COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Oluchi Okananwa scored 26 points, leading six in double figures, and No. 14 Maryland won its fifth straight game, defeating Purdue 99-66 on Sunday.
Addi Mack scored 14 points and Saylor Poffenbarger and Mir McLean added 11 each for Maryland (22-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Off the bench, Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 18 points and fellow freshman Rainey Welson added 11.
Kiki Smith scored 19 points and Nya Smith had 18 for Purdue (12-15, 4-12).
Okananwa scored 10 points in the first quarter and the Terrapins led 22-17 after one. Saylor Poffenbarger took over in the second quarter, scoring all of her 11 points, and the Terrapins led 51-32 at halftime.
A 15-5 run over the last five minutes of the third quarter gave Maryland a 77-48 lead heading to the fourth. The largest lead was 97-60 with about two minutes to go. Maryland freshman Marya Boiko, a backup forward from Belarus, blocked five shots, four in the fourth quarter.
Maryland had significant advantages in points after opponent turnovers (21-11), bench points (31-16) and second-chance points (20-11).
Maryland improved to 27-5 in February over the past three seasons.
Up next
Maryland: The regular season concludes with a home game against Northwestern on Wednesday followed by a visit to No. 6 Michigan on Saturday.
Purdue: at home against Oregon on Wednesday; at Northwestern on Sunday.
Feb 21, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
A blizzard is coming to the Delaware Valley. Fitting since the Sixers’ season feels like it could be snowballing.
After the team suffered an embarrassing loss to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans Saturday, they’ll travel to Minnesota (because that travel schedule makes sense) to take on the Timberwolves Sunday night — and they’ll do so without Joel Embiid.
Embiid missed the two games before the All-Star break and the two after. The Sixers dropped all four and will have to go up against a tough Timberwolves team without him. They’re 1-9 in their last 10 games without Embiid. After only missing planned rest games in back-to-back situations throughout January, Embiid’s last four absences have been the result of shin soreness in his right leg.
At 30-26, the Sixers are in very real danger of slipping out of the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot. The Miami Heat are only percentage points behind them in seventh. If Embiid continues to miss time — while Paul George continues to serve his suspension — things could ugly.
The other bit of bad news is that rookie Johni Broome has suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. The team said there will be further evaluation to determine treatment. Broome, a second-round pick (35th overall) in the 2025 NBA Draft, has struggled to find a role with the big club. The 23-year-old, who starred at Auburn, has had success in the G League, recording a 50-point game with the Delaware Blue Coats last month.
The East goes through Detroit. That’s all that needs to be said as Wes and Blake record this show right after the Pistons steamrolled the New York Knicks for the third time this season. And this time, the Knicks were healthy, the Pistons were not. Blake and Wes take a quick moment to applaud the NBA All-Star game’s new format before diving in to that shorthanded beatdown. Was this Cade’s best game of his career? Oh, and should he be truly in the conversation to win MVP this year? What about another stellar defensive performance from Ausar Thompson? How valuable will he be as a defensive weapon in the playoffs? The guys break this all down, then they look ahead. Who is the Pistons’ biggest playoff threat? Will Ron Holland maintain his rotation spot this year in the playoffs? And just how unique is this Piston identity that JB Bickerstaff alludes to?
We’ve got you covered for all this and more in this week’s episode!
Want to hear your voice on the Pindown? Call (313) 355-2717 and leave your question as a voicemail! The guys will play your message and answer your question on that week’s episode! All we ask is that you keep your questions to under 45 seconds.
Dear God, it’s hard to watch. This season has been an abject disaster.
Not from a rational point of view. It’s been a disappointment by any measure. The Houston Rockets wanted to be better this year. They were supposed to be title contenders. Deep, structural roster flaws have been exposed. The trade machine’s server is being overloaded in Southeast Texas (and, to be honest, from one refurbished MacBook Air in Eastern Canada).
But it’s not truly a disaster. The Rockets are likely to have homecourt advantage in the first round of a season where their starting point guard hasn’t played a game. They have a surplus of young players and future first-round picks. It’s only been disastrous from the perspective of how much fans expected to enjoy the year, relative to how much they have. Here’s the good news:
It’s not their fault.
The 2025-26 season has been cursed. The working theory is that the team made a deal with the Devil ahead of the 1993-94 season. The Prince of Darkness agreed to persuade Michael Jordan to play baseball. In exchange, the Rockets would be wildly disappointing once per decade from the moment Jordan returned.
I’m not crazy, you’re crazy.
Rockets suffer from a generational curse
Let’s go back to 1995-96.
I wasn’t even ten yet, so I can’t offer a firsthand account. I can tell you that Houston switched from the iconic ketchup-and-mustard jerseys that they’d thrived in for so long to the navy pinstripe duds that I loved as a child and retroactively identify as a downgrade.
Although only Bret “The Hitman” Hart tickles my nostalgia bone as strongly as that little cartoon Rocket.
Anyway, the rest is history. The Rockets were still good in 1995-96. It’s hard to point to any one player’s decline and explain their shortcomings. They were, seemingly, just marginally worse than before. They could not get past the (soon-to-be revived) Seattle Supersonics in the second round, and the dynasty that never was died.
The Rockets would inexplicably acquire Charles Barkley, get worse, get old, rebuild, draft Steve Francis, get even worse, (deep breath), draft Yao Ming, trade for Tracy McGrady, and start to get better.
The 2004-05 season was one for the books. Sure, the Rockets lost in the first round. Nobody cared. They were built around a 24-year-old Ming and a 25-year-old McGrady (which, in NBA terms, was younger at a time when Tim Duncan played in college for four years). The future was bright.
And then…
The Devil came collecting. It had been ten years since 1995-96. Ming and McGrady would both miss time with injuries, establishing a motif for their time together in Houston. The Rockets won 34 games.
They’d win 50+ games for the next three seasons. The Devil was indifferent. The curse was lifted. Injuries would eventually limit their star duo’s upside, leaving the Rockets to rebuild again. They toiled in mediocrity for a few years until James Harden entered the picture. He instantly established himself as a franchise-caliber talent. In 2014-15, he and Dwight Howard would lead the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals.
And then…
It was difficult to account for. The Rockets retained most of their key players. Ty Lawson was the can’t-miss acquisition that missed, but even if it was a case of subtraction-by-addition, he was quickly out of the rotation. As it was in ’96, the Rockets were kind of just… worse.
Defenses had figured them out. Stop Harden, and you stop everyone. Howard wasn’t getting post touches, rightfully or not. Houston didn’t have a way to generate offense if Harden wasn’t cooking.
That’s why they got Chris Paul. It’s why they made another Conference Finals trip in 2017-18, only this time, it actually felt like they might win. We all know what happened and how it got us to where we are now.
The last two seasons were fun. The post-Harden tank was over. A .500 season in 2023-24 was acceptable to everyone. A first-round exit after a 52-win season last year was defensible. The team was young.
This year? Nobody is satisfied. Blame Ime Udoka’s offensive ingenuity. Blame Reed Sheppard’s size. Blame Amen Thompson’s broken jumper, or Alperen Sengun’s broken touch. Blame whoever you like:
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 04: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on March 04, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 126-112. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday night’s contest is a matchup of two clubs trending in opposite directions in their respective conferences. Philadelphia has lost four straight games spanning across the All-Star break, most recently losing by double digits to the bottom-dwelling Pelicans last night. The Sixers sit in sixth place in the East, but three games back of Toronto, and the top half of the standings feels like a distant memory. Meanwhile, Minnesota is only in sixth place, but the Wolves have won three straight and are just one game back of the third-place Nuggets in the hotly-contested Western Conference standings.
On paper, the Sixers have things stacked against them tonight, not only due to the teams’ recent run of play, but being on the second night of the back-to-back. The one big thing that could help Philadelphia is the potential return of Joel Embiid. He was ruled out early due to right shin soreness (and knee injury management) for the game in New Orleans, but it’s possible the team was playing it safe knowing Joel would have to sit out one of the games of the back-to-back anyway. Embiid did travel with the team and seemed in good spirits on Saturday (at least until he had to watch his teammates play in the third quarter like the rest of us), so the door is at least ajar. Joel was the only injury absence for the Sixers yesterday, with Paul George obviously still out due to suspension.
For Minnesota, they have a clean injury report, but are also dealing with a suspension, as Rudy Gobert has been suspended one game due to flagrant foul accumulation. It’ll be good for the Sixers to miss the Wolves’ leading rebounder and shot blocker, who is still one of the best defenders in the league, although Minnesota having Naz Reid soak up more minutes is certainly a good pivot option to have.
Tonight’s game will be a meeting of two of the top five scorers in the league. Amidst a rough outside shooting patch in February, Tyrese Maxey is down to fifth in the league at 28.9 points per game. Not to play body language doctor, but he looks to be feeling the effects of the heavy load the team is asking him to carry. On the opposing sideline, Anthony Edwards is third in the league at 29.5 points per game. He just dropped 40 points in Friday night’s win over Dallas, right after securing All-Star Game MVP honors. We’ll likely get to see a lot of VJ Edgecombe marking Edwards, which should make for a fascinating watch.
Minnesota took the opposite tack of the Sixers at the trade deadline, trading Rob Dillingham and four second-round picks for Ayo Dosunmu to bolster their backcourt depth. Are the Wolves now in a position to really challenge the juggernaut Thunder, not to mention emerge out of the rest of the crowded West? I don’t know, but I respect them for doing something to go for it.
We’ll await word on whether Embiid suits up, and tune in tonight to see if the Sixers can put together a 48-minute effort and challenge the Wolves on the road.
Game Details
When: Sunday, February 22, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 11: Jock Landale #31 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 11, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks (27-31) badly need to take care of business against non-competitive teams like the Brooklyn Nets (15-50) today.
Starting lineup:
G Dyson Daniels
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
G CJ McCollum
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Start Time: 3:30 PM EDT
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored a career-high 34 points, Ta’Mia Scott added 21, and No. 25 Alabama rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Florida 76-71 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.
Alabama (21-7, 7-7) led by six points at halftime and the lead was 54-46 after Timmons hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter. Liv McGill then scored seven points in Florida's 12-0 run that gave the Gators a 58-54 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Florida's lead reached 60-54 before Scott scored five points and Timmons had seven, eventually drawing Alabama even at 66 with seven minutes remaining.
Florida's last lead was 68-66 with five minutes left before Timmons had a 3-pointer and a three-point play to finish an 8-0 run for a 74-68 lead with 1:24 remaining. She added two free throws in the final minute, giving her Alabama's last eight points.
Alabama opened the game with three 3-pointers and led 9-2 after about two minutes of play. Scott hit her third 3 of the quarter in the final minute and the Crimson Tide led 17-14.
Timmons scored eight points early in the second quarter and the Crimson Tide pushed their lead to 31-19 by the six-minute mark. But Alabama made only one field goal the rest of the half, going 1 for 5. Alabama led 38-32 at halftime.
McGill had 19 points and eight assists for the Gators (16-13, 4-10). Jade Weathersby scored 13, Laila Reynolds 12 and Nyadieng Yiech 10.
Up next
Alabama: The regular season wraps up with a visit to No. 5 Vanderbilt on Thursday and a home game against No. 4 Texas on Sunday.
Florida: The Gators visit No. 17 Ole Miss on Thursday and host No. 24 Georgia on Sunday.
The Dallas Mavericks have waved the white flag with 10 straight losses, but they’ll be hard-pressed to out-tank the Indiana Pacers as the teams square off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse today.
At 15-42, Indiana has the inside track on a high lottery pick, and my Mavericks vs. Pacers predictions expect both squads to struggle to create good looks without their sidelined playmakers.
Read on for my free NBA picks ahead of this February 22 basement battle.
Mavericks vs Pacers prediction
Mavericks vs Pacers best bet: Under 234 (-110)
The injury reports for the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers are a reminder that there’s every incentive to keep their top playmakers on the sidelines. Both squads have peppered the Under this season, and it feels like one of the best picks on the board today.
The Under is 15-9 in Dallas’ 24 road outings, and Cooper Flagg’s absence hurts the visitors’ offensive flow. Meanwhile, Indiana will be short on shot creators if Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard sit out.
The Mavs eked out a 107-105 win over the Pacers in October, and I’m not counting on fireworks in this rematch.
Mavericks vs Pacers same-game parlay
With the Pacers’ first-choice starting lineup all on the injury report, I like the value of the Mavs moneyline here, despite the visitors’ recent skid. Dallas still has some gritty veterans available, while Indiana limps into this clash on the heels of back-to-back losses to the Washington Wizards. Enough said.
Even if this descends into a rock fight at times, Naji Marshall is a candidate for a nice stat line, and I’ll grab the Over on his rebounds tally. He finished with eight boards earlier this month against the Boston Celtics, and his minutes could hit the mid 30s today.
Mavericks vs Pacers SGP
Under 234
Mavericks moneyline
Marshall Over 6.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Huffing and puffing
Look for Marshall to have his fingerprints all over this contest, and Dallas’ injury woes should prompt an uptick in his February averages of 4.7 RPG and 3.3 APG.
In the same way, Indiana will hand Jay Huff all the minutes he can handle. Huff drilled five 3-pointers against the Wizards on Friday, and his size will be key for the depleted Pacers on the glass.
Mavericks vs Pacers SGP
Marshall Over 6.5 rebounds
Marshall Over 3.5 assists
Huff Over 5.5 rebounds
Huff Over 1.5 threes
Mavericks vs Pacers odds
Spread: Mavericks -2 | Pacers +2
Moneyline: Mavericks -130 | Pacers +110
Over/Under: Over 234 | Under 234
Mavericks vs Pacers betting trend to know
The Under is 33-24 for the Pacers this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Pacers.
How to watch Mavericks vs Pacers
Location
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
MavsTV, FDSN Indiana
Mavericks vs Pacers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Nyla Brooks scored 18 points, Laila Hull added 17 off the bench, and No. 22 North Carolina routed Pittsburgh 78-50 on Sunday.
North Carolina (23-6, 12-4 ACC) has reached 12 conference wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05 and 2005-06.
The Tar Heels missed their first six shots and trailed 11-4 midway through the first quarter. An 8-2 run helped North Carolina close the gap and Pitt took a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.
Hull hit three 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the second quarter, the third of which started a 10-0 run that left the Tar Heels ahead 39-21. Her fourth 3 of the quarter gave North Carolina a 42-27 halftime lead after a 30-point second quarter.
North Carolina buried five 3s in the third quarter and took a 63-39 lead into the final period. The lead peaked at 31 points with two minutes left in the game.
Elina Aarnisalo had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists for North Carolina. Ciera Toomey collected seven points, seven rebounds and four blocks and Hull made five of the Tar Heels' 14 3-pointers.
Theresa Hagans scored 19 points and Fatima Diakhate added 12 for Pitt (8-21, 1-15).
Up next
North Carolina: The regular season concludes with a road game against Virginia on Thursday followed by No. 9 Duke at home on Sunday.
Pittsburgh: at Miami on Thursday, then home against N.C. State on Sunday.
With less than two minutes remaining in a comfortable Miami win, the Grizzlies Scotty Pippen Jr. and the Heat's Myron Gardner got into an altercation that is going to cost both of them some money, and maybe earn a suspension.
It started late in the fourth, when Pippen and Gardner were battling for rebound positioning under the basket, and Pippen just tossed Gardner out of the way (no foul was called, and in what had been a physical game that felt about right). With the Grizzlies having a five-on-four advantage in transition, the trailing Pippen knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer. A second after he released the ball, Gardner came up from behind and knocked Pippen to the ground. Pippen got up, jogged casually down the court, then went straight at Gardner in a fight that spilled into the first row.
Here's video of the fight between Scotty Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner (with replays) pic.twitter.com/hNfOBHYRyY
After the game, Pippen called it a cheap shot from Gardner, via 5 Reasons Sports.
"I thought it was kind of a cheap shot. He kind of hit me when I didn't see him. I thought it was a soft move. I just thought he needed a hug on the other end."
You can be sure fines and maybe a suspension are coming from the league office for this altercation.
This wasn't as big or as nasty as the Charlotte and Detroit fight that led to four suspensions — and no Heat or Grizzlies players appeared to leave the bench to jump into the fray — but the league is going to have a say because it does not want this to become a trend.
Miami won the game 136-120 behind 25 points from Norman Powell.
The Chicago Bulls are nursing an eight-game losing streak as they host the New York Knicks tonight.
Chicago has been losing, and losing badly, failing to cover at any point during the current streak. That’s why I’m taking New York to cover in my Knicks vs. Bulls predictions.
Read on to see all my free NBA picks and full analysis of tonight’s game for Sunday, February 22.
Knicks vs Bulls prediction
Knicks vs Bulls best bet: Knicks -10 (-110)
The Chicago Bulls have dropped eight straight to fall completely out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
For bettors, the bigger issue is that they’ve gone 0-8 against the spread in that stretch, even failing to cover twice as a double-digit underdog.
Chicago has allowed 125.9 points per game during this streak, and doesn’t have the firepower to keep up with that level of scoring, especially with Jaden Ivey out of the lineup for at least a couple of weeks.
The New York Knicks defense will suffocate the Bulls and score more than enough to cover tonight's spread.
Knicks vs Bulls same-game parlay
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are both capable of putting up big games, so why not both against a struggling Chicago defense? Brunson is averaging 27.0 PPG, while Towns has scored 21+ in each of his last four, so I like both to hit their totals in a big win.
Knicks vs Bulls SGP
Knicks -10
Jalen Brunson Over 25.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Threes' a crowd
I’m firing away from deep, taking four different players to hit the Over on 1.5 made threes. Josh Giddey, Isaac Okoro, Towns, and OG Anunoby all hit this total in their most recent game, and they’re all capable of bringing home this parlay for us again tonight.
Knicks vs Bulls SGP
Josh Giddey Over 1.5 made threes
Isaac Okoro Over 1.5 made threes
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 made threes
OG Anunoby Over 1.5 made threes
Knicks vs Bulls odds
Spread: Knicks -10 (-110) | Bulls +10 (-110)
Moneyline: Knicks -450 | Bulls +350
Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Bulls are 0-8 ATS in their last eight games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Bulls.
How to watch Knicks vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG Sportsnet, Chicago Sports Network
Knicks vs Bulls latest injuries
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AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 21: Dylan Harper #2 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 21, 2026 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA Hall-of-Fame coach Phil Jackson once said that for a team to be considered an “elite” championship contender, they must win 40 games in the regular season before they lose 20. On Saturday night, the San Antonio Spurs became the third team to meet that criteria in the 2025-26 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons are also in that category, and at 36-19, the Boston Celtics still have a chance to join the conversation.
It’s fitting that the Spurs accomplished this feat on a night where they showed what makes them a scary playoff contender, and what may make some fans question their chances of advancing past the first round.
San Antonio began and ended the game with force. They got to the basket, shared the rock, and played fast in transition. Victor Wembanyama looked like a man on a mission, locked in defensively and getting whatever he wanted around the basket. In the middle of the game, the team looked a bit complacent. Turning the ball over, allowing open shots, and giving up offensive rebounds. The Spurs had 18 turnovers and allowed the Kings’ rookie big man, Maxime Raynaud, to grab 7 offensive rebounds.
As all great teams do, when it came to winning time, San Antonio, particularly Wembanyama, turned it on and downed an inferior opponent. Wembanyama looks like a man on a mission after the All-Star break. In San Antonio’s two Austin games, Wembanyama has dropped a combined 45 points, 26 rebounds, 10 assists, and 9 blocks. He’s locked in defensively and is getting good looks within the flow of the offense around the basket. This level of performance from Wembanyama is what takes a good Spurs team to a great one capable of making noise in the playoffs.
It’s funny that after two games where the Spurs looked stellar (at times) against inferior, short-handed opponents, they’ll now travel to face the best team with the NBA’s best record. San Antonio will get a chance to prove they really mean business on Monday against the Detroit Pistons, with an 8-game winning streak on the line.
Takeaways:
It’s no fun to think about what could have been when things are going so well, but every time I see Raynaud play, I think about his potential wearing the Silver and Black. The Spurs traded the 38th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which could have been used to draft the Kings’ big man. It would have been a great fit, too. He’s known Wembanyama since they were teenagers, and would give San Antonio a floor-spacing, offensive big man that could backup and play alongside their superstar. Raynaud had 16 points and 12 rebounds against the Spurs on Saturday. Of course, it’s more complex than I’m making it out to be. Second-round picks often have more sway over where they will go, especially as agents are trying to secure guaranteed standard contracts for them rather than two-way deals. San Antonio also has an awesome backup big man in Luke Kornet, so everything is fine. But as I watched Wemby and Raynaud do a jersey swap after the game, I thought it would be even better to see them on the same team.
Outscoring a team 74-46 in the paint is one heck of a stat, and points to what the Spurs do so well. When Wembanyama was in the game, the Kings’ only hope to score inside was to score in transition or get floaters to go over the top of him. He changed the game entirely when he played. Offensively, the team is so good at getting into the paint, especially when Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper are all having good nights. The Kings didn’t play much interior defense either, which helps tremendously.
On top of their half-court scoring, the Spurs were awesome at getting out in transition and finding easy baskets. Whether it was hitting Devin Vassell on early passes for three-pointers while the defense wasn’t ready, or Harper and Fox getting all the way to the cup, or getting good looks from Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie at the rim, San Antonio’s offense looked at its best when it was playing fast. It will be interesting to see if the team can keep up that pace of play in a slower, more physical playoff setting.
Russell Westbrook and Fox got into it for a moment in the third quarter, after Westbrook showed the Spurs’ point guard. Fox seemed to be playing some aggressive defense, and Russ took offense to it. Who was the first Spur to walk into the scuffle after Fox was pushed? Wembanyama. It was a brief moment, but it showed that he is firmly in a leadership position on the team, coming to the aid of his teammates even in a physical altercation.
The Brooklyn Nets will look to rebound from two tough blowout losses as they continue their road trip against the Atlanta Hawks this afternoon.
Both offenses look a bit out of sync right now, and that’s why I’m taking the Under in my Nets vs. Hawks predictions.
Keep reading for a full analysis of this game and my free NBA picks on Sunday, February 22.
Nets vs Hawks prediction
Nets vs Hawks best bet: Under 228 (-110)
The Brooklyn Nets are among the slowest-paced teams in the NBA this year, averaging 99.3 possessions per game on the season.
We’ve also seen the Nets — already the worst team in the league in offensive efficiency — struggle mightily on this road trip, putting up 84 and 86 points in their last two games, respectively.
Normally, we could count on the Atlanta Hawks to lift the total, but they have hit three straight Unders themselves, averaging 107.0 points in that span.
With neither team putting up much offense, I’m taking the Under this afternoon.
Nets vs Hawks same-game parlay
While both teams have been struggling lately, the Nets are coming off two blowout road losses, and I’m looking to make that three in a row by taking the Hawks to cover in combination with the Under. I’ll also take CJ McCollum to hit his scoring total, as he’s hit that total in three of his last four games.
Nets vs Hawks SGP
Under 228
Hawks -10
CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Johnson lends his wing
I’m banking on a big game from Hawks leader Jalen Johnson. I’ll take him to get Over 7.5 assists, something he’s done in six of his last seven games, and to hit at least two shots from deep, which he’s already done three times this month. I’ll also throw in a bet on McCollum to hit Over 2.5 threes, a number he’s cleared in back-to-back games.
Nets vs Hawks SGP
Hawks -10
Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
Jalen Johnson Over 1.5 made threes
CJ McCollum Over 2.5 made threes
Nets vs Hawks odds
Spread: Nets +10 (-110) | Hawks -10 (-110)
Moneyline: Nets +325 | Hawks -425
Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)
Nets vs Hawks betting trend to know
The Under is 3-0 in Atlanta’s last three games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Hawks.
How to watch Nets vs Hawks
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
YES, FDSN Southeast Atlanta
Nets vs Hawks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
OG Anunoby scored 20 points and made life difficult for Rockets star Kevin Durant. Karl-Anthony Towns scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and helped shut down Alperen Sengun (0-of-4 shooting, two turnovers in fourth quarter). Jose Alvarado had five points, three assists and three steals in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson went 4 for 4 in the final five minutes, making big shot after big shot in New York’s 18-point comeback.
“We found a way, that’s what I’m most excited about; we found a way,” Mike Brown said.
Brown and the Knicks would have gotten crushed locally if they’d lost on Saturday night. Two nights earlier, they were embarrassed at home by the Pistons.
Back-to-back losses out of the All-Star break would have had everyone on edge. But they avoided all of that. And they hit the road this week with an offense that’s still taking shape.
Brown’s offense has changed significantly since the start of the season. It will continue to evolve over the final few weeks of the regular season.
The ultimate goal? Find what works best for Brunson, Towns and the rest of the Knicks -- in that particular order.
“If you watch us closely from the beginning of preseason until now, our offense is different. And it’s different because … it’s evolving to try and fit not just Jalen, not just KAT, but all of our guys,” Brown said before Saturday’s game against Houston. “Knowing that those two guys are our leading scorer, our second-leading scorer, first-most shots, second-most shots; trying to fit those two guys in that order and then everybody else is what’s most important.”
Entering play Saturday night, New York has the No. 3 offense in the NBA. So the offense isn’t broken. But nights like Thursday -- when the Pistons embarrassed the Knicks and Towns doesn’t dominate a game with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart sidelined -- lead to questions about the offense.
Towns, in particular, is under the microscope this season.
He entered play Saturday averaging 19.8 points -- the fewest since his rookie season.
After shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc last season, Towns is at just 35 percent this year. His shots per game are down (16.9 last season to 14.0 this season). His current mark has been impacted by his offensive fouls (he has 49, matching last season’s total).
Towns’ production and his fit have been talking points all season long for fans and media. Here is how Brown assesses what he’s seen from the All-Star center:
“I look at KAT and he’s probably right where he should be, right? Maybe he should be the leading scorer? I don’t know, but for sure the second-leading scorer. He’s that. He gets the second-most field goal attempts, right? Behind Jalen,” Brown said before Saturday’s game. “So if that’s gonna happen, it’s just like your work. You’re not gonna be up here (at a high level) every day. You’re gonna be (up and down) … but what is it gonna average out to? ... Hopefully it averages out to you getting the second-most if you’re the No. 2 guy. So I look at KAT, and that’s what his season’s about. … So that’s the way I look at it.
“And in a game, you can literally dissect every single game and say this guy didn’t get a shot. And yeah, that’s correct. It happens sometimes. That’s life. Sometimes OG may have 15 shots and KAT may have nine shots and Jalen may have 26 shots. But as long as at the end of the day it averages out to what it needs to be or what it should be, I think that’s what the season’s about.
“(The offense is) a work in progress. You’ve got to continue to feel and evolve as a group and hopefully you can do it around the guys that you need to knowing, ‘OK if this doesn’t work, I’ve got to go and change this,’ and like I said earlier, our offense is different from now than it was in the preseason because I’ve had to try to adjust and make it fit everybody to where Jalen’s getting his first, KAT’s getting his second, then we go from there.”
It’s common for teams to change their offense over the course of the season, said Brown, who referenced the Warriors with Durant.
“Even our teams in Golden State, when we got KD, we had to change,” Brown said. “It was a little different before KD, and KD gets here, we had to change it, and then as the season went along, we were like, OK this is not gonna work, we’ve got to change it.”
Brown has said that Towns has the toughest job on offense because he has to know the power forward and center spots.
In Brown’s offense, point guard, shooting guard and the small and power forward positions are interchangeable to a degree.
Center is totally different.
“He’s done fantastic,” Brown said of Towns. “And yes, we’ve simplified (the offense) a lot. We’ve simplified it a lot to try to fit him in and everyone else at the same time.”
That effort continues Sunday when the Knicks take on the Bulls.
Brown was also asked some questions specifically about the Pistons game.
In talking about the Knicks’ screens and how they need to improve as screeners, in general, Brown said this about the Pistons:
“Trying to find different ways to attack their defense is gonna be something that I look forward to doing.”
Detroit has dominated New York, winning three games by a combined 84 points.
The Knicks don’t play the Pistons again in the regular season.
Like most Knicks fans, Brown obviously expects to see the Pistons in the playoffs.
MIKE BROWN ON TYLER KOLEK
Tyler Kolek played with the Westchester Knicks earlier Saturday; he scored 19 points and handed out 13 assists in Westchester’s win over the Cleveland Charge.
Kolek hadn’t played for the Knicks in the past 10 days. Brown was complimentary of the second-year guard when asked about him Saturday.
“Yeah, Jose is playing obviously. He’s played well for us and given us a different look. Tyler has been awesome for a Year 2 (player). He has a chance to be a good pro, a real good pro,” the coach said. “We have to find a way to help him by finding ways for him to get reps. Today was an opportunity for us to find a way for him to get a rep.”
Speaking of Alvarado, Brown pointed out that assistant Rick Brunson suggested subbing Alvarado into the game late in the fourth quarter.
Alvarado replaced Mikal Bridges with five minutes remaining. The Knicks trailed by six at the time.
And the new Knick played a major role in New York’s comeback. He had a steal, a layup and helped pressure the ball in those final minutes.
Boston, MA - October 4: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla at the Auerbach Center on October 4, 2025. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
On Saturday in Los Angeles, Jayson Tatum did what he has done for weeks now: he said something that gave us pretty much nothing in the way of new information.
He hasn’t practiced with the team since his Maine session a week ago. The photos from San Francisco were — Tatum’s words — an “optional workout.” Joe Mazzulla said he’s continuing to hit his “check marks.” Brad Stevens repeated in his press conference that there is no timetable.
Simply put, there is no return date.
Naturally, the speculation has intensified.
So, I did what any rational Celtics fan would do. I pulled out my calculator. I stopped hearing and started listening. I looked in the places everyone else was looking, but I looked harder and better than everyone else.
After carefully studying the latest batch of quotes, I’ve narrowed Tatum’s return down to three possibilities. Let’s go through them.
Jayson Tatum on how realistic it is that he'll play this year: "I think it's just important that I've worked this hard to just get myself in a position where it could be a conversation." @CLNSMedia | Q: @RealBobManning@tvabbypic.twitter.com/WCRKbcgFHZ
Joe Mazzulla: “It’s just trusting the group that we have around him. And taking it step-by-step.”
Joe could’ve said “day by day.” He didn’t. He chose “steps.” Steps imply a staircase. A finite number. You don’t reference steps unless you know how many there are.
He said this on February 21.
Count forward.
March 6 sits 13 days later.
13 is the average number of days between major lunar phase shifts. That’s Astronomy 101. I didn’t invent the moon.
Stay with me. Boston sits at roughly 71 degrees west longitude. Dallas is at 96. 96 minus 71 equals 25. 2 plus 5 equals 7. Take the 13-day lunar window and subtract 7.
Six.
March 6.
Now layer in the matchup. It’s at home, which Tatum has already said he’d like to return in front of a home crowd. The opponent is Dallas. Luka used to be there and now he’s not. What’s that all about? Related? I’m not ruling it out.
On March 6, we’ll (hopefully) be seeing Cooper Flagg, the next face-of-the-league candidate. Future superstar. Duke alum. Present convergence. All of this makes March 6 feel right.
Feb 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) hugs Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum after the game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
That said, Jupiter starts drifting toward retrograde around then, and planetary wobble can’t be ignored. So, while March 6 has intergalactic support, I can only label it as a strong possibility at this stage.
And it was actually while adjusting for Jupiter’s drift through my telescope that a different possibility came into focus. The stars were whispering, “San Antonio.”
Theory No. 2: March 10 at Spurs
Jayson Tatum: “Work out, see how you recover the next day and then you just make the plan from there.”
“The plan.” You don’t casually reference “The Plan” unless there is a plan. Likely a document somewhere. Printed. Stapled. Possibly laminated.
Now this is where I began pacing. Because once you introduce a plan, you introduce intent. And once you introduce intent, you introduce architecture. So, I zoomed out.
March 10. San Antonio. Duh.
If you’re at the table of long-term power structures in the NBA, you pay attention to San Antonio. Duncan. Parker. Ginobli. Leonard. Popovich. Five banners materializing like clockwork over fifteen years.
Spurs titles: ’99, ’03, ’05, ’07, ’14.
Add the last digits. 9 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 4 = 28. 2 + 8 = 10.
March 10.
Now this is where it gets interesting.
Wembanyama. Hector Banana-Bread. Seven-foot-four. Add 7+4, you get 11. Tatum wears 0. Subtract 1 for the silent digit, naturally. 10.
March 10.
Feb 11, 2025; Victor Wembanyama shoots over Jayson Tatum during a matchup between the Spurs and Celtics.<br>Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images | Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Now, small complication. San Antonio sits at 29 degrees north latitude. Two plus nine gives you 11. Add the seven letters in “Go Spurs” and you land on 18. That’s just rudimentary math, folks.
And once 18 enters any predictive model, you have to take it seriously. Which is how, while re-running the numbers, March 18 began dancing on my calendar (I should mention I haven’t slept in 72 hours and am running out of yarn and hallucinations seem to be setting in.)
Theory No. 3: March 18 vs. Warriors
How could I be so foolish.
Of course, Mazzulla was throwing smoke screens. He knew I would run longitudinal numbers. He knew I would check latitude. He knew that I knew that he knew all along.
I had to wipe the board clean.
Jayson Tatum: “I’m just getting acclimated more and doing little things with some of the guys out there.”
“Acclimated.”
That’s not weight-room talk. That’s atmospheric. Someone adjusting to conditions before re-entry. You acclimate before you return from orbit.
Now, follow me carefully. Warriors. March 18. At home. The Celtics lost the 2022 Finals to Golden State in 6 games. They won the 2024 Finals in 5 games. 6 + 5 = 11. Steph has 4 rings. 11 times 4 is 44. Divide by the number of letters in “Tatum”, which is 5. 8.8.
Round up. Nine. Add the eight letters in “Warriors.” Seventeen. Add one for home court. Eighteen.
March 18.
Nov 6, 2024; Stephen Curry dribbles against Jayson Tatum during a Celtics–Warriors matchup at TD Garden.<br>Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images | Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Joe let me chase March 6. He let me flirt with March 10. The real answer was sitting there the whole time. Unless he’s already anticipated this too. Dammit, Joe, you marvelous genius.
Back to Earth
The truth is, none of us know when Jayson Tatum will play basketball for the Boston Celtics again. Not me, not the internet, and not my dog despite how many times I beg her for the answer (dogs know everything). The only people who know the timeline are inside TD Garden, and they’ve been consistent on not giving anything away on that front from the start.
Tatum will return when he’s ready. Whenever it happens, it’ll be because he decided it was the right time. And that’s probably the only calculation that actually matters in the long run.
