 213.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Superstars shine

Jaylen Brown has gone for 29+ points in 30 of 47 games this season, and he's reached that mark in seven of his last 10 — including three straight. 

Knicks vs Celtics SGP

• Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
• Nikola Vucevic Over 23.5 points+rebounds+assists
• Under 213.5
• Jaylen Brown Over 28.5 points

Knicks vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Knicks +4 (-115) | Celtics -4 (-105)
• Moneyline: Knicks +145 | Celtics -170
• Over/Under: Over 213.5 | Under 213.5

Knicks vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Boston Celtics have hit the game total Under in 19 of their last 25 games (+12.40 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Celtics.

How to watch Knicks vs Celtics

Knicks vs Celtics latest injuries

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

Jason Richardson won the Slam Dunk Contest in his first two NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Now his son will try to repeat his feat in his own rookie season.

let's get it rook !!

Jase Richardson will participate in the NBA Slam Dunk competition 👏 pic.twitter.com/WULwn0iime

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 7, 2026

Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic is one of four dunkers competing for glory at this year’s Slam Dunk Contest, happening Feb. 14 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. After Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons pulled out of the contest due to a knee injury, the NBA tapped Miami Heat guard Keshad Johnson to replace him, along with rookie Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers center/total jerk Jaxson Hayes, who served a one-game suspension this week after cheap-shooting Washington Wizards mascot, G-Wiz.

Jaxson Hayes shoved Wizards mascot, G-Wiz, in pre-game introductions

Hayes has been suspended for one game, per @ShamsCharaniapic.twitter.com/x4xz2Ndw2I

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 4, 2026

J-Rich won the first two dunk contests he entered then fell short in 2004, when Indiana Pacers guard Fred Jones backed into the win after a disappointing final round where both competitors missed their last dunks. However, Richardson was transcendent in his first appearance in 2002, delivering the three highest-rated dunks in the contest while seamlessly duplicating a classic Dominique Wilkins windmill dunk and closing on a reserve two-handed jam.

The younger Richardson is a different type of player than his father. Jase isa five inches shorter at 6-foot-1 and he’s a three-point specialist, a skill that eventually took off for J-Rich but not until his fifth NBA season. Also, J-Rich dunked 81 times in his rookie season, while so far his son has dunked exactly four times.

That’s a weird element of this year’s contest: These guys don’t actually dunk in games. Richardson has four dunks. Bryant has dunked six times. Johnson has nine dunks, and 15 in 37 career games. Hayes dunks a lot, throwing it down 69 times this season before Saturday’s game and 67 times before Tuesday’s contest, and which of those numbers you find funniest says a lot about your age.

However, Richardson has shown an ability to get up, especially in Michigan State’s preseason dunk contest in 2024, when the freshman put on his dad’s old No. 23 jersey before throwing down a 360-degree slam.

Jase Richardson puts on his dad’s jersey during the dunk contest. pic.twitter.com/YA8as3Zsgv

— Jacob Cotsonika (@jacobcotsonika) October 5, 2024

Plus, he’s significantly shorter than all the other dunkers, which makes dunks look more impressive. How else did Nate Robinson become a three-time champion?

Dwight Howard was never the same after this.

Jase probably isn’t the best dunker among Jason Richardson’s sons. That honor goes to his younger brother Jaxon Richardson, who has won multiple dunk contests while still in high school.

Jaxon Richardson dunks over his dad. 2x NBA slam dunk champ Jason Richardson 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BpnPWhJX5l

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 15, 2025

Hey, remember when Jason Richardson won his second dunk title in 2003? We do!

Jase and Jason could become the first father-son pair to win the Slam Dunk Contest, after Larry Nance, Jr., son of 1984 dunk champ Larry Nance, fell to Donovan Mitchell in the final of the 2018 event. They’d also tie for the family dunk championships record with the Robinson’s and the McClung’s, who have three each.

Is Jase excited to compete? Sort of.

i guess 😂🤷🏾‍♂️ https://t.co/uDkgJZl0M6

— Jase Richardson (@JaseRich4) February 7, 2026

The Slam Dunk Contest still struggles to attract star talent, with this group including two rookies and a guy in Johnson who was on a two-way contract six weeks ago. Mac McClung bowing out of this year’s event after three straight titles removes some star power, though he’s playing great for the Windy City Bulls — 27.9 points, 7.9 assists and 1.4 steals in his 14 games. Thursday, he signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, and it wasn’t just so the NBA could save face before All-Star Saturday!

Look, with Jimmy Butler out and Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jonathan Kuminga traded, the Warriors are down to one guy who ever dunks, Gary Payton II. But thanks to McClung’s Summer League stint with the Warriors and Richardson’s dad, Golden State could be looking at four straight dunk contests with a vaguely Warriors-adjacent champion. At this point in the 2025-26 season, Warriors fans will take any W they can.

New York Knicks (33-19) at Boston Celtics (34-18)
Sunday, February 8, 2026
12:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #53 Home Game #26
TV: ABC
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 880 ESPN, Sirius XM
TD Garden

The Celtics host the New York Knicks for a very important game for the standings. A win and the Celtics are 2 games ahead of the Knicks for 2nd place in the East. A loss and the Celtics fall back to 3rd place. The Celtics won the series with the Knicks 4-0 last season.

The series is currently tied 1-1 with the Knicks winning the first game 105-95 in New York on October 24 and the Celtics winning the 2nd game 123-117 in Boston on December 2. They will play one more regular season game in New York on April 4.
The Celtics are 309-191 overall, all time against the Knicks and they are 167-68 in games played in Boston.

The Celtics made several moves at the trade deadline. They traded Anfernee Simons to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic. They traded Chris Boucher to Utah for John Tonje, a two way player. They converted Amare Williams to a standard contract from two-way. They traded Josh Minott to Brooklyn and they traded Xavier Tillman to Charlotte. The Knicks traded Guershon Yabusele to Chicago for Dalen Terry, who the Knicks sent to New Orleans for Jose Alverado.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place New York, 3 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 3.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 4.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 7 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 23-12 against Eastern Conference opponents and 7-4 against the Atlantic Division. They are 17-8 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 5 games.

The Knicks are 3rd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit and 1 game behind 2nd place Boston. They are 2 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 2.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 6 games ahead of 7th place Orlando.. They are 22-12 against Eastern Conference opponents and 8-3 against the Atlantic Division. They are 11-13 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They lost their last game after winning 8 in a row before that loss.

This is the 2nd of 3 home games. They beat Miami in come from behind thriller in the first game and will complete the home stand against Chicago on Wednesday, which will take them into the All Star Break. After the break, they will head out on a 4 game Western road trip through Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, and Denver.

The Knicks are playing in the second game of a 2 game road trip. They lost to Detroit on Friday, ending an 8 game win streak. After this game they will play Indiana at home and then at Philadelphia before the All Star break. After the break they will host Detroit and Houston before a 3 game road trip through Chicago, Cleveland and Milwaukee.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum remains out as he rehabs from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs against the Knicks. Sam Hauser is also listed on the injury report as questionable due to lower-back spasms. If he can’t play, I would guess that Baylor Scheierman would get the start in his place. But that’s just a guess because you never know with Joe. I’m also guessing that he once again goes with the double big lineup with Luka Garza at the four.

For the Knicks, 3 starters are questionable. Josh Hart left Friday’s loss to the Pistons and didn’t return due to a right ankle injury, and he’s questionable for this game with right ankle soreness. OG Anunoby missed Friday’s game with soreness in his right toe and is questionable for this game. Karl Anthony-Towns missed Friday’s game due to a right eye laceration and is questionable for this game. I’m guessing that all 3 will play.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson

SG: Jaylen Brown vs Mikal Bridges

SF: Sam Hauser vs Josh Hart

PF: Luka Garza vs OG Anunoby

C: Neemias Queta vs Karl Anthony-Towns

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Baylor Scheierman
Amare Williams
Nicolas Vucevic
Jordan Walsh

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
John Tonje

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla 

Knicks Reserves
Jordan Clarkson
Pacome Dadiet
Jose Alvarado
Mohamed Diawara
Tyler Kolek
Mitchell Robinson
Landry Shamet
Ariel Hukporti

Two-Way Players
Kevin McCullar, Jr
Dillon Jones
Trey Jemison III

Injuries/Out
OG Anunoby  (toe) questionable
Josh Hart (ankle) questionable
Karl Anthony-Towns (eye) questionable)
Miles McBride (abdomen) out

Head Coach
Mike Brown

Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Brunson is the key to the Knicks offense and the Celtics need to defend him well. He is averaging 27.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists, while shooting 46.7% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season, he averaged 23 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 39% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must defend him closely, especially on the perimeter.

Neemias Queta vs Karl Anthony-Towns
Towns is averaging 19.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc.  In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 27.5 points, 10 rebounds,  2.5 assists, and 1 block while shooting 51.4% from the field and 54.5% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need to box him out on the boards and defend him in the paint and on the perimeter.

Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown vs Mikal Bridges
Bridges is averaging 15.7points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc.  Against Celtics this season, he averaged 23.5 points, 6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 63% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need to be aware of his presence on defense as he is very good at getting steals and blocks and they need to stay with him on defense.

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game.  The Celtics are 9th with a defensive rating of 112.5.  The Knicks  are 13th with a defensive rating of 113.4.  The Celtics defense has been up and down, at times locking down their opponents and at other times allowing them to score at will but recently have been playing much better defense overall.   The Celtics must make defense a priority if they hope to win this game. 

Rebound –  As with defense,  rebounding will always be a key to winning.The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound.   The Celtics are 9th with 45.4 rebounds per game while the Knicks are 4th with 46.3 rebounds per game.  In the loss to the Knicks this season, the Celtics were out-rebounded 53-37 but in the win over the Knicks, they out-rebounded them 38-33.  The Knicks are 5th with 16.7 second chance points per game.  The Celtics must give extra effort to beat the Knicks to rebounds in this game. 

3 Point Shots – When the Celtics make their 3’s they are tough to beat but when the 3’s aren’t falling, the game gets really ugly. The Celtics are 2nd in the league, taking 42.4 threes per game. The Knicks are 9th with 39.7 threes a game. Although the Celtics are 2nd in 3 pointers attempted, they are 10th, shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc. The Knicks are 3rd, shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc. The key is simple. The Celtics must make their threes and they have to defend the perimeter well to keep the Knicks from making theirs.  And, if the 3’s aren’t falling, they need to get into the paint until they are falling. 

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way. 

X-Factors
Home Game –  The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them.  The Knicks will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge.  If the Knicks have shown one crack in their armor, it is playing on the road.  They are just 11-13 on the road.  The Celtics need to play hard and with focus and take advantage of playing at home.

Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be an x-factor.   Each officiating crew calls the game differently.  Some refs call it tight and constantly call fouls while others let them play with few fouls called. Some refs just make terrible head-scratching calls.  The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus. 

The Knicks lost a big piece in their rotation on Thursday, as reserve point guard Miles McBride is officially set to miss the next four-to-six weeks following surgery for a core muscle injury. 

Losing McBride is a huge blow to New York’s second unit. 

It didn’t take them long to find his replacement, though, as they acquired scrappy point guard Jose Alvarado in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.  

Alvarado is a high-energy player, who should slide into McBride’s place perfectly. 

While he won’t light up the score sheet on a nightly basis, the Christ the Kings product is a tenacious defender who should fit in perfectly with the rowdy MSG crowd. 

Head coach Mike Brown is excited about what he can add to this lineup. 

“He brings a level of toughness to this team, his energy is unmatched,” Brown said. “What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the front court with the ball especially on the pick-and-rolls and stuff, is at a pretty high level. 

“He shoots it better than people think, too. We want to play fast and we believe he's a guy who will come in and push the pace, get into our offense, and all of that because he’s quick and has a low center of gravity -- excited to have him.”

Alvarado averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 assists over 21.9 minutes in 41 games with the Pelicans this season. 

He wasn’t with the Knicks yet for Friday’s blowout loss in Detroit, but has officially been cleared to make his orange and blue debut Sunday afternoon against the Celtics. 

The 27-year-old could be in line for an extended role out of the gate if the Knicks remain very shorthanded. 

McBride is sidelined following surgery, and Josh Hart (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns (eye laceration), and OG Anunoby (toe) are all listed as questionable heading in. 

LOS ANGELES — In his first media availability with reporters since the sale of the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family to Mark Walter, the franchise’s president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged there will be an expansion of the organization’s front office personnel. 

And he mentioned that he and Jeanie Buss, the franchise’s governor and former majority owner, will lead the process in additions to come.    

“When Mark bought the team, Jeanie and I did a deep dive with him on sort of the areas he wants to grow, move into and get aggressive,” Pelinka said to a handful of beat reporters ahead of Saturday’s home game against the Golden State Warriors. “And again, looking at the Dodgers and how they built it out has been a great sort of example and North Star. And so we’re still going through that process of how we’ll look in the offseason and what additions we’ll make. But there will be some positive changes and we will build things out, again, led by myself and Jeanie, and with Mark’s support.”

Walter, who’s also the majority of the Dodgers, agreed to terms to buy a majority stake of the Lakers last summer and officially became the majority owner in late October. 

The Dodgers have appeared in five World Series and won three, including being reigning back-to-back champions, since Walter and the Guggenheim Baseball Management group Walter leads purchased the franchise in 2012. 

“Mark Walter establishes an incredible standard of excellence and he has been really enjoyable to collaborate with,” Pelinka said. “Jeanie and I have had several amazing conversations with him and keep him informed on all the details. And so the three of us are working really, really strongly and well together. And it’s also been great to have sort of outside allies and advocates.

“Looking at the Dodgers and the success they’ve had and what they’ve built over there, and being able to tap into a person like [Dodgers president of baseball operations] Andrew Friedman for best practices. He’s so incredibly smart and has done such an amazing job bringing championships to the Dodgers. To have like another head of another team that you can – whether it’s a roster move, whether it’s a staff move – just someone that you can talk to has been an incredible resource.”

As part of the sale, Buss will remain the Lakers governor for “at least five years”, according to the NBA. 

Pelinka and coach JJ Redick also received contract extensions in 2025 before the sale was official, with Pelinka being promoted from vice president of basketball operations to president. Redick’s extension keeps him under contract with the Lakers through the 2029-30 season. 

The Lakers made several front office/scouting terminations earlier in the season, including firing Joey and Jesse Buss, Jeanie’s younger siblings. In addition to having ownership stakes in the franchise, Joey Buss was the organization’s vice president of research and development, while Jesse was an assistant general manager and director of scouting.

Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, with the latter being the Dodgers former general manager and current special advisor, began advisory roles with the Lakers in the fall. 

“Just their draft process and sort of how they’ve established their farm system is amazing,” Pelinka said of how the Lakers can learn from the Dodgers’ success. “There’s best practices in that as we evolve and get better going forward in those areas. And then just the way they’ve sort of built out their front office, how deep it is. There is no expense they’ll spare in being the best sort of front office in the world. And you could just see that in the way they operate. And we’ve done a really good job here, Jeanie’s been incredibly supportive, but I think now we’ll have an opportunity just with extra resources that Mark brings to build it out and become even better. So that’s going to be an exciting thing for us in the offseason that Jeanie and I will lead. And we’re excited about that.”

In addition to the new ownership change, Pelinka also addressed the addition of Luke Kennard ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, calling Kennard, “the game’s best shooter.”

With the Lakers having one standard roster spot open, they can sign a free agent or convert one of their two-way players to a standard contract. 

“We are in sort of active conversations with some players that are available now, doing our due diligence,” Pelinka said. “Players down the road could come in through the buyout market. So we are evaluating that 15th roster spot and at some point probably will likely fill it.”

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager, had high praise for Luke Kennard, the NBA team’s newest acquisition.

“Clearly, right now, he’s the game’s best shooter,” Pelinka said to a handful of reporters before Kennard made his Lakers debut in Saturday’s matchup against the Warriors. “When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it’s a great opportunity. So, we seized it.”

No wonder the Lakers were eager to add Kennard.

Statistically, Pelinka is right. Kennard was shooting 49.7% from beyond the arc this season entering Saturday to lead the NBA.

And for a team that’s struggled with its outside shooting for most of the season, shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc (No. 21 in the league entering Saturday), Kennard will fill a need. 

“We just felt like the gravity and space he could create for the group with LeBron (James), or with Luka (Doncic), or Austin (Reaves), just being a reliable guy that could create space, hit big shots in big games and really help us on a playoff run. 

“We’ve really been hopeful to see our big three on the court at the same time in terms of Austin Reaves, Luka and LeBron, and we’ve just had limited reps of that,” Pelinka said. “So we’ll be excited when we get that and see what that group could do because we feel like there’s some power in those three players playing together. We felt like adding Luke when those three guys are on the court would actually be really helpful. Just to create some optionality with different lineups, like an all-shooting lineup with Rui (Hachimura) and Luke, and maybe those three guys if you decide to go small in a playoff series.”

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By trading Gabe Vincent and their 2032 second-round pick for Kennard ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, the Lakers maintained their “optionality” for the offseason. 

The Lakers can trade three of their first-round draft picks (2026, 2031 and 2033). 

They’ll also have five players who’ll become unrestricted free agents in the summer after their contracts expire (James, Hachimura, Kennard, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes).

The Lakers also have three players with player options for 2026-27 (Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart), potentially creating significant cap flexibility for the franchise.

Rob Pelinka, speaking to a handful of beat reporters, on the Lakers' acquisition of Luke Kennard: "I think clearly, right now, he's the game's best shooter. When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it's a great opportunity. So, we seized… pic.twitter.com/U6SLT5Ehq6

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) February 8, 2026

“It’s clear for all the teams in the league that this dual-apron system is harsh and strict,” Pelinka said. “We felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason. Because there’s some teams that maybe have gotten too deep into the aprons. And I think players, we see around the league, become available when teams get in that position. So, whether it’s through free agency, whether it’s keeping our own players, whether it’s looking around the league for players that are really good that maybe teams are trying to get off salary, we feel like there’ll be so many different ways to complete our roster in the offseason.” 

Pelinka said the team was “aggressive” ahead of the trade deadline.

“And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future,” he said. “Because it’s hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix but could have implications for the long term where it doesn’t fit into the overall vision you have for the team. 

“We were very aggressive. We worked incredibly hard. We evaluated numerous things.”

Pelinka reiterated his belief in the current group’s ability to contend for an NBA title. The Lakers entered Saturday with a 31-19 record despite Doncic, James and Reaves playing alongside each other in only 10 games so far this season.

“We believe in the power of this group,” Pelinka said. “We want to see what this team can do with the rest of the season. I wouldn’t underestimate the power of what a group of brothers can do when they come together for a playoff run. We feel like we have a really good roster, and we want to get healthy and make a run, and that will help us evaluate end-of-the-season stuff, too. We haven’t made any decisions about any of that prematurely.”

The Houston Rockets were facing and Oklahoma City Thunder squad missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as Jalen Williams and Ajay Wilson, but a win is a win, and the Rockets needed one to get back on track. Alperen Sengun finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks to lead the Rockets with his second triple double of the season. He was 6-for-12 from the floor and also really had things going as a facilitator.

Houston was led on scoring, however, by Tari Eason, who finished with 26 points, 8 boards and 3 steals. The Rockets wisely kept Eason out of trade talks, as they look for an extension after the season, when Eason will be a restricted free agent. Eason was 5-for-13 from three, and when he’s playing well, the Rockets are a better team. They need him playing — Eason has only played in 60 percent of his possible games as a Rocket.

Kevin Durant was just 6-for-10 shooting for 20 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, a steal and a block. The Rockets are also a better team when Durant isn’t shooting the ball 20-plus times, and that played itself out here against the Thunder, though there were some clutch Durant moments down the stretch, including a shot that out the Rockets up six with just a minute left in the game. This is how the Rockets need to operate. Team ball the whole way, and then let KD close it out.

Jabari Smith Jr. had another good game, and he seems to be breaking out of his slump a little bit. Jabari finished with 22 points, 10 boards, a steal and a block, as well as played some pretty good defense. The guy is painfully streaky player, which is not out of the ordinary for a 22-year-old. I still see the vision with Jabari, though I’ve admittedly been on the Smith train since the beginning, so I may be biased, but it’s certainly not yet time to give up on his long-term success.

Reed Sheppard finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals, rounding out every Rockets starter in double figures, though he continues to struggle from three, going just 1-for-4. The Rockets got very little from their bench, as Houston’s previously vaunted depth has taken a huge hit. The Rockets got 11 total bench points, with 8 coming from JD Davison. Who’s going to provide scoring punch off of the bench for Houston right now?

That’s an issue for another day, however, as the Rockets are back on the winning track in the meantime, moving to 32-19 on the season. The Rockets will be back in action on Tuesday against the L.A. Clippers, as they play back-to-back nights in H-town before the break.

The Toronto Raptors continue their homestand when they welcome the skidding Indiana Pacers to Scotiabank Arena this afternoon.

Scottie Barnes continues to pile up the points and rebounds, and I’ll explain why he’s due for another double-double in my Pacers vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks below. 

Pacers vs Raptors prediction

Pacers vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes to record a double-double (+130)

Scottie Barnes had a quiet game in Thursday’s win against the Bulls with just 13 points and six rebounds, but that was an outlier in what’s been a strong season for the Toronto Raptors forward.

Barnes has been a jack of all trades for the Raptors with 23 double-doubles this season — 11th most in the NBA and the fifth most among forwards.

The 24-year-old has claimed three double-doubles in his last six contests and should be able to add another to his total this afternoon vs. a struggling Indiana Pacers team.

Not only do the Pacers rank 24th in points allowed per game (118.4), but they’re also 27th in opponent rebounds per contest (46.9).

Barnes, who leads the Raptors with 8.3 rpg this year, will be even more integral on the glass with center Jakob Poeltl listed as questionable with a back issue. Look for him to dominate the Pacers on the scoreboard and on the glass.

Pacers vs Raptors same-game parlay

Brandon Ingram is fresh off a 33-point outing on Thursday and has gone Over 23.5 points in four of his last five contests. The Raps forward is poised for a big game vs. a weak Pacers defense.

Toronto is a big favorite this afternoon, and for good reason. The Pacers are in the midst of a three-game skid and lost by 14 points to the Raptors three weeks ago.

Pacers vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes to record a double-double
• Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
• Raptors moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Barnes & Noble

If the Raps are going to win big today, they’ll need help from all around the lineup. Sandro Mamukelashvili has provided plenty of scoring off the bench, averaging 11.4 ppg this season while dropping Over 10.5 points in three straight and eight of his last 11. 

Pacers vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes to record a double-double
• Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
• Sandro Mamukelashvili Over 10.5 points
• Raptors -8.5

Pacers vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Pacers +8.5 | Raptors -8.5
• Moneyline: Pacers +270 | Raptors -340
• Over/Under: Over 225 | Under 225

Pacers vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Raptors are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Raptors.

How to watch Pacers vs Raptors

Pacers vs Raptors latest injuries

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

In a far too early matinee, the Knicks (33*-19) face the Celtics (34-18) at TD Garden. This is a matchup of two Eastern Conference heavyweights, although the Knicks more resemble a boxer at the end of a fight—bloodied, swollen-eyed, with at least two sprained ankles.

On December 2, 2025, Boston defeated New York 123-117, with Jaylen Brown scoring 42 points for the Celtics and Mikal Bridges topping the Knicks with 35 points. Q: Was that the smudged jersey game? Answer below!

Boston holds the league’s second-best offensive rating at 121, the seventh-best defensive rating at 113.4, and scores 115.6 points per game. Brown averages 29.5 points per game and shoots 36% from deep. Derrick White averages 17.4 points per game and shoots 32% from downtown, while Payton Pritchard averages 17.3 points per game and shoots 37% from downstairs. Newly acquired veteran center Nikola Vucevic averages 11 points and grabs 12 rebounds per game.

Boston’s likely starting five is Sam Hauser (39% 3P), Luka Garza (46% 3P), Neemias Queta (8.4 RPG), Brown, and White. 

The good news for us is that this promises to be Jose Alvarado’s debut for the Knicks. Otherwise, yikes. New York lists Karl-Anthony Towns (eye laceration), Josh Hart (ankle), and OG Anunoby (toe) as questionable. And of course, Deuce McBride is out indefinitely due to hernia surgery. The villains list Sam Hauser as questionable due to a back problem. So they’ll be mostly full strength. Sigh.

ESPN gives New York a 42% chance to win. Fair ’nuff. This beat-up club was clobbered by Detroit on Friday, not even 48 hours ago. The Knicks must neutralize Brown and control the rebounds to pull off the road upset. With KAT and OG uncertain and Hart suffering, this early affair could be a toss-off on the road to a get-well All-Star break. A win would fill our sails with the certainty that even banged up, our boys can defeat one of our toughest conference rivals. A loss? Don’t sweat it too much.

A: Google tells me that the Jaylen SmudgeGame was played on October 24. During the third quarter, when Brown swiped his head across Anunoby’s midsection, a mysterious dark residue from Brown’s dome transferred to Anunoby’s kit. Shoe polish, we believe. Lest we forget a moment of Boston embarrassment!

Game Details

Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM ET
Place: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: ABC / ESPN
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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