Category: Basketball

Jayson Tatum could make his long-anticipated return when the Celtics face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, the team announced on Thursday via the official injury report. For the first time since he ruptured his Achilles tendon, Tatum is listed as questionable to appear in Friday’s game.

Tatum, who was first injured in May in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the New York Knicks, has been working toward his recovery all season, accompanying the team for nearly every practice, shootaround, and film session.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Tatum has been participating in 5-on-5 workouts over the past few weeks. The Celtics also announced that he participated in a practice with the Maine Celtics earlier this month.

Without Tatum, the Celtics have held up better than most expected; they have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 41-21, and the fifth-best record in the NBA. They have won 7 of their last 10 games.

But his all-around prowess as one of the NBA’s best players should elevate Boston to another level.

Jayson Tatum’s return comes 10 months after the injury was first suffered

Last month at Celtics practice, Tatum said he still had no set return date. He said he won’t play until he’s 100%, and didn’t disclose what percent he was at.

“I feel like I’m beating a dead horse,” Tatum said. “I’m taking it one day at a time. This is something that’s very serious. The injury that I had is just a long journey. For me, it’s just easier to take it one day at a time and see how I progress from there.”

With Tatum cleared to return on Friday, he’ll make his return less than 10 months after the initial injury.

While the average return-to-play timeline is around 10 months, it’s varied significantly. Kevin Durant did not play in a game for 18 months. Miami Heat guard Dru Smith, who ruptured his Achilles tendon last season, was cleared for training camp just 9 months after the injury. On the flip side, Damian Lillard, who tore his Achilles tendon a month before Tatum did, was almost immediately ruled out for this season. New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray missed 13 months with the injury before returning to the court last month.

By all accounts, Tatum has worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to get to this point. Xavier Tillman, who was traded from the Celtics to the Charlotte Hornets last month, praised Tatum’s work ethic this season.

“[His work] was pretty constant,” Tillman said. “He was here six days a week, getting it in, and always doing something to better his body. And it was actually pretty impressive to see somebody so dedicated. When I had those moments during games to just chop it up with him, he just talked about how much he just misses playing. Like, he misses being able to get a rebound, push it, talk crap to the other team, and just everything that comes with playing.”

On Wednesday night, Derrick White similarly said Tatum has looked good of late.

“Playing, moving, it’s been good to see him back and getting up and down,” White said. “So, you kind of see all the work he’s put in to get to this point, and it’s been great to see him be able to do what he loves to do.”

Now, for the first time in over a year, he could get to do what he really loves to do: suit up in an actual NBA game.

The Wisconsin Herd went 1-2 over last week’s slate of games as the Bucks filled their final two-way slot. With just ten games remaining in the season, the Herd is 5.5 games out of a playoff spot.

Wisconsin Herd 104, Windy City Bulls 112

Cormac Ryan: 43 minutes, 36 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 12/19 FG, 6/10 3FG, -3

Alex Antetokounmpo: 15 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0/3 FG, -10

Pete Nance: DNP

The Herd continued their losing streak with an away loss to the Windy City Bulls. Led by new two-way player Cormac Ryan, the Herd established an early lead over the Bulls. However, the Herd went cold after the game’s first fiery moments and couldn’t fire back against the Bulls’ frequent scoring runs. Despite solid inside defense, their inability to stop Mac McClung (42 points) was the primary cause of their Tuesday loss.

Ryan’s 36-point outburst may have gotten him signed to the Bucks on Thursday. The North Carolina alum has steadily proved his worth for the Herd: averaging 21.8 points per game on .489/.434/.859 shooting splits. Yet, Ryan’s strengths extend outside of his shooting. He’s a solid rebounder, an imposing defender, and versatile on both sides of the ball. Although his fit with the Bucks remains to be seen, Ryan’s role with the Herd is well-known: to shoot the leather off the ball.

Wisconsin Herd 97, Memphis Hustle 117

Cormac Ryan: DNP

Alex Antetokounmpo: 21 minutes, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5-7 FG, -11

Mark Sears: 35 minutes, 25 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 12-22 FG, 1-7 3FG, -21

With Ryan out, likely finalizing the terms of his two-way contract in Milwaukee, the Herd pushed their losing streak to nine games. The Herd continued their struggles of finding momentum. The Hustle started the game with a 24-7 run, and after the Herd fought back to close the lead to four, extended their lead to over 20 points in the second half. The Herd, who shot just above 22% from deep and were comprehensively outrebounded, ended their Thursday night game with a 20-point loss.

Without Ryan, we learned more about two-way player Alex Antetokounmpo and former All-American guard Mark Sears. Antetokounmpo found his shooting rhythm in a season where he has lacked it. His confidence surged on Thursday as he shot 2/4 from distance. His surprisingly solid shooting could inspire hope in Bucks execs worried about his poor long-range shooting and commitment to the three. In a limited time, Antetokounmpo has shot just over 24% from three on 2.6 three-point attempts per game.

Wisconsin Herd 134, Memphis Hustle 126

Cormac Ryan: 38 minutes, 28 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 8-16 FG, 3-9 3FG, 4 turnovers, +13

Alex Antetokounmpo: 23 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 3-6 FG, 1/4 3FG, -14

Mark Sears: 39 minutes, 30 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists, 10/15 FG, 2/2 3FG, 6 turnovers, +14

The Herd claimed their first win since January in the second game of a back-to-back against the Hustle. With Ryan back, the Herd shot well from downtown (14/30) while exerting their control over the glass through the efforts of Lacey James (8 rebounds), Kira Lewis Jr. (7 rebounds), and more. In a season where the Herd has struggled to string together scoring runs and summon momentum when they need it, they got it in the final minutes of Friday night’s game. The Herd used incisive drives to the basket and physical defense to string together several key baskets and pull away from the Hustle in the final moments.

Three Notes

Cormac Ryan signs two-way deal

Cormac Ryan signed a two-way deal with the Bucks, meaning he’ll be eligible for the Bucks’ second half of the season. It’s been obvious that Ryan would get the call-up; not only has he established himself as the team’s star, but he also helps address the team’s struggles on defense. Ryan likely won’t see a lot of minutes behind wings like AJ Green, Ousmane Dieng, Gary Trent Jr., etc., but his length and versatility could make him an appealing shot of energy off the bench.

Sears keeps scoring

Mark Sears has been the Herd’s most unlikely star in 2026. Since being waived by the Bucks in January and signing a full-time contract with the Herd, Sears has averaged 17.0 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. The 6’0” guard has proven himself to be a polished guard with a natural scoring instinct and solid playmaking, and his 30-point outburst in the Herd’s Friday night win shows he can be a real game-changer. However, Sears still faces a long climb back to an NBA roster. He can be a streaky shooter, and his relatively small size makes him a liability on defense. Although the Bucks don’t have a present need for Sears’ role as an attack-minded floor general, he could be a G League player to watch as multiple teams close in.

Herd reveal Aztec-inspired jerseys

2014 LeBron, anyone? The Herd is auctioning off game-worn Hispanic Heritage Jerseys to help support the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Chicana/o & Latinx Studies Program. The “El Herd” jerseys are pretty sick; they feature Aztec-inspired designs, intended to “reflect and honor the indigenous roots of Hispanic heritage.” The Herd will wear the jerseys ahead of their back-to-back games against the Mexico City Capitanes on Friday and Saturday.

The Phoenix Suns have had some great wins this season amid their surprising season. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder after being down 18, stormed back against the Timberwolves despite being down eight with 50 seconds left, and manhandled the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers back-to-back nights, but the main reason the Suns are sitting 10 games ahead of .500 is because of how often they handle business against lesser opponents.

No matter who is in the lineup, whether they’re playing a tanking squad or a struggling one, they take care of business.

After win against the Kings, the trend has continued. Now 20-5 against teams under .500, the Suns are 10 games above .500 for the first time since February 10th, after beating another inferior team they handled their business against, the Dallas Mavericks. The last time Phoenix lost to a team not currently in the play-in standings or better came all the way back before Halloween, on October 29th, vs the Grizzlies, when Ja Morant hit a game-winning floater with eight seconds left.

Even when the Suns have had their stars out, they’ve taken advantage of lesser opponents, beating the Portland Trailblazers last month without Devin Booker, and now recently taking care of Sacramento this week without Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin playing.

While the play-in and potentially the playoffs won’t be filled with teams trying to tank for better picks, and lineups littered with players younger than me (I’m 22), the wins have not only continued to give the Suns a cushion between them and the eighth seed (the Golden State Warriors have trailed them for more than half the season), but also keep them alive to finish as a top-six seed. The team sits just 1.5 games out of sixth.

Two teams ahead of the Suns in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers and Timberwolves, two teams the Suns won the season series against, have struggled against lesser opponents. Both teams have dropped many games they had no business doing so, which could be the difference between the two teams being in or out of the play-in, and Phoenix jumping them in the final standings. The Lakers recently lost to the shorthanded Orlando Magic and Suns, while before they started their four-game winning streak, Minnesota got embarrassed by the 76ers without Joel Embiid playing.

In order to build a culture in the NBA, consistency is needed. As good as the Oklahoma City Thunder are at facing the NBA’s best, they’re even better at handling their business against lesser teams, which is why they won 68 games last year, 57 the year before, and have the best winning percentage in the NBA this year. They’re 25-3 against teams under .500, and were 37-4 against the same type of opponents last year. Last season, they led the league in wins in the category, and are doing so again this year.

The Suns, as currently constructed, aren’t set up to be the Oklahoma City Thunder and compete for championships year after year. Phoenix isn’t even one of the front-runners to be hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy this year, but just like the Thunder, they are building an identity, one that represents a team that takes care of the business against teams that they’re supposed to.

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Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight’s primetime showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets, and the model has flagged a few plays that stand out.

After digging into the numbers and comparing our projections to the current market lines, we were able to zero in on the spots offering the most value.

These Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions aren’t based on guesswork, they’re driven by the data.

If you’re building your betting card, these are the NBA picks the model likes most for Thursday, March 5.

Lakers vs Nuggets computer picks for March 5

Lakers	Nuggets
Doncic u30.5 points  -115	Murray u26.5 points  -120
James o5.5 rebounds  +120	Jokic u10.5 assists  -130
Reaves u2.5 3-pointers -185	Braun u5.5 rebounds  -145

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Lakers computer picks

Luka Doncic Under 30.5 points (-115)

Projection: 30.2 points

The Los Angeles Lakers could see fewer scoring opportunities in this matchup, as they face a Denver Nuggets squad that has played at the third-slowest home pace in the NBA over the last 10 games.

That slower tempo hasn’t helped Luka Doncic lately either, as he’s stayed Under 30.5 points in eight of his last 10 games.

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LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds (+120)

Projection: 5.9 rebounds

The Nuggets’ offensive style creates opportunities. With Nikola Jokic facilitating from the perimeter and Denver frequently generating jump shots, there are plenty of rebound chances that fall outside the immediate paint.

That plays right into LeBron James' strengths, as he crashes from the wing rather than relying solely on traditional center positioning.

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Austin Reaves Under 2.5 3-pointers (-185)

Projection: 2.3 3-pointers

The Lakers have been the worst offensive rebounding team in the league over their last 25 games, which limits second-chance opportunities. 

That trend lines up with Austin Reaves staying Under 2.5 made threes in nine of his last 10 games, especially in a tougher offensive environment like a road matchup against the Nuggets.

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Nuggets computer picks

Jamal Murray Under 26.5 points (-120)

Projection: 24.8 points

The Nuggets have been running at the third-slowest pace in the NBA over their last 10 home games.

Facing the Lakers will be more challenging for Jamal Murray to hit his points prop, with this matchup leaning toward an Under.

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Nikola Jokic Under 10.5 assists (-130)

Projection: 10.0 assists

Nikola Jokic has had a little trouble hitting his assist line recently, going Under 10.5 assists in five of his last 10 games.

The Lakers feature frontcourt and perimeter defenders who can clog passing lanes, force quicker decisions, contest shots, and create turnovers, which are all factors that limit clean assist opportunities

It could leave Jokic just short of the Over on this prop tonight.

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Christian Braun Under 5.5 rebounds (-145)

Projection: 4.9 rebounds

The Nuggets have struggled on the offensive glass, ranking as the third-worst rebounding team at home over their last 20 games.

That trend aligns with Christian Braun going Under 5.5 rebounds in four of his last 10 games, suggesting a similar outcome tonight.

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How to watch Lakers vs Nuggets tonight

Location	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date	Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
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Blowouts and bad shooting have skewed De’Aaron Fox’s recent output, with his points production fluctuating more than cryptocurrencies. 

Fox has scored 14 points or fewer in four of his last five showings, but the San Antonio Spurs need their All-Star guard to lock in for a huge non-conference collision with the Detroit Pistons.

This potential NBA Finals matchup sets the tone for a daunting stretch of San Antonio's schedule, and my Pistons vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks are optimistic that Fox will find his form.

Pistons vs Spurs prediction

Pistons vs Spurs best bet: De’Aaron Fox Over 16.5 points (-105)

In the seven games since the All-Star break, De’Aaron Fox has averaged only 13.6 points in 27.2 minutes — a stark dip from the 19.4 points over 32 minutes ahead of the annual hiatus.

One-sided wins and a few bad shooting nights have impacted his output, which naturally slims his scoring props. Fox’s points totals were as high as 18.5 O/U, but we’re getting an opportunity to buy back a discounted total in a marquee matchup.

Player projections have Fox logging his standard 30+ minutes and putting up 18 points versus the Detroit Pistons, with some sharper books pricing Over at -131.

Pistons vs Spurs same-game parlay

The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the league and host the Pistons for their second straight road game after a loss at Cleveland. The Spurs are 12-1 straight up and 10-3 against the spread since February 1.

Fox’s points prop has dropped since the All-Star break, with limited minutes in blowouts and some bad shooting nights hurting his output. He’s expected to get more than 30 minutes and put up 18 points vs. the Pistons, accounting for an off night against Detroit last month (10 points on 4-for-17 shooting).

Dylan Harper is another Spurs standout with an optimistic evaluation tonight. He’s projected for double digits, with a ceiling of 11.5 points. He’s scored 10 or more in nine of the last dozen games.

Pistons vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs -3.5
• De’Aaron Fox Over 16.5 points
• Dylan Harper Over 9.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Fantastic Mr. Fox

We’re expecting Fox to find his scoring stride and power the Spurs to a high-scoring resume win over the Pistons, but his playmaking will take a hit because of it. Fox projects for Under 6.5 dimes against a Detroit defense allowing the fewest assists per game.

Pistons vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs -3.5
• Over 228.5
• De’Aaron Fox Over 16.5 points
• De’Aaron Fox Under 6.5 assists

Pistons vs Spurs odds

• Spread: Pistons +3.5 (-110) | Spurs -3.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pistons +135 | Spurs -160
• Over/Under: Over 228.5 (-110) | Under 228.5 (-110)

Pistons vs Spurs betting trend to know

The San Antonio Spurs are 12-1 SU and 10-3 ATS since February 1, including 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at home in that stretch. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Spurs.

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Pistons vs Spurs latest injuries

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The NBA season has reached a wonky stage, with teams like the Chicago Bulls effectively playing out the string. 

That shows up in all sorts of ways, and tonight it will benefit the Phoenix Suns as they try to escape the Play-In Tournament despite a bevy of injuries.

My Bulls vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks expect an ugly slog on Thursday, March 5.

Bulls vs Suns prediction

Bulls vs Suns best bet: Under 225 (-110)

Did you know the Chicago Bulls are now starting Tre Jones at point guard?

He has gone back and forth this season between the starting lineup and the bench, returning to the former in the last two games. Jones may be there the rest of the season, as Chicago's roster was thinned at the trade deadline.

Jones is just one part of why theBulls have cashed five straight Unders ahead of tonight's matchup with the Phoenix Suns.

Chicago’s rotation is so limited that a bench piece is now tasked with initiating the offense — and it hasn’t gone well.

Bulls vs Suns same-game parlay

Jones is a competent floor general, but this role is simply too big for him these days.

He has cleared these points prop just twice in the seven games since the All-Star Break, though he handed out six assists three times in those seven games.

In fact, this exact SGP would have cashed twice in that stretch.

Bulls vs Suns SGP

• Under 225
• Tre Jones Under 13.5 points
• Tre Jones Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Suns Cruise

The Bulls have lost 12 of their last 13 games outright.

Bulls vs Suns SGP

• Under 225
• Tre Jones Under 13.5 points
• Tre Jones Over 5.5 assists
• Suns moneyline

Bulls vs Suns odds

• Spread: Bulls +10.5 (-110) | Suns -10.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bulls +375 | Suns -500
• Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)

Bulls vs Suns betting trend to know

The Bulls have not only cashed five straight Unders; they have done so by an average of 11.1 points compared to bookmakers’ expectations. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Suns.

How to watch Bulls vs Suns

Bulls vs Suns latest injuries

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NEW YORK — It’s no secret that Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a reputation for baiting opposing players into contact to get to the line. Add Knicks coach Mike Brown to the list of opposing coaches who bemoan it.

After New York’s 103-100 loss against the Thunder Wednesday, March 4, Brown expressed his displeasure with officiating during the game, and in particular the crew’s management of Gilgeous-Alexander’s play.

“SGA, he’s a tough cover,” Brown told reporters after the game. “And he does a great job of convincing the referees — probably better than anybody in the league — that he’s getting hit.”

Brown’s criticism, in part, stemmed from a controversial no-call that prompted Brown to be called for his first technical foul since he joined the Knicks in July.

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Only an NBA bettor could love a game like this matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings. 

My Pelicans vs. Kings predictions recognize the difference between a bad team and a tanking team.

Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, March 5.

Pelicans vs Kings prediction

Pelicans vs Kings best bet: Pelicans -5.5 (-110)

Some teams are not tanking. They are just bad.

To be clear, just being bad is preferable to tanking. Even terrible basketball can yield quality results, while clearing out a rotation of all trusted contributors largely produces only deflating losses.

The Sacramento Kings are tanking. The New Orleans Pelicans are just bad.

New Orleans has won four of seven games since the All-Star Break, including going 2-1 outright as a favorite. Sacramento has managed an admirable 2-5 outright in the same stretch, though both wins came against teams that were also tanking.

Pelicans vs Kings same-game parlay

Do you think Russell Westbrook cares about your tanking effort?

Westbrook is incapable of playing at anything less than 100% effort and intensity at all times, and he has cleared this points prop in three of his last four games.

Pelicans vs Kings SGP

• Pelicans -5.5
• Under 234.5
• Russell Westbrook Over 15.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Russ Gonna Russ

This SGP shouldn’t jump more than 130% just by factoring in Westbrook’s struggles from deep.

This exact combination cashed last week, as Westbrook went 1-of-7 from beyond the arc while scoring 22 points in a 31-point loss.

Pelicans vs Kings SGP

• Pelicans -5.5
• Under 234.5
• Russell Westbrook Over 15.5 points
• Russell Westbrook Under 2.5 threes

Pelicans vs Kings odds

• Spread: Pelicans -5.5 (-110) | Kings +5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pelicans -200 | Kings +165
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Pelicans vs Kings betting trend to know

The Kings are 3-6 ATS in their last nine contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Kings.

How to watch Pelicans vs Kings

Pelicans vs Kings latest injuries

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The Detroit Pistons take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs again, a few games after Wemby stifled their offense. Stephon Castle deserves credit for his pressure on Cade Cunningham, but everything changes with Wemby on the backline.

A 2005 Finals rematch is a real possibility. Both Detroit and San Antonio are top 10ish offenses and top 5 defenses. Detroit has some playoff experience with their showing last year, but not too many on either team have been a major contributor on a deep run. Harrison Barnes has been, but he is out tonight after waking up with a sore ankle a few days ago.  

Both teams are live dogs to make the NBA Finals. Improvement was expected for both teams, but they’ve smashed expectations. Detroit will travel to San Antonio to test their mettle against one of the league’s best.

Game Vitals

Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

When: 8:00 PM

Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Pistons (+3.5)

Analysis

The Pistons had two tight games with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the last week, who were without their star, Donovan Mitchell. Detroit split those games, but there are moments they’d want back. Here’s a great opportunity to get back on track against a Spurs team that has won 14 of its last 17 games, including a dub over Detroit.

Figuring out the Wemby challenge as an offense is no easy task. Teams have taken him out of the game scoring-wise, but he still ends up a +41 because he is that impactful as a defender.

Cade turned down some solid looks with Wemby in his vicinity in the last matchup. Wemby, being the pest he is, plus Castle’s relentless intensity, didn’t make things easier for the MVP candidate.

It was a rough shooting night in Cade’s last outing in Cleveland. His overall impact was there with the 33 points he created off assists, but Detroit will need his shot-making tonight. And that goes for everyone. Players need to take advantage of the attention Cade draws tonight.

Consistently hitting outside shots can combat Wemby’s nutty rim protection. They love to play him on a non-shooter to allow him to hover in the lane. Someone has to make him pay for sagging.

That’s not going to be Ausar Thompson or Jalen Duren making Wemby pay from 3 tonight. Duren is capable of going at Wemby. He should be aggressive early to potentially get Wemby in foul trouble. Ausar often offsets his shooting woes with timely cuts, aggression on the offensive glass, and secondary playmaking duties.

If Ausar is the player Wemby sags off of, crashing the glass should skyrocket on his priority list. That’s not as good as sinking open 3s, but it can lead to winning basketball. Wemby won’t be matched up with the likes of Duncan Robinson or Tobias Harris, most likely, but those guys still need to deliver from 3. Maybe it’s a tryout game for Kevin Huerter? Someone has to help keep the Spurs honest and make them pay for gapping up on Cade and Duren.

Besides Wemby’s paint protection and Castle’s all-around solid game, San Antonio burned Detroit from 3. They buried a season-high 18 triples. While Detroit’s own lack of shooting has been a constant conversation that I participate in, it should be noted that teams usually don’t torch them from deep.

Opponents only make 34.7 percent of their 3s against this lockdown Pistons defense. That’s third best in the association, according to Cleaning the Glass. Teams shoot a decent amount of 3s against the Pistons, but the Spurs’ explosion hasn’t been a regular theme.

The Cavs did get up a ton of deep balls last game, too, though. Tonight is an opportunity for Detroit to beat one of the hottest teams in basketball and get back to its chaotic defense that forces shooters to take contested shots or drive into their top-tier rim protection.

Devin Vassell (28 pts – 7 3s) and Julian Champagnie (17 pts – 5 3s) got it going in the last matchup. Those two need to be limited. Isaiah Stewart is around for this one. It’s not an easy night for anyone when he and Duren come into town.

Wemby is averaging 16 points with a 54 true shooting percentage over the last five games. He has struggled as a scorer, and Detroit could keep those struggles alive. It remains to be seen how Detroit can respond to Wemby on the other end.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (45-15): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

San Antonio Spurs (44-17): DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Victor Webmanyama

Question of the day

Did the 1988 or 2005 Finals loss hurt more?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Houston Astros sent All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña to see a hand specialist on Thursday for further examination of an injury to his right ring finger that has made his immediate availability for the World Baseball Classic unclear.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters at the team's spring training complex that Peña had some damage to the nail area on the finger after fielding a hard groundball for the Dominican Republic national team during an exhibition game on Wednesday. Peña was pulled after that.

The Dominican Republic plays its first game of the WBC on Friday in Miami against Nicaragua.

The 28-year-old Peña is coming off a career-best season in 2025, when he made his first All-Star team and batted .304 with an .840 OPS and 20 stolen bases.

___

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

The Toronto Raptors, by just about any measure, are enjoying a highly successful season. At 35-26, they’ve surpassed all reasonable expectations for a team that picked up just 30 wins last year. They have two All-Stars, and are well on their way to a playoff appearance. 

And yet, Tuesday’s loss to the New York Knicks cemented a concern that’s been on many Raptors fans’ minds: They can’t seem to beat good teams.

The Raptors are currently just 4-16 against the 10 teams ahead of them in the NBA standings. Three of those four wins came early on against the then-struggling Cleveland Cavaliers who had not yet added James Harden. Four of the losses, meanwhile, have come against the Knicks, each by a margin of 16 or greater. 

On the flip side, the Raptors are a dominant 31-10 against the 18 teams beneath them in the league standings. Beating bad/mediocre teams is not a useless exercise: Those results make a big difference when it comes to fighting for playoff seeding. 

But as the playoffs draw closer, the Raptors’ woes against top teams are becoming an increasingly worrying indicator that they’ll struggle in the postseason. 

Their recent results bear out this trend. Toronto is 3-3 in their last six games: The losses all came against teams in a playoff spot, while each win was against a team outside of the playoff picture. 

Tonight, the Raptors will have their work cut out for them as they head to Minnesota to take on the 39-23 Timberwolves, at 8 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.

These two teams last faced each other about a month ago, when the Wolves won 128-126 led by a 30-point performance by Anthony Edwards. The Wolves have been especially hot since the All-Star break, winning seven of their last eight games. Meanwhile, the Raptors could be without their top scorer as Brandon Ingram is questionable with a thumb injury.

Ingram scored 25 and was a +2 in their loss against the Wolves. And following Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks, in which Toronto came within two points with six minutes left only to end up losing by 16, Ingram spoke about the need to overcome their persistent issues executing in the fourth quarter.

“I think every time we play a good team, they know exactly where they want to go in the fourth quarter, and they do it over and over again,” Ingram said.

He added, “The good thing is, we’re in the games. But we got to figure out how to finish the game.”

That fourth quarter execution issue was on full display when the Wolves overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Raptors in February.

The Raptors may be down their top scorer in their rematch against the Wolves, but they’ll have a new weapon for the rematch: Jakob Poeltl missed that first game and will be active tonight. While sometimes looking diminished as he returns from his back injury, Poeltl has been valuable for the offense as a screener, and his size will be key in matching up against Rudy Gobert. Collin Murray-Boyles remains out.

The Raptors have some things to clean up outside of fourth quarter execution. Their defense looked at times lethargic against the Knicks, and they made a number of mistakes and miscommunications that led to rapid scoring opportunities that may very well have cost them the game. 

The Timberwolves have the league’s sixth-rated defense which features Gobert, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate/winner down low, and Jaden McDaniels, one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders. The Timberwolves have also added guard Ayo Dosunmu since their last matchup.

Scottie Barnes may need to shoulder a larger offensive load if Ingram is out – and he may also draw the assignment of guarding Edwards, one of the league’s most dynamic and athletic scorers.

It won’t be easy for the Raptors. But if they want to change the narrative about facing good teams, they’ll have to win some tough ones.

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Joining the Golden State Warriors hasn’t been as glamorous as Al Horford hoped.

The veteran center was supposed to be a complementary piece on a championship contender, but with injuries ravaging the Warriors’ stars, Horford is carrying more of the load in the home stretch of the schedule.

He's playing more minutes and serving a big role inside, especially on the glass. My Warriors vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for March 5 bank on “Big Al” to battle on the boards.

Warriors vs Rockets prediction

Warriors vs Rockets best bet: Al Horford Over 5.5 Rebounds (-112)

Al Horford’s floor time jumped in the past seven outings, logging more than 26 minutes and hauling in an average of 5.2 rebounds. 

He’s snagged six or more boards in four of those showings, and his rebounding chances spiked to 9.2 in that frame — up from 7.7 before that uptick in action.

He could face less competition on the glass vs. a Houston Rockets frontcourt missing a ton of size, with its top four rebounders either questionable or out Thursday.

Projections sit north of six rebounds from Horford, with Over 5.5 priced as high as -130 at other books.

Warriors vs Rockets same-game parlay

Houston is back home after a road-heavy schedule. The Rockets are trying to hold on to the No. 3 seed in the West, while the Golden State Warriors are sinking like a stone with two wins in the last seven games and little motivation to make the postseason cut.

Horford is getting more run with the Dubs roster depleted, and Houston’s frontcourt could be running thin, with several forwards dealing with ailments. 

Gui Santos is enjoying an uptick in offensive touches due to the Warriors’ injury issues. Before a bad outing vs. the Clippers, he scored 13 or more points in nine of his last 10 games and is projected for 14.4 points tonight.

Warriors vs Rockets SGP

• Houston Rockets moneyline
• Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds
• Gui Santos Over 12.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Draymond vs. Durant

There’s no love lost between these former teammates. Draymond Green gets the Golden State offense going while Kevin Durant comes up short on his scoring total, but helps pick up the slack on the glass.

Warriors vs Rockets SGP

• Draymond Green Over 8.5 points
• Kevin Durant Under 25.5 points
• Draymond Green Over 4.5 assists
• Kevin Durant Over 5.5 rebounds

Warriors vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Warriors +8.5 | Rockets -8.5
• Moneyline: Warriors +280 | Rockets -360
• Over/Under: Over 214 | Under 214

Warriors vs Rockets betting trend to know

Houston is the best home Under bet in the NBA, going 9-17-1 Over/Under inside the Toyota Center. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Rockets.

How to watch Warriors vs Rockets

Warriors vs Rockets latest injuries

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