Tonight's Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors matchup gives us plenty to work with, and our best NBA player prop projections offer a handful of player props with real value.
We’re focusing strictly on where the projections create separation from the betting line.
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Clippers computer picks
Darius Garland Over 12.5 points (+100)
Projection: 14.6 points
Darius Garland doesn’t need to go nuclear to clear this number. The model has him nearly two points over the line, which gives us a solid cushion at even money. With steady usage and normal minutes, this is a very reachable scoring total.
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Kawhi Leonard Under 27.5 points (-110)
Projection: 25.5 points
Kawhi Leonard can always pop for 30, but the projection keeps him a couple of buckets below this line. The scoring load is spread out enough that he doesn’t need to carry everything. At 27.5, we’re betting on efficiency without a ceiling game. Under makes sense.
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Derrick Jones Jr. Under 1.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 1.3 assists
Derrick Jones Jr. isn’t out there to facilitate. His role is to defend, run the floor, and finish plays — not create them. The model has him landing below two assists, which lines up with his typical usage. You’re laying juice, but the role supports the Under.
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Warriors computer picks
Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 6.1 rebounds
Al Horford still knows how to find the ball. The projection clears this number, and at plus money, we don’t need a monster night. If the minutes hold, six boards is a very realistic value.
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Draymond Green Over 8.5 points (+115)
Projection: 9.9 points
Draymond Green isn’t a volume scorer, but he doesn’t need to be. The model has him at a bucket over this number, and he’ll get chances in transition and off cuts. At plus money, that’s enough of an edge to play.
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De'Anthony Melton Over 15.5 points (-112)
Projection: 17.2 points
De'Anthony Melton gets up shots when he’s on the floor. The projection has him comfortably above this line, and if he’s hitting from deep, this clears quickly. With the role and volume in place, the Over is justified.
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How to watch Clippers vs Warriors tonight
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the verge of returning from a calf strain that has caused the two-time MVP to miss the Milwaukee Bucks’ last 15 games.
The Bucks have released an injury report that lists Antetokounmpo as questionable for their Monday night game with the Boston Celtics.
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since straining his right calf Jan. 23 in a 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets. A right calf strain also had prevented him from playing for three weeks in December.
Antetokounmpo has missed a career-high 29 games this season, and 23 of them were because of calf strains. The Bucks are 15-15 with Antetokounmpo and 11-18 without him this season.
His return comes with the Bucks trying to work their way into the play-in tournament as they seek a 10th straight playoff berth.
Milwaukee is 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, three games behind 10th-place Charlotte. The teams that finish the regular season seventh through 10th in the conference compete in a tournament for the East’s two final playoff spots.
The Bucks put together an 8-2 stretch without Antetokounmpo from Feb. 3-25 but have lost their last two games by a combined 52 points. The Bucks were outscored 33-8 in the fourth quarter of a 120-97 loss at Chicago on Sunday that ended the Bulls’ 11-game skid.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He would be ranked eighth in the NBA in scoring, ninth in rebounding and just outside the top 25 in assists if he had played enough games to qualify among the league leaders.
After missing 15 games with a strained calf, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup Monday against Boston, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Officially, Antetokounmpo is questionable with a right calf strain.
The Bucks went a respectable 8-7 in this stretch without Antetokounmpo, including an 8-2 run in which they had the league's third-best offense behind Ryan Rollins. That kept them in the mix for the postseason, and Antetokounmpo's return would be a huge boost toward the Bucks' drive to make the play-in in the East. Milwaukee, 26-33, currently sits as the No. 11 seed, three games back of a hot Charlotte team at No. 10 (Atlanta is No. 9, 3.5 games up on Milwaukee).
When he has been on the court this season, Antetokounmpo has played at an MVP level, averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game while shooting 64.5% (and if you leave him open, he is shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc this season, although on 1.3 attempts a game).
The issue is that Antetokounmpo has played in just 30 games (missing time for a few injuries). When he is on the court this season, the Bucks have a +6 net rating, but when he is off, that is -8.5. That said, the Bucks are still just 15-15 in games Antetokounmpo has played.
Boston, with its pressure defense, is a tough team to return against, but the Bucks have key games this week against Atlanta and Orlando, ones they need to win if they are going to make up enough ground to make the postseason.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Athletics had the highest success rate using the robot-umpire system to overturn ball/strike calls during the first 10 days of spring training, winning 69.2% of challenges as teams prepared for its regular-season debut March 25.
San Francisco was second at 66.7%, followed by Cincinnati, Miami and San Diego at 61.9% each, Major League Baseball said Monday.
The World Series champion Dodgers had the lowest rate, winning 21.4% of appeals to the Automated Ball-Strike System. Baltimore was at 25%, the New York Mets at 35.3% and Texas at 38.1%.
MLB's overall success rate was 51.3%, with an average of 2.3 challenges per game.
The New York Yankees averaged the most challenges at 3.8 per game, winning 52.6%. Minnesota was second at 3.6 (winning 58.3%), followed by Boston at 3.2 (55.2%) and Colorado (55.6%) and San Francisco at 3.0.
Baltimore averaged the fewest challenges at 1.2. The Dodgers were at 1.4 and Detroit was at 1.5 (46.7%).
Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season.
A team out of challenges for a game tied after nine innings would get one additional challenge in each extra inning.
Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler fired back at former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl over Pearl's criticism regarding the undefeated RedHawks' NCAA Tournament at-large credentials.
The 29-0 RedHawks have been the center of debate on whether they are a lock for March Madness in the event they don't win the MAC tournament since they have piled up 29 straight victories. If the RedHawks don't win in Cleveland and get the automatic bid, they could still make the tournament and steal a spot from a Power conference team — like Auburn.
"U are flat out wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when u say we would finish last in the Big East," Sayler said on social media Monday, March 2. "The disrespect is awful and u should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when u show your true colors! Even slipped in a 'we' when talking about Auburn, nice work!"
@coachbrucepearl u are flat out wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when u say we would finish last in the Big East. The disrespect is awful and u should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when u show your true colors! Even slipped in a "we" when talking about Auburn, nice work!
Sayler's comments stem from what Pearl said as TNT analyst Saturday, Feb. 28, where he argued despite being the only team without a loss, No. 20 Miami (Ohio) shouldn't be in the NCAA Tournament if it doesn't get the automatic bid by winning the MAC tournament.
"Here's the deal. Are we going to select the 68 most deserving teams? Or are we going to select the 68 best teams?" he said. "If we're selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion, because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country, and that's going to be a difficult choice for the committee."
He then added mid-major teams like the RedHawks "recognize their only going to be a one-bid league."
The criticism of Pearl only grew when he advocated for Auburn — the school he last coached and is led by his son, Steven — on "Wake Up Barstool" on Monday morning. The Tigers are 15-14 and 6-10 in the SEC with seven losses in their past eight games, but Pearl believes they are "last four in" territory and just need to beat LSU on Tuesday, March 3 and win their first round game of the SEC tournament to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.
"They've got five Quad 1 wins. They've got the best win in college basketball on the road at Florida. As far as that margin, it's either the best or one of the best. So they got a little bit more work to do," he said.
Pearl added "there's no love of my son. I mean, there's no nepotism involved here."
Miami (Ohio) is slated as an automatic qualifier and a No. 11 seed in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, while Auburn is also a No. 11 seed.
The Denver Nuggets face a major contrast in competition when they visit the Utah Jazz on Monday, March 2.
After facing the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Boston Celtics in the past three outings, taking on the likes of Utah (18-42 SU) is like slipping into a warm bubble bath after swimming with sharks.
With an extended break ahead for Denver, my Nuggets vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks call for course correction — and an ATS cover — from Nikola Jokic & Co. tonight.
Nuggets vs Jazz prediction
Nuggets vs Jazz best bet: Denver Nuggets -11.5 (-110)
Normally, a stop in Utah after running the Denver Nuggets’ recent gauntlet would give pause in fear of a letdown spot. But Denver desperately needs a positive.
There could be a couple of those tonight. Not only does this matchup with the Jazz set the table for a much-needed victory (won by 23 at Utah in December), but there’s a shot Aaron Gordon gets back on the court.
The Utah Jazz have lost five in a row by an average of more than 13 points, with foes enjoying 51% success from the floor in that span. That’ll kick-start the Nuggets’ top-tier offense.
Nuggets vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Nuggets are 17-6 SU and 14-9 ATS off a loss this season. After going 1-2 versus Boston, OKC, and Minnesota, Denver needs a “get right” win tonight. Nikola Jokic is at the wheel of an efficient Nuggets attack that utilizes his scoring and playmaking on the blocks and high post to hit active cutters – something Utah struggles to defend.
Jokic’s projections sit as high as 11+ assists, and he recorded 13 dimes in his first meeting with the Jazz back in December. Denver’s playbook flows through the multi-time MVP against a Utah defense giving up a league-high 30.5 assists per outing with an assist-to-FGM rate above 68%.
Kyle Filipowski is in an offensive funk, shooting a collective 11 for 27 over the past three games. Denver doesn’t push back much defensively, and player forecasts sit as high as 16+ points from the Jazz big man tonight.
Nuggets vs Jazz SGP
Denver Nuggets -11.5
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Kyle Filipowski Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: The jokes on Utah
Nikola Jokic is in a rotten mood after two straight losses and a cheap shot from OKC. Projections for the Joker have ceilings of 32 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds tonight.
Nuggets vs Jazz SGP
Denver Nuggets -11.5
Nikola Jokic Over 28.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
Nuggets vs Jazz odds
Spread: Nuggets -11.5 | Jazz +11.5
Moneyline: Nuggets -550 | Jazz +400
Over/Under: Over 243.5 | Under 243.5
Nuggets vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Jazz are horrible when catching double-digit points at home over the last three seasons, going 3-13 SU and just 5-11 ATS (+10 or higher) despite all that cushion from the oddsmakers. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Jazz.
How to watch Nuggets vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
ALT, KJZZ
Nuggets vs Jazz latest injuries
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A new week of NBA action tips off with just four games on the schedule, but there’s still plenty of value to be found in the player prop markets.
I’ve found my favorite plays for today, which include the Celtics efficient big man coming off the bench, and the Jazz rookie Ace Bailey continuing to flash his potential.
Those and more NBA picks for Monday, March 2, below.
Nikola Vucevic has been thriving in his new role with the Boston Celtics. He’s averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds coming off the bench and has recorded four double-doubles in nine games since being traded.
Tonight, he gets a great matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. With Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are a bad rebounding team. Without him, they’re downright awful. They enter this matchup with the NBA’s fourth-worst rebounding rate.
Vucevic to record a double-double at +350 is worth a look, but our best bet is Over 7.5 rebounds, a number he’s topped in four of his last five games.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCS-Boston, FDSN-Wisconsin
Prop #2: Ace Bailey Over 15.5 points
-120 at bet365
It’s on to next season for the Utah Jazz, so now it’s time to figure out how guys like Ace Bailey and Kyle Filipowski fit into their plans.
Bailey has recently shown why he was considered a top prospect heading into last June’s draft. He’s averaging 15.6 points and 5.5 rebounds over his last 17 games, and he gets a sneaky good matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets have struggled to prevent buckets all season long and enter this game ranked 21st in defensive rating. Bailey has topped 15.5 points nine times during this 17-game stretch.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ALT, KJZZ
Prop #3: Brook Lopez Over 4.5 rebounds
+100 at bet365
The Golden State Warriors have had to battle without Steph Curry. Their offensive rating drops to 21st in the NBA this month.
The Dubs are missing more shots, and they don’t have much in the realm of rebounding. They rank 22nd in rebounding rate and 19th in opponent rebounds per game heading into tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers have several good rebounding options in this one, and my favorite is Brook Lopez. The big man has reentered the starting lineup and is averaging 6.6 rebounds over his last five games, hauling down six plus four times.
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All the major conferences have one week left before their respective postseason tournaments. Arizona (Big 12), Duke (ACC), Michigan (Big Ten) and Florida (SEC) ― all ranked inside the top 7 of the Feb. 23 poll ―have claimed at least a share of their conference championship.
On Friday, Feb. 27, No. 3 Michigan earned a dominant 84-70 road victory over Illinois to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten, just two years after finishing dead last in the conference. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Feb. 28, Florida dismantled No. 17 Arkansas by a tune of 111-77 to clinch its first SEC regular season title since 2015.
No. 4 Iowa State, No. 8 Purdue, 9 Gonzaga, 11 Virginia and No. 14 Kansas all stumbled over the weekend, which could have an impact on this week's rankings. Just how much?
Here’s a look at the latest Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 for March. 2:
Others receiving votes: BYU 74, Kentucky 47, Louisville 47, Missouri 40, Wisconsin 27, Clemson 16, Utah St. 10, UCF 7, High Point 7, Dayton 5, Villanova 4, Navy 3, NC State 2, TCU 2, Ohio St. 1, Santa Clara 1.
After routing Virginia to win the ACC regular-season title, Duke retains the No. 1 ranking for a second week, once again claiming 28 of 31 first-place votes. The other three top nods once again went to Arizona, which holds the No. 2 position following an impressive defeat of Kansas. No. 3 Michigan also stays put, though the Wolverines looked just as dominant as the Blue Devils and Wildcats over the weekend in winning at Illinois.
Connecticut and Florida each move up two positions to round out the top five, as No. 6 Houston and No. 7 Iowa State each fall two spots. Michigan State vaults five places to No. 8, edging ahead of No. 9 Nebraska. Texas Tech also leaps back into the top 10, gaining six positions after an important win at Iowa State.
Illinois keeps the No. 11 spot by a single poll point over Gonzaga, which slips three spots to No. 12 with its loss to Saint Mary's. Purdue takes a six-place hit sliding to No. 14 with two losses in the week.
Saint Mary’s joins the poll at No. 21 after upending Gonzaga, and No. 23 Miami (Fla.) also moves in. Louisville and Brigham Young drop out.
On today’s episode, Ryan Eichten and Leo Sun go over Leo’s experience at the Intuit Dome and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 117-108 win over the Denver Nuggets.
— Anthony Edwards only scored 21 points on 9-19 shooting, but made the correct pass down the stretch of the game when the Nuggets guarded him with two players the moment he crossed halfcourt.
I clipped together all of the possession where Denver threw two defenders at Ant
— The Timberwolves opted to guard Nikola Jokić straight up with Rudy Gobert, and despite the three-time MVP scoring 35 points, it took him 26 shots, and he turned it over five times. Overall, Gobert and McDaniels did well slowing down the two-man game of Jokić and Jamal Murray.
— For the first time this season, the Wolves bench felt like a weapon in the game as Naz Reid, Ayo Dosunmu, and Bones Hyland combined for 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. All three players provided quality minutes as the Wolves dominated the minutes when Jokić was on the bench for Denver.
— Kyle Anderson is re-joining the Timberwolves after being bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies. Slo-Mo will provide even more depth for a team that just a month or so ago was desperately searching for even a seventh quality player to come off the bench.
— Donte DiVicenzo has been playing great basketball. On the Wolves’ three-game road trip where they went 3-0, DiVincenzo averaged 18 points, 4.3 assists, and 2 steals per game. In the game against Denver, Donte had a highlight where he saved a ball from going out of bounds and then single-handedly stopped a three-on-one fastbreak with a block.
— The Wolves now sit as the fourth seed in the Western Conference, just a few percentage points behind the current three-seed Houston Rockets. Despite the up-and-down season for the Wolves, they still have the chance of accomplishing their regular-season goal of finishing with a top-three seed.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Head coach JJ Redick talks to Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the huddle during a timeout in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers still have a lot left to play for. Although 60 games are already in the books, the upcoming final weeks of the regular season possess a choose-your-own-adventure number of outcomes for their playoff position. If they have a switch to flip, now is the time do it.
Smack dab in the middle of the battle royale that is the Western Conference postseason picture, the Lakers are clinging to the sixth seed. But that could change fast.
Despite their recent skid, the Lakers remain in reach of finishing with home-court advantage as they are only 1.5 games behind the third spot. However, things can also go south if their mediocre play continues. Following their brutal loss to the shorthanded Suns, Los Angeles now holds only a two-game lead over Phoenix.
With little margin for error, the difference between a strong playoff standing and the play-in tournament will be decided from every game here on out. And if the Lakers want the former result, they will need to do something they haven’t been able to do all year — beat good teams.
According to Positive Residual, the Lakers have the third-toughest remaining schedule among Western Conference teams and fourth-toughest overall.
Via: Positive Residual
If that wasn’t daunting enough, the stiff competition they will face carries added weight, as it is composed almost entirely of the same teams jostling for playoff positioning.
The Lakers will go head-to-head with the clubs they’re currently sandwiched between in Minnesota and Phoenix. Additionally, they also have two pivotal matchups remaining against Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City each.
Given how bunched up everyone still is, tiebreakers will likely play a big role in determining the final playoff bracket.
For example, despite still having one game remaining against Phoenix, the Lakers have already lost the season series to the Suns, a result of the two sides playing an extra time this season during the NBA Cup knockout rounds. Conversely, thanks to their two early-season wins against Minnesota, the Lakers have notched the season series over the Timberwolves. Tiebreakers against Houston and Denver are still up for grabs.
It may sound like hyperbole, but this is why the Lakers’ entire season could come down to how they fare in these eight games. A proposition that feels ominous given how they’ve performed against the upper echelon of the league this season.
Despite their solid record, especially given the context of the number of injuries they’ve endured this year, the skepticism surrounding the Lakers’ championship odds has centered on their inability to hang in their marquee matchups.
Los Angeles has a stellar 23-7 record against teams under .500. However, they are only 13-17 in their matchups with teams over .500. That is the worst mark among the top six teams in the West.
What is arguably even more concerning than their poor record is how they have performed in these contests. This is because they have not just lost, but they have rarely even been competitive.
Dec 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball as Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) defends during the second half of play at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images | Allan Henry-Imagn Images
According to Cleaning the Glass, the Lakers have the fourth-worst net rating (-12.9) against teams currently in the top 10 in point differential. It is worth noting that the only teams worse — Washington, Brooklyn and Utah — are actively trying to lose.
An optimist could point to the Lakers being without their big three in most of these games as a reason for the disappointing results. On the season, the trio of Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves has played in just 870 possessions together.
Detractors could counter by highlighting the trio’s barely positive net rating (+1.3) when they have played, and the Lakers’ struggles against better competition as just proof of the gap between them and the elite. This is a team whose record was built upon feasting against bottomfeeders.
Regardless of the reality of their situation, the Lakers are about to be presented with an opportunity to change their narrative surrounding them and, in the process, restore the belief in themselves ahead of the postseason.
The initial momentum the Lakers played with earlier in the year has all but abandoned them. There’s an undeniable funk they have to rid themselves of, and that starts by winning. Their blowout victories against the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings were steps in the right direction, but it has to continue now before it is gone for good.
While the Lakers were never likely to win the championship this year, they can still give themselves the best odds by finding their groove right now. The very same teams they will have to leap in the standings and eventually beat in the playoffs are coming their way.
Whether they care to or even can, it’s time the Lakers prove they are not what everyone says they are.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
The reaction of most fans to the news that Zion Williamson was out Sunday night vs. the Clippers after tweaking his ankle was to shrug — "of course he's out, he's always injured and out."
Except that was not the case: Williamson had played in a career-high 35 consecutive games before missing Sunday, having been in the lineup every game since Dec. 14. And he was out with a legitimate issue, he had rolled his ankle in the second quarter against Utah the night before and had to come out of that game.
Zion has played in 45 games this season, missing 17 (hamstring and hip issues), and he remains an electric player to watch, averaging 21.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. Last season, he played in just 30 games, but the season before that he suited up for 70.
There has been a lot of speculation that the Pelicans might look to trade Zion this offseason. However, the market for him would be limited — kind of like the ones for Trae Young and Anthony Davis — because of his injury history and the fact that he is owed two more years and $87 million in salary.
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 2: Chaney Johnson #31 of the Long Island Nets stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Cleveland Charge on January 2, 2026 at Cleveland Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Long Island Nets came into Sunday with a whole new brand look. With Grant Nelson earning a 10-day contract, Ben Saraf getting recalled, and Drake Powell getting assigned to Long Island, this was a completely new look squad. They even just signed a 6’7’ wing, Jahlil White, who grew in Whitesboro, a Jersey suburb of Philadelphia and is a LaSalle product..
Regardless, Long Island still got it done as they powered past the Westchester Knicks in the Battle of the ‘Burbs, 117-111.
The starters on Sunday changed quite a bit from the last game on Thursday night. Sunday’s game saw Malachi Smith get the start at point guard, followed by Tyson Etienne, Drake Powell, EJ Liddell, and Tre Scott. This wound up being a very good starting five for Long Island, despite the head-scratching move of starting the 28-year-old Scott instead of two-way player Chaney Johnson, the team’s youngest player at 23.
For Brooklyn fans looking to the future, the game was a view of the future with both Powell, on assignment, and Johnson, the Nets youngest two-way providing some highlights and some promise. Both spoke exclusively with NetsDaily post-game about their development.
Starting things off with the latest Brooklyn assignee. Drake Powell had a characteristically aggressive game. Powell’s aggressiveness on defense and his athleticism have gotten him to the NBA, taken at No. 22 in the Draft. He’s not afraid to get after the ball, and that was on full display Sunday. On the stat sheet, Powell’s game reads 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal. After the game, Powell spoke with NetsDaily about his performance.
“Just to go out there and have fun,” Powell told ND. “I spent some time down here in the past, two games, it’s just a great group of guys to be around. Ultimately, I’m just happy we came out with the win.”
This marked Powell’s third game on Long Island this season. He has spent the majority of his time up in Brooklyn. When asked where he feels like he’s developed the most, Powell said, “I think, just trusting myself with limited dribbles, and to eat up space. I think my first step is pretty quick; that’s just something I want to continue to get better at.”
Now with Powell assigned to Long Island, for who knows how long, he gets to develop under head coach Mfon Udofia. Udofia has a proven track record of developing some of the Nets bright young stars like Drew Timme, Killian Hayes, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson and now Nolan Traore. Powell was asked what it’s like to learn under Udofia.
“It’s a great relationship with him,” Powell explains. “He’s always telling me to just be confident in myself, and that’s really all a player wants, is for a coach to have confidence in them.”
For this season, all eyes have been on the Flatbush 5, the five rookies drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2025 NBA Draft: Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf, and, of course, Powell. When asked about his connections with the other rookies, Powell told ND, “No special connections, but Danny Wolf and I did pre-draft together, so we’re in the same ages.”
Powell keeps his goals and development targets short and sweet. “Just to compete. That’s the main thing,” Powell says, “And to ultimately become a two-way player.”
Brooklyn’s youngest and newest two-way, Chaney Johnson, continued his big-time performances. There was certainly a case for him to be the fifth starter with Nelson called up to Brooklyn but that didn’t stop Johnson from going off from the bench. Indeed, his skillset and mentality spells sixth man.
Johnson had another double-double, his second in four games tallying 15 points and hauling in 10 rebounds and handing out three assists. Over the last three games, the 6’8” hyperathletic forward is averaging 21.3 points a game on 74/62/70 shooting splits while averaging 8.3 boards. He spoke with ND after the game about his performance…
“Credit to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he woke me up today,” Johnson said. “Just praying to him before the game. Keeping me grateful. Allowing me to always have fun and not to be too hard on myself because there are people that are wishing they could have these opportunities. Everybody in the G League has to play the game, the sport they love, and get paid for it. So, it’s just a testament to my faith in him and continuing to fall in love with what I do.”
“I feel like my three-ball is getting there,” Johnson told ND. “I feel like I’m having to think a little bit more on defense, so I’m learning and getting more acclimated to the NBA-style of defense. From team-to-team, it’s different, but it’s similar at the same time. Even though it’s different, the principles and where I was with the Cleveland Charge, it’s kind of the same thing, just learning. I’d say just playing a lot more freely.
“Obviously, at the Charge, I was playing a lot more short roles. Here, he’s allowing me to do everything. Coming off ball screens now, long close-out drives, short roll, pick-and-pop, he’s just allowing me to get better in a lot of things.”
One of the most fun parts of watching Johnson play is the physicality of his game. He’s a legitimate 6’8” with a 6’11” wingspan and max vertical approaching 40 inches, according to his former Auburn teammates.
He isn’t afraid to get up there for strong dunks and lay-ups in traffic, as well for blocks. When asked about this part of his game, Johnson said, “It’s very important,” Johnson tells ND. “God’s blessed me with a strong frame. It’s also a testament to the work I put in in the weight room with just everyone on the staff. Someone who has the frame I have, sometimes, I’m not really used to using it, so I’m still learning ways to use my frame and play as physically as I can without getting charges or blocking fouls. It’s a part of the learning curve. So, just getting used to playing, physical, because it is a physical game.”
When speaking off the camera, Johnson told ND that he’s sure he has at least a 40-inch vertical, but when he’s sprinting, he’s positive he gets well over 40 inches in the air. Watching him play, it’s very easy to see why he thinks that. He can get up there with the best of them to contest shots, and oftentimes sending opposing offensive players packing.
“I still want to be a lot more confident from the three-point line,” Johnson explains. “If I’m caught catching the ball, ready to shoot every time, teams are going to have to respect it. It opens up drives, and it will open up teammates. So, to be able to shoot a lot more confidently. A little bit better on defense. Sometimes I get beat on close outs, and just making sure to continue to get in shape. I’m not used to playing 30 minutes a game. It’s fun though, so just all of those things.”
Malachi Smith led the team in scoring, tallying 22 points. He connected on seven of his 15 shots, including hitting both of his tries from deep. Smith also had three rebounds, four assists, and a steal to go with it. Smith has been continuously putting other teams on notice that he may at least be worth a 10-day contract to have a tryout with a team. Kind of like Grant Nelson is doing now with Brooklyn.
Tyson Etienne and EJ Liddell, the other two Brooklyn two-way players in this one, had a total of 14 points each. This was a great turnaround for Liddell, who only notched four points on Thursday night. He once again flirted with a double-double, hauling in nine rebounds. Trevon Scott, the fifth and final starter, picked up 13 points and had five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block to go with it.
The Nets began the game on a 21-7 run over the first 7:09 in the first quarter. Long Island ended the first quarter with a 34-18 lead after shooting 57.1 percent (4-for-7) from long range and holding the Knicks to 26.3 percent (5-for-19) shooting from the field in the first. Long Island extended the advantage to 20 points with a 21-9 run from 2:58 in the first to 8:47 in the second, but Westchester went on a 14-6 run from 6:50 to 3:52 in the second to close the gap. The Nets finished the second quarter without committing any turnovers and took a 63-52 lead into the halftime break.
The Knicks cut the deficit to a single point with a 15-2 run from 9:23 to 5:34 in the third, but Roberts responded by scoring or assisting on 13 of the team’s final 15 points in the third. Long Island’s defense limited the Knicks to 30 percent (3-for-10) shooting from deep in the third to enter the final quarter with an 83-76 lead. The Knicks started the fourth on a 15-6 run and took a five-point lead before the Nets responded with a 10-0 run to regain the advantage. Long Island pulled away down the stretch with a 19-7 run from 5:04 to 1:35 in the fourth to secure a 117-111 victory. The Nets shot 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from deep and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the win.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (16-11) now hit the road for their next four games before they finally come home again on March 19th for Brooklyn affiliation night. Now, Long Island gears up for its next game as they travel to North Carolina to take on their old friend, Tosan Evbuomwan, and the Greensboro Swarm. The game tips off at 11:00 a.m. ET and can be watched on the G League website, as well as on the NBA app.
That turns out to be at least 10 days — meaning at least five more games — before he is re-evaluated, the team announced.
The Warriors are 4-6 so far in this stretch without Curry and have a bottom-10 offense over that stretch, not surprising given Curry and Jimmy Butler (ACL) are out, leading to issues around shot creation.
Golden State remains the No. 8 seed in the West and has a 2.5-game lead over the LA Clippers (9th) and Portland (10th) to hold on to that easier path through the play-in to the playoffs. That makes the Warriors’ showdown with the Clippers on Monday night on Peacock an especially important game.
When he has played this season, Curry has looked elite averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists a game, shooting 39.1% from 3-point range. For the season, the Warriors are 8-13 in games Curry has missed.
Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel is the new favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year, taking the lead from his former Duke roommate, Cooper Flagg.
Knueppel is as low as -200 at theScore Bet, which translates to a 66.7% implied chance to win the award.
Key Takeaways
Knueppel was behind five other players in opening Rookie of the Year odds.
The rookie is third in made threes per game and ninth in three-point percentage.
The Hornets are sixth in odds to win the East after missing the playoffs every year since the 2015-16 season.
Player
FanDuel
DraftKings
Caesars
theScore Bet
Kon Knueppel
-130
-175
-185
-200
Cooper Flagg
+135
+140
+155
+150
VJ Edgecombe
+10000
+10000
+12500
+10000
Knueppel was only a +3000 underdog in NBA Rookie of the Year odds on opening night, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Five players were ahead of him in the odds ladder, including Flagg, who was a -225 favorite before he’d even played one second in a professional game.
The shift in odds first took place last Friday, when theScore Bet installed both Knueppel and Flagg -115 odds to win the award. The former had a slightly higher percentage of bets (17.9% to 14.5%) but a significantly lower percentage of the handle backing him (17.1% to 56.3%).
That same day, DraftKings revealed that it had bumped Knueppel to a -125 favorite, taking over the lead from Flagg (-105).
Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg are officially “DUKE-ing” it out in the NBA Rookie of the Year race.
Today, Knueppel has leapfrogged his former roommate and teammate in the ROY race 👀 pic.twitter.com/Y99vmYF6Ym
As Knueppel continues to grow his lead, Flagg remains sidelined by a left foot injury that has held him out of action since Feb. 10. He is considered doubtful for the Dallas Mavericks’ Tuesday matchup with none other than Knueppel's Hornets.
Although the NBA Rookie of the Year award does not have the same 65-game minimum requirement like other major awards, such as MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, Flagg only seems to be losing ground with every passing day.
Knueppel takes Rookie of the Year lead
Knueppel was the fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, behind Flagg, San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, and Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe.
The 20-year-old has already established himself as a historically-efficient shooter and played a major role in the Hornets’ transformation from a moribund franchise to one that is quickly climbing the standings in the Eastern Conference. He also drew high praise from individuals around the league, including two-time MVP and NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“You’re probably one of the smartest rookies I’ve ever seen.” 💯
Anyone with the foresight to bet on Knueppel—assuming he holds onto his lead in Rookie of the Year odds—would’ve won $300 from a $10 bet, or 30 times their investment.
Here’s a look back at the opening odds for NBA Rookie of the Year:
Player
Odds (BetMGM)
Cooper Flagg
-225
Ace Bailey
+850
Tre Johnson
+1000
Dylan Harper
+1000
VJ Edgecombe
+2500
Kon Knueppel
+3000
Derik Queen
+3000
Jeremiah Fears
+3500
Cedric Coward
+3500
Egor Demin
+4000
Knueppel and the Hornets futures odds
Knueppel is on pace to become the second Hornets player ever to win the Rookie of the Year trophy. The first was his teammate, LaMelo Ball, who claimed the award for his efforts during the 2020-21 season.
The Hornets currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, three games above the Milwaukee Bucks and the cut-off for the Play-In Tournament. They’re still 3.5 games behind the 76ers, who are sixth in the East and the last team in a guaranteed playoff position.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Hornets at -700 (87.5% chance) to make the Play-In Tournament. They’re also tied for sixth in odds to win the Eastern Conference at +3500 (2.8% chance).
Clippers
Warriors
Nikola Vucevic
Ace Bailey
