Category: Basketball

If Kevin Durant has his way, he will be suiting up in Los Angeles in 2028.

Not for the Lakers. Not for the Clippers.

But for Team USA.

“Hell yeah, I want to play,” Durant told ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill. “But I’ve got to stay on top of my game. I’m not expecting. I want to produce on the floor and make Grant [Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director since 2021] and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. Not just for seniority; I want to still prove I can help the team win.

“Today, yeah, I feel like I’ll put my name in that hat,” he added.

Durant is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, and alongside LeBron James and Steph Curry, is considered one of the top-three greatest players of his generation.

In his first season with Houston, the 37-year-old is averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field, 40.4% from three, and 88.1% from the free-throw line.

Durant admitting he wants to play in 2028 when Los Angeles serves as the host city has caught many pundits off guard. Many assumed the 2024 Olympic Games would be the last one for the trio of James, Curry and Durant after the three — playing together for the first time — dramatically led Team USA to the gold medal with victories over Nikola Jokić and Serbia in the semifinals, and Victor Wembanyama and host-nation France in the finals.

But Durant was quick to point out that neither he nor Curry said it was their final go-round.

“That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from?” Durant asked Goodwill. “I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t. You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”

Durant already boasts the best Olympic career of any male US basketball player.

His four gold medals is a record in basketball, and a fifth one would not only extend his record, but put him in all-time rarified company.

WNBA’s Diana Taurasi holds the Olympic record with six gold medals with Team USA, while Sue Bird is in second place with five gold medals.

Durant’s desire to be on the 2028 squad is far from the most pressing matter on Hill’s mind.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has been tapped to replace Steve Kerr as the new head coach of Team USA. No stranger to the environment, Spoelstra won gold in 2024 as a part of Kerr’s staff, giving him an understanding of expectations about what’s needed to win Olympic gold again as the competition continues to ramp up.

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The Spurs signed wing Emanuel Miller to a two-way contract, the team announced. Stanley Umude was waived to make room for the new signee.

Miller, 25, is a 6’5 wing who went undrafted after attending Texas A&M and Texas Christian University, but has spent time with the Bulls and Cavaliers on two-way deals before landing in San Antonio. Known as a tough defender and athletic finisher, he’s excelled in the G League, averaging 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists during the Tip-Off Tournament and 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 15 regular-season games. His three-point shot is a work in progress, but he’s shown flashes of competence as a floor-spacer both in college and as a pro.

Umude, a San Antonio native, was signed in late December and played two games with the big team. He spent most of his time in Austin with the G League affiliate and posted impressive numbers. The front office is now moving on to Miller, who is a similar prospect in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

Minutes are scarce with the big team, so it’s unlikely the new addition will get more run than Umude got in San Antonio, but he’s a productive and talented player who seems deserving of a closer look.

The Spurs now have David Jones-Garcia, Harrison Ingram, and Miller on two-way contracts. Jones-Garcia underwent ankle surgery and is out for the rest of the season.

The Nets are back in action after the All-Star break. Despite a worthy campaign from Michael Porter Jr and a Rising Stars appearance from Egor Dëmin, it was a break that for the most part excluded the Nets. Whether Brooklyn deserved more All-Star-related love or not, they’re going to march on now, and we’ll do the same. Erik Slater of ClutchPoints is here to guide us through Brooklyn’s restart.

In this episode of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:

• New tanking strategies
• Who Brooklyn’s core prospect is
• The Kingston Flemings & Darryn Peterson fits
• Expectations for the post-All-Star stretch

You can also check out the latest episode on Apple or Spotify. Follow us on X, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

Liking and subscribing on YouTube is always appreciated as well!

The NBA's postseason isn't far away, and perhaps getting close enough to take attention away from the various league issues that took attention away from the court in the lead-up and throughout All-Star weekend festivities.

Less than two months and 30 regular-season games remain for most NBA teams, and the 2026 playoff picture is clear enough at this point to see it will be defined by a few key races in the Eastern and Western Conference standings.

The Detroit Pistons still have a comfortable lead over a trio of more established contenders for the No. 1 seed in the East, but how the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers shake out among the top six will be a subplot in the weeks ahead. The Oklahoma City Thunder must hold off the San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the West, while the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves jockey for position beneath them.

There's also a fascinating chase for the NBA's play-in tournament, now entering its seventh season as an addition to the league's postseason schedule and sixth year in this current four-team format. Given how many franchises are in tank mode already this season, there aren't many teams outside the top 10 at the moment actively trying to make the playoffs.

Here's a breakdown of the current NBA playoff picture, including what teams would make the postseason if the regular season ended today:

Tommy Points for everyone. 

On a night where the Lakers honored Pat Riley, the prince of pomade himself, and the greater Showtime era, it’s fitting to see Boston win by way of physicality and vigor. 

This 111-89 win was dominated both on the margins and in the more visibly loud areas of scoring and defending. Boston won the rebounding battle with a 50-39 difference, while consistently getting the first stop, holding LA to 39% shooting (LeBron and Luka were a combined 18-of-43, with James dishing five assists to Doncic’s three). This was just LA’s second loss this season where they scored under 90 points. 

Defending with the aggressive intent to disrupt while connected enough to avoid giving up 2-on-1 advantages, Boston’s help activity made it both difficult for LA’s stars to score, and for them to exploit that attention to feed the ball into space — not an easy feat when it comes to playmaking mavens such as Doncic or James. 

In their quest to disrupt shooting angles and passing lanes, the Celtics collectively had 19 deflections on the ball, led by Jaylen Brown with five and four from Derrick White. They collectively recovered nine loose balls in the process. Both of those hustle data figures are well above their per game averages. For the season, Boston is 21st in deflections (16.3) and 14th in loose balls recovered (4.5). 

The Lakers only turned the ball over eight times for the game, yet the way they were flummoxed made possessions ending in shots still feel like an abject failure. Compounded by a game-long officiating battle — featuring a lack of get-back defense on made baskets and one particularly foul-heavy possession that sent Brown to the line four times — the Lakers simply lost their composure, and Boston continuously grinded them down. The first half alone felt like you’d died and went to Hustle Heaven. 

If this late first quarter sequence headlined by Hugo Gonzalez and Derrick White’s full court defense doesn’t make you want to run through a brick wall, then you need to get your pulse checked. 

The hustle element of this team hasn’t been an issue this season, even in their biggest off nights, but Sunday night’s primetime rivalry showdown was a special kind of high-energy performance. To do it in Staples Center (I’m not calling it that) with Riley in the house against a team led by two stars that are forever linked to this franchise means something.

It’s one game on the record, just a small part of a greater process and purpose, that’s what Joe Mazzulla would tell you, and it’s true at the end of the day, but the team that won last night played like their season was on the line. A desperation to disrupt, but a connectivity that makes it hard to exploit. The Celtics of decades past would be proud.

If Heinsohn was on the call he’d have had a hard time dishing out just one Tommy Point. Why not spread the love and credit all twelve Celtics that stepped foot on the floor.

Following the All-Star break, NBA play resumed, and there’s only a quarter of the season left before we get to the playoffs.

All of which means teams are largely split into two buckets: those trying to improve their seeding and standing in their respective conferences, and those who are shutting down players or sitting starters in the fourth quarter, seemingly in an attempt to tank to improve their draft positioning.

Yet, with a massive victory over the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons are maintaining their grasp atop this list. And, as Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, continues to miss games, it’s opening the door for Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham to potentially take that honor, too.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 16 of the 2025-26 regular season:

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Moise Kean scored for the third match in a row to help Fiorentina beat Pisa 1-0 and climb out of the Serie A drop zone on Monday.

The result lifted Fiorentina into 16th place and out of the relegation zone for the first time in months. It has the same amount of points as Cremonese and Lecce but was above both on goal difference.

Pisa, which has still won only once all season, was second to last with the same points as last-placed Verona. Both clubs were nine points from safety with 12 games remaining.

Kean followed recent goals against Torino and Como with an early strike from close range after a blocked shot fell kindly at his feet.

Pisa goalkeeper Nícolas made several fine saves while Fiorentina’s second win in a row was only its second clean sheet of the year.

Pisa has gone 15 matches without a league win.

___

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

One of the bigger storylines this men's college basketball season has been the health status of Kansas basketball guard Darryn Peterson, one of the sport's top players.

In an interview with ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Peterson spoke out on the current narrative, which has been sparked by social media, regarding his availability for games or coming out of them as he continues to deal with the numerous injuries he has sustained this season.

"Everybody's got an opinion on it," Peterson recently told ESPN. "But basketball is my life. If I could have been out there every game this year, I would have. If you would have asked me last year, what were my goals for this year, I would never mention missing games. So all this stuff kind of just happened, but I've got to deal with it."

REQUIRED READING: Who is rising, falling in latest March Madness bracket prediction?

Peterson's comments to Medcalf are some of his first public remarks this season, as he has not spoken in many availabilities this season.

The Jayhawks 6-foot-6 freshman guard has missed 11 games this season, including Kansas' loss to Duke in the Champions Classic and its win over then-No. 1 Arizona on Feb. 9, with the majority of those being due to a lingering hamstring injury. He has also not been able to finish games due to cramps from that hamstring injury.

However, in the 16 games that Peterson has played in, he has lived up to the hype and expectations that surrounded his name heading into the season. He scored 32 points in an overtime win over TCU, scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting against Baylor, and 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Oklahoma State before exiting due to injury.

Dillon Brooks exited the game against Orlando early in the first quarter, and it did not take long to learn it was his left hand. Then the real news dropped. The hand was fractured, and the absence would not be short-term. 

The diagnosis was revealed today, scheduled for four to six weeks. It’s a significant stretch of time that removes one of the Suns’ most physical tone setters from the rotation and further thins an already strained roster.

Four weeks from now would land Dillon Brooks’ return on March 24 against Denver. That would mean roughly 15 games missed, and everyone understands that represents the most optimistic outcome. The six-week timeline feels more realistic, which would push his return to April 7 against Houston. At that point, the Suns would have four games left in the regular season.

That is where the real question lives. If Brooks is out that long, when does it make sense to bring him back? Do you shut him down through the rest of the regular season and save him for the Play-In? Or do you hope the six-week mark holds, give him a handful of games to get his legs back, and let him ramp up heading into postseason play?

It is another frustrating reminder of how little continuity this team has had all season. Jalen Green has missed 48 games. Devin Booker has missed 14 and counting. Grayson Allen has missed 22. All you can do is hope a player in the middle of a career year heals cleanly and comes back ready when it matters most.

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The Houston Rockets are massive home favorites against the Utah Jazz tonight, but Houston has a problem getting buckets these days.

It seems a little odd considering the roster, but that’s exactly what’s happening to Kevin Durant & Co., and a matchup against Utah may not be as easy as it appears.

My Jazz vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks explain why points will be hard to come by for the home team in this Western Conference matchup set to tip off at 9:30 pm ET on Monday, February 23. 

Jazz vs Rockets prediction

Jazz vs Rockets best bet: Rockets team total Under 120.5 (-115)

The Houston Rockets have way too many problems scoring.

The Rockets rank 26th in offensive rating over their last 12 games. That’s worse than the Wizards. And their 104.9 points per game during that stretch are next-to-last.

Now, you’d think a matchup with the Utah Jazz would be the cure for what ails them. But hold on.

The Jazz were playing horrific defense for most of the first half, but they have ranked 10th in defensive rating since February 1.

Houston’s team total of 120.5 is inflated. The Rockets haven’t topped this number in 12 games. 

Jazz vs Rockets same-game parlay

What’s one way the Rockets can get more buckets? By moving the ball more. And that’s exactly what Reed Sheppard has been trying to do.

The second-year guard is averaging 4.0 assists over his last five games, topping 3.5 three times over that stretch. And while Utah has been playing better defense, the Jazz still rank dead last in opponent assists per possession. 

The other thing that a struggling offense means is rebounds, and Lauri Markkanen has gone Over his number in five of his last six games.

Jazz vs Rockets SGP

• Rockets team total Under 120.5
• Reed Sheppard Over 3.5 assists
• Lauri Markkanen Over 4.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rebound Town

The Rockets can't shoot. The Jazz can't rebound. Rebounds for all!

Jazz vs Rockets SGP

• Lauri Markkanen Over 4.5 rebounds
• Ace Bailey Over 3.5 rebounds
• Kevin Durant Over 5.5 rebounds
• Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds

Jazz vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Jazz +13 (-110) | Rockets -13 (-110)
• Moneyline: Jazz +575 | Rockets -850
• Over/Under: Over 228.5 (-110) | Under 228.5 (-110)

Jazz vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Rockets have hit the Game Total Under in 21 of their last 25 games for +16.60 Units and a 60% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Rockets.

How to watch Jazz vs Rockets

Jazz vs Rockets latest injuries

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Tonight's marquee NBA game is undoubtedly the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Detroit Pistons, with both teams riding extended win streaks.

We ran our NBA player prop projections to see where the lines don’t quite match the numbers.

If you’re locking in your NBA picks, these Spurs vs. Pistons predictions are the spots where the model sees value on Monday, February 23.

Spurs vs Pistons computer picks for February 22

Spurs	Pistons
Champagnie o7.5 points  -112	Thompson o8.5 points  -125
Wembanyama o23.5 points  -115	Cunningham u27.5 points  -110
Vassell o1.5 assists  +100	Harris o5.5 rebounds  +115

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Spurs computer picks

Julian Champagnie Over 7.5 points (-112)

Projection: 9.1 points

Julian Champagnie doesn’t need plays drawn up for him to clear this number. A few catch-and-shoot looks, and one trip in transition put him well on pace. The model has Champagnie north of nine points, giving this a comfortable margin Over 7.5.

He's gone Over this number in seven of his last nine games. 

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Victor Wembanyama Over 23.5 points (-115)

Projection: 24.8 points

Victor Wembanyama carries enough usage to live in the mid-20s most nights. He scores inside, stretches the floor, and gets to the line, which keeps his floor high. The projection puts Wembanyama nearly a full bucket above this line.

He's gone Over this number in five of eight February games.  

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Devin Vassell Over 1.5 assists (+100)

Projection: 2.1 assists

Devin Vassell only needs two assists to cash this, and that’s well within his normal role. With the ball in his hands consistently, a couple of simple kick-outs or drive-and-dish reads get him there. The model gives Vassell a solid edge at even money.

He's gone Over this number in three straight and in five of his last six. 

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Pistons computer picks

Ausar Thompson Over 8.5 points (-125)

Projection: 10.6 points

Ausar Thompson scores more on activity than on isolation. Cuts, offensive boards, and transition chances add up quickly. The projection has Thompson clearing double digits, creating separation from this 8.5 line.

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Cade Cunningham Under 27.5 points (-110)

Projection: 25.5 points

Cade Cunningham is capable of a 30-point night, but the model points toward a mid-20s output. If the defense crowds him and forces the ball elsewhere, Cunningham’s scoring dips just enough to stay Under.

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Tobias Harris Over 5.5 rebounds (+115)

Projection: 5.9 rebounds

Tobias Harris logs steady minutes and spends enough time around the paint to flirt with six boards. At plus money, the projection gives Harris a small but playable edge Over this number.

He's gone Over 5.5 boards in three straight and in five of the last six. 

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How to watch Spurs vs Pistons tonight

Location	Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date	Monday, February 23, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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The trade deadline has come and gone. The NBA’s All-Star weekend, along with the break, has come and gone. We’re staring at the last 25 or so games and just trying to find a way to make it through. Here’s the last Lounge if you need to reference any of the nearly 800 comments.

Where we turn our attention likely has to be towards the NBA Draft. There’s a lot of that coverage overall on Mavs Moneyball, but there will be even more because the Mavericks are a tough watch (particularly if Cooper Flagg isn’t going to play).

I am just starting to formulate some opinions on our potential pick, but there are so many good players it’s hard to be too invested in any one guy.

Past that, I’m starting to get a bit bored with the NBA in general right now. Too many tanking teams. I like basketball but this is all bleh and it’s felt that way for most of the 2026 part of the season. What’s interesting you right now?

Remember to use THE FEED too. There’s a lot you can do in that area and my bosses are encouraging us all to use it more and more.

Thanks for spending your time here, I mean it. Your patronage is why this place exists. We want comments. We want all this sort of interaction. Go Mavs!

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA fined Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner $35,000 each on Monday for their scuffle in a game over the weekend.

With 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 136-120 victory on Saturday night, Gardner bumped Pippen from behind and knocked him down. Pippen then jogged down court to confront Gardner and gave him a hard two-handed shove, resulting in a melee that spilled into the seats with 1:19 remaining. Both received technical fouls and were ejected.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA