Category: NBA

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While the Milwaukee Bucks’ season has not gone anywhere near according to plan, the Cleveland Cavaliers have pushed a pile of chips across the table to contend this season. And so far, the James Harden addition is working.

My Cavaliers vs. Bucks predictions and these NBA picks trust Harden to keep cooking on Wednesday, February 25.

Cavaliers vs Bucks prediction

Cavaliers vs Bucks best bet: James Harden Over 19.5 points (-120)

James Harden has cleared this prop in just four of his seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but facing the Milwaukee Bucks should assure a fifth success.

The Bucks’ disastrous defense cannot be entirely ascribed to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence; in the month prior to his most recent injury, Milwaukee’s defensive rating ranked No. 24, so falling to No. 25 in the month since is hardly notable.

But against a top-three offense thanks to the addition of Harden, that defense should be a massive liability tonight.

Cavaliers vs Bucks same-game parlay

Betting on Harden to score but not distribute makes sense, in part because this assists prop is a touch lofty. He has cleared it just three times in seven games with Cleveland. In fact, this exact same-game parlay has cashed three times in those seven games.

Cavaliers vs Bucks SGP

• James Harden Over 19.5 points
• James Harden Under 8.5 assists
• Cavaliers moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Cleveland Cruises

Cleveland’s offensive rating rising to No. 3 in the NBA from No. 5 in the two months prior to Harden’s arrival may seem modest, but jumping to 121.7 in these seven games from 117.3 in the two months beforehand stands out as something that everyone in the NBA should worry about.

Cavaliers vs Bucks SGP

• James Harden Over 19.5 points
• James Harden Under 8.5 assists
• Cavaliers -8.5
• Over 227.5

Cavaliers vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -8.5 | Bucks +8.5
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -340 | Bucks +270
• Over/Under: Over 227.5 | Under 227.5

Cavaliers vs Bucks betting trend to know

Cleveland is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Bucks.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Bucks

Cavaliers vs Bucks latest injuries

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Indiana is a football school.

It's not even a question.

On the same day IU football sold out season tickets in just hours, the men's basketball team — once the school's golden goose — lost to Northwestern for the sixth straight time, while Assembly Hall's balcony seating remained empty.

Over the past 20 years, Indiana fans have banked far more core memories from football than basketball. An entire generation has grown up without tasting any sense of sustained hoops success — in a place that worships the sport like no other.

Bracketology: : NCAA Tournament prediction has another shakeup

While Curt Cignetti flipped the campus' priorities on its head the past two seasons, the basketball rot was well entrenched.

Since 2015:

• Indiana football has reached the postseason six times.
• Indiana basketball has reached NCAA tournament four times.

Keep in mind, before Indiana football won this year's national championship, it entered this past season as the losingest program in FBS history. And even with that albatross around its neck, football has seen more success over the past decade than its basketball counterpart.

If the Hoosiers (17-11, 8-9) miss out on the 2026 NCAA tournament, which looks entirely possible, it would mark the eighth time in the past 10 years Indiana has sat out March Madness.

At Indiana. And in an era where it's seemingly harder to miss the tournament than make it with the expanded field of 68.

It gets worse.

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We’ve got some great matchups on the hardcourt tonight, including the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics facing the Denver Nuggets.

Games like those are loaded with talent, and I’ve found my favorite player props for those matchups and more NBA picks for Wednesday, February 25. 

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Tobias Harris	Over 5.5 rebounds	+120
Ty Jerome	Over 16.5 points	+100
Derrick White	Over 6.5 assists	-105

Prop #1: Tobias Harris Over 5.5 rebounds

+120 at bet365

The Oklahoma City Thunder are really good. They’re 5-3 and ranking 10th in net rating, without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup.

But they might be overmatched when they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in the second half of a back-to-back.

The Pistons already had a big edge on the glass, ranking third in rebounding rate to the Thunder’s 22nd. Heavy legs mean more missed shots and fewer boards for OKC.

That has me backing Tobias Harris to go Over 5.5 boards. He’s averaging 6.7 over his last 11 games, hauling down six or more eight times over that stretch.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN

Prop #2: Ty Jerome Over 16.5 points

+100 at bet365

The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have many bucket-getters these days. So, getting Ty Jerome back has been a big help. 

And while sportsbooks have adjusted his point totals after some solid performances, it's not enough to scare me away against the Golden State Warriors.

Jerome has played just seven games since returning at the end of January. He’s averaging 19.3 points while shooting 39.5% from three and has topped 16.5 points in six of those games. 

Tonight, he plays a Warriors team that is stumbling and ranks 17th in defensive rating since the start of February.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSBA, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Memphis

Prop #3: Derrick White Over 6.5 assists

-105 at bet365

The Boston Celtics continue to impress. They’ve won nine of their last 10 and now close out their West Coast road trip against the Denver Nuggets.

The Celtics aren’t known for moving the ball, but the guys who do, specifically Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, will try to pass the ball a little more with Jaylen Brown nursing a knee injury.

Today, my favorite bet is White to go Over 6.5 assists. He’s averaging 7.5 per game over his last 10 games and has topped this number seven times over that stretch. Denver ranks 20th in opponent assists per possession.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN

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

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Joel Embiid returned from a prolonged four-game absence without looking like he missed a beat. He scored 27 points in 26 minutes as the Sixers rolled against a Pacers team whose injury report looked like a CVS receipt. We’ll see what he looks like against stiffer competition and when the games start piling up again, but it was an encouraging outing.

Tyrese Maxey also seems to have found his stride again. He dropped 39 this past Sunday in Minnesota and nearly recorded a triple-double in Indy. Most importantly — he got the entire four quarter off agains the Pacers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe is also looking like the All-Star break did him some good, averaging over 20 points a game over his last four.

After things appeared to be teetering a bit with four straight losses, the Sixers have won the last two. They still sixth in the East, but the Orlando Magic, who have been playing better, are tied in the loss column. The schedule doesn’t let up, as games against the Heat, Celtics and Spurs loom.

Hit me with your questions and comments below.

I also wanted to take everyone’s temperature on doing a sort of an AMA-style deal in The Feed. Basically I would sit in The Feed post for like an hour and get to as many questions as I can. If enough of you are into it, maybe we can make it a weekly thing.

Everything felt heavy Tuesday night inside Crypto.com Arena. Not loud. Not electric. Just heavy.

The Lakers led the Magic for nearly 90 percent of the game. They built up multiple 12-point cushions. They shot over 48 percent from the field. Made more threes. Blocked more shots. On paper, it should have been a comfortable win. 

Instead the paper will read 110-109 Magic. Another disappointing loss by the Lakers to a more physical team. 

“I thought we played well enough to win tonight,” said Lakers head coach J.J. Redick. “We played hard enough to win.”

This wasn’t a loss to juggernauts like the Thunder or Spurs from the start of their homestand. This was an Orlando team hovering above .500 without Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner — two of their stars. 

The Lakers were rested, they were at home. They were favored. This was supposed to be their bounce back game after an embarrassing loss to the Celtics with former legends putting them on blast. 

Instead, it was another entry in the growing catalog of evidence that these Lakers are not contenders. They are pretenders wearing expensive clothes and jewelry.

“We need to be more consistent,” said Luka Doncic who finished with 22 points and 15 assists. “We should have won a couple more games [on this homestand].”

The Lakers had no answer for Paolo Banchero, who has struggled to regain his All-Star form this season. Nonetheless, he looked like an All-Star Tuesday night, bullying his way to 36 points like a man crashing a private party. He attacked a defense that continues to talk toughness but rarely delivers it. 

Orlando outscored the Lakers 58-50 in the paint and out-rebounded them 47-39. They surrendered 12 offensive rebounds, including two on the game-winning putback by Wendell Carter Jr. 

Magic win on a thrilling sequence!

The biggest of @wendellcarter34's 12 boards and 20 points leads Orlando to its 6th win in 8 games https://t.co/FhfOvkDuFspic.twitter.com/DSgFtR2CUU

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2026

“With their size and their strength you know it’s going to be a rock fight,” said Redick. “We lose points in the paint by eight in a one-point game. That’s the difference. We had more turnovers than them, and they had more offensive rebounds than us.”

If you’ve watched the Lakers over their eight-game homestand that saw them fall to 16-12 at home on the season, then you’ll notice a familiar pattern: jump out to an early lead, get outhustled and collapse in the second half.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Doncic started hot, but fizzled. He shot 8-for-24. He went 2-for-10 from three. He missed five free throws. His poor shooting from beyond the arc must have been in his head when he picked up his dribble and didn’t shoot on the game’s final play. Instead he passed to James who had to force an off balance fadeaway three-pointer at the buzzer. 

I’ll let you answer how that went. 

The Lakers should have never lost this game. Not with three different closers on the court in James, Doncic, and Austin Reaves.

Every time Doncic had the ball in his hand late in the game his possessions devolved into isolation theater, everyone standing around waiting for brilliance instead of manufacturing advantage. The ball stopped moving. The oxygen thinned.

James was efficient — 8 for 13 for 21 points, including a dunk for the final Lakers points of the evening — but his five turnovers came at critical moments. The Magic scored 14 points off the Lakers 12 turnovers, Los Angeles only scored four. That’s basketball malpractice.

They led most of the night and yet it still felt like they were barely hanging on. 

In early December, the Lakers were the second seed in the West. Now they sit 34-23, clinging to sixth, two games clear of the play-in undertow. They just finished an eight-game homestand and won four of them. Four. At home. In a conference that punishes hesitation.

Contenders slam the door. Pretenders admire the hinges.

The Lakers admired too much.

Orlando dictated terms on the glass and in the paint. The Lakers reacted instead of imposing their will. They played as if the game would simply tilt their way because it usually does for talented teams.

It doesn’t work that way in late February.

The Western Conference doesn’t care about potential. It cares about execution under pressure. And right now, this group tightens when the moment demands clarity.

Thursday in Phoenix looms large against a Suns team missing key stars. Another “should win.” Another trap disguised as opportunity. Win, and they give themselves breathing room. Lose, and the standings squeeze even tighter.

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Inside Crypto.com Arena, you could feel the doubt settling like dust in the rafters. Fans didn’t explode in anger. They exhaled in recognition. They’ve seen this movie before — double-digit lead, stalled offense, defensive lapses, one-possession heartbreak.

If the Lakers want to be taken seriously in May, then nights like this suggest they’re not even ready for March.

Talent alone does not make you a contender. Toughness does. Discipline does. Killer instinct does.

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic had all three.

The Lakers had none.

And that’s why they walked off their own floor pretending to be something they are not.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Cal Raleigh has already gone deep this spring, yet the switch-hitting Seattle Mariners catcher isn't focused on trying to hit 60 home runs again this season.

Raleigh, who had an MLB-leading 60 homers last year, hit a 427-foot homer against the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game Tuesday. His first spring homer came in his third game.

“I think the elephant in the room is 60 home runs. That’s not something I’m setting out to do,” Raleigh told Seattle Sports this week. “To me, I’m just trying to be as consistent as possible, trying to do what I did last year.”

His 60 homers last season were the most for a player who was primarily a catcher, having started 119 games behind the plate and another 38 at designated hitter. The 29-year-old Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” also had a career-high 125 RBIs and finished second in the American League MVP voting behind New York Yankees slugger and third-time winner Aaron Judge.

Judge and Raleigh are both set to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which begins pool play next week. Judge set the AL record with 62 home runs in 2022.

They are among only seven players with a 60-homer season, and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are the only ones to do so in consecutive seasons (1998 and 1999). McGwire and Sosa are the only players with multiple 60-homer seasons, and Sosa had a third in 2001.

___

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

When the Phoenix Suns moved Kevin Durant to Houston last summer, the financial backbone of that deal centered on Jalen Green. The deal could not have happened without his $33.6 million price tag. At the same time, Phoenix brought in a young, explosive, athletic guard, along with Dillon Brooks and future draft capital. Green was the most fascinating piece of the return. He arrived with upside, volatility, and the kind of ceiling that still invites conversation about what he can become.

Green’s time in Houston did not close the way anyone with the Rockets hoped for or envisioned. He spent a season as the primary scoring option, averaging 21.0 points on 42/35/81 shooting splits. The postseason told a different story. Over seven games, he averaged 13.3 points on 37/30/67. Houston supported him the way teams typically do with young talent, and eventually pivoted, sending him to Phoenix as part of their push to acquire Durant and accelerate their timeline.

He is one of the most intriguing players on the Suns roster. Maybe the most. Jalen Green fits cleanly into the “new place, new opportunity, different results” narrative. A change of scenery can matter, and Phoenix represents that chance. At the same time, this opportunity carries real weight. This is not a Ryan Dunn conversation. This is not a late first round pick on a rookie scale deal. Green was the second overall pick in 2021. And he has two years left, totaling $72.3 million.

That reality turns this season into a meaningful evaluation. The Suns need to understand who he is, what he can be, and how he fits into their long-term picture. That was always the plan, even before the season tipped. Injuries disrupted the timeline. A hamstring issue cost him 48 games in what was supposed to be a defining year for both player and organization. Now the questions sharpen. Following this season, do the Suns continue to give him runway, space to grow, room to fail, and the opportunity to respond? Or do they begin gauging his value on the open market and make decisions with the broader future in mind?

Injuries continue to shape the evaluation of Jalen Green, and they are muddying the picture in real time. During his first extended stretch of health this season, he is not playing in the role the Suns actually need to study. With Devin Booker sidelined and without Dillon Brooks enforcing, Green has slid into the primary option role. We already know what that version looks like. Houston gave him plenty of runway in that role, and the results are well documented.

Even in this limited sample, and within a role he is not built to sustain, familiar tendencies are creeping back in. Inefficiency. Inaccuracy. Three-point attempts that stall possessions and tilt momentum the wrong way.

If you look at the last three games, the numbers are rough. He is shooting 28.3% from the field on 20.0 attempts per game. From three, he is at 15.4%, with four makes on 26 attempts, one of those being the game-winner against Orlando. You can acknowledge the rust, given how much time he spent in street clothes earlier this season, but it still grabs your attention. Not as a conclusion, more as a note being written in pencil.

This is not the moment to pass judgment. It is part of the evaluation, not the verdict.

There is still a long runway ahead for Jalen Green, and more opportunity for him to settle into a defined role once that role actually exists again. We have seen him operate as a number one in Houston, but this environment is different. With injuries piling up, he is pressing, trying to ignite the offense on his own. At times, that urge turns into forcing the issue, and you can feel it possession to possession.

Jalen Green is the kind of player you want to root for. The personality pops. The athleticism is undeniable. The upside is obvious. If it all ever clicks, the deal looks like a steal for Phoenix. Having someone with that kind of quick twitch, someone who can get to the rim whenever he wants and do it with real explosion, is not something this franchise has had in a long time. Gerald Green is probably the closest comparison, and even he had a ceiling. That is the concern here. Jalen Green likely has one too, and given the contract and the investment, the window to understand what that ceiling is feels smaller.

The hope is that this stretch ends up as a blip. That the rust fades. That efficiency starts to follow. Because when he is right, you can feel how much gravity he carries. He is a microwave scorer who can tilt a game in a hurry and shoulder an offense for stretches. That version exists. It becomes harder to access without Devin Booker on the floor, when defenses can load up and treat Green as the primary every possession. Still, recognizing those coverages and navigating them is part of growth.

Right now, with the roster thinned and the responsibility shifted, Green is being asked to carry real weight. So far, that load has been heavy. The hope is that as health returns and roles settle, things begin to look different.

This is the uncomfortable middle of the evaluation, where inefficiency is loud, and answers are still quiet. The shooting has been rough, the decision-making uneven, and the burden heavier than the role he is ultimately meant to carry. All of that is real, and it deserves to be acknowledged. It is also not a reason to panic.

This stretch is information, not a conclusion. Green is playing through rust, injuries around him have distorted the ecosystem, and the context matters. The Suns are not searching for perfection right now. They are collecting data, watching habits, and learning how he responds when things are hard. That process takes time, and patience is still the most valuable currency they have.

Who would have thought just two years ago that a Pistons vs. Thunder game would be getting flexed onto ESPN because both teams are number 1 in the Conference. Obviously, that isn’t a huge surprise for the reigning NBA Champs, but the Pistons lost 28 games in a row just 2 years ago, they aren’t supposed to be here this fast.

Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs lived up to the hype, but the Pistons ultimately fell as their offense sputtered in the 2nd half. With how reliant they are on inside shooting, facing off against a game-wrecker like Victor Wembanyama is not a good matchup. The Spurs might be the worst matchup for the Pistons for that reason alone.

This isn’t to downplay the Thunder at all, they have the best record in the West for a reason and also sport the number 1 defense in the NBA, just in front of the Pistons. They have length, they are physical, and play just like the Pistons, so this game could get ugly.

Game Vitals

Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 pm EST
Watch: ESPN or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Detroit (-7.5)

Analysis

You might be looking at those odds and be in shock, but there is a pretty good reason for it. The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell. That does not mean that this will be an easy game. Just like the Pistons, the Thunder are a very deep team and their defensive infrastructure is still in place no matter who is on the court.

It goes without saying how important SGA and Jalen Williams are to the Thunder, but missing Ajay Mitchell is a very underrated loss. He has been a key player off the bench during his breakout season after going in the 2nd round last year. Just another example of the rich getting richer.

With those 3 players out, the Thunder will be forced to rely on Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace to provide more offense. Both players are capable of providing more on offense, but there is a reason why they are complements to SGA and Jalen Williams to a lesser extent.

One player who has really stepped up in the absence of SGA is Isaiah Joe, who scored 22 points on 6-11 shooting from beyond the arc last night against the Raptors. He also had the exact same shooting line in a win against the Cavaliers on Sunday. He is a lethal shooter who can take over a game if left open, so the Pistons will need to adjust their defensive gameplan so they are not leaving him open like they did for the Spurs shooters on Monday.

The easy explanation for that is that the San Antonio Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who is such a threat on both ends of the court that you have to change everything about how you play in order to stop him. For the Pistons, that meant putting extra pressure on him and leaving shooters open and letting your half court offense get completely stifled by his rim pressence.

Luckily, the Thunder don’t have anybody like Wemby. Chet Homgren is close, especially on defense, but he doesn’t have the same length and can be put in check a little bit with physicality. He also is not as skilled on offense, but can still make you pay if you don’t guard him. Whether he is able to step up offensively is a key factor in this game, as he is coming off a 7-point performance against the Raptors last night.

I would not be surprised to see some Paul Reed and Jalen Duren minutes to counter the Holmgren-Hartenstein frontcourt. This would have been a great matchup to unleash the Isaiah Stewart-Jalen Duren frontcourt, but Stewart is still out with his suspension. Tobias Harris should be able to handle Holmgren for some of the game, but is at a severe size disadvantage.

Another reason for the offensive struggles for the Pistons against the Spurs on Monday, and Cade Cunningham in particular, was the constant ball pressure by Stephon Castle. He was able to stay in front of him and had the strength to match his physicality. Castle is near the top of the list of defenders in the league capable of givng Cade Cunningham trouble.

Cason Wallace is at that level on defense with being able to pressure the ball and stay on his man, but he doesn’t quite have the size that Stephon Castle has, so the Thunder may opt to have Lu Dort guard Cade so he cannot get into rhythm offensively by outmuscling a smaller guard.

There is a reason these two teams are the top two teams in the league defensively, both are very physical and great at playing passing lanes to generate turnovers. With SGA being out, the Pistons are at least on an even playing field offensively, so this could be a very ugly game that ends with double digit scores for both teams.

With how tough the Pistons schedule is this week and next week, facing the Thunder while missing three key players is the perfect time to face them, so the Pistons need to take advantage of it. Don’t let the odds fool you, the Pistons have a great shot at winning, but the Thunder are where they are for a reason and it will not be easy.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (42-14): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Oklahoma City Thunder (45-14): Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Chet Homgren, Isaiah Hartenstein

Question of the Day

How concerned are you with the Pistons performance on Monday against the Spurs. Was it just a bad night or a sign of things to come in the playoffs?

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Boston and Denver hook up in the marquee matchup of the night, and our NBA player prop projections have circled some of the best edges in this showdown. 

Before you go making your Celtics vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks, check out our favorite player props below.

Celtics vs Nuggets computer picks for February 25

Celtics	Nuggets
Pritchard o3.5 rebounds  +100	Jokic u28.5 points  -120
Queta o8.5 points  -112	Johnson o11.5 points  -112
Hauser o9.5 points  -115	Murray u23.5 points  -120

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Celtics computer picks

Payton Pritchard Over 3.5 rebounds (+100)

Projection: 4.5 rebounds

Payton Pritchard plays bigger than his size when it comes to rebounding. He tracks long misses well and stays active around the perimeter. The projection has Pritchard clearing four boards with room to spare, and at plus money, that edge matters.

He's gone Over this number in three of his last four games. 

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Neemias Queta Over 8.5 points (-112)

Projection: 10.0 points

Neemias Queta doesn’t need isolation touches to score. Rim runs, dump-offs, and put-backs are enough to push him toward double digits. The model projects Queta right around 10, giving this Over a clean cushion.

He's gone Over this number in three straight games with just 21 total field goal attempts. 

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Sam Hauser Over 9.5 points (-115)

Projection: 10.9 points

Sam Hauser’s role is simple: space the floor and shoot. If he gets his usual volume from deep, this number is well within reach. The projection puts Hauser close to 11, which makes 10 points a reasonable expectation.

He's gone Over this total in three of his last four games. 

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---

Nuggets computer picks

Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-120)

Projection: 25.8 points

Nikola Jokic can explode at any time, but the model sees more distribution than domination. If the defense sends help and forces the ball out early, Jokic’s scoring settles into the mid-20s. That gives this Under a solid path.

He's stayed Under this number in four of his last six games. 

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Cameron Johnson Over 11.5 points (-112)

Projection: 12.8 points

Cameron Johnson doesn’t need high usage to clear this number. A few clean looks from three and one trip to the line puts him on pace. The projection has Johnson nearly a full bucket above the line.

He's gone Over this number in two of his last three games. 

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Jamal Murray Under 23.5 points (-120)

Projection: 22.3 points

Jamal Murray’s ceiling is obvious, but the projection leans slightly Under here. If shot volume dips or he shifts into more of a facilitator role, Murray lands closer to 22 than 25. It’s a thin edge — but still an edge.

He's gone Under this number in two of his last three games. 

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How to watch Celtics vs Nuggets tonight

Location	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date	Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to start their playoff push without Sidney Crosby.

The club placed its longtime captain on injured reserve on Wednesday. The move comes after Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during the Olympic hockey tournament at the Milan Cortina Games.

The 38-year-old Crosby went down in the second period of Canada's quarterfinal win over Czechia. The Canadians held out hope Crosby would be able to return, but he sat out a semifinal win over Sweden and a loss to the United States in the gold medal game.

Crosby will have to miss at least a week, though it's likely he will be out for considerably longer.

The injury comes with the surprising Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh is looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022.

Crosby has been his usually productive self this season. He leads the Penguins in goals (27), assists (32) and points (59) and is on pace to extend his NHL record of averaging at least a point a game to 21 years and counting.

The injury comes at a busy time for Pittsburgh, which opens the post-Olympic break at home against New Jersey on Thursday. The matchup with the Devils is the first of 13 games in a 24-day stretch for the Penguins.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The 2025-26 college basketball season continues to be a difficult one for Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley.

The 11th-year Sun Devils coach saw his team drop to 5-10 in Big 12 play following a 90-78 loss to TCU on Tuesday, Feb. 24. To add injury to insult, Hurley was also knocked down during a dustup, falling to the floor, about midway through the second half.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: NCAA Tournament prediction has another shakeup

A brief sideline scrap between the two teams began when Bryce Ford was forced to call a timeout after Arizona State's Andrija Grbović set a successful trap near the Sun Devil bench. Grbović and Ford continued to tussle after the whistle.

Members of both teams ran near the ASU bench, with shoving ensuing, with Hurley pushing Horned Frogs center Vianney Salatchoum back, and TCU coach Jamie Dixon also got involved. In all of it, it appears Hurley tripped over someone's feet and tumbled to the floor.

Devils dust up at TCU... Bobby Hurley gets knocked down. pic.twitter.com/65lOKyEkrI

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) February 25, 2026

Despite the brief scuffle, no players or coaches were ejected. Still, it was another bad chapter in the last two seasons for Hurley. The Sun Devils fell to 13-12 overall and are tied for the 12th-worst record in the Big 12.

Last season, ASU finished 15th in the conference and has not had a winning season since the 2022-23 season. Hurley is in the final year of his contract and is widely seen as a lame duck head coach.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley falls to floor during dustup vs TCU

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It’s a showdown of No. 1 seeds tonight in Motor City, with the Detroit Pistons trying to cement their NBA Finals credentials against the depleted but relentless Oklahoma City Thunder.

Some of Detroit’s flaws were exposed earlier this week in a double-digit loss to the Spurs, and my Thunder vs. Pistons predictions expect OKC to put up a fight despite key absences, with Cason Wallace doing his best SGA impression.

Take a closer look at this marquee matchup with my free NBA picks on Wednesday, February 25.

Thunder vs Pistons prediction

Thunder vs Pistons best bet: Cason Wallace Over 11.5 points (-120)

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams on the shelf, the stage was set for a monster Chet Holmgren stretch. Instead, it’s increasingly been the Cason Wallace show.

Wallace torched the Raptors on Tuesday with 27 points on 11-for-16 shooting, and that’s where Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault went when he needed a bucket. The third-year guard is averaging 14.2 points per game in February, and he’s 8-for-13 from beyond the arc in his last two.

Wallace has cashed this Over in five of his past six road outings, and he’ll be the X-factor against a physical Detroit Pistons defense tonight.

Thunder vs Pistons same-game parlay

Wallace has played 30-plus minutes in three straight, and the heavy lifting should continue. This week’s scoring tear hasn’t taken anything away from his defense, and he’s grabbed 4+ rebounds in six of his last seven contests.

Even on the second night of a back-to-back set, I see OKC bringing the fight. The visitors are 7-2-1 against the spread in their past 10 games and 21-7 straight up on the road. Cade Cunningham is coming off a 5-for-26 dud against the Spurs, and now he’ll have to deal with the Thunder’s perimeter stoppers.

Thunder vs Pistons SGP

• Cason Wallace Over 11.5 points
• Cason Wallace Over 3.5 rebounds
• Thunder +8.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Boards bonanza!

With two terrific defensive teams, I’m banking on a lot of missed shots, and this SGP taps into a feeding frenzy on the glass at both ends. Cade has grabbed 6+ rebounds in five straight, and Jalen Duren has had 13+ in consecutive contests, while OKC had a 49-34 rebounding edge over Toronto last night.

Thunder vs Pistons SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 rebounds
• Jalen Duren Over 11.5 rebounds
• Cason Wallace Over 3.5 rebounds
• Lu Dort Over 3.5 rebounds

Thunder vs Pistons odds

• Spread: Thunder +8 (-110) | Pistons -8 (-110)
• Moneyline: Thunder +240 | Pistons -300
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Thunder vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons are just 8-13 ATS against Western Conference opponents this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Pistons.

How to watch Thunder vs Pistons

Thunder vs Pistons latest injuries

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