Category: Basketball

Everything felt heavy Tuesday night inside Crypto.com Arena. Not loud. Not electric. Just heavy.

The Lakers led the Magic for nearly 90 percent of the game. They built up multiple 12-point cushions. They shot over 48 percent from the field. Made more threes. Blocked more shots. On paper, it should have been a comfortable win. 

Instead the paper will read 110-109 Magic. Another disappointing loss by the Lakers to a more physical team. 

“I thought we played well enough to win tonight,” said Lakers head coach J.J. Redick. “We played hard enough to win.”

This wasn’t a loss to juggernauts like the Thunder or Spurs from the start of their homestand. This was an Orlando team hovering above .500 without Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner — two of their stars. 

The Lakers were rested, they were at home. They were favored. This was supposed to be their bounce back game after an embarrassing loss to the Celtics with former legends putting them on blast. 

Instead, it was another entry in the growing catalog of evidence that these Lakers are not contenders. They are pretenders wearing expensive clothes and jewelry.

“We need to be more consistent,” said Luka Doncic who finished with 22 points and 15 assists. “We should have won a couple more games [on this homestand].”

The Lakers had no answer for Paolo Banchero, who has struggled to regain his All-Star form this season. Nonetheless, he looked like an All-Star Tuesday night, bullying his way to 36 points like a man crashing a private party. He attacked a defense that continues to talk toughness but rarely delivers it. 

Orlando outscored the Lakers 58-50 in the paint and out-rebounded them 47-39. They surrendered 12 offensive rebounds, including two on the game-winning putback by Wendell Carter Jr. 

Magic win on a thrilling sequence!

The biggest of @wendellcarter34's 12 boards and 20 points leads Orlando to its 6th win in 8 games https://t.co/FhfOvkDuFspic.twitter.com/DSgFtR2CUU

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2026

“With their size and their strength you know it’s going to be a rock fight,” said Redick. “We lose points in the paint by eight in a one-point game. That’s the difference. We had more turnovers than them, and they had more offensive rebounds than us.”

If you’ve watched the Lakers over their eight-game homestand that saw them fall to 16-12 at home on the season, then you’ll notice a familiar pattern: jump out to an early lead, get outhustled and collapse in the second half.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Doncic started hot, but fizzled. He shot 8-for-24. He went 2-for-10 from three. He missed five free throws. His poor shooting from beyond the arc must have been in his head when he picked up his dribble and didn’t shoot on the game’s final play. Instead he passed to James who had to force an off balance fadeaway three-pointer at the buzzer. 

I’ll let you answer how that went. 

The Lakers should have never lost this game. Not with three different closers on the court in James, Doncic, and Austin Reaves.

Every time Doncic had the ball in his hand late in the game his possessions devolved into isolation theater, everyone standing around waiting for brilliance instead of manufacturing advantage. The ball stopped moving. The oxygen thinned.

James was efficient — 8 for 13 for 21 points, including a dunk for the final Lakers points of the evening — but his five turnovers came at critical moments. The Magic scored 14 points off the Lakers 12 turnovers, Los Angeles only scored four. That’s basketball malpractice.

They led most of the night and yet it still felt like they were barely hanging on. 

In early December, the Lakers were the second seed in the West. Now they sit 34-23, clinging to sixth, two games clear of the play-in undertow. They just finished an eight-game homestand and won four of them. Four. At home. In a conference that punishes hesitation.

Contenders slam the door. Pretenders admire the hinges.

The Lakers admired too much.

Orlando dictated terms on the glass and in the paint. The Lakers reacted instead of imposing their will. They played as if the game would simply tilt their way because it usually does for talented teams.

It doesn’t work that way in late February.

The Western Conference doesn’t care about potential. It cares about execution under pressure. And right now, this group tightens when the moment demands clarity.

Thursday in Phoenix looms large against a Suns team missing key stars. Another “should win.” Another trap disguised as opportunity. Win, and they give themselves breathing room. Lose, and the standings squeeze even tighter.

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Inside Crypto.com Arena, you could feel the doubt settling like dust in the rafters. Fans didn’t explode in anger. They exhaled in recognition. They’ve seen this movie before — double-digit lead, stalled offense, defensive lapses, one-possession heartbreak.

If the Lakers want to be taken seriously in May, then nights like this suggest they’re not even ready for March.

Talent alone does not make you a contender. Toughness does. Discipline does. Killer instinct does.

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic had all three.

The Lakers had none.

And that’s why they walked off their own floor pretending to be something they are not.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Cal Raleigh has already gone deep this spring, yet the switch-hitting Seattle Mariners catcher isn't focused on trying to hit 60 home runs again this season.

Raleigh, who had an MLB-leading 60 homers last year, hit a 427-foot homer against the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game Tuesday. His first spring homer came in his third game.

“I think the elephant in the room is 60 home runs. That’s not something I’m setting out to do,” Raleigh told Seattle Sports this week. “To me, I’m just trying to be as consistent as possible, trying to do what I did last year.”

His 60 homers last season were the most for a player who was primarily a catcher, having started 119 games behind the plate and another 38 at designated hitter. The 29-year-old Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” also had a career-high 125 RBIs and finished second in the American League MVP voting behind New York Yankees slugger and third-time winner Aaron Judge.

Judge and Raleigh are both set to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which begins pool play next week. Judge set the AL record with 62 home runs in 2022.

They are among only seven players with a 60-homer season, and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are the only ones to do so in consecutive seasons (1998 and 1999). McGwire and Sosa are the only players with multiple 60-homer seasons, and Sosa had a third in 2001.

___

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

When the Phoenix Suns moved Kevin Durant to Houston last summer, the financial backbone of that deal centered on Jalen Green. The deal could not have happened without his $33.6 million price tag. At the same time, Phoenix brought in a young, explosive, athletic guard, along with Dillon Brooks and future draft capital. Green was the most fascinating piece of the return. He arrived with upside, volatility, and the kind of ceiling that still invites conversation about what he can become.

Green’s time in Houston did not close the way anyone with the Rockets hoped for or envisioned. He spent a season as the primary scoring option, averaging 21.0 points on 42/35/81 shooting splits. The postseason told a different story. Over seven games, he averaged 13.3 points on 37/30/67. Houston supported him the way teams typically do with young talent, and eventually pivoted, sending him to Phoenix as part of their push to acquire Durant and accelerate their timeline.

He is one of the most intriguing players on the Suns roster. Maybe the most. Jalen Green fits cleanly into the “new place, new opportunity, different results” narrative. A change of scenery can matter, and Phoenix represents that chance. At the same time, this opportunity carries real weight. This is not a Ryan Dunn conversation. This is not a late first round pick on a rookie scale deal. Green was the second overall pick in 2021. And he has two years left, totaling $72.3 million.

That reality turns this season into a meaningful evaluation. The Suns need to understand who he is, what he can be, and how he fits into their long-term picture. That was always the plan, even before the season tipped. Injuries disrupted the timeline. A hamstring issue cost him 48 games in what was supposed to be a defining year for both player and organization. Now the questions sharpen. Following this season, do the Suns continue to give him runway, space to grow, room to fail, and the opportunity to respond? Or do they begin gauging his value on the open market and make decisions with the broader future in mind?

Injuries continue to shape the evaluation of Jalen Green, and they are muddying the picture in real time. During his first extended stretch of health this season, he is not playing in the role the Suns actually need to study. With Devin Booker sidelined and without Dillon Brooks enforcing, Green has slid into the primary option role. We already know what that version looks like. Houston gave him plenty of runway in that role, and the results are well documented.

Even in this limited sample, and within a role he is not built to sustain, familiar tendencies are creeping back in. Inefficiency. Inaccuracy. Three-point attempts that stall possessions and tilt momentum the wrong way.

If you look at the last three games, the numbers are rough. He is shooting 28.3% from the field on 20.0 attempts per game. From three, he is at 15.4%, with four makes on 26 attempts, one of those being the game-winner against Orlando. You can acknowledge the rust, given how much time he spent in street clothes earlier this season, but it still grabs your attention. Not as a conclusion, more as a note being written in pencil.

This is not the moment to pass judgment. It is part of the evaluation, not the verdict.

There is still a long runway ahead for Jalen Green, and more opportunity for him to settle into a defined role once that role actually exists again. We have seen him operate as a number one in Houston, but this environment is different. With injuries piling up, he is pressing, trying to ignite the offense on his own. At times, that urge turns into forcing the issue, and you can feel it possession to possession.

Jalen Green is the kind of player you want to root for. The personality pops. The athleticism is undeniable. The upside is obvious. If it all ever clicks, the deal looks like a steal for Phoenix. Having someone with that kind of quick twitch, someone who can get to the rim whenever he wants and do it with real explosion, is not something this franchise has had in a long time. Gerald Green is probably the closest comparison, and even he had a ceiling. That is the concern here. Jalen Green likely has one too, and given the contract and the investment, the window to understand what that ceiling is feels smaller.

The hope is that this stretch ends up as a blip. That the rust fades. That efficiency starts to follow. Because when he is right, you can feel how much gravity he carries. He is a microwave scorer who can tilt a game in a hurry and shoulder an offense for stretches. That version exists. It becomes harder to access without Devin Booker on the floor, when defenses can load up and treat Green as the primary every possession. Still, recognizing those coverages and navigating them is part of growth.

Right now, with the roster thinned and the responsibility shifted, Green is being asked to carry real weight. So far, that load has been heavy. The hope is that as health returns and roles settle, things begin to look different.

This is the uncomfortable middle of the evaluation, where inefficiency is loud, and answers are still quiet. The shooting has been rough, the decision-making uneven, and the burden heavier than the role he is ultimately meant to carry. All of that is real, and it deserves to be acknowledged. It is also not a reason to panic.

This stretch is information, not a conclusion. Green is playing through rust, injuries around him have distorted the ecosystem, and the context matters. The Suns are not searching for perfection right now. They are collecting data, watching habits, and learning how he responds when things are hard. That process takes time, and patience is still the most valuable currency they have.

Who would have thought just two years ago that a Pistons vs. Thunder game would be getting flexed onto ESPN because both teams are number 1 in the Conference. Obviously, that isn’t a huge surprise for the reigning NBA Champs, but the Pistons lost 28 games in a row just 2 years ago, they aren’t supposed to be here this fast.

Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs lived up to the hype, but the Pistons ultimately fell as their offense sputtered in the 2nd half. With how reliant they are on inside shooting, facing off against a game-wrecker like Victor Wembanyama is not a good matchup. The Spurs might be the worst matchup for the Pistons for that reason alone.

This isn’t to downplay the Thunder at all, they have the best record in the West for a reason and also sport the number 1 defense in the NBA, just in front of the Pistons. They have length, they are physical, and play just like the Pistons, so this game could get ugly.

Game Vitals

Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 pm EST
Watch: ESPN or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Detroit (-7.5)

Analysis

You might be looking at those odds and be in shock, but there is a pretty good reason for it. The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell. That does not mean that this will be an easy game. Just like the Pistons, the Thunder are a very deep team and their defensive infrastructure is still in place no matter who is on the court.

It goes without saying how important SGA and Jalen Williams are to the Thunder, but missing Ajay Mitchell is a very underrated loss. He has been a key player off the bench during his breakout season after going in the 2nd round last year. Just another example of the rich getting richer.

With those 3 players out, the Thunder will be forced to rely on Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace to provide more offense. Both players are capable of providing more on offense, but there is a reason why they are complements to SGA and Jalen Williams to a lesser extent.

One player who has really stepped up in the absence of SGA is Isaiah Joe, who scored 22 points on 6-11 shooting from beyond the arc last night against the Raptors. He also had the exact same shooting line in a win against the Cavaliers on Sunday. He is a lethal shooter who can take over a game if left open, so the Pistons will need to adjust their defensive gameplan so they are not leaving him open like they did for the Spurs shooters on Monday.

The easy explanation for that is that the San Antonio Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who is such a threat on both ends of the court that you have to change everything about how you play in order to stop him. For the Pistons, that meant putting extra pressure on him and leaving shooters open and letting your half court offense get completely stifled by his rim pressence.

Luckily, the Thunder don’t have anybody like Wemby. Chet Homgren is close, especially on defense, but he doesn’t have the same length and can be put in check a little bit with physicality. He also is not as skilled on offense, but can still make you pay if you don’t guard him. Whether he is able to step up offensively is a key factor in this game, as he is coming off a 7-point performance against the Raptors last night.

I would not be surprised to see some Paul Reed and Jalen Duren minutes to counter the Holmgren-Hartenstein frontcourt. This would have been a great matchup to unleash the Isaiah Stewart-Jalen Duren frontcourt, but Stewart is still out with his suspension. Tobias Harris should be able to handle Holmgren for some of the game, but is at a severe size disadvantage.

Another reason for the offensive struggles for the Pistons against the Spurs on Monday, and Cade Cunningham in particular, was the constant ball pressure by Stephon Castle. He was able to stay in front of him and had the strength to match his physicality. Castle is near the top of the list of defenders in the league capable of givng Cade Cunningham trouble.

Cason Wallace is at that level on defense with being able to pressure the ball and stay on his man, but he doesn’t quite have the size that Stephon Castle has, so the Thunder may opt to have Lu Dort guard Cade so he cannot get into rhythm offensively by outmuscling a smaller guard.

There is a reason these two teams are the top two teams in the league defensively, both are very physical and great at playing passing lanes to generate turnovers. With SGA being out, the Pistons are at least on an even playing field offensively, so this could be a very ugly game that ends with double digit scores for both teams.

With how tough the Pistons schedule is this week and next week, facing the Thunder while missing three key players is the perfect time to face them, so the Pistons need to take advantage of it. Don’t let the odds fool you, the Pistons have a great shot at winning, but the Thunder are where they are for a reason and it will not be easy.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (42-14): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Oklahoma City Thunder (45-14): Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Chet Homgren, Isaiah Hartenstein

Question of the Day

How concerned are you with the Pistons performance on Monday against the Spurs. Was it just a bad night or a sign of things to come in the playoffs?

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Boston and Denver hook up in the marquee matchup of the night, and our NBA player prop projections have circled some of the best edges in this showdown. 

Before you go making your Celtics vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks, check out our favorite player props below.

Celtics vs Nuggets computer picks for February 25

Celtics	Nuggets
Pritchard o3.5 rebounds  +100	Jokic u28.5 points  -120
Queta o8.5 points  -112	Johnson o11.5 points  -112
Hauser o9.5 points  -115	Murray u23.5 points  -120

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Celtics computer picks

Payton Pritchard Over 3.5 rebounds (+100)

Projection: 4.5 rebounds

Payton Pritchard plays bigger than his size when it comes to rebounding. He tracks long misses well and stays active around the perimeter. The projection has Pritchard clearing four boards with room to spare, and at plus money, that edge matters.

He's gone Over this number in three of his last four games. 

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Neemias Queta Over 8.5 points (-112)

Projection: 10.0 points

Neemias Queta doesn’t need isolation touches to score. Rim runs, dump-offs, and put-backs are enough to push him toward double digits. The model projects Queta right around 10, giving this Over a clean cushion.

He's gone Over this number in three straight games with just 21 total field goal attempts. 

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Sam Hauser Over 9.5 points (-115)

Projection: 10.9 points

Sam Hauser’s role is simple: space the floor and shoot. If he gets his usual volume from deep, this number is well within reach. The projection puts Hauser close to 11, which makes 10 points a reasonable expectation.

He's gone Over this total in three of his last four games. 

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Nuggets computer picks

Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-120)

Projection: 25.8 points

Nikola Jokic can explode at any time, but the model sees more distribution than domination. If the defense sends help and forces the ball out early, Jokic’s scoring settles into the mid-20s. That gives this Under a solid path.

He's stayed Under this number in four of his last six games. 

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Cameron Johnson Over 11.5 points (-112)

Projection: 12.8 points

Cameron Johnson doesn’t need high usage to clear this number. A few clean looks from three and one trip to the line puts him on pace. The projection has Johnson nearly a full bucket above the line.

He's gone Over this number in two of his last three games. 

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Jamal Murray Under 23.5 points (-120)

Projection: 22.3 points

Jamal Murray’s ceiling is obvious, but the projection leans slightly Under here. If shot volume dips or he shifts into more of a facilitator role, Murray lands closer to 22 than 25. It’s a thin edge — but still an edge.

He's gone Under this number in two of his last three games. 

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How to watch Celtics vs Nuggets tonight

Location	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date	Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to start their playoff push without Sidney Crosby.

The club placed its longtime captain on injured reserve on Wednesday. The move comes after Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during the Olympic hockey tournament at the Milan Cortina Games.

The 38-year-old Crosby went down in the second period of Canada's quarterfinal win over Czechia. The Canadians held out hope Crosby would be able to return, but he sat out a semifinal win over Sweden and a loss to the United States in the gold medal game.

Crosby will have to miss at least a week, though it's likely he will be out for considerably longer.

The injury comes with the surprising Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh is looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022.

Crosby has been his usually productive self this season. He leads the Penguins in goals (27), assists (32) and points (59) and is on pace to extend his NHL record of averaging at least a point a game to 21 years and counting.

The injury comes at a busy time for Pittsburgh, which opens the post-Olympic break at home against New Jersey on Thursday. The matchup with the Devils is the first of 13 games in a 24-day stretch for the Penguins.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The 2025-26 college basketball season continues to be a difficult one for Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley.

The 11th-year Sun Devils coach saw his team drop to 5-10 in Big 12 play following a 90-78 loss to TCU on Tuesday, Feb. 24. To add injury to insult, Hurley was also knocked down during a dustup, falling to the floor, about midway through the second half.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: NCAA Tournament prediction has another shakeup

A brief sideline scrap between the two teams began when Bryce Ford was forced to call a timeout after Arizona State's Andrija Grbović set a successful trap near the Sun Devil bench. Grbović and Ford continued to tussle after the whistle.

Members of both teams ran near the ASU bench, with shoving ensuing, with Hurley pushing Horned Frogs center Vianney Salatchoum back, and TCU coach Jamie Dixon also got involved. In all of it, it appears Hurley tripped over someone's feet and tumbled to the floor.

Devils dust up at TCU... Bobby Hurley gets knocked down. pic.twitter.com/65lOKyEkrI

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) February 25, 2026

Despite the brief scuffle, no players or coaches were ejected. Still, it was another bad chapter in the last two seasons for Hurley. The Sun Devils fell to 13-12 overall and are tied for the 12th-worst record in the Big 12.

Last season, ASU finished 15th in the conference and has not had a winning season since the 2022-23 season. Hurley is in the final year of his contract and is widely seen as a lame duck head coach.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley falls to floor during dustup vs TCU

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It’s a showdown of No. 1 seeds tonight in Motor City, with the Detroit Pistons trying to cement their NBA Finals credentials against the depleted but relentless Oklahoma City Thunder.

Some of Detroit’s flaws were exposed earlier this week in a double-digit loss to the Spurs, and my Thunder vs. Pistons predictions expect OKC to put up a fight despite key absences, with Cason Wallace doing his best SGA impression.

Take a closer look at this marquee matchup with my free NBA picks on Wednesday, February 25.

Thunder vs Pistons prediction

Thunder vs Pistons best bet: Cason Wallace Over 11.5 points (-120)

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams on the shelf, the stage was set for a monster Chet Holmgren stretch. Instead, it’s increasingly been the Cason Wallace show.

Wallace torched the Raptors on Tuesday with 27 points on 11-for-16 shooting, and that’s where Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault went when he needed a bucket. The third-year guard is averaging 14.2 points per game in February, and he’s 8-for-13 from beyond the arc in his last two.

Wallace has cashed this Over in five of his past six road outings, and he’ll be the X-factor against a physical Detroit Pistons defense tonight.

Thunder vs Pistons same-game parlay

Wallace has played 30-plus minutes in three straight, and the heavy lifting should continue. This week’s scoring tear hasn’t taken anything away from his defense, and he’s grabbed 4+ rebounds in six of his last seven contests.

Even on the second night of a back-to-back set, I see OKC bringing the fight. The visitors are 7-2-1 against the spread in their past 10 games and 21-7 straight up on the road. Cade Cunningham is coming off a 5-for-26 dud against the Spurs, and now he’ll have to deal with the Thunder’s perimeter stoppers.

Thunder vs Pistons SGP

• Cason Wallace Over 11.5 points
• Cason Wallace Over 3.5 rebounds
• Thunder +8.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Boards bonanza!

With two terrific defensive teams, I’m banking on a lot of missed shots, and this SGP taps into a feeding frenzy on the glass at both ends. Cade has grabbed 6+ rebounds in five straight, and Jalen Duren has had 13+ in consecutive contests, while OKC had a 49-34 rebounding edge over Toronto last night.

Thunder vs Pistons SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 rebounds
• Jalen Duren Over 11.5 rebounds
• Cason Wallace Over 3.5 rebounds
• Lu Dort Over 3.5 rebounds

Thunder vs Pistons odds

• Spread: Thunder +8 (-110) | Pistons -8 (-110)
• Moneyline: Thunder +240 | Pistons -300
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Thunder vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons are just 8-13 ATS against Western Conference opponents this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Pistons.

How to watch Thunder vs Pistons

Thunder vs Pistons latest injuries

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#1 – Two underdogs with similarities

When the season started, rare were those who expected the Phoenix Suns and the Celtics to be competing for playoff spots in their respective conferences. The franchise from Arizona traded their superstar Kevin Durant and had to let Bradley Beal go to rebuild a team around Devin Booker and the new coach Jordan Ott.

In the meantime, the Celtics saw the departures of Luke Kornet and Al Horford, traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday for economic reasons, and started the season without their franchise player, Jayson Tatum.

However, both of these teams were able to build strong teams and perform beyond expectations thanks to a few common strategic aspects. Phoenix, like Boston, increased its presence on the offensive glass and they both became among the best teams in that category. They also both increased their defensive pressure with more forced turnovers and, finally, they shot a lot of shots from beyond the line.

With these tactical tricks and the belief that the group could overachieve whatever the public might predict, these two teams are showing you can still be great after losing superstars. Now, time to deep dive into their matchup last night.

#2 – Derrick White as a leader

Jaylen Brown out, Payton Pritchard without rhythm, it was Derrick White’s turn to put the team on his back — and he did it, on both sides of the court. Yet, what is crazy about White as a leader is that he is doing it by making the team shine, with or without the ball. Offensively, most of his scoring came off the ball, as the team was setting screens all over the place to create chaos and play quickly in transition.

His ability to stay connected to the play and make rapid decisions to exploit any gap in the defense is what makes him one of the best connectors in the NBA. It’s simple and yet so important. After Nikola Vucevic screens for Payton Pritchard, he presents himself to offer a solution and be the connector between PP and Vooch so the big man can punish the mismatch.

Or here, when he receives the ball, quickly understands the defense made a mistake in their rotation, and finds Neemias Queta for the best shot possible.

On defense too, he always stays connected even when he looks a little late. On that play, you first think he is stuck in the screen, but he is able to use his timing, length, and hand-eye coordination to block the shot from behind.

22 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal… it doesn’t get better than that, and that’s exactly what the Celtics needed.

#3 – Harper the starter

Ron Harper Jr. not only started, but played 30 minutes of great Celtics basketball and proved he deserved every second he spent on the floor. His length and mobility are such important components of the Celtics’ defensive structure. He can defend larger dudes or smaller guards because of that body frame and his sense of the game.

He is also very active in the help, always ready to switch or trap the ball handler, leading to a lot of transition opportunities last night.

Offensively, he was well prepared to be present in the corner, to cut, and to keep the ball moving. Yet, his biggest added value came on the offensive glass with 4 rebounds and a lot of pressure on the defensive structure anytime a Celtic took a shot.

His energy and discipline would go a long way if he keeps that defensive intensity. Let’s hope the shooting will come and the Celtics could have a great 3-and-D player for the coming years. And he might not be the only one.

#4 – Baylor brings balance

Maybe it is the haircut, maybe it’s the vibe, or maybe it’s bigger than that, but Baylor Scheierman reminds me a lot of Luke Skywalker — and like Luke before him, he brings balance. While Jordan Walsh or Hugo Gonzalez remind me more of Jar Jar Binks with their crazy moves and high-intensity stretches, Baylor brings something far more stable, on both sides of the court.

On offense, he brings spacing while also being the best of the rest at navigating space with the ball. Like White, he is great at connecting the offense and making sure the gap created is exploited.

Similarly to Harper, he also brings a lot of juice on the glass and finished with another double-double with 11 rebounds last night. His defense isn’t as flashy as Walsh and Hugo’s, but it might be more impactful because he rarely makes mistakes. He reads the game so well that he anticipates the movement of the ball and his matchups.

As the season unfolds, it isn’t a surprise to see him getting this many minutes and becoming the fifth starter who brings balance to the team. But enough with Star Wars — now, let’s talk about play-calling!

#5 – Spain under the Sun

The Spain pick-and-roll has been a classic in basketball for a while now, but I remember when the Suns, with Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and DeAndre Ayton, played it so well in 2021 they almost won a title that year.

Well, the Celtics made sure to pay their respects to the 2021 Suns and played it on their first half-court possession. This play was not only a tribute to the former Suns, but also a very smart way to punish Mark Williams’ low positioning and lack of mobility.

This play is really great against this defensive coverage because it will always create a gap in the defense. Here, the Suns try not to defend the pick too high and close out pretty well on Sam Hauser, but there is a continuity option in the corner and Walsh plays it very smartly (well played by Queta too, who made sure the rim remained open for Jordan).

What is pretty nice with that play too is that the defensive structure often collapses, which opens opportunities for offensive rebounds, and the Celtics made sure to capitalize on that.

#6 – Offensive rebounds surge

Per cleaningtheglass.com, the Celtics grabbed offensive rebounds on 51.5% of their half-court offensive possessions. That’s literally the best offensive glass performance of the season for Joe Mazzulla’s team. And it had a HUGE impact.

To give a bit of perspective, the Celtics shot only 40% from the field, while the Suns shot 36%. So theoretically, the game should have been close… but the Celtics had 16 more field-goal attempts!

It was a collective effort, not only Neemias Queta or Baylor Scheierman fighting for extra possessions. On the play above, Queta isn’t even below the rim, but still, there are three Celtics fighting for the offensive glass and getting it done.

#7 – 11 points allowed in the third

After a pretty close first half, the Celtics wanted to send a message and show that their elite defense is back. Straight out of the break, the Celtics displayed an impressive defensive possession where everyone is fighting through screens, guys are helping in the gaps, and Queta is protecting the paint from behind as a safety. It caused a contested shot after 24 seconds of possession, showing the Suns didn’t figure out the Celtics’ defense.

The Celtics bet on the Suns missing their three-pointers and dared them to shoot while making sure the paint stayed protected. The result speaks for itself, as the Suns shot 1-for-9 from beyond the line and scored only 11 points overall in 12 minutes. The willingness to defend was on full display with this impressive transition defense from Scheierman and Harper, concluded by a bucket from Hugo.

#8 – Double big experiment

The Celtics tried the double-big lineup with Vucevic and Queta… and it didn’t really work that time. I think the goal was to put even more pressure on the offensive glass while protecting the paint… but it also had a double negative effect.

First of all, on offense, the spacing shrank when the two big men were on the court, leading to far fewer driving lanes and weaker outside shooting to stretch the Suns’ defense.

On defense, the mobility and help defense decreased a lot with these two on the court at the same time. The Suns quickly understood it and involved their two matchups in screening actions. As both Queta and Vucevic were in drop coverage, the Celtics defenders had far less help and it created gaps in the defense.

Joe Mazzulla quickly put an end to that and went back to a more traditional way of using his big men for better spacing.

#9 – Centers as a hub

In the previous ten takeaways, we looked into the difference in offense with Queta and Vooch. Last night was a great example of how the Celtics can use them both in the same way: as offensive hubs.

Because Queta doesn’t shoot from three, the only way he can stretch defenders away from the paint is to have the ball in his hands. Because of that, Mark Williams is taken away from the rim and the Suns’ defense becomes weaker. It’s simple and yet very efficient.

These types of plays can be replicated with Vucevic as a hub because the former Bull is also pretty skilled with the ball in his hands and can pass from different angles.

Yes, both plays are pretty similar — and that’s the beauty of it. Different players, same play, same outcome.

#10 – Another quiet impactful night for Queta

Speaking of big men, Queta was very impactful last night, beyond the box score. His deep drop positioning really worked well against this team, and that was another impressive defensive night for the Celtics thanks to him. He was the player with the most contested shots last night, while also producing the most points thanks to screen assists.

The Portuguese big man keeps showing that he deserves that starting center spot for all the little things he brings that don’t always show up in raw stats but are definitely impactful for team performance.”

As much as this is Jalen Brunson’s Knicks team, its universe sometimes feels like it revolves around Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s the back line of the defense as the starting center, the No. 2 option offensively, and an emotional core relative to Brunson’s stoic demeanor. 

When things are going well this isn’t an issue, but Towns was having a down scoring year, and when the Knicks hit a rough 2-9 patch following their NBA Cup victory, a disproportionate amount of the blame fell on him. Towns and the rest of the team did take their foot off the gas defensively, and he’s been struggling with the new offensive system all season.

But Towns has started to turn his season around, and the Knicks are rediscovering their winning ways. Here’s how the former first overall pick righted the ship, and what that means for the Knicks’ playoff prospects...

It’s hard to pinpoint the reason for Towns’ rough start to the year. It could be attributed partially to injury, as he played through a quad strain out of the gate, or adjusting to the new offensive system.

Perhaps it was just a slump, as his shot diet went largely unchanged outside of a general decrease in volume. He shot the same threes he usually did, from similar distances with similar coverage, and ditto for his drives and post-ups. They all just converted way worse than usual. 

Through the end of November, Towns averaged 21.7 points on an uncharacteristic 51.3 percent clip from two-point range and 32.7 percent from three. His career averages are 56.6 percent and 39.8 percent, respectively, marking massive drawdowns.

This poor shooting appeared to impact his process. He started forcing things, not playing within the flow of the offense, further compounding the issue and letting it impact his defense.

Towns appeared to find his groove during New York’s dominant December. The Knicks lost four games all month and won the NBA Cup, while Towns shot over 44 percent from deep and recorded four 35-point performances.

January’s losing skid brought Towns back into his shooting woes as the defense around him collapsed to one of the worst in the league. His own performance didn’t help, and both he and the Knicks found themselves at rock bottom. 

His name even popped up in trade rumors, beyond the obvious links to Giannis Antetokounmpo. They didn't come to pass, and for good reason, as Towns had already begun piecing his game and season back together.

It started with defense and rebounding. Towns actually continued scoring at low efficiency while the Knicks rattled off eight straight wins, but his work on the other end was undeterred. 

Towns put up back-to-back 20-rebound nights, and 10 straight double-digit rebound games in this latest stretch, making himself felt whether he was scoring or not. His defense picked up intensity, and the rest of the team followed.

Early on in the turnaround, Towns still looked uncertain and shaky offensively. But he stopped forcing and started picking his spots while looking for his teammates more. 

His game simplified, and we’re starting to see the results of it bearing fruit. In Towns' last eight games, he’s at 65 percent shooting from two and 44 percent from three.

The output still isn’t extended, but he recently strung together five straight 20-point games for the first time this season, an excellent step. Some credit is due to his coaching staff and teammates for further emphasizing him as the clear-cut second fiddle, which has helped get him going.

Otherwise, most of his game has remained the same. Locking in defensively and not getting too into his own head offensively seemed to do the trick.

If this is a true development and not an aberration, it means the world to the Knicks, who are trying to compete for a championship. They wouldn’t have made it six games into last year’s Conference Finals without Towns' heroics in Detroit, his defensive leap against Boston, and his miracle Game 3 in Indiana. 

New York needs Towns playing at his best, and even now we’re only returning to that form. If Towns gets more comfortable with finding his spots in this offense, and reverts back to that generational floor-spacer and scorer full-time, they’ll be in terrific shape.

There’s no reason this shouldn’t continue. The Knicks have proven themselves defensively capable with Towns in the middle, and nothing about this offensive system should be far outside of his skill set to handle. 

The Knicks might need to continue catering more set plays and freelance playmaking in Towns' direction. He also needs to recognize when he has an advantage, command position and demand the ball more.

This season, and the previous one, has shown they can figure this out. It looks like they are already beginning to.

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Conference heavyweights collide as the Denver Nuggets host the Boston Celtics in the Mile High City tonight.

Nikola Jokic has been tremendous, and my Celtics vs. Nuggets predictions expect the three-time MVP to stuff the stat sheet at home.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this prime-time bout on Wednesday, February 25.

Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, with the game airing on ESPN. 

Celtics vs Nuggets prediction

Celtics vs Nuggets best bet: Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double (-115)

Nikola Jokic ranks second in all-time triple-doubles, and the Denver Nuggets superstar will add to his burgeoning total tonight in front of a home crowd in which he’s excelled this season.

Jokic has averaged 28.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 11.2 assists at Ball Arena, recording a triple-double in 12 of 19 games there.

Joker has recorded a league-high 21 triple-doubles this season, doing so in two straight and in four of his last six at home. The Boston Celtics defense is elite, but Jokic has recorded a triple-double in each of his last two home games against the C’s.

Celtics vs Nuggets same-game parlay

The Nuggets are just 12-14 ATS at home and 8-10 as the home favorite. Boston has excelled on the road, covering the spread in 20 of 30 games, including seven of 10 as the road dog. Back-to-backs haven’t been a problem for the Celtics, who are 6-3 ATS playing with no rest.

The Nuggets are 15-11 to the Over at home, but the Celtics are just 11-19 to the Under on the road. Boston boasts one of the stingiest defenses in the Association, and the C’s have hit the Under in two straight and eight of their last 10.

Celtics vs Nuggets SGP

• Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double
• Celtics +3.5
• Under 230.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Brown blitz

Jaylen Brown has scored 30+ in 28 of 51 appearances, including 14 of 25 on the road. He sat out Tuesday and should be well-rested for tonight's marquee matchup with Denver.

Celtics vs Nuggets SGP

• Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double
• Celtics +3.5
• Under 230.5
• Jaylen Brown Over 29.5 points

Celtics vs Nuggets odds

• Spread: Celtics +3.5 (-110) | Nuggets -3.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Celtics +140 | Nuggets -165
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)

Celtics vs Nuggets betting trend to know

The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 22 of their last 30 games (+13.20 Units / 40% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Nuggets.

How to watch Celtics vs Nuggets

Celtics vs Nuggets latest injuries

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The Knicks have depth, but they’re still figuring out how to use it.

The starting five, Mitchell Robinson, Jose Alvarado, and Landry Shamet are solidified. When Deuce McBride eventually returns from his sports hernia, he will be too. The battle for the ninth or tenth man, though, is up in the air.

On one end, you have exciting, 19-year-old rookie Mo Diawara, who has shown tremendous flashes on both ends just a few months after not being good enough to go top 50 in the NBA Draft. With his recent three-point outburst, he’s becoming more and more of a viable role player as a rookie.

But on the other end, you have another young player, but one who’s more experienced and is looking to make an impact in a new situation. Jeremy Sochan is still only 22, but fell out of favor in San Antonio and elected to sign in New York after being released mid-season.

These two are on the Knicks’ rotation bubble, with players like Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Kevin McCullar Jr. waiting in the wings in case of injuries. But which of the two makes more sense for the Knicks? Could they both play a role?

A rotation doesn’t need to be concrete. From game to game, things can change. The strengths of the two are different, but both are common in the sense of being full of potential with considerable downside. It’s easy to scheme both out of a game, which makes identifying specific matchups necessary.

Sochan’s biggest weakness is shooting; he’s always been a basket case on offense. He brings rebounding and a smidge of secondary playmaking, but he’ll make the people guarding Josh Hart look like Patrick Beverley if he gets the ball on the perimeter.

Diawara’s simply being a limited rookie. If you remember, he started the game against the Spurs on New Year’s Eve, which started the slump, and Mitch Johnson expertly schemed him out of the game. He sagged off Diawara, daring him to either shoot or put the ball on the floor. He’s not an advanced enough jumpshooter (especially in non-C&S situations) to shoot out of it, and his ballhandling needs improvement. It’s not a terrible thing for a rookie, but it must be considered.

So what are their strengths? Diawara is a switchable defender who can hold his own against most players due to his size and length, as is Sochan. Sochan is a great rebounder, while Diawara has sneakily been extremely effective on catch-and-shoot (41.5 3pt%) and corner threes (12-for-14).

Diawara is an asset in non-OG Anunoby minutes for a team that has a lot of guards and small wings in the rotation, but the team has specifically dominated minutes where Karl-Anthony Towns is playing and Jalen Brunson is sitting:

The best role for Diawara is to play the non-Brunson minutes, where KAT is the lead option on offense. Alvarado comes off the bench as the ballhandler, and his two-man game with him and Towns can collapse the defense enough to get it to an open shooter, such as Shamet or Diawara. It’s not a big role, but it’s a useful one for a rookie.

Figuring out a role for Sochan is more difficult, as he’s struggled mightily in his first few games as a Knick. It wasn’t going to be pretty every time, and it hasn’t yielded much in a small sample. Still, there might be one option that has the best chance of working out.

The Knicks are struggling badly when one of Towns or Robinson isn’t available. As much as we’ve wished Hukporti could emerge as a viable third center, it’s rough at times out there. When Towns had to sit for a bit in the fourth quarter against the Bulls, the offense ground to a halt.

That’s where Sochan comes in. Against teams without much size (like the Bulls, who deployed Jalen Smith and OAKAAK Guerschon Yabusele at the 5 that night), Sochan is a viable small-ball five who’s more versatile than Hukporti. Mike Brown hasn’t totally leaned into untraditional fives, but I think it’s worth considering deploying Sochan in that role over Hukporti when the team can’t throw one of Robinson or Towns out there.

There is a spacing component, as Sochan’s lack of perimeter shooting makes it so that it’s hard to see him on the floor with one of the Knicks’ worst/unwilling shooters (Robinson, Hart), but he can viably be used in spurts as a small-ball five in a lineup full of floor spacers.