Deandre Ayton isn't Clint Capela. But it's what he and Lakers need | Opinion

There was no need for Clint Capela to catch this stray.

Capela, a 12-year center currently on the Rockets, became the target of a dig uttered by Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton. According to ESPN, Ayton was speaking with reporters after a frustrating loss Tuesday, Feb. 24 against the Magic. As the interview ended, ESPN reported that Ayton revealed a candid thought loud enough for anyone in the locker room to hear.

“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said, per ESPN. “I’m not no Clint Capela.”

Ayton is right. He’s not Clint Capela; he’s far more athletically gifted. But, if anything, Ayton should aspire to the consistency and effort Capela has shown in his career. He should embrace the buy-in Capela showed over his stops in Houston and Atlanta. Because that’s just what the Lakers need.

Los Angeles is currently in sixth place in the stacked Western Conference, at 34-23. The Lakers are two games ahead of the No. 7 team, the Phoenix Suns, and it will be essential for L.A. to maintain its position there to avoid the play-in window.

But, going back to games before the NBA All-Star break, the Lakers have lost four of their last six. This comes at a time when Los Angeles is actually enjoying a spell of health, with Austin Reaves returning from a left calf strain. Aside from a few bumps and bruises, the Lakers are as close to full health as they’ve been in some time.

This is where Ayton’s offensive fit becomes an issue. On a team with a pair of ball-dominant playmakers like Luka Dončić and LeBron James, a tertiary option is going to see his usage drop considerably. But, this season, the Lakers have seen the rise of guard Austin Reaves, who’s averaging career highs in points (25.0) and field goal attempts (15.7).

That has reduced opportunities for Ayton, who is 13.2 points on 9.0 attempts per game. Ayton is shooting a career-high 66.7% from the floor and is adding a career-low 8.5 rebounds per game. Often, especially late in games, Ayton becomes more of a threat as a screener than he does as a scorer, which is understandably frustrating.

The question for the Lakers becomes if they feel it’s more efficient and effective to have the offense run through Dončić, James and Reaves (which it is) as opposed to manufacturing targeted touches for Ayton.

At his peak, Capela was a high-effort defensive force in the paint who adapted to his limited jump shot and offensive efficiency, instead becoming an efficient lob threat who found high-percentage buckets by sprinting into position.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) drives to the basket as he is double teamed by Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) and forward De'Andre Hunter (12) Mar 13, 2024 at Moda Center. Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The thing is, Ayton is far more athletic than Capela ever will be. A 7-foot big with an absurd wingspan and speed and leaping ability, Ayton has the ability to blow past defenders and outwork and outjump rebounders. It’s his effort that has let him down.

Consider this: Ayton’s best statistical season came in his final season in Phoenix, in 2022-23. Capela’s top year was in 2018-19, with the Rockets.

Ayton: 18.0 points on 58.9% shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 67 appearances.

Capela: 16.6 points on 64.8% shooting, 12.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 67 appearances.

Capela, however, led the NBA in rebounding (14.3) in 2020-21 and led the league in offensive rebounds (4.7) that same season, tied for the league lead in 2023-24 (4.6). Capela was the No. 25 selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

Ayton has had a fine, if underwhelming, career. Though his athleticism is undeniable, he often finds himself out of position on defense. When his usage drops, he often becomes disengaged and his effort dips.

Capela hasn’t been perfect, or even stellar, in his own career. But there are plenty of things Ayton could learn from him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deandre Ayton should embrace Clint Capela-type role | Opinion

Reports: Italian golfer Pavan badly injured from fall down elevator shaft when car was not there

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa (AP) — Italian golfer Andrea Pavan was badly injured from a fall down an elevator shaft when the doors opened and he was unaware the car wasn't there, according to multiple reports.

Golf Channel cited people on a text thread with Pavan's friends on the European tour and former Texas A&M teammates in reporting he suffered injuries to his back and shoulder and had undergone surgery Wednesday night in South Africa.

Pavan was scheduled to play in the South African Open, which began Thursday.

“By all accounts, he's in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” J.T. Higgins, his former coach at Texas A&M, told Golf Channel. Higgins said he had not spoken with Pavan but was updated on his condition.

Golf Channel reported Pavan was staying near Cape Town and called for an elevator. He fell three stories and was taken to the hospital for surgery. The European tour, citing medical confidentiality, could only report he had withdrawn from the South African Open due to injury.

Pavan, 36, is a two-time winner on the European tour. His most recent victory was a playoff win over Matt Fitzpatrick in the 2019 BMW International Open.

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

NBA fines Anthony Edwards $25,000 for throwing a ball into the stands after the halftime buzzer

NEW YORK (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for “throwing the game ball with force into the spectator stands,” the league announced.

The incident occurred at halftime of Minnesota's victory at Portland on Tuesday. After a missed shot by the Trail Blazers as the buzzer sounded, Edwards casually grabbed the loose ball and hurled it the length of the floor toward the opposite basket. The NBA's announcement included video that showed the ball appearing to hit an arena staff member in the head.

The NBA also announced a $25,000 fine to Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, also for throwing the game ball with force into the stands. Bane’s incident occurred at the end of Orlando’s 110-109 win at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Edwards was fined a total of $420,000 by the league last season for eight different transgressions, mostly for profane language in postgame interviews. After one incident he was docked $35,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner and throwing the ball into the stands after his ejection from a game.

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

Boston Celtics Daily Links 2/26/26

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: The sneakers worn by Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 24, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, 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

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Rockets vs Magic Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Houston Rockets are the No. 3 seed in the West, but they’ve become an afterthought in the NBA title conversation. Tonight they visit an Orlando Magic team that knows all about struggling to meet lofty expectations.

Orlando exits a strong west coast road trip, but the hosts can’t compete with Houston’s top-end talent. My Rockets vs. Magic predictions signal another impressive stat line for Alperen Sengun.

Get the lowdown on this Thursday, February 26 battle with my free NBA picks and betting angles ahead of tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Rockets vs Magic prediction

Rockets vs Magic best bet: Alperen Sengun Over 15.5 rebounds + assists (+102)

The Houston Rockets came into this season asking a lot of Alperen Sengun in a do-it-all role, and the burden keeps growing, with Steven Adams joining Fred VanVleet on the sidelines and Amen Thompson also on the injury report.

Sengun has nailed this combo Over in back-to-back contests, including a triple-double against the Kings last time out, and he gave the Orlando Magic fits in November with a 30-12-8 effort.

Even if Thompson plays, Sengun is set to shine. I’m buying into his 9.2 RPG this year and a stretch of 7+ dimes in three of his past four contests.

Rockets vs Magic same-game parlay

Houston hits another level when Jabari Smith Jr. is knocking down shots, and his points prop Over fits neatly with big-time playmaking from Sengun. Smith Jr. has gone past this O/U number in four of his last five games.

I’ll also ride with the Rockets moneyline, with the visitors covering the spread in three straight outings and winning four in a row against the Magic.

Rockets vs Magic SGP

  • Alperen Sengun Over 15.5 rebounds + assists
  • Jabari Smith Jr. Over 14.5 points
  • Rockets moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Hustle kings

Neither team will mind a scrappy rock fight here. Tari Eason could see a spike in minutes given the Rockets’ injury question marks on the wing, and he’s had double-digit boards in two of his past three contests.

Anthony Black is another active presence who thrives on the defensive end. He’s had eight blocks in his last nine games, and he’s finished with 4+ rebounds four times this month.

Rockets vs Magic SGP

  • Tari Eason Over 6.5 rebounds
  • Tari Eason Over 1.5 steals
  • Anthony Black Over 3.5 rebounds
  • Anthony Black Over 0.5 blocks

Rockets vs Magic odds

  • Spread: Rockets -3 (-110) | Magic +3 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rockets -155 | Magic +130
  • Over/Under: Over 215 (-110) | Under 215 (-110)

Rockets vs Magic betting trend to know

The Magic are 11-19 ATS after a win this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Magic.

How to watch Rockets vs Magic

LocationKia Center, Orlando, FL
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVPrime Video

Rockets vs Magic latest injuries

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NBA Minutes Report: Dejounte Murray returns, Deni Avdija remains sidelined

Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.

The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.

All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also extremely generous. Be sure to follow him to check out all of his baseball data as well.

NBA: Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks
With the Kings headed to the draft lottery, playing time should not be an issue for Raynaud or fellow rookie Nique Clifford.

Atlanta Hawks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Nickeil Alexander-Walker32.23434.3
Dyson Daniels2929.829.5
Onyeka Okongwu28.127.929.1
CJ McCollum27.428.829.3
Jalen Johnson26.330.233.6
Jonathan Kuminga24.424.424.4
Zaccharie Risacher23.724.323
Corey Kispert19.119.522.6
Jock Landale18.519.320.4
Gabe Vincent16.416.417.3

The Hawks are dealing with a few injuries here, but likely nothing major. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is dealing with a foot sprain, and Jalen Johnson is battling a hip injury, but neither player is expected to miss much time. That likely means that Jonathan Kuminga will continue to come off the bench, but he looked good in his Hawks debut, which I covered in a video this week. Dyson Daniels' offensive game has taken a step back lately, which is hurting his fantasy basketball ceiling, but his defense remains elite, which keeps him on the court and as a fringe top 100 player even when he's not scoring.

Boston Celtics

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaylen Brown34.93433.6
Derrick White34.134.235.4
Payton Pritchard33.333.332.7
Baylor Scheierman28.426.624.5
Sam Hauser27.326.327.5
Neemias Queta26.922.725.6
Nikola Vučević21.123.524.1
Ron Harper Jr.14.114.117.9

The Celtics look like they are getting closer to getting Jayson Tatum back, which would obviously be a huge addition for them. Lately, this has gone from a three-headed monster to one with four heads as Nikola Vučević has been a top 70 player in just 21-24 minutes because he continues to rebound the ball relatively well. His offensive game has really struggled since coming to Boston.

Brooklyn Nets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Michael Porter Jr.3531.431.5
Nic Claxton31.331.327.4
Noah Clowney30.127.526
Nolan Traore29.830.228.6
Egor Dëmin28.128.626.9
Day'Ron Sharpe20.122.120.7
Terance Mann20.121.521.5
Danny Wolf18.421.222
Drake Powell18.418.119.1

Kudos to the Nets for being one of the bottom-feeder teams that is not egregiously tanking. That being said, they don't have plenty of talented players who need to be benched. Michael Porter Jr. has remained a rock-solid producer for them, and they've actually gotten some good production of late from Nolan Traore, who's averaging 11 points, 5 assists, and 2.3 steals over his last four games. That defensive value is giving him some fantasy value, but this is really a deep roster of mediocre talent who are going to siphon minutes and usage from one another.

Charlotte Hornets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Moussa Diabaté30.630.628.7
Kon Knueppel29.329.832.2
LaMelo Ball25.928.329.3
Brandon Miller2528.930.9
Sion James23.421.320
Ryan Kalkbrenner22.624.320.5
Grant Williams22.426.622.3
Miles Bridges22.322.328.4
Josh Green2018.617.3

The Hornets are now back to full strength after Moussa Diabaté returned from his suspension to play 31 minutes. It seems like he's going to continue to be the primary center in Charlotte, and that has made him really valuable. We also saw Coby White make his Hornets debut, but he played just 16 minutes off the bench. Given that he is still dealing with a calf issue, it's unclear how much White will play as a primary backup to LaMelo Ball. This remains a team that really leans on its key four starters for production.

Chicago Bulls

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Isaac Okoro31.330.931.3
Matas Buzelis29.729.829.5
Guerschon Yabusele26.924.625.6
Josh Giddey25.324.324.3
Patrick Williams2326.124.8
Tre Jones22.922.622.6
Jalen Smith21.522.422.3
Nick Richards21.319.420.3
Collin Sexton18.720.523.3
Rob Dillingham18.719.220

Chicago is only four games out of the play-in tournament, but it seems like a long shot that they get there. Two of the players the Bulls added at the trade deadline - Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey - are both dealing with rather significant injuries and could be out for weeks, potentially the remainder of the season if the Bulls fully drop out of the playoffs. Jalen Smith is also dealing with a calf injury, and Zach Collins is out for the rest of the season, so we should get lots of minutes for Nick Richards and Guerschon Yabusele until Smith is back. On the plus side, Matas Buzelis has turned things around again, and Josh Giddey has been back on the court for the last four games. That might be it.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Donovan Mitchell33.330.431.1
James Harden3332.132.2
Jarrett Allen29.929.129.2
Sam Merrill27.725.925.4
Dennis Schröder26.123.721.9
Jaylon Tyson25.923.425.1
Evan Mobley24.822.722.7
Keon Ellis22.722.321.6
Dean Wade21.321.321.8

Things were going swimmingly for the Cavs, but it was announced that James Harden fractured the thumb on his non-shooting hand in a win over the Knicks this week. It's unclear how long that will keep him out, but it would obviously be a big blow for the Cavs. I don't expect him to miss much time, but the newly acquired Dennis Schröder would pick up the minutes if Harden misses time. The Cavs are also not playing Evan Mobley in both games of a back-to-back yet, but that should change in the coming weeks.

Dallas Mavericks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
P.J. Washington34.432.630.8
Naji Marshall31.63231.9
Max Christie29.730.330.8
Khris Middleton24.22323
Marvin Bagley III23.322.823.1
Brandon Williams23.323.321.3
Klay Thompson23.223.223.1
Daniel Gafford20.721.423.7
Caleb Martin18.416.521.6
Tyus Jones16.216.616.6
Cooper Flagg35.735.7

The Mavericks are another team clearly playing for next season. Cooper Flagg has missed time with a foot injury, P.J. Washington has missed some time with an ankle injury, and Daniel Gafford continues to battle an ankle injury. There just isn't a lot to get excited about here for this season. Naji Marshall continues to produce, and Brandon Williams should be the primary point guard from here on out.

Denver Nuggets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cameron Johnson33.132.731.4
Nikola Jokić32.733.634.1
Christian Braun29.832.632.8
Bruce Brown25.626.227
Julian Strawther24.624.824.9
Spencer Jones22.921.320.8
Jamal Murray22.226.932.1
Tim Hardaway Jr.21.622.626.5

The Nuggets can't seem to stay healthy this season. Aaron Gordon remains out with a hamstring injury. Same for Peyton Watson. Jalen Pickett has a knee injury, and Jamal Murray has been battling an illness. Murray hasn't really missed much time, and he and Nikola Jokić are continuing to dominate as we've come accustomed to. Nobody on the team has been sniffing much value so far as they continue to fill different roles based on who's healthy.

Detroit Pistons

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cade Cunningham34.434.433.2
Jalen Duren29.829.825.3
Tobias Harris2829.329
Duncan Robinson2725.224.8
Ausar Thompson26.126.726.4
Ronald Holland II19.917.919.1
Caris LeVert18.718.719
Daniss Jenkins18.618.218.1
Paul Reed18.523.520.5

Isaiah Stewart has just finished serving his suspension, so this Pistons team is now at full strength. We have seen Ronald Holland II take on a bigger role at the expense of Ausar Thompson because Holland is a high-energy player with a strong defensive approach, like Thompson, but has more offensive value, as I discussed in a recent video. They both don't shoot well, so neither has huge upside and could lose minutes to guys like Duncan Robinson if the Pistons are trailing.

Golden State Warriors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Brandin Podziemski3332.529.3
Moses Moody32.330.929.8
Draymond Green31.626.627.4
Gui Santos30.930.929.8
Al Horford26.926.925.3
De'Anthony Melton26.625.925.2
Will Richard25.525.320.2
Pat Spencer24.726.325.8
Quinten Post21.719.613.8
Kristaps Porziņģis17.217.2
Stephen Curry25.4

Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porziņģis are both out with sciatica and an illness, respectively, but the Warriors are pretty healthy otherwise. Brandin Podziemski has picked up the slack with Curry out, but is also contributing plenty of rebounds and assists to be a real asset across the board. Gui Santos has also produced in his 31+ minutes per game and has been a top-50 player over the last two weeks.

Houston Rockets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Amen Thompson35.23735.7
Jabari Smith Jr.33.733.635.1
Kevin Durant33.434.534.9
Alperen Sengun333232.6
Tari Eason2930.931.1
Reed Sheppard25.825.225.4
Dorian Finney-Smith20.721.519.1
Josh Okogie18.415.515.4

The Rockets are battling for the third seed in the West, and they're doing so with a pretty tight rotation of essentially six players with Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie mixed in. Amen Thompson missed one game this week, but he's already back, so this team is operating at full strength with its usual complement of minutes and usage. Jabari Smith Jr. has really taken a step forward this season, as I covered in a video this week.

Indiana Pacers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Taelon Peter37.129.629.7
Kam Jones32.828.726.5
Jarace Walker32.431.830.2
Pascal Siakam292931.2
Andrew Nembhard28.526.230
Kobe Brown27.828.927.3
Ben Sheppard25.124.321.7
Quenton Jackson24.723.323.1
Micah Potter23.925.123.1
Jay Huff22.223.623.1

I know Pacers fans get upset that their team is being singled out by the NBA for tanking, but, I mean, this team is egregiously tanking. Ivica Zubac will be out for "a while" even though he was playing for the Clippers before the trade deadline, and that means Micah Potter, Jay Huff, and Jarace Walker will continue to see minutes as primary big men alongside Pascal Siakam. Walker has been a top 80 player over the last three weeks, so he could be rostered in more formats, but this is really a situation to avoid, apart from Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, when he plays.

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.

Los Angeles Clippers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Derrick Jones Jr.34.932.329.9
Kris Dunn32.732.530.2
Kawhi Leonard32.232.131.7
Bennedict Mathurin31.930.530.5
Brook Lopez29.130.728
Kobe Sanders26.417.322.4
John Collins23.928.629.5
Jordan Miller20.519.122.3

The Clippers are technically in the final spot of the play-in tournament, but they are also staring down a potential suspension for Kawhi Leonard and injuries to John Collins and Darius Garland, who came over in the James Harden trade. Bennedict Mathurin has produced in his minutes, as I mentioned in a video I recorded this week, but there's not much going on aside from him and Kawhi.

Los Angeles Lakers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Luka Dončić36.136.131.7
Austin Reaves33.332.128.4
LeBron James33.233.734.2
Deandre Ayton28.228.227.6
Marcus Smart25.125.326.9
Rui Hachimura24.62728.6
Luke Kennard18.22021.4
Jake LaRavia1819.621.8

As has been the case all season, the Lakers are essentially a three-man team when they're all healthy. This team is healthy now, so you know the three players that can be relied on.

Memphis Grizzlies

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaylen Wells26.526.126.2
Javon Small26.126.924.8
Taylor Hendricks25.824.423.6
GG Jackson25.726.626.2
Rayan Rupert25.125.125.1
Olivier-Maxence Prosper23.824.824.2
Ty Jerome23.222.421.2
Walter Clayton Jr.22.722.723.6
Jahmai Mashack22.124.424.1
Cam Spencer21.321.323.2
Scotty Pippen Jr.2120.220.5

Memphis is in rebuild mode, so you're going to see a deep rotation of young players to end the season. Unfortunately, both Cedric Coward and Santi Aldama are battling knee injuries, which have kept them off the court, and it doesn't seem likely that Ja Morant (elbow) returns this season. That has meant big minutes and usage for Ty Jerome, who is getting some rest days mixed in after coming back from offseason surgery. It has also meant that GG Jackson is taking on a larger role, averaging 22 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks over the last two weeks.

Miami Heat

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Pelle Larsson34.334.329.5
Bam Adebayo28.431.931.1
Andrew Wiggins28.230.230
Davion Mitchell27.328.327.1
Norman Powell27.127.128.3
Tyler Herro24.124.124.1
Jaime Jaquez Jr.23.727.327
Kel'el Ware18.519.517.6
Kasparas Jakučionis16.621.421.8

Tyler Herro finally returned this week, which I covered in a video, which is good news for a Heat team that is only 1.5 games out of a full playoff spot. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has stepped up for them every time there is a player missing time, but this team is carried by Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Norman Powell. Having Herro back in the mix will help and will likely mean a slight dip in production for Davion Mitchell.

Milwaukee Bucks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kevin Porter Jr.35.133.934.2
Ryan Rollins34.934.835
AJ Green30.331.832.4
Jericho Sims27.424.226.5
Kyle Kuzma23.124.625.8
Myles Turner22.622.625.5
Bobby Portis21.123.922.3
Cam Thomas1919.519.4
Ousmane Dieng16.821.819.6

The Bucks are hanging around a play-in spot they so desperately want to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. He remains the only major injury on this team, and while his absence has led to more minutes for Jericho Sims, it's really Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma picking up some extra usage. Just not enough to be producing incredibly relevant stats for fantasy leagues. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins are driving this car until Giannis is back.

Minnesota Timberwolves

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Anthony Edwards36.736.236.9
Jaden McDaniels35.134.533.4
Rudy Gobert3432.131.1
Donte DiVincenzo30.229.127.8
Julius Randle30.232.434.3
Naz Reid26.724.725.9
Ayo Dosunmu26.427.527.1
Mike Conley15.415.415.9

Throughout the season, the Timberwolves have remained one of the healthiest teams in the entire league, and that remains the case now. It's pretty astonishing, really.

New Orleans Pelicans

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Zion Williamson32.131.332
Herbert Jones31.531.531.3
Saddiq Bey31.231.232.6
DeAndre Jordan26.926.926.9
Bryce McGowens25.124.224.8
Jeremiah Fears2527.223.7
Dejounte Murray24.824.824.8
Jordan Poole24.124.124.1
Derik Queen22.124.225.9
Karlo Matković20.418.716

Dejounte Murray made his season debut on Tuesday, which I covered in a video this week. His move into the starting lineup pushed Derik Queen to the bench, which is a bit of a bummer. DeAndre Jordan continues to play big minutes and put up solid rebounding and block numbers, while Saddiq Bey has remained a fringe top 100 player all season long. Trey Murphy III remains out with a shoulder injury, but it will be interesting to see how the minutes are split once he is back.

New York Knicks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
OG Anunoby3634.935.8
Jalen Brunson3635.136
Karl-Anthony Towns31.830.430.1
Mikal Bridges31.129.532.3
Josh Hart28.728.628.6
Landry Shamet23.124.326.5
Jose Alvarado22.321.221.3
Mitchell Robinson18.417.718.6

The Knicks are healthy, other than Miles McBride being out for the rest of the regular season with a hernia. Jose Alvarado has essentially stepped into his exact role, and this remains a two-man offense with the other parts spiking big performances out of nowhere as this offense on the whole struggles to find its rhythm.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cason Wallace3331.430.5
Luguentz Dort32.731.129.5
Chet Holmgren32.329.528.9
Isaiah Hartenstein25.825.323.3
Isaiah Joe25.725.526.3
Aaron Wiggins24.524.324.4
Jaylin Williams22.720.522.1
Alex Caruso22.517.718.6
Brooks Barnhizer21.910.412.8
Jared McCain18.620.519

The Thunder are battling plenty of injuries right now, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams both remaining out.I covered those injuries and the rotation fallout in a video this week.

Orlando Magic

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Paolo Banchero40.538.636.3
Anthony Black37.233.532.6
Desmond Bane35.935.733.6
Wendell Carter Jr.34.531.827.6
Tristan da Silva332824.4
Jevon Carter22.622.819.1
Jett Howard18.817.311.5
Jonathan Isaac12.812.910.5

Both Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner are on the sidelines again, which has kept Anthony Black on the court for 35+ minutes per game in his breakout season. Wendell Carter Jr. has also had some big games that have kept his minutes up, but this team lacks a ton of offensive production other than Black, Paolo Banchero, and Desmond Bane. It's been a rough season for Orlando.

Philadelphia 76ers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Tyrese Maxey35.135.235.5
VJ Edgecombe3433.633.6
Kelly Oubre Jr.3231.734.2
Quentin Grimes26.627.226.9
Joel Embiid26.226.232.5
Dominick Barlow25.72625.6
Adem Bona18.819.717.4
Andre Drummond16.517.620.5

Joel Embiid finally returned to the court this week after missing five games with a knee injury. It was more of a load management or pain management situation, but it's noteworthy with all of his previous injuries. Still, this team runs through Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe now. Kelly Oubre Jr. also continues to play big minutes with Paul George suspended.

Phoenix Suns

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Collin Gillespie35.131.531
Royce O'Neale30.628.429.6
Grayson Allen28.728.732.5
Jalen Green28.427.824.7
Ryan Dunn26.124.518.3
Jordan Goodwin24.926.625.9
Oso Ighodaro23.42121
Amir Coffey2319.518.2
Rasheer Fleming21.218.515.5
Mark Williams20.720.122.9

With both Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks on the sidelines, the Suns have had to rely heavily on their bench of late.I covered the fallout of those injuries in a video this week.

Portland Trail Blazers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Toumani Camara32.93231.8
Jerami Grant30.230.629.9
Jrue Holiday29.230.228.9
Donovan Clingan28.428.928.7
Scoot Henderson26.523.722.8
Kris Murray202020
Vít Krejčí16.61920.1
Sidy Cissoko15.919.423.1
Deni Avdija15.719.421.2

Both Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe were dealt tough injury blows, which has meant that the Blazers are needing to rely on Scoot Henderson and Jermai Grant more than they anticipated. I covered that fallout in a video this week, but Donovan Clingan has really produced in what has been a breakout season.

Sacramento Kings

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
DeMar DeRozan29.127.226.6
Nique Clifford29.131.132.1
Precious Achiuwa2826.720.8
Maxime Raynaud27.629.928.4
Russell Westbrook26.42424.3
Keegan Murray26.227.527.5
Daeqwon Plowden22.722.224.1
Malik Monk2221.620.6
Patrick Baldwin Jr.212121

The Kings are the worst team in basketball, and now they are incredibly banged up on top of that. There's not really a lot to say here. When Demar DeRozan plays, he still has some value, and Maxime Reynaud has been a nice find for them in the second round, but there is little else to be excited about here. If they continue to rest Russell Westbrook, then we should see lots of minutes and potentially more usage for Nique Clifford down the stretch.

San Antonio Spurs

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Victor Wembanyama31.730.629.7
Julian Champagnie30.726.925.3
Devin Vassell30.728.628
De'Aaron Fox30.429.128.4
Stephon Castle27.42524.1
Dylan Harper23.525.124.7
Harrison Barnes1919.823.4
Keldon Johnson18.921.221.6

The Spurs are healthy and very good. I'm not sure many people expected them to be the number two seed in the Western Conference this early, but here we are. Dylan Harper has stepped into a bigger role off the bench, which is nice to see, but this team runs through Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle.

Toronto Raptors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Brandon Ingram34.534.333.9
Immanuel Quickley33.43332.4
Scottie Barnes31.631.733.2
RJ Barrett31.129.729.7
Jakob Poeltl2722.522.5
Ja'Kobe Walter24.122.722
Collin Murray-Boyles21.723.424.7
Jamal Shead21.521.721.3

Collin Murray-Boyles continues to battle a thumb injury, but the Raptors are pretty healthy otherwise and have begun to ramp up the minutes for Jakob Poeltl. It's not leading to tons of production yet, but it's nice to see. The production continues to come from the same four guys it has all season, but it's been enough to have the Raptors as the five seed in the Eastern Conference.

Utah Jazz

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Lauri Markkanen32.225.827.6
Ace Bailey31.532.432.9
Isaiah Collier30.330.433.6
Brice Sensabaugh28.826.626.1
Kyle Filipowski27.122.622.7
John Konchar26.82322.2
Cody Williams25.624.126.1
Blake Hinson20.420.420.4
Kevin Love14.815.114.6

The Jazz were pretty feisty when they were healthy, so they just decided to shut down all their good players. It's hard to really talk about who to rely on in Utah, but it seems like Kyle Filipowski is going to get plenty of minutes as their primary big man, and Isaiah Collier is going to handle the ball as much as possible with Keyonte George sidelined. Other than that, just watch Utah next season when they should be pretty good.

Washington Wizards

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kadary Richmond31.322.322.3
Bub Carrington26.125.624.8
Anthony Gill2625.624.5
Alondes Williams24.325.225.2
Will Riley2420.925.5
Jamir Watkins22.423.927
Sharife Cooper22.122.822.9
Jaden Hardy21.718.118.1
Tristan Vukcevic21.119.918.5
Bilal Coulibaly2122.125.1
Tre Johnson20.619.819.8
Kyshawn George19.720.620.5

The Wizards are another team that's not trying to win basketball games. It's just a situation to avoid entirely.

Lakers vs Suns Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The next few weeks look grim for the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Lakers should be glad to capitalize on that tonight.

My Lakers vs. Suns predictions recognize that Phoenix is simply out of scoring.

Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, February 26.

Lakers vs Suns prediction

Lakers vs Suns best bet: Lakers -6 (-110)

The Phoenix Suns are running out of scoring. Losing Dillon Brooks on Saturday leaves them without a proven scorer, relying on Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green as their starting backcourt.

Yes, Phoenix was competitive without Brooks against Orlando, but that can happen in the chaos after an injury. Once opponents prepare for that reality, life gets much more difficult.

Hence, the Suns scored just 77 and 81 points against the Trail Blazers and the Celtics. The Los Angeles Lakers should be well prepared for that delight.

Lakers vs Suns same-game parlay

While the Suns have fallen short of their totals in the two games since Brooks went down, pace-pushers have excelled against them in each of those moments.

It makes sense: A bad offense leads to transition and secondary-transition opportunities for the opponent.

Cue Austin Reaves.

Lakers vs Suns SGP

  • Lakers -6
  • Under 222.5
  • Austin Reaves Over 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Luka Magic

Luka Doncic’s playmaking will excel in transition and secondary-transition opportunities created by Phoenix’s stumbling offense.

Lakers vs Suns SGP

  • Lakers -6
  • Under 222.5
  • Austin Reaves Over 19.5 points
  • Luka Doncic Over 7.5 assists

Lakers vs Suns odds

  • Spread: Lakers -6 (-110) | Suns +6 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Lakers -225 | Suns +185
  • Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Lakers vs Suns betting trend to know

Two games is a small sample size, but since Brooks’ injury, Phoenix has not only failed to cover the spread — they’ve come up short of bookmakers’ expectations by 11 and 11.5 points. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Suns.

How to watch Lakers vs Suns

LocationMortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off9:00 p.m. ET
TVSpectrum Sportsnet, AZFS

Lakers vs Suns latest injuries

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Timberwolves vs Clippers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Los Angeles Clippers stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves a couple weeks ago.

Minnesota needs to exact revenge tonight to keep pace amid the Western Conference seeding chase, but its focus has not exactly been distinct of late.

My Timberwolves vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks will continue to doubt Minnesota’s focus on Thursday, February 26.

Timberwolves vs Clippers prediction

Timberwolves vs Clippers best bet: Over 225.5 (-110)

Even when the Minnesota Timberwolves should restore attention to detail, their defense remains lacking.

Coming off two disappointing results in a row, the Timberwolves should have zeroed in on both ends of the floor on Tuesday at Portland. Instead, that game cleared its total by 10.5 points, even with Minnesota controlling much of the game.

This current era of “Wolves Back” began with thriving defense, but Minnesota has very much become an offense-driven contender this year, for better or for worse. As the Los Angeles Clippers’ defense has also waned of late, tonight should easily clear this total.

Timberwolves vs Clippers same-game parlay

Kawhi Leonard went off for 41 points at Minnesota earlier this month. Undoubtedly, the Timberwolves have that film burned into their brains. Slowing down Leonard should help Minnesota snag a needed win.

Timberwolves vs Clippers SGP

  • Over 225.5
  • Kawhi Leonard Under 28.5 points
  • Timberwolves moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ant's MVP Campaign

As MVP odds have reshuffled in the last week due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s continued injury absence, Anthony Edwards’ name has not risen up the board. He may take that personally, especially as he has scored 30 or more points in seven of his last 10 games.

Timberwolves vs Clippers SGP

  • Over 225.5
  • Kawhi Leonard Under 28.5 points
  • Anthony Edwards Over 28.5 points
  • Timberwolves -5.5

Timberwolves vs Clippers odds

  • Spread: Timberwolves -5.5 | Clippers +5.5
  • Moneyline: Timberwolves -210 | Clippers +175
  • Over/Under: Over 225.5 | Under 225.5

Timberwolves vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Timberwolves have won five of their last six against the Clippers, including two road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Clippers.

How to watch Timberwolves vs Clippers

LocationIntuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off10:00 p.m. ET
TVPrime Video

Timberwolves vs Clippers latest injuries

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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.

Fischer: NBA still believes Brooklyn Nets have interest in Giannis

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 22: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks warms up before a game against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum on February 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Greek Freakout is having a respite right now. He still hasn’t officially asked for a trade and still expresses his love for Cream City. Most of Milwaukee’s attention as an organization is about filling their roster with players Giannis Antetokounmpo would want to play with going forward, the newly acquired Cam Thomas being their most prominent acquisition so far. Since the deadline, they’re 6-2.

Pundits have repeatedly suggested the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, even the San Antonio Spurs would have the inside track on the 31-year-old, two-time MVP and NBA champion if he signals a change of mind. But Jake Fischer who had the Bucks interest in Thomas early on thinks that maybe the Nets should be added to that list. In writing this week for The Steinline, Fischer had this to say about Brooklyn’s possible interest.

 As Marc Stein wrote here Feb. 4, significant summer salary cap space is expected to make the Lakers a viable suitor in the Giannis Sweepstakes. I also continue to hear rival teams musing aloud about Brooklyn’s potential emergence as a credible destination given the Nets’ considerable cache of draft capital to package with, say, Michael Porter Jr. … or with a trade construction that keeps MPJ in place to play alongside Antetokounmpo. It remains to be seen,

Fischer also writes that he thinks that Antetokounmpo will ultimately depart the Bucks for a contender and the Nets are hardly, at least at this point, anywhere close to contention. After all, there’s a distinct possibility they could wind up with the worst record in the league. At this point, they’re only two games back of that distinction.

Beyond the fact that Antetokounmpo’s recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews featured multiple comments that would appear to keep the door ajar for an eventual exit from Brewtown, I’ve kept in regular contact with four sources close to the situation who have all maintained that a move to a true title contender is the most likely endgame for the 31-year-old.

And that’s why I think the trade is going to happen this summer.

Fischer notes that just before the trade deadline, half his sources on the issue suggested that the Bucks were not ready to move, the other half believe “it will finally happen during the looming offseason.”

For the moment, putting aside 1) who Sean Marks & co. might have to offer for Giannis or 2) how many teams Marks would have to recruit for a bigger deal or 3) how much Joe Tsai might have to pay out when it comes time for an extension — think a quarter billion dollars, what Fischer writes is interesting in how the league perceives the Nets will operate this summer.

Multiple NBA writers including Fischer and Stein reported prior to the February 5 deadline that the Nets were not so much interested in trading for more draft assets — they have 32, the most in the league, including 10 tradeable firsts — or taking on contracts that would impinge on the near $50 million in cap space they could put together this summer. Instead, to one degree or another, they believe that the Nets are going to make moves to get them back on the road to contention, going from rebuild to build. Some suggested they plan on using whoever they get in the lottery as a lure … along with Jordi Fernandez and the city of New York.

Beyond Giannis, there’s also been talk about the Nets taking a look at Peyton Watson, the 6’8” Denver Nuggets forward who is having a breakout year and will be a restricted free agent. The 23-year-old is close to Michael Porter Jr. and the Nuggets have some cap issues. Signing him seems a long shot. But a sign-and-trade … using some of those assets? Makes more sense.

Beyond Fischer’s and others’ reporting on what the Nets might do, MPJ’s recent comments also pointed to a not-so-distant future where the Nets change direction. As a member of an NBA champion and annual contender in Denver, he was asked this week about the losing he’s endured this season.

“This is a new situation that I’ve been in, but no basketball game is meaningless. It’s all part of the journey,” Porter told reporters. “This team, we’re not just looking at this year, we’re looking at the overall scheme and goals for the next one, two, three, four, five years.

“All these games matter for us in terms of growth, continuity and chemistry. Sometimes it’s hard to focus on that, but we’ve got to come in and work every day and realize it’s a bigger picture. At the end of the day, we’re playing basketball, a game we all love to play.”

‘WE?“ ”US?“ Porter sure sounds like he wants to be a part of it, believes he will be.

Of course, predicting the NBA future requires a very good crystal ball. A lot of what happens may not be visible now. For example, if the Cavs exit the playoffs early, will native New Yorker Donovan Mitchell want to stick around The Land? He was a rumored target of the Nets two years back. If the Knicks exit early, how will that effect their long term thinking? The Nets still own three unprotected first rounders in 2027, 2029 and 2031 as well as first round swap in 2028. Those picks would become quite valuable earlier than expected. We could be talking Herschel Walker trade territory if that happens.

Then there’s luck. Good and bad.

Bottom line is that despite how quiet the Nets have been, there’s ample evidence even among other NBA teams executives that Brooklyn will not be tanking this time next year, not be as interested in the draft.

If you’re looking for something close to finite, the Nets trade for Hunter Tyson might give you one, albeit small. The Nets traded Tyson, who they quickly cut, and someone else’s late second rounder in 2026 for a Nuggets second in 2032. With all that youth draft capital, they chose to pass on a pick that might wind up as a two-way next summer and instead added one at a time when they might need some roster replenishment. (They now have three picks — a lottery pick in the first and two high seconds — in 2026 and six picks — two firsts and four seconds — in 2032.)

So, at this time next year, they may not be contending for a title, or they might with Giannis, but their direction will likely be quite clear. As always, stay tuned.

Game Preview: Suns offense looks to improve in pivotal matchup against the Lakers

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns looks for room to the basket as Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends during the second half of a game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 in Phoenix, 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. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Who: Los Angeles Lakers (34-23) @ Phoenix Suns (33-26)

When: 7:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, Yes Network

Listen: KMVP 98.7


It’s been rough for the Phoenix Suns ever since play resumed after the All-Star break. 1-3 in their last four, Phoenix has struggled to hit the broad side of a barn lately as the team continues to deal with injuries. Since the break, the team hasn’t shot better than 38% from the field and their lone win was the first time any NBA team had won a game shooting under 35% from the field since 2023.

Devin Booker remains out for at least one more contest, Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin are out for a minimum of 4-6 and 1-2 weeks.

The good news for the Suns? After tonight’s contest, they don’t play again until Tuesday, where they’ll face the Sacramento Kings, who recently snapped a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak, losing 16 of their last 17 games.

But tonight’s contest will be a tough and important one. Separated by just two games in the standings, the Lakers are ahead of the Suns for the last spot in the top-six of the Western Conference standings.

Because of where they finished in the In-Season Tournament, the Suns and Lakers will play five times in the regular season, meaning someone will win the season series. Phoenix is up 2-1 so far and tonight is their last chance to win the series at home. The winner of the season series could play a pivotal roll at the end of the year standings.

Can Phoenix pull off the win tonight amid all their injuries?


Starting Lineups

Injury Report

Suns

  • Cole Anthony — OUT (Not with Team)
  • Devin Booker — OUT (Right Hip Strain)
  • Dillon Brooks — OUT (Left Hand Fracture)
  • Jordan Goodwin — OUT (Left Calf Strain)
  • Haywood Highsmith — OUT (Right Knee Injury Management)

Lakers

  • Rui Hachimura — QUESTIONABLE (Illness)
  • Jaxon Hayes — PROBABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Bronny James — OUT (G League Assignment)
  • Adou Thiero — OUT (G League Assignment)

What to Watch For

Can the Suns’ offense finally turn it around? The Lakers aren’t necessarily world beaters on defense, sitting in the middle of the pack when it comes to defensive rating, but neither are the Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix put up a measly 77 points.

Can offseason addition Jalen Green start to get in an offensive rhythm after an inconsistent start to his Suns career? Averaging 13 points per game on 37% from the field and 29% from three, Green has struggled to be a consistent offensive threat, with the usually dynamic scorer having only two 20-point games in his first 11 with his new team, and just one game where he shot at least 50% from the field.

Against a Lakers team that allowed guards Benedict Mathurin, Payton Pritchard, and Desmond Bane to have 20+ scoring outings recently, can Green put together a strong offensive performance?

Key to a Suns Win

The offense needs to improve. Whether Devin Booker misses more than one more game and Dillon Brooks is out closer to six weeks than four, the Suns’ offense needs to be better and just flat out knock down more shots. Putting up 77 and 81 points in consecutive games doesn’t cut it, no matter how good your defense plays. This isn’t the 1990s NBA. Phoenix needs to shoot better from the field.

The Suns were able to beat the Lakers back in December when Devin Booker left early in the contest, but they had Dillon Brooks for that game. On top of playing better on offense, they’re going to need to play strong collective defense against one of the most explosive big threes in the NBA in Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. The Suns can win down players, they’re 6-9 without Booker, the question is, playing without him and Brooks too much to ask for the rest of the team?

Prediction

Look for the Suns to come out with a lot of energy and hustle in this important matchup. I just don’t think they have enough offensive firepower to put up with a Lakers team that ,while flawed, has strong moments offensively and is hungry to get back in the win column after two devastating losses.

Lakers 104, Suns 98

US hockey player Brady Tkachuk slams White House TikTok as 'clearly fake' after anti-Canada slur

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — American hockey player Brady Tkachuk said Thursday that he did not appreciate a doctored TikTok video shared by the White House that made it look like he was disparaging Canadians after winning Olympic gold, calling it fake and something he would never say.

The video includes fabricated audio of Tkachuk referring to Canadians as “maple syrup eating (expletive),” with the expletive bleeped out. The video carries a note saying it “contains AI-generated media.”

“It’s clearly fake because it’s not my voice and not my lips moving,” Tkachuk said. “I’m not in control of any of those accounts. … I know that those words would never come out of my mouth.”

Asked if he liked the video, Tkachuk said he did not: “I would never say that. That’s not who I am.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tkachuk also denied being the voice heard shouting “close the northern border” during Team USA’s celebratory phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump after Sunday's 2-1 overtime win over Canada to win the gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

“I’ve been seeing stuff that people think it’s me, but if you watch the video, that’s not my voice and something that I never say,” Tkachuk said. “I don’t really know how that kind of took a storm on its own when I play here and give everything I have here.”

Tkachuk, a 26-year-old Arizona native, is the captain of the NHL's Ottawa Senators and has played his entire career in the Canadian capital. He and other members of the U.S. team returned from Italy this week and are resuming the NHL season. Some attended Trump's State of the Union speech in Washington on Tuesday night and were cheered by those in attendance.

The U.S. women also beat Canada 2-1 in overtime, the first time the Americans swept both Olympic hockey tournaments. The celebration of the twin victories has been shadowed by U.S. politics almost since the final horn of the men's game.

Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men’s team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president also joked that if he didn’t extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached. Some of the men's players chuckled, something at least one said they regretted later. Tkachuk said he understood how the moment on the phone call could have been viewed by the women's players.

“I mean, I get it,” he said. “We supported them, they supported us. You can’t control what other people say.”

A number of the men's players traveled to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being guests at the State of the Union. Many of the women’s players, meanwhile, were on the way back to their professional or college clubs. They didn't learn they had also had been invited until late Sunday, making it difficult to change travel plans already disrupted by bad weather on the East Coast.

In his address, Trump said plans were in the works to have the women’s team visit the White House, though it was unclear when that could happen. The earliest the team could travel to Washington would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season.

In the meantime, rapper Flavor Flav scheduled a July celebration for the women's team in Las Vegas for those who can make it.

Hilary Knight earlier this week said she doesn’t want to let what she called a “distasteful” joke by Trump get in the way of a historic performance by American women at the Winter Games. Players for both U.S. teams have been uniform in saying how much they bonded in the athletes' village in Milan and supported each other on their runs to gold.

“Our two teams were so close. We watched other events together. We went and supported them. We loved the women’s team. The women’s team loved us and we’re so proud that we had a clean sweep of gold medals and just so much respect for them and the other athletes," said Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, Brady's brother.

Brady Tkachuk was asked about being a proud American while being the Senators captain at a moment of heightened tension between the countries.

“First and foremost, I’ve given absolutely everything I have as an Ottawa Senator — blood, sweat and tears,” Tkachuk said. “When you represent the U.S., being an American, it’s an honor. There are only three teams that have won the gold medal for the U.S., so to be part of that is special.”

___

AP writers Melissa Goldin, Tim Reynolds and John Wawrow as well as the Canadian Press contributed.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Submit your questions for The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday morning for the show where we’ll recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games. Does Cade Cunningham have a real shot of winning the MVP with the recent absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? What are you taking away from the loss to the Spurs? Which Eastern Conference team scares you the most in the playoffs?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Saturday February 28 at 10:30 a.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

  • Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
  • Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
  • Twitter: @detroitbadboys@blakesilverman or @therealwesd3
  • YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

Kings vs Mavericks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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Want to know how bad the Sacramento Kings are these days?

The Dallas Mavericks are without Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington, with a few other guys banged up, and they're still favored by a touchdown tonight.

My Kings vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks break down why it will be another long night for Sacramento on Thursday, February 26.

Kings vs Mavericks prediction

Kings vs Mavericks best bet: Kings team total Under 114.5 (-115)

The Sacramento Kings are down bad. They’ve lost 17 of 18, and Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter are out for the season.

The Kings have the third-worst offensive rating over the last 13 games and are averaging just 106.8 points over that stretch.

While the Dallas Mavericks have all the struggles of a young team, they’ve been surprisingly stingy, ranking eighth in opponent effective field goal percentage and 14th in defensive rating.

The Kings have a team total of 114.5. It’s tough to see them going Over, as it's a number they’ve stayed Under in nine of their last 13.

Kings vs Mavericks same-game parlay

A bad offense means lots of rebounds, which is something else the Kings don’t do well, ranking 28th in rebounding rate.

Marvin Bagley III has been getting more of a run with all the Mavs' injuries and has pulled down double-digit boards in two of his last three games.

Meanwhile, one of the newest Mavs, Khris Middleton, has topped this number of 4.5 in four of his last five games.

Kings vs Mavericks SGP

  • Kings team total Under 114.5
  • Marvin Bagley III Over 8.5 rebounds
  • Khris Middleton Over 4.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: I'm seeing double-double

Both teams struggle to defend the paint. Bagley has a double-double in two of his last three, while Precious Achiuwa has two in his last four.

Kings vs Mavericks SGP

  • Marvin Bagley Jr. double-double
  • Precious Achiuwa double-double

Kings vs Mavericks odds

  • Spread: Kings +7 (-105) | Mavericks -7 (-115)
  • Moneyline: Kings +230 | Mavericks -270
  • Over/Under: Over 236 (-110) | Under 236 (-110)

Kings vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Kings have hit the Team Total Under in 32 of their last 50 games for +11.50 Units and a 20% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Kings vs Mavericks

LocationAmerican Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVNBC Sports California, MavsTV

Kings vs Mavericks latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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What We Learned from the Spurs’ Win over the Raptors

Feb 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson gestures to a player as center Victor Wembanyama (1) walks by during a break in the action against the Toronto Raptors the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Has it really been almost nine years? Yes, that’s how long it’s been since my most recent personal playoff climax. Sure, the Spurs made the playoffs in 2018 and 2019. But those series can’t even remotely compete with what happened in the early hours of May 10, 2017 (May 9 in the US).

I had my first team in those days. Not in the Wembanyama sense, but in the sense that it was a team I built and led to serve a German industry giant — seven days a week in a two-shift system. German industry giants aren’t particularly friendly with their suppliers, so it was a tough job. But maybe that contributed to us, as a team, being an extremely tight unit.

I don’t miss the job I did back then, but I miss being so close with my coworkers. The good thing is — I’m still in touch with some of them. And one of them has even become a true friend.

When he started working for us, I quickly told HR to make it a priority that he not leave. After all, it’s hard to find people willing to start working at 5 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon. And very few were as good and as reliable as him.

Other than work, we quickly bonded over sports — mostly soccer. But of course, he had to listen to an awful lot of Spurs talk during our shifts together, as well as during our visits to the pub after work.

When the Spurs matched up with the Rockets in the 2017 playoffs, my colleague was aware that there might be a shift (ot two) in which I would arrive after 5 a.m. (I made the shift schedule, so I made sure I was working with him at the time.)

On May 10, 2017, I was indeed late. It was Game 5 against the Rockets — and the game went into overtime. Which was why I wasn’t at work at 5 o’clock in the morning. I arrived almost an hour late — about 20 minutes after Manu had blocked Harden.

I was all smiles when I came into the office. And the first thing my colleague said to me was: “Ginobili, ey?” He had followed the game via the live ticker.

Now I’m asking myself: Am I only a few weeks or months away from another such moment? Well, if last night’s game against the Raptors had been a playoff game, the Wemby block on Pöltl would have been one of those moments.

Takeaways

  • For the second time in a row, the Spurs were able to rely on their starting shooters: Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie combined to go 8-of-13 from deep, after going 12-of-19 against the Pistons. Shooting north of 60 percent is absolutely unsustainable, but it goes to show how single games — or even two in a row — can be won from beyond the arc.
  • For the second time in a row, Victor Wembanyama was expertly defended by strong, nineties-style big men whose body types — and, in particular, arms — remind me of guys like Dale Davis. Maybe even more so than Jalen Duren, Collin Murray-Boyles — in limited minutes — gave Wemby all sorts of trouble. After the seemingly foregone conclusion not to have Wemby defended by traditional big men, this could be an interesting development — or maybe just a coincidence, since those body types are rather rare in today’s NBA.
  • Murray-Boyles is a great defender, as is Scottie Barnes (his late-game steal on De’Aaron Fox was flat-out wicked), and the two might become one of my favorite non-Spurs storylines to watch in the coming years. Still, the best defender on the court was Wemby. The five blocks — some of them top-notch highlights — are one thing, but his presence alone is quite another. As Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux reported earlier today on their podcast, the Raptors, with Wemby on the court, took only five shots inside five feet — and 16 shots in the upper paint.
  • Castle’s confidence: After airballing a free throw in the second quarter, Stephon Castle had one of the worst corner-three misses I’ve seen in a while. Did he fold? He did not. Instead, he made two huge threes later in the game. The confidence this man has at age 21 — wow.
  • Despite Castle confidently converting two threes, he wasn’t part of the closing lineup, because the Spurs have another confident young guard in Dylan Harper, who finished the game instead. This is an interesting decision, particularly with regard to playoff crunch time: Coach Mitch Johnson doesn’t seem willing to play more than one non-shooter (at this stage, I consider both Castle and Harper as such) in those situations. While I believe this to be the correct decision, it’ll be interesting to see how Castle — if he’s the odd man out — handles it.
  • It was probably also the right decision to have Harper on the court in crunch time, since he clearly was the Spurs’ best creator. He scored an efficient 15 points and had seven assists with only one turnover. Both Castle and Fox scored less efficiently, and they combined for only six assists — but also three turnovers each.
  • Speaking of Fox, I remember an interview in which he voiced his expectations about his role this season: “Create for myself and for others” — he said something along those lines. In a sense, that is what he does. I sometimes wonder, though, if the creation duties he has are enough to satisfy his expectations.
  • His role, compared to the one he played for the Kings, has quite clearly diminished. Last night, he had one of those fill-in-the-blanks games that have become his signature this season. He had to endure possessions in which he didn’t get the ball. On the other hand, he started the game as if the Spurs were his team — and it’s a good thing he did, because the guy whose team it actually is didn’t score until the third quarter.
  • A final note on former Spur Jakob Pöltl: I haven’t seen him play all that much since he left the Spurs, and all I had heard or read about him recently was that he has one of the worst contracts in the league. Okay, I’m glad the Spurs don’t have to pay him a guaranteed $96 million through 2030, but Jakob still looked like a very capable NBA center out there last night. And since he doesn’t rely on athleticism all that much, let’s hope he can give the Raptors some value for the rest of the decade. I like Jakob — and I always will.

Highlights: Spurs’ impressive 4th quarter turnaround sparks win versus Raptors

Feb 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Coming off an impressive win against the East-leading Detroit Pistons, the Spurs traveled north of the border to take on the Toronto Raptors. The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the Spurs generating offense through fast-paced ball movement, resulting in open shots. Devin Vassell’s hot shooting continued, and Dylan Harper started six of six from the field. The Raptors’ offense came from transition threes, points off turnovers, and tough midrange jumpers from all-stars Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.

After trailing the Raptors by two at the half, the Spurs’ shooting turned ice cold in the third quarter. The Spurs’ deficit climbed to 15 points during the third, and they were outscored by the Raptors 31-21 in the quarter. However, in the fourth quarter, the script flipped. The Spurs buckled down defensively and took the lead back. After a clutch three from Victor Wembanyama and a ridiculous behind-the-backboard floater from De’Aaron Fox, the Raptors cut their deficit to two following a goaltending call on Julian Champagnie. With 16 seconds remaining, Dylan Harper was at the free-throw line. After missing both free throws, he somehow ended up getting his own rebound and passed the ball to Fox. After Fox was fouled, he split his free throws. On the Raptors next possession, Immanuel Quickley was fouled by Harper. Quickley split his free throws, and after a timeout from the Spurs, Wemby was fouled. Wemby also split his free throws, and the Raptors had one more chance to send the game into overtime. Ingram’s three-point attempt hit the side of the backboard, and Wemby grabbed the board. After throwing it into the frontcourt, time expired. The Spurs won 110-107.

Vassell led the way with 21 points (8-13 FG, 5-6 3PT), five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. In his last two games, Dev has shot just under 67% from the field and just under 71% from three. His hot shooting has been quite the x-factor for this young, contending team. One of the more fascinating things about his game is after he gets his defender in the air on a pump fake from three, he takes one dribble into the midrange and pulls up. Moves like that seem to be a lost art in today’s NBA. After battling injuries this season, Dev’s hot streak is a great sign for the rest of the season.

De’Aaron Fox dropped 20 points (8-15 FG), two rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Despite having his worst career game from the free-throw line (2-8 FT), Fox gave the team key buckets from everywhere on the court. From tough turnaround jumpers to floaters in the paint, Fox showed off his quickness and finesse against a tough Raptors squad. Fox is the only Spur that has started every game he’s played in this season, and he will look to continue to lead the team’s offensive attack along with the young guards.

Too quick for Quickley! Fox beats Quickley to the cup with a between-the-legs crossover move!

D3’AARON! Fox shows off the accuracy from the corner for three!

Made you look! Fox catches the ball on the bounce in transition and fakes out Barnes for the easy layup!

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! Fox regains his composure before going out of bounds and throws up a clutch high arcing floater from behind the backboard!

Here’s another look at the degree of difficulty!

Dylan Harper dropped 15 points (7-11 FG), seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. As stated earlier, Dyl started hot from the field, shooting six for six. His first three highlights are all from the first quarter, scoring in unique ways. His slashing ability and handles are elite for a 19-year-old rookie; it is simply incredible. Besides his ability to score, his playmaking ability shows the potential for him to lead any offense in the league. He had himself a rookie moment late in the game, missing both of his free throws, but completely redeemed himself by grabbing his own miss for another opportunity for the team to close out the game.

HARP3R! Dyl and Keldon Johnson play the two-man game, and it results in an open three for Dyl!

STAR TYPE OF PLAY! Dyl takes Jamison Battle one-on-one with back-to-back crafty moves: a behind-the-back dribble into a hopstep for the layup off the glass for two!

FLY HIGH! After the Wemby deflection, Dyl leaks out on the fastbreak for a clear runway slam!

DEJA VU? After Fox beat Quickley to the cup earlier, Dyl splits several Raptors defenders for the easy and open layup!

Points off turnovers! After the steal by Fox in the backcourt, Dyl finds an open Carter Bryant for three!

HOW?! Dyl spins off of RJ Barrett, and drops it off between Jakob Poeltl and him for an open Luke Kornet slam!

Stephon Castle dropped 13 points, five assists, three rebounds, and a steal. After shutting down Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Steph had to guard multiple Raptors. After playing tight defense on one end, Steph dished out dimes and created offense by draining middies and threes. Even though Dyl had a more efficient game, Steph’s frame and toughness allows him to played when the team needs a stop. Coach Mitch Johnson will continue to cycle through the young guards as this team continues to gel before the playoffs.

TOUGH! Steph fights off the tough defense from Barnes and pulls up from midrange for the deuce!

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF! Steph dribbles up the court and speeds past Barnes and Poeltl for the sky-high jam!

AREA 51! Steph finds Wemby cutting off the slip-screen for the lob connection!

Victor Wembanyama dropped 12 points, eight rebounds, five blocks, three assists, and a steal. Vic struggled from the field (3-12 FG, 1-6 3PT) as the Raptors played him physically. Despite the offensive struggles, Vic locked down the paint defensively. From his five blocks, one of them came off a Barnes three-point attempt. Despite missing several games earlier in the year, Vic leads the league in total blocks with 254. He still has an opportunity to qualify for awards this season, as there are 24 games left in the season. He can only afford to miss three more games. If he qualifies, it’s safe to say he will win his first-ever Defensive Player of the Year award, alongside making All-NBA 1st Team and All-Defensive 1st Team.

Hook, line, and sinker! Vic baits Barnes by having his back turned to the dunk attempt, just for him to quickly turn and block the dunk! The sequence results in a Champagnie three!

Wemby dime! On the fastbreak, Wemby throws a leading bounce pass to KJ who finishes through contact at the rim!

Throw it up to the sky! The Spurs catch the Raptors falling asleep on defense as Julian finds a cutting Wemby for the alley-oop!

TOO EASY! Wemby blocks Collin Murray-Boyles’ shot WITHOUT JUMPING!

Too open to miss! In transition, Vic catches the pass from Fox and almost immediately passes it to a wide open Julian in the corner for the trey!

Here’s all five of Wemby’s ridiculous blocks, including one in the clutch!

This game had a chance to get ugly in the third, but the resilience of this young team continues to power through adversity during this win streak! Hammering home the philosophy of getting stops first, and then the offense will come, powered the silver and black’s comeback. Even though the result was a win, one thing that this team will be sure to practice before the next game: FREE THROWS. The team shot 13-23 from the line and missed key ones in the final minute that would have clinched the win earlier. Nonetheless, the win streak now stands at 10 before the quick turnaround to Brooklyn.

Finally, here are the full game higlights.

The Spurs travel to Brooklyn on a SEGABABA to take on the Nets at 6:30 P.M. (CST) on FDSN-SW.