Category: Basketball

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The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers meet for the first time this season in tonight’s nightcap at Crypto.com Arena.

Desmond Bane has been on a heater, and my Magic vs. Lakers predictions expect him to stay hot against a vulnerable perimeter defense.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown on Tuesday, February 24.

Magic vs Lakers prediction

Magic vs Lakers best bet: Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points (-112)

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane’s scoring prowess will be front and center tonight against a Los Angeles Lakers defense that has allowed the 10th-highest 3-point percentage (36.5%) and 13th-most points (116.1). 

Franz Wagner is out again, and Bane has averaged 21.8 points across 28 games with him sidelined.

Bane is enjoying his best scoring streak of the season, with 30+ points in three of his last four. He’s averaged 23.9 points across his last 14 appearances, knocking down 3.2 triples at a 51.7% clip and scoring 21+ 10 times.

Magic vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Magic are 2-0-1 ATS across their last three road games. After a heartbreaking double-OT loss to the Suns on Friday, Orlando delivered a two-point victory over the Clippers. The Lakers should get the win tonight, but they're just 3-4 ATS across their last seven at home, so I'll take the Magic and the points.

The Lakers posted a dud on offense against the visiting Celtics on Sunday, but I expect a bounce-back performance from L.A.'s Big 3. Orlando is capable of putting up points with Paolo Banchero and Bane. Los Angeles is 18-9 to the Over at home.

Magic vs Lakers SGP

• Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
• Magic +5
• Over 230

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ayton eats

Deandre Ayton has scored 10+ points in 34 of 48 games this season, including all eight games with Jaxson Hayes sidelined. With Hayes expected to sit, Ayton should have no problem clearing this line with even money.

Magic vs Lakers SGP

• Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
• Magic +5
• Over 230
• Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points

Magic vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Magic +5 (-105) | Lakers -5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Magic +170 | Lakers -205
• Over/Under: Over 230 (-110) | Under 230 (-110)

Magic vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit the 2Q Game Total Over in 25 of their last 35 games at home (+13.60 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Lakers.

How to watch Magic vs Lakers

Magic vs Lakers latest injuries

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Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton arrived to town from the Washington Wizards, in the deal that sent Anthony Davis (and others) back east. At face value, the motive was to move off Davis’ future money and reset the books. The team accomplished that as the contracts of three of the four players, including Middleton, expire this summer. Many assumed that the 34 year-old would immediately negotiate a buyout with the Mavericks front office, opening up the opportunity to join a contender for a playoff run.

That didn’t happen, and Middleton has played in four games with the Mavericks since the trade. But it doesn’t mean it won’t happen. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the team has left it up to Middleton whether he would like a release. The catch is he’ll need to be waived by March 1, Sunday, to be eligible for the playoffs. In his piece for The Stein Line he also notes, “the 34 year-old scored 25 points in the Mavericks’ win Sunday at Indiana and — as has been conveyed to Middleton — Dallas will certainly still have a need for shooting next season”.

The former second round pick (selected 39th in 2012) has an accomplished career, nearly all of it spent with the Milwaukee Bucks. There he was a three-time all star and 2021 NBA Champion. In his prime he was a two-way, do-it-all forward who balanced Giannis Antetokounmpo in impactful ways. And up through his championship season, was mostly available and playing all season long.

Injuries have marred the back part of his career however, and after 11.5 seasons with the Bucks he was moved to Washington at the 2025 trade deadline in a deal that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee. The 6’7 forward played just 48 games in Washington, all as a starter, but is certainly limited in his contribution compared to the height of his career.

That doesn’t mean he has nothing to offer. As evidenced by Sunday’s game referenced by Stein, Middleton can still be a shooter off the bench, one who plays within himself and can be a key contributor as spot starter. In his four games in Dallas, Middleton is averaging 16 points, 4.8 rebounds, three assists, while shooting 40-percent from three in 25.5 minutes per game.

While it’s unknown how many seasons Middleton has left, it appears he still has a little juice in the tank for a limited role. As he becomes a free agent this summer he’ll need to weigh whether he’d like to play a reserved role on a contender with assumed less opportunity on the floor, or get more space to show his future ability in Dallas where he’ll likely receive more minutes but with zero stakes in the games. If Dallas is truly offering a future for him next season it is worth monitoring. He has a history with head coach Jason Kidd from early Milwaukee days. And the Mavericks will be trying to turn things around next season with Cooper Flagg being joined by Kyrie Irving, a top ten pick, and the return of Dereck Lively II. Expect a decision on this soon as the eligibility cutoff looms this weekend.

ATLANTA (AP) — Left-hander Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a contract on Tuesday adding $27 million for the 2027 season.

A 36-year-old who won the 2024 NL Cy Young Award in his first season with Atlanta, Sale agreed to a deal that includes a $30 million team option for 2028.

Atlanta acquired Sale from Boston in December 2023 and he agreed to a reworked $38 million, two-year contract that included an $18 million club option for 2026. The Braves exercised the option in November.

Sale is 25-8 with a 2.46 ERA in 49 starts and one relief appearance with the Braves. He made the All-Star team twice, raising his total to nine.

He is 145-88 with a 3.01 ERA is 15 major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2010-16), Boston (2017-23) and Atlanta, striking out 2,579 in 2,084 innings. His 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings are the most among pitchers with 1,500 or more innings.

Sale has thrived with the Braves after making nine trips to the disabled and injured lists with the Red Sox, mostly with shoulder and elbow ailments. He had Tommy John surgery on March 30, 2020, and returned to a big league mound on Aug. 14, 2021.

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

Since our last update, two more former Orange have made appearances in the NBA. Buddy Boeheim was signed to a two-way deal by the Oklahoma City Thunder in early February and Kadary Richmond joined the Wizards on a 10-day contract.

Buddy has appeared in 3 games with OKC making 2 of his 6 shots (all from 3) for the defending NBA Champions. Minutes will certainly be limited, but sticking with a franchise that is going to need to keep looking for value to fill out their roster isn’t a bad spot. Especially when you get to be on a team that will be a threat to win a title for the upcoming future.

Asked Isaiah Joe about fellow shooter Buddy Boeheim:

“He’s a great guy, a great shooter. We always have our competition every day. You can see whenever he touches the floor with the minutes that he gets that he’s always ready to knock a shot down.” pic.twitter.com/iQliqOWzDY

— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) February 21, 2026

Richmond has also played 3 games, but on a Wizards team in full-tank mode, he’s gotten a lot more playing time. Kadary is averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. In his last game against Indiana, he picked up 6 steals in 31 minutes.

The duo joins Jerami Grant as former Orange to see minutes in NBA games this year. Grant is currently averaging 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Portland. The TrailBlazers are looking like they will make the Play-In games so there’s a good chance Grant sees post-season action this spring.

We’ll keep tabs on these players as the NBA season starts to wind down.

MUNICH (AP) — Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown says a long-time dream will come true after his team was confirmed to play in the NFL game in Munch this year.

St. Brown's mother was born in Germany and his career has been closely followed by the NFL's large German fan base.

“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” St. Brown said in a league statement on Tuesday.

“I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale.”

Detroit's opponent will be confirmed later. The Munich game is part of a record schedule of nine international games in 2026 including new host cities in France, Australia and Brazil.

The NFL is heading back to Munich for its third game at a stadium better known as the home of German soccer champion Bayern Munich. The city hosted the NFL's first game in Germany in 2022 and another in 2024. Frankfurt and Berlin have also hosted games.

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

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pakistan won the toss against England and elected to bat first in the Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights game on Tuesday.

“It looks like a good pitch. We want to put up an above-par score and defend that,” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said.

England started the second round with a resounding 51-run win over co-host Sri Lanka at the same venue last Sunday while Pakistan’s opening game against New Zealand was washed out in Colombo.

England has a lot of knowledge about the conditions in Pallekele, where it has won all four T20s over the last few weeks, including a 3-0 series win against Sri Lanka before the tournament.

Pakistan batters have been struggling in the tournament and, except for opener Sahibzada Farhan, the World Cup leading run-scorer with 220, no one else has scored more than 100 runs.

Pakistan left out allrounder Faheem Ashraf and brought back fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi while mystery spinner Usman Tariq was preferred over leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.

England captain Harry Brook hoped the “fresh pitch” would play better for chasing.

England named the same XI for the fifth match in a row in the tournament, staying faithful to struggling opener Jos Buttler.

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Lineups:

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.

England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

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

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The Washington Wizards head to State Farm Arena tonight to face the Atlanta Hawks, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Jalen Johnson is doing it all, and I’m eyeing him facilitate at a high level in my Wizards vs. Hawks predictions. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24. 

Wizards vs Hawks prediction

Wizards vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists (-145)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson was deservedly an All-Star earlier this month as he continues to thrive in a career year. He's developed into a tremendous playmaker, ranking fifth in the Association in assists, averaging 8.1 per game.

While he’s only hit the Over once in three games since the break, Johnson is up against the horrendous Washington Wizards tonight, who are allowing the second-most assists per game in the NBA. 

He’s also averaged 9.5 dimes against Washington this season across two meetings. He’ll pick them apart. 

Wizards vs Hawks same-game parlay

CJ McCollum is averaging 18.8 points across 19 games with the Hawks. He has cashed the Over in two of his last three, and there’s always motivation when you play against your former team.

Johnson isn’t the only Hawk having a big year, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging a career-high 19.9 points, and he’s also shooting the triple at a 37.2% clip. 

Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.0 makes on 8.2 attempts per night, and he’s hit the Over in treys in back-to-back contests.

Wizards vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
• CJ McCollum Over 18.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Breaking the spell

Onyeka Okongwu has cashed the Over in rebounds in two of his last three appearances.

Wizards vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
• CJ McCollum Over 18.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 made threes
• Onyeka Okongwu Over 7.5 rebounds

Wizards vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Wizards +13.5 (-115) | Hawks -13.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Wizards +575 | Hawks -850
• Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)

Wizards vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Atlanta Hawks have hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 21 of their last 30 games at home (+10.70 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Hawks.

How to watch Wizards vs Hawks

Wizards vs Hawks latest injuries

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The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a desperately needed win over a shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves team. Now they head to Indiana for the final stop on this three-game road trip, where they’ll face the Pacers with a chance to finish 2–1.

For the Sixers, the win couldn’t have come at a better time. Losses had started to pile up, and with the Orlando Magic and other play-in teams closing in on the sixth and final playoff spot, the pressure was building. Still, there were plenty of positives to take from that performance.

Tyrese Maxey was instrumental in the blowout victory, delivering his best outing in weeks. He scored 39 points on an efficient 16-of-28 shooting, added eight assists and came up with two steals. Maxey went toe-to-toe with Anthony Edwards and consistently answered when Minnesota threatened to make a run.

The Timberwolves boast far more perimeter defensive talent than the Pacers, which makes Maxey’s performance even more encouraging. With Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined, Maxey has drawn heavy defensive attention, so it was especially promising to see him put together such an efficient game in a comfortable win. He’ll look to carry that momentum into a matchup against a Pacers team that doesn’t offer the same level of defensive resistance on the perimeter.

Beyond Maxey, there was more backcourt success for the Sixers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe was phenomenal, matching up against one of his favorite active players in Edwards. He shot a blistering 6-for-7 from three and once again showed off his midrange game, which helped open everything up for him offensively.

Quentin Grimes also delivered his best performance in quite some time, finishing with an efficient 19 points and, perhaps even more importantly, seven assists. With Embiid’s status still up in the air, it will be another crucial outing for the Sixers’ trio of guards.

The Pacers’ season has had its share of highs, but far more lows, and that’s understandable given the circumstances. Franchise cornerstone Tyrese Haliburton is still working his way back from an Achilles injury, in addition to dealing with shingles. As it stands, Indiana sits 15th in the Eastern Conference and appears focused on the draft lottery. They’re just one game “ahead” of Brooklyn for the second-best odds, clearly hoping to land a true difference-maker in what has largely become a gap year.

That said, this isn’t a team devoid of talent. Pascal Siakam remains a steady presence, though he’s coming off a brief absence for personal reasons. Andrew Nembhard has taken advantage of expanded opportunities, averaging an impressive 17.2 points and 7.5 assists in nearly 32 minutes per game. Indiana has also added pieces like Ivica Zubac to bolster the rotation, though he won’t suit up tonight.

We’ve seen what this group is capable of, especially coming off a Finals run, and they’ll be a team to watch once Haliburton returns next season. For now, though, the Sixers can’t afford to overlook them. Philadelphia has won the first two meetings by a combined 19 points, but both games were tighter than the final scores indicated. Even with the absences, Indiana has enough firepower and strong coaching to protect its home floor if the Sixers aren’t locked in.

The main storyline heading into tonight centers on Embiid. He’s officially listed as questionable with right shin soreness and knee management, which is the most encouraging designation he’s received since this latest setback. It’s at least a sign that things may be trending in the right direction. Elsewhere for the Sixers, George remains out due to suspension, and rookie Johni Broome is sidelined after tearing his meniscus.

Indiana has a lengthy injury report as well. Zubac, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton and Johnny Furphy have already been ruled out. T.J. McConnell (hamstring soreness), Nembhard (back injury management), and Kam Jones (back soreness) are all listed as questionable. Siakam is doubtful with a wrist sprain, while Micah Potter is probable.

The Sixers could use all the breathing room they can get. They’ve already burned through much of the cushion they built up earlier in the season, and there isn’t much margin for error left. A win here would secure a 2-1 finish on the road trip, which, given the circumstances, would be a solid outcome.

The bigger question is whether they can build on their last performance. Was it the start of something, or just a night where everything finally broke their way? This matchup should give us a better sense of whether the Sixers are truly getting back on track.

Game Details

When: Sunday, February 24, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, ID
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

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The Cleveland Cavaliers return home to Rocket Arena to host the New York Knicks in a battle between two Eastern Conference powerhouses.

Cleveland acquired James Harden for games like this, and my Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions expect a strong offensive showing. 

Find out more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24.

Knicks vs Cavaliers prediction

Knicks vs Cavaliers best bet: James Harden Over 18.5 points (-115)

James Harden is averaging 18.7 points per game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, shooting an efficient 50% from inside the arc and 47% from downtown, and he has a terrific matchup tonight. 

The New York Knicks don’t consistently trap high, and if they choose to guard him straight up, they’ll see a healthy diet of mid-range jumpers, pull-up threes, and layups.

Games like tonight are why the Cavs traded for Harden. They’ve lost two straight to the Knicks, but Harden is a wily and creative scorer, and I’m betting on a vintage scoring night from the veteran guard. 

Knicks vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

Karl-Anthony Towns leads the NBA in double-doubles and only needs a typical 22-10-3 line to clear his PRA combo prop.

Landry Shamet is averaging 13.7 points in 27 minutes since February 1, making 10 points a very reachable number.

Knicks vs Cavaliers SGP

• James Harden Over 18.5 points
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Landry Shamet Over 9.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Cleveland rocks the house

Cleveland is deeper, healthier, and playing its best basketball at home. They are 8-2 straight up over their last 10 games and have more offensive firepower with Harden in the lineup.

Knicks vs Cavaliers SGP

• James Harden Over 18.5 points
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Landry Shamet Over 9.5 points
• Cavaliers moneyline

Knicks vs Cavaliers odds

• Spread: Knicks +4 (-105) | Cavaliers -4 (-115)
• Moneyline: Knicks +150 | Cavaliers -180
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 (-110) | Under 231.5 (-110)

Knicks vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the Moneyline in 14 of their last 17 games (+10.35 Units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Knicks vs Cavaliers

Knicks vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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

The Mavericks were 1-3 over the past two weeks and remain firmly in 12th place in the West. They lost to Phoenix (120-111), the Lakers (124-104), and Minnesota (122-111), and beat Indiana (134-130). Naji Marshall led the team in scoring with 20.5 points per game. Cooper Flagg has missed the last three games with a foot contusion, while Kyrie Irving (knee) was ruled out for the year. Khris Middleton made his Mavericks debut against Phoenix.

Grade: B-

The Mavericks three losses in the last two weeks were by a combined 40 points. In those games, they were dead even with their opponents in the second through the fourth quarter. This leaves a 40-point discrepancy in those first quarters, which our very own Kirk Henderson described as a “masterclass in tanking”:

The #dallasmavericks fall for the 10th straight time. Whew. This time to the #timberwolves on the road. the Mavs were annihilated in the first quarter again, only to battle back hard again and lose. #nbapic.twitter.com/1itF1mTGkH

— Kirk Henderson (@KirkSeriousFace) February 21, 2026

And it is. Throwing the first quarters of games, intentionally or not, actually makes it so that Dallas can have their cake and eat it too. We get three competitive quarters of basketball and a loss that moves them closer to the top five in the draft. A true win-win!

Jason Kidd still has the team playing hard every night. There will be wins in the next month and a half against superior opponents that come simply from them overlooking this team. It is hard to get up for games without Cooper Flagg, but a lot of the guys playing will be here next season. And knowing they will not lie down inspires hope that next season will not be another rebuild year, but one where the Mavericks try to get back to the playoffs. Dallas has Brooklyn, Sacramento, Memphis, and Oklahoma City on the slate this upcoming week. I would not be surprised if the Mavericks won two of those games.

Straight A’s: Naji Marshall

Marshall has earned A’s all year. He once again averaged over 20 points for a four-game stretch and shot over 50 percent from the field (57.1). He is efficient in a 2007 type of way, and while the Mavericks have no identity, he provides a steady hand and enjoyable basketball to watch. He is shooting a mind-boggling 68.9 percent at the rim this season, and makes floaters in the paint with an ease that I have never seen. He has quickly become one of my favorite Mavericks in recent memory. 

Currently Failing: Tyus Jones

As of right now, the Mavericks starting point guard spot next year is still wide open. I am sure Dallas targeted Jones at the trade deadline to vet him and see if there was anything there going forward. Unfortunately for Jones, he has not had a great audition thus far, shooting just 18.2 percent from three in 18 minutes a game. At 6’0”, he has a lot of the same issues that Ryan Nembhard has, except it seems like defenses pick on him even more than Nembhard. Jones has always been a steady hand on offense, averaging less than one (0.8) turnover per game in his career. But if he is not shooting the ball well, it’s hard to see how he fits next to Cooper Flagg going forward.

Extra Credit: Khris Middleton

The Mavericks are going to be doing a lot of losing until the end of the season. Whether that is through the injury report or the rotations, Dallas’ goal is to jockey for a better draft pick. Something that often gets overlooked in a so-called “tank” is the balance between losing and accidentally establishing a losing culture. It truly is a tightrope, and one that a lot of organizations cannot walk without falling. Khris Middleton, like Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, has won a championship. He has played winning basketball nearly his entire career and is another guy who can level the ship if the water seeps through the cracks. Dallas had lost 10 in a row entering Sunday’s contest in Indiana. And, like someone messaged one of my group chats, “I don’t think it’s good for anyone to lose 11 straight games”. Middleton’s 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists made sure they didn’t. His presence will benefit the Mavericks down the stretch more than it will hurt, even if he wins them a few more games than the organization would like. Ultimately, the draft will work out the way it was meant to, and establishing a winning culture now, before they start winning games, will be key to the quick turnaround they hope to have around Cooper Flagg.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a big challenge in front of them tonight. They’ll be hosting the New York Knicks in what could be a potential NBA Playoffs preview between two Eastern Conference contenders.

This is the second challenge Cleveland has faced this week. On Sunday, they lost to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

New York isn’t on the same tier as OKC. Nor do they play the same style. The Thunder win games on the defensive end, generating turnovers and slowing opponents down. New York leans the other way, posting the league’s third-best offense and 12th-best defense.

Cleveland is somewhere in between. This Cavalier squad hasn’t really formed an identity throughout the season. At times, they lean on their defensive frontcourt. Other times, they feel like they are at their best when the offense is leading the charge. It’s unclear which side of the ball they are truly at their best.

Either way, the Cavs have a chance to make a statement tonight with a win over a quality opponent. Let’s see how they approach this matchup.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (36-22) vs. New York Knicks (37-21)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Tue., Feb. 24 at 78PM

TV: Peacock

Point spread: Cavs -4

Cavs injury report: Max Strus – OUT (foot), Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (calf soreness), Emanuel Miller – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League)

Knicks injury report: Miles McBride – OUT (pelvic)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Knicks expected starting lineup: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns

Previous matchup: Player Grades: Cavs vs Knicks: Donovan Mitchell’s 34 points aren’t enough

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118.2 (7th)	114 (11th)	+4.1 (8th)
Knicks	120.1 (3rd)	114.4 (12th)	+5.7 (6th)

Tonight, New York Knicks (37*-21) take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers (36-22) at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. A win would give the third-place Knicks some breathing room over the fourth-place Cavaliers, but that’s easier said than done. Despite their recent loss to the Thunder, the Ohio Players have been on a tear of late, winning 12 of their last 15. Meanwhile, the Knicks have gone 7-3 over their last ten games.

The Knicks put a win in their stocking when they edged the Cavs 126-124 on Christmas Day at MSG. Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell both scored 34 points.

Tonight’s foe ranks third in the league with 119.7 points per game. Cleveland’s offensive rating sits at 118.4, good for fifth, and their defensive rating is 114.2. They also fire off about 40 three-pointers per outing, making 36%.

Mitchell leads the Cavaliers with 28.6 points per game and shoots 37% from three. Evan Mobley averages 17.7 points and grabs 8.6 rebounds. Newest furry face James Harden puts up 18.7 points and dishes 8.7 assists. Jarrett Allen contributes 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Coach Kenny Atkinson is expected to start Spida, Harden, Mobley, Dean Wade, and Allen. Max Strus is out for the Cavaliers with a foot injury, and Miles McBride remains out for the Knicks.

Prediction

ESPN gives the Knicks a 42% chance to win. Ouch. To win tonight is an inside and outside job. New York needs to apply strong perimeter defense on Mitchell and Harden, and they must dominate the boards against a very tall frontcourt. Mitchell Robinson should be available, and we expect to see Coach Brown pair him with Karl-Anthony Towns. Will it be enough to complete a three-game season sweep? Sure, why not. Knicks by one.

Game Details

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
TV: MSG, Peacock
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the Cup Final warn’t worth nuffin. 

The great debate within the larger basketball community hinges on Darryn Peterson’s durability and whether questions surrounding it will cost the ballyhooed Kansas freshman the No. 1 spot in the NBA draft.

How serious are the hamstring and cramping issues that have limited Peterson to playing in 17 of his team’s 28 games and just 465 of the 1,130 minutes his team has played?

Is he soft, is he disinterested, or is he really that impaired by injuries? Are these health issues that’ll clear up with a little time, or will the durability concerns follow him long-term into the pros?

'Everybody's got an opinion on it:' Kansas' Darryn Peterson on injury narrative

Force yourself to look at this from a different vantage point, and perhaps you might even convince yourself Peterson is persistent for still playing and not shutting it down and proceeding directly to the NBA lottery.

Anyway, these are questions NBA evaluators must consider.

The bigger question atop Bill Self’s mind: Can his team — his team, with or without Peterson on the floor — develop the consistency necessary to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament?

On its good nights, No. 14 Kansas looks like a bruiser with enough balance and mettle to be a March Madness menace.

“Our ceiling is high,” Self said on ESPN, minutes after picking apart No. 4 Houston in a 69-56 victory, “but also we can play to any level.”

Bad Kansas, then good Kansas. Good Jayhawks show up against Houston

The past two games illustrated this team’s bipolarity. The Jayhawks were woeful in a blowout loss to Cincinnati, a team on the wrong side of the March Madness bubble. Two days later, Kansas routed a Houston squad with Final Four potential.

We should have known a bounce-back performance was coming. Couple of things you must know about Self: He doesn’t lose back-to-back home games. And he doesn’t lose at home on Big Monday. Period.

Big Monday serves as a good test of a squad's durability, because it thrusts teams back into action two days after their previous game. In that way, it mimics the March Madness structure of playing twice in three days.

Houston had dead legs at Allen Fieldhouse. Two days after losing to Arizona, and one week after losing to Iowa State, the Cougars shot 32% against Kansas. That’s three straight losses for Houston against top-15 teams within the nation’s most rugged conference.

“We just ran out of steam,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said.

Contrast Houston’s fatigued performance to that of Kansas, which kept playing better the longer the game went.

Afterward, Self kept looking at the box score printout during a postgame interview with Scott Van Pelt.

He couldn’t have cared less that Flory Bidunga only scored four points, because Kansas’ big man made life miserable for Houston at the other end of the court.

“Totally dominant,” Self said of Bidunga.

Self noticed, too, that Tre White shook of his shooting slump to pour in a season-high 23 points.

“He was great tonight,” Self said.

And although he made no mention of it, it couldn’t have been lost on Self that Peterson played 30 minutes. Didn’t play great, but he made some significant buckets. Neither the best nor the worst player on the court, but a guy on the court all the same for most of the game, long enough to score 14 points.

Darryn Peterson quiets hot takes for one night, anyway

At no point during this game could you have rationally believed Kansas would be better off parting with Peterson, as some have recently suggested.

Everyone’s got a hot take on Peterson, and that includes the personalities who wield the largest megaphones.

“I can't trust him,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said recently.

That counts as a mild opinion.

Now, for the spicy:

“Sometimes a divorce is good for everyone involved,” Dick Vitale wrote on social media after the Cincinnati loss, and “I firmly believe that needs to happen NOW (at Kansas). The Darryn Peterson soap opera needs to end.”

Well, that’s a take.

Here’s an alternative one: Kansas cannot count on Peterson to be the driving force behind a Final Four run. He’s talented, but unreliable. The Jayhawks likely need him to be on the court, contributing, to advance to the tournament’s final weekend, but they’ll also need elite defense from Bidunga and big performances from White and Melvin Council Jr., like the Jayhawks got against Houston.

At times throughout this season, Self has sounded understandably frustrated at Peterson’s sporadic availability.

“There is one way (for Peterson) to change the narrative. Play. Finish,” the veteran Kansas coach said earlier this season.

Now, Self acknowledges Kansas playing so many minutes without the future NBA lottery pick has “forced our other guys to grow up.”

Those are the type of compliments that follow an impressive victory. Just two days earlier, Self called his team soft — not just Peterson, but the whole dang team.

From soft, to resolute, in two days’ time.

Kansas has now beaten Arizona, Iowa State and Houston. Those are caliber of opponents a team must be able to handle to reach April.

And still, even Self doesn’t sound like he knows what to expect from his team from one game to the next or whether Peterson will be on the court from one minute to the next.

“I have a decent feel of who we need to be,” Self said. “Do I know who we are? No. But, I still think we’ve got time to figure it out.”

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Self has one key Kansas question that goes beyond Darryn Peterson