Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) looks out to the field from the dugout during a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Mentally and physically embiggened by an off-day on Monday, the Cincinnati Reds return to the field on Tuesday still seeking their first victory in Cactus League play. So far, they’re 0-2 after dropping games to both the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners, and now their tour of American League squads sees them face off against the Kansas City Royals.
Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber for the first time this spring as the starter on the day, and there’s a chance we could see Brandon Williamson at some point today for the first time in over a year, too. Hat tip to Doug Gray of Redleg Nation for linking to the travel roster on the day, where Williamson is joined by both Pierce Johnson and Sam Moll as relievers eyeing Opening Day roster spots who will be available today.
Of note is that Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez are both back in the lineup today after playing in the Reds most recent game on Sunday. They’re joined by Matt McLain, too, who is hitting 2nd for the 2nd consecutive game in what’s pretty clearly a top of the order that manager Terry Francona desperately wants to make work despite it not being too conducive in 2025.
First pitch is set for 3:05 PM ET, though you’re sadly not going to be able to watch it anywhere lest you be sitting in the stands at Goodyear Ballpark.
Sep 30, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams (32) reacts against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images
Today, the Guardians put their perfect record on the line against the World Champs. Here’s the lineup:
During a radio interview with 93.5 The Fan Tuesday, Feb. 24, Carlisle publicly addressed the fine for the first time and centered his rebuke around the availability of guard Aaron Nesmith during a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz, a 131-122 Utah victory.
“I didn’t agree with it,” Carlisle said during the interview. “There was a league lawyer that was doing the interview that kind of unilaterally decided that Aaron Nesmith, who had been injured the night before and couldn’t hold the ball, should’ve played in the game, which seems ridiculous.”
The league announced the discipline Feb. 12, just days before the NBA All-Star Game. Headed into the game, the Pacers were 13-37 and continuing to languish in last place in the Eastern Conference.
For its part, the NBA responded to Carlisle’s allegations, disputing his account.
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” an NBA spokesperson said in a statement sent to USA TODAY Sports. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ General Manager and the team’s Senior Vice President, Sports Medicine and Performance were interviewed as part of the process.
“The Pacers confirmed that it had provided all of the information requested by the league and the team reported that an interview with Coach Carlisle or a team physician wasn’t necessary.”
Indiana is currently 15-43, which is last place in the East and the NBA’s second-worst record.
“During the interview process — I was not on it, but I heard details — we asked them if they wanted to talk to the doctors, our doctors about it, because it was something that was documented by our doctors and trainers,” Carlisle continued. “They said no, they didn’t need to, they talked to their doctors, who did not examine Aaron Nesmith. And we asked them if they wanted to talk to the kid, and they said no, they didn’t need to.
“This was shocking to me. During the interview, they also asked if we considered medicating him to play in a game when we were 30 games under .500, so I was very surprised.”
During the radio interview, however, Carlisle didn’t discuss the statuses of All-Star forward Pascal Siakam — who was directly named in the disciplinary memo — and another, unnamed “star player” under the league’s Player Participation Policy.
In the letter, the NBA said Siakam and the two star players “could have played under the medical standard in the Policy, including by playing reduced minutes” and added that “the team could have held the players out of other games in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the Policy.”
Presumably, the other star player the league was referencing was either shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin (rest) or point guard Andrew Nembhard (injury/illness); both recorded DND (did-not-dress) designations for the game.
Siakam’s DND was given a rest designation.
Guard T.J. McConnell and center Micah Potter also did not dress, with injury/illness designations.
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Feb. 12 in a statement. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
In the same disciplinary announcement, the Jazz were also fined $500,000 for separate game management decisions related to tanking.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: César Salazar #18 of the Houston Astros catches during the eighth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 15, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Astros Don’t Have to Fix Backup Catcher First, But They Absolutely Have to Fix It
Houston Astros fans have spent the first stretch of spring training circling the obvious needs. A left-handed bat in the outfield. Another dependable arm for the rotation. Speculation around Isaac Paredes and potential roster reshuffling.
Those conversations are fair.
They’re also missing something.
The backup catcher position may not be the Astros’ most important hole, but it is an extremely necessary one to fill before this season begins.
And pretending otherwise is risky.
Victor Caratini Changed the Standard
What Victor Caratini did last season can’t be overstated.
He wasn’t supposed to be indispensable. He was signed to back up Yainer Diaz. That was the assignment.
Instead, he became a stabilizer.
When Diaz struggled behind the plate, Caratini steadied the pitching staff. When Diaz’s bat cooled or fatigue set in, Caratini stepped in. When first base became unsettled, he logged 15 games there. When a professional at-bat was needed late, he delivered.
By season’s end, he had appeared in 114 games, including 49 behind the plate. That’s not a luxury piece, that’s structural support that mattered.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: he raised the expectations for what a backup catcher means in Houston.
This Isn’t About Blame, It’s About Reality
Caratini earned a bigger role as a starting catcher in Minnesota. You couldn’t afford what he was offered. You tip your cap and move on.
But moving on doesn’t mean ignoring the void, it means replacing him somehow, some way.
Right now, that void appears to be filled by Cesar Salazar. No disrespect, but there’s a difference between organizational depth and a proven, multi-role contributor capable of handling significant innings both offensively and defensively as needed.
And with the way this roster is constructed, that role matters.
Under manager Joe Espada, the backup catcher isn’t just a once-a-week starter. He’s:
A second pitching coach in gear
A defensive insurance policy
A lineup flexibility piece
A steady clubhouse presence
A 70–100 game contingency plan
That role may not headline talk radio or dominate social media threads, but over 162 games it absolutely impacts the win column.
Not the Biggest Hole, But a Necessary One
Let’s be clear: if you gave the front office one move to make tomorrow, it probably wouldn’t be a backup catcher.
The rotation depth might be more urgent. The lineup balance might be more visible. A left handed bat might be more necessary. General manager Dana Brown has a lot on his “to do” list and several holes to fill.
But baseball seasons are rarely undone by the obvious weaknesses. They’re often derailed by the “we’ll figure it out later” spots on the roster.
Backup catcher falls squarely into that category.
If Diaz misses time, or even just needs consistent rest to stay productive, the Astros cannot afford a dramatic drop-off defensively, offensively or in pitcher trust. This pitching staff, like most in baseball, thrives on familiarity and communication. That’s not something you casually replace.
Caratini wasn’t flashy. He was functional. Dependable. Adaptable. Available.
And that’s exactly why replacing him is extremely necessary.
Championship Teams Don’t Leave Necessary Holes Untouched
The Astros are still operating within a competitive window. That means margin matters.
This isn’t about panic. It’s about preparation.
There are veteran catchers available. There are options who may not replicate Caratini’s exact versatility but can at least approximate his reliability. The move doesn’t need to dominate headlines.
It just needs to happen.
Because while backup catcher may not be the most important hole on this roster, it is absolutely one that must be addressed before Opening Day.
Ignore it, and you’re gambling on health, stamina, and internal growth all breaking perfectly.
Address it, and you quietly reinforce the foundation of a team that still expects to contend.
The loud moves draw attention.
The necessary ones win divisions and factor into extended playoff runs.
Thanks to injuries to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be underdogs in back-to-back games for the first time this season when they visit the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto stunned OKC back in January, winning outright as 11-point road dogs, but can it get the job done when it’s favored?
My Thunder vs. Raptors predictions break down and bring you my best NBA picks for this matchup set to tip off at 7:30 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, on Tuesday, February 24.
Thunder vs Raptors prediction
Thunder vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes Double-Double (+135)
However, the Toronto Raptors pose a problem with their defensive versatility.
Plus, Scottie Barnes returns after the reported birth of his child, and he’ll have a chance to dominate the glass with OKC ranking 24th in rebounding rate, and Chet Holmgren is also banged up.
Barnes gives us Fred VanVleet-type performance, and with a rebounding total of 8.5, let’s back him to record his 25th double-double of the season at +135.
Thunder vs Raptors same-game parlay
The other area where the Thunder struggle a bit is on the perimeter. They rank 25th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and allow the third-most threes per game.
Immanuel Quickley is playing great ball, averaging 20.2 points per game and shooting a crazy good 48.3% from deep over his last 13 games. His point total for this one is 16.5, a number he’s eclipsed in 13 of his last 18 games.
The Raptors match up well with OKC when they’re healthy. Their defense, particularly on the perimeter, will give them a chance to win this game.
Thunder vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes double-double
Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
Raptors moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Fred VanVleet vibes
Fred VanVleet famously played incredibly after the birth of his child during the Raptors' title run in 2019. Let's back Scottie to do something similar here.
Thunder vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes Over 17.5 points
Scottie Barnes Over 8.5 rebounds
Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
Scottie Barnes Over 1.5 steals
Thunder vs Raptors odds
Spread: Thunder +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
Moneyline: Thunder +105 | Raptors -125
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Thunder vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the Game Total Under in 32 of their last 50 games for +12.20 Units and a 22% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Raptors.
How to watch Thunder vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, TSN
Thunder vs Raptors latest injuries
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Following three straight disappointing performances to open spring training, the Athletics will host the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon, each team looking for their first Cactus League victory.
Right-handed pitcher Mason Barnett will start today for the A’s. The A’s acquired Barnett from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for reliever Lucas Erceg at the 2024 MLB trade deadline. He spent most of last season pitching for the A’s Triple-A affiliate before getting promoted and starting five games for the A’s in September. Barnett struggled in his first MLB opportunity, going 1-1 with a 6.85 ERA over those five outings. With multiple pitchers seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, it seems likely that Barnett starts 2026 in Triple-A as the next man up should one of the A’s pitchers get hurt. However, if Barnett pitches well this spring and others falter or suffer injuries, he could earn a spot on the A’s Opening Day roster.
After Barnett, relievers Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, Eduarniel Nuñez and Scott Barlow are lined up to pitch for the first time this spring. Barlow, one of the A’s free agents signed this offseason, has the ability and experience to provide a major boost to the team’s bullpen, if he can limit the number of walks allowed.
With the A’s back at Hohokam Stadium, all of the regulars are in the team’s starting lineup. The top has a bit of a wrinkle as Shea Langeliers will bat first today instead of Nick Kurtz who moves down to the second spot in the order. Additionally, Darell Hernaiz gets the start at third base today after impressing yesterday with multiple hits.
This lineup could very well be how the A’s roll out Opening Day in Toronto, with the exception of Junior Perez who is the lone prospect in the starting nine. Perez is playing because Lawrence Butler is still rehabbing from offseason knee surgery and not ready for game action yet. Hopefully this lineup will score more than two runs and give the A’s a stronger chance to win.
Here’s how the Brewers will line up for their game today against the Athletics:
Not a lot of starters in the Brewers lineup today aside from Sal Frelick and Brice Turang at the top two spots. The rest of their lineup is a mix of backups and prospects. What do you expect to see from Barnett today? Do you think he will positively contribute to the A’s this season?
Who is ready for more spring baseball? Time to secure that first win. Let’s go A’s!
Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby (68) spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Mariners are hosting the South Side Sox in Peoria Sports Complex this afternoon, and giving George Kirby his first innings of work of 2026. Following yesterday’s 0-3 loss, the Mariners are sending out a suspiciously Major League-shaped lineup, with Michael Arroyo and Colt Emerson serving as the obligatory “guys who are just happy to be here.”
On the other side of things, the White Sox are sending Anthony Kay to the mound. Kay is a journeyman pitcher who spent two years across the Pacific in NPB. It’s his first start of the Spring as the former first round pick hopes to break his way back into stateside baseball.
Backing George up for the Mariners are Michael Morales, Michael Rucker, Troy Taylor, Blas Castaño, Alex Hoppe, and Nick Davila. For those keeping score at home that means three (3) Michaels are likely to appear for the Mariners. I wonder what the record is.
Today’s game is one of the blessedly televised games over on the new Mariners TV service with good ol’ Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call. I’m still not over the fact that baseball is back. It’s been a long winter without hearing those two’s dulcet tones.
First Pitch: 12:10 pm PT
Watch: Mariners.TV or on Mariners.com
Listen: Seattle Sports 710AM (sadly delayed until 7 pm PT, with live listen available via Gameday. Though I suppose you could watch the game now at work — I won’t tell — and then go home and listen with your family, impressing them with your incredible predictions. A kind of low-stakes Back to the Future Part Two.)
As a reminder, we’re hoping to build our community before Opening Day for what promises to be an exciting 2026 season and we’d love to have you with us. If you haven’t yet, sign up (it makes the site function much better for you, as a bonus) and jump on in to the conversation! This is especially helpful on radio-only games to keep the conversation flowing. And don’t worry about making a mistake – it’s spring training for all of us.
It’s tough to find two bigger NBA surprises this season than the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, and they collide tonight in the desert.
But some of the air has come out of the Phoenix balloon lately after injuries to Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, so my Celtics vs. Suns predictions expect Boston to add to its impressive road record here, led by a scorching Payton Pritchard.
Read on for my free NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24.
Celtics vs Suns prediction
Celtics vs Suns best bet: Payton Pritchard Over 19.5 points (-105)
As long as the Boston Celtics keep letting it fly from downtown, I’m riding the hot hand and taking the Over on this points prop for Payton Pritchard, who’s fresh off a 30-point clinic on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pritchard has blown past this O/U number in six of his last seven games, and he’s averaging 23.6 PPG in that span.
He’s knocking down his 3-pointers at a 45% clip in February, and the Phoenix Suns are vulnerable on the perimeter without Brooks and Booker. Plus, Pritchard would step into an even bigger role if Jaylen Brown (questionable) sits out.
Celtics vs Suns same-game parlay
Pritchard’s current heater has powered the Celtics to an 8-2 mark in their past 10 contests, and the 3-ball is the key ingredient. He’s had back-to-back games with six triples, and he’s attempting almost eight 3-pointers a game this month.
I’m grabbing the Boston moneyline too. The visitors are sitting at 19-10 SU on the road, and they’ve won four in a row away from TD Garden. The injury-hit Suns just don’t have enough offense to keep up.
Celtics vs Suns SGP
Pritchard Over 19.5 points
Pritchard Over 3.5 threes
Celtics moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Derrick's White hot
Derrick White’s shooting numbers are down this year, but this SGP buys into all the other ways that he fuels the Celtics. White is coming off consecutive outings with five rebounds; he’s strung together three straight contests with 8+ assists, and he’s established himself as one of the league’s elite defensive guards.
Celtics vs Suns SGP
Derrick White Over 6.5 assists
Derrick White Over 4.5 rebounds
Derrick White Over 0.5 steals
Derrick White Over 2.5 threes
Celtics vs Suns odds
Spread: Celtics -7 (-110) | Suns +7 (-110)
Moneyline: Celtics -250 | Suns +205
Over/Under: Over 206.5 (-110) | Under 206.5 (-110)
Celtics vs Suns betting trend to know
The Suns are 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Suns.
How to watch Celtics vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Boston, KTVK
Celtics vs Suns 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.
Coby White is set to make his Charlotte Hornets debut on Tuesday night against his former Bulls team.
The Hornets announced that White, who was acquired in a trade with Chicago on Feb. 4, has been upgraded to available and will play against the Bulls at the United Center. White has been sidelined for the Hornets since the trade while recovering from a left calf strain.
It's expected that White will come off the bench and serve as Charlotte's backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball, who is coming off a 37-point game in a win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night in which he made a career-high 10 3-pointers.
White, who spent 6 1/2 seasons with the Bulls, was averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds this season before the trade while playing in 29 games for Chicago. He shot 34.6% from behind the 3-point line for the Bulls.
While last played in an NBA game for the Bulls on Feb. 3.
Peoria, Ariz. - February 14: Garrett Hawkins #59 of the San Diego Padres pitches during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs, February 24, 2026, 12:05 p.m. PST
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 19: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a dunk by Mitchell during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena on February 19, 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
The NBA season has reached its home stretch, with important storylines left to follow.
Many teams will use their remaining games to get healthy, as injuries remain a defining factor around the league. Others need time to gel, especially those who made moves at the deadline.
The most obvious example is Cleveland adding Harden, which has already paid dividends. But just how real is his recent stretch, and where do they stand in the East?
Let’s find out.
How real are the Cavs?
After a slow start to the season, Cleveland has gone 5-1 following the Harden trade with a +9.0 net rating (5th league-wide) and the second-best offensive rating at 124.3. However, the turnaround actually happened before the Beard’s arrival, as the Cavs are 14-2 over the past month with a +11 net rating and have been good on both ends: during that span, they have a 121.1 ORTG (2nd) and 110.2 DRTG (8th). Their offensive improvement is very real, given that Harden is both a better player and more available than Darius Garland, and his playstyle naturally raises the floors for bigs like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
On the other hand, Cleveland’s recent defense has been propped up by shooting luck. During their hot streak, opponents are making just 33.5% of their triples, which is the 3rd lowest mark in the league. Conversely, they hit 38.9% of threes (the highest percentage) prior to this stretch, so the Cavs were due for some shooting luck anyway. A positive is that Cleveland’s rim protection has been elite all season, so they could still be a very good defense even if the opponent shooting normalizes. I’d currently put Cleveland under Detroit in the East’s hierarchy, but they could definitely rise into that top tier if their dominant play continues.
Tatum’s potential return
Boston’s inspiring season could get even better if Tatum returns, as they’re already close to locking in a top-4 seed in the East. Assuming he does come back, Detroit might be the only team I’d be more confident in making the finals, and that’s accounting for him being at 75% too. Even a lesser version of Tatum is enough to be a good starter/elite role player, and having him focus just on rebounding, shooting, and defending will be a huge boost. Boston will be especially lethal if Tatum can work his way back to guarding centres, as this would mitigate some of Vucevic’s defensive issues and let him play more. The Celtics could always have one guard (White/Pritchard), one wing (Brown/Tatum), and one big (Queta/Vucevic) on the court, allowing Joe Mazzulla to play any style given the polar opposite skillsets of their bigs.
The Nuggets’ injuries
I picked Denver to win the title coming into the season, and nothing has swayed me since — assuming they’re healthy, of course. Unfortunately, that’s a big if given how banged up they’ve been. You know it’s bad when Joker misses a month!
Amazingly, their presumptive starting lineup of Murray-Braun-Johnson-Gordon-Jokic has played just 324 possessions together (less than 6% of the team’s total number of possessions on the season), and their most used lineup isn’t much better, logging just 357 possessions as a unit. However, Denver’s ludicrous +23.7 net rating (130.2 offensive, 106.5 defensive) with Jokic, Murray, and Gordon suggests that they’re a juggernaut waiting to be unleashed. A lot of that is due to defensive shooting luck, but given that the Nuggets are only reliable in their own end when Gordon plays, it’s not hyperbolic to say that his health could be the biggest X-factor in the title race. Whether or not that’s a good bet to make is up to you — his longest streak of games played the past two seasons is last year’s playoff run at 14, which ended in injury — but I have no doubt that Denver should be co-favorites with OKC if he’s able to make it through a long postseason run.
Wemby’s minutes
San Antonio has proven to be legit title threats this season, but they won’t be able to make a long run if Wemby can’t ramp up his minutes. The Alien started the year averaging over 34 minutes a game in October and November, which dropped down to 23 in December when he returned from a calf strain. January saw his playing time increase to 27 minutes per game, which is now over 29 in February. The Spurs won’t suddenly increase Wemby’s minutes to the mid to high thirties come playoff time, so he’ll have to make that adjustment in the last two months of the season. Moreover, Wemby can only miss four of the Spurs’ remaining 25 games in order to qualify for end of season awards, which could be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, that could help his body acclimate to heavier loads, but it might also wear him out and increase the odds of injury. Either way, both the Spurs and Wemby are incentivized to increase his minutes, which should terrify the rest of the league.
Tanking is out of control!!
The discourse surrounding tanking has gone into overdrive, and rightfully so: there are more teams than ever purposefully losing and countless stars have ended their seasons because of it too.
However, the amount of tanking changes yearly, depending on the strength of the draft. The current tankathon race is out of control since the 2026 class has three players who could all go #1, but the 2027 and 2028 drafts all lack franchise players at the top. Thus, we don’t want to overcorrect due to this season and end up creating unforeseen consequences for years to come.
With that said, something has to change since this has been an ongoing issue for decades, but there is no magic bullet that’ll fix everything. Adam Silver is already looking at potential solutions, but the ideas proposed will only lessen tanking, and not get rid of it completely. That’s because the NBA still wants to keep its socialistic design in place — having the worst teams draft highest to even out the playing field — while incentivizing every team to compete. It’s impossible to square those things when losing gives teams the best path at drafting highest, so the league will need to sacrifice some of its ideals if they want to eliminate tanking.
The best solution I’ve heard is the Gold Plan, where teams earn draft ranking points for wins after they’re eliminated from playoff contention. Unfortunately, teams would just start tanking earlier so that they can get eliminated as soon as possible and have more runway to rack up draft wins, and it could lead to stars getting traded to bottom feeders and result in less intriguing postseasons.
If we truly want to abolish tanking, the Gold Plan can be tweaked by only counting wins, including the ones before teams are out of playoff contention. In other words, teams that just miss the play-in would be catapulted straight to the top of the draft standings since they have the most wins, and they’ll continue accumulating points by winning even after missing the playoffs.
The glaring issue with this idea is that some teams might intentionally miss/lose the play-in because they want better odds of picking high in the draft than getting shellacked in the playoffs by a high seed, and that’s where certain incentives could come into play: perhaps every team that misses the postseason would be ineligible to use their mid-level, or will start the following season operating like a second apron team no matter where they stand in the tax. Regardless of what the punishment is, it has to be so damaging that teams are all motivated to make the playoffs, even if they can’t legitimately compete for a title.
Does that sound like a good plan? It might abolish tanking, but the actual worst teams will have the lowest lottery odds and make it harder for them to become relevant. This is precisely why it’s impossible to get rid of tanking while also keeping the NBA’s current socialistic system in place: the concepts are mutually exclusive, and it’ll take something so radical that fans might start clamouring to go back to the way things are now. So if you truly want changes, be prepared for the league to get flipped on its head, and don’t pull a Mark Jackson.
Be careful what you wish for.
This week, please check out Eric’s article on postseason runs following playoff droughts! He does a great job of laying out the historical context, and you’d be surprised how many teams made deep runs even after breaking a long drought.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 04: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball to the basket against Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at the TD Garden on April 04, 2025 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PHOENIX — Jaylen Brown will miss Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics star is dealing with a right knee contusion and will sit on the first night of the Celtics’ back-to-back (Boston will face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night in Denver).
Outside of Brown, the only other Celtic to be sidelined is Jayson Tatum, who has yet to make his season debut as he continues recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Jaylen Brown is OUT tonight vs Suns, per Celtics. He’s dealing with a right knee contusion, and the Celtics are on the first night of a back-to-back.
The Phoenix Suns will also be without several key players
The Suns will be without their two leading scorers — Devin Booker (right hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand strain). They’ll also be without Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) and Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management).
The Suns will be led by Allen (17.3 points, 3.9 assists), Gillespie (13.4 points, 4.7 assists), and Green (13.3 points, 2.4 assists), all of whom are key contributors.
How the Celtics and Suns stack up entering the match-up
The Celtics have won 8 of their last 9 games and currently have the Eastern Conference’s second-best record at 37-19. They have the NBA’s fourth-best record, fourth-best net rating, and third-best offense.
The Suns, meanwhile, have dropped 6 of their last 10 games as they deal with a myriad of injuries. At 33-25, they currently have the 7th-best record in the Western Conference.
The Suns have had the NBA’s 9th-best defensive rating at 112.5 (the Celtics have the 8th-best defensive rating at 112.2). Another notable aspect is the Suns’ ability to crash the offensive glass; they have the 6th-best offensive rebound percentage at 33.2%.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 10: Chase Dollander #32 of the Colorado Rockies shakes hands with catcher Braxton Fulford #37 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 10, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies are now 2-2 in spring training games after winning yesterday against the Chicago White Sox on a Zac Veen monster walk-off home run.
This afternoon, they will look to see how they fare against the visiting Los Angeles Angels (1-2)
Starting for the Angels is Jack Kochanowicz.
The righty finished 2025 with a 6.81 ERA ERA in 111.0 IP.
Could we see Kevin Durant draped in the United States flag, winning a fifth gold medal as part of the Los Angeles Olympics in two years? He absolutely wants to — but only if he earns the spot, he told Vincent Goodwill of ESPN.
"Hell yeah, I want to play," Durant said. "I would love to, but I've got to stay on top of my game. I'm not expecting, I want to produce on the floor and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions, want to put me on the team. I don't want — not just for seniority. I want to still prove I can help the team win."
"Today, yeah I feel like I'll put my name in that hat."
Durant was at the heart of the USA team that won a fifth-straight men's basketball gold medal in 2024 in Paris. LeBron James, who will be 43 at the time of the Los Angeles Games, has suggested he will not play, while Stephen Curry (who will be 39 at the time) has largely said it's too early to say.
The USA roster in Los Angeles should be stacked — but it also will face the toughest road to a gold the team has ever seen. Players likely invited to the 2028 USA squad include Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren, Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey.
The USA beat France in the gold medal game in Paris, but repeating that will be difficult with France having peak Victor Wembanyama in the paint and real depth around him — there are currently 16 other French players in the NBA, including Washington's Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. This will be a stacked team as well. And that's not including potentially Nikola Jokic leading a good Serbian squad, Giannis Antetokounmpo leading Greece, and Luka Doncic leading Slovenia.
There is no easy route to gold in men's Olympic basketball anymore, but the USA would look better with Kevin Durant.
Chicago is 1-8 against the spread in its last nine games. At the same time, the young, streaking Charlotte Hornets are 8-1 ATS in their last nine and show no signs of slowing down as they fight for a spot in the play-in tournament.
I’m taking Charlotte to cover tonight.
Hornets vs Bulls same-game parlay
LaMelo Ball is coming off a huge performance on Sunday, and I’m targeting him again in my SGP tonight.
Ball went for 52 PRA and hit an incredible 10 three-pointers against the Washington Wizards in his last game, and he won’t have to come anywhere near those numbers to make a massive impact and hit our parlay in this contest.
Hornets vs Bulls SGP
Hornets -8.5
LaMelo Ball Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists
LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Hornets on the rise
Ball isn’t the only player making big contributions for this improving Hornets team.
Moussa Diabate has four double-doubles in his last nine games, and we can get generous odds on him to hit that target again in a favorable matchup.
Meanwhile, rookie Kon Knueppel has proven to be a sniper at the NBA level, hitting at least four shots from deep in five of his last six games.
Hornets vs Bulls SGP
Hornets -8.5
Moussa Diabate double-double
Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
Hornets vs Bulls odds
Spread: Charlotte -8.5 (-110) | Chicago +8.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Charlotte -330 | Chicago +265
Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-110) | Under 232.5 (-110)
Hornets vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Bulls are 1-8 ATS in their current nine-game losing streak. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Bulls.
How to watch Hornets vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE-Charlotte, CHSN
Hornets vs Bulls latest injuries
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