BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn will attempt to stop its three-game road slide when the Nets face Oklahoma City.
The Thunder have gone 22-7 at home. Oklahoma City is seventh in the Western Conference with 25.5 assists per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 6.4.
The Nets are 7-20 in road games. Brooklyn is the worst team in the Eastern Conference scoring 43.2 points per game in the paint.
The Thunder average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Nets give up. The Nets average 107.2 points per game, 0.8 fewer than the 108.0 the Thunder give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cason Wallace is averaging 8.1 points and two steals for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 14.4 points over the last 10 games.
Noah Clowney is scoring 12.9 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 14.1 points and 3.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 5-5, averaging 112.5 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points per game.
Nets: 3-7, averaging 104.2 points, 43.3 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (abdomen), Branden Carlson: day to day (back), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: out (abdomen), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (rest).
Nets: Nic Claxton: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Sacramento Kings (12-45, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (38-16, second in the Western Conference)
Austin, Texas; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio is looking to prolong its six-game win streak with a victory over Sacramento.
The Spurs are 25-13 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks seventh in the league with 16.5 fast break points per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 2.9.
The Kings are 8-29 in Western Conference play. Sacramento is the worst team in the Western Conference scoring averaging 109.9 points per game while shooting 46.1%.
The Spurs are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points lower than the 49.4% the Kings allow to opponents. The Kings average 109.9 points per game, 1.9 fewer than the 111.8 the Spurs give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Spurs won 123-110 in the last matchup on Nov. 16.
TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 13.7 points and 6.8 assists over the last 10 games.
Maxime Raynaud is shooting 55.5% and averaging 10.0 points for the Kings. Nique Clifford is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 7-2, averaging 119.6 points, 48.0 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 7.1 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points per game.
Kings: 0-10, averaging 104.6 points, 44.4 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.1 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Lindy Waters III: out (knee), Mason Plumlee: out (not injury related).
Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland will attempt to prolong its six-game win streak with a victory over Charlotte.
The Hornets are 16-20 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte has a 16-14 record in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Cavaliers are 21-13 against conference opponents. Cleveland is 2-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Hornets average 15.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Cavaliers give up. The Cavaliers average 6.2 more points per game (119.8) than the Hornets allow (113.6).
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers won the last meeting 94-87 on Jan. 22, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 24 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is shooting 40.0% and averaging 19.1 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 22.0 points over the last 10 games.
Mitchell is averaging 28.8 points, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. Sam Merrill is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 8-2, averaging 112.8 points, 48.1 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.2 points per game.
Cavaliers: 9-1, averaging 123.0 points, 43.9 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 10.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: Coby White: out (calf), Liam McNeeley: out (ankle).
Cavaliers: Nae'Qwan Tomlin: out (calf), Max Strus: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Houston Rockets (34-20, third in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (35-21, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Houston visits New York looking to continue its five-game road winning streak.
The Knicks have gone 21-8 at home. New York is seventh in the NBA allowing only 112.1 points per game while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.
The Rockets are 16-13 on the road. Houston is 14-5 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 14.3 turnovers per game.
The Knicks are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 45.7% the Rockets allow to opponents. The Rockets are shooting 47.2% from the field, 1.2% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Brunson is averaging 27.1 points and 6.1 assists for the Knicks. Mikal Bridges is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.
Alperen Sengun is averaging 20.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Rockets. Kevin Durant is averaging 21.6 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 49.0% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 119.8 points, 45.7 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points per game.
Rockets: 6-4, averaging 104.5 points, 46.1 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 10.1 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.8 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle).
Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (41-13, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (24-32, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Chicago; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit plays the Chicago Bulls after Cade Cunningham scored 42 points in the Pistons' 126-111 victory against the New York Knicks.
The Bulls have gone 3-9 against division opponents. Chicago ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 29.1 assists per game led by Collin Sexton averaging 3.6.
The Pistons are 8-3 in division play. Detroit leads the Eastern Conference with 56.9 points per game in the paint led by Jalen Duren averaging 13.3.
The Bulls average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Pistons give up. The Pistons average 117.4 points per game, 3.0 fewer than the 120.4 the Bulls allow.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on Jan. 8 the Pistons won 108-93 led by 31 points from Isaiah Stewart, while Matas Buzelis scored 20 points for the Bulls.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Giddey is averaging 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists for the Bulls. Buzelis is averaging 15.7 points over the last 10 games.
Duncan Robinson is scoring 12.2 points per game and averaging 2.7 rebounds for the Pistons. Cunningham is averaging 26.8 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 1-9, averaging 110.2 points, 42.6 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.8 points per game.
Pistons: 8-2, averaging 117.4 points, 44.0 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 10.9 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.9 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe).
Pistons: Isaac Jones: out (coach decision).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Washington faces Indiana in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams.
The Wizards are 10-23 in Eastern Conference games. Washington has a 2-2 record in one-possession games.
The Pacers are 11-27 in conference games. Indiana is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 32.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Ivica Zubac averaging 7.6.
The Wizards average 112.1 points per game, 6.4 fewer points than the 118.5 the Pacers allow. The Pacers average 12.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Wizards give up.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Wizards won 112-105 in the last matchup on Feb. 20.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kyshawn George is averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 12.6 points over the last 10 games.
Andrew Nembhard is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 assists for the Pacers. Ben Sheppard is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 5-5, averaging 111.7 points, 42.7 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.9 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 115.4 points, 41.9 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Trae Young: out (knee).
Pacers: Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), T.J. McConnell: out (hamstring), Kam Jones: day to day (back), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Pascal Siakam: out (personal), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Eastern Conference foes Atlanta and Miami square off on Friday.
The Hawks are 14-20 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta ranks second in the league with 18.1 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 4.3.
The Heat are 4-5 against opponents in the Southeast Division. Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 17.8 fast break points per game led by Norman Powell averaging 3.6.
The Hawks are shooting 47.1% from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points higher than the 45.8% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat average 119.6 points per game, 1.2 more than the 118.4 the Hawks allow to opponents.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Hawks won 127-115 in the last matchup on Feb. 4. Johnson led the Hawks with 29 points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Heat with 21 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is scoring 23.5 points per game with 10.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 20.1 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 47.4% over the past 10 games.
Jaquez is averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Heat. Bam Adebayo is averaging 20.8 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 42.1% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 116.6 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.0 points per game.
Heat: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 51.1 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: out (knee).
Heat: Keshad Johnson: day to day (calf), Tyler Herro: day to day (ribs), Norman Powell: day to day (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles Clippers face the Los Angeles Lakers in Western Conference action Friday.
The Lakers are 22-14 in conference play. The Lakers are seventh in the Western Conference scoring 116.0 points while shooting 50.0% from the field.
The Clippers are 7-4 against the rest of the division. The Clippers are ninth in the league allowing just 112.3 points while holding opponents to 46.6% shooting.
The Lakers average 116.0 points per game, 3.7 more points than the 112.3 the Clippers give up. The Clippers average 12.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 fewer makes per game than the Lakers allow.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Clippers won the last meeting 112-104 on Jan. 23. Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points to help lead the Clippers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Doncic is averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.
Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals for the Clippers. John Collins is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 116.1 points, 39.2 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 110.0 points, 41.4 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Deandre Ayton: day to day (knee).
Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Darius Garland: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 19: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three-point shot over Sam Hauser #30 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics in the second half at Chase Center on February 19, 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
The Golden State Warriors got back into action on Thursday night and, well, it didn’t go great. The Dubs, who were playing without Steph Curry, spent the bulk of three quarters getting their butts handed to them by the Boston Celtics. Golden State recovered late with a furious rally in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late, as they lost 121-110.
Let’s grade the players who took the court for the Warriors. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Thursday’s games, league-average TS was 58.0%.
I look forward to watching Green and Porziņģis play defense together. It should be really, really fun. Unfortunately, the latter was on a minutes restriction on Thursday, and the former had a fairly atrocious performance.
Grade: D Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
Santos has moved into a starting role, and I think we can firmly and confidently now say that his energy still translates when he plays a large amount of minutes. He’s still the same Gui, flying all over the court on offense and defense, and making the little plays. He doesn’t always make the best plays, but he makes the hustle plays and he just makes the team play better. Santos had a few clutch shots in this game, and kept countless plays alive. He made good things happen.
The worst thing about Melton’s game these days is that he just might be playing his way out of the Warriors price range. That’s a problem for another day. For now, it’s hard to imagine the Dubs being at all competitive with Curry sidelined if they didn’t have Melton. He’s playing so well.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
Moody started this game very well. He made a three on the first possession of the game, and played strong defense on Jaylen Brown in the opening minutes. From there, though, things went downhill. He couldn’t stay in front of Brown for the rest of the game, and really didn’t provide anything on the glass — he only had three rebounds, one of which came when he grabbed his own missed layup. He couldn’t create any offense, either. I kind of wonder if there’s a small ailment he’s working through, because he just looks sluggish and unathletic right now.
There were times in the game where the ball moved beautifully for Golden State, and Spencer was right in the middle of that. His offense helped keep them in the contest in the first half, though his defense really hurt them in the second half.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
Despite coming off the bench, Horford was second on the team in minutes. And while he really struggled to score, he did everything else really, really well. The Warriors got absolutely obliterated on the glass and in the paint, but Horford was the one player who was fighting against that. He had his elbows out all game, and protected the rim while gobbling up rebounds. His screens and passing were very strong.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Porziņģis made his Warriors debut at the start of the second quarter, and it went quite poorly. The Dubs got crushed in his minutes, which wasn’t his fault, but he wasn’t exactly playing well. But when he returned later in the quarter, it seemed that the nerves and rust had been removed, and suddenly things were starting to click. He had a few really nice plays in this game, including impressive hands to catch a speedy pass, gather himself, and dunk in traffic; a shot-clock beating contested three; and a blocked shot. And he spent a lot of time sharing the court with Horford, in a two-big lineup that we’ll likely see a bit of over the rest of the season.
It wasn’t all pretty. He looked a step slow, which was understandable given that he’d been sidelined for over a month. He rarely seemed to venture inside the arc on defense, which may have been partially a schematic decision, but certainly stood out. He had a pair of turnovers.
Those are usual bumps and bruises. Overall, the expectations were low given how long he’d been out, and the fact that he was in a new system, and he exceeded those expectations.
Payton was one of the biggest — perhaps the biggest reason why the Warriors made such a strong attempt at a second-half comeback. His defense was all over the place, forcing multiple turnovers, even if he was only credited with one steal. His offense was electric, both getting out in transition for buckets that brought life to the arena, and draining threes to make the deficit manageable. Just a fantastic game for GPII.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
Green did not have his usual stat line, so Podziemski had it for him, instead. An exceptionally well-balanced game for Podz which, critically, didn’t include a turnover or a foul. It wasn’t his best defensive performance, but that’s picking nits in a really great game. Good to see him play so well.
Richard had a huge sequence in the first quarter. After Boston had pushed the lead to 10 points, Richard drained threes on both ends of the two-for-one to end the frame, getting the Dubs right back into it. The team couldn’t maintain that performance, but Richard did. He was one of their biggest offensive weapons, and his defense was swarming. I’m looking forward to seeing how he finishes out his highly successful rookie campaign.
Grade: A
Thursday’s DNP-CDs:Malevy Leons, Quinten Post, Nate Williams
Thursday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry
Bennedict Mathurin, acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, had 38 points off the bench against Spencer Jones and the Nuggets in just his third game as a Clipper. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)
Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his home debut for the Clippers, and they held off the Denver Nuggets 115-114 on Thursday night.
Denver’s Jamal Murray had a chance to tie it on three free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining after a foul from Derrick Jones Jr. Murray made the first two before missing the third, with time expiring on the rebound.
Kawhi Leonard added 23 points, and Jones had 22 to help the Clippers (27-28) improve to 21-7 since Dec. 20. Both teams were coming off the All-Star break.
Mathurin, acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, was 12 for 22 from the field, while Leonard went eight for 18 and scored at least 20 points for the 34th consecutive game.
Nikloa Jokic had 22 points and 17 rebounds for Denver (35-21). Murray scored 20 points, Bruce Brown had 19, and Cam Johnson and Julian Strawther added 18 each.
Denver was without Aaron Gordon (hamstring) for the 10th consecutive game, while Peyton Watson (hamstring) has missed the last four.
Tempers flared with 10:27 remaining when the Clippers’ Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kris Dunn and Mathurin tangled with the Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas under the Denver basket after a free throw.
Dunn, Mathurin and Valanciunas all received technical fouls, with Denver making one free throw for an 83-83 tie.
The Nuggets tied it 107-107 with 46 seconds remaining on a shot inside from Jokic. The Clippers went ahead by four on free throws from Mathurin and Jones, but Murray drove for a dunk and hit a three before drawing the foul by Jones on a last-ditch attempt from beyond the arc.
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 19: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on February 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Broadway. CBGBs (RIP). The Apollo. Yankee Stadium (RIP).
Ain’t a patch of terra firma anywhere else on the whole damn terra can rival the platforms NYC does. Madison Square Garden’s on that list, where last night Cade Cunningham was Sinatra, the Beatles, James Brown and Michael Jordan in a 126-111 Detroit Pistons win.
The Knicks went into the All-Star break winners of 10 of 12, but this was the first leg of their most brutal stretch of the season, the first leg of a two-week gauntlet featuring home dates with Houston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, while visiting Cleveland, Toronto, Denver and the Lakers; three of those road games games are one end of a back-to-back.
Every win is a good win, but with only three games separating the East’s second- and fifth-seeds, every win is one the Knicks need, not only for their confidence (now 16-15 against winning teams) but for their playoff positioning. One slip in form — one injury — and instead of hosting the Magic in the opening round and the Celtics in the semis, they might need to win as the lower seed against Cavs only to open the next round in Michigan.
Dunno know if you heard, but this season the Pistons have whupped the Knicks not once, not twice, but thrice. You can tell they and their fans are awfully excited, and who can blame them? Knick fans know better than most what it’s like to suffer a long dry spell, then awaken back to life. Yet Detroit was without their top two bigs, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, both suspended after the latter sprang to the defense of the former after he’d been sucker-punched by someone who’s twice beat up his children’s mother (twice that we know of). It seemed the Knicks caught a break. All they caught was a whupping.
Last year the Pistons beat them five times in the regular season and playoffs by a total of 32 points. Detroit took the first two meetings this season by 31, then 38; while this game was closer (the Knicks were still in it midway through the third), Mars is closer than Jupiter, yet very far indeed. Last night was easily the most competitive game between the teams this season and Detroit still led the final 40 minutes. Counting last year and this year’s regular-season and playoffs, they’re 8-5 against New York.
I haven’t believed these Pistons can beat the Knicks in this year’s playoffs, mostly because of things that have little to nothing to do with these Pistons. They haven’t won a postseason series since George W. Bush was the inept war criminal Nepo Baby-in-Chief, as opposed to the metastasized malignancy in place today. NBA teams don’t go from “haven’t won a series in 17 years” to the Finals. It just doesn’t happen. Then again, jump-shooting teams never won till Golden State did in 2015. Of course, they were never “just” a jump-shooting team.
Maybe what these Pistons are matters more than whatever they’re not. What they are is physical, big and long, and dead certain they’re better than the Knicks. What they’re not is a great shooting team, nor is Cade considered a great shooter, and yet this year against the Knicks the Pistons are shooting 56/46/80 AS A TEAM, outscoring their more accomplished elders by 40 points on 2s and 51 on 3s.
This is a rivalry now, or what passes for one after decades of owners with dildos for brains devolving until it’s nearly impossible to keep a team together more than 2-3 years or find where to watch half their games. The Knicks and Pistons can both taste it. “The old East is dying,” Gramsci might’ve said, “and the new East struggles to be born. Now is the time of monsters.” Such a time to be a monster!
The Pacers are on sabbatical for a year. The Celtics are under new management. The Cavs, the league’s most disappointing playoff team the past few years, are risking it all on James Harden, the league’s most disappointing playoff performer for over a decade. The Banchero/Bane Magic have yet to make any. Despite getting the best run of play Joel Embiid’s shown in nearly two years, the 76ers have made it clear they’re no longer about the present and are looking to the future. The Heat haven’t been the Heat for a while.
The East’s two best teams met last night, as did its two best players. Jalen Brunson scored an efficient 33 to go with eight assists (33rd and 8th!). But he also had half his team’s dozen turnovers. Cunningham’s no debutante, but his performance felt like a coming-out party, a degree of leveling up you maybe weren’t expecting. Mozart’s last two symphonies. Beethoven’s last. Radiohead going from The Bends to OK Computer. Cade going from “that man is niiiice” to “that man is nassssty.”
There’s all kinds of fans and all kinds of fandoms. Me, personally, I was first drawn to the Knicks and the NBA because of my love of the game. So while I def wouldn’t react the same way in May, best believe I enjoyed Cade’s effort immensely. The East has stunk for a while. Cunningham joining the Tatum/Haliburton/Giannis-when-he’s-healthy stratosphere is a treat for those who love stargazing.
Also, Cade is dangerous. Legitimately. Trae Young had a good two weeks against the Knicks in 2021, but they’ve pretty much always had his number in the regular season; there wasn’t ever a second act to develop real drama. To varying extents, Tatum and Haliburton’s teams have punted on this season, if only to better position themselves to relaunch. Jeremy Sochan had some very nice defensive moments, but Cunningham roasted every Knick that tested the flames. Too big, too quick and too good.
When’s the last time (some of you may be too young to have an answer for this) the Knicks mattered and were up against legit dangers like Cunningham and Haliburton, players you know ached to beat them? I’d think after last year Tatum and Jaylen Brown would love nothing more than a second-round rematch. The Knicks are (despite last night’s L) a great team! And a lot of great teams in the East have a target on the Knicks’ backs. If this doesn’t quicken you as a fan, we’re not the same species.
Quoth Jaybugkit: “Kinda contentious.” These Pistons are. They oughta be; nobody values wealth like someone who grew up poor. Two years ago Detroit had the league’s worst record; now they have the best. Two to three months from now, they could meet the Knicks with a lot more than bragging rights at stake.
I hope by then both teams are healthy (OG Anunoby returned to the lineup after two weeks out and looked like someone returning after two weeks out). I hope Cade and Brunson bring their A-games. I hope the Knicks remember Karl-Anthony Towns being a great shooter and scorer for a 7-footer also means he’s a 7-footer, so get his butt down on the block for once instead of everything being a 3 or a drive 25 feet from the hoop. These Knicks/Pistons games have all almost been over before they began. Hopefully the rivalry is just getting started.
The Pistons didn’t have Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart on Thursday. With those two sidelined, it was logical to think Karl-Anthony Towns would have a big game.
After the game, Towns was asked if there was an emphasis to get the ball inside against the short-handed Pistons.
“I mean, our offense is our offense. It’s been that way all year,” Towns said. “So we have our system and we’re gonna — regardless of who’s in the game or not in the game — we run the system that we have implemented for our team to the best of our abilities.”
So, no, the Knicks did not look to go to Towns more often against Detroit’s depleted front court. Towns did have eight points in the first two minutes of the second half, but none of it mattered in the end.
The Knicks lost to the Pistons for the third straight time this season; the past two losses were by a combined 69 points.
Towns’ offense wasn’t the only issue this time. The Knicks couldn’t stop Cade Cunningham. They couldn’t make outside shots and they couldn’t keep Detroit off of the offensive glass.
But Towns’ comfort and production in the Knicks' offense have been a question mark for most of the season.
“He’s comfortable,” Mike Brown said after the game. “We’re continuing to try to do different things to help free him up. And we’ll continue to search to try to do different things to free him up throughout the course of the year.”
Maybe the Knicks should take a page out of the Pistons’ playbook on this one. It seems to me that there is a clear hierarchy in Detroit. It’s Cunningham first and foremost; all the Pistons players know it and they know their roles. They excel in their roles, defend well and get the ball from Cunningham regularly (13 assists on Thursday).
Jalen Brunson is unquestionably the face of this Knicks team. But it seems to me that the hierarchy in New York isn’t defined well. At least, it’s not defined as well as it is in Detroit.
As Brown and the Knicks search to free Towns up, maybe they should take a look at what’s going on in Detroit.
The offense would be much simpler if Brunson led and everyone filled in roles around him. Maybe that’s not realistic for this Knicks team. But it’s working in Detroit.
Jose Alvarado: "Playoffs is a whole different ballgame. We're not going to sit here and say, 'oh, they beat us in the regular season...' We're not thinking like that." pic.twitter.com/Dm1QB2oxbZ
The Pistons are 3-0 against the Knicks this season. They’ve swept the season series, winning by a combined 84 points. This obviously doesn’t bode well for the Knicks in the playoffs. But the Knicks last season showed you that the regular season doesn’t always matter. They lost all four games against the Celtics last season but beat them in the second round of the playoffs.
"Playoffs is a whole different ballgame,” Jose Alvarado said after Thursday’s game. “We're not going to sit here and say, 'oh, they beat us in the regular season...' We're not thinking like that."
MIKAL OUT MOST OF FOURTH
Mikal Bridges went to the bench with9:30 to go in the fourth quarter on Thursday and never returned. Brown went with Landry Shamet over Bridges in an effort to cut the Pistons’ lead.
“Landry had hit a couple shots. We needed to score. They’re both really good defenders. And so I just stayed with Landry,” Brown said. “But it wasn’t anything where, ‘Oh, I’m going to sit Mikal because he’s not doing this, or he’s not doing that.’ We were looking to score points and Landry was the only one to make a shot from behind the arc.”
Shamet went 3 for 8 from beyond the arc against the Pistons. The rest of the Knicks went 5 for 27. Bridges, Towns and OG Anunoby hit two of their combined 15 attempts.
QUITE A MOMENT
Zevi Samet, the leading scorer in Yeshiva University program history, took some time in the heart of his season to help uplift a young boy in need. Samet brought Kobe, a young teen, to Knicks-Pistons on Thursday. It was Kobe’s first NBA game. The two connected through the Moments to Memories Fund, which is dedicated to providing meaningful experiences to people/families in need. This week will mark 12 years since Kobe’s mom passed away. It is an emotional time for the young teen and his family. Attending Thursday’s game gave uplifted Kobe during a difficult time of year. Samet is averaging 22.7 points per game this season and set the program record for career points last month. Samet and Yeshiva begin the Skyline Conference championship tournament on Tuesday.
Feb 19, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Dickerson (7) takes a jump shot against Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
This is a kind of glass half full win. The glass isn’t entirely full, but nor is it entirely empty. It’s definitely better than a close loss by a reverse of this score. Tonight the Rockets tied their season series with Charlotte. That’s pretty good, considering how well the Horncats have played lately and that they’ve seen this very hot Hornets team twice in their past few games. Tonight’s loss brought the Hornets down to 8-2 over their last 10 games. The Rockets remain a solid B at 6-4.
The Hornets average over 115 points per game. The Rockets held them to 101, with defense we have not really seen since early in the season. Half full!
I wonder if we haven’t seen as much of that defense in the past month or six weeks because it’s an exhausting way to do things in the NBA, hoping you can hold opponents to around 100 points, when NBA average scoring is 114. With the All Star Break the Rockets returned re-energized perhaps, because they totaled 23 “stocks” with 15 steals and eight blocks. Half full, right? Also, half empty, as it’s difficult to believe the Rockets will get so many stocks every night.
The Rockets won despite shooting 28% from three point range, on a goodly number of open shots. Half full! But they started the game on pace to shoot about 40 3pt shots after the first half, but reverted to form and ended up shooting 32. Which is above their second lowest in the NBA season average, at least.
The Hornets shot 10 more 3pt shots, and they didn’t make they at a much better rate than the Rockets. But those 10 extra three pointers more or less kept the Hornets in the game late, when they really should have returned to their papery nest for the night.
Kevin Durant, or perhaps “Mr. Dickerson”, had a splendid night. He played a relatively low 36 minutes. He scored 35pts on 14-20 shooting, with 8rbs, 4ast, 1stl, and 3blk. He was 2-4 from three. Also everything else was a high degree of difficulty two point shot. He didn’t get the ball as often at the top of the 3pt arc, which reduced turnovers and sped up the offense slightly, so glass half full, overall.
KD didn’t end up hurting the Rockets, as he has some of his nights with a truly godawful number of live ball turnovers. In fact, this might have been one of his best games as a Rocket. Half full!
Half empty, this is good, because the Rockets definitely needed every tough, contested, mid range jumper he could provide. The next highest Rockets scorer was Jabari Smith Jr, who had a nice night, at 15pts on 6-9. Sengun had 13, and continues to struggle somewhat on offense, only going 6-16, but totaling a team high 7 assists. Reed Sheppard also had 13, but on 5-12 shooting. Reed seems to be able to either make threes, or twos, but not both at the same time. Still, his 24 minutes were the highest +/- of any bench player, and his impact, despite the half emptiness of his 3pt shot tonight, was positive.
I do have a “glass actually full” player tonight. Perhaps you weren’t expecting it to be Dorian Finney-Smith, but it was, overall. He didn’t post a huge statline, but a useful one, and he was a useful player. For the first time DFS looked like a veteran NBA player. Hopefully that’s what the Rockets will get going forward, as Josh Okogie seems to be the latest player banished to Imeberia. He might be hurt, but if not, playing him would have meant playing 10 players, and that’s straight insane.
Let’s be happy with this win, over a team that’s been one of the best in NBA over the past eight weeks. The Rockets are in third place, but also in a virtual with Denver in the Western Conference after Jamal Murray missed a game tying, and hard grifted, free throw with less than a second left in regulation.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 19: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Victor Wembanyama #1 during game against Phoenix Suns in the first half at Moody Center on February 19, 2026 in Austin, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The music was bumping, the crowd leaned forward and the fiesta-themed jerseys once again felt right at home in a city that prides itself on keeping things weird.
On a night when the energy inside the Moody Center built with every defensive stop and every finish at the rim, the San Antonio Spurs turned a competitive first half into a runaway, routing the Phoenix Suns 121–94 in front of an enthusiastic Austin crowd.
The final margin — 27 points — told only part of the story. What began as a steady, workmanlike effort evolved into a showcase of depth, discipline and defensive bite.
San Antonio didn’t explode out of the gate. The Spurs instead slowly and quietly established control, leaning on ball movement and active hands on defense to build a 30-25 lead after one quarter. The Suns, even while short-handed, hung around early behind timely perimeter shooting and key half-court execution.
But the tone of the night was being set on the other end of the floor.
Every time Phoenix ventured into the paint, it found alien-like length waiting. Every rushed pass was met by a deflection. And as the second quarter unfolded, the Spurs began to squeeze.
Midway through the period, the silver and black strung together a decisive run sparked by transition opportunities and second-chance points. The defense fed the offense; missed Suns shots quickly became fast breaks the other direction that turned into easy points for San Antonio. By halftime, the Spurs had turned a tight contest into a 61-49 advantage — comfortable, but not yet secure.
Then came the third quarter, where the game tilted for good in the favor of the fiesta jerseys.
The Spurs emerged from the locker room sharper, faster and far more aggressive. They opened the half with a flurry — attacking the rim, rotating swiftly on defense and closing out shooters with purpose. What had been a 12-point cushion ballooned as Phoenix struggled to find rhythm.
San Antonio outscored the Suns 37-22 in the third, and with each possession the gap widened and the energy inside the building intensified. The Spurs forced tough shots late in the shot clock. They dominated the glass. They converted in transition. It was the kind of quarter that young teams strive for — poised but relentless.
At the center of the effort was Victor Wembanyama, who once again made his presence felt and for Phoenix, unavoidable. Altering shots at the rim, stretching the floor offensively or finishing above defenders, the Spurs’ phenom dictated space and pace. Even when he wasn’t scoring, his gravity altered the defense, creating clean looks for teammates spotting up on the perimeter or cutting along the baseline.
But this was not a one-man show.
San Antonio’s supporting cast delivered as well. The guards pushed tempo and shared the ball, turning good shots into great ones. Role players came off the bench and immediately impacted the game — diving for loose balls, rotating into passing lanes, finishing through contact. The Spurs’ offensive balance was evident in the box score and unmistakable on the court.
By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the competitive tension had dissipated. The Spurs’ lead hovered comfortably above 20, and Phoenix’s body language reflected the uphill climb.
San Antonio didn’t let up.
Instead of easing into the finish, the Spurs maintained defensive intensity, refusing to allow the Suns any sign of hope. The bench unit extended possessions, moved the ball freely and continued attacking mismatches. The final minutes became a celebration of depth and development — a reminder that this roster is growing together.
For Phoenix, the absence of key contributors loomed large, particularly as the game wore on. Without its full core of playmakers, the Suns struggled to generate consistent offense against San Antonio’s length and pressure. Attempts to rally were met with another stop, another rebound, another quick outlet pass leading to a layup or open jumper.
By the time the final horn sounded, the 121–94 scoreline felt inevitable.
The Spurs shot efficiently, won the rebounding battle and forced turnovers that translated into easy points. Perhaps more importantly, they displayed the kind of composure and connectivity that signals maturation. Early-season growing pains have gradually given way to stretches of cohesive basketball, and Friday night’s performance served as another step forward.
For a team still building its identity, nights like this matter. Not just because of the margin of victory, but because of how it was achieved — through defense, balance and sustained effort.
As fans filtered out into the Austin night, the buzz lingered. The Spurs had not only secured another win; they had delivered a performance that felt representative of their trajectory — young, confident and increasingly complete.
And for at least one evening at the Moody Center, the future of San Antonio basketball felt as bright as the scoreboard suggested.
OG Anunoby struggled against Cade Cunningham during the Knicks' loss to the Pistons on Thursday.
Cade Cunningham got around Mikal Bridges, crossed up Mitchell Robinson then dunked all over Karl-Anthony Towns.
He flexed for a second and yelled at a Madison Square Garden crowd that he was sucking the life out of.
Sharing a floor with Jalen Brunson, this time around it wasn’t even close who the best player on the court was.
He probably won’t win it this year, but Cunningham looked like an MVP.
He finished with 42 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in the Pistons’ 126-111 thrashing of the Knicks on Thursday night, moving New York to 0-3 against Detroit this year.
Most troublingly, OG Anunoby was the Knicks’ primary defender on Cunningham and provided almost no resistance, particularly during a third quarter in which Cunningham took over the game.
He scored 11 straight Pistons points during one stretch in that third quarter.
Cunningham shot 57.1 percent when Anunoby was matched up with him, per NBA Courtside’s tracking stats.
OG Anunoby defends during the Knicks’ loss to the Pistons on Feb. 19, 2026. Getty Images
Knicks coach Mike Brown tried Josh Hart and Jose Alvarado on Cunningham later in the fourth quarter, but the results were not much different.
Anunoby left before the locker room was opened to the media.
“He can do a lot for a guy his size and puts teams in predicaments with the stuff that he’s doing because really your guy is [6-foot-2], 6-1 and is on a guy who is 6-7 doing it,” Brown said of Cunningham. “And you’re putting a small forward on him. Most of the time the small forward isn’t used to navigating the stuff that he does on the floor.”
When the Knicks made a mini-run to cut the deficit to 12 points with just under five minutes left in the game, Cunningham drilled a stepback trey to remove any little suspense that was still lingering in the arena.
“We want to try to keep the ball off the middle of the floor,” Brown said. “And we didn’t do a good job of it. We allowed him to get to the middle of the floor often. And when he got to the middle of the floor he hurt us. So we have to do a better job of trying to keep the ball on the sidelines and not allowing it to get to the middle of the floor.”
Anunoby missed the last four games before the All-Star break with a right toenail avulsion.
He had his entire toenail removed and is still in pain, he said previously, with it still being an open wound.
Cade Cunningham attempts a shot during the Knicks’ Feb. 19 loss to the Pistons. NBAE via Getty Images
And Thursday was a nightmarish return to the court.
Other than his defensive no-show, he had a brutal shooting night.
He recorded just eight points on 3-for-13 shooting from the field and 1-for-8 shooting from 3-point range.
As a team, the Knicks went just 8-for-35 from deep.
“We did a great job of generating some wide-open looks, especially from the 3-point line,” Brown said. “They just didn’t go in tonight.”
No, they certainly didn’t.
It seemed all of Cunningham’s did, however — particularly against Anunoby.
