SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Florida Panthers will look to bounce back from a frustrating defeat their last time out when they kick off a challenging road trip on Sunday.
Florida has won one and lost one since exiting the NHL’s Olympic pause, dropping Friday’s matchup with the Buffalo Sabres on a night where the Cats were extremely frustrated with a challenged goal that was allowed, leading to a 3-2 defeat.
Now the Panthers are set to begin a four-game, six-day road trip when they face a strong New York Islanders squad at UBS Arena.
The Islanders have won four straight games, including each of the two they have played since the league resumed following the Olympic break.
Their most recent victories have come on the road, with the Isles battling back from 2-0 deficits in both to claim a pair of overtime wins.
Entering play Sunday, New York is holding onto third place in the Metropolitan Division, clinging to a four-point edge over the Washington Capitals who are out of the playoff spot at the moment, one point behind the Boston Bruins, who hold the final Wild Card spot.
A big reason for the Islanders success this season has been the play of goaltender Ilya Sorokin.
He’s 10-3-0 since the calendar flipped to 2026, picking up three of his six shutouts during the month of January.
Florida, meanwhile, remains eight points behind Boston for that last Wild Card spot.
There is hope that sometime during their road trip, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and forward Tomas Nosek may come off the injured list and re-join the squad.
For Nosek, he will be making his season debut whenever he gets the green light while Kulikov will be seeing his first action since he suffered a shoulder injury during the second game of the season.
Additionally, Florida is also expecting to have injured defenseman Seth Jones and ailing forward Jonah Gadjovich ready to return in the near future as well, though whether either comes back during the road trip has yet to be determined.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Sunday’s showdown on Long Island:
Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Photo caption: Dec 7, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) moves the puck against the New York Islanders defenseman Tony Deangelo (77) during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 11: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 11, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are headed to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics for the fourth and final time this regular season.
Joel Embiid will not be shipping up to Boston, however, after an MRI on Saturday confirmed that Embiid suffered a strained right oblique in the team’s win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night. He will miss the Sixers’ next three games (including Sunday’s) before being re-evaluated. Other than Embiid, Philadelphia will also continue to be without Paul George on Sunday as he sits out his suspension.
After facing off three times in the first three weeks of the season, the Sixers and Celtics haven’t met since way back in November. Philadelphia actually leads the series against Boston so far with two wins and one loss, but all three games were extremely close — the largest margin being two points, the other games decided by a single point.
For this fourth and final meeting the Celtics will, despite rumors and rumblings as of late, still be without Jayson Tatum, who has not played this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in his right leg in the playoffs last season.
Baylor Scheierman also is questionable for Boston for Sunday due to a thumb fracture. Scheierman isn’t a name you might not recognize, but the sophomore guard has actually become a bigger piece of the Celtics rotation as of late. He played 24.3 minutes per game in February and started in the Celtics’ last six contests, averaging 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while playing some good defense in that span.
Even without Tatum this season, Boston has been looking pretty damn good, especially since the turn of the calendar year. The Celtics have won 10 of their last 12 games and are currently second in the Eastern Conference at 39-20, trailing only the 44-14 Detroit Pistons.
Jaylen Brown has been far and away the Celtics leader all season, averaging a career-high 29.1 points per game in 53 contests, but he has a supporting cast playing good basketball right now as well. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are chipping in career-highs of 17.3 points and 17.1 points per game, respectively.
There’s also Nikola Vucevic, who was moved to Boston from the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline. He has played just eight games with the Celtics but came alive for a big double-double in their most recent contest, putting up 28 points on 9-for-13 field goal shooting and 3-for-3 from long range with 11 rebounds. Sure, it was in a blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets, but still something to watch as Vucevic continues to acclimate to the Celtics squad.
The Sixers have been on a positive streak recently as well — a short one, but positive nonetheless — winning their last three games in a row and putting momentum back in their favor after losing four straight prior. The most recent two of those victories came with the help of Embiid, while the first (against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves) was without him. Philadelphia has been shooting the ball well (or at least better than their usual) in that three-game stint as well, hitting 51.7% from the floor and 42.3% from long range.
It’s a good thing that the Sixers have been hotter from beyond the arc, too, because they’re likely going to need those threes to keep up with Boston. As of Saturday evening, the Celtics are second in the NBA in offensive rating at 120.2. For reference, the Sixers are more of a middle-of-the-pack team at 15th (115.0) in the category.
This is going to be a tough one for the Sixers sans Embiid to kick off a busy March, with 16 games in the month. It is certainly possible, with Philadelphia having done it before without their star center back in that two-point victory way back in November, but that’s ancient history now. Based on how the Celtics have been playing recently, it’s likely going to be one of those games the Sixers need everyone at their absolute best: they’ll need Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to both score and facilitate well, Kelly Oubre Jr. to keep shooting as well as he has the past couple weeks, Quentin Grimes to chip in off the bench, everyone doing their jobs defensively, and someone… anyone… to be aggressive rebounding.
It’s going to take everyone.
The Sixers and Celtics tip off from TD Garden at 8 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Sunday, March 1, 8:00 p.m. ET Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA Watch: NBC, NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Feb 28, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; A detailed view of the field after a spring training game between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images | Allan Henry-Imagn Images
After experiencing the first week plus a day of spring training to exhaust the February portion of the Cactus League schedule, the Dodgers open March with a Sunday home game against the Angels.
Four of the Dodgers’ seven games this week are at Camelback Ranch, including an exhibition game Wednesday against Mexico as part of a build-up for the World Baseball Classic starting later this week. Friday and Saturday against the Royals and Rockies, respectively, are the Dodgers’ first two night games this spring.
To that end, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have already left to join Team Japan in Tokyo, and Hyeseong Kim is also headed to Pool C in Tokyo while playing for Korea in the WBC. Dodgers catcher Will Smith and closer Edwin Díaz will join the United States and Puerto Rico, respectively. The first World Baseball Classic game on the schedule involving a Dodgers player is Kim and Korea taking on Czechia on Thursday at 2 a.m. PT.
Here is the Dodgers’ schedule for the next week, plus WBC pool play games as well. All times are in the Pacific Time Zone.
Sunday, March 1
Dodgers vs. Angels, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, AM 570)
Monday, March 2
Dodgers at Rockies, 12:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Tuesday, March 3
Dodgers at Guardians, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Wednesday, March 4
Dodgers vs. Team Mexico, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Thursday, March 5
WBC: Korea vs. Czechia, 2 a.m. (FS1) Dodgers at Reds, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, ESPN)
Friday, March 6
WBC: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 2 a.m. (FS1) WBC: Puerto Rico vs. Colombia, 3 p.m. (FS1) WBC: United States vs. Brazil, 5 p.m. (Fox) Dodgers vs. Royals, 5:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Saturday, March 7
WBC: Japan vs. Korea, 2 a.m. (FS1) WBC: Puerto Rico vs. Panama, 3 p.m. (FS1) WBC: United States vs. Great Britain, 5 p.m. (Fox) Dodgers vs. Rockies, 5:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, AM 570)
Feb 26, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller (50) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Happy Sunday everyone! It’s becoming a bit of a pattern for the Sunday links to prominently feature Kade Anderson. I wonder if that will end next week. I honestly hope not. The kid is so electric he has me wondering about other undeniable spring standouts and which of them ended up turning out the best for bygone Mariners teams. Which Mariners have had Spring performances that made you think they were headed for absolute greatness?
In Mariners news…
Lookout Landing established boots on the ground in Peoria yesterday, and the first post is an important reminder, all people yearn for properly fitting pants.
Kade Anderson, the darling of Spring Training so far, made his Cactus League debut yesterday, and true to form, he did not disappoint.
Angels outfielder Josh Lowe, who the team acquired via trade a few weeks ago and was expected to be one of the team’s Opening Day outfielders, is taking a little extra time to get up to full speed with oblique tightness.
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Jose Rojas (81) celebrates after scoring against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
There’s a term that you hear tossed around baseball circles a lot, especially this time of year: Quad-A player. This means someone who is probably better than Triple-A talent but isn’t necessarily cut out for the majors, either. There tends to be subsets of Quad-A players, including but not limited to the defensive whiz who can’t really hit a lick but is phenomenal with the glove, the pitcher whose movement plays on the farm but not under the bright lights, and the corner guy with power.
Jose Rojas is a corner guy with power in the model of Val Pascucci, Nick Evans, Mike Hessman, and other remnants of the 2008-2013 Mets. Rojas has all the markings of this type: a few seasons of slugging over .500, success in Asia, multiple stints in various latin winter leagues, and limited opportunities and even more limited success on the big stage.
On the surface, this is yet another depth signing, an opportunity to squeeze a little juice out of a player that may not have a ton more to give. But for the Mets, there’s a little more here because of their particular roster construction. While not his primary position, Rojas actually has the second most minor league reps at first base of anyone in camp behind Ryan Clifford, and has one more major league game at first as does the Mets’ probable Opening Day first baseman, Jorge Polanco, with two.
On top of that, Rojas’s 2025 season, spent with the Yankees’ Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club, was his best in six years. Rojas put up a .287/.379/.599 line with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs while logging time at three infield positions (not shortstop) and the corner outfield spots.
Does any of this add up to a likely spot on the major league roster? No, it doesn’t. In terms of long term solutions, the club would probably want to have Mark Vientos or Brett Baty fill in at first if Polanco can’t cut it or is hurt. Similarly, if the aforementioned Clifford is having a strong year in Syracuse, he would be a candidate to log innings there.
All of that is to say that for Rojas to be an impact player on the roster a lot would have to go wrong, or he would have to have an offensive season the likes of which he’s never had before to force his way onto the roster. Save for that, Rojas is likely to be a quality bat at Triple-A, ready for a brief call up if the need arises.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Oliver Marmol have agreed to a two-year contract extension, the club announced Sunday, March 1, affording the manager a measure of security as the club plunges deeper into a rebuild.
Marmol, 39, is entering his fifth season as Cardinals manager, a stint that began with a 2022 NL Central title and appearance in the wild-card series, yet took a downturn with win totals ranging from 71 to 83 wins and no playoff berths in the three subsequent seasons.
Yet as the club prepared to move on from longtime baseball operations president John Mozeliak, Marmol kept a steady hand and endured through the transition to new baseball chief Chaim Bloom. And the extension would certainly quell whispers that two-time World Series champion Yadier Molina might be a manager-in-waiting.
Molina was hired in January as a special assistant to Bloom, tasked with working with the Cardinals' catchers, and is the manager for Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic squad.
Marmol's extension runs through the 2028 season and includes a club option for 2029. And with Gold Glove shortstop Masyn Winn soon to join forces with top prospect JJ Wetherholt in the middle of hte Cardinals infield, along with other rising talent in the organization, Marmol feels he's just hitting his stride, rather than getting stale.
"I feel like I'm built exactly for this moment in Cardinal history," he told reporters in Jupiter, with several players and family members filling the press conference room at their spring-training facility.
Marmol's tenure as manager long precedes Bloom's time in the organization - the former Red Sox baseball operations chief was hired in January 2024 - yet Bloom did not feel hesitant ensuring Marmol would further mold the young talent Bloom hopes to assemble.
"“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow," says Bloom in a statement released by the team. "I am energized to continue working with him toward the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Dodgers lineup plans have taken shape over the first few weeks of spring training, with the welcome task of figuring out where to insert newcomer Kyle Tucker into an increasingly stacked lineup.
Freddie Freeman, who collected three of his planned 47 plate appearances this spring on Saturday at Camelback Ranch, spoke with Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA from the dugout after his day was complete, and confirmed that he’ll bat fourth this season after hitting mostly third and some cleanup last season.
“I’ve always loved being in the middle of the lineup, with guys in scoring position,” Freeman said. “I love when there’s guys on base, and I can either move them from first to third or drive them in.”
The plan is for Tucker to hit second after Shohei Ohtani, followed by Mookie Betts and then Freeman. But what does Freeman gain by going from second or third to batting cleanup? Here are the plate appearances with runners on base and in scoring from 2025, by batting order, both league-wide and on the Dodgers.
Order position
MLB on base
LA on base
MLB RISP
LA RISP
1st
257
268
154
138
2nd
311
324
165
171
3rd
330
333
183
185
4th
338
344
201
205
5th
298
315
182
185
6th
287
294
168
169
7th
285
289
162
165
8th
276
279
165
163
9th
263
262
157
145
MLB figures are the average of all 30 teams
Cleanup hitters, unsurprisingly, bat the most often both with runners on base and in scoring position. In 2025, the average MLB team saw its fourth hitter bat eight more times with runners on than No. 3 hitters, and 18 more times with a runner in scoring position.
Freeman started 96 times batting third last season and 47 times hitting fourth, plus two starts batting second. He did lead the Dodgers with 291 plate appearances with runners on base, one more than Mookie Betts, who hit mostly second with a smattering of first. Freeman’s 161 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, two more than Andy Pages, who saw three quarters of his starts batting fifth, sixth, or seventh.
So Freeman should get plenty of chances to do damage with runners on base this season, and brings us to today’s question: How many RBI will Freeman have in 2026?
But there’s one other thing I want to note, and it pertains to the top of the order. Ohtani is the best hitter in the National League, and a common question I see is why is he batting first rather than a bit lower in the order so his many hits and extra-base hits can drive more runners in. Ohtani and the Dodgers prefer to bat him first, which maximizes his total plate appearances, the main argument being that he does plenty of damage all by himself.
Perhaps the biggest impact of adding Tucker will be not in the top of the lineup but at the bottom. After all, with Freeman hitting fourth, the Dodgers will have plenty of lineups with Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman hitting sixth or lower.
Dodgers seventh-through-ninth batters last year collectively batted .228/.294/.369, ranking 20th in on-base percentage in MLB. With better hitters batting lower in the order in 2026, that will likely mean more runners on base when Ohtani comes to the plate. Even if that leads to more intentional walks for Ohtani, the Dodgers have Tucker right behind him. That’s plenty of chances to do damage.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics square off tonight, and we’re leaning on the model to find the best NBA player prop projections value on the board.
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76ers computer picks
Andre Drummond Under 9.5 rebounds (-120)
Projection: 8.7 rebounds
Andre Drummond is still an elite rebounder, but the matchup and projected minutes don’t scream double-digit boards. The model has him landing just under this number, and if the pace stays in check, there simply won’t be enough misses to clear 10. Under 9.5 is the value spot.
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Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 threes (-170)
Projection: 3.5 threes
Tyrese Maxey is letting it fly right now. The volume is there, the green light is there, and the projection has him comfortably above this line. If he gets his usual run and touches, three triples is a very realistic baseline. The juice isn’t pretty, but the number makes sense.
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Quentin Grimes Over 11.5 points (-105)
Projection: 12.1 points
Quentin Grimes doesn’t need a monster night to get there. He just needs steady usage and his normal shot diet. The model has him clearing this number, and at near even money, we’re basically asking for a modest scoring night. Over 11.5 is playable.
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Celtics computer picks
Sam Hauser Over 3.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 4.5 rebounds
Sam Hauser isn’t just a standstill shooter — he crashes the glass when he’s out there. With projected minutes holding steady, the model gives him a full rebound cushion over this line. At plus money, that’s a bet worth taking.
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Derrick White Over 16.5 points (-115)
Projection: 18.5 points
Derrick White’s role in this offense is secure. He gets clean looks, he attacks closeouts, and he can get there from three or at the rim. The projection clears this line by two points, which is enough margin to justify the Over at this price.
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Payton Pritchard Over 17.5 points (-115)
Projection: 19 points
Payton Pritchard has the green light with the second unit and isn’t shy about taking shots. When the minutes are there, the scoring follows. The model has him just under 20, which gives us enough cushion to ride the Over 17.5.
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How to watch 76ers vs Celtics tonight
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in a matchup of Atlantic Division rivals on Sunday night.
Tyrese Maxey is on a roll offensively, and my 76ers vs. Celtics predictions call for another big game from the All-Star guard.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Atlantic Division showdown on Sunday, March 1.
76ers vs Celtics prediction
76ers vs Celtics best bet: Tyrese Maxey Over 26.5 points (-120)
Tyrese Maxey has been on a heater, and I expect his elite scoring to continue on the road against a familiar opponent. Maxey has scored 27+ in eight straight games, including five straight on the road. He’s reached that mark in 39 of 57 games overall and 21 of 27 away from Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia 76ers' superstar guard has posted point totals of 40, 33, and 32 across his last three matchups at TD Garden. With Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined, he’ll need to shoulder the load on offense, and I expect him to comfortably clear this scoring line.
76ers vs Celtics same-game parlay
The 76ers and Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in two of their last three head-to-head matchups. Philly's offense has been tremendous across its last three games, but Boston's elite defense can limit the scoring at home.
Philly has won and covered in three straight games, and the Sixers sport the best road ATS record in the Association at 19-9. Boston is just 11-12 ATS as the home favorite.
76ers vs Celtics SGP
Maxey Over 26.5 points
Under 221.5
76ers +9.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Max production
Nikola Vucevic finished with a monster 28/11/4 line in his last game out, and I expect him to keep the momentum going tonight. He's in an advantageous position against a Sixers team missing Joel Embiid.
76ers vs Celtics SGP
Maxey Over 26.5 points
Under 221.5
76ers +9.5
Vucevic Over 22.5 P/R/A
76ers vs Celtics odds
Spread: 76ers +9.5 | Celtics -9.5
Moneyline: 76ers +280 | Celtics -360
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
76ers vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Philadelphia 76ers have covered the Spread in 21 of their last 30 away games (+12.20 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Celtics.
How to watch 76ers vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
76ers vs Celtics latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Celtic fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rangers on Sunday and handed a major boost to Hearts' unlikely Scottish title bid.
The result leaves Hearts six points clear of Rangers at the top of the standings. Celtic is two points further back in third.
Reo Hatate leveled in added time after seeing his penalty and rebounded effort saved by Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland in a dramatic finale at Ibrox. At the third time of asking, the Celtic midfielder bundled the ball over the line to share the points.
Rangers looked like closing the gap on Hearts when going two goals ahead inside 26 minutes and potentially turning the title run into a two-horse race.
Youssef Chermiti scored in the eighth with an overhead kick. He doubled the lead in the 26th to put the home team in control.
But defending champion Celtic rallied after the break.
Kieran Tierney pulled a goal back in the 56th with a header and Celtic was given a late chance to level when Dujon Sterling was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Hatate eventually made the opportunity count in the first minute of added time to spark wild celebrations from Celtic fans. But Hearts will have had the most cheer after watching its two main rivals drop points.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Alek Jacob #37 of the San Diego Padres warms up during the third inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Peoria Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jackson Merrill and Nick Schnell each hit two-run home runs to help the San Diego Padres get a 7-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday. The Padres avenged the loss to the Mariners in the Cactus League opener. JP Sears had a strong bounce back performance, lasting three innings, allowing one run with one walk and one strikeout. The San Diego bullpen was dominant and allowed just one hit over the final six innings of the game. The Padres play the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz. today at 12:05 p.m.
Padres News:
Sung-Mun Song is ready and willing to fill whatever need the Padres have for him, which could result in him playing the role of super utility player. Song has had a strong showing with his glove this spring and has recently recorded a couple of hits as he adjusts to MLB pitching.
San Diego pitching coach Ruben Niebla spoke with the media on Saturday and talked about the competitions for the final spot or spots in the rotation and the final spot or spots in the bullpen. There are several talented arms in camp and Niebla and the other decision makers within the organization will have the difficult task of deciding who makes the team and who does not.
Walker Buehler pitched to members of a KBO team at the Padres’ Spring Training facility and had a successful outing, which could mean we will see him on the mound for the Padres in the near future.
The New York Yankees agreed to a deal with free agent Cody Bellinger this offseason and he is already taking time off the field. Bellinger was held out of the Yankees game due to back discomfort.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back in action, the Oklahoma City Thunder have regained some of their swagger, and they’re big favorites tonight as they visit the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas has dropped 10 of its past 12 games and is dealing with an array of injuries, but my Thunder vs. Mavericks predictions point to both teams’ offenses showing up in this one.
Keep scrolling for my NBA picks and betting tips ahead of this March 1 battle.
Thunder vs Mavericks prediction
Thunder vs Mavericks best bet: Over 234 (-110)
While we may think of the Oklahoma City Thunder for its excellent defense, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. also boast the league’s third-most prolific offense at 119.5 PPG, so I’m buying into a shootout.
The Over is 8-2 in the Thunder’s last 10 contests, and it’s 16-11 this year when OKC is a road favorite. Shai’s return shifts the visitors’ rotation back into more natural roles, and they’re facing a Dallas Mavericks squad that’s allowed 120+ points in eight of its past nine outings.
Sure, the Mavs’ injuries put a dent in their playmaking, but they’ve still hit the Over in three of their last four games.
Thunder vs Mavericks same-game parlay
SGA was back with a bang on Friday, with 36 points and nine dimes, and I’m jumping on this assists Over here. Going back pre-injury, that’s now four straight games where the MVP has eased past the O/U line.
The Mavs will need to play their part, too. Even though the offense can get clunky at times, Khris Middleton is averaging 15.2 PPG in his last five outings.
His veteran savvy will be key against this OKC defense.
Thunder vs Mavericks SGP
Over 234
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 6.5 assists
Khris Middleton Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Show the bigs some love
Get ready for some bruising collisions in the paint.
The Mavs are 13-26 ATS against Western Conference opponents this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Thunder vs Mavericks
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, MavsTV
Thunder vs Mavericks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The Qatar soccer federation postponed all tournaments and matches until further notice on Sunday amid global tensions following the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
The QFA did not specifically mention the strikes when it announced the postponements on X, adding only that “new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course.”
There are disruptions at Qatar’s Doha airport as the strikes on Iran affected flights across the Middle East and beyond. Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspace on Saturday.
Iranian missiles could be seen being intercepted above Doha on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
Earlier on Sunday, Asian soccer's governing body postponed continental club championship playoffs scheduled in the Middle East this week, saying AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 games will be rescheduled.
Formula 1 season approaching
The Formula 1 season is scheduled to start next Sunday in Melbourne, Australia, and then has races in Bahrain on April 12 and Saudi Arabia the following week. The season ends with back-to-back races in Qatar (Nov. 29) and Abu Dhabi (Dec. 6).
With Doha and Dubai traditionally acting as major stopover hubs, teams reportedly had to change their routes to reach Australia.
The U.S. has large military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom, and three buildings were damaged in the capital, Manama.
British forces in Bahrain were within 200 metres of an Iranian missile strike, Britain's Defence Secretary, John Healey, said.
The 24-race F1 season was expected to start as planned.
Four years ago, Houthi rebels attacked an oil depot near the gleaming Saudi F1 track.
Youth basketball team stuck in Abu Dhabi
Monaco's under-18s basketball team is waiting inside an Abu Dhabi hotel until the airport reopens.
Monaco was taking part in a NextGen EuroLeague qualifying tournament in Abu Dhabi, which has now been canceled.
“EuroLeague got back to us to tell us that the airport is closed until 2 pm on Monday,” Monaco coach Mickaël Pivaud told sports daily L'Équipe. "We’re pretty settled in at the hotel, but we can’t leave. We went out for three seconds to get some fresh air earlier and it exploded right above us. We didn’t hang around and quickly went back inside.”
It’s probably a few years too late, but the Chicago Bulls have finally picked a direction, and they bring an 11-game losing run into today’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Chicago has dropped the last three battles against this division rival, and my Bucks vs. Bulls predictions favor a gritty Milwaukee squad that’s refused to throw in the towel without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Get the lowdown on the best NBA picks for Sunday, March 1.
Bucks vs Bulls prediction
Bucks vs Bulls best bet: Bucks -3.5 (-110)
The Milwaukee Bucks are still outside the play-in spots, but the supporting cast has rallied impressively lately. The Bucks are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games, and they’ve covered the spread in each of those victories.
But this pick is equally about the Chicago Bulls' miserable form. With a growing injury report and an eye on the draft, the Bulls are 1-9 ATS in their past 10 outings.
Milwaukee leads the season series 3-0, with all of those wins coming by a margin of 9+ points, and I’m laying the points with the visitors, who’ve picked up three straight Ws on their travels.
Bucks vs Bulls same-game parlay
The Bucks’ path to a road win starts with Ryan Rollins, who’s excelling in the lead guard role. Rollins averaged 20.9 PPG in February on 50% shooting, including a 21-point effort against Chicago.
He also made his 3-pointers at a 50% clip last month, and he’s ended up with 3+ made triples in eight of his past 13 contests. There will be openings to attack against a Bulls defense that’s allowed 120+ points in three of its last four outings.
Bulls vs Bucks SGP
Bucks -3.5
Rollins Over 19.5 points
Rollins Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: P for perfection
Doc Rivers will gladly accept offense from any source as Milwaukee tries to paper over Giannis’ absence. Kevin Porter Jr. averaged 8.1 APG last month, but his rebound tallies are more erratic, while Bobby Portis has finished with double-digit points in five of his last six games.
Bucks vs Bulls SGP
Porter Jr. Under 5.5 rebounds
Porter Jr. Over 7.5 assists
Portis Over 10.5 points
Porstin Over 5.5 rebounds
Bucks vs Bulls odds
Spread: Bucks -3 | Bulls +3
Moneyline: Bucks -155 | Bulls +130
Over/Under: Over 229 | Under 229
Bucks vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Bulls are 16-26 SU against the East this year. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs Bulls.
How to watch Bucks vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, FDSN Wisconsin
Bucks vs Bulls latest injuries
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