Sacramento Kings (13-46, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (35-21, third in the Western Conference)
Houston; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Houston and Sacramento face off on Wednesday.
The Rockets have gone 20-16 against Western Conference opponents. Houston averages 114.5 points and has outscored opponents by 5.1 points per game.
The Kings are 9-30 in Western Conference play. Sacramento has a 5-29 record in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Rockets average 114.5 points per game, 6.5 fewer points than the 121.0 the Kings give up. The Kings are shooting 46.2% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 45.6% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Kings won the last matchup 111-98 on Jan. 12. DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points to help lead the Kings to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Durant is averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.
Russell Westbrook is scoring 15.1 points per game and averaging 5.5 rebounds for the Kings. Malik Monk is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 6-4, averaging 107.3 points, 45.3 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 9.6 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.4 points per game.
Kings: 1-9, averaging 109.3 points, 43.4 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.8 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Devin Carter: day to day (back).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Vince Williams Jr. #0 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 23, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Sarah Todd, it appears that Vince Williams Jr. may have suffered a season-ending injury in the Jazz’s game against the Houston Rockets.
Multiple sources believe that Vince Williams Jr. suffered a significant ACL injury. He’ll have an MRI in Salt Lake tomorrow. Left the arena on crutches.
It’s a really unfortunate injury for Williams, who was looking like he was trending in the direction of being a potential rotation player next season with his size, length, defense, and ability to run the point. Now, Williams will obviously find out the extent of the injury and begin the recovery process. Let’s hope that it’s not as bad as it looked and that it’s just a severe strain and not something that requires any sort of reconstructive surgery, as likely as that seems.
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 23:Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 23, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz fell to the Rockets, 105-125, in a defeat that was all but assured ever since the opening quarter. Not that Jazz fans are complaining; with the next two games being against the Pelicans, where losses are far from guaranteed, an easy and relaxed addition to the teams ping pong balls versus Houston is a pleasant and successful evening.
The Jazz’s woes this game were not new to this team; yet again, their opponent displayed three point shooting well above their typical standard. Against the Jazz, the Rockets shot 10 more threes than their per game average, and knocked down a very healthy 45%. Kevin Durant, Reed Sheppard, and Jabari Smith Jr. were the main culprits, and the defense wasn’t quick to adjust – they did their damage on open three after open three.
Transition defense was another problem that the Jazz simply had no answer for. Amen Thompson, always a speed-demon, created a semi-transition opportunity after nearly every Jazz miss. In those opportunities, the Jazz veterans were too slow to keep up and the Jazz youngsters kept up but always in the wrong direction. Cody Williams and Ace Bailey showed activity in getting back on defense, but the Rockets were surgical in consistently finding the open man.
Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh were the offensive bright spots. While Lauri’s three pointers weren’t dropping tonight (it did feel like sometimes he settled for tough, movement jump shots), he matched and exceeded the Rocket’s physicality in the paint, which is no small accomplishment. He finished 9-13 on two point shots, dealing with contact on nearly all of them. Brice continued to do Brice things – shoot jump shots early in the shot clock that seem like they can’t be the most efficient form of offense, but they go in at a respectable rate nonetheless. While much of his scoring came in the 4th quarter, when the game was over in all aspects but time on the clock, it wasn’t as if the Rockets perimeter defenders had thrown in the towel. Since the New Year, he’s averaging nearly 17 points per game at around 47% from the field and 35% from three. He is blossoming into a legitimate playoff-level scorer to close out the year.
A bit of bad news that needs monitoring – Vince Williams Jr. was carried off the court by two trainers after a rough collision with Tari Eason that seemed to injure Vince’s left knee. This injury will likely lead to both (a) some more 48 minute outings from Isaiah Collier and (b) increased playing time for Elijah Harkless, who impressed me tonight with his signature defensive tenacity. Attached below is a video of the injury – it isn’t pretty, so some viewer discretion is advised.
Vince Williams has been ruled OUT for the rest of the game after this cheap shot by Tari Eason.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday afternoon against Denver, in a game that the Dubs had no business being competitive in, Moses Moody reminded everyone watching why the Warriors used a lottery pick on him back in 2021. Twenty-three points. Seven rebounds. Five assists. A complete performance on a national stage, against a Nuggets team that isn’t exactly handing those kinds of good vibes out for free.
But here’s what makes that line genuinely special, not just impressive-for-a-young-guy special. According to Basketball Reference, since the Warriors dynasty era began in 2014-15, only 13 other instances exist of a Golden State player posting at least 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single regular season game. Stephen Curry owns 99 of the appearances on that list. Kevin Durant dropped 50 during his Warriors tenure. Draymond Green has 8. And then there’s Moses Moody, sitting at the bottom of that list with his very first one, right next to names like Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga.
He just joined some serious company. Let that simmer for a second.
The timing matters too. The Warriors have been navigating an obstacle course lately with star wing Jimmy Butler on IR and face of the franchise Steph Curry is wounded. Jonathan Kuminga got traded out of the building in a move that still has the fanbase pondering what it all means.
This team is running thin on the kind of players who can create their own shot when the offense stalls. And February has asked Moody to answer questions he’s never been asked before at this level, consistently, with no veteran safety net to catch the narrative if things went sideways.
His February game log tells the real story. He’s played seven games and topped ouble figures in six of them. That 6-point game against Philly on a reduced 20 minutes was the outlier, not the norm. He went for 25 against the Lakers on 39 minutes of work. He also poured in 17 in San Antonio, then 15 in the Memphis comeback win. The consistency isn’t flashy, but it’s real, and real is exactly what this team needs right now.
What’s changed is his shot creation within structure. Moody came into the league tagged as a catch-and-shoot specialist, which is a polite way of saying the league wasn’t sure he could make decisions fast enough when the ball found him in live-game situations. The 23-7-5 line against Denver shows a player who now rebounds, pushes in transition, finds cutters, and still knocks down the pull-up when the defense gives it to him. That’s not a catch-and-shoot player anymore. That’s a basketball player.
He’s 23 years old. He was taken 14th overall in a draft class that the Warriors will forever be haunted by if they can’t find some way to keep Curry’s twilight years competitive. Both picks in that draft showed real promise. The paths just diverged differently, and right now, Moody is the one wearing a Warriors jersey and producing when the franchise needs him.
Sunday night wasn’t a fluke me thinks; rather it was confirmation. The kind of confirmation that dynasty-era Warriors fans have been trained to recognize, the moment a young player stops auditioning and starts performing.
Feb 23, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) in the second half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Well, the season is saved! The Rockets scored a robust 125 points, held their opponent to just over 100, and essentially stomped their opponent from beginning to end. Wait, I’m getting word that their opponent was the Utah Jazz, a team that claims not to be losing intentionally, but their growing fines from the NBA league office might suggest otherwise.
The Jass are what? 18-40? That’s not…good. So far from good, or trying to win, that again,they’ve been fined for it. Still, pretty much this Jazz team, but including Keyonte George, did in fact beat the Rockets earlier in the season. If you told me the Jazz, playing the Rockets at home would do their very best to get a win, and try to lose everything else, except against Portland, I’d believe you.
But there’s no reason to look askance at the result we had hoped, or in some cases, expected, to see. If you wanted to see the Rockets run some offense, they did. It happened. Write it down, that on February 24th, 2026 Kevin Durant ran several baseline cuts. It did my cruel, flinty, hater, heart good to see the Rockets actually move purposefully on a basketball court on offense.
If you wanted the Rockets to grab an opponent by metaphorical throat early, rather than Latrell Sprewell style, and not let go, they did that, too. The Rockets won the first quarter 38-22. They won the second and third quarters 30-25 and 32-28 respectively. It wasn’t until an entirely garbage time 4th quarter that the Jazz got to 30 points in a quarter.
What else did we see? Well, we saw the Rockets actually feature the three point shot. They took 40 threes to Ime Udoka’s former lead assistant in Boston, Will Hardy’s team’s 44. The Rockets shot at a robust, encouraging, possibly unsustainable, 45% clip on threes. The Jazz made a sad, bluesy, trombone of 18%. Maybe this is make or miss league stuff, but you can’t make or miss threes you don’t take. This 40 attempts is pretty much the level maintained by nearly every good NBA offense. Actually making such shots will force opponents out of the paint, where they usually hang around, making life difficult for Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Amen Thompson, all at the same time.
This is the first game in a very long time where the Rockets looked like an NBA offense. Admittedly against a tanking team, but one positive feature of this win might have been less focus on Kevin Durant. We also saw more positioning of Kevin Durant somewhere, anywhere, besides the top of the three point arc. Durant only took 13 shots tonight, 5 of which were threes. That might be a low shot output, but it’s a shot distribution I like a lot more. Durant standing in the corner is doom for opponents, as he can actually drive to his middie from there, unlike Amen standing in the corner, which is doom to the Rockets.
The player who came through tonight, who looked, dare I say, like the player we’ve been hoping to see, was Jabari Smith Jr. Jabari was 12-17, and 6-11 from three point range. He seemed to be playing freer, and I think a more free Jabari is a better Jabari. He seems to me to be a player who suffers inordinately from overthinking. Jabari was 6-6 from inside the three point line, and it seemed like A) no one on the Jazz could hold him, and B) he actually used his 3pt shot, and his height, to unlock his other shots. Jabari also had 9 boards, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. The turnovers were a bit unfortunate, but do not mar the long awaited The Return of Jaswishy. Long may he swish.
Alperen Sengun also had a good game, one in which no Rocket dominated the shot tally. He was 7-12, with 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. He was 2-2 on his FTs. Why Alpie needed to play 36 minutes, and Clint Capela 10 minutes in this one is anyone’s guess. Capela has accumulated enough positive +/- nights, or been the least bad player off the bench enough, that it should warrant more minutes, in my opinion. Perhaps there are medical reasons why not, but if it’s not that, it’s hard to see why he doesn’t play a bit more.
Amen Thompson had something of an odd game, on the offensive side, with 3 ast to 6 TO. But he did attack aggressively, and made 4-5 FT. He was 8-9 on the shots that did count, none of which were 3pt shots. So very high efficiency as an offensive player, low as a distributor.
The last starter, Tari Eason, was disruptive, but seemed to feel the bite of regression a bit on his three point shots, going 1-5. He did grab 10 rebounds. The Rockets lost the offensive rebounding game, maybe because they just didn’t miss much 57% overall, and 45% from three. They did, however, crush Utah on the glass overall, 53-36.
The Rockets also didn’t have anything resembling a free throw edge. They took 11 to Utah’s 30. I don’t think Utah earned that many trips to the charity stripe, but part of the reason Houston didn’t take as many FTs was Utah didn’t do much defending, and Houston did.
Dorian Finney-Smith played 20 minutes of nothing much. We might have hoped to see him have a get right game as well. While he’s never been a high stats output player, you might like to see more than 3/4/0/0/0 with a turnover in 20 minutes, in a game the Rockets dominated.
Reed Sheppard had quite a good game in my opinion. He scored 15 on 5-9 shooting, with all of those attempts coming from three point range. He had 3 rebounds, 4 ast, 3 to, an 1 stl. His point guarding wasn’t superb, but it was there, and if the Rockets want to give Reed at least 10 shots from three a game, I think it would help them a lot in the long run.
Josh Okogie returned from his banishment, or silent treatment, or whatever, and played 12 mostly anonymous, but high energy, minutes. I can also report that Aaron Holiday, Uncle Jeff, and Isaiah Crawford are alive.
This is the first game in a very long time where I actually enjoyed watching the Rockets play offense. If some thought the Rockets could not run coherent offense, for mysterious reasons, this is proof that it is, at least, a possibility. Hopefully this easy, good shooting, win will lead the Rockets to a better place. On offense, and mentally. Maybe it will do the same for the Dear Old Dreamshake. At any rate, it’s a win, and not a troubling one in any respect.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Russsell Westbrook scored 25 points and Precious Achiuwa had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings snapped a 16-game losing streak — the longest in franchise history — with a 123-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
DeMar DeRozan and Daeqwon Plowden finished with 19 points each, with Plowden scoring 10 in the fourth quarter. Sacramento has the NBA’s worst record and hadn’t won since beating Washington on Jan. 16.
Javon Smalls led Memphis with 21 points and nine assists. Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 17 points and GG Jackson added 16 points.
SPURS 114, PISTONS 103
DETROIT (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 21 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks, Devin Vassell scored 28 and San Antonio beat the Detroit in a potential NBA Finals preview.
The Spurs have won a season-high nine games in a row and trail only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.
The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who had won five straight, host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night in another test.
Detroit star Cade Cunningham struggled, missing 21 of 26 shots and finishing with 16 points and 10 assists.
ROCKETS 125, JAZZ 105
HOUSTON (AP) — Jabari Smith Jr. had 31 points and nine rebounds and Amen Thompson scored 20 points as Houston beat Utah.
Smith hit his first five shots and matched a career-high with 14 points in the first quarter. He converted 12 of 17 shots overall and made six 3-pointers.
Thompson shot 8 for 9 from the field and finished with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Kevin Durant scored 18 points and added a season-high 12 assists. Reed Sheppard scored 15 points off the bench.
With the win, the Rockets (35-21) into third place in the Western Conference, behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio.
The Nets weren't able to travel back from Atlanta on Monday.
The blizzard is affecting everyone in New York, especially those trying to get home.
The Nets, who blew a late lead in a loss at Atlanta on Sunday night, were unable to fly back after the game or on Monday morning due to the historic snowstorm, a source confirmed to The Post.
Michael Porter Jr. attempts a shot during the Nets’ Feb. 22 loss to the Hawks. NBAE via Getty Images
With the snow still coming down in the city, the Nets practiced in Atlanta on Monday and planned to fly out Tuesday morning — just hours before they face the Mavericks at Barclays Center at 7:30 p.m.
Similarly, Dallas (20-36), which defeated the Pacers on Sunday, is staying in Indiana on Monday night.
The snow outside Barclays Center gets cleared during the NYC snowstorm on Feb. 23. Paul Martinka for the NY Post
More than 19 inches of snow were reported in Central Park and more than 24 inches were recorded in parts of Long Island.
The monster blizzard is now officially one of the 10 largest snowstorms in New York City history.
Tuesday’s game will be the fourth for the Nets since the All-Star break, and they head into the matchup following three straight losses on the road trip.
The Nets (15-41) are third in the lottery standings, sitting only a game behind the Pacers following Indiana’s loss to Dallas on Sunday.
GRAMBLING, La. (AP) — Antonio Munoz had 21 points and Jimel Lane posted a double-double to help Grambling pull away in the second half and beat Mississippi Valley State 83-62 on Monday night.
Munoz made 6 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and went 8 for 14 at the free-throw line for the Tigers (12-15, 6-8 Southwestern Athletic Conference). Lane totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds, Roderick Coffee III had 11 points, seven assists and three steals. Derrius Ward hit two 3-pointers and scored 10 off the bench.
Michael James finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Delta Devils (2-27, 1-14). Xzayvion Childress added 12 points and three steals, while Daniel Mayfield totaled 11 points and five rebounds.
Munoz had 12 points by halftime to help Grambling take a 38-36 lead into the break. James scored 11 to keep MVSU close.
The Delta Devils beat Texas Southern 72-71 their last time out to snap a 25-game losing streak.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ much-anticipated visit to the league-best Pistons lived up to the hype. The matchup had the intensity of a playoff game, with both teams clearly valuing a win more than they’d normally would on an average February night. In that context, San Antonio’s 114-103 victory has to be considered one of their best of the season, as they not only beat a contender but did so while playing their game and never buckling under pressure.
The flow of the game and its most defining characteristics were there from the start. Early in the game, Devin Vassell swished jumpers while Victor Wembanyama affected every single shot inside, two factors that would be present throughout the night. Quickly, the Spurs found themselves up double digits and comfortable with the Pistons’ physicality. Unfortunately, Detroit reached another level of intensity, upping the aggressiveness and daring officials to call a foul on every play. The momentum of the matchup shifted, and suddenly the hosts were grabbing every rebound and running out in transition while forcing San Antonio to play half-court offense, with predictably mixed results.
The Pistons only led by two heading into the second period, but they seemed to be in control longer than their opponent. The trend continued, as the home team seemed more comfortable with the level of physicality the officials were allowing. Making matters worse for the Spurs, Luke Kornet got hurt in his first stint and sat out most of the first half, leaving them to rely on a small unit whenever Wembanyama rested. Still, San Antonio continued to fight. Those stretches in which Detroit got to dictate the tenor of the matchup, including an incident that led to double technicals, were countered by good early offense, especially on drives by Stephon Castle, and by Wembanyama’s defensive dominance. At the break, the visitors were the ones up two.
The start of the second half felt momentous. De’Aaron Fox attacked off the dribble and got Cade Cunningham to commit his fourth foul. Cunningham stayed in the game and eventually got a few shots to fall, but Stephon Castle continued to do a fantastic job on him, and the foul trouble limited him. With the Pistons packing the paint and focusing heavily on not allowing Wembanyama to score, the Spurs started to use the big man as a decoy and had others attack off the bounce and either get to the rim or find open shooters. It was a rare display of patience and maturity for such a young team. Things got uglier once Kornet checked in and Wemby rested, but neither team could really score, so San Antonio’s lead grew. At that point, it felt like the Silver and Black had figured out their opponent.
The Pistons have the best record in the league for a reason, and they are known for their toughness, so of course, they just didn’t go away. They attacked the paint, testing Wembanyama and enjoying some success when Jalen Duren went up strong in the pick-and-roll or after offensive boards. On the other end, they stuck to their game plan and had some success, especially when the Spurs tried to get their superstar some touches. Ultimately, it was all futile against a San Antonio squad that absorbed any punches, both literal and figurative, while remaining focused and calm. They knew their opponent lacked firepower for any big run that wasn’t assisted by turnovers, so they did a solid job avoiding them while funneling players to the paint in the half-court, where Wembanyama dominated. The better team prevailed on Monday in a battle that shows the Silver and Black are a real title threat.
Game notes:
Wembanyama finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and six blocks, but his performance was more impressive than any stat line can describe. After forcing things a little early, he completely understood that for the Spurs to win, he needed to draw extra defenders to him or keep Duren outside of the paint with the threat of his jumper, and seemed perfectly happy doing just that. He opened up the floor for others on offense and made his mark on the defensive end. An incredible sign of maturity from a 22-year-old.
Wemby’s defensive impact couldn’t be matched, but Stephon Castle came close to it. He pressured Cunningham for entire possessions and was physical without fouling. The Pistons’ superstar got so frustrated that he pushed Castle in what ended up being a small altercation. Just like Wemby, he ended up with a good stat line, but his impact was greater than the numbers show.
When the shooters have the hot hand, it’s almost impossible to guard the Spurs. Detroit was so concerned with packing the paint that they gave up open looks, and Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie made them pay dearly for it. Vassell had as many made three-pointers (seven) as the entire Pistons team.
De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper were both solid. Fox didn’t have it going from outside but tried to get to the paint and spray out passes when he couldn’t get to the rim. He should have had a few more points if he had gotten some calls that he deserved. Harper played intense defense on Cunningham and kept the ball moving. Having multiple ball handlers can be the difference between winning and losing, as the Pistons, who don’t have anyone other than the star who can create, can attest.
The word of the night was “physicality,” and Keldon Johnson did his part to help the Spurs match the Pistons’. He had Castle’s back after Cunningham pushed him, and he attacked the offensive glass. Not a glamorous game from Keldon, but another night that shows he’ll just do what it takes to win.
Play of the night
The game in a nutshell. Wemby gets a stop, draws the defense in, and Vassell hits an open three.
CLEVELAND — Karl-Anthony Towns’ greatest weapon should be his outside shooting.
And through much of this struggling season, the problem for the 7-footer hasn’t been poor shot selection.
He’s just missing too much.
According to player tracking on NBA.com, the ratio of Towns’ open 3-pointers (when there’s no defender within four feet) is roughly the same as last season. Over 95 percent of his treys are open.
His attempts are a bit reduced — from 4.7 per game to 4.5 — which coach Mike Brown explained Sunday as being indicative of a deeper rotation and fewer minutes for Towns, along with the other starters.
But it’s tougher to explain Towns’ 3-point percentage falling from 42 percent last season to 36.5 percent this season — a year-to-year decline worse than any other in his career.
So while much of the debate has centered around Towns’ discomfort in the new system, the increasingly evident reality is he just needs to be a sharpshooter again.
In the past four games, Towns leads the Knicks in average scoring at 23.8 points while shooting an impressive 58.8 percent on treys. His 3-point attempts over the four games have been fewer than his season average, but he’s converting them at an elite clip and drawing praise.
He’s also played better defensively, winning Sunday’s defensive player of the game, which is awarded by Knicks coaches, after a 105–99 win over the Bulls.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Bulls. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It’s all related.
“Whenever you’re making shots and get plays called for you, you feel more involved, feel more in flow of the game,” Josh Hart said. “Sometimes for players that’s all you really need to get back on track. So he had energy making shots but also defensively he brought it. He did a good job today and just got to keep it up.”
It’s a rarity in the NBA — a showdown at near full strength.
Both the Knicks and Cavaliers had relatively clean injury reports for Tuesday’s game, with only the expected absences of New York’s Miles McBride (sports hernia surgery) and Cleveland’s Max Strus (foot surgery).
Mitchell Robinson returns for the Knicks after resting Sunday on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Cavs (36-22) are streaking since acquiring James Harden and are just one game behind the Knicks (37-21) for third in the East.
The Knicks already clinched the tiebreaker with two wins over the Cavs earlier this season — one in the opener, the other on Christmas.
“Just a team with experience over there,” Terance Mann said after the loss. “You can tell those guys have experience. They knew exactly how to execute down the stretch. We’re still learning.”
That was clear after the starters surrendered the last 18 points just after the Nets bench built an 11-point lead with eight minutes left to play.
Egor Dëmin made a bad pass that led to a turnover and a Jalen Johnson dunk on the other end of the floor that put the Hawks within five.
Terance Mann (l.) and Nolan Traore (r.) fight for possession during the Nets’ Feb. 22 loss to the Hawks. Imagn Images
The rookie then put up a rushed shot, missing a 26-foot 3-pointer.
Dëmin shot 1-for-3 in the quarter.
Nolan Traore later lost the ball out of bounds for a turnover.
He committed two of the Nets’ five turnovers in the final frame and shot 0-for-4 in that span.
The Nets went on to miss 11 of their final 12 field-goal attempts.
Coach Jordi Fernández called it an “unacceptable” performance.
“Obviously Egor, through the experience, he’ll learn some of the rushed shots,” he said. “Five turnovers right there. We had 13 turnovers which is very good, but five were in the fourth. So, that’s part of the run and you gotta learn how to be composed. You gotta learn how to put everybody in place and take good shots and we just didn’t. Next game it is.”
Nolan Traore reacts during the Nets’ Feb. 22 loss to the Hawks. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I trust the starters. I know how good they are, and this is not what I want from them,” Fernández added. “We played a great game until 5:30 to go, and then it goes away.”
The Nets kept the game competitive and allowed 26 points in the final quarter — the Hawks’ lowest total of the game.
All five starters (Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Nic Claxton, Dëmin and Traore) scored in double digits, the fourth time it’s happened this season and the first since Jan. 19.
Michael Porter Jr. fights for possession during the Nets’ Feb. 22 loss to the Hawks. Imagn Images
However, it was clear that their NBA record five first-round picks on the roster still have a long road ahead to get accustomed to the league.
“It’s kind of a new group together, so we’re kinda figuring it out [from] last game vs. OKC and the game before that against Cleveland,” Mann added. “So, we are kinda finding a little groove with that unit and know what exactly to look for and just try to execute that. Today, in that second half, we did that.”
The losing result could be better in the long run, as the Nets (15-41) are third in the lottery standings and sit just one game behind the Pacers following Indiana’s loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Yet, they have an opportunity to turn it around on Tuesday night at home against the Mavericks.
“Tip our hat [to] the second group for getting us the lead, but we just got to be better,” Claxton said.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 12: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Noah Clowney #21 of the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on January 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Get ready for another dose of irredeemable basketball on Tuesday when the Dallas Mavericks (20-36) travel to the Barclays Center to square off with the Brooklyn Nets (15-41) in a game sure to rival Sunday’s tilt at the Indiana Pacers for sheer lack of import.
With the Mavericks’ recent 10-game losing streak in the rearview, two losing teams are set to do battle on Tuesday for mere inches of ground in the race to the bottom of their respective conference tables, where only lottery balls hang in the balance.
It’s an existence that tries the spirit of whatever is left of the two fanbases in question, but here we are — staring irrelevance in the eyes. Fun, ain’t it?
Here are three storylines to conjure any faint glimmer of interest that may be left as two struggle busses collide in the Big Apple.
Flagg on the mend?
We went from hearing from Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd at practice that “we’ll see how he feels” on Tuesday to Cooper Flagg being officially ruled out of the game at Brooklyn in just a few hours, but at least Flagg is participating at this point.
The Mavs just finished practice at Butler University. Today was a “get what you need day,” so most of the players had individual workouts, including Cooper Flagg, who signed autographs for a few fans waiting here at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
He was seen wearing a protective boot on his right foot during All-Star Weekend festivities after spraining the foot before the break against the Phoenix Suns. As Mavs fans have seen during his three-game absence, watchable basketball is not a thing with Flagg on the sidelines. Khris Middleton and Marvin Bagley III may be interesting side conversations for a minute, but prolonged exposure to basketball teams that feature them as central figures can be hazardous to fans’ mental health.
The Mavericks have no reason to bring Flagg back until the foot is 150% healed. There is nothing to play for at this point besides notching the requisite 65 games played necessary to stay in consideration for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Flagg has appeared in 49 games so far this season, with 27 left on the Mavericks’ schedule. The point here is, he could stand to sit another game or two, even after Tuesday’s matchup with the Nets, and still be the favorite to win.
New friends
In the meantime, the Middleton and Bagley storylines will have to suffice. Both have been solid in their first handful of games with the Mavericks. Middleton is coming off his best game of the 2025-26 season against the Pacers, when he scored 25 points, pulled down seven rebounds and handed out seven assists to lead Dallas to its first win in a calendar month.
Bagley, for his part, has notched double-doubles off the bench in three of his five games in a Mavericks uniform. Do either warrant a look after their current contracts are up at the end of the season? Maybe, but only in short-term, bargain basement scenarios. They have the rest of this season to make their modest cases.
Washington watch
Mavericks’ fandom is on P.J. Washington watch for the rest of this year, as his relative slide from previous years’ production has made some start to question whether he needs to stick around as part of the core group surrounding Flagg when his four-year, $88-million deal kicks in next season. He’s still a 14 and seven guy this year, but he’s not the indispensable man he was before Naji Marshall started to eat his lunch a little, as Washington has missed time with injury here and there and underperformed at other times this year.
Washington had his best game since December on Sunday at Indiana. He scored 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting and grabbed nine boards in the win. He needs to put together a few more games like that to cement his place in the pecking order.
How to watch
The Mavericks and the Nets tip off at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday from the Barclays Center. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ viewership area. It will also be streamed on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass, where available.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Luka Doncic # of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a pass against Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of their game at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an embarrassing loss to the Boston Celtics, the Lakers (34-22) aim to bounce back on Tuesday when they take on the Orlando Magic (30-26) at home. This game will conclude their nine-game home stand.
On Sunday, a day the Lakers celebrated the legend that is Pat Riley, they were run out of the gym courtesy of Payton Pritchard and the Celtics. It was disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable. Losing to an opponent, an arch-rival no less, without their franchise player was a reminder that this team has its limitations.
Sure, the referees may have impacted the Lakers’ performance throughout the game, but that’s still not a good enough excuse. Great teams find a way to win basketball games despite not having the friendly whistle and the Lakers showed that they weren’t that on Sunday. They lost the offensive possession and rebounding battle while their defense couldn’t contain an elite offense either. On top of that, they complained to the referees more than people do to customer service.
This begs the question: Have the Lakers already reached their ceiling? Is it a mistake to hope that they have another gear to get into that will propel them to make a deep run in the playoffs? Is it wrong to hope that they do? Because it’s losses like Sunday’s that really sting, even if they manage to win their next couple of games.
It’s frustrating that they’re now 11-14 against teams above .500 this season. They have enough time to improve, but it won’t change the fact that they are what they are at this point. Their ceiling has been reached and we’re all just here for the ride.
So, what’s next?
At least, this ride involves watching this team perform very well against mediocre teams and that’s what the Magic are. Not to undermine how good they can be but the Magic have underperformed for most of the season. Part of that is due to injuries, but also because they’re a below-average offensive team. They don’t rebound the ball so well nor do they shoot great from the 3-point arc. The Lakers’ defense should be able to capitalize.
Although Orlando has its flaws offensively, Los Angeles should still be wary Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. With Franz Wagner out due to an ankle injury, Banchero and Bane will certainly have a ton of touches, and the Lakers have to make sure that neither of them dominates. It’s vital that Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James get their offense rolling, which didn’t happen against the Celtics.
One way the Lakers could push their ceiling is to get their role players to perform at a high level consistently. Can they get that from Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, Jake Laravia, Marcus Smart and others for the next 26 games leading up to the playoffs? They should be able to outperform the Magic’s supporting cast.
Maybe the Lakers figure out something this late into the season that could perhaps impact their ceiling. Here’s to hoping that they do. In the meantime, the fairest expectation is for them to win their upcoming game against the Magic. So let’s see if they can do that on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Jaxson Hayes is listed as doubtful with a right ankle sprain after exiting Sunday’s game.
As for the Magic, Jalen Suggs is questionable with a back strain. As mentioned, Wagner is out.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons built their game plan around containing Victor Wembanyama, but the reason the San Antonio Spurs are one of the best teams in the league is that it isn’t all about Wemby. The Spurs had everything working in a 114-103 win over the Pistons in front of a raucous and then quite dejected crowd at Little Caesars Arena.
The bottom line is the Spurs surrounded Wembanyama with shooters and ball handlers, and those players moved the ball and hit their shots. The Pistons have a lack of shooting and ball handling around Cade Cunningham, and it was on full display on a night when Cade struggled, and San Antonio’s elite defense was able to control the paint in the second half.
Wembanyama was just 6-of-16 from the floor, and Cunningham was limited to 5-of-26. They both found ways to be impactful through passing, rebounding, and shot blocking (three for Cunningham and six for Wembanyama). The surrounding cast delivered this win for the Spurs by getting plenty of open looks and making a ton of them. The Spurs hit 18 three-pointers on the night compared to just seven for the Pistons. That was the ballgame right there.
These two teams entered tonight as two of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA and succeeded despite it. Tonight, though, the Spurs shot 18-of-40 from deep, and Detroit was a woeful 7-for-36. If you told me before the game that San Antonio’s Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie were going to shoot a combined 12-for-19 from deep tonight, I would tell you that the Spurs were going to win that game. And that’s exactly what happened. Sometimes basketball isn’t that complicated.
Vassell was the high-scorer on the night with 28 points and seven made threes, while Champagnie had 17, and Steph Castle had 16 and 11 assists. Wembanyama was bottled up on offense for the most part, but he still had an otherworldly 21 points, 17 rebounds, and six blocks.
The Pistons were able to stay in the game through three quarters via their signature — flying all over the floor, defending their butts off, and getting into the teeth of San Antonio’s defense. Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 25 points and 14 rebounds, and Ron Holland scored 15 and added 11 boards. But it was a night when Tobias Harris was invisible (1-of-6 for four points) and Ausar Thompson was played off the floor. Thompson only played 18 minutes and was subbed at the 8:14 mark of the third quarter with the Spurs up 63-62. He never returned to the game.
Either Thompson did something JB Bickerstaff really didn’t like or he had already determined that the paint was going to be off limits the rest of the night and needed to try to source some offense and couldn’t afford to put the non-shooter back on the floor. Whatever the reason, the offense never really came. Detroit was limited to 20 points in the third quarter and went up by as many as 15 points.
Cunningham struggled with fouls, struggled with his shot, struggled with ball pressure, and Detroit didn’t really have the ability to turn to anyone else to make things happen. The magic dust has worn off Daniss Jenkins a little bit, who still plays hard and mostly plays smart, but is not a reliable scoring threat. Caris LeVert played like Caris LeVert. Hit a couple of tough shots and did heinous things with the ball in his hands. Javonte Green is a defender and spot-up shooter only, and Ron Holland is all hustle; you can’t run plays through him.
That is a recipe for tough nights against the elite teams who are locked in, and it leaves Detroit with a lot of pondering to do, because this is exactly the kind of game you’re going to need to figure out how to win come playoff time.
The Pistons have the best record in the NBA against the league’s best teams, we know they know how to win close games, and they have an elite player in Cunningham they can turn to in the clutch. That’s great in the regular season, but Detroit needs to understand how to win playoff basketball. Because tonight had the look and feel of playoff basketball, and the Pistons came up way short.
Luckily, Detroit still has 26 games to figure it out.
Feb 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
In one of their most impressive wins of the season, which is saying a lot, the Spurs went into the den of the top team in the NBA and slayed the Detroit Pistons. After a quick start, it took some time for Victor Wembanyama to adjust to the physical play, but his teammates were able to use his gravity to score in all manners, and a great defensive game from the entire team held the Pistons in check for the gutsy 114-103 win.
All five Spurs starters scored in double figures, with Devin Vassell leading the way with 28 points on 7-11 from three, and Wemby had 21 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks (I swear he had more; I especially feel one or two were missed in the first quarter). Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 25 points and 14 rebounds, and the Spurs held All-Star Cade Cunningham in check with just 16 points on 5-26 shooting.
Observations
Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that games can be streamed on Peacock but not televised on NBC? I’m fortunate enough to already have all the random streaming services the NBA is using this season, along with cable and League Pass, but I completely understand the frustration of those who don’t. KENS 5 if you don’t have cable in SA or LP outside of SA? No luck. NBA TV so LP is blacked out and you don’t have an advanced cable package? Out of luck. This is crazy.
One of the keys to this game was for the Spurs to hit their threes, and Vassell did just that early, hitting his first three to get the Spurs up 9-2, and Wemby one after Cunningham shoved him to the floor to get out to a 14-2 lead. Unfortunately, they were shooting airballs the rest of the first quarter until a Julian Champagnie three before the buzzer.
On the other hand the key to the game for the Pistons was the same tried-and-true method that has been successful for other teams: get physical with Wemby to make him uncomfortable, and they finally did that after the initial Spurs surge by grabbing and holding him, with the idea being that the refs can’t call everything. News flash, they didn’t. Soon, the refs stopped blowing their whistles, and just like that the Pistons were up 18-16 and 27-24 at the end of the quarter.
Luke Kornet came in for one minute in the first quarter before Wemby came right back in for him, and the Spurs started the second quarter with a center-less lineup with Kornet nowhere to be seen. Reports said he got kneed in the leg and the Spurs were hopeful the swelling would go down by the second half. He did return, albeit with a knee cover for protection.
The refs were letting a lot of contact go in the first half, especially for Detroit. That made it all the more annoying when they called three quick phantom fouls on Carter Bryant early in the second quarter. Even more annoying was how much the announcers were saying they liked no-calls when the Pistons got away with blatant fouls, but they had nothing to say about calls on the Spurs that truly should have been no-calls.
Wemby looked a little overwhelmed on offense for much of the first half, but it was how he responded to it that dictated how the Spurs offense went. When he tried to do everything himself, he struggled, with just 7 points on 2-9 shooting, poor shot selection and misses at the rim. When he used his gravity to draw the defense in without forcing shots, his teammates benefited. Champagnie and Vassell combined for 30 points on 9-12 from three in the first half, and Stephon Castle found driving lanes. Somehow, despite it feeling like they were getting owned for long stretches (maybe it just feels that way when it’s Wemby), the Spurs were up 57-55 at the half.
Cunningham had two dumb fouls in the first half, one for shoving Wemby to floor to make a statement early, and the and another late for a two-handed shove of Castle over nothing. As a result, he was playing with four fouls by early in the third quarter and five by early in the fourth, so he had to be more passive on defense. The Spurs took advantage, with the guards continuing to attack him to get to the rim, gradually building their lead to as much as 11 and leading by 8 after a very long, drawn out third quarter. (It took 52 minutes, BTW.)
Wemby finally seemed to have his role in this game figured out by the fourth quarter, which was dominate on defense while being a facilitator on offense. A flurry of blocks helped the Spurs start on a 7-0 run to get the lead to 15, and then they weathered one more Pistons storm with timely threes from Vassell, Champagnie and Keldon Johnson. It was a gutsy, impressive win that showed huge growth and an ability to adjust the game plan when Wemby is taken out of it offensively. The win gives the Spurs their first nine-game winning streak since March of 2019.
Next up: at Toronto, 6:30 PM CT on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
