Category: NBA

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The Miami Heat will be searching for their fourth straight win tonight as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

Miami is hot, and my Heat vs. Bucks predictions expect the away team to keep rolling. 

Read more in my NBA picks for this 8 p.m. ET tipoff on Tuesday, February 24.

Heat vs Bucks prediction

Heat vs Bucks best bet: Heat -6.5 (-110)

The Miami Heat remain in the playoff mix with a 31-27 record, and they’ve captured three straight victories heading into tonight’s clash. 

Erik Spoelstra’s squad has beaten the Pelicans, Hawks, and Grizzlies, covering the spread in each game. In fact, they just blew out the Grizz by 16 points on Saturday, which means the Heat are well-rested. 

Miami beat the Milwaukee Bucks by three points earlier this season, and Milwaukee just got blown out by 28 by the Raptors on Sunday. The Heat also have an impressive 19-11 ATS road record.

Heat vs Bucks same-game parlay

Andrew Wiggins is averaging 16.1 points per game this season, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three. The Canadian balled out for 28 on Saturday in the big victory over Memphis. 

Bam Adebayo is averaging 2.9 dimes per game, but he’s comfortably cashed the Over in five straight. 

The Heat star has 10 assists across his last two appearances, and the Bucks are allowing 3.9 per contest to centers.

Heat vs Bucks SGP

• Heat -6.5
• Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
• Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Tyler's Herro-ics

Tyler Herro has cashed the Over in triples in three of his last four games, and in his last road appearance, the guard was 2-for-4 from 3-point land.

Heat vs Bucks SGP

• Heat -6.5
• Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
• Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
• Tyler Herro Over 1.5 made threes

Heat vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Heat -6.5 (-110) | Bucks +6.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Heat -245 | Bucks +200
• Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)

Heat vs Bucks betting trend to know

The Miami Heat have covered the 1Q Spread in 30 of their last 40 away games (+19.80 Units / 43% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Bucks.

How to watch Heat vs Bucks

Heat vs Bucks latest injuries

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The Dallas Mavericks visit the Brooklyn Nets this evening, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Dallas has been dominant against Brooklyn this season, and I’m targeting them to keep it up in my Mavericks vs. Nets predictions. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24. 

Mavericks vs Nets prediction

Mavericks vs Nets best bet: Mavericks moneyline (-130)

The Dallas Mavericks may be having a disappointing campaign, but they just ended a nine-game losing streak on Sunday with a road victory. They finish up their six-game road swing tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, who they’ve beaten a lot over the last few seasons. 

Dallas has won both meetings with the Nets in 2025-26, and while the Mavericks are 6-19 on the road, Brooklyn is just 8-19 at home and has lost four straight. 

The Mavericks demonstrably outrank the Nets in offensive and defensive efficiency, as Brooklyn is among the worst in the NBA in both metrics.

Mavericks vs Nets same-game parlay

P.J. Washington has been one of the Mavs’ top guys alongside Cooper Flagg. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three. Flagg is sidelined with a foot injury, which means a bigger workload for Washington. 

Max Christie's landing in Dallas has allowed him to thrive in a bigger role. He’s averaging a career-best 13.3 points, and the former Michigan State Spartan has hit the Over in four of his previous five outings. 

The youngster scored 16 points in the win over Indiana on Sunday, and he’s cashed the Over in points in three consecutive road appearances.

Mavericks vs Nets SGP

• Mavericks moneyline
• PJ Washington Over 15.5 points
• Max Christie Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Hands of Klay

Klay Thompson has cashed the Over in boards in two of his last three.

Mavericks vs Nets SGP

• Mavericks moneyline
• PJ Washington Over 15.5 points
• Max Christie Over 14.5 points
• Klay Thompson Over 2.5 rebounds

Mavericks vs Nets odds

• Spread: Mavericks -2 (-110) | Nets +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Mavericks -130 | Nets +110
• Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)

Mavericks vs Nets betting trend to know

The Dallas Mavericks have hit the Team Total Over in 23 of their last 35 games (+9.05 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Nets.

How to watch Mavericks vs Nets

Mavericks vs Nets latest injuries

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.

Selection Sunday is fewer than three full weeks away, with a glorious 68-team bracket inching closer with each passing day.

Nearly half of that NCAA Tournament field will be composed of teams from outside of men’s college basketball’s five major conferences: the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East and SEC.

As the 2025-26 regular season winds down, several of those squads look capable of making some noise, whether it’s springing an upset over a national title hopeful or advancing deep into the tournament.

REQUIRED READING: Who is rising, falling in latest March Madness bracket prediction?

Who might some of those potential bracket-busters and second-week (and even Final Four) contenders be?

Here’s the latest power rankings of teams from outside of college basketball’s five major conferences:

The Toronto Raptors hit the ground running coming off the All-Star break, with road wins against Chicago and Milwaukee. Now, they return to Toronto to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are a league-best 44-14.

The Raptors won 103-101 in January when they last took on the defending champs. This time around they’ll face a depleted version as they look to sweep the season series against the league’s best team. Here are a few storylines for tonight’s game, which is the first leg of a back-to-back.

Who is playing?

Remember when people were predicting whether OKC could reach 70 wins, or even reach the 2015-16 Warriors’ 73-win mark? They’re still damn good, but with 14 losses, those conversations are officially over – and the Thunder’s injury bug won’t help their chances of securing the top seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder are missing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander, which is a shame for Raptors fans who were hoping to see Canada’s top player in action. They’re also down All-Star forward Jalen Williams – and with Chet Holmgren questionable with back spasms, the Raptors may see a version of the Thunder that includes none of its three best players.

But the Thunder are easily one of the league’s deepest teams. Cason Wallace is a gritty defender capable of big offensive performances. Isaiah Joe is a lethal shooter. Jared McCain, the second-year guard the Thunder acquired before the trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has provided a nice infusion of scoring off the bench during this shorthanded stretch. Nikola Topic, who recently made his debut following a battle with testicular cancer, is getting minutes! With SGA and Williams out, the Thunder have resorted to a quicker pace that matches how the Raptors like to play.

The Raptors will be without Jakob Poeltl, who’s getting a rest night to manage his back injury ahead of a game vs. the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. That will force someone to play bigger than their size against center Isaiah Hartenstein – but it’ll also allow the Raptors to play fast. Scottie Barnes, who missed last game for personal reasons, is back in the lineup, along with the presumed starters of Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles. Ja’Kobe Walter started last game in place of Barnes, and has played his way into a steady rotation spot in the wake of Ochai Agbaji being traded.

IQ!

With Scottie Barnes out, Immanuel Quickley was the driving force of the Raptors’ 122-94 win against the Bucks on Sunday. (An especially important blowout win to help take our minds off the gold medal game…) After a slow start to the season, Quickley has really picked things up in the last couple months, and particularly in February; he’s averaging 20 points per game on 44% three-point shooting this month. That hot shooting carried into Sunday’s game, when he went 5/11 from beyond the arc en route to 32 points and nine assists.

Another thing on display Sunday was some lovely two-man action with Quickley and Poeltl, who set a number of screens that Quickley played off of brilliantly, in some cases dumping the ball to Poeltl and then relocating for the catch. The chemistry looked nice – but with Poeltl out tonight, and likely to miss a number of games to manage his injury, Quickley will need to find other ways to cut into the teeth of the defense. If he can keep shooting like this, that spacing alone will be a huge boon for the offense. Plus, one of the team’s best-performing two-man pairings is Quickley with Jamal Shead. The two guards have a +8.0 net rating per 100 possessions in 355 minutes together, according to NBA.com.

Thumbs up?

Collin Murray-Boyles’ rookie season has been one of many positives for the 2025-26 Raptors. With Poeltl in and out of the lineup, CMB has played his way into being an occasional starter. His defense looks way ahead of schedule, and he’s shown very nice playmaking flashes. Where he has room for improvement is his assertiveness under the basket. Sometimes he’ll hold onto the ball or kick out when the best play would be to attack the rim.

But Murray-Boyles has been nursing a left thumb injury which has kept him out of games, and in all likelihood is a major factor in that hesitance. We saw him wince and grab that thumb after a strong dunk attempt, on which he drew a foul, against the Chicago Bulls last week. The last thing Raptors fans want is for the rookie to seriously re-aggravate his thumb. That would certainly not be good news for head coach Darko Rajakovic, who is already not working with much size on the roster. But CMB could unlock something if he goes up a level around the rim, and would be more dangerous when he’s grabbing his 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the Sixers own a first-round pick in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft. It’ll probably land somewhere in the 20s, but even there, it opens up plenty of options. That flexibility is likely part of why Daryl Morey made the Jared McCain move in the first place. A first-rounder gives you ammunition. You can use it yourself, or package it in a deal for a proven player. And if you’re already in the first round, it’s a lot easier to move up the board.

What the Sixers ultimately do with the pick is still up in the air. They could stay put. They could jump into the teens. Maybe they get aggressive and push toward the lottery. Or maybe they flip it entirely. However it plays out, this is a real asset.

The 2026 draft class is deep, and we’ll get a long look at many of its top names as March Madness approaches. Who should you keep an eye on during the NCAA Tournament? And which prospects are worth tracking even if they don’t make the tournament? Let’s dig into a few names who could make sense in Philly and help fuel the team’s youth movement for years to come.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Lendeborg’s path through the NCAA has been anything but typical.

He began at Arizona Western in 2020–21, spending three seasons at the NJCAA level and steadily building his game. From there, he transferred to UAB, where he put together two strong Division I campaigns. In 37 games, he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per night. That kind of across-the-board production put him firmly on the NBA radar.

In fact, Lendeborg declared for the 2025 NBA Draft before ultimately withdrawing his name and returning to school.

Now he’s taken another leap, landing on a much bigger stage with the Michigan Wolverines, who sit near the top of the Big Ten. It’s the latest step in a winding journey that’s turned him from a junior college standout into a legitimate high-major prospect.

Much like Michigan, Lendeborg has put together another strong season. The former New Jersey resident is averaging 14.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals across 26 games. He’s shooting 50 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from three and 82.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Even as one of the older prospects in this class, he’s absolutely worth monitoring for the Sixers. Lendeborg brings a legitimate NBA frame at nearly 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a standing reach north of nine feet. The analytics love him. He posts strong assist-to-turnover numbers, impressive offensive and defensive BPM marks, a healthy assist percentage and excellent defensive win shares. Add it up, and you get one of the more unique skill sets in this draft.

He’s a productive, versatile frontcourt prospect with a high basketball IQ. He processes the game quickly and makes smart decisions. For a big, he reads the floor well and can operate as an offensive hub, creating for others from the high post or short roll. That archetype would fit beautifully next to Tyrese Maxey in particular. The Sixers have also gravitated toward high-motor players in recent years, and Lendeborg checks that box in a big way.

The concerns mostly center on age and athletic ceiling. While he racks up stocks, he doesn’t have elite burst or vertical pop, which limits his upside as a rim protector and switch defender at the next level. At his age, teams may view him as closer to a finished product. What you see now might be close to what you’re getting in the NBA. In the right system, though, one that doesn’t ask him to create in isolation or anchor the defense as a primary shot blocker, he could help a team immediately.

Most boards project Lendeborg in the late lottery. Still, we’ve seen older prospects slide, especially when rebuilding teams prioritize youth and upside. The Sixers would likely need to trade up to secure him, but I’d imagine many evaluators see him as an excellent fit next to Joel Embiid and a roster built to compete right away.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Let’s head to the Big 12 and take a look at Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson.

Jefferson began his college career at Saint Mary’s (CA), spending two seasons there before transferring to Iowa State for the 2024–25 campaign. Now a senior, he’s putting together the best year of his career. Through 26 games (31.5 minutes per night), he’s averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks.

His rise has been steady and impressive. Jefferson has carved out a reputation as a true Swiss Army knife — a legitimate two-way forward with great feel for the game, all packed into a sturdy 6-foot-9 frame. He plays with a high basketball IQ and thrives as a connective piece. Offensively, he processes the floor quickly and consistently makes the right read. For his size, his court awareness and vision stand out. “Point forward” gets tossed around loosely in NBA circles, but Jefferson actually fits the label.

Defensively, he projects as an even-to-plus contributor at the next level. He has real size and strength, along with one of the more polished games in this class. His build is strong and sturdy, which allows him to absorb contact and hold his ground against bigger forwards and post players. He doesn’t have elite burst, and quicker wings could give him trouble in space, but he should be able to defend most forwards and some small-ball bigs without issue.

While he has playmaking pops, Jefferson can also go get a bucket. He’s improved as a scorer every season, and this year marks a career high. He handles the ball well for his size and finishes effectively around the rim with touch and control. Even without elite explosiveness, he’s a reliable finisher when he gets downhill.

The biggest swing skill is his shooting. Jefferson shot 31 percent or worse from three in each of his first three college seasons. This year, he’s taken a real step forward, attempting nearly three threes per game and knocking them down at a 38.2 percent clip. The volume and efficiency jump are encouraging, but scouts will want to know if it’s sustainable. His career free-throw percentage sits at 72.2 percent, which isn’t a red flag, but it’s not a glowing indicator of long-term shooting upside either. At nearly 23 years old, teams may view him as closer to his ceiling than some of the younger prospects in the class.

From a Sixers perspective, the fit is clean. Maxey has statistically been more efficient off the ball than as a primary initiator, which is part of the reason the team has brought in additional ball handlers in recent seasons. Jefferson’s ability to facilitate, keep the offense flowing, and defend multiple positions would complement that approach well.

Iowa State is near the top of the Big 12 standings, and there’s a chance Jefferson and the Cyclones will have a spotlight in March Madness. Most projections peg him in the 20s, which puts him squarely in range if the Sixers stay put. If they do, they could do a lot worse than a polished, versatile forward who knows how to impact winning.

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s

St. John’s basketball has put together a stellar season and currently sits atop the Big East, ahead of powerhouse programs like UConn, Villanova and Creighton. Their late-season surge comes down to several factors, but senior forward Zuby Ejiofor has been central to it. He’ll almost certainly declare for the draft after this season.

Ejiofor began his college career at Kansas before transferring to St. John’s for the 2023–24 campaign. It wasn’t until last year that he locked down major minutes and a starting role. This season, he’s taken another leap, averaging 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.9 blocks in 30 minutes per game through 26 contests.

A former four-star recruit, Ejiofor took time to put everything together. Now that he has, some mock drafts project him in the late first to early second-round range. He’s a bit of a positional tweener on paper. Some sites list him as a forward or even a small forward, but most evaluators view him as a switchable big.

That defensive versatility is the best place to start. Ejiofor is one of the more flexible defenders in this class. He offers legitimate rim protection while still holding his own on switches. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he rebounds well and plays with serious strength. He doesn’t give ground on post-ups and uses his length to compensate for any height disadvantage. His motor stands out immediately. He rarely ball-watches and consistently impacts plays across the defensive end.

He’s also comfortable on the perimeter. Ejiofor moves his feet well, flips his hips smoothly, and shows the recovery tools you want in a modern frontcourt defender. For his size, he changes direction quickly and competes on every possession.

The swing skill, outside of age, is his shooting. He’s not a non-shooter, but his catch-and-shoot and spot-up numbers leave room for improvement. He’ll need to develop into a more reliable floor spacer to maximize his NBA value. That said, he’s far from a lost cause offensively.

In fact, he’s quietly expanded his offensive game in meaningful ways. Remarkably, Ejiofor leads St. John’s in assists despite playing as a forward or big. His passing growth over the past year has been significant. St. John’s runs plenty of dribble handoffs and he’s comfortable facilitating from those actions. He sets solid screens, creates separation for shooters and drivers, and has shown the ability to read the floor out of the post, finding cutters or kicking out to open teammates.

Ejiofor may be a late bloomer, but he checks many of the boxes the Sixers have prioritized in recent drafts: motor, defensive versatility and functional strength. He’s most commonly projected in the late first or early second round. If the Sixers want a switchable forward who can contribute defensively from day one, Ejiofor makes a lot of sense.

Dailyn Swain, Texas

Dailyn Swain entered college as a four-star prospect in the 2023 class, drawing major offers before deciding to stay home in Columbus and commit to Xavier. He spent two seasons there before transferring to Texas, where he’s stepped into a featured role. The move has paid off. Through 26 games, he’s averaging 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.

On film, Swain’s game pops. The numbers back it up. At 6-foot-7, he has legitimate wing size and the versatility to impact the game in multiple ways. His calling card is paint scoring. Throughout his college career, he’s finished above 70 percent on attempts within 4.5 feet of the rim. He gets there consistently and converts at a high rate.

That rim pressure stems from his physical tools. Swain has a long, wiry frame and covers ground with effortless, extended strides. Pair that with a quick first step, and you get a downhill attacker who beats defenders before they can react. He shows impressive body control, extends around shot blockers, and finishes through contact or at awkward angles. Layups, floaters, dunks — he has touch and creativity. In transition, he’s especially dangerous.

As a playmaker, Swain has typically thrived in a connective, complementary role. He reads help defenders well and can hit the open man off the drive. He’s shown a good feel for finding baseline cutters and keeping the ball moving. He hasn’t traditionally operated as a heavy pick-and-roll initiator, but he’s grown more comfortable in that role this season. The playmaking still needs polish, but there are real flashes that suggest more upside than the raw assist numbers indicate.

Defensively, he projects as an NBA-level contributor from day one. His footwork is sharp, and those long strides help him recover when beaten. He plays passing lanes aggressively without gambling himself out of position, and his steal rate ranks among the best in college basketball. On the ball, he stays disciplined and avoids bailing out scorers with unnecessary fouls. Off the ball, he’s taken clear steps forward, especially as a weakside helper, which is likely where he’d begin his NBA career.

As with many wings, the swing skill is shooting. At Xavier, Swain hit just 20.4 percent from three. At Texas, he’s increased his volume and improved to 33.3 percent. Evaluators often describe his mechanics as inconsistent but workable. His base can get erratic, especially on movement shots, which affects his balance. Still, there are encouraging indicators. He’s shooting just under 80 percent from the free-throw line, which suggests there may be more room for growth than his early three-point numbers show. He doesn’t offer much of a midrange game right now. Most of his offense comes either at the rim or from beyond the arc.

Swain is generally projected in the latter half of the first round, which would put him squarely in range for the Sixers if they stand pat. He may not be as seamless a fit as some of the other names discussed, but adding another long, athletic wing who pressures the rim and defends at a high level is never a bad bet. Especially if the Sixers believe in his shooting growth.

Thomas Haugh, Florida

I can already hear the comments about how none of these guys can shoot, so here’s my “here, damn” guy that can. Plus, he’s a PA kid (New Oxford, to be exact).

At 6-foot-9 with a likely wingspan north of seven feet (not officially measured yet), Haugh has a legit forward frame to pair with real shooting ability. This year at Florida, he’s stepped into a featured role, starting every game and averaging 17.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1 steal and 0.9 blocks through 26 contests. He’s shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three on nearly 5.5 attempts per game. The volume from deep is up in a big way and he’s converting at a strong clip. The release is clean and quick for his size. I’m not sure he’ll ever be an elite shooter, but as a forward — maybe even a small-ball big — he’ll do just fine spacing the floor.

That said, I’d be doing Haugh a disservice if I only talked about the jumper.

Like many of the names on this list, he plays with a serious motor. Haugh embraces physicality. He’s a maniac on the offensive glass, averaging 2.3 offensive rebounds per game, which is an excellent mark for a wing or power forward. He weaves through bodies, times his jumps well, and crashes hard. He also has a bit of a forgotten skill: if he doesn’t grab it cleanly, he’ll tip it out or bat it around multiple times until he secures it. That persistence shows up constantly.

He’s not the most explosive finisher, but he makes up for it with fearlessness. He attacks the rim and gets to the free-throw line at a high rate. Zion Williamson was once labeled elite at drawing fouls as a prospect, and Haugh’s foul rate this season stacks up extremely well in comparison. He makes teams pay, too, shooting nearly 74 percent from the line this year after hitting 79 percent last season.

For a forward, he’s also a good passer. He makes quick, decisive reads and rarely overthinks the play. When you combine the shooting, interior toughness, rebounding, and decision-making, you get a pretty expansive offensive arsenal for someone with his size and frame.

Out of everyone on this list, Haugh might have the widest draft range. Some boards have him in the lottery. Others have him falling into the teens and even early 20s. Florida looks poised for another deep run, and how far they go could matter. A big March might lock him into the lottery. An early exit could push him down.

As a trade-up candidate, Haugh would make a lot of sense for the Sixers. His fearless rebounding and relentless energy around the rim would be a welcome addition. And unlike some other names here, he projects as a shooter you can’t just leave wide open. Where he ultimately lands remains to be seen, but if the Sixers want a forward who can help right away and still has room to grow, he’s a strong option as a trade-up guy.

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It’s an absolutely jam-packed day of hoops action with 11 games on the schedule, which means a seemingly endless supply of NBA player props.

I’ve sorted through the odds and found my three favorites for the day, including Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane casting a spell on the Los Angeles Lakers defense.

That and more NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Kon Knueppel	Over 17.5 Points	-120
Myles Turner	Over 5.5 Rebounds	+100
Desmond Bane	Over 20.5 Points	-112

Prop #1: Kon Knueppel Over 17.5 Points

-120 at bet365

Rookie Kon Knueppel sure is creating a buzz around the Charlotte Hornets.

The former Duke standout is averaging 19.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 43.5% from three. He’s also on fire, going for 23 PPG while shooting 50% from downtown over his last seven.

Tonight, he gets a great matchup against a rebuilding Chicago Bulls team that is winless in February and ranks next to last in defensive rating. 

Yet, we’re still getting a modest 17.5 point total for Knueppel, a number he’s topped in six of his last seven.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Charlotte, WSOC

Prop #2: Myles Turner Over 5.5 Rebounds

+100 at bet365

As long as the Miami Heat are playing basketball games, I will be fading them on the boards.

The Heat aren’t the worst rebounding team, but Miami leads the NBA in pace and, as a result, takes the most shots per game. 

Lots of shots mean lots of rebounds, and it’s the Milwaukee Bucks' turn to crash the boards. My favorite candidate to cash their rebounding Over is Myles Turner.

The Bucks' big man averages 5.7 rebounds per game, and he’s hauled down six or more in four of his last five. 

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin

Prop #3: Desmond Bane Over 20.5 Points

-112 at bet365

The Orlando Magic are playing better basketball, thanks in part to Desmond Bane shooting the lights out.

The Magic guard has scored 31 or more points in three of his last four games, and is averaging 25 while shooting a crazy good 54% from three over his last 10.

I’m betting he stays hot against the Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s hard to have faith in the Lakers, given their 24th-ranked defensive rating and ranking 27th in opponent effective field goal percentage.

Keeping Bane Under 20.5 points will be tough, as he’s topped it in nine of his last 11.

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Florida, SPECSN

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.

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The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers meet for the first time this season in tonight’s nightcap at Crypto.com Arena.

Desmond Bane has been on a heater, and my Magic vs. Lakers predictions expect him to stay hot against a vulnerable perimeter defense.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown on Tuesday, February 24.

Magic vs Lakers prediction

Magic vs Lakers best bet: Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points (-112)

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane’s scoring prowess will be front and center tonight against a Los Angeles Lakers defense that has allowed the 10th-highest 3-point percentage (36.5%) and 13th-most points (116.1). 

Franz Wagner is out again, and Bane has averaged 21.8 points across 28 games with him sidelined.

Bane is enjoying his best scoring streak of the season, with 30+ points in three of his last four. He’s averaged 23.9 points across his last 14 appearances, knocking down 3.2 triples at a 51.7% clip and scoring 21+ 10 times.

Magic vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Magic are 2-0-1 ATS across their last three road games. After a heartbreaking double-OT loss to the Suns on Friday, Orlando delivered a two-point victory over the Clippers. The Lakers should get the win tonight, but they're just 3-4 ATS across their last seven at home, so I'll take the Magic and the points.

The Lakers posted a dud on offense against the visiting Celtics on Sunday, but I expect a bounce-back performance from L.A.'s Big 3. Orlando is capable of putting up points with Paolo Banchero and Bane. Los Angeles is 18-9 to the Over at home.

Magic vs Lakers SGP

• Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
• Magic +5
• Over 230

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ayton eats

Deandre Ayton has scored 10+ points in 34 of 48 games this season, including all eight games with Jaxson Hayes sidelined. With Hayes expected to sit, Ayton should have no problem clearing this line with even money.

Magic vs Lakers SGP

• Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
• Magic +5
• Over 230
• Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points

Magic vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Magic +5 (-105) | Lakers -5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Magic +170 | Lakers -205
• Over/Under: Over 230 (-110) | Under 230 (-110)

Magic vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit the 2Q Game Total Over in 25 of their last 35 games at home (+13.60 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Lakers.

How to watch Magic vs Lakers

Magic vs Lakers latest injuries

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Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton arrived to town from the Washington Wizards, in the deal that sent Anthony Davis (and others) back east. At face value, the motive was to move off Davis’ future money and reset the books. The team accomplished that as the contracts of three of the four players, including Middleton, expire this summer. Many assumed that the 34 year-old would immediately negotiate a buyout with the Mavericks front office, opening up the opportunity to join a contender for a playoff run.

That didn’t happen, and Middleton has played in four games with the Mavericks since the trade. But it doesn’t mean it won’t happen. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the team has left it up to Middleton whether he would like a release. The catch is he’ll need to be waived by March 1, Sunday, to be eligible for the playoffs. In his piece for The Stein Line he also notes, “the 34 year-old scored 25 points in the Mavericks’ win Sunday at Indiana and — as has been conveyed to Middleton — Dallas will certainly still have a need for shooting next season”.

The former second round pick (selected 39th in 2012) has an accomplished career, nearly all of it spent with the Milwaukee Bucks. There he was a three-time all star and 2021 NBA Champion. In his prime he was a two-way, do-it-all forward who balanced Giannis Antetokounmpo in impactful ways. And up through his championship season, was mostly available and playing all season long.

Injuries have marred the back part of his career however, and after 11.5 seasons with the Bucks he was moved to Washington at the 2025 trade deadline in a deal that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee. The 6’7 forward played just 48 games in Washington, all as a starter, but is certainly limited in his contribution compared to the height of his career.

That doesn’t mean he has nothing to offer. As evidenced by Sunday’s game referenced by Stein, Middleton can still be a shooter off the bench, one who plays within himself and can be a key contributor as spot starter. In his four games in Dallas, Middleton is averaging 16 points, 4.8 rebounds, three assists, while shooting 40-percent from three in 25.5 minutes per game.

While it’s unknown how many seasons Middleton has left, it appears he still has a little juice in the tank for a limited role. As he becomes a free agent this summer he’ll need to weigh whether he’d like to play a reserved role on a contender with assumed less opportunity on the floor, or get more space to show his future ability in Dallas where he’ll likely receive more minutes but with zero stakes in the games. If Dallas is truly offering a future for him next season it is worth monitoring. He has a history with head coach Jason Kidd from early Milwaukee days. And the Mavericks will be trying to turn things around next season with Cooper Flagg being joined by Kyrie Irving, a top ten pick, and the return of Dereck Lively II. Expect a decision on this soon as the eligibility cutoff looms this weekend.

ATLANTA (AP) — Left-hander Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a contract on Tuesday adding $27 million for the 2027 season.

A 36-year-old who won the 2024 NL Cy Young Award in his first season with Atlanta, Sale agreed to a deal that includes a $30 million team option for 2028.

Atlanta acquired Sale from Boston in December 2023 and he agreed to a reworked $38 million, two-year contract that included an $18 million club option for 2026. The Braves exercised the option in November.

Sale is 25-8 with a 2.46 ERA in 49 starts and one relief appearance with the Braves. He made the All-Star team twice, raising his total to nine.

He is 145-88 with a 3.01 ERA is 15 major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2010-16), Boston (2017-23) and Atlanta, striking out 2,579 in 2,084 innings. His 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings are the most among pitchers with 1,500 or more innings.

Sale has thrived with the Braves after making nine trips to the disabled and injured lists with the Red Sox, mostly with shoulder and elbow ailments. He had Tommy John surgery on March 30, 2020, and returned to a big league mound on Aug. 14, 2021.

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

Since our last update, two more former Orange have made appearances in the NBA. Buddy Boeheim was signed to a two-way deal by the Oklahoma City Thunder in early February and Kadary Richmond joined the Wizards on a 10-day contract.

Buddy has appeared in 3 games with OKC making 2 of his 6 shots (all from 3) for the defending NBA Champions. Minutes will certainly be limited, but sticking with a franchise that is going to need to keep looking for value to fill out their roster isn’t a bad spot. Especially when you get to be on a team that will be a threat to win a title for the upcoming future.

Richmond has also played 3 games, but on a Wizards team in full-tank mode, he’s gotten a lot more playing time. Kadary is averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. In his last game against Indiana, he picked up 6 steals in 31 minutes.

The duo joins Jerami Grant as former Orange to see minutes in NBA games this year. Grant is currently averaging 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Portland. The TrailBlazers are looking like they will make the Play-In games so there’s a good chance Grant sees post-season action this spring.

We’ll keep tabs on these players as the NBA season starts to wind down.

MUNICH (AP) — Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown says a long-time dream will come true after his team was confirmed to play in the NFL game in Munch this year.

St. Brown's mother was born in Germany and his career has been closely followed by the NFL's large German fan base.

“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” St. Brown said in a league statement on Tuesday.

“I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale.”

Detroit's opponent will be confirmed later. The Munich game is part of a record schedule of nine international games in 2026 including new host cities in France, Australia and Brazil.

The NFL is heading back to Munich for its third game at a stadium better known as the home of German soccer champion Bayern Munich. The city hosted the NFL's first game in Germany in 2022 and another in 2024. Frankfurt and Berlin have also hosted games.

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

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pakistan won the toss against England and elected to bat first in the Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights game on Tuesday.

“It looks like a good pitch. We want to put up an above-par score and defend that,” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said.

England started the second round with a resounding 51-run win over co-host Sri Lanka at the same venue last Sunday while Pakistan’s opening game against New Zealand was washed out in Colombo.

England has a lot of knowledge about the conditions in Pallekele, where it has won all four T20s over the last few weeks, including a 3-0 series win against Sri Lanka before the tournament.

Pakistan batters have been struggling in the tournament and, except for opener Sahibzada Farhan, the World Cup leading run-scorer with 220, no one else has scored more than 100 runs.

Pakistan left out allrounder Faheem Ashraf and brought back fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi while mystery spinner Usman Tariq was preferred over leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.

England captain Harry Brook hoped the “fresh pitch” would play better for chasing.

England named the same XI for the fifth match in a row in the tournament, staying faithful to struggling opener Jos Buttler.

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Lineups:

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.

England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

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

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The Washington Wizards head to State Farm Arena tonight to face the Atlanta Hawks, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Jalen Johnson is doing it all, and I’m eyeing him facilitate at a high level in my Wizards vs. Hawks predictions. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24. 

Wizards vs Hawks prediction

Wizards vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists (-145)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson was deservedly an All-Star earlier this month as he continues to thrive in a career year. He's developed into a tremendous playmaker, ranking fifth in the Association in assists, averaging 8.1 per game.

While he’s only hit the Over once in three games since the break, Johnson is up against the horrendous Washington Wizards tonight, who are allowing the second-most assists per game in the NBA. 

He’s also averaged 9.5 dimes against Washington this season across two meetings. He’ll pick them apart. 

Wizards vs Hawks same-game parlay

CJ McCollum is averaging 18.8 points across 19 games with the Hawks. He has cashed the Over in two of his last three, and there’s always motivation when you play against your former team.

Johnson isn’t the only Hawk having a big year, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging a career-high 19.9 points, and he’s also shooting the triple at a 37.2% clip. 

Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.0 makes on 8.2 attempts per night, and he’s hit the Over in treys in back-to-back contests.

Wizards vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
• CJ McCollum Over 18.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Breaking the spell

Onyeka Okongwu has cashed the Over in rebounds in two of his last three appearances.

Wizards vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
• CJ McCollum Over 18.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 made threes
• Onyeka Okongwu Over 7.5 rebounds

Wizards vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Wizards +13.5 (-115) | Hawks -13.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Wizards +575 | Hawks -850
• Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)

Wizards vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Atlanta Hawks have hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 21 of their last 30 games at home (+10.70 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Hawks.

How to watch Wizards vs Hawks

Wizards vs Hawks latest injuries

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.