Category: Basketball

Depending on your investment in the NBA Draft Lottery — which, you’re here on this page, so — we’ve entered a very tense time in the Dallas Mavericks’ season. Every season there is hand-wringing about the state of tanking in the league. So much so that we’re getting mixed rumors of NBA officials attending player MRIs just to verify that the player is, in fact, injured.

If you’re catching up, Friday’s were reserved for scanning the media landscape in our NBA Power Rankings Watch. Now, the Mavericks are more focused on moving down than up, so last week we shifted our sights to the lottery. Ten or more teams are currently in a fight for their life, jockeying for position to have greater odds in the lottery pull for one of the deepest draft classes in recent years. Draft order will be determined May 10. And until the end of the Mavericks’ season on April 12, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this board for the final 24 games. Cooper Flagg’s future running mate is on the way.

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Lottery standings

Last week we identified that Mavericks fans should watch closely on results from the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, the two teams clustered with Dallas in the tank standings. We’re now keeping casual watch on the New Orleans Pelicans (three game win streak) and the Chicago Bulls (11 [ELEVEN] game losing streak) as well. Don’t be surprised if the last six weeks of the season groups these teams closer together.

For now, no real shuffling to the standings themselves. The Mavericks went 2-2 last week, with the team facing several other lottery bound opponents there will be plenty of roster mischief in the days ahead. The Jazz went 0-3, creating some space between themselves and Dallas. The Grizzlies went 1-3, at one point tying the Mavericks by record. For all these teams, it might be worth taking into account remaining schedule strength: Mavericks (3rd toughest remaining schedule), Grizzlies (7th), Jazz (12th), Bulls (14th), Pelicans (19th).

Weekly schedule

Until New Orleans falls further back or Chicago “jumps” forward, we’re focus in on the three teams from last week. You’ll notice some very key head-to-head matchups, mixed with some games against teams in the top four of the lottery standings. A pretty key week:

• Dallas Mavericks: vs. Memphis Grizzlies, vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, @ Charlotte Hornets, @ Orlando Magic
• Utah Jazz: vs. New Orleans Pelicans, vs. Denver Nuggets, @ Philadelphia 76ers, @ Washington Wizards
• Memphis Grizzlies: @ Dallas Mavericks, @ Indiana Pacers, @ Minnesota Timberwolves, vs. Portland Trail Blazers

One magic spin

Each week we’ll take one spin around the block at tankathon.com and see where the chips fall. As last week brought one large swing of chaos, this week’s chaos was of a different sort. Three teams, including the Mavericks, jumped into the top four of the draft.

You can’t ask for much more from the lottery in this moment.

When Deandre Ayton joined the Lakers, he said all the right things. He talked about proving his critics wrong and not taking this opportunity for granted.

For a while, it worked. In November, Ayton was the best version of himself, averaging 16.6 points and nine rebounds per game. Recently, though, his scoring has dropped, his defensive aggression has evaporated and he’s been benched during clutch games.

It seems Ayton isn’t thrilled with his role on the Lakers and was recently overheard in the locker room saying, “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela. I’m not no Clint Capela!” as reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

What’s wild about Ayton’s quote, besides the fact that he’s dissing one of his peers, is that Capela is exactly the kind of big man the Lakers desire. He’s an important part of the Rockets’ rotation and does all the little things that impact winning.

Ayton’s words caused quite a buzz on social media, so much so that Capela went on Instagram and encouraged Ayton to lock in with his floor generals.

Capela, 1. Ayton, 0. Ooof… AK pic.twitter.com/tEjVOIb19g

— Kamenetzky Brothers (@KamBrothers) February 27, 2026

It feels like Ayton has been told by everyone who has ever cheered for him to lock in, but it hasn’t ever consistently come to fruition. If things keep trending negatively in LA, you can add this stop as another in his career where the sizzle was far more enjoyable than the steak.

To make this entire situation even worse for Ayton, Capela outplayed him on Thursday night. Capela was hustling hard, helping the Rockets beat the Magic 113-108.

Ayton, on the other hand, was rather pedestrian during his performance in LA’s loss to Phoenix.

The box score comparison between the two bigs matched the eye test. Capela ended the night with four points, six rebounds and two blocks in his 17 minutes off the bench. Ayton had two points and four rebounds in his 23 minutes as a starter.

Capela took the petty route with his response to Ayton, and considering who he was reacting to, most won’t have a problem with it.

Also, Capela’s right. Ayton does have to lock in, and playing more like Capela would be better for everyone involved.

As has been true for a lot of his career, Ayton just doesn’t seem to get it.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The Knicks have been without one of the key pieces on their bench for just under a month now, and it appears they won’t be getting him back in the mix anytime soon. 

Speaking for the first time since undergoing core muscle surgery, Miles McBridetold reporters Friday in Milwaukee that he remains without a timeline for a return. 

McBride hopes he'll be able to get back before the end of the regular season, but is unsure. 

League sources told SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley earlier this month that a potential timetable for a return post-surgery would be six-to-eight weeks. 

The guard underwent the procedure on Feb. 6, penciling him in for an earliest return in the first week of April. 

The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.

McBride said that it is a slow process back, but he has begun shooting without jumping. 

In his absence, head coach Mike Brown has been leaning on trade deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado, who was picked up from the Pelicans just before the news of the 25-year-old's injury broke. 

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Apparently, the only thing that can stop Karl-Anthony Towns is his own team.

After blazing out of the All-Star break with efforts of 21, 25, and 28 points, KAT was iced out in the New York Knicks’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Towns shot the ball only five times — making all five attempts — and finished with just 14 points over 28 minutes. What makes that stat even more baffling is that the rest of New York’s roster shot a collective 37% in defeat.

The Knicks can right that wrong by feeding Towns early and often when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks, who are without star Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

My Knicks vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks are taking Towns to topple his scoring total on Friday, February 27.

Knicks vs Bucks prediction

Knicks vs Bucks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points (-112)

The media is throwing gas on the fire after Karl-Anthony Towns’ lack of involvement on Tuesday. Before being limited to five FGAs, KAT averaged more than 15 shots in the first three outings back from the break.

The New York Knicks' big man has actually been hot all of February, upping his average points to 19.6 and shooting 55.4% from the field. 

He won’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo in pursuit against the Milwaukee Bucks after struggling in the first two matchups with Milwaukee (4 for 20 with Giannis). His projections sit between 19.2 and 20.2 points tonight, giving good value to Over 18.5.

Knicks vs Bucks same-game parlay

The Knicks need a win to get right after a dud in Cleveland and opening the post-break slate with a 2-2 record. No Antetokounmpo on either end of the floor helps that cause a lot.

Towns is projected for 20+ points and has the hot hand this month, including a 40.5% clip from beyond the arc.

With Giannis sidelined, Bobby Portis gets extra touches inside and will battle on the boards for second-chance looks. Game models are as high as 13 points.

Knicks vs Bucks SGP

• Knicks moneyline
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
• Bobby Portis Over 9.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Going to Town!

After getting the cold shoulder from his team earlier this week, the Knicks jumped on KAT’s back.

His scoring, rebounding, and block projections all sit above these prop totals, powering New York to a road win and cover.

Knicks vs Bucks SGP

• Knicks -8.5
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 0.5 blocks

Knicks vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Knicks -8.5 (-110) | Bucks +8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Knicks -330 | Bucks +265
• Over/Under: Over 219.5 (-110) | Under 219.5 (-110)

Knicks vs Bucks betting trend to know

Karl-Anthony Towns has scored 19+ points in seven of his last 10 games, topping his O/U scoring prop in six of those outings. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Bucks.

How to watch Knicks vs Bucks

Knicks vs Bucks 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.

Max Scherzer's 8-year-old daughter wanted her father back with the Blue Jays so much she wrote a letter to the team in December expressing her hope for his return to Toronto.

After the three-time All-Star agreed Wednesday to a $3 million, one-year contract, the pitcher's wife, Erica May-Scherzer, posted a copy of the handwritten note by Brooke. May-Scherzer said her daughter wrote the letter, dated Dec. 15, and asked her parents to mail it to the team.

“Dear Blue Jays,” the note began, "I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter”

An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is a 41-year-old right-hander with a 221-117 record and a 3.22 ERA for Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14), Washington (2015-21), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), New York Mets (2022-23), Texas (2023-24) and Toronto (2025). He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts — 20 behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

He was went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts and 85 innings for the Blue Jays last season, and he made three starts in the postseason, beating Seattle 8-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. He started Games 3 and 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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

We’re back! Welcome to the Celtics’ Top-5 Highest IQ Plays of the Week! 

Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game. 

Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from February 19th to February 26th are considered. The Celtics went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Warriors, Lakers and Suns, but a loss to the Nuggets. 

5. Simple but effective patience

This play seems simple, but I love Queta’s patience and greed when it comes to finding the best available pass. After bigs get offensive rebounds, so many of them have a tendency to kick it out to the first open shooter before thoroughly surveying their options. Here, though, Neemy forgoes pitches to both White and Pritchard before eventually finding Brown for the even-more-open three. It’s about going from an okay shot, to a good shot, to a great shot. The game is slowing down for him before our eyes.

4. Timely cut

I’m not sure whether Hauser is improvising here or this is a planned cut, but it’s a heady play nonetheless. When Pritchard’s ghost screen results in a brief moment of space, it’s Sam’s defender who’s responsible for a stunt at PP. But when Hauser 45 cuts (a cut from the wing), he forces even Porzingis to spend an extra split second worrying about his rim presence, which makes the Latvian’s closeout to Vucevic worse than it should be. Imagine what this play looks like if Hauser stays—or don’t, and I’ll spell it out for you. Sam probably gets swung the ball, but Porzingis is close enough to guard both him and Vucevic with their poor spacing, forcing him into either a contested shot or a poor extra pass with bad spacing. Beautiful cutting instincts  from Hauser here.

3. Rear view contest

The Celtics played a lot of drop coverage this week—which, more than any other pick-and-roll coverage, necessitates active and intense guard defense. It forces the player defending the ball-handler to usually trail the offensive player while still somehow affecting his pull-up jump shot. On this play, White effectively trails Cam Johnson and somehow gets a rear view block—something he’s better at than probably any other NBA player— even though he gets caught on the screen. Special recovery from White. 

2. Keeping everyone on their toes

Late night hoops 🔜@DraftKingspic.twitter.com/OrUWQs42Xx

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 25, 2026

As accurately presented by Bill Simmons on a recent podcast, Boston’s pathway to dominance this season has followed a clear formula: Brown+White+Pritchard+guys who work hard. But how do you find guys who will consistently play with above-average intensity and effort? You make nobody feel fully safe and comfortable in their role, and you randomly start Ron Harper Jr. over players who have regularly been in the rotation. Mazzulla’s willingness to shake things up and keep guys on their toes has been refreshing and fun, and I think it has forced players like Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez, and Hauser to do the little things if they want to stay on the floor, which has, in turn, made them better players. Baylor is all of a sudden an elite defender and rebounder? 

1. Hugo’s rising confidence

I like a couple of things that Gonzalez does on this highlight play. First, I appreciate the fact that he immediately extra-passes the ball to Harper Jr. without spending even a split second  considering a shot or drive—this gives Ron more time to operate and make a decision. Then, Hugo backpedals along the arc, giving Harper Jr. more space and forcing more difficult closeouts for both Podziemski and Porzingis, which then allows Gonzalez to attack space and show us some of what he has been working on with the developmental coaches.

Tarleton State basketball is moving on from coach Billy Gillispie, according to multiple reports on Friday, Feb. 27.

Gillispie, 66, has been Tarleton State's coach since 2020, and has led the school to a 78-74 record in five seasons. The former Texas A&M, Kentucky and Texas Tech coach has been sidelined since Jan. 15 due to health issues.

Coaching carousel: College basketball coach firings, changes

Gillispie has dealt with myriad health-related problems in recent years. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2017 before receiving a transplant, and also missed the 2023-24 season at Tarleton State after undergoing a blood pressure-related procedure. He also cited health issues after resigning from Texas Tech in 2012, his lone season at the school.

Gillispie was placed on temporary administrative leave Oct. 3, 2025, due to an anonymous complaint being filed to the school. He has faced concerns in the past for how he treated players across other jobs.

Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien has been Tarleton State's acting head coach during Gillispie's absence. The Texans are 14-15 this season.

Gillispie led UTEP to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003-04 before being hired by Texas A&M, which he led to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07. He spent two seasons at Kentucky from 2007-09 but failed to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament before being fired.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarleton State basketball moving on from Billy Gillispie as head coach

There are wins that feel like oxygen, and then there are wins that feel like you can finally unclench your jaw. Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers was the latter for the Phoenix Suns, a game that washed over the fan base and let everyone breathe a little deeper as they look ahead to Sacramento on Tuesday. When you do not play again for a few days, a performance like that lingers in the best way. It rides shotgun with you through the weekend. It hums in the background while you mow the lawn or rewatch possessions on League Pass.

Injuries have reshaped the rotation, and when that happens, space opens up. Minutes are not handed out, they are claimed. Opportunity sits there waiting for someone with the nerve to grab it. On Thursday night, that someone was Rasheer Fleming, the rookie out of Saint Joe’s. He stepped into his window and looked comfortable doing it. He did not float through the game. He impacted it. And on a night when Phoenix needed contributions from everywhere, he answered the call.

Rasheer Fleming looks fantastic

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) February 27, 2026

When you see Rasheer Fleming step onto an NBA floor, your eyes do not have to work very hard to understand the intrigue. He looks the part immediately. 6’9”. A 7’5” wingspan that seems to blot out light. 240 pounds on a frame that carries it with ease. When he extends those condor arms into a passing lane or rises to contest at the rim, it is not a mild inconvenience for the offense. It is a problem that has to be solved in real time.

This season has not been about rushing him. It has been about building him. He arrived raw, the kind of prospect who makes you lean forward in your seat during Summer League and whisper to yourself that if it ever clicks, watch out. You could see the outlines of something meaningful in Vegas, yet on the offensive end, he would drift, processing a half-second late, thinking through reads instead of reacting to them.

Time has a way of sanding down those rough edges. Reps in the G League matter. Film sessions matter. The unglamorous minutes matter. And with each stretch of action, he has started to look more comfortable, more decisive, more in tune with where he is supposed to be and when he is supposed to be there.

There is also the draft context that lingers in the background. A second round pick, yes, although taken 31st overall, which is as close to the first round as you can live without technically being invited to the party. That slot carries its own subtle message. It says the league saw something. It says the gap between him and the traditional first-rounder was thin. Three spots behind Ryan Dunn the year before, which is less a separation and more a technicality.

Now the physical gifts that made you believe are starting to align with the on-court feel. And when that happens, when body and brain begin to sync up, that is when a developmental project starts to look like a rotation player in the making.

What we witnessed on Thursday felt like another mile marker in Rasheer Fleming’s growth chart. It was another reminder that this stretch of opportunity for the young guys is something you cannot properly measure with a box score or a spreadsheet. Development does not move in straight lines. It moves in minutes, in trust, in moments that stack on top of each other until a coach starts to lean your direction without hesitation.

Fleming had logged 266 minutes entering the matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. That is not nothing, although it is not a featured role either. Lately, the runway has been longer. He has approached 20 minutes in five of the last six games he has appeared in, including Thursday night, and those minutes have not been accidental. They have been intentional.

Jordan Ott has started to weave him into the fabric of the game earlier, slipping him into the rotation in the first quarter, letting him feel the tempo while the contest is still finding its shape. It gives Phoenix a different look, more length, more switchability, and more chaos on the defensive end. It asks the opponent a new question.

Thursday followed a familiar script at first. Fleming checked in with 4:22 left in the opening quarter. That timing tracks. He entered with 3:15 left in the first against the Boston Celtics. He stepped in with 4:59 left in the first against the Portland Trail Blazers. The pattern is there.

What shifted against the Lakers was the leash. In prior games, his first stint had a defined endpoint. Against Boston, he exited with 6:22 left in the second quarter. Against Portland, his run ended at the start of the second. On Thursday, after the mandatory mid-quarter timeout, Ott let him stay out there. He kept Rasheer on the floor.

Fleming up to 10 minutes and is staying in after the timeout. This will be his longest shift in the rotation so far. Well deserved.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) February 27, 2026

That detail matters. Coaches show belief in increments. An extra rotation. A few more possessions. Trust revealed not in words, but in substitution patterns. And on a night when Phoenix needed energy and length and a little bit of fearlessness, the rookie was given more room to breathe, which is how growth becomes real.

Ott saw the disruption. He saw Rasheer Fleming make life uncomfortable for Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and when that timeout hit, he did not reach for the substitution pattern he had been following in previous games. He let it ride. Why? Because Fleming earned it.

That is the ecosystem this roster is trying to build. Minutes are not gifted. They are claimed. You want to stay on the floor? Prove you belong there. On Thursday, Fleming proved it. His defense was active, physical, and aware. He used every inch of that wingspan to crowd air space, to shade driving lanes, to bother pull-ups. Disruption is his entry point into this league. If he hangs his hat there, the rest can grow around it.

The body has always been ready. The question was always whether the athletic gifts would align with the mental processing. That alignment is starting to show. He anticipates screens instead of reacting late. He navigates contact with balance. He keeps his hands high to deter passes, to alter sight lines, to make scorers think twice. These are not accidental habits. They are learned behaviors, signs that the game is slowing down for him.

Offensively, the confidence is creeping in as well. The three-point stroke looks clean, repeatable, unhurried. He went 2-of-3 from deep on Thursday night, stepping into those looks without hesitation. The season number sits at 27.6%, which tells part of the story. The recent stretch tells another. He is 7-of-17 over his last five games, good for 41.2%, and those attempts have come within the flow of the offense.

Rasheer Fleming is 7-of-17 (41.2%) from deep over his past 5 games pic.twitter.com/rmitfIffBc

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) February 27, 2026

For a young player, that blend of defensive impact and growing offensive comfort is how you carve out a role. Fleming is beginning to understand that, and more importantly, he is beginning to show it.

There is one layer you would still like to see him peel back.

When the ball finds Rasheer Fleming above the break, the first instinct is often to keep it moving, to swing it to the next option, to stay within the structure of the offense. There is value in that. It shows discipline. It shows he understands the scheme. Yet there are moments when you want him to pause for half a beat, read the defender in front of him, and consider that the advantage might be his.

Attack.

Not every possession. Not recklessly. Not in a way that hijacks flow. Although when an athlete with his physical abilities catches the ball in space, there is room to explore. We saw a glimpse of it when he rolled off of a screen towards the cylinder in the third. It worked. The defender gave ground. The lane opened. The finish followed.

That is the next frontier in his development. Trusting that his length can carry him past contests. Trusting that when he extends toward the cylinder, his length creates angles that most players cannot erase. He might surprise himself with how unblockable he can be once he commits to the drive.

It is a small adjustment, although an important one. Growth in this league often lives in those in-between decisions, the choice to swing the ball or seize the moment. For Fleming, learning when to turn a catch into pressure on the rim feels like the next step in a journey that is already trending upward.

“We always tell him he has no idea how good he can be,” Collin Gillespie said of Fleming after the game.

I am grateful he had the runway to play through mistakes, to settle in, to leave fingerprints on the game. I am also grateful the front office resisted the urge to chase a veteran power forward on the trade market or in the buyout aisle to soak up those reps. They stayed committed to the developmental arc, trusting that when the window opened, it would belong to someone like Rasheer Fleming. Thursday night, the window opened, and he stepped through it.

This is what patience looks like. You draft a player 31st overall, you invest in the reps, you live with the uneven stretches, and you allow the growth to compound. When opportunity arrives, it does not feel foreign. It feels earned.

As I have said before, growth is linear. It climbs, it dips, it steadies, it climbs again. The next matchup might not fit him as cleanly. He might run into a coverage he has not solved yet. He might have to process something new on the fly and learn in real time how to counter it. That is not a setback, that is the curriculum.

Development in the NBA is not about perfection. It is about exposure. See it once. Adjust. See it again. Respond quicker. Fleming is in that phase now, gathering experiences, stacking possessions, building a foundation that will support the next leap.

Unfortunately, these potential Detroit Pistons statement games keep turning into who’s available games. The Pistons take on the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, but this won’t be the team Detroit might see in a seven-game series.

Cleveland’s best player, Donovan Mitchell, is out tonight with a groin designation. Cleveland’s new addition, James Harden, is questionable with a thumb injury. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are critical Cavs pieces; they are two of the best rim protectors in basketball. While that’s true, those guards are the reason many see Cleveland as a legit threat.

Detroit will be without its backbone in Isaiah Stewart again tonight. With those pivotal pieces potentially missing tonight’s game, this probably isn’t a true statement game, but there is one message the rugged Pistons can send to Allen and Mobley.

Game Vitals

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

When: Friday, February 27, 7:00 pm EST

Watch: ESPN or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Detroit (-6)

Analysis

This could be another individual statement game from Jalen Duren. When the Oklahoma City Thunder ruled out Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein on Wednesday, Duren did exactly what he was supposed to do on the offensive end.

Duren made the Thunder look like those 8th graders in his early hoop mixtape. Dominating Allen and Mobley the same way would be very impressive. Duren has that in him; he went straight through Victor Wembanyama a few nights ago.

It would have been a fun matchup seeing Cade Cunningham guarding Mitchell or Harden. Blocks and steals aside, Cade is showing qualities of an elite defender.

We knew he was solid or good on that end, but he has a shot to be a premier two-way threat at his best. The size, willingness to slide his feet, and constant engagement on that side separate him from star guards like the Cavs have.

Former Piston Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis were other in-season Cavalier additions. Both are listed as day-to-day and questionable tonight. Those two add to the Cavs’ depth. Schroder can change the pace in a playoff matchup, and Cleveland is +16.6 with Ellis on the floor. He’s always been an impactful scrapper who’s had good shooting stretches.

The Cavs have other snipers who can get going. Sam Merrill has been one of the league’s top flame throwers this season. He’s shooting 46 percent on over seven 3-point attempts. Merril erupted from deep, going 9/10 against the Washington Wizards earlier this month.

The Pistons obviously aren’t the Wizards. It’s hard to find a team that rotates on the perimeter better than Detroit does. Before even needing to get into rotation, Merrill and the other Cavs role players will need to get by the sturdy Pistons perimeter defenders — no easy task.

Detroit’s role players match up nicely with those Cavs role players. Ron Holland, Javonte Green, and Paul Reed are not the preferred matchups for NBA players. You’re in for a long night of active hands and constant bumps if any of those three are assigned to you.

That nonstop pressure is a team-wide trend on both sides of the ball for Detroit. Cleveland could get beat up in the paint even though they’ll trot out a massive frontcourt.

Detroit averages the second-most points in the paint, and Cleveland has the fifth-best points in the paint team defense. Per PBP stats, opponents shoot 50 and 52 percent with Allen and Mobley at the rim, respectively.

Duren, Cade, the scrappy role players, and the perimeter drivers can show the Cavs why they’re different tonight. Maybe the star guards don’t suit up for Cleveland, but Detroit can still send a message to Cleveland’s double-big lineup.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (43-14): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23): Dennis Schröder (?), Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Question of the day

Has Detroit’s offensive paint dominance or team defense been more impressive?

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Cadillac is naming its first Formula 1 car in honor of 1978 champion Mario Andretti, who calls it the “ultimate compliment” ahead of the team's inaugural race next week at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

F1's new 11th team announced on Friday its car will be the MAC-26, short for Mario Andretti Cadillac, for the most recent American F1 champion.

“Naming our first chassis MAC-26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula 1 and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage,” said Dan Towriss, chief executive of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings.

“His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day.”

Andretti is an ambassador for the General Motors-backed Cadillac team, whose F1 entry originated with a bid fronted by his son Michael under the Andretti Global name.

The original bid was rejected by Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, amid prolonged wrangling. Michael Andretti stepped aside and the entry was restructured with Towriss at the helm and an increased role for GM.

“Racing has been the joy of my life. It is the ultimate compliment that Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honor,” Mario Andretti said in a statement.

“I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting board with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history.”

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The New York Knicks and their fans have had plenty of rough patches over the last few weeks, and the most recent updates regarding Deuce McBride’s injury don’t help.

On late Thursday afternoon, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that the backup guard could still “miss the remainder of the regular season.”

This isn’t a complete surprise, as the initial reports indicated that McBride may be out until the playoffs. But it is a reminder that McBride, who many had hoped would come back a bit earlier, could still not see the court again until the postseason. And it puts the Knicks, who have left fans wanting more even though they have a strong regular-season record, in a tough position.

Apologies and I corrected this error: he could miss the remainder of the regular season. Expected was not the right word. Was told a 6 to 8 week recovery. https://t.co/3G0bzbduwt

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) February 26, 2026

Either Deuce comes back closer to the six-week point—which is April 9th—and has a very short period to ramp up and get back in rhythm… or he comes back closer to the eight-week mark—April 23rd—and has to find his way back in the middle of the first round, with the Knicks’ regular-season finale scheduled for April 12th and the postseason proper set to start on April 18th.

In the meantime, the Knicks will continue to miss McBride’s shooting and point-of-attack defense, and will now have the tough task of trying to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference standings without one of their most impactful players.

McBride, who has continued to travel with the team since undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia, was having a career year, averaging 12.9 PPG, 2.8APG, and 2.6 RPG, while shooting an impressive 42% from three.

New York won’t complain much if Deuce comes back right by the start of the playoffs, but the lack of any announcement or report about a comeback timeline does leave some room for concern about a quicker-than-expected rehab.

The Brooklyn Nets are signing Grant Nelson to their squad on a 10-day contract. Nelson has spent the season with Brooklyn’s G-League squad, the Long Island Nets, on a regular G League contract.

Mike Scotto of Hoopshype was first with the news …

The Brooklyn Nets are signing Grant Nelson to a 10-day contract, agent Max Wiepking of Gersh Sports told @hoopshype. Nelson has averaged 11 points on 55% shooting from the field and 6.0 rebounds with the Long Island Nets in the G League. pic.twitter.com/69CHDRzuTz

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 27, 2026

The Nets later confirmed it.

The signing will give the Nets six rookies for at least the next 10 days. Such contracts can be extended a second 10 days, essentially giving Nelson a three-way tryout for the 15th standard contract created at the deadline when the Nets added two players in trades while waiving three players.

Nelson, a 23-year-old seven-foot power forward, went undrafted out of Alabama last June. After playing for the Nets in the Las Vegas Summer League, he signed a non-guaranteed camp deal with Brooklyn in October, but was waived at the end of preseason and assigned to Long Island. He has spent the entirety of his rookie year at Nassau Coliseum.

Following his seven-week layoff due to left knee soreness, Nelson has gotten back on track, despite a minutes restriction. In the 15 games – all starts – since, his per 36 numbers are 24 and 12.

In 23 total outings at the G League level, Nelson has averaged 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 19.1 minutes per game. He’s made close to 60% of his shots from the floor and over 80% of his shots from the foul stripe.

“I really like the coaching staff,” Nelson told NetsDaily early on in the season. “I like the plan they had. There’s a lot that goes into it. My agent knows a lot more than me, so I just really trusted his plan, and I feel like this is a great spot to be. I like my teammates, coaches, and the system.”

Back in January, ND also spoke with Nelson about his knee injury and how the Brooklyn performance and medical staffs helped resolved it. “I’ve been dealing with knee soreness for I don’t know how many years, really, since I started college. It was kind of just affecting how I was playing, and I had to get it over with and get all the rehab done, and get it back to feeling 100%. The performance staff here did a great job. Everyone really cares about me, and that meant a lot.”

Grant Nelson on his strong performances, his injury scare tonight, and a potential two way deal.@NetsDaily#StrongIsland#NetsWorldpic.twitter.com/eUoiMxuFk1

— Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) January 24, 2026

Since he returned from the layoff, Nelson has been on an injury restriction playing between 16 and 27 minutes. In 15 starts, he’s averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per 36 minutes.

Nelson also spoke about his goals, which included a two-way spot with Brooklyn. “That’s been a goal of mine since the Summer right after the draft to get a two-way spot with Brooklyn. I’m still competing for it, and I’m still fighting for it, but hopefully soon.”

Now, though, it appears that Nelson may be trying out for the standard deal. The Nets three two-way slots are all filled.

Nelson, who played three seasons at North Dakota State before transferring to Alabama where he played his final two seasons of college ball was seen as among the most athletic bigs in the NCAA last season, his big moment coming in March Madness vs. Cooper Flagg and Duke…

The kind of athleticism Grant Nelson can bring to Nets. From March Madness last year. https://t.co/C3SLp3JhZc

— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) February 27, 2026

Nelson also set an NBA Combine record last May in the shuttle run which measures athleticism…

Alabama’s Grant Nelson just blew the field out of the water with his shuttle run.

Notched an unofficial 2.58 second mark, which would be the fastest time in the history of the NBA Draft Combine if it holds.

The previous best time was 2.64 seconds by Malcolm Brogdon in 2016. pic.twitter.com/Qaelur1fiK

— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) May 13, 2025

The call-up is a testament to Nelson’s hard work this season, even dealing with a nagging knee injury. He fought through the injury, rehabbed, and played better than he had been.

The deadline for the Nets to sign Nelson to a two-way spot is next Wednesday, March 4 if they chose to retain him as a two-way. The Nets also announced that Ben Saraf is returning from Long Island and Drake Powell will replace him on G League assignment. Saraf has spent the most time in the G League this season with 21 games, Powell the least with two.