LOS ANGELES — When an NBA team without several starters plays against a reasonably healthy team, like the Lakers did when they hosted the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday in their second night of a back-to-back, two things typically happen.

The short-handed team is likely going to lose, with the talent disparity and lack of on-court familiarity too great for the under-manned team to overcome. 

This came to fruition, with the Spurs blowing out the Lakers 136-108 in a game the hosts at one point were down by 41 points and trailed by at least 25 points for the entire second half.

But what also happens is that players who are either at the back end of the rotation or don’t regularly play receive playing time they usually don’t. 

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Bronny James was among those players, with the second-year guard and son of Lakers star LeBron James having his highest-scoring and most productive game of the season so far. 

The younger James scored a season-high 12 points against the Spurs to go along with a season-high-tying six assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes. 

“Feel different,” Bronny said. “Feel way more comfortable. My teammates believe in me; my coaches beleive in me. That’s all I’ve wanted. It’s just good to get out there and take advantage of the minutes I get.”

What was different about the younger James’ performance against the Spurs is that it came without him receiving as much playing time with the franchise’s South Bay G League affiliate leading up to Tuesday.

In his rookie season, James played 18 games with South Bay as part of his development process, including 12 by mid-February. He didn’t go more than a month without playing a game in the G League, in addition to most of his playing time with the Lakers coming once the result of the game was decided. 

He’s played in nine G League games so far this season, with most of his playing time with the Lakers once again coming in garbage time outside of briefly being in the rotation in the early parts of the season when the team was short-handed. 

Despite the irregular playing time, James looked as comfortable as he has so far in his brief career.

He confidently shot and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. There was the sequence where he blocked Kelly Olynyk at the rim before he knocked down a step-back 3 in Olynyk’s face on the ensuing possession. 

Bronny James Jr. 12 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST, 1 BLK, 5/10 FG, 2/2 3FG, 60% TS vs Spurs https://t.co/ygXLCgwqhSpic.twitter.com/jN2yrzXOoA

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) February 11, 2026

Coach JJ Redick mentioned he had two “really good” defensive possessions in the first half against Victor Wembanyama, who was virtually unstoppable en route to a 40 point-12 rebound double-double in 26 minutes. 

“I’d say defensively, that’s my role that I want to excel at, especially on this team,” Bronny said. “We have a lot of guys, Luka [Doncic], LeBron [James], [Austin Reaves]. Those guys can go get buckets whenever we need them. But they need guys like myself, [Jarred Vanderbilt], Jake [LaRavia], guys who can defend. Definitely get more satisfaction out of that.”

James provided another highlight during a night that didn’t feature many for the Lakers with his alley-oop in the fourth quarter to rookie forward Adou Thiero, who played in his first game since late December after being sidelined for six weeks because of a sprained right MCL.

“He had a great game, just shooting open shots, knocking them down, creating for others,” Thiero said. “I saw Bronny had the balI. I feel like we have the connection now to where I put my finger in the air and he already knows to throw the ball up.”

Tuesday’s performance likely won’t have any impact on James’ standing in the rotation.

But on a night in which the result was pretty much decided before the opening tipoff, James provided what you’d want to see from a player in his position. 

The depleted Golden State Warriors are set to host a San Antonio Spurs team riding a five-game winning streak.

Jonathan Kuminga is gone. Jimmy Butler is out for the season. Steph Curry is hurt. 

As a result, my Spurs vs. Warriors predictions are backing Gui Santos to rise to the occasion tonight.

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11. 

Spurs vs Warriors prediction

Spurs vs Warriors best bet: Gui Santos Over 12.5 points (+105)

Gui Santos has been the biggest beneficiary of the trade and injury-related attrition within the Golden State Warriors' rotation. He's scored in double figures in seven straight games after reaching that mark just twice in his first 36 appearances. 

The former G League standout is now attacking off the dribble and creating his own offense. Santos has started each of the last four games and seen his playing time jump from 12:45 per night to 29:30. 

Santos's shot attempts have also climbed from 3.4 per game to 9.5.

Spurs vs Warriors same-game parlay

The Warriors are just 1-4 against the spread over their last five contests.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs are surging. During their five-game winning streak, the Spurs have defeated three teams with winning records, including the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Golden State has also pumped the brakes offensively. The Warriors have finished at least five points below today's total in three of their last four matches, failing to crack triple digits twice.

Spurs vs Warriors SGP

• Gui Santos Over 11.5 points
• Spurs -7.5
• Warriors team total Under 106.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Green Light

Moses Moody has dished out six assists across the last three games, while Draymond Green provides some of the only remaining size on the Golden State roster.

• Spurs -7.5
• Moses Moody Over 1.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 4.5 assists

Spurs vs Warriors odds

• Spread: Spurs -5.5 (-110) | Warriors +5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Spurs -205 | Warriors +170
• Over/Under: Over 216.5 (-110) | Under 216.5 (-110)

Spurs vs Warriors betting trend to know

San Antonio has hit the moneyline in 19 of its last 30 road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Warriors.

How to watch Spurs vs Warriors

Spurs vs Warriors latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Before attending Tuesday’s game between my Spurs and the hometown Lakers, I investigated how the teams have performed against each other over the years.  A bit of research revealed that the Spurs have a winning record against every team in the NBA except one – the Lakers.  The all-time regular season record going into Tuesday’s game was Lakers 133, Spurs 118. (Spoiler alert: the score is now 133-119.)  Broken down by decade:

1970s (Lakers, 9-5)

1980s (Lakers, 42-22)

1990s (Spurs, 30-19)

2000s (Lakers, 35-29)

2010s (Spurs, 25-14)

2020s (Lakers, 14-5)

So you don’t have to do the research, the second best record against the Spurs is held by the Phoenix Suns, with the Spurs leading that series 128-114.  The worst?  The Brooklyn Nets, which has a 31-81 record against the Spurs, and presumably have a losing record against every team in the league.  No, I am not going to do the research to confirm.

This is a long way of saying that the Spurs and the Lakers have a long history against each other, hard-fought and evenly matched.  The highlight may have been the six-year stretch 1999-2004, as the clubs faced each other in the playoffs in every one of those seasons, with the winner advancing to the NBA Finals each year and the NBA Championship for the first five years of that stretch. In 2004, the Pistons broke the streak by beating the Lakers in the Finals.  We all remember that the Lakers made the Finals in 2004 largely because of the Derek Fisher 0.4 shot over My Man Manu in Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals.  What we try not to remember is the final score of that game: 74-73.  Looking at that score raises the question: Did teams only play three quarters in those days?

The rivalry continued to be great through about 2013, when it essentially went away. In November of 2019, I wrote the following:

But after the 2nd seed Spurs swept the 7th seed Lakers in the first round of the playoffs in 2013, the Lakers went off a cliff. Over the next six seasons, the Lakers finished in 14th, 14th, 15th, 14th, 11th and 10th place in the West. I knew the Lakers had put together a string of bad seasons, but looking back at that string of disastrous years is stunning. Put simply, the Lakers stunk — while the Spurs continued to excel, going 2nd, 1st, 6th, 2nd, 2nd, 7th and 7th. The first five of those years saw another Spurs’ championship and strong contender status each year until the last two.

The lack of a present rivalry grew out of the Lakers’ ineptitude for a lengthy period of time. Put simply, the Lakers were no longer a worthy rival, and thus killed the rivalry. And while the Lakers are back in the driver’s seat this season, the allure of a Lakers — Spurs game has died.

Four months after that article, the pandemic shut down the NBA.  Soon thereafter, the Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, won the 2020 Bubble Championship. And in the following years, the Spurs became the bad team in the faded rivalry. Thankfully, they turned their bad fortune into gold, striking lottery gold in three consecutive seasons by getting Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.  Time will tell whether those three will eventually be seen as the three best back-to-back-to-back draft picks in NBA history.  Of course, the present Spurs squad also carries on the organization’s tradition of having scrap heap/end of the draft guys playing crucial roles: DannyGreen!!, Patty Mills, Boris Diaw (all cut by other teams) and Manu Ginobili (2^nd round) from the Beautiful Game Spurs, and Julian Champagnie (undrafted), Luke Kornet (undrafted) and Keldon Johnson (29^th pick) on this year’s team.

Thanks to my friends Ken and Kim, I had four tickets to Tuesday’s game at Staples/Crypto Arena.  I attended with three fellow hoops enthusiasts, though I was the only Spurs fan in the foursome.  Two of the others are Laker fans, while the third is a lost Knicks fan, a long way from home.  The Knicks fan is also a Jets fan, so we tried to steer our conversation far away from any mention of football.  That is what friends do for each other. And with the Lakers totally chickening out and sitting their three best players, our Jets fan probably felt right at home with one team much better than the other. 

Who else believes that the Lakers would not have sat their best players for a Spurs game back when this was the best rivalry in the league?  Kobe, Shaq, Gasol, Horry, Fox, Odom, and D Fish would not have missed a Spurs game, just as the Big Three and their teammates would not have missed a chance to compete with the Lakers.  Times have changed.

Once we heard how many Lakers were skipping the game, Knick Fan Marc texted me, “Still want to go?”  I don’t know if he was serious or not – but I was clearly going to this game.  The other three also attended.  Looking up at the sell-out crowd, no one else bailed, either.  And all of us who attended got to see something that we may never see again.

Our four seats were essentially baseline extended at the Spurs end of the court, opposite the Spurs bench, so we had the perfect view to see Victor go 8 for 9 from the floor in those first 8 minutes minus one second.  (The picture below of Victor’s free throw shows our view.)  If anyone at the game is ever asked about incredible things we have witnessed in person, we will have those 8 minutes from Spurs at Lakers on February 10, 2026.

Other thoughts

Whenever I report on these games in Los Angeles, I keep an eye out for the number of Spurs jerseys in the stands.  “Back in the day”, when the rivalry was hot, there were always a good percentage of Spurs fans.  During the dark years beginning in 2020, that percentage went way down.  With the Spurs riding the wave with their great young talent, I hoped Spurs fans would turn out in force for this game.  And the LA-area Spurs fans turned out.  I sat next to Spurs fan Steve in his Victor jersey.  Steve is not from Texas but became a fan when the Great Duncan joined the team, and he remains one today.  Two rows in front of me, and one row behind me, were guys with #5 Castle jerseys.  In line behind us before the game was a #10 DeRozan and a #20 Ginobili.  And I need to get my wife this blanket/serape/jacket for cold (LA defined) winter nights.

Also a shout out to the Laker fans who stayed until the end – and that was most of them.  I suppose spending all that money to see the Lakers, even though the best of them chose not to play, encourages people to try to get their money’s worth.  And they got to see Bronny James actually play fairly well in the fourth quarter.  The biggest cheer of the night came when Bronny made a step back three over Kelly Olynyk in the fourth quarter, cutting the Spurs’ lead to a zillion.

We also got to witness a Gonzaga vs. Gonzaga match-up in the fourth quarter.  Olynyk vs Drew Timme.  Not quite Wilt vs. Russell, but it was still fun. Timme outscored Olynyk 14-8, but Olynyk’s team won.  Hmm, somewhat like the old Wilt vs. Russell games, right?

The Chicago Bulls will be looking to break a five-game losing streak as they visit the surging Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Boston is the slowest team in the NBA and has been hitting the Under with regularity, and I’m backing that trend to continue in my Bulls vs. Celtics predictions below.

Read on for the full analysis of tonight’s game as I break down my free NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.

Bulls vs Celtics prediction

Bulls vs Celtics best bet: Under 225 (-110)

The Boston Celtics play at the slowest pace in the NBA, averaging 98.1 possessions per game. That shows in their overall total numbers, with the Under holding a massive 34-19 advantage in Boston’s games this season.

There’s no sign that this trend is changing. The Celtics have now hit the Under in nine straight games, and not a single one of those contests has come in Over tonight’s total of 225 points.

Boston and the Chicago Bulls have played twice this year, and have hit the Under in each of those games. Tonight will be more of the same.

Bulls vs Celtics same-game parlay

Chicago will likely play without Josh Giddey or Tre Jones tonight, leaving them shorthanded against a much better Celtics team. 

I like Boston to cover even with this big spread, and I’m also taking Payton Pritchard to hit his scoring total, as he’s scored 24+ points in three of his last four games.

Bulls vs Celtics SGP

• Under 225
• Celtics -13.5
• Payton Pritchard Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: All about Vucevic

Nikola Vucevic got 23 minutes and put up 13 shots – including six from deep – on Sunday in just his second game in Boston.

My longshot SGP is looking for the former Bulls center to get even more run in a revenge game against his former team, with three targets that the big man has hit plenty of times each this season.

Bulls vs Celtics SGP

• Nikola Vucevic double-double
• Nikola Vucevic Over 1.5 made threes
• Nikola Vucevic Over 1.5 steals + blocks

Bulls vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Chicago +14 (-110) | Boston -14 (-110)
• Moneyline: Chicago +500 | Boston -700
• Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)

Bulls vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Under is 9-0 in Boston’s last nine games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Celtics.

How to watch Bulls vs Celtics

Bulls vs Celtics latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Wizards mascot who was shoved by Jaxson Hayes before a game last month has hired a high-powered lawyer.

Waukeen McCoy, a San Francisco-based attorney, confirmed with The California Post on Wednesday he is now representing the man who Hayes knocked over during a Jan. 30 incident at Capital One Arena in DC.

Jaxson Hayes shoved Wizards mascot, G-Wiz, in pre-game introductions

Hayes has been suspended for one game, per @ShamsCharaniapic.twitter.com/x4xz2Ndw2I

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 4, 2026

McCoy said he and his client are currently in settlement talks with Hayes, though if they break down, formal litigation could ensue.

The mascot, known to Washington fans as “G-Wiz,” was hit by Hayes as he was running around the court waving a giant flag just prior to the Wizards vs. Lakers tilt.

Hayes, who was suspended one game for the push, said he acted out because the mascot had stepped on him while he was warming up for the contest.

TMZ was first to report the news.

Hayes, though, did nonetheless issue an apology to the mascot and his teammates.

“Should’ve handled it a different way,” he said in the days after the scene unfolded. “And, you know, we live and we learn. So, just going to keep doing that now.”

Jaxson Hayes said he apologized to his team and the Wizards mascot after last week’s incident that led to his suspension. Here’s his explanation of what happened: pic.twitter.com/OSDCKdloXh

— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) February 8, 2026

McCoy and Hayes have history. The lawyer represented the NBA player’s ex, Sofia Jamora, when she sued the Los Angeles center for allegedly assaulting her during their relationship.

The two ultimately settled that case last year.

Fans with tickets to Tuesday night’s Lakers vs. Spurs game weren’t the only ones upset over the lack of star power in Los Angeles uniforms.

During “First Take” on Wednesday morning, Stephen A. Smith went off on JJ Redick for sitting LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart all on the same night.

"If you got LeBron James off, make sure somebody else is playing…but damn, everybody? That is disrespectful and insensitive and dismissive to the fans" – Stephen A. Smith on the Lakers resting their starters against the Spurs pic.twitter.com/9l1S5ruKok

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 11, 2026

“A star [Victor Wembanyama] came into the building, in Tinsel Town, and none of the stars for the Los Angeles Lakers purple and gold were in uniform ready to play,” Smith said.

“That is disgraceful.”

All five Los Angeles players have been dealing with nagging injuries, and with the Lakers having just played a tough matchup against the Thunder on Monday night, Redick opted to rest each of them against San Antonio.

The Lakers ended up started Kobe Bufkin, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura, and they were blown out at Crypto.com Arena, 136-108.

Smith said he wouldn’t have minded if Redick gave just a couple of his starters the night off, but all five was just too much for his taste.

“Everybody?” he said on ESPN’s morning show. “That is disrespectful and insensitive and dismissive to the fans. And somebody needs to say it, so, damnit, I’m saying it.”

Smith added he didn’t mean to single out the Lakers, explaining he’s “been annoyed at Steve Kerr” for making similar decisions in Golden State, but he said it’s a growing NBA problem that needs to be addressed soon.

“This is the kind of stuff that makes people, particularly old-schoolers and others who they ingratiate themselves with, resent the product,” he said. “This is what has the league going crazy. Because you’ve got to do all kinds of things from a creative or curating standpoint to come up with stuff just to make up for what shouldn’t be happening. 

“You should show up to work.”

The Lakers have one more game on the schedule before the NBA’s All-Star break — a Thursday night home matchup with the Mavericks. It’s not yet clear which Lakers starters, if any, will be back in uniform for the game.

Isaiah Stewart will have plenty of time to ponder whether he truly got his money’s worth during Monday’s shocking Pistons-Hornets brawl.

The Pistons center received the sternest penalty for the wild brouhaha, getting a seven-game ban while three others received multi-game bans, the league announced Wednesday.

The NBA stated his punishment stemmed from leaving the bench area, “aggressively” entering an on-court altercation and fighting.

Charlotte’s Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate each got hit with four-game suspensions for fighting and escalation, while Stewart’s teammate, Jalen Duren, will sit for two games for initiating and participating.

These suspensions will leave the Pistons without two of their top players for next Thursday’s road game against the Knicks in a potential Eastern Conference finals preview.

“The length of Stewart’s suspension is based on part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the league’s statement, attributed to executive vice president/head of basketball operations James Jones.

The shocking scene unfolded in the third quarter Monday night following a hard foul from Diabate on Duren, which led to the two going head-to-head before Duren put his hand in Diabate’s face.

That ignited the scene, with players from both teams coming over.

Bridges shoved Duren away at that point, while Diabate swung at Duren but missed.

Despite others’ attempts to corral him, Diabate escaped and made a beeline for Duren

Bridges further escalated the situation by re-approaching Duren and punching him, and that’s when Stewart came running off the bench in pursuit of Bridges.

He fought his way through bodies to grapple with Bridges.

All four players received technicals fouls and ejections.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his team’s actions.

“Our guys deal with a lot, but they’re not the ones that initiated. They’re not the ones that crossed the line tonight,” Bickerstaff said. “It was clear, through frustration, because of what J.D. was doing, that they crossed the line. I hate that it got as ugly as it got. That’s not something that you ever want to see, but if a guy throws a punch at you, you have a responsibility to protect yourself.”

Stewart’s checkered history involves multiple suspensions, including last April when he received a two-game ban for a fight during a game against the Timberwolves.

He’s slated to miss a tough stretch that features Wednesday’s road game against the Raptors followed by road tilts against the Knicks and Bulls, home games against the Spurs, Thunder and Cavaliers and then a home matchup against the Magic.

Detroit (39-13) leads the Celtics by 5 1/2 games for the best record in the Eastern Conference, while the Hornets (25-29) are one game ahead of the Bulls for the final Play-In Tournament spot.

Their upcoming slate includes Wednesday’s home game vs. the Hawks, followed by two home clashes with the Rockets and Cavaliers before visiting the Wizards.

BOSTON — Anfernee Simons wasn’t shocked to learn he’d been traded from the Celtics. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers guard was embroiled in trade rumors almost immediately upon arriving in Boston in July, and understood that the Celtics could look to move him ahead of the deadline.

Still, the news stung. Simons had just woken up from a pregame nap in Dallas last Tuesday when he got the call from Brad Stevens that he had been traded to the Chicago Bulls.

“Brad is a good guy, and he’s always been open and honest about everything,” Simons said at Bulls shootaround on Wednesday morning at TD Garden. “Obviously, it was a tough conversation for him, for me to accept, but I understood.”

Anfernee Simons said he had just woken up from a pregame nap in Dallas when he learned he was traded to the Bulls:

“Brad is a good guy, and he's always been open and honest about everything. Obviously, it was a tough conversation for him, for me to accept, but I understood.” pic.twitter.com/MDcKSThEPp

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 11, 2026

The 26-year-old guard loved his time his Boston, and spoke about his tenure glowingly.

“You build a connection with the city and team — you won together, lost together,” Simons said. “So that’s the toughest part, getting some relationships and relationships, and being able to go out there and compete with each other, and that kind of stops, and then you kind of feel you kind of feel sad about it. But the NBA moves fast, not even 48 hours later I’m on the court with a new team.”

For Simons, the on-court transition to Chicago has been relatively seamless. In three games with the Bulls since the trade, he has averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists, shooting 48.9% from the field and 34.4% from three. (The Bulls as a team, however, have not had as much success; they’re 0-3 since the trade deadline).

Still, as he stood on the TD Garden parquet for the first time in 10 days, it felt weird to be donning a red Bulls jersey; last time he was at the Garden, Simons dropped 27 points in a Celtics blowout victory over the Bucks.

“You start to see a future for yourself in Boston, for sure,” Simons said. “[You’re] winning, everything’s going great. You’re getting comfortable. Try their best to make you feel comfortable. And so you wanted to see, obviously, the light at the end of the tunnel, and be able to compete with the team the whole season, but obviously the NBA is a business.”

Simons said knowing he was traded for a great player in Nikola Vucevic made the trade easier to digest. He thinks Vucevic can change the Celtics dynamic as a big who can also stretch the floor, and understands that Vucevic aids the Celtics’ championship pursuits.

“You understand that part,” he said. “So you can get a little bit emotional behind it, but at the same time, you understand it. And, you kind of just move on. I understand that it was for a great player as well, somebody that’s been an All-Star. So you come here and just accept that with his new team, dive straight in and compete.”

Ahead of the trade deadline, Simons had previously expressed a level of nonchalance when it came to being in volved in trade rumors.

“It’s the NBA,” he said last month. “I’ve been in trade rumors since my third year. Every other week, it’s something new. It’s just a part of the NBA, and you just gotta be where your feet are.”

And, since his departure, Celtics teammates have gushed about the impact Simons had in Boston throughout his 49-game tenure.

“He’s just a great, great person, great kid on and off the floor, just humble — I hope he gets everything that he’s looking for just because he just fit right in with his group of guys in our locker room,” Jaylen Brown said. “He could have had different thoughts, and thought differently, and his energy could have been different. He was a great teammate and did everything he needed to do that we asked him and more, and contributed to winning. Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me, and I hope he gets everything he deserves.”

Jaylen Brown really gushed when asked by @ByJayKing about Anfernee Simons being traded:

“Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me — it's a business, but there's a human aspect to it. And since he's been here, he's contributed to winning. He's won us some games. He's… pic.twitter.com/YX6wAB48HM

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 4, 2026

Joe Mazzulla similarly praised Simons for how he handled this relatively brief stint.

“I thought he handled the role and the preparation and the situation about as best as he could — and we’re a better team for that,” said the Celtics head coach. “It came from his humility, his work ethic, and his dedication.”

And, at a community event on Tuesday, Jordan Walsh said that he looked forward to reuniting with Simons in Wednesday’s matchup between the Celtics and the Bulls.

“Fortunately, I’ll see Ant [tomorrow],” Walsh said with a grin. “We’ll have to destroy him, though. But, it’ll be good to see him again, have him back in the Garden. But missing those guys, having them gone, it definitely leaves a void in the arena.”

Could Anfernee Simons eventually return to the Celtics?

Simons’ on-court role may have diminished in Boston — he averaged just 24.5 minutes per game, his lowest in five years — but he felt that the experience greatly benefited him.

“Just the opportunity to go out there and contribute to winning,” Simons said. “And obviously, [it’s] a historic franchise, they have a lot of aspirations to win a championship, and you can see that each and every day — in the way they practice, by their habits, the way they speak to each other, it’s one common goal. So, I learned a lot from just being around and being able to experience it here.”

Simons will finish out the season in Chicago, and become an unrestricted free agent over the summer.

Asked whether he could see himself one day returning to Boston, he smiled.

“Potentially, for sure,” Simons said. “Obviously, got to finish our season here first and see what happens there. But, for sure down the line. Like I said, [I] enjoyed my time here, built great relationships here, so I see it for sure.”

Would you believe the Pacers beat the Knicks?

It took overtime, but you better do. Thankfully, the break is right around the corner, but not before New York dumps the Sixers in a grand pre-ASW finale.

Here’s a bunch of what was said before and after yesterday’s affair.

"We just have to get better with our physicality first, and our communication second"

Mike Brown on the Knicks performance tonight in their loss to the Pacers: pic.twitter.com/dVvE030lk7

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 11, 2026

Mike Brown

On defensive execution vs Indiana:

“We didn’t do a great job of getting into their airspace. We did a little better job in the second half, but by then, they were feeling pretty good about where they were in the game. The past 12, 15 games, we’ve been pretty good about getting to 3-point shooters. We’ve been pretty good about putting physicality on the ball and a lot of other areas defensively. Tonight, it wasn’t there — at least at the level that it has been, along with our communication. Got to give Indiana a lot of credit.”

On late-game execution:

“The Pacers did a great job offensively. We tried to, you know, tighten up as the game went along, which we did, but it just wasn’t quite enough to get it done. We had plenty of opportunity down the stretch to get it done, but when you give a team life from the beginning like we did, it’s gonna be hard.”

On missed opportunities late in the game:

“I thought Jalen down the stretch had some pretty good looks and got to the spots he normally gets to but he just came up short. We got the ball where we needed to get the ball. We got the looks that we wanted to look for during that time. Sometimes they just don’t go in and tonight was one of those nights.”

On the overtime collapse:

“They did a great job offensively. We tried to tighten up the game as we went along. We had plenty of opportunity to get it done. But when you give a team life like we did from the beginning like we did, it’s going to be hard.”

On dealing with prior adversity:

“Obviously we went through some adversity. We went 2-9 or something like that. You hate to lose games and I’m not signing up to lose games, but we have to struggle. I’m a believer that we have to struggle a couple of times this year. Whatever that means. And, it’s going to test our resolve as a group. You have to be connected if you want to give yourself a chance.”

On these losses helping the Knicks prepare for the upcoming playoffs:

“Playoff runs: there is nothing more stressful on an NBA level. Seven-game series, win four of them. That really tests your resolve. Because, man, a lot of things can happen. So be able to hit some adversity. Go through and stay connected and come out of it a little stronger than what you were going into it. It’s something I look forward to.”

On trusting Josh Hart’s scoring instincts:

“I don’t ever call a play for Josh and he finds his way. Teams keep putting their five on him and we tell him to let it fly. He’s really good because he knows when to let it fly.”

On Hart’s offensive impact:

“He makes a big difference offensively. It’s him because he knows how and when to pick his spots with it. Also when he was out and he came back, that first game in Portland, you felt his presence in transition. Whether he was bringing it or just filling that wing, you felt his presence and it’s much needed especially against the better teams.”

"Offensively wasn't the problem tonight"

–– Jalen Brunson to @alanhahn as Knicks lose to Pacers in OT 137-134 pic.twitter.com/8jDLUSw4Yn

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 11, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On Indiana’s competitiveness amid a lost season:

“Regardless of what their record is, they’re great. Great coach, they do everything well, they play hard, they play to the last second. Those qualities that they have, they’re gonna play every single night, regardless of what the record is.”

On the Knicks’ struggles vs. Indiana:

“Defensively, they had a rhythm early and they kept their confidence. Kept the rhythm throughout the entire game.”

On the lack of physicality on Tuesday:

“Just be a little bit more physical. They were in the rhythm. Pick up our intensity on the ball with our physicality and stuff like that, and off-ball, they’re moving really freely tonight, and they were in the rhythm all night.”

On offensive vs. defensive balance:

“Offensively wasn’t the problem tonight. Obviously, defensively, they had a rhythm early, and they kept their confidence and rhythm throughout the entire game.”

"We let them get a little comfortable, and then down the stretch, lack of execution"

Josh Hart was asked what went wrong for the Knicks in tonight's loss: pic.twitter.com/aw1Gn2EEX8

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 11, 2026

Josh Hart

On defensive lapses early:

“We started off the first couple of minutes, we started playing well, but then we let them get a little comfortable.”

On late-game execution:

“Down the stretch, lack of execution. We gotta make sure at the end of the game, fourth quarter overtime is a little bit different. You can’t just run fast, but you got to be able to slow it down and execute, and call plays and get guys in good situations, and areas to be successful. I feel like that’s what we’re kind of lacking.”

On preferring passing over scoring these days:

“I turn down shots, I don’t know how many times. I love getting assists. I used to love scoring. Now, I love getting guys shots, getting guys involved. Sometimes, it’s the bad read because I should shoot it when I’m open, but I love getting guys shots.”

On the need to stay aggressive on the scoring at times:

“Games like Sunday are where that sacrifice is me having to go out there and be super aggressive and keep them honest.”

On adapting his role during his stint in Portland:

“I think I acquired it in Portland. Mark Tyndale, who’s here right now, I think one day I was venting to him. I was saying ‘bro I’m not getting the ball. I’m not getting any touches.’ He’s like ‘we’ve got Dame, we’ve got all these guys. We’re not saying you can’t score. We’re saying we’ve got guys that are better and that’s what they’re here to do.’ And from then on, I said ‘let me work out how I can help these guys and find them in good positions.’ It took a little bit of getting used to, but I think right now I’m in a good head space with it.”

KAT says no we play 5 more pic.twitter.com/8RtcdTgFET

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 11, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On failing defensively against Indiana:

“They had tough shots and they made threes and on the other side, we didn’t make enough threes to combat the amount of shots they were hitting from the three. We didn’t reach that standard of defense that we have shown in recent and it came back to bite us today.”

Jose Alvarado's first Knicks bucket at the Garden pic.twitter.com/DxkeX2p6V6

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 11, 2026

Jose Alvarado

On his MSG debut:

“It’s different. Playing for the Knicks is a huge thing, but I’m literally a kid from the same streets the fans are, and to be part of everything here, it’s a blessing. It’s something I had to get used to and to get it out of the way, let’s get the ball rolling.”

On crowd ovations at the Garden:

“It was amazing. Being a kid from the city, for the city to show me love back, it’s one for the books. I really can’t explain it.”

On the loss in his debut:

“It’s not the outcome we wanted, but I’ll tell you this, it was a blessing to be out there. I can’t wait to continue growing and getting better.”

On pregame nerves:

“I was nervous today, for sure. There was a lot going on. I was glad I got it out the way. I can’t wait to come back and get better and win some games here.”

Yabusele with the fearless dunk over LeBron during the France Olympic stage 2024 https://t.co/8v1JkliMyupic.twitter.com/xRhQPHp4oY

— Rewind Basketball (@rewindbball) February 10, 2026

Guerschon Yabusele

On the decision to remove the player option from his contract to facilitate a trade:

“We can always see the side of the money and talk about it, but at the end of the day the passion is more than just the money. It’s being out there, missing the feeling of being out there, offense, defense. Just competing at a high level because I’m a competitor first. The situation with New York was a little bit different for me because I wasn’t really playing, so being able to be on another team and try to bring value on the court was really important. I was just missing being out there on the court, making mistakes, learning from it and trying to get better.”

On adjusting his contract to chase better opportunities:

“I love it out there with the team, the guys. The coaches, they did a great job of welcoming me the best way they can. Everybody’s telling me how happy they are for me to be out there on the team with them. It just makes it easy for me to have confidence and just feel good on the court.”

On the reason behind his decision:

“I mean the decision was, I wanna say pretty quick and easy. For me to be able to have that second chance at the NBA and come back here, I had to take a risk. So I would say it was nothing new to me. I was thinking about amending my contract and I thought that this was the best thing to do.”

Let’s be real—Jalen Duren didn’t start that Pistons/Hornets mess.

A grown man fouls you and puts his forehead in your face… who isn’t pushing back? pic.twitter.com/Poiz3gSJgp

— 🅧 TYLΞR 🇺🇸 (@itistyler) February 10, 2026

The Utah Jazz look to pick up their second straight win when they host the Sacramento Kings, who are in the midst of a 13-game slide.

The Kings are without their top rebounder, Domantas Sabonis, which should open the door for Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic to have a big night on the glass.

I’ll explain why Nurkic will pick up plenty of rebounds in my Kings vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.

Kings vs Jazz prediction

Kings vs Jazz best bet: Jusuf Nurkic Over 9.5 rebounds (-112)

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis ranks tied for third in the NBA with 11.4 rebounds per game this season, but he’ll be sidelined tonight with a back injury. That opens the door for Utah Jazz big man Jusuf Nurkic to have his own field day on the glass.

Nurkic is no slouch himself, logging 10.4 rpg this season. The Jazz center has snagged Over 9.5 boards in nine of his last 11 contests.

The Kings were already a mediocre rebounding team, allowing 44.7 opponent rebounds per game (19th), and they’ll be significantly more vulnerable on the glass without Sabonis.

Kings vs Jazz same-game parlay

Lauri Markkanen is averaging nearly 27 ppg this season and has dropped Over 20.5 points in 14 of his last 18 outings. With Keyonte George out tonight, Markkanen will be leaned on to carry the Jazz offense.

Utah is not a great team, but Sacramento is even worse. The Kings have not won a game in nearly a month, and they’re missing three of their top players tonight with Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Russell Westbrook all sidelined.

Kings vs Jazz SGP

• Jusuf Nurkic Over 9.5 rebounds
• Lauri Markkanen Over 20.5 points
• Jazz moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Double-doubles galore

Nurkic has eight double-doubles in his last 10 games, Isaiah Collier has three in his last four, and Dylan Cardwell has two in his last three.

Kings vs Jazz SGP

• Jusuf Nurkic to record double-double
• Isaiah Collier to record double-double
• Dylan Cardwell to record double-double

Kings vs Jazz odds

• Spread: Sacramento +6 (-110) | Utah -6 (-110)
• Moneyline: Sacramento +180 | Utah -220
• Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)

Kings vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Jazz have hit the Over in 32 of their last 45 games at home (+17.70 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Jazz.

How to watch Kings vs Jazz

Kings vs Jazz latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Orlando Magic will try to complete a two-game series sweep when they host the Milwaukee Bucks for the second time this week.

Orlando beat up on Milwaukee on Monday, and my Bucks vs. Magic predictions expect more of the same tonight.

Find out more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.

Bucks vs Magic prediction

Bucks vs Magic best bet: Magic -10.5 (-110)

The Orlando Magic took it to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, winning 118-99. 

There’s no reason to expect anything different tonight, withthe Magic continuing to get healthier and Milwaukee still without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup.

In his return from a left ankle sprain, Franz Wagner made an immediate impact, scoring 14 points with five assists in less than 17 minutes.

He should play even more tonight, helping Orlando get back to its optimal lineup. Meanwhile, theBucks are just 6-15 this year without Giannis.

Bucks vs Magic same-game parlay

The Magic have been getting big performances out of their secondary options lately. Desmond Bane has gone Over 26.5 PRA in six out of his last seven games, while Anthony Black has scored 18+ points in three straight contests.

Bucks vs Magic SGP

• Magic -10.5
• Desmond Bane Over 26.5 points+rebounds+assists
• Anthony Black Over 15.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Magic in the air

I’m expecting the Orlando stars to shine tonight. Franz Wagner will see his numbers improve as he plays his way back into the lineup and serves as the perfect complementary piece for Paolo Banchero.

Bucks vs Magic SGP

• Franz Wagner Over 1.5 threes
• Franz Wagner Over 14.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 1.5 threes
• Paolo Banchero Over 0.5 blocks

Bucks vs Magic odds

• Spread: Bucks +10.5 | Magic -10.5
• Moneyline: Bucks +375 | Magic -500
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5

Bucks vs Magic betting trend to know

Orlando is 5-1 ATS in its last six games against the Bucks. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Magic.

How to watch Bucks vs Magic

Bucks vs Magic latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Last one before the break. The Brooklyn Nets played the middle game of their three game homestand and welcomed the Chicago Bulls to Barclays Center. Brooklyn picked up another win and have won back to back games.

The opponent tonight is in their gap year. The Indiana Pacers aren’t heading to the postseason, but they’ve got plenty to focus on. They’ve been in town the past few days and took on their long time rivals, the New York Knicks, last night at MSG. The game went into overtime and the Pacers ruined the Knicks’ plans once again.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.

🤕 Injuries

No Michael Porter Jr. Noah Clowney is probable while Nic Claxton has moved from questionable to doubtful. The two newest Nets, Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott have yet to play and a roster spot remains open. All three two-ways remain with Long Island.

The following are out for Indiana:

• Tyrese Haliburton
• Ivica Zubac
• Johnny Furphy
• Obi Toppin
• Jarace Walker

And with this being night two of a back-to-back, we’ll see if anyone else sits.

🏀 The game

Brooklyn won the first meeting in November.

Last game before the break, so we’ll see how these teams manage their rotations. Indiana played a stressful game last night, so don’t be surprised if their regulars have a reduced workload tonight. With Clowney and Claxton showing up on the injury report, they may have relatively short outings as well.

Tonight is another opportunity for Brooklyn’s guards of the future to put a good outing together. Nolan Traore and Egor Dёmin have been solid and making the most out of their minutes. Jordi Fernandez sees a lot in this duo and is excited for what they can do:

“I don’t see it as one guy covering for the other: I like the shooting from both of them. Nolan’s not shy when he’s open. We’ve seen Egor shoot at a very high level. Nolan’s speed, his paint touches and pick-and-roll playmaking, same with Egor. … They have clear goals, short-term things they need to do on both ends. As long as they keep taking those steps they’re doing a great job and that’s what matters.”

The more minutes they get, the better they’ll be down the line.

When a team is on night two of a b2b and played overtime the night before, you should look to speed them up. The opponent is on tired legs and is just trying to make it through the night in one piece. For the Nets, they should look to get out and run as much as possible. Jumping out to a sizable lead early could make the difference and push the Pacers into making their All-Star plans early.

👀 Player to watch: Pascal Siakam

It takes a special player to be named an All-Star when your team is one of the worst in the league. Siakam has fought through everything this season and has continued to play at a high level for Indiana. His usage is way up, but he’s maintained his efficiency at a reasonable level. When the game is close late, Rick Carlisle can trust him to make something happen. Everyone knew that this was going to be a lost season for the Pacers. However, Siakam’s play has made things a bit more palatable to watch for Pacers fans. When Indiana returns to playoff contention next season, Siakam’s success in a scaled up role will prove to be valuable.

We’ll see how much Noah Clowney plays tonight. As we mentioned earlier, he’s on the injury report but is listed as probable. Since he’s not at full strength, does this mean we’ll see Josh Minott make his Nets debut? Tonight would be the perfect time. In the meantime, matching up against Siakam will do wonders for Clowney’s confidence if he puts a good outing together. Brooklyn’s youth movement will be something that keeps fans tuned in after the All-Star break as everyone starts gearing up for the Draft Lottery this spring.

📺 From the Vault

Tonight the Nets will be hosting their annual Chinese New Year’s celebration game. Let’s learn more about the Lunar New Year!

Here’s the full range of what the Nets are doing to celebrate.

More reading: 8 Points, 9 Seconds, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Indiana Pacers Game Notes – Indiana Pacers
• Indiana visits Brooklyn following overtime win against New York – AP
• What makes the Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe different: ‘Can affect the whole group’ ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nolan Traoré’s evolution is giving the Nets a real floor general ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News