Oct 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning during game two of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Another Phillies game on TV today? In this economy?
Listen, in between shifts of the United States-Canada gold medal match, check in on some of the news surrounding the Phillies today.
Sep 17, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) fist pumps before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
For me this is an easy question. Anyone who has a vested interest in the Tampa Bay Rays success knows there’s one team whose presence looms over the franchise, and soon the new owners will seek to undo decades of damage when they build a stadium that shadows over big brother.
Yes, I’m talking about the Yankees.
Nearing 30 years of Rays existence, there is no good reason for the Yankees to still be a 25% market share in the region. Local fans should be local fans! Or at least the next generation should be. The problem, so to speak, is that the Yankees are great neighbors to the place they call home — Tampa.
Charity events, taxes, good relationship with the Bucs… it’s enough to make me sick. We got one blissful year of the Rays wiping their marketing off Dale Mabry, and I can’t wait for that to be permanent.
God only knows how the Yankees and Rays could co-exist once the new stadium is built, and I hope they don’t. Send ‘em to Disney or Miami or Orlando, but Tampa is ours.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are riding a seven-game winning streak when they visit Paycom Center and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Cavs have also won five straight on the road, and my Cavaliers vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks are backing Cleveland over shorthanded OKC on Sunday, February 22.
Cavaliers vs Thunder prediction
Cavaliers vs Thunder best bet: Cavaliers moneyline (-130)
SGA and Williams aren’t just scorers. Their absence weakens the perimeter defense, a major concern given Donovan Mitchell and James Harden's recent hot hands.
Cleveland seeks an eighth straight win and is 5-0 with Harden in the lineup. The Cavaliers are the deeper, more complete group and are chasing a sixth consecutive road victory.
Rather than lay the points, I’ll back them on the moneyline against the shorthanded Thunder.
Cavaliers vs Thunder same-game parlay
Evan Mobley has cleared his combo prop in ten of 11 games and had 21 points, rebounds, and assists in 19 minutes against Charlotte.
James Harden’s playmaking has stabilized Cleveland’s offense, and he’s dished at least nine in two of his five games with the Cavs, and twice he dropped eight.
Cavaliers vs Thunder SGP
Cavaliers moneyline
Mobley Over 21.5 P/R/A
Harden Over 8.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Deep'n delicious
Jared McCain has knocked down two or more triples in four of seven games since joining the Thunder.
Cavaliers vs Thunder SGP
Cavaliers moneyline
Mobley Over 21.5 P/R/A
Harden Over 8.5 assists
McCain Over 1.5 threes
Cavaliers vs Thunder odds
Spread: Cavaliers -1 | Thunder +1
Moneyline: Cavaliers -115 | Thunder -105
Over/Under: Over 223.5 | Under 223.5
Cavaliers vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the Moneyline in 14 of their last 16 games (+12.10 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Thunder.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Thunder
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Cavaliers vs Thunder latest injuries
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Los Angeles, CA - November 02: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) sits on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Year after year, the salaries of NBA players increase.
Dylan Harper, the Spurs second overall pick last summer, is making $56M on a rookie contract compared to $35M, the total career earnings of his father Ron Harper. It’s not that the senior Harper was underpaid, that was just what a player of his stature made during that era.
By comparison, Michael Jordan earned $94M during his 15 seasons in the NBA.
It stands to reason that the highest paid players of all time are currently playing.
But what may come as a surprise is how many games have been missed by the players who earn the most.
This list from Clutch Points illuminates the high cost of signing superstars.
All 10 of the highest-paid NBA players in history played this season 💰
But most of them are having a hell of a time staying on the floor.
Here's the list in order:
1. LeBron James ($581 million) 2. Kevin Durant ($501 million) 3. Steph Curry ($470 million) 4. James Harden… pic.twitter.com/JZ20iNYCvP
The main thing that sticks out when looking at this list is injuries. AD, Dame, and Jimmy are already out for the rest of this season. LeBron missed the first 14 games of the year, Steph’s been on the bench for 16, while Kawhi’s sat for 13. PG13 is suspended, but even when he isn’t, it seems like he’s always hurt as well.
And, of course, CP3 was cut by the Clippers 16 games into the season and eventually retired.“
Obviously, CP3 did not make the bulk of his money this season, but it does underscopre just how much goes into signing and maintaining high-quality players.
Teams invest in players who don’t pan out, waive players paying on those contracts, and make trades that do not support their bottom line.
It is a business after all.
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Phoenix players Jalen Green, in street clothes, Devin Booker, and Mark Williams cheer on teammate Grayson Allen as they play against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 10, 2025. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns have mostly hovered around the seventh seed in the Western Conference for the last two months, but fans don’t think that will last.
When asked where the team will finish in the standings, more than two-thirds of them think they’ll end up out of the play-in and in the top-six of the West.
I’m typically not surprised by votes on Suns Reacts, but this one got me. While Phoenix has been one of the most surprising teams across the NBA this year, not only have they been struggling of late, but the teams around them in the standings are starting to get healthy and play better basketball.
2-5 in February so far, the Suns are only eight games above .500 for the first time since January. Additionally, the Los Angeles Lakers, who are two spots ahead of the Suns in the standings, have their big three of Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Luka Dončić all healthy for the first time since Christmas, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are a spot ahead of Phoenix, are 3-1 since adding Ayo Dosunmu at the trade deadline and have won eight of their last 11.
The good thing for the Suns is that while they are two and a half games behind the Lakers and Wolves, they have the tiebreaker over Minnesota, and are in the drivers seat to have it over the Lakers.
Minnesota has the third-toughest regular season left based on strength of schedule, Los Angeles has the 10th, and Phoenix has the 15th.
For the Suns to get out of the play-in, they’re going have to finish games stronger. Duds like their performance against the Spurs on Thursday out of the break are inevitable, especially against a team they dominated so handily the first two times the team played, but they are going to have to be better down the stretch.
Their losses against the Warriors, Pistons and Heat in the last month are demonstrations of how the team was not able to hit shots when they needed to and pick up important stops. Credit, Devin Booker either didn’t play or finish any of those games, and the team is better down the stretch when he is in the lineup.
With four-straight home games to end the month, the Suns have an opportunity to get back in a rhythm and potentially make some ground in the standings, ending the month against the Lakers.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 11: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 11, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The entire country of Canada will have an early start to their sports viewing experience on Sunday, and the Toronto Raptors could surely benefit from leaning into the hockey pride sweeping the nation.
After the Olympic gold medal game between Canada and the United States, the Raptors are set to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. With the province of Ontario permitting the sale of alcohol as early as 6 a.m EST, the Raptors have a tough act to follow for a likely rowdy audience, regardless of the outcome on the ice.
But ahead of tip-off, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST on TSN, it’s worth noting that the Raptors and the Canadian men’s hockey team share surprising narratives and traits headed into their respective matchups.
Here are three storylines to watch out for.
Life without their leader
With the team declaring Scottie Barnes out due to personal reasons, the Raptors will be without their All-Star for the second time this season. Similar to Sidney Crosby for Team Canada, Barnes is the heartbeat of the team. The last time Barnes missed action was during a 125-117 loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 9. Toronto is 4-14 without Barnes over the last two seasons.
Even against a Bucks team without Giannis Antetokounmpo, losing Barnes is a big deal. His ability to ignite opportunities in transition off defensive stops is reminiscent of the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid launching himself out of a cannon through the neutral zone. Passing lanes materialize out of nowhere when Barnes has the ball in his hands, even when the defence seemingly has the advantage. While the Bucks aren’t as imposing defensively without Antetokounmpo, they did look rejuvenated in their 139-118 win against the Pelicans on Feb. 20, finishing with nine steals and eight blocks.
On the defensive end, Barnes is more like Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar. They’ve got a similar defensive genius that is leveraged into offensive wizardry. The Bucks have a duo of streaky scorers in Kevin Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas. Without Barnes, it’ll be up to perimeter defenders like Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter to help keep them in check. Porter and Thomas combined for 52 points, while shooting 75 per cent from three against New Orleans.
A shaky last line of defence
Jakob Poeltl has officially played in back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 15. Seeing the Austrian on the court is a welcome sight, but there’s something visibly off about Poeltl. Whether it’s due to his back injury or because he’s still ramping up to his usual workload, Poeltl doesn’t look the same.
What he’s supposed to be is the steady rock of the team. A reliable and calming presence on the defensive end and someone who takes pressure off the offence. In many ways, both good and bad, he’s the Jordan Binnington of the Raptors. How far the Raptors go this year will be heavily determined by what Poeltl has left in the tank. His ability to grind out possessions in close games, and especially in contests that slow the pace down, extends Toronto’s runway for mistakes.
Even with calf strains potentially holding out Myles Turner in addition to Antetokounmpo, the Raptors will still need Poeltl to help deal with the athletic Jericho Sims and pesky Bobby Portis. Sims recorded two blocks against the Pelicans, while Portis finished with a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds).
Next star up
It’s tricky to find an apt hockey comparison for Brandon Ingram. The one that makes the most sense would be a combination of the expectations that come with the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and the explosive offensive volume generated by the San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini. Unlike MacKinnon, who isn’t 100 per cent at the Olympics, Ingram has luckily avoided any season-derailing injuries with the Raptors. But the two share a similar burden this weekend, with the forwards having to step their game up in the absence of their co-star’s unavailability.
Ingram dropped a cool 31 points against the Bulls on Feb. 19, including a mid-range jumper that helped seal the win. One day later, MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal to send Canada to the gold-medal game.
Stage presence is everything as the playoffs loom, and Ingram will need to lean on his confidence to keep the Raptors in the Eastern Conference race.
One night ago under the lights, it was heartbreak for Maryland baseball following a ninth-inning disaster. Less than 24 hours later, the hard times continued, as they were steamrolled by Louisiana, 9-1.
“We just lost today… that’s just baseball sometimes, you know, I told the guys we didn’t do a good job necessarily, taking something away from the starter,” said Swope. “And sometimes you got to give him credit. He was good today … I like the way we finished. The last three innings kind of built it up, kept fighting. [And] that’s who we got to be.”
It was an afternoon of near perfection for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who won their first series of 2026. Left-handed starter Andrew Herrmann dominated with a six and one-third inning performance of two hits, one run, three walks and seven strikeouts on 116 pitches.
Saturday was the lefty graduate’s best start of the season. He rebounded from a week ago, when he walked five batters and gave up two runs against Missouri State.
The Terps only found offense from sophomore catcher Rylen Stockton, who delivered his second long ball of the season in the seventh inning. The newcomer is now up to a .389 average through six games. Outside of Stockton and his 2-for-4 day at the plate, the Terps combined to record three hits.
Louisiana has won three games in a row, and its offense was hot in contrast to the Terps on Saturday — with 11 hits, nine RBIs, eight walks and just three batters retired on strikes.
Terps freshman starter Nic Morlang made his second start. He kept things clean with scoreless pitching until the fourth inning. He surrendered six hits, four earned runs and two walks in 55 pitches. The next phase in the young pitcher’s game to develop is getting over the hump down the stretch in outings.
“I wasn’t necessarily discouraged by the effort or anything like that. I thought Nic did a good job. Just kind of let things compound in that [fourth] inning,” Swope said. “We talked about trying to limit all that stuff. So I think today is more just a case that we [as a team] lost.”
Last week, in his debut against UNC Wilmington, Morlang’s momentum stalled in the third inning. This week, it was the fourth frame. Morlang, who is 0-2 to start the year, was only able to record one punch out in three innings of work against Louisiana. The Terps then had to rely on a struggling bullpen.
On Friday, Swope tried to stretch reliever Cristofer Cespedes to four innings of relief work. He had built himself to four strikeouts, but then came an implosion of six earned runs and four free passes given from the bullpen.
One Saturday ago, Maryland had to use five relief arms. This time around, appearances weren’t erratic, but in the blowout, the staff gave up four runs and six walks. One standout was freshman left-handed reliever Case Gibbs, who went an inning and ⅔, allowing one hit and two strikeouts.
In the series finale, Maryland’s Sunday pitching plans and lineup will have to step up — the Terps will look to avoid a sweep for the first time since playing Illinois in April 2025.
“I just told them we got to do whatever we can to salvage the series. Good teams sweep and they don’t get swept,” Swope added. “So it’s just one of those things, we got to come out and get a win.”
Three things to know
1. New adversity. After a 3-1 start, the Terps find themselves 0-2 in Louisiana. On Sunday, they will look to salvage a series after facing their first tall task in their non-conference schedule.
2. Pitching troubles. Outside of right-hander Lance Williams, Maryland’s pitching staff has struggled. They have given up 10 total runs and walks across Friday and Saturday.
3. Bud Coombs’ return. Freshman Bud Coombs returned Saturday in a substitution opportunity for the Terps. This came one week after he left Maryland’s Feb. 14 doubleheader against UNC Wilmington with an ankle injury.
In the nightcap Monday of an NBA doubleheader on Peacock, the Houston Rockets will play host to the Utah Jazz in a Western Conference matchup.
Houston (34-21) squandered an 18-point lead in a 108-106 road loss Saturday to the New York Knicks and is battling the Los Angeles Lakers for a top-four spot in the West.
This will mark the third of four regular-season meetings between the teams, which split the first two games.
See below for additional information on how to watch the Jazz-Rockets matchup and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the NBA on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
For Houston, it all starts with 37-year-old superstar Kevin Durant, who is averaging a team-leading 25.8 points per game in his 18th NBA season. Durant is ranked sixth on the all-time scoring list after passing Wilt Chamberlain (31,419 points) and Dirk Nowitzki (31,560) last month. He trails Michael Jordan (32,292) by 415 pts.
The 16-time All-Star is supported by a youthful nucleus that includes Alperen Sengun (20.7 points per game and a team-leading 9.4 rebounds per game and 6.3 assists per game), Amen Thompson (career-high 17.6 ppg), Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason — all of whom are 24 or younger.
Utah also has some promising young players. Keyonte George is on pace for career highs in scoring (23.8 points per game), rebounding and steals in his third season. Rookie forward Ace Bailey, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 draft, has improved his scoring average to 14.4 ppg over the past 18 games.
The Jazz were fined for holding three starters — Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić — out of the fourth quarter of two February games before the All-Star break. The Jazz held a seven-point lead entering the fourth quarter of a 120-117 loss to Orlando on Feb. 7 and still defeated Miami 115-11 on Feb. 9. Jazz head coach Will Hardy said he sat Markkanen because of a minutes restriction by the medical team.
What other NBA games are on Peacock and NBCSN on Monday?
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
(Original Caption) The Boston's Celtic's Bill Russell, (R) goes in high to score as St. Louis Hawk's Zelmo Beaty, (L) tries to block the attempt in a 2nd person action at the Boston Garden in this photograph. Celtics won the game with 116-110.
The NBA has evolved quite a bit over the last several decades. When it started in 1946, or 1949 depending on whether you count the pre-merger BAA as some do (the BAA and the NBL merged to make the NBA in 1949), the league was very much old school.
When Bill Russell came along in 1956, he revolutionized the game with his combination of extraordinary athleticism and intelligence. Yet you see arguments periodically from people who think guys from his era couldn’t play today.
Well, some probably couldn’t. Tom Heinsohn smoked and it’s unimaginable that a heavy smoker could keep up with today’s pace. But genetics haven’t changed and guys like Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Russell, once they got up to speed on today’s game, would be just fine.
This video from the 1963 NBA Finals, from the decisive Game 6, is beautifully restored. You get a really good look at Russell, who had 12 points, 28 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 blocks, several of which are shown.
It’s also fun to watch Bob Cousy, when the clock is almost expired, toss the ball to the rafters.
A lot has changed in basketball, but the sheer joy in victory hasn’t changed at all. Keep in mind this is Boston’s fifth straight title and the sixth in seven years. These guys are absolutely ecstatic.
The NCAA Tournament field is somewhat starting to shape up, with multiple teams pulling ahead as potential national championship favorites. Saturday, Feb. 21, was potentially even a Final Four preview, with No. 3 Duke defeating No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Arizona beating No. 2 Houston.
There are also assuredly to be a few bid stealers come conference championship season, which almost always throws a wrench when in the NCAA's plans with crafting the 68-team bracket.
Here's a look at the latest NCAA Tournament preview, including bubble teams and locks to reach March Madness:
March Madness bracket bubble watch tracker
Based on games through Saturday, Feb. 21
NCAA Tournament locks
Big Ten (7): Michigan, Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin
There are 27 virtual locks for the NCAA Tournament, according to Bart Torvik's "TourneyCast," one of multiple metrics used by the NCAA in deciding the bracket. Each team listed has a 99.8% chance or better to reach the Tournament, per Torvik.
Torvik's metrics are part of the NCAA's BPI equation, alongside other third-party analyst Ken Pomeroy, who runs KenPom.
NCAA Tournament likely ins
Big 12(1): UCF
Big Ten (2): Indiana, UCLA
ACC(2): SMU, Miami
SEC (4): Kentucky, Texas A&M, Texas, Georgia
Big East(0): N/A
Other(3): Saint Mary's, New Mexico
There are a lot fewer likely-in teams than locks, due to there still being a few weeks left in the regular season, along with conference tournaments. Teams included have between a 70% and 99.8% chance to reach the NCAA Tournament, per Torvik.
NCAA Tournament bubble teams
Big 12(3): TCU, West Virginia, Cincinnati
Big Ten (3): Ohio State, USC, Washington
ACC(2): Virginia Tech, Cal
SEC (2): Auburn, Missouri
Big East(1): Seton Hall
Other(3): Santa Clara, San Diego State, VCU
Not all of these teams will reach the NCAA Tournament, and some might only have a chance at earning a bid through the conference tournament. Still, these teams have between a 5% and 57% chance of reaching the tournament as an at-large team, per Torvik.
Newton, MA - February 3: Boston Celtics President Brad Stevens watches his son Brady Stevens play for Newton North. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Boston’s secret weapon this year has been the play of guys that were, basically, afterthoughts in assessments of the team coming into the season.
Sure, among Boston cognoscenti, there were expectations that Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser would be able to fill in some gaps caused by the loss of Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis. But even among these fans, there was little expectation that the C’s would see such massive steps up in production from players that had pretty uneven playing time last season, and there were few expectations for the C’s rookies, Amari Williams and Hugo Gonzalez, as well.
So what happened?
First of all, it’s my belief that your typical NBA bench player has a fair bit more to show than what his role allows him. These guys are all pretty much All-Americans—at least the ones that come up through the US college system. Some of them come in raw and need training to develop their games up to a point where they can contribute meaningful minutes; other guys are closer to finished products who need game reps to get used to the NBA’s pace and intensity. But I am firmly convinced, and I use the Boston Celtics as my chief example, that a lot of bench talent in this league is being wasted by teams that are focused primarily on their stars—or the process of acquiring stars.
The difference between the Celtics and most teams in this league is the way they evaluate and develop all of the talent on their team.
Last week I wrote about how the Celtics had been scouting Baylor Scheierman for years—and along with that, they probably had broken down more film on him than your typical draft analyst. They also had another thing going for them that the typical draft analyst doesn’t. They’d actually interviewed him. Twice.
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 26: Baylor Scheierman is drafted 30th overall by the Boston Celtics during the 2024 NBA Draft – Round One on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics saw something different, though. They saw a gifted basketball player whowas willing to put in the work. The results speak for themselves. This season, the C’s are ten points per 100 possessions better than their opponents when Scheierman is on the floor.
Of course, the Celtics haven’t just drafted ‘proven quantities’ into supporting roles. They’ve also taken flyers on 19-year olds like Walsh and Gonzalez. We tend to forget that Jordan was taken after just one season at Arkansas.
Here’s where the C’s player development coaches have really shined. Walsh was an incredibly raw prospect coming out of the Razorbacks program, and the C’s player development team have basically spent the last two and a half seasons providing the sort of assistance with skill acquisition that used to take place in college.
The C’s have shown patience with player development that seems to be a rarity in the NBA. Neemias Queta is an example of Boston benefiting from another team’s lack of patience. Queta was drafted by Sacramento, given a two-year contract, and then ditched. Their loss was Boston’s gain. Queta signed with Boston as a free agent, and has grown into a starting caliber center for an upper division team in the NBA. This only happens when a team is willing to invest time in player growth.
Boston, MA – July 1: Boston Celtics draft picks Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Hugo González introduce themselves to kids at the Huntington Avenue YMCA on July 1, 2025. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Celtics were also willing to bring Gonzalez over right away. There were teams ahead of Boston who had strong interest in Hugo, but they wanted him to stay in Europe for a year or two. Gonzalez is still very much a rookie, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance that the C’s player development team can hone much more effectively than spending a couple years in Europe playing against weaker competition.
Another factor that the Celtics have going for them is the personnel in their front office.
The Celtics haven’t just shown skill in drafting players and putting together a solid coaching staff; they’ve also rolled out the red carpet for free agents like Neemias Queta and undrafted rookies like Sam Hauser.
For Sam, the choice came down to offers from the Heat and the Celtics.
The Heat wanted Sam to compete for a two-way spot during Summer League, while the Celtics had a two-way deal on the table.
At the time, Miami had a strong reputation for developing overlooked talent, and Boston didn’t.
That comment, by the way, is a Midwesterner’s way of saying, “We didn’t trust Pat Riley.”
Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, was fond of replacing the old phrase “The devil’s in the details” with “God lives in the details.”
Now that might not be the case, but the Celtics have been far more detail-oriented when it comes to roster construction than their peers. They have spent more time and attention on these players and it has unquestionably paid off.
Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The Yankees hosted their spring home opener yesterday afternoon, and it was a fun one. Spencer Jones hit a mammoth home run, Aaron Judge already looked like he was in GOAT-mode with two dingers, and pitching prospect Carlos Langrage showcased some filthy stuff in an impressive start, a day after fellow prospect Elmer Rodríguez looked solid against the Orioles.
We should absolutely not overreact to the outings of Lagrange and Rodríguez to start spring, with the two young pitchers flashing over the course of just a couple innings. Yet just because we shouldn’t suddenly heap huge expectations on them doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun. If you had to choose now, which Yankees pitching prospect do you think will make the biggest impact in 2026?
We saw just last year how a young, hard-throwing prospect could rise quickly and make his mark, as Cam Schlittler dominated the upper minors and became a vital part of the Yankee pitching staff by the end of the season. There’s no guarantee that the Yankees will see a young starter do the same this year, but they certainly have some plausible candidates. Rodríguez hinted at improved command in his first start, and he’s coming off one of the most impressive seasons of any minor league pitcher in 2025, posting a 2.58 ERA in 150 innings with 176 strikeouts.
Lagrange, for his part, is a positively tantalizing talent. The righty wrings easy 100-mph gas out of his 6-foot-7 frame, and though bouts of poor control kept him from matching the run-prevention numbers Rodríguez posted in 2025, Lagrange still managed to run one of the highest strikeout rates in the minors, fanning 168 batters in 120 innings.
Rodríguez and Lagrange are the obvious prospect candidates to make their presence known in the bigs this year, but the Yankees do have at least a couple more dark horses elsewhere in the system. Ben Hess, their first-round pick in 2024, showed well in Double-A last season, and could be a pick to click if the Yankees’ pitching development can squeeze a bit more velo out of Hess’ fastball. There’s also Chase Hampton, perhaps the team’s best pitching prospect before going down with Tommy John surgery last year. It’s a long shot Hampton puts it all back together in his first season after injury, but who knows?
What do you think? Do you think there’s a prospect that has particularly good odds of doing a Schlittler impression this year? Or will the Yankees ultimately lean on their veteran starters all season?
On the site today, Matt profiles a fascinating figure in Ryne Duren, who was supposedly the inspiration for the Charlie Sheen’s character in Major League. Also, John spins around Yankees social media, highlighting a whole lot of shenanigans as the Yankees reported to camp. And we’ve got baseball, with the Yankees hosting their crosstown rivals down in Tampa.
The Lakers will honor legendary coach Pat Riley, talking to guard Michael Cooper during a game in 1985, with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. (Getty Images)
The Lakers had defeated the hated Boston Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals and there stood coach Pat Riley at the Forum in Inglewood with a microphone in his hands and joyous players behind him relishing the moment.
Riley then made a declaration.
“I’m guaranteeing everyone here next year we are going to win it again,” Riley said.
He quickly looked back at his shocked players.
Byron Scott said it was the kind of moment that showed why Riley is having his statue unveiled by the Lakers on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, and on the day L.A. plays the rival Celtics, no less.
Riley won four championships and reached the Finals seven times during nine years coaching the franchise for which he once played.
Lakers coach Pat Riley celebrates with players, including Kurt Rambis, left, and Magic Johnson, right, after winning the 1985 NBA title. (Los Angeles Times)
Showtime, Scott said, was as much about Riley as Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper and James Worthy.
It had been almost 20 years since the last team that won back-to-back championships, the 1968-69 Celtics, and yet there was the “calculating” Riley making his guarantee.
“We’re all sitting there at the Forum and he’s on the damn pedestal talking and he said, ‘I’m guaranteeing everyone here next year we are going to win it again.’ We were just like, ‘What did he just say? We’re still trying to enjoy this one,’” Scott recalled, laughing.
“He said it and he turned around real quick and kind of looked at us and we were all like, ‘Wait a minute. Did he just say we are going to win this s— again next year? We ain’t even celebrated this one.’ But what he did is subconsciously he got us thinking about that ...
“We all started working out earlier than we normally do when we win a championship. I remember I went to the UCLA track and I saw Coop there. Magic there. I said, ‘Wait a minute, I ain’t never seen these brothers here this early.’ Then I thought, ‘I ain’t never come this early either.’ It was like I had to get ready.
"Like I said, he thought about that and was calculating about it and it was exactly what we needed. We needed that challenge and that’s why I think he’s one of the greatest coaches of all time. We were able to pull it off.”
Indeed, the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons in seven games the next season to win another ring.
Scott, who won three championships with the Lakers, said Riley could push them so hard because the coach “worked his ass off.”
“When we started flying in our own private plane, there were times when I would get up in the middle of the flight to go use the bathroom in the back and his light would be the only one on going through stuff,” Scott said. “And I remember that like it was yesterday. The man was just a tireless worker and his work ethic was unmatched as a coach. He was always prepared.”
Worthy said Riley demanded the best from his players because he demanded so much out of himself.
Riley won a championship as a bench player with the Lakers in 1972. But as coach he was the director of the Lakers’ championship runs in the '80s.
“He was real honest about what he saw. So, he was always good,” Worthy said. “He pushed you to the limit. He understood personalities and how far he could push certain people. You know how you wring that face towel up and hang it up? He would always take it down and he would get one more drop out of you. He was like, ‘Naw, there are a couple more drops in you. You didn’t squeeze tight enough. There is one more drop in there.’ He ended up getting it too.
"He kept us together with honesty and truth and hard work. There weren’t no days off. Wasn’t no load management. None of that. Every game I played with Pat Riley, win or lose, I was ready and prepared — without question.”
Lakers, from left, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Magic Johnson and coach Pat Riley during 1985 victory parade. (Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)
Mychal Thompson, who was acquired by the Lakers in 1987, spent seven seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Jack Ramsay.
Thompson quickly realized that playing for Riley alongside Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar required more than he had ever given.
“Riley’s demands were quite high,” said Thompson, who won two titles with the Lakers. “You couldn’t play for Pat Riley unless you are a true pro. There was no foolishness tolerated from him and, of course, Magic, his lieutenant. Obviously I played against them many years — and Jack Ramsay was a demanding coach too — but the Lakers under Riley was a whole different level. They expected to win championships and when you expect to win championships you can’t afford any slack-offs.”
How Riley became coach is the stuff of Lakers lore.
He was a commentator for the Lakers alongside the venerable Chick Hearn, doing what was then a simulcast of radio and television. When Lakers coach Jack McKinney was injured in a bicycle accident in November 1979, assistant coach Paul Westhead took over and hired Riley as an assistant. The Lakers went on to win the championship in 1980.
But six games into the 1981-82 season, Johnson expressed his desire to be traded because he was unhappy playing for Westhead. Lakers owner Jerry Buss fired Westhead and chose West, the team's former coach who was working as a scout, to replace him.
Lakers coach Pat Riley takes a knee as he talks to his players on the bench, including James Worthy and Bob McAdoo, in 1983. (Los Angeles Times)
But at the news conference for the announcement, West balked and said he was going to assist Riley, who was named the interim coach before it became permanent.
Thus began the rise of of Riley, who took Showtime to the highest heights during the '80s.
Jeanie Buss, Jerry’s daughter who remains the Lakers' governor and minority owner, says this honor for Riley is well deserved.
“This will be a great way to celebrate one of the most important people in the history of the Lakers and of the NBA,” Buss told The Times. “As the stylish leader of the Showtime Lakers, Pat Riley became the epitome of an era. And I’m so glad that generations of Angelenos will be able to gather by his statue, to learn of his achievements and to understand his central role in the history of our city.”
When Worthy was drafted No. 1 overall by the Lakers in 1982, he recalled his first meeting with Riley. West picked up Worthy at the airport and the two drove to meet Riley for lunch.
“I had never met Pat Riley and he came in and I was like, ‘Man, is this Robert De Niro or this Pat Riley!’” Worthy said, laughing. “He had a cool, open-collared shirt on. He had long hair. I was like, ‘This man here, he is cool.’ But you also knew then from our conversations that he was a great coach and he expected the best out of you.”
The images of Riley standing on the sideline looking stylish in Armani suits, his slicked-back hair seemingly perfect, are ingrained in the minds of basketball fans.
It was a look of authority and self-assurance that even the Hollywood crowd that attended the games respected and admired.
“So, I’m just trying to figure out what Riles’ statue is going to look like,” Worthy said. “It's got to be one of those sideline Armani suits with his hands on his sides or something. That’s the best one, man, and his neat hairdo, looking stylish. That’s got to be it.”
Week 18 is the first full week of NBA action after the All-Star break, and this begins the mad dash to the fantasy playoffs for many managers. After a light Monday schedule with just three games, there will be at least five on every other day, led by double-figure days on Tuesday (11 games) and Thursday (10). There are some teams focused on the draft lottery, but many others are still in the mix for playoff berths or, at the very least, a play-in tournament spot. Let's look at the schedule breakdown for Week 18 and a few of its key storylines.
Week 18 Games Played
4 Games: BKN, BOS, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, LAL, MEM, MIL, NOR, OKC, POR, SAC, SAS
3 Games: ATL, CHA, CHI, DEN, GSW, IND, MIA, MIN, NYK, PRL, PHI, TOR, UTA, WAS
2 Games: LAC, PHX
Week 18 Back-to-backs
Sunday (Week 17)-Monday: None
Monday-Tuesday: None
Tuesday-Wednesday: BOS, CLE, GSW, MIL, OKC, TOR
Wednesday-Thursday: HOU, SAC, SAS
Thursday-Friday: BKN, DAL
Friday-Saturday: None
Saturday-Sunday: LAL, NOR, POR
Sunday-Monday (Week 19): BOS, DEN, LAC, MIL
Week 18 Storylines of Note
- Avoid the Clippers early in the week, and be ready to move on from the Suns after Thursday.
The Clippers and Suns are the only two teams playing just two games in Week 18. Regarding the Clippers, their non-essential fantasy players won't be viable options until the back end of the week, as they play games on Thursday and Sunday. Hopefully, the time off to begin the week will be enough to get Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and John Collins (head, neck) back into the fold. Both exited Friday's loss to the Lakers due to injury, with the latter being ruled out for the Clippers' final Week 17 game at the time of publishing.
As for the Suns, who have been hit hard by injuries throughout the season, they play their Week 18 games on Tuesday and Thursday. Devin Booker (hip) will be re-evaluated towards the end of the week, which essentially takes him off the board. And during Saturday's double-overtime win over the Magic, Phoenix lost Dillon Brooks (hand) and Jordan Goodwin (calf), with the former out indefinitely due to a broken left hand. Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen have added fantasy value with those players out, even with Phoenix's poor schedule. However, that may not be the case for Ryan Dunn or Royce O'Neale.
- Five teams play three games over the final four days of Week 18, including the Nets and Lakers.
The Nets, Mavericks, Lakers, Pelicans and Trail Blazers will have the busiest schedules to end Week 18. Brooklyn, Dallas and New Orleans are all teams playing for the future, with the first two focused on improving their draft lottery odds (New Orleans traded its 2026 first-round pick as part of the deal that landed them Derik Queen in last year's draft). And given how those teams have handled the availability of some of their regulars, get ready for players like Day'Ron Sharpe and Danny Wolf in Brooklyn, and Marvin Bagley III in Dallas to emerge as streaming options to end the week.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers are fighting for playoff seeding in the West, with the latter facing seemingly insurmountable odds to get out of the play-in tournament. While the Lakers have gotten back to full strength after the All-Star break, Portland is still dealing with some injury issues. Will they have Deni Avdija (back) for all four of their games in Week 18? Robert Williams (knee) is close to a guarantee to sit out back-to-backs, and it's fair to ask questions regarding Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson as well.
- Golden State and Toronto have the worst schedules to end Week 18.
The Warriors and Raptors only play one game after Wednesday. While the former hosts the Lakers on Saturday in what should be an intense contest, the Raptors visit the Wizards on the same day. And with Washington clearly focused on ensuring its top-8 protected pick doesn't go to the Knicks, the Raptors are likely to face a team without most of its best players on the floor. That could mean a big finish to the week for Brandon Ingram or Scottie Barnes (who missed Toronto's final game of Week 17 for personal reasons).
The question for the Warriors is whether Stephen Curry (knee) will be available at any point during Week 18. His re-evaluation timeline of ten days seemingly rules him out for the Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back against the Pelicans and Grizzlies. Also, that back-to-back likely limits Kristaps Porziņǵis (Achilles) and Al Horford (back) to two appearances during Week 18. That isn't enough to get Quinten Post back onto the fantasy radar, however.
- The Celtics and Bucks each have two back-to-backs to navigate.
Boston and Milwaukee have back-to-backs on Tuesday/Wednesday and Sunday/Monday during Week 18. The Celtics' first back-to-back is on the road against the Suns and Nuggets in the final games of their current west coast trip, while Milwaukee will play home games against the Heat and Cavaliers.
The game against Cleveland may be one where the Bucks benefit from the Cavaliers being at less than full strength, as they host the Knicks the night prior. If Evan Mobley (calf) were to play against New York, would he be rested in Milwaukee? Given the stakes involved, it would be unsurprising if Mobley sat out the second game.
Milwaukee is still without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), and Myles Turner (calf) has missed the last two games due to injury. Boston has been the healthier team recently; fantasy managers will hope that this means the entire roster will be available to begin Week 18.
