Feb 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones (78) hits a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning in a Spring Training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
NJ.com | Randy Miller: When Spencer Jones launched a fly ball deep into the Tampa sky and out of George M. Steinbrenner Stadium during his first plate appearances this spring, Yankees fans were immediately reminded of the towering moonshots that Aaron Judge so regularly graces us with in the Bronx. However, eagle-eyed fans clued into not the flying ball, but the center fielder’s swing, would have been reminded of another multi-time MVP winner: Shohei Ohtani. The 24-year-old left handed hitter spent the winter once again trying to rework his swing in order to cut down on his strikeouts without sacrificing power, and this year, he has settled on a stance that even Judge and manager Aaron Boone describe as Ohtani-like. Hopefully, the results will begin to look similar, too.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The prevailing assumption at the moment is that, once shortstop Anthony Volpe finishes rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, he will return to the starting role that he has filled, rather underwhelmingly compared to expectations, since Opening Day 2023. That being said, José Caballero has a chance to make the decision a difficult one. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays, Caballero immediately injected energy into the Yankees lineup both through his speed and his ability to play all over the diamond. Now, with a month-plus manning the shortstop job to start the season, Caballero has a shot to show that he needs to stay in the lineup and partner up once more with his minor league double play partner, Jazz Chisholm.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: (subscription required, but same report found elsewhere) Former Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling visited Rickie Ricardo on WFAN yesterday, and dropped some news on us: he suffered a heart attack back in January. Fortunately, Sterling said that “all things are good,” and that he has spent the last few weeks in bed watching the Winter Olympics while recovering.
SEATTLE (AP) — Paul Rothrock had a goal and an assist after replacing an injured Jordan Morris early in the first half and the Seattle Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in a rainy season opener on Sunday night.
Seattle lost Morris to a noncontact injury in the 8th minute and Rothrock had a hand in staking the Sounders to a 1-0 lead seven minutes later when he hustled to keep the ball in play, setting up a header by Albert Rusnák for a long nifty assist.
Hassani Dotson appeared to score three minutes later in his Sounders debut but had it waived off for a foul after a video review. Dotson signed as a free agent after seven seasons with Minnesota United.
The Rapids' Noah Cobb had a red card downgraded to yellow after another video review in the 30th minute to keep the match at even strength.
Dotson took a blow to the head and was replaced by 18-year-old Snyder Brunell in the 15th of 16 minutes of stoppage time as the 1-0 lead held at halftime. Brunell made three starts in six appearances last season, scoring two goals.
Colorado had four players tagged with yellow cards in the first half after new coach Matt Wells said that he wanted the Rapids be more aggressive. Wells replaced Chris Armas after two seasons when he failed to lead the club to the playoffs last year after a first-round exit in Armas' first season.
Rothrock used assists from Jesús Ferreira and Osaze De Rosario in the 62nd minute to score an insurance goal. It was his 11th goal in 65 career appearances.
Andrew Thomas finished with four saves and claimed his fourth clean sheet in his 26th career start for Seattle in league play. Sounders mainstay Stefan Frei moves to a backup role this season.
Zack Steffen saved three shots to begin his third season with Colorado.
The Sounders won't play another match at home until April 12 due to stadium updates ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 31, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Jake Fischer, the Utah Jazz are “determined to retain … Walker Kessler.”
This edition of the Sunday Best around-the-league NBA notes is also the @JakeLFischer Latest … direct from Jake via Tulane's Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition held every February.
From Fischer, who was talking about the Indiana Pacers and their recent deal to trade for Ivica Zubac:
Trading for Zubac likely cements the Pacers’ return to title contention in 2026-27 once Tyrese Haliburton is back from his crushing Achilles’ tear in Game 7 of last season’s NBA Finals. Numerous contacts with rival teams have suggested to me that the Pacers traded away too much for Zubac and could have waited until the summer to see what other options would have presented themselves, but I continue to hear that Utah is determined to retain restricted free agent-to-be Walker Kessler.
The Pacers have long coveted Kessler, sources say, but I would counter the skeptics and say that there is tangible wisdom to Indiana getting its frontcourt business done now if its other preferred target is not likely to be available.
Clearly, the Pacers traded for Zubac, knowing the Jazz would be re-signing Kessler. The signing of Jaren Jackson Jr. signaled that the Jazz are determined to be a competitive team next season. Knowing they have the restricted free agency rights to Kessler, there’s no reason for them to let him go or trade him.
We’ve also gotten this same message from Tony Jones, who recently spoke on the radio and said the Jazz would be willing to match any offer that comes in.
That’s what he said on the radio 🤷🏼♂️ said the Jazz aren’t pressured by it at all.
Also said that Jazz will match for Walker even if it’s $35 million, and turned down a trade for Walker this last draft that included a lottery pick
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on February 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 76ers defeated the Timberwolves 135-108. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a lot of rough nights at Target Center this season. Tonight was another one to add to the list, as the Wolves were routed 135-108 by the Philadelphia 76ers. The 27-point loss is the largest loss of the season for Minnesota.
Right from the opening minutes of the game, it was clear the Wolves were going to have to get creative with their rotations if they wanted to pull this one out. With Rudy Gobert suspended for accruing too many flagrant fouls and Naz Reid out with shoulder soreness, Minnesota turned to Joan Beringer for his first career start to fill out the starting lineup.
That plan went up in smoke quickly as Beringer picked up two quick fouls just four minutes into the game, necessitating him going to the bench for the remainder of the quarter. His second-quarter stint didn’t go much better, as after just a single minute on the court, the rookie bigman picked up his third foul, putting him on the bench the rest of the half.
With the lack of other front-court options on the active roster, Beringer’s foul trouble threw a wrench into the Wolves’ rotations for the rest of the game. The Wolves tried mixing and matching with different players to see what would stick, including Mike Conley, Jaylen Clark, and Terrence Shannor Jr., who were all out of the rotation in the last game, but none of the combinations worked.
The lineups that had any sort of success included Anthony Edwards. Minnesota only lost Ant’s minutes by three points, but were outscored by 22 points in the 11 minutes Ant was on the bench before garbage time. Edwards finished with 28 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, but turned the ball over seven times.
“Just unexpected coverages,” Edwards said of the turnovers following the loss. “Sometimes they would be in a drop, sometimes they would be in a high wall, and then when I go to pass it, they might hit the ball out of my hand. I lost the ball a couple times on the dribble. Just bad turnovers.”
The Wolves desperately missed Gobert’s defense near the rim, but his absence was not the only issue that caused the poor defensive output this game. They had poor closeouts on shooters most of the game and gave up 17 second-chance points.
“Just a lot of short close outs,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch explained after the game. “We talked about the guys we needed to get up to take away their airspace, and then once they had seen enough go in, then they made tough ones, but just a lot of short close outs. We probably short-closed them out at least a half a dozen times, if not more, in the first half alone.”
Edwards took accountability for a lot of those defensive lapses, saying, “Most of them was me. A couple of them, they were three, four steps behind the line. I’m not thinking they even gonna shoot it. And they still shot it and they made it. That’s on me. I’ll take it.”
Tyrese Maxey was superb the entire game, scoring 39 points to go along with eight assists, outdueling his fellow All-Star Edwards.
It was another tough night for Julius Randle as he scored 18 points while finishing with just three rebounds and three assists. Finch did mention that Randle was “under the weather pretty severely,” despite Randle not showing up on the team’s injury report leading up to the game.
While the Wolves desperately missed Gobert and Reid in this game, it’s hard to use that as a reason for the poor performance when the 76ers, who played in New Orleans the night prior, were without Paul George, who, like Gobert, is suspended, and Joel Embiid, who is injured.
The Wolves have also been one of the healthier teams in the NBA this season, making their 35-23 record to this point feel underwhelming for a team with championship aspirations.
The loss by itself doesn’t signal that the sky is falling. The Wolves proved last season that they can make a playoff run with whatever seed they get. They also remained just one game back of the three-seed in the Western Conference, as each team currently seeded three through seven lost either today or yesterday.
While the Timberwolves still have the opportunity to achieve their loftiest of goals, at a certain point, the excuses have to fade away, and a sustained stretch of winning needs to occur. They now have just 27 games left in the season to make that happen.
Up Next
The Timberwolves now head out west for a three-game road trip starting on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. With their last six games taking place at Target Center, and the All-Star break in the middle, this will be the first road game for the Wolves in almost three weeks. Fans can watch the game starting at 9:00 PM CT on Peacock.
LOS ANGELES — The stars were shining bright in Los Angeles. On the night that legendary Lakers coach Pat Riley got his statue outside the Crypto.com Arena, inside the arena was filled with hoops royalty: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dwayne Wade and James Worthy (not to mention the NBC crew of Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Reggie Miller).
On the court, there were plenty of stars, too: LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown were playing in the All-Star Game just last weekend.
However, it was the Celtics' role players who were the difference in a comfortable 111-89 Boston win, particularly Payton Pritchard, who scored 30 off the bench and was a force down the stretch. "I think we have a lot of underrated players that people didn't know that were this good, and were ready for that moment," Pritchard said of the bench play. "And so I think they're just seeing it."
Boston Defense
Where Boston's depth really started to show up was on defense — Baylor Scheierman got the start for the Celtics, Hugo Gonzalez came off the bench, and both were ball hawks all night, pressuring Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, making them really work for their points. Boston wanted to pressure the ball, get out and run and wear the Lakers down. It worked as the Lakers shot less than 40% as a team.
What really stood out — and a key difference in this game — was Boston's game-plan discipline. Celtics' defenders pressured LeBron (20 points on 21 true shot attempts) and Doncic (25 points on 25 true shot attempts) but dared the Lakers' role players to beat them, often with good looks. Lakers not born in Slovenia shot 21.7% from 3-point range (5-of-23).
"I mean, sometimes you just have to make shots," LeBron said. "They made timely shots when we didn't. We didn't give ourselves a good chance on the offensive end. Defensively, we held firm for as long as we could, but offensively we didn't give ourselves a good chance."
That lack of shooting has been an issue for the Lakers all season, which is why they traded for Luke Kennard at the deadline (nine points on Sunday, taking only two 3-point attempts in 22 minutes). Boston's pressure defense was the story of the night, exacerbating Los Angeles' shooting issues.
"Offensively, we're starting to find our footing, but defensively, we got to make sure that we keep that same mentality. We saw it carried out through tonight. Hugo made some big plays for us. Baylor was amazing tonight."
The first half was largely close, but Boston created some space late in the second quarter because it was generating better looks and, with that, shooting a higher percentage. It was 60-50 Boston at the half despite 18 from Doncic.
It was during the second half that the depth issues really started to catch up with Los Angeles, as they had opportunities but could not close the gap on Boston. For the night, Pritchard alone outscored the Lakers' bench, and by the end was hitting 3-pointers and barking at NBC's Reggie Miller as he ran back up court.
Then there was Jaylen Brown. Boston's All-Star and MVP candidate led all scorers with 32 points, and he was the aggressor all night, getting downhill and drawing fouls in the paint (he was 9-of-12 from the free throw line).
Jaylen Brown gets the circus shot to go as the Celtics continue to dominate!
Lakers coach JJ Redick thought his team played well enough on defense to be in the game, but 89 points isn't going to win in the NBA, especially against a top-two team in the East like Boston.
Boston got a dozen points and eight assists from Derrick White, while Neemias Queta had 10 points and 12 boards. Austin Reaves added 15 for the Lakers.
"We did enough defensively, we're just awful offensively tonight," Redick said.
The Lakers stars can help with that, but Redick is going to need a lot more from his role players if the Lakers are going to be any kind of threat in the West.
Karl-Anthony Towns took over down the stretch Sunday, scoring seven of his team’s final 11 points as the Knicks escaped with a 105-99 win.
The Bulls (24-34) lost their ninth straight — their worst streak since 2019 — and have a clear direction of bottoming out.
Three of their starters were operating on minutes restrictions and didn’t play most of the fourth quarter, while three of their best veterans — Coby White and Nikola Vucevic included — were shipped off before the trade deadline.
Still, the Knicks (37-21) found themselves in a dogfight.
The result felt in doubt until Mikal Bridges buried a corner 3-pointer with 26 seconds left off an assist from Jalen Brunson, who kicked out the pass to his wide-open teammate.
It provided a six-point lead to the Knicks, who were riding Towns for much of the evening.
The center finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds, both team highs.
He knocked down five of his nine trey attempts.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Brunson added 19 points and nine assists.
Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench.
“Our guys just found a way,” coach Mike Brown said.
Despite the organization’s eyes on the draft lottery, the Bulls settled for a fight early.
Guerschon Yabusele, who was phased out of the Knicks rotation this season and traded before the deadline, started at center for Chicago and produced nine points with eight rebounds in the first half.
He finished with 11 points and 13 boards in 30 minutes.
The Bulls led by eight in the second quarter and by a point with under three minutes left in the fourth — before KAT took over.
Towns also earned defensive player of the game honors, awarded by the coaching staff, after collecting three steals.
“Not only did he get a double-double, he was great for us defensively,” Brown said.
The Knicks arrived Sunday under less-than-ideal circumstances.
They played a late-night thriller Saturday night — an 8:30 p.m. tipoff against the Rockets — then flew across a time zone to play in the Midwest.
Tired legs and minds probably were a factor.
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks dribbles past Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on February 22, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
But the Knicks did enough in the second half to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
“An 8:30 game and then traveling for a back-to-back game, I think, is outrageous,” said Josh Hart, who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes. “But happy we were able to get the win.”
Towns came out aggressive, following up his strong performance Saturday.
It was an encouraging development amid a largely disappointing season for Towns, who has been dropping hints all season about his discontent with Brown’s system.
Before the game, Brown reiterated that Towns’ offensive role isn’t much different, if at all, and the dip in production is simply a product of the roster changes.
Towns showed Sunday he can thrive in this offense.
“I understand it’s something that we need to talk about, and I’m OK talking about it, but until those numbers change, there’s not much for me to say because he’s getting an opportunity,” Brown said. “We don’t call a ton of plays. Now, you compare his numbers to last year, [backup center Mitchell Robinson] didn’t play in the regular season. KAT averaged 36, 37 minutes a game. Mitch is playing now. Landry didn’t play last year. He’s playing. We’re trying to get him up to 17 to 22, 23 minutes a game. We’ve got Jose [Alvarado] now. … So when you do that, guys’ minutes are going to go down. Not only are guys’ minutes going to go down, but guys’ field goal attempts are going to go down and all the things that you see impact the game statistically.”
The gold banners shimmered in the rafters of Crypto.com Arena on Sunday afternoon. They were shown on the video board repeatedly, on the NBC broadcast, and during the halftime celebration of former Lakers coach Pat Riley who helped hang four of them during his tenure.
The afternoon was supposed to be a celebration for the Hall of Fame coach. A love letter to the Lakers’ Showtime era. A purple-and-gold victory lap against their hated rivals.
Instead, it turned into a public mugging.
LeBron James drives against Derrick White during the second half. Getty Images
The afternoon began with pomp, circumstance and a bronze grin. Riley poised beside his newly unveiled statue, Armani suit pressed, hair slicked back as if time had never dared touch it. The architect of the Lakers’ golden 1980s. The man who beat Boston twice on the sport’s grandest stage. The maestro of flair and fast breaks.
“The time has come to kick some Boston ass,” Riley declared before tipoff, the words hanging in the air like cigar smoke.
They echoed.
Then they boomeranged.
Because by the time the final buzzer mercifully sounded, it was the Celtics who had done the ass-kicking — 111-89, a 22-point dismantling that felt even more lopsided than the scoreboard suggested. On a day meant to celebrate the Lakers’ dominance over their oldest rival, Boston walked into Los Angeles and treated it like a home game.
And at times, it sounded like one, too.
You could hear it in the second quarter when the green jerseys sprinkled throughout the lower bowl began to rise in unison. You could feel it midway through the third, when every made 3 by Payton Pritchard was greeted with a roar that cut through the building. By the fourth quarter, as the Lakers trailed by 20 and fans in gold streamed toward the exits, a full-throated “Let’s go Celtics!” chant echoed through the arena. In Los Angeles no less.
A "Let's go Celtics" chant has broken out at the Crypt. Absolutely ugly loss.
That is not just a loss. That is a cultural bruise.
The Celtics didn’t just beat the Lakers; they exposed them. Peeled back the layers. Showed the seams.
Jaylen Brown played like a man who understood the symbolism of the afternoon. He scored 32 points and flirted with a triple-double. He attacked switches with surgical precision, bullied smaller defenders in the post and glided through the lane as if the Lakers’ defense were a polite suggestion rather than a professional obligation.
Then there was Pritchard, the sharpshooter who turned this rivalry showcase into his personal shooting clinic. He hit six 3s and scored 30 points. More than any player on the Lakers team, including Luka Dončić and LeBron James. Each jumper felt like another splash of cold water in the Lakers’ face.
“This is how this team kills you,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick of the Celtics. “Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard. Pritchard made a lot of them (3-pointers) tonight. He played a great game.”
Pat Riley speak at press conference during the game between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers on February 22, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
Redick blamed the Lakers’ lack of offense, not the defense, but make no mistake about it. This blowout loss was about the defense, or lack of it.
It remains the Lakers’ Achilles’ heel, and on Sunday it was exposed again.
Rotations were sluggish. Closeouts were soft. The Lakers were outrebounded on the defensive glass 41-31. And then there’s the elephant in the locker room.
“They made timely shots, and we didn’t,” said James after the loss. “Defensively we held serve as long as we could, but offensively we didn’t give ourselves a chance. We’ve got a lot of room to grow.”
Luka Dončić is an offensive savant, a generational scorer who can bend defenses with a glance. But on this afternoon, the other side of the ball told a harsher story. When he was on the floor, the Lakers were a staggering minus-21. Boston hunted him in space, forced switches and made him defend in isolation. The Celtics didn’t just recognize the mismatch; they exploited it without mercy.
“They were physical. They played great defense. We have to match their physicality on the defensive end,” said Dončić, who was the biggest culprit on that end of the floor. “We need to do better on offense.”
Championship teams have weak links. They just don’t let those links stay weak.
Former Celtic Marcus Smart, now wearing purple and gold, was brought to LA for his defensive prowess and ability to score the basketball when necessary. Instead he went scoreless on Sunday. 0 for 7 from the field. The defensive edge that once defined his game dulled by indecision and missed shots. When he clanked a few more jumpers off the rim in the fourth quarter, you could almost hear the collective sigh. This was not revenge. This was regression.
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By the time the game unraveled, the symbolism was unavoidable. Riley’s statue stood outside, immortalized in bronze, a reminder of an era when the Lakers imposed their will on Boston. Inside, a new generation of Celtics was imposing its.
This rivalry has always been about more than basketball. It’s about legacy. Identity. The tug-of-war between coasts. On Sunday, Boston didn’t just win a regular-season game. They walked into Los Angeles on a day dripping with nostalgia and reminded everyone that banners from the 1980s don’t defend pick and rolls in 2026.
And as the green-clad pockets of fans lingered in the aisles, chanting while seats emptied around them, the message was unmistakable: History is earned every night. It does not arrive with a statue.
On a day meant to honor the past, the present punched Los Angeles in the mouth.
Last night in NYC, the Knicks (37*-21) found another gear to steal one from Houston, while the Bulls (24-34) dropped their eighth straight against Detroit. With both teams on the second night of a back-to-back, we expected fatigue to be a factor. What we didn’t expect was Karl-Anthony Towns (28 PTS, 11 RBS, 5-9 3PT) borrowing the Captain Clutch cape and fending off a late Chicago push. Knicks win, 105–99.
Like bricks? You would’ve loved the start of this one. The Bulls shot 2-0f-11 from the field, while the Knicks missed five of their first six long-range attempts but took a brief 9-3 lead. From there, the Bulls owned the glass, rebounding at nearly a 2:1 clip. New Bull Guerschon Yabusele (11 PTS, 13 RBS!) crashed the glass and connected from deep, playing like someone eager to impress a team he should have worked harder to impress when he was cashing their checks. Another new Bull, Nick Richards (9 PTS, 14 RBS), scored seven points and grabbed three boards in his first seven minutes. For the visitors, Towns scored twice from deep and on an aggressive drive, but then fouled Isaac Okoro (12 PTS) after the Bull had already released his layup. So it goes. The Knicks were losing 27–25 after one.
During the game, I monitor the NBA app for any noteworthy updates to share with you. I’d be derelict in my duties not to pass on this nugget:
Chicago opened the second period with more fire and desire, extending the lead on buckets from Tre Jones and Okoro and steady work inside from Jalen Smith (12 PTS). The Knicks, meanwhile, drifted through one-and-dones and sleepy turnovers. For some reason, Coach Brown—watching the same fatigued team we saw—chose not to play a fresh Tyler Kolek or Mohamed Diawara in the first half. Brown gave time to Ariel Hukporti (4 PTS, 5 RBS) and Jeremy Sochan (2 PTs, 3 RBS, 11 MIN) in the frontcourt, but the backcourt sure looked like they’d appreciate a respite, too.
Towns kept our heroes close with a tip-in, free throws, and a pair of threes to lead all scorers with 17 points by halftime. Great stuff—but there’s always some peccadillo. When KAT committed another offensive foul, the generally even-keeled Mike Breen sounded annoyed to see one . . . more . . . bonehead . . . foul. Later in the period, Breen groused about Karl complaining about another non-call, positing that the big man might fare better with the refs if he didn’t protest every . . . single . . . time. The sentiment is mutual, Mike.
With New York flailing in Q2, Jalen Brunson (19 PTS, 9 AST, 1-6 3PT) returned and settled the offense with a couple of midrange jumpers. Josh Hart (11 PTS, 9 RBS, 5 ASTS) began to turn up his effort, and Landry Shamet’s (16 PTS) two late threes briefly drew New York even, but free throws gave Chicago a 53-52 lead at the break.
By intermission, both teams had shot 43%, yet Chicago was winning from deep (39% to 36%) and in the paint (18–14). The Knicks held a narrow rebounding edge, 27–25, and turnovers were even at six apiece.
After a rest, New York came out with more energy, going on a 13-6 run to start the half. They got threes from Hart, Mikal Bridges, Brunson, and Shamet and built a 13-point lead. Chicago clawed back behind second chances from Yabusele and outside shooting from Smith and Okoro. Late in the quarter, sophomore Matas Buzelis scored on a drive, drained a three, and converted at the line to tighten the differential. The Knicks were up 83–78 heading into the fourth.
Through three quarters, Josh Giddey was mostly a non-factor, with a few assists, rebounds, and a steal. Early in the final frame, things got sloppy, and Chicago got a jolt from a different guard. Collin Sexton, quiet in limited minutes thus far, hit a couple of threes to cut the gap to two points with 4:30 to go, and Richards was a problem inside. Coach Brown sent in Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby, and Huk, but two one-and-done possessions resulted in Chicago taking a one-point lead with three minutes left. Their coach, Billy Donovan, relied heavily on the Giddy-Buzelis tandem and, for a brief moment, it seemed like it might work.
On a Bulls inbounds, KAT committed another maddening foul, but redeemed himself with a big clutch performance. After that mistake, he scored on a go-ahead triple and a charging layup, plus grabbed a timely rebound. Thanks to his efforts, the good guys had a four-point lead when he stepped to the charity stripe with a minute left. To the delight of viewers back in the snowy Empire State, the United Center shook with “Let’s Go Knicks!” chants. That must rankle the ghosts of the 90’s Bulls, no?
On Chicago’s next possession. Giddey quickly drove into Anunoby (9 PTS, 9 RBS, 2 STL, 1 BLK) for his second field goal of the night, plus a free-throw. Following his miss, the Knicks got the ball over midcourt and found Bridges (11 PTS, 5 ASTS, 2 STL, 1 BLK) in the corner for a game-sealing triple.
After the game, Breen interviewed KAT, the player of the game (Brown also named Towns DPOG). Nothing awkward about the interview at all! Mike’s a consummate pro, and Karl deserved the spotlight for preserving this win. And who knows—maybe this is a sign of Towns turning a corner after a rocky season. Better hope so. If the Knicks want to reach the Finals, they’re gonna need him.
Up Next
New York heads to Cleveland for a Tuesday night tilt with a hot Cavaliers club. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
In between the third and fourth quarters of the NBA All-Star Game, NBC announced that they will be showing “The Quiet Work,” a five-part documentary on Jayson Tatum’s return from the torn Achilles injury that he suffered in Game 4 of the second round playoff series against the New York Knicks.
During the pregame show of the Celtics matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, NBC ran Episode 1 of the first part titled “Starting at Zero.” Tatum also posted the episode on his YouTube channel for everyone to see.
The episode starts out before Game 4 and shows Tatum’s thought process which is optimistic despite losing Games 1 and 2 at home. After winning Game 3, Tatum said he felt “excited” and thought he was going to have a big game. He would be correct.
The focus then shifts to Tatum’s mom, Brandy Cole, and her thoughts ahead of the game, saying, “as long as we have JT on the floor, we have a chance.”
Tatum would have 42 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks on 16-28 shooting from the field and 7-16 shooting from three. He said, “It felt like one of those nights” where he was just in the zone. He continued, “I was playing that well that I thought we were going to figure this out and we were going to win.”
Then comes the 3:05 mark of the fourth quarter where the Celtics are behind 111-104 and Tatum goes down. Tatum said when he lunged for the ball, “it felt like someone kicked me.” Cole said she looked at the scoreboard and saw Jayson down and thought he just needed to get up and shake it off and it didn’t cross her mind that it was that serious sitting three or four rows away from the court.
When Nick Sang, the Celtics physical therapist and athletic trainer, saw Tatum down, he had a feeling something was different. Sang then asked Tatum if he “heard a pop” and Tatum said he could hear it and it sounded like “one of those guns that go off at a track meet.”
He remembered grabbing his leg and begging that it wasn’t something serious. As he is shown being carried off the floor, Tatum said he was in shock, scared, and everything in his life flashed before his eyes. He said, “in that moment, it felt like everything came to an end” in his NBA career. The episode then ends with a shot in a hospital with the sign reading “Surgical Check In.”
Feb 19, 2026; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Kahlil Watson (71) during media day in Goodyear. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
The Guardians shoutout the A’s yesterday and scored another right-handed hitter on their roster by adding Rhys Hoskins on a minor-league deal.
In the Guardians’ 6-0 win over the Athletics yesterday, the Guardians had 9 of the top 11 exit velocities, with Ralphy Velazquez leading the Guardians with a 111.1 mph single. Stuart Fairchild had two 105 mph singles and has looked solid to begin camp, as has Kahlil Watson who had a 105.7 single. George Valera hit a 104.7 mph home run. Travis Bazzana and Angel Genao didn’t light up the scoreboard, with only Genao registering a single, but both put up good at-bats, in general.
All of Parker Messick’s pitches were up a little bit in average speed, which is good for the beginning of camp. Will Dion struck out three batters in two scoreless innings pitched.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 22, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns played the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday, hosting the Portland Trail Blazers, and the result was an abysmal performance. Phoenix scored just 77 points.
It is easy to understand why when you zoom out. Phoenix was without three of its four highest-paid players, and the absence showed from the opening tip.
$94.3 million in payroll out tonight. May the odds be ever in our favor https://t.co/eIDgXQmaGe
What it felt like was the final five minutes of the Orlando game, followed by two overtimes, stretched across an entire night. There was no offensive rhythm, no flow, and no sense of continuity. The shooting issues that have lingered all February stayed right on schedule, and the game never found a pulse.
You can call it expected, even understandable. Still, with so much youth on the floor, you hope someone grabs the moment and makes it theirs. That never really happened. No one stepped forward, no one bent the game in their direction, and the opportunity passed without resistance.
The team shot 36.9% from the field, 25.7% from three, committed 23 turnovers, and didn’t score more than 20 points in any single quarter. Collin Gillespie scored 18 points to lead all Suns’ scorers, and 14 of those came in the fourth. Meanwhile, both Donovan Clingan and Jerami Grant had 23 points for the Blazers, with Clingan adding 12 rebounds.
The loss marked the fewest points scored by the Suns since October of 2017. Phoenix now finds themselves further away from the sixth seed as the loss drops them to 33-25.
Before a single point was scored, the night started going sideways. Portland All-Star Deni Avdija exited with back tightness. He was questionable on the report, gave it a go, but was unavailable once his back locked up. On the next trip down, Collin Gillespie got tangled up in a foul with Donovan Clingan, braced himself as he hit the floor, and appeared to tweak his right wrist. One possession later, Clingan looked to injure his left thumb.
Three sequences, three issues. The Mortgage Matchup Center, which I have lovingly renamed “The Morg”, kept doing what it has done all week: quietly claiming bodies before the game ever had a chance to breathe.
The Morg is living up to its name. Claiming guys left and right to injury…
It was a brutal offensive start for both teams. When the seven-minute mark rolled around, the scoreboard read 4-2 Suns, and it felt every bit as rough as it looked. Phoenix opened 2-of-13. Portland countered with 1-of-8.
The first real jolt came when Jalen Green ripped down the floor and finished a transition dunk, his first in a Suns uniform.
With the roster thinned out, the first look off the bench went to rookie Rasheer Fleming, with Jamaree Bouyea right behind him. The youth got real minutes, real responsibility, and a real chance to shape the night.
Bouyea paced Phoenix with 6 in the first quarter, while the Suns shot 34.8% from the field and 0-of-7 from deep. Portland lived in the same neighborhood, shooting 32% and finishing 2-of-14 from beyond the arc.
After one, it was an ugly 20-20 game.
The second quarter opened, and Khaman Maluach was on the floor.
And wouldn’t you know it? He hit his first three-pointer in his career, a corner ball, scoring the first three-pointer for the team at the same time.
The second quarter continued the same trend as the first quarter in that both teams were having a hard time scoring. Halfway through the quarter, the Suns had the edge 7–6 in scoring.
Portland was the first team to string together a real run, ripping off nine straight points by pushing the pace and attacking the interior. Phoenix responded by circling the perimeter, hesitant to challenge Clingan, and taking turns missing threes. Ryan Dunn struggled mightily through the stretch. On one possession, he grabbed an offensive rebound, retreated to the three-point line, and missed. The next trip down in transition, he pulled up and airballed another three.
Ryan Dunn had Williams on a little man & decided to airball a 3 instead….
Amir Coffey added some juice off the bench as the Suns were looking anywhere. He made three straight buckets, getting Phoenix to within 2. Portland responded, however, closing the quarter on a 5-0 run, extending their lead to 47-40 at the break.
The Suns were 2-of-19 from three-point range in the first half, with the rookies, Maluach and Fleming, accounting for those makes. The box score wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad. It was ugly. Royce O’Neale was 0-of-5 from the field. Ryan Dunn was 1-of-7. Jalen Green was 2-of-9. 24 of the Suns’ 40 points were scored by the bench, with Bouyea leading the Suns with 8 points.
The best shot of the night? A fan won $10,000 for hitting half court shot.
The Suns opened the second half with a shot clock violation on their first possession. If you have a hand, feel free to place the palm of it directly on your face and leave it there for a moment.
Another 9-0 run by the Blazers pushed the lead to 15. The shooting fell apart, the defense followed, and the whole thing felt disjointed. Jalen Green was the lone steady presence. By the midpoint of the quarter, he had scored all 9 of the Suns points.
Ryan Dunn is the pigeon. Getting posterized by Grant one possession, taken off the dribble by Holiday the next. Portland is targeting him and he is failing the test
Soon Phoenix was down by 20 points. Short-handed or not, the team was struggling and failing the test. That test? Seize the moment. Take advantage of the opportunity before you.
Khaman Maluach looked good, for what it’s worth. He was playing with some give-a-shit.
The Suns shot a putrid 30.4% in the third quarter and were 1-of-8 from three. They were outrebounded 15-8. They scored just 17 points, and entered the fourth down 71-57.
The fourth quarter opened with the Suns finally knocking down a pair of threes, one from Rasheer Fleming in the corner and another from Collin Gillespie. Gillespie followed by drilling two more threes, trimming the deficit to 11 with 7:48 left and briefly giving the building something to lean into.
Phoenix entered the fourth with just three made threes. Gillespie alone matched that total in the first 4 minutes in the 4th
Things got a little spicy with five minutes left. Ryan Dunn and Donovan Clingan got into a mild shoving match that triggered a review for a hostile act. After a long look, it was ruled that nothing met the criteria. Still, it counted as the most visible life Dunn showed all night.
A moment later, Clingan missed two straight free throws. Somewhere, Chick-fil-A trays were being mentally claimed.
The game strolled on, and the sun had no offense outside of calling Gillespie in the final quarter. Eventually, the inevitable occurred as the Suns lost 92-77.
Up Next
The Suns welcome the surprising Boston Celtics to the Morg on Tuesday night. We shall see you then!
Feb 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
On paper, no one game is more important than another across 82 games in the regular season. A result in October will matter as much as a result in March.
But we know that’s not true.
For the Lakers, there are two games that always matter more than the rest. There have been many rivalries that have come and gone but the Celtics games have always carried more weight.
After getting blown out in Boston under not-so-great circumstances, Sunday was supposed to be the chance for the Lakers to get some sweet revenge. They were at full strength, at home and haven’t left the state for a game since the very beginning of the month. Everything was set up nicely for, at the very least, a competitive game.
Instead, the fourth quarter featured Jaylen Brown getting MVP chants, Payton Pritchard talking trash after an endless barrage of threes and Neemias Queta slamming home lobs without a hint of resistance.
Utter embarrassment.
With a chance to not only get some revenge but match up with one of the top teams in the league, the Lakers chose the path they are all too willing to head down this year as they let go of the rope entirely. The Celtics bullied them from the very start to win the mental game and then hustled all over the court to win the actual game, too.
If the Lakers didn’t have enough to beat the Celtics, that’d be one thing. But putting forth that effort against that team on your home floor? Absolutely inexcusable.
It matters not how poor the officiating was in the first half. When the rubber met the road, the Lakers completely folded on Sunday, a trait that is starting to become commonplace for them.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
None of those qualifiers will matter, though, because everyone is getting the same grade after that performance.
This is the worst case scenario for Smart. No team is more familiar with his shortcomings than the Celtics, who chose to completely disregard him offensively. He punished them by careening shots off the rim in their direction.
Reaves probably wasn’t far off from being an All-Star with the injury replacements earlier this month. He definitely strengthened his case tonight by being the fifth or sixth best player on the floor.
Fans who criticize Luka for complaining to the officials too much will be feasting after this game. Valid or not, it’s a miracle he didn’t get a technical.
Grade: F
Jaxson Hayes
The only thing saving him from the same grade as his teammates is that he only played five minutes before exiting the game and not returning with an ankle injury.
LaRavia had maybe the highlight of the game for the Lakers with a big dunk after driving the lane. If you can name one other thing he did in this game other than turn the ball over in the backcourt, that’d be impressive.
The fourth quarter starting with Vando driving the lane, failing to eurostep around his defender and putting up a contested layup with his right hand should have been the point when everyone turned the game off.
Grade: F
Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Kobe Bufkin
Thirteen months ago, Dalton Knecht scored 13 points with three threes in 14 minutes in a 21-point win over the Celtics, in case you were wondering how dramatically he’s fallen off.
JJ Redick
With the game on the brink of getting away from the Lakers just past the midway point of the fourth, the Lakers had Luka on the floor alone with Reaves and LeBron on the bench. Don’t worry, though, because Redick brought them back in the game after a Brown and-one made it an 18-point game with right around five minutes to go.
Michael Smith, Pat Fraher, Curtis Blair
What was your favorite missed call of the game from this officiating crew? Was it the first missed goaltending? The second? Personally, I think it’s the sequence where Michael Smith missed Brown elbowing Smart in the face, then called technicals on both Reaves and Smart in the aftermath.
Grade: F
Sunday’s inactives: Chris Mañon, Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr., Bronny James, Adou Thiero
“He plays the game with a ton of confidence. Sometimes, I got to try to rein his confidence in a little bit, but it’s a gift that he’s got. When he’s out there, he thinks he’s the best player on the field.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. would be an understandable guess.
But the manager was, in fact, referring to José Caballero, who starts the season as the Yankees starting shortstop next to Chisholm, at least until Anthony Volpe is ready to return from offseason shoulder surgery.
The Yankees got a taste of Caballero’s impact over the final two months of last season — felt most consistently with his speed on the basepaths, ability to play all over the field and his legitimate defense as a backup shortstop — and now, he has an opportunity to build on that in an everyday role over the first month-plus of this season.
José Caballero hits a home run during the Yankees’ Feb. 22 Grapefruit League game. Charles Wenzelberg
“That’s out of my control,” Caballero said Sunday after hitting a home run in a 6-4 loss to the Mets when asked how the shortstop dynamic might play out. “I control what I can control. I’m going to go out there and do my best every day. They make the decision.”
The reality is that even if Caballero crushes it over the first month-plus of the season, the Yankees are likely to give a healthy Volpe a runway to show that he can still be their starting shortstop.
Since late last year, when there were questions about whether Caballero should take over for Volpe at the position, the Yankees have believed they are at their best when Caballero is their 10th man and a weapon off the bench.
But Caballero at least has a chance to make the decision an interesting one by taking advantage of the everyday playing time.
José Caballero makes a play during the Yankees’ Feb. 20 Grapefruit League game. Charles Wenzelberg
“He’s just so good at so many different positions, and there’s some fast-twitch in there, which obviously [helps with] stolen bases, he’s so dynamic on the basepaths,” Boone said. “You want the ball hit to him, wherever you put him. He’s good in the outfield; he’s good at all the infield positions. But there’s just a confidence, if he’s sitting over there for a few days, he brings a lot to the table that you want to have of a bench player late in a game. So just a lot of things he brings to the table.
“He’s one of those guys that’s a really good complete-your-roster [player] for a winning club.”
Boone paired up Caballero and Chisholm for the second time in three games Sunday and plans to have them play three more games together this week before they each leave to play in the World Baseball Classic — Caballero for Panama and Chisholm for Great Britain.
The good news is that the two already have prior history together as young minor leaguers in the Diamondbacks organization.
Each eventually was traded away, but their comfort working together has quickly returned now that they are Yankees.
Anthony Volpe makes a play during the Yankees’ Feb. 16 workout. Charles Wenzelberg
“He’s not scared to play his game,” Chisholm said. “A lot of guys get to the big leagues or New York and try to play a different game and not be themselves. That’s the best thing about him is that he comes out there and he is himself. He’s not afraid to be himself. That’s what helps him with his overall game.”
That also applies to Chisholm, which is perhaps another element that makes them simpatico in addition to their confidence.
(When asked who was more confident in their abilities between Caballero and Chisholm, Boone grinned and answered Clarke Schmidt.)
Caballero, coming off leading the majors with 49 steals, is more of a burner while Chisholm has more power.
But Caballero flashed his own pop Sunday, a home run off Justin Hagenman reminiscent of some of the power shows he puts on during batting practice.
“I can hit the ball hard,” Caballero said. “It’s not [always] showing in the game, so I’m trying to be more consistent with it.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 22, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings: Tyrese Maxey – 20 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 8 Paul George – 6 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 Jared McCain :’( – 2 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 1 Adem Bona – 1 Justin Edwards – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers have snagged their first win in over two weeks, taking down Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-108 on Sunday night.
The Sixers had a decent first half of basketball, seemingly getting more in rhythm as the break approached. They entered the second half with a 10-point lead over the hosting Timberwolves. By then, four Sixers were already into double-digit scoring (Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr.). The consistent scoring and even effort from the Sixers continued throughout the second half and Philadelphia amassed a lead of more than 20 points.
Tyrese Maxey put up his best performance in what feels like a long time with a game-high 39 points on 18-for-28 field goal shooting. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added a new career-high six triples for 24 points and Quentin Grimes added 19 points with five threes of his own. It was the best widespread effort we’ve seen from this team by a fair margin in weeks.
The Sixers get Monday off before continuing their road trip with a visit to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
Feb 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) works around Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Tyrese Maxey got off to a sloppy start in this one with two quick turnovers on bad passes in the first two minutes, and it was looking like it might be another tough night for the guard. After that though, he seemed to settle in, especially toward the end of the second frame. Maxey scored 11 of the Sixers’ last 17 points to close the first half after starting to have success getting downhill and weaving into the paint against a Timberwolves team without a real center available (Rudy Gobert, suspension, and Naz Reid, shoulder soreness, were both out). Maxey shot 8-for-15 from the floor and 2-for-5 from long range in the first half, tying with fellow NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards in leading the floor with 19 points at halftime.
From then on, Maxey seemed locked in, playing with a bit of fire we haven’t seen from him in a little bit. He added 13 more points in the third including two from an absolute poster on Anthony Edwards.
Exactly the kind of sequence the Sixers needed! The absolute poster from Tyrese Maxey, a quick turnover, and another bucket from Andre Drummond 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oTYY14byda
This was one of the best overall Maxey performances we have seen in a bit, with great energy level and body language coming with it. He was aggressive without forcing opportunities that weren’t there. He seemed not to succumb to frustration as much, even if he wasn’t getting the foul calls he wanted. He just stuck to his game and kept doing what worked, taking advantage of the Wolves lack of rim protection on Sunday.
After a really tough few weeks, Maxey might have needed this kind of night personally, mentally, even more than the Sixers needed it.
Maxey finished this one with 39 points on 16-for-28 (57.1%) field goal shooting and 5-for-7 (51.7%) shooting from long range. He also had eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block.
What a game for Tyrese Maxey. The guard has been seemingly struggling as of late with inconsistency and frustration on the court… Not tonight.
<p>Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
VJ Edgecombe got the night off to a hot start, taking advantage of some open looks to put up 10 points (two triples) in the first frame. The three-point shooting of the rookie would become the cornerstone of his night, with Edgecombe sinking 3-of-4 in the first half. Following halftime, he was completely locked in, looking confident and smooth pulling up from distance whenever he could find or create an open look. It paid off.
Edgecombe ended up with a new career-high six triples on seven attempts. That’s 85.7% shooting from beyond the arc. Not only that, but he was also active on the boards throughout, trailing only Andre Drummond for the Sixers in the category with seven. The rookie also put up a solid defensive performance and committed just one turnover the entire contest, with that single error not occurring until the final minutes of the game with the Sixers up over 20 points.
This performance was another example of Edgecombe seemingly playing beyond his years when it comes to rising up to the moment, too. He got the fourth off to a hot start with a high-flying alley-oop and yet another triple to extend the Sixers’ lead early in the final frame — the beginning of putting the game out of reach for the Timberwolves and finally snapping the losing streak for the Sixers.
Edgecombe finished the night with 24 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Next up, we have the rookie VJ Edgecombe, who shot the lights out from long range for a new career-high six triples 🔥
24 PTS (6-7 3PT), 7 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL
Here's some Edgecombe highlights from the Sixers' win over the Timberwolves! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SvtXJ4kdVM
<p>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</p><br> | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Quentin Grimes made a quick impact off the bench for the Sixers early in this one, hitting two threes and grabbing a steal not long after checking in for the first time in the opening frame. Grimes not only was scoring well in the first half, putting up 10 points on 4-for-8 field goal, 2-for-4 three-point shooting, but was contributing well as a playmaker. He had five assists by halftime, with three coming off similar plays ending in finding Adem Bona under the net for open dunks.
This performance was the perfect example of what the Sixers need from Grimes coming off the bench. It doesn’t have to be massive scoring bursts or all highlight reel level plays. He simply provided a consistent offensive boost for the Sixers on Sunday, whether scoring himself or just keeping his head up and making the right passes for some absolute dimes for his teammates. For a team that has been struggling with assists as of late, that playmaking alone is worth its weight in gold… but the five triples certainly didn’t hurt either.
Grimes finished Sunday with 19 points on 7-for-12 field goal shooting and 5-for-8 shooting from three-point range. He also had three rebounds, seven assists and one steal.
Last but not least, we have Quentin Grimes. This was one of Q's best performances for Philly as of late, providing a boost off the bench the Sixers needed from scoring to some beautiful assists.
Tyrese Haliburton is pictured during the Pacers' Feb. 6 game against the Bucks.
Tyrese Haliburton will have to be away from the Pacers for two to three weeks after he was diagnosed with shingles, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters on Sunday.
Haliburton has already been rehabbing from a torn Achilles that he suffered last season during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, which has kept him off the court this year.
“He will likely make a full recovery,” Carlisle said before the Pacers fell to the Mavericks, 134-130. “This happened over the last few days. He was meeting us in D.C. and had some odd symptoms. It’s a unique case, a unique situation. I’ve talked to him a few times, and he’s always in a good mood, so he’ll get through it. But trying to survive at a high level without a guy like that is extremely difficult.”
Tyrese Haliburton is pictured during the Pacers’ Feb. 6 game against the Bucks. AP
Shingles is not a life-threatening condition, but the viral infection can cause a painful rash, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso,” according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Carlisle said that it was “a very painful thing.”
The news is another blow to Haliburton and the Pacers, who have felt his absence hard during this season.
Tyrese Haliburton is pictured during the Pacers’ Jan. 19 game. Imagn Images
After falling one win shy of an NBA championship, the Pacers have had one of their roughest seasons in recent memory.
With Sunday’s loss, the Pacers are 15-43 on the season and went through a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak that was snapped last month.
The Pacers were also hit with a $100,000 fine earlier this month after the NBA docked them for sitting several players during a Feb. 3 game that “could have played under the medical standard in the Policy, including by playing reduced minutes. Alternatively, the team could have held the players out of other games in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the Policy.”
