PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks had surgery Monday to repair a fractured left hand and will miss at least the next four-to-six weeks before being re-evaluated, the team said Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Brooks was hurt during Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic. He's averaging a career-high 20.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
The Suns have been one of the NBA's surprise teams this year with a 33-25 record, but have suffered a recent rash of injuries. The team's top three leading scorers — All-Star guard Devin Booker (strained hip), Brooks and Grayson Allen (knee/ankle) — were sidelined for a 92-77 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Also on Tuesday, the Suns said reserve guard Jordan Goodwin is out for a least one-to-two weeks with a left calf strain. Goodwin is averaging 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Tiley is leaving his post as the head of Tennis Australia and the tournament director of its Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open.
The USTA said in a news release that Tiley will start the new job in the coming months.
He replaces Lew Sherr, who left the USTA last year to join the New York Mets as their president of business operations. Sher had been the USTA's CEO since 2022.
Tiley, who is from South Africa, was the head coach of men's tennis team at the University of Illinois from 1994 to 2005, including an NCAA championship and 32-0 record in 2003.
He was the Australian Open's tournament director since 2006 and oversaw its expansion to a 15-day event, breaking attendance and revenue records. Tiley became the CEO of Tennis Australia in 2013.
“Craig brings a rare combination of global credibility at the highest level of the sport and a proven commitment to growing the game at the grassroots. That balance is exactly what this moment requires," said Brian Vahaly, the USTA Board chair and the USTA's interim co-CEO.
The gold-medal-winning U.S. men's Olympic hockey team landed at Joint Base Andrews and visited President Donald Trump at the White House before attending his State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
Forward Matthew Tkachuk posted pictures on social media of members of the team celebrating on what appears to be a U.S. government plane and a group shot of them deplaning.
The U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday at the Milan Cortina Olympics. It was the Americans' first gold medal in men’s hockey since the “Miracle on Ice” group won in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980.
The team received a State of the Union invitation from Trump following the game. A video that circulated on social media appeared to show Trump inviting the team on a phone call in the locker room, as he joked that he'd also have to invite the women's team, which also won gold over Canada.
The men took a chartered plane to Miami on Monday night before traveling to the nation's capital in the morning.
Videos and photos of the team’s White House visit were shared on social media by Trump administration aides. Team members posed for a photograph in front of the South Portico after they arrived. They also walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has posted portraits of every U.S. president just steps away from the Oval Office, where they were welcomed by Trump.
As they approached the Oval Office, some of the players popped into the press office's open door to flash their medals. Staffers applauded and shouted, “We love you!”
“I recognize every one of you. I know every one of you,” Trump said as the players entered the Oval Office, which he has redecorated with numerous flourishes of gold that matched the players’ medals.
“Big guys,” he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players, who wore dark tops with “USA,” the American flag and the Olympic rings on the front and light colored pants.
The Minnesota Timberwolves delivered one of their worst performances of the season on Sunday, but with multiple rotation players available tonight, those worries should be rectified against the Portland Trail Blazers.
My Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks expect redemption on Tuesday, February 24.
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers prediction
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers best bet: Timberwolves -6.5 (-110)
The Minnesota Timberwolves were embarrassed on Sunday, losing by 27 to a shorthanded 76ers team that shot 21-of-37 (57%) from deep.
Two days of intense film study typically spark a renewed defensive effort from the Timberwolves, which will be to the Portland Trail Blazers’ detriment tonight.
Strong defense fuels offense, creating transition and secondary transition opportunities. Minnesota’s roster has steadily embraced this mindset, with the bench leading the charge.
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Naz Reid’s absence was felt on Sunday due to a nagging shoulder keeping him out.
While Reid is available tonight, his shooting rhythm could still be affected by that lingering issue.
A less effective Reid, combined with Minnesota’s defensive emphasis, should open up more offensive opportunities for Ayo Dosunmu.
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers SGP
Timberwolves -6.5
Naz Reid Under 2.5 threes
Ayo Dosunmu Over 11.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big Ru Goes Brrrr
Rudy Gobert’s absence was distinct on Sunday, as Minnesota’s defense became unmoored.
Gobert's defensive excellence should be complemented tonight by a bevy of offensive rebounds that lead to his 12th double-double in his last 21 games.
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
Portland is just 2-4 against the spread at home this month, including 0-2 as an underdog. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers
Location
Moda Arena, Portland, OR
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Boston, MA - December 15: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff watch the action in the first quarter. The Celtics played the Pistons at TD Garden on December 15, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics have been one of the great surprise stories of the season. Much of the credit for that success goes to head coach Joe Mazzulla. Tonight they play another surprise team in the Phoenix Suns, led by Jordan Ott.
This has led to some animated discussions online about who deserves to be Coach of the Year. The other frequently named candidate is JB Bickerstaff who has led the Detroit Pistons to the best record in the East. Some would also point to Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson.
We here are (without shame) very biased towards our team. So for the sake of discussion, I’ll ask that you carefully and reasonably-objectively consider the cases for the other coaches.
JB Bickerstaff (Pistons): This is by no means consensus, but in the preseason John Schuhmann had the Pistons power ranked 11th overall and 4th in the East. They have been the runaway leaders in the East all season long and show no signs of slowing down. They have a real identity and have really “bought in” to their coach. Cunningham has elevated into the MVP discussion and Jalen Duran got his first All Star nod.
Jordan Ott (Suns): Back to the Schuhmann rankings, you have to scroll WAY down to find the Suns at 25th overall. It made sense too, after trading away Kevin Durant and ejecting Bradley Beal. Yet somehow, some way, the Suns are 7th in the West with a .569 winning percentage. How he’s winning with this Land of Misfit Toys roster (Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Jalen Green) is beyond me.
Joe Mazzulla (Celtics): I think you are familiar with his game.
UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 9: Nolan Traore #88 of the Long Island Nets drives to the basket during the game against the College Park Skyhawks on December 9, 2025 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Marcus Stevens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Within the Nets’ organization, player development is a priority. When you’re rebuilding, it has to be. That’s a given. But it’s not just about the obvious development track.
Whether a rookie or veteran enters the building, growth is prioritized — especially from within. While the focus is rightly on the Flatbush Five, the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, is working on that and a lot more, from two-ways to fallen angels to local projects … always looking for that diamond in the rough. The G League may not produce All-Stars, but rosters are rebuilt in a lot of ways.
“We try to build all the players, of course. Priority guides the assignments in two ways, which is noted, but at the same time, we want to develop everyone,” Long Island’s head coach Mfon Udofia, told ND. “We’re not always going to have the two-way guys or assignment guys, so we want to develop all 10 players. We want to pour into these guys.”
“Once you come to Long Island, it’s a fresh start,” the head coach continued. “We don’t care what you did in the past — it’s about what’s next. We take on that challenge. We want to revive guys’ careers and help them get better. We talk about it all the time: everybody has a next level. Our job as coaches is figuring out how to help you reach that next level.”
Just ask Killian Hayes. He may not be wearing a black-and-white of the Brooklyn Nets or the red, white, and blue of Long Island but he’s doing well. Just this weekend, he got a 10-day from the Sacramento Kings after playing well this season for the Cavs affiliate. His journey through Nassau County and the borough of Brooklyn shows just how things can work out on the Island, how the underappreciated process works.
The former No. 7 overall pick endured three rocky seasons, to put it mildly, to open his NBA career. He ranked dead last in effective field goal percentage in each of his first three seasons, never getting above 42.6%, well below the league average of 54.8%. He was called the worst player in the NBA and was unceremoniously waived at the 2024 trade deadline!
By the summer of 2025, Hayes was still without a team and without a clear path forward. After failing to land an NBA opportunity, the situation took another tough turn in June when he was released from France’s national team. Then on the advice of former Nets assistant Adam Harrington, Brooklyn took a chance on him and he wound up in Long Island.
Udofia and associate head coach Shawn Swords, who lead Long Island’s development efforts, played a pivotal role in helping Hayes rebuild his confidence — particularly in embracing a leadership role, as Hayes told ND.
“My biggest thing I learned was using my voice — just being a leader to those guys… I wanted to keep improving and keep working on my skills,” said Hayes, still only 24.
Late last season, the Nets even awarded him with a 10-day deal in which he started five games and shot 38.1% from deep, a far cry from his Detroit days when he never broke 28% in a single season. Brooklyn looked like his next landing spot but once the Nets took another, even younger French point guard, Nolan Traore, in the draft, they moved on, but the foundation Hayes built in their system remains the blueprint as he continues to chase his way back to the NBA.
And he’s not the only Long Island alumnus to succeed this season at the NBA level. There’s also Drew Timme. A three-time All-American at Gonzaga, he went undrafted. By the the time he arrived in Long Island last year from the Stockton Kings, the result of a G League trade, his NBA prospects looked meager. He was averaging 11.9 points and shooting 12.5% from deep. Things changed at Nassau Coliseum.
After making the All-G League team and averaging 23.9 points and 10.3 with Long Island, he like Hayes was also called up at the end of the season and averaged 12 and 7 for Brooklyn. He even got an invitation to training camp but ultimately got cut by the big club. Like Hayes, his Nets career ended with the 2025 Draft and Brooklyn’s extreme youth movement. He’s five years younger than Danny Wolf, just as Traore is five years younger than Traore. On the rebuilding Nets, youth must be served.
So, Long Island traded Timme’s G League rights to the South Bay Lakers. He eventually secured a two-way deal with L.A., and last month, he started and scored 21 points in a Lakers win.
This year, things continue along that same path. Unlike 2o24-25 when Hayes and Timme got their chance and the Nets had no draft picks to develop, this season is quite different from a development perspective. Early in the season, four of the five first rounders — everyone but lottery pick Egor Demin — had spent time on Long Island each with a plan fashioned by the combined development staffs to improve certain skills.
But they still have kept to their plan of developing everyone. Two of the best examples may be Nate Williams, a 6’6” wing who just turned 27, and Grant Nelson, an athletic 7-footer who was undrafted by choice, then signed with the Nets, conscious of their development successes.
Before being traded to Long Island by the Lakers organization at the head of the 2025 season, Williams appeared in 47 NBA games, mostly with the Houston Rockets. The U. of Buffalo product used the opportunity to reestablish his value..
In 22 games, he averaged 17.9 points in 34.8 minutes per contest, exploding for 23.2 in last five. The strong G League showing ultimately earned Williams another chance at the NBA opportunity, securing a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors — yet another example of how Long Island has helped players revive their careers and return to NBA rosters.
Nelson on the other hand is a bit of a non-traditional G League success. Hyper-athletic — he set the all-time NBA Combine record for lane agility at 7-foot — he reportedly passed on being taken in the second round last June so he could sign an Exhibit 10 contract with Brooklyn, his agent citing the Nets coaching staff. He played both in the Summer League and preseason for the Nets, but didn’t impress that much. One reason: a balky knee that had bothered him since his freshman year at North Dakota State back in 2020.
So the Nets pulled him from the active roster and put him on a seven-week rehab course to see if he could finally get his long-time knee soreness resolved. So far so good. Although he’s still on minutes restriction, Nelson’s numbers are looking good.
In his 14 starts since returning from rehab, he’s played 288 minutes or 20.6 per game. On a per-36 basis, he’s averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 rebounds while shooting better than 60% from the floor. His only issues, a need to bulk up and refine his 3-point shooting. He’s 23. More importantly, his knee soreness has been resolved and he credits the Nets performance staffs.
“I think it really shows how good the performance staff is here,” Nelson told ND. “And what they’ve done to get me back on the court and be ready for when I get back on the court.
“I’ve been dealing with knee soreness for I don’t know how many years, really, since I started college,” Nelson explained to ND. “It was kind of just affecting how I was playing, and I just had to get it over with and get all the rehab done. Get it back to where it was, feeling 100%. The performance staff did a great job, and everyone really cares about me, which really meant a lot.”
Bottom line for Nelson: “Yeah, they [Long Island] really emphasize a relationship with their players, and that helps a lot,” he said.
What’s the value of all this if Long Island players like Hayes, Timme and Williams move on? Even if one player hits, becomes a rotation player, it’s a bonus. The value is also reputational as agent B.J. Bass of RBA Showcase told NetsDaily. Bass reps Williams as well as Tyson Etienne, one of the Nets two-ways, and Long Island point guard Terry Roberts.
“It’s great. It’s first class. It’s all about the people. and the people who run the Nets front office are all good guys,” Bass told ND, noting how the organization, unlike others, compete every night.
“One thing they do here on Long Island, they’re very competitive. They play together and they play to win. A lot of the other G League situations, you can see guys are out there for themselves. It’s not really a winning environment and its not really conducive to what you’re trying to do at the next level.”
As a league decision maker told ND recently when talking about one of the players the Nets recently acquired: “He has a chance with the Nets development staff.”
This year, at least, the focus is strongly on the Flatbush Five + One: the organization has five rookies and three players on two-way contracts. They continue to prioritize development, shuffling all but Egor Demin, their first lottery pick in 15 years, back and forth between the HSS Training Center in Industry City and the Yes, We Can Center in Westbury, where Long Island practices.
So far, Brooklyn has assigned Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf to a grand total of 42 games. Saraf, who’s still with Long Island, is the current leader with 19 games. Traore has played 14 games and, so far, appears to be the most successful graduate.
“My shot, getting rhythm and confidence so I could come back here and do the same thing. Getting a lot of reps changes everything,” Traore told ND regarding his mindset when playing in the G-League.
His success and positive outlook on Long Island caught the attention of head coach Jordi Fernández.
“He took full advantage of the opportunities he had with Long Island,” said Jordi Fernández. “And when he came back here, he did so with a different spirit and a lot more confidence.”
There’s another value in mixing the draft picks with players who are trying to get back to the “L,” Udofia told NetsDaily.
“Guys who have been here before can show those rookies the ropes. We can put them in the game at the same time, and they can play together as well,” said Udofia now in his fourth year of balancing it all. They also get a promise, he said, that fresh start and a real chance to grow.
It’s fair to say that the best development in Long Island, at least from an organization viewpoint, has been the young players, the rookies or second year players. Nic Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, even Cam Thomas on a short stint his rookie year, all got better. None were drafted before No. 20. On the current roster, there’s no diamond in the rough although Josh Minott, who the Nets traded for at the deadline and assigned to Long Island, could fill that description . Tyrese Martin did qualify but he’s moved on. Same with Keon Johnson. And of course, there are players who didn’t work out, first rounder Dariq Whitehead being the most prominent.
The big test of the strategy is the current one with the rookies. They may not want to make the 20-mile jaunt from Barclays Center, bright lights, big city to the aging Nassau Coliseum and sea of empty parking lots, but when you have so many young players, it is what it is.
At the Nets traditional press conference following the NBA Draft back in July, Marks spoke about the plan.
“I think the proof’s in the pudding,” he argued. “When we’ve looked back and seen some of our guys over the last few years who have developed and spent a lot of time in Long Island and then all of the sudden come up to Brooklyn and next thing you know they’re starting for us or playing meaningful minutes in Brooklyn, you can see there’s a development path and a development track there.”
During a radio interview with 93.5 The Fan Tuesday, Feb. 24, Carlisle publicly addressed the fine for the first time and centered his rebuke around the availability of guard Aaron Nesmith during a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz, a 131-122 Utah victory.
“I didn’t agree with it,” Carlisle said during the interview. “There was a league lawyer that was doing the interview that kind of unilaterally decided that Aaron Nesmith, who had been injured the night before and couldn’t hold the ball, should’ve played in the game, which seems ridiculous.”
The league announced the discipline Feb. 12, just days before the NBA All-Star Game. Headed into the game, the Pacers were 13-37 and continuing to languish in last place in the Eastern Conference.
For its part, the NBA responded to Carlisle’s allegations, disputing his account.
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” an NBA spokesperson said in a statement sent to USA TODAY Sports. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ General Manager and the team’s Senior Vice President, Sports Medicine and Performance were interviewed as part of the process.
“The Pacers confirmed that it had provided all of the information requested by the league and the team reported that an interview with Coach Carlisle or a team physician wasn’t necessary.”
Indiana is currently 15-43, which is last place in the East and the NBA’s second-worst record.
“During the interview process — I was not on it, but I heard details — we asked them if they wanted to talk to the doctors, our doctors about it, because it was something that was documented by our doctors and trainers,” Carlisle continued. “They said no, they didn’t need to, they talked to their doctors, who did not examine Aaron Nesmith. And we asked them if they wanted to talk to the kid, and they said no, they didn’t need to.
“This was shocking to me. During the interview, they also asked if we considered medicating him to play in a game when we were 30 games under .500, so I was very surprised.”
During the radio interview, however, Carlisle didn’t discuss the statuses of All-Star forward Pascal Siakam — who was directly named in the disciplinary memo — and another, unnamed “star player” under the league’s Player Participation Policy.
In the letter, the NBA said Siakam and the two star players “could have played under the medical standard in the Policy, including by playing reduced minutes” and added that “the team could have held the players out of other games in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the Policy.”
Presumably, the other star player the league was referencing was either shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin (rest) or point guard Andrew Nembhard (injury/illness); both recorded DND (did-not-dress) designations for the game.
Siakam’s DND was given a rest designation.
Guard T.J. McConnell and center Micah Potter also did not dress, with injury/illness designations.
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Feb. 12 in a statement. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
In the same disciplinary announcement, the Jazz were also fined $500,000 for separate game management decisions related to tanking.
Thanks to injuries to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be underdogs in back-to-back games for the first time this season when they visit the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto stunned OKC back in January, winning outright as 11-point road dogs, but can it get the job done when it’s favored?
My Thunder vs. Raptors predictions break down and bring you my best NBA picks for this matchup set to tip off at 7:30 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, on Tuesday, February 24.
Thunder vs Raptors prediction
Thunder vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes Double-Double (+135)
However, the Toronto Raptors pose a problem with their defensive versatility.
Plus, Scottie Barnes returns after the reported birth of his child, and he’ll have a chance to dominate the glass with OKC ranking 24th in rebounding rate, and Chet Holmgren is also banged up.
Barnes gives us Fred VanVleet-type performance, and with a rebounding total of 8.5, let’s back him to record his 25th double-double of the season at +135.
Thunder vs Raptors same-game parlay
The other area where the Thunder struggle a bit is on the perimeter. They rank 25th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and allow the third-most threes per game.
Immanuel Quickley is playing great ball, averaging 20.2 points per game and shooting a crazy good 48.3% from deep over his last 13 games. His point total for this one is 16.5, a number he’s eclipsed in 13 of his last 18 games.
The Raptors match up well with OKC when they’re healthy. Their defense, particularly on the perimeter, will give them a chance to win this game.
Thunder vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes double-double
Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
Raptors moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Fred VanVleet vibes
Fred VanVleet famously played incredibly after the birth of his child during the Raptors' title run in 2019. Let's back Scottie to do something similar here.
Thunder vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes Over 17.5 points
Scottie Barnes Over 8.5 rebounds
Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
Scottie Barnes Over 1.5 steals
Thunder vs Raptors odds
Spread: Thunder +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
Moneyline: Thunder +105 | Raptors -125
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Thunder vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the Game Total Under in 32 of their last 50 games for +12.20 Units and a 22% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Raptors.
How to watch Thunder vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, TSN
Thunder vs Raptors latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It’s tough to find two bigger NBA surprises this season than the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, and they collide tonight in the desert.
But some of the air has come out of the Phoenix balloon lately after injuries to Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, so my Celtics vs. Suns predictions expect Boston to add to its impressive road record here, led by a scorching Payton Pritchard.
Read on for my free NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24.
Celtics vs Suns prediction
Celtics vs Suns best bet: Payton Pritchard Over 19.5 points (-105)
As long as the Boston Celtics keep letting it fly from downtown, I’m riding the hot hand and taking the Over on this points prop for Payton Pritchard, who’s fresh off a 30-point clinic on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pritchard has blown past this O/U number in six of his last seven games, and he’s averaging 23.6 PPG in that span.
He’s knocking down his 3-pointers at a 45% clip in February, and the Phoenix Suns are vulnerable on the perimeter without Brooks and Booker. Plus, Pritchard would step into an even bigger role if Jaylen Brown (questionable) sits out.
Celtics vs Suns same-game parlay
Pritchard’s current heater has powered the Celtics to an 8-2 mark in their past 10 contests, and the 3-ball is the key ingredient. He’s had back-to-back games with six triples, and he’s attempting almost eight 3-pointers a game this month.
I’m grabbing the Boston moneyline too. The visitors are sitting at 19-10 SU on the road, and they’ve won four in a row away from TD Garden. The injury-hit Suns just don’t have enough offense to keep up.
Celtics vs Suns SGP
Pritchard Over 19.5 points
Pritchard Over 3.5 threes
Celtics moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Derrick's White hot
Derrick White’s shooting numbers are down this year, but this SGP buys into all the other ways that he fuels the Celtics. White is coming off consecutive outings with five rebounds; he’s strung together three straight contests with 8+ assists, and he’s established himself as one of the league’s elite defensive guards.
Celtics vs Suns SGP
Derrick White Over 6.5 assists
Derrick White Over 4.5 rebounds
Derrick White Over 0.5 steals
Derrick White Over 2.5 threes
Celtics vs Suns odds
Spread: Celtics -7 (-110) | Suns +7 (-110)
Moneyline: Celtics -250 | Suns +205
Over/Under: Over 206.5 (-110) | Under 206.5 (-110)
Celtics vs Suns betting trend to know
The Suns are 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Suns.
How to watch Celtics vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Boston, KTVK
Celtics vs Suns latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Coby White is set to make his Charlotte Hornets debut on Tuesday night against his former Bulls team.
The Hornets announced that White, who was acquired in a trade with Chicago on Feb. 4, has been upgraded to available and will play against the Bulls at the United Center. White has been sidelined for the Hornets since the trade while recovering from a left calf strain.
It's expected that White will come off the bench and serve as Charlotte's backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball, who is coming off a 37-point game in a win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night in which he made a career-high 10 3-pointers.
White, who spent 6 1/2 seasons with the Bulls, was averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds this season before the trade while playing in 29 games for Chicago. He shot 34.6% from behind the 3-point line for the Bulls.
While last played in an NBA game for the Bulls on Feb. 3.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 19: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a dunk by Mitchell during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena on February 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA season has reached its home stretch, with important storylines left to follow.
Many teams will use their remaining games to get healthy, as injuries remain a defining factor around the league. Others need time to gel, especially those who made moves at the deadline.
The most obvious example is Cleveland adding Harden, which has already paid dividends. But just how real is his recent stretch, and where do they stand in the East?
Let’s find out.
How real are the Cavs?
After a slow start to the season, Cleveland has gone 5-1 following the Harden trade with a +9.0 net rating (5th league-wide) and the second-best offensive rating at 124.3. However, the turnaround actually happened before the Beard’s arrival, as the Cavs are 14-2 over the past month with a +11 net rating and have been good on both ends: during that span, they have a 121.1 ORTG (2nd) and 110.2 DRTG (8th). Their offensive improvement is very real, given that Harden is both a better player and more available than Darius Garland, and his playstyle naturally raises the floors for bigs like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
On the other hand, Cleveland’s recent defense has been propped up by shooting luck. During their hot streak, opponents are making just 33.5% of their triples, which is the 3rd lowest mark in the league. Conversely, they hit 38.9% of threes (the highest percentage) prior to this stretch, so the Cavs were due for some shooting luck anyway. A positive is that Cleveland’s rim protection has been elite all season, so they could still be a very good defense even if the opponent shooting normalizes. I’d currently put Cleveland under Detroit in the East’s hierarchy, but they could definitely rise into that top tier if their dominant play continues.
Tatum’s potential return
Boston’s inspiring season could get even better if Tatum returns, as they’re already close to locking in a top-4 seed in the East. Assuming he does come back, Detroit might be the only team I’d be more confident in making the finals, and that’s accounting for him being at 75% too. Even a lesser version of Tatum is enough to be a good starter/elite role player, and having him focus just on rebounding, shooting, and defending will be a huge boost. Boston will be especially lethal if Tatum can work his way back to guarding centres, as this would mitigate some of Vucevic’s defensive issues and let him play more. The Celtics could always have one guard (White/Pritchard), one wing (Brown/Tatum), and one big (Queta/Vucevic) on the court, allowing Joe Mazzulla to play any style given the polar opposite skillsets of their bigs.
The Nuggets’ injuries
I picked Denver to win the title coming into the season, and nothing has swayed me since — assuming they’re healthy, of course. Unfortunately, that’s a big if given how banged up they’ve been. You know it’s bad when Joker misses a month!
Amazingly, their presumptive starting lineup of Murray-Braun-Johnson-Gordon-Jokic has played just 324 possessions together (less than 6% of the team’s total number of possessions on the season), and their most used lineup isn’t much better, logging just 357 possessions as a unit. However, Denver’s ludicrous +23.7 net rating (130.2 offensive, 106.5 defensive) with Jokic, Murray, and Gordon suggests that they’re a juggernaut waiting to be unleashed. A lot of that is due to defensive shooting luck, but given that the Nuggets are only reliable in their own end when Gordon plays, it’s not hyperbolic to say that his health could be the biggest X-factor in the title race. Whether or not that’s a good bet to make is up to you — his longest streak of games played the past two seasons is last year’s playoff run at 14, which ended in injury — but I have no doubt that Denver should be co-favorites with OKC if he’s able to make it through a long postseason run.
Wemby’s minutes
San Antonio has proven to be legit title threats this season, but they won’t be able to make a long run if Wemby can’t ramp up his minutes. The Alien started the year averaging over 34 minutes a game in October and November, which dropped down to 23 in December when he returned from a calf strain. January saw his playing time increase to 27 minutes per game, which is now over 29 in February. The Spurs won’t suddenly increase Wemby’s minutes to the mid to high thirties come playoff time, so he’ll have to make that adjustment in the last two months of the season. Moreover, Wemby can only miss four of the Spurs’ remaining 25 games in order to qualify for end of season awards, which could be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, that could help his body acclimate to heavier loads, but it might also wear him out and increase the odds of injury. Either way, both the Spurs and Wemby are incentivized to increase his minutes, which should terrify the rest of the league.
Tanking is out of control!!
The discourse surrounding tanking has gone into overdrive, and rightfully so: there are more teams than ever purposefully losing and countless stars have ended their seasons because of it too.
However, the amount of tanking changes yearly, depending on the strength of the draft. The current tankathon race is out of control since the 2026 class has three players who could all go #1, but the 2027 and 2028 drafts all lack franchise players at the top. Thus, we don’t want to overcorrect due to this season and end up creating unforeseen consequences for years to come.
With that said, something has to change since this has been an ongoing issue for decades, but there is no magic bullet that’ll fix everything. Adam Silver is already looking at potential solutions, but the ideas proposed will only lessen tanking, and not get rid of it completely. That’s because the NBA still wants to keep its socialistic design in place — having the worst teams draft highest to even out the playing field — while incentivizing every team to compete. It’s impossible to square those things when losing gives teams the best path at drafting highest, so the league will need to sacrifice some of its ideals if they want to eliminate tanking.
The best solution I’ve heard is the Gold Plan, where teams earn draft ranking points for wins after they’re eliminated from playoff contention. Unfortunately, teams would just start tanking earlier so that they can get eliminated as soon as possible and have more runway to rack up draft wins, and it could lead to stars getting traded to bottom feeders and result in less intriguing postseasons.
If we truly want to abolish tanking, the Gold Plan can be tweaked by only counting wins, including the ones before teams are out of playoff contention. In other words, teams that just miss the play-in would be catapulted straight to the top of the draft standings since they have the most wins, and they’ll continue accumulating points by winning even after missing the playoffs.
The glaring issue with this idea is that some teams might intentionally miss/lose the play-in because they want better odds of picking high in the draft than getting shellacked in the playoffs by a high seed, and that’s where certain incentives could come into play: perhaps every team that misses the postseason would be ineligible to use their mid-level, or will start the following season operating like a second apron team no matter where they stand in the tax. Regardless of what the punishment is, it has to be so damaging that teams are all motivated to make the playoffs, even if they can’t legitimately compete for a title.
Does that sound like a good plan? It might abolish tanking, but the actual worst teams will have the lowest lottery odds and make it harder for them to become relevant. This is precisely why it’s impossible to get rid of tanking while also keeping the NBA’s current socialistic system in place: the concepts are mutually exclusive, and it’ll take something so radical that fans might start clamouring to go back to the way things are now. So if you truly want changes, be prepared for the league to get flipped on its head, and don’t pull a Mark Jackson.
Be careful what you wish for.
This week, please check out Eric’s article on postseason runs following playoff droughts! He does a great job of laying out the historical context, and you’d be surprised how many teams made deep runs even after breaking a long drought.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 04: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball to the basket against Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at the TD Garden on April 04, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PHOENIX — Jaylen Brown will miss Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics star is dealing with a right knee contusion and will sit on the first night of the Celtics’ back-to-back (Boston will face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night in Denver).
Outside of Brown, the only other Celtic to be sidelined is Jayson Tatum, who has yet to make his season debut as he continues recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Jaylen Brown is OUT tonight vs Suns, per Celtics. He’s dealing with a right knee contusion, and the Celtics are on the first night of a back-to-back.
The Phoenix Suns will also be without several key players
The Suns will be without their two leading scorers — Devin Booker (right hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand strain). They’ll also be without Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) and Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management).
The Suns will be led by Allen (17.3 points, 3.9 assists), Gillespie (13.4 points, 4.7 assists), and Green (13.3 points, 2.4 assists), all of whom are key contributors.
How the Celtics and Suns stack up entering the match-up
The Celtics have won 8 of their last 9 games and currently have the Eastern Conference’s second-best record at 37-19. They have the NBA’s fourth-best record, fourth-best net rating, and third-best offense.
The Suns, meanwhile, have dropped 6 of their last 10 games as they deal with a myriad of injuries. At 33-25, they currently have the 7th-best record in the Western Conference.
The Suns have had the NBA’s 9th-best defensive rating at 112.5 (the Celtics have the 8th-best defensive rating at 112.2). Another notable aspect is the Suns’ ability to crash the offensive glass; they have the 6th-best offensive rebound percentage at 33.2%.
Could we see Kevin Durant draped in the United States flag, winning a fifth gold medal as part of the Los Angeles Olympics in two years? He absolutely wants to — but only if he earns the spot, he told Vincent Goodwill of ESPN.
"Hell yeah, I want to play," Durant said. "I would love to, but I've got to stay on top of my game. I'm not expecting, I want to produce on the floor and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions, want to put me on the team. I don't want — not just for seniority. I want to still prove I can help the team win."
"Today, yeah I feel like I'll put my name in that hat."
Durant was at the heart of the USA team that won a fifth-straight men's basketball gold medal in 2024 in Paris. LeBron James, who will be 43 at the time of the Los Angeles Games, has suggested he will not play, while Stephen Curry (who will be 39 at the time) has largely said it's too early to say.
The USA roster in Los Angeles should be stacked — but it also will face the toughest road to a gold the team has ever seen. Players likely invited to the 2028 USA squad include Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren, Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey.
The USA beat France in the gold medal game in Paris, but repeating that will be difficult with France having peak Victor Wembanyama in the paint and real depth around him — there are currently 16 other French players in the NBA, including Washington's Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. This will be a stacked team as well. And that's not including potentially Nikola Jokic leading a good Serbian squad, Giannis Antetokounmpo leading Greece, and Luka Doncic leading Slovenia.
There is no easy route to gold in men's Olympic basketball anymore, but the USA would look better with Kevin Durant.
Chicago is 1-8 against the spread in its last nine games. At the same time, the young, streaking Charlotte Hornets are 8-1 ATS in their last nine and show no signs of slowing down as they fight for a spot in the play-in tournament.
I’m taking Charlotte to cover tonight.
Hornets vs Bulls same-game parlay
LaMelo Ball is coming off a huge performance on Sunday, and I’m targeting him again in my SGP tonight.
Ball went for 52 PRA and hit an incredible 10 three-pointers against the Washington Wizards in his last game, and he won’t have to come anywhere near those numbers to make a massive impact and hit our parlay in this contest.
Hornets vs Bulls SGP
Hornets -8.5
LaMelo Ball Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists
LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Hornets on the rise
Ball isn’t the only player making big contributions for this improving Hornets team.
Moussa Diabate has four double-doubles in his last nine games, and we can get generous odds on him to hit that target again in a favorable matchup.
Meanwhile, rookie Kon Knueppel has proven to be a sniper at the NBA level, hitting at least four shots from deep in five of his last six games.
Hornets vs Bulls SGP
Hornets -8.5
Moussa Diabate double-double
Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
Hornets vs Bulls odds
Spread: Charlotte -8.5 (-110) | Chicago +8.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Charlotte -330 | Chicago +265
Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-110) | Under 232.5 (-110)
Hornets vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Bulls are 1-8 ATS in their current nine-game losing streak. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Bulls.
How to watch Hornets vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE-Charlotte, CHSN
Hornets vs Bulls latest injuries
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This Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans game may seem low on the radar tonight, but a spread within a bucket should stress Golden State as it tries to stay in postseason position.
My Warriors vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks back Golden State, as the motivational gap is too significant on Tuesday, February 24.
Warriors vs Pelicans prediction
Warriors vs Pelicans best bet: Warriors moneyline (-125)
That is very much debatable, but the Pelicans are actively trying to tank, while the Warriors are desperate to stay in the top half of the Play-In Tournament. Those differing incentives provide enough value in this short moneyline favorite.
Golden State is not at a scheduling disadvantage, and how much credence should be given to Smoothie King Center amid this tank?
Warriors vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Even when Golden State needs his best, Draymond Green continues to fall short of these modest props.
Green turns 36 in a week, and he very much looks like it. Most notably, Green has failed to grab six rebounds in seven of his last 10 games.
Warriors vs Pelicans SGP
Warriors moneyline
Draymond Green Under 5.5 rebounds
Draymond Green Under 9.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Queen on the Card
Green’s struggles should play right into Derik Queen’s hands. He’s fallen just one or two rebounds short of a double-double in five of his last nine games.
Over/Under: Over 227.5 (-110) | Under 227.5 (-110)
Warriors vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The last four Golden State games have gone Over their totals, clearing them by an average of 15.75 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Warriors vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Bay Area, GCSEN
Warriors vs Pelicans latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
