CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks against Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sam Merrill scored a career-high 32 points. He was on fire from deep, going 9-10 from three. He also made both of his shots inside the arc. Merrill simply couldn’t miss, and there was nothing the Wizards could do to contain him.
James Harden assisted on six of Merrill’s 11 field goals. He did a great job of finding Merrill whenever he could. We’ve seen how Harden can open up the game for guys like Jarrett Allen. Clearly, he can have that same kind of effect on an off-ball shooter like Merrill as well.
Cleveland took 40% of their shots at the rim (86th percentile). Washington didn’t have the personnel inside to keep the Cavs from getting to the basket, and the Cavs took advantage. The restricted area is still, and always will be, the most efficient place to score from. There’s no reason to go away from your advantage once you create it.
Jarrett Allen went 8-8 from the field to finish with 21 points. It seems like Allen has made every shot that he’s put up recently, which has led to his teammates calling him Wilt. In his last four games, Allen has gone 34-44 (77.3%) from the field. He’s playing some of the best basketball of his career right now.
The Cavs are now 9-0 when Allen scores 20 or more points. Allen playing his best offensively has led to wins. Now, the question is figuring out how to get this version of Allen when Evan Mobley gets back into the equation.
Harden took just four shot attempts in over 28 minutes. The last time he took four or fewer shots was in April 2024 during a game he played under 10 minutes. Harden isn’t too concerned about his lack of scoring. “I’m top 10 in scoring all-time. Scoring isn’t a problem for me.”
The Cavs had their highest free-throw rate in a game this season. Harden is to thank for that with his 12 free throw attempts. This is an area he’s going to help immensely.
Washington controlled the offensive glass, finishing with 28 second-chance points. Offensive rebounding has been an issue of late, and understandably so. Being without both Dean Wade and Mobley hurts in this department. Still, you’d like to see the Cavs do a better job on the glass. Fortunately for them, they gathered many of their misses as well and had 27 second-chance points of their own.
The Cavs played at a 105.5 pace. Despite concerns that the offense would play slower with Harden, they’ve actually increased their pace. Over the past three games, Cleveland has been playing at a 102.3 pace. For context, their season-long average is 101.8. It’ll be interesting to monitor this as Harden continues to get implemented into Kenny Atkinson’s system.
Donovan Mitchell has taken more shots since playing with Harden. He had 19 attempts on Wednesday and is averaging 22 in the three games he’s played with Harden. For reference, Mitchell is averaging 20.8 field-goal attempts per outing on the season. One of the concerns with adding Harden would be that he could take away some of Mitchell’s shots and keep him from doing what he does best. So far, that hasn’t been the case. He’s only made life easier for Mitchell.
The Cavs have registered a 125.6 offensive rating with both Mitchell and Harden on the floor this season. Cleveland’s offense has been humming in the 54 minutes the duo has spent on the court together. This has led to a +10.9 net rating together.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 06: Otto Kemp #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on before game two of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A player’s performance in Spring Training is not necessarily a sign of things to come. A strong performance doesn’t always portend a good season, and a poor performance doesn’t mean the season is lost. However, that doesn’t mean that a player can’t change the early narrative for his season in the spring.
There are plenty candidates for who to watch this spring in Phillies camp. Perhaps none bigger than the big three prospects of Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and Aidan Miller. Crawford and Painter can spark some excitement and give a better idea of how they will fare with the Phillies this season, as both are expected to travel north with the team and be on the Opening Day roster. Miller isn’t expected to be a factor for the MLB team until later in the season, but perhaps a good showing and a hot start to the Triple-A season can force the issue.
There’s no lack of roster mainstays to keep an eye on either. Bryce Harper is coming off of a down season by his standards and perhaps has a bit of a chip on his shoulder thanks to some comments from Dave Dombrowski. Aaron Nola is coming off of a disaster of a season and will be much more important in the middle of a Phillies rotation that will not have Zack Wheeler at least for the first few weeks of the season. Those two players and others will be participating in the World Baseball Classic however, so they will be absent from camp for a couple weeks starting at the end of February.
But that absence means there’s more opportunities for players like Otto Kemp and even free agent signing Adolis Garcia to impress. The team has talked up Kemp at almost every opportunity this offseason and is clearly high on him. He had a mediocre rookie season and apparently suffered a knee injury that was not revealed until after the year. Kemp will be given the first chance to be Brandon Marsh’s platoon partner in left field. Garcia meanwhile figures to be the Phillies everyday right fielder after they finally move on from Nick Castellanos. Can Garcia provide hope that he has rediscovered some of his 2023 form before he likely slots into the middle of the Phillies batting order on Opening Day?
These are just a few of many interesting player storylines to follow this spring. So, which Phillies player will you be watching the closest this spring?
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 03: Braves pitchers Bryce Elder (l), Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes and Chris Sale (r) watch from the top of the dugout during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 3, 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I’m shamelessly stealing from the comments, here.
Unless there’s a move on the rotation side, Bryce Elder will probably begin the year in Atlanta’s rotation. Joey Wentz is out of options, as is Elder. Seems reasonable — unless you’re willing to roll the dice on the Braves going in a very different direction at this point in the offseason.
Anyway, I won’t linger because you get the contours of the question. The FanGraphs Depth Chart assignment has Elder throwing 109 innings as a starter and ten in relief; for Wentz, it’s 18 innings as a starter and 34 in relief. The range of other projection systems features the combination of these two guys going about 110 to 240 innings, though you shouldn’t take the upper end of that range seriously because that’s more of a “how healthy are they?” measure than a depth chart-informed one.
My own sense is that if both guys were given free rein, they’d basically total about 100, on average, before injuries/performance saw their playing time curtailed. But they’re also somewhat competing with one another for innings provided the pitching staff health isn’t entirely a shambles, so I don’t know. 150ish might be reasonable but not exciting; I responded to said comment earlier saying that it felt like placing the over/under at 130 would be great to maximize betting, but with the Braves not signing Chris Bassitt for his fine enough deal with the Orioles, bumping that towards 170 might make more sense — at least for the time being.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
While the signing of Justin Verlander is certainly exciting and nostalgic all at the same time, let’s talk about how he turned his 2025 season around, and about keeping expectations reasonable. The future Hall of Famer isn’t quite the beast he was even 3-4 years ago. Time catches up with everyone eventually, but Verlander’s willingness to keep experimenting with his approach, along with a good run of health, salvaged his 2025 season with a pretty strong finish.
A year ago things weren’t looking so hot. Back with the Houston Astros after a brief stint with the Mets in 2023, Verlander’s 2024 campaign was marred by a shoulder strain that limited him to 90 1/3 innings, and his 5.48 ERA was easily the worst mark of his career. The San Francisco Giants took a chance on him for the 2025 season, and for a few months, it looked possible that he was in his final season. With pedestrian strikeout and walk rates, another minor injury, and a few too many home runs allowed, Verlander produced a 4.70 in the first half of the season. His slider was still effective and his velocity was intact, but hitters were teeing off on his fastball and curveball to an egregious degree.
Verlander managed to shake off the neck strain in June and July, and as it turned out, he had a few more tricks up his sleeve. Adjustments he started in June were refined over the All-Star break, and he came back out for the second half, cut the home run rate down dramatically, and started collecting more whiffs and weak contact. A 2.99 ERA with a 3.47 FIP after the All-Star break says he figured some things out.
A nice, successful season in Detroit would see Justin Verlander throw 150 innings with a 4.00 ERA. ZIPS projections have him at a 4.24 ERA over 133 1/3 innings. We would celebrate either, but it may take some adjustment to stop expecting more. Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez are tasked with leading the way. The Tigers legend just needs to contribute good outings and hopefully have another mostly healthy season. That would be plenty, and plenty fun to witness as a fan.
We do need to check any wild expectations at the door for now. Tigers fans are used to seeing him in his prime, overpowering hitters and pitching through minor injuries, whereas this season putting him on the injured list for anything minor is the move. Ideally, you’d keep his starts short as well, especially early in the season. If the Tigers can keep Verlander relatively fresh throughout the season while getting Troy Melton, Drew Anderson, or Keider Montero a few starts in his stead, all the better.
Adjusting his delivery and angles
Two adjustments he made in 2025 were pretty straightforward. First, he started taking the ball out of his glove earlier in his delivery. The second adjustment was moving over to the third base side of the rubber. The different angles that created seemed to help his fastball, and he was still able to maintain enough deception out of the glove that hitters weren’t picking up any early visual cues.
Starting his arm motion a little earlier, as opposed to gripping the ball in the glove belt high until well into his leg kick may have helped keep him in rhythm. The late hand-glove separation he’s often used in his career required a quicker move early in his arm path to catch up to his torso and lower half, and perhaps separating a little earlier freed his arm to catch up with the rest of his motion and get into sequence. Pitchers are always tweaking little timing mechanisms, and something about it clicked for him.
It’s also possible that he just got healthier. After some shoulder trouble in 2024, and then a neck strain in 2025 that cost him about a month in May and June, Verlander made every start from June 18 to the rest of the season, and other than getting blown up on a few occasions, was consistently good the rest of the way. Health would also explain why he was able to get back to the higher arm slot he threw from in his best years with the Astros. That alone helped him to get a bit more riding action back on his fourseamer, a few more whiffs, and fewer home run balls launched.
Sweepers and changeups
Verlander has slowly dialed back his fourseamer usage as his velocity has dipped, and a lot of that extra workload has fallen on his slider. Early in 2025 he just didn’t have much else to work with. His trusty curveball was even less effective than the fourseamer in the first half, and right-handers in particular were hitting it harder than ever before. The solution there was to develop a sweeper at 84-85 mph. Much firmer than the curveball, the sweeper still has a lot of depth, but it has a sharper bit of gloveside break, while the curve is usually close to 12-6. All things being equal, it’s better to throw a harder breaking ball. Neither pitch needs to be more than a third offering from him, and by pairing the two, hitters had a harder time squaring either of them.
By season’s end, Verlander was mixing the curveball and the sweeper in equal doses, replacing a third pitch with two solid breaking balls that look similar out of the hand. Neither is a huge swing and miss pitch, but mixing the pair made it harder for hitters to barrel them up.
2025 Splits
ERA
K%
BB%
HR/9
BABIP
FIP
First Half – RHH
5.08
19.6
5.4
1.2
0.317
3.88
First Half – LHH
4.30
20.1
10.1
1.2
0.315
4.57
Second Half – RHH
3.29
20.7
6.9
0.9
0.286
3.74
Second Half – LHH
2.62
22.5
9.3
0.5
0.317
3.14
While the sweeper is an interesting development, another thing that really helped Verlander squash left-handed hitters was using his circle changeup more effectively in the second half. Long-time Tigers fans will remember the early years of his career, when he routinely dropped in a straight 88-90 mph changeup. Back then, it played well mainly because the fourseam fastball was so terrifying. The version he’s started working with in recent years, and used more in the second half of 2025, is more of a classic circle change that moves away from lefties like a sinker.
Verlander threw the changeup about 14 percent of the time to left-handers in 2025, and hitters posted a downright horrendous .237 wOBA against it. He still uses all three breaking balls against lefties too, so it’s no surprise hitters weren’t looking for it often. Verlander doesn’t have a ton of confidence in throwing the changeup in the zone, but breaking out the changeup helped him handle certain hitters. Perhaps he’ll lean into that this season. It will be interesting to see if Chris Fetter and his staff has an impact on the pitch mix, or if it’s just mainly a matter of having more tools to work with so that if one pitch isn’t feeling great, he has other options to turn to in a pinch.
Don’t get too greedy
It’s fairly ridiculous to look back and compare Justin Verlander’s current fastball with its metrics 10 years ago back in 2016. At the time, in a season where the numbers say he should have won the AL Cy Young award, his fourseamer averaged 94 mph with 17.3 inches of induced vertical break. In 2025? He averaged 93.9 mph with the fourseamer, with 18.6 inches of induced vertical break. See? The old guy has really fallen off his game.
It’s interesting that he’s still getting more ride these days than he did with the Tigers in the early Statcast era in 2015-2016. The Tigers really didn’t get that higher arm slot, truer backspin, concept for a while. It took the Astros coaching staff to fully unlock it and maximize his fastball’s effectiveness. In fairness, he also got back to averaging 95+ mph from 2017-2022, along with hitting 19-20 inches of induced vertical break in that era of his career. When your fastball is that good hitters are in huge trouble. In 2022, Justin Verlander had the most valuable fastball in baseball at age 39. This man is not normal.
Verlander doesn’t get the extension down the mound that he used to, which is probably just a product of being less flexible and shortening his stride to compensate. He also isn’t holding as much back for later in a start the way he once did. It’s 92-94mph out of the gate, and then he’ll sit 94 the rest of the way while reaching back for 95-96 in tight spots. His best fastball in 2025 was 98.3 mph, and there were only eight fastballs total at 97 mph or better.
Back in the day, he would throw 92-93 mph early in a start, hoping to rack up quick outs the first time through the order. As he loosened up he’d sit 95-97 mph by the time the top of the order came up a second time, and then reach back for high 90’s and triple digits later in an outing. Verlander still shows signs of trying to do that— yes it would be fascinating to see Tarik Skubal attempt to implement this a little more, I agree—but there just aren’t as many gears available for JV these days.
In terms of secondary factors, the changes from the Giants to the Tigers defense, or from Oracle to Comerica as a home park, don’t look too significant. Verlander pitched to Patrick Bailey a lot last year, and the Giants main backstop is probably the best pitch framer in the game, so this isn’t a case where Dillon Dingler or Jake Rogers are going to give him a boost in that regard. On the other hand, the Tigers graded out a good deal better than the Giants defensively by both DRS and Outs Above Average. No doubt Verlander’s results this year will rest partly on how the his outfielders perform behind him.
The generational raw ability to pitch and drive to be one of the best ever, along with the smarts and willingness to keep making those little adjustments in all phases of the game, from diet, conditioning, pitching mechanics, to approach, have extended Justin Verlander’s career beyond anyone’s wildest dreams other than possibly his own. His legacy was secured long ago. There are already five distinct four-year eras in his career, and in the last one, he still won a Cy Young award and a World Series ring.
We can argue about what “best” means, but Verlander is the most valuable pitcher of this millenium by fWAR, 16th best all-time by fWAR, eighth all time in strikeouts at 3553 and needs just 149 more to pass Bert Blyleven for 5th all-time. He’s already fifth all-time if you count the postseason, and if you think about it, it’s weird that we don’t. In October, the top starting pitchers on playoff teams are making the highest pressure starts of the year while already at the end of their gas tank after a long season. Only Andy Petite has thrown more postseason innings in his career than Justin Verlander. But I digress.
This is the most delightful depth move in franchise history, and we shouldn’t be too greedy about it. If he’s healthy enough to get in a good groove and keep making counter adjustments to hitters, Justin Verlander will give the Tigers decent mid-rotation production, leadership, and perhaps a little extra edge. And it could be really special to watch.
Meanwhile, the top of the board spanning all of MLB is littered with guys who were just available in free agency and the Red Sox could have signed to fix this problem. This includes Kyle Schwarber (second at 43 home runs), Pete Alonso (fifth at 38 home runs), and Eugenio Suarez (eighth at 35 homes runs). (For anybody wondering, Rafael Devers comes in at a tie for 14th on this list and is projected to hit 30 home runs.)
So now for the real important question: How much does this matter?
Well, if recent history is any indication, quite a bit. Below is a list of the last 25 World Series champions (every team since the turn of the century minus the COVID season in 2020), the hitter who led the team in home runs, and how many they hit.
For the most part, there’s a pretty clear message here: You need at least one guy who can go deep 30 or more times. Not just because of the obvious ability to do damage, but also because having at least one big bopper in the postseason forces the opponent to game plan and pitch around them, which often paves the way for somebody else to make them pay in expensive fashion.
The only exceptions to this rule all came in a tight six year window between 2010 and 2015, when several stars aligned at the end of the steroid era and before the more recent launch angel era. Between these two power obsessed periods, you had one complete exception to everything in the 2015 Kansas City Royals, and a trio of San Francisco Giants teams, which were not only driven by pitching, but also played in about as unfriendly of a hitting environment as you’ll find anywhere in the sport. (Their 2012 team actually ranked dead last in home runs, but that was also Buster Posey’s MVP season, so you can sort of argue this one both ways.)
In other words, either the 2026 Red Sox pitching staff better resemble those early 2010s Giants teams, or somebody better step up internally and hit 30 bombs.
There are a few candidates, including Wilyer Abreu, who hit 18 jacks last year pre All-Star break before battling injuries in the second half, and Trevor Story, who averaged 31 home runs per year in each of his first four seasons, but hasn’t hit the mark since leaving Coors Field. But there’s one candidate who truly has the upside to solve this problem.
Before downplaying things and playfully giving it back to Rob Bradford in this clip from the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast earlier this week, Anthony gives us a pretty serios “that’s the goal” quote. It’s said so matter-of-factly, it’s hard for me to believe Anthony hasn’t been pouring his focus into that all winter.
Now of course, the front office doesn’t want to publicly put that pressure on a 21-year-old kid (even though that’s exactly what they’ve done implicitly with their roster building), so you get quotes like this gem from Craig Breslow yesterday when Alex Speier of the Boston Globe asked him about the aforementioned ZiPS projections.
Uh yeah, as noted, they probably need a guy who can launch 30 home runs, not 20, and for better or worse, Roman Anthony is the guy mostly likely to fill those shoes.
Here’s Lou Merloni on Anthony being in the best shape of his life:
Roman Anthony put on about 15 lbs of muscle and you can see it. To quote one of the great movies of all time "Babies all growns up". And he's only 21. #Monster
Putting the weight of the world on the shoulders of one of the youngest guys in the league is exactly what you shouldn’t be doing, but that’s precisely where we’re at entering 2026. Roman Anthony is already the best everyday player in Boston, and now the Red Sox need him to be a superstar. Because if he isn’t, they don’t have one in the lineup.
Notable reactions to Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych being banned from the Milan Cortina Games because of his insistence on wearing a helmet that pays tribute to athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia:
___
“No one, no one — especially me — is disagreeing with the messaging. The messaging is a powerful message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of memory and no one is disagreeing with that. The challenge that we are facing is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for just the field of play.” — International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.
___
“I thank our athlete for his clear stance. His helmet, bearing the portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes, is about honor and remembrance. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the cost of fighting for independence. And in this, no rule has been broken.” — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
___
"I want to believe that the reason is that she really felt sorry as an athlete, as a former athlete, and that she really wants me to compete. But we have what we have and we’ll see what is next.” — Heraskevych, on his meeting with Coventry.
___
“I think I'm just left with a real sense of sadness, and real surprise." — 2014 and 2018 women's skeleton Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold, speaking on the BBC.
___
“He trained wearing a helmet bearing the faces of Ukrainian athletes and friends killed by Russia. He wanted to remind the world that this war continues. That it has names. Faces. Stories. He was excluded from the Olympics. Excluded by the same Olympic Committee that allowed 20 Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag.” — Katarina Mathernova, European Union Ambassador to Ukraine, on Instagram.
___
“The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation. Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame.” — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
___
“It’s just a shame that he’s missed out on a chance of being able to compete at an Olympics, which is very sad.” — Olympic men's skeleton leader Matt Weston of Britain.
___
“The International Olympic Committee destroyed our dreams. It's not fair.” — Mykhailo Heraskevych, the slider’s coach and father.
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — A big upset in men's moguls at the Milan Cortina Olympics was decided by a razor-thin margin. Hardly a margin at all, really.
Unheralded Australian freestyle skier Cooper Woods snatched the gold medal away from the sport's most decorated skier, Mikael Kingsbury of Canada, after both scored 83.71 points in Thursday's final. The tiebreaker in moguls is the “turns” score, a mark judges base on how cleanly the skiers moved their way through the bumps.
Turns make up 60% of a moguls score — with the two jumps and a racer's speed counting for 20% each. In this case, turns meant everything. Woods won that element 48.40 to 47.70.
That's how the Olympic gold ended up in the hands of the 25-year-old Woods, who had managed one podium finish in 51 World Cup events, and silver ended up with Kingsbury, who last month became the first moguls skier to amass 100 wins on the sport's top circuit.
This is Kingsbury's third Olympic silver medal, adding to second-place finishes in 2014 and 2022. He broke through for gold in at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
Woods wept with joy after as he realized his achievement of beating the moguls GOAT while Aussie fans cheered in the stands, with one holding up an inflatable wallaby.
Ikuma Horishima of Japan repeated as the bronze medalist from four years ago.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (42-13) host the Milwaukee Bucks (22-30) tonight in each team’s final game before the All-Star Break. Each side will take the court minus their biggest star as Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) remain sidelined for the Bucks and Thunder respectively. Despite these absences, the Thunder have won two straight, including a rout of the Suns, while the Bucks have won four of their last five.
This is the third game in four nights for the Thunder. Last night, OKC blasted the Suns in Phoenix, 136-109. Jalen Williams led the way on offense with 28 points. Isaiah Joe chipped in 21 points off the bench. Milwaukee was in Orlando last night and knocked off the Magic, 116-108. In his second game with the Bucks, Cam Thomas came off the bench and scored 34 in just 25 minutes including four three-pointers.
This is the second of two regular season meetings between these teams. OKC routed the Bucks on January 21, 122-102. SGA led the Thunder with 40 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Giannis scored 19 points for the Bucks.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Bucks at Thunder
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: FDSN Oklahoma, Amazon Prime Video
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Bucks at Thunder
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Milwaukee Bucks (+490), Oklahoma City Thunder (-675)
Spread: Thunder -12.5
Total: 215.5 points
This game opened Thunder -13.5 with the Total set at 216.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Bucks at Thunder
Milwaukee Bucks
PG Jaden Ivey
SG Anfernee Simon
SF Isaac Okoro
PF Matas Buzelis
C Guerschon Yabusele
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Cason Wallace
SG Luguentz Dort
SF Jalen Williams
PF Chet Holmgren
C Isaiah Hartenstein
Injury Report: Bucks at Thunder
Milwaukee Bucks
Ryan Rollins (foot) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Taurean Prince (neck) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Oklahoma City Thunder
Shair Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Jalen Williams (hamstring) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Nikola Topic (cancer) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Bucks at Thunder
The Bucks are 10-18 on the road this season
The Thunder are 22-5 at home this season
The Thunder are 27-28 ATS this season / 13-14 ATS at home
The Bucks are 23-29 ATS this season / 12-16 ATS on the road
The OVER has cashed in 21 of the Bucks’ 52 games this season (21-31)
The OVER has cashed in 29 of the Thunder’s 55 games this season (29-26)
The Thunder are 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall
Last night snapped a 3-game streak in which Chet Holmgren pulled down double-digit rebounds
Isaiah Hartenstein is averaging 7.2 rebounds through 5 games in February
Bobby Portis scored just 4 points in 16 minutes last night
Kyle Kuzma has averaged 3.8 assists through 5 games in February
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Bucks and Thunder game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Thunder -12.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 215.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on Socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 04: Edwin Encarnacion #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the eleventh inning to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in the American League Wild Card game at Rogers Centre on October 4, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Being a sports fan is all about the endurance of disappointment. Odds are that your team is not going to win the championship in a given year. They aren’t going to sign or trade for the exact player you want. That prospect that has been built up for years probably won’t pan out. But you keep watching anyway because, much like pizza, even bad sports are still pretty good.
Orioles fans are plenty familiar with all of those types of failings. The 21st century has largely been a calamity for this organization. They’ve lost a lot, gone though a few rebuilds, and gotten to experience only brief moments of glory. Hopefully 2026 will be one of the better seasons we have experienced.
But before we move forward, let’s go back. The discussion today will give you, dear reader, two powers. First, you get to go back in time. And then, you can actually alter history, probably ripping a hole in the space time continuum. But let’s not get all deep about it.
Today’s question: If you could change one moment in franchise history, what would it be?
Your answer will likely depend on your age. My realm of fandom is largely contained to the last 25 years or so. I was born in 1993, so my conscious enjoyment of baseball kicked off as soon as the team got really, really bad. The 2005 Orioles scarred me, and I will always love the 2012 squad.
With that in mind, here are some of the big things that stick out in my head. Signing Chris Davis to that massive contract going into 2016 was obviously a mistake. The decision to go with Ubaldo Jiménez while Zack Britton went unused in the bullpen during the 2016 AL Wild Card Game was baffling then, and still is today. Manny Machado should have been an Oriole for life, regardless of the cost.
Slightly older fans will certainly have thoughts about Mike Mussina going to the Yankees, or the Jeffrey Meier game in 1996. And the generation before them is likely to recall the World Series losses in 1979 or ’69. All are worthy contenders here.
What do you think, Camden Chat? What moment sticks out to you as something worth altering history for? What would you change? Let us know in the comment section.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets throws the ball against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during a spring training game at Clover Park on March 13, 2025 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kodai Senga has suffered some unfortunate injuries the past two seasons, and he’s hoping this is the year he will stay healthy and can be a productive member of the rotation.
Both Corbin Carroll and Jackson Holliday also have broken hamate bones that require surgery, and it’s unclear whether they will be ready for Opening Day.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 07: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the first half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Delta Center on December 07, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don't love it, I just don't MIND it. I only mind if you mess with the game once it starts. They're bad, they wanted to be bad, they rested guys, they got killed. I don't enjoy it but I don't find it to be THROWING a game. https://t.co/a5QvFHvcCN
That was the sort of outrage posted to social media after the Jazz…*checks notes*…won their second game in a row over three matches? No, of course not the lineup — or concept of one — the Sacramento Kings threw into the fire in Utah’s 121-93 victory last night in the Delta Center. But there’s still one more test for the Jazz to experiment with their vile ways on, as the divisional rival Portland Trail Blazers are in town. They find themselves in a pickle with a 26-29 record without a head coach, replaced by interim coach Tiago Splitter. Man, just yesterday, he was hitting hook shots over Chris Bosh in the Finals. However, they remain undefeated over the Jazz in the regular season, winning their last two matches against this squad. But because of peer pressure from basketball minds such as Bobby Marks, the Jazz have been forced back to their winning ways; at least three quarters of competitive basketball is what you can expect to receive due to the league’s intervention to make sure the Jazz aren’t disgracefully resting their good players. Despicable. Vile. Unethical. Anyways, the Pacers just played a lineup of two-way players and guys on 10-day contracts.
But with both teams coming off a back-to-back one game before the All-Star break, who knows what atrocities you can expect to see on the injury report? Or maybe there won’t be any casualties at all, considering the Jazz are one of the only teams without a single participant during All-Star Weekend in LA. Sadly, no Ace Bailey in Rising Stars, no Cody Williams in the Dunk Contest, or Lauri Markkanen in the main event, because Brandon Ingram was allowed to replace the injured Steph Curry, for reasons that can only be explained by Adam Silver.
You can expect Keyonte George to be out throughout the break due to his lingering ankle issues. I saw a full quarter of the newly established big three, and that was enough excitement to keep me patient until 2027. But even without him, the Jazz have created a revolution. The finger-pointing shall be no more: since Jackson Jr.’s debut, the Jazz have posted the third-best defensive rating in the NBA at 101.6. In context, they’re the worst-rated defensive team all season, with a 120.9 rating. That’s…wow. I need a moment to sit down. I’m a proud parent watching my kid put the square-shaped object into the square hole. I watched them get taken out by the mighty Hornets, getting 150 points getting dropped on their dome, and now I bear witness to them putting a halt to the unstoppable Kings as they score a measly 93.
Okay, maybe the Magic, Heat, and Kings are not top-tier offensive juggernauts. But neither is Portland: they hold the 22nd-best offense and the 19th-best defensive rating. They’re one of those teams trying to cash in, despite one of the most brutal Western Conference skill gaps in existence. There is the idea that a strong, lengthy lineup they pose will be able to outrebound and outwork you, ranking second in the league in offensive rebound percentage at 34.5%. They score 18.4 second-chance points a game due to these opportunities. I love rooting for underdogs like ourselves, but I don’t believe they can escape unscathed and make a deep playoff run in the West. As a mid-level team, scrapping for the playoffs? You have my support, dear friend.
They struggle to find their identity without newly found superstar Deni Avdija — a driving specialist who draws some of the most fouls in the NBA. He attempts around 9.4 free throws in a game, hitting them at an 80.2% clip. Defenses often have to collapse on him, but how will he fare when facing Jaren Jackson Jr. for two and a half quarters? The Jazz can now proudly limit his rim-finishes, making him more reliant on facilitating and perimeter shooting. His assist numbers might rise, but scoring efficiency drops.
Utah will probably want to tug on the reins a little bit. Under no circumstances would anyone want to gift OKC a free lottery pick. The Jazz could probably still circumvent the media’s thunderstorm of anti-tank extremism; they just have to, y’know, not mess with DraftKing’s—I mean, the NBA’s glorious integrity.
Just one more sleep until pitchers and catchers officially report to Dodgers Spring Training. Many of them are already in camp, itching to get that third World Series ring in a row.
One guy who is back is our favorite Honeybun, one Evan Phillips. Phillips was non-tendered in November, six months after he underwent Tommy John surgery. The quiet right-handed relief pitcher was dominate before his surgery, especially against right-handed batting. He has a 0.00 ERA in the playoffs over 12 games in five different series. Fabian Ardaya has all the details here.
Should he return to his former dominance, he will join a slightly revamped bullpen that now features Edwin Diaz as closer. When Phillips last pitched for the Dodgers, the team was mainly doing closer by committee. Phillips would be on track to join the team sometime this summer.
Unfortunately, a catcher who won’t be in Spring Training with the Dodgers (for now) is Ben Rortvedt. Benny Biceps has had quite the eventful offseason, getting DFA’d by the Dodgers, claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, being DFA’d by them, and then claimed again by the Dodgers. The hope is that this time no one claims Rortvedt and he’s able to return to Oklahoma City for some catching depth.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register had some questions about the Dodgers as Spring Training is about to begin -who will be the main second baseman, how will the Dodgers deal with their ‘high class’ problems, who will fill out the bullpen, where’s Kike’, and how will the WBC impact the roster?
Here’s my simple answer to all of them – it will work itself out, especially the bullpen and ‘high-class’ problems. Without putting too many jinxes out there, the Dodgers always have a plethora of pitching to start the season and by the middle of the season, whatever they had originally planned in March is out the window. (Personally, I don’t think saying that is any more of a jinx than Plunkett pointing out what players have been injured in the WBC in the past).
And as far as Kiké Hernández rejoining the team, well, we all know it will happen. Since he underwent elbow surgery in the offseason, he won’t be playing with the team any time soon even if he was on the roster. Things just need to work themselves out, as they always do.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 6: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on February 6, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Payton Pritchard spent the first 48 games as the Celtics starting point guard.
Pritchard had never been a full-time starter, starting just 17 of 347 career games entering this season. He finally had the opportunity this season until the Celtics traded Anfernee Simons to the Bulls.
The trade left the Celtics without a guard off of the bench who could create a shot for himself or others consistently, so head coach Joe Mazzulla gave the defending Sixth Man of the Year his old job back.
Since that point, Pritchard has been awesome, scoring 20 points in 4 of the 5 games. He has also played over 30 minutes in all of those games and he looks ultra confident in the familiar role. Boston needed a punch in that 2nd unit with Simons gone and Payton is the best option to play that role. He has averaged 21.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in the 5 games since moving to the bench.
There could be for a number of reasons Payton has been great. He could be comfort in the role. He has been a reserve his whole career and maybe he was struggling to figure out how to fit in with the starters. Although, that would be strange because he plays with those guys a lot anyways.
It could be more opportunity. When he comes into the game for the first time, one of Derrick White or Jaylen Brown is typically headed to the bench. He enters the game and the Celtics give him the ball to create offense.
He gets the switch onto a bad defender in Norman Powell and goes to work, drilling the step back three.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t doing this stuff as a starter; he was doing it less. He had not been getting to his spots as confidently as he has since the move to the bench. He has also made his threes, making almost 40% of his threes in the last 5 games.
Josh Okogie goes to switch the screen as Amen Thompson sticks on Neemias Queta so he doesn’t get a free roll to the rim. That leaves no one on Pritchard and he makes them pay.
“I can start, I can come off the bench, it don’t matter,” he said after the Celtics win against the Mavericks on February 3rd. “Just what the team needs, being killer in my role. That’s what it takes.”
Pritchard was awesome again in the Celtics dominant win over the Bulls on Wednesday night, scoring 26 points with 8 assists and 5 rebounds off of the bench. He played confident all night and hit shots.
Just get the matchup you like and go to work. He loves that step-back where he takes two steps back to create the space. This short mid-range shot has been money all year for Payton.
Whether it is confidence, opportunity or his shot luck has improved, Payton Pritchard has been great since moving back to the bench. If the Celtics are going to accomplish their goals, they’ll need Pritchard to play like this.
PROVO, UTAH - FEBRUARY 7: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars controls the ball during the first half of the game between Houston Cougars and BYU Cougars at Marriott Center on February 7, 2026 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery was always going to have half the league sitting on pins and needles. This has been considered a stacked draft class for years as top prospects A.J. Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson tore up the high school ranks. The group at the top looks even stronger now with breakouts from Caleb Wilson and Kingston Flemings, and the trade deadline made the stakes of the lottery even higher.
There are 10 teams trying to tank for better lottery odds to end this season. The Utah Jazz are resting their best players in the fourth quarter to try to lose games, the Washington Wizards won’t even play healthy players, and teams like the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks feel like they’re pivoting to a rebuild after years of doing their best to compete. The trade deadline put even more pressure on the lottery. The Los Angeles Clippers can now pick as high as No. 5 overall after trading Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers will be praying their pick lands in the top-4 so they can keep it.
There’s big movement from our previous 2026 NBA mock draft, which featured a deeper dive into the individual prospects. Our last mock was more based off my personal board, but now that I’ve shared my board, let’s change the thought process for this mock and try to guess what NBA teams would actually do in each spot. I did one spin of the lottery order via Tankathon for this mock draft, and the results were shocking. Let’s dive in.
1. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) – A.J. Dybantsa, F, BYU
I have Cameron Boozer at No. 1 and Dybantsa at No. 3 on my big board, but the NBA likely won’t see it the same way. While I have concerns about Dybantsa’s defensive instincts and limited three-point volume, there’s no doubt he’s still a monster scoring prospect with a ridiculous blend of length, strength, explosion, and flexibility. He can put pressure on the rim at will as a driver, and he’s shown awesome touch in close by making 76 percent of his shots at the rim. Dybantsa also already has a polished back-to-the-basket game that should work well in high leverage situations, and he’s a capable floor spacer by hitting 37.2 percent of his threes, mostly on open catch-and-shoots. Dybantsa has some things to clean up like any young player, but he’s going to score like crazy with good efficiency in the NBA for a long time. He’s a cleaner fit next to Jalen Johnson than Boozer, and his body of work this season has been more impressive than Peterson, who has been slowed down by injuries.
2. Milwaukee Bucks – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Milwaukee was the big winner of our lottery simulation, and this is a league-changing outcome. Suddenly, Giannis Antetokounmpo would have a bright future with the Bucks as they land a guard with All-NBA upside in Peterson. The Kansas freshman has underwhelmed expectations as he’s battled a hamstring strain and cramping issues, but he’s been putting up huge scoring numbers (43.5 points per 100 possessions on 62 percent true shooting). We still haven’t seen the best of Peterson yet with the Jayhawks, but his shot-making has already been phenomenal and his rim pressure and defensive playmaking should be a lot better when he’s 100 percent physically.
3. Brooklyn Nets – Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
The Nets really need to land a top-4 pick because they owe swap rights to the Houston Rockets in 2027. Boozer is the best prospect in this class in my eyes for his offensive versatility and long track record of impacting winning. Boozer is an awesome shooter, driver, and playmaker for his size at 6’9, 250 pounds. He’s not the most explosive or fluid athlete, but he makes up for it with strength, outstanding feel for the game, and a constantly increasing skill level. He’s been the most productive of the ‘big three’ prospects this year while also being the youngest, turning 19 years old shortly after draft day. It’s easy to take Boozer’s greatness for granted because he’s been so steady for so long, but he’s going to be a franchise cornerstone for whatever team selects him, regardless of draft slot.
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
The Bulls were the other big winner of our lottery simulation, moving up from the No. 10 slot to cash in on a 13.9 percent chance to land a top-4 pick. This is a great draft to land the No. 4 pick in with two of Wilson, Boozer, and Houston point guard Kingston Flemings likely available. Wilson could push Dybantsa out of the No. 3 spot on my personal board soon with his non-stop motor and two-way upside as a 6’10 forward. The Tar Heels freshman is a buzzsaw defender who can pick up 94-feet, provide secondary-rim protection, and get into the passing lanes. He doesn’t have a reliable three-point stroke yet, but he’s still an impactful offensive player by dunking everything as a finisher, gaining extra possessions on the glass, hitting tough mid-range shots, and adding value as a passer. Wilson feels more like a star role player than a traditional star, but he’d be a fantastic addition to Chicago’s rebuild and would finally give the fanbase some real hope.
It’s going to be particularly important to finish with the worst overall record for the tanking teams this year because it means you’re guaranteed a top-5 pick. While it’s a bummer for Sacramento to fall this far, at least they still land an awesome point guard prospect in Flemings who can replace a lot of what they lost by trading De’Aaron Fox. Flemings has a wicked combination of burst, change-of-direction, and the ability to stomp on the brakes as a driver. He’s a really good playmaker and mid-range shooter, and he should increase his free throw rate and three-point volume in time. He’s the rare lead guard prospect who should be a plus defensively. Getting a prospect of Flemings’ caliber at the No. 5 pick is one reason why this is such a strong draft.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (via Pacers) – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Mikel Brown Jr.'s historic night as heard on the Louisville Sports Radio Network.
His 45 points and 10 3s against NC State tie two single-game program records. Brown also broke the ACC single-game freshman scoring record.
The Pacers fell out of the top-4 in this lottery simulation, and that means their pick goes to the Clippers for the Ivica Zubac trade at the deadline. I tweeted that Brown was due for some positive regression to the mean as a shooter a couple weeks ago, and then he went out and made 10-of-16 threes in a win over NC State earlier this week. His combination of pull-up shooting, better-than-expected rim attacking, and solid playmaking with good positional size at 6’5 separates him from the other prospects in this range in my eyes, and if he stays on fire to end the year, maybe he can push Flemings for the No. 5 spot on my board. Yes, the Clippers just acquired a really good 26-year-old point guard in Darius Garland, but they can’t afford to draft for fit with a pick this high. Brown looks like the best prospect on the board by a sizable margin.
7. Washington Wizards – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Wagler has been the biggest riser of the draft class, going from the No. 150 overall recruit to a possible top-10 pick. His off-the-dribble shooting is the most enticing part of the package, but he’s also shown an impressive ability to create off the bounce without an assist. Wagler has not dunked the ball this season, and is pretty clearly limited in terms of his athletic explosion, and it impacts him on the defensive end, too. At the same time, if he keeps shooting and scoring like this, it will be hard for the league to pass on him in the top-10. I’m fascinated to see if he can maintain his momentum through the end of the season for a stacked Illinois team talented enough to make a Final Four run.
8. Utah Jazz – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament is killing it lately after a slow start, averaging 25.4 points and seven rebounds over his last five games on 50 percent shooting from three and 45.2 percent shooting on twos. I’m still worried that he settles too much, and struggles to get to and finish at the rim. Adding more strength and refining his dribble, pass, and shoot skill set should improve that over time. The tools that made him a top-5 recruit entering the year are still there as a 6’10 wing, and I’d bet on it being too tempting to pass up for teams in this range.
9. Dallas Mavericks – Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington
Steinbach is an elite rebounder with a specialty on the offensive glass, he’s an efficient scorer, and he catches everything thrown at him. It feels like Steinbach has a wide range, but the added increase on hitting the offensive glass around the league should ultimately benefit him. He would be a nice lob target for Cooper Flagg as the rookie star continues to improve his pick-and-roll playmaking, and he’d also help get Flagg extra possessions with tip-outs and putbacks on the glass. His three-point shot is a work in progress and opinions on his defense are all over the map, but Steinbach has some special gifts as he continues to develop in other areas.
It sure seems like Quaintance returned too early from his torn ACL suffered late last season at Arizona State. He didn’t look like the same player in his four games back before shutting it down, and that makes him in the top-10 a super risky bet. Still, I’ve been high on Quaintance’s future dating back to his high school days, and I don’t want to hold these four games against him after such a serious injury. When he was at Arizona State as a 17-year-old last year, Quaintance looked like an elite defensive big man prospect. The Grizzlies seem like the type of franchise that might take a chance on him despite already having Zach Edey entrenched at center.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Lendeborg will be 24 years old when his rookie year starts, but he should still have appeal in the lottery with both the tools and skill set to be a modern NBA forward. At 6’9, 235 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan, Lendeborg has shown he can defend all over the floor, crush the glass, and stroke three-pointers during his winding college career. His development track has been unusual because he didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was 15 years old, so his age shouldn’t be held against him too much. He feels like the perfect frontcourt connector to finish off Charlotte’s young core.
12. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) – Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke
I usually give the Spurs a shooter in this spot, and in the comments their fans always start complaining when they see “guard” next to their name. Fine! San Antonio gets one of my favorite prospects in Patrick Ngongba in this version, a 6’11 big man with immaculate finishing touch, slick passing ability, and proven paint protection instincts. Ngongba would have more appeal if he was a dominant rebounder, but I still think he’s worth a lottery pick.
After a slow start, Burries has been looking like the five-star combo guard Arizona was promised on the recruiting trail, averaging 21.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and three assists on 64.3 eFG% over his last five games. Burries is really old for a freshman (he’ll be 21 in Sept.), but his ability to act as a secondary handler with three-level scoring ability will be intriguing after the top-10. He’s one of the biggest risers in this class since the start of the season, and he makes sense for an OKC team that could still use more long-term shooting and scoring punch.
Portland is No. 29 in three-point percentage this season, and Mullins can immediately help out in that area. The 6’6 UConn freshman might be the best off-ball shooter in the class with a quick and pure stroke from deep, and a decent enough combination of frame and athleticism to have some impact in other areas. I wish he could do more off the bounce, but at this point it feels like we haven’t seen the best version of him yet after an early season ankle injury and then a concussion. There’s still time with March Madness approaching.
15. Miami Heat – Koa Peat, F, Arizona
Peat can’t shoot from the outside at all, but he’s immediately been a winning role player on an elite veteran team from the moment he stepped on campus. His powerful frame, playmaking, and play-finishing is an enticing combo if his shot can develop enough to not completely kill a team’s spacing.
16. Golden State Warriors – Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
Carr’s 7’2 wingspan and 41 percent three-point stroke will earn him plenty of fans in NBA front offices. He’s painfully skinny right now and I’m not sold on his ability to attack off the dribble or his defense, but his production has been outstanding, and it’s very hard to find wing shooters with this type of length.
17. Memphis Grizzlies – Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz is a pick-and-roll master who plays at his own pace. He can shoot it off the dribble, score with crafty finishes around the rim, and throw every pass in the halfcourt based on the coverage he’s seeing. His defense will be picked apart in the predraft process, but he checks a lot of boxes for a lead guard. He feels like a Grizzlies type of prospect to me.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder – Chris Cenac Jr., C/F, Houston
Cenac is a potential stretch five as a 6’10 big man with a 7’4 wingspan with soft touch from deep. He slides his feet well defensively on the perimeter, but still needs to work on his instincts and feel for the game on both ends of the floor. He’s been coming on strong in conference play, and the fact that he committed to play for a notoriously hard-charging coach in Kelvin Sampson seems like a good signal about his makeup to me.
19. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
Acuff has been one of the most productive guards in college basketball this year as he’s continued to put up huge numbers against top competition. I’m a bit worried about his defensive projection and shot selection, but his production this year would be hard to ignore if he slips this far. Would the Hornets still take another guard after trading for Coby White (an impending free agent, to be fair) at the deadline? I think so, given White’s ability to play off the ball.
20. Toronto Raptors – Aday Mara, C, Michigan
The Raptors desperately need a center of the future with Jakob Poeltl being slowed down by a back injury. Mara is a good bet in this range as a 7’3 center who can contest shots in drop coverage and throw some amazing outlet passes to kickstart the break.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Wolves) – Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
The Pistons got this pick with a sneaky-good trade deadline deal that earned them swap rights with the Wolves. Detroit could go in a lot of different directions here, but I like the idea of adding a lightning-quick point guard in Tanner who has been one of the country’s best players in his sophomore season. Tanner is extremely small (he’s generously listed at 6-foot, 175 pounds by Vandy), but he’s super athletic, much improved as a shooter, and plays way more physical than someone his size should. The Pistons have the defensive personnel to help insulate him, and he could do a lot to help unclog their offense.
22. Los Angeles Lakers – Morez Johnson, F, Michigan
Johnson can protect the paint defensively, score efficiently inside, and is just starting to flesh out his three-point stroke. He would add some much needed physicality to the Lakers front court, and he has the length and strength to make up for being a tad short at 6’9.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs) – Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
Haugh should be a winning role player in the league with his combination of defense, floor spacing, and above-the-rim finishing. Don’t want to take my word for it? Here’s what Dan Hurley said:
Dan Hurley on Thomas Haugh: "He's one of my favorite players in recent memory…. That guy’s like a first-team All-American. He should be a lottery pick. He’s tremendous" pic.twitter.com/9WTHgSKnWO
Swain is one of the top sleepers in this class. The Texas junior has a great frame and impressive athleticism for a wing, and he should be able to defend and rebound in the league from day one. He’s shown way more comfort attacking off the dribble this year, and his three-point shot gets a tad better every season even if it remains a weakness. He’s going to be a steal for whoever drafts him, and he’d be a great fit in Denver.
25. New York Knicks – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
There’s so many good guards in this draft class that a couple of them with a chance to go in the lottery are bound to fall a little further than they should. I love Philon’s drive-and-kick ability, deadly floater, and improved outside shooting, but he’s just really small for an NBA guard without Tanner’s defensive production. He would love playing like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges behind him … if those guys are still on the Knicks next season.
26. Philadelphia 76ers – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
The Sixers acquired this pick from the Pelicans in the Jared McCain trade, which mostly felt like a cost-cutting move for Philly, so they better make this selection count. Philly has been searching for a modern four for years, and it feels like Lopez fits the bill. He has a great frame as a strong 6’9 forward who can attack downhill, finish at the rim, and get to the foul line. He may go 10 spots higher than this.
27. Boston Celtics – Tounde Yessoufou, G, Baylor
Yessoufou was a five-star freshman who projects as a point-of-attack defender at the next level. His offense hasn’t always been pretty during his freshman year, but he’s coming on strong lately. It feels like he has to be a really good shooter to make it work in the NBA given his lack of handling and playmaking. I’m not sold on the shot yet, but he could get an acceptable level eventually given his defensive abilities.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Jefferson is one of the best players in college basketball, and he’s shown he has role player potential even as a star during his senior season at Iowa State. He has a good frame for an NBA forward, and his passing, rebounding, and defense should all play at the next level.
Arenas is getting a late start to his freshman season after being involved in a terrifying car accident, but he’s really starting to play well as he gets his feet wet as a freshman at USC. The son of Gilbert Arenas just seems to get anywhere he wants off the dribble with impressive size and shot-making for a guard. He could be a lottery pick in 2027 if he returns to school and shines for a full season, but there’s still a chance he comes out this year.
30. Dallas Mavericks – Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
Thomas is a walking bucket with speed, shiftiness, and impressive shooting off the dribble or on spot-ups. He feels primed to be a really good bench scorer for a long time, and that’s a great value with the last pick in the first round, which the Mavericks acquired from the Wizards in the Anthony Davis trade.
White Sox fans will get a sneak peek at Munetaka Murakami’s talent as he suits up for Team Japan in the WBC. | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The World Baseball Classic is right around the corner, and the White Sox will have players representing countries from around the world. Five current South Siders and one old friend will be suiting up for their teams in just a few weeks, ready to make some noise.
Sam Antonacci and Kyle Teel are packing their bags for Team Italy. Antonacci, a versatile infielding prospect (MLB No. 11) with a steady bat, might just drag the Italians through a tough pool, while Teel’s bat and athleticism give the gil Azzurri a potential game-changer at the plate.
Seranthony Domínguez gets the call for the Dominican Republic, and he’s no stranger to big moments. He’ll be a late-inning sledgehammer for a D.R. squad loaded with thunder, including Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Pick your poison. If they go deep, Domínguez could be right in the thick of it.
— Equipo Dominicano de Béisbol 🇩🇴 (@_losdominicanos) January 28, 2026
Curtis Mead will suit up for Australia, bringing some South Side grit down under. Australia rarely gets headlines but has quietly earned respect in past tournaments.
Six years ago, a then 19-year-old Curtis Mead played in an exhibition game for Team Australia vs the Doosan Bears.
That’s the only time he’s ever worn the Green and Gold.
Until now. Curtis, now in the Major Leagues with the Chicago White Sox, is on the WBC Roster – scheduled… pic.twitter.com/gPBny6Revy
Munetaka Murakami, Chicago’s big-ticket offseason buy, is one of the headliners on Japan’s roster, and expectations will be sky-high with the power and big stage experience. Murakami checks a lot of boxes, and he’ll be a player to watch every time that Samurai Japan steps to the plate.
And then there’s Alexei Ramírez, forever a South Side favorite. He’s 44 now, and somehow back in a Team Cuba jersey two decades after his WBC debut in 2014. Even 10 years removed from the majors, the veteran shortstop brings experience, savvy, and baseball soul to Cuba’s lineup.
Alexei Ramirez is playing with team Cuba at 44 YEARS OLD 🤯
Ramirez played for Cuba in the first WBC in 2006 and last played in MLB in 2016. pic.twitter.com/qnATbNF15m
Tournament play starts with Teams Chinese Taipei and Australia in the Tokyo Dome at 10:00 p.m. ET on March 4. Team USA plays an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies that same day at 3:10 p.m. ET at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale. Team USA’s official tournament play begins on March 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET versus Team Brazil on FOX.
For fans, the WBC isn’t just another tournament. It’s proof that elite baseball talent is everywhere. And for Chicago, the South Side’s fingerprints are all over the map.
