ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan reversed its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup game against India and was directed to “take the field” in Colombo next Sunday.
A weeklong impasse ended on Monday, a day after International Cricket Council director Imran Khawaja and Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam arrived in Lahore to talk with the Pakistan Cricket Board about reinstating the biggest and richest game in cricket.
Back-channel talks reached the highest level, and the Pakistan government announced on X, “In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“Moreover, this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations.”
The ICC said: “It was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.”
After Bangladesh was booted from the World Cup two weeks ago when the ICC dismissed its security concerns about playing in India, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi decried the ICC's “double standards” and “injustice.” The Pakistan government told its cricket board to boycott the India group game in solidarity with Bangladesh.
But the consequences of no Pakistan-India game threatened current and future TV rights deals and ICC funding of the global game.
The Pakistan government noted in its statement that the PCB was formally asked by ICC members including Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates to end the boycott. On Monday, Bangladesh's Islam requested the match go ahead “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem."
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan's efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period,” Islam said. “Long may our brotherhood flourish.”
The ICC eased its stance on Monday when it said it would not penalize Bangladesh for missing the T20 World Cup for the first time. The ICC added Bangladesh had the right to approach the dispute resolution committee “should it choose to do so.”
Naqvi then announced a decision by Pakistan within 48 hours, but the final clincher appeared to come from a phone call on Monday evening between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
World Cup co-host Sri Lanka is hosting Pakistan for all of its matches.
The Pakistan government said Dissanayake asked Sharif “to accord serious consideration to amicably resolve the current impasse.”
Sharif green-lit the India matchup again and gave his best wishes to the “Men in Green,” who have already started the World Cup with a win over the Netherlands.
Bangladesh will be awarded a global tournament before the men's World Cup in 2031, the ICC said.
ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said in a statement that Bangladesh's absence from the T20 World Cup “is regrettable but it does not alter the ICC’s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation.”
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — German teammates Julia Taubitz and Merle Fraebel have pulled away after the first two runs of the women’s singles luge event at the Milan Cortina Olympics, opening up a sizable lead over the rest of the field going into Tuesday’s medal-deciding heats.
Taubitz is the leader, finishing her two runs Monday in 1 minute, 45.188 seconds. Fraebel is in second with a time of 1:45.249, and it’s a sizable gap from there to Latvia’s Elina Bota — third in 1:45.683.
There are five sliders within two-tenths of a second of Bota’s time, meaning the race for the bronze medal could get wild on Tuesday. Verena Hofer of Italy is fourth in 1:45.743, followed by Ashley Farquharson of the U.S. (1:45.796), Sandra Robatscher of Italy (1:45.801), Lisa Schulte of Austria (1:45.866) and Emily Fischnaller of the U.S. (1.45.872).
Anna Berreiter of Germany, the lone Olympic medalist in this field — she won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games — is ninth going into Tuesday. And Summer Britcher of the U.S., a two-time World Cup winner this season, is 12th after the opening two runs.
Taubitz is the reigning world champion. She's a six-time medalist in women's singles at the worlds — twice a winner, four times the runner-up.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Slater de Brun as the thirty-seventh overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles during the 2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Coca-Cola Roxy on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Previous Winner
Slater de Brun, OF 18 | L/L | 5’10” | 187
Drafted 37th overall in 2025, through a draft pick traded by the Rays, de Brun was essentially re-acquired in the Shane Baz trade. Like many Rays outfield prospects he’s not expected to develop much power, but compensates with an ability to hit to all fields, and has the benefit of years to develop. His hit tool rates plus thanks to a quick, compact swing, and his double-plus speed elevates both his baserunning and range in center; he has a solid arm and can stick long term. The key to his development will be improving pitch selection to maximize his power potential. Despite not yet playing in a pro game, he’s a good bet to skip the complex league and debut in Charleston this season.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
NA
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
NA
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
NA
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
NR
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
NA
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
NA
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
NA
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
NA
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
NA
de Brun has been receiving votes since No. 5, a charge led by DRB writer Ben, so I’m thrilled to free him up to vote elsewhere now. In my mind, the three 2025 draftees from the last first round rated similarly, so it’s nice to see them clustered 13-14-15 on the list, even if it’s not necessarily draft order (30-42-37). Up next we’ll add a profile for recent acquisition Victor Mesa Jr.
Candidates
Jackson Baumeister, RHP 23 | 6’4” | 224 AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB
A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Nathan Flewelling, C 19 | L/R | 6’2” | 200 A | .229/.393/.336 (126 wRC+) 439 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 20.3% BB, 27.6% K A+ | 22 PA, 4 H, 5 BB, 6 K
The 94th overall pick from 2024, Flewelling made his debut at 18 years young and caught a full season (75 C, 26 DH), plus a five game cup of coffee (3 C, 2 DH). Taking the longview, he could grow into 50-60 grade power with 50 grade defense, which makes him one to follow. His plus zone awareness at the plate offsets his lagging contact, and most importantly for the position his ability to call games and frame pitches are already plus. A strong season with the bat at High-A could vault him into Top-100 consideration.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Harrison entered the season as Baseball America’s top pitcher in the system thanks to a cleaned up delivery and high heat. He ran into some bumps in the road by running up his pitch count against batters, but he still made it over 100 innings in 22 starts. A power pitcher through and through, his hard slider flirts with cutter classification and could evolve into two distinct pitches down the road. It will be interesting to see how his change up plays as he’s challenged at higher levels, but for now he has premium stuff and the upside of a rotation anchor. (video)
OF Victor Mesa Jr. 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Jose Urbina, RHP 20 | 6’3” | 180 A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
The end of football season marks the traditional beginning of baseball season. So fantasy baseball managers can look to emulate the Seattle Seahawks as they set their sights on bringing home a championship of their own in 2026.
The first step in preparing for this season's fantasy baseball drafts is getting to know the player pool, and figuring out which stars could potentially serve as franchise cornerstones on our rosters.
Similar to last season, there seems to be a pretty clear top three leading the way with Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. at the forefront of USA TODAY Sports' first pass of 2026 fantasy baseball rankings.
Dec 16, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during press conference at the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
One topic that has been the talk of the NBA recently has been the persistent (and perhaps increasing) efforts that “rebuilding” teams are making to actively fall down the standings. Commonly known as “tanking.”
The idea behind determining draft order starting with the worst teams getting the best picks is common among sports leagues. It promotes parity and at least attempts to give the impression that any team can get better over time if they are managed properly.
The draft lottery was put into place in order to stop teams from blatantly losing on purpose. A few pretty good teams won the lottery when the odds were flat across all non-playoff teams, so they tweaked the odds. The NBA has continued to tinker with rules changes, incentives, and penalties over the years and they are threatening to do so again.
Based on this season and what everyone expects to see down the stretch, I don’t think their efforts have done much to fix things.
So we get to my daily topic discussion: Is there anything the NBA can do to adjust the rules to at least make this tanking problem, …less of a problem?
Here are some of the suggestions the league is considering.
In recent years, multiple teams have either shut down players early or sat players for games to try to improve their draft positioning, often tied to a protected pick. Sources said multiple ideas were proposed as a brainstorming measure to combat tanking, including:
Limiting pick protections to either top four or 14 and higher, which would eliminate the problematic mid-lottery protections
No longer allowing a team to draft in the top four two years in a row
Locking lottery positions after March 1
Which of these options do you like the best? Are there other ideas not mentioned above that the league should consider? Or will each of these cures end up being worse than the disease in the long run?
What do you think? Leave your suggestions and reactions in the comments below.
Briton forced to pull out when 2-0 down in deciding set
Qualifier Camila Osorio into Qatar Open second round
Emma Raducanu retired during the third set of her first-round match with the qualifier Camila Osorio at the Qatar Open, having tried to play on after taking a medical timeout.
The British No 1 was looking to move swiftly on from the disappointment of losing in straight sets on Saturday against the home favourite Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final, a match she described as “very difficult emotionally and physically”.
MILWAUKEE — Third baseman Caleb Durbin was traded to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday after finishing third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting last year.
Milwaukee acquired left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan and infielder David Hamilton from Boston for Durbin and infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler. The Red Sox also are receiving a competitive balance round B pick in July’s amateur draft, about 67th overall.
Durbin, who turns 26 on Feb. 22, could fill Boston’s opening at third base created when Alex Bregman left as a free agent to sign a $175 million, five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
The 5-foot-7 Durbin, who plays third base and second, batted .256 with a .334 on-base percentage, 11 homers and 18 steals in 136 games while helping the Brewers win a third straight NL Central title and reach the NL Championship Series last season.
Milwaukee acquired Durbin and left-hander Nestor Cortes from the New York Yankees for closer Devin Williams.
The Brewers had the third- and fourth-place finishers in the voting for the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year award that went to Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, but neither player remains with the organization. Outfielder Isaac Collins, who finished fourth in the balloting, went to Kansas City along with pitcher Nick Mears in a December trade that brought left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee.
Durbin’s exit from Milwaukee leaves the Brewers with an apparent opening at third. Joey Ortiz was the Brewers’ starting third baseman in 2024 but shifted to shortstop last season. Hamilton, among the players coming over from Boston, played one game at third base last year but primarily has worked at second base and shortstop.
Boston also gained some infield depth.
After losing Bregman, the Red Sox picked up Willson Contreras to play first base and now Durbin can play second or third.
Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow said the team hadn’t decided where Durbin would play but said he expects him to be a regular starter.
“We’re just excited about getting a really good player into the organization, and we’ll figure out where he fits best,” Breslow said. “It just doesn’t feel like it makes sense to commit to anything right now.”
Monasterio, a 28-year-old with experience at every infield position, hit .270 with a .319 on-base percentage, four homers and 16 RBIs in 68 games last season. Seigler, 26, batted .194 with a .292 on-base percentage, no homers and five RBIs in 34 games.
Harrison, 24, was a combined 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA in eight appearances for the Red Sox and San Francisco last year. He came to Boston as part of the 2025 trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco.
Hamilton, 28, hit .198 with a .257 on-base percentage, six homers, 19 RBIs and 22 steals for Boston last year. That followed a 2024 season in which he batted .248 with a .303 on-base percentage, eight homers, 28 RBIs and 33 steals in 98 games.
Milwaukee selected Hamilton out of Texas in the eighth round of the 2019 draft, then sent him to the Red Sox in a 2021 trade that brought outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to Milwaukee.
Drohan, 27, has never pitched in the majors. He went 5-2 with a 3.17 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 54 innings in 15 combined appearances with Triple-A Worcester and High-A Greenville last season.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: Kazuma Okamoto #7 of the Toronto Blue Jays is introduced during a press conference alongside Ross Atkins, General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on January 6, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is a thing SB Nation is trying for February (or at least the three weeks that are left, oops…). Each weekday, I’m going to ask our readers a question to see how everyone’s feeling about the team, and to get to know each other a little bit better. I’m even more excited tha our boy Kazuma Okamoto in the header picture.
Our staring out the window and waiting for spring comes to an end this week. With the Tigers’ signing of Framber Valdez on Wednesday, the major part of the offseason is basically over, and pitchers and catchers begin to report tomorrow. With all that, I figured it was a good time to ask some questions about the offseason. First up, which move are you most excited about? Dylan Cease is of course the big one, but personally I can’t wait to see Tyler Rogers in a Jays uniform. I love me a weird reliever, and Rogers has quietly been a top 10 or so reliever the past five seasons. The Jays bullpen was awfully thin at times last year, so adding the most durable reliever in the game who happens to boast a career ERA starting with a 2 is a very welcome security blanket. And as one of the sport’s premier ground ball merchants, he’ll enjoy playing in front of an infield that features Andres Gimenez and Ernie Clement. It feels like a perfect fit of team and player.
How about you? Which move has you the most excited for the season?
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 3: Marcelo Mayer #39 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on August 3, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Never say never, but with the Caleb Durbin deal, it looks like the Red Sox are done tinkering in the infield. The timing of the deal is interesting because, just this morning, Alex Speier gave us this report about the Red Sox efforts to acquire All-Star Ketel Marte:
According to multiple league sources, the Sox were open to dealing a package headlined by Franklin Arias and either Payton Tolle or Connelly Early in exchange for Marte. However, when Arizona sought a package led by Marcelo Mayer and one of the pitchers, the Sox declined.
Tolle/Early and Mayer is a big haul… but Marte is a hell of a player and he’s locked up until 2031. Should Craig Breslow have pulled the trigger?
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 16: Foster Griffin #29 of the Yomiuri Giants pitches in the top of the first inning during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Paul Toboni’s first offseason as Nationals President of Baseball Operations has been an intriguing one. He made plenty of moves, but most of them have been with the future in mind. That is a smart strategy, but part of me wonders about the state of this team in 2026. They are not going to be good, but I worry about the possibility of bottoming out.
There are plenty of holes on this roster, and Toboni has not provided solutions, at least for 2026. We wrote about how the Nats need to make a couple more additions before the season starts. Leaving such glaring holes feels risky to me. However, Paul Toboni has been unafraid to accept risk this offseason.
The one free agent signing he has made is a good example of that. Instead of going for a proven MLB innings eater to fill the back of the rotation, Toboni took an interesting flier. He signed Foster Griffin to a one-year $5.5 million deal. Griffin had a dominant three year run in Japan, but he is 30 years old and only has 8 MLB innings under his belt.
In 3 seasons (2023-25) with Yomiuri (@TokyoGiants):
⚾️18–10 with a 2.57 ERA in 54 starts ⚾️9.1 SO/9.0 IP ⚾️2.0 BB/9.0 IP ⚾️Central League All-Star in 2025 (6-1, 1.52 ERA 87 SO in 89.0 IP) https://t.co/UdIeCyELLS
There is some reason to believe that this could be a strong signing though. Griffin added a few new pitches in Japan and became one of the better arms in the NPB. His last few seasons in Japan compare favorably to Shota Imanaga, who has been a front of the rotation arm for the Cubs. The projection systems actually think Griffin will be solid, with Fangraphs projecting a 4.11 ERA season.
If Griffin can give you an ERA of around 4 for 150 innings, that would be a good contract. However, he is an unproven soft-tosser and the Nats are relying on him to be a solid starter in the heart of their rotation. This is a major risk, even for a rebuilding team.
Toboni’s handling of the bullpen this offseason has also been risky. Last season, the Nats had the worst bullpen ERA in all of baseball at 5.59. Despite that, Toboni traded away the Nats best reliever and has not signed a bullpen arm in free agency. He has been active on the waiver wire and is hoping for internal development.
This plan could work, and is something worth trying. A lot of the best bullpens are not the ones that have the biggest names. Relievers are very volatile assets. You can create a solid bullpen out of thin air, and that is exactly what Toboni plans to do. The Nats have some promising arms that Toboni and the coaching staff will look to develop.
Paul Toboni has made the worst bullpen in baseball last year even worse on paper. I took a look at some guys he could be counting on to make big steps and why he has faith https://t.co/aBrOIbnea8
The bullpen battle in Spring Training is something I will be monitoring closely. I am curious to see which pitchers emerge. There are likely to be a couple arms who have added velocity or tweaked their pitch mix. The question is which ones.
Finally, the biggest move Paul Toboni made this offseason was also a risky one. Trading MacKenzie Gore was not a risky move, but the return is high variance. I actually think holding on to Gore would have been the risky option. However, the Nats decided to take a high risk package from the Texas Rangers.
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
Rangers get: LHP MacKenzie Gore
Nationals get: 3B Gavin Fien, SS Devin Fitz-Gerald, RHP Alejandro Rosario, 1B Abimelec Ortiz and and OF Yeremy Cabrera
A big return for the Nationals. Fien was the 12th pick last year. Evaluators love Fitz-Gerald.
Instead of taking a deal with a true headliner, Toboni went for a quantity over quality package. Most of the players in the deal are multiple years away from the big leagues. The three main pieces in the deal are a 19 year old, a 20 year old and a pitcher who will miss two straight seasons due to injury.
If these guys hit, Toboni will look like a genius and the Nats farm will be one of the best in baseball. However, there is also a chance that he will regret not taking a deal with more proven commodities. Even for prospects, these guys are high risk.
Overall, Toboni has made a few moves he might regret. However, he also could look very smart. Either way, these deals are also not shots in the dark. They are part of a real strategy and long term vision. He trusts himself and the coaches to develop these players and get the best out of them.
Plenty of these moves make me nervous, but they also make me excited. Let me know which move makes you the most nervous in the comments. What is one move that you really like and what is a move you think Toboni could regret? It has been an interesting offseason, and I am excited to see it play out.
Shorthanded Western Conference heavyweights go head-to-head tonight as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With Luka Doncic out, LeBron James should operate as LA’s primary facilitator, and my Thunder vs. Lakers predictions expect him to get teammates involved early and often.
Here are my best free NBA picks for Monday, February 9.
Thunder vs Lakers prediction
Thunder vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 7.5 assists (-130)
LeBron James is averaging 6.8 dimes per game this season, including 7.4 at home. He's dished 8+ dimes in 13 of 34 appearances overall, including seven of 16 at home.
In four games with Luka Doncic sidelined, James has averaged 8.8 assists and handed out 8+ three times.
James has handed out 10 assists in back-to-back games, and he’ll operate as the Los Angeles Lakers’ primary facilitator tonight in what could be a high-scoring matchup at home. I’ll take the Over on a modest assists line.
Thunder vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Los Angeles Lakers have covered in seven of their last 10 games, including three straight. The Oklahoma City Thunder are just 4-5-1 ATS across their last 10 appearances. Both teams will be without their star point guards, but the Lakers have played too well to be spotted seven points at home.
Both teams have hit the Over in 28 games, and despite the absences of Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they each have enough firepower to hit the Over on this modest line. The Lakers are 5-1 to the Over as the home underdog, and the Thunder are 13-11 as the road favorite.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
LeBron James Over 7.5 assists
Lakers +7
Over 223
Our "from downtown" SGP: Welcome to La-La land
Chet Holmgren is pulling down 8.7 rebounds per game this season, but he's corralled 9.8 across his last 14 appearances and reached the Over on this line 10 times. Even with Isaiah Hartenstein back in the fold, Holmgren has grabbed 10+ rebounds in two straight with Hartenstein available.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
LeBron James Over 7.5 assists
Lakers +7
Over 223
Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
Thunder vs Lakers odds
Spread: Thunder -7 | Lakers +7
Moneyline: Thunder -260 | Lakers +210
Over/Under: Over 233 | Under 233
Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Los Angeles Lakers have covered the 4Q Spread in 32 of their last 50 games (+10.60 Units / 18% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.
How to watch Thunder vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Monday, February 9, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Duke men’s basketball coach Jon Scheyer said that a member of the Blue Devils’ staff who was injured during a court storming at the end of the team’s 71-68 loss to archrival North Carolina is “fine” and “doing better.”
Scheyer said the unnamed staff member had a bloody lip and was “disheveled and didn’t know what happened” when the team reconvened in the locker room last Saturday after the game in the Dean E. Smith Center.
“He got trampled on the floor,” Scheyer said. “That was my main concern after the game. That's why I said what I said. It was not a good situation. But he's doing better, he's fine, ready to move on. I don't have anything more to say other than that was a very unsafe situation for him, our staff, our families, our players.”
The alleged incident occurred during a chaotic final sequence at the end of Duke’s loss to the Tar Heels. North Carolina’s Seth Trimble hit what initially appeared to be a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, prompting students and fans to rush the court. After a review, though, officials added 0.4 seconds back on the clock. Duke was unable to get a shot off and the Tar Heels sealed the come-from-behind victory, leading to another court storm.
Scheyer had initially said in the moments after the game that he had staff members who were punched in the face, rather than a single staffer who was trampled.
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said he apologized to Scheyer before he went into his post-game news conference and said it’s “just very disappointing” someone was injured.
The Tar Heels were fined $50,000 on Sunday by the ACC for violating the league’s court-storming policy.
“We accept the ACC’s fine for having unauthorized people on the court before Duke and the officials could completely clear the floor on Saturday,” North Carolina said in a statement. “The video we have reviewed confirms we followed our protocols to get Duke’s players and bench personnel and the game officials off the floor safely. We will continue to review our protocols to provide the highest measures of safety in the event fans rush the court. We consider this matter closed and look forward to the rest of the season.”
The loss was only Duke’s second of the season, dropping it two spots to No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Blue Devils led for 37:39 of a possible 40 minutes and were ahead of the Tar Heels by as many as 13 points. Trimble’s shot with 0.4 seconds left gave North Carolina its first and only lead of the game.
“I'm a big boy, can take losing,” Scheyer said on the teleconference Monday. “Great college game. Carolina played great.”
ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen on a headset during Game 2 of the 2020 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
NBC’s interest in adding Clayton Kershaw to its television team, which was first reported by The Athletic in January, officially came to fruition on Sunday, with NBC Sports announcing more of its plans for 2026 baseball coverage.
The plan is for Kershaw, Votto, and Rizzo to be pregame analysts for the up to three days of the wild card round. Their schedule of games for the regular season hasn’t been revealed, but in a press release NBC Sports said, “Based upon schedules and availability, the three will appear on select pregame shows leading into regular-season Sunday Night Baseball games on NBC and Peacock, alongside hosts Bob Costas and Ahmed Fareed.”
The Mets announced their full slate of invitees not on the 40-man roster ahead of this Wednesday’s pitchers and catchers reporting date.
Among the more interesting names are top prospects Carson Benge, Ryan Clifford, A.J. Ewing and Jack Wenninger. Veterans Craig Kimbrel, Austin Barnes, and Carl Edwards Jr. are among the players hoping to extend their careers on the backend.
With the M.J. Melendez signing not yet official, the 40-Man Roster is still in a state of flux, but we can presume that the Mets will have 37 of the 40 on their roster in big league camp, with Reed Garrett, Tylor Megill, and Dedniel Núñez all out for the season after arm surgeries.
That means that the Mets will have 66 (give or take once the Melendez signing becomes official) players in camp. While the 26-man roster is fairly predictable at this point, there area few spots at the fringes that will be interesting stories this spring. Plus, this will be many fans’ first looks at some prospects who may wind up being key players for the club this year and beyond. Spring training, same as it ever was.
All of that is to say…baseball’s (nearly) back, baby.
The full list of both NRIs and members of the 40-Man Roster is below:
[Names in italics are non-roster invitees, underlined expected to miss the full 2026 season]
Feb 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow (25) during the first half of an NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns started the week strong with a win on national television against the Portland Trailblazers shorthanded. However, once the team returned home, Phoenix struggled to close games and hit the three ball when they needed to, going 1-2 for the week, their first time being under .500 for a week in 2026.
Here are the main questions for Week 16 that we want your thoughts on:
A Fourth Quarter Collapse Against the Warriors with no Steph Curry
Phoenix’s loss to the Warriors on Sunday wasn’t just bad because the Warriors were without Stephen Curry and recently acquired Kristaps Porzingis; they blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead. The Suns were up 90-76 with less than 9:30 left in the game and proceeded to score seven points the rest of the way, Golden State went on a 25-7 run to win 101-97.
The team’s offense went cold and couldn’t get into a rhythm, not scoring a single point the final 3:55 of the contest.
While the Suns did not have Devin Booker or Jalen Green, the team’s offensive continued to struggle when they returned to the lineup in the next game against the Philadelphia 76ers. How concerning were the team’s two losses this week?
Devin Booker Returns from a 15-Day Absence
Devin Booker returned to play on Saturday night after missing more than two weeks with an ankle injury he suffered against the Atlanta Hawks on January 23rd. In his return Booker had 21 points and nine assists on 5/12 shooting from the field, 1/7 from three and 10/11 from the line against the Sixers.
Additionally, Jalen Green also returned from injury on Saturday after missing more than a week, scoring 8 points in 17 minutes of action on 2/6 shooting from the field with three rebounds and three assists.
What did you make of the two guards’ returns, and do you the Suns should rest them on one-end of the team’s back-to-back this week with the All-Star Break coming up?
What Did You Make of Phoenix’s Trade Deadline?
The Suns stayed relatively quiet this trade deadline, moving Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis in exchange for forward Amir Coffey and guard Cole Anthony. The move gets the Suns out of luxury the tax for the first time since the 2021-2022 campaign. Neither Coffey or Anthony are expected to play a major role with the team, and the deal gives the team a chance to sign a 15th player, which their likely to use to convert Jamaree Bouyea’s two-way contract into a standard one.
What grade would you give the team’s deadline and do you think signing Bouyea to the last roster spot is the best use of it?
For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.
Devin Booker and Jalen Green returned from injury absences.
Green had 8 points in 17 minutes on 2/6 shooting and 0/3 from three.
Booker had 21 in 32 minutes on 5/12 from the field and 1/7 from deep.
