The Utah Jazz’s tanking effort gets a gift on Monday night, when Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz.
The Nuggets are in the midst of the chaos that is the Western Conference’s Nos. 3-7-seed range, with only 3.5 games separating the No. 3 Rockets from the No. 7 Suns. Denver sits right in the middle at No. 5, and just lost a crucial game against No. 4 Minnesota on Sunday. The Nuggets’ game against Utah will be on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Jazz are coming off back-to back home losses against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans, which did wonders for Utah’s lottery chances. The Jazz now have the fifth worst record in the league, and are a near-lock (99.4%) to keep this year’s first-round pick.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 06: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks to head coach Steve Kerr against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Chase Center on April 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the past two seasons, the Golden State Warriors’ postseason path has gone through the Play-In Tournament. Last year, they finished as the seventh seed and had to survive a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies in order to reach the playoffs. The year before, their season ended early with a first-round play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Entering this season, the goal was clear: avoid that path altogether.
With early momentum and a defined direction following the trade for Jimmy Butler, Golden State believed it could secure one of the Western Conference’s top six seeds. But those plans took a major hit when Butler tore his ACL, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. The situation became even more difficult once Stephen Curry began missing time with a lingering knee injury that has already sidelined him for 10 games and is expected to keep him out even longer. Together, those injuries have made a top-six push significantly harder.
NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️
▪️ DET (#1 in East) wins 3rd straight ▪️ MIN rises to #4 in West, wins 3rd straight ▪️ ATL rises to #9 in East, wins 4th straight ▪️ LAC rises to #9 in West pic.twitter.com/6JJaXPWKNR
The Warriors now sit eighth in the West, five games behind the current sixth-seed Los Angeles Lakers. That gap grew larger over the weekend after Golden State suffered a 129–101 loss to LA this past Saturday. With just over 20 games remaining, head coach Steve Kerr addressed whether reaching the sixth seed is still a realistic goal.
“It’s a lot to make up with 22 games left. We don’t even talk about it. It’s not anything that is worth discussing because we just have to try to go out and win and see what happens.”
Steve Kerr after he was asked if it’s still a “realistic goal” to make it to the 6th seed and… pic.twitter.com/lgnMp2uRjs
“It’s a lot to make up with 22 games left,” Kerr said during his postgame press conference. “We don’t even talk about it. It’s not anything that is worth discussing because we just have to try to go out and win and see what happens.”
That mindset reflects where the Warriors are now. Instead of chasing a specific seed, the focus has shifted to the barebones of getting healthy and giving themselves a chance to build momentum for a potential postseason run.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, March 2nd:
Going into Sunday, the Warriors are 4.5 games back of the Lakers for the No. 6 seed. That gap can rise to five games by the end of Sunday night after the Lakers’ game in Los Angeles against the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors are three games behind the No. 7-seed Phoenix Suns, who currently are down Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. For how difficult leaping into the top six and out of the play-in tournament would be for the Warriors, it’s virtually impossible they fall out of the top 10.
The No. 10-seeded Los Angeles Clippers play the 19-win New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. They’re four games behind the Warriors in the win column going into that game, and the Clippers also are Golden State’s next opponent Monday night. More importantly, nobody below the Clippers or the No. 9-seeded Portland Trail Blazers are going to move ahead of them.
“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 that was out there.”
Kerr walked that hypothesis and assessment back on Saturday when asked to clarify.
“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something I’m not qualified to talk about,” Kerr said. “Even trying to discuss the diagnosis, that was a mistake. I need to leave that to professionals.”
When Gui Santos delivered the contract extension news to his parents today, he tricked them and they thought that he knocked up his fiancé with a mini Gui 😂
The Clippers have a league-high 11 games remaining against the bottom nine teams in the league. They’re also one of two teams with a league-high seven rest-advantage games remaining on their schedule, though they’re 0-5 in rest-advantage games through February.
Regardless of the question of whether Porziņģis still suffers from the effects of post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or not — a recent controversy sparked by head coach Steve Kerr’s comments during a radio hosting — it is quite clear that Porziņģis isn’t quite 100 percent ready to see the floor for a prolonged period of time.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to make his return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup when they host the Boston Celtics tonight.
But just how much will the two-time MVP play, and will it matter against a Boston team playing great basketball?
My Celtics vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks will be fading the Greek Freak in his return to action in this East Conference clash set to tipoff at 7:30 pm ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Monday, March 2.
Celtics vs Bucks prediction
Celtics vs Bucks best bet: Celtics -2 (-110)
Giannis Antetokounmpo returns for the Milwaukee Bucks after missing more than five weeks, and his impact on the NBA odds was immediate, moving tonight’s line against the Boston Celtics from +7.5 to +4.
Then it was announced Jaylen Brown would be out, and the line dipped to Boston -2.
However, Milwaukee was struggling with Giannis, ranking 24th in net rating before his latest injury.
Boston is 10-3 ATS over the last 13 games and only trails OKC in net rating. All this line move does is make me want to bet the next-man-up Celtics even more.
Celtics vs Bucks same-game parlay
Jaylen Brown is getting a lot of the credit for the season the Celtics are having, and rightly so, but let’s not overlook Derrick White’s impact.
White is putting up 17.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. His point total for this game without Brown is 20.5, a number he’s topped twice in his last four games, and now faces a Milwaukee team that ranks 23rd in defensive rating.
The Bucks also struggle on the boards, owning the fourth-worst rebounding rate. Celtics big man Nikola Vucevic has thrived in his role, averaging 8.6 rebounds coming off the bench, and likely gets the start tonight.
Celtics vs Bucks SGP
Celtics -2
Derrick White Over 20.5 points
Nikola Vucevic Over 8.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Double delight
Giannis has a solid night on the scoresheet, but as has been the case much of the season, it won't be enough to get the win.
Celtics vs Bucks SGP
Giannis Antetokounmpo double double
Nikola Vucevic double-double
Celtics moneyline
Celtics vs Bucks odds
Spread: Celtics -2 | Bucks +2
Moneyline: Celtics -130 | Bucks +110
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Celtics vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Bucks have only covered the 1H Spread in 12 of their last 40 games at home for -20.15 Units and a -44% ROI.. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bucks.
How to watch Celtics vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBA TV
Celtics vs Bucks latest injuries
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Giannis Antetokounmpo's return for the Milwaukee Bucks appears to be imminent.
The 31-year-old Bucks star is aiming to be back in the lineup when Milwaukee begins a five-game homestand on Monday, March 2 against the Boston Celtics, according to a new report. Antetokounmpo missed more than five weeks of action due to a calf injury and the Bucks have mostly floundered without him this season. They won five of six games before a recent two-game skid, but have an 11-18 record when the two-time NBA MVP isn't available this season. They own a 15-15 mark when he does play.
Antetokounmpo's latest calf ailment occurred at an awkward juncture in the season before the NBA trade deadline, with rumors swirling about his future in Milwaukee. Now, he's planning to come back for a last-ditch postseason race in what could be his final games with the Bucks before offseason trade speculation starts anew. The team currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, three games behind the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in tournament spot.
Here's the latest on Antetokounmpo's injury status moving forward, including his potential availability for the Bucks' game against the Boston Celtics on March 2:
It's trending in that direction. Antetokounmpo was officially upgraded to questionable on the Bucks' injury report ahead of their game against the Boston Celtics on Monday, March 2. ESPN also reported Antetokounmpo is expected to return after missing 15 consecutive games.
Antetokounmpo did not play when the Bucks lost 120-97 to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, March 1, though Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters before the game was "close" to coming back after going through a full workout on Saturday.
Giannis injury update
Antetokounmpo suffered what appeared to be a non-contact injury late during the Bucks' Jan. 23 game against the Denver Nuggets and couldn't play the final seconds of a frantic comeback effort by Milwaukee. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game he believed Antetokounmpo had been favoring his right leg before leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
Antetokounmpo was resigned to being out for an extended amount of action. He had already missed eight games earlier this season with a previous right calf strain and four games with an adductor injury.
"After the MRI they will tell me probably I popped something in my calf, or in my soleus or something, and probably give me protocol of 4-to-6 weeks that I'll be out," Antetokounmpo said on Jan. 23. "This is from my experience being around the NBA. "After that, I'm going to work my butt off to come back."
Five weeks later, it seems he had the timeline pegged exactly right.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 30 games during the 2025-26 NBA season. He's also shooting a career-best 64.5% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.
Boston, MA - March 1: Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta and guard Derrick White high five in the first quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
There is an old saying that says “basketball is a game of runs.” These runs can swing momentum of a game for one team and end the hopes of the opponent. My mind jumps to the Golden State Warriors dynasty of the late 2010’s where they used passing to find a wide open shooter on the court. These dominating runs would typically come in the third quarter and put games completely out of reach for their opponents. Any team in the NBA has the ability to go on a long scoring run but the way the Celtics have done it has just felt different.
Boston has been able two long scoring runs in their last four games. One was a 50-11 run between the 6:22 mark of the second quarter to the 1:39 mark of the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns on February 24th and the other was a 51-16 scoring run against the Brooklyn Nets on February 27th from the 7:07 mark of the third quarter to the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter. In their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1st, the Celtics didn’t have any 50+ point runs to end the game, but instead were able to use smaller runs to control the lead win the ball game.
I asked Jaylen Brown postgame on what he thought about this phenomena and he credited Boston’s ability to move the basketball. He said: “Just making the right play and moving the basketball…I just think that our offense just has a good flow to it right now, where it’s going from side to side, it’s not sticking too much, and then when we need to take advantage of a matchup we will, but it’s not like we’re looking for that every time.”
Brown went on to praise his teammates saying, “A lot of our guys are playing well right now. So from my standpoint, no need to force anything. Just continue to just create an advantage and just play from there and trust the game after that.”
I asked Jaylen Brown what allows the Celtics offense to go on these long scoring runs though out the game
“Just making the right play, Moving the basketball. I thought we had some good ball movement and trying to play with some pace, but I just think that our offense just has a… pic.twitter.com/ydkGWRATiA
The Celtics 11-1 run to the end the game against the 76ers is a great example of this phenomena. Although most of the points ended in Neemias Queta put-backs, Boston was able to create the original shot with the side to side motion that Brown mentioned. This was most apparent with Baylor Scheierman’s dagger three where Brown got doubled on the wing and was able to make the pass to the corner for the silencer.
Going back to the 50-11 run against the Suns. This run erased an 11-point deficit, resulted in Boston outscoring Phoenix 30-11 in the third quarter, and Sam Hauser outscored the Suns by himself with 13 points in the quarter. I wanted to focus on when Hauser was able to score 8 straight points for the Celtics towards the end of the run.
This burst by Hauser is another example of Boston’s side to side motion. The first play results in a corner three off two passes around the perimeter and the other’s come off long passes from Derrick White that leave Hauser wide open.
Prior to the 51-16 run against the Nets, Boston was in front but Brooklyn cut the lead 6 points. With the Nets’ history this season of playing the Celtics tough, this could turn into a close game in a second. However, the Celtics were able to rattle off this run that basically ended chance for the Nets to even attempt a come back.
During this run, Boston used their side to side ball movement to completely disect Brooklyn’s defense. The play that defines it for me is when Derrick White cut hard to the basket to receive a pass and fire a bullet to Nikola Vucevic for a wide open three.
In this same run, we also got an example of how the Celtics ball movement scaring their opponent. After four plays in a row where Boston passed the ball around to find a wide open basket, Jaylen Brown was setting up the pick and roll with Vucevic to do it again. Instead of passing it, Brown sped up straight towards the basket for a wide open dunk. The Nets weren’t able to respond on defense quick enough since they feared another kick out pass.
The Celtics ability to move the ball around the court is a big reason why they are ranked number 2 in offensive rating as a team at 121.2. For as much as Boston likes to pass the ball around, they do it without turning the ball over, leading the league in that category at only 12.2 turnovers per game. Joe Mazzulla is one of the best basketball minds in the game and this offense has been a work of art for Boston this season. The players have done an incredible job at knowing where to be on the court at all times and continuing to put up elite offensive performances without Jayson Tatum. This offense is a true testament to how special this Boston Celtics team really is but at the end of the day, basketball is just a game of runs.
After being the headliner in trade rumors for much of the past two months, Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to return to the court.
According to NBA Insider Shama Charania, the Bucks star is expected to return to action Monday night against Boston.
Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return tonight against the Boston Celtics after missing the last 5-plus weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN.
Antetokounmpo missed the past 5+ weeks while dealing with a right calf strain suffered on January 23 against Denver. He appeared to tweak the calf earlier in the game and headed to the locker room, before returning to action in the second half. However, he was pulled out for good with just a few minutes left in the game.
“At the end, I could not move no more, so I had to stop playing,” Antetokounmpo said at the time of the injury.
“After the MRI, they will tell me probably I popped something in my calf, or in my soleus or something, probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks I’ll be out,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is from my experience being around the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be end of February, beginning of March.”
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo holds his leg in the final seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) AP
It was the second calf strain Antetokounmpo suffered this season, missing three weeks earlier in the year.
When healthy, Antetokounmpo is still in the running for best player in the NBA alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. He’s averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting career-highs from the field (64.5 percent) and three-point territory (39.5 percent).
Antetokounmpo’s return couldn’t come at a better time as the Bucks are floundering away.
Milwaukee sits in 11th place in the East with a record of 26-33, three games behind the Bulls for the 10th and final spot in the play-in standings.
Feb 22, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) warms up before game against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Bucks got the news they’ve been waiting for, as per Shams Charania, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the court from a right calf strain tonight against the Celtics. Giannis has been out since January 23, after sustaining the injury late in the fourth quarter against the Nuggets. This calf injury took much longer for Giannis to recover from, with a five-week absence, compared to his December calf injury, which kept him out for approximately three-and-a-half weeks.
His return couldn’t have come at a better time. Despite playing their best ball this season, winning eight of 10 games at one point, they’ve stumbled in their last two. After a blowout loss to the Knicks last Friday, Milwaukee blew a 16-point lead to the Bulls yesterday, losing 120-97. The Bucks went 8-7 in this stretch without Giannis, but on the season, they are 11-18 when he doesn’t suit up. Milwaukee is also trying to chase the 10th seed in the East, and with 23 games to go, they sit three games back of the Charlotte Hornets.
It’s been an injury-riddled season for Giannis, who’s missed 29 games due to these two calf injuries and a groin strain back in mid-November. Doc Rivers had been playing it close to the vest when it came to updates on Giannis, saying he was progressing from three-on-threes to four-on-fours without any setbacks, yet never gave a definitive date for his return. Even prior to the Bulls game, Doc trotted out the same line: that Giannis was close, but didn’t know when he would be back.
When Giannis has played, he’s been his normal MVP-level self, averaging 28.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, and shooting 64.5% from the field. We’ll likely see him on a minutes restriction tonight, as he’s been on a limit in the other times he’s come back. Whatever the rest of the season holds for the Bucks, I’m sure they’re happy no. 34 is back in the lineup.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Brown is dealing with an illness, while Queta is getting a rest night, per the team’s official injury report.
For the Bucks, meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his return from a calf injury that’s sidelined him for five weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Jaylen Brown (illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) are both out tonight for Celtics-Bucks after playing last night.
Jayson Tatum also remains out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is expected to make his return from a calf injury.
Brown has routinely been avoiding back-to-back games this season, so it’s no surprise he’s out Monday after logging 38 minutes in Sunday’s 114-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Queta is coming off one of the best games of the season on Sunday; he erupted for 27 points and 17 rebounds in the victory. Both Celtics players had offseason knee surgery, so it’s no surprise the Celtics are more cautiously managing their minutes.
Last month, Ron Harper Jr. started in place of Brown both times he was sidelined, so he may once again get the nod. It’s also possible that Jordan Walsh, who started 20 straight games earlier this season, could get the nod.
With Queta out, one of either Nikola Vucevic or Luka Garza will slot into the starting lineup, with Vucevic appearing to be a more likely candidate. Garza, who has mostly fallen out of the rotation since the trade deadline, should see the floor more with Queta out.
It’s also notable that Baylor Scheierman, who is playing through a fractured left thumb, is off the injury report. Scheierman had a productive game on Sunday despite playing through the hand injury that he was initially listed as questionable for.
“I got some shots in this morning, this afternoon, and I feel ready to go,” Scheierman said ahead of Sunday’s game. “We’re just kind of evaluating it as it goes, but I feel good enough to be out there, and that’s how it’s going to be. I’m not going to sit out.”
Both the Celtics and Bucks are on the second night of a back-to-back
The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-98 on Sunday night, while the Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls 120-97.
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have been led by Kevin Porter Jr (17.8 points, 7.5 assists per game), Ryan Rollins (17 points, 5.4 assists), and, more recently, Cam Thomas (14.1 points per game since being acquired at the trade deadline). Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and AJ Green all also average double-figures.
The Celtics, meanwhile, have been led by Jaylen Brown (29 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5 assists), Derrick White (17.1 points, 5.7 assists), and Payton Pritchard (17 points, 5.4 assists).
Neemias Queta (10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds) has anchored the frontcourt as the team’s starting center, but Nikola Vucevic has also been productive since being acquired by the Celtics, averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds in 23.9 minutes off the bench.
The Celtics have the East’s second-best record at 40-20, while the Bucks have the East’s 11th-best record at 26-33. The Celtics have the second-best net rating in the NBA (+8.3), while the Bucks have the 23rd-best (-3.7).
Feb 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) blocks a shot by Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 18: The Spurs returned from the All-Star break to sweep their Austin series and keep the train rolling. Against the shorthanded Suns, they did well enough in the first half to keep them at arm’s length before getting back into their offensive groove for a second half blowout. Then, their good friend Complacency paid a visit against the lowly Kings — who were on a 15-game losing streak — until late in the third quarter, when they finally flipped the switch and turned a close game into another blowout.
In the home of the team with the best record in the league, the Spurs continued to show they can adjust and win in any situation, successfully responding to the Pistons’ physicality against Victor Wembanyama by using his gravitational pull on their defense to find open shooters and driving lanes. Combined with some impressive defense on MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, particularly by Stephon Castle, it was one of the Spurs’ most impressive wins of the season and reminded the league they are much more than just Wemby.
After three quarters in which Wemby couldn’t get anything going and the Spurs’ offense struggled with dry spells, they appeared in trouble after a big Raptors run had them down by 15 points late in the third quarter. However, the Spurs were able to take advantage of Toronto’s biggest weakness (poor fourth quarter play) by getting hot from three and turning up the defensive dial to get up by six late. The waning moments ended up being more interesting than they had to be thanks to poor free throw shooting — the Spurs were just 13-23 on the night and 2-6 in the final seconds to give the Raptors one last ditch shot that they fortunately missed — but what mattered is the Spurs escaped with the victory and their first double-digit winning streak since 2016.
Playing their third game in four nights, the Spurs looked a step slow at times but remained comfortably ahead of the rebuilding Nets, outside of a spurt from Michael Porter, Jr. that got them within six points midway through the third quarter. The win made them 11-0 in the month of February, marking only their third undefeated month in franchise history and making them the first team in NBA history to accomplish the feat while scoring 110 or more points in every game.
All good things must come to an end, and this game had all the trappings to be the perfect foil for the Spurs’ win streak. The month changed, it was a matinee game (which the Spurs never seem to win), they haven’t won in MSG since 2019, and the Knicks have strength at the one position the Spurs don’t: power forward. After a quick start to get the Spurs out to a 12-point lead, the Knicks responded with a 29-4 run to a build a lead that the Spurs could never get in a enough rhythm to overcome. Even though Wemby had his best scoring game of the week with 25 points (albeit while shooting 1-7 from three and committing 7 turnovers), the Spurs had no answers for Mikal Bridges or Mohamed Diawara and ended up suffering the first loss in over a month.
The Spurs’ 11-game winning streak came to an end in New York on Sunday afternoon, but not before they got a huge win in Detroit, keeping themselves in the mix for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs’ initial defense was good enough on Monday, when Detroit had its third-worst half-court performance of the season. And they’re still the league’s second-most-improved rebounding team from last season. But San Antonio ranks 29th in defensive rebounding percentage (64.7%) since the All-Star break, with three of their last four opponents registering more than 20 second-chance points. 2. Victor Wembanyama remains the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, but his offense remains a work in progress and he shot just 20-for-54 (37%) over the Spurs’ four games last week. Only 24 (44%) of those 54 shots came in the paint and he was 5-for-30 (17%) from the outside. The Spurs still scored more efficiently with him on the floor, and they were outscored by 17.3 points per 100 possessions in his 67 minutes on the bench over the four games. 2. San Antonio was 19-for-31 (61%) on corner 3s over its wins in Detroit and Toronto, with Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie a combined 12-for-14. The Spurs lead the league in the percentage of their 3-point attempts (33%) that have come from the corners and Harrison Barnes is tied for second among individuals with 62 made corner 3s.
Coming up: After finishing their longest road trip of the season in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Spurs will begin their longest homestand of the season (six games over 10 days), which includes big games against the Pistons, Rockets, Celtics and Nuggets. They’ve yet to face the Clippers, who they’ll play three times in the next month.
On the last day of January, the Spurs lost in Charlotte. They proceeded to sweep the February schedule, and most of the 11 wins weren’t close. But March is here, and the Spurs had their worst offensive showing of the season in New York. Every time I consider the Spurs for the top of the rankings, they have a loss like that. But it’s a big week ahead, as San Antonio will return home from the Rodeo Trip for a rematch with the Pistons, who presumably will have added muscle with the return of Isaiah Stewart. And then the Spurs have an opportunity to clinch the regular-season series against the Rockets.
The Spurs were not ready to play on Sunday against the New York Knicks. Their 25-point loss was their largest of the season, and this snapped the Spurs’ 11-game win streak, which included victories over Detroit, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City.
Still, San Antonio remains at the top of the NBA power rankings for the time being, with several important matchups in March approaching. Not only will the Spurs face the Pistons again on Thursday, but they will also see Houston, Boston, and Denver in the span of five days after Friday’s game against the LA Clippers.
This is the time for the Spurs to put their foot down and potentially take the 1-seed in the West from the Thunder.
Coming up: Tues. 3/5 at Philadelphia 76ers (33-27); Thurs. 3/5 vs. Detroit Pistons (45-14); Fri. 3/6 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (28-31); Sun. 3/8 vs. Houston Rockets (37-22)
Prediction: 3-1 — The Spurs will finish the Rodeo Road Trip against a Philly team that — surprise! — won’t have Joel Embiid (oblique strain), but after that is when things get interesting. They will then head home to for a season-high six-game homestand, but it’s a beast on paper, with the Clippers being the “easiest” team they’ll face in terms of record. That first game back after being away for so long is always a trap game, and it doesn’t help that it’s against a Pistons team that will be out for revenge. Then, anything can happen facing a healthy Kawhi Leonard (admittedly with little help) the very next night, and of course the IH-10 rivalry is always unpredictable. The Spurs have proven they have what it takes to beat all of these teams, but they will need to return to February form, and they can’t have another off week from Wemby. We’ve reached a point in the season where every single game matters.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Payton Sandfort to a two-way contract and waived guard Buddy Boeheim, the team announced Monday.
Sandfort, a 6-foot-7 forward who played his college ball at Iowa, has played in 21 games this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G-League affiliate. He has averaged 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a rookie.
During Sandfort’s senior year at Iowa, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Jalen Brunson #11 and Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrate during the fourth quarter of the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks just couldn’t beat good teams last year. This isn’t new information; it was highly publicized that the Knicks went 0-10 against the league’s three 60-win teams in the regular season. Did they change the narrative come playoff time when they miraculously knocked off the defending champions? Sure, but detractors pointed to that record after the team was eliminated to say they got lucky against Boston.
You look at the record beyond those teams against the best the NBA has to offer and it wasn’t pretty:
vs 60+ win teams: 0-10 vs 50+ win teams: 5-16 vs top-6 seeds: 10-20 vs above .500 teams: 19-23
They just weren’t beating much of anyone with a pulse. What they did do, however, was stomp on flat-out bad teams. They went 32-8 against below .500 teams, with four of those losses coming to either the Bulls or Hawks. In fact, in 25 games against teams who missed the play-in tournament, the Knicks went 22-3, only losing to the Hornets, Spurs, and Jazz.
So it’s fair to say that, until the playoffs, that team was a paper tiger. And if you’re in that sect of the Knicks’ fanbase, you’d probably believe it’s more of the same this year with the team’s three blowout defeats to the Pistons and the recent loss to Cleveland, but it really isn’t:
vs 60+ win pace: 0-3 (Detroit) vs 50+ win pace: 9-7* vs top-6 seeds: 15-9* vs above .500 teams: 19-17* (* This includes the NBA Cup final. Just because Adam Silver doesn’t count it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a competitive basketball game with real stakes.)
If you take out one singular team, the Knicks are 9-4 against teams on pace to win at least 50 games and 15-6 against teams currently in playoff position. The only team they currently have a losing record against in the East is the Pistons, and the Western Conference teams aren’t in playoff position (Suns 0-2, Warriors 0-1)
It’s just fascinating to see that the Knicks can get definitive wins against several contenders, but they’ve gotten absolutely obliterated by the Pistons. Last year, you could say that the team didn’t have the personnel to compete with the top three. This year? It doesn’t make sense.
Look at what we saw on Sunday afternoon, where the Knicks completely dominated the Spurs for 40 minutes. After going down 19-7 with some of the worst offense you’ve ever seen, the Knicks outscored the hottest team in the NBA by a staggering 37 points. After prevailing in the NBA Cup behind the heroics of two guards who no longer play, the Knicks have now dominated 11 out of 12 quarters against the Spurs. Excluding the final eight minutes of the New Year’s Eve disaster that kick-started the worst 11-game stretch in several years, the Knicks have outscored the Spurs by 47 points across 11 and a third quarters.
What makes them such a tough matchup for San Antonio? While the youthful Spurs have a 7’4” demigod and some tremendous guard play, they’re extremely short on viable wings. Devin Vassell is a good shooter and, as we learned on NYE, Julian Champagnie can get hotter than fish grease. Outside of them? Do Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson strike fear into your heart? They clearly don’t for Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby.
Wingstop has had its best games this season against those Spurs, thriving at being off-ball pests (and in Anunoby’s case, using his strength to make Wemby uncomfortable) and knocking down threes. Speaking of threes, no team has it more ingrained in their heads to play off of guys like Josh Hart and Mo Diawara than Mitch Johnson’s Spurs, who’ve used the strategy in consecutive games to disrupt the offense.
Diawara hits a 3, looks back at the Spurs bench….then blocks Castle.
Wemby’s impact is also muted by Mitchell Robinson, who did not play in the NYE battle in San Antonio. In the two meetings where they’ve gone head-to-head, Wembanyama has been held to one offensive rebound, limiting the Spurs’ ability to get second chances (and this is with Mitch not playing much on Sunday).
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Robinson’s defensive intensity also makes it difficult for Wemby, something that is also apparent when the Knicks face another Western Conference power: the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic is one of the league’s biggest stars, and it’s impossible to stop him from putting up numbers. While you can’t silence the Joker, you can disrupt him and make him uncomfortable. Robinson more than did that in the second half and overtime against the Nuggets in the meeting earlier this year.
Denver has never quite had an answer for the Knicks, as the ‘Bockers have won six of seven since November 2022.
We don’t know what this edition of the Knicks will look like against the West’s top dog, the OKC Thunder, but there’s no guarantee that the reigning champions make it back to the NBA Finals. They’re just 1-4 against the Spurs and have had a significantly tougher time with Jokic and the Nuggets for the last few seasons.
That’s what makes this NBA season so interesting. The Knicks would feel damn good about facing the Nuggets or Spurs in a prospective NBA Finals, as well as teams like the Sixers, Raptors, and maybe even the Cavaliers (until Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen show enough physicality, I won’t buy them) in the East. Yet, a Celtics team with a healthy Tatum and the Pistons wouldn’t be the best matchup, even if the Knicks are 2-1 and beat the Celtics last May. Even a healthy Magic team could give them trouble with how nasty their defense can get.
But the Pistons aren’t an inevitability if the Knicks make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Among contenders, they’re by far the worst 3-point shooting team and, except when they’re playing the Knicks, struggle to put the ball in the net against good teams
There’s a wide range of outcomes that the Knicks could face come playoff time. There shouldn’t be anyone surprised if the Knicks don’t make the ECF or if they seriously contend for a championship. It all depends on the right matchup, but that’s something that is mostly out of their control.
TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 26: CJ Huntley #22 of the Valley Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the South Bay Lakers on February 26, 2026 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Signing Jamaree Bouyea to a standard contract earlier today left the Phoenix Suns with an empty two-way roster spot. Bouyea had been part of a three-man group on two-way deals that included Isaiah Livers and Koby Brea. His promotion created a vacancy that the team has officially filled.
The Suns decided to bring back a familiar face to occupy that role. They are signing CJ Huntley, the undrafted big man out of Appalachian State University. Huntley previously held a two-way spot with the organization earlier this season, and his return completes the roster once again.
The Phoenix Suns will sign PF/C CJ Huntley to a two-way contract out of their Valley Suns G League affiliate, filling their open spot after Bouyea's new deal, sources said. https://t.co/huuTOS9ELS
CJ Huntley originally signed a two-way contract last July, but the team waived him on November 17 once Jamaree Bouyea became available. He successfully cleared waivers and chose to return to the Valley Suns to continue his development.
The 6’9” forward has been grinding with the affiliate ever since, appearing in a team-high 38 games. During that stretch, he averaged 26.1 minutes, 14.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. His efficiency has been equally impressive, posting shooting splits of 62/36/65. At 24 years old, Huntley provides reliable frontcourt depth and a proven interior presence from the G League system.
With that final move, the Phoenix Suns roster is officially full. The front office has finalized the group for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
“We really like where we are. We have a process and a plan in place, and everything is going to — like, you cannot control everything, because there’s things that are… you know…”
Jordi Fernández’s voice trails off for a moment, but I do know. We all know. Fernández, near the end of a two-minute answer, is pleading with his eyes: This is as direct as I can be. Eventually, he lands the plane: “Obviously, I want to win every single game, but playing these 25 to compete and then, this summer and how we structure this summer is the best thing. It’s the biggest summer of our lives.”
Fernández used that line last season, but it still hits home. This is, after all, the summer that the Brooklyn Nets are supposed to transition from tanking to ascending, making one high draft pick and scouring the free agent/trade market for win-now players. Now 30 games under .500 in March, there’s no question that continuing to lose games is in Brooklyn’s best long-term interest, but it won’t be for long.
That’s all Jordi Fernández is trying to say, reassuring Nets fans that the team can get blown out by 30 once a week and still be on track, particularly if you mix in some close losses and flashy performances from the rookies. But he’s probably reassuring himself too.
Kenny Atkinson can relate. He posted a 48-116 record in his first two seasons as Nets Head Coach (Fernández is currently 41-101): “You love to stay process-oriented and stick with the process. But you’re going home and you’re taking that L, after the game, it’s hard, especially when they start stacking up. Everybody says, ‘Well, don’t worry.’ Of course you worry if you’re a competitor.”
Atkinson’s first Nets teams were certainly devoid of talent, but the franchise famously didn’t own their draft picks either. There was zero upside to the losing, though it’s not like Fernández takes any immediate solace in ping-pong balls either…
But Atkinson sees the silver lining: “Once you break through, even that third year, when we broke through and made the playoffs, it was almost doubly rewarding, because you went through these real struggles and tough times. And I was like — man, I’ll never forget when we clinched the playoffs, it was like you’re winning the championship. It was crazy, because you can look back at year one, I think we lost like 27 of 29 … it was, like, insane: ‘Are we ever gonna win another game?’”
Things aren’t that bleak this time around. Players and coaches won’t (can’t) admit it, but pressure dissolves when you’re expected to lose. Consider the locker-room reaction to Danny Wolf’s poorly missed free-throw at the end of the loss to Atkinson’s Cleveland Cavaliers…
Of course, it helps when the veterans (MPJ, Claxton, Mann) feel confident in their contract situations, while the rookies and second-chance warriors are starving for a chance to simply get on the court.
Danny Wolf, despite the rough attempt at an intentionally missed free-throw, was in a jovial mood after his career-best 23/9/5 statline on Sunday afternoon. Perhaps that helped him find silver linings in the loss: “I don’t want to say we’re losing team. Obviously, our record is 15-45 but we’re the youngest team in the NBA, and there’s a lot of valuable lessons. And I hate saying you can learn from a loss, because it stinks and it sucks, and losing as a competitor is one of the worst feelings, but with such a young group, I think just the resilience, the fight when you lose to a team by four that you lost to by 40 a couple weeks ago speaks volumes to improvement.”
Now that’s a player who, in the era of player-podcasts, has heard ad nauseam and now understands that the NBA is a business. Sometimes, the business entails losing. It’s also a player in lock-step with his head coach, at least in terms of public messaging.
“Coming here and feeling that we can go up against anybody has to be very important,” said Fernández. “And if you’re up ten, you want to be up 20. If you’re down 20, you want to be down ten. And those things have to matter. We have to be competitive. And it’s not — we’re not gonna, you know, turn a switch and all of a sudden we’re gonna be there. It’s gonna be a process.”
Playing the NBA Draft Lottery probabilities remains the priority, but it’s easy to see where Fernández is coming from. The young players on this roster are expected to contribute to winning next season. When you’re 15-45, executing ATOs may not be as important as the difference between the first and fifth overall pick, but it matters a little.
For all the incessant hand-wringing over the NBA’s tanking “problem,” I quite enjoy this time of year, full of low-stress hoops where a 23-year-old on a 10-day contract like Grant Nelson can stir excitement:
That was a *seriously* impressive first half from Grant Nelson, the defensive activity more than anything.
Sinking down form the wing to block a cutter on the other side of the basket (last play) is something else: pic.twitter.com/pUmH40k592
Michael Porter Jr. explained it well: “The motivation to make the playoffs might not be there, but the motivation individually, as a player, as a person, to go out there and work on my skills, my leadership skills, and my individual things within the team, that’s still there. So you can’t just throw away a season because you’re not making the playoffs.”
The 2025-26 Nets have six weeks remaining on their schedule, six weeks where Noah Clowney’s 3-point shooting, Drake Powell’s ball-handling, and Egor Dëmin’s driving — among other individual skills — are far more important than the scoreboard. Though I contend that this isn’t as depressing as it’s often made out to be, Jordi Fernández and the Nets want you to know that it’s almost over, that the next chapter is almost here, and they can’t wait to get it started.
“It’s very exciting, and everybody should feel the excitement of the next step: a big 25 games for everybody, and a big, big, big summer.” — Jordi Fernández
Tonight's Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors matchup gives us plenty to work with, and our best NBA player prop projections offer a handful of player props with real value.
We’re focusing strictly on where the projections create separation from the betting line.
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Clippers computer picks
Darius Garland Over 12.5 points (+100)
Projection: 14.6 points
Darius Garland doesn’t need to go nuclear to clear this number. The model has him nearly two points over the line, which gives us a solid cushion at even money. With steady usage and normal minutes, this is a very reachable scoring total.
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Kawhi Leonard Under 27.5 points (-110)
Projection: 25.5 points
Kawhi Leonard can always pop for 30, but the projection keeps him a couple of buckets below this line. The scoring load is spread out enough that he doesn’t need to carry everything. At 27.5, we’re betting on efficiency without a ceiling game. Under makes sense.
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Derrick Jones Jr. Under 1.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 1.3 assists
Derrick Jones Jr. isn’t out there to facilitate. His role is to defend, run the floor, and finish plays — not create them. The model has him landing below two assists, which lines up with his typical usage. You’re laying juice, but the role supports the Under.
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Warriors computer picks
Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 6.1 rebounds
Al Horford still knows how to find the ball. The projection clears this number, and at plus money, we don’t need a monster night. If the minutes hold, six boards is a very realistic value.
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Draymond Green Over 8.5 points (+115)
Projection: 9.9 points
Draymond Green isn’t a volume scorer, but he doesn’t need to be. The model has him at a bucket over this number, and he’ll get chances in transition and off cuts. At plus money, that’s enough of an edge to play.
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De'Anthony Melton Over 15.5 points (-112)
Projection: 17.2 points
De'Anthony Melton gets up shots when he’s on the floor. The projection has him comfortably above this line, and if he’s hitting from deep, this clears quickly. With the role and volume in place, the Over is justified.
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How to watch Clippers vs Warriors tonight
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the verge of returning from a calf strain that has caused the two-time MVP to miss the Milwaukee Bucks’ last 15 games.
The Bucks have released an injury report that lists Antetokounmpo as questionable for their Monday night game with the Boston Celtics.
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since straining his right calf Jan. 23 in a 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets. A right calf strain also had prevented him from playing for three weeks in December.
Antetokounmpo has missed a career-high 29 games this season, and 23 of them were because of calf strains. The Bucks are 15-15 with Antetokounmpo and 11-18 without him this season.
His return comes with the Bucks trying to work their way into the play-in tournament as they seek a 10th straight playoff berth.
Milwaukee is 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, three games behind 10th-place Charlotte. The teams that finish the regular season seventh through 10th in the conference compete in a tournament for the East’s two final playoff spots.
The Bucks put together an 8-2 stretch without Antetokounmpo from Feb. 3-25 but have lost their last two games by a combined 52 points. The Bucks were outscored 33-8 in the fourth quarter of a 120-97 loss at Chicago on Sunday that ended the Bulls’ 11-game skid.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He would be ranked eighth in the NBA in scoring, ninth in rebounding and just outside the top 25 in assists if he had played enough games to qualify among the league leaders.
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