Feb 18, 2026; Bradenton, FL, USA;Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin (75) poses for photos as he walks around to photo stations during media day at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Shamelessly stealing this question from Jacob Hausdorf in the Moose Tracks yesterday because once Star Wars comes up, that’s just like tossing a package of snausages into a kennel, but I thought this question merited some focused discussion:
Which non-Mariners pitcher and hitter are you most excited to watch this spring?
Bonus if they’re in the same division and would potentially face each other (why yes I am still in my Heated Rivalry era, why do you ask).
You can approach this question any way you like, but I specified this spring to include prospects who likely won’t make their clubs’ Opening Day rosters. I have heard so much about superprospect Konnor Griffin that I am going to deliberately subject myself to Pirates baseball in order to see some of his at-bats. I’m curious if Griffin will be sort of like Kyle Seager was in Seattle: an unbreakable talent, someone good enough to transcend whatever messed-up player development or organizational decisions or whatever has caused this long stream of futility in Pittsburgh. With Griffin and Skenes, does that feel like enough to make even the hapless Pirates a contender? (And also Bubba Chandler. And Seth Hernandez! Are the Pirates…good?)
For pitching, my homer choice is Ryan Sloan. I’d like to think that even if I weren’t a Mariners fan I’d like the guy whose teammate described him as a “centaur,” if the man part of the centaur was a fifth grader who looked like he wanted to talk to you about dinosaurs and the horse part was a Belgian Draught. But I liked Andrew Painter back in the 2021 draft, and am excited to what he can do now that he’s healthy, so he’d be a good second choice.
Also, feel free to take this as a petty pick. If you want to see how washed Verlander is as a Tiger, Round Two, this is a safe space to say that.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH, 1998: Thirdbaseman Mike Lowell #14 of the New York Yankees during workouts prior to a Spring Training game in March, 1998 at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Florida. 98STTYCS24-33 (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
There are very few people who walk planet Earth who can say they played on the best baseball team in history. So, for those who were able to appear on the 1998 Yankees team, they can take pride in having been a part of arguably the greatest squad MLB has ever seen. Not only did they make it to the best baseball league across the globe, but they had the privilege of putting on pinstripes and helping the club to a record-setting year.
There are so many recognizable names that span the roster. Of course, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill, and many others were the most prominent (and the guys who played the most), but even a team as stacked as that gets through a season with its fair share of names who play only a handful of games. For Mike Lowell, that season in which he only played eight games was the start of what was to be a solid and tenured MLB career.
Michael Averett Lowell Born: February 24, 1974 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) Yankees Tenure: 1998
Lowell was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the United States with his family when he was four years old, to Miami, Florida, to be exact. He played high school baseball and was good enough to earn a draft selection by the Chicago White Sox in the 1992 MLB draft, but he decided to go to school instead after earning a scholarship from Florida International University, where he graduated with a degree in finance following some excellent summers in the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Valley Baseball League. He was a three-time All-Conference player for the Panthers and even had his number retired at the school for his performance on the diamond. In the 1995 draft, the Yankees selected him in the 20th round, and he worked his way up through the minor leagues for the next three years before debuting in 1998.
On September 13, 1998, Lowell made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording his first MLB hit in his first at-bat. He was called up late in the regular season and did not play in the postseason, but he received a World Series ring for playing with the team that year. Overall, he played eight games and tallied four hits with one run scored, no RBI, and one strikeout in 15 plate appearances.
Lowell only spent that season with the Yankees in the majors, as he was shipped to the Florida Marlins in the polarizing trade that netted Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall — one that Brian Cashman once stated was his most regretted as a GM, as he chose to ride it out with incumbent surprise World Series MVP Scott Brosius rather than gradually incorporate the Top 100 prospect Lowell at the hot corner. Before the 1999 season, Lowell underwent surgery for testicular cancer that would leave him out of the Marlins lineup for the start of the year. He returned on May 29 and played in 97 games, slashing .253/.317/.419 for an OPS+ of 90.
Following that first year in Florida, Lowell established himself as one of the best third basemen in the National League. He spent another six years with the Marlins from 2000 to 2005, posting a slash line of .273/.341/.466 for an OPS+ of 111. His best season was 2003, when he finished 11th in National League MVP voting, collected his second All-Star appearance, and won his first Silver Slugger award. However, he did have to miss some time after suffering a broken hand against the Montreal Expos. After his 32-game recovery, he came back as strong as ever with the Marlins surging toward a Wild Card berth. They breezed past Barry Bonds’ Giants in the NLDS and Lowell got them off on the right foot in what would be an infamous seven-game NLCS against the Cubs by beating them in extras with a homer at Wrigley.
During the World Series against his former team, he had five hits with excellent glovework as always, helping Florida nail down the championship at Yankee Stadium. In 2004, he earned his third All-Star appearance, and in 2005, he won his first career Gold Glove at the hot corner, despite having a miserable season at the plate.
On November 21, 2005, Lowell was traded to the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees’ archrival received Lowell, Josh Beckett, and Guillermo Mota in exchange for Hanley Ramírez, Aníbal Sánchez, Jesús Delgado, and Harvey García. At the age of 32 in his first season with Boston, he wasn’t expected to be much of anything, but Lowell delivered on expectations at the time and more. He was an above-average hitter and played solid defense, but it was his second season in 2007 when he took the reins at third base and exceeded expectations. Finishing with an .879 OPS — two points off the highest of his career — he was given his fourth and final All-Star nod. And by season’s end, he finished fifth in American League MVP voting, with Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez taking home the award and Lowell finishing one spot back of his Red Sox teammate, David Ortiz. In the 2007 World Series, Lowell’s dominance continued, as he hit .400 with a home run and four RBI’s, earning him his second World Series ring and a World Series MVP trophy. He was the second Puerto Rican player to be named the MVP of a World Series, with the only other being Roberto Clemente.
Lowell continued his career until 2010, after being marred by injury problems, and a potential deal with the Texas Rangers was cancelled after the Rangers learned that Lowell had surgery on his right thumb. Following the injury issues, he was played as a backup infielder at third and first base, with his last game coming against the Yankees, where he had two at-bats and two hits in a 6-5 New York win in extras.
After his career, Lowell went into broadcasting and now works as an analyst for MLB Network. In terms of Yankee lore, he goes down as a great Coulda-Been, a player that developed into All-Star elsewhere after being unceremoniously sent out of town. In his own right, Lowell put together a more than fine career, contributing to a couple of championship teams Yankees fans certainly hated to see coming out on top.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 22: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on February 22, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks are a good team. They may not always look or play like it. But they are. At 37-21, they have a top-five record in the league, have a top-three offense, a defense that has been on the cusp of being top 10 in defensive rating, and remain top five in net rating as well. Despite all of these things being true, though, it’s not a stretch to say that this team, one that has had championship aspirations from day one, has also been among the most disappointing ones in recent memory.
They can’t beat the Pistons, the one team that has consistently been ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings. Their bench has been an inconsistent question mark for much of the season. Mikal Bridges continues to have stretches where he seemingly disappears. And the starting lineup, despite posting better stats this year, still struggles against great defenses. Among the most alarming concerns this season, though, has been the disappointing season that Karl-Anthony Towns has had… Or that’s at least what the majority of the fanbase wants to think. But is that a fair assessment?
Now, some of the frustrations are warranted. Over his first 10 years in the league, Towns earned a reputation for being one of the most efficient scorers in the league. During that span, the big man averaged 23.1PPG on 52.4% shooting from the field, and 40% shooting from three. His rare combination of size, post-up skills, and shooting allowed him to be as good as he is despite his very obvious and frustrating shortcomings on the defensive end.
This year he has looked and performed like a shell of himself. We may never know if there was an underlying injury issue or if it was just the new offense Mike Brown installed last summer. But the version of Towns we have seen for the overwhelming majority of this season has been one of hesitation, disappearance, and uncharacteristic struggles.
Through his first 49 games, Towns averaged 19.7PPG, while shooting 46.3% from the field, and 35.3% from three, while attempting just 14 field goal attempts per game. All of those marks would be the lowest, or second lowests of his career.
Some of it has been him simply missing shots he usually makes. But it’s been deeper than just him missing shots. As evident by his field goal attempts, he’s been featured less as a scorer in the Knicks’ new offense. Instead of having his number called, he is now required to read defenses more and find the best times for him to attack, something he and his teammates have both struggled to do.
Towns has seemed to have turned things around a bit tough. Towns has scored 20 or more points in five straight games, which is the longest streak of the season. And during the stretch, he is averaging 23.4PPG, while shooting 56.6% from the field, and 47.8% from three. He’s been more aggressive, evident by his 15.2 field goal attempts per game, and overall, he’s looked more comfortable, and just as importantly, more decisive.
But it’s clear that this isn’t, and never was, a strictly Towns problem. As mentioned earlier, his teammates have struggled to find Towns, especially when he pops screens. Lately, though, there’s been more of an effort by his teammates, and more specifically, by Jalen Brunson, to get him involved. While the two still lack the two-man game fans dreamed of when they were first paired up, Brunson has looked for his center noticeably more as of late.
Going back to the earlier question, I’d confidently answer that the blame Towns has gotten has been disproportionate and unfair. Towns still deserves some criticism for the way he has shot the ball, the amount he complains (although some of that is warranted given his horrendous whistle), his somewhat improved, but still frustrating defensive miscues, and most importantly, his offensive fouls that make you want to pull your hair out. But the numbers point to him being one of the Knicks, and believe it or not, the league’s most impactful players.
This season, Karl-Anthony Towns has:
* More rebounds than Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama
* More points than Stephen Curry or LaMelo Ball
* More made 3-pointers than Devin Booker or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
I am firmly on the side of analytics and stats not being absolute. And that they can be deceiving, and or misused. But, hear me out. As seen above, Towns currently has more rebounds than Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama, more points than Stephen Curry or LaMelo Ball, more made 3-pointers than Devin Booker, more steals than Evan Mobley or Rudy Gobert, more double-doubles than Luka Dončić or Cade Cunningham, more assists than Amen Thompson or Isaiah Hartenstein, and h higher plus/minus than Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards. Those names and stats, especially since they are totals and not averages, can be cherry-picked to fit a narrative.
Only 4 players in the NBA have a 90th percentile or better O-EPM AND D-EPM:
But, according to EPM (estimated plus-minus), which is a newer adjusted plus-minus metric that quantifies expected impact, Towns has been great. As of February 23rd, Towns is just one of four players in the league that rank in the 90th percentile or higher in both offensive EPM and defensive EPM.
According to Cleaning the Glass, the Knicks are now 10.7 points better per 100 possessions with Karl-Anthony Towns on the court this season.
That ranks 1st among 45 players who have seen at least 1600 minutes of court time. pic.twitter.com/1xkn7gfwDh
Are those numbers still not enough? Towns, despite his flaws, remains the team leader in plus-minus this season, with an impressive +336. Brunson is second at just +266. And as mentioned above, the Knicks are now 10.7PPP better with Towns on the court, which happens to rank first in the league among players who have played 1600 or more minutes.
I am not here to tell you that Towns is the Knicks’ best or most impactful player. You can take the data and the eye test and decide for yourself. I’m also not here to tell you that he’s a perfect player. Or that he’s had an amazing season. But I will tell you that despite all of his flaws and despite his not being able to play up to his usual standards, Towns has still had a solid season. He deserved a fair share of the blame for his shortcomings and his offensive inconsistencies. But he doesn’t deserve to have everything blamed on him. He can’t control how much Josh Hart mucks up offenses against good defenses, how bad the bench has been at times, how much Brunson struggled to get him the ball at times, especially in crunch time, or how Bridges occasionally goes MIA. This team, as we’ve all seen, has some clear weaknesses, despite being a very good team. And Towns can’t, and shouldn’t be held accountable for all of them.
I will say this: If the Knicks want to ultimately raise the Larry O’Brien trophy, it’s still on Towns. While he’s been solid and better than many realize, he still has the most to show and improve on as far as performance vs. expectations go. If he and his teammates can get the best version of Towns to show up in the playoffs, this team could take another much-needed leap.
WASHINGTON, DC -SEPTEMBER 28: Jeff Hoffman #23 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With Bryce Harper getting past Luis Garcia and Cliff Lee outgaining Nick Castellanos, we’ve reached the final four of the tournament to decide who was the best “late” free agent signing in recent Phillies history.
Here are the semi-final matchups:
1.Cliff Lee, 2011
It’s a shame that Lee spent the final year and a half of his contract not playing baseball, but in a way, his injury was a blessing in disguise because it made the Phillies finally begin a rebuilding effort in earnest. Up until that point, they could talk themselves into thinking a rotation headed by Lee and Cole Hamels could sneak into the playoffs.
I’ve bashed Jeff Hoffman enough, so I’ll say he was a very good reliever for most of his time in Philadelphia and is definitively better than Jordan Romano.
Who should advance? Vote now!
2. Bryce Harper, 2019
Not that long ago, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Juan Soto were members of the Washington Nationals. The Nats didn’t offer any of those players competitive long-term deals, but they did commit to Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg. I realize pitching is important, but it feels like they might have miscalculated a bit.
6. Brad Miller, 2021
I figured there would have been more angst over Miller leaving the Phillies after 2021 considering he hit 20 home runs for them that season. My guess is that the offseason lockout and subsequent signing of a much better player in Kyle Schwarber helped mute most of the disconnect. It also didn’t hurt that Miller was very bad in 2022, racking up -1.7 WAR for the Rangers.
The Miami Heat will be searching for their fourth straight win tonight as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
Miami is hot, and my Heat vs. Bucks predictions expect the away team to keep rolling.
Read more in my NBA picks for this 8 p.m. ET tipoff on Tuesday, February 24.
Heat vs Bucks prediction
Heat vs Bucks best bet: Heat -6.5 (-110)
The Miami Heat remain in the playoff mix with a 31-27 record, and they’ve captured three straight victories heading into tonight’s clash.
Erik Spoelstra’s squad has beaten the Pelicans, Hawks, and Grizzlies, covering the spread in each game. In fact, they just blew out the Grizz by 16 points on Saturday, which means the Heat are well-rested.
Miami beat the Milwaukee Bucks by three points earlier this season, and Milwaukee just got blown out by 28 by the Raptors on Sunday. The Heat also have an impressive 19-11 ATS road record.
Heat vs Bucks same-game parlay
Andrew Wiggins is averaging 16.1 points per game this season, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three. The Canadian balled out for 28 on Saturday in the big victory over Memphis.
Bam Adebayo is averaging 2.9 dimes per game, but he’s comfortably cashed the Over in five straight.
The Heat star has 10 assists across his last two appearances, and the Bucks are allowing 3.9 per contest to centers.
Heat vs Bucks SGP
Heat -6.5
Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Tyler's Herro-ics
Tyler Herro has cashed the Over in triples in three of his last four games, and in his last road appearance, the guard was 2-for-4 from 3-point land.
Heat vs Bucks SGP
Heat -6.5
Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
Tyler Herro Over 1.5 made threes
Heat vs Bucks odds
Spread: Heat -6.5 (-110) | Bucks +6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Heat -245 | Bucks +200
Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)
Heat vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Miami Heat have covered the 1Q Spread in 30 of their last 40 away games (+19.80 Units / 43% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Bucks.
How to watch Heat vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Sun, FDSN Wisconsin
Heat vs Bucks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: Zach Cole #16 of the Houston Astros throws during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 13, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be rolling out a series of prospect previews for Spring Training. This week we look at one possibly one of the highest potential players in the system: Zach Cole
Zach Cole was selected by the Astros in the 10th round of the 2022 draft after hitting .361 as a junior at Ball State. He signed for just $97,500, but the upside was evident. An elite athlete, the left-handed hitter and thrower possesses plus power and speed, tools that show up both on the bases and in center field.
In his first full professional season, Cole hit .258 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs, 37 stolen bases, and an .869 OPS across two levels. The production was loud, though swing-and-miss concerns remained. The 2024 season proved more challenging, as injuries and adjustments at Double-A led to some growing pains.
2025, however, told a different story. After a slow start, Cole caught fire in Double-A, posting 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and an .868 OPS over 82 games. He earned a promotion to Triple-A and continued to rake, hitting .353 with five home runs in just 15 games before receiving a call-up to Houston, where he posted an .880 OPS with four home runs in 15 games. Overall, he totaled 22 doubles, seven triples, 19 home runs, and a system-leading 151 wRC+ across 97 minor league games. Read more on Cole here.
Do you think Cole will be a full-time player at the major league level?
Feb 12, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; A general view during live batting practice during spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
I’m going to post this early because I have to run out this morning, but I should be back about game time. We have an early start time: 1:00 pm Eastern.
The Jays are making the stressful bus ride from Dunedin to Tampa Bay to play the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. I found the worst traffic I’ve ever seen doing that drive. But there was a Souplantation not far from the park, and I knew someone who said they had the best tomato soup there. It was ok, not all that much better than Campbell’s can soup, but it allowed the rushhour traffic to disappear. I see that Souplantation has gone out of business since.
The Jays have the touring company on stage today. Daulton Varsho is playing center, after a couple of days of DH. Jesus Sanchez and Davis Schneider are playing too. And the two guys fighting for a utility infielder role are both out there: Leo Jimenez and Ben Cowles.
The home team is using a bunch of the regulars.
Today’s Lineups
YANKEES
BLUE JAYS
Trent Grisham – CF
Myles Straw – RF
Aaron Judge – RF
Daulton Varsho – CF
Cody Bellinger – LF
Jesus Sanchez – LF
Jazz Chisholm – 2B
Davis Schneider – DH
Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
Leo Jimenez – 2B
Austin Wells – C
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Amed Rosario – 3B
Josh Kasevich – 3B
Jose Caballero – SS
Riley Tirotta – 1B
Marco Luciano – DH
Ben Cowles – SS
Will Warren – RHP
Grant Rogers – RHP
The beat reporters are talking up Eloy Jimenez, which makes me think the team is really considering him for a fourth or fifth outfielder role. A right-handed bat with power would be a useful thing.
Jose Berrios says that he feels ‘pretty healthy’ and ‘pretty strong’ after having doubts at the start of last spring.
Jose Berrios revealed he had ‘doubt’ about the health of his arm last spring. After his first outing this spring, he said a focus on using his lower half more helped him shed that concern, plus more from a Blue Jays loss to the Mets: https://t.co/wFEEoWQPkT
Chris Sale is authoring a chapter in Atlanta that may one day stand up to his legacies in Chicago and Boston.
The 2024 Cy Young Award winner and nine-time All-Star signed a one-year extension with the Braves that includes a club option for 2028, the team announced Feb. 24. Sale, who turns 37 next month, will make $27 million in 2027 and $30 million if the club picks up his option.
If so, that'd make it four years in Atlanta, which doesn't totally reach his seven years as a White Sox or his six as a Red Sox, a period that included the 2018 World Series championship.
But it's also far more than a veteran stopover on the way, potentially, to the Hall of Fame.
Sale edged Zack Wheeler for the 2024 NL Cy, when he led the circuit with 225 strikeouts and made 29 starts, the first time he stayed healthy enough to exceed 20 starts since 2019.
The injury bug bit again in 2025, when a rib cage fracture limited him to 20 starts, but Sale, at 6-6 one of the game's most imposing mound presences, remained dominant. In his two years in Atlanta, Sale has struck out 11.6 batters per nine innings, exceeding his career mark of 11.1, and posted a 168 adjusted ERA, well above his 141 lifetime plateau.
Sale's won 145 career games and has finished in the top six in Cy Young voting eight times.
Chris Sale contract detais
Sale has steadfastly avoided free agency throughout his career. He originally signed a five-year, $32.5 million extension as a pre-arbitration player with the White Sox in 2013; the deal included club options for 2018 and 2019.
The White Sox traded him to the Red Sox before the 2018 season, and Sale signed a five-year, $145 million extension with Boston in March 2019, shortly before entering his final year under contract.
After a trade to Atlanta and before his 2025 club option kicked in, he-reupped for two years with the Braves in January 2024, a $38 million guarantee that included the $18 million club option that he'll play under in this upcoming season.
The Dallas Mavericks visit the Brooklyn Nets this evening, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Dallas has been dominant against Brooklyn this season, and I’m targeting them to keep it up in my Mavericks vs. Nets predictions.
Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24.
Mavericks vs Nets prediction
Mavericks vs Nets best bet: Mavericks moneyline (-130)
The Dallas Mavericks may be having a disappointing campaign, but they just ended a nine-game losing streak on Sunday with a road victory. They finish up their six-game road swing tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, who they’ve beaten a lot over the last few seasons.
Dallas has won both meetings with the Nets in 2025-26, and while the Mavericks are 6-19 on the road, Brooklyn is just 8-19 at home and has lost four straight.
The Mavericks demonstrably outrank the Nets in offensive and defensive efficiency, as Brooklyn is among the worst in the NBA in both metrics.
Mavericks vs Nets same-game parlay
P.J. Washington has been one of the Mavs’ top guys alongside Cooper Flagg. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three. Flagg is sidelined with a foot injury, which means a bigger workload for Washington.
Max Christie's landing in Dallas has allowed him to thrive in a bigger role. He’s averaging a career-best 13.3 points, and the former Michigan State Spartan has hit the Over in four of his previous five outings.
The youngster scored 16 points in the win over Indiana on Sunday, and he’s cashed the Over in points in three consecutive road appearances.
Mavericks vs Nets SGP
Mavericks moneyline
PJ Washington Over 15.5 points
Max Christie Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Hands of Klay
Klay Thompson has cashed the Over in boards in two of his last three.
Mavericks vs Nets SGP
Mavericks moneyline
PJ Washington Over 15.5 points
Max Christie Over 14.5 points
Klay Thompson Over 2.5 rebounds
Mavericks vs Nets odds
Spread: Mavericks -2 (-110) | Nets +2 (-110)
Moneyline: Mavericks -130 | Nets +110
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Mavericks vs Nets betting trend to know
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the Team Total Over in 23 of their last 35 games (+9.05 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Nets.
How to watch Mavericks vs Nets
Location
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
KFAA, YES
Mavericks vs Nets latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 16 of the season:
Darius Acuff Jr., No. 20 Arkansas
The 6-foot-3 freshman guard and high-end NBA prospect had an all-timer of a performance in a 117-115 double-overtime loss at then-No. 25 Alabama, scoring 49 points to set an Arkansas single-game freshman record as well as the No. 2 total in program history by any player.
Acuff made 16 of 27 shots, 6 of 10 3-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws to go with five rebounds and five assists. He also committed just one turnover while playing all 50 minutes. The 49 points were the No. 2 output in Division I all year and broke Todd Day's 1992 program record for most points in a Southeastern Conference game, as well as standing as the most points by a John Calipari-coached player.
Acuff followed with 20 points, four rebounds and five assists in a win against Missouri.
Runner-up
AJ Dybantsa, No. 19 BYU. The 6-9 freshman swept the Big 12 player of the week and rookie of the week honors after two big outings against top-flight opponents. First he had 35 points and seven rebounds in a loss at then-No. 4 Arizona. Then he had a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists with a block and a steal in a home win against then-No. 6 Iowa State. The nation's scoring leader (24.9) made 23 of 45 shots (.511), 4 of 10 3-pointers (.400) and 14 of 17 free throws (.824) in the two games.
Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati. The 7-2 sophomore had a huge game in the Bearcats' surprise 16-point win at then-No. 8 Kansas, scoring a career-high 28 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. He went 11 for 17 from the field and had two 3-pointers while committing zero turnovers in 30 minutes. That win marked Cincinnati's first on the road against a top-10 opponent since beating Louisville in January 1990. Thiam is averaging 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds on 59% shooting in his last three games.
Selection Sunday is fewer than three full weeks away, with a glorious 68-team bracket inching closer with each passing day.
Nearly half of that NCAA Tournament field will be composed of teams from outside of men’s college basketball’s five major conferences: the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East and SEC.
As the 2025-26 regular season winds down, several of those squads look capable of making some noise, whether it’s springing an upset over a national title hopeful or advancing deep into the tournament.
Who might some of those potential bracket-busters and second-week (and even Final Four) contenders be?
Here’s the latest power rankings of teams from outside of college basketball’s five major conferences:
College basketball mid-major power rankings
1. Gonzaga (27-2)
Since a stunning loss at Portland on Feb. 4, coach Mark Few’s team has rounded back into form with five straight wins by an average of 17.6 points. Senior forward Graham Ike continues playing at an All-American level, averaging 25.4 points per game over the Bulldogs’ past nine matchups.
2. Miami (Ohio) (27-0)
The RedHawks have convincingly continued their unbeaten run, with their past four wins coming by at least nine points and an average of 13.8 points per game. Luke Skaljac has thrived at point guard, a position he assumed only after a season-ending injury to Evan Ipsaro in December. He’s averaging 16.5 points and 6.3 assists per game over the past eight games.
🏀 Player of the Week 🏀
Luke Skaljac (@LSkaljac) propelled Miami to a pair of wins against UMass and Bowling Green this week to remain undefeated (27-0, 14-0 MAC). In 31.9 minutes per game, Skaljac averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal. He also shot… pic.twitter.com/pbZ5btzXPb
The Billikens finally took a loss in Atlantic 10 play, falling on the road to a middling Rhode Island squad to snap an 18-game win streak. They rebounded three days later, though, with a 13-point home win against VCU to complete a season sweep of the conference’s second-best team. Coach Josh Schertz’s team continues to be remarkably well-balanced offensively, with a different leading scorer in each of its past five games.
4. Utah State (23-4)
The Aggies squandered an eight-point lead with seven minutes remaining in an 80-77 loss at Nevada that ended an eight-game win streak. They’ll face a number of challenges the rest of the way, too, with three of their final four regular-season games coming against teams in the top five of the Mountain West standings.
5. Saint Mary’s (25-4)
The Gaels continue to just absolutely wear on opponents defensively, allowing only 62 points per game during their six-game win streak, with only one of those opponents averaging better than a point per possession. Their mettle will be tested in the final week of regular-season play, with home games against Gonzaga and Santa Clara.
The Lobos made a bit of history in their win against Fresno State on Feb. 21, rallying from a 22-point first-half deficit on their way to an 80-78 road victory. They outscored the Bulldogs 62-38 over the game’s final 25 minutes to earn their fourth-consecutive road win.
The Broncos have won 14 of their past 16 games and haven’t lost to a team other than Gonzaga since all the way back on Dec. 20. In their lone game last week, a 94-73 victory at San Francisco, senior Elijah Mahi had a career-high 30 points, along with seven rebounds and four steals.
8. Belmont (25-4)
The Bruins make their debut in the top 10 of the rankings as they continue a blistering run through Missouri Valley play. Coach Casey Alexander’s team has won 12 of its past 13 games, with the only loss coming on the road against a 19-win Bradley squad. Belmont is the only Division I team ranked in the top five nationally in both 2-point percentage (61.3%) and 3-point percentage (40.3%).
9. San Diego State (18-8)
The Aztecs are stumbling to the end of the regular season, with back-to-back losses to cap off a nine-game run in which they’ve gone just 5-4 following a 13-4 start. Their traditionally stout defense was picked apart in an 83-74 loss on Feb. 21 at Colorado State, a game in which the Rams made 13 of their 31 3s (42%).
10. VCU (21-7)
The Rams’ 10-game win streak came to a halt in a loss Feb. 20 at Saint Louis, a game in which they led by as many as 14 in the first half. The setback put that much more pressure on VCU to win the A-10 Tournament, with only one Quad 1 win and few, if any, opportunities left to pick up a signature victory to bolster its at-large resume.
The New York Islanders announced this morning that they've acquired forward Matt Luff from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Julien Gauthier.
Luff, 28, played five NHL games this season scoring one goal. In 42 AHL games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Luff has 14 goals and 39 points in 42 games.
In his career, Luff has played 111 NHL games and 321 AHL games, a well-seasoned veteran.
While he will be reporting to the Bridgeport Islanders, Luff will immediately become a top recall candidate in the event of any injuries. Luff will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
Excluding his rookie season, Luff has an impressive 221 points in 252 AHL games, giving Bridgeport a great veteran to lean on as they continue to chase down a playoff spot.
It's the third straight season the Islanders and Blues connected on a trade. Last season, the Islanders acquired Scott Perunovich in exchange for a conditional draft pick (conditions not met).
In 2023-24, the Islanders acquired Robert Bortuzzo from the Blues in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
As for Gauthier, this is about giving the former first-round pick a new home and potential chance at the NHL.
#Isles announce that they have acquired F Matt Luff from the #stlblues in exchange for F Julien Gauthier.
Believe finding a home for Gauthier has been in the works for a bit.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 25: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball while being defended by Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center on January 25, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors hit the ground running coming off the All-Star break, with road wins against Chicago and Milwaukee. Now, they return to Toronto to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are a league-best 44-14.
The Raptors won 103-101 in January when they last took on the defending champs. This time around they’ll face a depleted version as they look to sweep the season series against the league’s best team. Here are a few storylines for tonight’s game, which is the first leg of a back-to-back.
Who is playing?
Remember when people were predicting whether OKC could reach 70 wins, or even reach the 2015-16 Warriors’ 73-win mark? They’re still damn good, but with 14 losses, those conversations are officially over – and the Thunder’s injury bug won’t help their chances of securing the top seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder are missing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander, which is a shame for Raptors fans who were hoping to see Canada’s top player in action. They’re also down All-Star forward Jalen Williams – and with Chet Holmgren questionable with back spasms, the Raptors may see a version of the Thunder that includes none of its three best players.
But the Thunder are easily one of the league’s deepest teams. Cason Wallace is a gritty defender capable of big offensive performances. Isaiah Joe is a lethal shooter. Jared McCain, the second-year guard the Thunder acquired before the trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has provided a nice infusion of scoring off the bench during this shorthanded stretch. Nikola Topic, who recently made his debut following a battle with testicular cancer, is getting minutes! With SGA and Williams out, the Thunder have resorted to a quicker pace that matches how the Raptors like to play.
The Raptors will be without Jakob Poeltl, who’s getting a rest night to manage his back injury ahead of a game vs. the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. That will force someone to play bigger than their size against center Isaiah Hartenstein – but it’ll also allow the Raptors to play fast. Scottie Barnes, who missed last game for personal reasons, is back in the lineup, along with the presumed starters of Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles. Ja’Kobe Walter started last game in place of Barnes, and has played his way into a steady rotation spot in the wake of Ochai Agbaji being traded.
IQ!
With Scottie Barnes out, Immanuel Quickley was the driving force of the Raptors’ 122-94 win against the Bucks on Sunday. (An especially important blowout win to help take our minds off the gold medal game…) After a slow start to the season, Quickley has really picked things up in the last couple months, and particularly in February; he’s averaging 20 points per game on 44% three-point shooting this month. That hot shooting carried into Sunday’s game, when he went 5/11 from beyond the arc en route to 32 points and nine assists.
Another thing on display Sunday was some lovely two-man action with Quickley and Poeltl, who set a number of screens that Quickley played off of brilliantly, in some cases dumping the ball to Poeltl and then relocating for the catch. The chemistry looked nice – but with Poeltl out tonight, and likely to miss a number of games to manage his injury, Quickley will need to find other ways to cut into the teeth of the defense. If he can keep shooting like this, that spacing alone will be a huge boon for the offense. Plus, one of the team’s best-performing two-man pairings is Quickley with Jamal Shead. The two guards have a +8.0 net rating per 100 possessions in 355 minutes together, according to NBA.com.
Thumbs up?
Collin Murray-Boyles’ rookie season has been one of many positives for the 2025-26 Raptors. With Poeltl in and out of the lineup, CMB has played his way into being an occasional starter. His defense looks way ahead of schedule, and he’s shown very nice playmaking flashes. Where he has room for improvement is his assertiveness under the basket. Sometimes he’ll hold onto the ball or kick out when the best play would be to attack the rim.
But Murray-Boyles has been nursing a left thumb injury which has kept him out of games, and in all likelihood is a major factor in that hesitance. We saw him wince and grab that thumb after a strong dunk attempt, on which he drew a foul, against the Chicago Bulls last week. The last thing Raptors fans want is for the rookie to seriously re-aggravate his thumb. That would certainly not be good news for head coach Darko Rajakovic, who is already not working with much size on the roster. But CMB could unlock something if he goes up a level around the rim, and would be more dangerous when he’s grabbing his 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Will Smith #16 after the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in game 5 to win the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Drafts are hard. The MLB Draft moreso. The tricky part about MLB’s draft is that prospects have a longer maturation time than, say, football or basketball. The draft, or the version we came to know, came into existence in 1965, replacing the Bonus Baby
In today’s baseball, a high draft pick from the MLB draft is not generally seen in The Show for a few years, unless the organization involved is being highly (and potentially recklessly) aggressive. In the past 60 years of the Draft, only 24 players have gone directly from being drafted to the majors.
In this bunch, there has been only one Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, and one Rookie of the Year, Bob Horner of the Atlanta Braves (1978). The Dodgers have pulled this stunt only once, in 1994, with the constantly-injured Darren Dreifort.
Accordingly, it is worth revisiting MLB drafts at least five to ten years later to see what could have gone better, what went right, and what went hilariously wrong or otherwise.
As with my idea of revisiting the 1955 World Series, someone beat me to it. YouTuber Wilytics published an excellent video essay in which he analyzed the first round and conducted a hypothetical redraft based on the performances of everyone in the draft.
The 2016 Draft was notoriously thin in the first round with a gamut of unknowns, busts, and failed lottery tickets. Mickey Moniak was the number one pick by the Philadelphia Phillies, who ultimately traded him to the Anaheim Angels for Noah Syndergaard at the 2022 trade deadline. Moniak currently plays for the Colorado Rockies.
One team did fairly well in the first round, prompting this essay: the Dodgers.
Even for the Dodgers’ prodigious revenue and spending, it is easy for the uninitiated to forget that the organization has a history of drafting well. This fact remains true, even though the Dodgers typically pick in the rear of the first round. Even Andrew Friedman admits that baseball is designed for the Dodgers to have the worst farm system in baseball — on paper.
The Dodgers had three picks in the first 41 of the 2016 first round: 20th, 32nd, and 36th.
The 32nd pick was a compensation pick in exchange for soon-to-be Hall of Famer Zack Greinke signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 36th pick was a compensation pick for failing to sign the 2015 35th pick, Kyle Funkhouser, who instead returned to Louisville, who was himself a compensation pick for the Boston Red Sox signing Hanley Ramirez.
One pick was an absolute home run. One pick was solid before an injury and eventual departure. The 36th pick was a bust, as Jordan Sheffield now coaches at Vanderbilt.
With Delvin Perez reportedly failing a pre-Draft PED test, Lux became the top shortstop in a Draft that’s very weak at the position. He took a significant step forward this spring, making improvements with his swing, strength, speed and arm. He grew up around the game as the nephew of former No. 2 overall pick Augie Schmidt, now the coach of Division III Carthage (Wisc.), and his instincts stand out as well.
Lest anyone forget, after cups of coffee in 2019 and the COVID Cup year of 2020, Lux was solid. in 2021 and 2022. Over these two full seasons, Lux had a slash line of .261/.338/.384, a rWAR of 4.2, and a fWAR of 4.1 over 231 games.
Accordingly, the Dodgers saw Lux as the successor at shortstop after Corey Seager and Trea Turner departed. Unfortunately for Lux, disaster struck when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and strained his right lateral collateral ligament at the start of 2023’s Spring Training.
Gavin Lux has been carted off the field after sustaining an injury running into third base. pic.twitter.com/Glh5Z7jFEh
While Lux did return and rebound with a 2.1 rWAR / 1.4 fWAR / .251/.320/.383 10-home run season in 2024, Lux could not handle throws from shortstop and largely played at second base.
Lux was ultimately dealt to the Cincinnati Reds before the start of the 2025 season for prospects (hello Mike Sirota!) and is now on his third organization in two years.
There was buzz he was going to go at the end of the first round or early in the supplemental first round, so this makes sense. He might hit .260-.270, give you a little bit of power, be a good receiver and give you a good arm behind the plate. I had one scout give me a plus run time on him.
Talk about an undersell.
The Dodgers ended up with a stalwart, foundational backstop who took over primary catching duties in 2019 and did not let go. Over the past seven seasons, Smith has racked up 23 rWAR / 22.4 fWAR with a combined slash line of .264/.358/.476 and 128 home runs. Smith has averaged 132 wRC+ over seven seasons, never dipping below 109 (2024).
Smith will be a Dodger through 2034, earning a 10-year, $140 million extension in 2024 doing taciturn, yeoman’s work, likely en route to the Hall of Pretty Good with the occasional postseason heroics, most recently the final run of the 2025 season.
At this point, Dodgers fans can giggle over the fact that two catchers were picked before Smith, and most of the league, including the Dodgers themselves, passed on Smith until pick 32 of the Draft.
Now, as alluded to before, the Dodgers did better than most teams in this draft. But they still whiffed in places as most teams do, with Sheffield, outfielder and fourth-round pick D.J. Peters, outfielder and seventh-round pick Luke Raley, pitcher and twenty-third round pick Bailey Ober (did not sign), and pitcher and thirty-eighth round overslot pick Kevin Malisheski (signed for $248,500 and only got as high as a cup of coffee in Double-A Tulsa), to name a few.
The Dodgers signed plenty of familiar names in the later rounds of this draft.
Second Round, Pick 65 – Pitcher Mitch White
Third Round, Pick 101 – Pitcher Dustin May
Ninth Round, Pick 281 – Pitcher Tony Gonsolin
Fourteenth Round, Pick 431 – Pitcher Dean Kremer (traded, in part, for Manny Machado in 2018)
If what the Dodgers were doing was easy, other teams would or should do it. However, other organizations are publicly cutting scouting staff, which is far cheaper than spending top dollar on the free-agent market. Moreover, in situations like the signing of Roki Sasaki in 2025, all of the teams were generally forced into the same or similar financial constraints.
And Sasaki still came to Los Angeles, regardless of Toronto acquiring Myles Straw in a last-ditch effort to increase the size of the financial pot. The Dodgers are currently thriving in the current system, finding overlooked value that every team has access to.
Fun with Ben Rortvedt
Fan favorite and current resident of the New York Mets’ system, Ben Rortvedt, was selected in the second round with Pick 56 by the Minnesota Twins. With no disrespect to Rortvedt, here are some notable Major Leaguers picked afterwards, just on the first day of the Draft.
Pick 59 – San Francisco Giants – Outfielder Bryan Reynolds
Pick 64 – New York Mets – First Baseman Pete Alonso
Pick 66 (immediately after the Dodgers picked Mitch White) – Toronto Blue Jays – Shortstop Bo Bichette
Yes, that Bo Bichette, who now plays third base for the Mets, after they allowed Alonso to depart in the 2025 offseason. Baseball! Bichette was Wilytics’ pick for the number one pick of a hypothetical 2016 redraft.
Sometimes these picks work out, and sometimes they do not. The Dodgers did get value and depth out of Mitch White before trading him to Toronto in 2022. And other times, picks are absolute disasters that do not bear terrible fruit until much later.
To conclude this brief retrospective, we return to two picks after Gavin Lux in the first round, where the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Third Baseman Will Craig. A Dodgers fan could be forgiven for not instantly recognizing that name without the prompting of the greatest (or most infamous) baseball blooper in the twenty-first century so far.
Javier Baez of the Cubs hit a weak ground ball to third base in the second inning with two outs against the Pirates on May 27, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Then absolute insanity broke out, leading to the unlikeliest and most unearned two-run rally in recent memory, with Baez ultimately scoring later in the inning and providing the ultimate margin of victory.
Why Craig did not touch first is one of the unanswerable questions of our time.
Feb 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Cole Young against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Good Morning! The Mariners fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 in yesterday’s Spring Training action. Logan Gilbert’s first start of the spring showcased his deadly splitter as he worked through two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts and two walks. Gilbert reiterated recently that his goal for every season is 32 starts and 200 innings. How many starts and innings do you predict he will reach in 2026?
In Mariners news…
At the end of last season, Julio Rodriguez approached Cole Young’s locker and gave him some direct advice for improving his game. Young took those words to heart, and his first step in development was a serious offseason training regimen.
The Miami Marlins’ third base competition has opened up after Graham Pauley was shut down yesterday due to forearm tightness. Pauley was set to compete with fellow 25-year-old Connor Norby for the starting third base spot, but has yet to appear in a Spring Training game.
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to only make one start for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, no matter how far the team advances in the tournament.
