BOTTOM LINE: Boston will try to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Phoenix.
The Suns are 19-11 on their home court. Phoenix ranks third in the NBA with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Mark Williams averaging 3.1 offensive boards.
The Celtics have gone 19-10 away from home. Boston is eighth in the league with 45.6 rebounds per game led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 8.9.
The Suns are shooting 45.4% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points higher than the 44.3% the Celtics allow to opponents. The Celtics are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.2% lower than the 47.0% the Suns' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Williams is shooting 64.2% and averaging 11.9 points for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.1 points over the last 10 games.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.2 points, seven rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 21.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-6, averaging 106.2 points, 44.4 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 9.7 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.5 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 109.2 points, 49.7 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.3 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Grayson Allen: out (knee), Cole Anthony: out (not injury related), Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Devin Booker: out (hip), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee).
Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (31-26, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (15-43, 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana looks to end its three-game slide when the Pacers play Philadelphia.
The Pacers are 11-28 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana is 6-5 in one-possession games.
The 76ers are 19-19 in conference games. Philadelphia has a 6-8 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Pacers are shooting 45.0% from the field this season, 2.1 percentage points lower than the 47.1% the 76ers allow to opponents. The 76ers average 12.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 11.4 per game the Pacers give up.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The 76ers won 113-104 in the last matchup on Jan. 20. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 30 points, and Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the last 10 games.
VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 27.2 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 44.1% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 3-7, averaging 117.3 points, 41.3 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.1 points per game.
76ers: 5-5, averaging 114.9 points, 43.0 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.7 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), T.J. McConnell: out (hamstring).
76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Wizards (16-40, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (28-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta faces Washington in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams.
The Hawks are 5-6 against division opponents. Atlanta allows 118.3 points and has been outscored by 1.4 points per game.
The Wizards are 11-24 in conference play. Washington allows 122.8 points to opponents and has been outscored by 10.3 points per game.
The Hawks average 116.9 points per game, 5.9 fewer points than the 122.8 the Wizards give up. The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.6% lower than the 47.5% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Hawks won 131-116 in the last matchup on Dec. 7. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 30 points, and Tristan Vukcevic led the Wizards with 18 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 23.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 20.1 points over the last 10 games.
Kyshawn George is averaging 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 13.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 44.9 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.0 points per game.
Wizards: 4-6, averaging 113.6 points, 40.5 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 9.5 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.2 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: out (knee).
Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Justin Champagnie: out (knee), Tristan Vukcevic: out (hand), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Trae Young: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (20-36, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (15-41, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn enters the matchup with Dallas after losing four in a row.
The Nets are 8-19 in home games. Brooklyn has a 1-2 record in one-possession games.
The Mavericks are 6-20 on the road. Dallas gives up 117.7 points to opponents while being outscored by 3.4 points per game.
The Nets average 106.8 points per game, 10.9 fewer points than the 117.7 the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks average 10.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Nets allow.
The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 13 the Mavericks won 113-105 led by 27 points from Cooper Flagg, while Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points for the Nets.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nic Claxton is shooting 58.9% and averaging 12.6 points for the Nets. Nolan Traore is averaging 12.4 points over the last 10 games.
Naji Marshall is averaging 15.1 points for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 3-7, averaging 102.7 points, 42.3 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points per game.
Mavericks: 1-9, averaging 114.1 points, 43.9 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.1 points.
INJURIES: Nets: Ziaire Williams: out (personal).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Cooper Flagg: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Golden State Warriors (30-27, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (16-42, 14th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Brandin Podziemski and the Golden State Warriors take on Trey Murphy III and the New Orleans Pelicans in Western Conference action.
The Pelicans are 9-26 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is 7-19 in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Warriors are 20-16 in Western Conference play. Golden State is second in the Western Conference with 29.1 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.1.
The Pelicans average 114.8 points per game, 0.9 more points than the 113.9 the Warriors allow. The Warriors average 16.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 more made shots on average than the 14.6 per game the Pelicans give up.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Warriors won 104-96 in the last matchup on Nov. 30.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derik Queen is shooting 49.4% and averaging 12.3 points for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson is averaging 21.2 points over the last 10 games.
Podziemski is averaging 12.1 points and 3.7 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 114.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 8.2 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points per game.
Warriors: 4-6, averaging 110.6 points, 40.8 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 11.0 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.5 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Yves Missi: day to day (calf), Trey Murphy III: day to day (shoulder), Micah Peavy: day to day (toe), Dejounte Murray: day to day (achilles).
Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Draymond Green: out (back), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Seth Curry: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Miami Heat (31-27, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (24-31, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Miami is looking to build upon its three-game win streak with a victory over Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 17-19 in Eastern Conference games. Milwaukee has a 13-18 record in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Heat are 16-16 in Eastern Conference play. Miami scores 120.0 points and has outscored opponents by 3.1 points per game.
The Bucks make 48.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than the Heat have allowed to their opponents (45.7%). The Heat average 120.0 points per game, 4.6 more than the 115.4 the Bucks allow.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Heat won the last matchup 106-103 on Nov. 27. Tyler Herro scored 29 points to help lead the Heat to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 17.1 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Kevin Porter Jr. is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is scoring 15.1 points per game and averaging 5.4 rebounds for the Heat. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 6-4, averaging 111.3 points, 44.1 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points per game.
Heat: 6-4, averaging 120.9 points, 51.9 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.8 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), Taurean Prince: out (neck).
Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Davion Mitchell: day to day (head).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic visit the Los Angeles Lakers in non-conference action.
The Lakers are 16-11 in home games. Los Angeles is ninth in the Western Conference with 14.6 fast break points per game led by LeBron James averaging 5.6.
The Magic are 12-16 on the road. Orlando is 9-3 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Lakers average 115.7 points per game, 1.0 more point than the 114.7 the Magic give up. The Magic average 115.2 points per game, 0.9 fewer than the 116.1 the Lakers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Doncic is averaging 32.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Desmond Bane is averaging 20.1 points and 4.1 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 20.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 114.7 points, 39.2 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points per game.
Magic: 6-4, averaging 114.1 points, 39.8 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 10.4 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.6 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Jaxson Hayes: day to day (ankle).
Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Jalen Suggs: out (back), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota Timberwolves (35-23, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (28-30, ninth in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota plays Portland in Western Conference action Tuesday.
The Trail Blazers are 22-17 in Western Conference games. Portland gives up 118.2 points to opponents and has been outscored by 2.5 points per game.
The Timberwolves are 20-17 in Western Conference play. Minnesota has a 4-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Trail Blazers average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.7 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Timberwolves give up. The Timberwolves are shooting 48.3% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 47.5% the Trail Blazers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Feb. 12 the Timberwolves won 133-109 led by 41 points from Julius Randle, while Jrue Holiday scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Deni Avdija is scoring 24.4 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 17.7 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 49.6% over the last 10 games.
Randle is averaging 22.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 116.4 points, 46.1 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.1 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 122.2 points, 44.2 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.9 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.3 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
Timberwolves: Naz Reid: out (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Trent Grisham used up an early challenge on the ABS, unsuccessfully trying to get a strike turned into a ball in the bottom of the first.
Caught my eye
Bucky Dent arrived at Yankees camp Sunday as a guest instructor and spent time talking with both Jazz Chisholm Jr. and, in an even longer conversation, Anthony Volpe.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) singles in the 3rd inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“There’s wisdom to impart there,” manager Aaron Boone said. “For these guys to come back and offer some of that is always valuable.”
Today’s schedule
The Yankees travel to Bradenton, Fla., for a 1 p.m. game against the Pirates.
Lefty Ryan Yarbrough is set to make his first start of the spring, with Ben Rice among the regulars in the lineup.
The latest installment of the NBA’s most historic rivalry was staged Sunday, Feb. 22, with Jaylen Brown leading the Boston Celtics to a 111-89 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on the road.
Brown nearly produced a triple-double, compiling 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes of play.
Brown was named the NBA Finals MVP after the Celtics won the championship in 2024, but James believes there’s a case to be made for Brown to be mentioned in this season's MVP race.
"This whole MVP thing, I don't understand why his name is not getting talked about as well," James said of Brown after Sunday's game. "Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he's averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It's a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you."
Brown is averaging 29.2 points, seven rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season. He's fourth among NBA players in points per game this season.
The MVP conversation has largely been dominated by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), the winners of the prior two MVP awards.
"It's an honor to play the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. It's an honor for LeBron, who's arguably the best player to ever play the game, to give me some high praise," Brown told reporters after the game. "So, I'm just grateful."
James and Brown were teammates during the NBA All-Star Game mini-tournament earlier this month at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
It's the final fantasy hockey trade tips of the season, as most Yahoo pools have their trade deadline this week. While I highlight six players below, don't be afraid to deal for Russian stars (i.e., Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin and Nikita Kucherov) as the Russians were not eligible to play in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Additionally, any star who was injured (Brayden Point) or failed to make their respective Olympic team (Mark Scheifele, Connor Bedard and Cole Caufield).
Best of luck with your final trades this week.
TRADE FOR
Thomas Harley, D, Stars (80% rostered)
Harley was terrific in the Olympics, and he carried some momentum into the break by generating a point-per-game pace over his last five appearances for Dallas. He generated a goal and three assists over six appearances with Canada at the Olympics. While the 24-year-old isn't on pace to replicate his scoring totals from the past two seasons, as he has five goals and 18 assists through 45 games, he's blocked 102 shots, which is on pace for a career-best mark. Opposing fantasy managers may look to move off of him given his body of work over the entire season, but he's in the midst of a hot streak heading into the final month and a half of the campaign.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Harley for Adam Fox. (Fox has more season-long upside than Harley if healthy, but it's not yet clear when Fox will be able to return, so this is an intriguing deal if a fantasy team competing for a playoff spot is acquiring Harley, while an established team is acquiring Fox.)
Ivan Demidov, W, Canadiens (62% rostered)
Demidov made his NHL debut last year by making two appearances with the Canadiens, and he's impressed during his first full season in the NHL. Across 57 appearances, he's recorded 12 goals, 34 assists, 24 PIM, 23 hits and 21 blocked shots while averaging 15:24 of ice time. The 20-year-old is among the league's top prospects and likely will require too high of a return to acquire in dynasty and keeper leagues, but a more reasonable deal may be available in redraft leagues.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Demidov and J.J. Moser for Dougie Hamilton. (Demidov is probably the best player in this potential deal, but in a redraft league, this type of deal may be possible, especially if you're willing to add another player in addition to Hamilton.)
Anze Kopitar, C, Kings (28% rostered)
Kopitar's scoring production has taken a major hit during his age-38 season, as he's recorded just six goals and 16 assists while averaging 18:29 of ice time over 41 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign. He had reached the 60-point threshold in 10 of his last 12 campaigns and is well off that pace this year, but he's a prime candidate to see increased work down the stretch since Kevin Fiala will miss the remainder of the season due to a lower-leg fracture he sustained at the Olympics. Kopitar will likely share a line with newly-acquired Artemi Panarin following the Olympic break, which could increase the 38-year-old's scoring chances.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Kopitar for Elias Pettersson. (Giving up a player of Pettersson's caliber in a 1-for-1 deal may not be the most equitable deal, but making an offer including a player or two in a lower tier than Pettersson could be beneficial.)
TRADE AWAY
Brad Marchand, W, Panthers (89% rostered)
Marchand missed 10 of the Panthers' final 15 games before the Olympic break due to a lingering injury, and he was quiet for Team Canada in Milan Cortina, recording just one goal over four appearances. Overall, the 37-year-old is on pace for a bounce-back season with 25 goals and 25 assists through 46 appearances, but the Panthers sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings, and Marchand's workload could be managed down the stretch if the team is eliminated from the playoffs.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Marchand and Elias Pettersson for Jack Eichel. (While Marchand and Pettersson have some upside, Eichel is an elite player on a Vegas team that should have plenty to play for down the stretch while jostling for playoff seeding.)
Jordan Binnington, G, Blues (46% rostered)
Binnington was superb at the Olympics, but for now he is just the backup goaltender to Joel Hofer in St. Louis. Some fantasy managers are going to look at the Olympic Games and figure Binnington will play like he did in Milan, but that could be a tough task given his performance for St. Louis this year combined with the increased motivation to perform at a high level on the international stage. Binnington has dropped his last seven starts for the Blues, posting a 4.47 GAA and .828 save percentage during that time. While his momentum from the Olympics could lead to a slight increase in NHL production down the stretch, the time feels right to maximize the return for the veteran netminder.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Binnington and a fourth-round pick for Jeremy Swayman and a 16th-round pick. (Even if your league doesn't allow trading of draft picks, a package including Binnington and another mid-level player could be appealing for an elite netminder like Swayman.)
Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs (100% rostered)
Matthews has largely been unable to generate the same momentum this year that he's had in previous seasons, as he's recorded just 26 goals and 22 assists across 51 games for the Maple Leafs. However, he recorded six points over his final five appearances leading up to the Olympic break and was productive for the United States at the Olympics, producing three goals and four assists over six games. Despite Matthews' overall production this year, fantasy managers may be willing to offer an appealing package for him following his strong play in Italy.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Matthews, Mikhail Sergachev, Jakob Chychrun for Radko Gudas, Shayne Gostisbehere and Macklin Celebrini.
Feb 20, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick at a press conference at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers
The franchise’s past and present had collided, with the 41-year-old hot shot hoping to one day mirror the accomplishments of the 80-year-old legend.
Ever since Redick was hired to take over the Lakers’ helm in June 2024, he has drawn comparisons to Riley.
Luka Doncic talks to JJ Redick against the New Orleans Pelicans. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
They’re both former players. After they retired, they both became broadcasters. Riley hardly had any coaching experience (two years as a Lakers assistant from 1979-81) before being handed one of the most prestigious jobs in the league in 1981. Redick had no coaching experience. They both have strikingly slick personas.
And they both were tasked with leading the team through major transitions. Riley helped the Lakers pass the baton from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson, while Redick is overseeing the Lakers’ passing of the guard from LeBron James to Luka Doncic.
When Redick was hired, he knew the franchise was hoping he’d fill the Armani shoes of the legendary coach. The question on everyone’s mind was obvious: Could he be the next Pat Riley?
“Pat, to me, sort of set the standard for modern NBA coaches,” Redick said.
For Riley, the respect is reciprocated.
“He’s a fiery guy,” Riley said of Redick. “He could shoot the hell out of the ball. He was tough as nails, you know. I don’t know. Sometimes I look back and I remember myself at that time and I looked at JJ and I think they picked the right person. There’s just a quality about him I think that goes above and beyond.”
Redick is still evolving into who he is as a coach. He’s still finding his style. His voice. But this much is for sure: He’s an incredibly hard worker. His basketball IQ is respected by everyone in the locker room. After games, Redick locks himself in a dark basement and pores over film. He’s a basketball sicko.
He undoubtedly can be described as intense, a quality for which Riley was infamous.
Magic Johnson gave a handful of reporters a glimpse into how Riley ran his teams after the 8-foot, 510-pound statue of his former coach was unveiled in a star-studded ceremony Sunday.
“He didn’t let us take a day off or a play off or a moment off,” Johnson said.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick speaks with the team during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers. Getty Images
Johnson praised Riley for his masterful in-game adjustments, calling him “a visionary.” He also pointed out how much courage it took for Riley to make Johnson the team’s No. 1 offensive option while he was still sharing a uniform with Abdul-Jabbar, who turned 35 in Riley’s first season as Lakers head coach.
“Hold on, wait a minute, huh?” Johnson recalled his reaction being at the time. “A dude who was the greatest player at that time that ever played the game and you’re going to go to him and say somebody else is going to take the bulk of the offense now?”
Johnson called Riley fearless and extremely tough.
He’d make the Lakers run for 40 minutes straight at practices. He’d make them do three-man weaves without letting the ball touch the ground. Over the summer, he’d send each player a letter telling them how much he wanted them to weigh. Then he’d weigh them publicly when they reported to training camp.
Riley especially knew how to get under Johnson’s skin. He’d show him highlights of Larry Bird and Michael Jordan and say, “What are you gonna do?”
“Soon as he did that, the button was going to go off on me and I’m going to have a triple-double,” Johnson said. “That’s all he had to do, just put those two dudes up there and he knew I was going to go to another level.”
Riley led the Lakers to four championships from 1982-1988, and he ushered in the Showtime era. Under him, Johnson became a three-time MVP. Johnson called him “one of the greatest coaches who ever lived,” as well as “the coolest man that’s ever put on an Armani suit.”
Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Pat Riley poses after the unveiling of his statue at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026. Getty Images
Redick, meanwhile, is just in his second season as coach of the Lakers.
He’s still getting his feet wet. Last season, he vowed to evaluate himself by growth instead of metrics. He led the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference at 50-32 before they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round.
Afterward, Redick was far from patting himself on the back.
“I know I can be better,” he said. “And I know I will get better. I don’t necessarily take any satisfaction from how the year went. That’s not to say I’m not proud of what the group was able to do and how we were able to figure out things on the fly and put ourselves in a position to have homecourt in the first round. But there’s always ways to get better. And I can get a lot better.”
This season, Redick has led the Lakers to fifth place in the West despite James, Doncic and Reaves only playing 12 games together because of injuries.
Redick is still becoming Redick.
But his potential is unquestionably through the roof. His analysis of the game is incredibly sharp. When he was still hosting the “Mind the Game” podcast with James before he was hired by the Lakers, he’d dissect players and their moves with surgeon-like precision.
Players respond to him. They respect him.
And he has navigated the tricky line of helping the 26-year-old Doncic become the face of the team while the 41-year-old James is still the face of the league and one of the greatest players of all time.
Whether Redick can become a Riley-esque figure is still unknown.
Perhaps it’s an unfair comparison, one that would set up any fledgling coach for disappointment.
But for now, Redick is going to have a reminder of who he aspires to be every time he shows up for work.
It stands tall in between bronzed figures of Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar. It has slicked-back hair, a tailored designer suit and is the ultimate example of greatness.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 1: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Kevin Love #42 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game on December 1, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets wrapped up a tough seven-game stretch across the All-Star break at 3-4. It started poorly with two bad losses, but after a bit of recovery, Rockets fans should feel like there was meat left on the bone in losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks.
On paper, tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz should be a welcome reprieve from the difficult games of the past few weeks. However, these Rockets have played up and down to their competition all year. In fact, Houston already has a loss to these Jazz, who have played Houston tougher than they have against anyone else over the past two years. Seriously, watch the Jazz against another playoff team and you’ll see a team that can’t wait to roll over and tank. Against Houston? For some reason, it’s personal for this iteration of Utah.
Maybe the Rockets will play hard in the fourth quarter tonight, since that’s been Ime Udoka’s solution to all of Houston’s poor fourth quarters. Not, you know, his poor rotation choices and lack of any offensive game plan beyond “Give the ball to Kevin and hope.”
A sewage leak, caused by a clogged drain in a pipe outside of the footprint of Steinbrenner Field, forced the Yankees to hold their breath and move over to their player development complex for morning workouts while crews finished the cleanup before the team returned for a game against the Mets.
The leak sprung up Saturday afternoon and spilled into areas around the home clubhouse.
It did not do any real damage in the main area where players dress and house their equipment, though.
“In spots, it was really bad,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday after returning for a 6-4 loss to the Mets. “Fortunately, it didn’t get into the clubhouse where it could have seeped in and we would have had to pull up carpet and lockers and equipment in the clubhouse. So that part of it was good.
Aaron Boone is pictured before the Yankees’ Feb. 22 Grapefruit League game against the Mets. Charles Wenzelberg
“There’s some sensitive areas that need to be addressed; I’m sure they will be in the coming days. But for the most part, we should be good. We should be normal postgame, with everyone showering and doing what they need to do to end the day.”
The coaches room appeared to have the carpet pulled up, and other areas were more affected, in addition to a brutal stench wafting through the area Saturday, though it had mostly dissipated by Sunday morning as workers finished off an around-the-clock cleanup.
“I was surprised at how much they were able to get things cleaned up and sanitized,” Boone said. “Credit to a lot of people that put in a lot of hours overnight and this morning. Hopefully, we’re in a good position moving forward. We got probably some longer-term things that got to get fixed but should be in a good spot.”
Luis Gil made his spring debut, striking out four across 2 ²/₃ innings while giving up a solo home run to Jared Young.
His fastball averaged 94.5 mph and topped out at 96.6, but the right-hander said he still believes he can get back to his 2024 form — both in velocity (averaging 96.6 mph) and in overall performance — after he averaged 95.3 mph in 2025.
“I feel like I’m on the right track,” Gil said through an interpreter. “I think the work we’ve done together has been very, very good and has put me in the right lane. I feel like I’m where I need to be right now. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that I can get back to that level, where I was in 2024. God willing, I’ll be.”
With Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in Sunday’s lineup, Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton are now the last two regulars who have yet to play in a Grapefruit League game.
Stanton, meanwhile, is being slow-played into games in an attempt to keep him fresh in the long run.
Boone is targeting either side of the March 2 off day to get Stanton into his first game, with the 36-year-old DH being limited to workouts and live batting practice in the meantime.
On Sunday morning, he was shagging fly balls in right field as his teammates took batting practice.
Guerschon Yabusele reacts after hitting a 3-pointer during the Bulls' Feb. 22 loss to the Knicks.
CHICAGO — In terms of position and style, Guerschon Yabusele wasn’t a good fit on the Knicks, according to Mike Brown, who faced his former player for the first time in Sunday’s game against the Bulls.
“The position he’s shown he’s best in in the NBA — the small-ball center spot — we just didn’t have the minutes consistently for him to be there,” Brown said before the Knicks’ 105-99 win over the Bulls. “And then when he was at the 4. For us, because of our centers, the matchups weren’t always there. So we had to pick and choose when he was on the floor and how we were going to play him.”
Yabusele, who finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, didn’t play much with the Knicks, averaging just 8.9 minutes in 41 appearances before being traded to the Bulls before the deadline.
It was a disappointment after Yabusele signed a two-year, $11 million deal as a free agent in the summer.
Team president Leon Rose effectively flipped the Frenchman for Jose Alvarado, a move that wouldn’t have been possible if Yabusele hadn’t waived the second year of his contract.
So Yabusele did the Knicks a solid on his way out.
Guerschon Yabusele reacts after hitting a 3-pointer during the Bulls’ Feb. 22 loss to the Knicks. AP
The rumor, though unconfirmed by Yabusele, is that he’s secured a lucrative deal overseas next season to make up for the lost money.
He has been playing much heavier minutes with the Bulls, who are playing for better odds in the draft lottery, and started Sunday against the Knicks.
Yabusele entered the game shooting 42 percent from deep over six appearances — way above his 29.4 percent with the Knicks.
He was also averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in over 24 minutes with Chicago.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan lauded Yabusele’s leadership.
“He’s always using his voice in a positive way, trying to uplift guys,” Donovan said. “Gives you some flexibility. Can play him at the center spot, at the power forward spot. But just his overall spirit has been good.”
Guerschon Yabusele (l.) defends during the Bulls’ loss to the Knicks on Feb. 22. Imagn Images
There were no complaints about Yabusele’s attitude with the Knicks.
He just didn’t fit in Brown’s plans for a system predicated on movement off the ball.
“His skill set is obviously as a small-ball center. And it’s picking and popping. And then it’s spacing the floor. And the way we try to play, we try to move a lot. Cut a lot,” Brown said. “And then it’s tough because we have [Karl-Anthony Towns] playing heavy minutes, and we have [Mitchell Robinson] playing heavy minutes. This is a situation in Chicago — and even in Philadelphia [where Yabusele was last season], it was a situation where they were able to find consistent minutes for him. Because he’s a good player. Started for the French national team. We all know what they did. The style of play is a little bit different.”
Mitchell Robinson sat again Sunday after playing a night earlier in a victory over the Rockets, but Brown didn’t want to declare his backup center would never play both games of a back-to-back.
“I’m not 100 percent for sure,” Brown said. “Obviously he hasn’t played a back-to-back yet.But I’m not talking to our medical staff asking, ‘Is this going to be like this the rest of the year?’ ”
Brown said the medical staff informs him that Robinson, who is load-managing his surgically repaired ankle, won’t play both games.
Then the coach decides which of the two games Robinson will suit up.
The Knicks only have three more back-to-back sets.
