OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 22: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on February 22, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers erased an early 23-point first-quarter deficit, but they weren’t able to complete the comeback. The shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by incredible outside shooting, were able to hand the Cavs their first loss in February. Cleveland fell 121-113.
The Cavaliers dug themselves their early hole due to their inability to protect the ball. They turned it over 10 times in the first quarter, leading to 17 points going the other way. That helped juice an Oklahoma City offense that was forced to play without its two best scorers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
Cleveland’s cramped starting lineup led to this. Head coach Kenny Atkinson went with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen to open things up. I like that group in most matchups, but this wasn’t one.
The combination of Oklahoma City’s perimeter defenders and the lack of ball handlers outside of Harden and Mitchell led to these issues. There weren’t outlets for the guards, and the offense struggled. This group was outscored by 14 in the five minutes they played.
Things got worse from there as the deficit ballooned to 23 late in the first quarter before the Cavs started their comeback.
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Cleveland consistently rallied back over the next two-and-a-half quarters. They cut the deficit to a respectable 15 after one, brought it to single digits at the end of the second, and gained their first lead of the game midway through the third.
Unfortunately for the Cavs, that was the only lead they would take. The Thunder recaptured their advantage heading into the fourth quarter and were able to keep the Cavs mostly at arm’s length down the stretch.
Oklahoma City’s outside shooting was a weapon all game, and saved them in the fourth quarter. They simply couldn’t miss as they hit their third-highest percentage of threes in a game this season. Even though the Cavs got close multiple times, they couldn’t make the big stop when they needed to.
The Thunder ended the game going 21-41 (51.2%) from three while the Cavs went just 13-39 (33.3%). In the end, it’s a make-or-miss league.
Sam Merrill’s shooting was the only thing keeping the Cavs in the game for stretches. He was red hot from deep as he went 6-10 from beyond the arc en route to a 20-point game.
Mitchell provided 20 points on 9-19 shooting to go along with five assists and two steals.
Harden continued his streak of having seven or more assists. He finished with nine to go along with scoring 20 points on 8-14 shooting. He did, however, turn the ball over five times.
Allen wasn’t able to keep his strong play going. The Cavs weren’t able to get him involved early as he took just one shot attempt in the first quarter. This led to a somewhat unimpactful game as he provided 11 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
Mobley ended the game with 15 points with just two rebounds. Dennis Schroder supplied 11-bench points.
The Thunder were led by 22 points from Isaiah Joe and 20 from Cason Wallace. Chet Holmgren had 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the win.
Even though the Cavs lost this game, this was nothing to be too discouraged by. The Thunder were missing two of their best offensive players, but you would sign up to be without them every night if it guaranteed you’d make more than half of your 41 three-point attempts.
This type of offensive performance was so far out of character for this version of the Thunder. Coming into today, lineups without SGA, Williams, and Alex Caruso had registered an abysmal 106.1 offensive rating(4th percentile).
You have to tip your cap to the Thunder on a game like this. They executed at an extraordinarily high level and were the better team today. However, there’s no reason to come away from this one thinking the Cavs aren’t on their same level.
The loss snapped what was a seven-game winning streak. Cleveland has still won 12 of their last 14 games.
The Cavs will be back in action Tuesday as they host the New York Knicks. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM.
Jun 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (12) looks on during the game against the Colorado Rockies at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Guardians added a right-handed bat, finally, bringing Rhys Hoskins in on a minor-league deal today.
First, the reasons the team is bringing Hoskins in:
The price is right. The team doesn’t have to guarantee Hoskins a roster spot while also only owing him $1.5M if he makes the team.
Hoskins is 33 years old, which is not young but not old for a baseball player. This is not a 39 year-old Carlos Santana signing.
Even in a bit of a down year for him compared to his career 121 wRC+, Hoskins still put up a 109 wRC+ last season, which would have been third-best among Guardians’ players who got 300 or more plate appearances in 2025. He also has a 137 wRC+ against left-handed pitching for his career. Some have noted that his wRC+ against southpaws is only 109 in 2024-2025, but it’s generally wiser to look at his career numbers when there is a large enough sample size. I’d expect that Hoskins, if healthy, will be capable of putting up something closer to his career 137 wRC+ against LHP than the 109 of the past couple years.
Hoskins had his best year defensively since 2019 in 2025, putting up 2 Defensive Runs Saved and 1 Out Above Average at first base. This is a solid indicator of a player not willing to rest on past achievements, but willing to work to continue to contribute as his career wanes.
Hoskins had his lowest chase-rate in six years in 2025 (19.9% out-of-zone swing rate) and the highest hard-hit rate of his career (46.4%). These are decent indications that he still has potential to be the 120 wRC+ hitter he has been for his career for another season if healthy and given the opportunity.
Most importantly, the addition of Hoskins provides needed depth in several areas. First of all, if neither David Fry nor Juan Brito are looking at their best, either or both can be optioned to Columbus. CJ Kayfus, now, can provide much needed depth in left and right field, given the potential for either (or both) of Chase DeLauter or George Valera to be affected or limited by injury concerns. I realize that some folks are concerned that Kayfus and Valera, especially, may not get the opportunities they deserve, but, it’s important to remember that good teams, playoff-contending teams, need the depth to make sure they do not have to rely on every young player to succeed, every injured player to be healthy, and every long-shot cause to pay off.
I think the player this addition affects most is likely Johnathan Rodriguez. Hoskins is very likely a better DH option than Rodriguez will be, and I think the Guardians are likely correct in that assessment. Hoskins also gives the useful aspect of being an average defender at first (vs. Rodriguez being a terrible defender everywhere). This move also probably makes Nolan Jones more of a depth piece than a relied upon starter, which is good news.
I expect that as long as Hoskins is healthy, he will make the Opening Day Roster, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see David Fry become an option in right field, despite Vogt’s earlier indications that he wouldn’t be. The collection of hitters for Opening Day seems likely, at the moment, to be:
C – Bo, Hedges, Fry 1B – Manzardo and Hoskins 2B – Arias or Brito 3B – Jose SS – Rocchio LF – Kayfus or Valera (or Kwan, if centerfield doesn’t pan out) CF – Kwan (or Jones or DeLauter if Kwan is in left) RF – DeLauter (or Valera or Kayfus if Kwan is in left) Utility Infielder: Daniel Schneemann (or Gabriel Arias if Brito makes the team) Utility Outfielder: Stuart Fairchild or Angel Martinez
The good news is that Fry, Kayfus, Rodriguez, Schneemann, and Valera all have options and can be useful depth in Columbus as need be. Nolan Jones, also, can probably be designated for assignment and passed through to Columbus if he doesn’t make the roster (though I suspect he would probably be traded, instead). This is important for a team that wants to have the piece necessary to survive the grind of a 162-game season while maintaining a consistent level of offense.
Finally, Hoskins had a wRC+ of over 130 last season before he injured his thumb a couple months into the season. Seems a reasonable chance that healthy thumb Hoskins can be that kind of threat again. Choosing the Guardians as his minor-league deal option means Hoskins thinks he has a good shot to make the roster here.
I feel much better about the Guardians’ offseason. I’d like to see Randal Grichuk also brought into camp to add to the competition for right-handed outfielders, but this is enough to call off the worst of the dogs in terms of Guardians’ offseason inactivity for me. Last second heave by Chris Antonetti with the game clock expiring – and it’s good!
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 03: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center on February 03, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (33-24) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (27-30)
When: 6:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center— Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, Suns+
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns are right back at it Sunday night, less than 24 hours after a double overtime grind against Orlando that somehow delivered one of the season’s defining moments. For multiple reasons. It took real work to get there, but Jalen Green’s game-winning three-pointer cut through the noise and sent everyone home smiling. That glow faded fast once the news hit. Dillon Brooks broke his hand in that game, and there is no clear timetable yet for when he will be back.
Such is life in the NBA. Such is life and sports. Such is life.
You flip the page, you circle the next date, and you lock in on what is right in front of you. That next task shows up wearing Portland across its chest.
The Trail Blazers sit six games back of the Suns in the standings, parked comfortably in the 10th seed, with a little breathing room over Memphis down in 11th. On paper, that is a game Phoenix usually handles. In reality, with bodies piling up on the injury report and legs still feeling sore Saturday night, nothing comes free here.
This is another one that has to be earned. If the Suns want to walk away with it, they either need to shoot the ball better, move the ball better, or preferably do both. Because neither showed up against Orlando.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Jalen Green — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Managemen)
First up? Who the heck is going to play?! That injury report is tough to look at.
Expect a heavy dose of threes in this one. Portland sits 28th in three-point percentage at 34.1%, but they launch them anyway, second most attempts in the league at 42.5 per game. We have seen this movie before. Last time these two played, the Suns fell into an early hole due to a mix of shaky perimeter defense and Portland catching fire. That turned into a dangerous cocktail that had the Suns down by as many as 19 points.
Phoenix eventually clawed back and escaped with a 130–125 win on February 3, but that start cannot repeat itself.
Portland also presents a size problem, one that pokes directly at a Suns soft spot. They are sixth in the league at 45.9 rebounds per game and third in offensive rebounding rate at 35.4%. That translates to league-best second-chance points at 18.3 per night. Donovan Clingan sets the tone there, leading the NBA with 4.7 offensive rebounds a game. He has to be accounted for, every possession.
And yeah, but this feels like a spot where giving rookie Khaman Maluach a look could help. Purely for size. A body. Someone to box out and absorb contact. I do not know if this is full experimentation season yet, but against Portland, I would not hate seeing it.
Key to a Suns Win
Shoot better.
I know that sounds like the most basic form of analysis imaginable, but sometimes the simple truth is still the truth. In February, the Phoenix Suns are shooting 34.2% from three, which sits 23rd in the NBA. At the same time, they are fifth in three-point rate, with 47.3% of their shots coming from deep. The volume is there. The accuracy is not. That gap has to close if Phoenix wants to beat Portland.
That task gets harder when Devin Booker is out, and it gets harder again without Dillon Brooks. Brooks may not always be efficient, but he has still made the fourth-most threes on the team this season. Those shots do not disappear. Someone has to absorb them. That responsibility now falls on Collin Gillespie, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, and Ryan Dunn. They need to lock in and convert the clean looks they are getting.
Pair that with protecting the glass. Second-chance points are killers, especially for a team already dealing with injuries and heavy legs. Extra possessions drain you fast. Phoenix cannot afford to hand those out.
Prediction Time
Expect the unexpected. The Suns are wounded right now, no way around it, but there is still plenty of fight in this group. We saw it against Orlando. That was a game they probably lost nine times out of ten, and somehow they dragged it across the finish line anyway.
Now it is Sunday, and Portland is standing in front of them. This feels like one of those nights where things get weird, where effort and timing matter more than polish. The kind of night where a role player steps into the light and keeps everything from tilting the wrong way.
Call it a hunch, call it basketball intuition, call it “there’s no one else to score”, but it feels like a Royce O’Neale night. The Suns are going to need one.
Rhys Hoskins is not heading back to Philadelphia after all.
The former Phillies slugger, who spent his first six MLB seasons in the city of brotherly love, has agreed to a minor league deal with the Guardians, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Hoskins’ deal is worth $1.5 million if he makes the team out of spring training, according to The Athletic.
Rhys Hoskins spent the last two seasons with the Brewers. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
His new contract comes days after a report that Phillies superstar Bryce Harper, desiring “emotional edge/swagger” for the lineup, suggested a reunion with Hoskins to team president Dave Dombrowski, per 94WIP’s Devan Kaney.
The first baseman was “game to come back and finish the job with the Phillies,” per Kaney, who added that Dombrowski decided against a reunion.
Harper’s desire for offensive reinforcement after an eventful offseason in which Dombrowski lost out on infielder Bo Bichette, who spurned the Phillies to join the National League East rival Mets.
Dombrowski re-signed JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber while also stirring controversy by questioning if Harper, a two-time MVP, is still an elite player.
Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Hoskins averaged 30 homers and 82 RBIs from 2018 through 2022, establishing himself as one of MLB’s most consistent sluggers.
He cemented himself in Phillies lore with a standout postseason in 2022, blasting six home runs as the Phillies reached the World Series.
Hoskins established himself as one of MLB’s most consistent sluggers during his six-year stint with the Phillies. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The following spring, Hoskins was carted off the field days before the regular season after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in a devastating blow.
“I just put my hand on his shoulder, but you know, no words needed to be said right there,’’ then-Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos said in the aftermath. “What is there really to say? Everybody knows exactly what’s going on. When something like that happens, it’s not taken lightly.
“I think every single person on that field around him [realized] the seriousness of that moment.’’
The brutal injury was compounded by the fact that he was set to hit free agency after the season.
The Phillies did not re-sign Hoskins as he joined the Brewers on a two-year, $34 million pact – but he did not recapture his prior success in Milwaukee.
Hoskins tormented the Mets to begin 2024, but managed a meager .213 average and -0.9 WAR despite notching 26 homers and 82 RBIs.
He started strong last season, but a thumb injury limited him to just 90 games, where he slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs.
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 5: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on December 5, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (36-19) at Los Angeles Lakers (34-21) Sunday, February 22, 2026 6:30 PM ET TV: NBC/Peacock, NBCSB, Telemundo Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, ESPN LA 710, Sirius XM Regular Season Game #56 Road Game #29 Crypto.com Arena
The Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2nd and final meeting this season. The Celtics win the first meeting in Boston 125-105 on December 5. The Celtics were at full strength for that game while the Lakers were without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart. These two teams tied the series last season with each team winning on their home court. The Celtics are 168-135 overall, all time, against the Lakers. They are 55-78 in games played at the Lakers.
The Lakers basically kept their core together for this season. They did make a couple of changes however. They brought in DeAndre Ayton to shore up their center spot. They also signed Marcus Smart to help their defense. They signed Jake LaRavia as a free agent also. At the trade deadline, the Lakers traded Gabe Vincent to Atlanta for Luke Kennard to give them a sharpshooter off the bench.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place Cleveland, 1.5 games ahead of 4th place New York, 3 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 6 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 6.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 12-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 18-10 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Lakers are 5th in the West, 8 games behind first place OKC, 5 games behind 2nd place San Antonio, 1 game behind 3rd place Denver, half a game behind 4th place Houston and tied with 6th place Minnesota. They are 2.5 game ahead of 7th place Phoenix. They are 11-7 against Eastern Conference opponents and 16-10 at home. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Celtics are playing in the 2nd game of a 4 game Western road trip. They beat Golden State 121-110 on Thursday and will play Phoenix, and Denver back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday to close out the trip. They will then return home for games against Brooklyn and Philadelphia before a game at Milwaukee. Then they are back home for games against Charlotte and Dallas before a tough 3 game road trip through Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State.
The Lakers are playing in the 7th game of an 8 game home stand. They are 4-2 so far on the home stand and will close it out with a game against Orlando. They will then play at Phoenix and Golden State before returning home to play Sacramento and New Orleans. Then it’s one game at Denver before a 5 game home stand where they will host Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Chicago and Denver.
Both teams are healthy other than Jayson Tatum for the Celtics, who remains out as he rehabs from the torn Achilles. The Lakers have no one on their injury report. I’m assuming that the Celtics will once again start White, Scheierman, Brown, Hauser and Queta. I’m thinking that the Lakers will stick with the starters they used on Friday in their win over the Clippers, which is Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, Smart and Jordan. Although they only used this starting lineup once due to injuries, they consider it their strongest starting lineup.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Luka Doncic
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Austin Reaves
Baylor Scheierman | Getty ImagesAustin Reaves | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
SF: Jaylen Brown vs LeBron James
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesLeBron James | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Sam Hauser vs Marcus Smart
Sam Hauser | Getty ImagesMarcus Smart | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Deandre Ayton
Neemias Queta | Getty ImagesDeandre Ayton | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Nikola Vucevic Jordan Walsh Delano Banton (10-day) John Tonje (10-day)
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga
Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Lakers Reserves Kobe Bufkin Rui Hachimura Jaxson Hayes Bronny James Luke Kennard Maxi Kleber Dalton Knecht Jake LaRavia Adou Thiero Jarred Vanderbilt 2-Way Players Chris Manon Nick Smith, Jr Drew Timme
Injuries/Out None listed Head Coach JJ Redick
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Luka Doncic Doncic is averaging 33.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the fiield He is coming off a game where he finished with 38 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 1 block. He missed the December game against the Celtics. The Celtics have to slow Doncic down and guard him both on the perimeter and in the paint along with anticipating his passes.
Baylor Scheierman vs Austin Reaves Reaves is averaging 25.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. He is shooting 51.1% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc. In the December meeting between these two teams, Reeves finished with 36 points, 3 rebound, and 8 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. He is coming off a game where he finished with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Honorable Mention Jaylen Brown vs LeBron James LeBron is averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting 49.9% from the field and 30.6% from beyond the arc. In his last game on Friday, he finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists and 1 steal. He didn’t play in the first game between these two teams. He may be old, but he is still dangerous and a very good passer.
Keys to the Game Defense – I can’t say it enough that defense is the most important key to winning. The Celtics are 8th in the league with a defensive rating of 112.6. The Lakers are 24th with a defensive rating of 116.5. The Celtics have played good defense for the most part in recent games but they still are not consistent on that end for 48 minutes each game They must stay committed to playing tough, lock down defense, especially against a Lakers team with some very good offensive weapons. The Celtics must especially defend in the paint as the Lakers are 9th in the league with 51.9 points in the paint per game.
Rebound – Rebounding takes effort and energy and the Celtics will need both to out-rebound the Lakers. The Celtics need to crash the boards and keep the Lakers from getting second chance points and fast breaks. The Celtics are averaging 45.6 rebounds per game (8th) while the Lakers are averaging 40.9 rebounds per game (24th). The Celtics must put out extra energy and effort to beat the Lakers to rebounds.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball in order to find the best shot on each possession. When the ball sticks and players try to do too much, the Celtics struggle. They are at their best when they pass the ball and keep it moving. The Celtics had 31 assists in their win over the Warriors. The Celtics are 28-4 when they have at least 25 assists. But they have to make careful passes and not get sloppy because the Lakers average 17.8 points off turnovers.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics must be the more aggressive team. They have to be aggressive in going to the basket, in diving for loose balls, and on defense. They have to aggressively crash the boards. They have to be the team that plays harder and that wants it more. In most of their losses, they have allowed their opponents to play harder and be more aggressive. They absolutely can’t let the Lakers play harder than them if they want to have a chance to win.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics are playing in the second game of a 4 game road trip. They need to fight through the distractions of playing on the road and on the other coast in a different time zone and keep their focus on playing the right way. They need to put all those distractions of playing in a strange arena and in front of hostile fans and staying in hotels and away from family aside and put all their focus on playing the game.
Pride – “Beat LA” is one of the most iconic chants in sports. This is a storied rivalry and no matter the circumstances, the Celtics always want to beat the Lakers and vice versa. The Celtics have to focus on the game and on playing aggressive basketball. It’s a matter of pride and the Celtics need to get the job done and “Beat LA”. On the other hand, LeBron always has a chip on his shoulder against the Celtics and LeBron and his teammates are going to give extra effort to beat one of their biggest rivals.
Officiating – The officiating can always be an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently and the Celtics have to adapt to how the game is being called and not allow bad calls and no calls to take away their focus. If you doubt that officiating is an x-factor, just think back to the last Finals between these two teams. In game 7, the Celtics were up 6 going into the 4th quarter. The refs had called the game evenly up until then. But in the 4th quarter, the referees took over and it cost the Celtics that game. The Lakers took 21 free throws in the 4th quarter alone while the Celtics took 6. The Lakers took more free throws in the 4th quarter than they did in the first 3 quarters combined. (Yes, I am still a little bitter over that.) Hopefully the refs call it fair in this game and let both teams play.
Dec 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Lakers have a problem. It’s a LeBron James problem. Well, it’s also a Luka Doncic problem. Really, it’s an Austin Reaves problem, too.
When LA’s three best players are on the floor together, they’re a -8.8 net rating. They’ve played just eleven games together and sure, sport an 8-3 record, but at their core, it’s just not working.
Boston’s Big Three, on the other hand, have been humming along. Well, had been humming along. Before the NBA trade deadline, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard spearheaded the second-best offense in the league with an 8.1 net rating in 823 minutes together. But after the acquisition of Nikola Vucevic, the defending Sixth Man of the Year went back to the bench and now forms a lethal one-two punch with the second unit.
The sample size is obviously small, but the eye test speaks volumes to the second unit’s potential. In four games, Vucevic and Pritchard have led the second unit with a +12.7 net rating (115.8 offensive, 103.1 defensive) in 95 minutes together. The pairing has opened up the floor for swingmen like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh.
It’s a dynamic that the team didn’t necessarily have with the ignitable Anfernee Simons and in a season that has been defined by doing the best what you have, Joe Mazzulla has made, well, incredible lemonade.
Removing Pritchard from the starting lineup probably doesn’t fit J.J. Redick’s definition of Mazzulla as a “basketball sicko,” but it does highlight Mazzulla’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to extract the most out of this roster. Pritchard was having easily the best season of his career after a patient six-year wait to be a starter in this league. And without even blinking, he’s been a soldier in Mazzulla’s army and done whatever’s been asked of him.
”I can start, I can come off the bench — it don’t matter,” he has said. “Just what the team needs: being killer in my role. That’s what it takes.”
Just how well does the Lakers' Big 3 stack up?@chiney analyzes the Lakers' efficiency of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves together✍️ pic.twitter.com/FdpWZd8oFu
You have to wonder if similar conversations have been had with the Lakers. As ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike explains above, Doncic and Reaves are a +14.4 with LeBron on the bench and James is +7.7 with Doncic and Reaves off the floor. And together, they’re awful in everything the Celtics do great: defend, rebound off the offensive glass, and limit turnovers.
This isn’t to say that the Lakers aren’t a good team. They’ve weathered injuries all year and are still positioned to avoid the Play-In Tournament. To their credit, they’ve instituted some much needed change. Doncic did go on a summer diet and looks trimmer this season. Rob Pelinka finally traded the once expected sharpshooter Gabe Vicent for the current flavor-of-the-month Luke Kenard. They brought in the ultimate gamechanger in Marcus Smart and are currently revamping their front office with new ownership.
However, none of that has exactly translated on the floor and in Redick’s defense, he arguably has more on his plate than Mazzulla has. There’s Lebron and Reaves’ impending free agency. There’s catering to Luka, something Mavericks management just couldn’t stomach anymore. There’s the often disconnect between what Redick wants to see on the floor and how the players are performing followed by the fingerpointing in the press.
So, I wonder if things would be different in La La Land if it was Mazzulla-la-la at the helm.
Would Joe have already moved the greatest scorer of all time to the bench? Would Dalton Knecht have found his groove by now? Would Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton be even on the team at this point?
Thankfully today and for the foreseeable future, Mazzulla is our basketball sicko, unafraid and undeterred to make changes, with only winning in mind.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Oluchi Okananwa scored 26 points, leading six in double figures, and No. 14 Maryland won its fifth straight game, defeating Purdue 99-66 on Sunday.
Addi Mack scored 14 points and Saylor Poffenbarger and Mir McLean added 11 each for Maryland (22-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Off the bench, Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 18 points and fellow freshman Rainey Welson added 11.
Kiki Smith scored 19 points and Nya Smith had 18 for Purdue (12-15, 4-12).
Okananwa scored 10 points in the first quarter and the Terrapins led 22-17 after one. Saylor Poffenbarger took over in the second quarter, scoring all of her 11 points, and the Terrapins led 51-32 at halftime.
A 15-5 run over the last five minutes of the third quarter gave Maryland a 77-48 lead heading to the fourth. The largest lead was 97-60 with about two minutes to go. Maryland freshman Marya Boiko, a backup forward from Belarus, blocked five shots, four in the fourth quarter.
Maryland had significant advantages in points after opponent turnovers (21-11), bench points (31-16) and second-chance points (20-11).
Maryland improved to 27-5 in February over the past three seasons.
Up next
Maryland: The regular season concludes with a home game against Northwestern on Wednesday followed by a visit to No. 6 Michigan on Saturday.
Purdue: at home against Oregon on Wednesday; at Northwestern on Sunday.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Gold medalists, Team United States, pose for a team photo during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ll start with Sidney Crosby, unable to play today after picking up an injury in the quarterfinals. The picture sums it up, a gutting ending for his 2026 Olympics, and at 38-years old, stands at what very possibly ends up as his final moment on Olympic ice. That’s a tough ending to that chapter. He’ll always have the 2010 golden goal and captaining his country to another gold in 2014, though it’s not much consolation now.
Now the question becomes what will happen with the Penguins? Pittsburgh plays on Thursday, and Saturday and next Sunday and on and on. Crosby’s knee appeared at least OK enough to make an effort to see if he could play, but he wasn’t able to. That’s a troubling sign for the beginning of what will be a wicked stretch for the Pens and the big question will become how much longer Crosby will have to watch.
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Down in Wilkes, Avery Hayes was held out of the AHL lineup for a game today and is expected to be recalled to Pittsburgh officially when the NHL roster freeze ends tonight. That might make for a troubling sign if Crosby’s next stop is the IR, though he would be able to return from it as soon as his health returns. Speaking of the IR list, if Kris Letang is able to return for Thursday’s game as expected that could spell bad news for Ryan Graves’s roster spot until the trade deadline..There’s still a few weeks to get there, the Pens look like they have some roster juggling coming up for the period while they still have to fit under the 23-player roster limit.
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The gold is instant validation for general manager Bill Guerin and Mike Sullivan. No one can say they didn’t do it their way, and their way ended up working.
Team USA’s🇺🇸 head coach Mike Sullivan on the construction of this lineup: “The team was built with personality in mind… There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers, and we got a lot of whiskey drinkers.”
That quote has to sting for players like Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield and Adam Fox (who plays on Sullivan’s NHL team) that while they were certainly talented enough to be among the top American players, they ended up not getting a role on this club for very pointed reasons. The US was laser-focused on bringing a squad that could matchup against Canada and the concept was proved out on the medal color that hangs on their neck. Sullivan is now the second coach (along with Mike Babcock) to have won a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold.
Had the US come up a goal short, the discourse would have turned on Guerin and Sullivan on their decisions. They were flexible enough to move a player like Kyle Conner (great in the NHL, often lost on the national team) down and try Clayton Keller in that spot before finally finding the magic with Jack Hughes being the right fit for that line, it proved enough to work. Sullivan and especially Guerin now can relish in bringing back the gold medal for the first time in 46 years.
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Then again, a great goalie can cover up all sorts of things in front of him, and Connor Hellebuyck with his 41 saves today was absolutely amazing. The difference between the US and Canada (who won a 3-2 OT game last year at 4 Nations) is so fine right now. Doubtlessly the biggest turning point of today was the Americans getting superior goaltending over the course of a game where they were on their heels for most of the second and third periods. As Crosby said post-game (and Nathan MacKinnon matched with understandably even more raw emotion), Canada did just about everything in this game except find that one more goal to pull ahead. Hellebuyck was the clear reason why.
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What a moment it was for the Hughes brothers, who put their stamp on this event. Quinn Hughes is probably the best defender in the game right now, the amount of game control and impact he has on the ice is arguably the slightest notch better than Cale Makar. Jack Hughes is in his seventh NHL season and while he has a 99-point year under his belt he’s only been to the playoffs once and has been overshadowed by other recent No. 1 overall picks. Can’t say that any longer with his bloody mouth and toothless grin after the golden goal. Where both go from here as far as their status in the hockey world will be worth watching. The Pens will get a first-hand view of it with Jack, the Devils and Penguins meet on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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Connor McDavid has been unflinchingly loyal to the Edmonton Oilers, from the outside one has to wonder if he made the right choice to extend his contract two more seasons there. McDavid and Macklin Celebrini have something special, imagine a world where McDavid joins up with a rising San Jose team? That would be incredible. There’s something to be said about McDavid’s desire to not seek out a new situation and try to make it work where he’s at, but at this point of watching someone else celebrate yet again it’s hard not to wonder how he will respond to that feeling of coming up short again. Matthew Tkachuk famously taunted Leon Draisaitl as ‘always the bridesmaid’, that dig is even more fitting towards McDavid. Credit to McDavid for not turning full Hossa and shopping for teams that are contenders, though at this point it would be tough to blame him for a shift in mindset.
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With that thought still in mind, it was great for the NHL when Matthew Tkachuk got out of Calgary and into a better situation for Florida or when Jack Eichel moved from Buffalo to Vegas. That also might come to pass with Quinn Hughes getting to a better spot in Minnesota now. Selfishly, wouldn’t it be great if that could happen for “Brother Brady” and Zach Werenski? Both are contract tied to their teams for a while and also exceedingly loyal to their clubs -there’s no real reason to expect a change any time soon – it would just be nice for players like that to get in better positions. Fans of Ottawa and Columbus will rightfully be offended by the notion, just a passing thought.
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The lasting image of these games, for me anyways, will be the picture in the header at the top. It was really nice for the US players to keep Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey in the lockerroom and keep his spirit close. When Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski headed to the stands to get two of Gaudreau’s children and include them in a team picture, man, how can you not get emotional over that? One of the kids, Johnny Jr., celebrated his second birthday today on 2/22. For a family that went through so much losing Johnny and Matthew, seeing them be included in this moment was just the best and as perfect a moment as there could be to wrap up the competition for the Americans.
Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Nolan Jones (22) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a 3-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Today, the Guardians will play the Athletics
Cleveland will lineup as follows:
Schneemann 3B
Valera RF
Fry C
Manzardo DH
Fairchild CF
Jones LF
Velazquez 1B
Bazzana 2B
Genao SS
Messick P
It will be fun to get a glimpse at a potential infield of the future in Velazquez, Bazzana and Genao, as well as see what Fairchild looks like in center and Fry at catcher.
South Africa ended India’s 12-match winning streak at the T20 World Cup with a crushing 76-run win in Ahmedabad on Sunday in the opening Group 1 Super Eights match.
Feb 17, 2026; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore during media day at Surprise Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers welcome the Colorado Rockies to their spring home in Surprise, Arizona for a Cactus League matchup.
The most notable thing about today’s contest is the debut in Texas attire for big lefty offseason acquisition MacKenzie Gore. Opposing Gore and Texas for Colorado will be former Ranger Jimmy Herget, a right-handed reliever who pitched for Texas in 2020-21.
Today’s Lineups
ROCKIES
RANGERS
Edouard Julien – 2B
Evan Carter – CF
Brett Sullivan – C
Corey Seager – SS
Jake McCarthy – CF
Joc Pederson – DH
Jordan Beck – RF
Jake Burger – 1B
T.J. Rumfield – 1B
Josh Jung – 3B
Kyle Karros – 3B
Josh Smith – 2B
Nicky Lopez – SS
Kyle Higashioka – C
Zac Veen – LF
Alejandro Osuna – RF
Sterlin Thompson – DH
Michael Helman – LF
Jimmy Herget – RHP
MacKenzie Gore – LHP
You can listen to the game via 105.3 The Fan or follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: A general view of Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, at least it’s not the Rockies! We will be seeing them again later in the preseason, but for now we move outside of the complex, and welcome the Angels as the first team to visit Salt River Fields this spring. Like the D-backs, they had a bit of a rough day yesterday om their home openers. Actually, it was probably worse: they were 9-0 down by the middle of the second, on their way to a 15-2 loss at the hands of their city rivals. The eleven pitchers used by the Angels gave up sixteen hits and eleven walks. So both teams today will be looking to flush that one and move on. Here’s the Arizona line-up this afternoon.
After Kohl Drake, we can expect to see some of these arms: RHP Yilber Diaz, RHP Kade Strowd, RHP Junior Fernández, RHP Landon Sims, RHP Roman Angelo and LHP Avery Short. Diaz and Stroud are one I’ll be paying particular attention to this spring. Like Mitch Bratt yesterday, Drake came over from the Rangers in the Merrill Kelly deal at the trade deadline. Interesting to see Waldschmidt in center. He started in left for the spring opener, and had one obvious misplay. It’s certainly a better Arizona line-up, with a regular infield, bar Aramis Garcia behind the plate.
No television here, but you can listen through Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, or perhaps online if you are not in the state.
Feb 21, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
A blizzard is coming to the Delaware Valley. Fitting since the Sixers’ season feels like it could be snowballing.
After the team suffered an embarrassing loss to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans Saturday, they’ll travel to Minnesota (because that travel schedule makes sense) to take on the Timberwolves Sunday night — and they’ll do so without Joel Embiid.
Embiid missed the two games before the All-Star break and the two after. The Sixers dropped all four and will have to go up against a tough Timberwolves team without him. They’re 1-9 in their last 10 games without Embiid. After only missing planned rest games in back-to-back situations throughout January, Embiid’s last four absences have been the result of shin soreness in his right leg.
At 30-26, the Sixers are in very real danger of slipping out of the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot. The Miami Heat are only percentage points behind them in seventh. If Embiid continues to miss time — while Paul George continues to serve his suspension — things could ugly.
The other bit of bad news is that rookie Johni Broome has suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. The team said there will be further evaluation to determine treatment. Broome, a second-round pick (35th overall) in the 2025 NBA Draft, has struggled to find a role with the big club. The 23-year-old, who starred at Auburn, has had success in the G League, recording a 50-point game with the Delaware Blue Coats last month.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day at Camelback Ranch on February 19, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One more road game this weekend for the Dodgers, with Jackson Ferris starting on the mound against the San Diego Padres in Peoria. Kyle Tucker makes his Dodgers debut.
Having crunched their first two opponents by a combined score of 19-3, the White Sox will try to extend the streak of slaughters against a Brewers split squad today.
Mike Vasil, who did an excellent job in relief last year and is under consideration for a rotation slot for 2026, will start the parade of pitchers for the Sox, with righty Logan Henderson first on the mound for the Brewers.
Henderson, who had a blazing beginning as rookie in 2025 only to have his season shut down by a flexor strain that limited him to five starts, will face a Sox lineup which, in keeping with usual spring one-on/one-off patterns, is largely the same as that in the opener against the Cubs Friday, but with Lenyn Sosa at second and Braden Montgomery in right. Kyle Teel and Korey Lee switch DH/C roles.
Which means that Sox fans get their first chance today to watch Munetaka Murakami on TV.
Vasil et al. will be facing the Brewers lineup that includes old buddy Andrew Vaughn but with most Milwaukee probable regular season starters on the other half of the split.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Central under (surprise!) sunny skies and temps around 80°. Usual broadcast suspects, which, for those who have forgotten since last year, means CHSN and ESPN 1000.
