Feb 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) reacts in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
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It’s been nearly a month since the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for James Harden. He’s played in eight games with the team, and the Cavs are 7-1 in those contests.
Cleveland didn’t trade for Harden to be a good regular-season team. At the same time, that’s all we can base it on right now.
How would you grade the Harden experience so far?
Additionally, the Cavs rocketed up the standings after a strong month of February. However, they may not have much further they can climb, considering the teams in front of them.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Will Bush #88 of the Houston Astros runs during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 19, 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 are looking at an up and coming bat: Will Bush
Bush took an unconventional path to professional baseball, spending a year at Tyler Junior College before the Astros selected him in the 16th round of the 2023 draft. The left-handed hitter brings above-average raw power and solid plate discipline to the table. While he has split time between catcher and first base, first may ultimately be his long-term home defensively.
The 21-year-old had a nice 2025 season. He opened the year in High-A, where he posted an .812 OPS with 12 home runs before earning a promotion to Double-A. With the Hooks, he added three more home runs and drew 14 walks in 24 games. Overall, Bush finished with a 121 wRC+, ranking near the top of the Astros’ system.
The Astros really like Bush’s approach and swing decisions. For a bigger power hitter, he has also done a good job keeping his swinging strike percentage (10.5%) down and his contact percentage (73.7%) high. Bush will be 22 in 2026 and has a chance to move up the system.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Pitcher Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday! The Mariners are back in action today with Bryan Woo scheduled to start against the Los Angeles Angels at 12:10 PM. The World Baseball Classic exhibition games also continue today, and we will get our first look at the different Mariners players representing their respective countries. Which exhibition game are you most excited to watch today?
In Mariners news…
Logan Gilbert is highlighted in Michael Rosen’s article for FanGraphs on exciting new pitches from Spring Training.
1906: Willie Keeler, right fielder of the New York Yankees, bunts the ball during a game circa 1906. (Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball produces plenty of Hall of Famers whose glory and stat lines fade with time. Sayings, however, tend to stick around, passed down from generation to generation like prized baseball cards.
“Keep your eye on the ball!”
Most fans recognize the phrase. Far fewer know it came from Willie Keeler, a Hall of Fame outfielder and third baseman whose career helped shape how hitting itself was understood long before power numbers or analytics dominated the sport. More than a century later, players still hear the same advice Willie preached shouted from big league stands and youth dugouts alike.
Keeler, one of the earliest stars in New York baseball history, would have celebrated his 154th birthday today.
William Henry Keeler Born: March 3, 1872 (Brooklyn, NY) Died: January 1, 1923 (Brooklyn, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1903–09
Even by Deadball Era standards, Keeler did not look like a baseball legend. Listed at just 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds, he remains one of the smallest everyday players in major league history.
For comparison:
• Eddie Gaedel: 3-foot-7 (shortest player ever to appear in an MLB game) • Phil Rizzuto: 5-foot-6, 150 pounds • José Altuve: 5-foot-6, 166 pounds
Keeler was undersized even among baseball’s most famous undersized players.
But while he might have been small, he carried a remarkably big stick, literally. Keeler’s bat reportedly weighed up to 46 ounces. For context, Babe Ruth’s famous bat model weighed about 44.6 ounces. The image of one of the smallest players in baseball history swinging a heavier bat than the Sultan of Swat tells you almost everything you need to know about both the era and Keeler himself. It was simply a different game.
If legend serves correctly, Willie Keeler would have produced one of the most impressive spray charts in baseball history. He approached hitting as geometry rather than force, spraying line drives across the field, dropping bunts with intention, and treating each at-bat like a problem waiting to be solved.
His philosophy eventually became baseball scripture:
“Hit ’em where they ain’t.”
The results backed it up. Keeler finished with a .341 career batting average, 2,932 hits, and 16 seasons batting over .300. Of his 33 career home runs, only three cleared the fence, with most coming the old-fashioned way. Speed, bat control, and precision defined his success. When he retired in 1910, only Cap Anson had collected more hits in major league history.
That success eventually landed Keeler in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s early Hall of Fame voting, becoming part of the fourth induction class in 1939, one of the first groups honored before the Hall even had permanent walls.
Keeler’s most enduring accomplishment arrived in 1897, when he recorded a hit in 44 consecutive games for the old National League iteration of the Baltimore Orioles, made famous by future New York Giants manager John McGraw. For decades, the record felt untouchable. Travel was harsher, playing surfaces inconsistent, and roster stability nearly nonexistent during the Deadball Era. Sustained offensive performance was incredibly difficult, which made Keeler’s streak feel permanent.
Then, in 1941, Joe DiMaggio stepped to the plate at Yankee Stadium and changed baseball history. DiMaggio’s famous 56-game hitting streak truly began when he surpassed Keeler’s mark at 45 games. While DiMaggio’s run became immortal, it required chasing down a record that had already survived as many years as it was in games.
Entering the upcoming MLB season, the roll call of longest single-season hitting streaks in major league history remains:
• Joe DiMaggio — 56 games (1941) • Pete Rose — 44 games (1978) • Willie Keeler — 44 games (1897)
More than 125 years later, Keeler is still tied for the second-longest streak in major league history. That alone speaks to how extraordinary his consistency truly was. The longest active streak belongs to Luis Arraez, who entering the 2026 season carries a 15-game hitting streak. Arraez would need to hit safely for roughly a full calendar month to surpass Keeler and Rose.
Keeler joined the franchise during its transition from the disbanded, early-American League Baltimore Orioles into the New York Highlanders era, before the team officially adopted the Yankees name. Along with Pittsburgh’s Jack Chesbro, he was one of the more higher-profile names to join the nascent squad.
After batting .313 during his inaugural campaign with the Highlanders, his strongest season for the franchise came in 1904, when he hit .343 with a 147 OPS+ and remained among the league’s most reliable offensive players despite entering his thirties — which was considered quite old by the standards of the time. By the time his career ended in 1910, baseball itself was evolving toward a new era, leaving Keeler as a bridge between 19th-century baseball and the modern game that followed.
“Hit ’em where they ain’t” can sound almost humorous today, especially in an age of defensive positioning models and advanced analytics. Yet the principle has never changed. Baseball still rewards awareness, adjustment, and exploiting space on the field, whenever possible. Keeler simply explained the idea generations before technology tried to measure it.
That may ultimately be his greatest legacy. Not just a batting average or a streak, but a philosophy that survived every era that followed. Long before Joe DiMaggio’s elegance or Yogi Berra’s accidental wisdom, Keeler was offering baseball truths simple enough to last forever. In a way, he was Joe and Yogi before there was Joe and Yogi. Long after numbers evolve and records fall, the advice still holds true.
Happy birthday, Willie Keeler.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 19: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after making a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on February 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks are arguably the NBA’s least distinguished franchise. The Hawks’ one NBA championship happened way back in 1958, and otherwise the team hasn’t even won the Eastern Conference during their existence. The team’s 2021 conference finals run was a rare re-introduction to national relevance for the franchise, but they followed it with a .500 season and eventually punted on that era when they traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards earlier this year.
The Hawks just seem like they’re permanently stuck in play-in tournament range, and not even a huge stroke of luck could help change that. Atlanta won the 2024 NBA Draft lottery from the No. 10 spot, but unfortunately it was a notoriously bad class at the top, and Atlanta ended up choosing a player we didn’t even have ranked in the top-10. Zaccharie Risacher has had a disappointing start to his career so far, and once again the Hawks are as mid as can be.
There was real optimism the Hawks could take a leap forward this year. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis, a star leap from Jalen Johnson, and the free agent signing of Nickeil Alexander-Walker had sharp analysts like The Ringer’s Zach Lowe on the Hawks bandwagon entering the season. Instead, Atlanta is 31-31 after 62 games, which shouldn’t really surprise anyone, because .500 is what this team has consistently been over the last 70 years.
The Hawks are almost perfectly average this season in terms of points scored and points allowed. Oh, but there’s so much more than that.
Atlanta’s mediocrity actually goes all the way back to the 1950s. The Hawks aren’t just .500 over their last 62 games, they’re actually .500 over their last 90 games, their last 134 games, their last 348 games, their last 420 games, their last 1,570 games …
You get the picture.
Hawks are not only 31-31 in their last 62 games but also…
45-45 in their last 90, 67-67 in their 134, 174-174 in their 348, 210-210 in their last 420, 785-785 in their last 1,570, 1,940-1,940 in their last 3,880, and 2,895-2,895 in their last 5,790 https://t.co/5SWcdEpDgA
This stat is cherry-picking a little bit, but it’s still remarkable. The Hawks have always been mid over the course of 70 years, despite playing in what’s been the league’s JV conference for the last 25 years.
There is some hope on the way for Hawks fans. The team made a brilliant trade for the New Orleans Pelicans’ unprotected 2026 first-round pick during the 2025 draft. The Pelicans are currently 19-43 and are the sixth-worst team in the NBA. The Hawks actually own the most favorable of the Pelicans’ and Milwaukee Bucks’ pick. The Bucks are 26-34, and would enter the lottery in the No. 10 spot if the season ended today. Atlanta is going to have outstanding odds at landing a top pick in an absolutely loaded draft class. Hawks fans, read our most recently 2026 NBA mock draft here.
Hey, there has to be some team that’s always losing to the Celtics and beating the Wizards in the East. Some teams are usually great, some teams are usually terrible. The Hawks are neither. They are simply pure mid.
The TCU product has cashed the Over in four of his last five appearances, posting 30+ points in three of those. While he scored just 17 in his most recent game against the Pistons, Bane erupted for 30 just two days prior against the Rockets.
Bane is averaging 22.3 points at home this season, and the Washington Wizards aren’t exactly an elite team, ranking only above the Jazz in overall defensive efficiency.
Wizards vs Magic same-game parlay
Banchero is averaging 8.5 rebounds this season, and he’s coming off a 10-board performance against Detroit.
The former first-overall pick has cashed the Over in rebounds in two of his last three, and he’s up against a Wizards team giving up 10.8 boards per contest to power forwards.
Jalen Suggs is Orlando’s best playmaker, averaging 5.2 assists per game. He’s dished out Over 5.5 dimes in seven of his last 10 outings.
Wizards vs Magic SGP
Desmond Bane Over 21.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 9.5 rebounds
Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Cast a Deadly Spell
Bane is averaging 2.4 makes at home for a 40% clip from deep, and he’s cashed the Over in triples in two of his last three games at the Kia Center. With how bullish we are on several key Magic players, we'll add Orlando to cover the lofty spread to boost our odds.
Wizards vs Magic SGP
Desmond Bane Over 21.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 9.5 rebounds
Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
Desmond Bane Over 2.5 made threes
Magic -15.5
Wizards vs Magic odds
Spread: Wizards +15.5 (-110) | Magic -15.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Wizards +750 | Magic -1200
Over/Under: Over 228.5 (-110) | Under 228.5 (-110)
Wizards vs Magic betting trend to know
The Washington Wizards have hit the Moneyline in 15 of their last 45 games (+11.80 Units / 26% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Magic.
How to watch Wizards vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MNMT, FDSN Florida
Wizards vs Magic latest injuries
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NBC's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday is going to have a distinct, vintage 1990s vibe this week, and that is coming to Sacramento.
That's because for the game between the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings — a game where Devin Booker is set to make his return from a hip injury — NBC will feature some of its famed broadcasters from the 1990s: Hannah Storm, P.J. Carlisimo and player and broadcaster Isiah Thomas. Both Coast 2 Coast Tuesday broadcasts — Spurs vs. 76ers at 8 p.m. ET and Suns vs. Kings at 11 p.m. ET — will incorporate reminiscent and familiar components from the 1995-96 NBA on NBC season, including feature graphics package (score bar, stats, full pages, replay wipes, etc.) and tape elements.
The second game of the night will feature a Phoenix team that is one of the best stories of the NBA season, a team that revamped its roster and culture and started winning way ahead of schedule. Well, at least until recently, when injuries hit hard, which is why the Suns head into Tuesday trying to get back into a winning groove and move up into the top six in the West
Phoenix takes on a Sacramento team that has won a couple of games in the past week and has a couple of name stars on the roster in Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan. That said, injuries derailed the Kings' season, and as a result, they have the worst record in the NBA. Sacramento is focused on June's NBA Draft.
Phoenix has been one of the best stories of the NBA season.
Last summer, after a couple of disappointing seasons, the Suns pulled the plug on the Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker era, trading away Durant and Beal, but keeping the homegrown Booker (they also fired coach Mike Budenholzer). With the heavy roster turnover, expectations outside Phoenix were low (preseason, the Suns were projected to win 31.5 games — they already have 34). Owner Mat Ishbia talked about the culture he wanted to build: "We want to make sure that it's a team that competes, that's grinding, that wants to win, that doesn't just cash in because it looks like we're down by too much."
Dillon Brooks has been exactly that guy and brought the rest of the team along with him. Brooks came over from Houston in the Durant trade and was having a career year (20.9 points per game), but he is out for this game with a fractured left hand.
Injuries have hit the Suns hard of late, not having Booker or Brooks for a stretch has them 3-6 in their last nine games — but Booker is not on the injury report and is expected to play Tuesday night. Booker leads the team in scoring at 24.7 points per game (which would be his lowest scoring average since the 2016-17 season). The Suns have also found surprising players to step up this season, such as Collin Gillespie, who is averaging 13.5 points per game and is a frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award.
One Sun to watch is Jalen Green. Injuries hit him hard this season, too, he played in just five of the Suns' first 52 games of the season due to hamstring and hip issues. That time off hasn't made Green shy offensively, as he's hoisted at least 15 field goal attempts in each of his last 5 games. He just hasn't found his rhythm yet, hitting just 32.7% of his shots (and 21.4% of threes). That said, he did knock down the buzzer-beating game-winner to defeat the Magic in double overtime.
Sacramento entered this season with playoff aspirations, but injuries and struggles have derailed the team — the Kings recently set a franchise record with a 16-game losing streak. Sacramento's current win percentage (.226) puts it on pace for the second-worst season in franchise history, and that's a rough franchise history.
Injuries are part of what has hit the Kings so hard. Right now, All-Star center Domantas Sabonis is out (knee surgery), as is Zach LaVine (hand surgery), De'Andre Hunter (eye surgery) and their rising star Keegan Murray (ankle).
There are names to know and names to watch in Sacramento. Future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook, 37, is currently 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 27,074 points (just 240 points away from surpassing Elvin Hayes, who's next on the list). Then there is DeMar DeRozan, 36, who is the only player to play in all 62 Kings games this season.
There are young players to watch in Sacramento. Center Maxime Raynaud is one, averaging 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, as is rookie Nique Clifford, who is averaging 13.5 points per game in hislast 13 games. Raynaud (22 points) and Clifford (13 points and seven assists) were both big parts of the Kings' most recent win, a 130-121 victory at Dallas, a game where veteran big man Precious Achiuwa led the Kings with a career-high 29 points.
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:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
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.
It took two games for Jose Alvarado to win the hearts of New Yorkers after the trade deadline.
Honestly, Jose had our hearts a long time before that, and it was only a matter of time until he put on a Knicks uniform. But still: the moment had arrived. Finally, after years of Alvarado to New York rumors flying around, the front office finally pulled the trigger on February 5th. Less than a week later, Jose made history, becoming the first player in Knicks franchise history to record 25+ points, 5+ steals, and 5+ three-pointers in a game off the bench. Keep in mind the fact that the Knicks got him for a bag of chips (sorry, Yabusele and Dalen Terry) and the deal only gets sweeter and sweeter from there.
This wasn’t a one-off performance, either. Alvarado has been averaging 8.4 points, 2.9 boards, and 3.9 assists in just under 20 minutes per game. Add to the equation his 1.7 steals per outing, and it’s easy to see how his constant energy and effort amount to a flurry of activity on the court.
Jose Alvarado is tonight's defensive player of the game 👷
It’s not just the eye test – numbers nerds should love him as well. The advanced stats back it up. The Knicks have a 98.1(!!) defensive rating with him on the floor. For reference, OKC leads the league with a 106.1 defensive rating. New York’s defense, led by Alvarado, is on par with some of the best lineups in the league. And the offensive side of things remains just as strong, with a 118.0 rating. That gives Alvarado a 19.9 net rating, which over the course of the season would be far and away the best in the league.
Expect some regression on both ends here, but nine games is a large enough sample size to look at Alvarado’s production and say that we might have something here. Keep in mind – excluding his flamethrowing game at Philadelphia, Jose is shooting only 20% from deep, so there’s still room to grow.
New York wanted to strengthen their bench at the trade deadline after the Jordan Clarkson experiment didn’t go exactly to plan. They wanted a guy who would play hard on both sides of the floor. They got the prototype.
The next question, and rightfully so, is whether a Brunson/Alvarado backcourt hold their own together? There’s a lot of talent there, of course, but the lack of size hurts. A lot.
So far, the two have played 77 minutes together, and according to net rating, it’s been the offense that takes the bump, not the defense. Again, it’s a small sample size, but Mike Brown hasn’t shied away from pairing the two together, and it’s delivered encouraging returns so far.
The other thing is, how does the return of Deuce McBride impact Alvarado’s minutes off the bench come playoff time? McBride also serves as a combo guard who can shoot the three and play tough defense. We’ll see how Brown manages the two down the stretch of the season.
However you see it, though, it’s an excellent problem to have. Alvarado is making the Knicks better already, and he’s exactly the kind of spark plug you want off of your bench in a best-of-seven series.
Historic overhaul before Six Nations match in Italy
Only three players in same position as Ireland game
Steve Borthwick has pointed to his misfiring players’ failure to meet his unwavering standards as justification for the most radical England overhaul in the professional era, after ripping up his side for the Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday.
Borthwick has wielded the axe for the match in Rome on Saturday, making nine personnel and three position changes, and sent a clear message to his out-of-form players that performances have not been up to scratch. The head coach has also fielded an entirely new backline with Tommy Freeman, the only survivor from the 42-21 defeat by Ireland, shifting from wing to outside‑centre.
Despite missing Isaiah Hartenstein and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter as a well-oiled machine against a Chicago Bulls squad in a total tailspin.
While the Bulls recently beat a Giannis-less Milwaukee team, they entered that game on a staggering 11-game losing streak and rank dead last in net rating since the trade deadline.
OKC boasts the league’s No. 1 defensive rating and covers 57% of its road games. Facing a "tanking" Bulls “G-League” roster, the Thunder’s elite defensive efficiency and transition offense should pull away for a double-digit cover.
Dort has cleared 10.5 points in three straight games without SGA, while Holmgren’s 19-point Dallas performance could fuel another big night against the leaky Bulls defense.
Thunder vs Bulls SGP
Thunder -10.5
Luguentz Dort Over 10.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Cason closed
Cason Wallace is another who should see heavy usage. He dropped eight dimes Sunday at Dallas and has cleared his assist total in four of his previous six contests.
Thunder vs Bulls SGP
Thunder -10.5
Luguentz Dort Over 10.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 18.5 points
Cason Wallace Over 5.5 assists
Thunder vs Bulls odds
Spread: Thunder -10.5 (-105) | Bulls +10.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Thunder -475 | Bulls +370
Over/Under: Over 229 | Under 229
Thunder vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Chicago Bulls have only covered the spread in 18 of their last 50 games (-16.10 units / -29% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Bulls.
How to watch Thunder vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, CHSN
Thunder vs Bulls 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 team with the fewest wins in the NBA faces a playoff hopeful as the Sacramento Kings host the Phoenix Suns tonight.
Maxime Raynaud has seen big minutes and big numbers in Sacramento’s shorthanded frontcourt, and my Suns vs. Kings predictions expect a stat-stuffing performance from the rook.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Pacific Division showdown on Tuesday, March 3.
Suns vs Kings prediction
Suns vs Kings best bet: Maxime Raynaud double-double (+105)
The Sacramento Kings are missing Domantas Sabonis and Dylan Cardwell, which means Maxime Raynaud will see ample playing time.
Raynaud has 12 double-doubles on the season, and four of them have come across his last six outings.
In those six games, Raynaud has averaged 15.3 points and 11 rebounds across 31.2 minutes. In that span, the Phoenix Suns have surrendered the sixth-most rebounds (47.8).
Given Raynaud’s recent success as a scorer and rebounder, this line is mispriced, and I’m happy to take this profitable wager at plus-money odds.
Suns vs Kings same-game parlay
Nique Clifford has started two straight games, and he's averaged 32.5 PRA across 40.5 minutes. The rookie has averaged 19.4 PRA across 12 starts, hitting the Over on this combo line in three of his last five in the starting lineup.
The Kings' offense isn't going to put up a ton of points regularly, and the Phoenix Suns are 25-35 to the Under this season.
Suns vs Kings SGP
Maxime Raynaud double-double
Nique Clifford Over 22.5 points+rebounds+assists
Under 223
Our "from downtown" SGP: Kings of the hill
The Suns hit the road after playing eight of nine at home, while Sacramento is back home after five straight on the road. Phoenix is just 3-6-1 ATS across its last 10, and the Kings will be motivated to avoid the season sweep by a division rival after dropping three straight to PHX.
Suns vs Kings SGP
Maxime Raynaud double-double
Nique Clifford Over 22.5 points+rebounds+assists
Under 223
Kings moneyline
Suns vs Kings odds
Spread: Suns -10.5 | Kings +10.5
Moneyline: Suns -500 | Kings +375
Over/Under: Over 223 | Under 223
Suns vs Kings betting trend to know
The Sacramento Kings have hit the team total Under in 31 of their last 50 games (+9.35 Units / 16% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Kings.
How to watch Suns vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off
11:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Suns vs Kings 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 Florida Panthers are looking to pick up points as they try to make a late-season push toward a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Time is running short for Florida, with only 22 games remaining in the regular season and an eight-point deficit to try and overcome.
The Cats have a great opportunity to quickly make up some ground in the coming days, but it won’t be easy as they’ll play three road games in the next four days, starting Tuesday in New Jersey.
Over the past month, the Devils have not had an easy stretch, winning just two of their past nine outings.
The Devils’ recent struggles have dropped them to next-to-last in the Eastern Conference, with 60 points through 60 games despite being a divisional playoff team last season.
Florida arrives in Newark coming off consecutive crushing defeats, one on home ice to the Buffalo Sabres in which a controversial goal was allowed and one on Long Island where the Panthers tied the game late only to give up a backbreaking goal in the final seconds.
One big positive for the Panthers was that they welcomed defenseman Dmitry Kulikov back into the lineup against the Islanders. Kulikov was hurt during the second game of the season and had been working his way back for several months.
Several other injured players, to include Tomas Nosek, Seth Jones and Jonah Gadjovich, are all on the road trip with the Panthers and could crack the lineup at any time.
Whether there is enough time for the Cats to make a final run at a playoff spot remains to be seen, but if they’re going to give it the old college try, they have to start making progress as soon as possible.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Tuesday’s joust in New Jersey:
Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Photo caption: Nov 20, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) moves the puck behind the net of New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Don’t fear, Canadian friends! The Knicks (39*-22) are in your country to face the Raptors (35-25), not to start a war. Unless they lose. Then maybe Canada becomes an existential threat.
This tilt features two top-five Eastern Conference teams, with New York third and Toronto fifth. Both have won six of their last 10 games. When they last met, on January 28, New York whomped Toronto, 119–92, behind a blistering 30 points from Mikal Bridges. OG Anunoby added 26 points and a season-high six steals, while Josh Hart matched a season-high with 22 points. For the Dinos, Brandon Ingram led with 27 points, Scottie Barnes posted 17 points and 10 rebounds, and our old pal RJ Barrett chipped in 14.
The Toronto Raptors beat the Wizards, 134 to 125, on Saturday thanks to 27 points and 11 assists from Immanuel Quickley. In a Sunday matinee, the Knicks beat the Spurs, 114–89, behind 25 points from Mikal Bridges. Jalen Brunson scored 24 with seven assists, and Josh Hart chipped in a 10-10 double-double. Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 25 points and 13 boards.
The Raptors post a 114.9 offensive rating, 16th in the league. Their defensive rating is 112.9, seventh overall. They score 114 points per game, ranking 22nd, and surrender 112, eighth in the league. They don’t take a ton of threes – 33 per game – maybe because they shoot 35%. Don’t be fooled by their 35 wins; most of those came against the league’s weaker teams.
That sleepy All-Star Ingram averages 22 PPG and shoots 37% for Toronto, while fellow All-Star Barnes puts up 19 PPG and grabs 8 RPG. As for the OAKAAKs, Barrett can be counted on for 18 PPG, and Quickley logs almost 18 points per game and 6 APG, shooting 38% from yard. Sandro (never forget) Mamukelashvili averages 11 PPG and grabs five boards.
The Raptors’ likely starting five will be Quickley, Ingram, Barrett, Barnes, andJakob Poeltl (9.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG). The game’s injury report says you won’t see Miles McBride, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Mr. Chucky Hepburn. And we thought the only Chucky in the league was Cam Thomas.
THIS DATE IN KNICKS HISTORY: On March 3, 1967, Walt Bellamy logged a triple-double, recording 29 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 138-132 loss to the Lakers in L.A. The following year, the Hall-of-Famer was traded with Howard Komives to the Detroit Pistons for Dave DeBusschere.
Prediction
ESPN gives the Knicks a 56% chance to win. As they should. The Knicks hold a better record and lead the five-game season series, 3-0. Their frontcourt might be thin, though; Mitchell Robinson is likely to sit, given that he’ll be needed tomorrow at home against the Thunder.
Which raises a good point: since our heroes will have to zip back across the border and face OKC in approximately 24 hours, how much effort should they exert tonight, in a possible playoff preview? Conventional wisdom suggests they should pace themselves, which could result in a tighter game. Plus, Quickley loves to shoot three-pointers against the Knicks, making 11-of-25 in five career games against his old team. When they met in January, Quick stunk and posted seven points on nine shots in almost 30 minutes. He’ll do better tonight. Although the Knicks have beaten the Raptors 11 straight times, winning number 12 might not be so easy. New York takes this one by three.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (39*-22) at Toronto Raptors (35-25) Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: ScotiaBank Arena, Toronto, CA TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins, like love, are evanescent stuff.
We have 11 games on the NHL schedule this evening, and I’ve done my research to find the best NHL player props. I’ll include Martin Necas, Matt Boldy, and Matt Duchene.
Read more in my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 3.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Necas Over 0.5 assists
-130
Boldy anytime goal
+125
Duchene Over 0.5 assists
+135
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Our best NHL player props for Tuesday, March 3
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
-130 at BET99
Martin Necas has been a stud for the Colorado Avalanche this season. He’s supplied 45 assists, which ranks Top 15 in the league.
Necas has compiled five helpers across his last four games, cashing the Over in assists in all but one contest since the break. The 27-year-old had two helpers on Monday evening in a victory over the Kings.
He has 20 assists in 28 road games, and the Avs visit the Ducks tonight.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ALT, Victory+
Prop #2: Matt Boldy anytime goal
+125 at BET99
Matt Boldy scored Team USA’s opening goal in the gold medal game against Canada, and that was only fitting considering the type of campaign he’s having. The Minnesota Wild star is sitting second in the NHL in goals with 35.
The 24-year-old has found the back of the net in two of his last three appearances, and he’s already scored three goals since the Olympic break, building on his huge goal in the final.
The Wild welcome the Lightning to town this evening, and Boldy has netted 15 goals in 30 home games.
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT
Prop #3: Matt Duchene Over 0.5 assists
+135 at BET99
Matt Duchene hasn’t put up huge numbers this season, but in fairness, he’s only suited up 35 times.
Regardless, Duchene has 12 goals and 12 assists. He’s cashed the Over in helpers in four of his last five outings dating back to the start of February.
The veteran had a goal and an assist in a huge win over the Canucks on Monday night. The Stars are in Calgary this evening to face the Flames.
Last season, Duchene had three assists in three meetings with Calgary.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. 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.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 2: Sharife Cooper #13 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 2, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last night’s loss by the Washington Wizards — this time to the Houston Rockets — seems from the numbers like it was at least a somewhat entertaining game. They fell behind by as much as 19, then went ham in the fourth quarter to trim the final margin to just five.
Now, it was one of those sorta phony “comebacks” that was more than a little about Houston slacking off. But, Sharife Cooper had the game of his career and the quarter of his life (11 points on 5 shots, plus 2 assists in the fourth). Jaden Hardy shot 4-4 in the period. Justin Champagnie 3-3.
<p>Wizards guard Sharife Cooper with a paint touch and kickout pass during the team’s loss to the Houston Rockets.</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
So, I’d imagine these guys were giving a helluva good effort and it might have even been fun to see.
Unfortunately, I can only imagine because of the NBA’s blackout rules. I live in the Houston market, so I can’t use League Pass. Well, technically I can, I just have to wait three days.
“Every NBA game is available live with NBA League Pass in every country except the US and Canada due to blackouts,” the league explains on their website. “Blackout restrictions exist because local and national content providers have certain exclusive rights to show live games and content.”
The problem, of course, is that these blackout rules were made decades ago when the only ways to watch games were to show up in person or catch it on over-the-air TV. Cable TV entered the fray and made local market games available to subscribers, which for a time was virtually every household.
We’re in the cable cutting era now. According to AdWave, 80% of US households had a pay cable, satellite, in 2011. The current number is about half that. In 2024, 4 million households canceled cable per day. The pace increased in 2025 — an estimated 77 million households dumped their cable TV subscriptions last year alone.
In other words, cable and satellite are dying. People are consuming content over the internet and via streaming services. Or they’re pirating games they want to see by watching illegal streams that put their device and network security at risk.
The goal of these kinds of blackouts is to force people like me to buy cable or satellite so I can watch these games. That’s the theory. The reality is that it’s not working. Any bump the cable company gets from sports fans is offset by the millions of households canceling. Or, in my case, not subscribing at all when I moved to Texas.
Archaic blackouts are doing two main things at this point;
Punishing fans who don’t have a cable subscription. I’m a hoops junkie who enjoys the way the Rockets play and would watch virtually every game — if I could. But I’m not paying another $20+ per month on top of my League Pass subscription to watch the Rockets. I’ll catch them on national TV or put on a three-day old game in the background when I’m doing something else.
Undermining the development of new fans. To me, this is the more serious consequence. I became a fan watching over-the-air Bullets games on channel 20 — at-times staticky and often in black-and-white (that’s what we had in the kitchen) — but I could follow the action, especially when the great Mel Proctor was calling the game. How does a kid who’s curious about NBA basketball but doesn’t know much experience more than highlights if her parents don’t have the right subscriptions to watch games until three days after the game?
The three-day waiting period to watch an NBA game is absurd. Preposterous. Ridiculous. Unreasonable. By the time last night’s game is legally available to me, the Wizards will have played the Orlando Magic (tonight) and the Utah Jazz (Thursday). Which is to say, I’m never watching this game. I may see clips at some point if I’m doing some video analysis, but that’s it.
It’s time for the very smart people running the NBA to update these broadcast policies to reflect the changed reality of how people consume content. A League Pass subscriber should have access to every game, regardless of where it’s played or who’s broadcasting it. Financial aspects might get complex, but this seems like the sort of problem that smart people could figure out — or at least prompt an AI to figure it out for them.
I’ll stop complaining with this: The NBA’s broadcast policy should reflect something Commissioner Adam Silver said a couple years ago: maximum flexibility for people to watch games. Someone who cares enough about the NBA to have a “no-ads” League Pass subscription should be able to watch anything using League Pass. ‘Nuff said.
Thoughts & Observations
Since I didn’t watch, these are all derived from the box score or play-by-play.
Once again, the Wizards have done the improbable. They shout 54.3% from three-point range and were +30 from the three-point line and lost.
The Rockets pummeled the Wizards on the boards despite the absence of Steven Adams. Houston had 21 offensive rebounds to Washington’s 20 defensive boards. They out-rebounded Washington 59-27. This is not unexpected considering Washington’s complete lack of size. Julian Reese, a 6-9 forward they signed on Saturday, started at center. He could manage just four rebounds in 28 minutes.
Houston committed 20 turnovers — 1-in-5 possessions. Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant combined for 14 turnovers (8 and 6 respectively). Outside of Reese (four turnovers), the Wizards did a pretty good job avoiding turnovers.
Bilal Coulibaly hitting 5-7 from three-point range is a welcome development. He’s up to 30.4% from the three-point line this season. That’s something of an improvement from last season’s 28.1%.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
ROCKETS
WIZARDS
LGAVG
eFG%
53.8%
58.8%
54.3%
OREB%
51.2%
15.6%
26.1%
TOV%
19.8%
11.9%
12.8%
FTM/FGA
0.261
0.121
0.207
PACE
101
99.4
ORTG
122
117
115.3
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
Necas Over 0.5 assists
Boldy anytime goal
Duchene Over 0.5 assists
