PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Australia crushed Oman by nine wickets in a dead rubber at the T20 World Cup on Friday, reaching its winning total with more than 10 overs remaining.

Defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka had already led to the shocked Australians exiting the tournament at the first stage.

Adam Zampa, who went wicketless against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, picked up 4-21 as Australia bowled out Oman for 104 in 16.2 overs after captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to field.

Marsh then blazed a 26-ball half century inside the power play and motored Australia to 108-1 in only 9.4 overs for a consolation win. Marsh smashed seven fours and four sixes in his 33-ball unbeaten 64 and Travis Head scored 32 off 19 deliveries before he skied a catch when Australia needed 12 runs for victory.

Australia finished third in Group B while Oman rounded off its campaign with four defeats in four games and was last in the five-team group.

The indifferent form of Marsh’s men had encouraged Oman skipper Jatinder Singh to declare “it is the best time to crush” Australia on the eve of the game. Instead, Australian bowlers dominated.

Xavier Bartlett (2-27) crashed the leg stump of Aamir Kaleem off the very first ball and Singh also got clean bowled by Bartlett inside the power play after hitting three boundaries in his knock of 17.

Zampa and Glenn Maxwell (2-13) struck regularly in the middle overs before Wasim Ali scored 32 off 33 balls and helped Oman reach the 100-run mark. Zampa grabbed his fourth four-wicket haul at T20 World Cups by claiming the last two wickets off successive deliveries.

The Super 8 stage of the tournament begins Saturday with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Colombo in Group 2 that also features co-host Sri Lanka and England. The unbeaten teams in the group stage -- defending champion India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe – are in Group 1.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday (2/22 at 6:30 PM on NBC/Peacock) and it will be just another matchup between the sport’s greatest rivals. So I thought I’d take a moment to take a trip down memory lane and talk about the past. What was your favorite memory?

It is hard not to go straight to the Finals matchups. If you are old enough to remember Bill Russell and Bob Cousy taking down Jerry West and others over and over again, well bless your soul and thank you for still coming to this site.

I’m old enough to remember the pain of 1985 and the feeling that we were robbed of our revenge in 1986 where we surely would have rolled over them like we did the Rockets. I don’t have a lot of memories of 1984 unfortunately (I was just turning 9 at the time).

Obviously there was the ultra-glorious 2008 run. With Ray Allen breaking Sasha Vujačić’s ankles on the way to a series clinching layup. Paul Pierce hoisting the Finals MVP trophy. Kevin Garnett screaming “Anything is possibllllllllllllllllle!!!”

But there have been countless regular season matchups as well. Bird and Magic were on National TV any time they met in the 80’s, and for good reason. The Big 3 always battled Kobe well. And Tatum and Brown have continued the legacy, including a sweet blowout over LeBron in 2021.

What memories do you have of the rivalry? Share in the comments below! And Beat LA!

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The Battle of Los Angeles takes center stage tonight at Crypto.com Arena, and while the Clippers are settling into their own home, this remains a Purple and Gold city. With the Lakers entering as 7.5-point favorites, there’s no better time to capitalize on their dominance with a three-leg same-game parlay.

My NBA picks expect Luka Dončić to continue his MVP-caliber campaign alongside the timeless brilliance of LeBron James, who thrives under the bright lights of this rivalry. Between Luka’s playmaking and LeBron’s efficiency, the Lakers appear primed to defend their home court tonight.

This parlay has been BOOSTED from +550 to +600 by our friends at bet365.

Clippers vs Lakers same game parlay for February 20

Los Angeles Clippers vs  Los Angeles Lakers

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Crypto.com Arena
• TV: ESPN, ESPN Unlimited, FDSN, SPECSN

While this is his first game back from a hamstring strain—and you’d normally expect some form of minutes restriction—Luka Dončić played in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday and then had extended time off to continue his rehab. Because of that, I don’t expect any restriction to be particularly limiting. The Clippers love to blitz Dončić and force the ball out of his hands, and with the Lakers fully healthy on Friday, he’ll have no shortage of capable teammates to convert those potential assists.

With Ivica Zubac no longer anchoring the middle and Brook Lopez expected to start at center, the Clippers are likely to rely more on deep drop coverage, which should open up plenty of passing lanes for Dončić.

In their previous matchups with the Clippers this season, Rui Hachimura and LeBron James have converted the most assists from Dončić, with five each. With the Clippers blitzing Dončić to get the ball out of his hands, that should open up driving lanes for James, who will be operating off Dončić’s gravity. The spacing for James to get downhill should also be there, as the Lakers are fully healthy and the roster is filled with shooters and scorers like Austin Reaves and Hachimura.

When you bet an alternate over on the assists of a primary creator like Luka Dončić, pairing it with the team’s moneyline often makes a lot of sense. If Dončić gets to 10+ assists, it means his teammates are converting shots—likely including open threes and easy finishes from role players. With the Clippers playing on the second night of a back-to-back, there’s also a realistic chance we gain additional edge if their starting lineup changes closer to tip-off due to the scheduling spot.

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks
Date: February 20th, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

The All-Star break is officially in the rearview mirror. The beach towels are folded. The sunglasses are back in the drawer. And the Wolves return to Target Center sitting in the Western Conference’s 6-seed, a respectable address, but not exactly the penthouse suite they’ve been eyeing all year.

Twenty-six games remain. That’s it.

If the Wolves want to climb out of the Play-In danger zone and secure something meaningful, like, say, actual home-court advantage in the first round, it’s going to require a level of consistency and maturity we’ve only seen in flashes over the first 56 games.

Because let’s be honest: this season has been a roller coaster designed by someone who hates stability. One night they look like a team capable of going toe-to-toe with Oklahoma City and punching a ticket to June. The next night they look like a group that accidentally showed up to the wrong gym and decided to wing it anyway.

That’s the problem. The Wolves have been both world-beaters and sleepwalkers, a team with championship upside and “what are we doing?” energy, sometimes within the same week. Now they open the final stretch against an injured Dallas Mavericks team that, on paper, simply does not measure up to Minnesota’s roster. Which means this game isn’t about talent. It’s about tone. If this team is serious about climbing the ladder they’ve been hovering beneath all season, it starts with beating teams like this, cleanly, decisively, and professionally.

Key #1: Come Out Like You Mean It

There are no excuses here. None.

Only Anthony Edwards played competitive basketball during the break. Everyone else got a week-plus to recharge. Meanwhile, Dallas rolls into Target Center without Kyrie Irving (done for the season), without Cooper Flagg (foot injury), without Anthony Davis (traded), and possibly without Daniel Gafford.

This isn’t Dallas’s A-team. It’s not even their B+ team. But this is a group that, if you let them hang around, will absolutely make you regret it.Minnesota cannot treat this like a glorified practice. They cannot “feel it out.” They cannot play with their food for three quarters and decide to turn the jets on in the fourth. We’ve seen that movie. It ends poorly.

They need to come out of the gate with urgency. Defensive pressure. Fresh legs. Purpose. Make it clear within the first six minutes that this is not going to be the night for a scrappy Dallas upset. This game should feel uncomfortable for the Mavericks from the jump.

Key #2: Dominate the Paint Like You’re Supposed To

This is where the Wolves have no excuse. With Anthony Davis gone and Gafford questionable, Minnesota’s frontcourt advantage is overwhelming. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid should feast. This needs to be paint pressure. Offensive rebounds. Lob threats. Putbacks. High-percentage looks. Physicality. Impose-your-will basketball.

The Wolves’ size advantage should show up on the glass. It should show up in second-chance points. It should show up in shot quality. If Minnesota’s bigs get outworked or outhustled in this matchup, that’s not a talent issue, that’s an effort issue. And effort issues are no longer acceptable with 26 games left.

Key #3: Make It Five-Headed, Not Hero Ball

Anthony Edwards just lit up the All-Star Game. He looked like the face of the league. He stole the show. It was awesome. But this is not the All-Star Game.

This isn’t about Ant dropping 45 for the vibes. This is about building cohesion. The Wolves are at their best when Ant and Randle operate as dual threats, scorers and facilitators. When the ball pops. When Donte DiVincenzo gets clean looks. When Naz spaces the floor. When Jaden McDaniels finds rhythm inside the flow of the offense.

When Minnesota plays like a five-headed monster, they are hard to guard. When it devolves into iso-heavy, late-clock bailout possessions, they make life way too easy for an inferior opponent.

Dallas cannot match Minnesota’s depth or offensive variety. But they can hang around if the Wolves shrink themselves into a one-man show. The mission here is simple: play connected basketball.

Key #4: No Freebies on the Perimeter

The only way Dallas stays in this game is if Minnesota gifts them confidence. That means lazy closeouts. Blow-bys. Miscommunications. Rotations a half-step slow. Open threes.

We’ve seen this script before: Wolves control the talent battle but turn into a defensive revolving door. Suddenly a team that shouldn’t be able to score 110 is sitting at 102 midway through the fourth quarter and the arena is nervous.

It starts on the perimeter. Guard the ball. Provide resistance. Funnel drives intelligently into Gobert instead of asking him to bail out breakdown after breakdown. If Minnesota defends with purpose, Dallas simply does not have the firepower to keep up. But if the Wolves get casual, they invite drama.

And they’ve had enough drama this season.

Key #5: Treat This Like the Beginning of Something

This isn’t just Game 57. This is the start of tune-up mode.

The Wolves are integrating Ayo Dosunmu into the mix. They’re recalibrating rotations. They’re building toward April. Chemistry doesn’t magically appear in Game 1 of the playoffs. It gets built in February and March.

That means playing focused. Playing together. Communicating defensively. Trusting the extra pass. Understanding spacing. Learning tendencies. This stretch is about laying groundwork for May and June. You don’t flip a switch in the postseason unless you’ve wired it properly beforehand.

There are numbers floating around in my head — 17–9.

That’s roughly what Minnesota needs over these final 26 games to realistically put themselves in position for the three-seed. Maybe even better.

You don’t get to 17–9 by dropping “gimme” games at home. You don’t get there by coasting. You don’t get there by assuming the opponent will roll over.

This is about professionalism now. The Wolves have talked about contender status. They’ve tasted Western Conference Finals basketball. They know what’s at stake. Now they have to show it.

The runway is there. The schedule is manageable. The talent is undeniable. The only question left is whether this team finally decides to be consistent. It has to start tonight.

No excuses.

LaMelo Ball isn’t a child anymore. This was the justification used to hand-wave away Ball’s careless, stupid, reckless driving when he first entered the NBA, but now he’s the 24-year-old leader of the Charlotte Hornets and there’s no room for excuses. Ball is behaving like an asshole, and this was capped off Thursday night when the point guard refused to take questions from the media about his latest car accident.

Ball was behind the wheel of his custom Hummer this week when he swerved into oncoming traffic in the middle of uptown Charlotte, before hitting another vehicle and coming to a stop. Nobody was injured in the incident, thankfully, but that doesn’t mean it was okay, especially after seeing video of the speed at which the crash occurred.

This is not an isolated incident. Melo’s reckless driving has been well-documented ever since he entered the NBA. Routinely peeling out of the player parking lot at a high rate of speed in an array of exotic cars, Ball has been filmed coming close to cutting off other motorists, sideswiping fans, running red lights, and effectively being a danger to himself and others.

Ball was asked about the crash after Thursday night’s game and immediately got up and left the podium:

In 2024, the family of an 11-year-old needed police intervention to get insurance information from Ball after he sped out of the Spectrum Center and allegely ran over the boy’s foot while he was seeking an autograph. It led to the family filing a lawsuit against LaMelo to seek reimbursement for medical bills, with’s Ball’s lawyers arguing it was the child’s fault for getting too close to the vehicle — and asserting that the family should pay LaMelo’s legal fees as a result. That case is still ongoing, with the next court date scheduled for May 11, 2026.

Regardless of whether or not a court finds that the injury to the autograph-seeking child was really Ball’s fault or not, this latest wreck is just another chapter in an established pattern of dangerous driving by the player. It also happens at the worst possible time for a Hornets organization, which is finally showing signs of life, playing the best basketball the team has in over a decade, and legitimately looks like a dangerous team if they can close out the regular season and find a way into the playoffs. At a time when every ounce of focus from players should be on basketball, Ball has brought in a massive distraction.

Seeing a star player for the Hornets get into a wreck also opens old wounds for the organization, fans, and the city of Charlotte. January 12, 2000 was the day that Bobby Phills died. The shooting guard for the Charlotte Hornets and the team leader at the time, Phills embodied the ultimate underdog story as he failed in the NBA, went to Europe, then returned to Charlotte in 1997 to become one of the best dogged on-ball defenders of his time.

A player always hailed for doing things “the right way” and giving back to the community, all it took was one horrible lapse in judgment to end his life. In the early hours of January 12, Phills was goofing around on the road with teammate David Wesley in their sports cars, when Phills lost control of his Porsche going over 100 mph. He struck two vehicles, and was pronounced dead on the scene, with the other drivers lucky to only have sustained minor injuries.

It was a loss that did immeasurable damage, not only for a city that mourned an athlete, but for the Charlotte Hornets organization. The 30-year-old’s role as the veteran leader of the team at the time was to nurture and help develop a young Ricky Davis, whom the Hornets took with an eye towards him being the future of the organization alongside Baron Davis. Ricky Davis regressed without Phills being a steadying force; he was traded, the team fell apart, and relocated to New Orleans following the 2001-02 season. It’s not that Phills’ death directly led to the team moving, but there is an alternate, unrealized timeline where the Hornets of that era reach their potential, return to their early-90s zenith, which gives way to the organization getting a new arena deal, and staying in Charlotte.

That’s a footnote to this, but underscores the inexorable link between traffic accidents and the Charlotte Hornets, and why it was triggering for older fans to see Ball driving recklessly even before this latest incident. Every single player on the Hornets knows the story of Bobby Phills. They see his jersey in the rafters of every home game. His cautionary tale is preached to every rookie upon arriving, and constant reminders remain in the community of his legacy.

LaMelo Ball has grown significantly on the court this season, evolving from a shoot-first point guard who tried to do everything himself to becoming a willing piece in a larger puzzle that has led to immense success. Now he needs to grow the hell up off the court. The dangerous driving isn’t just an aside, or a punchline anymore — and he needs to realize that. Too much is at stake, not in basketball, but for his life. Far too many times fate has smiled on him while he careens out of the arena like Mr. Toad, and this latest accident needs to be the final wake up call for a 24-year-old who somehow still doesn’t get it when he’s on the road.

The Brooklyn Nets returned to action last night and faced off against a potential NBA title contender in the Cleveland Cavaliers. As you’d expect, the Cavs showed why they’re contenders and the Nets are not as they cut the Nets up by 28 points.

From facing title contenders to facing the reigning, defending NBA Champions. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going to set the single season wins record, but they are on top of a tough Western Conference. They went into the All Star break with a 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 8 PM.

🤕 Injuries

No Nic Claxton. Night two of a back-to-back so don’t be surprised if there are more absences.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, and Ajay Mitchell are out.

🏀 The game

In a fun twist, the Cavs and Thunder will play each other Sunday afternoon on ABC.

We mentioned that the Thunder aren’t going to set the win record since that was the early discussion when they got off to their hot start. However, they’re still one of the major favorites to win the NBA championship. From Ricky O’Donnell at the mothership:

When they’re healthy, we’ll see if they can get back to their top form.

The Thunder started this season at 24-1 and looked like they would be a heavy favorite to win the championship. Since then, OKC went 18-13 into the All-Star break, and looked a lot more beatable. Likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently sidelined with an abdominal injury, Jalen Williams is battling a hamstring strain after being kept out with a wrist injury to start the year, and breakout sophomore Ajay Mitchell has also been in and out of the lineup lately.

OKC needs to know if Williams can get back to the All-NBA level he played at this year, because he just hasn’t been the same player this season. SGA can still take this team over the finish line, but his teammates need to hit some shots. The Thunder are still a pretty average shooting team from deep, and that can catch up to them in the playoffs. The defense will still be elite if Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso can all stay healthy for the playoffs, and that alone should make them the favorites before it starts. I really think SGA is a special player, and one of the three or four best guards the league has seen since Michael Jordan retired. He can carry the Thunder across the finish line to become the league’s first back-to-back champ since Kevin Durant was on the Golden State Warriors. It just doesn’t feel like this is an undeniable dynasty at this point.

We’ll see what they look like once they’re back at full strength.

We’ll see more of the kids tonight. Danny Wolf filled up the stat sheet in his 28 minutes last night, and in the event Porter Jr is out tonight, he’ll get more time on the court. Like the other rookies, Wolf needs as many minutes as possible so he can continue to grow.

Speaking of young players, Jared McCain is looking to find his way on his new team. He came over from the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the deadline, and he’s slotting in to a nice role where he gets 20 minutes a night while the big dogs heal up. If he makes the most of this opportunity, Mark Daigneault could turn to him to provide some shooting in the playoffs.

For the Nets, they’ve had to consistently find ways to pick themselves up from blowout losses. Four out of their last five losses have been by at least 16 points. You learn a lot during the course of a long season, and for this young Nets team, they hope the lessons (and losses) from this year will carry them into 2027 and beyond.

👀 Player to watch: Chet Holmgren

The Thunder’s core is still incredibly young, and Holmgren’s continued growth plays a big part in OKC’s present and future success. Holmgren’s at a career high 56 percent from the field, thanks in part to the team finding more shots for him on the inside. He’s taking more shots inside of three feet, and he’s shooting a blistering 81.5 percent on the inside. Getting easy buckets always makes life easier and while Gilgeous-Alexander heals up, OKC can lean on Holmgren a bit more and trust him to make something good happen every team he has the ball on the inside.

Day’ron Sharpe will have his hands full tonight. Brooklyn got outrebounded by 20 last night and if they want to be competitive tonight, that’s going to have to change. Sharpe has done well on the boards and has a soft touch at the rim so he’s always down to give Jordi Fernandez some good minutes.

📺 From the Vault

Ones in the air for Eric Dane

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

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Oklahoma City Thunder Game Notes – Oklahoma City Thunder
• Brooklyn visits Oklahoma City on 3-game road skid – AP
• The road is only going to get tougher for Nets as new tanking questions loom ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Jordi Fernandez has blunt reaction to blowout loss to Cavs after All-Star break – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

The Knicks aren’t winning it all this season.

Assuming they finish the regular season with a top-three seed, they’ll only meet the Pistons in the ECF.

That’s it, that’s where everything will end. The season won’t last past that.

Mike Brown

On Towns’ comfort in offense:

“He’s comfortable. We’re continuing to try to do different things to help free him up. And we’ll continue to search to try to do different things to free him up throughout the course of the year.”

On choosing Shamet over Bridges to close the game:

“Landry had hit a couple shots. We needed to score. They’re both really good defenders. And so I just stayed with Landry. But it wasn’t anything where, ‘Oh, I’m going to sit Mikal because he’s not doing this, or he’s not doing that.’ We were looking to score points and Landry was the only one to make a shot from behind the arc.”

On the Pistons’ defensive adjustments:

“In the first half, too, [the Pistons] switch a lot. So, with [Mitchell Robinson], they’re going to blitz or double-team the ball. With KAT, they’re going to switch, especially if they create separation. And so we tried running some of the same actions they switched, and he didn’t get as many good looks as he did in the second half. We opened it up and tried to set the screen a little bit higher and a little bit quicker in that second half, so we can get right to it, which freed him up at times.”

On defending Cade Cunningham’s size:

“He can do a lot for a guy his size and puts teams in predicaments with the stuff that he’s doing because really your guy is [6-foot-2], 6-1 and is on a guy who is 6-7 doing it. And you’re putting a small forward on him. Most of the time the small forward isn’t used to navigating the stuff that he does on the floor.”

On failing to keep ball out of the middle:

“We want to try to keep the ball off the middle of the floor. And we didn’t do a good job of it. We allowed him to get to the middle of the floor often. And when he got to the middle of the floor he hurt us. So we have to do a better job of trying to keep the ball on the sidelines and not allowing it to get to the middle of the floor.”

On the three-point shooting struggles on Thursday:

“We did a great job of generating some wide-open looks, especially from the 3-point line. They just didn’t go in tonight.”

On Sochan’s debut minutes:

“I thought his minutes were pretty good. It gives us the ability to give a guy like Cade [Cunningham] a different look. You know with his length and his strength and his athleticism, and we want to be physical.”

On Sochan’s physical defense:

“He hadn’t played in a while, but most of the time that he was on the floor and guarding Cade, there was a physicality to it, and we liked that. We need it.”

On overall debut evaluation:

“I thought for him, not having played in a while and him only being here for a couple of days, I thought he did a pretty good job.”

On the locker room disappointment following another lose:

“Nobody wants to lose. And everybody is disappointed. And I’m sure everybody is trying to figure out how they could’ve played better to help the team win. So it’s not a fun feeling. It shouldn’t be a fun feeling for me or anybody else in that locker room. But for sure it’s not the end of the world. We got to regroup, watch the film to see how to get better and get the next one.”

On Adam Silver’s tanking fixes:

“Definitely trying to make somebody fight for it at the end of the season. Whether you have a small tournament before the playoffs start or something like that to where it’s not just guaranteed that the team with the worst record gets the best odds. That may change it a little bit.

“Adam’s a smart guy and he’s figured out a lot of really good things for this league, so I have a ton of faith in him that he will figure it out.”

Jose Alvarado

On the Pistons’ regular season sweep:

“Playoffs is a whole different ballgame. We’re not going to sit here and say, ‘Oh, they beat us in the regular season.’ We’re not thinking like that.”

Jalen Brunson

On Pistons’ regular-season dominance:

“It’s a new year.”

On another loss to the Pistons:

“They play great against us. I think today was not as bad as the first two losses. But it’s just not up to our standards.”

On failing to slow Cunningham:

“We just didn’t slow him down fast enough, or even at all.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On yet another loss to Detroit:

“It builds a confidence going into a series. You also have great film to see what did work.”

On his role on the Brown’s offense:

“I mean, our offense is our offense. It’s been that way all year. So we have our system and we’re gonna — regardless of who’s in the game or not in the game — we run the system that we have implemented for our team to the best of our abilities.”

On his third-quarter aggressiveness:

“Just trying to make a play, be aggressive with play-making. Got a chance to get a shot up and wanted to capitalize on those opportunities. And hopefully get us a spark, start the third quarter on a strong note. What I definitely wanted to, if I could control anything in the third, was get us off to a quick start. I’m happy I was able to do that and find chances to impose my will in the game.”

On no moral victories in losing to Detroit by fewer than 90 points:

“There’s no moral victories or one New York wants to see. But we got a lot of film and we’ll see each other in the playoffs, and we got to be ready.”

Mohamed Diawara

On his role uncertainty after Sochan’s addition:

“I’m just gonna continue what I was doing. Keep working and being ready for each opportunity that I’m gonna get. I’m not worried about that. I know the coaching staff and the team is gonna do whatever is good for the team, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

On his mindset amid his rookie season:

“I’m a rookie, rookie year, first year in the league. The league, anything can happen, so I’m just gonna take what I have to take and not take anything for granted and just keep working until I’m gonna be that player [I want to be].”

On where he’s improved the most in the NBA:

“I think my 3-point shot. I think my 3-point shot became a little bit more consistent. I think that’s the biggest thing, and maybe my defense too, a little bit.”

Cade Cunningham

On his MVP candidacy:

“It comes from doing the things I said, what I needed to do to be in that conversation. Now that we’re getting closer, there’s more [talk] like ‘What is your case? You should speak on it.’ I don’t really care to speak on it. I want the people that vote on it to be smart enough to look at the game for themselves.”

On sweeping the Knicks:

“To sweep a team as good as them, they play high-level basketball. To beat them, we’re trying to win tiebreaker and stuff, that means something. Just competing against the Eastern teams, beating a good team, means a lot.”

On making a statement on Thursday:

“What is it? I mean we’re the best team in the East, I don’t know what statement. The statement is coming to play every night, and we’re going to compete until you lay down for us.”

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — American freeskier Hunter Hess and three of his teammates have qualified for Friday’s 12-man halfpipe Olympic final, when they will have a shot at delivering the first gold medal in nearly two weeks of freeskiing or snowboarding at the Livigno snow park.

Hess was thrust into the spotlight at the Milan Cortina Games when U.S. President Donald Trump called him a “loser” after the athlete had said that "just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

Hess made a “L” sign with his hand, with L meaning “loser,” against his helmet after his first qualifying run on Friday. He then told reporters that he stands by the statement that had drawn Trump's ire, while also reiterating that he loves his country.

Hess will be joined by fellow Americans Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper and Birk Irving in the final.

Brendan MacKay of Canada topped qualifying, when skiers got two runs down the halfpipe, with their best score counting. Two other Canadians also advanced.

Reigning world champion Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand missed the cut after crashing on both of his qualifying runs.

Elizabeth Lemley won gold in women’s moguls freeskiing at the Winter Games, but the moguls events are held at a separate venue in Livigno. The Livigno snow park hosts the halfpipe, slopestyle and big air events for freeski and snowboarding.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have some big decisions to make this summer, but until then, the show must go on as they visit the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

I’m not reading too much into Milwaukee’s 5-1 spurt before the All-Star break, especially with Myles Turner now also sidelined, but my Bucks vs. Pelicans predictions expect Ryan Rollins to feast against a shaky New Orleans defense.

Check out my NBA picks for this February 20 matchup.

Bucks vs Pelicans prediction

Bucks vs Pelicans best bet: Ryan Rollins Over 18.5 points (-115)

There’s a Giannis-sized hole in the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting lineup, and Ryan Rollins has a clear path to bumper stats after resting a foot issue over the break.

Rollins has nailed this Over in six of his last eight games, and he’s averaging 21.8 ppg so far in February.

I’ll gladly pick against a New Orleans Pelicans team that’s allowing 120.4 ppg, tied for fourth-most in the NBA. Rollins gave the Pels fits earlier this month on the way to 27 points. 

One glance at the Milwaukee rotation tonight confirms Rollins will be doing the heavy lifting.

Bucks vs Pelicans same-game parlay

It’s been a road-heavy schedule lately for the Pelicans, but they’re 17-11-1 ATS at home this year. The hosts should escape with a win, especially if they profit in the paint against a Milwaukee squad missing Giannis and Turner.

I’ll double down on that with a pair of Derik Queen wagers. He and Zion Williamson can both put up impressive numbers tonight, but I’m targeting Queen, who will get even more touches if Trey Murphy III (doubtful) is ruled out.

Bucks vs Pelicans SGP

• Pelicans moneyline
• Derik Queen Over 12.5 points
• Derik Queen Over 0.5 3-pointers

Our "from downtown" SGP: Point guards rollin’

It’s an all-point guard SGP here, with Rollins and Jeremiah Fears both set for big minutes down the stretch this season. Rollins gets the keys to the Giannis-less Milwaukee offense, while Fears will benefit from New Orleans’ thin backcourt depth.

Fears was within touching distance of a triple-double in his last outing before All-Star weekend.

Bucks vs Pelicans SGP

• Ryan Rollins Over 18.5 points
• Ryan Rollins Over 4.5 assists
• Jeremiah Fears Over 14.5 points
• Jeremiah Fears Over 3.5 assists

Bucks vs Pelicans odds

• Spread: Bucks +4 | Pelicans -4
• Moneyline: Bucks +145 | Pelicans -170
• Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5

Bucks vs Pelicans betting trend to know

The Bucks are 11-18 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Pelicans.

How to watch Bucks vs Pelicans

Bucks vs Pelicans latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

PHOENIX (AP) — Pat Murphy says he knows he belongs with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now the two-time NL manager of the year has agreed to a new contract that assures he will remain in Milwaukee for some time to come.

Murphy has led the Brewers to division titles and has been selected as NL manager of the year each of his first two seasons on the job. He had been Milwaukee’s bench coach on Craig Counsell's staff for eight seasons before taking over as manager.

“I don’t want to be with any other organization,” Murphy told reporters Friday from the Brewers' spring training complex after the deal was announced. “I feel really connected. This is going on my 11th season. I feel really part of it. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Murphy’s contract had been set to expire at the end of the season before he and the Brewers agreed to terms on this new deal. He had taken over as Milwaukee’s manager after Counsell let his contract run out following the 2023 season and then signed a lucrative deal with the rival Chicago Cubs.

Counsell said he talked to Murphy on Thursday night.

“Thrilled for him,” Counsell said before the Cubs' Cactus League opener in Mesa. “Absolutely thrilled for him.”

The Brewers didn’t release terms of Murphy's contract. The Athletic, which first reported Murphy’s new deal, said he now has a three-year contract with a club option for 2029.

“I really didn’t have any doubt that this was going to work out,” Murphy told reporters. “I’m really grateful, really thankful.”

Murphy, 67, owns a 190-134 record as Milwaukee’s manager and has helped the Brewers wildly outperform preseason forecasts each of the last two years. The Brewers earned a franchise-record 97 wins last season, won a third straight NL Central title and beat Counsell’s Cubs in the NL Division Series before getting swept in the NL Championship Series by the eventual World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Brewers went 93-69 and won the NL Central championship in 2024 before losing an NL Wild Card Series to the New York Mets.

Along the way, he has delighted Brewers fans and gained attention for his unique style, which has included pulling out pancakes from his pocket during a televised dugout interview and having his sons frequently sitting alongside him at postgame news conferences.

“He fits a young team really well, getting guys to believe in themselves — the kind of players who have made up our team over the years, where guys maybe hadn’t had success in other places and kind of come here and find their footing, find success and find themselves,” Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich told reporters.

Murphy is the first Brewers skipper ever to get named manager of the year. The only other people ever to get selected as manager of the year in consecutive seasons are Atlanta’s Bobby Cox (2004-05), Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash (2020-21) and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt (2024-25).

“He’s special,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold told reporters. “I love the fact he wants to continue to challenge everyone in the room and try to make everyone better. I think he’s not afraid. He’s competitive. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail for a win and to make you better off the field. He cares about people. I love that about him.”

Murphy's only previous major league managerial experience came when he went 42-54 on an interim basis with San Diego in 2015 after the firing of Bud Black. He was a minor league manager in the Padres organization from 2011-2015.

Before that, Murphy posted a combined 947-400-2 coaching record at Notre Dame (1988-94) and Arizona State (1995-2009). He coached Counsell at Notre Dame and helped Arizona State reach the College World Series championship game in 1998.

He had a total of 1,000 college wins in a career that also included stints at Division-III Maryville (1983) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (1986-87).

“I really feel lucky driving to work every day,” Murphy told reporters. “I feel lucky this is what I do for a living. I feel lucky that someone says, 'Yes, yeah, we want you to be in this position for our organization. I feel lucky and I feel fortunate. I know how tough it is to get there.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

With the NBA trade deadline long gone and All-Star weekend now over with, it’s officially the tail end of the season and the Milwaukee Bucks ramp it back up tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center—God bless America! Last time these teams played, the Bucks were in the quandary of needing to win to protect their pick while teetering on tanking. After winning that one 141-137 in overtime, and unexpectedly winning three of the next four—including road wins against the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder—the Bucks are embracing winning again. Even better, new recruits Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng have been at the centre of the resurgence and look like potential long-term fits. So, with stakes now again on the line, can the Bucks live up to expectations?

Where We’re At

As noted, Milwaukee is on a tear, bringing much needed joy back to Bucks fans’ hearts. Thomas gives the team a bravado it’s needed—an unwavering confidence that it (he) can get a bucket when the opposition clamps down. In turn, Dieng fills a positional need and seems to be tapping into all that potential that made him the 11th overall pick in 2022. Of course, both bring youth too. So, giving up Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, the Bucks got younger, filled a position of need, have upside, and are fun again. Kudos to you, Trader Jon.

Since losing to the Bucks, New Orleans has won two out of three, knocking off the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis and the Sacramento Kings at home before losing to the Miami Heat. It’s been the usual suspects for the Pelicans, with Zion Williamson (24.0 PPG, 70% shooting), Trey Murphy III (22.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.3 3PM), and Saddiq Bey (18.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG) leading the way in this stretch. The Pelicans have stuck with their unconventional lineup too, Herb Jones and Derik Queen joining the aforementioned three in a starting group where under 6’6”s need not apply—though bizarrely they don’t start anyone over 6’9” either. Roster-wise, New Orleans made just one move at the deadline—much to the frustrations of their fans—trading Jose Alvarado, the team’s “heart and soul,” to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry and two future second-round picks. So, at least for the rest of the season, they’ll ride it out with the group the front office still believes is a playoff roster. You know, the one that’s got them to a 15-41 record. Without the fallback of a pick in the coming draft. Yikes.

Injury Report

For the Bucks, Giannis (calf), Taurean Prince (neck), and Myles Turner (calf) remain out.

For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray (Achilles), Yves Missi (calf), and Micah Peavy (toe) are out, while Trey Murphy III (shoulder) is doubtful.

Player To Watch

On a new team, one good game is expected. Two in a row raises eyebrows, but players are always juiced going up against the team that just traded them. Three in a row? Now that would smell like consistency. Does Dieng have it in him? While only he knows, what we do know is that he fits the desired archetype: size and length at the three, able to space the floor, some secondary ball handling, and activity on defence. That is, a multidimensional player. If you think it’s too good to be true, it just might be. Or, it might be transformational—for Dieng and the Bucks. Facing a Pelicans team that is loaded on the wing—including none other than long-time Bucks target Murphy—Dieng has a very real shot at placing a stake in the ground and claiming the starting small forward position as his own. However, with Ryan Rollins returning and stalwart starters Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green available, Dieng might have to do so from the bench. Doc Rivers’ rotation will be telling.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.

You know how Batman has the Bat Signal to project a big light in the sky for when people need him the most? I have my own Bat Signal, except it’s exclusively for Boston Celtics content emergencies. I call it the “why is everyone in my day-to-day life asking me this question?” Signal. We’re working on the name.

Right now, the signal is going crazy with a simple message: will Jayson Tatum return to play for the Celtics this season? Contained in that question are easy follow-ups: should he return? Is he rushing back? Will it be bad for team chemistry? Is there going to be a conflict with Jaylen Brown, who’s been a low-key MVP candidate this year? 

When the Signal is shining this bright, you know I have the answers. And the answers are … I don’t care. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I recuse myself. I pardon you all from the suffering of trying to answer these questions. I release you, because the answers are “unknowable and irrelevant,” two words to live by and also my nickname in college. 

So to keep things knowable and relevant, here’s the distillation: Jayson Tatum returning to play this season is simply a non-issue for Celtics fans, for Boston sports media or for anyone else with their emotional or professional wellbeing wrapped up in the Boston basketball industrial complex. Whatever ends up being Tatum and the team’s decision will be the right decision, and there is no reason to worry about this.

There are two basic questions people are trying to answer: will Jayson Tatum come back this season, and should he come back. Both are not rational discussions and thus we should not have them. Here’s why.

First, I am not some kind of debate detractor. Generally, I think it’s fine to discuss anything in potent or polemical public pieces in parallel publications, such as whether the New England Patriots were frauds, if Olympic Curling is the best competitive entertainment product since Season 1 of Survivor or the necessity of aggressive alliteration with the letter P in the fifth paragraph of an article about Jayson Tatum. All of that is fair game, because the parameters of those discussions are reasonably equal.

The problem with the “will Jayson Tatum come back?” question is that any rational argument about that would require a baseline of medical information that we simply do not have. Reading tea leaves about the five-part docuseries about his road to recovery or that the NBA flexed a March 1 game to primetime on NBC suggests a fairly commercial motivation for returning to play, something I do not believe Tatum or the Celtics would ever risk.

Even more insane is trying to determine if he is rushing back from his injury or is putting himself at additional risk by not sitting out the whole season—as if any of us have literally any idea what we’re talking about in the field of a specific individual’s recovery from Achilles surgery. If you want to speculate on that, I have a quick questionnaire for you to fill out: 1. Are you an Achilles surgeon/specialist or do you have intimate access to one? 2. If yes, is said specialist Jayson Tatum’s doctor themselves? 3. If yes, you may now speculate. 

Basically, it doesn’t matter if Tatum is rushing back from his injury; if he comes back, I am forced to assume it was the right decision because there is no planet where I could possibly dispute it. It’s a hard thing to do for someone who thinks they have a right to comment on everything that happens with this team, but I am hereby recusing myself entirely.

We move now to the basketball consequences of Tatum’s return, namely the glorious question of “should he return, even if healthy?” The Celtics are playing great, Jaylen Brown has been a revelation and it would be risky to disrupt such great chemistry, right? Maybe just see how this thing goes and bring Tatum back for next season, right? Right? RIGHT!?

If you are worried about that, I have yet another question for you: are you kidding me? 

The Celtics not bringing back Jayson Tatum because they are worried he will make the team worse is like not cashing your monthly paycheck because you’re worried it will make your wallet a little heavier in your left pocket. It’s like not listening to the new Kendrick album because you’re worried you’ll like some songs and it will disrupt your carefully curated Spotify playlists by adding them. It’s like—are we being serious about asking if adding 27-year-old, four-time All-NBA First Team Jayson Tatum to the basketball team is going to make the team worse at basketball?!?

Basketball teams are not porcelain figurines that may break at the first stiff breeze they encounter. They are built through blood, sweat and work over months; they need every single piece they can get. If that piece is Tatum, it would be an excellent one to add. There is nothing more to litigate.

The reason people still want to litigate it is, probably, because there is real money riding on the Celtics in the form of win-total or Championship futures, Jaylen Brown MVP odds and an untold number of gambling stakes in whether Jayson Tatum returns or not. But even gambling discussions must base themselves on logical parameters, and as we have functionally proven, such parameters do not exist in this dojo. 

If Tatum returns, it will be good for the Celtics. If something goes wrong afterward, it will be bad for the Celtics, but we have no reason to predict that given the presently available information. Hypothetical future narratives about re-injury or Tatum-Brown beef are pure speculation, something that also does not exist in this dojo. This dojo is rational, and thus, for now, closed.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers look for their seventh straight win when they visit the Charlotte Hornets tonight.

Both teams will be playing the latter half of a back-to-back, with the books setting the visitors as 6-point favorites in the NBA odds.

Even with James Harden’s successful integration onto the Cleveland roster, my Cavaliers vs. Hornets predictions and free NBA picks like the home team to cover on Friday, February 20.

Cavaliers vs Hornets prediction

Cavaliers vs Hornets best bet: Hornets +6 (-110)

The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed Brooklyn 112-84 on Thursday, moving to 3-0 since acquiring James Harden while averaging 123 points a game.

But Cleveland has had its problems against the Charlotte Hornets. While they’ve won six of the last seven straight-up, they're just 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings.

The Hornets lost a close 105-101 decision to Houston yesterday, but they’re built to bounce back. They're 9-2 ATS on the second night of a back-to-back, the second-best mark in the NBA.

They’re also allowing just 105.2 ppg over their last 10, third-best in basketball.

Cavaliers vs Hornets same-game parlay

The point guards are front-and-center for this SGP. Harden has topped his 8.5-assist line in each of the last two games, missing the Over in his debut by two dimes.

LaMelo Ball, meanwhile, racked up seven assists in the loss to Houston, and he’s averaging 7.4 dimes per game on the season.

Cavaliers vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets +6
• James Harden Over 8.5 assists
• LaMelo Ball Over 6.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Arc asylum

Harden has hit at least three 3-balls in six of his last nine, shooting it much better than backcourt mate Donovan Mitchell, who has hit three triples in a game one time in his last seven.

Brandon Miller has hit 3+ 3-pointers in three of his last four, while rookie phenom Kon Knueppel has drilled 4+ in five of his last eight outings.

Ball has struggled shooting deep against Cleveland, hitting four 3-pointers or more in a game just three times in 10 career starts.

Cavaliers vs Hornets SGP

• James Harden Over 2.5 3-pointers
• Donovan Mitchell Under 2.5 3-pointers
• Brandon Miller Over 2.5 3-pointers 
• Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 3-pointers
• LaMelo Ball Under 3.5 3-poiners

Cavaliers vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -6 | Hornets +6
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -225 | Hornets +185
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 | Under 231.5

Cavaliers vs Hornets betting trend to know

The  Hornets have hit the moneyline in 20 of their last 35 games (+18.20 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Hornets.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Hornets

Cavaliers vs Hornets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.