CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are familiar with injury troubles. They’ve been dealt a short hand for most of the season. So it’s no surprise they will again be without one of their key players as they host the Detroit Pistons tonight.
Donovan Mitchell is listed as OUT with a groin injury. The seven-time All-Star has missed Cleveland’s previous three games with the same injury. He last played in their win over the New York Knicks on February 24.
The Cavs will also be without Riley Minix and Darius Brown, both of whom are on G League assignment. Max Strus is still out, as well. Dean Wade is questionable with an ankle injury. Everyone else is currently available.
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Mitchell is averaging 28.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds this season while shooting 48.3% from the floor and nearly 37% from downtown. He’s having a career-best year while the Cavs are 3-4 without him this season. He’s been surprisingly available for a player carrying such a massive load each night. It makes sense that the Cavs are being cautious with his latest groin injury. They’ll need him moving forward.
Cleveland is better equipped to withstand a stretch without Mitchell than they were at the start of the season. Trading for James Harden has given them an All-Star-caliber guard to replace Mitchell during these stretches. While Darius Garland was previously capable of doing the same thing — Garland’s own injuries became too much of a roadblock. Harden, albeit currently dealing with a broken finger, has historically been more durable than both Mitchell and Garland.
Harden had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in the Cavaliers’ latest win over the Brooklyn Nets. He’s capable of carrying the offense on his own.
The Cavs will have their hands full against a Pistons team that probably feels they shouldn’t have gone to overtime with this shorthanded Cleveland squad last week. But the Cavs are upset with themselves for not sealing the deal in that one. This should be a fun game even without Mitchell.
Los Angeles, CA - February 22: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers react against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Lakers are never going to get a fair shake when it comes to national media coverage.
This isn’t a new revelation. In fact, the very topic of this article has already been written about by our own Darius Soriano just two months ago.
And while there’s lots of season left to play and things could always change, right now, the Lakers are actually a good story! They’ve been hammered by injuries and all they’ve done is win nearly two-thirds of their games through almost half the season.
No one’s asking to anoint them the favorites to win the title or anything like that. But if we could maybe just start treating them as though they’re a good team that is actually finding ways to win games they probably shouldn’t and position themselves well to actually make the run no one thinks they will, that would be okay too?
Or maybe we put another blowhard on TV saying how they should trade LeBron or Austin Reaves for role players? Yeah, let’s do that instead.
Not surprisingly, the media hasn’t changed its tune on the Lakers since that article was posted.
The only change in the last two months is that head coach JJ Redick has also taken notice. After wins on either side of the team’s weekend back-to-back, Redick spoke about the resiliency of his side and took a subtle jab at the overreactions at various moments this season.
“Again, the world has fallen for us 19 times and it’s just part of the nature of this cycle,” Redick said. “Our guys have bounced back and responded well throughout the season. Tied in the loss column for fifth and a couple of games out of third with a number of these teams coming up that are right there with us. So, we’re going to keep plugging away.”
Certainly, there are times when strong reactions are warranted. There should be criticism when the team loses three straight games as they did last week. When they were trending in the wrong direction in late December and into January, criticism was warranted.
However, the issue is that the noise isn’t nearly as loud for other teams. Frankly, after the Thunder and Spurs, the next tier of teams in the Western Conference — which includes the Lakers — is remarkably mid. Houston, Minnesota, Denver and LA are separated by 1.5 games.
While the Lakers have gone 5-5 in the last 10 games, Denver has gone 4-6. The Warriors team the Lakers blew out in Golden State on Saturday? That starting lineup without Draymond Green beat the Nuggets one week ago. Houston had a monumental collapse in the fourth quarter against the Knicks a week ago, to say nothing of Kevin Durant’s burner accounts and how that mess has just quietly gone away.
Could you imagine if it came out that LeBron was creating accounts and trashing teammates to random people on Twitter? It wouldn’t have just gone away inside of two weeks!
Frustratingly, things are just louder when it comes to the Lakers. Again, that’s not new and that won’t change. But it’s nice to see the head coach calling that out as well.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trae Young appears set to make his first appearance for the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
Young made an Instagram post of himself working out in Wizards gear and ended it with “3/5.” The Wizards are set to host Utah that night.
Asked later Monday about the plan before Washington hosted Houston, coach Brian Keefe said the point guard was trending toward being ready to play against the Jazz. He said Young would likely be restricted to about 17 to 20 minutes, mostly in the first half.
Young played in 10 games for the Atlanta Hawks this season, averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists, before being sidelined by knee and quadriceps injuries. The Wizards acquired him for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in January.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers handles the ball defended by Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on December 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will host another Southern California rival as they take on the Clippers on Monday night. The game will be played at 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on Peacock and NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State is coming off a 129–101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the game was never close as a healthy Lakers squad jumped out to a first-quarter lead and never looked back against the undermanned Warriors. Luka Dončić, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Saturday, led all scorers with 26 points, followed by LeBron James with 22 points.
As for the Warriors, they needed a strong shooting night to stay competitive, but it never came as the team shot just 12-of-44 from three-point range (27.3%). Gui Santos led Golden State with 14 points, while Moses Moody came in second with 12 points, including four made threes.
The Warriors look to bounce back against a Clippers team playing on the second night of a back-to-back. On Sunday, Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 137–117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in 29 minutes, marking his 37th straight game with at least 20 points, and he continues to lead the Clippers with an average of 28 points per game this season.
Golden State, meanwhile, remains without its top scorer in Stephen Curry. The team announced on Sunday that Curry will miss at least 10 more days with a lingering knee injury.
The Warriors are 4–6 in the 10 games they have played without Curry. Although expectations have understandably been lowered in his absence, along with Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, head coach Steve Kerr has praised the effort and coachability shown by the rest of the roster during this challenging stretch of the season. And with the Clippers trailing just 2.5 games behind them for the eighth seed in the West, Golden State will once again be counting on their depth and effort to give them a chance without their stars.
What has been your biggest challenge this season in terms of trying to keep this ship on course?
STEVE KERR: "I'm enjoying the season. Our guys have competed and really done a good job of finding ways to win… these guys are great… It's a fun group to coach." pic.twitter.com/CxfxDPQ4RN
San Antonio Spurs' Luke Kornet reacts to a call during a game Sunday against the New York Knicks. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press)
At least one NBA player objects to the Atlanta Hawks paying tribute to the famous Magic City adult entertainment club during their game Monday against the Orlando Magic.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet posted a statement on Medium asking the Hawks to call off the promotion "as to ensure that the NBA remains a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone involved."
"The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world," Kornet wrote. "We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
"Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society. Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected."
The Hawks announced its "Magic City Monday" promotion last week. Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz was a producer on the docuseries "Magic City: An American Fantasy" that aired last year on Starz. Atlanta-based artist T.I. will perform at halftime. A collaborative hoodie will be available for purchase, and some of the club's well-known wings will be served — including the lemon-pepper wings named after former Hawks player Lou Williams.
In 2020, while he was playing for the Clippers during the pandemic, Williams made headlines for visiting Magic City during an excused absence for personal reasons to return home to Atlanta. The NBA was finishing its season in a so-called bubble in Orlando meant to protect against COVID-19. Williams has said he was at the club just to pick up food.
In expressing his objection to the promotion, Kornet stressed that NBA teams should be held "to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting."
"I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision," Kornet wrote. "We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision."
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Miami Heat on February 28, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martín Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday.
The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona.
Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind.
Soria turned over a shot from Arda Güler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal.
Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead.
A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out.
It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window.
Madrid continued to dominate possession in the second half and Antonio Rüdiger and substitute Rodrygo were among those who came close to grabbing an equalizer.
But it could not find a way past Getafe’s stuffy rearguard and an in-form Soria.
Madrid’s task became even harder when Franco Mastantuono was sent off for dissent in stoppage time and although the numbers were evened up in the last minute when Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also shown a red card it came too late to make any impact.
Getafe held on to secure a historic win, its first at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2008, and a vital three points in its bid to stay in La Liga.
“Coming here is always very difficult," Getafe defender Kiko Femenía told broadcaster DAZN. "We have to congratulate the team, we did a superb job at the back and we scored when had the chance. We might even have scored more on the counterattack.”
They jumped three league places into 11th and were eight points above the relegation zone.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
The Instagram post includes a reel of Young going through drills in Wizards gear and includes B-roll footage of Washington D.C. The caption of the post simply reads: “March 5th."
This comes as the Wizards remain well outside of the play-in picture, at 16-43 and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Washington has lost eight consecutive games while dealing with several key injuries.
Young, 27, is a four-time All-Star who is averaging 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game this season. Though he remains one of the top distributors in the NBA — Young led the NBA in assists last season with 11.6 per game — his defense has been a significant issue.
Washington is navigating a delicate balance for its first-round draft pick. The selection is Top-8 protected, which means that it will convey to the New York Knicks, if it falls to No. 9 or below. This means that any victories over the final quarter of the season could compromise Washington's draft positioning; the Wizards currently have the NBA’s fourth-lowest winning percentage (.271).
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 1: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate before the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ pregame routine has gone viral across social media this season. Led by LeBron James, the Lakers wrap up their warm-up with a bit of synchronisation before walking off the floor.
Is it a bit silly? Sure. But basketball is a game and not everything has to be serious. It’s a fun tradition the team does every game, home or away.
However, for reasons unclear, LeBron wasn’t around pregame on Sunday and, unfortunately, disaster struck. Rui Hachimura attempted to step in and lead things, but failed miserably at just throwing the ball up in the air in the right direction.
Rui Hachimura tried to replace LeBron in the Lakers pre-game ritual but botched it lmao
Fortunately, this did not set a tone for the night as the Lakers comfortably took care of business, blowing out the Kings for their second win in as many days. Those good vibes from the win meant the elephant in the room could be addressed pregame.
“I literally said no to everybody, but they all pointed at me,” Rui said. “I don’t know…You know what it is, I think because I was doing it before [when] [LeBron] was coming back from the injury. So, they all pointed at me, but I wasn’t really feeling doing it. I was like ‘No, no, no.’ The time was going on, so I was like, ‘Alright, come on.’ I did it. I got booed.”
Luka, the de facto leader of the team, could only react in one way to Rui’s performance: disgust.
“I don’t know why,” Luka said postgame. “Never again. Never again. It was terrible.”
In a contract year, you’d expect a better showing from Rui. Will this hurt him in contract negotiations? Do the Lakers want to bring back someone who struggles to throw the ball up in the air?
If the Lakers want to move into the post-LeBron era seamlessly, then someone is going to need to go through a crash course over the final weeks of the season to learn how to properly toss the ball into the air. Otherwise, that could be another skillset they will look to acquire this offseason.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 27: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 27, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fortunately for the Cavs, they don’t have to wait long to get even. They take on the Pistons again on Tuesday and should be healthier. James Harden returned to the lineup Sunday and looked like he didn’t miss a beat as he nearly put up a triple-double in his return against the Brooklyn Nets.
This is the Cavs’ and Pistons’ last meeting of the regular season. And it should give us our best chance to see how these two teams match up if they were to meet in the playoffs this spring.
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Pistons -1
Cavs injury report: Donovan Mitchell – OUT (groin), Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Riley Minix – OUT (G League), Darius Brown – OUT (G League)
Pistons injury report: Isaac Jones – OUT (G League), Bobi Klintman – QUESTIONABLE (G League), Chaz Lanier – QUESTIONABLE (G League), Wendell Moore Jr. – OUT (G League), Tolu Smith – QUESTIONABLE (G League)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves signed 12-year veteran forward Kyle Anderson on Monday, bringing back a popular role player after he was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Anderson played two seasons for the Timberwolves, contributing to their run to the Western Conference finals in 2024. He then signed with the Golden State Warriors in free agency and has been traded three times since, most recently to the Grizzlies by the Utah Jazz.
The 32-year-old Anderson has averaged 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 20.4 minutes in 24 games this season between the Jazz and the Grizzlies.
Anderson started 56 games over two years with the Timberwolves, averaging 25.3 minutes for the highest mark of his tenure with any of the six teams he's been with in his NBA career. The 2014 first-round draft pick by the San Antonio Spurs had three triple-doubles with the Timberwolves and became a fan favorite for his toughness, leadership and deliberate style on offense that has drawn him the nickname, “Slo Mo.”
PISA, Italy (AP) — Fiorentina went down to Udinese 3-0 and Pisa lost to Bologna 1-0 on an unhappy night for the relegation-threatened sides in Serie A on Monday.
In Udine, the home side went ahead after 10 minutes when Christian Kabasele nodded in a Nicolo Zaniolo corner.
Udinese's leading goal-scorer Kelman Davis made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the second half.
And Adam Buksa added a third in stoppage time to decisively halt Fiorentina’s recent revival and torpedo its hopes of winning three games in a row for the first time this season.
It remained fifth from bottom of the league, but equal on points with Cremonese and Lecce, the club occupying the third relegation spot.
One of the two teams below it, Pisa, lost at home to Bologna and remained joint last with Verona.
Pisa had three shots on target while Bologna had only one, but it was that 90th-minute strike from Jens Odgaard that decided the match.
The Danish forward hit the net from around 25 meters out to break the home fans' hearts and ensure Pisa was still looking for a second win in the league.
The result leaves it on the same points as bottom club Verona. Both are nine points from safety with 11 league matches remaining.
The win was Bologna’s third in a row and lifted it above Sassuolo into ninth place. It has not lost a league game at home to Pisa since February 1985.
Familiar scenes played out early in the second quarter of the Lakers’ blowout win over the Kings on Sunday night even though the actual plays were rare.
The first: after cutting off Malik Monk’s drive out of a pick and roll to force a pass to Drew Eubanks, who fumbled the ball after Marcus Smart’s deflection, Maxi Kleber getting back into the play and blocking Eubanks’s layup attempt at the 9:17 mark of the second, which started the Lakers’ transition attack.
The second: after the Lakers ran their Stack action, Luka Doncic whipped a one-handed pass to a rolling Kleber inside of the paint, with Kleber taking two quick steps before dunking over Precious Achiuwa a couple of minutes later after the blocked shot.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber dunks as Sacramento Kings guard Daeqwon Plowden watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) AP
Sunday was the second straight game that Kleber, who finished with six points, six rebounds and a blocked shot against the Kings, was in the rotation after playing 13 minutes against the Warriors on Saturday night.
But for most of the season, Kleber’s playing time has been sporadic, mainly being in the rotation if the Lakers are dealing with injuries or foul trouble.
Which is why everyone on the Lakers’ bench stood on their feet and celebrated Kleber’s plays — customary when a teammate makes highlight plays, but the moments had extra juice to them because it was Kleber who made the plays.
“We have a lot of good guys on our team,” coach JJ Redick said. “Love these guys. [Kleber’s] teammates love him. He’s a terrific teammate. It’s easy to root for his success.”
What makes Kleber so easy to root for?
“He does everything right, man,” Smart told the Califorinia Post. “And he’s such a good person. He wants to see everybody win, even though he’s not winning in certain circumstances of not getting playing time as much as he would like, probably. Not getting the ball as much as he would like. But he doesn’t let that deter him from cheering on his teammates and being there for his teammates. And then when he does get in and his opportunity comes, taking full advantage of it.”
The 11 minutes per game Kleber’s averaging through 60 games is easily the fewest of his career, almost six minutes fewer than the 16.8 he averaged during his rookie season.
And it isn’t just his playing time that’s taken a decline. He’s averaging career-lows across the board in a variety of statistical categories.
But the 34-year-old Kleber remains a valuable teammate and veteran presence inside of the Lakers’ locker room.
“There’s not a negative bone in his body towards anybody,” Smart told the Post. “When you got a guy like that, sometimes it’s easy to take him for granted. But it’s also easy to root for him like hell when he does get his opportunity because he does so much for us that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet at all.
“Just his ability to be able to talk to guys. Uses his experience and his understanding of the situation he’s in to help guys. Not allowing that to bring him down and also help bring other guys up even when he could sit over there and pout. And nobody would blame him. But he chooses not to. And when you got a guy like that, that’s contagious.”
Which makes big plays Kleber makes when he is able to get on the floor, and the energy they spark, contagious.
Maxi Kleber of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
“He always brings good energy,” Rui Hachimura said. “We always talk about how we wanna be like him. We always talk about that. Whether playing or not, he’s always on the bench, cheering for the team, trying to help the team win. [That] kind of stuff is really big. He knows exactly what his role [is].”
The energy Kleber provides for the Lakers comes back around to him.
“Every time I do something, you look to the bench, everybody’s celebrating,” Kleber said. “Obviously, it’s [a] good push for me, good push for the team.”
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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 1: Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics during the 2026 NBA Pioneers Classic on February 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (40-20) at Milwaukee Bucks (26-33) Monday, March 2, 2026 7:30 PM ET TV: NBA-TV, NBCSB, FDSWI Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WTMJ (103..3), Sirius XM Regular Season Game #61, Road Game #32 Fiserv Forum
The Celtics visit the Milwaukee Bucks for the third of 4 games between these two teams this season. The Bucks won 116-101 in Milwaukee on December11 and the Celtics won 107-79 in Boston on February 1. They will play their final game in Milwaukee on April 13. Due to the in-season tournament, they face the anomaly of playing 3 times in Milwaukee and just once in Boston.
The Celtics won the series 3-0 last season. They are 122-113 overall all time against the Bucks and they are 44-73 against the Bucks all time in games played in Milwaukee. Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games. The Bucks played in Chicago on Sunday while the Celtics played at home against the 76ers on Sunday.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York , 3 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 7 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 8.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 26-13 against Eastern Conference opponents and 8-5 against the Atlantic Division. They are 20-11 home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Bucks are 11th in the East, 19 games behind 1st place Detroit, 5 games behind 7th place Orlando and 8th place Miami, 3.5 games behind 9th place Atlanta 3 games behind 10th place Charlotte. They are 2 games ahead of 12th place Chicago. They are 19-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 14-14 at home and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 2 games.
After this game at Milwaukee, the Celtics are back home for games against Charlotte and Dallas before a tough 3 game road trip through Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Next, it is one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta.
For Milwaukee, this is the first game of a 5 game home stand. After the Celtics, they will host Atlanta, Utah, Orlando and Phoenix. Then they are on the road for games at Miami and Atlanta before hosting Indiana and Cleveland. Next they have a 4 game western road trip through Utah, Phoenix, the LA Clippers, and Portland before returning home to host San Antonio, the Clippers and Dallas.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum has been ruled out for this game but may be close to a return. Jaylen Brown (illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) were late scratches for this game and will be out. I’m taking a wild guess that Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza start in their places. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed the last 16 games but has been cleared to play in this game. Taurean Prince is out after having neck surgery. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is questionable due to an illness.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Ryan Rollins
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesRyan Rollins | Getty Images
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Kevin Porter, Jr
Baylor Scheierman | NBAE via Getty ImagesKevin Porter Jr | Getty Images
SF: Hugo Gonzalez vs Kyle Kuzma
Hugo Gonzalez | Getty ImagesKyle Kuzma | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Sam Hauser vs Giannis Antetokounmpo
Sam Hauser | Getty ImagesGiannis Antetokounmpo | Getty Images
C: Luka Garza vs Myles Turner
Luka Garza | Getty ImagesMyles Turner | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Nikola Vucevic Jordan Walsh 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga John Tonje Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Jaylen Brown (illness) out Neemias Queta (rest) out Head Coach Joe Mazzulla Bucks Reserves Thanasis Antetokounmpo Ousmane Dieng Gary Harris Andre Jackson, Jr Bobby Portis, Jr Cormac Ryan Jericho Sims Cam Thomas Gary Trent, Jr
Two-Way Players Alex Antetokounmpo Pete Nance Injuries/Out Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) available Taurean Prince (neck) out Thanasis Antetokounmpo (illness) questionable Head Coach Doc Rivers
Key Matchups Baylor Scheierman vs Kevin Porter, Jr. Porter is averaging 18.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He is shooting 46.9% from the field and 32.8% from beyond the arc. He didn’t play in the February 1 game against Boston and finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 1 steal while shooting 60% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc on December 11. They need to be aware of him in the passing lanes as he is a threat to steal the ball.
Sam Hauser vs Giannis Antetokounmpo Giannis is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while shooting 64.5% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. He missed both of the games between these teams so far this season. He has been out for 5 weeks so he may be a bit rusty but regardless, he makes them tougher to beat. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Joe start double bigs this game to counter the Bucks’ double bigs. Honorable Mention Derrick White vs Ryan Rollins Rollins is averaging 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.8% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games against the Celtics this season he averaged 17.5 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 51.3% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc. Rollins is a good 3 point shooter and so the Celtics need to defend him on the perimeter.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the biggest key to winning. Defense really does win championships. The Celtics are 7th with a defensive rating of 112.1 The Bucks are 24th with a defensive rating of 116.7. In the first game between these two games the Celtics allowed the Bucks to shoot 58.2% from the field and 44.8% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must work harder on defense in this one and keep their focus on the defensive end so as not to allow any easy baskets for the Bucks. They especially need to defend the perimeter as the Bucks are 2nd in the league shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc as a team.
Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is always a big key to winning. As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings.” The key to rebounding is effort and focus. The Celtics are 30-8 in games that they tie or out-rebound opponents. They are just 9-12 in games tin which they are out-rebounded. The Bucks are 27th with 41.1 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 7th with 45.8 rebounds per game. The Celtics have to fight to beat the Bucks to rebounds.
Don’t Underestimate the Bucks – The Bucks do not have their best player and often the Celtics relax and understimate short handed teams. However, the Bucks are still a rival in the Eastern Conference that can play hard. The Celtics have to give max effort on the boards and on defense and they have to give that effort for the entire game and not just 1 or 2 quarters.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics are 3rd in the league, averaging 42.2 three pointers per game. They are shooting 36.5% as a team from beyond the arc. The Bucks are 13th, averaging 37.7 threes a game and they are 2nd in the league shooting 39.1% on threes as a team. The Celtics make 15.4 threes a game while the Bucks make 14.7 thees a game. The Celtics need to work to get open and move the ball to find the best shots. If the 3’s aren’t falling, they need to take the ball inside. And they need to defend the perimeter or the Bucks will bury them in 3s.
X-Factors Back to Back On the Road – The Celtics are on the road and so will have the distractions of travel, staying in hotels, and playing in front of a hostile crowd. They need to stay focused and not allow any of those distractions to take away from playing their game. Both teams are playing on the second night of back to back games and so fatigue may factor in for both teams. Historically, the Celtics are just 44-73 in Milwaukee. They need to stay focused and play hard and not let up.
Coaching – Doc Rivers coached the Celtics from 2004 until 2013 and quit when the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to start a rebuild. The Celtics had a relatively short rebuild and have been largely successful since he left. Doc has struggled in each of his stops with the Clippers, 76ers and now the Bucks. Doc would love nothing more than to beat his former team while Joe just wants to beat everybody, no matter who they are.
Officiating – The officiating can always be an x-factor. Some referees call the game tight and others let them play. Some favor the home team and others call it evenly. Some refs just seem to have an agenda that doesn’t fit the play on the court. And sometimes the refs are simply bad. The Celtics have to play through however the refs call the game, whether it is tight or they let them play or they make terrible calls. The Celtics can’t allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus on the game.
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: The sneakers worn by Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 25, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
