Two of the worst teams in the Western Conference meet tonight as the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at the FedExForum.
My Kings vs. Grizzlies predictions are targeting Memphis to add to Sacramento’s recent misery.
Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, February 23.
Kings vs Grizzlies prediction
Kings vs Grizzlies best bet: Grizzlies -4 (-110)
The Memphis Grizzlies are sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 21-34 record. However, they’ve covered tonight’s spread in back-to-back games at home, comfortably beating the Timberwolves and Jazz.
Memphis is riding a three-game winning streak against the Sacramento Kings, who are in 15th place in the West. Sacramento has lost 16 in a row and has been absolutely blown out in four straight, losing by at least 17 points each time.
The Grizzlies have covered the spread in two of their three victories against the lowly Kings in 2025-26.
Kings vs Grizzlies same-game parlay
Jaylen Wells is coming off an impressive 25-point showing in Saturday's loss to the Heat. He’s cashed the Over in four of his last seven, and he’s averaging 16.3 points per game in February.
In three meetings with Sacramento this season, Wells is also averaging 15.3 PPG.
The Kings have scored fewer than 100 points in three of their last four, and that wasn’t even against any elite defensive teams. Memphis ranks 16th in defensive rating, allowing 117.7 points per game.
That being said, two of the last three meetings between Sacramento and Memphis have cashed the Under in points, and the Kings are struggling immensely on the offensive end. The Grizzlies aren’t a whole lot better.
Kings vs Grizzlies SGP
Grizzlies -4
Jaylen Wells Over 14.5 points
Under 233
Our "from downtown" SGP: Thank you, Jerome
Ty Jerome has cashed the Over in triples in back-to-back outings, draining three treys in each contest.
Kings vs Grizzlies SGP
Grizzlies -4
Jaylen Wells Over 14.5 points
Under 233
Ty Jerome Over 2.5 threes
Kings vs Grizzlies odds
Spread: Kings +4 (-110) | Grizzlies -4 (-110)
Moneyline: Kings +150 | Grizzlies -180
Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)
Kings vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
The Sacramento Kings have hit the Team Total Under in 32 of their last 50 games (+11.50 Units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Grizzlies.
How to watch Kings vs Grizzlies
Location
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Date
Monday, February 23, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSCA, FDSN SE-MEM
Kings vs Grizzlies 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.
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA said on Monday it has provisionally suspended Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni for one match following accusations he racially abused Vinícius Júnior.
The decision means that Prestianni will miss Wednesday’s second leg of the Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Benfica. Madrid won the first match in Lisbon last Tuesday with Vinícius scoring a second-half winner for a 1-0 victory.
The game was halted for nearly 10 minutes after the Brazil forward scored and celebrated by the Benfica corner flag, upsetting local fans and players. After being confronted by Prestianni, Vinícius accused the Argentine player of calling him “monkey.”
The anti-racism protocol was activated but no further action was taken during the match as there was no evidence against Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt while talking to Vinícius. The Madrid forward was shown a yellow card after his celebration.
UEFA said the decision from its control, ethics and disciplinary Body (CEDB) is related to a discriminatory behavior.
“This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,” it said in a statement.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said after the match he was “shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism” and praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol.
Benfica showed support for Prestianni, with the Portuguese club claiming that Madrid players who said they heard the insult were too far away. Benfica later released a statement saying it welcomed UEFA’s investigation and that it “fully supports and believes the version presented” by Prestianni, “whose conduct while with the club has always been guided by respect” toward everyone.
Benfica fans had reacted angrily to Vinícius celebrating his 50th-minute goal by dancing at the corner flag, throwing bottles and other objects toward the Madrid players. Prestianni then confronted Vinícius and said something while covering his mouth with his jersey.
Prestianni insisted that Vinícius misunderstood what was said, while Benfica players after the match reportedly said the Argentine provoked the Brazil forward but never racially insulted him.
Kylian Mbappé was among the Madrid players who strongly defended Vinícius and posted on X: “Dance, Vini, and please never stop. They will never tell us what we have to do or not.”
The France star also said Prestianni should never play in the Champions League again.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 22: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts to scoring and not getting a foul during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on February 22, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York half-baked its play for the greater part of Sunday’s affair…
…but turned up the heat late and did enough to win another game.
Here’s a bunch of stuff said of late by your Knicks superheroes.
On Robinson’s absence on Sunday and his back-to-back management:
“Obviously, he hasn’t played a back-to-back yet. But I’m not talking to our medical staff asking, ‘Is this going to be like this the rest of the year?’”
On Towns’ defensive impact against the Bulls:
“Not only did he get a double-double, he was great for us defensively.”
On Towns’ different opportunities and usage compared to last season:
“I understand it’s something that we need to talk about, and I’m OK talking about it, but until those numbers change, there’s not much for me to say because he’s getting an opportunity. We don’t call a ton of plays. Now, you compare his numbers to last year, [backup center Mitchell Robinson] didn’t play in the regular season. KAT averaged 36, 37 minutes a game. Mitch is playing now. Landry didn’t play last year. He’s playing. We’re trying to get him up to 17 to 22, 23 minutes a game. We’ve got Jose [Alvarado] now. … So when you do that, guys’ minutes are going to go down. Not only are guys’ minutes going to go down, but guys’ field goal attempts are going to go down and all the things that you see impact the game statistically.”
On Yabusele’s fit in New York and lack of minutes:
“The position he’s shown he’s best in in the NBA — the small-ball center spot — we just didn’t have the minutes consistently for him to be there. And then when he was at the 4. For us, because of our centers, the matchups weren’t always there. So we had to pick and choose when he was on the floor and how we were going to play him.
“His skill set is obviously as a small-ball center. And it’s picking and popping. And then it’s spacing the floor. And the way we try to play, we try to move a lot. Cut a lot. And then it’s tough because we have [Karl-Anthony Towns] playing heavy minutes, and we have [Mitchell Robinson] playing heavy minutes. This is a situation in Chicago — and even in Philadelphia [where Yabusele was last season], it was a situation where they were able to find consistent minutes for him. Because he’s a good player. Started for the French national team. We all know what they did. The style of play is a little bit different.”
“I think as a team, it’s a blessing to have expectations and have high standards. It means we’re doing something right. And last year, we did a lot right. The fans are expecting even more from us with an offseason and another season under our belts with experience and unity and understanding each other. So when we get in those spots in the playoffs, we can find ourselves winning the game. For me, personally, my career’s been full of pressure. I’ve always been held to a higher standard than everyone. I understand that criticism comes with that when you’re not succeeding, and rightfully so. My whole career has been based on me getting that ring and winning. I understand more than ever now in my career that winning trumps everything.”
On the Knicks’ unity and sacrifice:
“That’s why I’m so adamant about our team staying together, having that continuity, having that unity. Nothing deterring us or dividing us on this team. It’s a special team, we have a special group of guys. For us to win, it’s going to take all of us to win a championship. I’m so blessed that I’ve got these guys in this locker room and I’ve got my support system, my family, my fiancée that are pushing me to another level even from last year to do what’s needed for this team to win. Whether that’s to sacrifice more like this year or like in these last two games, if I’m touching the basketball, I got to make the shots. I’m glad I’ve been able to do that for my teammates and we’re able to win these games.”
On not using excuses in dealing with back-to-backs:
“There’s no excuses. We’re professionals. We’ve gotta come out here and do our job. Our fans expect it. The city expects us to play with tenacity. Tonight, I thought we did a good job of not making excuses and getting the job done.”
On his confidence coming from preparation:
“I work hard on my game. I put the time and effort in, and in my mind and my support system, I don’t think anyone’s put more time in their craft than me, and that’s where my confidence has grown from. It’s not from touching the ball in the game. It’s from touching the ball in the empty gym with no light, no fans and my [player development] coach Mark Bryant. So I’m extremely confident in my game. I’m extremely confident mentally that when I do touch the ball, I can do something really special with it. When I touch the basketball, I’ve gotta make these shots, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do that to help us win these two games.”
On dealing with pressure and having a clear goal in mind:
“I think as a team, it’s a blessing to have expectations and high standards. That means we’re doing something right, and last year we did a lot right and fans are expecting a lot from us. For me personally, my career’s been full of pressure, and I’ve always been held to a higher standard than everyone, and I always understood that criticism comes when you’re not succeeding and rightfully so. It’s a special team. We have a special group of guys, and for us to win, it’s gonna take all of us to win a championship.”
“An 8:30 game and then traveling for a back-to-back game, I think, is outrageous. But happy we were able to get the win.”
On Bridges’ offensive involvement:
“I guess [he does have high expectations given the outgoing draft picks]. At the end of the day, Kal’s gonna do what he’s gotta do. He’s gonna find his way. Like I said, I think there’s times where we can do a better job of making sure he’s involved offensively and aggressive and get him into his spots, same thing with OG [Anunoby[ and JC [Jordan Clarkson] when he plays — someone like that who can score, we’ve gotta make sure we put him in position to be successful and not just doing it within the flow of the offense.”
On Bridges’ clutch ability:
“With Kal, I’ll let y’all figure that one out. We know what we have in him. We know what he means to the team. And the beauty of him is he can have a terrible game the whole game and make a game-winning play, and I think he’s done that — I wouldn’t say terrible game — but he’s done that plenty of times, making game-winning plays late in the game when we need him. That’s why we got him.”
Jalen Brunson
On Towns seeing shots fall:
“When anyone sees the ball go through the hoop, it gives a level of confidence and makes you feel like you can do anything on the court. Then you shot-fake, they bite, and then you’re able to make plays for yourself or others. For (Towns), it’s a great sign. He’s sticking with it. That’s who he is.”
Gilbert Arenas on the narrative of Karl Anthony Towns being soft:
“I make fun of KAT just cause of the mannerisms and I’m a troll but when it comes to just basketball, PF or C, he has a claim for the last 11 years he has been top two or three in his position every year”
“When you look at KAT, he’s just running around and he says things in interviews. You think that’s actually how he plays the game. If you really look at the play, he does play a rugged style of basketball. He does bang. He’s just bang, bang, spin, got you. But he just has a shot. And there’s times where if he has a little guy on him, he shoots it. He has a big guy on him, he shoots it. But he will sit there post up, too a little for a big guy, but he’s smart enough to know, well yeah I have a little guy on me. If I try to bang first he’s going to flop, that’s an offensive foul. Well I can just shoot right over him. So I can’t say he plays the game wrong or right. He plays the game how he sees it in the moment.”
Mumbai, India (AP) — Sikandar Raza called correctly at the coin toss as Zimbabwe opted to bowl against the West Indies in their Group 1 Super 8 clash at cricket's Twenty20 World Cup.
It is a chance for both sides competing today to put additional pressure on the co-hosts.
Zimbabwe had topped Group B in the league stage — it showed stunning T20 form in beating Australia and Sri Lanka in the first round.
It is Zimbabwe’s first qualification to the T20 World Cup’s second round. Meanwhile, West Indies had topped Group C.
Both sides have made one change — for Zimbabwe, left-arm medium pacer Richard Ngarava comes in for spinner Wellington Masakadza.
West Indies brought in medium-pace allrounder Romario Shephered in place of Roston Chase.
The pitch at the iconic Wankhede Stadium should aid batters in general. However, it has slowed down in the second innings over the course of the tournament, so the side chasing could face difficulty unless there is ample evening dew.
___
Lineups:
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (captain), Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Dion Myers, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani
West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
The San Antonio Spurs hit the road tonight to face Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Detroit is riding a five-game winning streak, and my Spurs vs. Pistons predictions are eyeing them to keep it rolling this evening at home.
Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, February 23.
Spurs vs Pistons prediction
Spurs vs Pistons best bet: Pistons moneyline (-120)
The Detroit Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference at 42-13, sitting 5.5 games clear of the Boston Celtics. Detroit is searching for its sixth straight victory and has compiled a 21-6 record at home.
While the San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, the Pistons have won back-to-back meetings against them. San Antonio hasn’t been as great on the road either, going 18-10.
JB Bickerstaff’s squad has also won four of its last five contests at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit will bring Victor Wembanyama & Co. back down to earth tonight.
Spurs vs Pistons same-game parlay
Duncan Robinson scored 17 points in Saturday’s win over the Bulls and he’s cashed the Over in three of his last four. The sharpshooter is averaging 13.2 points per game at home as well.
Cade Cunningham is one of the best passers in the league, ranking second in assists with an average of 9.8. Since the All-Star break, he’s cashed the Over in both games, dishing out 13 dimes in each.
Spurs vs Pistons SGP
Pistons moneyline
Duncan Robinson Over 10.5 points
Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Harris handles the perimeter
Tobias Harris was just 2-for-5 from deep on Saturday, and he’s cashed the Over in triples in back-to-back games at home.
Spurs vs Pistons SGP
Pistons moneyline
Duncan Robinson Over 10.5 points
Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 assists
Tobias Harris Over 1.5 made threes
Spurs vs Pistons odds
Spread: Spurs +1.5 (-110) | Pistons -1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Spurs +100 | Pistons -120
Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Detroit Pistons have hit the 1H Moneyline in 36 of their last 45 games (+19.20 Units / 19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Pistons.
How to watch Spurs vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Monday, February 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Spurs vs Pistons 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.
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the third quarter of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on February 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’ve watched the Cleveland Cavaliers recently, you’ve probably seen a jaw-dropping pass or two from James Harden. Most fans knew of Harden’s playmaking — but actually seeing it in action, with those dimes being thrown to the players on your favorite team, is an entirely different experience than watching it happen for other franchises.
Harden’s dishing out nearly nine assists per game since joining the Cavs. While it’s a small sample size of just six games, he’s yet to finish with fewer than seven assists as a Cavalier. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. He’s a legendary passer who’s now running point guard for a Cleveland squad that set the league ablaze last season.
The Cavs had the third-highest offensive rating in league history last season. And even though their personnel have changed quite a bit since then, they still have enough firepower to make life feel like a playground for someone like Harden.
Whether it’s throwing lobs to Donovan Mitchell, spraying out to shooters like Sam Merrill, or dissecting his opponents in the pick-and-roll with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — Harden’s arguably never had more options to pass to.
So, without further ado, here are 10 passes that show why Harden is having so much success on his new team.
Let’s start with the biggest difference Harden brings to Cleveland. He’s a BIG playmaker who can use his 6’5” 220-pound frame to navigate the floor and unlock options they haven’t had before.
Can you imagine Mitchell or Darius Garland playing with their back to the basket in the high-post like this? Probably not.
You might envision Evan Mobley in this spot, as he has operated this action before, but there’s a huge difference between being an above-average playmaker for your position (like Mobley) and being one of the greatest playmakers in league history. Advantage: Harden.
So what exactly makes the above play special?
Harden sets up in the high post. This starting position changes the dynamic of Allen/Merrill’s action. Being here allows Harden to deliver the ball to the roller or to the perimeter more easily than if he were standing in the corner or on the wing (where would Merrill even pop out if Harden is on the perimeter?).
The spacing just doesn’t work the same if Harden isn’t able to secure a deeper position.
Now watch the screen set by Allen. Washington isn’t willing to switch or play at the level of the screen because they recognize Allen’s threat to roll or catch with a mismatch. That means Merrill’s defender is on an island with no hope of contesting his shot.
The pass itself isn’t anything special. But Harden’s size permits the entire play to develop. Look below for another example of this.
The Cavs set up in horns with Harden and Merrill on the elbows. Again, Harden’s ability to comfortably operate inside the perimeter sets him apart from Mitchell and Garland.
Jaylon Tyson cuts through the middle after entering the ball to Harden. From there, Allen sets a flare screen for Merrill — and when the Wizards (again) choose to prioritize covering Allen’s roll, Merrill wisely uses his man’s momentum against him and cuts backdoor for a layup.
But check the bounce pass from Harden. Specifically, where and when he throws the ball.
Harden has a knack for leading his teammates into open space. This pass is zipping towards the basket before Merrill even realizes he’s going to be open. So not only is Harden able to initiate plays from more advantageous angles — but he can read a defense to filth and deliver the ball with precision to generate easy buckets.
Harden’s one of the best pick-and-roll operators the game has ever seen. This behind-the-back pocket pass is one of the reasons why.
This begins with a subtle move to lead his defender into the screen. Then, when Harden senses that Kyshawn George is trailing behind the roll, he realizes the only way to deliver the ball through this window is to zip it behind his back before the pocket closes.
There’s really not much else to say about this. Anyone with eyes can tell you how ridiculous this is.
Harden’s size isn’t just an advantage when playing with his back to the basket. He can also use it to absorb more contact and play at a deliberate pace when driving to the hoop.
In this play, Harden is being hounded by Tim Hardaway Jr., but he never has to speed himself up to avoid losing control. He takes the contact, burrows his way into the paint, and then jumps to find the open man when Denver’s defense collapses.
Again, compare this to Mitchell or Garland. Undersized gaurds ineherently have to play with more speed in these scenarios. They don’t have enough size to play through this much ball pressure. But because Harden is able to take his time, it allows this entire play to materialize.
A quick dash to the hoop wouldn’t leave enough time for this to develop. Harden’s pace allows Mitchell to cut to the opposite corner. That causes Sam Merrill to dive to the corner, taking Christian Braun out of Harden’s space. Then, when Bruce Brown stays to clog the lane — Mitchell makes it to the other corner — and Jamal Murray has to dig down to cover the skip pass. All of this culminates in Harden walking into the lane and spraying it out to Tyson, who is now wide open.
But none of that happens if Harden isn’t able to work through contact and control the tempo. A smaller player would have attacked the rim at breakneck speed and had nowhere to go because the rest of the play hadn’t formed.
Here we see another example of Harden’s deliberate pace.
Watch the consecutive hang-dribbles that Harden uses after curling around Allen’s screen. This momentary hesitation forces the Kings’ big man to commit to his drive. And that gives Allen the time he needs to claim space inside the paint.
And because Harden isn’t going from zero-to-100, he’s able to gently drop this bounce pass to where only Allen can catch the ball. Perfect process and execution.
Harden’s bounce pass might be the most underrated aspect of his game. He makes this pass look easier than it is.
The extra beat he takes to look at the corner and open Noah Clowney just enough to squeeze the ball through that window is the difference between an Allen dunk and a turnover.
We’ve seen the bounce pass. Now let’s look at a different delivery.
This is an easy read. Harden comes off the screen and immediately draws two to the ball. But watch how he releases this pass. Harden jumps and floats this over-the-top pass with a downward trajectory to drop the ball perfectly into Mobley’s hands.
Once more, Harden’s height gives him access to a pass that Mitchell and Garland don’t have. Both could have made this read — but only Harden could serve this dish as cleanly as he did.
Harden recognizes that Mobley has drawn a mismatch and is being fronted in the post. So while all eyes are on Tyson’s screen — Harden sails a pass over the defense for an easy dunk.
Making this pass from the logo, without wasting any time dribbling, is why Mobley is able to punish his mismatch before Brooklyn recovers.
In this clip, we get to see our first drive-and-kick from Harden.
It begins with a nasty crossover to get around Michael Porter Jr, a skill that we haven’t focused enough on. Harden’s as slippery as they come, and his ability to break his defender in isolation is what makes him such a threat, to begin with.
After dispatching Porter, the Nets are forced to send a second defender to stop Harden’s drive. Now Harden can either dish to Allen in the dunker’s spot — or — more effectively, jump hook a pass to the 47.5% three-point shooter in the corner. Harden chooses the more difficult pass and is rewarded with an assist.
I don’t need to tell you that this pass was nasty. I just figured we’d end on a high note.
Draw attention to the touch required to throw a lob this softly after breaking out in transition. Harden floats this pass gently to the rim, and all Mitchell has to do is jump and guide it home.
Seriously, I can’t comprehend how the ball hangs in the air for so long when taking into account how fast Harden is running. It’s the type of pass that only an all-time great can make.
If you want to watch all of these plays together, check out the tweet below.
Put together some of James Harden's best passes as a Cavalier (so far). Here's what stands out:
– He's the first BIG playmaker on this team. Has access to angles that Garland/Mitchell don't
– Can play with his back to the basket. Unlocks so many options they didn't have before pic.twitter.com/chWeGQo8uW
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Why does it seem like the NBA is always facing a crisis right after the Super Bowl? Sometimes it’s load management, sometimes it’s players not trying in the All-Star Game, and this year it’s tanking. The moral outrage about teams losing on purpose is overwhelming all other coverage of the league right now, but it’s important to note where it’s coming from. Surely there’s some Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards fans upset their teams are refusing to play their best playersin the fourth quarter of close games, but I’d wager most of them are fine with the plan to increase their lotto odds during a lost season in hopes of adding a future star.
The outcry over tanking mostly amounts to outside noise, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. There’s nine or 10 teams incentivized to lose every game the rest of the season right now, and that’s not a good look for the league. It’s just that in rushing to find a medicine to cure tanking, the NBA risks giving itself bigger problems from the side effects.
The NBA is going to address tanking for next season, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, and former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is on the panel advising Adam Silver. Here are the ideas under consideration to fix tanking, according to Charania. I’ll give my take on each of these as we go through them.
First-round draft picks can be protected only for top-four or top-14-plus selections (pretty good)
Lottery odds freeze at the trade deadline or a later date (Pointless)
No longer allowing a team to pick in the top four in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-three finishes (Feels too drastic … how about can’t do it three years in a row?)
Teams can’t pick in the top four the year after making the conference finals (Stupid)
Lottery odds allocated based on two-year records (Don’t love it)
Lottery extended to include all play-in teams (Don’t hate it)
Flatten odds for all lottery teams (A step too far)
Some of these ideas are fine and some of them are terrible. I still haven’t seen a really good tanking fix that both helps bad teams get a shot at acquiring stars and also incentives teams to win every game. What I do know is that a lot of the proposed tanking fixes would have unintended negative side effects and open up new pathways for bad PR for the league.
My two main takeaways on these anti-tanking measures are this:
NBA tanking won’t be as bad as it is right now every year, and the problem should correct itself next season
None of these get to the heart of what really is the NBA’s biggest issue.
Why is tanking so bad right now? It’s because the 2026 NBA Draft is loaded, and because one player can make a bigger impact in basketball than any other sport. If you’re a team without a star, you have three ways of trying to acquire one: draft them, trade for them, and sign them in free agency. A real star hasn’t changed teams in free agency since Kawhi Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019, so that one is mostly off the table. Trading for stars usually requires a ton of assets out the door that makes it really different to build around the star once you get them. Drafting stars is the best pathway because it gets a young player on a cost-controlled contract and allows them to forge a stronger connection with a fanbase that watches them grow up over the years.
Tanking is the most sensible path for a bad team to take; to me, it’s just part of the NBA lifecycle. The Jazz and Wizards both already decided they won’t be tanking next year by acquiring Anthony Davis and Trae Young (in Washington) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (in Utah). Teams already know they can’t tank forever, and they shouldn’t be. A rule change that bans teams from moving up in the lottery three times over four years seems like a modest fix that could really help. In this scenario, the Spurs couldn’t have moved up for Dylan Harper with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft because they already moved up for Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle in the previous two years.
Coming up with new rules now hurts the teams who already made their rebuilding decisions at the trade deadline. Take the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, for example, who have been forgoing tanking for years to try to get in the playoffs. This plan has led the Bulls to pure mediocrity, and at the trade deadline they finally came to their senses to sell Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, and others. The Grizzlies couldn’t break through in the West either and started trading their best players. If the NBA puts in anti-tanking rules now, then it essentially punishes teams that just chose this path instead of the ones who made it a problem in the first place.
Tanking isn’t the NBA’s biggest problem. The number of games is.
Most of the NBA’s problems can be fixed by shortening the schedule. The 82-game regular season is just too long. Today’s game has more space to cover and more movement than ever before, and it’s simply too physically demanding on players’ bodies over the course of the regular season plus playoffs.
High school and college teams play about 40 games max in a season, usually a little less. The WNBA plays 44 games right now. A European powerhouse like Real Madrid plays something like 68 games between a couple different leagues, then has shorter playoff run. Only the NBA makes its champion play 100+ games per season (the Thunder played 105 games in their 2025 championship season), and in this era of modern basketball, the game is way worse off for it.
Trimming the season to 60 or 65 games would be an ideal number. Suddenly “load management” isn’t as much of a concern because games are more spaced out. Tanking isn’t as much of a problem either because there’s fewer games to light on fire. The standings usually don’t really change that much after the 60-game mark as it is. Every game would feel a lot more important, which is the main thing the NBA wants to establish.
Trimming the season down by 20 games would be costly for both the owners and the players, but it’s possible some of that money could be made up in the long-run with a better overall product. Sometimes, you need to take a step back to take a step forward, and that should be the NBA’s intention as it evaluates what’s wrong with today’s game.
It’s wild that the NBA got terrible press for a bad dunk contest, which is a meaningless event. Meanwhile, this Super Bowl was unwatchable, uncompetitive trash, and so was the Super Bowl before it, but no one ever uses that as an example of why the NFL is broken. The last NBA Finals featured incredible competitive play, a true Cinderella story in the Indiana Pacers, and a superstar putting his body on the line to try to win a championship in Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles.
The NBA Finals had toughness, drama, great competition. The Super Bowl had none of it. So why are we always stuck arguing about tanking with people who don’t watch the Jazz or Wizards, or something similar?
The NBA has dissolved the value of each game because there’s too damn many of them. It’s the one thing that ties all of the league’s problems together. There is no real way to fix tanking, at least not one I’ve seen. I’m in favor of reasonable tanking measures, but not wholesale changes. If the NBA wants to address its underlying problems, start by shortening the season.
The long history between Warriors forward Draymond Green and former NBA center Kendrick Perkins continues to live on.
With Golden State’s star guard Steph Curry expected to be sidelined for at least three more games with right patellofemoral pain syndrome, Perkins suggested that the Warriors simply should rest their stars for the rest of the season.
“Shut ‘em down for the remainder of the season,” Perkins expressed on “The Road Trippin’ Show.” “Let’s be real, this Warriors team is not going anywhere. Draymond Green, I don’t know where his mind is at, but it’s definitely not on the game of basketball. He looked horrible [on Thursday against the Boston Celtics].
“Shut Steph down. Let those guys play it out. See what guys fit. Right now, I would let the rest of the Warriors team outside of Steph play this season out and audition to see if they want to be here.”
Of course, Green did not back down and hilariously responded to Perkins’ comments that were most specifically directed at him.
“In the world we live in, these guys need something to talk about every day,” Green stated on “The Draymond Green Show”. “And so, they make the biggest deal out of [something with] no deal.”
In the Warriors’ last two games before the All-Star break against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 9 and the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 11, Green finished strong, combining for 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Unfortunately, the 35-year-old had a rough game in Golden State’s 121-110 loss to the Celtics on Feb. 19, scoring zero points in just 19 minutes played.
“Going into the All-Star break, everybody was like, ‘Oh my god, man, Draymond turned back the clock. Draymond played great,” Green said. “And then one game after the All-Star break, you have a rough game, and then this guy goes, ‘I don’t know where his head is at, but it ain’t on basketball.’ You’re not allowed to have a bad game anymore. I think it’s very interesting.”
Green then turned his attention to Perkins, who only averaged more than 10 points per game in a season once in his 14-year NBA career.
“Needless to say, yeah, Perk, you never had bad games,” Green responded to Perkins’ comments. “Perk, we’ve seen you play, big fella. We saw you, big dog, you played. To go in on a bad night, Perk, you played.
“We got the clips. We got clips of your screen-setting. We got clips of your jump shots, Perk. We got clips of your jump hooks. You played big Perk. Careful, man. We can start pulling clips now, big Perk…You know how it goes to have one bad game. I can promise you, big Perk, I ain’t where you were at the end of yours.”
"You're not allowed to have a bad game anymore!" Draymond Green reacts to "Big Perk" comments in the media about him lately…
During the 2025-26 season, Green is averaging 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, but is shooting at an abysmal rate of 40.9 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range.
The Warriors certainly will need every bit of help they can get to make a playoff push with 25 games left to play in the regular season, and that starts with Green and Curry, who have been the pillars of the team and the organization for over a decade.
A childhood photo is bringing things full circle for Moses Moody.
Moody’s mom, Rona, shared a throwback image on social media from Chris Paul‘s 2015 “CP3 Camp,” showing a 13-year-old Moody posing in front of a display featuring Al Horford’s wingspan.
At the time, Horford was in the middle of his prime with the Atlanta Hawks, fresh off multiple NBA All-Star seasons and widely regarded as one of the league’s most versatile big men.
Moody, meanwhile, was just beginning his own basketball journey.
Six years later, the Warriors selected Moody with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He quickly carved out a role as a steady presence on the wing, contributing to Golden State’s 2022 championship run and continuing to develop into a key rotation piece.
Horford’s path, too, eventually brought him to the Bay.
After stints with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder — including an NBA title with Boston in 2024 — the veteran big man signed with the Warriors ahead of the 2025-26 season.
That move ultimately connected the two in a way neither could have imagined back in 2015.
What once was a simple camp photo now stands as a rare full-circle moment — a young Moody posing in front of an NBA star, years before becoming his teammate on the same court.
And while the moment centers on Horford, it carries another subtle layer: the photo was taken at Paul’s camp — years before Moody and Paul briefly shared a locker room during the Warriors’ 2023-24 season.
Now, the picture looks less like a coincidence — and more like a preview.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -FEBRUARY 21: Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings is called for a technical foul after pushing De'Aaron Fox #4 of the Sant Antonio Spurs in the second half at Moody Center on February 21, 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
Since February 3, 2025, De’Aaron Fox has been a member of the San Antonio Spurs, before that, he spent the entirety of his career with the Sacramento Kings.
On Saturday night, the Spurs hosted the Kings in the second of their games taking place in Austin.
Before the game, Kings head coach Doug Christie was asked about the transition Fox has made in taking his game to South Texas. Christie served as an assistant to the Kings from 2021-2024 before taking the head coaching position in 2024.
“When he first came in he was all speed, everything was speed, speed, speed, and then he started to find his game. I think watching him [in Texas], he has so may different weapons and he’s an unselfish player, so that plays right into wheelhouse. His ability to use his speed to get downhill to create advantages….it just takes his game to a different level. There was a steady progression to his game. Watching him, defensively, being on a team like this with a rim protector and multiple guys on the perimeter who play defense allows him to gamble a little bit because of his quickness and his anticipation skills. I thought there was a steady climb in where he was going and what he was doing. He iss a three-point threat in the open court and in one-on-one situations.”
Fox has had to transition from being the leader of the Kings and face of a franchise to playing next to a generational player.
In fact, even as his role seems to diminish, his statistics have not. He is averaging almost three less shots per game and consequently two-points less per game. And he’s only shaved about a minute if playing time from his average. But overall, his rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, and personal fouls are right in alignment with his career averages from his time in Sacramento.
In other words, Fox hasn’t changed, his surroundings have. And having this leading man and supporting cast has elevated his team overall. Add in a certain level of health that has upheld the Spurs throughout this season, the second best schedule in the Western Conference does not seem as farfetched as it did only a few weeks ago.
Older Spurs fans might remember how David Robinson handed the baton to Tim Duncan, allowing Duncan to become the face of the franchise and focal point to the team’s offense. Robinson’s willingness and humility not only elevated Duncan at a healthy pace, it built the foundation for multiple title runs.
Although Fox came in after Victor Wembanyama was drafted, his humility and selflessness resonates with the Spurs culture. Mitch Johnson recognized it immediately.
“It’s been incredible to see…a twenty-eight-year-old All-Star in his prime that wants to sit next to the face of the franchise, who’s twenty-two and still figuring out as good as he is, and want to complement him and be enthusiastic about growing with him.”
Johnson went on to complement how Fox allows Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to make their own mistakes as part of their growth. In moments where Fox could feasibly take over the game, he stays back so that the team as a whole can grow into the champions they hope to be.
“I really, really appreciate his willingness to try and grow with the group, even though he’s probably a little bit ahead in terms of just experiences.”
Fox, although not initially listed as a 2026 All-Star, Fox was chosen by Adam Silver as a replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo, an acknowledgement of the Spurs place in the standings not belonging to one singular player.
Fox also hit the game winner for USA Stripes in the All-Star competition.
On a court with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell, Fox was fed the ball and trusted by a team of all-time great players.
A vote of confidence at that level says it all.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
It has been nearly a full year since Kyrie Irving has played in an NBA game. With his shutdown for the remainder of the year now official, he will not play his next game until at least 19 months post-ACL surgery. That is a lot of time. 19 months ago, the Mavericks were fresh off a run to the NBA Finals. Cooper Flagg was well away from playing his first game at Duke. There was a different president 19 months ago. All of this is to say, when Kyrie Irving suits up (hopefully) on opening night in October, he will not be the player he was against the Sacramento Kings on March 3 of last year. In fact, he may never be that player again. And to expect the Kyrie Irving of old would be misguided.
Irving turns 34 on March 23. In the history of the NBA, there have only been three players who are Irving’s height (6’2”) or shorter to average more than 20 points per game at age 34 or older: Lenny Wilkins, Steph Curry, and Damian Lillard. All three guys are generational talents like Irving is, but none of them were coming off a major injury. In fact, Lillard sustained a major injury (torn achilles) after playing at that level and age for the entire year. When Irving went down, he was averaging almost 25 points a night in 36 minutes. To get back to that point, he would have to be the outlier that Curry is, who averaged over 29 points in his age-34 season. It just doesn’t happen, and the surgical aspect of the situation substantially reduces the likelihood of a return to form.
Recently, another guard who sustained a major injury last spring, Jaden Ivey, spoke with reporters about the impact of his leg surgery after his latest DNP:
“I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.” -Jaden Ivey on his DNP 🎥 @CHGO_Sportspic.twitter.com/9wkMXE7Qqb
Ivey, 24, was a former top-five pick. He averaged 17.1 points at Purdue his sophomore year and got his average up to 17.6 points per game in his third NBA season before sustaining a broken left leg in January 2025. Now, after starting just five games this season, he says his old self is “dead”. It was a somber reminder that real life is not NBA 2K, and these recoveries can take a serious mental toll on players. I am not saying that Irving feels the same way, but if major surgery can impact a guy as young and talented as Ivey, then no one is safe from the ramifications. Not only is history working against him, but the mental hurdle Irving has to overcome is massive, and it only grows as the time between on-court appearances increases.
Despite all of this, there is a little sun peeking through the clouds. Even though Ivey and Irving are small guards who rely on quickness and ball-handling to be effective, there are key differences between them. For one, they did not have the same surgeries. Ivey broke his fibula, which is a much less common injury than the ACL tear Irving sustained. What was once a death sentence, recovering from an ACL injury now feels pretty systematic. And aside from being the better player, Irving has the number one resource for recovering from surgery at his disposal. Klay Thompson missed nearly three full seasons of his prime due to two separate injuries that he sustained back-to-back. If anyone can get Irving to the place he needs to be, both mentally and physically, it is Thompson. So, although Irving will probably never be the player he was, there is reason to hope for it, as my fellow contributor Michael Harris detailed.
I personally do not think Irving will get back to that level. My expectation is very low for his production next season and beyond. I do not view him as a piece of Cooper Flagg’s future, nor a piece you should move mountains to keep. But I will happily take any and every moment above expectation he gives us. Now that Dallas is out of cap hell, Irving is a luxury the Mavericks can afford. He is a locker-room positive, has plentiful experience to pass on to Flagg and the Mavericks’ draft pick this season, and is a reminder of better times. If you expect to see the player we all saw a year ago, you will be disappointed. But if you expect nothing, Irving will have plenty of pleasant surprises.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 19, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Being selected first overall is the ultimate gift and curse.
On one hand, you’ve shined so much in your pre-NBA career that a team believes you are the premier talent in your age group. You often arrive at a downtrodden franchise heading an effort to turn things around. Fans see you as a savior and a franchise pillar, the likes of Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, and most recently Cooper Flagg.
But, if you’re unable to live up that lofty status, the four-letter B-word seeps into the conversation. That word may hound you for the rest of your career — even if you grow into a helpful role player who sticks in the league for many years.
Ask any Hawks fan what they think of former number two overall pick Marvin Williams. They won’t point to five years as a starting small forward on Atlanta playoff teams in from 2008 to 2012. They won’t point to a body of work that includes a productive 15-year NBA career.
The conversation centers on what he wasn’t. He just wasn’t either of the two All-NBA point guards that followed him on draft day back in 2005.
Enter Zaccharie Risacher, number one overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
It’s obvious he’s not having the offensive breakout everyone hoped for after closing last year’s rookie season on an absolute tear. And most recently, he’s been benched in the starting lineup for CJ McCollum (starting with yesterday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets — but possibly for the foreseeable future).
Last season, after coming back from injury from January 30th until the postseason, Risacher scored 14.9 points in just 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 52% from the field and 42% from three. You could practically see the confidence grow with every shooting explosion. The tortured fanbase could finally feel justified in the organization nailing their bet on an unconventional pick in a down draft cycle.
This season is a different story. Both his scoring impact and efficiency are down from his rookie season, and it hasn’t been offset by improvements in other ‘little areas’ of basketball.
To be clear, this isn’t the end of his NBA career nor his time with the Atlanta Hawks. But it’s undeniable that his development hasn’t gone to plan.
So, that begs the next question:
What has gone wrong so far?
This season has been a different case from his rookie season, when most rightfully expected him to take some time to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA game. Some of his biggest issues in my eyes in 2025-26 have been:
Not enough growth in his upper and/or core body strength
His numbers finishing at the rim and through contact most distinctly bear this out. Per databallr, Risacher is getting to the rim 9.2 times per 100 possessions, placing him in the 88th percentile in the league. But his rim finishing shooting percentage is 3.2% worse than league average.
Risacher’s passing vision is limited, and often it seems as if he predetermines when he’s going to try to get a shot at the rim regardless of the position of the defense. Jalen Johnson is in his direct line of view, but his attempt over/through two guys goes poorly:
“When we get in the lane and break the paint, having our eyes out and passing the ball out allows us to get more catch-and-shoot threes,” coach Quin Snyder had to say about his team’s process before the Nets game. “They’re obviously highly efficient shots. When we’re getting our shot blocked when going to the rim, it’s a pretty good indication that maybe there was an opportunity to get off the ball earlier.”
Or sometimes, he goes in expecting contact without the balance to finish if the expected contact doesn’t arrive:
Lack of a functional handle when faced with ball pressure
This was never a real draw to his game, though he’s at least shown he can handle the ball in the open court a bit. But in halfcourt settings especially, he has a tendency to fumble the ball at even the slightest bit of contact.
These possessions, like recently against the Minnesota Timberwolves below, are all too common. Jaden McDaniels is a premier on-ball defender in the NBA to be clear, but Risacher never looked like he had any shot to get past him to the rim here:
In fairness, he hasn’t looked completely lost as a shooter or anything. For his NBA career, he’s shooting 36% on threes on 8.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions. But he self-creates fewer than 5% of his three-point attempts and makes for his career and is quite clearly a streaky catch-and-shoot guy. In short, he needs a high-level creator to set him up for good looks (more on that later).
One big worry, however, is his oddly low free throw shooting percentage, a common leading indicator of true shooting talent, for example. Last season, he shot 71% from the free-throw line — just fine and no better. But this year, strangely, that number is all the way down to 60%.
I’m no biomechanics expert, but it seems to me that his shot is very upper body-dependent, and his pushy release doesn’t look particularly consistent. I think it’s something that can be ironed out with repetition, because otherwise inconsistent mechanics is something that could cap his overall shooting talent.
Not daring enough to play-make for others, movement shoot, or cut
There are a lot of ways to make yourself useful on offense without a high-level handle. You can read the floor and make quick passes upon receiving the ball. You can move and cut off the ball.
But after flashing these tools last season, Risacher hasn’t built upon this foundation.
The area I think he should tap into more is moving off ball around screens into catch-and-shoot opportunities. That’s simply a more dangerous play type than a standstill catch-and-shoot possession — you can threaten the defense into reacting to your movement even if you don’t touch the basketball.
It’s too much to ask him to be Kyle Korver or anything, but at his height and with his mobility, this should be more of a weapon in his arsenal.
His assist to turnover ratio is up from his 1:1 ratio last season, but I think he can continue to be more ambitious with his passing in coach Snyder’s ‘0.5 second’ system.
It’s a similar story with his cutting frequency. Per the NBA’s tracking numbers via Synergy, Risacher has been right at 8% of his possessions ending from a cut in each of his first two seasons. No growth from year 1 to year 2.
In short, the best way to optimize his offense is to be a jack of all trades. Someone multi-faceted — dangerous to a defense in a variety of ways.
His fit on offense was predicated upon having Trae Young as the focal point
Young is one of the best creators in the NBA. Young found Risacher often last season, and Risacher responded by shooting 38% from three when sharing the court with him (including a small sample this season). Trae Young is now in D.C., and while Jalen Johnson has assumed responsibility as the head of the offense, his ability to find Risacher can’t quite compare.
It’s possible that next season, they Hawks bring in another high-level playmaker to team with Johnson and Dyson Daniels — either via draft or free agency — and that acquisition could be a boon to Risacher’s offense. But in the meanwhile, he’ll need to find other ways to impact the game.
Risacher was never going to be a typical high draft pick. Almost all of those players historically have on-ball creation skills to build an offense around. Zaccharie’s skillset always lent himself to being a glue guy — someone whose offensive values comes from being set up by others, whether as a catch-and-shoot guy or off screening or off cutting.
There are also two angles to this conversation: the foresight angle and the hindsight angle.
Throughout the draft evaluation process, there was no real consensus in a draft class that was light on talent as compared to other drafts. We here at Peachtree Hoops still never felt as through Risacher was the guy even despite this, due to concerns with his low ceiling, rawness, and the opportunity cost to add a two-way center at a position of need.
Even in hindsight, though, things have clearly gone a good bit worse than envisioned. The trio of AlexSarr, Stephon Castle, and Donovan Clingan, for example, have flashed levels of productivity Risacher hasn’t (with Reed Sheppard, a.k.a. the Mahomesian prospect, in that conversation as well).
But that decision was made almost two years ago at this point. It is what it is.
So now what?
I’d be remiss to not mention that there are areas in which Risacher has shown clear improvement. His defensive impact is very apparent on a team lacking size at the small forward position. He’s a legitimate disrupter defending both on and off the ball, averaging more steals and blocks (2.8 ‘stocks’ per 100 possessions) than in his rookie season.
Risacher injects energy in the fight for rebounds (a big weakness on this squad). His assists per 100 possessions are up while his turnovers per 100 possessions are down. His +/- impact is there. I promise you, it hasn’t all been bad.
But when his offense is just barely functional to this point, that hangup remains an anchor on any other value that he provides.
I still believe he can be a very helpful and impactful role player, but it’s time to stop envisioning Risacher as a foundational player to the franchise.
Not only does he require a significant amount of continued development just to reach the point where he can be a starting wing on a competitive team, there has been nothing to suggest that his ceiling is any higher than that.
Additionally, a different front office head than the current one ultimately spearheaded that pick. The current general manager, Onsi Saleh, has less incentive to force a square peg into a round hole.
“[The starting lineup change] doesn’t reflect in any way my personal belief in Zacch,” coach Snyder had to say after the Nets win on Sunday. “It actually could be a positive for him to be in the game at a different stage. Different matchups with guys. I think that was the case [today]. He looks relaxed. He competed. Zacch’s about all the right stuff. His development is something that’s going to continue to happen whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.”
Again, I still think the 20-year-old still has a productive NBA career ahead of him, but in my opinion the Hawks should continue to develop him while also regarding him as no more than a rotational wing signed to a mid-value contract over the next two future seasons — that is, assuming his fourth-year team option is picked up.
The story of his career is still being written, and I would implore you to not write off someone who doesn’t even turn 21 for a couple of months. But it’s not too early to adjust expectations accordingly — a process both the franchise and the fanbase may have already kicked off.
In the second half of a Tuesday doubleheader on Peacock, the Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Timberwolves have bounced back from a five-game losing streak in January and remain in playoff contention, scoring more than 120 points in six of their past 10 games.
The Trail Blazers, who opened the season by winning nine of their first 11, are fighting for their first playoff berth since 2020-21. They have rebounded from a six-game losing streak on Jan. 23 through Feb. 3 (their longest in more than a year).
This will be the third of four games between the teams this season. The Timberwolves won the first two, a 133-109 home win on Feb. 11 and a 118-114 road victory on Oct. 22.
See below for additional information on how to watch the Timberwolves-Trail Blazers matchup and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the NBA on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers preview:
On track for career highs in scoring average and field goal percentage, Anthony Edwards is tallying more than 29 points per game (third in the NBA) and shooting over 49 percent. The recent All-Star Game MVP has scored more than 40 points seven times this season (second most in the league behind Luka Doncic) and holds the Minnesota franchise record for 40-point games (31) and 30-point games (132), including the playoffs.
Julius Randle has emerged as one of the best passing forwards in the NBA, leading the team with more than 5 assists per game. The 12-year veteran is in his second season with Minnesota and signed a three-year, $100 million extension last summer.
Trail Blazers All-Star Deni Avdija is a favorite for Most Improved Player of the Year and on pace for career highs in scoring (more than 25 points per game), assists (leads the team with more than 6 per game) and 3-pointers made (2.2 per game). He missed 10 games with a lower back injury and was sidelined during much of Portland's six-game skid.
The Trail Blazers are beginning a tough road stretch, and Tuesday will mark one of only five games at home from Feb. 11 through March 22. Portland will play 10 of its next 13 games away from the Moda Center.
What other NBA games are on Peacock and NBCSN on Tuesday?
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood
NBA on NBC 2025-26 schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
In a marquee Eastern Conference matchup, the New York Knicks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Tuesday night game on Peacock.
The Knicks (36-21) and Cavaliers (36-21) are tied for third in the East, one game behind Boston for second place.
Cleveland will enter Rocket Arena as one of the league's hottest teams, riding a seven-game winning streak and having won 14 of the past 16. The visiting Knicks have the second-best record (11-3) over the past month behind the Cavaliers.
This is the third and final regular-season meeting between the teams. The Knicks won both at home — 119-111 in the Oct. 22 season opener and a 126-124 victory on Christmas Day that included a 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter.
Because of the State of the Union address on NBC, the game will be shown exclusively on Peacock and NBCSN (available on YouTubeTV).
See below for additional information on how to watch the Knicks-Cavaliers matchup and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the NBA on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Because of their recent streaks, the Knicks and Cavaliers have emerged with the shortest odds to make the NBA Finals. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Cleveland is the current favorite at +300, and the Knicks are second at +330 (first-place Detroit is +350, and Boston is +380).
The Cavaliers are hoping to erase the memory of going wire-to-wire as the top seed last season at 64-18 before losing in 5 games to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.
Seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell has scored at least 30 points in seven of the Cavs' past 13 games and remains on track for a career high in scoring at 29 points per game (ffith in the NBA). Cleveland has been rolling since the Feb. 4 acquisition of 11-time All-Star James Harden, who has yet to play with Evan Mobley (out since Jan. 26 with a left calf strain).
Defense has spurred the recent success of the Knicks, who are allowing just over 101 points per game over their last 15 games after giving up more than 117 points per game in the 11 previous games. In their first 43 games this season, New York held only three teams to fewer than 100 points.
“I think the biggest part of our defense has been our communication, physicality and accountability without having to point fingers and say who was wrong and who wasn’t," said guard Jalen Brunson, who leads the team in scoring and assists during his fourth season in New York. "Just kind of being on the string and being on the same page is the biggest part of our turnaround so far.”
Teammate Karl-Anthony Towns is down in several major categories (points, rebounds, shooting percentage), but OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and recent acquisition Jose Alvarado have helped pick up the slack.
What other NBA games are on Peacock and NBCSN on Tuesday?
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood
NBA on NBC 2025-26 schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 20: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 20, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Since James Harden has arrived in Cleveland, everything has been exactly what one would hope for. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 5–1, the offense looks rejuvenated, and the team’s vibes haven’t been higher this season. Nothing seems like it could detract from the momentum this team has built, as it now finds itself in the third seed of the Eastern Conference. Well, nothing except for the fact that we all know how Harden carries himself with his new clubs.
This is the honeymoon phase—a term that anyone who has been in a relationship knows all too well. Star-crossed lovers become so enamored with each other that they ride the euphoria and push all concerns to the side. Unfortunately, Cavaliers fans should keep in the back of their minds while they enjoy this initial phase of the James Harden experience. That, according to history, it will not last forever.
It would be nice to think the Tobias Fünke train of thought—“It didn’t work for them, but it could work for us”—didn’t have validity, but the pattern has too much credibility. Ask the fans of the Nets, Sixers, and Clippers how the initial portion of the James Harden experience went.
You go on Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, or even just talk to friends, and the quotes eerily all line up to paint the same picture. Harden joins Team X, and suddenly it’s, “Oh wow, he looks reinvigorated.” “Maybe something has changed?” Harden looks phenomenal for a stretch, which allows fanbases and front offices to quiet any reservations they had about the trade.
Then, Team X hits a bump in the road—whether it’s getting bounced from the playoffs or falling short of expectations—and things get dicey fast. The dialogue around the team and Harden suddenly pivots from, “Where did this guy come from?” to, “Will this team ever look like it did when he first arrived?” Next thing you know, the NBA trade deadline features Team X trying to appease Harden as he looks for his next venture, because your team didn’t cut it.
This is all part of the Harden experience. James Harden is an NBA mercenary. Mercenaries aren’t sentimental; they don’t get emotionally attached. In Harden’s case, if he doesn’t get what he wants quickly, things get sour fast.
This is nothing against Harden—he doesn’t hide his wishes or tendencies. This is very much out in the open. A key factor to consider when getting into the Harden business is that he never gets comfortable, always willing to press the buttons necessary to maximize his chances of winning a title. This is an important piece of information that Koby Altman and the Cavaliers front office were, without a doubt, aware of.
The Cavaliers, with all their chips on Harden, either unknowingly or unwillingly, have put themselves on a rapid and delicate timeline. This is probably the most open the Eastern Conference will be for the next few years, with the Pistons sitting at the top, the Celtics recuperating and reintegrating Jayson Tatum into the fold, and the Knicks looking like the main threats to Cleveland’s chances to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
It’s fair to anticipate that Cleveland has made some indication to Harden that they will either extend him or provide incentives for him to remain in town through next season, at minimum. The Cavaliers are currently benefiting from the Harden experience and show no signs of slowing down. The team should ride this momentum into the postseason. However, it is the playoffs that will set the tone for the team heading into next season, based on the recent chapters of Harden’s career.
This is the deal that Cleveland signed up for. Harden has always shown his cards. If the Cavaliers expect a different response from their newest star, then they got into the wrong business.
