Durkin, Tyson, Reynolds combine for 65 points as Minnesota beats UCLA 78-73

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bobby Durkin, Cade Tyson and Langston Reynolds combined to score 65 points to lead Minnesota past UCLA 78-73 on Saturday.

Durkin scored 23 points exclusively on his 7 of 11 behind the arc, before hitting a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left. Tyson and Reynolds each scored 21. Tyson was 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 5 behind the arc. Reynolds was 8 of 14 shooting to go with six assists.

The Golden Gophers (14-15, 7-11 Big Ten) have won three of their last four, with their lone loss coming to No. 3 Michigan on Feb 24.

Tyler Bilodeau poured in 32 points for the Bruins (19-10, 11-7), two shy of his career high set earlier this season. He was 13-of-21 shooting and 4 of 7 behind the arc with eight rebounds.

Eric Dailey Jr. added 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting with six rebounds. Skyy Clark had 17 and five assists. Donovan Dent tied his career high, set a week prior in an overtime win over Illinois, with 15 assists.

Up next

UCLA will host No. 12 Nebraska on Tuesday.

Minnesota will face Indiana on the road on Wednesday. ___

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Devin Booker is 2 games away from the All-NBA cliff

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 10: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court against the Dallas Mavericks at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 10, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA is in a constant state of tinkering. Adam Silver is always adjusting and experimenting in real time. He’s trying to solve one problem while occasionally creating another. You see it in the NBA Cup. You see it in the All-Star Game formats that require a flow chart and a deep breath to explain. There is always a new lever being pulled, a new idea being tested under Adam Silver’s watch.

It makes you wonder how this era will be remembered in ten or twenty years. Will it be viewed as innovative? Progressive? Necessary? Or will it feel like a stretch of seasons where the league kept throwing concepts at the wall, searching for traction, with only a few actually sticking.

One of the most impactful tweaks has been the 65-game minimum for end-of-season awards, something the league instituted before the start of the 2023-24 season. We are now on year three of this arbitrary line, and the potential impact it might have on the history books is legit. Most Valuable Player. All-NBA. All-Defense. The rule is simple on its face. Play 65 games, and you qualify. Miss 18 or more, you are out. There is no gray area.

It was Silver’s response to load management, an attempt to discourage teams from strategically shelving stars in the name of preservation. The thinking was straightforward. Tie availability to legacy and tie it to contract incentives. Make it matter tangibly.

Whether it fully solved the issue is another conversation. It placed durability back into the spotlight, made it part of the awards discourse again, and forced organizations to weigh rest against recognition. Like many league-wide experiments, it addressed a real concern. The long-term ripple effects are still playing out.

Adam Silver is trying to solve a real issue, although in my opinion, he is circling around the cleanest answer without ever touching it. The solution has been sitting there the whole time. Fewer games. Reduce the total. Ease the cumulative strain. If the tax on a player’s body is lighter, the incentive to strategically rest him decreases.

This version of the NBA is not the league from twenty years ago. The pace is faster, the space is wider, and the defensive ground to cover is massive. Bigs are chasing guards on the perimeter. Guards are crashing into seven-footers at the rim. Every possession asks more of the body than it once did. Add in stretches of scheduling that still feature as many as 16 back-to-backs for certain teams, and you are almost inviting fatigue to take over.

Instead of trimming the schedule, which would impact revenue, the league landed on 65 games as the line in the sand. An arbitrary number that attempts to legislate availability rather than address the wear and tear that limits it in the first place.

And now we are staring at a strange possibility. Some of the best players in the world may not qualify for the very awards that define their seasons. Nikola Jokic. Shai Gilgeous Alexander. Luka Doncic. Kawhi Leonard. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Stephen Curry. Players who shape the league narrative could find themselves on the outside of MVP or All-NBA conversations because they land on the wrong side of a games played ledger.

That creates tension. Voters are evaluating greatness while glancing at a participation threshold. Seasons remembered with an asterisk of availability. The intent was to discourage load management, but the byproduct might be award races that feel incomplete. The league wanted stars on the floor. Everyone does. The question is whether tying legacy to 65 games addresses the root of the issue, or whether it simply reshuffles the consequences.

In a season where so many primary stars have missed chunks of time, the 65-game rule is about to open doors that in other years would have stayed closed. All-NBA spots are usually a gauntlet. This year, the math is reshaping the field. Players who might have been on the fringe in a traditional season suddenly find themselves with a clearer lane because others cannot clear the availability bar.

One of those players, had he remained fully healthy, is Devin Booker.

Booker has missed 16 games already. The margin is razor-thin. Miss two more, and the All-NBA conversation ends. Not because of production, not because of impact, but because of a ledger. Two more absences in the final 22 games, and he is mathematically disqualified. That is not to say he would be sneaking in undeservedly. His play speaks for itself. In a year where several superstars are hovering around the cutoff, his consistency when available has strengthened his case. The shifting landscape has quietly improved his odds.

Although that is the tension of this rule. It turns the stretch run into a health countdown. Every questionable tag matters. Every maintenance night carries weight. The focus drifts from performance to participation.

So now it becomes simple arithmetic. 22 games left. Two games of cushion. The difference between an All-NBA nod and watching from the outside might come down to something as routine as a sore ankle or a scheduled rest day. In a season already defined by attrition, the rule adds another layer of drama, one that has nothing to do with shot making and everything to do with availability.

Knicks, Spurs meet again after going on different paths following NBA Cup

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Knicks forward Mikal Bridges #25 puts up a shot over San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama #1 during the first quarter, Image 2 shows The Knicks and Spurs are set to meet for the final time this regular season
Knicks-Spurs

Knicks-Spurs matchups have become must-see television. 

It seems every time the two teams square up recently, there is significant drama. 

They meet Sunday at Madison Square Garden for the third and final time this regular season. 

“I heard about the Christmas game last year,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said after practice Saturday. “I felt like there was probably a little something there. First time we saw them [this year] was the championship of a tournament. That’ll help you find a reason to, not necessarily dislike somebody, but you’re playing for a little bit more.” 

The Knicks and Spurs are set to meet for the final time this regular season. Charles Wenzelberg for The New York Post

The Knicks beat the Spurs in a thriller to win the NBA Cup back in December.

It came via a huge fourth-quarter turnaround, during which the Knicks outscored the Spurs by 16. That has been the peak of the Knicks’ season, by far. 

But the two teams have largely taken different trajectories since that moment. 

They met just over two weeks later in San Antonio on New Year’s Eve, and the Knicks blew a double-digit lead en route to a gutting loss that changed the course of their season. From their Cup triumph through the first three quarters of that second Spurs matchup, they looked like the best team in the East and a bona fide contender.

But since the fourth quarter of that second matchup, they’ve dragged their feet and mostly looked like pretenders. That loss began a stretch in which the Knicks lost 9 of 11 games. 

Knicks coach Mike Brown was harsh on his team afterward. 

“They just, s–t, excuse my French, but they just outworked us in a lot of ways,” Brown said after the game. “[Spurs coach Mitch Johnson] kicked my ass. The rest of the team kicked our ass. We all got our ass kicked today. 

“First of all, our physicality wasn’t good. We haven’t figured out how to be physical for 48 minutes in the last I don’t know how many games. And doing it without fouling. We pick up some silly fouls that we have to do a better job of. I feel everybody understands that. But now we have to go do it. So now our physicality isn’t good. And we just haven’t been able to — I don’t know if we’re tired or what, we haven’t been able to sustain anything defensively for 48 minutes. And we’ve won a lot of games and you want to win games and feel good about it. But at the end of the day, if we don’t figure out how we’re going to sustain what we’re supposed to do on defense for 48 minutes, it’s going to be a long year for us and it’s going to catch up with us.” 

Everything Brown said after that game was prescient — particularly that last part predicting that their lingering problems, especially on the defensive end, would eventually catch up with them. 

In 2026, the Knicks have so far recorded a 15-12 record. The Spurs have gone 19-7 and are riding an 11-game winning streak. Fox believes their Cup experience, despite falling short to the Knicks in the final, sparked it. 

“For us, just being able to be around each other playing for something a little bigger than a normal regular season game,” Fox said, “I definitely think that helps.” 

Mikal Bridges puts up a shot over San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Last year on Christmas, Mikal Bridges scored 41 points — his most with the Knicks — as the Knicks overcame Victor Wembanyama’s 42-point outburst in a heart-stopping three-point win.

A year prior, Jalen Brunson and Wembanyama had an epic duel — Brunson scored a career-high 61 points while Wemanyama recorded 40 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists and two steals as the Knicks lost by four in overtime. 

Something about this matchup keeps delivering memorable showdowns. 

“It’s a great team,” Wembanyama said previously of the Knicks. “One of the teams I looked up to as a kid, which has a lot of history. So it’s always interesting. Going to New York, as well, is always fun.” 

Sunday’s clash will be the first this season at MSG. Buckle in for more fun. 

— Additional reporting by Zach Braziller 

Golden State Warriors, Gui Santos agree to multi-year deal

Golden State Warriors young forward Gui Santos has been making strides in his fourth season in the Bay Area and it's being noticed - and rewarded.

The team announced on Saturday, Feb. 28 that Santos signed a multi-year contract extension with the Warriors. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the deal is a three-year, $15 million contract extension and includes a player option in the 2028-29 season.

Santos has shown himself to be a hard-nosed role player for the Warriors with his hustle, energy and doing whatever is asked of him.

He has scored in double-figures in 11 of the last 12 games. In that span he has averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals in 28.8 minutes. He's shooting 58.8% from the field and 43.1% from 3-point distance.

Miller scores 26 points as the Hornets beat the Trail Blazers 109-93 for their 4th straight win

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller had 26 points and eight rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-93 on Saturday for their fourth consecutive victory.

Miller made six 3-pointers and the Hornets finished 16 for 42 behind the arc after totaling 72 in the previous three victories, equaling the NBA record for most in a three-game span.

Coby White added 20 points off the bench and LaMelo Ball had 15 points and eight assists. Moussa Diabate finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as Charlotte pulled within a game of .500 at 30-31.

Jrue Holiday scored 25 points and Jerami Grant had 21 for the Trail Blazers, who played without All-Star Deni Avdija for a third straight game because of a back injury.

Portland missed all 10 3-point attempts in the first quarter and Charlotte took a 29-17 lead. Miller made four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the second as the Hornets took a 51-43 lead to the half.

The Blazers cut it to 74-67 after three but went cold again in the fourth, missing 10 of their 12 3-point attempts. Portland finished 11 for 47 (23.4%) on 3s for the game.

Up next

Trail Blazers: Visit Atlanta on Sunday.

Hornets: Host Dallas on Tuesday.

___

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

Mitchell leads balanced attack and Missouri dismantles Mississippi State 88-64

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mark Mitchell scored 17 points and Shawn Phillips Jr. scored 16 points and Missouri walloped Mississippi State 88-64 on Saturday.

Reserve Anthony Robinson II scored 13 points, Trent Pierce scored 10 and Jayden Stone grabbed 10 rebounds for the Tigers (20-9, 10-6 SEC).

Missouri led 54-23 at halftime on the strength of 61.3% (19 for 31) shooting. The Tigers finished shooting 51% (30 for 59).

Josh Hubbard scored 16 points and Quincy Ballard scored 12 points for Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11).

Missouri started with a 9-0 lead and never looked back. Trent Burns' 3-pointer with 13:49 remaining before halftime and they led by double digits for the remainder.

Mitchell's layup with 9:14 before the break made it 30-10. T.O Barrett made two foul shots with 2:07 left in the half and the lead was 50-19.

Missouri has won three of its last four which included wins over then 19th-ranked Vanderbilt and 22nd-ranked Tennessee.

Up Next

Missouri: Will try to end its three-game losing streak at Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Mississippi State: Travels to face seventh-ranked Florida on Tuesday.

___

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Audition over: Gui Santos earned his place with Warriors’ extension

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket on Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Chase Center on February 22, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s a peculiar kind of justice that plays out in professional basketball when a player stops auditioning and starts belonging. Gui Santos belongs.

The Warriors locked him up on a multi-year extension Saturday, which reads like routine front office housekeeping until you rewind what February actually asked of this team. Both Steph Curry (greatest guard alive) and Jimmy Butler (a menace to society on the basketball court) haven’t played a single solitary second during Black History Month because of bum knees. Then the former #7 overall pick Jonathan Kuminga was shipped off to start his next storyline as the man who saves Atlanta Hawks basketball.

Just a shorthanded Golden State squad navigating the cruelest month of their season. And somehow, the guy with the headband and the Brazilian passport kept surfacing in every statistical category that felt like oxygen.

Here’s some Feb stats ahead of tonight’s Lakers game that reveal Santos’ impact this month. You know who leads the team in steals? Santos, with 15, tied with De’Anthony Melton. Blocks? Al Horford leads as a center with 8, but right behind him at 7 is Santos, a wing. Rebounding? The human hustle machine Brandin Podziemski owns that category at 65, but guess who’s sitting at 53, breathing down his neck? Santos again. Assists? He’s tied for second with Podziemski at 38, trailing only Pat Spencer’s 50. You can scan that list three times and still miss the point, which is that glue usually hides. This month it didn’t.

This is the Iguodala archetype. The Swiss army knife Steve Kerr has been hunting since the dynasty thinned out. You can’t manufacture this kind of connective tissue in the lab. You grow it in Santa Cruz, rep by rep, until one February without your stars, the glue guy becomes the guy.

But here’s what separates this story from your standard hustle narrative: his name isn’t just popping up in the dirty work categories. Santos has knocked down 17 three-pointers this month, second on the team behind Moses Moody’s 29. And he’s doing it on 43.6% shooting from deep, which leads the roster in volume attempts (minimum meaningful sample). The hustle guy can shoot and that changes everything about how defenses have to honor him.

Kuminga was supposed to be the next chapter of Warriors development lore. The raw athleticism, the upside, the TWO TIMELINES plan. But development requires trust, and trust requires consistency, and consistency is the one currency Kuminga could never quite produce on demand. The Warriors made their calculation, moved him to Atlanta, and watched him go off in a new uniform while Santos continued quietly becoming indispensable.

Future forensic archaeologists digging through the rubble of Kuminga’s time in Golden State will ask the reasonable question: who was Kerr choosing over him down the stretch? Who earned those minutes that could have gone to the former lottery pick?

Look no further. His name is Gui. And now officially, he’s becoming That Guy.

No. 5 Houston takes out the frustration of 3 straight losses with a 102-62 win over Colorado

HOUSTON (AP) — Milos Uzan had 26 points and six assists, Joseph Tugler scored 14 and No. 5 Houston snapped its three-game losing streak with a 102-62 win over Colorado on Saturday.

Uzan had 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half as the Cougars (24-5, 12-4 Big 12) built a 55-29 lead at the break. Houston shot 56%, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers, in the first half.

Chris Cenac Jr. scored 12 points, Kingston Flemings had 11 points, six rebound and eight assists and Chase McCarty, Emanuel Sharp and Mercy Miller finished with 10 points each for Houston, which shot 60% for the game and 10 of 17 on 3-pointers.

The Cougars forced Colorado into 15 turnovers and converted them into 21 points. They outrebounded the Buffaloes 34-22.

Isaiah Johnson had 19 points, Bangot Dak added 15 points and Sebastian Rancik scored 11 for Colorado (16-13, 6-10). The Buffaloes, who had their two-game winning streak snapped, shot 46% and were 3 of 14 on 3-pointers.

Colorado coach Tad Boyle was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with the officials with 3:06 remaining in the first half. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was whistled for a technical foul in the second half. In total, there were 35 fouls called. The Cougars were 24 of 31 from the free-throw line, while Colorado was 13 of 18 from the line.

Trailing 10-2 about three minutes into the game, Houston responded by outscoring Colorado 36-11 over the next 10 minutes to take a 38-21 lead on a 3-pointer by McCarty. Uzan scored nine points in the run.

Up next

Colorado: Travels to Utah on Tuesday night.

Houston: Hosts Baylor on Wednesday night.

___

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Reed, Dilione late heroics send Penn State to surprise win over Iowa 71-69

Josh Reed scored a career-high 25 points, shooting 9 of 12, and Penn State rallied to beat Iowa 71-69 on Saturday, ending the Nittany Lions’ three-game losing streak.

Freddie Dilione V scored 15 points, and Ivan Juric scored 11 for the Nittany Lions (12-17, 3-15 Big Ten). Penn State finished 64% shooting (25-for-39), including 60% (9-for-15) from 3-point range.

Cooper Koch scored 18 points, shooting 6 for 9, and Bennett Stirtz added 16 for Iowa (20-9, 10-8).

Knotted at 69, Dilione was fouled on a drive to the hoop with 1.5 seconds left and promptly made two free throws for the go-ahead foul shots. Iowa failed to get off a shot after a timeout while facing the full length of the floor.

Stirtz's layup with eight seconds remaining tied the game at 69. The basket was the first points for Iowa since a Cam Manyawu dunk with 4:30 remaining left put the Hawkeyes up 67-62.

Reed countered with his 6-0 run, making four foul shots, and Melih Tunca made a free throw for a 69-67 Penn State lead.

Iowa, which now has lost two of its last three games, led 38-34 at halftime.

Up Next

Iowa: Hosts third-ranked Michigan on Thursday.

Penn State: Hosts Ohio State on Wednesday.

___

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McCray V scores 20, Florida State rolls past Georgia Tech 80-71

ATLANTA (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 20 points, his ninth 20-plus point game of the season, and Florida State pulled away in the second half to defeat Georgia Tech 80-71 on Saturday.

The Seminoles (15-14, 8-8 ACC) led 41-36 at halftime and maintained control after the break, winning in Atlanta for the first time in their last four visits. Florida State, which opened conference play 0-5, has now won eight of its last 11 games.

Georgia Tech (11-18, 2-14) closed the first half on a 12-1 run to trim a double-digit deficit to five, but the Yellow Jackets went cold in the second half. Tech endured an eight-minute stretch without a field goal as Florida State built a double-digit lead and never allowed the margin to drop below eight over the final stretch.

Thomas Bassong added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Seminoles, and Chauncey Wiggins finished with 12 points. Florida State controlled the glass 44-34 and held Georgia Tech without a second-chance point.

Kowacie Reeves Jr. led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points. Jaeden Mustaf added 16 points and eight assists, and Akai Fleming scored 15. Georgia Tech shot 35% from the field and dropped its 10th straight game.

The Yellow Jackets must win their final two games to have a chance at qualifying for the ACC tournament. They currently sit in last place in the conference standings.

Up Next

Florida State: travels to Pittsburgh this Wednesday.

Georgia Tech: hosts California on Wednesday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Mavs waive Tyus Jones, who was a player involved in the Anthony Davis trade

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have waived point guard Tyus Jones, one of the players involved in the three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards.

The move announced Saturday gives Jones a chance to pursue a deal with a contender needing backcourt help. The 29-year-old made the playoffs three consecutive seasons with Memphis from 2021-23.

The Mavericks now have the flexibility to convert rookie point guard Ryan Nembhard to a standard contract. Nembhard is closing in on the maximum number of NBA games allowed for players on two-way deals.

Jones made two starts among eight appearances for the Mavericks, averaging 3.9 points and 3.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. He was traded by Orlando to Charlotte a day before going to Dallas in a three-team deal involving nine players before the trade deadline.

The best season for Jones was 2023-24 with Washington, when he averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists. He received votes for Sixth Man of the Year the previous two seasons with the Grizzlies.

___

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

Yamal scores first hat trick for Barcelona in win over Villarreal in La Liga

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal scored the first hat trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal that moved his team four points clear atop La Liga on Saturday.

At 18 years, 230 days, Yamal is the youngest player to score his first hat trick in La Liga, according to Opta.

His haul included a brilliant solo effort for his second goal, which saw him beat a player as he cut in from the right wing and curl a shot high into the far corner.

“He’s exceptional and he’s here to make people happy," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. "We need his goals to give him confidence. He’s very young and he still has to improve, but everyone knows the quality he has.

"Opponents put two or three players on him and that makes it difficult. Today I’m very happy for him. When he enjoys his football, it’s perfect for him and for us.”

Substitute Robert Lewandowski added Barcelona's fourth in stoppage time at Camp Nou.

Second-placed Real Madrid hosts Getafe on Monday with a chance to trim Barcelona's lead back to one point.

Also on Saturday, Inaki Williams equalized for Athletic Bilbao in a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano.

Later, fourth-placed Atletico Madrid visited Real Oviedo and could move level on points with third-placed Villarreal with a win.

___

This story has been corrected in second paragraph to show Yamal is aged 18 not 17.

___

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

Lakers vs Warriors Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for February 28

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Get set for a Western Conference showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors with our free NBA player prop projections!

Our computer has crunched the numbers and delivers six NBA picks — three for each team — that offer the best betting value.

For more on this game, check out Tom Oldfield's Lakers vs. Warriors predictions for Saturday, February 28.

Lakers vs Warriors computer picks for February 28

Lakers LakersWarriors Warriors
Smart o7.5 points
-105
Moody u2.5 threes 
+135
Ayton o0.5 assists 
+115
Green o7.5 points 
-130
Reeves o3.5 assists
+100
Santos u14.5 points 
-105

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Lakers computer picks

Marcus Smart Over 7.5 points (-105)

Projection: 9.0 

This is a five-star play per our Covers prop projections, and Marcus Smart has hit this Over in seven of his last 10 overall.

"The matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors is a positive one for threes; opposing starting SFs have put up the highest three rate in the league this year (47.0%). Over the last 5 games, the opposition's starting SFs have attempted 3.8 foul shots per game (8th-most in the NBA) against the Warriors, making it fairly effortless to get to the charity stripe."

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Deandre Ayton Over 0.5 assists (+115)

Projection: 1.0 

Deandre Ayton has 11 assists over his last 10 games, hitting this modest Over six times in that span. 

The Warriors have surrendered the second-most assists per game to opposing centers.

Our computer pegs this prop as a +22.4% EV play.

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Austin Reeves Over 3.5 assists (+100)

Projection: 4.5

With our computer calling for a full additional assist for Austin Reeves compared to his posted line, there's a +20.17% EV associated with this play.

Golden State is not a tough matchup for opposing shooting guards when it comes to assists, surrendering 5.17 per game to the position.

The even-money price just makes this bet all the more appealing.

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Warriors computer picks

Moses Moody Under 2.5 threes (+135)

Projection: 2.5

Moses Moody is projected to be a victim of a potentially crawling pace in tonight's game.

"The 8th-least up-tempo pace home offense in the league over the last 5 games has been the Golden State Warriors.. The Warriors are expected to suffer a drop-off in possessions in this game from sharing the court with the 6th-most lethargic tempo visiting team in the NBA this year (the Los Angeles Lakers)."

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Draymond Green Over 7.5 points (-130)

Projection: 9.6

This line is trending toward 8.5, but is still listed at 7.5 at bet365. Nevertheless, our computer is calling for a robust 9.6 points from Draymond Green.

"Offensive rebounds save possession and produce extra opportunities for scoring and assists, and the Warriors grade out 8th-best in in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game over the last 5 games."

Green has hit this Over in five of his last eight overall.

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Gui Santos Under 14.5 points (-105)

Projection: 12.7

Gui Santos' point prop keeps growing with increasing production, but our projections believe it's time to fade the young power forward. 

"The matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers may be a tough one for getting to the foul line; the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted a mere 2.2 free throws per game over the last 15 games (least in the NBA)."

This projection checks in over a full point lower than the posted line, good for a +14.08% EV.

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How to watch Lakers vs Warriors tonight

LocationChase Center, San Francisco, CA
DateSaturday, February 28, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVABC

Not intended for use in MA.
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Nordin's first goal for Rennes beats Toulouse in Ligue 1

PARIS (AP) — Back in Ligue 1, Arnaud Nordin scored his first goal for Rennes in a 1-0 win over Toulouse on Saturday.

Nordin struggled for playing time in the Bundesliga with Mainz and joined Rennes on loan in January until the end of the season.

The winger's goal in the 27th minute helped Rennes to a third consecutive win. The Brittany club moved level on points with fourth-placed Marseille, which hosts Lyon on Sunday.

On a five-match winless run, Toulouse remained in 10th place.

Nordin jumped higher than defender Charlie Cresswell and broke the deadlock with a header. Nordin previously played for Saint-Etienne and Montpellier. He has more than 200 French league games under his belt.

Rennes hired coach Franck Haise this month following Habib Beye’s exit and was tasked with guiding the team to fourth spot and a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Paris Saint-Germain was at Le Havre later Saturday, looking to extend its lead over second-placed Lens to four points. Monaco hosted Angers.

Lens missed a chance to top Ligue 1 when it drew at Strasbourg 1-1 on Friday.

Celebrating grandmas

On the occasion of Grandmothers' Day in France on Sunday, Rennes got players from both teams to walk onto the pitch accompanied by 22 grandmothers.

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

Lakers vs Warriors Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Los Angeles Lakers don’t look like a team convinced that a deep playoff run is imminent, but a primetime matchup against the Golden State Warriors gives their stars the perfect stage.

Golden State is still without Steph Curry and lacks answers for the Luka Doncic assignment, so my Lakers vs. Warriors predictions point to a big night from the visitors.

Check out my free NBA picks and betting angles for Saturday, February 28.

Lakers vs Warriors prediction

Lakers vs Warriors best bet: Lakers -4.5 (-105)

The Los Angeles Lakers are 4-2 ATS in their past six meetings with the Golden State Warriors, and JJ Redick’s squad comes in with a solid 18-12 SU road record.

Austin Reaves’ return gives the Lakers three elite ball-handlers, and I’m counting on that creating enough quality looks to cover this small spread against a shorthanded Warriors team.

Golden State is still hanging around the play-in race, but they're 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games, and the offense struggles without Steph Curry's movement.

Lakers vs Warriors same-game parlay

We’ve seen plenty of Doncic hero ball this season, but I’m focusing on the other aspects of his game here.

The superstar point guard is coming off consecutive games with 8+ rebounds and has totaled 37 assists over his last four outings. If the Lakers want to prevail, Luka needs to contribute more than just points.

Lakers vs Warriors SGP

  • Lakers moneyline
  • Luka Doncic Over 8.5 assists
  • Luka Doncic Over 7.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Press the Klutch

Klutch teammates LeBron James and Draymond Green go head-to-head tonight, and this SGP taps into that matchup. James posted a 20-10-7 stat line against the Warriors earlier this month.

Green hauled in seven rebounds and added six assists in his last outing, and his playmaking will be a key ingredient in a Steph-less offense.

Lakers vs Warriors SGP

  • LeBron James Over 19.5 points
  • LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
  • Draymond Green Over 4.5 assists
  • Draymond Green Over 5.5 rebounds

Lakers vs Warriors odds

  • Spread: Lakers -4.5 (-105) | Warriors +4.5  (-115)
  • Moneyline: Lakers -170 | Warriors +145
  • Over/Under: Over 230 (-110) | Under 230 (-110)

Lakers vs Warriors betting trend to know

The Lakers are 23-15 SU against Western Conference opponents this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Warriors.

How to watch Lakers vs Warriors

LocationChase Center, San Francisco, CA
DateSaturday, February 28, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVABC

Lakers vs Warriors latest injuries

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