Category: NBA

The Washington Wizards play the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. tonight at Capital One Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.

MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Nadiem Amiri scored his seventh goal in seven games for Mainz while a deflected second half goal from Hamburg's Fabio Vieira ensured they drew 1-1 in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Mainz was looking to get back to winning ways after a 4-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund last week . It took the lead through Amiri’s crisp volley three minutes before halftime.

However, 19 minutes into the second period Vieira’s free kick took a nick off the Mainz wall, giving goalkeeper Daniel Batz no chance.

The point helped Mainz climb one place to 13th.

Hamburg was unbeaten in six games and sat in ninth.

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

BREST, France (AP) — Habib Beye’s reign as Marseille coach got off to a losing start as Ligue 1's top goal-scorer Mason Greenwood missed a penalty in Brest’s 2-0 win on Friday.

Beye replaced Roberto De Zerbi last week after a miserable run that saw Marseille exit the Champions League and lose to archrival Paris Saint-Germain 5-0.

But the former Newcastle and Aston Villa defender could not stop the rot that threatens Marseille's hopes of a European spot next year.

Two first-half headers from Ludovic Ajorque put Brest in the driving seat and he could have had a third had a fierce shot not rattled the bar.

Marseille came into the match more in the second half but Greenwood missed a golden chance to pull it back into the game seven minutes from time.

He was brought down by Daouda Guindo but his spot kick was well saved by Brest goalkeeper Gregoire Coudertt.

The result left Marseille winless in four Ligue 1 games and in fourth place, five points behind Lyon, which has a game in hand against Strasbourg on Sunday.

Brest climbed one place to 11th.

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

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar’s bid for an injunction that would have enabled him to continue playing for the Volunteers this fall was denied on Friday by a Knox County Chancery Court judge.

Aguilar was arguing that he should be allowed a fourth year of playing Divisional I football rather than having the years he spent in junior college count against his eligibility. Chancellor Christopher D. Heagerty instead dissolved the temporary restraining order he had granted in the case on Feb. 4 and denied Aguilar’s request for an injunction.

Aguilar played at Diablo Valley (California) Community College from 2021-22 before transferring to Appalachian State, where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Aguilar then transferred to Tennessee and completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this past season.

He also redshirted at City College of San Francisco in 2019 before the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although Aguilar has been invited to next week’s NFL draft scouting combine, he had filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to return to Tennessee to play one more season.

Heagerty said the factors Tennessee courts consider before deciding to grant a temporary injunction are the threat to irreparable harm to the plaintiff if an injunction isn’t granted, the balance between this harm and any injury that granting the injunction would inflict on the defendant, the probability the plaintiff would succeed on the case’s merits and the public interest.

Heagerty noted that Aguilar’s lawyers pointed out the quarterback could lose $2 million to $3 million in name, image and likeness opportunities by not playing. But the judge also pointed out that granting an injunction “could cause sweeping implications and cause significant ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the eligibility rules of the NCAA.”

While Aguilar’s lawyers said an injunction would apply only to their client, Heagerty believed granting an injunction “could impact much broader issues and have a much more far-reaching effect than the plaintiff suggests.”

Heagerty also said the evidence before the court at this time indicated Aguilar “has a low likelihood to succeed on the merits of his claim.”

“The NCAA is thankful for the judge’s decision today, which demonstrates the court’s consideration of eligibility standards and protecting access to the collegiate experience for current and future student-athletes," the NCAA said in a statement. "We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against attempts to circumvent foundational policies and hinder fair competition to all student-athletes. The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes and will continue to work with Congress to provide stability for all college athletes.”

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The All-Star break wasn’t long enough for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell all start the second half on the injured list.

Although OKC is a massive 18-point favorite on Friday, February 20, there’s plenty of value in the Brooklyn Nets keeping it close in the first half.

My Nets vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks break down why there are too many points for OKC to cover with so many key players sidelined tonight.

Nets vs Thunder prediction

Nets vs Thunder best bet: Nets +10.5 first half (-110)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are just 2-3 SU and 2-2-1 ATS in the five games without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dropping to 18th in net rating over that span.

Missing the reigning MVP is one thing, but with Jalen Williams also out, this is a different challenge.

Make no mistake, the Brooklyn Nets aren’t a strong team, but given who’s out for OKC, it could take a quarter or two for them to get going.

There are just too many points here, so I’ll take the Nets to keep it close in the first half.

Nets vs Thunder same-game parlay

Nets forward Danny Wolf has eclipsed 1.5 threes in each of his last four games and grabbed more than 5.5 rebounds in six of his last seven.

Nets vs Thunder SGP

• Nets +10.5 1H
• Danny Wolf Over 1.5 threes
• Danny Wolf Over 5.5 rebounds

Nets vs Thunder odds

• Spread: Nets +18 (-110) | Thunder -18 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nets +900 | Thunder -1600
• Over/Under: Over 212.5 (-110) | Under 212.5 (-110)

Nets vs Thunder betting trend to know

Oklahoma City has only hit the 1H moneyline in seven of its last 14 home games (-27.50 Units / -42% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Thunder.

How to watch Nets vs Thunder

Nets vs Thunder 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.

SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Sassuolo scored twice in the five minutes before halftime to pave the way to a 3-0 victory that deepened Verona's already considerable relegation woes in Serie A on Friday.

Verona was without a win in 11 league games and in last place, equal on points with Pisa.

Both clubs were nine points from safety, and Pisa faces a crunch match on Monday against Fiorentina, the team six points above them both in the third relegation spot.

Andrea Pinamonti got Sassuolo’s opener with a deflected strike then four minutes later Domenico Berardi added a second. Although the Verona goalkeeper stopped his penalty kick, Berardi was quickest to the follow up and buried the rebound.

Berardi completed the scoring 17 minutes into the second half when he finished off a rapid counterattack.

Completing Verona’s misery, Al Musrati was sent off for a second bookable offense five minutes from time.

The result extended Sassuolo's recent good run; it has taken 12 points from its last 15. It jumped two places to eighth.

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

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said Friday there were circumstances surrounding his altercation with a court-storming Iowa fan that people viewing viral social media videos might not fully understand.

The videos showed Hoiberg making a swiping motion at a person pointing a camera toward him during the handshake line after his ninth-ranked Cornhuskers lost 57-52 to the Hawkeyes on Wednesday night. In doing so, Hoiberg accidentally struck a member of Iowa’s staff.

Hoiberg said he fully relies on a pacemaker. He said his reaction stemmed from awareness that close contact with cell phones can interfere with the heart device.

“I am 100% reliant on a pacemaker," Hoiberg said. "I’ll never forget a conversation with my doctor. A cell phone can put it off. If anything ever happens, I’m done. I will not survive if something ever happens to a pacemaker. I’m very cognizant of that, so when somebody rushes up on me with a cell phone, of course I’m going to react.”

Hoiberg said the probability of anything happening was unlikely, but the chance of him developing heart block in his first open heart surgery was also slim.

He recounted the situation and explained that while he doesn't have a problem with court storms, he's against putting players and coaches in danger.

“It was a heated moment,” Hoiberg said. “I was going through the handshake line congratulating Iowa coaches on a hard-fought win, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this kid rushes up on me, and I reacted to it. I think anybody in my position, after a game like that, would’ve reacted in a similar way.”

The seventh-year Nebraska coach said he apologized to the Iowa staff member whom he struck both in the moment and in the days following. The staff member was understanding and said he would've done the same, Hoiberg said.

Iowa released a statement apologizing for the lack of security.

“We apologize for this incident and will conduct a review of our procedures and security measures to determine what adjustments may be needed to further strengthen our protocols and help prevent similar incidents in the future," the statement reads.

Hoiberg said he appreciated Iowa's statement and that it's a learning opportunity.

Nebraska hosts Penn State on Saturday.

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UPDATE: Lakers fans can breathe a sigh of relief as LeBron James has been upgraded from questionable to available for the team’s game against the Clippers.

During his pregame media availability, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that LeBron felt some soreness in his knee after Thursday’s practice and was a game-time decision.

With LeBron ready to go, the Lakers have a clean injury report, which has been a rarity this season. Now, Redick will have every option at his disposal and can find out just how good his team can be.

Original story follows.

Well, so much for the Lakers being fully healthy coming out of the All-Star break. On Thursday, LA had an empty injury report heading into their contest against the Clippers.

But on Friday afternoon, the team added LeBron James to the list, placing him as questionable to play due to left knee soreness.

If LeBron misses this contest, it’ll be another game in which the team will play without one of its top three players.

Luka Dončić missed the last four games on the Lakers’ schedule due to a hamstring strain, and while Austin Reaves was back from his calf injury, he was still on a minutes restriction.

LA’s game against the Clippers is set to be the first time this calendar year that Reaves is going to play without a minutes restriction.

So, hearing that LeBron might be out when his two co-stars are finally fully healthy is frustrating for Lakers fans.

Until we hear more about the injury, it remains unclear what caused the soreness, how serious it is, and whether he could miss not only this Clippers contest but also upcoming matchups.

The last time LeBron played was on Sunday in the All-Star Game, representing Team Stripes. His importance to the team can’t be understated. James is still one of the best playmakers on the roster and is averaging 22 points, 5.8 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Without him on the court, beating the Clippers gets that much harder. It also means the chemistry between him and Luka and Austin won’t be further developed on Friday.

There’s also still a possibility that LeBron plays in this matchup. However, being downgraded to questionable on the afternoon of a game isn’t a sign that things are heading in that direction.

If LeBron is out, then it’ll be the Luka and Austin show in LA, and they’ll have to hope that’s enough to beat their Western Conference rival.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The wife of NBA veteran Russell Westbrook received a message wishing death upon her and her family after the Sacramento Kings guard failed to cash an angry sports bettor’s player prop wager.

Nina Westbrook posted a screenshot of an email she received on Thursday night.

Key Takeaways

• Russell Westbrook failed to cash the bettor’s prop line of 10 points scored on Thursday.
  
  
• Nina Westbrook said that she is growing more concerned for athletes’ safety.
  
  
• The NBA is strongly linked to the gambling industry.

Westbrook and the Kings made their return to the court on Thursday against the Orlando Magic, ending their weeklong hiatus from the All-Star break. The 2016 MVP was held to five points on 2-8 (25%) shooting in an uncompetitive 131-94 loss.

The result prompted a violent written assault from “Joel Molina,” whose vitriol was captured in a screenshot posted to Nina Westbrook’s Instagram story late on Thursday evening. 

The email contains vulgar language.

Nina Westbrook captioned the picture, “The negative effects of sports betting. Brings out the worst in ppl smh.”

Russell Westbrook’s wife shared this disturbing email she received titled “F**k you” pic.twitter.com/OTNPTOvaQp

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) February 20, 2026

Sports betting is not legal in California, where the Kings reside, and where they played the Magic on Thursday.

'Not an isolated incident'

Early on Friday morning, Nina Westbrook posted a follow-up addressing the email and its public response. She noted that it was not her family’s first time dealing with harassment from angry sports bettors.

“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident,” she wrote. “It’s something my husband and I consider routine. With that said, I’m sharing this now because I’m growing increasingly concerned for athletes. 

“Gambling is a highly addictive behavior, and people should understand the risks associated with it, especially before introducing it to their children. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but the threatening behavior directed toward athletes and their families after games has proven to be one of the early results of amped up sports betting.”

A growing number of amateur and professional athletes have documented their encounters with angry sports bettors. Cases have ranged from Olympic champions being stalked and verbally assaulted at their competitions to professional athletes being confronted in person over their performances.

The NCAA also found in a study last year that 36% of men’s basketball players reported experiencing social media abuse from sports bettors within the last year. 

Despite the growing wariness, the NBA is still firmly entrenched in the gambling industry.

The NBA has primary sports betting sponsorships with DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Commissioner Adam Silver was also an early proponent of legalizing sports betting, writing in 2014 an op-ed titled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting.”

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.

Tonight, the Bucks play the Pelicans in The Big Easy. As you might be aware, New Orleans has the right to swap their first-round pick in this June’s draft with Milwaukee’s, thanks to 2020’s Jrue Holiday trade. They won’t actually receive that pick because the most favorable of the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ picks will go to the Hawks, but we’re here to talk about the Bucks, so forget that for now.

The debate that’s been raging on for weeks, if not months now, since Milwaukee’s season turned south (though it’s currently trending back up) has been whether or not to purposefully lose to improve their draft odds; i.e., to tank. Since the Pelicans are much worse than the Bucks this year, the logic goes that the Bucks can keep losing and get a better pick. But because of that pick swap, it’s not so simple. Let’s dive in.

Bucks draft odds

The lottery is pretty straightforward for each individual team: if you finish in a certain place, then you get certain odds. It turns into a flaming nest of vipers when you consider two teams, though, because their odds are “non-independent”—math speak for the fact that if one team wins the lottery, the other team can’t! Unfortunately, we have to enter that nest of vipers thanks to Milwaukee’s potential pick swap with New Orleans.

To do so, we considered every possible lottery order: 14 teams could win the lottery, the remaining 13 could get second, the remaining 12 could get third, and the remaining 11 could get fourth (the rest of the lottery lands in inverse order of record after that), for a total of 14 * 13 * 12 * 11 = 24,024 possible orders. We then calculated the probability of each order. The odds of each team winning the lottery are easy enough, but then it gets complicated: for each subsequent pick, you have to readjust the odds based on the teams whose lottery balls are no longer in contention (since they can’t win multiple picks). And that’s before the swap enters the picture: if the Bucks end up with a better pick than the Pelicans, they swap picks.

Taking that all into consideration, we calculated the Bucks’ odds of receiving lottery picks 2–14 (first overall is impossible) based on them finishing sixth through 14th and the Pels finishing first through seventh (which we considered the most likely scenarios) in the lottery standings, where the worse your record is, the higher you place. Here is the Bucks’ average draft pick in the table below:

The case for tanking

Morgan: The case for tanking is pretty simple: the worse you finish, the better the draft pick, and (hopefully) the better the player. On its own, that is obvious. Indeed, in each column above, you can see the Bucks’ average draft position gets lower the closer you get to the top of the table.

Furthermore, in each row, you can see the numbers get smaller the closer you get to the left of the table. The worse that the Pelicans finish, the better it is for the Bucks, albeit more marginally. That’s because Milwaukee would net a better pick post-swap in the cases where they are picked in the lottery before New Orleans.

It becomes less clear with the swap involved, since finishing below New Orleans increases the chances that Milwaukee would have to swap back anyways. However, the numbers show that it still bears fruit. In the example above, if the Bucks are sitting in 7th and the Pelicans are sitting in 6th, passing Nola would increase the Bucks’ average draft position by 0.7 spots (from 7.5 to 6.8). That’s not nothing!

At this point, it’s a lost season, and I would at least like to end up with something to show for it. For me, that would be a slightly better chance at a slightly better draft pick.

The case against tanking

Van: Not so fast, my friend! Entering play today, PlayoffStatus.com gives the Bucks a 40% chance of making it into the play-in field, though that’s not the playoffs. Basketball-Reference is much lower on their odds, and the chance of them making it to the first round (or further) just gets lower and lower. As are the odds of them obtaining a higher draft pick than their lottery position: currently 10th. Here is where that could place the Bucks’ draft pick, factoring in the swap with the Pelicans, and depending on how their opponent tonight finishes in the standings:

As you can see, their chance at moving up from 10th is very slim—no better than 15.9%, regardless of where New Orleans finishes. But that’s actually a better chance of them moving up than it would be without the swap, and with it, they can move up to a variety of positions 2–9. If Milwaukee finished 10th but was guaranteed to keep their own pick, they would only be able to move up to picks 1–4, and that would only happen 13.9% of the time. So as long as their record is better than the Pelicans’, they’re more likely to get a better pick than they would have otherwise; even if New Orleans is seventh, Milwaukee moves up more often.

I also want the Bucks’ pick to be as high as possible, but other teams—looking at you, Bulls—are better set up to tank, and have tanked harder or sooner than the Bucks. Let’s consider scenarios, though, where Milwaukee is able to slip lower and lower in the standings: what would happen to their chances of getting any given pick if they fell one spot to ninth?

Sure, their average position improves since they climb up the lottery standings, as does their chance of moving up from ninth. And as long as New Orleans’ record remains bottom-five, their odds of rising above ninth are better than they would have been sans swap. But they’re still not good. What if they somehow tanked all the way down to the league’s sixth-worst record?

Herein lies the rub. They could tank and tank, improving their average pick position, but risk swapping back multiple spots. Even if the Pelicans have the league’s worst record, the odds the Bucks will be picking after sixth are 55.5%, with a 28.4% chance they fall multiple spots. And if New Orleans were to improve and finish fifth, then Milwaukee would be swapping back 75.8% of the time and dropping at least two spots in 36% of lottery outcomes. And if the Pelicans surpassed the Bucks, they lose their chance at sixth completely, and 65.9% of the time, they’d pick no better than eighth.

This goes along with what Jack was saying before the break: if the Bucks are going to tank, you have to do so relative to the Pelicans. Lose at the same rate as them, win at the same rate as them. But moreover, why go through all the trouble of tanking down to sixth when it only increases the likelihood you’ll have to move back? Yes, your pick is almost certainly better than if you hadn’t tanked, but most of the time you’ll be swapped back. That outcome gets more and more likely the closer you get to the Pelicans. And the Bucks finish seventh, they are statistically more likely to draft seventh than they would be to draft sixth if they finish sixth. So what’s the real benefit of finishing sixth when you’ll seldom receive that, let alone a more favorable pick?

Ultimately, this decision probably rests with Giannis. He won’t play tonight, but if he’s back soon, he wants to try for a postseason spot, even if it’s via the play-in. Recent comments suggest he has no interest in tanking, so the Bucks will go as Giannis goes. With an extension offer due to him in October, and persistent rumors that he could just ask for a trade before then swirling, Milwaukee should follow his preferred path if they want to keep him long-term. Unless he misses further time, in which case: roll the tanks! However, with how well the post-trade deadline Bucks have played, that might not be in the cards either.

While most of the NBA season is over, the most important stretch is about to begin. The Lakers are currently fifth in the West but only one game back from the No.3 spot. So, they can still gain ground and even homecourt for the playoffs if they go on a run.

But do they have the ability to do so? Lakers head coach JJ Redick certainly thinks they do.

“We’ve got an opportunity to, I think, play our best basketball after the All-Star break,” Redick said after Thursday’s practice. “We’ve got a number of indicators on both sides of the ball that we’re doing some things that are trending in the right direction. And I think it’s coming at a good time as we’re getting fully healthy.”

Entering their first post-All-Star break matchup against the Clippers, the Lakers are fully healthy with no injuries to report. That means they’ll have their three best players, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves on the floor together once again.

This is something that’s only happened in 10 games this year. If they can remain healthy and play the rest of the way, they can absolutely raise this team’s ceiling and stack wins.

However, LA needs more than these three syncing together to maximize their potential. Luckily, Redick sees signs that the Lakers have been improving over the last couple of weeks.

“Defensively, since we went to zone the last 14 games, we’ve been much better,” Redick said. “When we have been in our zone, started possessions in our zone, we’ve been the number one half-court defense. Our transition possessions allowed are going down. I think a lot of that has to do with sprinting back into our zone.

“Offensively for us, we’ve had some of our highest paint touch rate games and we’ve proven that when we touch the paint, we’re elite, and we’ve got to continue to build on that. And I think, we’ve shown that when we pass the ball and we trust each other and we generate not just potential assists, but assists and connect that way that we win basketball games.”

The implementation of the zone defense has given the Lakers some success.

Over the past 14 games, the Lakers have a defensive rating of 112.7, which is 13th in the NBA. That’s a stark improvement for LA, considering that on the season their defensive rating is 116.6, placing them 23rd in the league.

During this stretch of games, the Lakers are also averaging 25.9 paint touches, fourth-most in the NBA. They also went 9-5 in these contests and that type of winning should be good enough to rise up in the Western Conference standings.

If the Lakers can take this momentum and their newfound health and combine it for success in their last 28 games, then this season can still be a successful one for the purple and gold.

Execution will be key and that’ll start with their upcoming contests against the Clippers. From here on out, the year goes from a marathon to a sprint. Hopefully, LA has the legs to finish strong.

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The Los Angeles Clippers have time to adjust to their new roster, with a Play-In spot all but guaranteed. 

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have that luxury, facing urgent pressure in the crowded seeding race.

My Clippers vs. Lakers predictions avoid putting faith in either Los Angeles team, instead focusing on the most consistent player in the city, one of many NBA picks for Friday, February 20.

Clippers vs Lakers prediction

Clippers vs Lakers best bet: Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points (-110)

Even as Bennedict Mathurin went off for 38 points on 22 shots last night, Kawhi Leonard still took 18 shots to score 23 points. Logic assumes Mathurin’s workload will not remain at that rate; more will shift back to Leonard, who is playing the best basketball of his Los Angeles Clippers tenure.

In five games on the second night of a back-to-back this season, Leonard has averaged 26.4 points, three of those games with James Harden in the lineup. In the two without him, the two most recent, Leonard scored 29 and 27 points.

Clippers vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Lakers are coming off a full week of rest, while the Clippers needed the final seconds to beat the Nuggets last night.

That edge alone provides value in the home LA team.

Clippers vs Lakers SGP

• Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
• Lakers -7
• Under 225

Our "from downtown" SGP: Clippers Fade Late

This SGP jumps too far at the thought of the Clippers covering the first-half spread but losing ATS by the end of the full game, even if that's logical on the second night of a back-to-back.

Clippers vs Lakers SGP

• Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
• Lakers -8
• Clippers 1H +4
• Under 226.5

Clippers vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Clippers +8 (-110) | Lakers -8 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clippers +240 | Lakers -300
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)

Clippers vs Lakers betting trend to know

While the Clippers have cashed the first-half moneyline in 29 of their last 50 games (+11.35 units, 15% ROI), the Lakers have cashed the first-half moneyline in only 14 of their last 40 games (-25.50 units, 35% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Lakers.

How to watch Clippers vs Lakers

Clippers vs Lakers latest injuries

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Our NBA player prop projections return for Friday’s showdown, and the model has identified a few wagers worth a closer look.

We crunched the numbers, matched projections against posted lines, and pinpointed where real value exists.

In these Clippers vs. Lakers predictions, the approach is data-driven & not guesswork.

So as you're building your L.A. rivalry same-game parlay & if you’re building your card, then these are the NBA picks the system flags for value on February 20.

Clippers vs Lakers computer picks for February 20

Clippers	Lakers
Leonard o26.5 points -110	Doncic u29.5 points  -120
Collins o5.5 rebounds +105	James o1.5 3-pointers made -115
Lopez o1.5 3-pointers made -120	Ayton u7.5 rebounds +100

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Clippers computer picks

Kawhi Leonard Over 26.5 points (-110)

Projection: 28.2

Kawhi Leonard has been reliably scoring in the mid-20s this season, regularly putting up 25+ points in recent games and rarely following up a sub-27 outing with another one below that mark. That trend supports confidence in him hitting this points threshold.

With the Los Angeles Clippers’ offense running through him and sharps like Bennedict Mathurin likely to see reduced volume in this matchup, Leonard is poised to take on a larger scoring load.

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John Collins Over 5.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 6.2

The Los Angeles Lakers have played at the league’s 10th-fastest pace over their last five games, which should boost possessions for John Collins and the Clippers.

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Brook Lopez Over 1.5 3-pointers made

Projection: 2.0

When it comes to three-pointers, the Los Angeles Clippers's remarkable 38.0% rate of sunk threes as the road team places 3rd-most in the league over the last 15 games.

This year, opposing starting shooting forward's have totaled 5.8 3-point attempts per game (most in the league) against the Los Angeles Lakers, resulting in a favorable matchup.

The Lakers have played at the 10th-speediest pace-of-play in the league over the last 5 games, which ought to increase possessions for the Clippers.

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Lakers computer picks

Luka Doncic Under 29.5 points (-120)

Projection: 28.4

Luka Doncic’s scoring has varied significantly against this opponent. While he’s had big outings, there have also been games where his shot volume and efficiency dipped, indicating volatility vs. the Clippers.

And with complementary scorers like LeBron James and others healthy and available, Luka may share more offensive load tonight, reducing his sole scoring burden and making this Under projection more plausible.

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LeBron James Over 1.5 3-pointers made (-115)

Projection: 1.7

At home, the Los Angeles Lakers have knocked down 38.7% of their three-point attempts — the third-best mark in the league over the last 20 games.

They’ve also played at the league’s 10th-fastest pace over their last five, setting up LeBron James to benefit from the increased tempo and clear the Over on this prop.

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Deandre Ayton Under 7.5 rebounds (+100)

Projection: 7.4

The Lakers are likely to see fewer scoring opportunities against the Clippers, who have played at the second-slowest pace in the NBA over the past 25 games.

While offensive rebounds can extend possessions and create extra chances for points and assists, the Lakers rank near the bottom of the league, averaging just 8.4 offensive boards per game over their last 15 outings which can take a piece out of the Deandre Ayton's production on the boards tonight.

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How to watch Clippers vs Lakers tonight

Location	Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date	Friday, February 20, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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The Phoenix Suns have assigned 10th overall pick Khaman Maluach and 31st overall pick Rasheer Fleming to the Valley Suns.

No strangers to this, Maluach and Fleming have been assigned to the G-League multiple times this season, with both good and bad games coming from it. Maluach is of particular interest to Suns fans, who are eager to see the top pick develop.

In his six games with the Valley Suns, Maluach is delivering a respectable 15.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game on 57.4%/35.7%/87.5% splits. If Maluach ever emulated those numbers in the NBA, I would be ecstatic.

In his five games with the Valley Suns, Fleming is averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals on 50.8%/40.0%/71.4% splits. Fleming has played 30 games for the Phoenix Suns this year on limited minutes as he continues to develop and earn the trust of Head Coach Jordan Ott.

The Valley Suns are scheduled to take on the Sioux Falls Skyforce tonight at 6PM.