SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Sassuolo scored twice in the five minutes before halftime to pave the way to a 3-0 victory that deepened Verona's already considerable relegation woes in Serie A on Friday.
Verona was without a win in 11 league games and in last place, equal on points with Pisa.
Both clubs were nine points from safety, and Pisa faces a crunch match on Monday against Fiorentina, the team six points above them both in the third relegation spot.
Andrea Pinamonti got Sassuolo’s opener with a deflected strike then four minutes later Domenico Berardi added a second. Although the Verona goalkeeper stopped his penalty kick, Berardi was quickest to the follow up and buried the rebound.
Berardi completed the scoring 17 minutes into the second half when he finished off a rapid counterattack.
Completing Verona’s misery, Al Musrati was sent off for a second bookable offense five minutes from time.
The result extended Sassuolo's recent good run; it has taken 12 points from its last 15. It jumped two places to eighth.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: The sneakers worn by Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 19, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said Friday there were circumstances surrounding his altercation with a court-storming Iowa fan that people viewing viral social media videos might not fully understand.
The videos showed Hoiberg making a swiping motion at a person pointing a camera toward him during the handshake line after his ninth-ranked Cornhuskers lost 57-52 to the Hawkeyes on Wednesday night. In doing so, Hoiberg accidentally struck a member of Iowa’s staff.
Hoiberg said he fully relies on a pacemaker. He said his reaction stemmed from awareness that close contact with cell phones can interfere with the heart device.
“I am 100% reliant on a pacemaker," Hoiberg said. "I’ll never forget a conversation with my doctor. A cell phone can put it off. If anything ever happens, I’m done. I will not survive if something ever happens to a pacemaker. I’m very cognizant of that, so when somebody rushes up on me with a cell phone, of course I’m going to react.”
Hoiberg said the probability of anything happening was unlikely, but the chance of him developing heart block in his first open heart surgery was also slim.
He recounted the situation and explained that while he doesn't have a problem with court storms, he's against putting players and coaches in danger.
“It was a heated moment,” Hoiberg said. “I was going through the handshake line congratulating Iowa coaches on a hard-fought win, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this kid rushes up on me, and I reacted to it. I think anybody in my position, after a game like that, would’ve reacted in a similar way.”
The seventh-year Nebraska coach said he apologized to the Iowa staff member whom he struck both in the moment and in the days following. The staff member was understanding and said he would've done the same, Hoiberg said.
Iowa released a statement apologizing for the lack of security.
“We apologize for this incident and will conduct a review of our procedures and security measures to determine what adjustments may be needed to further strengthen our protocols and help prevent similar incidents in the future," the statement reads.
Hoiberg said he appreciated Iowa's statement and that it's a learning opportunity.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
UPDATE: Lakers fans can breathe a sigh of relief as LeBron James has been upgraded from questionable to available for the team’s game against the Clippers.
During his pregame media availability, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that LeBron felt some soreness in his knee after Thursday’s practice and was a game-time decision.
With LeBron ready to go, the Lakers have a clean injury report, which has been a rarity this season. Now, Redick will have every option at his disposal and can find out just how good his team can be.
Original story follows.
Well, so much for the Lakers being fully healthy coming out of the All-Star break. On Thursday, LA had an empty injury report heading into their contest against the Clippers.
But on Friday afternoon, the team added LeBron James to the list, placing him as questionable to play due to left knee soreness.
Per the Lakers: LeBron James, left knee soreness, has been downgraded to questionable for tonight’s game versus the Clippers.
If LeBron misses this contest, it’ll be another game in which the team will play without one of its top three players.
Luka Dončić missed the last four games on the Lakers’ schedule due to a hamstring strain, and while Austin Reaves was back from his calf injury, he was still on a minutes restriction.
LA’s game against the Clippers is set to be the first time this calendar year that Reaves is going to play without a minutes restriction.
So, hearing that LeBron might be out when his two co-stars are finally fully healthy is frustrating for Lakers fans.
Until we hear more about the injury, it remains unclear what caused the soreness, how serious it is, and whether he could miss not only this Clippers contest but also upcoming matchups.
The last time LeBron played was on Sunday in the All-Star Game, representing Team Stripes. His importance to the team can’t be understated. James is still one of the best playmakers on the roster and is averaging 22 points, 5.8 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Without him on the court, beating the Clippers gets that much harder. It also means the chemistry between him and Luka and Austin won’t be further developed on Friday.
There’s also still a possibility that LeBron plays in this matchup. However, being downgraded to questionable on the afternoon of a game isn’t a sign that things are heading in that direction.
If LeBron is out, then it’ll be the Luka and Austin show in LA, and they’ll have to hope that’s enough to beat their Western Conference rival.
The wife of NBA veteran Russell Westbrook received a message wishing death upon her and her family after the Sacramento Kings guard failed to cash an angry sports bettor’s player prop wager.
Nina Westbrook posted a screenshot of an email she received on Thursday night.
Key Takeaways
Russell Westbrook failed to cash the bettor’s prop line of 10 points scored on Thursday.
Nina Westbrook said that she is growing more concerned for athletes’ safety.
The NBA is strongly linked to the gambling industry.
Westbrook and the Kings made their return to the court on Thursday against the Orlando Magic, ending their weeklong hiatus from the All-Star break. The 2016 MVP was held to five points on 2-8 (25%) shooting in an uncompetitive 131-94 loss.
The result prompted a violent written assault from “Joel Molina,” whose vitriol was captured in a screenshot posted to Nina Westbrook’s Instagram story late on Thursday evening.
The email contains vulgar language.
Nina Westbrook captioned the picture, “The negative effects of sports betting. Brings out the worst in ppl smh.”
Russell Westbrook’s wife shared this disturbing email she received titled “F**k you” pic.twitter.com/OTNPTOvaQp
Sports betting is not legal in California, where the Kings reside, and where they played the Magic on Thursday.
'Not an isolated incident'
Early on Friday morning, Nina Westbrook posted a follow-up addressing the email and its public response. She noted that it was not her family’s first time dealing with harassment from angry sports bettors.
“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident,” she wrote. “It’s something my husband and I consider routine. With that said, I’m sharing this now because I’m growing increasingly concerned for athletes.
“Gambling is a highly addictive behavior, and people should understand the risks associated with it, especially before introducing it to their children. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but the threatening behavior directed toward athletes and their families after games has proven to be one of the early results of amped up sports betting.”
A growing number of amateur and professional athletes have documented their encounters with angry sports bettors. Cases have ranged from Olympic champions being stalked and verbally assaulted at their competitions to professional athletes being confronted in person over their performances.
The NCAA also found in a study last year that 36% of men’s basketball players reported experiencing social media abuse from sports bettors within the last year.
Despite the growing wariness, the NBA is still firmly entrenched in the gambling industry.
The NBA has primary sports betting sponsorships with DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Commissioner Adam Silver was also an early proponent of legalizing sports betting, writing in 2014 an op-ed titled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting.”
May 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, US; A draft prospect during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images
Tonight, the Bucks play the Pelicans in The Big Easy. As you might be aware, New Orleans has the right to swap their first-round pick in this June’s draft with Milwaukee’s, thanks to 2020’s Jrue Holiday trade. They won’t actually receive that pick because the most favorable of the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ picks will go to the Hawks, but we’re here to talk about the Bucks, so forget that for now.
The debate that’s been raging on for weeks, if not months now, since Milwaukee’s season turned south (though it’s currently trending back up) has been whether or not to purposefully lose to improve their draft odds; i.e., to tank. Since the Pelicans are much worse than the Bucks this year, the logic goes that the Bucks can keep losing and get a better pick. But because of that pick swap, it’s not so simple. Let’s dive in.
Bucks draft odds
The lottery is pretty straightforward for each individual team: if you finish in a certain place, then you get certain odds. It turns into a flaming nest of vipers when you consider two teams, though, because their odds are “non-independent”—math speak for the fact that if one team wins the lottery, the other team can’t! Unfortunately, we have to enter that nest of vipers thanks to Milwaukee’s potential pick swap with New Orleans.
To do so, we considered every possible lottery order: 14 teams could win the lottery, the remaining 13 could get second, the remaining 12 could get third, and the remaining 11 could get fourth (the rest of the lottery lands in inverse order of record after that), for a total of 14 * 13 * 12 * 11 = 24,024 possible orders. We then calculated the probability of each order. The odds of each team winning the lottery are easy enough, but then it gets complicated: for each subsequent pick, you have to readjust the odds based on the teams whose lottery balls are no longer in contention (since they can’t win multiple picks). And that’s before the swap enters the picture: if the Bucks end up with a better pick than the Pelicans, they swap picks.
Taking that all into consideration, we calculated the Bucks’ odds of receiving lottery picks 2–14 (first overall is impossible) based on them finishing sixth through 14th and the Pels finishing first through seventh (which we considered the most likely scenarios) in the lottery standings, where the worse your record is, the higher you place. Here is the Bucks’ average draft pick in the table below:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6
6.2
6.3
6.5
6.6
6.8
n/a
6.8
7
6.8
6.8
7.0
7.1
7.3
7.5
n/a
8
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.9
8.1
8.3
9
8.3
8.4
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.8
8.9
10
9.3
9.4
9.4
9.5
9.6
9.7
9.8
11
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.5
10.5
10.6
10.7
12
11.4
11.4
11.4
11.5
11.5
11.6
11.6
13
12.5
12.5
12.5
12.5
12.6
12.6
12.7
14
13.7
13.7
13.7
13.7
13.7
13.7
13.7
The case for tanking
Morgan: The case for tanking is pretty simple: the worse you finish, the better the draft pick, and (hopefully) the better the player. On its own, that is obvious. Indeed, in each column above, you can see the Bucks’ average draft position gets lower the closer you get to the top of the table.
Furthermore, in each row, you can see the numbers get smaller the closer you get to the left of the table. The worse that the Pelicans finish, the better it is for the Bucks, albeit more marginally. That’s because Milwaukee would net a better pick post-swap in the cases where they are picked in the lottery before New Orleans.
It becomes less clear with the swap involved, since finishing below New Orleans increases the chances that Milwaukee would have to swap back anyways. However, the numbers show that it still bears fruit. In the example above, if the Bucks are sitting in 7th and the Pelicans are sitting in 6th, passing Nola would increase the Bucks’ average draft position by 0.7 spots (from 7.5 to 6.8). That’s not nothing!
At this point, it’s a lost season, and I would at least like to end up with something to show for it. For me, that would be a slightly better chance at a slightly better draft pick.
The case against tanking
Van: Not so fast, my friend! Entering play today, PlayoffStatus.com gives the Bucks a 40% chance of making it into the play-in field, though that’s not the playoffs. Basketball-Reference is much lower on their odds, and the chance of them making it to the first round (or further) just gets lower and lower. As are the odds of them obtaining a higher draft pick than their lottery position: currently 10th. Here is where that could place the Bucks’ draft pick, factoring in the swap with the Pelicans, and depending on how their opponent tonight finishes in the standings:
MIL Pick
NO 1st
NO 2nd
NO 3rd
NO 4th
NO 5th
NO 6th
NO 7th
1
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
2
0.9%
0.9%
0.9%
0.8%
0.7%
0.6%
0.5%
3
2.0%
2.0%
2.0%
1.9%
1.7%
1.5%
1.2%
4
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.1%
2.8%
2.6%
2.3%
5
9.6%
4.3%
1.6%
0.4%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
6
0.0%
5.3%
5.4%
3.7%
1.4%
0.0%
0.0%
7
0.0%
0.0%
2.6%
4.8%
5.3%
3.2%
0.0%
8
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
1.1%
3.5%
5.9%
5.4%
9
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.4%
2.1%
5.4%
10
60.5%
60.5%
60.5%
60.5%
60.5%
60.7%
61.5%
11
21.4%
21.4%
21.4%
21.4%
21.4%
21.4%
21.5%
12
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
1.7%
13
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
14
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
Average
9.3
9.4
9.4
9.5
9.6
9.7
9.8
As you can see, their chance at moving up from 10th is very slim—no better than 15.9%, regardless of where New Orleans finishes. But that’s actually a better chance of them moving up than it would be without the swap, and with it, they can move up to a variety of positions 2–9. If Milwaukee finished 10th but was guaranteed to keep their own pick, they would only be able to move up to picks 1–4, and that would only happen 13.9% of the time. So as long as their record is better than the Pelicans’, they’re more likely to get a better pick than they would have otherwise; even if New Orleans is seventh, Milwaukee moves up more often.
I also want the Bucks’ pick to be as high as possible, but other teams—looking at you, Bulls—are better set up to tank, and have tanked harder or sooner than the Bucks. Let’s consider scenarios, though, where Milwaukee is able to slip lower and lower in the standings: what would happen to their chances of getting any given pick if they fell one spot to ninth?
MIL Pick
NO 1st
NO 2nd
NO 3rd
NO 4th
NO 5th
NO 6th
NO 7th
1
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
2
1.4%
1.4%
1.4%
1.3%
1.1%
0.9%
0.8%
3
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.7%
2.4%
2.1%
1.8%
4
4.6%
4.6%
4.6%
4.4%
4.0%
3.7%
3.2%
5
13.4%
6.1%
2.3%
0.6%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
6
0.0%
7.3%
7.6%
5.3%
2.1%
0.0%
0.0%
7
0.0%
0.0%
3.5%
6.6%
7.6%
4.7%
0.0%
8
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
1.5%
4.7%
8.2%
8.1%
9
44.7%
44.7%
44.7%
44.7%
45.3%
47.4%
52.0%
10
28.2%
28.2%
28.2%
28.2%
28.2%
28.4%
29.5%
11
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
4.1%
12
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
13
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
<0.1%
Average
8.3
8.4
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.8
8.9
Sure, their average position improves since they climb up the lottery standings, as does their chance of moving up from ninth. And as long as New Orleans’ record remains bottom-five, their odds of rising above ninth are better than they would have been sans swap. But they’re still not good. What if they somehow tanked all the way down to the league’s sixth-worst record?
MIL Pick
NO 1st
NO 2nd
NO 3rd
NO 4th
NO 5th
NO 6th
NO 7th
1
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
n/a
0.0%
2
2.8%
2.8%
2.8%
2.5%
2.1%
n/a
1.5%
3
5.4%
5.4%
5.4%
5.0%
4.4%
n/a
3.3%
4
7.5%
7.5%
7.5%
7.2%
6.6%
n/a
5.4%
5
22.0%
10.4%
4.1%
1.1%
0.0%
n/a
0.0%
6
6.4%
17.9%
19.0%
15.7%
10.6%
n/a
0.0%
7
27.1%
27.1%
32.3%
37.6%
39.9%
n/a
23.3%
8
23.1%
23.1%
23.1%
25.1%
29.9%
n/a
44.9%
9
5.1%
5.1%
5.1%
5.1%
5.8%
n/a
18.9%
10
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
n/a
2.1%
11
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
n/a
0.1%
Average
6.2
6.3
6.5
6.6
6.8
n/a
6.8
Herein lies the rub. They could tank and tank, improving their average pick position, but risk swapping back multiple spots. Even if the Pelicans have the league’s worst record, the odds the Bucks will be picking after sixth are 55.5%, with a 28.4% chance they fall multiple spots. And if New Orleans were to improve and finish fifth, then Milwaukee would be swapping back 75.8% of the time and dropping at least two spots in 36% of lottery outcomes. And if the Pelicans surpassed the Bucks, they lose their chance at sixth completely, and 65.9% of the time, they’d pick no better than eighth.
This goes along with what Jack was saying before the break: if the Bucks are going to tank, you have to do so relative to the Pelicans. Lose at the same rate as them, win at the same rate as them. But moreover, why go through all the trouble of tanking down to sixth when it only increases the likelihood you’ll have to move back? Yes, your pick is almost certainly better than if you hadn’t tanked, but most of the time you’ll be swapped back. That outcome gets more and more likely the closer you get to the Pelicans. And the Bucks finish seventh, they are statistically more likely to draft seventh than they would be to draft sixth if they finish sixth. So what’s the real benefit of finishing sixth when you’ll seldom receive that, let alone a more favorable pick?
Ultimately, this decision probably rests with Giannis. He won’t play tonight, but if he’s back soon, he wants to try for a postseason spot, even if it’s via the play-in. Recent comments suggest he has no interest in tanking, so the Bucks will go as Giannis goes. With an extension offer due to him in October, and persistent rumors that he could just ask for a trade before then swirling, Milwaukee should follow his preferred path if they want to keep him long-term. Unless he misses further time, in which case: roll the tanks! However, with how well the post-trade deadline Bucks have played, that might not be in the cards either.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 17: JJ Redick head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the team during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on January 17, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Tom Hauck/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While most of the NBA season is over, the most important stretch is about to begin. The Lakers are currently fifth in the West but only one game back from the No.3 spot. So, they can still gain ground and even homecourt for the playoffs if they go on a run.
But do they have the ability to do so? Lakers head coach JJ Redick certainly thinks they do.
“We’ve got an opportunity to, I think, play our best basketball after the All-Star break,” Redick said after Thursday’s practice. “We’ve got a number of indicators on both sides of the ball that we’re doing some things that are trending in the right direction. And I think it’s coming at a good time as we’re getting fully healthy.”
Entering their first post-All-Star break matchup against the Clippers, the Lakers are fully healthy with no injuries to report. That means they’ll have their three best players, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves on the floor together once again.
This is something that’s only happened in 10 games this year. If they can remain healthy and play the rest of the way, they can absolutely raise this team’s ceiling and stack wins.
However, LA needs more than these three syncing together to maximize their potential. Luckily, Redick sees signs that the Lakers have been improving over the last couple of weeks.
“Defensively, since we went to zone the last 14 games, we’ve been much better,” Redick said. “When we have been in our zone, started possessions in our zone, we’ve been the number one half-court defense. Our transition possessions allowed are going down. I think a lot of that has to do with sprinting back into our zone.
“Offensively for us, we’ve had some of our highest paint touch rate games and we’ve proven that when we touch the paint, we’re elite, and we’ve got to continue to build on that. And I think, we’ve shown that when we pass the ball and we trust each other and we generate not just potential assists, but assists and connect that way that we win basketball games.”
Over the past 14 games, the Lakers have a defensive rating of 112.7, which is 13th in the NBA. That’s a stark improvement for LA, considering that on the season their defensive rating is 116.6, placing them 23rd in the league.
During this stretch of games, the Lakers are also averaging 25.9 paint touches, fourth-most in the NBA. They also went 9-5 in these contests and that type of winning should be good enough to rise up in the Western Conference standings.
If the Lakers can take this momentum and their newfound health and combine it for success in their last 28 games, then this season can still be a successful one for the purple and gold.
Execution will be key and that’ll start with their upcoming contests against the Clippers. From here on out, the year goes from a marathon to a sprint. Hopefully, LA has the legs to finish strong.
The Los Angeles Clippers have time to adjust to their new roster, with a Play-In spot all but guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have that luxury, facing urgent pressure in the crowded seeding race.
My Clippers vs. Lakers predictions avoid putting faith in either Los Angeles team, instead focusing on the most consistent player in the city, one of many NBA picks for Friday, February 20.
Clippers vs Lakers prediction
Clippers vs Lakers best bet: Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points (-110)
Even as Bennedict Mathurin went off for 38 points on 22 shots last night, Kawhi Leonard still took 18 shots to score 23 points. Logic assumes Mathurin’s workload will not remain at that rate; more will shift back to Leonard, who is playing the best basketball of his Los Angeles Clippers tenure.
In five games on the second night of a back-to-back this season, Leonard has averaged 26.4 points, three of those games with James Harden in the lineup. In the two without him, the two most recent, Leonard scored 29 and 27 points.
Clippers vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Lakers are coming off a full week of rest, while the Clippers needed the final seconds to beat the Nuggets last night.
That edge alone provides value in the home LA team.
Clippers vs Lakers SGP
Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
Lakers -7
Under 225
Our "from downtown" SGP: Clippers Fade Late
This SGP jumps too far at the thought of the Clippers covering the first-half spread but losing ATS by the end of the full game, even if that's logical on the second night of a back-to-back.
Clippers vs Lakers SGP
Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
Lakers -8
Clippers 1H +4
Under 226.5
Clippers vs Lakers odds
Spread: Clippers +8 (-110) | Lakers -8 (-110)
Moneyline: Clippers +240 | Lakers -300
Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Clippers vs Lakers betting trend to know
While the Clippers have cashed the first-half moneyline in 29 of their last 50 games (+11.35 units, 15% ROI), the Lakers have cashed the first-half moneyline in only 14 of their last 40 games (-25.50 units, 35% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Lakers.
How to watch Clippers vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, February 20, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Clippers vs Lakers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
So as you're building your L.A. rivalry same-game parlay & if you’re building your card, then these are the NBA picks the system flags for value on February 20.
Clippers vs Lakers computer picks for February 20
Clippers
Lakers
Leonard o26.5 points -110
Doncic u29.5 points -120
Collins o5.5 rebounds +105
James o1.5 3-pointers made -115
Lopez o1.5 3-pointers made -120
Ayton u7.5 rebounds +100
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Clippers computer picks
Kawhi Leonard Over 26.5 points (-110)
Projection: 28.2
Kawhi Leonard has been reliably scoring in the mid-20s this season, regularly putting up 25+ points in recent games and rarely following up a sub-27 outing with another one below that mark. That trend supports confidence in him hitting this points threshold.
With the Los Angeles Clippers’ offense running through him and sharps like Bennedict Mathurin likely to see reduced volume in this matchup, Leonard is poised to take on a larger scoring load.
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John Collins Over 5.5 rebounds (+105)
Projection: 6.2
The Los Angeles Lakers have played at the league’s 10th-fastest pace over their last five games, which should boost possessions for John Collins and the Clippers.
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Brook Lopez Over 1.5 3-pointers made
Projection: 2.0
When it comes to three-pointers, the Los Angeles Clippers's remarkable 38.0% rate of sunk threes as the road team places 3rd-most in the league over the last 15 games.
This year, opposing starting shooting forward's have totaled 5.8 3-point attempts per game (most in the league) against the Los Angeles Lakers, resulting in a favorable matchup.
The Lakers have played at the 10th-speediest pace-of-play in the league over the last 5 games, which ought to increase possessions for the Clippers.
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Lakers computer picks
Luka Doncic Under 29.5 points (-120)
Projection: 28.4
Luka Doncic’s scoring has varied significantly against this opponent. While he’s had big outings, there have also been games where his shot volume and efficiency dipped, indicating volatility vs. the Clippers.
And with complementary scorers like LeBron James and others healthy and available, Luka may share more offensive load tonight, reducing his sole scoring burden and making this Under projection more plausible.
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LeBron James Over 1.5 3-pointers made (-115)
Projection: 1.7
At home, the Los Angeles Lakers have knocked down 38.7% of their three-point attempts — the third-best mark in the league over the last 20 games.
They’ve also played at the league’s 10th-fastest pace over their last five, setting up LeBron James to benefit from the increased tempo and clear the Over on this prop.
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Deandre Ayton Under 7.5 rebounds (+100)
Projection: 7.4
The Lakers are likely to see fewer scoring opportunities against the Clippers, who have played at the second-slowest pace in the NBA over the past 25 games.
While offensive rebounds can extend possessions and create extra chances for points and assists, the Lakers rank near the bottom of the league, averaging just 8.4 offensive boards per game over their last 15 outings which can take a piece out of the Deandre Ayton's production on the boards tonight.
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How to watch Clippers vs Lakers tonight
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, February 20, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 3: Nigel Hayes #21, Rasheer Fleming #20, and Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns listen to the national anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 3, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jaden Coleman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have assigned 10th overall pick Khaman Maluach and 31st overall pick Rasheer Fleming to the Valley Suns.
OFFICIAL: The Suns have assigned Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach to the Valley Suns of the NBA G League.@GLeagueSuns take on the Sioux Falls Skyforce on the road at 6PM.
No strangers to this, Maluach and Fleming have been assigned to the G-League multiple times this season, with both good and bad games coming from it. Maluach is of particular interest to Suns fans, who are eager to see the top pick develop.
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 14: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Valley Suns celebrates during the game against the Rip City Remix on November 14, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In his six games with the Valley Suns, Maluach is delivering a respectable 15.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game on 57.4%/35.7%/87.5% splits. If Maluach ever emulated those numbers in the NBA, I would be ecstatic.
In his five games with the Valley Suns, Fleming is averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals on 50.8%/40.0%/71.4% splits. Fleming has played 30 games for the Phoenix Suns this year on limited minutes as he continues to develop and earn the trust of Head Coach Jordan Ott.
The Valley Suns are scheduled to take on the Sioux Falls Skyforce tonight at 6PM.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 19: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbling the ball is guarded by Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 19, 2026 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kristaps Porzingis made his Golden State Warriors debut Thursday night against the Boston Celtics. While the team’s newest big man showed some signs of rust after nearly a month away from game action, he said afterward that he’s feeling good despite being “far from perfect shape.”
Porzingis said he’s “far from being in perfect shape” but “feeling good” after his debut for Golden State.
“This is a good first step to keep building. … I think it’s just a matter of time to get in a better rhythm from this point on.”
Porzingis finished with 12 points in 17 minutes, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, along with one rebound, one assist, and one block. He also committed two turnovers — something head coach Steve Kerr said is to be expected as the 7-foot-2 center continues adjusting to the Warriors’ system.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr thought Kristaps Porzingis “looked good” in his team debut. Credited the Celtics for the way they performed.
“I felt like we were kind of slow to get moving. It was good to see the fight and rhythm we found late.”
For now, the numbers matter less for Porzingis — especially without Stephen Curry available. He settled in as the game went on, hitting deep threes and offering rim protection when the opportunity was there.
If that progression continues, Porzingis could quickly become a key piece for a team looking to find its footing and make a late push toward the postseason.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, February 20th:
It didn’t matter if it was off the dribble or from cuts, the Celtics’ offense made burnt toast out of the Warriors’ defense. It didn’t matter if it was the glass, the paint or trying to go body-on-body, Boston owned the trenches. The Warriors watched the Celtics assert themselves and didn’t have any answers.
In the first quarter, in which the Warriors only trailed by four points, the Celtics doubled them in rebounds (16 to eight) and scored 10 more points in the paint (18 to eight). By halftime, in which the Warriors now were facing a 23-point deficit, the Celtics had 24 rebounds to the Warriors’ 14 and doubled them in points in the paint, 32 to 16.
Could you have gotten more for Kuminga if you’d looked hard to trade him a year or two ago?
“I don’t think so,” Lacob said. “People say I loved him as a player, I was protecting him, I was whatever. That’s just not true. I did like him. I like all our players. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be acquiring them if we didn’t all like them. But you know, it just didn’t work. It looked like it was going to work. It was off and on a lot.”
Sources with knowledge of Thursday’s meeting as well as a late January competition committee meeting told ESPN that these concepts have been discussed to curb tanking:
First-round draft picks can be protected only for top-four or top-14-plus selections
Lottery odds freeze at the trade deadline or a later date
No longer allowing a team to pick in the top four in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-three finishes
Teams can’t pick in the top four the year after making the conference finals
Richard had a huge sequence in the first quarter. After Boston had pushed the lead to 10 points, Richard drained threes on both ends of the two-for-one to end the frame, getting the Dubs right back into it. The team couldn’t maintain that performance, but Richard did. He was one of their biggest offensive weapons, and his defense was swarming. I’m looking forward to seeing how he finishes out his highly successful rookie campaign.
Grade: A
A post to end the week:
Jimmy Butler has shared the following statement with me and other @warriors season ticket holders:
“Dear Warriors Season Ticket Family,
I have played in front of many incredible crowds over my 15 seasons in the NBA, but there was always something about playing in the Bay Area…
The team said Friday that López's surgery will be performed next week in Texas by Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister. López turns 30 early next month.
It will be the second Tommy John surgery for López. He had the procedure as a minor leaguer with the Seattle organization and missed the 2014 season.
López ended a bullpen session early during the Twins' first full-squad workout Monday. First-year manager Derek Shelton said he was hopeful the move was precautionary, but a day later general manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters of the UCL tear.
López was the Twins' opening-day for the past three years and was planning to pitch for Venezuela in next month's World Baseball Classic.
López made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2018 and spent five seasons with them, then was traded to the Twins.
He made the All-Star team in his first year with Minnesota and helped the franchise end a record 18-game postseason losing streak for North American professional sports, going 2-0 with an 0.71 ERA in two starts in the 2023 playoffs.
López is making $21.75 million this season and is signed through next year.
A shoulder injury limited him to 14 starts last season after he made 32 in each of three consecutive 10-win seasons, the first in his final season with the Marlins. López was 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 2025 and is 59-53 with a 3.81 ERA for his career.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Darius Brown II #10 of the Cleveland Charge passes the ball during the game against the Wisconsin Herd on November 15, 2025 at Cleveland Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nate Manley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they have signed Darius Brown II to a two-way contract. In a corresponding move, the Cavs waived forward Emanuel Miller, whom they acquired just a few weeks ago in the three-way deal with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings.
Brown, who went undrafted out of Utah State in 2024, has put together a quality season for the Charge to the tune of 12.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. On January 9th, Brown dished out a franchise-record 22 assists against the Texas Legends, narrowly missing the NBA G League record of 23 assists in a single game. Brown is averaging the third-most assists per game in the G League and is shooting 40% from three-point territory.
The Cavs have been doing plenty of shifting around with their bench players and G League two-way deals. The team opened up a roster spot with the salary-dump of Lonzo Ball to eventually sign Charge teammate Nae’Qwan Tomlin to a standard NBA deal. Luke Travers was also waived during the heat of the NBA trade deadline, further opening a spot that has now been filled by Brown. Charge forward Tristan Enaruna and guard Riley Minix have also received two-way deals from the Cavs to round out the available slots.
There are several instances across the league of two-way players not only finding minutes at the NBA level, but carving out meaningful roles. Tomlin is one of the brighter examples in the league, but Pat Spencer (Golden State), Daniss Jenkins (Detroit), and Dom Barlow (Philadelphia) are just a few others that have found great success through the G League track. Once seen as an afterthought, is now looked at as a meaningful pathway to the NBA.
The Dallas Mavericks (19-35) will try to end their nine-game losing streak as they play the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22) at Target Center.
After a long and Mavs-less All-Star break, Dallas returns to action against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, while the Mavericks are back, they will still be without rookie Cooper Flagg, who remains out with a foot injury that forced him to drop out of the Rising Stars game.
For Minnesota, it will mark the start of a second half of the season that will see Anthony Edwards try to help the Wolves claw their way higher in a tightly packed Western Conference. They are currently sitting in sixth place, just a half-game back of the Houston Rockets and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
The Gobert factor
For a Mavericks team that has struggled with three-point shooting during their losing streak — connecting on just 9.3 threes per game over the last nine contests and shooting a league-worst 34.2% from deep — Gobert’s rim protection presents a significant challenge. Dallas will need to find ways to draw Gobert away from the basket, whether through pick-and-pop actions with P.J. Washington or by attacking in transition before the defense can set. If Gobert is allowed to camp in the paint, the Mavericks’ already limited offensive options become even more constrained.
Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging 11.1 rebounds per game (fourth in the NBA) and shooting an incredible 70.3% from the field, leading the league in field goal percentage.
Losing like it’s 1997
Dallas’ nine-game losing streak is its longest since the 1997-98 season, when they lost 10 straight. That’s a nearly 29-year-old mark, should they hit it. The 90s were not a nice time to be a Dallas fan, so to match a record from those dog days would be a stark indication of Dallas’ season trajectory.
The Mavericks’ nine-game losing streak has been characterized by poor shooting, defensive breakdowns, and an inability to close out competitive games. During the skid, Dallas has been outscored by an average of 12.4 points per game, with their only truly competitive performance coming in the 120-111 loss to Phoenix, where they cut a 31-point deficit to just six late in the fourth quarter.
The absence of Cooper Flagg has been particularly damaging. The rookie was averaging 20.4 points and 6.4 rebounds before suffering a foot injury, and his two-way presence gave Dallas a fighting chance in games against superior opponents. Without him, the Mavericks have relied heavily on Naji Marshall (averaging 16.8 points during the streak) and P.J. Washington to carry the offensive load.
Grievous injury
The idea of seeing Cooper Flagg play with Kyrie Irving has been something nearly every Dallas fan has been waiting to see. Even with the postseason out of reach and the Mavericks’ sights set firmly on ping-pong balls, basketball is still about entertainment, afterall. There’s little denying that watching Flagg play with a guard of Irving’s skillset has the chance to produce some pretty eye-popping highlights, even in a season where Kyrie would have been mostly shakingoff the rust from his ACL injury.
While having Cooper develop his game as a ball handler and offensive initiator, we’ve seen the results when he’s paired with even a replacement-level NBA guard. It speaks volumes that even just playing alongside an undrafted rookie in Ryan Nembhard, Flagg’s production noticeably improves. That’s no shade on Nembhard, he’s a great find and a promising player, but he’s not going to be opening the floor in the same way Kyrie Irving will when those two finally get on the floor together.
Jamerson II was called for a Flagrant 1 late in the second half of UCLA's blowout loss on Feb. 17. It wasn't a foul that resulted in an automatic ejection — Cronin ejected Jamerson himself.
Cronin said Jamerson II made a "dirty play" in his apology on Feb. 20, but acknowledged he went too far with how he handled the situation.
"I apologized to Steve," Cronin told reporters. "I thought he took the guy out like the kid at Providence took out the guy from St. John's out. It's the only reason I sent him to the locker room. I thought he literally made a dirty play and tried to wipe the guy out.
"Once I saw the film, I mean, he still got a (Flagrant 1). But to be honest with you, I don't know if he deserved that. ... I was wrong. I apologized to him."
Cronin later said he needs to dial back some of his antics. He also had a heated exchange with a reporter after UCLA's loss to Michigan State, calling a question the worst he has ever been asked. Cronin later asked the same reporter if the reporter was raising his voice at him.
"I need to dial back some of my humor bends, and so for that I apologize," he said. "Sometimes I'm too candid, like for example talking about how bad our flight was after the NCAA Tournament. ... In this climate, you have to be careful about what you say. ... The brand matters here, the school matters. The last thing I want to bring is negative publicity to our school."
The 54-year-old coach is in his seventh season at UCLA and has the Bruins firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble in 2026. He has led the Bruins to a Final Four, two Sweet 16s and a Round of 32 appearance in 2024-25.
Clippers
Lakers
